I'd heard yesterday that "my" little girl (AKA Lailah) was pretty sick, so I knew I probably wouldn't be seeing her today (her "regular" day with me). Realizing that I saw her on Tuesday has "helped" (somewhat), but I am sure hoping she's feeling better since it's really really lonesome here without having her to babysit and play with me. Lailah - It's not the same, looking at the (thousands of) … [Read more...]
Religion – a different perspective
February 4, 2015 By
A lot of you don't know me that well, so here is a disclaimer in advance to my posting below: I was brought up Baptist, and my family was "religious" such that we attended church a couple of times each week, all thru elementary, JR and SR high school. That is, until high school ended and I then stopped going to church soon after. Since then, I guess I also stopped "believing" due to a variety of … [Read more...]
Lailah – last minute visit!
February 4, 2015 By
I had a last minute visit by "my" little girl last night. Her parents had an event to go to and they dropped her off so that she could babysit me. I had gone to Cub (Foods) earlier (yesterday) and I, again, wandered past the small area/aisle of toys (which is really strange, I feel, for a grocery store to have), but I again noticed the Hot Wheels display, and I looked thru them, remembering how … [Read more...]
Toys from childhood
February 4, 2015 By
Ever have a favorite toy that you grew up with, that you absolutely loved playing with, but due to being "old", you have forgotten what it was called? Well, I had a few favs when I was a kid, and for the life of me, I couldn't remember the name of them - and if a person can't remember the name, it's pretty hard to look for them on eBay... One of my favs was a set of three robots - which is why … [Read more...]
Lailah – My Cup Runneth Over
January 24, 2015 By
My cup runneth over this week: Had a great sleep-over with Lailah on Thursday night, she then babysat me all day long on Friday (until her dada came by at 5 PMish to take her home), and I also got a chance to be with her tonight at the Saint Paul Ice Carnival. While walking from the parking ramp, we pass the Landmark Center Building, and while looking upward and pointing at it (the tall … [Read more...]
Lialah’s first sleep-over (since Granma moved out)
January 22, 2015 By
Tonight was our first Lailah/GranPa Brian sleep-over since GranMa Rose moved out of the home we shared together (to her own place last fall). Lailah dropped by around 5:30pm tonight since it was Katie and Jordan's (Lailah"s parents) fourth anniversary of being together, and Lailah wanted to babysit me instead of having to watch cartoons all by herself at her parent's place (and/or whooping it up … [Read more...]
Lailah visits the ‘night trains’ at Bandana Square
January 18, 2015 By
We took Lailah to see the "night trains" at Bandana Square on Saturday night (Energy Park Drive, between Snelling & Lexington - close to the state fair grounds). If you've not heard of this place, it's a former railroad locomotive engine servicing facility originally built in the late 1800's (not a typo), and now since converted into offices, etc. Within this building complex, there is the … [Read more...]
Power of a hug(s)
January 18, 2015 By
I've spoken a few times before, about a former colleague of mine - where we meet about once a yr for lunch, and we always welcome each other with a huge hug, and it's as if it were "just last week" when you saw them last - and the conversation picks up where it left off, the last time you saw them, etc. Today, I saw a different colleague and friend - and looking back (afterwards), I now realize … [Read more...]
Paying it forward, 2014 style and 2015 invite
January 3, 2015 By
This past year, I did something that I've never done before that was very unusual and not at all typical. Without getting into the gory details, let's just say I believe I put some surprise and (hopefully) joy into the lives of a couple of my former HS friends - two special and wonderful people whom I've not seen in more than thirty years (AA and DR). These two persons played a very important and … [Read more...]
Lailah – Little Babysitting Terror that she is!
January 2, 2015 By
Another Friday, another day babysitting the beautiful little girl whose name cannot be uttered out loud (ssshhh: Lailah), the holy terror, the one that demands on a minute by minute basis: "come down here (to the floor, and off the comfortable lazy boy), and PLAY with me now, DARN IT!", the little one that is trying so desperately hard to give her Granpa a stroke (I know she must have a life … [Read more...]
A story and my thoughts on Christmas
December 28, 2014 By
It's midnight here in the Twin Cities and I wanted to share a short story (and some thoughts). I woke up this morning around the usual time, and looked out the window, and saw a most beautiful thing: Snow on the ground. This apparently occurred overnight while the Big Guy (me) was sleeping. It just wasn't an inch, it looked like 4-5 inches to me. And, it looked truly wonderful. I'm not a huge fan … [Read more...]
Lailah – Unusual phone call request
December 2, 2014 By
Got home from class tonight and my phone starts to ring - unusual since it was ~9pm. Seems Lailah asked her mom to call Granpa Brian to see if he was available to play with her tomorrow (this, in addition to my usual Friday playdate with her). I had to check my social/business calendar (I'm very, very busy these days, ya know?) to see if I had any major power meetings scheduled for Wednesday, but, … [Read more...]
Lailah – Sam’s Club and the Dollhouse
November 10, 2014 By
Note to self: when taking the granddaughter to Sam's Club, do not, repeat, do not, take her down the toy aisle. Silly me, we passed a 3 story dollhouse sitting on a shelf. I picked her up to show her all the various rooms and furniture in it. Tried to move on many times, but she wasn't having it. Tried to tell her it'll be a Christmas present, but that didn't go over (too young to understand that, … [Read more...]
Babysitting the Granddaughter
November 4, 2014 By
So. I had the baby girl (Lailah) yesterday. She is such a hoot to be around. Picked her up at 11:30 and it was sprinkling a bit so she didn't want to go to the park. We went home and did so many things together (painting, of course, some choo-choo trains, etc.), but the best part this time was reading to her. There are times when she likes to "read" a different book (in her hands), as I read aloud … [Read more...]
Babysitting Lailah
October 18, 2014 By
Had Granddaughter Lailah over the house yesterday from 10am thru 7pm. We first did some shopping at Sam's club, which she loves since it gives her some "running around" space and she got a sucker from the greeter, and received lots of smiles from everyone there. After getting home from that, we played "play-doh" (twice), "Minnie mouse dress-up", "choo-choo trains", read a few books (with reading … [Read more...]
Introducing Lailah and my love for her.
October 8, 2014 By
On a more upbeat note... Where to start, how many times have I tried to write this story? Coming up with a gimmick to start the story, has both advantages and disadvantages. I could start with: A member of the female persuasion came into my life in April, 2012. I instantly fell in love with her, my heart being captured in a way I’ve never felt before nor imagined – but that would be … [Read more...]
My father – Darwin D. Williams.
October 7, 2014 By
I wrote the following a month ago, on or around Sept 9th. I received an email from my brother Keith this past Monday: My father passed away that morning – that’s all it said. He was 86, he died after being in a nursing home in Florida for several years. Please don’t feel sorry for the passing of my father. Feel sorry for me since I’ve been estranged from him for close to 35 years. I don’t … [Read more...]
Best friend gets married!
July 7, 2014 By
My BFF Rick and his partner John got married a few days ago, I am so happy for them. I met Rick a year after moving to the Twin Cities and have been BFFs for close to 25 yrs now. He's been with John for ten of those years, I am so happy they found each other back then and now finally able to make it a real partnership in every legal and loving aspect. Congratulations, Rick and John. … [Read more...]
Lailah – Two years old – Best Kid Ever!
April 28, 2014 By
Lailah turned two today, we celebrated her birthday yesterday at Katie's and Jordan's place. Due to weather, we ended up waiting a longggg time to eat (Jordan couldn't grill out due to the rain), thereby delaying the present unwrapping. Consequently, AND, also due to the vast quantity of gifts, our baby girl fell asleep during the last third of the present opening process. She was so cute, … [Read more...]
Request to keep my BFF in your thoughts
November 9, 2013 By
One of my best friends went thru a rough patch this past July and I had previously asked my friends to keep him in mind (and you did). Thank you very much for your support at that time. He called me a few nights ago, telling me he's had a relapse and asked for my support. He doesn't like FB and he's never even had an FB account and I know only a few of you know who he is and/or have met him, but … [Read more...]
