Malachi and Daddy's First day of fishing

Saturday's are difficult because I have to pick up Elizabeth from her work. So I had the challenge of making a decision to go home (from our basketball game) and get Malachi out of the car and into the house just to pick him back up and put him in the car and pick Elizabeth up an hour later or to find something else to do. I decided to go fishing w/ Malachi for his 1st fishing experience.

We went to the storage unit to pick up my fishing pole and tackle, then we went to Walmart to get my fishing license and worms and we headed to the game farm to try a little fishing.

It started as a warm day but as we parked the car, got the fishing stuff out and got situated the wind started blowing. He was really excited, jumping up and down, and throwing sticks into the water. The fish were not biting and the world in KY was getting a little colder, so after about an hour I decided to pack it up and go but not before my son said, "Daddy I'm crying" which basically meant he had tears in his eyes because he was to cold.

We went home with muddy shoes, 19 out of 20 worms and no fish. I hope his days of fishing with daddy aren't dismissed because we failed to catch fish, because it is days like these I cherish.

The dreaded Flashing 3 Ring of Death

This happened on Saturday (during the morning session). I felt it coming but I didn't believe it would. We finally it bit the dust and after talking to someone in India (for confirmation) it will be sent back to either be fixed or replaced. I am hoping for the latter because I want it fixed.

I am fortunate because I know several people have had less time with their xbox's or have had to send it back several times. I love the xbox and believe its the best and most advanced system on the market. Unfortunately it IS built by Microsoft which is notorious for rushing products and taking to long to come up with a fix for them. I am interested in the Wii but not ready to fork out $250 for one.

I believe xbox live is definitely way advanced and I will miss it immensely.

I will await the box for return and hopefully it ships and gets home quickly, until then I will take my hard drive and put it in (I know Mike: TWSS) so I am able to play live with some of my fri...er...well just play online against strangers. BEN WHY HAVE YOU LEFT LIVE....GEEZ!!!

WISH ME LUCK!!!

Rock Band Guitar comes home

Finally after a short wait my guitar has finally come home, well actually its more like when a fish dies and your parents try to cover it up with buying a new fish but you know its not the same fish. The guitar is completely new but its cool.

Tried playing online for the first time and it was a lot of fun.

(sorry this post is outdated but if finally made it)

Most Anticipated Games

With my xbox 360 waiting for shipment to the customer care and awaiting my fixed or new xbox, I have been thinking about games that I would like to play.

In 2007 the best game (by far) was Halo 3, though it was not completely revolutionary (since it follows gameplay and story line as the previous two), it is fun, challenging, and multiplayer, with bungie.net stats, makes it compelling and interesting.

A close 2nd is Rock Band, which is completely revolutionary because of the drums that were added and the band play on xbox live (which sad to say I am not part of yet). A fun game but again challenging on Hard level and I can't even think about how Expert is.

3rd is Scene It: Lights, Camera, Action, which again has been revolutionary because of its controllers and 4 person play. The game has been a treasure and has entertained many of our friends through the holidays. The disappointment: No Downloadable expansions and no xbox live.

Other games that have caught my interest are Mass Effect, Assassins Creed, and BioShock but have decided to wait until those are a lot cheaper since finances are challenging these days and though they look interesting I have not looked forward to their releases.

BUT, 2008 is different, there have been several games announced that I am particularly excited about and don't know if I can wait the 2 or 3 years of depreciation in order to try them. So again I thought of the 5 games I am excited about and here they are:

1. Halo Wars (xbox 360)
2. Star Wars Unleashed (I fell in love with the Jedi Outcast Series) (MP)
3. Spore (PC)
4. Gears of War 2 (xbox 360)
5. Lego Indiana Jones/Batman (MP)

The ones that did not make are The Ghostbusters (lots of good prebuzz), Mario Kart Wii, and Super Smash Brothers Brawl. Since I don't have a Wii there is less anticipation. WoW is close because of the new expansion pack but since I have not yet gotten into WoW than the anticipation slowly decreases.

What are you top 5 most anticipated games?

Next week my most anticipated movies of 2008.

Raising Cane's

I am going to get in trouble for this one (by my wife), but I owed my Dad for some groceries so this is how I repaid him.

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite fast food restraunts of all time. Raising Cane's is a fairly new company and has some of the best chicken I have ever tasted. I love chick-fil-a but this is a little different and gives me a little more food for my money. If you get a chance give it a try.

Review:
The chicken taste fresh, and not to greasy. The service is quick. The sweet tea a little to sweet. Great value for price (I got 4 pieces of chicken, cole slaw, garlic bread, and fries for about $7.00) A-

Eating here made me think of "What are my favorite fast food restraunts?" I am going to give you 5 (tough to narrow them down) and post and give me your top 5.

1. Qdoba
2. Chick-fil-a
3. Raising Cane's
4. Pizza Hut (Slipping Quickly - bad service)
5. Wendy's (Slipping Slightly - bad service but not as bad as Pizza Hut)

(Those who did not make the list but were close: Chipolte, Penn Station, & Quiznos)

What are your favorites?

Joe Bologna's

Today my father and I ate at one my favorite restraunts of all time....Joe Bolognas. I had the Mexican Pizza, which is probably my favorite and the traditional HUGE breadstick.

mmmmm .....goood....gggggggggggggggggggg

I have been behind in post but have lots of updates including:

• Rock Band Guitar comes home


• The dreaded Flashing 3 Ring of Death


• HSA


• First Church of God


• Cornhole Season (Corn Toss game Mike...geez) finally arrives


• Malachi and Daddy's First day of fishing

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)

Healthy Breakfast

Just before Christmas I have gotten one of these (pictured above) every Thursday and just now decided to blog about it. It is a donut but not just any donut, its a Spalding donut. Spaldings is a locally owned company (Lexington) that makes these donuts, they are very good and believe it or not its healthy. It comes with 1 gram of fat, o calerious, and no carbs. Its almost better than air. So I eat about 2 (sometimes sneak in a 3rd) for healthly reasons. (You know I have to watch my heart these days) I can feel the energy rising in my blood. If you are ever in Lexington, go get one, they are good and did I mention HEALTHY!!! :)

Mouse Killer

Our cat, Mouse, has become a little hunter. Mouse is about 4 yrs old and is declawed but still manages to kill things. In the past several days he has brought in mice, on one particular day he brought a live one while my wife was home alone. I got a call with lots of screaming and a little bit of confusion as to do with the live mouse.

After a few suggestions, the end result was to lock Mouse and the mouse into the bathroom and let them fight it out. This is because every time Elizabeth attempted to separate the mouse from Mouse, Mouse would pick up the mouse and run with it. The end result was a dead mouse brutally slain by the cat. At this point it is Mouse 5 mice 0, Mouse 1 bird 0. Its a running count...

On Saturday, I was home with my son Malachi. He was playing with his toys and I was watching tv when suddenly we heard a bunch of rustling in the kitchen. As I turned I saw Mouse bringing in a mouse.

Because of previous mouth mutilations I had already shut the doors of the bathroom, our room and Malachis room, but forgot about Mom and Dads room.

As I stood from the tv Mouse saw me and knew I was going to take away his prize, seeing that the usual rooms were closed he darts, w/ the mouse in his mouth, into Mom and Dad's room. I cornered Mouse but he did not give in and found an escape route into the living room. I swat Mouse with a broom and he lets go of the mouse, the mouse runs underneath the couch and Mouse is waiting but I pick up Mouse and put him into the bedroom.

Now I find myself into a predicament because:

1. I am afraid of mice, a recently discovered fear
2. Malachi is completely excited about the mouse in the house and is running everywhere
3. the mouse is underneath the couch
4. I had to somehow pick up the couch, hold Malachi back, and get the mouse

I was in a doozy of a situation. I decided to do something different I got Mouse out and set him by the couch and demanded Malachi sit still as I lift the couch. So Mouse is ready, Malachi is waiting with anticipation and so I lift up the couch and Mouse charges the mouse and goes up over the gate and through the doggy door.

Most people would think it would have been a good idea to let Mouse destroy the mouse outside but not me I didn't want the mouse to escape and get back in. So I put on my shoes and go down the stairs (as I demand that Malachi stay on the porch but he could watch) in order to seperate the mouse from Mouse so I could dispose of the mouse appropriately.

As I get to the bottom of the steps Mouse jumps over the fence and so I go through the gate to get him on the other side in which he jumps back over the fence, goes up the stairs, and through the doggy door where he is back in the same house I was just trying to get him out of. (again Malachi jumping up and down with excitement)

I go back into the house and get Mouse into the bathroom somehow got him to drop the mouse and got him back in the living room with the mouse in the bathroom.

Again I find myself in a predicament because the mouse is still in the house and he is still alive. But I remembered that my Dad had bought a mouse trap that is a black box and when the mouse goes through the box it electrocutes him, killing the mouse. So I take Malachis toys, some bottles of shampoo and cups to make a maze into the black death box for the mouse. I somehow lead him into it, and I decide to leave him in there so he could die by himself.

After a while I go back in open the box and find the mouse. I call my Dad explaining what I thought was a humorous story but decide to take the broom handle and poke the mouse where I realize the mouse was still alive. The mouse gets out of the trap and runs into a nearby cup. The smart person would have taken the cup and put the mouse outside but not this man, I decide to reset the trap and make another maze and somehow the mouse got back into the trap. This time I left the trap for about a 1/2 hour before I went back to check on the mouse.

After the 1/2 hour I check and the mouse is still but after the first time I decide to check it one last time, and again the mouse is still alive

At this time I am frustrated and decide to let Mouse finish the job but not in the house. I take the mouse outside and the mouse ran out and jumped off the deck, the deck is a good 15 to 20 feet in the air. I check and see a twitching mouse, so I get Mouse to finish the job. I take mouse down and the mouse is running towards the fence. Mouse darts at him picks him up, the mouse bites Mouse, Mouse lets him go runs up the stairs, and through the doggy door. The mouse makes a run for it and sees another day. Making this adventure Mouse 5, mice 1

My wife called me this morning to tell me that Mouse brought in a bird and the bird was flying around the house. But Mouse grabbed the bird and its now dead. Mouse also has killed about 2 mice since the last encounter so here is the new count:

Mouse 7, Mice 1 Mouse 2, Birds 0

Thought this was humorous and I hope you enjoy the true story of the Mouse Killer :)

Sorry for all the grammatical and spelling errors, hey Im not an English teacher and I dont proofread. :-/

Frankfort Basketball game

A victory for the Frankfort First Church of God basketball team. On Saturday we have our first win. I can't believe it and I scored a 3 pointer WHOO HOO!!! We are now 1-14 in 2 seasons. Take that Ben Walker ;) Plus UK beat Vandy a huge win for us!!