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....

So this is what it is like....

...hmmmmm...being unemployed. I haven't enjoyed my "week off" like I thought I would. The whole getting laid off was weird to begin with, but I haven't gotten settled being at home all week. Mostly because I have been a bit busy with other things.

...Monday was a little surreal. The day was spent waiting for emails and phone calls. Tuesday was the day off with Ruby and the Girls. Wednesday was Raymond's early dismissal and some things with Momma. Thursday was morning with the Girls and then off to school to have some Daddy duties at Raymond's school. Fun, but not like I had wished. I wish I have a bit more time to myself and to have actually gotten some house work done.

...I don't know how much longer I will have time to do things, and by that I mean being unemployed. I wasn't too concerned about it at first, but today was kind of like I will need some money rolling in soon? Maybe, maybe not....

...one thing is for sure, you do have a lot of thoughts running through your head all day. Some of them aren't valid though, but some are. In the end, I think your mind can make things over dramatic. All kinds of thoughts...about work, former that is. In the end, my family life helps keep me focused on other things. Now I can get into all of the shit that runs though your mind, but I don't know if I would want them out that like this. I will pass....

As I have said all along, and others have told me as well...my former employer probably did me a huge favor (and made a huge mistake, at least I like to think). I will land on my feet and will be fine....still it is only human to wanna question things and try to make sense of it all...even if that becomes a huge waste of time...

...another thing that sucks is being laid off just in time for Houston Beer Week, and not getting to do a damn thing with it!!! Man a lot of great events going on all throughout the city...and I am tied up...that really sucks...

...that's just the life of a "G" I guess...

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It's time to get back on the horse...

...Well, I went and did it. I went a few weeks without consistently running. I was hoping to not let that happen, but it did....and it wasn't hard either. My fear is that it is going to be tough to get "my running legs and lungs" back. Ultimately, it is my own doing.

I will get back on schedule tomorrow. Monday was a running day for me, so its a good starting point.

I also feel as if I gained some, if not all, of that weight back. Damn it. It is so easy to "relapse", although I don't know if that is the right word. Seems a bit over dramatic, doesn't it?

I will hope to continue to run on a consistent basis through the end of the year. Yes, through the time change and all. I might have to adjust to somethings, but I will do my very best.

Today will be my last "bad day" for a while, hoping that I do better, or as well I was doing through my initial running.


Wish me luck.

I never thought....

...I never thought that I would be proud and excited that Raymond is a Tiger Cub Scout. I mean, really...I didn't...well, it happened.

On the first week of school, Raymond caught wind of the boy scouts and all that they do. I think that camping part is what sold him. He is pumped and ready for camping.

After a couple of weeks, we kind of forgot about it, until Ruby remembered and sought out the info. She got it, and he still wanted in. I thought to myself, "you really don't want to be a boy scout, do you?!?!", but naturally, I didn't mention it, or didn't trying to talk him out if it. I mean, really?!? A boy scout?!

He was, and is now, in! We went to our first Den Meeting, and he even received his first badge, the bobcat badge for memorizing (sort of) the pledge, the salute, handshake, motto, and law of the pack. (He had a little assistance from the Tiger Cub Mother, who is Mom of one of Raymond's Kindergarten friends)...I'll never tell!

We unfortunately missed the camping trip by a weekend, but there surely will be other times. I wasn't in the scouts, and pretty much know nothing about it. I am fairly excited to learn together about all of the things that they do. I know that it will only benefit him.

It's yet another page in Raymond ongoing book. Another thing that I have never imagined that we will be doing. It's been a fun ride, and it is only getting better as time continues on. I hope to be apart of as much as I can. So far, I think that I am batting for a very high average in that department. As the girls get older, there will be more things to learn for me and to be apart of as well. I just hope that there is enough time in the day for me and Ruby to keep up.

We surely are trying....

Vinyl...

Ok, I am thinking about making the switch. Giving up on cd's and moving to vinyl. Why? It's always tough to switch mediums. In the end, the change in inevitable. I have heard/read plenty that points to the fact that cd's are going to be obsolete in then next couple of years. It's kind of took me by surprise, but it really shouldn't have.

Change is inevitable, isn't it? One of my fears, was that it was all going to go the way of MP3's. You know, like strictly iTunes only. That isn't really for me. I have to have something concrete, you know?! I don't know why, I just do.

The next thing that struck me a little odd was the fact that vinyl, or analog, actually sounds better than digital. Why didn't I think of this? I mean, of course it does. Way back when I actually used to play, we used to say "oh, I want to be strictly analog," as just a purist type of thing...kind of snobby, you know?! I didn't think about this in terms of records....duh...

At various shows, I would see a band selling records at the merch booth, and I always thought it would be cool to buy one, from a collectors standpoint. I acted on it only once. The collector in me may end up getting the better of me, you know?!

Alisson is the next factor. She bought me the Nirvana Unplugged record that may ultimately open pandora's box on the whole thing. That and the fact that we went vinyl "window shopping" earlier in the week....damn, I saw a few that I would have loved to purchase. I may go back....

Here is my lonely records now...





...now I guess I will have to research a record player eventually...this hobby (as with any other) could get expensive for me....


Oh well...