A little rest & relaxation

I did not get the rest I had hoped for in between jobs at Directv and Lowermybills. I did managbe to go to the Dodger game with Kedar last weekend. Too bad the Dodgers lost to the Braves.

Aya, Brentt and I went to check out Star Wars Episode III. Everyone I talked too seemed so-so about the movie. Am I the only one that liked it? I mean I really liked it. I thought it was a lot better than Episode I and II.

Sadly my time off from work is over. I start my new job tommorrow. Boo. I liked being off and I am glad that I had the two weeks. It has taken almost ALL of my time, but the house is getting done. The hardwood floors, stairs, bannisters and railing is all installed and painted now. After 12 solid weeks the house is practically brand new. I at least get a break now until our bathroom vanities arrive.

Carte Blanche

Okay, it is no big secret I am not a sensitive person. Of course, once people find out Aya is pregnant, everyone tells me, "You have to be nice to her." Be nice. Uh-huh, sure. Now, ‘nice’ is all relative. I might not be as ‘nice’ as other people, but I am as ‘nice’ as I can be. I am a lot nicer than I was 8 years ago when I first met Ayako.

So I might have gotten freaked out about having a kid. Hence, my 161 point project plan that I created for tasks to do before the baby is born. Of course I need to allocate resources on MS project. I did assign most most tasks to myself, followed by my dad and then Aya.

Well, for the past 12 weeks I have been working around the house trying to accomplish the 161 tasks that I have assigned to this ‘project’ called, ‘being parents’. It is like a second job. I come home and work for a 4-5 hours a night. Of course I still have other 'chores' not in project plan like, clean up and try to help out around the house.

Aya has been nauseas and tired a lot since getting pregnant. Now the farting (hers and not mine) has kicked in. I don’t know where pregnant equals fart like Walter the Farting Dog. (You need to read that book). It seems as though Aya thinks this pregnancy gives her ‘carte blanche’ to do nothing. I mean zero. C’mon, I am trying to be nice, but heck you can do something. Aya leaves the TV on, lights on, plucks and tweezes and leaves the hair. ARGH!! Is it that difficult to pitch in to hit the power button to turn the tv off, flick the switch to off when you leave a room, and just wash your pluckings down the drain??

I am willing to let some things slide, but no way can you get away with everything!! I am nice but no doormate and I gotta get the baby used to feeling my wrath!

Cousin Sheri

This is my cousin Sheri at 32 weeks pregnant. Sheri and Mike are expecting their first child.

Cousin Jen and her daughter Erin

Family photo time. My dad's side of the family in Hawaii has been pretty busy expanding the family. My cousin Denise and Bill have one kid and another on the way. My cousin Aaron is expecting. My cousin Sheri is expecting soon.

This is a pic of my cousin Jen and her daughter Erin. (Erin is turning 1).

Aya's Pregnant

Topic: The OBYGN

Okay, what a sham. When you go to the OBYGN to find out if you are pregnant (Aya and not me) they don’t do squat. They push you off to an ultrasound lab and then to the blood withdrawal department. Of course those appointments are on different days. Thus, you have to wait another few weeks to find out if you are pregnant. So guys, don’t take off work until the ultrasound.

On a side note, guys have you been to an OBGYN with your lady? I have never gone until now. Naturally all the patients in there are women, but they all kinda stare at you like, “What are you doing here?” Man, if women think going to an OBYGN is uncomfortable try sitting in the waiting room with a bunch of ugly fat women!


Topic: Nesting

So after a week of no sleep and feeling ill, my body shifted into nesting mode. I made a list of repairs and things that I need to do around the house before the baby was born. Of course for me, this meant making Visio diagrams of the house to rearrange furniture. Making a project plan with milestones on when jobs need to be completed.

Of course, I have zero patience, so I had to start working on the jobs ASAP. We are still looking for a home, but realistically we aren’t moving so now I have 9 more months to get the house in ship shape.


Topic: Walter the Farting Dog

I was at the book store and I randomly came across this children’s book, Walter the Farting dog. This book has no moral, no point, illustrated horribly. I mean, it’s funny as hell from an adult stand point, but for a kids book…I just don’t get it. Of course I bought it. So, for all you couples with no kids and you are looking for a baby gift, I recommend Walter the Farting dog. Once people see that, you will be off the baby bday list.


Topic: 12 Week - Taboo

I can totally understand why people wait until 12 weeks to tell people they are pregnant. They want to be sure they have a healthy baby on the way. I guess so many things can happen in the first 12 weeks where you can miscarry and lose the baby. Nobody wants to talk about it or jinx it so no one wants to hear about a baby until 12 weeks.

As potential first time parents, it is so hard to keep it a secret. You want to tell everyone and get it out in the open. Heck, maybe people have bits of wisdom to pass along to us so that we can make the 12 weeks without a problem.

Topic: Do you ever wonder….

If you want to have children or what it would be like to have kids? I am sure everyone has had those thoughts. My thoughts (even before Aya got pregnant) was when am I going to have time to play video games, lounge and play ball if I have kids?? What happens on those days you come back from work all tired?? I am in ZERO mood to talk to Aya so how will I be in the mood to talk to Miles, Jr.?

When will be the next time I can sleep until noon? When can I stay home all weekend playing Grand Theft Auto, ordering pizza and Chinese food, wearing the same clothes all weekend, not brushing my teeth while the wife is gone to Fullerton? Yes, a lot of me, me, me stuff…but that’s ME!!! Argh. Let the record show, I was not completely down with this idea for Miles, Jr.

Has anyone’s water burst in the car?? I wonder if that cleans easy….and will I have to clean that crap up??? Yucko. Eewww….just gross thinking about it.

Topic: Boy or Girl

I think most guys want a boy and most women went a girl. I always, always thought a boy and only a boy. Aya and I have been together 6 years now and I have to say, I think I have gotten less aggressive, less angry and more patient. Now I said LESS, so I still get all mean and angry.
In a nut shell, being married has been good for me.

I know Aya would love to have a girl. A girl means Aya has someone to go shopping with her. If we have a boy that just means two mean and angry people get to terrorize Aya.

Bottom line is we just want a healthy baby. I can’t tell you how important that is to us. Honestly, I could care less if it is a boy or a girl…just healthy. It’s probably the only thing I really think about nowadays, just keeping Aya safe and healthy so that our baby can be healthy.

Aya's co-worker does this chinese baby horoscope thing and she said we are having a girl. A girl would be nice. I think with a girl I would just become more mellow and patient. Afterall who can yell at a little girl?? I may be a jerk, but I think I draw the line at yelling at little girls....I think.

The secret is out...

Topic: Pink line? Are you sure??

Funny thing, when you go 0 – 18 months, you start to think, ‘Oh well, back to the drawing board”. For me, it was just a chance for more sex in the month and then you start pondering the fact that you may never have kids. Personally for me that is no problem. I do not think kids complete me as a person. I am happy just being married.

I never thought what my reaction to a positive pregnancy test would be. I imagine it would be, “He shoots, he scores….from way downtown!!”

In reality. the first thing that came to my mind was, “Are you sure you pee’d on the stick right?” “Why did you take the test anyway? Are you late?” “How many days late are you??”

Then it sets in…holy crap…my guys do swim. HOLY CRAP, we might have a kid. Pee on the stick again tomorrow to see if you did it right.


Topic: Morning sickness or Miles sickness?

Not so funny. The cruelest joke of them all is played on me. The day after Aya took the test, I got ill. Man, I never ever get stomach aches but I got a stomach ache like someone socked me in the stomach. I thought it was a one day deal but then I got it again, again and again. Geez, I think I am pregnant myself!!! I am so ill that I can’t eat and I am having a hard time just moving around.

To make matters worse, I started grinding my teeth the same week, which lead to migraines and I can’t sleep. Of course I still have the stomach aches. Thus, the happy news is not sitting well with me.


Topic: This is G14 classified

Trying to start a family is no big secret. Once you are pregnant all of a sudden it G14 classified. This is good stuff to share and I have to keep quiet. I have two reasons why I want to share the news. One, because I am ill to my stomach, that can’t be normal. Not ill that I have to keep the secret, ill because we have a baby on the way. Two, I need to let my dad know because he has a lot of work to do on ‘my’ house to get the house ship shape for his grand child.

I guess it is just good news that I want to share but I can’t. We also want to wait just in case. They say to wait closer to the 12 week mark. That is usually when everything is a-ok.

Yes, so if you have not deducted it by now, Aya is 12 weeks pregnant. We just got back from the Dr. this morning and so far everything seems to be in order. Aya thinks it is a boy. At the doctor's office the baby was jumping around and moving his arms...the doctor said that would be a good assumption, typically boys move around more. We will find out for sure in a few month.

Ayako the Bully - Part II

When was the last time you were pushed? I mean, when someone has come up to you and just pushed you...like when you were little on the playground?

This is the latest installment of Aya's bullying. Two weeks ago we were at Westside Pavillion. We decided to take a 'break' from walking. We all know how shopping can wear some people out...it's not like working all day and not offering the workers any pizza. Okay, so we go to sit down on a bench. I am going through the motions of sitting when Aya's comes up to me and pushes me. I kinda lose my balance, reach out to brace myself, grab the bench, wonder why I just got pushed and who pushed me? All in a split second as I ackwardly fall into the bench.

What the hell? Why did you push me? Aya is saying sorry-sorry...there was water on the bench and you were about to sit in it. I investiage this alleged water...yup, two drops of water on the bench. I could either have two drop stains on my ass that would dry, or I could be pushed into a public bench at the mall in front of dozens of people. Hmmm...tough call.

If that wasn't enough, the other day I was walking up the stairs. Aya was behind me. All of a sudden I feel a push in the small of my back and my face going towards the stair. What the hell. I turn around and Aya pushed me AGAIN. This time no reason. She just stuck her arm out and pushed me down.

Yes, so all you people who think poor, passive, soft Aya. I feel so bad she is married to an ogre like Miles. Well, you can stop feeling sorry for her because lately she has been on the war path. I think Scott Peterson is her idol. Sadly, that makes me Laci.

Ayako the Bully - Part I

I know people won't believe this but Aya was being a bully today. Okay, maybe not a bully, but I think she prefers bully over snob. For the past two days we have had mexican's working on our hardwood floors. Today they worked a 13 hour day.

Well our house is just a mess. Dirt and dust everywhere. No sense cleaning it since the job isn't done yet. Cooking has been hard because they are still doing the floor and I don't want to be in the workers way, so tonight we ordered pizza.

The pizza was late so I left for bball. Before I left I told Aya offer Poncho and Jose some pizza. I don't think they ate all day. Aya said, "Okay." I come from bball and I am about to eat when I noticed that only 2 slices were gone. I asked Aya did you offer the beaners some food? Aya said, "No, they looked busy."

Um, hello?! This coming from a girl that has never worked a hard day in her life. She can't do any housework without a water break or a lunch break or the planning of food. You would think Aya grew up in the Union. A simple gesture of food or water would just be something small to show our appreciation for their hard work. Sure we are 'paying' them to do this work, but since I am home, I am watching these guys and they are working.

Of course, Aya has nothing but excuses or the usual, 'sorry'. Actually she had a good excuse, "I was too embarrassed." Too embarrassed? Whats up with that? Too embarrassed to offer them some food and water for working 13 hours as subcontractors who probably don't even see 50% of the money?

Now it would be one thing if I didn't tell her to offer them food and she just ate in front of them. However I told her. To top that off it's dark in the house and Aya is just sitting in the dark, watching TV and eating. She doesn't offer to turn the lights on in the house so the workers can...um...SEE!! Good grief!!! That just shows, you can take the snob outta mansion but you can't take the snob outta the girl!

Believe it or not, this is just part 1. There is more of Aya's bullying.

Engagement Update

Wow, another sucker biting the bullet. First Hans got engaged, then Jeff got engaged and now Ron got engaged. Congratulations!!

Hotel Rwanda

Okay, I know things like this happen every day. Maybe not to this extent but crappy things happen around this world without me knowing. True, I am turning a blind eye where I am not looking or learning about what happens globally. True, I do not vote, nor do I read about politics on a national or local level. True, I am not an activist of any sort. In fact, I am probably anti-activist.

I rented Hotel Rwanda this weekend. Good movie. The story is not good, as basically it is genocide. I mean these people are genius. Basically killing off their own people. It isn't even black or white, it is just between different classes of black people. Over million people were killed in Rwanda. I believe it was 1994. I would have been 24 and just graduating college. What as I doing? I don't even recall hearing one thing about it. Not that I could do anything about it, but to see and watch a story like that....it is just sad that human beings can be so cruel to one another.

So the question really is, "Am I just as cruel to not reach out and try to do something to make the world a better place not only for me, but for other humans?"

No more Dilbert

Do you ever get sad when you leave a job? Do you ever get sad when co-workers quit work? What do you prefer, quitting before the co-workers you actually LIKE leave or being the last one left without any co-workers you really like??

I guess the one thing they never teach you in school that you have to learn in the business world is don't trust anyone. Sure everyone seems friendly until they stick a knife in your back. Luckily at every job there have been those few people that I actually like at work. It always makes going to work more enjoyable when you have fun with your co-workers. I mean you spend more time with co-workers than you do family and friends.

I dunno what the deal is with DTV, in my short stint there, I actually grew attached to the place. Oh, I guess I didn't answer my own question. I guess I would prefer to leave before I was the last person left.

Man, I gotta get back on schedule. Ever since I gave notice I have gone back to my college hours. I am up until 2 or 3 every night. Have a good weekend everyone!

Tom's Hottie

Happy Cinco de Miles everyone!

Today is my last day at DIRECTV. It is sort of like buyers remorse. I like a lot of things about DIRECTV, just one thing I didn't like. It feels like things are just starting to click and fall into place. Oh well, no regrets. Moving on to something that is hopefully better.

When it rains it pours. I applied for a job at UCLA a few months ago. I figured it didn't pan out. I got called today and I have a panelled interview session on Tuesday. Uh-oh. What happens if they make me an offer...I already have a job. Oops.

Not so dumb after all...

Funny thing this internet. I decided to look on the US Treasury website and lo and behold, look what I found:

What denominations of currency notes is the Treasury Department no longer printing?On July 14, 1969, David M. Kennedy, the 60th Secretary of the Treasury, and officials at the Federal Reserve Board announced that they would immediately stop distributing currency in denominations of $500, $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000. Production of these denominations stopped during World War II. Their main purpose was for bank transfer payments. With the arrival of more secure transfer technologies, however, they were no longer needed for that purpose. While these notes are legal tender and may still be found in circulation today, the Federal Reserve Banks remove them from circulation and destroy them as they are received.

Looks like my question at the bank wasn't so dumb. I think Aya owes me a little apology. (Actually, Jenny found me the picture).

Hoover

Who would have thought getting a new vaccum cleaner would be so much fun? I finally broke down and bought a new Hoover Windtunnel Self-Propelled, Hepa filter vaccum. It doesn't sound like much fun, but trust me...I had a blast.

I was a little skeptical about paying 300 bucks for a vaccum. I reviewed Hoover, Kenmore and Dyson models. The Dyson breaks down 40% of the time in the first 3 years. The Hoover had the best overall ratings in Consumer reports.

I came home put it together and tried it out. I didn't expect much. I vaccum once a week and my carpets always seem clean. Well, after just vaccuming the upstairs I filled up TWO cannisters of crap. I mean this was dense carpet, dust, hair, etc. You could visibly see where I had vaccumed and where I had not. It was amazing. How sad is this?? The highlight of a new toy is a vaccum cleaner.

Italy

This is what happens when you are still a student...you get to travel to Italy during school breaks. My sister and Eric just came back from Italy and this was the best picture they took.

I guess I should 'less' anxiety about letting Dawn treat my various ailments as Dawn passed her board exams this year. Free masseges for everyone!! (Done by her not me).