Nat Nat is home!!!!!!!!!!!

Natalie came home today!! Bill and Barbara delivered her to the house this afternoon. It was very good to see that infectious smile of hers. She is a bright moment in anyone's day that has the chance to see her. I missed her, but I remember the times that I spent with my grandparents when I was young, and I couldn't deny my children the same chance. I just wish that my Mom and Dad had the time away from work that Bill and Barbara have to spend with them, and I'm sure they do too. Anybody remember the days when both parents, or grandparents, didn't have to work? My visits with my grandparents were wonderful, and I'm sure they are wonderful for her too. Matthew will be going in a week or two to get his fill before school starts.

The real plus side of her coming home, other than fact that we love our children being here, is that she helps Angie a bunch with Brayden. Matthew was a great help while she was gone, but Natalie has a few years on him, and with that comes a greater sense of responsibility. Unless a Jellyfish, or jellybelly according to Matt, is stinging you, of course! Then, it's ok to drop him on his face in about three inches of sea water. She still bristles when we bring that up, but it is funny. All in all, it is an odd time when one of the kids are away, but I know it is good for them. The dynamic changes so much at home. It's quieter, there are no fights, the laughter from other rooms is gone when they actually are getting along, there is an empty spot at the dinner table, we only get one opinion and nobody to dispute it, what's the fun in that. I'll take a good fight, or raucus laughter anyday over peace and quiet. It just means that we are all together and OK. It's normal. But, I know how much fun it is to get away from your parents for a while as a kid. Your rules change completely. Nothing is as strict, it's just more fun, and every kid should experience it.

You could see the change in Natalie, she was relaxed. Her manners returned, not that they ever left, they were probably just supressed. Nat and Matt compete constantly, and sometimes you forget to say "Yes mam, or Yes sir" when you are just trying to answer first. Hopefully, Matthew will have the same benefit when he visits. He is getting moody. He is very bull-headed. He has a very Berryman, I mean strong, personality. He gets his feelings hurt easily, and doesn't forgive that very quickly. I have worked with him some, but I haven't seen a lot of change. I can easily see him in trouble in school this year if he acts the same there as he does here. It will be interesting to see what happens. Everybody knows he is a talker, Jesus, is he a talker. We play video games together quite a bit in the evenings, and I can't concentrate because of all the talking. It's frustrating, because I like to win, and he usually beats me because of all the chatter. Maybe it's a strategy, I don't know. If it is, it's a good one, but it won't work in school, and that is what we need to work on. He, and his sister, are extremely bright, but she has an excuse if she talks a little bit much, but he doesn't, not that we know of anyway. It's like it's his hobby. I guess we will just wait and see.

Ricky and Cindy bought Matthew a new bow last weekend. He loves it. He can hardly pull it back, but after I sighted it in, he hit the bullseye on the fifth shot from ten yards. He seems to be a natural. He has great form, he is steady, and he concentrates on his target. I see good things from this hobby, especially since it is one that I love also. We will continue to work on this and maybe show it off to everyone soon. He just needs the consistency that comes with practice. I can guarantee the practice time, so he should be proficient very soon.

That's about it for now,

See ya then,

Jim

P.S. Tanner, if your mom and dad don't read this on a regular basis, or at all, tell them thank you from me and Matthew.

OK

That last post doesn't make all that much sense to me now that I am fully awake. I have to thank Eminem for the inspiration. Yeah, I'm a closet Eminem, 50 cent, and Game fan. So what? I like the attitude!!! Am I too old, or too white to listen to rap? Nah!! I could actually be the oldest rap convert on record. Wouldn't that be funny!! Normally, I'm so white that I appear translucent, not in skin tone, but in attitude.

Angie made me delete this part!!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!! OK, it was probably a wise decision. I am a little to ambitious at times and like to jump the gun. I guess it will wait. It was two very well written paragraphs though. Oh well.

Well, I gotta go to Hell and buy formula and diapers now,

See ya then,

Jim

Opportunity yes or no?

I know this will be vague, but it is meant to be that way.

Look................

If you had one shot,

One opportunity,

to sieze everything you ever wanted,

in one moment,

would you capture it,

or just let it slip?

The ball's in my court

Am I afraid to dribble it out?

Why am I afraid?

Why am I a slave to this trade?

I just gotta beat this clock,

FUCK this clock, I'm gonna make 'em eat this watch.

Don't believe me? Watch.

I'm gonna win this race,

then I'm gonna come back and rub it in their face.

Till they're sick of it,

They aren't gonna have a choice.

I'm gonna scream 'till I have half a lung,

If I have half a chance I'll grab it.

Gotta run.

Jim

P.S. sorry for the cuss word, but I'm fed up with shit today.

Later

Also, this will all make sense soon, I promise.

Family Reunions Part Deaux!

Well we went to the Davidson family reunion in Abilene this weekend. Sorry, unimpressive. That's about all I have to say about it as a whole. I was very happy to see Granny and Pop, and they were very happy to see us and Brayden especially. It's always good to see Mom. She had fun with the children, but ours were the only ones there under 17. What a crock!! They had no other kids to play with, so they were all over us. Don't get me wrong, they are great kids, but what can you expect from them when you keep them in a conference room of a hotel allllllllll day long. Yeah, they were annoying, but I'm sure they were annoyed to be there. Ricky and Cindy were there. They are great to be around, no matter how long or where we are around them. They both absolutely love kids and are great people to boot. Tanner and Jennifer were the only people our age til almost noon on Saturday, and we love spending time with them, just wish there was something to do. Then Courtney showed up with Riley. He is cute, but he needed room to roam and play too. Now, I honestly don't know if I could have gotten through one of these when I was their age. I know you change with age, but if it sucks, it sucks! Kyle and Rhonda didn't come, at least not while we were there. Tony and his wife went to her family reunion. Jeff showed up about 30 minutes before we left. Hunter followed him buy about 10 minutes, so the kids only had about 20 minutes to play with him. Jeff was at a ref clinic all day, so he couldn't come til late, and Hunter was with his mom. I would have loved to talk to Jeff longer, but what can you do? I guess the phone will have to do.

This doesn't bode well for the Berryman family reunion this coming Sunday. We met Dad and Bobby today. Neither of them will be there. So, now it's down to Granny, Carolyn and Billy. Last I checked, they don't have any young children for Natalie to play with. Matthew will be in Longworth with Grandman and Grandpa racecar. Natalie is there this week. Junior, I'm sure, will be there with his family. Bill, Lisa, Mason, Dave and Steph, I'm sure, won't be there. C.W. and his wife will be there, but I bet Clay will not be there. Kyle and his wife, Jennifer, probably won't be there, but I hope they will. Different Kyle from last weekend. Whitney I haven't seen in years, probably won't be there. God, I hope I am surprised by who shows up. I always love to see my Granny, but circumstances lately haven't helped us out any. Billy and Carolyn are a joy to see too. It just always seems to be too long between visits with anyone for the visits to be meaningful. There is too much to talk about, so nothing ever seems to get talked about at all. Just a lot of, "This is Jimmy, you know, James' son.", and "I remember you when you were this tall." Hell, what do you say to that? I don't know any of my cousins on that side very well, other than Bill and Steph and Junior. I hope to see my Dad's uncle Jerry also. I love talking to him. He is funny and very down to earth. This family reunion will never be the same without my Papa. The atmosphere is not the same. They still play music, but I don't listen anymore. Bobby and Carrie aren't 4 years old, out there dancing with everyone getting out of there way, and just watching the pure hillarity of it all. We don't go to the old jail museum anymore. I don't know if it is still open. It may well be a 7-11 now, who knows. I won't get in a fight with one of my other cousins and split the skin between my thumb and forefinger open so you can see inside my hand because I'm breaking a stick to show him how tough I am. Coy is gone, that sucks and always will. I know that family is something to be thankful for, but come on. Actually, I value family and friends above all else, but do we really have to put ourselves and our immediate families through this? It's just so hot. I'm not part of the family that is still connected on a regular basis. Does anyone there besides the afore mentioned people care if I show up or not? I doubt it, I probably don't miss many that don't show up either. We are just not part of each other's lives or thought process anymore. We should be, but we are not. The Berryman reunion was an event that I very much looked foreward to when I was young, and I wish it were still that way. I don't remember a Davidson reunion til college, but that was fun too. Buffalo Gap, if I remember correctly.

Yes, it was a better time when we were closer. Yes, I wish it was still that way, but when you have to look foreward to seeing your father or grandmother or aunt and uncle at a family reunion, are we really still a family? I know that we love who we are close to, and wish that we could spend more time together, but is this the way to do it? The past weekend was not an example of what a family reunion should be to me. I felt like I was on the outside looking in. I didn't care to be involved in what was going on. I spent time with who I wanted to, and hardly any of it was in the conference room. We spent our time in the lobby / restuarant area. Should you have a business meeting during a family reunion? I don't think so, but they did. I did not attend, I sent my lovely representative, Angelina. Once a family reunion becomes a business, what's the point? They didn't pay for my family to be there, or anything that we did, so what't the business meeting for?

Well, this is probably enough of me griping for one night. Be glad that you don't have to be around me on a regular basis. You only have to see me at family reunions!!!

Sorry if I hurt anyone's feelings, but I had to get that out.

See ya then,

Jim aka "the life of the reunion"