Astroworld with the boys

Today was the boys' first day ever to visit Astroworld -- Right down the street, but we hadn't made it out there until now. I decided to get season tickets this year for us, since it was very resonably priced, and we got admission to any Six Flags park, plus the 2 water parks in town. Seems a deal when you figure that it's right here and we can go over for a couple of hours any time we want...

Well, today was just about the hottest day of the year -- really, a record -- and we could tell. The park opened at 10, and by noon, we were feeling the strain of the heat. We hit the BBQ place in the western village, and everyone agreed that we were all hot, tired, hungry and thirsty!

As for rides and entertainment, the boys loved it -- we did the Alpine Skyway, train, Looney Tunes Kids area, cars and the log ride. The only real downer was a mishap that sent us to first aid: Porter getting a bit crazy climbing on some of the landscaping rocks -- fell and scraped his knee. He was not happy at all -- and I know how he felt.

I remember one year when I was a kid -- the year that Thunder River opened -- my dad took me to Astroworld, just he and I. I had been so excited to ride that ride, and we got there right when the park opened. They let us in a bit early so we could line up along the 'ropes' that closed off all the other areas of the park besides main street. When the ropes dropped, my plan was to run as fast as I could through Chinatown and get to Thunder River before the crowds... Well, that was the plan. I ended up running as fast as I could and tripping, busting my own knee open.

I remember Dad taking me to the Chinese restaruant, and us patching me up. I don't remember much else about that day, but that one stuck with me -- my dad taking care of me after I ran off and did something stupid. He probably knew what was going to happen when I told him my plan, but he let me do it anyway. And he made sure he was there to take care of it.

At least that's how I'm going to think about it sitting these 25 years later as a dad myself. I know Jackson and Porter are going to make some bad decisions, but they need to learn what makes bad decisions bad, and how to make better ones instead. A skinned knee is a small price to pay -- I'd rather learn it that way than pay a higher price later. I can talk to them about how we shouldn't have climbed on the rock -- pick another ride to ride, or something else to climb on to have fun. Maybe that chat about how to make good choices will stick with them -- but we have quite a bit of time before they slip out of Mom and Dad's safety zone... at least I hope.

5 Cities - 5 Days

After coming off a long trip last week for team-building, I follow it up with a marathon trip around the south == This week was a different city each day: Houston, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Fayetteville AR. I am absolutely drained. The travel was for my normal project in Dallas, of course, plus a Compliance Road Show we're hosting around the market.

So far we are getting extremely good response from our events -- all held at very nice venues, with superb food. My presentation is about 'Information Management Compliance: Building sustainability' -- which is a super hot topic now with all the media coverage and buzz around the recent $1.45 billion judgement against Morgan Stanley. Once again, I'm ahead of the game and on target with hot topics...

But that's work, and I need some play -- family time is key this weeend. It's Katie's birthday weekend!! Looking forward to some great time with the boys and Katie -- we all need it.

Back from Team Retreat

Just got in and settled from the project team trip to Disney -- 4 good days of fun. I missed Katie and the boys, though. I knew I would, but it was important for me to spend some R&R with the team and thank them for the hard work this year. They deserve it --

And my family deserves it, too. I realized that a lot while I was gone. They deserve 100% of my attention and their goals have to be my goals -- ones that we reach as a family team. I certainly have succeeded by putting all my effort into the professional work I have done the past few years, and I need to step up my game at home to be as good of a Dad as I can be. And as good of a Husband.

Not to dwell on it -- that's not the point. The point is, I've got to be off the road more often, and that's something that I am going to do something about right away. I still need to travel -- the job doesn't go away just because I declare that I need to do a better job of home life -- but I can manage it better than I have lately. The phone works; so does email and IM -- and when it calls for it, I can get on a plane.

More on my master plan as it develops...

Raining like a mother

Happy Mother's Day -- and it's raining like a mother, too... Just got in from Tom/Laura's house where the Mullen clan is gathered for the annual rite of spring and motherhood. Heading over there, it started sprinkling, then raining, then pouring. By the time I got there, it was a wash out -- but Tom and Tim were still outside under a patio umbrella trying to put together a couple of gas burners / fryers so they could boil some shrimp / crab claws and fry some shrimp and fish.

I stayed out of the fracas...

But in the end, all the moms had a great time -- even with the kids running crazy all over the house! In all we had Carolyn, Deborah, Laura, Christina, Katie, Linda and Aunt Jackie -- 7 proud women to be celebrated.

I'll head up north tomorrow to take my own mom to lunch -- didn't think she and Row were into the crowd this time around...