Google Image Search: Word & Picture #135

Today's Word:
"suspended from high school"

Today's Picture:


The guy in this picture is Nate Bukaty:

Nate is an old high school friend. He is also one of my heroes. He is the only person who I knew as a child who did exactly what he wanted to do in life. Nate always wanted to be a sportscaster. I can remember Nate going to the Bob Costas camp while we were all at baseball, football or soccer camps.

When Nate was saying he wanted to be a sportcaster, I think I was saying I wanted to be a professional BMX biker. How did I end up with a computer job?

Nate now is a sportscaster. He is on a morning talk radio program in Kansas City. He does play-by-play for the University of Kansas football and women's basketball teams. He has also worked with the Kansas City Royals.

Nate & I went to Guerro's for dinner last night. It was good to catch up with him. I had forgotten that both Nate & I had been suspended from high school. I was suspended for throwing water-balloons at our homecoming parade. Nate was suspended for throwing a thumb-tack in class. There are long-versions of both of those stories that can only be told over a beer.

It was really good having a beer with Nate last night. It made me miss KCK.

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The first person who names the person in this picture wins a hug from Ben!!!

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Google Image Search: Word & Picture #134

Today's Word:
megan gets an award

Today's Picture:

I don't know the Megan in this picture. I am not sure for what this Megan received an award.

But I know this Megan...

... she married me. Crazy, eh?

Megan received an award from the Texas Association of Marriage and Family Therapists for her work on the board. She is returning as a board member next year. Hooray!

I think she should also win the following awards:
1) Stinkiest Husband Award
2) Most Valuable PugPuggy Parent (MVPP)
3) Healthy Cookie Maker of the Year

Have you never met Megan? She is the one covering her face while I perform the skit at the Master Pancake show.

In Summary: Megan won an award, I smell bad, Master Pancake's skit makes Megan blush

Daily "Name This Person And Win!"

The first person who names the person in this picture wins a hug from Ben!!!

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25 Things About Me

Yes, I caught the Facebook flu... 25 things about me. 99 times out of a 100, I will not do something like this. I figured since I did it, I may as well own it and publish it.

Here it is. Copied-and-pasted from Facebook.

25 random things about me:
1) I lived in Japan and worked for the Hiroshima Carp, a professional baseball team in Japan. I was the team's mascot... yes, mascot.

2) I was on the cover of Sports Illustrated... dressed up like a cat... again with the damn mascot thing. Thank you, 1997 Arizona Wildcat basketball team for the best sports memory of my life.

3) I was raised in a blind school... yes, a blind school.

4) I left high school half-way through my senior year because my parents moved. I like to say I was a "beauty school drop out"

5) I was unemployed and living in my parents basement in Louisville, Kentucky, when I met my wife... I was a huge catch. I am constantly amazed she married me. Jedi mind trick, I guess.

6) My number one goal in life has always been to be a dad. Weird, eh? Kids don't scare me.

7) I won tickets to see David Letterman. I took my sister, Jen. I was briefly on TV when Dave walked into the audience. I also won tickets to an Allman Brothers concert where I caught a drum stick. I took my friend, Juris. I won tickets to San Carlos, Mexico. I took my family. I win things.

8) I gave Bob Dole a noogie.

9) I have been to 6 out of 7 continents... and I have plans to make it 7 of 7. This from a guy who, at age 18, defiantly swore to his parents that he would never leave Kansas City, Kansas.

10) In Tokyo, I saw the emperor of Japan drive-by in a car when I was with my economics professor, Gary Libecap. That was the only time I have ever seen an emperor. He waved at us... it was surreal.

11) My favorite baseball player growing up was Jamie Quirk.

12) I drink more than I should, weigh more than I should and have more fun than anyone should.

13) I want to make a feature length movie this year.

14) I play piano... but not really well. I know sign language... but not really well. I speak Japanese... but not very well.

15) I was student body president of my high school.

16) I never wanted a dog. Megan wanted a dog. But now that I have a dog, I love my dog and can not imagine being without a dog.

17) My first car was an 83 Honda Civic hatchback that an unnamed sister & I got to 100+ miles per hour between Wichita and Kansas City on our way back from a high school leadership conference. Miraculously, I am still alive.

18) I was born in St. Louis, Missouri. I love it there.

19) In high school, my friend, Jason, had a CB radio that you could talk over the QuickTrip (gas station) PA system. It was the source of most of my fun in high school.

20) I saw the Grateful Dead in Las Vegas roughly 3 months before Jerry Garcia died... The Dave Matthews Band opened. I saw James Brown 6th months before he died.

21) Curse words are awesome.

22) I perform with a comedy troupe called Master Pancake at the Alamo Ritz in Austin, Texas... don't believe me, come to "The Matrix" show on February 6th or 7th.

23) I have 3 sisters, all of their names start with a J. I love them all equally.

24) Paul Rudd, Martyn Starr and Jonah Hill once rode in the back seat of my car. They were cool. Paul Rudd lived in Johnson County, Kansas. I lived in Wyandotte County, Kansas. Small world.

25) 5 days after I arrived in Japan, Hiroshima had a 6.9 earthquake. It scared the hell out of me. When it started, I thought I caused it. I thought I accidentally pushed a button that made the earth start shaking.

Google Image Search: Word & Picture #133

Today's Word:
"It's Friday!"

Today's Picture:

Hooray!

This is the last weekend of Master Pancake "The Matrix" shows. I am stoked about this run of shows. It was a last minute decision to do this one... and the video sketch required some late nights. But it has been a blast and totally worth it. Joe & John - "you alived me". Thank you.

Here is the most unflattering picture I could find of Joe and John. Neo wakes up from is in his goo-tube to find Morphius with him... covered in slime (thanks for posting the picture, John).

Damn, that show was fun.

Daily "Name This Person And Win!"

The first person who names the person in this picture wins a hug from Ben!!!

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Google Image Search: Word & Picture #132

Today's Word:
Ben in Louisville

Today's Picture:

Nope, that is not me. I only play the cello on dry land.

Since my birthday, I have taken 2 trips to Louisville. The first was for Christmas. The second was a work-trip. Both trips were fun for their own reasons.

The family trip was fun because I got to see everyone. Mom, Dad, Jen, Jodi, Jess, Gar, John, Zach, Madison, Jackson, Grant, Megan... all under one roof. Good thing mom & dad have a basement. Here is a photo of the entire group:

After counting the people in this photo, I just realized we had almost the same number of people in the photo that the Brueggemann's had in their family. That is pretty good.

My dad works at the American Printing House for the Blind. He loves his job and he loves his co-workers. It is good to see him happy. Here is a photo of us at his work:


Megan, mom, dad and I went to Lynn's Paradise Cafe. That is where Megan & I had our first date.


We had fun:


We also hung out at Patrick's with Jess and Zach. We had a big long talk about the state of the world. I love these two people:


I love Louisville. It is a great & magical place. I am lucky I have family there to visit.

In Summary: Louisville is magical, my family is big, and Jess & Zach party at Patrick's.

Daily "Name This Person And Win!"

The first person who names the person in this picture wins a hug from Ben!!!


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Google Image Search: Word & Picture #131

Today's Word:
Epic fail

Today's Picture:

... I will say nothing.

Daily "Name This Person And Win!"

The first person who names the person in this picture wins a hug from Ben!!!

Google Image Search: Word & Picture #130

Today's Word:
"green screen"

Today's Picture:


No, that is not me.

I love that the guy is holding his green screen in place with Raisin Bran boxes. Classic. Although this guy's setup may as well be ILM or Trouble Maker studios compared to the green screen I built.

Three weekends ago, I built a green screen in my garage. I bought a huge roll of green paper from Gear Rental in Austin. (Thank you, Kat & Chadwick) I removed some shelves from my garage and installed a roll of paper. The impetus behind this green screen was a sketch that I am doing with Master Pancake during "The Matrix" show.

I don't want to ruin the sketch for the people who have not yet seen the show, but here are a couple of pictures of Joe Parsons in 2 positions as he tries to cross a busy street during the sketch...

... and ...

... this is Joe's good side. Zing!

The first creation for Master Pancake turned out pretty well. Jason came up to me after the first show and said, "did you film that in your garage?" I said yes. He said, "yup, it sounded like it". Zing!

I would invite you to the last Master Pancake show, but all 4 shows were sold out within 24 hours of going on sale. This is our last weekend, too.

Daily "Name This Person And Win!"

The first person who names the person in this picture wins a hug from Ben!!!


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Google Image Search: Word & Picture #129

Today's Word:
"bird poop"

Today's Picture:


So, guess who has two thumbs and parked in the wrong spot in downtown Austin?


Yes, the night of the improv show at the Alamo Drafthouse Ritz, I was stoked to find an "awesome parking spot" on 7th and San Jacinto. I paid little attention to the sounds of birds chirping in the tree directly above said "awesome parking spot". The result of my not paying attention to the birds in the tree above my "awesome parking spot":


Yes, that is my sweet ride, covered in bird poop. I think the birds hate me because I once hit one with my car. My sister Jessica was 6 years old (at the time) and in the back seat of the car. I was less worried about the bird that I hit than the reaction my baby sister would have to me being a bird killer. Luckily, she started cracking-up and said, "Do it again! Do it again!" Now, she is a community organizer in Americore. My, how her heart has softened.

To the birds who pooped on my car: suck it... suck it hard. If I get the opportunity and you fly near my car, I will fulfill my sister's 6 year old wish and "Do it again!". Revenge on all birds who poop!!!

The really big problem was that I was super busy last week. Between shows & getting ready for the trip to Fort Worth, I did not have time to wash my car until today. So I drove around in the poop-mobile for a few days. It looked like my car had acne.

The last time my car was so covered in crap was in college. My friends (yes, friends), Derek & Juris, covered my car in plastic wrap, then covered the car in marshmallows & oreo cookies. The pigeons that lived on top of my dorm had a field day with my car. Here is a picture of the car before the pigeons attacked:


Unfortunately, there was no "after pigeon poop" picture. I was laughing too hard at having to cut myself into my car.

In case you were wondering, the car being wrapped in cookies was revenge for something I did... I can't remember what. But I am sure I deserved it. Nonetheless, Derek & Juris: I will have my revenge. It may take years, but I will have my revenge. (insert evil laugh here)

In Summary: I have 2 thumbs, vengeance will be mine on Derek & Juris, and birds hate me.

Daily "Name This Person And Win!"

The first person who names the person in this picture wins a hug from Ben!!!

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