From Die-Hard fan to Ho-hum fan

I heard a joke about 5 years ago. I don't remember exactly how it went, but it was about an upset boyfriend and his girlfriend trying to figure out what was wrong. She asked if she needed to clean more, cook better, spice things up in the bedroom. The boyfriend said no, all that stuff is fine. The girlfriend asked, "then what's wrong? Why have you been so down & upset with me today?" The boyfriend replies "The Yankees lost"

It's funny cause it's true. When your team loses, depending on the importance of the game and the way they lost, it will upset you for hours or days. I'm sorry to say being a Jets, Mets, Devils & Magic fan, I know more than I wish to know about my teams losing.

Before Benjamin was born I would get so upset when my team lost. I would mope or be in a bad mood for days. Now...eh. It sucks that they lost, but I have more important things going on. Having said that, there are some grudges I have, that I will probably never let go of.

• I will still 'Boo' Cliff Floyd and Carlos Beltran both for striking out looking to end game 7 of the 2006 NLCS. (More Floyd than Beltran, try something man. Arguing with the ump after you strike out looking does not cut it)
• I would not help Stéphane Matteau out of a ditch.
• Timo Perez, if you ever make it back to the MLB, RUN. RUN TIMO RUN.
• Roger Clemens throws half a bat at Mike Piazza in a steroid rage, no disciplinary action??

I don't think I will add any more sports grudges.I still want my teams to win, but I have so many more important things going on I really don't get upset anymore if they lose. The Devils had a 3-2 lead with 1:20 left in game 7 of the 1/4 finals. They gave up 2 goals and lost 4-3 and were eliminated from the playoffs. In years past, I would be on suicide watch, but instead I was writing blog posts about the Bathroom Incident and trying to hear Baby C with a cup and toilet paper roll. It just doesn't get to me anymore.


I've gone from a die-hard fan to a ho-hum fan. I think the reason I'm OK with that has a lot to do with the players. Players are now on Facebook and Twitter and we get an insight to what they go through before and after games. The night before the Buffalo game Mark Sanchez tweets "Wat movie should I watch in the hotel? Hangover, angels and demons, terminator, funny ppl, public enemies, star trek???" The next day he throws 5 interceptions and the Jets lose in OT. Maybe what movie to watch should not have been his top priority.

In the week leading up the the Jets vs Jags game, Dustin Keller and David Clowney were Tweeting about playing Connect 4. After the loss, David Clowny tweets about going to Times Square with his father. Maybe instead of playing games, you should throw the ball around. Work with Braylon Edwards on his drops. Somehow show that you are upset about the loss. Players should take the loss worst than their fans.

I goof off at my job from time to time and players should be given the same leniency, but I don't do my job in front of 78 thousand people, with millions more watching from home. If they aren't preparing for a game or upset about a loss, why should I be? You go play connect 4, watch your movies and hang out in the city after you have probably been eliminated from the playoffs in November. I'll hang out with my boy & wife.

The most telling sign in my change from die-hard sports fan to ho-hum sports fan is this: I cheered for the Yankees in the World Series. I am a changed man. Before we found out Allison was pregnant, I would never, NEVER cheer for the Yankees to win the World Series. Now, good for them. I don't even care if my son becomes a Yankees fan anymore. At least he'll have something to cheer about in 10 years when they are spending 400 million on salary and winning while the Mets spend 350 million and finish with 90 losses. I almost want him to pick different teams. While it's true cheering for a losing team builds character, I want him to enjoy winning. Thank God for the 1986 Mets, and the 1995, 2000 & 2003 Devils. Without them I'd have nothing to cheer for.
To the Jets, Mets, Devils and Magic, if you are reading this...do it for Ben! Thanks.

The last vacation before parenthood.

Allison and I booked a trip a while back, knowing it would be the last vacation we would have before Baby C comes along. We decided to use the timeshare points and pick a beach location someplace close. We ended up at Casa Del Mar in Ormond Beach. Not a 5 star place, but it was right on the beach and had a nice pool.

I’m getting head of myself, let’s backtrack a little bit. Thursday night we packed up all our stuff, clothes, books, towels & beach supplies. We forgot to pack a camera! Can you believe it? The pictures will be provided by Flikr or Google image search.

Friday morning Allison and I carpooled, I dropped her off downtown then headed to work. We used to carpool to work every day when we worked together and it was a nightmare. One of us would always be cranky and always drive the other one crazy. I was expecting the worst, but it was a good drive. A funny thing happened on the drive to work, the traffic guy on the radio Kevin Balldinger (for real, that’s his name) was going over the traffic in the different parts of Orlando and he goes “If you’re traveling from Clermont to Downtown, the coast is clear, no traffic what so ever.” Allison and I looked at each other like…whoa! He’s talking directly to us. Then he continued, “If your pregnant, have a snack.” Ok, ok…he didn’t say that, but I was expecting him to. (they never mention Clermont traffic)

The work day crawled by and we finally started our drive out to Ormond Beach at 5:00. There wasn't much traffic, so we checked into the hotel and headed to Stonewood Grill We met up with a girl Allison went to elementary school with. They found each other on Facebook recently and she lives with her husband in Daytona, so they met up with us. She is always reading the blog and making comments, so since Tuesday I had been calling our dinner date "Fan Fest 2009!" One night only, Friday, Friday, Friday!!! Fans of Baby C’s blog unite! It was a fun dinner. Steve the waiter was on top of his game and was a really close talker. We spent 3 hours eating, talking and just hanging out. We came up with a few inventions over the course of the night. The best, by far had to be the moth ball flip-flops. They protect your feet from deadly/painful rattle snake attacks. The kid’s version light up and have bells on them. Before you even ask…no, we were not drinking.

Saturday had its ups and downs. First up, we got to sleep in. Oh, the sweet glory of sleeping in! I slept until 8:45. I loved it. We keep being told to sleep while we can, so we did. We headed out to breakfast at IHOP. First down, 30 minute wait. After breakfast, back to the hotel. We got ready to hit the beach…lathered up with sunscreen, carried a few chairs, bottles of water, books and an umbrella to the shore. Got all set up, and decided to test the water. It was cool, but felt good. I looked back to make sure our stuff was good. I may have it mentioned in an earlier post that I have issues and I always think people are going to steal my stuff. So I look back and there is a kid and his father chasing our umbrella down the beach. The wind kicked up and pulled it right out of the sand…whoops.

So I get the umbrella back in the sand, get in the chair, book ready to read then….ka-boom! Thunder. Look to my left and right, the sky was darkening quickly. Ahh we have a few minutes…I don’t see any lightning. Then wouldn’t you know it…lightning out to our left. Ok…I think it might be time to pack up…We pack up, start to walk back and then the sky opened up on us. Why is it that people hate getting rained on? Half of these people were just in the ocean splashing around…and now they are running to get out of the rain. I understand if they were running from lightning, but they were running from the rain and covering their hair. Really? Is the rain water worse for your hair than the sea water you were just frolicking around in?

We sat in the room for about 20 minutes and gave it another try. We set up, sit to relax and read…then sure enough…MORE lightning, thunder and rain! ARRRGH, back to the room for an extended rain delay. We watched Babe and had some Pizza Hut. We decided the beach wasn’t happening today, so we hung around the pool in the light drizzle for the rest of the afternoon.

For dinner we headed down to Daytona and hit the Daytona Beach Pier Restaurant. It was a very interesting place. They had a ski lift from the boardwalk to the end of the dock. People were dropping their shoes and yelling down at people. The waitresses varied from cute 18-20 something girls to 40 something women, who looked like they spent too much time in the sun over the years. A bartender wearing a bikini and black knee high furry boots and a hostess that kept asking Allison if she wanted more chips & salsa. The food was really good. We headed to Pirate’s cove mini-golf where I beat Allison by 5 stokes. She would have had me beat, were it not for her two 7s in the back 9. Ouch. Then we had ice cream and called it a night.

It's probably a good thing I forgot the camera. I can't think of any safe way to get Allison's belly in that hole in order to take a picture of Baby C.

Sunday the weather cooperated and we spent the day on the beach until about 2:00. We headed to Friday’s for lunch…and wouldn’t you know it, more strange people. The table next to use had two couples and a 2 year old. One of the guys was blabbing away on the phone loud enough for the whole restaurant to hear him. Then when he hung up the phone…he was a know it all, a loud know it all with a truck driver mouth. We couldn’t wait for them to leave.

We ate then it was time to pay the bill. This is the last of the strangeness that happened on the trip. I saw the waitress walking by out of the corner of my eye and went to give her the check back. I didn’t realize her hands were full, she had just cleared the table next to us. She goes, “I’ll take it now, here…just put it in my apron.” And she stuck her leg and body out. I thought to myself, this girl used to be a dancer, exotic. I moved the straws out of the way and put the check into her apron. I felt the urge to cop a cheap feel and slip a dollar into her garter, but that must be her night job or maybe her day job a few months back, not that day and not at Fridays. I was glad to get out of there.

All in all, we had a great time. It was fun and most importantly relaxing. It was great being in our own bed last night. Birthing classes start tomorrow, bring it on!!

Sleep now or forever hold your peace

Last night I was emailing on Facebook with an old friend from my days with Computer Associates. She has a child and she said to me “as you've probably heard from everyone who has a child... it's the most amazing and exhausting experience.” I started thinking to myself, you know what, I have heard that from everyone I know that has a child. I have heard that exact statement multiple times. How is it that everyone that has a child tells you the same thing? I feel like I’m being left out of something. Or there is a secret nobody is sharing. Do they give you a pamphlet with things to say when you leave the hospital? Although an interesting theory, I highly doubt that is the case. I know it’s a life changing event, but still for everyone to say the same thing. I guess it’s similar with falling in love or finding the one. People always say, “When you know, you know.” I didn’t really believe that until I met Allison. When I met her, I knew. And now I say that same thing to people. I’ll know all about it in about 80 days or so. I’m really looking forward to it.

Some of the other advice I’ve gotten is:
Get your sleep /Sleep now, while you can: I know I’m not going to get much sleep or it will be very broken sleep, but if I get extra sleep now, will that really help? It’s not like I can bank those sleeping hours and use them when Baby C comes along. I’m a more than a little worried about lack of sleep. I have an allergic reaction to caffeine, so coffee or Mtn Dew may not be the answer. How am I going to keep myself awake? And I am prone to crankiness to begin with. I may be a nightmare to be around. Co-workers beware.

I’ve also heard:
I’ll love like I’ve never loved before. A different love than you love your wife, parents, niece or nephew.
It will completely change your life.
An older friend of mine said to me “the day before your child is born is the last good night’s sleep you’ll ever get” He’s 66, his kids are grown and he said every night before he goes to sleep he’s worried about them.

The funniest bit of advice I’ve gotten is from my neighbor Tony. I don’t know if its advice, but it’s definitely funny. He said “You only have 1 penis to worry about...I have to worry about all of them" (he has a little girl)

It’s getting closer and I can’t wait for Baby C to get here. Tonight we are meeting with a pediatrician. She comes highly recommended, so hopefully this appointment goes well. I have my questions ready.
1) Do you give out lollypops or small toys?
2) If lollypops, how many are the kids allowed? I understand giving only 1 red or 1 purple, but if he wants 2 yellows or a yellow and a green, those aren’t popular colors…give them both.
3) If Dum-dum lollypops, what’s they deal with these little lollypops. Where are the blow pops or tootsie pops?
4) I have real questions to ask too. I’ll report back tonight or tomorrow on how the appointment went.