RAISING ‘EM IS EASIER:  Linda and I have been babysitting the 3 boys while Leah is in North Dakota clearing out of their house on the Air Force Base.  So we have the whole schedule thing – Tutoring, martial arts, school of course (taking them and picking them up with all the soccer Moms and Dads), church of course too (Now we have to get 5 ready instead of 2), plus the regular house routine.  Linda has been working from home and watching Ben while his brothers are at school.  Linda is much better at this than I am – as she constantly reminds me its her youth that makes it easier for her. She is younger than I am but I do believe that hot flashes have multiplied recently.   As the “old geezer” grandpa, visiting for a few days is much less stressful than FULL TIME.  I already paid my full time dues with Michael and Leah.  Don’t get me wrong I love them, and even love having them here (Yeah okay maybe not “love” but it has been nice).  Here’s the problem though, when you are raising kids you can be and are expected by your kids to be totally un-understanding, unreasonable, and freaked out with rules and stuff. But when you are a grandparent you are supposed to spoil them and not be enforcing rules all time.  I have to confess that I am rethinking my idea of retiring when I am 70 and mooching off Michael and Leah by rotating 6 months with each.  By then though the kids will be in college and I will be able to convert their rooms to my very own, then they will never want to stay there again because the place will smell like “old guy.” Sweet revenge.

HURRICANE, NO TROPICAL STORM, NO HURRICANE, NO TROPICAL STORM FAY:  Unbelievable.  All the weather guys were predicting that we (especially Tampa) would get hammered by Fay.  There are places north of us that have gotten over 2 feet of rain and bad flooding.  She spawned tornadoes as well.  Of course we’re happy to not have been hit but sorry others in Florida have gotten more than their share of storm problems.  The thing that really irritates me though is that the local weather guys actually seem disappointed that the hurricane didn’t hit us!  It’s like they get to justify their existence by scaring people with their predictions.

ELECTIONS – UGH! – PULEEEEEEEZE LET IT BE OVER:  Okay Barak Obama has named Joe Biden as his running mate.  It should be interesting to see if the McCain camp or anyone else for that matter, reports on how Biden had to pull out of his own Presidential bid when he was exposed as a plagiarist and liar.  Now the country waits with heart stopping anticipation for whoever McCain will name.  It could be a surprise but I really think it will be Romney.  One of the cable news stations is actually doing a countdown to November 4th.  Just shoot me…..