Travis Johnson

2,920 Days

252,888,000 seconds. 4,204,800 minutes.  70,080 hours. 2,920 Days.  8 years.  It hardly seems like any time at all since Kelly said "I do."  She gave her short list of milestones on her blog, which includes our affinity for "24."  I could add quite a bit more.  But, its a great list for starters.

Some of my favorite memories with her are:

• When we kissed for the first time in Cleveland, TN under a clear sky and a full moon.  I knew then that she was either going to fall in love with me or break my heart.
• When we drove my '63 Caddilac Fleetwood from Tennessee to Miami.  It took 24 hours and about 800 gallons of gas in that beauty.
• When we went to Vail/Beaver Creek.  I thought I'd enjoy skiing more than anything.  Building snowmen and sledding with Kelly and the girls beat the heck out of the mountains.
• When our girls came into the world.  She performed like a champ and I felt like a superstar.
• When we moved to Chicago to start our church there.  We had $500 to our name after we paid rent and that's all we needed.
• When she had a tumor on her throat and we found out it was benign.
• When I woke up next to her this morning and realized I get to spend the rest of my life with her.

She's incredibly special and very much loved.  She brings out the best in me.  Happy Anniversary #8, babe.  You're the best.

the Johnsons, Groening, and Dave Barry

I know I'm a little late to the Simpsonizer.  I had to at least keep up with Jesse.  Anyway, I present to you, "the Johnson's" by Matt Groening (who I actually interviewed in college along with Dave Barry).  By the way, if you know how those two super-genuises are connected let me know.  The first with the correct answer gets a virtual cookie.

Vacation Activities

We bedded down last night and slept great.  The girls were a lot of fun on the trip.  The first day, I just decompressed.  Now, I'm checking some things out and making my list of things I'm going to do.  Its going to look a bit like this:

• Play with the girls. I've dressed dolls for Kourtney and McKenna all morning.  Next up.  Photos on PhotoBooth.
• Read.  I've got three books to finish: Sex God by Rob Bell, Leading at a Higher Level by Ken Blanchard and Game of Shadows by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance WIlliams.
• Utterly Cheesy Tourist Stuff. I don't know where the world's largest ball of twine is.  But, I want to find it.
• Sleep.
• Swim.  Yep.  I'm a fish.  In a former life, I was a lifeguard.  My chiseled physique often causes people to guess that.  I'm sure its no surprise.
• Go to church.  I'll walk in, fill out a guest card, grab some coffee, sit down, and enjoy the morning.  I am checking things out to see if I can fit in two services at two churches on my list.
• Blog.  Blog about some topics I might not normally hit in the normal course of things.
• Fantasy Football. I'll mess around with my fantasy football teams in prep for the season.  When football season hits, I'm a freak.  On Saturdays, I go to all the Hurricane home games.  But, Sundays are a wreck.  I have stat trackers open on my laptop and I'm conflicted as I root for my teams and players.  Last year, I won both of my leagues.  This year, I have a lot of trash talking to back up.

Lobster Mini Season

Lobster mini-season opened this morning.  We were in the water from midnight until 10 AM.  We scored.  I'm having grilled lobster this week.  Hopefully, I can share some with Paul before he leaves to pick up his family for their move down.  He joined us on the trip and is well on his way to being one of us. 

The coolest thing of the trip is that somewhere around 4 am, I got a Hog Fish.  You never (rarely) catch these guys on a line.  You have to use a spear.  I got him from above (through the spine and out the belly) in about 12 feet of water...a really crazy shot (in other words, "luck").  I also bare handed a lobster that was getting out of Phillip's net...wish I hadn't done that.  I also wish I hadn't shoved my arm up under fire coral...bad move.

Survival of the Fattest

This isn't right.  Justice.  I thirst for justice!

34

I'm approaching midfield.  Another year.  Many more experiences.  God has been good to me.  Kelly wrote great virtual birthday wishes to me.   It made my eyes a little itchy.  I'm a blessed man to have so many rich relationships.

My Best Friend Got Owned

My old college roomie and now Miami neighbor, Matt Robinett got owned during a Kansas City Star news segment called "My First Kiss."  It was actually on the front page...must have been a slow news day in the bustling KC metropolis.  I have to say, the picture and especially the video makes Matt look like he's biting Danielle's head off.

My favorite quote from the article is:

Was it a good kiss?
Matt: Yeah, it was really good. I'll never forget it.
Danielle: It was a little wanting.

Anyway, after 33 years of being an eligible bachelor, it looks like things may be changing for Matt.  Of course, Danielle gets a big thumbs up.  Matt on the other hand looks like a love smitten kitty cat.  He's 100% OWNED.  Hilarious!

If you happen to have any advice for old Mattimo, please share.  If you have any words of encouragement for the lovely Danielle, please share.  I've known Matt for about 16 years.  She'll need definitely need it.

Video - Article

The Barber Shop

In the past couple years, I can count the number of times I felt at ease about getting a haircut.  Typically, I just roll the dice at Hair Cuttery.  My usual experience is a very nice 65-70 year old lady that speaks zero english.  I do my best with my horrible Spanish to describe the hair cut I want.  I usually walk out with whatever they give me.  I just take it like a man. 

Yesterday, I stopped in at a new shop called "Miami Clippers: a family barber shop."  Black leather seats lined the textured yellow walls.  It was clean, open, and had hard wood floors.  Really, it is the nicest shop around.  This pretty cool cat from NY hooked me up with a cut.  His name was "el control."  It was the perfect place if I needed a fade.  He had this really cool picture of a spiderman fade he had given someone on his mirror.  He cut my hair and did a decent job, especially if you like a blond headed guy with a fade.  I dropped a fat tip, threw around some mangled spanish, invited this guy to church, and jetted.

A year ago, I stopped in at Woody's Barber shop.  What was I smokin'?!  I told them how I wanted my haircut and then proceeded to get the standard buzzcut.  Within a week, I was wearing Wranglers and chewing tobacco.

Artie has a great shop out in the Redlands.  He's a cool guy and gives good cuts.  I'd go there all the time but it is way out in the Redlands.  I may have to start going back there.  But, the distance is an issue.  Its a 45 minute roundtrip.

So far, everywhere I've gotten my haircut, the people have been great but there is always some kind of barrier (language, location, or style).  I need some help with a place to get a decent cut.  Any tips from my Miami readers?  Please?!

Mr. Mom...again

Kelly is at the Women of Faith Conference in Orlando with a group from our church.  I'm Mr. Mom until tomorrow night.  Of course, I have help during the day.  But, my hat is off to her and all moms for being quasi-superheroes day in and day out.

The girls are tucked in and asleep.  I'm working through some planning for the church (big news to announce on Sunday).  As I work on this spreadsheet, I'm watching/listening to the John Mayer concert at Webster Hall.  I recently picked up Continuum at Starbucks.  Its exactly the kind of melody this type A, hard driving reverend needs to chill after an adrenaline-filled night with my 1 and 3 year old.

Listen with me if you like - "Waiting on the World to Change"

Marquesas-Regrets

   

I just got a call from my brother and some guys I was supposed to fish with in the Marquesas from Thursday until today.  At the last minute, I couldn't go.  I just got a call from Phil.  He caught a 9 foot shark and they got their limit on grouper, yellow tail, etc...around 100 fish.  Ouch.