RIP Blogging

Blogging is dumb. May it rest in peace.

iTunes Anonymous

Admitting it is the first step

Ok, here I go, Clearing my throat, "hemmm, Hello, my name is Jonathan."

Picture about 15 non-descript people drinking coffee out of Styrofoam cups eating stale donuts, and sitting on folding chairs replying "Hi Jonathan"

As embarrassing as it is I continue on "I'm an iTunes-a-holic".

Anyway, I can't help it....I like music, I like being able to download it at the touch of a button, and I like playing the music whether it be on my iPod, my computer, in my car, or on my stereo. I'm hooked and I'm not sure that I'm going to be able to climb back up on the wagon. I need this 12 step program. I need a support group. I need to download another song!!!! Oops, just fell off the wagon again.

Sunday Morning Values, Saturday Morning Fun

VeggieTales is the most recognized kids faith and values-based property in the U.S, I recently found out. They've sold 52 Million videos since 1993. We own about 15 of them and I buy them everytime I see a new one. All of them have a lesson from the Bible, they are funny, and educational. I think I like them as much as my son.

A company with integrity is hard to find. Big Idea, the creator of VeggieTales, is a company with it's priorities in order. Check out their mission statement
http://www.bigidea.com/company/mission.htm

If you are unfamiliar with VeggieTales, you won't be for long....they are coming to NBC. Get involved.

Hate Crime

I am not sure why Christians don't view this symbol as a "Hate Crime". Could you imagine any other religion remaining silent about the desecration of one of their religious symbols.

Cannonball!!!

Well, she said she would do it, and she did. A co-worker warned that at the project BBQ, she was going to sport a bathing suit and do a cannonball into the pool. Sure enough, about halfway through the BBQ, she took off her shorts and tank top, down to her tankini, and walked right over to the diving board and did a perfect cannonball into the Program Manager's pool. She then swam to the edge, got out, and put her clothes back on.

I will not be able to look at her the same way again. Tomorrow is going to be very awkward. I don't think that co-workers need to get that comfort level where bathing suits are involved. Now, I know that co-workers often become friends and hang out together. That happens all the time. But it's another thing to be at a "bathing suit" stage of friendly with co-workers, against their wilingness. I mean, you only work with them because you have to.

Abandon Ship?

I don't know yet...but this is how I feel.

Fanhood

Casual baseball fans need not apply for citizenship in Red Sox Nation. When it comes to baseball, there are no more educated, dedicated, or passionate fans in the world, as those of Red Sox Nation.

I have always been a Red Sox fan despite long durations away from New England (like most of my life), however, my father was a fan, so I became one too. I've never changed my "fanhood", despite living in NY, NJ, or OH. Being a fan means that you are a fan no matter where you live or how the team is doing.

New intel indicates that my brother-in-law, whom now lives in NYC, is a new Yankees fan (I think formelry an Indians fan). His rationale for choosing the Yankees as a team, despite now living there, is so unfounded that I won't bother to share it. It seems that these days, the new type of fan, will flip flop teams based on how a team is performing or based on liking a paticular player. How else could you explain young kids wearing jerseys and hats of players and teams that are clear across the country.

This mediocre "fanhood" has started me thinking about how I keep my son from flip flopping (also known as "John Kerrying") allegiance or worse yet, becoming a Yankees fan, since we live in NJ. Think of the peer pressure and the ridicule that he could get at school for aligning with Boston. I guess there are several methods that I could implore, including buying him so much Red Sox paraphernalia, that he would just be brainwashed into liking the Sox or threaten to send him to military school if he does not pledge his allegiance to the Sox.

In the end I will just continue to be a good fan, and try to teach my son about the proper type of "fanhood".

Ahhhh...Family Vacations

Vacation 2006 was an interesting one for sure. I will never be able to recap the entire week, but let's just say there won't be a lack of things to talk about at the next Russell Family get-together.
Here is a recap that only the insiders will get:

• Air Mattress
• Night Terrors
• 800 Altar Calls
• Lost Child
• Yippee Dog.."Cosmo, Shut Up"
• Ice Cream Soup
• Joe crashes Mini-Van
• Mini-Van Retaliates
• A/C not working, but since we have "deal", we can't complain
• Fried Food
• Did I mention Fried Food
• War College (I'm scared)
• Swing One...Wiff, Swing Two...Wiff
• Sox win it in the 9th, again
• Baking cookies during the heat wave
• Charlie fell out of bed again?
• Apples to Apples a big hit
• The Vortex
• Bird Poops on Lori
• Raspberry Green-Room Drama
• JR claims "I can blow colder air than this Air Conditioner"
• Russell Family, "No you can't"
• The Great Tip Debate
• Who Snores..."Papa Snores", says Charlie
• Eliza stalks Charlie through Glass Door
• Sand Everywhere
• Charlie Jogs to Pier
• Belly Button (Bee-bo) Mania
• Eliza Walks
• Paige is Chill Through it All
• Joe Gets Fried, again
• Eliza Expelled from Nursery
• Charlie puts Eliza in Choke Hold, I Mean Gives Her a Hug
• "Hi, This is Joe Pritchard at Joseph-Reps.com"
• "Have You Called Mike About the Dryer Yet?"
• Darlene Fashion Show every 5 minutes
• 13 over Par During a Scramble?
• The Law Offices of Russell, Russell, Russell, and Pritchard
• Fried Food (had to metion just one more time)
• Choo Choo...."I See it?"
• Parking - Dar's Soapbox
• "Pra"villion
• Crab Shack
• Musical Car Seats

Can't Wait till 2007 :)

JCPenny

You can't go wrong with JC Penny when decorating your house. It's no Resotration Hardware or Pottery Barn, but when it comes to having a sale it can't be beat. We looked around for Natural Woven Blinds (I feel like a girl just saying that), and they were priced at about $133 a window. We went to JC Penny's yesterday and found exactly the blinds we were looking for and only spent $27 a window. We did have to special order one of the shades and that only peaked at $55. That's quite a savings. That's what's great about Department Stores...they are always having sales.

the man...

...Acknowledging "THE" Man

Fun Day

Do you remember Fun Day at school? Maybe you know it better as field day, or the school carnival, but either way, it was an official school day where you didn't "do" school stuff. Anyway, my son's Day Care had a Fun Day today and so we packed up the troops (yes, we are officially at "Troop" size now), and went to Fun Day.

It was a good time and the boy had fun. We played some games and had a little picnic. I had flash-backs of being young, with no cares in the world, taking in some sun...and still racking up perfect attendance (never happened).

Well, turns out my boy is a stud at Day Care, loved by all the little girls and kills with the teachers as well. That's my boy!

Red Arrow

There has never been any confusion in my mind about the meaning of the red arrow traffic signal. How much more obvious can it be....It's a red arrow pointing in the direction you want to go, meaning you can't turn on a red arrow. The answer is simple, or is it.

My world was turned upside down the other day when a passenger (work colleague) in my car said that you can turn right on a red arrow. I should have tossed her out of the car for that type of lunacy, however, I completely dismissed her opinion. Reason one for the dismissal was that this person seems like the kind of person that thinks rules are only suggestions, and secondly, because I knew I was right. I told my colleague that we should bring this topic up at our team dinner that we were on our way to. It was agreed.

When the dicsussion was brought up, everyone had their own opinion, including you can treat it like a regular red light, you can never turn on a red arrow, and "I think your not supposed to turn, but I do anyway." You can imagine the review I'm going to right for the person with the last comment :)

Anyway, I took it upon myself to do some research for each person at the table (since we were all from different states). Here is what I found. Oh yeah...I know that this may be boring to you... but getting to the bottom of these things is important to me :) All the information below is factual(not in the Dan Brown sense), taken from each State's Department of Motor Vehicle website.

Quick Summary if you don't have the patience to read the blurbs below: All states say you cannot turn on a red arrow, except Massachusetts (go figure), who says treat it like a regular red light.

New York - RED ARROW: Do not go in the direction of the arrow until the red arrow light goes out and a green light or arrow light goes on. A right or left turn on red is not permitted at a red arrow.

New Jersey - New Jersey must not have any Red Arrows...there is no mention of them in their manual.

Pennsylvania - Although not common in Pennsylvania, a red arrow is frequently used in many other states. It means that you may not turn in the direction that the arrow points.

Massachusetts - Steady Ready Arrow - A Steady Red Arrow means the same as a steady red, circular signal, but a steady red arrow applies only to vehicles intending to proceed in the direction of the arrow. The same rules for turning on red apply.

Illinois - RED ARROW: The red arrow means do not make the movement shown by the arrow until a green arrow appears. You may make a right turn at a red arrow or a left turn at a red arrow when turning from a one-way street onto another one-way street that has traffic moving to the left. In both instances, drivers must come to a complete stop and yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic and pedestrians before proceeding.

Georgia - Georgia must not have any Red Arrows...there is no mention of them in their manual.

The Future is Here!

Fact:
- 1988 - Dippin' Dots established as a company in Grand Chain, Illinois by Curt Jones
- 1994 - Curt Jones named an Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year” finalist
- Dippin' Dots company Motto - "The Ice Cream of the Future"
- Dippin' Dots are tiny beads of cryogenicly frozen ice cream, yogurt, sherbet and flavored ice.

Opinion:
Dippin' Dots is not The Ice Cream of the Future. In fact, nearly 20 years later, this amusement park phenomenonom, is hardly replacing Ben & Jerry's, Eddy's, Haggan Dhas, etc.

I, for one, don't want to eat anything that has been cryogenicly frozen, call me old fashioned. When I think of cryogenics, I think of Michael Jackson. I certainly don't want to be thinking of MJ while I'm enjoying a nice ice cream cone.

...and don't get me started about the cone. Which I think barely takes second place to the ice cream itself. I'd like to see how you're supposed to eat a two scoop cone of Dippin' Dots.

Ice cream is supposed to be creamy, designed to be licked, and meant to be cold. It is not supposed to be beads, chewed, or cryogenicly frozen.

And in the famous words of Forest Gump, "that's all I have to say about that".

A New Baby

It's a girl!. My daughter arrived yesterday and I couldn't be a more proud daddy. Paige Elizabeth entered the world at 8 lbs and 8 0zs. Mommy and baby are doing great and are looking forward to coming home soon. My 2 year old son does not know what he is in for, but he is excited about the baby and can't wait for her to come home (mostly because that means Mommy comes home too).Interesting thought: The nurse made a comment about how it's hard to believe that the baby was just a couple of cells, nine months ago. Isn't it a blessing to be "in the know", that it really has nothing to do with cell division, but rather everything to do with God's miracle of life and his plan for all of us, long before we are born.

Dodge the Magnum

I'm not sure a car could me more ridiculous than the Dodge Magnum. Talk about a step backward in innovation. It's cars like this, which American car companies keep producing, that keep the American made vehicles light years behind the foreign lines. I've seen a half a dozen people driving these things, and I still can't point my finger to the demographic that this car appeals to. Could all these people have won these cars on Wheel of Fortune, and that is why they are forced to drive them? Rant officially over.

Food Courting vs. Food Courted

The Food Court itself is somewhat of a magnificent creation; A place where many of the world's nations co-exist in perfect culinary harmony, complimenting each others strengths. The Food Court, you might say, is the symbol of international peace. Open to all, rejecting none. Examples include Japanese, Indian (new), Chinese, American, French (Cajun), Italian, etc. The revered United Nations could certainly take a page out of the "Food Court's" cook book:).

Now, I have been at the occasional mall where there is no food court. These are the kind of malls where normal people like you and me can't even afford to park our cars, let alone shop. One such mall is the Short Hills Mall in NJ. They obviously reject the thought that international piece can be found in the fact that McDonald's and Kabuki Sushi & Teriyaki share a wall, or that a citizen could buy pizza at Sbarro's while enjoying an Orange Julius on his/her same plastic tray. I don't think we should allow this civil injustice in our shopping malls.

Still, the one thought that always causes me pause, is whether the Food Court is "courting" me, or if I'm "courting" it. You may be in the same quandary, asking yourself the same question, so I invite you to hear arguments from both sides and then make up your own mind.

Food Courted-
On one hand they (mall architects, I guess) have me before I even get to the food court. When my wife and I decide that we are going to the mall, and will dine (strong word. "Eat" may be better) there, I get all crazy inside. The thought of all the different eating possibilities run through my mind. Do I go to one place? Do I mix and match? Do I try something new or do I stay with the old standby? My creative and intestinal juices are already flowing. So you could say, they have me at "hello". They have begun the courting.

Then they have the atmosphere going for them. It's loud and confusing with lots of bright neon lights, menus, and sumptions smells. The menus are so diverse and extensive, my head is spinning. They often verbally call out to you and take you off guard. Why are they call to me? Is there no one else that wants their food? Beware of the "call out". This could mean they've got nothing good and will do whatever it takes to make a sale. It's as low as whistling at a prettying young lady walking down the street.

What about this phenomena? Try going up to a counter that doesn't have any people in line and the whole staff is staring at you but you aren't interested in anything they have. You can't just walk away....I mean what a devastating blow to their ego. This is a trick they use to "court" you into buying/eating their food.

The last and most dangerous move has been perfected by the Asian store owners. It's simply called the "Sample". They jump in front of you and take advantage of your vulnerability. They throw a javelin, ok a toothpick, in your face with a sample of their best dish. Me? You really want me to try out your specialty? I'm flattered. See they got you. I mean, they are laying it on pretty think, don't you think?

Food Courting
The opposite of being "Courted" is to be the one that does the Courting. This is not for everyone. It requires a very cool disposition, kind of like Fonzie. You need to be oblivious to the tactics mentioned above.

Courting professionals do not make eye contact with the workers. Rather, they do what I call the "elevator". This is when you stare at the menu, but never make eye contact with anyone else, and move from counter to counter, never letting them see the whites of your eyes. It's similar to when you are in the elevator and no one is talking or looking at each other...They just watch the numbers light up, floor by floor.

Another classic "courting" technique is to mix and match. This is when you buy an entree from one store, but buy a soda or dessert from another. This drives them crazy, but puts you in a position of power. This is also just plain smart food courting. You may want the Gereral Tso's from the Chinese place, but you also want a Coke, and they are a Pepsi shop. Do not be weak. You have to be strong in this situation. You have to be able to walk away with just the General, no Pepsi. You can get Coke at the next counter. Remember, be Fonzie!

Lastly, you have to be able to resit the "sample". If you are like me, once you try the sample, there is no going back. The best laid Food Court plans are ruined by the sample. Again, I recommend not making eye contact. However, this is a dangerous move and should not be attempted by the inexperienced. I've seen a lot of rookies try to "look off" the sample guy and take a toothpick in the arm. Man Down. Poor guy, he never had a chance.

I hope this blog gave you all something to think about the next time you go to one of our great american institiutions, the Food Court.

Proof of Life

The Lord is blessing us with a second child. We could not be more excited about our new arrival that is coming in about 3 weeks. That's him/her in the ultrasound so many weeks ago. As I look at this picture, just prior to the big event, I ask myself this question: "How much proof do I need to believe?"
As I started to think about this question, I think about science and human logic and how they require proof in order to believe in something. But that isn't really the case is it. The truth (proof) can slap us in the face and we still don't believe.
We have devices that can be used to hear a baby's heart beat in her mother's womb. We have ultrasounds that show vivid images of heart chambers, arms, legs, and noses. We have the ability to sustain a child that was born months too early and grow them into healthy children. In the face of this and other such empirical evidence, abortion advocates/scientists/doctors are hardened against these truths (proof) and continue to murder out of convenience. What other proof required?

Honey Do List

Weekends are no longer mine....they belong to a white piece of paper that has about a thousand chicken scratched entries on it. These entries range from mundane cleaning activities to time intensive home improvement items. I am a slave to the list.
This list usually has headings for each section. These include such things as Outside, Baby Room, Finances, Cleaning, Vacuuming, etc. Each of these headings contains many sub-bullets which are the actual activities (the "Do" part of the list). Example:

Paint

• Dining Room
• Living Room
• Baby Room

My weekend satisfaction completely revolves around getting to cross items off the list. There is nothing quite so sweet as drawing a line through a completed task. I do, however, take exception when my wife crosses off tasks that I completed. I mean, I labored over the task...and now your telling me there is no sweet reward at the end....I don't think so.

Just get a donut!

All I want is a cup of coffee. Why isn't this line moving. Why hasn't that guy paid yet and left the store. Oh, he's "that guy". The guy that got that call that he needed to go to Dunkin Donuts, get 4 boxes of Joe and 3 dozen donuts. He didn't want to be the guy, of course, but Ralph only retires once, and someone has to get the coffee. This guy doesn't even really like Ralph, in fact, he wants Ralph's job. But, when your the lowest guy in the department, you have to pay your dues.
What's happening now. This guy won't be able to carry all this stuff to his car. Maaaannnnnnnn....Now this is just ridiculous, the counter help guy is helping him to his car. I just want a cup of coffee, and now I'm getting grumpy. I think I'll add a donut to my order to get me through this tough time. It smells so good, but how much longer can I wait before I jump over the counter. Wait....I think it's my turn. Sweet. "Large, Milk and Sugar, Please"

He Blinded me with Science

I went to an Iron Sharpens Iron conference two weeks ago. If you haven't heard of it, don't worry, neither did I before my father invited me. It's a Christian men's conference held by Vision New England. Anyway, they had some great sessions and speakers at the conference, in particular Michael Guillen. Michael has a ton of academic credentials, of course, in addition to being the former scientific correspondent for ABC for 14 years. Michael's class was entitled "Can an Intelligent Man Believe in God?". Great question, I thought, so I attended his session.

Michael was a "Practical Atheist", the kind of person that believed in God, but didn't live as though he did. He has a PHD in Mathematics, Astronomy, and Physics, and it was through science that he came to give his life to Christ. Michael breaks down all the different types of atheists, and how science not only didn't and can't disprove the existence of God, but how science lead him to know that only God could have created the world. The great thing about Michael's book is that he uses scientific logic to breakdown the arguments of the atheists and catches them in their own arguments.

Anyway, I'm not going to go on about all that's in his book, it's a great, short read titled "Can a Smart Person Believe in God".

Plane, Trains, and Automobiles

Traveling is not glamourous, at least business travel isn't. If you are someone that thinks that it's cool to travel, you either don't travel that much, or you need your head checked. Here are some things that just drive me nuts about traveling:

Rental car companies have no concept of "Car Class". I consistenly rent a full size car. A full size car for example is a Ford Taurus or similar. That is not my definition, that is the definition of Hertz. You can imagine my suprise when I find my name on the board next to a Ford Excursion or a Ford Mustang. I can't fit into a mustang, and I don't have a boat slip to dock an Excursion. Why can't I just get the car the I reserved!!!!

Without a doubt, the person that I don't want sitting next to me, will be the person sitting next to me. While I'm waiting to board the plan, I always see either some crazy person, or some giant person. As soon as I see them, I know that my fate has been sealed and that this trip is going to be a long one. My new technique is to put on my headphones and keep my head down, hoping that I don't see that inevitable nightmare that will be my travel companion for the next several hours.

Don't try to close the overhead bin. You don't get paid to do it, so why are you trying so hard. Do you feel that you have some how accomplised some great task because you can get the bin door closed? And who put you in charge of determining the bin is full. You can always get one more thing in those bins. Just plant your butt in your seat so that people can get by you and we can take off. Look, if the strap of your bag is haning over the edge of the bin, don't worry about it. Some very capable flight attendant will show up and fix everything before we take off. They are paid to do this, and it's an FAA regulation, so you can be sure they will get it done.

Last week I was waiting to go through security behind some guy who walked through the metal detector with his cell phone in his shirt breast pocket. When the alarm sounded, he began slapping his pants pockets, front and back, and complain to the security guard that he didn't have any metal on him. The security guard was quick to point out the cell phone which was noticable hanging out of his shirt pocket. Honestly, how hard is this process. I know it's a pain, but unless you want to have a date with the guy with the wand and rubber gloves, you might as well just strip down and get it over with.

Ok, I'm sure there are more traveling things to rant about, but this is my last one for today. Why in the world does it take so long to pay for parking at the airports. Despite, quick pay in the terminal, credit card, and now EZPass payments, this process still takes forever. Then there is something going on about a license plate query. What is that about, and am I paying for that? All I want to do is throw my money at some toll booth person and be on my way. What is the hold up!?

Schooled by the Old Man

I thought I was hot stuff last night when I called my Father and began discussing some of my devotions from the book of Acts. I was rattling on about Phillip and how he ran to witness to the Ethiopian eunuch, and then after baptizing him, the Lord made him disappear and show up in a different place to continue his work (Look it up, Acts 8).
So here I am pretending to be a scholar to the Old Man when all of a sudden, without my knowing it, he completely hijacked the conversation. He went on about what a eunuch is/was, and how one gets the job of a eunuch. How they were servants of the queen. He went on to ask why this African man would have been a believer in the Lord and why he would have the book of Isaiah. What disappointment the eunuch must have felt having traveled to Jerusalem but not been able to worship at the temple since the Jews did not allow outsiders to mingle with them, let alone worship with them. You get the picture, but there were about 5 other things that he mentioned that I can't even recall. Let's just say this....He was on his game and I was completely out of my league

....All I really wanted to say was that I thought it was cool that God made Philip disappear and reappear somewhere else.....My small little mind.

Just get to the Punchline

I've always been a Letterman fan. His humor and antics are more up my alley than Leno's. However, I haven't watched him consistently for a long time, since I just can't stay up that late anymore. Over the last couple of weeks, I've caught him several times and I've really been turned off. He has really taken to inserting his political bias into his jokes and monologues. I've also seen him be blatantly rude to conservative guests on his show, like political analyst Bill O'Reily. Listen, I have no problem with mild jokes about the president and other leaders. That is his job, and traditionally he's been the best at it. However, he's no political mind, nor does he really know that much about what's going on in the world, as was evident by his interview with Bill O'Reily. He does however have a very big microphone and camera in front of him, which allows him to get his opinions heard. Hey Dave.....I'd really prefer if you kept your liberal opinions out of your humor, and to yourself. Stick with "Will it Float", "Stupid Pet Tricks" and your "Top 10 List". In my opinion put a cork bin it and just tell jokes.

Plan B

.....Well, plan B looks like, Dominoes' pizza in the candle light....("Just another day in Paradise" by Phil Vassar)

Not sure if you know that song or not(country), but I had to quickly come up with a Plan B for this weekend.
Scenario and Plan A:
One of Lori's best friends from KC, Joy, and I have been conspiring since Christmas to suprise her with a visit. Plan was that I would fly back home from a business trip, Joy would fly in from KC, and we would meet at the airport and suprise Lori back at the house. Well, mother nature had other plans for Joy's connection through Chicago, and just like that, 2 months of planning went down the tubes. This was my big valentine's suprise. No I had nothing.

Plan B:
Weekend is not a total loss. Aunt Kathleen and Uncle Joel are still going to babysit, so Lori and I are going to dinner and a movie. Most importantly, we will get to sleep in :) Looking forward to it!

Slim Fast

I can highly recommend the Slim-Fast diet. I've lost about 15 pounds since the beginning of the year. There is no secret to the plan, I'm taking in about 1/3 of the calories I was eating prior to starting the diet. You can buy generic drinks to save money, the ones at Costco, by Kirkland taste the best. It takes about 2 weeks before you get used to not eating as much as you used to. It's a great diet for someone that has no creativity in food preparation.

Choo Choo

My son Charlie turned 2 on Friday. He is growing up so fast, it's hard to keep up. He is currently obsessed with trains, excuse me.....Choo Choos.