Two for one special in this post! This officially will make up for any day I've missed thus far.
Much like movies, I also have a deep love for music.
There isn't a day goes by that I'm not singing something. Whether it be a song I heard on the radio or putting what happened to me that morning in song form throughout the day (I'm a lot like Randy Newman that way).
It seems lame writing this, but I really have always thought of my voice as my instrument. Actually that was incredibly lame. I'm actually embarrassed that this is now on my blog. Not so embarrassed that I'll edit it mind you, but I'm still cringing looking at it. Nevertheless I still think that I have a pretty good voice, and there isn't a song I won't sing or a melody I won't whistle.
This love of music and singing has already rubbed off on our children. The girls don't so much know their ABCs as much as they know the ABC Song. They love singing along to songs like Twinkle Twinkle and Are You Sleeping. And it isn't just nursery rhymes and old school kids songs that they love to sing. They know the chorus to Little Bird by Ed Sheeran. They sing along to Jason Mraz. And thanks to Elmo, they know It Takes Two.
There are times when Grace just sings absentmindedly to no one in particular. She has music inside her and it finds its way out constantly. She'll be sitting in her crib avoiding nap time, and she'll just be singing to her blanket or stuffed animal.
The love of music throughout our house made me want to learn how to play an instrument even more. And this desire to learn to play an instrument went hand in hand with writing a song. There are many songs about people named Grace, so I thought I could make something equal opportunity about Grace and Ana. Seems only fair.
Here's the problem: There is a real reason why the phrase "You can't teach an old dog new tricks" exists. Most people think it's because an "old dog" is someone set in his or her ways and that older people aren't as adept at learning. This is true, but the bigger issue is that older people don't have the time to learn new shit. As a parent or just an adult think about the amount of free time you have to dedicate to learning something completely foreign to you. Let me just slip my music lessons in there between my 8 hour work day, spending time with my two-year-old twins and seeing my spouse.
Now these are obvious excuses, but I will not be deterred. I still plan on learning on instrument and writing a song. This will not happen before I turn 30, but it will happen. It has found its way onto my official bucket list.
STATUS: BUCKET LIST
Showing posts with label 30. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 30. Show all posts
Monday, October 8, 2012
30 by 30: AFI & Oscars
If you haven't learned from reading my blog, I love movies. Like love them. I love movies that are bad because I can talk shit on them. I love movies that are great, so I can watch and re-watch them. I love movies that only I think are good simply because of one or two lines. I love old movies and new movies. Animated movies and live action movies. Horror movies and love stories.
I can watch just about anything and find something redeeming about it. Well almost anything. There are a few movies like Sex and the City that are just not meant for me at all. And I've only actually walked out of two movies in my lifetime: Big Momma's House and House of the Dead. Maybe this says more about movies with the word House in them. That may be why I never got into the TV show House. But that's a story for another day.
This love of movies has led to me spending way too much of my time and money on them. I have over 400 movies on DVD in my collection. There was a time that I spent every Friday night with friends seeing the newest release to theatres. Many times it was a Thursday at midnight showing.
I don't even want to calculate the amount of time I've spent staring at a screen showing a movie. Let's just put in somewhere between 5000 hours and two years of my life.
But I regret nothing!
In that time spent watching anything I could and my downright psychotic, completist nature, you'd have thought that I would have gotten around to see all the AFI 100 or every best picture winner. It hasn't happened. As it stands now, I'm 21 movies away from seeing the entire AFI 100 list and 24 away from all the Best Picture winners.
I still have time before my birthday to knock them out. The problem is availability and time. Some of the older movies on the list aren't so easy to find, and we cancelled our Netflix account some time ago making it that much more difficult. Factor in that we have so little time to actually sit down and watch a movie like Cavalcade, and it makes it somewhat difficult.
Something that I definitely want to do is watch some of these great movies with our girls as they get older. And maybe they'll fall in love with movies just like their dad has.
STATUS: IN THE HOME STRETCH
I can watch just about anything and find something redeeming about it. Well almost anything. There are a few movies like Sex and the City that are just not meant for me at all. And I've only actually walked out of two movies in my lifetime: Big Momma's House and House of the Dead. Maybe this says more about movies with the word House in them. That may be why I never got into the TV show House. But that's a story for another day.
This love of movies has led to me spending way too much of my time and money on them. I have over 400 movies on DVD in my collection. There was a time that I spent every Friday night with friends seeing the newest release to theatres. Many times it was a Thursday at midnight showing.
I don't even want to calculate the amount of time I've spent staring at a screen showing a movie. Let's just put in somewhere between 5000 hours and two years of my life.
But I regret nothing!
In that time spent watching anything I could and my downright psychotic, completist nature, you'd have thought that I would have gotten around to see all the AFI 100 or every best picture winner. It hasn't happened. As it stands now, I'm 21 movies away from seeing the entire AFI 100 list and 24 away from all the Best Picture winners.
I still have time before my birthday to knock them out. The problem is availability and time. Some of the older movies on the list aren't so easy to find, and we cancelled our Netflix account some time ago making it that much more difficult. Factor in that we have so little time to actually sit down and watch a movie like Cavalcade, and it makes it somewhat difficult.
Something that I definitely want to do is watch some of these great movies with our girls as they get older. And maybe they'll fall in love with movies just like their dad has.
STATUS: IN THE HOME STRETCH
Saturday, October 6, 2012
30 by 30: Snowboarding
It's been over 10 years since I last went skiing in the snow. Probably closer to 15 years if I'm being 100% honest.
This has nothing to do with being in the snow. I love the snow. Love it. I lived in Colorado for two years and not once did I complain about a snowstorm. There may not be a more beautiful sight in nature than fresh snow in the morning.
So why haven't I skied or bothered to learn how to snowboard in that time? Hard to say. Erin has been a snowboarder for a large chunk since we've been together, but I've never had the desire to learn. I think a good portion of it has to do with how expensive it can be to start. From equipment and lessons to lift tickets, it just isn't a cheap pastime. I could read a book in the morning while she was snowboarding and snowshoe or do other snow activities with her when she got back.
It was cheaper and less taxing to not learn. But I did miss out on spending time with my wife and her family when they would go hit the slopes which started to gnaw at me. I hate missing out on a part of life simply because I didn't want to pay for it. I think spouses should share interests because husbands and wives that do stuff together usually have a stronger relationship.
So it didn't happen in the last year, but I guarantee it will happen this winter. I just love the snow too much to not at least try.
In fact I plan on passing my love affair with snow onto our daughters this winter. We haven't had a chance to go up to Tahoe/Truckee since they were born. I have a feeling that they will love the snow. Well I think that they'll be afraid of it at first, but they'll fall in love with it.
STATUS: COMING THIS WINTER
This has nothing to do with being in the snow. I love the snow. Love it. I lived in Colorado for two years and not once did I complain about a snowstorm. There may not be a more beautiful sight in nature than fresh snow in the morning.
So why haven't I skied or bothered to learn how to snowboard in that time? Hard to say. Erin has been a snowboarder for a large chunk since we've been together, but I've never had the desire to learn. I think a good portion of it has to do with how expensive it can be to start. From equipment and lessons to lift tickets, it just isn't a cheap pastime. I could read a book in the morning while she was snowboarding and snowshoe or do other snow activities with her when she got back.
It was cheaper and less taxing to not learn. But I did miss out on spending time with my wife and her family when they would go hit the slopes which started to gnaw at me. I hate missing out on a part of life simply because I didn't want to pay for it. I think spouses should share interests because husbands and wives that do stuff together usually have a stronger relationship.
So it didn't happen in the last year, but I guarantee it will happen this winter. I just love the snow too much to not at least try.
In fact I plan on passing my love affair with snow onto our daughters this winter. We haven't had a chance to go up to Tahoe/Truckee since they were born. I have a feeling that they will love the snow. Well I think that they'll be afraid of it at first, but they'll fall in love with it.
STATUS: COMING THIS WINTER
Thursday, October 4, 2012
30 by 30: Wrigley and Fenway
The baseball season ended yesteday. This sort of put the final nail in the coffin of seeing a game at Wrigley Field and Fenway Park before my 30th birthday.
I knew this particular goal was sort of stretching it when I put it on the list. I'd be a little bit insane to think I would be able to fly across the country with two toddlers and my wife just to see a couple of baseball games. For one we don't really have the type of money to spend on such frivolous things. For two the other option was going on my own which would be completely missing the point.
So if I knew that I would never follow through with this particular goal, why would I put it on the list in the first place?
It goes back to the same reason why love baseball in the first place.
Baseball is a sport that celebrates what is happening in the here and now. It does so though in the context of its entire history. Every great occurence that you see on a baseball field is viewed through a prism of how it relates to every great occurence that came before it. Baseball doesn't ignore its history. It celebrates it.
This is an ideal that is becoming more and more rare in our world. We celebrate the newest and latest breakthrough as if it is the greatest thing we've ever seen. We immediately forgot about everything that has led to a breakthrough the moment we can have the newest thing. We wait in line for the newset iPhone. We go out to buy LED TVs because our plasma just isn't good enough anymore.
So I view Wrigley and Fenway as a breath of fresh air.
Here are two ballparks that have stood the test of time. These are the two oldest ballparks in the country. I'm sure Boston and Chicago could have built new yards for the Red Sox and Cubs, but you don't improve on the greatness that is already there. The coolest thing about both ballparks is the fact that history has already happened and will continue to happen there. I could sit in a seat that someone else sat in while watching Babe Ruth hit one of his 714 homeruns. I could watch a game in the same place where Willie Mays once played. This is reason enough that these parks should stand forever. They're historical landmarks.
So going to the hallowed ground of Fenway and Wrigley didn't happen in the past year, but it's going to happen eventually.
STATUS: MAYBE NEXT YEAR
I knew this particular goal was sort of stretching it when I put it on the list. I'd be a little bit insane to think I would be able to fly across the country with two toddlers and my wife just to see a couple of baseball games. For one we don't really have the type of money to spend on such frivolous things. For two the other option was going on my own which would be completely missing the point.
So if I knew that I would never follow through with this particular goal, why would I put it on the list in the first place?
It goes back to the same reason why love baseball in the first place.
Baseball is a sport that celebrates what is happening in the here and now. It does so though in the context of its entire history. Every great occurence that you see on a baseball field is viewed through a prism of how it relates to every great occurence that came before it. Baseball doesn't ignore its history. It celebrates it.
This is an ideal that is becoming more and more rare in our world. We celebrate the newest and latest breakthrough as if it is the greatest thing we've ever seen. We immediately forgot about everything that has led to a breakthrough the moment we can have the newest thing. We wait in line for the newset iPhone. We go out to buy LED TVs because our plasma just isn't good enough anymore.
So I view Wrigley and Fenway as a breath of fresh air.
Here are two ballparks that have stood the test of time. These are the two oldest ballparks in the country. I'm sure Boston and Chicago could have built new yards for the Red Sox and Cubs, but you don't improve on the greatness that is already there. The coolest thing about both ballparks is the fact that history has already happened and will continue to happen there. I could sit in a seat that someone else sat in while watching Babe Ruth hit one of his 714 homeruns. I could watch a game in the same place where Willie Mays once played. This is reason enough that these parks should stand forever. They're historical landmarks.
So going to the hallowed ground of Fenway and Wrigley didn't happen in the past year, but it's going to happen eventually.
STATUS: MAYBE NEXT YEAR
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
30 by 30: Yard House
If you've never heard of Yard House, first of all shame on you. Second, I won't judge because some people just aren't beer drinkers.
But if you are a beer drinker, Yard House is like beer drinker heaven. I'm saying this with no incentive at all from Yard House. They wouldn't have to pay me for me to talk about their beer selection.
As a self-proclaimed beer snob, I love the selection and the fact that I could go every day for a different beer and not have the same beer until halfway through the year. That isn't hyperbole. They have over 100 beers on tap and introduce new beers on a monthly basis. So when I put a goal of trying every on tap beer that Yard House offers, it was quite the undertaking.
The first problem: I know which beers I like and really want to drink every time I go in. So I'm faced with the dilemma of trying completely new beers every time I go or adding a beer or two to the one I was already planning on drinking. This is obviously a good problem to have. Like a baseball manager with too many good hitters. I just played it by ear every time I've gone in.
The second problem: How do I keep track of every beer I've tasted and know when new beers come into their rotation? This one started with me just writing down beers as I've tried them. When Erin and I swung in on our anniversary, we learned there is a Yard House app. Said app allows you to track and rate every beer you've tried. This was a revelation.
I'm nowhere near finished trying every beer, and I'm may never be finished with their rotating featured beers. This goal was more about getting out of my comfort zone and trying something simply because I hadn't. I think I know exactly what I like, but I wouldn't know for sure until I've tried it all. Erin is certainly helping. She's planned a beer-themed party for my birthday. That could help close some of the gap.
STATUS: INCOMPLETE (FOR NOW)
But if you are a beer drinker, Yard House is like beer drinker heaven. I'm saying this with no incentive at all from Yard House. They wouldn't have to pay me for me to talk about their beer selection.
As a self-proclaimed beer snob, I love the selection and the fact that I could go every day for a different beer and not have the same beer until halfway through the year. That isn't hyperbole. They have over 100 beers on tap and introduce new beers on a monthly basis. So when I put a goal of trying every on tap beer that Yard House offers, it was quite the undertaking.
The first problem: I know which beers I like and really want to drink every time I go in. So I'm faced with the dilemma of trying completely new beers every time I go or adding a beer or two to the one I was already planning on drinking. This is obviously a good problem to have. Like a baseball manager with too many good hitters. I just played it by ear every time I've gone in.
The second problem: How do I keep track of every beer I've tasted and know when new beers come into their rotation? This one started with me just writing down beers as I've tried them. When Erin and I swung in on our anniversary, we learned there is a Yard House app. Said app allows you to track and rate every beer you've tried. This was a revelation.
 |
| Needless to say I couldn't wait to transfer my list to the app |
STATUS: INCOMPLETE (FOR NOW)
30 by 30: Please and Thank You
When I was growing up, the most important thing my dad tried to instill in me is respect and good manners. He also emphasized a strong work ethic, the importance of helping others, recognizing your blessings and numerous other good habits. The thing I always remember growing up was him reminding us to always have good manners especially at someone else's house.
This is something that stuck with me as important now that I have kids.
We all know the kids that are rude little snots, and all I can ever think when I see a kid act that way is "What the hell are the parents doing?" I just can't comprehend a mother or father sitting idly by and allowing some of the behavior that I see.
Knowing that I judge parents hard based on the way their kids act in mixed company, I really don't want to deal with the sideways glances and judgemental glares that come with a hell-spawn child. I'm sure there is a mix of nature and nurture when it comes to the behavior of your kid. If we can tame wild animals to perform in the circus or be household pets, we can also tame a wild child that is hyper and rambunctious. There really is no excuse for allowing that sort of behavior.
Apparently Erin feels the same way I do because we have both made a strong effort to teach our girls to have good manners. We've taught them (or at least have attempted to teach them) that they'll be a lot more likely to get what they want if they say "Please" while asking for it. Even when they're asking for something that we have no intention to give them, the still say "Please."
For example, the other day Grace was playing with a fake flower. This particular fake flower is apparently a mixture of pure gold and crack for our girls because they fight over it all the time. There was no way Grace was giving it up to her sister once she had her hands on it. I asked Grace if she would give it to Ana, and she replied with a simple and firm "No." Ana in turn said "Sissy fower, pees?" Grace still wasn't giving it up, but I loved that Ana asked nicely and said "Please" because she knew that Erin and I always tell them to say "Please."
The "Thank you" thing is still hit and miss. Because we always say "You're welcome" to them, they usually just say "Elcome" when they get something they were asking for. I'm still going to count it.
I guess some of it is getting through, and I can just see myself telling them to "Use their manners" as the leave for a friend's house 10 years from now.
STATUS: COMPLETE
This is something that stuck with me as important now that I have kids.
We all know the kids that are rude little snots, and all I can ever think when I see a kid act that way is "What the hell are the parents doing?" I just can't comprehend a mother or father sitting idly by and allowing some of the behavior that I see.
Knowing that I judge parents hard based on the way their kids act in mixed company, I really don't want to deal with the sideways glances and judgemental glares that come with a hell-spawn child. I'm sure there is a mix of nature and nurture when it comes to the behavior of your kid. If we can tame wild animals to perform in the circus or be household pets, we can also tame a wild child that is hyper and rambunctious. There really is no excuse for allowing that sort of behavior.
Apparently Erin feels the same way I do because we have both made a strong effort to teach our girls to have good manners. We've taught them (or at least have attempted to teach them) that they'll be a lot more likely to get what they want if they say "Please" while asking for it. Even when they're asking for something that we have no intention to give them, the still say "Please."
For example, the other day Grace was playing with a fake flower. This particular fake flower is apparently a mixture of pure gold and crack for our girls because they fight over it all the time. There was no way Grace was giving it up to her sister once she had her hands on it. I asked Grace if she would give it to Ana, and she replied with a simple and firm "No." Ana in turn said "Sissy fower, pees?" Grace still wasn't giving it up, but I loved that Ana asked nicely and said "Please" because she knew that Erin and I always tell them to say "Please."
The "Thank you" thing is still hit and miss. Because we always say "You're welcome" to them, they usually just say "Elcome" when they get something they were asking for. I'm still going to count it.
I guess some of it is getting through, and I can just see myself telling them to "Use their manners" as the leave for a friend's house 10 years from now.
STATUS: COMPLETE
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Twitter Machine Tuesday - Sappy Birthday Edition
Today is my wife's 30th birthday.
It's funny to look back on all the birthdays we've had together. We started dating over 10 years ago, and her birthday has always been a source of found memories. I remember going down to San Diego to celebrate with her while she was in college. We'd drink too much and stay up too late. We'd hang out in her dorm and eat at the Old Town Mexican Cafe on Sundays before I left.
I remember her 21st birthday. Well I don't remember it in person because she was in Spain. She called me in the middle of her night and the middle of my day after celebrating with her Spanish friends. I told her how much I missed her and how much I hated not being with her on her birthday.
I remember moving to Colorado right before another one of her birthdays. She didn't want to see me go. She hated me when I left, and there was a part of me that hated myself. She felt abandoned and had every right to. I hated that I left her, but I'm also glad to have spent that time on my own. It made me appreciate her that much more.
I will never spend another of her birthdays without her. I want to be the man that is by her side on important days like today. I want to give her all the gifts she deserves and all the love I can. I can't wait to give her gifts that I've organized with our girls. I see hundreds of handmade cards and gifts in her future.
I love my wife. I love my best friend. I love Grace & Ana's mom.
Happy Birthday Eringirl!
Now enough of the sap and on to the Twitter Machine:
-Birthday balloons are the girls' new favorite toy. They fight like Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome over them.
-I just don't buy Donald Sutherland as President Snow in The Hunger Games #nerdalert
-Apparently Netflix Instant pulled all the Whitney Houston movies, so the studios can make more $ #soulless
-While the headline on ESPN about Jeremy Lin was unfortunate, I don't think the guy needed to be fired
-"Pitchers and catchers report" are the best four words of every year
-I plan on giving up being thoughtful for Lent
-The Oscars are on Sunday #whocares
-I would never go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans. I hate that city. Love the food. Love the music. Hate the city.
-Kristen Wiig's whole MO on SNL is putting both her hands over her face and acting surprised. Every impersonation.
-Erin shares a birthday with Alan Rickman, Kelsey Grammer, Chuck Palahniuk, a Baldwin, Ellen Page, CP-30 and Rue McClanahan #RIP
-She's probably pretty excited I left Jennifer Love Hewitt off that list #ohwait
-Minimalist piss me off. How dare you not want more stuff.
-Almost done with season 4 of The West Wing. I'm thinking LOST will be next on our rewatch list.
-Then it's up to me to convince the wife to watch The Shield
-Seriously Birthday Cake Oreos may be the greatest invention since penicillin
-Paris Hilton's ex-boyfriends disagree with that last statement.
-The Simpson's 500th episode was enjoyable. Nothing groundbreaking, but it was solid.
-I see 2 & 3 year olds with ipads and iphones and just shake my head. Heaven forbid interacting with your kids.
-Kids in overalls is the cutest damn thing you'll ever see. Especially my kids. #biased
I'm going to go back to spending time with my wife on her birthday. Happy Tuesday everyone!
It's funny to look back on all the birthdays we've had together. We started dating over 10 years ago, and her birthday has always been a source of found memories. I remember going down to San Diego to celebrate with her while she was in college. We'd drink too much and stay up too late. We'd hang out in her dorm and eat at the Old Town Mexican Cafe on Sundays before I left.
I remember her 21st birthday. Well I don't remember it in person because she was in Spain. She called me in the middle of her night and the middle of my day after celebrating with her Spanish friends. I told her how much I missed her and how much I hated not being with her on her birthday.
I remember moving to Colorado right before another one of her birthdays. She didn't want to see me go. She hated me when I left, and there was a part of me that hated myself. She felt abandoned and had every right to. I hated that I left her, but I'm also glad to have spent that time on my own. It made me appreciate her that much more.
I will never spend another of her birthdays without her. I want to be the man that is by her side on important days like today. I want to give her all the gifts she deserves and all the love I can. I can't wait to give her gifts that I've organized with our girls. I see hundreds of handmade cards and gifts in her future.
I love my wife. I love my best friend. I love Grace & Ana's mom.
Happy Birthday Eringirl!
Now enough of the sap and on to the Twitter Machine:
-Birthday balloons are the girls' new favorite toy. They fight like Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome over them.
-I just don't buy Donald Sutherland as President Snow in The Hunger Games #nerdalert
-Apparently Netflix Instant pulled all the Whitney Houston movies, so the studios can make more $ #soulless
-While the headline on ESPN about Jeremy Lin was unfortunate, I don't think the guy needed to be fired
-"Pitchers and catchers report" are the best four words of every year
-I plan on giving up being thoughtful for Lent
-The Oscars are on Sunday #whocares
-I would never go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans. I hate that city. Love the food. Love the music. Hate the city.
-Kristen Wiig's whole MO on SNL is putting both her hands over her face and acting surprised. Every impersonation.
-Erin shares a birthday with Alan Rickman, Kelsey Grammer, Chuck Palahniuk, a Baldwin, Ellen Page, CP-30 and Rue McClanahan #RIP
-She's probably pretty excited I left Jennifer Love Hewitt off that list #ohwait
-Minimalist piss me off. How dare you not want more stuff.
-Almost done with season 4 of The West Wing. I'm thinking LOST will be next on our rewatch list.
-Then it's up to me to convince the wife to watch The Shield
-Seriously Birthday Cake Oreos may be the greatest invention since penicillin
-Paris Hilton's ex-boyfriends disagree with that last statement.
-The Simpson's 500th episode was enjoyable. Nothing groundbreaking, but it was solid.
-I see 2 & 3 year olds with ipads and iphones and just shake my head. Heaven forbid interacting with your kids.
-Kids in overalls is the cutest damn thing you'll ever see. Especially my kids. #biased
I'm going to go back to spending time with my wife on her birthday. Happy Tuesday everyone!
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