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| 2023 |
It's been a fun and interesting year for me and my family. Wife, the children, and me did a lot of things. We went to a lot of places, and we were able to share some new experiences. There were also new things I got to do and learn by myself. With my family or by myself, destinations and activities provided memories and plenty of stories.
Being a Foster Parent
We decided to end our tenure as foster parents this year. It was a memorable and interesting six-year run that none of us will forget. Fostering duties meant additional parent-teacher conferences and doctor's visits. Monthly visits with social workers allowed us to address numerous issues and share stories. Some were funny, some weren't so funny. We will be sure to remember some children better than others as each placement came with unique challenges and experiences. One of the most memorable experiences Wife and I had was adopting two children who were placed with us.
Living without Electricity
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A fire in the fireplace. Our only
source for heat with no power. |
There were two instances where we lost our power in 2023. Much to my delight, these incidents afforded me the chance to "rough it". I was looking forward to cooking dinner in the fireplace, some card games with The Boy, and an overall feeling of camping while still being shielded from the elements. Instead, I heard lamentations from our Miracles of Christ for living without electricity and no way to charge up their Nintendo Switches. Sharing stories in front of the fire and by candlelight took a backseat to seeing if McDonald's was open, and would it be possible to order a pizza or maybe charge an iPad in the car.
Reading Stories
I began my audiobook narrating journey in 2023. Dividing time
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| My first audiobook project. |
between my home studio and the
Talking Information Center, I lent my pipes to novels and various news stories including some of my own stories. A lot of work, but it was also a lot of fun. Speaking of fun, it was another trip to Plymouth with the kids. We did our share of history and sightseeing, as usual. The Boy had a trip to Plymouth with the family and with his school. I chaperoned on that glorious day, which, of course, meant another CORI. I still have a perfect record after 8 CORI checks and was able to accompany my son to
Plymouth and the
Museum of Science.
Travelling with Family
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| Niagara Falls at night. |
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| Niagara Falls during the day. |
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The Oppressed and I were
excited to see where it all began. |
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A fun experience at the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. |
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| The Oppressed on the drums. |
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| The "El". |
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| Soldiers Field |
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A view of the Windy City
from Lake Michigan. |
Our fun wasn't just confined to Massachusetts. We took a road trip this summer and stopped at
Niagara Falls, Cleveland, and Chicago. I checked out some points of interest where "The Blues Brothers" was filmed. As usual, I was the only one in the family who was interested in these special and important points of interest.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland was a different story, and The Oppressed and I enjoyed ourselves seeing our favorite bands and the predecessors that inspired them. We came back home and enjoyed ourselves a little more down Cape Cod.
We visited family in Massachusetts and Maine. I read books, wrote books, and narrated books. I survived another year of the Homework Wars and shared many car rides with children who assured me school and work was, "great" and nothing happened.
So, there's my year. Another exciting, adventure-filled year of being proud of my children for surviving despite my incompetent parenting. Who knows what 2024 holds for us all. No doubt, it will make for some interesting stories with friends over beers and more stories to read right here. Happy New Year!
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| 2024 |
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