Rapping Flight Attendant

Okay, so I received my daily email from All Pro Dad today and the post was talking about doing your job with passion and the importance of enthusiasm in the workplace. Anyway, they shared a video of a man doing just that...doing his job with passion and enthusiasm. Wow! All I have to say is, I want to take Southwest Airlines everywhere I go from now on. Unfortunately, I have a flight in a few days to a conference and I'm taking Frontier. Oh well...

Anyway, check out this video. It's awesome!

Cold/Flu Time

As we wound up our birthday festivities for Gage, an unwelcome party goer was looming. Garrison started to feel under the weather on Thursday night. By Friday, he was down and out with a sore throat, cough, fever, and body aches. By Saturday, Gage, Gavin, and Joi all came down with it, too. It was so sad to spend the weekend with everyone all laying around, barely able to find the energy to get up to get a drink of water. Joi and I are pumping everyone full of orange juice and vitamin C, but it's not enough to fight against this crazy flu strain. We are watching closely to make sure it's not the dreaded H1N1 flu, but at this point, it's too early to tell. I'm keeping a close eye on everyone and checking www.flu.gov on a regular basis. In the meantime, poor Joi is not getting much sleep as the boys keep waking her up every 30 minutes all night to complain about being hot or to complain about a severely sore throat. Also, the boys are having delirious dreams (probably due to the fever) that sound like something out of a Louis Carroll novel when they describe them to us. It's so sad.


Luckily, I have been able to escape thus far with only a minor sore throat. We'll see if I can skate by and come out the other side healthy. In the meantime, please pray for our family. It's so sad to see the boys laying around with red, puffy eyes and crying because their throats hurt. It breaks my heart to see Joi in pain from chest pressure. I miss the sweet voices of our boys echoing throughout the house (they don't talk much because it hurts). Please pray for a speedy recovery and pray that this flu is just the seasonal strain and not the swine flu. Thanks!

Gage's Birthday Festivities

My middle son, Gage, turned six years old yesterday. This is a huge birthday for him because finally....after six long years...he does not have to use a car seat or booster in the car. Woohoo! Only one more year of boosters for us (when Gavin turns six).

As is our tradition, we let the birthday boy (or girl) choose the day's festivities and the menu for the day. Gage decided that he wanted the Ferris boys to stay the night. Also, he decided that he wanted to give us all gifts on his birthday. He's done this before on previous birthdays. He's very thoughtful. So, Gage and I went to Walmart the night before and let him pick out small gifts for his brothers and cousins. He even wanted to get gifts for Joi and I. How precious he is!

Joi and I had decorated downstairs the night before, so that when the boys woke up, they would come down to balloons, streamers, and a Happy Birthday sign. Joi made Cinnamon and Orange Rolls for breakfast. Gage gave us all our presents that he had picked out (even before he opened his own). He was so happy to see the faces of the people he loved receiving gifts. Then Gage opened a couple presents. We had chicken nuggets for lunch (one of Gage's favorite meals) and then got dressed. Then Gage opened a couple more presents. Afterward, we met up with Steff and Russell and went to the Apex Center in Arvada. This is a HUGE recreation center in the city of Arvada. It has a large pool with water slides and a play area, a rock climbing wall, two ice rinks, basketball courts, and a work out area. Gage loves the water, so we spent most of the day in the pool. We went on water slides and watched the boys repeatedly cross a pool using a rope and some floating devices (like an obstacle course). We played some basketball. We did some rock climbing (Man...my arms are so sore today!). It was a fun and action packed day. Gage decided he wanted pizza for dinner, so we picked up some pizza and went home for dinner and cake/ice cream. Throughout the day, Gage spoke to a few family and friends who called him to wish him a happy birthday (or listened to the messages, if we missed their call).

At the end of the day, the boys were utterly exhausted. Toward the end of the evening, we all looked like zombies. I asked Gage how the day was for him and he said, "It was the best day EVER!" I'm so glad! Gage is such a sweet, loving, and caring boy. He deserved a special day all about him. Happy Birthday, my Gager! I can't believe that you are six years old. I love you, buddy!

Time to Chime In

Okay, so I'm back to updating my blog more often. However, I wonder sometimes if this is just a secret diary of sorts that I alone care about or read. I know my wife checks it on a regular basis, but it doesn't seem like anyone else does. I know Dante chimes in from time to time. Anyone else? Do I have any other readers out there? Time to chime in. Leave me a comment. You don't have to have a blog account to leave a message. You can leave a message as anonymous.

Am I writing for my own gratification? Is there anyone out there? Just checking.

From Shorts to Jackets in One Day: Snow in September

This weekend, it was warm, sunny and beautiful. I wore shorts and a t-shirt as we hiked around Bear Creek Lake on my birthday. On Sunday, we had all the windows open in our home and it was a toasty 80 degrees. On Monday, we awoke to a drop in temperature of 25+ degrees. It was cold, cloudy and hit a high of 54 degrees. It rained as I walked from the light rail station to my office and the wind made that rain string my face with it's cold touch. Yesterday, as I was driving home from work, I saw snow on our local foothills. We got our first snow in September. News Radio said this morning that this was the first time in ten years that we have had a September snow. It is supposed to drop more snow today (as it tops a high of 50 degrees and drops more rain/snow/ice on us). The weather forecasters expect that by tomorrow there will be a foot of snow in our local foothills (which are only five miles from my house).

This is precisely why I love Colorado. The weather is so unpredictable. A local saying is "If you don't like the weather right now, wait 15 minutes." It's so true. It's hard to believe that we went from shorts to jackets in a 24 hour period. From sunny skies to snow and ice/rain. I love it. It's so awesome. All my friends/family in California are still complaining about the hot weather and we are bundled up and getting ready to make snow men. Awesome! Have I mentioned that I love it here?

Birthday Fun: Ethiopian, Bear Creek Lake, and Sushi

So, this weekend was my birthday (on Saturday, the 19th). It was a fun filled weekend. Here's the overview.

On Friday night, I got off work and drove to a local downtown Ethiopian Restaurant called Axum, where I met my wife, kids, and the Ferris' family.
The Ferris' had been there before so they ordered for everyone. Ethiopian is unique in that there are no utensils. Everything is eaten by tearing off and mopping up your food with a spongy, sour pancake like bread called Injera. Also, everything is served on huge platters, family style, and eaten together. Mostly everything is some sort of stew with either beef, chicken, or lamb. Some dishes were spicy. All dishes were very tasty. Afterward, the owner/proprietor (who told us to call her "Z" because her name was too difficult to pronounce) gave us a complementary lemon birthday cake and a bottle of pink champagne. We declined the champagne since none of us drink alcohol, but ate the lemon cake with delight. How did "Z" know I liked Lemon Cake? She put a few birthday songs on the P.A. System and our boys danced around on the dancefloor. We were the only one's in the restuarant at this time, so it was like having our own private party. All in all, an excellent experience. I recommend Axum to anyone wanting to try Ethiopian! It was really very, very good.

Afterward, we went to the SummerSet Festival in Littleton. But, it turned out to be a dud because the festival was shut down by the time we got there. We went to see the "Night Glow" where they illuminate several hot air ballons when it becomes dark. By the time we got there (around 7:30pm), it was already over. Upon further investigation, there were only two balloons. Huh? It certainly wasn't the way they made it sound online. So, we let the kids play in the parks playground for a while and then went home for the night.

On Saturday morning, my excellent wife had gotten up early and decorated the house. She brought me an Egg McMuffin in bed (that was what I wanted for my birthday breakfast...it sounded good). Then we went downstairs and I opened a few gifts. The boys had made me hand-drawn birthday cards with pictures of me and them playing basketball together and doing various other activities. They were so adorable. I opened up a few gifts and then we showered, dressed, and went to the boys' swim lessons. When the boys were finished with their lesson, we went to Fat Burger for lunch. Then, we picked up the Ferris' men (Steff had to work) and we went to a local nature area called Bear Creek Lake, which has three lakes, an equestrian center, an archery range, a nature center, and a campground. I hadn't been there and I wanted to scope it out for future camping experiences and explore the area. It was a nice campground and it's only a few minutes from our house. I expect that we'll camp there once the weather gets warmer next summer. Here's a picture from the park.
After exploring for a few hours, we picked up some Papa Murphy's Pizza and went home. We played Wii and ate pizza. Joi made me a chocolate pudding pie for my birthday dessert and lit up a 37 shaped candle for me to blow out. It was a very good night.

On Sunday, Russell took me out to Sushi. He even tried Sushi again after not particularity liking it the last time we went out. We had some salmon, halibut, and eel Nigiri Sushi...and shared a Philadelphia Roll, and a Crunchy Tempura Fried Philly Roll. Plus, we got some baked green muscles as an appetizer. It was yummy. I missed sushi, so it was really nice to enjoy it again. Also, I was jazzed that Russell liked it this time and he even talked about trying it again with me on another occasion. Woohoo!

It was a very good birthday weekend. My wife worked very hard to make sure it was special for me and she did a great job (Thanks Babe....I love you!). My boys also worked hard to make it special for me. All day long Gage kept saying "Dad, I'm so glad that it's your birthday" or "Happy Birthday, Dad." He even told his swim instructor that it was my birthday (and anyone else who would listen). Thanks to my wife and kids, the Ferris', and all the friends and family who called me to wish me a happy birthday. It was a great day!

Alaskan Reindeer Hotdogs and Snack Attack Birds

Okay, so yesterday we ran out of lunch meat and my wife said "You'll need to eat lunch out today!" I immediately started rubbing my mental hands maniacally and thinking...."Mmmmm....lunch out! What to do...what to do?" I decided on a place I've tried once before and fell in love with on the 16th Street Mall. It's Biker Jim's Gourmet Hot Dog Stand on the corner of 16th and Arapahoe. It's a hot dog stand on a street corner (a la New York)...but it's also a mouth full of awesome! They serve specialty gourmet dogs and brats. Like Wild Boar, Alaskan Reindeer, Elk Jalapeno Cheddar, Southwest Buffalo, and various other German Brats and beer/ale flavored dogs. It's amazing. They serve these extra large dogs (1/4 pound to be exact) on large gourmet buns with sesame seeds. They offer caramelized onions and cream cheese for free to add to your dog (You must try them both....it's amazing!). Also, for traditionalists they have mustard, ketchup, and various other toppings. For $6.25 you can get "The Usual" which consists of a gourmet hotdog, chips, and a soda.

So, I went there yesterday and tried the Alaskan Reindeer Dog. They cut the dog in half and grill it right in front of you. It's a 1/4 pound hotdog...so it's very filling. I opted for the optional cream cheese and caramelized onions and added a little ketchup and gourmet mustard. While I was waiting in line he challenged his customers to guess the musical artist playing on his MP3 player. He offered to buy the correct guesser a soda. I guessed Fat Boy Slim and "Ding...ding...ding" got it right. Since I had already paid, they gave me back $1, which I promptly put back into their tip jar with glad tidings. After I received my hot (and it really was piping hot) dog, I picked out some Doritos and a Dr. Pepper and made my way to a cement planter to sit myself down and enjoy my spoils.
The Reindeer Gourmet Dog was spicy and smoky tasting. It was probably the best hot dog I had ever eaten. The cream cheese and onions were the perfect complement to the meat. I devoured that dog in no time flat. My tummy gave complements to the chef. I broke open my Doritos and basked in the afterglow of a fine meal. While lazily eating my chips and people watching, a bird flew nearby and landed at my feet. It tried to stare me down, but I simply smiled and kept eating those chips. I picked up a large Dorito and glanced in the other direction for a split second. All of a sudden, there was violent flapping surrounding my head and shoulders. I had flashbacks to a Alfred Hitchcock movie I had seen once and flinched. The bird had found his chance, flew in my face, and stole my chip right out of my hand. It all happened so fast, I wasn't sure what was happening until it was all over. I watched this quite large bird fly a few yards away, land, and begin enjoying his spoils. My first instinct was to walk over to it and punch that fat bird right in the beak. But, I decided that he worked hard for that chip and I would let bygone's be bygones.

All in all, it was an awesome lunch experience. I plan to frequent that cart and visit Biker Jim as often as possible. If you are ever out in Denver, you must go to 16th and Arapahoe and try one of those exquisite gourmet dogs. Simply amazing. And...for those of you who are vegetarian's I have this suggestion. When someone asked Biker Jim if he served anything vegetarian...he said "Yes, reindeer's are vegetarian!" Awesome!

Life at University of Colorado, Denver

I've been working at the University of Colorado, Denver for a couple of months now. It's been fun working at a large University. Also, it's interesting working near the downtown area of a large city. There is always something to see and there is always something going on. I like to walk down to the 16th street mall during my lunch time to see the cool stores, street vendors, and the interesting people. Or sometimes I like to walk across the street from my office and visit Cherry Creek, which runs through downtown Denver. When I walk outside the building I work in, I can see the Pepsi Center (where the Nuggets play), Elitch Gardens Amusement Park, the downtown skyscrapers, and the Performing Arts Center.

I'm used to Downtown L.A. where everything is run down, ugly, and smells like urine. Downtown Denver is quaint, pretty, and the only thing I can smell is the occasional rain storm in the air and the yummy food being cooked in the many, many eateries in and around the 16th street mall. It's a great place to work. I can hardly wait to see this whole area in the snow.

I enjoy taking the light rail into downtown. I didn't enjoy driving in traffic and having to pay for parking (yes, employees have to pay daily parking rates too). So, the light rail is a Godsend. From the station, which is only about 15 minutes from my home, I have a small 20 minute ride right to the campus. From there, I have a small walk to my office. It's very convenient. It should be interesting to see what that is like in the snow, too.

Here are a couple photos.
This is the building I work in. In fact, if you look at the left most tree and look directly behind that on the 1st floor...that's my office.

This is the student union on campus. It's just a short walk from my office. It's like a mall. It's got a food court, several restaurants, two full service banks, a student store, and a movie theater (among other things). It's really nice. I was surprised at how large it was.

This is the view of downtown from my building. Right before you get to those tall buildings, Cherry Creek meanders through the downtown area.

Cherry Creek running through downtown offers running, walking, and biking paths for people who want to exercise near the slow meandering creek. It's nice to go there during my lunch hour and get some exercise.

And here's a view from Cherry Creek that shows the building where I work in the background.

So, all in all, I am enjoying working at UC Denver. Now that the students are back, there are often concerts on campus, protest demonstrations, flea markets, and other interesting things going on nearby. There is always something to see or do, that's for sure. It all makes for a exciting work environment.

Pillow Talk

So, I was making the bed this morning and I realized....we have a lot of pillows. But, unlike some pillow connoisseurs, ours are not decorative. They all have a functional purpose. For instance...

I have two pillows to support my head. I have broad shoulders and since I lay on my side most of the time, I need at least two pillows to bridge the distance from my shoulder to my head. The bottom one is cotton fiber filled and the top one is a memory foam pillow. I have a down pillow that I used to wrap my arm around (or snuggle with). I have another flat cotton pillow to toss over my head when the sun starts to pierce my bedroom window. So, we are now at four and we haven't talked about Joi's pillows yet.

Joi has one pillow for her head. Her shoulders aren't as bodacious as mine. She has a body pillow that spans the length of her body that she uses to keep her spine aligned as she sleeps. She has a thin feather pillow that I purloined from my Grandma's house back when I lived there. It's ancient and it's pretty thin...but it works out great as a blinder for that piercing sun I mentioned earlier.

That makes a grand total of seven pillows and they all serve a functional purpose. I like that we don't have decorative pillows. I think they are a waste of time, energy, space, and money. But, sometimes when I am making the bed and balancing all seven pillows at the head of the bed, I like to think I am making art. A pillow sculpture. Perhaps they are decorative...in their own functional way.

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