God I hate eating alone...

Possibly the only thing worse than eating out alone is going to a movie alone. Seriously, I'm not a shy person but sitting here with nothing to do but talk to you guys while I wait for my food is meh.

Just found out that as soon as I apply for my h1 visa I will not be able to leave the country... Guess I should have given the kids an extra big hug before I left yesterday, but at least things are moving afyer a 5 month pause. We are moving, wether we sell the house or not wheels up july 1! Wootness.

Its funny because my relo package includes a packing and move service, but jenn wants to pack for us... Not that the professional packers will do a good job... At least when jenn packs we know what is in the box...

Well boredom apparently does not equate to elloquence so I will call this a post and move on to staring at the wall, less depressing than watching the families eating around me.

Twice a week?

Its 42 degrees in florida right now.. Any guess where my kids are? You guessed it, swiming in the outdoor pool. At what age do we lose that sense of fun and adventure? When do we decide that being warm and comfy I'd more important than half an hour of fun? No idea, but clearly I have passed that point as I sit covered in 4 towels and wearing my winter jacket...

So we went to epcot, epic fail as kyle would say, and holywood studios, my favorite park thus far. Tristen has found a girl to hit on in the pool... If he had a little more self confidence he would be truly dangerous...

Looks like we missed the weather by a week. Saturday is supposed to be 80, first time since we got here and of course we have to go home that day... We are scheduled to go to blizzard beach tomorrow with temps in the upper 60s should be entertaining.

Ok so maybe not every day...

Well I claimed I would write every day, here we are day three and I probably wouldn't be writing now except jenn is out talking to an elementary school friend so I am abusing this time to clean out my in box, and write you all.

Our first day started as most of my trips do, I couldn't find my passport, so the kids and jenn were in the car, at 5 am, while I frantically tried to remember what really safe and totally non obvious place I put my passport... That ended fine, we got to the airport and on to our plane with no issues.

Once we got through the magical express and to our resort we couldn't check in because our room wasn't ready, nor was our luggage here... So we chilled and looked at the flamingos, Gavyns new favorite creature, and generally just enjoyed the 70 degree weather. Around 230 our room was ready and magically our luggage was here.

By the time we were all cleaned up and ready to face the world it was 4, so we hung out in the pool for a couple of hours and ate at the boma buffet for dinner. Now this buffet is the best I have ever eaten at in my life, the service is awesome, the food is all really good, and the spit screens are really big... Of course I have been sick for 2 days, but doubt that is related.

Second day was threatening rain, so we got up extra early and took full advantage of the extra hour we get in the park due to staying on site. Before I forget again, the meal plan is way worth it. One dinner would cost us 170 without tip without the plan. With the plan, its free. We hit the animal kingdom the second day, didn't get to see it all but did go on a couple of cool rides. Gavyn has decided he will not do any rides, so that's been entertaining. On the plus side the older two get to ride each major ride at least once.

We took the animal kingdom safari, a moderately over priced ride through the various sevannahs along with what felt like a 8 course meal. The ride was fun, got some pictures I never would have otherwise. Jenn tried to convince me that the tour was better because it was raining (yeah nice truy babe).

Today was magical kingdom day, and it certainly is. Some rides have bot changed since the early 80s when I was here, others are completely new. Space mountain is a bone jarring vomit inducing nightmare, and the safari is full of animatronic silliness. A good day was had by all, especially kyle who turned 14.

14, I still vividly remember grade 8. When the cool kids built a bonfire in math class when the substitute teach wasn't looking... Clearly proving that he was not cut out for teaching. I remember the three girls I dated in grade 8... One of whom was in grade 10... Yikes, doubt I am ready for kyle to start dating.

Anyways have blathered on long enough, more to come I am sure.

Walt Disney is satan?

Well we are almost there, we are going to disney next week on this tree of the desrosiers first real family vacation. Sure I have gone places with the kids seperately, and jenn and I went out what like ONCE? But this is our first all together outing, I am excited for it.

I have heard very bizar tales of disney from multiple source, kids in strollers with 3rd degree burns, passed out from all the "fun". Mothers in the bathroom with their kids smacking them because they spent so much money on this trip you better have "fun".

I am a entirely different person, for better or worse, when on vacation. I say for better or worse because it usually means I spend a bunch of money I didn't have to, but the point of these trips is to build memories, not spend as little as possible. If I coulsnt afford to go, we jus wouldn't but since I am away for so long this is a good time to get re aquainted.

Some of my friends were suggesting going to mgm, or universal, but as I said to jenn last night, its not like this is the last trip we will ever take. This is the first, and mgm would be cool if you are 10 or 20, disney kind of looses its wow factor after 14.

Things are good at work, we have a new real estate agent who is actually showing an interest in selling our place so I am boyed by that. Looks like our property is going to be tough tp sell though, at least until municiple water comes in (god only knows when that will be). I figure we will sit on the land, leave it on the market and see. Maybe the people who buy the house will also buy our land, maybe not. I've had a pretty blessed life, someone is watching over me and I firmly believe, as hokey as it sounds from a pragmatic rationalist, that things happen for a reason.

I am where I am because I met Jenn and we had kyle. If I hadn't would I have been as driven, and motivated to excel, probably, would I be where I am today? Almost certainly not. I would likely be an electrical engineer, cause that's what my dad is, and more or less miserable. To this day, I could really tell you what a eng does. I'm sure its some cool shit, I just don't know what it is. All things considered I should probably have gone into computer programming (like my bro) because I like it, and am relatively good at it. Too late now though, so I use it when I can and try to pickup new languages as it is possible and relevant.

I bought an iphone the first month it came out, and hacked it so I could use it in canada. An amazingly large cellphone bill later, I stopped using it for the most part as anything more that a phone and video player. Friend of mine wants to buy it, allowing me to invest in an I touch, hush now. Yes I know an I touch is just an iphone without the phone, but this is seriously the coolest piece of geekwear I have ever owned. Apple outdid themselves, while they did overlook some rather obvious items, push instead of pull for email, they did well overall. The screen, at arms length as if reading a book, is the same size as my 42 inch plasma (I no right? Such a small screen? Well I bought that the way I buy everything, one weekend went to look at tvs having done no research and bought the best one we couldn't afford.) The video is very crisp and now that I live in the states, content for it is awesome. You can rent movies for it and everything... Makes the bus ride home that much more tolerable...

I plan on posting a blog, it might even have pics (gasp) of disney, maybe even one for each day. Not bringing the crackberry or laptop so we will see...

Happy new year?

I was all set to post on my blog this morning about how great my holiday season was, how I enjoyed spending time with my wife and two kids (kyle is 13 and a vampire, I think I saw him a total of 3 hours in 10 days and then only necause we forced him to come out for breakfast and dinner) but today we received some shocking news that a friend of ours passed away at the age of 42.

You never imagine these things happening, sure you think if I passed away what would happen to the kids and jenn, but you never give much thought to those around you and that they might not be there the next time you turn around. This loss has hit jenn hard, he was an old boyfriend of hers and a source on anx for me (pretty sure I spelled that wrong), but a fixture of sorts in our life. Facebook reunited them recently and they were comparing notes on life and getting back in touch. A blessing of sorts was that he passed quickly and painlessly, those left behind would rather some warning but by the same token its a reminder to not left things unsaid.

Kyle, your growing up great. I am harder on you that your brothers because you are older and have always acted older. I don't know what is normal for a 13 year old and don't know what I can or should expect from you, but all the same I love you, am proud of the man you are becoming, and hope you will leave room for us in your life.

Tristen, I love both of you. I love the tempermental grumpy kid who can't take anything I say without crying, I love the happy go lucky kid who understands that dads need alone time too, I love your sense of humour, your wit and desire to please. You too are growing up a fine young man, just stop measuring yourself against kyle. He does things his way, you do them yours, no one is better we are all different. Wheb you measure yourself against someone else, one of you will be disapointed. Be your own person, be the strong willed independant person you are, but do what I say!

Gavyn, oh my Gavyn. I hope I am strong enough for you litle man. You are the strongest willed of all my boys, and the only one who has won the vegetable argument. You take life at your own speed and the hell with life if it doesn't like it. You do need to lighten up a little and be more aware of those around you, that they have feelings to and though you can't feel them theyu hurt just as bad as yours do when someone calls you a name or makes fun of you.

Jenn. The center of my being, the only reason I do any of what I do. I know I don't say it often enough, and could never say it often enough, but I love you. I love you more and more each day we spend together. I don't know what I would be had we not met, so much of my life has been shared with you, so many if my experiences with you that I literally cannpot imagine what life would be like without you in it. Nevermind what would happen to the boys etc, I just do not know how I would go on without knowing you are a phone call or email away. I love you.

Mom, dad. Pretty sure neither of you know this exists, but I love you as well. I understand each of you more and more as my boys grow, and understand what I put you through and often wonder how you coped with you emotionally retarded self centered son.

Phil, don't think we ever got to know one another. You've always been my bigger brother the fountain of all knowledge, most of it later determined to be complete bullshit, but I've never know you as a person, or really though of you as anything more than my big brother. We have a bit in common, not a lot though I am sure if we made an effort we would find it was more than we expected.

Ulan, I know you read this, so chill out. The saphron raid this weekend was a pleasant change where when you screamed at the shammies for dropping a elemental totem you could laugh it off. Palla, bear with him, I think deep down there might be a nice guy in there somewhere, I'd recommend a golden retriever puppy to find it... Worked for me.

For the rest of you, if your not crying like a baby seek professional help. Lord knows I should.

Home for the holidays

Well its that time of year again, we've been listening to christmas carols since Halloween and the time is almost near where we can say good bye to those horrid songs and move back into the real world. I get to spend 10 days at home, due to a very nice boss, this christmas. Jenn has decided she wants to be martha stewart again and invite everyone over for dinner on christmas day. She always makes a fantastic spread, but I don't get to see her for the entire day, so it will be Dad waking the kids up at 5am to open their presents (yeah you read that right, Dad wakes the kids up) and then off to the kitchen for much chopping and cooking until everyone shows up at 5pm.

That means that I have to solo clean the house!! I hate cleaning, not sure anyone likes it, but I hate it. It shows too, since I do such a crappy job at it. Maybe I'll make Kyle and Tristen do some of it… on christmas day… The Grinch is calling he wants his hat back. Christmas is a very stressful time of year, and with the economy the way it is apparently shop lifting is up 60% since september. If someone you know and love had to steal your present so they could get you something, would you feel as good about receiving it? Give the person something heartfelt and home made, cookies whatever, and tell them look, I wanted to get you the PS3, but I can’t afford it since I lost my job. Of course it would be hard to stuff a PS3 down your pants and walk out a store, but you get the point.

Our house is usually a zoo on Christmas, we over do it every year. Last year (or year before I am sure Jenn will correct me) we bought computers for everyone. Yeah definitely the year before, last year was Gavyn, anyways the tv room had a pile of gifts in it that was about 4 ft high, and 5ft around. You couldn’t even see the tree. Did the kids appreciate it all, no. They loved their computers, but I think we still have one of the gifts we bought downstairs in its box, unopened for 2 years. It is however nice to be able to buy the boys whatever I want whenever I want. I am sure it will not last forever, but while it does I spoil my boys because I love them, and can't be with them as much as I want to. Even when I am with them I don't know how to be with them, some bagage there I know but I'm working on it.

Tristen has gotten closest to me because he reminds me of me, and he plays WOW. We leveled a character together until I was having too much fun and instead of waiting for him kept playing. I quickly pulled too far ahead for us to play together anymore and he's been struggling ever since. Bad dad in the works.

Enjoy your holidays, put the crackberry down for a couple of days and spend time with your loved ones doing whatever it is that they want to do, instead of what you want to do.

Joys of holiday travel

Well its been awhile huh. I could lie and say I have been busy, but apart from the go live that went smoother than anything I have ever done in the past, I haven't really been doing anything... Not true, I have been heavily investing in my mage persona in world of warcraft...>.<

I poke fun at people who play sims and are so enamoured with that game where they are essentially building a social network and life for what? If you invested half as much time in your own life as you do in the game I am sure you would find it improving too. But anyways, holiday travel, what a treat... I went home to montreal this past weekend, left on turkey day eve, came back on sunday... They say that the day before thabksgiving is the single busiest travel day of the year. I believe them now. The trains from ny penn station were sardine cans... The line to buy a ticket for a train was easily 2 hrs long... Luckily I'm a rebel.... Don't tell the sheep standing in line, but you can buy a ticket on the train!! Skipped the ridiculously long line and withing 6 minutes of entering the station I was on a train headed to the airport, good start to the weekend!

Spent four awesome days with jenn and the boys. Went to the "bugtarium" to check out all manner of creepy crawlies. We promised the kids several outings this summer, but as usually happens summer got away from me and we didn't do most of them. But we are going to disney so hopefully that will make up for it. I try and avoid making promises unless I know I can keep them. That way the boys know where they stand. Yes means definately, maybe means no, no means I can't believe you even asked...;)

Even though things are a little weird right now in our living arrangements I still feel incredibly lucky to not only be married to the most amazing woman on the planet, and have three of the best boys I've ever met, but I am also working for a pretty cool lady too, who gets that this is a strain and sticks her neck out in these financially tenuous times to fly my sorry can home so I can be with my family.

So even though I almost never show it, I do appreciate it, comes from being a guy...