as i sit here in my office/the local coffee shop on this 23rd day of July, i cant help but think... "am i the patriot of the family?" this phenomenon has recently come to me in the midst of many things. first, as i buzz around on my scooter, i feel a little like heath ledger both in the way i left home much as he did in the movie "the patriot" and also in my looks. although i do not claim to have an addiction problem that will lead to my death. so many other events have taken place lately that i felt the need to share this with the family. dads life has changed, instead of 8/8 of his life being work it is only 7/8 work and 1/8 golf, and i might add that that number is changing quickly. bob, lex, and lucy embark on a new adventure with the new house that, as it seems will never get done getting worked on, as his heart breaks because this is the first post on the blog he created in a substantial amount of time. i wont talk about mom because as the family seems to spread wider the tears flow more often. she has a mini reservoir in her room. and most recently two events that will change the face of the family. i may be the patriot, moving to the west, but lets all take a second and a deep breath knowing that meg, jas, colin, and kirbs are embarking into the true land of the da da ding ding ding ding ding ding ding. i understand that dad appropriately taught colin his new life theme song, thanks dad and please dont buy kirby a platinum grill for his one tooth, it would be so sad. for so long as we have taken trips, posed for pictures, and joked about the family situation, emily and i have been cohorts. i understand that this is part of life but lets all bid adue to emily as she clearly, as meghan would put, it is in L-O-V-E. the phone calls decrease, the family time lessens and she will probably move to tijuana, which will make only katie and luke happy. it was a great run em, thanks. as a leave in a couple days to pretend like im an olympic speed walker, and a man that is conjoined with another at the butt for two weeks, i am grateful but trust family, that our efforts are not in vain. we shall prevail. you may ask why i called myself a patriot-- i dont really know it just was the first thing that came to my head. peace