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547527

Posted: December 31st, 2008, 10:57pm EST by Eric

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547,527 is the number of hits measured on this blog since February 15, 2008.

Based on this information, assuming we had tracked this data since January 1st, 2008, based on averages, the blog would have had approximately 624,283 hits from January 1st through December 30th, 2008.

I am collecting a year in review for all the posts from 2008, to be published sometime in 2009. There's a lot of stuff there.

I can't believe I've made it 365 days (out of the 366 days in 2008).

Tonight, Jill and I reflected, briefly, on this. Each day Jill asks me if I've blogged for that day. Usually, I haven't. A few times over the year, I had by the time she asked (a rarity). It's become something of a habit for us.

The more I've thought about how to blog in 2009, the more I realize that the blog is something of a good habit. Really, it's a good habit with bad habits in it. Each day I sit in front of my computer and find something to write about. Sometimes it's been total crap. Sometimes I take the easy road and post lyrics or simple thoughts. A couple times I posted nothing but a title. I'd like to continue blogging on a regular basis, but as I've mentioned many times already, with improved quality.

I'm going to make a more concerted effort to capture my thoughts during the day. They make such interesting blog subjects, and because I get so wrapped up in my day, I almost always forget what I wanted to blog about. I don't need to blog EVERY day, but I'd like to blog most days.

Mostly, I want to write a novel. I want to write some short stories. I want to write good blog entries. I want to be able to have 547,527 or more hits in 11.5 months without having to post filler - without having to blog simply to check off "blogging" on my daily to-do list.

547,527 was easy. I did it with half or less quality. I can do so much more with substantive writing.

Still. Thank you for 547,527, and more.

.

.

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Original post blogged on b2evolution.
Things Lost, Now Found

Posted: December 30th, 2008, 10:36pm EST by Eric

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I've been cleaning up a bit the last couple days, getting the house ready for guests next month as well as putting it up for sale.

Yesterday, I cleaned up the garage (I was inspired by one of my Christmas presents - a two-piece Craftsman rolling tool case). Tonight, I started cleaning out a closet that I've always kept old personal stuff and computer parts in.

Of the many old bills (paid ones, thank you very much) and drawings by my daughter while she was about three years old, I found some things which mean a lot to me personally.

For one, I found a picture of yours truly when we was truly new - a newborn, that is.

Also, with great audible pleasure, I discovered the original eggnog recipe my family has followed for some time. Every year I seem to get the craving for real eggnog (as in, the stuff you make), I e-mail my mom for the recipe, and she ends up in conference with my dad over what the exact recipe entails. I found the original one my parents wrote down before the incident years ago when my mom insisted that the raw eggs be heated to avoid salmonella, causing an argument between her and dad, which (last I checked) was the last time he made eggnog.

Over the years my attempts haven't met with my memory of the family eggnog, and I always wondered if the ingredients were wrong, or if I were mixing them in the wrong order. It turns out I've been using too few eggs over the years, and putting some of the ingredients in at the wrong time. My attempts at eggnog have resulted in tasty resemblances of the real thing. Now, thanks to finding that recipe, I can bring the eggnog of my childhood memories back to life.

I found a letter from Keep In Touch, the service my high school class signed up for in 1993 that keeps track of us. I don't know if they really have bothered to keep track of us, cause they haven't kept in touch with me. I found a web site with a current photo of the (now woman) girl who was supposed to be in charge of it. I wonder if Andrea Wessell realizes Facebook is a much easier way to "keep in touch" now.

The letter I found was pertaining to our fifth-year reunion. It'll be 15 years in 2009.

Among the many things I found, I also found a letter. The letter brings back fond memories from a time long since passed.

June 9, 1990

To Whom It May Concern,

Eric Palmatier has been an invaluable asset to our Yearbook staff this year. He stays on track to complete his assigned work. He is dependable, reliable, willing to work beyond the class hours and ------ HE IS AN EXTREMELY TALENTED ARTIST!

What more can anyone ask?

I trust you will find a place for him on the high school yearbook staff.

Most sincerely,
Carolyn G. Shankland
Wake Forest Rolesville Middle School
Yearbook Advisor

I never turned in the letter. I never bothered with yearbook again. The closest I came to yearbook was the literary magazine in 11th grade, which I was asked to either stop contributing to or stop volunteering as a staff member (I chose to stop doing both).

Mrs. Shankland was a humorous woman, always forgetting her glasses on top of her head or on the chain that kept them around her neck. One time, she spent over an hour looking for them, and they were right in front of her the entire time.

She was also an inspirational teacher. She never told me I couldn't do something. She let me be myself, even when my doodling became distracting in class. She gave me the room to take charge of parts of the yearbook when our class shrunk from over 25 students to only four. She let me draw art for the yearbook when we ran out of available clip art. Her recommendation is hand-written, and as I recall the time and situation, she was ecstatic that I asked her to write the referral. The time and attention put into this letter is an indication of the teacher, and to an extent, an indication of the student I could have been with different inspiration - the student that would have become the writer I so desperately wish to be.

Here's to things lost; found again.

.

.

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Original post blogged on b2evolution.
Three More Days

Posted: December 29th, 2008, 10:57pm EST by Eric

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Till blogging every day can come to a stop.

As much as I enjoy blogging, I've found it harder and harder to blog each and every day.

With the new year comes a new focus in my writing: writing.

That's right, I'll be writing instead of ticking another day off the "blog every day for a year" thing. Some of the writing will be off-blog, some of it will be here as usual. I expect the quality of my blogging to increase as the quantity of my blogging adjusts. I also expect to find myself writing pieces that I can attempt to sell for money, thereby launching a career as an author. We can all dream, right?

.

.

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Original post blogged on b2evolution.
1993: $20 for Gas

Posted: December 27th, 2008, 8:09pm EST by Eric

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2008: $20 for gas.

Holy shit!

When I was in high school, I would fill up my gas tank on Wednesday night every other week. I'd drive to the Crown gas station at the corner of Honeycutt and Falls of Neuse Roads and pump $20 worth of Premium (91 octane) into my 1966 Buick Skylark. Premium gas was typically about $1.30 a gallon, or thereabouts. Sometimes, Crown would run a random special on gas and it would cost $0.99 a gallon, which left me a few extra dollars to grab a Sunkist soda and a bag of Reese's Pieces.

Tonight I pumped regular (85 octane in Utah) into my Ford Taurus, and 15 gallons was worth $20.74.

If it had been a little cheaper, I might have stopped in for a Sunkist and some candy. Then again, Sunkist used to cost me $0.89 and the candy used to be about $0.50 - in 2008, both of these would be around $1.30 or more for the soda and almost a whole dollar for the candy. Go figure.

I'm paying pretty much the same for gas on December 27th, 2008 as I was on December 27th, 1993 - 15 years ago.

Like I said, holy shit, right?

.

.

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Original post blogged on b2evolution.
Five More Days

Posted: December 27th, 2008, 10:46pm EST by Eric

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I'm sorry about the (lack of) quality of writing this past week. It's the holidays, what do you expect?

There are five more days left to blog this year. Five more days until I officially blog every day of this year (including leap day).

Thank goodness.

I hope to blog with less frequency and more quality this next year.
Original post blogged on b2evolution.
Merry Christmas Redux

Posted: December 26th, 2008, 10:58pm EST by Eric

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We have another Christmas all over again tomorrow, thanks to having the kids tomorrow and not today, added with the fact that Jill and I already did out gifts this morning.

Merry Christmas x2
Original post blogged on b2evolution.
Merry Christmas

Posted: December 25th, 2008, 10:59pm EST by Eric

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Original post blogged on b2evolution.
The Plight of the Male Last Minute Shopper

Posted: December 24th, 2008, 10:59pm EST by Eric

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There is a type of man most commonly seen this time of year. Unseen for 364 days of the year, this band of seeker-gatherers often only emerge on one day of the year: December 24th.

This is the last minute shopping man. This is the man who wreaks of desperation. This is the man who didn't bother to buy any Christmas gifts for his significant other until the day before Christmas.

This is the most impulsive, unthoughtful shopper imaginable. This is the guy for whom the $5 soap and lotion basket at Wal-Mart was invented for. This is the man who buys cheap fuzzy slippers for $2. This is the person who finds it perfectly acceptable to buy $10 earrings and wrap it with the same pride of having spent $300.

This is the creature that makes Christmas Eve shopping so special. Especially after the sun's gone down. Most of these men are sent into a frenzy with the onset of darkness.

They don't care that their spouse doesn't want "Bad Santa" in their stocking - by golly, it's a gift, love it or die.

They don't seem to be worried that wrapping a bag of 3 Musketeers Minis doesn't make sense.

They're not too worried that the power drill they're gifting fits their own needs more than the recipient's. It's for everyone's benefit, right?

These men of desperation are not be thwarted in their attempt to collect as many thoughtless gifts as possible. Stopping them will only heighten their sense of desperation, forcing them to wrap bottles of Pine-Sol and Glade Plug-Ins as presents.

Let them go about their business. They make retailers a few extra bucks, somewhat indirectly produce a large number of donations to Goodwill-style charities, and help local tax coffers. They have a measurable impact on the community and neighborhood economy. Besides, there's still no concrete evidence that buying without any thought whatsoever is any better or worse than buying nothing at all, and seeing as how thoughtless gift purchases can only help your city's own economy, wouldn't you rather do good for your community anyway?

However, do not feed these desperate men. If you do, you too could be wearing plastic earrings and fuzzy blue slippers in short time.

.

.
Original post blogged on b2evolution.
Snow Like a Mo Fo

Posted: December 23rd, 2008, 10:56pm EST by Eric

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Over the last few days we've seen somewhere around 10 inches of snow, most of it today. Between taking an hour to get to work and a lack of Internet connection (aside from hacking my cell phone to do the job), and with Christmas coming up, things have been a bit crazy here.

I should have the Internet back tomorrow. Then I'll have more time and resources to blog to my heart's content.
Original post blogged on b2evolution.
1994 plus 15 AKA What Facebook Has Done For Me

Posted: December 22nd, 2008, 10:47pm EST by Eric

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I graduated from Wake Forest-Rolesville high school in 1994.

I mention that first because, despite the decline in my hits as we meet the end of 2008, I still get top hits for a lot of search queries. And if any of my classmates from WFR do a search, they're likely to find me now.

Crafty, eh?

No, really, the subject of this blog entirely pertains to graduating from high school, among other things.

I've dabbled with Classmates.com before. I've dug through all the possible names of people I've known since kindergarten on MySpace. But the most useful tool online for finding people I've known has been Facebook.

I have people at work, usually the 19 to 25 year-old people, who are amazed I even use Facebook.

Hold on, I think the exact phrase I've heard, on numerous occasions, was, "you use Facebook at your age?" As if 32 is the end of mortal existence.

Yes, I use Facebook. And here's why.

- In the last year I've been able to keep up with my best friend Christy's love life. Our free time doesn't seem to cross paths very often, and when it does, I usually get updates on someone she's seeing. Now, I can see what's going on in her life on her Facebook - even when I need to read between the lines.

- I've been able to reconnect with several people from my high school graduation class. In many cases, people I haven't seen in years.

- I've found an easier way to keep up with those few I've managed to keep up with over the years.

- I've been able to find people I haven't seen in years - for instance, I recently connected with the older brother of my teenage-years best friend. Rick was key in getting that best friend, Chris, on Facebook and within means of communication.

- I've been able to more or less abandon my MySpace page. Those of you in your 30s who have maintained MySpace pages will likely understand what I mean when I mention the weight off my shoulders to modify my personal page. I never update it. I still have a while background. I don't need to have pictures of half-dressed women in armor, Tinkerbell, or Timbaland as my background image. I don't need to post Maroon 5 songs, and I don't need people "popping my comment cherry."

- I can quickly be smarmy with friends on a daily basis, even on the fly thanks to my Blackberry (which I'm not using right now, trying something else out, and I'm not too pleased with it).

Yes, Facebook has been worth the effort for me. I didn't have to pay anything like with Classmates.com, and I didn't need to put any Napoleon Dynamite themes on my profile. Yay for me!

And finding all these people from the past, especially the ones from high school, has unlocked a lot of memories for me - memories I can write about instead of trying to forget like I've been doing these last many years. A lot has changed in 15+ years, and I'm starting to recall a lot of things I'd forgotten. Facebook, in a way, will help me reconnect part of my brain that had been suppressed for the past three lustrums.

Also, I'm hoping that SOMEONE starts putting a 15 year anniversary together for my graduating class. Facebook would probably be the best way of getting word out. That and doing a web search for Wake Forest Rolesville class 94 and finding my blog. I can help hook things up.

.

.

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Original post blogged on b2evolution.
OK, So My Internet is Down

Posted: December 21st, 2008, 10:59pm EST by Eric

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Yours would be too, if you forgot to pay your ISP.

The worst part is trying to get a hold of someone to get it turned back on.

This weekend I'm using my cell phone to connect to the Internet, so I won't be very talkative for the next few days.

Cross your fingers and send some positive mental thoughts to my ISP, MStar.

Thank you.
Original post blogged on b2evolution.
apologies

Posted: December 20th, 2008, 10:13pm EST by Eric

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today was a long day
Original post blogged on b2evolution.
The Day Came, And I wasn't Told

Posted: December 19th, 2008, 9:26pm EST by Eric

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I
AM
DIVORCED.

As it turns out, I was divorced yesterday. I found out the day after.

For months, I've called the Utah County Courthouse to check on the status of my divorce. Once a week (if not more), on my day off, I call the courthouse only to hear that nothing has changed.

Every time I called, I got the same response: "nothing's changed."

Every Monday I check the Court's web site for their weekly judgment review. Every week, the same thing: nothing.

So I was getting frustrated (as was Jill). I stopped checking all the time, because it was so depressing. A few weeks ago, when I called the courthouse, I got a different response: "has the final paperwork been submitted?"

Huh?

I said yes. No change.

The next time, the same question about final paperwork. This time, I asked them to clarify (they're not very informative over the phone, despite having been quite friendly and very helpful in person). The paperwork that Laura signed is the final paperwork. Well, I turned that in already. So, I was told to wait.

The next time, no change, and the same question. So this time, I asked for advice. Call the judge's clerk.

I called the lady, and left a message. Nothing back.

A few days later, I called again, and left a message. Nothing back.

This week, I called on Monday, and heard nothing back. Then Tuesday. Then Wednesday, all the same. Wednesday's message included the sound of desperation in my voice. I asked for help, again.

This morning, while driving through nasty snow on terrible roads to work, I got a phone call. Not wanting to take my hands off the wheel, I let it go to voicemail. About 20 minutes later, while at work, I got a chance to listen to the voicemail.

It was the judge's clerk.

She'd gone into the file and found the final paperwork - which apparently, should have been in the folder in a different way - and had the judge sign them. Like that. It took a few minutes, and my marriage was gone. Two years and a month later - done.

That was yesterday. I found out today. After three months of waiting since submitting paperwork, and years of build-up. My wait is over.

And today, I couldn't help but holler, jump, bang on stuff, make noise, and swerve the car in the snow. Today was the best day I've had in almost three years.

I almost gave up. I almost convinced myself it was going to drag on forever.

But it didn't. It just took...

time.

And money, paperwork, patience, trust, family support, conversation, mediation, and growing a backbone.

And time.
Original post blogged on b2evolution.
All I Have is a Thought and a Dream

Posted: December 17th, 2008, 1:56pm EST by Eric

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Today, I feel like my life is a puzzle with pieces that don't fit together.

In one part of my life, I have a woman who loves me, who will be my wife in January. In another I have my kids. Other parts are work, my parents and brother, my old life, my ex-wife, friends, a childhood, a future, and my dream of becoming a writer, among others.

Each part of my life is a selection of puzzle pieces that have already fit together. Three, four, or five pieces have come together to give me an image of that part of my life. Having an idea of the overall picture, I know that certain sections will join up with others, but I haven't found enough of the connecting pieces yet.

The section that is Jill is close to the sections that portray my family in North Carolina and my kids. I've managed to find a few pieces to connect the areas, but with a lack of all the puzzle pieces I find it hard to keep those areas of my life stable. Sometimes, the pieces get a little skewed, but the few pieces that I have found keep those parts of my life together.

Other areas feel isolated from the others. The section that is my job causes conflict and confusion with the section that is my dream to live as a writer. I'm not sure if the sections are as close as they should be, or perhaps they're much closer than they should be in the overall image of my life. All I can tell you is this: these two sections don't fit in any way, and I can't find any of the pieces that might connect them. I didn't pay attention to this part of the image of my life, so I'm not even sure where they fit in the overall picture.

I have a lot of seemingly blank pieces that connect various parts of the puzzle of my life. So I have to ignore the missing pieces. Or imagine my own pieces. Or simply leave the sections be until I figure something else out.

In so many ways, all I have are those imaginary connections. Born of mere thought, they exist simply to bring my mind to ease - a fabrication of something real, but not accessible.

In the end, all I have are those thoughts, and the dream of pulling all the pieces together.

Sometimes, I wonder if it would make things easier if I just flipped over each section and looked at each piece from the cardboard backer.
Original post blogged on b2evolution.
Launch Day

Posted: December 17th, 2008, 10:43pm EST by Eric

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I couldn’t believe that the day had finally arrived – launch day! It seemed a lifetime away, as if I wouldn’t live to see it happen.

Vessels around the world had been primed for launch. Of all the ships launching that day, they chose ours, the Freedom, to be the first to enter redshift. Those aboard were to be the first to leave the earth and head off for new worlds; the first to experience interstellar travel and colonize a new planet.

I wish I were going with them.
Original post blogged on b2evolution.
Redshift

Posted: December 16th, 2008, 10:59pm EST by Eric

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Original post blogged on b2evolution.
DNS be damned

Posted: December 14th, 2008, 9:20am EST by Eric

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I think I found a way around the blog not showing up on my ISP at random times.
Original post blogged on b2evolution.
Polymath

Posted: December 14th, 2008, 10:43pm EST by Eric

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pol⋅y⋅math
/ˈpɒliˌmæθ/
-noun
a person of great learning in several fields of study.
Origin:
1615–25; Gk polymaths learned, having learned much, equiv. to poly- poly- + -mathēs, adj. deriv. of manthánein to learn
Original post blogged on b2evolution.
You're My Best Friend

Posted: December 13th, 2008, 10:09pm EST by Eric

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Ooh you make me live
Whatever this world can give to me
It's you you're all i see
Ooo you make me live now honey
Ooo you make me live

Ooh you're the best friend that i ever had
I've been with you such a long time
You're my sunshine and i want you to know
That my feelings are true
I really love you
Oh you're my best friend

Ooo you make me live

Ooh i've been wandering round
But i still come back to you
In rain or shine
You've stood by me girl
I'm happy at home
You're my best friend

Ooo you make me live
Whenever this world is cruel to me
I got you to help me forgive
Ooo you make me live now honey
Ooo you make me live

You're the first one
When things turn out bad
You know i'll never be lonely
You're my only one
And i love the things
I really love the things that you do
You're my best friend

Ooo you make me live

I'm happy at home
You're my best friend
Oh you're my best friend
Ooo you make me live
You you're my best friend

- Queen
Original post blogged on b2evolution.
Fortune Cookie Speaks: December 11, 2008

Posted: December 12th, 2008, 10:50pm EST by Eric

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"The world will soon be ready to receive your talents."

- Fortune Cookie

.

Lately, I've been unimpressed with fortune cookies. The ones I've been opening contained messages that don't make much sense to my life or seem entirely too far-fetched. I liked this one.

I actually opened it a week ago, on lunch break, and on a good day for me spiritually. Work was good, home was good, and lunch was good that day.

I'm thinking about writing a book. I know, I've had this thought before. But this time, I'm interested in writing about my experiences in blogging. I'm going to set a goal pretty soon - a goal to write short stories and a book this next year.

Perhaps it will play out well for me?

.

.

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Original post blogged on b2evolution.
Effects

Posted: December 10th, 2008, 1:52pm EST by Eric

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Today has been a mess in my head. After blogging last night, I went to bed and slept pretty well until 5:20ish this morning. From that point on I half-slept until it was time to get up and take my daughter to school. After that I puttered around on the computer for a bit before I felt really tired, and took an afternoon nap.

I feel numb. When my Aunt was having problems in August, I was sad. I used up some tears back then. This time, very little. More anger than before. Very depressed. But in all, quite numb.

Last night I felt like punching a wall or breaking a window. Now, I just want to lay down and sleep. I'm not even interested in food, at least, not very much.

It's a good thing that today was my day off. Otherwise, I'd be useless at work.
Original post blogged on b2evolution.
Farewell

Posted: December 9th, 2008, 8:42pm EST by Eric

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Tonight, my Aunt Caryl passed away.

It was something of a lengthy process, with ups and downs, that started in August.

No degree of preparation, no amount of buffering for the inevitable, no toughening of the heart can prepare you for the moment when time catches you at the end.

Around 4:30 today, my mom called me to let me know her condition had gotten worse. Only recently had I heard that she was relatively stable and doing well, so I was surprised by this change. Today, Caryl's children, my cousins, had decided to stop prolonging the inevitable. A few hours later it felt like a weight had appeared around my body. A little while later, my phone started ringing over and over again. I knew what it all meant. I'd felt something like that when my Uncle passed away in 2003.

I was at work, dealing with computer problems and prolonged customer issues. I wasn't able to take a call for a while, and when I did I knew what it was about. I almost didn't want to answer or talk to my Dad, who called the last time. I knew it wasn't good.

I didn't get home until well after I was supposed to leave work. I woke up two hours earlier than normal, too, so I'm dragging a bit right now between being extremely tired, worn out from a busy day, and reduced to a distant fog inside my brain.

I can't write any more.

Goodnight.
Original post blogged on b2evolution.
Even Better Than The Real Thing

Posted: December 9th, 2008, 10:47pm EST by Eric

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Give me one more chance
And you'll be satisfied
Give me two more chances
You won't be denied

Well my heart is where it's always been
My head is somewhere in between
Give me one more chance
Let me be your lover tonight

(Check it out)

You're the real thing
Yeah the real thing
You're the real thing
Even better than the real thing
Child...

Give me one last chance
And I'm gonna make you sing
Give me half a chance
To ride on the waves that you bring

You're honey child to a swarm of bees
Gonna blow right through you like a breeze
Give me one last dance
We'll slide down the surface of things

You're the real thing
Yeah the real thing
You're the real thing
Even better than the real thing
Child...

We're free to fly the crimson sky
The sun won't melt our wings tonight

Oh now...here she comes

Take me higher
Take me higher
You take me higher
You take me higher

You're the real thing
Yeah the real thing
You're the real thing
Even better than the real thing
Even better than the real thing
Even better than the real thing

- U2
Original post blogged on b2evolution.
A Mass for the Departed

Posted: December 8th, 2008, 10:33pm EST by Eric

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Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi,
miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi,
dona nobis pacem.

Lamb of God, who take away sins of world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who take away sins of world,
grant us peace.

.

As odd as it sounds, the Agnus Dei Requiem was the song that I got married to the firs time. While most people have something a little more "Here Comes the Bride," I got married to music from a funeral Mass.

That was what my ex-wife wanted. It IS a beautiful song, and while it seemed strange at the time, it seems especially ironic to me now after going through divorce.

I can say, with all certainty, that I am going to watch my bride-to-be walk to a completely different tune.

Dona eis requiem

.

.

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Original post blogged on b2evolution.
Happy Birthday Mom

Posted: December 7th, 2008, 10:23pm EST by Eric

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I love you!
Original post blogged on b2evolution.
Fortune Cookie Speaks: December 5

Posted: December 6th, 2008, 10:53pm EST by Eric

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"A surprise will come from an unexpected source."

- Fortune Cookie

.

I'm waiting for it.

.

.

digg_url = 'http://aneweric.com/index.php/2008/12/05/fortune-cookie-speaks-december-5?blog=1'; digg_url = digg_url.replace(/amp;/g, ''); digg_bgcolor = '#FFFFFF'; digg_skin = 'compact'; digg_title = 'Fortune Cookie Speaks: December 5'; digg_bodytext = '\"A surprise will come from an unexpected source.\" - Fortune Cookie . I\'m waiting for it. . .';
Original post blogged on b2evolution.
The Composition Book: Part Eight

Posted: December 5th, 2008, 10:18pm EST by Eric

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The Composition Book
Part Eight

Fishkill Journal
Eric March 3, 1986

Two years ago I went to Disney World. It is very fun there. I went all of the roller coasters there. I got a Goofy hat, a back pack and a little hampster. The rides are exelent. This year I am going back to Disney World. I hope it will be fun!

The teacher comments read: "Good."

.

After a while, about all the teacher would ever say to me is "Good."

I've been to Disney World a handful of times, but I think the trip that particular year was the most memorable.

Someday, I hope to take my family back to Florida to visit Disney World. I'm so much closer to Disney Land, but I have little desire to visit the California park. It's not MY place.

I miss my Goofy hat, too.

.

.

digg_url = 'http://aneweric.com/index.php/2008/12/04/the-composition-book-part-eight?blog=1'; digg_url = digg_url.replace(/amp;/g, ''); digg_bgcolor = '#FFFFFF'; digg_skin = 'compact'; digg_title = 'The Composition Book: Part Eight'; digg_bodytext = ' The Composition Book Part Eight Fishkill Journal Eric March 3, 1986 Two years ago I went to Disney World. It is very fun there. I went all of the roller coasters there. I got a Goofy hat, a back pack and a little hampster. The rides are exelent. This year I am going back to Disney World. I hope it will be fun';
Original post blogged on b2evolution.
A New Family

Posted: December 3rd, 2008, 7:42pm EST by Eric

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Today I took a step forward into the next phase of my life.

Today I asked Jill to marry me.

I know, it's not like it wasn't in the works. I just had to make it official - ring and all.

Oh, and I had to make it memorable.

See, I've been driving around town with the ring in the trunk of my car for weeks now. It was the only place I figured Jill wouldn't stumble upon it. I've been contemplating exactly how I was going to propose to her for months. As time passed, a good time-frame of opportunity presented itself.

Over a month ago I requested tomorrow, December 4th, off, knowing it would give me a two-day break from work (I usually have Wednesdays off). I had to use up my last 8 hours of personal time if I didn't want to lose it by year's end. I decided that I'd ask Jill to marry me on or around the 4th. The problem was, I just didn't know how.

This morning, Jill gave me the last piece I needed to actually propose. As I poured myself a bowl of cereal this morning, I found a note on the kitchen counter. The note said:

"Eric - Will you marry me, G"

On the note was a plastic toy ring with a teddy bear on it - the kind of joke we would have with each other all the time. Seeing the note, I knew how I was going to propose to her.

So after noon, my son and I hopped in the car and picked up a bouquet of red roses. Jill's mentioned that I haven't given her flowers in a while (which was because I knew I wanted to get her some flowers for when I popped the question). After getting the flowers, I drove to the school where she works.

The plan was to have my son hide outside her room with the flowers until I called him in. I was going to do something smarmy with the ring. Instead, it turned out that Jill was in the school office talking with some of her coworkers.

My son and I walk into the school, with him carrying the bouquet. Jill walks out and stops us. My son had been excited to give her the flowers, so he just joyfully handed them to her. I was sure at this point that she thought we were there to surprise her. As we stood in the school foyer, I pulled her note out of my coat pocket. On her note I had written:

As she laughed at my silly response, I motioned for her to flip the paper over. On the back I had written:

"Jill- Will you marry me? E"

She smiled, I guess thinking I was still playing, until she saw what was in my hand - a jewelry box. She appeared to be in shock as I opened the box...

Inside was the plastic bear ring.

She laughed.

Looking at me, she joked that I should get on one knee as I give her the plastic ring. So I got down on one knee and held out the box. She she took it from my hand, I pulled out the REAL ring and held it in my hand and said, "Jill, will you marry me?"

For about the next hour, Jill was in joyful, blissful, trembling shock. I stole her away for lunch with me and my little flower holder, and she's been staring at me ever since.

I'll have to have her blog about her reaction, so stay tuned for that, and more from me in the following days.

Coming soon... a new eric creates a new family!

------------------

EDIT:
Jill's Response
Original post blogged on b2evolution.
Frustration

Posted: December 3rd, 2008, 10:57pm EST by Eric

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Frustration is finding a house you want to watch yourself grow old in, but lack the initial funding to purchase.
Original post blogged on b2evolution.
November 31st, 2008

Posted: December 1st, 2008, 10:58am EST by Eric

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November 31st, 2006
November 31st, 2007

It's been two years since November 31st, 2006:

"This month I decided to relaunch parts of my life. Sometimes, I've done well. Other times, not so well. Other things are still in the works."

Two years ago, my marriage had come to an end. Laura moved out. I was home with the kids, depressed, and at something of a bottom. I'd had a terrible year, personally. I was lucky to get out of 2006 with my job, my sanity, and my life.

Last year, on November 31st, 2007, I remarked on how much had changed in a year, and what my priority would be through this year:

"This year has been hard, and the three of us have gotten through it together. We're not without our scars, but we're surviving and living and together. They test my patience and prove my love every day. This next year is the year I work to be a better father to them."

Despite my own inadequacies effecting self-judgement, I hope that I did well by my kids this last year. I work hard to provide a good home environment for them. Struggles make me worry that it'll never be enough.

November 31st, 2008

As you, the reader, have come this far, you're likely wondering what the hell I'm talking about with this "November 31st" crap. Well, feel free to re-read my previous two posts on this subject, then come back here for my summary.

OK, so you're back. Wait. You didn't read, did you? OK, I can wait.

OK, you're done. RIGHT?

Screw it. Never mind.

November 31st.

Two years ago I made a goal of blogging every day for a month - 30 days. I was on track to accomplish this goal, but hit a technical snag a couple days before the end of the month.

First of all, blogging every day, in my mind, was something of a miracle. My wife left me. I was alone. Work was something of a struggle, and I'm sure I might have been fired if not for the fact that my life was a total mess and some people had sympathy for me. To have blogged a week, let a lone almost 30 days, THAT MONTH, was nothing short of spectacular.

Additionally, missing that one little day was the catalyst for THIS web site. I'd still be muttering around on Blogger if not for that month (no offense to my friends still on Blogger... if it's any consolation, I suggested it to Jill when she wanted to start blogging). That technical goof - Blogger not processing my blog-via-email post - caused me to start something entirely better. It was something of a release from bondage for me. Having my own home has freed me to find success in my search for a new self.

For me, November 31st is a time to reflect on change, to acknowledge the influences on my life, celebrate my own best efforts, and look toward the future. I hope to do it every year for the rest of my life. It helps cleanse my mind, in a way, and gives me something to look forward to next year.

As for the future. I hope to continue to support and foster the well-being of my own family - even as it grows and changes. I hope to become the type of man deserving of Jill's affections and support. I hope to use this next year to accomplish so much more with my writing. I hope to look on this year, the year that I blogged every day of the year, as proof that I can do anything with my mind, my fingers, and a well-designed computer keyboard.

I will make next November 31st memorable. I will do everything within my power to make 2009 the year that the new Eric makes a real name for himself.

Thank all of you for reading.

.

.

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Original post blogged on b2evolution.
It's Like a Horse That Doesn't Horse - The "I don't kill too many bugs" Post

Posted: December 1st, 2008, 9:48pm EST by Eric

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Today, I discovered we'd taken on a new pet at the house: George. George is a fly that doesn't fly.

He crawled up onto my bare foot and scared the crap out of me (I wonder if that's what he wanted from me). I flicked it away and started looking for it. That's when Jill told me about our latest pet.

George doesn't fly. He's a fly, but he doesn't fly for some reason. He crawls around the house all day. He's been with us for a while now, and likes to randomly show up on pillows, plants, walls, and feet. He can get around just fine, apparently, he just can't fly. I've seen very young flies do that before, but unless George is a midget in some kind of super-fly species that happened to have spawned in my living room, I think there's something different about him.

I don't know what, or even how, he eats. He's been getting around this past week, so he must be eating something.

Many of you might be wondering why I haven't just stepped on the little guy. Well, that's complex.

I don't squish bugs. I don't crush spiders. I don't kill bugs very often. Sugar-craved ants crawling over the dog's food, yes. Wasps making a summer home in my roof, yes. Flies flying around looking for poop to eat and procreate on, yes. The downtrodden, the injured, the dying bug - no. I don't kill them.

I don't know why. I've always been that way. Maybe it was because of the neighborhood kid who used to pull the legs off of frogs (I hated that). Maybe it's due to some weird sense of Kharma. Whatever it is, I don't find pleasure in killing an insect or spider, and I'm not often scared or bothered by a single bug. I don't have issue with them, the bugs. I just don't want them in my house. I'll do whatever I can to get them outside long before I consider squishing it.

George, well, he's different. George isn't afraid of people, apparently, seeing as how I could chase him around with my finger and my camera. He let me take close up pictures without crawling away. He was content with hanging out with my toes, which no sane animal would do (one of our cats likes to lick them - note my previous statement about the mental health of an animal, and you might guess why the cat licks toes.

George, I'll be curious to see how long you last. But know this - the second you can support yourself, you're on your own.

.

.

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Original post blogged on b2evolution.

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Outer Lightness » a new eric » December 2008

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a new eric (31 unread)

Posted: December 31st, 2008, 10:57pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 30th, 2008, 10:36pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 29th, 2008, 10:57pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 27th, 2008, 8:09pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 27th, 2008, 10:46pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 26th, 2008, 10:58pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 25th, 2008, 10:59pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 24th, 2008, 10:59pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 23rd, 2008, 10:56pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 22nd, 2008, 10:47pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 21st, 2008, 10:59pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 20th, 2008, 10:13pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 19th, 2008, 9:26pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 17th, 2008, 1:56pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 17th, 2008, 10:43pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 16th, 2008, 10:59pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 14th, 2008, 9:20am EST by Eric

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Posted: December 14th, 2008, 10:43pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 13th, 2008, 10:09pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 12th, 2008, 10:50pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 10th, 2008, 1:52pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 9th, 2008, 8:42pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 9th, 2008, 10:47pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 8th, 2008, 10:33pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 7th, 2008, 10:23pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 6th, 2008, 10:53pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 5th, 2008, 10:18pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 3rd, 2008, 7:42pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 3rd, 2008, 10:57pm EST by Eric

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Posted: December 1st, 2008, 10:58am EST by Eric

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Posted: December 1st, 2008, 9:48pm EST by Eric

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