My 2016 Goals

I meant to have this posted a week after December 31... whoops!

I don't make resolutions at New Years. Too much pressure. I make goals. LOTS. This year I have 25. I know, that seems like a lot. But, I figure if I only accomplish 15, that's 10 more than I would have pulled off had it been 5 goals.

So far it's going o.k. Some of them can't be done during the winter, so they are on the back burner. Others involve me being in a creative mood... which hasn't happened this week. Hopefully next week!

I have 3 goals that are really important to me. These are the ones that I have to do by Dec 31 next year. Here they are!

1. - Read 5 Books
The number of books is pretty low... but I also wanted to give myself some grace. The idea with this goal is to read more. I used to read all the time when I was growing up. Loved it! However, I've slacked off recently. I figure by the time I get 5 books read, I will have a routine in place and be able to double it by year's end. I have read a book and a half so far. It's good to be back!

2. - Improve Devotion Time
I'm usually pretty good to make time for devos... but I admit I slacked a lot in the latter half of 2015. I got busy... and allowed devos to suffer... So far I haven't missed a day (including Saturdays, which is something I've never done before!)

3. - Exercise More
Man... this list is cliché... seriously though... Almost everything I love involves sitting. Watching movies, reading, work, editing video, gaming, board gaming, filming (sometimes... usually standing), guitar (again, I only stand when I'm not practising)... that's a lot of time in a chair. Add in the fact that I don't like sports and you can see why it's on the list!

So far number 3 has been the hardest. Mostly because it hurts... a lot... I like exercising... just hate what it does to your body!

What are your goals this year?

Mud Volleyball 2013

I have a distant childhood memory. It was me playing in the mud. I had never done that before. I hated it.
There was no point, you feel gross sitting in it, takes forever to clean it off. No more mud for me.

Fast forward X years, I'm off to Mud Volleyball (proof your 5 year old self shouldn't be allowed to make vows).

It was a blast!

The mud is thick enough it sticks to you, but thin enough you don't feel sick running through it. And man, did it stick to me!

I was staying fairly clean (mostly accidentally) until I got rushed by 5 friends with the soul goal of soaking me. They succeed.

After 2 rounds with my team, we were eliminated from competition. 38-7 losses do that I guess!!! That being said, it was a blast losing. How often is losing fun?!?!

That's not even mentioning the awesome show from Anthem For Today! They did hits like Falling Asleep At The Wheel, Earthquake and A Little Louder. Plus, they covered Switchfoot and Relient K!

If you  and your youth group like fun, definitely sign up for next years romp in the dirt. You wont regret it!

TL:DR - Just watch this video -

Boxing Day

I've always wanted to go Boxing Day shopping. This year was not the year to start.

I did, however, hit up a few stores… in a small town neighboring my home town. With a small town comes a small crowd.

Skip forward a day, the day after boxing day, should be safe to do some returns/shopping right? Wrong.

It wasn't as bad as Boxing Day likely is… but it might have been close.

While buying something in a video game store (don’t judge me) the sales guy was trying to sell me a few additional things… only to find out, he couldn't sell them, he was sold out. In fact, it looked like a tornado had gone through most stores.

Shelves were barren, whole isles torn apart at the seams by shoppers getting next year’s Christmas gifts (hmmm… maybe I should have done that)

Moral of the story. Boxing Week shopping is fun… but it’s also not something to do in a rush… especially if it involves Customer Service. 15 minute lines are a little crazy.

                                                                                            

Ghost Pepper Sauce

Eating a ghost pepper is on my bucket list. I really like hot food, so why not tackle the hottest pepper on Earth?
Earlier this week a few friends joined me at a Mexican Restaurant for some lunch. Said restaurant has a promotion on right now involving Ghost Peppers... in sauce form at least.

If you've never heard of the Ghost, it's one below pepper spray on the spice meter.

On the burrito I had Ghost Pepper Sauce, Hot Sauce and Hot Sauce (I said I like it hot)

Here's what happened.

Bite #1 - Mmmmmmmm burrito......

Bite #2 - Mmmmmmmm spicy burrito

Bite #3 - This is sorta disappointing, I've had hotter sausages...

Bite #4 - Lips begin to tingle

Bite #5 - My entire mouth burns with the fire of the sun. I can't feel my tounge

Swig of milk

Bite #6 - My tongue has exploded with flavors all of which burn. My lips feel like they are on fire.

More milk

Bite #7 - I'm in tears. I don't know if they were of joy, pain or the natural response of the body as it gives into the power of so much spice.

Down half the large milk

Bite #8 - What does it feel like to not have your mouth on fire? I can't remember... what is sweet? Salty? Bitter? I know nothing but heat. Heat and the embrace of the ghost pepper mixed with hot sauce and spicy sausage (ya... I guess I asked for it)

Bite # 10? - Make it stop... plese... mak...i...stjdp

Empty milk


Would I do it again? I wish I would say no... but if Bieber taught us one thing.
Never Say Never.
If you like it hot, give some ghost pepper a try. It's good... when you can taste it.

The Amazing Spider-Man - Review

Back in 1990 Michael Chichton wrote a book called Jurassic Park. It's a really good read (despite some language). In '93 the book became a really good movie (despite the language). The catch though, was that they were two very different beasts (pun intended). The characters, locations and story were basically the same, however there were a lot of huge differences in the plot. But, they both worked.
Sam Raimi did the same with the first 2 Spider-man films (as said in my last post, the third didn't really happen). The characters, locations and story were basically the same, but the plot and way things transpired were way different from the comics.

The Amazing Spider-Man is a re-boot of that series.
It's selling itself as a dark, gritty, untold tale, truer to the original.

It's gritty, and that's about it.

I really, really wanted to like this movie.
However, I just can't. There is no character arch to any character, and even the attempt at an arch messes up. It comes off being a little fake.
If you know the comics, you will suto be able to call the shots with the film. That said, it sorta messes it up just enough to get you mad, instead of becoming it's own thing (see Jurassic Park or Spider-Man).

The villian is also drab. You never really understand what his motivation is.... other then moving the plot along.

On the bright side -- Emma Stone is really good as Gwen Stacy. She was great in The Help and really proved her chops here. She even looks like comic book Gwen. Kinda creepy really... Andrew Garfield was good too, he pulled off the "Punky Parker" quite well.

The action choreography was good. It stayed fast while not getting too complex.

There are already two (yes, TWO) sequels in the works for this film, here's hoping for a winner in 2 years!

Pizza Of The Future

Would you eat pizza from a machine? An Italian company hopes so. This is the info video on the new Pizza Vending Machine. It's a little less gross then it sounds at first, but still....

 

Group Therapy Thursday, January 12th 2012

Tonight on Group Therapy Thursday we were helping put Darrin. He's wondering if church is that necessarily if he's already hanging out with Christian friends, reading his bible and doing devotions.

Here's what you had to say -

Group Therapy Thursday, September 15th

This week on Group Therapy Thursday we were helping out Louise. She likes to text during church, but her friends are giving her a hard time about it. Is texting in church okay?

Here's what you had to say...