Built Ford Tough

Built Ford Tough is such a true statement. I have always driven Ford vehicles and I will continue to drive Ford vehicles for my entire time spent on Earth. Yesterday I was given the unfortunate opportunity to experience "Built Ford Tough". On Tuesday we had another blizzard dropping 6-8" of snow depending on where you are in Cincinnati. Wednesday morning the roads were still in bad conditions.

I happened to be driving on 275 east at around 10AM and noticed that there was not much snow on this highway compared to others, but the road was still wet. Ahead of me just past the Reed Hartman Road exit was a car in the slow lane that appeared to be almost stopped or going unusually slow (maybe 30MPH) so I decided to casually change lanes.

The next thing I know I fishtailed and am heading straight on towards the highway divider wall for a head on collision. I immediately braked and turned the wheel to correct. I ended up over correcting sending the back part of my truck slamming into the wall. Luckily there was no other vehicles close to me at all front back or side to side. It was a hard hit against the wall. Everything went flying inside my cab and my insides were shaking from the impact. It had appeared that black ice had made me lose control. No vehicle can fight the black ice. When I finally gained composure, I jumped out to survey the damage.



Believe it or not the only thing that I could find wrong with my truck was a small dent on the driver side of the rear bumper. The bumper is also slightly bent and dislodged. Am I lucky or what. There was definitely someone watching out for me and my truck. It was a humbling experience.

Bottom Line - Bring on the Spring.

Alivexchange

I recently had a discussion with my wife about live entertainment. I used to go to see a lot bands at various venues. I was never really into going to see movies in a theater, unless it was LOTR or Star Wars or the latest movie containing comic book heroes. I prefer live entertainment. The problem with live entertainment for me is that it starts so late in the evening and often ends the next morning. At most places, the opening band goes on at 10:30 or 11:00PM and the headlining act goes on at 12:30 or 1:00AM. What is up with that, especially on weeknights? Now that I'm an old married man with a kid, I don't do that so much anymore. In fact, I can barely stay up past 10PM on weekends. Why can't live entertainment be scheduled to start in primetime like TV shows. I'd much rather go watch a live performance than a CSI re-run or the new episode of Ugly Betty.

In our conversation, we were dreaming of live shows starting at 8 or 9PM and being done by 10:30PM on weeknights and weekends. The very next day I received an e-vite for a show on a Friday night that starts at 8PM and includes dinner. It was as if our dreams came true in an instant. So tomorrow night my wife and I will be going on a date to eat dinner and see a live improv show from the Q City Players.

Bottom Line - Dreams really do come true.

25 Things

I have been reading some peoples 25 random things on facebook, but like Elaine, I wanted to do it on the blog instead. Here we go.



1. I like to collect and listen to vinyl records

2. I used to despise the show "Lost" until my wife turned me. Now I'm hooked.

3. I used to have a vietnamese pot belly pig as a pet for a week until a neighbor called the local authorities and we had to get rid of it. It was named Porky.

4. I perform tasks and duties 100% more efficiently if I'm listening to music.

5. I like to make song playlist cd mixes.

6. I am currently taking a Zumba latin dance/exercise class.

7. I know almost every word to the movies "White Christmas" and "The Sound of Music"

8. I broke my leg as a child by jumping off of a step.

9. I gave my wife a green plastic heart shape ring when I proposed to her and she said yes.

10. My wife cuts my nose hairs for me.

11. I once had over 600 cds. This was before itunes and electronic music.

12. The best Christmas gift in my life was a GT Vertigo bike.

13. Speaking of Vertigo, last year I was diagnosed with Vertigo. Luckily medication made it go away.

14. I was baptized in the year 2000.

15. I didn't start enjoying reading or writing until after college.

16. When people say certain words it triggers a song into my head. My wife calls me a human jukebox.

17. I have an extensive Star Wars toy collection. The originals of course.

18. I like to give everything nicknames or code names. People and objects both.

19. I drink two gallons of milk a week.

20. I used to despise Jane Austen movies, now I like them. My sister and wife teamed up and converted me. Now that is what we do on Friday nights.

21. I am 1'-3" taller than my wife.

22. I got married on St. Patrick's Day

23. I can beat you at anything we compete in.

24. I have only driven and will only ever drive Ford vehicles my entire life.

25. Bottom Line - I like bottom lines.

Once

Please note that this is not a movie recommendation. I watched this movie over the weekend, but I am not ready to recommend the movie until I see it again and decide, but I am however going to recommend the soundtrack. The movie is a weird plot with an irish guy and a chezch girl and contains some language that is unnecessary, but the music parts of the movie are great. This is an example of one of the great songs from the movie.




The rest of the soundtrack is just as great if you are looking for some passionate independent music.

Bottom Line - A good movie starts with a good soundtrack

The Epic Battle

It has been almost two years to the date in which I have had possesion of the keys to my house in Finneytown. Jess first moved in and then I followed once we were married in March 2007. In the two quick years we have had the house we have done an extraordinary amount of work on the house. Major items such as removing walls, re-finishing wood floors, replacing floors, removing and replacing kitchen cabinets, painting, gutting bathrooms and so on. We have had the need for many tools and building materials for all of our improvement projects.

Thus began the epic battle: Lowes Vs. Home Depot. Home Depot had the immediate advantage being that two locations were remotely accessible from our house. However Lowes had it's own advantage because it is located near church which we were around every weekend either on Saturday nights or Sunday mornings. We began to use both at first, but after time, one of the two began to stand out for almost exclusive use.



Lowes is the winner. We still use Home Depot from time to time only if we know exactly what we need and if it is a common item where brand or quality does not matter for example water cut off valves, drywall, or insulation. Lowes is our prefered place for all major purchases. In my experience, Lowes has a more knowledgeble and trained staff that is very helpful with tips and ideas for the do it yourself people like us. They are always nice and honest and accurate with the information they give you. It is just a better experience all around. Before Lydia was born Jess and I used to have date nights. Instead of dinner and a movie, it was dinner and Lowes almost every Friday night.

To us a good improvement store experience is important because we are taking the suggestions and information of the people working there and often making them semi-permanant by implementing them in our house projects. Jess and I consider the guy in the flooring department at the Tri-County Lowes a family friend. He has never let us down yet, and we will continue to visit him until every inch of floor space in our house has been redone.

Bottom Line - If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If it is broke, go to Lowes.

Lydia Jam

Tonight Lydia and I had our first jam session





Bottom Line - Music is a language