Is there anything better in the world?

Sure, it's a couple of months old, but isn't he cute?

Ugh. . .

As some of my reader might know, I've gone through some bad experiences over the past few months at work. It's been affecting my health, and I've been fortunate to use FMLA time to rest and recuperate. These past couple of weeks have been a bit of a wild ride for me. I found out three weeks ago that I was transferring to another department - great! I've been trying to move out from my current position all year. However, over the past month and a half, I've taken off some needed time for FMLA - not a problem, the doctor approved it and my administration office has been working with me on it. Several months ago, I scheduled last week and this week off as vacation time and did not plan on needing to reapply for FMLA time to rest. However, as I'm transferring from a union job to a non union job, it was pointed out to me that if I were to take the two weeks off as vacation, I would not be paid for it as vacation time is accrued monthly, not allotted in full at the beginning of the year (new policy that went into effect this year, of course). Fine, I cancelled my vacation, and reapplied for FMLA time. The next day, I was pulled into a manager's office and told that it looked "funny" that I applied for FMLA the same day I cancelled my vacation. Um, hello - what part of "I've got an ongoing medical situation and I had two weeks off" did they not get? Fine, I've been keeping my nose clean and working every day, up until yesterday. When I got into work today, I noticed that I've only been given three hours of FMLA time for the past week for each day I've needed to leave early - on days where I was gone more than three hours, I was listed as being sick for the remainder of the time I was gone. Okay . . . here's the deal. I've taken less time off these past two weeks than I have in the last month and a half - no one felt the need to mention to me that they were going to apply the strictest application of my allowance - I've had the same allowance for the past month and a half and no one seemed concerned about the amount of time I had taken off. Now, all of a sudden, when I've cancelled my vacation and I'm trying to live by their rules, do they change the rules on me. I can't wait to leave my present job. For the past five months, it's been nothing but soul damaging and heart breaking. I used to enjoy my job, and felt good about the work I did. I still work hard to do my job, but I'm afraid that someone has decided that it's better for the company to crush me before I can move on.

Ugh.

High School Muscial - The Reunion

I recently got an invitation to my high school's 15th year reunion. I got to thinking about the cover story I could offer (if television and movies have taught me anything, I need to lie big about how my life has changed. TV can't steer me wrong, can it?).

Okay, the last time most people saw me was at our 5th year reunion - so where to start? Immediately after leaving the reunion, my car was hit by a multi-millionaire nuclear plant owner who took me in as his heir. Then I later joined the flying Elvi parachute corps. After rescuing bigfoot and the loch ness monster from some nasty legal troubles, I tried to convince George Lucas to kill off Jar Jar Binks in the most inhumane way possible. He didn't go for that, but he did like my idea of sending Howard the Duck to South America to find a lost crystal skull. I wonder whatever became of that idea . I then singlehandedly convinced the Disney board of directors to fire Michael Eisner and appoint me as supreme ruler of Disney World, but after a nasty tussle with Sea World, I had to turn in my crown. With that said, I now moonlight as the Burger King, but that's only a part time gig. What I really do now is dress up like a bat and scare the living daylights out of criminals, that cowardly and superstitious lot! At least I did, until Warner Brothers threatened to sue. I now live the mild mannered life of an airline representative caught up in the day to day struggle of prices and seat dimensions and getting Auntie Amelia from Boca Raton to Schenechdady on a non-stop flight.

Shaved Ice!

With the onset of early summer in Phoenix, it's never too early to start thinking about how you're going to cool down. Christmas of 2006, my parents gave me a shaved ice machine, designed to fill 2 snow cones at once. I've since figured out how to manipulate it to fill up a bowl and then dish it out, complete with syrup, as needed. Both Walmart and Target sell shaved ice syrup, but I've found a local water and ice store that will mix up their own concoctions for you at 10 cents an ounce. My latest finds from them have been pink bubble gum, black cherry, and dreamsicle. Mckenna has certainly enjoyed them!

Myspace

Ok, I'm an idiot. Here I encourage a visit to myspace, and forget to include the link! Click above to get there.

Learning to write again is killing me

Not really, but remembering to blog often is a tough thing for me. It's not that I don't want to write, but I find that I can't spend the time. I'm going to try better. Also, if there's nothing recent here, be sure to check out my myspace page, where I blog about as often as I do here!

What's been going on lately - check out the myspace blog for my thoughts on Iron Man and this summer's movies.

Last night Haily and I took the kids to a local park where the city was showing Raiders of the Lost Ark. I figured it would be a good chance to dive into the Indiana Jones hype machine. I'm really looking forward to the new movie. Last night's showing really reminded me of the humor and roller coaster type fun that this series offers. Thinking about it, one of my favorite Disneyland rides is the Indiana Jones Adventure - the Tokyo Disneyland version of the same ride is called Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Crystal Skull...hmm, maybe it's time to book a flight to Japan!

This next week is going to be interesting. Tuesday, Bryan and Jamie will be flying back from Pittsburgh into Phoenix and might stay the night. Wednesday morning, I have an appointment with my Dr., and hopefully, I'll find out what's been causing my stomach cramps - hopefully, it's not diverticulosis again. On Saturday, we may fly up to Salt Lake to meet my cousin as he comes home from his mission, and on Sunday, I get to lead the music in Primary while all of the sisters enjoy Mothers Day in Relief Society.

Tired and feeling a little flat.

Lately, my days have been long and the nights extremely short. After putting Mckenna to bed and settling down little Adrian for the night, it's about 10:30 and I can't fall asleep easily. It's been rough this week as my schedule has me up at 4:30 to be to work by 6 (I used to work this schedule, but I've been off of it for almost a month and I'm having a hard time readjusting). To complicate matters, Haily's current shift has her working until almost midnight. Last night Haily called around 11:45, concerned that one of the tires looked a little low. She said that there was air in the tire - the rims weren't in any immediate danger. She felt that she could drive home without a problem and I stayed up with her on the phone and talked with her as she made her way home. She didn't get home until close to 12:30 and we didn't get settled in until close to 1. Then, of course, my alarm goes off way too soon, and I'm back up and getting ready for work. When I went outside, I looked at the tire - it was almost completely flat! Somewhere, we ran across a screw that got stuck in the tire. I ended up late for work, but I knew we couldn't leave the tire on in that condition.

Haily was able to get the tire in to be fixed, and there isn't any damage - she said it wasn't that flat when she got home, so overnight it must have deflated. Hopefully, that's the most exciting thing that will happen this weekend, and I can look forward to a relaxing couple of days.

My family

Thanks to everyone who's been in touch with us. We're doing well. Adrian is getting bigger everyday, and so is his big sister, Mckenna - it seems like she's been going through a growth spurt of her own lately. We're still in AZ, but we are looking for ways to move to Utah in the near future.

Recently, my department was closed, and I've been moved to a department that I worked in four years ago. It's been a difficult transition, but I know how to do the job and how to do it well. I've just begun a new project outside of work that may translate into better circumstances for my family, but I'll need to wait to get more information before I can discuss it.

Legend of Link

One of my favorite series of games through the years has been "The Legend of Zelda." As kids, my brother borrowed the first two NES games from one of his friends. We were never able to get the hang of it, and life moved on. In college, I found a second hand Super Nintendo and Legend of Zelda, a Link to the Past and was hooked. Half the reason I bought a Nintendo 64 was to play Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. I've played the Gameboy and Gameboy Color games and just recently finished The Legend of the Windwaker - there's still a couple more games out there that I need to get my hands on and I eagerly look forward to when I can try them out.

The storyline is pretty simple. The main character, Link, must collect certain mystical items and gain a sword to fight the evil Gannon and rescue the princess Zelda in most games. You can obtain certain items like bows and arrows, mirrored shields, flutes, music wands, etc. to move on in each quest. The games are not exactly sequels or prequels of each other (see the Angry Video Game Nerd's diatribe on the chronology of Zelda), but it's hard to find a Zelda game that not only improves upon it's predecessor, but also moves the genre forward. They're fun games, and I highly reccommend playing them. If the current 3/d realtime games aren't your cup of tea, I would suggest "A Link to the Past." It features a great storyline, fun mini-quests, and is just an experience that you need to check out.

More pix

Here's a few more pictures of our family.

This is our most recent "family" picture, taken a month before Adrian was born.

Here's McKenna and Adrian with Grandma Warren
And with Grandma Bratton.
And McKenna trying to be a good big sister.

Adrian Wayne Pix

Baby 2008, make way for Baby Warren

Adrian Wayne Warren was born this morning at 6:35 am in Mesa, AZ. He weighs 6 lbs, 5 oz, and is 19 inches long. We hope to have pictures up within the next 24 hours.

Also, please click on the following link to Jamie Warren's blog. She has fought cystic fibrosis her entire life, and has recently recieved the gift of two transplanted lungs. www.jamiebug.blogspot.com

Summer Travel Tips

Summer is just around the corner so here's a few insider tips to help get through the hue and cry of air travel!

Quite a bit of time has passed since the "no liquids" rule was changed last year. Please keep in mind that beverages are not allowed through security, so guzzle that starbucks or chug the coke before getting in line. You are allowed to take some liquids (toiletries, makeup, etc) through security if they meet the following criteria
1. 3 ounces or lighter
2. In a quart sized ziplock bag
3. Only 1 per passenger
You may fill the bag with as many items as will fit comfortably within it. At security, remove the bag from your carry on items, as it must be scanned separately from all other luggage.

Of course, it goes without saying that larger portions of the same items are allowed in checked luggage. For more information, please visit http://www.tsa.gov for more information about what can and cannot be carried or checked.

If you are sending the kids to go see Grandma and Grandpa and they're flying on their own, please verify your airlines unaccompanied minor policy. There are fees involved for children between 5 and 14, and you may be limited to only non-stop flights. I've heard of too many cases where a family thought they could circumvent the rules, buy a ticket from a website like Orbitz or Expedia, and get to the counter, only for the child to be denied boarding because there is a connection or a stop along the itinerary.

Have fun flying! Go visit the beach


Or see Mickey!
Whatever you do, have a good Summer, and hopefully, I'll post something else before it's over!

Daddy's Girl

This is my daughter Mckenna. She's nearly 2 and a half and has Daddy wrapped around her little finger. This picture was taken at her cousin Malachi's first birthday party, and she wasted no time in finding the cupcakes!

Online all the time

I recently upgraded to a high speed internet connection. I've set up a myspace account, downloaded tons of videos from youtube, and upgraded my windows software too many times to even think about. My favorites tab takes me from the Drudge Report to Aint it Cool News to KIDK tv 3 (I used to be a photographer). And yet, for all the speed I've gained, I still have a huge pile of laundry to sort and fold.

Hitting the links . . .

I've added a few new links to the side. JDee and Jen are my brother and sister, and hopefully I'll increase the family members over as I get everyone's info. Miceage.com is a great website for Disneyland geeks. It has updates on the status of the park and upcoming changes and events, often breaking news about what's coming down the line. Jim Hill writes about the entire Disney company, and sometimes can take a bleak view of the prospects of upcoming films and ventures Disney is persuing. Laughing Place is comprised of a community of hundreds (if not thousands) of posters who discuss everything Disney. Airliners.net has great pics of aircraft (just check out the top photos) as well as a great discussion forum for the airline industry. Newsarama is updated daily with comic book news. Enjoy!

I'm just so white and nerdy

Yeah, I guess I resemble Weird Al's latest anthem. I have argued as to whether Kirk or Picard is better (let's see, Royal Shakespearan actor verses the guy who hosted Rescue, 911). I want to ride a Segway. I haven't edited wikipedia, but I spend way too much time there. I used to collect cherry action figures. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. I'm like a chubby version of JD from Scrubs, a bit too into being a geek. I love movies, I still read comic books, yet I've managed to move out of my mom's basement and get married. I even kissed a girl before I was thirty (take that Shatner!). Yeah, I wish I could've been one of the cool kids, someone that everyone looked up to and wished they could be. But I wasn't. My sense of self worth has grown since them. I'm comfortable with who I am and what I choose for my entertainment. And decorate my home with. And get yelled at by my wife for buying. Ah, who cares! I'm just so white and nerdy.

Travel tips

Just started packing my suitcase last night. I'm heading up to Idaho to spend some time with my family, and I just realized, I haven't seen snow since 2002! Living in the sonoran desert can do that to you I guess. But as I packed my bags, I got to thinking about some of the recent changes by the TSA regarding carry on items.

* Always verify baggage limits with your carrier. Some airlines allow only 2 checked bags, some allow 3. Be aware that if you go over the free limit, excess fees will come into play, and you pay those fees one way - if you're still heavy, oversize, or have too many bags on your return flight, you'll have to pay again.
* Your airline may allow 1 carry on and 1 personal item, but the aircraft may not be able to handle it. Many smaller commuter jets, like the Canadair Regional Jet have limited carry on space. Larger carry on bags may have to be placed beneath the seat, or gate checked.
* Beverages are not permitted through security. Drinks purchased after you've been though security may be taken onboard.
* When it comes to toiletries in your carry-on bag, remember 3-1-1...items weighing no more that 3 oz in a 1 quart bag, 1 per passenger. These items should be kept at the top of your luggage, just in case the TSA agents need to take a closer look at your bag. Of course, there's no limit on the amount of these items that can be placed in checked luggage.
* And always during the holidays, remember to give yourself at least 2 hours to checkin for your flight. Checkin and security lines will be long. In fact, if you check in too late, while you may still have 45 minutes left before departure, if the lines are too long, you may be denied boarding.

Happy flying and have a Merry Christmas!

I didn't see Marion . . .

. . . the librarian, but the last three weeks have been great as I've rediscovered the local library. Since moving out to the sticks, the local library options have been limited. The town we live in has a small modular (read: trailer) home that manages to squeeze every book they can into the limited space. Unfortunately, there's not that much more room, and the offerings are a bit scant. One day after work, I drove through a part of town I hadn't been to before (I work in a metro area, but live in a bedroom community miles away) and discovered a branch of the metro library. I also discovered that anyone living in the county, not just the city, could become a patron. It's only been since November 28th that I discovered the library, but what a great three weeks. And here's the kicker. For those who know me, or read my blog back in ... what was it March? I had an article or two on the state of comics. I've read at least a hundred graphic novels and comic trade paperbacks since getting my card, and I'll tell you, I've found some new winners.



Ultimate Spider-man. Wow. When I first heard about it, I was part of the camp that wondered why in the heck Marvel wanted to throw out 40+ years of continuity to create a new universe for tweens to discover classic Marvel characters. I mean, yeah, the clone saga was pitiful, but we're talking Spider-man here! John Romita, Steve Ditko, Todd Macfarlane, Erik Larson, John Romita Jr, the list goes on . . . Spidey's the supreme example of what could happen to any of us if we got bit by a radioactive spider - life sucks, we try to make it better, but it's always a roller coaster. You don't mess with Spidey. Or so I thought. Cut to, what is it now, six years later, and boom, Ultimate Spiderman has just celebrated issue number 100. I've picked up the trades out of curiosity, and I've read them a bit out of order. I can't say I'm much of a Brian Michael Bendis fan, a lot of his stuff is too "adult" for my tastes, but he nailed Spiderman on the head. For me, it feels like a natural progression as Peter discovers his powers, loses Uncle Ben, finds love from Mary Jane, and disowned by Aunt May. It's great writing, great art (by Mark Bagley), and something a lot of books don't have - heart.



Another book that has heart is "Herobear and the Kid." This book has received a LOT of praise, and I even picked up the first issue a few years ago, but it's only been over the last few weeks that I've read the first volume. I've read "indy" books since the days of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and I love "Bone." "Herobear and the Kid" reminds me a lot of what I found interesting about Bone when I first discovered it. Something about the black and white creates a sense of innocence and wonder in these books, and in this case enhanced by the animated pencils of writer/artist Mike Kunkel. In it's later issues, Bone got a little too serious, compared with its beginnings. I don't think that'll be the case with Herobear. It's loaded with heart, and dare I say whimsy. I can't wait for the next installment now.

Five Years Ago

Five years ago, I watched the towers fall.
Five years ago, I learned what heroes truely are.
Five years ago, our world changed.
Five years ago, I saw the best and worst in humanity.

I awoke that Tuesday morning as my sister knocked on my bedroom door. I couldn't hear her clearly, she said something about the world trade center being on TV. Just like millions of others, I turned on my TV to see the black cloud rising from tower one. My thoughts turned back 12 years. On a July evening in 1989, I stood atop that tower and gazed past the Statue of Liberty to the lights of the New Jersey coast, wondering how many people were looking back at the tower that night. Earlier that night, I trembled with anticipation as I waited for the elevator doors to open. I've never been good with heights, and up to that date, the highest up that I had been (aside from the plane that took me to the east coast) was 26 stories up in a high rise in Salt Lake City. After spending about a half hour at the top, I lingered with my tour group in the courtyard between the two towers and marvelled at the sheer magnificence of the buildings.

I went to work that afternoon in shock. At the time, I was a photographer with a local tv station. The roads were empty, and the general hubub that permeated the newsroom on most days was somber. The anchors and reporters were gathered around the monitors which recorded the national feed. We were all quickly dispatched to our assignments. I don't remember everything I did that day, but I do remember going to the local aiirport to set up a live shot for the evening newscasts. Our competitors were also set up, and the usual banter we shared took on a somber tone. I remember feeling relieved that I was given this assignment, as it meant that I wouldn't have to do any interviews, too worried about emotions too near to the surface.

Since that day, my life has changed dramatically. I'm married, and my wife and I have a beautiful daughter. I thank my Heavenly Father daily for the blessings in my life. I look back today a little bit older and wiser, and still feel deep sorrow over the lives lost in New York, the Pentagon, and Shanksville. I heard a song today, titled "Have You Forgotten." I hope I never forget. May God bless the USA.