What a GREAT Birthday yesterday!!!

It's back to work today...bummer, especially when I had such a terrific birthday yesterday. Just wanted to share all the pictures we took...thanks to Maria and the kids - I had a wonderful day! Click on this picture to go to the photo set on Flickr.com.

Ryan's Birthday!!!

Well, today is my birthday and I took the day-off. Click on the video to see what we've done to celebrate sooooooooooo far! ;-)

Last day being 44...

Okay, this is it. I turn 45 tomorrow! To mark my last day as a 44-year-old, I went for a physical--my first since maybe 1997. Just wanted to make sure nothing was going to fall off, etc. hehehe. I'll be damned if they didn't decide to give me a tetanus shot--my left arm is sore after 6 1/2 hours. Anyway, with the exception of the 10 pounds I've put on over the last year, Dr. Eichel gave me a relatively clean bill-of-health. I'm taking tomorrow off to spend with the family...I think I'll buy me something real nice (grin).

Nepal reviews 'living goddess' decision - Yahoo! News

Nepal reviews 'living goddess' decision - Yahoo! News -- Wow, I don't think I've EVER heard about this "living goddess" status in Nepal. How interesting, even though the current living goddess is in deep trouble for having traveled abroad -- a big no-no traditionally. Nepal may strip her of the "living goddess" designation. Read about it by clicking on the link above.

20 Dates for Under $20 -- Yahoo! Personals

20 Dates for Under $20 -- Yahoo! Personals -- Maria and I tried Date #1 a few weeks ago...yup, it works! We did Date #10, but that was with the kids in Alameda, so I'm not sure THAT counts! LOL! There ARE some good ideas on this list of cheap dates...wonder which ones I'll try next? ;-)

FILMED BY BRANDON: Nicholas discusses his drawings

This video was totally directed, recorded, and produced by my 9-year-old son, Brandon. He's using a camcorder for kids that he just picked up today. I didn't help him at all. He learned how to use the camera right out of the package by reading the directions. WOW, pretty cool!

Yeah, Yeah! Met Usher at Everett & Jones BBQ

Well, now THIS was a nice way to end the weekend. The kids wanted to eat BBQ at Everett & Jones in Jack London Square, Oakland.

While we were eating, in walks Usher, obviously in town for Tuesday's All-Star Baseball Game at AT&T Park in San Francisco. Alexandra and Stacy couldn't stop staring at him even though I ordered over $100 worth of BBQ (we have a BIG family...hehehe). They waited patiently for him to finish his meal before they ran over to his table with my iPhone to take a picture. Some lady offered to take the picture and it was a good one with Alexandra, Stacy, Junior, and Cameron in the picture. Unfortunately the 'ol bitty pressed the wrong button, DAMMIT!

Well, Usher and date started to head out the back door and into their car parked on Broadway & 2nd. My heart kinda sunk because this really was a once-in-a-lifetime for the girls. So, I chased after him onto the street and asked him to PLEASE take another pic with the kids. He was nice about it, though he warned me NOT to sneak a picture otherwise he wouldn't let me. Of course, I promised not to shoot until he was ready (LOL). He told Alexandra, Stacy, and Junior to run over to join him and he said, "Ready, set, go!"

SNAP!

I took the picture, thanked him, and there you have it. Slightly blurry, but hell, Usher wasn't about to wait much longer. Hehehe. In any case, he made their day! Thanks, Usher!

A Wimbledon Weekend...

It's Sunday morning...

Maria and I have been up since 5:30 AM to watch the Wimbledon Men's Final...Federer vs. Nadal. WOW! What a GREAT match so far. At the time I'm blogging this, Federer leads 2 sets to 1, but Nadal is about to win the 4th set being ahead 5-2. They just said on TV that Federer has never had to play a 5-set match at Wimbledon. This is getting REAL good.

We watched Venus Williams win the Women's Final yesterday...good for her! She played awesome.

Maria and I have already had coffee at Peet's Coffee, picked up two dozen donuts (I have 8 kids sleeping at my house...don't ask...hehehe), and read the Sunday paper. Now, we're just relaxing and enjoying the tennis match.

Oh, by the way, Nadal JUST won the 4th set...we're onto the 5th and final set...WOW!

The iPhone is MINE, dammit! ;-)

I got one! I got one! I got one!

And don't think for a second that all my kids are sick of hearing about it...hahaha. Yup, I stood in line (but ONLY for three hours) and got the very LAST iPhone at the AT&T Store near my house. No, I didn't get the 8 gig version because they ran out by the time I got to the front of the line. But, trust me, the 4 gig works JUST fine. I purchased the cheapest AT&T phone plan (don't need it really since I already have a blackberry with the company). For $59/month, I can watch unlimited YouTube (and EVERYONE knows I watch THAT!), unlimited websurfing using Apple's Safari browser, and unlimited e-mail (ALL of my email accounts!!!). I've been one happy camper this past weekend. No, I didn't have ANY activation issues with my phone. And surprisingly, I had absolutely NO buyer's regret--that tells you something about this phone. Get one! Get one! Get one!