Super bowl in a cold city

We are just less than a week away from the Superbowl in New York City...oh sorry I mean new jersey as the Denver Broncos take on the Seattle Seahawks. This is a first for the big game as they are hosting the championship game in cold city without a roof.  In years past they have hosted in cold cities with a dome....Minneapolis, Detroit and Indy to name a few. Majority of them have been held in warm climates San Diego, Phoenix, tampa or Miami.  So why try to host a superbowl in cold weather facility without a roof? I don't know ask NFL commissioner Roger goodell and his selection committee. I think it is stupid to have it there for multiple reasons...one it is too freaking cold outside for any sane fane to sit out in. Two there is possibly a chance for a blizzard to happen causing the outcome of the game. Three your corporate sponsors would rather be in a nice warm suite.  The halftime show will be okay Bruno mars and red hot chilli peppers....hopefully they able to move the floor around. Prediction score Broncos 28-Seattle 25.

Signed
Tim "ready for the game" Crippen

PS
Hey at least next year it will be in phoenix.

holiday films

After spending time with family and friends, stuffing myself with thanksgiving leftovers and just shopping till I drop.  There's a time where we need to take a break thank god for his mighty  blessings as well as enjoy a good holiday flick.  Here are my top 10 holiday flicks that have some theme for the holidays.

10. Die Hard.....I know it's action pack film, but it happens during Christmas time and it made Bruce Willis a star.

9. Scrooged....Bill Murray playing a modernization of this classic tale....still gets a chuckle

8. The Grinch that stole Christmas....Jim Carrey plays excellent Grinch that nobody could hardly recognize him.

7. Jingle all the way....Anytime you do a comedy about black Friday and finding the right toy with a little element of truth gets my vote.  Although Arnold and Sinbad couldn't act worth darn.

6. Miracle on 34th street....the black and white version not the newer one.

5. National lampoon's Christmas...Anytime you get Chevy chase involving Christmas lights that are overpowering your going to laugh.

4.Elf....I saw this in the movie theater when it first came out and now it's become a classic.  Not the biggest will Ferrell fan, but he does make you laugh. Also having a comedy legend like  bob Newhart doesn't hurt either

3.Planes, trains, and automobiles...probably my all time favorite comedy taking place during thanksgiving time...Steve Martin and John Candy worked so well together too bad they didn't  make another film together....So many zingers and too many too count.

2.It's a wonderful life....I think this film relates to so many people where at one time or another we have had family problems, financial problems and bosses we don't like and yet somewhere out there were trying to do right thing.

1. A Christmas story....When your movie is shown on Christmas day 24hrs your a classic. The 1940's story reminds me of Christmas's past and going to malls to see window displays that delight any 10 year old.  It never gets old

I'm sure I forgot some, but hey this my list feel free comment any other holiday films.

Signed
Tim Crippen

The end of obamacare?

I was looking back in my march of 2010 post about the so called ACA (affordable health care act) that everything that happen was coming true.  Premiums went up either by double or triple. States sued the federal government over the mandate and lost. Now, we have people who have had their insurance cancelled because it didn't carry enough requirements of the new law. A website that is run by idiots and buffoons who can't keep identity thiefs out. Folks, this is just the tip of the iceberg of what is coming down the road. The people who are losing their insurance are self insurers when this things gets fully implemented you will see more people losing their insurance from their work place or the employee will paying more on his premiums depending on the employer. You will be seeing doctors retiring or not participating in this program.  Can you really see anything good from this? Now, the say website will be running real well by the end of this month?  Anybody, want $25 bet on that there won't be any glitches by November 30th. Folks, this thing needs to be repealed period....not that things were better before this law, but the fact that the government is trying to run this scares the hell out of me.

Signed
Tim"have a happy thanksgiving" Crippen

End of Era?

Could this be the last time we see the fall classic?   No, I am not talking the world series I am talking about the fall classic at arrowhead between my alma mater Pittsburg State vs. Northwest Missouri State.  Both teams are in MIAA conference and have recently won division 2 national championships.  Since 2002, this contest usually is really close but last weekend could be the last time these two meet at arrowhead stadium.  Why?  Well, the conference has expanded and both are having to play on rotating basis. Hence for now temporary suspending fall classic for two years.  I was glad to go to my game along with my cousin Jeffrey.  Even tough we lost 24-15....it was still fun game none the less. Go gorillas and hopefully we see those nasty bearcats in the playoffs.

Signed
Tim Crippen

PS: It has been five months to the day since I wrote my last post ...I will try to do much better about writing on my post.

memorial day 2013

As we take time to enjoy this memorial day, let us not forget those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.   This past weekend was really special not only being the holiday weekend, but to see my grandparents old farm.  It was nice when mom and I went to grave site to see my dad, grandparents and my two aunts that are buried.  We placed flowers near the grave site and then we decided to go to the grandparents farm.   While driving to the farm, there is sign that said " Do you believe in life after death?  If you do keep on trespassing."   There were parts of the farm that you recognize, but there things that I definitely didn't recognize.  It was an emotional day.

I HAVE FAILED

Coming back from Florida I was not a happy camper.  I was hoping by this time, I would be back at work in florida.  No, instead I'm back in kansas still looking for work.   I know people might wonder what happen in florida...right now I really don't want to divulge to much information at this time. I know lately I have completely shut off my friends or I am pretending to be happy.  Some people didn't even know that I had even left kansas. Is this childish?  You make your own judgements.  I know that one particular friend has now kind of disown me.  He has unfriend me on facebook, then after he unfriends me he sends me nasty message with some choice words.   I know, I know I probably deserve it, but if he thinks I am singling him out he is totally wrong.  Just because I make a post or maybe respond to another person's post doesn't mean I am singling them out.   There have been other friends who have sent me messages and I haven't responded to them either......He has even called and text me on my cell phone wondering what I am doing florida????   WTF do you think I am doing in Florida I am trying to find work that is challenging me and hopefully can pay me decent wage that I can live on.   You don't need to call me up every week....If something new comes up I'll say it.   It's nothing personal against my friend just right now I really want to be left alone.   When I feel like I want to talk I will talk......right now the focus should be getting back to work.  Sorry, if this sounds like I am on my soapbox, but I am just not happy right now.   I know this phase in my life will eventually pass, but it seems to be taking longer than normal.....after all I have failed.

So the journey begins

If you ever saw the lord of the rings the first one of the three you know that Frodo and Sam set out for journey.   Today, I started my great adventure....if you don't know where I am going just look at Jan. 2013 post and it will explain everything.  I pack mostly basics to get by and few extras hoping to find my next job or career hopefully in Florida.   I said my goodbyes to mom and ernie in the morning and off I went.   I stop by the mall deli in pittsburg, ks and ordered a reuben sandwich haven't had one in years and this one was pretty good. It's still the popular place in town....drove down I-49 through Arkansas beautiful scenery.  I thought I would make it to Little Rock. AR instead made it to Conway just outside....and this is only day one.  Right now, I am typing this post here in Room 230 at a Motel 6 ....hey it's cheap.

Sincerely,
Tim

PS: Happy Birthday to my nephew nate who turns three years old on Monday.

CREATIVE VALENTINES DAY POST

                               
                                          GODIS                       GODIS
                                  GODIS        GOD               IS        GODIS
                           GODIS                 GOD         IS             GODIS
                        GODIS                            GODIS                GODIS
                          GODIS                                                       GODIS
                       GODIS                                                       GODIS
                          GODIS                                                       GODIS
                             GOD                     LOVE                            IS
                               GOD                                                         IS
                                 GOD                                                       IS
                                     GOD                                                  IS
                                        GOD                                            IS
                                            GOD                                   IS
                                                 GOD                           IS
                                                     GOD                 IS
                                                           GOD       IS
                                                                 GODIS

HAPPY EARLY VALENTINE'S DAY TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

When it's time to let go

Well today is a day that I'm either going to regret or it will be one of my best decisions ever.  Today, after five and half years, I decided to resign from my position at Silpada Designs.  It has been a great run for me...in fact it has been the longest I have ever stayed at one company....Now, I know when people read this their going ask questions as to where I'm going....well where I'm going is to Florida...what i will be doing I have know idea, but I know God has a bigger plan for me then even I can envision.  Why Florida people might ask?  Well, let's see uh warmer weather and no state income tax are a couple of contributing factors. So, why leave if you haven't got something secured? Well, sometimes in life you have take some risk and usually I'm not much of a risk taker, but I think what I'm doing is taking a big leap of faith....call me crazy....tell me I have gonads for doing this....whatever you think it probably describes me.  So, what was the main thing that made my decision as to leaving?  Okay, I will tell you....It wasn't anything against my bosses at all...in fact there were great people to work with...In fact, Dennis didn't even blame me one bit for leaving.  Ed was sad to see me go, but he understood my reason. The major reason for leaving was no advancement within the company.  For five and half years, I have applied for multiple positions within company and never really saw the light of day.  Last year at this time, I thought about leaving silpada then, but decided not too because I was getting to close to my five year anniversary.  The last position I applied for was multimedia production coordinator's job. Most of the qualifications for the job I had already done...what hurt me was I hadn't done much digital editing particularly the software system of "aftereffects." When, I didn't get the position....I was really down I thought what do I have to do to move up...do a little song and dance number? I thought about it, prayed about it and was wondering where my next move was going to be.  I mean have degree in communications and I don't think this place is using my skills and talents to where it could be of good use. 

So, today as I was finishing up my last day at work, I decided to say my last goodbyes to people who I have known since the beginning, people who I have shared many stories with and even people who I barely talked too or hardly ever knew.  I thought it would take about a half hour...it turned out to be more like and hour and half.  I honestly didn't really know how beloved I was by so many people until I said my goodbyes...if this sounds like I'm getting emotional then yeah I am.  I turned my badge key as well as my janitor's keys into Ed as he and I both realized that this was it.  When I first came to this place, I didn't realize this was a seasonal job until two days after I had gotten hired. Little did I know that this was where I was going to stay.   In five and half years...I went from full filling orders to being a janitor.  I have gotten myself debt free because of this place, bought my first car with my own cash, went to trips that I only dreamed about, volunteered for fanfest, lost my grandmother and my dad all in that same period. I also went from a guy who had very little confidence to kind of knowing who I am...not that i don't have my bad moments. In conclusion, I really do have to thanked Silpada for the five and half years they gave me.  However, like all chapters in book it has come to end and it was time to let go and start up this new great adventure.

A look back on 2012

So, I guess I'm still alive...I guess the mayans were wrong about the whole end of the world and another christmas has come and gone... As I get older I'm tending to somewhat despise Christmas, not because I don't mine spending time with family and friends, but with all the commercialism, material wanting and just plain selfishness it just seems more for the kids and less for the adults.

Also as the holidays are coming to an end it is time to look back at this past year.   First, my mom got remarried in march.  Ernie is a great guy and has nothing but treated her with the utmost respect for her.  She seems very happy.   I took a lot of trips this year....Las Vegas to see the grand canyon, St. Louis for the second time ( I took my cousin jeff with me). Finally, crossed something off my bucket list as I went to Cooperstown, NY to the baseball hall of fame as well as Niagara Falls on the canadian side.   We had the all star game in Kansas city as well as the all star fanfest in which I was a volunteer for three days...an awesome experience in which I treasure.

We had an election that I didn't like the results, a school shooting that was tragic, a hurricane that smacked the east coast, a summer Olympics that was impressive for Michael Phelps and we all decided to go gangham style with psy.

So, merry christmas and a happy new year for 2013

sincerely,
tim crippen

Election day hangover and recent trip

Okay, I'm going to get this over with once and for all.  I was not happy with the results of this past election.  Not that I was romney fan by any stretch of the imagination, but the man who is in the office right now is literally destroying this country.   Whether it is on purpose or he's just naive....these next four years are going to be horrible.   First, our debt right now is around 16 trillion. Not million, billion ....trillion!!!   After these four years it will be around somewhere between 20-21 trillion.  Stock market might hit around 3,000-4,000 within next three years making your 401k turning into 201k. Also, obama wants to reduce our missile defense to nearly zero.  Fact. when he took office there was around 10,000 missiles...today there is around 1,500...A missile free defenseless U.S. in a post 9-11 world....this is insanity times ten.  I don't understand why people reelected this man.  Unemployment around 8%, cutting dept. of defense jobs, apologizing to every foreign country for our wrong doing and telling businesses that qoute "you didn't built that and that somebody help you."  To which I would reply bull$&!#.   As I joke, I thought the most appropriate song after the election was REM- End of the World.  Now, I will also criticize the republican party for putting another moderate as their candidate for the second consecutive presidential election.  First it was McCain and now recently Romney.  I hear the news pundits saying that republicans need to change their ways by catering to this group or that group.  I only partially agree with those statements. What they need to do address the issues to all Americans and not catered to some hyphen American (ex. Asian American).  We need another Reagan, but in this day in age it's hard to find another one like him.  Also, put a conservative next time around ....a true conservative in what he says and does, not a lapdog to democrats.  I hope the people who voted for obama twice will finally have their eyes open at the end of this term.   One more thing, if people think that obama is like santa claus giving things away...well after the first term you would be right, but there will be a price to pay.






I had finally crossed something off my bucket list...I took a trip to the baseball hall of fame in cooperstown, ny.

Here I am pointing to the george brett plaque

I also made trip to falls of niagara...stayed on canadian side...breathtaking

 

Signed tim what a wow week Crippen

Inflation hits even Aldi's

This morning,  I make my morning grocery run to Aldi's to pick up a few items.  I mostly go there for the lower prices, but this morning I notice something.   For years Aldi's has had their milk for a gallon at $1.99.  What a bargain right then this morning it was at $2.99.....of course other items in the grocery stores have gone up to like orange juice in big jugs for $6 or $7.  Another one, is nuts it use to be around $2.50 now it's like around 6 dollars for a can.   Wow, inflation is terrible ...I guess a dollar just doesn't buy what it use too.   I guess a better buy some gold.

Signed
Tim "uggghh" Crippen

Meet me at st. louis

Eleven years ago, I made the trip to St. louis after my NYC plans got changed.  This past labor day weekend, I came back for my second time into the city.  Here is a pic of our hotel window view

This time on the trip I brought my cousin Jeffrey with me....he actually made the trip exciting and enjoyable.  We definitely enjoy our time

 

The newest attraction to go to is city museum.  Best way to describe this place is like Willie Wonka meets a junkyard.  I climbed, walked and even slid down a ten story slide....yes you heard right a ten story slide...here's proof

Of course no trip to st. louis is complete without going to a cardinals game and tour of the budweiser campus

 

Overall, the trip was great and for $48 a night at the Hyatt next to the arch I couldn't complain other than we had to pay $20 a day for overnight parking...man what a ripoff.

missouri state fair 2012

Well it's that time of year again when state fairs get underway....I decided to get out of the house for the weekend and go the missouri state fair in sedelia, mo.  I have'nt been to the missouri state fair since I was teenager.  Stayed at the days inn at concordia, mo.   It was an all right motel...the complimentary breakfast was skimpy, they had a nice pool and jacuzzi, they had satelite, but they had no espn, usa, tnt, tbs or comedy central. They had all the free over air networks and five HBO channels really strange place.  Saw Larry the cable guy and laugh my freaking butt off...he definitely isn't politically correct. Anyway, here are some pics enjoy.

All Star Fanfest 2012

Two years ago when Kansas City was announce to have the all star game....I was so excited...my team, my city was going to host this big event.  It just made me want pump up my chest a little bit and say yeah. Now, the game, homerun derby and the all star fanfest have come and gone, but the lifetime memories will stay with me till the day I died. I still wanted to be a part of this event for a couple reasons....One, I needed something to enhance my resume if I wanted to be a part of the sports industry and two I like getting autographs from ballplayers.  Enter being a volunteer at the All Star Fanfest.   Wow for three days I was eithier being a volunteer or I was getting to act like that 10-year old boy that once was.   The fact that I love baseball really help me at ease to interact with people and just really let me enjoy this time even for just three days. Here are just some of interesting pics of the big event.

Welcome to Las Vegas

Back in january, Tim sparks and I decided to make some time to go out to fabulous Las Vegas.   Some people go out for the gambling....Me, I went there for three things to go see the Grand Canyon, to see some shows and to see what the big deal is about this city since I have never been here before.
First, let's just say before you even land you notice the strip right away.  You see how big the hotels are and all you can say is wow.  I took the rental car and headed straight for the hotel. Stayed at the Excalibur (the pic above was our room view at night)

the hoover dam

                                                     the grand canyon at mather point

the canyon is this wide

Saw Carlos Santana...great show

Other things I saw was the tournament of kings dinner show...kind of like medivel times only without Jim Carrey and Mathew broderick (cable guy reference)

The weather was great out there, but don't stay in Vegas too long otherwise it will drive you nuts. Break it up by going to the grand canyon or somewhere outside of the city...you'll enjoy your stay a little better.  Overall, had great time and if you want to know more...you can respond to this post. After all what happens in Vegas...stays in Vegas.

Signed Tim

"no longer a vegas virgin"

Crippen

PS: After a little bit of thinking I decided not to sell my collection.

To Sell or Not to sell

i

When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.....1 Corinthians 13:11.

This week I've been really debating myself on whether or not to sell my entire sports card collection.   I've been collecting off and on since 1985 and the pictures that you see is just a portion of the collection (I put the good ones up just to show off).....It's not that I couldn't use the money, but this has always been a hobby of mind and lately I've been doing the coin collection with the national parks quarters. So,anybody right now who reads this pray that I will make the wise decision.

Diamond club suites

Last night, I want to thank some people for making last night's game great...for the people who I invited Ernie, Mateo and Barrett for the good laughs we had at game.  For our server Whitney (pictured above) who treated all us with great respect and brought our food and drinks.  For Jan Lacey Hodges in sales at work who gave me tickets even though she didn't have too....and most importantly thank you to GM of Aramark (I believe his name is Jeff) for allowing us sit in his seats for one night.  It was an awesome experience.