Yea, I know, I know…

It’s been forever since I’ve blogged anything.

Rest assured, though, that I’ve got a three-day weekend coming up and I’ve got a post or two in mind for that time.

Just letting y’all know I’m alive…

…and well after the trip back to Texas.

I did learn a few things, though:

• Like just how big Texas really is… We left Beaumont about 8:30 AM and made it to the New Mexico border about 11 PM… and that includes a time zone change. It also includes about an hour and a half diversion off the normal route to see my aunt, but she offered a free lunch, an offer I couldn’t refuse…
• When the speed limit’s 80, it’s really easy to find yourself going 90.
• There’s a whole lot of nothing between San Antonio and El Paso.

Dear Southwest Airlines…

Dear Southwest Airlines,

I’m flying with y’all this morning back to my home in Texas. Could y’all do me a big favor? Because I’d really appreciate it that if I get a singing flight attendant that they actually be good at singing. The guy I had singing on my flight out here was pretty awesome, so I’d take him again.

Sincerely,
Justin

Dear thunderstorms in the area…

Dear thunderstorms in the area,

Look, guys, I know you have an important job in giving the Valley of the Sun some much-needed rain during the summer monsoon season, but could you please stay far enough away from the airport this morning that you won’t mess up my flight? Because that would be awesome.

Sincerely,
Justin

Amazed

I went outside last night (I have Sunday and Monday off) to mow the back yard.

Before the actual mowing, I went and got the pooper scooper to clean up…

Updated: Counting down

I’ve had the date for my return to Texas planned for a while, but I’d been seeing it as something that’s “still a ways off.”

Until I realized something this week: that it’s really not all that far off anymore.

It’s less than two weeks.

In all fairness, I’m only spending a few days back at home and most of the time will involve me packing my car and taking care of things.

But it’s still a few days with family and friends that I really hadn’t said “bye” to… after all, it’s not like I’d planned on staying in Arizona.

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UPDATE: And, yes, Bruiser is coming with me on the drive back to Arizona.

Now that’s what I call a Sunday night!

Last night just might have been the best night I’ve had since I moved out to Arizona in April.

Thursday or Friday I made reservations at Ruffino’s, a local Italian joint that one of my girlfriend’s friends had recommended we try.

So we went… and although the prices there were a little higher than my sensibilities would usually allow me to pay for food, it was an incredible meal. Quite possibly the best Italian I’ve ever had.

As we drove home from that, we could see lightning flashes in the distance. Looks like monsoon season is on the way…

We weren’t done, though. We headed to the local movie joint a little while later to go see Inception. In IMAX. Though it did have moments where it felt a lot like Shutter Island, the last film DiCaprio did, it was just an amazing flick. To me, it’s amazing that someone could just think up a story like the one that movie told, much less make it work so well.

If you go see any movie out there this summer, make it Inception. Just trust me on this one. It’s amazing.

Baggy is back! Just not at first base, which is OK.

Berry out, Bagwell in:

The Astros have relieved hitting coach Sean Berry of his duties, general manager Ed Wade announced today.

Berry will be replaced by former Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell, who has been serving as a Special Assistant to the General Manager since his retirement in 2006. Berry, who had been the Astros hitting coach for the past five seasons, has been offered an opportunity to remain in the Astros organization.

As a few of y’all might know, Bagwell was my favorite Astro growing up, so I welcome anything that’ll get him back in an Astros uniform.

Of course, this move won’t help them this year, but I do think it’ll be of benefit to the young kids coming up to the majors.

I was going to link to the photo gallery from Baggy’s retirement, but something seems to be wrong with the gallery. Not that I ever use the gallery anymore or anything. So I’ll link to a picture I did as a Friday Photo of Bagwell catching his daughters throwing the first pitch when his number was retired.

So am I “one of those people” now?

Today my lovely girlfriend and I joined a gym. Yes, that’s right, me… a member of a gym. I’m not making this up…

And, you know what? I’m kinda looking forward to getting started.

I’ve needed to get myself in better shape for years, after all…

So the adventure begins…

Friday Photo going into hibernation because of this oppressive desert heat. Or something.

OK, so it’s not really going into “hibernation” because of the oppressive desert heat… even if it is 1 AM when I’m writing this, and still 98 degrees outside.

Yes, that’s right, it’s 98 at 1 AM. It’s insane.

Anyway, the reason I’m really hibernating the feature is because my computer, and with it almost all of my photo collection, is still in Texas.

Anyway, I should be bringing it back sometime next month after I get my computer moved out to the desert with me.

Until then, I’ll try to blog a little more about other stuff… like my life in Arizona.

Supreme court to review the other Arizona immigration law

That’s right, I’m not talking about SB 1070. I’m talking about the law punishing employers for hiring illegals.

The Supreme Court is entering the nation's charged debate over immigration, agreeing to hear a challenge from business and civil liberties groups to an Arizona law that cracks down on employers who hire undocumented workers.

The justices on Monday accepted an appeal from the Chamber of Commerce, American Civil Liberties Union and others to a lower court ruling that upheld Arizona's law. The measure requires employers to verify the eligibility of prospective employees through a federal database called E-Verify and imposes sanctions on companies that knowingly hire undocumented workers.

Some of y’all might remember that I’ve blogged about this law before. I still don’t think there’s a snowball’s chance in hell that the law will be overturned, but who knows. After all, I didn’t think the SCOTUS would even take the case.