It’s been awhile since I updated you on my MVP Baseball 2005 dynasty. My Dodgers were able to defeat the Mets in the first round of the playoffs with a series victory of 3-1, winning the final game at home. Our next series for the National League crown is against the Padres!

In game 1 the Dodgers took a 4-1 lead into the final two frames, but the Pads gave us some trouble. They put up 2 runs in the 8th, and another 2 in the bottom of the 9th to come back and beat us. The Dodgers look to rebound in game 2 of this 7 game series.

Surprisingly, it’s a LOT of fun getting beat in this game. Knowing that your lead isn’t always safe, and that you WILL lose games, makes every win feel great.

UPDATE

Game 2 did not go so well either. The Dodgers fell behind early 5-2 against knuckleballer Steve Sparks, who went a strong 7 innings. The Dodgers’ scored early with a 2-run shot by Drew, but their bats were silenced until the 8th, when they put up another 2 spot. Unfortunately that was all the offense could muster as the Dodgers fell 5-4 to the Padres. This puts the Dodgers down 0-2 in this best of 7 series. The Dodgers head back to Los Angeles where they hope a change of scenery can turn things around.

Tis’ a sad day for myself, Andrew, and Kevin. Yes, it is the first day of the fall semester at CSULB. Unlike those other guys, I only have 2 classes this semester, which is nice. Unfortunately it’s also my first year teaching, so I’m sure I’ll have plenty of work to do. I have class Monday and Tuesday night, so I can get it all done at the beginning of the week. This is basically my last semester though, because in the spring I’ll be doing student teaching. For that I only have to come out to the campus a handful of times. Good luck to everyone else starting school!

Andrew and I picked up a new bbq today, and it’s called the BeefMaster II. It’s from BBQ Galore, and their store totally rules. Tomorrow my dad and I are going to hook up the gas so we can use it. The best part of buying it was when the manager turned to us and said “I’m so certain you’re going to like this grill that I bet his life on it” and then proceeded to point to one of his employees. It was super hilarious. Anyways, if you need a super awesome grill they have a great Labor Day sale through September 9th or something, check it out.

Hey! Do you have my dvd’s of GO or WILD THINGS? Yes, I know I shouldn’t own either of them, but I was just wondering if you have these movies on dvd lying around without a case and you might have borrowed them or I might have left them at your house or at your parent’s house on one day or night during the last oh say five years? Yah, cuz I have the dvd cases for them, but there are no dvds inside. HA! Ok thanks.

Big Bear was a lot of fun. Stacie, myself, Andrew, and Sarah all went up with some crazy girl scout leaders for a fun weekend. We didn’t do a whole lot, mainly slept, read, played catch, and ate. Stacie and I bought baseball gloves before we left and practiced our catch, it was fun. I think going to the outdoors can really boost your sanity and remind you what an awesome planet we live on.

Today I started new teacher training that lasts all week. It’s a cool opportunity to gear up for the new school year and meet some of the other new teachers I’ll be teaching with. A lot of it are concepts I learned in my credential program, but they are very good refresher courses.

After new teacher training Andrew helped me move even more stuff to our place, specifically a china cabinet from my mom’s house and a bed from Stacie’s mom’s house. Whoa, that’s a lot of apostrephes. The china cabinet belonged to my Grandma, and it looks pretty nice in our dining room. It should be a great place to put some nicer dishes, and we can use all the cabinet space we can get. I had also ordered a door from Lowes, but they’re retarded and got it wrong for a 2ND time! I got my money back and decided I’ll look elsewhere.

Stacie started college school today, I start next week, and in a couple weeks we both start school work. This will probably be a long semester since we’re both taking classes, but I look forward to the challenges ahead. Oh, so I had a cool idea. What do you think about me buying a cool domain name like www.mathparty.org and putting a blog like this on it with the daily homework? Wouldn’t that be cool? My students could come check their homework for the day, and I could post test and quiz reminders, that kind of stuff. I think it would be fun.

We had a fun time camping under the stars. I’d say more, but I have to sleep. I have new teacher training tomorrow at 8 am, poor me. Looks like it’s back to the grind!

Stacie, myself, Andrew, and Sarah are all off to Big Bear Lake for the weekend. We’ll be pitching tents and roughing it for a whole two nights! Unfortunately beans and weiners did not make the weekend menu, but I will survive. Maybe when I get back people can come over for a beans and weiners night. We could have all different kinds, like one using Bush’s Baked Beans, a chili variety, and of course a hot and spicy version. Mmmmm, beans and weiners.

Right, see ya Sunday.

Today was sad…it was my last day leading worship at the Burn. It was a really tough decision to make, but I think it will be for the better. I’ve played in the band since I was in 9th or 10th grade…and leading for the last five…so almost 10 years altogether. This year is going to be really busy with teaching and finishing my credential, and I just won’t have the time that the band deserves.

I do want to say that it has been an awesome experience, and thank you to everyone who gave me the opportunity to serve. From Kerinda, to Paul, to Scott, and to Mike, it has really been a blessing. Rock on Awestruck.

Update: I feel like posting every super awesome person that I had the privilege of playing with in the Burn. Here goes, in no particular order: Adam, Paul, Jason, Sarah, Amy, Denise, Kurtis, Andy, Dave, Alondra, Melissa, Ryan, Jorge, Theresa, Trevor, Brian, Niall, Ryan, Yasser, Johnathan, Andie, Mondo, Tim, Andrew, Hector, John, Erin, Becky, Chris, and Jasso. Yah, I think that is everyone. You all rocked, thank you for some great years.