Family Matters, Week of 1-7-07

Every week I write about my family. Welcome to it.

Annie (4yr old peripheral)

Annabelle is making quite a few friends around the neighborhood. At this point, she's made enough to where they're coming by during the day, knocking on the door and asking if she can come out and play. Of course, this means that mom or dad go out with her, and as such Ericka's met quite a few friendly neighbors around our apartment. Never a bad thing.

As for behavior, Annie's a screamer. She screams when she's happy and playing, but screams also when she's being punished, screams when she's fighting with Abby, screams when she's tired of screaming.

And we're all screamed out.

Now she doesn't scream so much as screech most of the time, but it's still incredibly annoying. We haven't figured out a cure just yet for this.

Abby (2yr old Ballpoint)

Abigail, on the other hand, is just sweetness personified...until she makes her mind up about something.

For example, I look in on the girls last night around 1am. Annie's having a bad dream and Abby is awake because of it. I calm Annie down and go to cover up Abby--she's taken off her pajamas and is in only a Pull Up. I cover her up with her pink blanket that she loves, then I grab another off Annie's bed that she isn't using.

"No daddy, I don't want that blanket."

"Baby, it's late and it's cold and you need a blanket."

"Don't want a blanket, daddy." She defiantly kicks off what little blanket I have on her.

"Okay babe," I say, and try to quietly nudge some more of it on her legs. She doesn't notice.

It's only when I look back one last time as I close the door to see that she's kicked it off again. That's my stubborn girl.

Ericka (her myspace)

Ericka has been, well, she's been my rock this week. The woman is just phenomenal.

This past week I had what I could safely say is my worst week ever at my current job (one of my Top 5 Worst Weeks Ever). I screwed up as badly as I ever have in my life, or rather I Was Misled By The Stupid Backup Program (#5 much?) and as such the stress has almost been overwhelming.

I knew from the instant I got the call on Saturday afternoon that it wasn't going to be pretty. Turns out it's about as ugly as you could imagine. Months of work lost on one of the most mission-critical systems we have.

So while I was having horrible visions of being voted off the island, I tried my best to keep my cool and when I couldn't, she was there.

When I was lying in bed trying to go to sleep, she'd talk me out of my nervous twitching.

As I came home, flustered and worn out from the day's horrible festivities, she would assure me that everything would be okay. We'd been through worse.

Throughout this whole week, I've not been blogging because, well, I'd drone on about the Issue At Work and, as I found out many years ago, you don't discuss your bread and butter too much on your personal blog.

So, bad times this week, but a good woman to pull me through. Thank you baby!

With that said, and this horrible business behind me (with a stronger plan forward), we'll get to the fun blogging next Monday.

Until then, stay safe, eh?

God it's great to be alive
Takes the skin right off my hide