Glad to hear you're feeling better wil. seems that I have your insomnia now (its 5am here and I've been awake for two hours) Have a good holiday season mate,
Shaun Pool
England

Hi Will!!

Good luck getting back into running. I myself am going thru my own illness, and am doing everything I can to stay in shape for the police academy. I wish it were a bit warmer here, because I prefer running outside instead of the treadmill ...

Happy Holidays!!

Whoops.

I meant to save this as a draft, and publish it tomorrow morning.

Oh well. Enjoy tomorrow's blog today!

That was a Great post Wil. I too am expecting a great holiday with family, and wish you all your readers a Merry Christmas. Thanks.

Ben

That was lovely, thanks for sharing. Well, it was lovely if you ignore the nose-picking and farting, anyway.

Happy holidays to you and yours.

What a touching memory. This was my daughter's first year going to school. Every day over the last month she has brought home some new craft/art work. I've run out of room on the frig, and my walls are covered with multi-colored hand and foot prints, and milk cartons turned-raindeer and all sorts of other creatures. It wasn't until last week when I attended my four year old's Holiday Show, that I realized just how quickly kids grow up. Watching her standing up tall and straight singing her little lungs out, trying to be the loudest thing around, I was so proud I cried. Right there in the front row of a class full of four year old's and their parents, I cried. I knew that I never wanted to miss another one of these shows. I would never let another meeting, deadline or code change prevent me from attending anything having to do with my daughter. I can only imagine the feeling when I'll be looking back on her Elementary school days. Time moves altogether too quickly for me. Thank you, Wil. It's always lovely to hear about Wil-the-Dad.

I've got a 20 month old daughter, Katie... your [wonderfully rerun] entry makes me look forward to all the wonderfully cheezy and truly special times ahead for her and I. Thanks dude.

So what was the crowd reaction when the kid ate it??? I would've pissed my pants from laughing so hard.

Hey Wil, first time commenter, long time reader.

Anyway, this talk of Holiday programs reminded me of one of the stories from David Sedaris's holiday collection. In part of it, he critiques Christmas pageants from the perspective of a theater critic (it's a little like Maddox's reviews of kids' drawnings).

I'm guessing you've read/heard it (since you mentioned Sedaris yesterday), but if you haven't, it's comedy gold. You can actually get it online, here http://www.thislife.org/pages/descriptions/97/87.html .

We also just went to our daughter's winter concert. She is in 5th grade and this is her first year of middle school. We rather suffered through 30 minutes of school band, and finally the chorus kids came out -- including her. So many bright shiny faces, it made up for the previous half hour! At least nobody near us was farting loudly, LOL!

When my little one leaves elementary school in two years, I suppose I'll also miss the macaroni art and sweet little handprints. But then again, I never did know where to put ALL THAT STUFF they brought home! One fridge door was never large enough!

It's always bittersweet, isn't it?

Glad you're sleeping better. If my shoulder ever recovers from my recent (late October) surgery, I hope to be able to sleep through the night again, too!

That blog was from 2001? I remember that blog. Has it been that long that I've been visiting your little piece of cyberspace? Wow. Thanks for bringing back that bit of the past. I envy your treasure trove of written memories. What a family legacy.

Wil
My son is 9 and I cherish every moment I have with him. They only come once. He is next to me right now on the other computer playing Zoo Tycoon.

Merry Christmas Wil, to you and your family.

Mr. Val D. Montague

oh, you've made me cry.

Hi Wil,
this was very intressting, i loved the blog from 2001 . I felt the same way last week when I was at the Christmas show from the elemtry school where my oldest son is going. He will the school next summer.

I wish you and your family a lovely Cristmas time.

Jules from Cologne/ Germany

Just "FAB"

I remember you posting that story, but damn, loved reading it again because it is tooooo cute for words. I totally adore the Wil Wheaton gone parent... and you have such a great way with words, it puts me right there.
Plus, I am very pleased to hear you learned a German song. You and Nolan should sing it in an audioblog! Seriously! That would be a treat.

Also finally downloaded your reading from Just a Geek... it was terrific, and I had to laugh so much... you are funny! ;)

*BWHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!!!!*

Farting and kids who eat their nose gobblins.

Gotta love the holiday elementary show. :P

*OtterHuggles*

Of course you realise your comments made me go read both versions in parallel, and like, you'd have to agree that you've really, really come a long way with, like, your writing and all that stuff like narative flow (man, listen to me!) and not having run on sentences that almost spill over into the next paragraph.

Seriously, though, a great story and a great rewrite - from a young father who has all this yet to enjoy.

that was wonderful. I love to hear family stories. I was never able to sit thru a school program without crying tears. I always felt extremely proud. I can't seem to go anywhere without my box of tissue. My youngest daughter is in preschool and yesterday her first school pictures arrived. When I saw them, they were so sweet. I cried because they were her first pictures taken at school. Morgan said "Wow Mom, I'm pretty." Yes, she is pretty.

I'm expecting a child.. I can't wait for the arts and crafts. Or the amusing stage moments. :) thank you for reprinting that.

I'm expecting a child.. I can't wait for the arts and crafts. Or the amusing stage moments. :) thank you for reprinting that.

Talking about the things you'll miss from elementary school - the cheesy little art projects - reminds me how much I want to teach elementary instead of college freshman. They're a tainted bunch but kids are so not jaded... yet.

I'm glad that you revived this one Wil. I never think to check out the archives, but this one shouldn't have been missed. I laughed out loud.

Merry Christmas to you and yours. :)

Awesome tale. Made me laugh until I was doing that laughing-but-not-making-noise laugh. Good stuff. :)

Can you pass that lovely warm Califorina weather
towards Chicago?? lol. IT IS FREEZING HERE!!
Like it's so cold, my face hurts when I have to go out.

Anyway best of luck with your running :)

Thanks for sharing the story about your son's school production that was so sweet to read.
They grow up fast, so enjoy every second.

Happy Holidays to you and your family Wil!

I really needed that today, thank you Wil.
I am a struggling stepmom with only 2 years under my belt. You just gave me a clear picture of what it REALLY means to "enjoy every moment for they are fleeting"
You posted recently of finally feeling that your relationship with your stepkids has settled into a groove. It gives me hope. Something that I desperately need. Thanks for being a voice in the darkness Mr. Wheaton!!

awwwwww
It is great that you have those memories.
My boys won't ever be apart of something like that & I would had been one of those parents that got there early. Most people just don't realize how special those times are.

But on a good note my youngest (now 7) did say "b b b" for the speech therapist & repeated it for the teacher when he waved bye to her(he started waving bye last year) so I got to hear it once *grins*

I think it is too cold to walk outside here so I'm hitting the treadmill for an hour - good luck on keep up the execrising it really makes me feel better when I do it even if I'm way to slow

This is my first WWdN post. I love your site. And this piece....Wow! I was just blown away. I have a 2.5 year old boy and he just kills me and my husband with sweetness and beauty every day. I'm also expecting a baby girl in 3 months. So I have all of those "memories" ahead of me. I am so lucky! So thanks, Wil, for making pregnant ol' me cry!

Great story. My daughter is 3 1/2 and love it when she sings. Can't wait till those school days. Glad hear your sleeping better and getting back on track.

So When ya going to be in Baltimore MD area?

Happy Holidays

To Reddy --
sounds like you are the parent of "special needs" children, a universe I have traveled in myself the last 10 years. Moments of regret for what might have been when you first dreamed of being a parent -- yes, there are those. But I rejoice with you in the milestones that your boys do achieve on their particular path through life.

Wil --
sappy and funny and gross and wonderful the first time I read it, and even moreso today, when I really needed it. Thanks.

Wil, whenever I face lots of trouble, you seem to come up with one of your awesome stories and save even the worst days. You guys were practicing a German christmas carol together? This is too cool. If I wasn't a native speaker of German, I would refuse to learn one single line in that language by heart. Anyway, the same kind of event exists over here, and I always had lots of fun attending the performances of my boyfriend's little brother (who had me practice English songs from their school textbooks with him). Today, he's thirteen years old and a Star Trek fan, and he gave me a huge laugh when he called during my boyfriend's last visit at his parent's home, screaming into the receiver (without even saying hello before) "Are you aware of the fact you're living with a guy who has NO IDEA WHATSOEVER who the Borg are?" - I have no kids of my own, but given the experience of such moments, I think I know what you mean anyway.

Very Sweet Wil. You always write so lovingly about the boys. I don't think of them as your stepchildren, I always think of them as your own children. And yes, it is amazing how quickly children grow. It's all about the memories ! Treasure them.

Recently, I talked to my mother's sperm donor for the first time in six or seven years. He went into the hospital with a sore on his foot and came out with one less leg and a diagnosis of type 2 diabeties. He chose his wife over his only two kids, so as you can image, that put a huge damper on our relationship.

But after so many years of being angry and hatefilled and wishing like hell he'd just disappear (not die. i'm don't hate him that much for God's sake) and leave me alone for good, I got on the phone with him on Thanksgiving Day because it's what my family expected and they were all watching to see what I'd do when my aunt handed me the phone. I pasted on the phone and said, "Hi daddy," in one of those tired, "I give up trying to explain what you did to you" kind of tones.

He's been in and out of the hospital with minor to serious health problems since his diagnosis. I've finally realized that the anger and hurt isn't worth holding on to. For those 10 years that we had the "Are you still alive? Good. Hope to never see you again" realtionship, I missed out on a crap load. I don't want him as a father. I've lived 26 years without having one, I don't need one now, but I do want, FINALLY, a relationship with him. I haven't figured out what kind of relationship, but at least I'm not cluttering up my mind with negitivity anymore.

...

It feels almost as good as having a empty inbox, which rarely happens.

hello wil wheaton.

In the midst of pushing the weights off my shoulders, I forgot to include the point.

The point was, it's awesome to see a dad, even a stepdad, have so much interest in his children. Nolan and Ryan, do they know how lucky they are to have TWO awesome parents?

Bless you Wil. Merry Christmas.

Wil,
I've been reading your blog for years now and have urged friends to read it as well with high recommendations. I appreciate the openness with which you share your life with other people -- though am a bit concerned about my own voyeuristic tendencies for remaining a 3x a week reader (and until now, never a commentor) for so long. ;)

There is only 1 thing that bothers me when I read your blog though -- and with your great holiday story, I'm finally forced to comment. Shouldn't you start referring to Nolan and Ryan as your kids, and not your step-kids, in your blog? With the love you have for them and the relationship you have with them, it's obvious that they are your children regardless of biology or not marrying Anne until after they were born.

Sorry if this is too personal a comment. There might be a ton of reasons behind it, so I'll shut up again!

Have a great holiday!

As someone who's read your website a lot and purchased both your books not only for myself but as gifts for several friends... it's amazing to me the great effort you go to (or perhaps it comes naturally) to make readers feel like friends. In a lot of ways, I feel like I know you even though you've never heard of me.

That said, the constant personal jabs at people across the political spectrum from you is not only getting a little old, but can be hurtful to people who have supported you. People like me, who support you and what you do, completely respect your political views and your right to speak them, but disagree with them.

There are probably a lot of educated, intelligent, conservative people like myself who are also supporters of Wil Wheaton: Actor, Author, Blogger... and while it's perfectly in your right to offend them/us, I would ask that you consider the segment of your fan base that disagrees with you.

PS: Any plans to appear at Powells' again soon? It'd be great to catch you in person!

Wow. I was going to get all mushy after reading the laugh-out-loud nose picking story. Loved it.

Then I read the previous post. I had to break down and look up demagogic in my Wordsmyth English Dictionary-Thesaurus linked from www.onelook.com (awesome site).

demagogue = a leader, esp. a speaker or politician, who attempts to persuade and to gain a following by appealing to the emotions and prejudices of the public, rather than by rational argument.

Sounds familiar to me, but then I was crushed along with Wil to see Kerry defeated and W gloating.

Please let there be one thinking man posting his honest political views without pandering to the other side of the spectrum.

And . . . Merry Christmas

(Now I'm going to look up the Daily Show America reference.)

Nice Fight Club reference!

I didn't mean to ruin your mushy moment, Geri. I apologize!

And.... Happy Chanukkah. :)

. . what a lovely story . . . and funny as all get out . . . glad you reprinted it . .

I am glad to hear that you are getting more sleep. I don't have kids, but I have three nieces and watching them grow up is very special to me. Do you possibly think that you could run your own chat room in here? I think that would be a great idea, but I understand if you can't. Good luck with getting back in shape. Besides walking a lot at work, I dance to stay in shape. I have been dancing for four years and I find it releives stress.

Aw, how...*finds thesaurus* adorable, precious, endearing, and charming. I liked that little bit, made me feel a little more cheerful for the upcoming holiday trifecta-Christmas, New Years, and Valentine's Day (also known as the misery season). On a happier note, wish me Happy Birthday, I'm 16! (technically, my birthday's tomorrow...but stil)

That first paragraph was the bomb.

"Nolan is in 5th grade this year, so it's the last elementary school holiday program I'll probably ever see, and when I realized that this morning, I felt immense regret for all the years I attended because I felt obligated to be there, rather than truly looking forward to the show."

I haven't got that far with my child yet. He's only three now but I'll remember what you said there on my way to his first school program.

Thanks,
Wendy

Nice piece, except for your little mini rant.

will, not everyone who is a republican is reactionary and demagogic. You may find the signs your neighbors place as offensive - but the same can be said for the way liberals do things as well.

How about your west memphis 3 link - you think many people don't find that offensive? You don't think that if you knew a child that was murdered you would not want to destroy the person that was convicted of it or tear apart those that profess that "the system" was wrong when they were convicted?

You are gifted writer and i enjoy your work - however - to be a truely great artist you need to be more accepting of someone elses viewpoint and maybe look into yourself and see what you truly believe. Otherswise you'll simply be looked at as just another west coast creative liberal out of touch with reality.

I think Andy Rooney put it best when he said...
"You write your book and I'll write mine."

. . . not everyone who is a republican is reactionary and demagogic.

[. . .]

Otherswise you'll simply be looked at as just another west coast creative liberal out of touch with reality.

I don't believe that every Republican is demagogic and reactionary -- just the few I referred to in this blog. And I am happy to be out of touch with a reality includes civil rights to people based on mythology, and values vengeance over justice.

There are reactionaries on either side.

There are also people who hold the same opinions on various topics as those reactionaries, but do so for very logical -- as opposed to mythological or reactionary -- reasons.

Not everyone who opposed gay marriage, for example, is a homophobe.

No one's asking Wil to suddenly understand the conservative viewpoint of course. I was just trying to express that I hold those viewpoints and resent the implication that I'm an *insert dismissive name here*... especially when it comes from an author you respect greatly.

... but that's just me.

Wil,

Am I reading this right? You are happy to be out of touch with your neighbors because you think their beliefs about marriage are based on mythology. Did you ever sit down with one of your neighbors and have a conversation about this?
You might find out that they are human and not just anonymous entities.

Wil,
Only a TV actor would come up with cool re-run/re-write blog. Yes, it is still a great entry.
Your weather may make me move oneday.

FG

Hey, I am curious if there are any linux geeks in the Georgia area. I am opening a retail linux store in Savannah, and looking for techs. I figured to let ya know. think apple store for linux. Plus we will have a LAN room for with linux games, and teaching linux coding in the daytime. Thanks for anyhelp.

SimonTek!

I've always thought someone should do that... I've often thought of opening an "Apple Store for Linux" type shop here in Seattle. Keep us updated on how things go!

Haven read your post I can help but to miss family back in Newport RI as I know live in Rexburg ID.
See christmas for me has always been had since I was 6 when my step-dad died so I dread this time of year except for this year I get to share it with my wife and my new daughter Kyrie Elasion, but still I just miss my family.
Never forget your love ones out there, the one's who are here and the one's who are gone.
Even though your a step dad remember a father is more than a bloodline.
See my step dad rasied me as his son and i will always love and respect him for that, so reading about what your doing with those kids jus stired up alot of memories for me.
good luck and thanx

It is good that you have the integrity to express your honest, heart-felt beliefs. I, too, find signs saying "Protect Marriage" to be offensive, and cannot understand why any straight people would want to deny gay people the right to marry whomever they want. (We are not asking for any rights beyond those that straight people have; we are simply asking for equal rights. The USA will legalize gay marriage eventually--just as some parts of Europe and Canada already have. I can't understand why some fans would ask you to keep your political opinions to themselves. If they generally like you, admire you, find you to be intelligent, wise, compassionate (as I do), maybe they ought to open themselves up to the possibility that your views on civil rights are enlightened. Anyway, I'd be disappointed if you didn't express your honest opinions freely. With every good wish....

My oldest is in kindergarten this year; my youngest will be in preschool next year. I absolutely LOVE this age! I make sure to hang all of his artwork in the kitchen/dining room for a few weeks; the nicer ones make it to his memory book. It's amazing how fast they grow up, isn't it?

Hello Wil,

I am first time on your page. As I read your memory about Nolan's holiday programm at school, I smiled an cried the same time. Those memories should stay in our minds every time.

I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Anett from Leipzig, Germany

Hi, I've never been to your site before, but I've read a lot about it. So, here I am. I was reading some of your blogs from a few days ago, and you mentioned that you write for Dungeon Magazine. My dad sells D&D out at his store in Riverside. I have grown up with it. My uncle is a fanatic and has (well, I can't say ALL) a LOT of first edition stuff. It's an insane world that I grew up in. No one I really know has even heard of D&D, so I must explain it to them. Then my dad proceeds to correct me after I get the summary incorrect. I myself am mostly a Lord of the Rings type person. I think it's about as much fantasy as I can handle at my age.

Oh, and I just realized I uploaded the Little-T and One Track Mike cd onto my computer for my iPod. I only wanted "Shaniqua"!

Before I post this, I saw you on My Coolest Years. The Geeks episode is my favorite, simply because that was me in high school.

Until next time,
Ruth
"Let your soul take you where you long to be"

> hasn't been as difficult as I thought it would be

- like all exercices the difficulty is keeping motivaded for the whole week and beyond.

you know haven been a white kid growing up in a project with all types of people weather black,gay,or spanish what everyone has to understand is one we all bleed the same color and if you dont like that fact there gay then dont leave the house in the morning cause if there happy then im all for it
p.s. this i for the religious freaks out there go to geogrecarlin.com and download his version of the ten commandments so you all on the religoius right can buy a clue.

This is for Braden and Chris, who said: "You are gifted writer and i enjoy your work - however - to be a truely great artist you need to be more accepting of someone elses viewpoint and maybe look into yourself and see what you truly believe. Otherswise you'll simply be looked at as just another west coast creative liberal out of touch with reality."

I am a veteran, a former Republican, Californina raised in a very conservative part of the state, and I've bought books by various conservatives such as George Will, PJ O'Rourke, and Kevin Phillips. From the get-go I knew there'd be some things I'd disagree with strongly in these books but never expected nor wrote to these writers implying that my buying their books put the onus on the to modify or keep quiet about the views that I found wrong or even obnoxious.

I also find it probably about as offensive as you seem to find Wil's rant against yard signs calling for the "defense" of marriage when you use a phrase like "just another west coast liberal" as if it's just the cutest lil' put-down. Guess what? Under your definition, I AM "just another west coast liberal" -- one who grew up with a lot of close-minded southern state transplants who left the south for a better life in California but were constantly bitching about why oh WHY (being in a state bordering Mexico) they had to "put up with" Mexicans -- yes, such crap still happens. And I am only 28. And if you don't get why people like myself and Wil are so angry about this disgusting "protection of marriage" campaign engineered to whip your fears into a frenzy against another minority group, let me try to explain why: When I was in high school, the same type of campaign was launched in this state agains "illegals" and guess what? The nasty REALLY comes out of kids when their parents are bigots and are given new buzz/code words to push their hate and racism. I was questioned on my "legality" and called a "wetback bitch" because I brought this up as part of my debate team exercises. There were also two incidents in our town of migrant workers getting beat up by the upstanding sons of these righteious Americans just for kicks.

That said, rock on, Wil!

ARRGGGG typo city up there. BAD west coast libber BAD :) Meant BRASTEN of course, and would just like to add, now that I'm a little less pissy, that I also am aquainted with a boatload of quite human conservatives. Like I said, I considered myself one for years, and it was only really looking into what the dominant wing of the Republican party actually stood for (corporate domination by any means necessary) coupled with their enthusiastic race and gender baiting when it could help them win, that I first registered independedend and then Democratic as a protest. Because there's nothing as disconcerting to a rightwing lockstepper then coming across a registered Democrats who's a gun owner and DAMNED proud of being liberal, a.k.a FOR LIBERTY.

For what it's worth, Letty Cruz, I happen to be a West Coast resident... Seattle, specifically. "West Coast Conservative" doesn't quite have the same ring to it...

That said, if you refer to my earlier messages I didn't throw out the "west coast liberal" tag... nor did I make any broad judgements about liberals or their beliefs or the motivations thereof...

Your broad characterizations of the Republican Party are not only incorrect, but offensive... There are many mischaracterizations of the Democratic Party that I could spew forth to make my point, but they also are just emotional ad hom attacks as yours were... The bar must be raised...

Hey I just wanted to point you toward this great beginner running plan:

http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

Get you up to three miles in eight weeks, very slowly.