Every year I spend some time putting together a look back at the previous year's blog posts. With a wink and a nod to David Letterman and his Top 10 Lists, I present my Top 10 Blog Posts from 2006.

This was my first full year on Blogger and I have really enjoyed it. I can't imagine having my blog any place else. It's a wonderful service.

Looking back at 2006 is difficult, sad, fun, and emotional all at the same time. There were moments of sheer joy with Aidan. There were many, many days of extreme sadness when we lost people close to us. I tried to be as positive as I could be about the past year. But, I will be grateful tonight that it is over.

Here is hoping that 2007 will be the best. I hope for peace and safety for everyone. And without any further... My Top 10:

10. Aidan Video: Eating an Apple! Thursday, June 01, 2006

This is the cutest video ever. I love watching it. Always makes me smile. It was a neat day when I saw Aidan's personality really start to sparkle. He's so much bigger now.

9. Jersey Day! Friday, November 10, 2006

This was a big surprise and really cool - one of my best students handed me his jersey on the last Friday of the high school football season. We have a new tradition (everything is new at a brand new school) where the varsity players can hand out their jersey to a teacher to wear on game day. And what made it super cool is that Norma also got one, too!

I was totally honored to wear it. But, he is the kicker... and it was tight! I was sucking my stomach in tight all day long. Gave me one hell of a backache. [if you click on the link and check out the picture, you can tell I'm sucking my stomach in :) ] Of course, I was an outside linebacker, not some stinkin' kicker. But, Tony is one kicker I have some love for.

8. My Life: Why I Came Back to Teaching Wednesday, August 02, 2006

This post is one that is special to me, it was originally an email that I was answering off of another person's blog question. After thinking about it, I wanted to place it on my blog. My job means a lot to me and this post explains just how much.

The note by a student at the end was really special to me as well.

7. My Life: Fireworks on the 4th Always Tuesday, July 04, 2006

This is a special post because it is from our wedding anniversary. It does a good job of explaining just why we were married on the 4th of July. I could not ask for a better wife.

6. My Life: Life beginning at a brand new school Tuesday, August 08, 2006

We are so super lucky to teach in a beautiful building. But, the first semester and first week were awfully difficult. This post explains why. No pencil sharpeners (for most of the semester), not enough desks, WAY overcrowded and cramped classrooms, technology that wasn't setup correctly, and a million new ways to say something simple. Instead of lesson plans, it turned into "learning plans." Just silly. But, that's life in a brand new school.

I am really looking forward to 2007 because it will be a brand new semester. We no longer have the first semester blues at AHS. And that is a very good thing.

5. School Pictures Tuesday, October 10, 2006

I am very lucky to be a teacher and be surrounded by so many great kids. I debated about what was my favorite post about some of the kids I work with, there are many. But, I enjoyed this one because of the pictures. There is a link to the post I almost put at this spot and it was called "The Dance." It was a highlight of the year for sure. I danced at half time of a high school football game. Crazy, huh? It was for a special student who's father had passed away last year. She needed a "father" for the father-daughter 1/2 time dance. I filled in and was proud to do it.

There is no doubt that the biggest single reason I do what I do with my life is for these amazing kids. It is wonderful to see them grow during the school year and in the many years that pass by after having them in my classroom. They provide me with a legacy and a way to impact this world in the most positive way I know. And for that I am very thankful.

4. T-Rex Love Monday, October 30, 2006

Aidan's birthday this year was really cool. We celebrated for like a week. His b'day is October 26th and he turned 2 this year. Two year-olds are so much fun. He is so expressive now and Aidan was really beaming to get this T-Rex in the mail from his Grandma Fran. The best are the pictures of him feeding the T-Rex fruit loops. Just the coolest thing. You know this boy loves a toy when he is willing to give up some food to it (even pretending).

We had a great time with Grandma Karen and Aunt Mel when they came down to Houston the week before his birthday. We also had a wonderful time in San Antonio when we got to see Norma's brothers and celebrate Aidan's birthday out there, too. But, I picked this post to show how happy he was on his birthday.

3. Aidan: A Hug on the Beach Tuesday, August 08, 2006

This was wonderful video and pictures from our vacation to Galveston. It ended our summer in a great way. The hug by Aidan to his Mom was one of the most special things I have ever seen. He is truly a loving and wonderful boy. And he has the greatest Mom in the world. I am a lucky guy.

2. Christmas Day 2006 - The Best Xmas EVER Monday, December 25, 2006

In the spirit of Sponge Bob, it was the "Best Day Ever!" To see Aidan's smile and love of his new toys on Christmas morning as a 2 year-old was awesome. We video taped it and it is something I will treasure forever. It was the first Christmas that he was really into and enjoyed from beginning to end.

Thanks to everyone for sending gifts and making it a great Christmas for Aidan.

1. RIP T.E.D. Oct. 8, 1947 - Jan. 14, 2006Sunday, January 15, 2006

The passing of my father is #1. It is definitely the thing that I will remember most from 2006. It is also a big reason that I am glad that it will soon be 2007. It was a terribly difficult blow for me personally and for my family. But, I want to take a moment here to say how grateful I am for all of the support I have gotten from this blog and from all of my friends and family. You guys were great and it really helped.

As the days slide along and a year has almost passed since his death, it does not get any easier. What it does give me is more perspective. I find that 2006 has really aged me. This year made me grayer, heavier, and launched me into a new phase of my life. I became a big brother again to my family. That is something I am glad happened, but very sadly the passing of my father demanded it.

What 2006 also did was teach me that I want to be a great father to my son. I want to make the most of every day that I have with him. I see things everyday in the words I use, the actions I take, the way I look in the mirror that remind me of my father. I want to pass those good things onto my son.

Links: Top 10 Blog Posts of 2005
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Ancient ice shelf breaks free from Canadian Arctic

TORONTO, Ontario (AP) -- A giant ice shelf the size of 11,000 football fields has snapped free from Canada's Arctic, scientists said.

The mass of ice broke clear 16 months ago from the coast of Ellesmere Island, about 800 kilometers (497 miles) south of the North Pole, but no one was present to see it in Canada's remote north.

Scientists using satellite images later noticed that it became a newly formed ice island in just an hour and left a trail of icy boulders floating in its wake.

Warwick Vincent of Laval University, who studies Arctic conditions, traveled to the newly formed ice island and could not believe what he saw.

"This is a dramatic and disturbing event. It shows that we are losing remarkable features of the Canadian North that have been in place for many thousands of years. We are crossing climate thresholds, and these may signal the onset of accelerated change ahead," Vincent said Thursday.

In 10 years of working in the region he has never seen such a dramatic loss of sea ice, he said.

The collapse was so powerful that earthquake monitors 250 kilometers (155 miles) away picked up tremors from it.

Oh yeah, I guess warmer temps cause ice to melt, huh? Interesting. Maybe Al Gore isn't such a wacko afterall. It looks more and more probable everyday that the crap that Rush Limbaugh and other conservative wackos spew is flat out wrong.

Wake up America... we need to start finding solutions to our problems. We are all in this together and if we want to leave a planet that is worth living to our grandchildren, we better get to work now. The worst part of this story? This actually happened 16 months ago and we are just now confirming what went on with satellite images.
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Tonight I decided to spend my Best Buy gift card from my "not so secret" Santa on a set of AWESOME Xbox 360 headphones: Turtle Beach Ear Force X1.



These are great. You can not only listen to the game audio on these things, but also do chat through Xbox 360 in game. Very cool. They should be here sometime next week.

This means I won't have to worry about turning down the audio on my tv when Aidan is sleeping. :)

Also, I am thinking about spending my Target gift card from my step-mom Fran on a set of wires to connect my 360 to the computer monitor and play HD quality games. My bro-in-law Brian says it is the only way to go. I just haven't had the balls to drop the money on it yet. The cable is 40 bucks. I just hate spending $ sometimes. But, this might be worth it... and it's not my money, really. It's a cool gift.

The gift of explosions, touchdowns, and online gaming. Awesome.

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I believe my resolution will be to exercise more in 2007. It usually is that. It's so ironic that I spent the first 22 years of my life exercising like crazy for football and baseball... the years since have been a struggle.

For the most part, I have high hopes for 2007 and I can't wait to see what it brings to my life. In the next few days I will be doing a look back at 2006 and posting my Top Ten Blog Entries from 2006. Last year's Top Ten can be viewed here: Top 10 2005

What is your New Year's Resolution?
	Eat Better
	Loose Weight
	Exercise More
	Get a Promotion
	Work Harder
	Stop Smoking
	Be more loving/giving
	I don't make no stinkin' resolutions!
	Other - comment in shoutbox
Free polls from Pollhost.com

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As someone that teaches 16 year-old kids... I think this is required viewing. Body image and trying to attain the perfect "magazine" photo is ridiculous. Girls especially fall victim to this, but boys too are looking for these 'perfect' girls that just simply do not exist. It is a sad part of our culture, but one that it our job as parents, brothers/sisters, friends and mentors to explain to kids what this really is - fake.



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Grandma Fran's presents arrived today and they were a big hit with the little guy. He loves dinosaurs.

It will probably take me a week to assemble the Dinosaur Mountain thing she sent though, but that's a Dad's job. And I am glad to be a dad. :)

Aidan is just going to think Christmas is every day with these packages coming in... he's so spoiled. But, that's good. Good boys deserve to be spoiled.
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Gamespot has been giving out their video game awards over the past week for 2006. Today was "Game of the Year" -- their most prestigious honor. It went to a truly great game and one on my system - Xbox 360

Gears of War (X360)
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios Developer: Epic Games

It must have taken a lot of guts for Epic Games to put together a game like Gears of War, but above and beyond that, it must have taken some kind of preposterous level of talent, time, money, and effort. The result is an action game that simply makes most other action games look bad. Of course, Gears of War isn't all about its technology; a number of simple, brilliant design choices are part of what makes this game so much fun to play.

Gears of War is the game that actually fulfills those outlandish promises we've been hearing from the likes of Microsoft and Sony about how earth-shattering the so-called next-generation games will be. OK, OK, we believe it. It's easy and tempting to call this the best-looking game ever made; but Gears of War is a complete package, offering much, much more than pretty visuals. It's a game that takes one of the most basic concepts in gaming--the shooter--and pushes that concept further than any other game has done before.

Gears of War's influences are apparent, and most of them are cinematic in nature. Take all of your favorite science fiction action movies, mash them into one, and put yourself in the starring role, and there you go. Better yet, put yourself and a friend in the starring roles; you guys decide who will be the sidekick. Other games have offered cooperative play in the past, but again, Gears of War does it better. An intuitive tactical combat system, visceral close-quarters shooting, likable characters, a highly replayable campaign, an intense competitive versus mode, and a great visual style all contribute to making Gears of War such an amazing game.

Developer Epic Games has long since earned a good name for itself thanks to its outstanding multiplayer-focused Unreal Tournament series. It's almost startling, then, how a game like Gears of War could come out and practically eclipse the company's past accomplishments, as great as they've been.

I was psyched to play a little bit of this tonight... and now I can't wait to play. There is no doubt in my mind it's the best game I have played this year - bar none.
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Two leagues... two championships. A combined 26-4 for the year. Awesome.

I would like to thank everyone that played in the leagues this year. It was a lot of fun. It sure wasn't the same without my Dad. I will always play fantasy football each year because I want to keep alive his love for that kind of competition. He was a fantasy football junkie ever since I got him started in the phenomenon 4 years ago. His memory definitely inspired me to victory this year in both leagues.

I look forward to 2007! Should be a lot of fun. I think Norma and I are going to stick in the family league (she finished 4th this year) and also try and start a league of teachers at school. That would be fun.

Next weekend's games will be a bit strange without any fantasy games riding on the results.
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This morning was great. Aidan woke up around 6:45am, which is about normal for him. He came downstairs and played with his dinosaurs for a bit and then as he woke up he made his way into the den. He immediately noticed his new tricycle. He rode that around for a bit, which gave Mom and Dad a few minutes to get ready. He was really pumped to ring the little bell on the tricycle.

We started opening gifts and Aidan was so excited. His eyes lit up as he got dinosaurs from a number of people. He loves them. But, then he opened Norma's gift of a plush Grinch doll... then the Grinch's dog/reindeer Max. They immediately were taken by Aidan to the fireplace to sit with him. It was almost like he was saying, "Ok Dad take some pictures of me with my new friends." This happened throughout the day when he would open gifts that he fell in love with. He would walk them to the fireplace and sit with them.



Finally Aidan got pooped with opening gifts and he wanted to watch one of his new DVD movies. He picked Toy Story 2. He probably watches Toy Story about 3 or 4 times a week easily. So we knew he would love TS2. Grandma Karen got it for him. After watching it, Norma brought in two more gifts - a Woody doll and an action figure Buzz Lightyear. That was it. He was totally pumped. He loves Woody to death. You could see the look in his eye, I'm just like the boy in the movie now. I have Woody and Buzz. It was so cool.

Later we opened Uncle George & Aunt Marla's gift of Thomas the Train Tent. He loved taking Woody and Buzz in there and playing hide and seek with us. That is a really good toy for his age. He likes going in there and taking his favorite things in there with him. I can imagine it'll be something he uses outside as well.

After lunch we took him outside (see the videos below) and he played on his new bikes. The rain letup today and it was a pretty nice day. A little chilly, but a good day for some fresh air outside.





Norma was very happy with all of her gifts. I knew I did well because I kept getting the question, "How much money did you spend!?!!" I did a "Dad" and bought her not one, but two watches. I couldn't make up my mind. After I told the lady behind the counter that I wanted both watches, I said to myself, "That's exactly what my Dad would have done." I smiled a bit at that thought. I really missed him today. It was last Christmas that he talked to me on the phone and said, "I will give you a call later in the week and I need to talk to you about something, but not today." Of course, the thing that he needed to talk to me about was his heart. And we all know now, it was not good news. I miss him so much that it hurts.

I want to thank Norma and Aidan for my wonderful ties, sweater and pj pants. They are great. I really needed some new ties. I also got a gift certificate from my Mom for Best Buy, so I'll be heading there tomorrow to pick up some cds (included will be the new Iron Maiden cd). The best gift I got was the video game "Gears of War" from my video game club students. It was the thought that really counted there. They definitely did not have to do that and it shocked me. I thought about them today and it really made me feel good that they did that. I also got a hand carved elephant (trunks up is good luck!) from my sister-in-law. It was made in Afghanistan where she was stationed this past year. Thank you Marge.

We are going to work on Aidan's train table this week and get him some new Thomas the Train track to go with it. We are going to enjoy the week off and spend lots of time watching our little guy play. He has so many great toys! We want to thank everyone for the wonderful gifts. It really made this the best Christmas Ever.

Check out all of the pictures here: Picasa Web Album: Christmas Day 2006


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Christmas Day 2006 - New Bikes on Vimeo



Christmas Day 2006 - Woody's Hat on Vimeo



Christmas Day 2006 - Sitting with Woody on Vimeo



Christmas Day 2006 - Sitting with Mom and Woody on Vimeo
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Every Christmas Eve we do these things...

1) Make hot chocolate and pour it into travel mugs and jump in the car. We tour Kingwood and look at Christmas lights. There were some great houses this year.
2) We open one gift each.
3) We watch It's A Wonderful Life on tv. And I usually ball like a crybaby (and I did tonight at the end)
4) As we watch It's A Wonderful Life on tv we assemble presents for Aidan and then take pictures of the tree. The calm before the storm.

Tonight was no different than any other Christmas Eve night. It rained almost the entire day and the rain cut our tour of Christmas lights a little short. But, Aidan had a really good time. We have been going out and checking out lights for the past week or so - he has been getting used to it. He waves and says hello to Santa when he sees Santa lit up or as the inflatable in someone's yard.

We opened our one gift tonight and Aidan was VERY excited about his. We made a big mistake though. I wrapped his in a box and figured we would just put it together after he opened it. Big mistake. He tried like crazy to put it together himself as I read the directions. He even had the steering wheel, seat and wheels exactly where they should be. He is so darn smart. But, he got so mad when it wasn't in working condition. I felt terrible. So terrible that I unwrapped another one of his presents and put it together tonight. I don't want to go through that again. It is tough enough for me to have to use tools and read directions and put together 1,000,000 pieces without worrying about Aidan crying. And no toy should result in a child crying. :(

But, once the trike was put together he was PUMPED. He loaded it up with his dinosaurs and went to town wheeling it around.

Uncle George visited on Saturday and brought a table that he made for Aidan. It is incredible. Aidan will be able to play on it and use his cars and Thomas the Train stuff on it. We are considering building a platform to sit into it with the Thomas stuff nailed or glued onto that platform. A nice piece of plywood would probably work. That way he can play with his dinosaurs, cars and action figures on it when he isn't playing with the trains. Plus, he's a bit young to play well with the trains just yet.

Uncle George got a hug and kiss from Aidan as soon as our little guy saw him. It was pretty cool how quickly Aidan remembered George. I don't think that has happened before that he took to a family member so quickly. It was great because George couldn't stay for long. Aidan was so excited to see that he was still in the house this morning. We will definitely have to visit Uncle George and Aunt Marla soon.

Tomorrow morning is the big day. Santa will have come down our chimney and spoiled our little 2 year-old. :) Can't wait to see how excited he is. We will take lots of pictures and video, of course.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

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For the first time in franchise history (5 years) the Houston Texans beat the Indy Colts.

Merry Christmas Texans Fans!

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Is it really Christmas Eve? Or is it "Super Bowl Sunday?" Sure seems like Super Sunday to me. In both of my fantasy leagues I am in the Super Bowl today. I am nervous about both leagues though. I have had a fabulous ride in both leagues, easily wnning both. In both our family league and my other yahoo league my record is 12-2. The two losses in both leagues were against the second and third best regular season teams.

But, in both leagues I am an underdog today. :(

In the family league I play my 2-time defending champion sister. She beat me last year in the SB, too. And I lost in my other league in the SB as well.

Will I be jinxed again in 2006? I am nervous.

Here are my teams:

Tenacious D (12-2)
QB Carson Palmer
WR Andre Johnson, Braylon Edwards
RB Steven Jackson, Rudi Johnson, Dominic Rhodes
TE Antonio Gates
K Jeff Wilkins
D Kansas City (already had a great game last night)

MillsBranch Monsters (12-2)
QB Carson Palmer
WR Reggie Wayne, Lee Evans, Terry Glenn
RB Steven Jackson, Ladell Betts
TE Jeremy Shockey
K Josh Brown
D Kansas City (already had a great game last night)

I am nervous. Please, fantasy Gods, fare me well.
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Thanks to everyone that sent us a Christmas card this year. Norma does something pretty neat with them. She puts them up around the entryway into our den. I thought I would take a quick picture and share all these wonderful cards. [click on the image above for a larger look at all of them]

And here is the card we sent out this year... just in case we didn't have your address:



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Sadly, it looks like the Pittsburgh Penguins days in the 'Burgh are numbered. If the end up anywhere but in Pittsburgh, I hope it's here in Houston.

Mario Lemieux said, "and we will begin to explore relocation offers in cities outside Pennsylvania."

Among the cities known to be interested in the Penguins are Kansas City, Houston, Winnipeg and Portland, Ore.

But, even on our Houston Hometown newspaper's sports page today it barely gets listed as a story. And even an AP story at that. I guess there is little interest. Les Alexander is the Rockets owner and he has been the only real serious person interested in bringing the NHL to Houston.

If the Pens move... please come to Houston.

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This is pretty funny... click here to Help David Carr!



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Here are some pictures today of Aidan being a "cheeseball." He loves the crunchy Cheetos. The second picture is from playing in the front yard. He found Norma's old Christmas antlers and had a ball wearing those.



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Here is Norma's masterpiece. She has put more lights out this year than ever before. If it was up to her there would be more... but I say, "Enough is Enough." Our block looks really good this year. (Click on the images to see them larger)




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Harley has been doing quite well today. She even hopped up on the fish tank while Norma was feeding the fish today. We took that as a VERY good sign.

It is terrible giving her the medicine though. She has a pill for increasing her appetite, antibiotics, and pain medicine. So three times we have to pry her mouth open. I hate doing it.

She's been a real trooper though. We put her in a blanket and wrap her up, tilt her back and get it done. Norma sits with her after we are done for a few minutes to calm her down.

Hopefully this medicine will do the trick. She does seem to have been eating a lot more. We are relieved.
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I took my kitty into the Emergency Hospital today. They kept her for 4 hours. They shaved the area around her abscess and infection, gave her fluids, checked her blood work. I called back and they said she is good to take home, but they are giving me four medicines to give her and they want me to watch her very closely over the next couple of days.

She is usually 7 or 8 lbs. A very small kitty. But, she is down to 5 lbs. Losing 2 lbs for a kitty her size is not very good. They said she was dehydrated and they are not sure what is causing her weight loss.

She is real weak, but in good spirits tonight. She went right up to Norma and let her pet her. Just a moment ago she came into my office and let me pet her and pick her up on my lap. But, she never settled in like she usually does, instead she wanted down and walked away.

Tonight when the baby goes to bed we are going to wrap her in a towel and administer the drugs for appetite, pain and her antibiotic. The nurse didn't think her infection is too big a deal. But, with her age being 13 she was very worried about the weight loss.

We are both relieved for the moment, but we know what will come inevitably. Having to face losing her is a tough thing for us. She has been such a big part of our family for 13 years. All we can do now is just show her a lot of love and let her get some rest. Not easy with a crazy 2 year-old running around! But, I hope she recovers and can make it a 14th year. She is the best.

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Thirteen years ago, I took Norma to State College, PA to find a cat. It was a birthday gift for her. We went to the Nittany Mall to look at their pet store. They had some great Siamese cats. We looked at a bunch of them and held a few. They were very strong, mean and rough to hold. They were basically scratching the hell out of me... and I thought, "This is a bad idea."

We went to walk out of the store and as we passed by the display window, there she was. Sitting on top of a cat house made of carpeting, our little girl was just staring back at me all cross-eyed. This little tiny Siamese was so timid looking, but kind. We immediately went back into the store and said, "Can we see that one?" After holding her I knew, I was in love.

We brought her home and the rest is history. A wonderful pet that has been my "little girl" ever since. She was purchased for Norma, but Harley (we named her after a soap opera character from Guiding Light) has always been my special little girl. Siamese really bond with one person in particular. And I was the lucky one.

This week I noticed that Harley has seemed to lose a lot of weight. Remember she has always been the runt of the litter and always very small and frail. Petite. But, this week the weight loss is really evident. Last night I could feel how light she was as she sat on my stomach and I was lying in bed on my laptop. I looked down and noticed her fur just didn't look right. It just didn't have the same shine to it. I immediately got worried.

I know she is old - 13 years is a good long life. But, it still shocked me to see her looking bad. Tonight I was petting her and holding her and it has been my plan this weekend to give her a bunch of love and then get her to the vet on Monday. But, tonight I noticed her licking an open sore on her behind. At first I just figured she was cleaning herself. She is a very picky and very clean little girl. But, when I looked closer I realized that this was something different - a big huge and painful looking sore.

Immediately I burst into tears and started to think the worst and worry. It was a bad night all around because Aidan was really fussy and throwing a bit of a tantrum for a number of reasons... he is two and they do those things. As the night has worn on and Aidan has now fallen asleep, Norma had a chance to look at Harley. She came upstairs in tears and said, "It really looks bad."

We are both pretty worried and I am going to try to take her in tomorrow (Sunday) to an emergency clinic. It is my hope that if she just has developed a sore that they can give her some medicine to make her feel better and maybe she will eat a little more? But, I know this is probably very, very serious. And I am upset that these could be my last days with her.

Life is a wonderful terrible thing... isn't it? We have had so much death in our family and friends in the last couple of years. It is no wonder that I have been so sick. It just messes with your mind and your soul. Death is inevitable. No one understands that better than a World History teacher. I kid around with my students all the time, "Everyone that is in our book is now dead." It's true. We all go at some point. That's why I teach - I want to leave a mark on this world that will last much longer than I am in this world. But, while we are all here, we have to feel this pain of losing those that we love.

A friend of mine that I work with at school lost their dog this week. He was only 8, but had a form of cancer and they had to put him down. She was devastated and cried most of the day. I said at the time, "If I ever lose my girl... there is no way I could be at school." Losing a pet is just like losing a member of the family and I understood her pain.

I didn't think that by the end of this week I would be feeling a similar pain. I have my fingers crossed, but I know she is old and her time will come. It is a really hard time in our family right now.
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