25 Days of Thanks- Day 25

Thankful- My family

There are small moments and small stories that make up the overall experience with my family.  From the years of us all living under one roof, to the days that we are now spread all across the country, I realize that I'm pretty darn lucky and blessed when it comes to Mom, Dad, Chris, and Amy.  

Christmas at the Spain household usually begins with camcorder wielding Dad standing at the bottom of the stairs while three kids anxiously await to bring what Santa brought.  Coming around the corner of our kitchen, our faces usually lit up and we went to work.

Now I hear in some families, there's someone who plays Santa and hands out the presents one by one.  Um, let me just say that the one or two minutes spent tearing endlessly and uninterrupted through wrapping paper is a joy that can only be topped by a few things.  There's no order other than the wave that starts at one end of the presents and doesn't stop until you get to the tree.  All that's left in the path is wrapping paper and ribbon.  I guess we just prayed in early days that Amy would have enough room to come up for air in the midst of her two big brothers.

Recent Christmas's though have been smaller and rather than presents being shared, stories from the year get tossed around.  This year included the struggles of my brother and Stacy to deal with their dog's humping problem and when exactly is the right time to open the bottle of Dom Perignon that's been sitting in the refrigerator since my NYU days (just haven't found the right moment...).  

As the Christmases go on, they'll continue to change with new wives, husbands (just thought that a whole 'nother blog post will be dedicated to "Notes for whomever wishes to marry my sister".  Don't quite know if they know what they're in for with me and Chris.), and kids being added to the mix but, again, I'm thankful and blessed to be spending them with a great family.

This whole blog is a kind of dedication to them and their efforts.  While this post about them is short, the whole blog touches on the various facets of my life that they have helped shape.  

Thank you Dad, Mom, Chris, and Amy.

From my family to yours, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  

25 Days of Thanks-Day 24

Thankful-Extended Family

A big thank you goes out to all the grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, extended cousins for your support over the years.  In addition, the husbands, wives, and partners deserve a thanks as well.

But a big "Sorry!" goes out to one of the newest cousins Nick who got his unplanned introduction into the back room of the grandparent's house tonight.  Over the years, the house that my dad grew up in, and that my grandfather and aunt now live in, as been host to numerous birthday parties, 4th of July bashes, and Christmas get-togethers.  Before my aunt moved in, the back room was the unofficial hangout for the little kids.  There were toys, an organ, an actual bar (we had no idea that it was also stocked with good stuff but, come on, we were too young), and the ever elusive dart board (the darts were hidden in fear that an "accident" would happen between my brother and I)

Anyway, in order to get into this back room from the house, you need to go down two steps.  But these two steps over the years have been evil.  In the days when the pool was open in the backyard, the steps would become slippery and, well, you can probably figure out the rest.  I think each Spain child has fallen on these stairs at least once.  Thanks to me, Nick got initiated into this illustrious club.

I'm standing at the top of the stairs and I hear him coming with my aunt closely behind.  He gets next to me and I look down saying something cute (hey, at least I think it was).  He squirms next to my leg and I say something at the same time my aunt says, "Jeffrey, can you grab his hand."

Cue the slow motion swipe in the air as Nick takes one "step" down and kinda goes to his knees.  For a split second, I think, "Sweet, he'll be ok".  But then still in slow motion, in his attempt to get back up, his feet slip out from under him, and unfortunately, his face met the floor.  

I feel horrible.  I don't wish any harm on any two year old and I feel bad that this happened on a Merry Christmas night.  A few minutes later he was doing pretty good with a toy in his hand but he did have a good bump on his forehead.  So Nick, Sarah, Eric, my apologies.

A very Merry Christmas to all those who I didn't talk to today out there from the family.

25 Days of Thanks- Day 23

Thankful-Good Friends

Lots of stories about friends of the past have come out already on this blog.  From co-workers to friends in high school, there have been tons of stories and a ton more to tell.  Although some will remain secret because they just don't need to be shared on a blog, I'm thankful for those who've been there in whatever way you may define a friend.  

From quick conversations in the hall to random reunions, I'm pretty darn lucky to have some damn good people in my life.  

To those who were there pre and post, to those who've been there before, during, and after, thank you.    

Not So Thankful- The Video Players in Cars

Those who've driven the NYS Thruway in any direction can tell you, there's not too much to look at.  Every now and again you'll get the little cities along the way in which you wonder what might be happening there tonight.  Or you pass that random lock house along the Erie Canal.  Or maybe you come back from your day dream when you pass the Steak and Crabhouse place (you know, the one with the big neon lobster on the front) in between Rochester and Buffalo (just east of exit 49) and wonder, "How's the food there?"

While a lot of thinking gets done on the Thruway, one thing has been cutting into my day dreaming, those video players in vans.  You've probably seen them glowing brightly while passing a big family van.  Most of the time they're playing cartoons or Sesame Street, but try as you may, you just can't turn your head away.  And it's even worse when you have no idea what's playing.  

[Begin lie]

I've never done this but there have been people who've literally slowed down just to see if they know what's playing.  It's probably a little battle they have in their head like when watching Jeopardy at home.  It's not like you know every single show you see on those glowing overhead monitors, but you just can't pass it until you've gotten a good look at it and made an attempt to tell what's on.

[End lie]

Maybe it's jealousy.  Maybe it's the song on the radio.  Maybe it's that my voice just gave out after trying to hit the high note at the end of Journey's Don't Stop Believin' (Hold on to that feeee-elll-eee-iiinnng).  But when passing one of those video things, I take more than a quick glance because, well, not much else is happening out there.

Here's the deal, to the people who have em, rock on.  Just expect a little company on the Thruway.

25 Days of Thanks- Day 22

Thankful- A Visit from St. Nicholas

More commonly known as "Twas the Night Before Christmas", A Visit from St. Nicholas is a poem that has popped up a few times throughout my life:

• The sixth grade class at St. Jude's School was responsible for two things, 1) raising and lowering the flag each day along with the proper folding and unfolding and 2) Reciting A Visit from St. Nicholas at the Christmas show. 
• I remember changing the words around to get someone to switch shifts with me at work so I could hang out with friends.
• Each year the poem gets reprinted in the Troy Record because before the Record was the Record, it was the Sentinel which originally published it back in 1823.  What the publishing of that poem really meant was that Christmas bonuses were soon to be left on people's porches

One of the more personal memories of the poem is that each Christmas Eve, my sister will run upstairs to her room, grab a hardcover copy of the poem, run downstairs, and call everyone to the living room.  In the years that I wouldn't be home for Christmas, I'd still get a call on my cell phone when everyone was ready.

In the old days, it was just the five of us but more recently it's turned into a damn stage show:-)!  Friends from my family's past will come over, grab a brew, have a seat and for five or so minutes, slip into those childhood days of Christmas.  Christmas's when you would wait up as long as possible just to see if you could hear Santa.  Christmas's of old when your turn on the radio to get reports of Santa's location.  Christmas's of old when milk (or oddly beer sometimes?) and cookies would be left by the tree as a treat for Santa.  And Christmas's of old when the smile on a close person's face is all you need to make the holiday special.

Wait one second though!  Those Christmas's are still here and are still to come!  Take a second to turn to family or a friend, give em a Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays, and I'm pretty sure they'll give you a big smile in return.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays where ever you might be reading this.

25 Days of Thanks- Day 21

Thankful- Goals

A few months ago on this blog I wrote about some goals that had surrounding me getting healthier.  For the most part I feel that I've met them, the running one is still out there but a recent kick in the butt should push that in a good direction.  I am very thankful that I did that.  The amount of positive reaction and support recieved was really helpful at dropping the weight and taking positive steps.  So, how about round 2?

In no particular order:

• A buddy is getting married in Hawaii in August.  Hawaii means beaches, sun, and waves.  New goal- Get beach body ready
• Over the past few years I've been toying around a few tv and movie ideas.  One already had a script but after all this writing I've been doing, the itch has gotten strong again to see how many more I can pop out.  Let's say two more by May 1, 2009
• Figure out why they say breakfast is the most important meal of the day?  Only way to do that, get up earlier.  Grrrr...  We'll make this a New Years Resolution
• Take a cooking class.  By the end of January.

Think that's a reasonable list to get done in the time alotted.  

25 Days of Thanks- Day 20

Thankful- Park/Mall Benches

A recent conversation about how people got engaged sparked this thing that I am thankful for. Rick and Felissa got engaged at a park bench they would sit at on a regular basis (if I remember the story correctly).

For me though, I am thankful for park and mall benches for the wide range of emotions they provide.

My favorite park benches would have to be in Washington Square Park. One story in particular that comes to mind is when a woman and I were studying for out Politics in Higher Education final. We were knee deep in different political cases or issues that were talked about in class. All of a sudden though, I heard her scream and then felt a scratch on my arm. What had happened was a darn squirrel had dropped from the tree above, landed on her, then leaped onto me. Unfortunately, this didn't get us out of the final but it did make for a good story to tell.

I don't think you'll argue though that from a park/mall bench you see a wide range of things. You'll most likely see things that will make you laugh, things that will make you think, or even things that will make you cry. I'm not necessarily one of those people who go to the mall just to people watch but I am guilty of being one of those people who goes to the park just to take their minds off of things.

While sitting in the park I remember seeing the following things happen:

- A world record being broken (Oh it's true. Guinness World Records used to do a weekly show and in one of those, you could see me sitting on a bench
- A person getting pooped on by a bird (Now I've gotten pooped on by a bird but if I see someone else have it happen to them, does that mean I have double the luck?)
- Celebrities and famous people walk by getting hounded for their autograph (never been one of those people who've been comfortable enough to approach a famous person. Why? Because if I were them, I know that there are sometimes I just don't want to be bothered. Why should I interrupt that?)
- Love begin (Now I have no idea if these two people are still together but I remember sitting on a bench facing the dog park. A man and a woman are on opposite sides of the park but suddenly their dogs become angry at each other. The two run towards the commotion and separate the dogs. Together they walk towards the outer part of the park. While reading my material, I randomly gaze every now and again at them and one time see the man hand the girl a piece of paper. I've been around long enough to read on these two faces that they are pretty into each other. Who knows what came of it but I hope the two of them are happily ever after)

So to the people who thought putting mall/park benches out there in the world, I say thank you. Not only is a great place to relax while watching another person shop, but it's also a great place to stop and see the world from a whole different perspective.

25 Days of Thanks- Day 19

Thankful- Co-Workers and Supervisors

I'm just getting back from a little get-together with some co-workers and there I posed the question, "What am I thankful for tonight?"  They threw out some very funny ideas but it was in a moment of them sharing an ongoing joke which we'll cover in a second, that I realized, don't know how much I'd have been able to get through over these past 10 years without them.  

My job is awesome as already mentioned.  I love every minute.  With this job though comes some, "Really?  That just happened?" moments.  These moments are funny to play through your head but even funnier to play out with some people who are going through this field as well.  From Canisius to RIT, these stories have and will continue to provide tons of laughs.  But as we all know with any job, there are frustrations.  Frustrations that not too many people can understand or comprehend.  So we turn to those who have an understanding, an underlying structure, those who can understand the humor of the story without having to give a 20 minute background on exactly what the day entails.  It is to those co-workers that I am thankful for and who help get me through many a funny and frustrating moment.  From all the different schools I've worked at there have been people along the way who I am thankful to be able to pull aside and vent or laugh or even cry.  

Canisius was where it all started.  Your pats on the back helped push me in a positive direction.

And the NYU and Pratt folks, words can't describe the help.  Through you, a small town boy got his eyes opened to a whole new world. 

The Hobart folks, you helped me take that first step in the door of higher education.

The Brockport folks, you helped encourage me to do my best and work as a team.  

But RIT is home to the story that I alluded to above.  Right now I thing there's a five person list of people who have "called" stabbing me with the epi-pen if I ever were to have an allergy attack.  Their names have been changed to protect the innocent.  They are (in no particular order.  If I'm missing anyone, um, sure I'll add you to the list?  Some, understandably, don't want to mess with needles.  I know that you'll still be there to assist!):

1. Baul (Who has unfortunately left RIT but might still drive out from Suffalo (again, changed to protect the innocent) just for the chance)
2. Rick (He's been mentioned before, the 90210 fan)
3. Tisa 
4. Mathleen
5. Fmanada

I already mentioned to them the following facts:

1. After eating a nut or eggs, I don't become immediately paralyzed
2. After eating a nut or eggs, I don't lose the ability to speak
3. After eating a nut or eggs, I still have enough energy to use the Epi-Pen myself
4. The thought has crossed my mind to get a tattoo on my chest that says, "Do not stab here"

In a more serious tone, what this does show is another great set of co-workers that I have the pleasure of being a part of.  It's shows the caring and concern that if an emergency were ever to happen, even beyond an allergy attack, I've got good people around me (even more than those mentioned above) who would be there to help.  So Mom, Dad, Chris, and Amy, don't worry.  If ever I do need to use the magic spell, ANAPHYLAXIS, there's good people around who would make sure I've got the help I need.

This help from my RIT co-workers also extends beyond the allergies to the personal which I continue to be thankful for their guidance and support.  It means more than you'll ever know.  

To my future co-workers, even though I don't know you, I look forward to seeing what the future holds.  Just know that the epi-pen goes in the thigh.  Rhymes with high, or my, or lie.  No dart in the heart!

Ok, taking this rhyming thing too far.  Have a good night!

25 Days of Thanks- Day 18

Thankful- Golf

A quick one tonight thanks to this head cold.

I've talked about before but I'm in my office looking at the golf club sitting sadly in the corner.  Lots of good golf stories and I'm sure many more to come.  

So thanks golf for continuing to get me up off my butt.  

25 Days of Thanks- Day 17

Thankful- Benadryl

This one's late because I'm sick:-(  But Benadryl=good.  Why?  Usually helps with my sinus colds and puts me right to sleep.

But during an allergic reaction, it's a whole different ballgame.  Usually after eating nuts or eggs, my body starts getting very cranky.  Popping a few Benadryl will give me time to get to the hospital.  But at the same time, I break out the Epi-Pen and inject what's pretty much pure adrenaline into my thigh (Not the heart!  That Pulp Fiction scene with the adrenaline was the worst for epi-pen users).  So my heart starts beating twice the normal speed not only because of the adrenaline but also because I'm giving permission for who ever is driving to run red lights.  The usual scene at the ER is:

Me: Hi.  I'm having an allergic reaction.  

Person behind desk:  Ok.  Fill out this form and we'll be with you shortly.

Me: Um, that's cool and all but my throat's about to close.

Person behind desk:  Have a seat sir.

Me:  (As if I'm invoking some sort of magical spell to break through their haze).  ANAPHYLAXIS!  ANAPHYLAXIS!

The ER sudden changes into a frenzy.  They throw me down on a bed, put the IV in, then give me more adrenaline directly into the bloodstream.  My heart starts beating as fast as Irish Step Dancing and then they give me the good stuff.  I see the doc come over to the IV, puts the needle in the line, and shoots the Benadryl into the vein.  I tell you, you can feel it travel up your arm, into your neck, and as soon as it's hits the brain, it's as if your world has turned into one of those slow motion scenes from a movie.  Everyone's voices come in a lot slower and a lot lower, but at the same time you can breathe and hear better than ever.  It's basically at this point that I think the teacher from the Charlie Brown cartoons is in a room 5 doors away from me.  I can hear her, but just can't make out what she is saying.

So to Benadryl, I say thank you.  

25 Days of Thanks- Day 16

Thankful- Eric Clapton

My dad is a big Eric Clapton fan.  Growing up, we knew a lot of the songs.  Although many weren't played as part of his band, Clapton was on a lot of times we were working outside or driving in the car.  

Now I don't know if this was part of his master plan but the first concert I ever saw was Eric Clapton at SPAC.  I believe the story was that friends of there's couldn't go so the next best thing was to bring their 8 and 9 year olds.  And I'm pretty darn glad they did.  

I remember two things:

• The sound was overwhelming.  It wasn't overwhelming in a scary way but more of a "Wow, I can't believe what I'm hearing" way.  I remember (and maybe my parents might disagree) but I remember just sitting in amazement at the whole show in front of me.  The lights along with the sound.  It was pretty cool.
• Ray Cooper- A few years before the concert, I started drum lessons.  The only drum I played though in those early years was the snare drum.  I had no idea of the world of percussion beyond that, until Ray Cooper.  He's the guy playing in the background during Clapton's MTV's Unplugged.   And when I say playing, I mean this guy is grooving to the music.  He was having a ball both during that show and the one at SPAC.  The word "animated" doesn't even being to describe him.  And I was fixated on how much fun he was having back there.  The man was surrounded not by a drum set but by bongos, wood blocks, bells, shakers, cymbals, and other various drums.  I had thought up to that point that drums was only a drum kit you sat and played at, not all these other toys.

So if I was ever to put a finger on when my interest in drums really came to be, it would be that concert.  Thanks mom and dad for letting me and Chris tag along.

25 Days of Thanks- Day 15

Thankful- St. Arnulf of Metz, The Patron Saint of Brewing

The family line of the Spain's is filled with interesting people.  The most recent is a man by the name of Charles Fort.  My Great Great Uncle Charlie was an interesting guy according to my grandmother.  Before she passed away, she told me stories about him including the fact that's there's a whole society dedicated to his literary and scientific efforts.  In addition, Fortean phenomena is a term used to describe many supernatural and extraterrestrial incidents that happen around us.  Some even credit him with starting the world's interest in the supernatural and extraterrestrial parts of our world.

My grandmother would also mention every now and again, a person known as Mr. X and the letters and phone calls they exchanged about Fort.  She was one of the few living decedents of Fort and enjoyed answering his questions about her past interactions with him.  

One day I got an excited phone call from my grandma asking me to come over and take a look at the latest letter.  Dated June 2, 2005, Mr. X had spent a good amount of time examining the ancestry of Charles.  The farthest confirmed ancestor that he could find was a man by the name of Arnulf of Metz.

Canonized a Saint in 800, he apparently had two miracles involving beer, one was ending the plague in his town by encouraging people to drink beer instead of water by dipping his crucifix in the beer.  Another miracle involved beer being produced from a brewery even after it had been burned to the ground.  

So to St. Arnulf of Metz, thanks for watching over the beer and brewers out there including Budweiser who brews thier beer with not-Jeff-friendly rice.  Thanks also for your decendents including Charles the Hammer (great name), some guy named Charlemagne, Anna and Edward Fuller (who traveled on the Mayflower and arrived at Plymouth Rock), Charles Fort, and most of all, my grandmother who maybe through some Fortean force could read this blog post, know that I and many of us miss her, and hope she is doing well up in Heaven.  

A big thanks also goes out to Mr. X for his work.  My family has gotten a lot of enjoyment out of your efforts.  

More info on Charles Fort, click here

More info on St. Arnold, this site had some good information.

25 Days of Thanks- Day 14

Thankful- Christmas Carols

Two things are true:

• I sing in the car.  I have been caught.  My face has turned very red.
• I like Christmas music

In theory, that's really 4 things but the point is I thoroughly enjoy holiday music. 

Top 4:

1. Little Drummer Boy/ Peace on Earth- Bing Crosby & David Bowie
2. 12 Pains of Christmas- No idea who sings it but I chuckle every time I hear it
3. Baby It's Cold Outside- Dean Martin
4. Carol of the Bells- Manheim Steamroller

It's a quick list that'll probably change but for right now, those are the most played according to my IPod.

Not So Thankful...

I've got nothing tonight.  

I'm going to take my good mood and head off to bed.  Hope you all had a good weekend!

25 Days of Thanks- Day 13

Thankful- Student Groups I Work With

My job is pretty awesome.  I work with some great co-workers (more on them later) and some great students.  Here are some of the student groups that I interact with:

• CAs/PAs- I'm thankful for the student staff that I currently work with.  The Community Advocates and Peer Advocate are on the front line in the apartment area connecting with residents, helping them through issues, and resolving conflicts.  
• The RAs (both past and present)- Most of my career has been spent with Resident Assistants.  I'm also thankful for the hard work y'all do.
• Orientation Staff- Recently re-connected with a lot of you on facebook.
• Hall Council- Thanks to those from Pratt, NYU, and Brockport
• BLT- Oh, Business Leaders of Tomorrow.  What can I say, it was a good ride and I'm happy to hear some rumblings about bringing it back.
• Off Campus and Apartment Student Association (OCASA)- We need to spend a few seconds on OCASA.  Today was their winter retreat and I was really happy with how it went.  Remember that each of you accomplishing a small goal means OCASA will continue to be a presence in big ways.  Thanks for your hard work.  I'll be waiting for our bowling rematch Jackie.  One pin...
• And to all the other students I've worked with, thanks for all you've done.

Not So Thankful- Not having a washer and dryer

I'd give up the following things for a washer and dryer:

• My kitchen
• My left pinky toe- I kick with my right foot so I could still become a kicker in the NFL
• My Xbox
• Coca-Cola for the length of the washer and dryer's stay

Doing laundry has to get done.  It's not something I neglect.  However, after doing laundry in a residence hall laundry room for 9 years, I'm getting sick of having to make sure I haven't dropped a sock or that a pair of underwear is hanging over the side of the basket as I make my way back to my apartment.  

I'm not thankful for the anxiety that comes right before getting to the laundry room and wondering if they'll be enough washers available.  Then another round hits as you meet eyes with other people around the room who are trying to time their loads with available dryers.  When my loads get done my world goes blank and I purely focus on figuring out how to get things from the washer to dryer.  It's like that scene in Old School where Will Farrell snaps at the debate and shifts into a completely different person.  Somehow when the washer gets done, the clothes get to the dryers and I suddenly gain consciousness.

And no, I am not one of those people who takes other people's stuff out of the dryer.  I don't care if it's cold when I open the door meaning it's probably been there for a few hours.  I'm just not touching other people's stuff.  I wouldn't want my stuff taken out, why would I want to do that to someone else.  And all I would need is for a student to walk in just as I'm taking someone else's unmentionables out.  

25 Days of Thanks- Day 12

Thankful- Electric Generators/ Kindness of Neighbors

Say Hi to the Spain household in Wynantskill.

Wynantskill just happened to be square in the path of the ice storm that rolled through the East Coast.  There have been a few over the years and my parents have become pretty good at handling them, especially when the power is out.  It usually involves breaking out the electric generator, hooking it up to the sump pump and refrigerator.  But this year, that generator just happened to be 3 hours away getting repaired.  Whoops!

Thanks to the kindness of our neighbors, my dad was able to hook into the house next door to get a little power so that our basement doesn't flood.  I don't think he reads the blog, but in the best way I know how to right now, I just wanted to say thanks!

Not So Thankful- Those blow up Christmas Lawn Decorations

My future wife needs to be prepared for a few things including my allergies, drums, my excellent cooking abilities, and my desire to have the best looking house on the street around Christmas time.  

But we need to define "best looking".  "Best looking" is not tons of crap on the front yard.  "Best looking" is not the brightest house on the street.

"Best looking" is a house that has an appropriate amount of lights, organized in a nice fashion, and looks classy.  

One thing that will never, ever make it to the front lawn are those blow up lawn decorations.  I'm sorry but all that goes through my head is me gathering a full head of steam and just tackling the things to the ground.  I know they'll get right back up but they just bug the heck out of me.  I have no idea where this tackling desire comes from.  Maybe some vicious experience from a past life involving a blow up lawn ornament.  

But you people with those on your front lawn, watch out.  If you see a random person tackling your blow up Grinch, just let him go.  What harm could he do?  

25 Days of Thanks- Day 11

Thankful- Electronic Drum Kits

It be weird as the guy who has to hold people accountable for being noisy in the apartments, for me to be banging on drums at 1:30 in the morning.  

But with this electronic drum set I have, all that's heard around me are little taps.  Just a tappy, tap, tap.  Nothing more.  

In my headphones though, it's anything from AC/DC to Oasis, from John Mayer to John Cougar Mellencamp.  I can hook up the IPod and attempt to drum right along.  May not be as good as the real guys or girls playing, but I can keep up.  

Not So Thankful- French Fries

D**n you french fries.

D**n you and your fried goodness.

D**n you and your salty fried goodness

D**n you and your tasty, salty, delicious, seasoned, fried goodness

You have been and will be my side dish of choice.  But my waistline has a huge problem with that choice.  It laughs at you and your fried goodness.  It enjoys it too much.

So I say damn you french fries without the asterisks because you are the bane of my healthy existence.

One day, I will be the one laughing at you as I pass you by or wave my hand to the waiter/waitress and say, "No french fries, french fry pusher.  I'll take the broccoli instead".

25 Days of Thanks- Day 10

Thankful-Christmas Movies

Top 7 (in no particular order)

• Home Alone
• Twas the Night Before Christmas (Don't know this one?  Head here)
• Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer
• Scrooged
• Mickey's Christmas Carol
• National Lampoons Christmas Vacation
• Elf

A couple of notes:

- It was orginally just going to be the top 5 but then I looked at the list.  Something was missing...  How could I not include Elf on this list?  "You smell like beef and cheese.  You don't smell like Santa."  I actually work with someone who has already seen this film 15 times since Thanksgiving.  

- Update 12/12- Realized also that Christmas Vacation wasn't on the list.  Stupid Jeffrey.  

- Since a buddy of mine hasn't yet sent me pictures of his engagement so that I can post an appropriate "Congrats Joe and Jennifer" story, I'll embarass him and I for a moment.  Yea, we thought we were cool, especially when we would quiz each other on all things Home Alone.  By the way Joe, address of the McCallister house, 671.

Not So Thankful- Rebates

Rebates.  That's how they get you on the big ticket items.  

It's so easy.  Here's a copy of the reciept.  All you have to do is fill out here, here, and here, cut here, sign here, inital there, e-mail this, wait four days, then go here, fold there, make a copy of this, then wait 6 to 8 weeks.  

A very happy day recently involved a rebate.  A few years ago, I bought a cell phone that was supposed to be free after rebates.  I did all the paperwork, made copies of everything, and followed all the instructions.  The thing with this rebate was that it was supposed to come in two checks.  Well, the first one arrived on schedule.  Second one never did.  I get cranky, call them, and they said because I didn't turn in one part, they couldn't give me the rebate.  I fire back with the fact that they already thought it was good enough to give me half of it.  

Customer Service person: "Oh, um, we shouldn't have done that."  

Skip forward two or three years and three more cell phones and one day I get a check in the mail.  I read the attached letter that states because of a court agreement, we have been required to pay you this money because the terms of our rebates were not clearly stated.  

I did so much of a happy dance that I almost ripped the check up and threw it in the air like confetti.  

I loathe rebates.  

25 Days of Thanks- Day 9

Thankful-80s Cartoons

The following need no introduction:

My two personal favorites:

There are others but these were some of the classic ones.  

It's ok to have these in your head the rest of the day.  You can thank me later. 

Not So Thankful- Shredders 

What happened to those days back in the 80s when real credit cards came in the mail, when you could throw away everything, when we weren't so worried about information security.  

Nowadays I shred everything.  Whether it's old magazine covers to bank statements, a lot of my mail and reciepts end up in the shredder.  I even shred the return postage paid envelope.  All because some wacko at the right place at the right time could find one piece of paper that could lead to them finding out everything about my credit life.  

Must go to happy place... Bouncing here and there and everywhere...  Ok, I feel better.  

Until tomorrow, thanks for reading.

25 Days of Thanks- Day 8

Thankful- Channel One 

At CCHS, I was involved in a bunch of stuff ranging from theater to mock trial.  Even had some time for sports with golf and tennis.  But every morning for a few years I was one of two people (Hi Kim if you happen to be reading this) who'd get out of homeroom and get up to our "TV studio".  Really, this "TV studio" was a large closet.  But while prepping for the morning announcements, the group would try to catch what they could of Channel One.  

Even with all the commercials and product placement, it did a good job of recapping the news of the day.  We didn't have the internet back then and Tom Brokaw didn't exactly spark a young kid's interest, but we did have Channel One.  A little news, a little sports, a little quiz, it was pretty cool provided I wasn't rushing to do my homework that was due for first period.  

Not So Thankful- The Broiler Part of the Oven

Contrary to popular belief, I do do some cooking.  "Some" being the key word.  But the broiler part I haven't quite mastered yet.  But what is there are a bunch of pans, cooking sheets, cooling racks, stone racks, stone pots, and 40 different other things.  

Really what it's become is the most frustrating drawer in the whole kitchen.  Even though I currently have only 1 other drawer, even when I did have a bunch, this thing was and is a gateway to a temper tantrum.  

Yes, I've caused it myself by putting a bunch of different things in there.  So much so that trying to open it is like trying to get a cranky 4 year old past the candy part of the checkout.  There will be tears, there will be flailing of limbs, and there will be a voice saying somewhere, "Calm down!  CALM DOWN!  Be nice and maybe I'll get you what you want."  Gentleness and patience does eventually win out, but how much really is it to replace that dented cookie sheet I practically bent in half when ripping open the drawer.  I think it gives it character and adds to the perception that I actually do cook.  

25 Days of Thanks- Day 7ish

A little late...

Thankful- Swedish Fish

This post would have been posted 10 minutes ago if I hadn't lost the bag of these tasty treats I bought today.  All through little league and when I was an umpire, these little red and purple (more on that in a minute) candies got me through those summers.  For $1 you got a 100 of them.  It was awesome.  Then, at different points in college, I'd come back from Albany with a huge box to eat and give out to the floor.  

Now I enjoyed the red flavor but the grape ones were the best things on earth. 

Side story, think I just ate a minty red fish.  My mouth is a little tingly (not allergic tingly, just that minty tingly) .

Anyway, grape swedish fish = awesome.  Can't seem to find them anywhere though:-(

Not So Thankful-Nose Hair

Nothing good comes from a long nose hair.  Nothing.  

All you get is an itchy nose.  And it always comes at the worst times.  So you start itching away at the thing, trying to get it to move but it just keeps coming back.  And if it happens when you're in public or in front of a crowd, you can't really go at the thing too hard or it just looks weird.  

Ok, so then you trim the hair.  But then all your left with is stubble which, if you itch your nose, pokes the sides creating more itching.  

Plucking is a personal torture and always brings me to tears.  

Recently while on a trip to buy a friend's wife's birthday present (Happy early birthday Melissa! She already knows what she's getting so I'm not spoiling anything!), we got a tour of the men's part of a spa and salon.  One of the services they offer, nose hair waxing.  

Now as odd and painful as it sounds, I'm oddly intrigued.  My mind was running when she was explaining it but I heard something about q-tips and my friend talking about looking like a walrus but I'm curious to see what it entails.  There has to be something to take care of the little itchy bastards. 

25 Days of Thanks- Day 6

Thankful- IPods

When I got my first (and only) IPod, I was a little hesitant to accept it.  I thought with me being a gadget fan, that I had probably 20 other doo-hickeys that did the same exact thing.  But, I was sooo wrong.  

It's a perfect music machine.  Everything gets loaded on there.  With it, I can borrow music from other folks and rip it right to the device.  Throw in the ease of the Apple Store and downloading music, I don't know what I'd do without it.  It's also awesome for long trips down the thruway.  No more changing stations as I pass in and out of radio signals.  

One thing that has changed with my IPod is that I used to listen in the car through a device that would broadcast the music over a specifically tuned radio station.  If I was travelling with someone in another car, I could also play DJ on WJEF.   On a recent trip to Boston, my sister got to hear WJEF for the last time as now my Corolla has an IPod In jack.  

Not So Thankful- The Snooze Button

7:45am

Beeeeeeeeepppp....

Devil sitting on one shoulder: Go ahead, press it.  10 more minutes of blissful sleep.  

Angel on the other: GET YOUR BUTT UP!  This way, no rushing.  You could enjoy the morning for once!

Devil:  Oh, go ahead, press it and really enjoy the morning! You could dream of beaches, winning the superbowl, seeing tha...

WHACK!

7:55am

Beeeeepppppp

Angel: Ok, that's 10 minutes, you got it in.  Now get up!

Devil: Oh come on, 10 more minutes, that 8:05.  You'll be fine.  

WHACK!

8:05am

Devil: Do I really need to say anything?

WHACK!

8:15am

Angel: 45 minutes to get to work

Devil: You live on campus.  Your office is on campus

WHACK!

8:25am

Angel: YOU NEED TO SHAVE!

Devil: Isn't the scruffy look in right now?

WHACK!

8:35am

Angel:  HAHAHA  25 minutes... dumbass.  I tried telling you!  You learn one day.

Me: Crap

_____________________________

You've just read my morning routine Monday thru Friday.  It never changes.  I even found a clock that has does not have a snooze button but I have quite built up enough faith in it yet.  Yes, the thing is loud but it's a once or nothing thing.  There's no leeway.  The snooze alarm is the bane of my morning existence.  

25 Days of Thanks- Day 5

A few minutes late, but hey, it's a Friday night!

Thankful- Thunderstorms

My perfect house includes a screened in porch perfectly attached.  The view from it is majestic with no trees, no other houses, and no city lights affecting the view of the stars or an incoming thunderstorm.  I love a good thunderstorm.

My brother and I used to stay up at night and rate the lighting strikes near the house.  I think it was my dad though that got me excited for a good storm.  He would take me outside and we would watch the lighting until the last possible safe moment.  Then we'd head inside the house but he would still leave the front door open to watch.  This would soon be followed by a "discussion" between my mom and dad about the "danger" of what he was doing.  I think we were probably safer there though than the window we'd eventually get to.

Anyone ever seen lighting during a snow storm?  I can remember exactly where I was and who I was talking to at the time.  Standing on the balcony of the Main Delevan Apartments at Canisius College, I had stepped outside to talk to my grandparents about the huge snowstorm that Buffalo was in the process of getting.  I remember my grandma getting on the phone as I stepped outside and interrupting her mid story to say, "Is it possible that there could be lighting during this?"  I was floored.

If I can't have the house with the screened in porch, then I hope to have my second favorite place, atop a tall building in NYC.  When I lived and worked at 26th Street Residence Hall at NYU, myself and a few others were "allowed" to go up on the roof to take in the view or get some peace and quiet.  If the storm was coming in the right way, you could see the lighting off in the distance and the thunder would roll through the streets in an amazing way.  Granted, I was always too scared to stay up there when the storm got close but if you caught it right, it was an amazing view.   I love a good thunderstorm.

Not So Thankful- Blu Ray

I am a techie.  I'll admit it.  I'll also admit to getting a hunger for the latest gadget out there.  But when the HD DVD/ Blu Ray war started, I picked my side way to early.  It's like the scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where Indiana is in the chalice room.  A cup gets picked and the old crusader says to the bad guy, "He chose... poorly".  I should have waited and learned more about how the format war was going to play out.  Instead I sunk some money into a HD DVD player and am now stuck with it.  Granted it upgrades the DVDs I currently have, but that hunger is back for the surviving format.  I've got the self discipline to make it through it (that, and a limited budget:-)) but it does look purrrdy seeing it in the stores.    

25 Days of Thanks- Day 4

Thankful- Snow

I love the snow.  I've been thinking about where my next move might be and while Hawaii is very tempting, 4 seasons is even more.  I love it not only for the skiing, or sleigh riding (sledding seems to be the more popular word), or other snowy activities, but I feel at a certain level of peace when walking in the snow.  It's wierd, I know.

When I'm walking in from my car, I find myself staring at the traffic light, mesmerized by the passing snow flakes.  During the day, it's still nice to look at and watch, but something about it at nighttime makes me want to go on a long walk.  It's so quiet.  I know I just wrote a post yesterday about being thankful for white noise but everyone needs thier moments of peace.  While I do get those moments in more than just the winter time, something about a good snowy night could keep me occupied for hours.  

Not So Thankful- New Car Smell

Having a new car is great.  Mine was brand spankin new.  6 miles were all that was on it when I got it.  But that also means, only 6 miles of air have moved through the darn thing.  

I got in, took a good breath, let it out, and did put a smile on my face after signing the contract.  Then, I headed to Albany, and after, oh, 100 miles of breathing in and out that new NEW car smell, my mind got to thinking, what exactly have I been breathing in.  Your mind starts wondering, the window goes down, and you find yourself inching closer and closer to the fresh air even though it's 20 degrees outside.  After a while that new car smell gets to be new "I don't feel so good" smell.  Thankfully it has passed by now, or I've just gotten used to it, but let's just say my stomach is turning a little bit just thinking about it.  

The new car smell is, understandably, a sense of accomplishment for a lot of people.  I 100% support that and encourage you all to enjoy, relish, savor, and experience that smell.  I just wouldn't recommend sitting in it for 4 hours.

25 Days of Thanks- Day 3

Thankful- White Noise

Yes, I still live in college owned housing. Proud of that fact dagnabit!  But living on campus comes with it, some, well, super powers.  It's true.  I have the uncanny ability to name you 20 songs from any bass line in a song.  I can hear conversations through walls.  I can also tell you if there's a fire truck within 5 miles.  Oh yes, it's true.

I understand living in a residence hall or apartment building, that there are college students living around me.  College students who should be able to live their lives, play their music loud, dance when they want to, and scream to let stress off.  I'm not the type of residence life person who's going to jump on every little noise or every moment of loud music. 

White noise for me is usually an air conditioner or fan.  So I am thankful for white noise for two reasons:

1. It drowns out the random noises from the different apartments around me.  
2. It's tough for me to sleep at my parents house.  Why?  It's too quiet.  There's nothing at nighttime and so I start trying to listen for any little thing. I sometimes will bring a fan or turn on a radio just to get something in the background. 

I'm sure I'll get over it quickly once I move into my own house but for right now, the fan will do.  Oh and wave to the police car that's about to go by your house/apartment right now.  I hear it coming...

Not So Thankful- TIVO Guilt

I can't take credit for the coining of this term but read this article and then come back:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/TV/12/02/tivo.guilt/index.html

I have TIVO guilt and I'm not ashamed to admit it.  I've gotten better at it little by little.  Due to time and space, I've dropped a few shows from my regular recording schedule just because I never watched them.  But one thing remains on there and has been there for almost a year and a half.  

I'm a big fan of the Price is Right.  Back at CCHS, a few students would eat lunch in Mr. Corbiel's classroom every day right at the time the show was on.  He'd break a few rules by letting a few people stay and watch the show with him.  Even before then, my grandparents had, what I think was, the first version of the home board game.  I grew up not loving the sentimental favorite Plinko, but the game Cliffhangers (Yo-Do-Lo-De-Oh).  Anyway, I recorded Bob Barker's final show and have not watched it since.  

I have no idea why.  What I do know is that the guilt is there.  Every time I go to my list, it pops up "The Price is Right, 6/15".  While sharing a DVR issue story with a co-worker, I let slip that I didn't want to lose that show.  Since they he and others have vowed to throw a Price Is Right themed party just to get me through the guilt.

One day, my DVR list will be clean, only to be filled back up with something else.  

25 Days of Thanks: Day 2

I'm being proactive since, technically, it's after midnight:

Thankful- Facebook

Facebook is great in a lot of ways from reconnecting with old friends and classmates, to being easy access for students to reach me.  Some enjoy it for the games or the little programs, me, I enjoy it just keep in touch with people who I might never had been able to connect with.  

Not So Thankful- "People You May Know" Section on Facebook

Every time I log in, there they are, staring at me.  People who maybe I've met once or twice, or people from the way distant past who I'm thinking, "Would they remember me?"  You don't want to come off stalker-ish but you also don't want to be "I'm not your friend".  3 faces.  The guilt flows through me when I log in.  Some I've just taken the jump, clicked on the "Add them as a friend" button, and put the ball in their court.  But others, I'd like to be there friend but the rejection...

Granted it's been a helpful tool a lot of times when you see someone and you think, "OH!  I didn't know they were on facebook!"  Those people it's a easy click.  

By the way, all people who are currently in my "People You May Know" section, it's not you, it's me.  I'm the problem.  I'm just not a "Oh my God I'm going to add everyone" type person.  Sometimes it's just the fun of the surprise when you come across somebody who either sends you a friend request or you see out there in someone else's profile.  But if you see me in yours, go ahead and add me.  Most of the time, I'm in.

Yep, and I've also spent way too much time thinking about this one.  Facebook, a blessing and a curse.    

25 Days of Thanks: Day 1

A lot has happened this year and with that comes a ton of reflection about the things we should be thankful for and the things we aren't.  Now my family taught me to be thankful for everything but there are just somethings in this world that you're like, "Really?  That made it into the mix of creation?"  So with that, I plan on posting, each day, one thing in each category.

Thankful- Monday Night Television

The DVR is running wild on Monday nights for me.  After finishing that first day of work from the weekend, I know I can just plop down on the couch and relax from 8- midnight.  Here's the optimal lineup:

8pm- Chuck on NBC-  Guy from nowhere becomes secret agent.  Well written and they keep things interesting

9pm- Heroes on NBC- Back to back geekdom.  Who hasn't dreamed of having the ability to fly?

10pm- One Tree Hill on CW- Trashy show that has seen it's better days but, yea, I've got nothing to justify this pick.  

11pm- Big Bang Theory on CBS- Recorded from earlier in the evening.  Some of the jokes in this show hit a little too close to home.  

11:30pm- How I Met Your Mother on CBS- Also recorded.  Each week is a different, hilarious theme.  

No So Thankful- The towels at the gym 

A while ago on this blog I mentioned that I'm trying to get in shape.  I'm continuing to do pretty good but part of one goal always kept alluding me, the not looking like a tomato when I'm done.  Admittedly, the running part has also been, well, absent, but, on average, 5 days a week I'm down at the gym playing basketball either by myself or with some co-workers.  My basketball ability will be addressed in a later post, but each time I arrive at the gym I grab a towel and a basketball.  And each time I leave the gym, I give everything back and get a funny look from the cage attendant.  I've gotten used to the funny look.  It's because my face looks like a tomato.  I'd giggle inside if I saw my face approach. But tonight it all clicked thanks to the light shining just at the right angle...

I'm allergic to the towels at the gym

Yes, there's a lot on the allergy list.  Today's reaction to the detergent or cleaner was horrible though.  Eyes and cheeks swelled up.  It was not pretty, both literally and figuratively.  So note to self for the future, bring own towel.  

No longer the owner of the worst car in America

Car buying is like taking the SATs.  You prepare, you study, sometimes you get together with friends and share tactics or quiz each other.  Then you sit down to take the test, you're excited and want to jump right in.  You give an snarky smile to the first few questions thinking, "I own this test", but soon you start hitting harder ones and the realization hits you that maybe you're not as prepared as you thought you were.  After a few sections, you are psyched for that break when you can talk to your friends about the test but soon realize with both anxiety and disappointment that everyone had a different section than you.  Finally you get back to it and by the end you're thinking, "Whatever, this sounds good... circle, circle, circle".

That is pretty similar to my recent car buying experience.  I was excited doing research on edmunds.com, chatting with co-workers and friends who had good insight, and getting out and about test driving cars.  But then I get to a dealership where the woman says to me, "You know, you own the worst car in America right now."  I giggled at her statement but then in a split second changed to an "Oh s**t" face.  I did (key word) own a Chrysler Pacifica.  Gas guzzling SUV crossover made by a company that might not be in existence next week put me in a horrible bargaining position.  The voices start to change after this ranging anywhere from ones of people offering to put my car in a lake (would have made for an awesome story) to family and friends who were trying to balance being supportive and not calling me stupid (By the way, everything friends and family said was spot on.  The information and gentle nudges helped tremendously.  I just needed to figure out what worked best for me.).  

So this week I got back out there again and ended up buying a car.  Talking with a good salesman he threw out an offer.  I told him it was decent but that I needed to think about it.  An hour later, I show back up and threw back a offer that cut his down payment in 2/3rds and his monthly by close to $30 thinking they would never take it.  Well crap, I either didn't undercut it enough or they were just looking to close a deal.  5 minutes before closing time, I had a deal and a car.

Two Days Later...

The dealership let me take the car home for the Thanksgiving holiday with the agreement that I'd return on Friday to complete the paperwork.  I show up, have a seat in the financial guys office and he says, "Well I've got some news for you".  He proceeds to tell me that apparently financing rejected the lease agreement.  It wasn't my credit, it was the economy, he explained.  For $500 more I'd have a car and a lower monthly payment.  

I don't bargain well.  I'm not the best negotiator with people I don't know.  I can work through a negotiation between two other people no problem when they're at each other's throats about what time the alarm goes off in their room.  I've now come to understand that wheelin' and dealin' cars isn't my strong suit.

But I don't like to be messed with either.  And that's all that's going through my head when he starts talking about, "Well do you have family who can loan you the money?"  "Could you come up with it at a later date?"  Both of which I stick to my guns and say that I just couldn't pull that cash together in any guaranteed amount of time.  Then he says, "What about a different car?"  FLAG ON THE PLAY- Bait and Switch, on the dealership, 450 mile penalty, time to go.  I start turning the tables back on him saying something to the effect of that this isn't all going smoothly and I'm ready to take the Pacifica back.  They can take the car with 450 miles on it and now that I now you all can go lower, I'm a little concerned that I got the best deal out of this.  He leaves, comes back, closes the door, shakes my hand, and says, you've got the lower monthly payment.  

Now watch, soon I get a job in a big city and I don't even need a car.

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!  Thanks for reading!

Support for a reader

You have probably seen by now the wildfires in California that are getting way to close to residential areas.  If you have a moment, please say a prayer or keep in your thoughts an old co-worker of my sister's who is a reader of this blog.  Heard that she and her family had to be evacuated from thier house today but have already been let back.  To Yvonne and all those affected by the fires, my family's thoughts and prayers are with you.  We'd love to give you some of the cold and snow we're getting out here but I don't think I'm in that good with the big guy upstairs!  

Daylight come and he wan' go home!

I'm sure that you have a ton of Thanksgiving stories just like my family.  I know it's not quite Thanksgiving yet but I wanted to get this story out to my family before the craziness of the holiday hit.  When I was around 10 or 12 years old, my family would head over to my great Aunt Lona and Uncle Mike's apartment for dinner.  My Aunt Lona is a big singer and my Uncle Mike is a big collector.  What he collects are old TV shows, old movies, and other things on television.  One of the rooms to their apartment was dedicated to all his tapes.  It was like an early version of blockbuster with things categorized and videos from floor to ceiling.  It was amazing as a kid to see that amount of tapes.  The only problem was that they were Betamax tapes and we know what happened to those.  

After dinner would finish, my brother and I would ask him to go find a certain video that we, as kids, found hilarious.  So Mom, Dad, Chris, Amy, Aunt Lona, and Uncle Mike, do you remember this:

My brother and I would huddle around the TV, cheering for this thing to come on, and three minutes later, my mom and dad probably downed a quick shot to get themselves ready for the non stop singing of this song for the next three hours.  

The last time we were there, if I remember correctly, the tape continued.  Again, my brother and I were probably 11 and 12, Amy was 6 or 7.  My parents and others had diverted their attention back to the table and we were just continuing to watch.  Anyone ever seen the movie Porky's?  We did that night!  Well, up until one of the more graphic and loud parts when everyone realized what else was on that video.  I can remember my mom's high pitched "Oh my God" muffled by her hands covering her mouth followed by my dad's laughter.  Then Uncle Mike gently and calmly walked over and removed the tape.  Day-O was never to be played again, until now:-)

To all my friends and family, an early happy Thanksgiving.  Thank you for all the laughter, smiles, good times, good memories, and support.  

Happy Halloween

Let me get something out of the way at the beginning here- Me and Halloween have never really gotten along.  Bad things always seem to happen on Halloween ranging from the days of eggs and shaving cream to the current days of horrible duty calls.  In this, the last Halloween of my 20s, I was determinded to turn things around.  

A little Spain family history of Halloween.  My Mom and Dad were pretty darn awesome in developing costumes for us.  As a youngster, it was anything from clowns to superman (I know there's a classic clown picture out there that I'm sure my brother will ask me to take down out of embarassment).  In the teenage years, it was all about Alf, along with some old outfits from my grandparents.  If you don't know the show, check it out on YouTube and see some classic sitcom comedy, not any of that Hannah Montana stuff filling children's heads today (NOTE: With that line, I recognize that I just leaped into the crochety adult stage of my life).  Even with the allergies to a lot of candy, Halloween would take a positive spin when we'd sit down and I'd get to pick good stuff from my brother and sister's bag in return for the chocolate and nuts.  

This determination didn't really start though until today.  For the past week, as the people in my office can attest to, I've been the Scrooge of Halloween.  They've tried to turn my spirits around by putting random decorations on my door, but I usually responded with "I haaaaaaate Halloween!"  Now, I didn't have a dream moment in which the three ghosts of Halloween, but I did realize that it's going to take a change on my end to turn these Halloween's around.  So I bought a costume, joked about wearing it to work on Friday, and started off Halloween dressed as a gladiator.  

I've got to say, this was the first Halloween in a lot of years that something bad didn't happen.  Unless you consider the following picture:

The plan was for me to act like I was lifting up my outfit while giving a "cute" face.  Instead, it looks like I'm blowing a kiss while getting into a sumo stance.  So as a peace offering to the Halloween spirits, I show this picture to the world to provide many more Halloween holidays.  Thanks to all those around me this Halloween (and in years past) who've made it a good time.  I think it's going to start a good trend.  

The Gorge

My dad got my brother and I out golfing at an early age.  We grew up on two courses.  The first was Burden Lake where we took golf lessons.  The second was Frear Park.  The following things have happened on this course:

• I didn't make the Varsity golf team one year on this course.  I missed it by one stroke.  
• My dad used to run a night golf tournament at this place.  It was awesome as a kid to see my dad hanging out and laughing with local celebrities and news personalities.  
• Also at these tournaments, my dad was given access to a work jeep that was a manual speed, "three in the tree" type cart.  With my sister bouncing along with a huge smile on her face, I learned how to drive a stick shift.  The only problem was that it was about 3 or 4 years before I could legally drive so I've lost that touch for a while now.

Frear Park also has one of my most feared holes in all of my golfing experience.  I give you, the gorge

Now this may not look like much in the picture above but as a kid and as someone who was trying to make the golf team, this thing was a monster.  No need to see the bottom.  All there is is grass, despair, and golf balls of years past.  A few weeks ago, my brother, sister, and I headed home to help out around the house while my dad was recovering from surgury.  To get him out of the house for a little while, we ended up on the course.  (Yes mom, he didnt play).  

Anyway, back to the villanous 5th hole.  Right from the beginning of the round, I had told my brother and dad that my goal the whole day was to drive the gorge.  We pull up to the tee box with my brother invoking the movie Tin Cup saying you're probably not going to leave until you do.  He steps up to show the way and blasts one clear over, inches from the green on this Par 4.  He then says, "Over/Under for you is 3 balls".  Damn it if he wasn't right that on that one.  Third ball goes sailing over.  Another check mark off the list:-)  Here's a few more pics from that day.  Thanks dad for the tips and Chris for kicking my butt yet again at golf.  One of these days...

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Not the best picture of the two of us (and I have no idea what we're looking at) but the guy in his famous green hat has a birthday today! To my grandpa who would drive down to Troy to pick us up after school or take us out to breakfast after Church on Sunday's, I hope you had a great birthday today and here's to many more!

Here's a better pic:

Happy Birthday Stacy

A very Happy Birthday to Stacy.  I was a little slow on this post last year but this year, I've gotten a little better.  Only 5 days late:-)  Hope you and Chris had a great day!  Enjoy the new apartment and the new hairy bundle of craziness y'all brought into your apartment!

Welcome To The Newest Member Of The Spain Family!

Ladies and Gentlemen, meet Avon Barksdale (apparantly a reference to the HBO show "The Wire")!  Chris and Stacy recently added this puppy to thier lives.  Looks like he'll make for some good stories.  That innocent face will only go so far...

Congrats:-) 

Mobile Blogging

This could be dangerous. Pics, videos, crazy on the road stories....

Problem is that I'm just sitting in front of my computer procrastinating some cleaning. I have a feeling this will come in handy one day though.

Time to get the unlimited text messaging plan!

Have a great day whereever you might be reading this:-)

-Jeff

Me and My Brother

28 years and 13 days ago, Christopher Manion Spain was brought into the world. A blonde haired, blue eyed, bundle of joy. Not knowing what the world was in for, his older brother has been along for this ride of sports, California, and the honing of argumentative skills (yes, that's a politically correct way to say that we fought like any two young brothers do).

Now I have to remember that as I write this, I'm going to give this guy a "best man's" speech one day so I'm not going to share everything. I'm going to hold on to some stories, some insight, and some pictures, but he requested that I update this blog so he has something to read in class at law school. And I have no problem accommodating that wish with some stories about the two of us growing up...

• I think if YouTube or America's Funniest Home Videos existed back in our early days, our parents could have made us celebrities for some of the stupid fights we used to get into. Some were epic, but most were over the smallest stuff. Really, it would be the names we called each other that would win us the money. For our future careers and wives, I'm not even going to post an example.
• There is one fight that is still talked about to this day. It is the fight that brings a laughing "Don't you bring that up!" from my mom (She's probably doing it right now. It's ok mom. Put the hand down that you just put to your mouth after you did your "OH!"). It's a fight that involves drama, a misunderstood hero (me), a cackling anti-hero (Chris), and a shower. It's the infamous, the legendary, "Seabrook Fight". A little backstory that you may need to understand the epicness of this fight:

1. As a kid (ok, maybe still as an adult), I took long showers. It was the only place to get some peace and quiet in our house.
2. Each summer as a family we would travel to Seabrook, New Hampshire for a vacation. We would rent a house close to the beach.
3. I think one of the goals of each fight was to scream whatever we were saying at a level that attempted to exceed the others pitiful attempt. Chris never usually threw the temper tantrum along with it. I'll admit that it usually came out of me but...

The day at the beach had finished like any other and we headed back to the house to shower before going to dinner. I hopped in before my brother and enjoyed the quietness. After a while Chris comes barging in (cue anti-hero theme). Now usually the yelling match would ensue but I swear to you, I kept it calm. I honestly don't remember raising my voice. But Chris started in on the fact that he needed to shower before our dinner reservations in, oh, 15 minutes (cue dramatic camera shots that sweep back and forth between the two of us. But they're clean camera shots because, yes, I'm in the shower). Still maintaining my calm to his yelling, the curtain suddenly flies open and he rips me right out of the still running shower. Next comes another voice into the bathroom and one arm that grabs a stark naked me and another arm that grabs my brother. My mom enters and immediately starts in on me (Cue flashback that would show, statistically, she picked the right kid). I then lose it and, still naked, go absolutely batty. I mean we're talking purple in the face because I don't think I even stop to breathe nuts that she's even going to blame this on me. Over her shoulder I see Chris with a big smile on his face (that's right, I saw it) as she throws me into the closest bedroom and shuts the door behind her. (And yes, still, no clothes, no towel). The purple only changes to red because I do take a breath but continue to scream. (side note: I just realized that sometimes my parents probably just let us keep screaming at each other because they knew it would tire us right out. Hmmm). I eventually do stop the crying (oh yes, there were tears) and screaming but for many years, I held onto the innocence that I did not cause the fight to begin. I held onto the innocence that it was not my voice that brought her in from outside. Nay, the only thing I was guilty of was having a brother who probably got more enjoyment out that moment than any home run he hit before that, any basket he made in basketball, or any A he got on a test.

And then I grew up and realized that I did a lot wrong in this situation but I have yet to hear any admission from him that it was his voice that started the whole thing. How about this Chris, I admit to, as a kid, taking money from where you hid it (tucked in the St. Louis Cardinals flag that used to be attached to the ceiling) to rent a video game if you admit to your involvement in the "Seabrook Fight". (Cue camera going to a smile on his face and credits right before he admits it).

• Another Chris and Jeff Spain story involves no fighting but simply a Strike 3 call. I was an umpire for little league as a young teenager. My very first game out of a quick, informal training session, was the championship game of my brother's league. Oh, and my dad was also the coach of my brother's team. You could not have written a better scenario in a movie as the game headed to the bottom of the 6th, 2 outs, runners on 2nd and 3rd, and my brother stepping to the plate. Having the flashback in my head right now, I even think I remember my mom saying in a soft, very gentle way behind me, "Call it fair Jeffrey". Again, I kid you not, it goes to a legitimate full count. Pitcher winds up, throws, and puts this ball wayyyy off the plate. To be honest, I think I even made the call before the ball got to the plate. "Strike three" I call. It wasn't like a "SSSTTTRRRIIIKKKEEEE TTTHHHREEEEE!!!". It was more like a soft, "strike thre" (leaving the last e off for emphasis). But at the same time it was uncontrollable. I don't think I consciously choose to call him out. My mind just took over and I remember looking down at my count clicker to click in the third strike and the last out of the game. The other team erupts. My mom immediately puts me in a car and drives me home. I think the first words out of my dad's mouth when he got home were in a very dad like way, "How far outside was that pitch?". Chris on the other hand, I may still have a shoulder twitch from the amount of times would would walk by me and "accidentally" knock his shoulder into mine.

There are a ton more stories but, again, I've got to save them for when I've got a packed house and a microphone in my hand. But I will leave you and him with this.

Chris may be a saint. He's been a great brother but in a few ways I'm comfortable mentioning here: He respectfully sat through numerous plays and musicals. He never used my allergies to his benefit. Most recently, he's been a voice that not too many people are comfortable being as I go through some life changes. He has been and will continue to be a great resource, a great friend, and a great brother. Much love to you on your birthday and every day. Keep on rockin to your "lack of a bass beat" music out in California. Say hello to Stacy for me. Never stop doing what you're doing. Thanks and have fun in class.