Its My Birthday Too Yeah

Well all the planning and work paid off. Kyle's party couldn't have gone any better. The rain held off long enough for people to enjoy the patio, beer and Fransky. Kyle played with some awesome babies and ate hot dogs and cake. What more could you ask for on your birthday?

There were nothing but smiles all around. Lots of hugs. Lots of kisses. I have the best friends and family in the world. I sorta hope there really is a heaven so when all of these people die they can enjoy eternal bliss.

Today we take Kyle to his first Phillies game for his birthday. Kristen is in the shower now but shortly she'll be making a sign for the boy to hold up at the game. I'm beyond stoked. Unfortunately Kyle's namesake is pitching. Oh well I'm off to find out what a 'Preferred Parking Pass' is.

I Gotta Rock.

I brewed my first beer. I let it ferment for two weeks and last night I put it in the bottles with soem sugar to add the carbonation. It should be ready to drink in 4 weeks. I love pumpkin ale!

Kyle's partyis Saturday and the house is a million years from ready. I'm really stressing myself out over this.

Red

Last night I worked hard in the yard and sweated a lot. I came in, took a shower, watched the Phillies and gave my boy his goodnight bottle.

After my wife and kid went to bed I layed on the floor with my dog and stayed up way too late reading a great book. I cried at the end.

It may have been the perfect night.

Smiles await you when you rise

Being a parent is so stressful sometimes. If I’m not worrying about Kyle, I’m thinking about him in some capacity. This weekend we went out to lunch and then stopped at Target to get a shower curtain (because I had the super awesome idea to rip out the existing doors from the shower and replace them with the more traditional tension rod system….. I’m sure this project won’t take 15 hours and leave me bloodied and unconscious on the bathroom floor at some point [this would have already happened if Kristen wasn’t there to catch me when I slipped]) , We stopped at Ron’s first and Kyle was hanging out in his seat eating puffs and the whole time I had to keep an eye on him because I was worried he was going to choke. Then in Target he started rubbing his eye because he was tired and it got all red. I swear we were ready to airlift him to CHOP because we thought he had some strange case of Pink Eye. Its crazy. He is completely dependant on us for every aspect of his life. I think I’m doing a good job but I always have this fear that I could be doing something better. I don’t know. This is just a bunch of rambling with no real point so I guess I’ll leave it at that.

Last night was a scary night. Sometimes after a night of heavy drinking (Dewar’s, Pabst, Mickey’s) I get really weak and shaky the next night. Last night was one of those nights. I kept getting images of crazy stuff in my head and I fell asleep really scared. I really should cut back on the drinking…..and the pointless blog entries.

Its Outta Heeeeeeeeere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are three people that I trace my love of baseball back to.

The first would be my father who taught me the mechanics of the game. How to generate power in your hips, how to stay down on a ground ball, keeping your shoulder in there, use two hands……
My Dad bought me my first glove and would have catches with me after working a full day and being dog tired. I learned how to throw a knuckleball because of him. He coached my Farm League team and never missed a Little League game.

The second would be my Little League coach Creighton Knowles. He really refined my mechanics and taught me about the philosophy of the game. Creighton made me a pitcher and helped me develop a curve. He would also teach me about “good outs” and fouling bad strikes off. He brought a whole new dimension to the game.

The third was Harry Kalas. Kalas was the voice of the Phillies for me. He really showed me how to be passionate about the game. He made it OK for a grown man to cry when your team wins the World Series. I would curse FOX and ESPN broadcasts because I would have to find a way to get some AM reception so I could hear Harry. Based on some rough calculations I would say there are only about 4 people whose voices I’ve heard more than Harry’s. Some people may think its silly that I am so upset about a man I never met but he played such a powerful part of my life that I don’t think I can ever forget Harry the K.

I still feel numb about yesterday. I’m sure this feeling will fade but for now it almost feels like a part of my childhood has been taken from me. I don’t think I’ll ever enjoy listening to a Phillies game as much as I did before yesterday. I feel that I’ve lost a good friend who will always be missed.

Next time you're found, with your chin on the ground

There's a lot to be learned, so look around

Just what makes that little old ant

Think he'll move that rubber tree plant

Anyone knows an ant, can'tMove a rubber tree plant

But he's got high hopes, he's got high hopes

He's got high apple pie, in the sky hopes

So any time you're gettin' low'stead of lettin' go

Just remember that ant

Oops there goes another rubber tree plant

When troubles call, and your backs to the wall

There a lot to be learned, that wall could fall

Once there was a silly old ram

Thought he'd punch a hole in a dam

No one could make that ram, scramHe kept buttin' that dam
So any time you're feelin' bad'stead of feelin sad

Just remember that ram

Oops there goes a billion kilowatt dam

161 To Go!

Well Opening Day was awesome (aside from the actual game). Actually overall the whole weekend was fantastic. Kristen and I headed down to Citizen’s Bank Park on Saturday for the exhibition against the Rays. We ended up spending about an hour in the parking lot enjoying some canned domestic goodness and never really made it to our seats. We picked up a shirt and Phanatic book for Kyle and I picked up my free media guide and World Series Pint Glass Set (which is the Pete Incaviglia [I just had to google Inky’s name to get the spelling right and I never knew there was a “g” in there…..thats what she said] of pint glass sets…..its thick sturdy and gets the job done…… I love it)

After picking up the rental on Sunday (my car still isn’t finished and at this point I hope they find some sort of structural damage and its totaled) we went food shopping and then I made my way home to do some yard work. I cut down a bunch of trees and bushes. I felt like a real man.
I made Schmitters for dinner which were amazing. I can’t believe fried salami changes the whole dynamic of the sandwich. Then Kyle and I settled in for some pregame and World Series Highlights. My lil’ man was pooped by the time the game started but managed to stay up until 9:30 ( I think he secretly knew it was a big occasion). Once he went to bed Kristen made some Crab Fries with Cheese Sauce which were out of this world.
It was a successful evening

Even though the Phil’s lost I have to say that this may have been the best Opening Day ever!

Love is in the air........

Its been a long time since I've posted so here is the quick recap of the worst two weeks of my life.

Last Week:
Monday- I get rear ended on my way to work (and not in a sexy way). Some awful looking atrocity named Alicia the Hut slammed into me at about 3o MPH. Her car was totaled, I drive a tank. Thank goodness Kyle wasn't in the car.

I have to take off work and spend most of the morning/afternoon in the Emergency Room. They tell me I have back spasms, give me some muscle relaxers and send me on my way. I proceed to have interesting conversations with family, friends and doctors regarding my level of stiffness and giggle like the immature boy I am.

Tuesday- Try to go to work but after 2 and a half hours I head home because I can't sit in a chair anymore.

Wed- Work stinks

Thursday- Take the kid down to CHOP for a kidney evaluation which includes putting him to sleep, inserting an IV and giving him a catheter. I cried and I never want to see my child sedated again. It was the worst. On the plus side I got charged $13 for a stupid half a sandwich and cup of soup at Au Bon Pain so at least I have that going for me.

Friday- Check engine light comes on in the car.

This week
Monday- Car barely makes it home from work because it accelerates even when my foot is on the brake. Oh and Kyle is up screaming throughout the night. Awesome!

Tuesday- Kristen takes off work because Kyle has a Killer cold (Lemonade).

Wed- I start hacking at work and realize my baby's mutant cold has infected me.

The car is no longer functional and I have it towed to a garage which is perfect because we have tons of extra money to pay for this.

That night I wake up at 1:45 and can't get back to sleep until about 4.

Thursday- I can't breath and the medicine leaves me feeling dopey. Take Kyle to CHOP for more kidney stuff. Another catheter but no sedation. Better than last time.

Friday- Today I feel even worse than yesterday but can't take off because I missed so much time these last few weeks between the accident and Kyle's appointments. I took the dog to the groomer and got ridiculed because he had poo stuck to his but and mats in his hair. Great!


Oh well we have meaningful baseball on Sunday! I plan on getting Kyle a lil' jersey, making Schmitters, making hot dogs, drinking Schmidts and eating Crab Fries all day on Sunday. If I remember I may even take some pictures. Its my baby's first Opening Day and (even though he won't remember it) it is one of the things I was looking forward to most when I found out Kristen was pregnant.

I'm also working on getting Kristen to let us take the baby to the exhibition game on Saturday which would be HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll try to pick up my top ten shows list either later today or next week.