He's A Boy!

We found out today at the doctor's that he's a boy! We knew it! We both are excited, of course.

He "looked" at us a few times, and the image was very skeletal, so I had the theme from "Pirates of the Caribbean" going through my head. Not really, but Amy thought that it was funny. At one point, he stretched his fingers out, almost as if he was waving.

U2

Amy and I just went and saw "U2 3D" at the IMAX Theatre with our friends Dwight and Tracy. It is pretty much undisputable that U2 has established itself as the greatest rock band in the world. They just keep getting better and better, and for a band that's been around since the late 1970's, that's saying a lot. Seeing this show reminded me of seeing the Popmart tour at RFK in Washington DC in '96 or so. This concert, shot in Buenos Aires, was in a stadium similar in size to RFK. In 3D, it seemed as though Bono was reaching through the screen to you. I certainly enjoyed renditions of their hits, including a chilling version of "With Or Without You" and "Yahweh". I highly recommend seeing this show if you have even the slightest interest in U2.

Colts, You Have To Want It...

The Colts suffered a disappointing loss for their last game played in the Hoosier Dome (sorry, I still can't call it by its current name). You can't win if your defense doesn't decide to show up and put pressure on an average QB like Rivers.

Admittedly, I was nervous in the last Colts game, when they got beat by the Titans. You have to establish some momentum going into the playoffs. You still have to play. And no, Cleveland fans, Indy didn't mess up your plans, you have to win to get into the playoffs - don't rely on other teams to lose. YOU are in charge of your playoff destiny. 13-3 in the regular season was a miracle in itself, as the Colts played some games with as few as 17 offensive players due to injuries.

All in all, the Colts season this year was a typical one for the past few years, getting more than 12 wins is very difficult to do in the NFL.

Kudos to the "other Manning" and the Giants' win over the Cowboys. The Giants defense was in Romo's face all day. And, that blonde girl wasn't there today, so there should be no excuses.

Fox Sports had a "stellar" crew in the booth as usual - Troy Aikman and Joe Buck (the only microphone he should be speaking into is a drive through mike at White Castle). Their announcing booth was conveniently placed above Troy Aikman's name in the Cowboy's ring of honor. Give me a break - so much for the "neutrality" in the booth. Oh, a little lesson in Football 101 for Buck - when a flag is thrown right at the beginning of a play, someone is offsides and the refs don't blow the play dead, it's typically on the defense and is otherwise known as a "free play". Apparently you don't know that, because it's not on your cue cards.

The Colts will be back next year - Go Colts!!!

Short Remodel Update

Compare these pictures to the 2 below. Color is on the walls, crown is up. Basically all is done with the exception of the floor, which will go in a bit later. The City of Phoenix is also done with their inspections. Note cats in the windowsills. They think they can do something about the birds in the grapefruit tree in the back yard, but truly all they're capable of is drooling over the thought of catching one. Besides, it might require exercise on their part.

Beginning Of The Year Musings

Sometimes I'm asked if I ever set new year resolutions. The answer is "yes", and usually that is followed up by the question of whether or not I keep them. The answer is "yes, most of them". I will not post all of my resolutions, but I will post a few - not in any order of importance or priority.

I resolve to pay less attention to the news.

I resolve to be in better shape by hiking up North Mountain (near our home) more.

I resolve to be a better husband and an adequate father.

I resolve to finish up the remodel on our house by mid-2008.

On another front, there is not really any new baby news other than everything seems normal, which is great news. We thought that we would have another "picture", but didn't end up getting another ultrasound. I believe there's one scheduled a couple of weeks from now.

We accomplished a lot on our remodel over the break. We are pleased with that. Pictures will be posted later.

The price of hops have gone up to the point where it's predicted that many microbreweries will go under. We'll wait and see. It might cost Dwight and I a little more with our homebrewing, but I will be selling carbon offsets to anybody who's interested to help defray our increased cost. Whoever buys a carbon offset will get a certificate from me and photographic proof of me riding my bike to Dwight and Tracy's house the next time we make beer. Of course, during the bike ride, I'll only breathe half as much to limit my CO2 emissions.

The Colts play San Diego for their first playoff game this season. The NFL Network puzzles me. They play college football games. Bryant Gumball is employed by them. And, they apparently hate the Colts and discount them all the time.

Over the break, Amy and I went to the Insight Bowl and watched IU get beat by OSU. But, all in all, the game was fun. We also went to a Suns vs. Seattle game. That was pretty fun - it's refreshing to see a team not act like a bunch of spoiled brats.

My year end sports review (well, some sports)

Colts win the Super Bowl. Peyton Manning wins his first Super Bowl, defeating the rival Patriots on the way. Manning will no longer be in the same club with such people as Dan Marino and Patrick Ewing. All of the naysayers in the press are shut up, except for the ones this year that say that Manning hasn't proven anything until he has Brady's Super Bowl record. Dungy proves that nice guys can finish first.

NBA... Hmmm... Can I grant commentary space on my blog to a bunch of whiny, overpaid prima donnas playing a game that is much more entertaining at the college level? No.

Hendrick Motorsports simply dominates NASCAR this year, winning 50% of the races on the schedule (better than some teams' records in the NFC). Jimmie Johnson is completely on fire during the Chase, beating out teammate Jeff Gordon, who has a 5th place average finish. Junior leaves DEI (thankfully) to join the 48 and the 24. Maybe they can teach him how not to blow engines every other race. Kyle Petty proves he's worthless on the track yet again, finishing 35th in the points, while running 5 more races than Mark Martin, who finishes 27th in the points. The Car of Tomorrow proves to be a pile of junk, as I've never seen more parts fall of a car on a track. Plus, after watching some qualifying, the COT was qualifying at 3 mph slower than the Busch Series cars at the same track, the same day.

Notre Dame football. Ouch. Navy at home? But, I still support you, coach.

Red Sox win the World Series again! There must be a lot of band wagon jumpers, because I've never seen so many Red Sox shirts out in public. Never saw any before. I've only known 2 Red Sox fans in my entire life. Steroids take center stage in baseball, but players' actions don't have consequences as far as their MLB career is concerned since Bud Selig has never taken a stand for anything in his entire life. And, the Yankees lose - a wasted playoff spot yet again. I'd just rather see someone else there, someone who can make it past the first round.

The IOC is considering adding ballroom dancing an Olympic sport. Sound absurd? Why not? Poker is aired on ESPN after all, and I think that's more absurd.

There was a hockey season?

Remodel Update (and other stuff)

For those of you that have been to our house, this picture is taken from about where our extra fridge used to sit. As you can see, the doorway from the kitchen out to the garage was enlarged, but the garage is no longer a garage. The space that was the garage and the separate laundry room to the back is now basically one large room. There is now a small laundry room (you can see a portion of the wall in the right side of the picture), a dining area, and a living room. The front living room will be used as a music/reading room. The picture below is of the new living room, which basically sits where the old laundry room was.

There really isn't all that much of an update on the baby, although we decided on a theme for the baby's room. Target has a line that's called "Classic Pooh". So, that's it. And, Amy will get an ultrasound in about 3 or 4 weeks.

Curmudgeon Junior?

Am I the only one that recycles probably 90% of the "mail" that we get anymore? It seems like you can't go anywhere without being bombarded by advertising. Pizza ads, window blind ads, discount brake shop ads, kitty cat manicures, how to get rich quick in advertising seminars ads, you name it. I usually just open up the mail right beside the recycle bin outside.

I found the brochure on our screen door handle - "We Buy Ugly Houses". Yep, I'll call you guys right up. I don't quite know how to take that, I realize we're in the process of a remodel, but come on. And I'll hang a sign on their car that says "We Buy Piece of Junk Cars".

I looked up in the sky the other day and saw an airplane flying around with one of those banners trailing it. I thought "how cute, someone's proposing" (poor girl). But no, it was an advertisement for Geico Insurance. And I'm sure their stupid gecko mascot was flying the Cessna. There were no athletic events that day, and I saw it every day for the next two weeks. I called Luke Air Force base and asked them if they needed an excuse for a live fire exercise. Not really, but felt like it.

Went into Home Depot the other day. Couldn't get anybody to help me, as usual (why aren't all the outlets in one place?), but someone came up to me and asked me if I needed our cabinets re-faced. I finally told them I worked in a cabinet shop, and they left me alone. This has happened the last 8 times I've been in HD, and still nobody has helped me during those 8 visits. Our current cabinets actually NEED a brochure hanging on them that say "We Fix Ugly Cabinets" (we're working on it). And they're hawking DirectTV at a table near the front, also. I'm in your store, which is probably a result of advertising a long time ago, why do you have to market to me while in there? Pests. Your best form of marketing at this point is to be nice to me, help me and point me in the right direction.

I was recently reading a letter to the editor in a friend's automobile magazine, and the writer pointed out to the magazine that their prior article criticizing the overabundance of advertising in NASCAR was conveniently placed in the middle of a huge slew of ads.

Around election time, all of the candidates put up their ugly signs everywhere. In yards, on fences, everywhere. Last election, I wanted to call in a blight claim for the entire city of Phoenix. And they're the ones that we elect so they can pass resolutions that tell us we can't advertise our yard sales on telephone posts. Then, a month after the election, their signs are still up. I'm sure there's some kind of ordinance they passed that will fine a normal citizen if their signs are removed.

Amy and I can probably count on one hand the number of times in the past 5 years that we've been to a business or have hired a service based solely on an advertisement that we saw on television, heard on the radio, or received in the mail. So, if you're a real estate investor, don't tell me my house is ugly. If you're an insurance company, rather than spend money on stupid advertising like that (and making Al Gore angry), pass the savings along to your policyholders. If you're Home Depot, help a person out already, and let DirectTV annoy us elsewhere. And stop trying to sell me something I don't need, and help me find something I do need. And last but not least, if you're a politician and you want me to vote for you - don't put up an ugly sign that will stay there for months - the best thing you can do is to answer a question with a straight answer - that doesn't cost you a thing.

Seriously, I don't ask for much.

A Day That Will Live In Infamy (and other musings)

Amy and I got to hear our baby's heartbeat for the first time yesterday. It was neat to hear, and pretty fast. Sounds like a boy! Who knows, though.

It is raining here in Phoenix, which the Southwest desperately needs. It is supposed to rain off and on until Tuesday or so.

Our remodel is coming along, the drywallers just finished up today in the new area. Now it just has to be mudded and textured and all that fun stuff. Amy and I are both looking forward to having new cabinets eventually!!

Today marks the 66th anniversary of the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. I found the picture below in the National Archives' color photograph collection.

A Small but Interesting World War II History Story...

As many of you know, Amy and I went to Europe in the fall of 2006. More specifically, we were in Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Part of the trip was devoted to seeing some World War II sites - namely the Battle of the Bulge area, Cologne, Overloon, and Aachen (just to name a few places).

While there, we met up with a local German historian named Albert. I believe Albert's father was drafted by the German Army in 1939. We were put in touch with Albert by a relative of mine named Fred. Fred fought with the U.S. 1st Division, "The Big Red One", through the area that Albert lives in - which is near Duren in the western part of Germany. The first picture below was taken in Gladbach, Germany in late 1944 or early 1945. The picture is in a history book of the 1st Division, and was taken by the U.S. Signal Corp. Fred is standing 8th from the left, if you count the soldiers standing on the ground. He is the one standing with ammunition boxes at both feet, a Thompson submachine gun in the crook of his right arm, and a canteen on his left hip.


Albert took us to this very location in Gladbach (see the next picture below). As a World War II history buff, it was an absolutely amazing experience to have the history become so alive, as alive as it could be considering the circumstances were so different between then and now. Instead of cars parallel parked along the street, there were tank destroyers then. There's no more rubble, and the brickwork on the building in the foreground has all been repaired. One thing that remains the same according to Albert is the building in the background - that is still a pub. The building that the second tank destroyer is parked in front of has been torn down. I would imagine that the cobblestone remains underneath the newer asphalt.


This next picture is a picture of Albert and I standing in the approximately the same spot Fred stood around 60 years ago. Needless to say, when I sent Fred the above picture of Gladbach and the picture of Albert and I, he was tickled (after he questioned me mercilessly if it was the exact same place!). He remembered the signal corp photographer taking the picture! I think Albert and I were happy to be standing there, a German and an American enjoying each other's company, something that couldn't have happened then. Thank you, Fred.

Welcome!!!

Welcome to the KratzBlog.

Here, I will periodically post entries pertaining to life in general, updates on our future child, and sometimes just random thoughts on anything I feel like! I will not blog every day, as Red Green has said that "a blogger's brain is about half the size of their free time". Anyways, enjoy the blog and if you want to comment, go ahead!

However, I WILL start out by posting a picture of what our future baby looks like (above), this is as of Nov 7. We'll probably get another picture this week (week 12).

Stay posted for further updates!