Core i7 processor (fastest consumer processor as of this week at least). New 23 inch monitor just came in today. HOLY CRAP. It’s huge. And HD 1080p. Now I’m wishing I’d upgraded to the BluRay drive in the laptop. ; ) But I shouldn’t get too greedy I suppose. The purpose of all of this tech upgrade was to facilitate my workload. Running processor-intensive programs on the little Acer laptop just wasn’t going well. I’d get 4 or 5 programs running (which is unfortunately a necessity) and then I’d just sit and wait. And wait. Not anymore!

As the picture above shows, this week Google has been honoring public television by applying Sesame Street characters to it’s logo. I about died when I saw Cookie Monster. Simply amazing. The Big Bird logo the day before that was pretty sweet, too.

Well, to all those reading – it’s time for a nice weekend. Becca’s been hinting at actually doing something this weekend – as of yet undetermined. Tonight I intend on getting a nice “tasty steak” (because that was the only thing I could think about during today’s social networking class) and then passing out on the couch. Tomorrow may hold something better. We’ll see. Ciao!

Anyways, now I’m relaxing in the A/C in preparation for the big show tonight.  We’ll be heading out to the Picnic with the Pops.  Full orchestra, great music and best of all: fireworks (set off w/ music ending in the 1812 Overture complete with canon fire).  I like stuff that goes boom.  Abby will likely be scared to death.  She’s not a fan of thunder, so canon fire and close-range fireworks are likely to set her off.  But we’ve been talking it up all week, so hopefully she’ll be a trooper.

And if that’s not enough excitement, tomorrow is the big Lee family reunion.  I say big because of the sheer number of Lees.  There’s the 13 siblings (I’m #14), significant others, my dad and plenty of uncles/aunts/cousins/random relatives to go around.  I’ve only missed the Lee reunion once or twice in my life, but this will be the first time it’s been held at my dad’s place in a few years.  This makes me happy…  I don’t like having those types of events at neutral parks, etc.  For one, you can’t drink.  ; )  But more to the point, having a family gathering on family property just makes it more special (some of my older siblings are giving tours of the Lee Cemetery – sounds creepy, but not all of us know the full Lee history!).

This is kind of the official launch into summer I suppose.  I think we have something planned every weekend in July.  There’s a 4th party, a gathering of old Kerasotes co-workers, a trip to Tennessee, a Dave Matthews Band concert and if all goes well – a camping trip or 2.  Oh, and my 8th wedding anniversary is in July, too.  Wow.  8 years.  We’re getting old-ish.

I’ve been involved with Abby ever since she was born, but I’ve deferred to Becca for her motherly instincts.  That’s not to say that I never did anything or didn’t care, but I considered myself #2 on the parenting scale.  Well, 5 days a week from 8-5 I’m now parent #1.  I’ve learned a lot about who my daughter is (and is becoming).  What’s more interesting is that I’ve learned quite a bit about myself.  All my life I’ve heard my mother, sisters and a number of other parents mention how their children are a mirror into their own personalities, etc.  I now know this to be all too true!

Abby is my mini-me – warts and all.  She’s taken to burping and farting (part of me loves this…) and she has the most bizarre sense of humor.  On the flip side, she’s stubborn.  S.T.U.B.B.O.R.N.  She is quickly becoming an expert at delaying situations/events that she doesn’t want to happen.  I.E. bedtime, naptime and leaving parks, etc.  And man is she slow.  She takes forever using the toilet and even more washing her hands.

Anybody who knows me is probably bowled over in maniacal laughter.  Oh the irony!

Regardless, it’s an adventure.  I find myself defaulting to television as I figure out how to budget my time in working and other obligations.  Need to do a better job of planning activities and teaching her everything I know.  Need to get some musical instruments and start getting her interested in music.  Need to, need to, need to.  I’m getting there.  I’ve found myself racking my brain trying to remember how my mom and I passed the time when I was little.  I remember crayons, Sesame Street/Mr. Rogers and lots of playing outside.

Meh.  Well, I apologize for the brief sojourn from my posting here.  I’ll do my best to not let that become a habit.

Here are 5 random things that have made me happy today, in no particular order:

1. Sesame Street:  Picked up a CD with Sesame Street’s greatest hits.  Such classics as “Rubber Ducky You’re the One” and “It’s Not Easy Being Green” made the grade.  Listening to children’s music in the car hasn’t been this entertaining since, well, ever!
2. Sweet Tea: Need I say more?
3. McDonald’s McCafe: Normally, I would steer clear of a fast-food giant’s attempts at being glamorous.  But where I live, the nearest Starbucks is literally 15 minutes away.  McDonald’s?  5 minutes.  In a nutshell – ME + McCafe Mocha = Happy.
4. Cool Temperatures: Just yesterday I was moaning about the 90 degree temperatures.  Today?  Well, despite the rain that brought it in, I’m really digging the 65 degree temp.  Mmhmm… it’s my sweet spot.
5. Kid’s Book Containing the Word ‘Poop’: Nothing makes me happier than to read a book to my daughter and catch myself laughing at the word poop.  No matter how much older I get, the 10 year old inside of me just can’t get over poop humor.  And the best part of it?  My daughter laughs at the word poop, too.  And her 2.5 year old giggles every time either one of us farts?  Priceless.

What’s made you happy today?

Had lunch at a local BBQ place today – Fat Man’s BBQ.  It’s not earth-shatteringly great, but definitely worth the price.  You can get a pulled-meat (you choose the meat) sandwich, a side and a drink for $5.  Not bad at all.  I payed a little extra and had the beef brisquet.  Mmmm…

Abby and I dropped by the library.  Currently, they’re remodeling our library and it STINKS in that place.  Not like dirty, but that awful chemical smell from paint or adhesives or something.  Kind of stuff that makes you feel like you’re loosing brain cells just by breathing.  Awesome.  Thankfully, I don’t linger at the library.  I go in with no idea of what I’m getting and just start pulling crap off the shelves that look halfway interesting.  I usually don’t do that bad when it’s all said and done.  Abby had time to do 2 puzzles, so she was pleased.  : )

Now that she’s napping, it’s time to brainstorm, write and ponder things.  Ponder, ponder.

(image courtesy of crossthebreeze.com)