I missed my calling...

...notice the "Boxer" game behind me. This game requires that the player hits what looks like a speed bag as hard as they can. The score that posts is a measurement of the power of the players punch. We were at a party following Robert Caldwell's wedding. Notice my groomsman tuxedo. Of the people who played the game that day, my score was the highest. You will notice behind my negatively sized right biceps that someone has actually out-punched me in the past. I believe the score was 869. Of the 7 or 8 people that played the game while the wedding party was there, I was the best...the champion...Ali...Frazier...Holyfield...Foreman... I thought nothing of it until a fella asked me if I would consider training with his mixed martial arts fighting team and offered to pick up my tab. I didn't take him up on the tab, but I realized that despite my meager stature and the fact that I am not at my fighting weight...that I still pack quite the PUNCH!!! Watch out Lenox Lewis.

Gabi Slides

On my final day of Christmas break, Gabi and I took Joseph to soccer practice at "The Dunes," properly known as Ed Austin Regional Park. While we waited Gabi enjoyed the slides and swings at the playground nearby.

Another Sick Day

On the way to day care this morning, Gabriela decided to spew a slimy concoction of strawberries, onions, rice, and soy milk. Oddly enough, she enjoys eating cooked onions and had fished quite a few of them from Mima's Escabeche yesterday. Escabeche is an onion and chicken soup that Mima serves over rice. Mima is Carmen's mother, Maria.

Anyway, since the day care does not accept vomitous children, I had to cover my morning meetings and get back home to clean her up. She vomited once more and then illustrated her upset stomach in the second manner, twice. Since then, she has been fine, though. Now she is napping in her room, which I darkened with blankets over the blinds so that she will get a solid nap. The picture is her standing by the door this morning after her bout with vomiting and the other thing. Notice that she has the car keys in her right hand. She wanted to go out shopping or something.

First Beach Trip 2009

This is us at Jorge's house after our first trip to the beach in 2009. We were having a really good time at Huguenot Park. In fact, we actually packed food and drinks so we could stay for a long time. Unfortunately, we got kicked out of the park because we are a family of wild and crazy hooligans. The picture of Joseph and his cousin, Nicholas, below illustrates why we were ejected. You will notice a yellow rope in between them. Apparently, it was more of a boundary, per se, as opposed to a paddle ball net. As the park ranger indicated, there is some sort of bird species under the protection of the Audobon Society. According to him, the large signs that read something to the effect of "NO GOING PAST THIS ROPE" were enough of a warning, so we had to pack our things and go. "One strike and you're out" at Huguenot, when it comes to infringing on the liberties of birds. This was kind of like a "red card" for the whole family (inside joke for Mom and Dad).

Other weekend happenings: Joseph's team won their first soccer game of the season, 6-0. Joseph scored two goals and displayed great leadership. I missed the game because of a company meeting in Orlando, so I'm anxious to see him play next weekend. The boy is good!

Friday Night

So, I got kicked out of work today because of my germs. I was not feeling so hot. I worked on homework most of the day but did take a time out to fix the kitchen sinks. Needless to say, there will be very little activity around here tonight. Carmen is still under the weather too. Joseph's okay and Gabi is currently crying for undetermined reasons.

Carmen and Gabi are going to the zoo in the morning with some of their girlfriends. I guess Joseph and I will figure something out. Maybe we will golf at Blue Cypress, a 9-hole city course that is a haven for golfers that aren't very accomplished but still enjoy the game.

I start my soccer season on Sunday with my team, Lynch's. We are sponsored by Lynch's Irish Pub, a restaurant bar out at the beach. Joseph's season starts next weekend. Since the soccer season is about to start, I thought a picture of (left to right) Joseph, his cousin Nick, and friend Bryce from last season would be appropriate. The three of them received medals for making the all-star team. Although they all play on the same team, their collective genius on the soccer field had to be split up for the all-star game.

July Picture

This is another picture from July of 2008. Joseph and Gabi on the left, and cousins Eva and Alex on the right.

Crab

Sometimes, I'm just going to post a random picture or two that I like because I really don't feel like writing anything. We're all still feeling a bit under the weather and I need sleep!

This is a picture from July 2008. It is the smallest little crab I've ever caught...or I just have HUGE fingers. You decide.

Thanks to Gabi...

...Joseph, Carmen, and I are all a little under the weather. Fortunately, Gabi is feeling better so she'll probably let us sleep tonight so that we can get better too. I was able to go to work today, which was good. I met with a new manufacturer in Jacksonville, named Gosan. They manufacture mechanical components for lifting, hoisting, transport, and storage machinery. Gosan is headquartered in Spain and they lease space from JC Renfroe, a clamp manufacturer here in Jax. Hopefully, they will need some good talent soon. The manager mentioned a CNC programmer that they may need in a few weeks.

Anyway, we decided to take it easy tonight, so we ate chicken soup and took some vitamins. Hopefully, we'll be better in the morning. Here's a picture of a spiked up Gabi from earlier tonight.

Closing Out The Day

I just got through another one of Dr. Gupta's lectures about Business Intelligence Systems. Dr. de Jong's Investments class was cancelled for the day because we have a take home exam due on Wednesday. I decided to hit the UNF library so I could work on it some more. I got the bulk of it finished over the weekend but am hung up on a particular problem about finding the minimum variance portfolio of three securities. It's frustrating because we have been using Excel for all of our problems in class, but what we have practiced doesn't seem to be working correctly for this problem...and my calculus skills are very limited. Students going into the MBA program should be required to take a calculus refresher course if they have been out of school for over a certain period. I started using calculus again last semester, a solid 9 years after my last calculus experience. I'm sure I'll be fine since the problem is for extra credit, but I get into competitions with myself over these things. Time to get over it and go home!

Sick Day

Today, I am home with Gabi. She came down with a fever last night. Carmen doesn't have any time off yet at her new job, so I am taking the day. I plan to use my time to catch up on some school work. I will be taking her to the doctor later.

Joe

First Blog on JacksonvilleDurkin

So, this is the introductory post...and this is us...the Jacksonville Durkins. Carmen and Joe are pictured here at the top. We've been married since March 19th, 2005.

These are our two boys, Joseph (the human), and Keane (the graying dog). Gabi was supposed to be in this picture but she wouldn't sit still. She rarely does.

This is Gabi. Yes, she is wearing a wig to protect her identity.

We will keep you updated on Durkin happenings here in Jacksonville.