Last night was junk food and movie night. After I picked them up from camp, we came straight home for the festivities. They were already hungry so I let them start their appetizer of Dorito’s. While they were eating those, I warmed up the second course by microwaving some nacho cheese for some nachos. They were pretty hesitant to try it as they were afraid it would be too spicy. Luckily, I had the solution to that; dip the tortillas in some sour cream first then into the cheese. They seemed to really like that as we went through the first bowl of cheese in nothing flat. While bowl number 2 of the cheese was warming, I started the oven to get the pizza rolls going. We started to get full of the nachos right about the time the pizza rolls were done so we moved on to the 3rd course. I did mention that this was a movie night too right; well, we started off by finishing The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian; which we had started watching earlier in the week. After that movie was over, we watched Snow Buddies, which was more entertaining than I expected. After Snow buddies, they wanted to watch Twilight again. Somewhere in the middle of Snow Buddies, we moved on the the 4th and final course of ice cream. I figured they couldn’t possibly eat too much more so I gave each of them only 1 scoop. Boy was I wrong. They had that scoop gone before I got back to the couch with my bowl. The second bowl of ice cream started to take its toll on my stomach so I made that be the last course of dinner for the night. We made it about half way through Twilight before they got tired and were ready for bed. Maybe we will finish it tonight.

Todays plans are kind of a hodge podge. I need to mow the lawn so i hope to get that out of the way about 9:30am. I was ready a couple hours ago, but I’m sure the neighbors wouldn’t appreciate the lawn mower at 5am. Parker has been asking me to take him out to eat at Hooters for a week now, so today will probably be the day. I’ve got a list of things I need to pick up at WalMart, so we’ll swing by there after lunch. Parker and Casey still have some report card money burning a hole in their pocket, so a trip to Toys R Us may be in order for today as well. All that should fill up today, but if there is still time and the weather holds out, I may try to squeeze in a bike ride to the park. That reminds me, I still need to find a brake solution for Parker’s bike. There are no foot brakes and he’s not quite big/strong enough to properly use the hand brakes. I worry about him relying on putting his feet on the ground to slow down.

Tomorrow is the day I’m really looking forward to, but it is all dependent on there being no rain. I haven’t told the boys my plans for tomorrow yet in case the rain does come and we don’t get to go. The TT races are coming to Peoria this weekend and should be a blast. I’ve decided to not tell them the plan until we are pulling into the track and they see what is going on. I hope they like the surprise. They both enjoy watching the motorcycle races on TV. I just hope they don’t decide to participate in these races when they get older, I would be too worried that they would get injured. I’m really looking forward to this as I haven’t been to these races in about 10 years.

That should be a pretty full weekend, I hope we are able to do it all. I’m sure Monday will be here all too quickly.

My son asked me tonight why I was still wearing my wedding ring. My answer was that I was still married and would wear it on that finger till I wasn’t married any more. At this point, I don’t know that I’ll be ready to take it off even when the divorce is final. I’m considering wearing it on my right hand till I’m ready to remove it. I know that at this point I should move on and just remove it, but that infinity symbol on it still means forever to me. I may get over her at some point and allow myself to move on, but I am just not there yet and don’t know when I will be. I’ve had a few people tell me that I need to see a counselor, Brandy included. I did for a little while, but the person I was talking to wanted to focus on ways to “save” the marriage, which is exactly what I wanted to hear. Once Brandy convinced me that even if I changed everything about me and my life in a manner that would make her happier, the marriage was still over; I stopped speaking to the counselor. No point in talking about ways to save the marriage when the other person has no ambition to do so and is probably dating someone else already.

My ex-wife started taking flying lessons about the time our divorce started and she got her license shortly before our divorce was final, later that same year.

Yesterday afternoon I got a phone call, that she narrowly escaped injury in the aircraft she was piloting. Seems she was forced to make an emergency landing in Hamilton because of bad weather. Thank God the kids weren’t with her.

The FAA issued a preliminary report, citing pilot error: Shewas flying a single engine aircraft in IFR (instrument flight rating) conditions while only having obtained a VFR (visual flight rating).

The absence of a post-crash fire was likely due to insufficient fuel on board. No one on the ground was injured.

The photograph below was taken at the scene to show the extent of damage to her aircraft.

She was really lucky.

Another update on my divorce proceedings coming soon.

There is another camp-out scheduled at the Peoria Chiefs baseball field, but that is on a weekend that they are at their mom’s house. I would love to ask her to change weekends so we could go, but I’m not sure if I should since we are only starting this every other weekend schedule this weekend. I’ve still got a week before I have to order the tickets, maybe I’ll run it by Brandy to see what she says.

For those of you that don’t watch the show, Chase and Cameron are dating. Chase has decided that he knows that Cameron is the one for him and wants to spend the rest of his life with her. On the other hand, Cameron is looking toward life without Chase. When Chase stated his confidence in his feelings to her, she accused him of being naive. The second it was said, I knew that’s how I could be classified with my convictions in my marriage. I don’t think that being naive makes it any less right, it just makes it confusing.

I am absolutely sure that Brandy is the one for me and am sad that she has given up on me and our marriage. I’m sure that Brandy would call me naive, just like Chase. She can’t understand how I could still be so sure when she has moved on and is looking forward to life without me. I can’t understand how she could look to life after marriage before trying to work at the marriage with her spouse.

Oh man,there I go again, feeling sorry for myself and blaming her for giving up. It is hard to shake the feeling that she gave up without putting forth enough effort when you are still naive enough to think that you are still meant to be together; which we are.

I hope you have a great day. I can’t believe that you turn 12 today. I know you are here in the house with me now, albeit still sleeping; but I wanted to get something down so I don’t forget this day. I don’t know how much interaction we’ll have in the coming years and this may be the last birthday I get to spend with you.

Today is your day, you get to make all the decisions. You already picked breakfast of corned beef hash and toast. I am now just waiting for you to wake up so I can make that for you. Lunch is apparently going to be Hooters, which definitely works for me too. Other than that, I don’t have anything else planned. I expect that once you open your presents from me and your brothers, you won’t want to do anything but play the Nintendo DS and Wii.

You’re Mom will pick you up early afternoon. As you’re pulling out of the driveway is always the exact moment that I start missing you; and I do stand at a window and watch as long as I can. I’m sure you will have fun with her tonight. As of now, you are planning on going to Kobe’s for dinner. It’s always fun watching them cook your food right in front of you. I hope you have a great time.

Well, I’m going to pick up the house a little now before any of you kids wake up. I hope you have a Happy Birthday and a great upcoming year. Remember to always be happy. That is my wish for you. If there is ever anything I can do to help make you happy, always know that I will.

Love,

Jason.