insert cliche about how long it's been since we talked

So... I'm having a little girl in March (see the picture?). no, it's not like that episode of The Cosby Show where the males get pregnant ("it's a sloop with 3 masts") ... my wife will actually be doing the child-birthing, but I'm still involved and stuff. We're naming her Emma Jane. Emma was The Wife's choice and Jane is a family name from my dad's side.

Married life is pretty damn good. I think being a family man is what I was meant for all along. It helps when you're totally in love with your wife and stuff. Cause that's probably the deal breaker. If you're not in love then marriage probably sucks.

So you know, I'm typing this in my in-laws RV in Brazil (Indiana). It's a big one with a gas heater that crapped out on us last night. it was frigid when I woke up this morning. Indiana is cold right now, but there's no snow.

In other news, we are moving to St. Louis next week, so from now on you can find me in Saint Lou-ay, where the gun play ring all day and some got jobs and some sell yay while others just smoke and fuck all day.

I don't think that stuff will be happening on our cul-de-sac though.

Work is good. It's going pretty well. A bigger bonus would've been nice but it still beats the $50 gift cards we use to get at the old job. Plus it was pretty much all my bosses idea to move us to the STL (that's what I like to call it - that or "The 'Lou") and they paid for the relocation, which is awesome. He's really trying to take care of us and I appreciate that.

And last but not least, the DALLAS COWBOYS are doing fairly well. Don't know if you heard, but they're 13-2 (that 13 wins and 2 losses... which were fluke lossses by the way). Tony Romo is definitley bouncing back, just like I knew he would...

Til the next time I get a few beers in me with nothing better to do....

All hitched up

I am a married man.

It was a beautiful wedding and everyone had a good time. I'm glad it's over so we can relax some now and concentrate on getting this baby out of my wife. Here is a good pic of the rehearsal so you know what it looked like. Maybe when the photographer's pics get here I will post more. Hold your breath. Y'know, since I post on here so often and everything....

Cowboys won a shootout tonight against the Giants. We were there and I screamed my voice away. The offensive play calling was good. The defense was not.

If Eli "The Face" Manning can throw that many TDs against us we might be in trouble.

I'm tired. Just wanted to give you a quick update and leave you with this....

Left-to-right, that's my uncle (mom's side; he married us), my cousin (mom's side; he sang), my great-uncle Bob (PawPaw's brother) and my PawPaw (father's side).

First, notice the look of shock on Bob's face. That is his picture-taking pose.

Now notice the fancy dress shirts my Bob and PawPaw broke out for the wedding.

Bob's is a whitetail deer pattern with forest background. PawPaw's is a bunch of moose silhouettes.

I share genes with these people.

All we need is the 12-gauge

Kind of got some big news. Sort of a life-changing day this past Thursday.

It started out like any other day. I went to work. I worked. I drove home from work. Jess was making her "pshghetti", which is awesome by the way (she used ground italian sausage).

And we were standing in the kitchen looking at Willie and tasting the sauce when she drops the bomb on me.

"I think I may be pregnant"

like whoa.

smiling cause I had an idea this could happen, I says, "wow. I'm going to be dad? that's going to be expensive...". My humor does not recognize proper timing.

So she took a few (4) more home pregnancy tests just to confirm. All came back "pregnant".

Before I knew we were pregnant I was going to save some money and pop the question around Thanksgiving or Christmas. This little incident sped things up a bit. So we got engaged now and we are getting hitched at my grandparents' place in Creede, Colorado over Labor Day weekend. Should be really nice if the weather is good.

I can't believe it's really happening but I'm excited. To think, I'm going to be a daddy and a husband. Holy crap, I'm getting old.

We got our rings yesterday and my Uncle Quincy has agreed to perform the ceremony, so that will be awesome.

Here are our rings. Her's is a 2 carat combination engagement and wedding band with 3 diamonds in the middle representing past, present, and future and a "cascade" of smaller ones extending to midway around the band. Mine is grey.

Willie the Wimp

He's a mama's boy.
He's scared of his own treats.
And he shits in the corner when we're not looking.

But he loves to play fetch.
He's an excellent lap dog.
And he makes me laugh.

Also, I COULD blame him when I rip a nasty fart. (I could, but why would I?)

Back to Texas

Jessica is all moved in at 6230 Farrah Drive. We made the 16 HOUR drive this past Saturday dragging a U-Haul trailer that kept us from going over 70 mph the whole way. It was not fun.
But she's there now and I'm in Indiana for the last (work-related) time. Hopefully...
I'm really glad she made the move. It's the first time I've lived with a girlfriend.

I had a stone cold reality check the other morning when I woke up and looked under my sink... THERE WERE TAMPONS IN MY BATHROOM. Not just one or two, or even an empty wrapper in the trashcan. There was a big pink box staring up at me. That's when I knew it was for real.

So I said I wasn't getting another dog right away after Mak passed on. I had all these ideas that I wouldn't be able to replace the "Best Dog Ever". I didn't want to heal. I wanted to silently mourn him a good year or two.
But I couldn't just leave Jess at home all week completely alone... and I really missed having a dog around.
So we went to a couple of animal shelters Monday morning just to look around and see if anything caught our eye.

The first place didn't really have any dogs like she was looking for (small-to-medium, fun, housebroken). I was secretly only looking for one kind of dog -- old, blind, grumpy, and smelly. They just don't make them like that anymore.

The next place was just down the street and smaller so I didn't have high hopes. We walked in and asked if they had any smaller dogs.

The lady said, "We have some Chihuahuas" (I almost walked out right then.)
"... and a Schnauzer." (I peed a little bit.)

They opened the door and I saw him in his cage. I would've taken him right then but we decided to look around anyway. I didn't really even consider the other dogs, but they all deserved a chance right?

So we went back in and got him out to play with. Once Jess was sold on him I was so happy. Here he is -- Willie Mays Hayes.

things

THINGS I LIKE ABOUT 2007:
-the new girlfriend packing up her stuff and relocating to Texas to be with me.
-getting to live and work in the same city (June 18th start date)
-having extra money (finally)
-the Robert Earl Keen concert at Gruene Hall - it was great.
-the Guadalupe trip - even though it rained.
-Being able to plans trips to Crystal Beach, Lake Sam Rayburn, THE CAYMAN ISLANDS, and Vegas (and possibly Vegas again) this year.
-having time to post more (maybe)

THINGS I DON'T LIKE ABOUT 2007:
-my dog died (see below)
-my cousin died (I'll get to that later)
-my grandfather isn't doing so well - Alzheimers and poor health.
-Josh got shot in the head. amazingly, he is doing well and will end up being perfectly fine. that may end up being another post as well.
-I'm still not in Texas yet
-I'm still in debt

The best dog ever

I got him when he was just a white-haired little pup about the size of my fist. He was a graduation present from my future stepmom. They were already calling him Mak because he kept to himself and acted real cool.
We spent most of that summer together. He loved to ride shotgun with his head out the passenger side window.
When I went off to college he stayed behind. There were no dogs allowed in the dorms. For two years we only got see each other on holidays and the occasional weekend visit.
Once I moved out of the dorms he joined me at 200 West Starr. His weekly escapes became a household routine and many a Sig Tau pledge spent their work hours walking up and down the streets of Nac yelling his name.
And he always made his way back - whether on his own, with the help of a neighbor, or if by dumb luck someone mentioned him to the family that took him in.
He even followed me across the street once and got rolled over by a car. But he bounced right up and was just fine.
He eventually crossed paths with a bigger meaner dog and lost an eye for it. In time his other eye would also deteriorate due to cataracts.
He stayed with me throughout college and into the working world. When I took this traveling job and his eyesight got bad enough I realized it was time he went back home.
He spent the last 4 months at my mom's house, where it all started.
I got to see him this past weekend for the last time. We tussled on the living room carpet and then took a nap on the couch. When I left on Easter Sunday I had no idea it would be the last time I'd see him.
It seems he made one final escape early Wednesday morning and got hit by a passing car. I guess it's fitting that he should go out that way. He always loved to take a trip.
I miss you buddy. You were a good boy.

Time to go... the party's over

It's been a good run here in Terre Haute, Indiana but it looks like we will be moving along in a month or so. Not that I'm heart-broken about it or anything, but I was just starting to not hate this place that much. Also, I found a really cool chick that works at Pfizer here. She's pretty damn awesome.
Which reminds me... I'm not dating MillerTime anymore. Ended that a little over a month ago. She took it pretty hard but these things happen. I just don't see myself settling down anytime soon. And long distance relationships are stupid.
BUT I'M SERIOUSLY IN LOVE WITH THIS NEW GIRL. SHE IS AMAZING AND I DON'T WANT TO LOSE HER. I PRAY WE CAN WORK THINGS OUT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS.
There is a big project just beginning over in Singapore. That would be interesting.
There is also the possibility of drumming up some work in the DFW area. My current project manager has some really good contacts down there. At the least it would mean a couple days at home to set up the initial meetings and tour their site. And if it all worked out I could actually live and work in the same city. LIVING AND WORKING IN THE SAME CITY - what a nice idea.

Whatever happens I'm sticking with this company. I may be entering into a program that they've recently added for future Director-types. There is currently only one person in the program and I haven't had a chance to speak with her yet about it.
I don't have all the details but what I do know is this:
It would allow/require me to take courses and get my MBA
It would be a 3-year deal where I would work on 6-month assignments in 6 different areas of the business like accounting, finance, operations, sales, and I don't really know the rest.
It would pretty much be the most awesome thing I've ever done. Once I finished I would have mountains of experience and be able to demand piles of money.
I'm stoked about the possibility of doing this.

Okay, that's enough for now. More updates when they come (or when I have time to write about them).
Peace in the middle.

WORD(s)

What's the damn deal, internet? It's good to see you again. How are things?
Me? I'm fine. Work too much... never home... [insert continued bitching and moaning]
I joined a gym and started working out. It feels good to do that. I wanted to write that for Future Darrel to see. HEY Darrel 6 Months From Now, GET OFF YOUR ASS AND GO TO THE GYM!!!!!!!!
Dwizzy is getting a job at my company and he's probably going to be working up here with me, which rocks.
I got a raise and a Rookie of the Year trophy. It's a piece of glass shaped like a candle flame. Not to be modest or anything, but they made up the award specifically for me. No big deal.

In a previous post I gave a somewhat vague but revealing reference to some trouble I got into. Everything is okay now. Let me just say this: A GOOD LAWYER IS WORTH EVERY DAMN PENNY. You definitely get what you pay for.
I mean, this guy I got was slick. He knew the hardass judge would be out of town for Christmas and scheduled my court date for the 27th.
I was like, "Damn yo, that's when I be trying to kick it with my peeps and celebrate Jesus's birfday. What you got against Baby Jesus?"
And he was like, "You had better get your priorities straight, young man. You are in serious trouble and I strongly recommend that you be here on the 27th."
So I busted back like, "For the skrilla I be dishing out, you better be popping off like Johnny Cochran in this bitch."
Then he was all like, "Get out of my office."
And long story short... I'm out 5 grand but my sweet virgin ass is safe once again.

Now... on to the important stuff.
Tony Romo crapped the bed but I'm not going to give up on him. I mean, surely he can bounce back. Right? Right?
And Parcells is out. It was a good run. He got some awesome draft picks for us. It'd be nice if he stayed around just to analyze draft picks for the Cowboys in the future.
As for the new coach... I'm all about THIS GUY WADE PHILLIPS. AND I ALSO HEAR THAT JASON GARRETT IS AVAILABLE...
.
Also, we should definitely KEEP "The Player". You know, the guy with the hamstring and the finger and the painkillers. That guy who dropped more passes than anyone else. We definitely need to KEEP him. Just get him THE BALL.
Also, the Mavericks are rocking it. Dirk is Dirk and Josh Howard is coming into his own. I really like our chances this year. The Suns are just not going to go away, though. Should make for an awesome playoffs.


THE END