Category: Family

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Custom Skateboards

My sister called this morning and invited me to her son’s birthday party next week. She can’t do it this weekend because of the Super Bowl, so they picked next Thursday for the celebration. Part of the reason they picked Thursday is because they booked a suite at the Sommet Center for the hockey game that night against the Anaheim Ducks. There is a family joke about the Mighty Ducks, but that’s another story.

I’m not sure what to get this kid for a cool birthday present. He’s turning 8 and is just a typical eight year old – into all kinds of sports and video games. Uncle Adam’s present has to be awesome! I’m thinking it might be a good time to introduce him to skateboarding. I think that’s about the age when I first got interested in the sport. Of course, things have changed since I was riding skateboards. The boards themselves are much more tekkie and its all about a custom designed board.

The best web site I can find about skateboards is called www.warehouseskateboards.com. I’ve been reading up on their page “Skateboard Buying Guide” about skateboard basics and how to choose the right boards and components based on age and size. They also have some really wild designs for a huge selection of boards.

If I order it today I can get it shipped here in time for the birthday party, so looking at their choices for a longboard complete package, I’m going with the rad “Blind Reaper” design. This will blow his mind!

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Spring Break Means Florida

Ever since I was a little kid my family has always gone to Florida at least once a year, usually for Spring Break. I can’t imagine going anywhere else for Spring Break – it’s our family tradition.

My parents bought a condo in New Port Ritchie back in the 1970’s. It used to be a small town with less tourists than most of the Orlando area developments. Of course, after all these years the area has grown and its more crowded now. But it is still a little different feel than closer in to Orlando – less crowds, less traffic, less noise and less kids.

Last year when we went to the condo we decided to explore some of the other little cities and towns that were close by and not spend so much time in the theme parks. We had a nice time exploring the Gulf Coast, and that area is still my favorite spot in the United States. I haven’t found any place nicer.

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Boating After Dark

My grandmother has a little condo down in Florida on the Gulf Coast and she just bought another little fishing boat to take out in the canals and Everglades. She has always loved to go fishing but she also likes to just cruise along watching for wildlife, like American Bald Eagles, manatees and dolphins.

She’s promised to take me out on the new boat when I come down for a visit during spring break. I asked her if she has the boat fully outfitted yet and she told me that she still needs a spotlight and backup motor. I might be able to help her out with the spotlight. I’d like to get her something nice as a thank you gift for having me stay with her in March.

My dad told me about a good web site called www.magnalight.com to get boat and truck lights, so I’m clicking over there for a bit. Just have to decide if I want the light shipped here so I can take it down there with me, or should I just have it sent right to her. The site has a special offer of free shipping on orders over $200 and they take all the major credit cards, including Paypal.

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The Dinner Hour

As a kid we were encouraged to go outside and play every day after we returned home from a day of school. Most days, except in the dead of winter for about a month, we had at least an hour or two of daylight to play in the yard or with friends in the neighborhood. But at six o’clock, we were all expected to be home, cleaned up, and ready to eat dinner.

Everyone in our upper middle class neighborhood was expected to eat dinner at six o’clock except for my friend, Sandy. That family was headed by an Army General, and he required dinner at five o’clock. I suspect that a good part of that is because he had to start his day earlier than the white collar dads who had 9 to 5 jobs. The military runs on its own time, and the General leads by good example.

As an adult in today’s world, I almost never get to eat dinner by six o’clock. Most nights I don’t even get home from work until after six. My dinner has been pushed back to seven o’clock most nights. I wonder if the kids from the ‘hood are finding the same thing happening in their lives, or if they have been able to stick to the six o’clock hour for their dinners now?

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No Hangover!

Last night really rocked and I’m amazed that I don’t have a hangover from all the fun.

The lodge was the perfect place for a New Year’s Eve party. We ate like pigs, drank like fish and partied like a room full of crazy but “smart enough to not do anything totally stupid” people. It was really nice to be able to totally relax and let loose.

We called a cab about 2:30 am and decided to just leave my car there for the morning. Much better to pay out $30 and not worry about DUI issues. I’ll catch a ride back over there with my brother to fetch the car later this afternoon and maybe we’ll share a late brunch. Don’t want to break my arm for patting myself on the back too much, but I think that was one of the smartest things I’ve ever done!

Here’s hoping you had a nice New Year’s celebration, too. Here’s also hoping that 2009 is good to you, and that we all see great things for America and our families.

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Thank you Santa

Hey Santa – you rock!

I got a new iPhone in my Christmas stocking. How cool is that?

It’s not activated yet – I have to take care of that on Monday so they will switch my number from my old Razr phone and assign it to my new iPhone. But I can read the instructions that come with it and be ready for Monday. Awesome present – wasn’t expecting this at all.

Also got a new video game for the Playstation 3 and tickets to a show downtown in a couple weeks. All in all, Santa was VERY good to me!

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Merry Christmas Everyone

This week has been record setting for bad weather and I know it has ruined a lot of people’s travel plans. I hope that if you going to be in the air or on the road for the holidays that you arrived safe and sound and can enjoy the time with your loved ones.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

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Dog Days of Summer

Well the heat wave finally hit here. It’s hot. very hot.

Had to go to a funeral yesterday and stand out in the hot sun for about a half hour for the graveside service. It was 110 degrees and no shade trees in the cemetery. It was a typically bleak western cemetery. A lot of dirt and rocks with a few rows of headstones, some dating back to the 1800’s. It was a very sad day and the cemetery was no comfort for the mourners standing there in suits and black dresses.

We could use some rain – everything has turned brown and grey. Even the creeks and ponds have dried up. Good thing August only has 31 days and then we have Labor Day weekend to flag the end of summer.