No Mercy

Last fall Kirk cut himself pretty badly while removing tile from his shower. It was your classic home improvement project gone bad. Long story short, he essentially slit his wrist on a piece of broken (yet sharp) tile that was still hanging on the wall. He was trying to remove a different tile that was stuck and when it gave, his wrist dragged across the exposed piece. Obviously, it involved a trip to the ER and a lot of stitches.

Instead of sympathy we gave him a pretty hard time (as most guys would) when it happened. But, we also have long memories when it comes to "material".

This morning I walked into work and saw this hanging outside his cubicle...

Life Isn't Good

10 kids and a dog. If you can't tell from the picture, child #5 is the only boy... I bet if I followed him I'd end up at a house with sorority letters on it.

Gonzaga Prep

Go Bullpups!

Happy Mother's Day

Julia learned how to say Happy Mother's Day. Naturally, that meant she had to say it to Stacey at least 20 times. She even said it to Oma! It was cute every time.

iPad Remote

The more I use my iPad, the more I love it. One of the things I've been trying to find is a remote control for iTunes that works over our wi-fi network instead of using infrared technology (i.e. line of sight). I'm not sure if iTunes running on Windows has the AirTunes feature, but my Mac does. AirTunes allows you to wirelessly stream your iTunes library to different devices connected to your network. Awhile ago I purchased an Airport Mini "hub". These devices connect to your wireless network and have an audio out jack. So, the idea is instead of hard wiring a speaker system throughout your house, you can strategically place these devices in your home and connect your stereo system to it. AirTunes allows you to stream music to all of your Airport Minis at the same time too, in case you want the same song playing in multiple places.

A wi-fi remote isn't much use unless you have a device to control it with. Although it doesn't appear to be a new arrival, Apple has a free remote app in their store that will run on an iPhone or iPad. Tonight I downloaded the app and have been playing around with it. In short, it's amazing. I can view everything that is playing on my computer and control the volume, track selection, and even speaker selection from my iPad anywhere in the house. With AirTunes and my Airport Minis, this is a powerful combination. Right now I am listening to music in the living room. It's streaming from my laptop in the office and am controlling it from my iPad...which, coincidentally I'm typing this blog on.

Regarding the iPad in general, I haven't really used my laptop much since I got it. I brought it into work yesterday and you would of thought I was famous or something. People were huddled around my cubicle as I showed what it could do. I almost felt like Steve Jobs unveiling the latest Apple product.

I'm borrowing Josh's NetFlix account (with his permission). Today I watched Wall-E on my iPad via their app and online viewing capability. It was pretty sweet. Good quality and no interruptions in playback. I could go on and on but my battery is running low. As I've mentioned in previous posts, the technology is amazing. The iPad and app concept is really the future (in my opinion) of many things - at the very least it's changed how I consume media (web, email, music, videos, photos, etc) at home.

When It Rains...

In late 2009 I entertained the idea of going over to London to catch the Spurs vs Arsenal game that was played last month. Of course, it would have been insanely awesome considering how the game played out...well, as long as I would have been able to change my travel dates since the original date changed. That to say, I've been trying to find a way to see the team in action. Personal circumstances right now have prevented me from doing something like this...let's be honest, now probably isn't the best time to jet off London (2 year old, Stacey's pregnant, trying to focus our funds on the backyard, etc).

A few months ago I ran across an obsure website that vaguely mentioned Spurs were planning a North American preseason tour. Well, yesterday I finally found a reputable site confirming that Tottenham are coming to the U.S.A. (New York) this summer, July 22-25. Ironically, they will be playing in a preseason tournament against Manchester City, reportedly Sporting Lisbon, and the New York Red Bulls in the inagural New York Football Challenge. There isn't too much information out there yet and the details (time/dates/tickets/etc) haven't been established yet.

I'm seriously thinking about booking a quick plane trip out there over the weekend...possibly a flight out and back in the same 24 hour period to see a Spurs game. Since the World Cup will have ended just 10 days prior, a lot of the big name players probably won't be there. However, half a squad and the manager (let alone just the club) is enough for me. This could hold me over for a few years and do the trick instead of trying to book some major vacation to another country. If I traveled alone, the itinerary could be as quick and simple as: airport to taxi to stadium to taxi to airport...

As details emerge things will get more serious. Maybe there will be some sort of backstage pass equivalent. In related but unrelated news, Manchester United are also coming this summer (closest location is Kansas City) to play in a different tournament. United have been here before but this trip would be a first for City and Spurs. Who knows if they'll be coming back any time soon...

Also, our manager, Harry Redknapp, has just been named Premier League Manager of the Season.

Office Greeting

Today's Big Game (Twitter Style)

Throughout the day I'm going to make periodic updates to this post.

0800 - Today is finally here...the day of the big game. Hasn't really sunk in yet how big this is. Have the DVR set to record at 1300 local for viewing tonight. Going to listen to some podcasts during the day to get psyched up (or out).

0930 - Redknapp is all over the headlines today...obviously voicing his opinions on all things Manchester City. Love the mind games (pressure is on City, they are on course to win the league in a few years, City bullied Spurs regarding the Palacios and Bellamy signings, etc). With them playing in front of their home fans and needing a win, we'll see if this adds to their nervousness.

0945 - Glad to hear our GK Gomes will be playing through his tweaked thigh injury from the weekend. That would have been a disaster seeing as we don't have a suitable backup. Maybe we should petition the FA for an emergency signing (rolls eyes).

1130 - The day is flying by since work has been busy...probably won't get many chances to think about the game until tonight. That could be a good thing. Must remember - no Internet surfing this afternoon!

1220 - Kickoff in about a half an hour. No lineups posted yet...by now the stadium must be pretty full and the players probably starting their warm ups. I'm planning on going for a jog/walk outside over lunch so I don't accidentally see anything on one of the ESPN networks. I'm going to keep my blog up so I don't accidentally open the Internet this afternoon and see something on my homepage.

1225 - Of course, the lineups are posted right after I said something. Gomes at GK, Ledley King is going to start for the second time in a week! Bale at LM, Lennon gets his first start in months after his injury! Modric at CM instead of Palacios. Crouch and Defoe up top...looks like this could be an open and attacking game. I think Harry got the formation right. Bale and Lennon to terrorize the flanks, Defoe the sharpshooter with a long ball opportunity to Crouch. Defense looks solid. Come On You Spurs!

1300 - It's kickoff time...which means time to leave the office and go outside. Hopefully the time goes by fast this afternoon... I'll be wearing my lucky & loud Spurs shorts for good luck.

1500 - Well, after walking outside for an hour and freezing my tail off and tidying up some loose ends, I find myself back at my desk. The game is over and I feel like the only one in the world who doesn't know what happened. In a weird sort of way, I feel more nervous now. Everything's been decided now and I don't know if I should be gutted or should celebrate.

1520 - I just realized I inadvertently had Mexican for lunch and it's Cinco de Mayo. If that isn't a good omen, I don't know what is. I sense a fiesta tonight.

1700 - Well, I've successfully avoided the Internet at work and have no idea what has taken place. This will probably be my last entry until I start watching the game. I'm planning on having my iPad next to me to post updates...

1730 - Would you believe it? At the exact moment I pulled into the garage Barry Manilow's "Can't Smile Without You" came on my iPod. Tottenham Hotspur fans and this song have a history together, most notably their attempt in 2008 to push it to the top of the charts 30 years after it was released. You'll sometimes see a banner with "Tottenham Hotspur Can't Smile Without You" unveiled at a match. Of course, I had to sit in the garage and sing it all the way through. Hmm, 1978, the year I was born. When I opened the door my Spurs hat was hanging on the coat hook. If I thought Cinco de Mayo was a good omen...omens don't get any better then this.

1930 - Sitting down to watch the game now after dinner, giving Julia a bath, and putting her down for bed. Forgot Safari has some issues with posting blogs so I can't do play by play updates.

2020 - First half ends 0-0. I feel really nervous that City are going to get a goal. They've had a lot of pressure on us and most of the game has been played in our end. However, we've hit the post (Crouch), had a goal disallowed very questionably (King), and just barely missed the goal by a few inches (Bale). I fear that not getting one of those to the back of the net might come back to bite us. City have also had a few chances, but Spurs the more dangerous ones. If we can score first I'll feel much better. Still not sure we can play the entire match in our end in the second half and not concede. This was expected though - I just hope we get a little more possession in the second half to relieve the pressure. They've looked like the better team so far tonight.

2130 - CROUCHY'S HAVING HIS NACHOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, what a game. 1-0 final score and Spurs finally make it to the Champions League after a 48 year European Cup drought. I'm spent, really I am. We played much better in the second half and could have scored 2 or 3 more. Since the goal came so late (82 min) it was a pretty miserable game to watch. City never looked like scoring (really) but you just never know. Everyone for Spurs played great...it was a true team effort.

I don't know why this is, but after the final whistle went I felt kind of sad and mellow. Maybe it's the past few year's feelings finally get out or maybe I just felt a bit lonely. Everyone was celebrating and I just kind of sat there on my couch. I know I haven't been a fan that long, but ever since I picked Spurs we've talked about nothing but qualifying for the Champions League. Was it the end of what I've known at Spurs? Who knows why - maybe a long day at work too - but I was sad happy. I guess it's the equivalent of when a girl cries but is happy? I think, knowing myself, that tonight won't be the night for celebrations. Tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that it will finally sink in and I'll be able to enjoy it. I'm glad I've saved the last 4 games on my computer...after all the talk the past 9 months of whether or not we could continue our great start it really came down to the great run at the end of the season. I guess this means I should probably shell out some $ for this year's shirt and update my pictures in the basement.

Glory, Glory Tottenham Hotspur. I Can't Smile Without You!

B, Julia’s Alter-Ego

For a long time now Julia has been taking care of her favorite stuffed animal, “B” (short for bunny), in the same way Stacey takes care of Julia. What’s funny about this is that Julia does and says the EXACT same things to B as we do and say to her. Essentially, she takes on our role as parents and B becomes Julia.

This morning, while I was getting ready for work, Julia ran through her entire bedtime routine with B. First, Julia carried some Tupperware up to her bathroom in order to give B a bath. She had a few smaller empty Tupperware containers that contained her baby shampoo. B got a “bath” in the big container on the bathroom floor and then Julia dried her off with her blanket in the same manner she gets dried off. Julia laid her blanket on the floor, laid B on it, wrapped B in the blanket and then dried B off. All the while telling B that after her bath and nap that she was going to go to “UMPA OMA’S HOUSE!!!”. I estimate she yelled Umpa Oma’s house at least 5 times to B this morning.

After B was given a bath I went back to our room to continue getting ready for work. A few minutes later Julia came running into our room yelling “Dadda Dadda – B went stinkies on the potty! I show you!”. I responded in the same way I do with Julia, so we went running to the bathroom to see what B had done on the potty. When I looked in the bathroom B was sitting perfectly on the potty all by herself. Julia showed me B’s stinkies in the potty and we had a big celebration where I gave B “kisses and lovies”, told B how proud I was of her, and Julia excitedly celebrating herself. After the celebration, Julia said she had to wipe B. So, she went over to the toilet paper and ripped off a little corner for B. Then, Julia said she had to pour B’s stinkies into the toilet…and so she opened the toilet seat lid and acted like she dumped something from her blanket into the toilet. What’s also funny about the entire process is that Julia had left B in the bathroom by herself to do her business while she stood outside (just like Stacey). The entire routine was being acted out in front of our eyes.

Once B was ready to go to bed, Julia tucked her into her own bed and turned on the humidifier. She put her stuffed bear next to B so they could “cuddle”. When I was finished getting ready Julia wanted to show me B sleeping. We went to her room and then B wanted to cuddle with Julia (apparently). So, Julia picked her up, carried her to her own chair where we cuddle with Julia, and sat down. Julia closed her eyes for a few seconds until cuddling was over and put B back to bed. After B was tucked into to bed Julia turned to her and said “kisses and lovies last time then you have to go ni-night”. Hmm, where have I heard that before? What’s funny is that this is what we tell her each night so that she knows it’s time to go to sleep and that stalling games are over. Sometimes Julia cries because she wants “kisses and lovies one more time”. Apparently, B also wanted more “kisses and lovies” but Julia lovingly told her that this was the last time and that she needed to go to sleep....because, after B’s nap they were going to go to UMPA OMA’S HOUSE!!!

It’s hilarious to watch Julia go through the exact same routine and say the exact same things to her stuffed animal B as we say to her. When I stop and think about it, Julia is acting out both roles by herself at the same time. Somehow I just don’t see Jonathan doing this.

And Then There Were Two

This weekend, the race for 4th place and the final Champions League spot went from 4 teams down to 2. Liverpool and Villa both lost to Chelsea and Manchester City, respectively, mathematically eliminating them from 4th place. With 2 games left to play, the 4th place spot will either go to Tottenham or Manchester City. To top it off, these two teams play each other on Wednesday before the season ends this weekend.

As I expected when it was announced, the game on Wednesday will probably decide who gets 4th place. If Spurs win, it's over. If the game ends in a draw or a City win, 4th place will be decided this weekend. However, a draw would still probably require a Spurs win on the weekend while a City win would all but clinch 4th since they would probably just need to draw their final game unless Spurs win big (4 or 5) in their final game. I expect a draw, but you just never know with City or Spurs. City aren't consistent even though they've been playing well lately and Tottenham have historically found a way to lose when it matters most, usually in a heartbreaking manner. However, this season has been different for Spurs.

Neither team has ever played in the Champions League, so this game will be huge, both progressively and financially speaking. I don't know how many millions of dollars the team that finished fourth will get, but it's a lot. On Wednesday I will be avoiding the Internet in the afternoon and plan on watching it after work. Squeaky bum time!