New Addiction

So, I've avoided this for a long time, but it's time to come clean.

I have a new addiction. I'm addicted to Starbucks. Actually, I should say, "My name is Johnny and I'm a believer who struggles with Lattes. And Espresso. "

I know that many of you struggle with similar Starbucks addiction. For me, it crept up on me, out of the blue. Sneaky Starbucks.

It started with coffee on Saturday mornings, a treat, an indulgence for me and Jeni. But things quickly spun out of control. Soon I was going to Starbucks alone, sneaking a latte at lunch, or in the morning before work.

Then it hit me. For my coffee, for just my drinks, I'm dropping 5 dollars a day. 5 dollars. For coffee.

I tried to resist this morning, but we're out of coffee at home. What am I supposed to do? I NEED coffee. So again this morning, 5 dollars.

For coffee.

Not exactly a Hero

I just got Guitar Hero 2 for my xBox 360 and I stink at it. I am not good. Very bad.

But it's so fun. I'm playing on easy whilst I get the hang of it. So far my best song was "Message in a Bottle." I rocked that one.

Rock on.

How Trendy

So, Google has a new service that's pretty cool. It's called Google Trends.

You can enter different phrases or words and see how many other people are searching for the things you're interested in.

Well, sort of.

You can see on a chart the popularity of your subject. There aren't any numbers attached to it. Just a graph. I think like most of the things Google does, it will be cool soon.

I don't really know any reason to use this, yet. But now I've told you about it and I can go to bed knowing I did my duty of reporting it.

This post brought to you by Google.

Time for a change...

So I wanted to change my blog a bit. Being that I have no skills all I could do was pick a different template. I don't like it.

Anyone out there have any designing skills and want to make me a cool custom design?

Awesome, thanks.

Corporate Sponsors...

Last week, Josh had a post about the NBA playoffs and corporate sponsors that you can read here.

Yesterday, the wife and I went to Disneyland to celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary. It was a great time but one of the things that really stood out to me is that the Main Street Parade now has a corporate sponsor.

Really, Disneyland? A corporate sponsor for the parade? Really? What, you're not getting enough money from people coming to the park everyday? 50 bucks a person isn't enough to keep things going? Really?

I think I've officially had enough of corporate sponsors.

This post brought to you by Coke.

If you're anything like me...

You're a geek. You've accepted it, embraced it and moved ahead. You're ok that you've seen Star Wars too many times to count. Fine with it.

It's alright with you that you own more than 10 Star Wars books. (Maybe it isn't Star Wars for you. Comic books?)

You're fine with the fact that you've read and re-read all of the Harry Potter books. You don't care that you've got them all on your iPod so you can listen to them whenever you want. Same with all of the episodes of Heroes.

You're not embarrassed that you have "TFN" and "The Leaky Cauldron" in your favorites.

You may be slightly ashamed that you voted for Apollo on Dancing with the Stars but come one, that guy can dance.

If you're anything like me... welcome. Plus, you should get the book, "The Great Snape Debate." It looks at all of the Potter books and takes both sides, Snape is good vs. Snape is evil. It's a good read.

Enjoy it, Geek.

How do you...

Shake off disappointment? I hate it when I fight for something and I know it isn't going to happen. How do you shake it off?

I can't concentrate on anything while I steam. I want to know why a decision was made, not just the decision.

I know this might not make sense, but I'm steaming, and I'm finding it hard to focus.

So Rhapsody kind of rules...

Don't get me wrong iTunes, you're still my go-to-buy-music-and-download-to-my-iPod online music site. I love you. You make my world a little brighter. But for finding out about new music, Rhapsody takes the cake.

I subscribe to Rhapsody which means I can listen to music and even put it on my computer for like 15 bucks a month. (Note: I didn't say download on purpose. I think the correct term is "stream" but I don't know. If you need Rhapsody 101 ask Josh Warren.)

They have this genre thing where you can go through all kinds of music and hear things you've never heard of before. Here are some bands I was introduced to (not in person) through this service:

Rasputina: So, cello rock? Yeah, it's weird, and sorta "goth" but I love me the cello and they're pretty awesome.
Elliot Smith: So sad, but great music. I know I'm late on this guy, but hey, I never said I was cool.
Feist: I know I'm probably late here too. I like her very much.

There's a bunch more, but I can't remember them now. Plus, I learned the term baroque-pop. I like that. I'm going to try to use that in a sentence today.

So sleepy...

Chloe woke up at 2:30 this morning with a fever. I don't even know what time I finally fell back to sleep.

All I know is, I didn't get nearly enough sleep. A Diet Coke, cup of coffee, and Monster energy drink later, and I'm still tired.

I think a nap in an empty office would do the trick.

SNL in the 90's...

So, I don't know if you caught it last night, but NBC ran a special of highlights from SNL from what I consider the "glory days" of the show.

Now, don't get me wrong, I enjoy SNL even today. I like the digital shorts and I think this new cast is coming into it's own. But come on, Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Will Ferrel, Chris Rock, Tim Meadows, Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, David Spade and more on the same show? Can you beat that?

No. The answer is no, you cannot beat that. All in all it was a pretty entertaining two hours of tv. When I think about how much SNL has formed my view on pop culture and entertainment, it kind of blows me away.

I'd say, Star Wars and Saturday Night Live are probably more responsible for my world view and sense of humor than anything else.

Weekend recap...

So, this weekend was pretty cool. Here are some highlights:

On Saturday we went to the garden show at South Coast Plaza. I know, I know, you're overwhelmed with the pure testosterone that this event brings out. Trust me, there's nothing quite like searching out the "perfect orchid" to make you feel like a man.

I wish I could say that I was dragged there kicking and screaming, but the sad truth is, I was the one who wanted to go. We brought both of the girls and had a good time. We made of with some sweet orchids (just typing that made me feel shame) and a banzai tree for my desk at work.

Sunday, I took Chloe for the morning. I love having the girls one on one every now and then. In the afternoon we went to a birthday party for Olivia and Jackson. Good times.

When I was talking to another dad that I found out that I can carry out an entire conversation without actually looking at the person I'm talking to. He and I were talking and watching our kids at the same time. And never made eye contact.

Now, I realize that too much eye contact makes me feel uncomfortable.

Weird.

Read or watch...

So lately I've been reading. A lot. The thing is, I've been reading books that although fun to read, don't really stretch me. They aren't literature or anything like that. I think of them sort of like mindless tv.

Sort of like tv that just let's you unwind and relax. So my question is would you rather read a book like that or watch tv?

I can't do both at the same time. What do you think?

Everyone's sick...

So Jeni, Maggie and Chloe are sick. They've got this nasty cough and basically feel terrible. (I went back and forth between terrible and horrible, I think I made the right choice.)

I haven't gotten it yet. I think it's because I take so many vitamins. I take an Emergen-C once or twice a day. I take a B complex and Juice Plus.

If you don't know what Juice Plus is, it is awesome. You take 4 pills and get like 12 servings of fruits and vegetables. Which for me is sweet. I like fruit but I don't like veggies. Especially green beens. They are of the devil.

In summary, I am impervious to sickness.

I have a 3rd Eye...

I do, and it's huge. It's really like a 3rd and 4th eye. Really.

Right in between my eyes I have this huge pimple, well two pimples. It's like one on top of the other. A bi-zit if you will. It hurts.

Maggie said I have a boo-boo which is sweet. I have to teach her that pointing out other's pain isn't polite.

It's the kind of pimple that makes you feel like everyone is looking right at it, not seeing you at all just focusing in on the growth.

Well, it's out there now, so if you see me feel free to point it out. Let's get it right out there, no more dancing around it.

31, losing my gray hair and I still have zits...yeah, that's fair.

Hey Dude...

So, someone keeps posting a comment about Celebrate Recovery here and I keep deleteing it. Why? Simple, you don't leave your name or contact info. If you don't like CR fine. If you'd like to have a discussion about it, great. But that's why you keep getting deleted, and that's why there aren't any more anonymous comments too.

Just wanted to clear that up.

Oh, and one more thing. I wont be dragged into an arguement here. That's not what this blog is about. I LOVE Celebrate Recovery, it has changed my life and the lives of countless people around me. That's as much as a response as I'll give anyone.

God Bless.

I LOVE CARBS...

I'm trying to do the right thing and lose a few lbs. To do that, I'm cutting my carb intake down to about half of what I'm used to.

I hate it.

I love carbs. Bread, love it. Pasta, you bet. Rice, yes please. CANDY??? Are you kidding? There's a box of Tootsie Rolls and Pops right behind me right now. And don't even get me started on Girl Scout Cookies. Freaking Girl Scouts.

I want a bowl of pasta with chocolate sauce on top.

Chiropractor...

Oh, how I love going to the chiropractor. Turns out my spine is all twisty, my neck and lower back have been tight for a while now. I got some x-rays and there are some super fixable problems.

I get to go three times a week for the next 2 weeks ...awesome. The more the better I say.

If you've never been adjusted, I strongly suggest you check it out. It feels so good.

It's been a while...

Sorry I haven't posted in so long. I've missed you all so much. Here's an update on what's gone on in the last couple of weeks.:

• Maggie got the croup. No good.
• My glasses suck. They shouldn't call them "transistions". They should call them "sunglasses all the time even if you're inside".
• We started some Celebrate Recovery Blogs. Check them out if you'd like.
• I got a Wii. I've played it once and it made me sore.
• Is it "the croup" or just "croup"?
• I planted two new trees in my backyard. An apple and a lemon.
• As I've written this post I've realized just how boring I am.

Not a bad couple of weeks all in all. Sorry I've been gone.

I got glasses the other day...

So, last week I mentioned that I've been getting headaches lately. So I went to the eye doctor and it turns out, I need glasses.

The glasses I ordered take 7-9 days to get here, so I went and got a cheap pair at one of those glasses-in-an-hour places. Turns out, it takes a while to get used to wearing glasses. I've been getting headaches while I adjust.

Super.

We lost a good one yesterday...

A good friend died yesterday. Carl was a long time leader at Celebrate Recovery, and was probably the best display of a servant I have ever seen. Not only did Carl serve but he did so gladly without ever wanting attention.

I'm grieving today. I haven't really lost that many people. When my Grandpa died I was a mess for weeks. Losing Carl is right up there. He brought joy wherever he went.

Carl impacted literally thousands of lives. You can't ask for more than that. He made a difference for Christ, and I know that he's with Him now.

When I think of Carl, I think of James 4:10, "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up."

That's Carl. Humble servant that never wanted attention, that everyone knew, and everyone loved.

He will be missed.