Add the lack of family-in-region, trustworthy pals, et al� and what you get is a permanent never-ending-yet-wonderful daily Boy And His Dad Lifestyle.

As things go, Mssr. LeKiddo goes to bed at 7:30 sharp every evening. Schedules are key in a little person�s universe�and as this child has had more upheaval than most in his world for the whole of his little life? His knowing that things are stable (even with routines like dinner, tub, books, lullaby, and bed) comes in under-the-heading-of: Crucial.

More than anything else--HisBoyNess gets to be a child. No pressure (other than required behaviors) at all. In the process his pop (Moi!) is able to depend on a loving little fella who is polite, easy-going, well-fed, healthy�and most of all--a Happy-Go-Lucky GOOD LITTLE BOY.

But, there are things that have fallen by the wayside in the process. Parties? Gone. [In truth, no real interest anyway these days�] Drop of the hat non-kid-included activities? Dusted. Bar-crawls, random store-visits at night, or just-a-phrigging-bike-ride cause you feel like it at 9 PM? Nevah.

These things haven�t mattered though� as normalcy has been a gift of late.

Tonight the little guy is having his first-ever sleepover at a pal�s house in honor of the other young-lad�s forthcoming sixth birthday.

He got dropped off at his buddy Brian�s this afternoon, (proud as could be) with his new sleeping bag, a change of clothes, PeeJays, his little powered toothbrush/toothpaste combo deal, and his stuffed animal (known as Panda Bear.)

And his father came home.

And realized that this was the first time since half a day around Thanksgiving at his sister�s house that he has been ALONE with nothing scheduled for the evening.

LOUD MUSIC came first. Clutch�s Pure Rock Fury lit up the household at 127 db, followed by a bunch of Suicidal Tendencies, and some old Guttermouth.

Then DaGoofyAssSauceHuman had a cigarette in the house with a cup of coffee. He followed with a book on the front porch in an L.L. CoolBean rocking chair�

The experience has been weird and wonderful� Next comes full-volume videogame without worrying about waking and/or nightmare inducing a small human.

It is a blast.

But the funny part?

This Big Oaf-Like Male-Diarist is semi-wistful. Even with all of the above. Tonight is a hallmark. There may be more evenings such as this in the offing. And his little boy is growing� and before you know it, he�ll be all-sheepish-and-shit about hanging out and cuddling in his father�s arms. But it is all part of the deal, and it is kinda swell just having me own id to play with for the night. Goddamn, you know? Even knowing that his young man is becoming a person is a thrill. Yet and all though? Some of the innocence is going to be missed.

--SauceOfTornBetweenThrilledAndThoughtfulHere