I'm · sorry, · was · that · out · loud?

Man, we went to get our kids costumes for Halloween this year and they both want to be ninjas. Cool. Well my wife and I wanted to dress up as well and when looking around I spotted a nerd kit complete with pocket protector and a name tag that read " Hi, My name is Rob." Well kiss my ass! My name IS Rob and I work in MIS. My wife laughed her fucking ass off. Thanks a lot Party City...you FUCKS!!!!

It's amazing the way you go through life not really knowing what you were put on this earth for, but what's even more amazing is the moment you realize the answer.

I always knew I wanted to be a Dad and have a family, maybe for lack of one. Don't get me wrong, I had a family and was taken care of, but it was far from "loving". I knew that when I would have a family and have kids, I would have that loving part that was lacking in mine.

Ten years, 18 days ago, I started dating my wife Anolan. Nine years, 9 months, and 9 days ago, I asked her to marry me. Eight years, 6 months, and 18 days ago, we were married. Eight years, 2 months and 4 days ago, I had my first child, Nicholas. Seven years, 1 month, and 1 day ago, I had my second child, Matthew.

Some people would look at this and think nothing of it. I look back on it and feel it was all by design. I was meant to meet my wife and love her the way no one has ever loved her. I was meant to have children with her. I was meant to be a husband and father and I was meant to raise two incredible boys.

I am not rich, I don't have a glamorous job, I don't currently own a home, I am in constant debt and under constant stess, but when I am with my wife and kids, the whole world stops and I am at peace. I can't imagine my life without them. I finally found something good and wholesome and incomparable, something so amazing and I hold on so tight because I don't want to lose it. I know that when my life ends, my greatest accomplishment will be my family. I could walk on the moon in 10 years, I could cure a disease, but none of that would compare to the family I helped create. NOTHING.

My wife always seems to think she is holding me back from something greater, but she is so wrong. There is nothing greater for me than being with my family. they give me purpose.

The other day we watched a movie, "Everyone's Hero". It was a cartoon set in the 1920's. It was about a young boy and his family who lived in the Bronx and the father worked at Yankee Stadium, mother stayed home and took care of the place. The young boy was a sweet innocent little 10 year old who loved baseball and he was even named Yankee.

I won't get into the whole movie, but there was a song in there called "The Best" and it was sung by Five for Fighting. I cried as hard a cry as I ever had. It's simple lyrics were explaining what I was echoing about nothing comparing with taking time out to play with your son and how the child was considering it the best time in his life. I extended that to not just my sons, but my wife as well and as a whole, my family.

The song hit me hard. It made me think, and writing this now is making me well up. The rest of the movie was enjoyable and a great story all around. After the movie ended and the credits rolled, I felt an amazing embrace by my oldest Nicholas. He was hugging me with tears in his eyes and he looked up at me to see that I too was crying.

In that moment, we both froze and knew how deep our love for each other was. These poignant moments leave an impression on you that is indelible. Even though I only shared it with Nicholas in that moment, it transcended to Matthew and my wife as well. That was an amazing moment for me and it was one more of many instances that remind me of where I belong, and that is with my family.

Aside from buying a car, buying a house is one of the most nerve-racking things I have ever gone through, and I am only at the pre-qual stage.

My wife and I already went through the FTHB(First Time Home Buyer)program with the county and are now a little and I mean a teensy, wee, smidgion more knowledgeable about what it takes to buy a home.

The class was invaluable and it will help in down payment and closing costs.

With the way prices are going in this area, I will probably end up in a townhome, which was not my first choice, but I gotta go with what I can afford.

Right now, my wife and I are waiting to hear from KB Homes and their mortgage entity, which is Countrywide. We submitted info for a pre-qual to be run and hope to hear from them this week. The pre-qual just tells us what we would qualify for as far as type of loan and how much we could afford. Then next step is getting pre-approved and THAT is where I am worried.
We don't have the best FICO scores and with our debt/income ratio is limiting us to really only being able to afford a $140,000 home max.

Now that is how much we can afford and live comfortably. Any higher than that and we can get ourselves in trouble budget-wise.

Having said that though, we are trying for this townhome that is over the amount we could afford by about $23,000. It's $163,000 and it was a home ordered by someone who's financing fell through. It's called an inventory home. It has all stainless steel appliances, maple cabinets, and corian counter tops.

If, we cannot get that, we are shooting for the other one that has just the basics and does not include a fridge or a microwave and the cabinets are oak and counter tops are basic.

I really don't care which one. I just want a place of our own and a place we can afford.

I have been praying and I hope it paid off. Will keep you updated as soon as we find out where we stand. Let's hope we get a pre-approval for an amount that will buy either model.

First off, I'm NOT Jewish, but I am a minority. I can't speak for Jews, however I can speak as a minority in general.

I am half Thai. Do you know how many times I have to hear the words "Thai hookers", "Ten cent Thai whores", or websites with "Hot young Thai boys who will do anything"...etc.

Sure there are a lot of negative things out there about Thais and all the typical Asian sterotypes, but if Mel Gibson came out and said "Thai people started prostitution", Thai people created all sexual diseases" then asks the arresting officer "Are you Thai?"

Would I be offended? NO FUCKING WAY! I would laugh my ass off thinking, this guy is drunk as hell. Sure he said offensive things, but I wouldn't at that point consider him Anti-Asian.

Granted, Asians don't have the history of the Holocaust or any sort of genocide as far as I know anyway, or do we have any denial on our history from Mel's father as reportedly he has on the Holocaust, but even so, does a drunken comment permanantly label a person as truly what they are or believe? I think not.

If he were a true Anti-Semite, do you think he would work in a town or in a business that is probably a good percentage Jewish?

So he spouts off when drunk, who doesn't? If you tell your boss off at a company party and you were drunk, does your boss fire you? Most likely not. If anything, your relationship with him/her is now more awckward.

To say that he should be charged with a HATE CRIME, spits in the face of a REAL hate crime and weakens the connotation of a HATE CRIME which truly is a deliberate and heinous act against someone due to the sole reason of HATRED for one's race or gender or sexual orientation. I don't think he went that far.

Put him in rehab, get him help. If that still isn't good enough, don't watch his movies. Make it your own personal protest, but don't blanket him in with the likes of Nazis.

That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

Why is it most people feel the need to once in a while "save face"? why is it that we should care what certain individuals think of ourselves? Why do we sometimes do other's bidding for the sake of avoiding an argument?

Everyone's been there. They have been in a situation where they need to save face. It's really an unneccessary obligation which is really an oxymoron.
I mean, why is there an obligation to do certain things so you look "good" in the eyes of other people?

Here's the sitch :

My wife has a sister that is married to this guy who happens to have a best friend that happens to have had the unfortunate incident of the recent passing of his mother.
There is a funeral today.
Guess who is attending to "save face"?
You got it. ME. Little 'ol ME and my wife.
How did this come to be you ask?

Here's the scenario as it unfolded:

Robbie is Graham's BFF and both are married. Robbie to my wife's sister Mercy and Graham to his wife Criscinda. they are like peas in a pod. One day Graham told Mercy that he was in love with her. She said nothing, told Robbie, Robbie did nothing.
While my wife was in the hospital and I was conveniently in the cafe getting something to eat, they visited my wife and drop this on her like they were on Dr. Phil. "Duh, what should I do"? asked Robbie. You dumb FUCK, you confront your BFF and ask him what the HELL that was about. He either agrees he was stupid and it won't happen again, or if he really feels that way, you SEVERE ALL ties with him. It can't work out.
What did he do you may have asked. NOTHING! In fact he and BFF hung out even more. On top of that,graham was one upping robbie on gifts to Mercy for her birthday and just any gift for no reason at all.
Well it was mother's day recently and BFF Graham sent my mother-in-law a shitload of flowers....hellooooo? Isn't that the son-in-law's burden if anyone's?
As it turns out, M-I-L is seduced by the gift and now assumes that BFF Graham is such a "good guy". So where does the funeral fit in?
Since M-I-L thinks he is so great, when she found out his mother died, she wanted to go to the funeral, but oddly enough, she doesn't want to cry. Especially for a woman she did not know. In comes my wife to the rescue. She is asked if we could go in her place and for what?.....that's right, to "SAVE FUCKIN' FACE"!!!!!! BUT IT'S NOT EVEN MY FACE!!!!!AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!! and SCENE.

So here it comes, my official explanation of a company I have great contempt for. Had I never worked for them, I still believe I would feel the same way.

Verizon came calling with the promise of riches galore and benefits that which have never been matched by any other corproate giant.

Sure, there was more money and the benefits were paid for, but as in all things in life there has to be a balance, a trade off if you will. Mine?....well I had to drive to Tarpon Springs (45-50 min drive each way) and rotating days off.

It wasn't too bad at first, but things change, as the old saying goes " the only thing certain in life is change."

I was happy with the money, the co-pays at the pharmacy were very cheap and it was an interesting job.

Main problem:

I worked in a forgotten yard in Tarpon Springs and worked on facilities 30 years old.

Result:

Jobs were half-assed, no support from my clueless superdyke (no offense to cool dykes)boss, and unreasonable demands of performance when there was lack of tools, equipment, time, vehicles, you name it.

End result of all that:

Laid off

Reason:

We overhired, yet in the same breath were ready to hire 20 -30 new FIBER techs. You see FIOS, or their newly created fiber division was expanding at a rapid pace and they needed new fiber techs, which they promised all of us COPPER techs the transition and then they would backfill the copper positions. Instead, lay off and make room for fiber techs.

This same company is doing exactl what the commercials are saying when it comes to their fiber services. They are only putting it in the "richer" communities and in the newer ones. Why not say so though in your ads/ Because the poor now think that they will have fiber lines put in over their pre-existing copper lines, but little do they know the cost of that undertaking. Bottom line....WAY too expensive and it will NOT be done.

Needless to say I no longer work their as of Dec.8, 2005, but am happy to say that I am now working for the Florida Department of Education in the Vocational Rehabilitation division as an MIS guy. I have my own office and my own business cards, insurance is paid for since my wife works for the state as well. I car-pool downtown with my wife and only pay $2 a month for parking...DOWNTOWN!!!! Things happen for a reason.

Wow, what to say, what to say. It's been over a year since posting so I won't bore you with the details...quick synopsis will do...here goes:

Left Sage Software > Went to Verizon
Worked @ Verizon for 6 months > Laid off
Was out of work for 2 months
Got job as MIS person for Florida Department of Education
Been here since February

Kids getting older
Wife getting skinnier ( Tummy tuck, Breast lift )
Still no house
Working with First Time Homebuyer's program > hope to be in house by end of year.

Will now start regularly blogging as much as I can.

Glad to be back!

....and we'll keep on FIGHTING "brrrrrrrrrrkkkkkkk...." (sound of needle scratching record). Wow, if there were never any truer words...

...so its a fine Saturday morning, sun was out, not a cloud in the sky, all my kids show up, atmosphere is festive, big crowd. What a day for a baseball game...not just any game, but the West Tampa T-Ball Division Championship game. Yes, we were in it, we had the best record all season 8-1-1 and we had the best manager around...ahem...ME.

The game started out ok, but I was not pleased with our defense at all. We were down six runs and when we cam e to bat, we only got 4. Top of the second inning we go. We put on a decent stand, but they popped on 4 more runs. Bottom of the 2nd and we got 3 more so now 10-7 their favor.

Top of the 3rd and they pop in 4 more...man, now down 14-7. I am mad now. I take over batting. See, I had my wife do batting, then Fatboy did batting and apparently they sucked. They tried positioning the players and everything because the other team was doing the same. I said FUCK all that, now you pissed me off. I went up there and did my thing and we got in 6 runs and would have gotten more if it were not for the 10 batter rule.

So now down by 1. We had a good defensive stand and did a 3 and out. The 2nd out was debated by a coach as he said we had interference. I told him if he wanted to call it, then call it. He didn't and the runner went to the dugout. We continued talking about it and the batter hit and the 1st base runner ran to second and she got out. She was the coaches daughter and the coach called the out. I didn't. Anyway, 3 outs, bottom of the 4th, we need two runs to win.

I load the bases, we get a hit, a runner comes in and ties it up and they get an out at 1st. We have an empty base at 1st, a runner on 2nd and 3rd. My batter comes up and hits, my third base coach holds the runner at 3rd and they make a play at 1st for out number two. Damn, I am getting nervous, well...they are too as their manager tosses balls back to me, you can feel his frustration in his throws. Well, as I am getting ready for my next batter, I look up and one of my coaches is face to face with the coach who was upset the last inning.

I run up, explitives were exchanged, pushes, shoves, name calling, parents on the field, I'm holding people apart.....( This is a T-Ball game...a developmental league.)
Well, I clear the field of EVERYBODY. I told thier manager to clear his people and I will clear mine. I put my coach outside the gate to cool and same for theirs. I put my kids in the dugout and told them to forget what they saw and just play the rest of the game.

We get a hit, runner gets on 1st and my coach held the 3rd base runner agasin. Bases loaded. Next batter gets a hit, runner gets sent home and they tag second for the 3rd out and we win. How do we win if its a forced out?.....good question....our 1st base runner was not out because of what?......you guessed it...INTERFERENCE! Thank God its over.

Will I be there next year? Don't know, but what I do know is, I won't be in T-Ball.

It's not like this is a recent incident or anything, but I recently saw one of the parties involved and it reminded me of it, so I thought I'd share.

It was probably 3-4 months ago when this happened, but it was funny as hell to me. This was an unordinary night in an ordinary store. The first thing you have to understand is, I am Thai on my mother's side and Scottish/Irish on my father's side. My mother is full blown Thai. She knows enough english to get around and understands more than she speaks, but that's besides the point because this story has nothing to do with like the way she said something in english or the way she was misconstrued, or any type of "lost in translation" scenario. This was straight up THAI.

Anyway, my mom doesn't get out much and if she does, its because of my wife and I taking her somewhere. Well this night she felt like shopping so we took her to Wal-Mart...nowhere special, but she doesn't get out to the stores much so it was a treat for her.

She decided to look at some casual sleepwear, like pajamas and such and as she was shopping around, my youngest, Matthew was playing around on the shopping cart and not listening to anything I told him to say...as usual.

Now another aside...Thai people can spot another Thai person a mile away, its instictive I guess. So I saw this mysterious woman who was working in that area and she was an older lady and she looked Thai. I paid no mind after that. Back to the cart and Matthew. Well, as I figured would happen, Matthew pushes the cart into my mother's toe and "Down goes Frasier, down goes Frasier!!!" Boxing fans know what I am talking about. Anyway, I hear this loud "Oy!" (A lot of Thai women say "Oy" for some reason when hurt), andI see my mom grabbing her toes in pain.

Out of the blue, ENTER the OLD MYSTERIOUS THAI WOMAN. She stands off to the side like an old sage and I hear that pan-flute sound (like from the Brady Bunch episode with the cursed TIKI) as she begins to spout out words of wisdom in Thai. Well maybe not so much words of wisdom, but rather a question. She asked her in Thai " Would you like some medicine for that? "
She actually referred to a particular product, popular in the Asian culture. This is where the "Thai thing" comes in.

She gave her Tiger Balm, as the Americans have come to know it. It's actually called " Yah mong " in Thai and is like a cream or an ointment. Well she goes to take the cream from her new friend and to her surprise...its in liquid form! Who is this wise old woman and where did she get this magical liquid of relief? So my mother in shock asked in thai " they make this in liquid now? Where can I get some?"

Suffice it to say, mom and toe were fine, but the inner connection of one old Thai soul to another was revealed to me that night in a fashion I never would have in a million years thought of. So neat that a part of your culture could be defined in the middle of a mostly Hispanic Wal-Mart. Life is strange my friend, life is strange.

Now the transcripts are funny, but it doesn't do the sketch justice. If you saw it performed...and are a sci-fi geek...then you would have appreciated it.

Exclusive Connections

Hostess.....Paris Hilton
Trixie.....Amy Poehler
Christy.....Tina Fey
Warren Grabowski.....Fred Armisen
Candy.....Maya Rudolph
Trekkie.....Horatio Sanz
Lexis.....Rachel Dratch
Hobbit.....Seth Meyers

Hostess: [sultry voice] Hey boys, feeling lonely tonight? Wanna chat with some of the most beautiful women in the world? At Exclusive Connections [title: "Exclusive Connections"], we know what kind of guy is calling a sex line at three in the morning [title fades], and we know exactly what turns you on. This is Trixie. [shot widens to include a woman wearing a pointy blue wizard's hat and matching cape] She's a Level 8 Dungeon Master, ready to serve all your D&D fantasies.

Trixie: [sultry voice] What's that baby? You're a Level 5 Chaotic Evil Half-Orc? Oh, that makes me so hot. I'm a Lawful Neutral Druidic Monk with +5 melee range, Boots of Levitation, and a big, sharp Vorpal Sword. I want you to cast a saving throw, baby! Roll your twelve-sided die and cast it! Cast it!

Hostess: [sultry voice] Mmmmm...that sounds sexy. But that's not all. If D&D's not your thing, and you'd rather be in a galaxy far, far away, this here's Christy. [shot widens to show a woman dressed exactly like Princess Leia at the beginning of A New Hope] She just got back from a trip to Dagobah, and boy is she lonely.

Christy: [sultry voice] So, what's your name?

[screen splits to show a man wearing thick-rimmed glasses and a Star Wars tee-shirt, on the other end of the line]

Warren: Warren Grabowski.

Christy: [sultry voice] Help me, Warren Grabowski, you're my only hope.

Warren: I like that. Tell me I'm a nerf herder!

Christy: [sultry voice] You know what you are, Warren? You're a stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf herder.

Warren: [rapturously] Oh, God, yes!

Hostess: [sultry voice] Say hello to Candy. [shot widens to show a woman dressed exactly like Uhura from Star Trek] She just got her massage license on Rigel VII, and she wants to go where no man has gone before.

Candy: [sultry voice] You know what time it is, baby? It's the Vulcan mating season of Pon Farr. Much like the eel-birds of Regulus V, if I don't find a mate, I'll die.

[screen splits to show an overweight man wearing glasses and a yellow Star Trek uniform, on the other end of the line]

Trekkie: I'm giving myself the Vulcan Nerve Pinch right now. [displays hand with index and middle fingers splayed apart from ring and pinky, and moves his hand below his waist] Oooooh!

Candy: [sultry voice] Oooh, yeah, I like that. I wanna do something logical to you, baby.

Trekkie: Oh, that's nice!

Hostess: [sultry voice] Still haven't found what you're looking for? Why don't you take a trip around the Misty Mountains to the Gap of Rohan, all the way to Rivendell, to meet our very own Elven princess, Lexis. [shot widens to show a woman with fake Elven ears and a diadem on her forehead]

Lexis: [sultry voice] You've been a bad Hobbit, haven't you?

[screen splits to show a man wearing a grey cloak fastened by a leaf-shaped clasp, rocking vigorously in a chair, on the other end of the line]

Hobbit: I have been a bad Hobbit, yes.

Lexis: [sultry voice] Well, bad Hobbits get sent to Mordor.

Hobbit: But I want to go back to the Shire. Take me back to Eriador.

Lexis: [sultry voice] Oh, you're going to Mordor, all right. First we're going all the way to Minas Morgul.

Hobbit: Okay, that's good.

Lexis: [sultry voice] We're going to take the long way around the plateau of Golgoroth.

Hobbit: Okay, I can't take it!

Lexis: [sultry voice] Then we're going right to the tippy-top of Barad-Dûr.

Hobbit: Yes!

Hostess: [sultry voice] Operators are standing by. Who knows, one of them might be me. Does Doctor Who turn you on, baby? Well, I'm getting into my TARDIS right now. [shot widens to show other operators behind her: a Stormtrooper, a woman with green hair and skin, and a leather-clad woman with white hair and red skin] Oooh, I better put on my big, floppy hat and scarf. [she puts on these garments] I hope I don't find any Daleks here. Are you a Dalek, baby? Do you want to exterminate me? Call today.

I don't know...is this true? Do people see me this way?

Take the quiz at dicepool.com

You are the large, round, friendly d20! (You probably didn't know this, but the shape of the twenty-sided die is called an Icosahedron.) You are the friendly, outgoing, outspoken, leader of friends. You are often looked up to, even though you don't normally deserve it. Most other types secretly wish they were you, and you'd give them tips on how, if only you had a clue yourself. Your charisma is often all you need, but you have your occasional moments of brilliance as well--just never when it's actually needed. You are the all-around good guy, a dependable chum, a respectable foe, and an inspiration to those who need one. Who says you can't get by on a smile and good looks alone?

Seven years ago this past Monday, which was March 7th, I married my beautiful wife Anolan. We celebrated with a day to ourselves. That in itself is a rarity.

Well the day was almost perfect. The weather was great and the company of course was better. We started off without a plan...much like our marriage, but I mean that in a good way. We have persevered in adversity all these years and still continue to do so.

At anyrate...as I was typing....we had no plan and we ended up at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Ten bucks for her and Ten bucks for me...who would come out ahead? Her of course. Let me run down my experience.

Insert $10 bill in machine.
Min $1.00 bet
Hit the SPIN button to let the columns DAUB (new term I learned)
Watch as you lose a dollar!
Repeat 4X
Cash out the remaining $5.00
Go to Nickel slots
Insert $5 ticket.
bet 9 credits as min (45 cents)
hit SPIN
Watch the total start to drop...Repeat until 40 cents left.
Cash out 40 cents.
Visit Anolan.
She hands me tickets she cashed out. One for $10 and the other for $26.00
We ended up $16.00 on top.
Moral of story...I suck at gambling.
Anyway, from there we had a fantastic lunch on the water at Bahama Breeze. The food was excellent and the price was right. The service was great and the view was spectacular.
We went home by ourselves for once and lounged out by the pool and got some sun.
Got dressed, went to happy hour at Chili's and had some drinks with chips and salsa.
Went to pick up the kids and went home to relax. All in all a great anniversary.
Here's to many more to come.

Not today, but yesterday, I attended the funeral of a West Tampa legend. His name was Antonio "Tony" Moran and if you grew up in West Tampa, chances are he coached you in little league, or he took photos at your wedding or he fixed the xray machine that might have been used by TGH when you needed xrays.
He was only 65 years old. Not old by any means in this day and age, but Cancer knows no age and he has fallen victim to it.
I didn't personally know him, but I know his son who was director of the West Tampa Little League when I first started coaching there with my kids in the spring of 2002. Anthony, which is his son's name, was a huge reason I decided to coach at that park. There was a lot of tradition there and you can't find that anywhere else.
I vaguely remember Tony Sr. on his little scooter attending the T-Ball games and he enjoyed every minute of it. I only wish I took the time to get to know him.
The really sad part is that my wife's siblings all played under him and grew up with his kids, yet only her and I were there to pay our respects to this great accomplished man.
It was bittersweet. Sad with death staring at us, but hopeful and joyous with the life he led and the memories he helped create for so many people. This man was so dedicated to his family and the park, he asked to be buried in his West Tampa Little League jersey and hat.
His memories will last in the many photos he's taken and in the hearts of those who knew him or his family.
There will be a field at West Tampa that will be renamed Antonio Moran Field. I 'm not sure which one, but if I had to guess, it would be the softball field. He loved coaching his girls in softball. I will honor his memory by keeping involved in the park that meant so much to him and now is starting to mean a lot more to me and my family.
You will be missed Tony.

I figured this would be interesting. It seems I am a hopeless romantic...go figure.

Take the quiz: "What do you love about making love?"

Love
You are a lover of love. You love to love and be loved. You are perhaps a hopeless romantic but those are rare nowadays. Think of it as a gift. Whether you are saving yourself for that special someone or you have already found him or her. You are part of an almost extinct species of human. The kind that believe in true love... Because love is truly beautiful!

WTF? I haven't heard shit from mortgage guy, I haven't heard shit from verizon, I am anxious to know whats up since my lease is up at the end of March. I need to knw where I will live. Come hell or highwater...where did that phrase ever come from?.....I will have to be out of my current apartments by March 31st.
I have no clue where I will live other than most likely Tampa.
I have been patient and called Elaine from Verizon 5 times and left messages because she never answers her phone. I have called and left messages for mortgage Phil. No one likes to call me back I guess.
This past weekend I had t-ball practice that went surprisingly well. I have practice tonight. We took the kids to the fair and it was crowded as hell. I hate huge unorganized crowds where the tattoo factor is 8 out of 10.
We had a good time though, eating every artery clogging food known to man and there was a plethora of meats on sticks.
My wife won Maroon5 tickets and that should be a fun show....things are not too bad if you can get a free concert huh?
BTW...its freezing in this mother fucking building!!!!!!