"More Flags...More Fun!"

Yes, to celebrate Mom turning the big 5-6, we took her to Six Flags Over Texas for Passholder's Appreciation Day! Not sure what was going on to show us how much they appreciate us, but oh well. A few pix:


Here we are coming down the big hill on the Log Flume ride. If you think it was difficult taking a picture as you're careening down a big hill, you'd be correct.


We're actually on the mini-mine train but it runs perpendicular to the Flashback so it looks like we're going to run right into it. But, we don't of course.


Mom: "Are the tea cups supposed to be full of hot tea while we're riding it?"
Me: "Um, you haven't been here in a while, have ya?"
Emmy: "Anyone have any ointment for 2nd degree burns?"
Me: "Yes, it comes free if you're a passholder."


Me: "So how long have you guys been working at Six Flags?"
Joker: "What do you mean...work here?"
Riddler: "He doesn't know anything Joker...just play it cool...soon we will rule the world!"
Me: "Please tell me you're...joking...ha ha ha..."
Joker: "Ugh...worst joke ever."


What a great shot!! I need to find some cool Warner Bros. picture frames for this one.

We have cool weather!! Sunday was in the 80's and it has been gorgeous every day this week. Finally a reason to get excited about Texas weather. Now we need it just a little chillier and we'll be "good to go".

Tomorrow I'm going to a celebration at ye olde Ballpark In Arlingon to congratulate he AL WEST CHAMPION TEXAS RANGERS!! There's going to be some players (I hope) plus our new owner Nolan Ryan is supposed to be there. Plus...hot dogs! How cool is that? I posted a while back about how much I love this team, and now it's going to pay off. Of course I'll have my camcorder and camera in hand to capture the festivities...with about a thousand other people I'm sure. Ah well. The more the merrier, right? Pics next week!

"Cari is How Old? Pt II"

Yes, she is still 34. We had another celebration a week later where I was able to give her my gift(s). Among them:


A coffee cup that says, "I'll rise but I refuse to shine!" I think that says it all...


Cari: "Ooh, what a lovely watch!"
Me: "Just wait until Christmas when I get a battery for it."
Cari: "Oh...goodie...?"
Jack: "Do I have enough phones? I think I need more."


Only one of the kids is actually saying "Cheese" when I asked them to. Any idea who it is? No hints.

Getting real tired of it not feeling like fall around here. As I recall, fall begins on Sept 21st. here we are, on the 24th, and it is still in the 90's every day with no wind. Plus, large clouds form overhead making it humid. However, as my Facebook friend Rebecca Miller of CW33's weather team stated yesterday, a cold front is about to come our way. I sure hope so. As you may know from reading this thing lo these many years, cold weather is when I come alive. metaphorically speaking of course. I've always been alive. But I really get in a reminiscent mood when I have my Christmas-scneted candles lit and you have to wear a coat to go outside. Seven months ago we got 14 inches of snow dumped on us and part of me hopes we get it again. Of course, when we have a winter like that, our summer becomes that much hotter which we all complain about. There's just no making anyone happy sometimes, but I know God does the best He can.

"Cari Is How Old?"

34 man...and she thinks she's old...? Try being (almost) 36 and wondering if you'll ever really grow up. Was referring to me there in case you didn't know. We went out Saturday night and went to Joe T Garcia's and the Pourhouse for some drinks afterwards. Was a lot of fun. A few pix:


Jerramy: "Do a little dance...make a little love...get down tonight!"
Me: "Um, yeah, that's great...do you know any songs after 1976?"


Cari: "HA HA HA HA HA HA...that was the funniest thing you've ever said Mike!"
Me: "Um, I didn't say anything...? Did I?"
Cari: "HA HA HA HA...you didn't? Then what am I laughing at...?"
Me: "Um, Jerramy dancing?"


This one...was...this guy had a fishing pole in the back of his truck and well...me being the jokester I am...you get the idea.

I continued my annual tradition of bring Cari flowers on her birthday to her workspace on Wednesday. I started in 2006 and 2007 at Pharmacare, then 2008 and 2009 at LifeSynch in Fort Worth...THEN 2010 at LifeSynch in Los Colinas. Just a little way I can show her what she means to me and our family for around $10 or $15 ha ha. So many things in our lives we are unable to control sometimes...this one is all me.

"Let's Play Ball!"

Yes, my son Zach has finally been inducted into one of the great experiences of a boy's youth: Little League!! Actually, it's a T-Ball league, but he's on his way! Here are a few pix:


Me: "Okay Zach, when a batter hits the ball to you, pick it up off the ground and throw it. Got it?"
Zach: "Look, Dad, it's 109 degrees out here...why are we torturing ourselves playing this silly game? Sonic's got 1/2 drinks!"
Me: "I'll start the car...tell the coach we'll be back in 15."


Great action shot! Thanks to my lovely daughter Emmy for this one.


Zach: "Hey Dad, does this hat make my head look big?"
Me: "Nah...wait a minute...yes."

I remember when I was about 17 and some of the younger kids in our church were playing little league. All I could do was lament the fact that I was too old to play. I think the cut off was 14 or so. I really wish I had enjoyed those days more instead of pouting because I had to participate in some kind of physical activity. Looking back it was one of my most favourite times in my childhood. I guess the real motiviation to have kids is to kind of re-live those days. I'd love to coach his team at some point. Of course, what can you do when you don't get off until 7pm every night? At least I get to be at all of his games which is on my list of importance. Maybe I should get that list printed and distributed so everyone will know. On second thought they'd probably just throw it away and replace it with their own.

"Isn't Zach A Little Young?"

Well, if you mean shaving, then yes, since he's only 5 (almost). But that didn't stop him from at least wanting to see if he could do it. As it turns out, he's a natural! A few pix:




And yes, before you ask if it's a pretend blade, it is!

Had our annual Labour Day party at Aunt Becky's house! I brought my camera but not too much happened until we tried to take our group picture. A few pix:


Zach: "Hey Dad, do I look like The Last Airbender?"
Me: "Who?"
Zach: "(sigh) nevermind..."
Me: "If you said The Last Windbreaker, then I know a few people who can do that!"


Dean: "Okay everyone! Becky's house is slightly crooked so everyone lean to the left."
Becky: "My house is NOT crooked! Maybe your precious $10,000 camera is 'crooked'!"
Dean: "Not a chance...it's perfect in every way...just like me..."

(GROAN)

We got like a mile of rain dumped on us yesterday! I tried to take some shortcuts but they were all flooded out! Finally made it to work though. So far I'm not on the care line so hopefully my bonus checks will stay the way they have been. I have already put my skills to good use though. Feels good to know that something you were apprehensive about turns out to be not so bad.

Zach has his first t-ball game this Saturday! As a dad who used to play Little League I couldn't be prouder that a kid of mine wants to play something besides soccer. Not that soccer's bad, mind you. Just...baseball will always be a big deal to me. I took Zach and Emmy to the park a couple weeks ago to work on his skills. He's got some talent! Good reflexes, good swing...now we just need to learn the basics and he'll be "good to go".

"What Would You Do For Free Burgers"?

For me...this:


Now honestly, we don't have a strong desire to go to Whataburger every chance we get. Frankly, they cost an arm and a leg for the 4 of us to eat there. But I got an e-mail from a co-worker about this contest so I entered. Now I used to LOVE Whataburger in my semi-unemployed days. I would go there at 7 in the morning and eat a hamburger at Lakeside Park in Duncanville. Geez, what a waste of my early 20's. Or was it?

Got some awesome rain this week. Then we got some sun. Put the 2 together and we get:


A rainbow! Seems like we've been seeing more and more lately. To be honest, I don't remember seeing many of them when I was a kid.

Cari had a wreck this week! Some guy plowed into her rear and we had to have our beloved Saturn Ion towed. Now Caliber Collision says it's going to take 2 weeks to fix it.



Looks awful doesn't it? Fortunately no one was hurt. But Cari's neck is in pain. She saw a doctor. Of all things to happen right before Labour Day weekend...(sigh).

Work finally stated me on customer care training. Hopefully they won't put me on the phone line that those calls come in cuz if they do then my bonus checks all but evaporate. I think the time has come to maybe pursue another workplace. This one has sucked any fun we ever used to have ever out of it and left us with just a job and not much else. Now I'm grateful as anyone to not really feel the economic crunch that so many others have felt, and praise God for that. For 2 1/2 years I really enjoyed coming to work and now...not so much. But I'm really good at what I do and maybe another company will show that to me more then this one. We shall see.

Did I waste my 20's? I don't think it matters if I did or not. We can't go back and fix anything. If we could, would I do anything differently? Like what? Have less fun? More fun? I've come to the conclusion that no matter what we change it just won't matter later on. I'm not upset about it, mind you. I've enjoyed my life ever since I had Emmy. Seems like it has more of a meaning then just wake up, work, go to bed. I'm always trying to come up with fun things for us to do, some successful, others not so much. Hopefully Zach and Emmy will get more fulfillment out of their childhoods then others. I think they will. I also think they will know I was part of it.