Mr. Shife's March Madness - Day 23

Well I am always looking for motivation for the blog especially this month as I am posting every single day, and today's inspiration comes from my lovely friend Val. She asked how things were coming along with my book, and I am happy to report they are moving along slowly but surely. I have completed my query letter and introduction so starting in April, I will be sending out my stuff to a list of literary agents who might have an interest in me. I know the chances are extremely slim that any of them will want to represent me but I want to say that I gave it a shot. Then I will move on to the self-publishing route and try to get my book completed as soon as possible.  And I thought I would share the beginning of my book's introduction with you. I hope you like it. As always, thank you for stopping by and I will talk to you tomorrow. 

“So I will be on the beach for three fabulous days working on my tan, rocking out, destroying my liver, and listening to my wife justify why she needs to go on another shopping spree. 

It is going to be awesome.” – Blog post, Oct. 13, 2005 

Sounds like a nice way to spend a weekend, huh? In 2005, life was good and there wasn’t much to worry about. My idea of a long weekend was going to Mexico with the wife, staying up too late, and sleeping off a drunken night while we were having some fun with our friends in a foreign land.

“You might be wondering how my 3-year-old son Kyle told us he no longer wants to nap. Well he ripped off his pull-ups and peed all over his blankets, pillows and stuffed animals. Not once but two afternoons in a row. I really, really do enjoy being a parent sometimes.” – Blog post, Sept. 21, 2012 

Sounds like a nice way to start your weekend, huh? In 2012, life was good but just a little different. My weekends were still long but the closest I was going to get to Mexico now was visiting the taco food truck downtown. Still up late but never getting to sleep in, and the foreign land I am trying to navigate now is parenthood.

Welcome to my world. My name is Matt Shifley (a.k.a. Mr. Shife) and for the past eight years, I have been chronicling my odyssey from a really dumb newlywed in 2005 to an even more mindless, married, stay-at-home dad in 2013 through a collection of short, distinctive anecdotes from my blog.

I don't have any good reason why I chose this as my picture today other than it makes me laugh. Me and Elvis at my 40th birthday party. It was a good day and maybe I am just looking forward to more good days this year. 

I will persevere. I will keep moving forward. I will be the stream.