Trick or Treating

This post will be an incomplete until I finish it later with photos of the chillens. We took Hank and Nora trick or treating last night. Nora slept through most of it bt Hank had a good time. We went through a relatively long streak of no body being at any door. Then we hit one where a nice lady answered. Hank walked inside the stranger's house. We all had a good laugh and Hank got candy.
At another house Hank asked the lady for more. The lady gave him more. At another house the lady said take more. He kept reaching his hand in and taking more in a hilariously cuter manner. I appreciated it.

Satan and Dark Writing

Kiki noticed a Yankee fan praying to Satan (AKA Steinbrenner) during the 8th inning. OK, it is hard to tell if she was praying to Satan but since Steinbrenner is the devil Yankee fans worship the works of his hand. Thus they probably pray to Satan when a game is tight, Besides, God does not care who wins a ball game. The god of this world came through for his legions. Dang.
On a slightly more positive note Nora had a seizure last week. I kid, I kid. I mean she did have a seizure, but it is not a more positive note. That scared me to death. It is not a subject that lends itself well to my generally cheerful blog, However, it did help inspire me to write a dark story. So a few more bad days may get me to write an entire collection of stories that are not bubbly.

Letting the Boy Stay Up

Tonight Kiki and I let the boy stay up later than we ever do. It is October. Isn't that the point of October? You know... staying up late; enjoying baseball; letting the game lead me through the entire spectrum of emotions: joy, anger, fear, acceptance, sadness, and finally extreme joy. It is a time to bond with the family over the American Pastime.
How is that for an overly sappy and sentimental post about baseball and family bonding? But i think what i was really trying to say was, man that game was good tonight.
Oh, and remember when Jeff Mathis batted .211 in the regular season but went on a hitting tear in the ALCS? Remember when he became the batter with the lowest regular season batting average to have a walk off hit in the post season? If the Angels somehow pull off the miracle the poor hitting platooned catcher might get my vote for MVP of the ALCS.
I also want to point out that Morales's glove work is impressive for someone who was once referred to as "Brick Hands."

Interview and the Angels with Skype

I had another job interview on Friday. Besides arriving over a half an hour late to the interview I think it went quite well. The principal was extremely nice about it and seemed to understand that sometimes people get lost. But seriously, why is there an Old McNeil Rd and an McNeil Rd so close to each other. It is bound to get newcomers to the Greater Austin Metropolitan Area confused and lost. Of the jobs that I have interviewed for I would have to say that I would want this job because of the people I would work with, but I would want the other job because it seems like it would be a more fun job. Truthfully, I would take either if they offer me the post. One said they would let me know today. The other said they would let me know next week.
So how cool was the Angels game on Sunday. I do not get TBS so I thought I would not be able to see it but Ryan and Paul let me watch it over Skype. The first few innings were tough to stomach but the 8th and 9th made it all worth it. Although when Napoli couldn't throw that runner out on that pitch out was a little infuriating.
But five runs in the 8th and 9th. Three off of Papelbon , that just makes me happy. The other thing that made me happy is the way Vlad responded to the disrespect Francona threw his way. Sure Vlad has had a bad (by his enormous standards) year, but to walk him? He is the type of player that if you test his pride he is likely to pass. ow many times has a pitcher gone up and in on him and then he goes yard on the next pitch

Interview and Psych and the Metrodome

There is not much to report. I did have a job interview today to be a Educational Assistant. The school is a Bilingual School in the Pfluggerville (I just like the name) ISD. That is a step closer to landing. I have another interview in Round Rock on Friday. So this could be fun.
Kiki, Nora (I decided to finally give the baby girl a name on the blog), and watched last Friday's episode of Psych today. She watched it attentively. I appreciate her good taste in TV shows but she does not understand any of the obscure 80s references. That is part of the genius of that show. Oh well. At least my at 8 months she has good taste.
Finally I would like to congratulate the Twins improbably extending the life of the Metrodome multiple times. When the Twins merely split there four game series with the Tigers I thought the Metrodome's life as a baseball stadium would die last Sunday. But the Twins swept KC and the Tigers lost two of three to give the Metrodome tonights' one more game to determine the AL Central title. Tonights game was back and forth. But the Twins prevailed in 12. It was like the 1991 World Series all over again. Did I mention I miss Kirby Puckett and I hear he was innocent.

I love you Cheeseburger

Recently Hank has taken to repeatedly watching "Silly Songs" from Veggie Tales. It got to the point that when we asked him what he wanted to eat for dinner he said a cheeseburger because of the "I Love You Cheeseburger" song sung by Mr. Lunt, a squash from New Jersey. Before the song was introduced to Hank I doubt he even knew the word cheeseburger. But now he wanted one for dinner.
The next day we went to the Whataburger. Henry ran ahead of us and told the lady he wanted a cheeseburger. As we were waiting for the food, the kid went up to the lady and told her he wanted fries too.
This was the first time one of my children ever ordered his own food. It was a good day. Of course, he barely ate any of the burger he ordered at that time (he ate the rest of it for breakfast today). It is a proud day in a father's life when his son orders his first piece of beef on his own. Whataboy.
Back to the "Silly Songs," Hank likes to sing "Barbara Manatee." The kid makes me smile.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmIKR458M0A
"If someone were to drop some Cheese in the dirt he would Wipe it off for you; Wash it off for you; clean that dirty cheese off just for you."

My Nephew's Song

On the Facebook I saw a music video of my nephew. It was pretty good. Talented boy. In the words of the philosopher "O. Cunningham Wilson", "the music that he makes, I don't really listen to it much; but the fact that he is making it, I respect that."
The truth is I would listen to my nephews music. I just wanted to quote the philosopher

Tickets to the show

This morning after Sunday School I was getting up to hand the baby to Kiki before she went to Relief Society. As I stood up the button to my pants went flying like a missile (hence the picture). Since my slacks were buttonless they could not stay up. Holding my pants up and a little baby girl with a a blanket covering my American parts, I waddled to our car. Kiki retrieved the boy from nursery and we drove home. I guess a crying baby is not the only way to get out of Priesthood meeting.
For everyone's information, the last time I remember being in public giving people a chance to see a similar show I was substitute teaching. It was a 2nd grade PE class. My pants split. Luckily it was right before lunch, so after walking my class to the lunch room I was able to have Kiki bring me a new pair of pants.

Proof That I Did Something Right

This morning I was sitting in my recliner when Hank, two and one half, came strolling down the stairs with his blue bat, a tee ball, and a baseball glove. the kid had just woken up and he wanted to play baseball (sometimes pronounced aseball by the kid). Few things warm the heart more than the boy wanting to play ball.
After playing for a good twenty minutes I asked him if he was hungry and wanted breakfast. He screamed "No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I play baseball." The kid has his priority straight. Food can wait, lets play baseball. I have a picture of me in diapers, and nothing else, and a baseball glove and ball. That is the way youth should be.
Also, I took the time to practice saying "No thank you." Then I threw the ball at his bat again. I must be a good parent: my boy loves baseball.
Just in case anybody was wondering the people in thepicture are not Hank and I.

Katie or Catherine Zeta and Zac?

Well this little conversation happened ages ago (back when I still lived in California) between my wife and I. I was going to write in my my "manuscript" but I cannot find the file. Well here it goes:

"K, so..."

"Cheese. Go on."

"I have an important question for you. When this whole experience of ours is made into a movie who is going to play you and who is going to play me?"

"Um, I don't know."

"I was thinking the part of Kiki should be played by either Catherine Zeta Jones or Katie Holmes. Catherine is probably too old to play you so I guess Katie would be the top choice."

"Katie would be a good choice. She seems like a good mother too. I mean Tom and Katie are always photographed with their Suri in parks and what not."

"So who should play me?"

"Zac Efron."

"Isn't he a little young?"

"Does that matter? 8 years is not that big of a deal. Besides, by the time the movie is made he may be the perfect age. Also, he has the perfect hair to play you."

" You are probably right."

Kindness of Strangers... and aquaintances... and friends... and family

A week and a half of living in Hotels. Still no job nibbles. Oh well.

I really want to write today about the kindness of friends, families, acquaintances, and strangers. Last night people from my old ward (I guess being homeless right now I do not have a ward) loaded a moving truck with all of Kiki's, Hank's, the baby's, and PJ's (that's me) stuff. We were not there. Some in the ward are family: the Castillos, the Herricks, my mom. Some in the ward I would consider friends. Most in the ward are either acquaintances or strangers. Thy were willing to drop everything in their lives, pick up a moving truck, load it, for my family. I emphasize, my wife and I were not even there.

That is awesome. I would like to believe I would do the same. But who knows. I did once help set up the chapel for a complete stranger's wedding/reception, but that is easy.

Did I mention Kiki's parents are flying from Minnesota to California to drive our stuff to Texas? There is a lot of messed up stuff in the world, but there is also a lot of really good stuff.

Speaking about stuff, when our stuff gets here I hope we have a place to put it.

The Leap... Not Quite Landed Yet

There is a lot to write.

Last Monday Kiki, Hank, the baby, and I began the huge leap. We stopped in Arizona to visit Kiki's cousin. While we were in Arizona our dipstick holder fell off the car... again. It made our car start to smoke and act funny. We took it to the Wall -Mart Super Center automotive guy glued it back on but advised to go to a mechanic and get a sealant put on it before continuing our trip. He charged us absolutely nothing. That was nice of him we thought and we blatantly disregarded his advice and we drove on. We stopped in Tucson to eat at a Waffle House. Fantastic waffles by the way. Hank enjoyed running around like a crazy banshee and the servers were very nice... although there is a good chance the cook was a former gang banger. We stayed in a hotel in Deming NM. (On a side note we both liked using Deming as a swear word.)

Tuesday morning we took the car to a mechanic in Deming to check out the dipstick holderthingy. He also did his work for free. So we were off and finally made it to Texas. We arrived to the wrong hotel in Austin late. So we had to go to another the right one and we finally got inside at about one in the morning.

Every move we have made to get a job has not worked so far. Both Round Rock ISD and Austin ISD are not hiring subs. Pflugerville ISD and Leander ISD have not responded to my application yet. I did get a email from Sherman ISD (which no longer would be in the Austin area) asking me to send them my transcripts. I thought it was a little weird because they had interviewed me a long time ago and sent me a rejection letter and everything. A fake cousin (by fake cousin I mean he is not really my cousin) gave me a discouraging letter about the teaching job market in Austin.

About my degree, I am a college graduate. I graduated with a 3.77. I believe I got 100% in my final class (of course in an earlier class I received over 100% but whatever).

This leap into the dark has not produced the results I was hoping for; however, I know it was the right thing to do. I know the Lord has a plan. It would be nice to have all the info and blessings now, but how fun would that be. It would be less miraculous.

Eight

So I was hoping for a Royalty check this month from my first book. Turns out, that is not going to happen. I need about 50 dollars worth of royaltiees before I get paid. I have about 10. Eight people have bought my book.

I was feeling down about that but than I realized why should I let it bother me.

The Final Day

I just finished my second final day of undergraduate work. This time around it was more chillaxed than the time before. I am 99.99999999999999999999999999999% certain that I really did graduate this time. There will not any once you rewrite this paper you will graduate. Followed by a no that published paper of yours is still not good enough. You see, this final day is for real. I can feel it in my bones.

Also, every since my wife and I decided to move to Texas with no Job, no housing, no nothing we have been repeatedly impressed to move the move date up. So, as of Monday Kiki, Hank, the baby girl and I will be abandoning our goods and will be driving to Texas. I wonder if the Tex-Mex food is any good there. I kind of feel like the Pioneers going into the great unknown... only we are going East.

Our things will follow us a few weeks later. How fun is that? I promise... we are not insane.

Well, maybe a little.

The Blog begins towards the end of the story

Good morning. While I know I don't really have any readers, it is always fun to pretend people read me. I am PJ, well at least for the current book I am writing. For the book I already published, Of Eyes, Voices, and Serpents: and Other Classic Tales of Adventure and Politics, I was M. Scott Richardson. However, my current project is an autobiographical incident, so I figured my name and authorship should be even further away from my real name.

My life is about where I plan on ending my book. My wife, kids, and I are about to take a giant leap in the dark. If that is as interesting as the beginning of the story maybe I will have my third book to work on. But I know full well that there is almost no chance of me making money with my books. The leap in the dark (a great book by John Ferling by the way) that my family is about to take is a move to Austin Texas. We have no money (or very little money) and no job offer. If any of you read the title story in my first book you may understandthe plan.

We just feel that we are supposed it get up and move to Texas--specifically Austin. Weird. To paraphrase the Barry Goldwater campaign "In our heart we know it's right."