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Amazing Rainbow (Double Rainbow) in the Desert / Arizona Dust Storm
Tonight we had a very cool weather event. A dust storm rolled in and was followed at the tail end by a double rainbow.
Heidie captured it on video, check it out.
This video was taken with a Canon PowerShot SD700 IS Digital Elph
For full details of go this event to my Crazy Cool site.
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Retail vs Online shopping – Black Friday @ amazon
Just a quick note for shoppers, some good deals are available at amazon’s black friday sale.
Retail vs Online Shopping
I had thought about fighting the crowds tomorrow to get some good deals. I had a few specific things in mind–with one of them being a new dishwasher. Well, I did some researching on what models I wanted. I narrowed it down to features and reviews and within a certain price range.
After that, I got my list of of 4 top dishwashers that I was looking at. So I looked at all the local stores ad’s to find out if any of them were selling the particular models–I was hoping best buy would have one of them, since I had some gift certificates to use.
Well, after all the research, I was not able to find any of my items available in the store—they were only available online. What’s up with that. The stores just didn’t carry them. So I was disappointed in the retail shopping for my specific items.
I will probably end up purchasing it online after all.
I did see some good deals in retail flyers, but mostly it was for stuff that was not what I wanted, maybe older models or last year’s items that they were discounting heavily, not something that I would end up buying anyways.
Anyone have any thoughts this? Have you had a different experience than me on finding exactly what you wanted and it WAS available at a store on black friday?
-Lockley
Stores for Christian Products — my faves (and more)
Hello all,
I wanted to let you know of some cool web sites for Christian products and services.
One store that offers christian books, christian music, christian videos and christian gifts is:
Oh, I also forgot they sell church supplies as well.
I have been involved in running this store for the last 3 years.
Another web store devoted specifically to worship music and worship resources is:
This store has been around since 1998. I co-founded this store and also worked there for over 10 years. That store is now located in the Nashville Tennessee area.
Since I have significant personal experience with both of these stores, I would highly recommend them if you are looking for christian products or christian worship music.
On a side note, you may also be interested in what other stores that I shop at. Well, glad you asked. Here is the short list:
- Newegg.com – Since I am a computer guy, and have built a number of computers and order plenty of components. Good prices as well as fast shipping. Customer service has been good as well, but I have only contacted them once once or twice.
- Behind the Mask – As a hockey player, this is the best place in the valley to get all the gear you need to play ice hockey.
I would like to hear what your comments are on the stores above, or if you have any ones that you would recommend. Let me know.
-Lockley
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Family Vacation / Summer 2009
We went on a trip to California in August of 2009. We drove to San Diego and spent a week or so there.
The kids love the ocean, beach and sun!
Summer Vacation 2009
Of course, we had to bring our dog Gracie. With the trip to Canada and then to San Diego, this was probably our best family vacation yet!!
Recreational Hockey [in the Desert] or Arizona Fight Night
I have been playing organized ice hockey for a few years. I grew up playing as a kid in Canada, like most other kids.
Phoenix Coyotes’ Mikael Tellqvist, right, makes a glove save as Coyotes’ Matt Jones (5), and Dallas Stars’ Steve Ott, left, battle in front of the goal in the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007 in Glendale, Ariz. The Coyotes defeated the Stars 5-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
After I moved away from home and settle in the Phoenix area, I started up playing again. Some of the things I like about playing hockey are:
1) the fun aspect — this is a great way to truly have fun. Hockey itself is a great team sport, that is fun, exciting and pretty fast paced.
2) exercise is key — i am not one who enjoys going to the gym and pumping iron, or doing your typical work-outs. For me, the redundancy of doing something is a big factor—ie, I would rather have fun AND get exercise than just trying to do some program to keep fit.
3) competition – mostly you want to compete when you engage in a physical activity. Not saying that winning is everything—being competitive is not really about winning, it is about trying to find a place where you feel comfortable while maintaining your desire to continue. Basically, if you always win, or always lose, I think you will tend to lose interest one way or the other. But, if there is a good level of uncertainty–it spices up the activity.
4) team work and relationship building – this area is a big deal. You can be on a team for a season, but for the long haul–you really want to be on a team where you have real relationships that you value. Even with just rec hockey (or other team sports), it is sooo much better when play with people you enjoy being around and where there is a mutual respect.
I was surprised to find how many ice rinks are in the Phoenix area–with new ones also being built. Hockey is a great sport. When you say the word *Hockey*, most people automatically think of fighting—that is a shame, because although fighting does exist, it is definitely not as widespread (especially in the rec leagues I have been involved with). I have been playing now in Phoenix for over 5 years and have probably played well over 150 games in that time—I have not been involved in 1 fight.
The other day I was at the local hockey store during a week day, getting my skates sharpened, and a mom along with her young son (and grandma in tow as well), were getting the son fitted for full hockey gear. The boy was around 4 years old. This was the first time getting any hockey equipment and the boy was genuinely excited and the mom was a bit nervous not knowing what exactly to get or how to put it on. She insisted the boy put on all the equipment (of course she helped him), so she would know the proper way to get dressed for a game. She had the boy enrolled in a hockey program starting that weekend. It brought a smile to my face seeing the excitement that the boy had and the dreamy expression he showed when he held the hockey stick for the first time.
Final Assessment: Hockey is an excellent sport for both young and old—and fighting in rec hockey is not as prevalent as you may think.
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