Yosemite Wedding

The family and I got back from an AMAZING weekend in Yosemite! We were there for my buddy Dave's wedding. I cannot believe that I have lived in California my entire life and have never been to Yosemite. I do not know how anyone could go into such a beautiful place like that and not thank God for creating it! Simply breathtaking!
I was honored to be Dave's best man for his wedding. We spent a couple of days together, just the two of us, hiking around the valley. It was a great time (insert homophobic gay joke here) together. It was good for the both of us as I got to share "secrets of marriage" and got to hear how happy he was to get married to Jen. And as much as I complained, Dave, I really enjoyed you trying to kill me running up to the top of Nevada Falls. And, thankfully, no bears broke into my car!
The wedding itself was awesome! I loved the whole day! Some of my favorite memories was breakfast with the boys at the Awahnee, second breakfast at the Awahnee bar, the unbelievable background scenery of the wedding, the "photo sessions" in the elevator, and connecting with old friends (Peter and Angie and Rachel and Aaron). My only wish about the wedding day and time was that I wish it was longer. I cannot wait to see the photos from the amazing photographers who stayed at Yosemite and put up with the diva...Dave.
The day after the wedding (Easter morning), Wes and Wyatt awoke to find the Easter bunny left a little gift for them. Unfortunately, a little "visitor" to our room found the basket first and there were several candies missing! After breakfast and packing we took a little hike to the lower Yosemite falls. We ate lunch at the base of the falls and Wes refused to look at the water because the mist was getting in his eyes. After hiking back to our car and standing a mile away from the base of the falls, Wes stated, "Hey, look...there's a waterfall there!" Glad he took in all the nature and beauty around him!

The Spring Training Tradition

It was dark days for baseball. Major League Baseball had just cancelled the World Series after failure to come to terms on a collective bargaining agreement with the players union. People took sides. How can anyone agree with someone whose average salary is a million bucks a year? On the other hand, how can anyone agree with owners who have been raking in tens of millions of bucks by keeping player salaries down? Greed vs. greed.

Many people swore off baseball at that time. I’m pretty sure I did, too. I even debated the issue with Dr. Webb in Advanced Communications class with Damian (which, incidentally, we won…the only debate Webb claims to have ever lost). I was mad at the owners. I was mad at the players. I was mad at the institution of baseball.

Then something happened. Something so profound that I had no choice but to embrace the national pastime again. I got bored over Spring Break. Yep, that’s how a 12 year tradition was born. Damian and I got in the old blue Honda Station Wagon armed with a Motel 6 book, a cooler of snacks and sodas, various phone numbers of friends who lived in the area, and not more than 60 bucks. We’ve been back every year since.

I’m sitting here at home, watching a spring training game on television. They didn’t have spring training games on t.v. when we first went. When we first went to spring training we walked up to the gate, bought our tickets, and ended up sitting right behind 3rd base. As the years went on more and more people started showing up in Arizona. Now it is more of a commercial thing than before. People flock to Arizona in March for baseball now. Damn bandwagoners! It’s okay, though. Let them come. Let them start their own memories and their own traditions. Just get out of my way in the beer line.

Here are the top 10 memories of spring training over the years…
10. “Blinding” Damian in the car with a bottle of Squirt.
9. Shooting a commercial for “The Gordon Elliot Show” in Mesa.
8. Having Bill Engvall copy my jokes.
7. “Wally World – Population 5!”
6. Convincing Eric Young to toss a ball to me only to drop it because I had 1 too many beers.
5. Sneaking warm beer in a cup from Circle K in a game then having Dave Hicks offer some to Jackie Autry.
4. “See…no tan lines.” “Thank you.”
3. Watching Marty turn into Tommy Lee in the hotel room.
2. Eating chicken wings at Hooters with none other than baseball god, Mike Wolff.
1. Being asked to get off my “f*&$ box” by Mike James.

To traditions and more memories.

Marathon Man

Well, I did it. I have so many thoughts and feelings about this weekend. Most of what I’m feeling right now is soreness. I mean it! I did not expect to feel THIS sore. All last night I’d say to Carrie, “Man I’m tired. I feel like I just ran a marathon or something.” I’ll probably lose one to three toenails. I have a blister the size of Texas. (I don’t have ANY chafing or sore nipples…thanks Body Glide!) It aches to get up. It aches to get out of the car. I’m not sure if I’ll ever see the upstairs of our house again. I feel like an old man…well, an “older” man. But, more importantly, I’m a marathoner.
Instead of giving you all a play-by-play of my 6 hours on the road (which I’d be willing to do if you asked), here are the top 10 things I learned while running my marathon…
10. The smell at the starting line of the race is a cross between banana, icy-hot, and diarrhea. (No kidding! I think some people “went” before the race started! Gross!)
9. For some reason, the race organizers make the miles between 21 and 26 longer than the other miles. (Can you believe that!? Those jerks!)
8. You should always have your first name on your shirt so you can hear strangers cheer for you. (It was GREAT to hear people say, “Go Bill!” and “You can do it, Bill!)
7. The minute after you cross you say to yourself, “I can do this again!” Then the adrenaline subsides, the pain begins and you say to yourself, “I’ll NEVER do this again!”
6. Having friends and family at the race makes a HUGE difference. (Thanks Curriers and Armstrongs! It was great to have you guys there to support me and to help Carrie. Ooh, and thanks Carrie and boys!)
5. There are a LOT of kids that run marathons! (Every time I saw one, it made me faster because I didn’t want to be beat by a kid!)
4. Running a marathon makes you very, very, very, very hungry! (I haven’t eaten so much in the last three meals than I have in the last 3 weeks!)
3. You become extremely angry when people say, “Almost there!” before mile 25. (I almost clocked a little girl at mile 14. Of course, I was in a neighborhood in LA where there were a ton of cops, so it probably wouldn’t have been a good idea.)
2. There are some WEIRD people who run marathons! (I saw a guy who ran backwards the whole time, another guy who was dressed like a medieval knight, and a girl who was painted gold.)
1. Finishing a marathon is one of the GREATEST feelings you can ever get! (Only 1% of the population has finished a marathon. Finishing is an unbelievable feeling. It might even be a better feeling than when the Angels won the World Series…that’s huge!)

Enjoy the pictures! They are me between Mile 18 and 19, the family after the race with my medal, me icing my knee, and my nasty toenail and blister.

Two Days and Counting

I’m less than 36 hours away from running the marathon! Wow! I can’t believe it. I am very thankful for the support I’ve received from friends and family. So, thank you.
I am only a couple hundred dollars short of my goal for fundraising and I still have a month after the marathon to raise any more. Our school brought in over $1100 for LLS. Half of the money went to me for my fundraising. You can see the pics here of me getting taped to the wall for the “stuck for a buck” fundraising drive.

Runner/Walker #21597

I can’t believe I’m only 1 week away from painful chafing, sore muscles, and aching feet! Yeah! I am actually really excited and got my sweet purple shirt yesterday. I am also really excited that so many of you have donated to help out the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I am only a few hundred dollars short of the required goal. We are doing a fundraiser at my school where students can buy 1 yard of duct tape for $1. They can use the duct tape to tape me and my principal to the wall! I’m sure I’ll make the goal with that.
I am a bit nervous, however. I have had a foot injury for close to a month now. I’ve had x-rays and tried to take it easy, but it is still there. This means that I might have to walk the entire 26.2 miles. That will be fine, but I’m sure I’ll be a bit disappointed. I’m just going to do my best to finish. I’ll post on Saturday my chip number so anyone can follow my progression during the race. In addition, I’ll have my cell phone with me if anyone wants to chat…I don’t know what it’s like to walk for 7 hours, so I might get bored.

Blackouts, Mimicking, and Foot and Butt Cheek Injuries

So, we’ve had a pretty interesting couple of weeks at the Lassiter house. Two weeks ago, I ran 16 miles to prep for my marathon. I can’t believe it’s only a month away! While running (and the crazy thing is that I ran the entire 16 miles!) I injured my foot. I got x-rays and found no breaks, but it has been extremely painful to run. I’m hoping the ligaments or muscles that I strained will heal before the marathon. If anyone has any ideas as to how to cope with the pain, let me know. I am determined to finish the race, so please keep me in your thoughts and prayers.
Okay, now to more important things…the Superbowl. I am really excited to see the Colts and Bears tomorrow. My in-laws live in Indianapolis and we have been inundated with Colts garb. The bummer thing is I missed one of the most exciting football games of all time (or so I’m told) when our power went out when the Colts beat the Pats. The picture is of the boys and me being extremely disappointed in not being able to watch the game. Huge props go to my mother-in-law, Linda, who kept me updated via cell phone as to the happenings of the game. She has really learned a lot about Colts football and told me stuff that even the best color commentators wouldn’t know (“Dallas Clark looks like he’s wearing a different kind of shoe than normal…I’m not sure is they’re working.)
Just in case you were wondering (and I’m sure you’re not), when a marathon runner applies Body Glide or some other anti-chafing material to his/her body, apparently they are supposed to take care of butt cheeks. Yes, I did learn that the hard way! I took care of everything else, but if you don’t lube up your bum, you’ll be bummed.
We have to be real careful now with what we say around Wes. He may not repeat what we’ve said right away, but he definitely stores it for future use. We’ve had two incidents in the past couple of weeks to illustrate this point. The other day we were getting things out of the back of the van. Some stuff fell out and Wes exclaimed, “Holy crap!” Knowing I had to step in and explain to him that was inappropriate, I did what every good father would do…I said, “Wes, we shouldn’t say that. Just because Mommy says that, doesn’t mean it’s okay.” I felt proud knowing that I corrected the situation. (Okay, so we both say that. But I knew that Carrie does say it occasionally so I blamed her.) A couple days later, we were walking in Target. Wes was eating popcorn and spilled a couple on the floor. He responded to this stressful situation by saying, “Frickin’ A!” At this point, Carrie stepped in and said, “Wes, we don’t say that! Nobody in our house (eyes glaring at me) will say that again. Okay?” Although, I knew he heard it from me and I felt guilty about being so loose-lipped, I was a little proud in the fact that he used it in proper context. I mean, come on…he dropped his popcorn, for Pete’s sake!

Half-way There...Almost

I ran 12 miles yesterday. Holy crap! Just reading that is pretty cool. I actually did run 12 miles yesterday! Almost half a marathon! The funny thing is the fact that I am not as sore as I thought I’d be. Yes, I am a little tired and there are parts that are sore, but not as bad as I thought. One of the things that is sore is my shoulder…I have no idea why, either. I actually ran the first hour and 15 minutes without taking a walking break. Amazing!
Now, I did suffer a major injury last week when I ran ONLY 9 miles. Here’s the story. I showed up at my training at 7 a.m. on a brisk, New Year’s Eve-eve morning. I wore layers, just as I was told. I took my gels, just as I was told. I used Body Glide to prevent chafing and blisters in areas where I generally chafe and get blisters. I stay hydrated throughout my run. So, when I finished my run, I was surprised about the concern on the face of my coach. “Are you okay, Bill?” “A little sore, but I’m alright.” “No, are you OKAY?” “Uhh, yeah. Should I not be?” And then with her index finger she indicated the area in which she was most concerned with.
Let me back up and tell you how Santa disappointed me this year. I asked for one thing this year and one thing only…running gear. And although he did come through with non-cotton socks, an mp3 holder, non-cotton underwear, a water bottle, and a compass in case I get lost running (thanks for the faith, Santa) I didn’t get the protection I needed the most. So, yes, the following picture is the pain I felt and that crimson stain on my shirt is, in fact, my first “bloody Mary.”
Still looking for those Nip Guards! Thanks, a lot, Santa! And I have stuck up for you throughout the years! By the way, for future reference, bloody nipples and shampoo/soap do NOT mix.

Back In The Saddle Again

After a couple of weeks off because of a back injury, I hit the streets again to train. I am a little behind schedule, but with some hard work I’ll be right back on track. This Saturday will be 8 miles and next Saturday will be 10. Wow! I can’t believe that 3-4 miles is a “warm-up.” Before this, I had never run more than a mile (and that was in high school when they made us).
On Thanksgiving, I got the opportunity to run in a 5K in Indianapolis. The temperature at the start was 27 degrees. It was a lot of fun! There were about 4,000 people running this. I realized that running in a group is much easier than running alone. It’s kind of a life lesson, I guess. Obstacles can be overcome more easily with the support and help of others. I appreciate all of the support from my friends and family. I truly could not do this with you all!
Okay, enough of the mushy crap! I had an “elderly moment” the other day. The other night before my softball game I was looking at the team we were playing and our team. My team is comprised mostly of colleagues and friends my age (30-ish). As I was strapping on my knee brace, I watched as the rest of my team “got ready” to play. I saw knee braces, ankle stabilizers, an elbow brace, and even stretching! In the other dugout I saw a bunch of 20 year olds grabbing their gloves and balls (heh, heh, he said, “grabbed their balls!”) and then taking the field with blatant disregard for their joints and extremities. Ah, the good old days! At first I got a little down, but I realized that time is the great equalizer. I’m sure in 10 years they’ll be doing the same thing. Of course, I might be looking from my dugout making sure my “new hip” feels okay.

Lance and Me

I've actually hit a small roadblock in my training. I have been having fairly painful back spasms the last couple of weeks (too much carrying Wes and Wyatt around, I guess). My doctor has told me to take at least a week off of training. So, if I finish with a bad time, I'll blame Kyle! (Just kidding, doc. Thanks for the flexerol! I've always wanted to have hallucinations!) It is a bit disappointing, but I know I'll bounce back.
My in-laws have entered me into a 4 mile race on Thanksgiving Day. Should be fun...except the 35 degree weather! I think the sweat will actually freeze to my body. I'll REALLY have to protect the nipples with weather that cold!
Thank you all for your support. I've already received several donations and my letters just went out. You can click here to donate to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and support me.

So I am really looking forward to running this marathon. I've remained positive and have kept my spirits up. When I've run 2 miles I've thought to myself, "I can do this 13 more times!" And I believed it. Until I read about the New York Marathon. One of the most premier endurance athletes in the world, Lance Armstrong, ran last week. You know Lance Armstrong, right? Testicular cancer survivor, record setting 7-time Tour De France Champion, world class athlete, endurance master, etc., etc., He was quoted after his recent marathon. It wasn't words of wisdom on how an average Joe should run a marathon. It wasn't inspiring commentary about the power of the human mind or body. He said, "It was the hardest physical thing I've ever done." And, "I can tell you, 20 years of pro sports, endurance sports, from triathlons to cycling, all of the Tours — even the worst days on the Tours — nothing was as hard as that, and nothing left me feeling the way I feel now, in terms of just sheer fatigue and soreness." Oh, crap! You mean Lance FREAKIN' Armstrong thinks a marathon is hard!!! I am screwed!
When I found this out, I was bummed. Then someone reminded me of something. A friend told me, "Yeah, but Oprah ran a marathon!" I feel a little better knowing that. I'm still holding out hope that Lance was having a bad day or had been smoking too much pot and drinking too much beer with Matthew McConahey (sp?) as of late to be in tip top shape. Maybe in L.A. I'll see John Madden or Horatio Sanz trying to run the marathon. That might help a little.

Do You Want a Bloody Mary? No Thanks!

One of the great things about training with Team in Training is the fact that they not only help me with my training, but they provide clinics. There will be a clothing clinic, a hydration clinic, and others. Yesterday, I went to a shoe clinic. I learned all about pronation. Depending on how your foot lands when you run determines what type of shoe to wear for the marathon. I actually tried on at least 8 different pairs of shoes before I found the perfect fit for my “slightly over pronated gait.” I also learned that your shoe size should be a little big because your feet will swell on your longer runs. I usually wear a size 13 (don’t act like you’re not impressed), but saw that a size 14 fit me better for my run. However, different shoe companies shoes fit differently. A size 14 in a Brooks shoe was the exact same fit as a size 13 Asics. I just don’t want to lose more than 4 toenails during the marathon.
We also learned about clothing. I got to hear all about choosing the right bra because most of my team is women. Then the lady giving the clinic started talking about “bloody marys.” My interest peaked because I’ve always enjoyed a spicy, well-made bloody mary. She wasn’t talking about V8 and Grey Goose, however. Apparently, during the course of running longer miles your shirt rubs against your body. As it moves up and down it chaffs the skin. Specifically, men tend to get bleeding nipples (bloody marys in runners’ speak) during marathons. I knew about blistered feet, sore muscles, even leg rashes and swollen fingers, but bloody freakin’ nipples!?!? What have I signed up for? Not only do I have to run 26 miles, but I also have to watch out for my nipples? I know my legs will be sore, my body will be tired, my heart rate will be up, my breathing intense, but my nipples might bleed?!? Our trainer then told us not to worry, they carry a couple different things to combat bloody marys. No, not duct tape, although I’ve read that some people do that. Running stores carry “Nip Savers” and Body Glide. No kidding. Little rubber things that cover your nipples! Awesome! See, not only are you more informed, but you now have a Christmas gift idea for me! Maybe Santa will put a few Nip Savers in my stocking!

Kickoff to Training

On Saturday, the family and I went to the Team In Training kickoff event which kicks off the training season. I got to meet my marathon coach, Corrinne, who has run more than 10 marathons. I got to meet my “mentor” who was in the same boat I was 1 year ago…training to run her first marathon. I got to meet my team Rancho teammates who will be training with me over the next 5 months. I also got to meet my “honored teammate”, McKayla Wood.

McKayla is “6 and three-quarters” and has been diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL). She is a regular little girl like the kids I see on a daily basis at school. She enjoys ballet, Disneyland, swimming, riding her bike, and Sponge Bob. The only difference is that she is living with leukemia. She is the reason, along with thousands of other children, that I decided to train for my marathon with Team In Training.
Leukemia causes more deaths than any other cancer among children. Every 10 minutes, someone dies as a result of these cancers. Team in Training raises money for research, patient and parental support, and public health official education. If I can make a small difference, I am willing to do my part. I will be asking my friends and family to help as well in the near future.
As far as the training goes, I am a bit ahead of schedule. Kyle and I ran 7 miles on Friday morning. Okay, it was only 6.6, but close enough. I actually felt pretty good afterwards except for some chafing. (Okay, I know…t.m.i.) My first official run with Team In Training will be next Saturday and will only be 2 miles. I think I can handle it. Thank you all for your support. I look forward to really get into this training. No, seriously, I do! Ask me if I still enjoy it when my “warm up” is 10 miles, however!

It's Official...I'm Going to Die, but I Have a Plan

Well, eventually I’m going to die. But, after a recent visit to my doctor’s office, I have decided to slow down my imminent death.
Dr. “Smart” gave me the full work up (excluding the prostate exam, phew!) and reviewed the findings with me. I have high cholesterol, high blood sugar, some weird disease involving excess bilirubin in my blood, and I am overweight. Granted, most Americans have the same prognosis. But I have decided to do something about it.
In June, the family and I took a trip down to San Diego. While there I volunteered to help out in the San Diego Marathon. I was fascinated by all the people who finished who were ordinary people like me. They were people who wanted to accomplish something in their lives and they put their minds and bodies to that end. I was amazed. I mean, running 1 mile was difficult for me in high school, how in the hell do these people finish over 26 miles!?!?
After seeing their accomplishments, hearing my doctor, and getting encouragement from friends and family, I have decided to run the L.A. Marathon on March 4th.

Wow! Now that I have written that and posted it, it is official. No turning back! I will use this blog to keep you posted as I train for this event. Kyle Smart and I will be training together over the next 5 months. (Always good to train with a doctor! Of course, I’m not sure what he gets in the deal other than a grumpy, sarcastic patient, but now that I have his name in here, he can’t re-neg.) Below are my vital statistics before I start training. When I am finished with the race, I have another appointment to see if better diet and more exercise will have increased my rate of survival. I would appreciate your support and prayers as I embark on this journey.
Vitals:
Total Cholesterol – 257 H (normal: < 200)
Bad Choleserol (LDL) – 186 H (normal < 130)
Glucose – 106 H (normal 65-99)
Height – 6’ 2”
Weight – 217 lbs.
My goal is to get my cholesterol and glucose within the normal range and drop my weight 27 pounds. I was around 190 for a while, but slowly let the weight creep back up after I injured my knee.
I will keep you all posted as to my progression and how you can help. (Yes, I will be soliciting donations, so start thinking of your excuses now!)

Flags of Our Fathers

I’ve always been fascinated with World War II. I am not an expert on the conflict and I don’t know all of the battles and reasons for the war other than what I learned in school. I think one of the reasons that I’m fascinated with it is the fact that both of my grandfathers fought in it on both fronts.
My grandpa Ed Lassiter was a “sea bee” in the Pacific theater. My grandpa Wes Smith marched across Europe with a mortar on his back. It is hard to imagine them as young men (10 years younger than I am now) doing their duty for their country. But they were there. They were young men, just becoming adults, doing what they had to do for their country.
Have you seen Saving Private Ryan? Do you remember the first scene of the movie? The old man, kneeling at grave marker in France, flooded with memories of his time in the war. I know both of my grandfathers carried those memories around in their minds. The brutality of conflict, the sight of injured friends, the smell of smoke and destruction, the pain of war.
Neither one of my grandfathers really talked about their time in the war. My grandpa Wes wrote a “book” about his time in the war called A Walkers Tour of Europe. It is not a descriptive best selling novel. It is just a recount of events that he participated. “On this date I was in London. On this date I was in Germany…” I have always wondered if he ever wanted to include more in his book, but doesn’t want to delve deeper into his memory to pull those memories out.

I read a book about a year ago called Flags of Our Fathers. (Clint Eastwood has written and directed a movie based on the book that will be released soon) It was written by the son of one of the flag raisers from the famous image that was captured on Mount Siribachi on the island of Iwo Jima. It was a fascinating book that captured the essence of the battle for the island and the battle in the minds of the men who fought in this battle. I just can’t help but to be in awe of these heroic men. It was the greatest generation indeed.
So, here’s my salute to those men and women who fought for our country. If you know a veteran, thank them. Tell them how much they mean. Thank them for their sacrifice and dedication. Thank them for the memories they hold on to that are too painful to recount. Whether they are 20 or 120, thank them.

Cynicism and the First Day of School

I don’t know when it happened. I’m not sure if there was an exact moment or if it just occurred over time. But at some point in my life I became a cynic. I became jaded with certain life situations. My outlook on life had become negative.

I realized this a while ago, but today I really knew it.

School started yesterday. I was really looking forward to this year for many reasons. I will no longer be the vice-president of my teachers association which will free my time to concentrate more on my class. I was looking forward to giving my students more of myself this year. Then I had a conversation with a first year teacher.

I asked her how her day went. She said it was busy, but fine. And then she said, “I didn’t get to do a lot but go over the rules. I can’t wait to start making a difference.” Wait a second! Hold the presses! Make a difference? Oh, yeah! That’s why I got into teaching in the first place…to make a difference. After nine years of teaching, I had forgotten WHY I became a teacher.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think I’ve done a horrible job over the past several years. But I haven’t been doing the best I can do. I haven’t been trying to make a difference in the lives of my students day after day.

My mind has been clouded with other crap over the past few years. I became a cynic. I was the first one in the lunchroom to complain about my students. I came to work to socialize. I tried to “get through the year” instead of trying to “make a difference.” I was counting the days until school ended. I was in it for the wrong reasons.

No more. I have made the decision to make this year, my best year. I have made the decision to MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

I say all of this publicly because I need the support of my friends and family to do this. Hold me accountable

Family

We have spent the last few days with Carrie’s family. Being an only child of two only children, I am not used to having tons of family all around me. I feel like I kind of missed out on a part of something growing up. But, nevertheless, I am glad Carrie’s family puts up with me.
We went to Carrie’s cousin’s Ben’s wedding. It was a lot of fun. I realized that in being part of a big family, everyone has a role. The oldest sibling is the one with the plan (my mother-in-law). The oldest person has to make sure everyone is fed (Grandma Shirley). There is the comedian (JJ), the musician (Jesse), the fun-loving younger aunt (Jan), the hyper, but highly intelligent kid (Spencer), the one with the contagious laugh (Nancy) the cutie pies (Marnie, Tori, and Wyatt), and everyone else fits in somewhere. The point is that every family is unique in its own way and every family grows…and grows…and grows. The last time we got together for a family picture, there was no Wes, no Wyatt, no Kelly, no Tori, no Bethany, etc., etc. So when we got together for the family pic I couldn’t help but think that the next time we do this, there will be even more! (Of course, there will be NO MORE Lassiters!)
Okay, enough of the good feelings…I have a score update. The other night while trying to sleep I had a major allergy attack. Sneezing for 45 minutes straight! So, Wildlife (which includes pollen) 3, Lassiters 2. I hope those deer get out of the road the next time I’m driving because I play to win!

Crater Lake and Attack of Wildlife

So, we headed out on Friday morning for my mom’s house at 6:30 a.m. We woke up at 5:45 to pack up and tear down the tent. While deflating the mattress, Carrie felt something twinge in her knee while kneeling on the ground. She thought maybe her knee was acting up or something. As I was rolling up the tent I discovered an 8 inch dead mouse that was underneath our tent. When I showed Carrie, she squealed, “Gross! What’s even grosser is that I think I killed it with my knee.” So far, Lassiters 1, Wildlife 0.
We drove the excruciatingly long drive to my mom’s and arrived at 6:30 p.m. to 64 degree weather. It felt great feeling cold. While driving we’ve been listening to an audio book of Eragon. It was written by a 16 year old kid, and is, so far, fantastic.
On Sunday, we drove another 6 hours to a lodge called Crystal Wood Lodge. It is a “pet friendly” place so my mom can have her dog with her. It’s an old homestead that was converted into a lodge. It has old furniture, tons of books about dogs, a spa, overpriced mementos (bug spray for 8 bucks), 12 Alaskan Huskies who train for the Iditarod, bird watching binoculars, a fly fishing tie desk, board games including “Dog-opoly”, and canoes to rent so you can get further bit by mosquitos…you know, everything you need in a lodge! It is interestingly place on the cusp of the forest and the wetlands of southern Oregon. We saw an amazing thunderstorm the first night we were there. Of course, being near a couple lakes we got eaten alive by mosquitos. Lassiters 1, Wildlife 1.

Monday morning we headed out for Crater Lake. As I was getting into the van, a wasp bit me on the leg. Lassiters 1, Wildlife 2. For those who don’t know, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States. It’s the caldera of a volcano and is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. The water is bluer than blue. You can see the reflection of the surrounding area in the picture. Too bad Wes is squeezing out a fart in the picture! There was still some snow on the ground, so Wes got to make his first ever snowball.
We left this morning for my mom’s house, another 8 hour drive. Yeah! Upon reaching the 62 degree weather (eat your heart out Rancho people), I tallied our driving so far this vacation: 1826.4 miles driven, 31 hours, 43 minutes spent in the car, average speed of 52.9 miles per hour, 23.8 miles per gallon, and, as you can see from the photo of our license plate, over 10,000 insects killed! Lassiters 2, Wildlife 2. Keep posted, folks, the game ain’t over yet!

"Camping" With the Lassiters

We started our adventure at 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning (yes, there is a 5:30 A.M.!). We threw both boys in the van and headed out at about 6:30, which was just in time for hellacious L.A. traffic (nice planning, I know). After several stops to “get our shakes out” we made it to the KOA in Sacramento at about 2:00 p.m. We had lots of fun getting the tent up in 100 degree heat, so the pool was perfect! That night we grilled some burgers, watched Scrubs on the computer (yeah, real camping), and got a good night sleep.
The next morning we headed into Old Sacramento. I think they call it “old” because of the dilapidated buildings, crappy parking structure, and year old cheese smell that permeated the air. Okay, so it wasn’t that bad, but still…
We went to the Railroad Museum. It was very cool. They had several old steam engine trains, fancy dining cars, and a collection of toy trains. I enjoyed reading about the construction of the transcontinental railroad while we were there. There was a sign marking the beginning of the western end of it in the museum.
After a quick bite to eat at Round Table, we went to another museum on the history of Sacramento and the Gold Rush. Here, the kids got to dress up in costumes from the Gold Rush era. Since I teach California history, this was especially entertaining for me. They had a really neat exhibit on the Sacramento Bee with an old style printing press. What was even cooler was that the guy running it was probably alive during the Gold Rush.
After a major temper tantrum (hey, I wanted one of those crushed penny thingies), we got back in the car and drove to “New Sacramento.” I wanted to drive by the Capitol building and give our beloved governor the 1 finger salute. The boys both fell asleep on the way over, so we drove by it and didn’t get out. The best part was getting caught in one of those circle loops like Chevy Chase in European Vacation. Only this time instead of, “Look, kids…Big Ben, Parliament,” it was, “Look kids…Capitol Building, Starbucks.”
We got back to the camp site just in time for the Frenchies to check in and headed straight for the swimming pool. (Why are there so many Europeans at KOA’s? I don’t understand it. It’s not a bad thing, but why go camping in Sacramento? Why not stay at the Hilton in Vegas or Anaheim or San Diego or anywhere other than Sacramento?)
At dinner time, when Wes was playing in the sprinklers to stay cool and we were dying of heat exhaustion, we checked the weather in Medford, OR which was our next stop. We saw that the temperature was going to be 104 degrees and 109 degrees for the 2 days we would be there. My mom’s house, on the Oregon coast, was another 4 ½ hours away and had a high of 71 degrees. We made the decision then and there to head up to her place…you can read about that adventure the next time you stop by this blog. Or you can check Carrie’s version.

Reinforcements Are Here!! (AIP part 3)

The cavalry arrived at 7:30 this morning. My brother-in-law, Bryan, and his wife, Kelly, came over so we could all go to Disneyland for the day. It was so much fun. We met up with cousins J.J. and Ben and Ben's son Kyle. While we went on some of the "big boy" rides, Kelly took my boys off to Pooh Bear and to feed the goats. She was great!

I have learned a lot so far flying solo. I feel bad for having such a negative outlook on the whole thing. Yes, I'm tired from being up in the middle of the night with Wyatt. Yes, my patience has been tested when Wes demands things ("how bout....we play in the dirt. How bout...we not eat dinner. How bout...no bath, Daddy!). Yes, I haven't been able to keep up with Angels games. Yes, I have to do everything 10 times slower (get the diaper bag, get Wyatt, get Wes' shoes on, get him off his chair, get out the door together, lock the door while holding Wyatt, turn car on to run a.c., buckle Wyatt in his seat, buckle Wes in his seat, go back inside to get wallet I forgot, get in car, find Music Machine c.d. so Wes doesn't have a melt down, drive to store to get pepperoni). But you know what? I have REALLY loved this! I feel closer to my boys than I ever have.

I understand more fully why mothers try to postpone weening their children from nursing as long as possible. My favorite part about this whole experience has been feeding Wyatt with a bottle. He has never taken one before, so it was new for both of us. But I just love holding him in my arms while he stares up at me lovingly. It is a great feeling to know that I am the only person who can help him in this...Carrie's gone, he can't feed himself, there's only me. I can see how studies have shown how nursing mothers bond more to their children.

Okay, enough of the touchy feely crap! Thank God I have been a negotiator for my school district the last couple of years. It has given me some skills to parent since Wes is the master negotiator. I have actually used the interest based process this weekend. "You want to go on Pooh Bear ride, I want to go on Splash Mountain...Why don't you go on Pooh Bear with Aunt Kelly and I'll go on Splash Mountain with Uncle Monkey." Or, "I am interested in getting you fed a healthy lunch, you are interested in juice and cookies, how many pieces of chicken is worth a cookie? (Thank God he has no number sense.)"

Of course, Wes said it best tonight when on the phone with Carrie. Carrie said, "I love you, buddy. Have a good sleepy." To which Wes responded not with "I love you, too," or "Night-night," but with "COME HOME!"

"Dad's weekend, huh?" (AIP part 2)

1 can of Spagetti Oh's
1 can of peaches
1 tub of ice cream
1 Boboli Pizza crust and sauce
1 six-pack of Heineken
1 toddler with dirt on his knees, arms, and face
1 baby with canned sweet potatoes around his mouth

I don't know how the checker knew I was parenting this weekend.

Okay, so I've gotten some slack about my previous post. FYI, it was 45 minutes (not 15) that it took my son to dress himself. Plus, you need to realize that Wyatt has never been away from Carrie for more than a couple of hours. In fact, he's never had anyone but her feed him. I'm the guinea pig with the bottle this weekend.

I've learned all about multi-tasking. Cook dinner for self, feed baby his bottle, nag Wes to finish his Spagetti Oh's, clean up mess in kitchen, take out trash, keep laundry going, keep watchful eye on Angels game (GO HALOS!), answer phone when it rings, eat my own dinner, entertain baby, and use the facilities.

This whole adventure would be a lot easier if Wyatt knew how to sleep on his own! Earlier today, he was asleep in my arms. I placed him in his crib and you would have thought I had castrated him with the scream he gave. He eventually fell asleep in my arms and slept for about an hour while I watched "The Brett Hart Story" on the Documentary Channel (did you know there was a "documentary channel?").

Right now, Wyatt has been crying for close to 20 minutes. Dude! Just go to sleep! I'm thinking ahead to MY night of sleep, which I feel will be short. (BTW, went upstairs right now and rocked him till he went to sleep.) The other thing I've noticed about kids and sleep is that they can fall asleep anywhere at anytime. Today, Wyatt fell asleep in his car seat at ToysRUs while Wes was throwing a tantrum about not touching toys. I can't fall asleep on an airplane after having been up for 28 hours.

I am attempting to watch "Syriana" and "Munich" this weekend while Carrie is away so I will end my blog for today so I can get started. Not sure what I'm doing tomorrow. Any suggestions? Something that a sleep deprivated father and his two boys can do.

Adventures in Parenting...(part 1)

You can't call it babysitting. They're my own kids. So, for the next four days I am "parenting" my two boys (Ages 3 and 8 months).
I've never thought it was easy for my wife to do it, and I am sure that I will soon discover exactly how "un-easy" it is. As I write this, Wyatt is upstairs crying in his bed. He fights sleep like no other kid. I am sure that someday he will be like any other teenage boy and sleep more than a three-toed sloth. Wes is watching "Go, Diego, Go" (which might be where I got the three-toed sloth idea).
I guess the biggest attribute a parent needs to have is patience. It took Wes 15 minutes to get his clothes on this morning! He gets distracted ("Daddy, can you help m...hey, look at that elephant!"). I often wonder if that is just being 3 or if he is unusually distracted. Well, I better go...Wyatt is still crying...he might need his pacifier (either that or some horse tranquilizer!)