Typically not one to tout anyones products too much, but in this case, we’ve been gettin’ movies from Netflix back and forth, no hassles, and like the service. Waiting on the next movie, just got this email:

Dear Matthew,

As you may know, we had issues with our shipping systems this week. As a result, we didn’t ship DVDs to you in a timely manner, and you likely didn’t receive email letting you know we got a DVD back from you. Our shipping systems are working again, and any outstanding DVD shipments are being mailed today (Friday).

We pride ourselves in delighting you, and we’ve let you down. We apologize, and we will issue a 15% credit to your account in the next few days. You don’t need to do anything. Your credit will automatically be applied to your next billing statement.

Again, we apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding. If you need further assistance, please call us at ….

-The Netflix Team

Since I did not even know they were late, and I got a discount…COOL! 🙂

Click below

Click to Play! (..though I’m a Guild Wars fan…)

This was a link I found a while back to a good article on car care products.  Didn’t want to lose it!

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/pw/carcare.htm

This last December during a company outing, I got my best bowling score ever.  Pressure was on during the last frame, but I pulled through!  WooHoo!!

1: 9/ = 17
2: 7/ = 37
3: X = 65
4: X = 85
5: 8/ = 105
6: X = 124
7: 90 = 133
8: 8/ = 151
9: 8/ = 171
10: XX9 = 200 (WooHoo!)

This morning on the way into work, I was listening to “Who Am I”, by Casting Crowns, and that is a great song! If you havent heard it, there are a lot of YouTube posts with it.

Here the TAB for it (or at least a modified one)

Here is one of the live performances that is real good:

So we went to NC for the Memorial Day Weekend (Lynns folks have a house in Lake Toxaway). I brought the big scope (see post below). It was a clear night on Saturday with no moon, so it was great for using the scope. I got lost in all the stars, as there were so many visible, it is nothing like Atlanta, where you only see the brighter stars. Up there you see every star!

Anyway, I got a real good look at 2 items in the short time I had there (more about that below). First, I found the “Surfboard Galaxy” (M108), which was pretty cool. I could see the center and everything.

Then I was able to get in the same field of view, the “Owl Nebula” (M97). It was pretty clear.

I was using the new eyepiece I got for Christmas, so now I feel justified for spending the money!

Anyway, I was out there for about 1hour+, and when I was walking from the van to the scope at one point, something growled at me from the dark woods near where I was!!!!!  Talk about freaked out!  I froze, slowly made it back to the van, closed the doors, hit the high-beams, rev’ed the engine and made a lot of noise.  Then when I figured it was safe, packed up and left!

So much for a long night of stargazing…sheesh!

Anyway, it was cool while it lasted.  Below is an example of how it looked, though everything was bigger than this…

At the beginning of this year, I started having some lower back trouble. After some X-rays and an MRI, ends up I have a “bulging disc“. I’ve been to some physical therapy which has helped out, but hours of sitting in front of a computer has finally caught up with me. Stretching works, so I now stretch every morning.

That all being said, I was in the market for a new desk chair, since the ones at work were less than ideal. Of course, you see a lot of nice chairs out there, but the good ones cost upwards of $800-$1000!!! I found I liked the Aeron by Herman Miller and the Steelcase Leap chair. (tried them both at Sam Flax) There was a company selling used Leap chairs for $450, which is about 1/2 price, but still costly. Then I just found a guy who is selling off some old inventory of Aeron’s at about $300. The price tag new on these is $975, so it is like 1/3 the price!

You may be saying, “$300 for a chair!!! Crazy!!!”…but seeing as how I spend the majority of my life in a chair (sad…) its a small price to pay IMHO.

Anyway, that all being said, this is the chair I bought, and all I can say is SWEEETTTTT!!!!

A couple points about listening that made an impact on me:

1. When someone is talking, and we are thinking what to say next (or in response) then we are NOT really listening to them!
2. Most people don’t want to hear about your similar situation.  most people want eye-contact, and for you to listen to their situation and comment/respond about that.

I should read this post every day!  I am a terrible listener, but hopefully admitting it is 1/2 the battle! 🙂

One of the greats!