The Big Day

Our little boy is growing up . . .

School started back yesterday and my son began his school career. He took it all in stride, kindergarten didn't have anything on him. His first words to me when I picked them up was, "I had an awesome day!" Woo Who!

My daughter is in third grade this year. Gosh, where does the time go? Her teacher was awarded teacher of the year for the '07 - '08 school year.

We feel confident that this will be another great year at our local elementary school, which is an exemplary service / recognized school.

Can life get any better?

And That's What I Think!

The Big Ketchup Part 2

~Recommended reading The Big Ketchup Part 1 first.~

Keeping with the racing theme, we decided to go to the local dirt oval track. I haven't been to a dirt race track in over 15 years. Of course, I still have found memories of my family going to Ascot Raceway near where I grew up, even when we weren't in the stands, we could hear the engines racing from our front yard.

I had to repeatedly remind myself of the relative cost per hour for this entertainment and look the other way when the regulars seemed low class to me. Seating was "open" and we chose about midway up the bleachers. The people above us continually threw their trash down below them, which means it would hit us or someone else as it made it's way down towards the track. Let me tell you, it was frustrating the h*ll out of me. Later in the night the announcer reminded everyone (first I had heard it) that they should throw their trash under the bleachers as it would be easier for them to clean it up later.

The races themselves were a lot of fun. The kids and I took turns choosing which car we thought would win in each heat race and in the big race for each class. We actually decided to check out the races this night because they were having a demolition derby later in the night. We were unaware of the amount of racing we would see. Before each class had their main race, they broke up the cars into about three heats for qualifying. They had mini sprints, big sprints (ASCS), modified and street stock. The demolition derby didn't get underway until about 11:00 P.M.

Our race fan family had a lot of fun. In looking for more race fun, our next spectacle will be drag racing!

This summer we've seen a couple of movies. Jenny and I went to see The Happening. Starring Mark Wahlberg, this movie was a real let down to me. As with many sci-fi films, the beginning and middle of the film are good but then it seems like the director loses his direction and the ending is crap.

We also saw Wanted. I absolutely loved this movie! It was full of action and had a few unexpected twists. I've heard this movie compared to something else, I don't remember what, and I haven't seen the other movie, so it was all new and fresh to me. I thought the acting was good and the stunts great and over all just well written.

We took the kids to see Space Chimps. This movie was alright, not one of the best CGI movies I've ever seen. The story was new for animation and entertaining for the kids. I don't think this is one that we'll own though.

In other news, the kids are in soccer again this fall. This is our daughter's fourth season and our son's second season. We are looking forward to more excitement on the soccer field. The kids are really good.
Well, that ends this edition of The Big Ketchup.

And That's What I Think.

The Big Ketchup Part 1

HA, HA!

Anyways, it's time to get you guys caught up on how we've been spending our weekends.

Something that we've been talking about doing for a long time was Medieval Times. We finally made it over there. We took the kids to Dixie Stampede while we were in Branson, so we had a good idea as to what to expect.

At Dixie Stampede, the doors open about one and a half hours before showtime. After they take your picture, you go into a huge room and wait for the pre-show entertainment to start about 50 minutes before showtime. While you wait you can read about the history of Dixie Stampede and buy drinks and popcorn. After the pre-show, you are sent into the main room for the show and they serve you food with no utensils. I've had the pleasure of seeing this show a couple of times. After the show, they have you exit through the gift shop so that you may find that perfect souvenir to remind you of the fun. All in all, quite organized.

Medieval Times was pretty much the same, in theory. Doors opened two hours early and after taking our picture, we were sent into a huge room where we saw souvenir stands and a couple of bars. Most people were just mingling around and when I asked a few people what we were supposed to be doing, they were all as lost as we were. There was no pre-show and the noise of everyone standing around, each holding their own conversation, was almost too much to bear. Finally they opened the doors and we were all herded into the main room. Unlike Dixie Stampede where there is only two sides where people are seated and you cheer for the North or the South, at Medieval Times, there are six different knights to cheer for and the arena has seating all the way around it. We were seated in the Yellow Knight's section, which was in the corner. A lousy seat choice to say the least. A guy near us threw a fit and was reseated in the center section. I seriously thought about achieving this same preference, however I chose to be better than that (this once). The meal was about the same, chicken, a rib, potato, soup, pastry and drinks all with no utensils.

Medieval Times was alright, a dinner show is always fun, however, between the two, Dixie Stampede seemed to have all of the kinks worked out and things just seemed to flow smoother.

A different weekend we went to the boat races. I told the kids there would also be submarine races but then completely forgot about it the rest of the day. LOL

We went to the Cowtown Drag Boat Nationals. Jenny knows a guy at work that is on a race team. It was pretty cool and all of our first time to see drag boats. They are as loud as cars! For some reason the main website is down, but here is another one. The race team we went to see won the couple of races we watched. It was extremely hot out there, over 100 degrees. Luckily none of us burned. All of the racers are happy to see the kids out there and some of them even have trading cards to pass out. While we were in the pits, a race team let my son sit in their boat, how cool!That weekend we also tried a new pizza / arcade place much like Chuck E. Cheese or Peter Piper Pizza. It is called Incredible Pizza. Truly an oxymoron, because the pizza was horrible. Like Alley Cats, they have gone away from the use of tokens and instead, use cards. You have these credit card type cards that you "load" with money and then swipe them in the card reader of the game you wish to play. The advantage to these companies using cards it that they can over charge you for each game. A game that would normally cost you 25¢, instead costs 35¢. Instead of 50¢, it's 65¢ and so on. Many of the games here didn't even work, either.

Well, that's it for part 1, more to come soon.

And That's What I Think.

The Big News

Friends, neighbors, countrymen . . . Lend me your ears, I would like to share with you astounding news on this auspicious occasion.

I am a newly ordained minister of the Universal Life Church. So if you are tired of living in sin and ready to commit to each other, I would be happy to perform the ceremony.

Besides weddings, I am also available for baptisms, funerals, confession, affirmation of love ceremonies, exorcisms, baby naming ceremonies, and the like.

Spread the word, Reverend John is in the house!

And That's What I Think.

The Big Bonsai

I've been searching for a new hobby and I've finally found it. Those that know me may be surprised to learn that it has to do with cats.

They know that I've never been a big cat fan. After all, they are stuck up, do their own thing, etc. I've even been known to call them the "other white meat." I will admit, though, that they are cute as kittens. You may or may not know, too, that I like Bonsai trees. I even had one for a short time, until I (some how) killed it.

Someone came up with a way to combine the two. It's called Bonsai Kitten. How exciting! They take a new born kitten and stick it into a shaped bottle where it will grow to that shape. This some how works because their bones are very flexible. After it is several months old and "formed", you can break the glass around it and it will stay in that shape.
It's possible to do this technique yourself, however you must get licensed to insure the safety of said animals. I will just order it and let them grow it for me until I can pass my tests.

Since I am a huge baseball fan, I will ask them to grow one in the shape of a baseball bat. How cool would that be?! Anyways, this may work out to be a full time job for me.
If you are interested in getting one for yourself or as a gift, here is their website. Be sure to check out the method and gallery.

Also check out this website.

And That's What I Think.

The Big Spell Off

This is why I dislike the English language:
(from a recent e-mail)

1. The bandage was wound around the wound.

2. The farm was used to produce produce.

3. The dump was so full it had to refuse more refuse.

4. We must polish the Polish furniture.

5. He could lead if he would get the lead out.

6. The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.

7. Since there was no time like the present, he thought it was time to
present the present.

8. A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.

9. When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.

10. I did not object to the object.

11. The insurance was invalid for the invalid.

12. There was a row among the oarsmen on how to row.

13. They were too close to the door to close it.

14. The buck does funny things when does are present.

15. A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.

16. To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.

17. The wind was too strong to wind the sail.

18. After a number of injections my jaw got number.

19. Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.

20. I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.

21. How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

This is a subject I've breached before.


And That's What I Think!