Barkley’s First Bath

Well Katie and I gave Barkley a bath last night and I can proudly say that the little guy was very brave. We could easily tell that Barkley was nervous and not liking this experience but he endured and came out all fresh and so clean clean.

Barkley & the Maxwells

Katie’s Disney Birthday

Katie and I had a fantastic time exploring Disneyland’s California Adventure! We loved the rollercoasters of California Adventure but missed the simple magic of Magic Kingdom. Katie and I decided that when we go back with family, friends or just us again we will make sure and experience Magic Kingdom instead.

Katie wore a birthday button that Disney provided that morning and the staff constantly wished Katie a Happy Birthday. It was really nice and sweet.

We might have a new puppy!

A Disney Birthday!

Happy Birthday Katie!

Today is my beautiful wife’s birthday and I am glad to have accompanied her on another year of her life. She is more gorgeous today then ever. Katie makes me laugh and enjoy every second I am around. I constantly let her know that when we see each other at the end of our long days it is the best part of my day. No matter how tired we are or upset with life, all it takes is one look when I walk in the door or she walks in and I am on cloud nine! She is beautiful and perfect in every way!

Today we are visiting the happiest place on earth: Disneyland and Katie gets in free because it is her special day. I am sure we will post some photographs and some videos later tonight or tomorrow.

I’ve attached a video I made for Katie’s 24th Birthday while I was living in Nashville working at my internship. It is a silly video but fun… very corny. Katie and I only had so many photos so I was limited to each and every photo we had ever taken. Oh the memories….

Brain Power Toy

I saw this on the news the other night and was blown away. A toy that can sense concentration and then translates it into levitating a ball. Wow.

I can remember countless times growing up and even just a few minutes ago in which I forgot to shut the door to a room until I was already a couple of strives away. I then would turn around stick out my arm and use the force to try and shut it but nothing ever happened. To this day I have yet to close a door and have been yelled at by Katie many times to go back and shut that bathroom door. Maybe in the not too distant future I can finally close that bathroom door without having to turn around and take those tiring few steps back.

The Glorious Puppies

Katie and I saw some puppies tonight. They were so so so cute. We are thinking about a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel because we here they make great family dogs as well as apartment dogs. They remind katie and me of smaller cocker spaniels but their snout is a little shorter. I am still trying to get used to it but they kinda look like a boxer mixed with a cocker and the long hair of a golden.

Very beautiful dogs. What do y’all think? Should we stick with a Cocker Spaniel or keep pursuing the Cavaliers?

Here are some photos and video from tonight.

A Passionate Confession

I have a confession to make about my outward passions. Many friends and family think that I have an extreme passion for films, tv shows, and/or photography. I have lived my life for the past several years as if I were spearheading these passions each and every day. I am constantly working on videos/films for different organizations, friends and clients. I even make videos on my own just for the heck of it. I love photography as well and have pursued it since I was very young.

Okay… enough said… It is now time for my confesssion: My passion does not lye in the artistic endeavors behind each of these fields but in the toys that are ever necessary for these fields to function. Thats it… I have a passion for all things that come packed in protective styrofoam and have lights that blink, perhaps they beep as well, maybe there is a viewfinder you look through or a 17″ LED illuminated screen. I have a love for electronics and because of this I had to find a career path that would incorporate all that I love.

This love started when I was very young according to my parents. Apprently I would cast aside my stuffed animals within my crib so that I could sleep with my mom’s hairdryer. I remember loving the humidifier and being so fascinated about it’s ability to turn water into fog or smoke and that it was breathable but I quickly learned that if you consume too much too quickly your body will intentionally cough due to the amount of liquid that you are physically trying to breath in.

I had a fascination for how things worked. I remember staying up in my bed studying these children books that showed you ordinary household items in an exploded view. They were blueprints and i had to know everything.

Every year during the holidays we would travel to Dallas to see my grandparents and I would take advantage of my grandmother’s addiction to catalogs and find all her Service Merchandise catalogs and study them. In second grade I became hooked on the need for a camera but not just any camera, I wanted the vivitar 100 ( I think). It was black, had a flash, and would automatically advance the film for you. The only thing I didn’t like was that it did not have an automatic lens cover like most of the more expensive cameras had. I think it was around $25 and I tried to figure out a way to find the money. I horded my pitiful savings, found all the couch loose change and even tried to steal/barrow some from my little sister’s rich savings. (she would actually hide her money from me underneath a loose floor panel) Then it hit me: I would create a neighborhood news flyer. Audrey and I could come up with the stories and type them up on our families Mac SE and then print out a master copy on our Stylewriter II and then paste the needed photographs and then copy them at my Dad’s office at ACU. It was a master plan that never left our makeshift offices within the closet underneath the stairway.

I finally got that camera and still have it somewhere. It took great photos of family vacations and whatever I could find but film and development costs were expensive which left me pretending to be a photographer with a camera that would click and advance make believe film. It was a great camera.

My next big electronic need was to buy this revolutionary device that would transmit audio signals to a nearby radio. It was essentially a radio transmitter! Now I know that these things are a dime a dozen and every ipod used has once probably used one but back in 94′ this was a huge deal. Audrey and I immediatly knew that we had to scrap our neighborhood news flyer idea and start our very own radio station. We would be a  neighborhood hit with our constant disney tracks with some Garth Brooks and Billy Ray Cyrus thrown in to mix things up. Now we weren’t stupid and knew that the transmitter would only work within a 6-9 foot distance but we had this figured out as well. We would set our studio in my bedroom and then run a wire (which I had many of) from the transmitter, out the balcony door, down the house, through the backyard and then wrapping it spirally around my Dad’s sculpture: The Bomb. This piece of art would easily act as our transmission device and the neighborhood would be graced with the sound of Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Achy Breaky Heart.

As I grew old the toys got more exciting and more expensive such as my Canon Elan IIe that my parents and I went in together as a birthday present. This was the first item we had ever purchased from ebay and we were half expecting that the camera we purchased was a scam. It took mom and I several conversations with dad to convince him that the internet wasn’t going to steal his credit card information and identity. Maybe it was Dad and I convincing mom or maybe it was trying to convince both of them. As I recall this camera cost between $300-$400 dollars and it was worth every penny.

WOW… I’ve written alot and basically have talked about my memories of my great electronic devices of my childhood. Please understand that I could go on and on about the magical things in my life that lit up and blinked. There are so many stories but not enough people are interested… Haha.

My point is this: I have a passion for electronics and informing others concerning their electronic purchases. So often I am lucky enough to live vicariously through other’s expensive purchases and many times my friends and family end up purchasing items that don’t fill their specific needs or they spent too much money too much of a device or the opposite.. too little.

I am a strong believer in spending the least amount you can and still receiving the biggest bang. I AM NOT A QUICK SHOPPER. I will research for weeks, months and years. Believe me… it took me 4 years till I was sure about the computer I was purchasing. Katie and I have been shopping for a new car for a year to replace my truck but we have found ne new car that would suffice a new purchase. I am not a “cheap” purchaser because several of my electronics are very expensive but I knew this and wanted the best because it fulfilled the needs I have or had. What I hate is when you are bound by circumstance that forces you into a decision without the proper time to do adequate research.

ALL THIS TO SAY: I will be reviewing my toys/equipment on this website and look forward to helping anyone and everyone with future electronic purchases.

Here is a list of items I am excited about reviewing:

El Gato Eyetv + Rooftop antenna = Free HD TV with DVR

Retro + Art + Radio = Tivoli Radios

Drobo = Peace of mind

My entertainment center

Solar Cells

Canon TX1

more and more….

My Sister’s Adventure

Just this last week my sister and her husband moved from the great city of Abilene to Nashville! I am so happy for them and the adventure that they are beginning. Audrey is about to start Physician’s Assistant school and I do not envy her days of school but I do envy the wonderful city that she and Josh now reside in.

Nashville has always been a magical city for me b/c for several years during highschool and college I would travel with my parents to Nashville for the ZOE Conference. I started out aiding them in their “art” classes but later started teaching my own Technology in Worship classes. Somedays my classes were filled and other days they were not so… haha.

Coincidentally my birthday always fell within a few days of the ZOE Conference and it was always fun to share a birthday dinner with Mike Cope, Sally Gary or anyone else who was traveling with us. Those are very special memories.

Getting back to Audrey and Josh… They moved to Nashville just last week and have already experienced the Grand Ol’ Oprey as well as The Wild Horse Salon. I wish them the best and hope they enjoy every part of their adventure just as Katie and I are enjoying every part of ours. I wish I could say that everyday has been beautiful and easy but you don’t accept an adventure without recognizing that there will be mountains and valleys that will need to be crossed. I am just so happy that I have Katie to cross them all with me. Some days I carry her over the pitfalls and valleys and other days she carries me. When we reach those peaks and mountain tops we lift each other up and simply smile for we have succeeded together.

I know Josh and Audrey will do the same each and every day.

Blessings.

Follow Josh and Audrey on their new blog.