December 26, 2006

JJ,
The day after Christmas and I sit here pondering over the many presents I recieved, and more importantly, what I DIDNT receive. I always find it ironic that I'm not given everything I have asked for (I have been waiting a long time to find the right sentence to use the word 'ironic' in... awesome). I did however get some pretty flippin sweet stuff that I can't wait to wear/use. For instance, your daddy made me a little sweatshirt that I'll be sporting on a daily basis, basically what it says on it is that after him, I hold all power, or in other words I'm the Assistant Director in the Very Long Media business (please do not mistake for the "Assistant TO THE Director...big difference). Anyways, sorry, this is gonna be a short one today, I just picked up my woman friend, Meilani. Not sure if she'll still be here when you're old enough to understand but for now she's kind of a part of my life. I believe my next blog will be entitled "Women: Their Purpose in the World".
Jonny

December 24, 2006

JJ, your first Christmas Eve! Aren't you excited?!?! Unfortunately your rude parents decided they didn't want to spend it with us (The Long Family), which really blows. Which brings me to my next point, your parents will want to "share" time with our family and your mommy's family but I have come up with what I believe to be a very reasonable solution. Considering that Josef is the sperm provider (supposedly) which = you, than his side of the family technicly has more custody of you. With that said, here is a little letter I have wrote to your mommy's side of the family.
"To whom it may concern:
I want to say how much the Long Family appreciates all of your 'help' with the newest member of our family, Jonny Junior (aka JJ). I couldnt help but laugh when I heard a really funny joke the other day, essentially the punch line was that JJ would be 'splitting' time with the Nutter and Long families during various holidays. It later came to my attention that it wasn't supposed to be a joke however, which made me laugh even more. I guess what I'm saying is that it's absolutely ludicrous to think that JJ wouldn't be at the Long household during every holiday (including Hannukah=12 days). Before you get to upset though read what I.. or rather we.. have come up with as an alternate solution. All members of Becca's family are freely welcome at our house at any time if they ask at least two weeks ahead of time. If asked in a proper fashion, they will ALSO be allowed to hold/play/speak with JJ at five minute incriments (with one hour break between every five minutes). Thank you very much for wanting to be involved in JJ's life. I think that he might appreciate it at somepoint.
Sincerely,
Jonny Long--Long Family Correspondant"

Merry Christmas little man, I can't wait 'till I can actually hold you when your OUT of your mommy's tummy.
Uncle Jonny

December 20, 2006

5 days until I'm lavished with multiple gifts that will surely brighten my days for a while, it's amazing to me that I'm only treated like this for only one day out of the entire year. I wouldn't be opposed to approaching Christmas like making a movie, in stages. We could have a Pre-Christmas, Christmas, and Post-Christmas. Getting gifts at each stage of course. You will learn that this is the most important part of christmas--forget the atmosphere, forget the family, forget the giving, Christmas is about fulfilling your own desires and receiving gifts that you wouldn't get otherwise. Okay, so giving is kind of cool too, your Auntie Leanna and I will be having our 2nd Annual Christmas Shopping trip tomorrow, we started a tradition last year where we essentially just pick out gifts for ourselves and then give them to the other person to buy. It's a really a great concept. Why? Because you will find that you often have to pretend like you like gifts given to you when in reality these gifts provide you with as much enjoyment as looking at your pet release his lunch. Leanna and I have discovered that this can be avoided, just choose what you would like, have the person you're shopping with buy it, and pretend like your surprised when you open it. Your Uncle Jeremy will be attending his first dance tonight at the Junior High. He is hitting that stage in life where he has started to "notice" people of the opposite sex, by the time you "pop" out who knows, he will probably be in a serious relationship, most likely it wont be a real relationship though because it will be based solely on physical attractions and being too excited about discovering what the word "French" means when put in front of the word "kissing".
Uncle Jonny

December 16, 2006

Saturday afternoon, I sit in my room... alone... Jamey left me yesterday. I could have been home 5 days ago but I have to stay here in Walla Walla because of basketball. I have one more day to go. Your Auntie Leanna just purchased a house in Vancouver, Wa., that has been the exciting news the last few days. You will now be raised practically next door to her so I envy her very much. I guess all the power went out in Tillamook so your Grandpa and Grandma, Uncle Jeremy, and Auntie Lanessa have been forced to use their imaginations for the last couple days. I feel so bad for them. I have been in the midst of watching the second season of Prison Break and I have no clue what I would do if all the power went out!! It would be devestating. While, I'm gonna go watch a sabbath sermon on my computer, a piece called "Doug Bachelor presents: Casino Royale". Much Love.
Uncle Jonny

December 14, 2006

I'm leaving in 20 minutes to go and play Central Washington (Division II). This will without a doubt be the worst loss I have ever experienced, worse the 52 point loss I experienced last week. You know what I don't like, being embarassed, which I will be today. It's alright, hopefully I play well. I tell you what, you are going to be one heck of an athlete (if you don't take after your father), just kidding! Nobody rocked sports goggles like your dad, not even Horace Grant (NBA player, possibly dead when you read this.....black). I'm going to tell you who my top five favorite basketball players are in the NBA right now and we will see how they are when you are able to read this: 1. Lebron James, 2. Steve Nash, 3. Dwayne Wade, 4. Kevin Garnett, 5. Vince Carter. Also, the two players expected to be the next big things in the NBA are Kevin Love and Kyle Singler (from Oregon) and Greg Oden. They probably will amount to nothing. Anyways, I gotta take off now. Peace and Love.
Jonny

December 12, 2006

I'm done with my first quarter of college baby. It feels pretty good. I did get a D+ on my math test which was pretty dissapointing but you know what... I'm okay with it! I'm done.... Plus math sucks cahones (that's spanish for an english word, ask Uncle Josh or Jamey what it means). I think that I'm going to finish watching the first season of a show called "Prison Break" tonight so that's pretty exciting. I have been so involved with school that I haven't even had time to talk to you about one of my favorite times of the year. Christmas! Throughout your life some of your most memorable experiences will be over this joyous holiday season. Seriously, nobody else in the world party's on christmas day like the Long's, you know what, forget that. That may be true but it's the whole time in general that makes it so cool, pre-christmas, christmas, post-christmas, the whole package. From going and searching for the perfect christmas tree, to sipping hot chocolate, to shopping with everyone (included with this would be everyone making fun of Josh for completing his shopping within a period of minutes), and finally to my personal favorite time--opening presents I deserve. Anyways, you've got a lot to look forward to. Hint # I forgot: Make a christmas wish list with everything your heart desires every christmas and give it to everyone who should be getting you something, even if you think there's no way you'll get it (if your parents really love you then they will get EVERYTHING for you that you want). I learned that this is a good idea and that it will work after I watched Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Lanessa get every single item on their lists for Chrismas in 2003.

December 10, 2006

My stress level has started to climax because of the six finals I will be attempting to take between today, sunday the 10th and next tuesday the 12th. Unfortunately, I don't think I can come up with anything clever to say today. I think I'm starting to finally understand what it means to be completely drained physically. Okay, I take that back, I have been completely physically drained before. My roomate is sitting here next to me right now and he has some words of advice for you. You will probably come to know him as "Uncle Trent"... Probably your only uncle that doesn't necessarily look the same "color" as you. He's full of rhymes, stories, advice, and quotes that you will come to respect very much. Here's some quotes he thinks you should know:

"Heart is what seperates the good from the great"

"Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference"

"Opportunity always involves risk, you can't steal second with your foot still stuck on first"

"Winners surround each other with winners"

"Be an ordinary person committed to doing extraordinary things"

Peace and Love for tonight,

Jonny Long

December 7, 2006

I'm tellin you little dude, life sucks some times, but there's so much to be thankful for. It's something I'm trying to learn as an individual, learn to think of something in my head that I'm thankful for every time I feel depressed or feel like the world is out to "get me". For instance, right now, I have 5 finals to study for, this depresses me, so what do I do? I think of something that makes me happy... In this case the television show "Prison Break" immediately comes to mind so I choose to be happy instead of depressed and watch an episode. Of course I'm only prolonging my depression, but who cares, right?!?! Tonight I play against a division II basketball team, San Fransico State, I would normally never bet against myself or go into something without confidence but this is an exception. If I were to make a bet with a bookie I'd put $50,000 on them beating us by at least 25 points. Final Score: San Fransico-92...Walla Walla-65. Hopefully I'm wrong. Peace and Love.
Jonny

December 5, 2006

School will often get you you ver frustrated, tired, or motivated. Possibly sometimes a combination of at least frustrated and tired. Right now I'm entering my first week of finals as a freshman in college and I'm not enjoying it. However, keep in mind that however stupid and pointless school is at times, it does help you learn to set goals, make comittments, and prioratize what's impmortant to you. I've got lots of studying so I'll leave you with that for today. Hint #4: Sometimes you will have people try to explain to you/give you advice on certain things, whether it be about life, school, girls/boys, or whatever. No matter how wrong you know they are, and how much you dissagree, it's important to let them do this sometimes because it might be the only chance they get to feel like their important or actually intelligent.
Jonny

Life...

Alright little man, here's the scoop. Throughout the course of your life you will have to make decisions. Some decisions you will look back on and without any doubt know that that was the right decision to make. Others you will look back on and realize that the decision you made may have not been necessarily the right decision but it helped you grow as an individual and mature. And yet still, there are those unfortunate decisions that you make where you look back on and know that the decision made was not the right one, and you try and try with everything within you to find something positive out of the circumstance, searching for something that helped you grow, for something that taught you a valuble lesson. I'll be the first one to tell you that I'm not sure if something positive can come out of every decision you ever make, maybe so, where I'm at in my life right now doesn't give me the credibility to say one way or the other. One of the most important things to remember however is that when things don't always work out the way you planned, when you feel depressed and lonely, when you truly believe that you are a stuck in a whole that you don't know how to get out of, call on those that are close to you for help. I would say that you are not going to find a family, immediate or extended, that will be better at having your back and being there for you through those times in life where stuff just isn't going right. Hint #3: You will have enemies, learn to not only wish that bad not come to them but also learn to pray that they may have the best in life.
Jonny

December 1, 2006

JJ,
One thing that I'm very glad for is the fact that you will grow up with a father that knows how to stand up for himself and not back down when he disagrees. Unfortunately im one of the few (if not the only one) in my family that missed out on this trait. Throughout life you will always be "tested" by people, if you are like the majority of human beings you will often get very frustrated and just straight want to hit someone in the face. Right now that's how I feel, there is something that I disagree strongly with this one person about but I don't have the 'cough'.... balls.... to stand up for what I think and talk to the person about it. In fact, I talk to this person on a daily basis, and I'd like to yell at them and tell them what I think, instead however, I stand there and pretend like I agree. This is a very bad trait. There is no one that you will meet who is better at facing confrentations head on than your daddy. Observe, learn, obey (sometimes), and practice what he teaches you. I don't mean that he resorts to solving prediciments with violence (which is probably a good thing), but he knows how to stand up for what he believes. This is important. I guess that will be my lesson for the day. I'm headed to a lodge up in the mountains tonight to play in the snow and make snow angels with your uncle Jamey, should be a fun time. Hint #2: Sometimes it is absolutely essential to resort to violence, if you ever find yourself losing in a "battle" with your father realize two things, 1) your screwed if you try to take him on verbally, and 2) that's okay, this is the time to use violence and just abuse him physically.