U.S. Open 2023

JT and Aya went to the tennis courts with me when I was using the ball machine and JT loved watching the balls. So much so that he stood right in front the machine and got hit in the face! He also threw a John McEnroe fit when the ball machine ran out of balls and he started hitting my favorite racket against the ground. Before I knew it my racket was broken. =(

I wasn't going to let JT ruin another racket, so today I went out and bought him his very own racket. He was 100% this afternoon....missed EVERY single ball!

Here is video of JT prepping for the U.S. Open in 2023. Notice the reflexs, the hand eye coordination, the grit and determination.

I mean who else can stand there so calmy and not even notice the balls go by! What a dork.

Sadly, the tennis adventure doesn't end there. Aya jumped in to hit some balls next. I warned her to be CAREFUL where she sits. Naturally JT was wandering around the court. Can you guess where this is going. This isn't rocket science is it. Yup, Aya took a forehand swing. JT was about 10 feet away. ** THUMP ** right off the side of JT's head. Brilliant! Too bad I didn't get that on video!

When did we turn into...

Aya and I were thinking the same thing that Saori wrote in one of her entries. Aya and I were just wondering, when did our baby turn into a toddler and when did our toddler turn into such a little person?!

Granted JT isn't even talking yet but he just seems to be growing up so fast. Not only is JT growing up but Aya and I were wondering when did we turn into adults?!


Just last week we purchased additional life insurance and finalized our living trust and will. We just wanted to be covered for the future. Thanks to only non-family member "you-know-who-you-are" for being a trust executor for JT.


With that being said, Aya and I only looked into setting up the trust for JT, but for everyone out there you should see if your parents have one for your family. It isn't so much so you can get your hands on anything your parents have but to ensure that it doesn't get taken by the government or tied up in probate. Kind of sad to think of a trust for your parents, but we all saw Lion King and you know the circle of life.


When you are little you just want to grow up so fast so you can do all the things your parents tell you NOT to do. After 21, it just seems like the years fly by so quickly and you want time to go slower.

More Monterey…

A few conversations between Aya and I on our Monterey trip:

American Eagle departs from Terminal 4 via bus and it takes you to a small terminal out on the tarmac where you wait for the smaller planes.

Miles: I am about to put on my headphones, so I can’t hear anything.
Miles: Did you want to talk to me instead?
Aya: No.
Miles: (I think I hear something on the PA)
Miles: Did they just make an announcement?
Aya: I dunno. I wasn’t listening.
Miles: How can you NOT listen?
Miles: We are the ONLY people in this terminal and you aren’t doing anything.
Aya: I was reading
Miles: So you can’t read and listen at the same time?
Miles: Can you breathe and read at the same time?
Miles: Retard.
Aya: I dunno, I just wasn’t paying attention.
Miles: But I just told you I wouldn’t be able to hear anything with my headphones on.
Aya: Sorry.

It turns out the PA was advising us that our plane had a maintenance issue and that we would be leaving later than expected.

This is why I am against another kid. Not only do I have to plan the trips, carry a majority of the bags, look after JT, but I apparently need to listen for every announcement as well.


This was conversation #2.

Aya: Blah, Blah, Blah
Aya: Are you even listening to me.
Miles: Yeah I heard you. I was listening.
Aya: What are you doing?
Aya: Why you looking at your hand?
Miles: I was picking my nose when you were talking.
Miles: I lost the booger and was seeing if it was on my hand somewhere.
Miles: Check my face…is the booger on my face?
Aya: Eeww, don’t touch me!

Do you know your way to....

....Monterey!!

Aya and I headed up to Monterey this weekend for a short getaway and to go to Russ wedding. Russ and I went to elementary, jr high and high school together. It was a short 90 minute flight to Monterey for only $5 bucks a person using our mileage. I figure we can't beat that kind of deal.

Aya and I have never been to Monterey. I have to say, I was a little disappointed about Monterey. I thought it would be more coastal....like right on the coast. I dunno, it was kind of like going to big fishermans village type of city. Nice, but so happy I didn't drive all the way there to see fishermans village.

In any case, we had some time to kill. I wanted to check out the Monterey Aquarium but Aya didn't want to. I think because we didn't have JT, she didn't want to do things that we would do with JT.

Instead we saw this 'scenic drive' called 17 mile drive. I figure, "Okay, I can drive down the coast 17 miles" in my Hyundai Elantra and check it out. The trip didn't start off well as we found out it you have to PAY to go on this drive. $9 bucks to go on this 'state' road. Argh. I hate paying to just drive on a road.

It ended up being a pretty fun drive. Since I paid the 9 bucks, I said we are going to have to stop and get our money's worth! We stopped at almost every stop on the 17 mile drive...no there was not 17 stops...there was 21 stops! In order to save my faithful followers some money, here is a video of our stops along the 17 mile drive. There is also pics of the wedding and Carmel.

We definitely had a better time in Carmel. The beach looked so nice. Aya liked Carmel better because it was more 'upscale'. Talk about snooty.

A fun weekend!

Barry...

Obviously this is a late posting. I guess I was just debating about what to write or how I feel about the whole Barry Bonds issue.

Baseball has always been the sport I really enjoy. I really enjoy playing it and I really enjoy watching it. Barry Bonds has been one of my favorite players since he was with Pittsburgh. I used to think Bonds and Bonilla were great.

I loved it when Barry was traded to the Giants for two reasons. One, I hate the Giants. Two, I can see him play more because I love Dodgers. Sure, I liked Bonds when he was NOT playing against the Dodgers and I boo him when he does play the Dodgers.

With that being said, I haven't seen a lot of games with Babe Ruth or Henry Aaron. Different times, different athletes. For me, I have personally seen Barry Bonds play and I think he is the best power hitter I have ever seen.

Yes, I hear he is a jerk to his teammates. Yes, I hear he is jerk with the media. I personally don't care. In fact, I kind of like it. When he was in his prime, he could field, run and hit. I love his homerun poses. I love the fact he doesn't even move if the other team hits a homerun and he knows it. Classic.

It is a shame that he isn't well liked because when McGwire and Sosa were hitting homeruns people were loving baseball again. When Barry broke the single season homerun record people were watching. I just don't think a majority of people wanted to see Barry beat Hank Aarons homerun record.

I know there is that cloud of steriod use. Heck, innocent until proven guilty, right? Who am I kidding? I think he took steroids whether he knew it or not. I don't think the steriods helped him hit the ball any further, but I do believe steroids helped Barry play longer and helped his body recover so he can break the record. Do I feel he cheated? Perhaps. I also don't think he was or is the only one in major league baseball to take steroids or performance enchancing supplements.

All, I know is that I have enjoyed watching Barry play. When Barry was close to breaking the record I was watching as many Giant games I could...just in case. I am sure people thought Hank Aaron's record would never be broken...and now I am not sure Barry's will ever be broken. I am keeping an eye on A-Rod...that guy can play....best player in baseball right now.

Barry Bonds was the second jersey I bought after Cal Ripken's 4-5 years ago. I never wore the Bond jersey until now. I don't plan on wearing it again until he retires...and that is just because he plays for the Giants and I hate the Giants....go DODGERS!

----
On a side note, Aya has noticed my jersey collection has gotten larger. She also noticed my small jersey collection is just as expensive or more expensive than her suits!

I know have:

Cal Ripken - Orioles Cooperstown Classic
Barry Bonds - Giants
Roger Clemens - Astros
Pedro Martinez - Red Sox
Orel Hershisher - Dodgers
Tony Gwynn - Padres old school 80's jersey
Ichiro - Mariners
Ichiro - Japan WBC
Maddux - Atlanta
Albert Pujos - St Louis World Series edition
Nolan Ryan - Astros old school retro jersey

I have actually been trying to get jerseys of my favorite players, who I think will be hall of famers. I passed on Jeter because I think wearing his jersey is a little gay. I thought the same of A-Rod but I am going to get his jersey. I am just waiting to see if he remains a Yankee.

Any other suggestions for favorite players?

Friends...

This has been going on for a while now, but I have never gotten around to video taping it. Everytimg JT hears the theme song from Friends he stops what he is doing and starts to dance. Once the song is over, he goes back to doing whatever he was doing.




JT isn't quite ready for the Soul Train dance line, but I taught him everything I know!

21 Months...

I almost forgot the usual "Monthly Annoucement" of JT being 21 months old!

While we were happy JT wasn't a TV watcher when he was younger (like he is sooo old now), he has turned into quite the afternoon TV vegatator lately. JT was never one for watching Baby Einstein videos but he L-O-V-E-S his ELMO! Everyday after Grandma's, if JT is good, we go home and watch ONE episode of ELMO.

During this one episode, JT climbs up into the chair and just vegs out. Aya and I noticed that if ELMO goes off the screen JT gets upsets. Thus, this favorite ELMO dvds are the ones where ELMO gets a lot of screen time.

Video Post...

My mom is in Hawaii for the next week, so that means I need to leave work at 1:00 pm so I can watch JT in the afternoon's when my dad goes to work.

So far so good. JT and I just have extended play time. The first day we walked around the block at my parents house...which took 90 minutes. We looked at the motorcycles and buses. Then we went to the ice skating rink and watched kids free skate. I noticed that there aren't a lot of fat people that skate.

The second day we ran around the yard, came home and went to the tot lot, went for a walk and then decided to use the treadmill:




Roger and Shirley post a lot of video of Jessica. Lately she has been saying more words. Of course JT is still not talking but he does have his own 'sound effect' language. Here is a sampling:

Business Casual...

I had my usual work attire on today....orange croc slippers, jeans and my new t-shirt:

Everyone in the office loved my shirt. Heck, not even just in the office but in our building as I had two reasonably cute girls talk to me about my shirt and one old lady. Not too shabby. I wonder if I should wear my "I love Jenna Jameson" t-shirt to work?

Psychic

How many of you have ever gone to a psychic? Anyone out there believe in these things? Do you read your horoscope everyday?

I admit it, if I have a newspaper I will read my horoscope. I won't go looking online or buy a paper just for my horoscope but if the paper is around I do read it. I think I wrote about how I went to a tea leaf reader at the company xmas party last year.

Aya's mom gets psychic readings once a year or so. She also has this numerology book that comes out every year. She tells Aya and I about the year we are going to have. It is very cyclical. For example, the book may say I will have 3-4 good years and then a very down year of my life. Very general.

Well, Aya's mom had her psychic reading recently. Keep in mind Aya and I have never met this lady. She goes and tells her mom that I will have good fortune and even better fortune as I get older. More so than Aya. Basically my life gets better as I age. Okay, I am down with that. In fact, it is rather true.

The psychic goes on to say that I should try to have as many children as possible because the more children I have, the happier I will be later in life. My children will bring me joy. Ugh. This on the heals of 2 weeks of arguing with Aya about to have or not to have a second child.

** Sidebar: For those of you out there who see Aya, go ahead and ask her this question, "Are you going to have a second kid?"

The psychic said that we will also buy a house in the next year or so. Here is the big kicker, the psychic asked my mother inlaw if Aya and I had a short dating period and married fairly early. The reason being, the psychic said Aya and I knew each other in a past life!

WHOA! A Joey Lawrence....WHOA! Believeing in a psychic is one thing...believing in having past lives is something completely seperate! Truth is, on my first 'official' date with Aya...I told her I was going to marry her. I dunno why I said it. Believe me it wasn't to try to sleep with her because what chick wants to hear a guy propose on the first date...weird. Not only did I say I was going to marry her...but I actually really meant it and I had no idea why.

Yes, it could be a co-inky dink. Odd to say the very least. But both this psychic and the tea leaf reader said very similiar things.

Oh, when the psychic said I would be fortunate as I get older. The psychic said it was because I have someone looking after me. The tea leaf reader said the same exact thing.

Okay, most of it was good news. There was a few bad news points, but I would rather keep that to myself. I am thinking of hiring this psychic for myself to hear her review of Aya and I for myself and not second hand.

So what do you think? Totally bogus? Maybe true? Do you believe??

Viva Las Vegas...Part II

Friday night was the Celine Dion concert at Ceasar's Palace. We all went to Ceasar's and then JT and I walked back from Ceasar's to the Monte Carlo. Vegas really isn't a "baby friendly" city. Too many stairs, too many escalators...which is okay...but not when you have a stroller


In any case, JT and I made it back to the room safe and sound. We had a jacuzzi tub in the room. I have always liked being in jacuzzi's until I saw a dateline about fecal matter in the tub jacuzzi's. Ever since then I was grossed out...but I figured JT was in the tub and not me so it would be okay.

I started up the tub and fired up the jacuzzi. Before we started the bath, I had called housekeeping for an extra towel and blanket. Of course they come when I was giving JT a bath so I left JT alone in the tub while I ran to get the door.

When I got back, JT was a-ok and it was business as usual. Then I saw a little flake. Then another flake. And then another. Huh. What is that? Is that fecal matter from the jacuzzi? I didn't see it before when I started it up.

I stopped the jacuzzi and let the water settle...then it dawned on me. JT took a little crap in the tub and the jacuzzi mish-mashed his crap into poopie flakes! Eeewww. Thus, that is at least one way fecal matter gets into the tub.

I took JT out, washed down the tub and put JT to sleep. When I thought JT was sleeping, I took a shower. As I was showering, I thought I heard the door open a little...so I peaked out and there was JT awake and wondering around. I told him to go back to sleep and continued my shower.

As I was showering I swore I heard the pitter patter of his feet on the bathroom tile. Everytime I peaked out I didn't see anything. Strange...but okay...maybe JT is running around the room. HEY! I hope he isn't leaving the room! I got out of the tub and went to grab my clothes...but there were GONE! Who stole my clothes??

I run out into the bedroom nekkid and I see JT running around with my shorts. My underwear is under the blanket. My shirt is tucked under the pillow and my slippers are under the nightstand! Who teaches this kid how to sneak into the bathroom, steal my clothes and then hide them?

That in a nutshell is what it is like taking a kid to Vegas!

Viva Las Vegas...Part 1

My parents, JT, Aya and I headed to Las Vegas for a 3 day weekend. My mom wanted to see Celine Dion before she leaves Vegas at the end of the year so I bought my mom, dad and Aya tickets to the concert. I was rather surprised that my Dad and Aya wanted to see Celine Dion.

I debated what would be worse, a 5-6 hour drive in the car with JT or a 1 hr flight with JT. I opted for the flight and JT did rather well on the short flight. Still very squirmy and restless but at least no crying this time.

JT was a natural:



I didn't have to say anything and JT knew which button to press:


I picked two restaurants, B & B - Mario Batali restaurant and Delmonico's Emril restaurant.

Sadly, I did not enjoy Mario's place at all. Unless you are a total foodie, I would not recommend it. I mean how many times do people eat squab and rabbit? I did not understand half the menu. True, I am a picky eater but when I eat out my tastes do expand and Aya did not know half the menu either.

I ate homemade orchiette. What the heck is orchiette? It is ear shaped pasta. Instead of me looking stupid and asking, why couldn't they just say ear shaped pasta? The food was so-so but I think I disliked it so much that I don't want to go to Mario's new LA place Osteria.

JT did not do well at dinner either. He wouldn't sit still and we had to rotate watching JT outside the restaurant. I think because of that my parents did not go out to dinner to Delmonico's with us. That place remains of our favorite places to eat. Mainly a steakhouse, but from appetizer to entree to dessert...I love it all!

More to come....

Fun with D-A-D

While Aya is travelling it is just the fella's at home having fun...or really JT taking bad pictures just like his mommy.

JT doing his buck teeth:

JT doing his impression of Aya and her small mouth.

JT doing his open fish mouth impression.

JT pretending to be shy:

Last but not least...the old standby pose...grabbing my ear:

What happens when you don't listen...

Aya is out of town the next few days so that means it is JT picture time. Aya likes to see pictures of JT on her blackberry when she travels.

I went to Grandma's to pick up JT and he was being hard headed about going home. JTs lawnmower and car where on the table and JT was mad and wanted to pull the toys down. I told JT not to pull on the lawnmower and car because it was going to fall on him...but did he listen?
Obviously he did NOT! As you can see his right eye is a little puffy, swollen and red. Sure enough the toys fell off the table and the lawn mover handle *bonked* him right in the eye.

I suppose I could have gone and grabbed the toy, but I figured this is how you learn to listen. After JT got bonked he was more than willing to listen and go home.

My body...

Good thing I wrote about not looking at my body on a regular basis because this week I paid more attention to my body.

I went to play basketball on Wedneday and after one of the games I noticed my knee was sore and my ankle was bothering. I figured I would run it off and played 2-3 more games. The pain just got worse, so I actually ended up leaving the gym a little early. Got home showered, watched tv and went the sleep.

I woke up Thursday and my knee was sore so I looked at it...not swollen...I must be okay, so I just got dressed and left for work. All day at work my leg was bothering me. My ankle hurt, so I was limping and I assumed that is why my knee hurt.

I got home, took off my shoe and this is my ankle:

YIKES! How did that happen? Ever since I came back from Hawaii, I wear slippers to work 90% of the time, but today no slippers so I didn't notice.

Sadly, work was busy and I was working the weekend so I figured I would be off my foot and it would get better. I ended up playing tennis on Saturday and I don't think it helped. I called my sister to see if she could look at it but she couldn't look at it until Sunday.

On Sunday, Dawn looked at my ankle and knee. I told Dawn wear it hurt and after about a minute she started tugging on my leg and 'pop' my knee went back into place. Apparently my knee had been twisted of the joint since Wednesday. Nothing beats free medical care!

See, good thing I checked out my own body!