7 Kids, 2 grandkids, 1 on-the-way, 2 cats, Mom, and Dad

iPhone stuff or PF Changs is good.

I hacked my iPhone yesterday. By hacked I mean that now I can load all kinds of applications on it that don't come with it standard.

I tried a GPS navigation program but it didn't work because it requires other people that have real GPS systems to annotate the location of cell towers and put it into a database. Nobody has done that in this area so it didn't work.

I also tried an aquarium 'game' that consisted of a single fish (two fish will be in an upcoming update) that you could feed by tapping on the screen. *yawn*

So, I've yet to find the killer app that will make doing this worthwhile but at least I can sound cool when someone asks about my iPhone and how I like it.

As for PF Changs...I've not eaten there in a long time but I really like the one in Boston and the other one I visited in Highlands Ranch, CO.

New Furniture or We're going to have a hooked up house.

Our new pub table dining room set that we purchased from Bernie and Phyl's was delivered today.

Now we just have to wait for our hardwood floors to be installed.

Blended families or What are the ingredients.

I think the description sounds funny...blended family...like a recipe for a cocktail or some other frozen concoction you might make in the blender. When you first start blending two separate ingredients you can still see them but after a while they become something new...it just takes time.

And that's what we are...two families being blended together as one with the goal that the two parts together (peanut butter and chocolate?) are better than they are apart.

I have two additional sons now that PW and I are married. One is a freshman in college and we get along fine during the occasional times that he's come to visit. The other is 8-years-old and for all intents and purposes, I'll be the dad that he ends up remembering.

I think that things are going well and that relationships are being formed that will make us feel like the reality that is our daily life right now. It will take some time but before long we'll be just mom and dad and there won't be any talks of steps or blends.

Site Update or Time for a change.

I decided to rename my blog to more accurately reflect what my household is like these days. Four of the kids are off to college so it isn't as crowded as it sounds.

Our dog and cats don't get along very well. Things didn't get off on the right paw when she started their relationship by running after them, chasing them downstairs, and barking savagely the whole while. Now, she goes downstairs and they take turns attacking her when she gets too close. Last night she ended up with a scratched ear, face, and top of her head after getting to close to one of them when I called her up the stairs. But, don't feel too bad for her since she started off the day by chasing my baby to the basement door before pulling back and giving up the chase. I hope she learns her lesson before anyone gets seriously hurt.

Pretty Wife and I went for a walk at lunchtime yesterday and got halfway done with our walk when the skies opened and it poured! We were soaking wet and cold by the time we got home but I felt invigorated by the walk anyway.

I'm so in love with PW. The way we met is such a romantic tale and I consider myself so lucky to be married to her.

He wrote the songs or He made us sing.

PW, Middle Daughter, and Youngest Daughter joined me last night at the TD Banknorth Garden to see Barry Manilow in concert.

The show was absolutely perfect. He had the right combination of old favorites mixed in with some of newer "Best of" decade albums and his stage show was incredible.

I saw Justin Timberlake last month and felt old in that crowd. This time, I got to feel pretty young. Barry is 64-years-young and he attracted that same age group to his concert. However, mixed in with us were kids around my daughter's ages that fell in love with him too and were there to enjoy the show.

PW never considered herself a fan but at the end of the concert she summed up her new feelings when she said to me, "He's a superstar."

I agree with her and I'm so glad that I finally got to see him in concert.

Here comes fall or Hammock days!

I laid out in the hammock last night and for a little while the day before too. I have a broom handle that I hold on to and it allows me to rock the hammock just the right amount.

The weather is warm but the air is crisp with a refreshing breeze which makes for perfect hammock weather (no mosquitoes or black flies!). The air was so clear and blue last night when I laid down and the fluffy white trail from a jet's passage across the sky was nearly overhead.

I noticed that the trail was moving to my left and tried to decide if this was because of the wind currents at 30,000 feet or because of the rotation of the Earth.

I pondered for a couple of minutes before deciding it didn't matter and gave myself another push.