Memorial Day is so much more than just the "beginning of summer" and a three-day weekend. It is intended to honor those who serve and have served this country. Take a moment today to thank a vet, and remember what this day is really all about.

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day!

Today, I was looking at my blog and realized I haven't done an entry in quite a while! In fact, it's been well over a month since I posted anything. I thought it was only fair to offer up a little explanation as to why.

Let me explain why I haven't blogged anything lately.

1) Life in general. Many of you know I have twin boys, both just over a year old. As anyone with kids can imagine, it's a demanding job. Despite having a wonderful wife who is a stay-at-home mom and takes care of the boys most of the time, I still have a responsibility and desire to take care of them when I can. I love my boys more than anything, and they are my top priority.

2) Work. My workplace is great, because it always presents new challenges. There is always something going on and a new deadline to meet. However, as a result, it also demands a lot of my time. Rarely do I ever get to work a 40-hour workweek. I inevitably end up working nights and weekends, whether it be coding or just checking email.

3) School. I am trying to finish up the agonizingly drawn-out process of getting a degree, and the process seems neverending. Just when I think I am almost done, another curveball gets thrown my way. For example, I found out I now have to take another class I didn't even know about--pushing the timeline out once again. You have to love state schools. Nevertheless, the classes require a lot of time outside of work and are writing-intensive. As a result, I spend a lot of my free time not coding, but writing 15-25 page papers on management and leadership. Someday, I really hope this pays off.

I made a personal resolution for 2010 to blog more about ColdFusion and technology in general. So far this year, I have failed miserably to do so. So, I am making a public commitment to everyone out there to try and do better at this (When, however, I cannot promise). I can't say there is a "light at the end of the tunnel" as of yet. Work is only going to get more intense in the coming months, school is what it is, and being a dad is forever. I can only promise that I will try to prioritize as best I can and stick to the commitments I've made. Usually, something ends up suffering, though. If I fall short, I apologize in advance!

As 2009 draws to a close, I personally want to wish everyone a very happy and healthy new year. This has been the most wonderful year of our lives with the birth of our two sons. We couldn't have asked for anything better! It is hard to believe they are already a year old! It will be interesting to see what 2010 brings. I'm sure life is going to get more and more fun as the boys grow and learn new things. I can't wait to hear some of their first words, or watch as the first time they take a full, unassisted step! Every day they grow and change and become more aware and more fun. God's love is awesome!

To quote Ferris Bueller, "life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop to look around once in a while, you could miss it". That's exactly how I feel. Life is too precious and important to be consumed by work or the petty insignificance of other things. Family is first and foremost, and the most important thing in my mind. I'd like everyone to keep that in mind this holiday season. The ones we love cannot be replaced--and they are more important than anything we could ever "own". Love is irreplaceable.

That's all I've got. Signing off to go unwrap some presents and play with the boys. See all of you next year! God bless.

Well, another Thanksgiving has come and gone. Christmas will be here before we know it. I can't believe what a wonderful year this has been. I can't thank God enough for everything I have been blessed with--two beautiful children, a wonderful wife, a terrific job, and great friends and family surrounding me.

I had been complaining earlier in the week about the sale of my house and how I am "no longer a homeowner", but this is the best thing that could happen to us. We are now free to pursue our ultimate goals and do what we need to do to make those things happen. We now have a huge burden lifted, and this is a great thing both financially and emotionally.

To everyone out there--family, friends, old aquaintances--I am thankful for you. I am thankful for your love and support through everything we do. You are the true blessing.

For those of you who haven't heard of Twins Days (I never had before having twins), it is the largest annual gathering of twins in the world (yes, the WORLD). What was even more exciting for us is that this festival was only 3 1/2 hours away from home. Just outside Cleveland, Twinsburg is a small, little-known town in northeastern Ohio. It's a fairly exclusive area and doesn't even have its own Wal-Mart, much to our surprise. Twinsburg is known worldwide by twins, and this festival has been taking place for 34 years. Twins come from all over the planet, and this year there were sets from the Czech Republic, Australia, Japan, Canada, and more. At last count when we left on Sunday there were over 1800 sets of multiples registered for the event.

Twins Days is three solid days of twin-centric celebration starting with a twin-only event Friday night. This private event is only for twins and their families, and includes a prize raffle, free hot dog dinner, and lots of socializing. Not being a twin myself, I almost felt like I was crashing some private club meeting. I had never seen so many multiples in one location before--it was amazing. While we didn't win anything in the raffle, we met lots of really nice people as well as some great parents of young twins. People watching is an official pasttime here.

Saturday and Sunday was the actual festival itself, open to the public but still attended mostly by twins. Saturday morning was the parade, which we missed. There were also several contests, and we entered the boys in the "least alike under 12 months" contest. They ended up winning 2nd place and two "silver" medals! We were so incredibly proud of our beautiful little guys. We didn't even get to see much of the talent competitions or entertainment going on because there was so much to do. The festival grounds itself isn't that large, but there is still a lot to do, see, and eat.

This year we got a good feel for what the event is all about and if we would want to go again. The boys were too little to really enjoy it, but seemed to have a good time being outside and getting so much attention (as well as banana popsicles). We've decided that Twins Days will now be an annual family tradition, and unless we're living across the country, we'll make the pilgrimage back to Twinsburg every August until the boys don't want to go anymore.

Over this past weekend, Rhonda and I came to a revelation. While we love O & N more than life itself, she and I decided that two children just aren't enough. We're going for at least four more. We're thinking we might get a set of girl twins if we try hard enough. We figured even if we don't sell our house, we can put all the children in one room until they get older, and then we'll worry about getting a new house at some point in the future.

If anyone would like to be gracious enough to donate to the "new kid fund", we're taking cash, checks, and IOU's.

Oh, does anyone know where we can get a stroller for six?

UPDATE: April fools!

My boys have been in the world for three months now, and I have been a dad equally as long. The experience is unlike anything I'd ever have dreamed, and I'm so grateful every day for the boys.

The challenges a new parent faces are immense--and when there are double the kid it's even more interesting. But, I wouldn't change the experience for the world. The boys are sleeping better now through the night and are both smiling at me and Rhonda. They are able to track movement and watch the both of us as we walk across the room. They also react to stimuli such as puppets, the dogs, toys, etc. We're still trying to learn their likes and dislikes.

It's so amazing to be able to almost watch them grow right before my eyes! I'm looking forward to what's in store as the boys continue to get bigger and more alert. And, the twins festival is only five short months away, which is very exciting.

It has now been two months since the birth of my twin boys. It's hard to believe--they are growing so fast. They look very different than they did just a month ago. While by no stretch of the imagination do I have a grasp on this "dad thing", I do have a little better understanding of what it means to be a dad. At least now I can do "fatherly duties" like change a diaper (in less than 5 minutes), change a kid's clothes, and feed and burp a baby and get him back to sleep at 3 a.m. I've also learned how to deal with sheer frustration due to excessive sleep deprivation. No one can prepare you for those sleepless nights--it's something you have to experience on your own.

My wife says I still have lot to learn when it comes to child-rearing. She says I'm "not comforting enough" when taking care of the boys. I guess I still don't know what I'm doing. But, I like to think I'm getting a little better every day. I love them so much, but don't always know how to express it. It's hard to always know what to do when your kid is screaming at the top of his lungs for no apparent reason, or staring blankly at you like he has no idea who you are.

This past weekend I spent a lot of time with the kids and really got to enjoy them. It took a little while to grasp, but I finally understand the concept that it's "not about me anymore". Nothing I want matters--it's about the boys and taking care of them. Their needs outweigh anything else. I have to say, I love taking care of their needs. Nothing makes me happier than seeing them smile (which they're starting to do). I can't wait to watch them grow. Being a dad is awesome!

It has been a little over a month since my boys were born, and a full week since they've been home from the hospital. I think I am running on pure adrenaline instead of sleep at this point. People told me being a dad would be hard and I wouldn't sleep, but I really had no idea until now. I never thought I'd be able to function on so little sleep, but I'm adjusting. Thank God I took a week off work to get into a routine.

The hardest thing is the schedule adjustment. Once one child is fed, the other immediately wants food, and then they need changed, etc. When done, the cycle begins all over again--every three hours. It's a challenge unlike anything I've ever experienced before, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. It's the coolest experience, ever.

For many, 2008 was a very bad year--one they'd like to forget. For us, it was the most beautiful year of our lives. This past Monday, December 29th, 2008, our two boys were born at 2:15 and 2:17 a.m. What a blessing! Being preemies, they have had a few issues, but they're doing much better as I write this and hopefully we'll all be home together soon. I can't even express how beautiful the boys are--they are more precious and wonderful than I ever imagined. I am the proudest father in the world. My boys are so sweet and wonderful. I want to be with them every minute.

To top off the year, Aaron and I got accepted to speak at CFUnited in August, and just got ColdFusion 8 certified today! Nothing like waiting until (literally) the last minute! But, better late than never! I am now officially a "ColdFusion Expert". What a great feeling. I highly recommend the CF8 Exam Buster software for studying--it is a Godsend.

I am looking forward to 2009 with great anticipation, hoping things continue on a positive track for our whole family. I'm looking forward to immersing myself in the CF community, and being the best dad I possibly can. And, if anyone knows where I can get my hands on some of those "Future CF Developer" infant Tees from MAX, I'd greatly appreciate it!

I just wanted to take a minute to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2009 is looking to be a wonderful year...lots of exciting things coming our way!

Today is my birthday. Another year older! I feel really good today. I've received so many good wishes from everyone (Facebook and Twitter are wonderful things). I am so thankful to have a wonderful family and such a wonderful wife who takes such good care of me. I thank the Lord every day that she is in my life.

Now...off to play some Guitar Hero World Tour.

Exactly one year ago on October 22nd, I started my new job here at O'Neil. Up until that time, I was still working for The Berry Company in IT. It had been a few weeks since I was no longer working for Barry Sanders in building A. It all seems so strange in some ways. Today, for example, it really occurred to me "I'm no longer working for Barry." Sometimes, it's just surreal--but so much for the better. I consider myself a better developer now that I can actually focus on one or two projects at a time instead of ten or twelve. It's absolutely amazing when you change your work environment for the better. Sometimes I do miss Barry and his crazy antics, but had I not moved on, I'm afraid I would've remained stagnant where I was and bitter about dealing with Yellow Pages. I just don't understand how people can stay at a particular place for 20 or 30 years and not become complacent or just plain burnt out like I did. I guess it is situation-specific for each indvidual.

In addition to all of that, I now also have two kids on the way, a new car, and am trying to sell my second house. I think it took me a long time (eight years to be exact), but I may have finally "grown up". Now that I'm about to have the immense responsibility of two children to care for, I sometimes feel overwhelmed, but am also filled with joy. After childbirth classes, I learned a lot about what to expect, and don't fear the birthing process as much now as I did before. Life's about to get a whole lot more interesting, and I can't wait.

Fall is here, and I thought I'd give everyone a little update on how things are going for the Smiths.

Well, the house has been up for sale for a while now, but with the economic disaster and crappy housing market we've had virtually no lookers. Our agent has done a good job with open houses, and she'll be having two more next week to try to get some traffic through the door. Rhonda and I are trying to decide what exactly we want to do--stay where we are or just move to her mother's. We have the month of October to decide, then we'll need to make a decision and hunker down so the boys have a room of their own.

School is as fun as ever. I have two classes right now and want nothing more than to finish up the fourteen remaining credit hours I have left. I have two huge papers due within a week of each other--which I'll need to start working on this weekend. I just need to keep my eye on the prize and it will be over before I know it.

The boys are due in just a few months! Rhonda has another ultrasound tomorrow, and I am really looking forward to seeing them again. I can't even express the feeling of elation I have about being a dad. For a long time, I never thought I'd even have one child, let alone two. I consider myself extremely blessed. I will post some ultrasound pics in a subsequent blog post so everyone can share the joy.

Hope everyone out there is doing well and life is treating them ok despite the uncertain economic times. Hopefully, this will all be past us soon.

I woke up this morning having no idea what was in store for us. After coming home from church to a sunny Sunday afternoon and cutting the grass, we were then inundated with ferocious winds--hurricane-like winds. I guess it was the remnants of hurricane (now tropical storm) Ike, which devastated Texas, along with a fierce cold front from the plains and Chicago area.

For a period of about five hours we had winds in excess of 60-70 mph, causing major tree damage and some structural damage to surrounding structures and homes. We were lucky--only a few big tree branches came down, but our neighborhood looks like a war zone. I've never seen such widespread chaos--branches down everywhere, large trees uprooted--it is insane. The whole neighborhood is dark and silent at this hour (8:30 p.m.). People are cleaning up their yards as best they can, but wow. Talk about an interesting day. Rhonda is sitting next to me reading a book by lantern while I have candles lit and am using up the remaining battery power on my laptop.

Since we couldn't make dinner at home we decided to venture out and ended up at Bob Evans, the only place to have power in the area because of their generator. They had a limited "storm menu" and Rhonda got the last of the chicken noodle deep dishes, much to the anger of some surrounding people sitting around us. An hour and a half of waiting and we finally got our food and ended up with free candy bars because the waitress didn't ring them up.

Since our power is out while I'm writing this, I'm pretty bored and trying to keep myself occupied. I can't post to the blog until I have access to the Internet again. Who knows when we'll have power. I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to wake up in the morning. Hoping my cell phone alarm is set properly! What an interesting day indeed.

Update Sept 16: Power still out in many places. Our block is the only one with power in our neighborhood and it still looks like a war zone. We have no cable or Internet service. Stop lights are still out (people need to learn how to treat them like four way stops), and gas is scarce. Life is still not back to normal as of today, but it's getting there.

Update Sept 18: Power outages still in progress for some, but just found out my parents got their power back after several days. Things seem to be getting back to normal, but there are still a lot of trees down and branches/debris everywhere.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTARY: Over the course of the past several days, I've come to a stark realization of the frailty of our infrastructure as we know it. The Dayton area suffered a borderline catastrophic event, with 70-80 MPH (hurricane force, category 1) winds. Hundreds of thousands of people were without power for days upon days. In Dayton (or Ohio for that matter), we're just not used to that scenario. Around here, power outages usually only occur with very severe thunderstorms or snowstorms and are isolated to a few neighborhoods. This was spread to the entire state of Ohio. Worse yet, no one seemed to know it was coming. Not even the weather forecasters predicted it that I'm aware of.

My feeling is, if a major disaster were to strike here, things would be very, very bad. We saw people's lack of common sense or courtesy with the various non-functioning stoplights. People blew through them like they weren't even there, even though they're supposed to be treated as four-way stops. People chewed out proprieters of the only open restaurants around. And, a curfew had to be imposed in Carlisle to hinder looting and crime due to power outages. What if something happened which took the power out for weeks? Or damaged the water supply? What if everyone's water was tainted or phone lines down? How would Dayton handle it? Simply put, we wouldn't. I, for one, think the city would just implode on itself. While sometimes bad situations bring out the best in people, unfortunately, it usually brings out the worst as well, and people become self-centered jerk-offs.

It just goes to show--just because the sun is shining doesn't mean a catastrophe isn't happening right before your eyes. Next time, it could be even worse.