The James Gang

Hunter Junior Football or Bust!!!!

2010-08-07T20:45:00.000-07:00

I am slightly disappointed tonight! Today was the first day of football practice. Last year Chris' age group had 2 teams with approximately 30 players. Today there were 12 at practice. What happened to them all???
    I guess that is something we will never know. We are in our second year in the league and I hear through the grape vine there were issues with the coaching a few years back. Those issues divided the boys into an A team group and a B team group. The players and families made it clear which side of the line they stood. So clear in fact that last year at least one kid quit and forfeited all his sign up fee rather than play on the "wrong" team. This division spilled over into school and even other sports. Can't we all just get along.
    Apparently Chris was placed on the "bad" coaches team last year. I was warned that we should quit, but Chris had never played before so we did not have certain expectations and went into it blindly. Chris had a great year, he did not play lots, but he played and got better as the season went along. I respected those coaches. They put in lots of time to help my son. Were they the best coaches, no, but they took out of their time to make my son feel important. What more could I ask.
    I am not sure if this feud spoiled this Junior team or not. I can only imagine the powerhouse that could have been for all these years if they could have stayed together. I am sure that Hunter High School took a few players from us. This will not destroy us. We are going to have fun and enjoy our time. My brother in law, Jeremy, has been thrown to the wolves. (He is this years coach) We, "The James Gang" , will support and do our best to make this a fun experience.

Trade deadline!

2010-07-31T12:00:00.000-07:00

I am a baseball fan down to my Dodgers underwear. Today is Major league baseball's trade deadline. It is a fun time for me every year to sit here an speculate on how my team will change. Can we get that superstar that will change our season. So far the Dodgers have been active, but with the ownership divorce it is slowing down what we can do financially. Maybe we will get rid of Manny Ramirez, who knows.

This has got me thinking, I am the GM of my home. What can I trade? My kids? Bills? What? LOL, I could not trade my kids, although if you talk to me next time Kolbie is throwing a fit, a good toaster might make the deal. My teenagers are beginning to be somewhat fun. Sometimes it is hard to get Chris away from the TV, he might be available for a kindle, or ipad. Kate is a little more pricey, you would need to make a great offer.... Like season tickets to the Bees or Grizzlies. I am completely kidding, my kids are great fun. They give me plenty of challenges, but I love 'em.

My knowledge of local hospitals has got to be worth something. Could I get some running advice in trade. I know our local hospitals like the back of my hand. The cafeteria at Imed is actually pretty good. I will trade my sprinkler system. It has me tied up, every time I try to fix it I find something else that needs some attention. I think I need a gardener. I will trade you any of my bills. There has got to be an easier way. I wish I could just get on top of it all.

Did you hear about the guy on "Craig's list" that traded his way from cell phone to a Porsche. So here goes I will give you a piano for.......

To be a fly on the wall!

2010-07-22T06:45:00.000-07:00

The James Gang is certainly never boring. If you lack sleep and would like a laugh just peek your head over at Woodgrove Drive, there is bound to be something exciting going on.

   Jill is in the hospital for her monthly roto rooter hospital visit. So..... the kids and I have got to keep everything else in line. Yesterday I called to see what chores the kids had done and what was going on at home. Of course nothing had happened and everyone of them was off in la la land. I got them all home and gave them a list of chores to be done NOW. After about 10 minutes I get a call and it is just hysterics going on. This is not unusual I figure they were fighting about the chores. No, Kate saw a bird down stairs. A bird down stairs!!!! I am at work, getting ready to head to the hospital. I was not planning on being home until late what do I do? I told Chris to go down stairs with a big tub and put the tub over it. Then I can get the bird out when I get home. "Um, no Dad, I am not going down there", what???? Man up son, go down and help.

   I called Kate, "what is going on?" "It flew past my head and is in the laundry room". I told her to go down and put a tub over it. "Dad, I can't". I tried to get Chris to go down stairs and hold up blankets from the ceiling, then the bird would go where we want it to. No way was he going down. I then got the brilliant idea to have them turn on the web cam so I could see what was going on. There they were, my 3 kids and 2 neighbor kids staring back at me. Kate then said she had an idea, Harley! Oh no, that is all I need, the dog chasing a bird around the house. I could picture a disaster! (not that our house is pristine). I turned back to the web cam and I see the back door open, the dog on his leash. Alyssa with the broom and Savannah following the dog towards the stairs.

   At this point I called Kolbie, "what is going on?"   " I do not know Dad, I am in my room with the door shut and a blanket over my head." Click...... My kids have the circus market cornered. Kate calls me back, we can't find the bird. It must be back in the wall....... WHAT????? Back in the wall???? Kate is sure that is where it came from. About 10 pm, when I got home I went down searching for the bird. Nothing to be found, no evidence nothing. So my house is somewhat secure with a bird in the wall???

After further investigation, Kate never actually saw a bird, she thought she saw one fly by her head. I cannot find anything so who knows. Chris would not sleep in his room last night, where is the video camera when you need it!

Synopsis summer 2010

2010-07-15T07:02:00.000-07:00

It has been a little while, well if you can believe it I am still alive. I could say that not much exciting is going on with the James', but it is always exciting on Woodgrove Drive. Jill has spent quite a bit of time in the hospital the last 3 months. Fighting these dang kidney stones is a battle to say the least. The doctors just shrug their shoulders and say "deal with it". What can we do, eh?
In and out of the hospital has put us in dire spots, but we will make it. If nothing else I still have a family that I love and can laugh with. There is always somebody worse off, right?
This has been the summer of no baseball, well sort of. I got a call from a neighbor and he asked if I could come and help coach an allstar team over in Granger. They were 10 year olds that got the raw end of the league. We ended up with not one kid that had pitched on a regular basis. Needless to say we got throttled 25-0 and 36-0. We joked with Matthew that we needed to put a doggy cone on his head to make him pay attention. He started pitching for us one game and it did not turn out so good. No outs and 10 runs later he was on the bench taking a nap for 2 innings. I guess if Ken Griffey did it why can't Matthew? It reminded me of how much I love baseball and helping kids learn the game. To see smiles after a good play or those oh yea moments when they forgot to cover the base, those times are priceless.
Now I get down to business and get my book in order. That is something I have always wanted to do. I need to get it done.
Well, thanks for reading, I promise more action in the future. More laughs and maybe something embarrassing. But for now Tchauzino!!!

Los Suns

2010-05-06T06:31:00.000-07:00

Last night the Phoenix Suns wore the "Los Suns" jerseys. In part to support cinco de mayo. (I ate Mexican food for lunch) The other motive was to show solidarity against the new Arizona law. This law has brought forth great anger in this country. There were bunches of people that boycotted the game. I am glad that I live in a country that allows us to voice our opinions and also have a say in the laws that govern us.

I think I fall on both sides of this law. I was in Brasil for 2 years, I was there legally with documents. I was not working, I was there on a LDS mission to teach people about my church. I had people all of the time treat me badly because I was a foreigner. I was asked for my documents by a police officer. I obeyed the laws. It is scary and not always fun to go somewhere different.

This country was founded on giving immigrants a chance. A chance at a new life and new opportunity. Just as if an American wants to go somewhere else they should be given a chance. That said it should be done legally. Mr. Government needs to make that process easier, let people move around. Let them be successful. Now Legally means paying the proper taxes and obeying the law. If you have a job you should be legal and pay taxes just like the rest of us. Your health care should be your responsibility not our government. If you do not do things legally then you should be punished. That should be the federal governments responsibility not each states. Thosee laws should be universal that way an immigrant in Utah or Texas knows what he should do to be legal. Punishment should fit the crime. Drugs, violence, etc. should be punished the same as a citizen. If you send them back they will come back and do it again. Lock em up, make them pay the price just like Joe Blow would. Arizona has made it so their police officers have the right to see if you are legal, that can be a bit of a grey area. If the person commits a crime and then they find out they are not here legally then you should punish, being in the country should not be the crime. The good ole USA is about chances. Let them in I say and give them a chance.

Just as there are bad people all over this world there are lots of good people that want a chance. they want a chance at a good life. They want a chance to be happy. One of my favorite scriptures is in 2 Nephi 2:25-27 it says we are free to choose, but we pay the consequences of those choices. What if one of these immigrants comes over and is a positive influence on his neighborhood and has the smarts to cure cancer. I say lets give 'em a chance.

Why do I love thee....

2010-04-14T21:40:00.000-07:00

I am writing this tonight, gambling on the fact that not too many persons out there are reading it. It has been way to long since my last post so I doubt that anyone still has interest. In fact tonight's post is about my favorite woman, Jill. I bet it will be a while until she reads this...unless someone tells her about it. Which I will not mind, but let's see how long it takes for her to poke around here.
I watch way too much TV, but the other day I saw a "Miller Lite" commercial. You might have seen it. The guy and girl are sitting on a blanket in the park. He comments how he loves the wide mouth bottles. He has reason after reason for "loving" his beer. Then the girl says "What do you love about me....?" Now the male readers know exactly how I feel at thsi point. Your tongue gets heavy, your eyes begin to roll around in your head and you get a bit dizzy. What are we supposed to say??? I am yelling at the TV at this point, "get up run, run away. Save yourself!!" This is never a great moment. Jill ask's this all of the time, I cannot ever come up with a good answer. In fact, Jill, correct me if I am worng, but I think I have said I usually don't make a list of these things. (am I good or what?)
   Well, Saturday April 17th is Jill's birthday. What a better time to come up with the list and put it all out there. Guys, I am sorry that I am going to do this. all of us will need to ban together and make a book or something. "101 reason's we love you..." that could be a best seller.  FINE PRINT..... this list is not all inclusive nor does it reflect the entire opinion of it's writer. If by some chance he has left something important off, it is not his fault. The writer holds all power to adjust this list at anytime. Results are not guaranteed, in fact the results could be negative, but here goes......
Reasons I love you, Jill ......
  Amazingly enough I will put down the male answer first. (I will keep it PG rated.) You are a great lover. Kissing is fun and you know all the rest. BTW, that is getting better with age and since there is no chance of pregnancy it is actually fun!
   Jill is not a great housekeeper, but that is one thing I like. She never tries to clean her house better than Sara or Aly or her sister. She is herself, I know she hates not being good at this, but it is ok. I really like doing my part. Dishes, vacuuming, laundry is not for a female only. Everyone needs to pitch in. Could you help me more, sure but I love you anyway!
I love that Jill reads. She is always trying to become more knowledgeable. Sometimes very opinionated, but always informed. Jill will research it out if she does not understand. We do not read the same types of books, but she will share with me her books. I find that attractive.
   When I married Jill, she had no sports background. NOW sports is her life. She knows more about baseball than lots of men. In fact she has made facebook comments that I do not think some people even understand. Baseball is her favorite, but she watches football with me and lots of other things. I wish she liked car racing, but she likes to tease me about my hick sport. Oh well, like she tells me, most men would kill for a woman that knows what E3 stands for! (did you know she kept stats for the baseball league, she even gave weekly reports to the coaches, batting averages, ERA everything)
Jill has a great body. Like everyone she gripes about sagging parts and extra weight, but I love it. She is sexy and I love it when she tries to make herself pretty. Lots of women woul pay big bucks to have boobs like hers. Sounds like someday I will be paying big bucks to make them beter. Oh well, I love her body.
   Jill is a good Mother. She does not feel that way, but she is. She has stayed up until the wee hours of the morning talking to each one of our kids. When I am wits end, she can find a way to help them understand. I think she loves having teenagers. Talking to Kate and Chris aobut girls boys and the tough things they are going through is one of her greatest strengths. She loves to cuddle with Kolbie and watch a movie for the millionth time. Even if it si one of those vampire movies or what not.
She loves the movies. Jill goes to a movie by herself all of the time. Working at Old Navy she had days off during the week. This gave her the chance to go to movies in the afternoon. I like to go with her, but some movies I do not understand (Greg ,for do not want to see), so she heads out by herself and loves it. We have quite the collection of DVDs. Numerous times we have kept a red box long enough for it to be ours!
Jill is becoming an expert on salt water fish. Even if she loves bristle worms and is yelling at us to come and see one more. Fish are stinky, and aften very dirty, but she has a fascination for our tank.
Best of all she is my best friend. I love to talk to her and I think she actually listens to me.

Ok like I said before this list not complete and I am sure I have forgotten something very important. Jill I love you! I hope Your birthday is the greatest. You deserve it, SMILE you will always be my favorite. Next time you get that hankerin' to ask me why... please refer to this post. I will not be able to revive it from memory. My tongue will probably be tripping over itself. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Red Headed Step Child

2010-02-28T21:13:00.000-08:00

What to post about? Lately I have had major anxiety, over everything. This includes friends, work, school, everything! I go places and feel very frustrated. I think it really shows sometimes. Church has become a wierd place for me to go. I feel like I have lots of friends (that is not the truth, but that is for another post), but I feel weird. Kolbie is having issues with friends, Jill is Jill, Chris says no one cares if he is there anyways. What to do??? BUT that is not what I want to post about.

Sometimes we get sucked into the why me stage, we forget about the blessings we have. I have a place to live (at least for now). My kids go to school and try, but they have a school. I have a family that I love, and I have a job. What else can I ask for. My life is good, sometimes it is better than I deserve.

Right after Jill and I were married we got involved in Amway. Not the smartest decision we have ever made. We never made it rich in fact I think I lost money and some friends in the process. Inviting someone over and then ambushing them with a multilevel marketing scheme does not bode well for the future of a friendship. In that process I did have a couple of great learning opportunities. One of those were some cool positive learning experiences. My first was a book by David Swartz called The Magic of Thinking Big. I have read this book several times. It helps me to see my life in a different light. The other good thing I found was a song called Cat's In The Cradle (LP Version). These two things have been with me for a long time.

Now is the time to harness these ideas and work on my life to produce a better life. I need to be propelled towards sucess. Positive and productive thoughts will help me to suceed. Jill and are in sort of financial problem, but I know that we can make it. Why not try the hardest I can. Church will be church, what am I really there for, social? not! My testimony growth is what I need to grasp. I am not perfect, I do not have a temple reccomend, but I can try. Kolbie's friend problem will be a battle. She can find a better way. If that means changing friends then so be it. She is a beautiful girl and if someone wants her not to be happy then she will find someone else. Chris can do it. He has put his mind to the play thing and he is suceeding. He will find a way to achieve greater respect from those around him. We have a great big labrotory to practice and experiment. There are more opportunities for us. Think Success, not failure. Now I need to start living that advice. Get to the top by following the plan.

Sorry to put you through my self motivation, but it will help me to get the results I need. Thank you!

James family Tradition!

2010-01-17T22:21:00.000-08:00

One of the traditions that we have as a James family for Christmas Eve is called our "Memories" each year we are to submitt a page for our memory book. Each of us has our own book and we distribute copies to everyone of our paper. We have done this for about 10 years. With 4 kids, spouses, grandkids and Mom & Dad that has translated into a fairly large book. One that I am sure we will keep for years to come. This year I went back and read some of the highs an lows out family has had over those 10 years. It was funny, sad and well worth the time.
Anyways this year our theme was your favorite toy. I challenge each of you to post a comment of what your favorite was. Here is my list of favoite toys from my 2009 Memory.

Memory 2009

By Greg James

My Favorite Toys

This year we were asked to share what our favorite toys were growing up. There were a few toys that I can remember as a kid. We had a pretty awesome toy box that was made to look like a box car. I can remember the sand box that Grandpa James built for us and then it later turned into the East side of the house. We had a cool tire sunk in the ground that we could climb on and pee into. I still have lots of baseball cards, but those did not make it on my list of my favorite toys. What did? Well here goes:

#3 Baseball Gloves; I can remember owning 3 different gloves growing up. My first was the small type for peewee and then I graduated to a larger glove that I think I used until I was 14 or 15. After that I “earned” a new Mizuno glove from Uncle Terry. I got to pick it out and I cherished that thing. I would rub it down at least twice a year. I still own that glove to this day.

#2Green Nerf Ball; this toy did not last long, but I enjoyed it. It was squishy and I could throw it in the house. Dad would never catch me because he could not hear it hit things. The dog eventually found it and tore it to pieces, but before that I had my good use from it. I set up my own imaginary games in my room. If the ball hit this target then it was a double or out depending. I kept the stats and had my own league. That was until dad found my stats I had left lying around and he trashed them. I loved “playing” those games.

#1 Strat-o-matic; my number one favorite toy was my strat games. I purchased these games with my own money when I was about 1o years old. I first bought baseball, football and later basketball. After my mission I got the Hockey version. Since then I have purchased more recent cards and I even have baseball for my computer. I loved this game because I could play it solitaire or with my friends. In seventh grade we set up a football league with a bunch of my friends. After school they would come over and play the games. I was the Philadelphia Eagles because Scott Wright wanted the Cowboys. Of course we kept the stats and would “publish” them for everyone to see. I only allowed 7 points in our season and that was the run back of my first kick off. Kevin Olson and I played numerous basketball tournaments. At Inkley’s we played hockey in the break room at lunch. I think I treasured those games more than anything.

It is funny that I know I had numerous more toys growing up. I am sure there are plenty that Mom and Dad suffered over at Christmas time, but the most simple and practical are the ones I remember the most.

Flapping wings of the butterfly......blow over the game ball!

2010-01-13T20:46:00.000-08:00

The butterfly effect is a term used in Chaos Theory to describe how tiny variations can affect giant systems, and complex systems, like weather patterns. The term butterfly effect was applied in Chaos Theory to suggest that the wing movements of a butterfly might have significant repercussions on wind strength and movements throughout the weather systems of the world, and theoretically, could cause tornadoes halfway around the world.

Qouted direct from the pages of the wikipedia file. Some of you are wondering how I knew that an encyclopedia acutally existed, but yes I do know how to copy a research paper with the best of them. Today this post will explain why I firmly believe in the "Butterfly Effect" in my life. I firmly know without a doubt that the actions that I take can and do effect the results that my team has on the field and court. The Cowboys have not lost a game this year when my flag has been flying at least a day in advance. Therefore as we enter the second week of the playoffs, my flag will proudly fly in it's stand. Go Cowboys!!

Being a baseball player I have had many superstioions around the game and I have carried a few of them over into my life. My alarm is set for an odd time 5:26, not the normal 5:30 or what not. When I watch my teams play if they are doing well I need to stay in the spot I am in, no shifting, no changing the channel. When I coach if our pitcher is throwing well I stay leaning against that fence in the spot. When he is irratic I move. I need the mojo. Coaching at the base I believe in being in front of the base when a runner is coming to my base. It gives the umpire the illusion that the base is closer, thus more of a chance of being safe. I was not until this year that I purchased logo shirts of my teams, because I believed it was bad luck to wear them. At the gas station I stop the flow in odd numbers. What I do really matters.

Some of you will say I am nuts, but it works. Next time you need the light to change at a stop light, adjust your feet. It will work. If it doesn't do it again. Trick is not to let anyone know that you are doing it. So next time you see a hockey player with half his jersey hanging out or a flag flying at the James home, please remember the Butterfly Effect, the wings of the butterfly flapping in Mongolia will turn into a tornado in Kansas, or a Dodger win!!!

Go Cowboys!!!

2010-01-02T09:57:00.000-08:00

I have been told, and being the begining of the year maybe I should listen. Usaually we like to step back and think about things we would like to change about ourselves this time of year. Weight loss, stop drinking Coke, stop swearing, get better control of our finances. You know all of the usual stuff. It becomes an annual tradition and almost a joke. How long can you keep up the "revolutions" as Kolbie calls them. In all truth aren't they really revolutions. How many times do we go round and round with the same goals and expectations only to loose focus after 3 or 4 weeks. Can I do it? Can I keep it up for more than 17% of the year 2010? I am not going to do it. I love myself already, no changes will be made in 2010.... except for my weight, drinking less coke, and my finances need some controling.
BUT, this brings about my subject for the day. I was told, in a small voice something much more important. My life is full of ups and downs. Mostly in the emotional things. Sometimes I feel very outgoing and entergetic and other times not so much. I need to admit that lately not so much. I find myself sitting at the the back of church wondering why I do not talk to anyone or where my "fun self" has gone. Then I look around at everyone else and you know what I see? Lots of other people thinking the same thing. I can tell, they sit on the bench and shake someones hand and say hi, but that is it. Where have we all gone?
I am not part of the "in" crowd, Once I was part of the "vikings", (rape, pillage and plunder), not a great club for a bunch of missionaries though huh? Today I find myself watching from a far. My wife does not feel as comfortable around big crowds, so I stay away. I don't blame her sometimes. Just the energy of trying to remember who is friends with who and what I can say to them makes my head spin. Chris struggles with his friends lots and I worry about what it does to him. This year I shift my expectations to myself. I could care less if you like me or not. I am me, so just get over it.

As for my resolutions. That small voice said "why do you have to be so mean?" Can I be nicer? I am going to try it. Just don't drink my Coke!

A Young Writer...Published

2009-12-28T20:28:00.000-08:00

I am published! Stand back for I cometh and will be heard! From the tops of the mountains shall ring my voice for all, well some, to hear and read in their minds. However insignificant my words shall be, they are forever engraved into time.
So you can take off your coat and shut off the car, No reason to hurry down to "Barnes and Noble" just yet. Although they do have good soup and great hot chocolate. Not to mention the many books for you to peruse. Just don't take one into the bathroom, it will be flagged and then you will be stuck with it. No my current book will never make it to the shelves of the great book store in the sky or to the one at Jordan Landing for that matter. My book will most likely be trashed and never be read, but it is bound and on my book shelf on this cold December evening.
I have written in a journal since I was a pimpled, still got those, teenager. Lots of meaningless words have flowed from the bottom of my pencil. Everything from those first dates, my college days and many mission experiences has made it to my precious spiral bound notebook. The last year and a half I have been enamored with ldsjournal.org. I thought lots about this online journaling tool and I decided that I needed to print it out so if something happened to me the family would know how to access it. So, I printed out from October 2008 to December 2009. It makes up 51 pages with some photos and writings all from ME! Not a huge novel, but it is fun to have.
Shameless plug for ldsjournal.com, it is easy and fun to use. Try it if you get a chance. Next time I blog that I have been published it will be for my real book. I have an outline and I am working on the rest. Someday maybe "Barnes and Noble", but not yet. sorry to disappoint, but someday.

Thanks Dad!!!!

2009-12-25T21:50:00.000-08:00

I have come the full circle as a Man, Dad, Son and ...well Male. I am not the inexperienced prude I once was. In fact the last couple of weeks I have had the chance to think about lots of the past oh 40 years of my wonderful life. In that time I have experienced lots of embarrassing and difficult situations. It had to have started early on in my life maybe 4th grade. Mrs. Class taught health and my friends tormented me for weeks that my phalanges were showing. I was really worried that some part of my whitey tighties was poking out or something. Come to find out phalanges means fingers or toes, but from then on I have tried my best to stay on top of it.
Can you remember the racing of your heart on that first "real" date? Was a kiss or hold of the hand in the cards? Curtis Sanchez dropped me into the fire by finding the church up in the top of the avenues that looked over the entire valley. Needless to say I left that night with a little less gum and no more school ring. (See in those days that meant something if she would wear your school ring, Thank you Jostens!) Those experiences led to more "mature" chances in college and later on to marriage. Men are different from Women if you have not noticed. One week into my married life and I was at the grocery store buying bulk toilet paper so, as a yelled across the store... "Jill we can shit all we want". Needless to say I should have kept my mouth shut. I think I was well into marriage before I had to venture into the feminine hygiene section of the store. For us males this is like the bra section, it is fine to look at from a distance, but do not enter. There should be fortress walls here. We should not be allowed to enter. Heck what is the difference between wings and no wings? Who knows!!
Now that time of the month as a husband is a good thing.... No babies coming! I sweat it out quite a few months. It does weird things to the women though. I have not experienced that for sometime because Jill had one of those rip em out operations a few years ago, but I have come to find out that it is approaching me from a different angle now. As Dad, raging bull fighter, muscle man, and expert marksman. For if some boy even approaches my daughters wrong, I will unleash the fury, and I can probably be seen inside the walls of those forbidden areas at the super market. This time for my little girls. "Is there a problem in the health department?" No way, I am here super Dad!

Me... MR. ROMANTIC!!!

2009-12-17T21:28:00.000-08:00

I know that most of you will not be able to believe this, but deep down I am quite the romantic. Ok, if you will not take my word for it just call Jill, anytime day or night and she will certainly back me up. Back me up right in front of that big school bus most likely. Now if you get her to stop her hard and uncontrollable laughing just remind her one thing. I do know what the inside of a "house of ill repute" looks like.
I do not prescribe to the giving of flowers as a regular item. "Flowers" are an admission of guilt. Fran from Tulip Tree Floral will probably kill me on Monday when I get to see her, but they are. When do I arrive home with flowers? When I have done something wrong. I almost hate going over to Smiths anymore because they have placed the floral section right there by the front doors. Can I get the guilty feeling just a little later in my shopping experience? Not at the front doors.
Jill and I celebrated 17 years of non-flower giving marriage today. (actually yesterday, but the 17th is the actual day). Of those 17 years the anniversary usually involves some dreaded Christmas shopping. Heck, I think we did that the day after our wedding too (when we came out for fresh air). Last year I took the day off and we went to see the "Body Worlds" exhibit, romantic eh? We have done the Armstrong Mansion in the past so Jill set it up again this year. After some heavy panting (carrying the packages back to the car, get your mind out of the gutter!) We checked into the February room at the "house". Rodizio Grill was the dinner spot and then back to the room to relax with NO kids!
EXPLICIT WARNING...... Jill and I have 3 kids, so we have done the mamba a couple of times. There I said it, but we got the biggest laugh after talking so much last night, at one of the notes in the room diary. It included lots of wedding nights and wedding anniversary notes. One caught ours and many other peoples attention in that book and I quote "This was a fabulous room and me and my wife had a great time.. In the tub, on the stairs, on the bed, on the floor and in the shower...... signed ".....LOL. A house of ill repute and a wonderful romantic get away. I love you, Jill and thanks for the good years and the bad ones. I would not trade any of it.... UNLESS you could find me some autographed baseball cards, then I would trade it all. Next year can we go to that monster truck rally in Vegas???

Rivalry

2009-11-28T07:56:00.000-08:00

One who attempts to equal or surpass another, or who pursues the same object as another; a competitor. To strive against, compete, contend, contest, challenge, approach, approximate, or emulate. The Rival has a long list of definitions. Friends and even family can be rivals. Hatred, love, and a fair or or uneven spirit of competition is part of a a rivalries attributes. I can't imagine this world without conflict. What are we to do when the Millennium arrives and there is no more rivals. No conflict, no war, no contention.....no "Holy War"!!!

Where does BYU-Utah rank? Lets think for a moment about some of the great world wide rivalries. Iran-Iraq, Brasil-Guatamala, USA-Russia. Hmmm ... Not in the shadow I suppose. I have never seen militia and guns pointed at the Cougars down south. Nor do I think it ranks with the Army-Navy, Florida- Georgia, Texas-Oklahoma or USC-UCLA battles. In these parts of the country it does have plenty of merit. Sundays at the pulpit before and after the game it always finds it's way into a testimony or talk. Paul James woke every year to his house being toilet papered and marked with a U (for those of you that do not know he was the Cougar announcer, he would even help set it all up and take it down). I am sure the Cougar statue was covered this week so it would not end up red.

I grew up not liking the team down south. It started with a good friend of mine, Kevin Olson, he loved the Cougars so I had to be different. In my early years we never won. I can remember some large losses in fact. Lately, it has evened out. The cougars have not been to a BCS game, we have, twice! Now this ranks up there with West Jordan-Bingham, Cowboys-Steelers, or Dodgers-Giants for me. I enjoy the build up and hope the best team wins, but I HAD BETTER NOT LOSE THAT SIX PACK!!!

All joking aside may the team down south be struck with crying and gnashing of teeth after today's game. The good will prevail. Utah Red will live on. It is coming to me..... (the score not the knock to the head as you are thinking) Utah 27 BYU 20. Long live the good guy, GO Utes! Go Cowboys, Go Dodgers and may the rest of my rivals get their faces smashed into the turf. (By the way I am starting to hate the Phillies as much as the Giants). Just kidding... I hope today is a GREAT game.

Saturday Football

2009-11-14T20:56:00.000-08:00

While some of you stayed tucked into your nice warm houses on this snowy day and drank hot chocolate. I stood in temperatures fluttering from 29 to 32 degrees and snow literally flying around me. I volunteered to help with the little league state championships at Kennedy Junior High School (hosted by Hunter district).

This was a great time and I am glad I got to go and help. It all started at 6:30 on this Saturday morning. I arrived at the school were my two oldest roam the halls weekly expecting to be the first one there, but no! There were lots of people and I could tell they had been there for quite a while. When I go to help I cannot stand standing. So I thrust in my sickle, what ever that means, and tired to help out. I never realized what it takes to run a Saturday's worth of little league football until now. The cones, first down markers and ropes to keep the screaming fans back don't just show up at the field. The lines had been painted earlier in the week so we proceeded to put up signs and the other necessities. No I did not break any tackles carrying the scoreboards across the field, but my arms are sore from the work out.

For the first while I sat at the team check in tent. I was a big shot! The teams and coaches had to come to me to be eligible to play in their championship game. I wanted to kick somebody out, but I was calm and wished everyone luck. I ran into an old fast pitch softball teammate, Mike Lorange, he was coaching a Brighton team. After an hour or so the snack bar decided they were running out of cups. Ta Da, I jumped into action and went to the store. I do alright at the grocery store, but sometimes I forget things without a list so I was worried, and when Dan kept calling me and adding to the list, I was worried. (I cleaned out Smiths of Styrofoam cups)That is when I saw the parking issue. Cars were parked all the way down to Holiday Oil. Lots of people!

I was then issued the parking post, attention all parkers... RED CURB means NO PARKING! The fire department did not like that the fire truck would not fit into the parking lot for some reason. I got yelled at a few times and watched 5 West Valley officers cruise the streets and rack up the parking tickets. Is it legal to park in front of someones mail box? Who knows, I do have to say that I got cold. The wind was blowing so hard and my back got plastered with snow. After a while I started to look around and I got the laugh of the day. Officer Valencia 2 other cops and approximately 6 Hunter board members chasing after 2 dogs on the field. That was funny.

I was disappointed that Chris' team did not play today, but it was still a great time to go and help. I know of at least 2 Hunter teams that won state championships. Congrats to ALL of the teams today. It was a great time. WOOF, WOOF!!!!!!

2009-11-12T05:57:00.001-08:00

Every month we try to do something in young mens to prepare these young kids to go out into the world on missions if they desire. One month Chuck Smith taught about time management, I think we have done testimony building, we have taught them to cook, and the such, you get my drift. Last night we took them to the laundramat.

Each kid was instructed to bring a load of laundry and we were going down to "experience" cleaning your own clothes. From what I gathered most of these kids had done some of their own laundry. I know that Chris has, just ask him about Monday night after I had just finished everything but towels in our house. BUT, these kids had never experienced the LAUNDROMAT.

Can you believe that the one on 4100 S by "Artic Circle" closes at 7 pm. How are you supposed to get home from work and get your clothes washed by then. Oh Well, we went to the one on 4800 W and about 4700 S. dumping your clothes in the washing machine, easy. Did they bring soap, nope! All I heard was "this soap is for only one wash" well, that is all you got so don't worry about it. Dalin could not grasp the concept of whites and darks so it all went into one washing machine. (Don't worry I think I do that lots too!) After some ribbing and the soap was poured into the machine I see Dalin pulling his whites out and putting them into another machine. Then he proceeded to insert coins into the wrong machine. He was not the only one. Jacob Mullins added drying time to someone else's load.

The kids all wanted to play around and leave the store after things got going, we should have let them and then stolen their clothes. I Can't say that has never happened. Scott brought paper for them to write a letter home and we tried to keep them away from the TV. (Logan is going to have a hard time with that). You are not supposed to watch it on a mission. After an hour everyone was finishing up and leaving. Of course Jacob had to run back in because he forgot one important item, his clothes.

Did we teach them something, maybe. Did they get to see what it is like, sure. Never a dull moment at the Laundromat!

Basketball daze....

2009-11-09T08:43:00.000-08:00

The crowd is quiet as it's teams star lines up at the free throw line. All of the pressure is resting on my shoulders. Bending my knees I launch the shot and... swoosh. It goes right through. It has been years since I forced myself on the basketball court. To play the game that is. I love to referee though. Best seat in the house and hey I can get a bit of exercise in the process, but playing has long since left me.
I played lots in my early years. In fact that is what got Jill into crafts early in our marriage. We lived on capitol hill and our ward played ball 3 times a week at 5 in the morning. My shot was off slightly, but I loved to go and play. Sometimes playing defense is not all that it is cracked up to be in those pick up games and sleep became lots more important to me than scoring my 2 to 4 points a day. Jill complained that she did not have anything to do of her own. So I went down to "Zims" on state street and bought a small tool box filled with toll paints. Wala.... she was now crafty. (I still have that tool box and paints stashed in the basement gathering dust)
Anyways we moved around and I played on and off with ward and sometimes a rec team, but nothing as serious as in the past. In our current house I played once a week with the guys, but you know it is fun to touch the ball once in a while and with the Leiftings and Shawn Singleton as our ward's scorers it was just not in the cards. I slowly lost interest and turned my attention to blowing the whistle. I enjoy it!
Saturday I had the shot going, swoosh, swoosh. I could feel it. Deep down I was thinking of a unretirement back into the ward basketball scene. So I am lining up for my second lightning game of the day. First shot comes off the backboard and bounces a bit high. I jump.....and my calf POPS. I could feel a huge knot developing, needless to say I missed the rebound and was put out by the jump shooter behind me (I think it was my aunt). I go and sit down, must be just a cramp. So that game ends and I line up for another shot. I can hobble a bit, my turn comes and swoosh, I am feeling it, but guess what? I cannot even walk to go and get the ball. the knot is getting bigger. I am out, Chris takes my place and I have let my team down. I guess my comeback will have to wait another year....where is that fluffy pillow for the couch? IR here I come.

PS. my endorsement deal for old man vitamin pills fell through too. Does anyone else want to kick me while I am down?

VOTE!

2009-11-05T20:31:00.000-08:00

So the elections of a Tuesday got me to thinking a bit. I am not much into politics, and I certainly do not have very BIG opinions of how this country should be run. I started to think of my experience "running" for office. Not that I do too much running, but I started to think about the things I have done in my life. In 5th grade my political career started, and I think it was because I missed a day at school. I was voted as one of the captains of the student softball team. Me and Troy Taylor were assigned to pick the all star team to face the teachers team. That was a fun experience, I think we even won. We were awesome, I think I played first base.

After taking a sabbatical for a while I threw in my hat again. This time as a junior in high school. I tried to be the marching band vice president. Only I was not too smart. Mike Miller and I both ran for the same office. With us being friends our friends were forced to choose and I did not make it out of the preliminary round. If I had run for president our friends votes would not have been so divided. I might have won.

Then in 2005 Heather Bankhead twisted my arm and asked me to run for president of Kearns Pony. She promised to be by my side the whole way so I agreed. I do not think it struck me what I was doing until the voting day. I was on the field with my team and Curt Simmons pulled me aside and said they had voted for me several times. I guess the incumbent was not going to win this thing. I ended up winning and serving for 2 years as president of the league. The was a great learning experience for me.

Now could you see me as the next Mayor... NO WAY. Besides I did find out that being in leadership has some draw backs. You know when I could be sitting in the stands just cheering and watching, those leaders are thrust in there trying to keep things moving. Thanks to all of those that serve us. I have learned a new respect for my leaders.

Opposites!!!!

2009-10-11T20:37:00.001-07:00

Life has taken a new turn recently. I am not sure what to make of it. Chris playing football has brought back the school boy in me, I feel like I want to join a board or something..... Not!! I have had my days of whining and hearing how great the kid is and how I am ruining his pro career because of that official or coach. Yea, those days are past, but we have ventured down a new path. The opposite sex.

Yes I have been married for almost 17 years and I have realized the joys of marriage. Take the garbage out, make dinner and clean the bathroom are terms I now understand. My kids have noticed, and I am noticing. With Chris it is OK, he can look at pretty girls all he wants. Look at the menu and enjoy the scenery. Wolf, wolf we are men hear us roar! Kate on the other hand, I am having a hard time with.

7th grade has been a good experience for her. The only issue is that one of her good friends is still in elementary school, but Kate has grasped the whole school thing and is doing well in her classes. Kate has decided to run for senator in her class. Cool, but she is now out of the nest and I cannot control her any more. In fact the coach of the 7th grade football team told me to leave her home. The boys are not paying attention when she is at the game or practice. "Hey that is my daughter!" The other day she was sitting in the lawn chair and had about 6 sweaty boys sitting around her on the grass. They were doing the typical boy thing and spitting and tackling each other. I think Kate noticed.

We have been discussing slogans for her banners. "Vote for Kate, because her Dad is great" and "Kate is my little girl.. vote for her or else" have been voted down. This election is making me think of the kids she hangs out with. It is way too early for ME to pick her eternal mate. I told her that this is the time to have lots of boy friends. It is OK for her to let me know about EACH one of them!

I am so proud of her and what she is doing. I would certainly like to wrap her up and let her come out when she is 18, but I know that is impossible. I just hope that I can keep the lines of communication open with her. I am still THE DAD you know!

Unthinkable!!

2009-09-29T20:49:00.000-07:00

The unthinkable has happened. No, my kids have not grown up and moved out. Kate has not started kissing yet, Chris still is big and awkward, & Kolbie has yet to talk in a quiet voice. (That is for another post, just ask the Terrys or Vincents someday). I will always worship red, and follow the Dodgers with real intent. Of course the Cowboys have my heart, and after last night I have been walking on cloud nine. The unthinkable is worse than that.

Of course I like everyone else cannot take full credit for the unthinkable. It was not my fault. Today started out sort of normally and in all reality was VERY normal for me. I got up early so I could make plenty of time for the kids to get ready for school. I was showered and I poked my head in to get Kate up and going. The only thing I heard was "Dad I am sick". So, I ignored her and figured she was staying home. I went downstairs and got the big gulug up and going. Tuesday's are my day to open the shop so that means I leave for work at about 6:30. I got ready and instead of waking everyone up for prayers I left them be and went on my way.

It was still dark, like it has been lately. I hate going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark. That time is rapidly approaching, but that is not the unthinkable. I motored right along headed north on 5600 West. I did not hit it very well and traffic was backed up. Down by Cafe Rio, my favorite fast food Mexican restaurant, I noticed a lady coming out the driveway behind me. She was Not going to wait for someone to let her in. No way she was coming right into line, Behind me. No big deal. This lady was right on my tail end. At our break necking speed of 5 miles an hour I could see the whites of her eyes and the reflection of my red brake lights on her teeth. Are you like me? I hate when someone is so close to my back end. I could fart you know, I am old. Grandpa Greg is my nickname and not because I can drive the 3/8 mile in record time. I like my space, and I drive carefully.

After about 10 feet traffic stopped and she was right behind me (in Jill's car). So close I could not see the front of her Pontiac in my rear view mirror. She knew I was there, just watch out. Slowly the traffic creeped forward. Me with my eye on the dingle head behind me. Traffic stopped and so did I, slowly creeping forward as much as I could. The lady was not stopping and here it came... bump! She bumped into the back of me. I knew it!!! She was not watching. I knew it was coming.

I am a body shop guy, I know what kind of damage there can be. I pulled over and got out. She was very apologetic. She did know who she had run into...... I asked if she was OK, looked at my rear bumper, 1 small mark. Her car took the brunt of it. No big deal, I waved my hand and said don't worry about it. I am a nice guy, I could have strung her up, but what good would that do?

So we leave, she pulls out to pass me and guess what? She tailgates the guy all the way down the freeway. She will get her day... that is for sure.

So, no snow involved and me, the body shop guy, hoping all of you get into accidents has done it. I was involved in an accident. No neck brace or suing going on here, and just like I hear everyday.... It was the other guys fault!!!!!

Hunter wins, stands at 3-1

2009-09-26T21:21:00.000-07:00

The 2-1 Hunter Bantams faced off against a win less Park City team Saturday afternoon. Hunter found out early that Park City was not going to be a push over. Neither team moved the ball extremely well. Hunter had several long runs called back because of penalties. Coach Judd was extremely irritated and had to be subdued by the league president. "I do not ever want those guys again" Quinn complained after the game. The Hunter penalties and 1 costly fumble held the score at 7 to 0 going into halftime.

The halftime break came at a good time and the Hunter team was able to calm itself down and stick to is' game plan. Valu Kupu, #33 ran wild through the middle. The final stats were not made known to me, but I assume that he had a big day. Hunter's offensive and defensive lines controlled the line of scrimmage all day. Nickolas Hafen, #14 controlled the game on the offensive side, and the wildcat formation with Kupu receiving the direct snap helped Hunter keep it's running game going.

In the final minutes of the game Chris was put in at nose guard. He was able to push the center back into the quarterback causing a fumble that killed a last minute drive. Congratulations to Hunter on a well played game.

Next week Hunter takes on a very good Bingham team at Bingham. Good luck team!

Relax....

2009-09-19T21:04:00.000-07:00

The church holiday is here, some of you may ask when is there a church holiday. "Stake Conference" I say. I know that I am going to hell and you will all try to stop me by saying what a spiritual feeding I can get. I know, I know, just let me dream a bit Ok. I could only go twice a year and fill fulfilled, but I choose to belong to a church that forces me to live it. I just need a break. Everytime I think about fudging a bit I vividly remember sitting next to Wendy at a church meeting and her giving me the hymn book and saying "you know how to read music you should be singing" She was right, I just need a kick to the head once in a while.
Gimmie a break, break me off a piece of that Kit Kat bar. The last few weeks and especially the last few days have been a struggle for me, so the chance to veg in front of a football filled weekend with no ecclesiastical responsibilities feels good.
I hope you all got to see the "Phillies foul ball girl" this past week. If you didn't google it and watch the video as Dad passes the ball he just caught to his little girl and she throws it back. That image keeps passing through my head as I yell at my kids and loose my cool. Last night at Hunter Highs football game I had had enough with Kolbie's antics. She almost got left, but after I took a deep breath I could see this man hugging his daughter to him....... I need to be better. Pray for my family we need the extra help right now.

Baby Sitting

2009-08-23T10:16:00.000-07:00

My Daughter has grown up enough to experience something that most of us have... Baby Sitting. The Vincents have asked her to help them out with their grand kids for a few days. She has also watched her cousins a few times. Yesterday she went to my brother and sister in laws to watch their 3 kids. She had an interesting experience. The Bickmores are bird sitting, what that involves is a bird in a cage and feeding it. The Bickmores youngest child, Harrison, decided to open the cage and the guest decided to get out of the cage. This bird is supposed to be mean with a big sharp beak. Kate did not know what to do. I guess they tried the open cage with food inside for the bird. They tried loud noises, they even locked themselves in the bed room so the bird would not get them.
I can just imagine Kate and the kids trying to solve the issue and get the bird in the cage. I do not do well with birds, so I can sympathize with her. Kate is a good girl, it is fun to see her grow up and solve the deal.
When I was a kid we watched the neighbors dogs. They were big huskies. One of them actually had attacked my dog and it had died. One morning we went to check on them and one of the Huskies had died in it's dugout dog house. It had been cold and I think it froze to death. That was a tough deal.

Free from the strangle hold!

2009-08-05T20:48:00.000-07:00

Freebird is playing in the background as I type this post. Why you might ask? I have been released from bondage and left to roam with the big boys. If you close your eyes and imagine for just one moment. Class is excused and a hoard of young boys gather around a nice and calm man. Gradually these young men converge and with all the gumption they own they begin rubbing the bald man's head. This man was only to be saved from his ultimate doom when mom of #1 leader boy emerges from the other room and shoos all of the leaches away. Laughing are you? That was me about a week ago in the hall waiting to go to sharing time with my class.
THEN comes the attack of the "ladies" of the other classes. Certainly they must find and practice attacking me all week. Just to unleash on the innocent. Making it worse is the fact I am all by myself. Usually us men hunt in packs, but when stranded I am hopeless as being in a strip club with no singles. At this point I have no one to hear me grunt and cheer when I score a hit on the enemy. The "leaders" are of no help either because they hold those X chromosomes also. I want to stick my head deep in the sand like an ostrich so I can avoid the onslaught. Ode to the primary!
Just kidding, I am sad to be moving up and away from good friends and sisters that I think I can call my friends. I like to tease all of the Presidency and other teachers too, but I love them all and loved the kids I tried to serve. I always tried my best in my primary calling, I hope that I can progress in my new adventure too. Next time you sneak by the open class room door and don't see us kids playing a game or talking about something other than the lesson just remember I am now in the young men, heaven help us!
Now the young men have free access to rub my head and I have no protection.

2009-07-26T21:45:00.000-07:00

I have been duped, taken advantage of and otherwise used. This all done by my own daughter! Tuesday I officially lose my little girl and hatch a young woman. She is leaving for girl's camp. I am OK with her going and I know that she will be safe and have fun. I just thought I had a little girl still. Saturday afternoon her and I sat down to go over the list of items she needed so we could go to the store. Toothpaste, hand sanitizer, rain poncho, sleeping bag, etc. She got down the list to femine hygiene items and she looked at me puzzled. "What is that?" HA, HA, that is my little girl. I casually explained in my best man knowledge what that included and we were off to the store.
Walmart is a great place for everything girls camp. They carry items from rain poncho all the way to "secret sister" gifts for under a dollar. We had the list and checked it twice, we were missing nothing. So we were off to grab some food for lunch and Kate piped up. "Dad, I need Sunday shoes. Can we look at what they have here." Walmart shoes are cheap and I am all about cheap so I agreed. After a short couple of minutes Kate comes around the shoe aisle and says what about these Dad. They were heels, I had never seen Kate wear heels, but all girls do and I honestly could not remember if she had any or not. I asked if she could walk in heels and she said of course and said she wanted them so she did not feel so short. I had her try them on (ask me another day how to fit pants without trying them on). We traded for a larger size and headed out.
When Jill got home later that night I got told what I had done wrong. (See us men do not think we do anything wrong until we are told) Kate did not own any high heels and had never owned them, and these shoes were... how did they word it...... "hooker shoes" (not my words). Hmm well, I guess I do not get to take the girls shoe shopping anymore! YIPPEE (see related article on "how to get out of stuff")
Watching Kate try to walk in them at church was funny, but all women do it and I told her to look around. Watch all of the other ladies, they have mastered it. Heel, toe..... maybe I could do it. We had a baby giraffe loose in the halls today. What a day to be alive!