I remember at the time when Ryan Perrilloux reneged on his commitment to Texas to go to LSU, the Burnt Orange Nation was up in arms.
It turns out that was the best move for the Longhorns given his troubles at LSU.
But hey, when you're a gifted athlete, especially a prized quarterback, you get as many chances as you can, as long as someone's willing to put up with a certain amount of pain in order to rent your services.
Here's hoping this kid will finally get his act together. If he screws this opportunity up, he shouldn't be paid to play football. Earn a regular man's wages instead of having everything handed to him.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
It's Only a Month Away...
Football season, that is.
I believe this speaks for all my fellow Longhorns...
We've almost made it through those seven months without pigskin. At least now we have the camps beginning and the blogs going. Check out Tim Griffin's Big XII blog on ESPN.com. He's got a good assortment of original pieces and links.
I believe this speaks for all my fellow Longhorns...
We've almost made it through those seven months without pigskin. At least now we have the camps beginning and the blogs going. Check out Tim Griffin's Big XII blog on ESPN.com. He's got a good assortment of original pieces and links.
Coincidence?
I think not.
On the same day I began riding my bike to work, this article came out about an incline in road rage in Portland, Oregon. As more riders hit the road in the bike-friendly town, there has been an escalation in accidents and violence between the groups as new cyclists hit the road either uninformed or ignorant of the rules of the road.
I made it safely to both work and home, but there is definitely room for improvement.
It's a great workout and it helps save on gas money.
On the same day I began riding my bike to work, this article came out about an incline in road rage in Portland, Oregon. As more riders hit the road in the bike-friendly town, there has been an escalation in accidents and violence between the groups as new cyclists hit the road either uninformed or ignorant of the rules of the road.
I made it safely to both work and home, but there is definitely room for improvement.
It's a great workout and it helps save on gas money.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Links Part Deux
ESPN.com has been running an interesting feature all week ranking each program in Division 1-A basketball for "prestige". Texas ranked 18th. Today they unveiled the Top 10, with no real surprise with Duke at Number 1. They took it back only to the '84-'85 season since that was when the Field of 64 was started and the 3-point line introduced the following year. Check back here to see how Sportsnation has things.
Slate Magazine had an interesting article on Presidential pardons. They wondered if Bush would use his power to preemptively pardon someone. What choice will he make? Since Bush has been more than obvious about his belief and trust in the Creator, his pardons will, and should, be under more scrutiny than, say, William Jefferson Clinton, et al. His integrity is on the line. Will he be a relativist, or will he stand firm under the pressure. My advice to the President? The leftists have already painted you as on of the worst Presidents in history with the unpopular war on terror; stand out for something.
Slate Magazine had an interesting article on Presidential pardons. They wondered if Bush would use his power to preemptively pardon someone. What choice will he make? Since Bush has been more than obvious about his belief and trust in the Creator, his pardons will, and should, be under more scrutiny than, say, William Jefferson Clinton, et al. His integrity is on the line. Will he be a relativist, or will he stand firm under the pressure. My advice to the President? The leftists have already painted you as on of the worst Presidents in history with the unpopular war on terror; stand out for something.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
That's Why They Pay Me The Big Bucks
During football and basketball seasons, my old crew and I from UT shoot emails about what's happening. I was cleaning out my Inbox tonight when I ran across this gem.
First, you have to check out this link and see where Texas ended up and who it matched up with in the Sweet 16.
Next, you need to read my email from March of 2007 after the 'Horns were shellacked by USC.
Oh, what to say...I know most of you guys will shoot me down as a pessimist. But before you do, just let my arguments ruminate a little bit.
Augustin needs a little more seasoning. I wonder if he was just spent playing 30 minutes a game at the pace of college ball. He kinda went all White Chocolate Jason Williams on us the last few games.
Abrams never met a shot he didn't like. Like Antoine Walker, only shorter and a little more handsome.
We don't have a legitimate big man who can dominate inside and make opponents respect the middle.
Our youth really, really killed us on Saturday. Thankfully, they'll get better with time. However, I'm not sure that Rick Barnes is the man that can take us to the next level. Sure we went to the final four back in 2003, but that team was loaded.
Mack Brown recruited well enough to put the pieces around Vince Young to the point where even he and Greg Davis couldn't screw up winning a national champtionship. The Longhorn men went basically seven deep this year with the starting five being four fish and a sophomore. Even freaking Duke was deeper than we were! And they were bounced in the first round.
So let's be real for a moment. We should all know what we're getting from a Rick Barnes-coached team at this point.
1. We cannot defend the 3-pointer, even if we play the 2-3 zone.
2. We turn the ball over too much. DJ Augustin only had a 2:1 assist:turnover ratio. Mike Conley Jr, a fellow frosh at Ohio State had a 3:1 ratio.
3. We are never blowout proof. This was something raised on ESPN this year that really caught my eye. Take a look at A&M, UCLA and other programs that were higher-seeded than us. They never got wupped.
4. Especially in our losses, we don't get to the free throw line. We only had 16 attempts against USC. Unacceptable! We only had 9 FTA against Kansas on 3/3. And when we do get to the line, although this year was slightly anomolous, we can't knock 'em down.
Just take a look at our boxscore from K-State and you'll see points 1,2 & 4.
So even if Durant stays around, which he'd be a fool to do, we won't scratch the potential of what this team could do. Sure we'd make the Sweet 16 next year, but would we really make much noise beyond that? I don't think so. If it gets a favorable draw it could even make the Elite 8, but I think the Final Four is too much to ask from Rick Barnes. One of the Sports Guy's readers likened him to Art Shell, just standing there with a blank expression on his face while the game goes on without him. He doesn't seem to have that much fire.
And maybe I'm just bitter because it could've been so much better. I had them getting by UNC but losing to Georgetown in my bracket. But if you listen to what I'm saying and think back all these years that we've had Barnes, I think you'll see that there ain't much more than we're getting from the guy. I don't care if he landed Durant AND Oden. We still wouldn't have made the Final Four.
I know I got a little carried away with that last statement, but MAN IT'S GREAT TO BE RIGHT!
First, you have to check out this link and see where Texas ended up and who it matched up with in the Sweet 16.
Next, you need to read my email from March of 2007 after the 'Horns were shellacked by USC.
Oh, what to say...I know most of you guys will shoot me down as a pessimist. But before you do, just let my arguments ruminate a little bit.
Augustin needs a little more seasoning. I wonder if he was just spent playing 30 minutes a game at the pace of college ball. He kinda went all White Chocolate Jason Williams on us the last few games.
Abrams never met a shot he didn't like. Like Antoine Walker, only shorter and a little more handsome.
We don't have a legitimate big man who can dominate inside and make opponents respect the middle.
Our youth really, really killed us on Saturday. Thankfully, they'll get better with time. However, I'm not sure that Rick Barnes is the man that can take us to the next level. Sure we went to the final four back in 2003, but that team was loaded.
Mack Brown recruited well enough to put the pieces around Vince Young to the point where even he and Greg Davis couldn't screw up winning a national champtionship. The Longhorn men went basically seven deep this year with the starting five being four fish and a sophomore. Even freaking Duke was deeper than we were! And they were bounced in the first round.
So let's be real for a moment. We should all know what we're getting from a Rick Barnes-coached team at this point.
1. We cannot defend the 3-pointer, even if we play the 2-3 zone.
2. We turn the ball over too much. DJ Augustin only had a 2:1 assist:turnover ratio. Mike Conley Jr, a fellow frosh at Ohio State had a 3:1 ratio.
3. We are never blowout proof. This was something raised on ESPN this year that really caught my eye. Take a look at A&M, UCLA and other programs that were higher-seeded than us. They never got wupped.
4. Especially in our losses, we don't get to the free throw line. We only had 16 attempts against USC. Unacceptable! We only had 9 FTA against Kansas on 3/3. And when we do get to the line, although this year was slightly anomolous, we can't knock 'em down.
Just take a look at our boxscore from K-State and you'll see points 1,2 & 4.
So even if Durant stays around, which he'd be a fool to do, we won't scratch the potential of what this team could do. Sure we'd make the Sweet 16 next year, but would we really make much noise beyond that? I don't think so. If it gets a favorable draw it could even make the Elite 8, but I think the Final Four is too much to ask from Rick Barnes. One of the Sports Guy's readers likened him to Art Shell, just standing there with a blank expression on his face while the game goes on without him. He doesn't seem to have that much fire.
And maybe I'm just bitter because it could've been so much better. I had them getting by UNC but losing to Georgetown in my bracket. But if you listen to what I'm saying and think back all these years that we've had Barnes, I think you'll see that there ain't much more than we're getting from the guy. I don't care if he landed Durant AND Oden. We still wouldn't have made the Final Four.
I know I got a little carried away with that last statement, but MAN IT'S GREAT TO BE RIGHT!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Links
This article is an interesting read. I clicked on because of the perspective of what black people think about Jesse Jackson. I know I've covered him in this space before, but now his people are growing perhaps even more tired of his act than I am. In the piece he is called an "old fool" who is "an increasingly irrelevant, former big shot...who does not seem to realize that the times have passed him by." Can Barack Obama overcome all odds to win the White House? Regardless of the outcome, this can be nothing but good for our country. Young minorities, whether black, Hispanic or Asian, will feel impowered and driven to new heights. It's one thing for all little kids to say they want to be the President some day. Now, much more of our population has a role model for those dreams.
It's almost been a year since this article was published, but it remains relevant. It reminds us of the consequences of relativism and the thinking that all religions are basically the same. While the Word tells us that, as much as it is in our power to live at peace with all men, Colossians 2:8 instructs us to "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." I am reminded of The Chronicles of Narnia, where the Ape and the Calormenes get to calling the Donkey 'Tashlan', a mix of Tash and Aslan. Those who did so paid with their lives the penalty for blaspheming the I AM. Exodus 20:7 warns us "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name."
Love him or hate him, Brett Favre is one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history. Maybe not Top 5, or even Top 10, but Top 15. Depending on your viewpoint, he held the Packers hostage most of the last four years as he drug out his decision on retirement, even holding news conferences to tell us he hadn't made a decision yet. But he's forgiven because he hasn't missed a game in I don't know how long, even after his dad passed away and there were other family issues. I can't say I blame the Packers brass for giving him the cold shoulder. The only problem is that, unfortunately for Ted Thompson, Favre has become a demigod to the cheeseheads, reaching a stature that is almost above the Pack. My only question is, when they induct him in the Hall of Fame, will they do the typical bust, or will they having a bronzed butt with John Madden's lips on a cheek? Zing!
It's pretty cool watching our new building go up. The change was amazing from the time we left for our trip on June 9th and when we made it back on July 6th. Now when we tell people it's at 360 and 183, they'll know exactly what we're talking about. We won't have to say it's close to the Arboretum or across from the Gateway shopping center (centre if you're from across the pond). God is good!
It's almost been a year since this article was published, but it remains relevant. It reminds us of the consequences of relativism and the thinking that all religions are basically the same. While the Word tells us that, as much as it is in our power to live at peace with all men, Colossians 2:8 instructs us to "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." I am reminded of The Chronicles of Narnia, where the Ape and the Calormenes get to calling the Donkey 'Tashlan', a mix of Tash and Aslan. Those who did so paid with their lives the penalty for blaspheming the I AM. Exodus 20:7 warns us "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name."
Love him or hate him, Brett Favre is one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history. Maybe not Top 5, or even Top 10, but Top 15. Depending on your viewpoint, he held the Packers hostage most of the last four years as he drug out his decision on retirement, even holding news conferences to tell us he hadn't made a decision yet. But he's forgiven because he hasn't missed a game in I don't know how long, even after his dad passed away and there were other family issues. I can't say I blame the Packers brass for giving him the cold shoulder. The only problem is that, unfortunately for Ted Thompson, Favre has become a demigod to the cheeseheads, reaching a stature that is almost above the Pack. My only question is, when they induct him in the Hall of Fame, will they do the typical bust, or will they having a bronzed butt with John Madden's lips on a cheek? Zing!
It's pretty cool watching our new building go up. The change was amazing from the time we left for our trip on June 9th and when we made it back on July 6th. Now when we tell people it's at 360 and 183, they'll know exactly what we're talking about. We won't have to say it's close to the Arboretum or across from the Gateway shopping center (centre if you're from across the pond). God is good!
Olympics
It's cool enough that they're starting on 8.8.08.
It's even cooler that it's happening in Beijing. Why? Because the word Beijing has three dotted letters in succession. It looks cooler than Fiji because the letters are in the middle.
It's the simple things in life.
It's even cooler that it's happening in Beijing. Why? Because the word Beijing has three dotted letters in succession. It looks cooler than Fiji because the letters are in the middle.
It's the simple things in life.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Welcome Back Cotter!
I was gone for three weeks, so I had the expectation that most of my work would be done for me so I didn't have to deal with the whole "R is only gone for a few days, let's just leave everything for him to do when he gets back" thing. Boy was I wrong. Honestly, there was an extenuating circumstance, namely that our active ingredient we manufacture was going through process validation, which meant three successive, successful batches. All of those were released during my time gone. So I didn't have to deal with that and the circus our lab becomes during the release testing. But when I got back I had, quite literally, 100 tests in my various queues. That is, in a word, unprecedented.
Knowing I had a lot of work ahead of me, and since the girls were up at 5AM, I went in an hour early and stayed a little past 5 even though our CEO had let us off two hours early. I went in for three hours on Saturday, even though it was a holiday weekend, and took some work home.
This proved to be invaluable and made last week much more manageable than it would've been otherwise. So, work has been good, although it was quite overwhelming at first.
Knowing I had a lot of work ahead of me, and since the girls were up at 5AM, I went in an hour early and stayed a little past 5 even though our CEO had let us off two hours early. I went in for three hours on Saturday, even though it was a holiday weekend, and took some work home.
This proved to be invaluable and made last week much more manageable than it would've been otherwise. So, work has been good, although it was quite overwhelming at first.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Far West Asia
We've been here for a little under two days. I'd like to share a few cultural experiences we've had along the way.
Their keyboard is slightly different than ours. Instead of a period, it's a capital squiggly C and in place of the 'i' is an 'i' without the dot. I learned that the non-dotted 'i' is pronounced 'uh' and the dotted version is 'ee'.
They like to point at you and call you a foreigner. I remember our friend PVA regaled us with a story one time of how a little boy was walking by with his mother and pointed at him saying "Foreigner! Forgeigner!" He shot back at him with "East Asian! East Asian!" I wanted to do this, but I don't know the Far Western equivalent.
Yesterday when we went to have a picnic on the waterfront, an old convertible came past with a guy banging a drum and the driver honking the horn. Seated in the middle, in the place of honor, was a young boy, probably ten years of age, in a white robe with a white hat upon his head. The occassion? Circumcision. It's common for boys 7-14. I believe I can speak on behalf of all mankind when I cringe and say OUCH!
Kids are adored here. Not like they are in the states with the grandparents. Everbody loves kids. Especially pale ones with blonde hair. It's not uncommon for high school boys to come up to kids and want to hold them. Tonight, two gents came up to S after we got ice cream and water and gave her the ole coochie-coo. I could feel C's skin crawl as they did it. I've been with her long enough that I did the same. She suggested that we Purell her face.
Beating the heat: Today was 100 and it's going to be the coolest day of the week. Kabob says 107 is in the forecast for later this week. It plumb wore us out today. It really hit M hard, especially after her and Chickpea were up till midnight last night before falling asleep in Chick's room. We were eating dinner and Kabob noticed her starting to nod off. I excused her and she left the room. I thought she might be playing in Chick's room quietly like she has several times. But when C went to look for her, this is what she found in our room. Poor sweetheart. She even fell back asleep after S woke her up when we put her down.
I consulted my fact-checking team and she confirmed this is the first time M has ever fallen asleep before S. Both girls asleep by 8:30. We can actually have a significant amount of adult interaction with our hosts!
Monday, June 16, 2008
Sunday, Sunday. So Good To Me
Not a bad Father's Day.
C took care of the girls with Tio & Tia and let me sleep in till 11:30. I don't know when the last time it was that I slept in that late. It must've been my last semester in college, which would've been upwards of seven years ago.
We went to the beach and enjoyed some time in the sand and sea. There was a fun paddle game that Tio brought and we had a max 88 consecutive hits between us. That may not sound impressive until you factor in dodging people walking by and the wind blowing in off the Mediterranean.
Then I got some good snuggles from S after she woke up from nap. Since she's such a mommy leech, it's VERY few and far between that she'll just stay still in my arms and nuzzle up to me.
Week two begins today.
C took care of the girls with Tio & Tia and let me sleep in till 11:30. I don't know when the last time it was that I slept in that late. It must've been my last semester in college, which would've been upwards of seven years ago.
We went to the beach and enjoyed some time in the sand and sea. There was a fun paddle game that Tio brought and we had a max 88 consecutive hits between us. That may not sound impressive until you factor in dodging people walking by and the wind blowing in off the Mediterranean.
Then I got some good snuggles from S after she woke up from nap. Since she's such a mommy leech, it's VERY few and far between that she'll just stay still in my arms and nuzzle up to me.
Week two begins today.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Adaptation
There are a lot of things different in Espana than America.
1. Traffic. They incorporate circles with liberty and the rules are quite different. You have to constantly be on your guard. And it doesn't help with all the motos zipping around.
2. Schedule. Namely, everything is done 2-3 hours later than in los Estados Unidos. We've been eating "early" dinners at 7:30. We normally sup at 5:15.
3. Scenery. Sure Austin is green, but you can't look out your balcony and see the Mediterranean Sea in front of you and a mountain range to your left.
4. Currency. Wow the dollar is taking a beating! It's about 1.5 dollars per Euro. I have a better understanding about what the folks are going through over here. Even if you get a steal of a deal on anything, it still kicks your bank account's butt.
5. Trash. It's all over the place. You know how Texas has those signs that say "It's unlAWFUL to litter" and "Don't Mess With Texas!"? It's just like that, except the exact opposite. Graffiti is all over the place. It's not just limited to gang-infested areas. We walked to the supermarket and in the tunnel there was a graffiti with a combo Mickey Mouse/skeleton head that said "Mickey Mouse must die!" Those anarchists are so nice. I'll try to get a foto of it and post it later.
6. Five-Second Rule. Not Applicable. The people over here train their kids with "Caca! No en la boca!" whenever something hits the ground. Tio warned us of it and we heard a lady use it on her grandson.
7. Manners. If you don't cut in line you must be either stupid or slow. No feet on the coffee table or chairs/sofa because you've most likely been walking around in sandals all day. Now I better understand the washing of feet.
8. Laundry. Whereas in the states people are wont to air their dirty laundry, here it is not uncommon to see all types of clothing hanging out to dry on the balcony.
1. Traffic. They incorporate circles with liberty and the rules are quite different. You have to constantly be on your guard. And it doesn't help with all the motos zipping around.
2. Schedule. Namely, everything is done 2-3 hours later than in los Estados Unidos. We've been eating "early" dinners at 7:30. We normally sup at 5:15.
3. Scenery. Sure Austin is green, but you can't look out your balcony and see the Mediterranean Sea in front of you and a mountain range to your left.
4. Currency. Wow the dollar is taking a beating! It's about 1.5 dollars per Euro. I have a better understanding about what the folks are going through over here. Even if you get a steal of a deal on anything, it still kicks your bank account's butt.
5. Trash. It's all over the place. You know how Texas has those signs that say "It's unlAWFUL to litter" and "Don't Mess With Texas!"? It's just like that, except the exact opposite. Graffiti is all over the place. It's not just limited to gang-infested areas. We walked to the supermarket and in the tunnel there was a graffiti with a combo Mickey Mouse/skeleton head that said "Mickey Mouse must die!" Those anarchists are so nice. I'll try to get a foto of it and post it later.
6. Five-Second Rule. Not Applicable. The people over here train their kids with "Caca! No en la boca!" whenever something hits the ground. Tio warned us of it and we heard a lady use it on her grandson.
7. Manners. If you don't cut in line you must be either stupid or slow. No feet on the coffee table or chairs/sofa because you've most likely been walking around in sandals all day. Now I better understand the washing of feet.
8. Laundry. Whereas in the states people are wont to air their dirty laundry, here it is not uncommon to see all types of clothing hanging out to dry on the balcony.
Prayer Requests
Thank you for all your prayers so far. They have been working. Please keep it up.
I have been a lot more mindful of not sinning in my anger. While I haven't responded only in love, it's been good for the most part.
Please pray for C. She got a sinus infection and is on some antibiotics. Please pray that these meds will work well.
Thanks,
R
I have been a lot more mindful of not sinning in my anger. While I haven't responded only in love, it's been good for the most part.
Please pray for C. She got a sinus infection and is on some antibiotics. Please pray that these meds will work well.
Thanks,
R
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Recap - Travel
Time flies when you're having fun. It also flies when you're stressed and tired, too.
All in all, it hasn't been that bad. Or at least that's what I keep telling myself.
M had a beast of a time with the first two flights' descents. We didn't get the nose drops in quick enough and she wailed at the pain in her ears. We apologized to those around us, but in general they responded by telling us what a good job the girls did and what great parents we were. We were very happy to hear those kind words.
Things did not go smoothly from the outset. We arrived at ABIA to find out that our flight to O'Hare was canceled due to weather and they were working with Air France to get us on another flight. Tom from United did a superb job getting us taken care of. At one point he asked if we wanted to come back Tuesday and we declined. Thankfully we got there 2 hours early, or we probably would've been one of the number of people on standby that were left mad and waiting as we taxied down the runway. I had the pleasure of getting the extra search. They had flagged M's ticket too, but the nice FSA gentleman saw she was only 3 and took care of things. The flight to Hotlanta was uneventful. The girls had a great time on their first flight. S was cracking up as M kept opening and closing the window. It's such a joy when those belly laughs come out. At the airport they had a nice underground train to take you to and from the terminals, so we opted to take a ride to get Chick-Fil-A nuggets for the girls instead of Mickey Dees. We have plenty of time, said I. We got back to the gate just in time to board.
As we left the ATL for Paris, a storm was coming in. M didn't care for the lightning and wanted to keep the "door" closed. The staff were quite helpful and gave the girls each a little gift. M got a purse that had a card game and a small numbers puzzle. S got a little green crab with a mouse in it. The meal wasn't too bad. M didn't want any of the ravioli she was given, but munched down on the brownie. Oh well. The girls didn't fall asleep till about 10:30 or so. S slept all the way until we arrived in Paris. M not so much. She woke up with 3-4 hours left in the flight to go to the restroom, which was good because Daddy forgot to put a pull-up on her before she fell asleep. But, as she did during our Nebraska trip, she was fairly quiet while she was awake. C got her to fall back asleep maybe 45 minutes before our arrival and she woke up several minutes after we landed. Our experience at CDG was rather fateful. We got a little lost and finally got to our terminal. We found the way to our gate, but the person had a hard time finding our boarding passes and her disdain for us was so palpable you could cut it with a knife. Thankfully there was a kind man who helped us out and we were able to board our final flight of the day. The mean woman was indignant with him too. I didn't understand her French, but her tone and body language said "You've got to be kidding me!" I think if she rolled her eyes more they might've just stayed in the back of her head.
So we get on the AirEuropa flight to Malaga and the lady says 'Hola'. I respond with 'Buenos Tardes'. I said a couple of other things to her in my best Spanish accent, but either she didn't understand me or she didn't want to. The overall service wasn't too bad, although with only one working toilet in economy, the line got a little long. As the plane touched down, a woman next to us started clapping feverishly and was soon joined by others lending their approval. So did we just happen to get a good pilot that day? Was she a frequent traveler on this route and an uneventful landing isn't routine? Does she have some disorder where she just gets overexcited about normal things. Maybe she was a cheerleader and is always so happy.
We got our bags and only a minute later Tio walked in the door to greet us. He only had to shell out 15 cents for his parking. He fit all the suitcases and the stroller in the trunk and off we went in his Primera. It was a short drive to their apartment and we were in Malaga! Tragedy almost struck, however, as it took us quite some time to find M's pink night-night. C finally found it in one of the backpacks. Phew!! That is one thing we cannot do without.
Praise the Lord!!
All in all, it hasn't been that bad. Or at least that's what I keep telling myself.
M had a beast of a time with the first two flights' descents. We didn't get the nose drops in quick enough and she wailed at the pain in her ears. We apologized to those around us, but in general they responded by telling us what a good job the girls did and what great parents we were. We were very happy to hear those kind words.
Things did not go smoothly from the outset. We arrived at ABIA to find out that our flight to O'Hare was canceled due to weather and they were working with Air France to get us on another flight. Tom from United did a superb job getting us taken care of. At one point he asked if we wanted to come back Tuesday and we declined. Thankfully we got there 2 hours early, or we probably would've been one of the number of people on standby that were left mad and waiting as we taxied down the runway. I had the pleasure of getting the extra search. They had flagged M's ticket too, but the nice FSA gentleman saw she was only 3 and took care of things. The flight to Hotlanta was uneventful. The girls had a great time on their first flight. S was cracking up as M kept opening and closing the window. It's such a joy when those belly laughs come out. At the airport they had a nice underground train to take you to and from the terminals, so we opted to take a ride to get Chick-Fil-A nuggets for the girls instead of Mickey Dees. We have plenty of time, said I. We got back to the gate just in time to board.
As we left the ATL for Paris, a storm was coming in. M didn't care for the lightning and wanted to keep the "door" closed. The staff were quite helpful and gave the girls each a little gift. M got a purse that had a card game and a small numbers puzzle. S got a little green crab with a mouse in it. The meal wasn't too bad. M didn't want any of the ravioli she was given, but munched down on the brownie. Oh well. The girls didn't fall asleep till about 10:30 or so. S slept all the way until we arrived in Paris. M not so much. She woke up with 3-4 hours left in the flight to go to the restroom, which was good because Daddy forgot to put a pull-up on her before she fell asleep. But, as she did during our Nebraska trip, she was fairly quiet while she was awake. C got her to fall back asleep maybe 45 minutes before our arrival and she woke up several minutes after we landed. Our experience at CDG was rather fateful. We got a little lost and finally got to our terminal. We found the way to our gate, but the person had a hard time finding our boarding passes and her disdain for us was so palpable you could cut it with a knife. Thankfully there was a kind man who helped us out and we were able to board our final flight of the day. The mean woman was indignant with him too. I didn't understand her French, but her tone and body language said "You've got to be kidding me!" I think if she rolled her eyes more they might've just stayed in the back of her head.
So we get on the AirEuropa flight to Malaga and the lady says 'Hola'. I respond with 'Buenos Tardes'. I said a couple of other things to her in my best Spanish accent, but either she didn't understand me or she didn't want to. The overall service wasn't too bad, although with only one working toilet in economy, the line got a little long. As the plane touched down, a woman next to us started clapping feverishly and was soon joined by others lending their approval. So did we just happen to get a good pilot that day? Was she a frequent traveler on this route and an uneventful landing isn't routine? Does she have some disorder where she just gets overexcited about normal things. Maybe she was a cheerleader and is always so happy.
We got our bags and only a minute later Tio walked in the door to greet us. He only had to shell out 15 cents for his parking. He fit all the suitcases and the stroller in the trunk and off we went in his Primera. It was a short drive to their apartment and we were in Malaga! Tragedy almost struck, however, as it took us quite some time to find M's pink night-night. C finally found it in one of the backpacks. Phew!! That is one thing we cannot do without.
Praise the Lord!!
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Mister Fix-It
As a man, you want to be able to fix things that are broken and perform the basic tasks in the house.
The light-bulb on our garage-door opener cannot stay lit. I bought those special bulbs specifically designed for the opener, but it only took a couple of days before their weak filaments broke. I had an idea. Those newfangled compact fluorescent bulbs don't have filaments. I installed one of those puppies last night. We'll see how long it lasts.
The driver's-side light bulb went out in the car a couple of weeks ago. I found a web thread that discussed how to do it and it sounded simple enough. Doesn't it always seem that way? The final line was "The whole job takes 5 minutes to do. When you have done it once you will kick yourself as to how easy it is." Maybe my problem is that we have a 2002 Sonata and not a 2003. I ended up taking off the lamp assembly and got the new bulb in easy enough. The tough part was getting the spring back on. As most men do, I didn't pay enough attention when taking the spring off to figure out how to get it back on. (Ladies, please try your best to stifle your laughter) So I had to open up the passenger's-side to see how the spring was done. Five minutes later I had that puppy in there. Sheesh! So it took me 30 minutes in all. But hey, if you need a bulb replaced on an '02 Sonata, I'm your man.
Our poor lawn mower sounds like its drunk lately. It'll go puuuuurrrrrrr, cough, cough, wheeze, puuuuurrrrrr, cough, cough, wheeze. Repeat ad nauseum. Today I changed the oil and spark plug. The oil was this blue color and opaque; that didn't look so bad until the new stuff I put in was this blue and clear. I pulled the spark plug out and it was as black as night with the blackness caked on. The new one was nice and shiny silver. We'll see on Monday if it works or if it's a different problem.
But I feel extra manly today. Next thing to do: rinse out the air filter.
The light-bulb on our garage-door opener cannot stay lit. I bought those special bulbs specifically designed for the opener, but it only took a couple of days before their weak filaments broke. I had an idea. Those newfangled compact fluorescent bulbs don't have filaments. I installed one of those puppies last night. We'll see how long it lasts.
The driver's-side light bulb went out in the car a couple of weeks ago. I found a web thread that discussed how to do it and it sounded simple enough. Doesn't it always seem that way? The final line was "The whole job takes 5 minutes to do. When you have done it once you will kick yourself as to how easy it is." Maybe my problem is that we have a 2002 Sonata and not a 2003. I ended up taking off the lamp assembly and got the new bulb in easy enough. The tough part was getting the spring back on. As most men do, I didn't pay enough attention when taking the spring off to figure out how to get it back on. (Ladies, please try your best to stifle your laughter) So I had to open up the passenger's-side to see how the spring was done. Five minutes later I had that puppy in there. Sheesh! So it took me 30 minutes in all. But hey, if you need a bulb replaced on an '02 Sonata, I'm your man.
Our poor lawn mower sounds like its drunk lately. It'll go puuuuurrrrrrr, cough, cough, wheeze, puuuuurrrrrr, cough, cough, wheeze. Repeat ad nauseum. Today I changed the oil and spark plug. The oil was this blue color and opaque; that didn't look so bad until the new stuff I put in was this blue and clear. I pulled the spark plug out and it was as black as night with the blackness caked on. The new one was nice and shiny silver. We'll see on Monday if it works or if it's a different problem.
But I feel extra manly today. Next thing to do: rinse out the air filter.
See You In July
As I left the lab yesterday, I was able to say that with a big grin on my face.
I'll be out of the office for the rest of the month of June, right at the end of the quarter. If you think about it, pray that C Corp and APL will continue to prosper while I'm not there. I think I left them in pretty good shape with only one unfinished project and all my instruments maintained. The great thing about being out three weeks is that they can't just leave all my work for me when I get back. They'll actually have to do it. :o)
I'll be out of the office for the rest of the month of June, right at the end of the quarter. If you think about it, pray that C Corp and APL will continue to prosper while I'm not there. I think I left them in pretty good shape with only one unfinished project and all my instruments maintained. The great thing about being out three weeks is that they can't just leave all my work for me when I get back. They'll actually have to do it. :o)
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
PacMan on the Up-and-Up?
There's funny and there's this:
"Since being traded to the Cowboys, Jones has tried to surround himself with a better support group. He's befriended former Cowboys Michael Irvin and Deion Sanders... Jones also has become friends with...Tank Johnson, whom the Cowboys helped return from a similar suspension last season."
Is he going to start dating Amy Winehouse too?
Perhaps he'll ask Odell Thurman or Chris Henry to rent rooms from his new Dallas digs to cut down on his living expenses.
"Since being traded to the Cowboys, Jones has tried to surround himself with a better support group. He's befriended former Cowboys Michael Irvin and Deion Sanders... Jones also has become friends with...Tank Johnson, whom the Cowboys helped return from a similar suspension last season."
Is he going to start dating Amy Winehouse too?
Perhaps he'll ask Odell Thurman or Chris Henry to rent rooms from his new Dallas digs to cut down on his living expenses.
Hockey
I'm one of those fans that will watch the Finals of just about anything. I actually enjoy watching hockey in addition to the finals. Just love the speed and the artistry with which these men handle the puck and deke a defender out of his skates.
Needless to say, I'm pumped the series is heading back to Pittsburgh for a game six. The NBC crew does an amazing job and they keep the energy going as well, if not better than, Bill Simmon's man-crush Gus Johnson. I thoroughly enjoyed Game 3. The fans were on their game. They cheered for every hit, whether the weak or the bone-crushing variety and the announcers fed off that energy and delivered an Emmy-winning performance. Pierre McGuire sits in a little glass booth between the team benches and gives us a feel for body language and things overheard. Go here for the bios of the color and studio teams.
I know one thing though: If the Pens want to win this series they need to take better care of the puck. They've had a lot of silly passes intercepted by the Wings to start odd-man rushes and there's the example of Hossa, who just can't seem to keep the puck on his stick, wasting opportunities.
Another thing I look forward to is the Canadians. It's not every day that you hear the word Calgary pronounces cal-GARY. Love it. Fires me up.
And then there's this commercial.
Needless to say, I'm pumped the series is heading back to Pittsburgh for a game six. The NBC crew does an amazing job and they keep the energy going as well, if not better than, Bill Simmon's man-crush Gus Johnson. I thoroughly enjoyed Game 3. The fans were on their game. They cheered for every hit, whether the weak or the bone-crushing variety and the announcers fed off that energy and delivered an Emmy-winning performance. Pierre McGuire sits in a little glass booth between the team benches and gives us a feel for body language and things overheard. Go here for the bios of the color and studio teams.
I know one thing though: If the Pens want to win this series they need to take better care of the puck. They've had a lot of silly passes intercepted by the Wings to start odd-man rushes and there's the example of Hossa, who just can't seem to keep the puck on his stick, wasting opportunities.
Another thing I look forward to is the Canadians. It's not every day that you hear the word Calgary pronounces cal-GARY. Love it. Fires me up.
And then there's this commercial.
Imitation
It's the sincerest form of flattery. I've now had to posts stolen from ESPN columnists. First, Mark Schlabach ripped off my 2008 College Football Preview and now comes the imminent Jayson Stark.
In this article, his second question is Can Lance Berkman or Josh Hamilton win a Triple Crown?
Thank you Jayson. This one is free. The next one will cost you.
In this article, his second question is Can Lance Berkman or Josh Hamilton win a Triple Crown?
Thank you Jayson. This one is free. The next one will cost you.
Monday, May 26, 2008
TWIB
I used to love watching This Week in Baseball when I was growing up. I love hearing Mel Allen as he went through the show.
One of the token things I always look for during the season is the batting Triple Crown: lead the league in average, homers and ribbies.
Currently, one player from each league has a shot.
In the AL, Josh Hamilton is tied for second in BA (.333 [only .005 behind leader]), second in round trippers (12 [2 behind]) and first in RBI (53 [10 ahead]).
In the NL, Lance "Men at" Berkman is second in BA (.385 [-.032]), tied for first in homers (16) and first in RBI (46 [+3]).
This is only the second year in The Show for Hamilton, so I don't see him sustaining his pace, although he wasn't that shabby last year. He's a lefty, so he'll definitely get the opportunity against a lot of righties to pad those stats, especially since the Rangers aren't exactly a murderer's row. The main question is, will he get enough plate appearances?
Oddly enough, the top two men in average in the NL are switch-hitters. An article a week or so ago about Chipper Jones mentioned how hard it is for him because he has to practice two different swings. Berkman plays at HomeRun Park, so that'll help him a bit. His stats tell us that he's on pace with his 2002 and 2006 campaigns, which were his best years for average, homers and ribbies. He's more patient at the plate this year and he's an every-day player. The question though, is will his average hold up? He's a career .304 hitter. Those '02 and '06 seasons gave us .331 and .315. Plus, he's got Albert Pujols lying in wait for him. Sir Albert is a lifetime .332 hitter and his average, homers and RBI are all higher than Berkman.
One thing these guys can't control, however, is those RBI. They're kinda danged if they do, danged if they don't if the men in front of them get on base. They're likely to see better pitches with nobody on.
It'll be an exciting race to watch.
To be continued...
One of the token things I always look for during the season is the batting Triple Crown: lead the league in average, homers and ribbies.
Currently, one player from each league has a shot.
In the AL, Josh Hamilton is tied for second in BA (.333 [only .005 behind leader]), second in round trippers (12 [2 behind]) and first in RBI (53 [10 ahead]).
In the NL, Lance "Men at" Berkman is second in BA (.385 [-.032]), tied for first in homers (16) and first in RBI (46 [+3]).
This is only the second year in The Show for Hamilton, so I don't see him sustaining his pace, although he wasn't that shabby last year. He's a lefty, so he'll definitely get the opportunity against a lot of righties to pad those stats, especially since the Rangers aren't exactly a murderer's row. The main question is, will he get enough plate appearances?
Oddly enough, the top two men in average in the NL are switch-hitters. An article a week or so ago about Chipper Jones mentioned how hard it is for him because he has to practice two different swings. Berkman plays at HomeRun Park, so that'll help him a bit. His stats tell us that he's on pace with his 2002 and 2006 campaigns, which were his best years for average, homers and ribbies. He's more patient at the plate this year and he's an every-day player. The question though, is will his average hold up? He's a career .304 hitter. Those '02 and '06 seasons gave us .331 and .315. Plus, he's got Albert Pujols lying in wait for him. Sir Albert is a lifetime .332 hitter and his average, homers and RBI are all higher than Berkman.
One thing these guys can't control, however, is those RBI. They're kinda danged if they do, danged if they don't if the men in front of them get on base. They're likely to see better pitches with nobody on.
It'll be an exciting race to watch.
To be continued...
Grey's Anatomy
So, the season is over. What are we to expect from next season?
Meredith goes into bankruptcy after spending $2000 on candles and glasses for their future house because she can't afford medical care after winds whip up the flames and give her third degree burns over 90% of her body.
Derek gets hurt in an accident on his way to tell Rose that he's going back to Meredith and is in a coma for four weeks. He and Mer are put in the same room. Yang and Rose become best friends as they spend most of their time caring for the two invalids.
The girl that lived through the trial will be pregnant and her parents will sue Seattle Grace, Derek & Meredith. Her child will be a boy and she'll name it after her dead boyfriend with Derek as his middle name.
Meredith (and Derek in absentia) will be suspended for doing the extra attempt even though it worked. The chief will also be suspended for it being at his hospital.
George will retake his intern test, but fail again by one point because he is so disturbed by the new romance between Callie & Hahn. He will then become a manny for Bailey's boy so that her husband can go back to work. Several weeks later, a scoring error will be revealed from the first test, but George decides to stay a manny, saying he has found peace and enlightenment.
Tune in this fall to see what predictions come true.
Meredith goes into bankruptcy after spending $2000 on candles and glasses for their future house because she can't afford medical care after winds whip up the flames and give her third degree burns over 90% of her body.
Derek gets hurt in an accident on his way to tell Rose that he's going back to Meredith and is in a coma for four weeks. He and Mer are put in the same room. Yang and Rose become best friends as they spend most of their time caring for the two invalids.
The girl that lived through the trial will be pregnant and her parents will sue Seattle Grace, Derek & Meredith. Her child will be a boy and she'll name it after her dead boyfriend with Derek as his middle name.
Meredith (and Derek in absentia) will be suspended for doing the extra attempt even though it worked. The chief will also be suspended for it being at his hospital.
George will retake his intern test, but fail again by one point because he is so disturbed by the new romance between Callie & Hahn. He will then become a manny for Bailey's boy so that her husband can go back to work. Several weeks later, a scoring error will be revealed from the first test, but George decides to stay a manny, saying he has found peace and enlightenment.
Tune in this fall to see what predictions come true.
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