zbolin's Xanga

The Story

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:52:25 GMT

Everyone has been asking how we got engaged, so here's the story.

For those that didn't know, Maeve and I had gone to Washington DC b/c we wanted to do a road trip while we were still dating. I had told her beforehand that I would be taking her out on New Year's Eve and that she needed to bring a dress...and that's all she knew. We had reservations at 9pm at a five star restaurant in DC called Two Quail. It was very romantic and private and we had a great time.

At 10:45pm we left and drove to this really nice hotel right by the White House. In front was a horse drawn carriage that was waiting for us at 11pm. For the next hour we were huddled together under some warm blankets (it was very cold) while the carriage took us around all of DC's famous sites, The Capital building, the National Mall, Washington Monument, etc.

The original plan (which I had organized with the driver) was supposed to go like this: once we got to the White House Christmas Tree the driver was going to suggest that we get out and look around (or something like that) and then the actual deed would be done there...at midnight. That was the key b/c I wanted to do it at midnight on New Year’s Eve. HOWEVER, two things messed that up. One was the fact that it was freezing (actually below freezing) and Maeve had a dress on, not good for her. Two, the Christmas tree lights are turned off at 11pm every night, not good for me.

But we get out anyway and briskly walk to the dark tree in the distance. As we walk I notice other things that I didn't want in my proposal picture...things like a bulldozer from construction nearby and other people who also decided that they wanted to look at a dark Christmas tree at 11:52pm on New Year’s Eve. It was then that I decided to scrap the tree idea and just head back to the carriage and Maeve was all for that. Plus I don't think I could have made Maeve stay at a dark tree in the freezing cold for 8 more minutes.

Back at the carriage I start talking right away (so the driver won't say something stupid like "Congratulations!) and explain that we were freezing so we decided to come back after a minute so would you just mind driving us around until midnight so we could be in the carriage when the New Year hits? He gave me a big wink and said sure....ok that's a lie, he didn't wink but he did say sure.

One odd think about DC at New Years, they don't do fireworks or anything for that matter. So I had my cell phone on my lap so we could count down the minutes until midnight. At midnight we kissed and I told Maeve that I loved her and that she has made me so happy this pass year and that I hoped I could make her happy in 2008. Then I kissed her again and during that kiss I grabbed the ring (which was strategically placed the coat pocket away from Maeve) and said "I hope I can also make you happy for the rest of your life. Will you marry me?"

To which she immediately said "YES!!!"

And that's the story.

It was all a blur

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 15:54:03 GMT

Well it's been almost a month since I ran the 10k and I don't really know where to begin with it so I decided to draw a picture of what the experience was like.

Yep, it kicked my butt. My main goal was to not stop no matter how slow I was going...just to run the entire 10k (a little over 6 miles). However mile 3 was one stinkin long hill, I was dying. My mental game in this run was to focus on someone ahead of me going about my speed and then try to slowly pass them. However once I stopped on the hill more and more people started passing me so I had to keep changing who I was going to catch.

Eventually my standards had lowered to trying to catch up with a 65 year old woman who was going a shade faster than "speed walking". I finally passed her and a little while later had to walk again and it was then that she made her move. She whisked past me at the speed of toddler and once I had caught my breath it was too late. She never stopped so I just gave up.

Then I lowered my standards even more. I looked behind me and picked out someone who was going so slow and looked so out of shape that I was determined I would not let them pass me. That seemed to work pretty well. Eventually I finished and got the same shirt as everyone else so I guess it's not that bad that I was so slow.

PS - I was looking around on youtube and found some old commercials. They are of Outpost.com and they were the funniest commercials I had ever seen, so much so that I still remembered the name of the company to this day and that's how I found them on youtube.

Commercial #1 - Gerbils

Commercial #2 - Wolves

Commerical #3 - Toddlers

Thoughts?

The Mystery Limo and Dumb Exercising

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 02:15:25 GMT

My, my, my...2 months. I do believe that is a record.

So I was driving down the highway today and I was passed by a limo. You don't really see many of them around where I work so I decided to speed up to see if I could see who was in it. As I slowly start to pass it I look in and see old people...I mean REALLY old people. When I get in front of it I notice that the lights are on. Immediately I think they are going to a funeral (because seriously, what 80 year olds are going to be riding in a limo on a Monday afternoon in Lansing, KS?) Obviously they had lost one of their own. However I look around and see that there are no other cars following it which would lead me to think it's not for a funeral...but I don't buy that. I'm guessing the limo got caught at a red light....OR, the deceased only had four friends...all of whom were in the limo.

Cruise news: I've decided that I need to get in shape for the cruise this Oct. Originally I thought "this will be a piece of cake, 10 months is plenty of time." Which it is...but the problem is that I'm not doing anything. It's tough to get motivated for something a year away. So I decided to sign up for something that will make me work out or kill me in the process...so I signed up for a 10K (which is a shade over 6 miles). The race is in mid March and I've been pretty good about working out over the past few weeks but I'm nowhere near ready for it...so I signed up for a 5k for next weekend. The logic is there: the 5k will help me get ready for the 10k. But it's been so long since I've run that right now the 1k is right in my comfort zone. Running is one of those things that I get excited for when I'm sitting on the couch watch 24 and thinking to myself "I need to exercise more." However when I start to actually run I'm like, "This is dumb. Why do people even do this?"

But I'm doing it anyway. I'll keep you updated on my progress.

The Mystery Present

Tue, 26 Dec 2006 02:02:27 GMT

This has been a really good Christmas. My mom asked me want I wanted and on a side note I mentioned that I had never seen Arrested Development but always heard how funny it was....so she got me all three seasons.

Stinkin hilarious. You should watch it.

That was a few weeks ago and today (since my parents are divorced) I had Christmas with my dad. What was strange with this year was that since October he and Theresa, my step mom, were talking about how we were going to "love" our present and stuff like that but I just couldn't figure it out. The thing is, I don't ever want anything, I like to get stuff but there is never something that I just have to have. Then he shows me this great gift under the tree...it was just a small box, like I was getting a watch or something (but it wasn't a watch b/c I picked it up and after much shaking determined it wasn't a watch). So now I really have no idea.

We had lunch on Christmas Eve over there and I showed Cameron my brother from my mom's side of the family (we have a complex family) the box and as I picked it up I pretended to take off the lid...only to find that it actually came off. Then I got freaked out b/c my parents would flip if I found out what it was b/c they were really excited about it and I would feel guilty for doing it....so I got Cameron to do it for me. hehehe. I kept guard and he looked in it.

It was a note.

Now my head is really spinning. A note?! That means it could be anything. He asks me if he should read it and I say no b/c of the fear/guilt thing kicking in again.

Well I found out today. They are taking the whole family on a cruise!

To be honest I feel weird even saying it b/c we're not the kind of family that does stuff like this. We grew up on Malt o Meal cereal (Frosted Mini Spooners, mmmmmm) and we had to pay for our own trips to CIY and take out loans for college...normal stuff. But Theresa got a new job and all the kids are out of the house so things have changed. I guess all those years of working in the Kansas mafia finally paid off (it's code name is 4-H).

Now all I need is to buy some swim trunks and to quit being so doughy and pasty and I'll be ready when October comes around.

Warning!

Thu, 14 Dec 2006 22:57:21 GMT

So every Wednesday and Sunday night a group of about 12 of us get together and play Texas Hold'em beginning at 9 and going until the early morning. Once we got done last night Jessica tells me as I'm heading to my car, "oh by the way, you're not going to want to eat that chocolate cake at your house."

As the wheels began to turn in my head I remembered that Mike, one of my roommates, brought about 4 pieces of cake home from some dinner he was at...and I remembered how I helped myself to a piece before I left to play Hold'em that night.

"Why shouldn't I eat it?" I asked.

"Let's just say bad things will happen if you do"

That was late Wednesday night. It's now 6pm on Thursday...and bad things have been happening.

Right now I'm debating if I should chance a 10 minute drive to the post office (for fear that letters won't be the only thing sent out)...or just go home.

It is at these times I reminded of Josh Hollander, who endured 12+ hours of this with that 130lb body of his...I don't know how he did it. Well, it's not so much that he wanted to as it was that I....yeah.

So anyway, this goes out to everyone as a reminder to watch out for chocolate cake this holiday season because some of the ingredients have gone bad (maybe the milk or something).

Slow day

Wed, 06 Dec 2006 19:28:44 GMT

Wow I can't believe I've gone so long without writing....ok let's be honest. I really don't care.

On we move.

Here's a story from a while ago:

I went to the youth minister's "Wilderness" retreat with CIY a few months ago and one day the leader of our group was like, "Ok I'm going to pair you off and the scenario is, a storm is coming in 20 minutes and you have to build a shelter. I'll come around after and see which one is the best...here's some string." I was like, SWEET! It's just like Survivor! So my partner and I found this huge rock that had a bit of an overhang and we just piled as many logs and sticks as possible against it. We're sweating it out trying to haul and dig and uproot and just be men...it was great. I noticed that even with the logs there were still holes in it so we started yanking plants from the ground to plug the cracks. I remembered from NYR (thank you Katie Runner) that you're supposed to dig a little trench around it so the water won't flow into where you are. Anyway, for only having twenty minutes it was pretty good.

It looks kind of small inside but we could fit. Anyway, before the judging took place our leader calls us all back to where he was and tells us to stand back to back with our partners....I think, what does this have to do with building a shelter? And speaking of...what does building a shelter have to do with anything?! Then he asks the first question..."You've been with your partner for almost 30 minutes now....what is the name of the church he works?" It was at this point that I lowered my head and realized, it wasn't about the shelter. "What color are you partners eyes?" I don't even know the eye color of my family. "How many family members does your partner have." Anyway, you get the point.

What got me was that we didn't even see it coming. It's totally something that I would do with my youth group. So the whole point was "how we'll do you get know your students and volunteers when you're "doing" ministry"? It was a good point and we got a lot out of the discussion but afterwards I was like, "Yeah so, when are you going to judge our shelters?" He told us that he wasn't b/c that's not what it was about. So I said, "Oh I get it, we've learned the point...but seriously you need to check out what we've done...and tell us who's was the best." He wouldn't tell us which was better but after seeing the other shelter...we totally won. (We lost the "get to know your partner" part but won the actual shelter building so I considered it at tie...and "apparently" we weren't supposed to "kill" other plants by yanking them from the ground to fill your holes but I don't remember reading that in the official rule book of "How to Build a Shelter in Under Twetny Minutes" ).

A small group of us went hiking, that's Pikes Peak in the background.

Also, just to give you an update about the family...

My nephew's Parker and Evan have switched from good boy's...

to party animals (they couldn't even tell you what happen the night before...but as long as they are keeping it real that's all that matters).

Ok that was just a joke...they weren't good boys to begin with.

Anyway that's all the randomness right now. Later.

Here's to Me

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 21:12:53 GMT

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

Jim Gaffigan (a funny comedian) was talking about birthdays and how people will go around and give the birthday alert:

"Hey, just wanted to let you know next Tuesday is my birthday."

"Just wanted to let you know I'm not getting you anything."

Funny stuff. So for that reason I didn't preannounce my birthday, I only announced it today...because it's today. However, if you want to get me anything that would still be cool. Just make sure you attach a "Happy Belated" card with it...because it'll be late.

I'll be turning 26. Not a lot happens when you turn 26...you pretty much just wait till 30.

Here's to 30.

PS - I haven't taken a lot of pics of all that's happened over the past month but I do have this one.

It's of myself, Brooke and Cameron (my sister and brother) and we're at Evan and Parker's baptism (they're my nephew's...I'm holding Evan and Cameron has Parker).

I am so lame

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 17:36:19 GMT

So I was cleaning out my Yahoo account and I came across an email that I had written back in April. Why do I not hear about this kind of stuff happening to other people?

Here it is word for word:

"I realized the other day that I am a huge liar. Seriously. Not that I tell big lies but I am always telling really small lies that don't mean anything but I do it anyway because I get myself in a situation where my options are A) look bad or B) lie. Here's the story that caused me to realize it:

I'm at the Y and after I was finished with my workout I thought "man I feel GREAT, I want to go look at myself in the mirror". But I didn't want to go up to the mirror where all the guys were working out so I decided to go to the bathroom (makes sense). The problem is that the big mirror in there is right by a group of lockers and there was this big half naked man there and I felt weird about it so I decided to go "use the bathroom" and hopefully he would finish up being half naked and get out of there so I could check myself out in the mirror in peace.

So I go and stand by a urinal and in a split second I think, this guy could be a while and I can't fake being here that long so why don't I just go over to the sinks and use that mirror. And I turn I notice that the guy can see me and was looking at me as I walked up to the urinal for 2.5 seconds and then walked to the sinks.

Now I'm like "dang it!", he thinks I'm weird. Plus he can still see me from the lockers as I'm standing by the sinks trying to check myself out. So I'm like, forget it I'll just go home...and I start to walk out.

From his perspective he sees a guy walk in the locker room, go to the urinal for a few seconds, go to the sink for a few seconds and then starts to walk out. So he says to me, "Are you looking for something?" .... What am I supposed to say?!

"No, I just wanted to check myself out in the bathroom but since you're here and half naked I decided to wait but in my indecisiveness I could just stick with one thing so I just gave up and decided to go home."

Instead I said, "No I'm just not feeling very well. I keep thinking I needed to go to the bathroom then I thought I needed some water but I think I'm just going to go home." Or something like that. I felt like an idiot. The actual conviction of the lie didn't come until afterwards when I was replaying the whole thing in my mind. It's not that I want to lie or plan on doing it. It just happens within a split second and I'm really good at thinking on my feet....almost too good. I guess I need to use my powers of coming up with made up scenarios for good rather than evil."

Josh Hollander vs Steve-o

Mon, 11 Sep 2006 18:29:41 GMT

I'm bored so here's a video from the dorm days. The funny thing was that Josh was Steve-o's RA when this was done.

I can never seem to watch this just once...

Side note: Steve-o is saying "everything goes red"

Finally

Wed, 06 Sep 2006 14:51:47 GMT

Ok so I don't usually recommend music. Forget usually...I never do. I just listen to whatever.

There are some bands that I know if they put out a cd I'll buy it without even having to listen to it first just b/c I like them (i.e. David Crowder, Jack Johnson, etc).

So yesterday I was at a Christian Bookstore in Olathe getting some stuff for the youth group and I noticed Jars of Clay had come out with a new cd. Now for the past few years...no....for the past decade the vertict has been out on Jars of Clay. Their self titled cd with "Flood" and all of that was to me, their best. And because of that cd alone, Jars have been one of those bands where I always buy their new cd b/c I really like their first one. But ever since then each of their cds has been...I don't know...weird I guess. I mean, there was some good stuff but they got kind of eclectic and then old time Bluegrassy with their last one.

Anyway, I decided to get their new one "Good Monsters" and in the back of my mind I thought, this will probably be like the rest where I will only listen to it a handful of times and secretly wish they would just get on the ball and make a really good one that stands out.

All of that is to say that "Good Monsters" is really good.

When you bought the cd you also got a free CCM magazine where Jars is on the cover and CCM said that this cd was their album of the year. Now CCM isn't the standard by which I measure all things....or even a standard....I don't read CCM that's what I'm trying to say. But I found it interesting that they liked it that much.

So that's all I have to say. It's not the best cd I've ever heard but I feel like it's as good the first one...and after a decade (yes, it's been over a decade) it seemed like it would be something worth mentioning.

**EDIT**

Ok so since I was made fun of by Melia in the first comment let me just say that I realize that "Jars of Clay" isn't exactly a band that is, as Phil Christian would say, hip and trendy. Nor are they hardcore or known for rockin it.

But that's why I wrote it. I really like Matt Kearney but I thought word of mouth would do the trick for him. With Jars of Clay...b/c of their "CCM-ish-ness" or whatever you want to call it...I figured a lot of people would write them off.

Crap, now I've written so much I feel like a werido. This whole thing isn't that big of a deal to me....

I like the cd...do with that what you will.