Dave the Blogger

So I pull into this gas station in Antioch last night pretty late (it's dark out). As I pull up there is this guy in a big white Buick sitting there, sort of looking around (there is no gas pumping into his car). I thought that looked a little suspicious, but I'm not going to let that stop me from getting ten cents off per gallon (for a limited time only) at the safeway gas station.

So, as I'm getting ready to get my gas the guy from the Buick comes up to me... he is at least six feet tall, with a missing tooth and some sort of scar on his face (are you scared for me?). He says, "I need to get to Bailey Road, and I need a gallon of gas." I'm thinking, "Darn it! I don't want to give this guy any money!" So I said, "I can tell you how to get to Bailey Road..." He responds, "Oh I know how to get to Bailey Road... I just need some gas." I say, "Aw man, I don't even have one dollar in cash..." He says very politely, "Well, I don't need cash... I just need a gallon of gas." By this time I'm thinking, "Man, this guy is determined and shameless!" So I asked him, "So you want me to go over there and buy you some gas?" Again very politely, "Well, yes... if you would please?" So, I think about it for a second and say to myself, "What the heck...!" So I walked over and put in my card (and my code to save ten cents per gallon), and let him put in a little gas. As I was walking past him to go back to my car I said, "Now don't take me for a ride... Only put in a little..." He said, "Oh, I'll do it right here in front you." I said, "No, don't worry about it... I trust you." As I was walking back to my car and we were saying stuff like, "Have a good night." "Thank you and God bless you." etc. He said, "How about three? Do you mind if I put in three (meaning three gallons... and he was good enough to hold up three fingers, so if I couldn't hear him, I would know what he meant)?" I said, "Sure, no problem." Then I got in my car and drove off.

I was watching him as I drove away, and pretty much right after I left he finished. So, I think he really did only get three gallons. So, take it for what it's worth... at first I didn't want to help him out... but after I did, I felt good about the whole exchange...

So... that was a pretty long story... but that's what's up with me.

Also, Denae just got a replacement phone from Cingular because her other one broke. The sent her a complimentary phone holster. I'm considering joining the "Nerd Patrol" (props to JP), and using it... because sometimes I get tired of having my cell phone in my pocket all of the time... So, if you see me sporting a stylish cell phone holster, that's the deal. (This paragraph reminds me of that movie "The In-Laws" when the doctor guy gets made fun of for having a fanny-pack... especially the part when the foreign body guard guys say "Thenslfkjdshkdldfj "fanny-pack" sldkfjsdlkfjosdi?" and then they laugh at him... it's pretty funny.)

Well, I'm signing off now...

PO!

Dave

Yes... this is me getting a lesson in tetherball from Denny. As you can see, my arm is swinging towards the right, while the ball is clearly going to the left. I think this was a desperate attempt at blocking on of Denny's killer, hecka-high around the world shots. While I made quick work of Dustin and Devin (sorry guys... you really were worthy apponents), the Denners and I had a serious battle. After tons of "ropies" (including one blatant one that left a mark for a couple of days), and one breather, and one time were I walked away defeated only to come back and finish the game... Denny proved the more potent tetherballer. He smoked me... I think all of his childhood memories of ruling the playground came flooding back to give him that extra juice he needed to put me down. The only visions flooding my mind were those of throbbing arms, bruised hands, burning lungs, sweaty me, and the impending agony of defeat. Then someone snaps a picture like this, just to seal the deal on how badly Denny really beat me. It was fun though. This was part of our reunion in Tahoe... where the theme was Napoleon Dynamite... so we had a flippin' sweet tetherball tourney!

Well... I basically went into our pictures on our computer, and found a fun one to blog about... I always like blogs that are accompanied by a picture. Apparently this one was worth about 212 words (according to Microsoft Word wordcount).

The kids had a ton of fun playing tetherball, too. Denae even went to the final round of the women's bracket against Julie, where she met her end. I especially liked the game that Chad and I played entirely with our feet/bodies (soccer rules)... that was fun.

I hope this blog finds you all well... there is no better way to be. If there is a reason why you are not well... do something to change that. What's not to be happy about... really? If you are reading this blog, that means you speak (and read) English... you have a computer with internet access... basically you are one of the top 1% of people in this world in terms of standard of living. I'm sure your problems pale in comparison to the problems that many people in our world have come to accept as a part of daily life. So, anyway... cheer up... if you're already happy, good for you... go lift someone else up. Being happy is a blessing to be shared.

That last paragraph was a doozey... but true...

I'm one of the lucky people on this earth who is blessed with an amazing spouse who is twice the person I am, a beautiful family with kids that love me, a good job, a testimony of the resored gospel, and so much more (are you getting the feeling that I wrote this on Fast Sunday? Because I did).

Well, you've seen it all here, from tetherball to the gospel to literacy... this is an amazing blog.

I love you all. Merry Christmas to all... and to all a good night! (Less that three months until we can officially put on the Christmas tunes!)

Bye, now...