SugartasticJ's blog

So tonight I sounded a little like my dad, or my grandfather, telling my kids how different their lives are from mine growing up.  I told them how we didn't have cell phones, or the interwebs, or the kinds of video games they play today.  I told them how when I was their age, the only video game was pong.  To show them how miserable life was compared to Lego Pirates, or Halo, or CoD, I Googled "pong," and showed them a YouTube video of that ancient game.  Did they feel sorry for me?  Were they shocked how simple the game was?  No, they asked if I could download it so they could play it.  Se

So tonight I sounded a little like my dad, or my grandfather, telling my kids how different their lives are from mine growing up.  I told them how we didn't have cell phones, or the interwebs, or the kinds of video games they play today.  I told them how when I was their age, the only video game was pong.  To show them how miserable life was compared to Lego Pirates, or Halo, or CoD, I Googled "pong," and showed them a YouTube video of that ancient game.  Did they feel sorry for me?  Were they shocked how simple the game was?  No, they asked if I could download it so they could play it.  Se

Eleven days after Mexicana Airlines' thieving luggage rapists stole my property (see post below), the fuckholes in their "Customer Service" department continue to drag their feet and throw hurdles in our path to getting fair compensation for our stolen property. First, they tossed me around their corporate bureaucracy, referring me from one department to another, blaming each other for our loss. Then they claimed that electronics are not "standard luggage" and may not qualify for compensation. WTF!? Electronics are not standard luggage? What year is Mexico living in!?

Eleven days after Mexicana Airlines' thieving luggage rapists stole my property (see post below), the fuckholes in their "Customer Service" department continue to drag their feet and throw hurdles in our path to getting fair compensation for our stolen property. First, they tossed me around their corporate bureaucracy, referring me from one department to another, blaming each other for our loss. Then they claimed that electronics are not "standard luggage" and may not qualify for compensation. WTF!? Electronics are not standard luggage? What year is Mexico living in!?

Last week I took the family to Isla Navidad, in the Mexican state of Jalisco, about 30 miles north of Manzanillo, or about 1500 miles south of the border.  Wonderful vacation at a beachside resort.  We decided to celebrate my son's birthday during our vacation, and secretly brought down a Wii for his present.  My two boys joyously played Lego Starwars while my wife and I drank Margaritas on the deck.  On Sunday we packed up the Wii and the rest of our luggage and headed home.

Last week I took the family to Isla Navidad, in the Mexican state of Jalisco, about 30 miles north of Manzanillo, or about 1500 miles south of the border.  Wonderful vacation at a beachside resort.  We decided to celebrate my son's birthday during our vacation, and secretly brought down a Wii for his present.  My two boys joyously played Lego Starwars while my wife and I drank Margaritas on the deck.  On Sunday we packed up the Wii and the rest of our luggage and headed home.

So, we're supposed to turn off our TVs this week for our kids. The point is, they say, to get our kids off the couch and outside to exercise. Great! If you're not already doing this everyday, then use this week to start doing it. I'm a big believer in getting outside for some fun. But if we're already doing this, do I need a Hallmark week to be totally TV-abstinent? No! But my wife says yes. My two boys - 4 and 6 years old - have less body fat than Karen Carpenter.

So, we're supposed to turn off our TVs this week for our kids. The point is, they say, to get our kids off the couch and outside to exercise. Great! If you're not already doing this everyday, then use this week to start doing it. I'm a big believer in getting outside for some fun. But if we're already doing this, do I need a Hallmark week to be totally TV-abstinent? No! But my wife says yes. My two boys - 4 and 6 years old - have less body fat than Karen Carpenter.

As I write this, I'm on my way to Catalina Island for the weekend. It's about a 4 hour cruise (on my slow boat) from our home port of Dana Point in Orange County. We're still about an hour out of Avalon, Catalina; my wife and two boys are asleep and I'm alone at the helm listening to some of my favorite Ben Harper tunes just enjoying the passing seas and a beautiful sunset. As the sun touched the horizon and the clouds lit up in various shades of fire, I realized these are the moments life is all about and I was perfectly satisfied.

Here's my view about 30 minutes ago.

As I write this, I'm on my way to Catalina Island for the weekend. It's about a 4 hour cruise (on my slow boat) from our home port of Dana Point in Orange County. We're still about an hour out of Avalon, Catalina; my wife and two boys are asleep and I'm alone at the helm listening to some of my favorite Ben Harper tunes just enjoying the passing seas and a beautiful sunset. As the sun touched the horizon and the clouds lit up in various shades of fire, I realized these are the moments life is all about and I was perfectly satisfied.

Here's my view about 30 minutes ago.