You Gotta Believe...

As of this very minute, the New York Mets have the best record in baseball. They are 15.5 games in front in the National League East, and have won 10 of their last 11 games. They are primed for a championship this year, and (assuming Glavine and Martinez are ok) should win it all. In 2000, when they played the Yanks in the first true subway world series, my cousins Jill and JP gave up a ticket so I could fly up and enjoy the game (Game 3, which is the only game the Mets won that year). Will they offer another ticket again? One can only hope, and beg, and offer mad money...

SL

NB - Jill wanted me to make it clear that SHE was the one that gave up a ticket. JP accompanied me to the game.

Quick Takes..

A couple of updates from previous blog entries

1) Water bill - we received our water bill for last month. Because we were able to reduce our consumption over 10% from the previous year, we were not charged tiered pricing. Had we been, the bill would have been very high. We reduced from 58,000 gallons to 32,000. Still have more work to do, but everyone is doing a great job pitching in.

2) Justin - Justin is back home already (after not quite three weeks in Austin). He and his girlfriend decided they were too young to play house and be so serious. Sometimes I really wish he'd listen to me. He's got his old job back, but not much in the way of plans (at least that I know of). Will be interesting and sure to be the subject of many blog entries going forward.

3) School - everyone is back in school (Dylan, Marissa, myself AND Cassie). Cassie is going to pre-school at a local church two days a week, and seems very excited. She'll receive instruction in Spanish, Computers, Gym and "Big" church. She is very excited. I wish I had her excitement. I am taking Linear Algebra and Business Law. Not much fun. Dylan has taken up 7th grade football, and Marissa has been inquiring about Volleyball. They are doing awesome!

4) Bitten - I've been "re-bitten" by the golf bug coming off of my weekend with the boys. A good bud of mine and I have a 6:28AM tee time for Friday. Can anyone say coffee?

5) License to kill - I've renewed my Freshwater Fishing license in Texas, AND added a hunting license to it. Add on an endorsement for migratory birds and a HIP registration, and I'm ready for the carnage. Angie's uncle is taking me dove hunting on Sunday (for you New Yorkers, pigeon is a type of dove, so don't feel bad). This is the year I catch a fish down here, too.

6) Love is in the air - Angie and I continue to have a period of closeness, kindness and intimacy. Everything is better when that occurs. Pray that it continues.

SL

A day so nice, let's play twice...

but it was so hot, we only played half of the second one...

I know the beginning does not read as the opening of a love letter, but that is exactly what this blog is all about. You see, I have a wife that understands me and acts on that understanding. Clearly, there are times where her needs are secondary to my own - and regardless of how she is feeling, she let's me come first. This doesn't happen all the time, nor is Angie perfect, but what I am slowly coming to realize is that the things that I would cause fights about (housekeeping, organization, responsibility, etc.) are all secondary to what really matters. And, if I focus on those things that matter, Angie hits a home run consistently.

Case in point (and the reason for the title): This weekend I spent playing golf with coworkers near Lake Texoma. About 12 of us decided a three day, 2 round a day session was in order starting Friday morning. Because I had to attend offsite meetings, I made plans to meet the guys Friday night at the resort.

After working for the day and spending some time with Angie and the kids, I left for Tanglewood. I played tons of golf (45 holes for me), won some money (my partner and I came in second in a best ball round), lost some money (The Choctaw Indians have it), ate some good food and had a great time.

When I got home on Sunday, Angie and the kids were still out, so I caught a nap. When she got home, it was just so evident that she was happy to have me home. It is just amazing that the nicer and more thoughtful we are to each other, the more we want to be...it is just this great cycle that we are in right now, and I'll do as much as possible to keep it going. Unfortunately, school starts tonight, so it will get that much harder - but it's worth it.

SL

Move to Austin

This weekend marked a milestone for Angie and I. We helped Justin move to Austin. Justin and his girlfriend decided to move to Austin to start her schooling at an area school. Although Angie and I do not support Justin's decision, we still love him and needed to help move his stuff for him. I'm surprised Angie hasn't blogged about it yet - she's having a hard time coming to grips that she has a near 20 year old.

We packed his stuff in the back of the truck, and headed out for our three hour ride to the Texas capital.

Unfortunately, I was traveling with three of the fairer sex, so it took a while since we had to make a couple of stops. Had we had more time, I'm sure I would have been requested to make more stops for the multitude of antique stores along route 35 going south. Fortunately, we left late and didn't have all that much time.

We arrived in Austin, and we were really impressed with where they are staying. They found a small apartment right in Longhorn country, and no doubt they will have fun with all the shops, clubs, and small restaurants. Couldn't help being a little envious of what appears to be a really neat place to live.

However, I think that they are both going to learn a thing or two about responsibility, too. Hopefully, Justin will learn a bit about being a man on his own, the same way I did when I was on my own. It's hard, and I tried to teach him that. Hopefully some of it stuck. He seems to be very excited - he secured a job, got a raise from what he was making in Dallas, and even got benefits.

Until then, I'm sure Angie and I will have many excursions into the "weird" city. Should be fun.

SL

Yo! Read 'dis, you'ze guys.

I said I was going to post during our week vacation in NYC, but I didn't because we never really had any down time. From leaving the house here in Rowlett 'till pulling back into the driveway at midnight on Saturday, it's been go, go, go - and every minute of it has been awesome.

We arrived Friday night late in NY. Unfortunately, so did every other plane scheduled to arrive at LaGuardia that night. Apparently, some weather delayed some flights, so it was mayhem at the airport and at the car rental. Took us over two hours to get to AMA's house from when we landed.

Saturday and Sunday was spent with family. Cousins Jill and JP had their annual block party in Long Beach on Saturday and we had a family get together on Sunday. It was so good to see family, particularly my brother and his family, whom I haven't seen in several years.

What was great about the week is that we really never stopped spending time with family, even when doing our vacation things...Monday was spent at the Bronx Zoo with my brother and his daughter, Jessica. Since they go to the zoo often, they helped us get the most out of our time there. Great fun.

Tuesday was our sightseeing day in Manhattan culminating in our surprise to the kids - "Beauty and the Beast" on Broadway. Absolutely awesome. We went to the top of Rockefeller Center, walked 5th Avenue, shopped at FAO Schwarz, ate dinner at The Jekyll and Hyde Club, spent some time in Nintendo World, and went to the play. It was so HOT, but great fun nonetheless.

Wednesday was spent with the entire family at Lido Beach in Hempstead, NY. The kids still can't get over the fact that great beaches are so close to the city...

Thursday was spent with family at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey. It was fun watching the kids get over their roller coaster fears. Truly a perfect day, until I got tossed from Batman because I couldn't close the seat over my gut. Time for a diet.

Friday was spent visiting with my Aunt Carole Anne who couldn't join us as she recovers from some knee surgery. We spent a couple of hours with her and had lunch. Then, we were off to Shea to see the Mets. We had 27 family members as a group and had a blast, even though the Mets got beat. The family is so much fun - in fact, I think the kids think me and my NY family are a little crazy - but that's ok, we were just enjoying each other.

It was such an awesome week, but I know this much, it is ALWAYS great to get home. Although I've been working today, I've already slept so much better in my own bed. I can't wait to be able to go back and not sleep well.

SL