Yes, it has been over a month since I last posted. I took some time off doing house stuff. Cheryl has been feeling good and we've been doing other stuff together, enjoying the second trimester. We took a trip to Texas in late February. Our fifth anniversary (five years, people, five years!!!) was on Feb 22. Instead of buying presents, we take trips. This year, it was off to Texas.
Why Texas?
It's a common question. First, because we are going to see all fifty states eventually, so why not? Secondly, we've been wanting to see Texas for some time. Cheryl's grandpa was from Texas. The man had a tremendous impact on Cheryl's life, and to be honest, mine too. If I'm going to learn about him, best to do it as I'm gearing up to be dad.
I feel really lucky. I've got some really good role models in my life of how to be a dad. Of course, the greatest example for me is my own old man. I'm hoping I'm a fraction of the dad he's been to me. But it is also great that I have other examples as well. Cheryl's grandpa was another example.
I really only spent time with him while I was in college. They lived down in LA and Cheryl and I would spend time there. Aside from the free dinner and laundry, we got to spend time with two of the most amazing characters in our lives. They were part of the greatest generation. They had seen the depression and WWII. Cheryl's grandpa was in the Navy during the war. He married Cheryl's grandma a few weeks after having met her and they were married since then. He retired from the LAPD.
I have a copy of a letter he wrote to his son describing his experience in the war. It was one of the greatest things I've read.
Cheryl once showed me an article from the LA Times. There was a picture of him in a suit and fedora, smoking a cigar, standing over a huge pile of weapons he had helped confiscate. How cool is that?
Looking back, it was an interesting time. Cheryl and I were both getting ready to start our lives on our own, and they were living their last years. Cheryl's grandpa passed away just before she graduated college.
I knew I had to go to visit the land that produced that kind of a man. He was everything that is good. He had strength, intelligence, and passion yet he was gentle and kind. We all knew he was the boss, and we all knew Cheryl's grandma was really in charge. If you're not married, that may not make sense.
Visiting there was one of the most comforting things during my college life. There was regularity. Dinner was at 5pm. There would be salad, meat, and veggies. We had our seats at the dining table that we always sat in. That kind of routine was like therapy for two college kids.
We wanted to see more of the state that produced such a hero. It was a good trip. The best part was visiting NASA. If you've never been - go! Doesn't matter if you're not into space. It makes you proud to be American - nay, it makes you proud to be human. It is incredible to see what can be accomplished when a group of people trick themselves into thinking the impossible may not really be impossible.
That really was some generation! Saved our nation from hunger, delivered Europe from tyranny, walked on the moon. What will we do? What will I pass to my daughter? What will my grandkids blog say about me on their blogs? I pray for the wisdom necessary to draw my designs.
Okay, it was a sappy posting. But stay tuned! I finished painting the baby room with a little help from Pete. There was paint, burgers, and '80s music!!! I'll post just as soon as I just figure out how to get the pictures from the camera to the computer...Cheryl!
We had a fun day. I hooked up the laptop to the boombox and we got the 80's station on XM Radio. We spent the whole day playing the "name the singer" game. Only now, unlike the old days, we didn't have to wait for an annoying DJ to tell us who it was - it was right on the screen! I love XM Radio. It costs a bit, but man, it's so worth it! I listen in the car, at home, at work, everywhere! I've got the new age station pumping into my earphones as I'm typing this. 
Painting. Pete works like I do - slow and careful. It was quite nice. We worked the whole day and all I fed the poor guy was a double-double. What is it about In-n-Out that goes so well with manual labor? Like when moving to a new place - nothing goes as good with a U-haul truck as a double-double - not animal-style, that's gross. Yes, I said it! Animal-style is gross! Thrrr!
So, there it is. the room's been painted. Pete was saying that we should do crown molding. Maybe this weekend if he's not busy. I think it could look nice, no? 