One Shining Moment

What a spectacular time of year! Not only is getting nicer outside (I caution against using the word warmer), but it's March Madness! It doesn't matter if you are Duke or Duquesne, if you are in the tournament, you have a shot at winning. There is always a 12 beating a 5, and there is always drama with every game. To see the faces of the players, win or lose, is to look into their soul and realize what this game truly means to them. It's not about the money...yet, and it's not about the magazine covers or photo shoots and dinners at the 5-star restaurants. For most of these kids, the sheer enjoyment of being one of the 64 teams lucky enough to be invited to the NCAA Tournament will last them a lifetime. For most, there will be no more basketball after college, which is why there is so much more emotion for them. Even if you don't like college basketball, or even basketball in general, give it a shot. Watch all the smiles, the tears, and especially the heart that comes out in every game for the next 2 weeks.

Speaking of basketball, I met Rafer Alston at work the other day. Most of you may know him as "Skip to my Lou" from the AND1 mixtapes. He was a streetcourt "legend", and he's been on a couple of different NBA teams, most recently the Houston Rockets, which is who he plays for now. I remembered he played for Milwaukee a few years back, and I mentioned that to his sister, who was actually the one in the bank, and she ran outside and asked him to come in. Surprisingly, he was awesome. Very friendly, and he truly seemed appreciative. He gave me an autograph, and spent a few minutes talking with me. I don't know...kind of cool if you ask me!

While on the subject of sports, baseball is right around the corner. I love thinking about baseball because, for me, it really does remind me of Sunday afternoons with my dad. Now, we've only been seriously going to Brewers games for the past 4 or 5 years, but Sunday's were our days together. It didn't matter how good or bad the Brewers were doing. What mattered was whether or not the hot dogs were tasting good that day, or if we would have to get some brats or sandwiches to last us the afternoon along with our peanuts. No matter where I am or where he is, every Sunday during baseball season will always be our day!

Last, but certainly not least, we will be home on Thursday! We have a lot going on while we are home, but it is much needed, indeed. Things have been extremely stressful for me at work lately, and I really need to get away. A trip home will no doubt help heal the soul.

Less Than 2 Weeks!

So, Dave and I leave for Milwaukee in 13 days! We are both desperately in need of a vacation! The madness at my work continues, and everyone at Dave's work has had a vacation, but him! It'll be great to get back home and see family and friends! Although, how is it that vacations go so quickly? Dave and my mom have yelled at me for doing this in the past, but I'm already sad about it being over. It just goes so quickly! And this time, we have more planned than ever! We will not only be doing some homework for our wedding (like finally getting to see the ceremony and reception site we have booked), but we also have a wedding to attend! In addition, we have a baptism, a memorial service for Dave's much missed Grandpa, and I have a mini-trip within a trip to see my brother and sister-in-law in Illinois! It seems impossible that we will have time to do all of this, but I think we have it planned well and I know our families will help us to make good use of our time.
I am extatic to see Michael and Traci! My only trip down to Champaign is when I helped them move. Since then they've purchased their own house, which I hear is beautiful and I can't wait to see! I've convinced my parents to take the 4 hour drive with me. A big part of that decision was everyone's fear of me falling asleep behind the wheel. Anyone else ever do that? Well, if you have, you know how much it sucks. I actually went to the doctor recently about my sleep issues and she said if they don't improve after what she recommended than I would need to get a sleep study performed on me! A bunch of electric equipment stuck to my body while I desperately try to fall asleep knowing full well that I am being watched and am in a cold empty room...sure, that'll solve my problems! I don't know if I was more irritated at that, or what the doctor "recommended"... a cup of coffee in the morning (which I gave up a month before this appt.), no naps, exercise, go to bed at the same time every night, get up at the same time every morning and take 2 Tylenol PM caplets every night before bed. I will admit that the Tylenol has helped me get some of the best sleep I've ever had, but I'm still tired during the day and even the doctor can't motivate me enough to exercise! Oh well, at least I don't have to worry about falling asleep on the way to Illinois, or at least if I do, I won't be the one driving!
Laura

Posting, blogging, writing...whatever!

It's been a while since I've put anything on here, and I guess it may seem as if I have nothing to say. Well, I really don't. Very few things throughout the day stick in my mind, and therefore I have little or no reason to write about them. It's not that I'm boring or anything, I just like to play video games and watch movies a little bit more than trying to be cynical:) Alright, alright, here it goes:

Looking forward to getting a new book tomorrow. True, Don Quixote has been sitting on my shelf for a few months, and I still have every intention of reading it, but it takes time. Not a book you can stop and start night after night. I need to read it on a vacation when I can devote some time, and put myself into the story. Anywho, the book I will getting is called, "Why My Wife Thinks I'm An Idiot". It's by ESPN sportscaster Mike Greenberg, better known as one half of the hilarious duo from Mike & Mike in the morning on ESPN Radio. So, the book deals with his thoughts on an everyday basis, and why his wife basically disagrees with everything he says or does. Very funny from the excerpts I've read, and even Laura has laughed while reading some of them. Check this out:

But the doctor did have a great deal to say to my wife and, frankly, the language she used was absurd. Am I really supposed to know what a uterus is? I mean, does everyone? Apparently my wife thinks they do. “How in the world can you not know what a uterus is?” she asked. “Well,” I said, “I don’t have one.” “You don’t have a satellite dish, either. But you know what that is.” “Do you know what rack-and-pinion steering is?” I asked. “No.” “Well, you see,” I said, “I don’t make fun of you.” “I cannot believe you would compare rack-and-pinion steering to my uterus.” I realized there was no good end to this conversation. “Well, does anyone want to tell me what a uterus is?” I asked. Without blinking, the doctor pulled down a roll-up picture of a frontally nude woman with her abdominal cavity on display. And I immediately regretted not having pursued the rack-and-pinion line of questioning. By the time she finished, I needed a stiff drink.

Funny to me because at some point in time down the road, after the wedding, I see a conversation like this coming to fruition.

What else? Oh yeah, my sisters birthday is coming up. Very funny card I got for her. Even I impressed myself on this one. Her type of humor, my type of humor...it's all the same!

Maybe I make some "interesting" comments here and there, but I think they are all valid. Maybe not valid, but I think someone might find them useful. Now that I think of it, I don't really say many useful things. Maybe I should try this whole "thinking before talking" thing people keep harping me about. Huh, interesting.

Do I really need to work anymore? I mean, why can't I find a sugar-mama to support me and make things easier? No worries, and all I have to do is turn on the charm for a couple hours out of the day. Come to think of it, that's what I do at work anyway:) HAHA, BOOYAH!

Last but not certainly not least, baseball fans around the world lost one of the great players ever tonight. Kirby Puckett died at the age of 44 from a stroke he suffered a few days ago. Growing up in Milwaukee, I couldn't help but hear about Puckett and the Twins all the time, especially after they beat the Atlanta Braves to win the 1991 World Series...unfortunately I remember nothing of them beating St. Louis in 1987, so I can't comment on that. Nevertheless, one of the happiest and brightest stars of the game has been lost far too early. My condolonces to any and all family members or Twins fans out there.

Alright, I'm running out of steam here. I think we need to get Q-Tips or something for Laura. I always knew she had a lot of stuff in her ears blocking the inbound flow of information, and now my point has been proven. Alas, I will leave you all with words of wisdom that I learned once from a very wise man: Don't stop believin'...Hold on to that DREAAAAMMMMMMM whoa whoa!

Where's The Mosh Pit?

On Monday night we went to see Less Than Jake, and if you read the previous post you know how excited Dave was to see them! I too, was excited, but I only know a few songs and wasn't sure what to expect. So, we headed Downtown to The Engine Room where I found us in a crowd of people from 15 years old to 30 years old. We witnessed a variety of "punk"clothes that we thought had long gone out of style! Dave and I hung back for the first band and made cracks about the type of people that we were sharing this night with. We then snuck up among the first two rows and waited through 2 more bands before Less Than Jake came onto the stage. During the third opening band, a huge mosh pit opened up on the floor. Dave kept asking me if I have ever been to a concert like this and my answer was consistently no. We ended up on the outer rim of the mosh pit with sweaty, overly-excited boys stumbling into us. It was gross, funny and highly entertaining at the same time! I laughed pretty hard, but no, I won't be looking for any more mosh pits soon! When Less Than Jake came on the crowd went wild, including me! Oh my God do they have energy!!!! They were running and jumping all over the stage! They paid attention to the crowd like I have never seen before. They told us jokes, threw several things out into the audience, got us involved and never lacked the energy they had when they first came out! They played mostly old songs that everyone knew, including the 4 I had memorized! To Dave's surprise I jammed out all night, clapping, dancing and singing! I even screamed when the lead singer Roger came close to us! I think he looked at me!!!! Now, it wasn't quite as exciting as when Tim McGraw looked at me (I swear he really did) when I was in the fourth row of the Tim and Faith concert, but it was close! Anyway, I'm really not sure why these guys aren't more famous, but I won't complain, at least I kn0w who they are! So, if you haven't checked them out yet, I highly sugest you do so! Listen to "The Ghosts of Me and You", or "The Science of Selling Yourself Short"...my 2 favorites! Now I may never be as big of a fan as Dave is, but I am definitely on my way and you can bet we will be at the next concert here in Houston!