31 May 2010
Memorial Day
Today we left the house and had a nice little picnic lunch at the park. Julia enjoyed the food, the slide, and running around on the grass with Quincey. She was super cute today...especially while we were eating lunch and on our way back to the car. While we were finishing up lunch she wanted to lay down (like me) and eat cherries. She snuggled right up to me and I helped her remove the pit from each cherry while we watched the tree above us sway in the breeze. Then, on the way back to the car, she insisted on carrying the blanket and the leash (with Quincey attached). She stopped every 10 feet pretending that she needed to lock the leash. After a few times it was apparent to everyone including Julia that she was just goofing around. So, we'd walk and then she'd stop, and then we'd all look at each and just laugh. We pretty much giggled all the way back to the car.
30 May 2010
Backyard Update
We're getting close...picked up a fire pit and some matching (to the pillows in the living room) cushions for the patio. Then, we hung some flowers on the fence. I think we may let the yard lie for this year and see how it feels before adding anything else. So, we'll just need to hang something above the grill and maybe throw up a thermometer clock and we'll be done for now. The sod is doing well - I'll mow it for the first time on Saturday once it reaches 3 weeks and about 4 -5 inches tall.
29 May 2010
USA 2-1 Turkey
That was a game of two halves, that's for sure. In our final warmup on home soil, we found a way to beat Turkey even though we could have been down 3 or 4 to 0 at halftime. Our defense looked shaky, especially Spector at right back. Based on today's performance, I think Cherudolo might get the start against England instead of Spector. He was solid when he subbed on at halftime.
In the first half Turkey played great. They passed the ball around us all half and created many chances. Things were not looking good. Luckily, they only made us pay for one of our mistakes. We had exactly 1 chance to score a goal in the first half. Otherwise, Turkey had the ball the entire time and we were on the back foot. In the second half we made about 5 or 6 changes (it's a friendly). As I already mentioned, a couple in defense, a couple in in midfield and one up top. For some reason, whether due to personnel changes or Turkey's fatigue, we looked fantastic in the second half. We played as well as I think we could play. Our first goal was a thing of beauty, the second a great individual effort by Dempsey. Our big guns (Bradley, Dempsey, Donovan) really took over the game. However, Findley, Torres, and Cherudolo/Onyewu really made it possible for them to operate.
I think we learned some good things today. Given the right personnel, we can really be a handful for some teams. Turkey were more skilled and proved it in the first half, as many of the teams in the World Cup will be. When we out work other teams and mix it up, i.e. we don't let them dictate the play and we close them down, we can compete. We have to out hustle and win the battles otherwise we are toast. I feel a little better today about our chances as long as we play hard and smart. Still, I'm not sure which team will show up game in, game out.
In the first half Turkey played great. They passed the ball around us all half and created many chances. Things were not looking good. Luckily, they only made us pay for one of our mistakes. We had exactly 1 chance to score a goal in the first half. Otherwise, Turkey had the ball the entire time and we were on the back foot. In the second half we made about 5 or 6 changes (it's a friendly). As I already mentioned, a couple in defense, a couple in in midfield and one up top. For some reason, whether due to personnel changes or Turkey's fatigue, we looked fantastic in the second half. We played as well as I think we could play. Our first goal was a thing of beauty, the second a great individual effort by Dempsey. Our big guns (Bradley, Dempsey, Donovan) really took over the game. However, Findley, Torres, and Cherudolo/Onyewu really made it possible for them to operate.
I think we learned some good things today. Given the right personnel, we can really be a handful for some teams. Turkey were more skilled and proved it in the first half, as many of the teams in the World Cup will be. When we out work other teams and mix it up, i.e. we don't let them dictate the play and we close them down, we can compete. We have to out hustle and win the battles otherwise we are toast. I feel a little better today about our chances as long as we play hard and smart. Still, I'm not sure which team will show up game in, game out.
28 May 2010
27 May 2010
6 Years Lost
We spent all of Sunday night watching the series finale of Lost…one of the few shows we actually watch anymore. We started watching the show in 2006, the year after we moved to the same island of Oahu that it was filmed on. We had to go back and watch the first season since we didn’t watch our first episode until season 2. If it wasn’t for the fact that TSgt Wood’s baby boy was used as Aaron in one of the scenes we probably wouldn’t have ever started watching it. TSgt Wood was one of the guys I supervised at the clinic so we all tuned in to see his son on TV.
With the series over, I’ll miss watching the show just to see familiar scenes of where we once lived. As far as the storyline goes, I won’t miss it. I’m just glad it’s over. After reading a lot of comments and reviews, you either loved or hated the series finale last night. It either brought closure or it answered nothing at all – depending on why you watched the show. For those people that were wrapped up in each character, their struggles, their relationships on the island, and their ultimate fate, the finale was an acceptable/fitting/touching ending (character perspective). For those people that were wrapped up in the larger story that these characters found themselves in, such as the island and all its mysteries, why this story was so important in the grand scheme of things, and why so many people fought and died to protect the island and prevent the Man in Black (MiB) from leaving, the series finale realized their worst fears (island perspective). That is, the audience never found out any answers and in so doing, essentially made the entire show pointless.
The show essentially ended with Locke (MiB) and Jack (new Jacob) dying on the island. Many characters died while on the island and many characters died after leaving the island. Point is, all of the characters in Lost died at some point even if we didn’t see it on the show or in the finale (they died later, because, after all, “everyone dies”). In the final scenes we see the bad guy defeated and Jack dying while successfully saving the island. All of the characters that have died or eventually die after leaving the island are seen meeting up in a church. There are hugs and kisses all around and everyone is happy to see each other. It was like a Lost family reunion where each character was able to see, once again, those loved ones that they somehow lost on the island or afterwards in death…just before they all head into eternity together. From those with a character perspective it was nice to see “happily ever after”. But, from an island perspective, it was a major cop out.
If you can’t tell, I fall into the “island perspective” camp. This was why I started watching the show. This was evident around season 3, when the story on the island stopped progressing and we had a few years of character flashbacks. It was frustrating to me that things weren’t going anywhere. Interestingly enough, this was a common complaint during this time and when I think a lot of people stopped watching the show. I hung on, hoping that the stalling was just them figuring out how they were going to wrap up the show and all its mysteries. As the seasons progressed, we were just given more and more questions and not really any answers. It became evident, in my opinion, that the writers had bitten off more then they could chew. They opened up too many loose ends in the beginning and couldn’t pull it off in the end. Perhaps the reason I feel this way is because I know during the middle of the series they still hadn’t figured out an ending to the show, leading me to believe they were making things up as they went for awhile.
To me, the major failing of the show is that it was advertised as something other then it turned out to be. The island and this story (and show, for that matter) was supposed to be different…was supposed to be big. It was about time travel and quantum physics and smoke monsters and free will and a mysterious island and lots of other big things that deserved an explanation. To end the show in ambiguity allowing it to mean whatever you want it to mean reeks of passing the buck. It’s not “deep”, it’s just the easy and convenient answer under the guise of trying to be deep. We have no idea what happened to the island, how the island got there, why it was important, why so many people died to save it or trying to take it, what significance it held, and answers to countless little island mysteries that ran through all 6 seasons. The problem with the approach, that the show was “really about their characters and relationships”, is that it is completely irrelevant to what happened on the show the entire series in terms of the plot. Hours and hours and episodes and episodes up to the very end were spent on or about the major themes that were never answered. To end the show with no answers except “everyone died but they all were together in the end, happy” makes the island and the entire story completely irrelevant. That is, this same show could have taken place anywhere and been about anything since it didn’t really matter in the end. Well, at least we were told it didn’t matter since it wasn’t the focus of the ending of the series. So what you're saying is that what happened on the show was just made up to create drama, mystery, joy, pain, etc but it really served no other purpose then that? How are we supposed to buy the character reactions, decisions and emotions after the show ends if we don't know the context of why and why it was so important? You just can't have a show go this way - it creates a major disconnect. It’s pretty obvious that whether or not the show ever intended to answer anything, making the show end this way proved that everything we saw meant nothing. It's like saying all these things were really important throughout the series (based on the plot and character reactions) but we decided not to tell you why. Translation: they weren't ever important or, as I said before, not able to be answered because the show was in way over its head. Either way you look at it, there is a major disconnect and at some point we've been "snowed".
So, really that means the show was just a big waste of time. It has come across as irresponsible/writing run amuck, disorganized, and not sufficiently thought through from start to finish. Or to put it in simple terms, a lot of people feel like the show was just a whole lot of BS.
Unanswered Lost Questions
With the series over, I’ll miss watching the show just to see familiar scenes of where we once lived. As far as the storyline goes, I won’t miss it. I’m just glad it’s over. After reading a lot of comments and reviews, you either loved or hated the series finale last night. It either brought closure or it answered nothing at all – depending on why you watched the show. For those people that were wrapped up in each character, their struggles, their relationships on the island, and their ultimate fate, the finale was an acceptable/fitting/touching ending (character perspective). For those people that were wrapped up in the larger story that these characters found themselves in, such as the island and all its mysteries, why this story was so important in the grand scheme of things, and why so many people fought and died to protect the island and prevent the Man in Black (MiB) from leaving, the series finale realized their worst fears (island perspective). That is, the audience never found out any answers and in so doing, essentially made the entire show pointless.
The show essentially ended with Locke (MiB) and Jack (new Jacob) dying on the island. Many characters died while on the island and many characters died after leaving the island. Point is, all of the characters in Lost died at some point even if we didn’t see it on the show or in the finale (they died later, because, after all, “everyone dies”). In the final scenes we see the bad guy defeated and Jack dying while successfully saving the island. All of the characters that have died or eventually die after leaving the island are seen meeting up in a church. There are hugs and kisses all around and everyone is happy to see each other. It was like a Lost family reunion where each character was able to see, once again, those loved ones that they somehow lost on the island or afterwards in death…just before they all head into eternity together. From those with a character perspective it was nice to see “happily ever after”. But, from an island perspective, it was a major cop out.
If you can’t tell, I fall into the “island perspective” camp. This was why I started watching the show. This was evident around season 3, when the story on the island stopped progressing and we had a few years of character flashbacks. It was frustrating to me that things weren’t going anywhere. Interestingly enough, this was a common complaint during this time and when I think a lot of people stopped watching the show. I hung on, hoping that the stalling was just them figuring out how they were going to wrap up the show and all its mysteries. As the seasons progressed, we were just given more and more questions and not really any answers. It became evident, in my opinion, that the writers had bitten off more then they could chew. They opened up too many loose ends in the beginning and couldn’t pull it off in the end. Perhaps the reason I feel this way is because I know during the middle of the series they still hadn’t figured out an ending to the show, leading me to believe they were making things up as they went for awhile.
To me, the major failing of the show is that it was advertised as something other then it turned out to be. The island and this story (and show, for that matter) was supposed to be different…was supposed to be big. It was about time travel and quantum physics and smoke monsters and free will and a mysterious island and lots of other big things that deserved an explanation. To end the show in ambiguity allowing it to mean whatever you want it to mean reeks of passing the buck. It’s not “deep”, it’s just the easy and convenient answer under the guise of trying to be deep. We have no idea what happened to the island, how the island got there, why it was important, why so many people died to save it or trying to take it, what significance it held, and answers to countless little island mysteries that ran through all 6 seasons. The problem with the approach, that the show was “really about their characters and relationships”, is that it is completely irrelevant to what happened on the show the entire series in terms of the plot. Hours and hours and episodes and episodes up to the very end were spent on or about the major themes that were never answered. To end the show with no answers except “everyone died but they all were together in the end, happy” makes the island and the entire story completely irrelevant. That is, this same show could have taken place anywhere and been about anything since it didn’t really matter in the end. Well, at least we were told it didn’t matter since it wasn’t the focus of the ending of the series. So what you're saying is that what happened on the show was just made up to create drama, mystery, joy, pain, etc but it really served no other purpose then that? How are we supposed to buy the character reactions, decisions and emotions after the show ends if we don't know the context of why and why it was so important? You just can't have a show go this way - it creates a major disconnect. It’s pretty obvious that whether or not the show ever intended to answer anything, making the show end this way proved that everything we saw meant nothing. It's like saying all these things were really important throughout the series (based on the plot and character reactions) but we decided not to tell you why. Translation: they weren't ever important or, as I said before, not able to be answered because the show was in way over its head. Either way you look at it, there is a major disconnect and at some point we've been "snowed".
So, really that means the show was just a big waste of time. It has come across as irresponsible/writing run amuck, disorganized, and not sufficiently thought through from start to finish. Or to put it in simple terms, a lot of people feel like the show was just a whole lot of BS.
Unanswered Lost Questions
26 May 2010
USA 2-4 Czech Republic
Well, that didn't turn out as expected. First and foremost this game was used by coach Bradley to get a good look at the second and third string...so he could make the right roster cuts (which are being announced today). Most all of the players last night won't ever see action in South Africa and the rest won't even make the team. Our top 7 or so players didn't even dress. At one point I think we caught Bocanegra eating a buffalo wing in the team luxury box.
So, all we learned from last night is that we have no depth and Onyewu is nowhere near ready. The latter is more of a problem, because we really don't have anybody else. As I mentioned yesterday, our defense will probably struggle...especially on the left side against a player like Lennon (England's RM). At any rate, I wouldn't put too much stock in this game. I didn't realize that our best players were going to be sitting in the stands. Saturday against Turkey we should see most of them play at least for a full 45 minutes.
Also, you have to check this article out. This guy has gone through all 32 teams in this year's World Cup and equated them to teams from all sports in the U.S. It's a great read and very funny if you know anything about American sports:
The Unlikely Fan
So, all we learned from last night is that we have no depth and Onyewu is nowhere near ready. The latter is more of a problem, because we really don't have anybody else. As I mentioned yesterday, our defense will probably struggle...especially on the left side against a player like Lennon (England's RM). At any rate, I wouldn't put too much stock in this game. I didn't realize that our best players were going to be sitting in the stands. Saturday against Turkey we should see most of them play at least for a full 45 minutes.
Also, you have to check this article out. This guy has gone through all 32 teams in this year's World Cup and equated them to teams from all sports in the U.S. It's a great read and very funny if you know anything about American sports:
The Unlikely Fan
25 May 2010
World Cup Prep Starts Tonight
Well folks, it's here. The U.S. Men's National Team (USMNT) plays it's first of three friendlies tonight in preparation for the 2010 World Cup that's only 16 days away. Tonight we play the Czech Republic, the country that destroyed us 3-0 at the last World Cup in Germany. Although they didn't qualify for this World Cup, they are still a decent team. In their four matches against the two teams that did qualify from their group, including U.S.A.'s World Cup opponent Slovenia, they won one match, lost one match, and drew two matches. So, it should be a pretty good test for the team tonight in Connecticut.
The past week or two, the USMNT has been practicing together with a provisional 30 man squad. In a few days, coach Bradley will cut seven of those players and trim the roster down to the required 23 players. What I will be watching is the performance of our defensive four. Onyewu should get his first playing time since his injury over seven months ago. In addition, Bocanegra and DeMerit are also questionable with injuries. In my opinion, even if everyone was healthy, our defense is our weak link anyway. We do well when we're able to slow down the rush in midfield, but when teams are free to run at our back line bad things happen.
Our goalie and midfield players are world-class. The only other area of uncertainty is at forward. We have good players but most of our goals will probably be created by our midfield players. We don't have any match winners up top but that can easily be remedied with the right mix of attackers in midfield. We'll see how well we can create scoring opportunities for ourselves tonight. The Czech Republic should have a pretty good defense and it will be difficult to score against them.
I think two important questions that will be answered tonight is who will make the final 23-man squad and how well we're playing together. That's more important then the final score in these games even though it would nice for confidence's sake to win the game.
The past week or two, the USMNT has been practicing together with a provisional 30 man squad. In a few days, coach Bradley will cut seven of those players and trim the roster down to the required 23 players. What I will be watching is the performance of our defensive four. Onyewu should get his first playing time since his injury over seven months ago. In addition, Bocanegra and DeMerit are also questionable with injuries. In my opinion, even if everyone was healthy, our defense is our weak link anyway. We do well when we're able to slow down the rush in midfield, but when teams are free to run at our back line bad things happen.
Our goalie and midfield players are world-class. The only other area of uncertainty is at forward. We have good players but most of our goals will probably be created by our midfield players. We don't have any match winners up top but that can easily be remedied with the right mix of attackers in midfield. We'll see how well we can create scoring opportunities for ourselves tonight. The Czech Republic should have a pretty good defense and it will be difficult to score against them.
I think two important questions that will be answered tonight is who will make the final 23-man squad and how well we're playing together. That's more important then the final score in these games even though it would nice for confidence's sake to win the game.
23 May 2010
Third Time's A Charm
Well, here goes nothing. Unfortunately, in past few years we unknowingly planted evergreen shrubs (Dwarf Alberta Spruce) in a drainage area on our property. At first, I thought a lot of water would be great for these bushes even if they didn't need much water. This is Colorado after all, and too much water isn't exactly a common problem here. This area though, is like a swimming pool underground when it rains or it snows. Literally, the grass has looked like a water bed in the past after a heavy rain. The problem is enhanced since the soil is full of clay. The water just sits in this area because the clay won't absorb it.
So, I came up with my own solution since we're determined to grow these shrubs along our driveway. Call it container gardening or specimens in the ground. Thanks to Josh, I bought a bunch of rubber feed buckets at Big R outside of Falcon. These containers have no holes in them and were put in the ground to keep the water out. I then filled the bottom and sides of the feed bucket with pea gravel for drainage and to hold the assembly together. Then, I placed the shrubs in their original containers (with holes) in the feed bucket. My goal is to control the amount of moisture getting to the tree. The best part about the system is that both containers are completely removable. Since the ground is full of clay, I can pull the rubber feed buckets out whenever I want and the hole will stay there perfectly. I can even pull the trees out of the rubber buckets (should too much water get in) and let them dry out. Over time, if this works, we can continually up size the containers until the trees reach maturity. I'd like to keep them small, so I may just wait and see and not up the planter size until they show signs of stress.
As you can see in one of the pictures, one of the original trees survived (it's in a different section). Think this will work? I do. This will also allow me to water the grass appropriately without drowning the trees. Christmas lights here we come.
So, I came up with my own solution since we're determined to grow these shrubs along our driveway. Call it container gardening or specimens in the ground. Thanks to Josh, I bought a bunch of rubber feed buckets at Big R outside of Falcon. These containers have no holes in them and were put in the ground to keep the water out. I then filled the bottom and sides of the feed bucket with pea gravel for drainage and to hold the assembly together. Then, I placed the shrubs in their original containers (with holes) in the feed bucket. My goal is to control the amount of moisture getting to the tree. The best part about the system is that both containers are completely removable. Since the ground is full of clay, I can pull the rubber feed buckets out whenever I want and the hole will stay there perfectly. I can even pull the trees out of the rubber buckets (should too much water get in) and let them dry out. Over time, if this works, we can continually up size the containers until the trees reach maturity. I'd like to keep them small, so I may just wait and see and not up the planter size until they show signs of stress.
As you can see in one of the pictures, one of the original trees survived (it's in a different section). Think this will work? I do. This will also allow me to water the grass appropriately without drowning the trees. Christmas lights here we come.
22 May 2010
21 May 2010
19 May 2010
Honest Question
Out of the blue this morning Julia told Stacey that "Dadda's got big muscles." About five minutes later she asked, "Momma, where are your muscles?"
18 May 2010
17 May 2010
Ants Have Families Too
On the patio the other day...
Julia: Oh no Dadda! Ants! They are going to get me! I don't like ants.
Dadda: It's OK, I'll make them go bye-bye with some ant poison.
Julia: Ahhh! Ants are on the patio and they are going to get me!
Dadda: (puts poison on ground, gets rid of ants on patio). See, it's OK.
Julia: They aren't going to get me?
Dadda: No, I killed them with poison. I made them go bye-bye.
Julia: (slight pause) They went bye-bye to see their families?
Dadda: Umm, yeah, their families in "the sky".
Julia: No no no Dadda, down! Ants in the ground!
Dadda: Yes, well, I guess that's right too.
Julia: Oh no Dadda! Ants! They are going to get me! I don't like ants.
Dadda: It's OK, I'll make them go bye-bye with some ant poison.
Julia: Ahhh! Ants are on the patio and they are going to get me!
Dadda: (puts poison on ground, gets rid of ants on patio). See, it's OK.
Julia: They aren't going to get me?
Dadda: No, I killed them with poison. I made them go bye-bye.
Julia: (slight pause) They went bye-bye to see their families?
Dadda: Umm, yeah, their families in "the sky".
Julia: No no no Dadda, down! Ants in the ground!
Dadda: Yes, well, I guess that's right too.
16 May 2010
The Backyard is Complete
INSTRUCTIONS: BEFORE READING THIS POST YOU ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINKS FIRST AND LOOK AT THE PICTURES:
Last Summer
Backyard Project, Day 0
The backyard is finally complete! Despite still fighting the aftereffects of a bug I caught, Matt and I tilled the soil, rolled it, and installed the sod today. This was the last step in the project that took about two months to complete (weekend warriors). It was a lot of work but we stayed on schedule (can't get much closer to mid-May then this) and it's now done.
As I've told many people, now is the time to look at the grass and take pictures because it's the best it'll ever look! Obviously, we'll have to stay off the sod for a few weeks until it takes root. Although our neighbors, like we, were planning on doing their backyard this spring months ago, we've inspired them to lay a patio instead of a cement slab. I'm sure I'll be able to take a picture and show off their hard work too.
Not much else remains. We'll pick up the patio furniture on Tuesday, add a stand-alone fire pit in the coming weeks, and plant some flowers in a few pots. Iced Tea anyone? Thanks Matty. Next up, baby #2.
Last Summer
Backyard Project, Day 0
The backyard is finally complete! Despite still fighting the aftereffects of a bug I caught, Matt and I tilled the soil, rolled it, and installed the sod today. This was the last step in the project that took about two months to complete (weekend warriors). It was a lot of work but we stayed on schedule (can't get much closer to mid-May then this) and it's now done.
As I've told many people, now is the time to look at the grass and take pictures because it's the best it'll ever look! Obviously, we'll have to stay off the sod for a few weeks until it takes root. Although our neighbors, like we, were planning on doing their backyard this spring months ago, we've inspired them to lay a patio instead of a cement slab. I'm sure I'll be able to take a picture and show off their hard work too.
Not much else remains. We'll pick up the patio furniture on Tuesday, add a stand-alone fire pit in the coming weeks, and plant some flowers in a few pots. Iced Tea anyone? Thanks Matty. Next up, baby #2.
15 May 2010
Sod It
The sod was delivered today...tomorrow we'll put it in the backyard and call the project complete! I'll be sure to take a few pictures for everyone. Of course, we still have flowers, furniture, etc to buy, but the work will be done! That stuff is just fun and can be done whenever...
14 May 2010
Ultrasound Tech Julia
The past few weeks Stacey has had a few ultrasounds. Julia was at a few of them - and apparently picked up some pointers. She doesn't like the sound of the heartbeat on the machine, yet she imitates the sound when she listens to the heartbeat with the red cup. Her necklace doubles as a stethoscope, while her blankey a towel used to keep jelly/wipe it off of Mommy's tummy. According to Julia, she has to check up on Stacey so that baby brother grows big and healthy before he comes out. Stacey's old makeup brushes and case make great instruments. I'm not paying for medical school.
13 May 2010
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