Day One Hundred Thirty Two

Dear Readers,
      What a beautiful day it has been today.  I woke up early and headed out to gorgeous Fontucky.  Okay, Fontana.  It is just so far away, it felt like I drove to some far off place in the sticks.  Kind of like Kentucky.  Don't worry, I drove out there for a good reason.  Chris Allen, Matt my brother in law, Jacob Padilla and myself golfed in a tournament that was sponsored by Matt's work.  So, a free day of golf and free food is worth the drive.  I didn't golf very well today, except for the first two holes, but like they say, a bad day of golf is better then a good day of work.  So, I can't really complain.  It was so much fun anyways.  I don't think I have ever laughed so hard on a golf course before.  Golfing with Matt and Jacob was absolutely comical.  Not because they are bad golfers, although that played a part in it.  Not that I am very good, it's fun to laugh at myself too.  Jacob just had the unfortunate experience of breaking not one, but two of his clubs on the course today.  I laughed so hard.  He didn't do it knowingly.  It wasn't like he was upset with his hit and then broke the club over his knee, or swung and hit a tree with his club.  Nope, he was leaning on it just a little too hard.  We were teeing off when all of a sudden we heard a snap, like a tree branch broke off.  I started looking towards the trees thinking that one of the golfers behind us was hitting into us and hit a nearby tree.  Then, I see Jacob standing there holding his club like he couldn't believe what just happened to him.  His driver of all clubs.  Probably one of the most used clubs on that course.  We would have let him use our own drivers, but he is a left handed golfer.  So our clubs were out of the question.  That was only the first one, because he broke another about six holes later.  He was leaning slightly on it while twisting it on the grass, when the head of the club broke off.  Again, laughing hysterically.  I have never seen such a thing before.  It was fantastic to see.  Poor guy had to resort to his last fairway wood for the rest of the day. 

      So, between Jacob breaking his clubs and watching him and Matt almost totally lose control of their golf cart as they are spinning out of control, it was probably the most fun I have had golfing in a long time.  There was also Jacob's sweet song that plays every time he gets a text, it sounded like we had just stepped in the club.  So every time it played I started dancing like I was in the club.  There was lots of skidding out and one eighty's and other stupid stuff.  You can't go wrong when acting like a kid again.  So much fun. 

This Day In History: 1981
Reggae singer Bob Marley dies of cancer in Miami.

Born This Day: 1888
Irving Berlin - Russian born composer

"When your house is on fire you can't be bothered with the neighbors."

-Gary Kasparov

Too many party fouls on the golf course, so they locked us up.  Notice how Matt is the only one smiling about it.

Day One Hundred Thirty One

Dear Readers,
      What a great game to go to last night.  Okay, Chad Billingsly didn't have the dominant game I was hoping to go and see, but it was still awesome to watch the Dodgers beat the Giants, and beat Tim Lincecum on top of all that.  Someone told me that any game you go to where the Dodgers beat the Giants and Lincecum, has to be a great game to go to.  Especially since we happened to be sitting around all kinds of Giants fans.  I think we were sitting in the wrong section, because everywhere I looked around us was another person with a stinking Giants shirt or jersey or hat.  I hate the Giants.  There really is nothing sweeter then watching the Dodgers beat up on them, except the Dodgers winning the World Series.  Here's hoping.  Either way, great game last night.  I got to see a rookie get his first at bat, his first base hit, and his first RBI.  So if he ends up becoming a great player, I can say that I was there to see the beginning.  It was really nice to see the guys who don't normally get a lot of hits and RBI's to come through and carry the team on a night where Matt Kemp struggled.  It was just ugly watching Kemp strike out three times and not get a single hit.  He will make up for it on Friday, I can feel it.  What was also nice was seeing the new guy we picked up for super cheap contribute.  Thanks Bobby Abreu, and thank you Angels for releasing him.  All in all, a great night of baseball and eating a couple of Dodger Dogs.  You can't go to the stadium without getting a Dodger Dog.  Thanks Farmer John.
      Moving is getting closer and closer.  I spent my morning taking boxes to my Dad for his stuff he needs to pack up to make room for us.  Then picking up boxes from my sister, Yoli, to bring back here so we can finish packing our stuff.  It still isn't going to be enough boxes.  We just have too much stuff.  Then I spent some time researching storage units to see if I could find a better one then the ones we have checked out so far.  I visited one in Anaheim that is a really good price and on the first floor, which makes it so much nicer.  It still wasn't as nice as the other one we are considering.  So, decisions need to be made soon.  Memorial Day weekend is our ETA for moving.  It will be a weekend of moving our stuff to the storage unit and also to my parents house.  Then moving some of my parents stuff to the storage unit as well.  Lots of stuff to be moved in a short period of time.  I can't wait.  You catching the sarcasm?  I just keep telling myself, it is a small price to pay.  The end result will definitely be worth it.  Still so many things to do in a short time.  Need to change over the Fios and all our bills.  Need to cancel the water and electric.  I already set up a forwarding of our mail with the Post Office.  Need to make a change of address for the other bills though.  Still a lot to pack and also clean.  We want to leave a clean condo.  The couple we rent from have been so great to us and we want to be able to leave this place as good if not better then we left it.  I know Raina and I are both going to miss this place, but the house to come is really something to look forward to.
      I also want to give a congratulations to the new parents, Mike and Johnna Brunenkant, who welcomed their new baby girl into the world yesterday morning.  They are proud parents to their third daughter, Esterlyn.  A beautiful name for a beautiful baby.  Congratulations!  Praying for many more blessings on your family.

This Day In History: 1924
J. Edgar Hoover is promoted to director of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation.  He remained in office until his death in 1972.

Born This Day: 1838
John Wilkes Booth - American actor, assassin of Abraham Lincoln.

"The greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are right sometimes."

-Winston Churchill

New pics are Star Wars pics.  Other then beards, what could be better.

Day One Hundred Thirty

Dear Readers,
      Tonight, I am heading to the Dodger game with my beautiful wife, Raina, and her brother and his wife.  There is something special about seeing a baseball game at Dodger Stadium.  This year in particular, commemorates fifty years that the ballpark has been open in Chavez Ravine.  I have heard all the complaints from the Dodger haters.  That the stadium is too old.  That it needs some of the pizazz that these new stadiums have.  Look no further then Yankee stadium, which is brand new.  The old stadium had a lot of history, it was just falling apart.  Well, Dodger Stadium is not falling apart.  It might need some renovations, but rebuilding Dodger Stadium would be likened to tearing down the Statue of Liberty, just because you wanted to have it with all the bells and whistles.  I am totally against a new stadium, but it could use some renovations.  Renovations without losing the essence that is Dodger Stadium.  I put it in the same league as Fenway park, where the Red Sox play, and Wrigley Field, home of the Cubs.  These are historic landmarks of their respective cities.  They are probably three of the most recognizable stadiums across America.  I would hate to see any of those three go away.  Especially my beloved Dodger Stadium.  So much history and nostalgia.  This is the site of so many great moments.  Sandy Koufax pitching a perfect game in '65.  Rick Monday saving the American flag from being burnt.  The first stadium to have four players in the same year hit more then thirty home runs was a Dodger Stadium.  Dodger players of course.  Fernandomania started at Dodger Stadium with Fernando Valenzuela's first start being a shutout in '81.  It also hosted baseball competition for the Olympics in '84.  These are just a small sampling of so many great moments.  I have shared in a few awesome baseball moments myself.  Being able to see Orlando Hudson hit for the cycle there.  Seeing numerous walk off home runs including one by Andre Ethier and another by Manny Ramirez, on his own bobble head night.  Needless to say, I am very excited about going to the game tonight, and I just can't hide it.  The only thing that could make it better is if Vin Scully announced the game for everyone in attendance to hear as the game is going on.  Wouldn't that be cool?  Here is to seeing another great moment in Dodger Stadium history tonight.  Maybe a perfect game, or four home runs by a single player.  Who knows?

This Day In History: 1914
President Woodrow Wilson proclaims a new holiday in the United States; Mother's Day.

Born This Day: 1874
Howard Carter - English Egyptologist, co-discoverer of the tomb of Tut'ankhamun.

"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But in practice, there is."

- Yogi Berra

I am officially out of cool pictures.  Have to spend some time looking for more.  If you have something beard related or just plain old funny, go ahead and send them to me and I will post them.  Most likely.  dortega32@hotmail.com

Day One Hundred Twenty Nine

Dear Readers,
      Why is it so much more work to get in shape then it is to get out of shape?  I guess if you compound all the years I have been working at getting myself out of shape, then I can see why it is taking so long.  I just feel like I am putting a good amount of effort into working out and I would like to see more results.  Maybe this has something to do with getting older as well.  I feel that if this was eight years ago, I would be doing so much better then I am.  I just can't get rid of the gut.  I would be so happy, if the gut was gone.  I don't have to be some big muscle guy, or have to be a lean mean fighting machine.  I just want to be able to bend over and tie my shoes without having my gut get in the way.  I have lost some pounds on the way, just not any size in the gut area.  The waist is slimming, but the gut still hangs over the pants.  I really know the answer to why it hasn't happened yet, I just wish there was an easier way about it.  I feel like it was so much easier to make the gut the way it is, and so much harder to get rid of it.  It is like a parasite, once you have it, it latches on and won't let go very easily.  Like I said, I know the answer.  I need to change up my workout, maybe do some actual weight training again.  I was doing good, for about three weeks.  Then I fell back into the routine of running and doing push ups.  I really need to use the perfect push up instead of regular push ups, and maybe start using that pull up bar again.  The bottom line is, it is a matter of discipline that I don't have at the moment.  Going back to one of my previous blogs, it is a matter of the right motivation.  Not only the right motivation, but a sustaining motivation.  Not one that gets you kick started, only to see you fail in two weeks, or even less time then that.  Why can't there be some miracle pill that is actually proven to be good for you, that just magically makes the gut disappear over a period of a month or so?  Wouldn't that be nice?  How come nobody has invented that yet?  I am just griping a little bit.  I am sure there have been tons of money spent on researching a miracle drug that is proven to work and proven to be healthy.  Bottom line is that the only healthy way is to eat good and work out properly.  There in lies most of my problem.  Eating properly.  Food is my biggest vice.  Often times I wish I had become a chef, but the older I am getting and the harder it is to work out, the happier I am that I didn't become one.  Or, maybe it would have been good.  I could have become a healthy cook.  Yeah right, I know I am fooling myself with that one.  I would be making the greasiest most delicious things possible.  Then I would be overeating all those things.  Which makes me think that maybe having Raina be such a good cook might actually be a bad thing for me.  Maybe if Raina was a bad cook, I wouldn't eat so much when she cooks.  That is a depressing thought though.  I have tasted her excellent cooking and would hate to ever have to lose it.  Just one of the many reasons why I could never divorce her, other then the fact that it is kind of against the whole being a Christian thing.  Anyways, I just needed to vent and stomp my feet and pout a little.  Then realize how dumb I am acting and get back into the gym.  Only seven months until the Spartan Race.  Have to kick it up a notch.

This Day In History: 1886
Dr. John S. Pemberton sells the first Coca-Cola at Jacob's Pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia.  A bookkeeper, Frank Robinson, coined the soft drink's name; his handwriting is the one used in the "Coke" trademark.

Born This Day: 1926
Don Rickles - American comedian and actor.

"Democracy does not guarantee equality of conditions - it only guarantees equality of opportunity."

                                                                        - Irving Kristol

The fugitive beard.  How else would he have been able to escape and solve his wife's murder?

Day One Hundred Twenty Eight

Dear Readers,
      Why is my eye sight the first thing to go?  Okay, my vision isn't terrible, but I hate wearing glasses.  I have an astigmatism, which means my eyes have trouble focusing and I get double vision sometimes.  So, I need glasses for driving at night and when I am using the computer for long periods of time.  I don't wear them while driving, unless the blur gets bad.  Which usually happens really late at night when my eyes are tired.  I don't usually use them while on the computer, except for right now which made me think to talk about this right now.  The only time I really use them is when I play video games, first person shooters.  Everything is so much more crisp when I have them on.  I need that crispness to give me that extra reaction time.  It could mean the difference between life and death.  Yeah yeah, it's just a video game, but there is still bragging rights involved.  Back to my point though.  Vision is so important to day to day life.  I hate the thought of having to rely on a pair of glasses to allow me to read, watch television, and just do day to day things.  I have thought about getting contacts, but I have heard they can be just as bothersome.  Especially in my line of work.  I don't think contacts and all that dust would be a good mix.  Eventually, I am going to have to look into that laser eye surgery.  Although I have heard it is only temporary, and that it doesn't work for an astigmatism.  I have to do some research, because I think that will be my best option.  I hate wearing my glasses and Raina is always trying to make me wear them.  Then there is the whole problem that happens when I wear them for a while.  When I finally take them off, my vision is even more blurry then when I needed to put them on.  It takes like fifteen minutes for my eyes to adjust back to normal.  It makes me feel like I am just making my eyesight worse by going back and forth from wearing glasses to not wearing them.  Then there is the whole playing sports thing.  Glasses and sports don't mix.  You can't run with them, which makes it difficult to do just about any sport.  Then you have to worry about breaking them, and they aren't cheap to replace.  There are just too many problems that come along with having to wear glasses, so laser eye surgery is going to have to be an option.  Maybe in a few years, when I can't pass my vision test for my license anymore.  As of now, I don't need glasses to pass the test.  So until then, it is glasses free.

This Day In History: 1915
The unarmed Cunard liner Lusitania is torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat, with the loss of over 1,000 lives.  Those killed included more than 100 Americans, a fact that is thought to have hastened American involvement in World War I.

Born This Day: 1901
Gary Cooper - American Actor
1993 - Brenna Mitte - Our beautiful niece.  Happy Birthday Brenna!!!

"A minute's success pays the failure of years."

-Robert Browning

Always giving the best customer service.  Actually this lady was pretty annoying.  I wanted to be anywhere else but there at that moment.

Day One Hundred Twenty Seven

Dear Readers,
       While continuing to watch Micah, my nephew, this morning, I had the pleasure of changing my first diaper.  It was the worst pleasure I have ever had.  Before Raina left me this morning, she was supposed to make sure he had a diaper change so I could most likely get out of it.  The plan was for Micah to have a fresh diaper that would last until his dad picked him up just an hour later.  It didn't happen that way.  About twenty minutes after Raina had left, I started to notice a really bad smell coming from Micah.  Then I noticed him picking at his diaper, like it was bothering him for some reason.  The tell tale signs that there was a hot load in that diaper, just stewing.  Come to find out, Raina left without changing Micah's diaper.  She told me to just do it, because it was just going to be pee and not a big mess.  Mind you, I have never done this before, so the thought of it completely grosses me out and scares me.  So, I figured his dad would be here soon to pick him up and he could change it when he arrived.  When he didn't show up as planned at the scheduled time, I started to worry.  Micah was picking at the diaper more frequently and I was afraid of him going again and having it spill out of hid diaper and into his pants.  So I finally manned up and went in for the kill.  It was one of the worst experiences of my life.  That hot load had to be some kind of record coming out of that two year old.  The diaper weighed about five pounds with poop about to spill over the edges.  It was awful and smelled awful.  I would like to think I have a decently strong stomach when it comes to things that gross most people out, but this one took the cake.  My stomach was turning.  How does something that foul come out of a cute little kid like that?  I had to tell Matt, Micah's dad, that he should double check my work, because I wasn't sure if I got everything.  That was one hot mess and I think I used about half of those wipes that were in the package.  I pray I never have to do that again.  I don't think I could handle it.  Call me a wuss all you want, but I think that one might end up in my nightmares tonight.  Thoroughly traumatizing.
      At least I was able to make my day better.  I went to see The Avengers for a second time.  Just as great as the first time.  I am telling you, if you haven't seen it yet, do it.  Take a day off work, it is worth it.  Scrounge up some money, break your kid's piggy bank, do what you have to do.  Sneak into the movie theater if you have to.  Okay, don't do that.  That would be wrong.  Just find a way.  You will thank me.  I had to see it one more time before I head back into the real world tomorrow.  Not looking forward to going back to work.  I wish I had taken the week off.  I guess taking Thursday off will have to suffice. 

This Day In History: 1915
Playing for the Boston Red Sox, American baseball great Babe Ruth hits his first major league home run.  The "Sultan of Swat" hit 714 round-trippers before he retired, as a new york Yankee, in 1935.

Born This Day: 1915
(George) Orson Welles - American actor

"My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four - unless there are three other people."

-Orson Welles

You never know what you might dig up that was left by previous city workers, who may or may not have been drunk at the time.

Day One Hundred Twenty Six

Dear Readers,
      Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone!  Okay, I may be Mexican, but my extent of celebrating this auspicious holiday is to barbeque some Carne Asada, have Raina make some rice, and drink some Jarritos.  I don't speak Spanish, so the holiday doesn't have any real importance to me.  Although, I wish I knew how to speak Spanish.  It could really come in handy here in good old Southern California.  Not to mention my work would pay me a little more for being bilingual. Either way, I used Cinco de Mayo as an excuse to eat Carne Asada with some of my wife's homemade guacamole.  I am so stuffed still.  One of my many favorite meals has to be grilled Carne Asada.  I put myself in a food coma and I am still having a hard time getting out of it.  I am feeling just a little better, I don't feel like I am going to explode anymore.  Stomach still has pressure on it and the thought of more food hurts my stomach.  Ugh.

Yum!

 

     
      I also got to spend some time with my nephew, Micah.  You know, the one that is strong willed and all over the place.  Loves to throw his toys and test the limits of his parents authority.  Yeah, that Micah.  He is two, but so much fun to have around.  We get to have him for a night while his parents, my sister and brother in law, celebrate their anniversary.  Yes, they were married on Cinco de Mayo eleven years ago, and my sister is even whiter then I am.  Anyways, Micah was a lot of fun today.  We went to the park for about an hour or so.  He climbed the playground, up and down, up and down.  He did not want to go on the slide though.  He is deathly afraid of the slide.  Even watching the other little kids going down the slide made him scream.  I tried and tried to get him to go down the slide with me, but he was not having it.  Finally one time I just tricked him into getting close enough so I could grab him and slide down faster then he could get away.  Yeah, I sound like a terrible uncle for doing it, but he was fine as soon as we got down.  Like it didn't even happen.  He wouldn't do it again though.  He circled the perimeter, walking on the concrete curb around and around.  I followed, he tripped a few times, but got right back up and kept on walking that line.  He found the sand area, and dug and threw sand.  I played with him for a while, but every time I used a stick to help with the digging into the sand, he wanted to take it away from me.  He even snuck a mouthful of sand.  We could hear him chewing on the sand and had to get him to spit it out.  Take some water into his mouth to wash it out.  That child.  You have to watch him like a hawk.  He might be a lot to handle, but at least you are guaranteed to never be bored around him.  All in all, a great day.  All I could think about was getting back to the theaters to see the Avengers again.  Hopefully soon.  Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone!

This Day In History: 1973
A crowd of 56,800 pays $309,000 to see Led Zeppelin at Tampa Stadium in Florida.  It was the largest paying audience ever for a single musical act, topping even the Beatles' 55,000-fan, $301,000 performance earlier.

Born This Day: 1830
John Batterson Stetson - American hat manufacturer after whom the cowboy hat is named.

"Reason has always existed, but not always in a reasonable form."

-Karl Marx

Just a few pics of the day with Micah.  Love that kid.

Notice the sand flying out of his hand.