Day One Hundred Fifty Nine

Dear Readers,
      I really have to apologize for last nights massacre of a blog.  That was pretty awful.  There was a whole sentence of gibberish.  I must have been sleep typing for a little bit there.  Then I didn't even post it on Facebook for everyone to know that I did it.  Raina asked me as I slipped into bed and I just didn't care.  I was ready to crash.  Then waking up extra early this morning didn't help.  I had to go into work early and it was not fun being there that early.  I didn't normalize until about 11:00AM.  It took me that long to wake myself completely up.  Raina was telling me that I should have posted some pictures of our wedding or something, considering it was our anniversary and all.  I barely remember doing my blog at all, so the fact that it was actually done completely surprises me.  I think I woke up thinking that I didn't do it and would have to do two tonight. 
      I didn't even talk about some of the coolest things that happened to me last night.  How the beard got me so much love over by Staples Center.  I had so many people complimenting and yelling for the beard.  I even had about three different groups of people ask if I would take a picture with them.  I just went along with it, yelling "Go Kings Go" everywhere I went.  Maybe me growing my beard out for the whole year is just what the Kings needed to boost them into winning the Stanley Cup.  I know they haven't actually won it yet, but soon enough they will have it in their possession.  With great beard growing power comes great responsibility, and part of that responsibility is growing a proper beard for Kings playoff time.  My official status as a Kings fan is becoming complete.  I have now added an awesome Kings jersey to my collection.  Josh and Melissa gave me the Kings jersey they let me wear to the game on Monday.  I also wore it on Wednesday.  It was really awesome of them to let me have it and I am very grateful for it.  In fact, I am going away this weekend, down to the San Diego area for a golf trip with my father in law, Mark.  I am taking the jersey with me and am going to have to find a place to watch the game on Saturday.  This is too momentous an occasion to not be part of.  Don't want to mess with superstition and not wear it either. 
      I want to say Congratulations to my niece, Kailee, for finishing junior high school.  She had her 8th grade promotion today and is now officially about to be a high schooler.  I can't believe she is that old.  I miss the little girl that allowed us to worm our way into her heart by feeding her.  She is growing up too fast.  Is there a pause button, or maybe a rewind button?  Either way, we are very proud of her and are excited to see her grow and mature.  Only four years and she will be done with high school.  It is going to go by too quickly.  Here comes four years of cheerleading, boys and figuring out what outfit to wear everyday.  She had her choices really limited with uniforms in junior high.  Now she gets to wear what she wants.  Mostly that is.  There is still a dress code.  We love you Kailee and are so very proud of you.  We will be even prouder after you finish high school with honors, or something like that. 

This Day In History: 1914
The first ship passes through the locks on the Panama Canal.

Born This Day: 1917
Dean Martin - American singer, actor, and comedian.

"We are each other's harvest; we are each other's business; we are each other's magnitude and bond."

-Gwendolyn Brooks

That is Kailee on the far left facing towards us.

Kailee getting her promotion papers.

Day One Hundred Fifty Eight

Dear Readers,
      Happy Anniversary!  To Raina and I.  It is our two year anniversary today.  We had a wonderful evening together.  I shouldn't say that.  It was actually pretty crummy for a little while there, watching the Kings blow that game the way they did .  We actually drove out to Staples Center to hang out wiht our friends, Josh and Melissa, and then watch the game o for thut there with all the other crazy Kings fans.  Everything was going fairly well, until the third period when the Kings started melting down.  It was the perfect opportunity for them to win it at home with their crowd there to witness it.  What a dissappointment.  I guess we will have to wait until Saturday for the cup.
      I have to say that it has been a wonderful two years with my beautiful bride, Raina.  I really did marry the love of my life and am truly blessed.  Who else is going to stand for spending their anniversary driving out to Staples Center for a Kings watch party?  I am so thankful for her and am looking forward to another thirty wonderful years.  At least. Maybe even more then that, if I live that long.  Happy Anniversary Babe!

This Day In History: 1944
During the D-Day invasion that helped end World War II in Europe, 150,000 troops from the Allied Expeditionary Forces storm the beaches of Normandy, France.

Born This Day: 1756
John Trumbull - American painter

"I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."

-Nathan Hale

Pictures at our Kings watch party across from Staples Center.

Day One Hundred Fifty Seven

Dear Readers,
      It was family night tonight.  All my nephews and niece under one roof for dinner.  Raina made her fantastic Parmesan Chicken.  Delicious.  The one really great thing about living here with my parents is getting to see the family more.  Which we may get tired of quickly, but for now I am going to enjoy it.  Even though poor Micah was sick tonight, which made him act like a brat for most of the night.  Except for the very end when he sat with me and watched different videos on Raina's phone.  Mostly the few videos of himself running around and acting crazy.  I can't believe how well he understands how to use the iPhone and iPad.  He can navigate them to know exactly what he is looking for.  Whether it is video games or pictures or Curious George shows or homemade movies.  He loves to flip through the pictures and videos.  The only problem is that he flips through everything that way.  Starts a game, ends a game.  Starts something new and as quickly as he started it, he ends it even quicker.  That little kid is going to be a technology geek. 
      Well, tomorrow is Raina and my anniversary.  Two whole years together.  So we are going to make it a really special night out.  We are headed to The Penalty Box across from Staples Center to watch the Stanley Cup game.  We are hoping to be there when the Kings sweep the series for the cup.  A little superstition on the part of our friends Josh and Melissa may have played a part in it.  Either way, it looks as though it is going to be crazy over there tomorrow.  I am sure there are going to be a ton of people and a ton of screaming and a ton of Kings support.  I could not believe how much tickets are going for.  I went online to see, just in case there was a possibility of buying some tickets.  Fat chance.  The cheapest seats available were $1,400.  That is insane.  The Kings winning their first Stanley Cup and a possibility of doing it at home have driven the prices through the roof.  We will just have to settle on a watch party across the street.  This is a once in a lifetime thing, and we want to be a part of it.  I am hoping it is just a prelude to the Dodgers championship this year.  Either way, I don't think we will forget this anniversary in a long time.  You can always guarantee it will be memorable.  Anybody have some tickets they want to sell for maybe $100 each?  I could afford that, maybe.  Maybe a scalper will be looking to get rid of some tickets half way through the game and we can sit through the last period at least.  Be inside for the crowd going nuts as they receive the cup.  I have faith.  The Kings are going to make it a sweep.  I have been calling it since before the series started and I am holding to it.  Then I can cash in that ticket.  Looking forward to an awesome time with my wife.  She is the best thing that has happened to me. 

This Day In History: 1968
Senator Robert Kennedy is assassinated after winning the California presidential primary. 

Born This Day: 1723
Adam Smith - Scottish philosopher and author.

"Virtue is more to be feared than vice, because its excesses are not subject to the regulation of conscience."

-Adam Smith

Have to love these kids.

Starting them young.

Day One Hundred Fifty Six

Dear Readers,
      That was so unfreakin believable.  That had to be one of the best sporting events I have ever been to, and I have been to some pretty cool sporting events.  So much fun and so much excitement.  That was one of the best environments and some of the best fans I have seen.  The only thing I can equate it to is sitting in the student section at an Oregon Ducks football game.  It is what I imagine going to a World Series game at Dodger stadium to be like.  I hope to experience that someday soon.  Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals and the Kings dominated it.  They really put on a show.  Taking advantage of two power plays to put points on the board.  Shutting down the Devils with an awesome show of defensive skills by their goalie, Jonathan Quick.  Is it just a coincidence that he shares my old football number, 32?  I think Raina and I are now officially King's fans.  We have the gear to prove it.

      I have the beard to prove it too.  Okay, it didn't start because of hockey, but I sure did get some respect for it at the game.  I got at least five compliments from different guys for my beard.  It was pretty stinking awesome.  I am not the only one with the beard either.  The guy we went with to the game has an epic beard as well.  So we look like bearded brothers at the game.

      This had to be one of the biggest experiences of my life.  It was a Stanley Cup Final game, and it was the Kings.  It is one of those moments that lives on with you forever.  A story that you can tell your kids about.  These kinds of memories are few and far between, so I was enjoying every moment of it.  The crowd was into every minute of the game.  All the oohs and awws.  The place was rocking when the Kings scored their goals.  I couldn't believe that out of all the people we sat by and walked past, I think I only saw one or two New Jersey fans.  The place was totally owned by Kings fans.  I have never been to a sporting event like that.  It was amazing to see a crowd totally controlled by one team like that.  I am really tempted to find some tickets to go to Wednesdays game and watch the completion of the sweep.  That would be unreal.  Just like baseball, hockey is full of superstitions.  So when the Kings won in such a dominating fashion, unlike the previous two games, the two people we went with, Josh and Melissa, they joked with us telling us that we had to go to the game on Wednesday.  All part of the superstition of the game.  I say that they were joking, but I am not sure how much was actually joking on their part.  They really are die hard Kings fans.  I will never forget our transformation into true Kings fans.  I will never forget this game.  Go Kings!!  SWEEP!!

This Day In History: 1965
The English rock group Rolling Stones release "Satisfaction", one of their most enduring hits.

Born This Day: 1738
George III - British king during the American Revolution, the longest reigning king of Great Britain.

"Sometimes people ask, 'Are hockey fights real?' I say, 'If they weren't, I'd get in more of them.'"

-Wayne Gretzky

Some pictures of our fantastic night at Staples Center.

Just a little taste of how awesome the crowd was tonight.

Day One Hundred Fifty Five

Dear Readers,
      I really nice day to finish off the birthday weekend in Newport.  Wake up early and hit another round of golf.  Rancho San Joaquin, a much more reasonable price for the quality of course.  We all shot better today, except for Brandon who had to head home the night before so he could be ready Sunday morning for his congregation.  Another cool beautiful morning that was the perfect temperature for golfing.  The best part had to be Mark trying to figure out his swing with his driver.  He finally thought he figured it out and tested it out, while aiming at the wall of a condo.  I think he thought it was going to slice like the rest of them had been doing.  Nope.  He sure must have figured it out on that swing.  It was a line drive right at the condo and he nailed the side of it.  He was lucky that it didn't hit one of the glass doors or windows.  His best drive of the day was a practice shot straight at a condo.  Pretty funny.  All in all, another great morning.
      We were done early enough to get back to the hotel before check out time at noon.  So we grabbed our stuff and had the Bell Desk hold our stuff while we had lunch at the restaurant in the hotel.  One last meal all together before we went our separate ways.  A great weekend of golfing, swimming, relaxing and filling our bellies with good food.  Especially our dinner at Flemming's.  Delicious steak and sides.  The French Onion soup was probably the best I have ever had.  And we go to see Mark eating dinner with a nice big blue band-aid on his head.  If you don't know Mark, you have to know that he shaves his head.  What little hair he has on his head that is.  He managed to cut himself and was bleeding at the time he sat down at the table.  The waitress saw Mark holding a tissue to his head to staunch the bleeding and asked if he wanted a band-aid so he wouldn't have to keep his hand on his head the whole night.  Sure enough, it was blue instead of the ones that are flesh colored.  It stuck out like a sore thumb and we have the pictures to prove it.  Haha.

      We also had a wonderful evening over at our friends, Chris and Kelly's, house.  Ever since we had moved to our condo two years ago, we hadn't seen them as much as before.  The combination of us being further away and them raising two young boys made it difficult.  Now that we are living with my parents, we are less then five minutes away, and they had us over for dinner and a soak in the jacuzzi.  Kelly is another fabulous cook and we had a wonderful dinner of pasta with Alfredo sauce topped with shrimp.  A side of grilled zucchini and lemonade to wash it down.  It was nice to come home from the weekend and not have to worry about dinner for ourselves, and then to continue our relaxing weekend in the hot tub.  The only thing about the hot tub, is that when I sit in one for a while, I get out so relaxed that I am ready to fall right to sleep.  So I was supposed to come home and write my blog for the night, but kept on falling asleep while I was trying to finish it.  I should have just gone to bed and gotten up earlier to do it.  I tried to fight it, but it was a losing battle.  Making my blogs even later then they were supposed to be.  Compound that with me leaving the camera in Raina's purse which has all the pictures on it and you have a very late blog.  I apologize and plan to not allow this to happen again.  Maybe I should just get an Aircad from Verizon for the laptop.  I just don't want to pay the money.  I will have to figure something out if I leave town again this year.  Thanks again for the faithful followers.

This Day In History: 1924
Austrian author Franz Kafka dies at the age of 40, never having seen his major works published.

Born This Day: 1925
Tony Curtis - American actor

"I wouldn't be caught dead marrying a woman old enough to be my wife."

-Tony Curtis

Some pictures of our dinner at Flemming's and the weekend.

Mark and his wife, Nancy.

Raina and The Beard.

What do you think he is thinking?

What a crowd.

These guys are golfers?

Day One Hundred Fifty Four

Dear Readers,
      The Kings Win!  The Kings Win!  The Kings Win!  Another win in overtime and they are two games up on the Devils.  Which makes the game we are going to that much more exciting.  I can't wait to see another win by the Kings.  Yeah Baby!
      We went golfing this morning, at Strawberry Farms in Irvine.  I had never golfed there and as expensive as it is I expected a fantastic golf experience with a beautiful course.  The greens were great and the course was very nice, but it felt like it should have been even better for the money we spent.  Either way, it was a great time golfing and hanging out with each other.  It was also great to not have to worry about anybody being in front of us slowing us down.  The weather was also great.  Nice and cool in the morning, but not so cold you needed a jacket.  We all had mediocre days at the course, except for Brandon's second half of course.  I have never seen someone play so terrible for the first half of the course and then play so great the next half.  Brandon was all over the place and then finished the game with four pars over the last five holes.  He was fifteen strokes better in the second half as opposed to the first half.  It was crazy.  I have never seen him golf so well.  I think he had about four birdie opportunities.  He didn't get any of them, but the fact that he had four chances at it was awesome.  Not bad for someone that has a pretty awkward swing.  He did so well, he almost came back and beat all of us.  I barely beat him by one stroke.  I give mad props to Brandon for his back nine play.  I also have to toot my own horn a little bit, since I did sink a 34 foot putt.  I was pretty proud of that.  I am pretty sure I will never surpass that.  So I will enjoy it while I can.
     I have to preface my next story with a set up story.  When we were much younger. Brandon and I that is.  I am talking back in early high school days, maybe around fifteen years old or so, we went on a summer camp with our church.  It was up near Pismo Beach in some deserted campsite area.  We called it the "Fly Trap Camp", because there were fly's and traps all over the campsite.  The point I am getting at is that we used to play a lot of laser tag back in the day.  To the point that we would modify our guns so that they were silenced and blacked out the lights to make it harder to find who was shooting at you in the middle of the night.  On this particular evening that we were playing war on the field of battle, I happened to come upon Brandon who was on the opposite team as me.  So instead of standing in the open to shoot at each other, I rushed him and tackled him, then held him down to shoot him enough times to take him out of the round.  I think it took ten shots to "kill" someone.  As I have Brandon pinned down and shooting his target, he struggles to get free.  Well, his first instinct to get free was to go for the low blow on me.  Yup, he reached his hands down and grabbed me in a place that was not so comfortable, to put it very mildly.  It was so stinking painful that I eventually just writhed on the floor while he shot me up to take me out of the game.  I couldn't believe he grabbed me in my manhood area to get out of the hold I had on him.  It was a real low blow and I have not let him live it down to this day.  Well, today I received a little vindication.  Not really, but sort of.  I didn't return the favor personally, but I was able to be there as his brother, Brent, let him have it.  And boy did he get it, bad.  Brandon had been messing with Brent, lightly tapping his groin area to give him a little pain.  Well, Brandon should have known better then to get Brent started, because he is one of those guys that will finish it.  It was like watching a game of Mortal Kombat, where as you win the match it yells out "Finish Him".  Brandon sure got finished, as Brent took his open palm and nailed him, right in the groin.  Brandon immediately went into the fetal position on the ground in the middle of Fashion Island.  If you don't know what Fashion Island is, it is basically a large fancy outdoor mall.  We had just walked out of the restaurant we had lunch at and there is Brandon on the floor in the fetal position as people are trying to walk around him to get into the restaurant.  The whole time, Raina is yelling at him to get up because he was embarrassing her.  Brandon got screwed up on that one, but I guess it is kind of like Karma coming back to bite him in the butt.  Hahahahahaha.  Just another great thing to see on such a great day celebrating Mark's birthday. 

This Day In History: 1835
American showman P. T. Barnum takes his circus on its first U.S. Tour.

Born This Day: 1491
Henry VIII - King of England

"Good is not good when better is expected."

-Vin Scully

Here is some pictures of Brandon on the floor.  In a little pain.

Enjoy the video too.

Some pictures of dinner and the boys messing around on the golf course.

That is Mark between Brandon's legs.

Day One Hundred Fifty Three

Dear Readers,

      We have taken off to a far away land.  Traveled for miles upon miles to take a mini vacation.  In beautiful Newport Beach.  Yes, it took us all of thirty minutes to get here.  It is Raina’s dad’s birthday that we are celebrating this weekend.  He is turning the big sixty this year.  I should say that he already turned the big sixty this year.  We are spending the weekend in Newport, right next to Fashion Island.  So far, we have checked in to our fancy Marriott hotel room and gone to dinner for a mini celebration.  The grilled cheese and tomato bisque soup was fantastic.  Which makes me wonder, that if the menu item was called Grilled Cheese and Tomato Bisque, would you need to ask the waiter if it was a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato bisque soup on the side?  Wouldn’t you think that it was assumed that the soup was on the side of an actual grilled cheese, that could have bacon or avocado added?  I think most people would, but not my brother in law Brandon.  He sure did ask what it meant.  This is the same guy that asked what “bone in” means.  I am sure it is a simple mistake, but it really is funny to be giving him a hard time about it.  We really couldn’t stop laughing when we heard him asking our waiter.  You can always count on Brandon for a good laugh. 

      Even though it is Mark’s birthday we are celebrating, he managed to bring a gift for Raina and I.  Mark managed to get his hands on a pair of tickets to game three of the Stanley Cup Finals.  Yes, Raina and I will be heading to the first Kings home game against the New Jersey Devils.  I am so freaking excited.  Especially since I have really been getting into hockey lately.  Not to mention the bet I have on them to win it all this year.  I never thought my first championship game was going to be a hockey game.  If I had to guess, I would have guessed an NBA championship game, or a World Series game, or even a Super Bowl.  So much for that, I am going to watch the Kings stomp on the Devils.  I am hoping for a sweep.  The only thing that worries me is that the Kings are undefeated on the road and their only two losses on the playoffs are at home.  I am hoping the first game I go to isn’t a real disappointment.  This needs to be a lasting memory, because who knows when I will get another opportunity to do something like this again?  Monday night, I will be there rooting on the Kings.  Win the game, win me some money.  Maybe even some big hits.  I am sure there will be some hits.  It is playoff hockey after all.  Everything gets more intense in the playoffs.

      Now I am off to the gym for a short workout.  I didn’t get time to run after work, so I need to get something in to burn off all the cheese and creamy soup I ate.  Still getting ready for the Spartan Race.  Maybe I will be able to drag Brandon with me.  Probably not though.

This Day In History: 1638

An earthquake rocks Plymouth, Massachusetts.  It was the first time colonists in the New World had observed this phenomenon.

Born This Day: 1926

Andy Griffith – American actor

“I’ve been on a calendar, but never on time.”

                                                                   -Marilyn Monroe

They really do, don't they.