Those nights when you have a horrific nightmare affecting someone you love that shocks you awake forcibly and from which you just can't shake yourself.

I don't understand why recycling programs are so limited. We have a curbside recycling program where we live and they even provide us with those big wheeled carts in which to move our to-be-recycled goodies to the curb. It's nice.

I stayed at home today with Nathan and awaited his wake up after Katie left for work.

For the first time in our marriage, Katie and I were actually able to see some celestial anomaly. Due to storms, cloud cover, being tired, being in the wrong part of the world, etc., we've never seen eclipses, shooting stars, borealises ("borealii"?), etc.

But we managed to go out anyway and get some food and drinks at a couple of places with two of Katie's cousins. They are big fans of beer and trying new places that serve, well, beer.

When you've had this kind of week, you might want to have a drink... or twelve.

Hey Adobe pros, I need some help with an InDesign problem. And I need it quick or I am going to throw my stupid computer off the damn roof.

Prior to Nathan being born, Katie and I went out to see tons of movies. Dozens of theater trips per year. Add to that the dozens of movies we watched via DVD and streaming services. We were full-fledged, bonafide movie fuh-reaks.

During trips to the park the last couple of days, Nathan has been quick to find the moon in the early evening sky. I'm not sure how he knows the moon in the non-nighttime sky, but he does.

For the first time in I don't know how many years, I can count on one hand the number of new TV shows Katie and I plan to watch. Let's just say that I am not looking forward to a vast majority of new fall broadcast television shows.

I really hate when I miss my Fitbit daily step goals by just that much.

Today, our little man turned three. Where the time has gone, we have no idea. It has flown by like a flash and yet so much has happened that we can't keep track of it all.

Nathan never fails to amaze me daily with what he learns. Today, for example, he and I went to Trader Joe's to pick up the fixings for pizza and he made an observation as I was getting him out of the car.

Am I the only one who is completely uninspired by absolutely all the Presidential contenders that have jumped in the race thus far?

I love cops. I have family members who are cops. I have friends who are cops. I work with an entire police department. These are some of the most stand-up and fiercely loyal people I have ever met. You ask for something and they help. No questions asked. I love cops.

So this happened today (I apologize if you already saw it plastered all over my Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Flickr accounts)...

Sometimes it takes watching a lot of the crap that is heaped upon us and dubbed "primetime network television" to really appreciate some of the great stuff from years past.

There's nothing quite like family fun when you've got a young'un who really doesn't express much of an opinion (yet) about what he'd prefer to do all the time.

Today was a Daddy/Kids' Day with my brother and his daughter, Zoey, and we went to the United Center to see Marvel Universe Live!

Spengler: Don't cross the streams.

Venkman: Why?

Spengler: It would be bad.

Venkman: I'm fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing. What do you mean, "bad"?

The following joke comes to you courtesy of my grandmother. Sorry I don't have anything better. I'm still pissed the Patriots beat the Steelers. Freaking Tom Brady.

Illinois is renowned for many things. Being the "home" of our 16th President Abraham Lincoln. Having one of the tallest towers in the world. Having the third most populous city in the United States (I think that's still the case). Having a great hockey team of late, a great basketball team in the 90s, a good football team in the 80s, and two baseball teams that were great... Well, they were at some point, weren't they?

In the past, holidays didn't mean much to Nathan. Sure, once he got into the groove of opening presents, he enjoyed it, but it still wasn't that big a deal.

Katie, Nathan, and I celebrated today. We celebrated a fantastic season at our local pool. We celebrated because that season came to an end today.

Sometimes a movie so potentially bad comes along that you almost need to see it just to find out if it's as bad as you think it's going to be.

When you drink as little alcohol as I have in the last five months, it doesn't take much to smack you square in the face.

I love bacon.

Thankfully, justice prevailed in Kentucky where Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis was actively refusing, despite a Supreme Court ruling against her, to grant same-sex marriage licenses. Now she's in jail for being in contempt of court and five of her six deputy clerks have agreed to issue the licenses while she's rattling her tin cup along the bars humming lines from "Nobody knows the trouble I seen..."

Today I pulled out the Halloween decorations for my office. Even my Domokun is festive.

That is just sick.

An interesting month for goal achievement, to be sure. I can make it real quick for you.