Today

This is a partial list of some things that I did today, or that happened to me today. Everything I put on this list is true.

Today I added blueberries to my cereal to give it a little extra 'pop', as well as some antioxidant power.
Today I encouraged my son Jason to swim "overarm" so he could successfully race his brother (armed with a floatie) to the end of the pool.
Today I filled my wife's mini-van with gas to the tune of around $40. It was only a half-tank.
Today I fed my baby boy his bottle while parked in a box-store parking lot, the a/c running, the kids in the store with their Mom, listening on the radio to Michael Savage talk about the new immigration bill passed by the U.S. Senate on AM 760.
Today I fed an Australian Lorakeet sweet nectar while it was perched on my extended hand.
Today I considered the fact that my autistic son may find his joy in working with animals, and may not.
Today I ate a Tangelo, fresh off the tree. Next week maybe some peaches will be ready.
Today I realized that I have spent over 3000 days with my wife, and just how lucky of a man I am.
Today I play-acted - using action figures - Diego (Dora's cousin) hang-gliding from a glacier to save a Sloth who was stranded on a mountain, and drove him off to safety in a dogsled pulled by a dolphin. What the hell am I teaching my kids?
Today I watched my dog - a black lab tipping the scales at over 100 lbs. - sitting in a patch of wispy pink flowers and lovingly savoring a fresh avocado that had fallen off a tree. How I wish I had the camera at that moment.
Today I grew angry - yes, actually became angry (mildly, as I have a very long temper) at my son Colin for crying too much. Colin is under 5 months old. I should be clubbed for that particular emotion at that particular time.
Today I met a one-eyed African antelope, who chose not to shun me even though I had no food pellets to offer him. He also patiently stood while my son Jason petted him roughly.
Today I drove almost 100 miles.
Today I realized - not for the first time - that my son Tyler's emotional enthusiasm makes him as endearing as it does frustrating. That kid is a handful!
Today one of my sons fed ice cream to another one.
Today I watched 1-1/2 episodes of a great sitcom called Scrubs, and thoroughly enjoyed every hilarious minute of it.
Today Tyler chose a Fox (which was actually a Lemur) and Jason chose a Rhinoceros. This is no indication of personality type - it was just random selection.
Today I had a delicious, warm quesadilla of fresh Cotija cheese with roasted Jalapeno peppers, accompanied by sweet corn cake and pork carnitas, prepared Michoacan-style.
Today I read a passage from a book from a wonderful author. It said,"Love is only embarrassing to those who cannot love." I immediately wanted to grab my wife and kids, pull them into a town square (any town will do) and declare my undying love for them. But they are asleep. Maybe tomorrow.
Today I enjoyed that special sensation of chilly night air caressing my mildly sunburnt cheeks. I love that.
Today Jason said the following to just about anyone he met: "What's your name? I'm Jason. I'm a boy." Have any words sounded sweeter? I don't think so. Especially when a little over a year ago we did not know if Jason would be able to speak.
Today I realized that blogging is tremendously draining on one's imagination and creative furnace, and I have new-found respect for those I have read over the past couple of years.
Today I realized that my life is moving forward at a hasty pace, and there is little I can do to stop it, much less slow it down. Therefore, I am going to go along for the ride and try to make sure that I and my loved ones arrive at the end in the best possible condition.

All in a Dad's day's work.