Lunch with co-workers

How many people out there really like going to group lunches? I am not talking about a group lunch where it is ‘your’ group of friends at work. I am talking the whole department and a few others.

Granted, you may like a few folks in your department but a majority you may or may not be social with at work. Yesterday, we had a group farewell lunch for a co-worker. I had to set it up if you can believe it. Well, the lame thing about a group lunch is that we usually split the bill evenly. For example, 11 people the bill is $100 bucks, subtract the celebratory guest, so $100 / 10 = $10 bucks a person. Great. Nice and easy.

Well, not so much because at lunch some people order the most expensive thing, some people order beer and some people order the cheapest thing. Thus, if you were the loser getting the $5 sandwich you totally get screwed by the guy that gets the fish special and the beer. You would think the people ordering the more expensive dish you just throw in more money but they don’t. I hate cheap bastards that can’t pay their own share!

Can you se"E" me now?

What is 5 months? 5 months is how far along Aya is in her pregnancy. 5 months is about how much longer until my birthday. 5 months is about a the length of a college semester. 5 months is about when Fable: Lost Chapters is released for the PC.

What else is 5 months? 5 months I got to own a Porsche Boxster. A Boxster. Sure, the Porsche with panties. Call it what you will, but I only have wanted a Boxster. No Cheyene, no 911, no 928, 944 just the Boxster. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would own a Boxster. I loved a roadster, I loved being in the sun, I loved having a convertible, I loved the way it drove (just wish it was faster). Is it better to have loved and lost then to have never loved at all??? I dunno. It's pretty tough.

Now, this is no pity party moment. It isn't like I am suffering with my replacement. Sunday, Aya and I traded in the Boxster for a family car. I am now rolling in a 2006 Mercedes Benz E350. While it dreams and looks like my dad's car (well not my dad, but maybe white people's dads), it isn't too shabby. Still getting used to driving a bigger car. I am thinking this car will make me less agro as it just doesn't handle like *ahem* a Boxster. Just one more expense we are incurring for this nameless and faceless boy of mine.

I thought it was kinda funny. I think the Celica saw me in the Benz. I went to drive the Celica this morning to work....didn't start. It didn't even pretend to start. Just said, "NO." Of course I came home to check everything out...it started on the first try.

A house outside a gym...

Went down to the eastside this weekend to check out Ron's new house. A nice big house. It was good getting together outside of basketball. I guess we used to get together more often but as we have gotten older, time is limited, priorities are different...at least we didn't go last week when fish tacos and fish corn were on the menu!! Jenny, Saori and Lance got shafted. We had ribs and bbq this weekend!! Pretty soon, everyone in the picture will be married and not just Aya and I!

Random stuff from the week

Okay, I back from being in shock that we are having a baby boy. I can't express how caught off gaurd it took me. I mean it was 50-50, but I never entertained the thought it could be a boy, so I just rolled with it and thought girl. A boy is actually great...I always wanted a boy...but to be 100% honest, I was looking forward to having a girl. Really the important thing is just for a healthy baby and from the ultrasound, we can see two legs, two arms, 4 valves of the heart...things look good.

I don't think this is a good sign. I told my Dad that I we were going to have a boy and he just laughed. After he stopped laughing he says giddily, "What comes around, goes around." What is that suppose to mean?? I am going to have a great kid, just like me?? I mean, I am the greatest child a parent could want. No offense Dawn, but there is a reason you are #2....that is to show the difference between average (you) and great (me).

So just some random thoughts this week. Maybe someone knows the answer to this one. Aya and I were watching the All-Star game on Tuesday. Miguel Tejada. Is he black or mexican? I think he is from the Domincan. Is he just a dark mexican that looks black? Or is he black with a mexican accent??

A helpful tip for anyone over 30 out there. When getting a cramp in your leg, DO NOT TRY to stretch it out before the cramp occurs. I was sitting at work and I felt my calf tingle. I was thinking, "Hmmm, I am getting a cramp." Well before I let it get to be a cramp I decided to shake my leg out. Not a bright move. I ended up straining my calf muscle and creating these micro-tears. I could hardly walk on it for 2 days.

I assume most of you have heard the news about the guy that used his baby as shield. While it is tragic, I really don't know what the big deal is. The guy shot 40 rounds at the LAPD. Bullets are flying around not only the police but the public. Now the LAPD firing 90 rounds is kinda execessive...what did SWAT do...count to 3 and then have everyoneshoot?! Like they don't have a sharp shooter? I am all for police using excessive force. Kill'em all and let god sort them out.

Thanks for everyone on car suggestions. Let me just say as of right now, I have ZERO interest in an SUV or minivan. I personally don't drive those cars. I mean Ferrai could make and SUV and I wouldn't be interested. I like my cars lower to the ground and a sedan is just fine for me.

It is a B-O-Y!!

We just got back from the Doctor's this morning and we are having a baby boy!!! I guess a mother's instinct is right. Aya thought it was a boy from the very beginning. We had dinner with Aya's cousin last night and she dreamed we also had a boy. The only other person that guessed correctly was Ron (who is homo-phobic, so I am not sure why he guessed boy).

In any case, I am still in shock. I had to ask the Doctor to check again. I was 99.9% sure it was a girl. I had only thought, girl-girl-girl so when I heard the Doctor say boy I was caught off gaurd. Aya and I were talking about it last night and I also dreamed if could be a boy...then I woke up sweating and feeling and ill.

Well, if the baby is early, Miles Jr. could be a possibility for a name. If not, we have a babies name already picked out. NO we are NOT telling anyone. Actually Dawn knows so go and call her. =) hahahaa, okay, Dawn doesn't know but I thought it would be funny if people started asking her. Nope, we just don't want to jinx anything by telling people the babies name.

Such Sweet Sorrow

I think I made up my mind. I will be parting ways with my current pride and joy. I have debated and thought up different scenario's but with a baby on the way, it just does not seem viable to keep the porsche.

TRUST ME. I have given it a lot of thought. I was grumpy most of the week. Mostly towards Aya...especially when she told me that a Scion xB would be nice. So, I have to eat the cost of owning a porsche for a few 5 months. I got 3 other cars on my mind and hopefully I will have a new car by August 1st. (So if anyone wants to buy a 2004 Boxster let me know ASAP!)

I am still shying away from an SUV and mini-van. I just can't. I just can't drive one. I don't like driving one. I don't think it is in my personality to drive a SUV.

All I can say is, this future kid of mine better not be asking me for a car. I am giving up by Boxster for this kid.

Still time to make a prediction...

Well so far the tally is 4 votes for a girl and 2 votes for a boy. Although only mean spirited Jenny picked a girl because she thinks that a girl will be harder for me. Um, hello. I actually voted for a girl.

I just do not think I have the patience for a boy right now. I think a girl will help mellow me out some more. I told Aya, she better start saving money now, because I am going to need a gift of extreme value to have child number 2. Child number 1 isn't even here yet and things are costing a fortune.

Single guys out there, let me warn you...you thought weddings were lame???! Buying baby furniture if the biggest scam out there!! HUGE. For one, baby furniture costs the same about as adult furniture!! The sales people totally prey on your emotions. "Don't you want the best furniture and safest furniture for your kids?" Umm, hello?! Not at these prices. You gotta be kidding me?!

A crib and changing table dresser and hutch. Guess how much? No really. Pick a number in your head. Guess. Did you guess?? 1000 bucks. 1000 friggin dollars. Don't even get me started on car seats. I mention car seats and everyone is like you sooo need a car seat. How can you not get one?!

Yes, I know car seats are the law. Umm, people my age, think back say...29 years. 30 years. Um, I remember standing in my dads van while he was driving. I remember standing the back seat on the station wagon leaning over into the front seat talking to my parents. I remember sitting in the rear cab of the station wagon on top of the gas tank!! I remeber ONLY lap seat belts. (funny, this is off the subject, but I remember sitting in the back seat of the car giving my sister ABC gum. hahahahaha!)

I used to tell people who wanted to get married and asked for my opinion that marriage is not for everyone. Sure, having a kid has really been a happy time for us. Very, very happy...but having kids is so not cheap. I do not know how poncho down the street has 9 kids. At least with 9 kids you know he is getting the max ROI on his baby furniture!

Losing...

Boy this week is all about reflecting on one’s self. First, I admit to being a jerk. Second, my sister says that I will be a mean parent regardless if it is a boy or a girl. Third, I am just a poor loser.

I don’t know how pro athletes cope with losing. Sure they get paid a boat load of money but every athlete is competitive. How do you stand losing? Now, I don’t have to win EVERY time, but my Tuesday bball team is probably 10-90 in the last 2 years. That is 10 wins TOTAL. For the most part the guys try….we just aren’t as big, tall or athletic as other teams. If this was the NBA I would so be just hoping to opt out, get traded or be a free agent. Now I know why people leave the expansion teams!

Oh yeah, I was losing in scrabble to Aya the other day. Unexplainably the board flipped upside down and all the tiles came out. Unofficially, I guess I lost the match, but it wasn’t an official game since we did not finish the game.

Thank you...Cingular...Jerk

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July weekend. It was great having the extra time off from work. Let me first start by saying THANK YOU to Saori for lending Aya her maternity clothes. Nothing worse than hearing everyday, "I look fat" or "I can't fit into my clothes". Saori, good looking out!!

Look out everyone. Miles got some technology. I broke down and got a cellular phone ( and NOT because Luda-chrissy was bugging me to get one either). Work is paying for my phone and cable modem access. Of course the 'catch' is that I have to work from home and be on call. Grr. At least for now, I will be accessible for Aya's pregnancy and for anyone else on CINGULAR. Free mobile to mobile for Cingular customers. Any of you out there Cingular customers with downloaded ringtones? If so, hook a techically challenged brother up and send me the ring tones.

I try and try to be a nice guy but sometimes my inner JERK comes out. Aya and I got into an argument and I just couldn't hold it in any longer and just burst out yelling. Yes, I know yelling at a pregnant woman isn't good. You know what is harder?? Actually yelling. It isn't so easy yelling at a pregnant lady without feeling a little bad. Normally I can yell at Aya, watch her cry and then go off on my merry way. It isn't so easy when she is pregnant...I actually felt bad...like a jerk.

Peaches

Did you know that I like peaches? I didn’t even know that. We get fruit delivered at work and I eat the apples, b-a-nan-a-s and oranges. I am not quite sure when the fruit is delivered but 2 weeks ago I got the bottom of the box. The only thing left was a peach. Rather than eat the hostess pie’s that call my name, I grabbed the peach. I figured it was free and if I hate it I could throw it away.
Lo and behold it was good. So good I told Aya to get me a peach from the market. Later that night:

Aya asked, “Do you want me to peel your peach?”
Miles - Peel my peach?!
Aya - Yes, peel the peach.
Miles – What the heck? What are you talking about?? I just eat it.
Aya – WHAT? With the skin? The skin is all fuzzy.
Miles – Yeah. So what. How else do you eat it. Watch.

So I eat a peach like an apple. Is that not how you eat a peach? It seems that I do not like the canned or sliced peaches. I like firm, yellow peaches. Who knew?!

Sweetbread

So in San Diego, Aya I went out to dinner. I ordered this pork dish with sweetbread. Aaaahhh, sweetbread. I like that. Aya happened to look at what I ordered.

Aya - You know that isn't like hawaiian sweetbread.
Miles - What? How do you know?
Aya - I watch the food channel.
Aya - Sweetbread is brains I think
Miles - Really. Eeww.

Yeah, so I order it anyway. It kinda does look like brain. I figure, I eat tongue, I eat instestine, I would probably eat brain. Umm. Wrong. That sweetbrain was nasty. You could taste the actual shape it came in. I actually ate a bigger piece than I should have. It just kinda broke off that way. Big mistake. I was gagging on the inside.

I come home to look it up. It isn't brain. Here is some information:

According to Larousse Gastronomique, sweetbread is "the culinary term for the thymus gland (in the throat) and the pancreas (near the stomach) in calves, lambs and pigs," otherwise known as the "variety meats." Veal sweetbreads are the most commonly used by chefs today. Sweetbreads come in two varieties.

The first is the thymus gland, also called the throat sweetbread or gorge in French.

The second variety is the pancreas, also referred to as the stomach sweetbread or noix in French. The stomach sweetbread is most prized because of its larger size and oval shape. It can easily be presented whole or sliced into medallions. Some claim that the throat sweetbreads have less flavor than their Because the throat sweetbreads are elongated they are usually reserved for dishes like stews and ragouts where they will be presented in small pieces.

Good news

Another baby annoucement. Neil and Teri are now expecting in January of 2006. Best of all Uncle Neil and Aunty Teri are going to take my kid on vacation with them for the next 18 years!!! Woo-hoo.

Toothbrushes

When you go to a hotel where do you put your toothbrush? Do you leave the toothbrush head dangling over the side of the sink? Do you open up a towel and put the toothbrush there? Do you use a drinking glass and stick it in there? I personally use a drinking glass to hold my toothbrush when I stay at a hotel.

On Friday, Aya and I stayed at Horton Plaza and I put my toothbrush in a cup. The next day I noticed I had two new glasses and my toothbrush was placed nicely on a hand towel. Hmm. Interesting.

Of course, I noticed all this while taking a crap. It got me thinking. What if the maid was a jerk? What if she thought I was a slob? Maybe she cleaned the toilet with my toothbrush!!! Eeeewww!! Who knows that happen because she did touch it? I wonder if maids do those type of things. You know cooks/waiters do stuff like that, but do you think maids mess with your stuff as well??

Sea World

Aya and I decided to take a trip down to San Diego for the weekend. We left LA at 3:00 to try to avoid traffic. No such luck. It took us 3 1/2 hours to get to San Diego. Ugh. We stayed in the gas lamp district and Jenny suggestion of the Westin over the W Hotel was alright. I think the W would have been a little quieter.

Saturday, Aya and I spent the whole day at San Deigo. Aya had not been there since she was a little kid. We started by feeding the dolphin, touching star fishes and sting rays. Took some pictures with the flamingos, penguins and sharks. Aya liked Shamu the best. We didn't stay around for the night shows because we had dinner reservations at Bertrands at Mister A's. Great place to eat at overlooking downtown and the harbor. Very nice...voted as one of San Diego's finest restaurants. Great place for a date.

Sunday we went to 222 Cafe. San Diego 3 year in a row best breakfast diner. It was good. Worth the 30 minute wait. Headed off to Extraordinary desserts to get my sister a cake for Eric. Aya and got some pastries for ourself. That place would make a bundle in LA.

All in all a good weekend. If we had gone to San Deigo before Aya got pregnant it might have changed our minds about being parents. I gotta say, I really enjoyed going to Sea World without kids. I was looking at other parents and I dunno how they walk around with kids. It was hard enough with Aya who had to keep taking 'pee' breaks and walking all slow. It was hard making it show to show. If we had to bob-and-weave with a stroller...forget it!! No amusement parks until the kid can walk!!

Batman Begins...

Aya and I went to see Batman Begins last weekend. I am a big batman fan so this was one of the summer movies that I was looking forward too. I was a little leary because the last batman really stunk. It stunk so bad that I thought the franchise would be runied, but Batman Begins was pretty good. A little dark, but I like it like that. I could definately see this continuing.

Outside of that, there hasn't been a lot of good summer movies. Star Wars was good, but then I am a Star Wars fan. I think that is about it for my summer movie watching.

Damn Spurs won. I was rooting for the Pistons. I hate losing bets. Grrr.