This is the title...

Funny stuff of the day...

2008-07-15T11:56:00.000-07:00

I have determined that I just can't sit down and post anything very often. Although I sit here at my trailer doing nothing most evenings...I still can't bring myself to type out anything interesting on here. So I apologize to those of you whom I've disappointed. However, something hilarious happened today...something worthy of posting.

So, I've been here a couple weeks already. I have a dish and receiver that I take with me when I travel like this. Never had any problems getting it set up and working. Well, I've tried 3-4 afternoons/evenings to get it pointed and set up....haven't had any luck so far. So I finally decided to call up the place here in town that does Dish Network stuff, and got a professional to come help me out.

Romack calls after the guy has been here a little while, and we proceed to talk the entire time the guy is working on my dish. Ended up that my dish was warped a little, and he had to replace the actual dish part. So the guy finishes up everything, we're sitting inside the trailer, he's writing up the ticket and I'm paying him. Romack says to me on the phone, "Ask him if he can hook you up with all the nudie channels." The guy said something, then I said to him, "My friend here on the phone wants to know if you can hook him up with all the nudie channels." We all laugh for a minute, and the guy goes on to explain that you could do that back in the day but really can't do it anymore with the new receivers and the cards that they have in them. So, we were absorbing all that when he goes on to say, "If you buy the Latino Package, it comes with Playboy." Romack and I are obviously confused and wondering why only the Latino Package automatically comes with Playboy. Romack tells me to ask if it's in English. I ask, and the guys says these Playboy channels are in Spanish. He is now walking out the door, getting in the truck and ready to leave. As he's walking out, he says, "Not that it really matters if it's in Spanish, it doesn't really matter what they're saying." We're all still busting out laughing at this point. He's opening his door and getting in the truck, and he says, "Yeah, I really don't care what she has to say."

Hopefully this was as funny to everyone else as it was to Romack and I. Asking if he could hack the receiver to get nudie channels turned into a much more interesting/funny conversation that it should have been.

You know what I love?

2008-06-27T22:16:00.000-07:00

Dark chocolate.
Not milk chocolate, not white chocolate, not whatever kind of chocolates there are....dark chocolate. The darker the better. I think I could've possibly made some sort of joke there about how I like my chocolate the same way I like my women, but I veered away from that one.

Now I realize its not for everyone, but I think it has grown in popularity the past couple years. The Hershey's Special Dark, Dove Dark Chocolate, etc.....I really don't feel the need to start naming brands and varieties. I found a new one in the store today that I just had to buy for the drive home from Marshall....Hershey's Extra Dark with Macadamia Nuts and Cranberries. Interesting and different to say the least, but it was delicious. I can remember years ago (like @ the high school years) where I can specifically recall disliking the slight bitterness, etc. of dark chocolate. But people's taste buds change, of course....and mine obviously developed a liking for this wonderful, dark masterpiece. I'm glad. Regular old chocolate or milk chocolate or whatever is good. But it is oh so nice to give your palette an invigorating change of pace now and then. Make your brain wonder what's going on, and challenge your sense of taste with something new, different and exciting. That's why I love it when I can talk myself into trying something new at a restaurant, instead of getting your usual, old, fail-safe entree. Now, of course, you'll sometimes run across something that just doesn't float your boat and really doesn't work out for you...but at least you can say you tried. Its just a small way to try and live a little, and not get stuck in a rut.

So, long story made short....I love dark chocolate.

I think I might try to make this "You know what I love?" thing a weekly post. I've found it extremely hard to blog since my last post. There have been several things I've wanted to blog about, just finding the time has been difficult. Between taking turns making a baby happy, traveling all over East Texas for work and just working late hours even after getting home from the various courthouses....time just hasn't been there. I know there are some people who can just keep that blogging machine truckin right along, even with their wife in the hospital.....**cough, cough, Todd, cough**....but I just haven't been able to. Twitter has been a great tool for me though. Its soooo much easier to do little snippets throughout the day, especially being able to do it easily from my phone.....I find it hard to easily and fully utilize Blogger from my phone's browser. Anyways, hope nobody missed me....I'm sure you didn't. Maybe it will get better soon. Later homies!

Real life stuff...

2008-06-10T13:14:00.000-07:00

If you're a parent, you know that this is exactly what it feels like sometimes.
Then there's the times when it feels like this.....absolutely amazing.But I think we all come to the conclusion that it's worth it to endure those times mentioned first to have the times in the second picture. I don't know why, just wanted to share.

A New Post!!! Woo Hoo!!!

2008-06-01T15:57:00.000-07:00

So, no blogging for over a week. Why? Oh, no big reason. Just been having a baby and stuff. Been way too busy for this blog stuff. But I have actually been doing this Twitter thing. So if you're the kinda person who needs up-to-the-minute, real time updates and action....you should head over and follow me and others on Twitter. It's pretty cool.

But more about this new baby. If you haven't gotten an email or anything and feel that I should have you in my email list, I apologize. Make sure I have your email.

Caris Joy Jinkins was born May 27, 2008...at 2:35 p.m. to be precise. She weighed 7 lbs. 2.6 oz., and was 20 inches long. She looks like me, so of course she's beautiful. These pics are from the hospital...I have some ones since we've been home, but those can come later.
That's all I've got for now. Enjoy.

Childhood memories

2008-05-21T21:39:00.000-07:00

Why do I feel like a little boy again tonight? I'll tell you why......

Cause I bought one of THESE at the WalMart this evening!!!

Yep, a Red Ryder BB gun. Now, why did I buy this? Just for fun.....and to run off this annoying cat that's been hanging around the house lately. Plus, I gotta start Hope off early.

Radiohead concert review!!!

2008-05-19T12:51:00.000-07:00

First of all....no baby phone call last night, which I was very thankful for.The concert was absolutely amazing. I haven't been to a ton of big shows like this....maybe 10 or so. But I've also seen my share of live stuff on video and such. This was probably the best live show I've seen. The interaction with the crowd, the set list, the stage setup, light/video screens, etc.....was all fantastic. They played songs from every one of their albums except their very first, Pablo Honey...which the only song people really know from that album is "Creep".

For anyone who might care, here is....
THE SET: (song and album listed)

All I Need - (In Rainbows - 2007)
There There - (Hail to the Thief - 2003)
15 Steps - (In Rainbows - 2007)
Bangers n Mash - (In Rainbows Bonus CD- 2007)
Nude - (In Rainbows - 2007)
Pyramid Song - (Amnesiac -2001)
Weird Fishes/Arpeggi - (In Rainbows - 2007)
National Anthem - (Kid A - 2000)
Dollars and Cents - (Amnesiac -2001)
Faust Arp - (In Rainbows - 2007)
Videotape - (In Rainbows - 2007)
A Wolf at the Door - (Hail to the Thief - 2003)
Optimistic - (Kid A - 2000)
Reckoner - (In Rainbows - 2007)
Everything in its Right Place - (Kid A - 2000)
Idioteque - (Kid A - 2000)
Bodysnatchers - (In Rainbows - 2007)

1st ENCORE:

Fake Plastic Trees - (The Bends - 1995)
Jigsaw Falling into Place - (In Rainbows - 2007)
House of Cards - (In Rainbows - 2007)
Exit Music (For a Film) - (OK Computer - 1997)
The Bends - (The Bends - 1995)

2nd ENCORE:

You and Whose Army? - (Amnesiac -2001)
Paranoid Android - (OK Computer - 1997)

Ok, so maybe I'm a nerd because I typed this set list into my phone throughout the concert....and maybe I'm a nerd because I knew the names of all 24 songs from the 6 different albums, even the 2nd bonus CD of "In Rainbows". I don't care, I'm ok with being a music nerd.

Tonight is the night...for Radiohead

2008-05-18T14:00:00.000-07:00

Heading to Dallas right now to see one of my favorite bands in the world. Possibly one of the most innovative, unique and influential bands in my opinion. I could go on and on about Radiohead and how much I love them.

Alexis could very possibly go into labor at any time now...seriously. When I got tickets a few months ago, we thought we'd be safe since her due date wasn't until June 3...but now we're set to go in and be induced on May 27th, and she's feeling like she won't even make that. So, she graciously let me go on to the concert as long as I promise to answer the phone if needed. The show starts at 7:30, so I'm fully expecting my cell to ring anywhere from 7:20 to 7:45 telling me to get my white butt back home and to the hospital.

I told her if she makes that call in that time period, I'm staying to hear 3 songs of Radiohead.....she didn't think that was funny.

Album covers...again

2008-05-06T07:36:00.000-07:00

These hit several different levels of disturbing and funny....what's your favorite?

Road trip!

2008-04-29T09:21:00.000-07:00

Anybody wanna go?

Ultimate nerd-ness

2008-04-21T12:57:00.000-07:00

This is too good not to share. It's like a couple years old, and you may have seen it before...but I still crack up everytime I watch it. I just saw it on somebody's blog somewhere and it reminded me how great it is. For the nerds and geeks everywhere....these guys are the cream of the crop, I'm sure. There is some language, so turn the kids' ears down.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present.....Leeroy Jenkins.

Clean up

2008-04-18T18:17:00.000-07:00

This is the cleanest my desktop has been in about 3 months. It feels good.

The honesty of a child

2008-04-17T07:35:00.000-07:00

So Alexis has been doing a little cleaning around the house. With a 2 1/2 year old in the house though, obviously it's never going to be CLEAN. But anyways.....onto the reason for this post.

Our back living room, which is known as the "playroom" in our household, is covered with approximately 284 toys at any given moment....everywhere. It rarely does any good to try and clean this room, because this is where Hope is usually playing....so the toys will find their way back to their random places covering the entire room within an hour. Well Alexis was able, somehow, to clean the entire room up, putting toys back where they belong and managed to keep Hope away.

So we walk in last night from being outside or something, Hope notices the room and shows her amazement....and says what we were all thinking.

She says, "Is that a new carpet???"

Yes dear, it might as well be...

King of the Hill

2008-04-14T17:09:00.000-07:00

Quote from the show....

Nancy Gribble - "Ugly people sure do ruin a lot. They've done studies with newborns....and if given the choice, babies would rather go to pretty strangers then their own ugly parents."

Peggy Hill - "Well obviously babies aren't as stupid as they look."

I love this show!

Memories & Revenge

2008-04-10T13:59:00.000-07:00

Rusk High School has an annual talent show for the students....we call it "Spotlight". The band we had when I was in high school played in it. We rocked the freakin house, if I must say so myself. We played Freebird....that's right, a group of high school guys playing Freebird. And we nailed it. I was the singer and lead guitar. I practiced that 10 minute solo for about 2 months....and I pretty much had it down note for note. For the show, we played a condensed version, for time purposes.....we ended up with only like a 4-5 minute guitar solo. EVERYONE loved us....EVERYONE!!
I think the above picture was in the newspaper. Yeah, I'm that skinny dude in the middle....don't really remember being that skinny. We came in second place to this group of 4 guys singing R&B stuff. But even their crowd loved us...more, I think. I'm not sure how the judging worked that year, but I know we got screwed.

This year's "Spotlight" is tonight.....and guess who's been asked to be a judge.

That's right.

Representin' the rock 'n roll bands baby!

Hanging on for dear life

2008-04-09T22:46:00.001-07:00

This little dude was on my truck when I got in it and drove off from the house today. He started out on the hood, ended up coming around to my window to get a better look at me I guess. He was a strong little sucker too. Kinda reminded me of the SOBE energy drinks, with the lizard in their logo or whatever. Cause this guy was definitely taking it to the extreme. I think I ended up about 3 miles out of town before he finally flew off...and into the lizard afterlife. A lizard looks pretty funny on the side of your vehicle going 70 miles an hour....they start getting all wobbly and shaking from the wind. Pretty funny, indeed. So, if you ever get a lizard on your car or truck....go ahead and take him for a ride. They love the wind blowing across their scaly reptile skin.....that is, until they can't hold on anymore.

Guilty Pleasures...

2008-04-07T19:25:00.000-07:00

Alright, we've all them....don't try to deny it. Something that we enjoy so much, it makes us happy when we have it/do it, and we look forward to it. It may be something common that everyone around you indulges in as well....it might be that's really not for everyone. If you dare to share yours, I'm sure we'll all enjoy reading it. Ok, not everyone all at once....I'll start.
I love The Sopranos. I like mob type movies or shows in general. The Sopranos always intrigued me, and I always wanted to start watching it....but we don't have/didn't have HBO. I didn't even start watching it until after their last season was over...but am catching up quickly. I've got seasons 1-4 on DVD already, nearly done with season 4. So I just need to pick up seasons 5 and 6 to complete my journey now. If anybody has them (which I doubt), go ahead and send it my way. Now, I'm quite sure that this is one of those things (as mentioned above) that is not for everyone. Some may find the show offensive or whatever....there's quite a bit of harsh language, plenty of violence and a tad bit of nudity. But I have come to love the show, and really look forward to the free time I have to sit down and watch an episode or two.

So, everyone...let's hear it. What's your pleasure? Is it a food, a TV show, some secret music that no one knows you listen to, etc, etc.?

Resemblance?

2008-04-04T06:50:00.000-07:00

This was a design on a t-shirt I saw at Kohl's last night. Not quite sure how I feel about it. My little bro's girlfriend works there, and she said every time she re-folds this shirt she thinks of me.

Censored

2008-03-30T20:56:00.000-07:00

I don't even want to try to describe this....go ahead and give me a caption, if you dare.

And yeah, those are fig leaves, by the way....appropriate.

Sad, sad, sad

2008-03-25T12:46:00.000-07:00

Text message from Alexis...

How would you like to make a habit out of bringing home icees after work?

Easter (and other holidays) memories

2008-03-24T06:20:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. We had our obligatory get-together with all our family....Saturday with a lot of my mom's side, then Sunday with my dad's side. They kinda blend in a lot of times though. When I say "my mom's side", I mean my mom's brother and wife (my uncle and aunt) , mom's dad and his wife, and then the children and grandchildren of that wife. When I say "my dad's side", I mean my dad's parents, my uncle and cousins....and usually my mom's mom. Cause see, my mom's mom and dad can't stand to be anywhere near each other...and we all welcome her in with my dad's side. Complicated? Maybe. Fun in the end for everyone? Absolutely.

That story, however, was not the reason for this post. I'm about to get emotional and mushy and probably end up crying before I'm done with this.

My Aunt Debbie always made "Pink Salad". Some of you out there might have a version of "Pink Salad" at your own family get-togethers. If not, feel free to check out the recipe below and try it out sometime. Although probably technically a dessert, we usually eat it along with the meal. No matter what the holiday/occasion/etc., you always knew there was going to be "Pink Salad". If you didn't know if there would be ham or chicken or turkey or steak or hambugers, or someone was going to make your favorite casserole, or would there be sweet tea, or will I have to waste my time trying to get that perfect amount of Sweet 'N Low in my tea.....there would always be "Pink Salad". This was something that my Aunt made without fail. So, needless to say, without her here anymore, this was going to be one of those little tiny things that you don't think about, but will affect everyone there....and probably end with tears falling when we realize that the "Pink Salad" isn't here because Aunt Debbie isn't here. So at this last Thanksgiving and Christmas (the first holidays after my Aunt died), my mom and dad made it....without anyone asking or telling them to. Saturday night, my mom asked me if I wanted to make it for Sunday. I said yes, of course. Alexis and I both worked on it, although it's not a two person job. She put something in the bowl, then left to go get Hope ready for bed, so I finished getting everything in the bowl and mixing it all up. By the time I was finished with it, I was full on bawling and crying (although I'm sure those two actions are the same). I couldn't help but imagine her standing there herself all those years....putting stuff in the bowl, mixing it all up, walking over and putting it in the refrigerator for the next day's lunch.

Thanks for bearing with me while you're reading this...I just felt like it was worth sharing....part of my soul, deep down. Misspellings below courtesy of Alexis...the teacher.

The first time

2008-03-18T16:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we took a little trip to Tyler to go to the zoo. Hope loves the zoo. And that's not what the "The first time" title is referring to....we've been to nearly every zoo in the state of Texas I think. I've been to the Tyler zoo before a few times, but this was Alexis and Hope's first time there. They had a really cool little enclosed bird place where you could buy a popsicle stick with seeds on it, and I finally was able to get a bird to land on my stick for Hope to see up close.Second part of the day....and meaning behind "The first time" title. We went with some friends of ours to Tyler. They have 3 girls, all older than Hope. So they've already begun the curse of this place....Chuck E. Cheese. The other mom had wanted to take the girls here after the zoo....so of course, we went too. This was our first time to take Hope here...and I'm now afraid of what's to come. She had a blast.....and so did I. I ain't afraid to admit that I love arcades and games and such. Sorry for the sucky pics from Chuck E. Cheese....my little camera's battery died at the zoo, and didn't feel like busting out the big guns in the restaurant....so the phone had to suffice.

Somebody you need to listen to

2008-03-11T22:41:00.000-07:00

Anybody like him? Anybody? Don't be ashamed if you have to say you've never heard of him. I'm gonna make you figure it out on your own. Expand your music library...don't be scared.

What's this crap on the ground!?!?!?

2008-03-07T10:55:00.000-08:00

Hopefully, everyone around East Texas that reads this was able to experience this this morning....cause I'm sure we'll only see this happen maybe 5 times here in our lifetimes. Plus, it must have been special to get me out of bed and outside playing at 7 a.m.

Alexis thinking she's an angel....ha ha ha....riiiiiight

Mother and daughter snowball fight

Hope's massive snowball
Kitty rainbootsTrail of tracks
Lamby and the tiny snowmen

Jason is sensitive

2008-03-06T08:28:00.000-08:00

So Jason is a sad little boy. He thinks everyone around him should know his online existence. I believe I said that he did have something out there, but just didn't know what it was. So, now that I have the links, you can find Jason here, here or here on myspace. But don't expect anything entertaining.....cause blog posts are rare. And I'm supposed to remember these online spots, when there are no new posts to keep my attention. And please be his friend on myspace, because Tom is his only friend on there....pretty sad. More proof that there is a severe lack of online presence.

So.....Jason does exist online....barely. Sorry for the confusion, and sorry for upsetting my sensitive friend.

Evil, devil thorns

2008-03-05T22:41:00.000-08:00

First of all, it doesn't bother me a bit to go over a week without a new post....don't think that's a bad thing either. It's nice to get out and not worry about it. Been going to this new gym/fitness center we joined, been out riding the bike, been working on baby's room, etc. Get away from the computer sometimes people!!!! It's in the bible...

On to business....speaking of out riding the bike. If you've never been really into mountain biking, you should try it out. I was pretty serious about it up until a couple years ago, then just lost the time. So luckily, I've decided to get a new bike and get back out there. Plus my riding buddy got back into it with me...Jason, youth pastor at our church. No link for him, cause he's non-existent online it seems. Get a blog or something Jason, for real. Actually, I think he has something, but not sure what it is.

Anyways, so we've been working on some trails around Rusk here.....clearing out a bunch of brush and vines and trees and other random stuff in the woods. And seriously....riding trails that you have made yourself....it's pretty awesome, and something to be proud of. So we've run across these hideous thorn plants that absolutely have to be the spawn of Satan. Check out the pics. These suckers get thick, and huge....the pic of the one next to my finger, barely shorter...you can kinda get an idea of the size. And they hurt....trust me.

Thoughts and prayers please

2008-02-24T16:41:00.000-08:00

Ok, I'm not sure what all to say about this, because it's kinda sensitive information....and not many people know, even in my family. But I felt it would be a good thing to share with my blog family, and gain your thoughts and prayers.

My cousin has two boys, one 5 years old and one about 8 years old....and one that didn't survive through birth. My cousin's youngest boy (which I guess he would be my second cousin, right?), is 5 years old, in kindergarten. I'm not sure of any details of reason behind this, but he's obviously got some issues upstairs. This last week, while at school, the boy got ahold of a broken piece of shelf (I'm assuming wood). He proceeded to try to slit his wrist with the broken piece of shelf. I'm not sure how much he was able to hurt himself before the teacher saw him. He said he wanted to be in Heaven with his brother, who was stillborn....I'm assuming my cousin has told her two boys all about this. Anyways, he went home, they called his doctor and the doctor suggested to take him to the behavioral unit at a hospital in Tyler. So he has spent about a week there now, only being able to see visitors for an hour a day.

Now, I don't know how a 5 year old even knows about suicide or that you can slit your wrists in the first place. I'm quite certain that they are exposed to less than suitable things at home from their parents (my cousin) and the parents' friends. But still....this just blows my mind. So, I'm just asking that you keep my family/their family in your thoughts and prayers while they deal with this. I know my aunt and uncle (which would be his grandparents), my cousin, and the two boys are really having a hard time through this ordeal.

I'm moving out...Part 2

2008-02-18T09:30:00.000-08:00

This was my morning.
Turn up the volume, if you dare.
Get the children out of the room first.

I'm moving out...

2008-02-17T22:33:00.000-08:00

Alexis just downloaded songs from her junior/senior high days....for some unGodly reason....and is now sitting in front of her computer singing waaaaayy too loudly.
This is gonna get old real quick.

delayed, delayed, delayed

2008-02-12T17:04:00.000-08:00

Trying to get home...but not quite yet apparently. Sitting at the airport in Phoenix, about a 2 hour delay....that added on to the getting here 2 hours before the original flight time. That means at least 4 hours sitting here in very uncomfortable chairs. Holla at ya boy if you're around.

From desert to snow

2008-02-11T05:02:00.000-08:00

If anybody out there is paying attention, I'll be at this place today. Pray that I don't break anything.

Where in the world is Justin Jinkins???

2008-02-10T10:03:00.000-08:00

Who would've ever thought?

Hot Sauce

2008-02-06T15:14:00.000-08:00

Why do these amuse me so?

It happened...

2008-02-05T13:36:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm pretty sure anyone reading this blog probably got my email telling you to go vote for me and my photo in this contest. If you didn't get the email, didn't vote, don't have a clue what I'm talking about....catch up quick. I went to this one day little photography course deal put on by the lovely Shauna Maness. She had a model come out for us to shoot during the day. She asked us to send in our favorite pics we shot in the few days after the course. She compiled pics, put up a contest on her blog, and asked the world to vote on their favorite. Everyone caught up now? Good.

Well, somehow I ended up with the most votes (I think my email list must have been the longest or something), and won the contest!!! For proof that I'm not just spouting off, check it out right here. Thanks to anyone who voted, and book your sessions quick for this award winning photographer....well, close enough.

The contest winning photo...

Good ol' Willie

2008-01-30T08:59:00.000-08:00

I've been looking forward to this since I heard about it close to a month ago.....and it was finally released yesterday. Go buy the CD, download it on iTunes/Rhapsody/whatever, and love it. The cover of Dave Matthews' "Gravedigger" couldn't be better....and Randy Newman's "Louisiana", although a year or two too late, is sweet.
This dude is the real deal folks. You might not like his voice, you might not care for country music, etc....but Willie Nelson is a musician, through and through. He is a master of his instrument, he's stood the test of time and he puts out quality music, album after album...even at 75 years old.

Feeling better

2008-01-28T12:45:00.000-08:00

So, been stuck around the house for like 5 days...me and Alexis both. We both ended up having the flu.....woo hoo! So, our little Hope went and stayed at my parents' so she didn't end up sick too. We've never been away from her like that...and it sucked. So, we brought her back home last night....we missed her like crazy.

Heath Ledger found dead in NYC

2008-01-22T14:09:00.000-08:00

This is pretty insane. Of all the celebrities seen in the news and stuff that are having problems, I can't say that I've ever seen anything about this guy. And yet, this happens out of the blue. And the fact that he has a daughter just a little younger than Hope makes it even more tragic to me.

I hate this...

2008-01-21T21:19:00.000-08:00

Of all the sicknesses out there...I can say without a doubt that I hate having sinus congestion/cold/runny nose/sinus pressure headaches/etc/etc. more than anything else.

I can't stand being congested and stopped up, and having the runny nose....which, by the way, defies all science that those two things can happen simultaneously. I already have a bad history of migraines and headaches in general. The sinus pressure crap only makes it 20 times worse. Started feeling bad Saturday afternoon, and it has reached a climax today. So, this has been my day. I think I had 4-5 piles of tissues this size or bigger total today.And why does my comfort food make me feel like a 6 year old....

A little Ragamuffin Soul love

2008-01-15T11:47:00.000-08:00

I saw this yesterday...this car was in front of me in the drive-thru at the McDonald's in Jacksonville (Texas, of course). For those of you who don't get it or are a little slow...Buckhead Church is where the one and only Carlos Whittaker (a.k.a. Los & Ragamuffin Soul) is on staff. Buckhead is the name the community within Atlanta as well, so I'm not certain if this actually relates to their church or just the community of Buckhead. Either way, I thought it was still pretty nifty.

A good night's sleep

2008-01-12T21:29:00.000-08:00

I woke up like this this morning....When you got one sock hangin halfway off, it must've been a good night.

I like the Cajun flavor...

2008-01-09T20:54:00.000-08:00

This has made me extremely happy. I believe I said a very long time ago that someone needed to open up a Wing Stop in Nacogdoches. I guess someone finally read my blog.

Fire, little girls and slithery things

2008-01-08T10:11:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been busy around here since Christmas. We had yet another family get-together the weekend after Christmas...again at our house...so we were all going crazy getting everything ready. After that, I went with our youth group to Pineywoods for a short Winter Camp. So I spent New Year's Eve and New Year's day at camp....woo hoo!! I love Pineywoods though.
Also, I am officially moved back from Groesbeck...at least for now. I've been working back here in Rusk and Nacogdoches since the week after Thanksgiving, but my trailer has still been out in G-town. So me and my dad went out last Thursday and packed it up, hooked it up and drug that sucker back home. Now, it's possible that I could end up back out there in a bit....but there's no point in paying rent to keep the trailer there for now.

For anyone who has been concerned, Hope is over her mess that we dealt with over Christmas. She was a trooper, and was doing wonderfully by the day after Christmas. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers on her behalf. To prove that she's alive and well, you'll find a picture below of a loving father showing his daughter that it's perfectly fine to pick up snakes you find in the yard. Yeah...how 'bout that. I was cutting up the top of a tree that fell in our backyard, and found this little guy under the pile. Parents, don't tell your kids those lies about these things being dangerous.....sheesh, that's just ridiculous.

What a great Christmas!

2007-12-26T11:04:00.000-08:00

So, yes, it was a great Christmas...but there's also quite a bit of sarcasm in that "What a great Christmas!" Let's start at the beginning....

We leave to go down to H-town (that's Houston you slow ones) early Saturday morning...by early, I mean like 9 am. We get down there, get settled in, Hope plays a little....and then she walks back into where we're sitting around, and looks like she's just been hit with the plague. We get her over to us, and she's burning up. Take her temperature and it's over 103. For anyone who doesn't know, Hope has a horrible history of ear infections. So we automatically start thinking that. Alexis had just seen an ad in a magazine for this little device that is supposed to detect fluid in the ears to help early diagnose ear infections at home....so her and her mom went out to do some shopping and picked one up. The thing told us what we already knew, but had no idea what to do next....us being in Houston, away from doctors we know, on a Saturday evening. We end up finding an extended hours clinic, and get her there in time. Turns out she has strep as well as both ears being bad.....fantastic. They give her a penicillin shot and start some antibiotics and some cough/congestion medicine. I end up not getting home from the 24 hour pharmacy at Walgreen's til about 11:30 pm. She's miserable all day Sunday, still running a high fever Monday morning. After a phone call to a friend who's in the medical profession, calling a 24 hour free nurse hotline, and calling the extended hours clinic back Monday morning...it was the general consensus that we needed to take her to an ER. So, that's exactly how we want to spend our Christmas Eve...at the ER. Luckily, the Kingwood Medical Center ER was amazing. I could not imagine a less painful/stressful experience for an ER. We were checked in, registered and seeing the doctor in about 25-30 minutes. We ran in right before a rush, so we were the first out of a large group that came right with us. And all the nurses and the doctor were really good and incredibly nice....even with it being Christmas Eve. So, how about some Christmas Eve pictures....We drive back home to Rusk in the middle of the night Monday, Christmas Eve. Luckily, she finally gets some good rest that night and wakes up feeling a little better Christmas morning. This was destined to be crazy day....first of all, our Christmas lunch with family happened at OUR house...and second of all, it was ALL of my family....my dad's side and my mom's side. So we ended up with about 20 people here. But it was really great....first time we've ever done it like this, with both sides of the family....and it turned out awesome. It was also our first Christmas without my Aunt Debbie, which was hard...but we did ok. So, pictures from Christmas day.....and hope you all a great day with your families as well.

Revenge of the Gas Tank

2007-12-19T20:07:00.000-08:00

For anyone who was unaware, I wanted to share my new toy with everyone. My faithful car is no longer with me. We've been through thick and thin together, and he always treated me well. But the time came to move on. So, last Friday we parted ways forever. And now, the new addition to the family....
Almost exactly twice the size of gas tank compared to my Matrix....and maybe a third less gas mileage....not nearly as bad as it could be. So I hope you all get to meet my Dodge Ram 1500 sometime soon.

And yes, it's got a Hemi.

Cool shirts

2007-12-18T09:26:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to share a very cool site with everyone. They have random designers and artists designing t-shirts, and I think they pretty sweet. Some of you might not be into the style...but you have to admit that they're awesome designs, and have to admire the talent....plus they're unique, and pretty cheap for some cool shirts like this.

Anyways the site is Design By Humans. That's www.designbyhumans.com for those who would like to see the actual link rather than just follow it. And if you like their stuff and want to order something, use this link and it gets me referral points. http://www.designbyhumans.com/shop/affiliate/revjinx

Saturday in Tyler

2007-12-16T13:48:00.000-08:00

So we went to Tyler yesterday to do Christmas shopping. Just a couple things to share about the day. First of all, I hate Christmas shopping for other people. Shopping for myself, or even for Alexis, is fine. I know what I like, I know what I want, I know what I could use, etc. But I very much dislike having to pick out things for people when I have no clue what they need, want, could use, etc. Because I don't like buying gifts that will either be just some cheesy, stupid gift just because I had to find something to buy, or will be something that ends up being totally useless. There, now that's off my chest. Thanks for listening.

Next thing on the list...first of two things that made my day great. We were coming into Tyler, and notice this sign at a Burger King. This is incredibly impressive to me, in a time where you can barely even say "Merry Christmas" without worrying about offending someone. Where the politically correct statement is "Happy Holidays". Whoever is in charge of this Burger King (I know they're franchised, so I'd like to know who owns this place), not only stuck with the "Merry Christmas" end of it, but slams the truth in everyone's face that drives by.I was truly amazed by not only the faith displayed by some people here, but by the guts it takes to make a stand like this as a major business in today's society. Thank you Burger King owner in Tyler.

Next topic....and I guess the last. Those of you familiar with La Carretas in Nacogdoches, you might know that there used to be a La Carretas in Tyler as well (owned by the same guy, by the way). For some reason, they built a new building, moved locations, and reopened only as Carretas. Technically still the same restaurant I guess, but for reasons unknown to me, they dropped the "La". Anyways, my little brother works at Carretas in Tyler. Yesterday was the first time we've eaten there since they've moved and renamed...and also the first time we've been there since he's been working there. We, of course, requested to be seated in his section...and it was quite funny watching him run around serving people. Anyways, a couple pics...
Yeah, we're too cool for school. And I made him work hard for his tip, trust me.

The Nativity

2007-12-14T20:14:00.000-08:00

So, we busted out the box with the nativity scene in it last night. Start taking out all the pieces to start setting it up on top of the entertainment center in the front living room. I unwrap this dude from the newspaper he's been resting in for a year....yeah, that newspaper is some super protective stuff apparently.

He didn't even have a chance. Poor camel just kinda lost his head....but I have a theory that involves Osama.

Back to a simpler time...

2007-12-12T22:00:00.000-08:00

Just created my own template for the ol' blog here. It's simple....very simple....and just easy to look at. Hope you like it.

Don't forget the pics below....do it.

Photos from this weekend...

2007-12-12T14:45:00.000-08:00

Ok, here's my top 6 pics from the class I went to this weekend. We were all supposed to submit our top 5 favorites to be voted upon on Shauna Maness' blog (the teacher/amazing photographer/awesome Christian woman). By the way, everyone needs to go there and vote for my pics....as soon as she puts them up, don't when that's going to happen....maybe I'll let you know once it happens, just to be helpful. So, the first 5 here are the ones I submitted, but I really like the 6th one too....and couldn't decide whether it should have been in my top 5. These are all of our model for the day, Zack Jones....student at Sam Houston State University, and bass player for John Sherrill. Anyways, I'd love to hear what you all think about these. My mind completely full of ideas, thoughts, confusion, etc. about where my photography needs to go. I'm really wanting to take it to the next level....whether that means doing it full time, or just putting myself out there more for more jobs but still doing it on the side. Either way, I know that I need to be doing more with it. But first, I'll wait and see if someone shoots down my self-esteem by hating these pictures. I really do want to hear some feedback though.....so shoot away people. Oh, and you know the drill....click to see it a little bigger.

the resurrection...

2007-12-09T19:36:00.000-08:00

I feel like it's been nearly a month since I've posted on my blog.

Wait....it has been nearly a month. And I've even been at home, not in Groesbeck for about 2 1/2 weeks now. So you'd think I'd have a little time to do this. But alas, it has not been that easy. My life seems to have been extremely crazy, busy, hectic, stressful, busy again, etc., etc. Trying to get a new vehicle (pray about that for me, by the way), been working on a job here at home the last 2 weeks that has been kinda intense time-wise, trying to make some changes in my photography "business" (another thing I'd appreciate some prayer on), and other random things that have totally consumed my time lately.

Just to make some people happy, I've deleted the post about the album covers....since it seems that some people's browsers/computers make it an annoyingly wide post.

One more topic....I had an absolutely amazing Saturday, yesterday. I went and took a little class that this photographer put on. So I drove out to Madisonville, TX, and got to spend the day with an amazing group of people. A group of fellow photographers, one incredible professional, a superfly model. Our model, who was a friend of our teacher, also happens to be the bass player for John Sherrill. I'll try to post some of my favorite shots I ended up with in the next day or so. I'm actually feeling a lot better about my photography after this event....and I really hope to do something more with this now.....pray for me.

And on that note, I'll leave you with this. This is an actual, for real fortune that I got in a fortune cookie this week. You can't make this stuff up...

T.O.

2007-11-19T15:01:00.000-08:00

Finally, he earns his pay. Whether you've liked him or not in the past...if you're a Cowboys fan, you have to love him tearing up the Redskins.

8 receptions, 173 yards, 4 touchdowns....tied the single game franchise record....all the beat the rival Redskins.

Mad World

2007-11-14T12:37:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love this video for some reason. There's beauty in simplicity....I don't need fancy stuff like in most music videos. And, that made this a crazy cheap video to create. Anyways, enough of that. But another example of simplisitic beauty....if you've ever heard the original version of this song by Tears for Fears, you see the vast contrast in this song.

Now, to the point. This is a singer/songwriter named Gary Jules....he's awesome. Song is "Mad World", originally a Tears for Fears song. Enjoy!

Slightly concerned

2007-11-02T12:48:00.000-07:00

I don't know if any of y'all have seen this, but this played during the previews when I was at the movies last night. And on that note, I took myself out to dinner and a movie in Waco. I think this is the first time I've ever been to a movie by myself. It gets boring out here with nothing to do in big ol' Groesbeck though.

But anyways, back to the true reason for this post. I really don't know what the reasons are behind this surge of activity....but first there was the new Rocky movie...and now there's a new Rambo movie!!!!! What's the deal with our boy Stallone lately? I seriously doubt he's hurting for money. This actually looks like it could possible be decent though. Enjoy, my friends.

State report says Texas has too many reports

2007-10-30T18:10:00.000-07:00

I've edited this a little to cut down on length, and to highlight the best parts....this makes you love our government even more...

Associated Press

AUSTIN — The Texas State Library and Archives Commission is declaring there are too many state reports.

It says so in a 668-page report.

The project took 18 months and included the commission's small team canvassing more than 170 agencies, and public colleges and universities, checking on all the reports they are assigned to do.

….blah, blah, blah…

Heskett's initial findings indicate more than 400 report requirements are obsolete, duplicative or not needed as frequently as currently required.

……

Agencies stand to save thousands of staff hours and tons of paper, although the commission hasn't estimated yet exactly how much of either, Heskett said.

….blah, blah, blah…

One of the obsolete reports is the Funds Received and Disbursed report. One of the oldest required reports, it is still dutifully done, though there's a report under the Uniform Statewide Accounting Act that requires much the same data, Heskett said. Report 1473 calls upon the Department of Aging to prepare a report, although the Department of Aging no longer exists.

There are still report requirements for the Human Rights Commission, which the Legislature abolished in 2003, Heskett said.

…..blahbity, blah….

As for the commission's massive report on reports, Heskett predicts it won't go away. "For the report to be effective, it must be ongoing," he said.

Newspaper funnies

2007-10-30T15:22:00.000-07:00

This is from our little once a week newspaper here in Rusk. The person being referenced to in this article is a woman (if you can't tell by the slightly blurred picture) which is what makes this title so humorous. They just couldn't have come up with a better title for the article I guess.

Weekend in Pictures

2007-10-24T20:01:00.000-07:00

Here's a little recap of this last weekend. Romack and myself traveled down south of Houston to Clear Lake for a gig with a guy that he has played with before. It was great...played some good music, got to hang out with cool people all weekend, and made new friends.

So we headed out Friday about lunchtime...Alexis, Hope and myself stopped at IHOP in Nac before picking up Romack.

Hope's "funny face" pancakes.......and the aftermath.

Milk...obviously doin' the body good.

We had to stop by Finn's house for Romack to get something. The neighbors had this unusually large quantity of Propel water stacked in their garage.... interesting.

Friday night after practicing with the band, we head down to the Kemah Boardwalk to eat and hang out.

Dave, Romack, Daniel and Tim...not pictured beside Dave is Brad...and me taking the picture.

Why was it so much fun about watching this blind dude (who doesn't normally drink) drink a margarita?!?!?!?!

Saturday, getting some Baskin Robbins ice cream.

Romack sipping on something a little less mind altering.

Hope's blue tongue...

Sunday morning crowd...this was the junior high service.

MuteMath on Conan

2007-10-23T17:14:00.000-07:00

This was MuteMath's performance on Conan last week....it was awesome. Watch it...watch it good....watch it all the way through...

Don't fly!

2007-10-17T11:47:00.000-07:00

How about a little humor to help take your racing mind off of this huge, flaming heap of metal about to plunge into a mountain or large body of water....

Oh, and you WILL have to click on this to make it full size to be able to read the texts....but for real, it's worth it.

Creepy

2007-10-11T10:59:00.000-07:00

Does anyone out here have any strange/odd/weird phobias or fears or things that generally just creep you out? I know a certain legally blind friend of mine that told me he doesn't like face paint....thus bringing in the dislike of clowns....and stuff to that affect. And when I found the above picture, it reminded me of this...and it's hilarious. So come on people, let's hear what you're afraid of....what makes your skin crawl....what haunts your deepest dreams....

The Price is Wrong!

2007-10-04T19:22:00.001-07:00

Possibly the worst "The Price is Right" contestant ever....

Caldonia

2007-10-02T08:22:00.000-07:00

This is pretty impressive...and crazy. I think this is from a movie in like 1955....an old Louis Jordan song, played very often by B.B. King. Enjoy...

Caldonia
Uploaded by redhotjazz1

Weekly Family Guy

2007-09-27T08:13:00.000-07:00

Ok, so the last couple weeks have been kinda crazy for me....didn't get to post my Family Guy clips. So now I try to make my great come-back, and go to YouTube to find my clips....and find pretty much every good Family Guy clip on YouTube has been removed either "due to terms of use violation" or "due to a copyright claim by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation". This is a load of crap, and it's hacking me off. So, I guess I'll be finding something else to post weekly clips of. Sorry everyone, I know how much you've enjoyed these.

In the meantime, enjoy this one...maybe one of the last Family Guy's.

Crowder

2007-09-24T22:29:00.000-07:00

Every new song from the new CD was played, I believe. Dave played a keytar and a Guitar Hero controller that they rigged and wired up for him to actually play for one song. The new guitar player, Mark, is from Tyler....got to chat with him for a bit after the show. Got a few good pics during the show that I'm still working on processing here on the computer. Got a crappy pic with Dave on my phone. Got my CD signed by everyone. Got to talk to Jack after the show too (other guitar player), and check out his gear and rig....pretty sweet. Got a snazzy new "Remedy" shirt. It was a good night.

Tonight

2007-09-24T08:03:00.000-07:00

Nobody wanted to go with me, so I'll be going to get me some "Remedy" by myself....well, I'm sure there will be a ton of other people there too, but I'll be with no one I know. You're all missing out...cause I have a feeling this is gonna be a pretty awesome event.

The Groesbeck Chronicles

2007-09-18T08:19:00.000-07:00

So, my Dad and I had to pull my trailer to a repair shop this morning (....extreeeeeeemely early this morning) to get the air conditioner checked out. All went well, until we were about to leave....and for some odd reason, my Dad asked one of the guys about these contraptions displayed out by the road.

"Are those hog traps?", my Dad asked.
"Yeah, let me show 'em to ya", the RV guy replied.

Then we proceeded to spend 10 minuted watching this dude demonstrate how these suckers worked....me being very afraid that he's about to snap his hand off in the spring loaded trap door showing how you can adjust the the sensitivity....listening to him tell a story of a 620 pound hog he caught in one of these traps and how it took his son, his dad, himself and a 4-wheeler to get it out....and how he makes his own homemade special secret bait to put in his traps with raspberry kool-aid, corn, yeast, beer and lets it sit to ferment.

Now...I don't know why my Dad asked about the hog traps....but I'm glad he did.

Famous Catholics

2007-09-12T11:26:00.000-07:00

So, it took a while for me to get back to this, but we now continue our journey famous people from different religions. There are a TON of notable people that are Catholic, so I cut down the list to these. Enjoy...

John F. Kennedy Jr. - 35th U.S. President
Adolf Hitler - German Nazi dictator (rejected Catholicism, became anti-Catholic and anti-Christian)
John Roberts - appointed Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court in 2005
Antonin Scalia - U.S. Supreme Court justice
Arnold Schwarzenegger - movie star, governor of California
Clarence Thomas - U.S. Supreme Court justice

Augustine - influential Christian philosopher
St. Patrick - brought Christianity to Ireland

Alexander Pope - poet and satirist
Anne Rice - gothic vampire novelist
William Shakespeare - playwright
J.R.R. Tolkien - fantasy writer
Oscar Wilde - influential Irish writer (deathbed convert from Anglican to Catholicism)

Dan Aykroyd - comedian, actor (lapsed)
Alan Alda - actor famous for his role as "Dr. 'Hawkeye' Pierce" on TV's M*A*S*H (devout Catholic until early adulthood, then mostly lapsed)
Stephen Baldwin - actor
Ernest Borgnine - actor; McHale's Navy, Marty, etc.
Peter Boyle - actor (former Christian Brother, i.e., he was studying to become a priest; lapsed)
Nicolas Cage - Oscar-winning actor, Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
James Cagney - Oscar-winning actor, Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
Jim Caviezel - actor; played "Jesus" in Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ
Sean Connery - movie star
Bing Crosby - actor, singer, movie star
Nicole Kidman - actress
Bill Murray - comedian, actor
Bob Newhart - popular TV sitcom actor, comedian
Jack Nicholson - actor
Al Pacino - Oscar-winning actor, Scent of a Woman (1992)
Martin Scorsese - film director
Martin Sheen - actor
Jon Voight - Oscar-winning actor, Coming Home (1978)
John Travolta - actor (convert to Scientology)
John Wayne – actor
Robert De Niro - actor, movie star (non-practicing)
Roger Ebert - America's leading film critic (lapsed)
Clark Gable - Oscar-winning actor, It Happened One Night (1934)
Mel Gibson - actor, film director (traditionalist Catholic)
Josh Hartnett - actor, movie star
Alfred Hitchcock - influential film director
Bob Hope - movie star, comedian
Casey Kasem - nationally prominent Top 10 D.J.
Gene Kelly - actor, dancer, movie star

Casey Kasem - nationally prominent Top 10 D.J.
Arlo Guthrie - American folk singer (convert)
Joey Fatone - singer with boy band N'Sync
Bono - lead singer for Irish rock band U2; humanitarian (father was a lapsed Catholic)
Sonny Bono - singer ("Sonny and Cher"), U.S. Representative (convert to Scientology)
Madonna - pop singer, actress (lapsed; convert to Kabbalah)
Bruce Springsteen - rock star

Salvador Dali - Surrealist painter (convert)
Leonardo da Vinci - artist, scientist, inventor
Edgar Degas - famous French painter
Michelangelo - Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni was a famous Italian painter, artist, sculptor
Pablo Picasso - (1881-1973) famous painter
Raphael - famous Italian painter
Andy Warhol - famous American painter and artist known for his pop art

Big Oil

2007-09-09T22:22:00.000-07:00

I don't care how odd this may sound, but seeing these makes me smile...makes me happy...makes me feel good inside.Seeing two rigs from the one spot...that's great.
Another spot a couple miles down the road from this location, I could see 4 rigs from one spot....now that's amazing.

These rigs are all within 10 miles of the lovely Groesbeck, and you know what that means to guys in our business?
A job.

Weekly Family Guy

2007-09-05T19:52:00.000-07:00

Well hell...I don't know what happened, but I found another clip of the same clip...that made sense, right? Hopefully this one will stay working.

Would someone please become outraged about "Texas Music" down below?!?!?!!

Texas Music

2007-09-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

I was in Walmart yesterday, and browsing through the magazine section I ran across a "Texas Music" magazine....that's what it was titled. Upon reading more into this publishment, this sparked a problem in my mind...

Why does ALL music that they're calling "Texas music" have to be country music? There's also the group of people/music that is called "Texas country", but this magazine called "Texas Music" was solidly packed with country music acts, and nothing else. Do all the amazing bands and performers from Texas that aren't country music not deserve to be recognized as well? Does it bother anyone that they represent all of music in Texas as country music in this magazine? This has just been bothering me since yesterday, and felt it was worthy of sharing with everyone to see if I'm the only one.

Discuss amongst yourselves...

Four hands guitar

2007-09-01T21:06:00.000-07:00

Four Hands Guitar |

Amazing

2007-08-30T21:11:00.000-07:00

This turned out absolutely amazing....for real...

about 20 minutes in...2 hours in...
2 1/2 hours in, all the black is done...3 1/2 hours, and it's done.

Driving me crazy

2007-08-30T07:17:00.000-07:00

I have

officially decided
that I hate this!

This "in between" stage while I'm growing my hair back is horrible.
I do not like it when I pat, I do not like it with a hat,
I do not like my hair like this,
I do not like it Sam I Am!

2007-08-29T20:33:00.000-07:00

I'm glad ONE person is reading my compilations here...it's taking me quite a while to to compile, cut, paste, edit and post these pieces of crap.

Just an update....the tattoo appointment is pushed back til tomorrow. I thought it'd be pretty miserable to sit there for 2-3 hours by myself, so my brother is coming out here to go with me, and he couldn't come until tomorrow. So, at least I'll have some conversation and such to pass the time. Ok everyone, be thinking about me around 5 pm tomorrow. Maybe I'll feel like posting another denomination tomorrow afterwards...but I'm not promising anything.

Famous Methodists

2007-08-29T20:05:00.000-07:00

George Lucas - writer, director, producer ("Star Wars", etc.)
Christopher Walken - actor, movie star
Will Rogers - popular TV and film cowboy; humorist
Tim Curry - actor
Rush Limbaugh - popular conservative talk show host
Harry Reems - starred in historically popular "adult film" Deep Throat (later became an actively religous Christian)

James Knox Polk - 11th U.S. President
Ulysses S Grant - 18th U.S. President
George W. Bush - 43rd U.S. President (convert from Episcopal Church)
Dick Cheney - U.S. Vice-President under George W. Bush
Hillary Clinton - senator from New York; former First Lady with Pres. Bill Clinton
Geronimo - Apache Indian leader; his final 1886 surrender was last significant Indian guerrilla action in U.S. (1903: convert to Methodism)
Joycelyn Elders controvoersial U.S. Surgeon General (September 1993 to December 1994) who focused on public health and sexual topics
John Edwards - U.S. senator from North Carolina; 2004 Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate

Karen Carpenter and Richard Carpenter - famed, top-selling mellow singing duo "The Carpenters"
Dionne Warwicke - singer
Toni Braxton - popular pop, R&B singer
Tori Amos - singer/songwriter/pianist
Nina Simone - singer, pianist, composer
Roberta Flack - singer, composer, musician

Stephen King - best-selling horror writer (raised in a nominal Methodist home)
Stephen Crane - novelist, poet; author of The Red Badge of Courage, etc.

John Wesley - founder of Methodism (but he was a life-long Anglican)
Charles Wesley - hymn composer; John Wesley's brother (1701 - 1788); co-founder of Methodism (he was "the first Methodist," although officially he was a life-long Anglican)
Oral Roberts - controversial famous evangelist, charismatic televangelist (converted to Methodist from a Pentecostal Holiness church in 1968)

Harriet Tubman - abolitionist, freed slaves using "Underground Railroad"
Rosa Parks - black woman whose refusal to give up her seat on a bus helped launch the U.S. Civil Rights Movement
Sojourner Truth - abolitionist, black activist (convert to SDAs)

Jackie Robinson - professional baseball player
Tom Landry - professional football coach; director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Bart Starr - football player
Fran Tarkenton - professional football player

John Wesley Hardin - gun fighter; one of deadliest gunslingers in the old West
Ted Bundy - infamous serial killer
Ken Lay - was C.E.O. of scandalous and criminal large energy corporation Enron

Famous Baptists

2007-08-28T14:16:00.000-07:00

This should turn into a series of posts, highlighting famous figures in history and present time from different religious denominations. I thought it'd be interesting....hopefully some of you will think the same.

Famous Baptists:

Abraham Lincoln - 16th President of the United States (raised Baptist)
Harry S. Truman - 33rd U.S. President
Jimmy Carter - 39th U.S. President (former Southern Baptist)
William Jefferson Clinton - 42nd U.S. President (Bill Clinton was officially rebuked by SBC)
Strom Thurmond - Senator from South Carolina. Oldest senator in office

Billy Graham - prominent American evangelist (congregational home is a Baptist church, but Graham was embraced by Protestants generally; he repudiated many Southern Baptist teachings & practices)
Pat Robertson - popular religious broadcaster
Rev. Jerry Falwell - popular American Evangelical leader

Harry Longabaugh: (The Sundance Kid) - famous train and bank robber in the Old West
Thomas Piper - serial killer, Baptist church leader

John D. Rockefeller - American industrialist

Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. - civil rights leader

Payne Stewart - golfer; died in a plane accident on Oct. 25, 1999
Johnny Oates - professional baseball player (cathcher) and later manager of Major League teams Orioles and Rangers
Jim Brown - professional football player; in College Football Hall of Fame and the Lacrosse Hall of Fame; professional actor (lapsed)
Reggie White - professional football player and ordained Baptist minister
Joe Frazier - boxer, blues singer

Carrie Underwood - singer, winner of competition on Season 4 of popular FOX television series American Idol
Ruben Studdard - singer (winner of American Idol 2nd season)
Clay Aiken - singer, immensely popular 2nd place runner-up in Season 2 of FOX television series American Idol
Glen Campbell - country music singer
Roy Orbison - country music singer
Johnny Cash - singer
Kris Kristofferson - country music singer
Louis Armstrong - trumpeter, vocalist, conductor
Mahalia Jackson - Gospel singer
George Jones - country singer; nicknamed The Possum; "Why Baby Why" was his first top-five hit in 1955
Chuck Berry - rock and roll pioneer
Sam Cooke - rock and roll legend
Buddy Holly - rock and roll legend
Hank Williams, Sr. - country music singer
Gene Autry - TV's famous singing cowboy (lapsed Baptist, convert to Christian Science)
Diana Ross - singer
Gladys Knight - famed singer who sang with the "Pips" (former Baptist, now a Latter-day Saint)
Queen Latifah - singer, actress
Al Green - musician
Otis Redding - soul singer (famous for "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" and other classics)
Aretha Franklin - classic soul singer

John Grisham - best-selling author of legal thrillers, including The Pelican Brief; The Firm and The Client
Tim LaHaye - author of immensely popular "Left Behind" Evangelical science fiction/fantasy novels
Gene Roddenberry - TV writer, producer; creator of Star Trek (former Baptist)

Kevin Costner - actor, movie star
Chuck Norris - actor ("Walker, Texas Ranger")
DeForest Kelley - actor; played "Dr. McCoy" on Star Trek (raised Baptist; son of a Baptist minister)
Bette Davis - movie star (mostly lapsed Baptist/Episcopalian family background)
Warren Beatty- actor, movie star, Academy Award-winning director (lapsed)
Eddie Murphy - actor, comedian

Monday excitement...and pics galore

2007-08-27T17:31:00.000-07:00

So, it's Monday...back to the Groesbeck. But first, have to take care of some business. I had to go meet this guy and get some money he owed me for a gambling debt.

Luckily, the transaction went off with no complications, and he still has all his fingers. Then, it's time to hit the road. The whole 1 hour, 45 minute drive is good...until about 9 miles from Groesbeck, when this happens.

Just a warning though, which is a miracle in itself. And I know for a fact that I wasn't over 75 mph, and just wrote "speed above 70 mph", so I think he changed his mind after he'd already started pulling me over. So anyways, now I'm here at the trailer...watching some "Tommy Boy: Holy Schnike Edition" DVD.

If you haven't seen or heard already, I'm getting a tattoo. Yes, there's a story behind it, and if you don't know it already, just ask. It's a custom piece, not just something off the tattoo shop wall or out of a book. I'm going to a tattoo shop in Waco that I found...and I think the lady there is really good, from all her work I've seen. I gave her all of my ideas and designs I had come up with, and she ended up with something amazing. A whole, whole lot of time and energy went into designing this on my part. I wanted it to be exactly what I wanted, say exactly what I wanted it to say (both literally and figuratively)...and I think the final design she came up with is perfect. I checked out the artwork from the artist last Thursday before I headed back home for the weekend, and got a couple pictures of it. Let me know what ya think.

Will probably be going Wednesday to get this done....getting ready for 3 hours of needles.

Weekly Family Guy, part 2

2007-08-22T11:13:00.000-07:00

I thought this would be worth the extra effort....these needed to be viewed together. Hooray for Family Guy!!!

Weekly Family Guy, part 1

2007-08-22T11:12:00.000-07:00

not the Weekly Family Guy clip

2007-08-20T19:18:00.001-07:00

Disclaimer:
This does not replace the "Weekly Family Guy" video in any way, shape or form. That will still take place on Wednesday, so don't worry. But this clip was in the episode that was on TV this past Sunday, and I found it quite hilarious....so I had to look it up on YouTube and share it. Don't be confused by the content...yes, this was from Family Guy.

The Groesbeck Chronicles

2007-08-20T15:13:00.000-07:00

So, I'm driving back to the good ol' Groesbeck today, and I see this truck.

That's the best I could do for a picture with my phone....but you see that sticker in top, middle of the back window? You can see that it's rainbow striped in color...as in gay. A retangle shaped, rainbow striped gay sticker. Ok, so that in itself wouldn't be such a big shock or something to necessarily blog about. But what you can't really see, due to poor picture quality, is the text on the sticker. It says, "USMC". Did you get that? A gay rainbow sticker with the abbreviation/initials of the United States Marine Corp. Anybody else see something wrong with this? I'm quite disturbed....

Guardian Angel

2007-08-19T15:12:00.000-07:00

So, you guys know I drive a lot....all week long....work, work, work....many, many miles....over 106,000 miles now on my 2003 model car....you get the idea.

So this.....this is my protector....

Because, you know, there are just times when doing this is unavoidable...

The Groesbeck Chronicles

2007-08-17T12:34:00.000-07:00

First of all....Todd, I don't think anything is ever too far for Family Guy. Plus, I know you laughed....you laughed like a little kid on his birthday....I know. And even if it was a little too far.....it was funny, and we all know it.

Now, down to business. Another entry from stories while in Groesbeck...and it has now been dubbed, "The Groesbeck Chronicles".

Last night...and into the morning...people were outside making a lot of noise, carrying on, and generally disturbing the peace at the mobile home across from us that I think I've mentioned before. I'm talking about from like 10 p.m. or so til after 1 a.m. I decide to take a peek outside to see what all is goin on. And what my eyes beheld made me wish I had a video camera with night vision here with me.

A boxing match had started in the yard of this place. No, not a fight, because that's what I thought at first too. But then I saw that the guys actually had boxing gloves on. Redneck boxing matches in the trailer park. How they can afford to buy boxing gloves after spending their money on drugs and beer, I don't know.....come to think of it, I don't know how they afford to buy anything, cause I know I haven't seen them going to work anywhere.

So, imagine with me....about 4-6 guys, usually shirtless with shorts or jeans, taking turns putting on the boxing gloves and goin at each other. Don't worry, there was plenty of alcohol involved...I know I saw two coolers full of something (I assume the cheapest beer available) in the yard and on the porch. I don't know if anyone actually won....I like to think that they were all equally losers. I did see a bloody nose or two from the porch light shining out on them. But I'm pretty sure they weren't feeling any pain. No, I did not get any pictures...because it was dark and didn't think it would be appropriate to walk on over and ask if I could snap a few pics using the flash. I had no desire to become any more involved in the fun.

You can't make this stuff up people...you just can't.

Weekly Family Guy

2007-08-16T09:28:00.000-07:00

A day late....but trust me, this one's worth it. I've been so busy playing with my new toy, time just got away from me. Only Family Guy could get away with this...

Enjoy!

It's good to have land...

2007-08-14T23:20:00.000-07:00

I know, the title makes no sense.....or does it??? Tell me what that quote is from, please.

So, I'm forcing myself to stop and go to bed. Or else I'll be up til it's time to start working in the morning....but it's already morning. Anyways, thought I'd show some more.
It's nice....think I'll keep it.

It's finally happened

2007-08-14T18:46:00.000-07:00

I've already talked to some of you, but this is for the rest of you who don't already know. It is now official....I have thrown my fears aside, taken the leap, and joined the cult. And no (as Todd suggested), not the Osteen cult. I am now blogging to you from my brand new MacBook Pro. I have a feeling that it's going to take a week or two to adjust and get through the learning process. But I am extremely excited and happy about this. The great thing about this machine....it's not just a stock MacBook Pro. I got it already loaded with about $3000 worth of photography/design/multimedia and other software.....Adobe CS3 premium package, Final Cut Pro, Aperture, Microsoft Office, Parallels Desktop, Windows XP Pro, and some other stuff I can't think of at the moment. So, anyone that wants to play with it....you can try and talk me into letting you check it out. So, here's the first shot of me through the iSight camera.

You'll get some more later....I promise.

Weekly Family Guy

2007-08-09T19:55:00.001-07:00

I don't know how time gets away from me....a whole week goes by and I haven't had time to sit down and blog. Work is keeping me real busy out here in the Groesbeck....but I still don't see how I can't find 10 minutes to sit down and type something more often. Oh well, at least I know I can look forward to Family Guy....every Wednesday...like clockwork. Let's try to get better at this though, seriously.

Weekly Family Guy

2007-08-01T10:37:00.000-07:00

I've been on vacation...I know you've all missed me. But fear not, I have returned. And just in time for your dose of Family Guy.

Plagues....the frog kind.

2007-07-26T11:21:00.000-07:00

The following blog could be rated at least PG...maybe PG-13. So children should turn their eyes away at this point.

I remember this little dude hopping across the road the other day....didn't know if he'd made it under my car or not....obviously he didn't. I just noticed this yesterday morning, on the front bottom grill of my car. Perfectly laid out, spread out....like the guy just jumped straight up, went completely spread eagle, uttered his final words "Father, take me", and waited for me to take him to froggy heaven.

Warning: this image may be disgusting, wrong, and completely hilarious...all at the same time.

Van Darn

2007-07-24T21:16:00.000-07:00

Come on folks....did you guys know that Jean-Claude was originally cast to be the Predator monster in the first Predator movie, but was replaced with someone else at the last minute? Good ol' Van Damme trivia.

A Survey....like Todd

2007-07-23T21:32:00.000-07:00

Deep down inside, I know every single one of you have enjoyed the rippling muscles and crazy martial arts of the amazing Jean-Claude Van Damme......yes....every single one of you....at one point in time....you must admit it and move on with your life. What happened to this guy anyways? I looked on imdb.com, and he's been in something like every year pretty much for a while....but has anyone really heard his name lately? Is he washed up? Where, oh where, has my Van Damme gone? Anyways, the ultimate question of the night.......folks, let's hear your favorite Van Damme movie.

Stuff on fire

2007-07-22T22:03:00.000-07:00

So, as I was driving from Groesbeck to Houston Friday afternoon, cruising down I45, I start seeing this huge black smoke cloud going up into the sky way up in front of me. Probably for about 5 miles I could see this cloud of smoke. As I get closer, I see that something is on the side of the road on fire....and it's big. I snapped the first picture from about 1/4 mile away, so you can see the smoke. Then when I get up to it, I see what it is finally....a RV...a big, nice, drivin', @ $70,000 RV...burning to a freakin' crisp on the side of I45. The second picture I snapped as I passed it...and I only got one shot at a picture, so I just hoped for the best....and of course, a car was in front of it right when I snapped it....but you can still see it. It was pretty crazy.

Blog rating

2007-07-20T08:01:00.000-07:00

This rating was determined based on the presence of the following words:

* crap (1x)

Ha! I got them fooled, huh. They can't take into account the content of videos and such, but otherwise, this is a cool deal.

Check out this site to see if you're safe for the general public or not....I have a bad feeling about some of you guys though...

Weekly Family Guy

2007-07-18T21:39:00.000-07:00

Comedy

2007-07-17T09:31:00.000-07:00

Since I know a few of us who circle each other's blogs enjoy a good comedian, I just want to say that this guy is hilarious.

Lewis Black has to be one of my favorite current comedians. Yes, he's a little vulgar, but it just fits him so well where it doesn't bother you so much....and he's just so real and truthful that you can't help but like him anyways. He is, by far, the best on the political side of comedy. If you've ever seen him on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on Comedy Central, you know what I mean. If you want a couple of his CDs (in mp3 format for your iPod or other digital music player), I might be willing to share.

Also, note to self (and others).....it's not the best idea to listen to stand-up comedy on your iPod while in the courthouse working (or wherever you may be at work, where it would be awkward to laugh out loud for no apparent reason to anyone else around). Unless, of course, you want to practice having great self control...try listening to this crap and do your best not to laugh out loud.

More fun from the road...

2007-07-13T20:55:00.000-07:00

I'm not at all sure of what this is, what this means, or what in God's green earth these people are transporting......all I know is, I'm scared. I followed this guy for a few miles on my way home from Groesbeck today, and decided it deserved being shared. It's not very easy to hold the camera up to my face, snap pictures with my big ol' camera, and drive at the same time...but I did...all for you guys.Please tell me there's a good explanation for this.

Weekly Family Guy

2007-07-12T12:02:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. Somehow I just get way too busy to sit down and blog. I need to fix that though. Anyways...your weekly dose of Family Guy...

Weekly Family Guy...a little late

2007-07-06T10:58:00.000-07:00

Makes you wonder....

2007-07-02T11:08:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, you just have to think...could ESL come in handy here? Just a little bit of English study is all we're asking for....not too hard.

Weekly Family Guy

2007-06-28T18:01:00.000-07:00

Don't be fooled, there's another post below....two in one day, it's amazing!

Absence

2007-06-28T14:36:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been over a week since my last post...and way too much has happened. But I honestly just haven't felt like posting a blog. But now my weekly Family Guy is a day late, so you're getting that next. But first, a recap...

Most of you who will read this already know...but my wonderful, amazing, dear Aunt Debbie passed away last week late Wednesday night/early Thursday morning. She's who I shaved my head for. She was like a second mother to me, and as my uncle told me that night "She loved you like one of her sons".....we were very close. She's been fighting cancer for about 3 years now. Needless to say, it's been a very, very, very bad week. My dad and I got a call (when we're in Groesbeck, about 2 hours away from Tyler), saying she's dying and we needed to get there fast. So we made the 2 hour drive in like 1 1/2 hours. So our entire immediate family got to spend her last hours with her, and it was good for us all to do that. On the other hand, it was the worst experience of my life, watching her die right in front of me...but I wouldn't have been anywhere else that night.

Next, our youth from church were leaving this past Saturday to go to Pineywoods to youth camp, and I was supposed to be going with them. My aunt's funeral was Saturday, so I ended up just driving down to camp later that evening in my own car. So I then spent Saturday-Wednesday at Pineywoods...which was great, as always.

So, I've had very little sleep since last Wednesday...between dreams of my aunt, plywood mattresses at Pineywoods, and obnoxious Jr. High and High School boys in the dorms, you just don't sleep much. Hopefully things will be getting a little back to normal soon. Please keep me and my family in your thoughts and prayers....cause this isn't going to be easy over the long haul. I suppose we were as prepared as we could have been, but you're never prepared...ya know. Thanks guys.

B.B. King...this is a long one folks, sorry

2007-06-19T07:50:00.000-07:00

Last night was waaaaaay overdue. If you remember, we were supposed to go see B.B. King back in January in Tyler. But, two days before he was to perform in Tyler, he was put in the hospital in Galveston, and they cancelled a couple shows. So, they rescheduled....and last night, B.B. King came to Tyler.

This man is amazing. I mean, this dude is 81 years old, and he still has it. He has to sit in a chair to perform due to bad knees and a bad back...but if it weren't for that, he's still got the energy, spunk, charisma, crowd control and pizazz that he had when he was 30. First, B.B. King's Blues Band (his band) came out and played through two instrumental bluesy, jazzy tunes that lasted about 15-20 minutes, giving solos to pretty much each of the band members. The band consisted of a drummer, electric guitar, bass guitar, keyboards and 4 piece horn section (2 trumpets, 2 sax...and different variations). Then they brought out B.B. King. They played for about an hour and 30 minutes, making it just under a 2 hour concert total. Seriously, it was amazing. If you ever get the chance to see him, you really should. Not only is he a legend, he's a fantastic performer. He talked a lot. And it's the most intriguing thing to hear him speak of things he's been through. Segregation, women, life, old age, music, etc. He said him and his band have played in 90 countries around the world. Out of his band members with him right now, his band leader (one of the trumpet players) has been with him 28 years. Another guy (one of the sax players) was the one that introduced him when he walked out on stage...B.B. said that he has introduced him in all 90 countries that they've played in. That's crazy. He didn't say how long he's been with him though.

A little fact/trivia I found on Wikipedia...this isn't all of it, just what I found interesting...

One of his trademarks is "Lucille", the name he has given to his guitars since the 1950s after he escaped a fire at a juke joint he was playing in. The fire was started by two men who were fighting over a woman named "Lucille". During their fight, they knocked over the bucket of burning kerosene used for heat. When King escaped the building, he realized that he had left his guitar in the burning building. He ran back inside to get it and after learning of what happened, he named his guitar "Lucille" to remind himself not to do it again.
Boxer Sonny Liston was King's uncle.
By his own admission, he cannot play chords very well.
It is reported that King had sexual relationships before age 10, and went on to father seventeen children, to several different mothers.
Over 52 years B.B. King played at least 15,000 performances.

As he asked us last night, if fate allows him to come back here again would we want him to...of course we all cheered yes....I sincerely hope to see him again. He's brought the worlds of black and white together in a way that few people could have...and that might be something some people don't think about, but it's true. Here's to the King of the Blues.