How am I as a parent?

Its one of those responsibilities that sort of become a part of you, specially if you really want a family. Even with today's literature of 'how to' books, I find that my dealings - as a parent - with my kids, is mostly on the basis of making sure I respect and love them.

I also find that I am doing what I feel is right, based on experience. For example, I grew up with a strict mother who used the stick. Maybe she believed in not sparing the rod and not spoiling me... but I also grew distant of her, for the love was shared with fear. So I decided I would not spank my kids. I would reason with them - so far it seems to work. I also had a broken family - meaning my parents were separated at around the time I was around 7 to 10. So I never had the stability of a solid family... thus I, and my wife of course, intend to give my kids that stability.

Not to say they're prefect in all ways. My kids may at times be too slow to listening to me, and they're slowly getting to the teen stage - so I'll be expecting more debates and nights out. My son will start having possible social issues, with my daughter not far behind.

However will I cope? I'd better start stocking up on Dr. Phil tips... but I believe communication is key. one of the things I like about my relationship with my kids is that they relate to me as a friend and parent. They can talk to me and are open with me... at least, I hope they are.

I would want to spend more time with them - maybe share some activities together, so I try to make a point to have my weekends free for them.

I'll be needing a new aquarium stand

As stated in the title, I'll be needing a new aquarium stand soon. I use a metal framed stand - unfortunately, its been years since I've had it and its shown signs of rusting and misalignment. If I wait too long, this aquarium stand may give out from under the weight - and 35+ gallons, plus sand and some stones, is not light.

Nearly empty - with about four inches of water left, it took my brother-in-law, a helper and me to move said aquarium a few inches to one side. Of course we had to be careful or the bottom glass could crack and said aquarium would start to drip water.

Still, if this stand gives, it won't be dripping that will be my concern - more likely a small flash flood would happen in our sala.

Hope not. I'd better start saving up for a new stand first before I even consider all those other plans I thought about the last time.

My Aquarium - an update

Been a while since I've mentioned something about it, so here goes...

I'm trying to revive the old glory of a planted aquarium, but to do this I need three things:

• plants
• CO2
• lighting

Of these three I have access to the 3rd item - though it might take some experimenting to see if other bulbs will do as effectively. The CO2 will need a tank - and my mom will give me one of her oxygen tanks - the one she hardly uses, once the oxygen is spent, that is. That leaves plants - ironically the harder thing to find.

See, having plants are not that hard since plants are bing sold - its the type of plants I'm looking for that are a bit of a challenge.

I strive for the Amano-tank look. This means a natural looking tank with lots of plants, designed with a Zen-like look. One that is relaxing and wonderful to look at for long periods of time.

So far, I have some of the fishes, the shrimps and the tank. I'll be getting the CO2 soon (maybe next month) and can adjust lighting once the CO2 is installed. Hopefully, I do get to develop this real well... if its successful (or even semi-successful) I'll post a picture of the tank.

Until then, its planning and fingers crossing time.

My aquarium(s)

I've had an aquarium for the past three (maybe four) years now and up to this time, it has always delighted me with unending entertainment as a de-stress tool and a live microcosm representing a different world.

First of, I maintain a tropical fresh-water environment. Though salt water aquariums are manageable, I find that the needed extra care for water and desalination equipment may outweigh the want for keeping more colorful varieties - as salt water fishes are normally known for. Nothing can compare to their vibrant colors, but... tropical fishes aren't exactly push-overs, as there are quite a number of colorful fresh-water fishes as well. Any new hobbyist may well be better served trying out fresh-water tanks first... then when they feel more confident, and they've some cash to spend, they can consider a salt-water tank.

As for my tank's dimensions - I'm less likely to remember measurements than volume. I have two tanks - a rectangular (the basic shape) 35 gallon tank, and a 22 gallon octagonal (more decorative in nature - and covering less table space) tank. The octagonal is relatively new, not even a month old yet... and there's a story for my getting it. but more on that some other time.

The fishes I keep? Tetras - mostly for my older tank, see... I'm adhering to the size and breathing surface area rule of a tank, which states that as a general rule, the less in size the fishes, the more fishes you can put in a tank, and Tetras are rather small - averaging about an inch to an inch and a half for each fish. I've got:

• 11 cardinals... really wonderful blue and red colors
• 7 rummy noses, their face color is red - and that's the only color they have. Not to forget that their face colors are a barometer for the quality of the water they're in
• 2 ottos - don't ask me to spell out their name, its difficult to remember - needless to say, these guys are glass cleaners
• 3 albino corys - great white contrast against the entire background, plus the fact that they're... well, scavengers (bottom feeders and thus cleaners of the aquarium's sand)
• 4 Amano-type shrimps - likewise, algae-eaters / cleaners

With the exception of the Albino Corys and maybe the rummy noses - these others are hard to find these days - or if there is a shop selling them, I've yet to discover where it is. In fact, this is the reason i had to get another aquarium - so I could separate them from my larger fishes, which might eat said fishes.

Exiled to my other aquarium are the following fishes:

• 2 Marble Angels (one predominantly black on silver, the other an exact opposite in colors - and it seems that these two are a pair
• A spotted-talking catfish (no it does not really talk - more like a clicking sound
• A Clown loach - the fresh water version of Nemo (from finding Nemo the movie)

Since these guys are a whole lot bigger, I chose not to mix them with the smaller examples.

What's so good about aquariums? I get to watch the fishes interact - sometimes chase each other, hide in plants (live, not plastic ones) and this helps me relax.. and yes, relieves stress.

In fact, tonight, when I do get home - I'll relax on the sofa, watch the television or listen to music - but likewise, I will look at my fishes for brief periods of time, and enjoy watching the fishes move in their tanks.

So much for a regular try...

I kow I tried to come up with a more regular schedule in loading my musings, btu lets face it... many things can get in the way - prominent among them being a technical problem with accessing my internet at home.

Can I just say that there are times when I think our local phone and inernet carrier's service really sucks. So much for customer care. They've got this hotline (dial 171) and you're given voice mail - which is fine. It after all gets the user (or listener) to the right people - so long as you first listen to all their pre-recorded ads, and follow the automated intructions. Upon selecting the proper combination of number sequences, I get rings... then an automated response kicking in after a few unsanswered rings. First is a reminder that their technical people are busy (are they ever there?), then after another round, a less than profound appology with intructions to try again.

So, I've been trying this - on and off - for about a week now... to no avail. Crap.

So much for technology helping out. In the meantime, it looks like I'm stuck without any inernet access. I've a mind to change service providers if this obvious inneficiency continues.

How about that - my first musing... and its a rant to a telephone company. What's the name of this company? The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company.

Ice Breaker...

So far, I've had two attempts to come up with blogs - and though both are great. they lack the everyday feel of a log. They somehow evolved into handling special interest topics - not to mu initial intent, yet they did end up that way.

So this third attempt will try to emulate a more frequent entry. I plan to place more 'down to reality' postings here - trying for a more 'journal/diary' like approach. I'll try to put my daily musings here, no mater how trivial they may be - hence the title of this blog.

Minutiae (many small, if not simple) musings (thoughts).

Here's to a third try. If anything else, I get a better feel for blogging!

Cheers!

Butch