Vegas, Baby!!

What it is?!?! Well, I just got back from Las Vegas where my company was exhibiting at the Digital Signage Expo 2010. It was located in the Las Vegas Convention Center.

We stayed at Paris Hotel on the strip this time and I will have to say that I enjoyed it immensely. Their were numerous options for food (rather than just an expensive sit down dinner) and neat places to grab a drink (Lobby Casino bar was the favorite destination).

I got to see some good friends that I hadn't seen for about a year and met some new people as well. All in all, it was a good week but 5 nights in Vegas seems like a month of normal time. I was absolutely whipped and ready to come home by the end of the week.

Not to mention I missed my girls (all 4 of them).

Holla.

Snow 2010

Megan, Snowman and Maddy
Originally uploaded by jabbott.

I live in Dallas, as in Texas because I enjoy the warm weather. I cannot imagine a tougher job than to be a weather man in this state as things can change in an instant.

So here we are. A nice normal winter day in February when the weather flock start forecasting snow. You know, the white stuff that falls from the sky unlike the hard stuff we call hail? Anyway, it wasn't the actual forecast that got me but the amount of accumulation they were stating to expect. Now, we get these forecasts from time to time and 90% of the time they end up not happening. Again, this is Texas after all. So you can imagine my surprise when the 8-10" they were expecting actually showed up!!

Of course, the city shut down which is fine. We have snow days for a reason. The girls had a great time playing in the snow even though they weren't really dressed appropriately to stay warm. Our electricity never went down but numerous houses in the area did due to fallen tree limbs/branches knocking out power lines.

We harbored one such victim (Megan) to stay with us while her brave family huddled around their fireplace. :D

Good times.

Jacob, the Eagle Scout

Jacob, the Eagle Scout
Originally uploaded by jabbott.

My little brother earned the rank of Eagle Scout and his ceremony was a couple of weeks ago. It was a very good ceremony as he received his hard earned Eagle Scout status with a nice surprise at the end as my Father was awarded the "Bridge Builder" achievement from the BSA.

I took the whole family out there as I feel that this is a great accomplishment and wanted it to be special for Jacob. He has worked very hard to get this (as has his mentors) and they all deserve it.

Congratulations Bubba!

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Nice shot in the arm today from B. McCarthy who comes off the DL to deliver a nice quality start. Add in a couple of dingers from Josh Hamilton and it looks like this team is no fluke.

I think back to the beginning of this season and remember thinking that if they were just in the hunt after the all-star break that I would consider it a huge step forward. Given the young talent and the questions surrounding the starting rotation and this didn't seem like a reasonable request but now anything less would be a disappointment.

I have thought about which is easier - being a fan of a team that doesn't win or being a fan of a team that is expected to win? Take the Mavs the year after they beat Utah to advance to the 2nd round. The following year they were expected to do well, which they did. They were ultimately beaten in the Finals by Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat.

Now what? Disappointment.

The following year was a huge disappointment and pretty much since has been the same.

But take the Rangers....nobody ever expects anything from them. Especially after the all-star break. Now that they are playing quality ball and keeping their farm prospects in-house it is a lot easier to get entrenched as a Ranger fan.

These are exciting times my friends.

Stay thirsty.

Congratulations to the LSU Tigers!!

Well, another college baseball season is done and one team stands alone at the top. Unfortunately that team is not my team, the Texas Longhorns.

They had an amazing season with a young group of kids and should be fun to watch next year but I must give some props to the LSU Tigers for a great CWS run. They have some serious talent over there in the swamps and deserve to be #1.

The hard part about all this is that it is no secret who my favorite teams are: Texas Rangers, Texas Longhorns, Dallas Mavericks and the Dallas Cowboys. I am very open regarding my fandom of each of these teams and follow them religiously (when my 3 daughters let me). This leaves me open to ridicule from my sea of friends when their teams best mine.

With last night's victory that opens up a large number of these friends as my Dad lived in Metairie (outside of New Orleans) for a couple of years and some former co-workers either went to school there or grew up there. So be it. I will have my day in the sun once again. Oh yes, I will have my day. :D

So enjoy this victory David, Lynsey, Jena and Dad for it will not come at the expense of one of my teams again anytime soon (I hope).

Over and out and Roger that.

Um....

Mermaid Parade
Originally uploaded by d76.

...Check please.

I don't even know where to begin with this one. I just felt the need to share it with the world. Well, some friends. Ok, myself since I am the only spare that reads this blog.

Peace.