Day: August 5, 2014

I spent some time at Lowe’s today purchasing the base pieces for the upcoming treehouse. This is meant to be a project that the boys and I will put together as part of the backyard redo. I’m not prepared to post before/after pictures or diagrams yet. Today I’ll have a conversation with the boys and wifey about what we want out of the backyard. We have a partial-completion date set, based around the time her mother arrives. I want to have a garden area prepared for her, so she can do some planting like she enjoys. I’ve picked out a trio of possible locations for gardening–one is better suited for wildflowers/desert flowers or something to serve as an attractive focal point to the yard. Today we’ll be taking measurements and thinking about how much space we actually have to work with.

I think I’m going to give in and deliver a warped wall. I have some concerns about how high everything gets. I looked into wiring possibilities and realized I could deliver power to the platform, which leads to needing a roof that protects whatever is powered inside. I’m a TV guy, but I don’t know that mounting a TV out there is going to float with everyone in the family. Still, putting an Xbox out there (even as a temporary/while we play) would amp up the cool factor. We also are planning to install a giant-size beyblade arena and who knows what else. All of this leads to roofing needs, which leads to height concerns. This might be a complicated project, but it will be  fun ride.

Some Thoughts:

1. Mistresses is still one of those fun guilty pleasures. Alyssa Milano’s obvious pregnancy was written out of the show. I think they did it to maintain the overly sexual nature of the show. I wish they would write out the April character, because her storyline is crap. It brings down the show (if such a thing is even possible with something that low already). Presently there is some man following her around. wit any luck that man will kill her and end this side jaunt into daytime soap madness.

Football is in the air. After a so-so output in last night’s game the Giants faced the loss of another player, David Wilson. The equally electrifying and befuddling RB suffered a serious injury in a game last year. It required surgery to fuse his neck. He tried to come back this year and after suffering a burner in practice he was advised to end football and waived (Injured) by the Giants. His career is over, but his life isn’t.

The incident calls for reflection on football in general. My first born is excited to take his first snaps in the spring, despite the very vocal protests of his mother. Stuff like this gives her more fuel to say no. Stuff like this should put her at ease but reports show that she is just one of many parents who look at football as the quickest path to their kids lives being shortened. As a mother my wife’s concerns are both valid and understood. On the other hand, I don’t feel comfortable holding him out at this age only to have him jump in–like I did–once he can do so on his own and suffer an injury simply because he didn’t know what to expect.

Football–be it watching, coaching, playing (expect a comeback in 4 weeks!), or life in the Fantasy leagues–is a part of my life. I’d be proud to have it be a part of my kids life the way it was/is in mine. I do my research and recognize the risks, but life is risk. I’d rather have them colliding in pads and helmets then out there slamming their bodies into the pavement from some American Ninja or extreme sports mishap.

I don’t see anyone trying to stop them from doing that stuff either.