If you haven’t heard already, Meg and I lost Benjamin this weekend.  Our family and friends and work places have been spectacular in their support and love but none can compare to my new hero:  Meggan.

I honestly believe that certain moments throughout your life show who you truly are and this was one of Meg’s moments.  We were told Sunday afternoon that our baby was dead and to top it off, we still had to go through labor.  Many many hours later, after being physically and emotionally exhausted, my wife delivered Benjamin at 3:50 am.  I’ve heard how difficult labor can be but never before had I heard of someone doing it with no hope of life.   She held strong and did the impossible.  I was totally blown away at this strength.  She may not be able to fly or run really fast or stop bullets or use magic, but I’m certain she did something that not even Superman could have done.

I definitely picked the best.

I’m a bit of a tortured soul. During high school I was in wrestling and band and I think I was the only person in a school of 2000 students who was. During Band, we did routines like you see in DCI, only not as polished. It was a lot of fun and it got me interested in musicals. Since then I’ve seen the following musicals on stage:

• Les Miserables
• Miss Saigon
• City of Angels
• Evita
• Mamma Mia
• Spamalot!

I’ve seen plenty of others on dvd or even vhs.  Last night my mom talked me into seeing ‘Mamma Mia’ in the theatre.  It’s by far the funniest musical I’ve seen and I don’t know if it’s just because my mom subliminally tortured me with ABBA music while I was a baby.   Meryl Streep did a lot better than I thought she would and Pierce Brosnan wasn’t as bad as I thought he’d be.  Overall I’d say it was good fun, although not as good as the stage version.  The worst part is trying to get the mental images of guys wearing 70s disco outfits out my mind. 

As a side note, Meggan and I first watched ‘Moulin Rouge’  when we started hanging out together before we started dating and still occasionally watch it.  Ewan McGregor has some huge vocals. 

Before I start, I want to say GTA IV the game has nothing to do with “getting busted” in real life. Although Jason did suggest I “get busted” recently.

We had a GFI trip today and since Meg is not as athletic as she once was, I drove home at lunch to reset the GFI and breaker. On my way home, I get pulled over (2 miles or less to the house) by a cop. I was doing 9 to 10 over in a 35. The 35s and 40s really do confuse me over there because 1/2 a mile up it’s 40. The cop takes my license goes back to his car and says I’m a nice guy so he’s going to take care of me. He comes back and says he is not going to give me a 4 point ticket but instead just a 1 point ticket and charge me only 105 total, because (You guessed it) I’m a nice guy. Total he said it 3 times and even told me to have a nice day and he hopes my wife is okay. I’m not angry but this brings up my most notable experiences with cops to date:

1. 1st ticket - 100mph in a 65mph zone on my way to Miami to see mi hermana.
2. Fleeing and Evading - I was on my way back to UF… slightly rebellious and even estupido!
3. DWAI - Now with more estpuido! I think i grew up after this one and it really helped me to change my life AND land the girl! (Meg and I met the same year.)
4. Last ticket before today - 40mph in a 35mph zone that literrally had just changed within the last week down to a 35mph. Either way, it was once again helping Meg back in 2004 or 2005.
5. Driving a friends’ car while he was in the car and getting a ticket for an expired tag… my friend made me pay it too because it was in my name back in 2001.

I’m seeing a trend over the last few years, being nice to Meggan doesn’t pay … oh well:) Lesson learned and even better, something fun to post about and it only cost me $105!!!

Meg’s 18th birthday is today! Yay! She’s legal!

Actually it’s interesting because I just learned Marilyn Monroe died on Meggan’s birthday. So whenever I sing Happy Birthday Mr. President (which i do frequently in my awesome Marilyn Monroe impersonation), it’s now just kind of eerie.

So for Meggan’s birthday I got her a shirt related to ‘How I Met Your Mother.’ That’s right a Let’s Go To the Mall shirt by Robin Sparkles. I also got Benjamin a onesie that says ‘Wingman’ Taking one for the team since 1987. Someone at work mentioned how some of the sayings for How I Met your Mother reminded him of Seinfeld and it made me realize how true that is. You can easily go to cafepress or youtube and see many many classic moments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzpYeHTiEGY

So since the writer’s strike last year put a damper on TV, I’m happy to say some high quality shows are back on and hopefully unaffected. 

First up is Eureka.  Premise:  All the current and future Albert Einsteins in the world live in a small town, Eureka.  The sheriff is someone who has a normal IQ: I think he was even excited when he found out his IQ was 111 and he got over 100 without taking it more than once.  Visit the site and you’ll kind of get the feel for it.  It’s really amazing to see how the sheriff, normal IQ, keeps figuring out these super complex problems that PHD types can’t.   I like the lesson that even us normal people can accomplish great things.  No need to overanalyze.

Second, Psych.  Premise:  A psychic detective, Sean, and his high-strung partner, Gus, solve crimes with their special gifts.  Only problem is, Sean isn’t psychic, he’s just really aware of his surroundings through intense practice.  This one really is a favorite of mine of all shows because it’s also my date night with Meggan.  Bliss is hearing your wife in her cute voice singing ‘I know that you know that I’m not telling the truth….’.   It makes me smile all the time.  For those that only read or speak spanish, see below.  Yes, I’m laughing because you wouldn’t be reading this if you did.  Anyhow, check out their psych-outs also like ebony and ivory.  Very corny humor that keeps me laughing for weeks…

The best thing about the shows is there’s no sex or swearing that I remember.

When I first started dating and hanging out with Meggan she constantly had ABC Family and Disney on all the time with repeated sitcoms.    I’m not generally a sitcom guy except for ‘How I Met Your Mother’ because Ted and Barney are just too funny.  In fact, I don’t like sitcoms. Also as a fact I don’t like Disney much or ABC Family.  I put up with it because I guessed that’s what women, especially elementary teachers do.  They are a bit on the cutesy side of things.  Just leave me be to my football, Ninja Warrior, and American Gladiators (err….busted). 

Fast Forward 3-4 years

Due to some what I now consider fortuitous and foreboding circumstances, one of Meggan’s summer school kids had their ‘Camp Rock’ cds taken away.  Why does this affect me?  Just because I asked her if we could borrow it.  Next thing I know I’m singing a Jonas Brother song… oh how the mighty have fallen.  So I want to blame this on the baby, somehow someway but I think it’s not really his fault.  It’s been years in the making of her subtleness, and I frequently see myself checking those stations now.   I feel dirty now.   I think I need to go watch a marathon of some UFC or WEC now…. bbl. 

p.s.  The song is called ‘This is Me’ by Demi Lovato and Joe Jonas - It’s grand!

So I might be a bit behind on this but I had to comment…. A year ago Pearl, makers of running shoes, launched an ad campaign targeting runners and how jogging is NOT running.   The one that captured my attention was ‘Run Easy is an Oxymoron.’  Here’s a snippet:

why do people feel that they have to put friendly modifiers into running so everyone can feel good about it? well, here is the ugly truth. everyone shouldn’t feel good about running. it’s hard. it hurts. running requires sacrifice and heart and guts.

What was most interesting to me was when i got on the ‘Intarwebs’ later [Brain of F (C) 2008] to see some more, people were vehemently against this campaign.  I also asked the salesman at a local running store downtown yesterday.  He and and others specifically mentioned that it wasn’t very inviting to get people into the sport.   Who cares?  If they need to be enticed in with flowers and fruity drinks, how long are they really going to last?  Okay maybe that’s a tad harsh even for me but really, I’m not sure how people can be so up in arms about that.  If it doesn’t appeal to you then maybe they weren’t targetting you.  If you like that one, I’d recommend visiting the Pearl Izumi ad site just for the snippets.  What do YOU think of the ads? 

If you ever want to see who the true runners are, take a peek outside during mother nature’s next hissyfit.

Our ancestors never jogged down a meal.

I must still be on a joggers runner’s high.

Meggan and I were driving home from Costco the other day, and Joan Jett’s ‘I love Rock and Roll’ comes on.  Benjamin starts moving his butt in her belly.  So I put two and two together, and tell her it’s because the baby gets his butt shaking from his dad.   Not that Meggan can’t shake her butt but well me and my clown-dancing (another story) take the cake.  All I have to do is keep him on the straight and narrow and away from the Irish Stepdancing.  I personally think Irish stepdancing is a front for the IRA.  Being as smart as I am, I dare not tell Meggan this because I value my life (yet somehow I’m ok with telling the rest of the world).

Simply a quote from Wanted (2008), but I’m happy to say it didn’t take this or any other quote or inspirational speaker from Dale Carnegie to make it happen.  I was definitely happy with a great wife, family, friends, and job but just felt like I was always running behind.  Taking back control of my life started with my baby, who isn’t even born yet, and my favorite quote “Go out and preach the gospel… and if necessary, use words”.  Less words, more action.

So I started jogging several months ago, running further than I had in High School.  I got a free bike from a great person at work and started riding.  I started actually leaving work on MY lunch break and jogging.  I found a great church I attend and love.   I stopped telling my friends to do things and became a better listener.  I stopped passing judgement on people on how God wants them to live their life, because I’m not God.  Two ears, one mouth.  I started doing all the things in life I want to teach my baby boy about but wanted to impact on him, not just tell him.  Less words, more action.

I win!