1543.2 miles...

Natalie did it. She survived a 1543.2 mile road trip over the course of seven days to Chicago, the St. Louis area, back to Chicago and home. The trip also included a Ben Folds/Rufus/Bee Lee concert (however, we left before Ben Folds took the stage) and multiple walks/trips to the doggie parks with Casey. It was a blast, as Matt, Morgan and the Kientz family were all wonderful hosts.

P.S. About 3.22 seconds after this picture was taken (at Wrigley on 8/11), one of the main reasons I wanted to see the game, Duffballs captain Albert Pujols, deposited this Greg Maddux pitch into the left center field stands. As you can see by the picture, Matt and I were very fortunate to have nice seats.

Boys beat the Gils

The boys (Rory and Brian) beat the gils (Amy and Gina) once again in Euchre on Friday night. While the gils (those who can breathe underwater) talk a good game, they don't necessarily play one.

Their "winter hot streak" has long ended and the boys are now completely in control of the lifetime W-L record against one another.

The boys have even accomplished this while an investigation continues into whether or not the gils cheat while they are playing.

Nattie's off the hook...

In a recent photo taken, Nattie was all smiles as she knew very shortly she was off the hook of any formal ceremonies involving her for quite a while. Yesterday, she was baptized (my brother Matt was the godfather and Gina's sister Beth was the godmother).

When asked, Nattie said "While Rory is helping me soak up the joys of always being the center of attention, I am looking forward to a break from that. I'm thinking I might catch up on some of my favorite English novelists and work on my dissertation about why babies cry. I'll probably resurface sometime around the holidays for my cameo in the 'family picture' the 'rents have planned. Until then, poof...just like that, I'm gone."

Hell Has Frozen Over...

Earlier in the year, I had looked for a driver "I could stomach," primarliy so I could jump into the conversation from time to time about NASCAR with Rick and Jo.

Unfortunately, the race that day came down to the last couple of laps where Gordon won the race but Busch won the Cup. It was exciting (surprisingly) and I enjoyed it (even more suprising). At that point, I thought I might be starting to become a closet NASCAR fan...something I NEVER thought would happen.

This year, I have actually been paying attention and my driver (Matt Kenseth) has slowly been turning his season around, which has been fun to watch. I have learned about strategy, etc. and it is much more exciting then I ever thought doing circles around a track could be.

This week, for my birthday, I bought myself the hat shown above. So, I am doing it, I am coming out of the closet...people, I AM A NASCAR FAN! There, I said it. I'm even in shock of the statement...but I feel so much better.

Nattie Lou Who?

For those who have not heard the final details, here they are:

Natalie Louise
Born - May 31, 2005
Time - 6:37pm
Weight - 7lbs 12ozs
Length - 20.75 inches

Gina and Natalie are doing very well and we are extremely excited for this new chapter in our lives.

You can't make this up!

 

After some delay (mainly because we were fortunate enough to get a new transmission put into the Passat we just bought), we were finally set to get the wagon tomorrow night.

Gina's dad had picked up the car this morning and brought it over to the detail shop to get prettied up. The appointment was for this afternoon so the shop moved the wagon to the street.

As luck would have it, an Explorer's accelerator stuck while driving on the same road my car was parked on this morning. I don't quite understand the whole story at this point, but I do know the Explorer ended up running into my car (taking out my driver's side mirror and causing a door of some sort to fall on top of the hood) while attempting to stop.

While the damage is not substantial, the wagon is now headed to a body shop, further delaying the arrival of it into our garage. Thankfully, the shop was very apologetic and is paying for all the damages. Rick even joked that we may get a "break" on the detail work as well.

Sometimes, you just have to laugh because you can't make a story like that up. After the Messerschmidt's and us have dealt with issues on all four of our cars in the last month...the fifth one this morning was just icing on the cake!

(Disclaimer: The photo above is a dramatization, it is not my car)

Screwballz repeat!

In a unforeseen turn of events, the Screwballz (Gina, my mom and dad, and my aunt and uncle) won the last twelve points of the season (we needed to win at least ten) to outright win the championship this year and repeat as league champions.

We finished with a 70-28 record (33-16 in the first half, 37-12 in the second half). By taking the last twelve points, we won both the first and second half titles, thus eliminating the need for a bowl off for the championship in two weeks.

Last night, I bowled the first 600 series of my life (after just missing with a 597 two weeks ago). I bowled 205, 212, and 203 for a total of a 620 series. The night boosted my season average to 178 and assured myself the league's most improved bowler award this year.

Gina also had a good season, improving to a 130 season-ending average, even though she had to bowl around the bowling ball in her belly for part of the year.

O Captain! My Captain! (on hold)

 

As of March 18, the woman you know as "G" will offically have a new title...Captain Gina.

 

We recieved the offical word today. From March 13-18, Gina will be at River Boating School in Memphis, TN.

Over the last four years, Gina has completed the nearly 3,000 hours on the river required to become a captain and only a test remains for her to complete her requirements.

Please congratulate her on her huge accomplishment. If I understand correctly, she will become only the second female captain in the history of the Padelford Packet Boat Company.

3/19/05 Update: Gina was a trooper and made the trip to Memphis this week, but unfortunately only passed three of the four tests. She was within two questions of passing the fourth. So, her dreams of becoming a captain have temporarily be put on hold until later in the year when she will go back down to retake the tests.

But, she should still be very proud of what she accomplished, trying to do this 30 weeks pregnant.

Joe or Brian?

It was thought that I was recently spotted in Ft. Meyer's, FL.  Turns out it was just Minnesota Twins closer Joe Nathan.

Get in my belly...

 

After months of speculation, Baby's gender is still unidentified. A Valentine's Day ultrasound did not reveal anything that the parents, Gina and Brian, did not want to see. The baby weighted in at 1lb 14ozs, had a heartrate of 152 beats per minute, and has decided that it will be finished cooking a few days earlier then expected, as it's due date has been moved up to May 25th.