Closer to Technology, Further from You

Hi, Everyone! It's been a LONG time since I last posted... Almost 5 months!! It's hard to believe it's been so long concidering all the capabilities allowed to me these days. I have an iPhone with internet access, a Wi-Fi network at home for my desk and laptop (so theoretically, I could blog from the couch), and email blogging availible to Revamp as well (iPhone has 3 email accounts... just sayin). Yet, here we are 5 months later and I'm finally back on.

So while I have been FaceBooking (I think i just made that a verb) like a mad man, I don't seem to have time to blog. Hmmmm. Whatever! I'm on now and that's the important part. What's been going on with my followers? How's life? Any exciting news out there? I have some!

I start with "real" work (the money making work). I earned a Trainer position at my job and have been working on "improving the craft." I get to show the Probies the RIGHT way to do things and honestly... I don't work as hard. I have to the first week or so but on week 2-4 of training, I have to let the trainee pick up the speed.

On to "fun" work! I should have a New Album out January!! I'm waiting on a "Special Guest" and myself for one more song and mixing. This album shows to be more uplifting, less "basement" sounding, and more seasoned (Shameless to self-hype, but I'm the only one who's heard it all).

Well, I'm waiting to find out what's going on in your life. Until later!

Old Taxi

As an added bonus to our Monday mini-trip, we got to see an old school taxi in the parking lot! Pop's was VERY crowded today, but this was definitely the parking highlight...

Pop's

We went to "Pop's" today. I love that place! You get to choose between so many different pops and most of them are in old school glass bottles. Pop taste WAY better out of glass! Pop's is located on Historic Route 66 just East of Lake Arcadia. I think thats Arcadia, OK... if you're not familiar, it's just east of Edmond, OK.

(BTW, the contents of the 6 pack: IBC Rootbeer, Pepsi, Triple X Rootbeer, Sprite, Dr. Pepper, RC Cola [all glass, of course])

Had to protect that "Precious Cargo!" LOL The beauty of Pop's is that you can build your own 6 pack of flavors. They offer an expansive selection and all the bottles are in old style glass (most look like 50's or 60's). We were disappointed that they were out of SunKist. We have salt and pepper shakers made out of Corona bottles and are wanting to upgrade to SunKist bottles. Pop's is the only place I know of to get the glass bottles around here...

Times are changing!?!

Welcome to the New Millennium! Seriously, is this not 2009!? I think we (as a civilization) have come a little too attached to old customs. Example? Thought you'd never ask...

I just happen to run into my wife on Sunday while running a route near the house. I snuck up next to her and then led her to Wendy's to grab lunch and get to spend a few minutes with her (By the way, Sunday is the ONLY day we have off together). We go in and proceed to order, when time comes to pay I say (my most famous line these days), "You got it? I left my wallet in the car."

Now, it goes without saying that all our money comes from the same place... The bank, but the guy behind the counter looked at me as if to say, "Yeah! Make the girl pay!" ... ...

Today, I had my wallet, but Becky had hers in her hand so I asked her to give me the money. I wasn't sure if she had cash and I know she hates having to write things down in the ledger... Any-woo, she (again) told me she hates when I do that but this time asked if I felt like a Pud for having her "pay" all the time and having to ask in front of people. All I could do was laugh and say, "uhh, hello!?!" as I flashed her my wedding ring! I mean, come on!

Is this even an issue? Are we not in a place in society where it is more than acceptable for a woman to pay for dinner every once in a while?Guys have been footing the bill since Fred Flintstone first met Wilma and forked over 30 Clams at the Chez Rock-A-Fella! I think we have come a long way since BedRock! Yet, from the aggrivation of my wife to the look of that cashier at frickin' Wendy's (it's frickin' Wendy's!), maybe I'm just too progressive...

So, my question is this; any married men get this from their significant other? Any single men think that, in the case that the woman ask you to go out, it's ok for her to pay? Just take a look at it for what it is... Now, ask yourself, do I need to Revamp!?!

Where's that restaurant!?

(Click to enlarge)

LOL One of my favorite pics of the week! Now, where can I get some DAM Bait!?

Break the Cycle

While yet another shameless plug for Staind, the title rings true... I need to break the cycle of not posting on here. So here is my first in a while...

Becky's right (Yes, I DID just say that LOL), it was an amazing week! Jim, Becky's father, and I woke up every morning to go trout fishing. Jim would drive to the lower Ill. River, just south of the dam, and we would wade out into the (freeeeezzzzzing) water in nothing more than a bathing suit. There's nothing better than watching the sun rise over the trees as you offer a trout it's last meal! With the limit being 6, we only brought home 9 to 12 a day. Need less to say, we had 2 fish fries that week! Sorry you had to clean all them fish, Jim... that's just not something I feel like I want to do. Any-Woo, after a quick lunch, it was time to hit the lake.



Ahh, the wind in your hair, the smell of summer as you pass all the campgrounds with burgers and steaks on the grill, the ice cold... drinks, and of course, TONS of SunScreen!! LOL Us Irish-decent need to protect our fair skin! Heading to a nice secluded cove to get that first swim of the day is always nice, but lets give it up for the real star of the week, Tubing!





I could go on and on and on about this, after all we did spend a week out there, but I think I'll cut it short and just say that we had a blast! Shout out to the 2009 Skip-Bo Tournament Champion: Becky!! No tie this year!

I would also like to say thanks to the visitors we had during our week off. My Mom and Doug came out for a day and went out with us! I've never seen my mom on a tube... or a boat for that matter, but...




...here's the proof! Also, I got to spend a day with my step-brother Michael, with intermitten appearances by my other step-brother Jermey. They too went out with us and I'm was very happy to see them. We didn't have the best of times growing up, but I'm very glad, that after 7 years, we got to hang out. I felt like we had a really good connection... Thanks for coming out guys! (here's some pics of them)

It's Been Awhile...

In case you don't recognize it, the title is a shamless Staind plug.

Becky here. I don't have enough to say to have my own blog. Maybe if I start one off for John he'll finish it on his days off...

We just got back from the best week of the summer. Summer vacation 2009. Ahhh. We spent a week on Lake Tenkiller with the family. There is nothing that compares to lazy days at the lake, except maybe lazy days at the beach... We (I use that term loosely) packed up the Jimmy and headed to Lake Tenkiller on our anniversary.





We'll see what happens...

Hiding in Plain Sight

Shine a flashlight in broad day and I'm still not visible! This has been an over-stimulating month... So, far there has been a Graduation, 2 Miranda Lambert concerts, 2 visits by Sister-in-Law #1 (one with Brother-in-Law-in-Law and niece Ry), my Grandmother had surgery,and Katie just flew in from Pheniox. We still have a Graduation to go and my Grandmother still has to under go visits for chemo. Sigh.

As you can see (read), I have had very little time to be posting on Revamp! I forgot to mention that the last 2 weeks have been 65-75 hours at work and Becky has been finishing her last 3 weeks of School. Yes, Graduation was before school ended! I know, Why? I don't know, I just follow the pattern right now.

I am happy to be in the down hill coast of May though. I can't wait to get to the Fort and see my family... might be a little while yet, but I'm excited to think about it! I haven't been home since Christmas and I have only a few weeks to make it happen due to 4th of July and the crazy Summer sales that control the flow of life. I will be back in blog-mode soon. Hang in there! :)

Overdue Congratulations!

I'm soooo behind on this post! I am very happy to inform you that my wife has recieved her Assosiates Degree! She made the walk on Friday night. I think it's awesome that she has never lost the desire to go back and finish. Now that she has that, there's still no stopping her! She will continue on by starting at UCO this semester and chasing a Bacholer's. I'm very proud of her and can't wait to give her her graduation gift... we will (hopefully) be going backpacking through Europe after it's all said and done with one (maybe 2) of my best friends and his wife (and the others)! That is going to be the best way I can think of to say, "Honey, I love you and am extremely happy for you!"

MIKESTANDS...

So, Mike Manasseh has just re-released his album MIKESTANDS! You should go and get it. I have the original release and trust, it is HOTT! I haven't got to listen to the 5 Bonus Tracks yet (just snippets), but if it's from My Boi! It's HOTT!

You can extract yourself a copy here or you can go to SoulMana.com... your choice.

*Editors Note - Finding Local Talent of this magnitude is an awesome experience. I say to all who have dreamed to do great things with their life, whether you are a fan of Hip-Hop or not, go and download this album! To help one achieve their dream, is a push for you to achieve yours. Hard work, perspiration, and (Amazing) talent has made this re-issue a possibility...

Weather Confliction

I wish I had a front porch! Some of my most relaxing times were spent on the front porch watching the rain. While the sun is up, it brings a change of temperature and the rhythm of the day. I love before it rains too! That smell is so peaceful... They can try, but it can't be bottled. No matter what my day had in store, a good shower could put most plans on hold.

Night time is an amazing porch-sitting experience as well. The heat slowly dies as that fireball in the sky slips over the horizon. The front brings in a blast of wind that makes you have to grab a fleece pull-over or a long sleeve shirt. Ahhh! Watching the mircle of a light show as the whole world flashes clearly in front of you. Though brief, you can see your whole neighborhood through a haze; sometimes a down pour as heavy as a waterfall on a country creek. The smell is the same, yet somehow different. There is no need for a radio playing some classic rock or light jazz, I think the rain sounds better at night too. It could be that less people are moving about, the night is more still or maybe it's just in my head... Either way, nothing beats a good rain! They say anhour on a motorcycle is as good as 4 hours of therapy. I say sitting outside, with some iced-tea or lemonaide (summer)/ coffee or hot chocolate (winter), watching the sky rejuvenate the Earth is better than any therapy!

That brings me to the conflict I have. The thing I hate about storms is when they have the word Severe in front. I feel guilty loving the rain while others lose so much because of the things those same clouds and wind brought with them. Floods that literally engulp entire towns and counties, tornadoes that demolish everything in their paths for miles, and even that beautiful lighting can strike down horrific consequences. I guess bueaty IS in the eye of the beholder...

I leave you with this. If you have a porch, covered patio or balcony, take advantage! Tune out the entire world (except your loved ones) and enjoy the best theraputic moments that nature and God give you. If you don't have any of those, I'm sorry about that... But, I like to take walks when it's misting... You could do that.

Horoscopes

"You still have a hard time accepting your childhood, dear Cancer. As a Cancer, you are such a perfectionist about your life that you often forget the learning period you went through as a child. But did you know that the people close to you love the child they see in you, the one you just can't seem to get rid of? If you can learn to accept that child, you will be on the road to feeling fulfilled as an adult."

Hmmm... Not that I believe in them, but I read mine almost daily. I like to see if it matched up to my day or the tone of my thoughts at the moment. Do you read your horoscope? Is it acurate? Where do you get yours? I read it in the news paper and it's different than the one on MSN. How can that be if it's all about my astrological sign, the alignment of the planets, and whatever else? I'm not sure if they are true (I'm pretty sure they're not), but I think it's a fun way to reflect on your day. If that's all I get out of it... I'm ok with that. It's better than when you're lieing in bed, trying to go to sleep, and can't stop obsessing about parts of the day. What you would have said, done, or how you should of reacted.

All that said, I post todays (MSN) 'scope because I think it's pretty accurate. I AM just a big kid... I'm fine with that too! I like to think with all the bad stuff in this world (Ex: war; famine; murder; the Guilt Trip[LOL]), it's best to live like you have not a care! I like being up-beat and happy (99%). Making jokes and laughing at stupidity is just my way of saying, "Hey! I can take whatever you got!!"

Thank you, Lord. Thank you for giving me the courage to laugh at the mudane, the right to be myself, and the sense of knowing when to be serious. I thank you for giving me a sense of humor that I vow to utilze on a daily basis! For all that I see wrong in the world, I thank you for allowing me to try to set things right... in my own way, with your guisance. In your son's name, Jesus Christ.

God Bless Mother, God Bless Father, and God Bless the purpose of Demolay. Amen.

P.S. To Albert Pike Chapter (FS), Yes! I still say that after I pray... I'm sure I always will ;)

An Observation...

Here's a question... Has anyone tried to research (or just read the archives) of a newspaper? I was searching for articles about empathy during therapy, when I stubbled upon an article from '07. Chicago Tribune has the nerve to charge people to read old articles! Not just $0.50 or whatever the paper cost, but like $4.00 for a one article pass!! What!? Then, I noticed that the "Lifetime Pass" was $350.00! Seriously!? Maybe I should start collecting The Daily Oklahoman now and get a web site going, that way when ever someone is looking for an old article on Google, my site will pop up and I can rip people off! Yeah! That's my new business plan.

P. S. (Tribune) I Google the article name and found it free on your own website... Just Sayin'

Great Plates!

I was commenting to a friend today...

and I had a relatively smart moment (I think). Simply put: If you are at a point in your life where you are not sure how things are going to work out and you seem to need more than you are being provided, it's time to Reexamine... Revamp, if you will! I hit this person with 4 questions... I think that I know someone else that needs to answer these questions, but instead of calling this person out, I will post them here so that they too can "Revamp."

1. What do I (we) have?
2. What do I (we) need/want?
3. What do I have to do to aquire those needs/wants?
4. Am I going to be able to achieve those goals by keeping things the same?

I think if you look at these questions with all honesty and an open mind, you will be more empowered in your life and your decisions that affect the outcome. I have never claimed to be motivational or an advisor, but I think I'm on to something here... Maybe I can make a few $$'s by writing a book on bettering your life... I think I'll call it "Revamp Your Life: The blog that changed mine!" LOL

Rock Star Status!? Part 2

When did this occur!? Was it sometime during the election of a former movie star(Ol' Ronnie)? After Clinton went on Arsenio Hall and played his Saxophone (wearing his hipster-shades)? Maybe it's the combo that lead to the kind of President we could "drink a beer with..." I'm not too sure when the whole thing started... But I know when it went too far!! Check out chiaobama.com. I'm all for respecting your leaders and giving praise to those who deserve it, but at what point does it become just another plot to make money and send a message of idiocracy? I bet it's at the fore-mentioned website!

John L.

Rock Star Status!?

My Favorites!

This is a list of some of my Favorite 80's T.V. Shows!!! Some of them started at the end of the 80's, but out of love I put them on anyway :)

Alf
Doogie Howser, MD
Punky Brewster
Cheers
Coach
Cosby Show
Different World
Family Ties
Growing Pains
Empty Nest
My 2 Dads
MacGyver
Mama's Family
Married... with Children
Miami Vice
Mr. Belvedere
Perfect Strangers
Rosanne
The Wonder Years
Who's the Boss?

Last night got me thinking...

About a lot of things; Fashion, T.V. Shows, Music, Cars... I wanted to take a little time and have a couple of post about the thoughts and memories!

So, Fashion!!