Moments from 2008 part one

Robbies third birthday. Technically a moment from 2007, but close enough.

Parrot Kitty. There were two new editions to our home in 2008. Daisy stayed perched on my shoulder all the time. Daisy and Tavington are too big to do this now.

The 1776 reading room, created by Christie. This room is dedicated to our nations independence and colonial era. The declaration and the constitution hanged framed on the sidewall. Not the real ones though.

Christie at the beach house in the outerbanks. She's reflecting on how she's going to decorate our reading room this year.
A rare quiet moment at the Vinson Household. You know Blanche Bryant would be pleased as punch seeing her great grandson on her old couch.

Halloween. Nana and Thomas the train trick or treat in our neighborhood. (It's not really Thomas the train. It's Robbie in costume. Don't tell anybody.)

The "grin" and T-Bolts update

Robbie was part of a three song performance of 3 and 4 year olds at his and Mommy's Bible study. And Robbie was featured in the center of a line of kids on stage singing. And Mommy was sitting in the front row.

You've seen them before. A group of small children with vacant expressions twiddling their thumbs and mumbling through a song while the music teacher coaxes them along. (Of course there is always that one type A personality overachiever who knows all the words and sings loudly and correctly above all the rest. It is usually a girl.) Well, after two songs Robbie decided he had had enough of this foolishness.

Robbie stops singing, and gets the "grin" on his face. Those who know Robbie or have kids know about the "grin". It's usually a precursor of some type of premeditated misbehavior. The teacher sees this and starts making her move but Robbie is already heading for the edge of the stage. kiddo does not bother with the stairs, goes for the stage edge, makes a quick cut, dodges the teacher, jumps off the stage and climbs up on Mommy's lap. "I just want to sit with you, Mommy." he says over the quiet mumble of children singing. "Can I have some of your coffee Mommy?"

Robbie proceeded to watch the rest of his own performance. The thing that got me when Christie told me this story was..... why wasn't I smart enough to do that when I was little and forced into such situations.

THUNDERBOLTS STAY ALIVE!!!
The Thunderbolts stayed in the race for the PETA League West division championship with a 113 - 85 win over rivals "Old School MIA". The win puts them back into a first place tie with Old School MIA holding a slight point advantage. The Thunderbolts needed the win to stay in the hunt, and will still need to win out and score more points over the final two games to take the division. The T-bolts are also at battling their long time arch rivals the "Barking Spiders" for the wild card shot into the fantasy football play-offs

PETA League
West Division
1. Old School MIA (7-5) 0 Games Back (1093 fantasy points)
2. Thunderbolts (7-5) 0 Games Back (1090 fantasy points)
3. Black&Tan (6- 6) 2 Game Back (1220 fantasy points)
4. Dorks (4-8) 2 Game Back (888 fantasy points)

Wild Card Race
1. Barking Spiders (7-5) 0 games Back (1095 fantasy points)
2. Thunderbolts (7-5) 0 Games Back (1093 fantasy points)
3. Black&Tan (6- 6) 2 Game Back (1220 fantasy points)
4. Blazin' Bajans (6-6) 0 games back (984 fantasy points)

MIKE MUSSINA RETIRES

Mike Mussina has announced his retirement from baseball. Though he spent the past seven or eight years with the New York Yankees, he was once the star pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles back in a day when they were regular contenders for the AL east. I always thought his defection to the Yankees was inexcusable, but looking back at how the Orioles fell flat and never did anything smart to rebuild for the past decade, I don't blame him. After moving to New York, Mussina enjoyed consistantly going to the play-offs, but i don't believe the Yankees ever won the world series while he was there.

The Orioles went in the other direction. They would get good players now and then but they would have a "bad year" whenever they were an Oriole. "So and so had a really good year last year but hasn't done much since coming to Baltimore..." If I had a nickle for every time an Orioles announcer said a comment like that....

It's a bit strange when the players you grew up with begin to retire. It's kind of like when Johny Carson did his last tonight show, or the last episode of cheers aired. Names that you got so used to hearing are suddenly gone.

We'll miss the Moose in baseball. No hard feelings over going to the Yankees, okay Mike?

PLAY-OFFS ON LINE FOR BOLTS

After having their winning streak snapped at six games with a loss to the "Red Devils", the Thunderbolts head into week 12 with the play-offs on the line. They enter back into divisional play against west rivals, "Old School MIA" (7-4), who they have battled for first place since mid season.

This is a must win game for the Bolts if they want to win the division. "Old Shool MIA" is up by one game with three games left.

The Thunderbolts are also tied for the wild card spot with the "Barking Spiders", and the "Blazin' Bajans" at 6-5, leaving them another way to make the playoffs down the stretch.

Wish them luck.

PETA League
West Division
1. Old School MIA (7-4) 0 Games Back (1008 fantasy points)
2. Thunderbolts (6-5) 0 Games Back (977 fantasy points)
3. Black&Tan (5- 6) 2 Game Back (1128 fantasy points)
4. Dorks (4-7) 2 Game Back (811 fantasy points)

Wild Card Race
1. Barking Spiders (6-5) 0 games Back (985 fantasy points)
2. Thunderbolts (6-5) 0 Games Back (977 fantasy points)
3. Blazin' Bajans (6-5) 0 games back (908 fantasy points)
4. Sneagles (5-6) 1 game back (968 fantasy points)

NO wins! and the campaign continues...

Democracy at work. The no vote edged out the yes vote on the issue of my orange blogger look, so I guess I'm obligated to change it. However, since it was such a close vote, my current template is demanding a recount, suing the results, and trying to get the vote overturned in court.

Kidding. I'll be changing the look, but I'll keep this one for a little while because I'm starting to like it. And it did get one vote to keep it with only two votes against.

Speaking of democracy, my campaign for presidency continues at

bryan for president

...where I take a look at how I would have fared if I ran in this past election.

My sister, GAB, has written a particularly funny post about a lion being sited in Richmond, and even has a picture of the lion as it hangs out there. I thought, "this is odd." It turns out the outer banks has the same problem. I didn't think much of at the time, but after hearing about the lion situation in Richmond I thought I'd share this photo of Christie, Nana, and Robbie from our beach vacation. The lion jumped into the frame just as I snapped it, and then ran off!

Has anyone else had any lion sightings?

T-BOLTS WIN

The Thunderbolts won their 6th straight game, beating "MCQS Mayhem" 97 - 93. They remain in a first place tie with "Old School MIA" who also won, and took an edge in the standings with 934 total fantasy points. The T-bolts will have to play another tough team, the "Red Devils" (7-3) this week. Hopefully they can win to keep themselves in what is shaping up to be an exciting race for first place in the West division and the play-off spot that comes with it.

PETA League
West Division
1. Old School MIA (6-4) 0 Games Back (934 fantasy points)
2. Thunderbolts (6-4) 0 Games Back (915 fantasy points)
3. Black&Tan (4- 6) 2 Game Back (1031 fantasy points)
4. Dorks (4-6) 2 Game Back (767 fantasy points)

West Coast Croziers declare war

Marc and Sarah have run off and taken their kids to Walt Disney World. Everyone knows that I have been trying to plan a trip there for ages and love Disney World more than anyone in the family. Even my Sister. I want Robbie to see all that stuff. He's such a big fan of "Pirates".

Anyway.

I check the Crozier blog just to see what they were up to. Expecting to see run of the mill everyday stuff I am horrified to see gigantic pictures of them living it up in the magic kingdom hanging out with Pluto. Check this. I was forced to look at pictures like THIS!

Why don't you just start a whole new site called "Ha Ha Ha, Bryan!" and put all your pictures there?

Of course it's not entirely their fault. We have been chill'n in the Outer Banks with Robbies favorite person ever , Nana, as well as EV and TV and on occasion MK. We might could have pulled off Disney at this time but didn't, and we had a great time. We just didn't get to hang out with Pluto.

If you haven't checked out all their great fun, then click here to see

the Crozier familys great Disney vacation that they didn't invite Bryan to go with them

And see the injustice that I have endured.

Love y'all.