Saturday, January 29, 2011

Mr. Clean

So I just got home from work about an hour ago, haven't seen dad in two days. First thing he does when I walk in the door is ask if I noticed if he cleaned the bathroom. He has this thing where he feels as though I should praise him when he cleans or does some other kind of household chore - despite the fact that the things we actually need done around the house remain in shambles. Yes dad, I noticed you cleaned the bathroom. The toilet is still broken and I have to stick my hand down the back of the tank to flush it, but thank god the bowl is shiny. 

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Welcome to My Life

Hello Everyone! Welcome to Life With Homie - a sneak peak into what it's like to be 22 and  living with a single dad...who sometimes thinks he's 22.

The idea for this blog came to me from two different angles.

Firstly, I wanted to use the blog as a place to share anecdotal stories about the stresses, annoyances, awkward moments, funny moments, and general grievances that come along with living with my father (mostly because my friends are probably tired of hearing about it).

But the second reason I wanted to start this blog was to share an insiders view of what it is like living with a single parent, particularly a father whom you have never lived with before (and who has never lived with anyone for that matter). I wanted to approach many of the situations from a personal standpoint, but also from the standpoint my dad is probably coming from. Because, while it is frustrating and challenging at times, living together is also comical and has definitely brought us closer; and I know that at the end of the day my dad is simply doing the best he can in trying to make me comfortable and happy - even if it doesn't always seem like it.

I thought I should start off my telling you a little about my dad and why I thought he would be an interesting person to blog about. First thing you should probably know is that "Homie" comes from my dad's nickname "Homeboy" (just in case anyone was wondering). Now, at first glance, dad seems like an average 49 year old guy with a pretty routine lifestyle: work 9-5, gym every night, my cousin's hockey every Tuesday, visit the parents every Sunday. But my dad is definitely unique, and I think the main thing that makes him so interesting and at times, so comical to most people, is the fact that he hasn't lived with anyone else before. So, he acts almost as if he is hosting a party all the time. He's always "on" and when I moved in it was the first time my dad had anyone there to talk to everyday or do things with. 

Now, when I say talk to everyday, boy do I mean it. Imagine an auctioneer holding it in for 30 years. I swear on some days I'm lucky if I even get an "mmhmm" in the mix - usually he just talks at me, not with me. And god forbid I have a friend over - I have to brief people: "Okay, now he is going to talk to you...A LOT, and feed you, and offer you beer, and more beer...YOU CAN SAY NO IF YOU WANT. Just nod your head, and laugh when he laughs at a joke he made." Oh dad, so hospitable and friendly. But it is things like this that make my dad who he is; and despite the occasional annoyance to me, it's just dad being, dad and it's what makes him so funny and like-able.

So that it, a glance into the ideas behind my blog. Hopefully some of you find it entertaining and maybe even a little insightful. Feel free to log on and check it out, leave comments, and share stories you might have about living with your parents/kids.