Presents

"From a commercial point of view, if Christmas did not exist it would be necessary to invent it." ~Katharine Whitehorn

Present shopping is both fun and stressful. Part of you feels happy to know you are getting things for other people and that they will enjoy receiving them and the other part of you feels obligated to not forget people and make sure you have something for everyone on your list. It is hard to be thoughtful, but not let that get in the way of at least getting something. Then there is the money that it costs. I helped my older sister buy some presents online yesterday since I get free shipping. I feel like I'm always advertising for free for Amazon, but with free shipping and no taxes, most of the time it is a great deal. I like buying things online.

Today is Friday and I'm very ready for the Holiday break. A lot of people will be off Monday on, but I'll be working on Monday and Tuesday. I decided to take Christmas Eve off and then my holiday begins. Not too bad, just two days of work when I get back. I'll probably use this weekend to fight the crowds and pick up presents to finish up my shopping.

So I was thinking the other day: So isn't saying "Happy Holidays" kind of like saying "good morning" to a person on their birthday?...they don't turn to you and tell you that you are waging a war on their birthday, but usually just say thank you. I get those Merry Christmas email forwards from family that act all offended at the use of Happy Holidays.

Pew Poll: "Incompetent" Word Most Associated With Bush
I'm kind of surprised that "dishonest" and liar when down. Check out "Christian." Do you see that Mom?

I agree with this post : This encapsulates every frustration I've felt over the last eight years.
1. Republicans ask for the absurd, threaten nuclear/economic Armageddon if there's no action.
2. Democrats cower in fear.
3. We try to talk some sense into them.
4. We get scolded for being unserious, and wanting the terrorists to win/people to lose their jobs. 5. Democrats promise oversight!
6. We roll our eyes.
7. Democrats cave on every single point, but pretend to win anyway.
8. We wonder what we ever did to deserve this sorry bunch of representatives.
9. Republicans do whatever the hell they want.
10. Democrats pretend that no one could've ever predicted Republican outrages and express "outrage". Sometimes, they even write a sternly worded letter!
11. We make "no one could have foreseen" jokes and wonder what we ever did to deserve this sorry bunch of representatives.
12. Rinse, lather, repeat.
So you either tear your hair out and go mad at the rank idiocy of it all, or you laugh. And let me tell you, the number of times we've gone through this crap makes laughing about it increasingly difficult.

There seems to be so much much violence in Mexico over the drug trade. Mexico's Drug Wars Have Killed 7,000 In 2 Years. In reading more about this I learned that Mexico: 13,500 Police Didn't Finish Elementary School . Wow I have to say. What does it take to have to carry a gun then? I'll keep that in mind when I go visit on this break.

I got a Christmas bonus this year. I was very thankful because I was short on bills and I needed some help with the credit I'm racking up on presents. I'm not going overboard or probably even on board, but it is hard when you have such a large family. Either way, I was pretty blessed.

I want to talk about secret santa's. There are many forms of the tradition, sometimes you get just one gift and others you get multiple small gifts and then a big gift at the end. Most the problems encountered in early versions were fixed when they instituted prices for the gifts to avoid people spending too much or too little. Then people got more creative and started to use price ranges which I feel are better. For example, sometimes you have the person that will spend $10 and say well it was $20, but it was reduced, so I'm really getting you a $20 present and following the rules. I think that is messed up and this type of thinking just takes the whole spirit out of the exchange. I'm digressing. My main point of all this being, some people really put their hearts into this and go all out in thoughtfulness. Others, not so much. Some people are just lazy about it, giving gift cards or worse coffee mugs. If it is optional, why not just not play. If it is not optional, why not just try a little. I've heard so many horror stories that really turn people off what can be a really fun tradition.

Next time, white elephants and my view that 80% of the gifts should be comparable so that people are trading for more thing than just the top ones. Though I'm sure that is why they have a three times trade per gift rule usually.

respect

My Rock Band

"It's $10 cheaper than the other versions of Rock Band, but given all the missing content, that difference in price ultimately doesn't add up to a better value. If all you have is a PS2 and you desperately want to play Rock Band, you'll still get a great game if you go this route. " - Random Part of Review of Rock Band

Rock Band 2 for PS2 is being released today, but I get a head of myself. A few years ago Rick was up in Austin visiting and we dropped by one of his friend's places to hang out. They were playing a game I had never seen before. It was called Guitar Hero and was played with this plastic guitar with different colored buttons. I gave it a shot and sucked tremendously at it. I had a great time watching everyone play and it seemed really cool and really fun. I never did play again though, but thought I would like to.



Then, recently, Erika got the Wii and with it, Rock Band, another music game which included a guitar, drums and a mic. I gave it a shot and played the drums while she played the guitar. I wasn't very good at first, but kept practicing on easy until I got the hang of it. We started a world tour and had a blast. She was a lot more advanced than I was so I decided that practice would be needed. I thought the game was only available for the PS3 so I thought about getting that and the game, but it proved to be very very expensive. Then I found out there was a version for PS2 so I ordered it. It is a lot cheaper now that it has been out over a year.





It came in yesterday, and hence this entry. I was excited, now I could practice and be able to play on medium or maybe even hard next time I played for AAA on the Wii. Well on our first day, Abram and Rino were around so they joined in on guitar and vocals and we started playing. It is an enjoyable game. Even Jess got into the mix picking up on guitar when Abram stepped out. I still don't know how to play guitar, but really enjoy the drums. They may look easy, but I think are pretty hard. A little more practice and I think I will be ready. I will tell you, I was impressed with how well Rino did at the vocals. He was getting great scores. I feel like I would be too embarssed to try even in privacy.





Now I'm sure the novelty will wear off soon and I'll just have some fake instruments sitting by my TV collecting dust, but in the mean time I want to enjoy them as much as possible.

we will beat it

In My Shoes

"The worst is a wall that is silently put in place by a person because of unmet expectations." - Unknown

It is Christmas time. And I have to say it really feels like it and not just because of the Christmas music playing on my satellite radio. Maybe it is the extremely cold weather as of late. Maybe it was helping Erika put up her Christmas tree that really got me into the spirit. I still have a lot of Christmas shopping to do, especially for all the kids. My plan right now is to go home the 23rd late and be back in Austin the 28th. I feel like there are a lot of things I would like to do, but so very little time to do it. Either way, this is my favorite part of the year.

Here is a Christmas gift/bday primer for Marty: (for family who weren't going to get me a present, but now feel a bit more obligated to do so.) - Pooche Cafe - Bark to Work Legislation: I read this comic everyday and have been waiting for this book. I should of bought it for myself a while back, but the economy, you know. Any Pearls before Swine comic books. Work shirts and ties. A money clip, boxers, one of those cool pull up bars from TV, makers mark, a keyboard, guitar strings, an inauguration ticket to DC, work socks, Diesel jeans or books. I'm sure I'll think of more and come back and update. I wonder if you need a family to do a family newsletter? Maybe I should start with Christmas cards first. I get very few Christmas cards from people, which as a ratio to what I send is pretty impressive. I guess it tells you about the stage in life you are at.

I had mentioned that I was going to read Flowers for Algernon. I finished it in two days, almost one, but I had go to bed for work. It is weird how much time I spend watching TV. I just turned it off and read for a few hours and it felt good. My stress levels went down and I felt more productive. So I found out there was a movie called Charly in 1968 based on the book. It may have gotten the Academy Award for best actor, but I was not too happy with it. They decided to do a social commentary for their time that is no longer relevant. I sometimes feel like Charlie on his downturn, each day wondering if I'm getting smarter or dumber.

Barack Obama is TIME Magazine's Person of the Year.

I am very happy about this. I know, he was a shoe in (pardon the pun), but it doesn't change the fact that he has a huge mess to clean up and a lot of high hopes riding on him despite that. I wish my subscription wouldn't have run out. Damn you internet for making magazine articles outdated.


I have been impressed with Texan in the City and how she puts together a lot of short blog thoughts on a more regular basis than longer ones over a longer period of time. I need to start doing that. Thanks for giving me updates to read. I also need to find a good blog to follow.

Conservatives Use Auto Rescue To Engage In Union Busting Campaign:
As Rachel Maddow said in one of her shows, “Senate republicans are on an ideologically driven union-busting adventure,” “the American economy as a whole be darned.”

Right now this issue is driving me the most crazy. Did Congress try to get workers in the banking industry to get a pay cut to help line the pockets of the executives? No one is complaining that they make too much.

Mike Tyson: Then and Now

So I'm looking at the Tyson pictures and it makes me feel bad about myself. Him I don't much care for. I don't want to be that 41 yr old Tyson who clearly has the knowledge and will power to be shape, yet let's himself go in such an embarrassing way. I can always lose it later one might think, but it isn't that easy and its an easy brain trick to eat that unhealthy meal. Self image really affects how you feel about your place in the world. I think it changes everything. If you feel good about yourself, you feel good about a lot of other things in your life. But seriously, he really is a fat fuck. He might be making a come back fight I hear, that would be interesting.

Since I'm on this topic: 10 Things Science Says Will Make You Happy
My favorites are: avoid comparisons and spend money on others. I was expecting a bit more from the article though.




The Shoe Heard Around the World: Late Night Comics Take:


I really wonder what the world would be like if the shoe actually hit him. Would it be as funny? more funny? People shouldn't throw things at President Bush, they should go through the legal process and prosecute him for the crimes of his administration. I'd rather have a fair and open legal process than some angry person's shoe. But watching Conan dodge all those shoes is priceless.

Inspirational Speeches from the Movies in Two Minutes : Need a little pick me up for the day?

Did you know that Romantic Comedies Ruin Your Love Life: Study? I wonder if that is why I'm a crappy boyfriend or if it is just my being inconsiderate, not thoughtful and selfish. Well, I don't think I'm that bad.

the pizza toppings

Travel

“Your intellect may be confused, but your emotions will never lie to you.” - Roger Ebert

My Thanksgiving 2008 pictures of my family visiting are up. I apologize for pictures taken at a diamond angle, I just collected everyone's photos (my camera is broken) and my nieces' idea of taking pictures at creative angles may not have worked out too great. I need to get a digital camera soon. I wish there was a way updating my flickr account would also update my myspace and facebook pictures as well.

I finally went to get an oil change on my new car. I had been putting it off for a long time, and guess what, when I got there I found out I didn't need one. For some reason my car only needs one once a year. That was a waste of my lunch break. A good lesson learned. The BMW dealership was pretty far from my work.

I don't have much to say about the Oscar de la Hoya fight (if you can call it that). I wonder if he knew he would perform that badly. MMA is much more exciting and this helped remind me why. I would really like to learn to fight and I don't worry much about the damage to my brain, but moreso about what happens to your ears. I guess it is watching for me.

I'm not going to complain about the BCS because I think that Texas should of beat Tech. I think we should have a playoff, even if it is a weak, top four teams play and the winners play an extra game. It is just one more game. Obama can you get on that after you fix the economy, war, immigration, healthcare and education. Thanks.

Tivo now has this cool feature were I can watch my instant view Netflix movies on my TV. I don't know how much I will use it, but the idea is pretty awesome. I really do hope they expand their selection.

Video: This is a really touching video. I bet my dog would be that awesome. They say the other dog survived, but I don't really believe that.


I'm trying to get back to reading again. I'm starting with the audiobook The Audacity of Hope. Each day I listen to it, everything that is happening seems to make more sense. I didn't think I could become a bigger fan of the president elect, but I am. Though I do wish he would pick more progressive members for his cabinet. I also planning to read "Flowers for Algernon" which Erika recommended. That one I'm going to read read and not just listen to.

Here is an interesting post by my friends out at The Martian Cat Problem: Last Word on Expelled: My favorite part:
One intelligent commenter on Ebert's review put it more eloquently than I can:

As a devout Mormon with a PhD in genetics, I am always amazed at the anger that evolution evokes in some people or why they think that learning evolution is so dangerous to faith. Personally I think that religion that cannot handle truth gained from looking at the world around us is denying the most important works of God. The Bible is a short and incomplete book that does not attempt to explain orchids or dinosaurs or many other things.

I've rented Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial to watch again. I have yet to see Expelled and I should watch it to hear the "world is flat" side so I'll get that too.

Who says boys are not influenced by their big brothers. Here is a picture of one making what I think is a ridiculous pose just to be like his older brother. It makes you wonder how their other decisions affect the younger ones as well and other ways they try to act like them other than silly poses. I should know what that hand signal means, but I I never put in the effort to find out.

On a final note.
Jessica Alba Airbrushed Thinner for Campari

Humm...and we wonder why people have body image issues. She is not on my list of the most attractive actresses, but she did look great without the airbrushing.

thoughts lie, a lot

Thanksgiving in Austin

"The most important thing to remember is this: To be ready at any moment to give up what you are for what you might become." - W.E.B. Du Bois

This was a good Thanksgiving. Abram and I had the whole family up here in Austin to visit. My Dad, Mom, my sister Ana, Michael, Sarah, my sister Eliza, her husband Gil, Tori and Celeste and Bekkah and Jamie. They all stayed at our house which made for a really packed house. They got in on Wednesday night we all gathered around the TV and watched a video of my college graduation. In our own way it was a way for Vero to be there with us too. There was a lot of bonding time over the weekend.

Thanksgiving morning Ana woke up at 5am and started the turkey. I had been feeling sick so I slept in. My mom made breakfast, but I tried to save room since I knew a big meal was coming. By the time we were all ready to eat we had a large turkey, a ham and all the usual sides. The meal was good, but I wish I saved some room for pie.


I got my father an early Christmas gift, a digital camera. He has been taking lots of pictures on his picture phone and I figured this way he could save and print out the ones he wanted. He liked the camera very much. I actually need a new digital camera, but I'm waiting to pick the right one.

After the game Ana and her kids headed out to the UT v. A&M football game tailgate. The kids were really excited about their first college football game. I stayed at home and visited for a while longer. Abram and I then took Bekkah and Jamie to the tailgate party so they they can get a feel for what a college game is like. They seemed to like it, we even gave them a tour of the area including walking all the way up to the stadium, one which we, unlike Ana, did not have tickets for. Once we got back to the tailgate Ana had great news, she got an extra ticket to the game. Bekkah took it and headed off with them while Abram, Jamie and I went home. They had an amazing time at the game as Texas beat on A&M. We watched it in high def nice and warm at home. We also played a lot of darts on the dart board we finally got up.

Friday my family had planned to go to Dallas, but decided to stay another day. We had another good breakfast, I could get really get used to having breakfast when I wake up. I've always been very pro-college so I thought it would be nice to take the kids to Texas State or UT to see the campus. We compromised and took them down to the drag to do some shopping. So much UT stuff, so very much. The kids even got some stuffed Bevos. After we ordered pizza and wings and watched movies at home.

Saturday everyone cleaned up and took off for home. I spent my time sleeping and trying to suck the last few moments of rest out of my vacation which went by way too fast. Sunday night Abram put together a live music night at his bar and I went by to support and enjoy the music. The acts were good and they got a decent crowd for a Sunday.

This week I have a trial, something I'm excited about. I think it will go well. Welcome December. My favorite month of the year.

I've been worried a lot about thie economic crisis, but it can't be all bad news: Tough Times Could Lead to Sex Boom.

Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story : I watched this Frontine documentary on PBS and found it so interesting. “This finely crafted political biography dissects and explains the nastiness of US politics during the past three decades like nothing I have read or viewed. It nails down every claim it makes…it will make you seethe. Don’t miss this documentary.” – David Zurawik, Baltimore Sun YouTube Trailer.



I've had a lot of thoughts on my mind. Sometimes it is hard not to take things personal., but I usually take things personal. I know not everything is about me, but there has to be something to say for how people treat you or what they are willing to do for you. Let's go way back. So in high school there was no option to stay home as to not to leave my current girlfriend to go to college, even if I did, there was no doubt should would be leaving in a years time. There was nothing to take personal there, but at the time it seemed like a hard decision. Then in college when I was dating a girl who lived in San Antonio, she considered transferring to a school in NY to be closer to me. It is easy to promise something rather than actually do it and that proved to be the case. It wasn't the best thing for her. After graduating from college, my girlfriend at the time was willing to move wherever I moved and I the same. That really meant a lot. Ironically we decided on DC because I had a job offer there. She found a job so that we could be there together. When my offer fell through, now I was the one moving to DC without a job because she was already going to work there originally for me. At the end of the relationship I was moving to Miami for law school and she told me she wanted to move there too, but she had been at her job for so many years and was starting to work her way up. There was no way she could abandon her job now. She just couldn't and I understood. Ironically, the deal breaker was a year later when I was living in Miami and we were apart. I asked her to move to Miami now, knowing full well that I would be moving to DC, but just to see if I was worth moving for, to see how serious she was. This time it was that she had a new job (less than a year after not being able to leave the old one for me)and there was no way she could quit the new job and pick up and move. That really was the deal breaker, I just wasn't worth it and it was over for good. (It was more complex, but this was the part about being willing to move.) I moved up to DC after like I had planned, but she was now in my past. Then in DC there was a girl I dated who I would ask to move to Texas with me once I graduated. She rejected that idea, probably because she had an aversion to Texas, but once again it was clear that I was not worth moving with. There was no way she could leave her job and other excuses I forget now. There were other deal breakers in that one, but I never forgot that, even later when I found out she moved out of the country for someone else it became more clear. I wanted to be in Texas and made plans to move to the Valley in my next relationship since I thought it would reflect what I thought she meant to me. I had it all planned out, even everything I owned made it home. She was worth it. That sacrifice wasn't enough I guess and while in Austin for the summer we parted ways after waiting for so long for me to finally make it home and give it a real shot. Here I tried to show someone they were worth it, but it blew up in my face, luckily before I made the move. So, the moral of the story is whether I need to stop valuing or judging a person's feelings by what they are willing to sacrifice or do for the relationship (here in the context of being willing to move). Also, does not giving up something to be with someone truly reflect on how much you care? There are a lot of cases where it is best for both of you to do what you need to pursue your own dreams. I don't know why this all came back, but it did. The past doesn't predict the future, but it does have lessons.

hate it when I make people upset