thoughts from the common man....

Rocky Balboa

There is a God...

Pyramid Scheme

So I talked to a buddy of mine a couple of months ago that told me that he was going to get a free ipod through one of those referral things...YEAH RIGHT!

Well turns out, it worked...CRAZY EH.

(Here is a link to an article that gives it some legitimacy...wired.com

Here is how it works (HELP ME Complete mine :)

1. Sign up, using my referral link... freeipod.com

2. Sign up for a affiliate offer (there are many free trials, I used RealArcade).

3. Refer 5 friends.

4. Once your offer is complete (3-15 days), and your friends are complete, you get an ipod.

NOTE: Don't forget to cancel your free trial!!! You don't REALLY want that RealArcade do you :)

Thanks for the help! Remember to use my link!

Apple Protection Plan

So I had a problem with my ipod. Called them up, got a box Wednesday, sent it in Thursday, and had a new ipod Monday by 10am. I never buy extended warranties, but man this one is amazing!

No Teacher Left Behind*

From KinkyFriedman.com
How hard could it be?
Kinky's Common-Sense Priorities
Education

Texas has the second-largest population of any state in the country and two of the ten largest cities. That's an awfully big cart to pull with the horsepower we're currently giving our kids in Texas schools. An educated workforce and top-notch schools are essential to keeping our state attractive to new business, but we're failing the test.

• Texas has the 8th largest economy in the world, but we're 1st in drop-out rates and 49th in education spending in the country.

• Teachers' salaries in Texas are over $6,000 below the national average. This lack of respect for the people who do our state's most important job must stop. As governor, Kinky will work to make sure that teachers are paid what they're worth. Period.

• The TAKS test and its predecessor, TAAS, were invented essentially to make legislators look good on education. But studies show that rigid enforcement of standardized test scores doesn't help kids learn or make teachers more effective. Teach to the test and kids will learn the test—but not much else.

Kinky for Governor

Man...this guy is funny...

Great Joke

Man, this is a really funny blonde joke!

DEEP

Julie and I work with a small group bible study called DEEP (with Redeemer Lutheran Church). It started out a couple years ago as an in"dep"th Bible study for juniors and seniors. It didn't turn out that way. What developed (a year before we came to Redeemer) was more of a fellowship time for freshman. Sure there was bible study, but it seemed to be more of a time for these students to recharge and feel safe in an environment where they could talk, laugh, and discuss Christ with those of the same faith.

Enter year two, and our involvement into DEEP...

We inherited the group after the groundwork had been set...these guys loved it! Their leaders ended up not being able to carry through to year two, and so Max, John and the gang decided to host it on their own (over the summer). There was a core group of 5 or so that would come week in and week out. We were astounded at their dedication.

It was a bit overwhelming at first. We didn't know who the "regulars" were, where they were all at in their faith walk and knowledge of the Christian faith, who was their just to meet chicks, who was there to learn, recharge, etc. It probably took 4-5 months just to figure this type of stuff out.

We learned in a number of different environments about them. We went to our first choir (or was it band) concert, and were floored by how thrilled they were to see us, and how much we learned by being there. Who their friends were, where they went afterwards, what a "section" was (same instrument....who knew), etc. It really is fascinating...it's like a different world. There are special rules, a language, culture... (I'm 26, and man do I not know Emo from Goth sometimes :)

As we closed that first year is really was exciting. The growth was tremendous (and I haven't even told you about the kids yet). They really have allowed us to become apart of their families. They allow us to meet their friends and families, tell us about struggles in school, ask us to go to the doctor with them, scold them, keep us up on slag/teenage speak/im/texting (is that what <3 means :) What a blessing.

As far as the kids go...wow. We have been asked about symbolism and theology as it relates to The Passion of the Christ (over text message), seen someone get to know Christ as their Savior (and contemplate Church work as a career), seen student go through the tremendous loss of a friend and mentor....It really has been an experience.

Why am I thinking about all of this? I really am not sure. I guess I really just feel blessed. Julie and I get to be apart of their lives in ways few people do. Part parent, part mentor, part friend, part immigrant. It helps me in my work, in my education and possible future career. I have seen and experienced a ministry that is much different than my past at camp (some describe it as a marathon as opposed to a sprint), a ministry that is much different than that of a camp. It took us 6 months to a year to really feel like we were trusted and invited into their lives. Would we be able to have an impact if we decided to hang it up after just a year (or six months)?

The phrase/cliché "It takes a village to raise a child" has never been so real to me. I can see it in my own life. No single person (parent, counselor, teacher, pastor, etc) made me the person that I am today. It was the fingerprints of so many people, through the power of Christ, that made me who I am today. What a blessing to have a part in impacting someone else’s life in that way!

Well I am rambling a bit, but I just wanted to digest some of the last year and a half. I am looking forward to another year and a half with (most) of these kiddos, and I only hope this time will be half as fun/educational/exhausting/etc. as the first year and a half.

I hope that you have enjoyed my ramblings (and my photos of the some of the DEEPsters)!

Christmas Dinner...

So I am cooking a deep fried cajun turkey for christmas with my parents. I am pretty excited. A friend of mine cooked one for Christgiving, and it was great! I have always wanted to cook one! A couple of fun images to thing about....

In the woods...


Some old guys...


This guy is really excited about it...


Hopefully this won't happen...

What is wrong with us....

I saw this bumper sticker a couple of weeks ago, and it epitomizes my feelings toward the current administrations campaign tactics. (Yes DEEPsters, this is going to be a boring adult post :) Why is it that they feel the need to use Jesus, and the Christian faith as a campaign tactic? Is God really so small that He fits within a particular political ideology? Should democrats, libertarians, liberal republicans, etc feel as though there is something wrong with them because they do not see eye to eye with Bush? I feel that all the GOP has done is polarize America through aligning themselves with the Christian right, and demonizing the left.

Why do I have to be told how to vote on a constitutional amendment in church? How about instead of spending our time hammering out legislation to ban homosexual marriage (by "defining marriage"), we spend time figuring out how to adequately fund a broken school system (not my opinion, the ruling of the Supreme Court). What does it say to a homosexual that we are so ready to spend time mobilize on a constitutional amendment, and spend so little time getting to know people that are not like us?

It is a bit of an exaggeration to claim the Bush the current administration is solely responsible for equating Christianity with conservatives and republicans, because I am sure that this was the case long before 43 came to be president, but it still infuriates me. I am sure my perception is skewed, growing up in Texas, in the heart of the Bible belt, but I still feel that it is occurring, and its growth is not solely a result of my increasing interest in the subject...

I guess what I am saying, is isn't it a bit disturbing to limit our witness to conservatives? Doesn't it hurt Christ's mission if we alienate those of other political ideologies? Those of other races? Those of other sexual orientations?

Wife Smartie Pants

So Julie is quite smart....

She just started a graduate program at Texas (see post on April 3rd). She has taken 9 hrs, and it is going really well. She has gotten great feedback from both instructors that she has worked with, and has been doing some fascinating research on Dyslexia. Through that, one of her professors Nancy Roser asked her to be a graduate editor of some manuscripts send in by faculty members around the country. The papers are 15-20 pages, and fairly well written (duh, the people writing them are Dr.)...not exactly freshman comp papers. There are going to be 15 or so of them, and most of the work on the project will be able to be accomplished in between semesters. To be asked was a real honor, and Julie and I were ecstatic...oh yeah, and she gets paid....Whoop!

Congrats to Julie, send her and email or give her a call (she hates it when I brag about her :)

XBOX 360 - Warning GEEKY POST

I am really looking forward to the 360, better graphics, (hopefully) great titles, etc. I am getting a bit P.O.ed that there is such speculation as to who is going to have how many boxes at launch. I sold my box, so I am currently Haloless, with no hope for a box on launch (suposedly). No one trusts Microsoft is not creating this shortage to increase demand. No one seems to know if this "shortage" is fabricated, or reality (i.e. PSP shortage). I preordered at Gamestop, and I am second shipment, so I am fairly confident that I am out of luck for the 22nd. Oh well, there is not Halo 3 at launch, and that gives my parents plenty of time to figure out that they are buying me one for Christmas :)

Does this frighten anyone else...

Yeh, it's a grown man, and a good friend of mine, but wow! Dana is an old boss of mine, and a good friend, we play Halo 2 together, watch NASCAR (both on his massive HDTV), etc. Nice familia, wife 2 kiddos etc.

Love you Dana :)

Old

One of the DEEPies (JoJoD) and I were talking about reading each other's blogs. The she says..."I feel weird reading your blog."

"Why JoJoD?"

"It is like reading my mom's blog"

"Why"

"'Cause you're old..."

Sears Grand

So Julie and I went to Sears grand today to get a circular saw. We are working to clean out the garage, and I have a bunch of wood I was waiting to use till I could get a saw. We had a bunch of stuff to get from Wal-Mart, but seeing a Sears Grand, we decided to check it out (it is like a Sears Super Wal-Mart).

The fact that they were taking a Wal-Mart, big box type approach frightened me. Have you ever tried to get a question answered in WallyWorld? Yeh, it's fun. And that is there angle, low prices at the expense of service. This is okay with me. I like low prices, so I shop there. I want service, I go somewhere else. This is not the approach that I want at Sears. Everyone knows that Craftsman tools are overpriced (at least to some extent). How many people have actually needed to take back a socket wrench, or a straight wrench (me, but only once, and after playing with it for hours till it broke). Their lifetime warranty makes me FEEL like I am getting a great deal. Good tools, a bit overpriced, but a lifetime warranty. The salespeople in tools are always helpful, and fun to talk to, and I enjoy shopping there. I DO NOT WANT IT TO TURN INTO WAL-MART!

I go to buy my saw (on sale, marked down $10). I brought it to the register, and it rings up $20 more than I thought it would. Checked price, different saw than the one that is on sale (14 instead of 13 amps). Julie and I walked away, not wanting to argue (we were up front, not realizing that we could check out in tools). Went back to tools, and I had them check for the one I wanted. 5 in the back. Problem was, there were none in the back. After 20 minute, and polite service from the merchandise pickup guy, I was told that I could order it, back in tools. That's cool, I have a plan. I will go to tools and ask them about the original saw that I picked up ($20 more). If they sell it to me at the same price, they have a deal (I didn't want to wait till next week to get one).

Tool guy says her doubts it, but he will check. SUCESS! I get the "better" saw, and for the same price. We do some paperwork, and I am out the door with my new saw!

What is the moral of the story?

1. Tools rule.
2. Do I need the more powerful saw? I doubt it. I am not even an amateur woodworker. I am excited because I got a good deal. Everyone wins in this scenario. The manager that approves it gets the sale, still making a sizable profit on the saw. The employee gets to be the hero, getting me a cooler saw. Sears (and the team) created a good customer service experience, alleviating my fears of their new business model.

So all and all I am excited about Sears Grand. It seems like it could getting its foot in the door to competing with Target and Wal-Mart. I still anticipate it being more akin to Target than Wal-Mart in the long run, sacrificing being the low cost leader for at least attempting to have some employees that know something about the store. Check it out for yourself...come on, you know you want a miter saw with that gallon of milk!!!

Is this thing on....is anyone listening?

Wow...I have a blog....who knew!

Well I haven't posted in a while; I really need to practice typing. I am slow enough to where I really gotta want to post in order to get it done.

Well here is a rundown of what is going on in the Knouse House.

1. I just finished "travel season." (This is the time in the admissions world when there are about 6 weeks of college fairs and HS visits...fun, but long). I am glad to be back in my own bed, in town with my wife, etc.

2. I have been to 2 high school football games in the past month or so...more on this later.

3. Julie is doing really well in her Masters program. She has received some high praise from a couple of professors (2 or 2 classes :), and is doing some interesting research on Dyslexia. It is neat to see others recognize her talent and intellect!

4. I sold my XBOX (Yeah I know this is a shocker, but there is more). I am trying to save up for a 360. Sold the box for 125, got a gift card from AMEX for 50 (from LaQuinta!)...now I just need to raise about 200 more to justify it to myself. It is not that we are going to go to the poorhouse for buying a new box; I just feel better knowing that I did not spend Julie and I's money on it. She tutors for shopping money, so I should mow lawns for the XBOX.... (Being a grownup stinks :)

5. I discovered audible.com!!!!! Traveling so much (I put over 4000 miles on my rental car) audio books are fabulous. I have listened to...

Jarhead by Anthony Swafford
Split Second and Hour Game by David Baldacci
The Testament by John Grisham
State of Fear by Michael Crighton
Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson
Dark Harbor by David Hosp
Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
Dreams from my Father by Barack Obama
The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown

I think that is all of them...WOW...that is a big list (most of these were unabridged). Let me know if you want a recommendation on any of these. Nothing makes you feel old like being ecstatic over a new audio book (super dorky).

I am so thankful that the wife got me an ipod before travel season, or else I would not have listened to all of these. What a great creation! Apple rules!

6. Julie and I planted some trees in the backyard. We planted an apple tree (apparently the only type that will bear fruit in this HOT climate) and a live oak (which will take a billion years to get big). It wasn't hard at all, and hopefully they will grow and live well beyond the time we have in this house (or the time that we are on earth...for the live oak).

7. We have an enclosed backyard! We wanted to wait on this till the new year for tax purposes (crazy church workers), but the back neighbors were going to pay for the back, so we talked to our side neighbor, Judy, and she agreed to split the cost of the side. I really like the fence they put up (much better than the builder's fence). It is cedar, and really well built.

8. No more cable (satellite) around here. Just too hard to justify the expense when all you really watch is ER and Lost (THE BEST SHOW ON TV). I will miss seeing the Stros on Fox sports next year, and I will have to go somewhere to see some of the TAMU games (don't get me started), but overall it will be good. That $50 is better spent in a college fund (don't ever look at the 20 year projections for private and public schools....I'm never going to have kids...WAY to expensive :) or on a XBOX 360!

9. We got a new employee in my office. Jami is our new full time office manager, and she is great. She will end up processing over 1000 applications all by herself this year, and helps me to keep my kiddos straight (what goes to who when).

10. I want to train for a half marathon, but really fell off the wagon this fall. It is really hard to keep fit on the road. I am going to get back it and shoot for a half in the spring (in the meantime Race for the Cure is coming up, and should be a lot of fun, and for a great cause). Let me know if you want more info on the Austin Race for the Cure, and how you can help/ be apart of the team!

That is about all that I have energy for right now. No one read this whole post anyways...its HUGE!

HS Football in Texas

So...the two games that Julie and I went to...

Westwood at Leander, and Wimberley at Liberty Hill.

Both were a lot of fun, but for different reasons.

----------------Westwood------------------------------
Westwood was fun because one of our DEEPys plays football for WWood (Sean), and others are in the band (Ben, John, KW, JoJoD). It was enjoyable to sit with KDub and a good friend of hers, see their halftime show, etc. KDub and Katlin were funny together, dancing around and getting in trouble for sitting with Julie and me. The game did not go so well, Leander is really good, and WWood got smoked. It was played at Leander, not at RRocks $22 million stadium (Jumbotron, turf, crazy-nice bleachers), so not quite as cool a setting as it could be.

(Incidentally, I didn't think about calling a student we know that is a trainer for Leander, and man did I get in trouble for that one)

----------------Liberty Hill------------------------------
The Liberty Hill game was fun for a number of other reasons.

1. We went to see Chelsea Urban, who is drum major there (is that the right term...she waved her hands around a lot). She won Band sweetheart at the game, and it was fun to see an all star like Chelsea be recognized for being excellent! We talked to her a bit after halftime...it was fun. I yelled for her a couple of times, never wanting to miss an opportunity to embarrass her (or Paige, but more on that below).

2. We sat with Chelsea's family (mom and Paige, dad was working the concessions). I have known Paigywaigy for a couple of years now, and let me tell you....she is insane! If you ever want to hear an opinion on ANYTHING, she is your gal. If you ever want to see someone's finger catch fire for text messaging, she is your gal. If you ever want to see someone mortified of embarrassment after yelling her (or her sister's) name, she is your gal. It was a riot sitting with Paigy, and I am still laughing about the experience.

3. 3AAA football is great! We got a bit of a biased view of it, since LH and Wimberley are big rivals, but it is crazy. Everyone knows everyone, everyone seems to be really into it, everyone is there, etc. I highly recommend it. If you have a chance to come out to a game, do it. Beat 5A hands down.

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That's about all I have on the subject, Texas high school football really is wild. A great format for a number of kiddos to showcase their talents.