An apple a day will keep the doctor away....yeah right

Today has been for a lack of a better word...exhausting.  I got up had to do my daily chores while mom is gone, went to the doctor and pharmacy, went to eat, played 3 rounds of disc golf with my bffl's and worked out for a few hours.  I figured since the most important thing I had to remember to do today was go to the doctor, that I would blog on everythings doctors.  On to Good, Bad and Funny.
Doctors

1. Good: You can learn alot from doctors.  I try to soak up info on myself and other illnesses when doctors talk about it because it helps me get better at Jeopardy and helps me know what I can and can't do.  My favorite doctor in the world is Dr. Frank Wilburn.  Yes, he's my pediatrician but I still have used him recently.  He is so down to earth and really cares about helping people feel better.  I know for doctors to be successful they have to be smart.  But in my opinion they also have to be human.  For instance: If you want to be in the medical field and havent seen this movie , you definitely need to.  I'm a proud owner.  Definitely see John Q too.  Wow tear-j's in both.
2. Bad: Some doctors don't have the time of day for the patient's feelings just the illness.  Don't be a doctor to make a lot of money.  Theres no passion in that.  To switch gears a bit, I don't particularly like being at the doctors office.  Today for instance, I had bloodwork done for my gout(which was awful because the woman couldn't find my veins), I had to get 4 prescriptions filled(nightmare at the pharmacy) and had to wait behind some guy that had a bag for his foot to drain into while I was checking out.  It just takes forever.  Thank god for my HTC Hero.
3. Funny: I think it is funny when the nurse at the doctors office tries to get into your personal life before the doc gets in when shes checking your vitals.  This happened to me today.  She asked me everything but what my 3rd grade teachers name was this morning.

Link of the day: Got a medical problem and can't afford to see a doc....Diagnose yourself...but if you can't then just go to the doctor
Thanks for reading
McKinley

We are the champions...no I'm not a Gamecock

I had to wait to blog because of the College World Series game between South Carolina and UCLA.  To be quite honest I didn't even have a blog topic until it was over.  Tonight's blog is on championships.  I'm glad to say that I have been a part(whether it be as a team member or fan) of a lot of championships.  To win one, you have to have the right mix of skill, work ethic, luck and most of all passion.  I could go on with 9$ adjectives that describe championships, but I'm tired and have a gout doctor appointment in the morning so I'll just continue on with Good, Bad and Funny.
Championships

1. Good: The feeling of winning a championship is indescribable.  It is pure bliss, kind of a warmth that your body feels when you take the first bite of hot peach cobbler with ice cream on it.(Ok..I guess I just described it)  The thing that I think is best about a championship, is for just one day(at least) you feel like no one is on your(or your teams) level.  You are the best and no one can tell you different.  
2. Bad:  To me, there is nothing worse than a bandwagon fan after a championship.(Ok there are plenty worse things but you get the drift}  For instance: I would like to know the sales figures on Alabama Football apparel after they won the national championship in football last year.  I'm not just talking about people that live in Alabama, but people that I know personally that have never rooted for them all of the sudden are the biggest Crimson Tide fans ever.  Another thing, I don't like professional championships.  I swear I feel like half of these players that win them don't even care if they win or lose because they make so much money and have so much fame.  Besides the teams that win it all now, just buy the best players.  No offense to Phil Jackson, but I think Lee Stratton could have coached the Lakers to a NBA Title.  To take this a little further, I just noticed that UCLA ace pitcher Trevor Bauer was not even upset after his team just lost the National Championship(He was actually smiling and kidding around).  Because he was a first round draft pick and is probably about to be a millionaire, he could care less about his team losing.  I wonder how his teammates feel about that. 
3. Funny: I think its funny watching the reactions to a team winning a championship.  I saw South Carolina's Nick Ebert doing some quite inappropriate things after they won tonight.  But they were funny nonetheless.

Link of the Day: I feel like I reference this alot but it gives me chills everytime I watch it....true underdog story

Thanks for reading
McKinley

Home Alone 4.......Plantersville Edition

Tonight, I'm the only human being in my household.  My dad is in Jackson on business, my mother and sister are on the coast for some conference.  I can't really remember the last time this happened to me.  But I kinda like it. On to Good, Bad and Funny
Home Alone

1. Good: I really like the peace and quiet out here.  I mean, there's always peace and quiet but I can't hear my mother or sister cackling with each other.  I can watch tv without having to fight with my sister over the channel, walk around in my drawers, scream at really loud volumes at any time of day, listen to loud music.  I could even have a party out here, but I'm too old for that. 
2. Bad: I do miss the nightly chat I have with my mother.  I also miss her cooking.  The worst thing about being home alone is the responsibility that you don't normally have.(However, my mom has done this for 30 something years so I don't mind doing it for 4 days).  I have to feed all the pets(including the inside cat and the 3 outside cat...and I hate cats, my sisters dogs, my moms birds.  I have to cook and kinda clean up the house, get the mail and paper and mow(which I like doing anyway). I need to quit whining don't I.  I also kinda can't stand just being out here all day, so I'll go to town and do stuff I normally wouldn't do(like walk around in walmart) to pass the time and play disc golf and workout.
3. Funny: I just now thought of this because of tonight's blog title.  What if robbers really did break into my house and I set up traps everywhere to defend my home?  How cool would that be, albeit unrealistic?  I'd prolly just call the cops, but it's cool to think like a little kid a couple times a day.

Link of the day: I've gone to far...I gotta do it now.
Thanks for reading
McKinley

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit....or whatever floats your boat.

Lots of meaningful blogging going on in Plantersville, MS this evening.  I have been thinking about this specific blog for a while but I just haven't really wanted to do this one late at night....I wanted to have a clear head and plenty of time to do it in.  Today, I'm doing my blog on religion.  Before you get immediately defensive about your beliefs, just hear me out.  I have been trying to become a better Christian for a while now.  I had the best conversation about it with my buddy Will at lunch the other day.  He is kinda in the same path I am.  I'm the guy that if someone ask me if I'm a Christian, I'll say yes.  But realistically, its normally a defense mechanism for me because I'm not a true Christian yet.  I am not strong enough to block out all the bad things from my lifestyle....but I am getting better.  I am trying to surround myself with good people instead of the ones that drag me down.  However, I want to get to the point to where I'm comfortable around anyone and still strong in my faith.  On to Good, Bad and Funny.
Religion

1. Good: Obviously, I think it's good to have faith in a higher power.  I'm am discovering as I get older that reading the bible and paying closer attention to sermons is so rewarding.  I'm not to the level of knowing and acting as Christ would(I'll never be) but I feel like my life is more important to me with him as a part of it.  I have had trouble understanding the very opening pages of the bible but I'm catching on and want to read all of it.  I know people say to start at different places, but I want to accomplish reading the whole book, to try and grasp its full meaning.  Also, I want to find a permanent church as I settle down and get older.  It might take me a while to tour different churches, because for one I don't know where I'll be in 5 or 10 years, but I might just stick my head in your church one Sunday to see if I like it, in hopes of finding a new home.
2. Bad: The things I hate the most about religion is the arguments people get into deciding what is right and wrong.  I don't think it is a waste of time spreading the word of your religion, but when people constantly argue about religion they probably are wasting their time.  What I'm really trying to say is, people here argue over methodist vs. baptist but their are other countries that argue over it and go to war over it.  While we don't do that, it still doesn't help us coexist.  If we are strong enough in our respected faiths then we shouldn't need to worry about someone elses.  Also, I understand that I live in the Bible Belt but, I'm also not a big fan of shoving religion down someone's throat until they believe in that specific religion.  My buddy Jared Koon(who I just shared some delicious Dodge's 4th meal with) is by far the best person I know to talk about God and all things holy.  He has a way of helping me understand things that I normally wouldn't in regards to religion.  If you need someone to talk to, he's your guy.(It would be really funny if upwards of 20 people called him tomorrow about this topic)
3. Funny: I think kids church is really funny.  Kinda in a Bill Cosbyish way.  Its great that they have their own segment in church.  People are trying to teach them the word of God and in the middle of the service they just bust out talking about bubble gum when the spotlight is on them.

Link of the day: This song best describes where I'm at in my path to enlightenment.
Thanks for reading
McKinley

Hype

After watching the soccer game today between U.S. and Ghana, I couldn't help but think of doing a blog on hype.  What is hype?  Hype to me, is when there is alot of media or local buzz/interest about a fresh or new situation.  For instance:  You could say that there is a ton of hype about the World Cup right now or getting Iced!(I'm not sure what this means but I've seen a lot of tweets about it....someone please fill me in....not that I'm ever gonna buy Smirnoff Ice)  On to Good, Bad and Funny.
Hype

1. Good: Obviously, hype helps get the message out about things that we all want to know.  For instance, when news breaks and it has something to do with National Security then I want to know what's going on.  Or if there is a major tornado in the area I'm in, I want to know about it.  With today's media, you can find out when stuff happens much quicker than you used to could.  Also, the hype I love is before a big athletic event.  Specifically the promotional video right before the game starts, check the link of the day for more on this.
2. Bad: I personally am not a fan of hype.  The words "blown out of proportion" come into my head immediately pop in my head when I hear national news about something obscene.  Example: When Michael Jackson passed away(I swear news channels talked about this for months.), or the smear campaigns that both of the past presidential candidates ran(what a joke).  The reason people believe a lot of the stuff they hear in the media or through word of mouth,  is because they want the approval of the person that said it or the approval of their friends.  Most try to make an opinion that they hear on the news sound like it's there opinion so that they look smarter on the topic, thus attempting to gain respect from their peers...what a joke.  Also, people leave Tim Tebow alone.  I don't see how someone can not like this guy.  No matter what he does, he has tons of critics.  But to me, all he has done is excel at the thing he loves the most and that is football and proven that he is very strong in his faith.  I think the reason people don't like him is because he's always interviewed.  If you people are looking for someone to blame, blame the guy holding the microphone, not the one talking into it.
3. Funny: I love watching people put themselves in the middle of hype.  For instance, if two people are fighting after school, there will always be a few guys that have the low down on why and who won and what not.  Also the hype before a basketball game is hilarious.  I love how there is always one section outcrunking everyone else in the gym or arena.

Link of the day: Click Here, Or here or herefor all  your hype up needs.  2 is my favorite but I'm biased.
Thanks for reading

McKinley

Road Trips

Just a few hours ago I got back from Millington, TN from a baseball tournament.(I know I bashed the city of Dyersburg and now I have to say that Millington is just as bad.....I guess I'm just not a fan of the northwestern part of Tennessee.  However, I made it there and back safely in my newly repaired car.  I'm jacked about this because I have also made recent trips to Memphis and Starkville as well.  Anyhow, I am blogging about road trips today because it just seemed fitting.  On to Good, Bad and Funny.
Road Trips

1. Good: I'm a huge fan of road trips.(especially when you are between the ages of 11-25...broad I know)  I think with road trips as anything else, the people you go with make the journey.  For instance: I loved going places with my parents when I was younger, like Disney World.  I thoroughly enjoyed high school road trips with my boys...unison singing in the car came at a premium.(Koon on the bass, me tenor, most everyone else melody...but we all chipped in to make a surprisingly good sound.)  I think the best road trip though, is the unexpected one.  Just in the past 8 months, I've been to Dallas twice, Nashville once and Tuscaloosa once....and all but one of those was on a whim.  My favorite trip this year: going to watch my boy Jon Jon in a long drive competition in Dallas...absolute blast.  
2. Bad:  Obviously, going on a trip can be long and boring.  I vaguely remember going to see my Aunt Margaret when I was younger in the hills of Tennessee.....but I remember it.  I wanted no part of this trip but my parents made me go.  There was nothing to do at her house, it smelled funny, all there was to eat was ambrosia salad and other grown up food and there were no other kids on the trip.  Also, I think the whole saying of SB (enter year here) is kind of played out, so people quit saying it.  That's another thing.  Spring Break trips to the Florida Panhandle are so overrated.  Our part of the country needs a new hot spot travel destination.
3. Funny: Road trips are where I've heard or seen some of the funniest things ever.  95% of it takes place in the vehicle, gas stations or fast food joints.  I could sit here all day and tell you some of the funny things that have happened to me on road trips...but it would literally take like 2 hours so I'll pass.  

Link of the day: Nadda, I'm a slacker the past 2 days here.....sorry...its not like anyone looks at these things anyway
Thanks for reading
McKinley

Wipe your brow

I know I said in yesterdays blog that I would bring the thunder today with an awesome topic.  That is not the case late tonight.  I've been busy and not busy and unmotivated to blog all day.  But I gotta do it.  I had like 30 different really good topics run through my head the last few days but I want to do really good on them so I haven't put in the serious time to write a good one and for that I apologize.  It's 11:20 pm and I gotta be up at 6 so this one will be short and sweet.  One thing that has been consistent with me the past 2 days(well and the past 2 months for that matter) is sweat.  I sweat pretty heavily(everyone does in this climate....but I'm the guy that can't wear gray shirts because of sweat).  On to Good, Bad and Funny.
Sweat

1. Good: I'm not a doctor but I think sweat is actually good for you.  I think it's the body's way of reacting to heat.(Someone feel free to correct me on this.)  If you are not sweating in summer heat,(well at least in the south) then something is probably wrong with you.  Also to think outside the box, I feel like sweat shows how hard someone has worked for something. Example: Kind of confusing but it looks like this guy just worked hard on a gig......Is that Johnny Depp? 
2. Bad: Obviously, sweat makes you feel nasty.  There is nothing worse than not having a change of clothes after sweating through a tshirt.  The worst thing about sweat to me is when I was in high school, I had P.E. early in the morning and class the rest of the day.  Because I always played hard, I sweated a bunch.  I never took a change of clothes and there was no way I was going to use the locker room shower, so I just had to wear my sweat throughout the rest of my day. 
3. Funny: I have to mention these two guys or todays blog would be incomplete.  Mike Draper and Davis Potter are the two sweatingest human beings on this planet.  If you ever have to guard them in a game of pickup basketball(which is a task in itself because they are both very talented) then you better give them some space because their shirts really are soaking wet and it is just icky to get another human beings sweat on you.

Link of the day: No link today....I mean come on todays blog was on sweat...how weak right?
Thanks for reading
McKinley

Reunited and it feels so good

Last night about 10 o'clock I got news from my oldest friend in the world that he would be in town for a few days.  Instead of staying in Starkville last night like I planned, I drove home immediately so that I could watch that stunning soccer game this morning.  We had so much world cup fever that we went to Dicks and I bought a replica ball and then we went to Ballard Park and acted like soccer superstars.  We were acting just like a bunch of 10 year olds.  Our day continued with a round and a half of disc golf.  Then we went to his house and hit foam golf balls for a while and his momma cooked for us.  I'm telling you....I had a bowl of peach cobbler with ice cream on it that I might talk about for years.  No one even really wants the peaches in cobbler.  We wound up watching that awesome College World Series game that TCU won.  We caught pieces of that half a day long tennis match.  No one will have to rock those 2 guys to sleep tonight.  It was just an all around good day that ended with us conversating in the living room with his parents.  No Good, Bad and Funny tonight because I really don't feel like blogging on reunions and there was no real concrete topic today.  Just wanted to tell a story.

Anyway thanks for reading and I'll bring the thunder tomorrow with an awesome topic(Don't hold me to that)
McKinley

Dissapointment

It didn't take a lot of thinking to come up with a blog topic for today.  I'll just explain what happened to me last night.  As you know probably know right now I'm a big competitor and my church's team played for the Tupelo Mayors Cup trophy last night.  I really wanted to win this because our team has yet to accomplish this yet.  Anyway, we played Auburn Baptist Church in the winners bracket final and won 15-3.  This put us in the catbirds seat to win it all at 8.  Well, I found out that we had to be beaten just once in the championship game instead of twice....which I thought sucked because it was supposed to be a double elimination tournament and we didn't get rewarded for winning 3 straight games.  To further add to this, Auburn beat us in the Championship game 16-4.  To futher add to that, they used an illegal bat in the first inning, where they scored 12 of their 16 runs.  The bat was taken out and they couldn't use it anymore.  So after the game, I had to go to the press box to protest the illegal bat and try to get a forfeit win.  This tugged at me pretty bad, because I found out that one of our players used an illegal bat in the first game when we beat Auburn.  Now I'm in a tight spot, because between all the drama(players cussing each other, people yelling) that went down last night I don't know that I want any part of it anymore.  I'll probably protest tomorrow morning because I don't want my team to be mad at me, but I think we all lost something in this fiasco.  We forgot that we were playing in a Church Softball game and that we should have been representing our respected churches and Jesus himself instead of just trying to win.  I think I learned a great lesson in defeat last night and I really grew as a person, but to say I'm not dissapointed would be a lie.  On to Good, Bad and Funny.
Dissapointment

1. Good: Like I previously said, I learned something last night even though I was unhappy with it's result.  Even though it's cliche the quote that "What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger" is true in my opinion.  I am a much better person today than I have ever been.  Some of that comes with maturity, but if I have to give credit to dissapointments in my life.  Remember, when you are at your lowest, the only you can go is up.
2. Bad: Obviously no one likes to be down and out.  The immediate feeling of a dissapointment sucks.  I can't help but think of this guy.  I don't have any advice for people that are dissapointment, except for let God do his work and stay the course, good things are bound to happen to you.
3. Funny: The funniest thing to me about dissapointment is what is on the radio when you get in your car after a dissapointment.  It seems like all radio stations are in cahoots to play a completely saddening song.  For instance: If you just break up with your girlfriend, you don't want to hear Rascal Flatts "What Hurts the Most" on your way home. 

Link: This is great....this and other stuff like this chokes me up

Thanks for reading,
McKinley

Lowering your Ears

I'm am inspired by today's blog because in less than 2 hours, I'll look brand new.  Not totally but I am getting a haircut.  I'm pretty much know exactly what I'm gonna get done.....1 and 1/2 fade....just not army style.  I usually go to Central Barber Shop in Tupelo.  I'd say that they are responsible for 94% of the haircuts I've had in my lifetime.  Anyway on to Good, Bad and Funny.
Haircuts

1. Good:  Like I said, I get my haircut at Central Barber Shop and there are many reasons why. They include: low prices, quality work, good conversation and good candy post-haircut.  Most of the guys in that particular barber shop and other barbershops across the country are pretty good guys.  You can talk about anything to them.(Well not anything but conversation is pretty open there.)  While I love getting my haircut by one of these guys, I did let a woman cut my hair for the first time(at least that I'd payed for) in my life.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  She really did a good job.  I really like the part where they wash your hair.  If I would have known she was gonna do that then I would just go let her wash my hair everyday for a couple of bucks. 
2. Bad: A lot of the time, barbers and stylist take way too long to cut my hair.  Some people are ok with this but I get the same haircut every time I go.  It shouldn't take more than fifteen minutes to give me a fade.  Also, I know I bragged about the conversation at my barber shop but the dialogue at the salon I went to in Starkville was a bit too much for me.  I don't need to know who's daughter has been fooling around with the Judges son.  Also don't let a person that is nervous cut your hair.  I went with my mom once when I was younger and my right sideburn was 2 inches higher than my left.  Lastly, women most of you who are willing to pay upwards of 75$(I've heard up to 150-200$) for a haircut, look good enough to where most guys aren't worried about how your hair looks. 
3. Funny: Most of the time, women are allowed in barbershops.  A lot of the time, they choose not to be there.  I understand the second option here because if you have ever been to Central Barber Shop 30 minutes or so before they close, the old men....let's just say let loose with their words.  It's hilarious to me and I'm not going to give an example but, if you need a haircut go up there about 4:45 and see if you don't walk out laughing.

Link of the Day: Two great haircut scenes from movies. Click Here and Here
Thanks for Reading
McKinley

My Father's Eyes

It's pretty obvious what I was going to blog on today.  Father's Day or just fathers or my father.....Duuuhhhh you get the point.  I kind of like days like this(nationally celebrated days) because I can think a tad ahead and hopefully turn out a pretty good blog.  Well, let's get to know my dad.  I really don't have the time or patience to type his entire bio, but most of you know that he owns Holland Funeral Home(once Western Connection), he's been a State Representative for I think 27 years, he's a part-time farmer(or so he says....let's just say he likes mowing and stuff) and he has recently lost 120 or so pounds thanks to lap-band surgery a few years ago.  On to Good, Bad and Funny.
Fathers

1. Good: Some good qualities about my dad: He is a relentless worker,(I really don't know anyone who works harder at what they do....He's one of those old school dads that finds something to do if his to-do list is checked off...which is never)....anyhow he's taught me the importance of hard work and for that I'm forever grateful, He has always made sure I've had food on the table and have a vehicle(well sometimes not a safe ride) to drive, and lastly he is an absolute good time.  He can have fun with anyone.  It doesn't matter if you are black, white, green, blue, democrat, republican, methodist, baptist, state fan, ole miss fan.  If you are going to invite anyone that can mesh with a crowd, it's my dad.
2. Bad: I know I said that he is a relentless worker and man do I mean it.  He hardly has time for anything so when we get a chance to spend a moment with each other, we usually take it.  Sometimes it comes with a work ordeal.  For instance: the other day I had to take him to a mechanic and funeral home and I guess you would say my reward for it was checking out my ancestors old neighborhood and graves on Palmetto Rd. past Verona.(Doesn't seem like a great time to most, and I wasn't thrilled about it at first but once I did it I was glad because I think we should all figure out where we come from.)  Lastly, we don't really see eye to eye on much.  For instance: I'm a sports guy and he's not, he likes politics and I don't, he likes funerals and I don't....yadda yadda yadda but we make it work.
3. Funny:  There are plenty of funny things about my dad.  One, is the way he dresses.  He can definitely look dapper at times, but some times he wears the funkiest old clothing that usually widows give him after their husbands die.(Seriously)  I'm by no means a fashion guru but he just really looks like he doesn't have a clue what to wear sometimes.  For instance: My favorite Steve Holland combo is cut off green tank top, jorts and flip flops.  Also he has a million sayings(exaggerated). Like he says everyone's middle name is wayne.(Or at least he refers to them as that...even females)  He also has little sayings like: "Nashville is about the most fun I've had with my pants on".  Lastly, his knowledge of anything new is completely whack.  For instance: One day he came in my room about 5 years ago and I was playing a football video game.  He sat down beside me and said "Who's playing?"....I played along and said "MSU and Nebraska"....he then said "You mean to tell me we play Nebraska this year, why didn't any of us go".....Finally I said "Dad you've got to be kidding me, it's a Wednesday night in August(not even football season) and I have a controller in my hand. ITS A VIDEO GAME!!!!"...He then said "Well that beats all I've ever seen, it looks so real".  

Link of the day: A little Clapton never hurt anyone

Love you Dad and thanks for reading everyone,
McKinley

"I was walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale"

I'm really enjoying this weekend.  Our baseball team is doing very good and I'm having a good time spending time with my oldest sister and my brolaw(term he coined last night....that I know of).  After racking my brain for a blog topic today, I just decided, why not do my blog on the City of Memphis.  On to Good, Bad and Funny.
Memphis

1. Good: I like any place that is pretty passionate about their sports.  While the Grizzlies aren't very good, they're close to it.  The Redbirds are good, and they have the nicest minor league baseball park in the country.  There will always be places that have delicious food in any big city, and Memphis is no different.  This city has excellent barbeque and, probably, my favorite place to eat ever, has a restaurant in Memphis: Texas De Brazil(Don't ever take a date here, it's like 50 a person, but so worth it if you don't mind buying Pepto Bismol in bulk for a week..  Beale Street is like no other.(I've had one of my top 3 forgettable nights/moments in Pat O'Briens Bar.) 
2. Bad: Ummmm....I hate to put anyone's hometown down, so I'll just say that I'm cautiously optimistic when I'm in Memphis.  Thanks to 3-6 mafia, people not from here, see Memphis as the place where you don't start anything.  While I don't think it's smart to start jawing with anyone anywhere, Memphis does seem like its on another level.  I mean, yesterday my sister referred to the Mall of Memphis as the Mall of Murder and a cop stopped me to say that I almost hit him when I clearly was sitting on idle.  His exact words: "Did you not f****** see me? You almost hit me.  Watch where the f*** your'e going."  My reaction: "Sorry officer"(In prepubescent voice).  Also, this town is the exact opposite of easy on the eyes.  No one seems to take pride in making their streets clean.
3. Funny: I find it kinda funny how people(myself sometimes) overeact to how dangerous neighborhoods are in Memphis.  For instance: I've had a guy tell me before. "Don't ever look anywhere but right in front of you if you are driving on South Lamar.  You'll get shot."  Because I'm a big head nod guy while driving, I brushed this comment to the side and said "whatever man".  I also think it's funny how many foreigners still think the world of Elvis.  I don't actually know how bad it is here, but in Tupelo the Swedish people that come for Elvis fest think it's like touring the Parthenon when they are at his small house he was born into.  I can't imagine how bad it gets at Graceland.

Link of the Day:  Because I put a really cheesy title and am in a cheesy mood

Thanks for reading
McKinley

Ask your parents if you can stay?

A little down time right now between games in Memphis has given me the opportunity to blog.(Understatement actually: We were supposed to play at 1230 and 8 but our noon opponent didn't show up)  I pretty much knew what I was gonna blog about when I woke up this morning.  I stayed at some buddies house in Oxford last night, so I could shorten my drive up here and be able to watch the World Cup game this morning.(such a dissapointing tie and not because of the referees.)  I'm probably gonna stay with my sister in Memphis tonight because we play at 10 and 3 tomorrow(Sweet scheduling Memphis Tigers- 4 games...well 3 in 24 hours....nice) Anyway today's blog is on sleepovers.  On to Good, Bad and Funny.
Sleepovers

1. Good: While I'm too old to really call staying at someone elses house a sleepover, I can't help but enjoy doing it.  Just being in another family's home even if for one night is a whole different element.  You become accustomed to how they do things if you are there a lot.  For instance: If you are at Will Klines residence, you can pretty much expect his father Sam to be watching Cops or Intervention at some point in an evening and his mother Missy to have a meal prepared or doing a Sudoku puzzle from the days paper, if you are at Jared Koons house you can expect his mother Teresa to have plenty of bottled water in the fridge and usually something baked.  You come to expect these things so it's almost normal for you to be there.  As for having friends over to stay(well at least through teen years and high school), these are some of the most fun nights of your life.(to me at least)  Back in the day, if you ever spent the night at my house, you could always expect to get into a little mischief. You might go roll a yard, or light a dog poo bag on fire on someones doorstep, or prank calling people, or play basketball til 3 am or listen to loud music all night.  One of the best things about a sleepover is the "late night convo"(term my friends and I coined in high school) at the end of every night that we came to expect.  I would like to especially thank my parents and neighbors on Polk St. for being so kind as to let us do any of this. It mainly all happened because they all could sleep through anything.  We never got one complaint from them.
2. Bad: There is always that night where your parents just say "No and thats final"...."You can't have company and you can't stay anywhere".  This is usually because you have to be somewhere at 8 in the morning and they don't want you up all night.  I get it, but man did it make me mad back then.
3. Funny: Theres always that guy that will attempt to stay at your house then call his mom to come get him at midnight because he is homesick. These guys use the same excuse every time: "Man my stomach hurts."  It's best not to call them a liar and tell them that they are homesick because it could ruin a friendship, but if it becomes a recurring trend then other people will find out that that guy is uninvitable to stay over.

Link of the day:  I couldn't come up with a great link that relates to sleepovers so I'll just leave you with this and this.  Read the comments on the first link and admire the work in the second.
Thanks for reading,
McKinley

Means of Transportation

I'm absolutely ecstatic today.   I mean there's World Cup action, the U.S. Open is on, the NBA Finals Game 7 is tonight, church softball playoffs, baseball tournament in Memphis this weekend.  However none of these things makes me more happy than the fact that I picked up my 1996 Chevy Blazer from Benny Hankins Auto Shop today.  While this might not be a big deal to many, it's huge for me.  Over the last 2 months or so, I've bummed a ton of rides and driven at least 10 different vehicles from family and friends as a way of getting around.  While I wasn't too happy with the cost of repair, I'm thrilled that my car is finally healthy and safe to drive.  On to Good, Bad and Funny.
Means of Transportation

1. Good:  What is not good about having a way to get around?  Could you imagine before the early 1900's when the best you could do would be a carraige or riding a horse?(Riding a horse everywhere would be cool I admit.)  
2. Bad: I'm not one for flash.  I don't really understand why people buy cars that look like this or this.  I think that most of the people that buy really expensive cars are rich and want to show off their money or are poor and put more money into their car then they do their house.  I just a "car that gets me from a to b kinda guy".(In my dream scenario I would have a car that resembles a salty second baseman, like Former Atlanta Brave Mark Lemke....not gonna ever hit 30 home runs but is a good contact hitter and reliable defender and plays hard)
3. Funny: Just to further explain my entire family's care about what our cars look like, you remember when your parents used to drop you off at school?  Well my dad used to have a 1981 Chevrolet Caprice Classic( like this except for white with only 2 hubcaps).  When he had to drop me off or pick me up in public, it was downright embarrassing.  However, he loved the car(up until the day it got stolen...that's what he gets for leaving his car unlocked with the keys in it...still does actually...crazy)

Link of the Day: Because I'm talking about cars today, I leave you with a great song from Alan Jackson

Thanks for reading
McKinley

Immigration

Pretty easily inspired for today's blog.  This morning, I traveled with my family to Memphis, TN to the Office of Homeland Security to see my brother(foster-brother really but we're past that label) become an Official American Citizen.  We started this crazy journey 17 years ago and it was the best decision our family has ever made.  Haiwei was born in China, his father died at an early age and then he moved with his mother to a Dutch speaking island in South America.(I know bogus right)  His mother then sent him to live with her sister(might not be accurate here) Alice in Tupelo.  He join my multi-age(3rd-4th grade combined...sickest kickball team ever me, will, t, haiwei, and brent gray...you didn't want it) classroom when I was in 3rd grade.  Of course we were all fascinated by his physical stature(biggest chinese 4th grader ever...save for Yao) and just because he was of a different culture.  He spoke no English and of course we always tried to get him to say something in chinese...but he wouldn't.  One day, he and I were at the computer station for fun time(or whatever the teachers called it..pretty much inside recess) and we both went straight to the Oregon Trail icon.(miss that game...my character always died of cholera by the time the wagon reached Montana)  Out of nowhere, he spoke to me.  I can't remember exactly what he said but I think I was the first American he spoke to.(His case is one of the most impressive displays of learning I've ever seen...He taught himself English)  After this, we began to have conversation together.(albeit in random areas away from recess...it probably looked like we were trying to smuggle drugs or smoke cigarettes we were so far away from everyone else.)  Anyway........my parents took him in as a foster child during 6th grade.  He has since been just like a regular family member to all of us.  He now has a almost 5 year old rugrat named Emma(pain in the rear end) and is a full time employee at China Capital.  So finally I say congrats Haiwei...We are proud of you.  On to Good, Bad and Funny.
Immigration

1. Good:  Our country is known as the land of opportunity.  If you could see the look on some of these peoples faces this morning when they gained their citizenship, you wouldn't be able to help but be happy for them.  I would say that at least half of our countries immigrants came from less fortunate backgrounds and I for one am happy to share our great country with them.  After all, immigration did bring me my brother.
2. Bad:  Obviously we can become overpopulated.  People coming here illegally doesn't help anything.  It is my hope that they are all here to at least earn an honest living.  This might be a little harsh to say but: if you have seen the movie Traitor(if not you should...it's a thriller) then you could see why I would be a little worried about people immigrating to our country.  Also, immigration is the reason we have such long holdups at the airport and other random security checks in my opinion.(Its understandable though.)  What I hate is when they check a 90 year old woman from Pigsknuckle, Arkansas's shoes to see if she has weapons or bombs.  I mean come on.
3. Funny:  Kind of off topic but the language barrier is hilarious to me.  For instance: When Haiwei was still learning English he still had trouble with simple American phrases like instead of saying "What time is it?" he'd say "How many o'clock?" and he called my odometer my speedomonitor.  He used to call me Mac Cheeseburger and had the funniest way of saying roast beef.  Also, when we started playing church basketball together...people were amazed that he could ball.  Of course he was 2 feet taller than everyone else at the time.  I swear he has been 6ft tall for 15 years.

Link of the Day: While I don't have footage yet of todays ceromony this is what it was like kinda

Thanks for reading
McKinley

Can I get some more water?

After a lovely breakfast this morning at Cracker Barrel(This might be a favorite restaurant of mine), I have decided to do today's blog on waiters/waitresses.  On to Good, Bad and Funny
Waiters/Waitresses

1. Good: I have never been a waiter in my life, but I do understand that it is a more difficult job than most realize.  You are solely in charge of making sure someone's dining experience is satisfactory.  I would say that it would be hard to imagine eating at a restaurant without table service but I can't because of buffets.  A good waiter/waitress(IMO) is one that just makes sure your glasses stay filled and is polite.  Pretty simple, but I'm not gonna ask the world of one of them.  They are the ones that always get the blame no matter how demanding the customer is, how busy they are or how bad the kitchen screws up an order.(Definitely don't do this act like this customer at a restaurant....don't watch this if you have a weak stomach)  I'm usually a 18% to 20% tipper everywhere.
2. Bad: A bad waiter/waitress to me, is one that has no interest in being at work and takes out their emotions on customers.  90% of the time you can tell by the look on their faces how your service is going to be.  Another thing that I don't understand is when they say "is this going to be together or seperate".  You normally say can you split it up or divide the appetizer between all of us.  They can every time(I think), but they either give you a look like "really?" or say "I'll try".
3. Funny: The funniest thing to me is how a waiter/waitress tries to become apart of your dining experience.  You get the feeling that they want to sit down and hang out with you instead of serving you food.  I've got a prime example that happened just this morning.  This guy(god bless him he was just trying to make it.....he works from 7-3 and takes class at night so I really respect that.) this morning really just wouldn't quit making my breakfast about him.  He told us about his biology test he had to take later, his diet(usually sushi, fish or other red meat), the drink he mixes when he gets off work(I think he called it a Summer Sunset and said he made it up...it sounded disgusting) and in general just wouldn't leave me and my comrade alone to eat our breakfast.  Maybe he needs a friend and hopefully we were a bright spot on his shift but, was a to go orange juice and lemonade necessary after we'd already told him we didn't want it.  

Link of the day: This movie is so hilarious...and underrated

Thanks for reading
McKinley

Let's meet in the middle

After perusing through channels this morning, it was pretty easy for me to come up with a blog topic for today.  How I got here?  I cut on the TV and jeopardy(such a great show that will keep your mind sharp even when you're done with school) was on.  One of the categories was Presidential campaign slogans.  When it went to commercial, I channel surfed til I landed on the movie Frost/Nixon.  I've seen it before but I wanted to watch the end again.  After about 10 minutes of deep thought, I decided to do today's blog on Politics.  This word is nothing new to me as my father has been a politician for 26 years(I think).  On to Good, Bad and Ugly.
Politics

1. Good: As I've grown up over the years, I've realized that this is probably the most important aspect of our countries government.  We decide who will make our decisions for us with elections(seems like there is one every few months).  To me the only thing that is good about politics is that it's pretty cut and dry in today's media, where big political figures stand.  This helps when deciding who you're gonna vote for.
2. Bad: Warning: This section is going to be really long.  To me, Politics have absolutely ruined this country.  As you get older, you now have to come with a label.  The question you always have to answer: Are you a Republican or a Democrat?  I absolutely hate this.  We always pre-judge people that are largely associated with one of these parties.  I personally am a proud Independent, despite my father being a card carrying Democrat.  I differ with some of the ideas that both Republicans and Democrats have.  I just can't understand why we all can't take every issue one at a time and come to more rational decisions as one party(or nonpartisan) to help make our country a better place.  It's an absolute joke to me how people in both parties act a year before and a year after Presidential elections.  Some of the stuff I've heard about both of the main candidates in the last Presidential election is absolutely absurd.  My question is this: Did we make the right decision?  Some will say yes and others will say no.  So with this line of thinking going on after every election, you can't really say we as a country have ever made the right decision when it comes to electing a president.  People will always blame the present president's problems on the past president.  This is why I'm undecided on the next time I'll vote in a major election.  After all, I've hardly ever personally known anyone that I've voted for.  I've voted for my dad before just because he is my dad.  I've also voted against people who my father has voted for.  Without being able to form our own opinions, instead of listening to others and just hopping on the bandwagon because other people are voting for a certain person, I don't think we'll ever get it right.  For the record, I think the last two presidents were elected because everyone just said yeah man vote for him, the other guy sucks.  And I wouldn't doubt if our next president is elected by the same means.  We all need to quit picking sides and just meet in the middle. Remember  also people, 95% of politicians(personal opinion) don't really care about you when they are campaigning, they just want your vote.  I can't recall how many times I've ran into politicians for a second time and they don't even remember who I am.  It's because when I talked to them the first time, they were just trying to get elected.  In reality, good people will be good people and bad people will be bad people, so be careful when you are picking a party or voting for someone.  Fwhew, told you that was gonna be long. 
3. Funny:  Now that my rant is over, this movie trailer should lighten the mood.  This movie turned out to be pretty non partisan in the end, so I like it. 

Link of the Day: We elccted these guys....howard dean hahah byaah!

Thanks for reading
McKinley

Structure

Today's blog will be about structure.  I thought about this because this morning and yesterday morning I realized the difference of how my life plays out when I've got structure and when I don't.  We have to check out of our hotel room by 11am so I'll make this short and sweet.  On to Good, Bad and Funny.
Structure

1. Good: For someone like me, structure is they biggest factor of how I get things done.  I'm usually a big procastinator but as of today I have good structure.(It's evident in how early my blogs have been these last two days....morning posts instead of midnight)  If you've got structure, everything else will take care of itself.  For me to have perfect structure, I need to be asleep by midnight(difficult) and awake by 8am at the latest(not as difficult).  I need to eat 3 meals a day.  When I've got structure I eat much healthier.  I also scratch more things off of my to do list(I still have old to-do-lists in my wallet from 4 to 6 months ago)  Lastly, I'm generally more pleasant to be around when I've got structure(although I try to be pleasant at all times).
2. Bad: Peer pressure can really screw up a good structure.  I need to become more strong willed in saying no to doing things that will screw up my structural routines such as: going out with friends when I really don't want to(this happens to me all the time...I'm not a big goer outer anyway.  I'd much rather just be at a low key get together...but it's fun occasionally.), eating at places that I know I can't eat healthy at(i.e. fast food), committing to an activity when I should be doing something productive(example: watching a ball game instead of working out or my newly found duty of gardening for my mother.)  When I've got structure, I can manage to do some of these things without really damaging my daily routine anyway.
3. Funny: I'll explain a typical day of what happens in the bad section on say....a weekend in Starkville from this past semester.  Say it's Friday and I've eaten right all week and had good workouts and finished all homework for the week.  My plans are to maybe go see a movie, go to a State basketball game and clean my room for the weekend.(not exactly a daunting to do list).  Well I will get talked into going out on Friday, sleeping til almost gametime on Saturday forcing myself to grab something quick and unhealthy to eat before the game, being lazy after the game and not going to sleep til 3 am on Saturday, then doing kind of the same thing Sunday.  See for me, it only takes one friend saying...Dude come on lets go out.

Link of the day: Healthy Lifestyle choices and Good sleeping habits.

I hope you got something out of this if you read it
Thanks for reading
McKinley

Talent

I woke up this morning to a surprisingly solid breakfast at the Comfort Inn in Dyersburg, TN.(Belgian Waffle Maker = Me Smiling)  Anyway, I'm watching the World Cup right now before we go to our 11am game and I am getting an opportunity to see the consensus best player(on talent alone...Lionel Messi) in the world play this morning.  This made me think up a blog topic: Talent.  Everyone has one.  Some of mine(not trying to boast, we should all be proud of ourselves for something): surprising athleticism, singing so I've heard(but I think it's more that I can sound like artists....I do enjoy the sound of my own voice singing though), Wheel of Fortune/Mystery Phraze(Same game) puzzle solving(me and my boy Koon will wreck a top score machine with just a few bucks), educating youngsters(whether it be for teaching or coaching, I have alot of confidence in myself to be really good at this) and as of the last two years cooking.(I'm still not that good, but I'm so proud of the gravy I made the other night out of leftover grease, flour, water and garlic.)  On to Good, Bad and Ugly.
Talent

1. Good: Like I said earlier, all of us are talented in someway whether we know it or not.  I highly recommend finding your talent(if it's hidden) and having confidence about sharing it with others.  As it relates to sports, fanatics love watching games and a lot of it has to do with player talent.  I love watching Lebron go off, or an awesome musical performance. 
2. Bad: Talent can get to peoples heads and prevent them from working hard towards reaching their goals.  I can't imagine how many professional athletes use drugs and just go through the motions day in and day out.  These people think they are so talented that they can just show up and play at the highest level.  This is why its so fun to root for underdogs, because 95% percent of the time they know that they have to work harder to best their opponent.  Also I would just like to say that agents of celebrities are obviously misleading them about their talent, because in my opinion, too many actors and musicians get a lot of roles for movies and record deals when they are not very talented(i.e. Matthew McConaughy, Keanu Reeves, Nicolas Cage, Nickleback, Hinder)  There agents are obviously just interested in making money.
3. Funny: It's really funny to me how people on American Idol really think they can sing only for the world to find out at their audition that they can't.  Their excuse when they don't make the cut to Hollywood: "Everyone I know back home tells me I can sing"  "I know I can sing, you people don't know nothing about good music"  I also love when someone's talent is impersonations or making strange sounds.(I swear my buddy Bucky can sound just like a hoot owl...coolest thing ever)  Oh and by the way I found this out(even though it's not a talent) from my 10th grade A & P teacher Eddie McCaskill that there is no such thing as being double jointed...so if someone tells you that you can tell them.  Don't steal their thunder though.  Tell them it's cool that they are that flexible.

Link of the day: oh yeah here's that guy I was mentioning in my first paragraph....he's really really good
Thanks for reading
McKinley

Every four years we all agree on one thing....

Blogging to you live from Dyersburg, Tennessee Comfort Inn(Can't believe this dump has Wifi) I've decided to do today's blog on The World Cup, since it started today.  I love this tournament...for that matter I love any tournament...I'm at one right now.....I should probably go ahead and do this blog on tournaments but I'll save it for another day.  Oh I forgot...World Cup that's right...Special Props to the homestanding underdogs South Africa(or Bafana Bafana if your a soccer nut) gaining a tie with Mexico, a team that's ranked 13th in the world to their 50th.  I couldn't be more excited about the USA vs. England game tomorrow.(Our boys will have to be at their best for us to have a shot.)  On to Good, Bad and Ugly.
The World Cup

1. Good: This is THE sporting event.  It's bigger than the super bowl and world series.  To be quite honest, there is nothing more associated worldwide as a single event that is more important to our planets inhabitants.  This tournament gives its participating countries people something to be apart of.  You could see it on the faces of the home fans of South Africa today.  .It's especially great for countries who are not as fortunate as others.  The tournament itself boasts the worlds best players.  Watch out for that Lionel Messi(Argentina) this year.  He's unbelievable.  I'm excited about the young crop of players the U.S. has on board for now and for the future.  Just watching how the pools play out and listening to the english color commentary guys is worth watching.  I love how they have seperate terms for stuff.
2. Bad: Some countries take this tournament too seriously.  They have riots and people get injured and some even die just because a countries fans are mad because their team is put out.  I guess it's understandable that they would put such an emphasis on winning since other countries don't have mainstream professional sports like we do in the U.S., but that is a little excessive. 
3. Funny: I think it's funny talking to the casual American guy that thinks he is the end-all be-all of soccer information.  Especially when that guy is from Mississippi.  Speaking of which, I think it's funny talking to old people about soccer.  It's like speaking Japanese to them.  They don't have one care in the world about soccer.  If I brought up soccer when my dad's side of the family meets up for holiday meals, then I'd probably be disowned by many uncles.

Link of the Day: Click here for all your world cup 2010 needs

Thanks for reading and Go USA!
McKinley

Man I Got that Swag......

Short and Sweet today.  I had about 10 different blog topics in my head this morning, but I just couldn't decide on one so I just continued on with my day and assumed I'd decide on one.  Well, turns out I didn't decide on any of the ones I was thinking of earlier.  I'm doing today's blog on swagger.  I chose this because it is my body wash brand right now.  I really like the smell of it and I don't care if you disagree, it makes me feel like I have more swagger because of the way it smells(Here is a printable coupon for a free sample).  However, this blog is about swagger, not body wash.  Let me say that before I looked it up(5 minutes ago), I didn't really know how to define swagger.  I mean I always have kind of understood it, but I never really got the true meaning of it.  The way I interpreted it from several google search definitions is it's A)How one presents him or herself to the world B) How a person handles a sitiuation C) A unique style that seperates one person from large conglomerate of people and D) To walk or conduct oneself with an insolent or arrogant air; strut.  That's out of the way so let me give you my interpretation of swagger in Good, Bad and Funny.
Swagger

1. Good: I think swagger is only good to have when you are not trying to impress, as weird as that sounds.  For instance: Accidentally saying something funny to a group of people.  They probably think you are hilarious, but in reality you just got lucky with a timely joke.  This is like a quick moment where you blackout and get your swagger.  You act coy like you say funny things all the time.  Also I think swagger is positively related to sports.  Example: A point guard slapping the floor after his team is on a 7-0 run to cut an 8 point deficit to just 1 point. Its cool how one of the above definitions says "arrogant" in it.  Because in sports, you have to flirt the line between confident and cocky to be successful at the highest level, in my opinion.  Note this doesn't mean having a correographed dance after a touchdown catch.(I can't stand that)
2. Bad: Some people are too concerned with having swagger.  Example:  Theres no need to be dressed like this just to go to school or a small get together.  If you're not enough without the swagger, you'll never be enough with it...is the point I'm trying to get across.
3. Funny: The funniest thing to me about swagger is how commonly the term is used now(mostly by rappers).  I mean seriously, do you ever remember saying the word swagger before at least 2002?

Link of the day: Here is a link for tips on gaining swagger from P.Diddy's assistant....haha read the comments

Thanks for reading
McKinley

Today is gonna be a good day.

Todays blog is about optimism.  I thought about this because I just got off the phone with my mechanic and he said there are still a few problems with my oil leaking, but that everything is fixable and it won't cost much.(I actually wish you could of heard the dialect and tone he spoke to me in(hilarious).  This is a far cry from where I was a week ago.  I didn't know the future of my 96' Blazers life and I thought I would be driving one of my dads beat up vehicles for a long time, until I could afford to buy a decent one.  The point here is, I remained optimistic that my car would be ok and it looks like that optimism has worked out for me.  I heard quote in a movie(Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle surprisingly) once that really has always stood out to me about optimism. And it is "The World tends to unfold as it should".  I interpret this as Every thing is gonna be alright.  On to Good, Bad and Funny.
Optimism

1. Good: Optimism helps me stay on an even keel.  Without it, what can we hope for?  If you are always preparing for the worst, then you'll never be able to accept the best and your expectations will be too high.(I just made that up, so let me slide on my quoting abilities)  Theres no real way of knowing if optimism helps get through things but, imagine a friend with cancer.  Theres no way(in my opinion) to fight it without being optimistic.  Optimism is so helpful when you're down in the dumps.  Because when you've hit your lowest point, you have to tell yourself that there is no way to go but up.  We've all been through this.  This is why we should be thankful for the days in our lives that are positive, because there are always gonna be bad days.
2. Bad: I'm gonna strictly dedicated the bad section of todays topic to weather.  When you are hopeful it doesn't rain it does, when farmers crops need rain..it doesn't.  Predicting and being hopeful of cooperating weather is a mystery to me.  Thankfully the man upstairs is in charge of this.  I can't imagine someone mortal being in charge of the weather.  
3. Funny: Really tough to come up with something funny about optimism.  I know one thing I can think of though.  This past sunday I was at the wellness center and the person I was with and I both were in the most lethargic mood, that it was almost laughable when a moment presented itself to be optimistic.  But I guess we all have days like that.

Link of the Day: This song will brighten your day if nothing else will. Click Here

Thats it for today, Gotta Legion game to win and I'm optimistic that we will.
Thanks for reading
McKinley

My Biggest Problem

I stubbed my toe tonight sliding into second base at our softball game.  As of right now, my foot really hurts.  This is a normal occurrence for me.  Even though I'm only 24 years old(25 in 2 months woo woo), I am an over producer of uric acid.  What does this mean you might ask?  Well...it means I have gout.  I was diagnosed at age 16 on this very day 8 years ago.  I was told by Dr. Rufaa Almhisky after 3 hours of pain and bloodwork that I had the gout.  Her reaction when the blood work and test results finally came back, "You're not going to believe this, but you have gout.  You're the youngest person ever diagnosed in this hospital with it."  My reaction: "What is gout?"  Well as I said earlier I am a over producer of uric acid.(the build up of gout)  What happens, is when I eat too many foods that are high in purines/uric acid it adds to what I've already produced and then crystalizes in my joints(usually in big toe and around the ankle) leaving no room for my bones or muscles to move.  To say its painful is an understatement.  I was told by my pediatrician(my favorite doctor) Dr. Frank Wilburn that the three most painful things a human being can go through are in order Child Birth, Appendicitis(Had it on Spring Break of 06') and Gout.(Thank the good lord that I won't have to do number 1) It is a weird pain though.  For instance: I would rather drop a book on my foot when I have gout than drag a sheet across it.  To explain what the regular pain is: It feels like when you get one of your limbs slammed in a car door...except the pain is constant.  This has drastically hampered my athletic career.  The worst foods that are the highest in purines/uric acid are: Alcohol, Pork and other red meats and proteins.  But there are weird things on the list of stuff I need to be careful with too such as: coconut, asparagus and black olives.  KNOCK ON WOOD...I haven't had a major gout flareup in over a year and a half.  I've been on a new preventative medicine for 2 years now and it seems to work good.  2 horse pills every morning though.  Also folks, don't be just too comfortable eating whatever you want.  Anyone can have an acute flareup of gout.  I dare you to drink 3 beers, eat 5 pieces of pork tenderloin, a helping of asparagus and put italian dressing all over it for dinner.  I bet you'd be stove up(great phrase old people use) the following morning.  No Good, Bad and Ugly or link tonight cause this was just kind of a story I thought about when I sat down at the computer.

Thanks for reading and watch what you eat...you'll never know if the gout might get you.
McKinley

Hahahahaha

Todays blog(Once again, really late) Comedy Movies.  I think this is going to inspire me to do tomorrows blog on being late.  Anyway, I'm doing it on comedies to continue movie blogging.  A few of my favorite comedies: Anything that Judd Apatow has directed or has had a hand in(Knocked Up, 40 Year Old Virgin, movies with those guys that are in all of the same ones like Rogen/Segel/Hill/Rudd etc...), Role Models, Tommy Boy(You can get a good look at your butcher..), Black Sheep(Farley again), Van Wilder.  On to Good, Bad and Funny
Comedies

1. Good:  Lets face it people, laughter is the best medicine.  It won't cure aids but it will definitely make you feel better.  I have a great collection of comedies listed from above.  A great thing about comedies is that they are more than likely the only genre of movies that will literally make you pee on yourself.  In my opinion, the best types of comedies are ones that don't hold anything back as far as being decent enough for the audience.  Comedies that are realistic as possible really make me laugh.  For example: I went to see I Love You Man with my boy Jon Jon.  We were the only 2 in the theater, and swore up and down to each other that how they acted in the movie is seriously how we sometimes act in real life.
2. Bad:  I don't like comedies where stuff that is very unrealistic happens.  For instance: I think The Hangover and Wedding Crashers are funny movies, but I think they are more quotable than they actually are funny.  Don't misconstrue this is me not liking these two movies but seriously, the stuff that happens in those movies could never happen.  Which makes them funny for the first few years after they come out, but they fade as time passes.  The comedies I hate the most are the ones that are(for a lack of a better word) "stupid" funny.  People say man it's so stupid it's funny.  I would put movies like Napoleon Dynamite, Tropic Thunder, any Ben Stiller movie(theres a few that are ok) and all those remedy type movies(like Not Another Teen Movie) in this category.  Once again people quote them religiously, but to me it's just not that funny.
3. Funny:  Kind of strange look I'm gonna put on the funny section of my blog today.  The funniest thing about comedies is when you make a movie a comedy that is not intended to be that way.  This applies to most movies that were made in the 80s and 90s.  If you watch them now there are so many things that you can find that are hilarious and so cheesy that its funny.  Example: Watch this.  Make sure you pay attention to the 2:23 and 2:57 marks of the video.  Great comedy meant to be serious.  Honestly, if you watch this whole video and don't laugh, then you and I do not share the same humor and I would probably consider you dull.(just kidding my dad has watched it and he didn't laugh.)

Link of the day: No Link today
Once again sorry so late and Thanks for reading,
McKinley

And the Award goes to....

Once again, really late on my blog.  I've got to get my sleep track back in order.  I'm gonna try to have tomorrows blog up in 12 hours from now....hopefully.  I decided just now to go ahead and knock out my movie blogs here in the next few days(Only 3 left).  Today I'm blogging about what I consider "great movies"  These are the movies that leave me at maximum emotion, whether it be in tears, shock, awe, happiness or whatever.  While I don't have a gun-to-my-head top 5.  There are some that I can't get out of my head when I think about great movies, and they are: The Shawshank Redemption(I just feel like I'm Andy Dufrene at the end of that movie), Forrest Gump(True southern classic...I'll love this movie til the day I die This score alone makes the movie unforgettable), Milo and Otis(Even though I hate cats, this is a true story of friendship), Avatar(Just because it is the most pleasing movie to the eye that I've ever watched), A Time to Kill(Justice is served in this movie), Miracle(So patriotic), Remember the Titans(Denzel at his best), Crash(I love the style that this movie is built in)....and way to many others to name.  Please fill me in if I've left one out that you know is my absolute jam.  On to Good, Bad and Funny.
Great Movies

1. Good: While it's obvious that all great movies have to be good before they are great, I'll list a few things that are just good about them.  I personally like to see movies like this by myself.(It doesn't matter if it's in the theater or in my own home theater...like I have a home theater)  I don't mind seeing them with a big group but I feel like I get more out of it if I'm fully focused on nothing but the movie.  I love talking up great movies to other people.  I can honestly say I've never had anyone come up to me and say "man I didn't think that was as good as you did".(Although I'm sure some people are just being nice.)  Also I think only you can be the judge of a great movie.(hence why I like seeing them by myself) If you love it, then no one can tell you it's bad.
2. Bad: There isn't much I can think of that is bad about a great movie.  I guess the only thing I can think of is when someone ruins the ending of one of your "can't wait to see" list movies.
3. Funny: The only thing funny about a great movie is how I act after I see one.  If you catch me right after a great movie, you can expose me to the fullest.  My brain is all over the place and I'm very vulnerable to criticism. (For example: The movie Seven Pounds.  I saw this in the the theater with a fairly good size group of friends(5 or 6).  I won't ruin the movie for you but let's just say Cade Hoggard and Jared Koon got a kick(always get a kick) out of my reactions to the ending.  Hint: It involves trying to not look at anyone in the eye and moistening the collar of a tshirt.

Link of the day: All you need for movie links Click here

Thanks for reading,
McKinley

America's Pastime

This is the latest I've ever done a blog.  I've been so busy today that I literally haven't had the chance to sit down and do it.  What took up most of my day was a baseball game.(Also special shout out to Paul Thorn who just put on a heck of a show at Elvis Fest).  As of this second, the Tupelo 49ers(American Legion baseball team I help coach) are a perfect 2-0.  I'm very happy with this and I am excited about our team this summer.  If I had to choose one sport to be apart of this would be it, and I'm happy to finally blog about it.  On to Good, Bad and Funny.
Baseball

1. Good: Where do I begin?  To me, baseball is the the purest sport ever played.  I love the look of the field, the sound of a mitt popping, the roar of the crowd, the camraderie of the dugout, going to the field on Friday looking for a win and I love waking up Saturday morning when you've found one and everything else about this game.  Its a simple game but also a complex one.  One of the better coaches I've been around once told me "It's a game within a game".  This is hard to understand for non baseball enthusiasts but it makes so much sense to those of us who love this game.  I've grown up around this game my whole life and I still learn something from it everyday.  I am obviously a huge MSU baseball fan(even though they're down right now, the horizon looks good).  I'm also a passionate Atlanta Braves fan.(I can still remember watching games on the living room floor with my mom when I was 5.  Can't talk about them without bringing this guy up....The Legend)  Most people think its crazy to follow one team so strongly but I think it's good for the soul to take part in something you can't control.  
2. Bad: Just like any major professional sport, baseball has it's fair share of problems: from the kid from Detroit getting his perfect game taken away the other night, to players worrying about their contracts and appearance instead of winning games, to steroids becoming so integral to a players success..  Amongst these 2 things, the one thing that gets me upset more than anything about this game is when someone disrespects it.  There are many styles and theories to how teams go about winning, but there is truly only one way to play this game.  It can't be described in a few short sentences, but effort and passion are what drive it.  If you do not love this game, you shouldn't be a part of it.(This guy knows what I'm talking about)
3. Funny: This is a wacky game.  I can't tell you how many funny stories I have a from baseball games.  You can't play this game the right way without having fun after all.  (Heres a funny video if dropped flyballs are your thing....there's just something funny about confused looks on old men's faces trying to catch a little ball.

Link of the day: This gives me goosebumps...so I give you Lou Gehrig...if you don't know the story look it up because its a good one.

This blog was much shorter than I would have liked for it to be because I could talk about it for days.(I'll probably do a follow up at some point)  But it's late and I've got to hit the hay before church tomorrow morning.
Thanks for reading
McKinley

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's just another generic marvel comics movie

Today I'll continue with my movies blog.  I figure since horror was my last movie blog, that I'll continue on with another genre that I usually don't care for: Hero/Marvel Comic Book Movies.  Since they are on such a comeback swing the past decade, I figured they at least deserve a blog.  I'm gonna go ahead and continue on to Good, Bad and Ugly.
Hero/Marvel Comic Book Movies

1. Good:  While I don't like them now, I loved them when I was a kid.  When you see one of these movies as a kid, it makes you feel like that the main hero character(s) are real.  You run out of the theater mimicking your favorite ninja turtle(I was Michaelangelo) or act like you are flying like batman.  I love that kids these days get the opportunity to see these movies, because technology and advancements in the movie making business seem to make them more enjoyable.  
2. Bad:  Note: I have many problems with this genre of movies.  I feel that along with horror movies, these are the most generic and predictable movies in today's cinematic world.(For instance: There are only so many story lines that someone can come up with for these movies to be successful.  If its the first movie of a trilogy then the first one will end with either a)the hero saving a girl and or b)the villian will appear to be dead at the end but there will be one little flicker that he/she will be back for a sequel or a whole new villain will be introduced.)  But in my opinion, that's not why people go see these movies these days.  I think they go because of the extra crap that make certain scenes...for a lack of a better word explosive.  There are always crazy explosions, new gadgets and guns, and new armored suits for heros.  And to compensate for the poor acting in these movies, all they do is make the superhero look bigger and make the villains seem more twisted thinkers(but in reality the villain still just wants to rule the world.)  I understand that these movies might be designed to attract more adults to see them, so that they can feel like a kid again.  However, I think that they have gotten so advanced with more than just the general "save the world from bad guys theme" that they might be more adult appropriate than they are for kids. (I'm giving Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter a pass because they are so well put together, and even though there is a bunch of technology used in the movies, the storylines and acting are what really grab you...Can't wait to see Deathly Hallows and The Hobbit)
3. Funny: Like I said before the acting in these movies is usually subpar.(Shame on you Don Cheadle for being in Iron Man 2....you have been such a solid actor and under the radar your whole career til now.  Please go back to being Hollywood's best unknown actor)  For instance: Michelle Rodriguez character "Trudy" in Avatar adds nothing to that movie. Seriously click here if you don't believe me, Every line she says in the movie she tries to make a catchy punchline.(However I'm also excluding this from the bad section because I thought the storyline was great and in general if you give someone 300$ million dollars to make a movie, its hard to screw up.  Another case is here: Christian Bales work as the new Batman, I mean seriously this is a joke...he takes all the credibility out of the role I loved as a child that Adam West and Michael Keaton excelled in.

Link of the Day: I'm so going to see this movie

Thanks for reading
McKinley

Just my Luck

I'm taking a break from the movie blogs because I got tired with them.  Do you ever wonder why things happen the way they do?....Why sometimes you are just in a funk and sometimes you are overjoyed?  Well, this is just life as we know it and it's hard to understand sometimes.  I'm a big believer that things happen for a reason and God has a plan for all of us, but there is a word that gets tossed around daily by people all around the world....That word is Luck.  Some are very superstitious and rely solely on luck.  Some believe that fate and destiny are the reasons things happen.(I'd say I'm in this category)  I thought about luck today because last night I was about to head to town and I cranked my dad's car(97' Chrysler Sebring Convertible...I know..I don't like the car either) and the alternator was out.  This was a problem because "my car" was already in the shop.  It then dawned on me, I'm unlucky today.  My luck changed as my night worked out fine.(thanks for letting me use your mom's tahoe bean)  So was it fate or luck that my night worked out the way it did?  I can't help but think it might have been luck.  On to Good, Bad and Funny
Luck

1. Good: It's good to have luck if you believe in it.  It seems as if it's a friendly happening.  For instance: Winning a jackpot at a casino slot machine, hitting a go ahead home run off of a dominant pitcher(Youre my boy koon...more heart than Brian Pettway...7-5 Wave), hitting a buzzer beater in the NCAA Basketball Tournament(Special shout out to Bryce Drew from Valparaiso), finding your favorite food item on sale at the grocery store.  These are all things that can be thought of that might have happened because of good luck.
2. Bad: I try not to dwell on having bad luck.  For the most part I think you make your own breaks, but bad luck is so related to sports that it's hard not to think about it when it affects you.  Example: Last night, Armando Galarraga of the Detroit Tigers threw a 27 out perfect game.(28 really because he got the next batter out)....Except the first base umpire called the very last batter of the game safe when he was clearly out at first base.  I don't know if you'd call it bad luck or not, but it sure seems as if Armando is chalking it up to that.  Maybe he'll throw another perfect game later in his career, maybe he won't but for one night he was nearly immortal pitching a baseball, but he'll never go down in history.(For what it's worth I blame Commissioner Bud Selig for a)not giving him the perfect game and b)not going to a full replay system for America's greatest game.
3. Funny:  It's funny to me how people are so superstitious.  I mean I understand why they are that way, but I'm gonna wash my socks even if my favorite team has won 11 consecutive games.(This guy used to brush his teeth between innings)

Link of the day: Please look at this womans opinion of the difference between luck and fate.  It puts a neat perspective on how to look at the two.  It's really cool.

Short blog today(sorry for that), but I've got to get ready for my church softball game tonight.  Thanks for reading and WISH ME LUCK...had to do it.
McKinley

Don't go in that room...He's in there.

I'm gonna go ahead and continue blogging about movies today and today's genre is not one I'm crazy about but here goes.  Today, I'm blogging on horror movies.  I'm gonna move on to Good, Bad and Funny because most of my material will fall into those categories.
Horror Movies

1. Good: Like I said I'm not a big fan of most of these movies but I do like a few(most are really old and I'm also gonna include a few that just freak me out but aren't exactly scary), such as: Se7en(yeah I added the graphic...that movie really wigs me out plus its got 2 top notch actors in it), The Sixth Sense(no one saw that ending coming), The Ring(hands down freakiest movie I've ever seen, Even the trailer is creepy, check it out), The Shining(Jack Nicholson at his best), The Exorcism of Emily Rose(just downright evil), The Exorcist(probably the scariest movie I've ever seen).  I also got into the Saw movies but I thought they really dropped the ball with 3rd through 5th installments of the movie.  1 and 2 were awesome and 6(the last one) were really good.  I'm kinda ready for it to end with 7 though.
2. Bad: It's easy to talk about how bad most horror flicks are.  For instance: I can give you the setting for 75% of horror movies that come out these days.  There is always a house out in the middle of nowhere and its either haunted and a new family moves in or there are people that crawl upside down on all fours and have 100 teeth.  I will never take a chance on a movie like Splice(which opens this weekend).  I have been led in the wrong direction before on movies I thought might be decent.  Example: The two worst movies I've ever seen are Wolf Creek(koon and I were almost cussing each other because we were so mad for sitting through that movie and we just wanted something to vent about) and Touristas(which my friend Tommy brought for a group of us to watch one afternoon...if I die two hours earlier than I'm supposed to, then I'll be mad that I watched that movie and thinking about what I could have done with that time)  Also don't go to the theater on opening night of a horror film...no offense to girls but they are obnoxious in horror movies.  They yell and talk throughout the entire movie at things that are not even that scary.
3. Funny: A funny thing about horror movies is that you plan to watch them during the day.  I highly recommend this because if you are watching one of the ones in the good section of this blog at night, you will not be able to sleep.  Another funny thing about scary movies is how you jump or scream when no one else does and they all look at you like "Dang dude you ok?"  And of course Hocus Pocus is a funny horror movie...even though for kids...probably the only Bette Midler movie I've ever seen either way.

Link of the Day: Just maximize the screen on Youtube and watch all the way to the end. You might have to get real close to the screen to follow the ball.

Thanks for reading
McKinley

The Chick Flick

I have had a pretty busy day so I haven't really had to sit down to write a blog.  As a matter of fact, I couldn't even think of a topic until about an hour ago.  Me and Bean picked up my sister and his girlfriend from the movie theater at about 9:30, there choice of movie: Sex and the City 2.  I figured since they wouldn't shut up about this movie on the way home that that's what I'd do today's blog on.(Bean and I were fresh off of a good ole fashion basketball drubbing at the New Providence Church in Tupelo...so we were in a crummy mood but not too bad...they were simply better than we were.)  I'm probably going to try to do movie blogs for the rest of the week unless something else pops up.  On to Good, Bad and Funny
Chick Flicks(or for girls Romance movies)

1. Good: As weird as it sounds, I happen to like some of these movies(I have Definitely Maybe, Love Actually, 500 Days of Summer, Sweet Home Alabama and a few more in my personal collection....Feel free to suggest more to me)  Its obviously better watching these movies with a female counterpart, but on occasion I might watch one of them.  A good thing that you can get from watching these movies is how good and bad relationships work(however, hardly anything happens like it does in the movies....I mean come on, girls can't expect us to act like Pat Swayze's character in Dirty Dancing)
2. Bad: Some of these movies are just plain dumb.  There is always a working class girl and an upper class guy and it happens to work out at the end.  There are so many tired story lines that some of these movies continue to mimic.  For instance: I just recently saw the Ugly Truth and to me it just played right into the she's good at her career and falls for the rough and rugged guy but finds out he has a softer side.  Theres only so many of these that are not cliche.  Also like I said earlier, a lot of chick flicks paint these pictures of perfect guys that hardly any of us can live up to.(I mean most of us are never gonna wake up and look like this or have the charm of this guy.)
3. Funny: There are a lot of chick flicks that you could probably label as romance comedies.(I like to call them bromance-comedies) I love movies like I Love You Man, Knocked Up and Forgetting Sarah Marshall because they offer enough no-holds-barred comedy but also provide a happy ending that guys and girls both can enjoy.

Link of the Day: Just on the general movie theme. You should check out this site and this site.  They both allow you to look at new trailers of movies and see what actors are appearing in movies in months and years to come.
Thanks for reading folks
McKinley