Sun Diego

I just got back from San Diego. That is where my work sent me for yet another conference. As destination cities go, San Diego isn't too bad. I was shocked to find that people in my group wanted to go to Old Town, or the beach, or Little Italy, or the Naval Yard, or Sea World, or the San Diego Zoo, or Balboa Park or Phantom of the Opera, when the Padres were in town. I went to 3 games vs. the Diamondbacks and almost got to see a perfect game on Tuesday. That would have been sweet.

Plus not to mention that it was dollar hot dog and dollar drinks at the park for the month of July. On Monday and Tuesday, I had two hot dogs and a lemonade for dinner. On Wednesday, I pulled off a hat trick with 3 hot dogs. My total hot dog consumption in San Diego = 7. And they were pretty good hot dogs. (I had to work up my hot dog tolerance -- the first night, those hot dogs stayed with me until noon the next day.)

Also, for a good one, while I was in the ticket line, I was talking to a San Diegan, and he said how he moved into town, and sold his car, and how much money he's saving. Then I said "What do you do if you want to go on vacation?" He said: "I live in San Diego, why would I want to go on vacation?" I thought that was a good point.

Too bad that the Padres had a day off on Thursday. That meant I had to find something else to do. That something else was to go to Pacific Beach and ride bikes. Others in our group tried to talk me into surfing. I've been fooled by that routine before. I didn't want to try to swim out in the ocean 3 miles, just to not be able to stand up on a surf board. Plus, there was all this panic about a riptide. I was not aware that you could spot a riptide by just looking at the water. Plus how Seinfeld says that the riptide is like the angry bouncer that takes you into the back room and roughs you up a bit. I saw a few people getting roughed up whilst lifeguards in red swimsuits were trying to rescue them. Obviously, those lifeguards were running in slow motion. (Jokes aren't funny if you have to explain them, but the above was a Baywatch reference and a clever one at that.)

We also ate at a place that was way too expensive, but on the bright side, I didn't get totally hammered and make a fool of myself.

That was also the day that Manny Ramirez got traded to the Dodgers. I was thinking it would be sweet if my plane left on Saturday instead of Friday, then I could catch his Dodger debut, but they lost anyway. If anyone doesn't know who Manny Ramirez is, he is the best hitter in baseball, but sometimes does things that aggrivate his team or thier fans or are just plain strange. This is known as 'Manny being Manny'

The following would be a list of good ones that Manny Ramirez has done:

8- Trying to 'pants' David Ortiz at home plate after hitting a game winning homerun.

7- Before Thursday's trade, held up a sign in the dugout during a game that he should be dealt to Green Bay for Brett Favre.

6- Last month, in an attempt to field a ball, tripped over his feet, rolled onto the ball, then tried to go opposite hand behind his back to grab the ball.

5- Went into the Green Monster to take a bathroom break during a coach's visit to the mound and barely returned in time for the next pitch in 2005.
4- Climbed into the Green Monster to make a call on his cellphone during a pitching change July 9.
3- Lost a way expensive diamond earring when he slid into third base in 2002.

2- Made a running catch on a deep fly to left field in Baltimore this season, then high-fived a Red Sox fan then threw to first base to complete a double play.

1- Dived to cut off a relay throw in the middle of the outfield, allowing the Orioles' David Newhan to complete an inside-the-park home run.

Here's hoping the Dodgers start to dominate. And by dominate, I mean score 2 runs.

Bubba

No more monkeys jumping on the bed!

It has been an exciting last 24 hours and by exciting, I mean not the fun kind of exciting but rather the lose tons of sleep kind of exciting. Lincoln decided it would be a good idea to break his collar bone.

Storytime:

It is almost 6 pm yesterday, and I'm getting ready to go umpire some softball games. Lincoln, Angela, and I are horsing around a little before I go. Lincoln is standing on the couch, and reclines back to rest for a little, except there was no back to recline on. So he fell backwards onto the floor and bashed what I thought was the back of his head. We couldn't tell, because the couch got in the way of a perfect view of his landing.

I had to leave, but when I got home at 11, there were Lincoln and Ange, waiting for me. He had slept for a couple of hours, but woke up because his shoulder/neck area hurt him. It is never a good sign when I get home from umpiring, and Link is still up.

We tried putting Lincoln to bed, but he was screaming and saying 'ow' all the time. I told Ange that she could sleep, and I'd take care of him. I made him a bed on our couch, and we watched about 45 min. worth of videos by the time he finally went to sleep at 12:15. I thought this would be a good time to troll for food, but decided I didn't want to take the risk of waking him up, so I went to bed.

About 1:45, Lincoln wakes up, and I get him back to sleep at 2:15 using the above method, the only difference being that I thought I'd sleep on the couch instead of my bed, in case he woke up again.

He did, at around 3:30. Ange and I decided the couch just wasn't comfortable enough, mostly because I had a stiff neck after only sleeping on it for an hour. We tried to put him in his own bed, but he continued to scream at the top of his lungs. We didn't know if this was some twisted ploy to get out of sleeping, or if he was really in that much pain. At 4 am, Ange decided to take him to the hospital.

The doctors weren't sure what to make of the injury, because he was using his right arm, and turning his neck, but it would still hurt him. They decided to take an x-ray, although they thought it was highly unlikely that he had a break.




This is his x-ray, and for all those non-doctors out there, I have circled the break in red. Apparently, your collarbone doesn't randomly jut off at a 45 degree angle.

Anyway, everyone was surprised that it was broken, because there was no swelling, and Link had been using his arm. They wrapped his right arm up in a sling, which has made Lincoln happy, because it doesn't hurt so much, and has made me happy, because he's now forced to use his left hand for everything. If we can only get him to throw a 95 mph fastball with that left arm, we'll be set for life, and gas prices can rise as high as they want.

So Lincoln is exploring this new one handed way of life, and hopefully he'll get the hang of it soon, and stop falling down. If he doesn't, then we got some Lortab for him. He's supposed to have his arm in a sling for 2-3 weeks, hopefully, it will be off by the time we go to Idaho in early August.

In other news, I spent the last week in Atlanta. I got to visit with Steph and Mike Smith, and they showed me a pretty good time. I took Ella, so she could see her cousins, and she really enjoyed the trip, with the exception of throwing up fruit punch on me just as we're boarding our plane in Atlanta.

Far be it for me to complain about something, so I decided to make a pro and con list about the effects of humidity before I form an opinion.

Humidity pros

• The sun doesn't seem to beat down as hard because there's so much water in the air.
• You don't have to water the lawn.
• All sorts of things grow.
• The water in the air has a moderating effect on temperature.

Humidity cons

• All sorts of things grow.
• You are always sweating.
• 85 degrees is really hot.*
• You feel like you live in a warm, wet blanket.
• It makes you want to stay inside all day.
• There are a hundred times more creepy insects.
• Demon Crickets.
• The misters at Six Flags aren't as effective.

After analyzing the data, I'd say you must be clinically insane to want to live on the east coast. That is all

Bubs-Bad

*Maracaibo's average temperature was above 110, with humidity, so if anyone thinks I'm whining, then go to Maracaibo and live for two years. Otherwise, you can blow it out your ear.

The Accident

I was reading a Deseret News article about cell phones in schools. Yes, cell phones are annoying, but I'm going to make sure my kids have one, if we can afford it. In the end, if you have a good kid, they won't be getting in routine trouble, regardless of the technology. As a teacher, I do wish that parents would be better at controlling thier teenager's use of cell phones. I have confiscated a few cell phones in my day.

They can also be helpful, I just don't want to end up like this guy, all over Youtube:



We have a softball game tonight at 9, hopefully, we keep it rollin'. Umpiring has been calm this year, meaning that I haven't kicked anyone out. Last Thursday was close. Runners on the corners, and a double play ball is hit to the 2nd baseman. He flips it to the shortstop covering second, who then tries to relay it on to first, only to be barged into by a non-sliding runner. So, the obvious call is a double play, with the runner starting the play at 3rd being called out since he is the most advanced runner.

The barger had a different idea, and was trying to explain to me at the top of his lungs that he's not out, because he didn't mean to run into the shortstop. My argument was that his team mate probably didn't mean to hit a crappy double play ball to 2nd, but he still had to suffer the consequences.

So, I decided to make a list of other things you have to suffer the consequences for, even if you didn't mean to:

16 - Choosing the wrong line at Wal-mart*.
15 - Attacking a fully functional Death Star.
14 - Rear-ending someone.
13 - Bombing a test.
13a - Bombing the Chinese Embassy.
12 - Stubbing your toe.
11 - Burning popcorn in the microwave.
10 - Voting for a Liberal.
9 - Eating Salmonilla.
8 - Misquoting a Seinfeld line around John.
7 - Going to BYUI instead of BYU regular so you have an excuse to not play on Platypi.
6 - Getting sucked into a Star Trek episode.
5 - Not immediately changing a poopy diaper.
4 - Being a white male.
3 - Watching a Drew Barrymore movie.
2 - Believing that "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit".
1 - Burping in front of Steph.

Yes, I paid the price for #1, to the tune of an aluminum bat to the shins, but that which does not kill you makes you stronger, so I continue to accidently burp in front of Steph.

Out

Elmo

False Start

Today was our first Platypi game, and predictably, it was rained out, or more accurately, snowed out. Seriously, I know taxes are due today, and Lincoln (Abraham, not my boy) got shot today, but that doesn't mean that the day should be all bad, after all, it is Jackie Robinson day.



My favorite part about the video clip above, besides the cheesy anouncer was how the ump signalled safe. Pretty funny.

The net result is that we're still 0-0.

Also, I got May 1st and 2nd off of school, and we're wondering how we should spend our 4 day weekend... here's the catch, we don't want to spend any money. So here is a list of ideas I've come up with, feel free to add any suggestions as you see fit.

13-Spend an entire night voting for David Archeleta and Brooke White on American Idol.
12-Think of a new nickname so Matt doesn't have to use 'Darth'
11-Think up names Brett and Rachel can name thier baby.
10-Watch the sun rise, then travel across the sky, then set, repeat 3 times.
9-Travel to Draper, mooch off Dad for 4 days.
8-Make up a new letter of the alphabet
7-Go to work and look through my classroom window the entire day.
6-Try to figure out the difference between a pig and a hog.
5-Teach Lincoln how to drive a car.
4-Think up cheesy sayings like 'Don't hate the player, hate the game' to use on my classes when I get back.
3-Teach Lincoln a word besides 'go' or 'ball'.
2-Try to figure out why the brand name Philips only has one 'l' in it.
1-Choose a new favorite number since 14 is apparently a white supremisist number.

We play DeMay next week, seems like we always start the year off playing them.

It's the end of the world as I know it.

Did I mention last time that when I put in sod, that I also put in a fire pit? Well, I did, which means I have to think of ways to use it, so it doesn't become a waste.

Ange and I were sitting in our room while Lincoln played somewhere else. Suddenly, we hear him start fiddling with the doorknob, and hear a satisfied grunt as the door opens, and he comes running in. Somehow, I don't think our lives will ever be the same.

We're getting excited for everyone to come down, and also excited to run the river, seeing as how we've had something like 40 days in a row with 100 or above temperatures. The following is a list of my predictions of what will happen. As usual, when my predection becomes true, I will shout 'prediction' for all to hear.

12 - John will somehow end up in a life threatning situation.
11 - Matt will get way lucky at some game... most likely Pillage and Plunder.
10 - Mike will finally choose a favorite baseball team and stick with it.
9 - Brett will make a hole in one on the 3rd hole at Uncle George's. (This is only a ploy to get him to come down, as he knows how accurate my predictions are.)
8 - Steph will get mad at someone for burping.
7 - The Bubs will try to play wiffle ball the entire time, only to be shut down constantly by Matt and John, who just want to watch Animaniacs.
6 - Jorja will remain in Georgia.
5 - Stockton will chastise someone for saying the 'stu' word.
4 - Maysen will avoid eating the 'inside skin' of her apple.
3 - Ellie will just sit there the entire time with a blank look on her face.
2 - Link will throw a toy through a window.
1 - Mike S.will negotiate with the drive thru lady at the local Wendy's for one of the sweet prizes.

Um, that's all folks
Porky Pig

Cold Cereal Critic Bubs

I think I've been a little heavy handed with my posts lately, so I'm finally going to get down to doing a much needed list.

Best Cold Cereals

17- Honey Comb - Pretty ordinary if you ask me.
16- Cocoa Puffs - Not as good as it's cocoa cousin.
15- Reese's Puffs - A little peanut butter never hurt anyone, except for those with peanut allergies.
14- Apple Jacks - A poor man's Froot Loops.
13- Trix - I remember dad tourturing me in the store when I wanted to buy Trix saying "Trix are for Rabbits." Then I'd respond with the famous "No, Trix are for kids!" (I think that last sentence does merit an exclamation point.)
12- Raisin Bran - I like the one with sugar all over the raisins.
11- Cheerieos - The old standby.
10- Cocoa Pebbles - For the chocolate milk factor.
9- Cookie Crisp - Obscure
8- Rice Krispies - 2 reasons why this is so high on the list.
1- You can make rice krispy treats from them.
2- Dad told me that when the rice krispies are crackling, they are saying "Spencer W. Kimball is the prophet."
7- Kix - Rated high for the keeping Lincoln quiet in church factor.
6- Mini Wheats - I'm surprised myself.
5- Fruity Pebbles - Knocked down a few notches for always coming in a little box.
4- Lucky Charms - This cereal has made a surge of late. 10 years ago, it wouldn't have been in the top ten. I'd have to say Malt-o-meal's Marshmellow Mateys have something to do with that.
3- Frosted Flakes- I'm not sure if I like the milk afterward or the cereal more.
2- Cinnamon Toast Crunch - Much better than it's younger, uglier brother, French Toast Crunch.
1- Froot Loops - aka tear the roof of your mouth apart cereal, but seriously, quit whining.

I would like to mention that I purposefully snubbed Wheaties. They aren't that good, seriously. Any other snubs may be an oversight. I would also question General Mills's website. They buried Cinnamon Toast Crunch, it was almost impossible to find. Why?

Plus, I purposefully overlooked a top tener, the first one to notice and name will win a few drops of Tylenol for Infants.

Office quote of the day:

'I accidently cross dressed, then I had to ride up here with stupid Toby!"

It's about time Bubs

I didn't want to change over to the Beta version of Blogger, but I got tired of being pestered, so here I am. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do now.

Link can now run. His favorite game is to be chased around. He has two 'safe' spots. The couch in the living room, and the mattress we have for him on his bedroom floor to try to teach him to sleep in a big boy bed. I frequently violate the safe spot rule... I hope Lincoln doesn't resent me for it.

In the spirite of the Blog of the Bubs, here is a list of thing Link will point at if asked:


10- the door
9 - The bathtub
8- Cheese
7- Sleepy Time Bear
6- The ball
5- The flag
4- The ducky
3- Lincoln
2- Mommy
1 - The light

His second favorite game is to put things in other things. His liking of this game has caused the need to sift through the garbage before throwing it out. I also have to check my shoes before putting them on.

In other news, we found out we are going to have a girl. At the risk of casting pearls before swine, we have decide we'll name her Ella. Needless to say, her middle name will not be Emma. Ella is the name of my great great grandma -- a story to be told to anyone who is interested. Ange is excited, because she always wanted to call her girl Ellie, but didn't want to name her Elenor.

In other news, I went to the BYU Air Force game, and it dominated. Now hopefully they don't lose today.

Bubba