Hey, I'm special.

When I was a youngin', my family had a red dinner plate that was reserved for special occasions. Said occasions included good grades, birthdays, sport victories and other notable accomplishments.



Well, it's time to break this sucker out once again. I done got me a promotion. Woo hoo!

Sorry. More advertising show and tell.

More advertising show and tell.

This is one I did a few months ago. CLICK HERE.

Living the high life?

Whenever I go away on business, Hailey claims that I get to live the "high life." While I don't necessarily agree with her, this dessert that was delivered to my bedside last night was pretty darn good.



Speaking of my travels. As I have spent the majority of the past few months living in hotels, I have noticed something. For the love of all that's holy, people really can't get my last name right. I've actually started to believe that my name is, in fact, Mr. Babock.

Just think of all the mockery that would've saved me back in high school.

I'm just saying.

You know you've been away from your kids for too long when the inflight showing of "The Game Plan" makes you choke up and fight like crazy to keep the tears from flowing like a fresh spring stream after a winter of record-breaking snowfall. I'm not saying this happened to me or nothin'. I'm just saying.

Seriously, do I look like a criminal?



Today was a day just like any day. I decided that I'd walk a couple blocks down the street to grab a sandwich at Quiznos. Nothing abnormal about that. So I put on my gray jacket and headed out the door. It was cold, so I pulled my hood over my head. Nothing abnormal about that. But as I walked down the street I started to notice something wasn't normal. There were cop cars all over the place. Everywhere I turned, there was a cop car parked with police searching the area. Obviously, something was amiss.

"Hmm, well that's weird," I thought. "Oh well, whatever."

I walked into Quiznos and ordered the Honey Mustard Chicken sandwich. Regular size. As I waited for my sub to make its way through the oven, little did I know what was formulating outside.

Once I had my sandwich in hand, it was back to the office. Or so I thought. As I stepped out onto the sidewalk, a flurry of police officers surrounded me and yelled at me to hold still. One of the officers quickly grabbed my shoulders to make sure I didn't run. The other officers got around from behind to block a possible rear escape.

The officer clicked the radio on his shoulder, "We got him. We've apprehended the suspect."

The suspect?

OFFICER: What are you doing, son?

ME: Getting a sandwich.

OFFICER: Oh yeah, got any ID?

ME: Sure.

I presented my Utah driver's license.

OFFICER: Utah, huh? What are you doing here?

ME: I live here. I work right there.

I pointed to the large building where I work right down the street.

OFFICER: Oh yeah? Where's "right there?"

I pointed again.

ME: Right there.

OFFICER: What's the address of your work?

(NOTE: At this point, it was actually quite comical, cause our office street number is displayed on the side of the building in huge, black numbers. Clearly visible from much farther down the street.)

ME: Um, see right there? 6450 Gunpa...

OFFICER: Uh huh. Where do you live then?

ME: Longmont.

OFFICER: And what are you doing out here?

I believe it became obvious to the other officers that my story checked out and that they had mistaken me for someone else. Another officer approached and took over. He radioed to the group, "Suspect not apprehended."

OFFICER 2: Someone thought they saw you get out of the suspect's vehicle and walk over here. Sorry about this, it's just a formality, we have to check everyone, you know? Plus, with your hood up like this you looked suspicious.

ME: Oh, okay. I get it. But if I were on the run from the law, do you really think I'd stop to get a sandwich?

My attempt at some light after-the-fact humor was met with a stern brow and a wrinkled mustache. So I scurried on my way. The spectators and police officers cleared the scene and went back to work.

I pulled the hood off of my head and quickly helped an old lady cross the street.

UPDATE: My story made the NEWS.

When a simple "thank you" just won't do.

This Christmas, instead of just saying thank you, the company I work for made a little something special for all us employees. It's called the Thanks-O-Matic. Check it out. To proceed, use my login: 757ASDF

More advertising show and tell.

Hello, 2008.

First of all, I meant to make a post last night, on the last night of 2007, but apparently the Motel 6 in Grand Junction, CO doesn't have internet. Or clean sheets for that matter. Or heat vents without dead animals in them. Hey, it was $40. I couldn't resist.

Here's my Greatest of 2007 list:

GREATEST MEMORY - Caribbean cruise with Hailey and our friends, the Jacobs.

GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT - Landing the new gig.

GREATEST HEARTACHE - Missing the family while in LA on TV production.

GREATEST EPIPHANY - Realizing that it's okay to be wrong.

GREATEST YOUTUBE VID - Chocolate Rain Spoof.

GREATEST MOVIE - Lars and the Real Girl

GREATEST RECORDS - Foo Fighters' "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace." Jimmy Eat World's, "Chase This Light." The National's, "Boxer." Band of Horses', "Cease to Begin."

GREATEST CONCERT - Rush at Redrocks Amphitheater.

GREATEST MOMENT OF IMMATURITY - Writing this commercial for the Sean Kimerling Testicular Cancer Foundation.

GREATEST AREA OF GROWTH - Work ethic.

GREATEST MOMENT - Every moment I was able to spend with Hailey, Berlin and lil' James.

So now it's a new year. A new year for better health. A new year for spending more time with family. A new year for blogging more regularly. A new year for realizing career goals. A new year for actually getting the new Hudson River School record put out. A new year for remembering it's good to have hobbies. A new year for being the best husband and father I can be. Welcome, 2008. Here we go.

UPDATE: I am tagging the following individuals to post their answers to the above Greatest of 2007. Cut + paste, folks.
Hailey Happens
Jaimerly James
Jenni NAYLOR
Spennywhistle
Rich Patch