Mid-year update...

Item 1. Fine laugh if you want. My schedule is so busy that I decided to 'outsource' my laundry. I figured it'd give me back a couple of hours at least per week. Sure enough, just drop it off and pick it up a day later all done. The first place worked out good. The old man was pretty diligent and would follow-through with my special requests for some of my garments. But alas it couldn't last. He was retiring and the place wouldn't continue the service for some time. Away I went on my mission for a new shores. Found another place about a mile south of my house. The price went up from $0.85/lb to $1.00/lb. I was hoping to get a bump in service as well. No dice. The girl although nice has very limited command of the english language. Quality and pride in her work are not her priorities. She could've told me that besides my (liquid) detergent, I'd be needing to leave fabric softener. Learn that the hard way. Hey I'm picky like that. I know I'm a guy but I still want my clothes to smell nice AND be soft to the touch. That was strike one. Fine, so now I haul my Downy bottle with me as well. But now we're going for strike two. She seemed to have my clothes sitting after the drying cycle for a tad bit too long. Now I had clothes that made me look like I just came out of the hamper... not cool, specially if I'm paying more now. I know, I know... too OCD for some of you.


Item 2. Best shape in my life but body's getting older. So early in my 20's I had two jobs and was going to school (part-time) and I though I was on top of the world. This past Saturday I went horse back riding, skeet and trap, running and roller skating (I'll explain later). I went to Church early on Sunday and I was drifting away from the sermon just thinking about my bed. Lord please forgive me! Went running again Sunday afternoon and today I'm totally dragging and I still have to go to a motorcycle safety class all the way 'til 2300hrs!! I'm avaraging 12-15 miles a week during my runs, I'm lifting weights and eating healthy for the most part. I'm seeing muscles in my body for the first time in my life!

Item 3. Church fellowship. If any of you would've met me last year and compare it to now, you'd fall off your chair. More than half of my friends in facebook are from my church AND part of the pastoral staff. I usher at the 0815 service EVERY Sunday, attend bible class afterwards and bible study on Tuesday evenings. It has been such a drastic and positive change in my life. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Item 4. I'm now truly getting into another big passion of mine. Guns. That's right, guns. I've always had an attraction to the sport. I've made several purchases as of lately. Anything from handguns, shotgun to rifles. I'm putting together a couple of california-legal AR-15's. That has been fun. It's like Lego for adults. I've been toying with the idea of becoming a firearms instructor and to that extent I've signed up for classes and courses. Hopefully by early August I'll be an NRA certified instructor.

Item 5. Horses. OMG! What can I say about 'em? I'm loving learning horsemanship. Last year I'd wash my hands right after petting a dog, now you'll find me brushing the horses after a ride, playing the pooper scooper role, getting horse hair everywhere and have lunch in between. I've been reading a book from Cherry Hill on horses and I've spent some dough on John Lyon's DVDs. It's great stuff!

Item 6. Baptism. My life had changed ever since I was born again buuuuuuuuuut... it has just sky-rocketed ever since my baptism. It's a totally new level of accountability. The Lord has just taken over my life... and for that I'm grateful!

Cheers,

Ben