Thursday, December 27, 2007

Post Christmas

Click play button below to hear Linus tell the Meaning of Christmas









So here is the recap of the Christmas Eve and Day.

We went to Mass at 4 p.m. but it was so crowded that we left after communion. And when I say crowded, I mean shoulder to shoulder and four lines deep. I was surprised the Fire Marshall did not stop Mass. We had dinner at my in-laws. They invited their next door neighbors and some friends of theirs that were not having Christmas with their kids because their kids were traveling during the Holiday. We opened just a few presents on Christmas Eve. Everyone comes to our house on Christmas Morning for Breakfast and we open stocking gifts. Anthony received several presents with IOUs. The Video game he wanted ROCK BAND was delayed for release. All three of my pre-orders were cancelled, so the game is not available till sometime in January. Also the new cell phone, he wanted was out of stock till Dec 31st.

So here are the pictures:

Monday, December 24, 2007

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Where NOT to be a week before Christmas



A manufacturing plant in the South is not a great to be before Christmas. The weather was not bad but with the snow in the Midwest and East and snow in OK,your flight will be delayed no matter where you are.

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Well It Is Officially Winter in the Desert


Will as you can see from the picture,Winter has arrived in Las Vegas. I took this picture just around the corner from my house. We will not have any snow down in the valley or any that last. But you can now ski on Mount Charleston.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

A Evening of Food, Drink and Entertainment!!




So Anthony had a performance at school tonight. It was not the Play. I willl post that later with a Youtube link. But this was Anthony's choir group which is a Madrigal Group. For those of you unfamilar with Madrigal Singers. The Group wears period costumes and sings period music. So tonight was a trip back in to the Dark Ages in Merry Old England. This included the Jesters and the food. The dessert was a Bread Puddding.











I hope to add to this post with some YouTube videos, which Jenna-fer will be helping me with. BTW, Jenna-fer is the girl in the above picture.

Sunday, December 2, 2007

My Birthday Present! a New iPOD


Ipod touch, originally uploaded by Nextelguy.

It is December 2nd and Yes I turned 40!! But yeah I got a iPOD Touch from my Wife !!! HOw cool is that and I put a Wallpaper of them on it. I even ripped my first movie to pay on the iPOD Touch. That movie, of course is It's a Wonderful Life!

Monday, November 5, 2007

Nov 10th--The Happiest Place On Earth!!


DLR Castle Nov10, originally uploaded by Nextelguy.

Yes I am Back... One more week working behind the scenes at DLR!! This photo is of Sleeping Beaty's Castle(Cinderella's is in WDW in Flordia). This was a first for the castle...Snow!! Last year the castle was covereed with gold for the 50th Anniversity but for this holiday season it has snow!!!

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Off to SING @ Walmart Opening!


Off to SING @ Walmart Opening!, originally uploaded by Nextelguy.

Yes , you read that right. The Legacy High School Choir was asked na paid to sing at a new WalMart Opening. He had to be there by 5:30am so the whole household was up by 4:30am.

Great way to raise money for a field trip!

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Put a Much of strangers in a room.... And We take a Group Photo


DSC_0093, originally uploaded by Nextelguy.

This sia photo of all the other traininers and instructional designers adn attended the training confernece in SF. All of the people in the photo had never meet before and are all from a different state and company.

Thanks Cecil for the picture( Cecil is the guy lay on the floor)

Monday, October 29, 2007

San Francsio For More Training


Photo_102907_004, originally uploaded by Nextelguy.

So what do you see the week of Halloween in SF??? Seals and Sea Lions Of Course!!!

I was in SF for a three training conference and this is a picture I took with my treo

Saturday, October 27, 2007

If you want a better World, It all starts with you!

I know that this is not the normal type of posts, but after I read this I felt that I needed to do more than email to friends and family.
Ben Stein will make you think, he does not "give an answer on how to fix the world" beside we all know how we just don't what to get involved. It is always easier to be part of the problem than the solution.

So please read the commentary below from Ben Stein;


The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday
Morning Commentary.


My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it
does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful
lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I
don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I
don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto
In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and
sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all
that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach
house in Malibu. If people want a crèche, it's just as fine with
me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think
Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think
people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around,
period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an
explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I
don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we
should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as
we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too But
there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from
and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a
little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny,
it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane
Clayson asked her "How could God let something like this happen?"
(regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and
insightful response.

She said, "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but
for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out
of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman
He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give
us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leaves us alone?"

In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I
think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her
body found recently)complained she didn't want prayer in our schools,
and we said OK.

Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible
says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor
as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they
misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we
might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We
said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they
don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill
strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it
out. I think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW."

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the
world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say,
but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes'
through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending
messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.

Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through
cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and
workplace.

Are you laughing?
Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on
your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what
they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us
than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no
one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't
sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in. My Best
Regards.


Honestly and respectfully,

Ben Stein


Thanks Kristie for sending this !! Take a look at Kristie's Blog "My Life with my Xmen" at http://lifewithmyxmen.blogspot.com

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Stephanie's B-Day


Stephanie's B-Day, originally uploaded by Nextelguy.

It is October 23rd and I had an idea! Instead of a birthday cake, why not gourmet cupcakes! I had a co-worker rave about these cupcakes from a bakery in Henderson. So I show Stephanie the menu and had her pick out six diferent favors. I had a coupon for buy a half of doazen adn get a half dozen free. So I recuited the same co-worker to go to the bakery and purchase a second dozen just like my order.

Well the cupcakes were not that great...kind of dry..... Well a neat Idea that did not turn out great! Sorry Steph.

But I think she still liked the idea!

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Homecomming Dance



Anthony had a Homecoming Dance. Here is the program/ticket and a picture of him all dressed up ready to go!!


Monday, October 8, 2007

A Gift for the GREAT JOB I did at Disneyland


Photo_100407_001, originally uploaded by Nextelguy.

A Chocolate Mickey Hard Hat with Ears. I also got to shop at teh Cast Memeber only store!! I got some great Christmas Presents and some real cool stuff for me!

Friday, October 5, 2007

Halloween Decorations on Main Street


Photo_100407_007, originally uploaded by Nextelguy.

So this was the first year that Halloween decorations were used throughout the park. In previous years only the Haunted Mansion recived Halloween Decoration. If you have not see Disneyland at Christmas Time , it is a Must!

Halloween Work Week at Disneyland Oct 4,2007


Photo_100407_002, originally uploaded by Nextelguy.

Halloween at Disneyland


Photo_100407_003, originally uploaded by Nextelguy.

Best Week of Work!!

I spent the wek of October 4th working at the Disneyland Resort!! I was conducting training for Cast Members and got the oportunity to go into the park. And for most of the readers to this blog, you know that is a BIG DEAL for ME.

The best part is I will be back in Nov. to see the Christmas decorations as well.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Anthony's Birthday Party


Anthony, originally uploaded by Nextelguy.

Here is a picture from Anthony's B-day Party at Dick's last resort in Las Vegas. You will not see me in the photos because I was in Flordia on business.

If you want to see more photos follow the link.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9698718@N05/

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Happy Sweet 16 ! (and Dad is caught in a Hurricane)




So today is Anthony's sixteenth birthday and I am in Flordia in the height of the Hurricane season. As you see from the picture, the rain came in very fast. It was bright and sunny and now it is UGLY! So Anthony and the rest of the family are having dinner at Dick's last resort. If you are not familar with Dick's. The servers at the resturant insult you through out the dinner. What a great resturant for a teenager. I will post the pictures for the dinner when I get back from Flordia.

HEY ANTHONY>>>> HAPPY BIRTHDAY ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Dad

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Schools are still safe havens, if the shooters are out of the school.

The story below is a new report from the local news channel. The High School in the story is the school that Anthony attends and where is Aunt Brandi is a Counselor. It was scary morning and of course at very unproductinve day of school.



Gunshot victim sparks high school lock down
September 13,2007

Gunshot victim sparks high school lock down

An early morning shooting near Legacy High School in North Las Vegas sends area schools into lockdown. The shooting wounded one 17-year-old male with what police are calling non life-threatening injuries.
The shooting did not actually take place on school property. North Las Vegas Police say the teen was actually found near the intersection of Commerce and Deer Springs, walking in the direction of Legacy.
A woman driving by stopped to ask if the boy was okay. When she saw that he was wounded, police say she put him in her car and took him to this school for medical attention.
"I heard some boys got shot and that's it," parent Mellany Almacn told News 3. Almacn says she got a phone call from her two boys Thursday morning that any parent would dread. "It's kind of scary because I heard like a riot in my phone," Almacn said.
"Everyone just started panicking. Nobody knew what was going on. Everyone just started calling their parents," Mellany's son Maverick Almacn said. News of a 17-year-old boy stumbling to the nurse's office with a gunshot wound struck fear in students and sent them scrambling to call their parents.
It also sent Legacy and the nearby elementary school into lockdown. "If there is any sort of police activity regardless of where that activity may be, if it's in the immediate area of a school obviously we want to err on the side of caution to protect our children. They do that by locking the school down," Sean Walker with North Las Vegas Police Department said.
Schools were locked down for two hours while North Las Vegas Police searched for answers. The gunshot victim, who didn't explain what had happened, was taken to UMC. It's unclear at this point if he was even a student at Legacy.
Mellany Almacn says even though Legacy High just opened last year, she's ready to transfer her children to another school. "If they want to transfer, I want to transfer my boys to another school."

Thursday, September 6, 2007

I have been TAGGED! (que the James Bond theme music)

I was tagged by Kristie at Life with My XMen .

The Rules.

Post the rules before you give the facts. Post eight random facts about yourself. At the end of your blog post, you need to tag eight people and list their names. Leave the people you tagged a comment on their blog, letting them know that they've been tagged.

So, here goes:

1. I love Public Speaking. I am not afraid to talk in front of a large group. I enjoy stepping into the spotlight. To check out my speaking, listen to my on-again, off-again podcast at http://aplethoraofideas.libsyn.com/ .

2. I am MORE THAN A DISNEY FAN. I have been a fan of Walt Disney Company, since the first time I visited Walt Disney World in 1976. But I become more than a fan and developed a greater appreciation for Walt's vision and process to achieve your dreams after receiving the book, "Walt Disney: An American Original by Bob Thomas". That is a must read of any Disney Fan. Also "Mouse Tales, A behind-the-ears lokk at DISNEYLAND by David Koenig is a great book.

3. I live in the Entertainment Capital of the World...Las Vegas NV.

4. I am a Loving Husband and Father.

5 I am passionate about my work and career. I am a Technical Adult Learning Instructor for a major wireless carrier. I fly around the country , instructing corporate clients on the device , like Blackberries and Pocket PCs and applications that employees more productive.

6. I like to Cook, but I love the science of cooking. I am a HUGE Alton Brown Fan. (Food Network: Good Eats).

7. I am an Eclectic Music Lover. I like to listen to Blue Grass to Calypso and I am learning to play the ukulele.

8. I love to Read. Favorite books/authors are: Harry Potter series, Dan Brown books, books and stories by Garrison Keiller, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.

And now the people that I have tagged...

TIKI Talk

Blog of Southwest Airlines

Ukulele Hunt

Window to the Magic Podcast

SQPN: The Best in Catholic Podcasting :look at the Daily Breakfast podcast.

Getting Things Done Blog

The Gastrocast

Disney Frontier Blog

Monday, August 27, 2007

First Day of his Sophrome Year



There is a big difference between the first day of kindergarten and the first day back to school. Anthony has begun his second year of high school. It will not be long now before he is looking at careers and possible colleges. As you can see he was not as enthusasitic to return to school as he was to start school. But they never are .....

Sunday, August 26, 2007

OK and here is the Video .....



Thanks Kristie for the upload of the video!! You Rock!

Thursday, August 23, 2007

He is a Crazy Dancer!!!




He's a Maniac, Maniac on the floor and He’s dancing like he has never danced before.....

See how Anthony dances at his Cousin Jennifer's wedding in Dayton OH. He was dancing to Ladies Nights and Thriller. I will post the video of the dance as soon as I get it from my brother.

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Fishing trip with Grandpa, Uncle Eric and Dad





So here we are on another trip..... It is June 9th and we are boarding a plane to Toronto Canada. We are meeting my father and brither for a year long planned fishing trip to Rice Lake in Canada. Rice Lake is about 50 miles east of Toronto. This is the first trip that my father has taken since he started his kidney dialysis. Anthony has not gone fishing before and since teenagers are in a constant mood swing this trip should be interesting.


We only caught about 250 fish. The Bugs were pretty bad and there were days that we did not catch much. Anthony is not very happy with the television stations. A lot of them are in French. There were a lot of G4 shows and of course Leo Laporte. Sorry Eric...Eric is not a fan of the Mac.

On the way back to the airport , we stopped to see some of the sites in Toronto. After checking in at the airport we went through customs and on to the plane. That was a long day from 6am EST to 11pm PST.

This was a good trip, Anthony caught up on a lot of sleep and it was great to just relax for a week.

To see all the pictures from the fishing trip, click on the link Canada Fishing Trip 2007

Sunday, May 27, 2007

Star Wars Celebration 4 Los Angeles CA



So what do you do when you travel alot for your job and your only son tells you that the Star Wars convention that only occurs every four years is in Los Angeles? Well, you check your Marriott points and see if you can get a free stay. Well, that did not happen, Marriott did not have rooms avaliable that I could use points to pay for. So we reserve a room for friday, saturday and sunday. I happened to not be traveling for work that weekend and so after working a half day at the office on friday I came home packed the car with our suitcase and a small cooller full of snacks. [if you are not familar with the distance from Las vegas to Los Angeles- it is about 4 to 4.5 hours and over half of that is going through the desert....so nothing to look at and radio stations suck!]
Anthony with Peter Mathew (Chewie)
So the Star Wars Celebration 4 was awsome we saw Billy Dee Williams, Peter Mayhew(Chewbacca), Amy Earhart a.k.a Stacy from the Pink Five fan movies (see her picture below) , Jullian Glover from Stars Wars and Indian Jones and the Last Crusade (he was the bad guy that "choose poorly" in Indiana Jones movies) and the back of Carrie Fisher's head in a crowd. Seth Macfarline, creator of Family Guy. Seth was annoucing a two hour episode of the Family Guy that was going to be a Star Was themed episode of the orginal Star Wars movie but with Family Guy characters.


Anthony with Amy Earhart aka Stacy or Pink Five

The highlight of the weeknd was seeing the premiere of the next installment of the Pink five triolgy. Pick Five is a Fan film of Stars Wars staring Amy Earhart as Stacy or Pink Five. The Star Wars geeks will get the reference to Red Five. If you would like to see the episodes of Pink Five , go to Pink Five . So aftere the premere , we drove 4.5 miles back to Las Vegas. It was about one o'clock in the morning when we got home. Anthony fell asleep before we left CA. But I was wie awake with my Venti Double shot Vanille Latte!

To see all of our pictures from Celebration 4 click the flickr.com link Star Wars Celebration 4 pictures