MAKE BEN FAIR

The rumors are true, I can't even believe it myself. For two years of my life I along with my beautiful wife lived in Gulf Breeze,FL and literally felt as if we were suffering due to one simple thing. ALL THE KIDS WANTED TO LISTEN TO WAS PUNK MUSIC! Not only that but all they wanted to hear was Blink 182! I thought I was going to go freakin crazy. I hated it with everything in me. I tried to like it, I wanted to be cool and fit in, you know be able to relate. It just never worked. The more I tried the worse it seemed to get.

So now I have lived back in Texas for 2 years. Some weird stuff is going on. I own a skateboard, which I didn't own in Florida even though we had a skate ministry 2 times a week that I was in charge of... I eat almost anything now, and... are you ready? Can you handle this? I LOVE BLINK 182!! There new album is so unbelievable good. Travis the drummer is like the most amazing drummer. The band has infectious melodies and that whinny voice that use to send shivers down my spine is like sweet music to my ears. Now don't worry, I haven't completely gone crazy or anything, I still to this day only own the 1 punk album, and some may even say that blink isn't real punk, that they are sell-outs or whatever. I just think they are good at what they do and it is really fun to listen to their new album.

So to all those kids in Florida that I made fun of for listening to what I once called the worst music ever, please forgive me!

Most of you who know me know that I have traditionally been a really picky eater. I always eat my hamburger with meat, bread, and mustard. I always eat my sandwiches with just meat bread and either mayo or mustard depending on the meat. Something weird has happened to me lately and my taste have changed. One night Jamie and I were eating dinner and I stared a tomato in the face and said, "I am going to eat you!" I successfully ate the tomato and since then have just about eaten anything and everything that comes on sandwiches and burgers.

This brings me to my tribute: THE SANDWICH! Instead of just two pieces of white bread, deli meat and a litte mayo, we have upgraded to a much better sandwich experience. Today for lunch I had the best invention yet. I had tuna on a hoagie with lettuce, mayo and BACON!!!! It was so freakin good. Now you can replace the tuna with turkey and you get the same great sandwich. Feel free to add some tomato into the mix if you are feeling crazy. I remember watching the Cosby show as a kid and watching Dr. Cosby always get so excited about eating a sandwich. I never understood this because to me a sandwich just meant that I didn't get to eat Pizza or a Hamburger. So here's to the Sandwich!!! cheers

Some of you may not have had the pleasure of meeting my dad Clay. He is the coolest dad ever! One of my favorite things about my dad is he tells Dad jokes! Last week I received an email from him about the holidays. I have posted it below for all to enjoy. cheers

Eight Simple Rules for Visiting the Dudleys

1. Don't make yourself at home. We most likely do things a bit differently (see rules 2-8). You may actually learn something to improve the quality of your own life, and you won't be here that long either.

2. Dad's chair is the big blue one in front of the TV. If Dad is in the house, don't use Dad's chair. He may need it at a moments notice, and we wouldn't want you to be in harms way.

3. The Beeper ( aka the remote) lives on the table next to Dad's chair. If Dad is in the chair, you don't need to worry about this rule as it will be moot. Otherwise feel free to use the remote, but replace it immediately when Dad sits or you take your hand off of it. Don't lay it anywhere else! This is not a game of hide and seek.

4. The garbage disposal in the kitchen is for garbage. That means all the stuff that may be left on your plate except the silverware. Be careful! It will dispose of fingers as well as left over burgers, fries, or anything else you couldn't eat. Like all carnivores, it doesn't like lettuce or other green leafy stuff. You'll have to eat all of that or the garbage disposal gets sick and will, in fact, vomit. Trust me on this one. Oh yeah, it doesn't do silverware either.

5. The trash compactor is for trash, not garbage (see rule 4).The capacity is 37-38 days for two people, which is why it is NOT for garbage. Garbage will stink. Trash, appropriately rinsed, will not. As an addendum, take lids off your empty beverage bottles. This isn't the nuclear version and we don't want to fill the thing up with bottled air.

6. Help yourself to the refrigerator, as long as you don't take the last of anything. For example milk. Milk is necessary for cereal and if you drink all of it at night then there won't be any to put on cereal in the morning. That's a big deal if it's Dad's cereal.

7. Television. Be flexible. Dad likes lots of different shows, not so much 24 hours of the same show. Particularly Trading Spaces. If you are addicted to this show, we can tape it for you and you can take it home. Same goes for NASCAR.

8. Lights. They are necessary at night, if you are in the room. But they aren't necessary after you leave the room and may cause a glare on the television. So turn them off as you leave the room, especially the kitchen. You probably shouldn't be spending much time there anyway!