Sunday, April 2nd, 2010

Not another thing could go wrong! I am going to write nothing to keep the negativity to a minimum! SHITTY DAY! Pardon the french!

Mat

Saturday, May 1st, 2010

Happy May Day,

Sherrie has always celebrated May Day by giving her Grandmother flowers. I have never really celebrated it, but she does. Nanny is 78 years old, and will out live all of us! She is a crazy old lady... She is funnier than anyone I know, and Trey loves to spend time with her asking her questions about our family tree, and history. She loves him too.... Most of the grandkid's are too grown up to hang with Nanny anymore... Anyway, Had to take Jordan to work at 5:30, so I came back home got the lawn trailer, and headed over to Midwest City. I got there at 6:00am and started working on the hedges. The grass over there is coming in great, and choking out the weeds. I did litter control, and trimmed some tree's. At on point a branch came down hit me in the thigh... When it did it came through my pants, through my underwear, and into my leg. I was in some serious pain, so I cleaned up my mess and headed home. Took a shower and laid down for a while. Trey went to my mom's and Jordan went back to J&R's... So Sherrie and I went to the Edmond Art's Festival. It is inundated with photographers... I did not see anything being sold. I was going to be in this show, but it was going to be way, way, too expensive. I feel good about my stuff though, I may do it next year if things workout! We went to Louie's for dinner, and my buddy Randy was working... He owns this location by the house, and always takes care of us! :-) Randy is a big supporter of the "Quest!" I told him about my upcoming plans for Rainier, and Pumori, then Everest by 2013.... He is on board! Letters for sponsorship go out tomorrow. I am looking for 7 sponsors in the $500.00 range to cover the whole trip. The only equipment I will need is a new pair of mountaineering boots. Don't need anymore damage to my feet, and although I only got a touch of frostbite on one toe it still hurt! I went to bed at 8:00 last night, just exhausted! Have soooo much to do today, can't get my arms around it! Time to get going! The picture is Pumori!

Love you all!

Mat

Friday, April 30th, 2010

Namaste,

Friday was a crazy blur... Went to pick Jordan up at Jenni and Ricardo's then back here to get her dressed for school. Hit Starbucks then on to work. Work continues to be very, very busy. We went to Old Chicago at lunch, then back to work. The afternoon flew by. The Thunder, Lakers game six of the first round playoff game was Friday night. We met Mike and Jamie for a quick bite before the game at Nonna's. The game was great, but we got beat with 1/2 of a second left. I am glad season is over, but it would have been cool to beat the Lakers again! Trey was at Jeni and Ricardo's with Jordan, so we went to pick them up. We didn't get home till 12:45am.... Dang I'm tired! This is a picture of my bike... I sold it about a year ago, and given the weather lately, I've really been missing it!

Love you all!

Mat

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

Namaste,

Since Jordan is house sitting for Jeni and Ricardo, I had to pick her up at 5:40am. That means getting up at 4:45 to get my routine done and get her. We came home so she could dress for school, then dropped her off. Hit Starbucks, the off to work. It has been very busy, so I jumped right in! I have been a little stressed lately, with Sherrie's car down, and my big mower messing up, and just physically, mentally, and spiritually beat up! I was in a funk all day! Went to Louie's for lunch, but it didn't stay down. Thought you might want to know that! In the afternoon we tried to prepare everything for the weekend. Our IV load is larger than I can ever remember. We bugged out at 4:30 and I had to come come and get ready for an Epilepsy Association of Oklahoma Board of Directors Meeting. The meeting went for three long, long, long, hours. Nothing was accomplished other than the fact that the association was broke, and we need to raise some money. Last night at 11:00pm my good friend and training partner Jared Hess was fighting his first bout in the Bellator series welterweight tournament. Jared's fight was the last one on the card.... I tried really hard to stay up but fell asleep around 1:00! I did not sleep well because I was thinking about his fight! I woke up at 4:30 and couldn't go back to sleep, so I came in the living room and turned on the fight that I had recorded. Jared won by guillotine early in the second round. I hollered out, then looked at the clock... It was only 5:02! I'm sure the rest of the family was happy with me! Time to get going I have to go get Jordan, and start over! Tonight is game six of the Thunder Vs. Laker Series and Ian moves to New Jersey tomorrow. We are meeting him for dinner before the game! Great job Jared!

Love you all!

Mat

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

Namaste,

Dropped Jordan off at school, then hit Starbucks. The manager of my store was dressed up and I ask what the occasion was? He said his boss was coming in for a visit. I told him to call me! When I was in Lubbock I went to two different Starbucks. They were cold and sterile. My Starbucks is kinda like cheers. Everyone knows everyone, and we buy each other coffee. It's the pay it forward theory! Anyway enough about Starbucks. Work was super busy.... Jodi and I both dressed up today so we decided to go for a nice lunch at 501! The afternoon continued the busyness, and then before we realised it.... It was 5:45. I came home and fed Trey, then started working on my mower. I did a tune up, and tightened connections, and bolts! It is running so much better, but still not right. I need to get it in and get the oil leak fixed, but it will have to wait until the first of next week. I also spread about 200 pounds of top soil around my Bradford Pear tree. I have a hard time growing grass around that tree. Jordan is house setting for Jeni and Ricardo Villarreal, so I have to go get her at 5:30 in the morning. The picture is Jeni, and Ricardo, with Daisy, Herman, and Dexter. Better get to bed!

Love you all!

Mat

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

Namaste,

Tuesday had potential, and it ended up "Sucking BIG TIME!" Took Jordan to school and then hit Starbucks. I took the lawn equipment with me so I could do the property there after work. I got to work and kicked it in the butt. Jodi and I had a lunch meeting at noon with a drug rep named Michelle Mason. Michelle represents "Levaquin" which is a very popular floroquinalone antibiotic. I liked Michelle from the first time I met her, but really didn't sense anything special. Well... during our conversation I mentioned the photography, and it turns out that Michelle has a photography business too. Her website is http://www.michellemasonphotography.com/. Check it out! She does portrait photography, kid's, weddings, families.... All of the stuff, I would rather not do. For some reason I would rather shoot, landscape's, animals, and candid stuff. Don't get me wrong... I will shoot portrait photography, but there is stress involved! The afternoon was busy! I found out that Sherrie's car has to have to motor rebuilt. $2,200.00 out the door, and then while I was mowing the Edmond property my big mower quit running! I had to push mow most of the 15 acre property. I came home in a pissy mood, and took a shower and crashed out. I guess I have to find someone to work on it! Check out Michelle's website, and don't forget my buddy Wolf's website... http://www.wolf-photography.com/. I did not take todays picture. My climbing guide Mr. Tenzing Sherpa took it when we were coming off of Imja Tse!

Love you all!

Mat

Monday, April 26th, 2010

Namaste,

Well it was a typical Monday.... Everything kinda in a haze! Dropped Jordan off at school and hit Starbucks. I am driving the work truck because Sherrie's car is DEAD! It is an ugly beast, but it gets us where we are going. Work was very busy. I had emailed Shawn Burrows, who is Jodi and my boss to thank him for the opportunity to go to Lubbock last week and do what I do best.... He emailed back and said he had a couple of other projects if I was interested.... I said "Hell Yes!" The first one is in Grand Forks, North Dakota! I immediately started doing research on Central North Dakota, and what is close to see and do. There are several Indian reservations, and it is only 76 miles from the Canadian border. I don't have a date yet, but the sooner the better! Grand Forks is on the Minnesota border, so I could hit a couple of different states, and Canada all in one trip. I know there is a ton of wildlife to shoot up there. (With the camera!) At lunch I had Jodi drop me here at the house, and I drove Sherrie's car to Firestone to see if they could tell me what was wrong with it. Well... They called me and said there was no compression in the #1 cylinder. CRAP! That means I have to have the engine broken down and that fixed. More money out the door! Ben picked me up at Firestone and took me back to work. The afternoon went really fast. As soon as we were done, I headed up to the gym. We had a couple of the young students lead the class last night, but I was there to keep everything flowing. They did a great job, in teaching and keeping most people headed in the right direction. A couple of times I had to make a couple suggestions, but it was good to see these guys try something new. I came home and showered then went to get Sherrie's car and drop it off at an engine shop. As soon as we got back home I crawled into bed and CRASHED! I was spent. Today will be busy, as I plan to do the Edmond property after work. Should only take six hours if I crank it out! The picture from yesterday, was a homeless guy I met in Lubbock. I saw him sitting there as I was shooting a church. After I took a few pictures, I walked up to him and wanted to give him a few dollars... He said "Man, I don't want your money! You need it more than I do!" I told him I would be OK and I would like him to take the money and go get a hot meal! He said "Well if your sure you don't need it!" It struck me as odd... I was driving a $25,000 car wearing a Ralph Lauren dress shirt, designer jeans, nice shoes, and all this guy had was on his back, and he was worried that I could not spare a couple of bucks... I assured him it was OK and he took the money and smiled. I was surprised at the number of homeless people I saw in Lubbock.... One of the things my eye's have been opened to lately, but that's a whole different blog! Today's pictures are an American Bald Eagle the picture was taken at an Eagle rescue in Perkins, Oklahoma... The kitty is my buddy "Shadow!" Shadow usually sleeps right in between my feet! Last night I am pretty sure I kicked him right in the head!

Love you all!

Mat