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Baby Jesus 2014

Looks like I’ve settled into my ANNUAL blog post schedule. Sigh. Well, it’s been a busy year. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.

It’s time for our 7th annual Where’s Baby Jesus? — a Christmas tradition at our house. Here are links to some past years: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2013.

We have quite a doozie for you this year. Collin has gone to new heights, placing the Savior high above the manger scene as Jesus sits calmly in the wreath above.

Everyone else finally got off Facebook long enough to find their places and they don’t seem to even notice the swaddling clothed infant is missing from his bed. Perhaps they overdid the egg nog? Hey, wake up guys!!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

December 24, 2014
Whole Lotta Roy

Someone named Roy (who I don’t know) called my number 9 times over 6 days in July 2012. On one of these days, he called 4 times! Even after calling and leaving 6 messages, on his 7th call he throws in an “I love you” at the end. He called 2 more times then never called again.

Poor Roy.

September 16, 2014
Take Time

Take Time

Take time to Think,
It is the source of power.

Take time to Play,
It is the secret of youth.

Take time to Read,
It is the foundation of wisdom.

Take time to Love and be Loved,
It is a present.

Take time to be Friendly,
It is the road to happiness.

Take time to Laugh,
It is the music of the soul.

Take time to Dream,
It is hitching your wagon to a star.

Take time to Give,
It is too short a day to be selfish.

Take time to Work,
It is the price of success.

Take time to Do Charity,
It is the key to heaven.

– Anonymous

January 16, 2014
Baby Jesus 2013

Wow, it’s December 21st already! Well, you know what it’s time for….yes…..time for our 6th annual Where’s Baby Jesus? — an annual tradition at our house. Here are links to past years: 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

So this year, Collin decided it was time for Baby Jesus to ride donkey back again just like he did in 2008.

Notice this year how the Christ Child and his furry friend (we call him Ashton) have stopped for a little siesta and are just chillin’. Some Wise Guy says, “Hey, let’s get a picture!” and they both look right into the camera. Ah…..Christmastime…….

Merry Christmas All!!!

December 21, 2013
Union

From the moment we’re born

we’re drawn to form a union with others

an abiding drive to connect

to love

to belong.

In a perfect union

we find the strength we cannot find in ourselves.

May 11, 2013
New Facebook App Idea

It’s March 28th in Northeast Ohio. About 150 days into the big chill. Winter’s last gasp.

And here is my idea for a new Facebook app.

It’s called Newton’s First Law of Spring Break.

Sir Isaac Newton radically changed our understanding of the Universe with his Three Laws of Motion. His third law of motion states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. My app is based on this law.

First, the app confirms you are actually in Northeast Ohio between March 15 and April 15.

Then, the app closely monitors the photos posted by your Facebook Friends. For every Spring Break picture on the beach (or anywhere above 40 degrees) posted by your Facebook “Friends”, the app posts an equal and opposite reaction picture of a dirty parking lot snow pile or a bumper to bumper, interstate blizzard nightmare.

That’s it.

Now someone in Florida can rip off this idea and go make a fortune while we scrape the inch of ice off our BBQ grills and hope the windchill hasn’t made us all sterile.

March 28, 2013
Top 10 Misheard Lyrics: Deuce or Douche?

Update December 2012:

Springsteen was recently interviewed and says he changed Manfred Mann’s original lyric from “cut loose like a deuce” to “revved up like a deuce” yet admitted the reason the song went to #1 was because people heard “wrapped up like a douche”. This was the one moment in the history of the universe that millions of people collectively longed to hear a song with this bold statement!

Original Blog July 2007:

According to AmIRight.com, the most misheard lyrics in a song ever is Blinded By The Light, a Bruce Springsteen Song, made popular by Manfred Mann’s Earth band in the seventies.

I must admit, this is a very difficult song to figure out from verse one. I have one word of explanation: drugs.

I nearly coughed up a lung tonight reading the misheard lyrics for:

“Revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night”

Be honest. What was your version of this lyric?

I actually had it pretty close, only using “wrapped” instead of “revved”. I did get “deuce” right while I think most people thought Manfred was singing about a nocturnal feminine hygiene activity.

Please enjoy my PG-13 rated, Top 10 misheard versions of this famous lyric:

10. Wrapped up like a goose, let the wind blow through my hair.
9. Lit up like an illusion in the middle of the night.
8. Rapped up like a douche, another rumor in the night.
7. Wracked up, like I knew she was a hooker in the night.
6. Red ball like a douche and throw me out into the night.
5. Wake up like a douche and go running in the night.
4. Wrapped up like you’re douchin’ in the middle of the night.
3. Warped up like Medusa, oh the runner in the night.
2. Grabbed up by a douche, another robot in the night.

and last but not least:

1. Wrapped up with a douchebag’s aroma in the night.

December 5, 2012
My “Pick 5” Stock Experiment, 6+ Years Later

Over six years ago, I decided to choose 5 companies that I liked and buy their stock. I didn’t spend any time researching the companies I chose. I simply chose companies whose product or service I liked!

Here are the companies I chose:

Netflix (NFLX)
Ebay (EBAY)
Comcast (CMCSA)
Tivo (TIVO)
Google (GOOG)

It’s been fun to watch these 5 stocks in my Ameritrade account especially since I had an interest in them and liked what they offered.

Of my initial investment, the value of all 5 stocks as of today is double. So overall, in 5 years, the overall gain was 100%. Do you think I bought all huge winners to get a gain like that? Not exactly.

All 5 company’s stocks have increased since March 2006. Interestingly enough, 4 of them have grown 70-80% and 1 has grown 200%. You might think it was Google, but it’s not … it’s Netflix. And there was a time when Netflix was up 800%. Oh well, 200% will have to do.

Here they are in order of gain percentage:

Comcast 70%
Ebay 71%
Tivo 77%
Google 78%
Netflix 200%

Yes, I bought Facebook … more on that later.

What are 5 companies you like and would you buy their stock? I say no matter what amount you have to invest, trust your gut and go for it.

November 30, 2012
A Birthday Request

Dear Friend,
I’m about to turn a year older. And hopefully, a little wiser.

I saw this video and learned that almost a billion people on our planet still don’t have access to clean drinking water. Take a look at this short video which kind of brings this “home”.

I’d like to do something about this. So this year, I’m giving up my birthday for charity: water.

Instead of giving me presents, or writing on my Facebook wall, would you consider donating $4, $7, or $47 for my 47th birthday, and help me bring clean water to people in need?

Go to my campaign to donate: http://mycharitywater.org/dougs-birthday-2012

What’s really cool is that 100% of the money we raise will directly fund water project costs in the field, and charity: water will prove every single dollar. When the project we help fund is complete, they’ll send us a digital completion report with GPS coordinates and photos of the community we helped. Here’s an example.

I can’t think of a better way to celebrate my birthday than by giving the gift of clean water to people in need. Would you please join me?

Godspeed,

Doug

P.S. Read this story from charity: water to learn how clean water changes lives.

October 9, 2012
When Parents HeyTell

I can’t decide if this is pathetic or a clever attempt at communicating with my teenage son.

July 11, 2012