What have you found? The same old fears. Wish you were here.

I was the oldest child of two boys. Raised by a mother who in her own ways taught me compassion and respect. When I was 16, I became the older brother to a sister. By the time she turned 3, I was already married and long away from home. So I do not know what it was like to have a sister.

I have stumbled across a few people here in this virtual world based on real feelings and thoughts that make me wish I had a sister closer to my age. I read their entries and relate. Some of them seem so close to my own feelings. Other are just a glimpse of their world. These blog sisters vary in style, mannerisms and topics. Each one has their own special appeal to me. I do not know all of their real name. I do not know what they all look like. I don't know if how I envision them fits their true person. Not really how they look, but how they are outside this almost anonymous enviroment. I would be lucky to have an older sister Kay/Rain or a twin sister Indigo/Rose.

For now though, I have to settle for them as my virtual drinking buddies. Which is pretty damn good too.

One Oh One

1. My real name is Darren.
2. Red is my favorite color.
3. I like the number 9.
4. I was born in New Orleans.
5. I am a product of the first years of Sesame Street.
6. When I was a baby I had to wear braces on my legs. Before the braces I had cast and people would ask my mom how I broke my legs, she would say “Skiing”
7. My legs weren’t broke – I have not broken any bones in my body yet.
8. My father was a biker.
9. He died from complications of a motorcycle accident when I was 8.
10. I have a brother 4 years younger than me.
11. He doesn’t remember much of our father.
12. I have known my wife since she was a freshman in high school.
13. I knew she was the one I was going to marry when I first saw her.
14. Our first child was born on our 4th anniversary.
15. Depeche Mode released Songs of Faith and Devotion that same day in the U.S.
16. Depeche Mode is one of my favorite bands.
17. Technically I have been married twice – we eloped and then one year later on the same day, we remarried in a church ceremony for everyone else.
18. I like spicy food.
19. I don't like the texture of peppers though.
20. I enjoy cooking.
21. I almost never follow recipes.
22. I have been investigated by the FBI.
23. My four children have 3 letter names that are not abbreviations of other names.
24. My eyes are hazel.
25. I have no tattoos.
26. I enjoy figuring out how something works.
27. Contrary to how I looked when I was younger, I never did any type of drugs.
28. Still have not tried.
29. I know I won’t try.
30. I can do almost anything I put my mind to.
31. except have babies
32. and maybe surgery – better with a chain saw than a scalpel.
33. I tend to listen more than talk when meeting new people.
34. This somehow intimidates people.
35. My wife’s friends were scared of me.
36. That was fun.
37. I take my kids to their friend’s b-day parties.
38. I am usually the only guy there among the soccer mom set.
39. One mom asked me to be her husband for the day at her son’s party because hers was out of town for the month.
40. I have chased a cow out of my yard.
41. I have a hard time relaxing.
42. I have been told I am adhd. Did you see that show the other night? Saying “email” over and over sort of loses meaning. Are you going to eat that?
43. I love snow.
44. I can ice skate.
45. I played hockey one year.
46. I was a DJ in college.
47. I was too mischievous in college.
48. I didn’t finish college

49. I wanted to be a teacher.
50. I’ll change a flat tire for stranded people.
51. I’ll try to help anyone who asks.
52. I want to tell people they are beautiful without them thinking I am hitting on them.
53. I am a certified ethical hacker.
54. I was an ASE Master mechanic
55. My i-pod always needs charging
56. I have made co-workers cry.
57. I am more of a ninja than a pirate.
58. I wear black on the outside because black is how I feel on the inside.
59. I wear boxer briefs.
60. I prefer pointillism over fresco
61. salty over sweet
62. I do not drink coffee
63. I fell asleep riding my bike once.
64. Brie over bleu
65. I had to find my boss' severed finger once.
66. I don't freak out in a crisis.
67. I see humor in almost everything.
68. I have a high threshold for pain.
69.
70. Stood in line for Joshua Tree tickets for two days, then got in trouble for doing that and was grounded from the show - gave the tickets away to some girls I knew.
71. I have owned and used an acoustic modem.
72. I have no musical talent.
73. I have never smoked.
74. I have a 12 foot vertical ramp in my back yard
75. I do not skate.
76. I prefer the feel of cotton.
77. I am a Libra.
78. I share the same birthday as Bob Geldolf.
79. I think this entry has too much social engineering viability.
80. I have won the halloweeen costume contest at almost every job I have had.
81. I am never satisfied with what I do.
82. I have been to Europe.
83. ...and exotic places like Appleton, Wisconsin.
84. I was into me before I sold out and went corporate.
85. I miss Mike.
86. I owned a Pocket Fisherman by RONCO.
87. I have missed death three times: a)hit by a car on a motorcycle b) stupid friend fired off one round that flew right past my head c) While training for a 150 mile ride a car missed me by 3 inches as my fellow riders freaked out.
88. We are no longer friends.(see b. in 87)
89. I rode in a Mardi Gras parade.
90. During the whole route all I could think about was seeing my girlfriend(wife)
91. I would like to travel more.
92. ...and meet people.
93. I want to learn how to build a barn like the Amish do.
94. I hate shaving.
95. ...but do it anyway.
96. I just noticed my sock has a hole in it.
97. I love bacon!
98. I do the grocery shopping. I see bacon in the future.
99. I like the "Big Nasty" with sweet tea.
100. Still kisses with saliva.
101. If I could be who you wanted. All the time, all the time.

Fellowship of the ring?!? Past Part IV

Here is my wife's prom picture. The blow up section of her hand shows a small band. That band is our wedding band. We eloped a few month before her prom, during the week I was on Spring Break. We could not tell anyone that we were married because her school allowed pregnant girls to attend and not married ones. She was also a National Merit Finalist, Honor Society Member and all that fun stuff. None of our friends knew. Our parents didn't know.

Scenery

Just the other night my wife was doing some random tidying around the house when she passed in front of me. I made a little comment about enjoying the view. She then then proceeded to shake your butt in my general direction and I responded appropriately. My oldest daughter(age 12) was sitting on the far side of the room on a computer when she starts to bellow out "He likes big butts and he cannot lie!"

Thanks Sir-Mix-Alot!

Past Part III

The box contained old letters, photos, ticket stubs, stickers and just stuff from my youth. Going through some of the old items made me realize how simple our lives truly are when we are younger. Reading the old letters written to me and recalling the events around that time seem so trivial, but back then they meant a lot. Which makes me not like how old saying usually are correct. "Things will get better" or "You'll look back at this and laugh" I now find myself saying some of those same things to my kids and I get the same look I gave everyone else in my youth when I heard that stuff.

Continuing with items from my past I now present a picture circa 1988 of me and once again soon to be wife.


Footnote for Rose: Yes I had a pair of Chuck Taylor's, but in this picture I am wearing my K-Swiss High-tops. ;)

Past Part II

Here are two pictures I found in that box...

Me at 3. Boy, did I have a big forehead. I think that shirt might be back in style??!

My wife at 3. She was a blonde! Woot!

Place it in your memory - Leave it in your past - But don't forget

I happen to come across an old bag of stuff, inside and old box, buried in the closet.
Over the next few days I am going to try and post some of it.
This first one is for Indigo. If I remember correctly it was The Music for The Masses Tour.

I'll be throwing up some pictures from my past too.
Enjoy!