Proud to be an American. Embarrassed to be a Californian

So it has been one day since this great country elected Barack Obama to be its 44th President and 1st African-American President. I am very proud of the fact that the people of this country finally look past the color of someones skin and looked to see if they could actually do the job. I am glad to know that after 8 years of the current administrations bad policies and mismanagement of this country that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We will see what President elect Obama will do in his 1st term as President and hopefully the powers that be in Washington can finally all work together and get this country back on her feet again. I am so excited about Americans future.

However, while I am so proud to be an American I am equally embarrassed to be a Californian. On the same day when we vote into the highest office in the world the 1st African-American President, here in California we take away the right of "Same Sex" couples to get married. For the rest of this blog refer to the first post I ran that stated everyone has an opinion. Well, not only do I have an opinion I have Freedom of Speech in the country and guess what? I am going to use it.

I am embarrassed that I live in a state that tells two people who love each other that they cannot get married because they are of the same sex. Excuse me, WHAT! If I remember correctly everyone has "EQUAL RIGHTS" in this country, and the ignorant people of California are saying if you are gay that's okay you have the same rights as straight people, but you can't get married. This is so wrong. If two people want to take the steps to get married they should be able to do so.

Over the history of this country people have fought for rights everyone else had. Slaves fought to be free back in the 1800's, women fought for the right to vote, early in the 1900's, and the Civil Rights Movement back in the 50's and 60's. All of this have gotten us to this point in our country's history, and then along comes some uptight people who think that California schools are going to teach kids about same sex marriages, and "gay lifestyle" along with some other misconceptions. Small minded idiots!

History has been, at first if you gay hide in the closet and act straight in public. Then came don't ask, don't tell. Soon after that being gay was not looked down on or that the person was not strange or different. Then you had stars like Elton John, Ellen DeGeneres, Rosie O'Donnell, and George Michael come out and say they were gay, and that was okay with everyone. Then same sex marriages started happening and people freaked out. And so you have a group of people take it on themselves to get the new law of same sex marriages outlawed.

What has this state come to? I am extremely embarrassed to be a Californian. Hey people pull your heads out of the sand they are people too and they have rights just like you and me. If they want to get married let them do it. I mean honestly are two men or two women getting married going to somehow physically, mentally, or financially hurt you? I really don't think so. Get over yourselves and worry about something that is important. The sad state of the schools, the economy, the war in Afghanistan and Iraq, the unemployment rate. Something like that, not that two women want to get married and raise a couple of kids. Grow up already.

Congratulations President Elect Obama on making history. And California. Well, way to go on legalizing discrimination on a group of people. So not proud to be from California.............

Scary Morning

You know that your day could turn out to be a bad one when your car decides to die on the freeway.

So, as I am driving into work this beautiful morning listening to some Def Leppard on the radio and thinking what a great day today could be "BANG." My car just up and stops cold in the third lane on the freeway. Good thing was that we just hit stop and go traffic. So I quickly got out and lifted the hood and smack the battery and hope that this would work, ("It usually kick starts right back up"). Well not this time, so as cars are going by me on both sides I get out and try it again and thankfully it work on the second go around.

Needless to say that once I got the car started and moving again I took the next exit off the freeway and made it to work on side streets. Hopefully the rest of my day is better than my morning commute to work. I don't need another heart pounding experience like this one for a long time.

Here's to a better day to all of you and to a bright future..........

4,368 Days

Well today marks 4,368 days since I bought my 1996 Isuzu Rodeo from Anderson's Honda / Isuzu in Palo Alto. I remember when I went in to look at buying a new SUV what I wanted. I was looking for a Blue or Black Rodeo with tinted windows, CD player, split back seat, and remote entry. Just like at any car dealer you don't get much time to look at the inventory before you are assaulted by a salesman, and this was no different. So after we exchanged the information on the type of Rodeo and extras I was looking for I was shown two that the salesman thought would interest me. The first one was a loaded black Rodeo with everything I wanted and more, but this one was used by the dealer as their car and had something like 6,500 miles on it. Then he showed me a Mica Blue Rodeo that had half of the extras I wanted and had 9 miles on it and cost $5,000 less than the black one he had shown me earlier. Well, he didn't need to twist my arm to go for the blue one. I settled for a CD player, and a privacy cover for the cargo area, so no tinted windows, and no remote entry. So at around 5:00pm on that November Saturday I drove off the lot with my new ride. A happy and content 26 year old.

Fast forward almost 12 years, (OK 15 days short of 12 years, yes I did the math.) So on the way to work this morning at 6:54am as I'm exiting 101 at Marsh Road the odometer clicked over like it had thousands of times before, but this time all 6 numbers decided to click over and the magic number of 200,000 miles glared me in the face. I have driven this SUV all over the place. It has driven me to hundreds of Sharks, Giants, 49ers, A's and Warriors games. Numerous camping trips and vacations. It was the vehicle that Dawg-ette and I took on our Honeymoon, and the car Dawg-ette and I brought Puppy home in from the hospital after she was born. This SUV and I have been all over the place and have done so many things its hard to remember everything. I know that my Rodeo is on extended play and the time is running out but I will always be grateful for her getting me where I need to be.

Dawg-ette and I have been serious looking at getting me a new SUV. I hope that whatever we decide on getting to replace my Rodeo will be just as good as the one I bought almost 12 years ago. Thanks for always getting me where I needed to be...........

The Big Roll Over

("Don't worry I took the picture in a parking lot")

Did you know? The 200,000 miles driven, average out to 45.79 miles driven a day since I bought my Rodeo.

Food......Finally Real Food

Tonight was a big night for Puppy. She got her first taste of real food. Well, not real food like you or I might want, but for her it was like a nice big juicy burger. Dawgette and I gave Puppy a small bowl of rice cereal. She ate the cereal like she was an old pro. She would try and do a little bit of chowing and she swallowed the cereal no problem.

Puppy has been watching Dawgette and I eat very intently for the last two months or so, and she has been leaning towards food that is near to her. She will be getting rice cereal for the next week then she will move up to smashed bananas. Then will come the pureed sweet potatoes. After that I am not sure what she will be getting. All I know is I can't wait for the day when I hear "Daddy, will you make me some BBQ."

Enjoy the pics of Puppy's 1st meal.....

Puppy's 1st Sharks Experience

So this is where Daddy sits at the games!

Puppy & Mommy at the Shark Tank

So excited to be at my first Sharks Practice

I was uploading some photos from my camera today and found these that I want to share with everyone. A few weeks ago the Sharks had their annual Teal and White game for the Season Ticket Holders and we took Puppy for her first Sharks event. As you can see she had a good time.

Sharks Win!

Last night the Sharks began their quest for the Stanley Cup with a 4 -1 win over the Anaheim Ducks. The excitement of Opening night was felt all throughout "The Tank" before the game. As usual the Sharks player introductions were once again excellent. The opening video that is usually played on the video board was projected onto the ice for an added bonus. All the players were given their normal loud applause's as they were introduced, and then the banner for winning the 2007 - 2008 Pacific Division was raised to the rafters. The only disappointment about the opening ceremony was that the big Shark Head was not able to be lowered down to the ice.

As for the game itself the first period was pretty boring. A few scoring chances for the Sharks but nothing to exciting. The second period was a completely different story. The Sharks took the play right to the Ducks and there was no backing down. Jonathan Cheechoo scored his first two goals of the season, and Jody Shelley, and Jeremy Roenick both had huge hits in the period. Two new comers to Team Teal had big periods as well. Both Rob Blake and Dan Boyle picked up their first points as Sharks on Cheechoo's goals. The third period was much like the second, big hits and two more goals. Christian Ehrhoff and Devin Setoguchi both scored their first goals of the season, the Ducks scored a late goal to give them their only goal of the night.

So all in all the Sharks looked pretty good to start the season now we'll see if they can keep it up for 81 more games. Oh ya, and congratulation to new Head Coach Todd McLellan on getting his first NHL win as a Head Coach.

Next Game: Saturday Night vs Los Angeles Kings @7:00 on CSN Bay Area Ch.40

The Season Starts Today

I've got Daddy's Sharks tickets!

Well, it has been nearly 5 months since the San Jose Sharks took the ice in a game that actually meant something. Usually during the off season I can't wait for the next season to start. But this off season has been full of new experiences. I have spent the last 5 months watching my little Sharkie (Teal Shark-eh, as my Mom use to say before she was born) grow and skate her into being a huge Sharks Fan just like Dad. We have already taken Puppy to her first Sharks event. She attended her first "Teal & White" Game a few weeks backs. The Teal & White game is a private practice for season ticket holders. She seemed to have a good time, spending allot of time looking around and seeing what was going on down on the ice. She got to see Sharkie from a distance so things with him were okay. She didn't get to meet any of the players on this night because Puppy wanted to eat instead of meeting some of the players. That was okay because she has time to meet the players down the road.

As for me, I am really looking forward to this new season. The team looks very good on paper with a new coach and a handful of new players. They have added depth back on defense with Dan Boyle, Rob Black, and Brad Lukowich, and they have gotten a little stronger on the offensive side as well with addition by subtraction. Personally I think the regular season will be pretty much the same as the last few years. Strong regular season and get a high seed in the playoffs, but they really need to be focused and aware of what needs to be done once the playoffs start. They need to simplify their game in the playoffs and play to their strengths.

So it is off to "The Tank" for another great season of Sharks Hockey. Oh, and yes at some point this season Puppy will be making her first Sharks Game appearance with Dawg-ette and myself. Most likely during one of the Saturday games during December. As you can see in the picture she already has her ticket to get into the building.

GO SHARKS!!!!!!!!!