"It's Thanksgiving Time...In The City..."

Okay, so that's not exactly how the song goes. But the time is here for one of my favourite holidays. The truth is, we should make a habit of giving thanks all year round for what we have instead of just one day of the year. For me, there are many things that I appreciate more each day. Here are a few:

1) My job.

Now more then ever! If you ever read the papers, we just laid off 220 people. Now granted, they were mostly from IT and underwriting. Just the fact that most of the layoffs came from IT lets us know how saturated this market is. It was great 15 years ago, but now…thin ice sometimes. It was also one year ago this week that the debacle at Aegon happened which will burn like a fire in me for the rest of my life. Not in a bad way though, but in a way that I will always take care of what I need to (and then some) in my work life. I think Healthmarkets is a way better company anyway simply because people around here have a sense of humour about things. No one ever laughed at Aegon. No one. Ever. Like a bunch of mindless automatons. But here we seem to be part of a large extended family.

2) My family

I tell Emmy that the four of us are like the wheels on a car: if one isn't right, the the car doesn't go. I told her last night that one of the things I am most proud of her for is her ability to express her feelings when she is bothered about something. Zach is learning how to do that as well, although he is much louder ha ha. She is excited because this is the weekend we put up the Christmas tree and write her letter to Santa Claus! Here is the letter she wrote last year:



Now I have a feeling this year she won't be asking for much of these things. She has grown up so much and has interests in just about everything it may be a challenge to get something great for her. I still don't know what I am going to get for Cari, although she keeps hinting at what she got me will be super duper. They have the camcorder I like at Walmart for $249 on "Black Friday" this week which we may (hopefully) acquire. But I love 'em all unconditionally.

I guess I'm thankful for other things too, but it's a lot of work trying to categorize everything sometimes. This shall be our best Christmas ever.

"Kind Of A Slow Week..."

Very rarely does THAT happen! But this week has been rather uneventful. Cari and Emmy are getting ready for the Girl Scouts' annual camping trip! And boy do I wish them luck. From what I hear it is quite cold outside right now, but fortunately they have cabins to sleep in. Zach and I are planning a couple of fun things as well.

I don't usually write poems but here is one I've been kicking around:

There was a gent.
His name was Brent*.
One day Brent decided to pitch a tent.
When asked why he chose to pitch a tent,
Brent explained that his money was spent.
Spent on the rent. Every last cent.
Living in a tent was a life well spent.
This idea you could say was heaven sent.

*The name "Brent" has been changed to protect the innocent.

You know...I wasn't planning on ending this with the word "innocent" but seeing as how it rhymes with the rest of the poem, I'm keeping it!

Our man Tony Romo is back from the bench and ready to lead us to Super Bowl victory!! Okay, that's a little presumptious I guess. But man, to get back to the big show and throw down with whoever the AFC has to offer would be great. I guess I'm on the Tony Romo bandwagon. I really enjoy watching him do his thing. In fact, I even bought this in hopes that he will sign it one day:


Would you believe it is darn near impossible to find these things here in DALLAS?? Oh sure, we have a million Shaun Alexander ones around but just try to find a Cowboy in the mix. How would you describe Tony's demeanor in this picture? What's that? Can't quite see his face? Here's a close-up:


My guess would be "Suav-ee..."

They finally started playing Christmas music on 103.7 Lite FM!! Now my holiday season can begin! We even found a couple of presents already. Not that all I care about is getting presents. I do enjoy finding a present that people are not expecting when I get that chance. And now the highs are in the low 60's and the lows are in the 30's. Get your hot chocolate ready.

On a final note, if you're wondering what that poem was all about, it has to do with someone who used to be one of my closest friends and is now a shadow of his former self. I blamed myself for a long time about us growing apart and did everything I could to be a better friend to him. I would call him on his birthday and any other chance I got and not once did he ever answer, so I would leave messages. Cari actually got me past all of that by helping me understand that this was his problem and not mine. Ever since then my self-esteem has finally risen to where it needs to be. I love my life. Everyone should.

"One Great Day!!"

This was, literally, one of the most fun days I have had in a while. The temperature was a perfect 70 degrees, and our company picnic at Six Flags meant that there were hardly any lines for all of the rides, so we zipped in and zipped out as we pleased. I rode a few things too. I say this because I'm a bit of a coward when it comes to the big, bigger rides. Even the Sombrero freaks me out a little, and I've been riding that for 25 years! We stopped by Johnny Rocket's Hamburgers for lunch (on the house) and man they took care of us! Which was good because we were starving:



Zach: "Hey man...these fries are like totally far out..."
Me: "Who are you, George Carlin?"
Zach: "Who?"
Me: "I must remember to mention pop culture references that you're familiar with...which is what, Barney and the Wiggles?"
Zach: "You know it daddio."

Okay, time for a ride! One ride that kids and parents can enjoy is the antique cars on the track. Emmy shuttled me and Zach around while Cari and Emmy's friend Amanda followed us. here we are waiting in line (the one of the like three lines we had to wait in):


Emmy: "Hey Dad, how fast are these cars going?"
Me: "Lemme check the radar gun...six...six miles an hour. Just watch that rubber burn"
Zach: "Where did you get a radar gun anyway?"
Employee in the background: "Vanilla Ice Ice Baby...oh yeah..."

Part of the fun of coming to Six Flags is meeting all the Looney Tunes characters! Here we see Sylvester the Cat posing for a picture:


Zach: "Hey Dad, this giant cat makes a great backscratcher!"
Me: "Stop rubbing up against the entertainers son."
Emmy: "Can I stop smiling yet? My cheeks are throbbing!"
Sylvester: "Seriously man, get your kid off me before he wears a hole in my suit."

Then we went up the giant red tower that oversees the park, the district and most of the county. Even though the outside was sealed off with chain link fence, we all felt a little nervous being so high up...except for this guy:


Zach: "Hey Dad, what would happen if I drop this leaf down on the park?"
Me: "Well, it would pick up so much speed that it would go right through someone's arm if timed right."
Zach: "So you're saying I shouldn't drop this then?"
Me: "I didn't say that."

One of our favourite rides is the parachutes which take you up, up, up so high and then softly drop you back down to Earth. But for me, I think I had a panic attack up there. Seriously! I was terrified for my life as I was dangling up there with nothing protecting me but the bucket seat:


Seriously...it's real high up.

What trip would be complete without a visit to some of the fine patrons who attempt to fleece us from thy gold by displaying their wares in such a manner that it would be a crime to not pay for them:


Now this one I wouldn't mind having around.


Zach: "Dad, why is Bugs Bunny wearing a Batman grandmaster hat?"
Me: "Well...um..."
Zach: "Nice work there. I'm so much more educated now."


Zach: "Hey Dad, will you buy me some great Wiggles merchandise?"
Me: "Are you crazy!? Do you know how much money I've spent on you kids today?"
Zach: "Hey man...I thought your company was picking up the tab on that."
Me: "Oh yeah...well...what I meant to say is, if the company wasn't paying for all of it, do you know how much this would be costing me?"
Zach: "Pretty low Dad...pretty low..."
Me: "Ahh, forget it, have the shopkeeper tally it up!"
Zach: "Shopkeeper? Tally? What are you, 80?"

I even jumped on the carousel and rode a horse...for a little while...Cari advised me I was making it creak due to my portliness. Man, you never heard a plastic (or wooden) horse breathe a sigh of relief then when I dismounted.


When I was a kid we never went to Six Flags much. Maybe once a year. Maybe less. It's like $60 for a ticket and $10 to park, so you end up spending $70 and haven't even gotten into the park yet. Our meals were free but they would have been $11 each. For a burger! Wasn't even kobe beef either. Not that I know what that tastes like. I just heard it was pretty good.

Mom is watching the kids this weekend! Cari and I wanna go to a movie but not sure which one. I do know that Thanksgiving weekend me and my bro-in law and his son are going to see Quantam Solace!! Ever since Pierce Brosnan took over the movies got so much better. That's how young I am ha ha.

Christmas is coming closer...closer...closer.

Flasback: Halloween 2008

After it was brought to my attention that I had forgotten to include shots of our jackolanterns, I created this post just for that! This was my pumpkin:



And this is the one that Emmy made:


And here they are in their costumes. Zach is Captain Feathersword and Emmy is an evil queen!

All in all, it was a great Halloween!

"They Say It's Your Birthday!!..."

Well, it's my birthday too yeah! Well, not mine...but Zachary has turned three!! And man, not a moment too soon. The terrible twos were about to do me in! We had a great time at the carousel at the Parks Mall, although I forgot to jump on a horse and ride around! Ah well. The horse is probably thanking me for sparing him his backbone ha ha. And, since Halloween falls on the same day, I threw in some Halloween pictures as well! So here they are:


Waitresses: "Gotta dance like a chicken, gotta dance like a chicken, bawk bawk bawk bawk!"
Zach: "Help me...someone help me...I'll pay you! I got a check for $30 for my birthday! I'll sign it over!"
Me: "Aw, come on chief...only fifteen more years until we're legally able to kick you out of the house. Then you'll miss these days."
Zach: "I highly doubt that."


Emmy: "Hey Dad, how come we didn't get something like this for our front yard?"
Me: "Um, because we're not sick, demented people? Hello??"
Zach: "I highly doubt that."


Me: "Boy guys, those chiropractic visits sure are paying off! I've never seen you stand so straight."
Keri: "Can't...feel...spine..."
Dad: "Can't...sit...down..."
Me: "Troopers...all of you."

Dad's birthday was 10-7. Finally gave him his present! He liked it I guess. Here's a picture of him with the card I got him:


Dad: "Roses are red, violets are blue, I'm a schizophrenic, and so am I."
Me: "Ah heh heh..."
Dad: "Did you steal that line from What About Bob?"
Me: "Um...yeah...I'm ashamed."


Greg: "I think we're lost mates."
Anthony: "No no Greg...we're here for Zach's birthday party!"
Jeff: "He looks like he's going to eat us!"
Murray: "Sounds like I'm going to need my guitar for this, guys!"


Me: "Okay Zach, blow out the candles and make a wish!"
(Zach blows out candles)
Me: "So did your wish come true?"
Zach: "Well, no...you're still here Dad! Ha ha ha ha!!"
Me: "Oh man is that an old joke...ugh."


Mom: "Hey everyone, wanna see my Maxwell Smart impression? Missed it by...THAT much!"
Dad: "Um, yeah, that's great..."

Last Thursday we had our bonus party and as it turns out, I won the pie-eating contest! I had chosen a no sugar added peach pie for two reasons really. One, too much sugar will clog you up and you'll shut yourself down before you ever really get started. Two, I needed a fruit pie (cream pies are too hard to eat fast) and peaches are among the lesser-sweet fruits out there. I went into this blind, gluttonous free-for-all and somehow managed to keep it all down without getting my trash-bag smock dirty! Was one great time. I won $30 too! Then...while my body was handling a pound of peach pie, they had this bucket of spaghetti and jell-o and they put different coloured balls and what colour you drew decided what prize you won. There was $5, $10, a day off with pay, an hour off with pay...and the big one...one blue ball worth $20. Can ya believe I drew that one too? Quite a productive little afternoon.

Going to Six Flags on Saturday! Company is paying for all of it, plus they're closing the park down just for us, which hopefully means no long lines for anything. Not like I ride much anyway. Just the log ride, really. I always enjoy the log ride. It's like being in the forest but not really. Because animals live in the forest. Ones that might eat you if you give them a chance.