Thursday Thirteen -- 12/28/2006

Hello!!! And welcome to another edition of the Thursday Thirteen! WOW! What a response to my last TT13 -- I was amazed!!! Thank you everyone for your interest in what I write. Recently, its just been (for the most part) my TT13s...these last couple have been alot of fun :)

This week, I thought I would do thirteen things I would do with a solid week of nothing to do:

1. SLEEP! I would catch up of some much needed sleep
2. NOTHING (this is an inside joke - must see Office Space to appreciate) -- I would do nothing - and it would be everything I thought it could be
3. Kid-time - spend time with my kids - doing anything they want to do
4. Vacation - I would need a week with my dad, a week with my sister, a week with my Mom, and a "Guy's Week" with my "brothers"....I'm thinking what happens in Vegas would stay in Vegas :)
5. Texas - I would like to spend a week back in Texas
6. Cruise - How about a last minute cruise?? Yeah - a cruise! (OK all this travel, I must still be in the "independently wealthy" mindset from last week!)
7. Storage - I would gut my storage....and have a dumpster sale -- whatever I really dont need, heads to the dumpster :)
8. Concert - Find a concert I would like to go see - and go. 7 Days means 3 days to get there and 3 days to get back and one for the concert...I could be in Cali in 3 days if I wanted to!
9. Snorkel - Would love to go back to Biscayne Bay (FL) and snorkel...been 12 years since I have done that
10. Baseball tour- Each day, a new town, and a new baseball team. 7 days - 7 stadiums
11. The Sopranos Marathon - I would watch every episode! I love that series!
12. NYC - I would love to spend 7 days in NYC -- to experience everything NYC has to offer. Last time I was there was the day before the Twin Towers blew up the first time...havent been back (except when I was a truck driver for deliveries) since.
13. Canada -- I wanna go back to Canada and spend a week seeing all the people, places, and things I havent been able to see before now.

Another travel based TT13, but I want to be able to accomplish all these someday :) Some sooner than others, but it will be fun! And just in case you are keeping track from last week, I got #1 twice, #6, #7, and #13 :) Have a great week everyone!

J-Dawg

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of this is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things.

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Thursday Thirteen -- 12/21/06

Hello everyone! Welcome to my Christmas edition of the Thursday Thirteen. Before I get to my list, I am going to write a little about the Reason for The Season. While going through a box from my move, and in it were some pictures from my late grandmother (Mom). She always found the neatest things, whether it be newspaper clippings, or what have you. Inside one of the envelopes of pictures was another envelope. Inside, was a letter... which read "Hope everything fits. Dont wash it in hot water they will lose their color! Wish I could be with you for Christmas...sending all my love, Grandma" ... Two things...she always watched out for me, and from all signs, I must have been in Texas, so this letter is from 96, the year my Grandfather (Pop) died. With the letter was a newspaper clipping:

THE CROSS ROOM
The young man was at the end of his rope. Seeing no way out he dropped to his knees in prayer. "Lord, I can't go on," he said. "I have too heavy a cross to bear." The Lord replied, "My son, if you can't bear its weight, just place your cross inside this room. The open that other door and pick out any cross you wish."
The man was filled with relief. "Thank You Lord" he sighed, and he did as he was told. Upon entering the other door, he saw many crosses, some so large the tops were not visible. Then he spotted a tiny cross leaning against a far wall. "I'd like that one, Lord," he whispered. And the Lord replied, "My son, that is the cross you just brought in."

It makes you think sometimes how good you have it when you are down on yourself. Like I said in an earlier post, sometimes you don't why things happen. I think this happened because Mom and Pop are looking out for me :)

OK now on to my Thursday Thirteen this week...since I am in a wild mood, and I am already getting what I want for Christmas (my kids that day)...here are 13 things I would buy if I were independently wealthy:

1. Maybach 62 -- If you have never heard of a Maybach, I suggest you click here and check them out. They measure you to tailor the car TO you - again, at this point, I am independently wealthy, so why not! LOL This would be my "special" vehicle - the one that doesn't get driven much.

2. My dream house - but only a couple changes -- I would HAVE to increase the size of the media room - I gotta have a huge theater to watch my movies in, with the sound system to make IMAX seem -- well -- miniscule! :) To see my dream house, click here. Oh, and I would have to have an equally large room that would be for computers - it would be decked with my own servers, gaming stations, etc. My storage capabilities would be measured in mega-tera-bytes! LOL

3. I would own every DVD ever made! I would have rack systems that would resemble a library for all my DVDs That way, when I retire to the media room, I will never have a problem finding a movie to watch!

4. I would buy 50 of the best computers ever made, and set them up as study stations for local students to use for research. These students would be the elite of the social ladder, but the elite who need that little boost to gain an edge. At the end of that school year, they would take the computer with them...and each year, do it all over again.

5. My everyday vehicle would look something like this ... or this. Hey, I am a big guy - you gotta ride pimped! This thing would have everything for travelling and THEN some ... and audio? Would sound like a home theater in there. Flip down TVs (the biggest one the ceiling will hold)...It will definitely be a nice truck! Of course, my dream house would have to have a garage spot with a door big enough to hold such a monster of a truck :)

6. $1M in savings bonds, and $750k in trust funds for each of my children. This way they will never have to worry about money. They will still have to work, but if something were to ever happen to me, they would be taken care of. Their college would be taken care of by my trust as well.

7. TOYS!!! I would have every electronic gadget known to man - and I would have at least 2 of everything! Why not right?!

8. I would buy 5 random Christmas gifts for every child in a shelter in my town. They would not know anything about it until Christmas day -- then, here would come a truck full of toys - each child would receive 5 tickets, and if they see something they want, they get it. Even if I have to bring it back to them. Christmas is about giving :)

9. A vacation home in every location my family would like to go on vacation...and the home is theirs to use while they are there...so all they have to do is fly in and stock the fridge....what a way to travel EH? (No pun intended Haley)

10. A nice fishing boat (click here). I am sure I can catch a fish or two from this guy!

11. A NASCAR team -- To find out how, I have the perfect article for you!! I would love to do this! (Again, remember, we are rich!!!! Muuhhaaahahahahah!)

12. Charter an airline and take my family on vacation....I would make it so it would be luxury - like first class but better! And we would be the only ones on the plane...then go to a new property I just bought - a waterfront locale in the Carribbean somewhere with 10-15 bungalos (more like reallllly nice houses!)...complete with wait-staff and round the clock drinks and food. And every year, a TT13 party where everyone is invited! A week in the Carribbean -- who could ask for more??

13. The Baltimore Orioles! Yes, I would by my hometown Baltimore Orioles. If Mark Cuban can buy the Dallas Mavericks (NBA) then I can buy the Orioles and bring them back from dis-repair.

Now that you have made it this far, here is my REAL TT13 for this Christmas. 13 Things I wouldnt mind getting for Christmas:

1. My kids -- just spending time with them on Christmas Day (one present I already know I am getting)
2. An iPod - why not, everyone else seems to be getting one
3. A new TV - mine is 10 years old -- time to replace and possible move up to LCD
4. New dress pants - mine are in need of replacing
5. New dress shirts - see #4
6. A new pair of sneakers -- again, see #4
7. New dress shoes -- I havent bought any in 3 years. Would like a new pair
8. A Baltimore Orioles jersey -- I dont have one
9. New everyday silverware - I have 10 spoons, but only 2 forks LOL Time to just replace and get a matching set
10. A long black jacket - always wanted one
11. NASCAR Jacket of Mark Martin - wish I could get one before they are forever gone.
12. A trip back to PA to see my sister and her family, then down to SC to see my dad, then to FL to see my mom, then NM and CA to see my brother from other mothers :) Yeah, not asking for much here!!!
13. A nice dinner

May each of you who have made it to the bottom of this VERY long TT13 have the safest of holidays seasons, and a MERRY CHRISTMAS! Just remember the Reason for The Season, and give thanks.

J-Dawg

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of this is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things.

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen -- 12/14/06

Good morning :) Welcome to another edition of the Thursday Thirteen. Since my sister is cruising around the Carribbean, I thought I would use the cruise ship logo today. Hey ½Pint if you are reading this from Jamaica, you need to have another Mai Tai and turn off the dang computer LOL

First of all, I wanted to thank everyone for the comments on last weeks TT13! It was a blast to do! I have actually "met" some new people this past week as well. ON to this week's edition, which is 13 Songs I can put onto a CD and never get tired of:

1. Metallica -- For Whom The Bell Tolls (listen here)
2. Nickelback -- Side of a Bullet
3. Switchfoot -- Let That Be Enough (listen here)
4. Joe Satriani -- The Forgotten Part II (listen here)
5. Pantera -- I'm Broken
6. Christina Aguilera -- No Other Man (listen here)
7. Michael Sweet -- Save Me
8. Stevie Ray Vaughan -- The Sky Is Cryin'
9. Run D.M.C. -- Mary, Mary (listen here)
10. Kenny Wayne Shepherd -- Slow Ride
11. Jackyl -- I Stand Alone
12. The Eagles -- Get Over It
13. Alannah Myles -- Black Velvet

(a few that ALMOST made the cut were Vince Gill - Go Rest High On That Mountain, Y&T - L.A. Rocks, Van Halen - 5150, Dream Theater - Pull Me Under, 3rd Bass - No Static At All, Sir Mix-a-Lot - My Hooptie. Now do you see why I am a DJ too! I love MUSIC!!)

Just a little sidebar on #13 before I close. When I was in high school and into college, I used to compete in car audio competitions. I actually shut down my subwoofer amplifier with the song Black Velvet -- it is so bass heavy that the 2nd time through the song, the amp was so hot it shut itself down...love that song!

Enjoy your week :) Have fun!

J-Dawg

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of this is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things.


View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Quote

When I read this quote...I stopped in my tracks. Not sure what to think or say about this:

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
If I settle on the far side of the sea,
Even there your hand will guide me,
Your right hand will hold me fast.

Psalm 139

Like everything in life, some days are better than others...this one just really hit home today....goodnight and be well.

J-Dawg

Thursday Thirteen -- 12/07/06

Hello, and welcome to anotheredition of the Thursday 13 -- This week, I thought instead of telling you what I did, or what's been going on with me, that I would tell you where I have been in the last 24 hours. I have been to exotic locales as Lexington KY, England, and others...to see where I have been, you will have to do some clicking, but I hope you enjoy the journey.....

1. Lexington, KY
2. Southern California
3. Kennesaw, GA
4. Albuquerque, NM
5. Duluth, GA
6. 'Crab Apple Cove' Maine
7. Munchen, Germany
8. Somewhere warm in Mississippi
9. Gillingham, Kent UK
10. Vancouver, BC Canada
11. 'Maybe it was' Memphis, TN
12. 'Sunnin & Funnin in' Florida
13. Scranton, PA (and Kabury Lane my friend's band)


I hope you have enjoyed my trip (somewhat) around the world. I like the places I selected. I visit them often. I hope you let them know that you stopped by :) Enjoy and have a great weekend.

J-Dawg

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of this is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things.


View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Heart-strings

Like a song that has never been played, my heart-strings are humming a new song -- really more like an old song - again. Why is it that we allow ourselves to be drawn in like puppets on a string, only to have thos strings cut, or twisted into knots, or just played with, and dont care about the end result, only that right then, and that moment, you feel good. Then when you think about it more, you just think "why did I allow that to happen?".

We let the emotions we miss take control of the emotions we are having. We let the feelings we miss take control and ignore the feelings we are truly having deep down. In the end, the only person who is truly suffering is yourself.

Tonight was a perfect example of that. I gave up most of my evening to talk to a friend of mine in need. I say friend in the past tense of this word. It was so important that we talk tonight, that I cancelled plans with another person just so she could have the night to talk about whatever it was that needed to be talked about...here it is 1030 CT and have yet to even begin a conversation. So the plans i cancelled were for naught, and the talk that was so important to have ... well, must not have been that important after all. All that it proved is that I will drop everything for a friend...and they dont appreciate what I do for them.

So with that being said, I am going to bed -- to rest my head which now has a headache, and just wish this day didnt have to end like this....

J