An Overdue Update

After spending 2 full months unemployed, applying/emailing to inquire about many many jobs, having numerous interviews (including one where I was told that I was over qualified!) and visiting several job fairs, it looks like something might just finally be developing...

I know I've had my status' revolving around becoming a "beer man" at Busch...looks like I'll be everyone's best friend at Busch Stadium on Opening Day...and every home game following...

I applied to a listing on CraigsList for an opening at Busch half joking and half serious...well, a month later I'm employed...I went for orientation earlier this week...after a Hepatitis shot and 5 hours later, I'm able to sell food and beverages at Busch.

A few answers to many of your questions:
-It is a commission based job...so any extra tips you want to throw my way is appreciated.
-I cannot get anyone into the game or be able to get any discounts on tickets.
-I am still needing to find another job, because this job alone will not pay all of my bills. Although, this will be a sweet part-time job...working only every other week for a few hours each night, easy cash for the few hours working.
-I will be at the All-Star game...oh yeah, and the home-run derby.
-I cannot get autographs or keep any foul balls or home run balls.
-I'll be assigned an area to work and can't visit other sections, so if you know you're going to be at a game...if i'm assigned a section for the entire season, i'll let you know where to find me for a tall cold one...if you're over 21 and have an ID...
-I'm still not sure what my "beer call" will be and am open to suggestions!

Yes, I also went for an interview in Indianapolis for a video production position at a church. I feel that the interview went really well and we'll see where God takes this... Yes, I'd prefer to stay in STL, but I can't deny God's calling. I'd get an opportunity to serve on an amazing staff and serve doing what I would love to do and what I'm gifted at.

I really appreciate everyone's prayers while I've been job searching and while I was at that interview. The past 2 months have been quite a ride and I'll keep everyone posted as things progress with the ministry position in Indy. I'm asking for everyone to continue prayer for direction with opportunities as they open up. I'm also be looking forward to sharing the numerous stories I'm sure I'll collect while working at Busch Stadium.

My Best Friend's Wedding

So, it's been awhile...
And if you couldn't tell by the change in the winds and the warmth in the air...it's that time of the year...wedding season...
Total Weddings I'll attend this summer: 5+ (I'm leaving room for wedding crashing)
Total Weddings I'm in this summer: 4 (1 Best Man, 2x a Groomsman, 1 Usher)

Now the title is obvious...but a few weeks ago, i stood up as the Best Man in my best friend's wedding...
I've never been through this before...a wedding, yes. being the best man, no. standing there seeing my best friend go through a change that would make his life to never be the same again.

It was a beautiful wedding.
There may or may not have been a bit of comic relief in the ceremony when it came time for me to give the ring to the minister...I may have acted like i forgot the ring and each of us in the line-up patted down our jackets until it got down to the last guy who then "found" the ring and handed it back up the line where i brushed it off and handed it over.

We had fun...
The maid-of-honor and I drove the happy bride and groom in their new car, and on our way to the reception we made a stop at Starbucks...it was quite a site to see...

We danced...
If anyone has ever seen me attempt this, they'd know that i'm handicapped in this part of life. I don't think God intended on my moving much like that....but nonetheless, i danced...

Now as a duty of the Best Man, there was a speech that was to be given...i gave it, and yes, i'll be the first to admit that a tear or two or fifteen were shed. I stood up there with microphone in hand and my speech on the piece of paper in the other shaky hand. I got through the first side of the page and then i started to get choked up. I made it through it...although the back half of the page did take a bit to go through...probably because i bit into that onion and my eyes kept watering...or so i did cry..... Not because I was sad, but because I was there standing next to a brother in Christ who i've grown up with. My best friend just got married. I was overjoyed for the newlyweds. They are wonderful together and i love them both dearly.

Over the past few months, Jeremy and i would go to Buffalo Wild Wings just about every thursday night and talk about the upcoming event, D-day...the wedding...and after many many 50 cent boneless wings, numerous tall cold ones, and many laughs, I sit here trying to think of how i can communicate a conclusion about what I learned from those Thursday nights....it's not that i haven't learned anything...it's just that there aren't words that can describe how God forms one's heart over time...it's been a blessing to have Jeremy in my life, and to know that I was able to be a part of his wedding was amazing.

So tonight i'll raise my glass in honor of all of the weddings that take place over this summer, many i'll attend, some i'll be a part of, and none that i'll forget...

My K.C. Masterpiece

So last night and today I was in Kansas City. I went there for a college expo for work. After arriving into K.C. around 8:30, we (my co-worker and myself) decided to go to Buffalo Wild Wings to eat for some dinner. That was until we noticed a KC Masterpiece. We thought, hey, in K.C. why not eat some of it's Masterpiece...So we enter this eating establishment only to realize how dead it was inside. We sat down, ordered our drinks, took one sip of that Mt. Dew and walked straight out. It was time to live it up on a Friday night & BW's is where it was going to be. So we head to BW3's where it was exactly that...lively. We sat in the area with most TV's visible and ended up having this huge guy that had a shaved head as our waiter...He was a jerk, just flat out a jerk. As we ate our delicious wings...i noticed Mr. Clean start to carry out these kegs that were lined up against the wall. Cory and I just looked at each other and were thinking that they had to be empty cause he just picked up two of them up at a time. He then came back and grabbed the last one and tossed it over his head. Now, i understand Mr. Clean is a strong guy, but we knew the truth, those were empty and he was showing off. So after eating our wings, we sat there for an hour, watching NCAA ball and also waiting on Mr. Clean to bring us our check, who just happened to disappear...so we were like...hey, free meal...but being the honest guys we are, we went to the front and were like, hey, is it free friday? and the girl looked at me weird and so i explained and we had to go back to the bar area and find some girl who finally gave me our check, who later said we could have just walked right out...

so we head back towards the hotel where a comedy club was located at that we noticed on our way out. Come to find out, it was closed, so we are sitting there in the car and the question is asked 'well, what now?' and i replied, 'i didn't come to kansas city to go to bed at 10:30 on a friday night...so we headed towards the general direction of downtown K.C. After finally reaching a place to see the sky-line, we noticed a huge hotel w/ color changing lights across the entire building...quite a sight to see...so we said, let's go in it...as we get close to it, we notice another hotel...the Radison...on the top floor it looked like a giant circle coming out of the building like as if something was special up there...so we said, let's go there instead...so we did. After parking, legally, i dunno, it was downtown K.C. we walked in. Cory looked over at me and said, oh yeah, PBR is in town this weekend. I found it odd that if this wasn't the case, because about 20 cowboys were in the lobby of the hotel...we made it to the elevators and found the top floor...number 24...would Jack Bauer be there to greet us? who knows....

As the doors opened to the 24th floor, there was a red carpet awaiting us, as well as loud music, giant PBR signs and a guy behind a red rope ready to greet us and check our ID's...with about 1/2 a second of hesitation, we proceeded into the arena of lights and the sweet sound of a country/techno remix dancing it's way into my ears...All i needed was about 2 seconds to realize that i wish I would have packed my cowboy hat and button down shirt to K.C. We were the only non-cowboy dressed in the entire downtown area i think.

All i could think of was the country song running through my head "Should have been a cowboy" and although i wasn't there, "God Blessed Texas" cause there were cowgirls there too...

Basically we walked in on the PBR after-party in the top of the Radison. All we wanted to do was to look out the big cirlce from the top floor cause it looked cool from the ground...so we did just that and turned around and walked right out. On our way down, we got to experience a tipsy cowboy...oh i don't miss those days of drunk cowboys and country/western line dancing...

We made our trip to the downtown so we returned to our hotel, where a bed made of angel's wings was there. Oh how i miss sleeping on a queen size bed...it was amazing!

So then at the college expo in the morning, we get to our table and get placed next to a lady who was anit-public schools...oh what a sight...she actually had posters to give to people that said "public schools harm children"...oh what a sight to see..

So we survived through the expo without getting crucified from the lady...then time to fill up the school's car...a '96 Lumina...green at that! and hit the road...

After filling up for gas, we joke about how ghetto the area looked, just then, as I get to start the car and leave...we heard it. It was a gun shot! Cory and i just looked at each other, looked around to see where it came from, then i checked myself to make sure i wasn't shot and we sped out of Dodge....well, K.C. I then made it back to the beautiful Lou with a speedy time of 3 hours...oh, Home Sweet Home...