Norwich City FC

OK I don’t come on here and mope but Norwich City lost Friday and with it went any hopes of reaching 6th place which would have put them into the playoffs for the final spot for promotion into the English Premier League. One more year at the Championship League level.

I have two words that only City fans will get: WORTHY OUT!!!

We reached the Premiership last season and floundered. Going into the last match we controlled our own destiny. Win and we stay. Lose and we go down. We lost 6-0.
This year started poorly and every time we had a few matches that lead to points, Worthington would make some drastic changes and we’d go on a nice little losing streak to teams we should have wiped the floor with. They let Ashton go to West Ham United. They get a guy named Earnshaw who does more for us than Deano was doing and we start winning again, giving some fans hope for a playoff run.
Then today he starts with a 4-5-1 position and sits Earnie on the bench. Surprise, we lost 0-2 and bye bye playoffs. The man is doing all he can to get fired so he can go back to Sheffield Wednesday where he was some sort of hero of a player back in the day.
OK now I’ve vented. I can relax and enjoy the rest of my weekend now.

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odd thing…

You know how in cartoons sometimes, the artists draw a little black cloud that follows a character around and it rains on only them?

Well this morning Victoria and I witness at least a solitary black cloud all by it’s lonesome and REALLY low in the sky (almost fog). As we passed over the bridge onto I-56 south from westbound Highway 56, there sat this long flat cloud. It was completely black, didnt’ seem to be caused by any smoke but it was VERY black. All the clouds in the sky were silvery white and here’s this pitch black cloud sitting there and seemingly not caused by anything. Not from a factory or construction vehicles or a fire. Just sitting there by itself, floating in open space about 300 feet or so off the ground.

Anyways just thought it was odd and worth sharing.

Y’all stay shiny. I’m havin’ a great day myself.

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Condolences needed…

My wife…is a sci-fi fanatic. I’m kidding about the condolences part.

She’s a fan of Firefly (nothing wrong there), Battlestar Gallactica (not a fan, but it’s not horrible), Dr. Who (never watched it myself). She also likes Farscape but says it’s not as exciting as the other three. She doesn’t watch Star Trek or Stargate so she’s at least picky on what she will watch but…That’s 4 established sci-fi shows that she likes to watch. Definitely more than I would have ever guessed when I married her.

Firefly…just so you all know…is one of the best shows ever put on TV. This is coming from someone who really detests most sci-fi shows. Don’t think so? I dare ya to watch three episodes and NOT agree that it’s good. REAL good. One of FOX’s worst mistakes ever.

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Last Two Weeks

OK well maybe not the whole last couple of weeks. My memory isn’t that good.
So my hair is now a dirty blonde color (sort of). It’s normal enough that I don’t feel weird at church. It’s got a greenish tint to it but only in certain light. I gotta cut it so I can try bleaching it again. My hair is just fried right now. Too many color changes in too short a time span.

The last couple weeks were adventurous. More mentally than anything else. As you might have guessed from my last post, I wasn’t too happy a few weeks back. Had a rough week at work, nearly lost my mind and just fizzled out. I have a ton of insecurity. I’ve noticed that everyone does but each person sorta handles it in different ways. My way is to get really down on myself, focus on all the things I’m doing wrong, the stuff I should be doing and then just sitting there and wallowing in it without actually doing anything. Stephanie was the same way. Rachel not so much…so I wonder where we got that trait from? My mom’s parents of course, right Dad? Heh.

Anyways, so I pulled myself out of it and the last week was really good with every day being better than the day before it.

We started Monday with some new personal procedures at work. They’re designed to help pin down my priorities and my focus for the day and to help me get past this little wall I have. At home I’ve been more action and less talk. Victoria’s back has been bothering her and that has lead to more opportunities to serve the woman I love the most.

Saturday we found a great place to eat breakfast called the Golden Egg Omelet House in Escondido. It’s a sit down place but they have something like 88 different omelettes on the menu and if you don’t see a mix you like, if they have the ingredients they’ll make any omelette you can dream up. I think I like Kono’s better overall but this is closer to the house, less crowded and it’s garaunteed that whatever I’m in the mood for, I’ll get. I had the biscuits and gravy with sausage. Great stuff.

Sunday we had dinner with a few families from the ward. First off, I’d just like to say that one day we will own a house like the ones in the 4S Ranch district of San Diego county. Checking a few realtors in the area I found that homes range anywhere from $595k-1.8 million. I have no idea how much the Johnson home is (and really it’s none of my business) but I’ll just say it’s nice.

We had ten adults and ten children. That means plenty of noise and not all in one language, as is the case in many San Diego homes. What isn’t normally the case is that the two languages were English and French. Victoria and I have determined that since the Johnsons speak French to their kids and Matt Romney served a mission in Paris, that we’re gonna brush up on the French we took in high school and maybe one day have a dinner with them in French. What an exciting thing that would be!

Anyways, food was great. Pot roast, smashed potatoes with tons of sour cream and butter, a GREAT salad and roasted brussel sprouts. Renee must have just watched the last Barefoot Contessa. Minus the stuff tomatoes and switching the meatloaf for pot roast, that’s exactly what she made. ANYWAYS the brussel sprouts were amazing. I never thought I liked ’em. Maybe it’s just that I’ve never had them cooked for me by someone who knew how to properly roast them.

The conversation was great. I can’t go over everything we discussed but topics ranged from BYU, primary class and Education Week to Steve Roach, immigration and the Romney-Kennedy race of 1994. It was great hearing Paul and Matt discuss their missions in France and their favorite cheeses and pastries. I walked out of there feeling like I’d learned new things. Like now I have no idea who I’m voting for in April for Duke Cunningham’s seat. Bilbray and Kaloogian are the known names. Busby’s the liberal. Uke’s the grand extreme conservative. Roach is the BYU Alumn who is sorta the outsider in this. I almost want to vote for him to help him gain a name for himself but really…I’m gonna read up on all of them and vote for who I agree with more and who I think will do a better job. With Roach running on his own money alone and no outside sponsers whatsoever, that has me leaning a bit his way. Special interest groups are the kryptonite to the Superman that is the American government. Without them, I think this country would be run a lot more efficiently.

I also hear there’s some uproar locally about some initial plan or idea to make 4S Ranch High School into a non-sports, non-arts High School Academy. You cannot have a High school without sports and especially without arts. With sports, students learn personal discipline, physical fitness, teamwork and problem solving skills. The arts help to sharpen minds and it’s been proven that those who participate in music, art and/or drama classes or groups tend to have higher test scores in history, math and english. SO, if they want their academy to graduate students who are ready to head to 4-year universities, I believe it’s imperative that they include sports and the fine arts in their curriculum. In fact, I’d like to see those things required. Some kids aren’t good at sports but at least SOME form of physical education should be taught. I didn’t get that in high school and look at me now. Proof that Marching Band shouldn’t count as PE.

Anyways so we had a great time last night.

Now…onto today.

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What should I do?

You know when you’re talking on the phone about stuff you’re interested in, and the person on the other end of the phone just sits there silently and doesn’t respond to anything you say? So you go on assuming they must just be intently hanging on every word like some co-dependent lap dog. Then you realize they aren’t even there anymore, they’ve just put the phone down figuring that at some point you’ll get it and hang up.

Yeah…it’s starting to feel that way here.

So here’s my questions to you and they require a response. If you don’t have a blogspot ID just comment anonymously and sign your name. If you can’t leave a comment e-mail me to let me know it’s broken.

OK so the questions:

1. What is your name
2. How often do you read this specific blog?
3. What is your favorite thing about this? Not me, what is it that I talk about or do or say that you like most about the blog?
4. What suggestions would you give to make it better? Should I add in segments or topics? Have a regular schedule of issues and bits like a show or something? Am I entertaining in any way whatsoever?

OK No. 4 was like four questions but you get the idea. I’ve been using this as just a journal for so long but I’d like to turn this into something a bit more entertaining and easy reading for those who’re interested in what’s been going on in my life. I write this for you guys. If I didn’t, I might as well just write in a diary at home or something. This is my way of keeping everyone I care about updated on my life because as many of you know, I’m really bad at keeping in touch. Some of you I saw this morning and some of you I haven’t seen in years and everyone in between.
Anyways…write in. Let me know you’re out there. Let me know that I’m not just talking to myself here. Give me some reason to keep doing this and maybe some idea on how it can be better (less boring or whatever).

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Capote

So Capote. Well I will say the movie is very well done. Well worth the nomination. The movie also portrays Truman as the egotistical, glory-fed, dishonest, cold and calculating person he was. I can’t pretend to know the man’s true motivations in the way he wrote this book but all I can assume is that he saw the opportunity to write his “non-fiction novel” that would get him the acclaim he always wanted, and it ended with him falling in love with one of the murderers and skewing the facts of his story to make Perry Smith appear as the passive dreamer who had a moment of insanity and Dick Hickock as a domineering and pyschotic human monster. Along the way he falsely befriended and inevitably betrayed the people of Holcomb, KS and more importantly all those that loved Herbert, Bonnie, Nancy and Kenyon. That includes members of my family who now can’t have the name “Capote” spoken without flying into a rage.

I can’t say I have the same reaction but let’s say I see him for who he was and that’s that. I know he befriended and got really close to those that were the most affected. He became almost a member of their family and collected (and never returned) various items to help him write a story that the town believed would glorify the rememberance of the Clutters and tell the story of those left behind. Then he betrayed them all by getting the murderers a better lawyer, falling in love with Perry Smith and writing a book that shows the murderers in a good light and ignores the family and friends who’s lives were destroyed by this tragedy. In fact, in a side of my family full of drama I can’t think of a person that’s more despised among them than Truman Capote. In fact, I can’t say that I hold Harper Lee, George Plimpton or Jack Dunphy in high regard either simply for their long and continued association with Truman. They knew who he was and they were his friends anyways. I can’t decide if that means they condoned what he did or that they loved him despite that. So I don’t know if I should respect them more, feel sorry for them, or detest them for condoning his behavior and personality.

Anyways the movie, again, is well worthy of nomination for an Oscar. I’ll see Crash and Munich and see if it’s good enough to win. I guess either way we’ll find out tomorrow.

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Belated Valentine’s

So due to brake issues we were unable to do the Valentine’s Day celebration we’d hoped for. So instead, we did that today.

We got up around 5:30am and got ready. Headed down to PB to a place called Kono’s Surfshop Cafe. This place had be touted as having the best breakfast in San Diego. After having eaten there I can’t disagree. It’s not some 5-star resort type place. It’s exactly what it says. A small little shop near the beach at the VERY end of Garnet in Pacific Beach. By end, I mean it’s west of Mission and the last thing before the hotel that’s right on the beach.

We ordered Egg Burritos. She got the #3 with egg, cheese, potatoes, bacon and pica sauce. I got the #1 with egg, cheese, sausage, avocado and pica sauce. The burritos were so large we barely made it through half of one. The taste? OOOOH MY! Great stuff. The spices were perfect, including the sausage and bacon. They had the perfect mix of ingredients. The avocados were just ripe enough, and there wasn’t too much cheese, avocado or sausage. They also have breakfast plates, french toast, pancakes, potatoes and other stuff. They also make a killer lunch, or so I’ve heard. SO…Egg Burrito…$4.25. Together we had a #1, #3, and two Diet Cokes. Total was just over $12.

After breakfast we headed home. I got my oil changed and then we headed out to see Capote. For those of you who don’t already know, Capote is one of the movies nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. The last few years we’ve tried to see every movie that’s been nominated. This year Victoria saw “Good Night, Good Luck” with her dad and now we’ve seen Capote. Tonight we’ll watch Crash. I’d like to mix in Munich if it wins anything tomorrow. The other one is Brokeback Mountain and we’re both just not interested in that movie right now. Not for the cowboy aspect. Not for the homosexual aspect. Mostly it’s because while it looks well made, it just isn’t that appealing to us as entertainment at the moment. I’ll write more about Capote in my next blog and post it shortly after this one.

After the movie we made a quick trip to Henry’s and then went out to Chin’s Szechwan for lunch. I love Chin’s. It’s close by and has some great Plum Tree Beef. I think I got it a bit too hot though. I felt more pain than I tasted food. That can’t be good. Next time I’ll just order it as is, and that will be just fine. So Plum Tree Beef and Spicy Honey Chicken lunch plates and a couple Diet Cokes came to $18.86 plus tip.

OK UPDATE: We headed to Hamburger Factory in Old Poway. I never knew this little place existed. There’s a Railroad Museum (small compared to Sacramento’s) and they have a train track running around the complex. I guess this must have been where the old city of Poway used to be before everything grew up around it. The houses in this area are HUGE ranch-style houses and very ornate. They aren’t million dollar houses, they’re MILLIONS dollar houses. ANYWAYS to dinner.

So we came in around 6:30 on a Saturday night and it was crowded but there wasn’t a wait. Hamburgers ranged around 5.99 for a 1/4 pound burger and 6.25 for a half-pounder. They give you the bun, patty, and whatever the burger comes with (lettuce, tomato, bacon, cheese, mushrooms, avocado, whatever) and at your table is jars with pickles, sliced onions, an odd assortment of carrots and chiles (never understood that), as well as mayo, mustard and ketchup. This way you can adorn your burger as you like it. Sorta like Fuddruckers with a more personal touch and less variety. ANYWAYS, the dinner was pretty good. Chili Cheese Fries, a couple “Jr” burgers (that’s the 1/4 pound, we ain’t adventurous) and a couple of Diet Cokes came to $20.15.

So, for well under $60 we covered all our food for the day. Our movie was $5 a piece with popcorn and drink which came to under $20. So for about $75 we enjoyed three meals and a movie. Add in a nice walk on the beach or through a park and that’s a great full-day date.
We had a wonderful time.

End of the evening we watched Crash. OK the movie’s alright and yes I know there are people that have to deal with these issues every single day or at least certainly more than the rest of us. I understand that ignorance and hatred still exist in society. It has since the dawn of man. When it comes into my life I deal with it as best I can. I get really uncomfortable when it’s shoved in my face and kinda forced on me (yes I know I don’t have to watch). Perhaps it’s what I need every now and then though. To remember that these things do exist and how righteous would I act if faced with situations like the characters in this movie are faced with? So while I’ve not learned anything new about society, I have learned a little more about myself and I now have something I can work towards improving in my life. Even though I’ve rarely encountered anything close to these stories in my own life. At least now I have more tools and motivation so that if faced with something like this I can deal with it in a more mature, calm, informed, open and overall Christ-like manner.

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