Today I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Halloween. This is one of the best holidays of the entire year, and one that Kevin and Zach have been looking forward to for months. One that thankfully I have been able to celebrate with my family as a kid and celebrate with Kevin and Zach right now.
But I would like to dedicate this post to all of the innocent children out there who are not able to enjoy Halloween because of their parents religious reasons. Unfortunately even in 2008 many families choose not to celebrate this day because they believe there is an invisible man in the sky who has an enemy named "Lucifer" These people believe that if they celebrate this day they are celebrating Lucifer and all his fallen angels. Oh well, if you believe that way, that is your right in America, but it sure is silly in my opinion! Let your kids have fun and be kids people, it will be over so quick!
I feel for you kids, your Church "Harvest Festivals" aren't quite the real thing are they? (:
OK so in the late afternoon today after a hard days work in Glendale, we are at Disneyland. And as we are coming out of the "Jungle Cruise" who the, what the...is that yep, that's Seal! So I see Seal walking straight at me making eye contact, and he sees me recognize him and he sort of half smiles, so I say, Your Seal right? And he says, ya hows it going man? And I say, great, I love your music man! Then I freeze for about a 2 count and then say, "Hey can I get a picture with you?" Tasha is there with the camera in the backpack...at this point he says sorry man I can't do it.
So that is my encounter with Seal. Whats Crazy (Ha 'Crazy' get it?) is that last Friday Bono was at disneyland and there was a picture of him with his family riding the Jungle Cruise! So anyways, Seal put out one amazing album his second one in 1994 (self titled) I have listened to that one a zillion times....his subsequent releases have not reached that point, but the guy has talent....It's always a surreal feeling when you see a famous person like that.
OK you guys, the shackles of the blog are taken off...you don't have to type in your username and password anymore, and anyone can see it from anywhere....happy days are here again....
For those of you that know me...I have struggled with my weight for my entire life. You see folks, no one is perfect. Some struggle with gambling addiction, some struggle with addiction to drugs and alcohol so severely that they lose their jobs and family. Some people struggle with feelings of depression and anxiety and are prescribed anti psychotics and SSRI drugs like Prozac, Xanax, and Zoloft. Some can't get to sleep without ambien, and some need Vicodin and other Opiods for the smallest of infirmities, real or imagined. And some just have an addictive personality, like yours truly...but anyways, lets focus on me and weight gain for a bit shall we? In 7th and 8th grade I began to get a little bit teased because of my weight and then in 10th I worked out and became a chisled and handsome young gentleman. This lasted until I got married, and then I put on 80 lbs. How did I do this? Well everyday for breakfast I would get to Mikes Mobile and then call the Italian Cottage for Take out pancakes which I would eat on my break. And then for lunch I would go to McDonalds and get a double quarter pounder, supersized, with a large Dr Pepper...before long I looked like this
Garrett Riley November 1997, weight 253 pounds
So I looked like that for a while, then a couple years later, I dropped about 25 pounds, put it back on, and then dropped it again, went down to just under 200 lbs in about april or may of 2004...crept back up again over a year or so..then last summer I went down to about 223 or so, then went back up to 242 again....Now since July 25th I have dropped down to the weight I am at today 205 lbs. Will this time be different? Yes it will! And the reason it will folks is because I have identified the culprit that has been holding me back, and the reasons why it has never worked before. So here I am at age 35, having dropped nearly 40 lbs in 3 months. How did I do it? It's simple....sensible breakfast, sensible lunch, sensible snacks, sensible dinner, no eating after dinner...and exercising 5-6 days every week.
205 and dropping folks...and that's the last time I'll be at 200. I'll be holding around 190 or less, and I'll let you know when that happens, in the meantime....I am doing very well guys, I feel very strong, healthy, and happy (:
This Past week we had our reigonal meeting with CareCredit. It included a team dinner at PF Changs. My co-worker Len said he was getting the seabass. So I take a look at the menu and being a healthy fish eating gentleman I said why not? Little did I know that I would be served one of the greatest dishes of all time (if not the greatest)
Folks, this seabass was perfect, and I mean perfect. Phenomenal taste and texture. And it was served on a bed of leaf spinach which I love. Now right now the closest PF Changs to Valencia is in Woodland Hills about 25 miles away, but the word is we are going to have one here in about one year.
And let me tell you ladies and gentleman, you can bet your sweet boots I will be ordering the Seabass
For the first time since July (The Dark Night) I have gone to a movie theater folks. Yes I had to brave the bleating sheep like noises from two of the women, and the crinkling of wrappers from the gentleman 10 seats down from me, but I had to see this movie.
Oliver Stone is one of the best directors in the last 25 years or so..."Wall Street" is in my top 10 and is his best movie ever, and of course he has given us "Platoon" "Nixon", and the phenomenal "JFK".
W isn't in the same league as "Wall Street" "Platoon" or "JFK" but it is a very competent biopic. And it is carried by the considerable talent of Josh Brolin who deserves to be nominated for best actor. It is a sharp, intelligent character study, told from 1966 when Dubya impresses his frat brothers with his winning charm and likeablility, all the way up to the point where it was clear that the mission was in fact not accomplished. (One of the best parts of the movie was when they had a spoof O'Reilly Factor show called "Spinball" commenting on how awesome it was that W had flown on a fighter jet! "I mean can you see John Kerry on a fighter jet" the O'reilly character says.
This movie was not a Michael Moore hatchet job, and anyone who thinks it is, don't bother commenting here unless you have seen the movie and only then tell me specifically what you thought was "hatchety" about it. After seeing "W" I almost felt sorry for Bush, he is potrayed acurately as a very likeable and fun guy, someone who you would love to have a beer and watch a ballgame with. But then of course you know what direction he ultimately takes the country.
This goes down with "13 days" and "All the Presidents Men" as one of my favorite political films of all time. 3 out of 4 stars!!!!!!
Its really hard to believe there was once a world without Ipods but it was only 7 short years ago when Steve Jobs intro'd it for the first time. No one knew it that day but Apple had launched what was to a revolutionary product that would transform an entire industry and create the "perfect thing" for everyone who loves music. As of September of 2008, Apple has sold 160 million Ipods, Incredible!!
I am through fighting with myself....over the past year and a half I have gone through one of the most radical shifts in worldviews that I have ever gone through. As a result of realizing that there are no such things as angels, devils, and gods, I have shifted nearly every one of my social issues, I am for gay marriage, I am pro-choice, I am for stem cell research, I am for Terri Shivos husband, I am for tolerance over primitive superstitions and fears. I am a now a true social progressive, I believe that the constitution is a living breathing document, I believe that in the real world all of us are governed by "situational ethics" I am like Colin Powell a fiscal conservative and social liberal. So in this election I have had my two different sides fighting with each other. But my social progressive side has won. I want to be on the right side of history. I want to be with those progressives of old that fought for womens suffrage, even though the evangelicals of the time said that was against God. I want to be on the side of the abolitionists who fought against slavery and injustice, even though the church folk correctly cited in the bible that slavery is Gods will. I am for science, and the betterment of happiness for all mankind. I will smile in 30 years knowing that I voted for a man who nominated good justices to the Supreme Court.
And that was the final straw folks Colin Powell had it right, he said he couldn't stand to see a republican nominate two more justices...and that was the final teeter, it's about the supreme court, and it's about a referendum against arguably the worst president in the past 100 years, and his reckless actions in Iraq which resulted in the pointless deaths of thousands of our troops and 40 thousand more who's lives are destroyed with missing limbs and nightmares that no amount of meds can shake. It is a vote against evangelicals who have hijacked my republican party. It is about that and many other things. I admire and respect John McCain, and he was the only one who kept me from the Barack vote for so long. If it had been Romney or Huckabee I would have been for Barack much sooner! But in the final analysis, I want something new, I want a young vigorous 48 year old man in the Executive, at 72 it is hard even for even someone of McCains considerable stature to maintain concentration and focus while running our executive branch. And then there is "Sexy Sarah" oh my goodness, what can I say that hasn't already been said. She represents the type of thinking I can't stand, the small minded "us and them" mentality, "I'm glad I'm in a pro America area" The type of rhetoric that brings out the worst in people. She is an unmitigated joke, and a slap in the face to me from John McCain.
There are plenty of things that I disagree with Obama on, Tax policy is number one of course. But here is my deal on that.....I believe there will be no middle class tax cut when Obama is in office, (nor will there be from McCain) There will be a tax hike on people making over 250K back to the percentages that we had under Ronald Reagan. I am fundamentally against tax increases...however we have had unprecedented irresponsible spending and government growth under W (a fact that many conservatives love to ignore) while we have had huge tax cuts. So unfortunately it could prove necessary. Also I would love to see this money go towards everyones benefit. I will be watching the Obama administration and see where our money goes and it will be a factor in whether I vote for him again in 2012. In short, defense good, schools good, infrastructure (responbible) good, post office good, national parks good, clean water good.....police/fire good......CIA good.....
So if I have to pay a little higher rate in taxes, maybe a few hundred dollars a year at the most for me (working at but not quite at the over 250K mark yet) I will think of all the good that Obama represents, forward thinking, positivity, hope, inspiration. He will be great at talking to us won't he? I feel we are going to be in very good hands. I like Joe Biden a lot too. I like that he is as close to a "regular guy" as a politician can get.
Obama will be the ultimate positive symbol to minorities that they can achieve anything they want in the greatest country in the world. Obama is ultra-cool, very smart, he will project a positive powerful symbol of america to the rest of the world.
On November 4th I urge all of my readers to cast your vote for Barack Obama
Learn more at www.barackobama.com
P.S. On taxes, according to Barack's website, I will be getting an addtional 1800 dollar tax cut. I don't think that will actually happen once he gets in, (neither would it happen for McCain if he gets in,) but it's interesting.
P.P.S. Obama's website is amazing (and so is his Iphone App (: )
About two months ago I got a knock on the door from a woman who said she was doing a survey about a california initiative called proposition 8. At the time I didn't know what 8 was and when she told me that it defined marriage within CA law as "one man and one woman" I told her as politely as I could that this would exclude about 10 percent of our population who are in loving relationships with members of the same sex who want to marry one another and I said I was absolutely against this. She thanked me for my time and left.
Since that encounter prop 8 has now taken over as the focal point cause for evangelicals. They are everywhere, on the corner of orchard village and lyons here in valencia holding signs, and on the lawns of my next door and across the street neighbors. All the evangelicals are whipped into a frenzy because the majority of their political energy is directed towards anti gay and anti abortion causes.
My question about this issue of gay marriage is why do they care so much? Leviticus has some archaic laws that no evangelical pays attention to or even knows exists. (because most don't know what is actually in their bibles) In chapter 19 of Levitcus we are told the following things..don't mate two different kinds of animals, don't plant a field with two different kinds of seed...don't wear clothing made out of two different kinds of material..don't eat meat with blood still in it...rise in the presence of aged people...and in Levitcus 20:13 it tells us that gay people must be put to death...along with aldulterers....and also if you have sex with your wife during her time of the month..well you don't have to die for that one...but you will be banished for life (as good as dead) from the tribe....So why out of all these decrees does Levitcus 20:13 stoke the fires of hate and bigotry so much in the evangelical's heart? (the others are simply ignored)
It boils down to simple fear, bigotry and hatred. These people believe that their families are under "attack" from the gay agenda. Their fear is as false as all classic xenophobias throughout history. What do they think is going to happen? Is a flamboyant gay man going to suddenly break into their house wearing nothing but a pink thong and start sing "I will survive!" Is this what they are fighting against?
No they will say it is to keep marriage sacred. Are you kidding me!! Sacred? In addition to the ideal (true love) People marry for all sorts of different reasons...money, betrayl, lust, unwanted pregnancy, to gain citizenship, to gain standing in society etc. There is no test that decides that two people are fit to be together and are marrying for the right reasons. An 18 year old man can marry a 90 year old worth 20 million dollars, and there is nothing anyone can do about it! And that is why folks 50% of all marriages END IN DIVORCE. Tasha's parents (married for over 40 years) are the exception now guys not the norm. My own parents, and the parents of my two best friends are divorced, so I know of what I speak.
So now back to the frentic energy of these white mid to upper class mini-van driving evangelicals in upscale suburbs. Evangelicals look around you! Go volunteer to be a big brother or big sister to a disadvantaged youth. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Give money to Make a Wish foundation. Go visit an AIDS hospital and LOVE these people as you claim you are called to do. Be a true missionary, help people without proselytizing to them no strings attached. Contribute to society, you need to know that there is a better way and you don't need to hate anymore.
***The Yes on Prop 8 campaign continues to mislead people by using schools and kids for political purposes. As a result of this the California Superintendent of schools Jack O'Connel has just been featured in a no on 8 ad where he states.."Prop 8 has nothing to do with kids or schools" And of course that is true! Well in 25 more years people will look back at the yes on 8 people in the same light as those who supported Plessy V Ferguson and those who opposed Brown v Board of Education.
***Update #2 Apple has just given 100K to fight Prop 8! Excellent and great job Apple! In their press release they stated, "we strongly believe that a person's fundamental rights-including the right to marry-should not be affected by their sexual orientation"
I am very proud of the Dodgers this year! I went to a total of 26 games including game 3 of the NLDS and NLCS (both wins) and Matt and I had our enjoyed our great 22 game mini season plan in LOG section 155.
For months and months we were fighting the Snakes to try to tie or break into first, but we just couldn't seem to quite get there. Until we finally did. Thanks to the arrival of Manny Ramirez who was amazing right from the first day he got here (I was at the first game Manny played as a Dodger) The Dodgers finished 1st in the NL West, and then amazingly dispatched the Cubs like they were nothing. Everything turned with the Phillies when our pitching collapsed in the 6th inning of game 4...but hey that's baseball. There were 26 other teams that would have loved to be where the Dodgers were. And with our "core four" Loney, Martin, Either, Kemp of everyday young kid position players, along with Kershaw, Stultz, Billingsley, we have a solid foundation for years to come. And maybe we'll swing a deal for Jake Peavy who wants to get out of the sinking ship that is the San Diego loser Padres.
We are reupped for 2009 and are set to go to another 22 games next summer.
I am pretty set in my ways with the music I listen to. I don't like much of any new music that comes out, or new Artists. I already know what I like, and have said that the only new music that has come out that is any good in the last 15 years is "The Dave Matthews Band"
I think many are like me, their musical choices were formed in their teens and early twenties and that's pretty much it. I was raised listening to The Police, Rush, Sting, etc and in college I figured out how awesome Peter Gabriel is and others, but that was about it. Can anyone new be good? I said Flipoodeeefloooooo!
I had heard of Coldplay for years now, but had always resisted them because they were new, and trendy, and so I ignored them. Or told myself that they weren't any good when I would hear any of their songs. Coldplay is for Emo people in melancholy moods. Of course I could not escape "Clocks" which I thought was a great song ever since I heard it cause how can anyone really not hear it...if you leave your house you have heard "Clocks"
So then I heard the single off of the new album "Viva La Vida" the title track of the same name, and I thought that was a great song too. And I bought it off Itunes, and casually listened to it and thought "This is pretty good"
Well long story short folks, I now have listened to it about 25 times and I am prepared to say, "Holy cow this album is genius!" The album is an Experience! Songs transition, different moods are evoked. It is not a series of different songs, but rather a complete concept. It starts and ends with fantastic sounding instrumentals which bookend the album. I feel like I have discovered something new like a new Peter Gabriel, or U2. Something I thought I would never do again.
But now I am full fledged Coldplay freak, who is fully obsessed with them. So I recomend to all, in order of how good their albums are (they have 4)
See everyone who is on this list knows about the party, (except our friend in Utah) it starts at 3 and ends whenever, and unless we have asked you to, you don't need to bring anything. And dinner is included. And it aint just gonna be hot dogs. Hope to see you all here!!
Everything was rolling right along in game one of the NLCS, Lowe was putting on a clinic, mixing up his speed with his sinker. Then boom! Rafael Furcal makes a throwing error, and just like that, the Dodgers are tied, and then lose the lead.
Well, we are in a best of 7 series and one game does not a series make. I predict a win tomorrow, then we take 2 of 3 at the Ravine, and then win the series in game 6 or 7 back in Philly.
I was sitting four rows back from the dugout club ...and I watched every pitch. I didn't move...didn't go to the bathroom...didn't go get anything to drink...I didn't want to miss anything. It was almost like everything was hyper-real. When the Dodgers scored 2 in the first I was happy, but we never broke open the game. We had to rely on Hiroki Kuroda, who was phenomonal!!!!! The Cubs just kept getting sent back to their dugout. Derrick Lee slammed his helmet in frustration.
So it gets to the top of the 9th and we have a two run lead. All Broxton has to do is get 3 outs.....And he got the first two outs lightning quick. Then Soriano comes up. Is he due? I think to myself...the game can change quickly with only a two run lead in the 9th. I have seen it happen many times before....but then strike 1, the crowd goes wild! Strike 2..everyone is up and roaring! And with two strikes, I knew it, I knew we had the game and we were going to the NLCS. And I am sitting in a box seat with a perfect view of it all. I actually paused, and teared up at that point and two quick tears ran down my face. How lucky am I? I couldn't believe I was there....It was actually happening!
And then, Check swing strike 3!!! I broke out in a huge smile, and then let out a primal scream of joy at the top of my lungs. And then It was a party. The players went crazy, the fans stayed (No one went home early in this one) Joe Torre addressed the crowd, "We'll see you here next week, we have 8 more to go!!" Tommy addressed the crowd. Russel Martin climbed up into the left field pavillion to celebrate with the fans. Matt Kemp dumped an entire bottle of champagne on Frank McCourt. And on and on it went, and I was right there in the middle of all of it. It was awesome!!
And then I basically high fived about one hundred people filing out of the dugout club, including Rob Reiner (I told him 'Spinal Tap' is awesome) John Lovitz (I quoted him an SNL skit, I yelled at him "Acting! Genius! Thank you!, he smiled a little bit), Dennis Haysbert from "24", Larry King, and Mayor Antonio Villarigossa.
I stayed for about 35 minutes after the game, and then enjoyed the parking lot celebration, and the gauntlet of fans waving giant Dodger Flags at me as I was driving out...It was awesome!!
The Dodgers are the first team this year to advance to the LCS...we sit back and wait for either the Phillies or the Brewers....
P.S. Matt and I will go to Game 1 on thursday if they play the brewers, or Game 3 Sunday if it is the Phillies
Finally! A little bit of justice for Ron and Nicole. Incredibly 13 years to the day after his acquital for double murder, stupid OJ is convicted of ANOTHER crime! The counts he was found guilty on are conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping, and assault with a deadly weapon.
OJ is sad that he can't go to Sidney and Justin's college graduations. Gee OJ, neither can their mother since you decided to murder her.
It is 13 years too late, and OJ should have been long dead by now upon receiving a lethal injection....but I guess this is the next best thing.
Let's all raise a glass and toast the fact that OJ will most likely be in jail until he dies!!!
Let me tell you all about one day in the life of Garrett's Iphone.
Wake up to the built in alarm
Roll over and quickly check my websites
Check how the Dow is doing
Check the weather
Check my e-mail
Look up Zach's Pediatrician, instantly map the location, address, and tap the phone number to call to set up appt.
Set a reminder beep about 25 minutes before appt.
Call my Dad, talk to Denise.
Quickly check what time it is in Brussels to see how jet lagged they must be
Drive to doctors appt listening to music on the iphone
Entertain Zach by launching the monkey ball video game on the iphone, and handing it to him to play while we wait
Get into the exam room and ask Zach if he wants me to select kids programming from up to 3 online radio apps I have built in...
Tap the Ipod button, select the beach boys, select the album "Sounds of Summer" place the iphone on the windowsill and listen to the beach boys through the speaker (Zach wanted beach boys instead of kids programming (: )
Call my Dad...then get a text that Matt updated his blog...check his blog from 24 hour fitness while on the elliptical machine...write him a quick comment after machine.
Pick up an e-mail while watching kids play out front from Cub Scout mom who wants to know e-mail address of new cub scout mom...tap the "contacts" button quickly look up the address and e-mail back.
Watch the Rays/White Sox game in real time play by play mode
Download that days episode of Opie and Anthony onto Itunes, and quickly synch up Iphone with Itunes.
Needless to say folks....my Iphone is like part of my life...it is a part of me and I a part of it. If marriage was defined as one man and one Iphone, we would be part of that marriage.
That's right folks, Grabbaggar has been transformed into a Dodger themed blog!!! And it will be so, throughout the playoffs..The Dodgers dismantled the Cubs again this evening, and now hold a commanding two game lead in the NLDS, they win one more and it's on to the NLCS. I will be at the game Saturday Night, and if they don't clinch it then, I will be right back to the Ravine on Sunday to watch them clinch it there...Then Matt and I already have tickets to the NLCS, and we will attend game 1 on Thursday if we play the Brewers, or game 3 next Sunday if we play the Phillies.
It's been 20 long years folks, but it's happening again! Can you feel it!!!!!!
Interesting debate tonight, I thought Sarah did better than I expected which she needed to after her terrible interview with Katie Couric. Her overall performance was uneven, but there were points where I felt she connected with the audience...especially with her plain speaking folksy speak. Except for during the end when she said "Say it aint so Joe, whoopee do...sneaky snow, we need to act and do stuff for people" or whatever....that was forced and ham handed.
But you know what,? It could have been a lot worse for her, I would say that she basically didn't make any significant gaffes, and neither did Joe Biden.
I think Biden came off as being very slick and poised, he made a point not to attack her, he could have embarrassed her if he wanted to, but helped himself and obama by not taking that chance.
Bottom line is Biden won this debate, but Palin succeeded beyond my expectations, and did not further hurt McCain. I think the question with Sarah is for every Republican she turns off (like me) how many red state yokels who only care about abortion, gays, and home schooling their kids...does she excite?
Since 1988 the Dodgers have made the postseason five times (this year is the fifth) Until this year they have been swept in 3 of those, and won only one 1 game in the 2004 series. It has been tough folks. (Yes it could be tougher I could be a KC Royals fan) But anyways, tonight, just like magic, the Dodgers demoralized the Cubs with a grandslam and never looked back, winning the game 7-2. And stealing home field advantage!!!!! Now the absolute worst thing that can happen in game 2 is that we come out of the series tied 1-1 with the next two at home!! I was burned in 1996, 1997, 2004, and 2006. I was almost expecting it this afternoon, but no!!!!
I texted Matt and told him that I feel like it is Xmas morning.....this is my team folks, I went to 24 games this year, follow the Dodgers avidly dare I say "religiously?" I will be at game 3 sitting on the field level behind home plate, and also at game 4 if necessary this Sunday, on the Loge level on the first base side. For game 2 I have to watch that game mostly on my Iphone, because I have to work at a conference in Woodland Hills.....but dare I say I will be taking a few trips to the bar during breaks...not to have a few belts folks, but to sneak a peek at the game on TV
Now this is not a knock on anyone, but Tasha and I are tied for the two youngest parents in Kevin's cub scout group. And Tasha and I planned it that way. We knew we wanted to have kids, and once we knew that, we didn't want to wait. And I am seeing the reasons why in Cub Scout group/T-Ball/school/etc.
There is a father in Cub Scouts who is 50 frikkin years old!! When I am 50 I will be done! I will have both kids out of the house (most likely) I will be 48 when Zach is 18, and this is a great thing! 48 is the new 38 right? And by 2022 it will be the new 28! This older parent thing is a symptom mostly of divorce, and also of the fact that women are in the workplace now, and couples are putting off having kids until they can "afford" them. I don't know, but when I am 50 I don't want to be chasing around a 7 year old at a cub scout meeting!
Also Tasha and I will be young enough to enjoy grandkids as well. I am fairly certain that the greatest possiblity of ones own happiness is to marry someone you love, and have children in your mid to late 20's. I must be the happiest son of a gun alive.
