I do not think it means what you think it means

I recently used the word "Brevity" thinking it meant something related to being brave. I've not used the word before and looked it up already using it that way, and duh, it has nothing to do with being brave! It's about using concise, short descriptions to make a point. Oops. Truly something I learned today.

My top ten most embarrasing moments in my life

10. Getting busted for having "Smurf Village" on my ipod - During a meeting, James MacDonald looked over at my ipod which was just sitting at my desk and noticed the big splash screen for "Smurf Village".  He didn't say anything, but moved closer and was staring at it and he was obviously very curious.  I wasn't playing it, but it was the last app I had up when I came in the office.  He said after the meeting that he loved the smurfs as a kid and wanted to download it on his iPhone.  But the damage was done and I was red as a beet.  Guys don't play with Smurfs.  This is a great topic of humor within the Gridley house.  The funny thing is, after the meeting he went to the bathroom, and about 15 minutes later comes back, taps me on the shoulder and says, "I'm at level 3!"

9. "He called me a name!" - Making a big deal about a coworker comment that was just a misunderstanding - Craig Butts discussing with Debi Fluckiger at his desk about rejected CCN's. I heard my name and got deeply offended. Complained to my manager who found out it was a misunderstanding and I just overreacted.

8. Depeche Mode concert disaster - took Cathi to a Depeche Mode Concert that failed miserably.

7. False Start - My senior year of High School swimming I was on the blocks for swimming a 500 free at the State Championship meet at BYU. I false started and there is no second chance when you false start, so I was disqualified. That was a major disappointment and so embarrassing!

6. Fly Down - I once went to a High School Prom dance with Patrice Bolyard. I excused myself to use the bathroom, and after a few dances afterwards realized I left my fly down. Wondered the rest of the night how many people noticed and laughed at this doofus.

5. Locked into peddles - my first time riding my triathlon bike to work. I came to a stop sign, had clipped out of my peddles and then rested my foot back down thinking that I had to clip in, but just resting on the peddle actually clips you in. Well I came to a stop and couldn't pull my leg back up off the clip and just fell on my side. A school bus full of kids were right there and the whole bus looked to the right and laughed at me as I struggled to get unclipped on my side with my right knee bleeding and my face all red.

4. AI - as in the crappy movie by Steven Spielberg. In 2001, I was excited about this movie's potential and asked my in laws to go. This was a terrible movie with alot of inappropriate sexually suggestive stuff. Cathi and my Mother In Law walked out. To this day it's an extended family joke that I thought AI was such a great show.

3. Getting caught with my pants down - I was upstairs in my bedroom preparing to take a shower. I was fully in the buff, with my bedroom doors open, when Lucy's new friend comes upstairs looking for Lucy. She got more than she wanted to see at the Gridley house that day. That friend has never attempted calling Lucy again. We now have a family rule that no friends are allowed upstairs (where there isn't anything except bedrooms).

2. Sleeping on the job - When I was working graveyard shift for the Church, I finished my rounds in the South Visitors Center on Temple square (about 4am), I sat down on a couch in the dimly lit basement and stretched my legs out. Next thing I heard some alarm in my ear-piece going off along with a voice "Gordon! Gordon!". The shift manager was right there shaking me trying to wake me up. I was in a DEEP SLEEP. I was so freaked out that I actually pissed myself a little. I was nearly fired. I was put on probation and everyone in the department now had looked at me with "SLACKER" written all over my forehead. Because my services were needed checking people into an event starting at 6am, there was a line building and quite a hold up. This was probably the worst day of my life.

1. Putting my foot in my mouth - When I was in the 8th grade, my new best friend was Mike Phillips. We were standing in line at lunch when one of the new lunchroom assistants came up to Mike and was hassling him about something needlessly. I whispered to Mike, "What a bitch!". After getting our lunch and sitting with our group of friends, someone mentioned to Mike, "Hey Mike, how is it having your mother as one of the assistants?". Oh man, what an idiot I am! I asked him, "Mike is that your Mom?" "Yeah, you didn't know?", "No.". That friendship never blossomed as to this day I still feel a little guilty over that stupid comment.

Do you dare post your top ten most embarrassing moments?

The adventures of Naughty Wilson and Crazy Lawrence

A couple nights ago I resumed telling the boys bedtime stories. I created this character much like Curious George. A monkey that always seems to get into trouble. After describing the character to the boys and just before announcing his name, Jonas filled in the gap and said, "Naughty Wilson". I laughed cause it fit just perfect.


Then the next day I had to give Naughty a friend, so I added "Crazy Lawrence" to the stories. Here's a picture of the two guys giving their best Naughty Wilson and Crazy Lawrence impression.

From Family

This picture was shot by their cousin Melissa while waiting to watch a show on the Disney Cruise.

Merry Christmas from the Gridleys

We wish you and your family a merry Christmas. Some highlights this year in our family:

• Gordon
  
  • Making good progress on his English Channel swim training for 2012. Up to 12.5 miles. (over 6 hours of swimming)
  
  
  • Still enjoying working with the Scouts.
  
  
  • Established an egg production enterprise for our home. 5 egg laying hens in their own coop in the back yard.


• Cathi
  
  • Ran the Boston Marathon last spring. What a fun trip that was!
  
  
  • Completed her 13th marathon this year (26 total), with two of those being Boston Qualifying time marathons.
  
  
  • Now is serving in her favorite calling so far - Primary Music Chorister.


• Austin
  
  • Is still improving in Table Tennis and won the gold medal in the Class A division at the 2009 Utah Summer Games. Also gold in the 17 & under division.
  
  
  • Busy with Deacons and scouts and earned his Life Rank. Now for the Eagle project!


• Jacob
  
  • Ran in two half-marathons this year and plans to run a marathon next year.
  
  
  • Is doing very well in scouts and is very close to completing his First Class.
  
  
  • Learning how to play the Base.


• Lucy
  
  • Preparing to participate in this summer’s Wizard of Oz/Wicked musical. She's a natural performer.
  
  
  • Enjoys her Activity Day events.
  
  
  • Started taking piano lessons and did fantastic in her Christmas recital.


• Jonas
  
  • Quite a good reader in the 2nd grade.
  
  
  • Such a loving and kind big brother to his 3 younger brothers.


• Isaac
  
  • Very energetic and loves being in kindergarten.
  
  
  • Tall for his age, Jonas and Isaac were on the same soccer team this fall and everyone thought they were twins.
  
  
  • A whiz on the computer, and a two-time farkle tournament champion.


• Sam
  
  • Just watch, this boy is going to be a football star. He's a tank. He’s only five pounds away from both Isaac and Jonas.
  
  
  • Very smart boy, he loves "school". He meets twice a week for playgroup where they learn stuff and have fun.


• Oliver
  
  • Loves playing with his hair, mom's hair. He loves hair.
  
  
  • Learning to talk so well, it’s funny all the new phrases he’s picked up. (And some other ones that aren’t so funny)

Bah! Humbug!

With all the Christmas music on the radio which I usually enjoy, there are a handful that make me want to throw up in my mouth. There are three presets on my car radio with Christmas music-playing stations. This morning I heard #2 from the list below, changed the station to one of the other ones and they were playing it too! So I changed the station to the last remaining station and they were in commercial, when the commercial finished, guess what they started to play? You got it, #2! I wanted to go #2! What is it with you people who like these songs! Cause if nobody liked them, they wouldn't get played!

I'm about ready to throw in the towel listening to the radio, and just play my mp3 the rest of the month!

Gords' Most hated Christmas songs in order of suckitude:
(Links provided in case you need to build up some rage for a new bench press max, or something)

1. Santa Baby
   Santa Baby - Madonna
   
   What's up with this girl who sings in baby talk trying to be sexy. It's simply annoying! If I was Santa and some airhead chic sang that song to me I'd give a good beating for Christmas.


2. Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas time
   Wonderful Christmastime - Paul...
   
   Musically and lyrically, this is one of the most retarded songs ever.


3. My Grownup Christmas Wish
   Grown Up Christmas List - Ayla...
   
   One can only handle so much cheese! What! You trying to make me cry with all the sentimism? Give me a break! Oh, by the way, props for world peace.

This is why I go to the Theater!

Since my last encounter with the theater which didn't go so well, I decided to take Cathi to The Blind Side which came out this week. I liked it. It wasn't far fetched, funny and inspiring. Cathi and I both enjoyed it thoroughly and hope that Sandra Bullock wins an Oscar for her performance in this film. Definitely a must see!

Septoplasty - it's done!

So this morning I got up and went with Cathi to the surgical center in Bountiful to get my polyps removed and my septum corrected. Was there waiting for about 2 hours before finally getting in there. Cathi and I talked and flirted in the prep room for a good 45 minutes. It was fun. They put the IV in and it was my first time with an IV. Not a big deal at all.

When the anesthesiologist got there and explained everything he injected the anesthetic into my IV and I was gone in less than 10 seconds. I don't remember a single thing. Next thing I remember someone asked me for a pain scale. "7" I said and they gave me something and it went down to about a 5.

It took me a good 3 hours after initially waking up to get to where I wasn't dizzy. Right now I'm feeling fine except I can't breathe through my nose, but that isn't something I'm used to anyway. Just trying to control the bleeding. I should be able to breathe through my nose in a couple days.

The kids have been so loving and Cathi has been such a great nurse! I'm sure blessed to have such a great support system.