No you can't date my daughter!

You've met Maya, haven't you?

Vote Santa Out This Year

Santa (1) vs. Chris Christmas Rodriquez (1) (2) (3) (4)

I don't know about you, but my vote is with Rodriquez.




Windows Media People Click Here And Follow The Appropriate Link. I Will Not Do The Work For You If You Have An Inferior Media Player...

Out of the hive...

So it turns out Amoxicillin and I don't get along too well. It is a trigger for my system to develop something called Erythema Multiforme(EM). If I take it again, the EM can become major - this is called Stevens Johnson Syndrome. From what I have read, it doesn't sound pretty. So I'm asking all of you to refrain from offering me any "-cillin" type medications. Please don't cook with it if you know I'm coming over. Try not to use it as a cleaner on your toilet seat, this will hurt me more than you know.

Thank you for your cooperation.

In other news...

Turns out if you are trying to sell your car in the winter - putting the top up is a good idea.



Props to dear ol' dad for spotting this gem near his house.

Is blogging out?

I recently heard my brother Daniel mention something about blogging being a fad that may be on its way out. It may not be that that blogging isn't something that people have lost interest in, it may just be that there is no possible way to keep up with reading everyone's blogs as they come on line. As you have noticed by my link bar to the right, I can't even keep up with linking all the people that have blogs now. My wife on the other hand seems to be right on top of things - check out her links.

Acoording to recent news reports, blogging remains all the rage. It just seems to make me so tired sometimes...

Hello...

Since we have lived in our house on Forest Hills we have noticed an interesting phenomenon that occurs most nights. (No cheap jokes please) It seems that the sand company down the road uses its pumps all night. This activity - aside from ruining our natural barrier from the elements - shakes the entire neighborhood in a tapping, rhythmic fashion. Often, we will have just fallen asleep when the pumps start up and the rattling begins. Usually, the problem can be solved by securing a closet door that is partially open and causing the noise.

Last night, Angela and I were very fast asleep when the annoyance began. It was loud enough to wake us both at the same time. I mentioned that it sounded like knocking and Angela quickly sat up in bed and said in a very nice, 'you didn't wake me' tone,

"Hello."

It seems she was answering to whomever it was that was knocking on our door.

Its so fun being married to a sleep talker!

Since this is what you like...

enjoy

For some reason I can't stop watching this. It is the same feeling that repeatedly brought me to play Sonic the Hedghog for hours on end.

Out-Of-Whack-Stat

Okay, I'm not saying your focus is in the wrong place here. Maybe it is just because you all have heard the news from us in person... But when I scroll down I see it like this:

One of the biggest stories ever - the news of my child to be: 0 COMMENTS

Guy playing guitar solo in 'Hello-Kitty' bikini top: 13 COMMENTS

So I have decided to make the announcement unique. Forget that you know about the pregnancy. When my Hello Kitty bikini top arrives in the mail I will be requesting Daniel's video production services as I lip-sync a song announcing the birth of our child.

Exciting, isn't it...

I'm excited...

Nervous...

...to be a Dad. But also extremely greatful.

But don't say I didn't tell you about this before. If you all were faithful readers of my blog you would have noticed the cryptic message at the bottom of my post from early September hinting at the idea that we might have a big secret.

Maybe this will teach all of you to have a link to my blog at the top of your lists. There were a few who interpreted my message and we have shared many a good laugh at all of you who failed to pick up on the secret.

"...may you ever be captivated by her love." prov 5.5

I hate women's retreats. They don't occur that often, but when they do I am left for a weekend alone. I am trying to stay positive about them and I have come up with a few things that are good about my wife getting a weekend away:

1. She gets to spend quality time with her mom and sister-in-law. (Although a 'day-camp' format may be better - just a thought ~)

2. I get to go to sporting events - i.e. the Michigan State game today. (Although it would be nice to go with Ang, I'm afraid she wouldn't enjoy it as much as me.)

3. I fell asleep on the couch last night. I love sleeping on the couch - although I prefer that Ang sleeps with me on the couch. Sometimes (because Ang is so very gracious and understands that I think couch sleeping is one of the most comfortable things ever) we pull our couches together and sleep in our living room for a ritual we have deemed 'couch night.'

btw - Couch night is best during the holidays when the Xmas tree lights are left on...

Okay, enough with the positive spin - there isn't much else. I just miss her lots...

You must do as I say...

Please click here...I promise it is worth it!

To the cabin...

Ah yes...

This is the second Fall in a row that we will be taking a trip to the cabin.



I can't wait to get there and enjoy the peace and quiet...

Pull my finger...

So it turns out my little lady of a niece has discovered one of the best elementary school jokes of all time.

Emma chased me around my front yard today until I promised to pull her finger. She did vow to not really pass gas when I gave in. But the noise she made with her mouth sounded pretty authentic.

Ahh, third grade. Life is getting more complex, but you can still captivate a room with a fart.

Dancing ain't my game...

So tonight's the night...

I'm worried! What if I'm awful?

I suddenly find myself concerned with what to wear. My leg warmers don't fit anymore... What shoes should I go with?

"My tennis shoes would be comfortable, but my nicer shoes sure would allow me to glide across the floor better."

Ang will be good at this - she is the graceful one. I am worried that I will look like a big ape - no, I think Father Bill described 'me' as a gorilla at the wedding - as I trod along the floor.

I can at least be sure of the fact that whatever it may look like I am doing, I will still be good at dancing with my wife. It turns out there really is no such thing as a bad dancer.

just when you think you've learned everything...

I have been pounding the books for almost a year and a half now... i am so ready to be done. I'm afraid I've grown a bit carefree this last class just longing for the end. It will be here in two weeks and 1 day. Only 12 more hours of sitting in a classroom that smells of old carpet and has flashing florescent lights to illuminate the way.

I feel like I haven't taken a deep breath for the entire time, even before I started school I was constantly making our house livable... you know - electricity, a toilet, etc.

Just when I was thinking I'd get a break, we decided to embark on a siding and roofing project next month... anybody handy with a hammer? I will be taking volunteers. You may sign up by posting a comment.

Millions of Fat Cells Waiting For Their Moment...

I was so ready to accomplish so many things tonight when I got home... I did get several of them done right away, but then the energy faded away.

Ang came home, and with her was Sunflower food (for which we are ever thankful!). Upon dishing up our food we made our way in front of the TV. (Stop judging...) As we flipped through the stations we stumbled upon a professor explaining that for energy to be used, it must first be stored... Ah, all the potential energy lessons I had in school came rushing back.

As I looked down at the selections that I had made from the variety of food items available, I noticed that I had chose about 90% carbs. This potential energy is going to be with me for a long time.

I think I might go to bed now and dream about the power of potential.

Pictures from the last six months of my life...

...okay, not every picture. But these pictures made me *feel* positive emotion when I looked at them today. I thought I would share...

Oh Yeah - By the way... Ang and I are having a baby in early May.

I should've known by the outfits...

***

...but they failed to immediately tip me off. I must be losing it. It seems like I was a part of this unique culture not too long ago. Only those of us who lived it can truly know why the outfits and lack of social skills are truly necessary. I will reveal the truth now:

The outfits and overly hyper behavior would make us easily identifiable to each other when... Parents and children were captured and taken into custody for homeschooling. This detention could only happen if the children somehow were spotted playing in the outdoors before the 4 PM mark. (No matter that we never showed up to the local elementary school. No worries there. Just, whatever you do, don't get spotted in your yard before four!)

***

As Ang and I wandered about the grounds of Maranatha waiting for Bill as he dialogued (thank you Dave Livermore) with an admirer, we met up with Gloria. All around us were kids running about like they were hopped up on something. I asked Gloria if it was homeschool week. Ang answered for her by pointing to a family that was standing nearby. It was all I needed.

As we approached the snack shop it became very apparent that this was no ordinary night at Maranatha. There were groups of children in the lawn polishing up some moves for an upcoming performance. As we neared the building the lights went out and a spot went on and one of the little ones screamed, "The talent show is starting!"

While we waited in line for our ice cream, we took in the talent show. It seems things have changed since I was in the ranks of home school "look-what-I-can-do" crap-that-really-isn't-that-impressive-to anyone-but-your-parents. Back in the day we would have pulled out a choreographed 'dance' to the latest dc talk single or possibly a Petra classic. But these new home scoolers are really trying to pull on the parent's heartstrings to win their contests. The entries that were really in the running featured sign language to music. I think it came down to the costumes worn while performing - I'm pretty sure the purple sequin jumpsuit girl took the grand prize.

The jumpsuit was a risky move. Had the secret agents swept in and taken them all away she would have never been identifiable as one of the pack.

yard work today...

I had grand plans of gathering up the pine needles from the large tree in our back yard. After I had cleared the ground I was going to plant some grass seed in hopes that it would fill in the dead patches of lawn that were previously covered. Unfortunately, it is raining.



Bored?

Yep, so am I.

Late Chicago Update

...So most of you have probably read Ang's post on our chicago trip. We had a great time and always seem to enjoy the city and each other. Our hotel was beautiful, the city was perfect, IKEA was bigger than I thought it would be, but I think I miss the burrito the most.




The one bad part about living in Michigan is the lack of Chipotle.

Lack of motivation...

Coast Guard Festival fireworks are tonight...


In High School I would have been "So There." But all I can think about right now is going to bed early.

I think 'it' has happened. I've become an old man prematurely.

Most of you know that I'm an old soul. I like old leather shoes that require polish, buying furniture that will last, carrying a 'hanky.' I even have recently traveled back in time with my shaving habits. Gone is the shaving cream and introduced is the bar of Colgate and brush. (If you haven't tried this you must.)

Many of these habits I've brought into my life voluntarily, but other old soul practices and feelings have just always been with me:

"Stay away from the edge..."

"Have I told you that ___________(Insert name of dead relative) used to say..."

"We are just running to the store - why can't I wear this? Nobody cares what I look like."

"I'll take Nursing Homes for $500 Alex."

~~~~~~

I think I'll find the motivation to go... just after this little nap.