A Few Good Men Tech Style

Ok, ok...as Griffin would say, "I know this is bad...but isn't it a little funny?"

My dad found this on one of his coaches message boards...


Gerald Meyers (Tech AD): *Coach Leach, did you order the Code Shed?*
Kent Hance: You *don’t* have to answer that question!
Coach Leach: I’ll answer the question!
[to Meyers]
Coach Leach: You want answers?
Meyers: I think I’m entitled.
Coach Leach: *You want answers?*
Meyers: *I want the truth!*
Coach Leach: *You can’t handle the truth!*
[pauses]
Coach Leach: Son, we live in a world that has sidelines, and those sidelines have to be guarded by pirates with swords. Whose gonna do it? You? You, Meyers? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for James, and you curse the Pirates. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That James’s small shed, while tragic, probably saved games. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves games. You don’t want the truth because deep down in places you don’t talk about at parties with your fat little girlfriends, you want me on those sidelines, you need me on those sidelines. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very bowl games that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a sword, and stand a post. Either way, I don’t give a d**n what you think you are entitled to.
Meyers: Did you order the Code Shed?
Coach Leach: I did the job I…
Meyers: *Did you order the Code Shed?*
Coach Leach: *You’re dern right I did!*

The Desert Song

There are a lot of people I know going through deserts and fires. Some of them are walking in the middle of the Red Sea...not sure yet if the water is going to remain held back or come crashing down on them. I was talking to a dear friend tonight, who happens to be one of these people, and she was sharing with me how this song has strengthened her trust in God. So here are the lyrics...I hope it can help someone in the same way it did her.


The Desert Song - Hillsong

This is my prayer in the desert
And all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in the hunger in me
My God is a God who provides

And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames

And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon forged against me shall remain

I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

And this is my prayer in the battle
And triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be empited again
The seed I've recieved I will sow

And another verse that has been on my mind a lot since singing "Everlasting God" on Sunday:
Isaiah 40:28-31
Don't you know that the Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

NEEEWWW YOOOOOOORRRRRRKKK

*insert Alicia Key's voice*

Last weekend was the weekend. The girls weekend. The Ramos family (Kyle's mom's side) girls weekend. In NEEEWWW YOOOOOOORRRRRRKKK.

Kyle's cousin, Meghan, lives there. So, she took us all in and was a WONDERFUL host!! We saw some of the popular sights & got to experience some special other things! And the top 5 highlights were.... (in no particular order)

1. Hanging out with the girls - I'm so blessed to have married into such a wonderful family!!



2. CBS Control Room - Meghan works in there for The Early Show so she took us in the studio to watch the live filming & then to the control room....and THAT is where the action is at! Her guy, Michael, is the director & it was one of the coolest things I've ever seen!! Next time you watch live TV pay attention to how much the camera angle changes...then picture someone standing behind a podium sounding like an auctioneer going nonstop "Camera 2 ready...camera 2 go. Camera 4 ready...camera 4 go...roll the internet video..." while other people are watching monitors...talking on headsets...screaming "15 seconds...wrap it up! say thank you!" And we missed the good part when they lost some film they needed....*insert explicits* I really can't explain it & give it justice...those people are awesome! I will not get angry during 5 minute commercial breaks ever again! (during live tv that is...haha) Oh...and we talked to Harry Smith for like 10 minutes...no big deal.

This picture doesn't really do justice!

3. The view - One word.....BREATHTAKING. Meghan's view from her apartment will leave you speechless! Their apartment is in Hoboken, NJ...which is just on the other side of the Hudson River from NYC. Her wall of windows displays the entire NYC skyline..from uptown to downtown. A-MAZING.
Uptown: (Empire State Building)



Downtown at Night: (where the WTC was)

That's right: Cruise ships leave right out their window...

Uptown during the day:


4. Wicked - FABULOUS!! I will never watch the Wizard of Oz the same way again. It was witty & brilliant! HIGHLY recommend! I'm considering getting tickets to see it again when it comes to St. Louis.


5. Carlo's Bake Shop - home of the "Cake Boss". That's right...he's located right in the heart of Hoboken & we had some wonderful treats from there! :) And the camera crew was upstairs filming!


2 Events Made Honorable Mention:
**Granny & Nannie and the Obama condoms. hahahahahahahahahaha

**Man getting hit by cab. (don't worry...it was his fault & he was ok enough to get up & cuss out the driver)

I'm going to live in New York or Chicago (or both) for at least a year. The end.

Put that in your pipe & smoke it!

I officially broke my record this morning....$52 of groceries for $8.12. That's right...eight dollars and twelve cents!! AAAAANNNNNDDDD I got $5 back for my next trip! Here's what I got:

I know what you're saying. "But Emily, there is so much there I don't need or wouldn't normally buy."

Let me explain. I am so stocked up on groceries (not ever going over $40 & staying around $25 the last few weeks) that all I really "needed" for next week was the water, bananas, Sweet-n-Low, and shredded cheese. These items would've cost me $7.78 if I would've bought them on their own....on sale. So why not spend $0.34 more & get all this plus $5 back?!?! Plus they had the 3lbs frozen chicken & 5lbs ham on sale for $5...great time to stock up! (plus I had a $1Q for the ham)

Here's how I did it. I try to only go to Shop-n-Save when they are doing their $10 off $50 Thursdays. (happens frequently) On average I spend about $22-$26 for $50 worth of groceries. Last week I spent $23 & got back a $15Q that expires on 11/17. Well, this Thursday was my only option to pair it with the $10off$50. I also had a $5 off $50Q in the Entertainment book.

So...I immediately was able to take off $30 & I had about $14 in Q. The Pillsbury items were the ones that gave me the $5 back...and I'm going bake them & put the items in our youth snack bar to try to prevent mine & Kyle's own fatness...:)

No blogging in October?!?!!

What happened to me?! I know all 3 of my readers are excited to finally see a post! I was told once that if I was consistent I'd have more readers...ha!

So here's an update of what's been going on in the lives of Kyle & Emily...

I am having a MUCH better year in middle school PE. My classes are soooo much better & I don't have NEAR as many "in your face", mouthy kids. This time last year I had already had to move students out of my class, call an ambulance, cursed at a student during a fight breakup, and been told "You WILL listen when I call your name Mrs. Parker" (and that was just one of many...) I don't dread going everyday and the year is already FLYING by compared to last.

Two weekends ago Kyle's family flew in to hang out. We had a great time shopping (well Valinda & I) and going to the Rams vs. Colts game. We loved, loved, loved watching Peyton!! Of course, they killed the Rams.


Texas Tech Red Raider Danny Amendola!




Valinda also got the EXCITING opportunity to shop a great deal at CVS with me. I got all this for $3.52 and got $10 back!!! (My total was $52 after sales but before coupons & it went down to $1.37 before tax!) Don't worry...I paid her with some deo for suffering through my coupons.


Another awesome deal I got last week...for $0.07 and $5 back!! (even w/o using gift cards I had already earned it would've only been $5.73!)


My parents came this past weekend to hang out. We had a wonderful time with them as well! (and more shopping!) Kyle took the youth to play Demolition Ball in St Louis & on our way over to hang out with them I stopped off at Target to show my dad that you CAN try on purses. :) Thanks to him for finding a full length mirror to assist me! And to my mom for helping me decide black or brown. The average American spends $24 on a Halloween costume....mine & Kyle's costume is now being carried around my shoulder! I forgot to get pictures!

Now I'm gonna go take care of Kyle...who has an ear infection...and as the doctor told him "It's swollen as s&#%!"

KMart

I had no intention of posting a pic anytime soon...but I had some extra time during my planning period yesterday & I decided to run over to KMart & see if the rumor I had heard was true - doubling any Q $2 or less...and it was!! I threw together some high dollar Q and came up with this:

TOTAL COST = $5.68 ($7.07 after tax)


**Special note to those who know how many boxes of cereal I currently have:
I made $0.50 on this cereal!! (and I'm giving away 2 boxes of it)

The most expensive item was the Clean & Clear moisturizer - it was $1.59. (everything else was FREE - $1)

EVEN BETTER!!! Today I unexpectedly found a $5 rebate (here) if you purchase 3 of any items by SC Johnson. Well, I got the 2 ziplocs & glade candles...so I get $5 back!! (and this rebate can be redeemed 3 times...I already have 4 receipts that I can use!!)

Family & Couponing

My parents and sister came to visit last weekend and we had a wonderful time!! Kyle & I are sooo blessed with 2 wonderful families!! My parents even got to experience Walgreens with me on Sunday AM. They were such good sports & helped me to do 3 transactions! :) I even think they learned why it's worth getting made fun of to use so many coupons!!!

Couponing really has been taking up a lot of my time. (this is nothing to new to most of you...haha) It seems so silly and truly is a small area that is preventing me from having margin, but nonetheless, it is one of the things.

I wanted to start posting the deals I get and where to get the coupons. (for the 2 people that may care! ha) But, I know that in my effort to create margin in my life this is one of the things I have to say no to even though I would enjoy doing it. I am NOT going to stop couponing because financially it has helped us tremendously. But, I have been overcomplicating the process in hopes of sharing with everyone...and that has ended.

Maybe I'll put a pic from time to time....share exceptionally great deals....or brag from time to time... (like how last week I got my grocery bill from $50 to $24) but for now...if you want to start filling up your pantry & toiletries closet on a CHEAP budget....here are the sites I use:

Coupon Sites:
RedPlum
Smart Source
Coupons.com

Blog Sites:
STL Mommy
DealFindingChik
Momsbyheart.net
My Frugal Adventures

I use the Sunday papers and online coupons. The blogs do great match-ups with various stores.

Info if online brick coupons aren't printing: here


And if you made it this far and still think I'm crazy...I'm ok with that! :)