Happy Father’s Day!

Today is Father’s day, June 19, 2011. I am sure that this same scene is actually being played out throughout the country. It seems like every year, there is this concerted effort to make sure that Dad is pleased and that the focus is on Dad. I love this. It is great to feel appreciated for all of the hard work that goes into being the “the bad guy” at home. The person that not only defines the rules of the house, but the one who is also responsible for making sure that they are followed. Please don’t misunderstand my comments. In our house, my wife and I, see eye to eye on everything, including how to raise the kids. I clearly did not define all of the rules.

It’s kind of like the memories I had of when I was growing up. I recall my mom saying things like “I’m going to tell your father!” every time we did something that she did not approve of. The same thing sort of happens here at my house. My wife can definitely keep things in line, after all, I follow her rules all of the time as well. But throughout the year, when the requests for certain things go beyond the comfort level, Dad is the one that has to decide that they cannot get the thing they want. That they should not be allowed to go out or stay up past a certain time. That it is “up to your father” to determine if he is going to be your cool friend or the guy that makes sure you have no fun.

So this year, just like every year on Father’s day, my wife makes it an effort to make sure that my boys show their appreciation by getting up early to make me breakfast. They got up at 6AM to start preparing eggs, bacon, coffee, pouring the orange juice, setting the table, wrapping the gift and writing the cards. Normally on a Sunday morning, I get up about 7AM, to get Nick up so that he can get ready to go to church. He plays his guitar in the choir and has to be there around 8-8:15AM. So I get up, fight with him to make sure he gets up, and we are out of the door as quickly as possible.

This morning Luisa woke up the kids and left me sleeping in bed. After all, it’s Father’s day. Let him sleep!

At 6:45, Dan puts his hand on my shoulder to wake me up for breakfast. It immediately reminded me of when he used to come into my bedroom at the middle of the night, cause he had to go to the bathroom and somehow could not see it, as he passed by it, on the way to my room. As I come down the stairs, I get the strong whiff of the bacon, which as it turns out, was prepared by my wife.

She blurts out, “Happy Father’s day honey!”, “We let you sleep!”. To which my response was, “hon, I normally get up at 7AM on Sundays.” “Oh.” she responded.

I sat down, had my breakfast with everybody after Dan said Grace, and then opened my cards and gift. It was great and very much appreciated and very delicious.

They scramble to get ready for church, with one last commandment from Luisa, “Nick go get the newspaper for Dad”. Something I normally do myself on a regular Sunday morning.

We take off to go to church and when we come back, the boys have had this plan, all along, to either take me fishing or to go for a walk on this new trail down in Greenville.

When we get back, Dan asks, “OK Dad, what do you want to do?”. Honestly, both of those sounded great, but so did just staying home, to relax. I’ve had some long weeks at work and that sounds great as well. But, it’s father’s day. We need to do what Dad likes to do, and both of those things are his favorite things to do.

So we head downtown, about 11:30am, and take a hike that is about 2 miles long each way. It’s hot, but flat and a really nice walk. However, I am beat.

This is what I looked like at the end of my hike.

They of course, looked nothing like that.

Here is the Map of where we went. Back and forth, by the way.

View Fathers Day Hike Swamp Rabbit Trail in a larger map 

On our way back to the car, the boys start tell me that they are hungry. Immediately I ask, “Hungry? What do you want to do, go out for lunch? What about mom?” To which I get, “Dad, It’s father’s day. We are your sons and Mom is not.” “We are the ones that should go out with you.” So much for them preparing lunch for me on Father’s Day…

So we head out to get some sushi and rice bowls. But I don’t feel good about going out with Luisa, so we decided on some smoothies.

We get home, and I am just exhausted. Wanting to just go to sleep. As I write this, everybody else is sleeping taking a nap, because of all of the effort put into “Father’s Day”.

Funny thing, is that for Mother’s day, when I ask Luisa what she wants, it is the same thing. Give me some time alone. I don’t want to see anybody or do anything. I need “a break”. Understandable considering that she is with them all of the time. BTW, did I mention I am exhausted?

All kidding aside, being a father is not something that should require thanks. It is an honor, and something that you should do as a selfless act, to help children grow up understanding the values you can instill in them. Such as being a dedicated husband, a great friend, a dedicated worker, an honest person with strong character, will and determination to do what is right in this world. Someone you can have fun with, create special memories and learn from. Someone your children can turn to in times of despair and need. Someone who inspires the best in you, to make them proud. Someone who is there for more than just providing shelter and food. I am a Father, for those reasons and many more. And for that, I am grateful, thankful and blessed to be a father.

Happy Father’s Day to all of the fathers who have truly figured out the reasons for this day.

All you need is a chair for an office

This post is for everybody who says traveling is fun and they wished they could travel. I’ve been on the road for 3 weeks now, after my company announced a new product. For two back to back weeks, I was in FL attending a tradeshow and a sales conference. While I was there, I received a call from someone at the company we are working with, asking if I would be interested in presenting our new solution to the senior execs and their marketing organization.

I jumped at this opportunity to get more exposure for this new solution. So I fly up to NJ without really knowing what to expect. Once I landed I was immediately asked to participate on a conference call. That lasted for 1.5 hours. Luckily I was able to check into my hotel as soon as I got here pretty early and get all set up.

I rush over to the other hotel where the conference was going to be held and meet up with the person that asked me to come. I see 8 other “partners” of this company setting up their booths with big time canvas backdrops and the like. I look and have a monitor for me to plug in my laptop and then say to myself, “oh boy. We need something quick". So I left about an hour later after picking my spot and head over to Kinkos to get some banners and flyers printed.

After about 2 hours, now about 5:30pm, I pick up my “collateral” and head over to a pizza joint to get some slices of NJ pizza.

I go back to my hotel room and work for the next 4.5 hours, finally crashing about 11:30pm.

I wake up the next morning about 7AM and start getting emails, getting ready for breakfast and then head out about 10AM for the event. I have to set up all of this “stuff” and have 30 minutes to do so. " (Note: it was two display stands with my brochures, a 6”h x 24”w banner that I place under the TV, and my devices. 10 minutes flat A Guinness world record.

After about 2 hours of non-stop talking with what felt were a ton of people, I tear down my booth. Again, another speed record. 5 minutes flat. Quick – Call Guinness I tell you!

Right about that time, I get a call from US Airways that my connecting flight was cancelled due to a storm in the area, and that my 1st flight was delayed by an hour. My original flight was at 5:30 and it was pushed to 6:30. I take my time, make a few phone calls and then head to the airport with plenty of time to spare. I also go and stop for gas on the rental since I have soooo much time.

I check in, go through security, and board my plane. We wait about 30 minutes and the pilots start to buzz the flight attendants to inform them of something. I say to myself “uh oh. this can’t be good.”

Sur enough it was not. The flight was cancelled and we are taken off of the plane. They tell us that US Airways has 2, I repeat, 2 agents rebooking flights for people. I get on the phone right way, “cause I am a world traveller you know”, and call US Airways. They tell me that the next available flight was a 5:00AM the next morning.

At this point I pull my computer and rent another car. It is 7:30pm and I have a 5AM flight. I have no intention of checking into a hotel and oversleeping or sleeping at the airport. So I rent a car and go visit some family about 45 minutes away. It’s raining cats and dogs. I knew something was not going to be good when they announced on the TV this morning that the governor had already declared it a state of emergency. Wow.

I go and have a great visit with my family, reminiscing of the old times, and finding out more information on my grandparents and other relatives. I head back around 11:30 and get to the airport at exactly 12:30am. I look for a great place to plug in and charge my PC, my router, and my phone.

So here I am. It is 1:30AM and I am “working” in my new found office at the airport. You see, I am a world traveller and all I need is a chair for an office