Packing Up For A Weekend Trip

Today, as soon as Erica gets off of work, the two of us will be heading to Snowshoe Mountain in Wild, Wonderful, West Virginia. It will be about a four hour drive before we reach our destination, but then it will all be worth it. Now what are two people who don't ski going to do at a ski resort? Well we have been figuring that out all week. We do plan on hitting the slopes, but not on skis or snowboards, we are going to go tubing! Also there are plenty of bars, restaurants, and clubs for us to check out too.
I will get some pictures and stories to blog about when we come back. Maybe I will even blog on location posting some pictures or videos from down on the mountain. But I have to cut this blog short today because I need to pack, and go to the store, and if I'm not ready on time Erica may very well murder me.

Rocking Out At The Gym

Alright so another day went by where I didn't blog, I'm sorry to my loyal reader(s) who may have expected something yesterday. I ended up taking an impromptu nap yesterday afternoon which pretty much took the place of my blogging. I try to do daily updates, but even being lazy and unemployed gets interrupted now and then. I have started something new in my life which also takes up some time, but it has also inspired me to blog today. You see I have recently joined a gym with Erica. We signed up for memberships at Wright's Gym which is basically in Erica's backyard so we figured it wouldn't be too hard to drag our butts over there and work off a few pounds. Yesterday while we were on the treadmills there was this AWESOME guy on an elliptical machine ROCKING OUT.

I couldn't help but watch this guy exercise, he was hilarious. He was very much into singing along with his iPod. Now he wasn't singing out loud, which may have made this even better. He was intensely lip syncing to what I could only imagine as some kind of 80's rock anthem. He didn't look like the picture on the left, but he certainly seemed to have the attitude of someone who would look like this. His face would twist and turn as he emotionally would lean back for the loud rock screams, and he would lean down and shake his head rhythmically for those more intimate parts of the song. If he had a microphone and was up on stage he definitely had the moves, attitude, and emotion of a rock singer. His lip syncing probably doubled the impact of his workout. Then when I thought it wast the most intense lip sync work out ever he turned it up to 11... with AIR GUITAR. That's right, while running on the elliptical he also started playing air guitar while still lip syncing like he was singing in front of a sold out crowd. He was so good at it that I would vote for him to win 1 man Air Band Contest, and he was this good while consistently exercising!
His workout may spawn an entire new trend, it would be better than Jazzercising. This man may be the inventor of Rockcercising, and judging by how sweaty he got and how intense it looked I'm sure it was a very effective workout. I wish I could have gotten video of this spectacle. If I ever see it happening again I may have to pull out my phone and get a short clip of it. I have no idea what he was listening too, but I could only imagine it was some kind of guitar heavy, rock classic like this...

Things To Do With Snowy Weather

Last night we got some snow. "Some" may be an understatement, we got about 6 inches of snow. This morning I woke up and had to dig out a car and clean it off. Then i started thinking about some of the things people do when it snows. I decided that would be a perfect thing to blog about on this snowy day.
First thing I did when I came inside after digging out cars and shoveling snow was start cooking. I started making what I think is one of the absolute best meal for a cold day: chili. The name fits the weather, when its chilly outside you get some chili inside... your belly. Mixing all those wonderfully spicy ingredients into the crock pot makes me hungry all day long for some delicious chili. It makes the house smell fantastic slowly brewing all day long. Every time I go out into the kitchen I can't help but sneak a little taste for myself, its the perfect thing to add a little warmth.

The next thing to do is just curl up with a blanket and read, watch a movie, or even just relax in the warmth. If you had some chili to eat it may even be a little extra warm under the blanket (sorry that was gross). Maybe it would be a good time to watch one of those movies you like watching over and over again. Curl up on the couch and put on Apollo 13 and relax. It makes it a wonderful way to spend a snowy day. this works especially well when you are snowed in and can't go anywhere all day long. Just keep putting on more and more Tom Hanks classics until the snow melts and you can once again go outside.

During last year's snow storm which left us indoors for most of a week, Erica and I decided to devote our time to fulfilling a goal. We rented New Super Mario Bros. for Wii and played all week long until we finished it. It is the perfect time to work on your goals, plenty of free time and with the outside world also snowed in, there are very few distractions. Its truly a magical thing when you can set a goal, work to achieve it, and then complete that goal.

My final idea for what to do when the weather outside is frightful...GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY!!!

What do you do when its snowy outside? Leave some comments about some ideas for when there's blizzardy conditions.

Blog 'n Bowl

Today's Monday Funday is being spent at Crafton-Ingram Bowling Lanes. Caroline, Leigh Anne (Gutter Mutter), Ricky (Boo-ling Ball), and I (Striking Dave) are bowling, while Charlotte runs around and gets into her own adventures. Caroline has developed her own style of bowling where she runs up, slides onto her knees, and releases the ball. It seems to be working because she is beating me. Yes, I may have the coolest bowling nickname here, but I am doing the worst.

Leigh Anne and I voted that we will not be inviting Boo anymore because he is actually good and making us look bad. He is making me look REALLY bad. Luckily there is only 1 older couple here so my terrible bowling skills are not being witnessed by many people... I may have blogged too soon, about 3 more families just came in, but I did start bowling a bit better. I have now pulled ahead of Caroline and within 20 points of Ricky and Leigh Anne. I would like to get over 100 points, but with 72 at the end of the 8th, I don't think its going to happen. The highlight of the event is Charlotte got 2 little dinosaur toys from the quarter machine. Ok I'm going to finish the game, then come finish this blog...

I finished with 94, Ricky won with 130, Leigh Anne came in second with 115, and Caroline gave me a run for my money with 75. We are going to bowl 1 more game, but my self esteem can't take the hit of blogging about it. Maybe if it is good I will post the results as a comment. You can leave comments too, tell us what you did for Monday Funday today!

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

More Commercials = More Fun

Alright I didn't blog yesterday, I was busy running around doing work. I've been helping my Uncle out with some computer work for his office and yesterday I was just too busy doing that to sit down and write a blog (pictured right is a dog who I would like to get as a "guest blogger" on days when I am too busy, I would read his Dog Blog). Today I decided to go back to an idea I blogged about before and add to it. I didn't really want to take too much time with an original blog post because it is so nice out today. So today I will be posting some more commercials that I just can't seem to get out of my head.

The first commercial was suggested by Lauren and I definitely agree it deserves recognition. I frequently find myself singing out "FOUR TIMES THE STEAK" after this commercial is on.

The following is a very catchy song. Erica yells at me if I sing it because then it will be stuck in her head for hours. I was very excited that when searching for it on YouTube I actually found an extended version of the song. This is one that may get added onto the iPod because I love singing along with the song!

The next one is just a quick clip, but it is probably one of the best little jingles ever. I will always remember this phone number and business name because of the jingle. It may be one of the jingles that got me so obsessed with them in the first place. Whenever I hear this on the radio or television I smile and sing along with the joyous chorus.

The last one I'll be sharing today is such a fun commercial. I think its awesomely done and the guy is just hilarious in it. I want to smell like this man.

Once again please feel free to share your favorites in the comments section, I love hearing the favorites of my loyal reader(s).

Things I've Been Meaning to Write About

Sometimes while I'm out and about something I do causes me to say "I think I'm going to blog about this tomorrow." However, most of the time I end up forgetting I said that and blog about something else instead. Last week this happened to me a few times, so I decided today I would blog about some of the stuff I've done that I meant to post, but never did.
Last week I attended my first Pittsburgh Penguins game at the Consol Energy Center. Now I have been there before as I wrote about in my Winter Classic post. I attended the Robert Morris University and Wilkes-Barre Scranton double header that took place during the week of the Winter Classic. That was fun, but this was a totally different experience. This is what the arena was truly built for. We sat higher up than we did for the other event, but these seats were still great (our view pictured left). We were behind the goal the pens shot against twice, and also at the end where 2 fights happened.

The game was against the L.A. Kings, and the Pens were not expected to win. Four players were called up from the Baby Pens team for this game to replace some injured Penguins players. Many jokes were made about the Baby Pens playing against the Kings that night, but the call-ups played fantastic. In fact, the first goal of the game was scored and assisted by all call-up players.
At the end of regulation the score was tied 1-1, so this game was headed to overtime. With less than 20 seconds left Jordan Staal scored, winning the game for the Penguins! It was an amazing game, and even though many star players were missing I still thoroughly enjoyed my first Penguins' game at the Consol.

This past Saturday I attended OUTrageous Bingo. "This ain't your grandmother's bingo" is the perfect tag line for this event, because it sums it up perfectly. The game raises money for the Gay & Lesbian Community Center and takes place at Rodef Shalom Temple in the Oakland/Shadyside area. Your ticket price ($15 at the door, or $12 if purchased in advance) gets you 12 games of bingo. There are also "Specials" that can be purchased for an extra price. The "Specials" are all given names which lead the imagination into some dirty thoughts like "Foreplay" (which is the 3 quick games before the main games begin), "Cover Your Ass" (in which you have to cover your entire bingo card to win), "Top or Bottom" (in which you have to have a horizontal line across the top of your card or the bottom) and other bingo related double entendres. Halfway through the night intermission takes place. This isn't a boring get up and go pee kind of intermission. This intermission is a Drag Queen Show. The Queens come out into the hall and lip sync and dance to some fun music. Dressed in some amazing outfits (which we recently learned they all create themselves), these queens get the room PUMPED! They dance around the entire room collecting money for the GLCC, and sure do entertain the crowd as they do it. Many times you will see them stop for a photo or maybe give a guest a surprise little shimmy. After the show ends they get back to bingo and the fun and excitement carries on through the games. After all the games are played Door Prizes are handed out by calling out ticket numbers. I have never won a game of bingo, or a door prize, but I still really do enjoy going to OUTrageous Bingo! The next event is March 5 and I plan on attending, and maybe this will be the day I finally win!

Restaurants I Like and Dislike

Last night, like many other Monday nights, Erica and I went out for a weekly special meal. Almost every Monday Erica and I go out for burritos at Moe's Southwest Grill. For those of you unfamiliar with Moe's here is a video explaining all about Moe's (I don't know why it looks like it's from a 1994 corporate training seminar).

We go to the Moe's on Campbell's Run Road in Robinson. Monday nights, also known as Moe's Mondays, there is a special deal for ANY burrito, chips, and a drink for less than 6 bucks!! I typically get a burrito stuffed with so many additions the burrito builders have a hard time rolling it shut. We also normally get a cup of the queso dip on the side as it is a perfect addition to go with the freshly made chips. The burritos are quite big and very filling so it is a lot of bang for your buck. The staff is always very friendly, I smile every time I walk in and hear them all shout "Welcome to Moe's!" Which I'm sure gets really annoying to them, but they always seem happy to shout it. They always seem to be in good moods and chat with us as they create our burritos. While checking out last night, the guy working the register said I lose brownie points for having Erica pay for my meal on Valentines Day. I told him that was her V-day treat for me, a delicious burrito meal, which is much better than a crowded fancy restaurant on Valentine's Day.
I highly recommend checking out Moe's it definitely falls into the "Restaurants I Like" category. The burritos are great and the prices are good too. The staff is excellent. I have never had any problems with the food I've ordered since you get to watch them build it right in front of you, and you choose everything that goes in. If your hungry on a Monday night maybe give me a call and we can go enjoy some Moe's Monday burritos together!

Moe's Southwest grill is not to be confused with Flaming Moe's...

What Up Oprah

Today I got my tax return. After seeing it's splendor for about 3 minutes, I paid off my credit card and it is gone. I would have loved to have that money for other things. It could have helped me with student loans for a few months (not many, but a few). It could have bought me some fun new toys. I could have bought more new dinosaur books and educated myself with that money. Having my tax return inflate my bank account briefly made me start thinking about what I could do if I actually had money. That, added with the fact that Erica was talking about what she would do if she hit the lottery really made me think about what I would do if I had tons and tons of money.After swimming in my fortune like Scrooge McDuck I would definitely pay off my debt. My huge black hole of student loans would be first to go, then paying off my car. Next I would probably help with the debt of some family and friends. I would be sure to save myself some of my fortune though because I would definitely want to get myself a boat. I don't know why, but I have always wanted a boat. I think I'd live in the boat, at least part of the year. Depending on how large this fortune is I receive I would buy a house down in North Carolina big enough to fit my extended family, so our vacation home would be ready for us every year.
So that is my plans for my tax refund, and my hypothetical instant fortune. What's your plan for your tax refund? What would you do with a gigantic fortune?
O ya, one more thing I'd love to do if I had billions: I'd buy an island like Ricky Martin!

Wouldn't It Be Fun To Do This

So once again my day somehow led me to playing around on YouTube, and I started watching videos and thinking "I would have so much fun doing that!" I watched a variety of videos but they all ended in me wishing I could have been involved in the making of the video because it looks like so much fun. Some are clips from television shows, like this one from Glee. Now I frequently wish that I was an extremely talented high school kid when watching this show, but I think if I could have been involved in any of the performances, this one looks to be the most fun!

Splashing around in puddles while singing and dancing just seems like a good time to me. Now I'm sure they all caught a terrible cold afterward because that's what happens when you play in puddles, but I'm sure the cold was worth it.
The next clip could even match up with yesterday's post because it includes a fun YouTube video with a movie I could watch over and over again. Improv Everywhere does a lot of crazy/fun stuff, but when you mix it with Ghostbusters it becomes something that I totally wish I was a part of!

Now I don't think I ever want to be arrested and sent to a Filipino prison, but being in this large scale dance number just seems like a lot of fun. According to what was said in Glee it actually lowered crime and violence inside the prison between prisoners. So not only was this a fun video, but it was actually good for everyone involved. I'm sure this took A LOT of work, but I believe it really paid off because this video is just so cool.

The following clip has been copied a few times by other people, and even on a few television shows, but I still think it would be awesome to do. I don't care if people would now claim it is unoriginal it is still so much fun and people would be pumped to be there for it. Weddings are supposed to be fun, and this gets the fun started from the very beginning. You know you're gonna have a good time at a wedding that starts like this.

Once again, there are plenty of others out there that would be amazing. I'm not even saying these are the top ones out there, just saying that these are some amazing examples of all the fun stuff out there to do. So maybe I should get off my butt, stop blogging, and find something fun to do... Or, I could meet Erica at Subway for lunch and then go to Home Depot. Not as fun as these videos, but still a good day in my book!

Movies I Could Watch Every Day

So while eating lunch today I decided to look through the On Demand selection of movies to find something to watch while eating. None of the new movies looked like they were worth watching so I decided to watch Super Troopers.

While watching this I realized that there are some movies that I could watch every day and not get bored with them. Now most of these movies star Tom Hanks because that guys just stars in awesome movies. I think I could watch a Tom Hanks movie every day for the rest of my life and be happy. I believe that the only reason Tom Hanks wasn't in Jurassic Park was because nobody would ever watch another movie again after that. I think this next clip could show a Tom Hanks movie that everyone would stop and watch if they saw it was on (and if you wouldn't stop and watch it, then you probably have no soul, or you're really busy and you are mad that you can't sit and watch it).

Some movies I don't even know what it is about them that makes me love watching them. Like who would possibly want to watch a Ben Affleck movie repeatedly if it didn't also star Jay and Silent Bob and/or Matt Damon. However, this is a Ben Affleck movie that I can watch over and over again.

I know everyone out there has their guilty pleasure movies. Leave me a comment telling me about yours, and let me know if you also can't help but repeatedly watch movies like this one.

5G Network: The 5th G Is For God

OK so I didn't get around to blogging yesterday. Call it Superbowl depression, or a hangover, or something else, but I just didn't get around to blogging.
Today I was playing around online and came across this article. Apparently the Catholic Church has sanctioned this "Confession App" which doesn't completely erase the need for confession, but just makes it easier. So I guess you type your sins into this app and then head to a priest for absolution. This is just one step towards Catholics using technology to connect to people and help them return to Catholicism. The article mentions how the app helped one man turn back to Catholicism after 20 years.

I'm wondering if this Confession App is just the beginning, what other kind of technology will be used in the Church.

• Foursquare: Become the mayor of your local church and receive 50% off your weekly offering
• Twitter: Follow Jesus to be best prepared for the 2nd coming
  
• Facebook: You could be the first to comment "Lord hear our prayer" on this Sunday's Prayer of the Faithful Wall Post
  
• YouTube: Watch Pope Benedict do acoustic covers of the top hymns
  
• LinkedIn: Who's a better connection to have than The Man Upstairs

More Apps:

• The Rosary App: Choose the Mysteries you want and it recites the decades for you, just move your finger to the next bead
• Holy Water App: Move your iPhone in a Cross pattern over a bowl of water and it blesses it for you
• Tongue of Fire App: hold your iPad over your head and while displaying a small flame on the screen it translates everything you say into multiple languages
• Goliath App: Put your iPod Touch into a slingshot and fire it at the face of Giant to knock him out

Who knows what else inventive things the Catholic Church's I.T. department can come up with. Leave a comment if you have any more ideas for how Catholicism can use technology!

Googling Myself

Today I was trying to come up with a topic to blog about, so I went to Google. I turn to Google and search for random things until I find some inspiration. Today I decided to Google my own name and see what came up. So I'm going to share of few of the things I found. When I did a Google image search I found a few pictures from the blog, but I also found a flattering picture(pictured left) from a Facebook group that my brother Boo started.

When I type my name into a Google web search I don't find myself at all on the first page. I do find some very interesting Dave Kraemers though. The first is a musician based out of northern New Jersey. Here is a video of Dave singing. He is a lot more musically talented than I am, so I am perfectly OK with him appearing before me on Google.

Following him on the list are a bunch of other Dave Kraemers. They are executives, carpenters, Jewish doctors, and other successful career holding guys. Page three of Google web search for Dave Kraemer finally shows this blog, after two pages of other Dave Kraemers I finally appear on the list. I want to raise my Google standing. Google allows you to pay to have your website appear first in the list, but as many of you know I am poor and can't afford anything like that. So now I will just continue to write this blog and hope my loyal reader(s) will read enough to raise my Google status! You can help too by Googling my name and finding my blog and clicking the link. If you're bored do it a few times, if you're really bored do it many times. When my name appears ahead of those other Dave Kraemers I will know I am a success and I can kick back wearing a vest and drinking tropical drinks (pictured right).

Goalie Fight!

During last night's Pens game something very rare in hockey happened. It was the very rare Goalie Fight! Normally the only time you see a goalie fight is during a bench clearing brawl, and even then a lot of times the goalies sit it out. Goalies don't typically fight, if they get into trouble there is typically someone else on the team who steps up and defends him. This isn't because the goalie is a wuss or can't handle himself, it is more because the team doesn't want to risk an injury to their goalie. The following is a video from last night's game.

There are multiple things I love about this clip:
1. I love the fact that it is a goalie fight
2. The ref sees Johnson coming and thinks "I have to stop this mad man coming down the ice"
3. Johnson sidesteps the ref like he is nothing at all
4. One punch and Dipietro is down
5. Fleury is so happy for his fellow goaltender
6. Fleury can't decide if he wants to keep congratulating Johnson or watch the replay
7. Johnson can back up wearing a Christmas dickie and suspenders (pictured below)
Last time these two teams met Cooke got mixed up with Dipietro on a few occasions. He got called for three penalties after three different plays ending with Dipietro down on the ice (video below). This seemed to be Dipietro trying to send a message to Cooke. Well all I can say is it backfired. Johnson pretty much showed Dipietro and his entire team that you don't send a message to the Pens because they will always get the last word!

Hypocritical Public Service Announcements

The above video is a prime example of celebrities using their popularity to try and give advice to America's youth. However, why should we take advice about not doing crack from a guy who talks to a chair, dinosaur, robot, and a genie. He wears a suit that is 2 sizes too small, every day of his life. A guy who makes a living off of acting like he is on crack is supposed to tell us not to do it. He is basically saying "even though crack made me a lot of money and extremely famous, you shouldn't do it." Some Public Service Announcements (PSAs) seem extremely hypocritical at times and I honestly cant take the seriously. Maybe it would have been more poignant if PeeWee was speaking from a hospital bed with an MRI of his highly deteriorated brain hanging behind him. I don't know, maybe I'm the only one who feels this way, but I feel like there could be a better spokesman for that.

I can't believe this video made it on television. I honestly believe the man who pitched the idea for this commercial had to be stoned. "Dude, how about instead of the girl's family or friends talking to her about her problem, her dog does it. He can be like up front with her and tell it like it is. My dog always helps me out with advice about life..." Another thing I think some kids might see this and think is "WOW if I do drugs, I can talk to my dog!" I don't think talking animals is really going to scare kids OFF of drugs.

This one really bothers me. Singing a pleasant song and showing all kinds of smiling people doing a variety of activities does not make VD sound like something you don't want. Honestly if I didn't know already that VD stands for Venereal Disease this commercial makes it look like something I would WANT. Since it is for everybody I think I should have VD so I can be happy and play the violin and ride a horse too! These commercials are supposed to raise awareness at these things being bad, and I really feel like they are just going the opposite direction.

This final PSA is done as a joke, but I honestly think it is the best one out of what I've posted. It gets the point across and teaches you, without any mixed messages. I learned from it, and I believe that Dwight K. Schrute knows what he is talking about when it comes to bears.

Share a comment letting me know if you think any of these PSAs were actually helpful, or maybe you can share a link to a positive or negative PSA.
I know some people have had trouble getting their comments to post, and I don't know why. The comments should post automatically and I do not have to approve them first. Keep commenting, if you are having trouble posting a comment let me know and maybe it can help me figure out why they aren't posting.

Sitting In The Waiting Room At Flynn's

I guess I will be blogging on the go again today, because I am currently sitting at Flynn' Tires getting new tires for Mel (my Jeep). I have known for a while now that I need new tires, Mel slips and slides on wet roads and she absolutely hates ice. With the possibility of an Ice-pocalypse I decided I absolutely had to go get them. I got myself a Good Year credit card just for buying new tires, and have been looking for awhile now.
My uncle recommended checking out Flynn's so this morning that is what I did. I made a few phone calls to Flynn's and Good Year asking about what would be best for my car. I have never shopped for tires before so I had a few questions about what different things meant. So after talking to a few nice people at Good Year and Flynn's I picked out some new Wrangler ST tires (pictured left is Erica and Megan sitting in a gigantic Good Year tire, these are not the tires I purchased). I'm sitting in the waiting room right now as they install these new tires.

Dr. Oz is trying to figure out if some Miracle Doctor's touch can actually heal people. This is amazing waiting room television programming. Dr. Oz is not judging and said he will leave that up for everyone to decide on their own, he just wants to share the stories of the patients because they "fascinate" him. This is a lot more exciting than reading Sports Illustrated from 2 months ago or more. He also has a doctor who studies cases of "faith based healing." He says "both medicine and faith are great gifts" and he says both should be used.

This is captivating television, I'm going to end this blog here so I can devote my full attention to Dr. Oz and his lovely guests; maybe they can also use their miracle abilities to stop the Ice-pocalypse!


Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
I blogged on the go, then came back and added pictures