The challenge is on!  2 weeks without any soda or sweet tea.  Why two weeks?  Because there is NO WAY I can go forever.  If nothing else I wouldn’t be able to make it through Mexico City next month without soda.  Nothing goes better with Tacos al Pastor than Fresca. 

Anyway, if in the next couple of weeks we have a meeting be sure you serve as an encouragement and not a temptation.  Stop me if you see me perusing the soft drink section of the menu. 

(I just want to pour it all over my head)

And pray for me.  It’s harder than it should be.

OK, I feel like my recent posts have been a bit heavy, so I figured I would do a lighter blog just to reassure everyone that I am in good spirits!  

Things that make me smile
Nolan telling me “no” when I ask if he wants to take a nap
Blocking people’s dunks in pool basketball (and following it up with the Mutombo finger wag)
Chicken casserolle
Community Dinners
Thinking of Asher (my son, not the Lowder’s old dog)
Punk’d = hilarious
Picking up people’s garbage cans
Mexico City
Swine Flu – I laugh in your face
Elliptical Machine – it’s good for me and doesn’t hurt my knee
Kanye West – It’s amazing
NBA finals – Go Lakers – I figure the Rockets almost beat them, so if they win that means the Rockets are the second best team in the NBA this year.
Hot chocolate
New message series: The Deadliest Warrior

For some reason I blog the least when I have the most on my mind.  The last month or so has been full of exciting happenings, new projects, and meaningful insights for me.  Sadly, I don’t like playing catch up so I may not get around to blogging about them anytime soon.  

I will say this though – Be excited!  My annual movie/music award blogs are coming up after I see one or two more movies.

Just got back from the cruise and I have a lot to blog about.  Suffice to say we had a great time and I discovered my wife is a lot funnier than I gave her credit for.

Anyone know how to convert Celsius into Fahrenheit?

- I bought a new Idea Book today.  It’s been a couple of months since I have really carried one around with me so I am a little idea constipated, but this should really help loosen things up.  

- Training for the Triathalon is going well.  I rode 4 miles today and ran 1 and a half.  The run is the hard part for me.

- Rockets killed Portland in game one (in Portland).  If they take game 2 tomorrow the series should be over, but they find brilliant ways to fall apart.

- I totally believe Houston can take down the Lakers if they make it to them.

- We have had quite a few visitors in the last couple of weeks for church.  I’m excited for summertime!

- 2 weeks until Kristan and I are going on a cruise.  Can’t wait!

- Jeff Chauncey will be speaking that Sunday (May 10th).  Should be great.

Kristan and I are going on a cruise!  About 3 months ago I got an email from a friend with an unbelievable opportunity – a FREE cruise for pastors.  Kristan and I talked about it and decided to do it, but then I forgot to contact the people for the last several months.  I thought for sure we missed the boat (rimshot)

Anyway, at community dinner last Tuesday someone brought it up.  When I told the group I had forgotten to register they all made fun of me…so I quickly looked up the contacts phone number and left a message.  She called me yesterday and said that there was literally ONE available cabin left.  Sweet!

So, May 4 – 8 Kris and I will be setting sail for the Caribbean on “The Monarch of the Seas”.   The savings we got on this thing was over 2000$!  

Thank Tom!

Carolina games are boring…

There, I said it.  I feel better.

A couple of years ago Tadd Grandstaff encouraged me to take up blogging.  I decided to give it a try expecting myself to do what I always do – take off like a bottle rocket only to fizzle out pretty quick.  Anyway, 2 years and 349 blog posts later here I am.  I’ve picked up quite a few new readers recently so I thought I would post my top 10 favorite blog posts up here.  They are in no particular order, but you have to see “Kiwi” (the last one).   For the rest, just check out the ones with interesting titles!

I stole 117$ from an NFL nosetackle and lived to tell about it

Waldo carries balance in his backpack

Overcoming Laziness

I didn’t see the punch, but I saw the dude laying on the floor

A story about crap

Fanny Packs

Honking at Myself

Love is letting someone pull your chest hair out

Remember the Alamo

Kiwi - Seriously you have to see this one!

I ran.  I ran hard. 

The great news is my knees don’t hurt.  The bad news is that my new problem is my feet.  For some reason every time I run the outside of the bottom of my feet start hurting real bad.  Can any of you runners tell me anything about that?

The weather is awesome though and it felt really good to be outside taking advantage of it.  Sweating doesn’t feel right in the winter.  Also, I ran past some kids playing basketball and I have a huge urge to get back into that.  Maybe some guys around Reedy Fork would be up for some 3 on 3.

2 1/2 ounces of raisins are toxic to a dog of Sawyers size.  Sawyer downed about 8 ounces.  So, of course, last night was filled with vomit and diarrhea.  This morning we rushed him to the vet the moment they opened.  They immediately started pumping fluids into him.

Sawyer is fine now.  

He should not be (according to the vet), but his levels are good and after another day of receiving some fluids tomorrow he will be as good as new.

In the last 3 months Sawyer has eaten a box of raisins and a box of donuts.  Stupid dog.