Proper Way to Leave a Voice Message

Nothing annoys me more than when somebody leaves me a phone message and says their phone number 100mph. Come on!!! That's the most important part. If I don't know your number I can't call you back. This happens to me at work all the time. Then I have to go back and listen to the message again, which isn't a huge deal, but when the person leaves a long winded 5 minute message and I have to listen to the entire thing until the end when they mention the phone number, then it becomes a big deal. So what can be done about this? Well, here is a short lesson in how to leave a message. Let's pretend I just called and got your voicemail....... This is what I say, "Hey 'insert name here', my name is Tom, I need an answer to something, could you please call me back at 1-800-Tom, once again my name is Tom and my phone number is 1-800-Tom. Thank you."
Notice how I repeated my name and phone number again at the end. That's all it takes. You might just save somebody some time and get called back.

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Star Wars and Adidas Join Forces

What do you get when you mix my favorite athletic company and one of my favorite obsessions over my 31 years of life? Some cool stuff! No, your not dreaming, Adidas and Star Wars have joined together to come out with a whole new line of shoes and apparel that will even have Emperor Palpatine looking dope. Check out the merchandise. Click here.

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Butt Warmers = SBS

Yes, it's really stinking cold right now in Iowa. But, if you offered to purchase and install a butt warmer in my car for me I would have to say no. Why? Three little letters come to mind....... SBS. Now some of you ladies might be asking what does SBS mean? Well, it's something us guys know all about, and it's something that a butt warmer even in the middle of winter can cause. Yes, I'm talking about Sweaty Ball Syndrome. I'm not trying to be gross, just keeping it real. It's something that 99 percent of men will suffer from at least once in their lives. So car manufacturers..... why not seats that cool off your underside? I think the Volkswagen cars offers this. This would really make your car guy friendly and save a lot of people in this world from that uncomfortable feeling of SBS. :)

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Thank You Mexican Radio

Every morning when I'm driving to work I surf the local radio stations trying to find someone actually playing music. Most of the time it's just lame Radio DJs with their stupid jokes or entertainment news. That's not what I need in the morning. I need something to get me going. But, there is always one channel I can count on. It's always there when I need it. That's right 105.5 La Ley, the local Mexican station. It rocks. They always have some great music that takes me to a happy place where I'm laying on the beach in Cabo drinking an ice cold Corona. Forget the fact that I can only speak maybe 10 Spanish words, there something about that music that just speaks to me. So next time you are looking for some music to bop that head to in your car, turn that dial over to 105.5.

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Best Chinese and Sushi in Town?

Best place for Chinese food and sushi in town? Hands down, the best would be Wok In Motion. Wok is located in the West Glen Shopping Center in West Des Moines. The inside is pretty plain and small, just a small dining area and a little sushi bar area, but what is lacks in size and grandeur, Wok makes up for in the quality of their food. My recommendations would be as follows:

Sushi: Lots to choose from, my favorite is the Avocado Rolls
Appetizer: Pot Stickers
Entree: Jack Daniels Infused Steak
To Drink: Go for the Hot Rice Tea

My wife and I usually get the above and split it for only $23.00, which is reasonable for some great food and wonderful service. So the next time you are out in the West Glen area give it a try, or make a special trip to find out what you've been missing. Wok In Motion - Website

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New Star Trek Movie - Lens Flares

So I purchased the new Star Trek Movie Blu Ray and finally got to watch it last night. During the movie I started noticing a lot of shiny glares on the screen. At first I thought something was going on with my TV or blu ray player. There were lots of scenes when the crew in on the enterprise where these glares were actually starting to annoy me. It must be the blu ray disc right? I didn't notice this in the movie theater? No, it's a brand new disc, there has got to be more to this. So after some searching I found out that these glares (called lens flares in the movie business) I was seeing were intentionally put in there by director J.J. Abrams. When asked about it Abrams said "I know what you’re saying with the lens flares. It was one of those things… I wanted a visual system that felt unique. I know there are certain shots where even I watch and think, “Oh that’s ridiculous, that was too many.” But I love the idea that the future was so bright it couldn't’t be contained in the frame."

So I guess the good news is that I'm not going crazy, but for the next Star Trek movie..... please less lens flares! To read the article about Abrams use of lens flares click here.

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Black Friday..... Right Around the Corner

Black Friday is only a matter of days away. Want to know the best deals before the ads come out? Check out bfads.net. Sign up for their email list and you will get the deals sent to you everyday! I can't wait.

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My Favorite 2 Turkey Facts

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I thought I would share my favorite 2 facts about the tasty creatures we call Turkeys:

1.)Turkeys have heart attacks. When the Air Force was conducting test runs and breaking the sound barrier, fields of turkeys would drop dead.

2.)Turkeys can drown if they look up when it is raining.

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The Orange - Where's the Creativity?

Who was the uncreative person who thought up of the name for the fruit called orange? Why just name it after the color it is? You don't call an apple, red or a banana, yellow. So why call an orange, orange. Which came first the color or the fruit? Hmmm. Maybe that's what I really need to find out? I have a lot of questions about this. Maybe I will just come up with a new name for the fruit they call orange. From now on I officially make it know that the fruit formally know as Orange, shall be called Calabupan. I will call it Cala for short. So join in my movement and call your local senator and let them know you want the name of the orange officially changed to Calabupan.
Well, that's one more problem I've solved. What's next you ask. I think I will take on Health care. Look out world....... Brogan is on the case.

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Becoming Addicted to Chipotle

Hi, my name is Tom and I'm addicted to Chipotle. That's what I'll be saying hear pretty soon if I keep getting the cravings for the wonderful food at Chipolte. If your not familiar, Chipolte is a "Mexican Grill" restaurant located inside Valley West Mall that serves burritos, tacos and fajitas. And you certainly can't overlook the fact that they have some tasty chips and guacamole as well. Plus, you are definitely getting pretty good value for your money. My wife and I usually split the burrito (thing is huge) and chips and guacamole, plus 2 sodas for right around $13.00. Not bad for a great fast meal. I would recommend going with the Braised Carnitas for your meat choice and definitely add some sour cream! So next time your are at the mall or just want some excellent Mexican grub, stop by Chipolte.

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Shredded Lettuce on Hamburgers?

I guess I just don't understand why you would ruin a perfectly good hamburger with shredded lettuce? First of all the idea of warm lettuce just doesn't sound that good and second, you can't taste the real flavor of the burger. Maybe they are trying to cover up the taste of the burger? Maybe they are serving crappy half beef/half mystery meat burger patties? I've even seen some restaurants call hamburgers with lettuce and tomato "California Burgers" and try to make them sound healthy. Believe me, that white chopped up iceberg lettuce isn't gonna give you anything that great.
So what's the point of my rant? Next time you are at a restaurant and see that shredded lettuce is on the burger...... just say no. Find yourself a good restaurant that knows how to do burgers right. I will say there is maybe one exception to this rule. B-Bops has pretty good burgers, just make sure to say hold the lettuce!

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The Easiest Office Tailgate Party Dish

So your office is having a potluck for Football season, but you don't have the time or the knowhow to create a delicious dish. What do you do? You turn to the easiest tailgate dish around...... Little Smokies! These little treats will both impress and won't be too bad on the wallet. So here's what you need:

- 2 packs Beef Little Smokies (make sure to get beef!)
- 1 bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce (I prefer Famous Daves, Rich and Sassy)
- 1 crock pot (Come on, everyone has one laying around somewhere)

Yep, that's it 3 things you need. Next step, open up the packs of little smokies dump in the crock pot and then pour in the bottle of sauce. Turn your crock pot on low and let it simmer 2-3 hours (stirring occasionally) for best taste(If you get really hungry and can't wait the full 2 hours the little smokies are precooked so you don't have to worry about eating raw food).

So there you go. So easy a cave man could do it! Enjoy!

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Smelly Carpet? Try Baking Soda

Now that I have an 8 month year old roaming around the house, the spills that cause odor on the carpet seem to be adding up. But what's a safe non-toxic way to get those odors out of the carpet.... that actually works? The answer is BAKING SODA. Just sprinkle liberally over the "stinky" areas and let sit overnight. The baking soda will absorb the odor and then all you have to do is vacuum it up. So you get rid of the odor and not have to worry about the baby crawling all over harsh chemicals. Problem Solved.

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The Dirty Dozen - Fruits and Veggies You Need to Buy Organic

Why buy organic fruit and vegetables? The U.S. Department of Agriculture found that even after washing, some fruits and vegetables consistently carry much higher levels of pesticide residue than others. Based on an analysis of more than 100,000 U.S. government pesticide test results, researchers at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a research and advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C., have developed the “dirty dozen” fruits and vegetables. These are ones you should definitely buy organic:
Apples
Cherries
Grapes, imported (Chili)
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Raspberries
Strawberries
Bell peppers
Celery
Potatoes
Spinach

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Do Lobsters Really Scream When You Boil Them?

I have heard many people make the statement that they don't want to cook lobster at home because the horrific sound of the lobster screaming. What are they talking about? Do they really think that a live animal would scream when put into a tub of scalding hot water?... Well I guess I see a little bit of their point. But the truth of the matter is that lobsters don't scream when boiled. In fact that's impossible because lobsters don't have vocal chords or any other means of vocalization. So what is that weird high pitch sound that sometimes is heard when a lobster is boiling? It is simply the sound of a lobster's exoskeleton and musculature tightening up and releasing gases under the heat of the boiling water. Makes sense, I guess.... Anyways, All I really know is that some lobster dipped in butter is one of life's great pleasures. :)

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Do Not Follow Into Construction Zone

What is it about the "Construction vehicle do not follow" sign on the back of Dump trucks that make me want to follow them? I guess it's that wild side of mine calling :)

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What's really in a flu shot?

It's really not funny what's in a flu shot, but I found this funny video that makes light of all the crap in the vaccine. Check it out.

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Organic Valley Coupons

I have been trying to incorporate more and more organic foods in my daily life over the past year. The biggest reason for this would be the birth of my daughter. When I started looking at different foods for her and doing more and more research, I came to the conclusion that organic foods would be the only choice for her and that I needed to start moving in that direction as well. So after 6 and half months, litle Katelyn (my daughter) has only eaten organic food and I would say that 60 percent of the food I eat is organic. The one problem with eating organic is that it's expensive! So, being a bargain shopper, I am always looking for deals and coupons. Once place I found that you can get organic coupons is at the Organic Valley website. Organic Valley has a whole line of products to choose from. Here is a link to the site. You can print off coupons directly from their site and you can also sign up for their program called "Farm Friends", and receive lots of coupons in the mail. So hopefully this helps out some of my fellow organic eaters out there. Remember, "You are what you eat".

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I Didn't Know I was Pregnant?

So there is a show on TLC network called "I didn't know I was pregnant" and I happened to catch a portion of it the other night. My initial thought was how do you not know you are pregnant? Are these women crazy or just ignorant? After watching a few stories it became clear that the women in the show are a little bit of both. I mean they are getting morning sickness and just think it's the flu..... getting a little chubby around the tummy and they think they are just eating too much. I think the highlight of the show was when one lady thought she was having stomach cramps and went to sit down on the toilet and instead of poop coming out, a little baby fell down into the toilet. Now, that would have to be a shocker! :)

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Faster Fridge Water

I personally don't own a fridge with an ice and water dispenser on the outside of the door, but I have used quite a few in my lifetime and the flow rate of the water coming out of it drives me crazy! Can't they make these any slower? It's ridiculous. If I am going to wait that long for a drink of water I expect it to be the best damn water I have ever tasted. I'm talking crystal clear, organic, tastes like heaven wonderful water. But, no...... it's just normal old water. And have you ever tried to fill a pitcher full of water from one of these? You might as well get a chair and sit there because your legs will start aching from waiting around for it. So in short, this is a plea to all you refrigerator makers out there, speed it up!..... or I guess I can just use the water out of the faucet?

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