For some reason, I call my buddy Matt VanKirk, “Kirage”.

Tonight I headed over to their home to help Matt finish painting the roof of the station-wagon that, next Wednesday, will be smashed to bits in the fair’s demolition derby!

I free-handed the logo onto the roof and helped Matt paint it. It was good clean fun, though I’m still “buzzed” from smelling too many paint fumes!

More pictures from today’s “day-off” adventures here.

The famous (to me) Rev. Paul K. Sheets will be speaking at Warsaw Wesleyan Church on July 31st, 2005 in both morning services.

I can’t wait!

I’m typing this on a brand-new Dell computer in the “spare” room in our apartment!

I set it up tonight following our softball game (we lost, but had FUN). Jess is so happy to finally have a working computer for her to use other than at school! I’m excited because now I don’t HAVE to continue to bring my laptop home every night for us both to check our e-mail on! We got an amazing deal, and it’s a sweet computer. Did I mention we have a 19″ flat-screen monitor, too?! Yah, it’s THAT cool.

Anyways, the real reason to post this late is just to mention quickly how different guys are from girls.

Case in point: Today.

This morning Jess met up with the teacher she taught for during that teacher’s maternity-leave last year in Rochester, Indiana. She met up with her this morning at the local Bob Evans for some breakfast at around 10AM.

I received a phone call from my beautiful wife this afternoon at 4:30PM during which she said, “Guess what?! I’m just now leaving Bob Evans!!”

Folks – that 6.5 hours of pure girl/teacher talk! SIX-AND-A-HALF-HOURS! That just doesn’t seem possible, and yet it is.

As for me? My buddy J.B. came and picked me up for lunch this afternoon. 30-minutes chatting over 6″-subs @ Subway – that’s a GUYS conversation.

SIX-AND-A-HALF-HOURS!!!

I sure do love my wifey, and yet I wonder what those SIX-AND-A-HALF HOURS were spent talking about?

Probably my new radio-controlled helicopter!

Today has seemed to FLY by!

I woke up to the wonderful (sarcastic) sound of my alarm. I hit snooze.

Jess said, “aren’t you going to get up and give blood?”

I snapped into action – this is my “every-other-month” day to give blood, so I jumped up took a shower and before heading out the door rested my eyes upon an amazing piece of electronic-toy-goodness that I had somehow forgotten that I now owned.

I have a radio-controlled helicopter.

I still can’t believe it.

Tonight was a typical Monday night. Tonight, however, Jess and I had Craig over for supper and Phil came over to show us his pictures from the Grand Canyon. After supper and picture-sharing, the three of us (Stevan, Craig, and Phil) headed out for our weekly accountability meeting – this week we were meeting at Chad Stiver’s house instead of our usual Hacienda Restaurant.

We hung out for a bit in the back yard, setting of a couple “Works Bombs”, and then were coaxed inside for some homemade icecream that Chad had been mixing for us while we were in the back playing!

Before any icecream was served, I was handed a bag and told “you can do us the honor”. I was lost. I had no idea what was going on.

In the next moments of my life, I opened a full-sized, 6-channel radio transmitter simulator for a radio-controlled vehicle and then was told that “it goes with this”, as a BRAND-NEW electric radio-controlled helicopter was handed to me.

I wanted to cry.

Seriously, I wanted to lay on the floor and cry and cry and cry. These six accountability partners of mine had pitched in together and purchased me the LEXAS of electric r/c helicopters. I was literally in SHOCK!

I cannot express my gratitude for what these guys have done for me in words – only a continual “thanks” comes out of my mouth since earlier this evening. I still can’t believe it! A radio-controlled helicopter is something I’ve wanted for MANY YEARS of my life – and it’s actually STINKING SCAREY to actually have one in my possession now – I’m SCARED TO DEATH about now needing to learn to fly something that I NEVER actually thought I’d ever own!

They didn’t just buy the “basic” kit either! They bought me a simulator, the training kit, and numerous other goodies. They also gave me the task of learning EVERYTHING in the next two weeks and having my maiden flight on the 25th of July – the day after my birthday!

Of course you want to see pictures of this amazing gift: