Joji (Ben's bff) had his b-day party at Jump and Jammin at the Santa Anita mall. We all went, and had a good time.

I remembered to take and wear earplugs, so I was in a happy place, getting to watch all the kids play and have fun in that _loud_ place.

I hung out with other parent's.
One boy was semi-catatonic in his mom's arms. I suggested she try ear plugs, and our host had some extra pairs. She did, and within minutes he was up and running around having a _great_ time.

During the lunch at Jump and Jammin I was a good boy, and had a plate full of blueberries and vegges before digging into the pizza. I also almost went soda-free, but caved at the last moment, and shared one coke with the kids.
*
Later that night our 'ol school pal f/SGHS Annette and her two littles, Jake and Savannah, came by to hang out, play, play Zingo, and eat pizza with us. Except for me trying to keep sanity with reinforcing the Leyva family rules, I think a good time was had by all.

Tags: annette, ben, jake, joji, julia, me, savannah, sonjia
Current Location: san gabriel, california
Current Music: Anjunabeats volume 5 - from http://di.fm trance channel

"The problems we are seeing today in terms of recession and reduced credit availability are precisely the kinds of impacts we would expect to see from oil flow that does not meet society’s needs at an acceptably low price. While one cannot prove that our current economic problems are mostly related to the oil situation, it is hard to believe that the relationship could be happenstance."

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/5969/

Tags: peak oil, theoildrum
Current Location: san gabriel, california
Current Mood: contemplative

Huzzah! Today is Benjamin's 4yr Birthday party.

Tags: 2009, benjamin, birthday
Current Location: san gabriel, california
Current Mood: happy

Tags: cartoon, dilbert, linux
Current Location: san gabriel, california
Current Mood: mischievous

As a new family tradition, took today off as a vacation day from work.

Sonjia made some really yummy pancakes, and I got two very cool presents! The 1st one is a weather station, with the atomic clock signal, so it's always the correct time (big geekage squee!), the 2nd was Rabid Rabbits for Wii!

Bicycled up to the DMV and renewed my drivers license.

Came home and hung out with Ben while Sonjia went to a lunch social with friends.

Then we all hung out at home until it was time to pick up Julia after school. Sonjia went online to Disney and input into their system that it was my birthday. They then have a certificate you print out and take, for a birthday treat.

Took the printout, picked Julia up in the family car and drove down to Disneyland. Once we got there, the certificate got redeemed for a Fun Card. It allows about US$75 to be used on your birthday! Pretty cool (and thanks Disneyland, for the cool birthday program).

Since it was my Special Day, the 1st place I wanted to go was The Haunted Mansion. They changed it! Right now it has been seasonally adjusted to have 'A Nightmare Before Christmas' theme! I won't give away details, but was pretty cool.

By now it was dinner time, and we were all hungry. Had dinner in the French Quarter. The kids had mac and cheese. I had ratatouille, Sonjia had a Cajun sandwhich, and the kids had mac and cheese. Next we did the River Boat ride, the Tarzan tree house, then Pirates of the Caribbean to finish off my special day.

Tags: 2009, 43, birthday, disneyland, family day
Current Location: san gabriel, california
Current Mood: happy

"If she had been less truthful about telling him her needs, she could have held him forever. Truth deserved rewarding, even if it were sometimes unpleasant." -- Emile Khadaji "The Man Who Never Missed"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_man_who_never_missed

Tags: book, citation, quote, sci-fi
Current Location: san gabriel, california
Current Mood: thoughtful

( More Halloween 2009 tale by pictures. )

Tags: 2009, ben, halloween, julia
Current Location: san gabriel, california
Current Mood: happy
Current Music: Rush - Working Man

Right now I weigh about 190pounds. I think my face looks a little less puffy than my profile pix, which was when I weighed closer to 200. Have lost about 10pounds since I started commute-bicycling in April. My bicycle's odometer shows 1100miles ridden, year-to-date.

Tags: 2009, halloween, selfpix
Current Location: san gabriel, california
Current Mood: happy

Went to The Boat for the Facebook-inspired SGHS get-together.

Sonjia and I had the Cod dinner. The kids had grilled cheese sandwiches.
Got to chat up Annette and Julie. They rocked.
Ben started to wipe out around 8:30p, so we said our goodbyes and came back home.

Tags: 1985, high school, sghs, the boat. reunion
Current Location: san gabriel, california
Current Mood: cheerful

Going to the Coolidge Carnival, both to volunteer, and as a Family Day.

After that going to the SGHS get-together at The Boat. Whee!

Tags: coolidge, family day, sghs
Current Location: san gabriel, california
Current Mood: pleased