tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91876132024-03-13T08:28:08.396-05:00Thoughts of the Eternal StudentAfter more than ten years in college -- working on multiple degrees mind you -- one would think I would have a few profound thoughts worth sharing. That probably isn't the case, but I'll post my thoughts and opinions here sporadically anyway.Timmie Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690121427691386741noreply@blogger.comBlogger152125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187613.post-86486293574500517312008-12-05T23:03:00.003-06:002008-12-05T23:10:37.118-06:00Let the Campaigning Stop!The echoes of the soundbits of Obama and Hillary's bickering is still ringing in my ears, and the mud slinging for the Republican nomination for Texas governor is <a href="http://www.theeagle.com/politics/Hutchison--Perry-already-sparring">starting</a>.<br /><br />This is ridiculous. Kay "Bailout" is way too cutesy for me to listen to for the next TWO years. Perry's people need to find another nasty nickname if they want me to pay attention.Timmie Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690121427691386741noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187613.post-4037913371844952252008-09-19T15:10:00.002-05:002008-09-19T15:15:56.775-05:00The Reason I WorkWhen the kids wake up in the morning I'm usually the one to get up and get the day started with them. Earlier this week Bubba Gene was sick and I was going to be home with him in the afternoon, so I came in to the office early. When Princess Ana woke up and noticed the change in routine she was very understanding.<br /><br />Ana: Where's daddy?<br />Mama: He went to school to do some work.<br />Ana: Yeah. So he can buy me more dollies.Timmie Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690121427691386741noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187613.post-63161589205989671152008-09-13T13:42:00.002-05:002008-09-13T13:49:01.828-05:00A wonderful moment in parentingAna just went down for her nap, but not before achieving an important milestone.<br /><br />Ana: "Daddy, I want my towel."<br />Me (two minutes of harried searching later): "Ana, I don't know where it is. Try to go to sleep, baby."<br />Ana: "It's in the seat of my Barbie car."<br /><br />and there was much rejoicing. Princess Ana now remembers where she leaves things and can tell us! I'm sure this is a very selective communication ability (she's likely been able to remember where they were for some time), but any clue is better than just whining.Timmie Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690121427691386741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187613.post-25498101607209061642008-09-13T07:34:00.002-05:002008-09-13T07:41:10.502-05:00Good morning, IkeThe wind hit College Station at about 6, and is still picking up. The local tv station has their most junior weather man outside confirming that indeed, "Things have definitely started picking up. It's really coming down now and the wind is gusting." I don't know why they've got to do that.Timmie Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690121427691386741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187613.post-70661394978702712432008-08-25T11:18:00.003-05:002008-08-25T11:35:00.506-05:00Learn from my mistakeIf you ever walk in to a Wal-mart and see that there are absolutely no shopping carts available turn around immediately and leave the store. You don't need anything that badly.<br /><br />I had done a good job of avoiding the locusts (a.k.a. the returning students) this year. I was out of town during the big move-in weekend and my grocery shopping had coincidentally avoided peak student shopping times. I made it through the week only wanting to shoot a handful of people that had not followed my Code of Acceptable Shopping Behavior, so I was feeling very good about the new school year.<br /><br />Wal-mart changed all of that. This year in College Station all schools, Bryan, College Station, and TAMU are starting back on the same day. I couldn't see down the aisles where the school supplies were. It took me an hour to pick up 5 items and get through the check-out line.<br /><br />The positive side of the purchasing swarm is that the shelves are sufficiently bare the good folks at Wal-mart have plenty of room to set out the Christmas wares. Who needs fall holidays anyway?Timmie Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690121427691386741noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187613.post-57008758119551369172008-08-20T12:13:00.003-05:002008-08-20T12:16:55.996-05:00Always looking to accessorize<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgYQ2EAgzoC-jWElISaqWGxWVD_guUQ7BrGSvQgkLsPbEhVPy2Vnze3Bq8eyARj4arT083KQfjSnymEpzASLi8tBoI1XXkgNCR2fxe-Kmy32cg9lYyaXzXRGS56jigOjHyscy/s1600-h/030.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgYQ2EAgzoC-jWElISaqWGxWVD_guUQ7BrGSvQgkLsPbEhVPy2Vnze3Bq8eyARj4arT083KQfjSnymEpzASLi8tBoI1XXkgNCR2fxe-Kmy32cg9lYyaXzXRGS56jigOjHyscy/s320/030.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236649471144298738" /></a>Timmie Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690121427691386741noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187613.post-53834798733162414032008-07-31T10:04:00.002-05:002008-07-31T10:11:20.418-05:00I couldn't have said it better myselfMy cars are insured by that suave gecko with the British accent. Checking my account this morning I see the following:<br /><br />Date of next extraction: (too soon)<br />Amount to be Extracted: (too much)<br /><br /><br />I think extraction may quite possibly be the perfect word to use for an insurance premium payment. It evokes the same imagery of pain and unpleasantness that I have when I think about having a tooth extracted.Timmie Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690121427691386741noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187613.post-12917846908962146802008-07-24T22:41:00.004-05:002008-07-24T22:49:37.022-05:00That's what friends are for.My buddy Joel B called me from the road yesterday. He was listening to <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92833535&ft=1&f=1021">this story</a> about the baby on the cover of Nirvana's Nevermind album. The kid is 17 years old now. Scary.<br /><br />As if that wasn't enough Joel was then kind enough to remind me that students will start returning to town in three weeks for the fall semester. I want to crawl in a hole. I haven't gotten to enjoy my summer yet, and the brats are already preparing to descend on town with their bad driving and over crowd every grocery store and restaurant in town?! Life isn't fair.Timmie Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690121427691386741noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187613.post-63372391654010906492008-07-20T07:57:00.002-05:002008-07-20T08:01:43.757-05:00Tolerable Sunday morning in the officeYeah, paper deadlines suck, but that's grad school for you.<br /><br />A large cup of coffee, a vending machine honey bun, and Guns 'n' Roses "Sweet Child O' Mine" playing on the laptop (thanks to <a href="http://pandora.com">Pandora</a>) make it enjoyable.<br /><br />Back to the code!Timmie Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690121427691386741noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187613.post-29520529805817089812008-06-30T22:48:00.003-05:002008-12-09T09:46:33.723-06:00From Pest to Pet<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJsQ3l0SkAQN8KFwdZXQ6mHVVhT7uj-vIlD73a1UU5aiOxxuxRtU9Ybgq3wf04DKwELa5dH_qjCK9FhbPcCHw_SP7Mbu2Pfc2Hu2yp1wc3wdAlVsgeTpj8NnUzhqGDZErMSIC/s1600-h/DSCN9860.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJsQ3l0SkAQN8KFwdZXQ6mHVVhT7uj-vIlD73a1UU5aiOxxuxRtU9Ybgq3wf04DKwELa5dH_qjCK9FhbPcCHw_SP7Mbu2Pfc2Hu2yp1wc3wdAlVsgeTpj8NnUzhqGDZErMSIC/s320/DSCN9860.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217887670334735202" /></a><br /><br />The sandal eating pest from last week never went home. The neighbors were moving, and apparently they didn't want the little guy, so now he's part of our family. It would be pushing karma too far not to rename the pooch, not to mention the embarrassment that would be caused if/when my advisor meets him. So I'd like to introduce everyone to Bruno.<br /><br />Bruno is named after the noble hound from Cinderella, a movie we watch a lot of around here lately. He's not brown, but he's not red enough or big enough to be Clifford. The only other dog we see frequently on television is the overweight and troublesome Ferdinand from <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105616/">Tom & Jerry: The Movie</a>, which isn't a good choice. I can only hope that if I'm ever locked in the attic room of my chateau by my evil stepmother that he'll live up to his name and come to my rescue.Timmie Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690121427691386741noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187613.post-5176639332804310472008-06-21T07:27:00.002-05:002008-06-21T07:45:59.929-05:00Karma owes me this oneThe neighbors in the next duplex have a new puppy. They've gone through a full grown pit bull (the scariest looking teddy bear of a dog I've ever met), a pit bull puppy (very cute with very sharp teeth), and some mop looking mutts. I think the moppy mutts are still around and are inside dogs, so I just don't see them much.<br /><br />The latest arrival is a black retriever-looking puppy that is overly energetic and can't be bothered to stay put in his own yard. Just this morning I've had to take a bag of my trash away from him, rescue Lidia's garden shoes from his backyard, chase him out of my backyard as he was trying to steal my garden shoes, and finally rescue him from my backyard as he had stolen one of my shoes but was holding it sideways and couldn't slip back through the gate. And that's all just in the last hour.<br /><br />I was determined to be the tough guy and teach the pooch to stay on his own turf, but you can see by my letting him out of my own yard because he was whining that the puppy has already won. So now I need to name this guy since I never see the neighbors. One of the unwritten laws of grad school is that you should do nothing to insult/mock/parody your advisor lest the academic gods rain down busy work and extra years of studies. I'm working on year nine of something that should have taken six years, so it's clear that the academic gods are already punishing me. Besides, I could think of no better name for someone that is constantly annoying me with busy work while at the same time doing nothing that I want him to do.<br /><br />At least I can work on training the puppy.Timmie Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690121427691386741noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187613.post-23773560728890419972008-05-13T07:36:00.002-05:002008-05-13T07:50:22.006-05:00BustedA scene in our kitchen a couple weeks ago as Princess Ana is about to go to bed.<br /><br />Princess Ana: Daddy, what you eating?<br />Me (choking on a piece of dark chocolate): Nothing.<br />Princess Ana: Can I have some nothing too, please?<br /><br />I really thought I'd be able to get away with more as a parent. Princess Ana plays the game all too well though. The best example of this is from last Fall when the sweet princess demonstrates that she knows all the dinner time rules and how to use them to get what she wants. The basic rules are 1) stay in your chair (or at least within arm's reach of it) until you're finished, 2) don't whine to get attention from mama or daddy, call us nicely, and 3) always say please when you want something.<br /><br />Princess Ana to me in the kitchen: Daddy, come see me please!<br />Me (doing a happy dance to her side): Yes, princess, what can I get for you?<br />Princess Ana: Green ice cream, please!<br /><br />Most days I really get the feeling that I'm out of my league with this kid and have serious doubts about how I'm going to make it through the teen years. At least the train wreck will provide some entertainment for the rest of you.Timmie Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690121427691386741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187613.post-24074126670557318892008-05-02T20:56:00.003-05:002008-12-09T09:46:34.147-06:00Food Fit for a Princess<a href="http://bubbassis.blogspot.com">Bubba's Sis</a> had a donut craving this evening, and reminded me that I've had a picture to post here since last October.<br /><br />Princess Ana's favorite food in the whole world is a glazed donut with chocolate icing and sprinkles. Technically, her favorite food is just the top half of said donut. Once she's eaten the upper half she'll graciously allow me to eat the remnants.<br /><br />The problem with most really good but not so good for you food (bar-b-que ribs) is that it's hard to eat without getting a little dirty. Princess Ana is not a girly-girl though, so the possibility of needing a serious spit bath in public doesn't keep her from her donut.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02RN6HTB-UaGbhfQczByGZmDGRrmT7l6Paarr-izHyrNmSnGbf3fYCZxl1U4d4HLrV8d7itJfdhf3ThjUktEi8AExjKI-MUOlBlxVCF3Phu7go7kcSL0ffbGKpGwvjnDf-22_/s1600-h/ana-donut.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02RN6HTB-UaGbhfQczByGZmDGRrmT7l6Paarr-izHyrNmSnGbf3fYCZxl1U4d4HLrV8d7itJfdhf3ThjUktEi8AExjKI-MUOlBlxVCF3Phu7go7kcSL0ffbGKpGwvjnDf-22_/s320/ana-donut.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195966944987913602" /></a><br /><br />If I remember correctly that was a three napkin cleanup.Timmie Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690121427691386741noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187613.post-36330000543710891122008-04-01T21:02:00.006-05:002008-12-09T09:46:34.447-06:00Yup. I'm a yo-yo.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t5AET3TPRV4/R_LvQX2T3SI/AAAAAAAAACE/kmvscoQG6Os/s1600-h/weight.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t5AET3TPRV4/R_LvQX2T3SI/AAAAAAAAACE/kmvscoQG6Os/s320/weight.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184469185615617314" /></a><br /><br /><ul><br /><li> Fall 2003 -- Scared by my first physical since high school.<br /><li> June 2005 -- Princess Ana arrives.<br /><li> August 2006 -- Return to family life after summer internship.<br /><li> July 2007 -- Bubba Gene arrives.<br /></ul><br /><br />My half marathon training this fall postponed the 20+ pounds I gain at every major life event. With no kids or job changes on the horizon it's time to make the final charge at 200.Timmie Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690121427691386741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187613.post-31066616488727190432008-04-01T19:21:00.002-05:002008-04-01T19:34:49.867-05:00Today of all daysI got the last of my committee members to sign off on my dissertation proposal and submitted it to the department for their rubber stamp. This is something that can only happen on April Fool's Day. I'm sure tomorrow I'll get the email from <a href="http://ogs.tamu.edu/">OGS</a>, "It appears that your committee used disappearing ink on your title page. You'll need to make the rounds for signatures again." That must be why none of them used the pen I offered them.Timmie Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690121427691386741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187613.post-44353946973985734782008-03-27T14:02:00.002-05:002008-03-27T14:17:54.247-05:00Perhaps it's time for a career in telemarketingThis afternoon I sat in my office and listened until I heard the door the the men's restroom open. The facilities weren't completely occupied and I didn't need to go so desperately that I was hiding in my office in case an accident occurred. I was hunting my prey, and trying not to look desperate while doing so.<br /><br />After I heard the door close I walked down the hall quickly and managed to get to the elevators just as the door opened and my advisor was about to escape from the building. A productive elevator ride later I have another empty promise from him that he will read my dissertation proposal as soon as he can. I know it's an empty promise -- he's been saying this for the past four months now -- but I feel better nonetheless. This is what my grad student existence has become.<br /><br />It's not quite time to throw up my hands and just walk away. I'll have reached that point when I start following him into the restroom instead of waiting for him to come out.Timmie Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690121427691386741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187613.post-40968235993098611822008-03-01T00:03:00.005-06:002008-03-01T00:30:38.012-06:00Signs that your children are on to youI bought a small computer desk for the living room last weekend hoping that I'll be able to get a little more work done in the evenings after the kids are in bed.<br /><br />I just finished assembling it using a flashlight and my best ninja silent construction skills because Bubba Gene has decided that he'll only sleep for more than 20 minutes tonight if he's in his playpen... in the living room... about 15 feet away.<br /><br />At least it looks like I can type without waking the little guy up. I just need a headlamp if I want to read anything other than the laptop screen.<br /><br /><br />Princess Ana's moment tonight came after dinner. "Ana wants to go outside... and I don't need socks on!" The crusade to keep her properly dressed this winter has been effective, but it looks like she's planning on preempting any attempt to dress her now. If we can avoid the trip to the grocery store in a bikini until May I'll count the effort as a success. She's been wearing her bikini to bath time for the past week now though, so I may be in trouble there too.Timmie Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690121427691386741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187613.post-7629404047679229372008-02-26T11:30:00.002-06:002008-02-26T11:49:09.228-06:00Every day is the sameThis morning -- for the second time in less than a week -- I tried to go to a seminar way to early. Last Wednesday afternoon I hoped out my chair to go to a <a href="http://www.cs.tamu.edu/research/seminars/abstracts/dlecture_2007-2008#02.27.08"> distinguished lecture</a> hosted by the department. This morning I thought I was late and rushed out of my office to go to another <a href="http://www.cs.tamu.edu/research/seminars/iseminar#02.27.08">invited seminar</a>. I noticed my colleague in the next office hadn't left yet, so I thought I'd make him tag along.<br /><br />As soon as I walked in his office it hit me. "Today is Tuesday, isn't it?". "Uhm, yes."<br /><br />The exciting life of a grad student. My daily routine changes so little that I have no idea which day of the week (or week) it is that I'm stumbling through.Timmie Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690121427691386741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187613.post-69782064754420930512008-02-13T21:29:00.004-06:002008-02-13T21:48:46.582-06:00Duh, DaddyThere are times when I realize that you simply cannot explain to a two-year old what you're trying to say.<br /><br />"No, daddy. It's not a DIAPER rash. It's a PANTIES rash!" Princess Ana hadn't had a diaper on all day. What the heck was I thinking?<br /><br />"Dah-deeee... food doesn't go in my tummy. It goes in my mouth!" What crazy thing will I tell her next, that the food she eats turns into poop?<br /><br />May God grant Princess Ana the patience to deal with my obvious mental limitations, and may God grant me the strength I need to not ram my head against the wall after she goes to bed.Timmie Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690121427691386741noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187613.post-8883382570732580402008-02-06T23:42:00.000-06:002008-02-07T00:17:50.560-06:00Wednesday Dinner DisastersThe midweek meal at Chez Smith has turned into a weekly fiasco. By Wednesday I've recovered from my weekend cooking -- the goal of which is to provide me with enough leftovers for lunch the entire week -- and want to get back in the kitchen for the evening. My enthusiasm seems to have gotten the best of me the past three weeks. I've selected recipes that are new to me, and wound up with the same chaotic result each week.<br /><br />5:30 -- start putting dinner together a little early since the recipe is new.<br><br />5:45 -- Princess Ana invades with a new distraction of her own and I lose my head start<br><br />6:45 -- After 45 minutes of plugging through the new recipe the first call from the living room comes, "Will dinner be ready on time?"<br><br />7:00 -- Dinner is not ready on time, and the girls come to the kitchen to investigate only to be chased away by an irritated chef. "Dinner doesn't get ready faster when you're standing in the way!"<br><br />7:15ish -- The girls give up and warm-up some of my lunch leftovers and eat.<br><br />7:45 -- dinner is ready, and pretty darn good, but I'm the only one that gets to enjoy it. The girls pick a little to pass judgment and decide if I'll be allowed to attempt the dish again.<br><br /><br />Next week I'll pick something easier... like Chinese take-out. Another night like tonight and they'll be looking for a new chef at Chez Smith.Timmie Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690121427691386741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187613.post-11965487969732955372008-01-23T12:48:00.000-06:002008-12-09T09:46:34.703-06:007 months ago<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRfA9X_YpK_YxuufP9b1THbUCCpjpcD7WZUpCdcYbYtyaPau2Wsk98rthOrPCSmyjjIR7GRM56iQrIFbRtSBQGnd4HAjmrU0VZvNWbL61pCiOlpBmaJY2D5MgZqJWLoi_FkHe/s1600-h/DSCN7538.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRfA9X_YpK_YxuufP9b1THbUCCpjpcD7WZUpCdcYbYtyaPau2Wsk98rthOrPCSmyjjIR7GRM56iQrIFbRtSBQGnd4HAjmrU0VZvNWbL61pCiOlpBmaJY2D5MgZqJWLoi_FkHe/s320/DSCN7538.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158746266697475874" /></a><br /><br />The picture of Princess Jayci was taken seven months ago to the day. We didn't know that 48 hours later she'd be diagnosed with cancer and be in a hospital fighting just to breathe.<br /><br />Seven months of praying, chemotherapy, and long nights later Princess Jayci is cancer free!<br /><br />God has answered our prayers by healing Jayci and giving all of us the strength and coping mechanisms (half marathon anyone?) to make it through this.Timmie Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690121427691386741noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187613.post-22670333773682280932008-01-19T08:00:00.000-06:002008-01-19T08:33:10.583-06:00A flea on the wing on the fly...... on the frog on the bump on the log in the hole in the bottom of the sea. This final verse from Princess Ana's Veggie Tales DVD reminds me that not everyone wants to get every level of detail. So here are the high level details of last weekend's events.<br /><br />Last Sunday I completed the <a href="http://www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com/Half_Marathon.htm">Aramco Houston Half Marathon</a>. My goal was to finish before the elite men finished the full marathon. Sure they ran twice as far as I did, but I weigh almost twice what they do so we'll call it even. I came in with a time 10 minutes faster than the marathon winner. Whoop! I got to spend the evening before the race with <a href="http://bubba-blog-nyc.blogspot.com/">the</a> <a href="http://katiebnyc.blogspot.com/">entire</a> <a href="http://bubbamom.blogspot.com/">Bubba</a> <a href="http://bubbassis.blogspot.com/">clan</a> (minus Sis' hubby and kids), and had Bubba and Katie Lady out on the course cheering me on the next day. See <a href="http://katiebnyc.blogspot.com/">Katie's</a> blog for the mile 6 photo. I had a great time. Not good enough to sign up for a full marathon, but definitely enough fun to run many more half marathons in the years to come.<br /><br />Some tips in case you ever discover that you've registered for a half marathon:<br /><ul><br /><li> Pack at least 24 hours before you leave your house for the event. This will give you a much better chance of remembering your anti-chaffing materials (for post-race comfort), your iPod arm band (to get ahead in your <a href="http://nikeplus.nike.com">Nike+</a> Cahllenges), and your sunglasses (to look cooler in all race photos).<br /><li> Book two hotel rooms for your family. I love my kids dearly, but I wanted to shoot them when they both thought they would party all night in the hotel room.<br /><li> Con another relative into attending to help with the kids. Your spouse is having to put up with your crazy kids and your grumpy butt too. Get them some help, or at least give them a vacation on their own after the race.<br /></ul><br /><br />A mental health exam should be in that list somewhere as well, but I think that should happen before you've filled out the registration so you save the race fee.<br /><br />If this post has inspired you to run in next year's <a href="http://www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com/Half_Marathon.htm">event</a> you can go ahead and <a href="http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?CHECKSSO=1&RESET=0&EVENT_ID=1514077">register now</a>. I'd really recommend the mental health exam be done first though.Timmie Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690121427691386741noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187613.post-20090445760010867592007-12-31T06:13:00.000-06:002007-12-31T06:27:33.110-06:00UPS knows all<table><br /><tr>Package Progress</tr><br /><tr><th>Location</th><th>Date</th><th>Local Time</th><th>Description</th></tr><br /><tr><th>SECAUCUS, NJ</th><th>01/02/2008</th><th>6:58 P.M.</th><th>ORIGIN SCAN</th></tr><br /><tr><th></th><th>12/30/2007</th><th>7:57 P.M.</th><th>BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED</th></tr><br /></table><br />Tracking results provided by UPS: 12/31/2007 7:11 A.M. ET<br /><br />It's nice to know that they've planned the arrival of my package so precisely. I wish they would pick it up today so my PC wouldn't have to sit dead until next Monday. The machine died an unceremonious death two days before we left town and I forgot to order the replacement motherboard and processor from my parent's house. UPS should resolve to pickup packages the day before a holiday next year.Timmie Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690121427691386741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187613.post-45957186611877106292007-12-30T21:08:00.000-06:002007-12-30T21:22:20.412-06:00Christmas isn't Christmas without an ER visit<a href="http://timmiesmith.blogspot.com/2006/12/lousy-christmas-tradition.html">Last year</a> I jokingly said we were starting a tradition of taking Princess Ana to the ER for Christmas Eve. This year the tradition changed a bit, but was continued.<br /><br />The day before we left Aggieland we took Bubba Gene for a preemptive doctor visit hoping to catch any infection that he might have. We got antibiotics for an ear infection that was just starting. Ana had finished a round of antibiotics the day before, so we thought we had nipped the hospital visit in the bud.<br /><br />Christmas Eve, the day we normally spent in the ER, came and went as did the next three days. The kids were healthy and happy. On Thursday we moved from my mom's house to my grandmother's house and forgot Bubba's antibiotic. Icy roads prevented a trip to get it. The next day he didn't feel well at all and in the evening we finally took him to the ER. His ear infection hadn't gone away. A shot of a second antibiotic and a prescription for a third seem to have cleared things up, so all is well that ends well.<br /><br />Next Christmas we're just going to ask Santa for gift certificates for the ER of our choice and that the doctor we like be on call.Timmie Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690121427691386741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9187613.post-11790557355779551572007-12-24T20:46:00.000-06:002008-12-09T09:46:35.062-06:00Merry Christmas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9sVQay02QoPLCKS631faBse8vtpilUBYAqlQhCX1bn0rRflXIjDEA-FtFCIE-9ldvDbOvVHxps3AtxE7C4vSiGdXJzB_I1d9F6viXnENf9a5dULje6JqcegbZ3FZyMB0xkHP/s1600-h/SantaGene.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9sVQay02QoPLCKS631faBse8vtpilUBYAqlQhCX1bn0rRflXIjDEA-FtFCIE-9ldvDbOvVHxps3AtxE7C4vSiGdXJzB_I1d9F6viXnENf9a5dULje6JqcegbZ3FZyMB0xkHP/s200/SantaGene.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147737260979414594" /></a>Timmie Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690121427691386741noreply@blogger.com1