Random thoughts....

It's been awhile since we've posted, so I decided that I would just update you all on what's going on in my mind.

- The first reviews for the Dark Knight are starting to appear, and are all are glowing reviews of the film and the performances, especially of the late Heath Ledger. A couple of people have said that he deserves an Oscar, and we're only in June! I am so excited for this movie.

- Imagine this: a guy plays Dance Dance Revolution and goes to a bar to impress the ladies with his newly acquired dance moves. "Hey ladies, check this out...Oh yeah."

- I like Coldplay's new album, but to me it's just not as melodic as their previous albums. I do appreciate the musical experimentation and the new directions that they're going in, but I don't think they were able to marry their amazing ability to provide a musical hook with the reach of their musical ideas. Hopefully the next album will provide both of those elements.

- It's summer time again, and this always reminds me of something that I learned in Psychology, that heat provokes more anger in people. My co-worker has a window seat, and I can testify that this is true. Punches, and more of the sort have come more frequently now that it's Summer time. BTW, it always seems like you're freezing or burning in Utah.

- I laid out a three semester plan to go back and get my Master's for my boss this past week, and it was approved. I am so excited, and grateful. It's weird how things work out like this sometimes. You just have to know that God is helping and guiding through life. Our perceptions are so superficial sometimes. I was crushed when I was rejected from every school I applied to this year, but given our current situation I couldn't be happier. I truly am getting the best of both worlds - experience and education.

- Wall-E has a 9.2 out of 10 on IMDB, and a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. WOW. It is currently #6 on the list of the top 250 movies of all time on IMDB. I love Pixar. Call me weird, but I think they make the most clever movies.

- First the Supreme Court of California overturns a voter-approved ban on gay marriage, and then THE Supreme Court grants detained terrorists in Guantanamo Bay certain rights that allow them to appeal their imprisonment. What is happening to our country?

- One cool thing that I did last week was adjust my net pay by using the IRS' tax withholding calculator to see if I was paying too much in taxes. I'll see just how much that adjustment will be this Friday. My co-worker did this on my advice and got an increase of $180 in his last paycheck. Only thing is that we'll have to remember to do this again next January so we won't owe the government taxes in two years. If you want to check this out just google "IRS tax withholding calculator".

Scary

Wow. I would be running, but this person decided to take a picture. Luckily this tornado funnel cloud just touched down for a second, and then lifted off the ground back into the clouds.

"Team Building" at AMEX

Friday was our team building activity day which was quite fun actually. We started by getting lunch at a really good sandwich place and ate at the park. We followed that up with a trip to Boondocks which is a family fun center of sorts with Go Karts, Laser Tag, Mini-Golf, Bumper Boats, Video Games, and batting cages.

Here are a few of the highlights:

1. My manager's boss was on a business call off on a little grassy hill away from all the rides while we waited in line for the water boats, and my direct report boss had the brilliant idea to get one of the workers at Boondocks to go up to him and say something to the effect of "There have been some complaints that you have been recording videos of the children here at the park. Someone has also complained that you approached their child and were talking to them." So he got someone to do it while we all watched him get punk'd. It was hilarious.

2. Watching my bosses tie my co-worker's shoe to the railing without him knowing while we waited to go on the Go Karts.

3. Watching that same co-worker try to bunt in the fast-pitch batting cages because he wasn't having any success trying to hit the ball.

That's how we do "Team Building" at AMEX. It was more of a Go Kart competition than anything, mixed with the best ideas for punking.