Life’s Little Moments

The past few weeks have been crazy. It seems like every one of us has had doctor appointments for various things. Then Ella starting Kindergarten began an entirely new schedule for us. Andrew will start preschool after the holiday, so there are yet more changes coming.

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My father-in-law is the best! As you know, he has helped me with every project I have had to do at home. He is always bringing over tools to work on things because I don’t have them. Well, they sadly had to sell their place up north. When they went up to clean out their stuff, he found some things for me.

My brothers-in-law and my father-in-law each have just about every tool at home. So when they were cleaning stuff, they brought some tools to me.

I was super surprised when he brought home a couple saws (including a chain saw), an oscillating tool, a drill and an impact drill. It was like Christmas came early. I’ll have to rearrange the garage, or better yet, get a nice big tool box to put them in. Thanks, Dad.

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Sunday I took the kids to the Children’s Zoo. The weather was perfect. The high was only in the low 70’s and there was plenty of sunshine.

We’re zoo members, so we can ride the train and carousel as many times as we want. We certainly did!

The animals were plenty active that day. The monkeys were bouncing all over the place, the penguins were swimming, and the prairie dogs seemed extra crazy. What thrilled the kids (and me) was the otter. They usually swim around and ignore folks, but Sunday one was putting on a show! He kept swimming by the glass, doing flips in the water, and following kids back and forth on the other side of the glass. He seemed to come right up to the glass to everyone who was there.

The kids loved every second.

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Monday was weird weather wise. It went from sunny to cloudy and back to sunny. Every once in a while there was a small shower, but nothing big. My wife wanted me to grill burgers for dinner. So I went out, started the grill (as the sun was shining) and put the patties on the grill. within 5 minutes there was crazy rainfall. It was coming down pretty hard along with some good thunder. Me neighbors must have thought I was crazy!

Thank goodness my wife’s car was unlocked so I could grab her umbrella!

Fun At The County Fair

I got a call last Friday from my friend Margaret. She told me that the county fair was going on up by her and that Saturday was the last day. She asked if maybe we’d like to go. My wife had to work that night, so she was unable to go, but the kids and I drove up to join her. I felt bad that my wife couldn’t be there for their first fair experience, but I made sure to take a lot of pictures to send her.

The kids were so excited to go and Margaret road with me so I knew where I was going. Her husband Walt and his daughter Maddie followed us there. Right from the get go, there were plenty of animals to see. The kids were fascinated by the ducks and chickens. One set of ducks kept quacking at Andrew! They also loved seeing all of the bunnies. There were some big ones!

Inside, there were bigger animals and I loved seeing the excitement on the kids faces. Andrew kept saying hello to them all. “Hello, goat!” “Hello, cow!” “Hello, pig!” Ella was loving it too!

There were some big smiles as we walked through and looked at the animals. Just like the ducks who were quacking, there was one goat who wouldn’t stop talking. They stood by the goat and kept talking back to it. Every time it made a noise, they’d crack up!

At the fair, there were plenty of cows! The smaller ones were just hanging around and people could go up and pet them. Andrew was standing in the hay and said, “Can I take my shoes off, Daddy?” Uh…. no! The cow Ella is with actually started eating her dress and Ella had to play tug of war to get it back!

Naturally, they had to get up on just about every tractor and vehicle that was available to them. There were so many things to do and we hadn’t even gone out on the midway yet!

They saw the carousel from the parking lot when we arrived and that is where they wanted to go first. Aunt Margaret spoiled them by getting them wristbands so they could ride whatever they wanted. I chuckled at this because I do not ride carnival rides. What is funnier is that neither does she! Maddie, however, said she’d ride whatever rides they wanted to.

First stop, and my ONLY ride of the day, was the carousel. I have to be careful, because if I don’t focus, my benign positional vertigo can kick in. LOL.

Andrew wanted to ride on the bench, which surprised me. Maddie joined him. I was so glad to catch this beautiful shot of Ella patiently waiting for the ride to start.

This ride was tame compared to some of the ones they were on. They rode that pirate ship thing that goes back and forth. They did that bear/dragon that you sit in and it spins around and then you can make it spin by turning the wheel inside it. They rode that caterpillar rollercoaster. They also rode on that one that goes up high and low while it spins…. I love how excited Ella looks in this picture.

It was pretty warm that day and it showed. So we made sure to stop and get them something to drink. Andrew is all about pop right now. I figured they’d both get one, but Ella saw someone with a snow cone and she had to try one! She loved it. Eventually, when the flavor was gone, she let Andrew try it!

Shortly after this, we found the bounce house and that was where they spent a good chunk of the day. They kept going in and out and being silly. Andrew was sweating like crazy and came out and asked if we could go home. Both were pretty tuckered out. We missed Uncle Walk going up in that crazy cage thing that goes around and around and people in the cages can make it go upside down and such (no thank you!). I would have loved to watch that!

On the way out that thanked Aunt Margaret and had to get a picture. You can really see how tired they were by this time.

On the way out I promised them one more thing. There were ponies that you could ride as we walked in, so I kept my promise and they each got to do a pony ride. They each got a cowboy hat and wore them home.

It was almost bedtime when we got home, but they had to call and fill mommy in on all the fun they had. I can’t wait until our county fair comes to town next month. I’m sure they will be ready for more rides. I just gotta figure out who is going to ride with them!!

Tune Tuesday – You Can Have Her

Today’s Tune Tuesday song is by a guy who should have been bigger than he was – Roy Hamilton.

Roy was born in Georgia on this day in 1929. He found success in 1953 with the song You’ll Never Walk Alone from the movie Carousel. It went to number 1 on the R&B chart and stayed there for 8 weeks. When he performed the song on the Ed Sullivan show, it got him more attention. His record label rushed him in to record other songs including Unchained Melody (which was a hit for Al Hibbler). In 1955, his version held the top spot on the R&B chart while, on the pop chart, it had reached the number six spot. It was the second number-one R&B hit of his career as well as the first, and only, top-ten US pop hit of his career.

In 1956, Roy developed a lung condition that was compared to tuberculosis and announced an indefinite retirement from show business. A year later, when he was in better health, he resumed his career, but pop standards weren’t so hot anymore. By this time, Rock and Roll had made the scene. So, in late 1957, Epic coaxed Hamilton into recording “Don’t Let Go”, an R&B rocker produced by Otis Blackwell (who wrote Don’t Be Cruel and All Shook Up for Elvis). By early 1958, “Don’t Let Go” had become the second US top-15 pop hit of Hamilton’s career and the first top-40 hit ever recorded in stereo.

By the mid 1960’s, sadly, Roy’s career was on the down side. In 1969, he made his last recordings at the same studio where Elvis was recording. About 6 months later, he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage while at home and was in a coma for a week before he was taken off life support. Roy was 40 years old when he died.

In a 2017 documentary for the BBC, Hamilton’s son Roy Hamilton Jr. revealed that Elvis sent Roy’s wife, Myrna, a rose every day Hamilton was in the hospital. When Roy passed away from complications of his stroke, Presley sent Myrna flowers for the following six months.

Today, I wanted to share his last hit record – You Can Have Her. In 1961, the song spent 10 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 12, while reaching No. 6 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Sides chart. The lyrics tell the story of a man who’s love has left him for someone else. It is a song that at one time hit home for me and led to a moment I still am not very proud of.

I once had to DJ a wedding for the sister of my ex-girlfriend. It was an incredibly awkward time for me. By the time of this wedding, my ex had remarried and had a child. Throughout that evening, I avoided looking at her as much as I could. I remember all of the emotions and they got the best of me. During a set of uptempo oldies, I snuck You Can Have Her into the mix. This would certainly be a song that no one at this party would know. Oh sure, they danced to it, but it was literally played for … my own satisfaction. Not one of my best moments.

Anyway, I digress. Roy Hamilton had SO many great songs that have long been forgotten. If you get the chance to listen to more of his stuff, I encourage it. Here is You Can Have Her:

You Can Have Her

Well, you can have her, I don’t want her,
She didn’t love me anyway.
She only wanted someone to play with
But all I wanted was love to stay.

Well, you get stuck with the wrong woman
There’s only one thing that you can do:
Just dig a hole and jump right in it,
And pull the ground right over you.

[Chorus:]
Well, you can have her (you can have her)
I don’t want her ( I don’t want her),
She didn’t love me (didn’t love me ) anyway (anyway).
She only wanted (only wanted) someone to play with (one to lay with)
But all I wanted (all I wanted) was love to stay (was love to stay).

The girl I love, she, up and left me,
She ran away with my best friend.
Comes home at night just for an hour
When day light comes she’s gone again.

[Chorus]

Life without love is mighty empty,
But confession’s good for the soul.
I’d rather have love that I can cling to
Than have the world and all of it’s gold.

(You can have her) you can have her,
(I don’t want her) I don’t want her,
(She didn’t love you) She didn’t love me, (anyway) anyway.
(She only wanted) she only wanted (someone to play with) someone to play with
(But all I wanted) Ohh! (Was love to stay) Ohh!

You can have her (you can have her)
I don’t want her (I don’t want her)
She didn’t love me (didn’t love me) anyway (anyway)
She only wanted (only wanted) someone to play with (someone to play with)
But all I want (all I want)
All I want (all I want)
All I want (all I want)
All I want (all I want)…

Halloween Pain Train

Aunt Margaret called us this week and invited us to join her and her family at Crossroads Village and the Huckleberry Railroad. The Ghosts and Goodies Halloween theme has been going on all month and it is such fun. They do up the whole town in spookiness and the family gets to trick or treat from building to building.

It was such a treat to see so many kids dressed up in their costumes. Costumes are optional, and my kids didn’t dress up. We rode the train first. They have all kinds of wonderful things along the train route for the kids to see. Pumpkin rock bands, Skeletonville, aliens, and so much more.

The steam engine that pulled the train was build in 1920. All of the train cars have all been restored and some date back to the late 1800’s. We had the windows up and the kids were looking outside. Because of the age of the train and the cars, the windows don’t always stay up. Sam and I each held up the window where the kids sat. For one brief second, Sam let go of the window and it came down on Ella’s arm. It had to really hurt! I was worried she might have broke it, but thankfully, she just has one wicked bruise!

After the train ride, we grabbed our bags and began trick or treating. Each of the buildings was done up in Halloween themes. We were there during the day, and I am sure it has to look even cooler at night.

Midway through trick or treating, we passed the carousel. This is the fastest carousel in Michigan. It is FAST. You have to really hold on. I’ve taken a spin on it a few times, so when Margaret informed us that we were all riding it, me and Uncle Walt found a bench to sit on!

When we got done with the carousel, and the dizziness subsided, we went outside and there was a kiddie ride. Ella called it a roller coaster, but it was just a mini merry-go-round with horses and buggies.

Ella did fine, but Andrew was hanging on for dear life!

After we finished trick or treating, we got to go to the cafeteria where everyone got donuts and cider. Ella loves frosted donuts, so she wasn’t sure about the cinnamon sugar ones. Once she tried it, however, she loved it. She also stole a piece of Aunt Margaret’s pizza!

It was a perfect day to be there. It was a tad chilly, but sunny. We probably would have stayed a bit longer, but Sam had to go to work that night. Memories were made and there was a lot of smiles and laughter. Thank you Aunt Margaret for sharing such an amazing day with us!

They will be doing a Christmas train this winter, and we hope to be back for that, too!

Zoo Boo ’22

Yesterday was the perfect fall day, although chilly. We have a membership to the Children’s Zoo and knew that around Halloween they did Zoo Boo. Originally, we had planned to take the kids up one weekend. However, with all that’s gone on in the past week, and with the colder temperatures, Sam suggested just taking Ella for some one-on-one time. It was going to be too cold for me to take Andrew.

I packed up the stroller and put it in the car. Packed a bag for her and I, and we took the short trip up I 75 to the zoo. The colder temperatures kept some of the animals indoors and not out on exhibit, but that didn’t seem to matter. The zoo was bustling with all kinds of parents and children- some in costume and some not.

All along the walkways of the zoo are little areas that people can decorate for various seasons and such. There were so many wonderful little Halloween displays. There were many pumpkins, ghosts, mums, sunflowers, all dressed up in Fall colors.

When we walked in, Ella was handed a trick or treat bag for a lot of the various stops and games throughout the zoo that day. We were only a few feet into the zoo and she heard the trains whistle and took off because she wanted to go and ride the train.

The train was already out riding along the tracks, and the line for the next train ride had already started to form. Very close to the train depot was a little traveling coffee truck. I decided to go over and get a coffee to warm me up, and Ella asked for some lemonade.

After our train ride, LOL wanted to go and play on the little playground. She wanted to go down the slide, and wanted me to as well! I joked and said that I didn’t think that my butt would fit on the slide. (Earlier last week we had stopped at a park, and Sam got on a swing and Ella had told her she was proud that her butt fit into the swing!) When I slid down she was at the bottom of the slide to greet me saying, “Yay, daddy! Your butt fitted the slide!” Then she asked to go down again!!

After visiting the prairie dogs, the otters, the wolves, and the alligator, Ella wanted to ride the carousel. She was talking about in on the ride there. She was going to ride on the bunny (there are actually 2 of them, thank goodness). As soon as the opened the gate for us to get on the ride, she was looking for the bunny. No other kid was on it yet, so she claimed it for her ow.

After riding the carousel twice, she asked to go home. On my way out, she said, “I wanna see the animals again.” Thankfully, we hadn’t walked out yet. We walked back through and she played a few games that were set up along the way and in one of the tents. She won some stuffed pumpkin looking guy and a lamb, which she loves.

After walking through again, I was glad she didn’t fight me when I said it was time to go home and warm up. As we walked outside, we once again passed by two bear sculptures that were donated to the zoo. They are pretty awesome. The won awards at ArtPrize. You can read about them here:

https://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw-bay-city/2022/10/1000-pound-artprize-bear-sculptures-donated-to-saginaw-childrens-zoo.html

Ella wanted to stand by the big brown bear and she started roaring like a bear! It was so cute!

There has been so much going on in our lives that getting away for a bit to share some fun with Ella was nice. I missed having the rest of the family there, though.

I hope to get the whole family out together for an outing before fall gives way to winter.

It only took like 26 different pictures to get one where we were both looking at the camera!

A Weekend of Ups and Downs

This weekend certainly was one that left me emotionally drained. It also left me knowing that there are things that I need to do as well as some priorities that need shifting. Some things are just too important and changes need to be made. I have every intention of doing what needs to be done. That is all I really want to say about that.

Monday

The weather was perfect to be outside. I decided that I was going to take the kids to the zoo. We are members, so it was a free day for us. I packed a lunch and we got there when it opened at 10am. Both Sam and I thought it would be quiet for a Monday, but there were a few childcare places doing field trips there.

We didn’t let that spoil our fun. I think I sometimes go a bit crazy with picture taking, but I love to look back at them. I was so happy that both Ella and AJ sat still at the opening photo op of t he zoo.

We saw the penguins, the otter (who was extra busy that day), the monkeys, kangaroos, and a huge emu. We also saw a wolf, chickens, an owl, alpacas, and a bunch of crazy prairie dogs. One of the first things Ella wants to do is ride the train. We’re members, so we can ride as many times as we want. I think we rode the train five times Monday! During on of those ride, I was able to grab my favorite picture of the day:

Look at the joy on their faces! What a wonderful picture!!

I realize that at 52 years of age, when people see me with my kids, they may assume that I am grandpa. So I chose to go to the zoo with my Bandit from Bluey “Dad” shirt on. I’m sure when I left the house, my wife probably thought I looked ridiculous, but that’s ok. When we got off of one of the train rides, a mom came over and said she loved my shirt.

About 11:30, we found some tables by the carousel, which we were going to ride next. Mom packed a PBJ sandwich for Ella, a PB sandwich for AJ, some goldfish crackers, bananas, apple sauce pouches, and something to drink. It was fun to just sit and eat with the kids. AJ was in my lap and I think I wound up wearing more of his lunch than he actually ate! There were also plenty of crackers on the ground for the birds to eat after he was done.

A couple rides on the carousel, another train ride, back to the carousel and we were getting close to nap time. I told Ella we had to pack up to get ready to go. She wanted to go to the store. Sam and I had already said that we were not going to buy anything day, as we really hadn’t budgeted for it.

As we are walking through the gift shop, Ella picks up a small stuff wolf and says, “My wolf! Look Daddy, it’s my wolfie!” I told her that we’d have to get it next time and the melt down began. Urgh! I hate making her cry. I told her she could carry it for a bit and then it would have to be put back.

When we set it down, she started to cry again. As we walked to the door, a nice older lady stopped us and handed Ella the wolf, saying that she couldn’t stand to see her cry. I told her that we couldn’t take it, but she insisted. It was a nice way to end our trip to the zoo.

Weigh In Day

Before I go on, let me say that since I started posting about my weight loss journey, I have been followed by just about every keto diet page, healthy living page, eat better workout more page and such. This urks me for some reason. I post my stuff here to keep myself accountable. On the weeks I gain weight I will post that, too. This is my journey – if you are here to cheer my on, fine. If you are just here to sell your products, you may unfollow me at any time. I don’t plan on following you back.

Now that I have gotten that off my chest, I am happy to say that the scale showed a 3 pound loss this week. After 8 weeks, I am down 27 pound thanks to Weight Watchers. I am very happy about that. It is nice to be under 300 pounds! I can’t wait to keep reaching milestones.

Eating right and getting a walk in every day has been helping. The heat made it a bit rough this week, and so did the rain. Getting in a mile or two every day is something I have come to enjoy a lot. I love being out with the kids in the stroller.

The last time I saw my doctor, I was supposed to have lost 10 pounds. I hadn’t and she kind of gave me a lecture about that. I was supposed to have joined Weight Watchers and because money was tight, I chose to wait. When I left that appointment, she told me to see her again and the 10 pounds had better be gone – or she’d yell at me again! I see her this week and can’t wait to show her the progress.

Maybe next week – I can hit the 30 pound mark?! We’ll see ….

Celebrating 52

Today is the 13th anniversary of my 39th birthday. Jack Benny said he was 39 for years and got away with it. For some reason, today I realized just how silly that is. I will certainly continue to lie about my being 39, as a homage to Jack, but I know I’m not fooling anyone.

Because Sam had to work tonight, we sort of celebrated yesterday. I came home from work, caught a couple hours sleep and we went to the Saginaw Children’s Zoo. We met Sam’s sister and my nephew there.

It was quite hot out, so we took Andrew’s helmet off for the visit. Ella and I got a kick out of watching the otters, who were extra active yesterday. The were enjoying swimming around and she loved that one kept swimming by the glass window. It was too hot for the penguins to be outside, so we missed them. The wolves were also curled up in their den where we couldn’t see them either. We had fun anyway.

We always have to ride the train when we go. We bought a membership, so train rides are free. It’s a short ride, but the kids love it.

The kids love to ride the carousel too. Andrew was so hot by the time we got there, we figured we’d just keep him in the shade. Ella, of course, had to ride it like three times. Each time she rode a different horse/bunny. She loves it! It was great to watch her from the sidewalk and take pictures as she rode past me. Poor Sam, though. She was ready to throw up by the end of the third ride!

When we left to go home, Sam asked what I wanted to do for dinner. I told her I would be happy with something simple. I hadn’t used my grill yet this year, so I told her to pick up some hot dogs or brats and we’d grill them up.

We stopped at Meijer and Ella went in with Sam while I drove around with Andrew, who was napping. When they were done shopping Ella was extra excited. She helped pick out a birthday cake. I guess Sam told her my birthday was coming up and she kept asking about birthday cake. They stopped at the bakery and Sam asked if they could write “Happy Birthday” on it. Ella said it needed to say, “Happy Birthday, Daddy,” so that is what was on it.

After dinner, Sam put some candles on the cake and Ella not only sang, “Happy Birthday” to me, she helped blow out the candles!

This morning, I woke up feeling no different than yesterday. I don’t feel older, but I am. I received calls today from my dad, my brother, my oldest son, and my best friend. There are hundreds of Facebook wishes from friends. Some are long and heartfelt, others short and sweet. I have messages from Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram with birthday wishes, and many text messages, too. There is no way I’ll be able to respond to them all!

I certainly felt special the past couple days. I’m one very blessed man!

Tune Tuesday – Don’t Let Go

When I first started working in radio, it was at an oldies station. My dad, who was my biggest musical influence, took advantage of the fact that we had an extensive library and asked me to throw some of his favorites on a cassette for him. This was how I was introduced to the music of Roy Hamilton.

ROY HAM4

Roy Hamilton would have been 90 today. He started singing in his church choir and eventually landed a record deal at Columbia Records, which quickly sent him to their new subsidiary label, Epic. He recorded You’ll Never Walk Alone from the musical Carousel, Ebb Tide, and an amazing version of Unchained Melody (which reached number 1 on the R&B charts).

In mid-1956, he developed a lung condition which forced him to announce that he was retiring from the music business. When was well enough, he got back into show business, but there had been quite a change in music – rock and roll music was big and the standards he was recording before his retirement were on the way out. In 1957, Epic Records coaxed him into recording “Don’t Let Go”. The song was produced by Otis Blackwell, who had just produced “Don’t Be Cruel” and “All Shook Up” for Elvis Presley. It became a top 15 record for him and the song is said to be the first Top 40 record recorded in stereo.

He was Epic’s first major star and they treated him very well. He released 16 albums for them. He was a big influence to singers like Sam Cooke and Elvis. In 1969, while at home, he suffered a massive cerebral hemorrhage. He spent a week in a coma before his family took him off life support. He passed away at the young age of 40.

Working at WHND Honey Radio, we played music exclusively from the first decade of Rock and Roll. I got to play quite a bit of Roy Hamilton’s music. You Can Have Her and Don’t Let Go still sound fresh and fun today. His voice is powerful and even though it shined on ballads, I am partial to his uptempo stuff. In honor of his 90th, birthday, here’s Don’t Let Go….