Friday, November 28, 2008

Thanksgiving is gone!

Another thanksgiving has come and gone already! It's still hard to believe too! This year's thanksgiving was a bit of a change up than in previous years, but it was cool!

It was the first year that we attempted to do things on our own. Laura and Ruby did a wonderful job with all of the food! Everything that they whipped up was super tastey...and I mean everything, we seemed to have a lot of food leftover (which isn't a bad thing). I am pretty proud of myself this year for not pigging out either. I didn't get disgustingly full or anything even close to that, and that definitely is a good thing.

The one thing that does kind of suck is having to go to work tomorrow, unfortunately it is my scheduled Saturday. In a way though I don't really mind it, it should be slow...wait is that good or bad?! Well which ever way you look at it, I will be at work either way. I haven't decided whether or not if I am going to take advantage and get some actual work done or not yet. I guess it all depends on how I feel in the morning. We will see...

Before I end this ..
I am typing this up on my iPhone while Raymond plays with all of his trains in his room. He likes for someone to be in his room while he plays. I don't mind it sometimes. I figure I just update this while he plays.

Ruby has been on the couch asleep since about 10:45 (it's just past midnight now) with the tv on, blasting loud! She gets up way too early, I guess...

It's a little tough typing this all up on this phone, and I didn't realize this entry was this long!!

Oh well, guess I should try to convince Raymond to go to bed since I ha e to get up at 7:00...

Sunday, November 16, 2008

The end is near...

...of the year that is! Man, this year has surely flown by. I guess we always say that about every year, don't we?! The holidays are just about upon us, and as much as I love this time of the year, I think this one is going to be a bit different than year's previous. It's just a hunch...

It's a bittersweet thing. This time of year is supposed to be spent with family, and this will be the case this year, it's just going to be different. Some of you know the reason why, and I won't be going into the details here, not now...

With that being said. I welcome the end of the year. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve are always fun for me. I welcome the change of the weather (in small doses, that is) and the beginning of a new year. The days off of work is a big plus for me too!

Anyhow, I just thought that I would get a head start on the "end of the year" thoughts and all of that.

final thoughts...

Last weekend was a weekend that I will never ever forget, but on top of that it was a bad weekend for Houston sports teams. The Texans lost (in terrible fashion), The Rockets lost to the Lakers, and the Dynamo reign of championships came to abrupt end. Ouch!

It looks like it is going to be a beautiful week in Houston, I hope the week will be good to us all...

Saturday, November 1, 2008

some thoughts about Ike...

I had written down a few little notes/thoughts that I had while the Hurricane was heading towards us....scratch notes really...

5:15-5:30 - It got pretty dark in a hurry...after that, the wind increased as well...as fairly consistant as it had been all day...

7:11 - Trees in the backyard are hitting the power lines, and pretty good too...should be interesting. Scary, but interesting...

7:22 - Pine Trees in the front are swaying a lot...that is a scariest thing for me so far....

12:00 - a little bit scary, shit hitting the house...Mom sleeping on the floor (in hallway). Still have a long way to go...

12:50 - power is out, move to the hallway with Ruby...

1:20 - people across the street are outside...lots of popping noises in the distance...

That is the extent of my note taking during the storm...not that I needed to write stuff down because I will never forget that night.

It was pretty nuts...our neighbors across the street were outside almost all night, I was thinking that someone was going to die. They had been drinking all day, I guess celebrating the storm's arrival. They were even running up and down the street. I guess they had the most fun...I look at them a lot differently since then...

I kept thinking that our windows were going to get taken out. I didn't board them up, just duct taped them so that they wouldn't shatter into a million pieces, just maybe a thousand instead. When the storm hit, things kept hitting the sides of the house and i kept thinking that the windows were next, but we got lucky there.

Hearing the wind was incredible. Ruby and I kept looking at each other, wondering if it was going to let up ever. We had to move one of our couches againt the door because we thought the front door was going to fly open. It was insane...

Friday, October 31, 2008

The Week must come to an end!

Well, our week off from work is coming to an end. I must say that I did enjoy the time off. The week away from work has been really enjoyable. I haven't had a straight off of work in a long time.

I can't really say that we made the absolute most of the entire time off, but we did at least get to do a little bit that really was fun. He is a quick run down of the week off....

Monday - Ruby and I went to have a good lunch and then to the dentist. I haven't been to the dentist in, man...I really can't say when. It wasn't too painful, but let's just say, it is just the beginning for me.

Tuesday - We went to the Children's Museum and played a little.

Wednesday - We went to the Zoo...that was so great! Raymond really loved it!

Thursday - We didn't do too much, but did spent an evening at Discovery Green. I would say that Raymond had a blast there as well. Oh yeah, I finally got a little yard work in as well.

Friday - I did nothing. Literally. Nothing. If you guys know me, I am perfectly fine with that.

I know, it doesn't look like a whole lot, but to me...it was a week that I will never forget. Being with Ruby and Raymond was something else. I wish I could have filmed the entire time. You know, like had a documentary crew travel with us or something. It was great for me. Since that wasn't possible, I just have to go off my memory, which is fine. I can always stop whatever I am doing and just remember some of the time that we spent.

It's almost time to go back to work...and I know I will have a lot to do once I get back, but I still have Saturday and Sunday to enjoy and prepare for that.

Well, it is Halloween night, and the crowd in the neighborhood has been pretty light, but I am going to hang out and enjoy the memories and the almost perfect weather outside for a bit....with my Little Dragon....

Thursday, October 23, 2008

It's been a weird last 48 hours

...It's been a while that I have updated this thing. Things really haven't been the same since Hurricane Ike hit, and that trend is continuing.

I wanted to keep like a blog update from the events leading up to and after the Hurricane, but that went nowhere, obviously. Maybe I will still type up my notes that kept from the night of the storm, maybe not...we will see...

One would think that I would be happy starting a week and a day off from work, but I am really not....

Tonight sucked a bit. Stayed at work late (my fault, I volunteered), came home, then was going to see The Butthole Surfers at the Meridian. I left the house late, around 9:40 or so, I went to get gas since I was riding on fumes. Then I had to go pull money from an ATM, which took two attempts at two different banks, and then proceeded toward the Meridian. I get there, only to find a packed place. I had to park about two or three blocks away. Never seen the Meridian like that before. I walk my way to the door when I find that it is sold out. Shit! Oh well....off to the store to get some Shiner Black and drink at home....

Believe it or not, that whole sequence took me about an hour. An hour I will never get back....

I don't know what tomorrow is going to bring, being my first day off. I might get all of the house work knocked out. Hit the yard and all that good stuff, but we will see. Being off from work, I should have plenty of time to do updates, at least I hope so!

Ok, that's all for now...

Thursday, September 11, 2008

The calm before the storm...

....literally...it is. Tonight we await Hurricane Ike's arrival. Tomorrow will probably just be a whole lot of sitting in front of the t.v. and watching the news to see just what this storm is going to bring us. It's a little nerve racking, just a little. It will be my first storm as home owner. (sounds weird that I am a home owner?!) As for now, I think that everyone is about as prepared as we are possibly going to be. I guess that we are going to roll the dice and go without boarding up the windows. Hopefully it won't be as bad as that it can be. Only time will tell.

It really has been "the calm before the storm" as they say. On the ride home from work, the freeway was as empty as I can remember seeing it, and the sky was a beautiful as I have seen it. It was almost a clear sky, with clouds spaced out in different areas. It was really nice to see. It's a little bit surreal, knowing that a huge hurricane is about a day away.

It is a little bit scary waiting for this thing to hit. Not exactly knowing how powerful the storm is going to be, and possibly just how much damage it can bring with it. With the strong winds that it may be packing, I am assuming that it is just about a sure thing to be without power for a period of time. That is the thing I am dreading the most. I can't imagine being without power, without A/C for like a day. I guess that it could be in the cards though. Man, I am really dreading that.

Driving around the neighborhood this evening, I saw a few people boarding up their homes, I mean a few, and more people actually sitting outside either bbq'ing or just talking. It was pretty cool to see all these people actually chilling outside. Maybe they are just soaking in the "calm before the storm" or maybe they are enjoying the night since most probably having the day off tomorrow, I don't really know what their reasons were, but it was cool to see. Well, I will try to take pictures before and after the storm to share with everyone, but for now I just wanted to share my thoughts on the coming storm.


Thursday, August 28, 2008

I guess it was bound to happen...

...I can't find my iPhone. Maybe I always had a feeling that I would lose it. It sucks. How do you lose something going something like 20 steps from my house, to my car, and then about 20 to 40 more steps to get inside my job and then to my desk? I don't have an answer for that. I guess when you lose something of value or whatever you tend to feel more stupid than anything.

Well, I guess you could be all upset and pissed, but if anyone really knows me, then you know that just ain't me. I mean, what can you really do? It's lost and gone....

Besides that, not too much going on....

Quick hits:

It's really hot outside...

Little Man is so fun to play with...

Looks like I could have a busy an eventful weekend (more on that later)

The Gulf of Mexico is looking to be pretty active this year...

Currently in my cd player (in the Accord):

Ministry - Psalms 69
Local H - 12 Angry Months
Chin Up Chin Up - We Should Have Never Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers
Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass

Sunday, August 24, 2008

well, well....

it's been well over a month since my last blog, so I decided to try and type something up here on this Sunday morning...

I wish I could keep up with this thing more often, but I find that it is difficult to squeeze time in to do so. I guess that is just an excuse (and I am full of them!), but I guess it is just like anything else...I have to make the time and effort. Well, I guess I don't HAVE to, but I would like to. I like blogs for what ever reason. I like reading people's blogs. I like the way people have them set up. I need to work on that a little, or do you like the fact that I rock the plain white set up? I guess only time will tell if I actually get around to playing with the set up....

a couple of quick hits....

I have only seen The Dark Knight twice! Dare I say it was a little bit better the second time!?

If I didn't have to work, I would have more time to do more things...

I received a drunken cell phone call at 1:27 Friday Night/Saturday Morning from Eric...I didn't answer, but he left a message. Man, what are you? My Ex or something....borderline gay there man....

and the world is just about right now...the Dynamo are making their run and are in first place, The English Premiere League has started (Soccer), College Football starts next weekend, and NFL Football is two weeks away! (see what I mean?!)

Well, I guess that is all for now. Don't have much to do at the moment, but I should probably get to something else that I have put off doing...and after that, we drop off Raymond at Laura's for a while and go catch Pineapple Express with Chris and Nina...should be fun....

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

You just knew this was coming...

well...THE movie of the summer (at least for me) is just about two weeks away. This movie's buzz is virtually a run away train. I honestly can't wait. I am super excited about this. That's right, The Dark Knight is almost upon us, and I don't know if I have been more excited for any movie in my life. I try to think back about how I felt about Revenge of the Sith coming out. I might have been really excited about that too, but this is on a different level. I mean, I actually went to see I Am Legend just to see the 6 or 7 minute IMAX movie of the Dark Knight (which turns out to be the opening of the movie)....I never did that for any Star Wars movie.....

The press screenings have been trickling around the nation since about last week, and each write up, each critic's review, seems to be just as good as the last. Here's a really good one from Kevin Smith that pretty much sums it all up (taken from his website).

Without giving anything away, this is an epic film (and trust me: based on the sheer size and scope of the visuals and storytelling, that’s not an overstatement). It’s the “Godfather II” of comic book films and three times more earnest than “Batman Begins” (and fuck, was that an earnest film). Easily the most adult comic book film ever made. Heath Ledger didn’t so much give a performance as he disappeared completely into the role; I know I’m not the first to suggest this, but he’ll likely get at least an Oscar nod (if not the win) for Best Supporting Actor. Fucking flick’s nearly three hours long and only leaves you wanting more (in a great way). I can’t imagine anyone being disappointed by it. Nolan and crew have created something close to a masterpiece.

Thats seems just about as consistent review as I could find. Many of which won't go into "spoiler" details, stating that they don't think it would be fair to "spoil" the film for anyone....and these are from spoiler fan sites. Insane, I'll tell ya!

I was telling Ruby a couple of month's back that there is no way that the movie could live up to the hype, or my expectations, but now I am not so sure. It is almost sounding like it might. I couldn't imagine anything that would screw up the movie so bad, to the point that I don't like it. I just can't.

Maybe it's because I have been following this movie, or franchise (Batman Begins), since Chris Nolan signed on, and the day that Christian Bale signed on for Bruce Wayne, and so on and so on. Maybe it's just that more special to me? I don't know. It helps that I have always liked the Batman comics (mostly Graphic Novels) most of all.

In any event, July 18th can't get here soon enough. For now, not much more to do but wait....and wait, and wait....oh man, will it ever get here?!?!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Not too much...

new to report. I have been a bit lazy with the computer stuff lately (despite being on the computer a lot the last couple of days), is that weird? Oh well, it's a true statement.

We have started to get rain on almost a daily basis, but it hasn't seemed to help. I don't know really what to do. I guess the only thing that we can do is to not let it get to us too much. It's a little hard, especially when you close the bathroom door all of the way, and can't open the back door at all....oh well....

Besides that I work. I have a couple of thoughts floating around in my mind that I would like to share, but I don't feel like getting them organized and typing them up. I will this week, I promise....

hope all is well with everyone...I will type more up tomorrow....

Friday, June 13, 2008

So, I procrastinate...what else is new?!?!

Well, getting off to a slow start here. It's not all my fault, really. Life has just been super busy lately, and I have been pretty tired because of it. Let's see....where to begin?

Well, work is always busy for me, so I won't go into great detail about that....at least not here...but a trip to Austin to see Local H play and a whole lot of house work is basically pretty much all.

It's amazing how house work (in general) is never really finished. I don't know if it's the same for every one, but there is always something either going or something going wrong. It's a little frustrating for us right now.

We had decided to start working on the house, something that we had always wanted to do but never really got going, and actually had some really nice work done. The Computer Room and the Living Room were completely redone...new sheet rock, insulation, new paint, and to top it off we had some laminate wood flooring placed in these rooms as well. It was really coming together.

A month or two after all of that was completed and with no rain, the work that we had done to the front room is starting to crack. In two places as well. Man, we were both pretty bummed about it too. We think that the house is still not leveled, we knew that when we decided to get the house worked on, but just kind of gambled on it a little. We really don't know what we can do about it, short of having a foundation company come out, which isn't really cheap by the way. We don't know if even having another company come out would fix the problem completely either. Hell, the only real way to fix the problem would probably be to knock the house down completely and start from scratch. If only money wasn't a problem.

I guess we have to just live with what we can right now. Ruby told me to just look on the bright side...at least the house looks better. She's right, it does, but when the bathroom door doesn't close all of the way now, it still gets hard to do. Man, we can really use some rain to help this problem out a little.

Well, I guess that is all that I have for now.

oh yeah, The Dynamo are now tied for first in the West (after a slow, slow start), I still can't get enough of the new Local H album (12 Angry Months), and I am as tired as ever (have I mentioned that already?)