Criminal Part 2

This morning after getting ready for work curiosity got the best of me.

I thought to myself, what if they are going to arrest me? The post card I received stated that they would be coming to your home, office, or wherever they could find you and taking you off to jail.

I'm not the type of person who would do well in prison. I don't eat after people, I don't like shared spaces, I'm not much on a uniform, and I'm certainly not up for any of the number of things I've heard go on behind bars.

Therefore, I decide to call and get to the bottom of this dilemma.

So I call the Austin County municipal court and find out that the post-card is not a hoax and is very real. They ask me the name on the card and they ask me my birthday. After what seemed like an eternity of being on hold I was informed that I infact was not the criminal they were searching.

Apparently someone in their office found my address and mailed the post-card assuming there is only one Steven Brooks in US. They proceeded to ask if I knew this person and I stated that I did not know him, nor had he ever lived here. Finally, after re-confirming I would not be sent to prison, they told me I could disregard the orange post-card.

I sigh of relief came over me, despite the fact that I didn't do anything in the first place. So I can rest at ease in my home and not behind those iron bars.

Apparently I'm a criminal

I was going to blog on the importance of the Karate Kid to the American society and how it is truly a classic film. However, a change of events this afternoon have post-poned (not canceled, Ryan) my post.

This afternoon I came home and me and Jen got ready to go to the gym. I ran down to the mailbox to check our mail before we went. The usual stuff, a couple bills, wedding invitation, junk, and this mysterious orange postcard.

I know you are thinking, a postcard, must be junk.

Well, this particular postcard addressed to Steven Lee Brooks (not my middle name) was to inform me their was a warrant out for my arrest. Yes, I'm wanting in 10 counties in Texas and they will not rest until I am apprehended. This is part of their warrant round-up program. Lucky me.

Let's look at what's wrong with this picture.
1. I've never been to Texas. I kind of wanted to visit two of my friends that live there, but apparently that would not be safe for my well-being at this time
2. I've not committed any crimes. I'm not a criminal, maybe a speeder, but definitely not a hardened criminal with reason for my arrest.
3. Has anyone ever heard of a constable? Because this notice was sent from a constable in Texas.

Needless to say it looks like a scam, because they don't have my name right and they will only accept payments by form of credit card. I plan on calling tomorrow and seeing if this is even a real place. So, as the old saying goes, Don't Mess with Texas.

On another note, our cat is getting spade and de-clawed on Wednesday, so we would appreciate it if everyone would keep her in their thoughts and prayers. Or to tell her in person you can find her on catbook - 2nd cousin to facebook.
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What’s so great about Knoxville?

We have met lots of people down here, and people from Alabama truly love Alabama. When we tell them that we plan on returning to Knoxville in a few years, we always get asked the same question.

What’s so great about Knoxville?

Besides the fact that it is our hometown, where our childhood friends and our families live, I have composed a list of what is so great about Knoxville

1. The University of Tennessee sports programs
2. The “old city” – in particular my favorite spot is Barleys Pizza
3. Fountain city duck pond
4. The Tennessee Theatre
5. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is 45 minutes away
6. Dollywood – oddly this really is a great attraction
7. Littons – famous burger place across from duck pond. Featured on ESPN
8. Victor Ashe Park – 18 holes of disc golf
9. Knoxville Golf Course – where else can you play nine holes for $8
10. Third Creek Greenway – the best trail in the city with great views of the TN river
11. Loui’s – family owned Italian restaurant
12. World’s Fair Site – The golden ball is a landmark in the quaint city
13. Market Square – free concerts, good atmosphere, and ice skating at Christmas
14. Calhoun’s on the river– Ask anyone from Tennessee about Calhouns bar b que

Wednesday Ramblings

Well, it's been one of those days. For the first time since we have lived here they have mentioned snow and Alabama in the same sentence. Generally, that means schools will be closing down, Lowe's has run out of battery operated space heaters, and the closest loaf of bread or gallon of milk is somewhere in Ohio. It's a nasty dreary day, cold sleeting and rather unpleasant to be outside looking at trucks in.

Speaking of trucks, apparently I've caused some sort of managerial problem at my office. I declined to work a certain day and the chain of events after created teleconferences and meetings. And one certain employee (we'll call him Napoleon to protect his identity) will hopefully be getting a lesson on communication in the work place.

The rest of the week should go by pretty quick. Tonight another hillarious episode of American Idol and Friday we get to eat dinner with Kendall in lovely Cullman, Alabama. Same place I got my speeding ticket. Then Saturday it's back to Knoxville for the weekend and a slight chance at seeing some snow.

Define Meeting

Tonight was the monthly staff meeting. Meetings at my work usually discuss the same topic each month, in new hopes of finding a way to make money. We go around the room in a round table discussion and throw out lots of ideas.

The advantage to the meeting is that we get to leave work an hour early and we have the option to eat dinner afterwards on the company. Tonight’s dining selection was Chuck E Cheese. I’ll refrain from my comments on that and let you read Laura’s blog at www.xanga.com/lauraannc.

So what is a meeting really; a friendly environment for ideas to be shared? Instructive criticisim on how to operate more efficiently? Or is it simply a way to appear to be doing more than we actually are. How often to ideas get implemented? In any company, there are the visionaries and the laborers. Somewhere between vision and end product, there is a gap in what happens.

I find that meetings hold employees capture for an hour and a half after work. At the conclusion you are back where you started and wondering what just happened. The best in when people have meetings to plan meetings. My last job was classic for this. Anyways, I spent my evening with co-workers before coming home to American Idol.

Is everyone in Alabama named Jennifer?

We have lived in Alabama for six months now and almost every female we have met is named Jennifer.

My wife is named Jennifer as well as two of our neighbors. Another friend that we hang out with is also named Jennifer. This morning at church I met another couple and guess what the girl's name was - you guessed it Jennifer.

What is the infatuation with this name. I kind of like the fact that I hang out with people that all have the same name. There is not pressure to remember there names. Once in high school, I was trying to impress some girl and called her the wrong name. I'm really bad with names, so nothing worse than meeting the neighbors and then not remembering their names.

Then you do that thing where you call them guy or buddy, or you just say Hey, and pause hoping they respond. Or you can ask the other neighbors what their names are, but you've probably forgot their names too. It's a vicious cycle.

Nothing is worse than being called hey neighbor. It's like I'm giving you an adjective title, however I'm not making the effort to learn your name.

I guess I will relish the fact that people down here, hear a name and stick with it. I've also met two Steven's, two Beth's and more Matt's than I can count on my hands.

Growing older but not up

With my 25th birthday just around the corner I realized that puts me about three years away from my high school reunion. I went to a moderately sized high school located in the suburbs. The reunion could be tragic or something out of a primetime sitcom.

First of let me say that I'm pumped for several reasons. I married a beautiful soon to be pharmacist; that means we'll be Mr. and Dr. Brooks. How awesome is that. Second, I won't have a 10 year old child to show pictures of at the reunion.

I only still talk to a handful of people from my graduating high school class. Therefore, I imagine I will be hanging out with them.

One of my friends is pumped about the reunion. He was in the band in high school and didn't have a very active dating life. However, four years later he married the head cheerleader. Not one of the cheerleaders that graduated and got big and lost their mojo. Nope, he married a skinny cheerleader and then got her pregnant. Emphasis on pregnant after married.

I hope to see lots of people that have done well with their lives. I know of several people that dropped a bunch of pounds that will be glad to have the tables turned on those that used to call them big. What I think is great is all the kids that probably got picked on, will be the ones with hot wives that run their own companies.

There are several people that probably made "colorful" decisions after high school. I suppose we'll find out if they are living in a van down by the river.

Donald Miller wrote that everyone should leave their home so that when they come back to it, they will appreciate it. Powell is definitely a town you need to leave so that you can realize it's charm. Of course, when I come back to town I mean Knoxville, probably the west part, and not the actual community that I grew up in.

There are many successful people that went to my high school. Some of them are nuclear engineers, insurance salesmen, scientist, in graduate school and doing a multitude of cool and interesting things.

I probably won't be one of these people since I want to be a stay at home dad and live off my sugar momma. Just kidding, well...kind of. I do plan on working, just not anything to time consuming, difficult, labor intensive, or on weekends.