Day Two Hundred Twenty Seven

Dear Readers,
      I am opening up my blog to suggestions from anybody and everybody.  My imagination of what to discuss and talk about has gone blank and I feel like I have hit the doldrums.  I guess it is kind of like writers block.  I need a jump start.  Something to get my limited creative juices rolling again.  I guess I could start talking about my favorite soda, or where I like to shop the most.  Which would mean I would be talking about shopping, which sounds boring to me.  Maybe it might entertain somebody out there though. Who?  I have no idea.  By the way, I would say I spend most of my time shopping at Best Buy.  Guess I love spending money on movies, video games, computer items and other technology items.  Perhaps I could talk about growing up in drama team from my church.  I spent about four or five years in a drama team called Soul Patrol in middle school and high school at my church.  It included a summer missions trip every year.  Including going to the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996.  Maybe talking about competing in high school sports will interest people.  Or maybe my complete lack of interest in politics will get some surprised looks from people.  There is a part of me that wishes that I were be knowledgeable in what was going on in political current events, or know everything about what the presidential candidates stood for.  It just does not interest me enough to go out of my way to learn those kinds of things.  Am I starting to ramble, or is just me?  It really is amazing how a simple paragraph that started with me having no idea what I was going to talk about, can transform and go through subject changes to get to a point that you don't even realize how you got there.  Don't remember where you started.  Just like a conversation you might have with a friend, the subject matter changes and changes to where you can only remember glimpses of the conversation as a whole.  Amazing how poor our memories can be, especially mine.  Which could be another subject that I could talk about.  How my poor memory has gotten me into trouble over the last thirty years.  Which is quite a bit.  Now I just have to remember all the possible subjects I brought up tonight and talk about them in full later. 

This Day In History:1923
The American comic strip Felix the Cat debuts.

Born This Day: 1950
Gary Larson - American cartoonist (The Far Side)

"A man of action forced into a state of thought is unhappy until he can get out of it."

-John Galsworthy

The presidential Civil War hero beard.

Ulysses S. Grant

Day Two Hundred Twenty Six

Dear Readers,
      Here we are almost two-thirds of the way through the year.  My beard is a mess of hair and my blog is starting to feel like a drag for me.  I would compare it to baseballs term of "the dog days of summer".  I have talked about almost all the topics that come to my mind and am finding that my daily blog is mostly a recap of what I did during the day.  Even if my day was boring and I didn't do much, I find myself trying to stretch it out as long as possible on the blog.  I think one of my biggest problems is not being able to do them until late at night and I am already falling asleep by then.  Procrastinating used to work out for me in my youth.  Now, not so much.  I feel like finishing my blogs are starting to drag.  Right now is a perfect example.  I just fell asleep while trying to type this up.  Falling asleep with heavy hands on the keys is not a good combination.  Leaving random letters on my screen to wake up to.  I am going to have to set aside a little more time and a little earlier time for typing about my daily subject. 
      There I go again.  I really need some sleep and am afraid I won't wake up again without having my laptop fall off my lap.  So sleep, here I come.

This Day In History: 1915
A bullet fired by a German sniper enters the barrel of the rifle held by English soldier Private W. J. Smith, who had been about to shoot at the sniper.  The rifle was badly damaged, but Private Smith was unharmed.

Born This Day: 1912
Ben Hogan - American golf champion.

"Drama is life with the dull bits cut out."

-Alfred Hitchock

Day Two Hundred Twenty Five

Dear Readers,
      Why won't the heat go away?  It is sweltering this weekend.  When Raina and I finally buy our house, there will be a requirement to either have air conditioner or a pool.  I just can't handle this heat without either one anymore.  All the three fans in our room does is push around the already hot air.  Watching Olympic events on the DVR inside of a sauna.  At least we got up early this morning and kind of beat the heat a little during our run.  We went out early this morning to Huntington Beach for our long run of the week.  We made it 5.5 miles today.  Continuing to get back into running shape for the half marathon.  Running a solid three miles or so a few times during the week and then a long run on either Saturday or Sunday.  The same kind of running schedule we had for the last half marathon, which worked out well enough for me to finish and I can't ask for anything more this time around.  Okay, maybe shave a few minutes off my time.  That would be cool.  Running down at the beach is much nicer then running around here.  Just in a matter of degrees difference from Bellflower to the beach, it is that much cooler.  Then there is the breeze that can be wonderful at times out there. I can't wait for the heat to die down.
      We spent our evening celebrating Brandon's birthday again.  This time, a barbeque and hang out over at Chris and Kelly's house.  There just so happens to be a pool over there, so it was perfect time to take the swim trunks and jump in.  Makes me really want one.  I could swim all day if I could.  Just enjoying the cool water, jumping in over and over again, and even getting a little sun to avoid being pale all summer.  Then of course, we ate like kings and queens with another helping of delicious carne asada, rice and beans.  Topping it all off with some awesome pie made by Liz.  Banana cream pie and snickers pie.  It really is a good thing I have been working out, just to counteract all the eating I have been doing this week.  I think the eating habits are going to have to change in order for any of the workouts to show some kind of improvement.  I just love good food.  One of my many vices. 

This Day In History: 1908
Henry Ford's first Model T, affectionately known as the "Tin Lizzie", rolls off the assembly line in Detroit, Michigan.  The Model T revolutionized the automotive industry by providing an affordable, reliable car for the average American.

Born This Day: 1925
Ross and Norris McWhirter - Twins who compiled and edited the Guinness Book of Records.

"If the lessons of history teach us anything it is that nobody learns the lessons that history teaches us."

-Anon

In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight.

Day Two Hundred Twenty Four

Dear Readers,
      It has been a really good day today.  Mostly a day of just trying to beat the heat.  Our morning started off with a trip to the Roger Dunn in Santa Ana, which is an awesome golf store.  I went to pick out my birthday gift from my father in law, Mark.  If you remember, about a month ago, I broke my driver during a golf tournament I was playing in.  So, Mark decided to get a new one for me for my birthday.  Today was shopping day.  I spent some time picking out some drivers and taking them to their indoors driving range for a test run.  I tried about eight different drivers that I had been looking at.  Different makers, different shafts, different weights, different flexes and different grips.  I swung so many times that I was actually getting tired by the end of it.  I had a blast.  They have a tracker that shows how your ball is tracking and how far it goes.  It is pretty stinking cool.  After all those swings and different clubs, it came down to the Rocketballz driver.  I hit that one the best and it felt the most comfortable to swing.  I picked out one that is the right degree in loft and the right flex.  I can't wait to get it out onto the course.  Thanks again to Mark and my brother in law Brent for my awesome gift.
      I wasn't the only one to get a new driver today.  My brother in law Brandon came along for the trip and was offered a new driver for his birthday from his brother, which was just a few days ago.  So Brandon tried out some used drivers and found one that he really hit well with.  On top of that, it was only $99, which is cheap for a nice driver.  Unfortunately, it wasn't as cheap as he thought it was.  When we went to check out, the price for everything was a lot higher then it seemed it should have been.  After checking the receipt, they realized that it was actually $199.  The 1 in the beginning was kind of messed up just enough so that if you weren't looking for it, you would most likely miss it.  That is how Brandon ended up with a nice new driver that was even nicer than he had realized.  Happy birthday to both of us.
      Our plan was to go back to the fair one last time before it leaves town today.  It was so hot today though, that we waited until later in the day when it cooled off a little bit.  So we spent the middle part of our day at Barnes and Noble to stay in the air conditioning.  Just reading magazines and catching up on current events for a couple of hours until it was time to go stuff our faces with delicious fair food.  Which we did, just as soon as we got there.  Starting off the night with some delicious Phillie Cheese Steak French Fries.  You read that right.  It was all the innards of a Philly Cheese Steak sandwich put over a pile of French fries.  It was pretty stinking awesome.  After the pile of fries, it was time for a little desert.  Some caramel and apples, with a nice scoop of vanilla ice cream in the middle, all over a waffle.  I love caramel, apples, waffles and ice cream, so it was just about perfect.  After all that food, and some in between time to walk around and catch anything that we missed, I finished off the night by sharing Mexican Funnel cake with Raina and Brandon.  Phenomenal.  Can't stay away from that stuff.  It was one of those great days that went by way too quickly.
      I also have to mention that we went and enjoyed some pig races at the fair today.  That's right, pig races.  Line them up four deep and watch them run in a half circle.  Even going as far as to give them obstacles that they would have to jump over to win their race.  It was pretty funny to watch and made me glad I am not in Texas where you know that is a normal occurrence.  Only true hicks would be doing that on a regular basis.  It was pretty funny to watch, but I am not a true hick, so one time is good enough for me. 

This Day In History: 1934
A group of federal prisoners classified as "most dangerous" arrives at Alcatraz Island off California, the first civilian prisoners to be housed on this 22 acre rocky outcrop situated 1.5 miles offshore in San Francisco Bay.  Although some three dozen have attempted, no prisoner is known to have successfully escaped "The Rock".

Born This Day: 1921
Alex Haley - American Pulitzer Prize winning author (Roots)

"Boasting of glory does not make glory, and singing in the dark does not dispel fear."

-King Hussein

Pictures of the day.

Still in the testing phase.

A shirt made just for Brandon.

Just destroyed these Phillie Cheese Steak Fries.

Pigs a racing.

Mexican Funnel Cake.  Yum.

My brand spanking new driver.  Now just don't break this one.

Day Two Hundred Twenty Three

Dear Readers,
     The heat really picked up today.  Creating a sweaty mess of a day at work.  This was probably the hardest I have labored at work in a while and it just happened to be what felt like the hottest day of the year.  Sweating right through my work uniform and continually having to wipe sweat from my forehead.  Guzzling water all day long, trying to replace it as quickly as you are losing it.  I couldn't wait to get done with work and get into my air conditioned truck to head home.  Then, I went and made my life a little bit miserable by heading over to the gym.  It has been a good three days of getting back into the workout routine.  Two days of running three miles and then a third day of running and getting in some weightlifting.  My legs are going to be hating me the next few days.  Squats and calf workouts along with some ab workouts.  Squats can be a killer after a long period between lifts.  Either way, it felt really good to get back into the gym and do some work. 
      I then spent the evening over at Chris's house with a few other guys eating some barbeque.  The other Chris brought over some carne asada and my brother in law Matt brought some hot links.  I brought the drinks while Chris cooked everything up and it was a party.  Okay, not really a party, but a pleasant evening with the guys, telling stories and catching up with everyone.  It was especially nice catching up with Chaz, who I haven't seen for probably about a year or so.  Don't see him much, but there is plenty of trash talk between us, as we are in the same fantasy football league.  It was great to hang out with the boys, but now it is Olympic watching time with my wife.  Catching up on the DVR, watching the gymnastics all around.  These girls can do some amazing things.  So much fun to watch and so much Olympics to watch.

This Day In History: 1921
Future U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt is diagnosed with polio.

Born This Day: 1874
Herbert Clark Hoover - 31st U.S. president

"Words without actions are the assassins of idealism."

-Herbert Hoover

Wear it proudly.

Day Two Hundred Twenty Two

Dear Readers,
      Remember what I said about celebrating birthdays?  Well, we went out tonight with my father in law, Mark, and his wife Nancy to celebrate my brother in law's birthday.  I think that is three days in a row for Brandon.  Good for him.  Before heading out to dinner though, and after getting home from work, I went on a run for the second day in a row.  The Long Beach half marathon is only two months away, so there is a lot of training that needs to be done to be ready.  Yes, I know that I am crazy for going on that run with the heat scorching the Earth the way it was today.  I sure did notice it, and I was ready to call it quits even before getting to the half way mark of my run.  I pushed through it though and finished out my three mile run with sweat pouring from my forehead.  I just kept thinking to myself that I just had to take it one step at a time.  One more step, one more step, one more step...  I think I could have wrung the sweat out of the shirt and shorts after that run.  It was like running in a sauna.  Just have to fight through it.
      It was dinner at Roman Cucina in Fullerton.  I know I recommend so many food joints, but for Italian food, this place is one of the best.  Especially their Chicken Parmigiana, which is a huge slab of chicken that covers the plate of pasta.  You actually have to eat through the chicken to get to the pasta.  Just the way I like it.  So, another night of good food and good company.  I hope Brandon really enjoyed his birthday this year.  Including the little desert run we made after dinner.
      I don't know exactly how it was brought up that we would do this, but it came up some how and went for it.  We went to Farrell's in Brea for the first time.  It is a famous place that I think originated in Fremont, CA.  For those of you who don't know, it is an ice cream parlor.  About a hundred different options for desert.  Sundaes, splits, waffle cones, floats and milkshakes.  I tried something completely different tonight for myself.  Normally I would just have an Oreo shake or vanilla shake, but I went out on a limb and tried the Root Beer shake.  The floats are fantastic, so why wouldn't a milkshake version be any less awesome?  It turned out to be a really good choice, even though I was stuffed from dinner and could barely handle the sweet shake.  It was delicious.  I had to have some water with it to be able to handle the sweetness of the shake.  It was worth it though.  Something different and something delicious.  All four of us had to waddle out of there and I am sure the other three are still feeling the tightness in the stomach from all the food.  Worth it. 

This Day In History:1945
A second atom bomb is dropped on Japan by the United States, at Nagasaki, resulting in Japan's unconditional surrender in World War II.

Born This Day: 1631
Sir John Dryden - England's first official poet laureate.

"God has two dwellings; one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart."

-Sir Izaak Walton

Our evening out on the town.

Happy Birthday Bub.

By the way, nice shirt.

Farrell's Root Beer shake and water.

I'm already hurting. And I am not even half way done.

Day Two Hundred Twenty One

Dear Readers,
     July and August are the busiest months for birthdays for us.  There are eight birthdays for us to celebrate within the two months and then start off September with another one.  Lots of dinners and parties and gifts.  It makes for probably the busiest two months out of the year for us.  Something going on just about every weekend and quite a few days during the week.  Tonight we celebrated our friend David Taylor's birthday.  His birthday is actually the 2nd, but we were finally able to take him out to dinner tonight. 
      Before heading out to dinner though, we went out to lunch with Brandon and Brooke at Straw Hat Pizza here in Lakewood.  Might as well take advantage of the lunch buffet, especially considering I had some buy one get one coupons to use.  Just another excuse to get stuffed on pizza and soda.  You had to roll me out of the door after that lunch.  Going out to lunch also helped us to beat the heat.  We don't have any air conditioner at the house and neither do they, so it was nice at the pizza joint and then decided to go to Target afterwards to stay in the air conditioner.  Man, it has really been hot this week and is supposed to be super hot this weekend.  Thankfully it is supposed to cool down by next week.  Just too hot to be moving around too much.
      We took David Taylor out to dinner in downtown Long Beach at a restaurant called Gladstones.  We gave Dave the choice for dinner, based on what we had a coupon for.  Dave is a frugal spender, so we knew he would appreciate that.  An evening of delicious seafood, strolling along the water and Dave and I pushing each other into trees while walking.  Yup, you read it correctly.  Dave started it though, I just finished it.  Thanks for being a good friend Dave and Happy Birthday.

This Day In History:1974
In an evening televised address, President Richard M. Nixon becomes the first president in American history to resign.  With impeachment proceedings underway against him for his involvement in the Watergate affair, Nixon was bowing to pressure from the public and Congress to leave the White House.

Born This Day: 1937
Dustin Hoffman - Academy Award winning American actor.

"I have no riches buy my thoughts.  Yet these are wealth enough for me."

-Sara Teasdale

Some pics of our day.

So full...

Chewbacca face.

Happy Birthday DT!