Where did all these Gift Cards come from ?

Okay, so I know where they came from because the name of the store they represent is RIGHT THERE on the card ... but what I mean to ask is:

How did I acquire so many?

And the better question: JU$T how much money I$ left on THE$E ?!

The other evening Karen treated me to Cold Stone Creamery ice cream.  It was yummy!  We decide to go mainly because she had a $5 gift card, which she said she had gotten from me some time ago.

Score!  Nothing tastes better than FREE FOOD!

So today while I was listening to some calls at work I pulled out my wallet to see if I had any gift cards inside.  I was shocked to find FIVE gift cards.  That's not even counting the two I'm carrying around in my back pocket that I got for Christmas.

I found I had the following (amidst all my other "wallet stuff"):

 - A gift card to Panera Bread (with the number 4.50 written in scratchy pen at the top on the back).

 - A gift card from Home Depot (with nothing scribbled on the back).

 - Two gift cards to Wal-Mart (both with $10 written in red pen on the back).

 - And a gift card to Maggie Moos ice cream (with what I can best guess is 4.24 hastily written on the back) ... in my defense, it looks quite faded and could easily be 4.79, etc.

The two gift cards I have in my back pocket are for $30 at Smashburger (mmmm, getting hungry just thinking about it!) and for around $60 to Zio's.

The latter was a gift from my team (it was for $100, which was extremely generous of them, but we've already gone out to lunch once on it).

The former was from either Karen or Santa Claus (I can't remember but they both deserve credit for knowing me so well!)

So realizing this at work I came up with only one solution.  When I left around 1:30pm, I went to Wal-Mart and bought myself a new basketball (only cost a little out of pocket).  And then I popped next door to Home Depot and bought a piece of insulation for the garage door.  That way I could find out that after the purchase I still had $17 and change on the card.  Score again!  I also have made plans to reward myself with a Cinnamoo shake (don't knock the name until you try one ... they're soooo yummy!) on Saturday if I get my work all done earlier in the day.

I love finding gift cards (as long as they still have money on them and haven't expired or something like that).  It's like putting on a winter coat and finding a $20 bill in the pocket.  It's like ...

FREE MONEY !!!

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What kind of Blog Post title is "The End" ?!

Is there a better sport than Basketball?

I say no.  There is NO better sport than basketball.  Period.

Here's a short list that should convince even the most belligerent non-basketball person:
#1.  Basketball is fun.
 - Sure you can have fun playing ANY sport, but there is just a certain feeling that comes from putting that ball into that hoop and hearing that "swish" sound.  Or making a breakaway layup.  Or blocking someone's shot!  Or stealing the ball from someone who is trying to get all fancy with their dribbling.  Kids as young as 3 or 4 (probably younger in some areas) can find joy in shooting some for of a ball into some form of a hoop.  Who among you hasn't shot a scrunched up piece of paper at a trash can?  And if you make it ... you can't help but smile and think "I made that!  Two points!"

#2.  Basketball only requires very limited resources to play.
 - Think about it for a minute.  More than any other sport out there, basketball requires only the most basic of equipment.  A basket and a ball.  Even soccer (the next closest "basic equipment" sport) requires at least two goals and room to run.  But basketball can be played in your dinky little dorm room!  Heck, you can even shoot toilet paper wads at the trash can in your bathroom (although the feeling is not as gratifying when you sink a shot from 30 inches rather than 30 feet).  Drive down any neighborhood that doesn't have covenants against them and you're sure to find countless hoops just waiting for some "ballers" to use them.

#3.  Basketball works great for many people, or just TWO people.
 - How many other sports can be played with just two people?!  Even when there are lots of people waiting to play, the games can be made to last less time and team members can switch out very easily.

#4.  Basketball balances teamwork with individual talent.  Neither one replaces the need for the other.
 - Stick with me on this one please.  Michael Jordan was ridiculous talented.  Everyone has heard of him and most everyone has seen his amazing talent on display either in person or on YouTube videos, etc.  But as great as he was, he never won a Championship, much less a single game, by himself.  On the other side of the coin, you may have a team that works cohesively to play aggressive defense and stymies opponents.  But someone eventually has to put that ball in that hoop, which requires some level of talent and skill.  The best individuals make the team around them better, and the best teams can make one individual truly shine.
 - You can be a winner by making that last shot, but you can also be a winner by being on the team that siply played best together.

#5.  Basketball requires a certain level of physical fitness, but you can still play into your 50s.
 - Look at a typical NFL offensive line and you'll see as much "extra" weight as you will on your neighborhood coach potato committee.  There are occasional "heavy" basketball players, but the majority don't come close to that level of physical unfitness.
 - The back and forth, up and down required each game forces players to build up more than average cardiovascular fitness.  This helps prevent heart attacks and prolongs life.  This is not unique to basketball, but some sports involve a lot more "standing around" than constant movement.  Baseball is probably the worst offender, with hockey, soccer, or water sports being closest to non-sedentary.
 - I still play basketball with guys that are in their late 40s or early 50s.  They are certainly not as fast as the younger guys, but they can still play the game at a very high level.  Their experience allows them to know more than their younger peers and they maximize efficiency of movement to get open for a shot or make the right pass.

I could go on, but this was intended to just be a short list.  I welcome your challenges and comments.  If there are enough good arguments I'll add my second list of reasons ... but I doubt I even need to go there.  So run me off the field football fans!  Knock my argument out of the park baseball players!  Spike one down my throat volleyballers!  Kick one past me soccer stars!  Sink my battleship all ye swimmers!  Bowl me over pinheads!  Put me on ice hockey puckers!  Tennis anyone?  I doubt it!  Those folks are probably too pretentious to read blogs.
But if you do play tennis and live nearby, call me ... I'd love to play again!  :)

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When is it "too late" to send Christmas cards?

In the mail today we received two Christmas cards from some good friends of ours who have moved away from us in the past year.  I was super excited to see the pictures and (at least for one of the cards) read the enclosed "family updates" letter.  But it got me thinking ... when is it too late to send Christmas cards and/or Annual Update letters?

Many businesses work on calendars that are fiscally very different from the calendar most of us use.  Year-end reports are due for various companies in March or April.  Still others have to spend their budget "before the end of the year" which happens to be in August or September.

I am grateful that where I work (Progressive Insurance for those who don't know everything about me) we generally follow the standard calendar.  We do have a "Closing Calendar" which marks the beginning and end of our fiscal months.  These very rarely start on the 1st and/or end on the 30th or 31st, but usually it is only off by about a week.

But I digress.  I guess my point here is that I think it doesn't much matter when you send out your annual family update, but I do think you should pick a holiday card that more closely matches the time of year when it is being sent.  Let's say you're like Karen and I (which means you're absolutely awesome!) and you often don't get the letter written until the end of January.  I think it should be perfectly fine to send a Happy Valentine's Day family update letter.

I, for one, would probably rather space out the reading of these updates so that I might retain more of what I've read.  Having perused over a dozen different family update letters, I am positive I can remember none of my friend's kids' names, nor could I tell you who got: a) a new job, b) a new house, c) a new baby, or d) a new nose-ring.

So let me know your votes ... is there a "end date" for the annual family updates letters?  Do you think picking the closest holiday is a BAD idea or just a little silly?  I'm interested in the popular vote ... if only so I can feel a little better about having just sent two more letters out today.  :)

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Why must they fight so much ?!

One of these days, someone is really going to get hurt.  If it is this bad already, I am truly scared to death what the future will bring.  Given a few years to gain greater resources and power, these two parties will only make things worse between themselves.

They seem to hate each other even though they share so many more similarities than their obvious differences.  They can't seem to play nice and work things out for more than a few passing moments.

Can't they see that everyone suffers when they act like children?!

They pout.

They stomp their feet.

They shout at each other over who said what.

Both sides claim that they never do anything wrong and they ALWAYS find a way to use crafty words to make the other party seem the evil wrongdoer.  The main issue is that they both want "the power" or "authority" to decide what everyone does and what is truly important.

They could accomplish so much if they worked together, building on their different strengths and making the whole world a better place to live in.

What's that you say?  Who am I talking about?  Democrats and Republicans?  No ... although the above is just as true for those groups.  Maybe their mommys and daddys need to have a talk with them.

No, I am actually talking about my oldest son and oldest daughter.

He is 11 and she is 7.  Today marked day number one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five in a row that they have found some reason to bicker and argue with each other.  To the point that I lost my temper and levied some harsh punishment on them both: after dinner tonight they are going straight to bed.  No snack.  No scriptures, prayers, and hugs goodnight.  Just bedtime where they can be alone and spend some time thinking about what they are doing to the happy spirit in our home.

I know my sister Jaimee and I fought lots when we were kids.  I know that I love her so dearly now and am grateful for her friendship in adulthood.  But we are less than a year apart in age!  That is probably a poor excuse, but at least we were often experiencing the same things at the same time so there were things that were reasonable to argue about.  Do you know how different an 11 year old boy and a 7 year old girl are?  VERY different!  I just cannot understand what they could possibly have to fight about.  But they pick and pick at each other all day long.  Thank heavens for school coming back so there will at least be some peace for my wife during the day.

I hope that one day these two can find a way to seek to show love to one another instead of putting each other down.  I have seen them both do things for each other that are so sweet it literally makes me cry.  And then in less than an hour they forget their love for each other.  A little mischieviousness enters them and they do something to the other person that also makes me cry ... but for a much different reason.

Sorry for the "downer" kind of post but I just have to share what's been on my mind ALL DAY!  Maybe I can channel this experience into a more kind-hearted nature in my own life and not bicker with loved ones over stupid things.  Yeah, I think that's worth a shot!  :)

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What are YOUR New Year's Resolutions ?

Here's my "starter list" for New Year's Resolutions for 2011.

I hope you enjoy reading them

and then mocking me mercilessly when you see me fail

at EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM !!!

Hee hee!  :)

1. Blog more.  To be specific, my goal is to blog daily.  I reserve the right to miss several days, especially Saturdays as those seem to be busy for me.  But I'm going to try to hit every day of the year.  Wish me luck!

2. Control my "basketball" temper.  To be specific, I am going to continue playing basketball as often as I can, but I will either (a) keep my mouth shut 99% of the time -or- (b) only use compliments when I do open my mouth.  Either way, I think everyone will benefit from this.

3. Spend more "quality time" with my wife and children.  To clarify, this means I actually am mentally and emotionally present when I am with them.  No more "checking out" like Adam Sandler in the movie "Click."  Even if I really HATE whatever we're doing!

4. Run at least three 5K races.  One for certain will be the Valor Run with my sister and her police-wife friends.  Hopefully Karen can join me for that and others if they are later in the year.  Then I can count it as "quality time" and knock out two goals at once.  What do you mean that's not the point?!  I'm just being efficient!  :)

5. Say a sincere "Thank You" to a different person each day.  To be fair, I don't know if I really know 365 different people well enough to provide a sincere thank you ... so I'll probably start "new" each month and just not repeat people in the same month.  There's just not enough meaningful gratitude in this world!

6. Live worthy of the Priesthood I hold EVERY day.  In 2011 I will be ready spiritually, mentally, and physically at any moment to exercise the authority I have been granted to bless the lives of those around me.  This goal has VERY special meaning for me this year.  Feel free to ask me why when we talk next.

7. Add body mass (preferably muscle) and reach my target weight of 180 pounds.  You might find this silly or odd or just disgusting.  I don't care.  It's not your blog is it?!  For as long as I can remember I have considered my correct proportion based on body size to be 6 feet tall, 180 pounds.  All I will say is I have the one and am reasonably close on the other.

8. Read at least 3 books that I have never read before.  May not seem like much to you avid readers out there but I've only read (in their entirety) that many books in the last 2-3 years, so it is a stretch goal.

9. Complete at least ONE "project" with each of my six children.  To be specific, I will be setting a goal with each of my children and work with them on accomplishing it.  This may be to learn chords on a guitar (Brooklyn) or build a Pinewood Derby car (Ben) or go camping (Josh Jr).  No matter what, it will be fun to complete these and see if I can get two or three per child by year's end.

10. Attend the Denver LDS Temple at least once per month.  For my non-Mormon friends, this is where members of the church can go to perform sacred ordinances in proxy for the deceased.  In 2009 my wife and I narrowly missed this goal.  In 2010 we missed it by a longshot.  Time to regroup and gain the blessings that come from this service to our ancestors.

So there's a Top Ten list.  I will likely add more later, but that will be another blog topic.  I'd love to hear about some of your goals.  Feel free to comment and we can all support one another in making 2011 a super great growth year for all of us!

Happy new year and God bless!

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So which is the better course?

My blog post question is a serious one and I am looking for anyone's thoughts on the matter.  I feel pretty good about the path I have chosen, but I wonder if there may be a better way.  So please feel free to enlighten me if you have another alternative school of thought or opinion.

To clarify right from the start, this is not a philosophical question about the universe or anything like that.  I know my place in the eternal scheme of things and have really never had any doubt with that.  My inquiry is based on a much more trivial thing (and is probably not even worth a silly blog post about it).

Here's the question and then some background (would it be foreground since it is after the question?):
 - Is it better to leave an escalating conflict situation if you feel you are unlikely to accomplish anything positive from it?  -or-  Is it better to finish the conflict and/or try to ignore it?

Now for the background/foreground or whatever grounds I am coming from ... maybe playground is a better venue for the topic is, of course, basketball.

Tonight, and the past two weeks, we have had 12+ guys show up for basketball.  That part is nice, but when we got to 17 guys I realized you can have too much of a good thing.  I really hate playing basketball when you have to sit more than one game in between playing.  It would not be so bad if there were a better core group of players so the games go by quickly.  But the majority of the folks I play with are spotty at best and not really very passionate about the sport (I myself am probably too passionate).

I'll try to cut to the chase here.  There are always those few guys who have a certain "air" about them.  Usually they were the high school quarterback type who have put on more weight than they would ever want to admit and I assume they are still feeling like they run the world (as they likely did in high school).  Well it is these folks that I generally cannot stand ... mainly because they are never wrong.  Just like in high school where they could not be picked on or bullied or given a failing grade in a class (if the football team was any good), they also cannot ever be wrong in their adult life.  (Side note: check out the song by Bowling For Soup titled "High School Never Ends" or the video too if you can ... hilarious!)

Not really cutting to the chase you say?!  Well, you're right!  I apologize (something HS QBs - or any other sports star for that matter - rarely if ever do) and I'll try to remedy that.

So one of these "jocks" knocked a ball toward the sideline tonight.  I ran toward it and he bowled me out of the way.  To be fair, we probably more collided with one another.  The ball bounced out of bounds.  I helped the jock up and asked if he was okay.  He said yes ... and then he and his team attempted to keep the ball claiming that it was a jump ball.  I challenged this by saying that he had knocked it out and that I never touched the ball.  He raised his voice and said it was a jump ball (jocks are usually quite articulate).  I asked if that was always the rule "So if you knock a ball out of bounds all you have to do is fall down with someone and it becomes a jump ball?" and he got more angry.

At that point, I turned and walked toward the stage calling for a substitute.  My decision was to simply walk away because I recognized that I was never going to get him to accept any possibility of being wrong and it just wasn't worth the effort.

He began catcalls and his teammates joined in on the complaints of me being a princess, etc.  They called for me to stop being a baby and just play the game.  So after a few choice words about how I was stopping because he wouldn't shut up about it (which in hindsight I wish I had been mature enough not to say) ... I simply, and quietly, left.

So I ask you, humble readers who have not pestered me while I took many weeks off from blogging (thanks for that by the way) ... knowing that I was in no position to simply let it go and keep playing ... what should I have done instead, if not just realizing I was out of control of my temper and choosing actively to leave?

One side note:  This evening's incident marks at least the 5th time that I have challenged a call by this particular jock ... and he has not backed down on a single one.  About three times ago was when I decided to start leaving if/when he personally refused to back down.  This is the third such incident in about a year and I have walked away from each one.
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