This Just In

Mixed Bag...

2011-01-13T22:38:00.000-08:00

First off, happy New Year to everyone, this brings me to my first topic of today’s post:

How long from New Years Day is it acceptable to wish someone a happy new year? Personally, I go one week then I switch it to "How was your New Years?"

Does it matter also if you have a personal or professional relationship with that person? Meaning if I know the person, does that extend the time of an acceptable happy New Year greeting? I got a happy New Year from a random person at the bank today that I let go in front of me and it took me off guard. I started thinking if I saw a good friend or a family member in the same situation would have I reacted in the same way? Don’t get me wrong I’m all for cheer and well wishes but maybe someone should set some etiquette to this situation.

----------

I received a call from my former employer, Long Beach Unified School District, telling me good news that because of furlough days agreed on by the unions, I could have my job back. Thing is I’m still torn if I truly want to go back in my heart of hearts. No matter though, I did agree to start back full time next week. In these times we can’t be picky. A steady paycheck and medical benefits are not to me fussed over.

----------

I was sitting in the first base dugout at work today listening to some of the players talk about how their winter break is going and how sad they are that it’s coming to an end. Their classes start in about a week and a half for most of them. I had this complete exhale and feeling of bliss as I realized I am done with school forever unless someone pays me to go get my masters.

----------

I saw “True Grit” last week… wasn't very gritty. I liked it but, it wasn't what I was expecting. Something was a bit off and I can’t explain what it was. Just thought for what it’s worth it was a good film but it lacked something to make it a great film.

----------

How many more “CSI”/ “NCIS” shows can we fit on TV without it blowing up? Here’s the current rundown:

CSI: Crime Scene Investigators (original show set in Vegas)

CSI: New York

CSI: Miami

NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service

NCIS: Los Angeles

I’m all in for a good cop show but having 5 shows almost identical to each other in theme seems about ridiculous…and here’s another thing, these shows are popular according to viewer ratings but can you think of someone that you know who watches one of these shows?
----------
I'm disappointed in myself that I only posted 8 times in 2010.

Missing The Game...

2010-11-17T23:42:00.000-08:00

The old game waits under the white, deeper then the frozen grass, down below the frost line, it waits to return...

- Donald Hall.

I, for one reason or the other this off season, am missing baseball like no other. I am looking forward to spring. I am looking forward to seeing my boys run onto the grass, to redeem last season, and just maybe, get back into the post season.

Baseball also makes me think of my dad. We had such a bond through this game. If not talking about it like two armchair managers, we would play catch, or we would debate (argue) about some play, player, situation, trade, release and everything else about the game. Sometimes we wouldn't talk at all while watching the game but just sit in silence for almost 3 hours, the connection just the same. When I sit and watch a game it's mostly now in silence, it feels like he is sitting there with me. When the game is being played I feel closer to him then any other time...

...hurry up spring.

Under Construction...

2010-11-02T19:52:00.000-07:00

I'm pulling stuff (pictures mainly) together and will hopefully launch "Blair Field Project" in a few weeks. In the mean time, if you think of anything better for a title, stories that involve you (must also involve baseball in some way) send them to me and I will post them here for all to see.

Email your stories to : kory.burroughs@gmail.com under the subject "baseball story"

cant wait to hear from you!

Mixed Bag

2010-10-25T22:34:00.000-07:00

- Its been awhile, not by design, but just that fact that there has been nothing that I wanted to really write about that everyone didn't know about already. There has been a ton going on and I wouldn't even know where to begin to play catch up.

..... come to think of it, does anyone even read this anymore?

I guess that would be a great place to start.

- I was thinking about revamping the blog. A complete change in the look and subject. I am thinking about starting a Blair Field blog. Almost everyday that I go to work there is something that is talked about, stories or jokes told, or something happens that I would like to share. There has been a lot of improvements to the field since Long Beach State took the stadium over, much of which I am proud to say that I helped build. The blog would be a place where all of these topics would be represented. I don't know if its a great idea or if people would even enjoy me sharing it. Just a thought in the works.

- Jen and I can't wait to move out of our apartment. We have just over 4 months left on our lease. We would like to either find a 2 bedroom apartment back at our old place or, if I get a good enough paying job in those 4 months, rent a house somewhere close. We are done with the college life that surrounds us almost 24 hours a day. If anyone wants a game of Beerpong I can hook you up with one of about 10 to 15 being played at any given time within the complex.

- Which brings me to the job search. I'm shifting gears. I was laid off in July with the school district and in a way its kind of a blessing for me the way I see it. I'm no longer in my comfort zone and it is forcing me to find something else to do. I want to be able to provide for my future family and being a security officer at a school district won't do it... nor will being a college baseball field maintenance worker.

- Thats all for now.

What The Hell is Going On?

2010-08-16T00:19:00.000-07:00

I just got home, fired up the TV to watch a bit of MLB Network when this guy right outside my patio starts talking on the phone. I believe he is from the Middle East because he was not speaking Spanish. About 3 minutes into his conversation he gets all fired up and starts talking louder. I allow this to continue for about 3 or 4 more minutes and then something snapped in me. I walked to my door, went outside to simply ask him to either pipe down or move the conversation somewhere else. He sees me and the following interaction ensues:

Him: "What are you looking at, Friend?"

Me: "I was just going to ask you if you could go somewhere, other then right outside my window, and talk on the phone."

Him: "This is a free country! I can talk where I want!"

Me: assuming a shocked look on my face " Are you really going to go there with me because you don't want to."

Him: Looking at me.

Me: Looking at him.

Him: Turns and walks away.

Now I hope I just didn't start something long term, my lease doesn't end until February.

Another Day at The Office...

2010-08-04T23:26:00.001-07:00

God I love my job.

The Black Hobbit

2010-04-28T18:09:00.000-07:00

We have this guy that lives next to us. I call him "The Black Hobbit." If you can imagine a black dude that lives up to any and every stereotype that comes with a black guy despite the fact that he's 5'4" and 130 soaking wet.

Do-rag...check.
Baseball cap to the side...check.
Size XXXXL t-shirt...check.
Size XXXXL basketball shorts...check.
Shoes that are not only spotless but coordinate to the color of the outfit...check.
T-Mobile "Sidekick" phone where he tends to talk to his "Bitch" (yes I have heard him tell someone on the phone he needs to call her)...check.
Swisher Sweet cigars...check.
"50 Cent" CD playing at almost all times of the day...check.

I wish I could get you a picture, and myself some ear plugs....G-UNIT!!

Year One...

2010-04-04T22:28:00.000-07:00

I often wake up in the middle of the night and am surprised that she hasn't caught on to me yet. What did I do to deserve such a woman? She puts up with all my shit laying around all over the place, all my sports talk, all my procrastination of just about everything, yet each morning like clockwork, she is there. I truly believe she is the single best thing that could have happened to me. I try to bury the thoughts of what I would have been like had we not met, had we not survived our long distance relationship...twice, and if we just not had the time we had to get it right.

One year ago today we married. This year has beat the hell out of both of us, yet we are still able to love and laugh every opportunity that we have. I never knew what it was really like to love someone, to really give up and let that person take you for all you have to offer...

I am the lucky guy today.

Love you, Beautiful.

Come Back...

2010-03-13T09:29:00.000-08:00

I'll be with you shortly. I have stuff coming up that I would love to share with all of you, but just can't seem to find the time to sit down and write it all out. Here is a little preview though...

graduating in 10 weeks
spread some of dads ashes
one year wedding anniversary
new job?

2009, Welcome. Now "F" Off!

2009-12-21T09:57:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays everyone! With Christmas and New Years still to come I would like to do a recap of my top 10 stories, 2009 edition.

1. April 4, 2009: My wedding to my beautiful bride. Adding one more to the clan was very special. The weather was beautiful, seeing family and friends all together, and being able to share it with them was amazing. Words could never describe the feelings that I felt on this special day and I hope to never top it...of course if having children tops this, then I can't wait for that.

2. November 9, 2009: The death of my father. From the number 1 spot, which is the happiest, to the number 2 spot, where we all hit rock bottom, this was not only the sadist day of the year, but of my life. I already think about him everyday and wish he was here. Although we didn't talk about much in the latter days we still had the ability to see one another or talk about what the Angels were doing.

I sometimes find myself standing in the garage looking at the tools hanging from the pegboard on the wall or staring at the various knick-knacks collected by him over the last 30 years. Some items triggering memories of when I was a child watching him work on some home improvement task or changing the oil in the car. I feel closer to him when I am in that garage then anywhere else. The funny thing about this is I feel terrible that my father is gone but in the same breath I can say I'm glad that he is gone and no longer in the pain and discomfort he was in. Love you, Dad.

3. April 6-20, 2009: Honeymoon in England, Scotland, and Ireland. This was an awesome trip. One that I will for without a doubt never want to forget and, if given the chance, would do all over in the same fashion.

Armed with only backpacks, passports, and Britrail passes we went off for 2 weeks of unplanned, "let the wind take us where it may", British exploration. I loved it and would love to do it again.

4. May 16, 2009: John and Nicole married! This was a great weekend. Jen and I just 2 weeks back from Britain jump on another plane bound for the great frontier, no not Alaska, South Dakota. Hanging out with good friends is always a plus when it comes to great memories and this one will sure not be soon forgotten. Deadwood, Mount Rushmore, and packing into the cabin for the weekend. The countryside was beautiful and the wedding breathtaking.

5. April 11 (?), 2009: Adam attacks the Japs (again) and the 7th Fleet. My longtime friend told us way back when he wanted to practice law and serve his country. Since the guy couldn't hit a barn door with a shotgun from 20 feet, I thought his second adventure was out of the picture until he joined the U.S. Navy. He graduated law school and already had a spot to fill in the JAG Corps. He now lives somewhere in Japan (his exact whereabouts are top secret). I don't get to talk to him that much but there is always facebook.

6. September 2, 2009: New site. Due to the "leaders'" mismanagement of the budget (I refuse to say otherwise), the Long Beach Unified School District saw fit to pluck me from my school of 3 years where I had established relationships, friendships, and a sense of family among the staff, the students, and members of the surrounding neighborhood and put me at a site where at least in a professional manner gave me the opportunity to see what I am made of. Although I miss my friends terribly (Joe's anyone? Curly's??), I am fortunate to feel like I am now making a difference in the kids live's and not someone who stares out into a parking lot at the front gate.

7. November 25, 2009: Nissan Xterra. Jen and I bought our first major purchase together. Looking into the future and knowing we wanted children we decided on a 2009 Nissan Xterra. It is niiiiiiiiice. We bought it through Carmax and realized that buying a car with 9,200 miles is pretty much like buying it brand new, without the bullshit and wondering for the next month if you got taken to the cleaners. I can't wait for our first road trip or excursion...it's got 4 wheel drive of course!

8. December 18, 2009: Operation "Jeepers Creepers" ends. I finally finished. The Jeep is back to its original form. Actually, I wouldn't say that....it's better. Painted to its original stone white by Earl Scheib a few weeks ago and a few months before that it received a 2" suspension lift. But, none the less, it is done. On to the next project...

9. December 22, 2009: Surgery on my neck. Many probably don't know, and I'll spare you the details, but I have a cyst that rests on my upper back/lower neck. I'm finally having it removed tomorrow...something I should have done at least a year ago. It doesn't look gross or anything except for the fact it raises my skin. My only concern is how close it is to my spine, and how many baby aliens they pull out.

10. December 21-31, 2009: Ten days until this year is gone...forever.

Love You Dad.

2009-11-10T00:43:00.000-08:00

On November 9, 2009 my father Phillip Henry Burroughs passed away at 8:00 pm, surrounded by his family. We are all sad for our loss but happy, proud, fortunate, and blessed to know and love a man such as him.

I will always love him and keep a special place in my heart open for him to fill.

Sorry...

2009-10-29T23:57:00.000-07:00

But I'm going to stop blogging for awhile. Dads not doing too well and nether is anyone else. I have to be with my family, and figure out how to deal with what is going to happen...Thanks everyone for reading when I did post.

I'll be back though.

Bill Brasky???

2009-09-28T23:09:00.000-07:00

I was shopping for a costume when I came across this guy, that is on the cover of a costume in a bag, who looks very similar to my friend Mike "Bill Brasky" Burns...and what an appropriate costume for a Brasky sighting...

UPDATE...Dad

2009-09-15T21:08:00.000-07:00

We had a setback the last few weeks. A body scan found a mass located in the pelvis region that connects with the spine. This put the pain on again and when the MRI report came back there were so many things wrong that it filled 2 pages. He began to fall because the mass was pressing on the sciatic nerve which weakened his right leg to the point that even with the walker he could barely get around on his own. I was soon picking him up off the ground at least once or twice a day.

On Labor Day night I looked at my mother and she looked back at me and we realized that we couldn't do this anymore. We took him to the hospital that night and admitted him. He was in there for a week and just today was moved to a nursing home where he can get treatment.

New Job (location)...

2009-09-15T18:05:00.000-07:00

I'm in my second week at my new location the district put me at for the foreseeable future, so far so good. The G.O.C. (Guidance Opportunity Classes) is a two room campus where students who have committed offences (choking out a teacher, selling drugs, bringing a weapon to campus) and have been deamed unsafe at the time to be on a regular campus untill they have showed they are able to go back to the regular population. Basicly I'm running a small holding facility. Right now I read the L.A. Times alot. The students, 9 boys, 3 girls, haven't figured me out yet...just the way I like it.

So...Hot. Must...Swim...

2009-08-25T16:55:00.000-07:00

I guess everyone needs a dip in the Burroughs' pool every once in a while.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

2009-08-09T21:53:00.000-07:00

66 big ones.

45 Years!

2009-08-08T21:39:00.000-07:00

Here is to the best set of parents a guy could ever ask for. You are an inspiration to Jenn and I, and I hope we are as fortunate enough in life as you two are. We love you both very much.

UPDATE: Sister is Moving Home...awesome.

2009-08-05T00:59:00.000-07:00

We got the call a few days ago. My sister's ex is moving out of their apartment in (beautiful) Hemet on the 15th of August and my sister will be back into the Burroughs' Manor as soon as she can. She has been here for the past month and a half or so and I can’t begin to tell you how difficult life is with her here. Don’t get me wrong, I love my sister and I wish her the best, but she brings something to the table that I can’t explain. She has cerebral palsy, O.C.D. (obsessive compulsive disorder), and the demeanor of a teenager in some aspects. I see the effects this has mainly on my Mom. She now has to deal with Dad and all that comes with a special needs 33/16 year old. It is just unnecessary emotions and stress that is already there and adds on top of the pressure of a family that is dealing with a father that is fighting cancer. When she is here you can literally feel the blood-pressure, and stress level climb...I guess the good thing coming out of this is that it is really forcing Jen and I to save so we can buy a home.

I think it is time to step up the game and help Mom out with Dad more.

Happy Birthday, Dad.

2009-07-20T16:17:00.000-07:00

71 big ones.

The 2 Year Ex and A Pack of Ciggys.

2009-07-18T08:45:00.000-07:00

My sister has been home for about 2 weeks now. My lovely wife and I, my parents, and my sister all living under 1,700 square feet, not to mention the bedrooms are all on one side of the house so this makes for interesting living sometimes...I digress. My Extra-Special Ladyfriend, my mom, and sister all went out to breakfast one morning and while doing what women do, my mother and wife discovered that my sister and her long time boyfriend had "...broken up 2 years ago."....!!!???

Uh? You still live with the guy? "Yes."
Uh? You still sleep in the same bed? "Yes."
Uh? Do you guys still...ya know? "No. Were just good friends. Besides he has another girlfriend."

....!!!!????

I could only imagine my poor mothers heart palpitating out of control and her reaching for her nitro pills to stop the sharp pains in her chest and uncontrollable sweating.

Apparently the new girlfriend wants to invite my sister out with her and my sisters ex to "...get to know each other so that nothing is weird." Yeeeahhh. My wife then suggested to me that maybe my sister is into kinky shit, which made me throw up.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

In another story related to my sister, I came home to hear my mother telling my sister, "Well, that is your problem. I will not give you money, drive you to go get them, or support this in anyway. If you want them you need to find a way to get them."

My wife being addicted to the show "Intervention", I thought my sister was on crack or something and was about to blow a gasket. "What the hell is going on?" I asked.
"She wants to go get cigarette's! She smokes, I guess." my mother's reply.
"Uh...what?" I said, intelligently, reaching for my nitro pills.
That's it. I quit.

--Go Halos.

2009-06-09T20:11:00.000-07:00

I went to Lake Havasu this past weekend with the wife and saw the in-laws. We stayed just off the lake and this photo is taken from our campsite at sunset with my cell phone camera which is 2 mega pix...I invite you click on the photo and imagine what it was like being there in person.

Who...? What The...?? Why...???

2009-06-09T20:04:00.000-07:00

...as my friend Mike Carroll put it best "I was thinking about getting tickets to the Laker game but I decided to buy a small island instead."

Yes, that says $44,925.00 for EACH ticket.

Sweet Jesus...

2009-06-09T19:49:00.001-07:00

Ok, before all the other diabetics turn on me for even attempting this, let me tell you, take your greatest wet dream you ever had and it still wouldn't hold a candle to these. You are looking at Caramel Apple Nachos from Wingnuts in Costa Mesa. Let me give you the discription right off the menu..."Crispy cinnamon tortilla chips and fire-roasted Fuji apple wedges topped with vanilla ice cream and drizzeled with caramel topping."

...Do I need to say anything more?

Memorial Day 2009

2009-05-25T07:48:00.000-07:00

Although I have never been in the Armed Forces and sometimes I don't always agree with what they do, I have always had respect for a person that put on a uniform to fight for the United States of America. Today is Memorial Day, a day that we should stop and reflect somewhere between the burgers and dogs about the true meaning of why we have this special day. Everyone will do different things in their own way to show thanks to our men and women who have made that ultimate sacrifice. Today there are parades and ceremonies, and grave side salutes, as for me I think I will just sit for awhile in quiet and think about what it is to be an American, and the men and women that this day is for.

Long Time, ehh?

2009-05-21T21:18:00.000-07:00

Long time no see. It has been awhile. I had a lot going on in my life but nothing I wanted to put down on the web...I amend that last statement. I have a few things. Let’s get going...

Married, Day 47: I'm almost comfortable with the ring on my finger, I like it, it makes me feel like I'm worth more, like I have some reason to be here on this Earth. Not that I didn't before but now there is someone that relies on me to be there. I'm the head of my own family, all be it a small one, but none the less, my family.

UPDATE: My dad is in the hospital again. The last few weeks have been tough for the guy. The chemo is starting to finally kick in and as a result his white blood cell (the ones that fight infection) count is very low. He is not eating that much but seems to be out of pain for the most part. Everyone that comes in contact must wash their hands before coming in the house, and just generally stay clear of the guy. He went into the hospital because he was low in the blood department too. Apparently this chemo somehow helps somewhere, but it is now affecting the bone marrow, and the bone marrow is what makes blood. He went in Tuesday for two bags of the red stuff and ended up getting just under four over two days. Mom reports back that he is looking a lot better just after the blood went in.

John Kumpart gets married!!: We all met in South Dakota to witness the marriage of two of the greatest people I know. We did Deadwood, Rushmore, and danced the night away. Good times, King!
* Side note: Don't anyone ever ask me to do a Best Man speech ever again...fucking horrible. I've known the guy for 16 years and I spoke about him like I sold a used car to his uncle 7 years ago. Sorry, man. I love you.

I'm having a garage sale this weekend. Should be good times. If you want to sell something, get your stuff and bring it. Shop opens at 8am Saturday.

Why We're Better Together.

2009-03-30T20:52:00.000-07:00

I was thinking about writing out a great heartfelt post about why I love the woman I'm about to marry in 4 days, filled with emotion, love, and happiness...I can't. I will become an idiot in front of the computer in need of massive amounts of kleenex. In order to avoid this I have put together a picture montage of the last few years of us. Enjoy. Laugh. Save them to your desktop. This is us, Jen and Kory.

This is the woman I love, and why. (see, got a little choked up right there.)

...and that's why I love you, Beautiful. Thank you for everything that you do for me. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you.

Anyone Else Cold?

2009-03-19T22:29:00.001-07:00

...15 days, kids.

Yeeeahhh...

2009-03-15T21:43:00.000-07:00

Some say that if you have bad luck then its better then not having any luck at all...I would like to kick those people in the teeth. My boss called me into her office on Friday afternoon and told me that "...although you will still be employed by the school district, you will just not be at this campus next year, due to budget cuts."

When it rains it pours. So now I have to do one of two things, really concentrate on getting my application into the Los Angeles County Probation Department, or wait and see where the hell I will be working next year. Chances are that I will loose my awesome "3 months on, 1 month off" gig if I remain with the district and have to go back to a traditional summers off schedule, with a possibility of going to a school where I will have to completely rebuild the discipline department from the ground up.

The good news of course is that I still have a job no matter what. Maybe I'm complaining too much. I just don't want to be the new guy again.

Update:

2009-03-12T21:13:00.000-07:00

Pops when into the hospital. His immune system has apparently gone to shit and he came down with pneumonia. The good thing is that they caught it early, so once that clears up he will be able to come home.

Speaking of home...

I'm getting married in 23 days. 3 WEEKS! I will be on a plane for Europe in 25 days and be gone for two weeks. My new bride and I will not be moving into a new house or to our old apartment that we have grown to (somewhat) love, we are in fact moving back into my parents house.

With dad out of commission, and only my 65 year old mother there to take care of him, we thought for the meantime it would be good for everyone if we were there to have some in house support. There is a pool to take care of, some gardening, cleaning and cooking, help with the everyday things, plus we can save a little cash in the bank.

Living Strong...

2009-03-08T12:02:00.000-07:00

Most of you know my father, Phil. About 4 or 5 months ago the 70 year old was at the gym doing bench-presses when he hurt his chest. He was in a lot of pain and then he crushed a disk in his spine compensating for the chest pain. Electing to have surgery to reconstruct the disk he went under the knife. The disk was repaired successfully, but while the doctor was constructing the disk, he took a bit of my dad’s bone marrow to do a biopsy on it where to everyone's surprise it came back positive for cancer.

Multiple Myeloma is the name of the beast, and it is taking my father from me. I have watched over the last 4 months my dad become ill, lose weight, and I believe that he has become addicted to the massive amounts of pain killers he has to take just to get through the day. Is only true blissful pain free time is when he is asleep in which he does almost 20 plus hours per day now.

When we talk he has this way about him that if he died today he would miss us all but he knows that it would end the pain he is in. It’s weird, he says that he is not going anywhere for a long time because he needs to see me get married, get to know his new daughter in law, and play with his grandchildren, he says these things but I can see it in his eyes that he is truly indifferent...I don't blame him.

We are currently looking into a few places for treatment, those being U.S.C. and U.C.L.A. Medical Centers and the Mayo Clinic. If anyone has heard of another center please let me know.

I wanted to write this out for a few reasons; one is because I just need to let everyone know what is going on. The second is to help myself. I know I have not been myself lately and for that I truly apologize. For some reason I still keep my feelings all bottled up inside and let them run their course in me. It is not easy to sit back and watch my dad in pain to the point that he wishes he was not here with us anymore, but maybe if I write these things out and share them it will ease my pain somewhat…I do feel better already just typing out these few paragraphs.

The third reason is I wanted to bring the struggle of fighting this disease to my friends, not necessarily shoving it to you, but making you aware of it. Cancer has become personal to me. I no longer can sit on the sideline and tell myself that it is “their” problem anymore. My dad has cancer. If you would like to join the fight here is a place to start, (Livestrong) it only cost $10, give them out to your friends and you will not only help my dad but the millions of others that have cancer as well.

Weekend Gone Wild

2009-02-16T17:39:00.000-08:00

Saturday: We were all set to go to Big Bear for the day and hang out with some friends, do a little playing in the snow, some cocktails at Snow Valley, and watch people wipe out on the slopes. It was canceled, but that was ok. Jenn and I took advantage of the open day and drove up to her brothers to spend the evening with her family, see their new house and, not to mention, celebrate his wife’s birthday…awesome Mexican food place. When I got home I put the Focus up for sale on Craigslist too.

Sunday: We were invited to take a trip down Mexico way with some friends to a little village by the sea called Puerto Nuevo (about an hour or so south of Tijuana) where the village money maker is their right out of the water lobster. Holy mother of god…I have never had a dinner like this before in my life. Fresh lobster tails for $19.99 each. We ordered 5, and along with the big bowl of rice and beans, fresh salsa, tortillas, and the 6 beers the total bill came to $116.00! You can’t beat that anywhere in the states, I dare you to try.

I got home and checked the email only to discover that I had three contacts about the Focus. I called the first guy only to find out that he had just bought a car and was driving home in it. What kind of guy emails someone about buying a car at 2pm and is driving home in a completely different one buy 7pm? He shopped for a car, found mine, emailed me about it, decided I was taking too long to get back to him, shopped for another car, talked to that guy, got the money, met him, bought the car, did the paper work, and was driving home in 5 hours? Guess I need to speed things up a bit.

Good news is I got a hold of the guy in the second email. He was from Fresno and just left the greater L.A. area to go back home. We made a deal to meet half way on Monday to do some business.

Monday: I had the day off for Presidents day A.K.A “Deal Day”. Jenn gets into the Focus; I get into the Jeep and hit the road for Bakersfield and then we find out The Grapevine is closed. The guy who is buying the car gives me a call and we decide to meet in Tehachapi instead. As we are leaving Long Beach it is pouring rain and it continued up until we got to Tehachapi, then it started to sleet and snow. I met Kevin in a Home Depot parking lot, where all was good, he wanted to buy the car and I wanted to sell it to him. We drove over to the local Tehachapi smog shop (lovely this time of year) and made good on the deal. $2,350 cash…American. I know, I know, I said I was selling for $3,000 but I really needed to unload the car and this was the first guy that said “I have the cash.”

Driving home, we hit every road condition you could think of…rain, sleet, snow, and then hail, then crazily enough, dry road after passing the Getty. Here is one picture I took:

So, here is to a great but non-restful weekend. I have a 4 day week to look forward to before this next one.

Mo' Money!?

2009-02-14T22:39:00.000-08:00

Let everyone know, "The Silver Bullet" is on sale. 2000 Ford Focus ZX3 Kona Edition, 42k miles. $3,000. I posted an ad on Craigslist if you want to look into it a little more. I need the cash to help out in the savings department.

T-Minus...

2009-02-08T16:53:00.001-08:00

54 days...

Survey Says!!

2009-01-28T20:17:00.000-08:00

This Just In has never done a survey. I’m going to change that…because I can. As were all aware of ‘Project Jeepers Creepers’ is coming to a close. After four months of being in the garage taking parts off, fixing the ones I could, and putting new parts on, she is rolling again. I have actually been driving her to work for the last few days even with the hood, grill, and fender primer color black...so here is the survey:
I went to Earl Scheib to get an estimate, $326 to paint the hood, grill, and fender “stone white” again to match what is on there now…

Or I can get the Jeep completely redone in the color I really wanted in the first place, gunmetal gray…

Of course this color will cost $490, without painting the inside. If you’re wondering what I will be doing with that, I will be gutting the inside, carpet and everything, and using a roll on bed liner to seal the tub and make it easy clean up ready, reinstalling just the seats and middle console.
Your answer to what I should do…

UPDATE: Operation Jeepers Creepers

2009-01-20T15:55:00.000-08:00

Worked on the Jeep this past Martin Luther King Jr. weekend...and it was good.

I attached the fender flair, side markers, support bars that come from the fire wall to the grill, did an oil change, and added new coolant to the system just before starting the girl up again after three months. I turned the key and...Sweetness. She fired up like nothing happened.

After driving it around the block a few times to get the juices flowing again and to test the steering to see if it was damaged (luckily it was not), I checked the belts, hoses, all the wiring. I attached the hood back on the hinges and then ran into the only snag in the rebuild. The hood won’t go down all the way. It is hitting the top of the radiator, so I need to check and see if it can be adjusted somehow. So close to getting the paint and completing Operation Jeepers Creepers!

Side Note: my cousin Ted that lives in Oklahoma had a soft top on his Jeep...one he used for only a few months before going the hard top route. He said the nearly new top is in the mail (I just had to pay for shipping!)!

It's Official...

2009-01-06T19:13:00.000-08:00

The New York Yankees officially announced this guy is their newest Douchebag.

2009!!!

2009-01-01T21:13:00.000-08:00

Happy New Years everyone! It was another great new year's party that I went to last night at "The King's" palace in west L.A. This coming year is a huge one for me. I'm getting married in 3 months, going on a two week honeymoon to Europe (The U.K., Ireland, and Scotland), hopefully get a new job, look in to buying a home, and possibly try to start a family. No one can say that I don't have a full plate. I'm really looking forward to getting married. It should be a hell of a party and for those of you that are invited; I can't wait to see you. For those who didn't get an invite…blame Jen. Her number is (949)..............................(just kidding Babe!)

Merry F*ckin Christmas...

2008-12-24T00:28:00.000-08:00

Hey. If any of you are looking for any last-minute gift ideas for me, I have one. I'd like Art Moreno, the owner of the Angels, and Tony Reagins, the G.M., right here tonight. I want them brought from their happy holiday slumber over there on Melody Lane with all the other rich people and I want them brought right here, with big ribbons on their heads, and I want to look them straight in the eyes and I want to tell them what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, fore-fleshing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sacks of monkey shit they are! Hallelujah!! Holy shit. Where's the Tylenol?

UPDATE: Operation Jeepers Creepers

2008-12-07T20:19:00.000-08:00

The grill, radiator, and air conditioner condenser are all removed and a new belt was put into place.

Deconstruction is now complete!! This is the new grill in place. No your eye's do not deceive you, the grill is black. This is just the primer coat and it still needs to be painted.

B.P. at The Big 'A'!

2008-11-24T23:08:00.000-08:00

Took a little batting practice this past weekend at Angel Stadium. I decided that the shoulders were up to it, and I had 20 bucks in my pocket to donate to The Harvest Food Bank. It is a great, but weird feeling, to be once again standing in the very same batters box that so many greats and childhood heroes have stood before I got in there and hacked it up. Just to look out into the batters eye in deep center, look down the lines and see what the pros see as they are batting, just awesome. This was the third time I have had the privilege of hitting in Angel Stadium. First time I was in High School during the CIF Championship game (we wont discuss that any further), two years ago during the same charity event, and this year. It is a special feeling, one I hope that I can start making a tradition to get the guys together, have a little baseball in the fall, and help donate some cash or food to a good cause at the same time.

UPDATE!

2008-11-16T21:05:00.001-08:00

Deconstruction has once again commenced on project "Jeepers Creepers". I had some friends over and we got the fender and parts of the front off. It feels good to work with the hands and get a little dirt under the fingernails. Hopefully over my vacation from work I can get a lot done, enough to notice anyway. More updates to come from the comeback trail.

Prop. 25

2008-11-09T12:43:00.000-08:00

I walked into Rite-Aid yesterday and there is Christmas stuff up, Jen text me last week and said that South Coast Plaza had all their Christmas decorations up, I see Christmas themed commercials on TV... I still have candy in a dish next to my front door!! STOP IT!!
Pretty soon there will be holiday ads running right after my grill cools down from 4th of July hotdogs. Look, not to be a Scrooge, but I plan on writing a proposition where there can be no mention of Christmas until at least a week before Thanksgiving.

My World Series Connection...

2008-10-19T23:33:00.000-07:00

I was pleased to see that the Phillies and the Rays made it to the World Series. In the absence of my beloved Angels, I for sure did not want to see the Dodgers, who I don't know how for the life of me beat the Cubs in the best of 5 series, or the Red Sox, who most of their fans are pompous "I earned the right to be a dick because my team sucked balls for just shy of a century but now they are good." assholes, in The Series.

With that aside, my connection is in full swing in this World Series. The Phillies are sporting a talented (the best in the game right now?) 2nd baseman that goes by the name Chase Utley who is a former L.B. Poly, Moore Leaguer who in his last year at Poly happened to hit a ball past yours truly that to this day I don't know if it went to the left of me, to the right of me, or between my legs, that is to say he hit it so hard I never saw it, and I think I am thankful that I didn't. No man should need to stare down death on a ball field.

The Rays have a 3rd baseman named Evan Longoria who played 3rd base for Long Beach State and they play their home games at Blair Field where I work. I wish I could say that this guy was as cool as some of the others I have met (Troy Tulowitzki, Jered Weaver, ect) working the field. He never had anything positive to say about the condition of his side of the field, ever. It was always, "too dry, too wet, to soft, to hard". We always try to accommodate, just don't come at the field crew like that. I do wish him luck, but I will not be rooting for him.

My picks:
Heart: Phillies
Head: Rays

And the "Dumbfuck Move of The Month" goes too...

2008-10-06T20:55:00.000-07:00

"I couldn't believe it...I actually got my head this far up my ass! I mean, how else could I explain trying to squeeze with our fastest guy 90 feet away from scoring the go ahead run in the top of the 9th with only one out in a tie game that we have to win? 77 could score on any of a hundred combinations, ground ball right side, fly ball, fielders choice, booted ground ball, pitch in the dirt, on and on I could go....fuck me, I'm stupid."

Well...

2008-09-30T18:24:00.000-07:00

So, this happened...and on the way, unbeknown to me, to my surprise birthday party. I don't know if everyone is aware of my feelings for this vehicle. It is my first one that I have ever bought without help from anyone. It is mine. Have you ever put on a pair of shoes that just felt perfect? Or sat in a big leather chair you just melted into? It was like slipping my hand into my old baseball glove, just perfect. Or for you ladies, like walking by something and seeing it in the window and knew you had to have it. That was the feeling I had when I sat in this Jeep for the first time. I just felt good. Top of the world. The best thing is, now I have an excuse to build it up! *wink!*

Coldcase Evidence?

2008-09-24T18:31:00.000-07:00

One night my good friend John woke to the gut wrenching cries of Mr. Frodo, one of his cats, laying in a back alley of his apartment building after apparently falling out of the second story window. Until now it was believed to be either a) a horrible accident, or b) a suicide attempt.

Yes, we all know Mr. Frodo has a drinking problem:
And is known to beat on his live in girlfriend from time to time:
As a direct effect from the partying and long time alcohol abuse it could be determined that Mr. Frodo could have fallen out of that window after drinking heavily and he had a dispute with his girlfriend hours before. This was the accepted situation of events until I was digging through old photos and found this little gem:
This photo was taken 2 nights before the accident, and it is no secret that Joe dose not like Johns cats. From this photo it looks like Joe is sizing up the window, the window sill, and the back alley, and right in front of Mr. Frodo's father.
Joe?

Joe Jost's and The F*ckin' Frenchman

2008-09-09T13:23:00.000-07:00

I get a call on Saturday morning from my bank (Thanks Washington Mutual!) that someone has tried to withdraw $470.17 from my checking. They ask if I had attempted this transaction and if I didn't, I need to freeze the account. I freeze the account.

I try to call the debit card fraud hot line and get no response after "Waiting for the next available associate to assist me..."on hold for almost 2 hours. I finally hang up and decide to go to my local branch and see what I can do in person. It is 1:45pm and WaMu shuts the doors at 1:00pm.

Now I am going somewhat crazy because I don't know what is going on and I'm thinking about all the money I have in my savings saved up for the wedding and how horrible that would be to lose all my coin.

I do nothing on Sunday...if they are not going to answer on Saturday, why try?

Monday after noon I revisit the hot line and get an associate after being on hold for about 2 minutes. He says someone in Paris, France has tried to access my account from an ATM there but didn't get the money because the computer at WaMu H.Q. detected that I had accessed my account at Joe Jost's here in Long Beach 8 hours earlier. The computer put 2 and 2 together, figured that I can't get from Long Beach to Paris in 8 hours, freezes the account and the Frenchman doesn't get shit!

Joe Jost's, cold beer, great sandwiches, they protect your money, and fight with you against the French! That's not on the menu, but should be.

Funny Joke I Heard Today...

2008-09-03T16:23:00.000-07:00

A father happens to go into his son's room and finds him masturbating. The father yells at the shocked kid, "Hey! Quit doin' that or you'll go blind one day!"
The kid replied, "Hey Dad, I'm over here."

Separated at Birth?

2008-09-01T13:26:00.000-07:00

The Doug...

...and The Predator.

8 Months Away, Kids!!

2008-08-31T00:51:00.000-07:00

My Ladyfriend and I took our engagement photos the other night, this was the best one.

Tagged!

2008-08-24T23:16:00.000-07:00

I realized that I had not posted in almost a month and my boy John had called me out with his post. I'm guessing I need to write down 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 current obsessions/collections, and 3 surprising facts about myself... let’s get to it!

3 Joys:

1. Backyard BBQ's. There is something to say about sitting outside eating a meal and having a beer. Steak, chicken, fish, or just burgers and dogs, you can't beat a meal where the sun is shining, friends and family are all around, and good food hot off the grill.

2. Naps. I love a good nap. I wish I lived in a country that shut down and took nationwide naptime.

3. Day (baseball) games. If you don't know what I'm talking about, I can't explain it to you. It is the best way to watch a ball game, period.

3 Fears:

1. That someday I won't be able to provide for my family. This has to be my big one. My father told me once that whatever I did in life when I have a family of my own I need to do whatever it takes to provide for them. This scares the hell out of me because I will be 30 in just over a month and I can hardly keep my own damn head above water.

2. Not having children. I guess this could take care of the first fear, but I have never had children before and I for sure want little one's of my own. I guess the fear comes from either my future wife or I, not being able to physically do so.

3. Not finishing my education. I have just over a year and a half left...but it seems like I have been saying that "I have a year and a half left" for a year and a half.

3 Current Obsessions/Collections:

1. One obsession lately is golf. I have been out on the course at least once a week since going on summer break. I love it. I found out that I play much better in sandals or bare feet. It is my kind of game. It is like taking a drive in a park with your buddies and you get to have a few beers too.

2. Going to the beach, also a summer time obsession. I started hanging out with a teacher from work that is a surfer. We go once or twice a week and spend the morning out in the waves. It takes me back to my days as a youngster going to Huntington Cliffs with the guys and boogie boarding.

3. And like my friend John, I have wedding plans all over the brain, April 4th, Kids!

3 Surprising Facts:

1. I have always wanted to learn how to fly. Airplane or Helicopter, dosn't matter.

2. I could get on base against Franky Rodriguez (or hit .210 in the show) anytime I wanted too.

3. I too can't believe John's face sweats when he eats apples...W.T.F.???

IF YOU SEE THIS MAN...

2008-08-05T22:47:00.000-07:00

Tell him he sucks.

SON OF A...

2008-06-10T17:38:00.000-07:00

Look, I know times are a little tough...but hey news flash, IT'S NOT MY FAULT!!! I'M IN IT WITH YOU, PAL!!! I walked out to my Jeep that I parked in a shopping mall lot and discovered some Dirty Rat Motherfuckin' Cock-Sucker had siphoned a full tank of gas out of it that I filled up not 3 hours before! OH, how I WISH that I would have caught this asshole doing his deed. I would have been in jail, but with a huge smile on my face. $70 gone just like that.
May you burn in the depths of Hell...and I'm there to dump a tank of gas on you to get things started.
Sorry for the foul language.

Where To Start

2008-06-01T23:06:00.000-07:00

Its been awhile...almost 2 months since the last post! I don't know where to begin. I guess wedding news is a good spot to get back into the swing of things.

UPDATE: The Lady friend and I have secured airline tickets for our honeymoon in Europe, North Europe to be exact. We are leaving the Monday after the wedding and we will be gone for 2 weeks backpacking through England, Ireland, The Netherlands and possibly France and Germany. I personally have never done anything like this but I cant wait to do it. I just hope the dollar dose a little rebounding before the trip or I might just end up getting a job there and never come back. Also John brought up a time where he said that I said I would never go to Europe because everything I wanted to see or needed to for that fact was right here in the good ol' U.S.A. I dont remember saying it but it dose sound like something I would have said sometime ago in younger years.

UPDATE: Tomorrow (6/2) marks a great day in my battle with diabetes. My insurance was gracious enough to approve me for a brand new insulin pump. What this little bugger dose is eliminate the need for injections 4 times a day and I can program it to give me a little bit of insulin every hour. What that dose is limit the spikes and drops in blood sugar that happen when I go a bit too long between meals. There is a lot of technology in this pump and I could talk about it for days but what it comes down to is me having better control and that makes me feel better, be healthier, and live longer.

UPDATE: I joined a softball team. We suck but we have fun. I played in the first game and then jacked up my ankle so I missed the next 2. It feels good to get out and play some ball. I havent been able to throw a ball since I had an episode of frozen shoulder syndrome that has lasted over 2 years. Im getting back to playing some thing that resembles baseball again and I hope that one day soon I can get back on the diamond.

Welcome Back...

2008-04-05T13:54:00.001-07:00

It just came to me that I didn't post anything about the start of the greatest season of the year. Enjoy:

Check out some of the other clips after this clip is done...good stuff.

My Weekend Was A Thing of Beauty...

2008-04-01T20:07:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the photos from this past weekend. I tell you one thing, I was looking forward to going to Hearst Castle because I had heard about how beautiful it is but my goodness the surrounding area is what sets it up more then the castle itself. Beautiful country. Here ya go:

Party in Suit 127!

This is the view from our room, beau-ti-ful.

This is a shot standing on the beach looking back at the hills. Someone say Ireland?

We found tide pools (and lunch) Starfish sandwiches...mmm.

This Butt's for you.

This is an old house once belonging to a Captain who sailed the local waters. Now it's a bed and breakfast located in the lovely town of Cayucos, Ca.

A view down the shoreline of Morro Bay from the pier in Cayucos. That big rock sits right in the harbor in Morro, and no, Adam you can't climb it.

Hi...it's cold.

I could look at a sunset like this for the rest of my days and never get tired of it.

The main "House".

The dining room. Fit for a king.

Nope its not the pool at Caesars, just the main pool at the Castle (1 of 2).

Conrad, they don't like them up here either.

The King at His Castle

2008-03-27T13:34:00.001-07:00

This weekend marks a huge milestone in the relationship column for my special ladyfriend and me. It’s bigger then the weekend we met, bigger then when we moved in together, and even bigger then the day I asked her to be my wife! Yes, after discovering that in the past 4 years of knowing one another we have never been on a weekend trip where it was just to two of us so we got a room at the lovely Sea Breeze Motel and two tickets for the Saturday evening tour at Hearst Castle in beautiful San Simeon, California.

Amazing eh? Not one weekend in over 4 years! I know that with her getting her masters and me back in school, both of us working full time and all, it seems like the only time we have together is on the weekend, and we love just doing nothing with it, but I couldn’t in my right mind let this stand.

I am hoping to start these weekend trips as a staple in our relationship. There is so much to see in this great state of ours and who better to experience it with then my lover? Maybe I'll make an offer on the place since the housing market is in a buyers trend right now.

Hi. My name is...

2008-03-23T22:29:00.001-07:00

Toby??? Huh? Who the hell is this? More important, why is this dog in the same living room that the once great Benjamen "a.k.a. Ben, a.k.a. Benny, a.k.a. O.D.B. 'Old Dirty Ben"' Burroughs used as his kingdom? My parents have tarnished the purity of Ben's empire that took him 15 years to conquer by renting it out to "Foster Dog's".
"Foster dog's?" I said with a raised brow.
"Yes, he is a rescue from the pound. He was about to be put to sleep and a neighbor of your aunt saved him. He didn't have a place to stay so we took him until a home opens up for him." my mother says.
"Ha! Fat chance. Just until someone needs a dog...and your just going to give him up? Just like that?"-Me
"Yes."-Mom
"...this has something wrong written all over it...So after this one is gone, you get another one?"-Me
"Maybe."-Mom
"This place has turned into a travesty, it's a sham, and this Toby dog has made a mockery out of Ben's resting place. It's a traveshamockery!"
But, damn he's cute.

HIT ME AGAIN!!

2008-03-13T11:58:00.000-07:00

it is a white ball against

a sky so blue it hurts your eyes

it is thick grass, so perfectly green

day fading into evening

as cheers fade to silence

soft moonlight on an empty park

full of promise with morning light

crack of a bat, the graceful arc

flies over the wall

little white thing, focus of all eyes.

it is breathing hard in soft evening air

running the perfect white line

to reach a base

unending promise, untapped possibility

beyond baseball, beyond a game

it is beauty.

- Jewel W.

7:40 I hit the highway in the sky to again start the journey of another year of Angels baseball. If you need me this weekend, I'll be in Tempe, just wait till' Monday.

Great Headline...

2008-02-25T22:35:00.000-08:00

Bush ups pressure on House to pass intelligence bill

The bill seems to be ok too...

The Comeback Kid

2008-02-16T12:15:00.000-08:00

Bring...

it...

on!!

I make the call to the rehab center Tuesday.

AAAddddam!!!

2008-02-13T20:34:00.001-08:00

I was reminded the other day of my good friend Adam when turning into a parking lot and discovered that indeed I was entering in the exit. While driving home from camping this past winter he told me of a line that Quagmire said from The Family Guy, "Every exit is an entrance! Giggity-Giggity- Goo!"

Jackpot Trail

2008-02-01T19:57:00.001-08:00

This coming election we get to vote on one of many props in the great state of California. The four I want to talk about are the California Indian gaming props 94, 95, 96, & 97 that I believe would do our state some good. We all like money and we all know there is plenty of it out there in the gambling/gaming worlds. The state of California has let the gaming industry blossom into a billion dollar cash cow that has put money in the economy, schools, and infrastructure to make this state even more powerful than it has in the past.
Although the damn television commercials come on every single time (how much could they save by not running an ad every 5 seconds throughout the state...on every channel?) there is a break, I can't see the reason someone would not want to vote for it. More money for the state is a good thing right? I know that the casinos will profit from it but that’s what a business should do. Not only will the casinos get more, the surrounding communities that they are in will profit because people come out there and spend not only at the casino, but local shops and restaurants.
There is an opposition to it, and this is the only argument that I have heard from them against it, is one that says these props are unfair to the rest of the tribes in the state because there is nothing in there that says they get a cut of the action. Boo-freakin-who! Hey welcome to America, Pal. You want to start a casino and get yourself a little bit of the cash go ahead. The little guy in the copy business doesn't piss and moan that FedEx Kinkos isn't giving him a cut of their bottom line. I think sometimes this attitude is going to be the downfall of this society, this attitude of "That's not fair, I'm not getting my part handed to me."
Get a job, Bum...and cool it on the commercials.

And So It Is...

2008-01-22T20:45:00.000-08:00

This past weekend my Special Ladyfriend and I found our wedding location, set a date (April 4, 2009), and put the deposit down on our special day. My future Mother-In-law found the place. A wonderful location out in the City of Temecula Ca. called Oak Meadows. It’s a pretty cool place with a lake that has fountains with fire that shoots out and fire pits with patio furniture that surround the dance floor. At night there are literally thousands of Christmas lights that light up everywhere. I guess I can explain it the best by saying if I could throw down $5 million into my 10 acre backyard this is what I would come up with. I am for sure looking forward to this party.

Just did it....

2008-01-07T17:20:00.000-08:00

As far as New Year’s resolutions are concerned, I think I just did more harm than good. I just took about 5 years off my life. I just worked out. Actually...no, I wouldn't even call it a workout as far as workouts are concerned, but it is a start. I jogged (or “yogged”) and walked around the neighborhood, I would have to guess a mile or close to it and I would say about half way through my lower back started killin' me! Just walking at a fast pace was hurting it. I know it's just the lack of muscle movement from the previous time that I worked out sometime in the late 90’s, but like I said, it is a start to my New Year’s resolution of dropping 40 pounds off the frame rails…can someone get me a Lipitor or something?

The Great Escape to No Where

2008-01-03T23:48:00.001-08:00

I have to get up for work in 5.5 hours and I don't want too. I want to be doing what I am doing in my Jeep. Heading out on an adventure in 4 wheel drive.

Christmas Campin'!

2007-12-26T19:39:00.000-08:00

-Christmas has come and gone. This was one of my favorite ones in recent history. I didn't have a lot of money this year and I think that helped. I didn't put a lot into gifts and worrying if I was keeping up with everyone.
I was kind of concerned about the gifts I got my boys that is until they opened them. I got them little indoor remote control helicopters and a $15 dollar gift card for iTunes. I was thinking just up to the reveal that it was a little childish to give 28-29 year old guys toys but they both loved it.

- We all go on our annual boys camping trip this week, actually we go tomorrow, and I can't wait. We usually have John, Adam, Myself, and Joe go but this year we add two more to the group, our buddies Scott ("Conrad"), and Doug ("The Doug"). Joe can't make it this year, he has to work...maybe next year? Ill have photos to soon. But for now I gots to pack.

UPDATE!

2007-11-18T20:21:00.000-08:00

So I know its been a few since the last post. Sorry about that. It is not lack of stuff to write about I know that fo sho. Lets begin:

Oct 27: SHE SAID YES!!!
I asked my special lady-friend to be my special lady-wife and she accepted. I did it on the Queen Mary here in the wonderful city of Long Beach. Now the fun begins with planning this party. Any ideas please e-mail me.

Nov 10: 10 YEARS!!! 10!!
I went to my 10 year reunion and there was only about 40 people there. It was sad. But the meal was great! I saw my high school sweetheart and met her husband of 10 years. I thought it would be a little more weird then it was. It was great to hang out and talk about old times. I left early and met up with a group of old high school friends that was hanging outside the reunion at the hotel bar. We went to the Alud Dubliner and then to a neighborhood hangout that we all frequent, Tracey's.

Nov 18: TODAY!
I realized yesterday that the places we were looking at for wedding/reception sites were way out of the budget. Dropping $40k for a 6 hour show is outrageous and I cant see why or how people get away with some of the charges they charge. Example, $20 cork fee. This is a $20 charge just to open a bottle of wine, 5 bottles you got $100 right there. Cake Cutting fee, the average for this is around $5 per slice! Whoever you hire to cater the event charges you $5 a slice to cut it out and deliver the slice to whomever is going to eat it. Chair Covers, don't get me started...$5-7 per cover, per chair just so you cant see the chair.
We've looked at around 6 places and everyone puts the cost for the wedding and reception around $25,000. This is without, photography, D.J., cake, rehearsal dinner, hotel rooms for out of town guests, tux, groomsmen and bridesmaids gifts, and honeymoon.
I know that you cant put a price on love, but give a brotha a chance!

Until Next Year...(Shit!)

2007-10-07T21:51:00.000-07:00

So, today the Angels got hammered by the red sox 9-1, killing the Halo's season and hopes for another World Series title. I am upset. The way I see it they owe me. They owe me and all the Halo Faithful that spent their hard earned money at the Big A this season. I am an upset customer of the product that has been dished to me.
2 outs, runners on second and third, Vlad comes to bat. What sucks is that Anderson left the game due to a pink-eye attack and Willits now bats in his spot, behind Vlad. 4 balls to Vlad, Willits up and he pops out to the catcher. In this moment I would have given back all the foam fingers, ice cream helmets, pennants, t-shirts and whatever else I have bought over the last 20 plus years for another hitter. I don't want to be an armchair quarterback here but if someone in the front office didn't realize at that point that we needed another basher to back up Vlad then I don't know what the hell is going on and I don't know if I can take another year of this. Someone please, please, pull the trigger and get someone that will help, and damnit, not another washed up, over the hill former super-star. I would love to see A-Rod for example playing third base next season. I would rather not make the playoff then make it just to be embarrassed in the playoffs on national TV...again.

2007-10-03T23:40:00.000-07:00

4-0, 9 hits...W.T.F.? What happend to this Big John? That's what I want to know.

We're There!!

2007-09-23T19:40:00.000-07:00

Ok, ok, maybe it's not this big of a deal...but it's not your blog and I'm excited! THE ANGELS WON THE WEST!!!
It was a beauty of a day at Angel Stadium, and from where I was sitting (upper view right behind home) I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else to watch my beloved Halos win the American League Western Division.
Bring it on Tribe, Sox, or Yanks! I'M WATCHIN' YOU!!!

SPLIT AT BIRTH!!!

2007-08-29T23:21:00.000-07:00

From The Ashes!!

2007-08-20T10:50:00.000-07:00

I start school tomorrow. It’s my third go-round at college and should be my last. I just transferred from National University to University of Phoenix where every time I call with a question about something it’s not like calling the cable company. This morning I got a call from them and it was two people on the phone at the same time! I talked to Kate, my Academic Counselor, and Debi, my Finance Officer. Good people.

My first class is an intro class that I guess even if you’re going for your Doctoral you have to take. It basically is a class that helps you get to know the system that UP uses and how to write all the papers (they only accept APA format).

But, I am looking forward to one day becoming the first Burroughs with a college degree and I can’t wait just to get this over with. I know, bad attitude coming in, but school was never my thing. I just know that in order to go anywhere in life I need it, so I will take a bite.

Back Home...

2007-08-07T09:49:00.000-07:00

I find myself home 10 days early. My dad and I drove straight home on Sunday from Portland because my dear mom was feeling ill. As some of you know (or don't) my mom had a double bypass about 25 years ago and sometimes the ol' ticker still acts up on her. Dad and I made a decision to high-tail it home in time for her Dr. Appointment, cutting the trip in more than half. I will inform you that yesterday she went in for test and all came back "all good", and yes, that is the way the doctor said it.

Final Numbers:
Miles:....................... 2,513.
Days:........................ 7.
Baseball Games:..... 2.
Cash:........................ $300.

Obviously my most disappointing stat is the amount of games that we saw. We had two plans for coming home. The first was hitting up Reno to watch the Silversox, and then possibly Vegas, then Phoenix. The other was to come back on I-5 and hit all the minor league towns on the way home.

All in all I guess it was a good trip. It was great to spend time with my dad and see some family. By the way for those who were wondering, I did in fact call Mike “Bill Brasky” Burns when I was in the greater Portland area. I had four tickets to the Portland Beavers game and we were set to go Sunday before knowing about my mom.

Strike One...(Day One)

2007-07-29T17:09:00.000-07:00

We pulled into San Francisco this afternoon and realized that there was no way that we were going to be able to get inside AT&T Park even though I had tickets. Apparently some guy is going for a record or something and there isn't a parking spot from here to San Jose, not under $30 that is. Yes, you read that right. $30! John and I thought Dodger Stadium was bad at $15. Good thing my Paw and I didn't drive a motor home because it would have been $50.
Like I said before, I paid $30 for the pair of tickets and as we were driving out of the stadium a guy on the street asked if we had any extra tickets that we wanted to get rid of. I flashed him a “deuce” sign and he came up to the car window.

“Whatta ya got?” He asked.

“Standing room” I answered quick and to the point with as much street ooze as I could muster up.

“Mmmm. There going for about $35 out here. Whatchu want for em?”

“$70 then. “ I said. Thinking to myself that this guy is not the brightest crayon in the box if he’s telling me what they’re selling at, but then again they could have been going for $70 apiece and I wouldn’t have known.

“Common man, I got to make some money out here… $40 for the two.” He comes back with.

“$60.” I say…Hey, I hold the tickets!

“$50.”

“Sure, $50.”

To steal a line from… someone, “Straight cash, homie!”

I didn’t double my booty, but it’s a needed nice meal on the trip. Tomorrow we ride to Portland, get a good night sleep, and we have a night game Tuesday in Seattle. I’ll keep you up to date.

Durham, Don't You Owe Me Money?

2007-07-28T22:41:00.000-07:00

Damnit Ray Durham!! This guy has no idea about what it's like to be a team player! Saturday night's game on the line, bottom of the 9th, 1 out, and the winning run on 3rd WITH BONDS ON DECK and he's swinging away (He hit a long fly ball to win it.)!? Sonofabitch!

I have tickets to Sunday's game and I want to do one of two things: If Bonds had hit 755 tonight (Saturday), I would have sold the tickets. I paid $15 and from what I can tell eBay has the tickets for Sunday's game selling anywhere from double all the way to exchanging your first born son to get a pair. But, because of Ray and his selfish act of putting the team before Barry, it looks like I will have to go with the second choice and that is going to the game and standing out in right field hoping that I see (catch??) 755 and maybe, if I'm lucky, 756.

Road Trip!!

2007-07-27T15:05:00.000-07:00

Sorry it's been so long. I know that all of you have been just holding your breath every time you click on the the bookmark that leads to my blog in hopes that a new post will pop up, well you got it...breath.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The old man and I are hitting the open highway on Sunday and taking a much needed man-trip to watch baseball games all over the west. On the docket so far is Sunday(7-29) we wake up early and hit San Fran to watch the Giants and the Marlins play at AT&T Park, one of the premier ballparks in the Majors. We will be staying with my boy Adam and his lovely wife in San Jose Sunday night before waking up with the chickens again and saddling up to hit the I-5 all the way to Seattle where we will watch my beloved Halo's do battle with the Mariners at Safeco Field, another one of M.L.B.'s nicest places to play, on August 1st! GO HALO'S!!

The third ballgame we are going to hit up will be the Portland Beavers. For those who don't know, yes Portland Oregon, they are the Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres.

In the greater Portland area I have family so there will be about 4-5 days of just messing around, BBQ's and whatnot before hitting the road again. I would love to try and go to Reno, Vegas, and Phoenix to catch a Dimonbacks game...I just know if we will have the time!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Speaking of Phoenix, I just transferred to the University of Phoenix. Reason being I was promised a starting position and a higher meal stipend, hey, I go where the money is. Good bye National. First class August 21st!!

I Love The Internet!!

2007-06-12T16:48:00.000-07:00

I just ordered a pizza...off the Internet. I don't know what else mankind can think of. We have invented the wheel, been to the Moon, and now we can order a pizza off the Internet. Game over.

BING!

2007-05-21T20:49:00.000-07:00

My plan for becoming a wealthy man without much work is beginning to take effect. My girlfriend got a healthy raise today at her job...so I got that going for me, which is nice. I'm proud of her though. She's getting her masters in Marriage and Family Counseling and has only about six classes left...Smell that? MMMMMmmmm, Angels season tickets!!

And Another Thing...

2007-05-04T23:38:00.000-07:00

This past weekend (April 28-29) I saw one of my best friends, Adam, and his lovely wife up in San Francisco where my special Ladyfriend and I went for the weekend to see one of her old college roommates. We went to an Italian place that was wedged between a "massage" parlor and a sex shop. Oh, and across the street was the "House of Ecstasy" and right next to that was Larry Flint's "Hustler Club" that had a neon flashing girl that was naked and red all over. Adam happen to notice that the admission was free that night...of all the people.

The food at the Italian place was great, wine was great, and the conversation with good friends was a "happy ending" that all of us enjoyed. I felt kind of sad that Adam had to drive from San Jose just for dinner but none the less it is always wonderful to see him.

One of my other best friends, (yeah i have 3 best friends, I said it!) John, let me in on the fact that he was loosing his job in June. They used the classic "It's not you, it's me." excuse. Boy, if I had a buck for every time I heard that one... But I know John will bounce back. I think, and he agrees, that this is good for him. I think what he needs to work on is his writing. It's what he really wants to do with himself. Chase the dream!

Speaking of chase the dream, as mentioned before in my wish list, Scott "Conrad" Palcifer gets a run at his tomorrow at Long Beach City College where he will be trying out for the Long Beach Armada. Although I can't make it to watch him, it's where I really want to be.

My little wish list:

2007-04-22T22:15:00.000-07:00

This weekend I found myself sitting on the couch just thinking. Nothing specific just a lot of little things that turned into a little wish list that I wanted to share.

I wish Barry Bonds gets injured and never breaks Hank Aaron's home run record.

I wish my friend Scott Pulcifer (AKA Conrad/Conradical) good luck a few weekends from now on his quest to quench his baseball thirst at the Long Beach Armada tryouts. You will do fine.

I wish I had the health to tryout along side Scott.

I wish that someone, somehow, could find a way to stop stupidity...it's beginning to run ramped in the streets.

I wish I could have the drive to finish school. It just sucks.

I wish that one day I can have another dog...I miss you Ben.

I wish that every time I look in the mirror that my scalp wasn't so ever more visible (and it's not because of the haircut).

I wish that one day the Angels learn how to beat the Red Sox and A's.

I wish my old friend Joe would pick his head up out of the sand and show up somewhere.

Imus!...W.T.F?

2007-04-12T17:10:00.000-07:00

"Bitches ain't shit but hoe's and trick's. Lick on dee's nutz and suck the dick..."- Snoop Dogg, Multi-platinum Rap artist/Actor(?).

"Nappy headed hoe's..."- Don Imus, Shock Jock.

Now, before anyone falls out of their chairs let me set the record here. I'm not defending Imus what so ever. My question is, why didn't anyone flip out when the song I mentioned previously was released by Snoop?

Where was Gloria Allred and all the Reverends? I find these lyrics much more disturbing then what Imus said for one reason: By a show of hands how many people knew who Don Imus was before last week? Okay. And how many have heard of Snoop Dogg? Yeeeeah.

The kids I know love the Rap. Hell, I used to listen to it. That was all I listened to in my early high school days. The kids sing these lyrics like they don't mean anything. They don't see the hate behind the words. Rap has had racist and sexist lyrics for years. Remember the Ice Cube classic "Cave Bitch"off of the Lethal Injection album? It's a song where Ice Cube rips on white women that pursue successful black men.

I have watched black stand up comics on TV tell racist jokes about white people before and no one even looked the other way. I had a comic do almost a complete set right in front of me, using me as an example of how white people still "rule the country and won't give a nigga a break..." and calling me "masta" numerous times. I don't recall anyone calling the news stations or pulling me aside and suggesting that I should contact my local civil rights rep.

I just want to know where the one lane road came from? How is it almost acceptable for a black artist (music, comedy, or movies) to make racial comments and no one looks at it different but the second a white person says something racial the guys endorsements, professional career, and the way he is perceived in society is shattered? Your thoughts.

I Should Sue!

2007-04-03T21:34:00.000-07:00

As many know I cut my own hair. I have for years. Just a simple buzz cut at 1/4 of an inch all the way around. I use clippers that have the guard that you clip on to determine how long you want your hair to be. Today I decide to clean the dome up a little. I get half way done and just as I'm making a pass that is right down the middle the guard pops off. "FUCK!" Now I'm at an 1/8th of an inch and I got to wear a hat so my scalp dosen't burn. Someone should pay!! Adam, any legal avenue I can take to make sure this never happens to me or any one else again?

Opening Day 2007

2007-04-03T14:33:00.000-07:00

Here we go again! Yesterday the 2007 baseball season started. I wasn't too sure if I was ready for this season, but after a warm up during spring training and then sliding into my seat last night at the stadium with a cold beer, hot dogs, and good friends, I can't wait until October. Here's a few pictures from the evening:

Here's a view from my seat. (notice the heavenly rays of sun)

Here I am with beer 1 of...3?

It's a beaut, ain't it?

Conrad with his ice-cream helmet, Go Halo's!!!

Let's get a few more of these, eh boys? I'm not asking too much.

I don't know if I will have this on my headstone
or blow it up poster-size and hang it on my wall,
but it is a sobering reminder every time I leave
Angel Stadium that I want to come back.

Opening Day

2007-04-01T16:22:00.000-07:00

OPENING DAY , SON!! and I got a ticket!! Conrad, John and myself will be at Angel Stadium this Monday night as the 2007 season begins. I cant wait.

Well so much for "writing practice". It's been almost a month since I last posted. I thought about it, I swear. Just nothing came up that warranted my posting it. We had spring training weekend and John has that on his blog. I don't want to just post stuff that I don't think anyone would care about.

I am on vacation for 3 weeks! Working at a year around school has never been better. I just wish I had a better boss and made more money... as I assume we would all want.

Over The Weekend.

2007-03-05T20:03:00.001-08:00

It was a wonderful weekend and I was sorry to hear the alarm go off this morning at 6:00 am sharp. I wanted to throw it through the wall, but I knew my arm wouldn't let me do that without blacking out in pain...but then again, I would have technically been going back to sleep, so that would have been a good thing. Damn!
We had the daft on Saturday, also played a little wiffleball as well and did a little boozin' later on after a birthday dinner for Joe. Good times had by all.
3 DAYS UNTIL SPRING TRAINING.

Workin' For The Weekend!!

2007-03-02T23:56:00.000-08:00

Today was, simply put,shitty. My saving grace was that I got a paycheck and it was Friday.
Saturday I hope will set the tone for next weekend which is a huge weekend. Tomorrow is "Draft Day" for the "Hats For Bats" fantasy baseball league I'm in with my boys. I get to have a homemade breakfast at Adam's with Joe there as well, plus we're all celebrating Joe's birthday that was on Thursday...Happy birthday buddy!!
As I said before, next weekend is the end of all weekends. No, it's not Monster Trucks or anything, this is bigger then any weekend before...well, since last year. I'm talking about SPRING TRAINING 2007! Tempe, AZ here we come!! That town doesn't even KNOW!! GO HALOS!! This is where the road to ANOTHER HALO WORLD SERIES begins. I can't begin to tell you how pumped I am about this. I'm already packed! I have a feeling the coming work week will in fact be the longest ever.
I'll let you know how the picks turn out.

2007-03-01T22:44:00.000-08:00

So, this is me. Hi. Hello.
I told myself that I would never get a Myspace page so after long debate with myself, I decided to go with a blog. All of my buddies have them and, I was kind of feeling left out, plus I can use the writing practice.
I'm going to use this blog as kind of a random dump of my thoughts and things that come up within my life and of course your input is always welcome...call it free counseling if you will, not that I need it.
Ok. That's it for now.