Get That Dirt Off Your Shoulder

The wind tickled the trees and their rustling sounded like the laughter of children. Orange, brown, lime greens, and gold surrounded us on all sides as we made our way down the Greenbelt trail. Jeff, Jennifer, Cat and I rode at a brisk pace enjoying the Autumn breeze that was redolent with fall fragrance. The morning was going wondrously well despite the fact that Cat was trying her hardest to outpace me.

My bike has a 21 inch frame, I think Cat was riding on a 16 inch frame. I am twice the size of Cat, and despite the fact that she is most likely more agile, in the bike department it was obvious who was superior. About 3 miles into the bike trail Cat and I spotted a lady riding about 100 yards ahead. Cat looked over at me with a menacing grin and said, "I am going to fly by her so fast it will look like she is sitting still!" Shocked and suprised I watched as Cat punished her pedals and spewed gravel and dust in my face. Cat gained on the poor woman in no time at all and as Cat wizzed by I heard her shout out something to the lady, I could have sworn she said "Loser!", but Cat denied it and said she yelled out, "Mornin!" and smiled and waved. I looked away and rolled my eyes and under my breath I said, "Yeah Right".

For some reason the song "Devil in a Blue Dress" played through my mind, - methinks Cat was trying out her Halloween costume a day early.

After finally recovering from Cat's sudden burst of speed and change of personality, we road together harmoniously and chatted about everything and nothing. Suddenly, and without warning, (which is always the way it is when it is sudden) I noticed that I could feel all of the gravel that we were riding over, every bump, every jagged rock could be felt right on my butt bone. I looked down and realized I had a flat. Ugh! A flat?!?!?! Livid I looked to the heavens and shook my fist at God and asked "Why God? Why!" I am sure God shook his head back and wondered why in the world he created me to be so dramatic. He probably even made a mental note "Note to self, less drama when creating future Eddo's".

I looked at ahead and I had to yell out to Cat to get her to stop. She apparently had sensed my weakness and seized on this opportunity to get an astounding lead on me. When she realized that victory was hers for the taking, she laughed, tossing her illustrious black hair about and looked to the heavens and said, "Thanks God!"

I knew the odds were somehow stacked against me - at least Cat was in cahoots with God instead of a talking serpent.

The ride ended with a 1.5 mile walk for me, while Cat and Jeff went back for the truck and picked us (Jennifer, Cat's sister stayed with me) up at rest area that bisects the trail.

Later Cat and I went to my sister's baby shower and she slipped back into her angel suit. Attractive and stylish as ever all my relatives immediately started whispering to each other, "What is she doing with Eddie?" The puzzled looks were easy to interpret. Of course I was beaming and I was wearing a shirt that read, "Yep, she's with me!" Just in case anyone was wondering if she was a cousin or something.

Cat got to meet all of my family and even met my real dad in one afternoon. Looking back I realized that no other girls that I have ever dated in my entire life have met my real father - but that is a topic for another post.

Eddoxoxox

I'm gonna get, get, get you drunk

How long has it been since I started dating Cat? I don't know, I am a guy, we can hardly remember our own last names! (Really, as men we have evolved so little) We have been having fun and Cat I am sure is okay with me divulging every little detail about our relationship, I hypnotized her and everyone else that watched my Mavs ManiAAC audition video. Yep, I planted subliminal messages in there so that anyone who watched it would totally throw themselves at me - and that is pretty much what Cat did. What's that Cat? Oh, don't deny it, I know everyone thinks it was me that couldn't wait to ask you out, but we both know it was totally the other way around. I drive Cat crazy, I do it on the daily, I always treat her nicely, always buy her Icee's. Dolce and Gabanna, Fendi - and the Donna... Yep, she is totally love drunk - (and if you don't listen to the Black Eyed Peas then you probably didn't get any of that)

One tiny thing Cat has not been doing that other girls I have dated in the past have done - I have received no batches of fresh baked cookies in the mail in the shape of me and her holding hands. No e-cards, or mix tapes. I haven't seen her driving around my apartment complex at odd times throughout the day, she has not called me repeatedly to see how my day has been, she doesn't expect me to talk for long periods of time on the phone, and she hasn't shown up at my apartment when I was hanging with the guys. She doesn't have a psycho girl laugh, or a 6 year old daughter that she said wasn't hers and every time I have gone to pick her up , she has not kept me waiting for 1-2 hours while she finished getting ready.

Cat is effortlessly beautiful and delightfully sweet, I have been using a mild hallucinogen on her when we go out on dates so she doesn't see what a giganto oaf I can be.

This weekend we are going for a bike ride together with her sister and brother-in-law and then after we are going to my sister's baby shower. I plan to totally school her on the bike riding and leave her in my dust. Yep, that is how I prove my masculinity - after the bike ride we are going to have a weight lifting competition and maybe do some arm wrestling. She better be ready.

Busy

Tuesday night there was a Mavs game, Wednesday night I had ManiAAC practice, and tonight there was another Mavs game and we performed during half time. We performed this really simple routine to the Sugar Hill Gang's song Apache. Word on the street (And I am always on the street) is that the song appeared in an episode of The Fresh Prince and Carlton and Will did a routine to it. I thought I had seen every episode of The Fresh Prince, but somehow I missed this one.

Although the routine was simple, I was not getting it. I stayed up till almost 1 in the morning last night going over it and over it. I wanted to know it so well that I could do it in my sleep. Thankfully all the practice paid off, I brought it during half time and I was only off a half-step on one part when we watched the tape after the performance.

The Mavs won again tonight, and the fans were showing us lots of love. As you walk out of the AAC people are shouting out ManiAAC! ManiAAC! A lady ran over to me, grabbed my arm really quick and said, "I love your dance moves!" She quickly ran away like a teenager at a high school football game. Then another woman asked to get a picture with me and her son.

I didn't realize it was going to be as much work as it is, but it is really worth it.

On a side note - I realized I haven't written anything eddo style lately. No post filled with exaggerations, no details on dinner dates with Cat, no movie reviews - I'll remedy that I promise.

For now, I am signing off... Peace Out!

Eddomatic

Pop Lockin' - Check it out!

Click Here - I found this and I loved it - it is just fun.

I love anything that has to do with dance, and self-expression. Dancing is a great form of self-expression - especially when it is freestyle.

Enjoy my Brethren and Sistren.

Pensive at Posted Note

This is a poem Tom Nelson wrote and stuck in our bulletin at church. It is really deep and I wanted to share it and get your feedback.

Whodunit

I need someone to blame for this fiasco.
This social degeneration from the 50's onward.
This family, authority, sexuality, the arts, public decency,
the home, education, violence, abortion, etc. Fiasco.
I need someone to blame.

Maybe Protestants and Catholics of the 1600's who killd 25% of Europe's
men in religious wars... that made Europe lose hope in God...
that forced Descartes to forgo the Bible for reason... "I think therefore I am"
...that started this man-centered avalanche
Maybe some empirical Deist who replaced God with Natural Law.
Voltaire! "Liberty, unity, fraternity" ...bloodbath!
or Kant, Hegel, or Nietzsche...
"We cannot know absolutely"
"God is the Spirit of the universe working out his mind in history"
"God is dead"

Plunged into Atheism, Communism, Nazism
...World Wars...
or maybe Darwin
Brought Atheism to the common man
man into the jungle
or Freud... who took away Responsibility
made "will" just a part of our iceberg
or Skinner or Rogers who relativized morals
or Bultmann who "demythologized" scripture and sent heaven crashing to earth
or Sartre who godfathered the 60's and relativized truth
or the Beatniks who took "man oriented subjectivism" into literature
or Jaskon Pollack who took it into art
or Picasso who broke with the real world
or Cage and music
or Hugh Hefner and morals
or Timothy Leary and drugs
or The Maharishi who dressed up pantheism
or The Beatles who popularized it
or maybe Hollywood who marketed and trafficked error
or whowever made The Faith mere emotional excess
or mere entertainment
or a means to money
and removed God as a viable hope

Whoever it was-
somebody cast a civilization onto the seas
someone left a country adrift
quenched the light of the divine image
Removed the boundaries of right and wrong
Blinded us to decency
Dulled the standard of the arts
Sawed the branch on which we sat... I need someone to blame
Some serpent, some dragon, some roaring lion.

I Rock!!! I Suck...

I ran 5 miles on the treadmill, as soon as I got off I went to Panchos.

Who does that?

Eddie Needs...

This was inspired by www.amberbamberboo.com it is not a meme or anything like that. She didn't tag me, I just read on her site where she Googled "Amber Needs" and it returned a whole bunch of stuff and so I did it.

Here are some of the clean and funny ones...

Eddie needs Phil's friendship because it makes Eddie feel always superior.

I need Eddie and Eddie needs me!" Chloe sobbed. "You can't take us apart!"

Eddie needs the lift up, and wouldn't you love to see him cursing in a Tarantino movie?

Eddie needs a safe fenced in yard- no exceptions

Eddie Needs to Sober Up

Eddie needs an impressive pet to take to the school

Eddie needs to let the acting go and go back to his roots

Eddie needs therapy

Eddie needs a shrink in the worst way

Eddie needs to get information from some dark and nasty places that even the police don't know about

Eddie needs disciplining, right away

What eddie needs is to find a really exciting guest who will have the viewers glued to their screens

Eddie needs to learn that he's got to wait his turn

Eddie needs to quit opening emails from people he doesn't know or find a better class of friends.

Eddie needs a new pair of shoes, and he'll do anything from G to X rated (within the bounds of good taste) to get them. (I need shoes people!)

Eddie needs to get on an "Eat To Win" diet and shed some pounds, nothing you haven't heard before ( I love that it says, "Nothing you haven't heard before!")

Eddie needs to up the laughter quota (I know that's the truth)

Eddie needs quite a bit of help, cause you know, he's one of those boys which is quite naughty, and I feel that, I feel that I should try to help him to get better.

EDDIE NEEDS TO LIGHTEN UP AND ACCEPT SOME CONSTRUCTIVE CRITISM

Eddie needs to sing love ballads on top of a mountain

Eddie needs all the help he can getfrom even the most unexpected places.

Eddie needs to be retired to a museum

The first thing Eddie needs to do is wipe that smile off of his face.

So please tell me what you need?

ManiAAC Update

Over the weekend I had two games to attend. Friday night was AWESOME. The Mavs came back from a 14 point deficit to win the game in the last 2 seconds with a tip-in.

The ManiAACS were a hit and we took lots of photos and signed autographs. We went into the stands and showed the fans some "bead love" by throwing out beads to really excited fans.

Last night was game 2 of the weekend and it was not as awesome. We played the Clippers and we lost by 20. The fans were leaving early and when the game was over the fun and excitement of Friday nights game was non-existent.

During our ManiAAC performance the music was started too early and there were quite a few of us who messed up. I don't like messing up, and I only missed one turn and so I doubt it was very noticeable, but when I am performing I like to have rehearsed so much that I can do the moves without having to even think about it.

Being a ManiAAC is a lot of fun and a lot of work and we don't get paid - but in the end it is really worth it. If you are like me and you like to perform, then you know what an adrenaline rush it is to be out in front of 1000's of screaming fans - it is indescribable.

The ManiAACs will be performing on these dates-

November 22

December 14

January 14

February 9

March 14

April 2

**Dates subject to change**

Birthdays, Babies, and Best Friends

Once in a blue moon the old crew gets together, this time it was for Alan and Cribby's birthday. We had cake, we had homemade icecream, we had Clark's Barbecue - if I had died that night I would have died happy and content.

Say hello to my little friends...

Jenni Cribbs is holding Sarah and Stowe's new baby Tristan.
Baby Ari - Nikki and Jeremy's new little boy - Ari means Lion. Both kiddos are super cute.



New Daddies - Stowe and Jeremy. I don't know how Sarah and Nikki did it, but they grew up together, found men and married them close to the same time and then had babies less than a month apart - and both of them are older than their husbands. I am just now realizing all of this as I type it.







Do I have frosting on my face? And what is going on with KT's hair in the background?


Jenni can bake a seriously good cake.



Erika and Josh whipped up this M&M cake.




Birthday boy Cribby in his new house - which is really, really nice.

Designer at Heart

I know, I know, I have talked about this before, but every time I finish a new template design I get this overwhelming sense of completion and joy. What is more, when I do one design that I really like, I like to start over and try something else in a whole new direction.

http://www.postednote.com/unhappy.htm

This is my most recent template job. I hope that one day I can do web design for a living, in the meantime, I am enjoying it as a side business.

This template is still under construction, but I thought I would share it with you all first.

Your Mama is a Burrito!

Roger and Jessica, two people I spent a great deal of time with two weeks ago, started using the phrase, "Your Mama _________". It is something old that they have made new again and now I can't stop saying it.

At work, when I get an email that says "My BlackBerry is broke!" I want to hit reply and say, "Your Mama is Broke!"

When my boss walked into my office and said, "Eddie, I need those TPS reports." I replied "Your Mama is a TPS report!"

Thanks Jes and Rog.

KISS FM's Big Money What is That

Clues for the current contest 11/10/2005

Tuesday 11/22/2005: Clue - they come in all colors, they are not all the samesome of them are fancy, some are them are plain

What IS That? Clues, Clues, Clues, I need more clues.

IT WAS A PHONE LINE CONNECTING TO A PHONE JACK! I actually figured this out after the last clue, but I couldn't get through! Anyway, it was fun trying to win!

The Jackpot is now up to 38,300 dollars! A lady just called in and guess VCR! Updated at 2:17.

There is a secret sound that to me sounds just like a stapler stapling.

Here are some of the clues:

The 3:00 Clue - After this sound, it's ready to use, it's so easy you can't lose.

The 1:00 o'clock clue - Around the house they are usually hidden.

The 12:00 o'clock clue - Just by making the call, you've got what it takes to win it all... I have no idea again.

The 11:00 o'clock clue - Most of them are gray if they are around your house, but technology has wiped most of them out. - Once again this fits with Katie's guess. The lady that called in at 11AM guessed a breaker switch - that was wrong. The next chance to call in will be around 2:00.

If you are at your desk it is probably within your reach

When you are working, someone normally does this for you.

It will fit in the palm of your hand

Most of them are by your feet

They can be in your house or in your office

Some guesses have been keyboards, and door locks, and microwave doors, and even the lever on the vacuum cleaner that allows you to lean the body of the cleaner back. The most recent guess was, The sound of putting in a computer disk into your computer - which was a really good guess. I will be updating this throughout the day.

I thought it was the sound a trash can makes when you open it with one of those foot petals, but you can't put a trash can in your hand!

I need help people - what makes the sound of a stapler that is by your feet?

Big Money What is that? Kiss FM's Big Money What is that? Kiss FM Secret Sound Clues!

(I want people to find this site and help me with some guesses)

Clues are being updated for the recent 11/10/2005 contest here!

A Slice of Humble Pie

Last night I went up to the AAC to shoot a video with the ManiAACs. We did a routine to Mambo #5 and "Come on feel the noise" by I believe Motley Crue. For the first 16 counts of the Mambo number 5 we were just shaking our heads with our arms crossed. 2 guys were coming up with the routine moves and I really, really wanted to interject. However, this other guy was like, "ManiAAC's don't swing dance".

The Mambo #5 is swing dance music and I thought it woudl be really cool to do a Charleston step. Well, long story short, no one would even listen to me and so I slinked away, more than a little disappointed.

Going in I thought we were all going to get to have some creative input on the video, but I realized that it's best to just sit back and wait for them to ask for input instead of trying to readily give it.

As many of you know, I like to dance. One year Jamie McCracken and I taught a group of High Schoolers at Liberty Christian how to Swing Dance. I have been to multiple classes in Swing and I took Country and Western dance for two semesters in college. So my input I think would have been beneficial.

It seemed at first that our video was going to be a bit of a snorefest, but they kept tweaking and tweaking it and by the end of the evening it turned out pretty cool. I realize that I am just a rookie and sometimes you have to earn your right to be heard, but when you have good ideas it is hard to sit by when you are used to being the one doing the leading.

So I watched from the sidelines with my slice of humility and even though I didn't like the way it tasted, I knew it was good for me.

This semester I know is going to be one of growth; dating a great girl, being a Mavs ManiAAC, becoming an uncle in December, a mini mission trip to NYC next month, and I plan to run the 8 mile run at the Turkey Trot this year on Thanksgiving day. So many things that require focus and hard work, but they are all worth it and I love a challenge.

Keep me in your prayers!

People all over the world, join hands, start a love, a love train...

I was interviewed by Jef

If you look at my profile pic you will see that it has been updated. Yes, that is me holding a Buffalo nickel that I got in the mail from Jef over at Thunderfish.

To read the complete interview, click on the word interview.

If you look at my picture that is me saying "A Buffalo Nickel!?!?!" with a British accent. I was watching Love Actually earlier this week and so the British accents have been swirling in my brain all week.

Goodbye Ritu!

When you work at the same place for over 3 years, the people you work with become your family. My work friend Girja asked me to recommend her cousin Ritu to work at TI. She got hired and I got a 1000 dollar referral bonus. Ritu, however, is moving on. She has been dating a guy who lives in Austin for the last year and she found a new job in Austin.

I always feel like I am losing a friend when I lose a co-worker, good co-worker friends become like family.

Ritu, you will be missed. Good luck at your new Job!

Observations

1. The only difference between the old Listerine and the Citrus Orange Listerine is the color - both of them burn your mouth.

2. The AXE EFFECT is a lie. I sprayed myself with two different flavors of AXE and I have not been attacked by women.

3. You should not eat Maui Onion and Garlic Almonds as a 10AM snack - especially if you have to interface with people at 10:30AM.

4. Peanut Butter is the most versatile snack food. When eaten with graham crackers it can suffice as a meal.

5. Never eat peanut butter without milk.

6. The worst cravings come the minute you decide that you are not allowed to have something.

7. Even when I tell myself to not eat salad I still don't crave it.

8. No matter the diet, never turn down homemade ice cream - I mean really, how often do you get to have homemade ice cream?

9. The blogger word verifications are sometimes too complex, I fear that one day in order to post a comment one will have to do an algebraic equation and get the right answer.

Let.It.Go

For some reason as adults we tend to hold on to things that hurt us in the past. We have unforgiveness in our hearts, we hold grudges, we are historical. As someone who has always been a bit emotional, I had to learn that sometimes people hurt you unintentionally and you have to just let it go.

As I look around at my friends and family I often see people allowing past hurts to continue to shape their futures. Relationships are so often severed because people want to continue to punish someone for something that they did in the past. Distance is created, walls are put into place, bridges are burned. We hold onto our wounds, we pick at them and never let them heal.

The question I must ask is the same question my mother asked my step sister - "How long is long enough? When will you stop punishing him? How many years does he have to suffer for something that he did 40 years ago?" My Father isn't the same man he was 40 years ago. That was a different lifetime, that was Dad B.C. - Before Christ. He wasn't verbally or physically abusive to his daughters, but he wasn't a good father either. It wasn't something he did on purpose, he didn't have a good father either, and his own father, my grandfather, didn't have a good role model either. Three generations of bad parenting cannot be changed overnight. My dad has changed. He is a great man, one of the greatest, most loving, kind-hearted men I know. He has done all that he can to undo all his past mistakes. He has said his apologies, there is nothing more he can do. At 70 he works full time and spends his weekends ministering to young men at a boys home mentoring and being a father to those that need a father figure in their lives. My step-sister only hurts herself by holding on to her unforgiveness. She has traded a relationship with her dad for a relationship with her hurt.

We all make mistakes. Each of us has scars from our parents, our exes, and sometimes even our closest friends. Don't hold on to unforgiveness, it only hurts you. Move forward with your life and learn from those experiences. It isn't always an easy thing to do. It takes time, but the freedom of letting that burden go is immeasurable.

Let.It.Go.

As Always, I love you...

Yep, I Get Bored Easy...

I am thinking about changing this site design again. This new design came to me in a vision, but it doesn't look as good on paper as it does in my head.

I am trying to see if it will grow on me...

The Ant and the Grasshopper

I posted this once before - before Blogger had comments! I got it from Nikki Johnson who got it from her boss Mr. Fletcher- who happens to be one of the nicest, coolest people I know...



The Ant and the Grasshopper

OLD VERSION: The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he's a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Be responsible for yourself!

MODERN VERSION: The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he's a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving. CBS, NBC, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.

America is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so? Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper, and everybody cries when they sing, "It's Not Easy Being Green." Jesse Jackson stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house where the news stations film the group singing, "We shall overcome."

Jesse then has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake. Tom Daschle & John Kerry exclaim in an interview with Peter Jennings that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his "fair share." Finally, the EEOC drafts the "Economic Equity and Anti-Grasshopper Act," retroactive to the beginning of the summer. The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the government.

Hillary gets her old law firm to represent the grasshopper in a defamation suit against the ant, and the case is tried before a panel of federal judges that Bill appointed from a list of single-parent welfare recipients. The ant loses the case. The story ends as we see the grasshopper finishing up the last bits of the ant's food while the government house he is in, which just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around him because he doesn't maintain it. The ant has disappeared in the snow. The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the once peaceful neighborhood.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Vote Republican

Care to comment?

What's On Your Mind?

My life is fun and uncomplicated for the most part, but like anyone, I still have worries, hopes, fears, dreams, ambitions and goals. Lately these seem to be the things I think about most...

Long-Term health - years of poor eating habits cannot be changed over night. Only this year did I give up Dr. Pepper and other sugary drinks. Every now and then I will have sweet tea, but even that is rare. I lift weights and I try to stay away from fried foods, carrots, potatoes, corn, and white bread. When I have kids someday I want them to never have to worry about Daddy's health. I want to be able run and play football with my sons and I want to dance with my daughter on her wedding day.

Financial Future - I don't want to be retired and working at the Dairy Queen. I would love to spend my retired life as a missionary in another country once my children are grown. I would also like to be able to travel with my children internationally and so it is important to start learning about IRA's and investments now. I don't need to be rich, but I never want my family to struggle or worry about money. So many marital problems are centered around finances and I hope to never have to worry about them.

My Relationship with Christ - I am so sef-focused lately that God sometimes becomes an afterthought. He's like a quick shower in the morning and then for the rest of the day I go out and get dirty and don't think about him until the next morning when I shower again. In this I believe every Christian struggles. Like anything, making God a priority is something that you just have to do. I've started listening to Christian music more and reading my Bible more, but I used to be so much better. I used to memorize scripture and I was involved in various ministries and lately I seem consumed by life. John 10:10 says, "I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly." I like to take this verse and really apply it - I enjoy every minute of just about everything that I do. I even enjoy my job for the most part. I am at peace with myself and where I am at in life and sometimes that makes for complacency. I don't want to be complacent. I don't want to sit on the bench, I want to be in the game.

That's pretty much it, 3 big things boucning around inside this head of mine... what's bouncing around in yours?

Panic Room

If you have been reading my site then you know that a couple of weeks ago I put this thick dark blanket over my window and it totally blacks out my room. Last night I was dead tired after doing 5 miles on the treadmill. I drank tons of water before going to bed so about 1AM this morning I had to get up to go to the bathroom.

A bit disoriented I got out of my bed thinking it was the side of the bed. I couldn't see anything so I started feeling around the walls and I couldn't find the bathroom! I was so lost and the room was soooo black. I finally hit my bike with my hand and realized that I was at the foot of my bed and not the side and so I started to make my way to the bathroom but I was still having trouble getting my bearings. I was thrusting my hands forward groping around and I really had to pee. I started to panic just a bit, and then my eyes adjusted and I could see a shred of light peering below the bedroom door and immediately I knew where I was at. I went into the kitchen and unplugged my BlackBerry from the charger and brought it back into the bedroom with me as it makes a wonderful night light.

I’ve Been Tagged! Saurkraut has tagged me.

THE RULES
1. Go into your archive.
2. Find your 23rd post.
3. Find the fifth sentence (or closest to).
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions.
5. Tag five other people to do the same.

Perhaps it was that frozen dinner that I purchased from Kroger- did someone unseal the sealed container and slip in some rohipnol? (I can tell this is an OOOOLD post because I just don't do frozen dinner's anymore, not even healthy choice, I JUST SAY NO to frozen.)

I love Saur or else I wouldn't have done this because I NEVER do these things. Go read her site if you haven't, it is greatness!

Honey Browne and Chocolate Vanilla Latte?

Friday night started out pleasantly enough and ended with a bang. Our little blogger group got together and went to Joe T. Garcia's. Have you ever been? They have this large outdoor patio that seats probably around 500. It is surrounded by large trees, plants, and flowers and if it had been a bit warmer it would have been perfection. Joe T.'s only serves two items - Fajita's or Enchiladas. The fajitas are served on those large metal hot plates and they are large enough that they hold your rice and beans as well. They bring out large bowls of fresh guacamole, pico di gallo, flour tortillas and grated cheese. It is a sumptuous feast that when combined with great friends and great atmosphere can't be beat.

After dinner we went over to Billy Bob's. I have been to Billy Bob's probably 3o times in my life and I have never heard such a horrible band. As a matter of fact, I think the band that was playing was quite possibly the worst band I have ever heard live. The first band was called Honey Browne and they were okay, then the second band started playing and every "Country" song they played sounded like a rip-off of some non-country song. Intro's from Stone Temple Pilots, Hootie and the Blowfish, and The Beatles were all clearly obvious and then suddenly the melody would change slightly, but the underlying chords for the other songs were still there.

The music was not music you could dance to, so for an hour we all just sat around and pounded our heads on the table. I don't recall the name of the second band, but it was something like Chocolate Vanilla Latte. The name alone should have tipped me off that they weren't going to be good.

Cathy and Steve, our guests of the evening, were both very good sports about the bad music and we stayed until Billy Bob's closed hearing only 3 final songs from the DJ that were dance worthy.

On the way home we saw a car sitting in the middle of the road. As we started to slow down, the car next to us didn't. Apparently they didn't see the car and they crashed into the van sitting in the middle of the road. We immediately pulled over and tried to assist, Jessica actually ran out into the middle of the road and cars were still flying toward the two wrecked vehicles. I think I peed my pants a little in fear because I just knew that Jessica was going to die. Cars were not slowing down despite the fact that Steve and I had our shirts off and were waving them at cars trying to get them to slow down. It seemed like an eternity before the ambulance and police arrived on the scene. Apparently this lady hit the concrete barrier and then ricocheted back in the middle of the road and was trapped there. She was literally a sitting duck, just waiting for someone to come and hit her - and someone did. I really believe the wreck could have been a whole lot worse and fortunately only the trapped lady was the one that was injured.

The rest of the way home Cathy and I were extremely jumpy and we were scared by Roger's driving multiple times. Thinking back I don't think Roger was really driving all that bad, but man, when you just witnessed a wreck like we had even a slight pressing of the brakes was frightening!

So Friday night had a couple of unfotunate events, but overall it was still a lot of fun.

Give Me Some Hungry Chicken!

The weekend was nice - really nice. It started with a trip to Joe T. Garcias on Friday and ended with a lot of overeating at the State Fair. In between we did some dancing, we witnessed an extremely frightening car wreck and got out and assisted, I made a Mavs ManiAAC appearance at the opening of the FireWheel Mall in Garland and I got to dance and sign autograph's, and then we had lunch at Tin Star and then an extreme game night filled with grilled burgers and chicken and Cranium, Catch Phrase and Texas Hold'em. Sunday I performed at my first large scale performance at the American Airlines Center. The parents were there (I love you mom and dad!), the blogger friends were there( hi Steve, KT, Jes, and Jennifer), and my sister and some other friends that are like family(Hi Kris Ann and Senator!) came and it was a blast.

Then we went to the State Fair and ate so much food. It was a blast hanging with Steve, he is indeed like a brother from a different mother. We hit it off and only he and KT may understand the title of this post but it is a little shout out to both of them.

The second date went well, (Hey Cat!) except for the car wreck which I will talk about in a separate post.

I am sure if you check out KT's, Steve's, Amstaff Mom's, and Jessica's sites you will see pictures before you see pictures here - they are the ones with all the cameras. I only have a couple of pics and you will probably get them later this week.

I've got nothing but love for all my readers of Posted Note and if any of you ever want to come and stay with me, the purple couch is always open.

City Roller Coaster

You know what would be really cool? A city-wide rollercoaster tourist tram thing. You know how when you go to New York New York in Las Vegas how there is a roller coaster going inside the building and then outside and then back in - well, I want to expand upon that idea.

What if here in Dallas we had a tourist coaster that lasted about 20 minutes. It could wind down through the arts district past the ACC, and then wind it's way past the Reunion Tower and City Hall. Then it could make it's way down over to SMU and the Highland Park Area. After seeing the highlights, we could show off some of the lowlights - like Fair Park and Oakcliff, and then back to the nice parts like lower Greenville and then end at the Galleria.

How cool would it be to see this coaster as you are going about your day. You could see people having a good time while they were getting to see your wonderful city - quickly.

I am going to talk to Laura Miller, Dallas' Mayor, and see if she can help me get this idea implemented.

Anxious, Nervous, and a little Naseous

This weekend is going to be huge. Today Steve arrives from Oregon and we are all getting together for some serious partying in Ft. Worth a.ka. Funky Town.

So meeting Steve in person will be cool, but I am also bringing a date. (yes, this will be the second one with the same girl) It should be a fun evening of dinner and dancing, but then tomorrow I have a Mavs ManiAAC appearance at the Firewheel Mall, and then a game night tomorrow evening and then my first big appearance at Mavs Fan Jam on Sunday and then off to the State Fair.

Today I also have a going away luncheon for a friend and after that and before dinner tonight I have to drive over to Harry Hines and pick up some blue camo pants at the Army Navy store for tomorrows ManiAAC appearance.

So all the excitement has me a little bit too anxious... and I think a good projectile vomit may be in the forecast.

PN Movie Reviews

Corpse Bride

This is normally not my kind of film, but I love anything that is creative and Tim Burton doesn't ooze creativity, he is a virtual firehose of creativity. The film also featured the voice of Johnny Depp and who doesn't like Johnny Depp? I used to watch him on 21 Jump Street and I thought every single member of that show was the coolest - especially Richard Grieco - I wanted to be Richard Grieco... but back to the Corpse...

This movie is disturbing at first, and the idea of corpses living and breathing and singing - well, let's just say that is not normally my cup of tea, but this particular cup was sweetened with a large sugary lump of love that made it quite pleasing to the palate. It's a musical, it's a dramedy, it's a love story. I actually give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Flight Plan

I thought this movie was going to be like Panic Room in the sky, boy was I wrong! Jodie Foster is a mother and her maternal instincts kick into full gear when she wakes up to find her daughter missing. There are a few plot stretches, but man, this movie blew me away. I was totally confused and on the edge of my seat the entire time. It is 10 times better than Panic Room.

Let me know if you've seen either and tell me what you thought, I MUST know.

One more thang, I am about to head over to Costco to get a Churro, I'll post a pic if I get some! Yeah!

The Churro

The location was Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the year was 1983. For 8 years I had been living on this planet called Earth and in those 8 years I had never had anything quite like The Churro.

A little backstory...

My grandmother had a booth at a Flea Market in OKC. She sold picture I.D.'s and metal social security plates that had topless women on them. Her clientele consisted mostly of Hispanic males and mothers who wanted a picture I.D. of their child. My sister Precious was old enough that she could actually type up the I.D.'s and sometimes take the pictures for the I.D.'s, but I was still just a kid and so I did what all 8 year old boys do - I explored.

The Flea Market was not the outdoor type, rather, it was indoor and expansive with so many booths full of tools, jewelry, cool nunchucks and Chinese Stars. One particular booth had a sign that said, "You break, you buy, we break, we cry." It had all sorts of old antique plates with frilly patterns, antique vases, and jade figurines. Everything rested on top of plush red velvet and the little old lady that owned the booth always seemed to be in a dream world. She never talked to me or paid me much attention, she just allowed me to gaze freely upon her wares without interruption.

For some reason the red velvet booth has remained vivid in my memory, but not as vivid as The Churro Stand. I can still remember the first time I smelled the cinnamon and sugar. The sweet fragrance was a pheromone that drew me in and enchanted me much like the White Witch from the Chronicles of Narnia. I followed the delicious aroma until I spyed with my little brown eye the decadent confection that would soon be the object of my affection. About 12 inches long and crusted with cinnamon and sugar The Churro's hung there in there in the glass case, illuminated by a heat lamp that seemed to enhance their allure. I plucked a crumpled dollar from my pocket and purchased this tasty treat. My mouth salivated and soon I quench my lustful desire by consuming bite after bite of The Churro.

From that point on, every time I went to the Flea Market I begged my grandmother for money so that I could get The Churro and for some reason, on my way to work this morning, I had a craving for this childhood treat. I had The Churro on my mind and I almost drove to OKC to satisfy my craving. If you happen to know where I can get a Churro, or if you happen to know how to make a Churro, then please let me know because I will pay good money for a tasty Churro right now.

My Neck, My Back! My Neck AND My Back!

And on the 900,456,600 day, God created Eddo. Unfortunately, Eddo decided to bulk up to a sizeable 330 pounds. He played Ultimate Frisbee and twisted his ankles - repeatedly. He pulled his hamstring while skiing and decided to keep running his daily run despite his injury. A shoulder dislocation in high school and a couple of head contusions later and Eddo wonders why in the world his body hurts from head to toe after playing 1 hour of basketball.

At the spry age of 29 Eddo has noticed that his knees hurt during the night after doing 2 hour dance rehearsals. After trying to squat 405 pounds he found that his back and neck hurt, and after multiple workouts with heavy weights he has started to feel pain and tingling in his elbow, shoulder, and wrist regions.

Chondroitin, Glucosamine, Fish Oil, and MSM have been added to his diet regime. Upon trying Knox Gelatin joint supplement he almost projectile vomited, however, he figures - no pain, no gain, so he continues to force himself to choke down the Knox.

He has considered taking shark cartilage and Nutrijoint, but he is not certain if it is possible to overdose on gelatinous medicines - does anyone else know?

For real ya'll, if you know anything about joint pain medicines and you have tried some that work, please pass along that knowledge to me. I workout hard, but I really don't think I should be in this much pain. There is good pain, and there is bad pain - I'd prefer to have none of the latter.

Side Hugs for the ladies, Knuckles for the fellas.

Word.

MAVS ManiAACs - Who We Are

I keep getting asked - What is a Mav's ManiAAC and why is it spelled that way? The AAC is for the American Airlines Center - most definitely a Mark Cuban idea.

The Mavs ManiAAC's are dancers. We dance during half-time and during "Hot" timeouts during the game.

We will perform at most of the home games, and last year they flew the guys to various locales for charity performances and rehearsal dinners and corporate functions.

To read more about them click here. This page obviously hasn't been update with my profile, but hopefully it soon will be.

Again, this Sunday at 12:30 at the AAC the doors open to the MAVS fan jam. The game is from 1:00-2:30 and we will be signing autographs before the game. I doubt anyone will want my autograph, but it will still be fun!

Weekend up Date

I know you have all been waiting with breath that is bated, so without further adieu I will tell you that the date went very well Saturday. I am a bit out of practice and so I forgot how much work is involved with a first date. There is the choosing of the location - we went to Campisi's, then there is the taking of the clothes to the cleaners, and then of course the purchasing of the flowers. I didn't realize that tulips were out of season, but they were so I went with a mixed bunch that was really quite pleasing to the eye.

When I picked up my date she looked amazing as expected. I only take out amazing girls, and she did not disappoint. The great thing about this particular girl is that she laughs easily and so I didn't even have to put on my clown nose or make her any balloon animals to make her smile.

Dinner at Campisi's was delicious. We had the best garlic cheese bread and she had the eggplant parmesan and I had the fettuccini alfredo.

After dinner we went to a frozen custard shop called Wild About Harry's on Knox Henderson. We got our ice cream and walked around and did some window shopping and just talked. It was a very pleasant evening.

I also went and saw A History of Violence with Viggo Mortensen. There were some extremely graphic scenes - sexual - that I found shocking. The movie was really violent as well. It was riveting and interesting, but man, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone because fo the sexual content. I heard a review on the radio and it didn't say anything about the bad content, just that it was a "must see".

One other bizarre thing happened to me this weekend. I put a dark blanket over my bedroom window so I could sleep late on Sunday. I didn't wake up until 2 in the afternoon! In my 29 years of existence I haven't slept that late - unless I was sick. I was so shocked. I checked the clocks all ove the house to see if I was maybe being punked or something, but alas, I was just a lazy bum that apparently needed some extra z's.

And lastly, I will be performing my first big show with the MAV's ManiAAC's this Sunday for the Mavericks Fan Jam. It's free to get in and only 5 bucks for parking so if you aren't busy and you want to see a good show, come check us out.

Holla back!

Babies, Babies, Babies

A little over 9 months ago I posted about my close friend Nikki being pregnant. Now here is a picture of that little baby boy - Ari.

Nikki and Jeremy had this wonderful little boy about a month ago and he is a cutie.

Here is a quote from the proud mama -

"Get a load a'this! Haha! He can't help it he was born with a natural sense of style."

Cute!