East Alabama Ramblings

Could be the end?

2007-01-31T21:44:00.000-06:00

I'm seriously considering shutting this blog down. Not because I'm tired of it, but I've decided to start a new one that's hosted on my own server. I will more than likely cross-post to this one, but who knows. There will probably be more content on the new one, though.

If you'd like to head to the new destination (as I sarcastically realize this is a powerhouse and must-read blog anyhow...), check it out below, and update your bookmarks accordingly. :-)

http://blog.brockp.com

I've still got a lot of customizing to do to it, but I hope you stop by and enjoy!

Sunday night

2007-01-28T21:30:00.000-06:00

We're finally home after a long weekend at Mom's place. We went down there to deliver some computer items to make her "technology life" a little better. By the way, thanks for letting us use your truck, Brian!

While there, we also got into and cleaned out her storage shed. I've had stuff in there since middle school, and it was time to finally clean it out. We freed up half the space in there, and we made room for a gun cabinet my grandfather made. It will be making its way to our house in the future.

One of the best treasures we found was an original Nintendo system, and it still works. I love my 360, but it was awesome to sit down last night and play Super Mario Bros. Yes, it will be hooked up to my TV here along with the 360. You've got to have some nostalgia in your life.

We also visited with my grandmother today. She is 90-years-old, and not doing well at all. Unfortunately, we weren't able to stay long, but I hope we can see her again soon. She's the last grandparent between Amy and I, and it's not looking good.

It was a pretty eventful weekend to say the least. We're all tired, so I'll close for now. Sorry for the sporadic updates. Sometimes life just feels like a routine.

Why I love Microsoft

2007-01-20T21:08:00.000-06:00

The title of this post is simple: "Why I love Microsoft (or, Customer service gets it right)."

My cherished Xbox 360 died a couple of days after Christmas. I took it to my in-laws so we could play, then the "Ring of Light" flashed a bright red. I was prepared to break out the shovels and bury it six feet under.

Alas, it would not come to that. I called customer service because I read Microsoft extended the warranty for the machines built in 2005. They've had a high rate of failure, and the date on the back of mine said "December 2005."

The service rep was extremely nice, and I explained the symptoms. He then stepped me through a process that would eventually make me proud to be a Microsoft customer. He told me they would repair it at no cost to me. Sweet!

He told me to look for a box in the mail. A few days later, a box showed up with instructions. I was to place my beloved "time waster" in this box, apply the seal, slap on the pre-printed shipping label and send it to them.

This past Thursday, another box came to the house. I open it, and there she is! My 360 was home! Or... was she? She looked a tad different. My 360 was shipped to them without a faceplate. There was a brand new one staring back at me.

Curious.

I immediately flipped it around and didn't recognize the serial number. I looked at the manufacturing date: July 2006. My jaw dropped.

How could this be? My 360 died, and instead of charging me $150 like everyone else to repair it, they sent me a box (free shipping), told me they'd fix it (for free) and did, in my mind, the unthinkable.

They didn't repair my 360. They sent me a brand spanking new one for nothing... Not one cent. Customer support... Microsoft... treating the customer with the highest respect?

Yep. I've never heard of such a corporation going to these lengths. They usually want some money to take care of problems.

So, I sit here with my new 360 (a lot quieter than the old one, too), and I couldn't be happier with Microsoft. Unlike a lot of people, I've always liked MS products. Now, I can say customer support actually thought of the customer.

Kudos to you, Microsoft.

Hi

2007-01-17T23:42:00.000-06:00

Haven't posted in a few days because I've got nothing to talk about. That means this is another meaningless post.

So... Hi.

New "Geico" Commercial

2007-01-06T08:40:00.000-06:00

I couldn't resist throwing this up here. I have good friends who are Tennessee fans, so please forgive me for this one.

You've seen the Geico commercial with the caveman on the moving sidewalk in the airport? Well, apparently here's the version from Knoxville.

You're on notice!

2007-01-03T10:31:00.000-06:00

Welcome to Alabama! Everyone else, you're on notice! :-)

We've got him!!!!!!

2007-01-03T10:07:00.000-06:00

Welcome to Tuscaloosa, Coach Nick Saban! Welcome back to the college ranks!

Saban rolls with the Tide

Yes, he denied becoming the Alabama coach, but he did so because reporters kept bugging him about it. He had to protect his job. It's common for coaches to do that these days (Remember Fran to TAMU and Tuberville to Auburn?).

Will he be at Alabama long? Who knows, but at least we have him for now. He wasn't the greatest in the pros, but he's a great college coach.

Mal Moore can now retire with a little more class.

The fun is over

2007-01-01T23:17:00.000-06:00

It's getting mighty close to January 2, 2007. That means in about 14 more hours, I'm heading back to work after a 10-day break.

It's been a great vacation. It's the first one I've had since Christmas 2005, and I don't count that week Alyssa was born as vacation. :-) It was joyous, but hectic with everyone constantly at the house.

I love my job and station. I'm very blessed to be in a place I enjoy with people I enjoy even more. That being said, I did not enjoy November or December 2006 at work. I haven't told a lot of people because no one really wants to hear my complaints, but there was hardly a day I was happy to be there.

I imagine it had a lot to do with the holidays rolling around and being anxious for some time off. On the other hand, there were only a couple of stories I really got fired up about (the big one being the local "We Are Marshall" piece). Outside of that, every day was just "eh."

My two big resolutions this year are knock a dent in the debt and relax more at work. Some would say, "Relax? In news?" Yes, because I can handle the stress better than some. If you've never been in a TV news environment with a deadline and breaking stories looming, you've never seen stress... :-)

Not everyone can be on television where people recognize you and trust what you tell them. That's a blessing, and I love it. I just want to capture that fire I had. Now that I've been away for a few days, I know it'll show up again.

Here's to a great 2007!

Adios, 2006!

2006-12-31T00:28:00.000-06:00

This is it: The final day of 2006! This year has been great to say the least. It started off better than any man could hope for with Alyssa's birth in February.

It's also ending on high note. Alyssa had her first Christmas, and boy did she rack up. We were on the road from the 22nd to the 27th, and we've been at home since then. However, we're still sorting out the toys and gifts. It was a wonderful Christmas with all three families. We all got lots of quality time and great gifts.

If that last sentence isn't structured well, that's okay. I'm very sleepy at the moment. :-)

It's been great being away from work. I really haven't had a vacation since last Christmas, and I haven't missed the station at all. Don't read anything negative into that, but it's been nice not having to come up with stories every day. It's just been relaxing.

I did go to the station in Columbus last night, though. I went to hang out after work with some buddies I haven't seen in a while. A couple of them are basically heading out the door to other jobs in a few months, and that breaks my heart. I've had two great years with them, and I know our friendships will always be there.

I also went with Brian to see "We Are Marshall" today. I did a story a couple of weeks ago with Mike Morehouse. His dad, Gene, was the radio guy when the team plane crashed. Spending that evening interviewing his family really made me want to see the movie, and it did not disappoint. It was a very touching movie, and it's definitely one I'll buy when it comes to DVD.

I guess that will do it for tonight. We're all pooped, and I've got two more days of freedom. I'll go get some rest so I can enjoy them. Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

2006-12-22T20:57:00.000-06:00

This is kind of a copy-and-paste post from last year with a few adjustments. It's Friday night, and I've still got a lot of packing to do. What more do you want? :-)

With that said, from my family to yours, have a safe and merry Christmas! We wish you all of God's blessings and mercies this holiday season. This blog shall return when we do. We've got a few days on the road, then a few days at home to relax.

And the best part of it? We get to watch Alyssa tear into paper and boxes Christmas morning. This is what life should be like all the time. :-)

At the end

2006-12-19T10:12:00.000-06:00

Breaking at 10:10 a.m. CST:

This is a story I covered at my old station in Tuscaloosa:

Body of Heaven LaShae Ross found

I'm glad her remains have been located, but I feel so bad for the family. I interviewed them a few times after she went missing in 2003. I went to several vigils and events for her, and it's sad it ended like this.

I hope there is justice for Shae.

New photo galleries

2006-12-19T01:57:00.000-06:00

I've updated the photo galleries on my personal site, BrockP.com. They're Flash files, so they'll be easier to update. I've been asked by several people to update Alyssa's pictures more often, so maybe these will help.

And just for grins...

Deal of the day

2006-12-16T23:59:00.000-06:00

Greetings on this fine Saturday night. It's been a week since the last post, but I won't get into how this week has been. I'll just say it's been good, but boy... I cannot wait until Friday again when I start my vacation. I love my job, but I haven't had a string of days off since Alyssa was born in February. It's time.

Today was a relaxing day. The females of the house went to Macon to see a friend, and I did basically nothing. That is, until I went shopping shortly after 10:00 a.m.

I have wanted a DVD recorder for the last four years. We were living in Tuscaloosa when they first hit the shelves. I drooled over them, but I wasn't ready to jump at the $800 price tag they were commanding.

Since that time, I have adapted and overcome. We've had TiVo for more than a year, and it's set up with a wireless connection to my computer. I download the shows and transfer them to DVD with my PC's burner.

Needless to say, it's a lengthy process when a two-hour show takes about three hours to transfer through the air. I'm keeping a lot of my reports and newscasts on TiVo, but space is becoming a precious item. I needed a way to get them onto DVD more quickly.

All that's been said to talk about my "deal of the day." The recorder I've been looking into costs $170 at Best Buy (which I'm a proud "Reward Zone" member). The last three weeks have been good to me concerning BB.

My "Reward Zone" membership landed me some gift certificates, and it also gave me a 12 percent off coupon in the mail. Throw in a couple of gift cards from the station Christmas party, and I'm in good shape.

Today, I bit the bullet. I marched in there, picked up the recorder and headed to the cashier. Poor girl never knew what was coming as I whipped out two WTVM Visa gift cards, a gift certificate, the 12 percent coupon, cash and a check card. Yes, you counted correctly: Six forms of payment.

She just looked at me, and I immediately apologized. She laughed about it and told me it was the funniest thing she'd seen all day (glad I could make her smile). I watched with delight as she knocked all the "free money" off the price.

I thought I would still wind up with paying a bit out-of-pocket, but the total of my hard-earned cash came out to $0.76. I bought a $170 DVD recorder for less than a dollar. Even Amy was amazed to see what I pulled off when she got home.

So, I now have that recorder, and I've put it to good use. I've already burned nine stories off the TiVo, and it's breathing easier with the extra room. However, the funniest part of the deal is I ran off from home and forgot my change on the kitchen counter.

I had to put the $0.76 on my check card.

No Time For Panic

2006-12-09T16:26:00.000-06:00

Cecil Hurt is the sports editor for the Tuscaloosa News. He's also one of the only people I trust to accurately report on Alabama athletics. The rest of the people I trust are those on that T-News staff, along with Paul Finebaum (I may catch heck for that name).

That aside, Hurt has a great head on his shoulders when it comes to looking at the future of Alabama football. All you have to do is read his article below.

Now is not the time for UA to lose focus

Kudos, Cecil.

No Coach Rod

2006-12-09T00:01:00.000-06:00

Well, Coach Rod decided to stay at West Virginia. That's where he and his family are originally from, so I can't fault him. Best of luck to you guys.

Bama moves on in the coaching search. I think I'll be a little more patient this time. We'll get someone who's right for the job.

If not, ESPN has all the more ammunition toward us.

The clock ticks down for Coach Rod

2006-12-05T21:59:00.000-06:00

What a week it's been. We've seen Shula fired, now we are anxiously waiting for these next three days to pass. According to ESPN.com's Ivan Maisel Tuesday night, Bama will decide whether or not to offer current West Virginia University Coach Rich Rodriguez the head job within 72 hours.

I watched the WVU-Rutgers game Saturday night with Dad. Am I impressed with him? You'd better believe it. From everything I've seen and read, I'm all for this man to take over the Crimson Helm.

Spurrier would've been nice. Saban, too, but I think we're about to have a quality and disciplined man leading our team.

I hope we can soon say, "Welcome to Tuscaloosa, Coach Rod."

SHULA FIRED!

2006-11-27T01:17:00.000-06:00

Wow... It's just after 1:00 a.m. Monday morning, and Tuscaloosa News is reporting Mike Shula has been fired as Alabama's head coach.

I hoped for it, but didn't think it'd happen. I like Shula as an individual, but he wasn't cut out for the job.

So... Who's our new coach? Spurrier? Saban?

Tick, tock, tick, tock...

Happy Thanksgiving!

2006-11-22T11:47:00.000-06:00

Yes, it's a day early, but I won't be thinking about this blog for the next few days. I know I don't post daily, so you probably won't even miss it. :-)

I've got to work on Turkey Day, but I've got a three-day weekend after that. My plan is to sleep in Friday, then we're heading to Mom's place Saturday morning. I'll head to the in-laws tomorrow night for T-Day dinner, and then I'll come home while Amy gets up early to go shopping (or whatever she's doing).

Anyhow, remember to be thankful for all you've been blessed with. There's always someone worse off than you are.

True?

2006-11-20T20:59:00.000-06:00

First of all, let me say I was at the Iron Bowl, and I wasn't upset Auburn won again. Will it have an impact on Shula's future?

That's the rumor flying around radio and chat boards right now. Many are saying the Board of Trustees has met and decided Shula will not return next year. Even Finebaum this afternoon was "90 percent" sure Shula's as good as gone.

Now, everyone has an opinion. There's no need for me to dive into that old saying about rear ends and opinions. Rumors fly and they disappear. However, if Finebaum's hinting at it, I'd put a small dose of credibility into it.

Here's the thing: The Board can't fire Shula. They can only make a recommendation to the president and AD. They voted to keep Mike Price, but Dr. Robert Witt walked him to the chopping block.

Who knows what will happen. Interesting times are ahead once again for Bama. Can they just get a good coach in there and keep him for a while?

Please?

Can I borrow some money?

2006-11-16T23:16:00.000-06:00

The big news of the day seems to be people waiting in line for the new PlayStation 3. Are they crazy for being in line for a couple of days? Not really.

Some of the reports I heard today came from college kids lined up outside the stores. The best part is many of them are not wanting the system for themselves. They're going to resell it on eBay.

Why wait? Because over the last few days, eBay buyers have been bidding upward of $2,500 for these systems. Yep. A $600 system for $2,500.

That's the smart portion of waiting two days in the cold. However, the buyers on eBay are pretty dumb sometimes. Here's where patience pays off.

Remember the Xbox 360 shortage last year? I was certainly one of the many who wanted to get my hands on it. I didn't go on eBay to get mine though. I played it smart.

When my family and friends asked me what I wanted for Christmas last year, I told them cash and Best Buy gift cards. My master plan was in motion. I was going to get the money and basically have someone else pay for my 360.

Fast forward to the beginning of February 2006. It just so happens I did get enough in Christmas gifts to buy my system. I walked into Best Buy one morning while they were still having the shortage, and I asked about the next shipment.

The employee graciously said, "Be here at 10:00 tomorrow morning. We'll have about 10 on the floor." Lo and behold, he was right. I waited outside until the doors opened, and there they were. I picked mine up, and I've been in love ever since.

The morale of the story? These systems come out in November, and there's going to be a shortage right off the bat. I basically got a free 360 for waiting until three months after the debut. Christmas is a beautiful thing (for many more important reasons than just gifts...).

Patience is key if you want one for yourself, but kudos to you guys in line looking to make an insane profit. I hope you walk out with one Friday morning.

To you guys buying one on eBay for that price? Suckers. :-)

Hog Heaven

2006-11-11T21:18:00.000-06:00

With Auburn's loss today and Arkansas walking all over Tennessee, I guess we'll all be watching the Razorbacks and Gators play for the SEC title this year (I know they have to win one more game, but they have Mississippi State next week). I couldn't be happier for the other UA. They came out of nowhere this year to become a powerhouse. Congrats to you guys!

I was reading a pretty good column today by Paul Finebaum (I think I'm one of the few Bama fans that don't hate him or what he has to say, but that's neither here nor there). He talks about how the Iron Bowl next week won't mean a hill of beans to the national audience like it used to. To make matters worse, Ohio State and Michigan face each other at the exact same time.

That especially rings true after Georgia's win over Auburn. Heck, I knew after Alabama's loss to MSU last week that I didn't even want to go back to Tuscaloosa for the Iron Bowl. Unfortunately, I have to work it, so I have to be there.

I never thought I would want to skip the Iron Bowl (and I've been to a few), but this one is worthless to me. The coaching staff has ruined it for me this year. I was talking to a friend who works across the hall from me, and he made some good points about the team being so young (half of the 100+ on the roster are freshmen).

He's not exactly ready to hang it up on Shula, but I just can't feel the same way. I remember being a student Shula's first year there. I remember the electricity and relief everyone had when he was hired in that town. We had just been through Dennis Franchiphoney and Mike Price, and he was a breath of fresh air.

Now, a lot of us don't want him there any longer. I don't need to go into all this again. I've written and vented enough. Heck, as I write this, Bama and LSU are 10 minutes away from the end of the game, and I'm emotionally numb. I knew LSU would kill them, so I'm not mad. I do hope, however, there's enough anger elsewhere that someone will finally make a change.

snicker

2006-11-11T15:52:00.000-06:00

Georgia 37
Auburn 15

There will be, and have been, people who say I have no right to talk about AU since Bama's doing so poorly. Well, just let me know when I start bragging on my Tide again instead of sounding off. Maybe then I'll stop picking on AU, too.

Enough is enough

2006-11-04T20:49:00.000-06:00

I just got home from shooting the Alabama game, and let me tell you one thing: Bama fans are sick and tired of Mike Shula. How in the blue blazes do you lose 24-16 to Mississippi State?

A friend, Brad Hood (see blog at right), and I were talking on the sidelines during the fourth quarter. He said something that almost everyone in Bryant-Denny Stadium was feeling this afternoon: "Boy, this team is just bad."

Paul Finebaum wrote a column Tuesday that hit the nail on the head. He talks about how Auburn is the new Alabama, and vice versa. Everyone expects AU to blow people out and how Bama is expected to eek by or not eek at all.

I've said it before this year, and I'll keep saying it (along with the majority of the Bama Nation). Something must be done to that coaching staff. Defensive Coordinator Joe Kines is welcome to stay in my opinion, but Dr. Witt (UA president) and Mal Moore (AD) need to either replace Mike Shula at the end of this season, or hire one heck of an offensive coordinator and tell Shula to stop calling the plays.

There's an AP picture of UA students in the stand today with paper bags on their heads (see above). They were all standing a few feet away from us, and they had a message on those bags: "Shula is a bum."

Mike, you're a great guy off the field, but you HAVE to make a change, or you need to go. Our beloved program and team are too important to us to let this slop continue. Our tradition is too great to just flush away.

We want OUR Alabama back.

First word!

2006-10-30T21:08:00.000-06:00

Alyssa said her first word tonight! Amy had finished giving her a bath, and I walked in while she was drying off. She looked up at us, and said "Da-da." Then she got the biggest smile on her face!

She now says it whenever we say it to her. I'm not feeling well again today, so I stayed home. To think what I would have missed...

And yes, we got it on video!

We have a winner!

2006-10-30T11:14:00.000-06:00

All I need to say is YO YO YO YO YO YO... Football!

Back in the mix

2006-10-18T09:38:00.000-05:00

I did make it into work yesterday, but it was short-lived as I felt worse when I got there. I was there less than an hour, but had to give it up and come back home.

This morning, I feel better for the most part. My lips still hurt, but they're not as swollen. I will go back into work today, and I will stay.

It's been hard to eat the last couple of days, so I'm pretty hungry. Gotta make me a sammich!

Morning update

2006-10-17T10:28:00.000-05:00

After a long night's sleep and being pumped up on medicine... I still feel like crap. To make it worse, my swollen bottom lip is sharing the wealth with my top lip (not as bad, though), and the infected areas have turned into ulcers. They are on fire this morning.

Whenever I get ulcers on my lip, they always wind up on the inside, but now they're showing as plain as day to the world. I hate taking sick days, but I'm no better today. I'll see how it goes over the next couple of hours before I make that call.

Priorities

2006-10-16T21:19:00.000-05:00

First of all, I've been home sick today. I have felt bad ever since Friday morning, but Sunday the bottom fell out. I waited as long as I could today, but by noon I had to call it in.

I don't take sick days. I lose at least four or five every year just because I don't get sick often. Today was awful, and to top it off, half of my bottom lip is swollen and sore. I don't know what's causing it, but I'm sure as heck not posting a picture up here of it.

When I get sick, full of medicine and just plain down, I think about a lot of things. Tonight, I've been dwelling on my priorities. I may not have felt well, but I've enjoyed being at home with my family.

Football season is a really rough time for people in the news business, especially those of us who shoot the games and have families. For me, I'm shooting the high school games not only to get a little extra green in the pocket, but because I know my sports director needs help. I shoot the Alabama home games because... well, I'm a Bama graduate. Any chance I can get into the game for free (no matter how bad they're playing), it's a bonus.

My family realizes my job requires extra hours from time-to-time, but it's hard not being with them a couple of days out of the week. I mean, I see them, but we don't spend time doing things. It's a, "Hi, my day was...," type of deal.

I'm not complaining at all, but I've just wondered where my priorities are sometimes. Am I putting my relationship with God first? Am I giving Amy the security and care she requires? Am I watching Alyssa grow up every step of the way?

I'm not a perfect person by any stretch of the imagination, but am I doing the best I can with my life? I'd like to think I'm working hard in all that I do, but I'm also thinking I could slow down sometimes and enjoy the little moments.

I didn't mean to get all mental, but I just needed to pound the keys and clear my head. It's been a rough day fighting this mess in my body, and I needed a chance to unwind. I pray tomorrow will be a better day. :-)

2006-10-07T14:23:00.000-05:00

Arkansas 27
Auburn 10

:-)

Lack of posts

2006-10-04T12:29:00.000-05:00

I find it harder and harder to update this thing consistently. Work, both at home and the station, keeps me from saying as much as I'd like.

Alyssa has finally cut her first tooth. She's howling every waking moment right now. Even Amy is letting her sleep straight through her feeding time so we can have a few quiet moments in the house.

I'm still trying to get my personal web site the way I want. I haven't finished uploading all my pictures and stuff. I'm also formatting a page to put videos on.

I also want to rant about a couple of things at work, but I'm too nice to say it publicly or to anyone else. I'm quickly burning out again.

What I'd really like to do is go back to sleep. Here's to day number umpteenth-hundred of working with no vacation days since February. Please come soon, Christmas...

One Cute Kid

2006-09-27T12:58:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I'm biased, but I've got one cute daughter!

The story of my life, as told by Weird Al

2006-09-26T01:03:00.000-05:00

I can't kick!

2006-09-23T18:13:00.000-05:00

Bama deserved that loss to Arkansas today. That's my alma mater, that's my all-time favorite team, but Shula called some stupid plays today (hey, let's keep running it up the middle!). Tiffin, poor kid, had a nightmare of a day, but Christensen should've come in to kick the field goals and extra points late in the game.

Horrible, horrible, horrible... When is that coaching staff going to get their heads out of their rears? Shula needs a new offensive coordinator, and he needs to stop calling the plays himself. Look at what Tuberville's done at Auburn witrh his staff. THAT"s how you do it, Shula.

On the road again

2006-09-16T09:54:00.000-05:00

I know I haven't posted too much lately, but this will be my third weekend in a row that I'm heading back to Tuscaloosa. I'm shooting all the Bama games this year, and to be honest, I'm very weary. The guys back at the station don't know, but today is basically my 20th day in a row for work. Monday through Thursday I'm pulling regular reporter duty. Friday is reporting and shooting high school football.

This third Saturday in a row takes me back to T-Town (I leave in less than an hour). Sundays, I'm usually driving back from Tuscaloosa, then spending a few hours in the bureau getting highlights edited and interviews narrowed down. The next two weekends, despite them being road games, I'll still be traveling with family and friends. The two weekends after that will be spent right back in Tuscaloosa.

If you know me, you know I'm a "home" type of guy. I cherish my days off, and I prefer to spend them in-town and around the house. I'm not catching a Saturday to myself until October 21. If it sounds like I'm complaining, yeah, you're right.

I'm pretty frustrated and tired. This week, work wore me out (especially after a 14-hours-straight Friday). It would be nice to not be committed somewhere. I enjoy Tuscaloosa, but I'm tired of seeing Bama just eeking through these no-name games.

Yeah, I know. it could be worse.

My favorite cigar brand: "It'saboy"

2006-09-13T12:51:00.000-05:00

White Trash Rejoice!

Britney Spears and K-FedEx Welcome Second Son

Pathetic

2006-09-10T13:56:00.000-05:00

Pathetic is the only way I can describe what I saw from Alabama's sidelines Saturday. A three-point win over Vandy? No wonder Auburn's going to beat them for the fifth straight time.

Something's got to be done about Bama's offense. They badly need a new offensive coordinator. There's no reason a game against Vandy should come down to a field goal.

I'm a very proud UA alumnus, but I'm getting tired of seeing that coaching staff put out the "Hey, it's a win" mentality. They have got to learn how to destroy the opponent if they want to get back into the national title hunt.

It won't happen this year, and it may not happen with this coaching staff. I like Coach Shula a lot. I've had the chance to talk to him many times, but something has to change on that staff.

I'm no Auburn fan (except I do like Tuberville... see Shula reason above), but kudos to them for getting it right. They deserve their ranking and their status. I won't cry or be upset if they nail us again this year because it might be the wake-up call Bama needs.

Crikey

2006-09-04T00:27:00.000-05:00

This is a sad one:

"Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin Killed By Stingray

Yeah, he was a little crazy. Then again, that's why I always watch. Been a fan for years, and I hate to see this.

Rolling To The Tide

2006-09-02T00:46:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm sleepy. I've also got a long day tomorrow (today). I'm heading back to Tuscaloosa for the first of eight home games.

I'm looking forward to them all, but I need my sleep. Roll Tide!

Ugh... No...

2006-08-27T21:44:00.000-05:00

I hope this is a design either faked by someone, or another Transformer just to throw us off. Click the link for the supposed new Megatron for the live-action Transformers movie out next summer.

He's evil looking, sure... But he's NOT Megatron. Give us fanboys a break!

Megatron design?

The personal site goes public

2006-08-16T23:56:00.000-05:00

I have held many (countless is more like it) reserves about putting my personal site out there for everyone in my public life to see. That being said, I've revamped it and don't mind showing it off now. Granted, a quick Google would have sent you straight to it since I've owned it since 1999...

The link is on the right. Try not to laugh because, yes, it's taken on a theme from one of my interests.

Happy Wednesday!

2006-08-16T10:06:00.000-05:00

Yes, sir!

2006-08-13T21:09:00.000-05:00

Spock, are you out of your Vulcan mind?

2006-08-04T07:28:00.000-05:00

Even more movie news as I slowly wake up this Friday morning.

The new Star Trek movie has its first character. Yep, It's good ol' Cap'n Kirk, and he will be played by... Matt Damon.

I think that'll work. I can't think of anyone else right now, so I'm pleased with it. I just wonder what Shatner's thinking?

The Dark Knight

2006-08-01T09:24:00.000-05:00

Just read the official announcement. The sequel to Batman Begins will be called The Dark Knight.

Very nice!

The Big 3-0

2006-07-26T00:31:00.000-05:00

Well, goodbye 20s. A new kid is in town. His name is 30.

July 26, 1976: The day Mom and Dad welcomed this little bundle of joy. Unfortunately, I've turned into a bigger bundle of... Well, insert your own phrase there, and DO NOT leave a comment or anything where I can see it. :-)

I thank God that He's given me three complete decades on this planet. I've met so many of my personal goals. I wanted to be married at an early age (Check! Age 22), and I wanted to have a child by the time I hit 30 (Check! 29.5 to be exact). I wanted to be out of college, in a good job and surrounded by people I love and admire (Check, check and check!)

I only pray better days are ahead. These last 10,957 have been a blessing, and I won't do the old "some days were better than others" cliche. We all know that to be true.

So, how does one celebrate a milestone of this nature? Well, the best part about it is I get to finish off my birthday cake. My sister-in-law Melanie made it for me (Thank you!). It proves my body may get older and in worse shape, but you can't take the youth out of my mind.
Here's to another 30 and many more!

To boldly go...

2006-07-24T01:25:00.000-05:00

According to StarTrek.com, we now have the first poster for the next movie. As you can see, it's due out in 2008. It's directed by J.J. Abrams, and that's a good thing.

Wow... a new Batman AND Star Trek in the same year! Color my geekness happy!

Movie News

2006-07-22T08:49:00.000-05:00

Well, this Saturday morning brought some surprises. I'm barely awake, and I've got two tidbits that have jolted my now wide-open eyes.

I've been reading some news from Comic Con (I would love to go one year), and two movie roles have been confirmed. First off... and here comes the happy kid in me... Peter Cullen will be the voice of Optimus Prime in the new live-action Transformers movie due out next year. If you're a child of the '80s as I am, he's Prime's voice in the original cartoon series. Yes!

Second, and this one I'm going to have to get used to, Heath Ledger is being cast as the Joker in the first Batman Begins sequel. I'm not a fan of his. I've seen a couple of his movies, and I've not been impressed. However, Chris Nolan did such a fantastic job with Begins, I'll reserve judgment until the next one comes out.

Just don't be pulling any Brokeback Batman mess.

Pigskin Paradise

2006-07-18T12:18:00.000-05:00

Well, my youth is still alive and well even though I hit the big 3-0 next week. I ventured out to EB Games at midnight last night and picked up my copy of NCAA Football '07. It's a beautiful game, and I'm a very tired man today. :-)

Welcome back for a little while...

2006-07-09T20:43:00.000-05:00

It was great to see a new Chappelle's Show tonight. I just wish Dave would come back to it for good. :-/

A precious milestone!

2006-07-09T18:45:00.000-05:00

Our little girl was lying on her stomach today. Amy and I were sitting there watching her, and she looked at us and rolled over onto her back! We were so thrilled!

What an awesome moment! It's great to see her slowly develop. Just a few days ago, she discovered her feet. She's constantly holding them now.

A great day to say the least. Of course, being our little princess, Alyssa rolled that one time and wouldn't do it again. We put her back on her stomach, and all she did was cry.

Too much excitement, I guess. :-)

Lonely... I'm Mr. Lonely...

2006-07-06T21:25:00.000-05:00

Wow... The house has been quiet since I came home from work today. Amy and Alyssa are visiting my mom for the night, so it's just me and Chopper.

I've been kind of bored, but it's been a relaxing night. I've tried for the longest to catch up on Las Vegas, seasons one and two on DVD. I've almost finished the first season tonight. I've got season three TiVo'd even though I've seen all the episodes. How's that for backwards?

I took Chopper for a long walk this evening. He was cooped up on the house all day, so he was happy to get out for about 45 minutes. I was, too.

That's all I have for now. I'm pretty content, but I do miss my ladies. :-)

Give me a break...

2006-07-05T21:01:00.000-05:00

You have got to be kidding me. How about stop being lazy and just learn the words?

Push for simpler spelling persists

Do like the rest of us. Go to school, get an education and stop dumbing down the nation.

Happy Fourth!

2006-07-04T11:03:00.000-05:00

As you celebrate our nation's birthday today, take some time to remember why we're free. God bless our current military members and veterans.

While I'm on the military subject, here's a picture of my buddy Gene McHale and me. This was taken May 1997, about a year before I left the Air Force. We were at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia around 10:00 p.m. I say that so you'll notice the temperature. :-)

End of an Era

2006-07-03T12:25:00.000-05:00

Aw, man... I shouldn't be surprised, though. He's been there a long time.

Red Wings Captain Steve Yzerman Retires

Thanks for all the great years, Stevie Y. You're the reason I love the Wings.

Blog Gone Cold

2006-07-03T08:59:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the lack of updates this past week. I've been busy.

I'm working on some picture posts right now. I'm scanning some photos of my days in the Air Force. I'm going through my album when I was stationed in United Arab Emirates for a few months. It's a crying shame to see how tan and thin I was back then.

Not much else going on. I woke up a few minutes ago, so I'm not entirely alert right now. I guess I'd better hit the caffeine and shower.

Worthless Day Off

2006-06-26T18:17:00.000-05:00

Normally, I wouldn't be upset about taking a day off. We were supposed to go to Six Flags today (my first time in 17 years), and as you can imagine, it all fell through.

Our daughter refuses to take a bottle. We were going to leave her at my mother-in-law's house, but she would not eat unless Amy nursed her. The result? No going to Six Flags.

On top of that, we spent the whole day doing nothing in Georgia. Not a blasted thing. I'm busy reworking our guest room, and it needs a lot of it. Instead of being productive at home, I wasted an entire day.

Today was my last day off for the year (if you don't count Christmas), and it's gone. No park, no productivity. You can say I'm whining if you like, but... Well, I'm going to be nice and not say anything back.

Word!

2006-06-25T13:15:00.000-05:00

Rollin' with Bob Saget

Click above. That's all that needs to be said. :-)

I hang my head and cry

2006-06-21T11:53:00.000-05:00

Alas, my poor computer's DVD burner has passed away. You were a good friend, but now you're nothing more than junk. I shall replace you and think of you no more.

:-P

A week's worth of personal events

2006-06-18T18:08:00.000-05:00

First of all, Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there. I'm very blessed and happy to be among your ranks now. Today has been outstanding.

After we got out of church this morning, Amy and Alyssa treated me to steak. Then, they gave me cards and my Father's Day gift. It's a cordless hedge trimmer I've been asking for. It's charging up right now, then I may give it a quick test. I don't believe in working in the yard on Sunday, but I figure one little hedge won't hurt. :-)

I really wish I didn't have to work tomorrow, either. It's our anniversary. Seven wonderful years with my beautiful wife! I didn't think I could ever be this happy with one person, but Amy is my entire world outside of God.

Speaking of anniversaries, Wednesday marks two years for me at WTVM. I still need to get down to Columbus and sign my new contract, but that's a little detail. :-)

I'll admit I've been pretty darn happy over here in the bureau. While I don't get to see everyone often, I don't really have anyone looking over my shoulder, either. Sure, I talk to them on the phone, but they trust me to go out and do my job. Given the raise I'll receive, I believe they're pretty happy with me, too.

They don't have to babysit me, and that's a great feeling. They ask me to get this and that, and I usually do. I work my tail off most days because I one-man-band it all, but it gives me a greater satisfaction about my work. It also helps when I have days like Friday, and two different people in different places compliment me.

Yeah, it's a mid-market, but life here is pretty darn good. I just thought I'd share some reflections since this week is a big one for me. I hope it's a good one for you, too. :-)

Physical Therapy

2006-06-07T11:09:00.000-05:00

I had my first session of physical therapy this morning. I've never gone through this before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I kind of liked it.

I did some stretches, arm and back exercises, got my cracked (which hurt like rip, but was glorious afterward) and had an electroshock treatment that made all my back muscles twitch. I've got to do it five more times on Mondays and Wednesdays, but it feels so much better and relaxed right now. I've got to keep up my exercises at home, which won't be a problem.

On top of a great day yesterday, I'm off today because I offered to fill in on Saturday. Heck, it's the first time in two years, so it's no problem. It'll give my buddies Sean and Amanda a chance to have some time together. :-)

Now that's a day!

2006-06-07T01:01:00.000-05:00

I should really be asleep considering I start physical therapy in about seven hours for a bulging disc in my back. However, I'll give you a quick recap before I catch a few winks. Today was something to witness!

I spent the day down in Montgomery at Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley's headquarters for the Alabama primary elections. Let me get this out of the way: I was assigned to be there, so this is NOT my endorsement. I'm a reporter, so I have to be unbiased in my professional realm. :-)

You want to see comprehensive coverage, teamwork and overall excellence in covering state elections? You should have seen the job we all pulled off behind the cameras today.

Liz was at Gov. Riley's camp, I was at Baxley's HQ, we had a crew up in Birmingham for "The Don," and in Gadsden for Roy Moore. Here's where the magic happened: We had three different stations represented from across Alabama. All were doing live shots in every show we had on, plus a wall-to-wall election special on one of them for several hours.

It was us (WTVM), WSFA in Montgomery and WAFF out of Huntsville. We're all one big happy Raycom Media family, and this was our first time working in this type of situation. WSFA supplied the live truck, field producer and live camera operator at my site. WAFF provided a camera man to run around and get footage for everyone, and we all had reporters there (a special hello to Jeanie Powell again from WAFF! I got to work with her again for the first time in two years since UA).

It was absolutely incredible to watch all the prep and planning unfold into almost flawless coverage from all three stations. I didn't see the end result on my station, but the way everything clicked between us all at Baxley's HQ was awesome.

I know people harbor different feelings about their companies, but I knew I wanted to work at Raycom. I'm very proud I do, and tonight proved it. Buying WSFA was one of the smartest decisions the company made because they proved their skills tonight juggling the three stations.

On top of making all this work tonight, I finally got word on my contract. Color me happy! With that, I'm off to bed. Tonight proved again why I've been 90 percent happy with my job over the last two years.

Here's to at least two more!

Playing on the floor

2006-06-02T23:03:00.000-05:00

Now you've made the reporter mad...

2006-06-02T13:15:00.000-05:00

I just got back from talking to the District 13 state senate candidates. An aide for Gerald Dial, the incumbent, shoved an emery board into my shirt pocket.

Normally, this wouldn't be a problem. However, I keep my glasses in that pocket. Now they're are scratched beyond belief. I can barely see through my right lens.

Arrgghh! I'm a man! What in blazes do I need with an emery board? I can now file my fingernails, but I can't see to do it!

Hoagies and Back Pain

2006-05-31T17:28:00.000-05:00

Ok, so no word on hoagies. This tells you my state of mind right now: Random stuff, all fluff.

I'm in quite a bit of pain. I was climbing up in a tree Monday morning to clear out some big limbs, and one came down, twisting my back in the process. I went to the doctor that afternoon, and I may have a torn/severely strained ligament in my middle back.

I took Monday and Tuesday off work. I never take sick days, but I couldn't even stand without hurting. I came back to work today (forgive me for writing during work hours, but I'm eating dinner), but I probably shouldn't have.

I'm woozy thanks to muscle relaxers and pain relievers, and my back still hurts a lot. It was extremely hard to do my story today, but thankfully it's done. I have to shoot all my own stuff, so I had to haul my gear around.

I've got an appointment Monday morning with a specialist. I've had these problems before, but not like this.

Okay... I think I'm finished whining. :-) Have a great night, see X3 and kiss May goodbye!

X-Men: The Last Stand

2006-05-26T22:22:00.000-05:00

I just got back from seeing the new X-Men tonight. I am absolutely floored. I refused to read any reviews or any plot details before I went. That's not like me at all, especially since I've been patiently waiting on this one for a while.

I guess I didn't want to read the differences about Bryan Singer and Brett Ratner's directing styles. I'll just say that I am impressed with this one. I watch an awful lot of movies, and nothing really phases me. However, I felt my chest get heavy on more than a couple of occasions watching this one.

I highly recommend it, but only if you've seen the first two, or know the comics really well. They did take some artistic license, but it was worth it. I will be making a return trip to the theater very soon.

Awesome quote!

2006-05-25T18:53:00.000-05:00

Just found a great quote about Jessica Simpson:

"Considering God gave her a walnut for a brain, it's a wonder she's not covered in burns from trying to shower in the oven."

Sometimes, you just find some gems on the 'Net.

Wednesday Thoughts

2006-05-24T21:57:00.000-05:00

--Not a whole lot going on right now. I've been thinking a lot today after a conversation I had with a friend at one of the police departments. We always talk about a variety of subjects, and today got into divorce and what it means for the nation.
Anyhow, I always enjoy talking to officers because my dad was an Alabama State Trooper for 34 years. I have a lot of insight to those guys, and it does me good to be around them.

--Taylor Hicks won "American Idol," another home state guy. That was the first episode I've watched all season. I normally watch the really bad singers at the beginning, but working at night keeps me from a lot of things I enjoy. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a morning person. I've been day side all week, and I can't wait to sleep in again.

--I left a message for my boss today concerning my contract. We talked about it at length three weeks ago, and I still don't know the status. I now have less than four weeks left, and I don't want to leave or look for another job. I'm perfectly happy where I am and with what I'm doing. Thank goodness, though, sweeps is now over. Maybe we'll all have a little more free time to talk.

--Amy's officially a stay-at-home mom. I can't remember if I mentioned that in a previous post, and I'm too lazy right now to go back and look. Her school board approved a year's leave of absence so she can be home.
Come August, it's going to hurt financially. I don't mean a dull pain, either. I mean it's going to be a "rip my arms off and slap myself with them" pain. Hence, the worry over the contract.
If you're wondering why we're taking this risk, don't. If you don't have a child, you might not realize the benefits of having a parent at home to raise him/her. Alyssa will be better off in health, and we can instill our beliefs in her instead of some day care worker.

--I think I'm done. I know people from work read this, and I don't want to seem like I'm complaining about some things. I'm not. I'm just not in a good mood at the moment. My mind weighs heavy from time-to-time, and co-workers don't see enough of me to understand the funk I get in once in a blue moon. Writing just helps me work my thoughts out.

Have a great night.

Pardon this post...

2006-05-22T20:31:00.000-05:00

...but the guy who took his laptop with sensitive information home should be castrated and fired.

Thieves Steal Personal Data Of 26.5 Million Vets

I normally don't get emotional over a story, but this bonehead possibly had my information on his laptop. I was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1998, and the data stolen is for vets released after 1975.

Idiot, idiot, idiot...

Mother's Day 2006

2006-05-21T18:20:00.000-05:00

Taken 5/13/06: 11.5 Weeks Old

2006-05-13T21:10:00.000-05:00

Oh, man...

2006-05-13T20:18:00.000-05:00

This had to be one of the most tiring, if not the most rewarding, weeks I've since I've been at WTVM. Everything hit big on Monday, and it didn't stop until after 11 p.m. Friday.

I'm not going over too many specifics, but here's a quick breakdown:

-Monday: Time problems from the start. I basically worked two stories, which threw everything and everyone off. I had my story, plus helped on someone else's. To top it off, I had to go to Columbus and replace my camera's power supply.

-Tuesday: Had to come into work early, shoot two stories and feed stuff down to our sister station, WSFA. Easy enough day, but my boss came over to take us out to dinner. Before our meal, we get filled in on some developing changes. Pretty cool stuff is happening.

-Wednesday: Get a great story with the police and state attorney general. Bad weather sets in, knocks out our feed from the bureau and I have to head back to Columbus for the third time in five days (about a 45 minute drive both ways).

-Thursday: Go up to cover a search for a missing airplane. Get great stuff up there and head back to the bureau (thankfully it's back up and running). Do my stuff, get off work and go shopping for Amy's Mother's Day gifts. Less than an hour later, they find the plane. Voluntarily, I head back to the crash site, get more stuff and report live that night. A double-shift, but a great story.

-Friday: Go back to the crash site, and the sheriff lets me get close-up footage of the wreckage. Because I stayed out there all day Thursday and Friday morning, they keep everyone else away from the wreck, giving me the exclusive! :-) Back to the bureau, getting packed to go home and a semi hits a school bus. Head out there, get a great story with a kid (You're welcome for my interviews, WSFA! :-) Your stuff also looked awesome, Charlie!) and report it live that night. Yep, second double-shift in a row.

I had overtime every day this week. Total hours for the week is 52.5. I think that's the most I've pulled in quite a while. That's what you have to do when it's sweeps and you're a one-man-band. :-)

I pray next week is more relaxing. I am still burned out even after a full night of sleep.

In other thoughts, I did get Amy's gifts put together today. Also, Alyssa is learning more about her hands. It was awesome watching her sitting on the couch playing with her fingers.

Pictures in the next post!

Wake me up inside

2006-05-09T00:34:00.000-05:00

You ever just have that day where you don't know if you're coming or going? I'm sure you have. If you haven't, don't worry. You'll get out of your teen years before long.

Today was one of those days for me. I can't even recap what happened. That's how muddled my mind is, but I do know I went to dinner tonight with Sean and Hayley down in Columbus. I really enjoyed that.

I don't get to Columbus too often. I lived there for three years before we moved to Tuscaloosa, and I'll reserve my comments on it. Let's just say we really love Lee County.

When I do get down there, I get to see everyone at the station. I really like that a lot. It's nice to see people instead of just talking over the computer or phone with them.

Anyhow, I have a lot of things I'd really like to talk about. Again, I'm going to reserve comments. This is my "professional" blog, and I'm not about to say things about certain topics. Not all of it is "shop talk," but some of it is.

Before you ask, or get any ideas, none of my vents have to do with my station or the people that work there. The pain of being a nice guy sometimes is wanting to lash out at people, but you just don't have the heart or voice.

"I've tried so hard and got so far, but in the end it doesn't even matter." --Linkin Park

Random Thoughts

2006-05-02T23:26:00.000-05:00

-- I'm very tired tonight. I'm physically and mentally drained. It's that time of the week when I pull early-morning duty with Alyssa, and I work until near midnight. I wish more than anything I could take a day off work.

-- I was watching SportsCenter at the crack of dawn yesterday, and I saw one of the best stories ever produced. It was a special on the Challenger Football League. This league is for mentally disabled and terminally ill kids.
They put them in wheelchairs while their parents push them toward the goal line, or they run the ball in themselves. I cried watching it because I had Alyssa in my arms, and I was completely moved since I'm now a dad. Kudos to ESPN for that one.

-- I officially, kinda, sorta entered into contract negotiations today. I've only got seven weeks left until mine is up, and I want to stay. I called my boss to basically set up a time for me to go to Columbus and meet with him.
He caught me by surprise when he asked what I wanted. I've had a figure in my head for a while, especially since Amy and I have been talking the better part of a year about her being a stay-at-home mom. Needless to say, I wasn't prepared to say it today. I'll let you know how it goes.

-- We're both beyond exhaustion. Have a great night.

Tagged Again!

2006-04-27T18:57:00.000-05:00

A great end to a good day! My executive producer let me know this afternoon that a recent story I did was requested and used by CNN!

They even kept my name and voice in the story. That makes two stories of mine in the last year to go to a larger network. First The Weather Channel, now CNN. Not a bad day at all.

Happiness is Geekness!

2006-04-21T18:16:00.000-05:00

It just gets better!

J.J. Abrams to Produce/Direct "Trek XI"

Ahhhhh. :-) A new Trek movie is in the works. This time, it focuses on Kirk and Spock's first meeting at Starfleet Academy and their first mission together.

Nice!

Happy

2006-04-20T22:59:00.000-05:00

I just installed my new motherboard with a 3.2 GHz processor and 2GB of RAM. It smokes major tires. :-)

Alyssa @ 7 weeks

2006-04-13T01:13:00.000-05:00

In her Easter dress.
"What's that you say, Mommy?"

"Daddy likes boxing, so bring on Tyson! His career's over, so I know I can take him!"

Crack, Thy Name is Oblivion

2006-04-09T03:43:00.000-05:00

I've been playing "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion" on my Xbox 360 lately. This game is beyond beautiful and addicting. Hence, the lack of posts.

Between family, work and this game, there is no sleep. Only sword-swinging, lockpicking and loot-collecting insomnia. Holy moly, I need to go to bed.

Yawn...

2006-04-04T01:26:00.000-05:00

Katie Couric to CBS News? It just means I can finally watch "The Today Show" again.

Who shares your birthday?

2006-03-30T01:08:00.000-06:00

I was just going through some celebrity birthdays. I just noticed Alyssa shares the same day with two of my favorite actors, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Kelsey Grammer.

Amy shares one with Asia Argento, Nuno Bettencourt, Sophia Loren... and oh, goodness... Matthew and Gunnar Nelson. :-) No wonder she liked them growing up.

I share a birthday with Kate Beckinsale, Sandra Bullock, Kevin Spacey, Nana Visitor, James Best, Mick Jagger, Rebecca St. James (whom I've met... Christian singer) and Stanley Kubrick.

It's all trivial. I just thought I'd look these up before I go to bed. You can really tell I'm sleepy, can't you?

The streak continues!

2006-03-29T13:13:00.000-06:00

Here's one of these not-so-informative posts! :-)

I went to the dentist this morning, and I'm proud to report that after 29 years and nine months on this earth, I've still never had a cavity. I don't know what the record is, but I'm hoping to reach it.

Now, back to our busy lives.

You learn something new...

2006-03-27T11:31:00.000-06:00

Jimmy Wales, the guy who founded Wikipedia, got his undergraduate degree at Auburn. He then when to my alma mater, Alabama, to get his graduate degree.

Glad to see he eventually got his priorities straight. :-)

Calm

2006-03-26T22:32:00.000-06:00

I think the only excuse as to why I've not updated in a while is a good one. She's in her crib as we speak. :-)

Amy went to bed a little early tonight, so I gave her a break from feeding. God did not bless me with the proper anatomy to feed Alyssa, so Amy was kind enough to pump and let me give her a rest. She doesn't do it often, and she refuses to wake me up at night. Yes, I'm trying to break her from that habit.

As I was holding Alyssa on my shoulder, everything got really quiet. I got to listen to things I haven't noticed in a while. It's in these moments you realize how everything you could ever want is right around you.

In the distance, I could hear the train coming through downtown Opelika. I could hear the lumber mill across from the high school stadium. Best of all, I could hear Alyssa's breath in my ear.

God has blessed me with a beautiful and caring wife. He's blessed me with a gorgeous little girl, a life I'm responsible for. He's blessed me with great friends, a great job and more things than I deserve.

I just sat in the nursery tonight, the only light from a soft lamp on Alyssa's night stand. I prayed a lot. I asked forgiveness for the things I've done wrong. I do these things every day, but it just seemed to really take me over tonight.

Tonight, I am at peace. It's a place I've not been in a long time. I've been happy as can be, especially since Alyssa's been with us. But tonight, everything makes me smile.

Guess what?

2006-03-23T10:47:00.000-06:00

I've got nothing else to say.

"San Dimas High School football rules!"

Get Your Bail Bonds Here

2006-03-14T20:00:00.000-06:00

The headlines of our lives:

Giants: There will be fanfare if Bonds passes the Babe

Yep, there will be a huge celebration! Everyone will grab a syringe and squirt steroids into the air! They'll also have a "Bonds Appreciation Night" where they give away foam asterisks and cattle prods.

Relief For A Tiny Town

2006-03-12T19:32:00.000-06:00

Kia is coming to West Point, GA! Here's the link:

Kia to open plant in Georgia, add more than 5,000 jobs

And our coverage: Kia Coming to West Point, GA

Approximately 5,500 jobs from the $1.2 billion plant and five additional suppliers. If you don't know about West Point, it's a town of about 4,000 people, and it used to be a heavy textile town. This will certainly boost their economy!

I can't tell you how happy I am for this little area. They've needed a shot in the arm for so long, and this is it. What a great night for them!

One before bedtime

2006-03-08T23:02:00.000-06:00

Baby, I love you

2006-03-08T22:49:00.000-06:00

Here's a little baby update for you! I can always thank my girl Hayley for motivating me! :-)

Alyssa is doing very well. She's just over two weeks old, and she is more precious than you can imagine. There's only one problem (and it's common to every parent):

We can't sleep.

This little booger has some lungs on her! Amy is trying to keep her calm at night, but some nights she's wired. Unfortunately, Amy's catching the worst end of it because she's not using formula.

However, our wee one is healthy as can be. She dropped down to 6 lbs, 5 oz. from her original birth weight of 7 lbs, 1 oz. But thanks to a ferocious feeding schedule, she's up to 7 lbs, 5 oz.

That piece of good news brought even better news today. The doctor told us we can now wait 4-6 hours between night feedings. We were getting her up every 2.5 hours to help get her weight up.

Outside of no sleep, we're doing well. Alyssa is a happy girl. She'll lay her head on our shoulders and try to lift up. She'll have the widest eyes and open mouth. She's beyond cute! She's downright gorgeous (and yes, I'm biased)!

I think that'll do it for the quick update. I'll have more later. Look for some new pictures soon!

So long, Bonds

2006-03-08T09:41:00.000-06:00

Just a matter of personal opinion, but I've never liked Barry Bonds. It all started in the early 90s when the Pirates played the Braves in the NL championships. I couldn't stand watching him then, and I can't stand him now.

Now a book is tipping the scales against him even further. This article over at ESPN.com is a good one. I don't wish bad things on anyone, but I can't help but crack a smile knowing his home run production for the last few years will have a black cloud over it.

He doesn't deserve to hold the record for single-season homers. It's all a sham.

Well, that's enough positive energy for now. :-) Maybe I'll update you on the baby soon.

Where'd my sleep go?

2006-03-02T06:38:00.000-06:00

I'll give you another update on our baby soon. I'm just too tired to do it right now, but she's worth every ounce of sleep we're not getting. :-)

Pictures!

2006-02-24T01:14:00.000-06:00

Here's our new little girl, Alyssa. Enjoy!

She's here!

2006-02-21T20:10:00.000-06:00

I'm on a brief stop from the hospital, but I wanted to drop you a quick line to tell you about our new baby! Alyssa Louesa was born today (February 21, 2006) at 2:34 p.m. CST. She was 7 lbs, 1 oz., 20 inches long and has a head full of dark brown hair!

Forgive the lack of pictures, but I will try to post some by the weekend. Amy went into labor last night around 9:30, and we've been at the hospital since midnight. We are all doing great, and little Alyssa is just precious!

Thanks for all of your support and prayers as we adjust to parenthood. There will be more updates to come.

Not quite yet

2006-02-18T21:14:00.000-06:00

You know the song, so sing along!

"Another Saturday night and I ain't got no baby..." Amy's felt bad all day, but alas, no "Sweet Child O' Mine."

I can stop the bad music references at any time, but why bother? :-) I'll keep you posted.

Are we...?

2006-02-17T20:08:00.000-06:00

Amy's having contractions again today. We're not there just yet, but this weekend is looking mighty good for us to have a baby!

I'll keep you updated...

Just because I'm a Trekker

2006-02-15T01:58:00.000-06:00

Your results:
You are James T. Kirk (Captain)

James T. Kirk (Captain)		70%
Uhura		60%
Geordi LaForge		60%
Worf		60%
Deanna Troi		55%
Chekov		55%
Will Riker		50%
Jean-Luc Picard		50%
Spock		42%
Mr. Scott		40%
An Expendable Character (Redshirt)		40%
Beverly Crusher		35%
Data		28%
Leonard McCoy (Bones)		25%
Mr. Sulu		15%

You are often exaggerated and over-the-top
in your speech and expressions.
You are a romantic at heart and a natural leader.

Click here to take the Star Trek Personality Quiz

And the verdict is...

2006-02-12T21:21:00.000-06:00

No, we are not "Mommy and Daddy" yet. It turns out Amy's not had any contractions today. After speaking with the doctor, she was going through false labor.

If that was false, the real thing will not be pleasant for my beautiful wife. At least she knows what to expect now. Her suitcase is packed and in the car, and the car seat has been installed.

It's just a sit-and-wait now. Our girl could be here by the end of the week. We've got another doctor visit Thursday, so maybe we can make it until then.

I'll keep posting to keep you... posted. :-)

And so it begins...

2006-02-11T21:36:00.000-06:00

Amy started feeling those painful contractions today. For about two hours, they were 10 minutes apart. They've come and gone throughout the afternoon, but maybe one every couple of hours now.

Could we be parents by the time the weekend is over? I'll let you know!

God bless you, Dear Weekend

2006-02-10T19:34:00.000-06:00

It's Friday night, and it's been one heck of a long day. This was one of the most mentally and emotionally challenging days I've had at work, but it was also one of the most rewarding.

Take care, David. We'll miss you.

You might be having a baby soon...

2006-02-08T23:23:00.000-06:00

...when the doctor tells your wife today, "I'll see you in about a week... Or sooner."

That line, among other things like measurements, position, etc., made us realize our little girl might be here in a few days . Her due date is March 5th, but we might have a mid-February surprise.

I'll keep you updated. We may be parents sooner than we think. ;-)

Hasta La Viva Las Vegas

2006-02-07T00:34:00.000-06:00

Well, NBC is going to kill off one of my favorite shows. I was watching tonight's episode (thank you, TiVo!) of Las Vegas. They're moving it to Friday nights after the Olympics.

That makes me sick. No good show survives that move. I was a big fan of Boston Public, then Fox moved it to Friday nights. Just like that... gone.

My favorite show is American Chopper, and Las Vegas is a very close second. I'm glad to have the Discovery Channel because NBC will lose me after Las Vegas disappears. That shouldn't be long now.

I don't regularly watch any other shows on NBC, CBS, Fox, or ABC. So... long live cable!