In Between Days

Well folks, we survived & Mia survived Thanksgiving. Well, actually it was a Thanksgiving tour. This was the very first year Jill & myself celebrated Thanksgiving together at a house. Usually we just separate & go our own ways. I worked 6am-2pm (quite busy and short handed I might add) then we headed off to Madison for Thanksgiving at my older bro's apartment along with my parents and sister. It was a great time. Everything tasted yummy and we had a wonderful time. The ride home however, was quite painful. Mia was crying and screaming the whole way till we got to Waukesha to pick up my car at KT. She slept the 10 minute ride back to New Berlin. Good grief, kid.

Friday morning we headed off to Illinois for the weekend. My first three-day weekend in a real real long time. Mia was great the whole ride. Usually is when it's daylight on car rides. We had Thanksgiving part II. Once again, great food and throughout the weekend we visited with Jill's friends, her grandma, her family and her aunt. I love going to see my 2nd family because it makes Jill so happy to see all of them. They can't get enough of little Mia. I have to let them have their much-needed & deserved Mia time. Sadly, the weekend went by way too quickly and come Sunday, we headed home. Luckily, I didn't work that night so her family could spend more time with Mia. Jill's mom was so excited friday when I told her we didn't have to leave early in the morning.

Today, like every Wednesday, I was off. The last few nights Mia's been quite angry. Her top teeth are in and hurting like crazy. Today thankfully, she was real great. My bro came over and we hung out for a while. Hit up some Hockey Haven, visited his wife and mine, just driving around and catching up. Before we got married, we used to hang out quite a lot. Used to skateboard/film, he'd stay over by me, play music together etc etc. But since we work odd hours, we rarely get the chance to do much together. So with that, I thoroughly enjoy chilling with my bro when I can. Plus, he enjoys playing with Mia! All and all, had a fantastic day off.

It's December tomorrow which means every weekend will be booked full of things to do and people to see. I better get some art done dudes.

The Routes We Wander

Thanksgiving: Typically, Jill and I separate around this time of the year so she can spend time with her familia and I usually eat an early dinner and work the weekend. This year, it's different. I'm STILL working on Thanksgiving like I have for the last 12 plus years, but in the early morning and we're going to jet over to Madison to eat dinner with my family. Friday, we're heading out to Illinois for the weekend. This is the VERY FIRST year Jill and I are eating Thanksgiving with each other at a house on the actual holiday. Last year, we made an early turkey day mini feast and went on our own separate ways. It's also Mia's first Thanksgiving. Should be interesting. Hopefully she survives the drive down to Illinois.

Today I was off, and it was quite lovely. Spent a little time with my lil bro Andy at his casa. He's doing so much better with Mia. Getting way more comfortable holding her and she's giving him lots of hugs. Maybe it's because we look alike and she sees him as a safe individual to hug? She also pet HIS baby kitten Dex. It was her first time petting a cat. I was slightly nervous at first because I didn't know how Dex would react. The kitten is so docile and didn't mind Mia petting him. Later, I stopped at KT to visit Steph B who baby sat her over the summer while I cut our big yard. She couldn't believe how big Mia has gotten. Neither can I.

Like every Wednesday night, I cooked dinner for Jill and I and we had a very relaxing evening with Mia and got to watch our shows. Mia was uber hyper, but I made her laugh quite a bit and it was super hilarious. You can see those big-ass teeth of hers coming in on top. Very cute.

Before I head off to bed soon, I'd like to give thanks to my fantastic and patient wife Jill, my wonderful and supportive family and friends and my healthy little shark, Mia. It's been a crazy year and I'm thankful every day that we have a healthy little baby.

Parade of Punk Rock T-Shirts

Let's talk about tattoos. I LOVE tattoos. I love the whole process of the consultation to getting the work inked on you forever. I even thought about becoming an apprentice and learning the fine art of tattooing, but currently, I don't have the time or energy needed to learn as much as possible. No big deal, I'll design some concepts for friends. It's fun actually.Tattoos are one of those things that if you don't have one, you either A-not into tattoos or B-afraid of needles or what could be painful. When I was 17, I really wanted to get an Alkaline Trio heart tattooed on my forearm. But because KT doesn't like exposed tattoos, I shrugged the idea off for a while. Still in the back of my mind, I really wanted to get tattooed. Jill asked me a few weeks ago "why are you and your brothers so into tattoos...?" Hard to explain at times. My 1/4 was well thought out for a good year. The most important part of getting tattooed is picking the RIGHT guy/girl to do it. I turned to my older brother's wife for anyone she recommended. She sent me a good list of some great artist in and around southeastern WI and Chicago. I really liked John Reiter's work at Solid State in Bay View. His 1/2 sleeve of surreal-inspired clocks sold me that he'd be the guy for my tattoo. The first session felt great. Like a nice massage. It's funny how you think "damn this is gonna hurt" but it really wasn't that bad. It was great having my lil brother and dad along too.

A month later, I went in for my 2nd session, super excited for the finished product. This time Jill came along. First hour, felt great. He was working on the green bushes on the coast part of the skyline. When he started working on the bone, it started to hurt some, and when he added some colour shading on the inside of my arm, that's when some pain was really felt. There was never a moment where I said "I can't do this anymore" because the tattoo meant way too much to me. Getting the Milwaukee skyline with the Chicago skyline in the water reflection (with sunset) turned out amazing. But like most people, it just made me want more.

In time, maybe 4-5 years from now, I'd like to get a Mia-inspired tattoo on my right arm. Not a portrait however. I'm not a fan of portraits. I want something creative and very colourful. So, I'm thinking of getting a shark with various fish and aquatic animals. I've loved sharks for quite a while, and to me, Mia sort of acts like one. She scared the crap out of us when they said her cord was wrapped around her neck, but when all was said in done, she was perfect. Even though I thought about some penguin-inspired tattoos, I think it'd probably be too predictable if it was penguin-related.

Like I said, I've got 4-5 years to think about it. Could the idea change again? Maybe. That's the point of THINKING the tattoo through. I respect those who go and get some ink on a whim, but I'd prefer to think about it real hard. Currently, I'm digging the idea of getting my tattoos family-themed. In the end, they're the most important part of your life. I knew immediately when we had Mia, that I had to get something. Why 4-5 years you say? I want Mia to be able to watch and see me get tattooed for her. She may not get the reason why I'm doing it, but it'll be a special moment. I remember when Jill came for my second session. It meant so much to me that she could see how much I love her. When I get my Mia tattoo, she'll also see just how much I love her.

Fine

It's gonna rain like this for days,
I'm gonna drown in my old ways,
But I'm fine.
I'm fine.

It's gonna hurt like hell
When you pull back the hammer and fire,
But I'm fine
I'm fine.

You see a storm knocked out my super power,
Now I sleep through thundershowers.
Wake me when you learn to be cool.
If I'm the captain of this boat then on my ship may talk fools.
And all the the stars in the world couldn't help me steer my way out of this kiddie pool.

I'm gonna wake up from these dreams
With nightmares lined up on my street,
But I'm fine.
I'm fine.

Needed a hand to keep my head up
So you put hooks in both my ears,
And I'm fine.
I'm fine.

Yeah there's a chronic pain in my ass but know it's not a burden.
It's ironic that I drink to make my insides stop hurting.
And it's love that gives me heartburn,
It's a song that makes my stomach turn,
And I wouldn't trade my hand for all the aces in the deck.

'Cause I'm fine
'Cause I'm fine

Been finding myself relating to this song more and more lately. Earlier in the week, I was feeling downright depressed about my so-called career. Just felt beyond beaten about my job. Here's the scoop on the daily routine at the Mike & Jill Manor. We get up at 6am, I take Remi for a walk when Jill feeds Mia. I come home from my walk/run with Remi, feed him, the guinea pigs and we have breakfast. Jill has a little more Mia-Time before heading off to work till 5ish. I'm home with Mia till 1:30 before my mom comes over to watch and I go to work till 10. As much as I'd LOVE LOVE LOVE to go and apply/interview for another job, there's a few dense roadblocks in my way. The fact that I have Mia during the day time leaves me sort of limited on interviews, Mia and Jill are both covered under my insurance at Kwik Trip so if I was to hypothetically pick up a full-time job, there's that lovely 3-month probation period before getting insurance (if they offer it) I don't know if Kwik Trip would keep me on their insurance or if they'd drop me immediately if I went to part time or quit. AND finally, we don't have money to pay for daycare for Mia, so the current situation (no matter how much it sucks at times) is working. We're saving a boat, if not a yaht-load of money from daycare, from which I am always grateful for my mom for babysitting my little Mia.

I know I look pathetic to most of the younger guys at Kwik Trip, especially because my degree is getting dusty, but I can't be the risk-taking father I wish I was. I have to be the responsible father. I probably should have taken more risks when I was going through jobs. What would be great is if Cascio Interstate Music was hiring and that i worked there on weekends. Being around music and drums would be so great. They rarely hire though. Rats. I know I've posted a few times about this inner struggle with myself about my career and work etc etc, but this week really had my pounding my head against the wall, so to speak. I hate having to rely on Jill to get me out of this rut. She has to be getting tired of telling me "Mike, it's not the job that's important, it's that you are there for Mia, that's what really matters". If that's the case, why did I go to school for 4 years? Why am I paying student loans? I really don't know what the "cure" for my blues. Is it Mia giggling with that goofy smile of hers? Is it a much-needed hug? Is it quietly working on art late in the evening? Or is it the music that I've relied on to get me through some of the roughest days? Only time will tell.

Calling All Skeletons

Well, Mia survived her very FIRST trick-or-treating. I worked a very early 6am-2pm shift at KT. Mind-numbing and busy all day. The whole shift I kept my eyes peeled on the weather like a kid hoping for a sunny day for recess. All I wanted was to be able to walk around the neighborhood with my kid, Jill and my family that stopped over. It was on-and-off raining. Rats. My nephew didn't mind the weather at all. He tore New Berlin a new one looking for candy. We just wanted to take her out as Nemo just to say she went "out" on Halloween. Next year, she'll be running all over the place. Seeing all the kids out made me excited for next year. Watching Mia run up and down the driveways.

Still working hard on my Mia picture. Haven't been the last few days, but plan to put some good hours in it this week. Did a little work today in between her naps. I love my Wednesdays off. Jill especially does because we get to spend the evening together which is pretty rare. Mia couldn't have been happier with us BOTH home. It's pretty amazing to see her just super excited shrieking and laughing. Any bad day can be lifted by hearing her giggle. This weekend, we're heading to Illinois for a day to visit with Jill's parents. Her Dad is due for some serious Mia time since he doesn't get to see her often. Remi will be excited too. He loves loves loves Jill's dad and running all around their house. I feel bad for him that we can't always give him all the attention he'd like. He was our 'first born' and got used to lots of play time with his 3 walk minimum. Today, the rain kept him from going out for a #2. It'll be an early run Thursday morning for sure.