I just saved you two hundred bucks, four eyes

Want to buy prescription eye glasses (that always sounds funny to me, like when people say ink pen)? http://www.goggles4u.com/ has glasses for as little as $13. I have two friends that have bought incredibly cheap glasses for 1/10th of the price that you'd pay at a normal place & 1/20th of what you'd pay an lenscrafters. One of my friends bought three pair - just in case he didn't like one...and all three were still less than half what he would normally pay. I put up the Goggles4u link, but there are a bunch of other sites that all offer crazy discounts. (http://www.39dollarglasses.com/) is another.

And before you think, "Sean has sold out - he's putting ads in his weblog now" I should mention that I sold out long ago. I've been putting ads in here for two years.

Just yesterday I put a link to City Iron (your one stop iron shop!)

When Brad was taking his mop door to door and trying to launch his mop house calls business - I linked to it (Mopping up the competition!)

When Fuller was offering life coaching services to single twenty something women with high paying jobs in the legal field - well, frankly I thought that was a little strange.

Oh no, I never expect compensation for these links/ads. I'm just doing this for the betterment of society. So is it selling out if you're not getting paid with money, but with love?

remembering Steve...

Ode to Steve:

a non-haiku

(keep in mind that he's still alive - just not hanging out with Donna quite as much)

Steve, man of the city

man of iron

bald yet bold

mustachioed with a hint o' beard

Sallquiest? you made that up

quick with the wit

slow with the anger

you could take brad and maybe even Z

but you've taken all of our hearts

what's in a name?

I'm wondering why Mr. & Mrs. Baggins decided on their son's name. I'd guess they went through the normal lists, books, internet pages....

let's see...hmm...Steve Baggins? No, that's a bit plain. Brad Baggins! I like the illiteration, but let's keep looking. Hmm...well if it's a girl we know we're going to go with Gabriel Andrea - and that way we can call her Gabbie.

But what if it's a boy? I definitely don't like the initials T.B., O.B., W.B., or Y.B.
What if we made up a name? We could go with a common object that people are very familiar with - but not in the context of a name! Like Apple! No, that's just silly.

What about naming him after someone famous - like Elvis Baggins? Or Carrot Top Baggins!

I've got it! The greatest name of all time! This seems so simple now that I see if from this perspective. Bilbo Baggins! Done! Let's move on.

Ultimately, everyone will call him Bags anyhow...

walkin'

It turns out that the hunger walk was Against hunger...so it was totally different than the walk for education and peace walk. Lesson learned.

The kids can say they've walked, been carried or traveled via stroller at least five kilometers at once now. They referred to it as a 5k, but they also kept saying things like, "2 more miles left" which was a bit confusing for our three children that we're trying to raise metrically.

Thousands of people entered the hunger walk and I'm not sure exactly what place I came in...I'm pretty sure I didn't place (I wasn't paying attention when they were handing out the medals) but I can tell you I easily beat Brad & Joe. I'm not saying that I'm that much faster than those two, I'm just saying that I'm undefeated in races against both of them.
You should probably know that we walked together as a group and we really weren't in much of a hurry.

Either way - I smoked them.

So tens of thousands of dollars were made - Actually around $64,000 for folks who are need of a good meal.

And who couldn't use a good meal?

true

Did you know:

Pirates are extremely afraid of the dark…and also of golfballs.

If you drink one bottle of ketchup, nothing will happen…but if you take even a sip after that, you’ll get incredibly cranky.

One is the loneliest number, but two is the most jealous.

Steven J. Welent invented the stapler, or “Welent” as it was to be called – but he didn’t get the patent in time to beat out his neighbor Craig Stapler.

The Cosby show is based on a true story.

If you throw a paper airplane through pvc piping that is longer than six feet it will immediately catch fire.

Seventeen people have fallen from heights of 3 feet or less and lost their lives.

If your second toe is longer than your big toe that’s a sign that you’ll probably marry someone in I.T.

identity theft?

So I wrote some “hate mail” to Mike Birbiglia once. He’s a stand up that I enjoy and he was talking in an interview about the e-mail he gets. He mentioned that he has two accounts that people can send stuff into – one for fan mail and one for hate mail.

I sent him a quick note to his hate mail because I figured he’d be much more likely to read hate mail. He told me I was right. We ended up e-mailing back and forth a few times and even did a faux blog interview. It wasn’t great because I sent all the questions at once…so it didn’t really feel like a back and forth conversation.

In any event, it was fun to get a note from someone I see on tv and respect. And I was just thinking about that because I’ve been wondering if the comment on yesterday’s blog was actually from Seth Godin. Seth writes the best blog in the business…if creative common sense is a business???

He’s a marketing guy and for some reason I happened upon his blog one day and just loved it. I don’t really scour the marketing blogs, but he’s just brilliant and I’m very interested in how he thinks. I don’t always agree with him, but sure appreciate his insight. Anyhow, “Seth Godin” left a comment on yesterday’s blog…and I’m dying to know if it was really him.

PS – Hunger Walk is this Monday and it’d be fun to see you there.

my seth godin impersonation

Twice in the last week I’ve walked into a store and heard, “how are you doing?”. OK, that’s not really that unusual. What I didn’t love about these last two greetings was that I had no idea who said them.

I’d walk into a store, hear the above greeting…and look around. Nobody is looking at me. There’s that one guy that looks like the most likely candidate. Should I say, “pretty good, how about you?” to the guy?

I’m in the store for 20 seconds and I already feel like I’m being rude because I’m not answering the greeter. I'm immediately frustrated.

The problem isn’t me though. I’m nothing if not anxious to say, “fantastic, and you?” to anyone who asks. I’m ready and more than willing to respond to store people. The problem is that there’s always someone in the store who has the job of saying, “Hi” to everyone when they walk in. It’s probably part of their training checklist:
1. say hi to everyone that comes in.
2. sell our stuff
3. thank them when they buy our stuff

Maybe they could add these helpful hints:
1a Look at the person that you’re saying “hi” to.
2a Help the customer with whatever they need.
3a Look at them and smile as you thank them

I think this would go a long way towards not making someone feel rude or frustrated when they walk in.

you’re welcome

solar powered fridge

Do you have one of these yet...

or do you hate the planet?

newsweak

Newsweek has put together their list of the top high schools in the nation.

Sadly, once again Newsweek has ignored the preeminent school in these United States- Worthington H.S. - home of the Cardinals.

This is the school that produced Jack Plotnick, Phillip Joseph Boyd and me. You do the math.

What do you want your high school to produce if not awesomeness?

You could say, "that's a nice building, I sure do appreciate their shiny sign and impressive brick" but that's judging a book by it's cover (something I learned was wrong in my sociology class). You could say, "Hey, let's put that one high school on our list because I'm tired and just want to go home" but according to Buddy Bell, my 9th grade gym teacher, you're probably just tired due to a lack of the poor nutrition.

Newsweek, I offer this as my proof that Worthington produces excellence.
(and by "this" I'm actually referring to this incredible blog post)
you're welcome

money pit

Went out to Lowe's last night to get four things.

I need some replacement shingles for the roof, some tar/adhesive for the aforementioned shingles, some Pergo to replace the ruined flooring around our bathroom & a new wax ring (#4) to fix the bathroom.

I came home with the clothes on my back and less gas in my tank.

I really shouldn't be allowed in Lowe's unsupervised. It'd be like sending Steve to the barber.
I just don't belong there...as much as I want to.

So I've enlisted a friend to take me shopping. I'm hoping to come home with a van full of tar, wax, shingles, flooring and joy.

Long story short - I'm hoping to use my downstairs bathroom again sometime this week.

always a ring bearer...

strepping lightly

So the boy has strep throat again. I've been trying to convince him that he has to wash his hands a bunch so he doesn't get strep elbow. He's not buying it.

I was fighting some sort of virus for most of the last two weeks and I'm hoping that I didn't pass anything Griff's way. There's not much worse than seeing your kid with a fever. I topped it off by wrestling with him and almost tearing his ACL when he fell of the couch. I should probably add that I won the match. I can pretty much dominate any 7 year old with strep you could throw at me. True.

We're to the point where we're starting to appreciate his tonsils while they're still here with us. Before we know it they'll be gone. I personally don't want to have any regrets so I'd like to just take a moment to say goodbye.

Griff's tonsils - we hardly knew you. You protected the little fella from all kinds of germs and infections...and now you've just about served your time. We'll miss you, tonsils. Oh, we'll treasure these last days/weeks/months/years...every day will be a celebration of our time together.

You've seen so much in such a short time. Know that you'll be missed when that day comes...

passion

Passion is something that I love/hate.

I was in a meeting where someone let me know about how one of the key players had really screwed up. I remember thinking, "bummer..." and that was about it. I just wasn't that passionate about what was going on. I was disappointed, but I quickly got over it. It just was something I did...and if people let me down...well...bummer.

I also remember staying up an entire night when I'd heard about someone I cared very greatly for having some really awful stuff happening in their life (vague enough for you?). It killed me. It was one of the worst nights of my life. It tore at me because I cared.

Passion for something/someone can be a great motivator. It's also something that can tear at you. On some level it's nice to not be passionate about some things, because being hurt sucks.

It's kind of nice to not care that much and to not get too upset when things go south. I won't be the person losing sleep over that one American Idol person not winning the karaoke crown.

On the other hand - I still cry out to NBC and their devastating decision to cancel the greatest show in the last ten years.

Passion is what wakes me up on the mornings that I know I'll see Brad in his manpris. It's what gets me excited about a day away with my gal. It's what tears me apart when I see Coop go through this crazy "BUT I DON'T WANT TO!" stage.

just happens to be what I was thinking about...that's all.

It's a powerful thing...that passion...

the power of travel

I've always respected folks who were willing to travel. And what I mean by that - is someone who is willing to go...rather than wait and hope that people would show up. I worked with a group for a long, long time and that was constantly out.
That's what I was trained to do. That's what we did. We went to where the kids were...at the schools.

I rarely ran into anyone else putting in time at the school -outside of the school staff. Every school I worked with (7 in all) had dozens of churches, synagogues and groups around the area - and yet I only bumped into 3 people in 18 years that were going to the school more than two or three times a month. (if you don't count the drug dealers - they were more than willing to go to the schools)

I don't blame them. It's not how they were taught. Their leaders didn't do it for them and they came out ok...so why should they? And it's hard to go - it's uncomfortable and I'm not being sarcastic - you're way out of your comfort zone.

There's a difference between missional living and cranking out meetings - they're just very different. I think the willingness to travel is one of the distinguishing features of missional living.

Going to where the people are is a great thing. I also think taking the people away is occasionally a good thing. For some reason there's something that happens when you take off for the weekend. Have a group over for a meeting - that's pretty good. Go to the folks and have a meeting - that can be better. Take them away for an overnight -and it's gold. There's power in those trips. I think the power is in the incidental conversations. It's the late night talks - the early morning breakfasts - the shared experiences. You give room to those experiences during the unplanned hang out times.

Back to this whole incarnational idea - it's harder - but it sure seems to make sense.

confidence

I was just watching Robert Downey Jr. in an interview.

Man is he confident/cocky/arrogant/jerky.

You should know that I'd point to him playing the title character in Chaplin as the greatest performance I've ever seen. I can't really think of one of his performances where I didn't think he was good to great.

So I'm left wondering (once again) if confidence is what makes someone great....or at least do great things.

I've known some great leaders who were really attractive (relationally) because of their confidence. Don't get me wrong - arrogance is really pretty ugly - but if you're looking for a leader, you want someone confident in their decisions.

So there's this confidence/arrogance line that is slimmer than my free throw percentage.

On some level, the people who take some big chances are often the people that annoy people because of their pride.

I think it's pride that allows R.D. Jr. to take the chances he takes. His brilliance is in his taking chances - his going for it. I'm also guessing it really bugs the people around him. I don't know that - I'm just guessing.

I'm guessing Mother Teresa was confident in the rightness of what she was doing. I don't think you'd call her cocky...you wouldn't would you? Seriously? What gives you the right? That's just embarrassing.

C.S. Lewis said that pride is the great problem we all struggle with. It's at the root of all that brings us down.

But man, wouldn't it be great to be that arrogant/confident/cocky? Wouldn't it be great to have the guts to take the chances in life that amount to big blips on the radar?

It's a tough line.

improvising

I wanted to make a quick video about improv to get in the groove for tonight.

The Q City Players are "performing" tonight - doors open at 7:30

(6543 Montgomery Road. It's just a plain brick building - Cincinnati Ballet Tech)

Sadly I didn't have a chance to make an improvisational video, so I'll improv this blog.

I need someone to shout out a location.

Cooper: Grandma's house!

OK, I need someone to give me an object that you could find in most schools.

Griffin: A teacher

OK, I've got a teacher and we're at grandmas house....and action...

So...um...I'm just a teacher here at grandma's house. Yup...maybe I ought to go to school now...goodbye grandma, I'm going to school. I hope you have a great day here at your house!

And...scene...

I'm being totally honest when I tell you that was 100% completely made up. It just popped into my head. No rehersals or nothin'

Improv at it's mightiest.

You're welcome

challenge

Typical morning:



Wake up


brush the teeth


I like to potty potty


shower


dressed


make the kid's breakfast



But today was a bit different. Bobby Flay shows up from out of nowhere and challenges me to a breakfast cereal throwdown.



Whatever.

I just thought I was shooting a midwestern breakfast special. I hadn't brought out the big guns. I was going classic Lucky Charms with 2%.



Bobby breaks out the fruit basket, homemade corn flakes and vanilla soy milk.



Had I known he was showing up I would have opted for a cereal that doesn't make a mockery of my people. Honestly though, there is something almost magical about how delicious this cereal is.



I stick with my guns. you can't beat 2% over an oat based cereal flavored by tiny marshmallows.



That's when the judges show up. Mike, from the local organic food supermarket and Cindy, the assistant on Bobby's grillin' show. It seemed like the fix was in.



I will never again doubt those Lucky Charms. I'll admit, I'm partial to those Golden Grahams...but I'm now 1 & 0 wih the L.C.

So you can take those two uppity assistants of yours and head on back to New York Bobby, this here is a 2% milk drinking neighborhood and besides, who puts garlic and hot sauce in cereal?

40 days and 40 nights

This is a fairly unremarkable picture. Oh sure it was framed beautifully - it'll probably end up on some poster or calendar some day...but the idea of floating balloons in a picture isn't exactly revolutionary.

Keep in mind that it's no longer crazy to inflate a balloon with helium rather than air. Apparently helium is fairly light and causes balloons to stay afloat for 4 or 5 days.

Every once in a while you'll hear tale of a rogue balloon that stayed aloft for double digit days...but who really believes those braggarts?

I'm here to tell you of the greatest invention since sliced bagel chips (I'm a fan of the rye). The above balloons were actually coated with some magical oil before they were inflated with the helium. They put a little inside and sloshed it around...and this was puzzling frankly.

It took me a few weeks to notice - hey, those balloons are still up. Is it witchcraft?

Cooper, as you all know, turned 3 on April fool's day. We can officially call him tre for the next 11 months.

Not only did Coop receive these balloons as a part of the tri-celebration, but we actually celebrated on the Saturday before the anniversary of his birth.

You get where I'm going with this?

These balloons have levitated for 40 days. You can have your portrait of Mary stenciled into Melba toast. Oh sure, I'd be tempted to trade these for a brick that looked exactly like Nelson Mandella...but I'm holding onto these babies. These balloons are magic.

What do you have to say to that Mr. David Blaine?

keeping up with Tom Jones' family

Irish is the new black. They were the old green, but they've shifted.

Oh sure they've been saying that this spring blue is the new black...but that's just silly.

I'm really not sure why the irish get to be the new choice of fashion right now, but I figure if something has to be the new black...why not the them. They've earned it with their hard work, ruddy complexions and fierce loyalty to their family member that they just punched in the trachea.

Also, Irish is the new 40. There's a rumor that 50 is the new 40, but that's just crap. Don't let them tell you that.

Want proof? Who wrote the song 40? Oh, sure you could argue that it was mostly lifted from King David...but U2 gets all the royalties, and isn't that what it's all about? And where is U2 from? That's right -Irish-land.

While we're talking about what the Irish are taking over - (fashion - check, age naivete - check) I'd argue that it's high time the Irish took over moving picture shows. Bollywood step aside, it's time we had more brooding Irish films that depress people and almost win awards.

We'd need to come up with a clever name - I'm thinking Belfastland!

The Irish will be known for more than jigs and angel touching - you mark my words mister...

stop

wet socks

opera

the other team's cheer

beans not made of jelly

that moment when you're not sure you'll make it to the next rest stop

claustrophobia

the cancellation of Ed

surface answers to complex issues

complex answers to surface issues

the cost of
A. Skiing
B. Golf
C. Hockey

Cats

makeup

the D.H.

the insanity

et tu Roger?

Roger Clemens is having a rough year. First he was outed for his steroid use. We're talking about one of the top 4 or 5 pitchers of all time...and top 10-15 players of all time.

So he denies it. He fights it. He goes public with his lack of steroid use.

And then he gets accused of having an affair. Things get worse. He's had troubles before. He quit baseball a few times to spend more time with his family (Michael Jordan did the same thing and put more time in with his family by joining a baseball team and going on the road for a year) and kept coming back. He's had some rough years and some brilliant - but this would be his roughest.

And then Brutus the Barber Beefcake's wife comes out and tells the world that you hit on her Rog.

I find it hard to believe that you'd cheat on your wife - but I find it impossible to believe that you could ever steal Brutus' wife.

Here are the facts:

His name is Brutus and you never mess with anyone named Brutus - it's just simple math.

He was a beefcake. Why would his wife ever leave him or cheat on him? Even with one of the all time greats - she's going to leave a beefcake? I don't think so.

He was a barber. That's just a go to skill that you don't lose. Just look at his hair as evidence, this guy had marketable skills. Once Roger's career is over, what is he going to ball back on. Well it's not cutting hair, I can tell you that.

No, I'm thinking you were barking up the wrong tree that day Roger. It's just not going to happen...

Thursday

I’m not changing a darn thing today. Oh sure, it’d be great to talk about how this will be the day that I stick my flag in the ground and claim this territory for peace, joy, encouragement, Saget, etc…but not today. Today is not that big of a deal frankly...

Today I’m going to remain the same. I’m going to go about my day just going about my day.

No great proclamations. No epiphanies. Just another manic Thursday.

I’ll leave the quest for the next step to the fella at the next blog over. I’m just going to be the guy that goes to work and works late…because I have a lot of freaking meetings that are going really way too late in the day for me to spend any real time with my family today!!! ...and I'm back...

So no, I’m not going to turn over a leaf today – old or new. There will be no leaf turning. Not on my watch. Not today. You can call me the leaf avoider.

What an awful nickname that’d be…

“Hey leaf avoider, how’s it going?” “Um…pretty good leaf turner over fella”

Nope, not gonna give myself a bad nickname today either…not today.