Living the Life

Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter

2006-09-10T19:46:00.000-07:00

Some might think this post is in jest...with a bit of sarcasm thrown in. To those I say, read on...it is truly heart felt.

Last week the world received the news that renowned Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin was killed by a stingray. I woke up a little hung over Labor Day morning and thought it was a joke when I flipped on the tube. But, I listened on, and it was fact, he was gone.

Amazing that, just like that ...you are here, breathing, then dead. Yes its true that he put himself in front of life threatening situations all the time. I don't argue that. The irony of this whole thing is that the stingray, a rather docile creature, was the one to bring him down. A few days earlier, I was at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and learned all about stingrays. "Shuffle through sand, " they said, "to avoid being stung." We also learned that a sting could be painful, but rarely life threatening. In fact, the last reported stingray related death was something like 1943! That one too was in the chest.

All I can say is I loved Steve's enthusiasm, his love for life, his love for his family, and his passion for what he did. Some saw it a different way, but here was a man that truly made an impact on the conservation and education of wildlife. Even the Prime Minister of Australia wept for him.

I really was a little down all week. I'll miss the "mates" and the "Crickeys!" when watching his show and I feel for his family. Hopefully they will continue with his wildlife efforts because he did make a difference.

In jest, I do say "too bad Australia...you had the Crocodile Hunter, sort of a real life Crocodile Dundee...and now all you have is those damn Wiggles!"

In respect I say, "Steve, you'll sure be missed, Mate! Thanks for the many laughs, the education, and the memories....and thanks for making the world that much more of a better place while you were here. You knew your passion, and you lived it! That's damn respectable."

So there's something to think about next time you see the show on repeat...maybe we all should throw a couple shrimp on the barbie, and tip a few FOSTER'S back to the man. He sure deserves it!

GOOD BYE STEVE!

Massage Therapy....

2006-08-26T11:55:00.000-07:00

The massage worked wonders...I'm a new man, physically and mentally. I have decided that this is going to be a once a month thing right now. It can help fend off stress and helps the muscles recover too.

On top of that Zito almost no hit the Rangers....how great was that? Awesome. It sucked for us in the Bay however, because our good for nothing stations did not show the game.

Mid life crisis...

2006-08-23T21:25:00.000-07:00

How do you determine when you are in a mid life crisis? How does it differ from frustration and general stress from the every day world? I hope I'm not in one...I plan on living longer than 70.

I really don't think I'm there...just not much else to write and I need to post something. The marathon training is a little tiring at this point, so I just need a drink, my massage (getting one on Friday) and some good sleep.

The A's are on a role and the Raiders may actually win a few this year.

I'm out for now!

Keeping up with the Jones...

2006-08-14T21:33:00.000-07:00

This shit isn't for me. If you want to compete over material goods, how much more you "think" you earn than me, or what vacation you are going on....then FUCK YOU!

Life is too short and I hope you will bring more to the table and offer more in a friendship than that. Its not about keeping score, who has what, or what brands we wrap ourselves in. Yes, I can be a shallow, materialistic SOB, but what I won't do is cast judgement on you or anyone else.

So if you want to play that game, leave me out. If you want to leave your insecurities at home, and engage in a solid conversation, I'm all ears and I'll even supply the drinks.

Oh Canada!

2006-08-07T17:03:00.000-07:00

All this shit going on in the world has been driving me nuts. The Middle East crap has been downplayed for a little while now, but I still think this can escalate into one big fat war. I love America...I really do...but I love Canada too...what a great freaking place.

Today I found that because I am part Canadian, I can get that same benefit for my kids. They too can become citizens of the Great White North. It may amount to nothing, and Canada does have its problems. But I want to give them (especially my boy) options. Should things ever get way bad and the good old draft should come back. My son will have a legitimate option to exercise tha Canadian side of his citizenship. Now it may seemed a little far fetched, and a lot of people would disagree with my statement, but if this does ever happen and he wants to go North, the he can do it and have protection.

Argue all you want, this and that...9-11, dirty bombs, etc. Yeah, I hate it too...and I still can't look at a Middle Easterner without suspicion...especially ones with back packs. The bottom line here, however, is that Muslims hate Jews and Jews hate Muslims. That has been going on for 1000 years and will continue to go on. Don't get me and family involved. Figure out a way to live and let live.

In the mean time...its Molson and back bacon!!!

Lance Bass

2006-07-26T22:25:00.001-07:00

Lance Bass is gay???? No way!!!!

On the ropes...

2006-07-26T18:37:00.000-07:00

The lawn I have strived so hard to maintain is on the ropes. The heat wave we have had has just been brutal on it and there is only so much water can do. I have been maintaining fertilizer and all that but the crab grass is rampant and the spots from the dog have been tough to get going again. The heat just kills any new seed.

I am going to do what I can to maintain it but then this fall I am doing a full overhaul. Aeration, weeding, overseeding...the full 9 yards and my lawn will be back in shape by the spring. I would totally go for sod but the kids and the dog would be tough on it. I'll give it another year then explore my options.

THE MIDDLE EAST, ISRAEL, AND THE FUTURE…

2006-07-18T20:11:00.001-07:00

The intent of this blog was to never get too serious or too political. However, lately too much shit has been going on in the world and its been driving me nuts. It all centers on what’s happening over there. I am talking about the Middle East and Israel. It is so hard for us as Americans to even comprehend the deep, deep roots of this problem, yet we are tied so close to it. If we don’t begin to understand, we all could be in a world of hurt. I am just so sick of it. You can’t escape it in the news, on the web, or on TV. We just choose to hear it or block it out in hopes it will be resolved. I hate to say it…it will never be resolved.

I have always been an optimist by nature, choosing to look at things half full and that good comes out of everything. Over the past several years, that changed. I became much more cynical, more negative, but I really don’t know why. In the recent years, my optimism has been restored to some degree through the experiences of my children. I worry myself sick sometimes, because there are so many dangers out there, but I can choose to stay optimistic wit thhe belief that some of those dangers can be controlled. Something so far away, with such a history, however, makes me feel totally out of control.

If you ask me, we ought to divide everything in half, and build a giant wall. Arabs on one side, Jews on the other. That won’t work, and I know it, but it is a good start. Maybe we could give up part of Utah or a place like New Mexico and call it New Israel??? I don’t know about that, but I do know that one side won’t be happy until the other is gone. I just can’t see how you can hate something or someone so deeply.

If you truly look at this thing in the big picture, WWIII is not that far off. More escalation, Syria and Iran step in. That happens, we then take our forces in Iraq and move in to Iran. One unhappy side feels too desperate, then you have chemical weapons or even worse, nukes, flying all over the area. On the other side, you have North Korea stirring the pot as the potential unknown threat. Other wars have escalated for far less than where we are with this conflict.

On the bright side, we could end up fighting a “cold war” with countries like Syria and Iran through small conflicts like what we are seeing right now. Root out Hezbollah and Hamas, and gain public support for what we are doing. No, I don’t think the general public in those Arab countries will ever fall in love with Israel, but I do know that public sentiment generally does not want hard line Arab dictatorships taking away their liberties.

A key to this second scenario happening is Iran. About 70% of Iran’s population are currently under the age of 30. Like most young people, they are curious and want to experience life. The do not want to be told what to do. Just compare this with what the Soviet Union experienced in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. There were strong Communist regimes in place, but also a strong desire by the citizens of those countries to “Westernize”. Right now, the same thing is happening in Iran and possibly Syria. Underground nightclubs, concerts, and gatherings are prevalent throughout Iran. Young women defy what they can by choosing to wear Western styles and to forego wearing headscarves. Many that do wear the traditional styles choose to do so by finding clothing with decorative stylish designs. This is another subtle move that shows defiance to the now existent Islamic regime.

Think about it…the power that this young group has to not only change their generation and their country, but the future of the Middle East and the world. Imagine the POSITIVE affect that America can have by promoting the brand of freedom, choice, and the individual. This worked in the case of the USSR, with whom we were on the brink of war many times, so why not again in Iran? Use of the internet is booming in these countries and provides a huge conduit for growth of ideas and communication. It is this area, the young people, where I can rest my hopes and optimism.

So I come back to my own children and realize that I cannot give them an explanation for what may or may not happen. I can only explain to them what has happened in the past and “TRY” to influence them to be open minded and optimistic as I once was. With 9-11 and all the other crap…its damn hard. I can only occupy myself with it for so long. For now, I need to find more of my own optimism in them, educate them on what a great country AMERICA truly is, and teach them to look for the good in everything.

I need an exterminator....

2006-07-05T16:52:00.000-07:00

So I have this awesome palm tree on one side of my yard that has probably been there 20 years or so. Its one of those big ones with the thick trunk and long hanging branches that fan back and forth in the wind. The shade this thing provides is another great benefit for the kids. So, these squirrels have been living up there for quite some time and it has been fun to see them come and go while my dog tries desperately to get a hold of them. Well, now they must go....FOR GOOD!

I woke up early the morning of July 4th....really early. It must have been 4:30 or so but I couldn't sleep. I went downstairs, threw some coffee on, and threw on the TV when all of the sudden I heard some rustling in the ceiling space above me. I stopped and listened for it as it would come and go. Is it mice? A rat? No....a freaking squirrel. How he got in there I don't know but it seems like he can get back and forth from the tree to the attic.

Well, I don't want to be cruel to the animals but his days are numbered...adios amigo!

Back again...

2006-07-04T14:37:00.001-07:00

I've been off this blog for a while but if you check out The Run Factor, you can see a little of what I have been up to. Running is one of my passions, in case I haven't made it clear. I don't know why and many think I am sick in the head. I sometimes think that of myself, but I find a lot in running that I just can't find anywhere else...

Challenge, relaxation, exhilaration, a social outlet, my own solitude...a parallel to life itself.

Not much is new on the personal front. Looking for opportunities and trying to find life's calling. Enjoying the family and watching the kids grow. I keep promising myself, I'll write more...but I need to work on that. Time management is an ongoing thing I deal with....

Lawnmower Problems...

2006-05-29T07:55:00.000-07:00

So all of the sudden I have lawnmower problems. The sweet Craftsman with the Briggs and Stratton engine I bought last summer is on the ropes. I stand there, ready to go but when I pull the "Easy Start" rip cord....nothing. Nothing but sputtering, a little smoke, and then a stall. Sometimes I can get that sucker to go, but its not even worth it. The engine will kick and sputter, sounding like it will die any minute as I try to mow.

EUREKA! I have found the owner's manual.

Okay, so now that my knuckles are torn to hell but trying very hard to pull and pull the "Easy Start" cord, I have begun to do some serious trouble shooting. I really think it could be one of three things....

1.) Too much oil....
2.) Dirty Air Filter
3.) Water in the fuel

We will see. I need to make a trip to OSH today for some back up parts.....

American Idol

2006-05-24T17:54:00.000-07:00

I'm sucked in....I think Taylor will win but how the hell will they market that 27 year old dude who looks 45?!?!?! The grey hair needs to go.

I swore I would never get into this, but its like crystal meth.....one or two hits and you are done.

It should be called Stupid American Addiction....

As for other reality TV, I like the survival crap on Discover and of course....HOGAN KNOWS BEST!

Dude named Matt...Part Deux!

2006-05-22T19:57:00.000-07:00

So Matt quit the other day...what a pussy! A few obstacles get in the way and you can either hit them head on or run...he ran.

I read a great saying once...."When life throws me a curve...I charge the mound!" I like it....pretty damn creative. Matt on the other hand, ran back to the dugout. Our company can be tough...I mean really tough, but you need to take a few licks when you are the new kid in town.

Maybe I am getting old but I truly think its a generational thing. The 20 somethings all think the world owes them everything and that you don't have to work for much. Maybe it was how I was raised, but hard work used to mean something.

He's a good guy...nothing against him personally, but if he wants sales to be his thing....rejection 101 is the class he should take!

ME & JD

2006-05-09T22:22:00.000-07:00

JACK DANIELS

I LOVE THE STUFF!!!

Whether it is in a bar or at home…on a plane or in the hotel room. I love it. Before dinner, after lunch, between meals or as a nightcap…I LOVE IT!!!

In the morning might be rough, before breakfast especially. I’m not the type to put it in my coffee…I prefer vodka during those hours. When noon hits, all bets are off and if you’re pouring, I’m probably drinking especially if friends are around.

Jack is nice…a good friend indeed…with Coke, on the rocks, or even to sip it straight up…it has become tough to beat.

We know each other well…and we usually agree on most days. He is a good friend….I can even call him John Daniels sometimes and its okay ("Scent of a Woman" reference.) HOOOO AAAAAHHH!!

I'm a geek!!!

2006-05-05T22:24:00.000-07:00

Or I must be getting old...because I find myself getting totally crazed and psyched about lawn care....yes lawn care. I moved into this house last year and the lawn was in okay shape...and its a decent sized lawn. There were a few brown patches here and there so when I took a trip to my local OSH, I asked a few questions...and then more...and then more.

It turns out, if I just went and bought some fertilizer like I originally intended, I would be totally fucked today!!! What I didn't know about was grubs. Grubs are funny looking worm things that create havoc below the surface of the lawn. Pete, the old guy (and I do mean old) told me all about them, how to find them, and then sold me some shit to kill them. I think Pete is actually dead now, but God bless him. He reminded me of Blue from the movie "Old School". Well I killed the grubs and Pete sold me some more shit to get this grass going again.

Sure enough, with some effort of my own, the lawn came back. Thicker and greener than ever!!! Normally I could give a shit, but since I have to mow it every week I figured its better to mow a nice lawn than a crappy one. Besides, it makes the house look good and the kids have a good place to play.

So it rained all winter and the lawn grew even greener. It looked damn awesome to be honest with you. Now, the rain stopped and what do you know...fucking brown spots from the dog!!! I'm working on them....the spots and the dog.

My saving grace has been the words of old Pete....I have been back to OSH but he is not there...I am afraid to ask. Even better, I found a sweet web site to indulge in and get really geeky...http://www.scotts.com. Everything you need to know about grass and more. They have forums, and people standing by ready to e-mail you back if you have a question. Pretty amazing they do this for free...just try to use their product.

Well, I guess it could be called pride of ownership or something like that. I truly think I getting down right nuerotic. Trimming hedges tomorrow!!!!

Sleep

2006-05-02T21:29:00.000-07:00

Sleep is not a common steady thing when you have twins. Two kids under the age of three and you are bound to have several nights of interrupted sleep a week.

However, I think we are on to something. Thhe youngstrress are getting potty trained....in fact they are catchng on very quickly. What has also happened is that they really have begun to sleep well as they have been moving off diapers.

Amazing!!! Great!!! Sleep is a good thing!!!

Dude named Matt...

2006-04-10T20:31:00.000-07:00

So we hired this guy named Matt at my work and now I have to train him more or less. That's all good....Sometimes it slows be down, but its all part of the deal. So Matt is 27 and played baseball in college and id generally a cool dude. We are a pretty conservative thinking company and he is a little more left of center, which is actually good for a change. I mean, I got into a debate with a Rush Limbaugh clone in my office the other day about global warming. He basically was denying it like the skinheads deny the holocaust. That's the kind of high school regurgitation I hear all the time. Don't get me wrong...I am generally conservative, but you need to keep an open mind. This global warming thing deserves a post of its own.

So this kid Matt is a good sounding board and we can make fun of 80% the company without them even getting it. To make him more cool, we got on the subject of the great PBS show, Austin City Limits...he started bringing up a lot of music I'm a fan of like Robert Earl Keen, Wilco, and Charlie Robinson. He even brought up the great Pat Green and how is new music is a joke, but his early stuff was cool. The best thing is this guy is born and raised in California. It was al,almost he heard me talking about the music and just repeated what I had once said.

Anyway....pointless....but if I can't write about it here, who could I tell. Its not like anyone would actually want to listen to this story.

Back in Action....

2006-04-10T17:40:00.000-07:00

Last fall I was pretty down and left this blog headed with a lot of questions. I guess you could say I hit a kind of "mid life crisis". Now I don't know if that's good or bad. Why would it be bad you might ask? Well for one thing, if a mid life crisis truly happens at mid life, then that means I'll be dead before 70. That thought alone is depressing and makes me want to go postal on someone. Another way to look at it is by asking, "Did this little meltdown provide some insight and direction that will bring more focus as to what I could be doing in my life?" If the answer is yes, then I've learned something and can walk away in a more positive direction.

The bottom line, is that I don't have any idea on what I should be or will be doing down the line. I've got a lot of good thoughts, and maybe an actual plan here or there, to put some things into action. Right now, I'm just doing what the title of this blog entails...."living the life"...the life of a father, a husband, a friend.... and some dude likes to hang out and drink myself silly every once in a while. Posts will keep coming in one form or another.

...and a new blog is in the works this very minute...

Changing direction...

2005-10-18T16:42:00.000-07:00

This BLOG is about to take on a new format and head in a new direction. I don't know how or what yet but I am tired of the daily grind and quite frankly don't like the results or satisfaction I get from work. That is not saying that I am not happy, because I truly am. I have an awesome wife and family, a nice house (although overpriced), a good job that brings in good money. Beyond that, there is a void...maybe I am hitting an early mid life crisis...maybe not. I have just had frustrations over what I need to be doing in life and I would not say it is just a rut or a phase. Things are "out of balance" in a sense and I need to get them back....push a little harder....break the comfort zone.

I've been dealing with this for a while but think it all hit home the other day when I heard this guy on the Jim Rome show. Jim Maclaren, http://www.jimmaclaren.com, was primed for greatness. A college football, lacrosse, and rugby star, who went on to become a highly competitive triathlete. Anyway, he lost his leg in a motorbike accident at 22, but came back to race competitively on an artificial leg. Quite a challenge just to live with only one leg, but to race with only one? As if that was not a big enough set back he was involved in a road bike accident while competing a few years later that basically left him paralyzed from the neck down. Here is a guy with all the physical potential in the world now rendered totally immobile.

The story doesn't stop there...he battled a cocaine addiction after the second accident and was literally at the end of it. Then one day in some way he turned it around....decided to start living again. In great pain, with great effort he has regained limited mobility in his arms and legs. Truly a miracle. Now he writes and speaks all over the world.

I guess my point is, here is a guy that had every reason in the world to give up, throw in the towel, or who could just sit and complain everyday...but he doesn't. Instead he works to make things better for others. It's a guy like this, and even a guy like Lance Armstrong who you look at and just think "wow!". Even more so, this potential is in all of us. We don't need to face cancer, a tragedy, or a life threatening event to find it either.

Anyway, after listening to this interview I thought "What the hell do I have to complain about?" It also has been in my head ever since...bringing up the constant fact that every little worry in daily life is totally minute compared to things like this....there are many things that are bigger than all of us. Since then, I have been questioning things over and over again, in many different ways. Maybe some of these things I will find the answers to....others maybe not so easily.

I don't even know what prompted me to put this on here....maybe only one, maybe two people will read this thing. But I realize, its not for whoever reads this, its a point for me to focus, that's it. I already feel much better in the 10 minutes I have spent on this. Who knows...maybe I will never write on here again...maybe I will totally change it. I have come to realize that there definitely are bigger and better things out there. I am going to go find some of them!!!!!!!

Another day in paradise...

2005-09-26T21:18:00.000-07:00

Just a lazy fall day here in the East Bay...nothing doing, except a boring day at work, a blowout for the Monday Night Football game, and the A"s down 4-3 in the 9th. Let's go A's, we need all we can get this final week.

I'm done, my son needs to get to sleep and is fighting it hard...its never easy!

Sweet Rita?!?

2005-09-22T21:59:00.000-07:00

Another Hurricane is coming for the Great State but it may be slowing down a little. I find it ironic that most of the people from Louisiana went to Houston or San Antonio for refuge and now they are fleeing once again. Let's just hope it all works out for everyone..otherwise we will all be affected in some way or another.

How do they name these things anyway? I saw something on it once but forget.

Oh well, not much to look forward to this weekend. Thank God for sports...The Raiders have to go to Philly and pull out a small miracle to win. Notre Dame plays the Huskies and their old coach Ty ...that should be a good game. And can anyone tell me how Michigan State beats ND, which makes them 3-0 and ND 2-1, yet ND is still rated higher in the coach's poll? Then ND beat Michigan at Michigan but they remain rated higher than ND....college football has one of the best products in all of sports but the ranking system has to go...just ask any Cal fan...they got robbed and Texas got a gift. They should have played each other or some type of playoff should have been the deciding factor, not coaches, not computers, not schedule.

Awful system and here it comes again....Sweet Jesus...sweet Rita! God help us all!

Not much on the agenda today!

2005-09-11T07:06:00.000-07:00

Not much to say today. The kids are sick, my football team already played (Thursday) and lost...thank God for fantasy football! We gave Faith some Albuterol...its a drug to help you breathe when you have congestion or asthma. Its like speed and it really gets kids going. I might take some. Its cool because you administer it in this funky breathing machine and it looks like some type of bong.

Had beers with a buddy last night from college. He lives just around the corner and it was good to hang out. He does need to turn the page on life, however. The discussion all centered on where we went to college, our frat, and what once was. It would have been a perfect setting if we had "Glory Days" or some John Mellencamp song playing in the background. That shit was all 10 years ago.

I'm going to PF CHANG's tonight and don't feel like writing anymore!

Going Alt Country

2005-09-07T15:18:00.000-07:00

I love music and am a big fan of many types. Hell, I admit, I even enjoy watching those losers try to battle it out on American Idol every once in awhile. Okay, please...it really is every once in awhile. I have heard that the show Rock Star: INXS is really good but I couldn't tell you. I guess the winner is going to be the new singer for the band INXS. Their singer hung himself in a hotel room somewhere down under.

So I have this Comcast Rhapsody now, which is a web based music site that let's you find almost any type of web radio station. I have a few but have really been listening to the Alt Country site. For those of you who don't know what Alt Country is, its not quite rock, not quite folk, and not anything you would see on CMT. Its all in the middle of that and beyond. As the great Robert Earl Keen said, "It can best be described as a hotel I once stayed at...Best Western."

Alt country to me is musical freedom. People, artists, who perform music out of the true love of the music. While I am sure they would like t make a buck or two, they shun the very thought of Nashville and big named record labels that are after a "manufactured sound". I mean look at any linear notes from an album by Shania Twain, Tim McGraw, or those fags Rascal Flats...most of their songs are "written" by someone else..."professional song writers". Now go to a Chuck Prophet CD and most of his songs were written and composed by him. If he is singing a song from someone else, usually its a cover of another great musician. A tribute so to speak.

So the inspiration to talk music again came from a band I found on Rhapsody...HAYSEED DIXIE. They were doing a Bluegrass version of the Kiss song "Rock and Roll All Night". I proceeded to check out their web page http://www.hayseed-dixie.com and saw that much of their work, while covers of AC/DC, Kiss, The J Giles Band, etc. is completely genius and original. Like The Gourds version of "Gin and Juice", these guys took something old and made it completely new again. BRILLIANT!!!

Live from Katrina...

2005-09-06T16:14:00.000-07:00

Okay....so I hear the French Quarter was left in decent shape and is not under water. This changes everything.

Sorry, but Mardi Gras is back where it belongs. San Ramon was a realistic but far fetchd alternative. We all need to storm the Big Easy and bring our dollar back to where it is needed most, the local drinking establishments. All the stuff from my list (see blog a few days back entitled "Hurricane) will still be needed and I am working on logistics right now.

Gilligan died today.

HDTV update...

2005-09-05T15:32:00.000-07:00

The A's are a bi polar team right now. 0, 1, maybe 2 runs...or 10, 11, 12 runs. If they could just average out at 6 or 7 a game they would be in the post season for sure. The A's, however, are not why I am here. It is HDTV that brings me back today.

Tomorrow at this time, my HDTV will be hooked up and complete with a components going full force. I am stoked.

Good night now!

Mardi Gras update...

2005-09-04T10:00:00.000-07:00

One more thing...I am going to have these guys at my Mardi Gras '06 as well. I met them down in Dallas at the St. Patty's parade a few years back. I'll write about that adventure later.

This thing, this idea of re-establishing Mardi Gras so quickly, is like a Hurricane in its own right. It starts out small, like a tropical storm...then it builds and builds until it is virtually unstoppable.

Now, I am not downplaying what just happened in the Big Easy, not one bit. I do, however, feel that bringing back Mardi Gras in 2006, in such a grand fashion, will only help people move forward from this tragedy and bring something familiar back into their lives...beads, tits, and booze!!!

Mardi Gras '06, will rock and will be a day remembered forever as a day of recovery, drunkenness, and unity!

Vive' la cajun, vive' la Big Easy, vive' la Mardi Gras!!!

Hurricanes

2005-09-03T07:52:00.000-07:00

This Hurricane thing really sucks. New Orleans as we know it is no more, and never will be the same again. The buildings, the culture, the people, are all so displaced. How do you rebuild to what was when all those things are based on 200 years of history and dynamic culture?

And the people too damn poor to be able to get out of town. I feel sorry for them. Mostly poor black folk and it is a sad sight to see. This is what we see on TV and so does the rest of the world. Now they think the US is just a bunch of illiterate black looters!! Oh well, I don't care what they think...we always help people out when crap like this happens....where's the return Frenchy???

Now let's get to what will really be missed....Mardi Gras!!! 25,000 drunk college chicks in a three square block area flashing tits for beads! Will they hold this at the Astrodome? No other city can replace it so it doesn't matter where we do it. We just need the following:

-- 25,000 hot college chicks
-- Some dudes with beads...lots of them
-- A solid supply of beer from Anheuser-Busch (they can probably write it off as Hurricane relief)
-- Plastic cups...lots of them
-- 1.3 million gallons of Hurricane drink mix
-- 500,000 gallons of rum or whatever goes in Hurricanes
-- 1, 283 port-o-lets
-- A couple of good second rate college bands on flatbeds

...and yes...the film crew from the Girls Gone Wild Series

and you have Mardi Gras!!!!

Now I am on to something....we have 5 months so please let me know if I left anything out. We can even have it here on Newport Avenue. I am sure the high school across the street will let us use the football field!!!

Did I tell you about my city....

2005-08-30T07:54:00.000-07:00

The City of O.....Oaktown....did I tell you about my city? The City of O....Oaktown!

Go A's...the boys are back on a roll winning 6 straight and a huge series against the Anaheim Angels of San Diego. Truly amazing with everyone, once again, contributing. How about Mark Ellis...he looks like Babe Ruth these days.

I can rant and rant but if you want true A's blog then go to www.athleticsnation.com. I am just a fired up fan. Let's keep it rolling boys!

HDTV

2005-08-28T08:59:00.000-07:00

So I just spent $4,000 on a new 43" plasma HDTV and about equally the same amount on the speakers, install, and peripheral equipment you need. It turns out, I still need more shit!!! This high def thing is complicated and nobody gives you straight answers.

On top of that, if you are watching a channel that is not broadcast in HD, and you have a plasma HDTV, the picture looks like dirty ass! Go back to your tube TV and its much better. As of now, Comcast only has a handful of HD channels and so does Direct TV. They say they will be adding more and more...but I want it now.

This whole process has been bittersweet but I think I'll feel much better when I watch the NFL opener, Oakland at New England. If I can only get a function to permanently delete Chris Berman, I would be ecstatic!!!

I am Back

2005-08-27T08:48:00.000-07:00

Its been a busy summer with the move and all but I am almost done. A few more things to do with the Home Theater and we are aready to roll.

Football, baseball playoffs, and even hockey for those with ties to the Great White North. I love the fall...or as we call it in California, Indian Summer. I wonder if that's politically correct?

Here in Portland...

2005-05-25T20:29:00.000-07:00

So I am sitting here in Portland in the 4 Points hotel writing blogs and watching American Idol. Yes, I know, but compared to the other things on TV, American Idol provides good entertainment.

Portland is a great city. It is similar to Denver in the sense that for a big city, it has a "small town" feel. Good bars, good food, etc. I would like to spemd some extended time here during non-working hours. Today its about 90 out with crystal clear views of Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens.

The A's suck bad this year and piss me off. They need some leadership. It kills me to watch them in this fasion. This digresses from the Portland talk but I need to get it off my chest!
AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

People Watching...

2005-05-25T20:22:00.000-07:00

I spend a lot of time in airports and so naturally, people watching, has become a common activity of mine. Have you ever sat and really watched people? It is an amazing thing.

We like to think of ourselves as these advanced creatures, way above that of any animal. However, there are so many inate animalistic things we do that would make us humans pure entertainment in some alien zoo.

Take a moment the next time you ar ein the food court and just watch people indulge in their garlic fries and frosties. They become territorial, and get so focused on the task at hand that they forget they are in a public place. The expressions, the chewing, and the finger licking...it's all there and funny as hell to observe.

There is so much more than that, but see for yourself next time you can kill a few minutes at the mall, the airport, or the ball park. People watching is a spectator sport of its own.

Making Babies...

2005-05-05T22:47:00.000-07:00

Let me tell you something about having kids...one of the funnest part is the "trying to have kids part". Of course, for alot of people these days, it can be damn stressful. Take my friends in Texas, for example. They tried and tried, went to get help, and more help, and still no baby. Then through the miracle of science, they had twins! Twins! What an awesome experience. Now, my wife and I had twins, but it runs in her family and I think all of the "dots" were connecting as nature inetnded. My friends in Texas, on the other hand, were basically told that from nature's standpoint, they were a match made in hell. Babies were not in their future, so they thought.

Like I said, they did have twins, with some help. I am okay with that...God bless the capabilities of modern science. But better yet, God bless "the old fashion way". This couple was told they could never procreate naturally, yet, about 8 months after the twins were born, baby number 3 was on its way....al natuarale! (Unless of course the UPS driver was involved!!!) Anyway, I truly think nature works in mysterious ways.

Let's get back to having kids. Everyone tells you the same thing..."dude, your life will change, you'll never be the same." What, am I stupid? Did I really thnk that when it came time to plan to have a family that all would be the same? Come on now! Life certainly has changed, but by no means am I worse off than I was before the kids were born. Yes, the economic battle gets tough but I wouldn't trade that for anything in the world right now. My kids sure have changed my life, but only for the better... and I truly mean for the better. My wife, (God bless her, and we'll talk a lot about Sniffy on antoher post!) is amazing, and only makes being a father that much more rewarding.

The biggest thing I deal with now, is how do I raise my young kids? Beyond feeding them, clothing them, and providing enough for their basic needs, how do I deal with what is "out there"? I mean that with the deepest concern. Look what is in the news everyday and multiply that by ten... then you will know what I am talking about. After that, what kind of people will they grow up to be? All I can say, is I don't want my kids to end up being like me, they have far greater potential than that. I don't mean that from an athletic standpint or and academic standpoint....but from a character standpint. I hope I can set at least a baseline example in that category and let them grow from there. Forget keeping up with the Jones'...life is too short for that. Let's make it count.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIANS

2005-05-03T20:00:00.000-07:00

There’s a saying that’s true about California, especially Northern California. "Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you too soft." The flip side to that is the one about living in New York once but leaving before it makes you too hard. I can agree with both of those statements but the one about Northern California really hits home. Everybody in this place is too damn nice! I truly believe it is a threat to the overall well being of society. Being too nice leads to not wanting to hurt others’ feelings, which leads to political correctness, which leads to a sheltered fake utopian lifestyle. In the end, what do you get? Michael Savage would say "Liberalism and the great mental disorder that comes with it." I agree to a point but that is a soapbox of mine that I don’t want to get on today.

What I am referring to is the growing epidemic of "passive aggressive" personalities that I see all throughout my daily activities. These are people who are nice to your face, then turn around and stab you in the back whenever they can. They will tell you nothing is wrong, to "hang loose", and not worry. Then they go on to tell a third party that the issue at hand is the end of the world. These people can’t deal with reality….they can’t cope! The PA’s (many hail from places like Marin, Sonoma, and the San Francisco Peninsula) need a conflict resolution class, not more political correctness.

I deal with a prime example of this nearly every day when trying to sell my products to people. The may have a few questions, but not the tough ones. They may have heard negative things about my company, product, or service, but won’t confront me. I am told everything is fine, given a smile, then hear through someone else that they have pending issues with something about the product/service I am offering.

Contrary to that is the New Yorker. I can immediately tell when I am dealing with one of these people and God bless them….they are brash, confrontational, and lay it all on the table. They will tell you they don’t like you, but its not personal. Cower down, and you lose! Be just as aggressive back, and you earn respect! Now, of course there are extremes, and somewhere is a happy medium. However, the passive aggressive needs to go. Let’s get back to reality and deal with our issues! I’ll just live through it here in good old Cali!

Slow and Stable

2005-04-30T12:54:00.000-07:00

This week was slow and stable, there was not much happening in the good old East Bay. There were, however, 2 murders in Livermore. This city never used to be considered East Bay, but now it basically is. Once a "cow town", it now offers premier golf courses, an up and coming wine industry, and of course, million dollar homes. I don't care about all of that because it is still Livermore, full of the WT, and murders are occurring there. Livermore is also home to the Lawrence Nuclear Lab which helps make components for our nation's arsenal. I do think that is pretty cool....I'm sure Bin Laden does too!

10 miles west in the beautiful suburb of Dublin, all is quiet. We have not had a murder is quite some time and the last one was "organized crime" related. I mean the guy got it with an ice pick to the back of the head!!! Is that straight out of the Sopranos or what? We still get bagged on by neighboring communities for whatever reason, but its all good and fine. We have Hooter's, they don't.

Tomorrow I have to get my ass up at 4:00 am for 22 mile training run. I have the Rock 'N Roll Marathon in San Diego in 5 weeks and am hoping to have an awesome race. This race consists of about 30,000 people running 26.2 miles with a band playing live at every mile. I have hopes someday to run the marathon in France's southern wine region where, instead of a band at every mile, you taste a different type of local wine! The French are cowards, I know, but what a great concept! Anyway, the training run should be fine. Running that early is nice because you get done early, then you can do whatever the hell you want!

The Garage Sale...

2005-04-24T21:42:00.000-07:00

Talk about living the life...Yesterday I experienced my first ever garage sale. My Home Owner's association had one for the entire townhome complex. I though it might be cancelled because there was rain in the forecast but it wasn't enough rain to keep the bargain hunters away. Let me tell you about the experience.

The whole thing started at 8:00 am and I went outside a few minutes early to move the cars and start putting crap out so we could either sell it or throw it away. By the time I moved the car (at 7:50) until I made the 30 second walk back to my open garage, there were two Arabs going through all of my shit asking, "How much? How much?" I tried to explain that not everything was for sale but they continued to go through everything....even the canned food on my shelves. I must say, the Arabs are good at two things, terrorism and bargaining. Yes I said it, are you happy now? So we haggled, but I just wanted them the hell out of my house so I think they got the better of the deal. Oh, well...The garage sale went on.

So the day continued with a whole sub species of human that I never knew existed coming to my garage to buy my junk. It was a cross section of white trash, Mexicans, Russians, and yes, more Arabs. I mean , if these people go together to form a country, there would be no hate because they all hold the same thing sacred....The garage sale.!

Five hours and $200 later I closed down my little market but not with a new outlook on life. I now respect the cardboard sign I see from time to time pointing me in the direction of the sale of another person's junk. I'd like to be able to take a Wal Mart and turn it into the Garage Sale Store...What a concept.

That was my weekend....Except for the 15 miles I ran today and the 2 hour nap I took.

Drunk in Seattle

2005-04-22T07:23:00.000-07:00

Forget "Sleepless in Seattle", I was flat out Drunk in Seattle last night. I am here for business with my buddy Andrew Swedenborg. Andrew is a pimp by all means and we constantly discuss the shortcomings of our company, why we deserve more money, and our future elsewhere. We do have legitimate business to tend to while here, but of course, we had to drink booze and watch the A's. I never made it to the game but I figured why pay $8 a beer from my own pocket when I could watch it on TV and have my company buy me $4 beers?

So I started with a few solid bourbons on the rocks, then somehow got to drinking gin martinis. I am not a big martini guy, but these went down smooth and I may have found a new drink. The bartender had us tasting all kinds of gins and the next thing I knew I was loaded. We followed up some Chinese beers and good Chinese food but you know how that goes....Chinese food is fast to fill you up then 30 minutes later you are hungry.

Now its off to get Peet's coffee, the best in all the land. From there its a few big meetings, then the airport bar!

Work in Progress

2005-04-20T07:28:00.000-07:00

I will learn to post some pics so I can be "super tech guy". Maybe I will find some cool shit to post on here on a regular basis.

Yesterday I had lunch with an old college room mate , Tim Davis. He found Christ in college and I found $2.00 drink specials at Joe's, so we went our separate ways for a while. Still we went to each other's weddings and stuff but its been about 7 years. I saw him in the security line at the Oakland airport a few weeks back. The one good thing about those long security lines is that if you see an old friend, you do have time to catch up.

Anyway, we went to the Pyramid Ale House in Walnut Creek and had a few beers over lunch. It was great to catch up with him....he is a super cool guy. And yes, another cool dude from Danville if you can believe that one. I'll get into Danville some other day....

I'll make an effort to keep in touch with Tim when I can ....meanwhile, the A's are looking okay and can put up a good season if that young pitching comes around. I think Billy Beane knows what he's doing....we will see.

Oh, and we have a new Pope which I guess is cool if you are Catholic but I do have one issue. The guy is freaking 78 years old....the previous pope died at 84. How about putting a little thought into this and mix longevity into the voting process? I'm afraid we might see this whole process all over again in just a couple of years.

First post...

2005-04-15T14:22:00.000-07:00

This first post is just a test, so there won't be much. Trying to figure this whole blog mystery out.