Hello Friends. It's been a while since our last post. What an insanely busy time it's been for us since our move back to Texas in September.
With the new year upon us, I have a resolution I hope to keep. My plan is to read the entire bible this year. I'm off to a roaring start - current with my reading plan through day 6.
We'll see how things go once the baby is born. All bets might be off at that point. But my plan is to read each morning before the kids wake, then if inspiration strikes, write a little note or thought in a blog. Hopefully it'll be something I can preserve and look back on. Maybe my kids can too.
If you care to join me, you can find the link to the reading plan I'm using on the new blogsite. Check it out:
http://whativereadtoday-gullette.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Our Yankees
From July 26: "Winning would have been nice, but it didn’t really matter. As we left you said you want to go again. As we got on the train, you said it was a great game. It WAS a great game. It’ll just show up in the stats as one of 60 or so losses for the year, but for us, it was the world series. We both fell in love with the Yankees yesterday."
Did we ever! We carried our love for the Yankees down to Tejas, where it ain't easy sporting your Yankee pride. There have been some great lessons on courage and boldness I've been able to teach Sam. Wear that shirt with pride son - don't worry what other people think.
We battled through some internal conflict. Do we like the Rangers now? Well, yeah, we do. But the Yankees are our team. Sam, you know the lineup up and down. There's Jeter, Johnny D, Tex, A-Rod, Fives, Hip Hip Jorge, Nick Swisher (the guy with a name begging for a nickname, we just call Nick Swisher), Robinson Cano, and last but not least, (I want my) Melky Cabrera. And of course you knew the pitching rotation inside and out: AJ, CC and Andy with Mariano Rivera. What a team! One day you'll learn that it was an expensive team. Don't listen to that crap. It's jealousy plain and simple. Of course they were expensive. They're awesome!
Not sure how it came about, but we started telling Little Derek stories at bedtime. Madeup stories about Little Derek when he was 7 years old - all the amazing feats that surprisingly revolved around baseball. Your favorite was the time Little Derek went to a Yankee game with his daddy and late in the game when they were running out of players, they asked people in the stands if they'd like to play. Of course, Little Derek raised his hand and got to play shortstop. He won the game for them and they carried him around the field to roaring fans. They told him to call when he turned 18 - that they would surely have a spot for him when he grows up. I think it took you awhile to fall asleep after that one.
You even got your mom and sisters into the Yanks. It was definitely a family affair. Even before last night, ask mom who she'd want up in the clutch, she'd tell you Fives is the guy. What a final game for Fives! He was huge!!
As a goodbye gift, our good friend Mark Alvarez (huge Yankee fan from way back) from NY gave us some dirt from homeplate at the new stadium. I can't wait to frame it with a few world series posters. We'll remember this season forever!
A few pictures from last night's game and from Halloween. Sam was A-Rod, of course.
Did we ever! We carried our love for the Yankees down to Tejas, where it ain't easy sporting your Yankee pride. There have been some great lessons on courage and boldness I've been able to teach Sam. Wear that shirt with pride son - don't worry what other people think.
We battled through some internal conflict. Do we like the Rangers now? Well, yeah, we do. But the Yankees are our team. Sam, you know the lineup up and down. There's Jeter, Johnny D, Tex, A-Rod, Fives, Hip Hip Jorge, Nick Swisher (the guy with a name begging for a nickname, we just call Nick Swisher), Robinson Cano, and last but not least, (I want my) Melky Cabrera. And of course you knew the pitching rotation inside and out: AJ, CC and Andy with Mariano Rivera. What a team! One day you'll learn that it was an expensive team. Don't listen to that crap. It's jealousy plain and simple. Of course they were expensive. They're awesome!
Not sure how it came about, but we started telling Little Derek stories at bedtime. Madeup stories about Little Derek when he was 7 years old - all the amazing feats that surprisingly revolved around baseball. Your favorite was the time Little Derek went to a Yankee game with his daddy and late in the game when they were running out of players, they asked people in the stands if they'd like to play. Of course, Little Derek raised his hand and got to play shortstop. He won the game for them and they carried him around the field to roaring fans. They told him to call when he turned 18 - that they would surely have a spot for him when he grows up. I think it took you awhile to fall asleep after that one.
You even got your mom and sisters into the Yanks. It was definitely a family affair. Even before last night, ask mom who she'd want up in the clutch, she'd tell you Fives is the guy. What a final game for Fives! He was huge!!
As a goodbye gift, our good friend Mark Alvarez (huge Yankee fan from way back) from NY gave us some dirt from homeplate at the new stadium. I can't wait to frame it with a few world series posters. We'll remember this season forever!
A few pictures from last night's game and from Halloween. Sam was A-Rod, of course.
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Goodbye New York
Much has changed since our last post. 'A Bronx Tale' turns out to be a fitting last post, I think. I could go on about our time in the city, but words wouldn't do in describing our love for New York City. Those were the best 4.5 years of my life...so far. As my friend Sully would say, it's been a good run. We'll certainly miss it. Goodbye New York.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
A Bronx Tale
Yesterday I fell in love with baseball again. Dad, this post is for you to enjoy as I’ve failed at posting any blogs lately. Sorry. And Sam, I'm writing it to you. I hope you’ll enjoy reading it when you’re older. Perhaps you’ll take your children to a Yankees game one day and you can tell them about the time I took you.
Being from Texas, I’ve always been a Rangers fan, but not a die-hard one by any means. The Rangers, unfortunately, give you little to cheer about. These past 5 seasons while living in New York, I’ve pretty much ignored baseball altogether. I’ve tried to like the Mets, but real emotions aren’t there.
Sam, you are 6 years old and have transitioned from a love for Spiderman to a love for baseball. Along the way, I’ve asked ‘which is your favorite baseball team – the Yankees or the Mets’? Earlier this season, you leaned toward the Mets because you knew I was trying to like them. However, about a month ago, while playing catch at the park, you told me you wanted to be a Yankees fan instead. “Why Sam?” You explained, “Because the Yankees are better”. Fair enough. Perhaps by coincidence, the Yanks were one game into a seven game winning streak that day.
In our chaotic house, we’ve never found time for watching baseball. However, I had been promising you we’d go to a Yankees game this season. Yesterday, we woke up with no plans, so without much expectation of finding anything, I checked Craigslist for tickets to the 1:05pm game against the A’s. It just so happened that a doctor working at the hospital 5 blocks away was selling his two $100 tickets for $50 each. I couldn’t pass that up.
Just before noon we were out the door. You were wearing a generic green shirt, a plain tan cap and your baseball glove. You have been to a Yankees game before, but you were 3 years old and don’t remember it. In my mind, and in yours, this is your first. As we were walking to the train, I told you everyone on the 4 train will be wearing their Yankees caps and shirts. You looked down at your pathetic green shirt and slowly started to take off your tan cap. I told you not to worry, that we will get you a Yankees cap and shirt when we get there.
While waiting on the train, we would see different Yankee shirts pass by. There’s a Ruth. I explained that Babe played for them before I was even born -- and no one hit the baseball farther than Babe. There’s a Posada. There’s an A-Rod. I asked which shirt you wanted. Not knowing the players, except A-Rod, you asked for my opinion. My first thought was A-Rod, but I told you I thought we should go with Jeter. He’s a classic Yankee; been with them a long time; plays shortstop; has won a world series. Yeah, let’s get a Jeter.
The 4 train dropped us off next door to the new stadium. We walked hand-in-hand directly to the souvenir shop across from the stadium. Hat. Jeter shirt. Done.
In we go. 30 minutes before the first pitch, people everywhere. Perfect day for baseball: 80 and sunny. We find our way to our seats. They were perfect seats in the second level between home and first. I’ll never forget the look on your face when you saw the field for the first time.
There was a lot of explaining to do. All the basics. You played baseball 2 years ago, but you knew only the very basics. You didn’t know a strike from a ball, a hit from a run, a walk from a hit. You asked, What do they play to?
With hotdogs and lemonade in hand, we get situated for the first pitch from one of the best – Andy Pettitte. I think you were expecting much more action. You were expecting every pitch to be a home run. I explained that baseball is slower. The pitchers are really good and they are trying to pitch it so you can’t even hit it. And to make it even more painful for you, the first several innings were nothing short of a classic pitcher’s dual. We mixed in some cotton candy and ice cream to keep things exciting though. Zero-Zero heading into the bottom of the 6th inning. Jeter’s on first when Brett Gardner ropes one between Center and Right. A triple – Jeter scores. 1-0. The place goes crazy for the first time. I pick you up so you can see the action. We high-fived. You asked if we won. Not yet, I said. It felt like a 10 run lead at the rate this game was going.
Top of the 7th. The bottom falls out. Pettitte’s old arm starts to fade. He gives up two or three and leaves the game with the bases loaded. The reliever choked. The A’s put up 6 runs in the top of the 7th – the only runs they scored all day. The air was sucked out of the stadium.
After the 7th inning stretch, we get mowed down again. The score holds tight at 6-1 going into the bottom of the 8th. I ask myself if we should just leave now to avoid the mass exodus. But I tell myself we can’t do that. Shame on me for letting the thought cross my mind. We flipped our caps into rally mode. You convinced me we needed to be keeping our fingers crossed as well. Jorge Posada is announced as a pinch hitter. After a loud applause, the chanting starts “Hip Hip Jorge! Hip Hip Jorge!” I think he walked. Our man Jeter’s up. Crack! We all stood up, you in my arms, to see the ball flying through the air. Home run! Your first! The place went absolutely crazy. 6-3, baby! Here we come. Something I never thought I’d have: Yankee goose bumps. I thought to myself, this is baseball. I was loving the moment. Next batter: Mark Teixeira. I’ve never seen a ball hit so hard. He pulled it, and we all stood as it raced down the first base line. After the ball left the park, there was a strange 2 or 3 seconds of silence as we all waited to see whether the ump called it fair or foul. Home run! The place went berserk! 6-4. Oh my!
Time for a pitching change. During the switch, we watched a clip from Rudy on the big screen. “No one, I mean no one, comes into our house and pushes us around!” Chill bumps. Place goes crazy. #55 Hideki Matsui is up. The old school Yankee fan behind us was yelling “Let’s go Fives”. Fives. I love it. Unfortunately, Fives didn’t do much. Neither did anyone else. The rally fizzled. We were only able to get the 3 runs in the 8th.
In the top of the 9th, great pitching and two spectacular back-to-back catches in Center by Brett Gardner kept the A’s at six.
Bottom 9. Last chance. By now, Sam, you are very into it. We need two runs in the 9th to tie it. 3 to win. Between the top and bottom of the 9th, the classic Rocky clip: “It ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!” Then the Rocky theme song. Goose bumps on top of goose bumps.
Rally caps at full throttle. Fingers crossed. Melky walks. Place goes crazy. Johnny Damon to the plate. He walks too! First and second with no outs! Oh my! Who’s up? Hip Hip Jorge! Hip Hip Jorge! He hits a screamer….but right to the second baseman. Double play. Air sucked straight out of the stadium. You could hear a pin drop.
Ok Sam. There’s still a chance. Two outs, runner on third, Jeter’s up to bat. If he scores, we’re tied. After two or three pitches, Jeter crushes one. We all stand, you in my arms. Back, back, back….centerfielder caught it at the warning track. Just like that, game over. We lost, Sam. You didn’t understand how the game could end so quickly. The masses turned around and walked up the isles to Sinatra’s New York, New York playing loudly.
Winning would have been nice, but it didn’t really matter. As we left you said you want to go again. As we got on the train, you said it was a great game. It WAS a great game. It’ll just show up in the stats as one of 60 or so losses for the year, but for us, it was the world series. We both fell in love with the Yankees yesterday.
Being from Texas, I’ve always been a Rangers fan, but not a die-hard one by any means. The Rangers, unfortunately, give you little to cheer about. These past 5 seasons while living in New York, I’ve pretty much ignored baseball altogether. I’ve tried to like the Mets, but real emotions aren’t there.
Sam, you are 6 years old and have transitioned from a love for Spiderman to a love for baseball. Along the way, I’ve asked ‘which is your favorite baseball team – the Yankees or the Mets’? Earlier this season, you leaned toward the Mets because you knew I was trying to like them. However, about a month ago, while playing catch at the park, you told me you wanted to be a Yankees fan instead. “Why Sam?” You explained, “Because the Yankees are better”. Fair enough. Perhaps by coincidence, the Yanks were one game into a seven game winning streak that day.
In our chaotic house, we’ve never found time for watching baseball. However, I had been promising you we’d go to a Yankees game this season. Yesterday, we woke up with no plans, so without much expectation of finding anything, I checked Craigslist for tickets to the 1:05pm game against the A’s. It just so happened that a doctor working at the hospital 5 blocks away was selling his two $100 tickets for $50 each. I couldn’t pass that up.
Just before noon we were out the door. You were wearing a generic green shirt, a plain tan cap and your baseball glove. You have been to a Yankees game before, but you were 3 years old and don’t remember it. In my mind, and in yours, this is your first. As we were walking to the train, I told you everyone on the 4 train will be wearing their Yankees caps and shirts. You looked down at your pathetic green shirt and slowly started to take off your tan cap. I told you not to worry, that we will get you a Yankees cap and shirt when we get there.
While waiting on the train, we would see different Yankee shirts pass by. There’s a Ruth. I explained that Babe played for them before I was even born -- and no one hit the baseball farther than Babe. There’s a Posada. There’s an A-Rod. I asked which shirt you wanted. Not knowing the players, except A-Rod, you asked for my opinion. My first thought was A-Rod, but I told you I thought we should go with Jeter. He’s a classic Yankee; been with them a long time; plays shortstop; has won a world series. Yeah, let’s get a Jeter.
The 4 train dropped us off next door to the new stadium. We walked hand-in-hand directly to the souvenir shop across from the stadium. Hat. Jeter shirt. Done.
In we go. 30 minutes before the first pitch, people everywhere. Perfect day for baseball: 80 and sunny. We find our way to our seats. They were perfect seats in the second level between home and first. I’ll never forget the look on your face when you saw the field for the first time.
There was a lot of explaining to do. All the basics. You played baseball 2 years ago, but you knew only the very basics. You didn’t know a strike from a ball, a hit from a run, a walk from a hit. You asked, What do they play to?
With hotdogs and lemonade in hand, we get situated for the first pitch from one of the best – Andy Pettitte. I think you were expecting much more action. You were expecting every pitch to be a home run. I explained that baseball is slower. The pitchers are really good and they are trying to pitch it so you can’t even hit it. And to make it even more painful for you, the first several innings were nothing short of a classic pitcher’s dual. We mixed in some cotton candy and ice cream to keep things exciting though. Zero-Zero heading into the bottom of the 6th inning. Jeter’s on first when Brett Gardner ropes one between Center and Right. A triple – Jeter scores. 1-0. The place goes crazy for the first time. I pick you up so you can see the action. We high-fived. You asked if we won. Not yet, I said. It felt like a 10 run lead at the rate this game was going.
Top of the 7th. The bottom falls out. Pettitte’s old arm starts to fade. He gives up two or three and leaves the game with the bases loaded. The reliever choked. The A’s put up 6 runs in the top of the 7th – the only runs they scored all day. The air was sucked out of the stadium.
After the 7th inning stretch, we get mowed down again. The score holds tight at 6-1 going into the bottom of the 8th. I ask myself if we should just leave now to avoid the mass exodus. But I tell myself we can’t do that. Shame on me for letting the thought cross my mind. We flipped our caps into rally mode. You convinced me we needed to be keeping our fingers crossed as well. Jorge Posada is announced as a pinch hitter. After a loud applause, the chanting starts “Hip Hip Jorge! Hip Hip Jorge!” I think he walked. Our man Jeter’s up. Crack! We all stood up, you in my arms, to see the ball flying through the air. Home run! Your first! The place went absolutely crazy. 6-3, baby! Here we come. Something I never thought I’d have: Yankee goose bumps. I thought to myself, this is baseball. I was loving the moment. Next batter: Mark Teixeira. I’ve never seen a ball hit so hard. He pulled it, and we all stood as it raced down the first base line. After the ball left the park, there was a strange 2 or 3 seconds of silence as we all waited to see whether the ump called it fair or foul. Home run! The place went berserk! 6-4. Oh my!
Time for a pitching change. During the switch, we watched a clip from Rudy on the big screen. “No one, I mean no one, comes into our house and pushes us around!” Chill bumps. Place goes crazy. #55 Hideki Matsui is up. The old school Yankee fan behind us was yelling “Let’s go Fives”. Fives. I love it. Unfortunately, Fives didn’t do much. Neither did anyone else. The rally fizzled. We were only able to get the 3 runs in the 8th.
In the top of the 9th, great pitching and two spectacular back-to-back catches in Center by Brett Gardner kept the A’s at six.
Bottom 9. Last chance. By now, Sam, you are very into it. We need two runs in the 9th to tie it. 3 to win. Between the top and bottom of the 9th, the classic Rocky clip: “It ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!” Then the Rocky theme song. Goose bumps on top of goose bumps.
Rally caps at full throttle. Fingers crossed. Melky walks. Place goes crazy. Johnny Damon to the plate. He walks too! First and second with no outs! Oh my! Who’s up? Hip Hip Jorge! Hip Hip Jorge! He hits a screamer….but right to the second baseman. Double play. Air sucked straight out of the stadium. You could hear a pin drop.
Ok Sam. There’s still a chance. Two outs, runner on third, Jeter’s up to bat. If he scores, we’re tied. After two or three pitches, Jeter crushes one. We all stand, you in my arms. Back, back, back….centerfielder caught it at the warning track. Just like that, game over. We lost, Sam. You didn’t understand how the game could end so quickly. The masses turned around and walked up the isles to Sinatra’s New York, New York playing loudly.
Winning would have been nice, but it didn’t really matter. As we left you said you want to go again. As we got on the train, you said it was a great game. It WAS a great game. It’ll just show up in the stats as one of 60 or so losses for the year, but for us, it was the world series. We both fell in love with the Yankees yesterday.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Poem
It's been a while since we've updated everyone on our well savings. March was a good month. April? Not so much. Mickey stole my wallet.
Jordan's homework this past week was to write a poem on a social issue. She and I wrote the poem below at breakfast yesterday. Enjoy!
Jordan's homework this past week was to write a poem on a social issue. She and I wrote the poem below at breakfast yesterday. Enjoy!
Wells For Africa
Take a bath. Turn on the sink.
So much water for us to drink.
Take a dive. Wash your hair.
Water, water everywhere!
Or is there?
Yes there is. It has been found.
Can't be reached; it's underground.
Miles each day, walks to the creek,
For water that's dirty. It makes you weak.
We can help them. It's easy, you know.
Drill a well and the water will flow.
My family is saving to buy them a well.
Clean water, clean water to fill up their pail..
Friday, April 17, 2009
Spring Break: Orlando
What a great vacation it was! I don't remember us ever being sadder heading home. Our kids had such a blast. We visited Magic Kingdom and The Islands of Adventure. Both were very crowded, but we still managed to enjoy ourselves thanks to the perfect weather. There were lots of laughs and fun memories. Some of my best lasting memories as a child were at Six Flags. There's not much better than riding a roller coaster with your kid, sharing a thrilling time with them, smiles from ear to ear.
Easter Sunday was fun too. We visited our family that lives in Orlando. Uncle Ron and Aunt Linda are such warm, fun hosts. We had a fun time spending a relaxing day with them. Earlier that day, we had a worship time in our hotel. The kids joined us in singing, praying and reading about the resurrection.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Karate Kid
Samuel-Son earned his yellow belt recently. He's actually quite dangerous, but is learning to restrain himself. It's comforting knowing that we're protected on the mean streets of the upper east side.He can also count to ten in Korean. Pretty impressive, and very funny to hear!
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