I Blew It (Actually It Was Vons)

On our visit to the Sacramento area, I received a boatload of grocery coupons for my Mom. This morning, I clipped coupons for about a half an hour. And that is with the help of Alex and Marisa. With my coupon wallet full, I headed out to Vons and their 'double coupon' policy.

I wrote in a previous post titled "Curse You, Apple Turnover!", that as part of my job as the main grocery shopper, I have a goal to try to save 50% off regular prices with the use of coupons, club cards, sale prices, rebates, and selective purchasing.

According to my receipt, I saved $55 and paid $85 today. I used $15 worth of coupons (thanks Mom). When I looked closer at the receipt, I discovered that none of my coupons were doubled! I checked their weekly flyer, and they must have recently discontinued their double coupon policy, because I couldn't find any mention of double coupons anywhere within the ad. If it were in effect, I would have hit the magical 50% off.

Next time I will go to Ralphs. They still have double coupons. Curse you, Vons!

New Purple Belts

It is official. Lisa, Alex, and Marisa have passed their latest belt test and have received their purple belts. See the Master Kwon's Hapkido Karate site for the results and a photo. Congratulations!

Walt Disney Magnet School

I found the website of the elementary school that I attending in Chicago. From the couple of pictures that I saw, it hasn't changed at all. I realize now what a modern looking building it was at the time it was build 30 years ago. I was one of the first students to attend the school. I was part of the first graduating class that started with the school (pilot student). I remember that I first started attending Disney before the current building was constructed. We attended classes in an old hospital that used to be there. I would really like to go inside the school one day to see what it looks like inside. Next time we go to Chicago, that will be on the to do list (after attending a game at Wrigley, of course).

Walt Disney Magnet School

May Poker Winnings

As per the updated resolution that I made on my November 22, 2005 post, I have withdrawn my goal of $400 from my poker bankroll this month. I have also taken out an extra $400. YTD=+$3,100. '05YTD=+$1,100. My next withdrawal of $400 is due by June 30, 2006. Please continue to wish me luck and keep me accountable.

New Posts Coming Soon

Been a little busy the past week. Have about 5 posts that are in draft form. Will be posting soon. While waiting, check out a new post by Hugh on my other blog: Defending Purple Mountain Majesties.

Today's Respect Life Message

On February 27, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI said the following in a talk to the Pontifical Academy for Life:

The sacred books, in fact, set out to show God's love for every human being even before he has been formed in his mother's womb. "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you" (Jer 1: 5), God said to the Prophet Jeremiah. And the Psalmist recognizes with gratitude: "You did form my inward parts, you did knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for you are fearful and wonderful. Wonderful are your works! You know me right well" (Ps 139[138]: 13-14).

These words acquire their full, rich meaning when one thinks that God intervenes directly in the creation of the soul of every new human being.

God's love does not differentiate between the newly conceived infant still in his or her mother's womb and the child or young person, or the adult and the elderly person. God does not distinguish between them because he sees an impression of his own image and likeness (Gn 1: 26) in each one.

He makes no distinctions because he perceives in all of them a reflection of the face of his Only-begotten Son, whom "he chose... before the foundation of the world.... He destined us in love to be his sons... according to the purpose of his will" (Eph 1: 4-6).

(taken from the Priests For Life website)

Alex's First (and Second) Holy Communion

Alex received his First Holy Communion on Sunday, May 13, 2006. It was a very nice Mass. There were about 40 other children receiving their First Communion. I really believe that Alex had a better understanding of the meaning of this event than I did when I received this Sacrament five years ago. We are all very proud of him. He is growing up too fast.

A Holy Spirit moment: On Sunday the 14th, Lisa and I were scheduled to be Eucharistic Ministers for our regular Mass. There are a total of eight people distributing the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. It is fairly random on where our 'station' will be around the altar to distribute communion. It just so happened that Alex was able to receive for his second communion the Body from me and the Blood from Lisa. It was a very powerful moment for all three of us.

5000th Hit!

I just had my 5000th hit to this blog. While this number is not big when compared to other sites (Drudge Report has over 10,000,000 hits/day), it is still a big milestone for my blog which is really only meant to document a few things happening in my life at this time. Thanks for visiting.

Respect Life Message for Mother's Day

A Prayer for Those Afraid of their Motherhood

Lord God, we thank you, the Source of Life, for all those who have welcomed and nurtured our lives. In particular, we thank you for our mothers, who with trust in you and self-sacrifice beyond description, have made it possible for us to live and praise you today. Give them the reward of their labors.

Today, Lord, we also pray for mothers who are afraid of being mothers. We pray especially for those carrying a child within them, but afraid to bring that child to birth. Look with favor on these, your daughters, and give them trust and strength. Enable them to give themselves to their children, as you give yourself to us, and to experience the joys of motherhood. Enable us to do our part to encourage them and provide for their needs. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

--taken from the Priests For Life website

Purple Belt Test

Lisa, Alex, and Marisa took their test to be promoted to Purple Belt. It was the first time that all three of them took the test together. Lisa started karate a couple of months later than the kids. She has finally caught up with them (I believe they will stay together from now on).

Out of the three of them, I have to make the observation that Lisa seemed to be the least confident out there. I still believe that they all passed and will go from orange to purple. And I would still be afraid to meet Lisa alone in a dark alley.

As part of Alex's sparring part of the test, he had to fight against two other students! See third photo.

Results to follow.

Another New Gasoline Record For Me

I paid $44.00 for 13.177 gallons at $ 3.339/gal. Hooray.

This beats my previous record of $41.27 on April 27, 2006.

This also beats my price per gallon paid way back on September 2, 2005 of $3.299/gal.

Defending Purple Mountain Majesties

My friend Hugh, a fellow stay-at-home Dad, will be in Iraq for the next year. I have decided to start a blog that will have any correspondence that I happen to come across from him. It will be a great way to document his sacrifice to our country as a member of our armed forces.

I decided to call the blog Defending Purple Mountain Majesties because of something he wrote (see first post) as he was leaving home, in a plane looking out onto the vast United States and reflecting on the lines from 'America the Beautiful'.

Hopefully I'll be able to keep this blog up to date, perhaps with some actual writing to the blog from Hugh himself.

Please pray for Hugh, his wife Jan, his two children Lilly and Glenn, and his new child on the way.

Today's Respect Life Message

Laying down our lives

The Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. This theme is found also in the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) On the road from Jerusalem to Jericho, a man fell in with robbers. A priest and a Levite came by, but did not stop to help. Despite their knowledge of the Law and Prophets, they walked right by. Why?

One of the reasons may be that they were afraid. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho is a dangerous road. Because of its numerous steep curves, it lends itself to attacks by robbers who can easily hide not too far from their victims. Perhaps the priests and Levites who passed by that man asked themselves, "If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me? Maybe the robbers who attacked him are still here. Maybe they're hiding just around the bend. This is a dangerous road. I better keep going."

Sometimes we ask the same question. If, for example, I speak up too loudly about the victims of abortion, what will happen to me? Will I face persecution, will I encounter opposition, will I lose popularity if I get involved in a cause like this?

And then the Good Samaritan came along, and he reversed the question. He didn't ask, "If I help this man, what will happen to me?" The Good Samaritan asked, "If I do not help this man, what will happen to him?" And that's the question for us. If I do not address this evil, what will happen to the unborn? If I do not get involved, what will happen to those who are vulnerable, to those who are marginalized our society, those who are oppressed, those who have no one to speak for them?

--from Priests For Life

Hooray! Lakers Lose

In case anyone cares, I ALWAYS root for the team that the Los Angeles Lakers play against. In this case, the Phoenix Suns beat the Lakers in round one of the playoffs 4-3 after being down 1-3. On paper the Suns were the better team.

This is actually a better scenario for the Los Angeles Clippers, who the Suns will play next. Now the 'other' L.A. team will receive a lot more attention than if it were an all Staples Center playoff series. I think that I will be cheering for the Clippers just because they are the underdog.

A Guy From Chicago...

...dies and goes to hell.

When he gets there, the devil comes over to welcome him. The devil then says, "Sometimes it gets pretty uncomfortable down here." The man says, "No problem. I'm from Chicago." So the devil goes over to the thermostat, turns the temperature up to 100, and the humidity up to 80. He then goes back to the Chicago man to see how he's doing. To the devil's surprise, the man is doing just fine.

"No problem. Just like Chicago in June," the man says.

So the devil goes back over to the thermostat, and turns the temperature up to 150, and the humidity up to 90. He then goes back over to see how the Chicago man is doing. The man is sweating a little, but overall looks comfortable.

"No problem. Just like Chicago in July," the man says.

So now the devil goes over to the thermostat, turns the temperature up to 200, and the humidity up to 100. When he goes back to see how the man is doing, the man is sweating profusely, and has taken his shirt off. Otherwise, he seems fine.

He says, "No problem. Just like Chicago in August."

Now the devil is really perplexed. So he goes back to the thermostat, and turns the temperature down to MINUS 150 DEGREES. Immediately, all the humidity in the air freezes up, and the whole place becomes a frigid, barren, frozen, deathly cold wasteland. When he goes back now to see how the man is doing, he is shocked to discover the man is jumping up and down, and cheering in obvious delight. The devil immediately asks the man what's going on.

To which the Chicago man replies, "THE CUBS WON THE WORLD SERIES!!! THE CUBS WON THE WORLD SERIES!!!"

--author unknown (probably a lifelong Cubs fan like me)

M. Night Shyamalan's Films

Lisa and I finished up watching the M. Night Shyamalan written and directed film The Village on DVD. We both loved the picture. I knew going in that this film was not as successful at the box office as his previous films, The Sixth Sense and Signs. And not unlike his other film, Unbreakable, this picture was not critically acclaimed.

I don't care what the critics say. All four of these movies are excellent horror/thrillers. What I like about all of these films are the unexpected twists. I also like the fact that he makes the viewer use their imagination and their minds. He will cut away from a scene 'early', leaving the viewer to imagine what is happening. He never shows any gratuitous gore, where it would be very easy to put it in to appeal to a different audience. I have compared his style of direction to that of Alfred Hitchcock (Shyamalan also makes a cameo appearance in each of his films just like Hitchcock did).

You will not be disappointed in seeing any of these films. We are eagerly awaiting the release of his next film this summer called, Lady in the Water.