Being sick sucks.

I hate it. I hate it even more now that I have kids. There was a time when I'd get sick and I'd lay in bed until I felt better. Yeah, not so much now. Now my girls know when I'm relaxing and they can't stand it. They go nuts. For some reason whenever I get sick (which thankfully isn't too often) and try to lay down my kids really want me to hold them. I think Jeni (my wife) puts them up to it.

There, now that I got that off my chest I feel a little better. Sometimes you just need to complain. Well, I do.

I'm sitting in a Starbucks and...

There's a dude totally dressed like a pirate. At first I thought it was just a long overcoat, but no. Totally Pirate. Big buckles, bandana...the whole 9 yards. I'm torn between sadness and respect for this guy. On the one hand, he's dressed like a pirate in a Starbucks and, you know, that's kind of sad. I mean, does he think he IS a pirate? Is he still celebrating "Talk like a pirate day?" On the other hand he is completely committed to this look. He isn't doing it half way. Does he dress this way every day? Does he just want to be Capt. Jack Sparrow? I wish I could follow him around for the rest of the day just to see what he's like.

It is comforting to know that pirates drink Starbucks too.

My messy car...

I don't know how it happened. About a month ago I decided to clean out my trash can (car) and keep it clean for a while. Let me try to explain the nastiness that is (was) my car.

I wasn't able to open the passenger side door. Well, I could open it but doing so would risk an avalanche of trash to spill out. Empty water bottles, diet coke cans, McDonald's wrappers, basically anything that was no longer useful was piled on the floor of the passenger side. This started small but grew so high that it was even with the seat. It was one level, I could place something on top of it and not have to bend down to reach it.

The back was worse. I had trash bags full of clothes that were supposed to go to Good Will months ago. Boxes of books and other crap that never made it to storage or the office or the nearest dumpster. It was embarrassing.

Of the 5 available seats only the drivers seat was open. Nice.

So one day I cleaned it out and spent $100 on a detail. I kept it looking sweet for about 3 weeks. Then, as it always does, life got crazy and my car is on it's way to trash can status again.

I honestly don't know how it happened. I do know this, I'm not happy about it. I'm so ashamed.

Back from a little blog vacation...

It seems as if I've been away for so long. Not only have I not posted in the last few days but my recent posts have been...Shall we say...Half hearted.

But that is all going to change. Here's what I've done in my time off:

• Just bought the Original Star Wars Trilogy on DVD. All though I wasn't interviewed on TV about these (nor was I invited to come along to such an interview--no problem JG) I don't think this is a waste of money. These are the originals. I will buy a new copy of any Star Wars movie that comes out. I don't always want to but I need to.
• Took the family to Disneyland. I got to go on Dumbo, Small World and the carousel. Watch out...too much fun.
• Planted some ground cover on my slope in the backyard. I'm scared to death that it will choke the life out of my trees. Fingers crossed.

As you can plainly see I have just had too full a plate to post. I'm glad all that's behind me. Just in time for the premier of The Office. Oh, I hope Jim and Pam can work things out.

Haircut...

I just got a haircut and it got me thinking...What is the socially acceptable thing to do if you don't like your new haircut? Can you tell the person who cut your hair? Is that person a barber or a stylist? How can you tell?

Here's the thing, about two years ago I was trying to grow my out my hair. About once every three or four years I think having long hair would be cool. The thing is I always have short hair so when I try to grow it out it gets to this awkward stage, between long and short.

So two years ago I walked into Toni and Guy without an appointment and asked to get a haircut. This was a bad decision, a very bad one. I told the girl (stylist?) what I wanted and she told me she'd do, "one of my favorite long cuts." I agreed and she was off, chatting and cutting away.

If you've ever gotten a terrible haircut you know that moment when you can just tell that this haircut sucks. For me this was when she pulled out the hair drier. If you've told the stylist (?) that you don't want to spend any time on your hair and the girl pulls out a hair drier you know she didn't listen. I mean honestly...a hair drier? Please.

So as she's drying my hair I can tell this is a bad thing. I am pretty non-confrontational so I didn't say anything. I feel bad because she's so proud of this haircut. I look at the reflection in the mirror and I look like Carol Brady. I'm not kidding, this was bad news.

Now I got this haircut at lunch so I need to go back to work but no WAY am I going back looking like Carol Freaking Brady. I go home and luckily Jeni's home. She tried not to laugh at me but agreed that I should shave this mop off ASAP. I had a buzz for two years after that.

Anyway, I like the haircut I have now, but what is the acceptable thing to do? Any thoughts?

So I'm torn...

They are now offering movies on iTunes which I think is pretty sweet. The only thing is they cost anywhere from $9-$13. That seems too expensive. How big is it going to be? Will it be as nice as the DVD? I mean if I watch it on my iPod that's what, a 3 or 4 inch screen? $13 for that size is just crazy. I'll probably try it though because I love technology (remember Napoleon Dynamite's brother singing that song to his bride...I love that song.)

Things I hate #2...

Membership cards. Why do we need to have a membership card to every stinking store we go to? Look. I'm all for saving money but do my keychain is getting ridiculous. Every time I go into a store to buy anything I'm asked if I have my membership card.

Other names for these cards are, value card, saving card, or my personal favorite, reward cards. Yeah that 15 cents saving is some great reward. Thanks.

It really isn't the card I have an issue with, it's more the cashier who asks for the card. If I don't have one they act insulted. It isn't a personal attack that I don't have an Albertson's card it's just that I only ran in to buy a few things and I do the majority of my shopping at Vons. Why do I need a card?

But as much as I dislike these cards, the real evil lies in the credit cards each store tries to get you to sign up for. Target, Nordstrom, you name it, it seems like every place you go into is just dying to give you 10% off if you open one of these accounts. I tell you that is just evil. Good luck getting a loan when you owe like, 30 stores a bunch of money because you've been using that convenient store credit card. Let me know how that works out for you.

Membership/reward cards and Store Credit cards...Evil and I hate them.

Five years ago...

I don't think I can post about much until I mention 9/11. I for one am not ready for all of the movies and tv shows based on this tragedy. I don't know anyone that was hurt or killed in the attacks personally but they rocked me to the core. I spent the better part of that day between tears and prayers. I have no desire to relive the feelings that went through me by watching a fictional account of the events.

I think remembering the attacks and the people who died in them is important. I think it is our responsibility to remember the 343 firefighters who lost their lives that day in order to save others. These men and women ran into the World Trade Center as it was crumbling in the attempt to save who ever they could. That is heroism.

Our lives as Americans has forever been changed as a result of 9/11, there is no denying that. Before then most of us never worried about what color our threat level was at. Until then Anthrax was a band that did a rock-rap song with Public Enemy. Until then it wasn't necessary to arrive at the airport 3 hours ahead of take off to make it through security. Until then terrorism was something that happened to other countries, not America.

Are we any safer today than we were five years ago? I don't know. Men and women much smarter than me (I hope) are doing all they can to ensure our safety. I do know that when I see pictures of the World Trade Center in flames and collapsing my heart breaks and I loose my breath. I do know that families lost loved ones as a result of that day. I do know that 9/11 in all likelihood will never be forgotten. I know I won't forget.

Did anyone else see this gleaming jewel of television???

This show Celebrity Duets is awesome for all the wrong reasons.

Like a car wreck you can't turn away from this show sucks you in right from the start. It is obvious that this is Fox's attempt to cash in on the Dancing with the Stars, Skating with Celebrities thing.

The singing is horrible. If this show was American Idol, these "stars" would be on the first episode with Simon laughing at them. Even the good songs are bad. It hurts to listen to. But that is when the magic happens. I dare you to watch it and turn away. Oh, you'll want to. Your skin will crawl and you'll feel embarrassed for everyone involved in the show, but you won't be able to tear your eyes off the screen. The saddest thing is watching these "stars" sing and then think they were awesome.

You just know we're in the end times when shows like this hit the air.

I don't really have anything to write about today...

But I have this HUGE project at work and I am putting it off for as long as possible. I have fooled myself into believing that if I work great under pressure. The truth is I'm procrastinating.

The perfect food...

I just had a wonderful breakfast of the perfect food. It turns out that this is actually the perfect meal. Two Egg McMuffins and a large Diet Coke...perfect.

If you love Diet Coke you owe it to yourself to have a McDonalds Diet Coke on a regular basis. I think they must have their own recipe or something because it is simply divine.

Egg McMuffins are delicious and good for you. I don't care what that Morgan Spurlock guy says.

I usually try to eat really healthy but every once in a while you need a couple of Egg McMuffins. If you only eat oatmeal and tuna all day you will go crazy. This is proven by science.

Also, it turns out that McMuffins are actually good cold too.

I thought this was pretty cool. It is a list of things that college Freshman have grown up with. Check out number 30.

Very interesting...

I have done my best to avoid making this blog all about my daughters and the cute things they do. I am totally one of those parents who could easily talk about nothing except my kids. They are awesome and make me laugh every day.

But I also appreciate that this can become tiresome to those who don't either a)know my kids or, b) have kids themselves. But I love being a dad. I love other dads who love being dads. I love hearing stories about other people's kids. Usually because then I get to tell a story about my kids and my kids are awesome. So here's a story about one of my kids...

Maggie is two and getting to be really funny. She knows how to make me laugh and has a good time doing it. Her vocabulary gets bigger every day and it amazes me when we have conversations.

Last night Maggie fell down...hard. Jeni and I aren't the kind of parents that freak out every time she falls down. She doesn't usually cry when she falls down. Last night she was running around and ran right into someone that didn't see her. It wasn't his fault but she went down hard and hit her head on this concrete bench. From my viewpoint it looked like she hit the corner and I thought we were for sure going to the hospital.

Luckily I was wrong. Although she face planted she just got a bump and a scrape on her forehead. My adrenaline was pumping and my heart was racing. It was scary. I could tell she was ok but I couldn't calm my body down. I was reminded of how much I love this little girl.

Maggie and Chloe are...I can't even think of the words, but I guess the best way to say it is, Everything.

I know this was a small thing, there wasn't even any blood, and I'm sure I'm overreacting, but it was such a good reminder to make sure I tell the girls I love them everyday and take care of them as much as possible.

I refuse to become that guy that follows his kids around making sure they don't get hurt. Maggie isn't going to start wearing a helmet. But I only have a few years to really take care of them and teach them that they are amazing kids. Last night was a good reminder.

Too Late...

All my life I have wanted to be cool. Today, for the first time, I realized that it is now too late.

I am not now, nor will I ever be cool. This is not an easy thing to admit. I have lived in denial of this for so long but now it seems so clear. Let's consider the facts:

1. Favorite Movie--The Empire Strikes Back. While this is the cool choice among other Star Wars fans it only makes you cool to them...you're still a Star Wars geek. You're even worse if you call it ESB like I do.
2. Favorite Book--The Harry Potter Series. I love these stinking books. I think they are amazing. The fact that 11 year olds all across the world agree with me offers little solace.
3. Make and model of car--Ford Explorer Sport. In itself not an inherently uncool car...unti..
4. Person car was purchased from--my mom...ouch.
5. First Concert--George Michaels. I have never admitted this to anyone at any time but I actually bought a "Faith" T-shirt. Now I'm getting depressed.
6. I have seen Grease 2 and Footloose too many times to count.
7. I know all the words to the "Jojo's Circus" theme song. This is slightly made better by the fact that I have small children who love Jojo. The fact that I need to see how each one ends is probably a bad sign.
8. I care WAY too much about my lawn. I spend far too much time and far too much money on trying to make it grow and stay green. I also got very excited when I planted some fruit trees this summer.
9. I have a Palm Pilot phone. This isn't sleek or shiny. I don't have downloaded ringtones. It is huge and gets hot when I talk on the phone. It is probably shrinking my brain. Not cool.
10. I have never seen a single episode of Lost, The OC, Prison Break or 24. The show Laguna Beach makes me tired and sad and last year I got way too into American Idol.

I'm going to stop there because I think you get the point. If I were 16 I might be able to work on a few of these but at 30 I think it's just easier to accept that I am not cool.

Oh well.