Christmas Feeling

The Christmas movie for last night was "The Christmas List". I have seen this movie about five times already but if it plays I just watch it again. This is the movie where the kid wins a MUSTANG in a store raffle and he puts the perfume lady's name in his ticket so they get to share the car because obviously they won it. It's a pretty cool movie worth watching at least once.

And so I continue to warm up for Christmas, money is tight so I am aiming at goodwill. I just want a festive and Merry Christmas without the hassle and expense. There are so many other ways to enjoy Christmas than with presents. A good example is "mi chica" and I watching these Christmas movies together while enjoying each other's company.

Of course the kids will get their presents, while the kids at heart will get my love. Then there are those unfortunate kids that won't have a present if we don't pick the little paper Christmas tree hanging from our work's Christmas Tree. This year I get a 3-year old little girl.

The company's Christmas party is scheduled for Friday December 14, that should be a highlight. Our parties are usually pretty fancy and pretty fun, a good opportunity to dress up a bit and look good. lol

I am trying to stay away from the goodies associated with the holidays, there's never a shortage of candy, popcorn, peanut brittle, chocolate and a plethora of goodies that come in daily, I do not need the extra weight right now. I'll save my stomach for the good food. I am hoping for ham this year, we already had turkey.

Some of us celebrate Christmas and some celebrate the holidays, what ever that means. To me, when it comes to Christmas there is only one reason for the season.

What is yours?

Christmas Movies

"Mi chica" and I love watching Christmas movies together. I for one can't get enough
of them. Christmas movies always carry a message of hope and goodwill. Some are just cute while others are real tear jerkers, there are old ones that have become classics and there are new ones that become instant classics.

I don't think I have a favorite, there are many that I look forward to seeing again and again and I know they will be repeated year after year, but it's fun when they show a new one too. This year "mi chica" and I have already watched about six of them so far, at least one of them was a new one.

I just think it's cool to watch something with possitive messages once in a while, these days everything revolves around violence, shooting, killing, etc. On the other hand Christmas movies leave you with that warm fuzzy feelin we all need.

Am I the only one that like these movies?

Tell me your three favorites, maybe I can catch them this year.

Thanksgiving

Typically Thanksgiving Day is spent at home, in the past my brother's in law from California have made the trek to Phoenix to celebrate with us but as the kids have grown and now have responsibilities such as work and such they couldn't make it this year.

Thanksgiving is the one day we celebrate with "mi chica's" side of the family. My side of the family is too big and they all get together anyway. This year it was only my sister in law and her family, my father in law and his wife, and my three kids with their families, that still was quite a few of us. My son only visited for little while because him and his wife scored some tickets to the football game at ASU. We got stuck with baby sitting duties until they came back late at night.

This year we've had some hurdles and we are still paying the price for past mistakes, but we are in the process of regrouping and planning a way out. For Thanksgiving we celebrated and gave thanks because we are a big happy family and because no matter what we have each other.

I am thankful for my wife of 26 years, for my three kids and six grand kids, and for having their love. I am thankful for my mom, whom we lovingly spend two nights out of our week so that she is not alone. I am thankful for my brother and sisters and all their better or worse halves as the case may be and to all my nephews and nieces and all their little kids.

I am thankful that we all have our health, maybe not as good as it once was but still good never the less. I am thankful that I have a house, and that I live in a nice city. I'm thankful that I have a job a like and that continues to provide for us.

In a time where there is so much crime and hate going on I am thankful that people that love and care for the same things surround me I do. Many people have forgotten about the real meaning of Thanksgiving Day. Even though I was born in Mexico where this day is not celebrated, our adoptive country does and we have embraced the holiday and it's meaning as if it was from our direct ancestors. We too are Pilgrims that left our country to come here looking for a better way of life.

We celebrated in family unity and enjoyed the feast that was lovingly cooked by my wife, my sister in law and, my daughters (OK, truthfully "mi chica" did most of the cooking) and vowed to maintain our family as close and united as we have done thus far.

And none of these things would be possible without the help and love of our dear God, whom we tend to neglect so easily sometimes.

I hope all of you had a Happy Thanksgiving Day and celebration.

Bix

I needed a brake from blogging and I found something just as fun if not more. I am still posting pictures on my photo blog but it's my "Joe Cool's Blog" that is taking a little break.

You may have read on my profile that I like to do karaoke but somehow I don't get too many chances to go out to a karaoke place so I found the next best thing. Yes for the past month or so I have been doing karaoke on line. Yahoo joined forces with Bix and they have one of the most fun and exciting sites for us wannabe singers.

At Bix you can create a contest for just about anything, from modeling, to what's the best comic book or comic here, or what's the best car etc. etc. etc. If you can think it you can create it and post it. Well there is a section there at Bix for karaoke and that's where I have been this past month.

Just like in blogging you deal with the same people except at Bix nobody is hiding behind a log name even though we all have it but we all know each other by our real names, it's a super tight family where no one has a bad comment for another, you can sing real shitty and you'll still get awesome uplifting comments, and the reason is that we are all there not for fame and fortune but just for the love of singing, can't be any simpler than that.

Of course anyone can join but if you have a Yahoo account that would be your same password for Bix. Upon joining you can stat commenting on peoples singing or you can start singing yourself all you need is a microphone and you are set. There are people there that don't sing so they just do commenting on anything and everything and trust me it's very addicting, more than blogging has ever been. I have been pleasantly surprised that there are bloggers there too.

Almost immediately after you join you start getting fans, your fan base starts building pretty fast and of course you become fan to other participants. There are some that take this very seriously and have actually been chosen to perform at real venues for money and fame, but the vast majority, the people like me are just there for the fun.

Now here's the challenge, I have been blogging for about a year and a half and I can tell you that I have maybe 15 to 20 blogging friends, you all know who you are, at Bix in about a month I have about 65 friends and I am fan to 68 people. Many of them posting their hellos daily, it's unbelievable the level of friendliness you'll find there. So, I want to invite any of you that may want to hear me sing and laugh a little to come and look for me and visit you don't have to be a member to visit or vote, but you can only post comment or songs if you are a member.

So far every Bix member I have invited to read my blog has made an appearance, let's see if any of my blog friends show up there.

Here's the link to my page for anyone that may want to visit:

http://bix.yahoo.com/person/Joe%20Cool

Leave Santa Alone

When is it going to end? Apparently Santas in Australia have been instructed not to say "ho, ho, ho" as it may offend women and it may frighten children. Instead they are supposed to say "ha, ha, ha". I mean really, I can see one of my grand kids being happy in Santas arms posing for his/her picture when suddenly Santa goes "ho, ho, ho" and the kids screams in fear and mom takes the kid away because she has just been offended.

So how is it that after years and years of "ho, ho, ho" being Santas jolly laugh all of a sudden is over powered by the slang word "ho" which is used by a minority for prostitute. How is a kid supposed to know that and be offended and or frightened. Pretty soon Santa will have to politically correct his jolly laugh from "ho, ho, ho" to "lady of the night, lady of the night, lady of the night" just too be politically correct and to satisfy those that have nothing to do other than to think of all this rubbish.

Santa Claus, Holiday Figure / Toy Deliverer

Born: ?
Birthplace: The North Pole
Best Known As: Jolly toy-delivering Christmas figure

Also known as: St. Nicholas; Kris Kringle; Father Christmas

Santa Claus is the mythical figure who delivers toys to children around the world each year on Christmas Eve. According to legend, Santa lives at the North Pole and oversees a toy workshop run by busy elves. Each December 24th, on the eve of the celebration of the birth of Jesus, Santa is said to fly around the world delivering his toys in a sled pulled by eight reindeer: Blitzen, Comet, Cupid, Dancer, Dasher, Donder (or Donner), Prancer, and Vixen. (A ninth reindeer with a shiny nose, Rudolph, was introduced in Gene Autry's 1949 country music hit "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.") The name Santa Claus was derived from Sinterklaas, the Dutch term for the ancient Christian figure of Saint Nicholas.


The Santa Claus myth was popularized in America by the 1823 poem "A Visit From Saint Nicholas," attributed to Clement Moore. The poem begins "Twas the night before Christmas"... In the early 1860s cartoonist Thomas Nast drew Santa as a round, bearded man in a red suit, an image that stuck... An 1897 editorial by Frank P. Church in the New York Sun coined the famous phrase "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus." Church was replying to a letter from a young reader, Virginia O'Hanlon, who asked if Santa Claus really existed... According to the Encarta encyclopedia, the nickname Kris Kringle evolved from the German words for Christ child, Christkindl.

Please, do me and the world a favor, leave Santa Claus alone and let him do his work in peace, and let him laugh any way he darn pleases.

NASCAR Comes to Town

We did the NASCAR thing for the third year in a row and it was a blast. Weather was a little on the hot side but we survived it. It is so amazing to me to see so many people in one place, this event really attracts thousands and thousands of fans. There's something to do or something to see everywhere.

"Mi chica" and I got there at around noon, we are so lucky to only live about 15 minutes away from PIR (Phoenix International Raceway). We got there, parked and started walking towards the race track, it took us around two hours to finally make it to our seats. Why that long? Because there is so much to see and do on the way over.

The National Anthem was being sung, I don't know how they do this but they never miss, as the performer was saying "...and the home of the brave" the four air force jets flew right above the race track, perfect coordination.

For the first time we stayed until the very end, the race ended in a two lap shoot out, there was still plenty of light when we started walking towards the parking lot but as you can imagine when thousands of people try to leave a place at the same time it will get a little crazy. Actually it was very organized, except we kept being routed to the opposite direction and our projected 15 minute drive turned into an almost two hour drive, add to this that we almost run out of gas, yeap that added some excitement.

NASCAR is obviously not for everyone, but if you go you'll have a good time no matter what. Just make sure to take some ear plugs or headsets because the cars are very loud.

More tidbits.

The last three days we have been having record temperatures for this time of year. We are still well above the 90s in what seems to be an eternal summer. I am sure some of you back east are starting to experience cold temperatures, rain, and maybe even snow, but not us, no sir we live in the desert and thus get desert temperatures.

Thanksgiving is only two weeks away if anybody can believe that. Where does time go? How is it that it keeps disappearing like this, maybe you people back east can use some of that snow to "freeze" time at least a little bit.

I got my tickets for NASCAR today, it's for Saturday's race "Arizona Travel 200". The seats if they are the same as last year should be pretty good. This will be my third time attending and I know it will be a nice time. There's so much to see and do and the day will go pretty fast. I hope I don't forget the ear plugs because those babies (the cars) are loud. I expect to take lots of pictures which I will be posting in my photo blog.

Talking about photo blog, all week long I have been posting pictures from Wanda of "Brushstrokes from the Heart" if you haven't been, stop by and take a look, they are cute pictures picked by me from her wonderful blog.

How about those Country Music Awards, I watched the whole thing, I couldn't believe how bad the stars were performing and was pretty disappointed until Carrie Underwood came out and show everyone there was she has consistently won so many awards. This American Idol alumni can sing, and will do so live. But then we all knew she could sing since that's what they do at American Idol. Congratulations to her, she rocks! or should I see she yodels?

"Mi chica" on the other hand thought the whole show sucked. I was pretty happy with the winners, at least Faith Hill didn't throw a fit because she lost (was she even there?), and Martina great as she is was just a tad outperformed by Carrie.

Has anybody heard of a site called Bix?

Until the next time, later days amigos.

Tidbits

This has to be crazy but when we are still having temperature record highs in the mid 90s and we are still wearing shorts and sandals and yet you are already seeing Christmas products all over the stores and some houses believe it or not already have their Christmas light up. It's just too crazy and I feel cheated because I see some of the beautiful pictures people post of autumn scenes which we don't get here in Phoenix. It's just not fair.

Well "mi chica" is desperately trying to catch up to me, she had yet another birthday on Saturday. She turned 29 again for like the the 17th time, ummmm, it must be nice to have the secret to the fountain of youth. She had to take her dad to Nogales and when she finally got home we just had an impromptu date to one of our favorite taco places in Phoenix. After that we picked up a coffee at the gas station and headed back home. Truth is I owe her... big time. I'll make it up somehow soon enough. You know I will, don't ya baby!


"Mi chica" Isn't she lovely?
So, what's in the agenda for the immediate future. Well, if my trucking company comes through again, we'll be going to PIR (Phoenix International Raceway) for NASCAR again. We went last year as it was a blast. PIR is only about 15 minutes away from us and the passes we get include admission to Corporate Village where we get to eat and drink as much as we want before the race starts.

If you never been to a NASCAR race you are in for a surprise. First there's a whole city that forms made completely of mobile homes. PIR is in the middle of nowhere but for the event a complete supermarket is supplied. Campers as far as the eye can see and happy people tailgating all over the place just for fun.

Inside, the cars are loud and fast. You can watch the races on TV but will never really appreciate how fast these guys and gals drive until you see them swoosh right in front of your eyes. If you are smart you'll take some sort of ear plugs, these engines really roar.


This is the car that for the second consecutive year has sponsored my way in to PIR and to Corporate Village.

On a separate note, don't forget to visit my photo blog "Arizona... But it's a dry heat! as this week I feature pictures taken by my guest blogger Wanda of "Brushstrokes From the Heart".

Guest Blogger

FRIENDS

I have been blogging for almost a year and a half and I have made many friends during that time. I personally think you are all great and I love every one of you. You have given me support and you have welcomed me into your worlds too. I truly believe that blogging friends are a tight bunch and we all stick together.

One of my newest friends is actually one of my most loyal visitors, this wonderful friend found me and loyally visits me every single day, except of course when she is out visiting her family in Southern California.

Her name is Wanda, and she has one of the nicest and most inspiring blogs you'll ever read, her inspirational posts keep one going back to her blog day after day, trust me if you meet her you'll like her... you'll like her a lot.

Without her my photo blog would be so lonely, she has made it a point to visit it daily and she always leaves me a comment or two. For this particular reason next week starting on Monday the 5th through Friday the 9th I will be posting pictures taken by her. This is my way of thanking her and the least I can do.

Please visit my Arizona... But It's a dry heat! blog next week and meet this sweet blogger whom I am proud to have as a friend.


CLICK BUTTON

B Movies Can Bee Fun

We, as in "mi chica" and I, must be gluttons for punishment. Yesterday she called me to let me know that my daughter in law had 28 free passes to go watch a special advance screening for the movie "Bee Movie" and like the awesome dynamic duo that we are and aided by our daughter Michelle took all (yes, you heard it correctly), all six grand kids including our 2 month old one plus a little stow away that has adopted us as his grandparents.

Even though the show was a 7:00 p.m. we left early to insure that we could all seat together, the theater was all the way in Scottsdale which is a good 25 miles from home and we were to drive during rush hour. We got there almost an hour early and made the line and we still didn't get back seats but at least we were able t
o sit together. As we took our seats this young boy of about nine or ten year old asked me if we were a "class", "These are all my grand kids" I told him, he just looked at me and said "Jeez mister".

We were all given little antennas to wear on our heads, it was kindda cute in a creepy way to see everyone at the theater wearing them, the press was there too, ready with pens and or personal recorders to prepare for their reviews. Will it be thumbs up or thumbs down? We'll just have to wait and see.


It's no secret anymore that cartoon movies are more successful than people movies nowadays and I think that this one has good potential, it's definitely cartoony enough for the kids, the graphics are great and the colors vivid, but it also has some grown up jokes that most kids won't get. Jerry Seinfeld, Renee Zellweger, Chris Rock, and the rest of the cast provide many funny moments with the dialog.

The premise of the movie is simple, a talking bee (actually bees do talk but they are forbidden to talk to humans, of course Barry brakes the rule) falls in love with a human girl named Vanessa (yeap, they do touch on interracial relationships) while at the same time sues humans for "stealing" their honey.

Our little unofficial poll told us that the kids did like the movie, and we "grown ups" but kids at heart enjoyed it too.

So on the scale from one to five, one being the lowest I give it a... who cares! Don't let me tell you weather the movie is good or bad, just grab the kiddies and haul them to the theater. I know, "B" movies are supposed to suck, but this "bee" movie has good potential.

Grandkids

You will need more than one hand to count have many grand kids stayed at our house over the weekend. Not one, not two, nor three or four, not even five but six, yes all of our six grand kids were with us this weekend. When I woke up the first thing my chica said even before she said good morning was, "Are you sure you want to come out".

Truth is I love every single one of them, and for the most part they brighten my life. It's a joy to walk into the house and have them run to me saying "Grandpa, grandpa" and then they will change the song to "my grandpa" no "my grandpa" says the other one, they still don't know the concept of "Sharing is caring" but they are learning.

So I prepared myself mentally to do what I do best, block them off my mind. Kids are kids and will run, scream, jump, laugh, cry and do all other sorts of things when they are around you and they need to blow some steam before we start telling them to stop. Once upon a time "mi chica" and I used to have a nice looking house but that sort of changed, however what's more important a house or the kids. Well, I don't know in your world, but in mine I take the kids.

So between a few "shut ups" and "quiet downs" and the occasional "time out" we survived the weekend with no casualties, my son and his wife came back from their weekend vacation and were ready to face the kids again with renewed vigor. I'm certainly going to miss them when they are gone. In the meantime I continue to enjoy them.

Our 26th Wedding Anniversary

Today is a special day in 'mi chica's" and my life. Today is our 26th Wedding Anniversary and we couldn't be happier. We have no special plans other than to be with each other and to vow for many more years of happiness to come.



Baby, I love you with all my heart.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Halloween Came Early

Halloween came early this year. Yeap! my sister in law decided to host a Halloween party last Saturday. It was a small intimate family oriented party with a couple of her friends. Even though we all had fun the party winners were the kids.

She had plenty of games and prices for them, the rule was that everyone had to be in costume. The kids played musical chairs, relay races, toss the bean bag and a plethora of similar games were played.

I made one of my fabulous salsas to be eaten with chips, ummmmmmm, que rico! We had pizza, and for dessert home made cupcakes.














If you know me a little by now, then you'll know that I take a family gathering over any other type of party in a heart beep. I'm sure there will be additional Hallowing postings eventually as my "comadre" is hosting another party but this one geared towards adults (no kids accepted) on this one. But for now here are some of the pictures from Saturday. I hope you like them.

Parent Job Description

It's been a long time since I posted an email, this one is just so true that even if you've already seen it you'll smile again when you read it.

POSITION :
Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma
Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION :

Long term, team players needed, for challenging
permanent work in an,
often chaotic environment.
Candidates must possess excellent communication
and organizational skills and be willing to work
variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends
and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.
Some overnight travel required, including trips to
primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities!
Travel expenses not reimbursed.
Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES :

The rest of your life.
Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily,
until someone needs $5.
Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
Also, must possess the physical stamina of a
pack mule
and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat
in case, this time, the screams from
the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges,
such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets
and stuck zippers.
Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and
coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings
for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
Must be willing to be indispensable one minute,
an embarrassment the next.
Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a
half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.
Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
Must assume final, complete accountability for
the quality of the end product.
Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and
janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION :

None. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills,
so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE :

None required, unfortunately.
On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION :

Get this! You pay them!
Offering frequent raises and bonuses.
A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because
of the assumption that college will help them
become financially independent.
When you die, you give them whatever is left.
The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that
you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS :

While no health or dental insurance, no pension,
no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and
no stock options are offered;
this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love,
and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.



** AND A FOOTNOTE "THERE IS NO RETIREMENT -- EVER!!!

A Local Hot Rod Show

On Sunday morning "mi chica" kindda woke me up and "invited" me to breakfast. We decided to go to this cool breakfast place called TJ's in old Avondale. While on our way to the restaurant I noticed that there was a "Hot Rod" carshow and told "mi chica" we must come back and check out the rides after we have breafast.

I had a Denver Omelette and she had the French pankcakes or something like that, all I know is that they were good, however one of TJs best features is their coffee. We must have had three cups each with our breakfast.



Now on a full stomach and with time to kill, We went to check out the cars. I must have photographed about 85% of the cars on display but I am only going to show you some of them here. If you appreciate cars at all then you'll appreciate these.















These four babies are some dream rides, aren't they?


Yellow Beauty



And of course the king of them all.
~~ THE MUSTANG ~~

Fire House Open House

My daughter had told me that the local fire department which is only about a two minute drive or five minute walk from out house was having their annual open house. We went two years ago and it is always a fun time. You get to see all their trucks and even seat on them all the while you can have the kids play games while you are also being fed some delicious hamburgers and hot dogs. There is no shortage of action, from the clown walking around taking pictures with a big spongy camera to a singing fire man singing all kinds kids songs about safety and fire awareness.



Taking pictures was a highlight for me, there was just so much to photograph there that I felt like a kid in a candy store.














A few minutes later my other daughter her husband and grandson also joined us at the fire station. They too had some tasty burgers and refreshments and then it was off to get some desert. The had plenty of ice cream, popsicles and ice cream sandwich cookies to go around.

Without a doubt one of the highlights of the outing was that Diego and Alayna got to dress as fire fighters. You should have seen Diego's smile while he was being assisted by two REAL FIREFIGHTERS. Boots, pants, jacket, head protective mask, breathing, mask and finally his helmet. He though he was BAD and enjoyed every minute of it. Alayna only got the boots and the jacket but she was like now that I'm dressed I think I'll just go. Yeah, she wanted to take the gear home with her.


First went the pants, and then followed by the boots. Look grandpa I am starting to look like a fireman.





Then the jacket, masks and helmet also made it. Look grandpa, now for real I look like a real fire fighter.


As I said, I could go on and on, sometimes the best things in life are free. They smiled so much that I believe that an amusement park would not have had the same effect. Alayna even cried when we started to leave she wanted to stay and have some more fun, but us grown up party poopers rained on their parades and brought them home.

The Playoffs

What do you do when you are at your mom's enjoying some home made tostadas and your phone rings and it's your favorite sister in law calling to let you know that her husband just scored not one or two nor three or four, well actually not five or six and not even seven but (drum roll playing here) EIGHT tickets to the first playoff game at Chase Stadium, the Arizona Diamondbacks vs. The Rockies?

Wow, that was one long question wasn't it? Well if you say eat your tostadas pretty fast and hurry home to pick up your "chica" and grand kid then you are right.
I got home and it only took us about ten minutes to be on the road. Considering we were late and all the parking lots were full, not to mention that they gouched the prices to $20.00 where they normally charge $5.00, I told "mi chica" to drive a couple of blocks away from the stadium to see if we could find something. About five blocks away we found one space left against a company loading dock that was closed so we parked there and it didn't cost a thing.

We started walking towards the stadium when one of the bicycle guys told us he would take us, as you know they work for tips only so when we reached the stadium I gave him my only bill I had which happened to be a $20.00, I told him to keep five but he pretended not to find enough change so winded up keeping eight. Considering the parking was free and we got to the gate when the third inning was about to start I just told him thanks and we went on his marry way.





To get to our seats (keep in mind these were free tickets) we had to go through two sets of escalators and then 108 (yeap, I counted the suckers) steps to get to our seats. Did anybody say nose bleed? I'm telling you these seats were the third row from the very top. After about 75 steps or so, both "mi chica" and I were totally out of breath. These steps are very steep, a second smaller brake before finally reaching our destination and we were finally seated. My sister in law, was prepared and gave us a bottle of water which I think we drank like in two sips.


Yes, those little tiny puny dots on the field are in fact PLAYERS.

It was an uneventful game, yes the Diamondback was losing and tempers were flaring when in the seven inning a controversial (or not) call caused irritation on the local fans and lots of debree found its way into the field. The constant booing and bottle throwing forced the teams to leave the field for about 10 minutes, the noise just never died down, luckily being so high up we didn't get the worst of it. For a minute there I thought the term nose bleed was going to be taken literally.




Diego went on his second game and he had a great time. The only other time he had been to the stadium was about two years ago, so this time he enjoyed it a little bit more. After carpeting the floor with a nice cover of sun flower seeds and peanut shells we decided to start making our way towards the exit. They announced that it was a sell out but I still saw many empty seats. It was nice to see the stadium full again, so let's hope that tomorrow we even the score so that we don't go to Colorado with a deficit.

All in all we had a great time, and the best part was that it was all free, how can you beat that?


Nino! While my daddy concentrates on the game, my brother pretends he is watching, my mom makes faces at the players, just take a picture of me, yeah that's the ticket, I'll pose for you.

What's For Dinner

Sitting here and enjoying one of my mom's home made burritos I was just reflecting on how lucky I am to have a mom and a wife that are pretty much the best cooks in my world.

See, once upon a time "mi chica" didn't know how to cook. When we were newlyweds and we lived with my mom for a little while she asked her to teach her. My mom said all you need to do is come into the kitchen when I'm here cooking and you'll see how fast you'll learn. "Mi chica" did just that and in no time she was cooking everything my mom was cooking. I do not exaggerate when I say that the student surpassed the teacher because to this day "mi chica" cooks the best meals around. For every recipe my mom gave her, she added her own little twist making it a little different thus creating a new variation of an already good tasting dish.

Cooking is one of the things that keeps my mom active these days and that's why I eat at her house three days out of the week and sometimes even on weekends. "Mi chica" too loves cooking and claims that it actually relaxes her. She can whip out some good stuff in a matter of minutes. So to say that I am in food heaven is an understatement.

I think my mom look forward to cooking for me only because there's no food she cooks that I don't like, same goes for "mi chica". Now they want to put me on a diet because I have a big belly. Yeah, right! Easier said than done.

Like in the movie "Fields of Dreams" my motto is "If you cook it, I will eat".
Thank you mi baby and thank you mom for keeping me and my belly happy.

No Two Blogs Are Alike

No two blogs are alike, that's why I read them all the same way. First I get busy reading and then analyzing the post contents. Some I read from top to bottom, and some I may just peruse over, and then I determine weather mine can improve based on what I read on other blogs.

The idea to improve the next post always seems to slip off my hands, it is a challenge to sit and write and hope you'll read. That's why so many of us partner with each other by swapping URLs, this way I know at least someone will read what I have written, this way I doesn't really matter weather my posts have improved or not.

Over the past year, I have seen many of you disappear and many of you that are still here have defined what your blogs are about, what I see is that there is a variety out there that keeps my brain asking for more. It won't be rare for me to wonder what someone wrote about today, some of you pick up where you left off on the last post, and some just post a plethora of posts that have nothing in common, and further more some of you have taken to write mini series while others just joke and write nonsense, and you know what, in my book it's all good.

The beauty of all this is that with some many different styles there will always be something that draws a smile or a tear, and that's what makes it all worth while, so I guess the bottom line to this post is... that there's no bottom line, I didn't know what to write about so I just started writing and this is the end result.

It doesn't matter what you write just write. I know I have at least one #1 fan... me!

Two Out Of Three

82 degrees forested for Saturday, yey finally nice weather visits Phoenix, it won't be too long now and we'll be getting cold. Here in Phoenix fall skips us every year. For now we'll take advantage of this beautiful weather and just enjoy it.

If my motorcycle was running I would be riding to work at least twice a week, but for now it remains parked in my garage awaiting patiently for me to have the little extra money to have it serviced and ready to go. It doesn't seem it will happen anytime soon this year but hopefully soon. For now I just see those who are riding and think "lucky fools".

OK so I'm typing this post as I watch my Diamonbacks play the Cubs on the second game, now if you know anything about Phoenix teams the are known to blow a good lead on the last inning, or two minute warning, I came to the conclusion that if I watch the games they will lose so I am changing the channel and let them win in peace. I'll go back to it soon.

So, I'll take this opportunity to let you all know that my niece will be a year old this Saturday and obviously we will be going to her birthday party. It seems it was only yesterday when she came into this world and now a whole year has passed.

Checking on the baseball game,it shows one out and two more to go with runners on first and second, ummm I think I'll change it again and come back to it later.

Anybody, anytime is the new Diamondback's motto, that's all you hear this days and it seems to be working, last time I went to a baseball game not too long ago the stadium looked lonely, even at 50,000 in attendance it looked pitiful. All of a sudden a fan appear out of nowhere.

Hey, news flash the Diamonback just took the second game and will go now to the windy city to try to seal the deal there. Ever since I moved to Phoenix I adopted all the local teams and I have remained loyal (yeah, it's a little hard as they lose a lot)to them. I actually am glad when they win or when at least they beat a team I don't like.

Looking forward to a nice Friday, I will be running on a skeleton crew at work which should make my work Friday go really fast, and then we will start enjoying this great weather and the upcoming weekend.

Talk to you all later.