2nd post 12/29/09

I have began the process of writing again. I know that I will never be a great writer, or even marginally talented, but I am thinking creatively and slowly applying words to paper. It's a start and maybe I'll post some samples. I would like Oskar to have something that I can share with him, to display some sort of talent his old man possesses, other than being able to recite lines from Arnold movies.

12/29/09

Tonight we had the last (hopefully) snowstorm of 2009. An inch maybe that wont last past tomorrow, and the whole town shut down. The city looked like a scene from "I am Legend." There were cars abandoned throughout the streets. People were walking to the grocery store. But the traffic was the worst. I thought I have lived in cities that did not know how to handle poor weather. Portland tops them all. It took me 2.5 hours to go approximately 6 miles. This city has two schools of thoughts when it comes to driving in the 'snow'; either drive like an idiot at 50 mph or else creep along at 5 mph. Either way creates an unsafe situation. I drive so wracked with nerves, just waiting to get hit by an errant vehicle spinning out of control.
But I made it home safe to a waiting wife, a loving dog who freaked at his 1st exposure, so life is still pretty sweet.

Crazy idea

12/20/2009... The evening is late, to be honest, I should be preparing myself for bed. But I am thinking of new challenges and endeavors to take upon in the upcoming year. I know the boy will be a challenge, and I am totally stoked, but I feel like I need more. I have to do something for myself and for myself alone.
I am nothing without goals that only I can attain. Having said all that, I am going to take up running again. Maybe look into writing as well, though sometimes I feel that ship has already sailed. Anyways, this upcoming year I am going to work hard to get myself back in shape. How I am now at 220 lbs is not acceptable. I have been tremendously irritable, just not feeling like myself in the least. I have not been a good husband I don't feel. I am constantly fatigued. Lethargic and unresponsive. Work is shitty to be sure and I am sure that has something to do with it but being so sedentary has something to do with how I feel.
The Race for the Roses Half Marathon is the 1st step. Work. Get it done. Then continue towards an Olympic Triathlon. That consists of a .9 mile swim, 28 mile bike and a 6.2 mile run. A challenge indeed and we'll see how my follow-through is.
Tomorrow it begins.

Birthday Weekend II

http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1971.html

To further illustrate I am an old man now, here is a link showing the cost of living in 1971, and a few Historical events of the year of my birth. Some highlights include:

• The cost of a gallon of gas 40 cents.
• The average home would set you back $25,250, or if you were looking to rent, you'd have to pay $150/month.
• This had to be budgeted on the average yearly income of $10,600.
• The Voting age was lowered to 18.
• Women can now vote in Switzerland. (This honestly didn't happen until 1971??!!??!!)
• The Walt Disney Resort in Florida opens. (I am dumbfounded that I was born the same year that Walt Disney World opened. But I remember as a kid, how awestruck people were with Epcot Center when it opened.)
• And finally, my two favorite: Cigarette Ads stopped running on TV in 1971 and Fed Ex was started. I feel so archaic to think that people still watched cigarette ads and that Fed Ex was a novelty the same year I was born.

Birthday Weekend

First off, I have to thank my wife for such a great weekend. Saturday, We got up, had breakfast, which by the way, is there anything better than a good breakfast out on a casual weekend morning? We went to Cup 'n' Saucer on Hawthorne. Their pancakes were the size of a bicycle tire, and going the against the grain, our hipster waiter was attentive and not some elitist 22 year old Lit Major.
After breakfast, we went to Dosha Salon for our couples massage. My 1st professional massage, and with that carried some unease on my part. That was further compounded when they handed me my robe and it was sized to fit a 120 lb. woman. I thought back to Chris Farley..."Fat guy in a comically undersized robe." The massage was 1 hour, and I gained a new found appreciation for masseuses everywhere. My hands cramp even at the thought of massaging something for an hour straight, especially something as muscular as myself. I have always had issues with my shoulder after HS baseball, and she focused on the 'ole wing' and it felt better than it has in some time. Until later that night, when Jenn set up a Bowling party for me. In spite of the threat of ice storm '09 lurking over our heads, there were still a lot of people that showed up. I could not have asked for anything more. Good friends, domestic beer, Bowling, and my pregnant wife...I had one of the better Birthdays ever.

1st day or where did my 30s go?

Greetings and salutations,
This is my 1st go at this blogging thing, but I thought I'd give it a shot. In 2 1/2 hours, I will be 38 years of age. Hard to believe but it is true. I soon will be a father. In the past year, I have moved in with my then girlfriend, buried my seed in her fertile ground, and eloped with her to Hawaii. This doesn't take into account having to put down two pets (RIP Lulu and Dr Dan) and spoiling our current baby..the Oden puppy dog.

Anyhoo, my point is that this year has seen its share of chaos, and with little man Oskar coming along in 2/2010, more instability and fun is around the corner. So stay tuned.