Mindless Bliss

More waiting...

2010-03-30T16:09:00.000-07:00

Apparently, this is the year of patience. We began the year by waiting on our new house...knowing we had to move and the anticipation that came along with it was hardly bearable. However, everything worked out there...for the most part.

We moved on February 27th, which was a day for a downpour. Moving in the rain is not fun, but if you gotta do it, you gotta do it. The movers had several breaks as they waited out the storm. And the dirt tracks into the clean house was not what the lady of the house ordered. But, it got done and we loved the house.

Then, Sam started to get bites. Not just a few bites, but dozens. We found that we had moved into a flea circus. At one point, I counted over thirty bites on Sam. His back looked like one of a teenage boy that broke out in a bad case of back acne. On top of that, Sam was sick for the first two weeks of March. Our housewarming was not very warm.

However, after two sprays of orange oil and a lot of work on unpacking boxes, we are "in"! Thank God. The impending baby arrival lit a bonfire under us that was only simmered by a mass marathon of moving, unpacking, buying, assembling, buying, decorating, cleaning and finally waiting. Did I mention buying? We now love the house.

The longest month of February has continued into the longest month of March. Baby Mateo is due April 2, however everyone thought he would be early. This was evident in the entire baby pool picking dates ranging from March 18 to March 29. Well, now it's March 30 and we are still waiting.

But, it is a good wait for we know at the end there will be a new bundle of joy and our lives will continue on the adventure of parenthood. With the arrival Sam we were nervous at the thought of becoming new parents. With the arrival of Mateo, we are nervous of Sam being a big brother. He needs to grow up quick, but I know he'll be the superstar that he already is.

Look at this kid!

The Longest Month

2010-02-18T16:40:00.001-08:00

So, we got a house in Temple City and we are moving in nine days. We learned we were selected as the new tenants at the end of January and have had to wait for an entire month before we could move in. I have to tell you, it's been the longest month. It has been a month full of excited waiting...very frustrating.

However, the house is gorgeous. It is a two-bed, one-bath with a loft over the garage. Everything in the house is brand new and the kitchen has all the perfect custom built stuff (built-in fridge and dishwasher, awesome stove, travertine floors...etc.). It is also right by Temple City park, which Sam will love.

So, we are moving...again...

Sam is getting cuter and more fun every day. He learns a new word each day and I swear he read his first two words the other day...elephant and mouth. I swear the kid's a genius.

Greg and Mary gave Sam a rocking horse for Christmas and he has slowly began to love it. I don't know where he gets this stuff from, but the other day he used one of his toys as a briefcase and got on the horse like he was going to work. He also always has to have a hat on while riding...where he gets this? Anyone's guess.

Live Poets Society Entry

2010-02-02T10:41:00.000-08:00

To become a parent is a life-changing event.

You begin to wonder how your days will be spent.

Your life as you know it is no longer yours,

Morning until night, a day full of chores.

You look at your parents and know what they went through,

The blood, sweat and tears they spent, just to raise you.

A parent's love is never fully known,

Until their child has a child of their own.

The late nights, early mornings and winks in between.

You begin to wonder when your pillow was last seen.

The crying, the burping and yes, tantrums too.

But all of this is worth it when he laughs and smiles at you.

From sit to stand to walk, talk and run,

Never did I think I would have this much fun.

How can a child make us laugh out loud?

Never in my life have I been so proud.

And just when you think you know what to do.

Your wife looks up and says..."Here comes number two."

A new year...

2010-01-15T14:47:00.001-08:00

A new year is upon us and what a year it promises to be. It seems than every year from here on out will be momentous, but the first in our children's' lives will be much more so. This year will be filled with challenges and surprises, but here is hoping that it all comes out okay.

The year has started with the annual sickness. We don't get sick much in the Johnston household, but one sickly time always seems to enter in around the time of New Year's. I think it was me that was the originator this time, giving it to Sam and finally to Lauren. The good and bad is that with Lauren getting the cold, it turned into bronchitis and a miserable time for her. But, the good news is that she was taking out of work two weeks early. She is now on disability for the second time in her life and won't have to go back to NICU until (hopefully) August.

The new year has also brought me to my ten-year anniversary for working at The Huntington. I do not understand where the years have gone, but a decade has passed since I was the new guy on the job. Thinking back on all the people that have worked here, I realize that I really have been here that long because so many people have left to other positions...so many friends. I promised Viki that I would stay in this position for at least one year...well, I guess I held up my side of the bargain.

Most importantly, the new year has created a bigger promise to God. Since Sam was born, it has been tough going to church each week because of the huge task of keeping him happy (and quiet) for an hour. It turned into a burden that was easily avoided each week. However, by avoiding the burden, it also created a chasm that needed to be mended. Due to certain circumstances with a friend of ours, the power of God has become apparent in my life that is impossible to ignore. The miracle that He performed over the Christmas season has undoubtedly inspired an entire group of believers that will never forget. Because of all of this we are working hard to not avoid the burden of Sam for 2010.

Another burden that I am trying not to avoid is that of staying healthy. I have done a great job of getting out of shape, hopefully 2010 will begin the pact with myself to stay at a better level of physique. I always think of what would happen in a global catastrophe or Chinese/Russian invasion. Would I be prepared to protect my family and myself if I had too? Right now...the answer is no. I have to turn that answer into yes.

Who knows what the year has in store for us. But, those Russians are crazy.

First of many?

2009-12-16T15:44:00.001-08:00

Nursemaid's Elbow...look it up.

So, Sam was playing by the coffee table while we were watching TV on Monday night. All of a sudden, he gets up crying and walks over to me with his left arm limp. It wasn't a death scream, but just a sob that usually goes away in a minute after he gets over it. However, this time, he did not get over it. He sat with me for a while and continued to not use his arm. I checked it out by pressing on the bone and feeling around and didn't feel any brokenness, and he didn't cry when I did this. He only cried when I (or he) tried to move it.

This prompted a call to Lauren's mom, who told us to ice it and put him to bed. Leslie said a call to the pediatrician would not hurt so we did that. The pediatrician said it sounded like nursemaid's elbow, but we should take him to urgent care anyway.

Nursemaid's elbow is caused by pulling the hand of a child that separates the forearm bone out of the elbow socket. Bones have knots at the end of them to keep them in the sockets, however children under four do not have such large knots so pulling them out of the ligaments is easier. Apparently, this is more normal than you think and there is no lasting damage. I guess Sammy got his arm caught in the coffee table and he tried to yank it out.

So, I look up the diagnosis, symptoms and treatment and was ready to put the bone back in place, but Lauren said we should let a qualified expert perform the operation on our first child. Whatever!

Keep in mind that I just put a load of laundry in at 8:45 (in the communal laundry). So, I take out the wet laundry while Lauren packs up Sam and we head to Urgent Care. There were not that many people in the waiting room so we got to see the doctor rather quickly. She checked it out and popped it back in place. I could have done the same thing with less hassle, but I guess I have to earn that trust in the medical field.

So, Sam fussed after she repositioned the bone and she told us to wait a little to see if he starts using his arm again. Sure enough, five minutes later he started to push us away and grabbed the stickers that she gave him...all better! We get down to leave and Sam jumps down and walked out the door ready to explore this new place...back to normal.

So this was the first trip to urgent care, we can only pray it will be the last...but, it won't be.

Iko Iko

2009-11-08T20:33:00.000-08:00

Rockin' in the Free World

2009-11-04T16:38:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture of Sam rocking out on his air guitar.

Slipping into old habits...not posting.

2009-11-04T16:22:00.000-08:00

So, Halloween has come and gone. Sam was Crush from Nemo and, I have to admit, that he was much cuter than the real version. Here is the picture of the cousins...

Sam had a blast with the trick-or-treating. We went to Myrtle Avenue in Monrovia while it was still light. All (or most) of the business along the stretch were giving out candy and there were gobs of kids taking advantage.

Then, Lauren dropped me off at my parents so I could watch the beloved Trojans lay a stinker on the Oregon field. She then continued on to her parents to continue the "Diabetes Walk" in her old neighborhood. Apparently, Sam wanted to walk for most of the beginning and would not get out of his stroller for the second half. Mommy was exhausted.

Then, Lauren brought the boy back to my parents. We finished up the Trojan beatings and ate dinner out in the back. Jim got the A/V together and we watched "The Skeleton Key" under the stars. That song is still in my head...

"My grandma and your grandma...sitting by the fire.

My grandma said to your grandma, I'm gonna set this house on fire.

Tell me now, hey ya, hey ya. Achi Achi aye..."

Such a great evening...except for that whole USC loss thing.

The Decades of Injuries...

2009-10-06T10:47:00.000-07:00

I have noticed that the major injuries in my life have come at the end of each decade. With this decade coming to a close, I realized that I had not had a major injury and I was not looking forward to 2010 and the injury I had to live through to get there.

In August 1977, I was a fat fetus that was so fat that I broke my collarbone during the process. Apparently, my manliness showed early because I did not cry much which is why Mom and Dad did not think anything of it. I don't know how they figured it out, but they did...and the legend begins.

In 1989, we went on a bike ride to the beach. At the end of the bike ride, we played a full tackle football game that existed without incident...until the last play of the game. There was fumble that I recovered, but my loving brother decided to jump on me. I hear a pop and immediate pain in my shoulder...the same collarbone I dislocated twelve years earlier. The best part of the story is that my "girlfriend" at the time (girlfriend is in parenthesis because it's not really a girlfriend until at least your teenage years) toilet papered our house and the story that went around was that I fell out of the tree taking the toilet paper down. I never denied it, and made the girl feel horrible. We aren't together anymore.

In June 1998, my last summer, I was playing shortstop on Team Manana and I took a dive for a ball and rolled my wrist. Immediately, I felt pain but it wasn't enough to stop playing. I finished the game (even batted) and on the way home, my mother (who luckily still went to the games) thought it a good idea to get an x-ray...just to be safe. We went to County and they did an x-ray but couldn't decipher it. They sent the x-ray to our orthopedic doctor for us to check with him in the morning. I was expecting him to say that it was no problem. However, he made the decision to put me in a full arm cast for six weeks and a short cast for six more weeks...keep in mind, this was my last summer off of my life and I had to spend twelve weeks in a cast. Also, keep in mind this was my right arm that was now not able to touch my face...which includes shaving, brushing my teeth and combing my hair. It was a long six weeks.

In October 2009, I was playing outfield for Team Manana. The second to last inning I was moved to the outfield from shortstop and I ran to catch a fly ball. On the second step, I feel a pop in my right leg and immediately know that I had just pulled my hamstring. I had never done that in my life and I immediately knew that I did not like it. Luckily, this was near the end of the game, however I knew I was up second for the next inning. Rudy gets a base hit and I drag my leg to the plate and stand on my left leg with my bat on my shoulder, praying for four balls and a limp to first. I get it, and a pinch-runner while spending the rest of the inning stretching my leg out. The bottom of the inning I volunteer for first base and the first batter (of course) hits a grounder to me. I struggle to bend down and hobble to the bag for the out. Even the umpire laughs at me for my bad luck. Oh well...

Now, this injury is nowhere near the previous three, but I am hoping this is the injury to take me to 2010...I'll take this over a broken bone any decade. Picture me knocking on wood as you read this.

The NERVE!!

2009-09-21T14:06:00.000-07:00

A haircut was much overdue, so the deed was done over the weekend...much to the dismay of my lovely wife. She likes when my hair is long, I like it short. It is a never ending battle, but I always win because...it is my hair!!

But, the nerve of the woman doing the trimming said a dye treatment could do me well, because of my obvious graying hair. For one thing, LADY, it is not obvious. The two or three blades of gray on my scalp does not constitute a full head of dye. Secondly, back down woman.The hair on my head is becoming more and more a rarity. Dying it will only quicken the exodus of my follicles and push me to the razor sooner.

The nerve of some people.

The Loves of My Life

2009-09-18T08:52:00.001-07:00

Pants-less Sam

2009-09-16T16:32:00.000-07:00

So, I hadn't posted a picture in a while, so here is my newest favorite. It was stolen from Nicole's camera, so I hope she doesn't mind the thievery.

So, I gave Lauren a night off last night and made her go to the Dodger game. A sacrifice on many levels considering my love for the Boys in Blue, it was fleece blanket night and Andre Ethier had a walk-off home run...another one. But, Lauren deserved it and I was happy to spend time with my boy.

However, he only had 15 minutes of naptime all day and I was prepared to play with him for a little while, feed him and put him to bed. He had different plans. I guess I'm a lot of fun to play with, because he kept going until 9pm like a champ. I then sat down with my dinner and watched the end of the game until it got to the bottom of the ninth...we are losing by a run. I text Lauren and she says we will win...her little psychic thing. Ethier gets a double and Matt Kemp comes up with two outs. I know he will get a hit (because Lauren says so), but Sam decides to wake up screaming. So I hit pause and attend to him.

He proceeds to scream for about 15 minutes without any ability on my part to console him...and I tried everything. So, I thought he might be dirty so I took his pants off. He immediately stops screaming and falls asleep. So, he slept great the rest of the night without any pants. I quietly told him that his future teachers will not accept this type of attire when kindergarten comes around.

So, I then unpaused the game and watched Matt Kemp get a basehit to tie the game. Ninety minutes later, at the command of my lovely wife, Andre Ethier hits a two-run homer in the bottom of the 13th inning to seal the deal.

It's good to see most men cannot stand up to her. I don't feel so bad.

Lucky or Unlucky?

2009-09-01T15:15:00.000-07:00

The poker tournament was on Saturday and I have come to the conclusion that, in the end, poker comes down to luck. By luck, I do not mean putting all your chips in the middle and pray (which is what some of the players did on Saturday). I mean that you have to play well and hope to not get unlucky.

I was playing well...even with the alcohol flowing through me. Reading my opponents, making good guesses on their hands. For a lot of them, I was giving them more credit than they deserved. But there were two hands that broke me and both involved me getting unlucky. The main hand was when I had AA and the flop came King, Jack, Four...two spades. I felt my opponent was playing a draw so I went all in, in the hopes of him folding because I was pretty confident I could get the best of him down the road. I didn't expect him to call all his chips with a 30% chance of getting his card. He had two spades in his hand (which is what I thought) and...of course, he got is fifth spade on the turn. The poker pros always say that all you can do is get your chips in with the best hand. I did that all night, but I still ended up in 10th place.

So, my apologies to Party Poker, PokerStars and Facebook poker sites. Apparently, bad beats happen with a good old deck of cards as well. I guess losing the Mega Millions Jackpot was not the end of my unlucky streak.

Something Manly

2009-08-21T14:41:00.001-07:00

So, I was watching the World Series of Poker last night and it struck me how the commentators...Lon McEachern and Norman Chad...make the professionals look like they are better than they actually are. There was a hand where it was obvious that neither player had a clue what their opponent had. For the entire hand, Chad tried to convince the audience that Harrington was "setting up" Varkoni because Harrington "knew" he had the better hand and was trying to maximize his win. However, it was completely obvious that Harrington had no idea what Varkoni had and ended up checking the river to be surprised that he won the hand. I am convinced I can play with these guys...they're nothing special.

Maybe it is the amount of online poker that I have been playing, but I feel luck plays more a part of the game than professionals try to portray. I need to get into some live games (if the wife allows) because I am positive that online play (no matter if it is Pokerstars, Party Poker or Facebook) favors the longshot rivers. Countless times, I have the best hand going into the final card and my opponent "miraculously" pulls his fifth club or completes his straight or finds the one in two cards left in the deck to make his trips. Playing online is killing my buzz.

I guess the moral of the story is that I can only trust a deck of cards and computers lie.

Lauren...can I go play poker?

Julie and Julia

2009-08-20T14:20:00.001-07:00

Ya, so we watched Julie and Julia last night...I know, I know...it was the wife's pick. But, the movie struck me in two ways...

The first and most obvious way is that we need to cook more at home. I'm not sure if the movie is supposed to make you a fan of Julia Child, but I found myself becoming less of a fan afterwards. Nothing in the way the movie portrays her...well sort of the moment at the end, but more of the idea that I really don't care too much for French food. Maybe I haven't eaten the right type or amount of the delicacies, but when I'm thinking of something to cook in the kitchen, France does not come to mind.

So, I decided to buy the cookbook that the movie tries to debunk, "The Joy of Cooking". I texted Lauren and she immediately tells me that she already has it...only it's in storage. So, I might spend this weekend trying to locate the "Bible of all cookbooks" in the bro's garage.

The second way the movie struck me was that it was mostly about blogging and writing. Julie (Amy Adams) is not sure of herself and her writing and needs to be pushed back into the writing scene by her husband in the way of blogging. Now, in no way do I consider myself a writer and I really do not think I have much to say that is interesting to anyone but me. However, the movie made me realize that I need to put entries in this blog more often. It was not really a realization because I have always known that I do not write enough, but is was more of a push to do it...another push.

I have been reading a blog of a friend that I will not mention, however the blog is everything I wanted this blog to be, the only difference is that the writer is actually writing it. It is a mostly-daily account of all the stuff they and their kids go through and the thoughts, wishes, feelings, prayers and anxieties that the chaos brings. All of this will, no doubt, be held until the memory fades and they need to be reminded of the wonderful times they went through.

My problem is stage fright. The increasing nervousness that I devulge too much of myself or the fact that what I say is not interesting. However, last night I realized that it only matters to me. Twenty years from now, I will laugh at myself for being so stupid back in my thirties, but I will also be glad that I CAN laugh at myself.

Morro Bay

2009-07-10T10:39:00.000-07:00

So, the family spent a week in Morro Bay. It included a lot of relaxing, biking, drinking, eating, wine tasting, laughing, crying, sleeping, sun tanning, jacuzziing, playing, driving and whale watching. It was a fantastic week and we were all sad to leave that awesome house.

Here are some pictures from the week.

Okay...I'll post something.

2009-06-05T15:36:00.000-07:00

I didn't even think people still looked at this blog...at least I have one fan.

So, since the beginning of April, we...

...Celebrated Sam's Birthday Extravaganza. We stayed at Disneyland for a few days...Sam got sick. It was pretty funny (now, not then) because he went through this phase of eating too much and then throwing it all up. So, we were feeding him eggs for the first time and he was loving it. Then we went on the Mark Twain river boat...awesome parents, huh. Well, we were walking past Thunder Mountain when I hear Lauren say "Peter Peter Peter Peter". You know it is bad when other parents are walking by and upon seeing your vomiting child, they say, "Ewww".

Mom, Julianne, Jim and Nicole met us the next day for the Character Breakfast. We all had a blast, but most importantly, so did Sam.

Saturday, the Birthday Extravaganza continued. We invited Sam's closest friends (in other words...our friends) to a birthday party at Pat's house (across the street). It was a fun afternoon of just relaxing and having good conversation. It wore Sam out because he took two naps during the party.

That night, we hoped in our car and headed up the 15 freeway for Vegas. Since Sam turned a year, we were able to turn him around in the car seat and he loves it. He slept most of the way (that was the plan) and upon seeing the lights of Vegas, he says, "Oh, WOW". My feelings exactly, son.

Vegas was great...we met up with Pat, Tammy and Tim for some catchup. I played some poker and took their money and then went to the craps table and took some more money. Lauren doesn't seem to mind me gambling as long as I win...funny, huh.

...went to La Quinta for our anniversary (four years already). It was just one night, but it was a good night of good food and a bed to ourselves. It was hotter than hell, but it was relaxing.

...sliced up Sam's mouth. On May 20, Sam went in for his surgery on his tongue. He was born with a short frenulum...like I did. I had mine cut when I was seven or eight and we thought it would be best if he got his done when he can't remember it. So, he did it and was a champ. I think it was harder on his parents, but he might argue that. The entire procedure took 30 minutes and he was grumpy that day, but he was back to his normal self in a day or two. But, he still does not trust doctors yet.

...got kicked out of grandma's house. The end of May brought the house/grandma fiasco. To make a very long story short...Grandma decided she wants to sell her house, so she is kicking us out. We scrambled around looking for a month to month apartment and Lauren finds one that is owned by our good friend. Perfect!! So we spent the last two weeks of the month packing up and moving out. We are still in boxes at the apartment, but it is great to be out from under the thumb of grandma.

The whole situation was very tense and stressful, but it has turned out to be a blessing. Sam is a completely different baby...he sleeps through the night, he doesn't take his pacifier anymore and he has weaned off mom's...you know whats. I am also a completely different person...I can sleep through the night, I don't need a pacifier to be put to sleep and...I won't comment on the third thing.

So, that is where we are. I know a one-year collage is extremely overdue, but we just his one year pictures and they are magnificent. Lauren had Sam go through a few costume changes and he was a great show for all the mall patrons that passed by Picture People.

Sam is quite a ham...which makes me such a fan.

These boots were made for...

2009-03-31T15:35:00.000-07:00

...walking...and that is what Sammy is doing. Officially, his first step was March 1, but he has spent the entire month taking two, three, four steps and then lunging into the nearest set of arms. Now, he is getting more confident and has stopped the lunging and is able to stop walking and then continue again when he wants. I must stress the "when he wants", because he really only walks when he feels like it. He likes to cruise around furniture, walls, doors...anything that can get him to point B. We are not sure if this is good or bad. We like the fact that he is progressing fast...just not too fast.

He has also been watching "Your Baby Can Read". It is yet to be decided if he can read before two, like Dr. Titzer says...but we are giving it the old college try. The videos are teaching him how to clap, wave and put his arms up. Whether he is reading the word, hearing them say it or watching the kids on the screen do it is yet to be determined. We think he was born a genius, so he'll probably be quoting Poe by Halloween and Shakespeare by Christmas.

The house situation is still, well, a situation. Grandma is getting appraisals on the house while we rush to get all her stuff sold. It could probably take a year to sell all her stuff to her satisfaction, but there will come a time when she will say "Just get rid of the stuff". That day will be a family holiday in the Johnston houses.

Twenty five days til the first year comes to an end. It sure has been a fun, stressful, quick, amazing, life-changing year that is sure to get more interesting. God only knows what Year 2 has in store for us. Stay tuned...

Nine Month Collage...

2009-02-18T12:02:00.001-08:00

Filler...

2009-02-09T15:56:00.000-08:00

So, I'm working on a new collage since Sam has turned nine months...but, until then, I should update on his progress and ours. We went to the doctor for his nine-month checkup and they tricked us by saying Sam gets a break this trip with no shots. The sneaky bastards did not pump Sam full of vaccines, but just happened to mention to us that we would have to take him to the labs for blood work. NICE! Much easier than shots!

But, he is well...19lbs. 2oz. and 29 inches tall. The doctor thinks he is progressing nicely, but he is on the smaller size (25th percentile). We think this is since he has not been eating enough solids. He is a very picky eater, like his mom. So, that is our goal in the next few months...fatten the boy up!

At home he is crawling as fast as a lizard and has just started getting the confidence to stand up without holding on. I think he is up to about ten seconds before he gets scared and drops to the floor. God help us when he starts walking. When picking furniture, we were not too baby-conscious, but he has adapted well so far.

He was finally baptized on the 24th. He was the oldest in the ceremony and he behaved like the older gentleman that he is. We were worried he would cry like a baby...wait...never mind. So, he is completely devoid of original sin from those naughty ancestors and all his sins from here on out are of his own volition. Enjoy them son, but don't go overboard.

The house is coming along. We had our first yard sale, which did not prove too fruitful. I keep telling people we are selling items for a purpose, not a profit. By the way, anyone want a 1964 Oldsmobile?...low miles! Financially, we are getting things squared away to buy the house, but that all depends on what grandmother thinks it's worth...we'll probably be moving in a couple months.

That's it for now...stay tuned for the third collage. Pictures are much tougher when your home computer is in a box.

Ya...it's been a while...

2009-01-15T10:13:00.000-08:00

Well, we survived Christmas and New Years. Though, it was not looking good for a while. Sam got the flu shot in early December and then proceeded to be sick for about three weeks. It was not fun watching him try to breathe at night and drool all over himself because he did not know how to breathe through his mouth.

Then, Lauren caught a stomach...thing...and shared it with the rest of us. We spent the week of New Years on the couch or in the bathroom. It was sad to see Sam on New Years Day, when he greeted us with a nice present in the middle of the night. He was feeling so lethargic on Jan. 1, he would just sit in our arms and not move a muscle...totally not him at all.

But, we survived and even shared the fun with Aunt Chach and Uncle Jim...you're welcome.

So, the holidays are over and the house is back to normal...if you consider living in boxes and a house full of grandma's stuff normal. The yard sales start in February...and I'm looking forward to clearing some space for much needed elbow room.

The great thing about January is the shows are back. Has everyone been watching 24?...Awesome.

Well, not much else...but here is a fun picture to whet the appetite...

Lake Arrowhead and Santa

2008-12-04T10:30:00.000-08:00

We spent the Thanksgiving weekend up in Arrowhead with The Family. It is capitalized now because it is has reached the over ten count. There were eleven of us up there in a great cabin by the golf course...(26669 Thunderbird for future reference). Lauren did not like the three sixes in the address, but it turned out to be nothing...just our souls being taken over by the devil, Lucifer, himself.

The cabin included a loft area for the new family...mostly for Sam. A great family room with big screen for us to watch the Notre Dame "Fighting" Irish get stomped and for the family band practice we call "Guitar Hero". It also included a great game room downstairs (yup...three levels) which included a pool table, bar and our new love...shuffleboard. I believe Jim is building his own shuffleboard at home...I think I saw large lumber in their front yard the other day.

The real reason we spend Turkey weekend up there is for the sales. Yup! Forget the family time and fun times with friends...it's all about shopping...40%, 50% 60%...oh my! Van Heusen, Jockey, Bass and Izod...the four horsemen of the apocalypse came down on our checking account. But we have a new wardrobe...so how can we argue?

This weekend also introduced Sam Johnston to Santa Claus. Here are a few pictures to document the occasion...

Seven Months...

2008-11-24T15:06:00.000-08:00

Sam is seven months today and growing by the day! He is in the beginning stages of crawling. He doesn't crawl much when you are watching him, but when you turn your back for a minute, he is two feet away from where he was before.

He is also getting his next set of teeth in. He now has three teeth on the top and one more on the bottom to make it an even six. By the way...it hurts more when he bites you now.

This past month has been mobbed by the change of scenery. My grandma gave the okay for us to move into her house, get rid of her stuff to get the house ready to sell and be first in line to buy it in June. SO...we have been hurrying to move out of our apartment, move most of her stuff out of her very full house, and move our stuff in. We are almost done...but it seems like we have a long way to go. We have a deadline of Sunday, but it is really this Wednesday since we will be in Arrowhead this weekend. Most of us have moved so you will understand how hard it is to move into a FULL house...let alone an empty one. But we are making do.

The house is growing on us. I have to admit, that sleeping in their bedroom was a little weird the first time, but the more our stuff goes into the house, the more the house feels like our own. Lauren is starting to like it more and more also...mostly because of the closet space. Of course, there will need to be some capital improvements to make it our semi-dream house...but we'll wait on those until we make the first loan payment.

I just came back from a non-profit conference in Charleston. The conference was great...if you are interested in databases and non-profit fundraising...but the walking around downtown Charleston was the best. It's the second largest historical site (only Rome is larger) in the world. We took a carriage tour around the city and a walking tour at our leisure afterwards. We had a beer in a church and dinner at a Navy landing station (Fleet's Landing). A fun week, but it was tough being away from the family for so long.

Well, that is the most of it. We are looking forward to this weekend...partly for the weather, partly for the family fun, but mostly because it means we are done moving out of the apartment.

Six Months!

2008-10-23T10:01:00.000-07:00

Yeah yeah yeah...I haven't posted in two months. What of it! I have been a little busy. I'm taking care of the child three days a week while Lauren has gone back to work. It started out a little stressful, but now has turned into joy. We are bonding as he is learning my quirks and I am learning his. I feel a little sorry for him as mine are a bit much compared to his.

He is doing well. He turns six months tomorrow (Yay! SIDS be gone!) and we are taking him to Disneyland for the first time...well not Disneyland, but Disneyland's infant stepchild, California Adventure.

He got his first two teeth right after the last doctor's visit and he still has two teeth (bottom front) for two months now. He keeps telling us that he is about to get some more, but they haven't come through yet.

He is starting solid food...and not liking it too much...as you can see in the picture.

He is getting better at laying on his stomach and on the verge of crawling. I think he might just skip the crawling and move straight to walking. I have never seen a baby with as strong legs as him. He can stand for a long time without his legs giving out like most babies. He just has that balance thing to figure out and he will be running before long.

The days I take care of him usually consist of him waking at 8am (I know...we are lucky when it comes to him sleeping at night). He plays for about two hours and goes back down at 10 or 11am for a couple hours. He wakes up and we play some more for a couple hours. When he falls back to sleep around 2pm, I start to get ready to go to my parents. They don't know this, but they are kind of my savior. Twelve hours is a long time and it is wonderful to break it up with Uncle Jim, Aunt Julianne and Grandma. Plus, I can get my Guitar Hero fix in.

On a personal note...the Dodgers did their best in twenty years, but failed in the League Championship. I think they should only sign Manny for two or three years. But we'll see what happens. It was a fun year...but like every offseason, us fans are mumbling with phrase, "...next year".

The Trojans laid an egg on the Beaver field again. It was kind of funny hearing mom talk trash to Uncle Pat in Oregon. If there was one team in the Pac-10 to give us some competition, I like the fact that it is the school where our cousin is going.

The golf game is getting better. I still have the goal of a Senior Tour Card by 2037. But, I'm not sure Lauren will allow that much practice for me. We'll see.

Anyway...here are some pictures over the past couple months to ease the thirst for Sammy. Enjoy!

Month Four...

2008-08-27T11:06:00.000-07:00

Sammy has turned four months and is becoming a happier baby! In the past week he has...

...gone to the doctor and weighed in at 14lbs. 7.5oz
...gotten his second round of shots and did not enjoy it
...was told that he was not teething, even though we know he is
...rolled over onto his stomach from his right side
...rolled back over
...rolled over on his left side
...ate rice cereal for the first time (wasn't quite sure what to think of it)
...took a ride in his jumper, but can't quite touch the floor yet

What a busy week!

Lauren goes back to work in two weeks (Sep. 8) and not looking forward to it...but she might enjoy the company of adults. I think she will have a much different perspective on her job now that she is a mother. I will be reversing her schedule and hope to enjoy the company of Sam for three days a week.

On a personal note...I have been welcoming the addiction to golf with open arms. My goal is a senior tour card by the time I'm 50 (in 2027). I don't know if that will happen, but the lessons start soon (thanks LO) and I have high hopes. As the softball career dwindles, the golf career accelerates...and the foot is to the floor.

Pictures...

2008-08-08T11:17:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the past 105 days...

Summer of Sam continues...

2008-08-08T10:55:00.000-07:00

So the summer continues and Sammy has reach 106 days old (that is 15 weeks for the normal person). At three months he seemed to switch off the collick and become a happy baby...as the picture suggests. Overall, he has been excellent. The picture below is when we found out that he loves to sit on my shoulders and pound my head like a snare drum. Maybe he will be a civil war re-enacting drummer...hopefully not.

However, starting last night, the two months of bliss ended and he has begun the teething stage. It was a long evening with crying and no solution until I zoomed over to the CVS and bought some Oralgel to sooth the gums. Poor Sammy. It hurts to see him cry.

Bill is in L.A!!

2008-07-10T16:05:00.000-07:00

So we went to the Dodger game last night and found out that Bill Sneed never actually went to England and instead, took a job as a Dodger security guard.

Tahoe!

2008-07-09T15:38:00.000-07:00

Tahoe was amazing. Some of the highlights include...

...Sammy surviving the ride up (starting at 5a.m.) and we visit Lauren's aunt, uncle and cousins in Murphys on the way. She made us lunch and showed us around her home. She had some baby chickens that she was raising and trying to keep from being the meals of the nearest wildlife. We made it in to Tahoe around 6p.m. and Greg was there with a MaiTai ready for Jim and I...thirteen hours is a long time to be on the road.

...A trip on the Tahoe Queen where we rode to Emerald Bay, listening to stories of the early days of Tahoe (origin of Squaw Valley, Sinatra's Casino, the oldest bar in Nevada), watched Sammy sleep the entire trip, and we all got sunburned.

...Biking in Camp Richardson and trying to beat the 6p.m. curfew the rental company gave us.

...Jim and I gambling in the casinos on Thursday and winning...and drowning...then trying to find Chris' room with a little too much alcohol in the system. Then falling asleep while everyone else went down for dinner...then sneaking leftovers from an all-you-can-eat restaurant before the manager realizes what is happening.

...Sea-Doos on the calm water...going 35 MPH. Then telling Chris and Lauren we barely got wet while they come back drenched the next day.

...Fireworks on the lake...arriving 10 minutes beforehand (when we were advised to come 12 hours beforehand to save a spot) and getting a perfect spot to see the entire show...Sammy slept through 75% of the show.

...Jim's BBQ of bacon wrapped hot dogs and gourment burgers...um...yeah.

...Gin Rummy and Phase 10.

...keeping Pat away from Sam.

...Rum-runners at Beacons...I hear they were good.

...Wet Woody's at Riva Grill...I know they are good.

...Group betting on baseball parlays and losing every time (once losing every game in the parlay...not easy to do).

...Taking a stab at poker tournaments (again) and finally realizing that cash games in casinos is the only way to use skill. Tournament blinds are raised so frequently and steeply that it really is a luck game.

...Never playing poker again while I was up there.

...The ride back through the 395, which is more wilderness and expanded beauty than the 5 going up...but more two lane highways. Also, leaving at 10:30a.m. is much different than leaving at 5a.m...in Sammy's point of view.

Here are some photos for your enjoyment...

Sammy Pictures...

2008-06-25T09:56:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delay...here is a slideshow that I finally figured out how to do.

Computer on the fritz...

2008-06-10T10:15:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the long length of time without any pictures. Our computer has blown up and even the computer freak Jimmy cannot fix it. We need to call in to Dell (India) and have them send someone out to get it back up and running.

In the meantime, know that Sammy is a growing boy. His spouts of colick are wearing down and he is being more and more awake and alert. Yesterday morning I had a tough time leaving for work because he was laying on the bed, smiling and laughing at me. It melts the heart.

We hope to have some pictures up soon.

Yes, you are my baby...

2008-05-25T09:41:00.001-07:00

Yes, you are my baby!

Yes, you drive me crazy!
Yes, you are my baby and I love you very much!

One Month!!

2008-05-25T09:33:00.000-07:00

So, it's been a while. Sammy turned one month old yesterday and he is a growing baby. His face is filling out along with the rest of him. Sammy is a happy baby for the most part. He has his bouts of crying for no reason at times, but his happy times definitely make up for it.

Here are a few pictures from the past month...

The Johnston Boys...

With Great-Godmother Mary...

With Great-Grandma...

With Dad...watching the Dodger game...

Kickin' it after a Dodger win...

Auntie Julianne

2008-04-29T19:32:00.000-07:00

Sleeping like his dad

2008-04-29T18:54:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of him sleeping and with the aunts and uncles. Apparently, he has gotten his sleep habits from the dad. I always sleep with my hands up by my face, and it looks like he has already inherited that trait.

Pictures, pictures and more pictures

2008-04-26T16:57:00.000-07:00

Samuel Ignatius Johnston (Part II)

2008-04-25T11:28:00.000-07:00

Samuel Ignatius Johnston

2008-04-24T15:44:00.000-07:00

He has come.

The contractions started to become more intense around 3:30pm, so we decided to head to the hospital. They admitted us at 4pm and took us to our Labor and Delivery Room. Lauren was doing great with the contractions and she measured at 5cm when we arrived. The contractions were getting stronger by the minute, so we decided to do the epideral. I had to leave the room during the process, but I came back and Lauren had a nice big smile on her face. She could not feel any more contractions.

Two hours later, we had the parade of visitors and Lauren had a huge smile on her face with every one of them. All of them commented on her great attitude. The doctor came back at 6pm and measured her at the same 5cm. So, doctor decided to burst her bag to hurry up the delivery.

Two hours later, nothing had progressed so she decided to start her on the petocin...

Finally, at 11:26 doctor decided to have Lauren start pushing. It looked like Lauren was doing great, but two hours later, the head was still not coming out. The baby's head should be face down to get through the pelvis, but Sammy was looking to the side a little, which was stopping him from going all the way through. The doctor came back (from being awakened from a slumber) and decided to move things a little faster. She helped Lauren go a little faster and at 1:51, little Sammy Johnston entered the world.

Tears could not be held back from Lauren and I. I was nervous, at first, because doctor asked the NICU team to be there because Sammy's heart rate was climbing up to 200 bpm. When he came out, his head was elongated because of the prolonged pushing session, and I was scared some permanent damage was done. But, apparently this is my first birth because no one else was concerned.

He came it at six pounds, one ounce and nineteen inches long. A tall, skinny fella'.

Mommy is sore, but she is recovering nicely. We are all enjoying our new gift. Thanks for all the prayers...they were answered.

He's Coming!

2008-04-23T15:28:00.000-07:00

It looks like Sammy wants out. Contractions started this morning and it looks like we will be headed to the hospital soon. Our regular doctor visit was this morning (thank God) and she said Lauren was 3-4 centimeters dialated and everything look good on the monitors. If the contractions got worse today, then we should go in tonight. If not, then tomorrow morning for sure. Well, it looks like the contractions are progressing, so tonight it will be.

Wish us luck!

Bottom of the 7th...

2008-04-22T10:07:00.000-07:00

...down by 11 runs...no chance, right?

We start slow with a run here and a run there. Eventually, there are two outs and I'm gonna be third up...we are down six runs...bases loaded. I'm thinking...there's no way I'll get up...BOOM...Ed hits a grand slam...down by two. Rudy gets up...dings a triple to right center. Crap...now I'm up..."just don't blow it" is racing through my head. I hit a sharp grounder to the hole between third and short, but the shortstop makes a great play...but Rudy deeks him by faking to home...stalling him just enough for me to dash to first (bum toe and all) and beat out the throw by a half step.

So now the deuces are wild...two outs, two on base, down by two. Chuck is at the plate. I see the pitch go up...and I see Chuck's eyes light up...I sprint to second, knowing he's gonna go for it. He hits a line drive over shortstop. I'm knowing that I will tie the game, but when I touch home plate I turn around and see the ball went in between the outfielders and Chuck is hustling home. WALK OFF HOME RUN!

We win! Our first victory in about six months. It feels good to be on the winning side for a change.

Still waiting...

2008-04-18T12:53:00.000-07:00

Lauren's guess date is tomorrow, but it does not look like it will happen, even though Sammy is positioning himself for the big dive. He woke mommy up early this morning with his daybreak calisthenics. It feels like he is doing the back stroke.

Baby watch 2008 continues...

The Countdown Starts...

2008-04-15T13:37:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it has been a month since my last post. Sorry everyone (if anyone is paying attention).

We went to the doctor today and Sammy measured 6lbs. 10 oz. Everything looks right on schedule. Lauren's birthday prediction was this Saturday, but that definitely does not look like it will happen. My prediction of May 6 is looking better everyday. Sammy wanted some IHOP, so we both ate some Rooty Tooty Fresh and Frooties for lunch.

Our house is officially a disaster area. We have been moving furniture and putting new furniture together. We are scrambling before the third part of the family arrives. Today is Independence Day, so there should be a lot more time starting tomorrow.

Lauren is feeling great and looking even better. Everyone says pregnancy suits her well. She might just get her wish in the coming months.

50 days and counting...

2008-03-14T16:25:00.001-07:00

Well, we are almost there...tomorrow will be an even 7 weeks to the due date. However, Lauren is predicting April 19 to be the day our little boy sees daylight. She is claiming motherly instinct...and also hoping against hope because of our big baby genes. That is also Fiesta weekend...another big weekend where something always seems to happen.

I'm predicting May 6...we'll see who is closer.

So...instead of 50 days...it's between 36 and 54 days...take your pick.

Fore!

2008-03-11T16:34:00.000-07:00

Went golfing on Sunday...got sunburned. I also lost three balls. Not a good day, but a fun one. FYI...golfing with a hangover is not a good idea. The only cure is three Tecates on the front nine...and that is exactly what we did. Hair of the dog!!

Golf is another reason for the greatness of spring. As the PGA tour gears up for the Master's, I gear up in my own way...losing golf balls with a flair. I never thought I would be one to watch golf on television, but it is easy to lose an afternoon watching Tiger, Phil and crew spend some time on the links. Watching brings a sense of calm to me...I would even call it mindless bliss.

I'm getting old.

Matthew Kelly inspiration

2008-03-05T10:48:00.000-08:00

The Beauty of Friendship

There is nothing more beautiful in this life than a good friendship. When I was a teenager, my father held out his hand, spread his five fingers wide, and said to me, "If you find five true friends in your lifetime, you will have lived a life infinitely blessed." At the time, I thought it was a little strange because I had so many friends, but as the years have passed, my father's wisdom has become more and more apparent.

Friendship

The question I have struggled with over the years is, "What constitutes a true friend?" Perhaps it would be helpful for you to pause for a moment and reflect. Who are your true friends? What makes them good friends?

As a child, I thought friendship was about hanging out together all the time and sticking up for each other when others were critical or cruel. In my adolescence, I thought a true friend was someone who liked everything you liked and never did anything to upset you. But as an adult, I have learned that the defining quality of a true friendship is when the other person encourages you to be all you can be, challenges you to become the-best-version-of-yourself, and vice versa.

What sort of people do you like being with? What types of people give you energy?

As I look at my life and my years of traveling, there are certain people who I yearn to spend time with. Some days, as I walk through the airport and look at the television monitors to see which gate my flight is leaving from, I look at the list of cities and one will catch my eye. For a moment, I wish I were going to that city. Why? Because there is someone in that city who inspires and energizes me to be all I can be.

I love being around people who are constantly striving to better themselves. They energize me. They inspire me. They challenge me.

Socially, I try to surround myself with people who make me want to be a better person. I admit they are not easy to find, but when you do find them, they are more precious than any treasure or pleasure this world has to offer.

If you want a litmus test for choosing friends, use this question: Will spending time with this person make me want to be a better person?

Spiritual Friends & Loneliness

I try to apply this truth not only to my social life, but also to my spiritual life. This is why the saints are such good friends. They challenge us to become all we can be and encourage us to become the-best-version-of-ourselves. But the real beauty is found in their method. They don't preach endless sermons, and they don't try to impose their views on others - they challenge, inspire, and encourage us simply by living their own lives to the fullest. That is the social dynamic of holiness. It is attractive, and it is contagious.

If you and I sit down at lunch and you order soup and a salad, it makes me think twice about ordering a double cheeseburger with bacon and fries. If my friends are going to the gym after work, I feel that inner nudge to work out myself. If a colleague is honest and humble about a mistake he has made, I am humbled by his example of humility.

Goodness is contagious. The problem is, so is evil. The challenge for you and me, as Christians in the midst of the modern world, is to be examples of good living.

None of us realize how much we influence others. Everything you do, people are watching, and everything you say, people are listening. The influence of your words and actions is contributing to the way they live their lives. In A Call to Joy, I wrote, "You will learn more from your friends than you ever will from books. Choose your friends wisely."

This is why the saints are such treasures. They may have lived in another place and time, but they can be true friends. I'd rather spend a couple of hours with Francis of Assisi and Teresa of Avila than with some of my contemporaries on a Friday night getting drunk. I'd much rather spend time with dead people who inspire me to be all I can be than with live people who lead me to be just a shadow of all God created me to be.

I promise you, it is better to spend time with dead people who bring you to life than with live people who lead you to death.

From time to time, I meet people who are dating a person they know they don't want to spend the rest of their lives with. If you ask them why, they say it is because they don't like being alone. I have learned it is better to be alone than with the wrong person.

Don't be afraid of your loneliness. Use it as an opportunity to befriend people who inspire you. Harness your loneliness as a chance to befriend the saints.

Matthew Kelly

2008-03-04T10:17:00.001-08:00

Yup, we fell in love with Matthew Kelly again. If you have not heard of this dynamo...check out his website. We heard both of his talks this year and have replaced Terry Hershey with the "must see" of Congress. He is only 34-years-old, but he has done so much in the past ten years that you would think he was twice that age. The way he views life and offers his perspective on how to live to be "the best-version-of-yourself" makes you walk away with a keen sense of improving. I know he sounds like all the other self-help gurus, but he is most definitely not. Amazing to say the least.

Of course, Lauren had to get his book signed and dragged me into the mix. I didn't mind meeting him, but I did not want to look like a teeny-bopper, screaming over The Beatles...even though I did want to scream and touch his face. Turns out his security force is pretty quick to react to fanatics.

Congress weekend...

2008-02-28T10:52:00.000-08:00

Let's all go hang out with 40,000 Catholics! Matthew Kelly, Terry Hershey, Cardinal Rog and the rest of the gang are hanging out at the Anaheim Convention Center. Good times. Well, if you think analyzing your life and discovering that you have been doing things completely wrong the past twelve months is fun.

The funniest part of Congress is Friday at meal time. All the Catholics go to the snack bar and the catering staff never understands that Congress Friday always falls during Lent, yet, every year they serve specials of hamburgers, chicken sandwiches and beef soup. Hmm...let's survey the market segment and see the demand before we offer the supply...12th grade economics.

We will be buying bibles, discussing Terry Hershey topics, falling in love with Matthew Kelly again, dodging a few nuns with canes, sampling some Dippin' Dots, holding Ed as he cries off his thirties, skipping some afternoon sessions, napping, eating, singing, praising, clapping, praying, confessing, wandering, walking, tripping, falling, spending, borrowing, carrying, laughing, crying and leaving.

A full weekend. See you Monday.

The Slowest Sports Month of the Year...

2008-02-26T16:46:00.000-08:00

Ugh...finally February is coming to a close. Baseball players have reported to Spring Training, NCAA Basketball is nailing down who is going to the Big Dance and basketball and hockey are in the stretch run of their seasons. Wow...we have to stoop pretty low to entertain ourselves in February. I went to Vegas this past weekend and had to put a bet in on hockey...Go Ducks!

Even horse-racing has taken a turn for the worse as California tracks have replaced the dirt with an artificial surface...much to the chagrin of the betting public. We have yet to make heads or tails on how this affects the handicapping.

This Thursday, the Dodgers play the Braves in the first spring training game. Friday is the first televised game...March can't come soon enough.

On another note...I've actually been reading books and talking with my wife...turns out she is a pretty nice lady.

It's Human!

2008-02-19T15:54:00.000-08:00

Here is the latest picture of Baby Johnston. We are pushing ten weeks until the due date and we are all getting excited. Mom is getting bigger, but since I was 10lbs and she was almost 9lbs...we know Lauren is in for a big belly.

We went to our doctor a few weeks ago and she said she would not be doing an ultrasound until 37-weeks. This was much too long for us to wait and we wanted to know for sure if we were to expect extra baggage in the crotchal area. We had heard stories of babies who were thought to be one gender, end up being the other. So Lauren persuaded the nurses at Queen of the Valley to do some investigating. They did all the crotch shots and other angles to make sure we were seeing what we were seeing.

It's a boy...unless it's a girl that incredibly knitted a purse and stuck it between her legs. But, I'm going with the boy theory.

99 days and counting!

2008-01-25T16:25:00.000-08:00

The date is approaching fast! Lauren's belly is growing and little Samuel is kicking like a rugby player. I think he sees mommy's bladder as a big soccer ball. Great job, son.

I think the education is about to begin. We bought "The Baby Book" by Dr. William Sears, which was recommended highly from friends of ours. He wrote the book from asking parents around him what they did for this and what they did for that. It looks like a pretty extensive book and I plan to use it to become the best father possible. Obviously, you don't learn to be a dad by reading a book, but at least I can learn from other people how to not completely screw up the kid. But, that is not a given either.

I will let Lauren deal with "The Birth Book", because all I have to do is pick the cigars...right?

It's a Boy!

2008-01-10T17:40:00.001-08:00

Well...at least that is the first call. We have all heard the horror stories of doctors being wrong, particularly after all the baby clothes have been bought. "I thought you guys didn't want to know", I hear you say? Well, here is how it went down.

So, we went to our appointment for the normal checkup. The baby had gotten big enough for our doctor to do all her usual tests...checking the four chambers of the heart, two kidneys, stomach..."Oh...and it's a boy!". Lauren and I just look at each other with mouths open. Oops.

So, it's a boy for now. But, we'll check with her each visit to make sure it stays the same. I'm getting ready to sign him up for Little League. Do they accept payments for Spring 2013?

If you are having trouble seeing what the ultrasound is showing...picture the baby looking at you (you can see one eye socket) with his hand to his face in the "thinking man" pose. He might even be flipping us off.

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-24T11:01:00.000-08:00

Hi Peter!

2007-12-05T22:01:00.000-08:00

In case you did not know...this is the cutest kid in the world. Apologies to the rest of the civilized world, but you don't hold a candle to this one. I mean, your parents might say that you are the cutest, but I'm telling you right now...your parents are liars, only meant to make you feel better. This is Mercedes, our niece, god-daughter and practice child.

Hopefully, ours turns out as cute as this.

Doctor Visit #4

2007-12-05T21:43:00.000-08:00

Here is the latest photo of Baby Johnston. It is not too clear since the baby was not being very cooperative, but you can see the spine pretty clearly. We were able to see the face for a split second, but it decided it was shy and turned so we could only see it's back.

None the less, we saw the heart beat again and, of course, mine stopped at that time. That will never get old.

Everything is progressing fine. There was a shaky moment when there was a mixup with the down syndrome test, but it turned out everything was fine. Phew! We didn't really want to take the test in the first place because it would not affect anything (we would keep the baby no matter what). Lauren has been sick, so the doctor gave us advice there and some more advice for her sciatica.

150 days to go!

Illinois? Seriously?

2007-12-03T11:16:00.000-08:00

On the anniversary of Illinois being admitted as the 21st state, we find out that our beloved Trojans have to play them in the Granddaddy-of-them-all...the Rose Bowl. What a let down! I couldn't be more angry at Missouri and West Virginia for dropping trou and laying Cleveland Steamers on the football field. A USC vs. OSU matchup would have drawn a crowd and all Trojan fans would have loved to see the embarrassment of the "best" team in the Big-10 at the hands of Pete "Caesar" Carroll and the mighty Trojans.

The only thing Illinois has going for it is Chicago...deep dish pizzas, The Chophouse, the Sears Tower, Pizzeria Due, Mothers and Navy Pier...man, what a weekend!

So, apparently, the head honchos at the Tournament of Roses thought the next best choice was the "Fighting Illini". Great. Maybe the Twilight Zone marathon will be on that day.

Hi! I'm Cute!

2007-11-30T17:26:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving Eve

2007-11-21T08:59:00.000-08:00

The greatest drinking holiday of the year is, by far, St. Patrick's Day. This day is meant to thank God for giving the Irish whiskey so they wouldn't rule the world. On March 17, we all celebrate the greatness of alcohol and the unabashed drunken stupor that comes with it.

The second greatest drinking holiday of the year is Thanksgiving Eve. It starts when a group of friends comes into drinking age (usually during the college years) and they come back to their home city for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and Wednesday night is meant for meeting up with long lost friends that you hadn't seen since last Thanksgiving Eve.

Now that the college years have come and gone, and friends you grew up with either moved away or matured faster than you, Thanksgiving Eve is still clung to by the unmarried, childless men and women in our social circle. Still an event, but is threatened from becoming just a Friday night in the middle of the week.

Bowl of Turkey? No thank you.

2007-11-19T13:39:00.000-08:00

For eighteen years I participated in the Annual Turkey Bowl on Thanksgiving morning. It was something I looked forward to each year, to be able to go out and knock some guys around and catch a few passes. It was good times, but it also came with a cost. There were thanksgiving dinners where I would not be able to get up off the floor, constant headaches, back aches, and body aches. But, it was worth it. That little bit of macho, still coursing through the veins.

The Turkey Bowl began to bring other athletes to the table. What started as a friendly game to get the blood going, turned into a high school reunion of football players looking to regain the glory of their younger years. As soon as I started seeing mouth pieces, I began to worry. They ignored my pleas to replace the football game with a good game of kickball.

So a little thing called wisdom stepped in. My body sat my brain down and gave it a good tongue-lashing. "Why do you do this to me?" my body says. "Macho went out of style in 12th grade!" So, in the year 2006, my body celebrated it's first painfree Thanksgiving since the mid-80s.

I intend to celebrate my second this Thursday. My pride left me a long time ago...and I'm alright with that.

A Glorious Loss

2007-11-15T10:30:00.001-08:00

Let me tell you about last night. In a softball league where we have been mercied (beaten by at least 15 runs) every game this season, we entered last night's game with only eight players. This meant we would have to play with only three outfielders and no second baseman. "Toast" was the word rolling through my head.

Fast forward to the top of the 7th inning...we are down by eight runs and ready to "run out the clock"...just happy that we finished a game. Over the next ten minutes we witnessed the greatest output of runs we have seen in about a decade. Piling on fifteen runs in one inning, we went to the end of the game all smiles.

Of course, they scored five more runs easily and topped it off with a walk-off three run home run. But that was beside the point...losing by one run was glorious! We had to celebrate with a few rounds at the Crest and an $8.00 steak.

Wow! What a game!

FYI...the picture is of our one and only championship at Barnes Park.

New Human

2007-11-14T17:43:00.001-08:00

How do I express the feeling of being able to actually make a baby? Awesome. I would not consider myself divine, by any stretch of the imagination, but, the fact that I will have a little mini-me to mold and teach brings butterflies inside me.

I'm thinking this site might just become a baby picture haven, and I think I might be okay with that. Here is the first...taken on October 23...I know it is a little old, sorry. At the time of this, the baby was doing bicycle kicks in the air...a lot like daddy did in gym class twenty years before.

I think the most amazing moment in this whole experience was seeing the heart beat for the first time. The doctor seemed to gloss over it like it was nothing, but I was standing there with my mouth open, activating the ducts. Amazing, to say the least.

So, I apologize now if you do not like babies. But, really, YOU should be apologizing if you don't like babies.

Jack and Ron...my friends.

2007-11-14T11:03:00.000-08:00

Words cannot express the love I have for these two men. Growing up, I always knew them as Mr. Daniel and Mr. Bacardi, but over the years, they have asked that I call them by their first names...Jack and Ron. These men have been with me in the good times...and the tough times. They have heard my shouts of joy...and my cries of pain. They have heard me speak and yell many times...even when they are the only ones listening.

But, they are a jealous pair. Each demanding their own night, which declares the need to separate them like 12-year-old school boys. They cannot play nice. They do not play fair, but they both play well.

There are not enough nights in the week for me to spend with my friends. But, I guess all is well. The little time we have with each other, just makes it that much sweeter.

Mindless Bliss

2007-11-13T16:04:00.000-08:00

This blog is entitled so because it is the state I aim for at the end of the day. It is my small nirvana. I know everyone has been in a "mindless bliss" before. It is that feeling when you are staring at the television and you slowly feel yourself not watching anymore; when you are watching children play and the children slowly disappear to your periphery; when you look out over a forest and the trees slowly fade to...bliss. It is that state where all your stress and worries fade to the back of the line and you just enjoy being alive.

I tend to see "mindless bliss" in children more than adults, probably because the attainment of nirvana, or bliss, is much easier the less life you live. My niece tends to veer off the conscious train a few times a day at least. She gets the glazed look over her eyes and you can tell that she is just staring at her heaven. Why do adults feel they need to stop this?

I tried keeping up a journal a few years ago (well, more than a few) and I found that I hate writing with a pen...let's hope typing is a lot easier for me to keep up with. This will just be a "blog" of what I'm thinking, feeling and dealing with. If no one reads it, I will just be satisfied that it is here.