its christmas time... almost...

so i've been finding it hard to get into the christmas spirit with finals coming up soon, but I think work helped a bit. Lets face it, Christmas and candy go hand and hand, and working in one with a huge christmas tree out front, its kind of hard to not get into the spirit somewhat (plus 7 hours of christmas music does it to you as well).

I've been playing with my camera and learning more about it. I have some pictures I'll post. Speaking of pictures, all the picturese from the Astros game are on my photobucket (the link is in the links section on this page). The photoblog from it is taking longer because the way this site is set up makes it really difficult.

a looot of pictures, pt 2

more pictures to come (pretty much all from my astros game)... I have to go to class and "learn"


there are a lot more, i'm only putting a few on here, I'll try and get everything on my photobucket account, I'll keep you updated when I have them all on photobucket.

a LOT of pictures and catching up!

Soooo... to start things off I got a new camera!! 10x zoom, and a faster shutter speed than my cybershot! I played with it a bit when I got it.

playing wit h the close range
i thought the reflection of my guitar in my acoustic was pretty cool, had a hard time focusing it though, plus the color ones got all the dust that was on my guitar :p

a little bit more in focus this time

the camera really focused on the bug splatter on my windshield :S
(don't worry, I wasn't driving)

Took a trip to Galveston to see Robin in her new apartment

a view as we head into Galveston

Surprise!

She still looks surprised to have a diploma... ;p

No, no.. this isn't a scene from 'The Birds', a massive amount of birds like to gather in front of Robin's apartment.

I found a frog, and chased it around to get a picture of it. I had only gotten my camera the day before and was amazed by the zoom ;p

Another recipe for you

So it seems I've been cooking more lately, been lucky with the recipes, haven't found any I haven't liked.

Chicken and Stuffing Skillet

and one from my Campbells cookbook I got for christmas:

Cornbread Chicken Pot Pie
Makes 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's Cream of Chicken Soup or 98% Fat Free Cream of Chicken Soup
1 can (about 8 ounces) whole kernal corn, drained
2 cups cubed cooked chicken or turkey
1 package (8 1/2 ounces) corn muffin mix
3/4 cup milk
1 egg
1/2 cub shredded cheddar cheese

1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In 9-inch pie plate mix soup, corn and chicken.
2) Mix muffin mix, milk, and egg. Pour over chicken mixture. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden.
3) Sprinkle with cheese.

This reminds me of corn casserole with chicken, but the cornbreak does make a thicker crust, and makes it taste a little different, but still good!

good recipe...

the other night I cooked this great recipe I found online, here

i didn't add the sour cream or onions, but it was good, and I had a bunch leftover!!

I'm still working on getting my astros pictures together, I got about 100 of them put in order, so i'm 1/5 of the way done!!

To be added later...

I went to the Astros game last weekend, it was FANTASTIC! My seat was great, 4 rows shy to being as close to home plate as a Astros fan can get without being someone important (like the owner, or a former president and first lady). I knew my seat was good, but it wasn't until I actually got to where my seat was that the reality hit as to how great my seat was!

They were playing the Atlanta Braves, and it was the second to last game of the season (since there was no way they could make post-season play). I would have loved to go to the last game, but school prevented me from it! If you didn't know (how could you not with all the previous postings about it..), this season was Craig Biggio's last season as a player for the Houston Astros. I don't think he'll pull a Clemens and come out of retirement, he's said it for years that once he got 3000 hits he would think about retiring. 3000 hits came and so did the retirement announcement, not very surprising, but I still tried to think optimistically that maybe he'd play one more season. It was a bittersweet night, but I had a blast. They did something special this night to honor Biggio. Since he's played 3 positions with the Astros (started as catcher, then outfielder, and then second base), they allowed him to play catcher for a few innings. Originally it was going to be the final game on Sunday, but for one reason or another they moved it to my game. I had no problems with this date change, since my seats were ideal to see him behind the plate, where he got his start 20 years ago! It's amazing how long he's played with the Astros (playing on the same team for a entire career is rare in baseball, or pretty much any sport). I was born the same month and year he got drafted to the Astros, and a year later he was playing with them (as the number 4, there's some Astros trivia for you!).

Although I will get my chance to see him again (as I did with Bagwell, even though I didn't get to see Bagwell play one last time :( ), but not in uniform. I don't know when they'll do it, but within the next few seasons they will retire his number, and I want to be at that ceremony. I think a years advance is enough heads up this time, so maybe we won't have to get the tickets from scalpers! As always I'm reliable in keeping everyone up to date on these types of events, so the moment it is announced, I will be bugging someone to get me tickets :D .

As for planning ahead, the tentative 2008 schedule has been posted. Unfortunately they'll be away for my birthday this year (how dare they! they should know I'm turning 21, its a big deal!) but the weekend after my birthday they're playing the St. Louis cardinals, which is always a good match-up. So I most likely will be in town for that weekend, so if anyone wants to go to a ball game, I'll be willing!! I was kind of hoping it'd be a team I hadn't seen them play yet, but that'll do! I'm trying to see them play as many different teams as possible. Already seen them play the Atlanta Braves, Cincinatti Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, and Pittsburgh Pirates. As long as Jake Peavey (San Diego Padres) stays healthy I would love to see him pitch, he's one of my favorite non-astro players.


As for school, it's going. I had a test Monday, which I felt weird going into, because I didn't study as much as I usually do, but I felt prepared. It's my math class, and all the math involved I was applying in my Statics and Dynamics (physics-ish..) course, so there really wasn't much I could do, since I knew how to apply all the rules.

But I joined IEEE, we had a meeting today. As usual there was a guest speaker who discussed all the other degrees engineers sometimes get, which left me wondering what exactly I want to do. I always though graduate school was something important that I should do, but the speaker gave me insight to other options, and briefly mentioned that very few people get their masters.

I learned about a robotics competition IEEE holds, there was a information session, so I went to it. I hate going to those meetings because it's a little intimidating because I know nothing of the subject, but they always emphasize no experience is needed. It doesn't sound too bad, and it may give me more of a idea of what I want to do, because I think I have things figured out and more doors open and I am left feeling like maybe I don't have it all figured out. But I'm starting to figure out that I'm going to have to get out there and experience everything before I can start making decisions, because something could look good on paper (or bad, robotics just sounds scary to me...) and end up being the opposite.


But I must get some sleep, 7 am comes early, and I hate waking up. Once I get the 500+ pictures from the game organized, I'll post the good ones. I still have some playing left to do with my camera. For some reason it doesn't upload with filenames in sequential order, which drives me nuts, so I have to go back and manually rename all the pictures, so it may take awhile!

been busy....

well, since i last posted... the summer session ended, I got B's in lecture and lab, I got a job at six flags, and the fall semester has begun. Oh yea, and I went to astros game last weekend (it was AWESOME)

Last weekend I briefly went home, since I had to work I couldn't stay as long as I usually do, BUT I got to go to my Astros game. Not JUST a Astros game, Jeff Bagwell's number retirement ceremony. It was great. I was in the presence of great figures in the Astros organization: Nolan Ryan, Mike Scott, Jose Cruz (even though he is there every Astros game since he is the 1st base coach), and other players who have had their number retired within the Astros organization.




The man of the hour!


There were a few guest speakers, Brad Ausmus and Craig Biggio had a few words, Ausmus had the sold out crowd laughing as he roasted Bagwell. Of course Biggio got a little sentimental as he does with just about every one of his speeches.



...and it's officially retired!


But there still was a game to play. Astros VS Pirates:

Chris Burke on 2nd
Hunter Pence in CF
Lance Berkman on 1st
Carlos Lee in LF
Luke Scott in RF
Ty Wiggington on 3rd
Mark Loretta at SS
Brad Ausmus behind the plate
Wandy Rodriguez Pitching


I knew Biggio was most likely not going to be in the line up since it was a day game following a night game, but he did come in to pinch hit, and struck out, probably my last time to see Biggio playing... ever.... since he is retiring after this season :( I am contemplating trying to go to another game this season in hopes I can see Biggio play one last time.


It was a great game, exciting, not a dull moment, and of course the Astros won!

Overall a awesome day. I enjoyed seeing the number retirement ceremony, since I have been a Bagwell fan for as long as I've been a Astros fan. Also, I never got to see Bagwell play in person since the first year Minute Maid Park opened, since the last season he played, by the time I went to the game, he was already on the DL (disabled list) for his shoulder for the rest of the season. When Biggio has his number retired I want to be there as well (just a heads up, if anyone wants to get me tickets.. no date has been set, but as usual I will keep you updated ;p )

In more astros news, they FIRED Phil Garner... yes THE Phil Garner that took us to the World Series and turned the Astros around into a first or second place baseball team. Drayton McClane's reasoning for the dismissal is the dissatisfaction in performance of the team this season. I can go on for pages on why the dismissal for that reason is unnecessary, but I doubt my baseball rambling is of your interest. But he also dismissed General Manager Tim Purpura, which I'm pretty sure most of Houston isn't too heartbroken to be rid of. But my game was both of their last games as members of the Astros organization.


School is going OK, I had a professor change to the professor you get warned about from day one. Whats even worse is that he's teaching a key course from what I hear from a friend who's graduating next semester. Other than that professor, the others seem decent, but I haven't had a test yet. I joined IEEE. Went to a meeting on campus, and became a official member. My new roommate is pretty cool. Completely opposite of me, but we get along and she speaks english!!

Also, if anyone wants Six Flags tickets let me know.. I get comp. tickets every so often and I hate roller coasters, so it's pointless for me to go... it's open every weekend, the water park is closed for the season. Just let me know, I don't know how many I get though.


If anyone has sent me anything since the beginning of August, let me know. Long story short, they thought my apartment was vacant and sent all my mail to the office. I've dealt with the office and they say they have nothing for me, even though there are at least 2 letters I know were sent that I never received. Either they screwed up or my roommate threw them away, either way I still have to go down there and speak my mind.

Sea World

Stephanie came to visit this weekend and we went to Sea World on Friday.. finally... after venturing through the park I started to remember the last trip there when I was little.

We got in line about 11ish, where we got our first taste of the crying, whining, and screaming that we would have to withstand the rest of the day.

We walked around a bit and I started to remember the trip we took there years ago. The area in which they hold the water skiing show was one of the first places I remembered.

One thing that wasn't there last time was 'Journey to Atlantis' ride which resembles the log ride that every water park has. We didn't ride it due to the fact initially I was too timid to go, but it only took me the whole day to get the courage to go, but by the time we made it over there we were too exhausted. But we did realize that I'm not as timid to ride water rides then rollercoasters... odd..

There were some birds..

And this duck.. it kept swimming away when I was trying to take a picture.. It's like it knew I had slow shutter speed.... hmmph...

Of course we had to go to a shamu show.. We went to the 'Believe' show..

It was quiet cheesy. We sat in the splash zone and didn't get splashed, I was disappointed. I was deprived of the splash zone when I was little... hehehe...







We went to the waterpark, and then to the sea lion and otter show. Probably my favorite even though those sea lions seemed to be not cooperating. Again we sat in the splash zone, and this time I got wet, just me. Too bad the water squirted off the stage and directly onto my crotch, I mean perfect aim, luckily my clothes were wet from my bathing suit so it didn't look terrible.

We went to go see the sea lion tank afterwards, and spent a long time there, because they're just so cute...





























next up the penguin exhibit... it was dark inside, so it was hard to take pictures, but we found a giant penguin outside.

the dolphin tank was pretty dull, it was after 5 and the feeding was done for the day so they weren't too active.

the shark and coral exhibit wasnt too great. It was ok, but I was expecting more. The tanks seemed a bit small and not set up very well. They had information on SOME of the species of sharks and fish in the tank, but not all of them. I'm not saying it was horrible, but I'm a nerd (the kind who gets excited about shark week!) and I like to know what I'm looking at. But they had some cool jelly fish.

We had planned on going to another sea lion show and another shamu show, but we were exhausted so we decided to leave and beat some of the traffic out of there.

The rest of the picture are on my photobucket account, the link is on the left under 'links' and the password is my last name.

back to reality...

now its back to reality after my short "vacation".. had fun with some friends this weekend.. went to sea world and wandered around san antonio... got a lot of pictures from sea world... will post them later


---- i posted the pictures on my photobucket page.. the liink is on the left under links, and the password is my last name

Weekend: pictures

We got as many pallets as we could... it took some time..


but we made a fire!


Even though one wasn't needed since it was warm out and we had the light of the full moon!



In sad news, my pocket rock-it AKA my headphone amplifier, finally died... it's officially crapped out, no amount of ghetto rigging can fix it... so I took it apart to verify it was dead... I've had it for at least 5 years now, so I think we got our moneys worth out of it..

Weekend

Well I went to Corpus this weekend to see my friends new apartment (oh how i envy them..) and to celebrate with robin her last weekend in corpus. I got a few pictures that I will upload later...

When I got home I received a letter from UTSA saying I made the part-time honor roll last semester, I was pretty excited, since midway through last semester I felt like I'd be far from.

Also, a few big dates coming up in August:
The Astros will recognize two Astros icons during pregame ceremonies in August. First up is Biggio, who will be honored on Sunday, Aug. 12, prior to the Astros' game with the Brewers. On Aug. 26, Jeff Bagwell's uniform No. 5 will be retired prior to the Astros-Pirates game.

I think the retirement of Bagwell's number would be a awesome thing to see. If you don't know much about baseball then it's hard to describe, but retiring a number is a big deal, and it being Bagwell's number retired is a even bigger deal (well, to me anyways, since he's pretty much the reason I started watching baseball... which you all should know, if not, you know now).

HE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Craig Biggio now has 3000 career hits!! Even Bagwell was there to see it, Biggio brought him out on the field, it was really neat to see. I think they said he's the 9th player in history to get his 3000th hit with the same team. He was a first draft pick by the astros in '87 and made his MLB debut 19 years ago this past Tuesday. June is just a good month for Biggio I guess. Drafted, debuted, and 1st and 3000th hit all within the month of june.

Hit 1 (June 29, 1988): After only one full season in the Minor Leagues, catching prospect Craig Biggio joined the Houston Astros in late June 1988. In his fourth game as a Major Leaguer, Biggio had the duty of catching the legendary Nolan Ryan as the Astros opposed the Dodgers and Orel Hershiser at the Houston Astrodome. Hershiser bested Ryan, 2-0, giving up only two singles, one of which was Biggio's first Major League hit.

Hit 3000 (June 28, 2007)

time to get rid of it...

so, i've had my amplifier for a long time, and i hardly use it because its too loud for my living situation.... so i've decided to try and sell it

AND my pocket rock-it (a mini headphone amp...) finally broke, i had the battery ghetto rigged for awhile since one of the wires came loose, but now i think its to the point where i cant fix it anymore since i cant get any distortion out of it... so as of now my electric guitars are neglected and i'm stuck with the acoustic which i can only play between 8-3 on weekdays since my roommate is ALWAYS HERE!!!

so if you know anyone interested let me know...

i may try and get another mini amp, but one with the option of headphones... next weekend i'm going to go on a quest to find other music stores besides guitar center... i hate going to music stores because i always find something i want, for awhile i've wanted a bass, so i may just go to the little stores and see what they have...



OH YEA... 4 AWAY TIL 3000 for BIGGIO!! I'm predicting thursday it will happen, but thats assuming he plays every game.. they may give him some rest just to be sure he gets it in houston...

The Prestige

I just rented 'The Prestige' with Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman, and I loved it. Not a big fan of Christian Bale since he butchered batman in the new batman series (I can go on a rant about how he ruined the character, but i'll restrain for now..). I figured if Hugh Jackman is in it and its not a love story (kate & leopold = disaster) then it may not be that bad.

I also saw the new Fantastic 4 movie last week. Surprisingly it was good. I was really disappointed with the first one, to the point that I wasnt going to see the sequel, but I'm glad I did.

catch up pt 2

So i did some cooking... made some french toast, some mac n cheese, crawfish quesadillas, and some of daddys frito pie

found some recipes for french toast and mac n cheese in this cookbook... \

the mac n cheese called for milk, and i started drinking soymilk so i used that... probably should have gone with the normal milk...


finally got everything hung and situated in my apartment

i even cleverly put my mirror on my bedroom door so i can watch tv from my desk...