Is This It ?

Yeah, it's bright and early on a Saturday morning.
Here we are in Albuquerque, NM with our friends the Amsdens awaiting the Dawn Patrol balloons to kick off their annual Balloon Fiesta.

And after a very early (and ultimately unsuccessful) test drive to the balloon fields, Kevin and I mobilized some of the troops to the open field a short ways from their home to watch for some balloons.

This was mostly what we saw ...

In fairness, this was THE first morning of the entire 8-day Fiesta, so it is not too surprising that it is not an overwhelming amount of aerial spectacularness.  But it certainly led to quite a few conversations about whether or not we want to do anything more related to the Fiesta on our weekend of New Mexico fun.


Song Of The Day:
The song "This Is It" by Kenny Loggins came to mind this morning.  Not just because it is a nice rearrangement of the blog post title question, but also because one of the lines in the song repeats Make no mistake where you are.  We are here.  It is a grandiose balloon fiesta.  It's just the first day.

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Tucked Or Untucked ?

There are clearly more than just two kinds of people in the world, but I think most folks fall into primarily one of these two categories:
 - people who tuck their shirts IN
 - people who prefer to leave their shirts UNtucked

I tend to be a shirt-tucked-in kind of guy.  I'm not sure why, but there is something comfortable about having your shirt not flapping around all over.  I think it looks nicer and more presentable in most circumstances too.  That said, there are some obvious exceptions ... while playing sports, while working in the yard, and in general, anytime I'm wearing t-shirts just around the house.

My buddy Kevin is definitely a untucked-shirt kind of guy.  But he is in the military and 99% of the time has to be in very proper dress code attire, so I respect his stance on the issue.


Song Of The Day:
The instrumental song "Ain't Misbehavin' " by Harry James works well for today's post.  It's not misbehavior to wear your shirt untucked, but it does seem to show respect for people around you when you choose to tuck it in.

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What Is "Fat Pockets" ?

Some people will read that blog post title and automatically try to correct my grammar ... "Josh, it should be what are fat pockets."

No, no it shouldn't.  It is written correctly.

Fat Pockets is the name of the restaurant Karen and I want to open up eventually.  Josh Jr (our oldest son) wants to be a chef, so it will give him that opportunity.  Don't be quick to judge the name choice as bad for business.  Allow me to explain the thought process here and then you be the judge.

First, a few things you need to know conceptually about Fat Pockets:
 - It will be based in a college town, preferably within walking distance from campus housing.
 - It will only be open from 8:00pm until 4:00am.
            (Yes, you read the am and pm right there).
 - It will serve terribly unhealthy, but decidedly delicious snacky foods.  In fact there will be virtually nothing 'good for you' on the menu.
 - Our slogan / advertising will be based on the phrase

"I can get as fat as I want"

Now ... think about the college experience.  Think about the late night studying or paper-writing that goes on, virtually every day.  Think about the food cravings that you have at that time of the evening.  Now, ask yourself, where do you go to fill those cravings?  The 24-hour convenience store?  Wal-Mart?  Try to beat the clock at a fast-food restaurant?

But how convenient would it be to know that you don't have to rush somewhere for that late night snack?  How nice would it be to just have a plate of cheese and crackers and pepperoni?  Or deep-fried whatever-you-can-think-of?

So what would you like to see on the menu?  Because the dish will likely be named after you (or, if you prefer, after someone that you can't stand) if you are the first to suggest it being on our menu.  Comment below or on the Facebook post of this blog and you can stake your claim to naming rights!


Song Of The Day:
This post has been in draft mode for a long time, just waiting for the right time.  Our good friends, the Amsdens (Kevin and Amy), are the inspiration for this restaurant idea.  Amy always joked about food that we eat too late at night going straight to our 'fat pockets.'  Then, on our Spring Break vacation with their family, their middle son, Derek, told me at one point "I can get as fat as I want."  Since that moment I have been thinking about this post.  Recently, Amy messaged me on Facebook with the song "I'll Be There" by the Escape Club.
What a perfect tie in for this post!  Not only will the Amsden family have to be there when Fat Pockets opens up, but college kids will be saying that to each other when planning to meet at our restaurant for a very late night snack!

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Could We Finally Get ONE Good Sunset Picture ?!

One of the things Karen and I have struggled with, in all of our many vacations, is getting a good picture of the two of us with a nice sunset in the background.

We tried on our cruise last February.  Each night got more cloudy.

We tried on our cruise in September.  A variety of circumstances kept us from being on the right deck with a view of the sunset on each night (other people, late dinner time, exhaustion, good movies / entertainment, etc.)

Our trip, as a family, to Thermopolis, WY, also ended without a sunset photo.

And that's just in 2012!

This has become more of a quest than just a punch line or inside joke.

But last night we actually got a few very good photos with an amazing sunset over the ocean in the Gulf of Mexico.  It took a near miracle and some aggressive driving by my buddy Kevin, but we got it done!  Finally!



Our faces might not be as clear as I'd like ...
but this is still a very good picture I think!

Amy & Kevin (and Ethan)
plus
Josh & Karen (and Spencer)

Song of the Day:
An apropos song if there ever was one, "At Last" by Etta James is THE song for today!  Just a perfect title for 'the wait finally being over'.

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Can A Change If Plans Turn Out Better Than The Originals ?

Yesterday had some vacation 'challenges' to say the least.  Best laid plans had little chance of success because ... it just takes longer when you're preparing, transporting, and sight-seeing with 20 people!

But, after some good open dialogue (the right kind of communication always makes things better, thanks Kevin A for suggesting it), the second half of the day went quite well.  Kids were super happy (beach time, morning hikes, pizza and movie night).  Adults got to do things they wanted to (beach, exercising, eating delicious homemade pizza, playing board games).  For me anyway, the day was darn near perfection for a vacation experience.

So it got me to wondering ... do we sometimes over plan things?  And would life be much better and/or easier if we only made partial plans and let the rest of life just fall into place wherever it may? I am a meticulous planner by nature, but there was something liberating about choosing to modify all of our afternevening plans yesterday.

I am positive my 13-year old son will not speak to me for
weeks after posting this picture.  The things boys will do
for attention from cute girls!  Josh Jr took it like a man!  :)

Song of the Day:
Sometimes inside jokes are the best kind of humor.  And in honor of that, today's song is "Something To Talk About" by Bonnie Raitt.  And the inside joke has to do with exercising ... and that should be enough to remember the hilarity that ensued yesterday as plans changed and laughter resolved conflict.
Beautiful humor.

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Shouldn't I Be Having More Cravings?

I've got a good buddy who recently posted on Facebook about how he has eliminated soda from his daily intake ... for the past six months!  He wasn't posting this to gain some great accolades from FB friends or to brag about how awesome he is or to deride anyone who indulges in the sugary sweetness of soda (his favorite for as long as I've known him was Diet Mountain Dew ... and mine has long been regular Mountain Dew).  He was just posting because he wanted to share his own personal accomplishment.  Way to go Kevin!

Anyway, I mention this because I have been severely limiting my own soda intake since the start of the year (mostly coinciding with my P90X workouts).  I would be lying if I said I hadn't had any soda, but the truth of the matter is that it has probably been less than 24 ounces of soda (2 cans).  It easily could have been ZERO soda, but I added a little to some lemonade and powerade at some recent trips to McDonalds (their fries are an addiction I will never give up!) ... and I've taken a sip from one of my kid's sodas (or Karen's if she has any) once or twice.

The point of this blog is that I haven't really had any cravings for soda, which is very odd!  Sure, the first week or two were filled with longing for "The Dew" or a Cherry Pepsi / Dr Pepper.  But it was very telling to me a few Sundays ago when I decided to "treat myself" to a can of Mountain Dew.  Two sips in and I couldn't drink any more.  It was just too sweet and sugary tasting!

Perhaps the desire will come back at some point in the future, but for now I am a water fanatic (which I always was at work, but never much at home).  Energy levels are up.  My teeth feel cleaner.  I've noticed changes around the old mid-section (some of that could be the Ab Ripper X workouts though).  I actually crave water now instead of candy sometimes too.

Song Of The Day:
Stick with me here.  The song today is "Water Runs Dry" by Boyz II Men.  In this case, the soda cravings have run dry but there's not really a song about that.  I've always been a Boyz fan from the time I bought their first cassette tape.  One of my other favorite songs of theirs is linked HERE if you want a two-song kind of day.  Awesome melodies, harmonies, and acappella (of course!)

You Really Shaved It ?!

A curse upon all ye who wished for the Denver Broncos to lose yesterday, if only because you really wanted me to shave my awful (and magnificent) beard.
(I'm talking directly to YOU, Kevin and Amy Amsden!)  :)

So below are links to the videotaped demolition of my beloved Bronco Beard.

Bronco Beard Removal - Part 1

Bronco Beard Removal - Part 2

If you don't have time to watch the 3-4 minutes of videos, here are some pictures taken at various stages during the process.
Me personally?  I'd skip the videos.



The Final Bronco Beard

My version of "Mutton Chops"

How YOU Doin' ?! ... Ladies!

I hope you're happy!  (Sarcastic tone is hard to type!)

Song Of The Day
Today's song of the day is on the spiritual side and it's not related to the beard-shaving at all.  Instead it is related to a great musical number that was performed by Lou and Jared Burton in Oakwood Sacrament Meeting today.
They did not sing "All Creatures Of Our God And King" but this version by Eclipse (an a capella group my cousin James Case sings bass for) reminds me of the awesome sound and uplifting spirit their (Lou and Jared) singing of "Be Still My Soul" brought me today.