We've been hit by a category 5 one-year old.
06 January 2009
05 January 2009
Newest Member of the Family
A week ago we "borrowed" him from my parents. He passed his trial period with flying colors and now has earned the right to sleep at the side of my bed (on the floor) and meet me at the door when I come home.
Background
For those of you who aren't aware, he was originally my grandma's (on my Dad's side) dog. I believe my parents got him for my grandma shortly before she had to move into assisted living a few years ago. My grandma had originally named him "Prince", but my parents changed his name to "Quincy" when he came to live with them. Naturally, I called him "the dog formerly known as Prince". Now that he's living with us though, I'm trying to come up with a name (or nickname) that I can call him besides "Quincy". Any ideas?
About the Breed
The name Sheltie is actually short for Shetland Sheepdog (a herder). The Shetland Islands are a Scottish archipelago off the northeast coast of Scotland. According to wikipedia, "the Shetland Sheepdog is an outstanding companion dog and is intensely loyal. It is lively, intelligent, trainable, and willing to please and obey. Shelties are loving, loyal, and affectionate with their family, but are naturally aloof with strangers. The herding instinct is strong in many Shelties. They love to chase and herd things, including squirrels, ducks, and children. Shelties love to run in wide-open areas. Shelties are very good with children. Shelties also are very smart, making them highly trainable. According to Dr. Stanley Coren, an expert on animal intelligence, the Shetland Sheepdog is one of the brightest dogs, ranking 6th out of 132 breeds tested. His research found that an average Sheltie could understand a new command in less than 5 repetitions and would obey a command the first time it was given 95% of the time or better."
The Family
Stacey is getting used to him, but I think it's safe to say that Julia loves having him around. She calls him "da-da", and likes to point at him and walk or crawl across the room just to pet him. A few days ago we told her to "give Quincy lovies", and she lowered her head so that it was resting on his head (her way of giving him a hug). This morning she let out a squeal when her outstretched arm and finger met up with Quincy's wet nose.
Kitty doesn't seem to mind him at all. If anything, I think she has come around us more since he's been at our house (instead of diving under the bed). They frequently sit or walk close to each other...however, I doubt they'll ever be BFFs.
My Take
Basically, I think he's the perfect dog for us. I've wanted a dog for awhile now since I grew up with them. With a 1-year old though, training and house-breaking a new puppy wasn't feasible. In the past I've thought that he would be a great dog to borrow and take on a hike, etc. However, I never really saw much of him when I visited my parents because a certain Yorkshire Terrier kept him walking on eggshells, especially when food or Julia were the center of attention. Basically, the terrier would ambush Quincy simply for getting too close. The fault completely lies on the Yorkshire side...but the English and the Scots never did quite get along, so it's not surprising.
He's submissive, so he's great with Julia and will listen to my commands. He's small enough to be a great house dog yet large enough that I can eventually take him to the park or jogging/hiking this summer. His personality is great, and he loves attention yet isn't "all up in my grill" when I don't want him to be (he'll come and go when told). So far he won't bark unless there is someone or something outside, making him a good home security system.
I've already enjoyed learning/seeing some of his personality quirks...like how he snorts/sneezes repetitively in excitement when I ask him if he wants to go outside. Alluding to the breed's intelligence, the funniest moment so far has been him learning to get into his cage when we're leaving the house. After only a time or two, he's learned. This weekend I took a small doggie treat and had him follow me into the basement. I told him to "kennel" while holding the treat in my hand and he practically bent the backside of the cage because he went flying into it with a NHL caliber body-slam caused by "treat euphoria". What a spaz.
Background
For those of you who aren't aware, he was originally my grandma's (on my Dad's side) dog. I believe my parents got him for my grandma shortly before she had to move into assisted living a few years ago. My grandma had originally named him "Prince", but my parents changed his name to "Quincy" when he came to live with them. Naturally, I called him "the dog formerly known as Prince". Now that he's living with us though, I'm trying to come up with a name (or nickname) that I can call him besides "Quincy". Any ideas?
About the Breed
The name Sheltie is actually short for Shetland Sheepdog (a herder). The Shetland Islands are a Scottish archipelago off the northeast coast of Scotland. According to wikipedia, "the Shetland Sheepdog is an outstanding companion dog and is intensely loyal. It is lively, intelligent, trainable, and willing to please and obey. Shelties are loving, loyal, and affectionate with their family, but are naturally aloof with strangers. The herding instinct is strong in many Shelties. They love to chase and herd things, including squirrels, ducks, and children. Shelties love to run in wide-open areas. Shelties are very good with children. Shelties also are very smart, making them highly trainable. According to Dr. Stanley Coren, an expert on animal intelligence, the Shetland Sheepdog is one of the brightest dogs, ranking 6th out of 132 breeds tested. His research found that an average Sheltie could understand a new command in less than 5 repetitions and would obey a command the first time it was given 95% of the time or better."
The Family
Stacey is getting used to him, but I think it's safe to say that Julia loves having him around. She calls him "da-da", and likes to point at him and walk or crawl across the room just to pet him. A few days ago we told her to "give Quincy lovies", and she lowered her head so that it was resting on his head (her way of giving him a hug). This morning she let out a squeal when her outstretched arm and finger met up with Quincy's wet nose.
Kitty doesn't seem to mind him at all. If anything, I think she has come around us more since he's been at our house (instead of diving under the bed). They frequently sit or walk close to each other...however, I doubt they'll ever be BFFs.
My Take
Basically, I think he's the perfect dog for us. I've wanted a dog for awhile now since I grew up with them. With a 1-year old though, training and house-breaking a new puppy wasn't feasible. In the past I've thought that he would be a great dog to borrow and take on a hike, etc. However, I never really saw much of him when I visited my parents because a certain Yorkshire Terrier kept him walking on eggshells, especially when food or Julia were the center of attention. Basically, the terrier would ambush Quincy simply for getting too close. The fault completely lies on the Yorkshire side...but the English and the Scots never did quite get along, so it's not surprising.
He's submissive, so he's great with Julia and will listen to my commands. He's small enough to be a great house dog yet large enough that I can eventually take him to the park or jogging/hiking this summer. His personality is great, and he loves attention yet isn't "all up in my grill" when I don't want him to be (he'll come and go when told). So far he won't bark unless there is someone or something outside, making him a good home security system.
I've already enjoyed learning/seeing some of his personality quirks...like how he snorts/sneezes repetitively in excitement when I ask him if he wants to go outside. Alluding to the breed's intelligence, the funniest moment so far has been him learning to get into his cage when we're leaving the house. After only a time or two, he's learned. This weekend I took a small doggie treat and had him follow me into the basement. I told him to "kennel" while holding the treat in my hand and he practically bent the backside of the cage because he went flying into it with a NHL caliber body-slam caused by "treat euphoria". What a spaz.
04 January 2009
Eat Fresh
I strolled over to our neighborhood Subway this weekend for some five-dollar foot long action. I went inside and halfway through my sandwich order I realized that the guy making my sandwich was named "Jared".
I know, it took every ounce of strength in my body not to laugh...or to make some smart-arse comment like, "can I get extra pickles, JARED?"
I know, it took every ounce of strength in my body not to laugh...or to make some smart-arse comment like, "can I get extra pickles, JARED?"
31 December 2008
World Soccer Daily Cameo
Yes!!! I finally made it on World Soccer Daily! Actually, this was really only my third or fourth email into the show, so it's not like I've been trying and trying.
First, I'd like to give you a quick background on the show and then I'll talk about my email read on today's broadcast.
World Soccer Daily (or WSD) is the premier football (or soccer) radio show in this country. It's a call-in show that airs every day for 2 hours on Sirius Satellite Radio. The show also streams live on the web and is available as a podcast on iTunes. Most people listen via iTunes, so it's consistently (I just checked) in the top 25 most downloaded sports podcasts on iTunes. The show has frequent listeners from all over the world as well. The owner, Steven, also has a weekly television show on Fox Soccer Channel. The point is, it's not just some "Mickey Mouse" operation. I've been listening for a few years and have to say that it's really grown leaps and bounds. The show has now gotten to a point where it can get interviews from the some of the top professionals in the English Premier League (EPL); probably the most popular league in the world (certainly the richest). For example, in the coming weeks the show will be interviewing the manager (and other staff/players) from Hull City, one of the newer yet better teams so far in the EPL this year.
Since the year is coming to an end, Steven (the host) was trying to award his team of the year for 2008. If you've seen any of my previous posts in the last few days, I've been really keen on Villa. I wrote an email into the show this morning and Steven decided to read it on the air essentially at the start of the show. He stumbled over my words a bit, but I still think it's really cool to hear him read it on air and to tell me I'm "exactly right".
The first picture in the video is the show's logo, then me, then the Villa badge, then a picture of the show's hosts. I added the pictures to the audio clip from the show. If you're at all interested in the show, please check it out. You'll get hooked instantly because the show is outstanding. I doubt they'll every read this, but for those that do, I want to thank Steven and Kenny for doing such a great job!
First, I'd like to give you a quick background on the show and then I'll talk about my email read on today's broadcast.
World Soccer Daily (or WSD) is the premier football (or soccer) radio show in this country. It's a call-in show that airs every day for 2 hours on Sirius Satellite Radio. The show also streams live on the web and is available as a podcast on iTunes. Most people listen via iTunes, so it's consistently (I just checked) in the top 25 most downloaded sports podcasts on iTunes. The show has frequent listeners from all over the world as well. The owner, Steven, also has a weekly television show on Fox Soccer Channel. The point is, it's not just some "Mickey Mouse" operation. I've been listening for a few years and have to say that it's really grown leaps and bounds. The show has now gotten to a point where it can get interviews from the some of the top professionals in the English Premier League (EPL); probably the most popular league in the world (certainly the richest). For example, in the coming weeks the show will be interviewing the manager (and other staff/players) from Hull City, one of the newer yet better teams so far in the EPL this year.
Since the year is coming to an end, Steven (the host) was trying to award his team of the year for 2008. If you've seen any of my previous posts in the last few days, I've been really keen on Villa. I wrote an email into the show this morning and Steven decided to read it on the air essentially at the start of the show. He stumbled over my words a bit, but I still think it's really cool to hear him read it on air and to tell me I'm "exactly right".
The first picture in the video is the show's logo, then me, then the Villa badge, then a picture of the show's hosts. I added the pictures to the audio clip from the show. If you're at all interested in the show, please check it out. You'll get hooked instantly because the show is outstanding. I doubt they'll every read this, but for those that do, I want to thank Steven and Kenny for doing such a great job!
30 December 2008
Hull 0 - 1 Villa
Villa "nicked" three points tonight in a game that could have gone either way. Both sides played a well-organized game. In my opinion, a fair result would have seen both teams gaining a point. However, when things are going your way...they really go your way. With about 10 minutes left in the game, Hull put the ball in the back of their own net.
A few days ago Villa scored an injury time equalizer against Arsenal. The previous game against West Ham saw Villa score the winner in the 78th, and two league games before that Villa beat Everton with another injury time goal. What the Hull?
Next up on Friday is Spurs vs Wigan in the 3rd round of the FA Cup...should be a snoozer. Do I really have to watch it?
A few days ago Villa scored an injury time equalizer against Arsenal. The previous game against West Ham saw Villa score the winner in the 78th, and two league games before that Villa beat Everton with another injury time goal. What the Hull?
Next up on Friday is Spurs vs Wigan in the 3rd round of the FA Cup...should be a snoozer. Do I really have to watch it?
28 December 2008
AVFC Fun Facts
Instead of focusing on the negatives at Spurs, I'd like to take another approach and focus on what has caught my eye about Villa as a club/organization. In my mind, this is more important then anything that happens on the field.
First of all, there is something "right" about what's going on at the club...and something that I can definitely relate to.
The American Connection
As far as I know, Villa now have the most Americans in their side then any other Premier league team. This year they signed the "Brads". Brad Friedel and Brad Guzan, both American goalies. I've been a huge fan of Friedel over the years and think at 37 he is still one (if not, the) best goalies in the entire league. He plans to play into his 40s, so he's still possibly going to around for a few more years. If 24-year old Guzan can develop, there is a possibility that Villa will have an American keeper for some time.
Villa are owned by Randy Lerner...an American who made his money in the banking/securities industry. He also owns the Cleveland Browns. Based on all accounts, he is the right kind of owner...one that has money, is committed to the club, yet doesn't appear to overly involved with what happens on the pitch.
More then a Club
If you've seen the kit this year, you'll notice that Villa are sponsored by Acorns. Actually, this isn't a sponsorship at all; it's a partnership. Acorns is a local Children's Hospice that cares for life-limited children and their families. Life-limited children are not expected to reach adulthood. They require specialist care 24-hours-a-day, 7 days a week. Acorns is the only organization that provides this to local life-limited children while also offering a range of support services for the whole family to help them cope at every stage of their child's life and beyond into bereavement. Through the relationship that started over two years ago, AVFC decided to put the organization instead of a sponsor on their shirts. Who does this nowadays? I think it's a very commendable thing to do in an age and league where most sponsors are either alcohol or gambling related. I realize that Villa used to be sponsored by an online casino, but the fact that they made this change speaks volumes in my opinion.
Villa were formed by four members from the Villa Cross Wesleyan Chapel in 1874. The current ground (and the same one they've been playing at since 1897) is bordered by Trinity Road to the west. The Trinity Road stand of the stadium actually is built over the road, meaning that the stadium essentially forms a tunnel over it. Trinity Road and the Villa name may not have a current relevance to the church for the supporters (I don't know), but it at least reflects the historical connections to it.
History
AVFC has a long and successful history. They are only one of four English teams to have won the equivalent of the Champions League (the European Cup) - the others being United, Liverpool, and Forest. They were one of a dozen original founders of the Football League in 1888 and one of the founding clubs of the Premier League in 1992. As far as major honors are concerned, they rank fourth in the country. Basically, they've been relatively consistent performers for over 125 years. Although they have been relegated a few times, only Everton has played more season in the top flight of English football then Villa. Villa have spent 98 seasons at the top.
Other Cool Stuff
In an era of global teams, Villa have stayed local. As far as I can tell, almost 2/3 (about 60%) of the first team are English. That's amazing, considering some of the other big clubs struggle to field very many at all...the worst offender being Arsenal who regularly field sides without a single Englishman in the starting 11. For Villa to keep it English means that they've had to be deliberate about it...hinting at a philosophy and an actual transfer market plan.
I've always liked the current manager, Martin O'Neill. He seems to be a nice guy, a bit on the quiet side, but definitely a man with a long-term plan. It appears he's building something over time, and has actually resisted the urge to buy more players for the heck of it even when offered more money by the board/owner.
As silly as this sounds, the logo and colors are actually a big deal for me. It's a source of pride. I never liked the Spurs logo and/colors, making it hard to wear the badge (or look at it) with pride. I mean, a cockerel is essentially a male chicken. Not very cool nor intimidating. A chicken? Seriously? If anything it evokes the opposite reaction that it should. Take a look at the AVFC badge at the top of this page. Now that's cool! A "rampant lion", a star for the European Cup win, and the motto, "Prepared". AVFC are known as Villa, or The Villians, or The Lions - that's cool. I can wear and respect a lion...not a chicken. Secondly, the colors are actually really nice despite what your initial reaction might be. Officially they are claret and sky blue. Coincidentally enough, we just finished decorating our bedroom and we chose these colors because they look great together. Now if I could just get a club crest to be hung above the bed...
Of course, since they are doing well this year this may appear to be band-wagon-ish. However, it's no worse then someone picking one of the top four for the same reason. Really, I've only been seriously following the league for 18 months now - the same time I've been following Spurs. In my mind, a season or 2 is still within a reasonable amount of time to reconsider this (what will be, a lifetime) decision. I'm not jumping ship completely, but I'm going to follow and consider AVFC now in addition to Spurs. Without focusing on the negatives, I have come to realize that the most important thing for me is what's going on at the club and not solely the success on the field. For the last 18 months everything about the Tottenham organization has left a bad taste in my mouth...not because of the results, but because of everything else that I consider to be a disaster. We'll see if my "romantic" ideals and expectations about Aston Villa Football Club are correct and stand the test of time. Unfortunately, the only way for an American who has no connections to the league to find out is to follow/adopt the team for a season or so. After a season with Spurs, it just doesn't seem like a good fit.
First of all, there is something "right" about what's going on at the club...and something that I can definitely relate to.
The American Connection
As far as I know, Villa now have the most Americans in their side then any other Premier league team. This year they signed the "Brads". Brad Friedel and Brad Guzan, both American goalies. I've been a huge fan of Friedel over the years and think at 37 he is still one (if not, the) best goalies in the entire league. He plans to play into his 40s, so he's still possibly going to around for a few more years. If 24-year old Guzan can develop, there is a possibility that Villa will have an American keeper for some time.
Villa are owned by Randy Lerner...an American who made his money in the banking/securities industry. He also owns the Cleveland Browns. Based on all accounts, he is the right kind of owner...one that has money, is committed to the club, yet doesn't appear to overly involved with what happens on the pitch.
More then a Club
If you've seen the kit this year, you'll notice that Villa are sponsored by Acorns. Actually, this isn't a sponsorship at all; it's a partnership. Acorns is a local Children's Hospice that cares for life-limited children and their families. Life-limited children are not expected to reach adulthood. They require specialist care 24-hours-a-day, 7 days a week. Acorns is the only organization that provides this to local life-limited children while also offering a range of support services for the whole family to help them cope at every stage of their child's life and beyond into bereavement. Through the relationship that started over two years ago, AVFC decided to put the organization instead of a sponsor on their shirts. Who does this nowadays? I think it's a very commendable thing to do in an age and league where most sponsors are either alcohol or gambling related. I realize that Villa used to be sponsored by an online casino, but the fact that they made this change speaks volumes in my opinion.
Villa were formed by four members from the Villa Cross Wesleyan Chapel in 1874. The current ground (and the same one they've been playing at since 1897) is bordered by Trinity Road to the west. The Trinity Road stand of the stadium actually is built over the road, meaning that the stadium essentially forms a tunnel over it. Trinity Road and the Villa name may not have a current relevance to the church for the supporters (I don't know), but it at least reflects the historical connections to it.
History
AVFC has a long and successful history. They are only one of four English teams to have won the equivalent of the Champions League (the European Cup) - the others being United, Liverpool, and Forest. They were one of a dozen original founders of the Football League in 1888 and one of the founding clubs of the Premier League in 1992. As far as major honors are concerned, they rank fourth in the country. Basically, they've been relatively consistent performers for over 125 years. Although they have been relegated a few times, only Everton has played more season in the top flight of English football then Villa. Villa have spent 98 seasons at the top.
Other Cool Stuff
In an era of global teams, Villa have stayed local. As far as I can tell, almost 2/3 (about 60%) of the first team are English. That's amazing, considering some of the other big clubs struggle to field very many at all...the worst offender being Arsenal who regularly field sides without a single Englishman in the starting 11. For Villa to keep it English means that they've had to be deliberate about it...hinting at a philosophy and an actual transfer market plan.
I've always liked the current manager, Martin O'Neill. He seems to be a nice guy, a bit on the quiet side, but definitely a man with a long-term plan. It appears he's building something over time, and has actually resisted the urge to buy more players for the heck of it even when offered more money by the board/owner.
As silly as this sounds, the logo and colors are actually a big deal for me. It's a source of pride. I never liked the Spurs logo and/colors, making it hard to wear the badge (or look at it) with pride. I mean, a cockerel is essentially a male chicken. Not very cool nor intimidating. A chicken? Seriously? If anything it evokes the opposite reaction that it should. Take a look at the AVFC badge at the top of this page. Now that's cool! A "rampant lion", a star for the European Cup win, and the motto, "Prepared". AVFC are known as Villa, or The Villians, or The Lions - that's cool. I can wear and respect a lion...not a chicken. Secondly, the colors are actually really nice despite what your initial reaction might be. Officially they are claret and sky blue. Coincidentally enough, we just finished decorating our bedroom and we chose these colors because they look great together. Now if I could just get a club crest to be hung above the bed...
Of course, since they are doing well this year this may appear to be band-wagon-ish. However, it's no worse then someone picking one of the top four for the same reason. Really, I've only been seriously following the league for 18 months now - the same time I've been following Spurs. In my mind, a season or 2 is still within a reasonable amount of time to reconsider this (what will be, a lifetime) decision. I'm not jumping ship completely, but I'm going to follow and consider AVFC now in addition to Spurs. Without focusing on the negatives, I have come to realize that the most important thing for me is what's going on at the club and not solely the success on the field. For the last 18 months everything about the Tottenham organization has left a bad taste in my mouth...not because of the results, but because of everything else that I consider to be a disaster. We'll see if my "romantic" ideals and expectations about Aston Villa Football Club are correct and stand the test of time. Unfortunately, the only way for an American who has no connections to the league to find out is to follow/adopt the team for a season or so. After a season with Spurs, it just doesn't seem like a good fit.
27 December 2008
Football Heresy
For those of you who regularly read this blog, you've probably noticed that the appearance has changed. Notice anything else different? Probably not.
I bet Matt does. When Matt brings up this page for the first time he'll probably have a heart attack. So, to the one person outside my family that cares, hear me out buddy. Hopefully I'll be able to explain myself in my next post...at least enough so that you don't lose all respect for me and can at least understand where I'm coming from.
Right now it's way past my bedtime...so I'll have to save the explanation for tomorrow.
I bet Matt does. When Matt brings up this page for the first time he'll probably have a heart attack. So, to the one person outside my family that cares, hear me out buddy. Hopefully I'll be able to explain myself in my next post...at least enough so that you don't lose all respect for me and can at least understand where I'm coming from.
Right now it's way past my bedtime...so I'll have to save the explanation for tomorrow.
5th Anniversary
Today is Stacey's and my 5th Anniversary! I can't believe it's been 5 years.
I love you Stacey and I can't imagine being with anyone else. You are a wonderful woman and a great wife and mother. Here's to 50 more years!
Music by Lauryn Hill (Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You)
I love you Stacey and I can't imagine being with anyone else. You are a wonderful woman and a great wife and mother. Here's to 50 more years!
Music by Lauryn Hill (Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You)
26 December 2008
Cabo
a.k.a. Cabo San Lucas, a.k.a. Los Cabos
The last stop on our cruise was in Cabo. By far this was the prettiest of the three locations we visited. The consensus opinion was that Cabo was the only place we may want to come back to in the future.
Cabo is located on the very southern tip of Baja California. It also has a large population of retired Americans. It's very different from the other two places we saw in Mexico in that it's much more upscale.
The ship had to anchor offshore and we were ferried to the marina in one of the ship's lifeboats. Since we didn't have a whole lot of time, Stacey and I left the ship before everyone else and headed for the main beach area. On the way to the beach we walked passed a lot of nice boats in the marina, as well as some good restaurants. We stopped at a higher end mall that borders the marina (for example, it has a Mac store) and grabbed some Kahlua laced coffee.
Julia loved the sand and the water. Because her swimsuit is green, she looked like a little sea turtle crawling to and from the water. I got some great video of her fearlessly playing on the beach and in the water, but since this is a family blog I am prohibited from showing it since it contains a certain attractive female in her bathing suit. We stayed there for as long as possible and then headed back to the ship.
Here are some clips of the videos I shot in Cabo. The first clip is coming into Cabo as the sun is rising, then Julia playing in the sand, then Julia and I playing in the ocean.
The last stop on our cruise was in Cabo. By far this was the prettiest of the three locations we visited. The consensus opinion was that Cabo was the only place we may want to come back to in the future.
Cabo is located on the very southern tip of Baja California. It also has a large population of retired Americans. It's very different from the other two places we saw in Mexico in that it's much more upscale.
The ship had to anchor offshore and we were ferried to the marina in one of the ship's lifeboats. Since we didn't have a whole lot of time, Stacey and I left the ship before everyone else and headed for the main beach area. On the way to the beach we walked passed a lot of nice boats in the marina, as well as some good restaurants. We stopped at a higher end mall that borders the marina (for example, it has a Mac store) and grabbed some Kahlua laced coffee.
Julia loved the sand and the water. Because her swimsuit is green, she looked like a little sea turtle crawling to and from the water. I got some great video of her fearlessly playing on the beach and in the water, but since this is a family blog I am prohibited from showing it since it contains a certain attractive female in her bathing suit. We stayed there for as long as possible and then headed back to the ship.
Here are some clips of the videos I shot in Cabo. The first clip is coming into Cabo as the sun is rising, then Julia playing in the sand, then Julia and I playing in the ocean.
25 December 2008
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