Guess who is back??

What's up my faithful and loyal followers!! I bet you missed me. Sadly, I missed none of you as I in Maui for 8 days and Oahu for 4 days. I had no email, no computer, no phone...it was fabulous.

Aya and I just got in late this afternoon, so I am busy catching up. Just wanted to let you know that I will be back to regular postings.

In the meantime, I have this ONE video clip from vacation. This is what happens when you try to play catch with JT....my Uncle found out the hard way:

Phone manners...

How many of you out there pee when talking on the phone to a significant other? How many of you poop when talking on the phone to your significant other?

Aya and I watched this dating show and that was one of the questions. Aya thought it was gross and asked if I ever done it.

Naturally I said YES and I have done it to her...MANY times. I can't be the only one that does it. I am thinking a high percentage of people do it....they just don't tell people they do it.

Carnival...

We went to the Venice Community Center Carnival on Saturday. I don't recommended drinking at a daytime wedding and then heading towards a carnival. The kids, the noise, the smoke from the cooking...not a good combination.

In any case, Aya and I thought JT might like to play some carnival games. At first he just wanted to see everything and run around. Notice the 'furry' thing around JT's body...that is a leash.

Yup, I felt bad leashing JT but it helps so he can't just take off running. We originally bought it to use at the airport. Now, it really isn't so bad. He can run the length of the leash...which is only 2-3 feet.

Those carnival games are a rip off!! JT was going through my money like water. And for what? These crummy little toys you get at the 99 cent store! JT just had fun throwing the balls around. He didn't undertand the concept of any of the games...I think he just had fun throwing the balls and making the workers pick them all up.

Next time, we will send Aunty Dawn to the carnival with JT. Afterall Aunty can't say, "No" to her only nephew. Maybe Aunty Dawn can win JT a $40 goldfish. :)

Urinals...

The other day Aya and I got on the subject of urinals. Aya thought urinals were gross and how weird it must be to watch other guys pee.

I didn't understand her comment about 'watching other guys pee' and asked Aya to elaborate. Aya said that there is no privacy and that don't guys 'look'?

I told her maybe "GAY" guys look. Most guy look straight ahead or up...but from the corner of your eye if you notice the other dude turning towards you then you have look at the dude and ask, "What the hell you doing?"

I suppose you do sorta look at some guys at the urinal. There are some guys that literally stand right OVER the urinal. I mean if they were to turn around there butt would be sitting in the damn urinal.

There are the other guys that stand like a foot away and pee. I am a little leary of those guys as when their 'stream' starts to get weak then the pee misses the urinal and hits the floor....splattering my shoes.

Then there are the guys that just pee side to side like they are writing their name. Granted, I have done that as well, but not when other dudes stand next to me. Plus, I don't do that at my house. Now in a public place, who cares where or how I pee.

If I am at a club, I just pee all over the toilet, the toilet paper, the handle, cups, beer bottles...doesn't matter. I don't care. Yes, I know sick. True...but sick. What can I say...it is a guy thing.

So the real reason Aya and I were talking about urinals is that I told her about me peeing at work the other day. I had to use the lower urinal...which I don't like as much. I guess sometimes at the lower ones I get lazy and tend to not look where I pee so I could pee on the floor or my shoe.

In any case, this dude was next to me and I had to take this big piss like I had been drinking all night long. I decided to concentrate and try to 'melt' the fresh air mint that the janitors put in the urinal. Well, I had my big pee and I was pissing on the mint...but I didn't realize that the angle of the mint was a little off. Instead of my pee going down the drain, it was richochetting just off the top of the drain.

Why is that a problem? Well, I didn't realize it until I felt a sort of dampness on my pants. I look down and all the spray had bounced off the mint and onto my khaki's!! ARGH! Stupid pee mint.

Since I am at work, there isn't much I can do, so I just wash my hands and go back to work. The pee dries in a few minutes...no harm, no foul. Aya just thinks that it was gross to wear those pants the rest of the day. The sad part is I can't remember which khaki it was and I hung them back in the closet to wear again!!

19 Months...

Where has all the time gone? At times it feels like it has been 28 LONG months (19 months since JT was born and 9 months for Aya's pregnancy). At other times it feels as though the time has just gone by in the blink of an eye.

I see JT everyday and there are days or weeks when I think nothing is different with him. Then there are days and weeks where it just seems like he is learning, communicating, moving and growing.

When I look back on the pictures we have I already think, "Man this sucker is getting big." I remember when he was just a blob that didn't move. Ahh, *THAT* was a good time...I just didn't know it. Then came the rolling, crawling, walking and now running away when he sees you turn your head!

Here is the piggy nose goober at 19 months old!

Cross eyed, buck toothed, elvis lip, star trek side burn, crooked nostril, pig nose all topped off with a little drool coming out of the side of his mouth. Impressive!!

La Venta Inn...

Aya and I went to Cindy and Mike's wedding Saturday morning in Palos Verdes at La Venta Inn. Nice view, good weather, small intimate place. Cindy and Aya were high school friends and college roommates.

It was a little strange going to a morning wedding. I thought it was wierd to get drinks at 10:30 a.m. I was a little hesitant about drinking that early, but after the first 2 drinks and snacking on short ribs, shrimp and some tuna I said, "This is going to be a llllooooonnnnggg day."

Sophia, Aya and Rose:

Christina, Cindy, Rose and Aya:

All in all it was a good wedding. Short and sweet ceremony outside over looking the coast. Open bar. Nice lunch. No other traditional events like the garter belt and bouquet throw...very nice wedding.

Vacation...

I saw this survey about people in the United States receive the fewest vacation days per year on average compared to other developed countries:

United States - 14 days
Australia - 17 days
Canada - 19 days
Great Britan - 24 days
Germany - 27 days
France - 29 days

The survey continues on by saying that 1/3 of the american people do not use all of our vacation days. On average, only 10 days are used.

Out of the people that do take a vacation, 1/3 will be for 5 days or less. 10% only use getaway weekends. 25% of the people check and respond to email, taking and returning calls, seeking out internet cafes and taking our laptops.

14 days compared to 29 days. I wonder if I was given 29 days would I really take it? I have been one of those people that don't go on long vacations. I don't look for internet cafes or laptops but I normally tell my boss I will check messages ONCE a day at noon on vacation.

I guess I am going to do something quite drastic for me....I just filled out my vacation card...I will be off for 15 days....all in one chunk! I haven't even accrued that much time off yet. This is also my first vacation in 3 years. I didn't take a vacation or sick day at DTV and I hardly took time off from LMB. I guess since I quit so often, I like stock piling my vacation time to get a 'bonus' check when I quit. Not anymore!

I like this quote from the US Business Review, "Vacations streghthen family bonds, create favorite memories and reduce stress. The offer a chance to recharge, reflect and fight burnout."

BBQ...

It has been quite a while since I had a bbq at my place. The older I get the more time just seems to fly by and weekends get filled with errands, my family, Aya's family or hanging out with with my new family (Aya, me and JT).

Sascha and Melissa flew down to spend the weekend with us. It actually went quite well. I wasn't 100% sure how it would be for either of us. Would it be hard to entertain with JT. Would JT wake them up in the middle of the night or early in the morning? JT was on his best behavior all weekend. So much, he might have convinced any couple that kids are actually, "OK".

We were able to throw a quick BBQ together Sunday afternoon. Sascha and Melissa...Jeff and Jenny...Dan and Grace along with Owen and PJ. Unfortunately, Stewart and Genie couldn't make it, neither could Oscar and Valerie or Payal but it was good times.

JT was following PJ all over the house:

Gay-dar...

We were at my parents house over the weekend just hanging out. All of sudden out of the corner of my eye I see, "GAY". Naturally, I speak before I think and yell out, "G-A-Y?"

Of course my family looks at me like I am crazy and ask what the heck I am talking about. I tell them that I saw the word, GAY. Did you see it?"

JT is wearing a G-A-Y shirt!! Who bought him a gay shirt?!

Now, everyone thinks I am super crazy, so we grab ahold JT and examine his shirt. See, to the naked eye, it looks like a nice normal giraffe shirt.


To a protective, "DAD" who is watching out for his son...this is what an eagle eye see:


YES. You see it right...GAY JUNGLE TOURS!! What the heck is that about??!

According to Aya, who got the shirt because JT likes giraffe's didn't notice the keyword saying GAY. Then she said that should read GAP Jungle Tours. The shirt is from the GAP. I dunno. I see GAY and I am debating on contacting GAP that I find the shirt offensive. (Not because I am anti-gay....just so I can get another free shirt...that doesn't say GAY).

Growing...

How do you know when a kid grows? What is a growth spurt for a kid? 1 inch over 3 months? Seems like JT's pattern has changed the past couple of weeks.

JT is taking longer naps and when he isn't sleeping or playing he is always eating. Since I see JT all the time, I figured I can't tell if he grows unless he doesn't fit in his clothes. My parents think JT is going to grow during the summer...but it got me thinking...how much does he grow? 1/12 of an inch every month...1/2 inch a year?

Maybe I should bust out the pencil and start measuring.

Happy Birthday...

Busy weekend for us...in fact, we are busy the next 4-5 weekends. Friday, Aya and I went to see Knocked Up. I thought it would be funnier like the 40 Year Old Virgin. It wasn't that funny. There were a few funny moments but mostly because Aya and I went through those things during her pregnancy. I would wait for video.

Saturday we celebrated my dad's birthday.

Sunday was family day. We just went to the park, visited my sister's friend's kid, except it was JT's nap time so JT and I napped while everyone ate lunch. Weekend nap time's are the best. It is basically the highlight of my weekends. If I don't get a good nap, I am super cranky. I can wake up at 4 am on weekdays and go to work, but I can't do it on the weekends. My brain just SCREAMS it is a WEEKEND. Nap time equals happy Miles.

Paris...

Okay, I guess I am going to weigh in on the news story for the past week...Paris Hilton. I think I actually feel bad for her now that she has to go back to jail. I honestly do not know what the big deal is about Paris Hilton?

Yes, she drove with a suspended license and was it for a DUI as well? Fine. Go to jail for that. Totally agree...45 day sentence...whatever. Honestly, for A-L-L the crimes out there and for all the cases the city district attorney is working on...driving on a suspended license is a big deal? Is it just because she is Paris Hilton? Last time I checked Paris wasn't even an A-List celebrity, so why get so tough with her?

Paris then gets out of jail and goes under house arrest. Fine. Again, doesn't bother me...but now they send her back to jail? What for? If Paris is creates extra work in an over crowded jail, why not let her go under house arrest so we can keep legitimate criminals behind bars?

It just seems like this judge is trying to get more air team or he is really trying to stick it to Paris. If this leads to harsher penalities for other celebs then fine...use Paris as an example. If Lindsay Lohan gets off for crashing her car while under the influence and possession of cocaine, and Nichole Richie gets off for driving the wrong way on the freeway, then something is definately wrong.

I just think this entire story and all the media is the biggest waste of time for such a petty non-crime in my eyes. Heck, I bet if you pull over 100 mexican gardners they won't even have valid drivers licenses!

Daddy's boy...

I have read that toddlers go through different phases of who they like and who they do not like. Ever since Aya got sick, I have spent a lot more time with JT. Looks like that extra time has vaulted me in the parental polls to number 1.

I suppose it is good and bad. Aya has always been ahead in the polls so it is nice to see that JT actually likes me. It is bad because he only wants me to play with him. Everywhere he goes he wants me to go. Everywhere I go, he wants to go.

We shoot a lot of baskets every day. I don't know when kids hone and refine their athletic abilities but I have a sneaky suspicion that JT is not going be very athletic. He throws a ball well, but he can't catch. He runs very hard...by hard I mean loud and purposefully. No agility, no ninja skills. Put it to you this way, if this was basketball and JT was dribbling towards the basket, he is not going to be nimble and weave through defenders. JT is more of the plow straight forward and just run everyone over type. I have a feeling he isn't going to be good in sports.

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On a side note, my cousin Thomas gave JT a plastic sword. I have been calling JT, Captain Jack since I saw Pirates III. According to Thomas every kid needs a sword. Yeah, JT the Conqueror now runs around WHACKING us with that sword. It isn't a problem if you see it coming, but sometimes you just get caught up in other things that you don't pay attention and then WHACK!

Of course the best part is when Aya sees it coming and JT just continually whacks Aya until she just cowers on the floor all balled up trying to protect herself. HILARIOUS to see an 18 month old wail on a 32 year old!

Internet Fame...

Every day I read several Sports blogging sites. It doesn't take rocket science to know that a majority of these sports sites attracts guys. Thus, most of the sports sites have a picture of some sort of buxom babe to kick off the articles of the day.

For the most part, I glance at the picture and just look for a nice article to read. Last week sometime, there was a picture of a girl pole vaulter:

Nice, huh? If all track and field athletes looked like that I might watch on tv...or for that matter tv might actually start broadcasting events. In any, case I didn't think much of it. Next thing I know, I hear about her on more websites...then radio...then the local news...then the weekend LA Times.

All the hub-bub wasn't about her looks, but about this picture and other pictures of her going around the internet and her dad calling and shutting down the sites. Apparently the dad feared for his daughters safety because more people showed up at her high school track meet for the pole vaulting event. (She is 18 by the way).

I can understand about fearing for your child safety, but c'mon...people are actully coming out to a track and field event. That has got to count for something, right? It is also pretty amazing how one picture can snowball from being an unknown to your 5 minutes of fame!

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On a side note. When a man has an ongoing affair...that person is called a mistress. When a woman has an ongoing affair...what do you call that man? (Don't say "lucky" either). Anyone know the correct term? I was thinking gigolo, but Aya said that isn't right.

Jessica and JT

Finally, the family is better and we are all okay to venture out in public! Let me tell you, the roughest part about being a parent is when the entire family is sick.

When I was single and sick I just wanted to curl up in a ball, lay in bed and watch tv all day long. When I was married, I wanted to do the same thing except have Aya bring me something to drink and eat. When you have a kid, there is no sleeping in. One, they don't know they are sick and are suppose to rest. Two, when kids are sick they still have energy...they are just crankier. Sucks.

Well, at least we are better now and we went to visit Roger, Shirley and Jessica. Once, again I dominated and watched the kids by myself for a while. (This was the second time I watched both kids...what can I say they L-O-V-E me!)

Jessica and JT not fighting over the same riding toy:


JT and Jessica in the Octagon:


This is how I envision kid #2. Aya, JT, me...and and empty stroller pushing the imaginary child.
Heck, that was easy...I might ever have 2,3,4 imaginary kids!