Three Truths... and a lie

Remember this game from when you were a kid? You would sit around on the floor of your best friends house with your other best friends and you would tell ghost stories and tales about the Goat Man, or how if you park in a certain spot on the train tracks where a group of kids died, their ghosts will push you across the tracks. Sometimes you would get around to truth or dare, and invariably, you would begin to play- Three Truths and a Lie.

I don't do slumber parties anymore, and I rarely tell ghost stories, but I often tell truths... and lies. Let's see if you can figure out which one is the lie...

1. This past weekend I drove all the way to Denton to pick up some friends for a trip to Waco, they cancelled on me at the last minute.

2. When I was 6 I stepped on a large piece of broken glass and cut my foot and had to have 8 stitches.

3. When I was 12 I caught our yard on fire and burnt half of the acre completely up.

4. When I was 7 I fell through our front living room window while standing on the back of the couch looking to see if my mom had arrived home from work.

Which one do you think is the lie?

Whatever happened to...

The Encyclopedia Salesman

I remember when I was younger everyone had a subscription to National Geographic and Time, and everyone had a set of Encyclopedias. I remember actually talking to an Encyclopedia salesman over the phone, and I remember the Encyclopedia commercials. I think now that we have the internet we just don't care anymore about having a big set of fancy looking books filling up our shelves.... but, do we ever really look up the same information on the internet that could be found in those Encyclopedias?

The Ones that Got (Ran) Away...

Over the past years(I'm 28 and I started dating around the age 5) I have dated a number of girls. I'd like to tell you the story about the One that got away, but how can something "get away" from you if you never really had it?

This is the story of my dating life, everything is true to the best of my rememberance.

When I was 5 I had a girlfriend names Suzanne, obviously I was not old enough to date, but I told everyone she was my girlfriend, we never really broke up, we had to move and that ended our relationship. She was the first girl I ever kissed, but she wouldn't be the last. I don't know why I didn't think that was weird at such a young age, but I didn't, I was never grossed out by girls, I never thought they had coodies, I liked them, and for the most part- they liked me.

I dated Melissa in the apartment complex at the age of 7. We went to the same private school and lived in the same apartment complex. I don't remember much about her, except that she sometimes road to school with us and I thought she was real pretty. And they called it puppy love...

Later, possibly a year later, I dated a girl named Cammy. We were a real hot item, she was cute and we were best friends. I don't remember what she looked like at all now, but even after we moved away we stayed in touch, at least we did until we had a car wreck on the way to her house in Dallas... that relationship ended with a Bang- literally.

When I was nine or ten I dated a girl named Angela Puckett. We both went to Liberty Christian School. We dated for almost an entire school year, she had beautiful red hair, blue eyes, and braces. I stayed at her house for a week, her mom took us to Six Flags. I ended that relationship and I don't remember why. I remember later a girl named Gina Espinosa asking me out with a piece of paper, "Check Yes or No", I told her that I wasn't ready to date, and found out later that Angela had put her up to it. She wanted to know if I would date Gina because she was popular and pretty, but at the time, I really was tired of being attached.

After Angela Puckett came Angela Dawson, she was hilarious, and pentecostal, and we never were really an "item", but we got along famously and I took her to prom. I was a freshman and she was a junior. We left the Pentecostal Church and since Angela's dad was the pastor, that ended that relationship.

Next there was Jacinda, she was older than me as well, we went out on actual dates ni her car, I was 14, she was 16. She also had fiery red hair, but her eyes were green, not blue like Miss Puckett's. She was embarrassed to take me home to Mom and Dad and introduce me as her boyfriend. It was really akward when my whole family went to her house for dinner and she introduced me as her "friend". Later that night my parents left, hers went to bed, and we watched "Pretty in Pink" on her couch. My most memorable part of the night was that her Christmas tree was all pink and light blue pastel. They had wrapped the trunk of the tree with a myriad of lights and so it seemed to emanate brightly from within and it was beautiful. Unfortunately, our relationship fizzled after that, and I moved on to Misty.

I left Jacinda for Misty and we had a whirlwind romance. She was a fast mover, I remember her kissing me, tongue in mouth, and it freaked me out a little bit, but I liked it, I liked it alot, but at the same time I was raised to be a good Christian boy, and I felt like I was doing something really bad. Misty and I dated for about 6 weeks. She left me because of my ethnicity- she had no idea I was part black.

I remember it so well, her sitting down with me, looking at me, she had such a pretty face, dark black hair, green eyes, white teeth. "My mom said I had to break up with you because you are part black." Could she have said anything worse? I don't think so, she could have at least made something up, something I could change, something I could work on, lie to me for heaven's sake!!!

This seemed to be the beginning of the end for me...

I took a girl named Michelle to homecoming, she liked me a lot, we didn't really hit it off, she eventually dropped out of school my senior year.

Grace came to Liberty after homecoming. She was a little wild, but really good looking, she was very different, blonde haired, and sassy. She knew how to talk ghetto, and she liked dark skinned men- she liked me- I think- that's how it was with her, she kept you guessing, I liked her games, I liked her.

She was supposed to go to prom with me, but then she got grounded for stealing and getting caught. She acted like it was no big deal, and she had money too, but she lived with her grandmother- that was probably why she was a little wild.

Since Grace couldn't make it to the Prom, April Burke stepped up and went with me, it appeared that both our dates were unable to make it, we went to the Reunion Tower and had a fabulous time. She was very pretty, we had a great time, but she was out of my league and we just stayed friends after that.

I dated a few girls in College, but I only really remember Emily. She was fun, and rowdy. She loved to country and western dance, and she was hot. She was confident and fun, and she lived in a cool house in Gainesville and drove an extended cab full size Chevy- she later moved to Ft. Worth and started working at the Reatta restaurant- we were never really more than close friends- but I sure wanted to be more than just friends...

I also went out with a Jehovah's witness once. We had a couple of lunch dates, and then I took her to dinner, we had an okay time, nothing spectacular, but at the end of the date I gave her a quick kiss on the lips. I called her later that week and she berated me over the phone telling me that, "She was not that type of girl" and that "I took advantage of her" I was shocked and embarrassed, and appalled, I don't remember her name, but I remember thinking she was psycho, fortunately we didn't have any other classes together. I saw her 6 months later and she came up to me like we were best friends, wanting to chit chat, I gave her the Eskimo and she finally apologized, she claimed that, "I was having a bad day that day when you called." No, I'm not still bitter, but I was for a long while afterward.

After that I didn't really date anyone, I have gone out with numerous other girls since then, none of them serious, some of them disasterous. One that left me in a bar in Dallas, one that had a five year old kid at the age of 19, one that had an ex-husband that I only found out about later, two that I met through a dating service online.

Then there was the one that I was in love with, the one that I thought I could spend the rest of my life with, the one that I knew that I didn't deserve, and never thought I would be able to have. This proved to be true, but it proved to be for the best.

I doubt that I could ever have given her that happiness that she desired, even though I have a knack for making people happy. I was not the man of her dreams, apparently I didn't add up to her specifications, it didn't mean that I was less than what she desired, perhaps I was more. Everyone has different needs, and when two people are meant to be together, it's like they just fit, like puzzle pieces. I always seem to be that piece of the puzzle that looks like it will fit, but then it doesn't, it's really, really close, but the right piece always fits perfectly. I realize that now, and I don't try to force it.

I still love Nikki like a sister, she is one of the most wonderful people I know, but I know we were never meant to be together. I appreciate her friendship, her kindness, her cooking abilities, the way that she loves people, and horses. She is so genuine, and so wonderful.

I am so happy now that she is in love, and engaged to the man of her dreams, someone that fits into her life, someone that she can grow old with, and be happy with. Everyone deserves someone special. That type of person that when you see them, your breath catches, your heart races, and you know without a doubt that with that person, no matter what happens, as long as you are togehter, everything will be alright.

Congratulations Nikki and Jeremy!!!!

Knife-to-Throat

I became a High School leader when I was 22 for Denton Bible Church. It was one of the best decision's of my life, but it can definitely be a see-saw ride and if you are not careful- you'll smash your fingers.

Last night I was sitting in my incredibly comfortable living room with a plate of grilled chicken, stir-fried vegetables, and fried okra- only mashed potatoes could have made this meal better.

So I am feasting in my green chair, a lime diet coke at my side, watching North Shore, and my phone rings. I skipped lunch and so I am really hungry, and after a looooong Monday I wanted nothing more than to just sit in front of the TV and veg out- is that too much to ask after hard day at the office? Apparently it is.

My work cell phone rings and this time, I wrench myself out of heaven and come back down to earth for a few moments and I am surprised that it is Dumas on the phone.

"Hello?"
"Hey, It's Jonathan" (Dumas is his last name)
"What's up?"
"Benny is trying to call you" (We'll say Benny to protect the person's identity)
"Okay, I will call him later tonight" In the back of my mind I am thinking, My Okra is getting cold!
"It sounded urgent, he needs you to call him right away."
Ugh. What could it be? Is someone pregnant? Is he in jail for something? My mind is spinning, I am not ready to be a parent, and yet, sometimes I feel like one.

"Okay, I will call him now." By this time I have decided I might not get back to dinner at all, so I dial the number.

"Benny? It's Eddie"

"Oh, hey man, I really messed up this time..."

"What Happened"

"My girlfriends dad put a knife to my throat in the Sprint store, we had to call the police..."

The story continues, and has many twists and turns, needless to say, at 7:30 last night I was driving from Plano to Oklahoma to pick up a student who I used to mentor as a high school leader.

It's a sad day when times are so bad that you have no car, and no place to go, and only 13 dollars in your wallet. Benny has hit rock bottom. Fortunately, I am very familiar with rock bottom, as I have taken a few trips there myself, so I helped him get to his mothers house and I am praying that everything works out.

Father Time

Dad is always fun to hang out with, at least his is now. We all have our ups and downs, but as far as Dad's go, I really think mine is the best. It's true, some people get their dad one of those shirts, but they don't really mean it, they get it and smile and everyone feels warm and fuzzy, but in reality they would trade their Dad for someone else's if they had the chance. Not so with me.

My dad is funny, and incredibly intelligent when it comes to building things and financial matters. To listen to him talk you would think he was just an old country bumpkin, but for 69 he is still sharp, and he can out work most people I know- no matter what their age.

Dad listens, he laughs, he's funny, he's kind, compassionate, considerate, and hard working. He has taught me so many things over the years and so many of them I didn't even realize were lessons.

Dad has always been a rock, someeone I could go to for guidance, a firm foundation. He was always there for support, always ready to lead, always ready to teach.

So Dad- I hope you had a Happy Father's Day, you deserved it. You have truly been the best dad in the whole world.

What am I made of?

Every now and then I happen to wonder- What am I made of? When was the last time I had a real good ass kicking? I guess the last time I got punched in the eye was when I was in 7th grade. I was sitting at the lunch room table hanging out with the "cool kids", or at least hanging near them, when this older punk guy, literally the type that wore one of those black leather jackets and mullet, started calling me names out of the blue, I told him to "Shut Up!" and he kind of slapped me on the side of my head, and then I pushed him, and then WHAM!!! A hard punch to the right eye. It came out of no where and it was experienced. I remember the initial shock, the blackness, I wasn't knocked out, I just had my eyes shut for what seemed like forever, I literally could not believe that he had hit me in the eye. The fight was quickly broken up, and we were both sent to AEP, which meant 3 days of in school suspension.

Oh the INJUSTICE!!!

To add insult to injury, gas on the fire, salt to the wounds, I had to talk to our principal who I thought was prejudiced in some form or fashion, but probably was not the case, it just seemed like it at the time because he listened to my side of the story and did nothing to vindicate me. "All I did was a little pushing!!!"

So all of this happened early in the morning right before the Thanksgiving Holidays, I remember it sooo well. My mom came up the the school to check on me, she was wearing this beautiful brown fur coat and she looked so pretty, like an angel coming to rescue me. Also, you must remember, I graduated school at the young age of 17, my senior year I was 16 until December, so in the 7th grade in November I was only 11, the kid who hit me was 13- so there was a big age difference, but we were about the same size. The principal would not let me go home with my mom. He said that I should go ahead and get my punishment over before the Holidays, it was a Monday, and it was mandatory that I pay the 3 day price and "why not go ahead and get it over with". I hated that man so much at the time. His perfect white life, his high and mighty seat, his never having to deal with kids calling him Michael Jackson, or Prince... but none of that mattered.

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

So, my eye swelled up and it looked like I had a small eggplant sitting on the side of my face by the end of the day. I was a big baby about all of it and spent a large part of the day crying in AEP. The AEP room had about 4 kids in it, the building was an old "Bus Barn" a large garage where they used to work on buses. The room contained those large oversized heaters that lit up bright orange and put out burning heat as long as you were within 6 feet of them. They were mounted to the wall, so I really needed to be on a rotisserie so that my right side could be evenly cooked with my left, but no, it was left to freeze while I buried my head on my desk and wished that death would consume me right then and there.

The bully was in the room too. So not only does my eye hurt, but so does my pride...

I don't know how I made it through those tough three days, but I did. I remember going to see Grandma that Thursday for Thanksgiving. She asked me what happened to my eye- all the relatives were curious, and why shouldn't they be? How often do you really see an eleven year old with a black eye? It's freakin fascinating. I loved being the center of all that attention...

So now I am 28, 17 years later, and if it happened all over again, how would I react? Would I come back swinging? Would I turn into a blithering ball of jello? Would I be so enraged from all the years of pent up frustration and other cheek turning that I would finally snap and kill the person?

The truth is, I don't know. But would someone please come punch me in the face so I can find out?

When are Tight jeans too Tight?

You probably read this headline and thought I was talking about the ladies, but we all know the answer to that- there is no such thing as too tight on the ladies...

But on myself, right now we are talking about ME! I have this pair of jeans that are a little snug. Most men, including myself, have a couple pair of jeans that they rotate through the week and that get washed about every 3rd or 4th wear.

I have this new pair of designer jeans that I recently washed. They were snug before, but now, let's just say when it's time to sit down... I take it real easy.

So what to do? Should I lose 5-10 pounds so I can fit into these ultra hip jeans? Should I just stop wearing the 100 dollar jeans, the ones that were on sale for 23.00 that I got at the GUESS store in the Galleria, the ones that I have only worn probably 5 times- just because they are a little too tight? Heck No!

I have gotten used to my medium-sized belly, my round face, my ample butt, so much so that I have started to like this new look- it says, "I'm tall, dark, and chubby, and dammit, the ladies still find me irresistable!" At least the ladies that like chubby tall guys. And since I have gotten used to it, I don't want to lose it, I just want to keep it around for those long winter nights...

So, I don't want to give up the pounds, and I don't want to stop wearing the jeans.

So tell me... When are the jeans too tight?

The Dreaded Woodsy

I have been doing Yoga for almost two weeks now and I love it, but I am getting bored with my two Yoga DVD's so last night I decided to take a walk around 9:00PM.

One thing I like about Yoga is that I can do it in my house in my underwear if I want and I don't have to worry about dirtying up a lot of clothes. Don't act so surprised, guys do lots of things like that when they live alone.

So, I got out the gym clothes and strapped on the running shoes, grabbed the MP3 player and headed out for a walk. The weather was nice and in Plano I live close to a baseball field and some tennis courts that are all lit up, plus the area has plenty of street lights so it makes for a pleasant outing.

I was moving at a rather leisurly pace making a trip around my block. My best guess is that it is around 3.568 miles to make the complete trip. Well, I was about 3/4th's of the way into my little excursion when it suddenly hit me- FIRE BELLY! It comes out of nowhere, roiling and boiling in your stomach at the most unlikely times. At this point I felt like I better start running, but that would only make the probem worse, I started scoping out places just in case I need to make an emergency pit stop.

I noticed a large bunch of trees ahead, I looked back 200 yards to the McDonalds, Could I make it? No. I looked ahead to the Gas station a quarter mile away, again, no way to make it, I looked to the bushes ahead, 30 feet away, I looked around for any people, but they were all at the baseball game in the distance, the bright lights coming from the fields lit up the area brightly, but the bushes and trees were so tall that they created a nice dark shadow.

I walked around the bushes and realized that they were hiding an old abondoned house. The house was pink brick, or it looked like a pinkish brick where the light hit it. The back patio door was open, I wondered, Could there be a toilet inside?- well, I figured even if there was one, then it would probably be out of order- so what to do? I dashed into a dark corner, pulled down the shorts and did what all of our ancestors used to do- I took a woodsy. In the darkness I noticed a bike about 6 feet away from me, could someone be close by? Perhaps the house wasn't abandoned? At this point, I didn't care. 3 minutes and minus 2 socks later- something Mark Haverkorn taught me, I was back on track, and feeling much better, albeit a little embarrassed.


I decided that maybe I should stick to doing Yoga in the house, socks make expensive toilet paper.

Mixed Reviews

I almost called this website Mixed Reviews.com, I don't know if the domain name was taken, but I don't know how many people would have gotten the joke, how could you if you didn't know me?

Friday night Cody and Dumas came up to Plano to hang. We went to Herrera's Mexican restaurant off Beltine and 75. My co-worker, not the big fat obnoxious one, but another one that is a little bit of a hippie and is a black belt in Kung Fu, he recommended Herrera stating that, "It's the best Mexican food in the nation". The food was indeed good, but I wouldn't even go as far to call it great. The atmosphere reminded me of a Luby's with a few chili peppers on the wall, obviously to spice things up a bit, but other than that the room was pretty bland.

The salsa was not bland, it was delicious, but other than the salsa, I thought it was pretty unremarkable. After Herrera's we decided to go for dessert at a Lebanese place called Afrah Pastries. They have a patio and cater to mostly Lebanese people, but there were a few other ethnicities sprinkled in the very crowded patio. People watching is part of the fun of places like these. I love seeing other ethnic groups interact with each other. The crowd is always very affluent, the parking lot is full of 80,000 dollar luxury cars, and the atmosphere is always relaxed and appealing. I was not really in the mood for dessert, but Cody got a Tiramisu Cheesecake that was incredible. Light layers of cheesecake and coffee flavored mousse, garnished with a dollup of whip cream and a coffee bean, it was a taste of heaven for just 2.99. Cody also got a pound of roasted pistachios, and Dumas got some Coconut and Vanilla Gelatto, it was possibly the best cocunut ice cream I have ever tasted. It helps that I have never had any other coconut ice creams.

Later that night, back at my place in Plano, we watched The Legend of Drunken Master, it is an excellent movie starring martial arts master- Jackie Chan. This is one of those movies where you repeatedly find yourself saying, "No, Uh Uh, No way". The moves Jackie does are truly unbelieveable. I love this movie, and I plan to buy it some day, it is a remake of the original Drunken Master, which is also excellent, but doesn't follow the same story line at all- it just has the same name and the same star and the same moves.

Saturday I went to the lake with my parents. We swam and I am now a nice shade of pink. I used sunblock/sun tanning lotion. The sunblock was SPF 5, which it might as well have been SPF 0, because I am roasted like corn on the cob at the State Fair.

After spending the day on the lake, we had a late lunch at the Marina. Huck's catfish is delicious. My mom and I split the fish and shrimp platter. The room was cozy, quiet, empty, and a little dark. I was quite pleased with the large glasses of ice tea brought to the table, you can always tell when tea is perfectly brewed. It is the orange-brown color of leaves in the Fall. If it is much lighter than that, it is usually weak, and unsatisfying. I probably drank a gallon of the tea before lunch was over. The shrimp and fish was ample, and for dessert, I had pecan cobbler topped with a small scoop of Vanilla bean ice cream. It was by far the best cobbler I have ever had.

After lunch I went back to Cody's house in Denton, hung out with his family at Miguelitos, and then went to his sister's house where we watched SNL. It was a completely satisfying day.

Now, I would like to go see the Chronicles of Riddick, but my car is acting up and I have to take it to the shop and Cody has to drive me back to Plano. Fortunately I have two cars, and I will do just fine while the Cadillac is in the shop. I live so close to work that if I had to, I could just walk- that is so nice.

Okay, sorry to bore you with such a long post, but sometimes I like to use this as a journal, I love to go back a year later and read about what I was doing, and compare it to what I am currently doing.

Texas Hamburger Factory

There is this restaurant in Flowermound on FM407 called Texas Hamburger Factory. It's plain storefront building is quite deceiving, once inside it is obvious that they have probably sold thousands of burgers, deep-fried their share of catfish, chicken, and steaks, and made enough mexican entrees to satisfy most of North Texas. The atmosphere is humble, country, simple. The food is delicious. Large patties cooked over an open fire, heaped with grilled onions, cheddar cheese and barbecue sauce. French fried potatoes cooked with onions, and a 7 layer dip made with refried beans, quacamole, taco meat, queso, sour cream, jalepenos, and iced tea to wash it down with.

The best thing about the THF is that you can always go and no matter what you get, it is going to be really good. I have never had a better hamburger anywhere.

I went last night with Cody, Dumas, and David Lee and we, like always, had a great time. It's one of those places that has just become a standard, and as I get older, I really like the standards. I like being comfortable with the people I am with, the places I go to eat, and I find that I need variety, and change less and less- but that's another blog for another day- back to the THF.

At the THF you can always count on having a good time when you are with your buds. There is no shortage of laughter, food, or farkles(Paper, Rock, Scissors).

Later that night we set out for Marble Slab and instead found ourselves at Italy Ice- a gelato place with pricy ice cream that was worth every penny.

David Lee drove us in his new VW wagon, unfortunately those cars are just Volkswagen Jetta's with an elongated hatchback, and I barely fit in the front, I felt like a clown in one of those undersized clown cars- but at 6'5" 330, I feel that way in most normal-sized cars.


I drove back to Plano only to hear later that the traffic I got stuck in on my way to Lewsiville was caused by a loser who murdered his girlfriend by throwing her off of the George Bush turnpike and onto highway 75- an 85 foot drop, then he jumped off and killed himself. Very sad. What in the world would cause someone to do something so horrific? How bad does it have to get? What a horrible way to die.

Well, have a great weekend- sorry to end on such a depressing note.

My Big Fat Obnoxious Co-Worker

I'd like to jump on the reality series bandwagon while the wagon is still hot. Obviously this blog is titled with the new show name. I have a couple of co-workers this could apply to.

The Last Comic Standing

Hilarious reality TV that I can get down with- this show had all the big timers, Pablo Fransisco, Monty Hall, and others I can't remember right now.

The Next Action Star

This one should be good too. They previewed it so many times during Last Comic Standing that my brain is sufficiently washed and I will force myself to watch it.

The simple Life II Road Trip

I can't believe I am admitting to watching episodes of this the first time it was aired, but I have to admit, parts of it were indeed funny.

For Love or Money (Is it II or III?)

I can't believe this show is still such a hit, I haven't seen it, but the office buzz proves that reality TV is not dead, even when the shows are as contrived as this one.

Scary Neighbor Too


There they were, standing there, like two Praying (I should say Preying) Manti (the plural of Mantis). When I saw them, I halted, but it was too late, I could see my reflection in their bugged out eyes, and I noticed a pause in their conversation, the pause of recognition. Too late, no way to escape.

In a matter of seconds I found myself trapped in a conversation about computers, and certifications, and how to find a job. I felt bad for both guys, one is so thin that he looks like the Crypt Keeper, or that guy that was being starved to death in the movie "Seven". He really, really creeps me out. He talks with a slow cadence as if he is on a breathing machine like Christopher Reeves- but he's not. His blue eyes are almost alien-like and they have this way of looking at you, and through you at the same time. A cold blue that chills you to the deep inside like a big drink from a coke slurpee after you have been out in the sun all day at baseball game in August in Texas.

The other neighbor lives with his mother and has to be at least 35. He is not scary to look at, rather, he looks quite normal. I hear it's the normal ones you have to worry about. The crazy thing about him is that I think he is shizophrenic, even weirder is that he has a twin who I think is also schizophrenic and they are identical twins and I never know which one I am talking too, or which personality, or if there really is two of them! Who knows?!! It could be just one and everytime I say, "Hi, Ben" He automatically says, "I'm Ben, David's my brother" and vice versa, when I say "Hi David". It is really starting to freak me out.

So I am stuck in this strange conversation for fifteen minutes talking about Javascripting when the Alien-Thin-Scary-Blue-Eyed neighbor is asking me aout the importance of HTML in the relationship to web design, and the other normal looking, but not normal in the head neighbor jumps in and says, "I don't know" when it was obvious that the ATSBE neighbor was talking to me. Normal Neighbor on the outside but seriously messed up in the head continues to say, "I don't know" repeatedly, and then he says, "I use Juno. 9.0, that's it, Ever heard of Juno?" At this point I am too scared to laugh, I know that I am dealing with 5 degrees of psycho and I am catching a chill. Even the Alien-Thin-Scary-Blue-Eyed neighbor is looking at Normal on the outside but not in the head neighbor as if he is indeed crazy. At this point there was nothing left to do but scatter and take cover, knowing that at any moment Normal on the outside but not normal in the head neighbor could start talking about nothing as if it was something, and myself and Alien-Thin-Scary-Blue-Eyed neighbor know that it is time take to make our exit. We did so, awkwardly, so quick and awkward it was that I hardly remember if I said anything at all, or if I just bolted to the car and headed straight to Starbucks, all I remember is that 15 minutes later I was in the line at Starbucks, in a cold sweat, ordering a Venti Java Chip with a double-shot of Juno 9.0 hold the HTML. And when he asked me if I wanted whip cream with that, I said, "I don't know, I don't know, I don't know".

Corresponce From The Shusher and Snickernut


From: The Shusher [mailto:theshusher@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 9:09 AM
To: Nikki Elliott; Renz, Eddie
Subject: Re: Chinese Dress Wine Bottle Cover

Hmmm. I think I'd be more comfortable with milk jug covers. I'll let you know if I see any. I'll send Nat on special assignment.


----- Original Message -----
From: Nikki Elliott
To: Renz, Eddie ; theshusher@yahoo.com
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 2:48 PM
Subject: Re: Chinese Dress Wine Bottle Cover



Is it here? These are very cute.
Nik

"Renz, Eddie" wrote:
I can’t wait to get a photo of this ridiculously cute wine bottle cover. This lady at my work Shirley Chang just went to China and she brought back these wine bottle covers for us. Mine is blue, and it is a man’s outfit, but she brought some back that are womens outfits as well.

I figured I should ask- has either one of you seen these? I think they could be a huge hit here in the states, I might start selling them on the brown market…

Ugh, here comes that annoying coworker.. gotta run.

Eddie Renz

Movies, Movies, Movies!!

I never realized how many movies I have seen until I recently got a Blocbuster membership. I used to rent from Payless Video in Denton and I have never had a Blockbuster membership and now I know why- even old movies are like 4 bucks to rent, where at Payless, when it is no longer a new release it is only 99 cents.

Timeline=Timewasted

This weekend I rented Timeline, let me just tell you that timeline should have been called Timewaste. I am no Ebert and Roper, and so when I say a movie stinks, it has to really stink. With remote in hand, I had to fight the urge to fast forward through entire boring scenes. I am sure if I had read the book, which was written by the creative Michael Chriton, I would have loved every chapter, but not so the movie. Stale acting, tiring dialoge, and a flimsy story line kept these moving crawling and I was trying hard not to fall asleep.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

A huge fan of Rowling's Potter series I can't help but love the movies as well. They follow the books closely, they are colorful, well done, artistic masterpieces, but this Potter installment is unrememberable. It is a necessary bridge to the next movie, The Goblet of Fire, but of the first four books it is the least appetizing. While the movie is still two hours in length, I left feeling a little hungry.

In other weekend news...

I boxed up my cable modem and my digital cable receiver- I am going to take it back to Comcast and save the money. I was recently given about 30 books, and with this website and a new desire to go back to college, I will have little time to watch TV anyway.

Okay, it took me forever to figure out how to get this thing to work like I wanted and now it does, however, I spent hours scanning notes and doing stupid things so I could make a cool, creative site, but in the end I just used a template from blogger- am I lame or what? Now I have to do some other settings changes, but I am worn out!

I need to go to the gym, and after that, I need to do some Yoga- yes, Yoga! I started doing it for flexibility because I can't sit "Indian" style, and I have lots of tight joints. So, after 2 sessions of Yoga I have decided that I really like it, I don't get into the spiritual aspects of it, I read that a lot of Yogi's are vegetarians and that they practice celibacy, which I find to be ridiculous, but they do have some great ideas for flexibility, so I am going to give it about 60 days and try to chart my flexibility progress.