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What did you all get?  Did you get stuff you liked?  I did.

But really, I had a blast being with my family and my wife's family and just relaxing with loved ones, as lame as that sounds.  That really was probably the greatest joy, hanging out with family.  

What's a close second to family?  Presents!  And no one and I mean no one.  It was awesome!  I got a ton of seemingly random stuff but things I have been begging for.  Just to give you a taste and I may go more in depth later...

- Titanium spork

- Matte black space pen

- Metal insualted french press and pound of Ethiopian coffee

- Mountain Hardwear jacket

- Wingate University Under Armor hoodie

I can feel your jealousy brewing!  Calm down!

Well, I hope your Christmas was as restful and fruitful as mine.  Thank to everyone who made this Christmas so special.

[Photoshopped] Christmas Card

Yeah, I added myself in there.   I was busy during the Christmas party but I just threw me in there quickly, it's not pretty.  And sorry for the late card, but you "got" my personal one (scroll down).

Merry Christmas!

It's Christmas Time!

We're visiting our parents this weekend because we have a wedding to go to tomorrow.  But today, while the wifey went shopping, I hung out with my brother at my parents house.  Well, on the agenda for my parents was picking out and cutting down a tree. 

It was pretty cold but we took our time and picked out a good one.  I won't show you yet, just tease you with this photo.  You can imagine how awesome it is.  I know you will.

Christmas Shopping Made Cheap

Did any of you get cash for Christmas?  I know that it's usually something your Uncle gives as a gift, but I find it to be very efficient (is that the word?) in picking out what I really want.

An example...

It wasn't until Christmas day that I figured out what I wanted.  I mean, I always want something but to find something that usually costs between $5 to $200, that can sometimes be hard.

Plus, I would rather (sometimes) have a ton of little quality items thatn one giant high dollar item.

I am the proud owner of a Timbuk2 messenger bag.  I love my bag.  If you own at Timbuk2, then you know.  If not, I'm sorry.

Well, I wanted another Timbuk2 bag, but a backpack this time.  I thought I swore off backpacks, just because I love my messenger bag and its design, but I found a backpack I love almost as much as my messenger bag (wordy?).

It's the Timbuk2 Underground Day Pack.  It is right up my alley!  It has all the qualities of the bag I'm used to, but with a doublestrap, when I carry those larger loads the weight will be distributed better (and more comfortable) and I love the way it opens.  Easy access!

But I'm also getting a book, Starbucked, and a movie, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.  I found those on Amazon.com for a decent price!

Oh, but back to the whole Timbuk2 bag thing.

They are $75 on timbuk2.com.  With a little searching, I checked eBay and found the bag I wanted, from an eBay Store (be sure to check the feedback and everything) for $38.  One day left.  So I bid!

...and...

I won!

Now, with shipping, it brought it to $50, so that's still a deal.  

So check these sites when you online shop:

- eBay

- buy.com

- Craigslist (deal locally and only in cash)

- Google Checkout (if it's your first time, you get $10 off!)

- Amazon

- Dealhack

Aight, that's good for now.  Talk to you later!

Christmas is here... and leaving fast!

All this buildup for this one day and it's over. Luckily, it's not really over. Jenni and I are going to see the movie Juno. I heard it's good.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. I did! I got everything from undershirts to a pair of Merrell shoes.

I also got a new t-shirt and undershirt. I love them!

Anyway, I just got back from Juno. I really thought it was funny!

"Don't forget there's pecan pie!" she tells me. Yes! I love pecan pie. I'm also a fan of blueberry.

With that said. I gotta go!

Late Night Post Session

What up yo?

I don't have cable. For a few reasons.

We don't really watch a ton of tv. Just the main shows. But that doesn't even really matter now because of the writers strike. We are more into movies and video games for me anyway.

The other reason is the cost. I guess you can combine that with the first reason because if we watched it a lot, then I guess it would be ok, but time and cost just don't equate.

I also have an HD tv. Nothing amazing. Just a 32 inch Vizio. Very decent. Relatively inexpensive. It is HD though.

So why have an HD tv if you don't even have cable? Well, I bought an HD antenna. Yup, you can get HD over the air. And it looks pretty good! Actually, really good!

So right now, I'm watching OETA. Just some great PBS shows about the F86 Sabre Jet and downed pilots, and some Hawaii history with lava and humpback whales.

In HD!

Oh, it snowed today! Got icy a little too, but not too bad. It was pretty windy though, whipping the snow around. Just enough of an accumulation that with cold temps and cloud cover, it may just be a white Christmas. Who knows!

We went to Church on The Move tonight. Well, we usually go on Saturday nights, but tonight was their special Christmas service.

It was really well done! Great music and an awesome performance. They had like this gigantic LCD screen... panels all attached together that must have been like... 40-50 feet wide or something! Really cool!

DoubleShot (Coffee Company) had some Kona Coffee in, and you had to pre-order, so I had to get some. I've heard great things about it.

Brian, at DoubleShot describes it as this:
"Traditionally, since Kona is an island coffee, it is very bright, clean, fruity, and delicious. You can definitely expect it to come alive in your mouth, especially if you drink it while it's still really fresh."

So, I thought I'd try some. I made a cup tonight and I really enjoyed it! Also, Jenni isn't used to (and doesn't really plan on) drinking coffee "black;" but I make her try one sip of every new coffee I get.

She usually grimaces and grabs for a cup of soda or water or something, but when I had her try this Kona, she didn't make any faces or anything! She said that she actually liked it. Now, I don't think she will always drink it that way, but is this a start of another coffee snob in the family? Perhaps!

So, if anyone wants to try a cup of excellent coffee, come on over! I'll make you a cup. But you can't add sugar or milk and you have to drink the whole thing. Don't worry, it won't be much (I don't want to waste it on you!).

You know what I haven't had in a while? A fountain soda from QuikTrip. Now, they aren't any different from your soda's in other places but if you've been to QuikTrip, then you know what I'm talking about.

Ok, now I'm thirsty. I'll be right back.

Wow. It didn't look like I even left, but to me it did.

Anyway, I'm back.

I guess that's it for now. Let me know if I forgot something. How is your Christmas break going? Mine is good so far. See ya!

I HAVE THE POWER!

Yup, you guessed it! We have power again.

If you didn't know we were without power for almost a week. It wasn't too bad, I've camped in the cold before.

Being from the North East, I think I'm pretty good in cold weather and snow. But that's the thing, Tulsa doesn't get snow, it gets ice.

So Tulsa had a pretty bad ice storm that knocked out over 500,000 peoples power around the state and 150,000 (I think) in Tulsa itself. I know everyone was worried about Templeton, but don't worry, we kept him very warm. He got a jacket for his birthday and some little booties (they're really cheap but don't tell him).

So things are pretty good now. Weather should be in the 50's now.

It's been cold so I haven't been on my bike in while. I went to go for a ride a few days ago, but I noticed I had a slow leak because my rear tire was flat! Dang it! I have to go to T-Town to get another tube.

I did take some pictures of the big ice storm because I had to drive in to work. It was pretty nasty with all the downed trees. But I don't feel like posting them right now because I'm getting tired. So there.

But I do have a video I found interesting that I want to post. I'll just embed it from YouTube.

Well, Christmas is coming up so be sure to relax a little! And be sure to get that shopping done! Take care, see y@!