An update
Liam is doing well, and approaching the end of second grade. He recently started a once a week chess class, and is enjoying the game and learning very fast. I have no doubt that he will be beating me quite handily if he studies the game for another few years. We recently started creating our own collectible card game. The premise is that the players have cards representing opposing combatants who can use spirits to help them fight. The spirit cards can imbue different equipment cards (weapons, armor, vehicles, traps, etc.) and some can also be sacrificed for game specific effects. I've been working on the rules and game design, Liam put crayons to paper like a fiend and has drawn some great spirits, complete with ideas for special powers. I'm thinking we can make enough cards to try out the game, and maybe ask Morgan to help us with her mad Photoshop skills.
Donovan is becoming large and in charge. He is really starting to use some words, and displays a surprising level of comprehension. He likes body slams onto our bed and couches, being chased by tickle monsters, and dancing to music. Foo Fighters, Sandra Boynton, and Queens of the Stone Age are some of his favorites. I am curious beyond words to see what sort of person he will become. I'm impatient for him to use language with more sophistication just to see how he interprets the world around him.
Morgan is beginning a craft store online, and her work is wonderful. She's been making dolls for her store while caring for our more-than-a-handful children. My work schedule (2:30pm to 10:30pm) created some burden on her, but she shouldered it with little complaint and impressive fortitude. Our third anniversary is coming up, and the thought of being married to her for three years fills me with a type of joy that I can't say I have ever felt before.
I am approaching my final weeks of WORs (Weekly Observation Reports) at work. I feel like I've demonstrated my ability to interact with the public, write detailed reports, carry out thorough investigations, and stay active even when I am not answering calls for service. I'm particularly proud of arresting five impaired drivers this month (four for alcohol, one for marijuana). Most patrol officers on my shift catch one or zero drunk drivers each month. Even more important to me personally, I have been late once (by 2 minutes) and have no unapproved absences or taken any sick leave in the past 10 months. I can breathe a huge sigh of relief because for so long I worried I would never find professional success or happiness. My career in law enforcement is rewarding, interesting, and allows me to help other people on a daily basis.
Morgan and I travelled to Huntsville, AL on Saturday for the wedding of our friends, Tom and Darcy. The ceremony was led by my long-time martial art instructor and mentor. The wedding was wonderful, although the temperature took a nose dive after some morning showers. Fortunately, the rain abated long enough for the ceremony, and a few goose bumps and rings later, Tom and Darci were matrimonized.
While in Huntsville, Morgan encouraged me to go out with a group of people, including the aforementioned martial art teacher, and I'm glad she did. Most of the group train in the same martial art that I do, and we all smoked a cigar and talked about life and training. Two main realizations came to me during the discussion that night. First, although I haven't been putting in enough time practicing the physical movements of Taijutsu, I've been training every day. I realized that I strengthen my awareness, my patience, and my ability to respond to conflict constantly throughout my work day. My second determination is that I need to re-focus on my martial training. I've been saying that for nearly three years, but the time has come.
And to help me with that, I am hosting a Bujinkan teach from Japan for two weekends in May. He will be teaching a seminar near Atlanta the first weekend, and then we will travel to Alabama for another seminar the following weekend. His teaching style is tremendous, and his trips always boost my interest level and excitement for further training.
Part of continuing my Bujinkan training is finally travelling to Japan to train in the hombu. A fellow officer and I will begin teaching Taijutsu classes in May, and we will offer more female self-defenses classes this year. I'm hoping those endeavors will provide enough profit to pay for a week or so of training in Japan.
I visited my dad in March, and he is not doing well. The connection between his mind and his body continues to deteriorate, and he is obviously depressed. Watching a parent become so helpless and sad is difficult. I don't wish it one anyone.
This is probably more than anyone wanted to know, and certainly enough for one night. I am off to bed.