EVICTION NOTICE

Hey, in case you were wondering, I no longer use this blog as my primary place to...ummm...blog. I have a lot of past blog entries on here and may keep this page around until I find a way to transfer my archives to my new blog site (any tips?).

For those interested in my current blog site, go to www.michaelsgray.blogspot.com.

In the meantime, feel free to browse through these vintage entries. I only hope my site doesn't crash from all the internet traffic. I'm a big draw.

Michael

Blast From the Past

I couldn't think of anything new to write today, even though I really felt a need to blog. Instead of creating a brand new entry, I am going to repost one of my past blogs here (the reason being that most people probably don't go searching through my archives). Other than Jason Hammond and perhaps Heidi, I doubt any of you have seen this.

This is a short entry about maintaining a healthy marriage. Sometimes newlywed and long-time couples alike need research-backed, down-to-earth, wholesome advice. This is my contribution:

5 Tips on Marriage

1. It's important to have a woman who cooks, cleans, and has a job.

2. It's important to have a woman who can make you laugh.

3. It's important to have a woman who doesn't lie to you.

4. It's important to have a woman who is amazing in bed.

5. It's very, very important that these four women don't know each other.

You Are Getting Very Sleepy...

I'm as tired right now as I have ever been in my life. On normal days that I wake up sleepy, I usually feel much better by the time I have had a shower and a cup of coffee. Those things did not work today.

This has been a rather long week for me. For starters, this is the week before my students are to take the state-mandated AIMS test. My reputation as a good teacher and part of my paycheck are both hinging on how well my kids do. I'm a bit less hopeful this year than I was last year. The preparation (mentally, physically, grammatically) is an energy-draining process. In addition, I am part of a committee here at school that runs the annual Prospective Family Night that happened last night and I had to work on various projects for that. Yesterday, I was here past 7:00.

Also this week, I have been working on a project for church that has really burned my wick at both ends. I was making banners and a campus map that are supposed to coordinate and help guests know where to go when they come. I worked hard all of Sunday and got everything finished. Unfortunately, there were some big problems and I basically had to redo everything at a different size. One night this week, I was up past 1:30 A.M. -- I still got up each day to teach. Working on this project is fun, but difficult when I have another full-time job. Hopefully the banners look good.

Anyway, that's my gripe for the day.

I need sleep.

I'm going to bed early tonight.

Bienvenido a Los Estados Unidos!

Please allow me a quick disclaimer:

I am not a racist. Those who know me well can attest to the fact that I treat people fairly and make no judgments based solely on a person's skin color. I teach young students of all shapes, sizes, colors, and cultural backgrounds. I do my best to view people in terms of behavior, never race.

Great way to start a blog entry huh? I just wanted to say that upfront because the things I am about to say frequently get responses by non-critical-thinking people as being racist. That sort of response is generally an excuse for not wanting to seriously consider the issue at hand.

I was driving to Gilbert last Friday to drop my tax documents off at my tax guy's office. I noticed that the I-10/202 transition was slammed because the 24th Street exit was closed due to a large group of protestors marching up toward Camelback Road. The protestors were marching for civil rights for illegal immigrants. The group of about 20,000 people were specifically protesting a bill from the House of Representatives and were headed toward the office of Senator John Kyl to express their displeasure (why they chose to picket Kyl's office is beyond me -- he doesn't support the bill in question).

After I got home, I turned on the news to see the crowd of protestors chanting (mostly in Spanish) and waving flags (mostly the flag of Mexico). It struck me as odd that a group of people who were wanting special rights for illegal immigrants in America, would proudly fly the Mexican flag during their demonstration. If I didn't know what was going on, I would have thought that Mexican citizens were demonstrating outside government buildings in Mexico City.

My views on illegal immigration aside, I have a big problem with people who would go through great lengths to escape from their country, and then get here and give honor to that same country by flying their flag on American soil. It boggles my mind. If they see America as a land of great opportunities that their country cannot give them, then why not fly the flag of the Unites States during the protest? I could respect that more.

The true problem, in my opinion, is the insane push for multiculturalism. I have decided that

My name is Michael and I am an addict

Heidi and I try very hard to not watch very much TV, but we have our five or six favorite shows that we try to catch each week (is that a lot?).

For some reason when I think to myself, "Today is Monday," I get excited because I know that King of Queens is on at 7:00 on CBS. Kevin James is just hilarious and for some reason, I laugh harder at that show than any other. Don't judge me.

Tuesdays, we have The Amazing Race (CBS - 9:00). Years ago, people were saying that reality TV was just a fad and that it would never last. Well this show has lasted and is one of the most creative shows I have ever seen. I would love to go on it, but I'm not sure Heidi and I would travel well together for such a long period of time. We are not good tired people.

Wednesdays are Bible Study nights, so the TV is never turned on.

Thursdays is CSI at 8:00 on CBS (the original, not Miami or New York -- we like Gil Grissom). This show is probably our favorite of all time. We even have a dance (more like choreography really) that goes with the music. Whooooooo are you? Who who? Who who?

Fridays used to be Super Nanny on ABC, but that show moved to Monday as well. Do not get this show confused with stupid Nanny 911 on Fox -- that show is like Marry Poppins from hell. Those ladies are lame. Super Nanny Jo Frost actually has a plan for making kids behave. As teachers, we see great value in her service to the parenting community.

And Sundays are Americas Funniest Videos and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (Heidi likes Ty a bit too much, I think). AFV is hilarious to me because I still get this juvenile kick out of seeing kids bitten by geese, brides dropped on their heads by their drunken new husbands, and old women trying to use a pogo stick. Priceless.

I know other people who are into Scrubs or 24 or Desperate Housewives, but we watch the ones above. If you would like, please weigh in on you top three favorite TV shows. I'd love to hear what other people get into. I don't really have the time to get into any other shows, so you are going to need to really convince me that your show is worth it.

This concludes our broadcast day.

=CLICK=

Clearly You've Never Been to Singapore

For some odd reason, I am on a blogging-about-Disney kick lately. I guess I just need the occasional relaxing release of tension and I can't get that from blogging about things like the 2006 State of the Black Union Conference (don't even get me started).

Today, I wanted to talk about the fact that Disneyland currently has the Pirates of the Caribbean ride closed for refurbishment and updating. By "updating" I mean that they are going to enhance the ride over the next few months with new characters, and add more of an obvious storyline based on the new Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

This fact is causing a lot of Disney die-hards a lot of stress and angst. Many people are completely immovable with the thought that no one should mess with the last ride that Walt Disney himself supervised. On the flip-side, many others are excited to see an older ride updated with new technology and new ideas.

This ride is definitely a particularly important monument to Walt's legacy because he died after it was started, but before it was opened to the public. With the exception of the creative rape it experienced at the hands of the political correctness crowd in the 90s (pillaging pirates are not supposed to chase fair wenches), the Pirates of the Caribbean ride is essentially as Walt imagineered it to be.

So, before I give you my thoughts on the issue, I would like you to weigh in. Leave a comment about whether or not you find this a good thing. Are you happy to see an updated attraction, or are you saddened that Walt's classic vision is being made-over?

Palmer-Gray Studios, Inc.

Hey blog world! I am home sick today and, frankly, sick of being home sick. I was fiddling around on my computer and decided to edit, upload, and offer a custom-made video to my massive blog audience.

My friend Jason Palmer and I created this video as a pre-wedding gift for Aaron and Laura, friends of ours who were married last year. This is by no means a professional video, but it is still pretty funny (at least to Jason and me). If you would like to see the video and have about 7 minutes to spare, you can click the link below. Unfortunately, the Oscar nominations have already been made, so it looks like Jason and I will have to try for the "Best Cheesy Homemade Video" award some other year.

When you click the link, it will take you to another page to view the video. Hey, its free that way -- I'm not about to pay money for you to see this. Pshh. Come back and leave comments after viewing it.

Click here to watch 'Kellar-Video'