Memorial Day Weekend wrap up

Okay, this past weekend was a little bit of good and bad. The bad was surprisingly was the barbecue and I'm talking about the Great American Barbecue at the Woodlands. I went with my cousin to hopefully sample all the sauces. Unfortunately, I pulled a Homer Simpson when I found out that sampling sauces only lasted between 10 AM and 4 PM. DOHHH! So, for me this really stunk......I basically pay ten dollars for nothing and I pay extra for the barbecue food that I did eat.....Unbelieveable......oh well you win some and lose some.

Although, going up to Omaha made up for the barbecue. I stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott in downtown Omaha. Name my price on priceline and got it for 60 dollars a night. Normally the place goes for 139 dollars a night. The Lewis and Clark landing (aka the riverwalk) was okay it's not quite San antonio, but it's better that K.C. which has nothing. Here's just a sample photo of the riverwalk.

The Old market was pretty nice.....if you want Italian food. They had so many selections it was hard to choose. Went to the Spaghetti Works resteraunt and had noodles with red and pesto cream sauce combine....yummy. The Old Historic market is a mix between bricktown in Oklahoma city and Old town in Wichita. Nice place for lunch and dinner. I hadn't been to Omaha in so many years, but if you need to go to a place for a weekend with gas prices being so high. I would highly recommend it. Definitely one place everybody should stop is the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha. As memorial day came and went.....I did take some time to think about for those who gave their lives who have give us this freedom. So, when enjoy your day off from work or have that barbecue get together with family and friends. Just remember that someone took it in the gut for you to enjoy that freedom.

signed

Tim Crippen

The Nielsen Diary

You know with technology as it is nowadays you would think there would be any easier way to doing TV ratings. Yet for over 50 years as well as the present we as TV consumers still have to write in this little thing we called the Nielsen TV ratings diary.....I was fortunate or unfortunate depending upon how you look at it to be selected to write on what I watch on TV. Well at least this beats being selected for jury duty.





This diary gives you the day and time all you have to do is write in it what you watch on TV whether it would be your favorite program or movie. Just give the channel no. and the station. In fact, I'll even share with you what I watch on Thursday Night.

The reason they do this is to find out what programs are people watching and where should advertisers spend their money. And yes, I did watch the original superman movie.

Signed,

Tim "Happy Mother's Day" Crippen

WTF file

Okay, for those who know me pretty well......I tend to get a bit cynical maybe angry when it comes to two things. When environmentalists claim that there is global warming and the other is when people want to go outside the scriptures to find falsehood in the life and times of Jesus Christ.
This post happens to be in the latter category. The latest of films is a documentary by Bruce Burgess entitled "Bloodline". In this film Bruce explores the possibility of Mary Magdalene and possibility of Jesus went to southern france after the crucifixion and that they may have had kids and blah, blah, blah. Too many if's in this movie if you ask me. The last portion of this film shows one of Burgess friend that goes to the tomb of the women in a shroud. Then collects a hair sample and the only thing they know is that the woman is Middle eastern decent. Thinking that this might be Mary Magdalene.
The filmaker himself doesn't trust the people who are leading this treasure hunt. I on the other hand don't trust the filmaker because this is the same guy who did films on The Bermuda Triangle, Area 51 and that Bigfoot lives in Oklahoma. Give me a break.
Filmakers know where the truth is located at it's in the Bible, but I think some people just want to tend to ignore it. Look, if you really want to watch a film where science and religion collide and that is eye opening. Go see the movie "Expelled: No intelligent design allowed. I would rather pay my money for something more truthful than something they can't even prove.

Signed
Tim " what is this world coming too" Crippen

Remeber when?

If you ever go to Cracker Barrel, Bob evans or any these little country stores. There is always a rack of these little booklets called Remember when...? and in the corner is the certain year. So, being the curious human being that I am I decided to look into my favorite year 1985. I was looking back into it and some things you remember others you want to tend to forget. New Coke was introduced and we all know what happen to that marketing blunder. Gorbachev becomes the Russian president....still don't know if that blotch on his forehead was fake or not. The U.S. owed more money to foreigners than it was owed.....not much has changed there. TWA flight 847 was hijacked, and the rainbow warrior was sunk. If you don't know the story of the rainbow warrior look it up... let's just say the French are involved.

The price of gasoline was 89 cents a gallon, the price of stamp was 20 cents and unemployment was around 7.2 %.....Let's see gasoline is up, the price of the stamp is doubled and unemployment is not too far off from 1985. Not much has changed.

Popular songs at the time were We are the world a benifit concert for famine for African nations. What's love got to do with it by tina Turner and Amadeus was named best picture of the year. The royals won the world series, dabears won the superbowl and the cosby show was the number one television show in the country. There is more about these remeber when booklets but you can pick out your own year recollect your own memories.

Signed
Tim "ready to go to bed" Crippen

Funny baseball promotion

I had read this in KC star this morning and thought it was joke, but it's an actual promotion from the KC T-bones baseball team.
When you’re an independent, minor-league baseball team, you bank heavily on crazy promotions for big crowds.
And the T-Bones likely will score big with their Michael Vick “Welcome to the Neighborhood” promotion scheduled for May 28.
Vick, as you know, is serving a 23-month sentence at the U.S. Penitentiary in nearby Leavenworth after pleading guilty to charges related to a dogfighting ring.
The T-Bones assure us they are not making light of Vick’s crime. In fact, part of the promotion will include an auction of game uniforms to benefit local animal shelters. And there will be animal-shelter pets outside the stadium to be viewed for potential adoption.
But the T-Bones certainly are going to have some fun regarding Vick’s circumstances. For example, those uniforms to be auctioned off? They will include the T-Bones’ game jerseys from that night, which will be the old-style, black-and-white prison stripes. The visiting team, the Gary Southshore RailCats, will wear the orange jumpsuit tops.
“They couldn’t wear the whole jumpsuit,” said T-Bones promotions director Colin Aldrich, “because that would restrict movement.”
The night also will include spotlights and escapee sirens.
“People in Wyandotte County might think they’re hearing tornado sirens,” Aldrich said.
Players will be encouraged to act along and at least enter the field in shackles. Naturally, “Who Let the Dogs Out” will blare from the stadium speakers.
By the way, there were a few more ideas for the night that didn’t quite work out. One was lining the inside of the stadium with barbed wire to resemble a prison yard. Another was to have the players enter the field in a paddy wagon. There was also talk of having some attack dogs rip apart a dummy with a Vick jersey on it.
“Ultimately it became an issue of player and public safety,” Aldrich said, “so some of the ideas had to go.”

Signed
Tim "laughing at this promotion" Crippen

judge for yourself

Is that a naked lady glaring off Vice President's Cheney's sunglasses? you be the judge

Leatherheads & Beating Roy

I will admit that when I go see a movie of a certain type of genre I hope that it lives to certain standard or gets real close. So, when I heard that Leatherheads was a screwball comedy my standard for that type of film is "O' Brother where art Thou." Well, with two oscar winners in it George Clooney and Renee Zellwegger along with the dude from "the office" John K. it gets it within the ballpark or at least the football stadium since this is a football film. It starts in the mid 1920's when college football was in it's hay days and pro football was just getting started. John K character "the bullet" is the top of his college game at Princeton University. Dodge Connelly's (Clooney) team the Duluth Bulldogs along with some of the other teams has folded up and is trying to get the bullet to play for the team. Lexie littleton (Zellwegger) is a Chicago Tribune reporter trying know the story of "the bullet" on how he is a war hero or so it seems. Both Dodge Connelly and "the bullet" our trying to buy the love affection of Lexie.

The beginning of this film is great.....I thought I was listening to music from the movie "The sting" with a lot of piano playing. This was a pretty good football film a step up from "Invincible" which I didn't think was great. With Rick Riley being one of the executive producers of the film....I knew I was going to laugh. There are some interesting cameo's in the film. Look for Randy Newman (another oscar winner) who provides the music for the film as the piano player at the bar. Along with Max Cassella who plays a Lt. in the army. for those who don't know who Max Cassella is he's the one who played Doogie Howser's friend Vinny. Out of four star rating I would give it two and half.

Now, last night I was glad I wasn't on Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, KS as the Jayhawks won to play on to the national championship against Memphis. You know win or lose tomorrrow night. This will be great season for this team, but last night beating Roy williams just made my day.....hahahahahahaha! You can hear the evil laughter from Leavenworth ....hahahahaha.....take that Roy. Enjoy the championship game everybody.

Signed
Tim "I feel like I'm on cloud nine" Crippen

PS: I was sad to hear this morning that Charlton Hesston died......we will miss you Moses.

My apology to KU Fans

Well, this wouldn't be the first time.....I would be wrong on this blog, but I'll keep my word. KU fans...I deeply apologize for not picking your team to the Final Four. I thought they would choke in the regional final.....and they almost did if the Davidson player had made that three point shot. You would be coming home tonight. So, two of my final four picks made it. I'll say Good Luck to you guys in San Antonio in the Final Four. Oh; and one more thing, please beat Roy Williams team for me this Saturday Night.

Today, I also got to try out a new restaurant called Granny's Chicken Ranch right behind Famous Dave's at the Legends. The atmosphere was pretty good if you didn't have the bar it would have been better. Some of the table and chairs were made of cherry oak. It's a family restaurant where everybody pitches in from the owner to the son who is waiter, cousin, mom and few others to make this place unique. I started with a nice house salad along with house vinaigrette which was probably the best thing on the menu. I ordered a chicken fried steak along with some mashed potatoes with the skins on along with some green beans. Every dinner came with a basket of a cinnamon roll and a made from scratch biscuit w/ some whipped honey butter. This place is pretty good if you want to splurge a little. I would definitely come back, but next time I would order something different. I highly recommend a house salad with the house vinaigrette. The cinnamon rolls and biscuits are unlimited as well as side items that came with your dinner. Out of my five star rating....I would give it three out five stars.

Signed,
Tim "I'm full" Crippen

Easter Potpurri

Well, I hope everyone had a great easter......I don't have one particular subject to talk about today so this post is going to a mix bag today.
Let's first talk about politics.....and no I'm not going to talk about the presidential election, I'm more shocked about these politicians and for some reason their getting caught in these sex scandals rings. Whatever happen to being faithful to your wife? We already know about former governor Elliot Spitzer and now we have the latest with the mayor of Detroit. For goodness sake these politicians are definitely getting what they deserve when they use taxpayers money for things like this. Speaking of spitzer...I heard that the woman he was seeing gave him a nickname called client #9. Client #9? You were the former governor of New York who were the other eight guys ahead of you? Okay, I will go to something more interesting.

Have you ever wanted to know what it was like to be a star? Well, now you can a company in Austin, TX will make you star even if it's just for a day. This company will hire a paparazzi, a bodyguard, get you a limo and can put your picture of your night in the town on a fake cover of a magazine. Packages for being a star for a day range from 250-1500. This is pretty good if you want to give people on street a good laugh or a stare. However, if I wanted to hire camera guys just find some friends and relatives with good cameras.

This is probably my favorite story this weekend.....We all have at one time or another ate those little yellow chicks or pink bunnies known as peeps. Well now there is a website for these marshmallow animals called www.peepsshow.com. This site we'll give you the history of the peeps but check out the photo gallery of what art the peeps can make. If that's not enough there is even a website for you lord of the rings fan called www.lordofthepeeps.com The picture of gandalf as peep is pretty cool.

Signed
Tim "loving spring" Crippen

March Maddness II

I've already done March madness one...if you don't know look on March 2007 and it should be there. Picking these games is like trying to pick stocks on the NYSE. You look for winners but most of the time my brackets go usually bust. So, this year I promise myself I'm not going to put KU in the Final four this year. I've been burned by this team in the past and they never seemed to deliver. Chances are that if I don't pick them they'll probably go to the Final Four. Anyway, after studying my brackets along with drinking irish coffee and eating some green cookies, cupcakes and almost anything else that looked green at work. It's time make my annual picks. My Final Four this year is UCLA, Tennessee, Memphis, and Georgetown. Sorry KU fans but I can't go with you two years in row. If they do get to the Final four ....I will greatly apologize on this blog. I do have dark horse for the tournament look out for Michigan St. in the tournament. Oh, could somebody explain to me also why they call it March Maddness. I mean this term could refer to severe weather or people's rage on the road. I also wonder why does it have to be march. Let's have August Maddness....this term would refer to people who are sick of the extreme warm temperatures or the crazyness of parents trying to get their kids enrolled in school. Just a thought.

Signed
Tim "Happy St. Pat's Day" Crippen

The K.C. auto show

This was my first time ever going to the auto show here in town.......I was mostly there to check out cars of what I might want to trade in for my Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck. This vehicle above is an Hyundai Elantra.....in which I was impress.....good gas mileage and plenty of headroom and definitely one of the vehicles.....I would be interested in trading. This auto show is about eight football fields wide and had every car maker there to answer your questions. They did have some classic cars out there.

Like this Ford 2003 T-bird with a classic look

or this jeep...(I know it's cheesy doing the pointing thing, but this is my blog.)

I was also there to see some of the new concept cars like the smart car which was built by Mercedes, but is tiny and gets great gas mileage or the new car called the Zenn which runs on electric, but is not used for highway purposes. Even having my dad along for the ride was great and he seemed to have a pretty good time. So, I leave you with other pic's from the auto show.

Signed

Tim "the auto show was cool" Crippen

A Sunflower journey

When driving in Kansas; especially western kansas, you'll find the some unique places. one of those places is Mullinville. There has been a man there in town who has created many of these political and unusual wind mill signs that are along the highway in the town. Now, I don't know what his political views are but I think I know what he thinks of Hillary Clinton.

And what he thinks of our Health Care Plan

But before I went into this unique town.......I stop by Greensburg, Kansas. Before May 04, 2007 most people who have heard of greensburg, kansas only knew it as the place where the world's largest hand dug well........now it's more known for a F5 tornado that nearly wiped and entire town,

When I went see it.....I was just amazed of how there was very little left of the trees there....the schools held their classes in mobile trailer units. There was nothing left of the downtown area. Even the gift shop where the hand dug well is located was very little more than a garage shed. I would say that it's going to take about two or three years before Greensburg gets back to normal.

However, the main reason for traveling was for my grandmother's funeral. It was nice to see a lot of my cousins. Most of them were there and it was nice to catch up. Here's a nice picture of all of us cousins.

In fact one of our cousins Johnny Schneider along with his wife Shyla just had a baby boy.....way to go Johnny...the schneider name continues on. Pastor Charles West was one of the preachers at my grandmother's funeral...For those who have been at Shawnee church of the nazarene for awhile......he was the pastor there. Here we stand together as we laugh at a joke.

As for the place that we stayed at...Wow! My grandparents former next door neighbors Charlie and Jimmie Owings just opened their home for us. There were the nicest host you could ever want....the house was about 6000 square foot. Even their dog Maui...the german shepherd even greeted us.

My grandmother was a person who loved to take pictures...even if they were little crooked. Although, if their was one word to describe her it was patience. I happen to see this saying on the church bathroom wall that really describe my grandmother.

"Patience with others is called love, patience with self is called hope and patience with God is called faith." We will miss you grandma from the Schneider, Crippen and Hale families.

Signed

Tim Crippen

Knight Rider Returns

Twenty five years ago.....A man name Michael Knight and a black trans-am came into our living room fighting for truth and justice. That show was Knight Rider and it made David hasslehoff a star. Now, twenty five years later there is Knight Rider movie on TV even as I type this post. At the time when the original show came on seeing talking cars was unheard of.....now, their starting to become standard options for certain cars.
I was a huge fan of the original series......however, this new movie is not living up to the hype. Luckily, it's just a TV movie event, but there is talk about bringing back the TV series next fall. The new movie starts off on who built KITT and that this private security firm is trying to get the hard drive from it's creator. KITT's creator has a daughter who knows about the hard drive sytstem. She as well as Mike Truac (a former army ranger) are the only people he can trust. Mike Truac estranged father is surprise, surprise...Michael Knight (Hasslehoff).
Seeing Hasslehoff was cool......some of the features for KITT were cool liking him morphing into different colors, but I do have some gripes.
First off, bring back the Trans-Am .......to see a Ford shelby GT Mustang is totally not cool. Then KITT's voice....Val Kilmer ......Iceman from Top Gun? Are you kidding me....bring back William Daniels the original voice or if you want to bring a new voice put in Liam Nisson or Sean Connery to add some humor to the show......Could you imagine Sean Connery saying Hello, Mike in a Scottish accent.
Anyway, I hope they don't bring it back to the TV as series, but then again they brought back American Gladiators and it became a hit. I guess what is old is now new again.

Signed
Tim "Knight Rider rules" Crippen

The Doctor will see you now

It seems like every time this year I tend to get sick of something like flu or fever or something else. This year what I have is something not cureable by pill or by medicine. A doctor can help me with my illness, but only time can heal my disease situation it is called heartache. About every other year during Valentine's Day millions of men and women suffer from this tragic disease in which singles have hard time trying to get together. I would normally go see my regular doctor this weekend to get some help, but he is out town this weekend. So, to help my alleviate the symptons......I went the only doctor that was available this weekend. Sure, it was female doctor but she seemed to listen and understand my pain. You can kind of say she's a pioneer ahead of her times even if was just for a moment. Now, normally I don't go see female doctors, but a friend had recommend me her and I thought I would give a shot. What was the name of this female doctor?








I went to see Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman

Aka Jane Seymour

(What? Did you think I was really seeing a real doctor)

Other picture Jane Seymour

Signed

Tim "Happy Valentine's Day " Crippen

The good, the bad, and the ugly

When thinking about a title for this post....for some odd reason the old clint eastwood western movie fits perfectly to describe some of the SuperBowl commerical ads.

First the Good:
Shaquille O'Neal riding a horse and he thinks he's a jockey for Life Water drink.....the best part of this ad the photo finish with the cheesy grin.
Budweiser: rocky music as the dalmation trains a horse
bud light: Breathing Fire
Garmin: Napolean needs a GPS system to find his place of battle ......a much better job from Garmin than last years.
Go Daddy.com: woman hated it, men loved it.....However, FOX did not show the rejected commercial that only airs only on Go daddy's website. Let's just say Danica patrick is hot in the rejected one, but I think the ad was mostly pulled off more for it's tongue and cheek.
But my personal favorite was the Coke commerical with the ballons of Underdog and Stewie from the family guy. their both fighting for the coke and neithier one gets it.........It went to of all people get it was our goood friend Charlie Brown.....nice touch for coke......sometimes I feel like charlie brown and for him to get his justice was great.


The Bad:
The Audi commercial that did a spoof of the scene from the Godfather. I know what they were trying to portray but, it really didn't come through for me.


The Ugly:
Careerbuilder commercial with the Lady's heart jumps out of her bosom and then the heart climbs up to her boss' desk and holds a sign that says I quit. ugh......i'm surprise the lady died..
what a horrible commercial.


signed
tim "go giants" crippen

Social Suppers, the bucket list and a giants fan goes extreme.

It's nice every once in awhile to try out some new adventures and this weekend was no exception. For the first time, I decide to go to social suppers here in Leavenworth and get ingredients to make some meals. If you've never done this I would highly recommend it. Whether it be for parties or just a couples night out....this a place where you can have some fun.

I would like to say thanks to my sister in law Crystal and my brother for getting me a coupon book for Christmas in which I used a coupon for this place. I would like to say thanks also to Terri, Sandy and the rest of the crew at the Leavenworth social suppers who treated me with the utmost respect. I like this place because whether your a season veteran at cooking or just a beginner this place can make cooking fun. The menu is never the same cause it changes every month. I mean one month your having firehouse chilli and the next month you could be having grilled rasberry chicken.

So, today I put on apron (and yes I am wearing and apron) and started making ingredients for Honey garlic pork chops, citrus tarragon chicken and for a dessert since it was free with the coupon Cranberry Apple crisp.

I did buy one meal that was already made that was in the freezer. It was a maple mustard glazed pork roast in which I brought home and started cooking. All I can say is the taste was just impeccable. I especially loved that the fact the carrots were included in the dish which made it even better. The cranberry apple crisp was just as good. To think that you with a little bit help you can make something from ordinary to extraordinary.

Here's picture of the maple mustard glazed pork roast before I dig into it.

If your ever interested in getting your hands in the kitchen, go to http://www.socialsuppers.com/. Where you can find this month's menu and for the nearest store location. Wow, what an awesome place.

The bucket list......I have to say I really like this movie. It's grumpy old men meets the great outdoors. I laughed, I cried and there are some sad moments. Anyway, Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson are two cancer patients who only have few months to live after both were admitted to the same room for cancer. Freeman's character writes a bucket list of things he wants to do before he kicks the bucket. Edward Cole (Nicholson) is a multi-millionaire who gives Freeman's character as well as himself and chance to live life to the fullest. There is one scene where Freeman and Nicholson are laughing so hard they both cry. It's when Freeman tells Edward Cole where the orgins of where his favorite drink comes from.......I must admit I was laughing at scene just as the two actors. Three out of four stars for me.

Okay, as we know next weekend is the SuperBowl between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. The parties, the food, the commercials and of course the game are all well in good. This story however I wasn't laughing about. The man who played Vito on the Sopranos show how much of a Giants fan he is.....There is extreme and there is really extreme. I don't know maybe it's just me but would you do this to your dog to show how loyal to your team.....I let the picture speak for itself.

Signed

Tim "still eating my cranberry apple crisp" Crippen

This made me laugh

I was raeding article on CNN's website on wether or not late night comedy shows are funny again since returning on the air. Well, a couple of people sent their so called top ten list and it made me laugh.
Pat Ames of Mishawaka, Indiana
Top 10 things I've done while the writers are on strike:
10. I've watched about 10 percent of the DVDs I've bought during the last 18 months and hadn't gotten around to.9. I scored over 600,000 on Chuzzle.8. I can recite all of the dialogue in every CSI episode (reruns on Spike).7. I laundered two months' worth of underwear and socks.6. I went to a restaurant, twice, at 8 p.m. instead of 5 p.m.5. I wrote a screenplay.4. I play with the cats.3. I read two novels.2. I got halfway through a year's worth of Newsweek magazines.1. I don't have to stay up until 10 p.m. on Tuesdays to watch House.

Chris Ritsch of Baltimore, MarylandReasons why the U.S. population doesn't care about the writers' Strike:
8. America is too busy losing mortgage payments playing online poker.7. Isn't there some kind of election going on somewhere?6. Because after three years, no one cares why the hell they are on that island in the first place.5. One word: Britney.4. The Internet porn writers are NOT on strike.3. Most Americans can't afford health care, let alone cable TV.2. Local libraries are running a "borrow one, get one free" special this month.1. The Weather Channel rarely shows repeats.

Signed
Tim "still laughing" crippen

Pix from ice skating

After suffering from some bumps and bruises and falling on my keister once......okay twice, I

leave you these lovely pixs.

another new year's predictions post

Well, it's time for another installment of new year's predictions and if you look at my last post....I did get a couple of them right. The Royals didn't lose 100 games this year, airlines did lose more luggage than ever before and will only give myself partial credit on the nanotechnolgy because wasn't talk about as much as I thought would.

The year in review.....if I have to say anything that 2007 was probably the Year of the recall.....from tainted pet food to lead paint in toys. We had stories like Lisa Norwalk; the crazy astronaunt, caught in a love triangle. The virginia tech massacre which shocked us all, a tornado that practically wiped out the entire town of Greensburg, KS, Barry Bonds rise as (the supposed homerun king) to his fall of being indicted on perjury charges. Michael Vick a fast QB but couldn't outrun the feds when it comes to dog fighting charges. We saw people pass away this year from Lucianno Pavarotti, Bill Walsh and Eddie robinson great football coaches to a jazz legend Oscar peterson who knew how to tickle the ivories. I'm sure I forgot some but those are the one's I remember the most.

New year's predictions for 2008
1. We will have a new president that will be eithier be a woman, african american, latino, mormon or just another plain white guy. (i'm covering all my bases)

2. foreclosures will be even higher next year than even this year.

3. Social Security will make it's way back into the news (and it won't be very good)

4. I will have my credit card debt paid off

5.The New england Patriots will go 19-0 to win the superbowl.

6. Youtube might create a reality tv series with just ordinary people

7. royals will go above 500 this year

8. A major earthquake will happen in California

9.I will eithier be promoted in my company this year or I will be doing my passion this year.

10. I pray that there is major anti global warming movement so that the media as well as these environmental wackos will shut up and realize there is no such thing as global warming

The day after christmas

Well, it has been awhile since I have written a post so here it goes.....the past few weeks at work seem like there was nothing but overtime galore wether it be the 10 or the 12 hour shifts, but I trudge through and my wallet felt a little fuller. It will feel nice to get back to some normalcy. I haven't been to church for over three weeks for eithier one of many reasons whether be being sick or an ice storm or something else. The holidays are almost over and I miss being with some of my friends. Did everbody get what they want for christmas? I almost got everything I want, but my needs are more of taking care of my debt or trading in my truck. I did receive a nice fleece jacket for the winter time which will keep me warm. Mom and Dad receive their gifts from me one of which was an electric knife and the others were two gift cards from resteraunts. My greatest gift was more of miracle as I finally was able to remove my freaking wart that has been bothering me for weeks. This thing has been on my left hand and has hurt me so much during work that I had to wear a glove just to protect it. I know it sounds disgusting, but it's a big relief for me. I just need time to give my hand to heal up. My company's christmas lunch and party was the best I have ever been to bar none. It definitely lived up to my expectations....anytime you serve eithier ham or turkey, mashed potatoes & gravy, salad, rolls and your choice of three different kind of pies.......that's some good eating. Finally, before everbody left for their 4 day weekend, Everyone who works for the company recieved their year end bonus. It wasn't much but every little bit helps. This was one of the most memorabable christmas I have had in a long time not only from the recieving end but also from the giving side as well.

Merry Christmas to all and I hope to see everyone before or after New year's Day
Signed Tim Crippen

PS: Jay Leno makes his return on January 2nd YYYYYYYYEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!