Disneyland 2008

Our trip to Disneyland this past weekend! Me and the kid and one of her good friends from school. We did a lot, but we still missed a bunch of stuff too.

9/11/01

It's been 7 years now. Year to year I feel profound grief and complete hate. I hate this day but am drawn to the events of the day on tv. Pay attention to them, cry, get pissed, swear - do whatever you have to do to remember that 2,996 people were killed that day for no other reason than they lived in America.

American Hero

This is a picture of my dad in Vietnam. Once back in the US he got married then was hired on with the Seattle Fire Department.

Pretty cool.

Don't stalk

When dating or in a relationship not much is worse than a guy that is needy, clingy and a whiner. When in Cabo one of my ex's drove me nuts because he was so clingy. At one point I had to tell him to give me 5 mins alone so I could brush my teeth. Yeah, seriously. Yahoo has some guy that is a relationship "expert" and he's done an online article on stalking - I mean being needy.

Some highlights and my thoughts:
1. You just walked a woman to her door at the end of a date. Instead of kissing her, you ask her if she had a good time. This one is no biggie to me. It's polite conversation and it's not needy.

2. You called a woman last night and she has not yet called you back, so you either email her or call her again to ask her if she received your message. If you want to push her away, this is one of the best ways to get her to quickly run away from you. This one isn't that big of a deal either - once.

3. You start texting a woman you just began dating five or six times a day. You are over-texting her. You don't need to check in every two hours. Ah - maybe. I like texting much more than actual talking. As long as the text messages are a mutual thing then I think it's fine.

4. You miss a call on your cell phone from a phone number that you don't recognize. You call the woman you're dating, and to whom you talked just two hours before, and ask, "Did you just call me?" Yeah - pathetic. Sounds desperate.

5. You agree with everything the woman you're dating says. To me, this would make me think that the guy wasn't listening to me.
6. The woman you're dating is out for the evening with her friends. She promised to call you when she got home. It's getting late and you haven't heard from her. You just can't resist and you call her cell phone several times until she answers it. Just plain creepy.

7. You are too available. If you have plans with a friend, keep those plans even if the woman you're dating asks you to do something that night. Not a big deal at all, just don't do it all the time.

8. You try to please a woman all the time. I'm all about men doing nice things for women, but she has to earn it. Earn it? What the hell?

9. Don't be afraid to challenge a woman. If you don't agree with something a woman says, don't just sit there and agree with her thinking it's what she wants. Maybe - depends how the guy reacts.

10. Be the man! Have a plan and stick with it. Women like men who plan out evenings of fun.
True but it's not a needy thing - 100% agree with Be The Man.

Driving rants

1. The carpool lane isn't the fast lane. I go about 70 in the carpool lane and that is fast enough. Go around me if you don't like it. Ride my ass in the carpool lane and I will slow way down and then you'll really get pissed. I like driving fast as much as anyone but I don't do it North of Seattle anymore for a few reasons:
A. There are a ton of State Patrol. I see at least two everyday and have been pulled over recently for going 75 in a 60 - and no I didn't get a ticket.
B. I like my money. The faster you go the more gas you burn.
2. Don't change lanes in front of someone and then slam on your breaks because you were short sided that you didn't look ahead at the traffic.
3. At a four way stop - stop first, then when it's your turn go. Don't sit there to make sure the other drivers stop. Take your turn. If you don't take your turn I will either go on your turn or honk at you.
4. If a person lets you in front of them in a lane - give them a freaking wave already. That's the equvilent of a person holding the door for you and you don't say thank you. Incidently when people don't say thank you to me - I ALWAYS say YOUR WELCOME loud enough for the person to hear me.

Feel good

Nope - I'm not religious - far from it. But it makes me feel good that the Pope is visiting my great country and that he got such a nice welcome.

Is she really going out with him???

Ugly guys - pretty girls. I don't know. According to a report on Yahoo women seeking a lifelong mate might do well to choose the guy a notch below them in the looks category. New research reveals couples in which the wife is better looking than her husband are more positive and supportive than other match-ups.

The reason, researchers suspect, is that men place great value on beauty, whereas women are more interested in having a supportive husband.

Supportive = nice, dependable, kind, trustworthy?

The picture of Natalie Portman and her singer boyfriend prove the report to be true. Ugh.... serious beauty and the beast.

Brad Paisley - I'm still a guy

Love, love, love Brad Paisley. His song She's Everything never fails to make me cry a little and love Whiskey Lullaby. Here are the words to a new one I just heard today... couldn't have said it better myself. Think I may use it on match.com for requirements.

I'm still a guy:

When you see a deer, you see Bambi And I see antlers up on the wall

When you see a lake you think picnics And I see a large mouth bass up under that log

You're probably thinkin' that you're gonna change me

In some ways, well, maybe you might Scrub me down, dress me up

Oh, but no matter what, remember, I'm still a guy

When you see a priceless french painting I see a drunk naked girl

When you think that riding a wild bull sounds crazy And I'd like to give it a whirl
Well, love makes a man do some things he ain't proud of And in a weak moment I might Walk your sissie dog, hold your purse at the mall

But remember, I'm still a guy
And I'll pour out my heart, hold your hand in the car

Write a love song that makes you cry Then turn right around, knock some jerk to the ground 'Cause he copped a feel as you walked by
I can hear you now talkin' to your friends Sayin' yeah, girls he's come a long way From draggin' his knuckles and carryin' a club And buildin' a fire in a cave

But when you say a back rub means only a back rub Then you swat my hand when I try Well, now what can I say at the end of the day Honey, I'm still a guy And I'll pour out my heart, hold your hand in the car

These days there's dudes gettin' facials Manicured, waxed and botoxed

With deep spray-on tans and creamy lotiony hands

You can't grip a tackle box

Yeah, with all of these men linin' up to get neutered

It's headin' out to be feminized

But I don't hide by my head, I've still got a pair

Yeah honey, I'm still a guy

Oh, my eyebrows ain't plucked, there's a gun in my truck

Oh thank God, I'm still a guy Yeah boy

Amen Brad... wish there were more like you around.

All about the funny

If you can make a girl laugh - you can make her do anything. Marilyn Monroe

Laughing is a good thing in a relationship - laughing with them of course, not at them. Mix that with cute, tall, and Conservative and you have a keeper.
In an article in today's Seattle Times:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2004318382_funnyguy01.html
this is said about having The Funny:
A compatible sense of humor can move people past more superficial expectations for a partner, said Janet Siroto, a spokeswoman for dating Web site Match.com. Women are more willing to overlook deal breakers like age if the guy proves witty enough.
I totally agree for some items but I have a few dealbreakers that I won't change no matter how funny a guy is: can't be shorter than me or liberal or smoke or have a crazy family. One guy I dated a while back was exactly my height, not that cute but was really funny. Funny can make up for a lot of shortcomings.

Opening Day, 3/31/08

What a beauty. I'll be there in about 2.5 hours. M's vs. Rangers, 3:40. Game time temp will be around 46 degrees so I have: hat, coat, gloves, toe and hand warmers, and a blanket.
Play ball!

Saturday, Sunday, Opening Day!

Opening Day could possibly be the only Monday I like. I'll be there - keeping score as usual.

Go Mariners!

The A team

This was the kid on day two of a three day tryout. She moved teams - she went from U14 B team to U13 (her age group) A team. Definitely a move up. Nice job. Let the 16 month season begin!

St Patricks Day

Go to the site:

http://www.proposition317.com/stpats.html

Sign the prop!

I KNEW it

Short People got no reason

Short People got no reason

Short People got no reason............To live
They got little hands Little eyes

They walk around Tellin' great big lies

They got little noses And tiny little teeth

They wear platform shoes On their nasty little feet Well, I don't want no Short People

Don't want no Short People Don't want no Short People`Round here. Randy Newman

Behold... Short people are most prone to jealousy, say scientists.

For women, what counted most in jealousy was the rival's looks and charm, but these feelings were less intense if the woman herself was of average height. "Taller women are more dominant and have greater fighting abilities than shorter women," says the study, which appears in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior.

Begin again

Round two: Select try-outs are Friday and Saturday of this week. The league has a lot of changes and I think they are all good ones. The season will be 16 months, the State (IE driving over the pass games) Tournament has been moved to May (May of '09), the A and B teams will practice together and the potential to travel to California, Florida and Europe is there. Long shot potential but it's there. Plus there even a chance that the kid could practice with Olympic trainers down the road.

Yahoo

Strike one... Spring Training has begun.

Better shop around

My last few boyfriends have been boring, and ended up being losers but nothing like these two fellas.
Two news stories today remind me that having a background check done on a potential boyfriend before getting close to beng serious. The first story, http://www.komotv.com/news/local/15930887.html . Ex-bf was stalking his ex-gf.
PORT ANGELES, Wash. -- The man who shot his ex-girlfriend before shooting himself while the woman's two daughters hid upstairs had been convicted of stalking in the past. Police said Jeffrey Calvert kicked in the door of his ex-girlfriend's house and shot her to death before taking his own life on Sunday. They said he had been staying at a hotel just blocks away, most likely watching her for weeks. Calvert had binoculars, duct tape, pepper spray and two guns on him, Gallagher said. It appears Stock was not the first woman Calvert stalked. According to court documents, Calvert had served time for a 1995 stalking conviction in King County. The victim in that case said she was afraid of Calvert because of his sudden outbursts and mood swings, but Calvert told her he could not go on living without her. That woman said she changed her phone number and kept it unlisted, but he still managed to get a hold of her by trying every phone number combination possible.
Story 2: A Shoreline man shot and killed his pregnant wife - killed his baby too. He was found not guilty because he's nuts. After spending a mere 5 yrs in the nut house he is getting out because on his meds he's not nuts anymore. A 2 for 1 killing.
Gergen became a model patient. According to court records, he participated in group therapy, met regularly with a therapist, became a leader among the patients, even ran patient meetings. Soon, he was going on organized field trips with the staff.
Quote from the victims mother:
"He will be a model patient until the time comes that he meets another woman," Ingrid Osterhaug said. "And God help her."
Background check people.

May 30th

At Jezabel.com a new trailer for Sex and the City is posted.

http://jezebel.com/359633/extended-sex-and-the-city-trailer-carrie-gets-jilted-lol

We survived

That's how I feel about our first year in select soccer. It went from April to February - and during the beginning it was rough going. I used 70-80 hours of vacation to attend tournaments. Some are Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We traveled to Everett, Snohomish, Bellingham, Moses Lake, Oregon, Redmond, Puyallup and Gig Harbor. The kid had many minor injuries and a major - broken wrist during the season. She worked her ass off and went from a medium defensive player to a forward. She has some work to do to dominate that position but she will get there.

We lost our final game - to a team that we have beating before and prob should have beat again.

Try-outs are in a few weeks for the 2008-2009 season.

Hail the Beagle

Behold Uno the Beagle (pic on top). What a cutie. He is much lighter in color than our Beagle Lizzie (next pic).

From Yahoo: His tri-colored image certainly drew a nationwide following, and that will surely prompt a spike in beagle adoptions. Wilkerson had one bit of advice for anyone planning to get one as a pet.
"Better have a fence," he said.

Again - if you get a Beagle, plan on having a fenced backyard ( a very good fence) and/or NEVER taking the dog off of their leash. They do not listen - they are RULED by their nose. They will sniff their way pretty much anywhere. Our Beagle Lizzie has gotten away from us a million times. When Lizzie goes to a dog park she really isn't interested in the other dogs, she just wants to sniff around or be pet by any human. As a puppy she chewed EVERYTHING. Shoes, glasses, sunglasses, dolls, CDs, remotes, furniture, SHOES. Beagle puppies are the cutest things ever - but make sure you research the breed before you run out and get one.

Nuts

The kid is a kook. She works pretty hard on her soccer team and not as hard in school. The interest in boys is starting and I'm sure she would die of embarrassment if she saw these pics up. She took these pics herself and no, these pics aren't taken at our house.

Traveling

The Pass opened Saturday night so that meant we traveled over it Sunday morning - 7:30 AM. It wasn't bad - the DOT crews do a great job of clearing the roads - it was pretty much bare and wet. We played in Moses Lake and lost, 3-1. The other team wasn't better but they were quicker and a little bit smarter than us. Plus we all had to drive for 5 hours before the game. The kid had to play defender the whole game because there was a girl playing fwd that was fast and the kid was the only one that could get to her. She got knocked down a couple times but not really hurt. Her team needs to be more aggressive and toughen up. I'm pretty beat today - so is the kid. So looking forward to having next Monday off! Next game is Saturday - location is TBD.

Game is still on for Sunday

I don't know why but the game seems to be still on for Sunday in Moses Lake. The picture looks less like a road than my other post. Sheesh.

Restrictions Eastbound:Pass Closed

Restrictions Westbound:Pass Closed

Conditions & Weather:Avalanche control work continues and it is now estimated that I-90 Snoqualmie pass will not open earlier than Saturday morning. Opening the roadway will be based on avalanche risk analysis. The roadway will be opened when it is safe to do so. WSDOT will give updates as work progresses and information becomes available. // Snowing, blowing snow and poor visibility

Who'd a thought

Twenty years ago I never would have thought that the most normal, less freaky person in this shot would be Madonna.
Wonder if they believe that they are normal or if they know that they are just weird?

Round Two

Does this look like a road to you? No, me either. The game in Moses Lake that was postponed last Sunday has been re-scheduled for this Sunday.

Holy cow

Damn.... can't believe that touchdown. Wow.

So far

The kid's soccer team is 2-0 so far in their state tournament. One game was postponed due to Snoqualmie Pass being well, un-passable. Since all of the East-West games were put off all of the game will be extended a week. We'll find out this week where we will play - hopefully we'll be able to stay on this side of the mountains. The kid is playing forward then the coach moves her to play defender when there's a few mins left as a safeguard to our lead.

My boyfriend

My boyfriend is coming back to town. He's been gone since September. We spend a ton of time together from the middle of March until the end of September... around 181 days. Sometimes in person, sometimes online, other times at home or even in my car. Some of our dates are better than others. At the end of some dates all I go home with is disapoointment - but other times, sheesh... thrilling and I can't wait until our next date. I always hope that our relationship will continue on into October but we consistently fall short of that goal.

Yes, I'm talking about the new baseball season and my Mariners. The 2008 season starts on March 31st. Spring Training on March 2nd.

Snow

The kid and I are suppose to travel over the I-90 pass to Moses Lake on Saturday for a State (soccer) game on Sunday. Man I hope we don't have to go!!! Sheesh. I don't do snow - and I REALLY don't do 30+ inches of it. That does not look like a road to me. Good lord.

http://wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes/snoqualmie/

Unplanned long weekend

The regular weekend turned in a 3 day weekend. Snow. Ugh. Most of us Western WA people don't do snow very well, myself especially. School was canceled so I had to stay home with the kid. It may or may not snow again tonight. Behold some pic taken from Friday night to Monday AM.

First Friday - I planned a group outing to Safeco Field last year so I got an invite to a special party at Safeco. It was pretty cool. Free parking, free food and had some Mariner people.... JJ Putz was there (I was nervous so the pic is blurry), Jamie Burke - one of our catchers, John McLaren and a new announcer (last season), Dave Sims.... love him.

On Saturday early AM me and the kid drove out to Bellingham for the first of 5 State soccer games. She is playing forward now and it's pretty damn cool.

Monday - the snow.

The American Flag

John A. Dix in a telegram from Washington, 1/29/1861:
If any one attempts to haul down the American flag, shoot him on the spot.

Three flag related items have come up this week, 2 in the news and 1 with me personally.

The first item was on Monday at work. On most days I wear an American flag pin. In the elevator a woman was staring at me and said out loud - "you know, after 9/11 we all wore flags on our shirts, you don't see that anymore". I said I wear my flag just about everyday. She asked me if I had anyone in Iraq. I said I didn't. She said, good for you. I think that's great that you wear a flag. I agreed with her.

The second item is the guy in Nevada that cut a Mexican flag down that was flying on top on the American flag. Great American and he should be proud of himself. What the hell is wrong with being proud of your country?

The third item came out today - liberal running for President, Obama. He says that wearing a flag isn't as important as what is in your heart.

To me the American flag IS my heart. I love my country and respect what the flag stands for, our freedom, our countrymen and women that have died for us to earn that freedom. Oprah's boy toy will not be President but besides that, show some pride in your Country - be proud of it, respect it.

USO

While I am not able to volunteer with the USO anymore due to where I live and Select Soccer - I still support them and know first hand the value of the work they do. They are not run by the government and rely on donations from the American people. KIRO 710 has chosen them as their Charity of the Month:

Charity of the Month News Talk 710 KIRO is proud to announce the USO as October's featured "Charity of the Month!" Operating in more then 130 centers worldwide, the USO has been the bridge between American people and our troops for over 66 years. For information on volunteering or making a donation to the USO, click here and visit 710 KIRO's "Charity of the Month" web page.

Nothing is more important then our Military and the support they receive should be the best in the world. Dispite what many Liberals believe - we are at war and it will be a long battle against islamic terrorists and their religion of peace.

It's very humbling for a Soldier to give you a heart felt thank you.

9/11/01

Remember the victims. All they did that day was catch a plane or go to work, they just happened to live in the USA. Remember? It could be you the next time. I don't have to live with the pain of losing a loved one on that day but I do feel the pain of my country being attacked. This is no bumper sticker slogan - this is real.

http://www.xmas-i-am.com/Imagine.htm

"Let's roll. "--Todd Beamer, before he and others apparently thwarted the fourth set of terrorists.

"All of a sudden there were people screaming. I saw people jumping out of the building. Their arms were flailing. I stopped taking pictures and started crying."--Michael Walters, a free-lance photo journalist in Manhattan.

"The best defense against terrorism is a strong offensive against terrorists. That work continues. "--President George W. Bush, 10/13/2001.

"This was not an act of terrorism, but it was an act of WAR "-- President George W. Bush.

.... You ask, What is our policy? I will say; "It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us: to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy." You ask, What is our aim? I can answer with one word: Victory - victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival.
Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965), 1940, in his first address as the newly appointed Prime Minister.

The return of Junior...

Ken Griffey Jr. AKA The Kid... okay so he told Seattle long ago not to call him that anymore but it brings back such good baseball memories for me.
He's coming back to Seattle! My heart was broken when he left - I never thought he would leave and was shocked. He is coming to Seattle for three games, June 22-24.
Where will I be for this monumental event? Front and center at Safeco Field of course right??? Wrong (insert crying and bitching here). I will be in glorious Bellingham, WA for a soccer tournament. Ugh... the pain. I have tickets for Friday nights game and I am willing to suffer to attend the game. The kid's soccer game ends at 4:00 - so we will be on the road from 4:00 until however long it takes to get to Safeco Field on a Friday night. It's roughly 80-90 miles and I will be drinking a tall, cold frosty one (10) when I get there. Will be rough, but worth it to see my much loved and missed Ken Griffey.
Oh yeah... will be good seeing the kid play soccer too.

Play ball...Today is Opening Day!!!!!!!!

Today is always the best day of my life - Opening Day. This morning I awoke to something new that I've never had on Opening Day - no, not that..... snow. We had less than an inch and the streets were only wet but still - kind of a shocker on April 2nd.

I am so hoping that the Mariners have a decent year - yes, I'll settle for decent. I hope we don't lose Ichiro but it may be unavoidable. King Felix is starting today - first pitch, 3:35

Proud to be an American...

Click on this link to watch the video of this amazing American. I dare you not to cry.

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/PersonOfWeek/story?id=2845247&page=1

Feb. 2, 2007 — Just about every morning for the past year, Bert Brady has been getting up, having a cup of coffee and heading over to the Dallas Fort Worth Airport. But this ritual has nothing to do with travel. He's at the terminal to welcome home American troops as they return from Iraq and Afghanistan.
"I went 300 days last year," Brady said. "They are glad to see us, and we are tickled to death to see them because they are our heroes."
Brady, a 69-year-old veteran, is a member of the Welcome Home a Hero program at his local airport. He makes sure every soldier that comes through Dallas gets a special homecoming.
When asked why he is so dedicated to this effort, Brady pointed to a moment he shared with one soldier.
"He said, 'Mister, I will never forget you,' and my heart was almost pounding like it was going to burst out of my chest," Brady said. "He said, 'It's the greatest thing that ever happened to me.'"

MY OH MY...

It's warm-up time
Seattle Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez loosens up during a brief throwing session today at Safeco Field. The team is preparing to head for spring training in Arizona. The Mariners open the regular season at home April 2 against Oakland.

It's almost time for my favorite thing to do. Keeping score at Safeco Field. Pitchers and Catchers report in just 4 short days. Yes, the Mariners will not do well this year but I don't care. It's baseball.

A fitting farwell to an Exceptional man... Deputy Cox

VETERANS DAY

At the Sea-Tac USO tomorrow, a Soldier in the ARMY that saved the lives of many in his unit is being given a $10,000 check from Levitz for a home make-over. He is 21 yrs old, married and has had 13 surgeries due to a bomb blowing up next to him.

Many thanks to Levitz for giving this donation.

Many heartfelt thanks to the Veterans I know:

My dad, Coast Guard, Vietnam vet.

My grandfather, Marine that fought at Guadalcanal.

Also two journal friends: VW and Mike..... thanks for your service.

On Veterans Day we thank and honor all those who have served in the U.S. military. Please take the time to thank service members everywhere who have selflessly served our country in war and peacetime. We will never be able to fully repay our debt of gratitude to all those service members who died or were wounded in battle. We can however, recognize and thank the veterans living today and remember to support those now serving.

The USO's tradition is to be wherever military personnel are located around the world. In times of peace and war, the USO has consistently delivered its special brand of comfort, morale and recreational services to the military. From Southwest Asia, to the DMZ in Korea to Gulf Coast Hurricane relief, the USO is the bridge between service members and the American people. By supporting the USO, Americans directly show their appreciation and express their gratitude to the men and women who defend us.

Visit us at USO.org