Shopping madness

So we braved the stores today, I even got up at 4:30. There weren't many cars on the highway so I thought it would be an easy morning and I was dreaming of all the deals I could get, with my notes of what stores to hit in hand. As I turned into the Best Buy parking lot my dreams of deals turned into nightmares. I have never seen that parking lot so full, and the people were like ants on a hot fudge cake on the sidewalk. All the big items I was looking for gone, people had camped out to get them, so we got two DVD's and got in line which snaked through section after section from the back of the store all the way to the front. My wife waited in line while I went to Circuit City to find the lines not as long but twice as slow, luckily I found a cashier who was just opening and had no line yet. Then I met my wife a Target, the Family Christian book store and then the mall and finally Walmart. Here is what we were able to get:

Cat in the Hat DVD - 2.99
Big Fish DVD - 2.99
Groundhog day DVD - 2.99
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - 3.99
Larryboy and the Bad Apple - 5
Story of Jesus children's Bible - 5
Skillet CD - 7.97
bold plus 25% off
Simpsons Season 8 - 16
SD 1GB memory card - 2.99
Wagon radio flyer- 50 normally 70

We got some good deals, but wow what a hectic morning going from store to store and wading through the sea of people at each store. Our baby got the best of it with her new wagon, and we didn't get any of the big ticket items we might have wanted, but it's ok were still blessed and thankful for all we have. Have a wonderful Sabbath.

Give Thanks

So I just want to say Happy Thanksgiving, hope the day went well for all. We have lots to be thankful for this year, and this year I want to focus on family. Working with teens I see lots of dysfunctional family dynamics and tons of broken families. I am thankful to the Lord for my family and the way in which they raised me with morals and a desire for the Lord, Though I want to remind you all to be thankful everyday, if you are reading this blog you odds are you are blessed. Remember to live everyday to its fullest and be thankful for every moment you have. Much luck to all who will brave the stores tomorrow for sales, we plan on doing some hunting ourselves. Oh yeah I'm thankful for a dolphin thanksgiving win, four in a row! Five more and we just might make the playoffs!!

Politics as usual

So I voted, and now I can complain. The terminator has been voted in again for another term, oh how wonderful (sarcasm). It is neat that the democrats have taken the house and the senate, now we can see politics at its finest, fighting between the white house and house and senate. It should be an entertaining two years. Things were getting boring with the President pushing his warring agenda though D.C. Hope your local elections went your way, unless of course it was against what I think.

Vote yes? Vote no?

So election day is coming and in an attempt to be educated I went onto the internet to research the canidates and propositions. As I researched I found myself having no clearer picture of how to vote, as the props. go. I read both sides and many of the props. sounded good and made sense, but the reasons for saying no seemed to always be based on the fact that taxes would increase or the state is in debt and can't afford it. Both sides argue their point well and make their point sound like the right one. I was trying to be an educated voter, but with my research I just felt more ignorant than when I began. I hope you have a better picture than I do and good luck on election day.

Dolphins make me sad

Look at what the Dolphins did, they broke my little girls heart. She got all dressed up only to have her feelings crushed by the lack of heart by those fish. The team has talent but can't seem to have that translate in to quality play. Well at least I have someone to cry with. Hope you enjoyed the blog exclusive picture of my little girl in her Dolphins outfit.

I'm batman

So the school at work at had a spirit week and one of the days was superhero day. It was fun to see all the costumes and you can see me dressed as batman with a student dressed as a fan of mine. It was kinda wierd running around campus all day as Batman, but fun never the less. Kaiya looked at me weird but wasn't afraid of her old man in a mask.

Finally

So the Dolphins finally won today and barely against a horrid Tennessee team. Our offence was offensive and just looks plain out of sinc. I hope that Mr. Culpepper can really start to grasp this offence and do what he is capable of. Well I am happy that were not the worst team in Florida right now, sorry Bucs fans it looks like the old days for your crew. Don't get me wrong I'm not boasting cause I know in two weeks the Dolphins seem to be very capable of being the worst once again.

Undrerroos

So you remember underroos, the little kids underwear that had cartoon characters on them mostly superheros. I remember going to the store and seeing them as a child and seeing the batman ones and wanting them but instead my mom would always buy me the economical tightie whities from K-mart. Anyways now a days I realize that the underroo generation is still here they have just moved on to boxers. Now that I buy my own underwear, I buy adult underroos. Boxers these days have anything you can imagine on them from little classy patterns to Tony the Tiger, and you can be sure that me as a underroos deprived child am reverting to childhood and catching up on the cartoon underwear. Don't get me wrong I have some plain ones with little patterns, but I love my Simpsons, Sesame Street, and Snoopy boxers because they remind me of the underroos I never had. So don't feel bad for my tightie whitie past - my present is full of fun, but don't get excited only my wife gets to see me run around in my adult underroos.

Five Great Years

So on August 5th five years ago my precious little lady and I got hitched. We were looking at some pictures of ourselves throughout our dating and marriage, and I got to say we have had a great time. We actually started dating a little over ten years ago, we looked so young. I must say it has been a wonderful five years with lots of memories and great times. She is still the love of my life and I love her more than ever, and every day I thank God for the love of my woman.

Magic Draft

So the Orlando Magic drafted J.J. Reddick and to tell you I'm pretty happy bout that, especially after last years draft where the Magic decided to draft a project player from over seas who never even signed. I think J.J. will be a good fit with this team as Dwight Howard gets better and as he starts to demand double teams a great pure shooter like J.J. can be lethal. Also J.J. showed this year he could even create a few shots for himself. I am looking forward to seeing this young team grow and get better and with the way they ended next year they might even be able to make a little noise in the weak eastern conference.

Back again

So I haven't forgotten to blog, my internet has been down at home for a few weeks and since it is the summer I don't spend much time in the office. Plus were moving apartments in the dorm since I have now become the head Boy's Dean at my school. Besides moving my family is coming this week to see the little one, and oh yeah I'm being audited by the IRS, so fun this past two week. Well more to come soon its late and I need to rest.

Futbol

So I've gotten a bit of World Cup fever, I usually watch these events till the U.S. or Puerto Rico is out of the running. This year though I have found myself watching and keeping up with the games even when countries that don't usually catch my attention are playing and actually being involved watcher. I am starting to see the appeal it has for much of the world, it is an intriguing sport. I do wish however they, especially for the World Cup, that they had professional refs not ones that have day jobs cause they have given these game a little bit of a black eye. So does this mean I am going to start watching the MLS or other soccer leagues, no it hasn't gotten me that intrigued, but I hope you all are enjoying the coverage of these game I know I am.

Dog attack

So here is a video of my wife getting attacked.

Attack

So it has been a while since my last post, the last few weeks of school were hectic and draining physically and mentally, but school is out for summer and my batteries are charging up. We have a relationship with our local police who like to come up to our school and train their drug dogs at our dorm. The cops like it cause it has different smells and resembles more of the real life environments, we the deans like cause it keeps the kids who might dabble in drugs honest. They come usually a couple times a year and train in the guys rooms. When they were here the last week of school, they expressed interest in using our facility over the summer for attack dog training and of course we thought that would be sweet. So this past Wednesday they came up to our campus with four attack dogs and did different exercises, some search and some biting. The picture shows my wife getting a bite from one of the dogs, she said it felt like someone was pinching her, however if that suit wasn't on her arm would be shredded. And the dogs except for one were friendly unless during an exercise, after they were done you could pet them and they were nice as can be, and very obedient. It was a cool experience watching the dogs work, maybe next I'll put on the suit.

A Kaiya Update

So she will be eight weeks old tomorrow and she is growing. Her eyes are starting to lock on to things including us, it's so cool to see here staring at you. She is also starting to smile at us, it's so weird to see her grow before our eyes. Kaiya is also putting on some baby fat, and now as the picture shows you has found her thumb and is starting to suck it. More later and you can continue to go to photobucket for recent pics.

Mat Kearney concert

So I had the privilege to see Mat Kearney in concert last night with a few friends. Here is a pic. of Kearney in action. It was a great show, he and his band sounds great. He played most of his songs. We saw him in a little cafe/club in downtown San Fran. it was a small intimate venue and we were up close and personal. He comes across as a real humble guy and very personable. We had the opportunity to meet him after the show and he was a very nice guy and he made sure he had an opportunity to meet all of the people who were around. If you have a chance give his new album a listen entitled "nothing to lose". I had his album "bullet" as one of my favorite things a couple months ago. His latest re-releases about have of "bullet" and the other half are new songs.

Visit

So here is my friend Chris holding Kaiya, he visited us for the weekend. He was the first of our friends from back east to see her and he also had the privilege to spend Alana's first mothers day with us. By the way I hope all you mothers out there had a wonderful mother's day, I have much respect for mothers, especially after having a child.

This gas stinks

So I paid $3.11 for gas at Costco yesterday, and it is now officially ridiculous. Gas keeps prices getting higher and higher and the oil companies strangely get richer and richer. You know they are posting record profits, and our president just sits back and gives us a little lip service and some lame, no help four point plan to help us with our addiction to oil. By the way how can I be addicted if it is my only real option, just a question. You know what we need is a real joe as president, not some rich politician who owns some oil tycoon or some other lobbyist for their support and cash. We need a regular guy with a smart head on his shoulders, but if your not filthy rich or well connected you have no shot, which means we get the same old types running our country who have no idea how the average American lives his life. Any ways good luck with your gas mortgages.

Just walk him

So Barry Bonds hit another home run today and is 5 away from passing Babe Ruth and in a game where the numbers mean so much the implications are huge. It seems that Barry thinks it's his right to pass the Babe and this blogger is upset. It's time to see what these recent home run records for what they are, trash. In my mind Roger Maris still holds the home run single season record and Barry, Sammy, Mark and Raphael hold no place on the home run list. In my opinion its time to walk Barry every time he steps up and give him no chance to pass up players who did it without the benefits of the "accidental use of the clear and cream". I mean the babe did it with food, drink, fat genes and a great eye, and Hank with consistency and a long career. Now we have the needle generation and I refuse to celebrate the milestones of cheaters. I'm not a jerk I believe people make mistakes and should be given some grace, but just not the numbers that they accumulated during their cheating. So since they probably won't take away his numbers walk him, then walk him some more and let the records stand.

Haiku for you

I had a dream that
I could not dream and now I
Cannot remember

The Kaiya report

So Kaiya had here first doctor's visit yesterday, and besides telling us she is beautiful, she also said she was perfect. Thank you very much, not from my lips, but those of a medical professional. It's pretty weird having a baby around, you walk into the house and see this tiny little thing hanging around and it kinda surprises you and you say, oh yeah we have a baby. Sometimes I can't believe there really was something in Alana's belly. Were doing well, trying to catch up on sleep. Poor Alana barely gets to rest she only gets an hour here and a couple there in between all the other stuff like eating and cleaning and living. I have a new appreciation for all mothers they are saints and I applaud all you who are mothers. Well take care and get some sleep for us.

Mitch Face II

So here I have for you another installment of Mitchell for your viewing pleasure. Sit back relax and click to see what he has instore for us today!!

Mitch Face

So here is Mitchell, he is a special person that has a few entertaining short clips of his face. I will be sharing a few of them with you this week. Enjoy, just click and it will take you to another page where you will click again to see the clip.

Link

So here is a link to pics of Kaiya, enjoy!

http://s73.photobucket.com/albums/i206/kaiyamontes/

First look at her!

So here is Kaiya Anne Montes just minutes old. She was 8 pounds 3 ounces, 20 inches long. Born on April 5 2006 at 1:24 pm, Alana was in labor for a little less than 12 hours.

Ahh how cute! She has my nose.

Finally at home just hanging out.

She has arrived

It has begun

NO FEEDING TUBE

So if you've been watching the news, you have for sure seen all the dialog about the Terri Schiavo incident. Only after a few hours of the news I am annoyed by all the hoopla. Of course all this news comes as both parties involved in the release of both of their books. Well I just want to put on the record that if I were ever to be in the same shape as Terri Schiavo I would not want to be kept alive. There is no way that in that state, one in which I can not communicate, take care of myself and be a stress on my loved ones that I could bring glory to my maker. We were made to bring Him glory and in that state I could not do that so I would just want to rest and wait for my Lord to get me. I think that Michael Schiavo seems a little smarmy and not of the best intentions but I do believe he did the best thing for Terri. Well at least I'm on the record with someone other than my wife, so no court cases please just let nature take its course.

Day #7 Favorites

So for day seven I'm going to go with the original day seven as my favorite.

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all His work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested form all the work of creating He had done. Genesis 2&3

I love the Sabbath, it is a great day, God knew what he was doing when He set aside a day as a remembrance of His creation. The 24 hour period God blessed and gave us has turned into one of my favorite things, because of what it represents and the fact I can rest in the peace of Jesus Christ. I just wish more people would completely enjoy it, their life would be richer as a result of honoring God with that time and spend the anniversary of their creation with their creator. Well I hope you have enjoyed your Sabbath and the first week ever of my favorite things.

Day #6 Favorites

So Zephaniah is rarely a place to find favorite text, but that is where mine is currently found.

The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save, He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

What a great text, it promises that God is with us, save us, delights in us, and He will give us peace through His love. And the kicker of the text for me is the last line of Him singing over us. Imagine the creator of the universe the King the Almighty getting so excited about you and I that he rejoices to the point of singing. Man if that isn't cool I don't know what is.

Day #5 Favorites

So I love children's books, I love the imagination of them coupled with the lessons they teach and they are even better when the art is great. For my favorites day 5 I give you my favorite children's book writer, Berkeley Breathed. He is more well known for his comic strips Bloom County and Outland but if you didn't know he did children's books you're missing out. His stories are so imaginative and funny, and the art is amazing. I think his art is often overlooked, but his artwork is so vibrant and adds so much to his well crafted stories. Breathed books are entertaining for the whole family. So for a great short and easy to read with great art check out one of these six books; A Wish for Wings that Work, The Last Basselope, Goodnight Opus, Red Ranger Came Calling, Edwurd Fudwupper Fibbed Big, and his newest one Flawed Dogs.

Day #4 Favorites

So three years ago while attending a youth workers convention, I was given a sample of an album by Mat Kearney. It was a promo for this new artists' up coming album, Bullet. Since I had never heard of the guy, and the fact that the sample only had three songs it took me a while to actually put it in my CD player. When I finally popped it in and gave it a chance, I was blown away, this was good. Mat Kearney is a very interesting artist, and yes he is a musical artist. His music mixes melancholy acoustic rock, hip-hop, and folk music a little like everlast. His voice mixes the tones of Seal and the lead singer from Coldplay. His lyrics are thoughtful, and full of hope. He has a way of adding God into his music without being pushy or preachy, you can tell it comes from his own experience with his creator. I now have his whole CD and it is worth getting for any music fan, he incorporates style of music in such a way that it should appeal to any one who enjoys good music. Some songs of interest are: Bullet the title track which gives an over view of this style, Girl America where the cadence of his rap channels 2-pac, and Won't Back Down a stripped down song with just a piano and a cello that reminds you of a coldplay song. But let me tell you that you can't go wrong with any of the songs, the whole album is solid from song one to eleven. So go out and pick up or download Mat Kearney's Bullet album, but hurry cause he's coming out with a new album any day now.

Day #3 Favorites

So for day three I will appeal to your sweet tooth. About a year ago I was watching the Food Network TV show Unwrapped and I saw an old style candy called Walnettos. They were a type of caramel with walnuts in them, and I thought they looked good, but had never seen them. One day however I was in a candy store and there I saw them individually wrapped so I picked up two. When I opened it up and tasted one, my mouth was dancing with joy. It was a buttery caramel with a nutty flavor with walnuts in it and boy I immediately wanted to drive back to the candy shop and buy the whole bucket, but I withheld. Now every time I am in the candy shop I must pick up a few. If you ever see the little individually wrapped jewels be sure and give them a try, they may soon become one of your favorite candies.

Day #2 Favorites

So for day 2 I will share with you a restaurant my wife found about a year ago. We were going on a day trip to San Francisco and my wife got on the internet to find a vegetarian place to eat (because we're vegetarians) and what she found is now one of my favorite things. In the heart of the tenderloin district is a completely vegetarian Chinese restaurant by the name of Golden Era. We have been there three times now and every time I go I enjoy it more and more, the food is just plain old, down right, good. They have vegetarian options for beef, chicken, fish and other things. If your ever in San Fran and your looking for some good grub and you happen to be vegetarian you must look up the Golden Era on O'farrell street.

Day #1 Favorites Week

So I've decided to do a "few of my favorite things" week. For the next week I will share with you some things that I love and tell you why. Day #1, the ipod: I know lots of people have discovered them by now and that my forth generation non-color one is now archaic, but I just love it. I love the fact that I can carry my whole CD collection in my pocket and take all my music and even the whole audio bible, everywhere I go. I used to hate going on trips and going through my collection of music and try and decide which 20 or so CD's I could take with me, but now with my ipod no more of that, now all my 8000+ songs go with me. The ipod is also has such a nice design and very pleasing to use with the click wheel and the easy to use interface. itunes is also a nice program and a very easy and convenient way of getting music. Even though there is now a video ipod I still love mine and continue to be happy with it. The ipod is definitely technology I love and would hate not to have, and that is why it is one of my favorite things.

Bachelor pic

So for your viewing pleasure, here is a pic of the groom of the wedding I was at, in his night before the wedding outfit, surounded by his groomsmen.

My boy's wedding.

So last weekend I was in Tennessee at a friends wedding (Chris, who married Brigdette), and it was very nice. It seems the older you get the more you have a need for weddings and funerals to see your friends and family. I remember the days of just getting in your car during a break and just hanging with some boys or family. Well anyways here are the happy couple looking so sweet. We all had a great time, got to spend time with some good friends and get a little break from work. You know as I was standing up front witnessing the wedding I realized I had a totally new perspective on being in a wedding after my own. You could see the funny faces of the couple as the service went on and the stress when trying to make their rounds at the reception, I defiantly took in more knowing what it felt like. I just hope they were able to take in more than I did a my wedding, it seems to fly by like a dream when it's your own, so I made sure to enjoy their service for them.

Shower, yeah...

So we had our baby shower Tuesday night and boy was it fun. We had some food, then some cake, then we opened some gifts, and wouldn't you know it they were all baby items what a bummer huh, I was wanting some video games, or an ipod, but no such luck. Well there was a lot of pink, I mean a lot, and we got some little outfits much of it pink. Pictured you see myself doing my best to look like I'm having the time of my life, did it work, do I look like I'm enjoying myself? You know I don't like this new trend of the men having to go to these things, I mean it's baby stuff and I won't find it cute until it's on my baby. Oh well, it wasn't that bad, no seriously I had a nice time and I appreciate everyone's generosity. Now to only get the room ready.

YWAM

So this past weekend I took a group of my students to San Francisco, for an inner city mission trip. There is an organization by the name of YWAM (youth with a mission) who are based in the city and minister mainly in the tenderloin district all year round and they have weekend trips for schools and churches. We did different activities, the first was passing out hot chocolate to street kids and to the homeless Friday night. Our goal was not just to supply a hot drink, but also to make connections, talk to the people and pray for any who wanted. Saturday we went out with a bucket full of cleaning supplies and asked local corner businesses if we could help them clean their shops. In the afternoon we passed out free bottled water with scriptures in union square. It was very interesting to see the difference in peoples reaction, in union square people were less trusting and not really wanting to interact with you even if they took the water, it was the homeless and the outcast who were actually much friendlier. Saturday night we past out hot chocolate again just in a rougher part of town were people were smoking crack and doing other drugs right in front of you. We talked with a few people and prayed for a couple also as they shared their stories with us. The experience was a great one it opened my eyes not just to the needs of people but also to the humanity and feelings of people who I would normally try not to make eye contact with for fear of my safety or fear of being asked for money, the opportunity to talk with them really gave me different perspective. The staff at YWAM is amazing, it's a group of young people dedicating their life to ministering to the city and all their funds must be raise by themselves. Remember however ministry opportunities are all around you, there is always someone who needs a lift, a kind word or even just a smile, so get out there and treat your life as a ministry.

Super marketing

So the super bowl is now over and the game was ok at best, with Seattle could have done a little more, but oh well I was watching for the commercials anyway. The commercials this year up to par with other years and here is my take on the winners and losers of the commercial bowl. Let me start of with the dumbest of the bunch, Burger King, what was that it was cheesy and a waste of money they should have stuck to the ones with the king in great football moments those are definitely better. Worst celeb in a commercial was P. Diddy in the diet Pepsi one, just a dumb ad. Best celeb was Leonard Nemoy in the aleve commercial as a slight trekie I found it pretty cool. Though I do not promote alcohol at all the bud lite commercials were all pretty good the the best beer commercial goes to Michalobe Ultra and the girl getting tackled in the pick up game. Overall the best commercials were the two Ameraquest ads they were both pretty funny and they are the big winners in my eyes those commercials were very memorable. So there is my take on the super day of expensive marketing. By the way congadulations to all the Steelier fans out there enjoy your off-season.

spelling

So my wife certainly has her opinion on the best way to spell Kya so here it is, the "correct" spelling:

Kaiya Anne

She has informed me it looks pretty. Feel free to comment on your way of spelling the same name.

The name game

So the wife is getting a big belly and the time is rapidly approaching (April 3rd). And we have been asked many times on whether or not we have a name picked out, well we have two and I will share them with you. The two we are down to are:

Kya Anne
Emma Leigh

Now the Kya Anne is kind of like cayenne the pepper, just with an ah sound in there. The spelling is not final yet my wife does not like the way I spell it, she spells it differently, a little confusing in my opinion. So feel free to let us know how you feel about the names, maybe we can even take an unofficial pole, so respond we'd love to hear your thoughts.

Prayer Request

So for those of you who are prayer warriors, my friend's family needs some. I just got done reading my friend's blog darrenhagen.com were he informs us that his niece Chloe has a large tumor in her brain that is most likely (due to test) malignant and inoperable, though there are still more test to come to determine for sure. Her parent Julie and Chris Hagen and little sister Amelie and Chloe herself need our prayers, so for you prayers out there let us ban together for the Hagen family. If you would like to know more visit darrenhagen.com.

Resolution

So I'm back finally after a few weeks of no internet, I'm back to posting. Yeah, the year of 2005 is done and over and boy did it just wizz on by. Well time to look at your life and make new years resolution, right? Wrong, I hate new years resolutions and it's so over played in every arena, I hear it in all the chapel talks in school and in the sermons at church, and I am growing sick of new years resolutions. You know we only have one life to live and every day is a gift right, so why do we just make resolutions every new year. We live in the present and we are living right now not in the past or in the future but right now, and if we see something wrong we should fix it right now not later right? I conclude that every day we need to be resolute to make ourselves a better person, and every day we should strive to make the world we live in a better place. We live in the present and who knows that person that needs our help we may never see again. I guess I'm saying I am making a new day resolution to be who I should be everyday and to take a look at myself every day to improve myself. May the Lord bless you and keep you all.

audio post