Looking on to the new year

As I take stock of the past year and what has transpired, I can only say that I am grateful beyond words. 2008 will forever stay in my memory as one of the greatest years of my life. I feel like I have accomplished more this year, grown more this year, and been blessed more this year than in any other time in my life. Since January I have gotten married, purchased a new car, purchased my wife and I's first home, and taken some major steps towards becoming debt free and changing careers so that I can utilize my degree. It's been a great year and one that I am very grateful for.

This year could have gone in the opposite direction quite easily. The car I was driving kept breaking down on me and costing me more money and time and frustration than it was worth. One day after a LONG day at work I was driving home and it quit on me. I called my family for help and they came. The car started up again and I continued my drive home. Three or four blocks later it broke down again...in the middle of an intersection, through which my younger brother and I had to push it into a near by gas station. I consider what happened next to be a defining moment in my life that helped shape my perception of situations we encounter in life. Red faced, drenched in sweat, panting, and holding back swear words...I did not speak. I refused to let a bad situation make a fool out of me. Previously in my life I would have thought that having to push a card made me look foolish, but now I understand that it's only letting the fact that you had to push a car ruin your day and losing control of your emotions that makes you look foolish. After a few minutes and a Gatorade I looked at my mom, who is ever the pillar of support, and said "Mom, I am done with this car." Note that there were no expletives in that sentence...a milestone for me in that moment. The house situation was similar. A short while after my new bride and I had set up the house we were renting and gotten everything just so, we noticed cracks in the walls. It came to light that the landlord had not taken care of a leaky pipe and house was in danger of falling in. We were forced to move out one month into a new year long lease. God used that opportunity and our faith in a bad situation to reward us with a great new house and place that we can call our own. It's pretty great.

Feeling old and young all at once

This week has been crazy! My beautiful wife and I moved into our new home and thus took another big step towards being adults. I am so grateful for the support system of family and friends that Kimberly and I have who have helped us in the past few months and then helped us again this week with all of the moving chaos.Thank you all sincerely! I can not wait to get our new home all set up and decorated the way we want it and have our family over for the Holidays. It's gonna be great.

On the other side of the "feeling grown up" coin is the "I really am still that young at heart" side. I saw the weather forecast for Christmas and Christmas Eve today and almost cried. It is suppose to be in the mid to high 70's and that makes me sick! So, I am praying as hard as I can that something crazy will happen and we'll get an arctic burst or something and drop the temps down into at least the 30's. I am trying to have that child like faith that anything can happen. I know it sounds like a small thing, but it really takes a lot away from the holidays for it to be warm outside...at least it does for me.

Soon I will put up pictures of our new home.

P.S. Jesus, If you are reading this...I would seriously appreciate it if you could make it COLD for the next week or two. Thanks

A funny thing happened....

So, Monday I wrote a blog about how much I hated the hot weather in December and then very next day a miracle happened. It snowed in Austin,Texas! I am seriously starting to think I have magic powers. I made it snow it Dubuque, Chicago, and now Austin. I should really start thinking on a bigger scale and wish for something like winning the lottery or striking oil...or world peace or whatever.

My wife and I walked through our new home today and picked out everything we wanted them to fix or change. It was fun. "No no no! This paint is suppose to be Satin, not semi-gloss. I swear, if this isn't taken care of the deal is off!" yes yes...much fun. Now I start the longest week of my life...waiting to close and move in.

I am thinking about auditing a course or two at a local university. I have realized that I really like learning, and if it were something like Texas History or physics or something cool like that I could totally flex my knowledge on people at parties and such. By the way...do other states teach state history? I mean obviously no other state is as awesome as Texas...it seems like other state's history would be lame. Can you imagine having to sit through a semester on South Dakota history? Yikes.

Christmas is in 15 days. That is soon and I am happy. The whole family over and Kimberly and I's house for Christmas Eve is one of my favorite new traditions.

Warm Weather Sucks!

It's freaking December and it's 75 degrees outside! This really pisses me off.

The Cowboys blew it in the fourth quarter yesterday. I can't believe these guys. They have huge amounts of talent on that team and still manage to screw up a season they should have had all locked up.Lame.

I am reading, for the very first time, Anne Frank The Diary of a Young Girl. I really love reading books that aren't in your standard 30 page chapter layout. I find that I can stay much more interested if there are smaller sections to read at a time. Diary form is pretty cool thus far.

Everyday I work I am reminded that working for a huge corporation sucks. They can never make their minds up about anything and by the time and changes get down to the our level, it's time to change them again. I can't wait until I have a big person job. It's definitely sounding more and more appealing.

Here's a poem.

90 years have come and gone.
I have lost count along the way.
Children,grandchildren, and greats have I met.
Seems like only yesterday.
I have lived and I have loved
longer than I care to tell.
Now looking back on the life I've lead
I have done my best to live it well.
I have done the job God gave to me.
My children are all grown.
I found my peace and happiness.
Rest my soul.
I'm going home.

Confidance

I understand that all people struggle with confidence. It is a rare occasion to find a person who has found that perfect amount that puts your right in the middle of self-conscious and arrogant. It's a place I hope to find someday. And when I find it, brother I am settin' up camp. I have struggled my whole life with being on one side or the other of confidence...sometimes both sides at the same time. I am very self-conscious about somethings and there are others that I am too prideful about. It is my hope that through time and practice I will be the type of man who knows his worth, but doesn't feel the need to convince others to see it.

He wears, in his smile,
A quiet confidence,
An assurance that is echoed
In his eyes.
No use for self-consciousness
or arrogance,
He smiles certain
with humility and pride.

So, that's just a little poem about who I want to be someday. It's a goal.

10 days till we move in! JACKED!

Bad News Never had Good Timing

Have you ever noticed that you always seem to get bad news when you are ill? The last time I was seriously ill I got a phone call and against my better judgement I answered the phone. The person on the other end informed me that my best friend in high school had been killed in a motorcycle accident. Today I learned that some one has been attempting to open credit cards with my personal information. Not fun.

I can't help but notice that I have not a single follower for my blog. That depressing.

So, speaking of depressing...I have been brushing up on my Haiku skills lately. If you are not sure what I Haiku is, I suggest looking it up on wikipedia. They explain it better than I can. Anyway, I wrote this poem in Haiku form.

Footstool and a noose
Winter heart-ache takes it's toll
Spring will never come

Personally I prefer poems that aren't as strict with they're guidelines, but Haiku is a beautiful form and a great practice in writing in thrift. I also have a hard time writing in this form about anything that is not completely depressing. Subconscious perception of the Japanese life?

I have noticed that I, being a long haired bearded man, get very strange and concerned looks when I walk around with a copy of "Catcher in the Rye". I suppose I should have expected this.

I am not sure what I will read next. I have never read "The Great Gatsby" but I have heard very good things. I also haven't read "Oliver Twist". Both good options.

Less than two weeks until we move into our new home.

The sickness wears on

I am still feeling very ill, so I don't have the patience or energy to write much today. I do want to share a poem I wrote last night. Very rarely have I written poems that I felt said what I wanted them to. I am proud of this one.

I gaze up at a perfect night sky
Your hand in mine
The stars display infinity in the form of light
And I am amazed at the beauty of our fingers intertwined

Estoy Enfermo

There are things in life I am good at and things I am notoriously bad at. Being sick is one of the things I do poorly. I am sure this is just a cold, but I am not at all productive when I am sick. Oh well, this should blow over soon.

I have alot of art projects I hope to start working on towards the end of the month and the first part of the new year. One in particular that I am very excited about is going to be very interesting photographic collage that will be called "E Pluribus Unum". It's a multifaceted title. I have already contacted a few of the people I want to make the subject of this series and so far everybody is on board.

There is a photography project I want to do with my wife that I am very happy about as well. I will be taking a series of photographs where Kimberly will be standing in a crowd. The entire crowd will be facing away from the camera with the exception of Kim, who will be dressed in a wedding dress. I plan to develop the images in a sepia tone except for Kimberly who will be in color. It a visual representation of how I see her. Take from that what you will.

It's interesting that I have been working with photography because that is not usually my medium of choice. Although, I guess when inspiration strikes you follow where it leads.

My Travels

This past weekend I went with my wife and her family to a wedding in Iowa. We flew into Chicago Friday afternoon and drove the rest of the way to Dubuque. It was an amazing trip and one I will remember for ever...Unless, of course, I forget.

I saw alot of beautiful things and learned about a culture that seems almost completely different from the one I have grown up in. I loved finding the differences between the way people live in the northern part of the country in comparison to my dear beautiful Texas. I am very proud to be a Texan and could never actually move away, but there were aspects of the north that I really loved.The weather was the first thing I loved about being up north. They actually have FOUR seasons. It gets cold there, and I love the cold weather. In three days I saw more snow than I have seen in my entire life in Texas...cummulatively.The food in the south is WAY better.

I will probably post some pictures from the trip soon. You'll be jealous.

It's just about two weeks until I move into my new home. This excites me.

I am watching a movie called "The 9th Gate". It's about a book written by the devil and Johhny Depp is trying to find it. I am halfway through ( I had to go to work) and so far it is awesome. I have really been into the idea of collected books lately. Not specifically rare or antiquin books, but books I like. Maybe if I SUPER like a book I will try to get an early copy or something. That'd be cool.

I think I want to get a cocker spaniel like I had when I was a kid. That'd be sweet!

The Pain of Love

When you love somebody you must learn to overcome the knee jerk reaction to be annoyed by each others quarks. What's more, you must overcome the same for each others families. I was raised to believe that your family is one of the greatest gifts God ever gave us and should be treated accordingly. Likewise, the people you love were given a great gift in their family, and like any other gift you should try your hardest to enjoy it with them and be excited for what they have. My parents endured gifts I received (some they brought upon themselves) such as drums, guitars, guns, CD's and Movie's they did not personally love, but they enjoyed them with me. I guess what I am trying to say is this: You may think that your significant others families could use some work and you may HATE the movie "Weekend At Bernie's 2", but the person you love loves their family and you should try to do the same. As far as the movie selection goes...if they love "Weekend at Bernie's 2"...get out now!

Today they laid carpet and tile in our new home and I am VERY excited!

I got a really sweet Variable Speed Jig Saw for my birthday. Things will be created and also destroyed!

I am thinking about taking my gauges out and letting the holes in my ears close up. I loved the since of freedom I got from getting them, but they no longer represent freedom to me...I suppose because I don't have anything I wish to be free from. It's a nice place to be. We'll see if I actually take them out or not.

At this time on Friday I will be either in Chicago or Dubuque. Either way it's gonna be cold and I am extremely happy about that.

If you like sitting by a fire and talking and laughing over drinks...we should be friends, because I like that as well.

Brown-Chicken-Brown-Brown!

26 Days and Counting

Until Kimberly and I move into our new home! I can not express in words the joy I feel when I think about having a place to share with my wife that we can call our own! Amazing.

Tomorrow I will go to Dallas to be with Kimberly extended family and celebrate Thanksgiving with them. I am glad we get to spend time with her family. I have never stayed over night at her grandmother's house and I am a little weirded out by the idea. I am sure it will be fine, but I am not a huge fan of old people with all their strange smells,abundance of medication,mindless ramblings about the way things used to be, and all that.

I feel a little bit guilty about this, but I am really hoping that OU beats Texas Tech this weekend.

I finally got my contacts. I can once again look like my normal self.

Stuff I am thinking about right now

I have a beard. It's not spectacular, but it's a beard. I haven't been able to trim it in a while because my beard trimmer is packed and yesterday I plucked a hair from my facial fro and measured it. Just under 2 inches. I picked one of the longest ones I could find.

As I get older time seems to to speed up. I can't believe Christmas is next month. I think I like time moving fast right now.

I lost 6 pounds. 14 more to go until I make my goal. Billy Blanks is a mad man and his 8 minute cardio is brutal. I love him for that.

I asked a friend of mine who is a great artist to draw a charcoal image of my dog Rovy. It will be properly matted, framed, and hung in a place of honor in our new home...unless it sucks.

Eating right doesn't taste very good. It's also more expensive. If you made a pros and cons list for eating...I have a feeling there would be more cons. I have to be illogical in order to stay focused with my eating habits. That's weird.

I really want to go fishing soon. Also, if you saying fishing really fast it makes the noise of a pirate or a musketeer pulling his sword our REALLY fast. Also...isn't it weird that the Musketeers used swords? I would have for sure guessed muskets.

The TV shows being made when my parents where kids are way better than what is being made now. There are a few exceptions, but in general I find the previous statement to be true.

Do you ever wish you could be a little kid again? You really shouldn't. It's a waste of time and now that you're an adult...you don't really have time to waste on stuff like that.

I really would like to have original art from all of my artistic friends. Photos, paintings, drawings, sculptures, writings, and anything else you can think of. If you are my friend...you will give me art.

I could win on Jeopardy. Maybe not, but I do well playing along at home.

*insert clever title here*

I am going to Iowa next week for a wedding and I keep checking the weather online to see what it will be like there. I have never seen snow that stuck to the ground and really looked like winter or anything and I have been very pleased to see that we can expect to see snow falling when we arrive. I'll be flying into Chicago and then driving down to Iowa. I am excited to have the opportunity to see a type of winter I have never experienced.

I have been working alot lately and it has been physically taxing. My back hurts like never before. I am thinking about getting those orthodics or whatever they are called. I have heard they work miracles, but I don't personally know any one who has used them. Have you? Tell me about your experience if you have. I need to be able to make an educated decision on whether or not to purchase these things.

Technology is hilarious. I can't help but take pity on all the people who buy the latest gadget to come out only to have to purchase a newer BETTER gadget 6 weeks later. Smart move! I wish that we, as a people, could understand that materialism is an addiction and can do just as much damage as drugs or alcohol...accept it usually strikes your bank account and credit rating first. Wanting things is not bad...blurring the lines between want and need is very dangerous.

I will finally be getting contacts this Friday and I am very happy! I don't mind wearing glasses now and then, but I got contacts for a reason and having gone nearly a month with out them has reminded me that I still very much need to wear contacts. I knock my glasses off of my face approximately 7.31 times a day at work and with glasses I can't wear sunglasses...so my morning commute becomes considerably more dangerous. I am not exactly Mr. Sunshine in the morning to start with, but mix in a 20 minute commute through 4 school zones being blinded by the sun and I am not the first guy you want to deal with.

My wife and I will move into our new home December 17th and I just soiled myself because of the sheer excitement. Be happy for me. Also, hope that I can convince every one that I run into that I spilled something all over myself. I am gonna say it was Gatorade. I'd buy that.

Hardback books and Hard decisions

I love to read. That may not seem like anything special, accept that I was held back a grade in large part due to my very poor reading skills. I am the type of person that thinks in a circular pattern...and today...this way of thinking brought me around to appreciate, yet again, a lesson I have been taught my entire life. Sometimes you have to make hard decisions in life. That is to say, that it is God's will that you go through hard times so that you can really more on him and less on your own understanding. What hard decision did I have to make in repeating the second grade? None. It was my parents who made the tough choice to do the right thing and force me to repeat a grade. I was embarrassed and ashamed at first, and begged them not to make me go back to second grade, but my parents lead by example and made the taught decision. Today I realized that had my parents taken the easy way out...my life could be entirely different. For one thing I doubt that I would have learned the self-confidence that I have. It is unlikely that I would have gone to the college I went to if I had gone to college at all. Which leads me to this conclusion: Had my parents not made the tough choice of sending me back to repeat second grade, I would never have met my beautiful wife.Reading really is good for...and so is making the taught choices in life. I am grateful that my parents have raised me to do both.I am blessed because of their obedience to God.

That being said, I really like the idea of owning my favorite books. I have started my collection, but here is a list of books I would really like to have in hardback:
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Giver - Harper Lee
A clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess
The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe - C.S.Lewis
The Pearl - John Steinbeck
Me Talk Pretty One Day - David Sedaris
A People's History of the United States - Howard Zinn
A Brief History of Time - Stephen Hawking
A Heartbreaking Work of a Staggering Genius - Dave Eggers
The Color of Water - James McBride
High Fidelity - Nick Hornby
1984 - George Orwell

I am sure there are a ton of others, but that's all I'll list now. Tell me what books you love and which ones you wish you owned.

Birthdays and such

Well...I am now 26 years of age. Yes, Monday was my birthday and I have to say it goes in the books as one of my favorite birthdays ever. It was very laid back and relaxed. I didn't do anything crazy or hugely exciting...I just had a good day.Thanks to everybody who helped make it the day that it was.

I had a wonderful time last night walking around Home Depot with my wife. Yep. That's what we did with our evening off. It was a lot of fun to look at things we hope to add to our new home and talk about our little projects and stuff. I know that this is the age of technology and all that crap, but I for one still really love working with my hands and can't wait to start adding things and upgrading our house.

Ever wonder what it would be like to be the opposite sex? I don't.

I realized this last week that as much as I have grown in self confidence and not trying to impress people...I still want to look good and feel out of sorts when I am not looking my best. I don't really think it's a bad thing to want to look your best, but I was a little disappointed in myself for letting physical things affect my view of myself. I'll work on that. We all should.

I am reading, for the very first time, Catcher in the Rye. So far it is really interesting, but doesn't make we want to be crazy or anything. It is written very conversationally, which makes it easier for me to read. I appreciate when people write like they speak. I also have an appreciation for well worded literature. I am easy to please as far as reading is concerned.

Holidays are coming. I am happy.

The Constitution

Our Nation was founded on certain principals and after spending several hours this past week reading over the constitution again, I have never felt more inspired by our founding fathers. I encourage you to take a moment and read about the morals,standards, and principals upon which our nation was built. If you believe in the constitution and what it stands for I also strongly recommend that you read about the Constitution Party. Help us do away with two party politics.

www.constitutionparty.com

We have rights, as citizens of the United States of America, that are being violated by the Government of these United States. Let's take back or government and put it in it's rightful place.

Take 5 minutes to help save the Nation

Every four years in November we have the opportunity to exercise our right and our privilege to help shape the nation. I sincerely hope that all of us have used our God-given wisdom to study and analyze the candidates that will potentially represent and lead our country. Your time has come. Take a short drive or walk and cast your vote. Not because a candidate speaks eloquently. Not because a candidate has is "no nonsense". Not because your parents,friends,mentors,or significant other likes a certain candidate. I am urging each and every one of you to PLEASE,take the time to educate yourselves on the candidates and what they believe and how they have manifested those beliefs and cast you vote based on that. Can you align yourself with this candidate? Do they share your faith and your concerns? I am ashamed of my generation for the way they follow like rats to the sweet piped tunes of Hollywood and the media. Celebrity support for a candidate causes great rises and falls in support for said candidate and that is simply unacceptable! Vote your conscience and your vote will not be wasted...no matter who's name you list.

"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." -- John Quincy Adams

God Bless America!

The Happiness to Come

So many great things are happening right now! Here they are in no particular order:
Our house is being built in record speed! They have now framed and put up the siding and windows. Simply amazing!
My family is preparing to have the greatest holiday season ever. Why is it the greatest holiday season ever? Because this year we will be celebrating with two new members of the family, namely my wife Kimberly and Jon's wife Emily. I am very excited!
The Dallas Cowboys acquired former University of Texas Longhorn Roy Williams as, yet another, amazing wide receiver! Also, Tony Romo claims that after a call from his hero, Brett Favre, he has decided that if he gets the O.K. from the training staff he will continue to play with his injured hand. HOW 'BOUT THEM COWBOYS!

I got the treat of having lunch with my mom and my sister, Bethany, today. In my last post I wrote about how I am appreciating my family dynamic more and more, and today was just another reminder of that.

I am the luckiest man alive and I am head over heals in love with my wife. If you know me well, you will know that I have a tendency to be a bit "out of it" in the morning. As my wonderful wife was leaving for work this morning she told me about a giant spider she had killed and asked me if I would dispose of it when I got up. Although I don't have much of a memory of the event I am told that I asked what I was suppose to clean it up with and then told her I would take care of it if I remember. To this,my wife in her grace and understanding, said to me "I'll take care of it babe. You go back to sleep." Is she not amazing?!?! I have to admit that upon hearing the story I was a bit ashamed that I had responded that way, but again, I was half asleep.

I am about to finish the book I have been reading and I need ideas for other great books to read. My problem is that I am within 30 days of a gift giving opportunity, and therefore, I am not allowed to buy any books (or anything else for that matter) for my self. So if you can recommend a book that I can borrow from you...that would be even better.

For Christmas I want it to be so cold that I can see my breath. Alright?

Are you serious?!

COME ON DALLAS! What the crap. This team is ridiculously inconsistent and it is very frustrating. Lucky for me it's just a game and I would be pretty silly to let it upset me. Alright then. Glad we had this little talk.

This weekend I am going to the Aggie football game with my wife's family and it should be a good time. We always have fun when we go to college station with her fam...and seeing as I love watching football...it's two great things.

Remember when you were a kid and you wanted to seek out and learn about things you didn't understand? Those things that were foreign were seen as another exciting opportunity to explore. Why is it that we seem to lose that thirst for discovery and understanding when it comes to another person's beliefs or politics? I am glad we live in a country that is run by democracy, but I am often saddened to see our freedom of choice being used as such a stark dividing line.

On some what of the same topic, this will be my second presidential race to vote it. There is a since of pride that comes with this exercising of right and responsibility. I say that even now. Knowing full well that the vote I cast will NOT get my candidate of choice in office. God bless the write in vote. And God BLESS (and help) America.

One thing I have been appreciating lately is how aging has helped me and my family become closer. Sure, it may be that hormones are more in line now and I don't fly off the handle so frequently over little things. But I would like to think that has to do with each of us growing into more complete people and part of that is understanding that you and your friends and family aren't perfect. I also love that the difference in age has become a mut point. One of my closest friends is my younger brother Jeremy, who will be turning 18 three months after I turn 26. Granted, he's no ordinary 18 year old, but it has become one of the simple pleasures I love so much, to realize how close I have become with my family. My dad and I talk every Sunday about the football game, and then usually recap on Monday. We talk about alot of others things as well, but it's these little "friendly" conversations I am appreciating more and more. You can't take these things for granted.

I have a Dallas Cowboys Victory dance that I was excited to break out yesterday, but they blew and ruined it for everybody. Maybe next week, America.

Fall in the air

Normally, if I don't have to work in the morning I like to sleep in. However, lately the morning temperatures have been around 50 degrees, and I can't just lay in bed and waste the beautiful weather. I have been getting up every morning and playing with the dogs and watching hunting shows with all the doors and windows open. Oh yeah...I watch hunting shows now. My favorite stars a Baptist pastor from Lubbock and his two sons. They go white-tail hunting and in pretty much every show you can find them sitting in a deer blind together whispering some deep philosophical or heart felt conversation, which is inevitably interrupted by one pointing out a "Big 'Un" that just walked into the clearing and proceeding to shoot said "Big 'Un" and celebrating with phrases as varied as "I nailed that sucker" to "Praise You ,Lord Jesus, for sending me this beautiful creature". I love this show and make no apologies for watching it.

Today the UT Longhorns upset #1 OU sooners. This game was,perhaps, the most poorly officiated game I have ever witnessed. I am not suggesting that it favored one team more than the other, as the bad calls where definitely going in both directions. I have never played sports on a collegiate level and I have never been a part of a rivalry like that one held at the Red River Shoot Out, but it seems to me that in such a bitter rivalry, you would want to make sure that no one could blame a win or a loss on the refs. Maybe it's just me.

Here are some more things you can add to my gift list. For whatever reason you may want to purchase me a gift...here are some more ideas.
Birkenstock clogs
Planet Earth DVD
Nag Champa
A new Nalgine
10ft Aluminum John Boat with trailer
Subscription to Texas Parks and Wildlife
DVD's of old TV shows i.e. Mary Tyler-Moore,Dick Van Dyke, The Cosby Show

Those are good things. Get 'em for yourself too. Much love to anybody reading this.

A good day

Well, even though my Boys lost Sunday, it was one of the best days I have had in a long time. I woke up and played with my dogs for a while. Cleaned up the house a little bit and then headed out for the day. I planned on spending the day at my parents house to eat lunch and watch the Cowboys game, but I needed to pick up a few things first. I recently realized that I had no idea where my football went, so I got a new one, and a 6 pack of beer ( non-alcoholic since dad doesn't drink) and headed to the house. There was something supremely relaxing about getting together with my family for Sunday lunch. It reminded me a lot of high school. Then my little brother and I threw the football and had a chat until he left for evening church. Dad and I spent the afternoon cheering on our team and had a great time just hanging out. One thing that cool about growing up with a dad you look up to, is that as you get older you replace the concept of your father being a super hero with the respect of understanding that he is a hero in a more practical way. I am nearly 26 and I completely understand that my dad can't fly, stop bullets with his mind, or run as fast as a train. However, I have learned through a lot of priceless conversations and observation that my dad can boost the spirits of his wife and kids, work day in and day out at a job that doesn't appreciate his value to the company just to ensure that his family is taken care of, and after working four 12 hour days consecutively, get up Sunday morning and lead his family to church. My dad is also the kind of hero that will spend an entire Sunday afternoon, watching a football team loose because he knows his son needs a break from the stress. It may not be as flashy as stopping bullets or flying, but I will take my practical hero dad over Superman any day of the week. Also, my dad doesn't wear super gay tights like superheros. That's good.

I hope everybody else had a good weekend. This weekend I will be in Conroe with my wife and a bunch of our friends hanging out at the lake. Much love to you all.

Cowboys and the coming of cool weather

2 of my absolute favorite things! I am excited to say that tomorrow I have the day off and I will get to watch Dallas play the Washington Redskins...and beat them. I know I know! The Cowboys have a history of not being able to handle Moss, but get what...it's the Boy's time to shine, and shine they will. I pretty excited, and even if they lose, I love watching the game and hanging out with friends and/or family. And also, throwing the football during halftime and eating good food.

Speaking of throwing the football, I thought I would start listing things that people could purchase me for my birthday or Christmas or house warming or Tuesdays or whatever occasion they may choose. So, with out further delay...here's the start of the wish list.
-Official NFL Pigskin Football
-Enamelled Cast iron Dutch Oven
-Books that you have enjoyed
-Dallas Cowboys tickets
-A trip to see Paleduro Canyon
-42inch Vizio Plasma TV
-Art work that you created (sculptures,paintings,drawings,short stories,etc.)
-12 Gauge shotgun
-New fishing rod and reel
-Disk golf Set
-New Cellphone
-Stained Glass for the new house

There's a alot of other things, but I thought I'd just list a few to getcha thinkin. Anyway, no one commented on my last post...so I don't like that...I want lots of comments. Got it?

the new one

so a lot has been changing in my life lately and I wanted to write about it so people could read it and keep up, but xanga is dead and myspace is lame...so...here I am.

I am just gonna like list all the things that have changed for me lately. I got married in May and I absolutely love being married. My wife and I were given three weeks notice to get out of the house we were renting because it has a faulty foundation and is slowing falling apart. We searching like crazy people for a place to live and ended up having a house built. In the mean time we had to move all of our belongings from our house to both of our families houses for the few months it will take for our new home to be built. Additionally, we are living at Kim's parents' house until we can move into our house. I am taking some time away from performing with Color and Light to re-evaluate how committed I can be to the band. That in and of itself is a huge change for me. Work is crazy busy and full of drama and I am currently looking for a new job. I would love to work in construction or home remodeling, but we'll see what happens. I am the best man in my brothers wedding, which is next Sunday and I am trying to do everything I can to make that go as smoothly as possible.

Man, that's kinda stressful just to read, but I have a great life and I am not gonna whine when things get crazy for a while.

I am extremely excited about some things that are going on, or will soon be going on. First of all, I am about as happy as a person can be that it is football season and the Dallas Cowboys are an amazing team. With the addition of Felix Jones to their ground attack and the fact that the current coach seems to be able to work with T.O. in a way that inspires him to play to the best of his ability. I am also beyond ready for it to be fall and drop below 90 degrees for a change. I HATE hot weather, but I still love Texas.

I guess that's all I have to say this time. I really hope people comment on this blog, because when there are no comments...I usually abandon the blog. Sorry Xanga...we had a good run.