As told by me.

'Nuff Said.

2011-10-13T18:43:00.002+03:00

Local Chamber Launches QR Code Scavenger Hunt for Black Friday

2010-11-22T19:25:00.001+02:00

Murray, KY. (11/19/10) – The Murray-Calloway Chamber of Commerce will launch a QR Code Scavenger Hunt in Murray for “Black Friday” shopping. Designed by Justin Kimbro of K-Squared Designs, shoppers who find each code and write down the encoded information to spell a phrase will be entered into a drawing for a $50 Chamber Check. The hunt will begins at the Chamber by scanning the first QR Tag and taking a map.

Although initially used for tracking parts in vehicle manufacturing, QR Codes are now used in a much broader context, including both commercial tracking applications and convenience-oriented applications aimed at mobile phone users (known as mobile tagging). QR Codes allow everyday items to become a website (print-to-mobile-to-web messaging) where everything can become a hyperlink. The “QR” stands for “Quick Response”. These smart codes are similar to the price barcodes found on the packaging of supermarket items, however, QR Codes hold much more information (including website addresses, text and phone numbers).

“The Chamber is always looking to take our marketing efforts to the next level,” stated Lance Allison, president/CEO of the Murray-Calloway chamber. “I am very appreciative of Justin for bringing his creative thinking to the Chamber. Our mission is to promote our members, and every avenue we can leverage increases our success rate in bringing people to shop Murray”.

QR Readers have been developed as downloadable APPs for Smartphone’s that have camera technology. Once the QR Reader is downloaded onto the phone and opens the app they are able to scan the code which will deliver a sms text, open a website, or reveal a message.

And he turns 32 today, folks!

2010-09-28T00:36:00.002+03:00

Murray State Racers Buzzer Beater!

2010-02-08T17:38:00.005+02:00

http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/sports/83739842.html

Search Engine Strategies - Chicago

2009-12-20T07:25:00.000+02:00

FAIL!

2009-11-26T02:41:00.002+02:00

Tennessee Titans 1st win of the season!

2009-11-03T19:10:00.001+02:00

Almost home ...

2009-10-24T04:17:00.001+03:00

Hardly

2009-08-25T06:02:00.004+03:00

Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

Worried

2009-08-12T05:14:00.003+03:00

Oops ... busted!

2009-07-12T03:25:00.003+03:00

Happy 29th Birthday, Mom!

2009-07-07T05:47:00.003+03:00

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-21T08:23:00.002+03:00

There are words to express many things in one's life; happy, sad, excited, love, family, trust and so many more. But there are more actions with meanings deeper than words can ever go. Someone taught me that and still teaches me that daily.

My father, one heck of a great man, spends his days, nights and weekends expressing just how great and wonderful he is, never by words, but by his actions every moment of every day. A man who spends his much-needed Saturdays and Sundays cutting up fallen trees (I don't forget much), moving his son's family, fixing broken weed whackers, changing his plans to adjust those doors so they fit just right at the drop of a hat, working until midnight laying vinyl, playing with his grandkids until he has no energy left and so, so very much more.

I don't say it enough ... Hell, I never say it at all - prolly got that from you, though. But thanks, dad. I love you. I appreciate you. And I wanna be just like you some day.

Happy Father's Day!

One lucky kid,

Jus

Bunker Hill

2009-05-20T16:30:00.004+03:00

T-Ball Time!

2009-05-20T16:25:00.003+03:00

A Change of Season

2009-05-18T03:29:00.003+03:00

As the season closed on Saturday, we took pictures, handed out trophies, ate snacks, said our goodbyes and ... ummm ... there was something else ... OH YEAH: kicked the other team's BUTTS! PeeWee Soccer only lasts a couple of months, but what a wonderful couple of months they were! We played hard, won every game but one (tied the other) and most importantly had fun ... or was it most importantly "won every game" ... either way, this coach's first season was unforgetable! Thanks for the memories, team!

- Coach Justin

I didn't know he was funny ...

2009-05-14T05:50:00.000+03:00

Making Moves ...

2009-05-07T18:33:00.004+03:00

So comes the time to move forward; well, at least move on. Ha ha! We are now selling our home.

Visit the website :: HERE :: for more info and lots of pictures!

2009-05-07T17:35:00.001+03:00

Mobile device activated!

I'll Concentration Camp Your Ass if I Catch You!

2009-04-28T07:09:00.003+03:00

Just FYI ...

2009-03-25T15:49:00.001+02:00

A toddler hysterically laughing in his sleep is the best way in the world to be awaken.

KY Main Street Unveils New Logo

2009-03-14T05:59:00.001+02:00

March 13, 2009 – K-Squared Designs, Murray’s Graphic and Website Design firm, was recently chosen to create a logo that will be used statewide for the Kentucky Main Street Program to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

The newly created logo was unveiled during a celebration, on February 26, at the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort. Nearly 100 local main street managers and board members from across the Commonwealth attended the event saluting the 30th anniversary of the Kentucky Main Street Program, the oldest and one of the largest statewide main street revitalization programs in the nation. The celebration took place in conjunction with Preservation Day in Frankfort sponsored by Preservation Kentucky, Inc., the statewide preservation advocacy and education organization.

The new logo, a rendered drawing of buildings along a historic Kentucky Main Street - encompassed within a silohette of the state Commonwealth, was well received with a plethora of applause at the unveiling.

When creating this logo, Justin Kimbro, senior designer, had to conceptualize an image that would represent more than 80 communities who would be using it in their individual programs. Kimbro said, “The most challanging aspect, in creating a logo of such magnitude, is trying to capture the charm, the personality and characteristics of over 80 Kentucky Main Street Programs within one image. Our mission was to create something that every Main Street Program could use to assist in their marketing efforts throughout their communities while utilizing a consistent statewide branding.”

K-Squared Designs’ owner and senior Designer, Justin Kimbro, also spoke alongside a panel of experts with expertise in downtown economic development, graphic design, branding, website promotion and marketing. Justin presented his panel discussion topics on utilizing internet marketing, advertising and online technology to overcome the current economic downturn.

New Boy Toy

2009-02-09T16:57:00.000+02:00

Got Elf?

2009-01-16T07:09:00.001+02:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Wounded

2009-01-16T06:30:00.004+02:00

Every night at bed time for two toddlers is a struggle. Tonight, nothing was much different. 'Cept I was "wounded" in the battle. Carter told me, "Daddy, I don't like you anymore. Get away from me. You're not my friend" ... Man. I'd rather have taken a punch to the face. My boys are the one thing in life I have always done right by and a comment like that really stings when all you are trying to do is what's best. I don't think he meant it. Actually, I know he didn't mean it. But that doesn't mean it hurt. Sleep tight, son. Daddy loves you ... always.

Heard At My House

2009-01-16T06:26:00.001+02:00

Momma ... this taste better than the food I have at school! -Bailey

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T08:30:00.002+02:00

From 1 Web Designer to Another

2008-12-22T16:37:00.004+02:00

Your website :: SUCKS ::

Thanks for the link, Scott!

Google Page Ranker

2008-10-26T15:46:00.004+02:00

Check Page Rank of any web site pages instantly:

This free page rank checking tool is powered by Page Rank Checker service

Murray Weather

2008-10-26T15:25:00.000+02:00

A Sticky Situation

2008-10-20T17:31:00.004+03:00

We just started up a new division of business for K2DS: Vinyl Graphics!

Habitat for Hobbits

2008-10-20T17:17:00.004+03:00

A favorite pastime for Daddy (that's me) is to make up unbelievable stories about "things" to my kids. It's a lot of fun and I highly recommend it. I love to see their eyes get bigger as the story gets even more farfetched. It's prolly a good brain exercise too.

Now, sometimes they believe that our house is buried upon an ancient magical pirate ship that houses hundreds of dollars of gold (they're kids, hundreds is as good as millions) and sometimes they believe I used to be a lion tamer in Africa for the Tribe of Rabies, and sometimes they just don't believe me when I tell them I turn into a werewolf at the stroke of 8:14 pm on every other Tuesday ... BUT this time, they DID believe the story I told them about the fairies that live under the mushrooms in our backyard.

Carter found a big mushroom, plucked it from the ground and threw it across the yard. So I began telling him a story about the fairies that live there when we go to sleep at night. I had no idea that it would make him feel so bad, he would just have to reconstruct a habitat for Frances and Ariel! I know it's a little hard to see inside the windows, but this luxury condo is complete with beds, blankets, tables, pine cone trees, a swing-set (per Jackson's request) a fence, a sidewalk a mushroom door and flowers. It is just what Frances always wanted.

Boys WILL be Boys

2008-10-19T22:02:00.001+03:00

These two little monsters were left alone for ONLY 5 minutes ... they dug up a flower bed in Momma's backyard. But I couldn't get mad ... #1, they looked too damned cute and #2, it could be the last chance they get to dig in dirt before Old Man Winter puts a halt on outside play.

BUT Momma ... !!

2008-10-19T21:47:00.003+03:00

Carter has this newfound obsession with jumping off of everything! He'll jump off of anything ... I swear it. Dogs, couches, tables, counter tops, stairs, bales of straw, desks & people are just a few of his favorite things for a good base jump. This morning however, when momma had just about enough of his acrobatics, she said "Carter, I told you no more jumping off the table. You are going to get hurt." A burst of laughter bellowed from my mouth when I heard him reply; "BUT Momma ... I am wearing my Batman Cape!"

A Gift from a Toddler

2008-10-19T21:35:00.003+03:00

At approximately 10:00 am Central Standard Time, I found a hidden present from a toddler. Not sure which one I can "thank" for the thoughtful gift. What was it, you ask? Well ... it was a Pop Tart! A Hot Fudge Sundae Pop Tart, to be exact. Yup. I took a shower with a Pop Tart this morning.

Dats nawt a banga

2008-10-19T17:14:00.003+03:00

Big brothers are full of wonderfully useful information. Carter spends much of his day educating Jackson on various aspect of life. This morning, for example, I entertained the boys run around and destroy the living room faster than I could pick it up while I watched Jackson jump from side to mimicking Carter in great detail saying "BAHN! Bang!" with a large stick in his tiny little hands. But little did he (or I) know that was no gun ... it was time for a life lesson from the Big Brother. Carter taught Jackson that his stick was in fact NOT a gun. Or in his very own words; "Dackson, dats nawt a banga, dats a sord."

Author's Notes:
A "banga" is actually a gun of sorts ... normally pronounced "banger".
A "Dackson" is actually a brother ... normally pronounced "Jackson".

The Departure

2008-09-26T17:33:00.002+03:00

It's been one fun ride, but listen, it is time we have to part and go our separate ways. We've been together nearly 10 years, but moving on is inevitable. Don't be too upset. We've had fun and made some great memories. Honestly, I'd rather stay here with you. I promise. It's not you; it's me. I'll never forget you. Goodbye my twenties!

Possibly the last photo of me as a 20-something year old.

Can you say Beetlejuice?

2008-09-08T16:13:00.001+03:00

Terms of Services

2008-09-04T07:31:00.003+03:00

You ever actually read any of those "I have read & agree to the Terms of Service" on the websites you create accounts on and navigate to before you check that little button and click to proceed? You should. And here's why!

Get Chromed!

2008-09-04T07:19:00.004+03:00

So here it is folks ... the end of Microsoft as we know it. Remember, you heard it here first. Or maybe over here or possibly over there. Google, already loaded with applications comparable and compatible with MS's most common MS Word, Excel, etc ... Google has now launched an amazing browser! Although, Apple-junkies such as myself and Linux-heads alike are left waiting in the wings for our versions of Google Chrome.

Rule #816

2008-07-18T05:36:00.003+03:00

If said toddler wants his chocolate chip cookie broken in half, he'll do it himself. He does not need help from some adult. If process is completed without his approval, screaming, yelling, crying, hitting, throwing and disruptive behavior will most likely arise.

Fun in the Room!

2008-07-02T01:56:00.002+03:00

How 'bout her?

2008-07-01T21:52:00.005+03:00

"How 'bout her?"

"Who?"

"Her!"

"Where?"

"UGH! RIGHT there!"

"Which one?"

"The one in the bikini."

"They're all in bikinis."

"The BLUE bikini."

"There are 10 girls in blue bikinis."

"The string-top multi-colored one. She has blonde hair and big breasts."

"I don't see here. Where is she standing?"

"Just forget it. She's gone."

*WHEW* Escaped playing once again!

I have that conversation every 15 minutes with my dear wife, Angie. It seems she is obsessed with finding her twin. Well, twin meaning: body-type twin. Every year it's the same ole thing. She finds a woman and points at her and wants to know if that is what SHE looks like in a bathing suit. Are you friggin' kidding me? Any man would be stoopid to play such an incarcerating game. Although some are close, most are way off. Obviously I don't like this game and avoid playing it as much as possible. No matter what I say or how I say it, it is a game I am sure to lose. Horribly. So I'm off to avoid playing again. Ciao!

Me on Monday

2008-06-30T15:58:00.002+03:00

Me on Monday

2008-06-23T22:59:00.000+03:00

Me on Monday

2008-06-17T00:49:00.000+03:00

Me on Monday

2008-06-09T16:26:00.001+03:00

Me on Monday

2008-06-02T17:11:00.000+03:00

Me on Monday

2008-05-28T16:29:00.001+03:00

Me on Monday

2008-05-19T16:45:00.004+03:00

1st Summer Fishn' Post

2008-05-19T04:47:00.004+03:00

During our first fishing trip of the year we netted about 40 fish. Carter reeled in more than everyone else combined. Jackson spent most of the day dumping out cookies mommy packed and stepping on them. But it was great to hang out and have fun with Daddy and Papa for a few hours.

Me on Monday

2008-05-12T16:14:00.003+03:00

Me on Monday

2008-05-05T19:36:00.000+03:00

Me on Sunday (after last but before next Monday)

2008-04-27T16:35:00.004+03:00

Better late than never, they say. I am dedicated to my MOM (Me on Monday) photo, but a 'puter problem last, last Friday hindered in from happening on time.

Great News!

2008-04-18T16:33:00.002+03:00

No. Not really.

I am not always the biggest fan of radio programming. I am normally drawn to a CD burned from a compilation of some random genres streaming from my iTunes. It's safer that way. I always hear what I want. Always.

Angie thinks it is so funny to eject my CD every morning when she drives to her exercise class at 4:45 am. We don't always share the same taste in music and she is always longing for something different instead of the same ole stuff. I like my stuff. Over and over. So it's sort of a habit as soon as I jump in the truck I reach over and pop the CD back into the slot and jam out to some Jack Johnson, Sting, Eightball & MJG, Akon, Cypress Hill & Greg Kihn. I told you it was super-random.

Although, this morning I didn't. I just listened to 103.7 WFGE - Froggyland Radio! I live about 4 minutes from my office. The news was on. There were 4 news stories in that span. #1: There was a 5.2 earthquake in Salem, Illinois that was felt across Froggyland. #2: There was a fire that burnt down a historic building and restaurant (The Iron Kettle) in Grand Rivers, Kentucky. #3: A mental institution in Kentucky was suspended from operating for violations on security as one of their "prisoners", who had a history of escaping, escaped again, stole a truck, was involved in a hit and run and led police across a three-county vehicle chase. #4: Murray, Kentucky children have an interesting opportunity to meet Governor Ed Whitfield, today. And I am the pessimist?

Happy Friggin' Friday ...

Me on Monday

2008-04-14T17:02:00.000+03:00

NEW HUSBAND STORE

2008-04-07T16:47:00.002+03:00

A store that sells new husbands has opened in New York City, where a woman may go to choose a husband. Among the instructions at the entrance is a description of how the store operates:

- You may visit this store ONLY ONCE!
- There are six floors and the value of the products increase as the shopper ascends the flights.
- The shopper may choose any item from a particular floor, or may choose to go up to the next floor, but you cannot go back down except to exit the building.
- So, a woman goes to the Husband Store to find a husband.
- On the first floor the sign on the door reads:

.....................

Floor 1 - These men Have Jobs.
She is intrigued, but continues to the second floor, where the sign reads:

Floor 2 - These men Have Jobs and Love Kids.
'That's nice,' she thinks, 'but I want more.' So she continues upward. The third floor sign reads:

Floor 3 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, and are Extremely Good Looking.
'Wow,' she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going. She goes to the fourth floor and the sign reads:

Floor 4 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Good Looking and Help With Housework.
'Oh, mercy me!' she exclaims, 'I can hardly stand it!' Still, she goes to the fifth floor and the sign reads:

Floor 5 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Gorgeous, Help with Housework, and Have a Strong Romantic Streak.
She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor, where the sign reads:

Floor 6 - You are visitor 31,456,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor.

This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please. Thank you for shopping at the Husband Store.

.............

PLEASE NOTE:

To avoid gender bias charges, the store's owner opened a New Wives store just across the street.

- The first floor has wives that love sex.
- The second floor has wives that love sex and have money and like beer.
- The third, fourth, fifth and sixth floors have never been visited.

Me on Monday

2008-04-07T16:46:00.000+03:00

9 PHRASES WOMEN USE

2008-04-05T19:21:00.000+03:00

(1) Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

(2) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

(3) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.

(4) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!

(5) Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.)

(6) That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

(7) Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or Faint. Just say you're welcome. (I want to add in a clause here - This is true, unless she says 'Thanks a lot' - that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say 'you're welcome' .... that will bring on a 'whatever').

(8) Whatever: Is a women's way of saying F@!K YOU!

(9) Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to # 3

Me on Monday

2008-03-31T17:47:00.002+03:00

Me on Monday

2008-03-24T16:01:00.000+02:00

It's Coming...

2008-03-19T16:36:00.002+02:00

What a morning; the rain is falling, I'm all wet (you know the bottom of my pants legs - I hate that), a flood watch is in effect, it's cold, dark, murky and "gray" outside. I hate Winter and rain and dreary days. Normally, I'd be traumatized by a deep trance depression right now; but I'm not! I am so happy! I was driving to work and I saw seven Bradford Pear Trees blooming! I saw two dogs having sex by the side of the road. And Maroon Five (Sunday Morning) came on the radio. I couldn't help but smile. Spring is coming. She is really coming.

The Thin White Line

2008-03-18T05:29:00.003+02:00

There's a thin white line that haunts me every night. I go to my room, take off my clothes, lie in bed, look up and there it is staring at me. It sits on my ceiling and smirks at my uncontrollableness to watch it. I can't help it. I close my eyes but I still see it. I've lied awake for hours staring at it when I should have been sleeping. I don't mean to, but it won't let me rest.

This "white line" is Carter's night light that creeps through the ever-so-slightly left open bedroom door of mine. I have to leave it cracked in case of "emergency" - usually meaning he needs his daddy to pick him up and place him in our bed. You can't imagine how many times I've just wanted to turn it off. But instead, I just lay awake and stare at it.

Me on Monday

2008-03-18T05:28:00.001+02:00

Me on Monday

2008-03-10T15:53:00.002+02:00

In-Betweeney Post...

2008-03-10T15:51:00.001+02:00

Well, I was getting ready to post my "Me on Monday" photo and realized I didn't want to post two in a row... so this is my in-betweeney post ... ha ha!

Me on Monday

2008-03-03T16:44:00.002+02:00

Discrimination at its finest

2008-02-28T18:59:00.003+02:00

Angie Instant Messages me and says, "Hey, there is a huge sale on the Sketchers Website. You should go and check it out." I did and this is what I saw...

Where the HELL is Sandy Plankton?

2008-02-28T04:20:00.003+02:00

In a matter of two years I've probably watched Finding Nemo about 348 times. And all this time I've heard Nemo say, Sandy Plankton said, "Sea turtles live to be a hundred years old" and Sandy Planton said "that's called a butt" (it is actually a boat, but we aren't trying to be too critical) and I just realized last night that we never see this so-called Sandy Plankton throughout the entire movie ... is he real or is he a myth? The world may never know.

Chew on this...

2008-02-26T17:13:00.006+02:00

A brand new submission to Crunchable ... the theme for February was Loved and Lost. Click me to see what I wrote. :: Adventure Jeans ::

Me on Monday

2008-02-25T16:32:00.001+02:00

Quick Question..

2008-02-19T16:42:00.003+02:00

Why is it always "probably not" instead of "probably so" ... ?

What goes bump in the middle of the night?

2008-02-19T04:42:00.003+02:00

A grown man of 29-years old sleeping in a 4-foot long plastic toddler bed shaped like a fire engine. That's what. But daddys will do just about anything to soothe a sick, crying 2-year old, won't they?

Lost in Translation

2008-02-19T04:41:00.001+02:00

For some odd reason people just can't understand kid talk. Here's a list of my boy's favorite lines and what they mean.

Original Verse: "Daddy way dound iv me por a minup."
Translation: "Daddy lay with me for a minute."
Refers to: Nap time and bed time.

Original Verse: "Ubb ewe to."
Translation: "Love you, too."
Refers to: Jackson's response of affection

Original Verse: "Ownt ike it."
Translation: "I don't like it."
Refers to: Anything besides macaroni and cheese.

Original Verse: "Dat bebber?"
Translation: "Is that better."
Refers to: After Cater kisses one of a booboos (usually a freckle).

Original Verse: "Un un uh un uh unn!"
Translation: "What the hell are you doing to me."
Refers to: When Jackson has an aspirator bulb in his nose.

Original Verse: "Awanna botch bunny wabbit"
Translation: "I want to watch Stewart Little 2"
Refers to: All day long...

Hope these help!

Me on Monday

2008-02-18T17:19:00.003+02:00

I say what really makes a man is how he deals with Mondays. His smile (or lack there of), his clothes and his unshaven face (in my case). So here's a new tradition I am starting... "Me on Monday". You'll be blessed with a picture of my head every Monday. Aren't you excited? You'll have no idea what the two prior days have "done" to me to make me look the way I do on these Mondays, but a picture speaks a thousand words... doesn't it?

Gotta Getaway

2008-02-15T17:06:00.003+02:00

As I was lying in bed this morning, the thought of a getaway just wouldn't escape my mind. Not necessarily one of those two-week vacations or a retreat to a resort, but just one of those 3-day weekend "things". Like a quick run over to St. Louis or maybe up to Chicago. Just to get away from normality for a minute.

Not sure what I love so much about an uncomfortable hotel bed and cheap coffee in that 2-cup pot they put in the rooms... oh wait, now I remember.

I love the drive. Oh do I love the drive. I love the smell of the night air on long trips when the rest of the family is sleeping. I can listen to my music and roll my window down and breathe in life. I can drive fast through cities when no one is looking and Angie is telling me to slow down.

I love the snacks. I love pulling into some random gas station and buying overpriced beef jerky, sunflower seeds and Twinkies. I like buying Peach NeHi. I love that everyone in the car gets something and shares part of it with everyone else. I love the fact we waste $20 on junk food.

I love continental breakfast. I love that rubbery bacon and those wet, mass-produced eggs that have no taste. The fact I can get a bowl of cereal, a donut, a blueberry muffin and a bagel in a hotel lobby wearing my pajamas and a hat and no one finds it weird. I love being have half asleep while opening up 22 packs of sugar and putting it into my coffee cup watching tiny little grains hit the table so later they can scratch my elbows.

The other day I begged Angie to jump in the car with me and drive to New York City. Just for the hell of it. Just to do it. For no other reason. We've never been. It would be fun. But she wouldn't go and I don't like doing things by myself. I'll talk her into it some day. Some day.

cough - sniff - sigh

2008-02-15T05:06:00.003+02:00

February in Western Kentucky is my least favorite month. Not because my entire family has fallen victim to Sakpata, but mainly just because is sucks, in general. I always forget, every single year, how much I hate February. I should adore this so-called "month of love" being how that special Hallmark of a holidays resides smack dab in the middle of it. But no, February, at least in my town, is normally just cold, windy wetness and full of ill feelings toward Old Man Winter.

You can almost guarantee every morning when you walk outside to hop into your freezing vehicle the rain will be blowing at you sideways beating at every square inch of your face. Your car will creak and moan at the hell winter has put it through. Your heater will warm up only seconds before you pull into the parking lot to your job. And then it is back into the rain to the entrance to your building. You make several stops to the local CVS to sit in the drive-thru for 30 minutes to hear, "Your prescription isn't quite ready" even though it was called in 7 hours earlier. Your kids get diagnosed with RSV and you and your wife spend Valentine's Day on the couch coughing and sneezing while taking "kill the flu" medicine by the truckloads. Oh, by the way, Happy Valentine's Day, Angie.

It's a sick little game Mother Nature plays on us here in Kentucky. When most people think of winter they think November, December and January to be the harshness, coldest months. But never February; the month before Sister Spring awakens from her slumber to grace us with marigolds and allergies.

How is it that every year I forget that February sucks? I will not forget next year. I mustn't forget next year. Next year I will be ready to hate February before it comes. That'll give me something to look forward to.

Clowns to the left of me...

2008-01-30T07:26:00.001+02:00

Do we really want to hear the brutal honesty our spouses bestow upon us? Honesty is the best practice... right?

So there we were, TiVo-ing thru an earlier recorded American Idol as I burst out in my very own rendition of Stealers Wheel: Stuck in the Middle With You, followed by a cunnning look over to Angie and softly asking, "Can I sing?" She said, "Oh yes, you can sing".

I said, "Really?" She replied, "Do you want the real answer or the nice answer?" I turned back around and shed a single tear.

Good thing she didn't ask me if she could cook!

What's the Difference?

2008-01-30T05:31:00.000+02:00

The difference between mommys and daddys is quite simple, really. Take Angie and I for example. Daddys forget things sometimes. Mommys never forget anything. Just tonight, in less than 20 minutes, I became known to this.

Lets look back a couple hours ago from around 8:00 to 8:20...

I was ready to read the boys Goodnight Moon and send 'em off the Dreamland. I forgot a few things in between. Angie never forgets. She had them brushing their teeth, taking their vitamins, taking their medicine, putting on a fresh diaper, going pee one last time, setting up the humidifier (which means finding all the pieces that the kids took apart), finding all the stuffed animals hiding around the house and placing them in their beds, washing their faces, putting a book in Carter's bed to read while he "sleeps", tucking them in, saying their prayers, reminding them to thank God for everything and kissing them g'nite... whew!

Good thing for mommys, huh? Not sure where we'd be without you, Angie. We love you.

Dear Angie,

2008-01-28T06:56:00.000+02:00

Angie, I love you. I love you so much. You are a wonderful, wonderful woman. You cook and clean and take care of our children and work so very, very hard. Your patient and kind. Your strong and beautiful. Your smart and even sort of funny. You've got it all! But listen, if you ever, and I mean ever buy that cheap-ass toliet paper again, I'll string you up by your eyelids on rusty fish hooks. Mkay?

Your dearest husband,
Jus

PS: I'll take it to the office and you buy some more. Adam normally just uses paper towels anyway so he'll think it's great!

Boba Fett

2008-01-21T20:54:00.000+02:00

About 89.7% of everything I buy online arrives exactly as expected. And even if it doesn't, a large percentage of that could potentially be returned. One exception is buying stuff off eBay. Things like clothing or accessories are sort of a crap shoot. I bought some sun glasses. They looked really cool on the screen, but when I put them on, I sort of look like Boba Fett from Star Wars. Don't believe me, keep scrolling...

Snow Piles

2008-01-19T17:09:00.000+02:00

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT BELOW

Okay, not really graphic content, but kinda gross, nevertheless. For 27 years, I had be taught, by expereince and routine, how going to the bathroom is supposed to go. You sit, read a magazine, look over to see a nice big role of soft tissue and flush. But it would seem my boys have a decided that all those years of practicing should just be thrown out the window.

Now, when daddy potties, it goes a little differently now. Most things are still pretty much the same except for the whole nicely rolled up tissue. No, now I reach down into a huge wadded-up "snow pile" laying in the corner atop the magazine rack. *sigh*

Locking Up

2008-01-19T16:25:00.000+02:00

Owning your own business is sometimes stressful. Who am I kidding; it's ALWAYS stressful. You have to work unbelievable hours, have meetings, pay bills, make important decisions, hire and fire employees, all the while trying to make every single client happy. And these are only the things you have to do during the work day. And although the hours on my building say 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., it is more like 7 a.m. - Midnight. I actually left one morning last week at 3:15 a.m. and was back in at 8 a.m.

So my daily routine goes a little something like this:
7:30-ish, leave for work
Noonish, meet the wife and kids for lunch
5-ish, leave work and go home
8:30-ish, put the kids in bed and head back to work
Midnight-ish, go home
REPEAT

Please don't misinterpret this, I am not complaining. God blesses our business with unbelievable success and growth. We've worked very hard and earned a great reputation.

So the daily routine got a little out of whack a couple of nights ago. Everything was normal up until the "putting the kids to bed and heading back". I had a very full plate and all of my assistants had been "unavailable" for a big chunk of the week. So after dinner and playtime, around 7:30, I stood up, put on my coat, gave kisses and said "goodbye".

Right then Carter screamed out, "No Daddy! No go bye bye!" Oh, it nearly broke my heart. I told him I had some work to do, but when I got home, I'd check in on him and give him big kisses. He was not satisfied. At all. He turned slowly to look at Angie and ran for the door. He ran back in the living-room and said, Me lock door. You NO GO Daddy! It cold outside! Stay here." I did. For as long as I could. I stayed and played just a while longer. But in the end, I still left earlier than normal.

New K2D Signs

2008-01-16T23:19:00.001+02:00

The 5th Element

2008-01-16T23:13:00.000+02:00

No, I'm not talking about Luc Besson's 5th Elememt (although, I have a small crush on Milla) ... no, I'm talking about the fifth edition of Apple to bless my office. That's right, I am now 5-deep in Macs! A white iMac, a chrome iMac, a G4 iBook, a PowerMac G4 (my first baby), and now a 17" MacBook Pro! I am a proud father!

Classical Conditioning

2008-01-16T16:07:00.000+02:00

Way back in December of 2006, I submitted a short story to Crunchable, Words to Crunch By, entitled Crunchies. I wrote a blurb within that article on "Classical Conditioning". Okay, so don't go and read the article, lazy, I just recap what it is for you. It is: "with repeated association of the unconditional and the conditional stimulus, the conditional stimulus will cause a reflex of its own". Hmmmm, in other words, with repetitiveness comes habit or learning of what will happen next.

Case in point

Date: January 14, 2008; Time: 07:00 hours; Place: The Bathtub. I was studying two ferocious subjects submerged in the depths of a local watering hole splashing about like wild beasts. One subject would pound the water with its clinched fists while the other beast would drink the white, bubbly concoction floating atop and screaming "my making milk". Soon afterwards one of the animals stood up, I thought, "maybe he smelled me and my location had been compromised" but then I realized he just wanted to watch himself excrete into the water. He smiled with an evil grin. The other yelped a loud "Ewwwweee Jackson!" When I moved in closer for a better look, I was spotted. They didn't mind my presence, so I sat quietly upon a piece of porcelain and watched. It was horrendous. And even though I didn't sense a hostility in the brutes, I still sat quietly ... in fear.

Sorry, I started rambling again. Honestly, I don't know why you are reading this. Anyway, my point was; I was giving Angie (aka: the wife) a break and decided to give the kiddos their bedtime bath. We always have so much fun splashing about. Well, that's probably because Angie has to clean up the mess afterwards. So I give the boys lots of baths, not as many as the wife, but quite a few. When I do, its a routine (see where I am going with this?). I start the water, the tub begins to fill, Carter gets in with his clothes on, Jackson screams until he sits down in the warm water, etc. Bath time is wonderful until bath time turns into, well, actually taking a bath. Usually the entire process takes about 30 minutes. They play for 20 minutes, I clean them and wash their hair for 10 minutes. Here it comes ... so I sit and wait on the toilet until it is time for cleansing. When I stand up, push up my sleeves and take off my watch and my bracelet, Jackson stands up tall in the tub and starts to scream and Carter yells out that he's not ready to wash! How amazing is that? WOW! Just because I stand up and make a movement to my wrists so many reactions begin.

Sorry. That was a long story to prove my Classical Conditioning scenario.

The Friend Survey

2008-01-15T07:37:00.000+02:00

This came via email, but I figured I'd just blog it, too.

1. What time is it? 11:22PM

2. What's your full name? Justin Brent Kimbro

3. What are you most afraid of? Being alone

4. What is the most recent movie that you have seen on bootleg? I'd never participate in that sort of thing, but if I did, it would have to be the killer flick 300

5. Place of birth? Murray, Kentucky

6. Favorite food? Cheeseburger & French Fries

7. What's your natural hair color? Brown

8. Ever been a neat freak? Organizationally speaking... I'm a little OCD

9. Ever been skinny dipping? Unfortunately not...

10. Ever loved someone so much it made you cry? I don't cry...

11. Ever been in a car wreck? A few, okay, 17 or 18 of them.

12. Croutons or bacon bits? Bacon Bits

13. Favorite day of the week? Sunday

14. Favorite restaurant? Logan's Roadhouse

15. Favorite Flower? Orchid

16. Favorite sport to watch? Football

17. Favorite drink? Non-Alcoholic; Sweet Tea - Alcoholic; Tom Collins

18. Favorite ice cream? Just plain ole chocolate

19. Warner Bros or Disney? Disney

20. Ever been on a ship? A small one

21. What color is your bedroom carpet? Beige, maybe?

22. How many times did you fail your driver's test? Zero

23. What do you do when you are bored? Take pictures

24. Bedtime? As late as possible

25. Last person you went to dinner with? Angie

26. Park or Zoo? Zoo

27. What are your favorite colors? Blue & Gray

28. How many tattoos do you have? Zero

29. How many pets do you have? Six (2 dogs, a cat, 2 fishes and a turtle)

30. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Chicken

31. What do you want to do before you die? Build Murray's largest building

36. Have you ever been to Hawaii? Not yet

37. Have you been to countries outside the US? Not yet

38. Time this survey ended? 11:33 PM (I told you I like organization and all the spacing was messed up and only some of the numbers had periods... a little OCD)

As far as Saturdays go...

2008-01-14T02:06:00.000+02:00

As far as Saturdays go, when I was 8-years old, there couldn't have been a better day of the week. I slept late (usually 9 o'clock was late for a growing boy), I watched cartoons (I loved Captain Caveman & the Snorks), I ate cereal (Cookie Crisp was my taster's choice) and played outside or lounged around the house without a worry in the world.

As far as Saturdays go, when I was 16-years old, there couldn't have been a better day of the week. I slept late (usually noon was late for a "up all night on the phone" teenager), I watched MTV (I loved The Real World), I ate cereal (Cookie Crisp was my taster's choice) and lounged around the house without a worry in the world.

As far as Saturdays go, when I was 21-years old, there couldn't have been a better day of the week. I slept late (usually 2 o'clock was late for a hung-over college kid), I watched Comedy Central (I loved Southpark), I ate cereal & pizza (Cookie Crisp & thin-crust pepperoni were my taster's choices) and lounged around the dorms without a worry in the world.

As far as Saturdays go, now, being 29-years old, there couldn't be a busier day of the week. I get up early (usually 7 o'clock is when my darling boys grace me with their presence), I watch nothing (who has time), I eat whatever Angie makes me eat (usually something she read about on her "boards" or something her and Rachel Ray talked about earlier that day) and work my tail off outside landscaping something, painting something, building something, cleaning something or mowing something.

This Saturday was a turn of events for me. I got up early (to let Angie sleep in). I got the kids dressed and took them out to Hih-Burger for our traditional Saturday brunch (I had ham and biscuits). Angie suggested that we head out to LBL's Elk & Bison Range and see if anything was stirring about. We drove around and saw tons of both. I took my camera, of course, and Angie was more than happy to sit in the van with two screaming kids while I played safari and snuck up on a huge stag to photograph him. We came home, the kids took a nap. We ate left-overs. Angie's sister called and heard a of big sale Maurice's was having. She went and left me with the kids. I turned out LaLa Blanky (a.k.a.: Elmo in Grouchland), made a huge tub of popcorn and laid in bed to wait for mommy to come home. We read books, put the kids to bed and snuggled up and watched a movie. We both feel asleep in the middle of it.

Yup, as far as Saturday's go, this was the best one I've had in a long time.

Where's the Button, Daddy?

2008-01-11T08:24:00.000+02:00

You can tell, just by the questions our children ask, what type of world we are living in.

Just tonight, I was playing with Carter and Jackson in their room while Angie and her sister were watching Grey's Anatomy. They'd go from one toy to another, playing with each one for a milisecond or two before moving onto the next. No matter whether it be a spinny, flashy Sesame Street astronomical thingamajig or a Little People farm set or an Incrediblock, they all have some sort of interactive button-mashing noise maker incorporated on it somewhere. Even many of their books have Elmo telling you how proud he is of you going to the potty or some clang, bang, swish of a sword from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (I despise that book, by the way).

So there we are just playing along, sitting in the floor, laughing and gigglin' when Carter picks up a rather large Tonka truck and he is anxiously turing it over; left and right, up and down and then asks, Where's the Button, Daddy?

Sweet Confessions

2008-01-10T07:32:00.000+02:00

Nine days into the New Year and it has started off well. I didn't really make any New Year's resolutions, because, let's be honest, they normally fall short. Being a man who hates to fail, I just didn't make any, really. I mean, I am trying to eat a little healthier. How cliché is that? I'm not going all out, but I sort of kinda gave up sweets and just trying to watchmy food portions. It's quite easy actually. I've been less that hungry being as how my lunches aren't coming until 4 p.m. as I am just keeping my head above water keeping up with an influx work. However, there is always time for munchies. But I am trying to be strong and stay away. It is day nine and all I have to confess to is one Andes Mint (I blame the waitress at Olive Garden) and one peach-flavored gummie worm (if you read down I blame my wife and kids for that one). Day nine and holding strong!

You know you're getting old when...

2008-01-10T07:16:00.000+02:00

After three atrocious meetings and a full day's worth of work, sometimes a man just wants to sit on the couch, eat some popcorn, watch a movie and get a foot massage. But not me. No, I'd rather drive 50 miles to a mall and go shopping with my wife and two toddlers.

There was sale. An annual sale we go to every year. It seems the overflowing closet of my two sons could handle a few more items bearing the brand name, The Children's Place. I mean, who could miss out on such a sale of 50% Off? Not my wife. Of course, she may not realize the $50 in clothes she bought (originally $100) probably isn't that great of deal since we had to spend $30 in gas getting there.

But that is not the point. Nor is it the point of my story. So there I am, watching her hold a very rambunctious child, peering through racks of clothes looking frustrated trying to keep up with a 2-year old while I had the 1-year old. I played Superman and gave a woman their dream wish. To have the husband and kids wait on a bench in the middle of the mall surrounded by kiosks full of cheap gold jewelry and candy and sit. And wait. I just wanted her to be happy.

I stopped by Mr. Bulky (the huge candy shop) and picked up some candy and bribed the kiddos to stay quiet while mommy shopped. Normally the bench is just fine. But what my wondering eyes did see was a whole row of empty massage chairs! So there I was, a toddler on each knee, covered in chocolate-covered raisins and sour gummie worms, feeding my George Washington into the machine getting a back massage by a robotic chair.

Now I know I'm getting old.

I Pee on Daddy!

2008-01-03T03:27:00.001+02:00

And yes, he did!. Carter climbed up on my lap a couple days ago and said "Me pee on Daddy". I laughed and then felt something warm. I should have took his warning more seriously...

Caddy Time!

2008-01-03T03:22:00.000+02:00

New Year's Fun!

2008-01-03T03:06:00.002+02:00

5 Kinds of Sex

2008-01-02T19:40:00.000+02:00

1. The first is Smurf Sex. This happens during the honeymoon period; you both keep doing it until you’re blue in the face.

2. The second is Kitchen Sex. This is at the beginning of the marriage; you’ll have sex anywhere, anytime, even in the kitchen.

3. The third kind is Bedroom Sex. You’ve calmed down a bit, perhaps have kids, so you gotta do it in the bedroom.

4. The fourth kind is Hallway Sex. This is the phase in which you pass each other in the hallway and say, “Screw you!”

5. There is also a fifth kind of sex is Courtroom Sex. This is when you get divorced and your wife screws you in front of everyone in the courtroom.

Our Traditional New Year's Day Feast

2008-01-02T01:01:00.000+02:00

There is only one guaranteed day during the year I know, for certain, I get to eat a good ole Southern meal filled with calories, cholesterol and all kinds of other artery-clogging things. Each year we have a small New Year's Day feast at my parents' home. Angie just "loves" going. Primarily because the meal consists of everything she hates. For as long as I can remember we have eaten the same thing, every year, my entire life; hog jawl (thick bacon, really), black-eyed peas, cabbage and cornbread. Those are the essentials. Now in the more recent years of youngins coming into the scene, mom and dad have begun to produce some potatoes and mac 'n cheese. Of course, dad fries up chicken so Angie doesn't leave on too empty of a stomach.

I thought everyone did this... until I met Angie, of course. It seems I had no idea I was "weird" until she let me know. So here we are, two plates down, on New Year's Day and I am wondering just how "weird" I really am. A quick little Google search for "new years food tradition" is bound to provide me with some answers.

*just minutes later*

A-ha!! I am NOT weird! Well, at least in reference to my eating traditions on the first day of the new year. LOTS of people do this very similar meal. It seems the hog jowl is the thing most people "change" or substitute. Lots of people will just eat something called "Hopping John" which is ham hocks cooked with the black-eyed peas. Some people eat hot dogs or pulled pork. It is always pork, though. Some people eat sauerkraut or cole slaw for the cabbage.

Here are some posts just to prove I am not alone:

Forum Post: Who cooks cabbage on New Years Day for Good luck?
-- Here in Pennsylvania Dutch country we have sauerkraut and pork (hot dogs) for New Years!
-- Yes... I have served Cabbage for New Years I've been told that eating Cabbage (or any greens) on New Years bring wealth...and keeps money in your pockets!! I've lived in the South all my life, I've always had growing up and I fix for my family today... Black eyed peas, Fried Hog Jawl, Poor Mans Salad some times called or Wilted salad.. it is (cut up lettuce with cut up green onions or onions and use the very hot grease from fried hog jawl over it (<--- Justin has tried this too, not a fan, but my grandma calls it "Polk Salad").
-- Mmm, sounds good but my family tradition is that they cook black-eyed peas and collard greens. Apparently there is this old wives tales that you eat them both on New Year's Day to bring good luck and fortune into the new year.

Forum Post: What is the traditional New Year's Day dinner for North America?
-- I know they have black-eyed peas in the south, but I'm in Ohio. Is the traditional dinner pork and sauerkraut? What else?
-- I'm from NY....we always had a traditional turkey dinner.
-- I think traditional New Year's Day dinner for North Koreans consists of tree bark and grass. And maybe a mealy beetle if they're lucky.
-- In the south it's ham, collard greens and black eyed peas. I know that the collards are for money, the black eyed peas are for luck, Im not really sure about the ham, I think it's prosperity or something like that.
-- In our home it is Ham, Collard Greens, Black Eyed Peas and Corn Bread. Except this year we are smoking a Turkey Breast instead of a Ham.

Happy New Year! (go eat some pork!)

Back to My Roots

2007-12-21T01:14:00.000+02:00

Several years ago I spent endless hours "defecting" things with PhotoShop. It has been years since I fiddled with it and wanted to mess something up again. It's always easier turning something beautiful into something ugly than vice versa. Below is the original and the revised. Almost scary, what you can do in 15 minutes, huh?

Addicted to Halo:3

2007-12-10T16:18:00.000+02:00

When Were Just 2-Years Old...

2007-12-10T03:34:00.000+02:00

... our daddy bought us a Cadillac. But not just a Cadillac, an Escalade; for two! We spent a couple hours in the garage on Saturday to put together a gift from "Santa" for the boys. What looked like a nightmare at first, ended up going very smoothly. Carter fell asleep which gave us just enough time to complete the project. Although Jackson was awake, he'll forget... we hope. This thing is amazing! Low and high speed (2.5 & 5 miles per hour), reverse, a cd player, a real working radio, a clock and chrome wheels. Excellent!

Mommy is screwing the front end. No seriously... look!

Mommy looks intrigued by the 74-page direction guide.

The black wire goes... wait is that a jar of peanut butter in my garage?

Finished! Stickers and all!

Complete with dual seatbelts for safety!

Did I mention it has a real working radio and clock?

Just Me & My Boys

2007-12-10T03:33:00.001+02:00

As told by me.

'Nuff Said.

Local Chamber Launches QR Code Scavenger Hunt for Black Friday

And he turns 32 today, folks!

Murray State Racers Buzzer Beater!

Search Engine Strategies - Chicago

FAIL!

Tennessee Titans 1st win of the season!

Almost home ...

Hardly

Worried

Oops ... busted!

Happy 29th Birthday, Mom!

Happy Father's Day

Bunker Hill

T-Ball Time!

A Change of Season

I didn't know he was funny ...

Making Moves ...

I'll Concentration Camp Your Ass if I Catch You!

Just FYI ...

KY Main Street Unveils New Logo

New Boy Toy

Got Elf?

Wounded

Heard At My House

Merry Christmas!

From 1 Web Designer to Another

Google Page Ranker

Murray Weather

A Sticky Situation

Habitat for Hobbits

Boys WILL be Boys

BUT Momma ... !!

A Gift from a Toddler

Dats nawt a banga

The Departure

Can you say Beetlejuice?

Terms of Services

Get Chromed!

Rule #816

Fun in the Room!

How 'bout her?

Me on Monday

Me on Monday

Me on Monday

Me on Monday

Me on Monday

Me on Monday

Me on Monday

1st Summer Fishn' Post

Me on Monday

Me on Monday

Me on Sunday (after last but before next Monday)

Great News!

Me on Monday

NEW HUSBAND STORE

Me on Monday

9 PHRASES WOMEN USE

Me on Monday

Me on Monday

It's Coming...

The Thin White Line

Me on Monday

Me on Monday

In-Betweeney Post...

Me on Monday

Discrimination at its finest

Where the HELL is Sandy Plankton?

Chew on this...

Me on Monday

Quick Question..

What goes bump in the middle of the night?

Lost in Translation

Me on Monday

Gotta Getaway

*cough* - *sniff* - *sigh*

Clowns to the left of me...

What's the Difference?

Dear Angie,

cough - sniff - sigh