My Suprise Birthday Trip!

My wonderful girlfriend Tiffany has planned a Surprise Birthday Trip for me this weekend (my Birthday is tomorrow and it's not too late to get me something: 3XLT favorite color is black). This morning she dropped off a Pre-Trip Information letter with a list of 'What to pack". How fun! I have some errands to run and some packing to do...


David<~never been surprised before IN MY LIFE!

...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sHuG2J5oq4

Insomnia is not my friend

We have switched to an earlier shift at work and I worry too much about things so if you add that up you get David not sleeping well. 4 hours of sleep at night just doesn't cut it...


David<~~~~~~~~tired!

Never gonna keep me down...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm4iU0yx9GY

NEW Conner pic!

he looks great, & he's getting so big!

David<~~~~~~~~~~~~~PROUD UNCLE!

ONE DAY by MATISYAHU

ONE DAY

(by Matisyahu)

sometimes I lay

under the moon

and thank God I'm breathing

then I pray

don't take me soon

cause i'm here for a reason

sometimes in my tears I drown

but I never let it get me down

so when negativity surrounds

I know some day it'll all turn around

because

all my live I've been waiting for

I've been praying for

for the people to say

that we dont wanna fight no more

they'll be no more wars

and our children will play

one day

one day

one day

one day

one day

one day

it's not about

win or lose

because we all lose

when they feed on the souls of the innocent

blood drenched pavement

keep on moving though the waters stay raging

in this maze you can lose your way (your way)

it might drive you crazy but dont let it faze you no way (no way)

sometimes in my tears I drown

but I never let it get me down

so my negativity surrounds

I know some day it'll all turn around

because

all my live I've been waiting for

I've been praying for

for the people to say

that we dont wanna fight no more

they'll be no more wars

and our children will play

one day

one day

one day

one day

one day

one day

one day this all will change

treat people the same

stop with the violence

down with the hate

one day we'll all be free

and proud to be

under the same sun

singing songs of freedom like

one day

one day

one day

one day

all my live I've been waiting for

I've been praying for

for the people to say

that we don't wanna fight no more

they'll be no more wars

and our children will play

one day

one day

one day

one day

one day

one day

ooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

David<~~~~rocking out to the Reggae music sung by a hasidic Jew

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-aAZT15eHc&feature=PlayList&p=5F07439DC8BFED55&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=27

::stares at myself in the mirror::

I PUT THE 'SUPER'

IN SUPERFICIAL!

HA!

Music has a profound effect on me. After listening to The Arcade Fire I put some Erin Bode on to soothe the savage breast and get myself in the proper frame of mind to put on my 'Retail Hat' and run my Store this morning. I wake up WAY to early and then have lots of time to think. I think about things I have done wrong, and I think of things I have done right. I am to hard on myself and I don't let things go like I should. Obsess would be an understatement. This is the song I am listening to...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcIKnQxhCW0

(I'd love to have Erin back at my Store to perform again)


David<~~~~~~~time to knock the mud off and get ready for work!

cold cold wind

if your fire goes out


if your heart quits shining


will the cold wind blow you away?


if the tears rain down


if the sadness washes you away


will the cold cold wind blow your way?


will the cold wind blow


you


away?




DAS

LET THE WILD RUMPUS START!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEKC5pyOKFU

This is a wonderful video that made me sad to listen to it, I don't know why. I miss my buddy Paul. And I really need to...

WAKE UP!

Somethin' filled up
my heart with nothin',
someone told me not to cry.
But now that I'm older,
my heart's colder,
and I can see that it's a lie.
Children wake up,
hold your mistake up,
before they turn the summer into dust.
If the children don't grow up,
our bodies get bigger but our hearts get torn up.
We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms turnin' every good thing to rust.
I guess we'll just have to adjust.
With my lightnin' bolts a glowin'
I can see where I am goin' to be
when the reaper he reaches and touches my hand.
With my lightnin' bolts a glowin'
I can see where I am goin’
With my lightnin' bolts a glowin'
I can see where I am,
go-go, where I am
You'd better look out below

David<~~~~~~really needs to talk to his buddy

I am KING OF THE MONSTERS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFgB6xUzziU

This is a copy of the speech my Mom made at the dinner honoring her and my Father...

What can I say but WOW!!! I am honored that you have chosen Jerry & I for this distinguished honor as “GOOD NEIGHBORS” With the silence at my house lately I have had lots of time to think & ponder about Jerry, our sons David & Mark & mine & Jerry’s life together for 44 years as an Army family. It has been SOME exciting ride!!! Jerry started out as a part of the Army family in1958---but remember Jerry married me when I was only 5 years old (believe that?)
Colonel (RET) Jerry Austin Smith deserves this prestigious “GOOD NEIGHBOR” award and I thank you on his behalf. He was always there to support the Army family in any way he possibly could. If he was still here with us---he would be able to give you such an eloquent speech from his heart and meaning every word of it. He would also be standing here beside me lifting me up---smiling his wonderful smile & telling us all how important each one of us truly are!!! He was the “wind beneath my wings” and we made an awesome couple especially when we were younger. So, I have to take a deep breath---go own without him but know he is truly watching every move I make and giving me encouragement all the way. From the bottom of my heart, I love each one of you and I will try to live up to this most distinguished title of “GOOD NEIGHBOR”. I would like to leave you with this:

Why Don’t You Boogie Through Life
Don’t cry, because its over,
Smile because it happened.
Pain & suffering is enevitable
But Misery is Optional
Yesterday is History
Tomorrow is a Mystery,
Today is a gift.
That’s why it’s called: The Present.
A good exercise for the heart is to
Bend down and help another up.
Life is what you make of it….
Kinda like Play-Dah
The bubbling brook would lose its song
If you removed the rocks.
Happiness comes through doors
You didn’t even know you left open.
Everything is always okay in the end,
If it’s not, then it’s not the end.
If all my friends jumped off a cliff,
I wouldn’t jump with them.
I would be at the bottom to catch them.
Here is a test to find whether your
Mission on earth is finished:
If you’re alive, it isn’t.
So, be happy!
Don’t let anything burst your balloon!
Just Boogie through life!
Have a real happy day today! Enjoy it because you got up this morning.

“Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting “WOW, what a ride!”

Thank you.

Took the GF to see a Musical last night...

http://www.fabulousfox.com/shows_page_multi.aspx?usID=83



It was a great night, some of the story was the same as the Disney Movie, but some differed, I think I need to read the book...

David<~~~~~spent twice as much on souvenirs as I did on the tickets

FUN WITH PROCESS SERVERS!

About two weeks ago I returned home from work to discover a hot pink sticker stuck to my front door. It was from a Process Server named Bev and was about a Defendant named Bryan. It had a case number and a phone number to call. I call the phone number and leave some guy named Kevin a message with my name and my address and my phone number and that I am NOT Bryan and no Bryan lives with me. Three days later Kevin calls back and leaves a voicemail on my cell phone. He thanks me for the information and promises me that he will give Bev the message and that she will call me right back. A week goes by with no contact so I think the issue is over. Then I get a phone number calling me that I don't recognize. So I call it back and get the same Kevin's recorded spiel. Now I'm mad so I hang up. Then I realize I need to leave a message so I can try and get this cleared up so I redial Kevin's phone number. But because the stars are aligned just right I don't hear the phone ring and I actually end up on the speaker phone in Kevin's office as he tries to recruit some dude to be a Process Server for him. Dumbfounded I listen in as my cell phone records about 10 minutes of Kevin's sales pitch to this dude. "You are a Officer of the Court...blah blah blah...give the Summons to anyone over the age of 15...blah blah blah...even if they are not over 15 it's OK, cause you're an Officer of the Court...blah blah blah." It seems the Process Server is an industry full of people with lots of integrity and ethical concerns (insert sarcastic look here). Stunned I go back to my day. Later that evening I'm sitting on my sofa at 11pm when I hear this tap tap tap on my front door. NO WAY! Before I even look out the peephole I know who I'm going to see. Peephole confirmation. There is a lady standing outside with an ID on a chain around her neck holding a clipboard. I'm not ready to receive visitors so I rush about looking for something to throw on when ol' Bev starts to really BANG on my front door at 11pm at night. Geez this half wit is going to wake up everyone in the apartment complex. I open the door and Bev is like 'Name?'. I tell her my name is David and Bev is like 'ID!'. I tell her 'no', then realize I'm only prolonging this SNAFU and tell her to wait. I shut the door and grab my Driver's License and open my front door and tell ol' Bev, "This is NONE of your business, but the only way I'm going to get rid of you is to show you that you are in the wrong place." Bev responds, "I'm an Officer of the Court!". "No you are just a Process Server and you are in the wrong place" She looks at my ID and then starts stammering "The computer shows Bryan is at this address" "I have lived here for 3 years and I have never heard of this Bryan nor seen any mail addressed to him show up here" Looking stricken Bev squeaks out a "Sorry" and I tell her "Good-bye" and shut my door. I'd like to think this issue has been resolved but somehow I imagine I'll be seeing the guy Kevin was trying to recruit sometime in the near future...


Bryan, with Kevin and Bev on the case you could camp out on a billboard next to the Interstate and still sleep like a baby...


David<~~~~~~~~next time I'm calling the Cops on ol' Kevin and Bev and let them explain themselves to Johnny Law

My next door neighbor...

On a whim, I clicked on NEXT BLOG to see who was my Blog Neighbor and this is the result...


http://suttyoingalway.blogspot.com/


As near as I can figure, it's a Blog from a Swedish (???) Tourist currently visiting Ireland...


(Blogs makes strange bedfellows)


David<~~~~~~~~good neighbor!

Six Flags is a magical Magical MAGICAL place...

David<~~~~~~~~Big PIMPIN'!

I got a box in the mail today

It was a Coldwater Creek box that my Mom shipped me. I figured it was either something from Coldwater or Mom reused a box from something she ordered from Coldwater Creek. So I open it and discovered that Mom reused the box to ship me all of my Dad's ties. One of them was still tied, he had just lossened it and put it back on the tie rack that was also in the box. I also received a nice pair of suspenders. I will wear these ties and think of my Father...

I miss my Dad

Weird...

OK, you all knew that about me already. I'm a huge fan of Erin Bode, she's a local girl that sings beautifully. She and her band performed at my Store's opening night. Tif and I saw them perform again about a month ago in Festus. Really good. So I get her email newsletter that lets me know where she's playing and she mentions that she's on Facebook. I'M ON FACEBOOK TOO! So of course I look for her and not only find her official "Fan" entry but her personal entry as well. Cool. I joined her Face book fanbase and I also sent a 'friend' request (::crosses fingers and toes::) to her personally. Who knows. Maybe if I'm lucky. So now I'm flipping through her Friends list so see if we have anyone in common and I come across Morgan Freeman. Yes that Morgan Freeman, remember Erin is a really good singer and Morgan is obviousily a fan. So...I fire off another 'friend' request to Mr. Freeman. What a weird day ::wink::


David<~~~~~~~high falutin' and trumpet tootin'

I want those who get to know me...

FRIEND OR FOE

(Adam Ant/Marco Pirroni)

Take it up or leave it
Im not gonna change a bit
If it means heartache
Then leave it out for your sake

I tried and I try tried
To take care of my insides
Nobodys perfect
so leave me if you object

I want those who get to know me
To become admirers or my enemies....

When you're a pirouetting, highkicking, thighslapping cruiser
When youre a hipgrinding, spellbinding, clean cut seducer
You have to be careful
so
people take note
I take it serious,
but I still like a joke

I want those who get to know me
To become admirers or my enemies

Keep your philosophy
It doesnt apply to me

If it means heartache
Then leave it out for your sake
I tried and I try tried
But still you say that I lied
Nobodys perfect
so leave me if you object



David<~~~~~~~~still dancing!

My Dad!

I have a bad habit...

I bite my fingernails and sometimes I tear the skin around my nails. I just ripped off a loose piece of the cuticle on my left pointer finger. To Snooky I guess it smells like an injury. She is VERY concerned. She keeps trying to smell my finger and stares at it cross-eyed. The only time I have refrained from biting my nails was when I had my fingernails professionally done for the "Wedding Rings" photo when I was married. ::shrugs:: I guess I need to have my nails done...


David<~~~~~~~~~~~METROSEXUAL!


(btw: TMZ and ET are the DEBIL!)

Sooooo I'm still alive...

ARTIE IS SHORTER IN PERSON THAN YOU'D THINK...

Today was the Artie Lange signing at my Store. We moved 650 Howard Stern fans thru the Book Signing line in one hour and thirty minutes. Only three regretable incidents: 1) a fan tricked a Bookseller into paging someone's name over the Store's intercom that was really a joke. 2) a fan screamed something about "Robin's Boobs" as he left the Store (he used a different word though) and 3) a fan screamed that he loved Artie Lange as he left the Store (what is up with these people who are only brave enough to be rude just as they walk out of the Store?). Lots of girls in 'Catch the eye of the Rock Star' tee shirts. Lots of pick-up trucks in my Parking Lot. Went over very well, my Booksellers ROCK!

Sooooo home relaxin' chillin' on the couch watching live coverage of Comic-Con 09...

WHY AREN'T I ASLEEP???????????????????

David<~~~~is a NERD (and I can't turn it off)

::sigh::

Me and my Dad

SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na1yQ_fKUF0

David<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~dancing in my head!