The Classics on YouTube

It started with searching for Lambert, the Sheepish Lion for Dillon because he loves to roar like a lion and baa like a sheep.


Then I found Totlol which searches YouTube for toddler friendly videos. This lead to one of Dillon's favorites, The Ugly Duckling. Dillon gets sad when the mommy duck turns away the ugly duckling but laughs when the wooden duck knocks the ugly duckling on the head.


Dillon also loves the Rhino Song. If he keeps saying "more" after the end of the song I will be singing the Rhino Song in my sleep.


YouTube is also filled with tons of Elmo, Mickey Mouse, and Kermit the Frog videos. This makes Christina happy because it is less DVDs she will have to buy.

Promised Pictures

Another generation of Nixons driving the Tracker.

Pops, Grandma Dede, and Grandma Sharon all helped to clean up the house. Here is Dillon doing his part.

Dillon got some early birthday presents from Pops and Grandma Dede. They gave him Cars and a motorcycle. He will not put down his motorcycle and even insists he takes it to bed with him.

Busy Week

On Tuesday, Grandma Sharon, Pops and Grandma Dede came up to visit Dillon. It was also the day my new laptop showed up. As great as Tuesday was, Wednesday was the big day.

Christina had a doctor's appointment along with an ultrasound scheduled. Mom, Mike and Ginni were all there to find out the sex of the next Nixon baby. We were quickly told that Dillon was getting a little brother.

Everyone was very excited to learn it was going to be a boy. For Dillon it means having someone to play cars. For Christina it means she will save a few pennies with hand-me-downs. For me it means another kid to wrestle on the floor.

Later the Lakers staged a great comeback to end a wonderful day.

Tomorrow I will post pictures from the week.

Simply...

...mesmerizing.

Old School Furniture

I have no doubt Kramer would include the following coffee table if he were to revise his book today. I also think some one should expand on this idea and create lamp tables shaped like the game cartridges.

Hawaiian shirts, Pugs in Strollers and Stuck Tractors

A few pictures of Dillon. Enjoy.

Dad couldn't resist matching last weekend.

Role reversal. Normally Dillon rides in the stroller while we take Otis for a walk. Not this time.

Best buds.


Dillon hasn't quite learned how to properly use the steering wheel.

But his Papa Jim did teach him that not calling a tow truck and getting yourself unstuck will save you money.



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Now playing: Jason Mraz - The Remedy (I Won't Worry)
via FoxyTunes

Ballas wit skillz

My heart is broken that the Suns were so easily beaten by the Spurs while the Lakers destroyed the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs. I guess we only have the picture below for what could have been.

Say "KOBE!"



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Now playing: Stroke 9 - Little Black Backpack
via FoxyTunes

Shafter Basketball

I was recently made aware of a great new website that highlights Shafter High basketball. The site has some great season recaps, interviews with coaches, recaps of the current team's games, and even a reader account of my favorite game as a senior. I really enjoyed the story behind why a new gym was built and learned I was the MVP of the 1957-58 season.

Some of my best memories in high school came from playing basketball. My core group of friends were on the team which lead to some fun bus rides. It is crazy for me to think that next year will be our ten year reunion. Below is a picture taken of me in mid jump shot during a game against Garces during my senior year.

Big News

Are you eager to find out the special news? Well, Christina is pregnant. Her due date is October 18th, which puts her at 12 1/2 weeks along.

We are very excited but the last six weeks have been very trying. Christina has been very sick just like when she carried Dillon. She was hospitalized once for dehydration. After her overnight stay in the hospital, her doctor ordered a take home IV for her. This was a huge help in keeping fluids in her system. She also had to be given medicine through shots because medicine taken orally was not staying down. (Yes, I got to administer the shots.)

Her sickness has taught me two important lessons:

1. I could not be a single parent. Working all day then coming home to take care of a toddler, making dinner, and cleaning up was hard work. I now have a greater appreciation of my spouse. There is no way I could do all that over an extended basis, which leads to...
2. Our families are awesome. Christina and Dillon have been staying at Mike and Ginni's house during the week while I am at work so someone is watching Dillon and bringing food to Christina. My mom, grandma, sister, and aunt have all come up to Sonora to also pitch in to relieve Mike and Ginni. A thank you from the bottom of our hearts goes out to everyone that has helped.

We are praying that Christina is about to turn a corner with her extreme sickness. About this time in her pregnancy with Dillon, she was able to return to work because the constant vomiting let up. She still had some "normal" morning sickness but the all day sickness went away.

All of her doctor appointments have gone well. We had an early sonogram a few weeks ago to confirm the date of conception and last week we listened to the heartbeat. More updates on Dillon's new sibling will be posted as they develop.

Random Thoughts and Links

Sitting here in my hotel room in Sacramendi, I realized I have been a huge slacker and my posts have been very infrequent. So here are some random thoughts and links:

Posts will continue to be infrequent until I can convince Christina we need a laptop. Maybe I can use Adam's arguement.

***

While searcing for a fun link to "Sacramendi" I found this news stating an "Arrested Development" movie is being shopped around.

***

I wore my Dunder Mifflin shirt today as I walked to dinner and had six different people comment on it.

***

Christina and I are not big on watching reality shows. But I did happen to turn "American Idol" on a few weeks ago out of boredom. We found Dillon loves dancing to the music.

Even though he had a subpar performance on Tuesday, I am rooting for David Cook.

***

Everyone knows "American Idol" is full of product placements for Coke and Ford, but here is a top 10 list of some famous product placements. It's worth reading just to watch the Wayne's World clip.

***

For the past three years I have purchased the MLB Extra Innings package and each year they keep making it better. Last year they added games in HD. This year, almost every game is in HD and they are offering both teams telecast, if available. So instead of being forced to listen to some truely horrible announcers, I can chose to listen to Vin.

***

Check back later for a very special blog post.

Attention Wii Owners

Rock Band is coming to the Wii. It will not feature online play or downloadable songs, which does make the PS3 version better. However, you will get an additional five songs and a white version of the drums. I will go play "Here It Goes Again" on the drums for you in honor of this awesome news.



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Now playing: Jack Johnson - Fortunate Fool [2000]
via FoxyTunes

Rock Star

I've mentioned here before the game Rock Band. Here are my impressions of it after two months. This is not a review of the game, for that, please go here.

Before getting the game I had read in a couple of places that the song list for Rock Band was considered small when compared to that of the Guitar Hero games. Personally, the 45 songs plus 13 "unlockable" songs have plenty of variety to keep you strumming the guitar, beating on the drums, or singing your lungs out for quite a while. I find the best part of the song list for Rock Band is the downloadable content provided each week. I have added "Buddy Holly", "I Fought the Law", "Last Train to Clarksville", "All the Small Things" and the Oasis pack. Having the ability to add songs you like is a big benefit.

So, what is my instrument of choice? Drums, no doubt. When I first got the game, James and I each tried the guitar and drums. He was having trouble with the drums so we decided to start a band with him on guitar and me on drums. We practiced our band on the Easy setting and got comfortable enough to try the Medium setting.

When Christina got back from Shafter she wanted to try the guitar because it looked easier. So I have been designated the "all time" drummer. This is fine with me because I have found that anyone who tries Rock Band always wants to play the drums first but then they find them too difficult so they pick up the guitar. This means I rarely have to sit a turn out.

I have recently been practicing songs on the Hard setting, which I have handled fairly well, save for a few tough songs. Eventually I hope to be able to play on the top level, Expert.

I thought I had no musical talent before, but after playing Rock Band I find myself able to keep a beat. I may be far away from being a real drummer but I am confident I could sit down at a real set of drums and keep a basic beat.

Rock Band is the ultimate party game, even more than a Wii. Everyone has at one time or another wondered what it would be like to be a rock star and this game is the closest most of us will ever get to it.

I will leave you with some video of someone playing the Rock Band drums on the Expert level. Very impressive. (For those of you who haven't played the game, you have to hit the drums with the corresponding note when it crosses the bar at the bottom of the screen. The long orange note is the foot pedal.)



This was one of the songs that gave me trouble on Hard. At this point, I can only dream of beating this song on Expert.



Will Ferrell may have used this song in the most memorable SNL skit of the past 15 years, but "Don't Fear the Reaper" on Expert is no laughing matter.

Excuses

Reasons why it has been over a month since I last made a post to this blog, in no particular order:

Taking Dillon to the snow.

Bruising my tailbone from riding sled down said snow.

Watching the awesomeness that is "Lost".

Celebrating the fact the Lakers got rid of the bum who couldn't catch a basketball or hit a mid range jumper known as Kwame Brown. The icing on the cake is they received in return a 27 year old seven footer who can score. (I loved the Sports Guy's take on the trade, towards the bottom of the mailbag, look for the bullet points.)

Watching Kobe ruin Shaq's debut in Phoenix.

Playing Rock Band with Dillon.


Watching Dillon play Rock Band with his Uncle James and Aunt Michelle.

Catching the cold. My entire office was sick a few weeks ago and I tried to isolate myself from the germs but eventually they caught up with me.

A lack of patience. I hate waiting ten minutes for my computer to boot up.

Doing my taxes.

Playing with Dillon outside.

Nerd Alert

I just finished watching the new to DVD "Futurama" movie. One of the extras was a "math class" by Dr. Sarah J. Greenwald examining the many math jokes written into episodes of "Futurama". I was giddy to also find out there was a fun little website dedicated to the Futurama Math. I had spotted many jokes in previous episodes but some of them were over my head until they were explained in the DVD extra. Christina couldn't understand why I was so interested in the DVD extra but she forgets I took Calculus in college just for fun.

Go here for some behind the scene looks at the geeks who created Futurma. And for you "Simpsons" fans, check out their math related website.

"Lost" junkies don't think I forgot about you. ABC is posting new mini-episodes in preperation of the upcoming fourth season. Posted below is a semi-humerous recap of the doomed flight of Oceanic flight 815. If you haven't ever watched the show skip the video and go straight to the source. ABC is streaming all three seasons until January 31.

Holiday Catch Up

This Christmas was a very busy time for the Nixons so I thought I would post what we were up to for the last two weeks.

The weekend before Christmas was spent with the Cummings and Evans. I got a sweet Hawaiian Jamba Juice shirt from the Evans. I now need to find a matching one for Dillon because I have passed on my love of Jamba to my firstborn.

Dillon and I both love the Caribbean Passion and Orange Dream Machine. Here he is on our trip down to Shafter. We have learned to get him his own cup of Jamba...

...because this is what happens when you take his Jamba away from him. By the way, James sent me the following Jamba Juice related video via email with a note that read "Jimmie = Chris Parnell's character."

Jamba Juice - SNL

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Papa and Grandma Sharon helping Dillon open a present while Kaleb enjoys the box of one of his presents.

Uncle Larry helping Dillon with his new motorized tractor. I know that in the summer time I will arrive home from work to find Dillon pulling Otis in the trailer of this tractor.

The theme of this Christmas for Dillon was trains and tractors. Here he is opening up his Lionel wooden train set.

On Christmas Day I had to come back to Sonora to work while Dillon and Christina stayed in Shafter. Now don't feel too bad for me because I spent my evenings playing Rock Band on the PS3 with James. I jammed on the drums while James shredded on the guitar. Our band, the In-N-Outlaws, is on the way to rock and roll stardom.

Three days after returning to Shafter I had to drive back to pick up the family. But the trip was not a waste because Saturday evening was Taylor's third birthday party.

Taylor got plenty of Princess shirts, toys, shoes and dresses for Christmas and her birthday. After her birthday Dillon, Christina and I drove back to Sonora because Christina's cousins, the Naves, were up from Thousand Oaks for New Year's.

New Year's Eve day the whole gang, including the two horses, Otis, Brandy (the Cummings' dog), Snoops (the Evan's dog), Shadow (the dog the Cummings were dogsitting), Lulu and Bently (Michelle's boss's dogs), all went for a walk around the neighborhood. This parade got quite the looks from passing cars.

We even put Shadow to work pulling Dillon's stroller.

James and Scott came to the conclusion after viewing the Time Person of the Year cover that I looked like Vladimir Putin. That meant I had to deal with Russian jokes and stupid nicknames like Jimmie Putin during New Year's.

I don't see the resemblance.

But James used his mad photoshop skills to help everyone else see the likeness.

Though there was a lot of driving involved, we had a wonderful time with family over the holidays.


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Now playing: KT Tunstall - Through the Dark
via FoxyTunes