"How 'Bout Them Rangers!"

Okay, so as of today we're a game back of the dreaded LA Angels. And sure, our resident closer Coco Cordero might as well be throwing volleyballs the way he's blowing saves for us. But maybe this could be our year.

Went to the Texas/Tampa Bay game last Saturday night thanks to Pop scoring some boss seats (7 rows behind home plate). Almost didn't make it since we couldn't seem to find each other but we eventually...you know...found each other. Here's what ya missed:



Dad: "The line's too long. I wanna go home RIGHT NOW!"
Me: "But Dad, we didn't come all the way out here just for hot dogs did we?"
Dad: "Well...no...I guess not..."
Me: "I didn't think so."
Dad: "I also want cotton candy!!"
Me: (sigh)



We were leading 5-2 and brought on Coco Cordero to close it. Big mistake. Quickly gave up a 3 run homer to...someone...but Michael Young drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 9th to win it!!



Uh oh! They've turned off all the lights! Was kind of neat when they did that. Felt like a big campout with 30,000 other people.



Fireworks! Whatever made them have a fireworks show on this night is beyond me. Was a lot of fun though. They played a lot of "one hit wonder" songs during the show. Although I must disagree about "Come on Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners being their only hit. They had dozens of great songs. Just that nobody ever heard them because they would have overshadowed 'Eileen'. Right?



Last but not least, what kind of guy would I be without displaying my latest acquisition? Saw this at Toys R Us for $14.99 PLUS it was the last one left, so...what choice did I have? This one I may let Emmy or Zach play with if they request it. It's like condiments from that fast food place close by. "Ketchup available upon request".

"I Have A Dream..."

For me, dreams consist of either A) hanging out at the house I grew up in which we sold in 1998 or B) having a lot of money and just about to spend it when I wake up. Last night was kind of a twist. I was in my garage and noticed that one of my Phantom Menace toys was getting kind of warped due to the dizzying array of temperatures here in Texas. So I took it off of its special peg hook and *gasp* the plastic seperated from the package!! What's strange (or cool) is that it didn't bother me...like at all! I always thought the day I (voluntarily or not) opened one of my babies I would feel this huge wave of guilt and remorse. But strangely I did not. I think this is a huge breakthrough mentally for me. Maybe when Zach gets a little older (14) I will break down and open a few of them. Ideally my plan is to stock up on this stuff now so that maybe in 20 years or so I can make a little profit on it. The problem is there are a lot of people that are doing the same thing so my stuff may not be worth much. So if worse comes to worse, I can open them up and bring my idea to fruition. What idea is that? To make a live action comic book using my toys and whatever cool settings I can find (or make) outside to create something really cool. Yahoo! Photos will let you make your own photo book for like $30 or $40. This could be really great...someday. I have spoken to Dan about that in the past and he thought it would be cool as well. He opens his stuff and he's having more fun then me, so...

What dreams make ya'll say "Wha...?"

"Old Friends..."

...can come back into your life at almost any moment. Years and years ago (1996 to be exact) I was at a crossroads in my life. I was living with my grandparents, had no job, no money, bills and only had one job in my life that I really enjoyed. October 22, 1996 was the day I turned my life around. I remember feeling so sorry for myself that I just started crying and praying at the same time. It was at that point I realized I could not go on alone. I needed His help. God's love and support. A cool chap I met on here has really brought that into focus but I'll get to him later. SO after abuot three hours of praying, I fell asleep on the floor of my room.

When I woke up, something told me to start driving, so I did. And I passed a Papa John's Pizza place along the way. And it said "Now hiring". I was like "too weird". So I went inside and there was a guy named Mark who pretty much hired me on the spot to be a delivery driver. Turns out I enjoyed it so much that I did it for the next six years. But it all started with him. In 1999 we lost touch and it wasn't until this week that he found me courtesy of my site and e-mailed me. I responded that night but haven't heard anything back yet. Was good to hear from him again. The only boss I didn't despise and or/loathe.

Went to the Japanese Gardens a couple weeks ago for their annual festival/party. Here's what ya missed:









Wanna give a shout out to Benson, a fellow Bloggah like me. Seems like all we hear about on the news is mothers hurting their children, children hurting their parents, I could go on. But this guy is proof that kids can grow up and become something truly awe-inspiring. He's graduating college this year over in Singapore and will change the world, I can feel it. He mentioned me in one of his posts and had some cool things to say so I told him I would return the favor one day. Only took three months bro but I did it! Visit his site if you have a chance...will get you out of the box.

"Wedding Crasher Rules"

Saw this at IMDB.com today and I knew I had to make a note of them since who knows when they would surface again. Having seen this movie ad nauseum I always wondered if there were actually a set of rules for the crashing type. And here they are:

Trivia: The Rules of Wedding Crashing:
Rule #1: Never leave a fellow Crasher behind. Crashers take care of their own.
Rule #2: Never use your real name.
Rule #3: When crashing an Indian wedding, identify yourself as a well-known immigrant officer or a county lawyer.
Rule #4: No one goes home alone.
Rule #5: Never let a girl come between you and a fellow crasher.
Rule #6: Do not sit in the corner and sulk. It draws attention in a negative way. Draw attention to yourself, but on your own terms.
Rule #7: Blend in by standing out.
Rule #8: Be the life of the party.
Rule #9: Whatever it takes to get in, get in.
Rule #10: Invitations are for pussies.
Rule #11: Sensitive is good.
Rule #12: When it stops being fun, break something.
Rule #13: Bridesmaids are desperate: console them.
Rule #14: You're a distant relative of a dead cousin.
Rule #15: Fight the urge to tell the truth.
Rule #16: Always have an up-to-date family tree.
Rule #17: Every female wedding guest deserves a wedding night.
Rule #18: You love animals and children.
Rule #19: Toast in the native language if you know the native language and have practiced the toast. Do not wing it.
Rule #20: The older the better, the younger the better (see Rule below)
Rule #21: Definitely make sure she's
18.
Rule #22: You have a wedding and a reception to seal the deal. Period. No overtime.
Rule #23: There's nothing wrong with having seconds. Provided there's enough women to go around.
Rule #24: If you get outed, leave calmly. Do not run.
Rule #25: You understand she heard that but that's not what you meant.
Rule #26: Of course you love her.
Rule #27: Don't over drink. The machinery must work in order to close.
Rule #28: Make sure there's an open bar.
Rule #29: Always be a team player. Everyone needs a little help now and again.
Rule #30: Know the playbook so you can call an audible.
Rule #31: If you call an audible, always make sure your fellow Crashers know.
Rule #32: Don't commit to a relative unless you're absolutely sure that they have a pulse.
Rule #33: Never go back to your place.
Rule #34: Be gone by sunrise.
Rule #35: Breakfast is for closers.
Rule #36: Your favorite movie is "The English Patient".
Rule #37: At the reception, one hard drink or two beers max. A drunk crasher is a sloppy crasher.
Rule #38: Girls in hats tend to be proper and rarely give it up.
Rule #39: The way to a woman's bed is through the dance floor.
Rule #40: Dance with old folks and the kids. The girls will think you're "sweet."
Rule #41: Never hit on the bride -- it's a one way ticket to the pavement
Rule #42: Try not to break anything, unless you're not having fun.
Rule #43: At the service, sit in the fifth row. It's close enough to wedding party to seem like you're an invited guest. Never sit in the back. The back row just smells like crashing.
Rule #44: Create an air of mystery that involves some painful experience when interacting with the girl you're after. But don't talk about it.
Rule #45: Always remember your fake name! Rehearse it in advance and make sure you know your fellow Crasher's code-name as well!
Rule #46: The Rules of Wedding Crashing are sacred. Don't sully them by "improvising."
Rule #47: You forgot your invitation in your rush to get to the church.
Rule #48: Make sure all the single women at the wedding know you're there because you've just suffered either a terrible breakup or the death of your fiancée.
Rule #49: Always work into the conversation: "Yeah, I have tons of money. But how does one buy happiness?"
Rule #50: Be pensive! It draws out the "healer" in women.
Rule #51: Always pull out in time.
Rule #52: Tell any woman you're interested in that you'd love to stay put but you promised to help out at the homeless shelter today.
Rule #53: It's time to put your Drama Lessons in practice! Get choked up during the service. The girls will think you're "sensitive". Bring a slice of onion or artificial tears if necessary.
Rule #54: Avoid virgins. They're too clingy.
Rule #55: If pressed, tell people you're related to Uncle John. Everyone has an Uncle John.
Rule #56: Don't fixate on one woman. ALWAYS have a back-up.
Rule #57: When seeing a rival Crasher, do not interact: merely acknowledge each other with a tug on the earlobe and gracefully move on.
Rule #58: The Ferrari's in the shop.
Rule #59: If two rival crashers pick the same girl, the crasher with the least seniority will respectfully yield.
Rule #60: No "chicken dancing": no exceptions.
Rule #61: When crashing out of state, request permission from the local Wedding Crasher chapter.
Rule #62: No more than two weddings a weekend. More and your game gets sloppy. You'll also attract unwanted notice.
Rule #63: Bring an extra umbrella when it rains. Courtesy opens more legs than charm.
Rule #64: Always save room for cake.
Rule #65: When your crash partner fails, you fail. No man is an island.
Rule #66: Smile! You're having the time of your life.
Rule #67: Mix it up a little. You can't always be the man with the haunted past.
Rule #68: Dance with the Bride's grandmother.
Rule #69: No sex on the altar. Confessionals, okay. Chair lofts, better.
Rule #70: Two shutouts in a row? It's time to take a week off. Ask yourself: what is it that is getting in the way of my happiness?
Rule #71: Research, research, research the wedding party. And when you are done researching, research some more.
Rule #72: Studies have shown that women have a more developed sense of smell. Breath mints: small cost, big yield.
Rule #73: Keep interactions with the parents of the bride and groom to a minimum.
Rule #74: In case of emergency, refer to the rulebook.
Rule #75:
Rule #76: No excuses. Play like a champion.
Rule #77: Carry extra protection at ALL times.
Rule #78: The unmarried female rabbi: is she fair game? Of course she is.
Rule #79: The tables furthest from the kitchen always get served first.
Rule #80: Stop, look, listen. At weddings. In life.
Rule #81: Occasionally bring a gift: you're getting sex without having to buy dinner, so you can afford a blender.
Rule #82: Always think ahead but always stay in the moment. Reconcile this paradox and you'll not only get the girl, you might also get peace of mind.
Rule #83: Don't let the ring bearer bum your smokes. His parents may start to ask questions.
Rule #84: Stay clear of the wedding planner. They may recognize you and start to wonder.
Rule #85: Don't use the "I have two months to live" bit: not cool, not effective.
Rule #86: Shoes say a lot about the man.
Rule #87: Always choose large weddings. More choice. Easier to blend.
Rule #88: You're from out of town. ALWAYS.
Rule #89: Know something about the place you say you are from, whether be from another US state or another country. Texas is too-played out. For some reason, England, Germany or even New Hampshire seem to work. Master the accents convincingly, and you've nailed them!
Rule #90: Of course you dream of one day having children.
Rule #91: Never dance to "What I Like About You." It's long past time to let that song go. Someone will request it at every wedding. Don't dance to it. No matter how hot the girl.
Rule #92: Tell the bride's friends and family that you are family of the groom and visa-versa.
Rule #93: Only take one car. You never know when you'll need to make a fast escape.
Rule #94: Deep down, most people hate themselves. This knowledge is the key to most bedroom doors.
Rule #95: Try not to show off on the dance floor. This means you Jeremy.
Rule #96: Etiquette isn't old-fashioned. It's sexy.
Rule #97: Catholic weddings: the classic dilemma: painfully long ceremony: horny girls.
Rule #98: The newspaper Wedding Announcements are your racing form. Choose carefully.
Rule #99: Be judicious with cologne. Citrus tones are best.
Rule #100: Save the tuxes for "the big show" only.
Rule #101: Avoid women who were psychology majors in college. There is no kind of woman more clingy and persistent than a psychologist investigating your story later on.
Rule #102: No periwinkle colored ties, please.
Rule #103: Always have an early "appointment" the next morning.
Rule #104: Be well groomed and well-mannered.
Rule #105: Never cockblock a fellow Crasher. Cockblocking an invited guest--okay.
Rule #106: Eat plentiful, digest your food. You'll need the energy later.
Rule #107: Know when to abandon ship if it ain't floating.
Rule #108: Know your swing and salsa dancing. Girls love to get twisted around.
Rule #109: Always carry an assortment of place cards to match any wedding design.
Rule #110: Make sure your magic trick and balloon animal skills are not rusty. If the kids love it, the girls will too.
Rule #111: Never have sex with bride or groom's mother even if she is the hottest bombshell at the wedding. Just control yourself.
Rule #112: Have FUN! It's why you're there!
Rule #113: Don't look for opportunities; make them.
Rule #114: 3-4 months to wedding crash--funerals are year round!
Rule #115: Never walk away from a crasher in a funny jacket. (The rule that Jeremy makes up to insult John)

Now you know...and knowing is half the battle!!

"Toy Time!!"

Well, after much thinking and consideration, I am closing the doors on Mike's collectables due to lack of interest and inclement weather. So now I will showcase what I buy here at home base! You're all lucky sons of guns ya know:





Are these not the coolest things out there right now? Now some may argue about Beast Wars and Transformers: Cybertron but this is what they should have come out with back in 1985. Can you imagine the AMC Delorean as one? Or the 280ZX from Datsun?



Hadn't planned on getting all four of these but here we are! Got three of them already and only Bane remains. I can only assume I'll buy it if I find it.



This is too cool. Only a few of these were packaged together and of all of them these two were the neatest. Apparently they're going to race to see who is the fastest in all of Cybertron. My money's on the guy on the right. Anything that looks like fire will beat anyone.

I tell ya...buying this stuff is like breathing...can't live without it and I don't dare stop now. What's cool is I'm not going into debt doing it. I'm using existing gift cards and sold some movies and CD's I don't listen to anymore. This stuff will be worth more in 15 or 20 years anyway. Better be anyways.



Zach: "Um, a little help here?"