Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

Namaste,

Today was inventory day, so I went to work really early.... But not until after my stop at Starbucks. Inventory went smooth, but put us a couple of hours behind. I ran to the bank at lunch for the second day in a row. It is the first of the month, and people are paying their dues at the gym. The afternoon was kinda slow, but I kept busy.... After work I mowed my lawn... Sherrie was complaining that it didn't need to be done, but I filled an entire trash bin with clippings. Sherrie cooked an amazing dinner of Parmesan chicken and sweet potatoes. She went to visit her grandmother at the hospital, and I started packing my gear for Tennessee. Funny thing. I will only be gone for 36 hours, but I packed enough clothes for a week. I am taking my big pack, and my little pack. I am 36 hours from leaving, but I am already, ready to be home! I finished my book I have been reading for a couple of weeks. Dead Lucky, Life after death on Everest, by Lincoln Hall. Lincoln was left for dead at 28,000 feet on Mt Everest. He had cerebral edema, and dehydration.His family was notified of his death, and three days later they found out that he was alive, and only suffered frostbite on eight fingers, and lost one and a half toe's. Lincoln spent the night at 28,000 feet, without oxygen, without shelter, and without much other than hope, and faith! He was assisted down by three climbers who gave up their summit attempt 1,035 feet short of the summit, to save another mans life. That is sacrifice. There was another climber 10 days earlier who was in trouble and 40 climbers passed him on their way to the summit. He died alone at 27,000 feet! He will be there for eternity, frozen in time. There is a story of an Indian climber who crawled up under a rock cliff at 26,500 feet 15 years ago. He died there and is now a landmark on the North side of the mountain. They call him Green boots, because that is all that is sticking out from under the rocks. The picture is Nuptse, and the Lhotse Glacier. I am infatuated with the Himalaya's! It's like they are calling me. It is where I need to be to find peace!

Love you all!

Mat

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

Namaste,

Even though it was Tuesday.... Felt more like Monday! Hit Starbucks, then on to work. After a long weekend, there is always a lot of clean up work. The day went by really quickly. I had to run by the bank at lunch and make a deposit for the gym. We were so close to Louie's that we had to go in for lunch. I guess you could say I am pretty predictable. The afternoon continues to be busy. We have inventory today, so I had to count narcotics, and pull all remaining expired drugs. I got a great workout last night at the gym. Mike Parker taught again. We worked on Muay Thai combinations. His class is an hour and a half of non-stop kicking, elbows, and punching. What a physically exhausting class. I have muscles hurting that usually do not hurt. I guess it's getting the mechanics right. We have been plagued by torrential rain. South Oklahoma City flooded last night. Crazy weather pattern is really messing up my mowing schedule. I had planned on mowing Edmond today, and Midwest City tomorrow, but I guess that will not be happening. I am flying to Tennessee on Friday morning, and driving back Saturday. I guess I will be mowing all day Sunday! Oh well! That is if it drys out enough. Midwest City got 5 inches of rain last night! A few more pictures from the parade on Saturday. Top picture is Mrs. Oklahoma. She is my Doctor's daughter.... Second pic is a team of Clydesdale's. They are amazingly huge! Third is.... Well everyone knows Darth Vader lives here in Edmond! He was feeling patriotic!

Love you all!

Mat

Monday, July 5th, 2010

Namaste,

Today is a federal holiday due to the fact that the 4th of July fell on a Sunday, which means everything is closed today including my office. I took the opportunity to pay bills online, and have some coffee here at the house. Trey and I were suppose to play golf with my brother, but it was raining like crazy! We ended up going to Harkins Bricktown theater and seeing the new A-Team movie. It was awesome. After the movie we went to Zio's and shared some lunch. We left there and I took Trey to the Oklahoma City National Memorial. I have been there several times, but Trey has never been. We walked the whole memorial and I tried to explain everything to him. We came back to Edmond and I took Trey for a hair cut, then we came home. All of Trey's friends were outside so he ditched me. I took an hour nap, and then got ready for the gym. We signed the best Muay Thai instructor in the region to teach at our gym. His name is Mike Parker, and he trained under Bruce Lee's training partner. He worked us out hard. Just the basics, but working on mechanics. I am tired! Pictures are Trey in Bricktown, and a picture from the Oklahoma City Memorial!

Love you all!

Mat

July 4th, 2010

Namaste,

Happy 4th of July! This is the day we celebrate our country's birthday. It is a great excuse to cookout, drink a lot, and blow things up! We started the day off at church, where they did a fireworks display inside the church. It was kinda cheesy but oh well! Trey and I worked the parking lot, then met Sherrie inside for service. We came home from church, and Sherrie was heading to the hospital to see her grandmother, so Trey and I went to mom's to do her lawn. We knocked it out, then did Craig and Katy Goza's lawn, then home. Trey came inside and I did our lawn. Thank God I got it done, because it rained the whole afternoon. We went to Mike and Marilyn Isbell's for a cookout, and to blow thins up! It continued to rain, and so the party continued on their porch. It was nice to see them. Marilyn cooks a mean chicken, it was delicious. They have hundreds of hummingbirds, but the lighting was horrible. We left there at 9:15 and went to the Specialty Hospital to watch UCO's fireworks. They lasted about 25 minutes, then it was a race to beat the other 100,000 people out of there to get home. I took neighborhood roads back home, because I am a sneaky guy! Got home around 11:00 and crashed. Trey and I were suppose to play golf with my brother today, but it is raining cat's and dog's! We will find something to do!

Saturday, July 3rd, 2010

Namaste,

Here in Edmond we have one of the top 10 Fourth of July celebrations in the country. We have a giant parade that starts at the University of Central Oklahoma and winds through downtown Edmond. Sherrie's friend Stephanie and her son Josh met us here at the house and we headed down to the parade. Luckily for us.... My buddy Jason Klinka goes down at 7:00am and gets a great spot. We met him there and had a great view. The parade goes on forever, and gets boring after a while. Unlike the last parade I was at.... No one was flashing anyone, and there were no beads. We came home and decided Louie's would be good for lunch, then home for a little nap! We ended up cleaning house, and the going to Travis Chyzy's house to watch the very disappointing fights. The pictures are from the parade!

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

Namaste,

Started early and met Chad Lovett at Starbucks for a cup of coffee. Chad is a great guy, who is wise beyond his years. I enjoy spending time with him. On to work.... It continues to be slow at work. I met Mike Champlin at Louie's for lunch. We had a good time. We talked about travel, women, sports, and life. Back to work! The afternoon drug, on, and on, and on, and on, and on! You get the picture. Sherrie and the kid's were going to the movie tonight to see Eclipse. I have no desire to see it, so I laid down for a bit.... Nice 4 hour nap! Now I probably won't sleep tonight, but oh well! It's going to be a very busy weekend! My cousin Doug called and said my brothers truck is ready, so I have to find a way to get to Tennessee next weekend! Anyone want to go? Picture is Rosa. I did this shoot last summer. She is a very sweet young lady!

Love you all!

Mat

Thursday, July 1st, 2010

Namaste,

Well the year is 1/2 over.... Thank God! I am ready for winter. Got up early and hit Starbucks. Today is Jodi"s Birth Day so I ran by Lowes to get her a gift card. On to work, where things continue to be on the slow side. I got all of my morning things done and then we took Jodi to lunch. One of my friends, Tony Brummitt has a cousin who needs to work. They ask if I would give him a try. His name is Brandon, and he did a pretty good job. He does not have much experience, but has potential. I picked him up at 2:30 and he got started at 3:00. We finished up at 6:00. Not too bad! All in all it took a total of 7 1/2 hours to do that job. I had planned on coming home, cleaning up then getting up to the gym for Muay Thai class, but I can;t even keep my eye's open. I lost 11 pounds yesterday. I'm gonna say I was a bit dehydrated, even though I drank fluids all day. I had leg cramps all night! Time for bed! The picture is my Worhol of Patty Rameriez.

Love you all!

Mat