"I don't know this woman. I am so sorry." HA!

Hi Wil.

hehehe.. that's cool. I like my parents, never really had any problems during those "teenage" years because we got along very well. They were cool, and still are. Not to say problems didn't come up, but it was never anything huge.

I think the closer you are to them, the easier the years to come will be. I'm only 18 now, but I'm pretty much out of that bratty, bad-attitude, arrogant stage. It's not so bad when your parents are cool with ya.

BTW, what's up with Vega$pants man??

Wil,
That is so cool, and an honor, I might add, to be "steppin' "...Nolan and Ryan may have a dad, but you're influencing their lives in ways you may not always notice.

Not having the privilege of being a father, I can only speak from the experience of being a close male figure in my younger sister's kids lives...they have a tendency to look up to me in more ways than I could have ever hoped for.

I sometimes feel that I don't deserve their attention / respect, because I have a tendency to allow day-to-day dealings with work or what-have-you to interfere when I have the opportunity to drop by for a visit, (thankfully, they only live a mile from me), but they always offer a hug or a laugh or a nice compliment. "Uncle Mark, your car always smells so nice" or "Uncle Mark, I really like the way your hair looks", etc. Goofy stuff to an adult, but they are just so sincere!

Anyways...I think it's so cool that these two great-sounding kids are allowing you to be a part of their lives, through the influence of the music you enjoy listening to or how'd you humorously react out in public. I'm sure there are (and will be) many, many other ways throughout their lives. :o )

Sounds like you're a rich man indeed...

Take care,

Wow. That's seriously one of the coolest things I've read in a while. Makes me almost want to lift the personal ban I've made on myself for having kids someday :) I know, I know, I say that now, but I'll be one of those women with 8 kids who all hate her... :-( ok, end that tangent. anyway, Wil, I think it's totally awesome that you can connect with your step-kids like that. I've known far too many people who absolutely hated their steparents and it really messes up the home. Sounds like you're a truly lucky guy, and it's great that you realize that. Have a great V-Day with the family!

Wil, I completely understand how you feel on both the ups and the downs of being a step parent. I married a man with three children and they still very much have a mother. I sometimes wish that I was the only motherly influence on those three kids, but I've also had my great moments with them. I've seen myself in those kids more than once, and I've had the two girls come to me and compliment me on things or tell me how they'd like to be like me when they grow up. I mainly wanted to share this one moment with you..... the last time my step kids were at our house, the oldest girl told me that I was the best step mother she's ever had. I started laughing and pointed out that I was also the only step mother she'd ever had. Then, I almost started crying because she just smiled at me and told me that I was the only one she would have picked. No matter how many times I feel like I'm missing out or they are because I'm just their step mom, I'm just so glad that I have such a good relationship with them and so proud when I feel like I've passed a little bit of myself on to them.

Sounds like your kids have waaaaaay too much time on their hands. Get 'em an http://www.apple.com/imac and put the game Tropico on it. After a few months, they'll be so expert in running simulated Caribbean islands that they'll beg you to move to one and overthrow the government.

Imagine: you could be related to Caribbean dictators.

This is now officially my favorite WWDN post. It was previously the story about Christmas show at the school - but this... very cool.

Or you could NOT buy the crappy computer and play Tropico on a PC.

Wil, I very much enjoyed reading that bit about your [step-]kids. Really cool stuff. I look forward to those days.

SO SWEET WIL! OMG, the kids rock!

All my best

Cindy

At least you are influencing your step-kids with cool music -- *totally* the role of parents, I think. :) I was introduced to ABBA, Billy Joel, and Queen (to name a few) via the musical tastes of fabulous mom 'n' dad. Oh, and Anne Murray. How could I forget Anne Murray? ;)

And hey, I'm not sure if it is a pain in your patootie to be constantly reminded of your infamous role in STAND BY ME. Of course, I read your site daily and look forward to your current/future projects -- but I confess, STAND BY ME has not lost its magic. As it is Valentine's Day, I wanted to take time to thank you for participating in a project which still warms my heart.

(However, I must admit that Sean Astin was my first "celebrity crush"...tee hee. Sorry, buddy. But at least that's how I got to see you in TOY SOLDIERS!)

Man oh man. That was quite an enjoyable read.

I have three children, myself; a daughter, 12, and two sons, 5 and nearly 4. My daughter, people tell me, is the very image of me, physically, mentally and emotionally.

When I see her act like me, and do the things that I do, it really does totally rock.

You're a lucky man, Wil. But those are some lucky kids, too.

where is everybody tonight?

anyway, wil you are such a cool step-dad... totally the opposite of mine... trust me, you don't want to know... is Anne a bit older than you? just curious. it's hard when the kids aren't yours, but you love them anyway... Nolan and Ryan sound like cool kids, do they wanna act or anything? don't you hate generation gaps? i live through that with my little sister... speaking of my sis, is the younger one like girls yet, i think she'd like him.

okay, it's 1:30 in the a.m. 'round here and i got class at ten... i think it's past my bedtime.

Happy V-Day all!

How lucky of Noal & Ryan to have two male role models who love & cherish them.

Wil, that is so awesome.

If my dad had influenced me like that, I would be SO grateful. Unfortunately, he didn't. It's nice to know there are still decent father figures out there.

Have a happy valentines with the family!

Awesome, very amazing thing for you. Most step kids find it hard (I knwo cuz I have a step-dad) and I think it's best the way you did that... never doubt that b/c you're just the "other guy" or whatever you don't make a giant impact on their world.

Just make sure they don't get the "i need a glass of water" gene that every other kid developes when *ahem*..no I don't think I'm gonna go there

Right on, Wil.
For about 2 years, I found myself babysitting the toddler daughter of my best friends (who lived with us for a while) and I actually ended up spending more waking hours each day with her than either of her parents did, due to their long work hours. Her parents weren't terrible or anything, but I have to admit quite a bit of pride in seeing a lot of things I taught her or that she absorbed from me showing up in her: a love of music and singing, advanced hand-eye coordination, some sign language, a love and respect for animals. It's all really cool to know that I've had an influence on her that will hopefully last her whole life.

Now that they've moved 7 hours away, and are in the middle of a nasty divorce, it's even more poignant for me, and I hope that, at least on a subconscious level, she understands that there someone else out there who loves her and cares for her as well. Even though she was so young when she left my life, I hope that she will always remember me.

It's unlikely that I'll ever be able to have kids of my own (for many reasons) but being able to be an important part of the life of any child is an amazing gift. You are blessed, Wil, and even more so for realizing it.

Have a wonderful weekend with your family, and we here at the posse will hold down the ranch while you're gone.

That's is so great that you get along with them the way that you do. Some men don't even bother trying to be fathers,it's like that saying
"Anyone can be a Father-it takes alot to be a Daddy." Even though they don't call you dad they still have the respect for you- after all they are rubbing off from you right?

So few real men in this world---

Anyhow on this whole week leftover of love hope you and the family have a good one.
Lots of love to you Wil,Anne,Ryan, and Nolen
Take care of each other---- :)

sometimes kids just kick ass!, i know its not the same thing cause they aren't my kids, but once in a while i can totally see my influence on the kids that are there everyday until 6. and the good things that rub off on them just makes me so happy. the coke habbit that they got from me isn't so good, but we can't win all the time can we?

Wil,

Thanks for sharing your experience with your kids. You are living proof that family is where you find it...and at the end of the day, the sense of family has little to do with blood relationship.

My three step-children and I get along well, though they were considerably older when my wife and I got married than yours are now. The hardest thing for me to learn was that I couldn't fix everything...like being emotionally abondoned by their father and their issues being raised by a single mom. They are gradually letting go of the negative and moving on as they accept that life and parents aren't perfect.

It doesn't sound like you need to worry about what kind of contribution you're making to them or how close you feel now. You have plenty of wisdom...it's only going to get better.

Nolan and Ryan are so lucky to have a cool step dad. So often step dads are horrible to their step kids.

I personally am one of those freaky people who's biological parents are still married and living happily, however, all the step kids I've known have been miserable with their step fathers.

Two kids, I know from personal first hand experience that their step father was an ass hole. He would get drunk, order them around, and I believe he even went as far as hitting them before, but I was never present for anything like that. I do remember that he loved yelling and making them jump at his slightest command...he tried that on me when I would visit them, but it never worked. Which effectively banned me from visiting their house ever again :rolleyes:

Those kids are lucky Wil, to have such a cool step dad like you. Don't ever become one of those step dads who think the kids are nothing but spare luggage.

Wil,
That was an amazing post. It really took my breath away. Wow.

Have you ever thought about trying to get published? I feel somewhat selfish that I'm part of a relatively small group of people privileged enough to read your writings. Your musings are too good to be tucked away in a corner of the internet. Just my opinion. :)

Steph

Aw, shucks, I got a little teary-eyed there. I can't wait til mine can talk.

From time to time life just gives you a big ol' snuggly hug when you least expect it.
If they start asking where the Louis Prima CD's are, be afraid. Be very afraid.

Wil, that was some quality writing. It would require some background for new readers, but all in all, I could definitely see reading it in a magazine as a standalone piece.

this is my first time posting but ive been reading for awhile now. i think its really great how you see a bit of yourself in your step-kids. it's kind of the same with me because i've helped raise my siblings [3 boys and a girl] and sometimes i'm amazed at what they pick up from me. i try to be the best influence on them and that's really the hard part.
anyways, thanks for sharing that with us, wil. i think you're a pretty cool step-dad :)
hope you have a great v-day filled with tons of love! take care..

I can't believe it!
After reading that story I started to feel broody!
You are a master story teller Wil. You have managed to make a 24 year old, commitment shy, male feel broody!
Its not natural I tell you!

I know you hate this shit and I apologize in advance. I have completly dissasociated you from your characters. In real life you are way cooler.
My stupid point is that there is an episode of TNG. It is the worst ever where Wes hooks up with some alien morphing chick and is all sad about it. The only good writing in the entire episode is at the end with Wes and Gianan where she says something like, you will never get over her and everyone you love you will love differently.
I think it is way cool that you have this relationship with your kids. My question is how would it make it for them to call you Dad?
Second question, Do you like Coldplay, GoldFrapp, or Portishead?

Woo!my first post!Groovy!

Well any way....I totally understand about how you feel when the kids seem to act like you.
I'm only 18, so I dont have any kids (thank god, for now anyway) but my mum used to look after a litte girl(4 years younger than me) nearly every day, all day, whilst her parents were at work, and we were great friends with the family so went on holiday with them once/twice year....so we were nearly ALWAYS togther, so whatever I wanted to do, she copied me.....and even now when I dont see her so much cos she doesn't need looking after, she still shows the same traits and sense of humour and catch phrases I do......which is really nice for me for some reason. But scary cos shes exactly like me......poor girl.

You didn't cry because you were a badass or cool or tough or whatever.

You didn't cry because Wil BE MANLY!

And I meant that in the best possible way.

And perhaps some of that MANLY-ness is rubbing off on the kids.

Who knows? There are worse thing to be rubbing off on the boys. Like Jun.

wil - kewlness man... i'm a step-dad too, but her dad passed away when she was 2, so she calls me daddy... it is true though - i see myself in her so often it scares me. i have a 13 year old son who is my clone, and thats bad enough, but a daughter who is 10, and already almost a clone too.... i'm definitely in for it... enjoy it while you can though, they grow up faster than you think. my youngest is 10 months already - seems like it was yesterday we brought her home from the hospital.... laterz br0...

You know, let's talk about this music thing...

Well, wait.

Let's talk about me, first.

My wife got me this really cool book, and I shat you not:

"Who Moved The Cheese"

So, for all the cool stuff Anne just did, there's another one out there.

But, Wil knew that, for he's seen/heard of the erasables...something I'm proud to say that I did not create.

Ahh, but back to the music. (Is this VH1?)

When we endure long, never-ending roadtrips to the lovely, corn-infested (or is that incested?) trips to I-O-Way, we play this game (okay, maybe it's just me):

Me: Who sings this song?
Wife: Warrant?
Wife: Great White?
Wife: Poison?

And, the problem is that it's usually someone easy like Van Halen (you know you're holding up your hands and doing the VH sign like Wil does)...

And, she's deadly serious...even though Warrant's only song is like "Cherry Pie" or something, it's still one of her stock pile answers.

And in completely related news, Warrant plays near us in Chicago at the end of the month.

Wil Wheaton-fest at Shark City in Bloomingdale for one bad-ass evening of Warrant.

Roxxor!

Wil,

Isn't it great when you realize you've influenced them in such lovely ways? One day my husband, my daughter, a friend & I went out together. My husband & our friend were being very much guys. My 8 year old daughter looked at me, and said "Mom, we can't take them *anywhere*." We all cracked up, and I allowed as she was correct. It's a beautiful thing. Enjoy your weekend, Wil.

Ellen

Very often, I look at my daughter and think to myself, "Am I being a good enough dad to her? Do I spend enough time with her? Shouldn't I get of the farking web site and play with her? How can I be a better parent?"

So far, I guess she's adapted well. If she's not napping when I get home from work, she runs over to the door and gives me a great big hug.

But that leads me to one thing that I've heard from other people when I voice these concerns. And that is, if you're even thinking those thoughts, then it's pretty obvious that you care very much about your child(ren), because there's too many people out there that don't think of their own kids that way, if they think of them at all.

So in your case, I'd say you're way ahead of the game.

Don't you hate it when you screw up your spelling by actually inserting a similar sounding word?

Or forget how to press the shift key?

Wow - that was so great, not only your interaction with your kids and the way it effected you but that conversation you related between Nolan and his friend....just wow.

Elisa

What cute kids! :)

Great comments, Wil!! You get along better with your step kids than I sometimes do with my own son. Children enrich our lives in so many ways. To the real reason I wrote, NPR had a bit a blogs on there and I was hoping they would talk about you, but nope. Should have been anyway. Have fun with Miss Anne and look forward to reading you on Monday.

Nolan and Ryan are so lucky.

My parent's musical influences were eclectic in the extreme. While they introduced me to some KICKASS R&B like The Four Tops, they also got me into other bands...

Like the Moody Blues...

...and Jethro Tull...

...and Procol Harem...

...and [shudder] John Denver.

They are my guilty pleasures, and I never listen outside my car without headphones, and black electrical tape over the cd case as to not tip my hand to my dorky musical tastes.

Lately, I've been listening to the "Wrath of Spudnuts." It's toe-tapping, you Klingon Bastard.

That is so cool. Your wife sounds way fun! I am always impressed by someone who isn't afraid to make some noise for the sake of a joke.
After reading this I thought for about 1 second that it might be cool to have kids, then I came to my senses. I just want step-kids I think. Nah, I take that back, I'll just corrupt my friends kids. Ya know, my 12 year old half sis is enough, no that I think about it. I'm gonna go play Final Fantasy X now.
Happy Valentine's day Wil and all readers!!

I've been a bit jelous of the friend of one of my sisters. She has such a wonderful step-father. My mom's ex-boyfriend who lived w/ us for years was the exact opposite. When my sister's friend would be over our house she'd say things like "My step-dad would never do something like that!" I was so relieved the day he moved out. But I still think of him sometimes. One person told me he finally OD'd then another person told me he finally checked himself into rehab. I hope it was rehab. As much as I'm still hurt by the things he said and did to my sisters and me, I just really hope he finally sought the help he needed so much.

Anyway. I'm not really jelous of my sister's friend anymore. I'm just very happy for her and glad such a wonderful person is my sister's friend. And I'm very happy for you, Wil, & your family, that you all care so much for each other and also respect each other.

Kids rule! While I don't have any myself, I am in the great position of being Auntie to ummm lesseee... 10 nieces and three nephews. When my oldest niece was only a few weeks old (18 years ago) a bunch of us got together on the Air Force base where her parents lived and had a party. At some point one afternoon two of my sisters and I were playing with "Kris" and we decided to teach her how to stick her tongue out. I went first -- stuck my tongue out at this little six-week-old baby. After a few tries she got her little tongue out there and we all just were sooo tickled! You'd think we'd just introduced her to nuclear physics or something.

Anyway, these many years later, I really enjoy meeting these new little kids and seeing them all interact as my sisters and I used to interact with our cousins.

We got together in early December because my youngest sister was one of the Olympic torch bearers. At the hotel (where we'd rented six rooms along one hallway) we had a big Christmas party for the kids and it got pretty rowdy. After we got the kids to bed, I had to go into one of the rooms and shush the little girls late one night -- and I felt like such an ogre when I had to go in there. Next day one of the kids came up to me and told me that even though I was "one of the adults, we all think you're cool."

Wow. I hardly ever see them, but they know all about me (and the other aunts and uncles).

Even when they're being noisy little jetsons, I still think *they're* cool. You learn a lot from kids -- more than you might think.

I can't believe it! Uncle Willy has sold me out!! You and my wife schemed this post up to give me the dreaded "baby fever", didn't you?!?! Don't lie to me I can see right through your feeble attempts at making me want to reproduce. Well your efforts have been in vain. ha!HA! In *vain* I tell you!!!!.

BTW, I'm not all bad, this would have no effect on me if I didn't love kids so much.

Wil, 1)you're the MAN (as I have stated on my website)

2) would you please tell my husband that this is not some ploy that I (along with your help) cooked up in order to give him the "fever" (aka baby fever, the desire to procreate). I have in fact, never conversed with you via email or by any other means.

Any assistance you could provide me in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Wil,
You need to get some permalinks to people can directly link to stories like this. Althought it might not seem like it that was a great story for Valentine's Day.

Oh...this is all so sweeeeeeeeeeet...But very
true..You do not realize how much influence is
there by just "being" with them..day in and day
out. Being first hand in the "son with a step-
father" catergory ..My ex husband was my son's
best man at his wedding..even tho his biological
father is still alive...Very luckily my son has
inherited "by osmosis" the very best traits from
BOTH men..However it was way cool that he chose
his step-dad to stand up for him.

You Mr. Wheaton (sir) are on your way there also.
..you are obviously doing a great job.

HAPPY V. DAY ya'alll..............

Oh and espec. to Spudnuts wherever you are!!
(yeah yeah vacation and all that crap..we should
have had a automated Spuddy to post while he was
gone..Now WHY didn't HE think of that?)

that's super-badass, wil. kids are the coolest. i sound like a geek...but i know ya'll with kids (and step-kids) know what i mean.

Hearing that, I wonder what sort of impact I'll leave on my neice - I've lived with her her whole life (18 months) and I'll be around on a weekly basis after I relocate closer to work. Will she get any of my mannerisms that are different from my sister's?

It sounds like you had a great evening, even if the rest of your day was busily work-like.

Wil,

It's good to see step-parent relationships that are positive, nurturing, and apparently cherished by everyone involved.

I call my stepfather "Dad," though it's only recently that I've become comfortable doing so. I never knew my real father, and growing up it was just me and my mom. So when Mom got married when I was 14 (a decision which she courageously elicited my input and approval on), I had never called anyone Dad. The word simply didn't come easy to me, and it was a long time before I could use it.

But even though I called him by name, and even though I had other father-type figures in my life before him, he's my Dad. He may not be my FATHER, but he's my Dad if you understand the difference there. Just about any schmuck with testicles can become a father. It takes someone special to be a Dad. Just about every day I see his influence in me, especially in my interraction with my 3-year old son.

They're your kids Wil. Even though you didn't father them. And because of the relationships that you have forged with them, they will see you with the same eyes for the rest of they're lives. I respect your stand on them calling you Dad, but don't sell yourself short. That's exactly what you are.

No Wil and no Spudnuts, I guess we'll have to depend on the Cheese

Please tell us there is still Roughy and Rob!

Oh please!! Surely ALL is not lost.

(See this is when we need the SPUDNUTS ACTION
FIGURE!!)

I am not sure if anyone else has pointed this site out to you, but you really have to check out http://www.stupidinternet.org/mouse.html in regards to your rodent problem. This person has the right stratagy to deal with any sort of mouse problem.

mfkap

Awww damn now I'm crying. Sheesh. I miss my dad.

My mom is getting remarried but I being 19 and all probably will never call him dad. And also I wouldn't call him dad cause even though my dad left he aint dead. So my dad is dad and my mom's bf is Steve. That's that. :)

Wil,

That is so wonderful. As someone posted earlier, you are having more of an influence than you know on these kids. It sounds like they truly love you and look up to you.

And to Roughy - Warrant rox. I've seen them live a few times. Down Boys was the coolest video - especially when they all get down on their knees and headbang in synch! *headbangin' at her desk*

Vickie

p.s. Know what IOWA stands for (I'm from WI, so I can make fun of Iowans and one of my best friends lives in Duh Moines)?

Idiots Out Wandering Around
or
I Owe the World an Apology

HAHAHAHAHA - gee, I crack myself up!

So... you have two step kids named after a all time great baseball player? hehehe.

That's cool will, really.

Events like that you won't forget and it is what we are here for :-)

As for "asking if anyone would like to know what the "soup du jour" is, and then sighing sadly when my answer, "that's the soup of the day", doesn't elicit the peals of laughter that I was hoping for"

Worked on me! Rofflemayo :-)

Pete

The cheese works today...making certain auto-owners lives easier. Or something.

So sorry.

But there's a UE Sweatshirt contest going on...

Look at the bottom of the VD post.. and place your guess!

;-)

The cheese shares.

My boyfriend is from England. Over there, all the slang is different.

2 weeks ago on my birthday we were having a discussion when my 2 year old busted out with "OHH BUGGER" He almost pissed himeself laughing. But he felt the same way, that he finally has had some sort of affect on them.

Amy

You are making me get all sniffly inside Wil.

Yes, you are.

Elizabeth. Thinking Wil has great kids

No Cheese today, Rob you are our last hope!

Coming never to a theatre near you.

Spudnuts, The Man, The Myth, The Legend
Co-Starring Roughy as the Cheese
Rob as the Voice of Spudnuts
with a cameo by Wil Wheaton
all stunts performed by the Posse.

What these kids have are respect for you. Being a best friend to them is better than anything in the world.

This post made me want to have children.

Until I realized that they would SO be considered strange if they started saying things that my husband and I say. Like quoting Eddie Izzard, Monty Python, Farscape, and Buffy.

Well, WE'd think it was cool. And so would our friends. But everyone else would look at the poor child like they were from another planet.

I can't do that to a poor, innocent child now, can I?

Have a great break, Wil.

OH Julia, I LOVE Eddie Izzard. Dressed to Kill is one of my all time favorites - especially the Englebert Humperdink and the "If Star Wars was done by the British" skits.

ROTFLMFAO!!!!!!

Vickie

It's wonderful to get the stepdad's point of view. I have both a dad and stepdad, and honestly, my stepdad has become my dad simply by being the one who's always there when I need him. Now, 20 years later, he means as much to me as my mom.
Wil, just keep doing what you're doing. Although the boys may not realize how lucky they are right now, they will when they're older.

Hey Julia! Maybe your future kids and my future kids can hang out. I can just hear them in their little kid voices.

"You know, I always say that a day without an autopsy is like a day without sunshine."

"So I'm wondering, do the other cookie animals feel sort of ripped? Like, is the hippo going, "Hey, man, where are my pants? I have my hippo dignity." And you know, the monkey's just, "I mock you with my monkey pants!" And then there's a big coup in the zoo."

"Do you have a flag?"

"Cake or death?"

"And we have all these options before we go stampeding towards the clitoris!"

"Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!"

AWWWWWWWWWWWWW, kids say the damnedest things.

Cool, Wil. You are a total, and I do mean TOTAL bad-ass for not crying. Happy Valentines day.

Any kids raised on the No Control LP are bound to turn out alright.

Of course, they probably don't know what an LP is.

Engelbert Slaptyback
Slut Bunwalla

You "erb", we say "herb". Why? Because there's a fuckin' H there!

MY GOD MAN!

Oh, for fuck's sake.

Vickie (who's now going to go wash her mouth out.)

Oooh, and...

"I have invented a MANEUVER"

bluecat-redblanket said: "Please tell us there is still Roughy and Rob!"

Well, there's more than one Rob, now...but I shall ASSUME I'm the one you're talking about! This helps my ego immeasurably.

Je suis le travestie exécutif!

La souris est sur la table.
Le chat est sur la chaise.
Le singe est sur la branche.

I stand by my earlier comments made on or about 9 February: Nolan and Ryan have a great stepdad.

He was a CHEEKY monkey.

There's something incredibly dreary about caucasian people in the Christian Religion.

Dad, don't take my name in Vain. Geezy creezy.

Geeeky Creezy! ahahahahahahahahhaha. We use that so much that I forgot that is where it came from.

I'm the pope--Caio!

We Caucasians are dreary pretty much everywhere. Not enough fiber in our diets, I think.

ANd the holy spirit goes

"And I would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for that God and Jesus..."

Does this mean you "dress up like a sultan"? Pictures, man, pictures! :^)

I know nothing about fatherhood, but it sounds like you're going through what every Dad does... though maybe with a twist(of lemon).

It's cool that you can see yourself in a little bit of your step kids. I have a stepdad and sometimes I feel a little sorry for him. I know that he wants us to have that perfect father daughter realtionship and all that but I don't really know how to connect with him like that. Somestimes we do click like that and those are my favorite memories of him. So, mucj love to you Wil.

Wil, I doubt you'll ever see this cause frankly it is way to far down on the messages.. (I mean come on.. its #84, and if you are reading it, I think I need to send you some computer eye drops) but I wanted to say,

Thank you for sharing.. that was not only a riot, but very touching..

and on today, I appreciate it even more

Wow. I always wanted to be close to my step-parents, and my parents too. I thought we were doing fine until I hit puberty. Then all of a sudden they were all after me to "act like a normal teenager." I just couldn't do it. It was actually my dads who got me into Star Trek. (Yeah, I had a huge crush on Wesley from episode one.)

You've got great kids man. I hope that when I have a family I will have cool kids like that. You may be a step dad but your influence is very strong in their lives and thats an eternal thing for them. I'm sure they know it and are glad that you are a part of their lives.

that sounds reallt cool will, I've never had a dad so i really envy people who know their fathers and spend time wiht them, but your two step kids have two father figures and thats made better but the fact theres no fighting between the adults for love, affection and attention.

Way to go will

Spike
23.09 GMT

I've stsrted putting up GMT time when I post cos it always looks like I stay up really late to post messages but I don't honest it's just cos I'm a brit!

Wil,
Nolan and Ryan sound like great kids. You and Anne are very lucky people and the boys are VERY lucky to have you two as role models and parents.
God Bless.
~Jamie

I don't wanna get all nit-picky here, but it's "I have invented a manoovah".

So sorry, I wasn't goin for phonetics! :)

Hilda?
Yes Dr. Heimlich.
I'm your husband, call me by my first name.
Ok, what is it Gunther?
I have invented a manoovah. (happy Jun?)

The druids - long white robes, long white beards. Early transvesites.

Hey, step-dad Wil.

Congrats. Family-wise, you sound like you're in The Zone.

Joy and peace to Anne and Nolan and Ryan and yourself.

Happy Birthday, Wil.

Schwag your tail! ;-)

Cool story, *warm fuzzies* :)

Admit it Wil, you didn't cry at the time, but you got all teary when you wrote about it! HA! You just won't admit it cos you be a manly man.

Hey Wil,

Your story brought tears to my eyes (unfortunately I am not cool, I am a sap). My daughter was adopted by my husband when she was about 5 years old. It's amazing to me how much alike they are. Today is her birthday, she's 17. She recently purchased the new Pink Floyd cd, echoes. Pink Floyd is my husband's all time favorite band. They have a wonderful and loving relationship. She does call him Dad (and considers him Dad because her biological father was never interested), and I consider myself very lucky to have a man who was willing to accept my daughter as his own, period. Your wife is lucky to have a husband with so much love in his heart. Those kids will enrich your life in ways you've never imagined. Enjoy.

My seven year old son sometimes amazes me... and I fear he is going to have my weird sense of humor.
We were in dowtown Toronto a couple of years ago and as we stopped for a traffic light I noticed a man with a real dorky floppy hat. I said out loud "nice hat" but Alex wasn't happy with that. He rolled down the window and yelled "Hey Mister!..MISTER!....nice hat!" I couldn't get away quicker. He also has no problem with spelling either. When he was in grade 1 he liked to have a new word to spell every day and we were in the car again and were driving past a well known establishment when he said "Hey dad...look..H-O-O-T-E-R-S! I had nightmares of him in class the next day spelling out his new word.

Wil,

Having had no interest in having kids myself (although I am only 22, so that could change!!! LOL), you have, in one small section of text, made me realise how wonderful it would be to have someone look to you for guidance and help..... or just love!

So in the future (however, not the near future as I plan to spend the Summer in Greece! LOL) I would like to think that that will happen to me too.....

You are a very cool guy for sharing things like that with us all.

Love Donna

P.S. What has happened to Spudnuts??? He left the country??

I look to Wil for inspiration on how to be a good stepparent.

I'm engaged to a wonderful man with custody of 2 children. We've all been living together for 4 years now. MAN, this is a tough job, I wasn't expecting to have a family so soon, but here we are, and still surviving.

Thanks for the inspirational stories, Wil.

*sniff*

I LOVE YOU, MAN!

(Got a Budweiser?)

Okay, I'm shivering, can't spell, am quite out of it, so I'm going to be a gigly fangirl for perhaps the third time in my entire life (not counting my ezboard). Wil, you rock. Squeeeeeeeeee!

Okay, I'm done now. Promise. No, really.

Um, I guess I'll write back later, when I have something more insightful to contribute than rabid fandom.

Wait, how do you do this diary thing? Isn't it hard? I mean, I'm a writer, and I love it, the WordHappy and everything, but I can't just generate my thoughts without a plan or a, I don't know, a distance between myself and my subject. And I need poetry in my writing, even in essays, or I get upset. Am I just a weirdo? I mean, actors are supposed to be able to keep a diary on set, and obviously writers should be able to write almost anything (even if they are only good at one genre).

I guess my question really is: is this writing hard for you, or is it the easiest writing you do, or what? What kind of writing do you like best? And how do you do it, do you free associate or do you sit down and MAKE yourself write X amount of pages a day? Or something.

Hey, look, I was semi-insightful. Give me time. Oh, and hello.

I love J.E.W. I've met them twice, I want to be their love child.

Hey,Wil
You are a really sweet guy. They are lucky to have you in their life. My friend lost his mother in a car crash and a few years later his father got married to another woman. He said they get along quite ok ..coz after all she's not his new mom but she will become her dad's best friend.
They respect each other so it went well. there were some disagreements but not much. I think the key is communicating and respect. It seems to me that you 've done a great job. How old are they?? your kids..I think they already look up to u. That's cool huh!!
Anyway, have a nice Valentine's day with your family.
Natacha

Okay, I'm a posting-at-WWDN virgin, so don't trample me with all of your familiarity.

(Did that make sense?)

I kinda know what you mean, Wil. I had an aunt back in good ol' MI who was like a second mother. She and I grew more alike than my own mother appreciated.

"Public nudity and psychics -- don't kill the vibe."

Great post, Wil. You're living proof that there's more to being a father than just being a sperm donor...and that you don't have to have contributed to a kid's DNA in order to contribute to who they are. We are all more than just our DNA, after all.

Everyone should learn from your example.

Now, go enjoy your "weekend off!"

Eric

noworriesmon said: "There's something incredibly dreary about caucasian people in the Christian Religion"

Two Stereotypes in one statement, How tolerant is that?

Not very Rastafarian of you; What if someone came on here and started talking about atheists, agnostics, etc. Would they be Preaching? & what if they made comments about African Americans or Hispanics? What would that be?

why dont you quit preaching your message and try to pick up on the Positive Vibration thing?

Hee hee, interesting this post is about family. I'm up late and watching "Nick-at-Nite" and you're on the Family Ties they're showing right now ... *creepy music plays*

Heh, the kids listen to Tool? And so do you? Rock on buddah, nice to run across a family that has taste in music.

Now preparing to visit my country-music-loving girlfriend... I can forsee our fights over music in the apartment already:)

Hello Wil.
Welcome to the joy of raising kids. Sometimes they can really push all your buttons. Then you have a day like you had and it all is worth it. The worries, the stress all disappears when they do something like that.

Keep up the good work on your site Wil, its great to drop in semidaily.

Hey Wil,
I have a step-dad and I just want to say that your step-kids might one day surprise you on how much they concider you apart of their family. I hate using the word step when refering to my mom's husband cause he is more of a father to me than my real dad ever was...due to unfortunate events that happened in my life. My second dad was a great male role model. And at my wedding he walked me down the isle ...along with my first dad. From what From what you wrote I can see that you are a great second dad to them. The more loving people in a family the better.

I hope you read this. This is really cool that you have your own website now I can write to you and not mail it out. I just wanted to say happy valentines day. I believe the las time I wrote I was against you on something now I see where you are coming from. I think you are a great guy. You seem to be like one of those keepers that are so hard to come by. From what I read you are a great step dad. Those are too hard to come by. So I just wanted to say thank you for all you do. Just incase no one has ever said that cause you deserved to be thanked.

Oh jeezy creezy...

I didn't realize I'd started a manoovah!

(okay, it's really more of a gesture at this point)

I was imagining my children at the playground, running around...COVERED IN BEEEEEEESS! Maybe if all of your children were at the playground too, we wouldn't be looked at askance.

Yeah, right!

(by the by, you can get now Definite Article and Unrepeatable on NTSC video from izzardmerchandise.com)

Je suis le president de Burundi.

Geezy creezy, bluesman! Who got your knickers in a twist?? It was a freaking quote. Eddie Izzard? talked about him all day? ring a bell?

oh, in that case, let me quote Gilda Radner

"never mind"

Hee hee, and I just won an auction for Glorious! Thanks, Gesikah, for gettin' my back - was about to type about the same thing when I saw that you already had.

You say "erb", we say "Herb". Why? Because there's a f***in 'H' there!

Hey, Wil:

FYI - You were number 61-Down on Yahoo's cross word today.

Liz

Hey all!!

Sorry.. I got kidnapped by three beautiful girls promoting a band. And we've promoted 12 hours in the last 24.. I'm pooped I say!
And thankfully the cops never caught us...
(OSU Campus is now a beautiful wonderland of papered polls) So I'm getting into the show free and I will demand free drinks (I usually charge for this shit) as compensation for some hard work and even doing a grocery store. Sad I know.

So if you're in the Columbus, OH area and know where the Newport is.. come check out Flickerstick and Abandoned Pools (or something- I need a nap.. chill)

Don't touch the drummer for your own safey.

I miss Spuds
Glad I still have Rob M.

Night!

Oh!
Got the coolest present for V day..

I own a Fender Bass now.

It's sooo rockin

woot!

Whoa, Uncle Willy was on "Family Ties"? Sweet.

Those kids rock, man. They have chosen wisely.

But why do they rock?

Simple.

They're what, 10ish? 'Round there, tops?

So, yeah.

Any kid that age who can be so like Uncle Willy, and so sweet, is beautiful. In more ways than one.

And hey, you don't feel like Charlton Heston, who felt like a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest.

I have no idea what movie that was.

So far, it has sucked.

Then again, there's a man steering a dsrv type thing, with a larger man on his stomach between the first guy's legs.

I'm still lost.

If you play "Schism" backwards, it says:

Jack Nicholson is dead.

my dad raised me on the wildest music and a strange childhood.

and despite how much i try to say i am an individual, i look back and se what i do and what i listen to and who influenced me and i shake me my.

it's not because it's a blood relation, it's because he was there for me, wil.

my father only sired three children, but there are people all over the country who come to visit him and call him "dad". they say he was more of a fathe than their father was.

i bet your step kids think of you as "dad" but they don't know how to say it.

hold them tight.

hey wil,
i read that letter form jess and i really think you should give her another chance. i mean, shes obviously very sorry. what do you say?

i totally agree. give her another chance! cmon wil!

YEAH WIL!!!

GIVE HER ANOTHER CHANCE!

THAT LETTER WAS THE SWEETEST THING!

-Susan B.

Aw! Tell me that's not the cutest letter! give her another chance Wil!

Wil,
Please answer me back telling me why you won't unblock me from your site, I told you that I'm soo really really sorry that I did something wrong on your comments page, soapbox, and stuff. I asked this guy that also goes to your site, the one that always used to yell at me, and I asked if he was able to get on your site, and he said yes, and I told him that I couldn't get on, and he told me that it wasn't Wil's style to block people. And I agreed, because your so cool and sweet, especially in Stand By Me. I'm really
really really sorry! Please, please forgive me, and unblock me from your site because I can't get back on it anymore because it says forbidden. I won't be bad anymore I promise, I swear, Please please unblock me so I can get back on your site? please your my favorite actor and i'm soo upset please?..
love jess

*Vicky*

You really want me to tell you it's not the cutest letter? Cuz, I will....

See, there I go, sticking my nose in when I have no idea of the situation. I just didn't think the letter was cute. It was annoying, IMHO. How old is this person, 12? She obviously did something that was "bad" or offended either Wil or someone. But, it ain't my site and Wil is free to do as he chooses.

And, if I have offended anyone, I am sorry. Other people were expressing their opinions, so I thought I would too.

I don't think she deserves it !!!
Be careful with this kind of people !

what happened??? I missed it.

I don't know what this Jess person did, but apparently they've been blocked from entering the website. Through someone, they have a message posted (twice, I might add) desperately begging Wil to let them back on the site.

Like sands thought the hourglass.....

Vickie (wow, there are a lot of us all of a sudden! Kinda like the multiple Jons!)

It's a pity for this Jess that Wil's pampering his wife. He won't be reading this for some time.

Klug, the guy from the US who did fairly well in the snowboard slalom, proves it once again:

No matter how good you are as a snowboarder, you will spend most of the time on your ass.

Anyone got any pie?

MissKittyFantastico said: "I miss Spuds
Glad I still have Rob M."

And in the words of Spudnuts: Imo rub myself over here.

"And thus The Rob rubbed himself over there, and saw it was good.

And there was much rejoicing."

"Yay."

The cheese was on TV tonight.

Hope y'all didn't miss me behind the hoop at the Bulls game....

Well, during the first half at least, when we were behind the Nets' basket and there were fast breaks all the time, that is.

DUDE! I am in a similar situ, and can totally indentify wit that. Very well writted, wrote and writ.

What this Jess person did may have something to do with this message I found in Soapbox:

sparklineyez12
Member
female
New York, USA

RE: RE: RE: Things that never should have changed
Posted: Sunday, January 27 2002 03:19 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ok, lonteter guy, you are a gay bitch
its not my fault your all old and we're all young and perfect!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
_-*JeSs*-_

I don't know anything about it, this is just what I was able to find. There may have been more and nastier posts after that which were deleted.

My monitor keeps making a clicking/sort of popping sound and at the same time the picture gets a little bigger then goes back to the right size.

Does anyone know if this means its done for, I tried adjusting the refresh rate.

Thanks

Bluesman:
You can often get this problem in older monitors when the high voltage current from the flyback transformer starts to fluctuate intermitently. While it is fixable I suspect that the cost of repair would be more than the cost to replace, given the low cost of new monitors today.

John Mcgregor

Wanna know how self-involved I am? When someone said something about Jess, I thought they were talking about me at first. ;-) I couldn't imagine what I had done though cuz my first post on this thread is my first one ever on here. In fact, the posts on this thread are my only on here, so yeah, I am egotistical.

That's awesome Wil... Just add to that feeling all of the kids around the world that have seen your work, and laughed, or cried... You have a HUGE influence on everyone in your lives, and it IS important to tell the ones you love that you do acknowledge them... wait...I'm getting something over here... is there a P or Q in the name? Has he crossed? There's something to do with a beehive and a stopwatch.... Shit! I sound like like the guy on "Crossing Over"!

are you really Keith Coogan of Adventures in Babysitting fame? I don't believe you.

Aws!!

Rob.. I soo would of loved it if you and Spud could of sat with us at the concert last night and made fun of Flickerstick. I pratically had to be tied down- I kept trying to walk out and then after the band trashed another on stage.. i wanted to climb up there and smash the pretty guitar over that drama queen's head.
But i didn't because I love the guitars too much.

Glad I didn't pay for that trash.

Abandoned Pools is a godawful opening band.
Flickerstick... man.. sore winners. Still.

Love to Wil and his fam!
I'm going to jam with the Media Whores.
^_~

Thanks John

Will, Nolan and Ryan sound great from what I've read about them on ur site. I'd love 2 meet them.

Yes Rob Matsushita it was you that I meant when
I said "Rob"..was there ever any doubt?

Now not to change the subject ot anything but
when the hell does Spudnuts come back?

PLEASE does anyone have this answer? Yes I ADMIT
I am desperate..well ok kinda.

YEAH

He said back in 12...so I'm thinking that may have meant days.

Of course, last time he said he'd be gone for a year--and that was in October or September.

I'm willing to bet we'll all know when he's back.

"Merde! Thees ees the fourteenth time zees hour my download of zee JPEG of le package de Bakula she is broken!"

Re: "Yes Rob Matsushita it was you that I meant when I said "Rob"..was there ever any doubt?"

Well, you could have always been talking to me. "Rob" and "JSc" are so very close in spelling that it's become a common mistake at times! Thank god "Cheese" and "'nuts" have more letters....

Re: Jessica sit'n

Mature behavior is epxected of everyone here. It's Mr. Wheaton (SIR!)'s choice how he wants to deal with those lacking the maturity to maintain a certain level of decorum.

Personally, I'm really looking forward to when he puts the oversized Grimace toy up in the PlayLand over in the soapbox....

That or one of those "wheel of death" things that were so much fun to spin so fast that everyone went flying off, landing in the wood chips or sand or whathaveyou.

Re: Stepparents...

I've noticed that a lot of people have great stepparents, or are married to great stepparents (not their own stepparents, hopefully. I mean, I'm "down south" now, and I'm getting more used to all things redneck, but still....)

Yeah. Where was I?

Right.

It's cool that there are so many cool stepparents out there, but keep in mind that stepparents, like genetic parents, are just people. They can be either great or awful, depending on the individual.

Etc.

Sorry for the horrible spelling and grammar above. I've been reading a lot of scientific articles from people who don't speak english as their native language. It's been rubbing off, I fear.

I'll have to go review my fourth-grade spelling book.

Roughy, Bulls games are broadcast worthy?
Jerry Krause is the Executive of the Century, barely edging out Rick Pitino. An absolute genius. A people persons people person. He will swindle the Celtics out of Vitaly Potapenko for the Bulls #1draft choice.

Hey Jsc - thanks for the memories!!
The spinning wheel of death, hey? LOL

We just called it the roundabout. I haven't thought of those things for ages :)

heya will...(lol..for some reason..that cracks me up..but then dear sir would be sorta strange too don't you reckon? ;p)

hmm..growing up i had two sets of parents..it wasn't birth parents and step parents but it was adopted parents and birth parents...i had grown up adopted in stripes and stars and was what i truly believed inside, a bloody crazy ass bearing crazy american but yet, i wasn't at all. i was of a different background and a different color. no siree. i was anything but that. and so i struggled, to conform, to fit in, to find bearings when there were no guides, to understand.

i understood that they didn't give me up, that this was indeed a needed arrangement, that i was still their daughter, not the outcast..but i didn't know them and when the rules changed i was sent back. to relearn my culture, traditions and all that good stuff.

but basically, what i was really trying to say is that it seemed odd and bloody strange and complicating but really, in the end, no matter all the crap that came with it...it was fucking brilliant. it was perfect in imperfection.

dad's are an amazing thing. and it don't matter if some stupid dna in you doesn't match theirs, it what i've learnt from them, both of them, my conservative chinese dad that is extremely patient in teaching me things and letting me appreciate beauty in everything, pampering me to the spoilt little brat i am...to my american dad, that taught me how to barbeque a mean piece of steak, and takes time in running through everything with me, that listens to me when i'm upset, that hugs me every morning, that tells me i'm his princess. it's stupid. it's childish. it's complicating finding balance but in the end, i really wouldn't trade it at all. nope, not the laughter, the giggles, the tears, the sarcasm, the bullshit, the way my dads slip and mesh and the way i'm comfortable in us being labeled a dysfunctional family because in the end, i'm happy.

and if all of that wasn't relevant or sounded like good ol bs to you...OOOPs.

;p

have a great day!

Wil: I shared much of your angst re: step-parenthood in my thirties and forties. I didn't screw it up too badly, and neither will you. Relax. Mine opted for calling me "dad", and I always knew that it was with a little "d", which was cool with me.

They grow up in about an hour any way. Relax again.

I can't relate to the music, altho I am familiar with the groups. Too much Cake is not good for your waste-line. Me, I opt for Aretha and Etta, but in the end, it all takes you where you need to be.

Rock on. Hud

how old are your step-sons?

They are 10 and 12 :-)

Wil,

I respect the fact that you respect the boundaries set by your step-kids, but I just want to say one thing: being a fater is something that you *do*, not something that you *are*.

If you're in there day-in and day-out, doing the dirty work, bandaging scraped knees, wiping away tears, clearing the monsers out from under the bed and out of the closet, guess what? You're a dad.

If you don't want them to call you that, that's cool. It's only a word. Then again, when attached to three other little words, it can be the most powerful sentence ever uttered: "I love you, Dad".

I've got three of my own, so I know wherefrom I speak. Think about it, talk to your wife about it, and think about it some more.

"Dad" isn't something you get by biology or the hot-sweaties, it's something you *earn* by what you *DO*. From what I've read here, it sounds like you're walking the walk. Go for the brass ring and accept what you've earned.

"Then again, this is just my opinion. I could be wrong." - Dennis Miller

Kahuna

Lasties.

Just checking! Movable or Greymatter - hummm

everyone I try to explain cheese-racing to thinks I'm strange

jbay: You are strange, but that just means you fit right in here with the rest of us at WWDN... Wil's Weirdo Dominated Network.

fit in? hah. square peg. round hole.

*pound* *pound* *pound*

ouch

*hands jbay a bandaid and some bactine*

So, I'm not cool because this thread brought a tear to my eye? Granted it followed by several other tears of laughter...

"I don't know this woman. I am so sorry."

Almost as funny as:

"So, later tonight, you may hear: scratch, scratch, scratch, scratch..." And she SLAMS her hand on the table, and shouts, "BAM!" which she immediately follows with this screaching "EEIPPE!" noise.

Whole family, downright amusing...

Ugh.. Rob.. everyone..

I'm starting to have withdrawl symptoms.
No Wil.
No Spudnuts.

Not even a sexy stripper sleeping in my bed anymore.
Um... no really.. she went back to Youngstown but still she forgot her boots.
^_^ hehehee...

slump. sigh.

I think the shakes are starting following by this hungering for wheat thins.
Oh wait that's just me being hungry.

At least I got my Mutant Ovender (it's a Fender Musicmaster neck- Ovation Viper body that sounds like a dream- the tech who cleaned it wanted to buy it) back. Yes... my precious.

I need my fix!! Come back soon!

^_~

to clarify the multi-rob thing, from now on, this rob will be known as r0b (with a zero). this is the r0b that posted about having a step-daughter, and a bunch of other mushy stuff. i am not the r0b with the long last name. my last name is almost pizza. it's the same as that baseball d00d. no relation though. at least not enough to get tickets. *feh*

there i go, farking up again. let's try one more time.... this rob will be known as r0b. *re-types his info into the box thingy*
ok.
done.

What's Crackin! - Just need to go Play Bingo - for my Online Bingo Habit! But I cannot Find a Good Bingo Online website to cover my bingo addiction!

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