My Christmas Love

Me and Alladin (the christmas camel) at Mount Vernon

Looking back

I decided to look back on some of my November posts. Two years ago, I was alone on Thanksgiving eating a Hungry man XXL dinner. Four years ago, I lost my grandpa Schneider. Of course, I had my usual comments about elections, veterans day and thanksgivings past. Yet, for some reason this November feels like there is sense of loneliness in life. Yeah, I have my mom and my brother and sister-in-law along with my nephew are coming in this thanksgiving. I am very thankful for that, but with dad now gone these past four months it seems like my spirit has been moving me in a direction I haven't felt in quite a long time.

This past Veterans Day, the guys at the funeral home finally laid the headstone for my dad. It was only fitting for him on this day since he served in the Air Force. I tend to enjoy this holiday a little bit more than even Christmas not that I don't celebrate our Jesus birthday, but I that I am so thankful in my life that words can't describe. I know that for years I have taken my dad for granted. Whether it was cooking waffles on Saturday, cutting trees, or doing some home improvement projects. Dad would always be the one to do it. Now, I'm one who has to learn how to cut trees ( even though I'm not a fan of doing that kind of stuff).

Maybe I'm slowly letting my guard down and trying to open my heart a little more to others and less of myself. It still isn't easy but I feel I'm heading in the right direction. After all I now I have extra pair of eyes looking down on me. We all will miss him when the holidays come especially his laugh........I think I get my sense of humor from him.

Signed

Tim Crippen

My first NBA game

As a kid growing up my brother and I would compete against each other in game of basketball or in a game H-O-R-S-E just to see who was better. I think my brother won that contest that's why I enjoy baseball a little bit more. Basketball hereoes in our days were Michael Jordan, Majic johnson and Larry Bird. Now the NBA stars are Kobe Bryant, Carmelo anthony and Lebron James. Well, last night I saw my first ever NBA in person as the Miami Heat took on the Oklahoma City Thunder. A sold out game that produce little if any excitement out of me. I know it's only a preseason game, but for some reason I was expecting a little more.

Sure King james had a couple of nice dunks, but I was like where was the excitement. The NBA slogan years ago was "NBA it's fantastic." My slogan would be "NBA.....ehh it's okay." I honestly think the highlights of the night weren't even on the court. Bill Self, Ku basketball coach was there to see his former players Cole Aldrich and Mario Chalmers play. His wife was with him and they showed the lovely couple on the Kiss Cam segment. Also, there was loudmouth near us that was making funny comments throughtout the third quarter.

Will I go to another NBA game.....I doubt it...unless somebody else pays for the tickets

Signed Tim " NBA is better on TV than seeing it in person" Crippen

PS: Here is a nice picture now that's fantastic.

The Great Adventure known as Yellowstone

If you have ever seen the movie "A river runs through it" starring Brad Pitt you know that in parts of the film they do a little fly fishing in Montana. Well, I didn't do in fly fishing (but should have) ,but I did drive Highway 191 from Bozeman to West Yellowstone. A scenic highway that is up there with the likes of Route 66 and the Pacific Coast Highway.

Since January, I had plan this trip to Yellowstone to see majestic mountains, animals in the wild and the occasional fly fisherman fishing down the Snake river. This trip ended up being more than even I expected or maybe to put in another perspective.....pictures of this place don't do it justice you have to be here to see it for yourself. I can see why they call this area "god's country" because of just how big this place really is in it's unique wonderland.

My trip started with taking scenic highway 191 while I was driving my rental car a 2010 chevy cobalt...nice car for the vacation. As I enter into West Entrance of the Park the cost for admission into the park was $25 for seven days. I drive a little ways and see my first elk....oh what an ahh moment. Then I came across a place in area call Canyon Falls where in the picture below is a place called "Artist Point".
Breathtaking view that still makes me wonder today how grand this powerful waterfall really is. There is a place not too far from the canyon falls call inspiration point, but to me I call it a reflecting point. Yes, the place when you see it is very inspiring, but for me it was time of reflecting of where your life is and where you've been before and to look forward in the future to come. It gave me chance to think about my dad, it only had been two weeks since his passing that I had taken this trip, but in the end it was well worth it. He still would have told me to go on this trip and explore this great adventure known as Yellowstone.

Signed
Tim Crippen

PS: enjoy the pics

The strange T-bones game that never got played

Okay so, I'm finishing off my T-bones debit card that my brother and sister-in-law gave me for Christmas. I invited my cousin and we had some great seats...first row right behind home plate. It had been dry for close to two weeks and with hot temperatures in the 100's this week you think your going to be sitting in a hot seats with a bunch sweaty strangers all trying to watch the game. When I bought the tickets on Wednesday, the weather forecast predicted a slight chance a rain on Friday Night.





Well last night......Murphy's Law came into play.



First of all never buy tickets for a game on Friday the 13th......that should have been my first clue.

Second my cousin shows up a little late

Third a storm rolls in (ahhh it'll be just a passing shower)

The tarp is on....well I just a get a chicken finger basket and something to drink)

Sizzle vision is on and their showing the Chiefs preseason game....I know their trying to entertain fans, but if I wanted to watch the game I could be at home where it is dry. While the tarp was out I should have used it as slip and slide....now that would have been entertaining.

The theme for last night's game was zombie night.....now, I'm wondering if God just really has a big sense of humor.....Friday the 13th, a major storm, and zombies? Coincidence?

Around 8:30 the PA announcer says that domestic beers are two for one the rest of the night.

At 8:52 the announcer comes back on and says that the National weather Service says that the storm will break in about 10 minutes and hopefully (the key word) will play some baseball.

At 9:00 the storm got pretty powerful and not only did it knock the power out at the ballpark, but also for the rest of the Legends area. Okay, right there should have been a clue
that the game should have been cancelled.

9:30 ...when was the storm suppose to pass on by?

10:00 My cousin and I left went to Taco Bueno and had a chicken quesidilla....a wash out weird game that never got played.

Signed
Tim "what a weird night" Crippen

We will miss you dad 1945-2010

Just a couple of pictures of my dad

The Big 12 Break-Up

College sports will never be the same again as teams from the Big 12, I mean Big 11 oops I mean Big 10, no wait I know what they need to call it the super 6. Early this week Colorado announced that they would leave for the Pac-10 conference. Then yesterday Nebraska made it official by bolting for the Big 10. Rumors are also flying around for the rest of the conference teams as the rest of the teams from the south side of Big 12 might leave for the Pac-10, KU might join the Big East, Mountain West or Conference USA and K-state........okay are you just as confused as to where these teams are going.
The only reason why teams are breaking up and joining these major conferences is for the money. They look at the almighty dollar and don't see the fans perspective. With states cutting funding to these major universities, schools are trying to find new ways make money even if means joining another conference. Let me give you example the University of Nebraska is going to more than double their revenue for their athletic dept because their joining the Big 10. Ditto for Colorado and for any other team that wants to take the money and run.
Nebraska yesterday had their press conference and the chancellor of the university just blasted the two schools responsible for this break-up. First he blames Texas for this because they blockade to create a big 12 network, then they blame Missouri for here reports that they might leave back in December.
What I am more mad about is that you won't see some of these old rivalries again. The other part is the geographic location for traveling. Seriously, if KU goes to the Big East are you going to be excited for a KU vs. Georgetown football game in D.C. This is a big mistake.

Signed
Tim "confused college fan" Crippen

There are certain movies you just don't remake.

With the summer movie season getting underway this weekend.....you will see some sequels like Iron man 2, Sex and the city 2 and yes for the final chapter Shrek 4. You will also see some remakes like the A-Team and old 80's tv show that from looking at the previews looks pretty good. However, there are just some films that you just don't remake and one of them is the "Wizard of Oz".

Really? Are you kidding me why do you want to remake a classic. If Frank Baum the writer of the wizard of oz were alive he would say "you already made it once, can't you just leave my book alone." How do I know that their possibly making a remake. Well, not to long ago Robert Downey Jr. was being interview for his film Iron Man 2, but said that he was in talks about playing a part in the new wizard of oz film that wouldn't be out until 2013. If you still don't believe me look it up on imdb.com.

With all the technology and special effects that they do to alot of the these films there is just something about the original that makes it unique. Plus, this just shows you that hollywood can't come up with something original. Now, if they decide to make this awful remake, I would make a few suggestions on who should play some of the parts.

Dorothy: Reese Witherspoon because she can sing, but if their isn't a lot of singing then Ellen page of "Juno" fame would work.

Scarecrow: Hugh Jackman Tin Man: Liam Neeson The cowardly lion: Jack Black or Robert Downey Jr. The good witch from the North: Cate Blanchett or Nicole Kidman
The wicked witch of the west: This was probably the toughest choice of them all either Joan Collins of "Dynasty" fame or Jane Fonda. The wizard himself: Christopher Lloyd or Sean Connery.

Who would you put in these parts if they made this film?

Signed
Tim "please don't do this remake" Crippen

Tea Party 2010

Enjoy these pictures of the Tea Party in Kansas City in 2010.

The Health Care Fight

The moment President Obama signed the Health Care Bill .....I knew that the majority Americans would not be giving up on this fight. Already 14 states have filed lawsuits against this bill and the Republicans will remind people in November that we didn't vote for this garbage. This bill is nothing more on the infringement on our Constitution, it raises taxes and the worse part is that bill is that if you don't have insurance you get fined or thrown to jail. What kind of nonsense is this. Now some people will say that this is no different than buying car insurance.....I would disagree. When you are buying car insurance your buying it for you and the others that you might hurt if you get into wreck. If I want health insurance it should be just for paying for what I need not for some obese person who needs gastric bybass surgery cause he couldn't stop eating. Now I'll admit that we do need changes in health care, but not like this. First reduce the cost of the premiums, second people with pre existing conditions shouldn't be denied and third there needs to be some major tort reforms so that people are not so lawsuit happy. I haven't seen people so mad at such an issue that I wouldn't be surprise to see a revolution in this country.

Signed
Tim "mad as hell" Crippen

Final Four Picks

It's time for my final four picks this year and this year I'm just giving my picks ......no explainations for it. My four teams are Kansas, Villanova, Kentucky and Pittsburg. The national champions this year......I hate to say it Rock chalk, jayhawk ......go KU.


Signed
Tim "welcome to march madness" Crippen

The Million dollar card giveaway and Nelson atkins museum

You all have heard of Charlie and the Chocolate factory where charlie tries to find a golden ticket to visit the factory. Well, this is the baseball card collectors version of that story. The Topps card company is doing a promotion this year where their giving away a million cards. Get one one these insert card and you can unlock any card from 1952 to 2009 including the 1952 mickey mantle rookie card. As you unlock the cards you can do one of many things. You can have the original cards that you unlock delivered to you, trade them online or leave them in a drawing for a chance for an entire set of 1952 Topps.......as a card collector I was geeked up on this promo way to go topps.

Now, last week I went to the Nelson Atkins museum for the very first time and I'll admit that I actually like the place even though I'm not a big art person. Here's a couple of pictures of the museum.

Signed

Tim Crippen

Stop Clowning around

Lately Pastor Dave has been coming up with some great sermon series as well as titles. However, last week's title of "Stop clowning around" really kind of hit home with me. He talked about how we should be able to enjoy to life and laugh at things. Instead of being chained up.....and some of us put those chains on ourselves. We need to to take our next steps to get closer to God and stop clowning around.
It seems like my life has kind of been that way and only lately have I been trying to take those steps because of a certain family situation. Why does it seem like God takes a near tragedy in their family to wake up your life? I mean there are so many things in my life that I would like to do that for some reason or another is not happening. I mean I would like to work in the sports industry, I would like to get marry, I would like to have kids........there are so many goals that it would take a little awhile.
I tend to put some of those chains on myself, but I also know that I need to search God's will in my life that I think there are some things even in my own heart that it still needs cleaning up. I'm really trying to stop clowning around and become the man that God really wants me to be .

Signed
Tim 'trying to open my heart" Crippen

New years prediction

This happens to be a milestone on this blog this is #150 on my posts. It also happens to be another time for new years predictions. I just look back on last year's post on my predictions. I was really surprise that I got a lot of them right this year.

#1 I finally pay off the credit card on May 15

#2 Gov. Blagovich was removed from office

#3 Obama selceted Sonya Sotomayor as newest supreme court justice

#4 In late Novemeber the unemployment rate saw double digits

#5 stock market did dip below 7,000

Those were the ones I got right...the others were wrong or were judgement calls......look on January 2009 and see for yourself.


Now for this year's predictions

#1 A major world leader will get himself into some major hot water (I know this one is kind of vague, but trust me on this one)

#2 The San Diego chargers will win the Superbowl this year

#3 Kansas Jayhawks will win the National men's basketball championship

#4 Health Care Reform will not pass this year.....(with this being a mid term election year)

#5 On the TV show "the office" Pam's little baby will be a boy and Michael Scott will have to drive her to the hospital because Jim is stuck at airport because of sales meeting. ( It could happen)

#6 A major hurrricane will hit the east coast this year

#7 Commerical real estate is really going to get hit hard this year as you see even more empty buildings.

#8 The Jay leno show this year will be eithier cancelled or will be shown on a partial basis say like only one or two nights a week.

#9 The post office this year will finally stop delievering mail on Saturdays.

#10 The Kansas city royals will just be the royals a below 500 team again this year.

Chew on that folks for this year

Signed
Tim " happy new decade" Crippen