3/4 SLEEVE AND A VISITOR

Every so often the stars align to create the “perfect” weekend.  This rare and elusive weekend is created when everything effortlessly goes according to plan and allows you to temporarily forget about the stress of the real-world.  In short, the weekend completely recharges your battery.  Well friends, I’m happy to report that I had just this type of weekend…and it was perfect.

I had been waiting for this past Friday for weeks.  Initially I was pumped because we were going to be hosting a visitor—my momma.  If that wasn’t exciting enough, I got a call from the tattoo shop early last week saying they had a cancellation and I could come in Friday afternoon to get started on my new piece.  Now, I had two awesome events happening in one day.  Friday couldn't come soon enough. 

The visit with my momma was great.  We saw some sights, had some great conversations, and shared more laughs than I can count. 

My tattoo is going to be great (if the first session is any indication).   I gave the artist the idea of what I was looking for and let him work his magic…and I couldn’t be happier.  I can’t wait for the remaining art to be added and to start the color.  Hopefully there are some more cancellations in the near future.

Enjoy the week!

Not the best picture but you get the idea.  (Ignore the smudged ink.)

More art and color coming soon.

WEEKEND FUN

This past weekend was a perfect mix of productivity and relaxation.

Friday night consisted of getting a haircut, grocery shopping for the week, and cleaning the house.  I took an extra step and even scrubbed the kitchen floor old-school style...that's right, with a bucket and brush.  I also managed to do a few loads of laundry.  Not a crazy party  night but I was more than OK with it.

Saturday we went trap shooting in the morning at a range near our house.  The range was clean, well organized, and the staff was friendly and informative.  It was my first time ever shooting trap at a range and I really liked it.  I hit 18 out of 25, which was the most of anyone shooting in our group.

In the afternoon I changed the spark plugs and wires in my truck.  I've never done this before but it is amazing what you can learn from the google machine.  So, about 1.5 hours and a hundred bucks or so later the truck runs (yeah, it started!) much better than it did with the old wires and plugs.  Plus, the mechanic quoted the job at $400 and I did it for $300 less...totally worth the time and busted knuckles.

The only negative of the day was that the Cardinals didn't pull off a victory.  Good thing it's a multi-game series.  Regardless of the loss, we still had a good time watching the game at a Cardinal bar and met up with an old buddy from my home town.

The weather on Sunday was perfect for a bike ride.  We met up with some friends and checked out a few new trails.  A great time was had by all.   

Thanks to this great weekend I'm ready to charge into the week and kick some ass.  Hope everyone else had a great weekend, too.

TEACH IT ALL...GOOD AND BAD

Positive events and negative events both played a major role in creating the America that we know today. 

The idea to only focus on events that "promote citizenship, patriotism, essentials and benefits of the free-market system, respect for authority and respect for individual rights" and don't "encourage or condone civil disorder, social strife or disregard of the law" sounds pretty similar to what communist countries and dictators try to do.  State sponsored media (although, it could be argued that the current USA model isn't far from that since almost all major news outlets are owned by a handful of corporations which have direct ties to government parties) net neutrality, or book burnings, anyone?

What I can't wrap my head around is that this idea was presented by an (I'm assuming) somewhat intelligent person...I mean, you have to be somewhat ahead of the curve to be voted onto a school board, right?  Then, the rest of the (I'm assuming) smart-ish people need to approve your idea, or at least entertain it enough, so that it can even make it off the table. Clearly, my assumptions were wrong, very very wrong.

By not learning about all past events how can one move forward?  That is like telling aspiring artists they can only study a few select pieces of art.  Just doesn't seem to make sense, but then again, neither does a lot of stuff that's happening throughout the world. 


Until this is officially voted down I hope the students and teachers continue to make their voices heard.  Just think of what other less than stellar, and potentially harmful, policies have been put in place by this inadequate Board.  If it were up to me, they'd all be fired.


More info here: http://news.msn.com/us/denver-area-students-walk-out-of-school-in-protest

TODAY

Is going to be a good day.

GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS

The Good: 
I can successfully breathe out of  one nostril 75% of the time.


The Bad: 
It feels like I have an ice-pick jammed into my left ear. 

SICK?

Despite having co-workers and a wife that have been sick at some point over the past 2 weeks I thought I had lucked out and dodged the bullet.  Turns out, I didn't.  My head feels like it's in a vice and I can't breathe out of my nose.  Rats.

DONE.