Mom Said,

So, the other night I am reading to Triton before laying him down for bed. We are sitting on the floor, Triton in my lap. I read a few pages and I notice that he is acting weird! Every time I turn the page, he grabs something invisible from the bottom left corner of the book and acts like he is eating it? At first I didn't know if he actually put something in his mouth, so I had to check. Nothing? I turn the page again and he does this for like 4 or 5 pages in a row. It took me a minute to realize that he was mimicking me! He was just doing it backwards! I don't know if he has seen Sheri do this or not, but that night I had to lick my fingers every few pages to grip and turn the page. It was just so cute, plus (not that I do this) he was making little chomping noises each time he did it. So, you can see why I wondered whether or not he had actually put something in his mouth. The little things that kids do.
I am not a person who reads a lot. I don't mind a good book, but most have to be recommended in order for me to read them. I am a wicked critic when it comes to movies, and they are only 2 to maybe 3 hours long. Thus, I would be mega upset if I had to read a book and find out that it wasn't even worth turning the first page. Last year my mom tells me to read "The Ruins" because it was so gross, bla blah. It wasn't a bad read, but wasn't gross at all! If people like my mom haven't been
watching Saw and other such gore fest movies, I can see how she might have thought it was a gross movie. Plus she is a wuss when it comes to gore. If there is going to be a gross/gory part in a movie and she can see it coming, she simply turns her head when that particular part happens. Like in the movie Ghost Ship, I remember plugging it in and knowing what she was going to do in the first 5 minutes. I predicted that she would turn away from the television when it was obvious what was going to happen to all of these people on board this ship. She did in fact do exactly that, it was so funny.
So, my mom tells me to read the Twilight series. I liked the movie, it wasn't too bad. I loved the way the movie was filmed and edited. So, I decided to do what the mom said and read them. The first book was fine, followed the movie pretty much the same. The main character "Edward" is a lot more likable in the book. Not that the actor in the movie is someone I don't like, it just seemed that he didn't talk all that much or show any emotion in the movie. In the book he spoke a lot more, and had emotions. I kind of liked watching the movie first and then reading the book because I was able to picture the characters from the movie. Of course had I just read the book before watching the movie I would have pictured the characters differently. With this series it was kind of better having them as their characters in the movie. I don't like one of the characters in the movie simply because of the way he looks. The character of Jacob in the movie reminds me of a tennis player that I can't stand. Thus, I hated the character of Jacob throughout the entire series! I don't think I would have liked him a lot anyways, but I might not have hated him as much as I did if his character didn't look like Rafael Nadal. If any of you have ever seen Nadal play a tennis match you would know why I can't stand him. He is a great tennis player, don't get me wrong, he wears capri pants though! He doesn't wear shorts, which is fine, if he wants to wear pants fine. If he wants to wear capri pants, okay more power to him! However he is always picking his butt! Millions upon millions of people watch this moron on the television pick his seat like he himself is going to the movies! So, yeah Jacob isn't a character that I liked in the books. I can't wait to watch the movies, but the book series is kind of boring. I liked the read, so thanks mom for telling me to read them. The story was kind of interesting and unique, but the author seemed to repeat herself time after time throughout each book. By the third book when something happened, you could basically predict what the whole next sentence/paragraph was going to say. That is the only reason really that the books seemed boring, because of the repetition. I read the last book in 3 days so it wasn't as if it didn't keep my interest. I also like the idea of reading them to simply find out what was going to happen. It will be a few years before all the movies come out, so it is nice knowing what happens. So, books have an edge up on that aspect of movies vs. books. However, that is simply because in this example the books were already complete. Many people waited forever for the 4th book to come out, so books aren't that far up on that scale either.
My favorite book "The Stand" was another one that I had the characters in my mind from the movie. There was a mini-series thing that aired for television years ago. I never watched but a few parts here and there, but I remembered the actor's. I am sure that my mom told me to read that book as well? I started reading it way back when, but never finished. I finally read it like 4 years ago and liked it a lot. I love anything that has to do with the end of the world! Reading the book, which is like 1100 pages or something? I can't remember. Anyway, when reading it you are like okay this is a long book. Well, once you are about 800 pages in you are wondering how in the heck is Stephen King going to be able to end this book with only 300 pages to go. It actually ends rather abruptly, but it is a good read for sure. It wasn't scary at all, and could have been at least 300 more pages longer than it was. I like Dean Koontz books, but those are kind of like goosebumps series, but for adults. I guess not even that much for adults. His books don't have explicit sex scenes or gory parts for that matter. His books all seem to be PG-13. Nothing wrong with PG-13 either. I just like his books, because they aren't ordinary. They are sci-fi, far fetched and not boring.
Movies that are out right now that are worth watching are Knowing and Inkheart. Everything else is pretty much boring. Watchmen, if you haven't read previous blogs is a waste, save your money! Out at the theater is Harry Potter, I liked it, but haven't read the series so who knows how my taste is on that. It was filmed and directed really well. The Proposal is hilarious as well.
Transformers 2 wasn't that bad, same as the first basically, but who doesn't like huge action sequences rumbling through the speakers?

2 Years

Triton had his second birthday in June. We had it at the hotel where I work because it is just a lot easier and there is a pool for the kids. I invited a bunch of people. I invited those who I didn't think would come, and of course those who we knew would show. I invited those who we didn't think would come, not only to be nice, but because I like/love them. We had a BBQ with burgers and hotdogs, so it wasn't anything too special. If anything the food would entice people to show up, just to have a free lunch. I found out that a few family members were going to be out of town, so I kept inviting people. There were probably 10-12 people that showed that I didn't expect to show up. It was extra special though, of course Triton won't appreciate it, but I would like to tell all those who did show up, Thanks! I love you all, and wanted to express my gratitude for you being there this year! Sheri was a little upset that I didn't tell her that I invited so many people, but with the family and friends that we knew weren't going to be there, there wasn't but maybe 3 or 4 more people than we expected? So, what was the big deal Sheri? Just kidding, I could see where she was coming from, because we almost ran out of food. Walmart is right next door, so it wouldn't have postponed the party too long if we had to run and get some more grub!
We brought out Triton's cake and everyone was just sitting there, so I had to start singing Happy Birthday. With everyone singing at once Triton was a bit apprehensive and reached for me to protect him. I held him, and after the song when everyone was clapping for him, he started clapping and screaming. I am sure at that moment that he knew the day's celebration was for him alone. He didn't blow out the candles by himself, he needed my help? He is able to blow out candles just fine, but maybe he was too excited?
So, news about my mom! During her first round of chemo, being some 10 weeks or so, they were taking some pictures to see how the tumor was doing. At first they said that the tumor was shrinking, yeah! Well, a few weeks later they said it wasn't getting any smaller, but might be growing! I was mega upset over that, but my mom and her personal nurse didn't believe it because the tumor felt smaller to the touch? I was so upset, because I just had a bad feeling that the chemo wasn't working! I guess with the machine they were taking the pictures with wasn't that great of an indicator because it doesn't take a 3-D photo, and can't distinguish between scar tissue and/or a tumor itself. So, after her first round of one type of chemo, my mother had a more extensive photo taken, and they realized that the old junker photos were in fact only taking pictures of scar tissue that the tumor had left behind. "Left Behind" as in the tumor is gone! She still has to undergo more chemo and surgery, but the tumor is gone. What great news is that? I hope and pray that everything keeps going as good as it has been. Of course, she hates the chemo and what it does to her body, but at least it looks like it is helping. I love you mom.

Off The Radar

Okay, sorry I haven't blogged for awhile. Seems I have actually been busy? Here and there and then recuperating from the business kept me from blogging.
So, what has happened over the last month and a half, almost two months? Triton turned two years old on June 22nd (will post pictures soon). We went to Las Vegas for the 4th of July. It wasn't by choice have you, we had to go bowl nationals. It was the only weekend that they had left to bowl, and so we were forced to go that weekend. Never go to Vegas during the 4th of July! Holy moly!
We didn't actually bowl until the 5th and 6th, but we were down there since the 3rd. On the 4th we did something so dumb! We (Sheri and I) took Triton over to Circus Circus to see what they had for rides that he could go on. We were supposed to meet everyone else, and then leave from there to go eat before the fireworks. Those who went to Vegas to bowl were Henry and Barbara, Josh and his new girlfriend (who we met for the first time) Kim, and then Mikey J, and Marv. So, back to the dumb thing that we did on the 4th! Henry, Bush, Josh and Kim met us at Circus Circus after Triton rode a couple of rides. He was millimeter too short to ride three more rides, so he only rode two. He loved the carousal, rode that one twice! We had left Triton's stroller in the car because I like to carry him. Well, Henry and everyone else met us out front of Circus Circus and the car was way in the back. They wanted to walk down to the strip and watch the Treasure Island performance, then Bellagio and then the fireworks. We walked all the way to Treasure Island, which was pretty far from Circus Circus. Sheri, Josh, Kim, Triton and I ate at Treaure Island. Upon leaving TI, we found that the Fireworks had already begun clear on the other side of the strip. I guess Mandalay Bay holds the biggest ones on the strip and from what we saw that was true. You could see where some other casinos had already lit off some fireworks from the smoke in the air, but Mandalay's were the finale. We only saw like 5 minutes of them, and there finale was pretty lame. They had a lot more fireworks, but our finale here is way better than down there. The finale down there was so short, you didn't even know if it was the finale. So, we watched that last 5 minutes while walking toward the Bellagio. We never did get to see the TI street show while were there either. So, here is where the story gets pretty crazy and why you should never go to Vegas on the 4th!
1.Already mentioned that the fireworks show wasn't that impressive! 2. If you are on the strip on the 4th, don't plan on walking anywhere! We were shoulder to shoulder not even moving at times. In those few places that you aren't allowed to cross the street, and you have to take the walk ways over the street from hotel to hotel took like 40 minutes! What would normally be 5 minutes at the most took at least 40 minutes. We arrived just in time to watch the fountains at the Bellagio and then walked all the way back to Circus Circus. We left Circus Circus on our outward trip at maybe 7:30, we came back at 11:30. I carried Triton the whole way. I was only able to put him down while we ate. Sheri was dead tired. She wanted to get a cab or drive down to TI at least on the way down. So, I asked her after the Bellagio show if she wanted to get a cab. She said that she was fine? That was pretty surprising, but she realized she made a mistake about half way back. By then we only had 4 more blocks to go, at least another half hour of walking. I wasn't going to stop walking, so if she was going to get a cab, it was going to have to be prefect timing. She wasn't able to and was dead on her feet by the time we reached the car. I was afraid that I was going to be way sore the next day when we bowled, but I wasn't? It was pretty surprising because I was pretty tired. Triton, who was way tired himself, fell asleep in my arms on the way back. So, along with my own sweating from the heat and the walk, I had his warm body against me as we walked. It never dipped below 90 degrees even at night while we were down there, so imagine that nice long walk! Pretty dumb! The rest of the time that we were there and driving here and there I would just ask Sheri "Do you remember the time we walked from there to there, and then walked all the way back?"or "Do you remember when we were dumb and decided to walk from there to there and then all the way back?" So, yeah it was dumb of us to do that and more dumb to have done it on the 4th of July.
Sheri, Kim and Triton were the only few who didn't have to bowl. I actually bowled the best this year, out of the 6 of us that is! It wasn't great by any means, I only averaged a whopping 180, but Mikey and I will cash in doubles. Not enough to pay for the entry but almost half of it! It is better than not cashing at all. Barbara bowled second best. She wasn't on our team, because we don't like women on our team! Just kidding Bush (Barbara's nickname). She actually bowled pretty good and is in a different division than the rest of us and she should cash somewhere in the neighborhood of $250.00? Henry and Barbara (Bush) left a week before everyone else to have a longer vacation, and Bush also had to bowl women's nationals in Reno as well. She bowled really good there and finished 8th overall in her division for all events. She cashed in all events (team, doubles and singles) for a whopping $1501.00. Congrats to the Bush! I was thrilled to be the only one to beat her, but still not happy with my performance. I hadn't bowled for a couple of months, so I went in cold. I bowled my first 600 series there though, in doubles, I shot a 623. I was stoked about that, but missed a lot of easy spares, which I probably wouldn't have done had I kept up on some practice! There is always next year I guess!
Stay tuned for more updates on the past month and a half for a later date. Will share some news about my mom, and with Triton's birthday pictures, it should catch us up!