Why I think August is a boring month.

It has been awhile since I have written a post, but I mostly did this on purpose for this particular month. I've alwalys felt August was the most boring month of the year because any other time of the year there is something to celebrate. Let's start with January you got New Year's Day, February you have Valentine's Day, March you have St. Paddy Day, the beginning of spring and of course March maddness, April is fool's day and the start of baseball season, May has memorial day and June has flag day and the official start of summer. Sure there is the fourth in July and september starts the fall as well as football season. October has Halloween....November has thanksgiving and at the end of the year you have Christmas.

Now, I know some people would say that because I'm single and I'm not a parent that I should celebrate August like any other month. That's true because if I was parent I would celebrate august because kids would be heading off to school and it's also the last month you can get family vacation before you send them back. I know that I'm getting old when they are starting to send kids back to school in mid august. I remember when school didn't start until after Labor Day....that just shows my age. However, until that day comes I will still think of August as a boring month.

Signed
Tim " ready for fall and football to get started" Crippen

A day at Schlitterbahn

With summer half over and also having a day off from work today, I decided to go the newest waterpark here in Kansas city. Schlitterbahn just open on July 16th and when I heard that.....I thought I have to go there the first chance I get......well today was the day and wow they did a pretty good job. It's not completely done, but for the portion that was done......it was great. All the rides or area is connected to a river system that you can get to by a tube. From the three water slides named bahnzai, wolfpack, and black night to the main attraction the uphill water coaster named the storm blaster. This place had something for all ages including a hot tub area named Henry's Hideout where you can belly up to the bar for a cool coke or adult beverage. It was nice day to get out there anyway sunny and 83 with a little wind. If you want to get your waterpark fix in before summer ends....I would recommend it, but if you can wait or year or two it will be much better.

Signed
Tim "enjoying a weird summer" Crippen

I am eithier getting old or time is passing me by

This past weekend I happen to see a promo on ABC for the game show "Who wants to be a Millionaire?" I guess in august the show will celebrate it's 10th Anniversary in this country. Ten years? Has it been that long.....I remember when it first premiere......even Regis looks like he's getting older, but then again aren't we all. This also happens to be my 15 year high school reunion, but I haven't heard if were having one. Where does the time go? It seems like the things I remember from yesterday are coming to the historic milestones. However, this year hasn't been wasteful...in fact you might say it has been productive so far. I mean....I'm officially debt free. I'm finally under 250 lbs.....it's still a long ways away, but were making progressive. I'm up for a promotion at work and hopefully this upcoming semester I hope to be taking a class in sports management. I have to say that God this year has truly blessed me and that he has much more in store for me than I can possibly even imagine. Even if I am getting older.

Signed
Tim "enjoying the moment" Crippen

Fourth of July in D.C.

After some long days at work this past weekend it was so nice to get away for the holiday season. What better time to see the fourth of July then at our nation's capitol. I pretty much got to see and do everything I wanted to do.

The first thing we did was to go to Harper's Ferry, WV. I did tubing for the very first time.....at first I was wondering what did I get myself into, but I realize eventually that your suppose to let the river do most of the work for you. Other than couple of times flipping over and getting a bruised elbow....I say for a first timer I did pretty good. Went to a Nationals game with Paul (Crystal's brother) and saw fireworks afterward....very cool.

Next day; Paul and I, went to the Baltimore Aquarium

This picture is just one of the examples of how colorful the place was....I thought the price was a little high, but hey you only live once. Also, went to Camden yards...hoping to get a public tour, but instead they weren't giving out tours so we just went around the stadium and did our own self tour. Afterward Paul and I went to Fort McHenry where the Star Spangled Banner was created. It was also a prison to people who were southern sympathizers. The museum was pretty cool with some artifacts like a silver punch bowl shaped like cannonball. This picture below shows how big the cannons were during the war. Although, my big gun arms are a close second just kidding.

Fireworks at D.C. on top of the hill at Fort Meyer

I should give thanks to my brother and my sister in law for putting up with me this past weekend. I know sometimes I don't show it or say it, but I really did have great time out there.

Signed

Tim "back to the old grind" Crippen

Will there be democracy in Iran?

This week has been very interesting on the other side of the world. About a week ago, Iran held their elections and the current regime won. Not happy with the results, the opposition in thousands protested the results saying the election was rigged. At first I thought these protest would only last maybe two or three days. Surprisingly, this has been going on for a whole week and there doesn't seem to be a let up. The younger generation having been wanting a change for such a long time.....and who knows they might just get it. Today, was no different as people still kept on protesting as a video revolution showing images that might be too hard to watch. I saw one woman who was wounded and died later on camera. Seeing these images just makes me cringe.......I think about what happen in Eastern Europe in the early 90's or Tinnamen Square in Bejing China where in both cases people were wanting change in their country.

In fact watch the movie "The Patriot" starring Mel Gibson. Even in our own country regular citizens died for their own freedom who weren't even participating in the revoluionary war. Maybe, just maybe we will start to see freedom in the Middle East like places like Iraq, Afghanistan and even in Iran.

signed
Tim "freedom isn't free" Crippen

The Hangover

What do you get when you put a groom, a school teacher, a dentist and one weird future brother in law in which they spend a night in Vegas. You get one funny comedy in the movie "the hangover". It all starts when doug who is getting married in two days decides to spend his bachelor party in Vegas. What looks like a typical bachelor party turns out to be a nightmare when all of them are so out of it they don't remember anything from last night. Their friend doug is missing throughtout the whole movie as they get little clues as they try to remember what all they did wrong. Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms steal this movie and even the future brother in law gets a few laughs as well. From a missing tooth to stealing a cop car to even a tiger being in their bedroom suite it just seems to eithir get weirder or funnier depending on your perspective. Mike Tyson even makes an appearance in the film and plays a part on finding their friend. If they had cut a portion of the language and all of the nudity......the film would have been really great. If I had to give a rating for the film I would give it two and half stars out of four.

Signed
Tim "really hungover" NOT" Crippen

A sad story and my thoughts on the last tonight show

When I got up from my nap this afternoon and tune into the news, I saw that Dr. George tiller the famous doctor from Wichita who performed late term abortions was killed in his church this morning. They even arrested the suspect. Now when this story came out my first thoughts are that the media is going to treat Christians as bunch of hateful people who are nothing on but getting venegeance. That is nothing further from the truth. I also find it ironic that a man who attends a church and calls himself christian can do such a horrible thing as killing life of the unborn. Now, I'm not condoning what the person did because I think about the time when Jesus was being taken away and Peter cut off the ear of a Roman soldier. he said to Peter "Have you come out against a thief with swords and with clubs to take me.....I was daily with you in the temple teaching and ye took me not the scriptures must be fullfilled (Mark 14:48-49). See, I think that no court sytem, no killing will bring justice to the situation. Only God will judge this man and we should leave it to him on what he decides to do with Dr. Tiller.

Now, my thoughts on the last Tonight show with Jay Leno ......it was okay, but it felt like another show instead of the last show. I think it was because that Leno will back in primetime and is not leaving. When I saw Johnny Carson last show it felt like I was missing a late night friend with Jay it felt like .....I'll be gone but only for three months. Oh well....good luck to Conan as he starts tomorrow and good luck to Jay as he starts his show in September.

Signed
Tim "feeling allright" Crippen

I'm Debt FREE!!!!! FREEEEDOM!!!!

Twenty months ago, I took the course that many people have taken at least once in your life. The Financial Peace University hosted by Dave Ramsey. Now, while I was still in Wichita I had heard of him, but really didn't know much about him. After completing his course.......I started to realize why he is such a popular guy. For years.......I was spending money I really didn't have.....whether it was going to trips to New york City or Peurta Vallarta. Then eating out at the most fancy restaurant's in Wichita (and yes there are some fancy ones out there). It seem like everytime I got a paycheck ......I needed to spend it. Before you know it I was like Gomer Pyle saying "Shazam, where did it all go." No more.......yesterday I made my last payment to my credit card.......and now I'm officially debt free. I would have finished this last year, but I needed the car because my truck was getting old and beat up. How does it feel to be debt free? I don't think it will hit me until next month when I don't have to write a check to these snakes. I did celebrate this milestone......Yesterday at work it just happen to be employee appreciation day. I decided to pin a sign on the front of my shirt so that people can read it. It says " Today, I am debt free." Mostly, I got a lot of congratulations others seemed to be jealous and few people thought I might have been weird. Hey, if being debt free makes me weird so be it.

Sincerely,
Tim "feeling really good" Crippen

Baby birds in my dad's pick up truck

When you hear sounds of chirping baby birds acting like they haven't had a meal in awhile this isn't where you thought they would be.

Mass Hysteria over swine flu

I know that this blog post that people won't agree with me, but I'm going to speak my mind. This past week the local as well asthe national media has been starting out their newscast with stories about the swine flu. Now, I'm not saying that it doesn't exist. What I am saying is that it not a pandemic. Maybe in other parts of the world, but here in the U.S. only what one person has died. More people have died from measles or mumps back in the early 20th century. This is so much a scare tactic that people at my workplace have used it as an excuse to get out of work. You might have the flu, but your chances are not that of swine flu....unless of course you just recently got back from Mexico. I'm not so much mad at the disease then I am against the media who hype this thing up.....what was it a slow newsday at work....Come on this about as bad as that MSNBC report saying that global warming is going to cause the north pole to melt and oceans to flood coastal cities like NYC by 2013......we'll see these people need to be held accountable. Anyway, I digress......the swine flu hopefully within a few weeks we'll be an old news story just like bird flu and the west nile virus it will all be just another flash in the pan.

Signed
Tim " pass me the bacon" Crippen

Kansas City Tea Party 2009

My first ever protest or rally whatever you want to call it happen this past tax day here in Kansas City and around the nation. No, I didn't have sign ,but if I did it would have said this "If 10% is good enough for Jesus, it ought be good enough for Uncle Sam." This issue isn't a Republican issue or a Democrat issue it's a American issue of government irresposiblity. Here's a few pictures at the rally.

Signed

Tim "had fun at the rally" Crippen

Good Friday at the New K

I woke up on a Friday morning to some rain, but as my half day of work came to an end the sun came out and my cousin and I went to the home opener at the new K. I must admit the place was great. There were parts of that stadium that I didn't even recognize. From the sports bar with a party deck in the right field to the new fountain seats in left field it really was a sight to see, but don't let my words be your judge. Let the pictures speak for themselves.

In the end however the Royals lost to the yankees 4-1......oh well there is a lot of baseball left.

Signed

Tim "enjoyed my half day off to see home opener" Crippen

Phantom of the Opera and must read book

I must admit when it comes to musicals there are very few of them that I will ever go see. Last Friday was just one of those exceptions as I went to see Phantom of the Opera. The acting was great, the music was spectacular and in one moment there was a part of me that even felt sorry for the phantom character. If you get a chance to see it .....I would highly recommend it if you haven't seen it.

Now, a book that I would recommend for any christian who wants help Muslims learn about Jesus Christ. The book is called "Once an Arafat man" it's a story of man who at one time was Fatah fighter for the PLO the group that was once led by Yassir Arafat. He was a sniper as well as his chauffeur. The first few chapters are really tough to read, but as you read this book you see his transformation in his life as he comes to America. You'll laugh, cry and be amazed of his thoughts on how to solve the Middle East crisis. Great read.

Signed

Tim "the phantom rocks" Crippen

This is an actual blog

You have seen many blogs but now Barack Obama's teleprompter now has a blog. Here is the link barack_teleprompter_blogspot.html. Enjoy

The Auto show and March Madness #3

Well, once again I go to the Auto show and this year felt a little different than normal. There seemed to be less cars out there and less people seeing this event every year. Maybe it's the economy or maybe because they planned this during conference tournament weekend. Eithier way, my dad and I had wonderful time out there. The highlight had to be seeing the new F-150 Raptor now that is an extreme off-road truck. Here's a couple of pictures of the Auto show

Now, it's time for my annual picks for the NCAA tournament or what they call "March Madness". As a KU fan I don't expect them to get to the final four if they get there so be it but it's hard to win back to back national championships. Looking at the brackets and studying the teams I'm gonna start with are my sleepers. The two teams I would watch for this year is the Utah Utes and the Florida State Seminoles. The teams that I think will get to the Final four our Memphis, North Carolina, Louisville and Pittsburg. Speaking of March Madness I think my sister in law and my brother are suffering from this disease....I don't know if it's true , but maybe this picture might prove my point.

Signed

Tim " Happy St. Patrick's Day" Crippen

Watchmen a bit unwatchable

As comic books go there seems to be a new one every time made into a movie. X-men, spiderman, batman and now the latest "Watchmen". Now, I didn't know the storyline to the film before I saw it, but the movie explains that pretty good. The opening scene in the film is great as the hero or anti hero depending on how you look at it gets murder at the scene of his high rise apartments. His colleagues were known as "the watchmen". Helping to protect crime on the street, the vigilante rorshack vows to get revenge. The cinematography is great, the plot was easy to understand and some of the characters lack emotion. This was one of the worst comic films made since Spawn. If this film was more Pg-13.....I think more people might have seen instead it looked like a mixture of a soft core porn film and one of the "Saw" movies. Don't see it and don't even think of taking the kids to this film.

tim Crippen

You might be paying for what?

As a traveler; wether it would be by car or by plane, it seems like were paying for all these little extras particularly if your flying. You pay for drinks, pillows and blankets and even those stupid little headsets just to hear what's on TV. Now, a certain Irish airline RyanAir is thinking about charging you the passenger to use the restroom by inserting coin slots to use the facilities. I couldn't make this stuff up even if I tried. Look, I know the airline industry is hurting, but when you gotta go you gotta go ......I don't have time to search in my pocket to find a couple of quarters just to use the can. Last time, I saw a coin operated restroom was somewhere in Israel where you deposited the coins in this cement statue where the sun don't shine. Now try to imagine this over 30,000 feet. This idea would never work in America.

Signed
Tim "I gotta do #1 and #2" Crippen

Westminster's Best of show 2009

Stump the dog isn't he cute

Are there any athletes that are clean?

About 18 months ago, I wrote on my post on how Barry Bonds tied the homerun record and that it wasn't legitimate record. I also said that Alex Rodriguez or A-Rod would be the homerun champ in the near future because the only thing he cheated on was his wife and not steroids. Well. folks hold the presses......If the story from yesterday is true that A-Rod failed a drug test back in 2003 and was because of steroids then I'm really going to be wondering is any great athlete in baseball really clean.
This past week the sports world has seen Barry Bonds losing his battle with "The Feds". Michael Phelps smoking tree (Marijuana) and now A-Rod cheating (allegedly). No wonder it seems like our society looks at athletes so cynical. When I was growing up my athlete heroes were George Brett, Walter Payton, Cal Ripken, Nolan Ryan, Wayne Gretzky and Magic Johnson. Sure, some these athletes that I named had some off field trouble, but at least none of them took steroids or drugs just to get advantage on their sport. This generation of kids now who look at athletes now sometimes wonder is there anybody that I can root for?
Last year on 60 minutes, Katie Couric had interview with A-Rod and one the questions she asked was "Have you taken any steroids?" His answer was no. All joking aside we need to get that guy from the Fox tv show "Lie to me" to see whether some of these athletes who do interviews like this to find out whether any of then are telling the truth. Kids if you really want to be inspire look at your parents, older siblings if you have any, a pastor, a mentor.....anybody that you see that looks at life in a more positive manner. That is who your inspiration should be not athletes .......and if you do look for athletes look for good ones.

Signed
Tim "telling it like it is" Crippen

Superbowl, job fair and everything else on my mind

The superbowl was one of the best I've ever seen. It's in my top five of best finishes and even the commercials were pretty funny. My personal favorites were the Budweiser commercial where the horse brings the big stick and the Mr. and Mrs Potatohead commercial for Bridgestone tires.
The Job fair was okay .....I did get to talk to some recruiters, although some companies that said they were going to be there online weren't there on Monday. Oh well, you just keep on searching and be thankful that you still have a job. I waited for about hour in line just to get to talk to some recruiters. You can tell when the economy is bad when over 1300 come to an event like this and your hoping you get that certain position. I do have gripe with some people who attended this thing. If your coming to a job fair dress like your going to an interview not like someone who just got back from shopping extravaganza.
The switch to digital TV is only days away and I can't wait....or is it going be a few more months? Recently, congress is working on passing a bill that will delay the digital switch till June and yes President Obama is supporting this bill. Now, for people who have HDTV like me or people with satellite or cable were already there. I know they said reason their doing this because they ran out of money and coupons for the converter box. Give me a *#@$ing break, they have had this place for over two years....just another thing that happens when government runs it.

Signed
Tim "venting off" Crippen