Number Six has arrived. . .

Well, grandchild number six has arrived.

Son and his bride had baby Jakob in March, their first. For the time being at least, Jakob is the fifth-generation "only son" in our family tree. Will the spell be broken? We'll see what God's plan is for Eric & Sarah's new family. . .

Daughter & hubby had baby Caitlyn the end of April, their fifth. She's got three big sisters to help her deal with their only brother. OTOH, Caleb's gotta deal with four sisters! Interesting family dynamics, for sure.

Babies sure give us older folk a new perspective on life.

Time marches on. . .

Something in the works. . .

Depending on what happens in the next 10 days or so, there might be some more activity on this blog.

We'll leave it at that for the time being. . .

Stay Tuned!

2009 Has Arrived. . .

. . . and what an interesting year this is going to be.

Besides all the turmoil that's going on within the economic and the political worlds, several things are in the cards for me this year, at least as of now:

1. Eric will become a father around the end of February, first of March. He and his bride Sarah are having a little boy, Jakob William, who will also be, for the time being, anyway, the fifth-generation only son on this branch of the Long Family Tree.

2. Colleen will become a mom to baby number five sometime near my birthday at the beginning of April. They still haven't decided on a name yet. . . but are mulling over several possibilities.

3. For about two month's time, Colleen will be exactly half my age. Only time in our lives that this will ever happen. Have to wait until 2015 before Eric reaches the same point, which will last for almost three months.

4. My business is hanging in there, but may have to make some serious considerations about the service levels I'm providing and corresponding pricing structures in order to stay profitable in this weird economic climate.

And so the New Year begins!

A Little Footbal Humor

Was cleaning out a drawer today, and found this clipping from the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper, dated Wednesday, 09/20/1978. It appeared in the late Herb Caen's column, with a footnote that the author is unknown or forgotten. So, for any of you who are football junkies, here is a humorous takeoff on the Lord's Prayer:

Our football,
Which art on television,
Hallowed by thy game.
Thy fullback run,
Thy pass be flung,
In Miami as it is in Dallas.
Give us this day our four quarters,
And forgive us our trips to the bathroom,
As we for give our fumblers.
Lead us not into conversation,
But deliver us from thinking;
For this is the distillate,
Of the opiate of the masses,
Forever,
Amen

Great, but awkward, weekend

Just got back from MN, where my son got married over the weekend.

Since they're both in the USAF, stationed in Germany, didn't really have a lot of time to visit and get to know my new daughter-in-law, but she seems very sweet, my son appears to be happy, and what more can a parent wish for?

There were, however, some awfully awkward moments, especially when it was paparazzi time after the wedding ceremony. . .

Oh well, at least I didn't have a fashion faux pas with my tie choice.

Summer Olympics Water Polo

Watched the Men's Water Polo finals last night between the USA and Hungary. Was interesting, as it was a live feed via the internet, so no commercials, and no inane talking heads mucking up the soundtrack. Of course, the night owl that's in me made it easier, as it came on just after midnight CA time and ran until about two am. I see by the local NBC station's broadcast schedule that the game's going to be on this afternoon, don't know if it's worth watching again, due to the outcome. (USA lost 14 - 10, but it was a GREAT match for the first 3 quarters!)

Anyway, the one thing I'd forgotten about water polo, especially at this level, is how incredibly FAST the game is played. And I remember my daughter making the same comment, after she and her cousin got to watch a Team USA game in person at the Atlanta Olympics back in 1996. It really does move quickly, and you have to pay very close attention just to keep your eye on the ball - and we're not even in the water! Even the camera crews had trouble at times keeping up.

It's really too bad that this sport doesn't get more media attention here in the States. It's a terrific team game, and once you understand it, incredibly exciting to watch - especially the battle for the "hole" position! (WP folk will understand that comment!) Gotta give NBC credit this year for at least having live feeds available of both the men's and women's games - usually all we get is a soundbite.

To think that water polo is the OLDEST team sport at the Olympics, and it still doesn't get any real respect or prime-time TV coverage - at least with the USA's drive-by media, that is.

Sad, really. . .

Road Trip

Been looking at the calendar, and for the next three months, there are three trips lined up, one short, two long, distance-wise.

Woo Hoo!! A chance to get out of this valley.

Much as I like living here, since it's so convenient to other major spots in CA, the itch is building to move on.

No decisions as of yet, but the thinking process is mulling things over.

Guess it's all part of the process that takes place as beginning one's sixth decade on this planet we call home gets closer.

Hmmmm. . .