Waiting out the winter storm warning...

You know what is awesome? Not the weather in DC. Apparently we are under a winter storm warning until Monday AM. Unlike Iowa, they really don't know what to do with snow and bad weather here, so this could be quite amusing. Anyway, 1 week down and 2 weeks to go until I am back home! So that's good.

Given that I currently do not have a wife giving me "honey-do's," nor do I have a child that requires constant supervision/attention, I find myself with a lot of time on my hands. This "time-off" makes me hark back to my Pre-Dating Lindsey Days (PDLD), which was the last time in my life I did not have the aforementioned responsibilities. Given the increased time on my hands, I have found myself actually working out a little bit. Coincidendentally (or not?), PDLD-John was about 30 lbs. lighter than married-dad-John. Now, I don't want to blame my out-of-shapness ALL on the Lindsey, but I would conservatively guess that she is 90% at fault for me being a fatty; she is constantly stuffing pizza and fries down my gullett.

Since the weather here stinks, I have been confined to a treadmill. I much prefer the outside, but a treadmill suffices when the weather is not optimal. As such, I thought I would give you all a sample of the Millsian Workout playlist (cut down for a 20-40 min. run)*, complete with sweet commentary/analysis.

1. Eye of the Tiger - Survivor.
If you can't get up for a workout with Rocky in the background, then you have no heart. Period.

2. Best of You - Foo Fighters.
This song actually makes me feel like I should try harder at life. I still don't :), but at least it makes me think of it.

3. Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne
Can't say that I have any other Ozzy or Sabbath songs on my i-pod, but this does a nice job of sustaining motivation after the initial adrenaline of beginning a run starts to wane.

4. I Don't Want To Be - Gavin Degraw
Another sustainer song just to keep you moving along.

5. What Goes Around - Justin Timberlake
When I hit this song it starts to pick me back up and gets my blood pumping again. I used to really dispise JT. I thought he was a contrived and fabricated pop-star, like so many on the radio today are. However, through apperances on SNL he started to show a bit of a sense of humor that wasn't unvieled prior to that point. Then I saw him host the ESPYs and became convinced the dude just has "it." He was really fantastic on the show. I would put my money on him doing doing the Oscars in the next 5 years or so. I think he could really be successful on broadway even. He has a bit of a breathy voice, but has good comedic timing and inflection in his singing (at least on the ESPYs skit song he did). He is like a male Kristen Chenowith in a way.

6. The Way You Make Me Feel - Michael Jackson
The King of Pops keeps the good vibrations flowing with this all-timer.

7. Hey Ya - Outkast
What's cooler than being cold? I said, what's cooler than being cold? Minnesota!?! No, its really ice cold! Alright Alright Alright Alright Alright Alright Alright Alright Alright.........Alright Alright Alright....Alright already!

8. Mr. Brightside - The Killers
I am tired of writing stuff now.

9. Lose Yourself - Eminem
Are you actually still reading? Good for you if you made it this far!

* Did I mention I have some free time on my hands?

A Message to Grandma Terri

I'm not going to think about where you are right now (Mexico) or what you may be doing right now (sitting on the beach) because then I would be incredibly jealous, but I am going to tell you something that I think may make you very happy. Starting on March 24th, Jack and I are going to INFANT SWIM CLASSES for one night a week for 6 weeks!

Are you proud of me? Hopefully, Jack will be able to enjoy your pool sometime real soon (without a panicked-stricken mom in the shade!) :-)

He's Gone (Again)

Yes...John has left. Left for 3 weeks of training in Washington D.C. We already miss him terribly (especially my back :-) but we are looking forward to seeing him at Reagan National Airport at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 7th :-) Remember what happened the last time he left us all alone to fend for ourselves?

Lazy Weekend

1. I had so much planned for today: laundry, Target, naps and cleaning. I spent the day watching movies like "License To Wed" and shows like "Carter Can" on HGTV after throwing out my back carrying a load of laundry during Jack's morning siesta. I'm sure John had a good laugh during my panicked phone call saying he had to hurry home :-(
2. John leaves for DC on Monday for 3 weeks! 3 weeks! What are we going to do? Thankfully Nana is coming to our rescue!!! :-)
3. Jack looked too cute for words this afternoon playing with his hat ;-)
   

My little Valentine....

Jack has been on a restricted diet due to his double-ear infection and lovely flu-like episode all through Sunday night, so I tried to make dry toast a little more fun...

The Many Faces of Sick Jack

I'm a Man! I'm 28!

You gotta play it safe around electricity, little buddy!

I can unequivocally state without hesitation, reservation, or hyperbole, that I... John Mills...part no. 3, part awesome... am probably the most talented handyman in the history of all men that were labeled as handy. At least the most handsome anyway.

You see, today, without even the slightest amount of assistance from another human soul, using only my sheer ingeniousness, good looks, and exemplary work ethic, I installed not 1...but 2 light switch dimmers in the house!

In addition, thanks to extraordinary and visionary leadership, in 1971 legislation was passed that provided me with a day off tomorrow. I will be building Beatrice a one-of-a-kind-garage-dog-kennel out of 2 x 4's, liquid nails, screws, tapcons, an olive, and a 9-iron. You will surely be updated with all its awesome gloriousness. Thank you 70's congressman for the day off - you are the bee's knees and the cat's pajamas all rolled into one.

Happy Day of Love :-)

Hope you have a GREAT Valentine's Day!!

If you are interested, John is taking me (and Jack) out REAL fancy tonight. We are going to hit up the $32.00 Prime Rib Special for Two at QV's Restaurant (the old Helen & Pat's for those of you who know some of the fine establishments off 6th Street in Des Moines!) Oh boy! :-)

John picked up take-out Chipotle, instead :-)

Drivers In Action (ok, Women Drivers In Action)

(HT: YouTube)

Can't believe I posted this, especially because John says I'm a scary driver from time to time, but I thought it was pretty funny :-)

I have been violated

Dearest Readers,

I have been violated. Frankly, I have been violated in a way that no man should be violated.

I suppose I should start at the beginning of what begat this terrible turn of events. Sunday night was a terrible night sleeping in the House of Mills. You see, young J-bomb refused to cooperate with his parents wishes of sugar plum dreams, and instead elected to keep his parental units up throughout the late evening and early morning.

On Monday, Jack visited his pediatrician for his 1 year old check up; he was subsequently diagnosed with an issue in his Eustachian tubes (hereafter referred to as a "ear infection") - the second of his young life, and he was placed upon antibiotics in order to fight the fierce ear infection. Unfortunately, said antibiotics had little effect on the troubling impairment, forcing Jack to undergo the first two of three straight days/rounds of shots. Yes, the dreaded shot(s). As many of you may know, antibiotics, as well as medicinal shots, can have an adverse reaction on a young person's bowel movements. That is to say, one's diapers can be quite a mess.

Approximately 20 minutes ago, in the evening of February 12, 2009, I encountered a phenomenon previously unknown to all of mankind*. A full frontal blowup. Certainly, rear blowouts** are a somewhat common occurrence for even the most well-intentioned child. However, you can imagine my surprise when I opened Jack's onesy and was sprayed with an unknown and foreign (and foul!) object...frontal diarrhea blowout poo (hereinafter to referred to as the "grossest thing in the history of gross things"). Panicking, I sprinted to the nearest water closet to cleanse myself (face included), my shirt...and my soul of the grossest thing in the history of gross things. I mistakenly thought a 1 year old would lie still and patiently wait for his father's triumphant return. Tragically, I was wrong. I must have blacked out shortly thereafter, coming to only moments ago. Thankfully, Jack's diaper and clothes were somehow changed.***

*Well, at least to me anyway.
**Out the diaper and up the back.
***By an angel?

This will be the first and only time we discuss this issue, as I will now bury the memory deep down, never to be found again. As Drew Rousenhous would say, "Next question.... Next question."

Unfailing yours,

Trey*

*Names may have been changed, to something completely off-the-wall, to protect the innocent.

PS - I give Lindsey's "twittering" career (look to your left) a shelf life of about 1.5 months in total.

Birthday Cake!

YUMMY!!

Happy 1st Birthday, Jack!

A Special Thank You to....

...the Barlows, the Farlows for a wonderful dinner and conversation.

It was a fabulously risky meal :-)



Check out the Mrs' expensive (tee hee) blog here The Mills' are big fans and followers :-)

Adventures in Jackland

Happy Birthday, Uncle Kyle!

Happy 23rd Birthday!!!!!!

Virus-FREE!

Our computer is FIXED and working better than ever :)

I'm incredibly thankful for the "computer guy" recovering pictures like this...



and this one....



...and OBVIOUSLY this one!



Thank you so much, computer guy!

Happy Birthday, Grandpa Denny!

Celebrating during the Super Bowl with Grandpa Denny yesterday!