Muddy Chihuahua!

In Indiana, it snows one day and rains the next. Lola loves driving me crazy by getting muddy. Here's some pictures after her latest romp.

The Road Less Traveled

Today, I received an offer of employment from Yum Brands, and I have accepted the offer. As the a new manager in the Taco Bell division, I am looking forward to making an immediate impact. With a customer focused approach, I hope to be the difference maker in the organization. Passion. Leadership. Integrity. Those are the principles that will guide my career at Yum. Also, I would like to thank a few people. First, I want to thank Johanna & Sandy for introducing me into the organization. Many thanks to my friends and family for the support provided during my job-search. I also want to thank Starr Services for lighting a fire in me. Most of all, I want to thank my stunningly beautiful, and very patient wife, Stacy. You make roses blush for shame. I love you.

Finally, I want to post one of my favorite poems. I know there will be a lot of questions about why I am entering the food industry, but like a candle without a room to brighten, I need a challenge to become the professional I am meant to be.

ROAD LESS TRAVELED

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth

Then took the other as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet, knowing how way leads onto way
I doubted if I should ever come back

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence
Two roads diverged in a wood
And I took the one less traveled by
And that has made all the difference


Robert Frost

What I learned at Church today...

I felt today's sermon was very enlightening. Pastor Dave Crandall delivered a very powerful message with the central theme - Another Year, Another Dollar. Here's some highlights from his presentation.

Money Isn't The Issue, Godliness Is!

Proverbs 28:19-20 (NLT): "Hard workers have plenty of food; playing around brings poverty. The trustworthy will get a rich reward. But the person who wants to get rich quick will only get into trouble."

In my opinion, this says, "If your focus is wrong, your goal will be wrong."

Here's another great idea from his sermon.

Enjoy your rich rewards!

Colossians 3:23-25 (NLT): "Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you inheretance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites."

Here's what I get from this, if your focus is on Godliness, understand the rewards that will be reaped. Overall, the idea behind the theme is that you can have sound finances and live in God's light.

If you would like to learn more about Dave Crandall or Friendship Baptist Church please visit the website. http://www.friendshipbc.org/

Family, Steak, & Eric Gordon Sr.

(picture provided from www.donshula.com)

So this past Friday, I was treated to a steak dinner at Shula's Steakhouse by my sister and her husband. Let me say, Shula's Steakhouse is well worth the bill. The steak was outstanding, the environment was 'man' classy, and they offer a great Winterfest menu. My wife enjoyed a glass of J Lohr Riesling with her steak. It offered a sweet taste and flavorful aromas.

The whole dinner was a great event. I was able to catch up with Holly & Tom. I learned some great things. First, Tibbett's are prone to head injuries and emergency room stitches. Here's a few pictures of Daytona's latest run in with a chair. Second, if Buffalo Wild Wings were the Mafia, Tom would rank as West Lafayette's king pin.

Finally, I get to bring this whole discussion together. While dinner was fun, the craziness started following the check. After consuming about 7 glasses of water and a pint of Guinness, my eye's were floating. Being chivalrous, Tom and I let the ladies attend to the restroom first while we enjoyed the photographs displayed outside the restaurant. When they returned, we were in an engrossing conversation about Indiana Basketball History. This conversation continued into the restroom. While I was performing my manly duty, I made the profound statement, "Eric Gordon should not be playing college basketball." With all self-glorification aside, this statement was in no way derogatory to Eric Gordon. In context to the conversation, I was merely pointing out that IU's increased defense intensity led by EJ and his unstoppable abilities to penetrate and shoot, would have made him an asset on most NBA teams this season. Also, let me mention that this comment was obviously spoken prior to EJ's performance against Connecticut, but I feel that these words still holds true regardless of how one may debate this slight step back. Following my comment, and amid my 'manly' performance, a third party joins our conversation stating, "You know that's my son you're talking about."

At this point, an individual with self-confidence and poise would have congratulated the man on raising such a talented young man, or shown intelligence by quoting an obscure Indiana basketball statistics, or even opened the discussion to drive into more qualitative knowledge such as EJ's bench press numbers or cumulative GPA. Needless to say, I was silent. Wordless. Speaking in broken English, I was able to mutter "Illinois, bad" and "Thanks". Yes, I thanked the man. For what, I'm not quite sure. Maybe for talking to me while I was relieving myself, for having such a talented basketball player as a son, or maybe a thanks was given to show my appreciation for allowing EJ Jr. to choose IU over that second rate 'Orange' university. Either way, my conversation skills at that point faded from Dale Carnegie to more of a Captain Caveman approach.

Overall, the dinner was outstanding and made for some great memories.

Real Men carry Guybags

So I catch a lot of crap for carrying around a bag. Well, for everyone's information, I need to carry a lot of stuff. My Guy-bag is a necessity. It's the foundation of my MacGuyver-like powers. Enabling me to carry a note-pad, address book, digital camera, chap stick, snack items, and gum. Here's a quick list to review if your bag is a Guy-bag or a Man-purse...

Top 10 Signs Your bag is a Guy Bag, andis not a Man-Purse

10. It was made from a bear skin. With the bear still in it.

9. Ernest Hemingway was banned from the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, after he killed a bull with a Guy Bag.

8. It fires Patriot missiles out of the pen holder.

7. It came with a free set of Monster truck tires.

6. Rocky IV was originally about Rocky fighting a Guy Bag. It had to be rewritten, because Rocky died after being punched one time.

5. When you meet Chuck Norris, he clenches his fists, narrows his eyes slightly, and whispers, "Nice bag."

4. It's the only other thing that can stop Superman.

3. Guy bags are banned from the Canadian wilderness because they will dominate wolf packs and wreak havoc on nearby towns.

2. You can't buy a Guy Bag. It must be granted by the Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite.

1. It can hold a regulation size NFL football, a regulation NFL helmet, and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.

Fighting the cold...

So the last few days, Stacy and I have been passing the flu back and forth. I've experience all the symptoms...fever, running nose, phlegm, nausea, gingivitis, limb growth, and phastic contipulation. Okay, may not those last four, but you get the picture. Here's some photos from Stacy's hibernation during the Quasebarth plague.

Book Review - Playing for Pizza by John Grisham

Here's my take on the book. It's all about football, food, and the Italian Superbowl. The interesting thing about this book is Mr. Grisham's ability to describe an small Italian cafe in such brilliance that one could close their eyes and taste the wine. Smell the fresh bread and over-ready pizza. He does a great job unfolding the Italian cultural experience. Oh and let's not forget about football. Thank goodness for a little Americano Football.

Get the book here: Playing for Pizza at Amazon.com