Huey Lewis and THE NEWS!

Molly and I are going to see Huey Lewis and The News at the NW Wash Fair this summer and I gotta tell ya, I feel like a girl waiting behind the rope line in 1988 for HLATN to get our of their limo to go win a grammy.  In honor of Sir Huey (knighted by me), I have been making up these little blips about Huey.  I think people on Facebook think I am nuts, understandably.  So here I am back on my googlized blogging machine.  Here are the first few.

1) When asked how he was inspired to write some of his hits, Huey told a story of when he was jailed in France for being a renegade. He was jailed on a small island called Elba where he met a small man, Napoleon. This small frenchman inspired Huey to write a song about how being imprisoned would change his point of view. This is how "Hip To Be Square" came about. Pretty sure Napoleon is mentioned in the liner notes for the album, "Fore!" I believe this happened.

2) The version of "Back in Time" used on the "Back to the Future" soundtrack was actually the third version Huey Lewis wrote. The first two ended up being used for the Declaration of Independence and the Gettysburg Address. Little known fact.

" I thought it was "power of love"?"

As a matter of *fact, Huey was commissioned by Julius Caesar to write a love song for Cleopatra. Though Huey and The News rocked the senate halls when they performed it, Julius thought it might be a little to rockin' for Cleo's taste. So Huey went back to the drawing board and wrote "Cruisin'". Many believed Julius' murder is attributed to him NOT using "Power of Love" (which is a far superior song).

3)  In 1984, Huey and his band of merry men (the News) were walking through Russia, similar to Kane in Kung Fu walking the Earth, and stopped to play some music in the streets of St. Petersburg. A man with a very distinct birthmark on the top of his head heard Huey and the News singing "It's Alright". This man took what he heard as sign of the future, particularly the chorus, "It's alright, to have a good time, yes it's alright." Huey saw this man with a tear in his eye and a smile on his face. Huey tapped his hand over his heart, pointed at the man, and mouthed "glasnost", or "openess". Gorbachev took to power in 1985 starting a chain reaction of what would be the end of the Cold War. I believe Gorbachev talked about this in an interview with Maxim Magazine some years later.

Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way (Mostly)

Friday's events certainly got me thinking about my family and I know I am not alone when I say that. I know our issues don't compare to what they are going through and are anything out of the ordinary or can even really be described as "issues".  For that I am thankful.  I feel so bad for those parents and I certainly wish them well.  I have moved on from thinking about the horrific what if's to the much more common day to day life that is my family and I have to say, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Charlotte has always been a tough cookie when it comes to bed time and just sleeping in general.  I think that in any 2 week span, there will be one night that she hasn't cried for mom and dad and ended up in bed with us at some point.  Evelyn used to be the all night sleeper but now is up a few times a night.  Molly and I haven't had much sleep in the last few months.  A lot of the sleeping issues has come from a cold that seems to not want to go away for Charlotte and Evelyn.  As much as we miss sleep, want the kids to sleep well and obviously want the kid's colds to go away, that being said, I almost wouldn't have it any other way.  As much as Charlotte kicks, moves, slaps, etc. during the night, I like feeling her warm little body next to us. Is there anything better than snuggling with your 2 year old?

It's hard to say that Evie waking up crying a couple times a night is something that I am fine with.  I know she will learn to go back to sleep (and we are working on that). But in a weird way, I am looking forward to telling her when she has kids, "yup, I know, you were like that too.  It'll get better".  So in that respect, I wouldn't have it any other way.  (Seriously though she can start sleeping through the night now.  The story has been written and is ready to be used at a later date.)

Charlotte definitely is a 2 year old.  She is the sweetest, funniest, smartest, little girl that I know.  Watching her figure out mom's iPhone is just amazing to me.  I love it when she randomly says, "Dad, I yuve you". However, she can throw fits with the best of them.  I know I am not alone when I say that I am ready for the tantrums to stop.  However I know that they will and this is just part of the deal.  Not only will she grow out of it but Molly and I are learning how to be parents because of it.  So in that respect, I wouldn't have it any other way.  (Insert last parenthetical line from the last paragraph here and change "start sleeping through the night" to "stop the tantrums". (Parenthetical, proud of myself for that one.  I hope I used it right.))

What I am saying is that these things we, as parents, deal with on a day to day basis suck at the time.  But I know it is part of it and eventually they will be gone (happily in most cases).  Thinking about these things made me realize, for me, that I wouldn't want it any other way because later on down the road I can look back and say to"yeah those times were the pits but everyone comes out better for it in the end."  In a weird way, I will probably miss the lack of sleep, and terrible 2's.  I don't know, maybe I am crazy.

My little family is exactly that, mine.  I love them all very dearly and miss them when I am not with them.  If being able to spend time with my family means dealing with the occasional tantrum and sleepless nights, then I gladly will do that and wouldn't have it any other way.  (Although a little more sleep welcomed :))

Just a Material Girl Living in a Material World

i don't know what my problem is but when there is a latest and greatest version of some kind of something i already own, i feel the need to get it.  i make fun of the people that spend $400 on the iPhone 5 when they just spent $400 on the iPhone 4s, however, i have come to realize that i am no different than these people (other than i WISH i had $400 to spend every 3 months on something and not feel guilty about it).  IPhone? no. Nook? yes.  i have the original nook and have had it for 2 years now.  in my head i would complain about how heavy it is when i am reading in bed (it would make my thumbs tired).  so whilst we were at my in laws for thanksgiving, we do the annual perusal of the black friday ads.

i oogle over the things that will never be marked down enough for me to buy them. for example, if that 50" tv were marked down 95% instead of 40% i would do it.  (Hear that Best Buy?!)  anyway, a certain something caught my eye in the Target ads, Barnes and Noble Nook Touch 50% off!  as soon as i saw that, i knew i had to have it.  to make a long story short, they ran out of them at target somewhere between midnight and 8 am when i got there.  however the BN store just down the street had plenty to spare.

as i do with any purchase that is of the extraneous verity, i am gung ho about it until i have the item in my hands and is time to go to the register.  this is a moment that pisses off Molly (luckily for her i hadn't done my annoying research/talk myself into buying it by annoying her with my explanation on why i should by "x" thing because i just decided the night before...and she wasn't with me at this time of purchase), myself and everyone trying to use the isle that i am in.  i freeze in the middle of the isle and stare at the ceiling.  weird i know but then i get all these thoughts like, "do i need this? i have a nook at home.  what would i rather do with the $60 that i could come up with now but know i wouldn't buy that either without this weird frozen ceiling stare."  finally i snapped out of it and said to myself "screw it! what's $60? plus this is my one "me" item this year."

i buy it, go home, us it that night.  then comes the other annoying thing i do, pick it apart ( "i like it, it's nice and small but since it is a touch screen i am having a hard time with placing my thumb on the screen and it makes the page turn.  oh wait, if i leave my thumb there, the word just highlights for the dictionary, i can handle that.  it's hard to see the last few lines when it is sitting on my chest, the other one had that scroll bar at the bottom giving it a little more height so i.......blah blah blah.)  and makes molly say "ohmygod" real quickly and quietly under her breath but just loud enough for me to understand that i am absolutely ridiculous as she rolls away from me.

My name is Danny Simon, i have a wife and 2 girls, a dog, a cat, 4 guitars and 2 Nooks.

A moment that will take a year to live down...

After hundreds of requests, a few pain killers and a couple days to ponder, i can now discuss what happened at Muds to Suds.  First, take a moment to watch this video of Derek Redmond in the 1992 Olympics....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-MRoIDXeuY . ok wait, that shit is just terrible and very sad and only like my situation in that i got hurt right away and finished only because of my pride.....wow that guy is a champion....(hold on i have to wipe a few tears away, seriously, that video is sad and i totally remember that, sorry for suggesting you watch and that i could compare to that.)

I lined up with Sarah and Clayton at the starting line, feeling good, making jokes, and a little anxious.  Finally the race starts.  right away is some tires for some high knees, done.  easy enough.  next we have to run on the beach, that sucked a little but not terrible.  I'm thinking to myself "where is the mud?!"  as we ascend a small hill and turn a corner, the first mud obstacle.  an above ground square pool about 2 and a half feet deep with some ropes criss crossed over the top so you have to put your head in the muddy water.  i see some people in front of me dive in head first so i go for it.  i know it is going to be shallow so i went with the shallow water dive.  my hands hit the bottom and my left in particular.  my left had scraped along some rocks at the bottom that felt like concrete as opposed to sediment.  i pop out covered in muddy water and look at the flap of skin that i now have on my palm.  it looked bad but i didn't think it was deep, so i continue.

the next obstacle is a wall with a slid on the other side.  at this obstacle there is a bit of a line up, as i stand there waiting, i look at my hand and blood is dripping from my fingers.
"oh man that looks bad" Sarah said.

 i took a closer look and realized that under the flap is a gash that was a portal to my thumb meat.

Danny said to Sarah "i think i need to get it checked out".

and with that i left the race...... :(.  it took a while to actually leave the event to go to the doctor so i waited towards the end of the race and when Sarah came around (she left Clayton to the wolves) i jumped back on course to finish with her.

Molly and Evelyn took me to the Urgent Care (which only took a half hour from check in to back in the car, not bad at all).  to make this short and not too yucky, the doctor pushed on my wound, and fat squirted out. ( that wasn't too yucky was it?).

"Oh whoa" said the doctor. "i am going to have to stitch you up."

                                    "oooo mud!"

                                  feet in the air

                                  team chunky dunkers.  Clayton, Myself and Sarah.  (notice the clinched left hand).

4 stitches in the palm of my left hand.  next year i am wearing gloves.

Muds To Suds

It is time for my bi-yearly post.  I like that my blog has turned into a way for me to keep track of all the times throughout the year that i exercise.  My last post was November 2011, that seems about right.  So to stay true to form, this post will be about my next exercise, the Muds To Suds Race.

This coming Sunday i will be participating in a "Fun" run called Muds to Suds.  I will be doing this with my brother in law and sister in law.  It is a 3 mile run with 18 obstacles in the mud.  First off, the last time i ran 3 miles was last week is something that i would never say because it has never  happened.  i don't know if that last sentence translated well being typed out, but in my head i thought it was funny. Anyhoo, i actually am really looking forward to it and i have been appropriately preparing.  I drink at least one beer 5-7 nights a week, i eat as much as possible in any one sitting, i haven't played soccer in over 4 months AND i get anywhere from 5-7 hours of sleep per night.  This course ain't got nothin' on me!  I will prepare race day in my ritualistic manner that i do before every soccer game, which means; i won't stretch for fear of pulling a muscle and i won't do a light warm up for fear of getting tired before it even starts.  I will stand there, jump up and down a few times (maybe), swing my arms around as if that will help my run, and maybe take a few deep breaths and shake out my legs.  That's how i roll and it's been that way for 27 years of playing sports.  I, we, will destroy this course.  Of course there is the added incentive of a beer garden and free message at the end.

A running commentary of my first Jumpercise.

An inner dialogue of my first jumpercise (that's what i am calling it anyway.) Mind you i have to do this outside because my ceiling in the garage is too low.

OK, Danny boy, LET'S DO THIS AAAAAHHHHH! 9:31 am

*Jump* 1 *Jump* 2 *Jum...shit*. *Jump* 1 *Jum...SHIT!*. *Jump* 1 *Jump* 2 *Jump* 3 here we go, good rythm, good speed, *WHACK (Rope hit the gutter)*. *Jump*Jump*Jump* there it is, feeling a little tight in the calves but no biggy, it'll go away. *Jump*Jump* Crap i am tired....*Jump*Jump (THWACK, right on the end of my toe)* DAMN IT!. well, i think that will be good for now. Got a good sweat going, feel a little burn, not including my broken toe. Can't breathe, all signs of a good work out. Time? 9:32:12 am.

The Seal is at it again, only this time.....

Unlike some people these days that like to follow the latest diet and exercise trend, i like to make up my own. The main reason is i don't want to modify my diet, like, at all. I was forced to give up my seal ranking at the pool because of a somewhat inconsiderate boss at a company i no longer work for decided to join the Y and go at the same time i had been going for many months. Anyhoo, bitterness aside, the seal will no be jumping rope at home.

I came to the realization that jumping rope is not only kinda fun but inexpensive and gets me wicked tired every time i do it (which is very rare). I recall my days in gym class as a 5th grader enjoying the "Jump Rope for Heart" contests they had. I do realize that when i begin this new workout, I will be reminded of the fact that I am 31 years old and things that used to be easy are really very difficult and makes me wonder it our athletic peak is around age 12 not 25. I used to be good at hula-hoops, rope climbing, chin ups, monkey bars and chasing girls at recess for the soul purpose of putting them under the "kissing machine" (an A/C unit that hung on the wall of the Special Education shack). I can't Hula-hoop, climb a rope, do more than 2 pull ups, the monkey bars, chase girls, or believe that the special education kids were literally in a SHACK detached from the actual school in the back corner of the playground!

I digress. This jump roping should be exciting.

p.s. totally unrealted but did you know you can do your math with google? i just did a little math for work and needed some square roots. so i typed "square root of 1152" and it gave me the answer. man i wish i had google in middle school.