2011

As the end of the year approaches us and my family gets ready to celebrate our daughter’s 1st Christmas I can’t help but reflect on what a ride it has been this past 12 months.

The year started with my wife getting ready to enter her 3rd trimester with our daughter and with my family just coming off of its 1st Holiday season with my Grandfather. It was an emotional time for us all but my wife and I were excited about what the future had in store for us. January was a blur as that month just seemed to fly by but I got a raise at my job which was good news (but short lived). In early February my wife and I celebrated our 5th Wedding Anniversary at one of her favorite restaurants, the Macaroni Grille. I had surprised my wife with something special that night which was helped made possible by the wait staff and manager of the restaurant. It was a very memorable evening. The rest of February was filled with getting prepared for out little one’s arrival. March would be much of the same as we had new carpet and paint installed in our place and our daughter’s Nursery would be completed all decked out in Beatrix Potter motif. Of course there was also the quick approaching March Madness where my beloved Duke Blue Devils had a chance at repeating as National Champs.


March 19th, 2011 our daughter was born in Newport Beach, CA. We had a room overlooking the ocean and my wife’s labor took less than 8 ½ hours, particularly quick compared to some I’ve heard. We were challenged right from the get go as new parents as complications arose after Brooke entered this world. Without going into great detail all I can say is my wife and I prayed and prayed and for those first few minutes of our daughter’s lives and God really watched over us. After 4 days in the NICU we brought out daughter home and on that very evening the Duke basketball team lost to Arizona in a game that really didn’t matter quite as much anymore. Having a child puts a lot of things in perspective and really reminds you of what is important in life. That was kind of cool. The rest of March was a blur and in early April my Father almost lost his life as a result of Heart Attack. On top of being first time parents I was worried for my Dad’s health as well. May flew by and it was pretty cool to celebrate my wife’s 1st Mothers Day. That was fun and then came along June and I got to celebrate my 1st Father’s Day but not without a little more drama. My father had gotten an infection in and around his arteries by his new pacemaker and initially he was told he would be held up in a hospital for 4-6 weeks. Yes this is the news I received on my 1st Fathers Day. Luckily we found out he only required 2 weeks in the hospital and was home for the 4th of July.


In the middle of the summer as July 4th came around we celebrated by taking Brooke swimming for her very first time. Yes I know she was only 3 ½ months old but I gotta be honest, she loved it! The rest of the summer went by in a flash but we did take her to Disneyland for her 1st trip ever during the summer. Her 1st ever ride was the Merry Go Round. She was interested to say the least. In August I lost the job I had for more than 4 years abruptly, unexpectedly and quite unfairly. There decision to discriminate against me after the birth of my daughter being born is something I never knew that company would stoop to but they did and that was that. There is so much more that could be said about that but all I know is that it opened up a brand new door for me, one in which will give me the opportunity to get back east where my wife can be a stay at home Mom and where we can finally own a home and actually live somewhere that has “seasons”. I was very lucky to land the job I did and it was all God watching over me.


As the fall approached we were excited to see our daughter’s reaction to our Halloween decorations. We quickly came to learn that she is a fearless little girl who isn’t afraid of much and especially not any of the spooky animated decorations we had to show her. She loved them! On my wife’s birthday in September we all headed to Disneyland where she had her first meeting with Minnie Mouse. All captured on camera it was quite awesome. She also rode on the Little Mermaid ride and a couple of rides in It’s a Bugs Life themed area. All in all a great day. The rest of the fall went by so quickly but my wife and I did manage to get out to Knotts Halloween Haunt and of course enjoyed the Pre-Scare dinner – yumm! We also took Brooke to Disneyland a couple of more times and even took her on The Haunted Mansion Holiday, she loved it! We visited the Pumpkin Patch at Irvine Park as well! Later in October I even got a guys night out with the twins as we headed to Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights in Hollywood. Fun night as well. After Halloween my wife and I decided to take Brooke again to Disneyland, this time for Daddy’s birthday. Another great day at the park and she even got to meet Snow White, The Little Mermaid (her favorite), Belle, and the princess from the movie The Princess & the Frog. A Montgomery family tradition is to get started on the Christmas decorations the first week of November. I was a little skeptical about this now having a baby and all but rest assured it started on time and the Christmas tree was in the house and decorated by Nov 5th. Damn skippy!!


In November I started my new job and since it is in a brand new industry there will be a lot of learning that needs to take place on my end. Having been in one industry the past 7 years it is going to be expected that it might take me a little bit to pick up this new industry but 6 weeks in I feel confident that I'm picking up on it fairly quickly. Knowing the future opportunities this company has to offer me is such a blessing. So basically November came and went by quickly but we enjoyed Brooke’s 1st Thanksgiving at my in-laws place and my wife decided she wanted to shop with me on Black Friday. A 45 minute line at Khols and 1 ½ hour line at Macy’s didn’t stop us as we got Brooke some wonderful Xmas outfits for 75% off..at Macy’s! I even got my wife the best Christmas gift ever later that morning while online shopping. I love to bargain shop! As December approached the first thing I was looking forward to was taking Brooke to Disneyland during the Holidays. Even though Disneyland had their decorations up on Nov 14th we didn’t go until December but when we did she loved it!! We went on It’s a Small World Holiday and watched the Christmas Fantast Parade. Very fun!! This year my wife’s work Christmas party was on the Queen Mary so that was cool, you know it is haunted right? As our families were preparing for the upcoming Holidays we got word that my Uncle Dave had a Massive Heart Attack and 5 days later on December 9th he had passed away. This was very upsetting news for our family and my immediate thoughts and prayers went out to his wife, and his son and daughter and her three kids. It is so incredibly sad on so many levels and not something any family wants to go through during the holidays. What we can at least be comforted by is knowing that he is in a better place now not that it is any consolation to his family.


So as I sit here and think back to what this year has brought it has been filled with ups and downs and twist and turns but when I look at our daughter I can’t help but feel blessed in so many ways that for this Christmas, for the first time in my life I will truly have been given the best gift ever, our daughter, Brooke Ashley Montgomery who is now, for this holiday season, and will forever be our Gift from God. I wish everybody this year a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Life is so Precious

Last November my Grandfather passed away at the age of 94. Two weeks ago my Uncle Dave, my Grandfather’s first born child passed away at 64. It does not quite seem fair that my Uncle’s father lived 30 years longer than he did. 30 years! That’s the entire life of my wife. As our family struggles to understand my Uncle’s passing all we can really do is be assured that he is in a better place. Having a Memorial Service in my Grandfather’s church just 13 months after his passing for my Uncle was not an event any of us planned. In fact the entire day with a Graveside burial just 2 plots away from my Grandfather’s was all too much of a reminder that our family had to deal with the loss of 2 family members so close in time. My Grandmother has remained strong as I cant imagine what it must be like to lose your husband of more than 65 years then 13 months later have to bury your first born child.

In the past 5 years I have witnessed death more so than in my previous 30 years of life. My wife and I have been connected to 10 people who have died in the past 5 years via being a family member or personal friend. Deaths that ranged from old age, to sudden illness, and even a father in his 30’s who left behind two young sons and a 90yr old who opened up her home to a stranger in need and was murdered. We have attended 7 Memorial Services together. Having dealt with this in the past 5 years has really made me think about Death more often. It makes me realize that is short and we must truly live it to the fullest. We need to tell those whom we love that we love them, each and every day. We need to not worry about the little things as much and realize we are not in as much control as we think.

During this Holiday Season I am thankful for my health and the health of my family and for all the God has blessed me with but I also think about those I have known who have passed. I pray for their families and friends and for God to watch over them during this time of year. It reminds me of how precious life truly is and how we have to enjoy each and every day and live it to the fullest.

96 days

96 days ago my life got better - way better! A burden on my shoulders was lifted, a monkey off my back. There was no more holding me back and there would be no more lying to be done. My fate had been sealed long before and it just took the powers that be to choose the path that they chose and in return it placed me on a road such much brighter than I had ever been on before. No more lies, backstabbing, or manipulation. That time had passed and the abused would be well on his way to much bright pastures. The saying "its greener on the other side" couldn't be more true but its more than that, so much more! In 96 days since I have been extracted from the volatile situation which was holding me back and since then it has been blessing after blessing. THAT past part of my life is gone and will barely be a dust print in my story. What lies ahead will be a Big Foot marking with satisfaction written all over it. I get goosebumps thinking of the future and how God has blessed me throughout. The strength I received, the fight that I am fighting, and the outcome of this great injustice is all part of the plan. Its a plan many may not have seen, a plan many may not have pursued but it is a plan that makes me smirk with giddiness as I see what the future holds and its amazing. I am living life happier than ever now.

Ive got the most precious and beautiful baby girl in the world and she is mine, well 50% anyways. Ive got a wife who has my back and would do anything for me and her love is something not found in your typical marriage, its golden! For the first time in over a decade we have a new car, an amazing brand spanking new car that is perfect for our family. Ive got a job that would make all my previous jobs jealous with envy. Its remarkable and its the reason I could afford a new car for my family, its something I did not have 96 days ago. Its Christmas time and this year it will be different, different for so many reasons. While I look at the lights on my Christmas tree and smell the Fresh Balsm in my home I am thankful for so many things. People always say everything happens for a reason and oh yes it does. It does indeed. Although the road was dirty and filled with filthy potholes it could not stop this ride not matter how hard they tried and how much they lied they could not stop this ride.

Luke 16:10 - "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much."

Proverbs 12:5 - "The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful."

Duke Sundress for my baby girl!

I cant wait for the day that my baby girl and I both have Duke Blue Devils attire on together! This beauty is hanging up in her closet ready for her to debut it next year! I cant wait!!

As much as I love my Duke Blue Devils and March Madness in general this year it has taken a back seat, a far back seat as my wife and I await the arrival of our beautiful baby girl! With the due date quickly approaching it is actually possible that my baby girl could be born during the Final Four and even the day of the Championship game. Can you imagine that?

STUFF

So I just realized the other day that its been quite some time since I last blogged, 3 months to be exact. Last date I posted something was on October 19th, 2010, exactly 90 days ago. The first thing I noticed was that I did not complete my Big Fat Summer Movie Marathon reviews. I had thought I posted my reviews for The Dark Knight and Se7en but I had not so I will be posting those later this week. In the meantime I am posting a new blog today. No real topic in general here just a blog about some observations, opinions, and comments I have on a broad range of issues. Ready. Set. Lets go!

I believe if the Duke Blue Devils had a healthy Kyrie Irving all year long they could have gone undefeated this year, I really believe that as hard as that is to accomplish. Sadly Florida St. ruined that last week.

I'm convinced that barring another catastrophic terrorist attack on our nation nothing and I mean nothing will unite the republicans and democrats in this country and that's sad.

I'm sick and tired of seeing those blue and yellow equal bumper stickers on cars in Southern California. Those and the Kerry/Edwards stickers need to go.

I'm convinced that the state of California is only going to get worse and worse as the years go on and I still hate living in this state. I was spoiled when I lived in NC. If it wasn't for family, friends, and good jobs in this state Id be outta here in a heartbeat.

Obama will be a One Term President. Stupidity, Ignorance, and Failure cannot be re-elected.

A self proclaimed Laker hater I have to admit I hate the Miami Heat even more. Screw Lebron James and his "crew".

I rarely watch an NFL game during the regular season but I love the NFL playoffs. Side Note - Somebody please put the Jets in their place! Big Ben - I'm talking to you!

Would Post It's have been as popular if they had been named Stick It's?

I am 1000 times more excited than I ever imagined I would be to be a new Dad. I cant wait!

Blackberry phones are overrated and I hate mine. I cant wait for early Feb when I switch to the iphone - FINALLY!

I thought Ricky Gervais was hilarious at the host at the Golden Globes. Sure I like certain actors and actresses and love movies and TV but if these millionaire crybabies cant take some jokes and insults maybe they need to grow up. It was entertaining - for me at least.

I never really liked to read or enjoyed books until just a few years ago but I've always loved going into bookstores, is that odd?

I believe OJ did it, Tupac is alive, and Aliens exist and no I'm not joking.

If given the chance I would live in the mountains over the beach any freakin day of the year. The beach is overrated - everywhere.

I cant stand all the stuck up people who clutter up Irvine and its surrounding areas. NO I'm not saying everyone out there is that way but a good darn majority. If you don't believe me take a stroll at the Irvine Spectrum one day and check out all the primadonna's walking around.

If I was stranded on an island by myself and didn't know when or if I would ever be found I would want the following with me. A picture of my wife and daughter. A water bottle. A knife. My ipod filled with comedy cd's and Christmas music. Shoes. String. Also a Wilson Volleyball.

I've never understood men's fascination of cars.

I absolutely loved the old Nintendo game Bases Loaded when I was younger. Hawaii, Kansas, Omaha, LA, DC! Awesome!!

I have never seen a full episode of Seinfeld in my entire life but I'm pretty sure I saw every episode of Punky Brewster, Different Strokes, Elf, and Charles in Charge growing up.

Speaking of TV - best show on it right now - a tie. Modern Family and Justified!

Per a forward from my sister-in-law. I just had to add this to the list because this is genius! Wont ever happen but its genius. To get a job (most jobs) you have to pass a urine test. If you get a job you pay taxes. Obama wants to "redistribute" those taxes and GIVE it to welfare recipients. Shouldn't there be a law that in order to continue sitting on your ass doing nothing you should at least have to pass a urine test to confirm that you are not on drugs? I bet we'd eliminate 98.7% of welfare recipients right there and then but again like I said, it wont happen!

Ok that's enough for now. I've rambled on too much. I just needed to post SOMETHING to get back on track. Ill have those reviews for Dark Knight and Se7en later this week to complete my Movie reviews for the summer movie marathon. Have a tubular Tuesday everyone. haha