Single Father

One of my passions is playing guitar. Truthfully, it's my cave time - or "family time". I get to spend this time with my "girls". Now, any man that really enjoys a 'possession', he typically gives it a female's name. A car or truck for example. Or, he will simply refer to this item as "she" or "her" - which means, he cares for it, but the name is not necessary.

I have named my first electric guitar "Trudy". She is strong, faithful, ages very well, and 'speaks' with great precision. My acoustic has been named "Gracie". She is also very faithful, well-polished in spots, adaptive, and has a sweet, sweet 'voice".

My family of two is now two-and-a-half. I'm a single, semi-suburban, middle-class stereotypical male... Yes, I got a "bun in the oven"!! She should be here in about two to three weeks - just after my birthday, but close enough... I have ideas for a name, but won't know until I've seen her with my own eyes.

If any of you has an opinion, I would love to hear what you think I should call her.

Jesus, Dating and Baseball?!?

I was joking with a friend the other night during conversation that people in the church tend to 'over-spiritualize' everyday conversations. We both agree that everything comes back to Christ, yet sometimes talking about 'yesterday's Astros game' with each other is also acceptable conversation without seeing how it applies to Jesus Christ. (Sometimes we should wait for God to open the door and for us to not 'kick it open')

We then proceeded to assimilate what it may look like to overspiritualize Godly relationships in relation to baseball. The gist of the conversation revolved around this assessment (a few points added after conversation):
First Base: Date #1
Second Base: Reading the Word Together
Third Base: Praying Together
RBI: Getting engaged
Home Run: Marriage

The conversation had was much more comical, yet I'm curious if persons reading would agree with our very well, thought-out assessment.

Over the Top!

I believe that the janitorial staff at our office must be performing a small scale test on us. As of last week, one of the two rolls of toilet paper in the restroom have alternated from being 'over the top' to 'underneath'. In testing this, it seems to me that they would only have to change one more 'popular' roll of TP more than the other, thus saving some time.

I have noticed this because I'm an "over the top" kinda guy. I will not pull "underneath", if at all possible. If I'm in your home and it is "underneath", I will more than likely flip it over.

What has been vaguely interesting is to notice the sheer volume of paper that has been used on the "over the top" roll compared to the other. Apparently my male co-workers are in agreement with me.

This conversation may be a little "over the top", but I'm sure a lot of you share my sentiments that "over the top" is better.

(Surely no one will admit to this on a blog...)

At least we have toilet paper - could you imagine this?

Who I know...

"It's not what you know, it's who you know."



We've all heard it before. Well, I've just applied it to my life again in a very obvious, somewhat-selfish way. I know the Financial CPA at HEB. I met him a few weeks ago. I got his card after talking the business a little with him, as my neighbor at home was a grocery store owner.



I unashamedly shared with him my affinity for Leinenkugel's Beer, or "Leinie's". This Fifth generation brewer, based in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, has the best Micro-brew that ever came out of the Midwest.



I just sent him an email asking for a "smorgesboard" (sp) of ice-cold treats to be put on the shelf. Not just for me, but all the other Midwesterners out there in Tejas. And, to save me a second trip to Kroger (gasp).


Not only is he connected; he has given me the option to select which beers I want at what store. I found my new best friend!!

The Midwest will have a silent take-over! Pretty soon cheese curds will be in the mini-fridges next to the magazines instead of Cokes.


The line-up consists of:


Honeyweiss











Leinies Red













Sunset Wheat














Berryweiss

Fine Eats and Great Treats

This weekend my parents were in town from Wisconsin. My Dad was at a healthcare conference in San Antonio during the week with Mom as his guest. After the conference ended on Friday my parents drove over in a rental and met me at my office where I got to introduce them to all my co-workers and bosses.

Afterwards, we met my Aunt and Uncle for dinner at The Grove. The restaurant is located in Houston's new Discovery Green Park project across from the George R. Brown Convention Center. My uncle was the Project Manager on the project, so we got to hear all the details of how it was constructed. Very cool. A lot of work and detail has gone into this project. Because of my uncle's relationships with the people at the park, our meal was comped. Had we been regular guests at the restaurant, I would have gladly paid for every penny of what the meal cost, especially the ginger ice cream. Save your nickels and dimes. It is a little pricey, but very well done. I will say though, use the restroom before you get to the restaurant because the bathroom decor is hideous. The colors consist of "Log Cabin Brown" paint and "Tourquoise" glazed tiles and a plaster, deer mount over the sinks - at least in the men's.

On Saturday afternoon I had some friends come over to meet my parents and enjoy a sit-down meal of steaks, chicken, potatoes, snap beans, and a home-made cake.

On Sunday, Mother's Day, we ate at Gravitas located on Taft Street, 2 blocks south of Allen Parkway. We had a 3-course meal. We partook in their signature bread and dipping spices. Bottomless Mamosas. What I had...First Course: Lemon oil tomato soup chilled. Second Course: Fennel-crusted salmon with roasted fennel underneath, snow peas and potato pasta. Final Course: Lemon pistacio icecream and bread pudding.

This weekend was awesome! Made my Mom cry happy tears...twice. Saw family, extended family and friends. Ate very, very well.

Summit Tubing Trip: T-minus - 30 days

Gun Control

The inaugural post:



Just about every night I'm conscious of charging my phone. The charger is next to night stand, therefore my phone is very accessible to me. If a family member or friend were ever to call me in the middle of the night I would be able to answer their call in a relatively short amount of time - once I stopped "hitting the snooze" on the phone.



One night I had decided to not plug in the phone after a conversation with a good friend. When finished talking, I remembered tossing the phone towards my wallet, which is on the floor next to my shoes. Soon after doing this, I fall into a deep sleep.



Come 3:50am I'm suddenly woken by the need to use the restroom. I roll out of bed all but half-conscious, and am suddently startled. I see this light flash under my bedroom door. What was that? My immediate reaction was to protect myself against the danger.



Fight of Flight: I fight.



I think to myself, self "Your hunting knife is across the room". "Your pocket knife is on the bookshelf". "Hatchet, don't bother". Ahh, "Your shotgun (in it's locked case) is two steps away in the closet. Get it. Protect thyself." This is all within a 0.2 second time frame. Smart guy...



Until I realize that it is my phone that i tossed on ground reminding me that it's still works by flashing it's little green light. Relief and embarrassment have never been this close to each other than in this moment.



I believe in gun control. I have a gun, and I will control you, crook, if you come in my house and surprise me.



My phone since 'the incident' has made it strategically each night to my night stand.



(*Disclaimer: Hotel del Altoid is a very safe place to stay if you ever need a place to crash. ...my friends are never going to want to come over again)