The Grab-Bag: The Things I Love Version

So it's been almost two weeks since I posted (which seems to me as impossible as that time has really flown by) and I feel like that's how I begin so many of my posts. . .

O well - I guess that comes with a busy life. And that is what I'm in the midst of at the moment.

I suppose my idea for this post is just to list some things that mean a whole helluva lot to me and throw in the reasons for their importance as well as their role in the last two weeks of my existence.

So enjoy another good ol' GRAB-BAG in all of its non-chronological goodness. . .

- HEATHER

You knew that one was coming :) my wonderful lady friend of 3 1/2 years and I were able to spend a couple days together in a row last week (Monday night thru Thursday morning) and it was completely wonderful. When the two of us actually get to spend a special length of time together, it is truly fantastic. What I love is the people who say things like, "You guys must be used to that distance thing that when you are together, it is either only great because you are actually together or you get tired of each other quick and just want to go back to being at a distance." Well, no and no. Of course it is great to be together just cuz it is finally true - but it seems to always be that great. The feeling I have when I see Heather for the first time is the same one that I have five minutes before she leaves. And I can tell you this in plain English: There is NOTHING better than waking up to the one you love. NOTHING. The first thing I see on those special mornings is her beautiful face and, if I'm lucky, her closed eyes, behind which I can only assume are the sweetest dreams ever. I cannot wait until I get to have that feeling every morning. . . 3 1/2 years down, 2 to go. . . hopefully!

- VACATIONS (kinda)

So why did we get to spend some time together? Well Tuesday was the much-planned family trip to Disneyland. Caleb is turning 6 in a couple weeks (the 19th) and that's what he wanted to do - he had never been to the Happiest Place on Earth! Do you remember your first Disneyland experience? I don't, now that I think about it, but I am pretty sure that he will. I figure that because we got him on pretty much every big ride at the park. He rode Splash Mountain (Twice), the Matterhorn (One and a half times - more on that later), Thunder Mountain, and of course the kiddie rides (like Dumbo, Peter Pan, etc.). No Space Mountain for him (too quick - and dark - for the youngin) or Indiana Jones (too scary). But time will cure those things. He really enjoyed himself and I was happy to be there for his first experience there.

So how did he ride the Matterhorn 1 1/2 times? Well, it broke down with us on it! We were at the top of the mountain (not too long after the initial hill) and the ride came to a screeching halt! There had been prior issues with the ride, but we tried it anyway. Well either way, we had to have two Disneyland workers come up and get us and we hopped off the "toboggan" and got to go inside of the mountain to get back to the bottom! We walked down several flights of stairs and saw all sorts of wires, hooks, and the like. It was worth it :) I really thought it was cool and certainly an original experience.

The rest of the trip was a lot of fun - certainly better than the last time that I visited Mickey and friends (That would be Grad Night haha!). I got to ride the new and improved Space Mountain not once, but twice (it was just awesome!) and saw a fantastic fireworks display. Good times all around!

- TRANSFORMERS

It's incredibly fantastic. Enough said. Grade: A-

- BASKETBALL

The working out has been going well (I am starting to feel improvement!) and the off-season in the NBA has led to a lot of talk, and absolutely no action (relatively speaking). However, my SUNS did make one move that I am very excited about: we signed an aging veteran with a lot to prove. Usually, that would not be exciting at all, except for who this is and what we are paying for him. A former NCAA champion, co-Rookie of the Year, All-Star, and a fantastic playmaker named Grant Hill. We got him for the veteran's minimum and I'm excited about what he is going to bring to both our team and the locker room. Very cool.

- AARON SORKIN

I watched the series finale (only one season, though) of STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP, the NBC drama that I have plugged many times here in this space. Unfortunately, the show will not be returning for its sophomore season because NBC refused to pick it up. I don't know what both the hating critics (of which there were many) and the American viewers (of which there were not enough) wanted. I loved every episode of the show and I will miss it greatly next year. The chemistry between the actors (Especially Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford) and the witty writing from Sorkin was enough to have me begging for more every week. I will be purchasing that one and only season whenever it hits the streets in DVD form and my new goal is to rent the seasons of THE WEST WING, the Sorkin-written drama about the inside track of the White House (basically the same type of show as STUDIO 60, only with the White House as a setting). His prior series to that was SPORTS NIGHT, another short-lived show (two brilliant seasons) and I am a huge fan of that one as well. I will be watching whatever he does next, and I will guarantee that. Just let it be soon - please Mr. Sorkin!

- COMMENTS

Please everybody. . . It's SO simple!!!

- GOOD FRIENDS

I was able to have dinner last weekend with my good buddy George when he was in town for the day. We ended up staying at BJ's (I'm certainly allowed to eat there!) for nearly FOUR HOURS just chatting about life. It was awesome. Him and I click, I guess. We were never THAT close in high school, but we started talking more when we shared a certain College Algebra class back in the Fall of 2005. While talking, I realized something (and of course, vocalized): I have very few actual friends. The ones that I have known for a long time (e.g. Cy, Justin, Tom) seem to be just reliable friends. No matter how long between conversations or hanging out times, we pick right up where we left off. The difference is that none of us are all that close. I know a little about their pasts (like before we became friends) and I know their respective families (hell, I call Mrs. Serrano "Mama"), but we aren't that "tell anything to". The only one that really holds that title is George. I also have sports friends (e.g. Romique, Rico, Leshin) that I either played sports with or continue to work out with that I can just talk about basketball or go to the park and stuff like that. I do this with George as well. The other thing about a lot of my friends is that they all have other outlets. Cy has his countless church and volunteer-type groups that he is a big part of. Justin is very often down below, either for his internship or to see his girlfriend. Manny is married. Romique has so many people he knows, it's ridiculous. I just know all these people - I don't really have a group, per se. Neither does George. Down in Murrietta, all he really does is work and go to school. Most of the guys he works with are younger as well. So we have that in common as well. We also have common ideas about religion, philosophy, and those types of things. Essentially, George has become my best friend and guess what - he lives at a great distance. Why does that happen?!?! I see Heather once a week (maybe). I will see George almost never (he actually is going to Georgia for nine months in September). Why do I do this to myself haha - - -

- BOWLING

Which I will be heading to here in just an hour - - - the perfect game is coming. . . I just don't know when!

- HOLIDAYS

For the Fourth of July, Heather and I went to her dad's house down in San Clemente and enjoyed a day on the over-crowded beach, followed by a relaxing afternoon watching the unnoticed BLACK SNAKE MOAN, and completed by a fantastic dinner (tri-tip, pork ribs, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, caesar salad with homemade dressing - Holy Crap it was fantabulous!) and the local fireworks show put on by the city of San Clemente. The entire day was a lot of fun (despite the sun burn!) and I look forward to the next time that I get to go down there - it's always good!

And with that, I'm gonna head off. Hope you enjoyed it - - -

Let me know what you think - - -

Have a nigh