My chaotic brain needs a place to stay.
Last weekend was a bit stressful as both my kids threw up all over the couch cushions, bathroom floor, and on me. They’re okay, thank God. While they got it out of their system they had to eat again so they don’t go hungry. Always be super careful of what ingredients are in your food before feeding your children.
I like to watch sports every now and then, but I don’t watch sports news. Then again, I don’t read much news. Anyway, I’ve been interested in the Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel drama for the past few days. Not because I like drama but how a private investigator played a key role in it.
I’ll spare you the details of the fiasco. Look can look them here on The Shadow League link. The following couple pictures I’ll talk about next come from the TMZ Sports Page link. They photos were taken from an Arizona resort.
The first picture you see is Russin and Vrabel standing in front of each other, on top of some wooden patio, with their hands forward and interlocking fingers. Notice how the photo is a little grainy, but not too much that you can still tell who they are by their faces. That usually means the PI was at a distance where the camera’s optical zoom was at its limit before picture quality fades.
The second photo you see is Russin and Vrabel (wearing swim trunks and bathing suit, respectively) lying on the pool. Notice the picture quality is better than the first. The PI must have been pretty close to them. Either the PI was next to the pool or still outside the resort where anyone can see in.
Keep in mind, Russin and Vrabel both have spouses. And while there’s no kissing or sexual activity it still doesn’t look good for the two. And it’s more than likely that Russian’s husband and Shake Shack senior manager, Kevin Goldschmidt, hired the private investigator.
As a former private investigator with thirteen years of surveillance work (mostly workers comp) I’m still amazed on the quality of the photos and the work done by the PI in charge of the infidelity case. Those two still shots are more than likely taken from whatever video the PI recorded. Video evidence is often more powerful than photos when it comes to infidelity and workers comp cases. If a photo is worth a thousand words, a video is at least three times that if not more.
I guess there are two lessons in all of this: 1) there will never be a shortage of cheaters, which means more PI work, and 2) in the long run, cheaters never prosper. Don’t be like Russini and Vrabel. You never know who’s watching.
#cheating #drama #fiasco #infidelity #photo #pi #privateinvestigator #Russini #sports #video #Vrabel
I recently watched the seventh season, second episode of Star Trek: DS9, Shadows and Symbols. The character Benny Russell (played by Avery Brooks) is in a psychiatric room writing his story on the walls. He does this because the doctors refuse to give him paper.
A psychiatrist, Dr. Wykoff (played by Casey Biggs) offers Benny a paint roller to erase his writings so he can be “cured” of his delusions. I won’t spoil any more so go watch. After watching that episode it gave me an idea.
Inside my home I have blue, white, and yellow walls. What color wall would I choose? Or would I write on all of them? Unfortunately, white and yellow walls are too bright even in low lighting. Blue walls are easier on my eyes and still bright enough when there’s not enough light.
However, all of this doesn’t matter. The real question is: how long can my kids and I write on the walls before my wife goes berserk and makes me clean and repaint them?
My older son loves looking at family photos and videos on my phone. Of course I’m there supervising his time. My wife and I also limit his TV time to one hour a day. There’s always the temptation of giving our son our phones just to calm him so we try not to do that.
As an experiment my wife bought a custom family photo book from Shutterfly to see if he’ll look at the photos there instead on my phone. It was a failure. But a good thing about it is my younger son loves it. I see him always looking towards the photo book and gets sad if we don’t sit and look at it.
While not ideal it sure beats letting them play mindless games and looking at Cocomelon videos. If you have the chance buy a photo book and include that in your children’s collection of books to look at. Hopefully it gets used well.
Just one more novelette to draft and I’ll make the final changes and editing on all three stories.
Hopefully, I’ll finish the third story draft before the end of this month.
Happy belated Easter! After the ashes on the forehead, fasting, fish sandwiches and sticks every Fridays, acts of sacrifices, and going to Mass from Holy Thursday to Easter, it feels good. Because He is risen!
As a teen, the idea of not eating meat, especially during McDonald’s Fridays, until Easter annoyed the heck out of me. Now as a middle-aged father, it’s a great relief to be doing something different despite being constantly surrounded by consumerism.
During Lent, I gave up cheese. It’s always been my go-to snack and one of my main meal ingredients. But my cholesterol is high because of it. I did well for the most part. Had three instances only because my son didn’t want to finish his cheesy food and I didn’t want to waste it. Hopefully, I reduced my cholesterol enough before my next blood screening. And the best thing is I don’t feel a need to eat as much cheese as I once did.
Also, I wanted to keep in touch more with family and friends. I’ve noticed that any gatherings I go to I’m physically there but not mentally. It’s usually because I’m too focused on my kids and too tired because I haven’t taken good care of myself. I didn’t do as well, but I’ll keep on trying.
For you Catholics (or even non-Catholics), what did you give up during Lent? For those missed out or failed to achieve your goals, what can you do when Lent starts again next year? How about what you can do right now so you can take action?
#AshWednesday #abstinence #Easter #fasting #HolyThursday #HolyFriday #Lent
I’m halfway done editing Novelette 2 of my short story trilogy. There’s always some adrenaline left, this need to finish it. And I love it. I do want to get this series published as soon as possible.
I’m also using Claude to help put it together so I don’t have to worry about the technical details. I want to focus on writing the stories myself. Especially when I barely have time to write.
It feels great when I make progress on a story. Corrected all spelling, grammar, tense, and other mistakes. Other than adding a couple more things I’m one step closer towards publishing.
Going to work on Novelette 2. I expect to have the draft done in two weeks. Will update on my progress.
Ever since I decided to finish my short story trilogy it’s been a constant struggle for balance. The drive to finish editing and publishing my stories as ebooks is stronger than my need to post on my blog. However, it doesn’t mean I stop posting.
But it also means I may end up missing some deadlines or typing up my posts on the fly. I will try to stay consistent in my posts as best I can. I will also let you know when I publish my stories and post a link to them.
Thank you for your patience. Let’s keep on writing.
I recently bought a cover from Amazon to hold my notepads and other stationery items. This unknown brand cover holds a couple of 3.5” x 5.5” notepads. Unfortunately, it doesn’t fit my small collection of A6 notepads. So, looking in my cubby there were a couple blank paper Moleskine Cahiers with previous writings that I wanted to finish before buying new notepads.
But writing on blank pages is unsettling. My sentences drift off center, the sizing is inconsistent, and my paragraphs smush together like a sat-on sandwich. This chaos makes my thinking just as jumbled as if I was typing them on screen. Ever wonder why you always have trouble writing on a blank screen? It’s the same with blank pages. There’s no structure.
Lines on a paper give order in the chaotic world of writing. It tells you can write as long as you don’t overstep your bounds. You don’t need a ruler. Lines are your companions helping you make those first few steps before they let go.
So the next time I’m given a blank notepad, I’ll just sketch random stuff. Like stick figures shooting at other stick figures, tanks, ships, helicopters, and fighter jets.