Missing my kids

You know what? I'm missing my kids! I've had a great summer. I've gone on trips, I've spent time at our ranch, I've done pretty much everything I've wanted to do this summer and yet, now that school is starting, football has started and my two older children are pretty much set in their ways, I'm missing hanging out with my children.

My youngest made the Jr. Midgets football team. He's the biggest on his team and is excelling at it. He reminds me of myself when I was his age. I played all sports. Loved being a part of an organization. The only difference is, he's about 60 lbs bigger than I was when I was his age. I think he's going to take to football very well.

My 18 yr. Old has left for College. It's his first time away from home for any extended time and he's really excited about being in College. He was accepted to Gonzaga University and he's really looking forward to it.

My daughter is 24 now, she's working, living in Central California, has a fairly good job and an OK boyfriend so she's pretty busy just doing her own thing. I hear from her on occasion when she needs something.. I hope that one day, she'll just want to hang out with me and not because she needs something... but just because she wants to...

My oldest is 27. He's working full time, going to school full time (16 units) is married and supporting his wife while she attends school too... needless to say, he's busy... I'm really proud of all my kids... I'm just missing them.

I guess it's time for me to start finding other things to do! LOL

I've been busy working and ranching... or should I say, working so that I can do more ranching.

Funny thing happened the other night. I was Kayaking with a friend of mine on the Russian River. It was about 9:30 at night we were about a mile and a half up river from where we launched. It was a beautiful night. The moon was out ( it had been about 100 degrees earlier in the day) I noticed something in the water ahead of us and thought it was a log in the water, that is, until it spoke. Turns out that 2 young girls, (18yrs. old) had started floating down the river at 3:00 and that was as far as they had gotten. They were supposed to be another 2 miles down the river by dark and they didn't make it... they were frightened, wet and hypothermia. My friend I I made sure they weren't in any medical condition that needed attention and then we preceded to tow them back to our launch location. When we got there, we put them into my truck and drove them to where they said they left their car. Turns out, they left the car at another location 7 miles further down the river. If we hadn't come upon them, they would have had to float another 8 miles and probably wouldn't have made it off the river until sun up, if at all... They could have gotten out of the river and walked, but that would have been a problem too. 2 Young women in bikini's walking along a dark 2 way road would have been asking for trouble. I'm just glad we were there to help them... Capped off a great evening on the river, helped to notsosmart girls and got a nice workout as well. Just another great day on the river!


Tomorrow it's back to the river to work and if I'm lucky, I'll have some time to do some more kayaking.

Looking for more things to do.. any suggestions!

Sitting in the wild....

Saturday, I went to a party for my 18 yr. Old son. He's leaving on the 24th of this month for Gonzaga University. I've got to say, I'm going to miss him! He's my Spirit Rock partner, he comes down every Monday to head out into the valley with me. We do a little sitting, some listening and then we get to spend some time talking and visiting on our way home, oh yah, and we stop at Double Rainbow for Ice cream. It's become our routine and I'm going to miss it...

After the party, my GF and I went out to our ranch in the foothills to check on things since I haven't been there in a couple of months... No, there aren't any pets there to starve, only Walnut trees, meadows and BIG Oak Trees... What a great night it was. The stars were so intense that you could see layers of stars in the ski. It looked like they were stacked on top of each other, the air was warm, there wasn't a breeze to be felt. We went for a little night walk. I love the sounds of the night. The crickets, the owls and the Coyotes... oh, those Coyotes were out howling up a storm this weekend. But, of all the things I love about the ranch is the SMELLS... there is nothing better than smelling the fresh crisp air in the mountains. The Bay trees, the Oaks, the Pines and yes, the Redwoods as well. Tarweed, Tall yellow grass even the smell of the dirt in the Walnut orchard has a distinct smell... You can even smell the rivers that run along the edge of the property. I love that place!

Next weekend will be my last weekend with my son until he comes back from School. We're going farther up into the mountains next weekend. It's a boys weekend in the mountains, Spitting, staying up late, shooting guns, hiking and lots of talking about life... as well as listening to my sons thoughts about going away... I think I'll do a lot of listening this weekend... maybe just some sitting too...

Have a great week!

Working out in the Russian River area, no cell service, no computer connection.. HEAVEN!

Am I getting old..... OH GOD!!!

This weekend, my GF went waterskiing with the girls from work. I love the lake house, so much fun and there's not much better than Waterskiing and Wake boarding or just sitting by the lake or in the water floating around.
But this weekend, It was a girls only trip that they do once a year at one of the girls lake houses. The house is on this beautiful little lake, they have a ski boat and a pontoon boat that they play with and it's a great place to get away and just relax. I really love that my GF goes and does things with her girlfriends. It gives us time to be without each other an allows us time to "want to be together" It also allows ME to get some things done around my house that I might otherwise neglect since I work during the week and then want to play on the weekends...

This weekend, my GF kept calling me and asking me what I was doing, where I was, who I was with and so on... now, most any other time, I would take those calls as jealousy or insecurity.... but this time, I realized that she just wanted to be hanging out with me and not her girlfriends... more than once I had to tell her to get off the phone, to stop calling me and to have fun. Of course, I did this with humor and tact so that she wouldn't be upset but I wanted her to be present where she was and not to be thinking about what was going on at home...

You see, her 16 yr. old Daughter was staying with me while she was away. I also had my 12 yr old with us. We spent time working on the house, doing some yard work, playing video games until all hours of the night, watching TV together, doing computer stuff and then we went to a movie yesterday... all and all I'd say we had a pretty good time!

You might ask yourself, "so, what's OLD about that" well, let me tell you....

First of all, I love being a dad and I really enjoy my GF's daughter, when her mom isn't around (she's more respectful) and I love playing games and hanging out with the kids... but the "OLD" me would have been out the door about the time the GF's tail lights disappeared! I'd have been out on my Bike, cruising the town, heading to the clubs, going away on my own little "adventures" it's almost scary that I don't have those desires anymore... I'm almost scared about it! I guess I'm starting to feel comfortable in my old skin... I think I'm also feeling more comfortable in my relationship so that I don't have to seek out others to fill me up. I'm getting enough at home... That's one line I thought I would never type !!!


So, what about you? Do you go out every time your GF/BF goes out of town?

Are you still feeling restless and if so, what do you think is causing it?

Does your current relationship fill all of those holes that you were always seeking others to fill?


Would love to hear others thoughts on this, THANKS !