2008 Top 10

Here is my Top 10 list for the year 2008:

10. Only gained a couple .lbs. (trying to lose them).
9. Developed the likeness for the the Bow Tie
8. Started and have kept up with (sort of) a Blog.
7. Started a new job. (if I hadn't I may be out of one now)
6. Got to see the Arizona Cardinals clinch a Playoff birth!!
5. Discovered the beauty of Lake Tahoe
4. Finally made the call to hook up HD/DVR (unfortunately, we will not get to enjoy this until 2009. But I MADE THE CALL).
3. Stayed healthy.
2. Celebrated my 8th Wedding Anniversary.
1. Knocked up my wife. We are having a BABY!!!

Ok, so maybe this list isn't complete and maybe it's not truly my top 10. But I am still going to be a dad. Just wait for the 2009 Top 10 list. I'm sure there will be many interesting items listed. You will have to wait 365 days to find out!

HAPPY NEW YEAR. MAY YOU HAVE A BLESSED 2009!

-James

A Sad Day, Yet A Proud Accomplishment

As most of you know I spend a fair amount of time in my car. We have developed a sort of bond. I spend more time in my car than one person should. I do have a respect for my car. Lisa and I were blessed enough to pay it off under the term limit and I now have a true sense of ownership. What an accomplishment, I now own a depreciated vehicle. (I truly do like it and am proud to own it). Today I hit another milestone of accomplishment. When I left the house this morning I had a lot of miles put on the car but nothing worth blogging about. On my way home from work all of that changed. As I passed Honda Cars of McKinney (where we purchased the car) I saw this on my odometer.

As things go in the world, one mile later I saw this.That's right...I have now put over 100,000 miles on my '04 Honda Accord. Thank goodness it's a Honda. I have another 100,000 miles to go and plus some. At this point I can proudly say that this is the best vehicle I have purchased to date (I've only purchased 5).

So this is nothing life changing, but it is something that I have known was inevitable. My baby is growing up! tear...

Enjoy!
-James

'Tis the Season.

OK, so with only 5 shopping days left until Christmas, I feel it is time to share my thoughts on the "Christmas Consumer". 1 word...CRAZY! This person is a different breed. With time running out there is a sense of desperation in the air. This year is a bit more desperate. With less money to go around retailers have slashed prices and slashed again. Each item that a customer buys is needing to be special in it's own right. In the past people have wrapped 2 and 3 things in one package, this year they are wrapped separately. There is still a feeling of joy in the air but unfortunately the desperation turns into anger, rudeness, then craziness. The idea of joy is almost forgotten. So, I encourage you when shopping...be patient, smile, and remember that the people working in stores are there to help you but they want to be joyous as well. So be nice!! Now, stop reading this and go shopping. You are running out of time.

Photo

I was tagged by Lisa. I tag nobody because everyone else has done this.The object of the picture tag is to:

1) Choose the 4th folder where you store your pictures on your computer

2) Select the 4th picture in the folder

3) Explain the picture

4) Tag 4 people to do the sameNO CHEATING! (cropping, editing, etc!)

This photo is one of my all famous self portraits. I mean come on...you all do it. Just to let you know, the 3rd and 5th picture are self portraits as well. Not really!

Playoffs Baby!!!

Ok, so I know that there are a few weeks left in the NFL season. However, as a Cardinals fan, I get to celebrate a bit early. Can you say NFC WEST CHAMPIONS?? try it....it feels so good. Yes I know that the first two words are 'NFC WEST' aka: weak division. But Champions none the less. What does this mean? Well... 4 things.

1) The Cardinals will host their 1st ever playoff game since they have been in AZ.
2) Cardinals fans are in new territory...we can actually root for our team in the playoffs.
3) Kurt Warner could win his 3rd MVP award
4) The Cardinals just gained an entirely new fan base (all of the Cowboys Fans who don't want any of the other teams to win, assuming the boys don't make it...i know big assumption).

3 more regular season games and then it is on to the Playoffs!!!!
Please excuse my early excitement. I now know what it feels like to cheer for a football team that will play at least 1 more game. Even better news...I will get to watch it in HD (assuming it will be on in Dallas), that's right I finally made the call...HD/DVR in the Burgess house!!! (I'm finally getting into this new millennium stuff).

Please do us all a favor. If your team is not making the playoffs...cheer for the Red Bird!!
-James

Help the World

I've been meaning to blog about this for a little while and finally have the opportunity.  Lately I have been compelled to think more charitable.  I am living a blessed life and do not go without, partly because of the country I was born into.  While working the other day, a lady was sharing her feelings to me on the topic of charities and donations.  She told me how she cannot understand why everyone chooses to donate to countries other than the United States.  She doesn't understand sending food or clothing to Africa, Ethiopia, Argentine (may not be the specific countries she is talking about you get the point), when there are children and families in America who need food, clothing, $$.  I see her point and understand that this is a need "at home".  But I also feel that in America we have the means and organizations set up to help these people; churches, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Goodwill, private citizens, etc.  These third world countries do not have this structure of organizations, nor do most of them have the means.  I know we can help our fellow Americans, but why can't we help those overseas as well.  In America to buy a meal for someone it may cost $5-$8.  For $10 one can feed 25 people a meal in the above mentioned countries.  I'm not saying don't help people "at home" but by all means why can't we think GLOBAL?  There are so many organizations where we can spend $30 a month and support a child's nutrition, clothing, and education (things that we take for granted every day).  I understand that in this economic climate, $30 may sound like a lot, but think of what you would have to give up versus what they will gain.  Example: a dinner at Chili's every month, could feed and educate a child.  Doesn't seem like that high of a price.  So what if you have to eat a grilled cheese that you had to cook off of your electric stove that you have the smarts to work, in your warm house?  (did I go to far?).  Anyways, I had to bite my tongue when she was talking to me, so now you get to read what I wanted to say.  Also, this time of year, take a look around to see what you can do to help people here or overseas.  Thanks for allowing me to get this off of my heart.
-James
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Don't mess with Rudolph

As mentioned before, Lisa and I had the opportunity to go to the ICE exibit at the Gaylord. We also just got a new video camera, you know, for the big day! So I figured what better time to learn to use the camera then at our fun outing. So I was filming some stuff around the resort and caught this. Funny thing is that I did not realize what happened until after I got home and watched the video. I hope you find this as amusing as I did. Didn't anyone ever tell this kid not to pet reindeers while they are eating? Enjoy!
-James