Jeff and Kerri's blog | updates on our life together.

Look at this fat bastard here...

2009-06-06T05:13:00.002-06:00

May 2008 (180 lbs):

May 2009 (155 lbs):

Although I am a little bit disgusted to see pictures of a more rotund me, it's nice to see that my weight loss has had such a significant impact on my appearance. This keeps me motivated!

San Diego Trip '09

2009-06-03T18:32:00.006-06:00

We left Tucson after work on Thursday and got to our hotel a little after 11. The hotel was standard, with zero parking, but had a pretty good continental breakfast. Which, I've decided, I will never stay in a hotel without a continental breakfast again. I mean, the money you save on not going out to eat, is fabulous.

Jeff brought his bike, and left bright and early Friday morning for a ride. Keep in mind that we arrived at the hotel when it was dark and Jeff left for his ride when it was dark. So the poor boy had no idea of his surroundings. Needless to say, he got lost, and his five mile joy ride turned into a 25 mile (not so fun) ride. But he was in good spirits when he returned.

We ate our free breakfast, then headed to the San Diego Zoo. We got to the gates 5 minutes before opening, and just as Jeffry was about to purchase our tickets (which were $35 a piece) a kind old woman tapped him on the arm. She asked him "where are you from?" and when he answered she said "well I can take one of you in for free, come with me." I'm not really sure if where we were from persuaded her in any way, but that's besides the point.

So Jeff stayed behind and bought his ticket, while I followed this lady (whose name is Cara) to the front of the line. She sauntered right up to the front of the line and started talking to people immediately. The zoo workers all knew her by name. They asked about her husband. Cara told me she's been a member of the zoo since 1974 and she goes there 3 times a week. When they let us in the gates, we were the first ones through. We pulled to the side and waited for Jeffry, while she told me all the things to make sure to see that day and which way to go first. When Jeffry finally found us, she told us we can't miss the Flights of Fancy Show, where the zoo keepers release macaws from overhead. Cara told us all about the flamingos and different birds while we waited, and she knew a lot about the running of the zoo. Like how the male birds have the identification band on their right leg, and the females on their left. And when Jeff commented that two flamingos were fighting, she said "oh, they're not fighting, they're just... disagreeing." :) She was great.

We said our good-byes to Cara after the Flights of Fancy Show and began meandering our way around the San Diego Zoo. It's not my favorite zoo that we've been to; it's too hilly, and there's a lot of walking without anything to look at. I feel like it could be much better designed, but I've never designed a zoo before so what do I know.

I made Jeffry take a picture of these tortoises because it looked like they were crawling toward each other for a chat. Reminds me of Tim "the Tool Man" Taylor and Wilson.

Here I am taking a picture of a nice family, which Jeffry likes to then take a picture of.

From our Grand Canyon trip last year and London the year before:

It's kinda funny.

That's all for now. More later.

Don't think poorly of me after this...

2009-06-02T21:20:00.005-06:00

Jeff and I went to the San Diego Zoo last week, which I will blog about later. I wanted to write about one experience at the zoo in particular: the children. Oh god the children. And I don't mean that positively. It seemed to be school field trip day; there were large groups of kids there, ranging from pre-school kids to middle school. Most of the kids were well behaved, especially the younger kids. But then there were groups that were out of control. I work with kids everyday. I'm used to chaotic situations. I handle loud kids exceptionally well. But these kids were ridiculously rude. They were yelling and clapping at the animals, running back and forth in front of cages, trying to get a reaction from the animals. And I'm talking kids that are 10-13 here. It was so bad that we would skip exhibits because an annoying group was there, or we'd hurry past others because the kids were screaming. It was disappointing that the supervising adults didn't take control of the situation. It made our zoo experience rather unpleasant.

However, I did see this little guy. And that almost made it worth it.

You've got to be shitting me.

2009-05-23T17:30:00.001-06:00

This is not what I voted for.

Congratulations Sam!

2009-05-17T16:22:00.001-06:00

Congrats to Sam, who graduated from the University of Arizona yesterday!

Don't Let the Pigeons Drive the Bus

2009-05-16T17:18:00.005-06:00

"Don't let the pigeon drive the bus" is one of my favorite children books. Written and illustrated by Mo Willems, the book is interactive and silly. The whole Pigeon series is a lot of fun. If you haven't read them, I recommend you check them out. If you have read them, you might find this video pretty funny- I did!

Teacher Appreciation Day

2009-05-09T15:37:00.003-06:00

I received these flowers at work yesterday:

They were from Jeff's parents, for teacher appreciation day. I might have the best in-laws ever.

Pulling a Nixon

2009-05-05T08:19:00.002-06:00

When the President does it, that means that it's not illegal.
- President Richard M. Nixon

The president instructed us that nothing we would do would be outside of our obligations, legal obligations, under the Convention Against torture. So that's -- and by the way, I didn't authorize anything. I conveyed the authorization of the administration to the agency. That they had policy authorization subject to the Justice Department's clearance. That's what I did.

...the United States was told, we were told, nothing that violates our obligations under the Convention Against Torture. And so, by definition, if it was authorized by the president, it did not violate our obligations under the Conventions Against Torture.
- Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

It still amazes me how the Bush Administration, which publicly decried the idea of a large and powerful Federal Government while simultaneously exploding the federal budget and enacting the Patriot Act was allowed nearly absolute power without oversight. I wouldn't want a president who I agreed with to wield that kind of power, and I certainly wouldn't want that power to go to somebody who would use it for torture.

"Let the Beat Build" by Nyle

2009-04-28T07:47:00.002-06:00

This music video by NYU student Nyle was filmed in a single take, and the audio was recorded simultaneously. I like it a lot.

Club Crawl

2009-04-19T22:55:00.006-06:00

Saturday night Jeff and I went out to Club Crawl, and I wanted to write about it on our blog. But I started thinking about the things I wanted to write, and they weren't things that would be overly interesting or funny to other people. But they are to me. And this made me think about why I contribute to this blog, which is different than why I think Jeff does. Jeff's posts usually have to do with opinions and current events, with some sentimental things strewn in. My posts are about events in our daily lives. While I like to share our lives with people, I mainly post so that I will remember those events. I'm sorry if I bore you, but here I go!

So, Saturday night John, Jeff and I went to Club Crawl in downtown Tucson. We got there about 8:30, while the lines were still doable. We eventually met up with my sister, Megan, and the newly engaged couple Sam and Brett. Shortly after we were joined by John's brother Andrew and his friend Bobby. I left to get John and Jeff a beer, and when I came back Andrew and Bobby were on stage dancing and singing with this very odd band.

John soon joined them. Needless to say, the boys were all pretty drunk by then. The singer was attempting to make love to the speaker, a girl was licking the guitarist's back, and Jeff was laughing like he was watching Kyle dance at my cousin's wedding. It was a fun time.

We made our way into the Rialto, where the Jons were playing. They were a lot of fun, and Jeff, John, Andrew and Bobby were cracking us up with their dancing. After the show, we took the dance party outside, where after John did some impromptu burpees for us...

...and some general debauchery...

...we had a little dance-off. I don't have any pictures of the dance-off, which is too bad for your sake. It was quite the event! We witnessed the shopping cart, the robot and a few other moves you just have to see to believe. But then Jeff breaks out with, wait for it, wait for it- a push up! You have to understand that he was totally and completely wasted by this point. So he does a push up, and some one else does, like 10 quick push ups. So Jeff says "oh yeah, watch this," and he goes to do a one-handed push up, but he essentially falls on his face. I'm laughing just writing this.

I wish I was a better writer, and that I could write as succinctly as Jeff does. But you're stuck with me! I know when I read this post 6 months from now, it will still bring a smile to my face- and that's what matters to me!

Glenn Beck's... smugness... too much... to bear...

2009-04-14T08:01:00.000-06:00

Victory is mine!

2009-04-12T23:15:00.001-06:00

IMG_2275, originally uploaded by BGPantano.

I won the first game of our annual Easter Croquet match. I will not comment on the results of the second game since I am in the middle of lodging an official protest.

Elway's play date

2009-04-11T13:47:00.005-06:00

Today Elway, my mom, and I met Elway's foster family. Why did Elway have a foster family you might ask, well here's a little background:

We adopted Elway from the humane society October 1, 2007. Puppies cannot be put in the shelter if they're under 8 weeks old, so people foster them until they're old enough (and well enough). So Elway lived with a foster family until he was old enough to be put up for adoption. Elway's foster family was a loving group of folks, consisting of a mother, her two teen daughters, and their dog Chloe. They have been fostering for 2 and half years and have fostered over 90 puppies. They deal with all the pee, the whining, the destruction- but of course they also get the cute cuddly moments (which for their sake I hope makes up for all the other stuff!). When we adopted Elway, we got a nice letter from this family, with pictures of Elway with his sister and brother, and a little bit about his history. We learned his name was Peanut, and he had a brother and sister: Butter and Jelly. They also included their email, in case we wanted digital copies of his puppy photos, advice, or anything else.

They also have a great website: http://www.freewebs.com/fosterpuppies/

Their website allows for them to see their foster puppies grow, but it also keeps us adoptive families connected to them. The 16 year-old-daughter maintains the website, and she also sends out emails about special dog events around Tucson. She's a great resource. Earlier this week we got an email from the foster family saying they were throwing a puppy party at a local dog park and they would love to see their old friends. My mom and I went to the reunion this morning, and it was so great to meet the people who do such fantastic work for the puppies of Tucson. The two daughters are so responsible, and are learning some life lessons through their fostering work.

This is a long post, I realize, but I am very touched by the work this family is doing. They obviously care about these animals and they go to great lengths to make sure the puppies succeed in their new homes.

Go Green Death!

2009-03-31T21:58:00.003-06:00

I am totally stealing this real introductory parent's letter for when Kerri and I start coaching again. I put my favorite parts in bold. (It should be noted that this team is for 6 and 7-year-old girls).

Congratulations on being selected for Team 7 (forest green shirts) of the Scituate Soccer Club! My name is Michael and I have been fortunate enough to be selected to coach what I know will be a wonderful group of young ladies...

[blah, blah, introductory stuff...]

According to my wife, my emails get too wordy, so for those of you read too slowly, are easily offended, or are too busy, you can stop here. For the others...

OK, here’s the real deal: Team 7 will be called Green Death. We will only acknowledge “Team 7” for scheduling and disciplinary purposes. Green Death has had a long and colorful history, and I fully expect every player and parent to be on board with the team. This is not a team, but a family (some say cult), that you belong to forever. We play fair at all times, but we play tough and physical soccer. We have some returning players who know the deal; for the others, I only expect 110% at every game and practice. We do not cater to superstars, but prefer the gritty determination of journeymen who bring their lunch pail to work every week, chase every ball and dig in corners like a Michael Vick pit bull. Unless there is an issue concerning the health of my players or inside info on the opposition, you probably don’t need to talk to me. Coach MacDonald has been designated “good guy” this year.

Some say soccer at this age is about fun and I completely agree. However, I believe winning is fun and losing is for losers. Ergo, we will strive for the “W” in each game. While we may not win every game (excuse me, I just got a little nauseated) I expect us to fight for every loose ball and play every shift as if it were the finals of the World Cup. While I spent a good Saturday morning listening to the legal liability BS, which included a 30 minute dissertation on how we need to baby the kids and especially the refs, I was disgusted. The kids will run, they will fall, get bumps, bruises and even bleed a little. Big deal, it’s good for them (but I do hope the other team is the one bleeding). If the refs can’t handle a little criticism, then they should turn in their whistle. The sooner they figure out how to make a decision and live with the consequences the better. My heckling of the refs is actually helping them develop as people. The political correctness police are not welcome on my sidelines. America’s youth is becoming fat, lazy and non-competitive because competition is viewed as “bad”. I argue that competition is good and is important to the evolution of our species and our survival in what has become an increasingly competitive global economy and dangerous world. Second place trophies are nothing to be proud of as they serve only as a reminder that you missed your goal; their only useful purpose is as an inspiration to do that next set of reps. Do you go to a job interview and not care about winning? Don’t animals eat what they kill (and yes, someone actually kills the meat we eat too – it isn’t grown in plastic wrap)? And speaking of meat, I expect that the ladies be put on a diet of fish, undercooked red meat and lots of veggies. No junk food. Protein shakes are encouraged, and while blood doping and HGH use is frowned upon, there is no testing policy. And at the risk of stating the obvious, blue slushies are for winners.

These are my views and not necessarily the views of the league (but they should be). I recognize that my school of thought may be an ideological shift from conventional norms. But it is imperative that we all fight the good fight, get involved now and resist the urge to become sweat-xedo-wearing yuppies who sit on the sidelines in their LL Bean chairs sipping mocha-latte-half-caf-chinos while discussing reality TV and home decorating with other feeble-minded folks. I want to hear cheering, I want to hear encouragement, I want to get the team pumped up at each and every game and know they are playing for something.

Lastly, we are all cognizant of the soft bigotry that expects women and especially little girls, to be dainty and submissive; I wholeheartedly reject such drivel. My overarching goal is develop ladies who are confident and fearless, who will stand up for their beliefs and challenge the status quo. Girls who will kick ass and take names on the field, off the field and throughout their lives. I want these girls to be winners in the game of life. Who’s with me?

Go Green Death!

Sadly, some (not all) of the parents did not appreciate Coach Kinahan's sense of humor and he was forced to resign. How sad.

My kids

2009-03-26T22:17:00.003-06:00

I was at work today, and I was watching a couple of my kids playing in our space shuttle (two big boxes, painted white). We finished our space unit three weeks ago, and they are still enthralled with the subject. Two of the kids would run into the box, close the doors and would excitedly exclaim "we're going to the moon! 5-4-3-2-1- blast off! No no no lift off!" Then they'd bang around in the box, making engine noises. Then they announced "we're here!" and they'd barge out, huge grins on their faces and bound around the room (due to less gravity ;) ) and then one of them yelled "watch out for the gravity!" and she ran back to the box. Hey, it's hard to teach the concept of gravity to 4 year-olds, ok? And they'd close the doors again, and decide where to go next. Watching them made me smile. It also made me very proud. To know that I taught them that information and that it stuck (for the most part, lol) is very gratifying. It makes me feel good. And I like to feel good :)

Congrats Jeffry!

2009-03-08T19:23:00.003-06:00

Jeffry participated in the Tour de Cure (the charity ride for diabetes) this morning. He rode in the 50k (which is about 30 miles). Poor Jeffry has been so sick this whole week, I honestly didn't think he was going to be able to ride. But he was a trooper (or stubborn, I'm not sure which) and he finished the tour. We were all so proud of him, and we can't wait for the next event. It was fun to cheer on the riders and see people of all ages participating in such a worthwhile event.

-and that isn't so much a smile on his face, but a grimace because he thought he was going to die

On Copmmerce loop?

2009-03-06T16:32:00.001-07:00

On Copmmerce loop?, originally uploaded by Jeffry and/or Kerri.

--
sent from a Treo 800w Mobile

"The Office" Musical

2009-03-03T09:02:00.002-07:00

Dogs

2009-02-26T22:23:00.001-07:00

What did the five fingers say to the face?

2009-02-22T04:33:00.002-07:00

A great PostSecret postcard from this week:

Life is too short.

2009-02-20T22:41:00.001-07:00

Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T05:33:00.002-07:00

The most important things are the hardest to say, because words diminish them.
-Stephen King

Kerri and I decided a couple of years ago that we would stop "doing" Valentine's Day. I suppose it's a good reminder to show appreciation to your loved one and express all that they mean to you. But more often than not, it's a day during which people spend too much money on what can often be seen as a completely shallow gesture. Do I love somebody more because I bought roses that some poor Ecuadorian woman got paid pennies to harvest while choking on dangerous pesticides? Or a diamond that may or may not have funded the massacre of some village in Africa? Grand gestures seem less sentimental to me than genuine words.

That being said, I think I would like for others to understand what she means to me. For the past (nearly) nine years, Kerri has been my biggest cheerleader. My most understanding and wise confidant. My rock. The girl who took a sheltered, awkward kid and supported him as he became a worldly, awkward man. The person I can turn to for advice which has truly never been wrong. The person who knows what joke I'm going to make before I make it. The woman who never tires of hearing my stupid random facts that I've told her a million times or more ("You know, honey, that Steve Martin is actually a world-class banjo player. Like seriously one of the best."). The girl who still makes my eyes water every time she cries at a movie or TV show. The lady who will get in my face and set me straight when I lose my way. The woman who has relentlessly supported me in anything I've wanted to do.

Kerri helped me finally realize how miserable I was at Goodyear and finally convinced me to quit (although I got laid off before I could make my exit). She stood by me, despite the extending waistline, receding hairline and incredible stress of running that store. She laughs at all my dumb jokes. When I got weak and pansy-ass a couple of years ago, she protected me from any and all bad news that I couldn't take any more of, and loved me no matter how pathetic I must have seemed to her. She also never judged me for that. She inspires me with the fact that she loves what she does for a living, and is damn good at it. She has never judged me for becoming a big fat cow, although she is very excited about me losing all that weight. She exemplifies grace. She is unbelievably smart and witty. She makes better each life that she touches.

I will never be half the man that she deserves in life. It's cliché, but it's true: she makes me want to be a better man. I thank my lucky stars every day that I wake up next to this beautiful, talented, smart and lovable gal who I don't deserve. She's amazing and you can't have her.

Actual NHL Commentary

2009-02-13T10:17:00.002-07:00

I might become a follower of the Florida Panthers just to listen to their radio announcer, Randy Moller:

40 days later

2009-02-08T19:08:00.002-07:00

Lots of work left to be done, but I am happy with the progress thus far. I expect a shitty weigh-in tomorrow but this cheers me up.

A Day at the Reid Park Zoo

2009-02-07T17:45:00.003-07:00

Megan and I took our little friend Gabriel to the zoo today and had a great time. It was supposed to be rainy and windy, but it was gorgeous. The animals were all up and moving around. The otters were especially playful. We got to pet a snake, a hedge hog and a ferret. The hedge hog was so adorable! The zoo is looking really nice these days. I really like the new interactive stuff. We really had a delightful time, it was nice to spend time with our little guy.