Thanksgiving Update

Sorry!
Relatives were over, and things were hectic

1. Wife came back from vacation after 1 week. It was not easy to be without her and the child, but i survived.

Definitely don't want to do that again.


She has gotten really big

2. We prepped for thanksgiving. It was pretty good. We got mostly everything we needed from Wegmans except pumpkin pie and hawaiian bread/rolls.

3. Boston Market turkey: EXCELLENT. Prepared in an oven bag and aluminum pan. Drop into oven 2 hours before dinner time. Very juicy , even the white meat. I usually don't like turkey white meat, but this time, it was very very good. Most likely, will do the same for Christmas, unless i run over a goose or something. hahaha

4. Relatives started coming over on wednesday. We had fun. a couple kids running around the house and stuff.

5. Eleanor does this thing. When you are eating food near her, she stares at the food , like "What's that? I want to try some" She has had in her whole life only a couple things: Formula, breast milk, water, peas, carrots, green beans, gerber baby cereal.



I wonder what it will be like when she has baby back ribs for the first time? She seems to be ready...

6. Other Foods: Sweet Potato Casserole with streusel topping, excellent!
Cornbread Jalapeno Stuffing: made by my sister, was very good as well
Baby Back Ribs: I cheated, by pre boiling, the night before. after i took out of boiling water, i rubbed with a rib rub and garlic powder. Let sit over night.
Smoked in smoker for 2 hours. Very tender, very happy even with the tenderness as a leftover.
Honey Ham: Spiral sliced pre cooked ham. allow 15 minutes per LB. Tasty, a little fatty on one side, so not as meat and advertised.

7. The road to the PBA takes 1 small step. Thursday Am, there was a bowling tournament at my lanes. 20 dollar entry. 85% Handicap of 220 from 2005 average. thats good because my 2005 average is 165. SO i was getting about 46 pins extra per game. Also you bowl 4 games and drop 1. Not so bad. James my brother in law, and Sora also bowled in the tournament. I did a side pot for high game scratch.

Overall: 224-189-167 for 3 games: 580 series (193 average) + 46x 3 (handicap) = 718 total.

James did 702 with handicap.
When we turned in our scores.. they told us to wait, we might be "in the money"
anyhow. it turned out I got 2nd place! 150 bucks and 30 bucks for a side pot win for that 224 i rolled in game 1. So 180 bucks. Career Winnings = 180 dollars.
James finished tied for 4th and got $62.50. + 30 bucks for a side pot too. = 92.50

Considering all things, it was pretty good!
I was surprised to get 2nd place.

Tournament bowling is defitely different, also not having Ken, my captain/coach there was not easy.

Then later that night, i won our hold em poker game, and got another 120 bucks.

haha

Eagles are done. No need to keep the jerseys out.
Sixers are what they are...

Real estate school is almost dont for the semester. SO i am happy about that. I have to apply for license ASAP.

Eleanor updates: She can do lots of new things.
the raspberry thing, where she spits and makes bubbles in her mouth while making a farting noise.
She is at number 2 diapers.
She really likes solid foods! (not solid, but baby food)
She chugs the formula too.

Pictures forthcoming!

Sam

Bowling Update

Hi
the road to the PBA is not an expressway by anymeans.

1. I am currently the highest average bowler on my team. El Capitan - Ken, dropped down a lot since the past couple weeks of lower than average bowling. I think that kind of motivated him today. Because he went off. Well he rolled a 615 series. But game 3, he rolled 12 strikes, and just missed one frame in the middle of the game for a sick score. He is going to the doctor to check out his shoulder, he says it hurts.

2. Sora did not bowl this week, because she is in Virginia.

3. I rolled a 595 series. 191 - too many open frames could have gotten over 200, and I missed the spare in the 10th frame. Game 2- I started the game of with 7 strikes. I got a split in the 8th and could not convert the spare. The strike in the 9th, spare in the 10th, then Strike in the bonus frame. For a 246. That is my personal high for the season. This is the second time this season where i started off with 7 straight strikes, then opened up on the next frame. The last time, i opened in the 8th and 9th. So this was somewhat of an improvement.

When you start to go on a roll, its hard. You think, could this be the 300 game. What adjustments should i make? i usually take 2 deep breaths before i start my approach. But as the string of strikes keeps going, its harder to stay calm. Then i take 3 deep breaths.

By the 6th strike... its really bad. 5 deep breaths dont do much...

Anyhow, the last game i barely got any strikes.

Pulled out 157 or something. My average will go up some, but still hover around 186.

I will have to work on the mental game.

My goal for a 700 series is still there.

hehe,

ttyl

Sambo

Wife on vacation with child

Hey
So this week, Sora is in virginia with eleanor. I am home all by myself. Its not easy to be away from your family, but i think it will be refreshing for Sora. not that I am so difficult to live with, but its nice for her to have some time away from the house etc.

this week, i have some goals.

1 bowling, I hope to do my best this week, and try and get the best possible score.
2.Cleaning the house and setting things up. With relatives coming for thanksgiving, i have some organizing and cleaning to do before they come. mainly baby room, prepare to put in the crib. She will start to sleep in the room by herself...
Garage. I want to see if i can clean up some, and identify some things i can sell on ebay. or give away.
3. School: Stay awake in school.

I hope that Sora can have a good week, and some good time with her relatives.

I know lots of people down there havent seen the baby yet either. So its, nice for them to see her.

new picture. Eleanor got a cool outfit from gymboree. hehe

she looks like a little chipmunk!
Sam

3rd wedding anniversary.

Quote: "Yo man, you better put something nice together for our anniversary, none of this heart felt note written on some loose leaf paper or last minute junk"

Sora said this to me out of love on monday. 2 days before our wedding anniversary.

No last minute junk? Thru all the busyness of things, we were reminded of our anniversary by a friend on sunday. haha

So, i did the right thing.

Had flowers delivered to the house , not like a pro flowers.com or 800 flowers, but an FTD job. WHy? No one else could deliver for wednesday.

In any case, she liked the flowers and note printed by a computer.

Then the dinner, i had actually just gotten back from NYC for some stuff, so i was pretty tired, but we went to a good restaurant that we liked. Don Pablos. I had some wings with avacado sour cream. very tasty. Sora has steak and shrimp, and eleanor had similac.

What can i say after 3 years of being happily married? 4 more years! 4 more years!
ok ok more than 4. haha

We were talking about kids and the future.

We really love other, ok let me speak for myself. I really love Sora.
I think she loves me, i am pretty sure anyhow.

I can say in retrospect, that the whole marriage deal was well worth it.

i looked at my wedding photos the other day. Man i gained weight!
haha

We have eleanor, and i hope our family grows, in number not weight!

Sam

Bowling Update

Hi,

So the current average is 187

I am in top 5 for overall average, high series scratch, high game scratch.

This week was not the best in terms of bowling for average, but i did ok.

181, 182, 183 for an average of 182. There is no award for getting almost the same score + 1.

Our team only won 1 game though. We are currently 3rd overall. but we have to see after the new standings come out on monday.

Sora bowled her average.

PBA... not yet, i guess...
Sam

123 day update

Hi
November 10th 2006. Its officially eleanor's 4th month.
123 days.

Since you can't say every 4 weeks is a month... since some months kind of have 5 weeks.

Anyhow.

She is getting big.
12 lbs 10 oz.
24.5 inches. Thats almost double weight, and 5 inches since she came into the world.

She is doing so good. now her appetite is pretty vorocious. She can take down 4 to 6 ounces of formula without a problem.

The doctor today at the 4 month visit told us we can start her on solids. She did not say anything about SPAM... but I dont think Sora will allow it.

I think some sort of simple cereal. mashed up cheerios in water or milk. haha.

I think since 123 days of the same old liquid, now some variety.
Good tips from doctor:
Introduce 1 new food every couple days. So if there is an allergic reaction, we can narrow down things better.

Eleanor also received some more immunizations today. Its so hard to see her get stuck with needles.

Copays: Did i mention some places, seem to "lose" your co pay if paid in cash or something? Then the health system tries to rebill you for those co pays. 10 bucks, but 10 bucks times like 1000 people all the time? thats a pretty good profit center.

So.. please use a credit card or personal checks for copays.

She is a little fussy today. So we drugger her with some baby tylenol drops. That helps her deal while the immunization is doing things to her system.

I am trying to amass a great DVD collection for the child.
Baby Einsteins, Baby Bachs.
Sora said: most of the Winnie the Pooh movies (IS WINNIE A BOY OR GIRL?)
Toy Story 1 and 2

I was happy to find Rock A Doodle. its about a rooster that thinks its elvis and it wakes up the sun. Don Bluth stuff, pretty cool.

There was Disney - then Pixar
Dream Works
Sony Animation
Don Bluth (land before time etc)

Any suggestions for must haves in the baby DVD collection?

Commando?
Rambo first blood?
nah!


So Baby Eleanor can sit up now...

Pretty cool
Nothing else. new.

She can grasp, pull to mouth and slobber over...

hehe ttyl

Check the album for most updated pics (link in right pane)

Sam

Halloween Update

Hey

So halloween came and past

weird part: No kids came to our house.

Here is Eleanor's Costume from that day...



Baby gap.

We like monkeys... could not find a turtle costume..

Sam