Twitter Machine Tuesday

So after 9 days of the month I've knocked out 8 items on my 30 by 30 list.  I grade myself on a curve, but I find that to be damn impressive.  This is the most committed to writing that I've ever been since starting the blog.  This is both new and scary.

Some of you may be going back and saying "You've actually only post like 6 blog posts about that this month."  First of all, stop being such a nit-picker.  Nobody likes that.  I'm counting the trying new foods post from earlier this year, and I included two in one on my last post.  So it's 8.

Either way, I'll be back at it tomorrow.

For tonight we're Twitter Machining the shit out of this.

-Sometimes I want an actual Twitter Machine, so I can try to make made up hashtags take off.
-I've been kicking around an idea for #undecidedvoterproblems. Examples below.
-Four hours later, still at the grocery store. This paper or plastic thing has thrown me for a loop #undecidedvoterproblems
-I put my pants on one leg at a time. Just not sure which leg should go first. #undecidedvoterproblems
-Wait I have to choose heads OR tails? #undecidedvoterproblems
-Grace likes to put on every necklace she can find.
-For Halloween I'm giving her a mohawk, putting her in a jean vest and a feather earing and teaching her how to say "Pity the fool"
-If you don't understand the last reference, I hate you. #truth
-I've become very Zen about the playoffs. Maybe I've lost my edge after 2010. #sfgiants #MLB
-It's still stressful and nauseating at times. I still find myself cursing and sitting in my "lucky chair." Just doesn't feel life or death anymore.
-On second thought, I hope the Giants win the next two games, run rampant in the NLCS and get to another World Series
-The girls are going to pumpkin patch for the first time this week. I'm so damn excited! Pictures will be taken.
-I feel bad about my birthday. We're trying to spend less, and I know that a 30th birthday party isn't going to be cheap.
-On the other hand, bring on the booze and friends! #goodtimes
-What is the rule on stealing your kids' trick or treating candy?
-I feel guilty up until the moment I put the Reese's Peanut Butter cup in my mouth. #parentingproblems
-This is the first year the girls will be going door to door. The next few weeks will be all about teaching them "Trick or Treat"
-In case you're wondering at home, they'll be lady bugs this year. Because the costume still fits and we ain't spending money on something new.
-Plus it's a lot like reruns. If the neighborhood hasn't seen it, it's new to them.
-Is there anything better than homemade tortillas? I could just eat them all night.
-Fall weather is the best. It gets cool at night and pajama pants become must wear items. And it's soup weather.
-If you think any month is better than October, I hate you and all you stand for.

That's all for this week.  See you next Tuesday.

30 by 30: Learning an Instrument & Writing a Song

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

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

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

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

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.

Needless to say I couldn't wait to transfer my list to the app

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)

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

30 by 30: Trying New Foods

If you only recently started reading my blog or never leave the confines of your Google reader page, you may not know about my goal to complete a list of 30 items before I turn 30.  I've got them listed to the left of my most recent posts on my main page.  You can also read more about them here.

I've been slowly working my way through a few of them.  For example, I've had about 15 of the beers on tap at Yard House.  I've been kissing my wife and daughters every day.  And I know the marathon that I'm going to run (even though it will happen after I turn 30).

Last weekend was a time to knock out another item on my list.

We went to San Francisco last Sunday to have a birthday dinner for my wife.  Her brother and sister live in the city, and it just worked out for everyone to head down there.  It was a lot easier just staying in a hotel that night and driving back for work the next morning

We asked my parents if they'd watch the girls overnight.  They of course jumped on the chance to spend 24 hours with the babies.  In fact they were downright giddy.  I just don't understand people that don't leave their kids and deprive the grandparents of stuff like that.  But that's a post for another day.

We had a reservation at Spruce in San Francisco.  I had never heard of it because I'm not in the know like all the cool kids, so Erin and I perused the menu the night before.

That's when I got excited.

You see one of my favorite things to order at a nice restaurant is duck, and Spruce had it with huckleberries, smoked honey jus and shaved fois gras.  My mouth was watering just thinking about it, but I was especially excited about the idea of trying foie gras.

My reason for including try a food I've never had before on my list is my need to be a little more adventurous.  I sometimes pre-judge food based on the ingredients instead of giving the flavors a chance and letting my taste buds decide.  I decided this was the perfect opportunity to do so.

I was a little let down when our server told us that they were out of duck, so it looked like I would have to wait until another day to try foie gras for the first time.  That was until Erin mentioned it to the table and her mom said how much she loved it.  At that point it was decided that we would have some as appetizers instead.

It was absolutely delicious.  The served it on a vadouvan waffle (it tasted like sourdough and was amazing) with pear jelly and a pear syrup.  I'm so glad I walked in with an open mind because it was one of the most delicious food items I've ever had.  The combination of flavors was unreal.  The foie melted on my tongue, and the flavors were other-worldly.  We loved it so much we had to have another order.  This time around the server convinced us that we had to try the classic wine pairing.  With foie gras that means Sauternes, a sweet wine.  The combination of flavors was like fireworks in my mouth.  I didn't think it was possible, but the foie was even more buttery with the sweet wine.  I wanted it for every course.

It was incredible, and I'm so thankful that I got to knock an item off my list in such delicious and grand fashion.

This is the part of the blog where some of the readers out there chastise me for eating a food that is inhumane.  I'm well aware what goes into making foie gras.  I know that gavage is force-feeding a goose to fatten the liver and make it more delicate.  I also know that as of July 2012, it will become illegal in California to produce or sell foie gras created via gavage.  What do I have to say to defend eating it?  Nothing.  It ain't illegal yet.  You can judge me, but it won't change that I ate it and thoroughly enjoyed it.

But I do think it's funny that the people who would take me to task for it are the same people that would say we need to be more European in the way we live and govern.  I guess that doesn't include or food preparation, right?

New Design

I know I have a lot of followers who check in through their Google Reader.

Actually I don't know that at all.  I just tell myself that's the reason why I don't get a ton of pageviews or comments.  It's a way to protect my fragile psyche.

Anyways I redesigned my blog with the help of my wonderful wife, and all you Google Reader folks that never come to my actual page should stop in and give it a gander.

As you can tell if you're already on the homepage, I'm really embracing the fact that I'm a Giants fan with this new color scheme.  Erin was the inspiration behind that when she scoffed at me even thinking about including pink.  I think her shaming me into doing something different worked out for the best.

I also added my 30 by 30 list to the left column.  I'll be tracking my progress on the homepage now, and I'll cross them off as I complete them (if I complete them).  For those of you reading this on an iPhone (which is like 25% of my readers), you'll still be treated to my mobile format and won't see all the extraneous stuff.

As far as the new header, that was 100% her because I don't have the style or design talent that she does.  I could have never done anything as good as she churned out in less than 30 minutes.

Take a second and look it over.  I'm no king of web design, so I don't expect to be lauded for it.  In my wife's words "It doesn't look professional or anything.  It looks like you."  Ummm, thanks?

I'm not done with my traveling, so let's run

Tonight one of the big items on my 30 by 30 list started in earnest.  I've started training for my next marathon.

It started innocently enough.  My brother-in-law sent an email this morning that he was considering a half-marathon at the beginning of April.  And since we'd probably already be in the area for Easter, he invited Erin, my sister-in-law and me to join him for the run.

It was the motivation I needed to start my training.

The thing is I don't run unless I have something to run for, and I'll gladly put off training for anything until I absolutely have to start.  That's pretty obvious when you consider marathon training was one of my goals before I turn 30, and I haven't run at all since I wrote that out.  So besides a bear chasing after me, figuring out races to train for is the only thing that will get me running again.

Now I'll do my best to knock out 3 miles tonight and get back into race shape over these next 10 weeks.  Except now I'll make sure to keep a race in my schedule for the next few months while I prepare my body for a big boy marathon.

The last half-marathon I did was the San Jose Rock and Roll on October 3, 2010.  Since I have a moral obligation to mention it at least twice per week, this was the day the Giants clinched the division and started their run for the World Series.  You could say they motivated me to run my hardest, or I motivated them.  When I ran that race, I finished in 2 hours and 10 minutes which was about 25-30 minutes faster than my first half-marathon from a few years earlier.

My goal this time around is the break the 2 hour mark.  That would be just over 9 minute miles.  I think I can do it, and I'll bust my ass over the next 10 weeks to make sure I do.  The added side effect is dropping some extra weight and knocking out another item on my 30 by 30 list.  Win-win.

In case anyone is wondering, the title of this post is a line from a Ben Kweller song entitled "Run" which I love.  You can listen to it below.  It's my motivation for this race.

Twitter Machine Tuesday

For anyone who is a new reader to my blog, the one post that I do every week without fail is my Twitter Machine.  I'm not really all that invested into the internet like so many other bloggers.  I know that I could gain more readers if I opened up a Twitter Machine account.  The thing is: I just don't care.

So instead I put all my 140-character missives here.  Once per week I post them all to my blog.  They aren't always timely because I write them throughout the week, and I'm far too lazy to do any sort of editing.  They also can be offensive because I don't care.

They are rarely about my girls because I have a lot random shit that flows through my brain that has nothing to do with them.  I am more than just a dad after all.

More often than not they are pop culture inspired because that is the only context where me and culture would ever appear in the same sentence.  Well that and bacteria cultures.  And maybe Culture Club if I'm in an especially 80s mood.

So as I do every Tuesday, I present the Twitter Machine:

-That little 10-year-old hardcore singer from Australia kicks ass. Now we just need an 8-year-old Gangsta Rapper.
-Joe Paterno's cause of death: Shame...and maybe old age
-Heidi Klum & Seal getting a divorce. Lame asses and morning zoo hosts prepare your "Now I have a chance with her" lines.
-This may not be scientific, but Newt and Mitt just don't sound like presidential names.
-They do however sound like snacks that little English children would ask for.
-I bet you're imagining a little British kid saying: I'd like a newt with my spot'a tea, mum. Or maybe a mitt, guvna.
-Etta James died...at last #toosoon
-There is a video game based on The Room. Everyone that loves terrible movies is so excited right now.
-Go play it. It contains actual movie dialouge. And if you haven't seen the movie: #YOU'RETEARINGMEAPARTLISA!
-I have no opinion on the Oscar nominations. May have something to do with not seeing any movies this past year.
-I'm rooting for Brad Pitt in every category #justcuz
-The way the Niners lost is just crushing. Kyle Williams be damned!
-Then the whole "There are 52 players on the team. One guy can't lose it" arguments start up. Like they know so much more.
-You can't play up how important turnovers are in a close match-up and then downplay Williams' mistakes
-In happier news, Tim Lincecum is locked in for a set dollar amount. Of course the years were already determined. #sfgiants
-Less than two months away from The Hunger Games hits the big screen #bringiton
-I can't believe how much snot these kids can produce. It's like a self-renewing substance. If we could only harness it.
-Since I won't be watching the Super Bowl, this might be a good day to take snowboard lessons and knock out one of my #30by30
-My wife is doing 30 blogs before she turns 30 and wrote about Game 2 of the 2010 World Series. You should read it. #sfgiants
-Erin didn't know that Frank's Red Hot is what comes on chicken wings. Now that she does, she is obsessed.
-I cannot wait for Casa de Mi Padre. Will Ferrell in a telenovela movie. Who comes up with this?
-Ana was dragging around Erin's bear the other morning. It was adorable. Also she was giving off an Other vibe #LOST.

I'll leave you with the picture of Ana and the bear.  Happy Tuesday everyone!

Twitter Machine Tuesday

Christmas this year wasn't nearly as hectic as I'd imagined it would be.

I figured now that the girls wouldn't tolerate going on a long car ride on our way to the Bay Area or on the way back.  It wasn't really my problem on the way there because I had to drive up on my own, but they slept the entire way home on Sunday night.  I feared taking them to a house that was nowhere near baby-proof would have calamitous results with two new walkers.  But they were great and didn't even injure themselves once.

There was a little issue of them refusing to sleep in this new house with all sorts of presents to open and enjoy, but even that wasn't so bad.

I'm really starting to think we're the luckiest parents ever with how good our kids can be.  They certainly make every holiday that much more enjoyable.

My gift to you: Another Twitter Machine!

-There was an issue of Grace throwing up twice (TWICE!) in the car when we drove to visit Erin's grandpa.
-Despite all their spit-up issues early on, they haven't been predisposed to vomiting. This is a new, gross phenomenon.
-Reason 1,367,142 why California rules: We went to the beach on Christmas day. First time the girls played on sand and saw the ocean. #suckiteverywhereelse
-Got a Kindle for Christmas. As a reader I'm very excited because it's so much easier to carry that than 3000 books I usually have.
-What is the deal with people posting pictures of every gift they received on Instagram or Facebook? #dotheyknowitschristmas #dotheythinkwecare
-There of course will be a picture post following this
-Do you watch A Christmas Story, It's A Wonderful Life or Sound of Music on Christmas Eve?
-I prefer the first two, but it always seems like we watch the last one.
-One of my co-workers keeps telling me how awful Bad Santa is. She obviously isn't cynical enough.
-Someone on TV today said the Royal Wedding was the story of the year #perspective
-I think the Navy Seals that killed Bin Laden might have an issue with that
-Has anyone ever actually followed through on a New Year's Resolution?
-I actually do plan on dropping another 10 pounds and completing my 30 by 30 list #justlikeeveryoneelse
-I'd really like to see The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo, but I'm going to need to read the book first
-I was turned off of the NBA until I saw Ricky Rubio make some beautiful passes in his first game #specialplayersmakespecialplays
-I still have no idea what we're doing for New Year's Eve. Staying in like last year is just fine by me.
-Ana has this fake cough. If she hears anyone cough she starts coughing too. It's adorable and strange.
-Grace on the other hand growls like a feral animal
-I have no idea where they get this stuff #probablytheirmother
-Falling asleep in a recliner while everyone around me opens presents should become a Christmas tradition
-I haven't gained any weight throughout this entire holiday season. And I've eaten terribly.
-And I still have Reese's Trees stashed away in case of emergency.
-Finally bought Erin The West Wing on DVD. Maybe the best gift I've ever given to her.
-She also got the Rob Lowe memoir.
-For those keeping track at home, that is in fact a Rob Lowe-themed Christmas. I know what my wife loves.

Hope everyone has a safe New Years.  Twitter Machine will be back in 2012.

Twitter Machine Tuesday

I've done a pretty good job of getting myself back at an acceptable weight over these last few months.  I'm actually down almost 20 pounds over the last 4 months.  This is without any sort of workout routine.  I need to get back on track with that.  It gives me more energy throughout the day and actually helps me sleep better at night.

I'm just worried that with Christmas right around the corner that I'll put a bunch of it back on.  Tis the season for eating way too many sweets, indulging in pie, having big meals with friends and family and spending more time on the couch watching all the holiday specials.  I may have to re-introduce a workout routine if only to undo what all this holiday eating does.  Because I'm certainly not going to stop eating cookies and treats.

And that is determination!

Do you want to pick snowberries Buddy?

-Whatever happened to those Magic Eye posters? With the 3D boom you'd think they'd make a comeback.
-Someone at Mizzou's fansite linked to my post on Pie vs Cake. I'll now be rooting for Mizzou hard. #allittakes #gotigers #marchmadness
-It is good to see that the pie v cake debate extends across the country through all fan bases
-Giving any athlete a 10-year contract that runs into their 40s is insanity #albertpujols
-Alec Baldwin on SNL made me chuckle, but it made me want 30 Rock to come back even more
-I don't understand getting kicked off a plane for playing Words with Friends. Hanging with Friends makes more sense.
-I didn't really see the point of this year's Simpsons' Christmas episode. I'm also not fond of any of the future episodes
-If I want an animated show that takes place in the future, I'll watch Futurama #andidowatchit
-Grace got a toy baseball bat for her birthday. Now she beats me with it. And laughs her head off.
-Luck looks like a good show. I was playing Angry Birds and not paying attention while it was on, but it LOOKED good. #hbo #shortattentionspan
-Chris Paul to the Lakers was an intriguing deal. In fact the Hornets "won" it. Stern should have allowed it.
-The Lakers gave up a position of strength to obtain a position of weakness. What was wrong with that?
-I always love all the Best of the Year lists that come out in December. Still just opinions, but fun to read.
-My albums of the year: Rise Ye Sunken Ships, 12 Desperate Straight Lines, Helplessness Blues, 21, Days #weareaugustines #telekinesis #fleetfoxes #adele #realestate
-And in case Dani is wondering why I slighted Wilco. I just haven't listened to the album yet.
-I've become an expert at ironing with a baby using my legs to stand.
-Is anyone surprised by Tim Tebow winning games he should definitely lose at this point?
-You can make a case for Tebow as MVP. Aaron Rogers doesn't have a meme named after him. #tebowing #FACT
-Knocked out quite a few beers from Yard House last week. At least one thing on my 30 by 30 list is happening.
-Ana and Grace have discovered jumping on the bed. Put them both in the same crib and they were bouncing away.
-I'm not kidding about Missouri. I'm penciling them to win in all my brackets.
-Also if I had a vote for the Wooden Award (which I obviously don't) it would go to Marcus Denmon.
-Ana is getting a little bit bolder on her "walking". She is now putting her foot forward and pulling it back.
-It's like a baby hokey-pokey
-I'd put together a list of best movies of the year, but I haven't seen any.
-Erin asked for booze or FroYo on Friday. Got vodka and ice cream and rented The Help #winning #besthusbandever #okaymaybeliketop1000husbands
-Is it bad that I haven't done any Christmas shopping yet? #11shoppingdaysleft

Now I'm off to go eat more cookies.  Weight be damned!

30 By 30

I know that I wrote in my birthday post that I'm not the type to mourn previous years of my life.  I don't care what I'm losing in my later years that I had in my early years.  It's part of growing up and enjoying the new experiences life hands to you.

Having kids and a wife and a house and great friends totally outweighs what I had in my twenties and teen years.

What I do like is setting goals for myself and trying my damnedest to achieve those goals.  I figure that I'll be 30 in a year, so why not come up with 30 things that I'd like to accomplish within that time frame?  Seems reasonable enough, and it will keep me focused on what is really important to me.  We all know we put things off if we don't write them down or really focus on them, so I figured I'd track them here on my blog.  I know it is a little derivative and unoriginal, but I'm doing it anyways.

I also know it's going to be pretty damn near impossible to do all of these things in a year, so this is really a list of 30 things that I'll definitely accomplish.  It may take me longer than a year to do so, but I will do everything on this list at some point.

30 by 30

1. Run another marathon but try to do it in under 4 hours
2. Learn to play at least one song on any instrument (preferably guitar or piano)
3. Get my weight under 180 pounds and keep it there
4. Drink every beer on tap at Yard House (not in one night)
5. Learn how to tie a bow tie
6. Hear my girls say "I love you Dada" or any variation of dada
7. Cook a gourmet meal with multiple courses
8. Go skydiving
9. Take snowboarding lessons
10. Learn how to make one of my Grandma's pies
11. Buy a tailored suit
12. Get a straight-razor shave
13. Spend a night in Vegas without getting a hotel room (unless it's comped of course)
14. Actually write something of substance
15. See a baseball game at Wrigley Field and/or Fenway Park
16. Go on a family camping trip
17. Watch every movie on the AFI 100 years, 100 movies list and/or every Best Picture winner
18. Visit Napa again and buy some wine
19. Get a tattoo
20. Teach my girls to say "Please" and "Thank You"
21. Go to a Notre Dame football game
22. Have a romantical night out at a five-star restaurant with my wife
23. Drink Dom Perignon for the first time
24. Try a food that I've never had before (Escargot?)
25. Write a song
26. Try to sell a screenplay to Hollywood
27. See Dave Matthews Band perform at The Gorge
28. Share Calvin and Hobbes with my girls
29. Learn to golf
30. Kiss my wife and kids every single day

That's my list, and I'm going to try my best to complete it in the next year.  If anyone has a hook-up or knows someone that can facilitate any of these items, feel free to comment or contact me any and all info.