Press play....

So last night I found a video of 2 basketball games from high school that I had played in my junior year. They were in the district final and the regional semifinal. Our team won both against two good teams. The amazing thing I noticed as I watched was how, looking back, we thought we were such good basketball players (and we had a great record....25-1), but watching film showed just how high school we were. For as much time as we spent on running plays in practice, when we got in the game, it was kindof just find the open man to shoot on your first chance. It was fun to watch. I see tendencies from high school that I still have today. I think it would have been beneficial to watch more film while in high school to visually see where I could improve--instead of always having my coach tell me. But, regardless, it was fun to watch.

Speaking of improving, I wish there were times in my life where I could videotape things that I do, say, think, and dream of. There would be much more progress made in my spiritual life, my work life, my relationships--it's easy for others to tell us where we can improve, but until we can see it in ourselves, it's tough to always trust them and change.

Yeah.

Happy New Year to all who read this blog....or for those who just like to see how many times I mention my beautiful and stunning fiance', Candice! The picture is what I wish I could be doing when 2006 hits 2007. But you know I'll be doing it when 2007 hits 2008! Yay!

Make a New Year's Resolution and stick to it.

Yay for Christmas!

I was able to be at my parent's home for Christmas this year, as were two of my sisters and their husbands and a baby, as well as my grandma, two aunts, and an uncle. (My uncle Jerry, Ben, and me in the picture) It was great to be with family and have a few days to relax. My time at home was bittersweet because the love of my life, Candice, and I weren't together. She was home with her parents celebrating Christmas since we saw each other last weekend.

Candice and I received the game "Blurt" for Christmas. Six of us were able to play the game on Monday night and it was quite fun. A definition is read and the first person to yell out the word for it gets to move x amount of spaces on the board....but it gets fun with Takeovers and Showdowns. We played the junior version, but the adult version looked to be a bit tougher. Regardless, it was fun to be with family and eat much more food than needed. I'm not sure how a body can consume so much food in succession, but somehow my body does.

Also, my sister, Elizabeth, and I got to shoot some baskets in the gym. She had made up a game of shooting from the corners of the free throw line and seeing how many two of could make in a minute while rebounding and replacing for each other. We made 17! And only missed 2 shots. It was quite fun. And I promise, we didn't get close to 17 every time. We played probably close to 10 rounds to get that!

Anyway, this sounds more like a journal entry than a blog. Oh well. I love Candice, and that's what it comes down to right now. And I love the family. It was a good Christmas for my last being a single man. :)

Should I lick the floor?

Last night I went to my favorite place to buy groceries--Aldi. Not only does Aldi's have great prices on food that tastes not as good as expensive food, but they charge a quarter to use a shopping cart. So, seeing as I rarely have quarters on me and I only buy enough to fill my arms most of the time (or find a box lying around), I set off just to hold the food in my hand. I bought my usual 2 boxes of cereal, a loaf of bread, a package of cheese singles, some roast beef, and 4 personal pizzas. Usually there is a half gallon of ice cream or a gallon of milk in there, but they were on sale elsewhere. Anyway, I figured I'd treat myself with a 2 liter of apple juice. My arms were already relatively full, but I though I could hold the juice.

Not so.

As I was putting my purchases up onto the checkout belt, the apple juice slipped right through my hands and landed on the floor...and spilled all over the floor. There was an oblivious lady behind me whom I had to warn and then I looked for the closest mop and pale. Thankfully, there was one only about 20 feet away. The girl at the checkout didn't even notice until I was already moping my juice up. Thankfully, no one got wet and another worker came and finished the job. They were gracious enough to not charge me for the juice, but I didn't have the heart to go pick up another 2 liter.

The crazy thing about this whole story is that about 2 months ago I did the SAME EXACT THING! One of these days I'll learn to just find a quarter and get a cart---or else just to not buy the apple juice since it breaks when dropped from three feet off the ground.

This picture has nothing to do with the story...I just like it of Candice!

For those who don't know...

...this is my fiance, Candice (the one on the left, with her friend, Brooke)! Isn't she beautiful? Not only is she beautiful, but she an incredible all-around fantastic woman. I get to fly to see her tomorrow and what a great day it will be! It's been a long road these past few weeks, but one sight of Candice and all the waiting will be worth it! The best part about being engaged to Candice is that as each and every day goes by, we are one day closer to spending the rest of our lives together...March can't come soon enough! Call me a sap, but I love her!

Albino Dan

Drywall sanding is the most recent work done to the house project. Yesterday, my friend, Joe, and I got a good start to the house by sanding the living room and the porch area. Today I will finish the kitchen. And then the unpainted parts of the house will have a first sand on them. Sanding is not the most fun job, as I looked like a man living in Alaska during six month of no sun...I was covered in drywall dust from head to foot. But, the work has to be done and we are now one step closer to painting! Sadly I don't have a picture of me covered in dust, but maybe today I can get a picture taken. I'll say that mudding and sanding drywall would not be a chosen profession of mine.
In more exciting news, I'll be flying down to see my beautiful and lovely fiancé, Candice, this weekend and attend a wedding with her. Then we will celebrate the Christmas season with her family for a few days! Since being engaged, this has been such a hard 2 ½ weeks of being apart...it felt more like 2 ½ months! But, thankfully, we only have to suffer for a few more months of being apart! Short engagements are such a blessing!

Flying once again....

This morning I was able to book one more flight to visit my wonderful fiance, Candice, in January. I'll be heading down to see her in another week and then we'll be apart over the holidays until the 1st weekend in January. It always gets my heart pumping a little extra when I find that deal on the internet for a plane fare and I click the "Purchase Now" icon. I am so thankful that Candice and I will only have about 4 more flights from now until we are forever together! God has miraculously provided for us the ability to see each other every 2 1/2 - 3 weeks since beginning our dating relationship. How we've been able to afford it is explained only through God's divine intervention into our finances. The waiting is so hard, but the payoff will be so worth it! It will be a great day in a few months when the only times we fly are when we are together! That brings a smile not only to my face, but to my heart!

blogger wouldn't let me put a picture up of flying that my bride-to-be had taken. boo.

December snow storm

So we got a lot of snow yesterday here in Michigan.....about 5" where I live and much more if you head north. Not only was it snow, but it was wet and heavy snow. And when you work maintenance at a hotel, as well as help out at 2 other hotels, the muscles get a bit sore after a day of it!

Growing up, my sisters, dad, and I used to have to shovel the church sidewalk--especially on Sundays--early in the morning. It was always a good workout and most of the time nice to be outside.

Yesterday was not so fun.

Going from hotel, to hotel, to hotel (it equated to shoveling 5 hotels since we did our hotel 3 times!) can wear a man out. I am definitely sore today.

What is the point of this post? Actually, I've been thinking of my dad and how for so many years he shoveled the church by himself or with others. At twice my age, he was still shoveling hard. What a man. He never complained. Never delayed. Always did more than was needed. Was very thorough. Lined up others to shovel if he would be gone. Took the harder sections than others. Mainly, he never complained. Never. It wasn't a chore. It wasn't a pain. It was what he did. He was an amazing example to me of how to work hard and be a man. Do your job and don't complain. I have a part-time guy who works with me. Nothing is ever good enough. Things are too hard. He needs to take a break. I'm doing something wrong. I had such an example from my dad that I just don't have much tolerance for chosen inability.

I hope that I can continue to become more like my dad. I'll be a good man if I can. Thanks, dad.