So I know it's been months and months since I wrote anything. Call it lazy, lack of interest, being spooked about who's stealing my info, heck, pick an excuse, it doesn't matter. Brad Frandsen made a comment about not writing on his anymore with "There's no instant gratification like on Facebook." Well screw that, I'm gonna write about what has been happening since July!
The Wakefield's came in August for a visit. We laughed that they stopped here before going to Beth's folks' house! We loved having them around and of course Jayton and I went running. We always eat out when they are here. Brad, Jayton, and I went shopping at Bed Bath and Beyond and were cracking up at all the items in there. We kept saying "I get that one for a white-elepant gift!" I think the best was the men's bikini shaver. Makes you shudder just thinking about it, eh?
Abby was in the marching band. It's sad that they have to combine with their rival school because Mountain View doesn't have enough band nerds. Oh well. She plays the xylophone so she doesn't have to really march. Classic. And those uniforms! Whoa! But bless her little heart for doing it and she has a blast, so I guess that's all that matters.
Teresa climbed in the saddle at the Texas Roadhouse so we could sing happy birthday to her. She's a babe.
I couldn't believe that the San Francisco Giants were hanging in there throughout September and suddenly had a death match with the Padres. We were stressing out but the playoffs were great! I had the games on at work and was yelling in my office. But they kicked butt, even though no one thought they would.
So, in October the big event was running the Ragnar Relay Race in Las Vegas. Carl talked me into doing it. Our half of the team drove down together, listening to the Giants vs. Phillies as we went. 3 of the dudes stayed at a really nice place and then Carl, Brad, and I stayed in a glorified double-wide. It was one of those situations that you really didn't want to touch the sheets, but did anyways.
We got up, picked up our other dudes and headed out to the Valley of Fire in Nevada. Since this was my first Ragnar, I didn't know what to expect. Lots of people dressed up, and I'm not going to repeat the names of some of the teams, but they were nasty. Brad and I had to take a photo with this lady. I kept wondering "How in the world is she going to run?! Not just the boots, but I figured she would fall over from being top-heavy!" Turns out she was just a helper at the starting line.
I was runner 4. While waiting I saw Jeff Wise, a guy I worked with for years in the foundry world. We ran the same legs. Well, I had a 6 mile run and was surprised at how many hills I had to run up! But I passed 25 people. After our legs of the race, we were at the Lowes Resort. Sweet! We even watched the Rangers beat the Yankees as we hung out in a cabana! If only we had the monkey butlers bringing us food and drinks, it would have been perfect! My second run was at 11-ish at night and was only 3.5 miles. I did it in 22 minutes and passed another 13 people, including a 12 year boy who about pooped himself when I ran passed him.
We slept, or tried to, at a school in some rinky-dink town. They had a generator blaring and they sprinklers had been on so the grass was wet. We had a tarp, so a few of us threw our sleeping bags down and tried to sleep. About 20 minutes later the sprinklers came back on! Big sprinklers! I stood up and tried to get out of the way but was soaked after one pass! I tried sleeping in our vehicle, but was wet and cold and got maybe an hour or two of sleep. Classic.
The other van had people that weren't runners. When their dude came in, I thought he was going to die! His wife thought so, too. My third run was about 7 miles at 8 in the morning. First mile was on a paved road but then the rest was on a dirt road. That was pretty hectic. But we did it and it was great. The funny part is that all we worry about is making sure we don't have to take a dump when we are on our run! Our team was supposed to be Hot & Runny, but the other group didn't like that, so we ended up with Team Firestorm. I am running the Wasatch Back Ragnar in June with the dudes again. Looking forward to it.
Anyway, when the Giants were one inning away from winning the World Series, I was freaking out! Blooming Wilson always makes it so stressful, but I was excited that they won! A couple of my girls were watching and the tension was horrible! I ran outside and screamed! You need to know, for years and years we went to Candlestick Park, freezing our butts off, just hoping that someday they would be good enough to even make the playoffs! There were games when it looked like maybe 2,000 people were scattered throughout the ball park. Ugh, just so happy that it finally happened.
How about that "Blizzard" that never really made it. Pathetic when the weather people are trying to say "it really was a blizzard..." Shut it.
Carl and I ran the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. It was 5 degrees. 5. And the wind was blowing. There weren't as many people as usual... wonder why. I was pretty bundled up and could get loose as I ran. I really hate the start of the race- they leave us all standing there forever, just waiting. Shoot the stinking gun! Running on Center Street past the High School right into the wind, my mouth and part of my face went numb like I had just visited the dentist! My lips swelled a bit! I started wondering, "how fast does frost bite set in?". I tried to run with one hand up covering my face, but that didn't work so well. My hands were hurting and it just all-around sucked! I was 50 seconds slower than the previous year. I wanted to get the hot chocolate they had at the end of the race and pour it on my face and then dump some on my crotch!
We did have a fun Thanksgiving at Carl's house. We kept cutting little slices of the turkey cake to eat, you know, so you don't feel guilty that you're eating so much. And of course we played Sequence. And the women folk cheated as usual. But the best part of the day was the Cowboys lost!!!
The Wakefield's came up again and we had a big party over at Beth's parents place. We had a lot of people there and had a great time. After dinner, we played some minute to win it games. That's a picture of Jayton, Thomas Grover, Sarah Chaffin, and you can't see Ashley Nelson, stacking Little Debi Snack Cakes on their foreheads. They started smashing them to make them stick and all I can think is "AHHH, don't waste them! I'll eat them right off your face!!"
Jeff Wilde gave the best white-elephant gift of all, and I opened it: a model of the women's reproductive organs! Classic. Then Jayton stole it from me!
Christmas was pretty low-key. I love Christmas music and would still be listening to it today, but I fear that someone would beat the tar out of me. Most likely Teresa!
Right before Christmas, the dentist removed the crowns off my front teeth. I've had those baby's since 1984, and they looked it! See, back in 1974 we used to go swimming over at Cupertino High School during the summer. Carl, William, and I went into the locker room where some punky kids had plugged up the drains and had all the showers on. I slipped and landed on my face, chipping my four front teeth. For years I had temporary caps on my teeth, but then as a senior in high school, Dr. Webb, our dentist, ground my teeth down and gave me crowns. So, the photo shows what teeth start looking like after a couple decades of being all cooped up. I was so happy to get my new teeth on Jan 3, 2011!
Teresa got accepted into the Accounting Program at BYU, which is no easy task. I already knew she is brilliant. I guess next fall will be a bit hellish for her. And if mom's not happy, no one's happy. So, we will have to keep lots of chocolate in the house and I will need to learn a few more recipes!
Abby is now 16 and went on a date to a dance! She looked real pretty. I don't know why I am having such a tough time with her growing up, but it has really freaked me out a bit.
So one of my goals is to read 5 books this year. Sounds pretty un-impressive to the everyday man, but I am such a slow reader that it takes forever for me to get through a stinking book! I am reading Broke by Glenn Beck right now. Pretty interesting. Do books on tape count? Hee hee.
How about our awesome president?!?! Good night, he shows no leadership skills. You know, if these idiots wants a socialist society, please move to a different country that has a socialist government. Then again, Wisconsin could be that socialist haven they are looking for. And think of all the government cheese that they could have!
You know, I'm always hungry. Always, just ask my wife, she'll tell you. Tape worm? Possibly.
Well, I can't think anymore. I'm hoping it doesn't take another 7 months to write again.
