Thanks.

I work supporting Lijit with a range of blog publishers, many who's topic includes or is specifically on the subject of faith. This a huge range from the deeply religious, through agnostic, to atheist.

I found out this year agnostic means you believe in something, but may not be sure what that something is. I am agnostic. I believe in "Thanks." And I find "Thanks" sprinkled in among many publishers, whatever their opinion or place in life. Thanks for this, publishers. I'm starting to think people who are thankful are also writers. Those grumpy negative publishers? It's an act. They are thankful, but they wont tell.

I give thanks to people and my dogs. Sometimes I say "Thanks" to no one, but I mean it. I am saying 'Thank You' to something. It's snowing outside our Lijit offices as I write this and I'm really thankful our often arid Colorado is being kissed right now by beautful, perfect, unique crystals of water today. Even if I slip in it. Thanks.

Someone I'm related to, complained they are too short, and another person I am legally related to, said "Be thankful you have legs." I watch the dad from the little people show scoot around on crutches running his family and life and being positive and I give thanks to him and his wife and the smart people who thought the world could learn something seeing them live life. Thanks.

If you have not given thanks, try it. No one needs to know even. Thanks.

Barney Moran Grateful Word

Worthless crap vs. Marriage

My wife has a rule. "If you don't use it within 12 months, throw it away."

I have a rule. "Keep every piece of crap you can acquire, and create a reason for keeping it."

The conflict occurs because besides being married, my wife and I live together. In our home are the trailing remains of my rule. Apple ImageWriter’s are an example, I have 2 waiting patiently for the time I have foreseen, when I will need to print on a triplicate form. Newfangled printers don’t have the steroids to punch past a single page. These ImageWriter print heads are groups of hammers, last century straight forward approaches to hammering the friggin ink against the page. You understand me? Punch the ink. None of this fancy spray/thermal sissy printing. Smash the ink on the page, ok?

You think I'm going to throw this away?

You think my wife is going to keep me?

Oh, yes, Fatherhood

I teach "Daddy Boot Camp" at Foothills Hospital, in Boulder, CO. I have 3-4 hours to cover a mandatory curriculum on: living with a pregnant spouse; the delivery day(s) of the baby; the first three (3) months of life with baby(ies) and post delivery spouse for the new, expectant father, to expect.

Near the end of the class, the expectant father's eyes glazed over, if I am lucky, I remember the most important item. I tell them. Being a father is heaven on earth. The love of your child, time together, is priceless. To repose on the sofa with your child sleeping on you is among the greatest joy's available to us on this earth. When we raise our own children, we may, when necessary, if necessary, unwrinkle kinks from our childhood, 'right' some wrongs.

We may, ENJOY our children. We may, be dad.