But upon closer examination, I was perplexed and somewhat disturbed when I saw that there were two small dogs — not kids — inside the stroller, dressed in sporty T-shirts. This kind of pampering your pets as if they were children has become so bizarrely commonplace that I wasn’t all that shocked to read today that there are more American households with dogs than there are with children.

But when you think about it, it does seem more logical to own a dog rather than care for your own offspring. Here’s why:

1. You don’t have to pay for college: By the time your kids turn 18, they’ve bled you dry of your surplus emotions and money. And now you have to pay for them to go to some crappy university to just get wasted. But dogs? Well, they won’t even live to be 18.

2. You won’t have to spend every meal cutting crusts off sandwiches: Dogs will eat anything, including your old underwear and items you were planning to take to Goodwill. So that saves you a trip. But your kids will take pride in hating whatever it is you’re making that night.

3. Dogs will protect you from crazy people: Watching Cujo scared the shit out of me as a kid. But it also taught me a valuable lesson: Get. A. Dog. If anything, they will keep strangers off your property.

4. Kids will love you as long as you buy them crap: Your kids will like you, maybe even love you sometimes. Although you will only vaguely feel the love when you upgrade them to the XBOX 360 or a bike. With a dog, all you have to do is wake up in the morning and they fall in love with you all over again.

5. You don’t have to teach dogs how to catch a ball: Dogs come with innate skills kids just don’t have — and some never grasp no matter how much time you spend teaching them. All you want is a buddy who will eagerly catch every ball and Frisbee you toss for miles down the beach — without breaking into tears.

I would say I’m a fairly honest individual.
I speak my mind, say it how it is, and I try to stand up for what I believe.

Call it inappropriate, call it “unladylike”, call it whatever you will….I’d like to speak about this over-sized elephant in the room that keeps whispering in my ear and tempting me to rant for just a moment.

This ugly elephant is whispering about the notorious blog factor.

Almost a year later, I’ve come back to this place of reason, this place I try to put down my thoughts.  I find it hard to put into words what this last year has been like for me.  I reflect on the things I have faced and overcome this past year and I stand before myself thinking one word. Wow.  When I think of the one thing in my life this past year that has had the greatest impact, I would have to say my career. As I have mentioned in the past, I am thankful for the job I have, and honestly believe I’m lucky to be in the postion I’m in, but I feel as though something is still missing. What that is, I’m not sure. I’m ever so thankful for everything and I feel I must continue looking forward at what lies ahead for me, starting with tomorrow. Something’s on the horizon, I just dont know what it is yet.

So back to reality, I have been insanely busy with work lately with some pretty big projects that have been stressful on everyone.  I think about all the time I’ve been working I keep hoping that the light I see at the end of the tunnel is drawing near.  Each day passes I say to myself, maybe tomorrow it will come. I want to say that the future is clear for me, but in my field, it kind of feels like swimming in muddy water at times.  Either way, I will continue to remain positive and be glad I have the job I have.

My life as I know it is becoming more meaningful each day I grow older.  I believe that I’m really learning to appreciate each day that is given to me more and more. I honestly can’t believe I’m about to turn 27 years old. 10 years ago I really considered that to be old. I think I still do. I try to slow down at times as I can’t believe this is happening; life flying and passing by right before my own eyes.  I have a best friend (a.k.a. Wife) who regularly forces me to do just that; slow down and appreciate.

No really, I’ve been up to a lot. When I’m not working I try to get in some time in with the wife and still try to get some Xbox play in to keep up with the younger generation who continues to get better at gameplay while I seem to get worse.  Isn’t that how its supposed to work?

So where have all the bloggers gone? I would like to post more often about things going on, but I really feel that the Blogging aspect of the net has really been eaten up by social networking sites like facebook and twitter that allow for the quick useless blog messages about what so and so is doing in 15 minute intervals of his/her life.  Other blogs have transformed into interesting articles or events in one’s life which again get sucked up mostly in facebook world.

As for me, I’d like to continue to take a moment or two to sit back and think about the past, only so that I can reflect on all the happiness I’ve had. “Tomorrow never comes and yesterday never comes back, so live today to it’s fullest so that your yesterdays will be remembered with happiness and your tomorrows will be full of brightness and hope.” — Nick Smith

So there you have it Mr. Elephant, don’t let the door hit your large gray ass on your way out.

Ape.

Click.

It’s been a long while since I have last wrote, but lately things have indeed been ever so stessful and things piling on me worse than ever. Right now, I’m going through a long building change in perspective and simply reconsidering where I want to focus my energy and spare time (hint: writing, but not here). Also, as you know you can only bang your head on the wall for so long without something getting knocked loose that probably needs to be put back in place.

I sit back and look back at the last 6 months and a lot has been happening, taking place in my life, as well as the lives around me. Job related, I am so lucky to have the opportunity to work where I do especially in the times that we are facing. In all reality of things, life is very good right now but somedays it simply doesn’t seem as real as it is. I can only sit back and think how blessed I am to be in the situation I am in. I have lots of forward looking thoughts and it’s interesting to me in how many of them I imagine myself where I am for both the short-term and long-term. I am thankful for everything and continue looking forward at what lies ahead for me.

Getting back to focus, I have been really busy lately, especially with work. I guess thats a good thing. I just celebrated 6 months together with my wife, who has been nothing but fantastic. Its been a fun 6 months, both a learning and growing experience, and we are much stronger today than we were. My days continue to be just passing by ever so quickly, waking up to a full days work, heading to the gym afterwards, shower, dinner, and next thing I know its 8 oclock in the evening. At this point I realize that I have 3 hours left until I have to repeat the same thing again tomorrow. Its been ever so hard on me lately, just sitting back and thinking about life and how short it is. I feel like there is still so much in life that I want to do, but I think to myself that I only have 3 hours each day to do them in. I just can’t seem to find within myself how this is going to work. So basically what I have come to terms with is to continue on with each day, but aiming to understand the importance of each day and just how lucky I am to get one more day.

So I say to you as I say to myself, Life’s short, so chill out, sit back, and enjoy what you have.

Over time. Cheers.
Click.

That was indeed a crazy night, just to get your hands on an xbox. Rightly so, these were a hot item to get your hands on, until later in the Spring of 2006. I remember going home that day and playing a laggy Call of Duty 2, but it was about the funnest thing i’d ever done in terms of gaming up to that point. My xbox and I have spent many many hours, days, weeks of countless gaming. Friends, LAN parties, and solo gaming made this purchase a benefit for me as I have had continued fun and enjoyment from it.

Three years have passed and I look back at all the good times that have been spent playing First Person Shooters of Call of Duty, Halo, Gears of War to the countless matches of Madden. I can’t explain the number of movies that I have used my Xbox 360 to watch with. Its been indeed a worthwhile expense. Yesterday was a sad day for me as I had planned some major gaming this weekend with my brother coming over, and of course the release of Gears of War 2. Friday night my brother and I played quite a bit of GOW2, Rock Band 2, and Madden, all through the night. Saturday came and we playing some more Gears and Madden. I remember playing madden and noticing some weird things in the loading screens in terms of colors flickering. I thought nothing of it. This baby was built solid, and was not like any of the others that had all the problems. Most all of my friends have at least sent 1 xbox in for repairs. But not me, I had a good one. This all changed later Saturday night when I sat down to get my Gears of War on. My Xbox turned on, heard the normal start up, but no Video. I thought to myself, okay, what did I do. Did i unplug something? Did a cable come lose? I tried this making it work for a number of hours. Nothing. It was at this time, I had to say my goodbyes.

As much as I didn’t want to, I took myself over to Microsoft’s Warranty site and I went through with it. I requested a Repair as my console was out of warranty. I will soon be boxing up and sending my beloved console back to some place down in South Texas. We’ve spent a lot of good times as well as bad ones together but in my heart I know that no other Xbox 360 could replace you and what we had together.

R.I.P. – November 8, 2008

With this the Squirrels are indeed ashamed of such great loses and better yet ashamed of such tarnished acts from a Wino team. As far as the Squirrels are concerned, if a Wino and a Squirrel happens cross paths again, it will indeed be the last for the Winos.

I was invited to my father-in-laws league again this year. If last year was just a taste of what is to come, I am really stoked for this season. The league is indeed full of the finest smack I’ve come across. I’ll be waiting here ever so anxious… The Guppies (Now Mongooses) still stand at 2-0 versus the father-in-law nemesis (Fighting Winos).

Oh and just remember…It’s all about competition and bragging rights!

Hawaii Honeymoon Slideshow