Month: May 2006

Not so endearing self-portrait.

New dad getting a hug.

Incredibly out of focus picture of Brandon, Courtney, Stephen and Greggo.

Ashley F. throwing out gang signs.

Brandon announces the news, mother and baby are fine.

The gang was all there at the house cooking fajitas for Ann. From left to right: Miranda, Ann, Ashley F., Justin F. and Brady. As an aside, Randy was next to me as I was taking this picture.

This is Kweenie, my mother’s dog. She’s a really sweet puppy dog who is just getting old. More on lovable Kweenie later.

Jenson running.

Jenson and Jackie running.

Mother’s day was a wonderful success. It started out by going to church with Miranda’s family in Kaufman. And no, I didn’t burst into flames by being in a Baptist church. Next, Miranda and I went to my parents for lunch. We had hamburgers and everyone was there except for Ryan (working), Blake (stomach issues), and TJ (I think school, but I’m not sure). This was a really nice lunch, the weather was absolutely perfect and I got Mom a card with an I.O.U. I promised to help her in the fall whenever she needs plants to be moved into the greenhouse. I’m horrible at getting gifts and I hate getting cards.

Kweenie is an incredible sweet but incredible obsessive puppy dog. For years she’s been inside a backyard or a dog pen, as are most puppy dogs. Kweenie kept getting out and so Mom just gave up trying to keep her caged. This may have been the absolute best thing that could have happened for Mom and Kweenie. Kweenie now roams free and I believe that she’s happier now that she’s ever been. She runs, jumps in ponds, attacks turtles and when she’s tired she comes up towards the house and just rests. Mom doesn’t really have to worry about her because she knows that she’s not going very far. She should have done this years ago, but hindsight is 20/20.

Next, Miranda and I rushed to Home Depot to purchase a grill, one which I promise not to ruin. Then we headed over to our house and the insanity began. We started cleaning and preparing food and we just barely got everything done. I put the fajita’s on the grill at around 6:00 and I think we started eating at 7:00. Once again a really lovely time.

Needless to say, I was exhausted and I think I passed out on the floor at 9:00. Miranda dragged me to bed at 10:00 when she went to bed.

Monday night, I was once again exhausted and I went to bed at 8:30, missing the Mavs game. I know that being a sports person I have violated every code of conduct ever created, but work was incredibly frustrating day and I really needed to sleep to get away from my brain. Not to mention, my wife would not have allowed me to watch the 1st half of the game due to the Grey’s Anatomy finale. Today wasn’t much better. I keep thinking that maybe a day off here or there will really do me some good.

I appreciate the comments regarding the re-design. Maybe someday I’ll actually have my own website, that’s stuff of day dreams. In the mean time if there’s anything that you feel like needs to be added to either side panel, or perhaps certain categories should be moved to different places, then please feel free to comment.

That’s my official weight. Not more than two years ago I was a sturdy 170 on a 5’9″ frame, a true force to be reckoned with. I had never thought that I was really losing weight, but I could not believe that I had dropped down to this level. That’s the weird thing, I eat a pretty big lunch and dinner. I really don’t have time to each breakfast in between taking care of the dogs, getting clean for the day and finding my way to work as early as I possibly can.

I think a big part of this is working out on some level. I am not really exercising, but at the end of the day, the last thing that I want to do is go run or lift weights. All I really want to do is sit down and relax after what is usally a really long day. I reckon I should start doing something in the morning, get the day started off right and eat a box of donuts afterwards. Two years ago I worked out almost every day. I was a member at a gym, I ate pretty good, etc. Now the thought of joining a gym makes me want to take a nap or simply blog.

Although I am not a conspiracy theorist, it is interesting that most of my weight loss has ocurred while married or while leading up to being married. So for all of you who are in the planning stages of getting married (Greggo), simply bite the bullet, get hitched and you’ll be guaranteed a loss of 15 pounds.

Most of the entire gang was there (sans Tony and Leslie, but Leslie did show up as we were about to leave).

Can you sense the uncomfortableness? Hetty practically had to throw young Connor into Miranda’s arms. Additionally, there were other photos which were less flattering, but decided not to post for fear of retribution.

Young Connor and Hetty.

It’s been a really long time since I’ve simply hung out at Stephen and Ashley’s. I used to do this almost every weekend, but due to the fact that I’m not right around the corner, it’s not as convenient. I think the winter months also has something to do with it and football season almost always means a day at Stephen’s. I really do miss my friends, I do feel a little secluded being in Terrell, but this is my own fault. Despite all of this, this is one of my favorite things to do. Nothing. Hanging out. Enjoying the company of those who I’ve grown to trust.

This is how I spent a Sunday a couple of weeks ago. I read, I worked, I played with the dogs, and I just sat outside. It was completely and utterly uneventful.

Today, I had to go into work a little bit today and when I got home, I knew that my little project would be getting a complete make-over. I’ve been thinking about and trying to accomplish the “3 column blog” for quite some time, and with the help of a Google search I was able to do this.
I always thought that the white space on the left-hand side of the blog was wasted space and I truly believe that so many people believe this to be true. I appreciate the white space and I believe that not having anything to break up the pictures and the text can be very distracting. Keeping things simple while having a little creativity.

I also wouldn’t mind some feedback as to the new design. Also, the things that appear in the sidebars, did anyone like the idea about where I wanted to go or things that I wanted to accomplish. Granted, unless you are me, you have no idea if I’m actually doing these things, and between you, me and the fence post, I haven’t taken any grand trips recently and the only thing that I have planned is a trip to Oklahoma City for a wedding in June. Just drop a comment and let me know. I hope everyone enjoys the new design.

Greg mentioned that he’s damn tired of the flowers, and I too am a little disappointed with the number of flowers that I take, but for me personally, the pictures are intended to be a part of my life and there’s not a lot going on right now. Thus the pictures around the house, of the dogs, etc. I had to go to McKinney this week and I was going to take some pictures of the Collin County courthouse, but it’s an old hospital with absolutely no character. For whatever reason, my little brain tells me that the flowers have more character than pictures of a hospital. I think that some people, and maybe rightfully so, believe that these things are on the same level.

I know that I promised more content, but honestly, I have to balance spending time with my wife versus spending time in front of the computer. Internally, I have to resolve what’s more important. I don’t have the time to post during the day, only at night or very early in the morning. Don’t get me wrong, if I could just write during the day, I’d be the happiest guy around. I love doing this stuff.

I am so happy, now my dogs must understand that they are not to dig and tear up the yard.

Green and lush, I’ll be walking barefoot in no time.

The dreaded before picture. Not only was there very little rye grass, but the dirt was so compacted from the dogs that I knew this wasn’t going to be a fun project.

These pictures are a little out of order, but you get the idea. My brother Ryan and I planted 2 pallets of sod on Saturday and it was really back-breaking work, but it was well worth it. I am not a person who likes to borrow things, so I didn’t borrow my father-in-law’s tiller and I tilled everything using one of those 4 pronged forks. I also don’t like asking for help, but I really couldn’t have done it without Ryan. While I finished up tilling and raking the smaller back portion of the yard, he pretty much laid all of the sod. Miranda’s contribution was getting Whataburger for the 3 of us and he contribution does not go unnoticed.

For the first time in a really long time, I chose to listen to an event rather than watch it on television. Our local sports station, The Ticket, broadcasted the draft and it was good times. I didn’t care to see highlights or Mel, or Chris Berman, etc. It was so much more pleasant to sit there and listen and be entertained. So my Saturday was spent doing the sod thing, but my Sunday was completely devoted to doing a few chores and sitting outside and listening to the radio. I would occasionally pick up a book during commercial breaks, but for the most part I just sat there in the shade of my trees, watering my newly laid sod and listened. Good times.