Shameless plugs

Today's post is a list of websites for men...ladies & children stop reading now. Men you may enjoy the following sites....

www.freshballs.com (This site has products for women so the ladies can check this one out)

www.cocksox.com (This one is for men)

www.blucigs.com (They look cool!)

Enjoy & explore the web

Favorite new shot

I was house sitting for friends who keep a full liquor cabinet. I don't drink much but after discovering a recipe book for shots & mixed drinks I could not pass up on experimenting. My new favorite shots are the Fuzzy Irishman and a Raspberry Brownie.

Odd memorial day weekend

I had an eventful and odd weekend. It was not overly stressful or tiring but very odd & long.

It got off to a good start with a relaxing Friday evening. Saturday I was planning on spending a few hours helping a friend (Ty) remodel a cross we are planning on using for a fund raising event for charity. I then planned to watch a movie, pick up some dry cleaning, and hang out. Turns out Ty had a few things to take care of on Saturday as businesses would be closed Sunday & Monday for the weekend. He had to take of these things as he was moving back to Iowa Monday. Ty needed to rent a truck so we drove across town to the truck rental and then back across town to his place. He then wanted to pick his boat out of storage and town it home which we did and eventually returned to my place to work on the charity event. By the time we finished it was late enough I could not pick up my laundry from cleaners and I had to drive back across town to the place I was house sitting to feed animals. I was able to watch the prelim bouts for UFC 146 and make it to a dive bar in aurora to watch the fight.

Sunday morning I drove to church early. Our group was going to make presentations in each service for the charity event we are involved with and I was using my truck to cart stuff around for our group. While unloading charity materials for the charity I became distracted and left my truck with the keys in it in an alley behind the church which is located in down town Denver. I forgot about it as I was so busy & pressed for time that I did not remember what I did with my truck until three hours later. The only thought I had then was my truck would be stolen. I did not have to see the empty alley to know it would be stolen but I looked anyway. First time I had a vehicle stolen and first time I filed a police report for a stolen vehicle. Luckily Ty was there and gave me a ride home. He also bought my lunch because on Saturday he was grateful for my help with helping him get a rental vehicle & picking up his boat.

I have a car so it was not too big of a deal as I can still get around. After my crazy odd childhood, having car windows broken out, a home broken into and other events I was able to remain calm about my vehicle being stolen. People around me were more distraught then I was and I was also able to retail my cool & contact the police without sounding emotional or getting upset. It was not the highlight of my day.

After two presentations for evening services I had dinner with Ty and some of his friends. It was a farewell dinner as he would drive back to Iowa the next day. Monday was spent doing laundry cleaning, figuring out why my PC would not connect to the home network & fixing that error, a workout and eventually chilling out at a Starbucks with the latest Dennis Lehane novel - Moonlight mile. I wanted to visit a friend who is working at a fair in Colorado Springs but I could not get away today and I had a couple other friends who wanted to hangout today but I could not. All in all it was an odd & long Memorial Day weekend

Sad & the sweet

The sad is that the Lakers are out of the NBA playoffs. It is no surprise as the Lakers have not consistently played as a championship team. They beat Denver by playing inconsistent but they could not beat Oklahoma with that type of play. Even if they played like a championship team I don't know if they could have beat Oklahoma as that team has been playing with a hunger and a crazy explosive fast break away plays that no other team can contain or compete with. Maybe the Spurs can stop Oklahoma. Now I will be routing for the Spurs and the Celtics.

The sweet is the movie 21 Jump Street. I caught it at one of the cheap theaters and it is hilarious! That movie is a must see. It is worth paying full price at the regular theaters. I may see it again! It captures today's culture without going overboard and the humor is spot on and better than what was in the show. Cast members from the Television program make cameo's in the film. I do recommend seeing the film if you were a fan of the show or just enjoy a good comedy.

If the Spurs or the Celtics loose I may have to console myself by seeing another movie. Some people eat ice cream to feel better, or get a massage or travel. Not me, I watch movies.

I am house sitting for one of my regulars. Aside from a few cigars they leave for me, a giant big screen TV, and the booze moose. The booze moose is covered bar the couple have in their backyard. It is decorated with license plates, and lights, and has a disco ball. The few ash trays and a ice maker make it clear what the booze moose was created for. It has between six and eight chairs surrounding the bar. The best item is a TV connected to their cable. I can sit outside and watch the playoff games and after a long weekend that is just what I need. Tonight was a beautiful night and we did not get the rain that was predicted so I spent some time with the moose. I watched some of the playoff games, a movie, and read a bit as well. This is how I want to spend my summer, enjoying the out doors.

House sitting again

I am house sitting for one of my regular's and one of their dogs passed away. I was not attached to the dog but it is odd to be at their house and not to see it after seeing the dog there for some many years. It is nicer now that they have one dog as the one that is alive does not bark much but it is the dog that wants constance attention & affection.

Live concert

I have not been to a live music show in a few years. A couple new friends mentioned having tickets to Styx & REO Speedwagon so I asked him go hold a ticket for me. I am glad I went as I had a good time. Ted Nugget opened and he was entertaining but it was difficult to hear his music & understand his lyrics. REO speedwagon had a good sound and I loved hearing a couple of their older songs. I had not heard much of Styx music but their light show & sound were the best of all the bands that night. The group I went with had fun & I don't think they know I'm 37 - I look young. They are all young early to mid twenties who probably assume I am close to their age.

I have spent many nights working out, watching sports, or staying in to do laundry & work on bills. I forget to go out and have a life and it was fun! I am glad I went out and went to the show.

The downside: I did miss a few NBA playoff games. It is that time of year when I stay in to watch the playoffs on TV!

Movie Event of the Summer: The Avengers

I was hanging out with a friend I have not seen in a while. I offered to help him move a dresser & use my truck to move a couch. He offered to take me to the Avengers so it was a deal and maybe the best deal I have made all year.

I can't say enough good things about the movie. The story was great, the acting was good, the writing was amazing & the special effects were phenomenal. All in all I would have to say this movie is the movie worth seeing this summer. I don't know of any other movie coming out that looks great so this is the movie of the summer! Don't miss it & go see it!

Icing on the cake for this movie included the following:

~ Watching Iron man & Thor fight

~ Watching Hulk & Thor fight

~ Picking out Stan Lee, (he had a cameo in the film)

~ While the credits roll there is a scene setting up a storyline for a sequel

~ Post credits there is a bit with all the characters from the movie which was funny

Notes from the Underground

Lately many of my posts are about a TV show from Showtime (Dexter) or movie reviews and various odd pop culture references. Okay I don't have any odd pop culture references because I don't know many and I just wanted to write about in the last sentence.

I enjoy reading and usually read mindless sci-fi, true crime, self help books, books about finance & spirituality. Every now and then I pick up a classic and I just finished Notes from the Underground. Notes from the Underground is a story about shame and how people can live a life marred in shame & narcissism so much that it can ruin one's reputation, debilitate them so they cannot reach their goals, and cause one to push other people away. It is to see where someone else has shame & how they are letting it destroy their life but it is often difficult to see it in one's own life.

The same week I was finishing up Notes from the Underground the message at the church I attend was also about shame and how shame can keep us from fully living. I began to wonder where in my life do I have shame? Is it really shame or is it guilt? Is there something to be ashamed of or is it something that I have been holding on to and letting myself feel trapped in what looks like shame when there is none. The more I look at my life I see the later.

I think most people are like the character from the story Notes from the Underground. The only difference is our stories are supposed to be different. I believe God can take any area of a person's life where there is crippling shame and turn that in to strength and a powerful identity. From those events that could lead to shame which would cripple someone's ability to live there can be something different. There can be a sense of purpose found in one's identity and that purpose will lead one to take risks, live, and pursue life with passion.

The problem with shame in our society is it is difficult to find something to contrast it against. The obvious opposing idea would be honor or nobility. We don't see many examples of honor or nobility in our culture. As I ponder my life and how I live I wonder how can my life be an example of something honorable or something noble?.

I finished the second season of Dexter. Can't wait to start the third season!!!