Pray for Baby Stellan

I follow the blog, "My Charming Kids" (http://www.mycharmingkids.net).

Baby Stellan, 4 months old, has heart problems and needs as many prayers as he can get. Send him all the good vibes and prayers you can muster because this little guy is a fighter.

Nicklaus Anthony R.

I have a pet fish.

Little Nico was gifted to me in a time of desperate desperation (sort of, might be a little bit over exaggerating with that one). He was given to me at a time when I couldn't talk my mind off a slightly depressing recent break up. February 15, 2008, Alyssa shows up at my house with a tank and a little blue betta fish. She'd joked about getting me a fish, but there he was, swimming coolly around the bottom of his little travel holder.

I set about to name him, because as most people know, naming is what I do. I couldn't decide if I wanted to go classic or exotic or trendy or timeless (but, that's kind of the same as classic anyway?). And I couldn't decide if I wanted to name him after anyone (but who really wants a fish named after them?). I was tossing around a few names in my head when it hit me: Nicholas. But the spelling was too traditional. I made it Nicklaus. His middle name became Anthony because...it sounded good. And he kind of looks like a Nicklaus Anthony, though it would probably be safe to say most people would have named him something like Bubbles or Fish.

Anyway, Nick is a very well traveled fish, sort of. If you count traveling every two weeks from Des Moines to West Seattle well traveled. But if you think about it, that's a long way. Do you know how long it would take him to get there if it was all water!? A long time. But he rode in my lap all the way there, every time. We're buds. I sing him good night (my 13 year old cousins got a kick out of that when they visited), and I sing him good morning (my roommate has become accustom to it and fills in for me on those mornings when I'm not in the dorm).

I've discovered through process of elimination that he is in fact a rap/hip-hop lover, preferably Lil Wayne or Lil Jon. Though he does really like Let It Rock by Kevin Rudolf, but of course that features Lil Wayne, so maybe that's why. He however, is not a fan of Pitbull, which disappoints me because that's what I usually like to listen to loudly. Oh well, you can't please everyone.

So, we just celebrated Nicklaus' first birthday here on Sunday. Well, actually I was in Seattle without him, so I had to call my roommate and talk to him and tell him how much I loved him. I know he appreciated it. I want to give him a treat, but I think he's being a little moody today, so I'm just trying to coax him out from under his rock (not literally).

I just have to say that I've never loved a fish as much as I love this little guy. He loves me on my good days and bad days, and I love him. Happy Birthday Baby Boy!

For disclosure, I just want to say, I'm sure I'm not the only one who loves their pet fish this much. And if I am, then I guess I have the luckiest fish in the world.

Weekly Grab Bag [02/16 - 02/22]

You know, I do just want to apologize for my lack of commitment to this blog, and especially to my 'WGB', because apparently, I either a) forget that I have a blog, b) procrastinate writing another blog because I wonder to myself, who really reads these? or c) am just too dang lazy to update it, ever. Or maybe option c just covers everything? Yeah, we'll go with that.

Song of the week:

"Where the Story Ends" by The Fray.

Why I like it:

- Because I've yet to find a song by The Fray that I don't like? Okay, no really. The Fray just released their new [self-titled] album at the beginning of this month and let me tell you, there are some chart toppers on it, at least I think so. I like this particular song though, because I can relate. You don't need to know how or why, but it really hits home for me. Nevermind the fact that the piano is amazing (like always though?) and the vocal are totally distinct (think The-Fray-Like, okay what a bad joke, this is why I don't write blogs late at night). It's one of those songs where you try to sing-a-long and every time you sing it you realize you're saying one word wrong and you hear what the word really is and you go, "OH! It makes so much more sense!" ...please don't tell me I'm the only one who does that? That was a compliment to the song, by the way, even if it didn't sound like it. Okay...maybe you should just listen to it.

Movie of the week:

Four Christmases.

Why I like it:

- I liked this movie because it reminded me a little bit of what I'm expecting in my own future; sorry, I can't elaborate. And you know, I'm not usually a big Vince Vaughn fan, but I actually enjoyed him in this movie. Oh, and I'm definitely aware that it's not even remotely close to the Christmas season, so why was this the movie of the week? Just go with it people, okay? It was light and funny for the first 40 minutes or so, but then there were a couple twists and turns that kept you on your toes. Of course, it was a little predictable, but what movie isn't anymore. All in all, I'd watch it again. I recommend you rent it when it comes out on DVD in a few months.

Hotspot of the week:

The Wade King Recreational Center.

Why I like it:

- You know, I don't even know if that's what it's called and there's a definite possibility that I did in fact make that name up. But I feel like I got part of it right. Anyway, I've been spending some time there, more often than not with my friend Sarah. Despite the fact that we seem to keep running into a couple of familiar faces that we'd rather avoid, it's a pleasurable experience. Well, despite the whole "duck walking" that we do on leg days, I'd say it's pleasurable. You know that feeling the morning after you work out your legs and you wake up and find that you can't physically get down from your loft bed? You know that feeling? Yeah, hey, me.

YouTube video of the week:

Tres Piece - "Finale".

Why I like it:

- Not only is the guy on the left totally bomb, these guys are so good at lip syncing. Well, this video might not be the perfect example (try watching Tell Me Tell Me). Anyway, keep a weather eye out for the white horse that the guy brings in a little over halfway through. I never even liked the song Grillz until I saw these guys rock it. And I don't know what else to say about these three guys except that they've provided plenty of entertainment to my dorm and our neighbors.

Check.It.Out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKRPV07lkPk