Friday, May 11, 2012

Big Day for Lightning Kids


Okay -- so yesterday was one of those days when it just felt really good to be a father.

Reason #1: I became a father for the first time 20 years ago yesterday. It is hard to believe that my oldest turned 20. I guess I can no longer say that I have three teenagers.

Heather

Reason #2: It was my son's high school Senior Class Awards program yesterday. He was recognized for three academic awards: Prarie State Achievement Award, Illinois State Scholar, and National Merit Commended Scholar.

Rick

Two good looking, bright kids. Of course, that should not be a surprise considering who their father is.  : o )

19 Comments:

Blogger snevman said...

Great kids, a product of their environment. You should b every proud.

1:07 AM  
Blogger crafty said...

Dude, mazel tov and all that, but why do you reveal the names of your children but will not give yours out?

1:18 AM  
Blogger crafty said...

Oh and hey, can I take advantage of your good mood and ask you, for the love of dog, please shut off the cannonade?

1:24 AM  
Blogger bastinptc said...

Um, good looking kids, yes. Brains are good too. But give credit where credit is due. Mrs. 36? Something to add/say?

3:43 AM  
Blogger JT88Keys said...

It doesn't suck to have smart, happy, responsible, healthy kids does it? And I'll second Gary's request about the fireworks. I have to try to remember to mute my PC before going to your blog every time due to the barrage of explosions.

6:20 AM  
Blogger Carmel said...

I can even hear it when I use my cell phone to read your blog.

7:24 AM  
Anonymous KenP said...

Always leaving the note to drop extra cream at the back door hasn't seemed to have sunk in.

Seriously...

Lucky Kids and Lucky Parents

NICE!

8:46 AM  
Blogger Josie said...

Great kids who are definitely a product of mom and dad.

BTW I want your daughter to do my makeup! I am so jealous that A.) she has a make up blog and B.) she has like 1,800 followers. Holy shiat!

Can I send your son a Very Josie card? :)

8:48 AM  
Blogger lightning36 said...

@Gary I debated about putting their names in. They are old enough that I am not worried about "protecting" them like I would have when they were younger. I rarely use my own name on the blog because I've always played poker under the name "lightning" -- and either that or "light" is what most people in the poker world have just called me.

And those of you who have kids know that raising them is extremely difficult. They all have their own set of problems and issues. You can only do your best and hope. Mrs. lightning is certainly largely responsible for creating a good home environment through the years. But the kids actually look more like my side of the family. I am sure my wife might would love to put her two cents in here, but since she never reads my blog ... oh well ...

As for the explosions -- they came embedded with the sign at the top of the blog. One blogger who liked to give me crap about my poker play once told me that the sound tilted him, so I left it on. I asked my son once if he could tinker with things to take it off. Maybe I will ask again. On the other hand, being a bit of an irritant is just in my nature. Right Josie?

@Ken P: Whenever my kids are a pain in the butt I always complain about that freakin' milkman. I guess that is the standard line from years ago. : o )

9:10 AM  
Blogger lightning36 said...

Oh -- I did forget to say that they are certainly NOT anywhere close to where I am on the political spectrum, which you might expect. Dinner conversations can become contentious very quickly. However, they are both passionate about social justice issues, of which I am very proud.

12:23 PM  
Blogger Memphis MOJO said...

I like the explosions! Like the photos of the kids, too.

3:05 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

lightning,

Me and the boys are making another trip to Turtle Lake next Saturday, the 19th, if you are interested. Let me know. We will be playing some holdem for the night.

-grouse

7:33 PM  
Blogger lightning36 said...

Hiya grouse:

Thanks for the invite. Not heading up north for some time. Mop up the floor with 'em, bro.

7:43 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Will do lightning. Just thought I would send it out there.

Like the blog by the way. Great looking family.

-grouse

8:12 PM  
Blogger Susan said...

Ok. Time for Mrs. Lightning to add her two cents....Our kids are great. I contend that they get their looks and brains from my side of the family. Their creativity, too. In the first picture up there with the two oldest kids, Heather is wearing an outfit I made her. Rick is wearing shorts that I made him from fabric he picked out with lobsters on it (you can just barely see the shorts, but I promise they are there!). And I decorated his cake, also with lobsters. And crabs. He has a thing about shellfish.

Actually, it's been a joint effort. But kind of like a wishbone. It looks even until you break it, and then you realize one side is stronger than the other. I won't say which of us is that side.

What Lightning also didn't mention is that there is a younger child and myself not pictured above. If you thought the family was good looking with just those two, you should see all of us at once. Have your sunglasses ready!

Truly, though. Lightning is a good dad. We were totally unprepared for the fierce protectiveness that takes over once you have kids. Or the exhaustion. All three kids seem to have developed liberal, feminist atheist tendencies despite us (or may to spite us?), but we couldn't be prouder of them.

Heather was born on Mother's Day 20 years ago. She was the best present ever.

Lightning has given me the gift of himself for almost 24 years (for those of you who know him, you can only imagine what that's been like!) And he's given me the gift of our children. I am a blessed woman.

And no, he wasn't holding a gun to my head while I wrote this!

11:02 PM  
Blogger Mr Subliminal said...

Susan, all the above notwithstanding, I was particularly touched reading about how you saved Ivy's life with forced syringe feeding.

4:06 PM  
Blogger Rob said...

Ok, I'm guessing that Heather's real name is Jennifer, and Rick's real name is Randy, and Susan's real name is Connie. And of course you got that pics from doing a google search, right?

Wait, what? Those are the real names? And those are really pictures of your actual kids?

Geez, Ben, you haven't gotten the hang of this blogging thing, have you? Heh heh.

Seriously, very nice post and I love the comments from the Mrs. I just don't understand how a poker degenerate like yourself could have such a wonderful, and beautiful family.

Congrats, my friend. You done good.

7:02 PM  
Blogger SirFWALGMan said...

Definite hottie Lightbulb! Must get it from the Wife's side. ;).

9:36 PM  
Blogger SirFWALGMan said...

"He has a thing about shellfish." -- You should really teach him to share, being shelfish is no good! Wakkah Wakkah Wakkah.

12:28 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home