The one where I took my wife out on a date

Last week I decided to take my wife on a little date, so I told her we were going out to eat for her birthday. We typically stay in Frankfort and go to a local restraunt but I decided we needed to get out. We were on our way to the Olive Garden when we drove across a place called The Pub, so she decided to be spontanious (which was a suprise to me) and decided to try something new. We waited for abour 25 mins to sit, and ordered our meal, since I had never eatin there before here are my thoughts:

THE PUB

• 25 min wait: The wait was not bad although by the time we were seated the wait was 1 1/2 hrs to be seated.
• Atmosphere: Was very comfortable. It was dark, had lights if that makes any sense at all. The booth was very comfortable, the acoustics were great I can actually hear my wife and talk without yelling.
• Service: Our server was a little sarcastic but in a place like this it fit quite well. She was not rude and was able to get our order right. She was very helpful in the selection of our food and dessert
• Food: I had the fish sandwich and it was GOOOOOOOD!!! I would definitely eat here again. The fish was cooked to perfection, the fried pickle was great, and the chips (french fries) were cooked well and tasted great.
• Dessert: Since it was Elizabeth's birthday they gave us a FREE dessert, and we could pick from the menu, not an ice cream but we could pick. We picked the Jamaican Cheesecake. It had to be the best cheesecake I have ever tasted.
• Price: A little pricey (about $30 after tip but we didn't get drinks) but we would have probably spent that or more at Olive Garden so I guess it compares to most restaurants of its type.

We have plans to go again when Samuel (hey dude they wear kilts) and Eyla, Brandon and Saralee, or Heather and Darrell come to visit.

After The Pub we were going to the mall so she could spend her Birthday money but instead she (again surprisingly spontaneous) wanted to see a movie. We both agreed to see Juno. A GREAT MOVIE by the way. It was a serious issue but dealt in a funny way without making it a joke. Ellen Page and Michael Cera were absolutely wonderful, Rainn Wilson (Dwight Shrute as I know him) had a great cameo and was particularly funny though it was a little type cast. J.K. Simmons did a great job as the father (very funny and clever lines). If you get a chance to see this movie do it, you will laugh and it is very heartfelt. And in a sense somewhat of an unexpected ending, well for me I was waiting for something different. I give this movie an A, 5 stars and 6 eagle eyes....or whatever

Our little date was a lot of fun. One thing that I should do with her more often, she deserves it. It was lesson to me as well. No matter how much life gets busy its important to take your wife on dates, show them that you love them, and have fun doing it. If you don't might lose her.

Rock Band XBL style

Since I have had internet at the house again I have wanted to try rock band online. But since my guitar was broken, I didn't try it. But last night I decided that I would try the drums and singing.

It was a lot of fun. I played for about an hour against different people. I was suprised to find out how bad I am at drums. I played 5 times and lost every single time. BUT on the singing I won every single time. It doesnt really make much sense.

Rock band has a community site, but its really a waiste of time. I thought it would give you rank and other inforamation on where you stood in the game. You can find it here

I will be on tonight to give it a try again. I will also be on Halo if anyone wants to play.

Ice

In Kentucky, we are blessed to have ice storms every once and a while. Did I say blessed? I meant cursed beyond belief. The ice storm that came by today was predicted yesterday and we (Harry Gordon Steel) kept a close eye on it.

We saw it (on doppler) coming closer so work was called off so we got to go home 1/2 a day. Its nice to be home but it worries me. For the past several ice storms the electricity has gone out. One time the electricity was out for over a week. The good thing is I didnt live here during that time.


Today is my wifes birthday. She is the big 2-6 and she is not excited. I got her qdoba, a velvet cake and a ds game. Of course I will take her somewhere nice on Saturday with another present.

I hope everyone is in a better situation than us, and pray that the ice goes away VERY SOON!!!

Name Change

On Sunday night, there was a meeting for the name change of the church. Even though the website says a place of hope the church is actually the First Church of God.

I came to the meeting optimistic (and for me that is a good thing) that the name would change. I feel the First Church of God is a name that scares people from testing our church out. So in a sense it is a hinderance to the "unsaved" of our community. I know several people who have had negative experiences in a church but who are searching and I sense a name could drive them to another place.

Anyway...

I felt that the name would and should change. There was a long discussion that night, that ranged for reasons of keeping the name and reasons for changing the name. Some reasons were said out of ignorance and some were valid.

After the vote, which did not carry (so we are still First Church of God), I was dissappointed. I was discouraged. Not because I didnt get my way but I felt it was a step of doing the same old thing. We are stuck in the same old box we have been trapped in for years.

Our church has grown and it has had fewer people. But the truth of the matter is that the "lost" was not who grew the church. We were church-nappers, when someone wasn't happy with thier church they came to our church. We lost people for the same reason. When people werent happy they left to another church, they didnt leave to the "world".

People blame a lot of things, the people in the church, the pastor, the programs, the music, etc., I blame our inability to innovate, to look at things new and different. To share the story in a different and dynamic way, and whats new and works today might not work tomorrow. The process of the church is evolving because the world is evolving and if the local church doesn't stay with it, the name of the church will have no meaning because there will be no name, and there will be no church.

I am discouraged, but I also have hope. I see good things from our pastor, I see good things from our people. We need to learn how to "restructure" what we are doing, to utilize peoples gifts and talents that can further God's kingdom. We need to be intential on changing how we think in order to move forward and grow. We need to stop being church-nappers and become a place that truly is a place of hope and the lost will truly come and want to experience what we should be experiencing.

Guitar Controller

Today I got the box to send my defective guitar back!! Oh please get back to me soon, Oh how I will miss you :(

$5.00 Valentine

Earlier in the year, Elizabeth and I decided that we would not do anything for each other for Valentines Day. Yesterday, she decides that she wants to something but not as elaborate as past Valentines Days. So we went to Walmart, split up, and had a max of $5.00 plus a card.

I went in search for the perfect $5.00 gift and came up with this hair clip (came in a bundle of six), in addition I bought her a reeses Peanut butter cup and a coke, which came to exactly $5.00 and then I bought a sappy card.....

I told her I wanted Guitar Hero but I didnt get it. :)

Oh Rock Band :-(

My guitar has been the victim of the fatal strum bar failure. The upstroke works but the downward stroke is no good. I have put my request in and will have to wait for a box to come in to send it back and then wait for the new guitar to get to me.

Oh Rock Band guitar, the good times we have had, I can't believe you are going to leave me. My dreams of being a big time rock star are put on hold.

I hope the next guitar is much better and works longer.

XBL

In November, my xbox live account was put to rest and was not used due to lack of internet and eventually my xbox live account was cancelled after 4 years of service. It was a very sad day for me, I cried for months.

One day we were talking about the importance of having internet and it convinced my father to look into it, in the process he found that we could have internet and "accidently" signed us up through at&t. Last week the service was installed and on Saturday the day of renewal was upon me.

I signed up to renew my xbox live account and was very happy (I pee'd myself with excitement), I found some people from church that played and my day was even brighter (dominated). I have only played Halo 3 online right now but will play Gears of War and Rock Band soon (and if someone wants Halo 2 for fun).

If you have xbox live or are getting xbox live look me up, my gamertag is nebsllim

The Snow and ice

Unfortuanitly, the camera died before I could take a picture outside but got this blurry picture of Malachi. We woke up this morning to 4 inches of snow and a layer of ice and let me tell you it was a FUN morning. A layer of ice makes it not possible to sled, and the ice disabled us and we were trapped in the house. The good side is that I didnt have to go to work, but as the morning progressed the electricity cut off. This is depressing especially when you want a hot meal.

We managed by getting the fire going and getting the generator up and started. The generator did not want to start so that was a bit frustrating, but the gas was bad and after filtering new gas the generator worked great.

So our morning looked something like this:

A fire going

Malachi playing

The generator working (allowing the modem, wireless router and 3 computers to work)

Mom, Dad, and Elizabeth playing on the computer

Dad going down so often to cut firewood

Getting progressively colder

Busting ice and snow off car

Going to Panera

As we got suited up to leave, the electricity came back on!!!

I came back to play a little xbox which is awesome.

Arrested Development

One of my favorite shows has been rumored to be going to the big screen. I hope its successful and sparks the series to come out of cancellation.

I'm a sinner

We all fall short, right? Its crazy because I lust and lust and finally give into my temptation. Sometimes I wonder if my addiction can control who I am and therefore ruins who I am trying to be. As some of you know from a previous post (found here), that I have been trying to lose weight, and of course I have struggled with it as seen here!

In January, I gave up pop for 6 months, I made a compromise and had sierra mist a grand total of like 6 glasses. Not having coke has drawn me to other things like a snickers bar every day. Yesterday I was really tired and decided I would drink an ale8 (refreshing, sweet, heavenly, wonderful....) to help me stay awake, and so I drank one, then went home and drank a coke, then today my Dad (pap pap as we like to call him) bought me an ale8 and snickers bar, in which I could not pass up.

SO TODAY I have decided NOT to drink any further carbonated drinks and stay clear of most candy bars until June and push for July, my own punishment for not staying on track.

The good news is that I am still playing raquetball everyday and won 2 out of 3 games today WHOO HOO

Game 1 15-11

Game 2 13-15

Game 3 15-5

(yes that is my sad work desk)