Get the party started! Happy Cinco de Mayo...

I live in a great neighborhood with a great bunch of fun loving neighbors. After a long, cold, snowy winter, next weekend is our first opportunity to come out of hibernation and shake off the cobwebs. We are using Cinco de Mayo as our excuse to break out the Margarita machine, fire up the grill, and dust off the lawn chairs. Hail to our kingdom, known by those who live here as "Mortgage Hill". This is the second year for our Cinco de Mayo party. I guess technically it is Cinco de Mayo dos! Last year our break out was met with a cold rainy day, but thanks to our neighbor that has everything, three 10 x 10 party tents magically arrived in the front yard along with a portable fire pit. Plenty of food and libation was had by all. Everyone is looking forward to the weekend with great anticipation. This year will be bigger and better than last year. We have ordered perfect weather for this years party, but even if we have a foot of snow, our celebration will be unequaled! Spread the joy. Get the party started in your neighborhood. Happy Cinco de Mayo dos from the folks on the hill.

Feed the Green Monster...

Every year I pay my good friends at True Green to weed and feed my yard and what do I get? Of course I get a weed free yard. I get a nice green yard. I get a fast growing yard. And... I get to mow twice a week to keep the grass from taking over the neighborhood. Not exactly how I like to spend my leisure time. With the price of gas spiraling out of control, now I'm scraping up all of my spare change, er, I mean, spare dollars, to keep the mower running. That gallon of gas I used to go buy for my Dad when I was a kid that cost a quarter, now is costing me an arm and a leg. Wow! How does that make any sense. And the sad thing is that its not just me. I am sitting here as I blog watching two of my neighbors mow their green monsters. Hey! I have an idea. Maybe we should go together and buy a hybrid mower! Do they make such a thing? That would be the "green" thing to do. Look out Al Gore. Sam Speak is in the yard...

Billy Joel rocks Columbus!

Billy Joel rocked Columbus last night with a high energy performance that went far beyond this concert goer's expectations. No need for any opening act to set the mood as Billy hit the stage ready to get the party started. He performed all of his classics with the exception of Uptown Girl, which who could blame him for skipping over that? When his band broke into to Hang on Sloopy, the Buckeye faithful almost brought the house down! O H I O ! The concert brought out the best in this piano playing legend and one couldn't help but laugh at the playful comedic comments he laced the show with. Apparently, I wasn't the only one who enjoyed the show. I sensed that even Joel was surprised by the crowd's electrifying plea for an encore. He responded with multiple songs including Piano Man! He left it all on the stage... Bravo Mr. Joel! Bravo!

Make Money... SHUT UP!

Do you remember when you were a kid and your Mom told you that it wasn't nice to tell someone to "shut up"? Well, she may have cost you a lot of money during your lifetime if you heeded her advice. The next time you pull out your wallet to pay someone for something you are going to buy, ask them if you are getting the best price they can offer. Then, tell yourself to "SHUT UP". Not out loud mind you, but subconsciously to yourself. Then just sit there and wait for and answer. When you get the answer, tell yourself to "SHUT UP" again. Don't say a word. Just wait and wait and wait and wait. The person on the other end will feel obligated to say something. There initial response may be favorable, but if not, waiting will ensure the other person will eventually feel obligated to say something more. Its human nature. If you wait long enough, and believe me, it will be hard for you to stay "SHUT UP", they will say something more. They will continue to add to what they said and there is a VERY good chance that you are going to get a better deal. Don't break out of your silence too soon. The longer you keep your mouth shut, the better deal you are likely to get. Try it. You will be amazed. Ask, Shut up, and wait... Cha Ching! $$$

Boobs and tubes! Life comes at you fast...

How do you fill your evenings. Are you a creature of habit? Does the boob tube rule your world. Do you have a favorite show that you watch on certain nights? My wife and I seem to slip into the Monday night "Dancing With The Stars", Tuesday and Wednesday night "American Idol",and the rest of the week we live on some version of "CSI". Sad isn't it? Occasionally we get a taste of "TV Wine", some special sporting event. Tonight happens to be the NIT quarter finals. Being a die hard Buckeye fan, that is a very good thing. Especially if my beloved Buckeyes win. That will give us something good and different to watch on Thursday night as well. What would we do if there was no TV? Hmmmmmmmm.

Five things to do if you didn't have TV to watch...

1. Read
   
2. Spend quality time with your significant other
   
3. Play games
   
4. Sleep more
   
5. blog :)
   

Why is it so hard to list 5 items? What would you do readers? Your comments would be appreciated.