It only took a week, but I could clearly see the physical changes, and soon noticed that his mental development had progresses as well. I guess it’s a parent thing (I still can’t believe I am one), but having never raised a child before this moment came as a shock. I do not believe that sometime during the previous week my Tyler was abducted by pod people and replaced with a near-perfect carbon copy, but the changes were quite staggering and evident.

This, more than anything to date, has really hammered home the fact that Karin and I should treasure each day with Tyler.  Sooner than either of us expect he’ll be riding a bike, going to kindergarden, playing sports, doing well in school, attending his prom, going to college…then he’s gone.  Our son.  Off on his own. Forever.

But in the meantime we’re stocking up on DVDs of The Muppet Show, Sesame Street, and Mister Rogers…because every kid deserves a decent television role model.

It’s scary how quickly four years can slip by.  It seems like just yesterday when Karin and I met for the first time for lunch, getting to know each other over self-conscious bites of sandwiches, trying our best not to get food stuck between our teeth.

And now here we are, four years later living in a great house with an amazing 19-month-old son, both of us doing quite well in our respective professions, and with no worries other than the upcoming zombie apocalypse.  How can life get any better?

And to celebrate, tonight we’ll be attending a production of The Rocky Horror Show at the Old Globe Theater in Balboa park.  We haven’t been to a play in several years, so this should be a fun!

This is a great way to kick off a relaxing weekend.  Hope everyone has a great one, and I’ll see you next week!

“I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey…”

UPDATE (9/18/11): If you’re anywhere near the San Diego area and you’re remotely interested in the Rocky Horror Picture show, go see this play!  I can’t emphasis it enough.  The guy playing Riff Raff possessed a powerhouse of a voice, Magenta and Columbia are perfectly cast, and Frank N. Furter looks surprisingly like Morressy and is a natural for the part.  And did I mention the Narrator?  This guy is something else, keeping everything together and making you laugh from start to finish.  It features a fantastic cast who really knows how to play to the audience, and even contains a new “Brad Song”.  When Karin and I went we saw people of all age groups attending, and everyone had a great time.  Do yourself a favor and see this play!

Personally, I’d love to see it one more time, and that’s coming from a straight-laced square…

And at 18 months, Tyler has learned how to ride on my shoulders while Karin and I walk around.

This past weekend we were hiking up to a far-flung and isolated portion of the San Diego Wild Animal Park where you can watch the animal trainers as they work with the elephants, with Tyler sitting on my shoulders the entire trek. Just as we crested the final hill and could see the small outlook porch Tyler begins softly stroking my hair, then plants several kisses on top of my head and says, “Daddy!”

I dunno. Maybe it’s just me, but as a first-time father this small gesture was a special moment which put a permanent smile in my heart.

Happy Friday!

I replied, “No.”

The way I see it, I’m not independently wealthy, so that means that I’d have to work the rest of my life.  I would forever be trying to make ends meet to afford food and shelter.  If I became injured, lost a limb, went insane or was beset by any other similar calamity then I’d have to suffer with it until I died (read: never).  If I ever committed a serious crime then the sentence of “life in prison” would take on a whole new meaning.  And if everyone chose to live forever, how quickly would the planet become overpopulated?  How could we grow enough food to support a population of immortals?

There are just too many factors to consider in this particular scenario.  I believe that humans have just right amount of life in them to grow, learn, experience, multiply and eventually die.  I myself am not anxious to leave this mortal coil, but I’m of the mind that there’s something else waiting for us beyond this life, and I’m quite curious to see what that is.

Live forever?  Count me out…

What is the root and cause of this change in state of being you might ask?  Well, Fireblossom from Shay’s Word Garden has presented with with the much-coveted Overlord Award:

Now, this award doesn’t some cheaply.  To rightfully lay claim so such an awesome and majestic award there are rules one must follow.  First, one has to list three things one would change in the world. Second, one must pass this award on to ten other worthy bloggers. Lastly, one must notify the recipients that they have been bestowed this honorable award.

With great power comes great responsibility, so let’s get on with it…

The three things I would change in this world would be:

1- Anytime anyone utters the word “anywho”, they’re instantly transported back to the early 80′s and forced to watch reruns of BJ and the Bear until they see the error of their ways.

2- Limp Bizkit…they never happened.

3- Sammy Davis Jr., Vincent Price and John Wayne would be immortal, ageless and undying.

And to whom will I pass on this most illustrious of awards?  Here they are, in no particular order:

Forks Of The Moment
Going To Hell With Her Spectacles On
Objets D’art (yes, I had to go there)
Caught My Eye
Vent (again?  Yes!)
Pearl, Why You Little…
The House Of Husar
The Madlab Post
When Pigs Fly
Totally Useless (thanks for being there at the beginning!)

And now the onus is on me  to notify these fine individuals that they’re the proud recipients of this singularly unique award lusted after by billions of bloggers the world over!