Christmas 2011

My family and I had a very nice Christmas. It was loaded with food and family and was very relaxing.

Christmas Eve we had my mom come over for dinner and to play some games. We ate a ton of good food. Kristy made a cheese fondue and some meatballs and french bread to dip them in and Eggnog Bread Pudding for dessert. It was a very nice evening. After Logan went to bed, Kristy and I prepared the rest of Christmas and watched our annual tradition of Christmas Vacation.

The next morning we awoke and got ready for Church. It was only an hour and it was fantastic. I wish I could start every Christmas morning this way. We came home after visiting with a few people after the services and ate some breakfast and opened gifts. To say that Logan was excited was definitely an overstatement! We opened up our awesome gifts and then proceeded to stuff ourselves sick with candy. That evening we played games and watched the football game. Like I said, it was nice and relaxing.

I absolutely hate putting up/taking down lights from the Christmas Tree. I don't know if you can tell that from how I look.

Logan in his obligatory Christmas pic.

For Boxing Day we went over to my dad's to spend the day there. We ordered Chinese food and once again I stuffed myself with too much candy. I have a major weakness for fudge and (un)fortunately dad had a ton of it. I must have eaten a couple pounds of the stuff. We played cards and games and did our $5 Gift Card Pool. I got a K-Mart gift card which I traded for a Walmart one which I traded for an Amazon gift card. Which interestingly enough is the gift card which I purchased for the party. And I already know what I want to get!

So all in all I had a very nice Christmas. Unfortunately now that Christmas has passed, I have to get on with some New Year's Resolutions and lose the weight I gained and eat better!

Christmas: The Aftermath

I like Christmas, don't get me wrong but sometimes I wish I had a more simple Christmas. Maybe that will be a goal in the future, to have a Christmas where I help out at a soup kitchen or something like that. It is not like I had a crappy Christmas because I didn't. I had a very nice, relaxing and pleasant Christmas. I just think I want to do something different. Maybe I just need to spend Christmas away from home sometime. Away from all the commercialism, away from all the drama that somehow only rears its head around the holidays, away from the stress that the holiday season can bring.

Anyway...

Christmas Eve we had my mom over for a very nice evening. We had cheese fondue with meatballs and stuffed mushrooms. We played games until it was time for Logan to go to bed. But before he went to bed he was allowed to open a gift and he was so happy that he got a cool pair of Yoda feet slippers.

After we put a very excited Logan to bed, I asked my wife if she checked our sh*tters. I don't want them to be full during the holidays. As you can tell, Kristy and I stayed up late and got everything ready for the next day and watched Christmas Vacation; as is our tradition.

The next day was very relaxing. We didn't do a darn thing but play around and eat heaps of candy. Logan woke up at 6:00 in the morning but stayed in his room until 8:00 and then came in and got us. We came downstairs and then opened our gifts. As usual Logan cleaned up but the rest of us didn't do so shabby. I got some fun gifts, I got a couple of graphic novels and some soda to drink while reading them. Santa gave me a two-liter of Vernon's Ginger Ale and now I have a new favorite soda. Ever since I tried a home brewed Ginger Ale, I have been searching for a Ginger Ale that tasted like it. Vernon's is the closest.

Aren't those slippers cool?

Santa gave us all Aggie shirts! Logan was really excited even though this pic doesn't show it.

Is he acting?

The traditional photo. Christmas 2010.

The rest of the day we snacked and ate our fondue leftovers and played games. It was nice to spend the day with my family and just relax and have fun.

Christmas Music

One of the reasons why I chose to join my church choir was for the chance to sing Christmas songs. This year we are singing a couple of songs for our Christmas program. We are singing One Small Babe, Silent Night and Away in a Manger set to the tune of How Firm a Foundation. I am looking forward to singing these in just a couple of Sundays.

I love Christmas music. It is always so uplifting and happy. One Small Babe is a fantastic song, one of the Young Women is singing a solo at the beginning and she fits it so perfect. She has a real sweet and innocent voice that is so pure and I have to admit that it chokes me up a little when I hear her sing it.

I discovered an album of Christmas that I absolutely love. Christmas with Weezer.

It has most of my favorite Christmas songs that is set to more of a rock and roll feel. It doesn't feel out of place and it does not feel that it disrespects the music either. I might have to figure out the bass guitar for this.

Well, Do You Feel Lucky Punk?

Day 79

For Christmas Santa gave the family a set of guns.

These were not your ordinary guns either, these were special. These came with a laser scope so you can easily target your victims.


We each got the same type of gun with a ton of extra ammunition. Spontaneous gunfights are something that is a regular occurrence around here. You have to keep your wits (and your gun) with you.

Since all of our guns are the same we had to mark them so we would know which was our weapon.


I named my gun The Punisher, geekily named after the comic book character of the same name. Kristy named hers The Enforcer and Logan affectionately named his the subtle yet amply name The Killer.

You better watch your step around our house.

The Final Christmas of the Decade

Day 59

I cannot believe how fast this decade has gone by. I thought it was amazing when we hit the year 2001 (like Arthur C. Clarke's book) and now we are hitting his sequel 2010!

What is really strange to me is that my son Logan has been with me for 7 of those years and that I have been married the whole decade!

The week of Christmas was filled with a lot of fun and excitement. On the 22nd we celebrated Logan's 7th birthday. That afternoon he had some of his friends come over to play games and eat lightsaber cake and ice cream. During it he lost his tooth, it was not that the cake was hard.


He and his friends had a lot of fun. That evening we went out to eat, he wanted to go to Sizzler (he had won an award for a free meal and wanted to use it) and he called his Grandma Platis to see if she would come too. We all met at the Sizzler and had a good meal. After that we came home and Grandpa Platis and Grandma Pauline and Nathan came over.

On Christmas Eve, Grandma Platis came over again to spend the evening with us. We ate a terrific ham dinner and relaxed. Logan scored some great Christmas gifts from Grandma (we are allowed to open Grandma's gifts on Christmas Eve) and we put together some Star Wars Legos. After she left and Logan went to bed, Kristy and I watched our annual Christmas Vacation movie and played a quick game of Simpsons Scene It that we got from Grandma.

The next morning Logan slept in till 9:00 and ran downstairs to see if Santa came. And sure enough he did. When we got downstairs, Logan had already sorted the gifts out. We all had a great Christmas, I scored some awesome candy and some nice clothes. We stayed in all day playing games and eating candy. While we were eating some breakfast, Logan lost his second tooth of the week!





On Boxing Day we went to visit Grandpa Papoo (Platis) and Grandma Pauline and ate some baklava and played some games. We spent all day there all snug and warm with them and my sister and her family.


All in all it was a very pleasant Christmas and a great one to end the decade with. I am already looking forward to next year.

Merry Christmas!

Day 55



A picture does say a thousand words. I am grateful for my Savior and celebrate his birth.

Happy Birthday Logan!

Day 52

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOGAN!

Seven years ago today my little buddy was born. He has been such a blessing in this household, he has such a keen sense of humor, a helping hand and a cute smile. He is always wanting to play with me and cuddle with me when I need it.


So what exactly happened seven years ago?

DISCLAIMER: First time pregnant ladies should not read this or those with weak stomachs. This does get pretty graphic even without pictures.

Why is it that when we hear that a lady is pregnant we tell her all the awful things that happen at birth? Survivor's guilt perhaps? Because when people tell you how beautiful it is and how grand they are really lying? Okay, that is not totally true.

Kristy was due with Logan on Christmas. My mom and sister's family came down to see us (we were living in Salt Lake at the time) before Christmas since we were probably not going to venture up north to Logan (about 2 hours by car) with Logan coming anytime. Kristy was complaining of pain but it seemed like it was not serious. After a nice visit with them, Kristy went to bed early. The next day was Sunday, she was still in some pain but we went to Church anyway. Kristy must have been feeling a bit sick since she came home halfway through the services. I told our Bishop that I should go home to make sure she is okay and they said they would cover teaching my class. I came home and Kristy was really feeling it. We had our annual family Christmas party so we packed up our food and headed to her mom's house. I thought I should bring our hospital stuff "just because". Kristy was really in pain, she could barely breath and she couldn't even get her shoes on.

We hopped in the car and went to her mom's house. We get out there and I could tell that she was in labor. Her sister Sherry came out and saw Kristy's face and body language and immediately knew that she was in labor. We still went inside and we delivered our food all the while both Sherry and Kristy's mom were yelling at us to leave to the hospital. I felt bad for Kristy's other sister Ranae and her husband Gregg. She was pregnant with her first and they were pale as ghosts when they saw Kristy.

The hospital was about twenty minutes away but luckily traffic was good and we made it. We walked in and I told the lady that Kristy was in labor. The nurse took her to the first room to examine her. The nurse peered down there and quickly looked again. Then she grabbed another nurse for a quick second opinion. The second nurse yelled out "We better get her in a delivery room before she gives birth!" Both Kristy and I were shocked. Apparently she had already dilated to a '7'. I asked the nurse if I should grab our stuff and she said "You better just get your camera now if you have it! And hurry!" I ran back to the car and got on my cell and called Kristy's mom and told her. I then called my mom to pass the news.

By the time I got back, Kristy was already having hard labor. The nurses didn't have time to hook her up to any machines. Our doctor came in (he was the one on call) and saw and he was still in his suit. He peered in and suddenly the water broke and he gets up and smiles "I better get my stuff on!" Kristy did get hooked up to the machine that tracks the contractions and in between one we drew her blood, but only barely. The doctor came back and we were on our way. We were at the point of no return. Kristy had no time to get the epidural, there would not be enough time to get it working before she would deliver.

Now let me give you my opinion on being there for a birth. I don't want to see it. Not at all. I don't care about seeing the 'miracle of life', I just have absolutely no interest in it. I will be there supporting my wife but that doesn't mean I have to watch it.

Everything was progressing really well. We were a few contractions away from the birth of our child. Suddenly our doctor yells out "It's crowning! Wow!" Now what would any person do after hearing that? You would want to take a peek at what he is amazed at right? So I forgot what I was doing and I looked. What I saw only last a second. No, I didn't faint. I got squirted. Yes, you heard me. SQUIRTED. The baby shot right out and I got hit in the hair, all down my face, on my shirt, on my pants and on my shoes. I was covered with baby juice! I about hurled. The nurses were all excited and wiping the baby off but what about me?! I wiped myself (as much as I could) on Kristy's hospital gown sleeve. It got me in the crevice of my mouth!


(That is how I felt after I was squirted upon with Baby Juice!)

Kristy and I decided not to find out the baby's sex. The doctor announced it was a boy but neither of us were surprised. We knew it was Logan.

They gave me the baby and they had to assist Kristy. Unfortunately for her, she had quite a rip and she had lost a lot of blood. She was close to having a blood transfusion. I remember seeing Logan and his big eyes. I welcomed him into my family and I looked up and I saw Kristy's sister Sherry and her kids. I motioned them NOT to come in just yet. I didn't want her kids to see the buckets of blood all over.

They finally came in with the rest of her family. It was convenient for the Christmas party right? I let her parents hold Logan while I called my family. Kristy recovered and finally I came home. It was strange to come home all by myself. The first thing I did? I took those jeans off and washed them. I threw out the shirt and socks. I couldn't sleep that night so I put together our new entertainment center that Jennifer and Justin got for us.



It was worth the squirting to get Logan. That doesn't mean I liked it, it just means it was worth it.

List-Mania: Christmas Music

Day 48

It takes me time to warm up to the Christmas season but once I am in it, I go all the way. I love Christmas music even though I am not a fan of it before Thanksgiving. But I do dig Christmas music in all forms. So here are my Top Ten favorite Christmas songs.

10) Happy X-Mas (War is Over)
It may have started out as a protest song about Vietnam but it will always be to me about Christmas and the peace it can bring. It is too bad that we have to have Christmas in order to have peace.

9) Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
I have U2's rendition of this song and it is just awesome. What is Christmas without having your loved ones around?

8) Do They Know It's Christmas
I know this is not really much of a Christmas song since it was made to raise money for Africa but the message it contains is what really matters. We should be helping others that may not have a Christmas. Donate old toys, drop some change in the Salvation Army buckets, help someone in the neighborhood.

7) Thank God It's Christmas
Believe it or not but Queen actually wrote a Christmas song. I thought it was just a cover of a Christmas song when I first heard it. It definitely sounds like a Christmas song. A simple song about how it is good when it is Christmas.


6) God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
The first time I heard this song was in the 3rd grade. I participated in a choir during lunch times and we were to perform at a Christmas concert. I thought this song was so unique, something so different than any other Christmas song I had ever heard.

5) Oh Come All Ye Faithful
This was another favorite I sung in my 3rd grade choir. Who would have thought that this event would have such an impact on me?


4) The First Noel
I am noticing another trend here. It seems I like Christmas songs that have high parts.

3) Angels We Have Heard On High
I wish this song was more popular. It has to be my favorite Christmas song to sing along with. The tenor and bass parts are so awesome. Voice Male does a fantastic cover of this song. I also like Mariah Carey's mash up she did with this song and the next one on my list. That was back when I liked Mariah Carey.


2) Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
What I love about this Christmas Hymn is how it continues to build to a crescendo. Oh, how I wish I could sing better. My version is not as good.

1) O Holy Night
This is such a beautiful song. The poetry (the lyrics) match the music so well. I cannot really put down in words how much I love this song. Mariah Carey does a wonderful rendition.

Now I'm off to listen to some Christmas tunes.

Week in Review: Nov 30th - Dec 6th 2009

Day 37

The Platis family had quite a busy week. Or at least it certainly felt like it.

Last Monday night Grandma Platis came over to watch the New Orleans Saints put a beat down on the New England Patriots. She also treated us to Coasta Vida, such a yummy place. It is the only place where I always get the salad. She also played around with Logan and found out what he wanted for Christmas. It was a fun evening, so much fun that we invited Grandma to come over Thursday night.

I also had a small article about my novel writing published in the Herald Journal. It was a good article although I am not sure I like my first quote. But it was nice to get some exposure and to get the NaNoWrMo some exposure. Speaking of NaNoWrMo, I got my code so I can publish my book within the next six months. I did a little editing but now I am thinking of expanding the novel in some parts.



Last Thursday was Kristy's birthday. I took her out to dinner that night, Grandma Platis came over to watch Logan. We were thinking of going to Cafe Sabora but decided at the last minute to go to the Bluebird. The Bluebird is a fantastic local restaurant that has some yummy food at low prices. This is where Kristy and I had our wedding breakfast. We both got the same thing, the Chicken Louie. That is a breaded breast of chicken covered with crab meat, a few shrimp, cheese and a TON of Hollandais sauce. I got my usual home brewed Ironports sodas (probably the best I have had in a long time). After we stuffed ourselves we hit the town and finished our shopping. After a stop to get some Alvey's chocolates of course.

Friday night we had an impromptu meet-up with Kristy's brother and his family. We all talked about getting together for dinner sometime and we thought (at the very last minute) that this Friday would be the best one. Most of our weekends are already taken. So we called them and we met at the Layton Hills Mall. We didn't tell Logan we were going down, we wanted to surprise him. I don't think he was a fan of that, he acted very nervous and strange. But quickly warmed up when he discovered we were going out to eat with Steven, Andrea and Addy. We couldn't decide where to go so we hit the usual spot (what we did last time) and ate at Red Robin. I had the Cholesterol Clogger burger. After a nice dinner we went back to the mall and got some ice cream at DQ. We sat and visited for a long time. They are great to hang out with. I never feel that I have to entertain or anything, I could be completely laid back (LAZY) and still feel comfortable with them. Thanks guys! It was a lot of fun.

Logan and Addy playing at Red Robin. They look like they could be brother and sister.

Saturday, Kristy went shopping with my sister and mom and Logan and I stayed home. I am glad that my family takes Kristy out and that they can do stuff on their own. They had a great time and got some neat stuff. That night we had a special visitor. For the last couple of years we have had a fake tree. The more we have it, the less of a fan I am of it. So to my surprise, Lynn and Darryl and Jessica came over and brought us a tree from Wyoming. They cut one down for us so now we have a real tree! It is still undecorated but that will change shortly. That was real awesome of them to do that for my family. Logan was sure surprised. It is nice to come downstairs and smell a hint of real tree.

Yesterday I had a headache that wouldn't leave. I had it most of the day Saturday but it was real bad yesterday. Luckily I was able to just sit and relax while watching a full day's worth of football.

It was such a nice week. It started with football and ended with football.

List-Mania: The Atari 2600

DAY 6 List-Mania Friday!

I apologize to those that were eagerly awaiting the conclusion to my 'When Kristy Met Matt' series of columns. It will come back Saturday. I have decided that every Friday will be List-Mania! Since I like making lists I thought it would be fun to have a weekly column devoted to the list.

The topic this week is one of the greatest toys ever invented, the old Atari 2600. When I look back on Christmas, I really remember the one where my sister and I scored the Atari 2600. We each got a game with it too. I still have the old system and it still works. Years later I replaced it with the Atari 7800. That system had a few cool games on it but the best thing is that it was backwards compatible. Every once in a while I will dig out the old Atari and play the all the games. The only game that I didn't have as a kid that I wanted real bad was Frogger. One day I will snag this game for myself.

So here are my Top 5 Atari games from when I was a kid.

5) Ghostbusters
I'm not sure why I liked this game so much but even now I will dig it out and play it out to the finish. Catching those ghosts can be frustrating and some of the logistics were silly. I mean really, you defeat the big Stay Puft Marshmallow Man by walking underneath him? It still made a fun game. Oh, and make sure you spend the money to pick up the vacuum to suck up the ghosts when you drive from warehouse to warehouse.

4) Vanguard
Getting to the main bad guy was hard but beating the last guy, not so much. I think the reason why I liked it so much was that you can shoot from all directions. There were a variety of bad guys and pitfalls to avoid. But the ending was horrible. One shot killed the bad guy. But you got to play it again, this time faster! I played this for hours and hours.

3) Pitfall
My sister Jennifer got this game for Christmas when we got the Atari. This game certainly had its charm although crossing the crocodiles was very frustrating. I only made it the full twenty minutes only once and always failed in getting all the treasures. It seems that the silver bars were the most rare. But what frustrated me more was when I would go down the ladder and hop over that stupid scorpion and end up trapped by a brick wall!

2) Ms. Pac-man
I got this game for Christmas when we got the Atari and this was a fantastic game. Much better than the horrible Pac-Man, this actually felt like the arcade game. It had its own mazes and you can change the difficulty so you could get rid of that pesky red ghost!



1) Joust
I loved/hated the arcade game. Loved it because it was different and fun but hated it because I sucked at it. My parents thought it was cute how the ostrich would screech with its feet when it came to a stop after a run so they bought the Atari version. I spent hours and hours trying to get the highest score (and I think it was around 800,000 or so) and the levels became just all those fast blue birds. And hitting that stupid pterodactyl right on the nose was next to impossible.

Man, this totally makes me want to dig out the Atari and play some games. I had a ton of games but unfortunately I didn't have the M*A*S*H* Atari game. I borrowed it from a friend and had it for two weeks and I played it non-stop. I visited our local game store and they had one but it cost $9.99. Not sure I want to pay that much for an Atari game.

If you want to go back in time and revisit the golden age of video games, I highly recommend this site: The Atari Age. The scans I used for this blog come from this site.