Santa

Triton, Rocco and Jake waiting for everyone to settle down. Santa has just arrived and Rocco isn't going to take his eyes off of him! Jake is Sheri's brother. Father to Rocco and Mason.

Every year at the Miles' home (Sheri's Father and Stepmom) Santa shows up to ask the children what they want for Christmas. It is such a nice thing because this allows us to not wait in line waiting for pictures with some sweaty old fake. Triton still doesn't know that he has to be a good boy or he won't receive any presents from this jolly man, but he will next year. This year I think Santa was a bit overwhelmed/surprised. In the picture below there are to two older boys in the front (the one making the weird face and Mason to his right in the brown shirt). Mason is Triton's older cousin and I am not sure who the other boy is. I don't think they are related? Anyway, after each child or family of children had their picture taken with Santa, he (Santa) handed out a gift to everyone. It was the same gift to each child, that being a remote control car that you will see in later pictures. Well, Mason and this other young man were sitting in front of Santa as he was handing each child their unwrapped car. These two young men took it upon themselves to refuse Santa's early gift because it wasn't what they wanted. Santa explained to them that this was an early present, but they would have to behave for another two weeks if they wanted their Christmas wish gift on Christmas morning. Mason reluctantly took his, but this other kid (the second oldest boy) still wasn't happy explaining that he wanted a GI Joe! He finally took his gift after Santa not only explained again that he had to behave for another two weeks, but when he realized Santa was going to give the last car to one of the adults who wanted it. Santa then informed us all that after all of his years as Santa that was a first! Children refusing gifts was a first for him. It was kind of funny, but I hope that Triton never refuses a gift because it isn't what he wanted.

Below are a few pictures of Triton sitting on Santa's lap. Triton was one of the last to have his picture taken. Rocco didn't want to sit on Santa's lap at all so I was a little worried considering he and Triton are only about a week apart in age. Triton wasn't refusing to get near Santa because he was running by him not really paying attention. I think he might have actually been the last to sit on his lap? Anyway, it was so funny each kid or set of siblings sat and smiled for the camera. Most of them knowing that they were up there to see Santa and have their picture taken. Triton, Rocco and Jaxon were the youngest and didn't really know why this fat red suited man was there. Rocco didn't want to have a thing to do with him and Jaxon had his older brother and sister there with him to help him. Triton's turn was up. Santa asked who was next and Triton was next to me, so I pointed to Triton and pushed him toward this stranger. Triton ran up toward Santa, but veered quickly to the left. He was hyper and wanted to run around. Santa grabbed him and yanked him up on his lap. I was afraid that Triton might start crying or squirming, but he didn't. Everyone was trying to get Triton's attention and have him smile. As soon as Triton knew what we wanted he started smiling. The camera I had delayed for the first bit so you can't really see the cheesy smile. Triton was referred to as the Little Ham the rest of the night. He knew that all eyes were on him and after everyone laughed at how he was posing Santa put him down. He then ran laps around the island separating the living room and the kitchen.

This one is a minute or two after pictures.
Santa is passing out the cars and Triton is first in line! Pulling up his sleeves preparing for his fun. Triton hates long sleeves and is always pulling them up. No way Triton is going to ask for help until he figures out he needs it to open his car. Triton must have gotten help and is now waiting for Uncle Jake to put the batteries in.

After Santa departed the children were all included in making their own snowflakes made from paper. Triton was the last child to get bored and was in there some 30 minutes or so after the other kids were done. He was given a set of scissors (real scissors) and was having a hay day just cutting up the paper. Here he is with his grandfather. His cousin Jaxon is seen as well, with Papa(Grandpa)Rick holding him. I don't know if Rick was worried to leave Triton alone with scissors or if he wanted to just spend time with his grandson? I am sure it was the latter of the two. Triton is very independent and is pretty much hassle free when it comes to keeping an eye on him with stuff like scissors. In the next post if I can remember to download the pictures I have Triton's first no no. Okay well his first rebellious venture when home alone with me.

Following

I know only a few people who blog. An ex girlfriend named Jamie who sometimes comments on my postings. Then there is Preston's wife. Preston is a gentleman that I work with. I have only met his wife and seen her a few times, but I know she must be great because of how happy she makes Preston. He has been working at the same hotel as me for maybe 3 years, 2 for sure? Him and his wife were married and I wondered why they didn't have any children. I asked him if they were planning on it and from the way he made is sound they were in no hurry. They are the cutest couple and I was excited when I heard that they were pregnant. Well, if you click on his blog (Payne) and just read the latest post you will learn what happened. His wife wasn't due to have the baby until like December 15th or something like that. There son was born October 12th two months premature! It was sad to hear, but the baby is now home and is doing well.
It is sad to hear stories like that. After having a healthy baby boy it hurts me to think of people who have problems with their pregnancies. My step sister had a miscarriage, my best friend's sister had a miscarriage. An uncle and his girlfriend who would babysit me when they were minors were married. He wasn't really an uncle, my mom's boyfriend's cousin. Him and his girlfriend have married since then and have a little girl. He is a bowler and I talked to him while Sheri was in term with Triton. Come to find out that they had 4 or 5 miscarriages! That is just so sad. My best friend and his wife are unable to have children. I feel for them and wish that they never had to know such pain. Preston's story is a bad one at first, but obviously turned out for the good.
Jamie was a girlfriend from high school. We dated on and off for 4 years until her return missionary (whom she married) came home from serving a full time mission. I can't remember where he went, I think it was stateside. He is a good guy and they have three children of their own. Sheri and I have done a couple of things with them in the past, but not since having children.
I used to go to movies all of the time, and now that Triton "the hinderer" is here we hardly ever go.
Anyway, Jamie was the one who introduced me to the gospel. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I had never gone to church previous to attending with her. She and her family never pushed it on me either, which was a blessing. I imagine if they would have I might have never have learned the truth. I am the only on in my family that is a member. I believe my mom's side were all baptized, but nothing ever solidified for them. My grandma on my mother's side is a member and she knows that it is true, but she let's the worldly things interfere with her progression. I myself was baptized when I was a junior in high school. I believe in the church and know that it is true, but I myself have had trouble simply going to church. I am not prefect, but I know that I would be temple worthy if I simply attended church.
It makes me sad that I don't know how to introduce the church to people. I never went on a mission because I was a convert and felt that I didn't know enough to go on a mission. I wanted to really bad, but never did.
One of my mom's old boyfriends who has been having an extremely tough time with his life has had some people from the church befriend him. They live near him and have had him in their home for dinner once or twice. He admires their willingness to help him in any way possible. I talked with him about this and learned that he might take part in the missionary discussions. I don't think that he has because satan (sorry I don't like to capitalize his name) has of course distracted him. The first night after he went to dinner at these people's home he was excited and wanted to learn about the church because they told him the story of Joseph Smith. This is the sad part of the story, he asked me why I never shared this story with him! It struck me pretty hard and I pray to become a better person and a friend to not just him, but to anyone who knows me. A lot of people, friends and family look up to me because they know I don't drink, they know that I don't smoke, they know that I don't do drugs. They know I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and they respect that. This same friend that is having a tough time in his life right now said the best thing to me one day. Him not knowing anything about the church confronted me when I joked about ordering a beer one night bowling. Everyone there knew that I would never drink, and I shouldn't have joked about it, but he still took it upon him self to threaten me. He said he would slap me silly or something to that effect if he ever caught me drinking. I was probably 24 at the time of him saying this! Thus, it wasn't my age to the reasoning of his reaction to my joke. My work schedule is going to be changing at the beginning of the year and I hope to go with him to these people's home while he partakes in the missionary discussions.
It saddens me that I cannot be a better example to those around me and pray to change that. It saddens me that I know about the one true church on this earth and I am too afraid to share it. I am grateful for Jamie and her family. Their family is the reason that I was interested in hearing about the church. They were great examples to me. Sure I was adolescent and impressionable, but after many years later my love for their whole family has grown stronger. I never see them anymore, but the admiration that we have for each other is still there. I know that I can call Jamie's father and ask him for anything and he would do whatever he could to help. He is one of my most favorite people in the world. I wish that someone would feel the same about me someday, but I know that I have to be willing to share my testimony with them about the church.

Early Present

This is the new bowling ball that Sheri has purchased for me for Christmas. She wasn't able to find a certain area online to ask for a specific type of pin placement. So she reluctantly asked for my help knowing that she would have to give away the surprise. The website is dumb in the way it asks you for this or that and basically hides this area to ask for certain specs, but all is well and the bowling ball is here.

Sheri thinks that the ball is prettier in real life than this picture above. I only looked at it a second before work last night and I was opposite. The quick glance that I took made me think that it is prettier in the picture above. It was only a quick look like I said so I might change my mind. I don't really care what the ball looks like as long as it helps my game.

I bowled with a different bowling ball last week than I had been all year and I was rolling the ball a lot better. I missed some easy spares, but the week gave me a bit of confidence. That is something I haven't had all year and probably a lot of the reason that my average is down almost 20 pins from last year! I had better figure something out soon, because Nationals is going to be here before I know it. Sheri's due date is April 23rd and I have to go to Reno to bowl March 12th or the 13th. She better not have an early delivery or she is on her own!

I had to go and get part of her Christmas early as well, she loves Harry Potter so I had to get the Bluray before she did.

Funny story, last week Terminator Salvation came out on DVD. It wasn't at the redbox so I went to rent it at Hastings. They had the Bluray so I just bought that because to rent a Bluray is like $6 there and the option to buy was $20. I bought my second Bluray of my own. They are of course Sheri's and mine, but we know who's is who's. She bought her Twilight and now has her Harry Potter. I have "I Love You Man" because that is just a movie that I can watch over and over. For some reason I bought Terminator Salvation. I don't usually just buy a movie unless I love it. I believe I was pretty lucky this time though. I liked Terminator Salvation a lot. I made Mikey J come over and watch it last week with me and he said it was his favorite Terminator yet! I like Terminator 2 the best, but wasn't disappointed in purchasing this one. I cranked the speakers and probably ruined Triton's hearing forever, but he watched most of it too and didn't complain about it being too loud. I don't hardly get to watch movies as loud as I want because Sheri doesn't like it that loud. I had it a little softer than I like, so it wasn't going to hurt Triton's ears. It did however try to vibrate the surround sound speaker off the television stand! Triton and I had already watched the movie before, and it was funny because he remembered this one part. When watching it a second time with Mikey J, Triton grabbed my arm and sat close because he remembered a scary part. It wasn't really scary, but it can make you jump and he jumped both times from watching it. It was just way cute how he remembered the exact point of the movie and prepared himself for it.

Pink

Well, as many have known for some time now, Sheri is pregnant again. This is going to be our second child. We found out this last Friday if it was a boy or a girl. I had been expecting a girl because I already have my King Triton. I of course wanted a another boy, but wasn't at all surprised when the person giving us the ultrasound informed us that it was a girl. I was kind of hoping that it would be a girl too because Sheri deserves to have a little girl. She really wanted a girl. I of course wanted all boys that way we could always have only boy stuff around and simply do man sports and such. A little girl isn't going to be bad at all. I am kind of hoping that she will be a daddy's girl since Triton is for sure a mommy's boy. There has been one day in the past three months that Triton was a daddy's boy and wanted me over his mom. Every and all other days he just wants his mommy. Hopefully these next few months where Sheri can't pick Triton up and baby him will be a wake up call for him. Being a momma's boy is a bad thing, but he needs to learn that she isn't going to always be picking him up.
There are days that he won't let me pick him up to simply put him in or get him out of the car. I don't mind him wanting his mom over me it doesn't hurt my feelings at all. It would just be so much quicker if he would let me carry him to and from different locations. I just let her keep babying him because that is the monster she help create. It is her first child and she should be able to pick him up all of the time because he is the baby. She should be able to pick him up because in a few years he is going to be to big for her to pickup anyway. I just can't stand having the both of them freezing in the cold winter because little momma's boy can't have daddy help him out of the car. Well, he is going to have a rude wake up call when her doctor informs her she can't pick him up anymore. I just hope that he gets used to it quickly. There have been a couple of times that he has been left in the car for a while to cry because Sheri wasn't able to get him out because she was carrying something else. Then there have been numerous times that he gets to go in his room because daddy didn't want to wait for either of them. So, I get him out of the car he is being a jerk and pushes my hands away as he is whining.
I am also afraid that Sheri is going to push herself a little too far as well. Not knowing that he is a growing boy or not knowing how fragile a state she herself is going to be in and then she is going to hurt herself.
Right now it is great though, when she is around and we both have the day off I let her do everything. I let her take him out of the car because that is what he wants, so I simply go in the house or where ever we are. I let her do the reprimanding because that is something that needs to be done by her when we are both around, not just me. Triton of course drives me a little too far and I have to help her with that part, but as for now him being a momma's boy makes things so much easier on me.
So, when I say I want this new little princess to be a daddy's boy it isn't to have her like me more than Sheri. I want her to be a daddy's girl so that things can be done in a timely manner, like entering or exiting a vehicle. Like being carried into a store from the parking lot. That angers me to no end. I have to carry Triton because I don't want him to fall on the ice and he is falling from my arms because he is reaching for his mommy. Ewww, that one angers me to no end. Again, not because he is a momma's boy, but because he is a momma's boy all of the time. Wait 10 seconds for me to carry you into the building then your mommy can have your royal bratness!! Okay enough venting about my angel Triton.
You may wonder why I think of him as an angel? Well, when he is alone with me during the days, he is basically an angel. I might have to send him to his room or raise my voice to him once a month during our alone times. When Sheri and I are together on my days off it is the exact opposite. There might be once day a month where I don't have to raise my voice or send him to his room. I am a parent that does believe in spankings as well, and he gets his fair share of swats on the butt, but only when his mom is around. You might think that I simply resent the fact that he is a momma's boy and see things that aren't there because of that fact. That is not the case. Things have gotten a lot better lately. In the past it was him being an angel for me all day. No whining and no fits. As soon as Sheri would walk in the door the whining would begin. Thank goodness that has gotten to be about a thing from the past. He at least waits a few minutes nowadays to start the whining. It is pretty funny because my cousin Josh's girlfriend and him have the same issues. I imagine that everybody who has children has run into this same issue, but it is just something that I had to vent about.
I told you that Kim has two girls of her own (a 4 year old [Bella] and another girl who is a little over a year and a half [Presley]) I did finally meet them a couple of weeks ago when Josh was down for Thanksgiving. They are two gorgeous girls. I guess Kim (Josh's girlfriend) is part Hispanic. I can't remember if the father of the first girl was Hispanic or not, but Bella has long beautiful hair. Then the second girl was fathered by a black man and Presley has pretty long curly hair. Both are cute as can be. Josh for those who don't know him is an albino! He was born a toe head and never grew out of it. His hair has always looked as if he just bleached it. Holly Madison hair his whole life. He isn't really an albino, but he is as white as white comes. So, we kind of throw puns in Kim's direction about how she wanted a kid from every color person. First I think it was another Hispanic that fathered her first child, then a black man that fathered the second, and I am sure she must have just been in awe seeing Josh for the first time. Whitey McWhitey. Maybe she first went with her own ethnicity, then saw a beautiful black man that didn't work out and she wanted to get as far from black as possible. Well, she did it for sure. She again, is supposedly Hispanic, but she doesn't really look it. So her Hispanic genes have to be a bit dormant. Josh's albino (white) gene is for sure a dominant that his baby is going to pop out and be Powder. Powder is a movie in the 90s for those who don't get the joke, watch the movie and then laugh at the joke. It is a pretty good movie.
Sheri hasn't really liked the color pink for a long while? I don't mind the color pink at all, and won't have a problem with everything we get being pink as well. Betty, Sheri's stepmother said she was planning on buying everything pink. I told her that was fine. Sheri wanted to inform her that there were other colors as well that are associated with the female gender, and I smiled at Betty and gave her the go ahead. The go ahead to buy all the pink she wants. As much as I can't stand wasting money on barbies and whatsoever girly things there are I know they are developmental tools. They just aren't golf clubs, footballs, basketballs and all the other great and easy things that boys have. I mean you have a doll (baby) that has a brush and a bottle and a this and a that. Growing up as a boy all you need to have fun is dirt! I remember throwing dirt clods at each other and that was a great day! I know that I will love this girl (whatever Sheri picks her name to be) no matter what, but I am frightened as well. I told Sheri that I picked Triton's name so she can pick the girl name.
She didn't like that idea and said that I would have to like it as well. I just want you to know Sheri that if you find a name and really are in love with it then it is fine with me. I told her that I would still help, which I will, but I would really like it if she would find a name that she loves. A couple of not so original family and friends said why not name her Ariel from The Little Mermaid as well? I liked the movie, loved the name Triton and that is about it. I don't have to love everything about the movie and don't have to love every name in the movie! I made a joke back at a couple of people saying that we would rather name her Flounder over Ariel! After joking back and forth we decided on Scuttles (the seagull) from The Little Mermaid. I kind of wish that Sheri would come up with something that she loves because it reminded her of this or that. I mean Triton reminds me of a great time in my life when I was 10 - 12 and had no care in the world. It reminds me of my grandma and grandpa which in return reminds me of all my grandparents, so it is just a special name because of the great memories it holds. Obviously she doesn't have anything like that, but she did mention a name from a book that I scrunched my nose at when first hearing it. Now that I think of it that name isn't too bad at all. So, Sheri, if you can remember which name that was and you still like it I am a go with it.

It Does Rain in Seattle

We found out that it does rain in Seattle. We visited last year in July for like a week and it didn't rain once! Upon arriving this time it didn't take but 30 minutes for us to see our first sign of rain. It rained most of the time we were up there, but nothing too bad. It only rained hard one time for like 5 minutes, the rest was a small drizzle.
My mom didn't look as bad as she made it sound like she was going to look. I was expecting to see a monster from the way she made herself seem. She was the same ole (not old) mom! It simply looked like she shaved her head to me. The dumb chemo is tough on nails as well as hair, so just those two things were the only thing that seemed different. Of course the surgery itself was the most obvious, her womanhood was gone (as she liked to put it.) She refered to herself as a man more than a few times while we were there! So there you have it folks, boobs make a woman a woman!
One piece of bad news that hit me the hardest was the fact that the doctors supposedly found traces of the cancer in the tissues that were removed from the breasts. I say supposedly because I hate doctors and I won't believe it! She is going to be cancer free and after her 6 weeks to two months of radiation, she is going to be cancer free. She is going to be healthy and return to her normal life.
We caught her up on a few movies that she hadn't seen. We rented Transformers 2, The Proposal, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, Twilight, and of course (I Love You Man!) All good renters if you haven't seen, even the Ghost of Girlfriend's past. There were two that we rented that weren't that great. Taking of Pelham 123 wasn't that good at all, John Travolta was pretty dang good in it, but the movie itself Not! Then we rented Year One, it was dumb, but I expected that, however there were some very funny parts in the movie. The way that one kid delivers his lines cracks me up. He was also in Superbad and Juno? I can't ever remember his name, but he is hilarious. Jack Black was his normal self, but he is funny in a Chris Farley sort of way.
So, I have never seen a live Racoon! Not even in a zoo! Well, my mom has had these racoons that come to her house in the night and eat dog and cat food that she has on the porch. They have been coming for the past three to four months every nightl! I was stoked! Ready to see my first racoons had me going. I didn't get to stay up the first night very late because I had almost been awake for 24 straight hours after working the night before. The next night I was rested and ready, or so I thought! I don't know if it was the traveling or the Seattle air, but I couldn't stay awake past midnight. I retired to bed after waiting by the window like a puppy in a pet store for an hour in a half. I did see a possum! My mom chased it off, so that little enjoyment was gone after 30 seconds or so. It was the first time I ever saw a possum as well. They aren't too ugly, just their rat like tail is the only thing that is ugly about them. I guess some 20 minutes or so after I went to bed my mom tried to knock on the bedroom door to wake me and let me know that there was one racoon on the porch! I had gone to sleep with my IPod in my ears and didn't hear her, so I missed him. She said he was the only on that came that night and he was very skiddish! I don't care if he was running from gnats, I wanted to see him. The next night our friend the possum showed up again, and Sheri wanted me to wake her so that she could see him because she had never seen a possum either. No signs of racoons though? That left one last night to see them. I was tired again like all nights we were there, but I stayed up as long as I could and never saw my racoon! I never get tired in our home town like I did in Seattle? If it were here I would have been able to stay up until 2:00am easily and then probably struggle to fall asleep after that? However, in Seattle it was another story. I was tired and falling asleep waiting on the couch peering out the window long before midnight? It might be nice to live in Seattle for that reason alone (being able to fall asleep,) however even after sleeping I didn't wake up rejuvenated? I was pretty much tired the whole time we were down there.
Another thing that sucked was the fact that my mom's house was freezing! I need to sleep in warmth or I get sick. If I breathe in cold air while I am sleeping I am sick the very next morning. That is what happened too. I was sick the very next morning and have been sick since. So, I have been sick about a week now. It is stupid how my body is when it comes to breathing cold air at night.
The first night was the coldest, the next morning there was actually a layer of ice on my mom's car windsheild. We woke early and drove to a diner, Ruby's Diner. I suggested IHOP just because it was early and I didn't want to wake my mom. We snuck out, but of course woke my mom accidentally as we were leaving. I don't know if she was able to get back to sleep. We couldn't find an IHOP, but Sheri luckily spotted this diner! It was a way cool place. Setup 60's style and was very clean. The food wasn't that great, but everything else was way better than an IHOP. There were two toy trains that were chugging along on suspended tracks above the booths. I showed Triton both sets and as we were sitting down, the train that was on the big track fell! It landed on an empty booth accross the restaraunt from us, which is probably lucky for the owners. That is a lawsuit waiting to happen! I don't know what caused it, but the middle portion of the train (which only had an engine, one box car and then the caboose) simply fell! The engine raced on by itself at a much faster pace, but soon found itself stuck when it caught up to the stranded caboose standing alone on the track. Nobody was sitting in that booth, so obviously nobody was hurt. What are the odds? Would have been way wicked if it did land on one of us or even Triton! I would have raised a big rukus if it would have hit Sheri or Triton, but I think I would have only demanded free breakfast if it were to have landed on me? I am not a person who believes in suing a company just to get money, but if it would have struck Sheri or Triton on the head I would have had to pursue some sort of legal council. It is sad that more places don't put forth the effort in their decore as this place, but then again they might be thinking twice about leaving their train tracks suspended above customer seating areas!
That was our little Seattle trip in a couple of paragraphs. My mom didn't want us to leave and the day before our departure up to the second we left the car to go into the airport my mom kept saying "you don't need to leave!" I felt bad that we weren't able to stay longer and of course the time just flew by when we were there! It was really great to see my mom. I finally told her that it was the racoon's fault that we were leaving. They were there all the time except when I wanted to see them! I hope that my mom doesn't think that we were bored. I wasn't bored at all. Triton might have been bored if we didn't buy him some hot wheels. I forgot his power cord to his DVD player, so he had to watch movies on my mom's computer. I did feel way bad about keeping my mom up waiting for the racoons. She sleeps in the living room because her bed hurts her back. So, I kept her up waiting for the elusive racoons and then Triton would get up early and wake her up! So, I am so sorry for that mom! She kept saying that last day as well "you don't have to go, you can stay here another couple of weeks." Not sure if she wanted us to stay longer or was saying that she could only stand us for another 2 weeks period? I will miss you mom and hope to visit next summer.
Sheri and I went with her sister Crystal and Sheri's mom to see "New Moon" yesterday after I got off work. It was pretty good. I didn't like the book, it was the only one in the series that I didn't really like all that much. The movie moved faster than the book and only left out a few things that could have been shown, but weren't vital. Thus in my opinion the movie was better than the book. Everyone knows that I am a film buff over books anyway, but I have to agree that books can have more detail into a person's thoughts. Whereas a movie has a ton more detail in locations and visual stimulation. I did like the book better as far as Twilight and I imagine that the books from here on out will also be better, but as far as the second installment I have to go with movie!

Tomorrow

My mom had her surgery this last Tuesday and she is/has been in mega-pain. She called me yesterday which was nice because I hadn't heard from her since a couple of days after her surgery. I just wanted to of course see how she was doing, but she wasn't in the mood to talk because of all the pain. Even yesterday it started out sounding like she didn't want to talk, but I think I cheered her up a bit. At least I hope I did.
This last Thursday Sheri, Triton and I went and had lunch at the Olive Garden. I don't usually like to go there because it is mega busy, plus I don't really think that their food is all that special. This time was actually pretty dang good! I was surprised and wouldn't mind going there more if in fact every meal was as good as this one was. Funny story though while we were there eating. I texted my mom's friend Frank (who has been helping take care of my mom throughout this whole endeavor) and told him we were at lunch at the Olive Garden and wanted to know if he wanted us to bring him anything. He called me instantly and asked if we were in Seattle. I just laughed and informed him that we were still in our home town, no where near Seattle. Like I would go to the Olive Garden before first seeing my mom. It was pretty funny, he is a good guy who can take a joke. Not sure if he called because he was excited that we might be there or if he did indeed want Olive Garden?
Tomorrow we get on a plane and head north to Seattle. I am hoping that Triton will be tired enough to sleep on the plane. We are flying during his normal napping hours, so there is hope. Triton is actually the kind of toddler that probably doesn't need to nap during the day. He can go and go if he is busy and has something to do. When we went to an amusement park a few months ago Triton was up from 7:30 in the morning until about 10:00 at night. He feel asleep in the car on the way to the hotel for like 20 minutes and then was up for at least another hour after that! Crazy boy can go. I can't wait to see my mom, to let her know that I am sorry for not being there for her during the most troublesome time in her life. Well, at least I would imagine that it would be the most hardest time of her life, but not sure how raising me was on her? I love you mom and will see you tomorrow. Assuming the plane doesn't crash!
So, movies that are worth watching and renting if you didn't go to the theater to see them are? None. I was told by a few people that GI Joe was good, but I didn't catch on to the appeal? Seeing one of the Wayan brothers try to act like a tough guy just wasn't believable at all! Disney/Pixar's new release of "Up" wasn't that good either! It was boring and even Triton who loves Pixar movies became bored with it his first time through. Usually he will watch a new animated movie the whole way through if we watch it with him on the normal television and not his portable DVD player. If you don't mind some crude humor "The Ugly Truth" had a few moments that were hilarious. It was just a bit too predictable to be anything other than slightly above mediocre. I haven't had a chance to rent "The Taking of Pelham 123", but I can tell you to rent that over "Up" and "GI Joe!" I had no idea that John Travolta and his wife lost their 16 year old son to autism until I read it the other day in USA Today. I couldn't imagine that pain, and hope that they can be comforted as time passes by knowing that he is in a better place. I feel for them because I couldn't imagine losing my little Triton. Even though there are times that I want to kill him myself, I couldn't imagine him not being here. Same thing with the old ball and chain (Sheri), need to kill her sometimes just because, but couldn't imagine life without her either. I love you both Sheri and Triton! I might keep Sheri around for another 5 months or so, so that she can give birth to our next child. Sheri is due in mid to late April.
Names are so freaking hard! Naming Triton was easy because I have loved that name forever. Thinking of another one for a boy or a girl is seeming impossible right now. I like the name Gamble, but Sheri has said no to that one ever since I suggested it. I was relieved that she liked the name Triton and agreed to that name before we had children. If she never agreed to that I might not have ever agreed to have kids?
My cousin Josh who was like my little brother growing up is also going to have a child. It is kind of sad, but I think I was more excited for him having a child than I was when Sheri told me that she was pregnant again. I know part of the reason is that we were trying to have another child. I wasn't that excited when Sheri first told me that she was pregnant with Triton! I am not that excitable as a person. I am calm and I don't panic in the face of danger. Not that having a child is dangerous, it is just my way of defending why I didn't get excited?
Josh went out with this girl from high school on and off and moved to Boise with her to go to college. They broke up and Josh started dating this Kim chic! Just kidding Kim. Have the funniest story about her in a minute though. Well, Kim has two children already. She has two little girls. Josh has been dating Kim for a little less than a year and I didn't know if he ever wanted to have kids, but even if he did, I imagined that he would just be a dad to her little girls and that would be that. I told him that I was so excited for him. I am excited for him because I didn't know if he wanted children and he then told me that he always wanted to have kids. I am excited for him because of the love that grows inside a person after that child is born. I have so much love for Triton that it strengthens all love for everyone. I want Josh to know of that same love. I have no doubt that he loves Kim's two little girls, but the love that will develop with a child of his own will surprise him. I am also sure that the love he feels for the two girls who aren't his own will grow more in the process as well.
I was mega scared to have a child. After Triton I didn't know if I wanted to have another. I am afraid that I might not love this next child as much as I do Triton? That is something that panics me on the inside for sure! I have asked numerous people who have more than one child if it was something they feared and it is probably 50/50. I didn't love Triton first off! It wasn't like the movies and how people say that they fell in love the instant the doctor placed the baby in their arms. I knew that I would grow to love him, but after that first night of numbness I was so scared that I might not. I thought that there was something the matter with me, maybe I was heartless? However, after a couple of weeks, I knew that I loved Triton. After months and now a couple of years I can't imagine people in the world who might never experience that love. I feel sorry for them. I am sure that was the reason I was so excited when Josh told me that they were pregnant. I am excited for him to gain that love and experience for himself.
Okay so funny story, can't remember if I already told it and I am too lazy to go back and read through to see if I had, but it is a story worth hearing twice. I was able to meet Kim for the first time when she traveled to Las Vegas for our National Bowling Tournament with Josh. Her two girls didn't make the trip and I am sad to say I still haven't met them. I did see Kim for the second time on the golf course. Josh, Her and the girls came down for a weekend and Josh went golfing with us one weekend. Kim rode with Josh in the golf Cart. I walked up to her and said "Oh my gosh, you really are Josh's girlfriend!" She looked at me all confused and that was when I followed that statement with this, I said "I wasn't sure if Josh just rented a hooker while he was in Vegas!" She didn't take me seriously and knew that I was joking, but it was still funny. Kim is due a couple of weeks after Sheri, and they are thinking of moving from their city to ours. That would be cool, but I don't have my hopes that high until it is a for sure plan. I would be happy to see him a lot more though. I have loved Josh forever, and still kinda do!

Vent

Well, as many of you know Uncle Henry is the luckiest golfer on earth. He scores over a hundred on Saturday and gets his second hole in one for the year on Sunday. Maybe if I started drinking a case of beer and smoking two packs of cigarettes a day, I might get lucky at golf? His first hole in one of the year was a good shot. Landed on the green after being a well struck shot and rolled up to the hole and dropped in.
Sunday however was a much different story. The wind was blowing about 20-30 miles an hour. We were 135 yards out, straight into the wind. Henry is hitting first and blades a horrible shot right at the flag! I was just hoping for his sake that the ball had enough on it to get over the bunker, because Henry doesn't have a clue how to hit out of a sand trap. With the weather getting colder and winter approaching, the sun is in a different angle and it is hard to see the golf ball in the distance no matter what time of day. After his ball cleared the bunker it hit the flag. The sound of the ball hitting the flag was the only indication that we had that he had in fact cleared the sand. With the ball hitting the flag at that speed it could have been anywhere. Walking up to the green I didn't see his ball anywhere and I simply walked to my golf ball, and told Henry good luck. I wished him good luck because of two reasons A. His ball could have been anywhere and I hoped he found it so he wouldn't have to go back to the tee box and hit again, and B. Because there was still a small chance that the ball was in the hole. He of course doesn't even look beyond the green, and just walks straight to the hole. I don't even think he carried his wedge with him just in case it did fly some 30 yards off the green which was not an unlikely result from the mis-struck shot that he hit. I understand that some people are just plain lucky (Henry), but to expect it and take it for granted is my biggest surprise. I was actually happy for him this time. I said congrats and simply kept playing. After years of seeing his luck, it is just a normal occurrence.
Now, I am not saying that he took this shot for granted. I believe that he was actually more surprised than I was that he found his ball in the bottom of the hole. But, to walk straight to the hole first before looking beyond and around the green is either arrogant or ignorance? You might say it was wishful thinking, but I honestly think he was probably 60% expecting to see the ball in the bottom of the hole and 40% on having to search somewhere else. Had it happened to me, I would have walked around the green first, then half-heartedly checking the hole in sheer hopes that it might be in the bottom. Thus, my percentage would have to be something like 99% sure the ball is somewhere else and not in the hole!
If I wasn't golfing way better than him this year it would have angered me a lot more. It could be that I have toned down my temper just a bit, but it still gets me going on the inside. Henry and I got into an argument last year over his luck, which he still doesn't admit is any better than mine? This one day last year, twice in the same day, he hit a horrible shot directly into the trees only to have the ball end up in the fairway. I bring this up because the same thing happened Saturday. I hit a great drive on this par 5 down the right hand side of the fairway. Henry on this same hole hits a shot 30 yards left of the fairway into these trees. We looked and looked for his ball, he hit another ball from where we thought it should have been(even though he is supposed to re-tee back at the box) and we drive toward my ball. We of course find Henry's ball on the right side of the fairway just 30 or so yards behind my ball! This means that his ball not only bounced forward after hitting a tree, but also ricocheted 50 yards to the right in the process! I was so pissed. Mostly because that crap never happens to me, but he just takes it for granted and basically expects things like that to happen to him. It is kind of like he is Gene Hackman in Mooseport. Have you ever seen that movie? Gene Hackman's character is an ex-President of the United States. He has this golf match with Ray Romano. Well, Gene Hackman thought he was a 10 handicap because his ball always conveniently bounced in the fairway after being hit into the trees. Gene's secret service crew had always been hiding in the trees and would just throw out an identical ball into the fairway. On the first hole, Gene's character hit a horrible shot in the trees but expected a great bounce like he always had. He even says "Wait for the bounce!" However, Gene's disgruntled wife forced her husband's bodyguards out of the trees and into view of everyone so that they couldn't cheat. Ray's character of course stomped Gene's character in the ground because he didn't get these great breaks that he was used to receiving! Golfing with Henry is just like that, but there isn't any freaking secret service guys in the trees! He is just that lucky of a person. I am happy for him, I truly am. However, I wouldn't ever take a minuscule amount of his luck for granted if I were to have it, and he is the opposite. He only thinks he is lucky a minuscule amount of the time? It baffles me to hear him say that I am just as lucky as he is. I could name 5 things off the top of my head that aren't just a little lucky, but honestly are basically unbelievable that have happened to him on the golf course. Whereas he wouldn't be able to name 2 instance of me having a tiny amount of luck? Yet I am just as lucky as he is? Hmm......

Finally

Okay as you can see I finally posted Triton in his Superman outfit that he so loved. He was able to wear this costume of course on Halloween when Sheri took him to his grandparents. I was sleeping on that night because of work. We had no trick or treaters at all, unless they didn't knock loud enough to wake me? Triton was also able to wear his outfit at the zoo on Thursday before Halloween. They had a neat thing setup for kids, it was pretty cold so we just hurried through everything. Sheri's mom went with us as well as her brother, his wife and their two young ones. The lions and tigers were way more lively than they are in the heat of the summer months. I was surprised! They were up and about, even the large male lion. The otters were in the water with pumpkins that I am not sure they were supposed to have, I guess they snatched them from the decorations that were all around every exhibit. Lastly, Triton was able to wear his outfit on Friday to Trick or Treat Street? Not sure what that is because I was again sleeping? He also wore his outfit when we had our league bowling on Friday too.





He us such an angel! Yeah right! There are times during the day that he allows me to take a nap or catch up on some weekly shows that I missed while I had to sleep before work. This is one of the things that he does that keeps him out of trouble. This isn't the position that he is always in, and one that I wouldn't personally want to sit in while watching a movie? He loves watching Cars, Monsters Inc. and also these two dvds of Tom and Jerry that my mom sent me. Those are the movies that he watches on his own little DVD player, if he is watching the big television it has to be Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. That is the first thing that comes out of his mouth when you carry him downstairs from his room. He says "MeaMouse!" He can say Mickey just fine, and of course Mouse is clear as day, but he is having the hardest time stringing words together. Thus the MeaMouse! I tell him I love him all the time. He tries to say it back, but most of the time it just sounds like he is saying "yeah yeah." He is having difficulty with his Ls, and C or Ks. The Ka sound is card for him if it is the beginning of a word. Ls are hard no matter where the position. Fs and Vs are also troubling him in the middles of words. Either than that he is doing pretty good. He only wants to say one word at a time like a caveman, however I guess he might be able to log on and get a free rate quote from Geico? Okay bad joke sorry!

My mom's surgery is today! I am not really scared, just wish that I could be there. I know that the surgery will go well and she will be fine. I just don't want the stupid cancer to return! I hope that us visiting her in a week or so will lift her spirits. My grandma made it there last night so that is nice to know. My mom just called before she has to go to the hospital. Her surgery is in a little over three hours. She called to tell me goodbye because she is the same type of person as I am. I would do the same thing if I had to get minor surgery let alone major.

Fall Back

It is that time of year again when time stands still for an hour and the clocks are adjusted back one hour. It is normally a great thing. Being able to sleep that extra hour! That next day no matter how well you slept always seems so long. This to is also a good thing, because most people don't work on the weekends. Even if they do, they were able to have that extra hour of sleep to prepare for work anyway. Well, that is unless they work the same schedule as me!
I work a graveyard/night audit shift at a hotel. This leaves me awake during the times when most of America is sleeping. I dread working this night for weeks before the actual shift. Everyone is blessed with that extra hour of sleep, while I am blessed with working an extra hour. I not only have to work that extra hour, but I also get the feeling of that next day lasting longer than 99% of the people in the U.S. Okay poor ole Jason, right? Right, enough whining.
Hope everyone had a great and safe Halloween. I will try to post Triton in his costume within the next three days, but who knows since our stupid computer has been delayed from being delivered an extra 2 weeks. Never order a Dell!

6 In A Row

I guess Sheri took Triton to the Halloween shop to see if anything caught their eye as far as a costume. I had to work, so I unable to attend. I guess she tried showing him a bunch of costumes and he only wanted one. Sheri said others were way cuter and not so boring, but all he wanted was the first one that he picked out. She went grocery shopping afterwards and I guess he wanted to take his costume in the store with him. He wouldn't leave it alone, and Sheri had to open package it was in during the car ride because he wanted it so bad. It turns out it was just a simple Superman costume. Kind of funny because he hasn't even watched Superman? I will post some pictures when we have him suited up.
Uneventful weekend. I golfed in the last bash tournament and probably won't do it again. It is fun, but there is no chance that we would ever win because there has to be some amount of cheating going on? Regardless there was a chance to get drawn for prizes and a season pass for next year. I didn't get drawn for a single thing, but never do, so it wasn't that bad. The worst part is hanging around for 45 minutes or more waiting for them to tally scores so they can draw for prizes. That isn't even that bad I guess. The worst part is Henry and his drunken loudness! He just sits outside the front door of the lodge/clubhouse being a noisy drunk. It is embarrassing and I would feel bad for leaving him out there alone, so I sit with him. He probably drank a beer a hole, thus he was wasted by the time we finished golfing at 4:00. We started at 9:30am or so, and of course he was already drinking by then. I feel bad for him that alcohol has that much of a hold on him, and he has pushed away many people and family with his drinking, but he won't stop? Makes no sense to me, but to each their own I guess? As sad as it sounds, I call him unky drunky! Might sound mean to you, but he knows he is a drunk. He knows that he has pushed people away because of it, but beer means more to him than anything or anyone else! Wicked sad.
Bowling last Friday gave me hope again! I threw the ball the best I have probably thrown it in years, but didn't score that well. I would have two or three strikes in a row, then get ripped off and leave something. I averaged over a 194 for the night, but bowled way better than that. If I keep rolling the ball like that all year, then it will be simple getting my average back over 200, and hopefully bowl another three hundred? I haven't had any hope for the last 7 or more years on bowling another 300, until the first week this year. But as you have read, something didn't stick after week one! Like I said I hadn't thrown the ball that good in many years. It is possible that I hadn't thrown that good ever, so if that is the case and I don't lose it, there should be some high scores from me?
I did end up making the finals for poker again. That makes 6 straight tournaments in the finals, and if I cashed it would make 6 straight in that category as well. In the past I would always make the finals, but fall short of cashing. So, making the cash the last 5 times in a row is a miracle for me. The finals were last night, and I really didn't have any hands worth mentioning. I had pocket kings once, didn't win any chips. I was short stacked later on and had pocket aces, I didn't know that I had pocket aces, because I had to go all in. I had only looked at one card when I pushed all of my chips in the middle. Everyone folded and I looked at my other card, and found another ace. Two people were knocked out of the final 6 and then we split the money. I cashed my 6th time in a row and took home $60.00. I was second in chips with 4 of us left, but with the blinds being so high it was smarter to take the $60 instead of try to win the money outright. True, first place alone would have been $140, but there would still be a chance of making nothing.
My mom has her surgery on the 4th of November. Sheri, Triton and I are going to visit her the week afterward. We couldn't decide whether or not to go down on the 4th or the 13th. The 4th made more sense as far as being there directly after, but she might be in the hospital for more than a day or two. That isn't so bad, but we can only go for just over 4 days. She has a gentleman friend that she works with that has taken care of her during this tough time in her life. I am so grateful for what you have done for my mom, Frank. We thank you so much. Frank is going to be there to take care of her for the first few days. I then found out from Henry that grandma was planning on going down the 3rd, so that made out decision much easier to just go down the 13th. This way she is probably going to be a lot better as far as mobility and spirit. I talked to her this week and she was really down. I am hoping that her mom being there for the surgery and then her son and grandson being there the week after will lift her spirit for sure. I hated not being there for you at all mom. I would have taken your pain and suffering if I could have. It is almost over and everything is going to be fine. She did mention that she wouldn't do it again! If the cancer did come back she would just let whatever happens happen. She hated the chemo that much. I was honestly surprised that she went through it all in the first place. I never told her that, but I am obviously grateful that she did. I couldn't imagine life without you mom! Even though you live so far away, you are still doing exactly that "living." You are going to be fine, that cancer will not come back and you will live long enough to see Triton get married and have kids of his own. That is assuming I allow him to live that long!
I had talked with Henry one day about how I was surprised that my mom went through chemo in the first place. If I had cancer myself even at a young age, I don't know if I would do it! My mom isn't old by any means, she hasn't even hit the big 50 yet, I was just happy to know that she was going to go through with the cancer treatments. It gave me hope that she might move back home. It made me happy knowing that she wanted to continue living. Henry then threw in his own hypocritical thoughts on what he would do if it were to happen to him. He said that he would do it, he would go through the chemo. His reasoning behind this was that there are people that love him and would want him around. Not to sound mean or anything, but I just find that hypocritical big time! Not that there aren't people that wouldn't want him around, I for sure want him to be around for many many more years. It just doesn't make sense to me that he is killing his body with cigarettes and alcohol, pushes and pushes people who love him away because of it, but won't simply try to quit those vises today? He would be willing to try to go through chemo if he were to get cancer, because he is loved and his family and friends would want him around. He would be willing to do that, but he isn't willing to quit smoking which will easily lead to lung cancer anyway. He won't quit drinking which will ruin his liver. He won't take the precautionary steps that would prevent these horrible things from happening, but he will try to mend the broken only after it might be too late? It really makes no sense to me? It hurts seeing him treat his body this way. It hurts because my mom, did something that I never would have imagined growing up, quit smoking. She probably used to smoke some 2 - 3 packs of cigarettes a day. She never really drank that much, I only remember her being drunk growing up maybe three times? I am sure she drank more than that, but alcohol never had a hold on her like it does Henry. Heck, it is easier to remember the days that she was drunk compared to the days in the past 8 years that Henry wasn't drunk! I hate to sound so mean and unloving, but is just isn't fair! It isn't fair that my mom took steps to better her life only to get breast cancer. It isn't fair that a person who is drunk and smoking all of the time to say "I would go through chemo if I got cancer, because there are people who would want me around longer!" It isn't fair to those family members to know that they are only going to be worth living for when it is almost too late. Let's wait til I get cancer to prove that I still want to be here for them. He doesn't understand that when he is drunk 90% of the time that he isn't really here! Sure his body is there on the couch, on the golf course, at the bowling alley, but his mind isn't. My mom didn't wait until she caught something to quit her addiction to cigarettes. She quit on her own to better herself.
I am not saying that I wish Henry had cancer and my mom didn't. I am just wondering why? Why do good people who have chosen to take the proper path to healing their body have to suffer? Why should she suffer when she didn't wait until it was too late. Why does Henry get to say he will try to do what is necessary only when it is too late, instead of doing what is so much simpler right now? Why can't I endure the pain that my mom felt? Why would I want to endure the pain for Henry when that time comes for him, when he has made it apparent that we as his family members aren't worth the effort until it is too late? Simple I guess, it is love I know. I love my mom so much for going through the chemo, I love her so much for quitting smoking, I love her proving that we are worth living for today, and not tomorrow.

Ouch, and Boring Golf, and Boring Poker!

Monday I took Triton in to get a flu shot. He does not like the doctor's office. He is fine in the lobby watching the television (Finding Nemo that day) or watching the fish in the tank, but as he is placed on the bed with the paper sheet the tears fly. We weren't there very long, in and out, so it wasn't too bad.
As for me, golf has been pretty good for me. I golfed an even par back nine at Pinecrest for the first time in my life the Saturday before last. My goal for that particular course this year has been to golf under an 80. A few weeks ago I had a great start, but fell short on the back nine, shooting an even 80! This day that I shoot even par on the back was amazing, because I was behind 7 trees on the front, and double bogeyed the first hole. A score of 80 is ten over par, and to be 2 over already after the first hole was going to make it much harder! I only shot 8 over on the front after all of the tree hassle and the double bogey on hole number 1. Thus I shot a 78 and was way happy.
Our computer took it's last breath like a month ago, so that is the reason I haven't been blogging very much. My friend Mikey J (for those of you who might know who I am talking about [he has been my bowling partner for some 15 years now]) tried all he could to fix it. He came to the conclusion that it is simply time for us to get a new one. Thanks Mikey for trying, you know that I won't forget and know that we owe you for doing all you could. We have another computer ordered, but it won't be here for like 3 weeks, because we didn't want to have Windows Vista on our computer. Even though it comes with Vista and a free upgrade to Windows 7 when it comes out in a couple of weeks, we just decided to wait and have it sent with Windows 7 only. Boy, you really don't know how much you use a computer until it is broken. Mikey was able to save us all of our pictures of Triton and some other various documents that we wanted. He is also going to install our old hard drive when our new computer comes, so we can have it as any sort of back up we might need. Again, thanks Mike, you are the best.

So, I haven't been able to play that much poker online. However, I have been winning with the little amount that I have been able to play. I finally hit a milestone that I thought was going to be impossible. I have all 4 of my websites up over $80! I don't know why that has been my milestone mark, but it has finally come. You would think that $100 per website would have been the mark, but for some reason that is just going to be another number! I will be excited yes, because it is $78 more dollars than I have now, but it won't feel like a mountain top! Sorry to throw in golf and poker into this blog, my mom hates it. I, however had to brag about my best round at Pinecrest and my milestone mark on online poker. I tried to make them short mom!

So, I will throw in a bit of bowling to top it off! As I have mentioned before, I have been struggling with bowling so far this year. Average has gone down 19 pins from yearbook (205). I had this idea of why I might be struggling and was hoping this last week would be better. It was only a bit better because the lanes were really tough and I was focusing more on my grip instead of lane conditions. I shot a whopping 142 my first game and finally made the correct move with my feet to combat the lanes and shot a 214 and a 235 my last two games, so I am hoping that I am on to something and will have a better week coming up.
I have to throw in a plug for the movie that I have been loving lately! I just barely finished watching it again for like the 15 time since it's release a month ago or so. I don't know why I love this movie so much, but I do! It is called "I Love You Man." I laugh and laugh, and it really doesn't have any huge moments like Dumb and Dumber or American Wedding that has a million quotable phrases. The whole movie is just funny. It has a few crude innuendos and sexual references, but it isn't even really that bad of a movie. Just a few swear words and no porn.
The year end golf tournament was cancelled until this weekend. Like I said, I know that we won't win, but there is a drawing for a season's pass next year, that would be super nice! I am crossing my fingers on that and also for bowling better this week.

The Last

This last Friday was the last week of my mom's chemo treatment. I am excited for her, and know that everything is going to be fine. She is to then have surgery in a few weeks to a little over a month, once her body is strong enough. I am sad that I wasn't ever with her to help take care of her during this time in her life. I know that in some instances she is thankful that I didn't see her, but I know had she experienced a single day with the shoe on the other foot, she would have wanted me there.
My parents were divorced when I was five years old or so, and my mother gained custody of me. My dad hardly paid child support, and my mom worked many jobs, mostly as a waitress. She would of course work more than one job at a time, but she always let it be known that she loved me. She wouldn't only say it, but being grown up now I know that she showed it a lot more.
Having a child of your own is a love that a person cannot imagine until it happens. Even though I wasn't a planned child and even considered for abortion, I know that she doesn't regret keeping me. Sure her life might have been better had I not come into existence, but she might have never gained the knowledge of such a love for a child. I was an only child, and with how busy my mom was with raising me, I know why she never returned to the procreation fountain. She worked long hours, and I didn't see her all that often. I never felt neglected, and I hope that she knows that I never ever felt that way. Even though we were never well off, I always had what I wanted. I am for sure sorry for wanting so many things now mom!
My mom would tell you that I was an angel growing up. I did not hardly ever get into trouble, which is amazing considering how my uncle's grew up. I say this because they were the ones that babysat me most of the time. I know that I was probably pretty easy to take care of, but I am sorry for the times that I wasn't. I am sorry for any day that she was disappointed in me. She is a good person who has lived a hard life. It is sad when you think about bad people who have lived good lives. I would like to think of myself as a good person, a good person who has lived a good life. I wouldn't have been a good person if it wasn't for my mother. And I for sure wouldn't have lived a good life if it hadn't been for her as well. I have begged since she moved to Seattle to move back, but that is the selfish child in me. I want my mommy! I think that I have almost worn her down. I am also sorry for that mom, for always making you feel bad for moving away. If you are better off there, then please stay. I have always gotten what I wanted and I am so thankful for that, but don't give in if it is just for me. Come home if it is what you want.

It's Begun

Well, we obviously shaved Triton's head. I knew that I would want to before he was three years of age just to see how he looked. Since I have no hair and always shave mine, why not let him see how he likes it too? It was pretty funny, he knew what we were doing because he could see his hair in the sink, but his reaction afterward was way cute. We let him look in the mirror and he was acting all shy from just looking at himself. We had him feel his head and he turned all hyper and started slapping his own head? It reminded me of that part in Fight Club where Brad Pitt shaves that one guy's head then slaps him in the back of the head and calls him a space monkey. We wouldn't have gone so short, but of course Triton's baby hair is so thin that any longer setting would have just been a huge hassle, so we went with the shortest. I still think he is cute, but we will probably wait to do it again, until he maybe wants to do it by choice.

So, it has begun, it is just past midnight and the snow is falling. I went golfing today and shot a really good back nine at Pinecrest, first time I ever shot even par on a front or a back nine at that course. It is the hardest course in town, I shoot my best round there ever, and the snow has to fly. Happens every year, when I think I might have figured something out, it is winter. The snow flies, I stare out the window all winter and know that I will have to start all over again in the spring. This year I am going to take down some notes that helped me score better toward the end of this year and hopefully start out great next year. We will still have a few more weekends of golf left, we always do, but another 5 months would be great. We are supposed to golf the last bash at Pinecrest this next Saturday. The weather is supposed to warm up and I am sure that it will melt any snow that has accumulated this week. The last bash is a fun tournament. It is a scramble, which means you all play from the best shot out of everyone. Aside from the first shot. Everyone hits and then you have to roll a die to see who's first shot from each hole is taken. Then after that you are free to use the best shot every time, but that original roll of the die is scary, depending upon if someone hit a horrible shot. My uncle Henry likes to play this tournament. I didn't really want to golf it, but he wanted to, so I agreed. Turns out he is going out of town on business and won't be back in time. I am playing with two guys that I play poker with, some guy I don't know, and hopefully I can get one of my other friends to play? One of the gentleman that I am supposed to be playing with is Bob Sinise. He is the actor Gary Sinise's father. He is a nice guy, one of the guy's that I play poker with every week.

Triton helped me take down the trampoline for the year. I asked him if he wanted to jump before we took it down, and he said "no." He helped put the springs and the elastics for the padding in a bucket, then we rolled up the trampoline and was putting it in a storage room when he said "jump?" I told him, it was too late, and hurried on to something else to get his mind off it. Usually every time we go outside he has to jump on the tramp for a bit. He acts crazy and ends up close to the edge which scares me, so I make him get off.

I suck at bowling so far this year. My yearbook average is a 205, and so far after 4 weeks I am just below a 190! I hopefully figured out something this last week to help me out. If it doesn't help at all, then I don't know what else to do? Quit maybe? I imagine once golf is for sure over for the year I will be able to focus more on bowling, but until then I just don't see it happening. Golf is fun for me, and I think I just assume that bowling will be easy, because it mostly always has. There was about 5 years that it left me, but for the past two years I was getting better? I don't know, maybe it is leaving me again?

Not Only

Well, this weekend wasn't a good one at all. Not only did we not get to see my mom because we were sick, but I golfed like crap as well. I was major sick, but there was a fun tournament that took place. It was a doubles tournament that is one round in a different city and another round the next day in our home town. Out of 36 holes I had 23 putts for birdie. I golfed probably the best ever, but just couldn't make a putt. So, we lost because Henry golfed like crap. Out of those 23 putts for birdie, 17 of them were close enough that I should have made like 35% of them at worst, but I made none! Kill me please!
Triton didn't get too sick, he was the reason that we cancelled this trip in the first place. He seemed okay after only having a runny nose and congestion during the night for a day and a half. We had a humidifier on in his room at night so that probably helped, but I ended up getting pretty dang sick. I ran a small fever and had a lot of aches on Saturday. Still golfed great like I said, maybe it was because I was sick?
Yesterday we were switching channels and came across good ole America's Funniest Home Videos. There was a segment being shown on people falling down and some of them probably were hurt kind of bad in a few spots, but that didn't stop Triton from laughing! Here he is yesterday watching the same segment for the third time.

My cousin Josh was going to Seattle for a day or two and I told him to stop by and see my mom, since he was going to be there anyway and since Triton and I couldn't make it. I talked to my mom Saturday night and she seemed pretty down. I didn't mention that Josh was going to be in Seattle because I didn't know if he would stop and see her. I guess he hasn't called her since she has been sick. His sister Shalee (Monster) has spoken to my mom a few times and insinuated that Josh hasn't called my mom because it is his way of not accepting the fact that my mom is indeed sick. Shalee thought that him calling my mom would make it real to him, and if he never called, then she simply wasn't sick in his mind. Anyway, I don't know how much, if any, of that is true? He did stop by and I am glad that he did. My mom seemed much happier than she did the other day. I just wish that it was Triton and I that was able to cheer her up instead of Josh. Thank you Josh and Kim for taking the time out of your trip to see my mom, hope everything was okay with the drive. I love all of you and have a good week.

No Trip

Yesterday morning I got off from work for the week and Triton and I were supposed to head to Seattle later that night. It was a normal morning just like any other day. I prepared Triton to go over to Henry and Barbara's so that Barbara could watch Triton. Just before we left, I let Triton play outside for like 10 minutes. It was kind of cold outside, but he had pants and a jacket on so I wasn't too worried. We were walking around the yard like we usually do, me hitting a practice golf ball and Triton mowing the lawn. He loves to push his little mower around all of the time. He is liking to do that now, more than he used to like hitting golf balls with me? He still hits a golf ball here and there, but that mower has his attention no matter what. Maybe he would rather be a greenskeeper instead of being a golfer? I noticed that before we left that his nose was running. I thought nothing of it because it was cold outside and maybe his nose was just running becuase of that? Well, it wasn't. A lot of people have been sick at my work, and I imagine that is how he has gotten sick! Barbara still watched Triton, but I told Sheri to keep a close watch on Triton. I woke up two hours early from my nap and found out that his nose had been running all day. I didn't want to cancel the trip, but it is a good thing that I did. He woke up this morning all stuffy and coughing. Here is a picture of him right now. I wiped the dried up boogies that he had all over his face from his sleep so you won't be able to tell that he is sick, but I can still tell!

Then I took another pic seen here, like 5 minutes later. Poor runny nose boy!

I am hoping that it is like one of his 2 day colds where he doesn't get too sick. Instead of his running a fever, coughing and whining week and a half sicknesses! Baby boy is watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and I can hear his congestion as he tries to answer Mickey's questions. It is so funny about a month ago when Mickey would ask a question to the viewer Triton would always answer with a "No", no matter what the question. It was so cute, but now he is pointing to the screen when there are multiple choices. He tries to repeat a lot of what Mickey tells him too, so maybe we don't have a retarded kid after all? Just a kid with A.D.D! We make a funny joke to guests or people that are around him. We tell them that if he starts annoying you in any way all you have to do is try to teach him something. He could be jumping all over you and if you try to get him to say ABC he is out of there. Learning is like his crytopnite for sure!

Poker went okay. One of the crazy players went out within the first hour, so I didn't have to take a stand against him. I worked my chips up in the first two hours and was pretty safe. At the finals (like last night was) there are 6 people at the table and the top three get paid. Payout last night was $30 for third, $75 for 2nd and $150 for first place. I knew that we weren't going to be driving to Seattle so I was able to be patient last night. It came down to 4 of us when I lost 60% of my chips doubling up the guy who runs the event. This left me as the low stack with 4 people left. I started playing crazy and made the final 3 spots and getting almost all of my chips back that I had given to him. Sure $30.00 is better than nothing, but when you have to pay $15 to get into the tournament it isn't that much profit. I was short stacked with 3 people remaining when the guy who I had double up was forced to go all in and lost. I was assuming that I was only going to get 3rd. I then doubled up when my Ace Queen held against my opponent's Ace Jack. Then the very next hand against the same opponent who just doubled me up went all in. I was forced to call because of pot odds, and she doubled up. The very next hand I was delt 2 2, and I don't like the hand, but it is a small favorite over any hand. I went all in and she (not knowing how to play correctly) called instantly with King 8 off suit. I of course don't like the call and she could have easily folded and probably should have. She had to like seeing my dueces though. My twos held up and she was out. The other gentlemand and myself split the remaining money. We then took home $112.50 a piece. The hand with my 2 2 is a hand that I lose 90% of the time, even though it has about a 50% chance at winning against the King 8. I have horrible luck, but when I win hands I should like my Ace Q against Ace Jack, and the 2s hold up then there isn't any reason for me to lose. If it was online poker I would have probably been out when I had the Ace Q against the Ace J, that is how bad online poker is! I was happy to split first place, it is the 4th time in the last 5 tournaments that I have shared 1st place. I am happy with those results and obviously the little bit of extra spending money that comes with it.

So sorry again mom that we weren't able to make it down. Maybe next month when my days off fall on this same pattern? I love you and wish you the best. I miss you so much and hope that you know that we weren't trying to avoid you in any way. I want to see you and be with you so much. I wish that I could be there and help take care of you on your hard days. I wish that Triton could be there to lift your spirits in times of need. I love you and pray for you all the time.

The Biggest Dis Ever!

Okay not a clue why this story popped in my head, but I guess I will share. It is a story about me and the moral values I had in high-school.
I was always a shy boy growing up. There were maybe 3 girls that I had the courage to kiss first in all my life. I would always wait for the girl to make the first move no matter what. I might have been in 7th grade before I even kissed a girl the way you wouldn't kiss your sister. I am talking about lips together, no saliva swapping of any kind until I was in 7th grade. Okay enough about kisses.
My parents were divorced when I was 5 or so years old, and my mother gained custody of me. Neither of my parents were religious and I never rememeber going to church. I think my grandma on my father's side took me one day, but either than that I couldn't tell you anything about any religion. I wasn't a bad kid growing up, despite the petty theft incidents that nobody ever found out about. I have never been drunk. Tried cigarettes in the 6th grade just because it was cool. Hate the taste of coffee, not that people who drink coffee are the devil, it is just something I would never drink. I tried stupid marijuana a couple of times just because friends of mine were doing it. Yes, I gave in to peer pressure okay! Hated it, nothing like the way people make it out to be. It didn't make me laugh, didn't make me have the munchies, did nothing but make me wish that I had never done it. So that was that. I am obviously not an angel, not am I trying to say that I am, but I was a pretty good kid growing up.
I met a girl at the end of my sophomore year in high school and she was a mormon. She didn't ever pressure me into going to church with her. Didn't ever pressure me into believing what she did. I didn't believe anything, sure I believed in Jesus and God, but that was about it. I had a conversation with her about the afterlife one evening while we were walking around by the river, and shortly after that she did convince me to take part in discussions with the LDS (Latter-Day Saints) missionaries. I joined the church some three months later. This young lady and myself ended up splitting up, but I still believe in the church to this day. My wife and I were even married in the Idaho Falls Temple.
Now, we almost have the background to this epic title of the blog. A shy boy who likes girls that isn't restricted by his parents as far as sex. Sure my mom didn't want me to have sex, but she made sure I had condoms, bla blah. Either than that it was open season for me. I had actually had sex one time previous to becoming a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It wasn't with the girl who introduced me, so don't think that. I wasn't afraid of girls, just didn't want to be the first to make any sort of move. Now, the church of course discourages sex before marriage. However again, I didn't have any sort of restrictions from the parents, only my own moral limitations and the help of the church now.
I had become good friends with this kid in high school during my senoir year. He will remain nameless for the sake of not giving away who this story is about. It isn't who the story is about that makes it a great story, only the story itself. I was driving this friend of mine home after high school one day and I saw this girl in a bus, not the short bus either!, she was pretty fine. I ended up running into this same girl at this new friend's house. His sister was friends with this girl, so I thought fate was bringing us together. I found out that she had a boyfriend, a guy who really didn't like me for some reason. I never pursued her any further, because I am respectful that way. I of course still thought she was mega pretty, and would smile at her here and there, but that was it.
This one night after my friends were finished partying for the night, I drove us all to my friends house. I, being the only one who never drank, was always the designated driver. This friend of mine convinced me to spend the night. I agreed, and took refuge on the big couch. My friend was so drunk he passed out on the floor, while his sister laid on the couch with me. This friend of hers was laying on the adjacent couch. My friends step-father came upstairs and made his step-daughter get off the couch with me. He went downstairs and was never seen again that night. This sister of my friend also fell asleep on the floor. My whole life I have always been the last one to fall asleep in a group setting. I have always had a hard time falling asleep. The television wasn't on, so I was just lying there on the couch. Bored as could be. I had lost any interest of this hot girl, because A. she had a boyfriend B. she was a party girl who supposedly slept around and C. because I was trying to be a good boy. Well, I got the invite on this given night! Funniest thing, and probably the meanest thing this girl has ever experienced. Assuming she even remembers? because, she too, was drunk.
I lay there bored out of my mind wanting to fall asleep, when I rolled over and looked in her direction. The light was on in the kitchen? Why, I don't remember, but it shed plenty of light in the room. This is when I see her motion me over to her couch with one finger! Without saying a word, I simply rolled over so I couldn't see her. It was nice being the one in power, whereas girls usually have the upper hand. I couldn't have imagined how humiliated she must have felt, but I felt really good?! I feel good about it because I didn't give into the ways of the world. Not many guys out there would have turned down the opportunity that I had that night, but that is where I was stronger than them. Plus, they will never be able to tell the story about their "biggest dis." They might be able to tell the story about how they acquired crabs or some other STD maybe?