Once again, I’m late on my monthly review of a new piece of audio entertainment. It’s been one thing after another and excuse on top of excuse. While I was commuting home on the train today, I was listening to the subject album for the review and penning my thoughts down. Late again. Writing about what you like should not be this hard though. But it’s after a tough day of work where you are in meetings with the man, interrupted by needy co-workers, and had an overall bad day.

I hopped off the train and marched over to my ride in a hurry to get home and grab my bike in order to get a little riding in before the autumn monsoon hits the Seattle area for the next six months. I’ve been thinking about canceling my satellite radio account. I don’t spend enough time in the car to warrant the ridiculous amount of scrilla I pay for this service. However, on the drive home…..it hit me.

Glad I didn’t cancel it yet because I heard a song that changed it all for me. From beaten and bewildered to hopeful, optimistic and realistic.

It got me thinking and reflecting about a couple nights ago where I was short with the kids. I bring this baggage home from work and sometimes count the minutes until the loudness created by my offspring finally goes to bed. I don’t want to be that dad. I want to be the dad clutching every moment to that very last second and enjoying it until it’s gone. Eagerly awaiting that next moment with them. I am that dad.

It’s a feeling I felt brewing inside me. Value things more. But not just that, show that things are of value to you. A bad day, a bad week, a bad month doesn’t diminish the value of those things in your life. An epiphany of sorts, if you will.

I’m going to hold Son #2 just a little tighter and a little longer at bedtime. I’m going to make sure he’s at peace by rubbing his back to relax him. Then make sure when I lay him down in his bed he knows that his dad loves him.


I’m going to build that train set with Son #1 all over our bonus room, off the table, onto the windowsill, under the foosball table, and around the couch. Oh yeah, and we will play Lego Batman until his mother unplugs the Wii. He needs to know that he is the best.


And the running, jumping, sliding, and stomping on our refinished hardwoods? Well, maybe I can loosen up a bit and enjoy that those moments of destroying my house are finite. One day in the very near future, I’ll be boxing those kids up and helping them move in to their own houses. And believe me, I’ll be running and sliding on their hardwoods. You only live once.

The simplicity of holding my wife’s hand, a tender kiss, and a well timed honest compliment are the intricate fibers the weave a tight relationship that weathers those bad days. It’s not weak to be in love especially when her heart is shelter.


Everyday can’t be the best day but you got to let it go. I’m going to make a better effort to drop those bags of the day at the door. The kids are tough and push my buttons on routine frequency. But those moments of soulful bliss with them are worth it.

Those of you reading this entry and relating to the challenges of your day, you’re not alone. Listen to the song here on this blog’s playlist, take the lyrics to heart and hug those kids of yours, don’t let the mundane job make you light your break room on fire, forget that fifth period teacher sweating you for your homework or who you will take to the Homecoming dance, don’t worry about mowing the lawn today your grass is brown, so what if you’re car is broke down or needs service because it’s a piece of junk anyway, do what you can right now and don’t hesitate to make the day better.

Sometimes one small thing like a song can reboot your soul. Turn it up.