Go Day-Lewis.











Go Little Manning Boy.













WIN!

Stop, collaborate, and listen

It's seems funny to sit here and type for the sole purpose of knowing someone will read it. I know in my heart that I would say something completely different if there were not an audience. [Right now I can hear my wife turning on Peter, Bjorn, and John and things clanking around on the bathroom counter top.] It seems like we all talk about and write about the things that excite us. I guess you could say that a lot of things excite me. But they're not all fun to read about.

It's 2008. I had a conversation with a co-worker about 2008. She works in "word processing" on 25, and she is basically the manager. For the most part, all official communication with clients, be it engagement letters, management letters, financial statements, auditor's reports, etc., have to go through word processing (WP). After WP goes through it, they sent it back with corrections, you approve the corrections, send it back to them, and they print a final copy. Then, if everything checks out, a partner (owner/boss/guy-that-says-jump-and-you-say-how-high) has to release the letter and it is sent out on some really, super nice paper. Well, I noticed that someone put the wrong year on a letter that had already been sent.

"Do you know where I can find this year's engagement letter?"

"Yeah, I already sent it to you. It's attached as a word document."

"Yeah, but it says January 12, 2007."

"Oh. ..."

"Yeah, it's no longer the year of 007. You know, James Bond. It's the year of 008, the wannabe James Bond."

"You know, I think there actually was a 008 in a movie."

"Yep, GoldenEye."

"It's scary that you know that."

As much as I would love to make a top 10 albums of the year list, or top 10 movies that I watched that were not necessarily released in 2007, or a top 10 busiest airports in 2007 that I visited, I am going to make a top 10 moments to look forward to in 2008 list.

There Will Be Blood opening at Market Street on January 25
NCAA Tournament at Alltel Arena
Getting my CPA license
Second wedding anniversary
Arkansas vs. Texas in Austin
Working 2300 chargeable hours to deliver unmatched client service in public accounting
Getting my CPA license
Buying a house
Designing a critically acclaimed board game that I will sell for $1,000,000
Voting for the United States President

If there had been room for an 11th, I would have said continuing with 23 years of not wearing or buying Old Spice. If you are one of those generational Old Spice guys, that's fine. I mean, I understand that you were given Old Spice by your father to start swabbing under your arms when you turned 11, and that your father's father wore Old Spice in Vietnam, but I just can't get into it. I immediately start asking people wear (or where, rather) they are hiding the dead animal. I mean, seriously, wear (gah! where, I'm sorry that I keep using the wrong word) are you hiding the tupperware-of-leftovers-turned-science-fair-project of a scent?

I wish you all a happy and prosperous year.

2008 Razorback Football Schedule (so far and unofficial)

08/30/08 Western Illinois (Fayetteville)
09/06/08 Louisiana-Monroe (Little Rock)
09/13/08 Texas (Austin)
09/20/08 Alabama (Fayetteville)
09/27/08 OPEN DATE
10/04/08 Florida (Fayetteville)
10/11/08 Auburn (Auburn)
10/18/08 Kentucky (Lexington)
10/25/08 Mississippi (Fayetteville)
11/01/08 Utah State (Fayetteville)
11/08/08 South Carolina (Columbia)
11/15/08 OPEN DATE
11/22/08 Mississippi State (Starkville)
11/28/08 Louisiana State (Little Rock)

It's fun to make fun of the Kansas coach, but they are 10-0 for the first time since Kansas started hanging up peach baskets and throwing leather balls through them. Yes, leather balls through peach baskets, Mr. Naismith. There is a certain sportswriter, Dennis Dodd for CBS Sportsline, that says "Right now, Kansas is the clear No. 1." He touts proudly the fact that there are 3 Big 12 teams in the BCS top 6. What a jerk. Do you even watch television on Saturdays? Can you open your eyes? But back to coaches eating players. That is funny.

The number 121 has three factors: 1, 121, and 11. Tony Hawk was on that crazy show about being fifth graders at answering questions. Questions that you haven't even thought of since the fifth grade. For example ... How many factors does the number 121 have? Or, directly from the mouth of an eight-year-old ... What continent is Estonia on? Who knew that the man that contributed "You might be a redneck" jokes to the world would one day host a show about being smarter than fifth graders. I love how he reasons with the adults in between questions. I love how they glance over at the fifth graders.

Speaking of fifth graders, do you know Stephen Compston? Well, he lives in Colorado. If you talked him during the world series you might have heard that he considered, perhaps, maybe, stopping his crazed love for the Boston Red Sox. Old Mr. Fenway would roll over in his grave. You may know them as the BoSox (as opposed to ChiSox), or just plain, the Sox. Depending on your age, you may know them as the The Old Towne Team or the pre-1908 "Boston Americans." Or, from the mouth of babes, the 2007 World Champions. To think that the "Curse of the Bambino" was lifted because of the pining of a young fan in Arkansas is now a joke to me. I publicly challenge Stephen's so-called "commitment," for I've a bone to pick.

Speaking of bones, I had some toothbones cut out of head a couple weeks back. Thanks for all of you (more like none of you) that brought me soup and ice cream. I ended up having a weekend, or Saturday-to-Monday, as British people said in films in the 40's, full of college football, David Fincher films, and CPA studying. I am slowing, but surely, healing thanks to my lovely, caring wife, a nucleus of caring, Bible-believing Christians, and a syringe (a simple hand-powered piston pump consisting of a plunger that can be pulled and pushed along inside a cylindrical tube, known as the barrel, which has a small hole at the end , so it can suck liquid in and then squirt it out by the same hole) for cleaing food out of the holes that remain in my head.

Speaking of hand-powered pistons, God told me in a dream that the 2007-2008 Detroit Pistons would win the NBA Finals, the whole sh-bang, shoot the moon, if you will. Now, this divine knowledge was planted in my toothbone-hole of a head for a reason. To win lots of money gambling on this knowledge. But now that I've told you, or, rather, I've typed it on a screen and you've read it on a screen (funny how that works), the odds of gambling my way into retirement are diminished. What a might God we serve. I type that on this screen in a sincere manner.

Speaking of manners, I wouldn't have any unless I left you with a list of movies that I've seen in the last month that I do highly recommend (listed in chronological order, because it is logical to list them this way, in chronological order that is, in case you were confused about which way I was propositioning to be logical - oh, thank goodness that is cleared up):

Kind Hearts and Coronets, dir. Hamer (1949)
Strangers on a Train, dir. Hitchcock(1951)
The Night of the Hunter, dir. Laughton (1955)
Zodiac, dir. Fincher (2007)
The Darjeeling Limited, dir. Anderson (2007)
Michael Clayton, dir. Gilroy (2007)

Thanks for reading. Well, you wouldn't be reading unless I was typing, and I wouldn't be typing unless I knew you were reading, and I wouldn't know you were really reading unless we talked about it later. And we wouldn't talk about it later unless we talked later. And there wouldn't be a later unless I stopped typing. But seriously, thank you for reading. I wish this whole thing made me, in some way, feel like I was better friends with you, but these keys are cold, and they don't talk. And you don't talk either.

"It is so difficult to make a neat job of killing people with whom one is not on friendly terms." - the actor Dennis Price, as Louis Mazzini, in Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949), voted the best British comedy in the history of the world by some crazy consumers of BBC media, a world news organization, of which representatives spent this current week in Springdale, AR doing a piece on Mexicans in the area. That's what they call news bits on BBC, "pieces." I think.

It's fall! I really like the cold and rainy weather that we have had the last couple of days.

This is funny and slightly disturbing at the same time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMnk7lh9M3o

We are watching the World Series. I am interested.
Adam is getting his wisdom teeth out tomorrow. I am making soup!

This update is probably not everything that you were hoping it to be. sorry. Actually, no one probably even reads this, so I guess everything is A- okay and I am not sorry.

happy halloween everyone. eat lots of candy.

Who can own a tree? Who can own a rock? Only the Great Spirit.

To better deliver my point, I will quote Sandra Bullock's character, Annie, in the 1997 film Speed 2: Cruise Control, "Who's ready to party on the big boat besides me?"

That is the feeling that Meredith and I have as we prepare to embark on our seven day journey through the Caribs. The Lesser Antilles won't know what hit 'em when they see Captain Argo, his wife, and their Argonaut sailors pillage their port authority, torches in hand.

They'll feed on the roe of sturgeon all night long, and after they're popped full of one too many hors d'oeuvres, they'll try their luck with some morning Bingo aboard the Queen of the Sea, the Carnival Conquest!

'Twas caviary to the general," the general public, that is.

the gift that keeps on giving

I went to Rick's Bakery today because I had found an old gift card that I received freshman year and I wanted a study break. I didn't know how much was on the card, but I though it was surely enough to have a muffin, donut, cookie, etc. For some reason or another, they couldn't figure out how much was left on my card. I told them that I had thought it was worth $5 when given to me, and I couldn't remember what I had bought on it. The manager man said "Let's just make it ten." He put $10 on the card, and gave it back to me. I bought a cake in a cup. And now I still have eight dollars left on the thing.
:D
I kind of want to go to bonnaroo. But, instead I think I will be trying to pass my boards.

*edit* I don't feel too good now after eating that entire cake in a cup. But I think it was still worth it- eating all of its' tasty goodness.

I am trying to grow dill, parsley, basil, cilantro, and jalapeno peppers. So far, they seem to be doing pretty well. I am amazed though, because I have no experience at all with growing things.
Our fish, Trexler and Charlie, are alive and well. I am so glad because they are our only pets. :)
I feel like we are almost responsible adults now! We are keeping our plants and fish alive and we are about to graduate and move.

Dining table with 4 chairs

Meredith and I are selling our dining table and 4 chairs on eBay!

..and grace my fears relieved!

This was a really wonderful movie.



I am in Jonesboro right now, away from my husband. I am ready to be back in Fayetteville with him.
I also had to get two fillings today. I have always been a person of pride when it comes to my teeth. I never have cavities, and never have to get fillings. I went to the dentist yesterday and was told that I had two "potential" cavities and that I needed to get them filled. The entire right side of my face was numb/paralyzed for the better part of the day. I'm sure I was an amusing sight trying to carry on conversations with people.

energy-saving

I found an article about saving energy in a magazine. There was this energy-saving checklist in the article, and while it is some of it is too expensive for us to follow at this point, it is still interesting and something that we can work towards.

-Instead of setting your thermostat to 70 degrees in the winter, set it to 65 degrees. (save $80-$100 per year)

-Instead of setting your water heater to 130 degrees, set it to 120 degrees. (save $15 per year)

-Instead of using a 75-watt incandescent lightbulb, use an 18-watt CFL lightbulb. (save 4 cents/hr, or about $88 per year if bulb is lit for 6 hrs perday)
-Instead of using a traditional computer monitor, use an LCD monitor. (save $20 per year)

-Instead of washing clothes on a hot/warm cycle, switch to a warm/cold cycle- or better yet, cold/cold cycle. (save 10 cents a load)

-Instead of washing several times a week, wash and dry your clothes back to back in one stint. (save $1 a session, or $52 per year)

-Instead of using a top-loading clothes washer, use a front-loading washer.(save as much as 40 cents a load)

-Instead of using a pre-1993 refrigerator, use a new Energy-Star rated refrigerator. (save $120 per year)

-Instead of rinsing dishes before placing them in the dishwasher, load dishes into the dishwasher as they are. (save 6,500 gallons of water or $30 per year on average)

-Instead of leaving gaps in your ductwork, seal your loose house "shell." (save $300 per year)

There are obviously so many more things than are on this list, but I just thought it was interesting, and can you imagine if everyone made an effort...how much energy and- not to mention- money would be saved?

We went camping this past weekend. It was cold. But it was a great time.

Contest madness continues!

Ladies and gentlemen, it's every basketball fan's favorite time of year: MARCH! March means the SEC Basketball Tournament and the NCAA Basketball Tournament.

2007 SEC MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT CONTEST

Moments ago, the SEC tournament bracket was released and I want to see who can pick the winning teams.

Click here for details and to enter.

NCAA tournament contest will be put on hold until the bracket is released on Slection Sunday (March 11).

Grand prize winner...

Stephen Compston, Oskar Winner

Congratulations, Stephen Compston

And the winners of the Oskar Contest are ...

1. Stephen Compston (17 points)
2. Adam Argo (14 points)
3. James Miller (13 points)
James Bushey (13 points)
Andrew Dodson (13 points)
6. Todd Habiger (12 points)
Meredith Argo (12 points)
8. John Schellhase (11 points)
Jessica Bridges (11 points)
Andrew Poole (11 points)
Crosby Hipes (11 points)
Kendall Moss (11 points)
13. Sawyer Beaton (10 points)
14. Spencer Lee (9 points)
15. Jacob Martinka (6 points)
16. Jon Anderson (5 points)

Here were Stephen's picks, I think he cheated:
bestpicture: The Departed (2006): Graham King
bestactor: Forest Whitaker for The Last King of Scotland (2006)
bestactress: Helen Mirren for The Queen (2006)
bestsupportingactor: Alan Arkin for Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
bestsupportingactress: Jennifer Hudson for Dreamgirls (2006)
bestdirector: Martin Scorsese for The Departed (2006)
bestoriginalscreenplay: Michael Arndt for Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
bestadaptedscreenplay: William Monahan for The Departed (2006)
bestcinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki for Children of Men (2006)
bestediting: Thelma Schoonmaker for The Departed (2006)
bestartdirection: Nathan Crowley, Julie Ochipinti for The Prestige (2006)
bestcostume: Milena Canonero for Marie Antoinette (2006)
bestmusic: Gustavo Santaolalla for Babel (2006)
bestsong: Henry Krieger, Willie Reale("Patience") for Dreamgirls (2006)
bestmakeup: David Martí, Montse Ribe for Laberinto del Fauno, El (2006)
bestsound: John T. Reitz, David E. Campbell, Gregg Rudloff, Walt Martin for Flags of Our Fathers (2006)
bestsoundediting: Alan Robert Murray, Bub Asman for Flags of Our Fathers (2006)
bestvisualeffects: Mark Stetson, Richard R. Hoover, Neil Corbould, Jon Thum for Superman Returns (2006)
bestanimatedfeature: George Miller for Happy Feet (2006)
bestforeignfilm: Laberinto del Fauno, El (2006)(Mexico)
bestdocfeatures: Davis Guggenheim for An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
bestdocshorts: Ruby Yang, Thomas Lennon for The Blood of Yingzhou District (2006)
bestshortanimated: Roger Allers, Don Hahn for The Little Matchgirl (2006)
bestshortlive: Ari Sandel for West Bank Story (2005)

Stephen, send me a picture of you so I can put it here for a week.

Oskar Contest 2007

Hey peoples. If you plan on entering the Oskar Contest, you only have until tomorrow (Sunday) at 6:59pm CST. There have been 15 entries to date. I'd like for there to be at least 5 more to make it 20. You know who you are.

Oskar Contest

when two hearts race, both win.

-dove chocolate wrapper

Tomorrow is my last day at the elementary school where I work! Or, 'have clinicals,' I guess I should say. But I should be getting paid..all in the name of education, right? haha, even though it doesn't sounds like it, I love it there and will miss it very much when I do not go anymore.

There is a movie called 'The best years of our lives' that we watched the other night. I think that it is a great movie. It was touching, sincere, sweetly funny, and it is about three different soldiers who come home from WWII and their families.

I hope everyone is having a great week. Adam is excited that you have been entering his contest.

We love you all.

Adam Argo's Oskar Contest 2007

*Update 2/20* There have been a total of 13 unique entries to the contest to date. 5 days to go.


click here to enter, play, and win!

and, if you'd like to stimulate interest,
post a link on your own blog.

p.s. am i allowed to enter my own contest? the contest outcome is completely independent of my capability, power, and authority. i think i should be allowed to if i post my entry to the general public prior to the official oskar winners announcement has been made via the telecast. i would be interested in your comments.

Man and Wife: It had to be you ...

Happy Valentine's Day

(It's snowing.)