Snow up my shirt

Here in Oregon, loving the winter weather. I went inner-tubing with Michelle, Ryan and Steph, at Summit slopes. That was fun, and cold! (The tube would turn sideways and dump a load of freezing snow up my shirt). I haven't done this in years!

2.5 hours early...whatever

So, the airlines say to be at the airport AT LEAST 2 hours before your flight...more during holidays. Like with most trips, we rush to make sure everything is in order. We don't want to miss our flight, so we scamper to the airport! When we arrive, we are greeted by 5 check-in clerks...with NO other passengers in the entire check-in area. We get through security within 90 seconds. We make it from walking through the doors to sitting at our gate in a total of 5 minutes. 2 hours of sitting at the gate, only to find our flight is delayed by an hour. Get there early...Whatever. Either way, we're happy to be on our way to vacation in Oregon!

Gingerbread House, Indiana Jones style

So, we show up at Mangi's for their second annual Gingerbread house contest. Last year, we were squarely routed by the store-bought likes of Heath and Jill Burke. We were unfocused and didn't bring a coherent plan. The result..."A Katrina Christmas", complete with candy-men on the roof of our gingerbread house, imploring the judges to choose our house, or at the very least, heed the "HELP" written in frosting, and eat them. Insensitive, no doubt; funny, yes.

Well, this year we showed up with a theme and a vision. We had in mind to create an Indiana Jones theme, complete with a giant Jaw-Breaker candy (2.5 inches in diameter) as the memorable boulder which chases Dr. Jones in the film. We set out and created a functional masterpiece. Unfortunately, our impressionist rendition in gingerbread of this beloved movien did not meet the stringent demands for precise cuts and neurotic attention to detail that our judges demanded.
We lost to a freaking fake Santa Village, while meticulous and breathtaking, had NO glimmer of soul. The skating pond had no skater, the Candy store had no customers, and the finely crafted park benches had no sitters. While the judges expressed disdain for gimmicks, they may have fallen for the chef hats worn by the victors, while missing the fact that the gingerbread city was devoid of any feeling, much like an autistic child playing a Beethoven piece, yet missing the crucial "feel".

So I say to the victor to the spoils, and team Akrami will heavily weigh whether or not to sell our soul to appease the Gingerbread gods next year...though to do so will impair our ability to connect to all but machines as we lose our humanity. Overstated?...nah!

My revenge

Well, after the last escapade with the pooch, I purchased a device to ensure cooperation from now on. My lovely Michelle is helping display the device. As you see, attached to Lizzy's neck is a bomb, set to go off the moment she tries to bite human flesh. Who would have thought Petco would carry such a thing! Revenge is a bummer, eh pooch?!?

Five minutes I won't get back

I ordered a pizza at Papa Johns. The guy told me it would be ready in 15 minutes. I show up in prompt fashion, because I have somewhere to take that pizza. 15 minutes, perfect! That is will work for my schedule perfectly! Well, turns out the Pizza Hero doesn't have my pizza ready when I show up. "Five minutes, boss, five minutes" he says. Five minutes quickly turns into twelve. As I waited, I see I wasn't Pizza Hero's only victim, as four other customers show up, only to hear the promissory "five minutes...five minutes." Well, there goes five minutes...MY five minutes. To be spent doing as I please (like writing this blog). Now, that time is gone, replaced forever by Pizza Hero's voice, falsely ensuring I will be in possession of my pizza pie if I will only wait another "five minutes".

See some pics of the experience below:

The Pizza Hero disappearing behind the counter to whip up another batch of excuses.

Some other "satisfied" customers...

The Pizza Hero and accomplice, busy creating nothing out of nothing

Me, appearing sorely disappointed.

Biting the hand that feeds you

These are the telling pics of a hell-hound out of control. The glowing eyes appear just before the fiend strikes your hand with its needle fangs and viotriolic demeanor. Thank God I'm willing to put up with a couple punctures for winning the war. A coal in your stocking, Pooch!

FruitCAKE!

Fruitcake: $4.00

Dad's diabetes: $45,000

Watching dad hide his face while I email proof of him cheating on his diet to my MedSchool brother: Priceless!

Stinking cool video

This helicopter flew at about 40 ft altitude along the parade route for the Glendora Christmas parade. Was able to catch it as it approached and rounded the corner, kicking off the parade. Very cool (notice how the camera makes the rotors look slow-mo).

My head is now a pumpkin

For whatever reason, I'm sitting here writing away on this blog at 1:45 AM, rather than sleeping. Goes to show that watching an action flick till 1am after drinking French-press coffee does not make for a sleepy combination. Had fun watching "Dark Night" with Paul Hodi, rewinding the especially explosive scenes (did they HAVE to smash that Lamborghini?!?).

I'm really jazzed about this morning's message for a couple reasons:
1) God moved and seemed to reach a bunch of people through it, and
2) That kicked off a 4 week break from any major planning on my part (aside from work, that is). It's nice to not have so many things pulling at me continually. These breaks are welcome, and enable me to come back with vigor.

Tonight, I will sleep with a peace, knowing that I will actually have more than 2 nights off this week. :)

Tag... you're it

I have discovered over the course of my life, that I'm generally lousy at keeping in touch with people I don't see on a weekly basis. I chalk it up to being too busy, or opining about the "biggies" in life, but I think that might be a justification... I've been known to do that. But ultimately, my lack of contact ISN'T coming from a dislike, or even a lack of caring for someone. I figure I can have an appreciation for someone, and even a deep affection for them, and not think to call them. Perhaps it's a feeling that they will always be there, just a phone call away. And yet, you hear of countless times where people wish they had talked to their loved one/friend, just ONE LAST TIME.

All that sounds dramatic and urgent, but can you live you life thinking that way? Constantly fearing that the conversation you just had with someone MIGHT be your last? I know... parents get older, kids grow up so fast, relationships change, but is life about going down a list of phone numbers and just "making the rounds"? I suppose being busy doesn't count for much when those closest to me think I've got my head too far up my schedule to notice anyone else around me...And I thought the days were just getting shorter.

Located in Uruguay?!?!?!

Why would a US company make you scroll past 5 other countries before selecting the USA as your location? Is there a huge blogspot.com market in the United Arab Emirates? Perhaps blogspot.com is mandated by the government of Uruguay for every man, woman and child. Do people actually live in the US Virgin Islands?!? USA! USA! USA!... alright, I'm going to bed.

So... this is a blog.

I've never been one to put my thoughts on "paper", either in the form of journal or sheet. I guess this is a new season where I have plenty of thoughts and happenings floating through my mind, waiting to be sorted out. I find that writing is difficult for me because of all the automatic censoring and self-criticism which seems to chop my posts down to nothing. Why even start?!? Well, this is a new season of trying... and failing... and trying again. I think it's weird doing the "failing" thing with people possibly tuning in from all parts of the globe, or worse yet, someone I know! Anyway, here's to hopefully more than a single post... courageously forging ahead!