Christmas time!

So I am pretty cynical. My sarcastic, make fun of people side comes out during the holidays, especially around my family. I know Angela is always laughing beside me while at gatherings because I'm always under my breath making fun of the weirdness of others--she is fun to have beside me during these moments. And we'll drive away from the evening party, holding proudly the hideous doily that we won playing the weird Christmas game that my grandmother made up that took 3 hours for us to play--and I'll make some comment about why I hate Christmas. 

I don't really truly hate Christmas... I'm just selfish.

I read this quote the other day by a guy who started a foundation for kids who don't have dads:

"It might be easy to run away to a monastery, away from the commercialization, the hectic hustle, the demanding family responsibilities of Christmas-time. Then we would have a holy Christmas. But we would forget the lesson of the Incarnation, of the enfleshing of God--the lesson that we who are followers of Jesus do not run from the secular; rather we try to transform it. It is our mission to make holy the secular aspects of Christmas just as the early Christians baptized the Christmas tree. And we do this by being holy people--kind, patient, generous, loving, laughing people--no matter how maddening is the Christmas rush..."

-Fr. Andrew Greely

So I'll probably still be sarcastic this Christmas--laughing a lot on the inside and with Angela. But instead of being bitter towards others not quite acting the way I want, I'll just laugh and love them. While exchanging gift cards, giving $30 to Starbucks to my dad and him giving me $30 to Panera Bread; and instead of me thinking "why didn't we both just keep our $30 so I could spend it where I want?"; I'll remember that my dad loves me and I love him, and that I should be thankful for that. I will keep my joy this Christmas and remember the words of Mr. Greely.

Merry Christmas. 

Matt look a likes

For some reason I have a face that reminds other people of someone they know. When I went to college there was apparently some other guy that looked like me. I never met this guy, but I did meet his friends a lot... them thinking I was him. Weird.

The other day at the YMCA some guy said I looked like Jeff Gordan.

And then some people at work said I looked like Chris Tomlin.

And finally some others mistook me for Pedro Sanchez the guy in Napolean Dynamite.

Sharp Top Hike

2 sundays ago we went hiking to sharp top with some of the most patient people (my middle school staff) and 20 middle school kids. I had Owen, Tyler, and Heath in my car until halfway down the road I realized that I had forgotten Eric! So we quickly pulled a Uturn and went back to get him. Most of the trip there was me yelling at my guys about trying to hit cars driving by with french fries.

We had a great time--got to the top of the mountain and kids jumping all over rocks without anyone dying. It's hard to keep a leash on MS boys jumping around from boulder to boulder. Mark and Jack took half the boys and Hannah (who could beat up any boy but is too nice to do it) down a different side of the mountain to see a recked WWII plane.

My wife is the cute one with the blue hat. I don't think Natalie (the "I'm Bossy" t-shirt) has ever been up the side of a mountain, so that made it worth it... she is a hilarious girl who really does beat up boys! Hannah has the pink hat.

Our new Pets

Angela and I swear that we will never have pets. We hate hair (mainly because I lose enough of my own already) and we don't want to take the time to keep something alive besides ourselves (scary thought if we have kids). Anyway we just moved into a gianourmus house and with it we have adopted some pets. It just so happens that we have a small pond that came with the house and in it are about 5 goldfish and a bunch of other little things that swim... not sure if they are fish. And we also have 2 cats. They just hang out around our house. The one really freaks Angela out because it sits outside our front door where the window goes to the ground--and she'll randomly be walking by and see the cat staring in the window at us.

I love our pets though. Mainly because we could care less if they die, we don't have to take care of them, but they still seem kind of attached to us. It's kind of like being a babysitter where it's cool to hang out with the cute kid but you can leave as soon as thier parents come home. With our pets we can leave anytime!

We've nicknamed the one who stares at Angela "Killer".

I might be sad if Killer dies.

Kids are amazing! Find a cool on and hang out with them...

Ok so this kid is amazing. He's like 8! Think about what he's going to be at 30 years old!

Friends help friends start blogging

One of my bestest friends from college, groomsman in my wedding, and a rice eatin' philipino writes hilarious blogs and has awesome wisdom about life. He peaked my interest to start blogging. So if you have a friend that is not blogging get them to start. Check out his blog on the right. Love ya Taffy!

My Wonderful Morning

Starbucks Breakfast Blend is simply amazing. I'm sitting here drinking down it's tremendous flavor while smelling it's aroma. It has made me a happy man on this Friday morning. Now to get some work done.................................................................

By the way if you are one of those "buy lots of sugar in your drink" people, be brave one day and order just coffee. You are allowed to put some cream and sugar in it (for me I use splenda). Give it a try, it is a wonderful experience and it saves you a ton of money!

David Crowder is beast...

Yes I am using a middle school term, but I am listening to Crowders new CD "Remedy" and he is a freakin' genius! Buy every album he has and buy extras for your friends!

Dove campaign

Ok... Dove rocks. Working with middle school kids and coaching volleyball I see how crappy kids can be to each other and how much they push each other to be the fake. I love what Dove is doing.

First Blog

Picking a blog name is hard.
Some really cool names that are already taken are:
Wonkette, Man without qualities, Fark, Sand in the gears, and The fat guy.
I'm sad all the cool ones are taken.
I hope everyone enjoys!