Friday, June 30, 2006

Tour de Doping Scandal?

I know most of you want me to rant about Shayna, which I love doing, but I can't NOT write about my beloved Tour de France, which by the way starts tomorrow, July 1st. There is news today that the top racers have been banned from the "Superbowl" of bicycle racing, The Tour de France. That's strange, I thought only Lance gets accused of doping?!? Oh well, now it's everyone else's turn.... well, just the Europeans turn. No American racers were accused (neener neener neener). The top 3 podium finishers will most likely be Americans (neener neener neener)! Because Last year's 2-3-4 finishers Ullrich, Basso, and Mancebo are out. Oh well, too bad for them!
I couldn't resist posting a cute picture of Shayna on the Blog, so I found this one of her during last year's Tour de France! She's so cute!

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Finally...A New Blog Entry!

Well here I am….Jenna is pissed because I haven’t updated my Blog in quite a while…sorry!
I am starting to hate Blogger because it has been very hard to upload any photos. It is very frustrating sitting in front of my computer for an hour or so trying to upload a single picture. I don't know if Blogger gets too busy or what, but I think an email to their tech dept is in order! Because Jenna is the only person who actually reads this Blog –
Here we go:
Working 4 days a week really sucks the life out of me! When I come home from work all I want to do is spend time with my baby girl, eat, then sleep. I am done with keyboards! Can you blame me? I mean, she is the cutest little princess around, you know. So I decided to type this Blog entry at work during my lunch break – only one thing – I don’t have any food sitting in front of me (so I guess it’s just a break), which is probably a good thing because have you seen my a$$ lately? Well, it’s huge. I really don’t want to go looking for my fat pants so I’m squeezing myself into those size 6 Gap Low and Loose jeans! Hahaha – low and loose – they should be called High and Tight! Well, enough about me… Shayna is becoming quite the linguist. We were watching the Teletubbies and she pointed to the TV and said, “Poe…scooter.” It was awesome. I love her cute little voice. It is also really cute when she throws her food on the floor and says, “Noooooo…BAD.” Yeah, I know… food on the floor is BAD but it’s so funny when she does that. Mark and I just look at each other and with wide open eyes, tell her, “Nooooo…BAD.” She thinks it’s hilarious. We don’t know what to do. I’ve tried taking her bowl with the rest of her food in it, away but then that really doesn’t teach her anything because I have to feed her the rest of it. It’s an endless cycle and one day I will have forgotten all about these obstacles.


OK.. Speaking about cycles… I promised a picture on the back of Mark's bike, so here it finally is. She LOVES sitting in her bike seat! All I hear from her is, "Weeeeeeee....Woooowwwww, Hi Mama, Up - Down - Up -Down." It's so awesome!



Well, it's time to give the 35 year old eyes a break for the day. I will try to post again tomorrow...


Click on the photo below for a cute video of Shayna at the beach:

Friday, June 16, 2006

Job Description for Mom

I just rec'd this as an email from my wonderful mother-in-law. I loved it so much that I thought I'd share it with everyone. Thanks, Lynn!!
Subject: Job description for Mom
POSITION : Mother, Mom, Mama, Mommy, Ma
JOB DESCRIPTION: Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.
RESPONSIBILITIES: The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.
POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION: Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.
WAGES AND COMPENSATION: Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.
BENEFITS: While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life if you play your cards right.

Little People Picture

Here is Shayna with her Little People on the fun computer desk chair!

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Sunday Outing and More...

I know that I promised you all pictures of Shayna on the back of Mark's bike, but... it didn't happen (taking of pictures). Instead I have some lovely pictures of Shayna at the beach. We threw the bikes on the back of the Volkswagen and headed off to Belmont Hts. We parked the van and jumped on our bikes for a ride along the beach front bike path. It was a gorgeous day. We found a little beach behind the peninsula and parked the bikes. Out came the towels, bathing suits, more sunscreen, and our large picnic mat. Mark took Shayna down to the water to play and I just snapped photos! It was great! Everyone was really nice and I know we'll be back there soon.

Shayna is climbing on everything, now. Curse MyGym! She was great before we started going there! I thought to myself as our friends with children complained about their kids climbing in and out of cribs, furniture, high chairs, etc., how lucky are we...we don't have a climber! Yippeeee.... well, it's like when you're driving on the freeway during rush hour and there's NO traffic whatsoever... you say to yourself, "WOW... I can't believe there isn't any traffic!" And before you say "any traffic," you are right upon those awful red brake lights....
Ahhh, the irony!
Shayna has now got quite the collection of "Little People." She loves playing with all of the people and animals. The other day, I thought this was sooo cute. I caught her spinning her "Little People" on our computer chair. Apparently, everyone, including the farm animals were on a field trip to the amusement park... the ride, "Whirlwind Computer Desk Chair." I don't know, but I'd pay good money for that ride! (Because I cannot post another picture for some reason, I'll add another post with that picture - curse Blogger.com!)

Saturday, June 10, 2006

Cuter Every Day!

I can't help but write that Shayna gets cuter EVERY DAY! Today, all 3 of us went for a bike ride. We bought Shayna a bike seat that fits onto the back of Mark's bike. It took us a long time before we could make this purchase because she wouldn't wear a hat, let alone a bike helmet! Sorry I don't have any pictures of our outing, but we're going to go for another ride tomorrow and I promise to have some cute picts! After we got back from our ride to the park, we went to the grocery store and here's a cute video of Shayna playing with the empty grocery bags that they say kids shouldn't play with. Click on the picture below to view the video:

I tried to sneak up on her, but she saw me and that was the end of that!

She has also figured out how a door works - here she is just before she slams the door in my face! How cute is that!

Thursday, June 08, 2006

We are so small...


I was thinking about some things tonight as I sat on the couch, alone... (Mark went out with friends & Shayna was sound asleep in her crib). I thought about:
1. how life goes by really fast
2. the problems that we face every day are so insignificant (see picture above)
3. the bumper sticker I read today on my monotonous drive to work - It said "There is not enough time to hate."
4. how much I love my family and friends
5. why are we here
6. why is there NOTHING worth watching on TV
7. reading the book that I am 3/4 of the way through
8. this Blog
9. other people's Blogs
10. and finally... just how much I'm in love with Mark and Shayna.... and how lucky am I...
BTW, the picture above is US (the Earth) - from Mars' prospective.
-Sorry this is such a boring entry...

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

June 6th....

D-day 1944 remembered

To those that served our country 62 years ago - Thank You.

Thank you to those who served that might read this posting.

Thank you to the family members who remember their loved-one who served and gave the ultimate sacrifice this day.

You have my deepest appreciation and respect.

Monday, June 05, 2006

Random Video of the Week

This is cool :A FAA Radar track sequence of a bank of FedEx aircraft getting into Memphis as thunderstorms pass over the airport:

Sunday, June 04, 2006

Family Reunion - Vegas Style...

Well, we're back from another weekend jaunt! This time... Henderson, Nevada. Mark, Shayna, and I drove to Nevada for a family reunion, of sort. Shayna was AWESOME in the car! What a great traveller! I didn't even have to break out the DVD player! I just told her stories about my expeditions in the desert!

My Uncle and his wife we're in town for the Las Vegas jewelry show (they also bought a house in Henderson this weekend - and will be moving there from Florida late this summer). My cousin, Jackie with her 11 month old son, Aviv, we're there, too. And of course, my parents made the trip from L.A. It was really great to see everyone and spend some quality time. Even though it's only a 3 1/2 hour drive from Long Beach, Vegas just seems so far away. Maybe it's the heat that messes with my head!

This is the World's Tallest Thermometer in Baker, CA. If you have had Lasik surgery you can read what it says: 110 degrees F - Our Tahoe measured: 115


REGARDLESS... It was F%$#&* HOT! Henderson wasn't that bad, though... it only got up to 109 degrees on Saturday... Today it hit 104 while we were there - I guess a cold front came in overnight! We had a blast! Shayna had so much fun with her cousin's Annie and Samantha (Pinkie). They all played very well together - they shared everything and we even witnessed hugging!
Both of my brothers bought houses recently in Henderson. We are really happy for those guys!



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