Yard work...

One of the joys (?) of home ownership is keeping the yard and landscaping looking nice. I spend quite a bit of time on the yard and Valerie and I spent last weekend doing some landscaping out front of our house. Thought I would share a few pictures. We feel incredibly blessed to have a home like we do.

Great reaction...

This is how I usually react when I win something or am very excited.

High speed chase commentary...incredible.

I just turned on the TV to watch the news and now for the last 30 minutes I have been watching a high speed chase through Ft. Worth. It blows my mind that idiots think they can get away from the police, especially when there are 3 helicoptors and about 15 police cars chasing him.

Some running commentary for you. Oh now, he is out of the car and running...and he just went into a house...thats not cool...and now they just brought out a women in handcuffs, but no man. Now they have police dogs who are going crazy. I feel bad for that guy if they let those dogs loose.

Unbelievable...the guy is not in the house...he is a magician. Now they have another car pulled over and are getting ready to pop a trunk of a car and...nothing. And they have the driver in handcuffs (still not the guy).

Holy crap!!! Some guy just came out of a building with a shotgun (not the guy) and the police have just disarmed him. What the heck is going on!?!?!

Well, they found the guy at another house and have arrested him. That was wild.

Indiana Jones = disappointing

The Indiana Jones movies are some of my favorites, so I was quite excited to go see the new one this weekend with Valerie. However, it was a huge disappointment to me. I am not going to go into it in a lot of detail for those that are planning on seeing it. But for me, it just didn't do it.

Pregame of Stars-Red Wings game...

Here is the video that I talked about in my previous post that they played before the game. So imagine, this video being played on the big screens, music on the video blasting, lights all over the ice, smoke coming out of the scoreboard, and 20,000 people just losing it while waving towels in the air. So awesome.

Not so great Game 6...

As I said in my post a few days ago, I attended the Stars-Red Wings Game 6 playoff game here in Dallas. My wife is a big Red Wings fan and I a Stars fan. After the first period, things were a bit icy as the Red Wings were up 3-0 and I was thinking, "Boy I wasted a lot of money on these tickets." Even thou it wasn't such a great game, it was pretty cool to be there.

Now, on to the best part of the night...About 3 minutes before the teams came out onto the ice, there was a video montage, light show, crazy music, and a capacity crowd going nuts. I have been to a lot of big sporting events, but I have never experienced something this cool. I was so amped up, that I was ready to throw on some skates and go knock someone into the boards. Very sweet. Then 4 minutes into the game the Red Wings scored. Not so sweet.

I think Jer is going to be a hockey season ticket holder next year.

Fire up that grill...

Our house is finally complete. Yes, we moved in back in September, but with the purchase of a grill last night, that completes it in my opinion. I just got done firing up the grill with some brats and hot dogs on it. Nothing better than a brat and a beer on a sunny 90 degree day in Texas. Now that's good eating.

Game 6 here I come...

With the Stars win in Detroit this afternoon in Game 5 of their playoff series, means that Game 6 will be played here in Dallas on Monday night. That also means that Valerie and I will be there, as we have tickets. It's going to be crazy!

Ebay auction...

For those of you that enjoy classic 80's TV action shows. Take a look at this on Ebay. Awesome, just awesome.

Click Here

I can't believe that there has actually been 30 bids on this thing!

Furminator

I took Hawkeye to the vet today and while in the waiting room there was a video playing for a deshedding tool for dogs and cats called the Furminator. It was so incredible that I just went to PetSmart and bought one. They are a bit pricey ($30-$40) but let me tell you, IT IS INCREDIBLE and without a doubt worth it! I am sitting here watching Valerie comb our short-hair Siamese cat and there is a ball of fur the size of a softball on our floor from what she has combed off Hawkeye. We comb and wipe our cat down on a regular basis but this is amazing. If you have a cat or dog, I highly suggest you go out and get a Furminator if you haven't already. I guarentee you will not be disappointed.

Jury Duty Update...

As I mentioned on my previous blog post, I had to report for Jury Duty today. For those of you that have never had to do this before, hopefully these tips from my experience will help:

1. If they play a video describing a bit more about the jury selection process, sit back and enjoy. The video they played today was a classic, including a part about "silencing your cell phone" where a guy pulls out his Nokia phone that was the size of a brick.

2. Be prepared to wait...and wait...and wait. I sat for 3.5 hrs. before they came out and said that those that have not been called yet, can go home. Productive day for Jer.

3. Due to the long wait, bring something to read/do. Fortuantely, I grabbed my Palm out of my bag before heading into the courthouse and proceeded to play about 500 games of Solitaire (I think I won twice). I would have given my right arm to have brought my IPod.

4. If you are like me and enjoy people watching this is the place for you. Very interesting, however when the guy sitting behind you continues to sign heavily every 5 seconds because of the wait, it starts to get a bit annoying (thus the need for the IPod).

5. I will get $6 for performing my civic duty today. Thank you Dallas County!

Jury Duty...

Tomorrow I will be reporting to the Dallas County Courthouse for jury duty. Will I become a juror for a high profile case or will I simply be dismissed. Lord, let me be dismissed.

Seinfeld - 10 years...

Today is the 10th anniversary of the final episode of Seinfeld. Seinfeld is my favorite show of all-time and was absolutely brillant (althought The Office is making a run at it now). It was one show that I never get tired of watching no matter how many times I have see an episode. In honor of the 10th anniversary I thought I would share one of my favorite Seinfeld clips. Enjoy.

News Blooper of the day...

Around the one minute mark, get ready. I haven't laughed this hard in a long time. Then when they go back to the station, watch the reactions of the other news anchors.

News Blooper of the Day...

You know when the word "ship" comes into play, another word may come out.

Come on PETA...

I am sure most of you have heard about the sad story of Eight Belles, the horse that finished second at the Kentucky Derby this last weekend. While slowing down after the race, the horse somehow broke its front to ankles and had to be put down moments later as she laid on the track. I am an animal lover and hate to see something like this happen, but unfortantly it does from time to time.

Enter PETA...these guys tend to take it to the extreme when things like this happen. Proof is their recent statements about the incident that took place at the Derby.

NORFOLK, Va. (AP)—People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is seeking the suspension of Eight Belles’ jockey after the filly had to be euthanized following her second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

Gabriel Saez was riding Eight Belles when she broke both front ankles while galloping out a quarter of a mile past the wire. She was euthanized on the track.

PETA faxed a letter Sunday to Kentucky’s racing authority claiming the filly was “doubtlessly injured before the finish” and asked that Saez be suspended while Eight Belles’ death is investigated.

“What we really want to know, did he feel anything along the way?” PETA spokeswoman Kathy Guillermo said. “If he didn’t then we can probably blame the fact that they’re allowed to whip the horses mercilessly.”

Eight Belles trainer Larry Jones said the filly was clearly happy when she crossed the finish line.

“I don’t know how in the heck they can even come close to saying that,” Jones told The Associated Press on Sunday. “She has her ears up, clearly galloping out.”

Guillermo said if Saez is found at fault, the group wants the second-place prize of $400,000 won by Eight Belles to be revoked.

Nothing better than hockey playoffs...nothing

For non-hockey fans, you can not understand the game that took place last night here in Dallas. Hockey fans, it was incredible. I stayed up until 1:30am watching Game 6 of the Dallas-San Jose playoff game. Thankfully the Stars won in the 4th OT, because if they had not, I would not have been happy about losing that much sleep.

Anyways, as I drove back from a work trip today I thought about the game I watched last night and came to the conclusion that playoff hockey in OT can not be matched by the other major sports. Here's why:
1. In baseball, if you head into extra innings, there is a chance (if you are the home team) where you will get another shot at scoring in the bottom half of the inning. Not the case in hockey. Now don't get me wrong...a walk-off HR or game winning hit is very exciting.
2. In basketball, it is all time-related. You know when the game is going to end. When the clock hits zero, game over. Once again, a game winning shot is either glorious or an absolute dagger in your heart. In hockey, the game can end at any point in OT.
3. In football, you usually have a drive down the field that then leads to a game-winning field goal or TD. Extremely exciting, however, you usually get a sense that its going to happen.

Here is why hockey is the best...First score wins and in the playoffs, there is no shootout and you play until someone scores. Last night Stars goalie, Marty Turco stopped 61 out of 62 shots. That is unbelievable. I have never seen so many incredible saves with the game on the line than I did last night. The Sharks goalie was equally impressive, including making the most amazing save I have ever seen. Here is the thing, imagine knowing that at anytime, with any shot, your team could win and move on or lose and have your season done. Every shot on goal (for either team) is torture. Think of how you feel when your favorite football team is about to kick the game winning FG...that is how you feel EVERY time a shot is taken. One second you are cheering because of a great play, and the next you are absolutely deflated as the other team scores and the game is over.

I love hockey.

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

A few more cruise pics...