August 5 - 7

Wednesday August 5 - At 8:30 I was at Joe's Crab Shack in Galveston with the family. We'd spent all day at Schlitterbahn (FREE TICKETS!!) It was a great day in spite of the sunburns and the almost ruined cell phone. One of the highlights of dinner was our "J" dancing to "Car Wash" with the waitstaff at Joe's.

Friday August 7 - Tonight at 8:30 we were watching the season premiere of Monk. We're at the in-laws' house this weekend for Jenny's 20-year high school reunion.

July 28 - 31

I had 2 interesting evenings this week. At 8:30 Tuesday (the 28th) I was in Seguin; I went to watch the Senior Girls (that's 13- to 16-year-olds) from our Little League play in the state championship. They needed to win 2 games to get the championship--unfortunately they only won the 1st. A heartbreaking finish to a great tournament season--2nd place in the state!

Tonight (Thursday the 31st) I was at a friend's house for dinner. We had evacuated due to a chemical fire at a fertilizer plant a few miles from our house. I came home in the afternoon to check on the dog--don't worry we had her inside--and there was a definite ammonia smell in the air to go along with the "heavy" feel. Kinda felt like being around a campfire but without being able to see the smoke. Anyway, we're back home now and everything's ok. There's still a small area around the plant that is under evacuation but it's not affecting us.

Sunday July 19

Sunday night at 8:30 I had just gotten home from escorting our kids and others from our church to camp for the week--they'll be gone until Saturday!

Saturday July 18

Saturday night at 8:30 I was at Veterans Park in College Station, working at the state tournament for men's slow-pitch softball--I spent a very long day there!

Friday July 10

Friday night at 8:30 I was having dinner with "B" and also her friends and their mom who had all gone to Waco with us for the regional track & field meet. The kids were done for the day and we were trying to relax and prepare for another day in the heat Saturday.

For the last 3 years "B" had medaled at regional and qualified for the state meet (though we only actually went to the state meet the last 2 years), so she was a little disappointed with her performance this year and not making it to state. I was quite proud of her, though, after moving up to the 12-and-under division this year. She got 6th place in the 800m Friday, then Saturday it was 7th in shot put and 8th in long jump. She had some decent marks and definitely something to shoot for next year. Our friend "A" won the gold medal in the 10-and-under high jump--congrats and good luck at state!

Vote for Ian Kinsler!

July 7

Well, it's been about a week since my last update--here are the hightlights....

Saturday July 4 - Independence Day - We spent the weekend in Granbury and picked up our "new to us" used car--a 2001 Mitusbishi Galant. Anyway, at 8:30 Saturday night we were enjoying the Independence Day Concert presented by the Langdon Center Big Band.

Sunday July 5 - I was driving home with "J" tonight. Since we were coming home in 2 cars anyway, the girls stayed an extra night. I had work the next morning and "J" had rehearsal for You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, which officially opens Friday (sneak preview show Thursday).

Monday and Tuesday July 6-7 - The last 2 nights I've been at the track with "B" getting quite a work out. We're still getting ready for the TAAF Region 5 meet in Waco this weekend. One more day of hard workouts, then rest on Thursday, then on to the Baylor track and field complex for running Friday and field events Saturday. Good luck, kid!

Wednesday July 1

Tonight at 8:30 I was back out at the track with the girls. We got about a mile of intervals in before it got too dark and the bugs were starting to swarm.

Tuesday June 30

The year is half-over! Tonight at 8:30 I was at the Arts Council of the Brazos Valley. We (Brazos Valley TROUPE) had a reception for sponsors of our upcoming show You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" (July 10, 11, 17 @ 7:30; July 12 @ 3:00; and 2 shows July 18). Most of the cast were there, and sang a song from the show.

Monday June 29

Tonight at 8:30 I was at the track running with "B" and her friend "A" who are training for the TAAF regional meet coming up July 10-11 in Waco. This may be the theme of the week.

Also of note, today was my brother Rusty's birthday. He would have been 51 years old.

June 20 - 22

June 20 - Saturday night I was at the ballpark watching one of our 7-8 yr-old boys teams playing in the district tournament. Of course, I do not have a 7-8 yr-old boy of my own--I was just there as a board member to support the league.

June 21 - Sunday night I was home from church, watching tv.

June 22 - Monday night I was at the ballpark again.

June 17 - 19

June 17 - Wednesday night at 8:30 I was pumping gas in my truck on the way home from church.

June 18 - For Thursday I'll switch to 8:30 am--"B" had her first meet of the summer track and field season. At 8:30 she was in the middle of the long jump competition. She also did shot put. She didn't place in either of her field events today (although she got pretty good marks for the first meet) but she did get 3rd in the 800 meter run.

June 19 - Friday night at 8:30 I was on my way home from dropping "J" off at TROUPE for a lock-in.

June 15-16

Monday June 15 - Monday night at 8:30 I was in my room watching LSU-Arkansas at the College World Series and occaisonally flipping over to the Indians-Brewers game.

Tuesday June 16 - Tuesday night I was watching the Rangers clinching the Silver Boot by beating the Astros for the 4th straight time this year. Plus Pudge Rodriguez returned home to Arlington to tie the MLB record for games played at catcher!

June 10 - 14

Wednesday June 10 - At 8:30 I would have been driving home from church.

Thursday June 11 - Don't remember what I was doing tonight, probably watching the Rangers game?

Friday June 12 - At 8:30 I was in the theater at Blinn College in Brenham. Jenny and I had gone to see the TROUPE kids' performance at the TNT youth conference--they did well. Also, "J" came home today (Sunday) with a Spirit award from the conference!

Saturday June 13 - At 8:30 I was on the way home (again) from Brenham. I'd gone over for the day to cook hamburgers for lunch for our group, then hot dogs for supper for the entire conference. It was hot and I was tired!

Sunday June 14 - At 8:30 tonight, I was watching round 1 of the College World Series.

June 8 - 9

Once again, I've been hopelessly delinquent with my posting. So, I'm skipping ahead to yesterday....

Monday June 8 - last night at 8:30 I was in the movie theater. "J" had an afternoon rehearsal for TROUPE's show at the TNT youth conference this week in Brenham, so after we picked him up we had dinner at Subway ("B"'s choice, of course) then surprised the kids by stopping at the theater on the way home to see Night at the Museum--I recommend it, lots of good laughs.

Tuesday June 9 - tonight I was at the Little League park. The regular season's winding down and there was only one game scheduled tonight and I was working the scoreboard--the home team won!!

June 3

Wednesday night at 8:30 "J" and I were just about to leave from church. The girls had stayed home because "B" is sick--she didn't get to play in our last softball game Tuesday, but she was on the bench cheering (sort of) for her teammates--and "J" wanted to stay a little while after church was done so he could work on a new classroom bulletin board.

May 31 - June 2

May 31 - Sunday night at 8:30 I was home with the family--nothing terribly out of the ordinary going on.

June 1 - Monday night at 8:30 I was at the ballpark in the middle of umpiring a softball game.

June 2 - Tuesday night at 8:30 I was washing my feet! We'd just gotten home from our last softball game of the season and I was trying to get rid of some of the dirt and sweat with some nice, cool water.

May 25 - 30

Oh, how did I get a week behind?! Most of these days I don't even remember what I was doing at 8:30. Oh, well.... Here goes!

May 25 - I have no idea what I was doing Monday at 8:30, but we did have a wonderful Memorial Day, getting together with friends--some of whom it seems this is the only day of the year we get to see.

May 26 - Again, I don't remember what I was doing at 8:30. Today was my mom's birthday--she would have been 79 years old. She died almost 17 years ago and there are still times I feel like it just happened. I guess every boy just wants his mommy sometimes.

May 27 - Wednesday at 8:30 we had everyone home from from church and rehearsal--I was watching the Women's College World Series.

May 28 - Thursday at 8:30 "B" and I were at the ballpark--I was the "board member on duty" and, since there weren't any games on our softball field, we had a team practice there.

May 29 - Friday at 8:30 I was at the theater chaperoning the monthly lock-in.

May 30 - Saturday at 8:30 I was home flipping channels between the Rangers game and the WCWS.

May 23 - 24

May 23 - Saturday night at 8:30 I was driving home with Jenny. We had been to dinner at her principal's house with the teachers and board.

May 24 - Sunday night I was home watching tv with the family.

May 22

Friday night at 8:30 I was at the ballpark again, this time umpiring a softball game for the Senior Girls (that's 13-16 year-olds).

May 19 - 21

May 19 - Tuesday at 8:30 I was at "J"'s school, enjoying his performance as The Baker in Into The Woods. We also had some yummy fried chicken for dinner along with the show!

May 20 - Wednesday at 8:30 I was at home--watching tv, maybe? I can't even remember!

May 21 - Thursday at 8:30 I was driving home from softball practice with "B."

May 16 - 18

May 16 - Saturday at 8:30 I was sitting in Dairy Queen with the family. The girls had just gotten back into town from camping with the Girl Scouts and we needed and easy, quick dinner.

May 17 - Sunday at 8:30 I was on the way home from the theater with "J." We had an improv session.

May 18 - Monday night at 8:30 I was just pulling into the Walmart parking lot. Needed to get a new battery for the truck.

May 13 - 15

May 13 - Wednesday at 8:30 I was driving home from church with both the kids.

May 14 - Thursday at 8:30 I was home watching tv. Nothing big on, just waiting til Jenny was ready to watch Survivor which we had recorded during the 7:00 hour.

The big thing that happened to me today was a couple of hours earlier at softball practice. I had the girls hitting from a tee and I had a bucket of balls so I could just put another ball up after they hit one. Anyway "B" was batting and when I was placing a new ball on the tee, she caught me with her backswing and really whacked my finger--I actually think it could be broken. It hurts even to use it to type.

May 15 - Friday at 8:30 I was at the ballpark. We had a game tonight which "B" missed because of her Girl Scout camping trip. We won the game on a forfeit because the other team only had 7 players there, but we played anyway and I was able to see some girls pitching for us who hadn't gotten in a game before since the game didn't really matter--was just happy to see them actually doing some of the things we've been teaching. By 8:30 our game was already over and I was umpiring for the older girls game.

May 9 - 12

Ok, time to catch up again....

May 9 - Saturday at 8:30 I was outside throwing a nerf basketball around with "B," her friend "A," and "A"'s dad. At least, I think it was close to 8:30. For some reason, my reminder didn't chime on my phone, so I'm guessing.

May 10 - Sunday night I was at home, watching the last episode of The Amazing Race. I'm glad Tammy and Victor won. I liked them, plus I was mainly glad it was NOT the cheerleaders--have you heard the phrase "The Ugly American"? They definitely personified that.

May 11 - Monday night driving home with "J" from TROUPE. We had a live announcement of the nominations for BVT's "Ovations" awards tonight. "J" and I are nominated in several categories, and even competing with each other for one. Ovies Night is May 26!

May 12 - Tuesday night at 8:30 I was moving softball equipment from my truck to the garage. "B" and I had a game tonight and we'd just gotten home. We lost again (it's been a tough season for us) despite a great effort by the girls, including 5 strikeouts by our pitcher--and "B" got on base twice and scored a run. We'll get 'em next time!

May 5 - 8

May 5 - Tuesday night at 8:30 I was at "J"'s school band concert. It's amazing how much the kids have improved this year.

May 6 - Wednesay night at 8:30 I was at Wal-Mart with "J." We stopped to pick up a new flash drive for him to save stuff from his school computer, which he had to turn in this week...no laptop for the summer.

May 7 - Thursday night at 8:30 I was at home waiting for the Rangers game to start--I hate the West Coast trips.

May 8 - Friday night at 8:30 "B" and I were in the middle of our softball game. It was a wild affair--we lost 13-12, but twice we had to stop batting because we had scored the 5-run limit our league plays with, including the last inning when we still had the bases loaded!

Monday May 3

Tonight at 8:30 I was at the ball park, running the scoreboard for the boys game.

May 2 - 3

May 2 - Saturday night at 8:30 "B" and I were standing in line for concessions during intermission of "Mother Goose, Inc."--featuring our "J" as the Brave Little Tailor. A very funny show with several added musical numbers--original parodies written for the Brazos Valley TROUPE production. My favorite was "Can't Cut This"--Rapunzel wishing her hair was shorter, to the tune of MC Hammer's "Can't Touch This."

May 3 - Sunday night "B" and I were driving home from church. Tonight was our monthly "1st Sunday" meal after the evening service. I spent part of the time fellowshipping with some of the teenagers while we had the Rangers-White Sox game on the big screen in the auditorium.

April 29 - May 1

April 29 - Wednesday night at 8:30 I was not driving home from the theater with "J." Instead I was walking in through the front door of the theater to pick him up.

April 30 - Thursday night at 8:30 I was at the ball park (seems to be 2 different themes repeating). It was my night as "board member on duty." It was a very quiet night, no incidents.

May 1 - Friday night at the ball park again. "B" and I had a 6:00 game--another that didn't quite go the way we wanted it to. We seemed to have the momentum on our side and only trailed by 2 going into the other team's last inning at bat. We got the first 2 batters out, then they just started hitting the ball all over the field. We lost 9-3. Anyway I was umpiring the 2nd game and that's where I was at 8:30.

April 25 - 28

April 25 - I really should post every day--I'm getting older and it's harder to remember from one day to the next. Saturday night at 8:30 I was watching the Rangers game on TV.

April 26 - Sunday night at 8:30 I was handing some Taco Bell sauce to "J." We'd brought home dinner after our improv group practiced.

April 27 - Monday night at 8:30 I was driving home with "J" from his rehearsal for "Mother Goose, Inc." This is the TROUPE production with performances the next 2 weekends. "J" wasn't going to be in this show, because he's doing "Into the Woods" at school and that performance was also scheduled for next week. But, the school show has been postponed a few days because of several rehearsals being cancelled for one reason or another and, TROUPE suddenly needed a fill-in for one of the actors who had to have surgery on his jaw today! So, "J" got the call yesterday 30 minutes before rehearsal and he jumped in--with only 4 rehearsals before opening night!

April 28 - Tuesday night at 8:30, again, I was driving "J" home from rehearsal--this might be a recurring theme!

April 23 - 24

Thursday April 23 - At 8:30 Thursday night at was at Brazos Valley TROUPE for a planning meeting for the TNT youth theater conference we are co-hosting in June.

Friday April 24 - "B" and I had a softball game tonight--where else do you think I was?

April 20 - 22

Monday April 20 - Monday night at 8:30 I was at the ballpark. Tonight was my night as "board member on duty" which just means someone to be the authority figure in case anything unusual comes up. I did actually have to handle a question about a protest in one of the softball games. Everyone was very civil and it was handled quietly!

Tuesday April 21 - Again, tonight at 8:30 I was at the ballpark. "B" and I had a game which we won in dramatic, come-from-behind fashion in the last inning!

Wednesday April 22 - Tonight at 8:30 "J" and I were on our way home from church. We were a little bit later than normal leaving because he needed to search in the teachers' workroom for some supplies for the class he's teaching (prepping for next week). He volunteered to teach the 4-5's (I think that's the right age) class for a couple of weeks while the regular teacher recovers from surgery. He's always been very good with the kids this age and they seem to respond to him.

April 19

Sunday April 19 - at 8:30 tonight I was sitting in Taco Bell having dinner with Jenny and the kids. We were later than usual leaving church because we stayed after for the kids to get their awards from LTC, and the drama and chorus performed for the congregation.

April 18

That last post should have been titled "April 15-17" since it would have been a little difficult for me to post this morning about what I'm doing tonight--although it really could've worked out today, since I knew already the Aggie baseball team was playing tonight.

So, it's 8:30 on Saturday night and I'm watching the Aggies BTHO Nebraska. The Ags just scored 8 runs in the bottom of the 6th inning to take a 10-1 lead! WHOOP!!

April 15 - 18

Wednesday April 15 - Tax Day! No stress for me this year--filed in February and the refund was spent long ago. Anyway, at 8:30 tonight I was sitting at a red light at University and the bypass. After church I had stopped at the bank and pet store (needed a new tether for Angel) and was on my way home.

Thursday April 16 - Jenny's birthday! Johnny Carino's was the choice for the birthday dinner. We ate kind of early (it's a school night, after all) so at 8:30 I was already home and watching CSI. We don't watch this series regularly, but we'd seen the ads during the previous week--the murder took place at an "Astro Quest" convention. Lots of cheesy Star Trek references, including "He's dead, Jim" and "the guy in the red shirt always dies."

Friday April 17 I'm home alone again this weekend. Jenny and the kids went to visit Poppa and Gee-gee and I didn't want to be stuck in the car for the 3-hour plus (especially "plus" due to the weather we had) trip. At 8:30 I was watching the Rangers game on the muted TV while listening to the Aggie baseball game on the radio. I can do that with no other humans in the house!

April 8 - 14

OK, I've missed a lot of days this last week. I've been having some back and leg pain that didn't let me sit for very long, so I just haven't been on the computer at all. It's tough when I have a job sitting in front of a bank of computers at my desk all day. I can tell I'm on the mend now, though.

So, here's what I can remember from the last few days--what I was doing at 8:30:

Wed the 8th, I was either driving home from church or had just gotten home.

Thu the 9th, I was at the ballpark (big surprise this time of year!). B and I had an early game, then I was umpiring the late game.

Fri the 10th, I was in bed reading and/or watching tv. I had bailed on going to Houston and stayed home while Jenny and the kids made the trip. I couldn't imagine sitting in the car for an hour and a half--I figured I'd be passed out from the pain before we got to Navasota.

Sat the 11th I don't remember.

Sun the 12th I was watching The Amazing Race.

Mon the 13th the new Bob Saget series, Surviving Suburbia. It had some good laughs.

Tue the 14th I'm watching the Rangers-Orioles game.

April 4 - 7

OK, time to catch up on my posts....

Saturday at 8:30 AM I was busy at the ballpark getting ready for Opening Day! At 8:30 PM I was at On the Border having dinner with my lovely wife. I'm sure the "fajita chicken con queso" took a couple of months off the useful life of at least one vital body organ--but chicken is good for you, right?. After dinner we saw the Nicolas Cage movie "Knowing." It would have been better if I had left about 15 minutes early and made up my own ending.

Sunday at 8:30 I was driving home with J from TROUPE. We had a practice session for Oxymorons, our improv group.

Monday at 8:30 I was at home watching 24 with B. The rest of the family was in the other room, watching Heroes--which I will watch recorded later in the week.

Tuesday at 8:30 I was umpiring a Little League softball game. This was not planned--B and I had a game at 6:00 and one of the umpires for the next game wasn't there. Jenny had already left for home; I had to call her to come back up there and get B so I could stay.

April 3

Friday night at 8:30, I was just about to pull into the driveway with Bess. We were on our way home from softball practice (opening day tomorrow!) and had stopped at Subway for dinner.

April 2

Thursday night at 8:30; I'm watching the final episode of E.R. This show has been around longer than my children. I actually stopped watching for almost a year after Mark Green died--I'm still mad they did that! Oh, well, now I'll have an extra hour every Thursday....

April 1

I have not pulled off a single April Fools gag today. The only person who got me was a child at church tonight who walked up to me and pointed toward the top of my head and said "There's something on your head." Naturally, I reached up to try to discover what was on my head....

Anyway, at 8:30 tonight I had just gotten home from church and was watching the last inning of the Aggie softball game vs t.u. Unfortunately, the final score was not in our favor.

March 31

It's Tuesday night. At 8:30 I was halfway through downloading an update from Microsoft which they claim will protect me from the Conficker worm tomorrow. What do they know, really?

March 30

Tonight at 8:30, I was driving home from a trip to Wal-Mart. The real purpose of the trip was to pick up Jamie from rehearsal at TROUPE, but I spent more time at Wal-Mart than I did at TROUPE.

March 29

Tonight at 8:30, I was standing in the kitchen eating goldfish crackers, and discussing the various smells which eminate from the body of a particular 13-year-old boy.

March 28

At 8:30 Saturday night, I was in basically the same place I was Friday night--at the A&M rec center natatorium, working at the NCAA men's swimming and diving national championship.

Although, I'm not going to make a habit of keeping track of what I'm doing at 8:30 AM, I do want to point out what I did Saturday morning--it was a relativly significant event. Bess and I did our first 5K together. I say we "did" the 5K rather than that we "ran" the 5K, because we didn't exactly run the entire way. I was very proud of my baby girl, and I'd like to use her as my excuse for the speed at which I completed the course. The truth is, I was glad she was there to "hold me back."

March 27

At 8:30 on Friday, I was working at the NCAA men's swimming and diving championship meet. I was watching the Media/VIP entrance, and I had a great view of the diving pool.

March 26

At 8:30 on Thursday, I was at Brazos Valley TROUPE in a committee meeting about our summer youth camp and production of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown."

March 25

At 8:30 tonight I was watching Monster Quest (about Bigfoot) on the History Channel.

Everyone has a special minute

OK, here's the deal. We've started this goofy family tradition (not really the right word, but not sure what to call it) where we take note of what we're doing at a specific minute of each day. You get your minute from your birthday; for example, August 30th = 8:30. You have the freedom to choose whether you'll use AM or PM--you should choose whichever would be more interesting (for variety, the fact that you're not usually asleep, etc).

So, I've decided to use this blog to keep track of what I'm doing every night at 8:30, starting today.