Spirit of New Orleans/Saints!!

Wow, I am full of New Orleans spirit right now!!  Is it because I am there as I write?  Could be :)  A large part of the reason is because of the Saints and what they have done for this city.  It's not hard to see it living in Texas, but it's even easier to see it when you are in the middle of it.  The Saints haven't just pulled through victorious to make it to the super bowl.  They have brought a city torn by Mother Nature's devastation together.  They have given a city hope and a reason to be proud about the culture and history from which it was built on.  Driving into New Orleans, you don't see trash, buildings half built.  You see spirit, brightness lighting up the night sky, people rallying together for a single purpose, and a following not imitated anywhere else.

It reminds me of Brother Martin Cross Country from 1995-2000.  We ran as a family, as a group of people trying to accomplish a single task;  that is, to crush the other schools!!!  We helped each other when we were completely exhausted, and raised each other up when we claimed victory.  The same with my years as an LSU Tiger.  There is no tailgating like LSU tailgating!!!  There is no college following comparable to the fans behind LSU!!

I didn't want to mention it, but I will.  It really grinds my nerves that an organization like the NFL is doing what it is doing to the Saints/New Orleans right now!!  Everyone has heard of the term "Who Dat!?!"  In case you haven't heard of it before, it started off as "Who that say they going to beat them Saints, who that?"  During the 80's it evolved into "WHO DAT!?!"  It was Sal and Steve Monistere who recorded a version of "When the Saints Go Marching In" with Aaron Neville that had "Who Dat" incorporated into it.  That is what sparked the term with New Orleans and the Saints.  NFL, you have no say in this and how dare you try to dip into the spirit of Louisiana and New Orleans!!!!!!!

To end this on a happy note, I have some awesome pictures my brother, Chris, sent me the other day.

No one can take away the Spirit of New Orleans and the Saints!!!!! 

Terrific Tuesday!!!

What a day today!!  Things went really well today.  Even though I woke up with little sleep and didn't want to go to work (when I left, Gabriel and Erin were snuggling together in our bed), it turned out to be a good day.  I was able to get a great number of things accomplished at work!

Some highlights of the day:

We had a meeting about this golf tournament Booz Allen is putting on in the fall.  I had signed up to work the food and beverage (because I have so much experience with it), but really wanted to do the photography.  Well, it turned out that no one had signed up for that.  I was so excited!!!  Maybe, just maybe, I could lead the photography!!  I couldn't help it, but it was on my mind the entire meeting.  I would love to take pictures of the preparation and the actual event.  I know I don't do it professionally (obviously--I work for Booz Allen as a consultant), but I have a passion for photography.  I was planning on talking to Jenny after the meeting about it (the one who is leading this whole thing).  Well, Jenny, started assigning different areas of the room for people to gather in (different committees like advertising, food, photography, signs, etc.).  I was shocked when she pointed to me and said, "Whomever wants to do photography, please meet by Franco.  Franco you're still doing it, right?"  WHAT?!?!?!  How awesome God works....I never mentioned to her that I wanted to lead the photography but things just ended up working out like that.  In fact, I was even under food and beverage on her sheet still!

So, I am excited that I get to help in that way, because I feel that I have a lot to offer with creativity and organization.  Not to mention....they had chocolate chip/m&m cookies at the meeting!!!

Then when I didn't think my day could get any better, I get a phone call from Erin.  She tells me that she had taken Gabriel to Babies R Us and was carrying him in the maya wrap.  While doing this, he let out a very explosive poop.  She didn't realize until she checked later that it was not just in his diaper, but also down his leg, in the maya wrap, and in the car seat!!!!  I couldn't help but laugh my head off :)  Check out her blog for a  more detailed/funny explanation.

Well, today was great, and I am ready for another day.  I hope you all have a wonderful night and week and I will post again very soon.

Gabriel is advancing like a Franco

Today was quite a day for Gabriel!  Erin wrote about it on her blog, but I will tell it in my words :)

We took him to his 2 month doctor's appointment (1 week early).  Erin remembered to tell me about it, yesterday :)  God bless her heart!  Dr. Bellah told us last time that Gabriel would be getting his shots on our next visit there.  Erin forgot about this!  I kindly reminded her when she was on her way to the office.

I was a bit nervous about this myself because last time we were at the office, Gabriel cried like Erin was plucking him in the forehead over and over again :)  I love you, Erin!  But this time was different.  He had some prayers and angels with him and he didn't cry but once.  The only crying he did was when he was stuck 3 times in a row with needles.  Our child is now safe from like 8 diseases :)

Today was not just shot day but a few tests of development.  He's a Franco...he develops at his own pace :)  Anyway, he is like 2 months ahead of schedule on rolling over.  This little booger rolled over for the second time today at Dr. Bellah's!!!  Dr. Bellah also stood him up and kind of held him there while Gabriel used his legs to hold himself up--strong leg muscles for sure!!!  Doc was impressed.  Gabriel also broke the 10 lb mark, weighing in at 10 lbs 4oz and a length of 21"!!!  He is still in the 25 percentile for weight and like the 10 or 15th for length.  He is a Franco...nothing will stop him from getting anything done!

So our little soldier is doing well!!  Most of the people at my old job got to meet him today.  He did really well despite being very hungry for lunch.

Until next time, ponder this:  How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood.  Think about that for a second....ok, times up--a woodchuck CHUCKS WOOD!!!!  Why is an "IF" in there?!?!

Well my readers...I actually have an answer to that age old question.  The average wood a woodchucks in one day is 113 butt cords of wood.  A median amount that can be chucked in one hour is 616 butt cords.  The record high for a woodchuck chucking in one day was 2740 butt cords.  This was done on June 15, 1996. (These numbers take into account that woodchucks don't chuck on February 2nd-- in observance of ground hog day)  

SAINTS are going to the SUPERBOWL

SAINTS are going to the Superbowl!!  I am one of those people who was born a Saints fan.  When you live in New Orleans and love football, you bleed Saints when it comes to professional football.  I knew I would see the Saints make it to the Superbowl at some point in my life, but I didn't imagine it would be this year.

What a game.  Winning in overtime with a field goal kick by a man who is not even a complete 2 years out of college!  Saints took over the Vikings to make history!!!!

GEAUX SAINTS!!!!!!!!!!!

The future of computers

This is somewhat a continuation of "Where will technology be in 2030" that I posted several days ago.

While I was looking at the pen computer video the other day, I stumbled upon this one.  It is taking computers to another level.  I won't ramble on so you can go watch this video.  Come back after you watch to read the rest...

Future of Computers

As computers get faster, smarter, and more complicated, so does other technology.  I was talking to someone the other day about how fast technology is moving and we were saying how eventually watching movies won't just be a 3D adventure.  Movies may become holographic images that include interaction at some points.  How cool would that be!!

Anyway, here is a link to view a holographic dancer at a concert.  Craziness!!!

Holographic Dancer

If you have any cool videos you want to share, please email the links:
mikenerin08@gmail.com

I will post them in one multi-link post sometime this week.

Here is something to think about...With technology being where it is today and has been for the last 100 years, have we become increasingly less smart?  Were people who lived hundred of years before us and even thousands of years before us, smarter than we are today?  We rely on computers and programs for so much, are we exercising our brains as much as people in the past did?  I know we have a lot of smart people walking this Earth right now, but before the internet and media, was the average IQ of a country/continent higher?

Busy/relaxed weekend

Aahhhh, it's Sunday.  It's a day I love and dislike.  I love it for many reasons like: it's another day of rest and relaxation, a day to see all of my friends at church and God my undivided attention, and a day to recover from Friday and Saturday night :)   I dislike it because work starts on Monday :)  Not that I don't like work; I just like spending time with my family more!

What a great weekend it was...Friday night was awesome--we went and hung out with Alexa, Chris, & Blair Ramby and Tyler-Blair and Angela.  It is so nice to hang out with fun people and drink some Jack & Cokes!!  Not only that, but also eat some wonderful chicken kabobs and potatoes cut up and oven-cooked!  Mmmm..I am hungry again just thinking about it.  Gabriel had fun getting to know Blair and everyone else :)

Saturday was busy for a bit.  Erin helped throw Betsy Perryman a baby shower for their boy about to arrive and I helped in the background slightly by dipping pretzels in chocolate dyed blue.  Trey and Fenton Perryman came over and we hung out around the apartment complex for a while until it was time for lunch.  I got to have lunch with a good friend of mine I have not seen in a while...Michael Silva.  We enjoyed some juicy hamburgers from Classic Cafe!

To finish Saturday off, we played a game at the Perryman's we have not played before...Things.  Pretty fun...I tied Trey for second and my lovely wife trailed behind.  I LOVE YOU ERIN!!

Sunday has been a nice relaxed day.  Erin and I have gotten to snuggled with our precious boy, Gabriel who is nearly 7 weeks old.  What a cutie pie he is!  He doesn't enjoy snuggling as much as we do.  He is more focused on getting to mommy and eating breakfast :)  This evening we have lifeteen mass.  After that...black bean salsa wraps for dinner!!  Woohoo for food!!

I hope everyone who reads this has a wonderful day/night/week!!!!

Happy Friday!!

YES, IT'S FRIDAY!!!

Here are two fun "things" to make your Friday afternoon a little more relaxed :)  It will help set the mood for a wonderful weekend.  Enjoy!....
--------------------
A Frog walks into a bank and approaches the teller. He can see from her nameplate that her name is Patricia Whack.

"Miss Whack, I'd like to get a $30,000 loan to take a holiday."
Patty looks at the frog in disbelief and asks his name. The frog says his name is Kermit Jagger, his dad is Mick Jagger, and that it's okay, he knows the bank manager.

Patty explains that he will need to secure the loan with some collateral.

The frog says, "Sure. I have this," and produces a tiny porcelain elephant, about an inch tall, bright pink and perfectly formed.
Very confused, Patty explains that she'll have to consult with the bank manager and disappears into a back office.

She finds the manager and says, "There's a frog called Kermit Jagger out there who claims to know you and wants to borrow $30,000, and he wants to use this as collateral."
She holds up the tiny pink elephant. "I mean, what in the world is this?"

The bank manager looks back at her and says...

"It's a knickknack, Patty Whack. Give the frog a loan. His old man's a Rolling Stone."

--------------------

“Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him ..... A super calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.”

Stay tuned for more fun-filled and interesting posts.

My little angel, Gabriel

Gabriel is the absolute icing on the cake for Erin and me.  He is the man of our dreams :)  Even when he cries and gives us his sad face we still can't help but smile at him and kiss him all up!!

One thing that I love about him is the way he gets when his angels are around.  SAY WHAT?!?!  Yeah, you heard me...I believe in angels and I believe that they are always around.  There is a spot in our apartment that can calm Gabriel most of the time we bring him there (the end of our couch close to the hallway).  When we sit down there his eyes immediately go straight for the same spot almost always.  Once they do, it's almost like he is watching someone...an angel...his angel.  He looks up there and gets this relaxed posture and then smiles.  During the time that this is all happening, it's as if his angel is flying around.  He is moving his eyes around as if he is watching a fly, but the fly is not there...deductive reasoning tells me it's his angel!

I could not have told you before hand how much I was going to love being a father...ok, yes I could :)  But I had no idea how much I would miss him when I have to leave him, whether it's work, to run an errand, or go anywhere without him.  I can't wait to take him to monster truck shows, teach him to ride a bike, throw mud at him, build things with him, teach him how to work on cars and so much more!!  Yes, I would have thrown mud even if we had a girl :)

Ok, enough rambling for one post.  Tonight's thought is this:  All of us in this world have the ability to make our own choices.  When it comes down to Faith, do you believe?  Do you believe that God is always at your side--because He is!  Do you believe that things happen for a reason beyond any explanation?  I do--I can track Gabriel's birth to one decision I made when I was 16 years old.  Do you believe that your angel is right there with you?  I do, because from time to time, I can feel his presence.

My little angel, Gabriel

Where will technology be in 2030

I was talking to a colleague at work and found out about some technology I have never heard of before.


Laptops are getting smaller.  Companies are cramming more and more into these tiny devices.  Well, laptops will soon be a thing of the past.  Let me introduce to those who have never seen this before....ready....dun dun dun...a computer in a pen.


YES, you heard me.  The Japanese have out down themselves again.  They have been able to project a computer screen from a pen to the wall.  They took another pen and projected a keyboard on the table.  HOW THE HECK CAN I TYPE ON A NON-EXISTING KEYBOARD, FRANCO?!?!?!?  Well, my friends, there are sensors that know the position of each of the keys and can detect when you hit that key.  You can even transmit the information on the hard drive to a special watch.  Don't believe me...check this out:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD0W0_J_28A


I know this isn't fake because many of the people I work with work on DOD contracts with the most up to date technology around and he is one of the guys who told me about this.


So, if this is where we are now....where will technology be in 2030?  Will our cars use gasoline anymore?  Will we even have cell phones?  Will anyone work at an actual office building or will the arising popularity in working from home sweep the world?


One thing my friend and I were discussing about computers was this:  when computers first came out and even until recently humans were always waiting on the computer to do something.  Soon and even now, the slowest part of doing your work and using your computer is YOU!


So I leave you all with this...In 12 years from today, where will you be with respect to a job, personal computer, or even car/home?  Will your car have wheels?  Will it run on gasoline, water, or the Sun?  I know most people can't answer that--that's what makes living on this Earth so exciting!

Today was THAT day....

Yes, today was THAT day.  It was the day that we took down all of our Christmas decorations.  This year was a good year.  Why, you may ask?  I'll tell you why...

We had a 4 foot Christmas tree on a table in our apartment which stretched to the ceiling.  I put about 300 lights around the thing with ornaments.  There was a train that went around the base and a very small village as well.  Outside, I set up nearly 2000 lights....1800 to be exact :)  I had those set to music with my music box (thanks Brother Chris I. for that!).

Needless to say, Christmas is my favorite time of year for many reasons.  Erin thought we had a lot of lights around the apartment.  I keep telling her, "Wait until we have a house!"

Meanwhile, Gabriel is be a champ fighting off a nasty cold.  This is the fourth day of it and he is taking it well.

Until next post, chew on this from Franco's Philosophy:  While driving in your car, make sure your windows are rolled up when picking your nose, so the car next to you doesn't see.

Here are some pictures of the decorations from Christmas 2009.

How about that Xmas tree I made out of lights (yes, I am proud of myself)

Franco what?!?!

Yes, I am actually starting a blog.  Franco philosophy is going to be a mix of things.  Not only will I tell you about my everyday life and things that happen, but also do my best to give advice to those who ask for it.

To give you a idea of where I am in life, here is a brief synopsis:

I live in South Houston with my wife, Erin, and son Gabriel. Erin and I got married in August 2008 in Baton Rouge, LA, and have lived in Texas since we got married.  I work with Booz Allen Hamilton as a Senior Consultant.  We go to St. Clare Catholic church in Houston and love working with youth groups.

Most of our families live in Louisiana which we love to visit!  We met at Camp Chosatonga and Khadalea in the summer of 2006.  I love being outdoors, playing sports, woodworking, hanging out with my family and friends, standing above a grill for hours while sipping on bourbon and cokes, and much more which I am sure will come up in later posts.

Like I said...stayed tuned, because those who know the Franco family, know that you will soon find some very interesting and unique things on this blog.