Day One Hundred Sixty Eight

Dear Readers,
      So a friend of mine, Chris Jones, and my brother in law, Matt, have taken it upon themselves to start a blog of their own to counteract my beard blog.  They call themselves the Beard Bashers.  Very original I know.  They should have just called themselves the Bash Brothers, but then that would bring up memories for Chris of days when the Oakland A's were actually a relevant team.  I really have to thank Jones for his Oakland AAA's and all the major league players they have contributed for the rest of the league.  Especially Andre Ethier and his National League leading RBI's for the Dodgers.  I am sure the Nationals are thanking them for Gio Gonzalez and his eight wins.  Just like the Braves have been thanking them for the last seven years for Tim Hudson.  I especially have to thank them for the Dodger's World Series ring from 1988.  That was a special one. 
      I really commend them for their attempt to match doing a blog that relies on mine to have something to talk about.  Actually, I don't want to be too harsh on them.  I really do enjoy the little bit of banter that is going on here.  I can take a joke with the best of them and will be the first to laugh at myself and my dirty Mexican mustache I had as a teenager.  I can also laugh at the fact that I am able to grow a decent amount of facial hair, while others, such as Matt, are not able to.  Enough about Matt though.  He has been the topic of a few blogs already.  Jonesy on the other hand, is another story.
      Chris Jones has become a bit of a legend on the golf course over the last two years.  Not because of his golf prowess, which he actually is a pretty good golfer, but because of his over competitiveness.  Which gets him a little fired up at times on the course.  Going back to my bachelor party weekend over two years ago.  It was a golf trip in Palm Springs with my groomsmen and my father in law.  We were making it a two man scramble with a prize for first place.  The last day of golf, it came down to two teams.  Chris Jones and Chris Allen versus Brandon Piliavin and Brent Mitte.  The story goes something like this.  Chris was getting a little frustrated about the golfing and was getting a little heated with himself, when Brent drove up his cart from behind and hit Jonesy's cart fairly hard while he was sitting in the cart.  The next words out of his mouth are now golf lore that is repeated every time we are out on the course.  "I signed for this cart!" are now a staple of every golf outing whenever I am golfing with any of the guys on that trip.  He yelled it in frustration and a little bit of anger.  Probably because Brent was giving him a hard time about something, and Brent doesn't know when to let up.  So I have to say thank you to Chris Jones for his competitive spirit getting the best of him and allowing us to have a little fun about it every time we go out.
      Now before Jones tries to come back with a few golf stories about me, thinking he is getting back at me, I will share a good one with you guys about myself.  Nothing serious, but by some weird stroke of luck, I managed to hit a golf ball almost directly behind me.  I was standing at the tee box taking my first swing of the hole.  Somehow I managed to hit the ball so far left that it nailed the water bottle inside of our golf cart.  I couldn't find the ball, but the water bottle landed about ten feet away from the cart.  It was sitting in the cup holder.  I don't know how I managed to do that, but it was great for many laughs to come.  Just shows you how fickle golf can be.  One swing you hit a straight drive down the fairway for 280 yards, and the very next swing you are shanking your ball all over the place.  Most frustrating yet fulfilling sport there is.  All it takes is that one great swing and hit to bring you back.  Unfortunately those are too few and far between.
      If you want to check out the Beard Bashers blog you can go to www.beardbashers.blogspot.com.  You should really read it.  It is actually pretty funny what they have done.  Hoping to read some more great posts from them.  I am sure there are more they can gather to their ranks of the Beard Bashers.

This Day In History: 1968
Lee Trevino becomes the first Spanish-American golfer to win a major American title when he captures the U.S. Open.

Born This Day: 1890
Stan Laurel - British actor and comedian. (Laurel and Hardy)

"I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve."

-Isoroku Yamamoto after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor

Some Pictures of my brother in law Matt and his twin brother Joe from back in the day.

And a more recent photo of Matt.

This is Jonesy on the left.  No, that is not his husband next to him.  He has a wife and two kids.

He had a pornstache of his own not too long ago.

Day One Hundred Sixty Seven

Dear Readers,
      Even though it is nine days after the fact, Raina and I went out to lunch and an afternoon drive for our anniversary.  It doesn't have to be the exact day for it to mean something.  It is the thought that counts.  The place where we bought our wedding cake at did this thing where they make you a little cake for your one year anniversary.  Which is so much better than saving the top of the cake for a year in your freezer to taste later.  The other nice thing is that it is also a small cafe that serves lunch.  When we did our cake tasting, we enjoyed the sandwiches so much that we decided to go have lunch for our one year anniversary and pick up our small cake.  Well, we drove out there for another year of marriage today.  Out in Dana Point is this wonderful place that is called It's All About the Cake.  With the adjoined cafe called What A Dish Cafe.  It was a nice leisurely drive out there and a wonderful lunch of a chicken salad sandwich and a chicken club sandwich.  It has been a pretty cool tradition that we have started and I think this may become our thing to do for many years down the road.  That is as long as they are still in business. 
      After our lunch, we took the scenic route home.  Pacific Coast Highway all the way back to Seal Beach Blvd.  It took us longer, but we both enjoy a nice drive.  Especially one along the coast like that one was.  Checking out the shops and the restaurants on the way, and even catching some beautiful views out towards the ocean.  It makes me think about all the times we have seen some restaurant or cool thing we want to do and talk about how we should try it out.  Then we quickly forget until we happen to drive by it again.  I know I am not the only person that does this.  We always tell ourselves that the next time we are in that certain area or planning on doing dinner we are going to try that new place.  Then we go to the same places we always go to.  I need one of those snazzy phones that will allow me to make a list and save it.  Then anytime we plan on eating out we can try something that we may have forgotten about.  I could do it with movies too.  There are a bunch of movies that come out in theaters that I don't want to spend the money on.  I want to wait until they are out on DVD.  Save a little money.  Then I forget about them and see some preview of them and remember that I had wanted to see it.  Usually I never end up seeing it.  It could really come in handy when we want to rent something to watch.  Just go through the list instead of just going through the new releases that we only watch to have something to do.  It might as well be something we actually wanted to see.  This list idea could come in really handy.  Anyways, it was a pleasant day spent with my wife.  Happy Anniversary Babe.

This Day In History: 1864
Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, which would become the final resting place of many who fought in America's wars, is created to receive the remains of those who perished in the American Civil War.

Born This Day: 1330
Edward the Black Prince - Prince of Wales

"I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy."

-John Adams

Some pictures of our afternoon together.

Notice the two names for the same building.

Our desert.

Great deserts and cakes.

Day One Hundred Sixty Six

Dear Readers,
      I am ready for my three day weekend.  It has been a long four days of work this week.  I know I know, you are all thinking about how a four day work week can be long when most people work five days a week.  Well when you work with some of the clowns that I work with it can make for a long day of work, and I have had four of those long days.  Today had to be the most physically demanding day of work, but it was the most fulfilling and fastest pace day of work.  I would rather work hard and stay busy to make the day go by faster then to have to work on tedious projects with people that make my work more difficult then it has to be.  Just let me work.  So, even though it is a furlough week and I am not being paid for tomorrow, it will be a nice three day weekend to enjoy with my wife. 
      So, a funny story to start off the weekend.  About my brother in law Matt.  Matt isn't a very handy person.  That is to say that he doesn't work well with tools.  His tools are electronic, like his phone or computer.  Which he happens to be very good at.  He can do so many things with his iPad and computer.  Making videos and recording music and so many other things.  Not so much with tools though.  If he has a hammer in his hand you better watch out.  Something is bound to get broken.  Well, the other day I put a little too much faith in his skills with these tools.  There used to be a table at my parents house that was Matt and Yoli's, and they took it home after Raina and I brought our table to my parents house.  I took the legs off the table to make it easy for them to transport to their house.  Really simple to put back together.  I was thinking that there was no way that he wouldn't be able to put it back together.  Boy was I wrong.  We had used the table at Kailee's promotion party with a table cloth over it, so I didn't notice the mistake right away.  As soon as the table cloth was taken off for clean up, I noticed the crooked legs.  I thought it was broken at first.  Then I noticed the screws and nuts sticking out.  They aren't supposed to be seen.  Matt had managed to put the legs on from the inside instead of the outside.  So the legs lost the support they were supposed to give and Matt reaped the harassment from the rest of us for his mistake.  He managed to find a way to mess up the table.  Just proving the point that Matt should stay out of the garage and stay in the office.  No more tools for you Matt.

This Day In History: 1954
Over spirited public objections, U.S. president Dwight D. Eisenhower signs a bill adding the words "under God" to the pledge of allegiance.

Born This Day: 1811
Harriet Beecher Stowe - American author

"I thought Star Wars was too wacky for the general public."

-George Lucas

Here is Matt trying to cover up his mistake before I can take some pictures.

Day One Hundred Sixty Five

Dear Readers,
      Now that it is summer time, there is plenty of sun out for getting a tan.  All the pasty white people come out of their homes and start on those summer outdoor activities.  Including going to the beach and laying out to get a little sun.  Fortunately for me, I get plenty of sun at work.  Considering that I work outdoors just about all day.  Unfortunately for me, I have to wear a buttoned shirt, which leaves me a v-neck tan line.  Then I have an awesome sock tan line.  It is a double tan line.  One from wearing shorts at work, which is higher because I have to wear steel toe boots, and then one from every day wearing shorts with ankle socks.  Now add to that a sandal tan line that is soon to come.  Now is when I start wearing my Rainbows.  The real strong tan line is the ankle socks one.  It looks like I am wearing ankle socks even when I am barefoot.  I look pretty funny whenever I am out swimming with my white v-neck shirt and ankle socks in the pool.  It just means I need to spend a little more time at the beach or in the pool to counteract all the bad tanning I get at work.

      As I am typing this up, my nephew Joseph is across the table with a coloring book having a normal conversation with me.  He is four, telling me about how they tried to go to Disneyland, but their passes were blocked.  Then he proceeds to tell me how his favorite rides are Star Tours, the Haunted Mansion, and Winnie the Pooh.  He said Star Tours first, which makes him a child after my own heart.  That happens to be my favorite ride too.  Even if I have never been the rebel spy while riding it and Raina has been the rebel spy twice.  The whole family is over tonight for family dinner.  We get to enjoy the delicacies of Yoli's cooking.  It is bacon cheeseburgers and french fries for dinner, and peach crisp with ice cream for desert.  Yum.  I really love my sister's peach crisp.  It has to be one of my all time favorite deserts.  Which is really saying something, because I am not really a desert person.  I would just as soon have another helping of dinner before getting some desert.  Not when there is peach crisp though.  There will be no left overs of desert after tonight.  I can guarantee that.  I expect it to be an evening filled with little kids running around the house and stuffing our faces.  Probably some kids movies playing in the background and little kids screaming.  Maybe a little bit of crying.  One of the kids is bound to get hit by something or someone.  Three little boys makes it almost a guarantee.  Looking forward to it.

This Day In History:1935
American boxer James Braddock defeats Max Baer to win the world heavyweight boxing championship.

Born This Day: 1881
Lois Weber - First American female film director.

“Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game”

-Babe Ruth

Some peaceful pictures of the kids.  It is still early.

And another of all the women in the kitchen helping out.  Love having the family together.

Day One Hundred Sixty Four

Dear Readers,
      Raina has been trying to decide what to do for my 30th birthday for the last couple of months.  At least when I say trying to decide I mean she has been asking me over and over again what I want to do.  My tactic has been to tell her something different every time she asks me.  Without giving her a hint of certainty to any particular decision.  She has been growing increasingly frustrated with me.  Even to the point of violence.  She hit me a couple of times yesterday when she asked me and I told her about three different options.  She is determined to do something though.  The truth is, that it is my birthday and I don't want to decide what to do for my birthday.  I am perfectly happy with any one of the many possibilities she has suggested, or I have suggested to her.  My initial thought is to go away for the weekend somewhere, maybe a golf trip or Vegas or something.  Then I think that there would be plenty of people that I would like to have around that couldn't afford to do something like that.  Then maybe a party, but then all the stress of planning and putting it together goes on Raina.  Not to mention the whole paying for the whole thing.  Then maybe going out to dinner somewhere, but then when you go with a big enough group you only get to talk to the people you sit next to and don't get to really hang out with everyone.  So that is why I leave it to Raina to decide, even though I know she doesn't want to.  Besides, like I already said, I will be happy with whatever we happen to do. 
      I know Raina must be stressing a little.  Today she posted on Facebook, asking what she should do for my birthday.  Now she has even more ideas to sift through.  Everyone is putting their two cents in and reasons for why their idea is such a good idea.  I even added a few comments.  Mostly that a good nap or apple pie would be great for my birthday.  Nothing serious.  It sure is fun to make things just a little bit difficult for my wife.  That is just one of the many reasons why I love her, because she can handle my sarcasm and difficulty that I give her.  At least most of the time she can.  Sometimes I am just unbearable.  So because I can be so difficult and I know she is getting frustrated with me over this birthday mess, I will give her a strong indication as to what should be done for my birthday.  That is if she reads tonight's blog and finds out.  He he.  I think her idea she proposed to me of a bonfire at the beach would be fantastic.  It is cheap, lots of people can go and it isn't far.  Sounds like fun.  Maybe play a little football, do a little swimming and even cook some hot dogs and marshmallows over the fire.  Then we could do a little trip to Laughlin to do a cheap trip with seadoos, sports betting, buffets, maybe movies and some apple pie.  With ice cream.  Definitely ice cream.  Kind of get the best of both worlds.  And not spend too much money in the process.  I love you babe and I hope you read this to finally find out what I think we should do.  Happy Birthday to me in July I guess. 

This Day In History: 1931
American gangster Al Capone, who recently spent a year in prison on weapons charges, is arrested with 68 of his mob for breaking Prohibition laws.

Born This Day: 1929
Anne Frank - German diarist and holocaust victim.

"We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same."

-Anne Frank

Even Family Guy encourages beards.

Day One Hundred Sixty Three

Dear Readers,
      The Kings have finally won the Stanley Cup, after years of grueling agony.  They have never won the cup and now it is their year.  What an awesome game it was.  I have to really give it up to Kings fans for sticking through all those years of heartache.  If it was as awesome for someone like me who is a new fan, it must have been especially sweet for those fans of many many years.  I know that my friend from work, Josh, who has been a life long Kings fan, was having an amazing night over at Staples Center.  I have to say that I am pretty stinking jealous of him being at the game.  I got a little taste of what it was like at game 3, and it must have been a hundred times better then that.  I have never seen fans like Kings fans.  They really know how to pump up their team.  That place was rocking.  I also have to say that hockey does have the best trophy of all sports.  How do you beat the Stanley Cup.  It isn't a new trophy every year.  It gets passed from team to team and every player gets one day with the cup for themselves.  Just imagine the stories the Stanley Cup could tell if it could talk.  I mean it is a huge cup.  Everyone gets to drink champagne out of it and hoist it across the ice.  Oh, and you get your name inscribed on it, forever.  Never forgotten. 
      Raina and I are hooked on the Kings.  I think we may actually look into some season tickets for nest year.  As long as they haven't gone up too much or aren't already completely sold out after their amazing Stanley Cup run.  You know those things are going like hotcakes right now.  I heard from a friend of a friend that was trying to get a job in the tickets sales department for the Kings and was turned away because they had already sold most of their season tickets and didn't need sales people anymore.  Amazing what winning will do for ticket sales.  Either way, I think it would be a blast to have season tickets.  Hockey is fast paced and has big hits and supremely entertaining.  Now that I mostly understand what is going on and the rules, I enjoy it even more.  It helps that Raina enjoys it too.  Something that we can enjoy and go to together.  It will be year round LA, between Dodgers and Kings.  Throw in a few Laker games and it is year round sports.  Not to mention watching some Oregon and 49er football.  Man I love sports.  At least I get to enjoy and cheer along with my wife for some of these sporting events. 
      We went to watch the game at Buffalo Wild Wings.  It was full of Kings fans and full of life.  Everyone cheered and gave high fives every time the Kings scored.  We were miles away from Staples Center, but we cheered them along, just as if we were there at the game.  Plus we got to eat some wings while watching the game.  Of course Raina and I wore our Kings gear and I got some compliments for the beard.  Another awesome night.  Not ready to go back to work tomorrow.

This Day In History: 1919
The powerful horse Sir Barton captures the U.S. horse race the Belmont Stakes, becoming the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes in one year.  The feat would later be called the Triple Crown.

Born This Day: 1913
Vince Lombardi - American football coach
2001 - Amelia Garrard (Happy Birthday you cupcake!!)

"Fatigue makes cowards of us all."

-Vince Lombardi

Some pics of our night at Buffalo Wild Wings.  Go Kings Go!!!

Day One Hundred Sixty Two

Dear Readers,
      Our last day in Sycuan Valley.  Our last round of golf and then back to reality tomorrow.  It was a really great weekend of golf and hanging out with the guys.  Not much relaxing though.  I was so tired yesterday, that I actually fell asleep while doing the blog.  That is why I didn't have it done yesterday.  I probably could have forced myself to finish, but I ran out of internet time at the hotel and didn't want to pay for another day to only use it for a few minutes to post the blog.  It was such a long day.  We left the hotel at about 5:45AM and got back in at about 10:00PM.  It was a really long day.  Now I am home and ready to sleep in my own bed tonight.
      One last round of golf, and it was my best one yet.  I can actually say that I improved with each round of golf.  Not a moment too soon too.  I played terrible golf on Friday and it wasn't much better Saturday morning.  I played fairly well with our group Saturday afternoon and finally a decent round of golf today.  It was such a relief to finally show that I actually could play a little golf.  Instead of the massacre of a game I was showing.  At least I made it through the whole weekend without having to drop my pants to the ground. 
      Well, after the weekend of golf was all said and done, I finished with a couple of awards.  They gave out a few prizes, but I missed the presentation.  So, I missed what I had won them for, but my understanding is that it was for doing really bad.  I won a free golf bag and five bucks for my awful play.  I also won a pair of special blue sunglasses that are supposed to help you find your ball when you hit it in the rough.  It is supposed to make the ball stand out in the dark grass.  You would think a bright white ball would stand out enough in green grass.  I don't know how it works or if it works, but they make everything blue and if it does work then I will definitely be using them.  If they don't work then I can use them as my Blu Blockers, even though Blu Blockers aren't actually blue.  Weird huh? 
      So now I am home and back to real life.  Enjoying the company of my wife as we had dinner at La Capilla and did some shopping at Trader Joe's.  I am blessed with the best wife in the world.

This Day In History: 1752
American inventor Benjamin Franklin's kite is struck by lightning, leading him to develop theories of electricity.

Born This Day: 1922
Judy Garland - American singer and actress (The Wizard of Oz)

"Be a first-rate version of yourself , not a second-rate version of somebody else."

-Judy Garland

Ha ha.  I love beards.