Christmas time in the city

As the holiday season winds down the yearly reflection period is now upon all of us. Will I write in my journal more? Will I exercise more? What will I do in '09 to make myself better?

'08 is ending pretty well and what a great year end it has been. After some great Christmas parties with the ward and with work I had the chance to settle in and watch my talented kids finish out the year with some spectacular performances. Sam and Ness both were fantastic entertainers not only in their school programs but on the wrestling match and the stage. Sam finished his season and won the award for "Hardest worker", while Nessa tapped and jazzed her way to a wonderful dance performance.

Before Christmas I was able to cruise down to Vegas for a little Vegas Bowl action and male bonding. Despite the poor result on the field it was another successful trip. We even had the chance to see a celebrity or two. As we were walking through the shops at Caesars we saw ol' Pete Rose himself signing autographs at a sports memorabilia store. The sad part was that no one was in line to meet this ones great baseball player. Even sadder that I didn't feel compelled to meet him. The lesson here boys and girls is that Cheaters never prosper. Sorry Pete you had a good run but you dug your own grave.

On a happier note Christmas week was full of great times with the family. We had the chance as a family to see the ultrasound again and yes we are still having a boy. We are taking suggestions on names from now until he's born so if you want to be the one that gets credit for naming our son feel free to contribute.

Christmas Eve was great and Christmas Day was memorable. The kids were of course bouncing off the walls and made the day just so exciting for me. Santa done good this year, thank goodness. What an ordeal he's put through every year to make things go smoothly.

I hope this post finds everyone well. Happy New Year to all and to all best wishes and prayers.

Golf, Wrestling, and Warriors

So I WAS going to use this blog to talk about my brand new slightly-used golf club set that I scored off of Craig's List and how I went out golfing last week and despite being a terrible (we're talking Charles Barkley terrrble) golfer still had a good time. I WAS going to mention how bad I slice the ball and how only one good put made it all worthwhile.
I WAS ALSO going to use this blog to talk about the emotional toll it was to watch my boy wrestle yesterday in a tournament. I WAS going to mention how sad it is to see big kids cry after losing and putting their all in 1 to 2 minutes of excruciating pain, and how despite all this my boy just had a good time (he was sure tired). I WAS ALSO going to mention how sad/funny it was to see screaming parents and coaches. There was the coach that would repeatedly yell "SQUEEZE" at the top of his lungs at his wrestlers, and the "Woohoo" Mom that was so loud out there. I never wrestled as a kid but word up to all those who wrestle and leave it all out there on the mat.
Oh, I WAS ALSO going to discuss in the blog how fun it was to finally for the first time in my life see Saturday's Warriors. I know what you're thinking, really? First time? Why now? Well it was on and despite not ever seeing it I do know almost every word to ever song (thank you older brothers and sis). I'll save my critique of the show and leave it at that. No need to jump on something created over 20 years ago. Let's just say, "Things were different then."
No. This blog is not about golf or wrestling or cheesy roadshow-esque movies. This blog is about giving Thanks. Thanks for all the wonderful gifts and blessings I have. It was all summed up tonight as I lay with my baby trying to calm him down and I felt his heartbeat. Although it sounds like a washing machine, it beats great and he is happy and healthy. Every beat is a miracle. That's a lot of miracles. Multiply that by a few times and I've got quite the miracles right here at home.
Happy Thanksgiving week everyone.

Typical Fall Sunday

As is becoming a sad tradition in the Goodman household Cameron was sick and I had to stay home with him. For some the signs of changing seasons is turning back your clocks, for others it's the changing of the leaves. For us, it's Cameron's colds brought on by his compressed bronchi, an unfortunate result of his heart issues. So for the past two years we have kept him at home each Sunday to recover or avoid being sick. It's about that time of the year where we have to shut him down for the season, just as he was beginning to adjust well to other kids his age. Maybe he can be a little healthier this year, we shall see.

But things weren't all gloomy this late October season. We've had a blast going from movie theaters to farms to Trunk-or-Treats to good times with friends and family. After going with the family to see High School Musical 3 I am anxious to get my testosterone going again in late November with Quantum of Solace and Transporter 3.

As the weather cools down so does my traveling. There is just one more trip to Sunny San Diego in a week or so. I hear we may get a bit of snow around here so it'll be nice to see the sun one last time.
Don't forget to vote everyone..and for you 1 in 7 people that are still undecided, what's taking so long? You have less than two days.

The latest

For the latest on the Goodmans please see pickydoo.blogspot.com.

Have a great day!

Soccer monsters!!

So here she is in action. What a great shot. Not a bad first year for Ness. She improved a lot and ran around a whole lot. The field gets a lot bigger when you jump to the 7 yr old level.

Sam, in the meantime, finished his season off with a bang. Here he is after finishing off one of his many final game goals. He was excited to get his medal and of course his treat.
Not only was October the conclusion of soccer but it's also a birthday month. Big Sam had his big day not once, not twice, but three times! We had a family party, a crazy crazy friend party, and there is another party this week with extended family as well. Whew...we get this party started right!

And through it all I've been enjoying some time at home and in the office. I know I know, enjoying time in the office? Yes. My team and I needed some time away from Delta, Continental, Alaska Air, and all those other airlines to get our sanity and health back.

No Joy in Provo

As an addendum to a relatively happy post I do have to shout out to my poor Cougs who suffered an embarrassing and rather pathetic loss. All the dreams, all the BCS hopes, well maybe next year.

Resting my Luggage

So, for the next few weeks I get to sit back and be a normal nine to fiver for once. After seven straight weeks of meetings, long flights, long road trips, and not enough kid time, I'm back. This is the first blog written from my home computer since July. I have logged enough miles to become a Silver Medallion member with Delta and have earned points with Hertz, Marriott, and Hilton Hotels. All this really means is that I'm obsessed with points hoarding and finding ways to get things free. Now, rather than just sitting in Coach class all the time, Delta dangles the hope of me getting bumped up to First Class and I always get so close but oh so far away. When it does happen, it's usually the short flight and I'm too exhausted to look upon the measly "Coachers" with any sort of haughty disdain.

The family continues to thrive. Ness brought home a phenomenal report card and improved leaps and bounds in her first year of soccer. Like with softball, she had her best game right there at the end. Sam has busted out of his shell and is a soccer stud. His moves are lightening quick but with the grace and artistry of a dancer. OK, so that was a bit much but c'mon, he is wicked good! Ol' Camsen (nickname) is talking about everything, but even I sometimes am not quite sure what he saying. He loves to don the Raiders helmet and give the Redskins helmet to whomever he can find that will play some football with him. Now that he's learned how not to put in on backwards, the games are getting pretty intense.

So for the rest of the blog, and for those who have skipped the "reading" portion of this blog, here are some photos taken with my Palm Centro from various trips as well as some pictures of moments I missed while I was gone. Enjoy.

3rd times the charm

Like Costanza in Seinfeld I’m thinking about switching completely over to books on tape. What a great way to rest your eyes on a plane as you let someone else do the talking, well ok the reading. I’ve got the new Bourne Identity novel going and it’s been quite a good “listen” that passes the time well. It got me through a long flight to Fairbanks, AK and some short flights down the West Coast.

I should rename this blog “The Terminal” since the only time I write is when I sit around waiting for a flight. But as I travel from city to city I can’t help wondering what is going on back home. Is Cam eating his customary Oatmeal (cinnamon flavor only) for breakfast? Is Sam sipping on his Orange Julius that he loves for breakfast? Is Ness playing with her group of friends talking about how much she loves Italian food (today is pasta day)? Is Deb exhausted from making all that cash this past week and keeping up with the kids?
This is my third try at getting this blog entry finished and posted. I thought I’d throw in a brief sports report. Sam got another goal as he continues to dominate the Koala league of Springville soccer. I put this out there in case any scouts are looking for a child protégé…maybe the next Freddy Adu perhaps, but without the disappointment. Ness also had a nice night of soccer (after her ballet class…Wednesdays are crazy). This is her first year and she has improved so much in such a short period of time.
One more day on the road then I get to go home to this (see above). I can’t wait.