US Americans and The China

Tonight we're going to see Yo Mamma's Big Fat Booty Band play at the American Tobacco campus for free. I'm not sure what kind of music they play (my guess is jazz), but how can I pass up hearing a band like that? Afterwards, we are going to see a little bit of the USA vs. Chinese-Taipei game at the DBAP followed by fireworks. What better way to end a game against a Chinese team than to celebrate with a little treat that they discovered?

Off the Chain

So Kimberly and I have committed to not eating at chain restaraunts. Technically, it's Kimberly, but since I want to be a supportive husband and I think it's a good idea, I am doing it too. It's really about fast food restaraunts since they are so ridiculously unhealthy for you (with the exception of a few items), but for me it's also about supporting local businesses. The people who own Chili's have never been to Durham, they don't really care about Durham, so why should I help them? I should help the person who decided to work and live in Durham by opening a restaurant of their own here. That way the money I spend at their restaraunt typically goes right back into the Durham economy.
The one place I will miss the most...Chick-fil-A.

Close, but no cigar...

Too bad for the Georgia Bulldogs that close (as my dad always said) only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. They came within one game of winning their first College World Series since 1990, but couldn't contain the Fresno St. offense in game two and then couldn't find their own offense in game three. Maybe next year, but in the meantime, congrats to the Fresno St. Bulldogs on winning the College World Series on their first trip!

So small...

So, the other day Kim and I were riding in the car coming home from an overnight trip to South Carolina. We had to miss church to make this trip (which we weren't too happy about), but we decided to listen to a podcast of Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle. He's easily our favorite pastor other than our own.

Mark was talking about the Resurrection, explaining it mainly to new Christians so that they had an understanding of the most important aspect of Christianity. He made the statement a good ways in that God had sent his son to the Earth to give himself as a sacrifice for us. The Christian side of me agreed, the human side of me said, "that's the craziest statement I've ever heard."

Think about the belief that there is a God and that he would send his son; it's illogical, all I can believe is what I can't see. I can't see God, therefore he doesn't exist. These were thoughts that were literally running through my head at the time. At that point, I started looking around me at how big everything was outside. I started thinking about how tiny I am compared to the grand scheme of things. It's in those moments that I absolutely cannot believe that there is not something greater than me that created the entire universe. It's impossible!

I read that a large anthill (colony) has about 10,000 ants. Think about how tiny one ant looks in this colony because of the sheer number of them. Now multiply that by 600,000 and you have an estimation of what we are like on this earth. You are just one of 6,000,000,000 people in the world. Do you feel small? Now realize that we are one just one teeny, tiny planet in the galaxy. How small do you feel now? Now realize that this galaxy is one of many galaxies in the universe. Now I hope you realize how small we are and how great God is.

How does your garden grow?

So Kim and I have become gardeners. We are fighting back against the high prices of the grocery store and growing our own vegetables! Actually we threw some squash seeds out in our yard sometime last year and now we have two gorgeous Spaghetti Squashes growing right now. I can't wait to cook them and eat them and revel in our gardening skills...okay really God's gardening skills.

We're Talkin' Baseball

Kim and I are going to see the Durham Bulls take on the Norfolk Tides today. Before I go to the Bulls games, I like to check out and see if there are any players I know that are going to be there tonight. On the Norfolk Tides roster is none other than Esteban Yan. Former pitcher for the DRays, Braves, Orioles, and a few other teams; he's been signed (again) by the Baltimore Orioles to a minor league contract after a year in Japan last season.

There's a player for the Bulls this season by the name of Fernando Perez. You've probably never heard of him, and might not ever hear from him. He's batting a measley .273 on the season. He plays outfield and is fast and has a pretty good arm, but doesn't seem to hit very well...except when Kim and I go to the games. He is Kim's favorite player for the season and in the 4 games we've attended he's batting .400 with 2 doubles, a triple, his only HR, 4 RBI, and 3 runs. I'd say we're a nice little good luck charm (it's probably just Kimberly though).

Also, tonight is $1 hotdog, fries, and popcorn night. I can't wait!

I love Durham

So, since I have been married, I have really grown to love Durham. This is mostly because of Kim. She has encouraged us to look around and see what's going on around town and find some new restaraunts. I'm so glad she has too because I've discovered what a great city this is that I live in.

This weekend Kimberly and I are going to a Chili Cookoff downtown to sample some delicious chili and just enjoy the everchanging, renovated downtown area. Just last month we had our annual Taste of Durham Festival in which owners of various restaraunts in the area give tastes of their cuisine to all who come.

Also, on the week of July 6-13 there is going to be the Week of Hope in which some area churches are getting together to help out the community. They will be doing some upgrades to schools and community centers, giving dental check-ups, washing cars, giving oil changes. It's going to be so awesome!

The last thing I have is a great map that I've done showing some restaurants that Kim and I either want to go to or have gone to here in Durham. It just consists of local restaurants, no chains. Check it out.


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What's going on in your town?