The Good Ol' World Of Mike!

Donuts anyone???

2009-12-24T19:03:00.001-08:00

So this Christmas I spent in the beautiful state of Colorado with my in-laws. Kristen and I drove to and from Denver from Houston straight through in one day. It was a great 14-15 hour trip.
While visiting Kristen's parents we had a great time hanging with the family. We had a wonderful Christmas with them and their traditions. While there we had a few experiences that eventually turn into classics. Previous classics is eating all the oreos at the family reunion, Mom's hiccups, digging trenches for Dad, Foos Ball and Twinkies.
This time around adds some more stories to the classic book. We were sitting one evening in the kitchen talking to Rachel and mom about driving. Mom was off cooking something delicious as always. Our conversation was directed to Rachel and her driving. It was extremely cold out in Denver with alot of snow on the ground. So we were talking about driving in snow and Rachel's experience with it.
So as we were talking I start messing with everyone's head by telling Rachel that we need to go out and experience "true" snow driving (donuts and drifting and stuff to that matter). So I start joking with Rachel that we should go out and do donuts. Mom obviously not paying attention says, "There are not any Donut Shops open at this hour!" We turn, take a look at her, then at each other, then busted out laughing!!! She was like what, there are not open. Then I told her that I was going to teach Rachel how to do donuts with the car!!! At that moment, she knew she was doomed again.
On couple of our last days we planned on going snowboarding. So we went to copper mountain and boarded. We started by going up the blue runs. Kristen and I wanted to go to the greens to learn our front edge. So we had to go over traverses to reach the greens. The only problem with traverses is that you have to have enough speed going down to go back up these traverses. Well, when you do not have a grasp for the front edge this is a difficult task!!!
Well on the first traverse this guy was teaching a girl what I was trying to learn. THE FRONT EDGE!!! So he told me to bend my knees and go, bending your knees helps you get a better feel of the front edge. So he went ahead and then I went. If he didn't go ahead, I would of thought he was gay!!!
I made my way down and about half way I caught my front edge. Then I try to correct myself but over did it but caught myself. When I caught myself I hit a patch of ice and went straight up in the air, my feet that is, with a few explicits and fell straight on my butt. After other falls I get up right away and try again. Oh no, no, no, there is no getting up after falling on ice and feeling like 200 lb. linebacker just slammed you in the ground. That's pretty specific, uh, yeah, cause I was the quarterback for my high school freshman team. Thats what I experienced and felt after THE FALL.
Now after 10 min. on the ground I got up in agony and tried it again. Well, I met my battles again with another traverse. And again I lost the battle!!! This time it was confirmed. My butt hurts and there is no way of me taking on a traverse, front edge or snowboarding for the rest of the trip. Only bad thing is, I still had half the hill to get down. So lets say what would normally be a 15 min. trip down the hill turned to 2 hours. About a quarter of it I slid down on my side holding my board up to go and stopping with the board down. Now if you have never slid down the hill on your butt before, its a lot of fun, that's if your butt did killed!!!
You know the whole boarding trip wouldn't be bad if I was flying home that week. Noooo, I drove to Colorado. I almost bought a Donut to sit on. Oh well the price you pay for family. All in all excellent trip!!!

Graduation (Hell Froze Over)

2009-12-24T07:56:00.001-08:00

So after 9 years since graduating high school and 7 years since coming home from my mission, I GRADUATED. Now its normal for a person to graduate in 7-8 years from college. Then I realized they call them Doctors, actually a friend of mine (yes, I still have friends) told me that, the jerk.
I worked really hard for a Bachelors in Business Administration - Finance at the University of Houston. I help bring to the University close to $30,000 for my tuition money. After 2 years there and all that money I attended the ceremony. It was great and nice besides the fact that they took forever with the Phd's and Master's that they had to rush through the bachelors. This is where the plot thickens.
We have these cards to announce our name and keep us organized for announcing. So it has our name degree and a place of how to pronounce your name. So I figure that Michael and Paul wouldn't be hard to pronounce but Egbert is a whole new ball game. I have heard eeeeegabert, ejbert, and eglebert. So I put on my card Egg Bert just like that.
So as they are pushing us up on the stage there is a 4 person pile up at the president of the school. So as I finally approach the President, I hear "Mi blank (i'll fill later)" Paul Egbert. I was like wait did I hear what I thought I heard. Yep, my family confirmed the impossible, with snide remarks following the confirmation. So after all this I put into my university they, a doctorate Moron announced me as:
MICHELLE PAUL EGBERT
My reaction was classic on stage, I gave the President a looked like I saw a ghost, about to kick someones a$! and Really! The president gives me a look like are you ok, and follows with the remark, "Congratulations, I guess?" I was pissed, but then I thought of this great blog. This will be great to vent on a blog. Also, if I didn't vent and a few certain people got a hold of this story before I told them. Then it would turn into a very disastrous myth. So yes I finally graduated and so did Michelle Paul Egbert. I hate to be that person's parents. Come on, who names their kid Michelle Paul Egbert. Its like naming your kid Eric Loyal Atkinson. Now that's a disaster of child waiting to happen.

Christmas Artsy Fartsy

2009-12-06T06:17:00.000-08:00

OK, so during Thanksgiving my sister and I were avoiding studying for finals big time. We wanted to contribute to Martha Stewart's (Our Mom) decorating by being creative. So we decide on Thanksgiving to make Rice Krispie House. On Friday, our parents were out running errands and grabbed all the crap to make the house.
So, on Saturday I decide to make the Rice Krispie treat. I spent about 2-3 hours melting butter and marshmallows. No keep in mind, I have never mad marshmallow paste. I am getting this everywhere. Its all over the counters, cooking range and my hands. Needless to say, Martha was starting to think this was a bad idea. After 4 triple batches of rice krispies and sticky hands and having no idea what is going on I was done.
We had 4 walls and a roof ready to go. We started to set up our house, and the walls being still a little warm and not as compressed as they didn't tell me how they should be, The house was collapsing. Now when they say compress I put some pressure in the pan make sure it has uniform. They should of said no air in the mold, put it under a compression machine that you see in shop class compress.
So my sister and I decide to save the house and make it one big block and mold it into a house. So we did and let sit overnight so we can decorate it in the morning. Well, the next morning when we woke up the rice krispie house was a rice krispie mountain all over Martha's table (it was molded on a cardboard wrapped with foil). Yes this wonderful looking house, well good looking with a little doctoring up, it did not even stay on the foil, it was everywhere.
So at this point we took our mound of goopy cereal, and started pounding it on the counter. We were giving it compressions like you would giving someone CPR. After all said and done we had a mold of a house (that should be condemned!) that was not moving.
Now we are ready to decorate the house and it is Sunday. As we finished up molding, my sister had to get back to school for the last week of classes. So we spent a weekend of Artsy Fartsy stuff molding and remolding a rice krispie house just to finally eat it!!! At least it tasted better than what you get at stores. I think we are going to re-conquer the house at a later date.
I would of posted pictures of the mound of Goop but it wasn't even worth while to take the pics. So next time I'll get some pics for ya.

Halloween

2009-11-06T08:41:00.000-08:00

New Jordan Photos

2009-11-06T08:12:00.000-08:00

So a few Jordan Pictures.

Hoodlum

She decided that when she sleeps to have a blanket over her head or at least on her face. We have to keep a close eye on her.

Her first time with Rice Cereal. She loves it!!!

The Pout, gets ya every time, or at least Daddy

Car ride, she loves it a first because of new scenery but after that she will let you know.

Golfing and Birthday

2009-11-06T07:24:00.000-08:00

Ok, so my old man started to pick up golf as a hobby. For years, he has gone to the driving range to wack golf balls for fun. In the past year or so he thought that since he is approaching retirement that he needed a hobby to keep him busy and that it would be golf. He has since bought new clubs and we bought him a new bag for his last birthday. He is set to play golf!!!
Side note, my Dad has a serious problem when it comes to driving the ball. It hooks really bad or slices. He has been trying to figure out how to fix it without going to get lessons. Hasn't worked out and he is waiting for a free moment to go get some lessons. This is Crucial Information about the story I'm going to tell ya.
The story goes that my Mom has some wonderful friends up in Denver, that she has known since high school. We have in one way or form have celebrated major milestones in each family. This family's oldest daughter was having a surprise Birthday party for her husband. I say surprise because she is going to announce to her step dad and husband that she is pregnant with her first! She asked my family to come up to join in on the party. My mom and brother initially went up and then after some convincing my dad and sister went up later on in the week. That is another funny story for later.
So my Dad decides to go up since my mom convinced him that it will not all be about them. She said that on the Sunday that they were up there, that Russ and Sher (parents of the family friends), were going to do 18 holes at a local course. My Dad with zero emotion gets prepare by bring up his clubs.
So golf day, Russ, Sher, my sister and dad go to the course early in the morning. They are about 8-9 holes into their day. Doing fairly good on the course, up to this point.
My Dad is teeing off on the next hole. He gets set and analyzed what he wants to do with the tee off, but never goes the way he wants it. So he tees off, he said it was the best shot ever on the course. He said it was going straight and easy 200+ yards. Only bad thing happen...About 50 or so yards out a bird swoops down in the path of the ball. And POOF ball drops and so does the bird with feathers speckling the fairway!!! It was kind of like the Randy Johnson incident (see clip), that was said by my dad and sister.

My sister said they were in complete shock with jaws to the ground. When she texted me, I called her up and started laughing. She said it wasn't funny the bird died. I told her, I'm not laughing at the death of the bird...I'm laughing at the fact Dad finally hit a perfect tee shot and was ruined by a 1 in a million chance of a bird swooping in the way!
So about a few weeks back, my dad had a birthday. Since it was right around Halloween I knew I could re-create the event for a gift. So my sister and I found a We bought it and cut a hole in its side. We bought extra feathers and golf balls. We implanted a golf ball in the hole of the bird. We made a plaque stating "In Memory of I.B.Whacked". We then put it in a box and sprinkled feather all over the box with the box of golf balls which were Nike Juice. So we customized the box and it was then called Nike Juiced Golf Balls!!! When my dad open this amazing gift, his reaction is priceless "What the Heck" "OOOOOOK" "This is the Respect I get from my family on my birthday" in a sarcastic voice!!!
Cost Structure of Gift:
Little statue/prop of a crow $8
Extra Feathers $2
Golf Balls $20
Hole in Bird 5 minutes
Customized Golf Ball Box 1 Minute
Plaque 3 Minutes
Dad's Birthday Gift Response "Priceless"
Sitting on my Dad's Desk at work "Classic"

Jordan Update

2009-09-29T06:56:00.000-07:00

So my wife tells me that Jordan is going to have Self Conscience issues. Now that I think about it, all I have to say is "I'm Sorry" for now. I know my daughter is going to be like me, unfortunately. To start out, she was born looking mostly like me. That there is a strike. Now she is getting her baby fat, and she is getting a belly like my dad, strike two. And for the third strike, she has a hair line like my dad. Wow, she already has issues. But, you cannot deny this look. So she gets a free base on balls.

Baby Jordan Marie Egbert

2009-08-02T19:53:00.000-07:00

July 18th, 2009
6lbs. 15 ozs.
19 in. long

Surprise

2009-05-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Ok, so on April 30 it was our 5 year anniversary. We had plan on taking a long weekend up to a week to go to New Braunfels, TX to go to Schlitterbahn. Schlitterbahn is one of the biggest waterparks in the U.S. So we have been planning on doing this since our last anniversary. Well in November our plans went all the way down the drain for at least a year. Thats when we found out Kristen was pregnant.
So now I had to think of a good gift to give her for our milestone anniversary. Nothing was coming to mind. I let her get a massage but I couldn't leave it at that. So the light turned on when my mom and I were talking. Right when the light went on then my mom said it: "I would be cool if we flew down one of her friends for the the baby shower, like Cody." Thats it, I'm going to do that for our Anniversary/one of her baby gifts. So the pursuit was on, I talked to Cody and she gave it a go. I found the tickets and it was on.
As I was trying to plan the week for her and Cody to hang out. Kristen's delightful boss decides to make her close 6 days within a two week period. I tell Kristen she has to close tuesday to make up for one of the closes and get wednesday and thursday off. Well she fought me with this one cause her delightful manager will not move the schedule unless it is on her acccord. Well after a bicker and a argue, Kristen asks me what is it for. I told her that we were going to visit her mom one night, who is in town for a few weeks. Then we were going to a rockets game thursday night cause I got tickets (yeah it was a fib I told her, Ok I lied to my wife, get off my back!). So after a while, she called me back telling me her manager did switch with her.
Well this wonderful manager is the BIGGEST DOWNER IN THE WORLD! She tells Kristen that there wasn't a Rockets game on thursday, which is today. Kristen doesn't check and finally tells me what her manager said. I remained quiet because I thought I had my days backwards. Finals will do that to ya. So she apoligizes and she know she is getting a gift on Thursday. But I was smarter than that, its coming on Tuesday! Ah Hah! So over the weekend Sean (for those who don't know who Sean is thats Kristen's brother) calls up and needs someone to pick up Kristen's mom. Well Kristen gets off Tuesday night to pick up her mom. Tuesday was the day that Cody was coming into town. So I was little freaked, but fortunately for me we live in a big city that has two airports and they were both coming in in each airport.
So Tuesday came and it all fell into place. Only thing that didn't was Kristen's lack of patience and wanted me to be there when her mom and her arrived at Sean's apartment. I told her I was running late. At this point I learned surprises make you lie alot! Oh well, i'll repent later and say my hail mary's!
Well I picked Cody up and took her over to Sean's house. As I arrived, like always I forget the code to get into Sean's complex. I call Kristen up and ask for the code. As the gate was opening up I told Kristen to come out the car. She asked why and said no. Side note: Sean and Juliet know that I'm surprising Kristen with Cody. So as she says no, they ask why are you saying no and Kristen tells them why. Sean and Juliet say, "just go out, he might have a present for you." Kristen says, "he is not that smooth!" Normally I might not but today, Gotcha! So she finally says, "Ok." So we parked right in front of the pathway where she would walk up. As she walks up she notice far away that a person is in the car. As she walks closer her look gets really pissed off. The look like she is going to rip my head off. I found out later it was because she can see a girl in the car with me. Then as she gets within 10 feet of the car she notices it is Cody. She went from riping my head off pissed to I love you in .5 seconds. She jumped up and down, and picture this she is 7 months pregnant while jumping up and down. Cody and I were laughing our heads off!
So for about 2-3 weeks Kristen had no idea about Cody coming into town for her baby shower. SURPRISE!!!
I will post pictures later of Kristen and Cody and maybe the baby shower.

Danielle's 21st Birthday

2009-04-19T11:12:00.000-07:00

On the 18th was my little sister's 21st birthday. As I was looking for her gift, my A.D.D. kicked in and I started to think about how I should wrap her gift. Then while i was thinking of reasons why I should wrap it the way I thought of it and this is what I came up.
First off let me tell you what she got. She got an Ipod touch from my parents, two video games from my brother and Kristen and I. So with the Ipod I thought she deserved this: wrapped in tissue paper, then taped with packaging tape, then wrapped in newspaper, then placed in a box with more newspaper. Then I duct tape the box close. The reason for this not so bad wrapping, well she is a good sister besides the time I remember she would annoy my friends and I when I was younger.
For example, when I was in middle school and Danielle was about 5, Danielle like my friend Bryan because he would play games with her. Not games of torment like my friend Donald and I would always do to her. She deserved it by the way. Bryan would always play different games with her and try to include her in what we were doing. Well one night, Bryan spent the night. We let Danielle play a few games with us. But I was getting tired and we were trying to watch baseball, so I decided to kick Danielle out of my room. Danielle was not going to let that be the end of it. So what did she do, get mom and dad involved, and being the princess she got her way. So we let her in to watch baseball and after a few minutes of being pissed off, I kicked her out Again. Then she would sit at the door and bang on the door with her feet. She would do this while crying, until she didn't get her way, mom and dad put her to bed.
Ok gift number two, video game number one! I took tissue paper and wrapped the video game then taped it with packaging tape, then wrapped it in newspaper, then wrapped it completely in two layers of duct tape. Then I got a bigger box and put the smaller box with the ipod in it, then the video game then a wrapped a brick with newspaper and put it in the box with crumpled newspaper all around it.
Gift number 3,video game, was like gift number two, but more duct tape and we got bigger boxes and put the smaller boxes in it and put more newspaper and another brick. We then duct tape the box close and wrapped the top with the obituaries and then wrapped the rest of the box with wrapping paper and gave it to her.
These gifts took more than 20 minutes for her to open. She was sweating and ready to stab me with the scissors that I gave her after all was said and done.
The reason for all of this dates back to about the same annoying time from last story. We were playing in our front yard. My wonderful little sister who took the title princess seriously was plotting a plan to get me into trouble. Well, I accidently tripped her when we were playing, I think we were playing a baseball game, like home run derby and we were switching up at bats. Well, she decide to start screaming bloody murder, like i just broke something. So I told her she have certain toys of mine, like nintendo, my basketball, my baseball bat and I even told her I would build her a fort if she would shut up. She then after every bribe I can think of, would scream louder and louder. I then could here my parents coming...So I then tried to pick her up, when I tried to pull her up by her arm, not both arms, just one, I pulled her arm out of socket. Soooo, now I was in trouble. They took her to the ER and the doctor put her arm back into socket. I got out of the whole thing was a grounding for a week. All this because of an accidental trip. Oh well, like I told Princess Ericfina, "What comes around, Goes Around" and thats what Danielle got today!!! Happy Birthday Lil' Sis.

Will and Isaac

2009-03-26T18:49:00.000-07:00

Sunday before last, Kristen and I went over to Sean and Juliet's for dinner and a celebration of Isaac's (Zac for short) Birthday. I realized when we were there that Sean and Juliet are in for the long haul with these two little ones. Will loves to run around with his big head while banging on walls and trying to rock climb the book shelf. Zac loves to spread his toys around and is working up to compete with will but hasn't gotten the balancing on the feet down yet. Thats not the reason for the long haul. That was just how active they are. Both boys are really good kids and all of excitment was partly due to Uncle Mike and Uncle Austin's fault for getting Will hyped up. So blame the other boys, Mike and Austin, too.
But don't blame Austin and Mike for this next part. This is the part that they are in it for the long haul with the boys. As we are sitting around after the celebration of Zac's Birthday digesting the cake. Will decides to crawl all over playground Mike, Spike, Bike. He suddenly turns around and see's Zac playing with his new dinosaurs that was his cake topper. Will gets this wonderful idea to go over and take the dinosaurs away. So he makes his slow but careless approach towards Zac. When he finally meets up with Zac at his feet, he quickly takes Zac's Dinosaurs away and makes a four to five step escape.
Now if this was a month ago Will had ample time to pull the dinosaurs out and played with them. But as he was standing there, Zac quickly gets into crawl mode, and tries to trip up Will. I was think at this moment, good move. This is the oldest of three talking, that battled a twice the size downsyndrome brother. Yes I did lose quite a bit from my brother by the pindown. Will being twice the size of Zac, shakes him off like it ain't no thang. Zac then retaliates be grabbing a toy and throwing it a Will.
At that time, Juliet stepped in and settled things back to the way things were. Will had to go back to playground mike, spike, bike and Zac got his dinosaurs back. I could see that once Zac starts walking oh boy, we are in for the big one. Redemption will be sweet for Zac. At the end of the day, I think the moral of the story is, you must be relentless or you don't get your toys back. Or just wait for mummy!!!

Spending making up 70% of the economy

2009-03-24T15:37:00.000-07:00

As I was watching the news today on ABC, while making dinner I heard the headline of my post. I thought to myself, 70% of our economy is us spending money. Its not about us producing any good on behalf of the world. It is us funding the world by buying their product.
Now I'm not all about the "Made in U.S.A." campaign. I am all about globalization and how everyone can benefit. The only people or economies benefiting is other countries.
We have a problem. One of the main reasons we are in a recession is because we are a consumption base economy. We need to be more production base with new technologies. We need to build more efficent technologies, systems, energy and so on. This will allow us to be able not to be a consumption base. If we build more then the world will not depend on our consumption rather be dependent on our growth and innovation. Just food for thought, love to hear some comments on this.

Toxic Asset Bailout + Stimulus + Corporate Bailout = Toxic Taxes

2009-03-23T11:35:00.000-07:00

Ok, so my take of this toxic asset bailout is this. The government will match the private investor's money that they will invest into toxic assets. If the investor makes money then they get to keep it. If the investor loses their money, then the government will eat the whole 100% and reimburse the investor. I'm not sure if the investor has to lose all their money or part but either way, its a win, win situation for the investor.
So where do I get in on these toxic asset. You can not lose, well maybe just your money for a period of time. The government will make you whole at the end.
Now as a taxpayer this is horrible. We live in a free market society, which means free moving of products/assets. In a free market society, we take on the risk of our products/assets increase and decrease in value. Simple economics will point us in that way.
Now, where is our free market society when the government takes my tax money and gives it to business that are careless with their floundering products/assets. These businesses did not manage their companies in a way to reduce the risk of losing money on their investments . They were on the verge of going out of business due to their carelessness and the government bailed them out.
Wait, WE THE TAXPAYERS, bailed them out. Our tax money!!! Isn't that money suppose to be for our national defense, infrastructure, government programs and so on? I didn't know that we are suppose to bail businesses out because of their stupidity.
Also, the toxic assets a.k.a. bad mortgages. I thought the government had regulations geared towards the prevention of all of this? Isn't the government suppose to overlook the malpractices of mortgages companies? Where is the SEC?
I feel for the people that were mis-guided through the mortgage process and were put in over their head or didn't realize it was sub-prime. I will give them the benefit of the doubt, because I have heard some of the malpractices of mortgages companies.
We are ruining our economy, currency and constitution. The reason why I say constitution, is because the government was formed from the constitution. We need to look at the end actual effect of all of this. This money, that we do not have and the government is borrowing, is our children's money. We are allowing our government officials borrow against our kids future.
We are allowing the government destroy our currency. Our dollar is going to start looking weak. We will have to pay more for other currencies. We need to look at all angles of what is happening. We can not take somebody else's word for it.
I would love to hear from everybody else's stance on this. You can do so by commenting on this post or email me at eggo31@hotmail.com.

Good Times in the Slow Lane of Ogden

2009-03-06T09:56:00.000-08:00

One summer My Brother-in-law, Eric and I wanted to make some spare cash. Our father-in-law, Jerry decide to help us out by employing us. Jerry was having some water troubles in his basement in Ogden. It was coming from the outside seeping in through the basement walls. So he wanted us to dig a foundation drain around the house. We had to dig 6-9 feet deep in order for the drain to work. We did this all summer of 2006 up till Eric's departure into the Air Force.
One day, I got off work early to get a head start on the drain. I pulled up to the house and I see Eric up to no good. He was crouched behind one of the cars in the driveway. He quietly with some gestures told me to go into the house.
As I walk into the house I see a towel jammed into the doorbell. Eric walks around back and tells me about his amazing adventure with the neighborhood kids. Who I might add were in his sunday school class that Eric teaches. These Angel of Kids were doorbell ditching, knowing Keira (who was under a year old at the time) was sleeping. They were doing this all day to Tricia. So Eric and I went on a mission.
I went outside acting like I know nothing and all of sudden I'm getting bombed by eggs and shot by super soakers. Too bad I lived about 5 blocks away or I would of pulled out immediately my paintball guns.
So Eric and I devised a plan, to capture these kids one by one, all three of them. As we caught the first devil child, we tied them up to the huge, I think Maple, tree in our father-in-laws front lawn. We turned on the garden hose with a pressure nossle and had Tricia sit there threatening them. If they make any more Tricia dowsed them!
As time wore on, for about an hour or so we caught all 4 of them. They did put up an exellent fight. I think they have a chicken farm in their backyard, cause they had neverending supply of eggs. Finally after catching them all. We and when I say we, Eric, Tricia and I tied them together all four with their backs to each other. We tied their hands, feet and bodies together. We then soaked them with their super soakers and the garden hose.
Then we made them walk slowly down the road with a sign saying "We were caught Doorbell Ditching!!!" Tons of cars slowed down and started laughing at them. We then took them to their house. We cracked about 2-3 eggs on each of their heads and then doorbell ditched their parents.
We found out later that the mom just woke up when she heard the doorbell. She came downstairs and open the door seeing her boys and some of the other neighborhood boys. They were tied together completely soaked, with eggs dripping off their heads, and a sign saying " We were caught Doorbell Ditching!!!" with super soakers on the ground in front of them.
We went up to the mom and told her we were trying to teach the boys a lesson. She said good, they deserve it. Somebody has to when their dad isn't around. We then asked if they learned their lesson and they said yes. So we had them over for a movie after they cleaned up.
About an hour later, we were at home waiting for the Angels to come over. Their dad was with them. He came in and gave us all a high five and said thank you for what we did. He was so happy that someone put their kids into place when he wasn't around. He was in the middle of a transfer to St. George, UT.
In the end, we had a huge ol' party instead of diggging the ditch and working. It was a good days work!!!

Go Speedracer, Go Speedracer GOOOOOOOO

2009-03-05T22:49:00.000-08:00

So, if you have ever lived in Texas, we love to drive...FAST! Well, alot of us do. There is a reasoning behind it, we have the second biggest state and alot of land to cover. So why waste time, Go Fast!
Ok, so Houston is a huge city. It takes For-Ev-Er (think Sandlot)to get across it. You have to plan a vacation just to drive across town because of the highway system and miles to cover. Also, on top of it all, we have alot of different people (from different states and countries)that have different driving standards. So when these driving standards come together, do you know what that spells...HELL!
I live on the northwest side of Houston in a small suburb called Spring/Klein. I go to school at The University of Houston (eat that Ohio State). So to go from Spring to University of Houston I have to go drive on 6 different highways. It can take me 40 minutes to hour and half, depending on traffic, weather and the stupidity of the melting pot!
On a beautiful Saturday morning, and when I say beautiful not hot and humid like it always is. I decided to make a trip to U of H (thats University of Houston for the non-Houston peeps)to take a Stats test. I decided that morning that I needed to get there early to study, since I could use all the help, no comments from Ericfina.So I planned to leave early around 7 since my test was at 11:30. Also, if i haven't mention before, I have a new car. I use to drive a 4 cylinder gold 2000 Honda Accord. Now I drive a 6 cylinder blue 2003 Honda Accord. Hopefully you are getting the idea, more cylinders, more speed, means FAST! I was driving to U of H on the first of 6 highways. Like a genius that I am, I use all 6 cylinders. Highways range 65 to 90 in Houston, thats depending on who is the pace car. So using all 6 cylinders to get to school early and FAST I was going about 80-85 mph. As I am driving, I started to notice that I was a pace car, and thats not good. When I realized that I looked up and say blue and red pretty lights. Yeah I met Mr. Shank-a-patomus himself. The 50 pulled me over and I he asks me, why are you going so fast? I come up with the most genius comment back, "Uhhhhhhhhhhh, I lost track of my speed." Then came to my mind IDIOT! After 15 minutes, I received the golden ticket, to visit the man in the black robe. I guess that is what you get in trying to make a good grade on your test...a speeding ticket going 16 over. Word to the wise, don't be the pace car, or beware of the pace car.

Ok, the teaser is OVER and Overhyped

2009-01-07T16:03:00.000-08:00

So as probably most of you know Kristen and I have a huge annoucement. To preface it, around thanksgiving last year we moved in with my parents. About 2-3 weeks before thanksgiving we made our decision to move in with them. I quit my job to finish up school quicker and also to focus on my grades.
Not but 3 days after our decision, Kristen gets this feeling that she needs to take THE TEST. Now, have in mind that the last 2 years we have been trying hard to get pregnant. We had a mis-carriage October of 2007 and that was about it. When we made the decision to move in with my parents, it was to quit putting things on hold and to make a push to finish school.
Back to the test!!! Kristen comes out of the bathroom almost swearing. She is in panic, because we stopped trying and were making changes in our life. She is pregnant.
Lets rewind to the mis-carriage, when we found out in '07 she was pregnant, she was excited and I was shocked and paniced. This time around it was reversed. I am totally ready after two years of work(the good kind)!!!
So we go into the doctor on December 22, 2008 to make sure everything is all right. We get this confirmation!

So we are going to be parents, Sweetness. Now this last Tuesday, Kristen is at her 5 month mark/visit. This is THE VISIT, the visit that lets us know the sex of the baby. So we have the ultrasound, and the nurse, tech, whatever she is, is taking measurements and stuff. Come to find out, our baby is a free spirt. It full out moons us and will not turn over. So the nurse, tech, whatever she is, is now poking Kristen in the stomach and literally tickling her. It was hularious!!! So after some time, we find out that we are having a Little Girl! !!! Here are her current pictures:

Leg (thats for those who failed anatomy)

The arrows are pointing to what the doctor describes as "Girl Parts". I'm just quoting the Doc!

Another picture of the "Girl Parts"
On July 22 Kristen is due with our first child. We already have a name picked out. It will be only disclose to certain people, which is pretty much family. Don't ask, cause I will not tell, until a further date.
Also, as to Tricia's request, I will take a picture of Kristen, hopefully starting tomorrow. Just give me a friendly reminder!!!

Teaser: One of the Most Amazing Moments

2008-12-22T23:46:00.000-08:00

Today I had one of the most amazing moments of my life. I will post the story with a picture soon!!!

Tagged by my prettier side (Eric not you!!!)

2008-10-23T08:25:00.001-07:00

Joys
1. My Wife, when she doesn't stink
2. Baseball and the rest of the sports!!!
3. The day I finish school
Fears

1. Watching a scarey movie with my wife...that is losing my arm from her ripping it off!!!
2. Something happening to my family.
3. That school will never end. Just like that stupid song!
Goals
1. Getting a degree in something
2. Watching a baseball game in every exsisting baseball park in the MLB!!!
3. Having kids, hope its not my fault if it doesn't happen!
Current Obsessions
1. Duh, sports, have you read my blog!
2. Trying to finish school
3. Trying to better our money situation
Regrets
1. Not pursuing baseball further
2. Digging a ditch with Ericfina...He stinks, just ask his dishwasher!

3.Transfering for a company that didn't care about its employees
Facts about Me

1. Have a downsyndrome brother.

Joys
.bp.blogspot.com/_zFKF90RnQ1s/SQCa3n1kMXI/AAAAAAAAASU/yePHRSbOKMA/s200/069.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260374645145874802" />
2. I have a wife that is a blue eye freak. It gets bluer when she gets pissed at me. Its soooo pretty, thats why I piss her off so much. We really do love each other...Now you know why I do what I do.

3. I like to eat a whole bag of oreos, especially with Eric at family reunions. My wife's eyes turned dark blue!!! It was cool!

Coming Soon

2008-10-07T06:42:00.001-07:00

So if you are apart of this huge family called the Berensen's. Then you know about the insane schedule called Birthdays. With 4 crazy birthdays in one month it tends to look like Christmas through my bank account. On the 25th we will be celebrating with Sean, Juliet, and Isaac, Will's 2 birthday. Then on the 29th we will be celebrating Kristen's at Dave and Busters. So we will take pictures of the events and I will post them. So coming soon!

Hurricane Ike a month later

2008-10-07T06:21:00.000-07:00

I know its been a while since my last post, so here it goes. So as most of you know we went through a major hurricane about 3 weeks ago. It was kind of cool to experience but sucked afterwards. The devastation was insane. Where we live in Houston there are alot of huge pine trees. We saw alot of those pines on houses, on power lines and blocking roads. We didn't have power for about a week and half.
In the end what made me mad about the whole hurricane was the sports world. We got screwed when it comes to all the games we had when Ike decided to show his face. First off the Astros, well they decide to play the home games, and I mean home games in Milwaukee. Ok I understand we had a major hurricane but Milwaukee. There are closer ballparks around the area. There is a ballpark up in Dallas where the Rangers play. There is a ballpark in Round Rock, TX (near Austin)where the AAA team plays. The commisioner picks a ball park across the U.S.,which is right next to the visiting teams home town (Chicago). Yeah Houston went on a losing streak. Major League Baseball Commisioner is a complete moron!
Then my college decides to move our home game. Not another week, but to another city the weekend of the hurricane. Come on now, we, at the time, were preparing for a hurricane. I get free tickets to the game and then they move the game, Jerkheads.
Last, the texans, what an embarassment. Due to Ike they finally had their first home game of the season. They give up 10 points in the last 4-5 minutes. I blame Ike!!! I also blame stupidity.
So Ike jacked up the sports world here in Houston and jacked up everything else.

Jennifer's Wedding

2008-07-29T22:22:00.001-07:00

Two weekends ago, Kristen and I attended Jennifer's Wedding. The posting below is of Jennifer's Wedding. There are great stories to come in the near or distant future. To give you a hint, it deals with twins and red heads.

Pics of Astros vs. Reds game

2008-07-29T22:09:00.001-07:00

Minute Maid Park 1st Base side.
Kristen sitting in the Crawford Boxes.
El Caballo
This was our view!!!
Berkman after a double.

Yessss, Another Game about to be in the Books for Me

2008-07-29T15:08:00.000-07:00

So, I get a call from the Parents telling me that they won, at a silent auction, 4 tickets to the Astros. Only problem was it wasn't to the same game. So, since they absolutely love their first born and daughter-in-law, they offered it to us. It will be the first time I have ever sat in the Crawford boxes. For those who don't know what the Crawford boxes are they are the seats in the Left field. They are a little pricey, so that is the reason why I haven't sat there. I will post some excellent pictures of the views of the statium and the game. Maybe I'll get a good picture of El Caballo (Carlos Lee). Well stay tune to the excitement. And Eric, the pictures are taking with you in mind!!!

New Blog Idea might be coming soon

2008-07-29T14:52:00.000-07:00

I absolutely hate when people make comments about a current event and do not know the whole story. I'm going to write a blog that takes the lack of knowledge that the people of the world have on certain current events. This is mostly economical and financial with a few random thoughts.

For example, Price of oil: Why is it so High? Everyone complains about how high gas is because of the price of oil. They continue with their arguement that the major oil companies should lower the price of gas and oil. The oil companies make too much money. If they will not cut prices then the government should step in and tax the companies and give it back to the public. What the heck, isn't this society that we live in here in the U.S.A. a capitalism society not socialism. Also, if people listen to T.V. and investigate on their own time that the price of oil is a commodity that is traded. Who trades for commodities?...INVESTORS. Oil companies have little, yes that is right, little control of the price of oil. Oil companies are in business, and a business tries to make money. So they are going to pass the cost of oil down to gas and other products that oil makes.

Now this is an arguement that is a little late, especially since the price of oil is dropping like a bad habit. I will like my friends and family to comment and make arguements that will help support or correct my research findings. I hope you will enjoy.

Random Photos from this last year

2008-07-12T07:45:00.000-07:00

The baby in the pictures is Tiffany and Jason's little boy, Trevor.

2008-07-12T07:40:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of one of the University of Houston football games. This was last fall and it was against Colorado State.

Red Sox vs. Astros game

2008-07-01T08:22:00.000-07:00

Dice-K

Manny

Scoreboard

Sandi and Kristen

Zach and I

So one of my best friends that I grew up with(Zach), his wife(Sandi), Kristen and I all went to the Red Sox, Astros game. I have some photos, but because the game overall was a big YAWN, we took only a few photos. They happen to be all Red Sox stuff cause it was only the Red Sox that showed up to play. The Astros decided to sleep walk through this game. Because of this I'm going to have to go to another game. Stay tuned for more baseball game pictures, but don't hold your breath Tricia and Ericfina!

Moody Garden's Rainforest Pictures

2008-07-01T08:16:00.000-07:00

Moody Garden's Rainforest

2008-07-01T07:56:00.001-07:00

For those who have been to Galveston, TX, you know about the Moody Gardens. For those who don't know about Moody Gardens, i.e., Eric, is two pyramids with a few extra buildings. They have the aquarium, rainforest, IMAX and a few more exhibits. We went to both the aquarium and the rainforest. I displayed our aquarium pictures in a previous post. The rainforest was quite an experience. They allowed the animals to roam free throughout the pyramid. A few of the animals were caged up because of the danger, like a big cat. I hope you guys will enjoy the pictures, especially Kierra. Eric I will post a picture of a tree for you. You might enjoy the name of it. Just to let you know, you can not eat it, unless you like bark!!! This will also be in two posts to show the pictures.

Aquarium

2008-06-26T08:29:00.000-07:00

On our 4th anniversary we went to Galveston for 2 days. Whenever we visit a place that has an aquarium, we are there. As we were looking at the exhibits of the animals, we came across the penguin exhibit. These penguins were hularious. Whenever a girl went up to the glass to try to catch a pic with them they would go up and pose right next to them. When the girls would leave, a guy would go up and try to do the same. They would come up check the guy out and then leave before a picture was snapped. I tried it and Kristen was quick with the camera and caught one with me in the picture. Yeah, have to be quicker and smarter than the animal. Remember that Eric. Here are some cool pictures that we took.

A Random Company Name

2008-06-26T08:23:00.000-07:00

So I was watching Late Show with David Letterman about 3 nights ago. He was going over paper clippings of things that caught his eye. Now if you have a sick and perverted since of humor then you might enjoy this. I also had to see if they have a website to prove the company exsists. So here is the link to the company with their name: http://www.mastersbaitandtackle.com/. Have fun with it.

Random Emails

2008-06-26T08:10:00.000-07:00

So I get these random emails from my mom and this one is so true at times so I'll post it.

The Drought is Over!!!

2008-05-14T09:52:00.000-07:00

From previous posts, I was a little frustrated with my life as a baseball fan. I went to 2 Astros games last year and that was it. This is not normal. So within a month span of time, I defeated last years total and now trying to accomplish more than two. As the Astros are meshing as a team so is my dedication of attending the games. So here we go and I'll keep you posted.

My start of blogging...This goes out to my Japanesa in-laws (yes, Eric to you especially!)

2008-04-09T11:40:00.000-07:00

Time gives us countless memories. Memories that you cherish for a lifetime. Then you get memories that you take a lifetime to try to forget. Recent events has lead me to grow alot. Now experienced difficulties and surpassing them I feel for my family and my wife's.
Life throws you curve balls that do not allow you to go to school, ships you across country/world and back. Then it throws you screw balls and you change your life for. Then you get hit by a pitch and change back to what you were, only in despite and pain. I will be using this blog of what I have felt in hopes that we all see what we all go through.
I will always cherish the time and memories that I have with family and friends (especially you Eric!). I also will be posting things I love and hate (the Yankees). Do not be offended, and I don't want a lecture of pointless information, Eric. I hope you enjoy.

DISCLOSURE: THE OPINIONS OBSERVED ON THIS BLOG DO NOT EXPRESS THE VIEWS OF THE BLOGGER!!!

YEAH RIGHT!