Back in the Day

You don't really appreciate the amounts of sleep you amass as a Teenager. I  know "back in the day" I could knock out 10-12 hours easy before my Mom or Dad would get me to join the world and get busy on some task. Not much has changed, except that I am the parent, and am deprived of that marathon sleep everyday. 6 would be a luxury, and ocasionally happens on Fri nights-Sat am. Honestly I don't think I could do that now even if I had a quiet, unoccupied house and  taken a big swig of Nyquil. I don't know if you have the same issues? But, I believe It's my mind, work responsibilities, the dog shaking his collar, waking up to see the clock every hour on the hour, whether or not Stephano is going to win American Idol. Last but not least, which kid will be getting nose to nose with me at 2:30 am asking for a drink or "is it time to get up yet"?
New Rule, If I'm not up, it's not time to get up. Don't make me call up Alex "the elf on the shelf" in March.

Heading to NYC

Well I'm making my first trip to NYC at the end of this week with the Mrs. for her birthday. We have wanted to do this trip for around 5 years. Leaving the kids behind with out the control of getting back easily due to flying honestly scares me. I know we need together /couple time, and I'm going to have to bravely get over it. We're staying in Murray Hill area of Manhattan in a 1929 Hotel, which we are extremely excited. Planning on the typical site seeing, and just reviewed the Canal /Broadway tips for the "knock off" products. Hope to see a show, and maybe even lobby for Lee Cruse for Governor on the Today Show next Friday if I can get the signs printed up in time. I'm also excited to see the architecture, and looking forward to taking some very cool Black&White photos, taking in a Deli, Pizzeria, and maybe even a sidewalk Hot Dog.  

A Great need

I was forwarded an email today from my friend, Jason Koerner about a couple in the UK that have unselfishly fostered many kids over the years. In case you didn't know, I've been a foster parent for around 6 years. We adopted our 6 year old just as she turned 1 year old. We currently have a 4  year old girl that we (God willing) will get to adopt after 15 +months in our home. The email/ story goes, this couple who happen to be Christians have... wait for it....been teaching their foster children Christian beliefs and the truths of the Bible. As opposed to what soceity is consistently allowing to become "acceptable" behavior and morals.
A Judge in the UK is ruling that Christian Adoptions won't continue due to this type of Christian teaching, specifically the discouragement of Homosexuality and that marriage should be between a man and a woman. The judge or court ruled as it were,  can mandate to Foster parents what morals should be taught in their homes. Specifically asking Foster parents to teach positive views on homosexuality.
As a Christian myself, it is not up to me to judge other people's behavior or morals. However, there will be someone who will one day judge all of us whether we like it or not. But, this, believe it or not is not the point of my blog tonight. The point is; are there more Foster parents than Foster kids needing homes now? Nah baby nah. Are these ridiculous rulings going to prohibit kids from getting love from families or people that are willing to give it? Probably.
 Being a foster parent can be a remarkably rewarding experience for the child and you. If you have any interest in this, I encourage you to proceed with it.  It's all about loving the child, and giving them a foundation they have never had.

Here is a link to the story.

 mohttp://www.focusonlinecommunities.com/blogs/Finding_Home/2011/03/02/will-christian-adoption-be-bannedrals

Importance of Sleep

500K+ twitter followers in less than12 hours? Who is this media behemoth? His Dad and family have to be hurting and wondering what can we do? Did you watch the train wreck on 2020 last night. It reminded me of "the hangover" scene on a loop when the naked guy jumps out of the trunk with a tire iron and plays taps all over the boys. BTW my chin has now returned to it's rightful place since watching Charlie Sheen on 2020/ABC last night. I'm still waiting for the "punk" cameras  and AK to pop out and say "ahhhh, gotcha". But, Sheen seems to have gone so "far out" there running from "the Trolls" that are likely appearing from his lack of sleep and speed balling that we all can imagine where this is going. Lack of sleep is likely the in direct reason behind the deaths of Heath Ledger and Michael Jackson because of the drugs they likely took due to their travel habits that left their bodies not knowing what timezone they were in.
It's a miserable, torturous feeling to need to go to sleep and not be able to, I've been there. When Sheen mentioned in that interview he took Ambien I said I can guess what's going on. The demands of a Hollywood upper eschelon star can be stressful I would assume? The travel, responsibility to many others living wages and the selfish need to be on top or in the spotlight to keep working catches up with most. Well unless you are Charlie Sheen "who's winning" after being fired and living like a modern day Hef. "Let's go!". Not to mention $110K PER MONTH in child support. Yikes..he's got kids that will see this one day on youtube.
Sidenote: I took small prescription dosages of Ambien for about a year and it replaced the "switch" in my mind that shut's you down and allows you to go to sleep. I would panic in between refills thinking I couldn't go to sleep at night. I guess I'd say I had a small addiction because it took about 7 days of very limited sleep (not refilling) to get off of them and reset the "original" switch in my head. These are dangerous drugs. Don't take them or Tiger blood either for that matter. Guh-night.