Well it has finally happened. I am officially old. My best friend from high school called me up today and said that we had to go shopping for maternity clothes and maternity dresses at the mall today, and that it was not for her sister this time, but for her. I can not believe it. Where does the time go. I do not feel like I am that old, and I sure as heck do not feel like we are old enough for my best friend from high school to be married, let alone having children. But I sure am excited for her!

It all used to be so simple. We were members in the marching band and would spend our Friday nights out at the football games having fun and making music and goofing off. We would go on road trips to Disneyland with the band and have so much fun just being young and free and without any real kind of responsibility at all. It does not seem like it has been so long since those days that she can possibly understand the kind of commitment and responsibility that it takes to have kids already. Yet I know that all our other friends have started down the same path too. Maybe it will happen for me too someday.

Technorati Tags: friends, maternity clothes, maternity dresses

It’s almost time to start thinking about signing up for Miami swimming classes again. Summer is here and swimming schools in Miami are already making announcements that their classes are starting. Do you know what to look for when trying to choose the best swimming lessons in Miami?

The primary thing to look for in a Miami swim school is convenience for yourself. You want to find a swim school that is located close to you so that you can attend classes regularly without interrupting your life. You also want to find a Miami swim school which has classes that accommodate your existing schedule.

Another key thing to look for is the qualifications of the instructors at the schools where you might want to take classes. It is best to learn from instructors who have been trained to teach at the level that you’re going to be learning. It is also best to find instructors who have experience in this work and aren’t brand new to the job.

Finally, you will want to find swimming classes that feel comfortable to you. Determine whether you want big classes or small classes, classes at a local pool or classes in a gym, etc. Making choices that reflect your personal preferences will help you to enjoy your swim classes all the more.

Technorati Tags: Miami swimming classes, Swimming lessons in Miami, swimming schools Miami

I am not the kind of person who likes small dogs. I tend to prefer very large dogs actually. My last dog was a Black Lab and Chow Mix which gives you an idea of how large I’m talking. However, there are three types of small dogs that I actually think are cute without being annoying.

My favorite three types of small dogs are:

1. Italian GreyHound. I don’t know what it is about greyhounds but I love all of them. Perhaps it’s because my heartstrings were tugged at as a kid when I learned about some of the horrors that racing greyhounds go through. I’ve wanted to rescue them ever since and it makes me like even the small Italian Greyhound breed.
2. Miniature Schnauzer. Even as puppies these dogs look a lot like old men. I’m not quite sure what I find appealing about that but I think it’s adorable!
3. Pembroke Welsh Corgi. This dog is so goofy looking that it’s totally lovable. It looks like a really fat fox with short little legs and every time I see one I just want to scoop it up and hug it!

Those are the small breeds that I actually like. The list of the ones I don’t like is a lot longer!

Technorati Tags: Italian GreyHound, Miniature Schnauzer, Pembroke Welsh Corgi

If anybody is look for a great gift idea, I have just the thing: gift baskets. I don’t know anybody who doesn’t love getting a basket full of goodies.  And gifts baskets are so easy!  Instead of spending hours and hours trying to find a gift, you can order a gift basket that comes already assembled and delivered right to your door.

I have never thought of giving out gift baskets until I got very sick last year and spent some time in the hospital after surgery. Several friends brought me get well gift baskets and I can’t tell you how much I loved them.  Filled not only with treats, but things I could use like hand lotion and warm socks, they really helped to lift my spirits up.

Since I knew I would be in the hospital until just a few days before Christmas, I decided to ordered holiday gift baskets for everyone I had to buy for.  I really appreciated the ease with which I could order them.  I even had them delivered to everyone’s house with a card instead of having to go out and deliver them. Ever since I’ve ordered gift baskets every time I needed a quick, simple gift.

Technorati Tags: get well gift baskets, holiday gift baskets

I hate going shopping at home improvement stores like Lowes and Home Depot. Not that I don’t like building things, but it seems like I’m never going there for something I want. I’m usually getting dragged there by a friend who has guilted me into helping him on some project his wife is forcing him to do or by my wife when she is forcing me to fix something around the house. In stark contrast, I used to love going to those places when I was in college and the sole reason for which we would ever go was to purchase the building materials for a beer pong table.

Recently, though, I came up with a new strategy for these trips. I’ve realized that they are so big that it is easy to lose somebody in them, so last week when I went with my wife to go pick out a light fixture and a few other bits and bobs for around the house, I proposed that we split up-she could go look at the light fixtures, I would go find all the little things that didn’t require any decorating sense, and then I’d meet her at the light fixtures when I finished-and she fell for it. I knew I could find all the stuff I needed in a minute, so instead of doing that immediately, I indulged myself by visiting one of my favorite parts of the store, the patio section. I like to BBQ, but all we have is this little charcoal grill that works pretty well, but isn’t really any fun. The highlight of the patio section is the selection of outside kitchens. I can never stop myself from gawking at the island grills and the rest of the outdoor kitchen supplies, especially the pizza oven.

If I set an alarm and exercise just a bit of self control, I can gawk for at least twenty minutes and make it back to my wife with everything on the list before she suspects anything.

Technorati Tags: beer pong, island grills, outdoor kitchen supplies, outside kitchens