Piratebobcat

Clever Title: Travel Blog

2011-08-17T15:24:00.005-05:00

OK, I'm going attempt to get this blog going again. In case you had not known, it started out as a fitness blog tracking my marathon and other training routines. Then it migrated to being about just about anything I wanted to write about. Then I got freaked out and deleted all the posts save a couple about when our boy was born. But now I'm getting back in. Here's the deal, this time around it's going to be about travel. Here's why - I've been to a few places and people always ask me for advice whenever they are going to visit the same places. So instead of re-writing the same stuff over and over in emails, I'm going to write it one time, then just forward the links as necessary.

I don't travel nearly as much as I used to, but I still love it. I know places change, and so some of my info may be out of date, but I'll try to keep it relevant. I haven't been everywhere, but the places I have been, I jumped in feet first - or is it head first - whichever is more gusto, that's what I did.

I can't stand to be in a hotel - even really nice ones. I mean, it's OK, but I prefer to be out on the town soakin it up. So I did get some good experience in in whatever amount of time I was in a particular place. For example, one time in Miami I had an extra night to explore, so I drove to Key West and spent it there. It nearly caused me to miss my flight the next day, but it was totally worth it. No regrets, that's a good way to travel. I read once that you should always assume you'll be back to a place and therefore not worry about seeing everything. Good policy, but I always saw it like you may never get back, so see what you can then and now. Of course, you have to keep it enjoyable, but to me, if I have a choice of relaxing in the hotel in NYC or taking a walk to find a pizza place, I'm going for the pizza place...I'll relax when I get home.

I'll try to get some pictures going along with this blog too. I deactivated my flickr account a while back, but I'll see about setting something up to give y'all some reference to what I'm writing about. I'll also try to get some videos up that I took at these places too.

I'm not claiming to be an expert on travel, but I do claim to do my best at it, so hopefully you'll find some of what I have to say useful. Feel free to leave any comments or questions you may have and I'll see about answering them for yous guys.

Peace.

Bloggy Blog Blog Blog

2011-02-03T13:40:00.002-06:00

So I decided to delete pretty much all my blog posts. The only ones I kept were the two I wrote when the Grifster was born. I'm also probably going to start the blog over to be all bout travel. I get asked so often where to go and what to do in certain cities, that it'd be easier to just send them a link. So hopefully I can do that and it will be helpful to y'all.
Till then,
Thanks everybody!

So Far So Good!

2009-02-04T16:16:00.002-06:00

Today is Griffin's two week birthday, and I'm happy to say that the Dr. gave him a perfect A+ on his health report card. He's grown 3/4 of an inch and gained almost 1.5 pounds! OH, I forgot to tell you in the last post that he was born at 6 lbs 14 oz, and was 20 inches long...so there you go.

So, he got an A+ on his two week exam and passed his hearing test at the hospital when he was born. So far so good. I'm assuming his perfect scores will continue through life and that as of right now he will be accepted to Ohio University...unless Manchester United (or whatever EPL team is in first place in the future) signs him to a lucrative contract...whichever comes first.

Other than that, we're doing good. Jennie is still off work and so she's taking care of the baby nonstop. I'm back at work now. We've done pretty well on the sleep front. Everyone keeps asking how we're coping without sleep, but so far we haven't missed that much. Jennie is good at taking naps and does so throughout the day so she's pretty rested. I haven't taken a nap since college, so I don't get tired during the day cause my bodies not expecting to, and at night I just kind of go into zombie mode when the baby wakes us up to be changed and fed...then I go right back to sleep no problemo.

As for Griffin, he's adjusting to life on the outside just fine. He eats, sleeps, and craps and pees himself. Then he has a few times during the day where he just kind of opens his eyes and looks around in a real mellow way. He's very strong and when we put him on his stomach, he can already turn himself over.

So that's where we're at on the baby front. I know a lot of people have already come over to visit him, but there are still others who want to but haven't been able...So I was thinking that we should have a party, but the house needs some cleaning up, so maybe we'll tell everyone to meet us at Lochrann's...just gotta figure out when. Yay! Baby's first Irish pub!

Peace.

New Kid On The Block

2009-01-28T15:22:00.000-06:00

Sorry for the delay, but as you may know by know, we've been busy. Baby's are so needy...geesh! Yes, that's right, baby boy Griffin Depakakibo Evans is finally here. He made his debut Jan. 21, '09 at 3:02 PM. He came out with a head full of hair and a few cries. Moments later he settled down and just kind of looked around while the nurses did their cleaning thing. I was hoping he'd get our laid back attitude, and it seems like he did....OH, before I go on, let me explain the image at the top of this posting~~~~

It's a Griffin. A Griffin is a mythological creature that goes back centuries. It's part lion and part eagle. It is not something to mess with. The image at the top of this post is a full grown Griffin, the image here is a baby one, just like ours:

Anywahoo, my theory that he was waiting for the new administration held true...LOL! The day after the inauguration, or the morning after I should say, Jennie started her labor. She woke me up around 4 AM while she was timing contractions on the computer. We put a call in to the Dr. and waited. When she finally called back, she told us to come on in. We got the hospital around 8 AM and judging by Jennie's progression, they thought he'd be there by lunch.

Well, lunch came and went and still no closer, but then the fireworks started. Jennie was in quite a bit of pain, but toughed it out WITHOUT the epidural or any other drugs or pain relievers. The nurse kept trying to push the epidural on her, but Jennie kept saying, 'No'. Apparently, almost everyone nowadays gets it, but we want to go as natural as possible. We figured it's best for the baby, safest for the mommy, and don't forget the pocketbooks.

Like I said, Jennie did it! She weathered the pain and delivered him the old fashioned way. We were very lucky that Griffin cooperated by doing everything he was supposed to, and also the staff at the hospital was very supportive. Regardless, Jennie is one tough broad. Anyone who can do what she did deserves your respect. She's still in some pain now, but getting better every day. She'll be back at yoga in no time!

GRIFFIN DEPAKAKIBO EVANS

As for Griffin, he's doing well too. Strong, healthy, and pretty cool when not screaming...but that's what babies do. We're still adjusting to the schedule...trying to get it somewhat regular, but so far we're just kind of going with the flowing. It still seems like a dream, but we take it day by day and so far so good.

The only bummer is that I haven't taken a nap in over 10 years, so being woken a few times at night is messing with me a bit, but I'm plowing through. Trying to keep somewhat on schedule so my body doesn't get completely out of whack. I haven't missed a workout since he was born, I've been cooking some gourmet meals, and have started watching a new show - House - to make up for them taking Boston Legal off the air. I may go back to work on Monday...but right now I'm enjoying the baby vacation. I don't think I've ever taken time off of work without going on a trip somewhere, so it's kind of weird to be home during working hours, but it's not a bad thing of course. But like I said, one day at a time.

Oh, one thing I'd like to add is how grateful we are to have such good friends and families at this time. Everyone has been so supportive. People have brought over food, done housework for us, or just called or visited to show support. It means alot and we hope to keep it up so all the great people we've brought into our lives over the years will now become a part of Griffin's life as well. It's only a matter of time before we can take him up to toddler tea time at Lochrann's Irish Pub!!!

OK, that's enough for now. More updates to come!
Byeee!