Zooey

#‎7ElevenDay‬: Free Slurpees Today

"I wake up every morning in a bed that’s too small, drive my daughter to a school that’s too expensive, and then I go to work to a job for which I get paid too little, but on [Slurpee] day? Well, I like [Slurpee] day... #‎7ElevenDay‬

Every July 11th we celebrate one of the most convienet of all convience stores, 7-11. What better way to celebrate than a free Slurpee. And when it's 90 degrees and muggy, it'll be a fantastic treat! One free small Slurpee drink TODAY at 7-Eleven from 11 AM to 7 PM. GO! GO! GO! ‪

Love Doritos Like Me? Want to get something Free?

GET YOUR FREE 2-WEEK XBOX LIVE GOLD TRIAL and BONUS movie rental from VUDU for more entertainment – with the purchase of 2 specially marked Frito-Lay bags from Walmart. Visit www.ChargeUpYourFun.com for more details.

Lego City: Father's Day Event

What are you doing Saturday? Nothing!?! Good. Then you should take your kids to Toys R Us? Why? Because there is something cool, fun, and free to do. Thanks to Social Networking and my friend Joe... I have learned that Toys R Us is doing a Lego Building Event.

Growing up, my room was littered with legos. I would build cities and destroy them. Battle Ships, cars, Space Aliens, Legos really do allow you to unlock your imagination. I love Legos. And evidently, Legos loves Dads. At Toys R Us this Saturday 12-2PM, bring your kids to your local Toys R Us and you get to put together a Lego City Police Car... and bring it home! For More Information, visit toysrus.com

I'm sorry did you say Free Doritos? May 17th only

 Today is the day that dreams are made of.  Ralphs/Food4Less (Krogers)is handing out free Doritos!

  But wait, there is more.  Today  from 4PM to 8PM you can also get free samples of Pepsi Next and Cheetos.  Of course, Lilmited Quantities Available,   While Supplies Last... but... c'mon!

Visit http://www.krogerpepsifritolayfreeforall.com/ to find the participating location nearest you.

Free Comic Book Day!!!

Here's a Sampling of the Free Comics We Got.

Free Comic Book Day is the annual event which takes place on the first Saturday of May each year.  The concept behind the give away day, is to inspire people to get back into the comic book shops.  It worked on us today.  The last time I stepped into a comic book store was in passing visiting my friend who ran a shop.  Comic Books were a pretty important part of my childhood. Many of weekends I'd would drag my dad to a comic book store in hopes of checking out the newest X-Men, X-Force, X-Factor, Wolverine, Iron Man, Thor, Young Blood, Wild Force, and I would spend all my allowance. Lily is a bit of a tomboy, she has never asked me for a Barbie or other dolls, but has asked me about Legos, Skylanders, and Transformers (yeah I was pretty proud of the last one.)  So being able to share a part of my past with my oldest daughter was very exciting.

Comic Madness located at 12345 Mountain Ave, Chino welcomed the greater public into their shop today.  With the ability to pick up to 5 predetermined comic books, Michelle, Lily, and I each got a few comic books to preview.   I think it's pretty cool that the Comic Book Industry realizes that by offering "Free Samples" that they could capitalize on a whole new generation of comic fans.  Lily has already read a book about the Smurfs and is looking forward to reading her next one,
 Sponge Bob.  It might be too late for you to take advantage of it this year, but make sure you stay tuned to next year as I believe the Free Comic Book Day is here to stay.

Home Depot Craft Day

Two Pot Hanging Planter

I'm not exactly what I'd call a Do-It-Yourself kind of guy, a trait I'd desperately would like to change about myself. But when I do need tools or hardware or planting soil, I visit Home Depot.  In the past I really didn't have a preference which Home Improvement Store I would shop, Lowe's, ACE, and Home Depot are relatively priced the same and the locations aren't very far from where I live.  I chose Home Depot for the specific reason that they have a monthly craft day.  The first Saturday of every month, the good people at Home Depot put together an event where children can come in an build something.  For the better part of 2 years as a family we will go to the Depot and Lily will make some very cool things.  Pencil Holder, Coasters, Race Cars, and even a keep sake box.  This is the second planter that Lily has made... but a much better version. The folks who run the Home Depot in Chino seem to genuinely enjoy interacting with the children and parents, offering popcorn and snow cones. 

In this economy the consumer really does have the power where they'll spend their precious dollars, I happily spend my dollars at Home Depot because of these events.  If you'd like to know me information, please visit your local Home Depot for details. 

May The 4th Be With You

Clone Wars, The Trilogies, The Pre-Trilogies, whatever you find... go watch one or all of them today.

If Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo, does that mean that Monday is Revenge of the Sixth? 

#SaveOlympicWrestling

In 1992, an overweight 8th grader rocking a mullet, with delusions of grandeur would sign up for Wrestling on his Summer Registration.  Completely oblivious to what armature wrestling even was, I wanted to be a big pro wrestling star, like Hulk Hogan.  Again, delusions.  Had I been rational, I would have looked up what wrestling was.  Had I been intelligent, I would have done some research.  Unfortunately I had no clue what I was getting into, fortunately for me... it was one of the best decisions of my life.

It was announced today that the International Olympic Committee would remove Wrestling from the 2020 Olympics.  This includes both Freestyle and Greco-Roman Wrestling.  Wrestling dates back to ancient Olympics and has been apart of the Summer Olympics since 1904 (missing the 1900 Olympics).  Wrestling in it's true essence is a sport where every faucet of a competitor is tested against an opponent who is also being tested.  Quick thinking, strength, endurance, speed, and technique are all needed to compete.  Wrestling doesn't have a larger avenue than the Olympics to showcase the sport.  With the removal of Wrestling from the 2020 Summer Olympics, the sport has received a severe blow.

Greens... the nick name for my own personal hell on earth.  When Coached yelled out Greens, I knew that I was in for some trouble.  One Green was the equivalent of 2 1/2 laps on the track.  We would run about 4-6 Greens a couple of miles a day.  This was just warming up.  Really all of the conditioning I hate.  Everyday I felt like quitting.  Every day I felt like I was going to give up.  Every time we ran, I felt like my lungs were going to explode, I felt like was going to vomit (a couple of times I did, one time in front of the cheerleaders), I felt like I was going to pass out.  Everyday I was challenged, tested, physically and emotionally exhausted.  Yet, everyday I returned... not always looking forward to it.  But always proud of what I did.Through wrestling; I lost weight, I learned leadership, I learned humility, respect, and discipline.  I gained self-confidence and I gained leadership.  I lost many times.  I was embarrassed. I never quit.  Wrestling made me mentally tough, helped me prepare for life. 

I had no delusions after my four years of wrestling.  Outside out a win and a lose at the LA Watts Summer Games, I knew I wouldn't wrestle outside of school.  My wrestling aspirations ended at the CIF Team Tournament.  Many of my team mates went to the CIF Masters or State Tournaments.  I don't remember if any of them went to college on a wrestling related scholarship.  But with the Olympics being the Grand Stage of Wrestling, its a shame that the IOC has determined to remove it from Future Olympics.  Because of the Olympics, I knew of the murder of Dave Schultz.  I knew of Kurt Angle winning his Olympic Gold Medal.  I got to watch I got to watch Rulon Gardner defeat Aleksandr Karelin, to defeat the man who was undefeated. 

Not sure if this will help: but if you care sign this petition:
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/help-our-voice-reach-international-olympic-committee-show-support-reinstating-wrestling-olympics/hr71txrz

#SaveOlympicWrestling

Smells Like Teen Spirt Turns 21...

September 10th, 1991.  A young twelve year old version of myself wasted much of my summer hanging out with my friends Dan and Top (DJ 5).  We'd play Basketball, play with our Marvel Action Heroes and Teen Aged Mutant Ninja Turtles.  Dan and I would actually tape mini movies with our combined toys and watch them later.  At the age of 12, I was probably a little too old to be playing with toys, but it was fun.  I reflect on those days and I wasn't really a fan of music.  I remember I enjoyed Young MC and MC Hammer, but I wasn't passionate about music at all... that all changed my first year of Junior High.

Believe it or not, your old pal here wasn't the most popular of guys.  I've always had this self-awareness of my own awkwardness, I wasn't a wall flower mind you, but I knew where I fit in.  Never the most popular, never the most picked on, somewhere right smack dab in the middle.  For the most part, I lived a very shelter life.  The most chaotic thing that had ever happened to me, really didn't happen to me at all.  It happened to my brother, a victim of one of the first car jackings... he survived a gun shot wound that could have killed him.  I learned that night, never to take your safety for granted.  My brother wanted to prove something to himself after surviving his attack and joined the Marines.  I always looked up to my brother for many things.  I missed him very much during this time.

So back to high school, the chubby short kid started to lose his old chums from Elementary School.  Their fascinations went to girls, fashion, and music... mine didn't.  I would make new friends quickly, but it did sting losing people you felt close too.  Spending more time watching MTV than Nickelodeon, is when I found it.  Even Flow, by Pearl Jam.  Followed by Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog, Alice in Chains, Nirvana, and even more Pearl Jam.  Bare in mind, I wasn't a teen full of angst, but it was something about the music I connected too.  Maybe it was the Parker Lewis Can't Lose influences on me.  Maybe it was just the soulful grundge sound that touched my core.  But I fell in love... with the music.

1992 and Nirvana and Pearl Jam battled for top seating on the Music Charts.  It almost felt you were either a Nirvana guy or a Pearl Jam guy.  I was definitely a Pearl Jam guy.  I chose Eddie Veder over Kurt Cobain.  But all you'd hear about is Smells Like Teen Spirit.  I did end up with a copy of Nevermind, but it never got the as much air time on my Sony Walkman as Ten.

Years after the passing of the Grunge fad, Kurt Cobain, Nirvana, and all things Seattle, I still have an affinity for that style of music.  When they released the Kurt Cobain book which was his personal journals, I purchased it, blame it on the nostalgia.  I barely even flipped through the pages.  I couldn't get into it.  I still have the book, it's survived 4 moves total and looks practically new.  I don't want it anymore.  21 Years ago, folks would have done many things to see the inner workings of Kurt.  If you are interested in buying my book, it'll be on eBay later today.  If it doesn't sell, I'll maintain a link here, so some wayward blog reader can buy it later.

Thanks for reading and Happy Belated Birthday "Smells Like Teen Spirit."

What was your favorite song from the 90s?

Consider the King of Hearts....

Death is a natural part of life.  Everybody handles mortality differently.  In the course of my life I haven't lost too many loved ones.  My mother passed just a few years ago and it still stings.  I lost my grandmother a couple of years before then, but was mostly unaffected, we weren't very close.

I'll never forget the day Owen passed away.  My circle of friends were big wrestling fans.  Gregg loved Sting.  Chris was a huge Stone Cold Fan.  I had to miss this particular pay per view get together.  May 23rd is my mother's birthday and we were headed to Red Lobster for dinner.  I'll never forget that day, my cell phone was blowing up.  First from Gregg & Chris and later guys that I worked with.  "Did you hear Owen died?"  Then it was on the radio, KFWB News 98 delivered the unbelievable truth.  This wasn't a facade or a gimmick, Owen was dead.  Falling to his death in an entrance that he had done a handful of times before.

When Hart debuted in the WWE, he came in under a mask as the Blue Blazer.  Being a youngster, I loved it.  A mask was rare at that time in the WWE.  His matches with Curt Hennig were some of my favorites.  I kind of grew up with Owen.  I remember when he teamed with Koko B Ware as High Energy.  Or when he teamed with Jim the Anvil as The New Foundation.  When Owen broke Austin's neck... I bought an Owen 3:16 Shirt.  His wrestling was entertaining, he could cut a promo, he was fun to watch.  Even after Vince screwed Bret, Owen was the last standing Hart in the WWE.   

There have been three lives that had been lost that have affected me.  That shook me to my core.  My mother, Nick Adenhart of the Angels and Owen. Owen Hart was one of my favorite wrestlers, his death affected me because I always felt like I was the Owen of my family.  The baby, always trying to prove himself.  Always trying to make people laugh. I felt a special connection to Owen.  That night, when I retired to my bedroom, I cried and I'm not afraid to admit that.  I didn't know why I had that feeling, but I did.  The days after his passing my friends had asked if I was okay.  I never met Owen.  Never had a conversation with him.  Never interacted with him, but felt like I lost a loved one.  In recent years, I haven't thought of Owen Heart.  Reflecting on this day because it shares significance for my family with my mom's birthday I was caught off guard when I saw this photo circle on facebook.  A lot of my emotions came back to me.  Owen was an amazing wrestler who never got his due.  He died way to early leaving his young children without a father.  I miss Owen, not as much as his family.  But Owen is missed.

Consider Growing Fruits and Veggies...

Home Grown Strawberries

I spent some time on Monday Harvesting my Crops. No not Farmsville, the ever so addictive game on facebook, no for the better part of five years I've been growing my own fruits and veggies. Back in October I wrote about my first home grown salad. But I enjoy growing plants. I know I'll never be self reliant, but I think its pretty awesome being able to eat food that I grow. And I don't have some amazing backyard or any backyard to speak of. I have a patio that has planters t hat have harvested all kinds of fruits and veggies over the years. When my strawberries ripe, I harvest them and freeze them. When I have a enough, I used them to make strawberry lemonade. So tasty.

Green Onions

The other thing that has become one of the most useful plants I grow are onions.  Now to be honest, I have only plucked one little onion from my garden, but the green onions, chives, whatever you want to call them enhance about 90% of whatever I cook.  From tacos to spaghetti every meal is enhanced by green onion. 

Besides the sense of pride I have from preparing a meal or a treat for my family, I also find it very relaxing harvesting my goods or watering my plants or just taking care of my garden.  When I'm surrounded by my garden, I have that feeling that life is good. 

You should consider growing your own garden.

Consider -- Winning on the Radio... Part 2.

Steppenwolf's Born To Be Wild fills my imagination.  Just a stone throw from where I work, the Long Beach Grand Prix is have qualifying races for the big race this weekend.  Like DJ Khaled and T-Pain...
All I Do Is Win Win Win Win. It was just a few weeks ago I was lucky enough to win a pretty cool prize, MLB2K12 for the PS3 Courtesy of the Petros and Money Show.  

Approximately two weeks later courtesy of my boy Rodger Lodge and AM 830, I won tickets to go to the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.  I had won the email contest... sometimes it pays to be able to write a thoughtful email. The last time I went to the Gran Prix I was closer to my daughter's age and remember absolutely nothing.  I don't even believe I had saw the race, rather just walked up and down the vendor area getting some sweet In-N-Out stickers. This weekend is the big race and it would have been sweet to check out the races, but work is work and I couldn't get the time off.  Fortunately, I was able to dispatch the tickets to my brother.  So the tickets won't go to waste.

But getting back to be a winner... over the years I've been very fortunate to win stuff!  And I love it.  I should really consider playing the lotto. What are some of the other prizes I've won over the years... I'm glad you inquired, or I guess I am hoping you will inquire.  I've won two prizes on World Famous KROQ 106.7FM.  One was for a Motorcycle show that I passed on.  The second was what kick started my iPod.  106 song Downloads from Itunes, (you can even hear me on the radio.)  That was an awesome day and although I squandered the download (did I really need the entire Silversun Pickups Album?)  I've won a bevy of tickets to Angel Games courtesy of AM830 and the Sports Lodge.  One of the best prizes I won was last year when we I won $20 in Togo Sandwiches.  Not to mention the Lobster Buffets at the Valley View Casino... so I guess I'm done bragging now.  What's the coolest prize you've won?  Leave a comment and let me know.

Consider -- LA Traffic

I don't know how you guys do it.  Folks who live in the city of Los Angeles or work their commuting in traffic for hours at a time.  In my previous employment I used frequently drive to Burbank, Pasadena, Glendale, Irwindale, Fullerton, all from our hub in Long Beach.  But nothing was as bad as what I endured Friday.  The only time I ever care to drive 3 1/2 hours is when I'm on route to Las Vegas.  Although I was driving to pick up a prize, I hate traffic.

Pujols Billboard on 710 FWY

My journey started in Long Beach.  My mission was to pick up my prize I had won on the Petros and Money.  Little did I know I'd be like the Castaways on a three hour tour.  Google Maps said it would be about 30 minutes.  Yikes.  So taking the 405 to 710, to the 5, to the 134 Freeway was a very long process. It was so slow I was able to snap a picture of this billboard for use in a future First2Third.net post. As I was explaining traffic was horrendous.  Getting to Burbank only took an hour, so I guess I should be thankful for that.  It was the drive home that was miserable.   I was stuck on the 5 by Stadium Way for far too long.  Thoughts of the boogeyman Frank McCourt looking down on me shook me to the core.  

The only cool part was that I actually did get prize.  And I saw the freaking Batmobiles!  Apparently they were shooting commercials.  I wasn't the only one staring and taking pictures.  Needless to say I was very happy to return to Orange County where the 5 Freeway stretches four to five lanes.  This post is really more to share that I actually do travel to Los Angeles/Hollywood/Burbank quite frequently, but I don't like it.  Los Angeles Traffic awful.  If you live or have to travel through LA, you have my sincerest sympathy... LA Traffic is the worst!

Consider -- Winning on the Radio

Clear Channel Building, Burbank CA.

No... not winning like Charlie Sheen.  I don't know if anyone could handle that many drugs.  I'm a winner.  I mean, I have a beautiful girlfriend who makes my life better every day.  I have an adorable daughter who is the apple of my eye.  So of course I'm a winner in a sense of having a good life.  But I also win things.  THINGS.  Multiple things.  I should play the lotto, I think I'm due.  Since I've been blogging here at 4U2Consider, I've won a ton of stuff.  I tend to win most of my prizes via local radio stations, which is fine by me.

 

It was just about two weeks ago I won my very own copy of MLB 2K12 off the Petros & Money Show on AM570 our local Fox Sports Radio Affiliate. Making the commute to Burbank was a reprehensible chore, but it was a chore that has already provided me with hours of entertainment. I called into Vance Finance and asked a betting question and good ole Vance rewarded me with the game.  Its always fun to win things... but the 3 Hours Commute to pick up my prize was a little less than stellar... more on that one soon.

Consider The Batmobiles...

Batman... one of the only superheroes who had no out of this world powers, just true grit, determination, and a lust for vengeance. Imagine what you would do if someone murdered your parents right in front of you and you were wealthy enough to buy the finest training ever. Anyway you look at the Dark Knight, he was awesome. I was just so lucky to happen to be in Burbank at the time a commercial was being shot. A commercial that happened to feature each of the Bat-mobiles.

Batman TV Series

Batman 

Batman Forever

Batman & Robin

Batman Begins

Consider-- Today Is World Water Day

Yesterday I wrote about Water Conservationism and put up a video of ways to save water. But did you know we live in a world where clean drinking water isn't available to everyone? According to CharityWater.org "Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war."

I'm not a rich man by any stretch, but I always am looking for ways to give.  Crowdtap is that outlet for me.  "Crowdtap is the Influencer Marketing platform, enabling leading brands to easily identify, activate and manage their influential consumers for real-time insights and powerful online and offline peer-to-peer marketing."  The real incentive to me is that I earn rewards for my time interacting with brands on Crowdtap.  The rewards you earn on Crowdtap also allows you to earn cash for charities.  I chose CharityWater.org because almost a billion people live without clean drinking water. It is a water crisis. It's a crisis because it only starts with water -- but water affects everything in life.  And since today is World Water Day... maybe you can join me on Crowdtap and see if we can help make a difference.

Consider-- World Water Day March 22nd 2012

52 Gallons of Water is used to create a 1 Gallon of Milk. Now it isn't just the preparation of the milk, but to grow the grass that feeds the cow, the water that the cow drinks.

Nature Conservation is something I think far to many of us take for granted our natural resources.  I know I'm guilty of taking a long shower, but March 22nd is World Water Day.  I recently Joined Recycle Bank and encourage all of you to help create awareness and "Make Every Drop Count" this March 22nd. Recycle Bank also has rewards when you sign up.  Learning different ways to conserve, earns you discounts, giftcards, and all kinds of rewards. 

None of us want to live in a world without resources like Mad Max.

Zombies Vs. Pokemon

Once upon a time, Zombies were invading the land of Pokémon.  Pikachu and his friends grew angry.  Pikachu told his friends to get ready to attack.  The Zombies were being slow on the Pokémon because they wanted to harm and wanted to have Pokémon brains.  Torterra told all the leaf type Pokémon to attack.  Charizard told all the fire type Pokémon to attack.  Pikachu told all electric Pokémon to attack.  Blastoise told all the water type of Pokémon to attack.  Drowsy told all the psychic type of Pokémon to attack.  So far, the Zombies are dying and the Pokémon are winning.  Soon a huge wave of Zombies come approaching they tried very, very, very hard.  Until some of the Zombies barf and the Pokémon dogged the barf.  After, Charizard blew the biggest fireball that he ever made.  Zombies ran away from the Pokémon and said "We Surrender," their battle was over.  Ash, Iris, and Cilan came to see what was the commotion, the Pokémon did not know what to say.  Well if you were a Pokémon, what will you say to them?

Consider -- Van Halen is Back

Its hard to believe that in 2012 not only can you buy Van Halen tickets, they are touring again and this isn't Van Hagar, its actually Van Halen.  They are touring again to support the new album A Different Kind of Truth.

I've always enjoyed Van Halen but I don't own all of their albums or anything.  I do own the new album along with the Best of as well.  Running With The Devil is easily one of the greatest Rock and Roll Songs ever and always puts a smile on my face?

Considering my tastes in music, I know why I have a special place in my heart for Van Halen, thinking back to my youth... On my Michael Jackson Record Player, my first ever LP Vinyl Record was purchased by my half brother Johnny.  Johnny was very much into Hard Rock and Roll at the time.  And for my birthday at the tender age of five I was given a Van Halen LP that featured Hot For Teacher.  I had to have played that song a million times, which must have drove my family crazy.  I've often wondered with such sexual lyrics, why my parents had no problem with me dropping the needle on that LP so frequently, but none the less I was very happy to see them touring again. 

Ticketamerica.com has concert tickets for Van Halen and the red hot chili peppers tickets as well as the classic neil diamond tickets in all cities.