Day Three Hundred Thirty Five

Dear Readers,
     Today, I am rooting for Stanford. It is the PAC12 Championship game, which is just a rematch of last weeks game where UCLA couldn't help me out by beating Stanford. So, now I get the pleasure of rooting against them. As I normally do, just so I can give my brother in laws a hard time. It will be just my luck to watch UCLA beat Stanford after looking so terrible last week. So far, Stanford isn't looking as good as I hoped. I am guessing the field conditions are playing a part. It's pretty funny watching players slip and slide all over the field. Nobody can make a good cut without ending up with a faceful of grass. You gotta love football in the rain though. It brings a whole new element to the game.
      Okay, I started this blog right about half way through the game. Now that I have checked into our hotel room, gone to dinner, and am now relaxing on our super comfy bed, the game is over. After two weeks of disappointment, I finally had one fall my way. Sorry Brent and Brandon, but I didn't want to hear the trash talk all year about how UCLA was the champs over Oregon even with a worse record. So, I am thankful to Stanford this week even though I hate them. Go Ducks!
      Speaking of our dinner, it was a delicious little place called Cafe Marmelade out here in Agoura Hills. Just outside of Malibu. I forgot to tell you. We are staying the night out in the Malibu area for the Spartan Race tomorrow. Brandon and I picked up our race packets today and decided to stay out out here instead of doing the drive all over again tomorrow. We still have to get up early. Catch a shuttle bus down to Malibu and to our death. Okay, probably not death but we might wish for it after or during the race. At least I got an especially delicious final meal. Raina and I got the same thing. It just stood out of the whole menu. Red snapper with mashed potatoes. A light cream sauce on top and spinach. It was superb. It's always fun trying out new places and even better when they turn out to be delicious. We are enjoying our little one night getaway. I am sure Raina will enjoy watching our suffering tomorrow as well. I'm am sure I will have lots of pictures to share with you tomorrow.   Pictures of pain and suffering. The path to the Dark Side.

This Day In History: 1954
The first modern instance of a meteorite striking a human being occurs at Sylacauga, Alabama, when a meteorite crashes through the roof of a house, bounces off a radio, and strikes Elizabeth Hodges on the hip. Leaving a nasty bruise along her hip and leg.

Born This Day: 1874
Sir Winston Churchill - British statesman, historian and biographer.
???? - Lorinda DeAnda (Raina's cousin and the one with the towel sweater.)
???? - Courtney Garrard (Mom to the children Raina has babysat for what seems like forever.)

"Invention is the talent of youth, as judgment is of age."

-Jonathan Swift

Like it was made for people like me.

Day Three Hundred Thirty Four

Dear Readers,
     You know, I normally love rainy days.  Usually I get to leave work and come home and curl up with a good book.  I didn't get that luxury at work today.  Being at work on rainy days are awful.  I know I have said it before, how the days is filled with menial tasks that are done mostly to fill the time.  Rain really limits what we can do at our jobs, so the day becomes boring.  Which means today was boring.  I already had it in my mind that I was going to be going home early.  I had already planned out all the things I might accomplish when I got home.  It was not meant to be though.  The rain had let up just enough to force us to stay, but not enough to let us get on with our regular jobs.  Quite frustrating if you ask me.  Needless to say, I had a pretty boring day and was happy to hurry home after work. 
      I had to hurry home to not work on my class that I am taking online for work.  I can be a bit of a procrastinator.  You see, I have been signed up for this class for about three months now and I am given six months to finish it.  I have been telling myself that I need to work on it for a couple of weeks now, but have yet to even start it.  This is a different class then the one I am taking once a week by the way.  I was supposed to start it a while back now.  Procrastinating has to be one of my worst habits.  Things always seem to work out better if I am prepared, or work on something with plenty of time to spare.  Waiting until the last minute has gotten me into trouble many times before.  I like to think that I do better with things while under the pressure I have put on myself by procrastinating, but mostly I just make things more difficult and reduce the quality of whatever it might be.  I think that this is one of the biggest things I would change about myself, but it is probably the hardest thing to change.  So, now that I have given myself only two weeks or so to finish this class, I really need to pick it up and put some work into it.  I want to finish it before the school goes on winter break so that it doesn't delay my grade any longer than it has to.  I need a passing grade to be able to sign up for the next test for my certifications for work.  The test dates are only twice a year, so it really limits my window for signing up.  Always putting myself in difficult spots.  Hopefully I won't do it to myself yet again.  Need to start on that class.  Procrastinating leads to difficult times.

This Day In History: 1961
In a prelude to John Glenn's orbital space flight, the first U.S. satellite carrying an animal, a five year old chimpanzee named Enos, is launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Born This Day: 1927
Vin Scully - Los Angeles Dodgers baseball announcer. (A Legend)

"Aim at heaven and you get Earth thrown in, aim at Earth and you get neither."

-C. S. Lewis

The "Let my people go" beard.

Day Three Hundred Thirty Three

Dear Readers,
      Okay, I am trying to watch another Harry Potter movie.  I started watching the series a few months back, starting from the beginning.  Now, I have made it all the way to the second movie.  Can't you see how much progress I am making?  As I have said before, I want to watch through the whole series of movies and then read the books.  My thinking is that I don't want to be disappointed in the movies because the books were so much better.  Most books are better then movies, so I am assuming the same goes for the Harry Potter series.  Actually, I really hope so, because the first two movies are pretty kiddish.  Meaning they are made for kids with a dark element in the background of it.  A little silly at times and then grabbing my interest the next moment.  I am also assuming that the movies get better as they progress and the actors get older.  Hopefully making for a better story with each movie.  I just have to get past the kiddy parts.  Thanks again to Brooke for letting me borrow the whole movie collection.
      Only three days left until the Spartan Race.  A part of me is getting a little nervous about it.  I don't want to embarrass myself and not even finish the race, but I feel pretty unprepared.  At least I am a little better prepared then the guys I am doing it with.  My two brother in laws Brent and Brandon and nephew, Jeremiah.  Out of the three, Jeremiah is the only one that does some kind of physical activity on a regular basis.  Playing intramural sports at college.  As far as being able to run three miles, I am not sure if any of the three of them have even attempted to run three miles, let alone finish it.  Either way, it is going to be an eventful Saturday.  Full of falls and trips and scrapes and bumps and bruises and hopefully no broken bones.  Especially since I am supposed to be golfing the next day.  Don't want to miss out on that now.

This Day In History: 1582
William Shakespeare, 18, and Anne Hathaway, 26, pay a 40-pound bond for their marriage license in Stratford-upon-Avon, England.

Born This Day: 1943
Randy Newman - American singer and composer of movie scores.

"Creativity can be described as letting go of certainties."

-Gail Sheehy

The infamous Ned Kelly. Sweet Beard.

Day Three Hundred Thirty Two

Dear Readers,
      It is turkey, turkey, and more turkey.  Turkey sandwiches for lunch and then turkey tacos for dinner.  Throwing in some onion and taco seasoning in the skillet with a pile of turkey and frying it up.  I guess I am pretty lucky to really enjoy me some turkey.  I even convinced Raina to try making me some turkey chili.  Doesn't that sound fantastic?  I can't wait.  Don't judge me.  It's good.  So many variations to go with.  I bet I can get at least three more new recipes out of all these leftovers.  Still have ham too.
      Well, I found out the results to my test that I took a couple of weeks ago for my class.  You know, the one that I forgot about until I showed up for class.  Did I luck out or what?  Not only did I show up for the right class after almost missing it, but I scored an "A" on my midterm.  I will take the blessing from on high.  Hopefully I can do as will when the final comes around.  I don't think I will let myself forget when it is and show up unprepared this time though.
      You know how some people stroke their mustaches when they are thinking?  Well I don't do that.  Not exactly in any case.  I have one semi wild hair on my lip that sticks out more then the rest.  I stroke that one when I am thinking.  I am surprised that I haven't accidentally pulled it out by now.  I used to have on on my left side before I accidentally pulled out.  Which makes me wonder why I haven't pulled this one out yet.  Until that time comes, it will be my thinking hair.  Helping me ponder all of life's greatest mysteries.  Including figuring out how to get away from some of the guys I have to work with on a daily basis.  I will solve that mystery one of these days.  Hopefully sooner rather then later.  Don't ask me why I started thinking about that estranged hair.  I don't know how it popped into my head.  My brain comes up with some of the most random thoughts.  I just have to go with the flow of my constantly distracted brain.  Maybe I have ADD.

This Day In History: 1901
The Army War College was established in Washington, DC.

Born This Day: 1942
Jimi Hendrix - Guitarist and singer.

"Abortion is advocated only by persons who have themselves been born."

-Ronald Reagan

I'm thoroughly jealous.

Day Three Hundred Thirty One

Dear Readers,
      I am about to share a story with you, but you can't continue to repeat it.  Okay, that isn't realistic, but Raina may get a little upset at me for telling this one.  I am terrible at time frames, after a couple of years most of my memories just blur together.  So, sometime in the past, Raina and I were riding in a car with her brothers heading somewhere I can't remember.  What I do remember is how I was picking on Raina and we were bickering back and forth.  Out of nowhere comes a comment from the funny farm.  "David, let the wookie win."  If you know just a little bit about Star Wars, you know where that line is from.  Where C-3PO and R2-D2 are playing against Chewbacca in a holographic fighting game and R2-D2 is beating Chewbacca and he yells because he loses.  Han Solo then explains that most people don't rip their opponents arms out of their sockets when they lose like wookies do.  So C-3PO suggests a new strategy to R2-D2.  Let the wookie win.  Needless to say, Raina didn't care much for that.  Immediately following the vicious comment, she started hitting them and swinging wildly.  See, always resorting to violence.  Then, Brandon said something else to her and she attempted to bite him.  That is when I burst out with a "Great Chewie, always thinking with your stomach".  Which is another line from the Star Wars movies.  She didn't like that one either.  She definitely didn't like that it has kind of stuck with her.  To the point that her brother Brent had remembered it vividly enough to get a little Chewbacca sound maker toy thing.  Every time you press the button on it, it makes Chewbacca sounds.  It was her Christmas gift last year.  Well, Brent has added another Chewbacca gift to the collection that is starting.  Raina is now the proud owner of a wonderful wookie t-shirt.  She is the "Wookie of the Year".  Brent gave it to her on Thanksgiving, so that she could be extra thankful for it.  I don't think she was as thankful as Brent had hoped, but it was a pretty cool shirt either way.  Now she has a fanboy shirt that she can where to our next comic book convention.  I am glad that she is finally coming around and embracing the Star Wars connection she has now.  At least it is only joking around.  I am thankful she doesn't actually look like a wookie of some sort.  That would be kind of scary with all that hair.  So, don't go around calling my beautiful wife a wookie or something like that.  Well, at least try not to.

This Day In History: 1942
The American movie Casablanca has its world premiere at the Hollywood Theatre in New York City.

Born This Day: 1922
Charles Schulz - American cartoonist (Peanuts)

"A work of art is above all an adventure of the mind."

-Eugene Ionesco

Raina's cool new shirt.

Day Three Hundred Thirty

Dear Readers,
     The Thanksgiving leftover feasting has continued.  We had a delicious breakfast of of ham and eggs.  Cooked up some tortillas with it and add a little salsa, you got a delicious breakfast.  I made breakfast of course.  It was a nice start to our day.  Looking forward to continuing feasting for at least the rest of the week.
      Well, it is only thirty six days left to have my beard.  I know that as soon as I cut it off, I may just cry.  I still haven't come up with a way to convince Raina to let me keep it.  I even told her that I was going to gather petition signatures to file for my beard to secede from this marriage.  That way she wouldn't have a say in if it stays or if it goes.  She wasn't going for it.  I don't understand why.  I think that I could get the signatures necessary.  20,000 signatures isn't too many within the next month.  She still wouldn't allow it.  Now, don't you think that it was a good idea?  If I were to actually get them, what could she do?  It is a clean secession and then it is a separation from any control she might have.  Do you think I can get it on the ballot?  I can sure try.  At this point I am pretty desperate to try anything.  Go any ideas?

This Day In History: 1922
English archaeologist Howard Carter opens the first of two doorways to the tomb of King Tutankhamen.

Born This Day: 1914
Joe DiMaggio - American Hall of Fame baseball player.

"As I grow older I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do."

-Andrew Carnegie

I have to make a shirt out of this.

Day Three Hundred Twenty Nine

Dear Readers,
      The countdown to the Spartan Race has just hit overdrive. It is exactly one week from today that I will be doing more bodily harm to myself in one day then I probably did in three years of playing high school football. Okay, I don't know if it is going to be that bad, but it could be. Who knows? It could be worse on me. Especially since I didn't train as well or as much as I had hoped. I am doing it with my brother in laws and nephew, Jeremiah. We have been discussing the idea of having some shirts made up for us with a little design on it. I think our top idea had something to do with a logo stating "We didn't train for this". I am sure once people see how much we struggle with this thing that they will know we didn't train. So, now that we are so close to D-Day, I am trying to cram in some workouts before next Saturday, like I am cramming for a test or something. Today marks two days in a row of hitting the gym. My hope is that I will at least be over the soreness that happens after getting back into the gyms.  I don't want to be trying to climb ropes and over walls and have to combat a sore body on top of a tough race. I have a feeling it is a lost cause, but I have to try. 
      Today I had a great privilege. I was able to share the joy of Star Wars with my nephews, Joseph and Joshua. Micah was there too, but I don't think he is old enough to appreciate what was happening.  Especially since the whole time he was playing with Thomas trains and jumping on the bed most of the time.  Once Joseph had gotten the okay from his parents that he was old enough to see the movie, he has been talking about it ever since. Just about every time he comes over he asks if maybe that is the day we can watch it. I think for the last four months now.  Today I decided to spend some time watching it with him. It wasn't difficult for me, and besides, it got the kids out of my mom's hair for a while. He was so excited, which is awesome to see as an uncle. Makes me wonder what that kind of excitement might be like for me when it is my own child. Anyways, it was really cool to be able to share that with my nephews and hopefully I can impart some important Star Wars knowledge to them in these vital years in their life. By the way, of course I showed them the original Star Wars first, A New Hope. That trilogy is the definitive one. No sense in showing them in order chronologically and ruin them with newer trilogy. Maybe I will be able to see the future Star Wars movies with them in the theaters and they will be able to experience them first hand. Looking forward to many more Star Wars memories. Have to raise them right.

This Day In History: 1971
A hijacker calling himself D. B. Cooper parachutes from a Northwest Orient Airlines 727 into a raging thunderstorm over Washington state with $200,000 in ransom money. His fate remains a mystery.

Born This Day: 1853
Bat Masterson - American buffalo hunter, gunfighter, and lawman.

"If you want to be different from the past, study the past."

-Benedict Spinoza

Star Wars time with the kids.

Notice Micah playing with the trains at the end of the bed.

Day Three Hundred Twenty Eight

Dear Readers,
      Happy Thanksgiving, again.  At least for Raina and I, it was a second helping of all out cooking and eating and family time.  Celebrating with my family today.  I also convinced Raina to cook the turkey for a second year in a row.  She always dreads it, worrying that it is going to be dry or bad or make somebody sick.  It has been a hit both years now though.  Juicy and delicious, and now I get to fry it up for some fantastic left over sandwiches.  It is a good thing we started our day off with a trip to the gym.  Working out in advance of all the caloric intake we managed today.  There was so much food today.  We had eleven adults and four kids and there was so much food that we could have three more Thanksgivings with the left overs.  It was an awesome dinner and family time.
      I spent most of my day cleaning, doing laundry and entertaining my nephews and niece.  Just about as soon as Joseph and Joshua got here, we got into a battle of robots.  They wanted to have real life action fighting as Transformers.  Of course Joseph had to be Optimus Prime while Joshua was Bumble Bee, which left me to be an assortment of Decepticons.  Starting with Megatron.  Thinking it would end with the death of Megatron, since I was getting wiped out by all the energy those two little kids carry.  It didn't.  They just wanted to move on to the next Decepticon they could think of.  Starscream was the next victim to their fictitious battle.  Throwing them around and letting them tackle me and swing wildly, as long as it wasn't to the face.  Picking them up and dropping them on the couch.  Having them run into each other and picking one of them up only to let them fall on the other.  Eventually letting them kill me as Starscream.  It didn't end there.  They now wanted me to be Soundwave, which is another one of the "bad guys".  They just keep going and going and going.  Backing up and getting a head start running into me.  Knocking me down over and over again.  All the while I am play acting with them.  Telling them that they will never kill me and that I was bound to win.  Kids and their imaginations.  Who needs fancy toys when you could have a wild imagination?  I had a blast, trying to keep up with those kids.  Playing with them and showing them Star Wars Angry Birds on my phone, which they were excited to see.  So much so that I tried to show them and they wanted to see so bad that they blocked the screen from my vision countless times.  Repeatedly having to tell them to back up a little bit.  Then there is also Micah,  He requires lots of attention and he is a little Energizer battery all on his own.  I even fit in some time with my niece, Kailee.  Playing some Black Ops on my Xbox with her for a little while.  I would say that it was a day filled with family time and I am more tired from the family time then from the workout I did this morning.  Gotta love family time.

This Day In History: 1936
In the United States, the first issue of the pictorial magazine Life is published.  The cover featured a photo of Fort Peck Dam by Margaret Bourke-White.

Born This Day: 1859
Billy the Kid (William Bonney)

"Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others."

-Robert Louis Stevenson

Thanksgiving 2.0

We squeezed everyone in together.

Raina and her Piece de Resistance.

Day Three Hundred Twenty Seven

Dear Readers,
      Happy Thanksgiving everybody!  It is that time of year where we all stuff ourselves to the point of pain.  All that turkey and gravy and mashed potatoes and stuffing and so on and so on.  There is always too much food and not enough mouths to finish everything.  You always end up with tons of left overs to eat for the next week and a half.  Turning it into turkey sandwiches, ham and eggs, and who knows what else people turn them into.  I think one of the things I most look forward to is the left over turkey.  I end up eating more turkey after Thanksgiving then during.  I save a little of the left over grease from the bottom of the pan that the turkey came out of and then use it to fry up the left over turkey to turn them into hot sandwiches for the next week.  So delicious.  I think I actually look forward to that more then the actual Thanksgiving dinner.  It doesn't help that Raina and I celebrate two Thanksgivings.  Today was gut buster day number one with her family.  Spending the day over her brother Brent's house.  Watching football and movies while eating to our hearts content.  Then we get to do it all over again the next day, as we celebrate Thanksgiving with my family.  We have done double duty for at least ten years now.  It makes the holidays twice as fun.  We never have to sacrifice.  Which has been awesome.  Always getting to celebrate with both our families and not having to make compromises every year.  We are very fortunate for this to have worked out for us and we know we are blessed to be able to have it like this.  Not everyone has families this close to each other and have the scheduling work out so well.  Just one of the many things that we are thankful for and are reminded of this time of year.  A day to reflect on all the blessings we have had this past year.  Blessed with family and good health and good jobs and so many other things.  We hope the same for all of you as well.  Happy Thanksgiving!  Eat lots of turkey.

This Day In History: 1963
U.S. president John F. Kennedy is assassinated while traveling through Dallas, Texas, in an open-top convertible.

Born This Day: 1890
Charles De Gaulle - French general, president of France. (1959-1969)

"People tend to forget their duties but remember their rights."

-Indira Gandhi

Where do I get mine at?

Day Three Hundred Twenty Six

Dear Readers,
      Okay, sorry for missing another day.  I don't really have a good excuse. I had some housekeeping to do after getting back home and dinner with Raina's grandmother who came into town. After that, I was spent and fell asleep right away. Not even giving myself a chance to get under the covers. More like I was setting my alarm and reading some emails while laying down on my bed and then the next thing I remember I am waking up half frozen with no blankets. It was pretty bad. Raina claims to have came to bed and try to get me to get under the covers, but I don't remember that at all. So I'm gonna say she didn't and just left me to freeze. If she really cared, she would have put the blanket that was folded at the end of the bed. I can't believe how tired I was last night. It wasn't like I did very much yesterday. I guess the thought of getting to sleep in my own bed after a week of sleeping on a couch made me want to hurry and get to it. I even left work early to get home and get some laundry done and to get a little rest in before we went to dinner with Raina's grandmother. By the way, I know Raina cares about me. I am just giving her a hard time via blog.  At least this way there is a delayed reaction between me giving Raina a hard time about something and her reaction of a swift right hook.
      Speaking of a right hook, this leads me to something that I have noticed. I don't know if it is a female thing or just a Brandon's wife and my wife thing. I noticed it last night at dinner.  Brandon had made a couple of comments that may have been in the mode of making fun of his wife, Brooke. With guys, it would have been a response of a joke or put down back at him. With Brooke, it was a swift punch or pinch. I notice that Raina mostly reacts the same way if I do the same thing to her. I wonder, is this how most females react. I know there are exceptions to every rule and not all are the same, but there is a tendency for females to do similar things that other females do. The same way a lot of males have similar traits. I don't want to get into a whole battle over male versus female and having quick wit to bust each others chops, I just want to know if Brandon and I are the only ones to have violent wives. Wives that resort to violence as the answer. I will tell you that we should learn from history, that violence is not the answer. We should use our words for diplomacy. Our intellect as a way to find a proper solution. Not react in threats and violence.  Violence is for barbarians, and I hope we are an educated enough of a society to not be barbarians stuck in the middle ages.  So, here is to intellect and quick wit instead of using fists to speak.
      P.S. I guess I am using my blog as another means to bust our wives chops.  Hopefully this doesn't get me into to much trouble...and pain.

This Day In History: 1977
The supersonic Concorde airliner, developed by Great Britain and France, takes off on its first flight from London to New york City.

Born This Day: 1694
Jean Francois Voltaire - French philosopher and author.
1978 - Chris Allen (A great friend who happens to be married to one of my wife's best friends.)

"Curiosity is free-wheeling intelligence."

-Alistair Cooke

Prove you are a true American. Listen to the picture.

Day Three Hundred Twenty Five

Dear Readers,

      I have a friend by the name of Chris Jones, who is infatuated with the idea of Maine. Wanting to visit there, wanting to eat food from there and possibly even wanting to move out there. I wouldn't put it past him. He even has one of those giant change bottles to collect coins, calling it the "Maine Fund". Hoping to one day save up enough coins to pay for a trip to his dreamland. A few weeks back, he found a food truck that serves up Maine Lobster. He has been waiting for a night when it would be local enough to go eat. Naturally, I was not going to miss out on a lobster truck, so I told him I would go try it out with him. Unfortunately, the next night it is close enough, we are both going to be indisposed. It wasn't meant to be, yet. Maybe it is Gods way of telling us we should wait until we get to go out to Maine and eat some real fresh Maine lobster. Raina and I have been telling him that we would love to take a trip out there. Raina always says she has been wanting to go to the complete opposite side of the country. It doesn't get any more opposite than Maine. Besides, it is supposed to be beautiful out there and there is lots to see. Besides, does the lobster get any fresher than that? All this talk about lobster and Maine is making me crave some good seafood and a nice vacation somewhere. I think I am going to have to talk to Raina about what our next vacation should be. After we go to France or Italy of course. We need to plan a trip to the East coast. Touring from New York and Boston up to Maine. There is a ton of history out there, a ton of beautiful sites, and most likely a ton of great eats out there. Why can't I have a job that has me travel to places like that, that would also allow me to drag my wife with me at least half the time. I have to find that job. Possibly a dream job. It exists somewhere out there. I just need to find it. Time to start saving for our East coast trip too. 

This Day In History: 1789
New Jersey became the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights.

Born This Day: 1965
Mike D. - The Beastie Boys

"Never judge a book by it's movie."

-J. W. Eagan

 Nothing more to be said.

Day Three Hundred Twenty Four

Dear Readers,
      What a much better day for sports for me.  The 49ers put on a defensive clinic against the Bears.  You gotta love games like this.  I know I do.  Just complete defensive domination.  The Bears could not block the 49ers defensive line and couldn't stop the 49ers quarterback, who made his first start of his career tonight.  He wasn't too shabby either, making some big throws and not making any mistakes to shoot himself in the foot.  Just goes back to how much I love to watch a strong defense just dominate.  Which is funny since it is completely opposite to what I watch when I watch an Oregon football game, which is almost always an offensive showcase.  There is just something special about watching big hits and an offensive line just collapsing under the pressure.  Just awesome.  Again, sorry to be talking sports gain, but I just love football and they have given me a lot to talk about, be happy about and also be sad about. 
      I have to say, this has been my slowest standby for work in four years of doing it.  That makes it a complete bummer to be doing it right now.  Especially since I have to spend the week away from Raina.  Sleeping on a couch, spending my week watching TV, playing video games and wasting time surfing the internet.  I usually bring a book with me, but my last few have been so busy that I haven't really spent any time reading, so I saved myself a little weight and left the book at home this week.  Was that a mistake or what?  I could have spent my week catching up on my reading.  Even though I will never really catch up with as many books as I own, but it would be nice to make some progress and actually dent that pile of books I have.  I am just hoping my last night is busy tomorrow, so that the time will fly by and I can hurry back home.  Just in time for Thanksgiving.  Getting ready for a stuffing later this week, and I am not talking about the turkey, I am talking about my stomach for two days in a row.  Since we celebrate with Raina's family on Thursday and with my family on Friday.  It is a double dose of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and so many other classic dishes.  I can't wait.  Counting down the hours as we speak.

This Day In History: 1863
U.S. President Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address as he dedicated a national cemetery at the site of the Civil War battlefield in Pennsylvania.

Born This Day: 1933
Larry King - American television and radio host.

"When I was young, I observed that nine out of ten things I did were failures. So I did ten times more work."

-George Bernard Shaw

How awesome is this guys beard.

Day Three Hundred Twenty Three

Dear Readers,
      Okay, yesterday was a terrible day.  Oregon could not have lost to a worse team.  Didn't I just say how the one team to give them fits when they are doing good is Stanford.  That is two possible perfect seasons that Stanford has derailed now.  I am really starting to hate that school.  Now, if both Stanford and Oregon win next week, Oregon will be left out of the PAC12 championship game because of Stanford holding the tie breaker.  Now I have to root for UCLA again, which I hate doing, to beat Stanford so that Oregon has a chance to go to the championship game.  They still have to take care of business of their own, by beating their rival Oregon State.  Which is a pretty stinking good team right now as well.  I feel another stressful weekend in store for me.  Even after that, Oregon would have to play UCLA in the championship game so that they can get an automatic invite to the Rose Bowl.  It is still a long road ahead for Oregon and I am crossing my fingers.
      There is nothing like watching a good football game.  One that can keep your attention the entire way through.  Back and forth, with some rivalry attached to it.  So many swings in football that can cause you to pull your hair out or be jumping for joy in your own living room.  As you know, I was pulling what little hair I have left off my head.  That is what I love about sports though.  You just never know what is going to happen.  Someone could have the game of their life and never see from them again afterward.  If the timing is right though, they will be remembered forever.  All it takes is one moment.  Just look at Kirk Gibson.  He will always be remembered for his one at bat in the World Series and then hobbling around the bases while pumping his fist.  No one really remembers what he did that season or even how many seasons he actually played for the Dodgers.  All they know is that he was the hero of that game that turned things around for the Dodgers.  The cause of all those brake lights going off in the Dodger Stadium parking lot from all those people who left thinking it was over.  Moments like that are one of the big reason I watch sports.  So, even though my team has let me down, I will still enjoy watching for the rest of the season.  Anticipating another run next season.

This Day In History: 1928
The first successful sound-synchronized animated cartoon premiered in New York. It was Walt Disney's "Steamboat Willie," starring Mickey Mouse.

Born This Day: 1923
Alan Shepard, Jr.- American astronaut

"Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it."

-Confucius

Sailor Beard.

Day Three Hundred Twenty Two

Dear Readers,
      Okay, so UCLA pulled off the win against USC.  The first half of my wish is coming true.  Now I just need Oregon to follow suit and put a beat down on Stanford.  Which is a dangerous team that has given Oregon fits in the past.  Ruining a perfect season and National Title hopes some years back.  Oregon has dominated the last two years though, even with Andrew Luck playing for Stanford, so I am hoping for more of the same.  As an Oregon fan, I have had a little over a decade of good and great seasons, but have just missed seeing them get the big one a few times.  Even making it to the National Championship game, only to have my dreams dashed by stinking Cam Newton and Nick Fairley.  Please let this be the year that it all comes together.  Go Ducks and congrats to UCLA!  Here is to the possibility of facing my brother in laws favorite team in a PAC12 Championship game.
      Okay, I am trying to type this up while trying to watch the game at the same time.  For a little while there, Oregon was really stressing me out and I had to stop typing for a little bit and just watch.  They had a chance to keep a solid drive moving when a receiver dropped an important third down pass.  Well, that same receiver has now just redeemed himself by catching a touchdown pass to tie up the game.  There is still plenty of game left, but I feel that the Ducks offense is starting to finally get going after that drive.  I just hope their defense can keep up for the rest of the game.  I have to say that this is the first game of the year that has me worried and actually stressed while watching.  This whole season has mostly been a dominant performance by Oregon, and now they are facing the best run defense in college football.  I am counting on all the offensive plays to wear down the defense.  One thing I can count on with Oregon, is that there isn't any team as well conditioned as Oregon has.  Just think about their defense having to play against their fast pace offense week in and week out.  You have to be in good shape to keep up.  Once the fourth quarter hits, there isn't a team out there that can keep pace.  At least that is what I am counting on.  Sorry for the non sports fans out there, I am just too in the zone to talk about anything else.  Go Ducks!

This Day In History: 1800
The U.S. Congress held it's first session in Washington, D.C., in the partially completed Capitol building.

Born This Day: 1925
Rock Hudson - American film and television star.

"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today."

-James Dean

Because he has a beard.

Day Three Hundred Twenty One

Dear Readers,
      This late into the year, it makes it difficult for me to find something to talk about unless I actually do something throughout the day. Well, I didn't do a dang thing today. Well not quite. I woke up and played some video games to pass the time until I got called out. Unfortunately, it was a lot of video game time, since I was only called twice and both times for something quick and simple. I could talk about my awesome breakfast, that was made for me. One of the perks about staying here at Tyler's house, is that I get a great meal at least a few times during the week. Including a breakfast of sausage and eggs with some French toast. Which, I'm not usually a fan of French toast, but it was actually pretty good today. Maybe because the cinnamon was dominant in the flavor. Reminded me of cinnamon rolls. Which makes me think about what has been going on with Hostess. If you don't know, they are going out of business because of a work strike with their bakers union. This is a sad thing. Not because of all the twinkies and other goodies that are going to be scarce until they sell off their assets, but because of all those men and women who are now out of a job, which includes a friend of mine who had been employed by Hostess. Especially in the economic times that we are in. Finding a good job is not easy to do. It used to be certain jobs would get forty to fifty applicants for entry level work. Now those same jobs are getting ten times that amount, with most of the applicants being overqualified. They just need to get a job somewhere. I love how my friends wife put it when the possibility of him losing his job came about. That he was going to have some extra family time. I love that she looked at the positive side of it instead of allowing the negativity to creep into everything. I know God will provide for them, but I also know that it must be a bit scary to not know exactly how He is going to. So, the next time you are buying groceries and get ready to buy some Hostess goods, say a little prayer to all those folks who are now seeking God for their next door to walk through. I know I will be.

This Day In History: 1952
In the Peanuts comic strip, Lucy first held a football for Charlie Brown.

Born This Day: 1907
Burgess Meredith - American actor (Rocky)

"The tragedy in life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goals to reach."

-Benjamin Mays

Well, the beard is pretty wild.

Day Three Hundred Twenty

Dear Readers,
      For those of you who happen to be friends on Facebook, you probably saw what kind of day I had at work today. For those of you who are not, is was a big watery, muddy mess of a day. We had a water line blow out of one of our water mains, leaving a hole large enough for me to stick my fist in and not worry about hitting the edges. On a ten inch water main, that is a ton of water being pushed out of there. Flooding out the street and leaving a wake of mud that stretched across three lanes of traffic and about a football field in length. It was not a fun day. It started out nice and then the wheels had to fall off. And to think, we have to go back out and dig it all back up again to weld another connection on our water main. All that work just to make sure it is clean and safe for the three day weekend, thanks to our furlough Friday. I just hope it is not a sign of things to come for my weekend of being on call.
      I was reading through some articles on ESPN the other day, as I do quite often, and I came across one dealing with USC and UCLA. I thought I would check it out since they play each other this week. A big rivalry game between two good football programs this year. It really could go either way this year and I think there are lots of analysts picking UCLA even though they have lost twelve of the last thirteen matchups. Don't get me wrong, by no means am I a fan of either one of these teams and usually love to root against UCLA simply because my brother in laws on my wife's side are fans, but I will be rooting for UCLA this weekend. Simply because my team, Oregon, already beat USC this year and would love to see a matchup with UCLA in the PAC12 championship game, especially because they aren't scheduled to play each other this year. Then Oregon can put a beat down on UCLA and I can hang that over my brother in laws heads for a while. There is always a plan. Back to my point. The article was regarding a pre game ritual that USC has been doing for some fifty years or so. They march and play their fight song while their mascot, a Trojan, drives his sword into the center of the football field. Both home and away games. This year though, UCLA is saying that if they do it then their marching band will not be allowed to play during half time. How petty can you be?  This is a tradition that they have done for years; and now you decide it is too much and in the lines of being unsportsmanlike. USC's other biggest rival, Notre Dame, had never cried about it in all the years they have played them. Nor has any other team. I could understand if this was a new thing, but not now that we are all these years into performing this tradition. I'm not even a fan of this school and this article got me fired up. It is all about not wanting to get people's feelings hurt and this society where you get trophy a just for participating. The trophy goes to the winner. This is petty and pathetic. I blame UCLAs be coach, Jim Mora, who is actually a good coach but I think he has no sense of tradition. It is really a shame that it has come to this. I will still be rooting for UCLA this weekend, but if they lose I will chalk it up to their pettiness and won't lose any sleep over it. Child please!

This Day In History: 1777
The Continental Congress approved the Articles of Confederation, precursor to the U.S. Constitution. 

Born This Day: 1929
Ed Asner

      "A government that is big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away."

-Thomas Jefferson

Just punching them off as I go. (Still a long way to go.)

Just a taste of the mess we had out there.

Day Three Hundred Nineteen

Dear Readers,
     Only three weeks later, and here I am back on call for work again.  At least this is my last one for the year and it will be a nice paycheck just in time for Christmas.  Which does happen to be mine and Raina's favorite time of the year.  Funny I should mention that, because the guy whom I stay with for the week, happens to have a girlfriend that loves Christmas as well.  Possibly more so than Raina and myself.  The apartment is already decorated for Christmas, which is why I say "more" than Raina and me.  Christmas tree is up, lights are up, candles are out and even a present sitting under the tree.  In fact, she made some Christmas cookies today.  Her reasoning for already having the decorations out, even though Thanksgiving hasn't been here yet, was that if the stores can have Christmas stuff for sale, then she can decorate her home with it.  I can't really argue with her reasoning.  Pretty tough to say anything to that.  It is no big deal though, I don't mind the Christmas stuff so early.  The decorations are always cool to see.  One of the fun things that Raina and I like to do every year, is see the decorated houses down in Naples in Long beach.  Or just driving around to find neighborhoods full of Christmas lights.  I think the one thing that bugs me about starting Christmas too early, is the Christmas music.  That is where I have something to say.  You are not allowed to listen to Christmas music until at least after Thanksgiving has happened.  Why do I say that?  Because it is the same music every year.  For over a whole month, there is a rotating list of about fifty songs that get played again and again, and it is the same songs from last year and the same songs from my childhood.  I like the songs, don't get me wrong.  I just don't want to hear them day in and day out for longer than a month.  So, don't start playing them until after Thanksgiving has passed.  Or else.  Don't overdo the songs and ruin them.  There is such a thing as too much of a good thing, so don't do it.  Or enjoy them in your own peaceful way by using headphones.  Don't you just love Christmas time?

This Day In History: 1851
Herman Melville's novel "Moby Dick" was first published in the U.S.

Born This Day: 1933
Fred Haise - Former NASA astronaut (Apollo 13)

"We are what we repeatedly do; excellence, then, is not an act but a habit."

-Aristotle

I guess I should switch conditioners.

Day Three Hundred Eighteen

Dear Readers,
      Last night Raina and I went to the Hollywood Bowl to see Mumford and Sons.  To say the least, it was fantastic.  Great venue, great sound and great show.  This band is one of those rare bands that sounds just as good live as they do on their albums.  Normally there is so much tweaking done to a bands sound while they are recording that when they don't have those kinds of tweaks during live music, they sound completely different and often times not nearly as good.  It was well worth the money spent to go see.  There is just something about the sound of a banjo playing rhythmic music.  Creating a different kind of folk/rock music.  You gotta love it.  Banjo music is about the closest thing to listening to "country" music for me.  Folk is not the same as country music.  Ergo, I still don't like country music, but I do like Mumford and Sons.'
      Now you can get a little taste of what it was like last night from Raina.  She has added a little something to give you as a way to see how it was for her.  Enjoy!

      Last night’s Mumford & Sons concert in my opinion was flawless and probably the best concert I have ever been to.  But then again how can you not love a concert that has horns and violins as well as amazingly talented musicians? I feel like these days, with all the technology out there in recording studios, it is rare to listen to a live concert and hear true talent.  Mumford & Sons did not disappoint, they sounded just as amazing on stage as they do on their CD’s.  Marcus Mumford’s voice is astounding and he seems to be a truly humble musician not show boating around with crazy stage effects, but allowing his music and his band to speak for itself.  We had a great time dancing around in our seats trying to keep warm.

     I found it interesting that after only two albums they were able to fill such an iconic place like the Hollywood bowl.  The coolest part about last night was the way you could tell that the band was truly in awe performing at the Hollywood Bowl that they seemed a bit stiff on stage, it wasn’t until they played their rendition of Little Help From My Friends that they truly loosened up on stage and looked like they were having a great time.

      It turns out that we did get a little sick from being out in the cold last night.  We both got sore throats and now I have slight congestion, like I caught a cold.  I really hope we didn't get real sick.  This would be especially bad timing for it, with me starting my standby for work tomorrow.  Praying for a quick healing and minimized sickness.

This Day In History: 1927

The Holland Tunnel opened to the public, providing access between New York City and New Jersey beneath the Hudson River. 

Born This Day: 1850

Robert Louis Stevenson - Author (Treasure Island)

"Action is the foundational key to all success."

-Pablo Picasso

Just a taste of how awesome it was last night.