Life

With these updates, I have quite a bit of things that I do want to touch up on this blog, but with some things going on in the last week, I would be remissed if I didn't write about this funny and unexpected thing called life.

Over the last week or so there have been life changing, tragic events that have happened to people around me. It hadn't really directly affected me, so to speak, but I have felt bad about the events. It makes you stop and relect on life around you. I always love to soak in moments, and I do realize that life is a wonderful thing. I appreciate everyday life. I am able to not let work, or business, or stress weigh me down. I have been lucky about that. Receiving news before a football game, even a Texans game (which is a big deal around these parts), made me realize just how trival and small a game is in the game of life (sorry for that phrase).

Yet it is in some trivial things that can make life that much better. Now a football game might not be the greatest example, but different strokes for different folks, right?! If someone can get a little relief, even if for a brief moment during a football game, then it did its job. For that, some might not realize that a football game can be comforting to someone, no matter what the outcome.

At the time, I didn't know if I was going to be able to enjoy the game, or even if I should, but I watched the game of course. A little ironic that during said game, a coach had to be taken to a hospital via ambulance, again making the game seem small. He now going through tests and will no doubt think about life.

I may be going in circles here, because I am having a hard time getting my thoughts down. I hope that this is coherent.

I say sometime that I am getting soft in my old age. I think that is true, or maybe I have always been a big ol' softy?! I am not sure which it is. One thing is that with the arrival of our kids, I have become much more of a homebody. I never really was the clubbing, going out all of the time, but now I choose to be home. There are times that I would like to go to different events, meet people for drink, what have you, but instead I think I would much rather be home. It's funny to say, or even weird to think, but it is fun being home. Oh sure, the occasional night out if very nice, but while the kiddos are small I want to spend as much time as I can with them because I know one day....the ain't wanna hang out with ol' Mom and Dad...maybe. I am of the opinion that we are building strong bonds and values now, that way when they are older, we have done our jobs. Does this make sense? I feel like I am rambling for some reason....

Anyway I can go on and on, but I may break it for there. I really hope that my thoughts came out a little clear and you can see a little into what I think and feel about life. Until next week....

A Day Late....

...ok, yeah...whatever...so I am a day late on updating my dumb little blog here, I know that. At least I am trying today, right?! Better late than never, I like to say...

To be honest, I had a little bit of writer's block...big whoop. I wouldn't really say writer's block, but I don't know how else to put it. I even had a hard time trying to pick images to post on the tumblr and the flickr but in the end, I got it done. I am a little bit proud of myself for keeping it up (kinda)...for what!?!? Three weeks now! A bit of a moral victory there. In the end, the Social Media Monday is doing it's job of keeping my attention. It's just a little goal that is very attainable. I just have to keep it going....I think I can, I think I can, I think I can....

Well now...what to write about? How about Raymond, Ruby, and I going camping for the first time ever. Well, as camping as we are gonna get. It was a Boy Scout's event at Camp Strake just past the Woodlands. We were able to park right where we camped, they fed us, and there were restrooms everywhere...camping?! Well, we did have a tent, and slept in it, so yeah...camping. They had archery, sling shot shooting, crafts, and bee bee gun shooting. Poor Raymond, so small, it was hard for him to really get off good shots or efforts. He loved attempting to do these new things, but gets down and discouraged when the outcome reveals itself. I know one day he will catch up and do as well as everyone around him, hell...even better, but for now he just has to keep his head up. It's hard, I know. Hard for him and hard for Ruby and I to watch, but one day...one day....

I can even see the anticipation in his eyes when his turn comes up. I see it, I know what he is thinking. In his mind, it's going to be the best thing ever. He is going to be the best, he is so excited, but then...reality sets in. Oh poor kid. It's a little bit crushing for him, but he just goes along to the next thing. One day...

Camping was pretty cool...well, check that...fuckin' cold. In the overnight hours, it dipped to about 49 degrees. Waking up in the middle of the night and feeling your face just cold as hell...damn!! Making sure Raymond was ok (he tends to kick off the covers) was a constant challenge, but when it was time to wake up, we all had the covers over our heads. It was a fun weekend, and it is the very reason he wanted to join the boy scouts..camping!!! He loved it and he can't wait for the next camp out...in March. To be honest, we can't wait either.

Not to be lost in all of this? The Girls stayed at Little Grandma's house over night! A first there!!! They were a little disappointed in not being about to go camp, that Ruby fixed it and bought them their very own Disney Princess Tent in which they actually slept it! Boy, did they love it!! So success all around!!! Hooray!!!

A few odds and in's to finish off.

Work picked up for me, so much so that I missed running all of last week. Don't worry, I picked it back up on Monday morning and hit 2 miles. I will not go under that anymore!! I should be at almost 4.5 miles now! Damn getting off of routine!!!

The person that was going to make us some raised gardens out of cedar (I am not the most handy person to do it on my own) kinda flaked on us. Garden is delayed. In the end, we might have to make our own....grrrrrrrrr!!!!

On Thursday, I pull Raymond out of school early, make him nap a little, and off to see Gwar for the second time for him!! So exciting!! For me....and for him too! He has permission to miss school on Friday since we will be mixing it up in the pit and will be too worn out to go to school....not really, but kind of!

The primetime Texans games has really screwed with Family eating and drinking Sunday...it kind of sucks...Go Texans nonetheless!!!

Ok, done...it's 22:20 now...I have done my round of updates!! Enjoy! Please give me feedback on all fronts!!! I need it, good or shitty...

"Social Media Mondays"

I have now deemed Monday, "Social Media Monday" in the hopes that I can update my blog, flickr, and possibly Tumblr accounts. It's just a little something that I thought up to help me be motivated, or just to keep up what I want to keep up. I am trying to have much more of an effort to take pictures and just to do a whole lot more that I have wanted to do, and I hope this helps me keep it going.

If you guys can check back and give me feedback, suggestions, I would really, really love that. This is the first Monday that I am actually trying it, so the scheduling of it is a bit off. I hope to have it done in the mornings, but sometimes...just sometimes...work (or other things) can get in the way. But alas, here I am trying to live up to my new little goal here. I know they aren't going to be earth shattering or mind blowing at first, by they should improve as I go on...again, I hope....(a lot of hope here, isn't there?!?!!?)

I have quite a few pictures that I need to share, but I am trying to keep the updates to a minimum in hopes that I can stretch out the updates while I keep taking more (hopefully, right?!---there we go again).

For now, I will leave it at that. I will leave you with the links, just in case. Please feel free to share them, or not. But I do look to you guys for encouragement, criticism, and motivation. I need your help here!!

Thanks!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/71811077@N03/

http://www.tumblr.com/blog/alonebad

Back from Nashville...

We took a long weekend in Nashville to visit some friends and we returned with a couple of things that I never envisioned we would. First and most importantly, we came back with life long friends. Stuart had always been a friend, once introduced by Mike, and now he and his wife, Melissa (corbininthedell.com) are now friends that Ruby and I miss so dearly already. They were wonderful hosts, and the weekend was perfect. I just wish that I could move into their patio, but that being their favorite room, I probably couldn't. I almost think that we need to go visit them annually from here on out. At least, I would love to.

Secondly, we came back with inspiration. Ruby has been more and more of a proponent of a life style change, which included organically grown foods and meats. I fully support this. The trip to Nashville was a real eye opener and is fully inspiring us to take on the challenge of gardening. Seeing Stuart and Melissa's garden just kind of showed us that it is 100% possible. I mean, we see someone that we know, and they have a bad ass garden. It shows us that we can too, it is different than reading about it first or seeing something on television. We have seen it first hand. Now, I know that it is going to take a lot of research and time, but I really want to do this. I know, I know, I am king of procrastination and I hope that I lose my crown on this very subject and get to it. For sure, we will definitely benefit from this.

The trip out there just got us excited to do something different, do something that we thought that we could not do. After having a pretty healthy last couple of months, we have gotten way of the tracks, sort of a personal train wreck so to speak, but this event is a great way to get back on track. There are so many things coming up here towards the end of the year, and a few of them will be life changing for sure, and this is just one more thing to add to it. It is so very exciting for us though, I almost cannot wait to get going. There will surely be blog updates and photos of progress on the gardening adventure!

My procrastination knows no bound, as I have started this blog on our first full day back from the trip, but here a week later, I barely finish it. I originally thought it was going to be a super long post, but some steam was let out and it was severely shortened. (and I don't know why I just typed this up)

Anniversary

It's been a weird 24 hours for me. Ruby and I hit the eleven year mark being married, but it also marked the passing of her Grandfather that was battling lung cancer (mesothelioma). He passed on the way to Brownsville to seek medical treatment, apparently he had been in some pain for a couple of days. He passed in Mexico, which means the entire clan had to make the convoy to Mexico. Ruby went, reluctantly I know, but deep down she knew that she had to.

Being our anniversary, I found myself pretty sad that she went. I had to focus my attention to the kids, but was still sad. It was weird for me. Usually birthdays and holidays like Valentine's Day are just normal days to me and don't really amount to shit. This day kinda falls into that category in the grand scheme of my thinking, but it hit me. I know, I find myself getting soft in my old age. Struck me, I mean the day wasn't particularly special. We had no plans for anything, except for the grill being started up, but that isn't a big deal. When she walked out the door to meet up with family, I felt sad. I wished that she didn't have to go, but of course, she had to. It didn't help that I didn't end up receiving any kind of update from her, text or call for at least 16 hours or so. I knew that she was fine, but still. I wasn't upset or anything like that, I was just wanting to hear an a-ok from her or something.

So far, so good...considering the circumstances of course. They lay him to rest tomorrow around 1:00, and she hopes to be home around 10:00 or 11:00. Another long day for her, but rest assure I will sleep much better with her beside me (who knew that having more space in the bed wouldn't mean a better night's sleep!?!?!?).

Well, I better go sit with Raymond...it's He-Man time.


Just a random post, I guess I needed to get this off of my chest somehow.....

On the horse...so to speak...

Just a week update, give or take a few days, on what I was trying to accomplish last week.....

Run - On my second week of running, I seem to be back on track, or just keeping it up I'll just say...
Play guitar everyday - SWING AND A MISS ON THIS ONE...NEED TO DUST IT OFF...
Read - On my third book in just over a week...
Listen to some new music (to me)- yeah, well on that one!!!
and of course, clean up around the house here and there....on going...never ending quest...

I have had a pretty good week, as far as personal goals go. I mean, I read two books and am in the middle of my third in just over a week. That is a personal record for me...I mean, it just has to be. I feel pretty great about that one, as if you couldn't tell.

The guitar thing is a little disappointing to me. I don't know why I didn't get on it. I really need to, and really want to....

I am also on a small show run as well. I went to see twitter sensation Rob Delaney at Walter's in downtown. I was a funny show. Had some really great laughs at that one. I am glad that I went. Tonight is LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Ice Cube, and De La Soul at Verizon, Aerial, Buffalo, music theater or whatever it's name is now. Last by not least by any means, is the Geto Boys at House of Blues. I am really pumped about that one. It will be the second time I get to see the original line up, and for $6? Can't beat that.

Well, gotta get to work!!

Till next week...

Time to get back on the horse...

Well, after a four week (yikes!) lay off, today is the day that I get back on track. Went for a run, ate some breakfast, and am well on my way to drinking water like I am supposed to. I guess the beach house interfered more than I would have liked. I mean, I got busy on the week leading up to it, and then being on an actual vacation just slowed me down. I was really looking forward to running on the beach. I was at 3.5 miles and that would have been a great run, in the end I didn't go. No real regret. I missed out and now I start back up. I did 1.5 miles today and it wasn't all that bad. Next run is 2 miles, we shall see how that goes...

I have a few personal goals for the week and I hope to live up to them the entire week.

Run - done that!
Play guitar everyday
Read - have some books in need to get into!
Listen to some new music (to me)
and of course, clean up around the house here and there....

My first run back, I ran to The Dark Knight Rise Soundtrack.  I figured that I need some superhero shit to get me going.  It worked.  I always dug that soundtrack, it kind of gets me hype!!  Cheesy, corny..yeah, yeah, yeah....

I have gained about six pounds back from the four week layoff, and I kinda feel it.  I guess if any, that is the only real regret...boy, you sure can gain that weight back so easily and so quickly.  It's all good, just gotta keep it up and start eating a bit more sensible, and it all should work out in the end (no pun intended)...

"At last we will reveal ourselves to the jedi..."

"...at last we will have our revenge.." Darth Maul

It's finally arrived! May 17, 2013. I have been looking forward to this day for sometime now. Yep, that's right...the release date of Star Trek: Into the Darkness! It has finally arrived, and it is now at the theaters.

With that being said, can the official work on Star Wars now really begin? I fully suspect that it will...very soon. Once Abrams gets done with the press, which Star Wars is interfering with the interviews already, maybe a short break for him and then full fledge pre production. Hell, Disney has already said that they are scouting locations in like Iceland, and even had a press release that they are indeed going to film in the UK (Where the original Trilogy started...full circle).

It's unclear just how Disney will handle the secrecy aspect of the filming. I am sure with any big time movie, especially Star Wars, they are going to try and play it close to the vest, but how close exactly? I know that most things that leaked in the prequels, Lucasfilm made websites pull a lot of pictures and such...I would think it would be something similar, wouldn't you? Surely casting news will soon be coming, I think that most have an idea of just a few that may show up in this movie. What other news will make the light of day.

It's an exciting time for a fanboy of Star Wars, such as myself. There is a lot of pressure riding on this. Disney took a gamble. Abrams has a lot of pressure, especially. What I have seen in a few interviews from him already, he seems to be happy and ready for the challenge...or that could just be my wishful take on it. What's cool is that he has said that they have already started on somethings...but in the very early stages of it. That's exciting in itself...oh to be a fly on the wall....

My biggest wish or concern with the new trilogy is that there is some sort of redemption for the saga. Let's face it, the prequels were not great, by any stretch of the imagination. I still enjoy them a little because, let's face it, it is still Star Wars. It is somehow better to watch when there is a child present that digs them too, so that helps. I think most fans think that Abrams will bring this redemption back the the story, which is why I say that he has a huge amount of pressure on him. I think a lot of us think he can do the job because he is a true fan, someone that fell in love with the Holy Trilogy...which is what is giving the rest of the fans, "a new hope" (ugh, that was terrible, wasn't it?)...

Only time will tell, and unfortunately, we must sit and wait. Waiting patiently is all we can do, and we will all drool over the little bit of news and pictures here and there that make their way onto the internet...

Helpless

After a pretty good day of Raymond staying home as more of a precaution than anything else, everything changed. It's funny (not really) how something can change in the blink of an eye.

Soon after finally getting to watch Teen Titans Go! Raymond's ear started to hurt him. Just out of nowhere, no sign of it coming, nothing. It's weird. The kids were so looking forward to finally getting to see NEW TEEN TITANS, they were sooo happy when it came on. They sat, they watched, and they laughed. They loved it! Then everything changed.

Raymond was in extreme pain. I didn't know how to take it, it was so sudden, so quick. I don't recall ever seeing him in the state that he was in. He cried almost constantly from after 7:00, until he fell asleep at around 9:00. I still don't know how he fell asleep.

As with most things, we look to home remedies first. Garlic is the big winner here, from drops, to just putting a fresh clove on your ear. We tried this tonight, knowing that we have had success once before. It wasn't working.

I anticipate a long night, knowing that illness tend to get worse at night, but so far, so good. I have seen a little discomfort, but he has been able to remain asleep. He sleeps now on the couch, and I don't want to move him or disturb him in any way. Eventually I will have to attempt some sleep, but for now...I watch some playoff basketball and keep an eye on Raymond...

In the meantime, here are quotes that will break your heart, as it did mine...just helpless to do anything to comfort...

"Why isn't it working daddy?"
"I just want to play,"
"How does your ear hurt you Daddy?"
"Why does god make you sick?"
"I just want to feel better than I do right now!"
"I don't like this feeling"

Yeah, etched in my memory...

General Zod....

Haven't posted in a long time, but nothing like a good ol' hero movie to get me going....This originally aired duing the MTV Awards, I hear (I wouldn't know)...and a lot of response was that it was creepy and great marketing.  It is a message of General Zod calling for the people of Earth to turn over Kal-El to him (Superman)....I really like it. He appears to be wearing a mask, which is supposed to be equally as creepy from those working closely to the movie. MAY I SUGGEST CLICKING THE VIDEO AND CHECKING IT OUT ON YOUTUBE DIRECTLY?!?!



I don't know how Nolan does it, but he manages to keep a lot close to the vest and not many spoilers come out.  In these social networking days, that must take a lot of work, but it also makes for great movie going experiences...you know, like the way it is supposed to be....

The third and final trailer is also out (www.manofsteel.com) and it is definitely worth checking out. (The father and son parts of it already is pulling at my strings...getting really soft as time goes on....)

No TV or Internet...

We haven't had cable or Internet since Friday evening, but somehow we have managed to survive it. Chances are we won't have any until Wednesday due to AT&T screwing up setting up our appointment.

Should be interesting. It's been more boring than I thought it would be. Now, I am not the biggest tv advocate out there, but it can help out with the kids from time to time. I would, however, be lost without a smartphone. Whew, glad I can check Internet through the phone.

It's amazing what you can get done on a phone if you think about it. It's not always the most ideal way to surf, but it definitely does the trick. I mean, I typed this up while sitting in bed, ready to retire for the night! Kinda cool if you ask me!

Bengals vs. Texans

As nervous as I was about the state of the Texans (and hell, all of Houston for that matter), I was able to go to my first NFL Playoff game. It was fun to be at a game that the Texans were victorious.

It also marks the first time that Raymond attended a Texans game. I don't think I could afford to take him other wise. Not to mention meals and drinks anyway, it was pricey. He had a great time and I am sure that he will not soon forget the experience. He fed off of the crowd. He watched and learned when to wave the towel and yell. I didn't have to coach him at all. He was amazed when some tackles happened, he smiled in amazement. I taught him the "FIRST DOWN" chant, and he took it from there.

It was great to see him happy about the game. As I have found more and more, just about everything has turned into "for the kids". I am probably more happy that the kids are happy. Not that I can't enjoy myself or anything like that, it is just that much more better when the kids are having fun.

Now the tough task of going to Foxboro to take on the Patriots again. Not many teams get a second chance on playing and beating a team. They have a unique chance to make things right. I fully expect them to play better, and make it a close game. If it's a close game, anything can happen. Still...I am nervous...c'mon boys! Leave it out all on the field!!

Bulls on Parade!

Happy Holidays!

The holidays are officially over. I always get a little said, but at the same time, I am glad to get back into a routine. I have actually gotten way off track with the holidays. I feel a bit scattered and unorganized. Once school starts back up for the kiddos, I can get settled back in to a routine.

The new job has been absolutely fantastic. Stress free and pretty easy, so far. I know that there are going to be a little bit of challenges that will pop up, but I look forward to them. I am sure that business will pick up and that ESC's presence in Houston will grow! I actually like working again, and I am actually looking for some challenges. I am still trying to find my way. I mean working out of home and by yourself can be a little tough for the most part, I still need to find the best way to work. Getting going on your own can be a huge challenge in itself. At least for me.

Going back to the "holidays are over theme" we have decided that this is probably the last Christmas that we will spend in our little home. Truthfully, we will be out of this house sooner than you might think. We just can't continue to stay here anymore. The conditions are getting worse. It's sad. It's frustrating. It's the right thing to do. Right?! Now we begin the planning phases of moving out and figuring out just what the hell we are going to do with this house and more importantly, financially. No doubt we are going to take a substantial loss...we are just trying to make it as painless as possible....sigh...more on this to follow, that is for sure....