Just My Imagination

Hello All,
I hope that this week has been good now that it is over! Happy Friday to each of you Today’s blog title is brought to you by Babyface & Gwyneth Paltrow. So with that, on this wonderful and awesome Friday, I will jump into the blog.

Erika’s 10 Things I Think I Think – (Warning, a few of the 10 things will be about season finale’s).
1. 24’s season finale is this coming Monday and I am a little disappointed already because they are going back to the same formula from the previous seasons. Jack saves the world and then someone close to him is threatened which forces Jack to do something that will get him into trouble. This case…Kim. Damnit!! What the hell! This season has been dope, but they are killing it now!!!
2. Lost’s season Finale…WOW! The last 3 seasons have had amazing endings…but this one…holy santa clause Sh-t. I mean…WOW! It was amazingly awesome. I don’t want to spoil it, but I’ve watched it twice in utter amazement both times. That’s 4 hours of my life. Trust me…if you are a fan of the show, you will love it. If you are not, this is what great T.V. is.
3. Grey’s Anatomy…I watched it and I am still in shock 7 hours later. I mean…wow. WOW. wOw. WoW. Izzie, George, the Derek/Meredith. Sloan. Callie. Bailey. Damn. Damn. Damn! It was all amazing. Again, can’t spoil it, but it was definitely worthy of a two hour finale. Rarely do shows move me to tears, but this one….damn tissue box, couldn’t find it fast enough! Plus as you can see in the picture above, I didn’t want to miss a moment, so I watched it on both t.v.’s in my living room.
4. It’s amazing to hear a song that you heard years and years ago, and to hear it now…and remember where you were when you heard it and what you were doing. For instance with Torn by Natalie Imbruglia I can remember sweeping the garage floor of the gas station I worked at in Fairbanks, and that was the number one song on Casey Casum’s top 100 countdown for like 8 or 9 weeks in a row. Wow. Music does that to us.
5. American Idol, still haven’t caught the bug like everyone else. Don’t get the weekly Karaoke Contest.
6. Goodbye COX! Now that the season finale’s have aired, you can kiss my cable goodbye!
7. I have this love affair with VH1, ONLY because while I get ready in the early mornings I get to watch videos and now getting rid of cable will deprive me of that. I guess I will have to just youtube it in the morning. Won’t be the same, but hey, I will be saving about 60 dollars per month.
8. A few of us are starting a frat (yes just like in Old School)…stay tuned for the details. This is not a joke. I am even drawing up a proposal to make it a reality show, and a funny one at that. We even have a sweet name for it.
9. I’m on a Boat!!! I freaking love this. Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer & Jorma Taccone, and T-Pain…ha ha ha ha!! I’ve seen this about 50 times and the other day I showed it to Jordan (the edited version, which this one is not), he died laughing!! He loves it! The album is hilarious, Samberg might just be one of my new favorite SNL people!
10. Happy Freaking Friday!!

Pete Thought of the Day – So I hiked Camelback yesterday and yes it’s steep and yes I probably didn’t wear the best shoes, however I made it to the top and it was awesome. Of course I sweated off probably about 6 pounds during the hike up and down (it’s 2.5 miles up) so um…yeah. It was also hot like 91 degrees at 9am. It was fun though. The only thing is the fact that I saw a snake in a tree (terrified of snakes) there were about 5 thousand bees (allergic) and I am afraid of heights. So all three of my fears in one spot and I am surprisingly not sore at all.

Mindy Moment – A moment of clarity in any situation is a good thing. I am grateful for clarity as it is almost as definite as hindsight. I just hate discovering people sometimes for what they really are and what they are really about. Just goes to show…that people never cease to amaze.

Julie Happy Thought of the Day – Finishing the blueprint of the short movie (Mr. Unemployed) so we can edit and get it down nicely. I am very grateful that it will be complete soon. Have to start at the ground level somewhere.

Heather Joke of the Day – “The Price You Pay for Being Good”

3 Men were waiting to go to heaven. St Peter was at the gate and said, "However good you were to your wife that is the vehicle you will get in heaven". The first guy comes up to the gate and says, "I never, ever cheated on my wife and I love her". So St. Peter gives him a Rolls Royce. The next man comes up and says, "I cheated on my wife a little but I stilll love her." He gets a mustang and drives off into heaven. The next guy came up and said, "I cheated on my wife alot". He gets a scooter. Next day the guy that got the scooter was riding along and he saw the guy who owned the Rolls Royce crying. He asked, "Why are you crying you have such a nice car?!" and the man sobbed, "My wife just went by on roller skates".

(P.S. Heather, you haven’t sent in Jokes in quite some time…what up with that!!)

Mary’s Random Facts –
1. People say Bless you when you sneeze because when you sneeze, your heart stops for a millisecond.
2. A shrimp's heart is in their head.
3. It is physically impossible for pigs to look up into the sky.
4. Wearing headphones for just an hour will increase the bacteria in your ear by 700 times.
5. 23% of all photocopier faults worldwide are caused by people sitting on them and photocopying their buttocks.
6. Most lipstick contains fish scales.
7. Your feet are bigger in the afternoon than the rest of the day.
8. If coloring weren't added to Coca-Cola, it would be green.
9. There are 10 million people who share your birthday.
10. There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.

Coming Attractions –
Today – In the office. Going out after work for a bit, and then doing some writing.
Saturday – I have Jordan which means lots of dad/son time. Probably a movie or something, definitely Gameworks, he loves that place. All of which ought to be a good time! Going to church as well.
Sunday – No plans. Probably lounging around the house doing nothing. Definitely finishing getting some video off of my camera.
Monday – At home working. Fun Stuff. Also have a double header in flag football, of which I hope we get a W.
Tuesday – in the office. Trying to blog regularly again, so I hope I am successful at that.

The end – Of the blog is here. I hope you all have a wonderful and SAFE weekend. Thanks for reading, keep smiling, God bless, and I love you.

You get what you give

Hello All,
I hope that you all had a good weekend and that your week is off to a smashing start! Mine is, I am definitely enjoying it. Today’s blog title is brought to you by the New Radicals (from the movie Surf’s Up). So with that, I will jump right to it.

Erika’s 10 Things I Think I Think –
1. I am glad my ex-wife and I are on good terms. Was able to spend a wonderful Mother’s Day with her. We took her to My Big Fat Greek Restaurant and the kids and I got her a perfume she had wanted Viva La Juicy. It was a wonderful afternoon with a wonderful mother to my son.
2. Sorry about the blog bomb last week, will elaborate more below.
3. Season Finale week is my favorite week of television. Definitely gives me something to look forward for next season. Although I do hope Chuck returns next season, that show is DOPE.
4. Haven’t pimped HULU out in a while, so here is my HULU Pimp. Hulu = Dope. The main reason why I am getting rid of cable. Don’t need it when you can HULU your way around!
5. I think I am starting to feel my age. I mean I played two football games last night and I am pretty sore today. Although we lost (One game we were down 33-0, lost 39-29, 4 td’s from me) and the other game we lost 30-26 (one td two extra points) I just feel it now. Either I am in terrible shape or I am just getting old. Guess I better hit the gym harder.
6. Jordan is pressuring me about wanting a little sister, and the more I push him off the trail, the more he finds the scent on a different trail and follows it back to the main subject. Kid won’t quit on the subject.
7. Hiking Camelback Mountain for the first time ever on Thursday, I ought to be really sore on Friday.
8. Castle on ABC might be one of the best shows that won’t be renewed. It’s worth a look if you haven’t seen it.
9. I hate folding laundry. I mean it is the worst. If there was one chore that needs to be eliminated, it’s folding laundry. Makes me wish I was like Kim Kardashian, she doesn’t wear the same clothes twice.
10. Star Trek…was dope. I mean…DOPE. I loved every minute of it. I had an absolute blast watching it and will definitely see it multiple times. If you want to watch a great summer flick (I would compare it much to Iron Man’s awesomeness from last summer) I would check this movie out. I give it 4.5 stars for sure. Amazing.

Rachael Real Moment – First off, sorry about the Blog Bomb from last week. Was unintentional for sure. Let me explain the situation. For the last year I have seen more doctors than I care to see, like ever. My guess is about 113 doctor visits since this exact week last year. That’s nearly 2 per week at that rate. During the course of that time I have learned to self examine myself (some would call it “Googling”) and around my scar area it just didn’t feel right. So I told my doc, they examined and decided that they needed to clean some stuff out. Now that is NOT the same as what I had before. It’s just doing some additional cleanup. Nothing serious. Will be off of my feet for about 4-5 days in early June. I am prepared this time, I actually have movies and stuff to watch!!!

Pete Thought of the Day – I get annoyed easy. Bored easier. And I really hate when they collide. I think some people do it intentionally to piss me off (annoying me) which Bores me and then I want to punch them in the face. Also I HATE forwarded text messages. I think they are worse than forwarded e-mails.

Mindy Moment - Just found out that one of my best friends will be in Vegas the same weekend I am there for my brothers wedding on July 18th. Wow. That equals drunken escapades times like 10. I am ecstatic about it. Plus not too many people have ever seen me um…inebriated, but that weekend probably going to be a drunken festival of awesomeness

Julie Happy Thought of the Day – I can’t believe that the school year is almost over for Jordan. I mean he survived his first year in school (don’t worry I saved all the homework, the papers, the writings, the little awards…and doing a big scrapbook) and he is looking forward to the summer. Hard to believe I have a 5 year old son who will be 6 and in first grade next year. It’s so cute to hear him read and try to figure stuff out. Kid never ceases to amaze.

Heather Joke of the Day –

A new guy in town walks into a bar and reads a sign that hangs over the bar.

FREE BEER FOR THE PERSON WHO CAN PASS OUR TEST!

So the guy asks the bartender what the test is. The Bartender replies "Well, first you have to drink that whole gallon of pepper tequila, the whole thing at once and you can't make a face while doing it. Second, there's a 'gator out back with a sore tooth...you have to remove it with your bare hands. Third, there's a woman up-stairs who's never had an orgasm. You gotta make things right for her."

The guy says, "Well, as much as I would love free beer, I won't do it. You have to be nuts to drink a gallon of pepper tequila and then get crazier from there. Well, as time goes on and the man drinks a few, he asks, "Wherez zat teeqeelah?"

He grabs the gallon of tequilla with both hands, and downs it with a big slurp and tears streaming down his face. Next, he staggers out back and soon all the people inside hear the most frightening roaring and thumping, then silence.

The man staggers back into the bar, his shirt ripped and big scratches all over his body. "Now" he says "Where's that woman with the sore tooth?"

Video Links -
Backfired (hilarious) (:30)
Porta Potty Gauntlet (:44)
Fire Alarm Jam (pretty neat) (1:22) Gets annoying after a second, but it’s cool
69 Dollar Bid (1:29)
Sweet Beer Pong Shots (3:41)

Coming Attractions –
Today – in the office and then going to view homes for my parents so they can hurry up and purchase one. I am sick of going to look damnit!!!! Also writing in the afternoon and maybe going to see Star Trek again tonight. Yes it is that dope.

Wednesday – Switching it up and coming in the office. So lots of work to get done…o.k. maybe not. Picking up the kids in the afternoon and hanging out at Casa de Stricklin.

Thursday – At home and then going to hike Camelback Mountain in the afternoon.

Friday – In the office. Fun stuff.

The end – Of the blog is here. Hope that each of you have a wonderful weekend and that life is treating you great. Love you dearly, thanks for reading, and God Bless!!!

Upside Down

Hello All,

I hope you all have had a wonderful week! Lately things are starting to get back to semi normal (which I am grateful for) and I am just trying to put back the pieces of life. Been a little depressed lately, so I have been writing more and more and not been blogging (sorry). So with that, today's blog title is brought to you by Jack Johnson's Upside Down (From Curious George). If you don't know who Jack Johnson is, he is a wonderful singer. So with that, I will jump into the ol' meat of the blog....

Erika's 10 Things I think I think -

1. So the movie is officially becoming a short. I sent a teary eyed (yes I cried a bit) email out to the cast and crew of the film detailing the downfall of it all. It was one of the hardest things I have done in quite some time. It is o.k. though as I believe that everything happens for a reason.
2. Forgot to mention that when I was in California, I saw a messed up Motorcycle accident. Josh had just mentioned that it was crazy that CA law allows motorcyclists to weave in between lanes when the traffic was at a standstill. Not even 6 minutes later a motorcyclist goes by us (we are in the second lane from the left) and a car in the left lane goes to get over…bam…motorcyclist goes flying. He We see the bike get lifted into the air and under a semi. We see Semi roll over it. We are freaking out because we thought the dude was on it. Only to see him get up from two cars in front of us. Wow…talking about skirting death.
3. Wolverine = Dope. I have seen it 4 times (hence the no girlfriend thing). It is such a great movie, although the CGI is a little crappy in certain areas. I would recommend it to everyone. 4 stars for sure. Plus my comic book hero Gambit makes his big screen debut….and it’s DOPE.
4. I am in the midst of finishing 4 screenplays right now and starting a short film that I am entering into a competition for 50K, I need luck people, plenty of it. Wish it…WISH IT!
5. Jordan and I are doing a father/son photoshoot and I am ecstatic! For some photos we have matching outfits, for some we have humorous outfits, fake moustaches, and other fun filled props. Stay tuned.
6. Having surgery the last week of this month to take care of some of the problems from last year. So I will be off of my feet for about a week or so.
7. Some people are clueless, I will leave it at that. But I will say this…maybe he/she is just not that into you? I will loan anyone a dollar to buy a CLUE!
8. It is getting to be really hot here. I mean, damn...Yesterday I went rollerblading (stupid me) in 102 degree weather and by the time I got home it was like I had just went swimming. Plus I almost got hit by a few cars because people are genuinely stupid when it comes to driving.
9. I love Fridays, but I hate spending them in this Hell Hole I call work.
10. To all of the Mothers…Happy Mother’s Day. Thank you for giving birth to us, because without your egg, a little bit of dad’s sperm, maybe a bottle of tequila, we wouldn’t be here. No in all seriousness, the job you do is wonderful, commendable, and we are all better people because of Mom’s. You deserve more than a day, more like a week. So don’t let one day go by without you telling Mom how much you appreciate her.

Rachael Real Moment – Haven’t had one of these in a while. So I will give you the skinny mates. Been real depressed lately. I think that now I am starting to come to grips with the death of my little brother and getting to the acceptance phase. I maybe had a Denny Duquette moment (C’mon Grey’s Fans) where I thought he was talking to me, but what he was saying was the most real stuff about what’s going on in my life. But it was merely a dream. Other than that, I have immersed myself in writing, gave up on dating (to a point), and just living one day at a time and spending as much time with Jordan as I possibly can. So I am fine, no need to wonder where I have gone or if I am alive. I have come to grips with a lot of things in the last year and I am stronger and better for it. Life has a funny way of fixing your teeth up, then a magical boot coming in to kick them out. But I do want to take the opportunity to tell you all that I love you….

Pete Thought of the Day – To elaborate on the last blog that I wrote about my friends and their happiness, it is amazing how many couples that I know that are no longer together since April 24th. Nearly 11. That is an inordinate amount of couples, and for those people, I hope and pray that you find the happiness that eluded you in your relationship and that you can possibly find some common ground or even reconcile. I know better than anyone that sometimes you can’t, but look at it from the other persons perspective. You might get the clarity you need.

Mindy Moment – So now that the NFL Schedule is out, I want to express how much I want to go to the Seahawks/Cowboys game in November. Mindy, you need to go. So you better start saving so we can bounce down to the lone star state. You and I need to start going to something cool like that.

Julie Happy Thought of the Day – I am trying to make it to Fairbanks for a week in July. July is shaping up to be a busy month. In L.A. for the first couple of days and back home. Then to San Francisco for about 3 days with MacKenzie, Erika, and Heather for a NKOTB concert. My brother Michael is getting married July 18th in Las Vegas (Which I am the best man AND I am planning on making a short movie while I am there entitled…00Negro, the tux will help). And then to Fairbanks the 21st or so for about a week. Ought to be an exhaustingly fun month full of great friends and great memorable times. (P.S. Love ya Julie)

Heather Joke of the Day - A rich millionaire decides to throw a massive party for his 50th birthday, so during this party he grabs the microphone and he announces to his guests that down in the garden of his mansion he has a swimming pool with two great white sharks in it. 'I will give anything they desire of mine, to the man who swims across that pool.' So the party continues with no events in the pool, until suddenly, there is a great splash and all the guests of the party run to the pool to see what has happened. In the pool is a man and he is swimming as hard as he can, and the fins come out of the water and the jaws are snapping and this guy just keeps on going and the sharks are gaining on him and this guy reaches the end and he gets out of the pool, tired and soaked. The millionaire grabs the microphone and says, 'I am a man of my word, anything of mine I will give, my Ferraris, my house, absolutely anything, for you are the bravest man I have ever seen. So sir what will it be?' the millionaire asks. The guy grabs the microphone and says, 'Why don't we start with the name of the bastard that pushed me in!'

Coming Attractions -
1. Today – Having lunch with a good friend. Picking up Jordan, heading home and chillaxin for a bit, then going to watch Star Trek…exciting!!!
2. Saturday – No Plans actually. Nothing. Probably chill with Jordan and do some writing and editing.
3. Sunday – Mother’s Day! Taking Jordan’s Mother Demitria to Dinner and giving her a present.
4. Monday – At home working. Fun stuff.
5. Tuesday – In the office working. Great (sense the sarcasm)

The End – Of the blog is here. I hope that each of you have a wonderful weekend full of great times, friends and family. If you have to work, call in sick. O.k. Just playing on that bit. Seriously though,
be safe. Love ya, thanks for reading and God Bless.