Stef had a Mary Kay party last night, so she suggested the kids and I go run off to Chuck  E. Cheese for a bit - we did so and had a great time.  The 1-token-per-game policy is nice, makes a small amount of cash go quite a way, and the kids mostly like the same stuff.  I learned a couple of things:

• Kids have short attention spans
  
• Rachel isn't quite ready for skee-ball (but Ethan really likes it)
• They both like the game where you shoot water into a hole.  That's probably because of recent potty training.
• Always bring a backup diaper and wipes, even if you're just going out for a bit.
• Even the dumb little 10 ticket prizes can be fun to kids of the right age.
• Don't get a prize for your 2 year old that could even remotely break into pieces that are swallowable

We had a nice time, a couple pix are attached.

VBS is back and we're getting to that time where it will be ready to register! The theme this year is Amazon Expedition! The curriculem looks awesome this year, very good study for the kids. It takes them through the entire Bible, focusing on the 7 C's -

* Day 1: Creation—Destination Creation

* Day 2: Corruption—The Fall of All

* Day 3: Catastrophe—Water, Water Everywhere

* Day 4: Confusion—The Babel Rabble

* Day 5: Christ, Cross, Consummation—Sad Turns to Glad

VBS dates are June 23rd-27th, 9am-12pm -- with the final come together on Friday evening, with parents, siblings and friends. Please email me if you have any questions or if you would like registration info. Our congregation is in the process of raising money so that we can offer this to everyone, free of charge. Please be in prayer for all the prep work and stuff that needs to come together by the time it starts.

We had a great time last year and can't wait to see what God does this year! 

So, when my company brought our new CTO on board earlier this year, we all noticed that he wears pretty much the exact same blue suit and blue shirt combo every.  single.   day.  And then I noticed that I have a blue suit that's almost exactly the same.  So this year, I showed up to work today (yes, it's Halloween and I can get away with dressing up for work in costume) as Tony.  Gray hair coloring, blue suit, and snazzy (if ridiculously uncomfortable) shoes to match.  Everyone thought it was hilarious (fortunately, including Tony), and really enjoyed it.  Pix forthcoming as soon as I get them from the people carrying cameras today ;)

So Stef saw a commercial for Brain Age 2 (for the Nintendo DS) on TV , and since I'm always one to encourage a gaming habit in her, we quickly picked up a copy on Amazon fairly cheap.  It's an interesting concept -- basically it allows you to hold a daily regimen of "brain exercise" to keep your brain young and sharp.  I don't generally like school tests that masquerade as games, but this game has a nice spin on some fun little tests to keep one's brain sharp.  So far, the biggest complaints we have are with getting the microphone and touch screen to understand our voices and handwriting, but we're getting it down reasonably well.  The game does a good job of making use of the unique interaction features that the DS has.

Oh, and so far it says my brain age is 43.  Apparently 20 is optimal, so I've got a ways to go...  Oh, and I showed it to Scott at work today -- he completely embarrassed me on the serial subtraction puzzle.  Looks like I need to go back and revisit 2nd grade math again!

We had our first softball game last night.  We went down 15-9, but had a good time.  It's pretty clear that in this league, the key points are to make the basic defensive plays (minimize throwing errors), and consistently knock out line drives that move runners along.  We did both of these pretty well for the first half of the game, but then the scoring dried up :)

I had a pretty good game; I dropped my first fly ball (I haven't really played outfield since I was 12, and the ball looks pretty crazy coming out of the lights), but grabbed a couple more (actually harder) flys later in the game.  I went 2 for 4, and got one of the highest compliments I could receive: on my third trip to the plate, the opposing team was yelling to each other "He hits line drives".  And then I popped the next pitch up (crazy knuckleball -- the other team had a good pitcher) :)

Anyway, it was lots of fun and got my head out of my normal flow of work; and it was nice spending some time with the other guys. 

This week our church couldn't meet at our usual location at the high school due to the Cornfest going on. We had church out at the Griffith Ranch in Knightsen and a picnic lunch afterward. Choice moments:

Elvis is alive and preaching the gospel in Brentwood

We couldn't figure out what to do with the leftover cake, so Frank handled the situation

We're sitting in the stands at the Coluseium waiting for the lights to go out and for them to cue up the fireworks. The A's beat the Blue Jays 3-1; we've had a very nice time.

Update: We got out without too many traffic problems, and are on the way ho me. I rode BART in and met Stef and our friends from church, and we're catching a ride back with the Bartons.

Repost from a g4G buddy's site (http://adamparchert.com/2007/01/28/an-80s-thing.aspx):

 

You Know You're a Child of the 80's if...

• You've ever ended a sentence with the word "SIKE!"
• You watched the Pound Puppies.
• You can sing the rap to the "Fresh Prince of Belair" and can do the "Carlton".
• Girls wore biker shorts under their skirts and felt stylishly sexy.
• You yearned to be a member of the Baby-Sitters club and tried to start a club of your own.
• You could name at least three members of the Brat Pack.
• You owned those lil' Strawberry Shortcake pals scented dolls.
• You know that "WOAH" comes from Joey on Blossom.
• You still think Joey/Six on Blossom is cool/hot.
• Two words: Hammer Pants.
• If you ever watched "Fraggle Rock."
• You barely remember the "Muppets," but were an avid fan of "Muppet Babies."
• You had plastic streamers on your handle bars and "spokey-dokes" or playing cards on your spokes for that incredible sound effect.
• You can sing the entire theme song to "DuckTales." (Woo ooh!)
• It was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.
• Your favorite TV station was the one that showed cartoons in the morning before school.
• You wore a ponytail on the side of your head.
• You saw the original "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" on the big screen.
• And you still know the Turtles names.
• You got super-excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class at school.
• You learned 4-4-3-2 was the "Math of Nutrition."
• You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirt in a knot on the side.
• You played the game "MASH" (Mansion, Apartment, Shelter, House).
• You wore stonewashed Jordache jean jackets and were proud of it.
• L.A. Gear... Need I say more?
• You wanted to change your name to "JEM" in Kindergarten. (She's truly outrageous.)
• You remember reading "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" and all the Ramona books.
• You know the profound meaning of "Wax On, Wax Off."
• You wanted to be a Goonie.
• You had a poster of Bo, Luke, and Daisy Duke.
• You ever wore fluorescent clothing. (Some of you, head-to-toe)
• You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell off and his cheeks shifted.
• You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female Smurf.
• You thought nothing was weird about Bert and Ernie living together.
• You think Hulk Hogan was the greatest wrestler of all time.
• You took lunch boxes to school.
• You traded Garbage Pail Kids in the schoolyard.
• You participated in the "cool" game, whatever it was at the time. (Marbles was popular for a year at my school)
• A piece of folded paper and two hands could tell your fortune.
• You remember the CRAZE, then the BANNING of slap bracelets.
• You still get the urge to say "NOT!" after every sentence.
• You understand the word "Doi" and have mumbled it to yourself during meetings with coworkers.
• You remember Hypercolor t-shirts.
• Barbie and the Rockers was your favorite band.
• You thought She-Ra (Princess of Power!) and He-Man should hook up.
• You thought your childhood friends would never leave because you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets.
• You ever owned a pair of Jelly-Shoes. (probably in neon colors; see flourescent clothing, above)
• After you saw Pee-Wee's Big Adventure you kept saying "I know you are, but what am I?"
• Yello's song "Oh Yeah" brings back fond memories of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."
• You remember "I've fallen, and I can't get up."
• You acted out "I've fallen, and I can't get up."
• You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates.
• You ever got seriously injured on a Slip and Slide.
• You have ever played with a Skip-It.
• You had or attended a birthday party at McDonalds.
• You remember Popples.
• Six words: "This is your brain on drugs."
• "Don't Worry, Be Happy"
• You wore like, EIGHT pairs of socks over tights with high top Reeboks.
• You wore socks scrunched down (and sometimes still do, getting yelled at by "younger hip" members of the family for doing so).
• You remember walking around with a boom box on your shoulder like you were all that.
• You know whose phone number is 867-5309.
• You remember "Punch it, Margaret!"
• You still say "Punch it, Margaret!" when riding in vehicles.
• You remember watching both "Gremlins" movies.
• You know what it meant to say "Care Bear Stare!"
• You remember watching "Rainbow Bright" and "My Little Pony Tales."
• You could have got away with it if it hadn't been for those meddling kids.
• You thought Doogie Howser/Samantha Micelli was hot.
• You remember Alf.
• You remember Alf was from Melmac.
• You remember Alf's real name. (Gordon Shumway)
• You listened to New Kids on the Block when they were cool.
• You know exactly what people mean when they say "NKOTB".
• You knew all the characters names and their life stories on "Saved by The Bell."
• You know all the words to Bon Jovi's "SHOT THROUGH THE HEART."
• You just sang those words to yourself.
• You remember watching Magic vs. Bird.
• Homemade Levi shorts. (the shorter the better)
• You remember when mullets were cool.
• You had a mullet.
• You still have a mullet.
• Your children have mullets.
• You still sing "We are the World."
• You tight rolled your jeans.
• You owned a banana clip.
• You remember "Where's the Beef?"
• You know who shot J.R.
• You practiced getting in and out of your car through the window.
• You used to (and probably still do) say "What you talkin' 'bout Willis?"
• You had big hair and you knew how to use it.
• Your parents listened to eight-tracks or vinyl records, and you made fun of them for it.
• You have a collection of cassettes in a box at the bottom of your closet you just can't bear to part with, and you're made fun of for it.
• Your collection includes one or more of the following: MC Hammer, Bon Jovi, Milli Vanilli, Poison
• You owned a Walkman, but it weighed 10 pounds and was the size of a brick.
• You're still singing "Shot Through the Heart" in your head, aren't you?

 

I pulled out of North Concord/Martinez BART behind this guy last week.

PWN4G3

 

Conspiracy theories abound...

Dangerous and disturbing, this turn of events is