Sunday, December 28, 2008

Departure

I was going to blog a bunch, but really my brain isn't working well enough to write.  Christmas was good.  EF College Break still pisses me off, I'll explain more after the trip.  My parents are still completely insane.  Clare is still awesome.  Anyway, I'm tired, I'm gonna finish packing.  Happy New Year everyone!

Monday, December 22, 2008

Brain Fizzle

I think earlier today I had something to write about. Now I don't really, but blogging was on my list and I don't feel like putting laundry away. It seems like I've been living at Wal-Mart lately, which is weird because I hardly go there anymore. Apparently I have just been in need of cheap general merchandise recently. The recent trips have been made more interesting as Matt provided us with a "Wal-Mart Bingo" board. Spaces include such things as unattended children and obese shoppers in motorized carts. So if you hear someone yell "Bingo" in Wal-Mart, check it out, its probably something funny.

My early Christmas present from Clare is remote start. This is an awesome invention. I did find out that in negitive ten degree temps it sometimes has trouble getting the car started first thing in the morning. However, after six hours it kicked right on at lunch time, so if once in a while I have to run out and start it, I'll be ok. It's still awesome.

I will now bid my readers a goodnight while I try to motivate myself to do some items remaining on my list. Sleep well and God bless.

And now for a cute picture of kittens sleeping:

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Christmas Week

Christmas is always a time of mixed emotions for me. The holiday of course is important for its true meaning, but my feelings this time of year come from many sources. Growing up Christmas was fine, it was exciting to see how many Lego sets I might get. My two favorites were the Laser Launcher and this Ice Planet ship:


Then we would have breakfast casserole and head out for Des Moines for an afternoon of more presents and eating. My grandparents house in Des Moines was ok, but it turned Christmas into an excessively long day of increasingly distant relatives.

Along came college. This is where Christmas really took a nosedive for me. As Clare and I were together all through my college career, it was very hard on us because we were apart normally on Christmas. This in itself didn't make the holidy completely suck, but it sure didn't help things. What made it suck is the constant battle between my father and I regarding grades, money, career choices, work ethic, and pretty much anything else he could think of to argue with me about. On top of all that, my "perfect" brother and his "fantastic" girlfriend/fiancee/wife entered the picture and just made things more unpleasant. Needless to say the Christmas season and vacation time was not really all that pleasant to me.

Finally, now that Clare and I are married (really this is only our second Christmas together as husband and wife) I have put an end to the split Christmas (Boston was a whole different situation which I may discuss later) and we spend it with her family. Because of the grace and kindness of Clare and the rest of her family Christmas is definately becoming the experience it should be.

So I have mixed feelings about Christmas. Mostly things are happy and positive now, but the old emotions occasionally show up this time of year. A new wrinkle to this years story is that I haven't talked to my father directly for a few months except to tell him that the bank was robbed, and I really don't speak to my mother much. The next week may well define my relationship with my side of the family for years to come.

Anyway, I am looking forward to Christmas this year, and not just for the gifts. I am looking forward to being with my wife and a family that will love and support us no matter what.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

CID(Thank you Tony)

I would just like to share a small success story of the day.  Actually its a large success.  We went to Cedar Rapids today so Lori (Clare's mom) could finish up Christmas shopping.  While Clare and Lori were at the mall, Dave (Clare's dad) took me all the way over to the airport.  We've been trying to get an earlier flight out of Cedar Rapids for our New Years trip to allow us more than 45 minutes through the tunnel with the disco lights at O'hare to our international flight.  I've called United and EF and both told me either it would be $350 a ticket to change the flight or that they couldn't do it.  So I went into the airport seriously doubting that they could help.  As I stood in line, this little bitchy woman was being completely rude to some family with a wheel chair, and I was thinking "crap, I'm gonna get nowhere."  But when I got up there, she rudely informed me that this other guy could help me.  I was thrilled, the guy was like my age, maybe younger, with a tattoo on his neck.  I knew this was much better.  When I told him what I wanted, he was like "why did they do that?  you should have at least an hour and a half for an international flight."  With no problems, no questions, no hassle, no fee, he put Clare and I on an earlier flight.  Finding the right person really does pay off.  So thank you Tony who works at CID for helping us when others could or would not.  We will be able to enjoy our trip and our time before our trip even more now.  AND we will have time for a Chicago dog!

Sick

So, I have a lot to blog about, but the main theme of the last few days is that I've been sick.  For me its the usual combination of a stuffed up face and fatigue.  I think its finally breaking as I woke up this morning feeling better.  The really awesome thing about being sick though is that Clare takes care of me.  She doesn't realize how much she really does, but when someone is sick like I was, its hard to go to work all day and then do the normal stuff in the evening.  So, while the actual additional work on her part wasn't that much, there certainly is part of life that was given up.  The point being that Clare is awesome, I just am excited to get healthy again to enjoy it more fully!

We're headed to Cedar Rapids with her family in just a bit, so I need to keep it short, but some other highlights of my recent week have been:

Department Christmas Party
Snow!
Bolt
MBA gathering at Becks
Clare makes cookies
Christmas Present for Timothy!

Also, I am determined to author another chapter of Calvin & Otis this weekend.  So, enjoy the snow and have a safe, warm weekend!

Monday, December 15, 2008

Last Year, but Still Cute

This picture was taken last year, but its still a super adorable picture of Nessa (top) and Myla. I'm not sure how Clare and I got along without them.

A Sunday with Clare

Ok, and now, on to the most important of today’s posts. Also, so there is no confusion, I wrote this on Sunday night, but due to internet failures, I’m not sure when it will be posted.

This morning as I was gently nudged awake and then startled by Myla, I didn’t know what today would bring. I had this list of stuff to do, and had high hopes of completing it. However, priority one is something that can take anywhere from five minutes to all day. This task is: spend Sunday morning in bed with Clare. So to start with I make the not so cold trip to Kwik Star for breakfast (the pastries are actually good) and a newspaper. Normally I just get the Courier, but today I was feeling spendy and also got a Register. So, I returned home and was able to successfully set up the bedroom for an extended morning relaxing session with Clare. Being that it was well after ten when I got back, she awoke on her own, and we proceeded to have a wonderful Sunday morning of internet, newspaper, and Mad Max.

Then we finally got ourselves up and moving, and I at least got some laundry in. We headed out to Best Buy to look for a Christmas present for me. Yes, together, but that’s kinda how it works. After a successful trip to Best Buy (the car electronics guy was awesome, Sonia at checkout was a stupid ho), we had time to go to Target. I forgot what its like to go to Target on a weekend approaching Christmas. But we got an awesome parking spot and proceeded to have a lovely time. Clare found some storage solutions, while I managed mostly to get socks and another Christmas gift for myself. After a trip to the post office, we came home for just a few before leaving AGAIN to help another Nordyke prepare a college dinner at church. Then it was off to Village Inn and a special pie delivery to the illest Nordyke in the land.

Now it was nap time.

Following naptime, Matt joined us for Hong Kong (apparently Blessing To Go is closed on Sundays) and Survivor. And finally, I was able to get some other things done on my list.

I’m not sure really the point in writing out all of this. All I really wanted to point out is how awesome it was. Like, just normal stuff. To do normal things with Clare is probably one of the awesome things ever. I love her so much. I hit a personal low point following my completion of my MBA, and I let Clare and others suffer because of it. I hope I am able as we move forward toward Christmas and Amsterdam that I can continue to show her how much I love her, and that I am in love with her, and make her feel like the most special person in the world. I know I’m not perfect, but I want her to know that she is.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

UNI & ISU Football

Despite being terribly unproductive this weekend, I have several topics to discuss, and still no chapter two of Calvin and Otis, but that will come soon. I think I just set the record for number of commas in a twenty five word sentence. First I will address the college football worlds of UNI and ISU. Then I will get into how awesome today was despite having been fairly unproductive.

Beginning with UNI, I will assume that everyone knows how UNI’s football season came to a devastating end this weekend, and will not rehash it here. First, I want to show my appreciation to the team, especially the players, for an awesome season and giving all something to cheer for and enjoy throughout the fall. Second, however I feel the need to point out that while UNI out played Richmond on Saturday, the Spiders out coached Mark Farley and his staff. This happens sometimes, you can’t always have the best coach on your sideline, especially at the FCS level of football. (If you coach too well, you get hired away by a bigger program). However, over the last few games I have noticed a few glaring failures of the UNI coaching staff. The most obvious being clock management. Ten seconds and a time out is enough time to run how many plays? Everyone together now: “TWO!!!” Anyway, no one reads this that cares about football, but if you do, and want to further discuss the season, drop me an email. But seriously, congratulations to the team for another great year.

As for Iowa State, I have nothing positive to say about Gene Chizik. The guy is a total slime ball. He comes in, we pay him over a million dollars a year to average 2.5 wins a season. Then he fires a whole bunch of assistant coaches, basically trying to keep his job. Finally, he quits to go to Auburn. I nearly threw up when I saw him talking about “being home” and how excited he was. I hope he sucks as much down there as he did in Ames. I hope Nick Saban and the rest of the SEC crush him and make him wish he had never stepped foot on a sideline. I am an Iowa State fan, but I am not this emotional about the team (especially since tickets are now $60 each). Really Gene, way to take advantage of one of the most understanding and loyal fan bases in the country. I heard nothing but positive things about the former coach, even after a 2-10 season. He builds the nations second longest losing streak and tucks tail and runs. At least he’ll be paying us back $750,000 (us being the State of Iowa). I understand wanting your dream job, I understand Iowa State isn’t it, but the team really is in greater disarray that is has been since I can remember, and now Iowa State will lose existing players and valuable time in recruiting new players. Way to screw us for another two years Gene. I hope you’re happy.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Final UNI Game

Today is UNI's semi-final game vs. the Richmond Spiders.  Now, I'm not one to make fun of a college mascot, I went to a school called the Cyclones with a giant cardinal as the mascot.   But Spiders?  Really?  It just makes me think of annoying little creatures that pose no real threat to anyone.  Unless its like that giant one we saw at Living History Farms once.  That thing was huge, it spread itself over the whole mouth of the water pitcher (think a traditional ceramic pitcher for lemonade or something).  As we all know, mascots don't really matter.  What will matter is if UNI students stop lying to themselves and the Waterloo Courier and show up for the game.  But they won't.  They'll tell themselves they don't have time to go to the game, but they do have time to go to Ice Lounge and drink themselves silly while making Beck rich.  Anyway, I'm still glad UNI has a dome because its freakin cold in Iowa.  Go PANTHERS!!


Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Abs, Europe, and Nessa

So, today I decided to join Clare and Julie at abs class.  This all seemed like a great idea except that it was the first day with Bosus (www.bosu.com) for everyone.  So, class was a little different than normal, and I am afraid for what my body is going to tell me in the morning.

As many of you (who am I kidding, I know maybe two people read this) Clare and I are going to Europe over New Years.  We just got our flights from EF CollegeBreak, and we have a 40 minute layover in Chicago, which means running from plane to plane . . . if we make it.  So I've been trying all day to get a different flight from Cedar Rapids.  EF says they can't change it and United says that EF has to change it.  Its freakin stupid.  Like, who schedules that short of a layover at O'hare, in the Winter, right after Christmas, for an international flight?  

Finally, I love my cats, but sometimes when Nessa projectile vomits all over the cat tree . . . I wonder about their reciprocity.  

Oh yes, and I need a haircut.  Badly.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Calvin & Otis


This story will be written in parts, and is inspired by my friend Matt who is the only person I know that really likes the animals described within.







Calvin & Otis - Chapter 1 - First Contact

One day Calvin was wandering aimlessly around his cage. There was a food dish, a water bottle, a wheel and part of a wrapping paper tube that he had grown too fat for. He was bored. Bored, bored, bored. Calvin's owner doesn't pay much attention to him anymore. His owner is a fifteen year old girl who had been given the guinea pig as a birthday present, but after a few months she became bored with Calvin and hardly found the time to clean his cage.
Calvin paced his cage for hours, looking for something to do. He ran on his wheel for a while, but quickly became exhausted. Listless, he picked through his stale food for the freshest bits. The late afternoon sun beamed in the window near his cage, and he soaked up the warm. Half asleep, he heard a scratch coming from the window.

Calvin ignored it.


Again there was a scratch. And a tap.


Calvin continued to snooze.


*Thump*


Calvin slowly rolled over and saw a pair of eyes looking through the window at him. Calvin tipped his head with curiosity. The eyes belonged to a very scrawny, dirty looking guinea pig. Calvin wondered how there was a wild guinea pig in Iowa. The little guinea pig had successfully climbed onto the outside window sill and was now trying to open the window. After an extreme amount of strain, the wild piggy had managed to open the window about a quarter inch.

"Hi!" the newcomer panted, trying to catch his breath.

"Um, hello." responded Calvin.

"I couldn't help but notice you stuck in here," the outsider had caught his breath. "I'll be back in the morning to help you escape! Tonight when your cage is opened, try to wedge a wood chip in the latch."


"Who are you? And why should I come with you, you look like you haven't eaten in days?" Inquired Calvin.


"The name's Otis. And no, I haven't eaten in a while, but I'm on my way to Maximus."


"And who is Maximus?" asked a skeptical Calvin.


"No time to talk now, your owner just got home, but the legend of Maximus tells of an owner who loves and cares for his guinea pigs like children!" Otis said excitedly, as he closed the window and scampered off.


Coming soon: Chapter 2 - The Escape

The beginning . . .

I have been thinking about blogging for a while. However, I don't write in a terribly entertaining fashion, so I've been putting it off until I thought of something to write about. I'll start with an explanation of the title, which is really meant to be funny. I am married to the most wonderful woman ever, Clare, and she of course is the captain of our household. I was a very close second until August 2007 when Myla and Nessa made their furry feline entrance into our lives. In an instant, I was demoted to Fourth in Command.

Anyway, what I have decided to do with this blog is to attempt to reclaim my lost ability to spin a story. I once could sit and tell a never ending story about anything. So in addition to the normal stuff about my life, I will be posting short (or long) stories meant mostly to exercise my creativity and possibly entertain a few people.

So, for now I'll leave it at that. If I haven't bored you already check back in a day or two to see my first story!