A Series of Unfortunate Events

Yesterday was one of those days.  A series of unfortunate events combined against me, only this was no Lemony Snicket novel...it was real life.

First, we got socked with a heat wave that pushed temps to the mid-80s.  It was so hot, that I decided to push my training run to the night so as to escape the heat of the day.

Second, I had a big work project that kept me chained to my laptop through the heat of the day.  At least I was inside where it was cooler, but I couldn't take my kids to the beach or do something fun.  I am pretty busy during the week, so I try hard to keep my weekends free to do family stuff with the kids.  Yesterday would have been ideal to hit the beach, but my project made it impossible.

Third, our good friends (Royal and Nicole) are moving to Arizona and their farewell party was yesterday afternoon/evening.  The party was fun and the food was fantastic.  Nicole is pretty much a gourmet baker of desserts and her talents were on full display.  I consciously had to hold back for fear that my workouts would never be able to keep up with the calories I was consuming.  I'm happy for Royal's great new job, but selfishly I'm going to miss both of them. A lot.  Royal has been a great race partner and Nicole has always been super nice to me.

During the party, I handed my iPhone to Baby M. to keep him occupied.  Big mistake.  Baby M. decided to channel Cy Young and threw my iPhone down onto the concrete.  My iPhone responded by giving me the "Dreaded Green Screen of Death."  Hence no pics of Royal and Nicole's party.  The phone is barely functional.  Worse, I hate breaking things and losing things, so breaking my phone at the party that was already making me sad did nothing for my mood.

My brother came up after the party and we were supposed to do our run together, but that didn't happen.  I was consumed with trying to get my iPhone fixed and I found a kiosk at the mall that claimed to be able to fix it.  I jumped into my car to drive to the mall only to find that the battery was dead.  Kaput.  I got the car jumped just as my brother arrived.  The car turned on [barely] just as he pulled up and made a horrendous sound.  My brother diagnosed the problem for me...my engine was blown.  Those were unfortunate event numbers five (dead battery) and six (blown engine).

It doesn't look that old does it?

At this point I was too despondent to deal with R.'s complaint that his Kindle wasn't working.  I told him to charge it overnight and we'd check it in the morning.  I think at this point I was afraid of anything else that I owned falling to pieces!

My brother was kind enough to drive to the mall.  I figure that my day had finally hit rock bottom with the realization that my car (which has nearly 245,000 miles on it) was going to be towed out of my driveway and I'd never see it again.  I can tell you that I had plenty of other things in my budget to spend money on.  My car is 8.5 years old and nearly a quarter of a million miles on it, but I was in no hurry to replace it.  When you have kids, it seems like there are always things that they need more than I need a new car.  In addition, I really don't have an ego about my car.  It works great and doesn't cost me a lot to get around.  I'm good with that.

We got to the mall and the kiosk guy "fixed" my iPhone.  The battery on my phone was dead, so I had to charge it before I could start using it again, so I went to the Verizon store to charge it.  I got the phone charged and guess what...still broken.  :-/

At this point, I had the Verizon guy check the account and turns out I had free replacement coverage on the phone through my job.  After what seemed like an eternity, I left the store without a phone (bummer), but with the promise that my brand new iPhone is being shipped directly to my office for Tuesday (yay!).

Then we got home.  It was late and my brother and I were both tired. I grabbed my keys and walked over for one last look at my poor car.  I distinctly remember saying to my brother as we walked over to it: "It's too bad you can't give a car a priesthood blessing."  His reply: "Yeah, but that would be like trying to heal a 100-year-old man.  It's had a good life."

Yes, it has, but I started it up anyway.  To my surprise, the car started and worked!  I got back in it today and was able to drive it to church. It was "good as new"--as if nothing had ever happened.  I really and truly do believe that it's a miracle.  I wish that I could say that it's because I was living right or that I somehow "deserved" divine intervention.  But I don't think that's the case.  I do think that it was an example of Heavenly Father being merciful though.  And for that I'm grateful.

La Ferrari -- My next car?  ;-)

It has got me thinking that I should be prepared to replace my car at some point.  It is probably unrealistic of me to think that I can get it to drive a million miles--or even another 250,000.  Anyone have any good ideas?  :-)

So in the end, it all worked out.  I was so relieved that I was able to replace my iPhone for free and that I wouldn't have to spend thousands of dollars on a new car, that it overshadowed the series of unfortunate events that had befallen me earlier in the day.  So much so that I was almost tempted to name this post after another book--Shakespeare's "All's Well That Ends Well."

PS--I also fixed R.'s Kindle today too!  What can I say, I was on a roll!  :-)

Cub Scout Camp 2013

Cub Scout Camp is all week for our camp, but I drew parent volunteer duty today. I'm here with one other mom to supervise the 7 kids ages 8-10 who are part of our den. All told, there are probably a couple hundred kids here. 

This picture shows about half the camp at the opening flag ceremony.

The day got off to a great start when I was signing in this morning. As I bent over to check in, one of the rambunctious kids yelled right in my ear. It wasn't intentional, but it also wasn't very fun. I hope that's not a harbinger of things to come. 

I'm going to try and post some pics and updates throughout the day. 

First station of the morning was arts and crafts where the boys made fishes out of a CD. It went a lot better after S. figured out how to use the glue dots. I think a lot of glue dots got wasted. Hope they don't run out by the end if the day...  :-/

Archery was up next. I even got to shoot a few, which was fun. I was impressed with how well the kids listened to the archery RangeMaster, and how well they shot. 

The June Gloom is in full effect at the moment, but maybe the sun will burn off the coastal haze soon. 

Now it's on to lunch...

30 minutes left for lunch. I don't know what we would do if the fire department hadn't come to the rescue!

Cheap entertainment  :-)

The firefighters truly showed that they are Camp Pendleton's bravest by facing the onslaught of bored, hot cub scouters with nothing but their fire houses for protection.  Still, I think the firefighters came out on top judging by how wet the kids were...

Following boogie board races in a shallow pond built by the camp staff and a windy beach ball/volleyball game, we are on to knots...

Luckily, all the boys managed to master tying a square knot. As a reward, they got to tackle this obstacle...

Less than an hour left people!!

The grand finale...the cub scouters hit this water slides while I find a nice seat in the shade.  #bestideaever

These helicopters have been buzzing the camp all day. It's been really fun!  It's also been awesome seeing the tanks and humvees roll by all day too. 

Camp's done and we are out if here. Too bad I won't be back tomorrow. :-/

I'm so tired that I'd go take a nap if I didn't have to go into work!

Father's Day 2013

R. and Me (circa 2005) - M. and Me  (Feb. 2, 2013)

Today was Father's Day.  It was a lot of fun to see pictures and tributes from friends, family, and other acquaintances to their dads yesterday.

I did a birthday post for my dad's birthday last year.  I'm not sure what else I can add to that.  He's still my dad.  He's still my hero.

The picture above is a composite.  The one on the left is from 2005.  It's a picture of R. and me and I have it framed and it sits in my office. I think it's from watching the fireworks for the 4th of July in 2005.  I love that picture.

The one on the right is from earlier this year and it's a picture of M. and I at S.'s basketball game.  I love how cute and chubby his little arm is and I love how his eyes are locked in on the basketball game.  I also love the way that his hand is resting on the basketball.  It's no secret that we love hoops in my family and I hope M. loves the game as much as I have.

The Rug Rats - June 2013

I'm not the perfect dad, but I'm trying to improve.  I still have a long ways to go. But I'm really grateful that I am their dad.  Happy Father's Day!

Kona Inspired

Kona - Ironman World Championship

I have a dream someday of participating in the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.  So I couldn't help but feel touched by this column today from Doug Robinson in the Des News.


Dean Bullock is from South Jordan, Utah.  He's a father of 9 kids and grandpa to 17.  He's also a triathlete.  Last summer, he was diagnosed with a serious brain tumor.  The prognosis isn't good.  He will apparently be lucky to make it another year.  His dream is to compete at Kona and he has probably only once chance left to do it.  The race is this October.

Slots for Kona are next to impossible to get, but he has shot to get a special slot if he gathers enough votes on a video that he submitted for the "Kona Inspired" program.

Please consider viewing his video here and voting for him.  (You can vote once per day).  Click on the magnifying glass and type in "Dean Bullock."  Then click on one of his videos and click on "<3 Vote for This" in the bottom left hand corner.  It's that easy and it will only take about 20 seconds!

Dean, I've never met you even though we competed together at Ironman St. George this year.  I doubt my one vote or this post is enough to put you over the top, but I hope that you make it--both to Kona and through this challenge.  Keep fighting the good fight!

The Batch: Cinderella's Coach

Cinderella's Coach

The Batch spares no expense when it comes to taking care of its Bachelor/Bachelorette.  Lavish wardrobe, hair and makeup budget, even transportation are all fully covered.   In years past, we've seen boats, private jets, and so many helicopters that it makes me wonder why there hasn't been a helicopter in sight this season.

Desiree's Coach

The answer may be that The Batch might have already blown its transportation budget on this 2013 Tiffany Blue Bentley Convertible.  MSRP on these babies, in case you were wondering, is almost $300,000.  I'm not sure if this is a product placement for Tiffany's, Bentley, or if the color was simply so garish that the dealership couldn't figure out anything else to do with the $300,000 car besides loan it to ABC/Disney for a month or two to be featured on The Batch.  As an official Disney princess, no expense is to be spared for our Bachelorette.

Tiffany Blue vs. Baby Blue

The guys all looked and acted appropriately jealous as Desiree drove off into the sunset with Brooks her expensive, brightly colored care.  I did have to take issue with one of the guys (I don't even care enough to know his name, I just know that he is a federal prosecutor and that later reveals to Desiree that he has some sort of manageable disease) whines about seeing Desiree and her date leave in "that baby blue Bentley."

I am a fashion idiot and I don't even pretend to know my colors, but any guy should be able to tell the difference between Tiffany Blue and Baby Blue.  Baby Blue is the color of the North Carolina Tarheels.  Tiffany Blue is the color that you spend a lot of money on when you get something nice expensive for your wife, girlfriend, or significant other.  I'm just embarrassed--as a guy--that he can't tell the difference.

The [Boring] 1on1 Dates:

Luck of the Irish?  Brooks' Green Tux made him look a bit like Seamus from the Disney movie...

Desiree's first 1on1 date was with Brooks.  Brooks is a former model.  Except that this season all of the contestants appear to be former models, so it might make more sense to just assume that they're all male models unless I tell you differently.

Brooks is kind of boring, but I have a feeling he may be around for a while.  They got dressed up as bride and groom (remember Desiree works in a bridal store).  Des looked beautiful in all of the gowns and Brooks looked like a leprechaun in this hideous green tuxedo that she made him try on.

Then they drove around LA and ended up with a private picnic at the HOLLYWOOD sign in the hills above Los Angeles.  They kiss.  Brooks remarks:  "This could be the first kiss with somebody that I spend the rest of my life with."  Something tells me that it won't be Desiree's last kiss of her life this season this episode.  :-/

Kiss Da Girl

The second date was perhaps more boring.  The guy was ex-military from Montana and had never been to the beach before.  He was in a really bad accident as a kid and showed Des some pics of himself in the ER and of his totaled truck. Des was just glad he was alive.  (Yes, he actually brought pics on the date to show Des.  See my comments below about "Oversharing".)

Later, he found himself in a hot tub with Des.  He looked painfully awkward as Des stared him down (all thoughts of Brooks evidently forgotten....).  Finally, Desiree had to channel her inner Ariel (yet another Disney princess) and tell him to just kiss her already.

I'm pretty sure that both dudes got roses.

#rightreasons

Mr. "Rated PG-13" Isn't There for the Right Reasons?

I've learned a few things about hashtags.  Besides being annoying and the secret to being an online marketing genius, hashtags are apparently hip.  You don't have to be able to even read them (i.e., don't use capital letters or spaces--no matter how long the hastagged phrase), but they should be funny (hopefully).  I reserve the right to throw them in occasionally in this post.

The group date involved 14 dudes making a rap video of an original song called: "Right Reasons."  Some rapper named Soulja Boy directed.  I have no idea who Soulja Boy is but the dudes all lied and acted like they'd heard of him.  He's probably about to launch a comeback...

Basically, the video proved the old adage about how models can't act--because none of these male models could act or sing a lick.  The video was terrible, despite having some clever sight gags and jabs at former Batch villains/tools/contestants.

Sadly, Desiree may have been the best rapper of the bunch...

Still, I liked it better when the #rightreasons cliche was something that felt like an inside joke for the audience and viewing public--not something that the producers and contestants taunt us about or rub in our faces.

By the time the segment was over, the phrase "right reasons" was as overplayed as the whole hashtag phenomenon.  I definitely heard that phrase way too much tonight!

Smarmy Ben ended up getting the rose on the group date.  The bad part was that we had to seen him gloat about it for the rest of the night.

Epidemic of Oversharing

I'm not sure what it is, but all of the contestants this year appear to have some inexplicable urge to share all of their "shortcomings" with Desiree right up front in their reality "relationships."  Ben brought his son to the very first night to "share" that he was a single dad.  Tonight, one of the contestants told Des about his druggie mom and troubled upbringing (not exactly the thing that inspires confidence that you are marriage material).
Then, during the pre-Rose Ceremony cocktail party, the color blind federal prosecutor raced to button hole Desiree.  He felt that it was very important to let her know something very important about his personal health.  No, it's cancer and it's not a "communicable" disease--it's Type 1 diabetes!  Phew, based on his build up, I was expecting it to be something much worse.

Call me crazy, but there might be better things to bring up at the start of a relationship than your entire family or medical history--especially if it's kind of a downer.  Maybe, for example, a contestant might try to win Desiree's heart with his sparkling personality, quick wit, or model good lucks something fun/funny.

My friend (JC) who is very bright thinks that the producers must tell the contestants to overshare to boost the drama.  Of course the producers don't care if the contestants have any dignity by the time that they leave the show and the producers don't care who "wins" the show as long as the ratings are high.  I think the contestants need to ignore the producers.

Smarmy Ben (Off Camera) Interrupts the Announcement

But I digress.  During the midst of the color-blind federal prosecutor's soul baring session, Smarmy Ben interrupted to steal Des away.  The federal prosecutor was outraged!  Fireworks ensued as the townsfolk contestants lit their lanterns and gathered their pitchforks to chase off Frankenstein Smarmy Ben.

Ben is quickly becoming the favorite guy to hate amongst all the guys in the house.  On the one hand, it drives me crazy how the guys act like the title of the show is "Mr. Congeniality."  They are (purportedly) there to try and win Desiree's heart--not to bromance all the other dudes.  On the other hand, I am not a fan of Smarmy Ben and there is a certain sense of satisfaction in seeing all of the guys knock him down a peg or two (if that's even possible).

Here's my advice for the guys:  stop the oversharing and the catfighting and see if you have any actual connection with Des.  But of course, that would probably make for boring tv and that's why Fleiss and Harrison make the big bucks for this show.

The Dearly Departed

Say Good-Bye to Will (who admitted during the rap video that he couldn't dance), Robert (King of the Sign Spinners from Phoenix), and Nick M. (Who?)

From the previews, it looks like we are in for quite the drama next week.  Brian (yes, he's a model), is going to get a surprise visit at the Mansion from his ex girlfriend.  Shockingly, she is also a model.  (But not that good looking by the way.  Brian and his model girlfriend may well be the most forgettable looking model couple I've ever seen.  Oh well.)  I can hardly wait...

NKOTB - Remix (I Like The)