Hola!  Last week we celebrated Cinco De Mayo.  Will decided to have his own celebration.  However, I’ve decided to let you decide what Will’s motivation was.  What Am I Thinking (W.A.I.T) is the contest in which you give the caption for the picture.  What do you think Will was thinking?  For those who would rather just title this picture, that is acceptable as well.

You post a comment with your best thought for Will and the ones I think are the funniest make it to the “In The Running” section.  From those I choose the best.  The winner of this contest will receive a copy of the new Merge (Joshua) book coming out in just a few weeks.

Have some fun!  If your comment doesn’t appear, no worries, I’ll approve them and get them on here ASAP.

Grace,
Brian

************ IN THE RUNNING ***********

“que paso mi chavo, yo no hablo ingles! Yi haw yipee yippee arriba arriba andale!” ~Calia

“daddy me cowboy” ~Moriah

“I wonder how old I have to be to get a real burro?” ~Brad

************ The Winner ***********

“que paso mi chavo, yo no hablo ingles! Yi haw yipee yippee arriba arriba andale!” ~Calia

This was a tough one to do, congrats to Calia!

This just screams “Contest.”  The picture below is a list of rules for teachers in the first school in San Diego, circa 1872, exactly 100 years before my birthyear!  I took this picture the other day and I haven’t stopped laughing!

So, the contest, staying consistent with the current list you can read below I’d like some more rules that you’d like to add.  The best additional rules will be listed as “in the running” and then after a couple days I’ll crown the Best Addition King or Queen!  As always, please keep them clean!

If your comment doesn’t appear right away, no worries, I may need to approve you if you haven’t commented ever before or in the last few weeks.  Have fun!

Grace,
Brian

Note:  One of the best things about this, we discovered that the original teacher served for 1-year at the school, then married the school board President?  Hmmm?

********* In The Running **********

9. All teachers must be able to correctly define, spell, and use properly in a sentence the words nib, whittle, and scuttle. ~Calia

Any teacher who smiles at a child shall remain in isolation until a scowl returns. ~Jen

“Any teacher who actually dies physically, is required to tell somebody verbally, so the issue can be dealt with promptly.” ~Jan

9. Any teacher found to be a Confederate sympathizer will be tarred, feathered and sent to the new state of West Virginia indefinitely. ~Marc

Any teacher who stutters or mumbles while speaking will be sentenced to no less than three hours of cleaning up cattle manure. ~Richard Judd

ALL teachers who enter the evil Silicon Valley will be required to pay the penitence penalty of one apple. ~Joe Monto

If you balk at the first 8 rules the other 1864 rules will be applied more harshly. ~Aaron

************ The Winners*************

These were great, I honestly had a very tough time deciding… Monto’s was very prophetic, Aaron’s may have been the most unique/clever, but Jan and Jen get the prizes (it’s a tie!)… I’ve got a “Live and Love Loudly” (theme for the spring retreat for YMV’s) t-shirt for each of you as the prize!  I’ll arrange getting these to you.

Another “What Am I Thinking” contest has popped up on my blog!  This time, the winner will receive your choice of one of the new Youthmark T-shirts about to hit the market at the Spring Retreat!

You come up with the thoughts of this person, or these person and essentially give the photo a caption (comment).

I’ll narrow the field of entries into those who are in the running (this list grows, so keep them coming even if I have posted the first few contenders), then after a couple days I’ll name the winner!

Grace,

Brian

************ IN THE RUNNING *************

Steroids ruins another culture! ~ Aaron

I’m tired of your excuses. You’re going to Idaho with Youthmark! ~Marc

I’ll never say my mom’s cooking is better…ever again! ~ Jared

Hey batter, batter, batter. Swing Batter! ~Dave

Why he surprised? I tell him I am swinger. ~ AJS

*********And the Winner Is…***********

“Why he surprised?  I tell him I am swinger.”  ~AJS

You get a free shirt of choice from Youthmark… they are pretty special this year, I’ll show you next time you’re around!

Great entries everyone!

Here we go again… in light of it being Valentine’s Day, I thought I’d get into the spirit of the Hallmarkian Holiday and post up a little festive fun.  Here are TWO contest photos for you to choose between or post a comment for both!  Just start your comment by indicating 1 or 2 so we know which one you’re commenting on.

Best “Thoughts” (captions) go Into The Running for the win and then I pick the winner.  Here’s the twist, I think I am only going to pick the best ONE overall (slow economy, can’t give away two prizes).  I have a nice prize, valued at about $25 for this contest winner!  After you comment, it may not post right away, be patient, I’ll get to it and approve you as a commenter (that is, if it is clean).

WAIT: What Am I Thinking? You post the best thoughts for any/all of the participants seen below.

Have fun… don’t be inappropriate, this is a PG (okay, PG-13) site.

Grace,
Brian

**********In the Running**********

#1 The precise moment Katherine decided, once and for all, to kiss dating goodbye ~ the wifey

#1 i love sportscenter too– i mean you. i love you too. ~ Richard Judd

And though he didn’t mean for this to be in contention, but made me laugh…

Just an observation: In all of your caption contest, your wife always seems like the clear winner. ~Stephen Heath

#2 I think that’s pretty much what every groom looks like to every father-of-the-bride. ~the wifey

******************The Winner********************

Great work Stephen, you called the winner… the wifey wins with her quip about Kissing dating goodbye!

This must have been a tough one, less entries even though we had two pics!

Good job “wifey” going to switch up the prize and take you on a date instead!

You know the scoop; think of the best quote, title or caption for this photo (WAIT stands for “What Am I Thinking?).

Those “In The Running” will be posted below and then in a couple days I’ll crown the winner (the one that I think is the most funny).

The Winner will receive  the choice of one of three books I purchased for our “Gift Pack” we just gave to Youth Pastors who registered for the Mission Trips early.

Have fun.

Grace,

Brian

****** In The Running *******

When did they expand downtown Renton? ~Ralphie

I know I’m a guy, but for once, I think I need to stop and ask for directions. ~Lucas H

Does it make me a huge nerd if I immediately thought of the USB port symbol when I saw this? ~Riley

“Who the heaven cares?” ~Jan  NOTE from Brian: Jan’s made me laugh because I am not sure she is saying “who the heaven cares” about the contest or “who the heaven cares” if that’s what she’d think when she approached the sign?  Either way, it made me laugh!!!

Welcome to Tax Season! ~ Kate West

Isn’t that the ancient Chinese character for “HA! HA! HA! HA!” ~unowho

A diagram of People Magazine’s simple guide to successful dating relationships. ~steverorke

**************** THE WINNER *****************

It came down to two that made me laugh the most; unowho comes in a close second, with Jan’s “Who the heaven cares?” taking the prize!  Nice one Jan… First, it made me laugh, but then it made me laugh more thinking of you specifically coming up to that sign and thinking/saying that… AND meaning it!

I’ll email you with your book prize choice! Congrats

These usually produce some hilarity, so let’s see what happens as we begin 2010!

You’ll need to have a piece of paper or an open word document.  First, go through the numbered list below and give your creative words for each specific word-type (just like Mad-Libs).  Then, after you have created your list, copy the story below and add your words that correspond with the numbers in the story (erase the numbers obviously).

Insert this in as a “comment” and it’ll post.  Be patient if it doesn’t post as a comment right away, in some cases I’ll need to approve you as a commenter.   After some time I’ll list those cracked me up the most and then pick a winner based off those.  The winner gets a great White-Elephant gift to give away next year.

DO NOT READ THE STORY FIRST!!! Fill in these words first (note: it is usually obvious to read the ones that people read ahead first).

1. adjective

2. measurement of time

3. verb ending in “ing”

4. Plural noun

5. past tense verb

6. A number

7. a number

8. verb ending with “ing”

9. Noun

10. verb

11. noun

12. adjective

13. a number

14. adjective

15. a place

16. a food

17. a liquid

18. body part

19. A common friend you and I might have (or a famous person if you can’t think of a common friend)

20. plural noun

Brian’s New Year Resolutions, 2010.

I cannot believe another (1) year has come to an end. It seems like it was just a (2) or two ago I was making my 2009 resolution to stop (3).  Well, 12 (4) have in fact (5) by and it is now time for me to commit to my 2010 New Year Resolutions.

I came into the year weighing (6) pounds.  My goal is to lose at least (7) pounds.  I plan to do this by (8) right and getting plenty of cardio-(9).  My favorite kind of cardio exercise is to (10) my (11).  If my (12) math is correct, I should end the year weighing in at (13) pounds.

The exercise will often depend upon the (14) (15)weather. However, what I can control is what I eat.  So no more (16) for me.  Well, maybe once or twice this year, but only if I can drink (17) with it!

So, that’s my resolution! What about you?  Rumor has it that you were going to give up cracking your (18). I know that (19) has been a horrible influence on you, I mean, with his/her habit of smoking (20) and all!  Well, I hope it works!

******************

Okay, can’t wait to read these things! Check back often!

Grace,

Brian

********In the Running*********

The following folk are in the running because of the entire Aab-Lib, however, I did list one line that cracked me up the most…

“Rumor has it that you were going to give up cracking your eye. I know that Elisabeth has been a horrible influence on you, I mean, with her habit of smoking children and all! Well, I hope it works!”  ~Jessica

“My favorite kind of cardio exercise is to squat my cough drop.” ~Brad Hostak

“My favorite kind of cardio exercise is to barter my cubicle…. (and) …Aaron Bauer has been a horrible influence on you, I mean, with his habit of smoking candelabras” ~the wifey

“The exercise will often depend upon the Ferocious Black Lake weather…(and)… but only if I can drink Tears with it!” ~Richard Judd

“I cannot believe another SEXY year has come to an end” ~Jason

“I plan to do this by Hockey Pucking right” ~Aaron

********** THE WINNER **********

“My favorite kind of cardio exercise is to squat my cough drop.” ~Brad Hostak

I cannot wait to start squatting my cough drop!  Congrats Brad, great Aab-lib!  Next time I see you, you shall get your great White Elephant gift!  Be afraid excited!

It has only been two weeks since my last “What Am I Thinking” (W.A.I.T.) contest, but oh well, I came across a fantastic picture that just needs a great quotation.

You come up with what my friend, Mike Geisen, is thinking and if I think yours is funny enough I’ll put it into the “In the Running” section below the picture.  After a day or two, I’ll crown the WAIT winner.

Background:  Mike was one of my best friends growing up.  After college and a career in forestry, Mike became a Science teacher in Oregon.  Well, long-story-short, he was named National Teacher of The Year last year. So, here he is, showing his great sense of humor by mowing the lawn at the White House!  Yep, that is literally White House property!

So, give me your WAIT Caption in the comment section below.  No worries if your quote doesn’t show up right away, I often have to approve them first.

Have fun.  Winner gets a dinner invite from the Aabys (or if you’re out of town, next time I/we are in your neighborhood we have dinner together).

Grace,
Brian

*********** In The Running ***********

Obama’s new Green Jobs Czar ~micah

This is not what I had in mind when I heard I could be on Obama’s staff for a day ~Brad Hostak

This “Joe Biden Job Shadow Day” is awesome! ~the wifey

I told them i wanted a job that paid the same as a teacher in the northwest… now i regret that… ~rackyj21

Gone are the days of “Joe the Plumber”! Watch out 2012… Here comes “Mike the Mower” ~Sarah Hostak

Lawn mower is red;
the grass it is green.
National Teacher of the Year;
went crazy it seems! ~Jan A

Is this thing broken?? Don’t lawn mowers blow bubbles? ~Calia

Honey, you told me to ask the neighbor’s son if he wanted to make $10 ~Aaron

*Props to Mike for commenting as well!

************ The Winner **************

Loved ’em!  Great job to all who participated.  I have to go with Ricky!

I told them i wanted a job that paid the same as a teacher in the northwest… now i regret that… ~rackyj21

Because we have education in our family (Dad is a retired teacher and my brother is a teacher), I have heard about teacher pay all my life!  Good job Ricky.

Congrats to Ricky on the win, we’ll have you over for dinner soon. And congrats to Mike on the year of being National Teacher of the Year 2008-2009!  You’re welcome for dinner anytime you come up Mike!

I do a little contest series called “What Am I Thinking?”  Essentially, it is a photo caption contest.

Well, I’d like to know what you’d be thinking if you encountered this scenario.

Here’s the scoop, best caption gets the prize.  I’ll list those “in the running” after a day or so and crown the winner after a few days.  Have fun, enter as often as you’d like.  If your comment doesn’t show up right away, be patient, some of them I need to approve first (if you haven’t even commented, or if it has been awhile).  Found this little photo on a friends blog…

So, what are you thinking?

Winner gets a stocking stuffer (pretty sweet little gift, I promise)!

Grace,

Brian

********** In The Running **********

No, No, No. The other left. ~ wes henry

Oh, I see Obama and the House Democrats got a hold of our traffic signals too. ~ the wifey

Must be a pretty big stocking stuffer if that’s the tree! ~ Jan A.

… Then go left or right at the corner of undecided and agnostic… ~Joe Monto

Mapquest said take a left… ~ Aaron Gowin

Wait til you see the stop light cameras! ~Aaron Gowin

Traffic control by committee. ~ unowho

Who’s idea was it to put this light right next to the DOL? ~Aaron Gowin

Greg Nichols last act as Mayor. ~Aaron Gowin

*************AND THE WINNER IS….****************

Congrats to Aaron Gowin with his great comment: “Mapquest said take a left…”

I loved this one, because after a few years of using Mapquest I have completely abandoned them for Google Maps (and most recently my iPhone GPS).  Mapquest had me take one too many bad lefts!  There were several great ones (many from Aaron as well).  To be honest he had two or three others that could have been in the running, just got tired of copying and pasting!  Ha.   Aaron, shoot me a fb message with your address and you get your stocking stuffer (or let me know when you’re up near Fairwood and we can grab a coffee and I’ll hand it to you).

Great work folks!

My good friend Aaron, who posted a great YouTube video the other day (scroll down a couple posts to see him), is the subject of the new “What Am I Thinking?”

So, here are the rules.  Give Aaron a caption for his thoughts.  The captions I think are the best get into the “In the Running” and then I crown the champion in a couple days.  So let your creative thoughts start flowing.  Give Aaron a caption for his tree-top experience.

The In The Running section will be below the picture.  Be patient if your comment doesn’t post right away, because of the domain change I need to approve most of the comments first.

****** In The Running, so far, keep them coming ******* (note* I edited the typos or misspellings)

Yup, fresh eggs every 12 months. ~ Stephen

Dude…I hope I don’t have an underwear line. ~ Calia

So this is what it feels like to be an opossum ~Brad  (I like this because of the absolute random thought)

This is going to come back to haunt me, isn’t it? It’s going to end up on Brian’s blog and everyone’s going to see me like this. Oh no…. Wait! If It’s on there that means I’m going to be famous! Yay! I love trees. ~Marc

I am SO sick of playing Zaccheus in these stupid church dramas. ~The Wifey

OH SNAP! (get it in a tree…branches…..SHUT UP BRIAN!!!) ~Uthguymike (I love this because of the parenthesis section especially!)

************* THE WINNER ****************

This is going to come back to haunt me, isn’t it? It’s going to end up on Brian’s blog and everyone’s going to see me like this. Oh no…. Wait! If It’s on there that means I’m going to be famous! Yay! I love trees. ~ Marc

+++ Way to go Marc, I never announced the prize for this WAIT contest, so here’s what I’ll do, special for you, I’ll take you to the Tukwila Old Spaghetti Factory on Nov. 19 at Noon for lunch!  Sound good?

Grace,

Brian