my family has a tradition for the 4th – we watch “Independence Day” together – big fun around a familiar movie – the wife always cries when the president’s wife dies, even though we’ve seen the movie about 20 times. (if you did the math, you know that this means we’ve watched it more than once a year. but i digress.) we love will smith in this flick!

very cool to be in a completely different time of life, yet to revisit an old friend (albeit a movie) & as a family no less. the kids look forward to it almost more than i do, though not w/o popcorn… i wonder how much the tradition helps to define & give meaning to our family, as well to provide a framework for some great memories for all of us – also makes me wonder if these fun traditions will be a source of antagonism for future family once the kids get married & procreate… it amuses me.

i’m thankful for the respite that the day off provides – rest, family, popcorn & a movie – simple things

The last few days i’ve been alerted to the fact that I say “I hate…” quite a bit. I hate that i do that – I don’t want to be a hater, but I find that I’ve degenerated into “hating” things that aren’t even worth hating – like sushi, Splenda sweetened ice-cream, ballpoint pens, & 2-sided tape.

I wonder if it’s just selfishness that leads to hate –
when I run my mouth because the driver in front of me reacts too slowly to the green light
when things don’t measure up the way that I hoped they would…
when my expectations aren’t met by people who should know better…
when I don’t get my way…

Have mercy…