So You Think You Can Dance?

On Friday, I took my wife to see So You Think You Can Dance at Nokia Theater (against my will (even though she will claim it was my idea (which it might have been (but I still deny it)))). We had watched the show every week and really enjoyed it and thought it might be a fun thing to check out for our Anniversary (I bought the tickets then). We got there a little early bit early, fought traffic, got dinner (suprisingly inexpensive) and found our seats. I was suprised how popular it was as we got upper level seats and I bought the tickets about 3 hours after they went on sale. Here is a pic of the lobby during intermission. Packed!

Anyways, the show itself was great. They basically did the best dances of the season and had some entertaining banter between the dances. It was pretty cool seeing them in person, you get a whole differen perspective since you see the whole dance floor and how they move around it and work together. My favorite dance was the bollywood one. A guy at work has gotten me into some bollywood movies lately, so I think that is why I liked the dance. Here is a pic of it.

One of the coolest things that happened was I ran into Jeremy, Bethany and I's old roommate. He and his wife had the same situation as we did (watched the show, he wanted to go and tricked her into thinking it was her idea and he was going along to be a good husband). We got to touch base and catch up some. Hopefully we will get together after my trip. But it was really cool seeing him. And how random, I was taking the crowd picture above when I turned and he was walking up the stairs. We had simeltanous suprise and confusion. It was great. Often in life we are suprised by the coincidences that happen. An old saying says that coincidences are just God's way of staying annonomyus. I like to think that's true. Anyways the show was really great and I would recommend both watching the show and checking out the tour. It's much more entertaining then Idol...in my opinion at least. Anyways, here is a picture of us with me doing my typical horrible self-picture-smile. Enjoy!



P.S.: This picture makes me insane...

White and Nerdy

I haven't had the chance to blog this week as work has been kicking me in the brain hardcore this week. So sorry about that. My buddy Derrick and I went to see Weird Al a few months ago. I was a HUGE Al fan in Jr. High and early High school. So it was cool to go see him. I was kind of amazed how many of the words I still knew. One song of his new songs that I like a bunch is "White and Nerdy". Because afterall, I am white and nerdy. Here's proof...

Yes...we are wearing the same shirt.

Anyways, here is the song if you haven't heard it (in LEGO)...

So am I White and Nerdy? Well I am white...so that's half of it..as for the rest...let's ask AL.

They see me mowin' My front lawn

MC Escher that's My favorite MC

I'll just have an Earl Grey tea

My rims never spin to the contrary You'll find they're quite stationary

All of my action figures and cherries

I got Steven Hawkings in my library

My MySpace page is all totally pimped out

Yo i got pie out of thousand places

I order all of my sandwiches with mayonnaise

I'm a whiz at minesweeper I can play for days

Once you see my sweet moves you're gonna stay amazed, my fingers movin' so fast I'll set the place ablaze

There's no killer rap I haven't run

A past gal well I'm number 1

I play with calculus just for fun

I ain't got a get but I gotta soldering gun

I can sure kick your butt in a game of ping pong

I'll ace any trivia quiz you bring on

all my ergonomic keyboard

Shopping online for deals on some writable media

I edit Wikipedia

I memorized holy grail Really well

ROTFLOL

I got a business doing websites

When my friends need some code who do they call?

I do HTML do for them all

Even make a homepage for my dog!

they were having a sale down at the GAP

I'm nerdy in the extreme and whiter than sour creme

----

Any questions?

Beverly HIlls pt. 2

In honor of Beverly Hills Chihuahua. My list of greatest Beverly Hills movies of all time:

#5:

#4:

#3:

#2:

And the greatest Beverly Hills Movie of all time:
So hit blockbuster and live it up in Beverly Hills!

Beverly Hills

So tonight we took Kennedy to her first real movie ever! She's been to 2 others but as a baby and didn't really know what was going on. But tonight...tonight was her night! We took her to see:

That's right. We saw Beverly Hills Chihuahua on opening night! Every time one of the commercials come on TV Kennedy would stare at the TV very intensely. Every time they showed a dog she would yell "Doggie" or "Yaiya" (as she thinks Chihuahua's are all called Kaiya...since that is what one of hers is called...hehe). So we have been telling her that we would take her to see it when it came out. We even let her pick out her outfit.

Being a dad changes you in many many ways, but one of them is that it totally changes what is important in your life. For instance, 2 years ago had this movie come out, I could have cared less. I would have thought it was cute, being that we have Chi's, but figured I *might* watch it if it came on TV. But today, it was all I could think about. I couldn't wait to get home to pick up my girl's and take them to this movie. I couldn't wait to watch Kennedy watch the movie. See her laugh when something funny happened. See her talk to me and Bethany in her language about what was going on. See her point out all the doggies to us. See her dance on her chair whenever music was played. I can be honest and say that I was more excited about this moving coming out than any other in recent memory. Simply because I knew my child would find Joy in it, and I would find Joy in her Joy.

As a father, your whole goal in raising your child becomes about giving them joy in their life. Not happiness, not comfort, but joy. Sometimes that is taking them to a movie, sometimes it's buying them a toy, usually it's just sitting with them on the floor and playing. But, it's more than that. Sometimes the path to joy is through discipline. When my child is misbehaving or doing something dangerous for them, their best course to joy is through a spanking or discipline. Sometimes, not giving her what she wants and not doing what she wants is what is necessary. Sometimes doing what she hates and doing what causes her temporary pain is what is necessary. Because I am not only seeking her happiness. I am not only seeking her comfort. Although those things are good and necessary, I am seeking her joy in life. I think as a Father, you truly start to understand in some small way how God feels towards us. For just as I am seeking Kennedy's joy, God is seeking mine. So although he has blessed me greatly in many ways, there are times that are tough in my life. There are times when things don't work how I want them. There are times when I can't have what I want. There are times when I hurt and I sorrow and I get angry and life and even God. I can take comfort in knowing that he is after my joy. That these and times where I struggle are for my joy in the long run. As he is teaching me life is not about stuff and things. Life is not about a job or money. Because all those things will pass. Life is about joy. It's about finding yourself in God. It's about trusting and hoping in Him. Knowing He will not fail you. Knowing even if he takes things and people away from your life, his goal is not your pain, but your joy. Just as Kennedy presses into me or Bethany when she is in pain, even if we caused it in some way. We too should press into God in our pain and our suffering and pray that he would see us through. And, trust and know that He will.

By the way, she loved the movie and had a blast, and the movie was actually really entertaining!

Magical

On Wednesday nights I teach a Trig class at a local college. It's a night class so I usually don't get home until about 10pm and so my little girl is usually asleep and her momma is pretty tired. This week I got home at the usual time and like usual, my little girl was asleep. I went in gave her a kiss and prayed over her before hanging out with momma. Bethany has been feeling #2 moving around for the past few weeks in her tummy, but much to my disappointment I have not got the chance yet. I didn't feel Kennedy move until the 2nd week of November (and considering that their due dates are 1 day apart, I assume they are on a similar schedule) so I figured it was at least another month until I would feel the little guy/gal moving around. But, as she always does Bethany lets me know when they are particularly active. As usual, I ran over and put my hand on her tummy very carefully (Kennedy was shy in there and always stopped moving if someone touched her). After a few minutes of nothing I was bummed out again, but figured there are worse places to be then having your hand on your wife's pregnant belly, so I hung out for a while. And that's when it happened...bump. bump. bump. 3 little bumps under my hand, my first physical contact with my child. It's crazy to think that there is a little person inside of Bethany. I think sometimes as a dad it's hard to connect with the baby. I know he/she is coming and I pray for it and get anxious for their arrival. But it's hard sometimes. Watching your wife's belly grow, watching her be uncomfortable all the time, eating weird things, buying new clothes for her and the baby. I love being a part of the pregnancy, but it's tough sometimes not being able to connect with the child, especially so early in the pregnancy. But those 3 little bumps Wednesday night...magical.

The Ken Doll?

A buddy of mine at work saw this "Action Figure" at the store and he bought it for me...

I wonder why...

Someone needs to learn to Thai their shoes...

From http://www.dentonrc.com/

---
A customer of a local Thai eatery apparently couldn't wait to place her lunch order when she drove her car into the dining area.
Andaman Thai Restaurant, in the 500 block of South Elm Street, had its first guest Sunday around noon when a compact car smashed through the faux brick and glass storefront, according to a witness.
About a third of the car was in the restaurant, displacing tables and chairs before coming to a stop, the witness said.
The driver told a server at the restaurant that her shoelace had become tangled with the accelerator.
The cost of repairing the damages is unknown, but workers had to turn away customers Sunday as they boarded up the hole.
---

I just couldn't resist the pun! For whatever reason me and one of some of my buddies at work have decided that life is more fun if you make bad jokes. I must say that D-rock is by far and away the master of these. A simple mention of Moscow or Russia begets a conversation like the following...

D-Rock: Man, that project is really Putin a lot of pressure on you.

Special K: *sigh*

D-Rock: Why are they Russian so fast to finish the project. It's not like you've been Stalin.

Special K: *sigh*

D-Rock: Man you look tired. Do you need to change the Lenin's on your bed. Seriously, I hear the beef industry is booming over there, Moscow is the capital after all. (Mas Cow...as in many cow's in Spanish).

Eventually he will try and force a Medvedev, Perestroika or Glasnost into the conversation and it falls flat.

Anyways, this is my life at work. Just thought I would share.

Note: The names were changed to protect the innocent...

Deep Fried Fair!

Today we rolled out to one of our favorite annual traditions...The Texas State Fair! Not only is it the largest fair in the US...it's the largest fair in Texas! We went last year when Kennedy was 7 months old, so she had way more fun this year! Below are some of the high (perhaps low) lites!

As you (should) know, one thing the fair is know for is it's Deep Fried food. Our first year here Bethany and I ate some deep-fried Oreo's and a deep-fried Snickers bar. The result of that adventure was neither one of us comsuming a Oreo or Snickers bar (deep-fried or not) for over 2 years. Last year's winner was "Deep-fried Coke"...basically coke syrup in batter and fried...we missed out due to not wanting to wait in line. That being said, the winner of the new food tournament this year was...Chicken Fried Bacon! Being a fan of both Chicken Fried and Bacon, I could not resist.

The Bacon

The Competitor

Official analysis: It wasn't bad at all. It tasted like a saltier crispier baconier Chicken Fried Steak. So all in all I give it 2 thumbs up. We'll see how my scale liked it tomorrow morning...

Something else I realized today is my little girl is becoming a more and more a little girl and less and less a baby every day. I took a picture of her playing in the sand at the fair last year, and again this year. My heart breaks to see how much she's grown!

These pictures of Kennedy where taken on Oct 1st 2007 and Sep 27th 2008. I love the similarities and contrasts of these two pictures. If we remember we'll try to take a similar picture every year so we can see her grow!


So all in all, we had a great day! Did Kennedy have fun? You tell me...

Beautiful

Today we went to the hospital to visit some good friends of ours and there 2 day old baby girl. She was born 4 weeks early and currently weights 4 pounds 10 ounces. It reminded me of my little girl when she was born (although at a more hefty 7 pounds 13 ounces). There are few things in life more beautiful and precious than a newborn baby. They are so small, fragile and helpless. Yet at the same point there is something beautiful about knowing that inside that little body is a life to be lived. In that moment when you first hold your child in your arms there is so much fear and worry, yet at the same point so much joy and hope. When I first held Kennedy in my arms, I remember thinking for the first time really understanding how much God really loves me. As I was holding my little girl in my arms, I realized that I loved this person more than life itself. And even though she may be unaware of it at that point I still loved her like I could never have imagined. From the moment she was born I would love her and chase her and woo her and cherish her. I also realized that God felt that way about us and even more. The love I had for my daughter pales in comparison to the love God has for us, I felt so humbled by that thought and pray that I never forget.

About 4.5 months from now Bethany and I will welcome our 2nd child into this world. Until today, it still wasn't real for whatever reason, I knew it was coming and I was excited, but I think being a dad it's hard to connect with the child in your wife's womb. Afterall, she is the one who gets to feel the movements, has the side-effects and gets to watch and feel her body change, while the man is kind of along for the ride. But after seeing that beautiful little girl today and then looking at my own beautiful little girl it all hit me. 4 months from now we get our own little one to watch grow and nurture and love. I remember wantin Kennedy to grow up so fast and every day I was excited to see her crawl, then walk, then talk etc. But I can barely remember that little tiny girl I held in my arms in March 2007. I can not wait to welcome our next child into this world and I pray that I will savor every moment of their life. I know now that although I will be excited for them to crawl, then walk, then talk, I will beg them to wait. Beg them to slow down growing up, because I know that in an instant my little girl and my little 2nd one will be moving out and starting their own life. So I will cherish each day and thank God he was gracious enough to give me my wife and children to spend them with.

I got into an argument at work today....

Over whether or not chronological order implied the passage of time from a given moment moving forward, or whether it meant an ordering of time either forward or backward, but must then be clarified as to which it was. I claimed that chronological order was from a moment going forward, and if one wanted to order going backwards they must state "reverse chronological order." They disagreed saying it wasn't implied, it was just an order. We then got into a discussion of whether time was a well-order or a total-order. It was at that point I realized that I am really really lame and just went to my desk and cried inside...

Ken's quote of the day...

Today on MSNBC at work...



They were doing a story discussing the use of toll HOV lanes during peak periods on our highways and interviewed your average Joe America. Who provided this quote:



"If you save 20 minutes a day coming and going, it adds up over time"

Now that's what I call reporting!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words....

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