I WON!

As some of you know, I love local history. I visit sites that deal with current events around the city, since some may deal with the history as well. Sure enough, that one of the sites I visit frequently started trivia contests on the history of Springfield.

Well, On October 20th, they had a blog post that sparked my interest! It was a local contest to win free tickets for several places here in town. It dealt with a trivia question on local history, one I knew quite well! So I emailed my answer.

Last night I got an email announcing that I was the winner! Sure enough, they posted it on the blog this morning!!!

I won free admission for two to Dickerson Park Zoo, Discovery Center, Wild Animal Safari, Fantastic Caverns, and Missouri Sports Hall of Fame!

Now, here's my question... are the tickets one place, or all of them? I guess I'll find out when I get them in the mail!

~Matt


Pun of the Post: "Insanity is hereditary. You get it from your kids.."

Carving Pumpkins

Yesterday (10/27) was a busy day. Like usual, the kids went to daycare, I went to work, and Lydia went to classes at college.

After picking me up from work at 6, we headed headed over to Washington Park here in town to meet up with some if Lydia's classmates. They had scheduled a get-together for some food and pumpkin carving, that way they could all meet around outside the school setting.

Mysia and Malachi were thrilled to be able to visit a new park, and played on the children's equipment for a good part of the time we was there. Even though it was dark, hey had the place lit up pretty well. After a while we moved to the big gazebo, and brought out the pumpkins. Lydia had purchased 3 big ones at the store for $10. They were heavy!!

The kids drew on them with markers for a bit, then I set down and helped them sketch on paper what they wanted. Malachi didn't care. So his looked more like a pumpkin from VeggieTales.

Mysia was a different story. She couldn't make up her mind. First it was a can, then a dog, and then Dora. Well, we did Dora last year, and I wasn't going to attempt that one again! So finally we picked a cat.

They wanted to play with the pumpkin "guts" more than anything! But we had fun.

~Matt


Pun of the Post: "One should never put off till tomorrow what you can avoid all together..."

Vector Avatar

Hey everyone!

As promised, I am going to share some more work I've been doing. This one is a bit more on the "fun" side, seeing it isn't a logo or flyer.

I'm sure some people have seen those vector looking avatars you can get made from your picture. These are prevalent in facebook ads, and I thought, "hey I can do this!". So for fun, I decided to try it on myself.

I didn't care for the picture, but it was the best I could find at the time. I have "flat" look. So I'm not too satisfied.

~Matt



Pun of the Post: "Regular naps prevent old age..... especially if you take them while driving."

Are You A Hillbilly?

I admit it... I am!  Perhaps not in the strictest sense, but close enough.

One of the things that I think of that qualify me as a hillbilly is the fact that I prefer to walk around barefoot. I enjoy it, and my feet do to! Even as a teen, I'd walk almost everywhere barefoot. The only times I put on shoes was when we had to go somewhere, and if I could, it would be without socks.

I think both Mysia and Malachi take after me. Both like walking around barefoot. The only time Mysia really likes wearing something on her feet is when its to dress up, or wear something new and "pretty".

Well, yesterday... Malachi decided to take off both his shoes and socks. We were getting ready to head out, and I had him bring them to me so I could put them back on to me. I asked him, "Are you a hillbilly?"

"No.." was his reply as he shook his head.

"Yes you are.." I continued. "You're a hillbilly."

"No.."

"Come on, say, 'I am a hillbilly'"

"No........... I Malachi!"


After that, I lost it! What a kid!

~Matt


Pun of the Post: "Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine."

Keeping Busy (and Steppin' Out update) 10/22/09

The past several weeks have been a bit hectic for me. I've been working quite a bit of overtime, and I am wearing out. Of course, last week's car trouble didn't help either!

I've also been working on some side projects (graphic design). I'll be sharing them when completed! So keep watching this blog!

Since I've been keeping busy... how may have noticed that as we near the holidays, schedules get tighter? Lydia and I have got a ton activities planned for the next several weeks, and that's just the start! I know as Thanksgiving draws nearer, we're gonna be busy!

Oh... and don't forget Christmas! So far, I've noticed that Wal-Mart, Lowes, and Bass Pro have already started bringing out the products and decorating! It's exciting, but sad that they skip Thanksgiving. But I guess I should be happy that they haven't really commercialized that Holiday....

Speaking of Christmas, our quartet (Steppin' Out) is going to be working on some Christmas material soon! We're also looking into some of the arrangements that Legacy Five did on their Christmas album... some great songs!

For those who may have not gotten the email or read the announcement on our facebook page, Steppin' Out is now looking for a high tenor. Noah has "stepped" down so that he can focus on his education. Currently, we're getting Abigail familiar with our regular line-up since she's a replacement until we can find another high tenor! If anyone knows anyone interested in singing with a local, part-time quartet, email us at steppinoutquartet@gmail.com

Anyway.... I'm going be having a new feature on my blog. Introducing the Pun of the Post! Since I have a document of over 500 puns and funny thoughts, I figure I'd share the wealth! So with every post on this blog, there will be a pun at the end! Just when my facebook friends thought my statuses were bad enough! lol! Hope you enjoy!

~Matt


Pun of the Post: "The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket."

The Roof Is Fixed (10/20/09)

Several weeks ago, like I mentioned in a previous blog post, we discovered we had a leak in our roof. We weren't too happy about it. But thinking that insurance might help, I called them. They told me that they'd send a guy out. Later, the installer called and told me that he estimated it would cost me no less than $500 for over half a day's work to fix our roof...!

Yuck!

So, I talked to some guys from church, and they said that should get on the roof and take a look myself, and that some roof tar would probably fix the problem if there is any visible. So I went and bought some roof tar.

Unfortunately, it rained. ALL WEEK! And there was no way I was going to climb on a wet roof to look around. So yesterday I was able to go go up there. As you can see in the picture, there was a hole. So I grabbed some duct tape and the tar... patched it up... and all finished!

Now to wait for a good rain to see if it worked!

Oh, and by the way... the tar was less than $3 at Wal-Mart...!!!!

~Matt

Malachi: Growing Up Fast

The picture was taken last Thursday night. Malachi wanted to sleep with all of his stuffed animals. Abigail was babysitting and let him sleep like that. That's how I found him when we got home. I took the picture and then moved the toys off the bed so he could sleep comfortably!

Sometimes, he can be a handful... but he's such a little man. He has no problem telling you what is on his mind. And his facial expressions are priceless!

Another feat we're proud of, is the fact that he is anxious to be potty-trained. We have not pushed him, he has been wanting to do this on his own! He's now wearing big-boy underwear and has been dry the past several days! The only time Malachi wets is during naps and when asleep at night, but for those occasions, he wears pull-ups! He's doing very well. Even at daycare and church! We're so proud of him!

On Saturday, I took him and Mysia with me to Wal-mart for grocery shopping (Lydia went out of town with some of the ladies from church). He did so good. He was excited to use the toilet at Wal-mart. Oh, and I'm thankful that Wal-Mart has a family restroom! It makes it so much easier!

~Matt

Blog update (10/18/09)

I know it's been a long time coming, but I finally updated the look of our blog. Not too drastic, but I hope that it has a more smooth, simplistic feel to it!

I've also updated the pictures on the side! Hoorah!

I know it's getting late, and I should be in bed, but I wanted to get this finished! Hopefully I can think of something good to blog about tomorrow! lol!

~Matt

A New Tech Blog (my brother's)

Benjamin, my brother, has started a tech blog called "Technology Bytes". The tagline reads: "articles about technological tangles and triumphs learned." He told me that he'll post whenever he has any experience to share.

I hoping that it'll be an interesting read from time to time. He's into technology more than I am, especially on the programming side of things. Since he's a programmer and can out-talk me in geek language, I think that counts!! Growing up, we weren't into sports, it was technology and computers. It still is. We were into the stuff before it was considered "cool"! Go figure! Anyway, because of it, we don't differ to much in the general topic of technology.

So if you are into technology and want a new blog to read, check it out!

~Matt

History Podcasts

Podcasts were something I never really got into. I had listened to a few over the years, but nothing that really grabbed my attention.

That is, until last week.

howstuffworks.com has a weekly podcast called "Stuff You Missed In History Class". I found it through iTunes, but it's also available on their website. It's like listening to a wikipedia article! I've been fascinated by the podcasts.

Of course, I'm interested in history and strange facts... I like filling my brain with odd and useless facts and information. It's a perfect fit for me. It's like the history channel in audio form! hehehe!

What's really cool, is the fact that I can listen to the podcasts while working! I'm not putting off my work to go read an article. Although, to be honest, some of podcasts make me want to do more research the topics talked about!

If anyone knows of other podcasts that are similar, and you think I'd enjoy them, let me know!

~Matt

Trouble Comes In Threes?

If it's true, and troubles/problems come in threes... then I should be good for a while! At least, I hope so!



Problem #1
Let me start off with several weeks ago. It had rained nice and hard. Nothing new around here! Anyway, the kids were in bed, we had the tv off, and we noticed that there was a dripping sound coming from the living room ceiling! Sure enough, there is a little water spot! When we went shopping over the weekend, I picked up some roof tar to see if that will work. However, because it's been raining... I haven't had the time to get up on the roof to fix the problem!!! (I don't want to climb around on a wet, slippery roof)

Problem #2
Our car has been shuttering...
After fixing the battery, the car has been acting up. It will shutter, then die. It would start back up, but it acted as if it had the chills! It got so bad, it was doing it quite often. So I took it over to a friend's house Monday night. He looked at it, tried a few things, but to no avail... it kept dying. I was not happy with my car. Tuesday morning I took it in to the autoshop for a diagnostic test. We need a new vacuum hose. It engine wasn't getting the gas it needed. Go figure. But at least the car is fixed!

Problem #3
Water was on the floor, near the sink. But it wasn't due to the rain. Our kitchen sink faucet was leaking, ruining what was underneath the sink, and getting on the floor. Something had to be done. A trip to Lowe's was in order. We picked up a new faucet... which isn't cheap, by the way! I took out the old one, and then installed the new one. This morning, no water on the floor! Hooray!



Well... that was the three problems. I still have to address number 1, but other than that.... NO MORE!


~Matt

More rain.. and lots of it!

Last Thursday we got a ton of rain... So much rain that the roads getting to our house were practically flooded! Our backyard was full once again, and the sump-pump underneath our house was working non-stop.

The sump-pump worried me. With as much rain as we got, I was pretty sure that I'd have to go underneath the house later on to get whatever junk out that had floated into it.

Friday night, I was still worried. The sump-pump was still going without stopping. But since water was still coming out, I figured there must enough for me not to worry. Still... that night, I dreamed about having to crawl underneath the house.

Saturday morning came around, and I was relieved to find that the sump-pump had stopped! Well, occasionally. It would come on every 10 minutes or so to drain whatever water was flowing. I was happy. I really didn't want to venture underneath the house.

Well, later that night, when we got back from picking up the church van, I noticed it was running and no water coming out! Great.....! My heart sank.

I announced to Lydia what I had to do. She asked me if I could do it the following day. Sunday? No way. It had to be that night.

So I donned my worse clothes, grabbed my headlamp, and headed outside. The ground was still wet, and I made sure there were no spiders or anything near the crawlspace entrance. The wolf spiders have gotten pretty big now that fall is here, including the legs- they're about the size of the palm of your hand. Also, slugs... the've been getting about 5-6 inches long. I see them on the side of the house from time to time! Yuck.

I had to get down there, and to do so, it's going feet first, face down, and sliding backwards. Not much fun. As I got in, I turned around, and was greeted by a snake coming towards me.

Now remember, it's after 10 at night, and all I have is the light on my forehead. So naturally, I take my pole I carry with me, and kill it real quick before identifying it. It was a harmless garter snake... so i felt bad. But my heart was in my throat!

After making the crawl to the sump-pump, I found it was just a little piece of wood keeping it running. I removed it, and all was well.

I got out from underneath the house, hosed my pants and boots off, and headed inside to take a shower!!!!

Now I'm praying for no more rain!!!!

~Matt

A Monday Post

Whoops. I have failed on updating this blog over the past week! So much has gone on! But not too much to report.

I have been working overtime, Lydia has been working at OTC, we've both been real tired! How's that for a run-down!

Lydia's homework has kept her busy, and she's been staying up late most of the week trying to get it done. I usually take that time and try and work on a project I have. Lately I've gotten quite a bit done. I hope to be sharing some of my work here on my blog when finished!

In other news, both kids have been doing well in daycare. Both are always excited to go, and they've been learning so much. Mysia has learned her months of the year in song.. something we're proud of.

I've also been working with Mysia on our home address in song, and she has it down pretty good. There are a few words she has trouble pronouncing properly, especially when she sings it fast, but we'll work on that as time goes by.

Malachi is a cuddle guy! He loves to sit and spend time with you. He's still very active, but likes to hang around even more. He wants to be right in the middle of whatever you are doing. He's talking more and more, and I can't wait to see what he'll be like as Christmas draws near. It's always a time of super excitement, thanks to Lydia and I, so we'll see what things the season will bring out in him!

I'll try and see what more I can share for my next post, but now I'm off to get some work done!

~Matt

News: Be Careful What You Review On Your Blog!

I don't know how many of you have read the news lately. I appears that the Federal Trade Commission is gonna be enforcing a new regulation that effects bloggers. Well... bloggers that review products, that is. Effective December 1st, if you blog a review about a product that was given to you by the company that put it out, you must put a disclaimer in your post saying so. If you don't, you could face a fine of up to  $11,000! However, it's mostly be a warning at first.

I think that it's interesting to say the least. I really didn't think that regulating blogs was something that could be enforced. But I guess if your are trying to promote a business of your own, or a service, and you are talking about the products of others, they can do anything.

One thing that this will do, is make the readers aware to see how critical a blogger will go when reviewing freebies. It could get very interesting.

Now, I know this doesn't really affect me much. I don't really get freebies to comment on. I mean... seriously, I just blog on family updates, and the weird things that come to mind at the time! I could give my input on logos I guess... but I'm trying to be critical of my own work. Ha!

But hey... if anyone who reads my blog has something for me to review, I'll do it! Just email me, and I'll get you my address!

~Matt

paaschcreativedesigns@yahoo.com

Skate Party (Flyer Design)

Over a month ago, our associate Pastor approached me to design another flyer for our church. It was for the church-wide skating party, to be held on October 31st.

Last spring, when I designed the flyer, it was with a retro look. So this time, I decided to go a whole different direction. As you can see, it turned out pretty good! I'm happy with it.

~Matt

A "Pun"-day

As many of my facebook friends know, I had some fun yesterday! I decided that it would be a "pun"-day... each status a pun. Some people liked 'em, and well... I guess I annoyed a few others! Oh well, it's my status! Bwah-ha-ha!

Anyway, I had come across a few puns that talked about work and were a play on words. I decided to tailor them to my liking and using the same formula, even came up with a few myself!!!

So for fun, I am posting a few. Some I used, some I didn't. Here is my list:

Matt Paasch ... tried studying to become a financier, but I lost interest.

... almost got a job in a blanket factory, but it folded.

... thought about working as an archaeologist, but realized that his career would be in ruins.

... thought about becoming hotel receptionist, but then I had reservations.

... studied a long time to become a doctor, but didn't have any patients.

... entertained the idea of becoming professional fisherman, but discovered that I couldn't live on my net income.

... wanted to be a history teacher, but saw there was no future in it.

... used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure.

... tried selling computer parts, but lost his drive.

... tried studying to be a transplant surgeon, but his heart just wasn't in it.

... used to work in a glue factory, but couldn't stick with it.

... tried work in a gym, but I wasn't fit for the job.

... though about working as an electrician, but the pay was shocking.

... was thinking about becoming an auto mechanic, but heard the work was exhausting!

... tried to work as a tailor, but wasn't suited for it... mainly because it was a so-so job.

... once worked in an orange juice factory, but got canned... just couldn't concentrate!

... tried working at a shoe store, but just didn't fit in... I guess my sole wasn't into it.

... took up work as a lumberjack, but just couldn't hack it... so they gave me the axe!

... tried working in lawncare, but just couldn't cut it... it didn't amount to mulch! (the work was hard to weed through)

... was going to try the peach farm, but the work was PITiful!

~Matt