Christmas tree

Lyndsey and I picked out, put up, and decorated our first Christmas tree last night. This is my first experience with a real tree, so I think I'm in for a treat. Here is a progression of events...

random Harper pic

I'm going to start posting these random pictures of our dog... he loves his tennis ball! We love our dog...

hair saloon

Men of the world, unite! I got my hair cut at Hair Saloon for Men today, and I must say I was satisfied. I got a card for a free haircut in the mail... so I used it... then I felt bad about getting a free haircut so I offered to tip her with my debit card, but she refused. Anyway, this is the ultimate experience for a haircut (I bet it's actually #2 to SportClips, which we don't have, so I've never been... I hear they give you a shoulder massage to top it off).

I walked in, and immediately was able to do two things which I love: watch SportsCenter and read the sports page of the Post. If you have a buddy, there are a couple tables with built in checker-boards. There's also a friggin' putting green. Then they take you back to your own booth-no stylists chatting it up with each other about the latest gossip-just a quiet, relaxing haircut. No walking to the sink for a rinse; they just spin the chair around and boom, you're there. Then they give you a hot towel and mint to complete the experience. When I left, they gave me a "passport" for a free scalp massage next time. Needless to say I will be heading back.

I know this was all an unabashed attempt to make me a regular customer, and frankly it worked.

Great American Smoke-Out

If you were unaware, today was the Great American Smoke-Out, a campaign to encourage people to stop smoking. I got a good laugh out of our high school's Medical Careers Club today... they walked around all day asking people if they smoked. If a person said no, they were given some candy... Smarties to be exact. If they said yes, they were still given candy-but they were given a Dum-Dum. Good stuff!

new links

I've posted a few new links on the side board... just wanted to comment on a couple.

Ethur: this is an organization ran by the guy who started xxxchurch. It's goal is to invent and implement very cool projects, usually grassroots types of things, that will have a positive impact on our world and society. They look to tackle issues "from porn to poverty," and have some sweet stuff going.

Junky Car Club: this is one of Ethur's projects. It's kind of an unnofficial club with a cult following... if you join you get a bumper sticker and some other cool stuff. Its goal is to encourage people to sell their expensive sports cars and buy a "junky" car... not really junky, just something older and reliable that won't cost any money (i.e. an early 90's Accord)... and then intentionally use that money to sponsor a couple of children, etc... use money that's going towards your social status to help someone else's "life-status." (i came up with that one...). I think I already qualify for this club......

leaves

The benefits of having the city's 3rd oldest tree in your front yard are obvious (wait a minute...). But it has its cons. "Cons... that's impossible," you say. I know, I know, but it's not as it seems. This tree is EVIL. First it drops these little gobstopper looking things all over the yard, giving our dog thousands of little balls to drag into the house... but it doesn't stop there.

It seems to find enjoyment in dropping an unlimited number of leaves to the earth. MILLIONS, I tell you! I wish I had taken a picture, for I had a mound of leaves in my front yard up to my neck. I cleaned up the yard, went in and ate lunch, and I swear that when I came back out the yard was completely covered again. This mammoth of a beast tree won't be laughing when I send the order for the CHAIN SAW BOYS to come play! HAHAHAHA!!!

The Gods Aren't Angry

Rob Bell is the man. He did a speaking tour last year entitled, "Everything is Spiritual." He just started another one... if you're anywhere near one of the venues, GO! You will not be dissapointed...

www.thegodsarentangrytour.com

now i know...

that halloween is really nothing more than a great excuse to buy lots of candy and hope that few kids show up and/or turn off the front light with the knowledge that you'll have more candy left over dangling in the back of your mind........ the things we learn as we grow up.