Pics from Christmas Morning

Here are a couple pics from Christmas morning I have been meaning to scan...yes, we still use a "film" camera :-)

Here is my favorite gift...yes, better than the iPod. You will always be able to tell when I dress Cletus.

I also got a set of clamps. Here I am trying one of them out.

Tiny Dancer?

So, Chrissy thinks Cletus may be training to be a breakdancer or acrobat, because the last couple days she has felt/seen the baby doing the worm through her belly. That is cool stuff.

In other news, one of the gifts my lovely wife gave me for Christmas was an iPod. It is a fun little toy. I opened it last night, and I have already put about 24 CDs on it. That is 345 songs (1.44 GB)! Everything from Alabama to GnR to Michael Buble to Dave Matthews to Boyz II Men to U2 to Bob Marley to Frank Caliendo. It is pretty cool! Not as cool as Cletus doing the worm, but almost.

Have a happy and safe New Year!

Under 10 weeks to go

Well, Cletus had another successful check up today...heart beat was 142, and everything looks great.

We hope you all had a merry Christmas!

Holiday Ha Ha's (or Ho Ho's depending how you laugh)

Congrats

Jil and Todd, congratulations on your engagement! Welcome to the family Todd!

We are happy for you both!

Wawd's Back Full Time!

From jayski.com...per the Morgan-McClure Motorsports website, Ward Burton has signed to drive the #4 Morgan McClure Motorsports Chevy in 2007 to be sponsored by State Water Heaters.


While I am glad Ward is back full time, I can not believe this ride will be a top 25 car right off the bat, which will be disappointing. They will have to have their stuff in order from the start next season since there will be more than 43 full time teams (52 is the current count - that means at least 9 cars will be sent home from every race), and the 4 car finished 39th in points last season, hence not guaranteeing a spot in the first 5 races. I have faith in Ward though!

The Heartbeat of America

No...not today's Chevrolet...but Cletus' heartbeat...it was 151 bpm this morning, which the docs say is good.
So, the heartbeat tracker has been...
August 24 - 160
September 20 - 141
October 16 - 145
November 13 - 140
December 12 - 151

The doc this morning said all looks good, and it may be a small baby, based on measurements. That is fine by us. Me thinks Chrissy does not want a 10 pounder :-)

In other news, the nursery is painted! Chrissy wrapped that up last night...our first foray into decorative painting. She did a great job. Pics will be posted soon.

Also, we figured out last night we already have 25+ infant onezees.

It is also started to hit us that we are about 11 weeks from welcoming Cletus into the world. We are definitely on the downhill. Scary, yet exciting. We don't know if we will be totally prepared, but have decided to make it up as we go along!

I wonder...

...why on unseasonably warm days, one likes to roll down the windows, mash the gas, and turn up the tunes while driving?

There is something about days like today that makes me do all of the above. Do you have similar inclinations?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Isn't this interesting...

NASCAR "diehards" don't like the idea of Japanese manufacturer Toyota entering Cup racing because they are foreign. But it seems (from the excerpt below) that the Camry is the only Cup model that is fabricated in the US.

From an article on espn.com
Ironically, there will be only one Nextel Cup car on the track next year whose showroom version is actually manufactured on U.S. soil. The Ford Fusion is assembled in Mexico, while the Chevrolet Monte Carlo and the Dodge Charger are built in Canada. In fact, Dodge is owned and operated by foreign manufacturer Daimler-Chrysler, a German company. The Camry, the model Toyota will race in 2007, is made in Kentucky, by American hands in factories run on U.S. soil. Despite being based in Japan, Toyota has found a way to tear down cultural barriers and define itself within the American psyche, blurring the line between domestic and foreign cars.

No More Goody's

Another piece of NASCAR history bites the dust...

Goody's out, Tylenol in..with NASCAR: Goody's Headache Powders, a staple in NASCAR since 1977, will be replaced by Tylenol next season as the sport's official pain reliever. It's yet another break the stock car racing series is making from its longtime, but regional, partners. Goody's plans to stay involved with Petty Enterprises and continue its relationship with Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, where Goody's sponsored a Busch Series race this season. The agreement also provides promotional opportunities around all the NASCAR tracks and gives Tylenol exclusive-rights deals with the International Speedway Corporation and Dover International Speedway.

Pics from the 30th Birthday Party

Chrissy really did a great job putting this party together, as you can see from these pics...

The front porch tailgate party.

The memory/picture table.

The breakfast nook.

The living room.

The entry hallway. We blew up 200+ balloons!

The chocolate fondue fountain and the sweet football field cake!

A couple more cake pictures. Chrissy made the cake!

24.5

Had another doctor's appointment this morning...Chrissy and Cletus are 24 weeks, 3 days along. We are on the downhill now!!!

All still looks great according to the doctors. Heart beat was 140 this morning.

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers!

It's too EARLY!!!

This weekend, a radio station in Charlotte was having a preview weekend of all Christmas music. What the $&*#?????

When is it OK for stations to start their 100% Christmas music rotations?

I think December 1 is ok for 24-7 Christmas music.

I can see maybe the weekend after Thanksgiving (to get all the shoppers in the mood), but they should go back to regular music on Monday.

I found this humorous

Happy Halloween!!!

Happy Birthday LOML

Happy Birthday most beautiful, loveable, wonderful, and kind wife in the whole wide world!

I love you!?!?!?!?!?!?

Happy 60th Birthday Pops!

Beautiful Pictures

And now, the long awaited premiere of Cletus...the first pictures :-)

Here is a side body profile.


What do you think...is Cletus blowing a kiss, or going to suck a thumb?


Here is a map of Italy. I mean a leg and foot.


Here is a 3-D pic of the face, which is in the middle of the picture. It is hard to make out, but the left eye, nose, lips, and left ear can be seen.

World Premiere of Cletus This Week

This morning, Chrissy and I (and Cletus) went to the doctor for an ultrasound. It was pretty cool and exciting. Cletus was moving a lot...saw the hands and arms moving...looked like it was sucking its thumb or blowing us kisses. Also kicked its leg a little. With all that movement, I think it may be an athlete, or it was getting its morning workout in. The heartbeat this morning was 145 beats/minute. The doctor said everything looks great from the measurements and organs, which is a blessing. The due date is still March 2, 2007. I will post the world premiere pictures sometime this week.

Action Shot

I got to work on the chain crew for last night's Temple-Clemson game in Charlotte. Even though the game was not competitive, It was still a good time.

Cletus Update

Well, Cletus saw the doc again today. Came through with flying colors...the heartbeat was 141 beats per minute, and sounded strong. Cletus is growing too.

Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers.

First 1-zee

What should Cletus's first 1-zee be? I vote for the one on the right!

Top Ten Things Never Before Said By A NASCAR Driver

10. Kasey Kahne: "Anyone know how to drive a stick?"
9. Jeff Gordon: "Does this gas taste funny to you?"
8. Jeff Burton: "I don't care much for country music or beer"
7. Mark Martin: "Switch the 'r' and 'c' in 'racing' and you get 'caring'"
6. Dale Earnhardt Jr.: "Wow, Letterman looks so young in person"
5. Denny Hamlin: "You're looking at a guy who can drive 500 miles without taking a leak"
4. Kyle Busch: "A truly great driver doesn't mind asking for directions, am I right, ladies?"
3. Kevin Harvick: "It would be nice if the guys in the pits occasionally surprised me with a piece of carrot cake or something"
2. Jimmie Johnson: "The Nextel Cup is great, but what I'm really excited for is Late Show Ventriloquist Week"
1. Matt Kenseth: "If you think I'm fast in my car, you should see me in the bedroom"

Hoya Paranoia in NASCAR

Brendan Gaughan will be racing this sweet truck at New Hampshire this weekend...

Proverbs 22:6

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

This resonated in me.

Agassi

Andre Agassi is one of my favorite athletes of all time. Definitely my favorite tennis player. He is currently playing in his last tournament, and is keeping the thrills coming, winning a 5-set match over the 8 seed last night. Whether or not he wins another match, he is the epitome of dignity, integrity, and professionalism.
An excerpt from a July 17 Sport Illustrated article about him...

Andre was showing Robin Williams and members of Earth, Wind & Fire the academy that he built in the middle of the most destitute neighborhood in Las Vegas. It's a charter school, mostly poor black kids. He was explaining why learning levels here had made leaps so striking that the academy's middle school was the only one among 328 public schools in its county that's received an "exemplary" rating.
He took us to the room where Cirque du Soleil performers taught the kids acrobatics. Past the art class where a French painter who trained with Picasso taught them the use of color and space. He led us into a kindergarten class where, like a five-year-old himself, he burst forward so eagerly to tell everyone about the academy's innovations that he knocked over half of an edifice of blocks that the class had built, then dropped to his knees in such haste and remorse to rebuild it that he knocked over the rest.
You followed him down the gleaming hallways, thinking, Man, he got it, he really got the big picture, and wondering what the world would be like if a couple of superstars in each city did this. But his annual fund-raising gala for the school was scheduled for that weekend, and he was too busy to sit and explain how he got here.

Congrats Andre, on a great career, and for setting a great example!

Friday Night Lights

A little video from the HS game I officiated last Friday night...

Some Randomness

Hokie Football starts this Saturday...1:30. They will beat up on this 1-AA foe (Northeastern), but in 13 months when the next 1-AA opponent rolls into Lane Stadium, that team (the mighty Tribe of William and Mary) will leave victorious!

Cletus is 13 weeks, 5 days old :-)

Looks like gas prices are coming down...

If you are a Skins fan, or not a Skins fan...and understand Danny Boy Snyder, these are hilarious!

Impregnito

Well, after having a ton of fun over the last 4+ years, Chrissy and I have decided to let someone else in on all the fun we are having.

Chrissy is pregnant! And she is due on March 2. We are terribly excited about this blessing in our lives.

We went and heard Cletus' (as in Cletus the Fetus) heartbeat on Tuesday for the very first time. The nurse found it right away, and it was beating strong! 160 beats per minute, which both the nurse and doctor said was excellent for 12.5 weeks.

We have decided to be surprised about the sex of the baby. My initial instinct is it will be a girl. Chrissy thinks it'll be a boy. What do you think?

Stay tuned for updates and maybe pictures.

~The Baby's Daddy

My Goal

Interesting article on being an ACC football official.

SICK!

This is one of the sickest things I have ever seen!

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

This may be good...from an article on yahoo.com...

Ferrell plays Ricky Bobby, a dimwit who grows up following the edict his absentee father once told him — "If you ain't first, you're last."
Ricky Bobby lives by the motto as he climbs his way from NASCAR crew member to champion driver, and parlays his success into newfound riches, a hot blonde wife and a pair of horrible children named Walker and Texas Ranger. He's such a star, Powerade has commissioned him to thank its sports drink during a lengthy grace before dinner each night.

But Jeff didn't want to participate...interesting take there...
Still, not everyone was comfortable with the idea. Although Dale Earnhardt Jr. has a cameo in the film and proudly walked the black-asphalt carpet at last week's Hollywood premiere, Jeff Gordon passed on participating in the movie.
For Gordon, the four-time series champion who runs a close second to Earnhardt in popularity, the industrywide inside jokes were a little too close to comfort for the driver and his sponsors.
"I think it prevented me from being a part of the movie," Gordon said. "We presented it to DuPont and our other sponsors talked about it, and although I think the movie is going to be hilarious — and I don't mind laughing at things within our sport — it wasn't the type of movie that I could have been part of.
"I would have liked to, but after seeing the script, there were some moments in there that I questioned because of the type of image I like to put out for myself and DuPont and our sponsors."

Can you smell it???

Football season that is.

I am ready for some Tribe, Hokie, Redskin, and Panther football!

HS reffing meetings started in mid-July. College reffing meetings started in mid-May. HS scrimmages start August 11. First HS game is August 18. First college game is August 26. I am ready!

And before you know it, another football season will be over.

Any Hokie predictions out there? I say 9-3.

Get it?

World Cup Misery

Well, I am still bummed about the US World cup experience. While the officials did not help the US out any, we still didn't play well enough to advance.

At least ESPN.com came up with a clever headline...

We'll be back for South Africa 2010!

GO Azzurri!!!

If this is what it takes to move on in the World Cup, so be it! The US is ready for Ghana. We need to do our part, and I just hope Italy beats the Czechs. Maybe they'll eat some special pasta tonight with extra carbs!

You are next Jan Koller!

USA! USA! USA!

BEAT THE CZECH'S!!!!

Goaaaaaaaaalllllllllll

Yeah buddy! World Cup starts today!

My US prediction...they go 1-1-1 in the opening round, and do not advance. I hope I am wrong. I will be watching every US game though! Can't wait.

Congrats sis on the marathon!
Name - Alta Fath
Age - 28
Chip Time - 4:57:02
Clock Time - 5:02:16
Overall - 8510
SexPl - 3557
DivPl - 1001

I think that is all for now. Have a great weekend!

Food for thought...

Proverbs 19:17 (NLT)
If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD--and he will repay you!

William & Mary to Appeal NCAA

As some of you may know, the NCAA is cracking down on Native American nicknames and mascots. The William and Mary Tribe were just notified that its logo, which consists of the nickname "Tribe" flanked by two feathers, is discriminatory.

Since when were feathers threatening?

From a Washington Post article...
The NCAA ruling, rendered in a two-page statement released Tuesday, represented a split decision for the college, which had argued that its nickname conveyed "ennobling sentiments of commitment, shared idealism, community and common cause." NCAA officials agreed in part, ruling that "Tribe" itself was not objectionable but that linking "Tribe" to an image of two feathers was. As a result, William & Mary has been retained on a list of schools subject to penalties because of what the NCAA deems to be "hostile and abusive" nicknames or mascots.

Here is my favorite quote though...
Bill Walker , associate vice president for public affairs, said William & Mary felt compelled to fight for the right to display its logo. "It's hard for us to understand how the NCAA could approve Florida State's wild representation of an Indian on horseback with the flaming spear and be perturbed about feathers," Walker said.

And the school President, Gene Nichol's comments...
To the Campus Community:
We learned last evening that the NCAA staff review determined the use of the nickname "Tribe" by our athletic teams was neither "hostile nor abusive." The report did object, however, to the use of feathers as part of our sports logo. We will appeal the ruling as it applies to the logo.
The good news, of course, is the NCAA has agreed with our assessment of the term "Tribe." The nickname—so close to the heart of this community—will remain the College's moniker.
The NCAA's varied interpretations of mascot policy—what it allows and what it rejects—are impossible to comprehend or justify. It is unsurprising, therefore, that the U. S. Congress is considering taking the matter out of the Association's hands. It remains my belief that the William and Mary athletic program should be touted as a national model for unparalleled academics and athletics.
Go Tribe!

A close call...

Spanish bullfighter Eduardo Gallo barely misses a bull's horn during San Isidro's bullfighting fair at Madrid's Las Ventas bullring May 11, 2006. Madrid celebrates its patron saint San Isidro every year with a fair which includes cultural events and concerts, as well as three weeks of bullfights.REUTERS/Susana Vera

Ward in the BIG BROWN TRUCK??????

Say it ain't so! RUMOR from jayski.com

Ward to Yates? from LastCowboys.com: ... couple of little birdies have told me in the last couple of weeks that Ward Burton is off the market in terms of driver availability. And while it is claimed that this information comes from people we would all consider ‘official’ type people, these ‘official’ type people are being coy in regards to whom or what has taken him off the market. One rumor that has gained momentum has Ward taking over the #88 UPS Ford owned by Robert Yates Racing when Dale Jarrett bolts for Toyota. Again, Jarrett hasn’t officially said that he is going to Toyota, but he hasn’t exactly denied it either. Another little nugget of information floating around out there states that if Jarrett bolts, UPS will stay with Yates, but they don’t want the next ‘potential’ Cup star. They want a proven competitor, not just some cat with little or no experience.(LastCowboys.com)(5-11-2006)

Black Jelly Beans

I just heard that eating lots of black jelly beans can be a contributing factor to high blood pressure. Bummer.

Worcestershire Sauce

Did you know that a main ingredient in Worcestershire Sauce is anchovies? I found that out this weekend. Who knew???

O'Sheas

My favorite casino last week...

Viva, Las Vegas!

Thanks for the 29 and 6 mo! It was a great time!

Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce

Bruce Arena is naming his 23-player World Cup squad this afternoon at 6 PM (ESPN Sportscenter). Something tells me that although this team may have more talent than 2002, we will not advance as far. I just think we will not be able to surprise anyone this year. Other teams know we are good now, and will be ready for us. I hope I am wrong though, as watching the 2002 US games was friggin awesome!

Here is a great article about Bruce. Enjoy...

NASCAR on the Radio

There is nothing quite like listening to a NASCAR race at Talladega on the radio. The commentators get so excited that you feel like you are there watching it with them!

Dakoda Dowd

A wonderful story from the world of sports this week.

Link one, two, three, four.

Major League Soccer Salaries

Most professional soccer players in the US do not make much cash.

All salaries are linked above. Here are the DC United salaries...

Position - Player -------- Base Salary - Guaranteed Salary
F - Adu, Freddy ---------$300,000 ---$550,000
F - Moreno, Jaime -------$230,000 ---$241,250
M - Gomez, Cristian -----$180,000 ---$182,500
F - Filomeno, Lucio ------$150,000 ---$163,250
M - Olsen, Ben -----------$155,000 ---$162,500
F - Quaranta, Santino ----$135,000 ---$145,500
F - Eskandarian, Alecko --$110,000 ---$130,500
D - Erpen, Facundo -------$105,000 ---$105,000
GK - Rimando, Nick ------$96,800 ----$102,800
D - Namoff, Bryan --------$80,000 ---$83,750
D - Prideaux, Brandon ----$72,765 ----$72,765
M - Gros, Joshua ---------$70,000 ----$72,500
M - Carroll, Brian ---------$56,254 ----$58,754
M - Simms, Clyde ---------$42,500 ----$43,750
D - Wilson, John ----------$36,300 ----$36,300
D - Stokes, David ---------$31,256 ----$33,756
D - Boswell, Robert -------$29,400 ----$29,400
GK - Perkins, Troy -------$29,400 ----$29,400
M/F - Walker, Jamil ------$29,400 ----$29,400
M - Dyachenko, Rod ------$16,500 ----$16,500
M - Moose, Justin --------$16,500 ----$16,500
F - Nickell, Matt ----------$16,500 ----$16,500
M/D - Carroll, Jeff --------$11,700 ----$11,700
M - DeRoux, Stephen -----$11,700 ----$11,700
GK - McIntosh, Ryan -----$11,700 ----$11,700
M/D - McTavish, Devon --$11,700 ----$11,700
M - Mediate, Domenic ----$11,700 ----$11,700
M - Metcalf, Andy --------$11,700 ----$11,700

A New Vocation???

Last night, my wife told me that I could be an arm pit model.

No Chevy? Or Dodge? Or Ford????

I find this interesting...

From jayski.com

One of the Manufacturers pulling out of NASCAR? an autoextremeist.com column is reporting that: It has come to our attention that serious discussions are taking place for the first time in the conference rooms of one domestic manufacturer in particular on a subject heretofore unthinkable in Detroit. The subject? Pulling out of NASCAR. Yes, it has been mentioned before, and I have predicted it for months now - ever since the announcement was made that Toyota would be buying its way into the France family circus - but we have confirmation that not only are the discussions taking place, they're so far down the road that a timetable for a pullout has been created, taking into account the end dates of existing contracts with individual racing teams currently aligned with this particular manufacturer. This Detroit manufacturer has decided that if it competes in motorsports in the future, it will only compete in three basic areas: 1. In production-based racing series that by rule and specification retain more than a passing resemblance to the cars they sell and the competitors they compete against in showrooms. 2. "Technical" efforts, in other words, engine programs for open-wheel and prototype racing series, but stopping short of Formula 1. And 3. Developing an effort to compete for the overall victory at Le Mans. Any other efforts, grass-roots racing, drag racing, etc., would be covered as the need and budget allow.(in part....see full article at autoextremeist.com, note: the article doesn't say which manufacturer COULD be leaving [Chevy, Dodge, Ford] and this column will only be up a few days), Peter M. DeLorenzo, who owns and writes for the site has been on Speed Channel's Wind Tunnel a few times and tends to be controversial and a bit anti-NASCAR, however doesn't tend to just post stuff for the sake of posting it and has a lot of sources.(4-20-2006)

Edamame

Edamame...have you tried it? It is the new thing in our house! Well, not really new new, but new in the last 3 months. We eat it all the time. My wife, the "Pantry Couture" can whip it up in no time! Edamame sides, edamame dumplings. Who knows what is next? But it is good, and great for you!

What is edamame you ask???

Edamame - Immature green soy beans
These beans are what’s HOT in the bean world. Some consider edamame a wonder bean since is it the only vegetable containing all 9 essential amino acids, making it a complete protein source, similar to meat and eggs. Typically found frozen, just boil the beans until tender, rinse with cold water, and season lightly. Then eat the bean right out of the shell. To make it an even easier treat to eat, buy them shelled.
1 serving = 1/2 cup

Good Friday

Get your taxes done?

Got this in an email from my mom...

JELLY BEAN PRAYER
Red is for the blood He gave,
Green is for the grass He made.
Yellow is for the sun so bright,
Orange is for the edge of night.
Blue is for the sins we made,
White is for the grace He gave.
Purple is for His hour of sorrow,
Pink is for our new tomorrow!
a bag full of jelly beans,
so colorful and sweet,
is a prayer, is a promise…
is a special treat!

I hope you all have a blessed Easter weekend.

Congrats!

To Paul and Trisha, on the birth of Kaitlyn Olivia, born April 12, 2006 at 6:47 PM!!!

In Memory

Pops,
I love you and I miss you.
Thank you for everything.
Love, Josh

Oguchi Onyewu

If you don't know the name Oguchi Onyewu now, you will after the World Cup (that is if you like or follow soccer). He is my favorite player on the US National Team. There is a great article about him in today's Washington Post.

More Pics...

...related to the post below about being back on the DC United Website...