Guys Are Parents Too!!!

My best friend wrote a blog today that really got me thinking. There was one thing she brought up that's a sore point with me too. That's all the guys out there who aren't willing to step up to the plate and be parents. Those are the guys who give someone like me a bad name before I've even got a chance to let a girl get to know me. I'm nice to a girl. Oh my God, that means I've got some kind of hidden agenda. I'm sick of it. I want to be allowed to be nice to all my female friends without having them worry that I'm up to something.

I also want to have children and be made to feel like I'm not being a man if I decide to raise my children the way my Mom decided to raise me. When she was raising me, it was the height of the feminist movement so she was put down by all the other women around her for her choice. She was supposed to be working or watching all of the other neighborhood children for free to help her "sisters" who wanted careers. I know that would happen to me from the guys if I decided to make the same choice. Guys are supposed to work and women want to work and where does that leave our children? Babysitters, day care, or other family members have to do the raising for us.

That's not good enough for my child. I want my child to be raised by a full-time parent. I don't care which parent. It could be me, my wife, or a combination of the two if we happened to work different shifts. The point is that quality time is not good enough for children in and of itself. They also need quantity of time. As a student and teacher, I saw kids who were raised by outsiders not care about their studies or their behavior. They had issues with anger and didn't know how to relate to those around them. On the other hand, children of involved parents wanted to succeed and were very friendly to be around. Ok. I'm done ranting for now.

To my fellow guys out there, shape up your acts!!! To the women, you have my utmost respect.

Busy, Busy, Busy

It's that time of year again. As a tax preparer, this is the time of year that I have to refresh myself on tax laws and learn the new ones. It's also the time that I study parts of the tax code that I hadn't looked at before so that my ability to do more complex returns improves. This will be my fifth year as an income tax preparer and I'm really looking forward to it. I love my job!!! Perhaps the most interesting and rewarding part of it is seeing the look on someone's face who came in scared thinking they were going to owe money and I find that one deduction they weren't aware of and get them a refund. Those smiles are always so nice to see.

Then, there's also my office leader. During the off season, she is my best friend and we hang out together. She even came on vacation with my girlfriend and I this past summer. What's really nice is the way that our friendship doesn't interfere with our roles at work. At the office, I don't expect any favors from her. I can easily divide her role as my manager and my best friend. They are two separate roles and I know when she needs to step out of the friend role for a while. Actually, it was the way she led the office that told me I wanted her as a friend. She's warm, tender, compassionate, and she really cares about people. She's not profit driven like some managers can be.

I also want to recognize my beautiful girlfriend. This will be the second tax season since we've been together. She also has to take on a real understanding role. During parts of the season, the hours can get late. Near the end of January through mid-February, there are all the clients who race in to get their refund as soon as possible. They have their W-2's and they don't have to worry about any other paperwork. During this time of year, we stay open as late as 10pm. Later yet if we have clients. Then, there's mid-April. This is when all the procrastinators come in and need to file before the deadline. More later hours. The last day of the season can be one of the latest. Through all of this, Dot has been very understanding and doesn't complain if I can't make it to see her at the time I planned on.

That's probably enough rambling for now. I just wanted to update everyone.

Sometimes Fun Doesn't Have To Be Either Mature Or Immature

Recently, I've been hearing different people talk about things being "immature". I can understand this in a professional setting, but, in personal relationships it makes no sense to me. Things that are fun between friends and/or lovers shouldn't be classified in this manner. Here are a few examples of what I'm talking about.

This morning, my financial advisor heard my voice mail greeting. His first response was "How old are you?" The other day my Dad heard it and said it was kind of long. People, it's my personal phone. It's not a business phone.

My next example involves my best friend. She has playfully squirted part of her drink at me through her straw just like my girlfriend does. Her, then boyfriend, accused them both of being "immature". This wasn't even aimed at him. It was aimed at me and I was having a blast. Neither of these ladies were doing this to truly torment me. We were all just having fun together. I was getting them back with looks or shaking a finger in their faces.

Other things have happened lately also. These are either things I've witnessed, been told, or heard about. To everyone who's caught up in the maturity/immaturity world and doesn't know how to just have fun with friends and loved ones, I just have one thing to say. GROW UP!!!!!!!!

October Is Here

Well, it's October. This month has always been special to me because I love the holidays coming up starting with Halloween and all the way through New Year's Day. This year, the month is even more special to me. My wonderful Dotty will have been in my life for one year this October 30th. During that year, some things have not changed at all and some things have definitely changed.

What hasn't changed? I continue to have a crush on this girl. Everyday, I learn or discover something new about her that makes me look at her and say "Wow!". I get that familiar tingly feeling of new interest all over again. I have to remind myself sometimes that she's already my girlfriend. LOL

The best change is that I've fallen completely in love with the person she is. Her thoughts, ideas, interests, etc. are so important to me. I'm even beginning to share some of these as the time goes by. I've found a new love for Law and Order watching it through her eyes. I've found a new importance for a new religion through knowing her. I haven't abandoned my own likes in this process. I've just added to them.

I also know that she returns this because she has become interested in new things through knowing me. This past weekend she sang karaoke by herself for the first time. She did so well at it also. It was so special to hear her serenade me for a change. I think I finally know what it was she must have felt the first time I sang to her.

I love you, Angel. Thank you for adding so much to my life and for giving yet one more reason to love October. Well, it's October.