Daddy's Little Helper

"One bourbon, one scotch and one beer." The words of Lonesome George ring true in my ears every day around 5 pm. The stress of the daily grind usually requires some much over due treatment. However, with the responsibility of fatherhood comes tempering exactly just how "happy" the hour can become. Those days when a 12 pack of Milwaukee's Best for $3.99 to get the evening started have long gone by. I do like to spoil myself a little bit now and get the Miller High Life for $6.99, but it usually lasts the entire week.

Daddy's little helper is always much appreciated whether it's after a hard day of riding with the boss or working on the attic in 100 degree summer heat or taking the stroll of 18 holes. Wait! What was that last one??? A luxury of days gone by, that seems so long forgotten. Finding time just to decompress in today's fast-paced world has become a medical necessity. I remember when grand-pop would come in from a long day on the farm, have a shot and a beer and then tune into the Phillies, to be undisturbed for those 3 ½ hours. That was his time.

Nowadays we have homework, dance, t-ball, PTA and fundraisers. The list goes on and on. I know that our parents had similar obligations when we were growing up, but there always seemed to be more "down time". It was required time which was reserved for family and friends, ball games and picnics, birthday parties and holiday dinners. These moments have become fleeting now, as we hurry to the next stop on our never-ending to do list. Just once, I would appreciate an evening or weekend with no responsibilities as we had in days gone past.

Remember sitting on the porch, on those hot summer nights, with a cold one in hand and Steely Dan drifting from the stereo speakers? Please understand that I have all of the love in the world for my young family and appreciate all of the times we have together. However, a brief stop in Margaritaville once in a while would certainly be good for the constitution. The other boss (the one that you really have to answer to), though, requires that all affairs be in order now before said time for peace may be allowed. We all know that a happy wife equals a happy home.

My baby's godfather explained to me one time that we needed to find a hobby. He wanted to buy a fishing boat and take it to the closest ramp possible on the weekends. I found that interesting, because I never took him to be a sportsman (except for sitting down to watch the game over a 12 pack). Then he continued to unveil his strategy to find a good cover for drinking beer, much like our forefathers. You see some guys have season tickets, others have discovered "hobbies", but the fact is that they are all great reasons to blow off a little steam.

Of course these opportunities come at a price, and if your boss is like mine, she is keeping a close eye on the checking account. The catalyst to this plan seems to be making sure that the wife is completely satisfied. I am not just talking about in the bedroom. The honey-do list needs to be done. The kid's noses and asses all need to be wiped. The animals all need to be fed and contained. And asking for the go ahead should always be coordinated with the bi-weekly deposit.

Maybe I have been a little slow on the uptake of this man rule, but my leash has been a little shorter than most for some time. The children are now becoming more self-sufficient and the mrs. has returned to the workforce, so daddy has had time to think. It has become absolutely necessary to balance work and family and, quite obviously, to balance family and sanity.

So I am on a mission to find an outlet that tastes great and is less filling. Perhaps something that is a little bit challenging and somehow rewarding. This weekend some of the boys are playing in a poker tournament for charity. It's for a good cause and there is a cash bar! Is that wrong? Next weekend there is a 5k for charity hosted by a local bar, with beer at the finish line. By George! This is a win for everybody! I hope the boss approves.

www.jimmyjackspace.com