John Mayer and Dear Verizon and Manliness

So a friend of mine invited me to John Mayer in Irvine. Secretly, I knew Colbie Callet was playing too and I am man enough to say that I like her music. C'mon, who hasn't rocked the car radio with "Bubbly" or "Realize"...don't lie??? It was about a 2 hour drive on Sunday because, well for some reason, everyone in San Diego decided to leave that day and head north to Los Angeles. The show was in Irvine which is about half way to LA. The show was awesome, Colbie was sweet, and John Mayer is a freakin beast on the guitar strings. Straight up amazing. If you don't like his music, you at minimum have to give mad ups to his guitar skills.

I really was mad at Verizon because they pretty much oversold the show. We had lawn seats and couldn't even find a place on the lawn. We even got kicked from a waiting area by the goofy Verizon guys. He literally asked me to move when it was the only place for us to even stand. I was the first one to be asked to move and had about 15 people behind me, I felt the need to be the group spokesman. In a nice way, I explained that the show was oversold and we had nowhere to go. He explained to me that I should sit on a lawn, I asked him to find me a spot in a few words. He then told me in a joking smart A kinda way, "Call Verizon, I didn't sell the tickets." I really wanted to punch him. I am writing Verizon a letter for sure. All and all, we found a way to the lawn and forced out way onto a piece of grass. "Sir, my friends are sitting there" explains a nice young man. "Not to be rude, but these are lawn seats and I am going to sit here" explains me. :) He quickly came back and said, "Cool" or some nice California phrase.

I have noticed a few more things since I have been in San Diego that I must comment on. Listen, the girls here must wear some clothes. I saw a girl in my favorite Sushi restaurant the other night, I have never seen a shirt like this. It was literally a lower case V neck. I think I just made that up, but the "V" went all the way down and her breasticles were literally out to the wild. What in the world? Ya know, that kinda shirt will make guys look for a second, but scandalously dressed woman, those guys won't think about you in a romantic way. They will probably think you are trash and think very low of yourself. I am just being honest. Again, lingerie is sold because, well at least for a brief time, provides somewhat of mystery to a man, if you are married :) Diva girls, wear some clothes. You can be hot and modest in the same sentence. Mystery is hidden in modesty.

On another note, let me be the first to say... Many of the men in San Diego seem to shave their chest. Listen, let me be the first to say, I am a man and have chest hair. I'm not saying that every girl wants the incredible hulk mixed with a monkey, but chest hair is part of being a man if your genes allow that. Since when did culture tell you that chest hair was not cool and make these men shave their chests? I am a man and I have chest hair. If you want, I can take my shirt off and make cave man noises. Or Tim the Toolman noises. If you say something rude, I can punch you :)

What a blessing it is everyday to live here in San Diego and to meet so many awesome people. The church here has so many interesting people that are way deeper than the skin. We spent time on Saturday night going through a book that had 4,000 questions. I learned more about people that night than I ever thought you could learn in one night. Pretty intense.

Also Clemson Alums, we have made #1 on a list. Top 10 Happiest Students!

Mission

When I am in work mode, I get very intense and make a b line
everywhere I go. I noticed today as I looked at people I passed,, they
were set and walking fast somewhere. It's like they were on a mission.

Where are you?

Grillin and Chillin

So a very stupendous weekend in Diego. Played some frisbee, went and heard a straight up unreal message from Matthew 13 about the weeds and the wheat. Whew. Had some grillin action tonight and some major food was thrown down. I named at least 4 cows on the grill. There was bessy, susan, and I can't remember the rest.

I admit, it was a challenge the first few months here to meet friends. It's tough to go from more friends than you can imagine to a city and know hardly anyone. We have met some cool cats at Kaleo who also enjoy the art of the grill.

Also today, we were playing frisbee in balboa park while the gay pride festival was happening on the other side of the fence. Quite an amazing cultural experience. Not to mention that our frisbee went over the fence and it was a Jesus frisbee. It came back safely.

Filipino Talent Show

Some friends from Kaleo invited me and Gill to go to a talent show last night.  This was quite a cultural experience as most of the church was Asian and the talent was HILARIOUS.  You had hula dancers to rappers.  Solo artists to punk bands that made you feel weird afterward.  All and all this was quite fun.

We spent some time shooting some pool at a place in University Heights called "Lancers."  Tonight we are venturing out to a new place called Neighborhood Burger which is in the Gaslamp just down from where I live. 

The Gamer and Rockstar lifestyle continues. haha. 

A few things in San Diego

So living in California has changed a few things about me.

1. I eat yogurt everyday pretty much. There is a place called Yolicious. I get a plain yogurt with granola and mango. It is very tart but only 13 calories per ounce and for a fat boy, this is good.

2. You have to drive a little crazy here. I have noticed myself getting impatient at many places and probably once thought of myself as very patient. The city makes you think you are important enough to be places at certain times, imagine that.

3. Diva girls aren't that bad. I don't really desire to date one, but they are quite funny.

It has been an interesting cultural experience to live right downtown and be able to walk to all the cool places. It is a treat to live downtown and SUPER friggin nice. The 3rd week in August is going to be straight up awesome out here. At least 5 of my friends are flying in...

Ashley Jones
Josh Jones
Jason Grier
Keith Norris
Ed Edwards
Julie Edwards
Tavaras Brockman (maybe)
You too?

It's going to be one crunk week and we are going to be hitting up the Price is Right. So if you want to get a new car, just come on down to Diego!

I am missing home a bit and thought about flying home this weekend but didn't work out. Ed has my car and drives it more than I do. Well, I'm kinda glad because gas prices are out the roof like batman. Speaking of him, opens tonight!

Iphone

I am really trying to keep the iphone from being an electronic idol.  I think Mark Driscoll talked about this in one of his sermons.  I will say that the new firmware is quite amazing.  For those of you who use Pandora.com, Iphone has an app that also runs it.  AMAZING.  Play all the music you want, free.   It also has some cool games that will come in handy when I'm sitting in airports.  I also have downloaded a Bible to it with commentaries.  Now I just need to be disciplined and read it. 

All and all, good job Apple for creating a great product.  I usually try to stay away from writing nerdy stuff rants, but Apple needed a pat on the back :)

Thursday Night Thoughts

I just realized my subject like spelled TNT :)  I've realized that Bible is very clear and a heart can be very deceitful.  Who can understand it?  I will just be honest and say that a man's heart is probably more deceitful and jacked up, way more than women.  Yes I said it.  I have felt so strongly about things and then find myself later back tracking and wondering what in the world.  It almost makes you want to take a year off from making decisions.  I enjoy most choices and find myself very straight in my thinking.  I make mistakes, all the time. 

I know what will make me feel better.  List my iphone on craig's list and go buy the 3G :)

Deanna BYE

I thought she was on facebook and we could be friends, but Deanna fake has let me down :)

Bernie Speaks Gangsta and has dirty feet

My sister's friend from England came over to visit the US. Needless to say, I had to teach her some nice American phrases. It was also cool to celebrate the 4th with an Englander. WE BROKE FREE! WOO HOO.

It's okay to make mistakes

I right a lot about choices because it seems we are faced with things everyday.  At least one time per week, you will get a call from a friend or you yourself will need to make a big decision.  From the food you eat, to the place they live.  The cute girl this morning in church quote this from Acts 17
 24"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'

It can be such a struggle to make decisions and for some reason I have always thought I've been good at them.  I find myself always 2nd guessing myself, mainly in the past two years.  It's not like I really "worry" about it, but I do find myself re-visiting the same things many times and wondering if I really did the right thing.  It's tough to decide when trusting in God and you doing some action on your part is needed. 

I just don't like making bad choices and I know it's pride because you have to say, "you know what, I did the wrong thing."  I know God's grace will cover SO many things, but it still makes you think.  Recently I prayed through something and felt I was supposed to do one thing, God sent me so many messages that pushed me to act.  Later, I realize what the messages were for.  They were to teach me something, but I really wasn't supposed to act on them, I was just supposed to listen and make notes.  Oh well. :)  Maybe God allowed for me to make a dumb choice to humble me and teach me something else.  Either way, I know the truth now and can move on.

I think God sends all sorts of people into our lives to speak something different to us.  People are great messengers. 

An interesting Day

So the past week has been full of crazy adventure.  I tried to take a day off work on Thursday to spend time with Ed and Julie, but at some point in the morning, the phone started ringing and I realized it wasn't going to be a day off.  I had to "do work" son.  So I met up with them a little later in the afternoon, along with a friend of my sisters, Bernie from England.  It was quite cool learning about another culture again and hearing a really funny accent.  Sandy Gibbes would have loved it as many times we would talk to each other in English accents, oh the days of Canterbury. 

All and all, we spent one day on Coronado and it was quite awesome.  We saw an orchestra in the park and had funnel cakes, even rich people eat funnel cakes, awesome.  We took a ferry back over from Coronado to San Diego and saw a firework show.  This firework show was the best fireworks show I have ever seen.  Not to mention, they sync two other fireworks shows across the city.  So you can look in three directions and see the same thing, it is unreal to watch.  It lasted for at least 20 minutes it seemed. 

We saw my friend Bernie off at the airport and went on our way to another adventure.  We went to a mission, that happened to be closed, but the drive up the pch was quite cool and scenic.  We finished and drove back to my condo to get ready for dinner.  We went to a really NICE place in La Jolla called George's at the Cove.  Definitely not a first date or even a 5th date kinda place, but nice :)  An interesting thing happened while we were there.  We had nice appetizers and were just getting our meal when a waiter behind me runs right into a table and falls flat on the floor.  Ed and I jump up to help and we realize the server is having a seizure.  Here is the cool part, the girls that were with our group are doctors.  They got up and did work.  They took control of the situation and it was quite awesome to see.  It was so sad to see someone have a seizure like that and my heart broke for the guy.  He ended up coming back and they walked him outside.  This was the first time this had ever happened to him.  He was only 27.  I hope he is okay.  All and all, it was so cool to have friend that could get up and do work like they did and just have the comfort of knowing they knew what was up.  All the waiters were coming by and thanking them.  George, the owner of the place came out and thanked them as well.  They also comped our dinner, which was REALLY nice. 

Ed and Julie will come pick me up tomorrow and then we will pick up the doctors and go do work on some really good breakfast at Richard Walker's.

We will go to church at Kaleo and then they will hit the PCH in a convertible for a drive up to San Francisco. 

Living out here has been so much of a blessing and I hope it doesn't spoil me too much.  I have learned so much about culture in the last few months, that is for sure. 

Wild Hogs Ride Again

So me and my boy Ed are thinking about letting the Wild Hogs ride again.  He is out here right now on vacation and will go back next Wednesday.  He will then come back out here the next week and we are going to be Wild Hogs and get Harleys and ride from Diego to Las Vegas, and maybe Grand Canyon.  The downside is....I have to fly back to SC to pick up my license! 

Anyone interested?  We will get some headsets and get some HUGE harleys and be real cool.  Real Cool. 

JT

Do Work Son

This is my boy big black's shirt.  DO WORK SON.

I can wear this shirt today because it was supposed to be a vacation day, but yet I've been working all day.  DO WORK SON.

Big Opus Lee Cunningham Birthday

Today is my good friend Lee Cunningham's Birthday.  I really like this picture of Lee as it pretty much sums up his personality and character.  He's cool, friendly, God-fearing, and trustworthy.  To own a Malibu boat, you must be cool.  For people to allow you to drive them around, you must be trustworthy. 

On a serious note, this picture does say a lot about Lee.  He's always opening up his things and the gifts God has given him to others.  He is always willing to listen to someone's story and give them good advice.  I think many friends can come and go from your life, just as the seasons come and they go.  Lee is definitely a friend that I know I will always be in contact with. 

Make sure you send him an email or text today and mention something nice that you know about him.  If you don't know him, I know you have at least heard someone say something nice about him.  He knows everybody.  stunningman@gmail.com or text 803 238 8700.  He will kill me for posting his number :)  I mean, it was on the bathroom wall anyway at most local truck stops. 

:) Happy Birthday Stunningman.  Keep doing your thing!

Nomination for The Bachelor

I confess probably too many things on my blog. I absolutely watch The Bachelorette every week. Gill and I sit down and watch it like little girls watching the baby sitters' club. I nominated Gill tonight for the bachelor and he is going to nominate me.

Go and nominate us! It takes like 3 minutes.

Nominate Nominate Nominate

If I make it to the show, I'll make sure it is a blast. It's funny because I don't really watch TV, except for Rob & Big and now The Bachelorette.

Leave me a comment if you nominate!