I Am Such a Geography Nerd

I have already indicated I am a political nerd, by posting about presidential candidates, in the past. Now I admit to being a geography nerd as well. I recently found a web-site that allows you to test your knowledge by naming all 195 independent countries of the world (196 if you count Taiwan, which is technically part of China). Can you Name the Countries of the World?

I recently tried my luck and I could name 179 countries without any assistance; although, it did not count several of my answers because I could not spell the name of the country correctly. Some of them are hard to spell. I didn't know I knew that many. The two newest recognized country on the planet are Kosovo and South Sudan, by the way.

There is also a link to name the 50 United States if you wish.

Angry Birds

A new Internet sensation has captured my attention. It is a new online game called Angry Birds. It is very similar to another game I like to play called Crush the Castle 2. In Crush the Castle 2 you use a catapult to hurl logs, stones, etc...at "castles" in order to kill the people on the inside. In Angry Birds you use a sling shot to hurl birds at "pigs?" who are hiding behind barriers. I like the way the birds go "poof" once they have been launched at their pig foes. Both games are fun ways to use strategic thinking. Have fun!

More Commercials That Are Getting on My Nerves

In my last blog I listed 6 commercials that are getting on my nerves a lot lately. I ended at 6 because the Rangers were coming on. So here are 4 more to round my list off at a nice even 10.

7. All of the male enhancement commercials. Not only are they an embarrassment to most men, they are not appropriate to show when any kids are in the room.

8. The Kids Bop Commercials. What number are they on now, number 524? Actually I think it is 12, LOLOLOL (you know what I mean if you have seen the commercial.)

9. The Fruit by the Foot commercial with the two karate dudes yelling and very, very, very slowly moving towards the face of the kid eating the fruit snack.

1o. The Dannon Yogurt commercial where the pretty young lady, suddenly becomes very not pretty by sucking the yogurt container dry (without using hands, which is sort of impressive) and yet not getting a single drop of the yogurt on her face anywhere. How does she do that?

Presidents Quiz # 4 of 4

As before there are a series of statements you need to match up with the President they belong with. The answers are in the comment section. Good Luck.

# 34. The Compromise of 1850 was passed while he was president, which allowed California to become a state. He also sent the U.S. Navy to open trade with Japan.

# 35. He was President of the United States during the Spanish-American War, which resulted in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines becoming territories of the United States. Hawaii also became a U.S. territory while he was president. He was the third president to be assassinated while in office.

# 36. He was president when the first of the Confederate States left the Union and the first shots of the Civil War were fired at Ft. Sumter. He was also the only president who was never married.

# 37. He was Commander of all Allied Forces in Europe during World War II. He established the Interstate Highway System and started funding for the U.S. Space Program. He was president when Korean War ended.

# 38. A former actor, who appeared in many movies, he is oldest person to have ever been president. The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster happened while he was President. He survived an assassination attempt shortly after becoming president. His tough stance on terrorism led to the U.S. invasion of Grenada and the bombing of Libya.

# 39. The heaviest person to ever become President. He is the only former President to later become Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. He is the last president, to date, to wear facial hair.

# 40. This president is most famous for the passing of the "Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act" while as president.

# 41. Hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe, he was the first president who was a member of the Whig Party. He was the first President to die in office. He caught pneumonia after making the longest inaugural speech in presidential history, while in the rain. He died one month after taking office.

# 42. Commander of the U.S. Army during much of the Civil War, his presidency was marred by many scandals and Reconstruction after the Civil War. The Transcontinental Railroad was completed while he was president and he established Yellowstone National Park as the first national park in the U.S.

# 43. Known as the "quietest" president, he was president during the "Roaring Twenties." He helped pass the "Indian Citizenship Act of 1924," which made all Native Americans living in the U.S., citizens of the United States.

Presidents Quiz # 3 of 4

As before there are 11 statements for you to match up with the President they belong to!
The answers are in the comment section.

#23. He was elected in the first Presidential Election that allowed women to vote for President. His administration was mired by in controversy and scandal, including the "Teapot Dome Scandal," because of which several of his cabinet members and advisers were arrested. He died in office after returning from the first Presidential trip to Alaska.

# 24. While president he wanted to create a "Great Society" and encouraged Congress and the U.S. to "Declare War on Poverty." He helped pass laws that strengthened Civil Rights and that created Medicaid and Medicare. Despite these accomplishments the pressures and demands of the Vietnam War caused him not to seek another term as President.

# 25. Sadly, this president is best known for his "extra-marital" activities more than what he accomplished as president. He helped pass many social and economic reform bills into law and was had one of the highest approval ratings as a president, despite the fact his term of office was marred by many scandals. He was the second president to be impeached.

# 26. Although he only served four years, more states were admitted to the United States while he was president, other that George Washington. The Sherman Anti-Trust Act was also passed while he was president. He was also the grandson of a former president.

# 27. Considered by many to be the "greatest" President in U.S. History. He was president during the U.S. Civil War and the first Republican President to be elected to office. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which abolished slavery in the Confederate States. He was the first president to be assassinated.

# 28. A General and hero of the Mexican-American War, this president died in office from complications due to probable food-poisoning.

# 29. He was the first son of a President to be elected President. A failure as President, he returned to the House of Representatives, where he fought to end slavery. Years later, he died at his desk in the House chambers.

# 30. He was the only person to serve as President of the United States without being elected to either the Vice-Presidency or as President. He pulled the last of the American troops out of Vietnam and pardoned the previous president for any crimes he may have committed during the Watergate Scandal.

#31. He was the only person to be elected to four terms of office as President. He was president during the majority of World War II. His sweeping economic and social changes, called "The New Deal" helped bring an end to the Great Depression. He was limited to life in a wheel chair while suffering from the effects of polio. He died while sitting at his desk in the White House, shortly after starting his fourth term of office.

# 32. He is the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, and was partly responsible for the addition of the Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution. He purchased the Louisiana Territory from France and sent the famous "Lewis and Clark Expedition" to explore the newly acquired territory.

# 33. The "hero" of the Battle of New Orleans at the end of the War of 1812, he was the first Democrat to be elected President. He effectively destroyed the Bank of the United States and forced march many Native Americans from their homes in the Southeastern United States to reservations in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma in what was called "the Trail of Tears." He also prevented a civil war in the U.S. by his strong actions during what was called the "Nullification Crisis."

Presidents Quiz # 2 of 4

This part 2 of my 4 part quiz about the Presidents of the United States. As before their are 11 statements that you need to match to the President. The answers are in the comment section.

12. His nickname was "Old Dough face." The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed by Congress during his term, which led to much bloodshed and helped cause the Civil War.

13. He was President of the United States during World War I. He pushed, unsuccessfully for the United States to join the League of Nations after the war. His "Fourteen Points" served as a guide to create the treaty that ended the war as well. He suffered a stroke late in his presidency, during which time people felt his wife "assumed" many of his presidential duties.

14. Famous for his quote, "The Buck Stops Here," he was president at the end of World War II and authorized the use of the atomic bomb on Japan to end the war. He was president during the start of the Cold War, the creation of NATO and the recognition of Israel as an independent nation.

15. He is the only President to date to have resigned from being president. He won his first election by one of the largest land-slides in Electoral College history. He is known for his famous trip to Communist China, during which he opened up U.S. trade relations with China. He was president when man first stepped on the moon and he negotiated the treaty that would end the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. His involvement in the "Watergate Scandal" almost resulted in his impeachment, but he chose to resign instead.

16. The first African-American to become President of the United States. He is also the current President of the United States. While president he has increased the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan to help fight terrorist and signed orders to close the U.S. Military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He has also signed legislation authorizing Congress to give money to industries, businesses and taxpayers to help "boost" a struggling economy.

17. During World War II, he was the youngest Navy fighter pilot to serve in the war. He was head of the CIA before becoming president. He organized a coalition of military forces from the U.S. and other countries to liberate Kuwait from invading forces from Iraq, during what is called, "Operation Desert Storm." He also authorized a military operation in Panama. He was president when the Berlin Wall was torn down in Germany, signaling the end of the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. He also helped create the North American Free-Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

18. He was the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms of office as President of the United States. He was the 2nd president to marry in the White House.

19. As president he issued a foreign policy that bears his name which said that, further efforts by European governments to colonize land or interfere with states/countries in the Americas, would be considered as acts of aggression that require U.S. intervention. The Missouri Compromise was also passed by Congress while he was president.

20. He helped write the Declaration of Independence and was the only Federalist to serve as president. He signed the Alien and Sedition Acts, which severely limited the rights of foreign citizens who lived in the United States.

21. He was the first president to assume the office after the death of the sitting president. Known as the "Accidental President," he failed to accomplish much while he was president. Texas became a state three days before he left office.

22. He was chosen as President by the House of Representatives after the contested election of 1876. He ended Reconstruction in the United States, bringing the last of the former Confederate States back into the Union.

Presidents Quiz # 1 of 4

In the wake of the past election and just because I am a History sort of guy, I thought I would challenge my fellow Americans to see how well you know our U.S. Presidents. I will present the quiz in 4 parts (11 presidents each)!

Below is a series of statements about the Presidents. On a piece of paper write down which President you think the statement is referring to. I will give you the answers in the comment section. If you don’t know the names of all of the Presidents, shame on you (just kidding) look them up somewhere; however, try not to cheat and read about them until after you take the quiz. (Hint: Grover Cleveland is only listed once in my quiz even though he was elected twice.)

Good luck!

1. Known as the “Father of the U.S. Constitution”, he was the shortest president and President of the United States when the British burned down the White House during the War of 1812!

2. Promising to fulfill America’s “Manifest Destiny,” this president served during the Mexican-American War, which resulted in the United States gaining control of California and much of the western United States. After threatening to go to war with Great Britain, he also gained control of much of the Oregon Territory.

3. He was president during the early years of Reconstruction, after the Civil War. He was the first president to be impeached. The 13th Amendment, which officially abolished slavery in the United States, was passed and Alaska was purchased from Russia while he was president.

4. He was the youngest person to ever assume the office of President of the United States. A hero of the Spanish-American War, he was the leader of the Rough Riders. He was known for his “Square Deal” and for being a “Trust Buster.” He won the Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating the end of the Russo-Japanese War. He also authorized the building of the Panama Canal.

5. He was president when the Stock Market crashed in 1829, which started the Great Depression. He has a famous dam named after him on the Colorado River.

6. While President he negotiated a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. He also saw American’s taken hostage in Iran, and the Soviet Union invade Afghanistan. He later became a leader for Habitat for Humanity after leaving the Presidency.

7. Shortly after he became President, a group of terrorist attacked the United States, which resulted in the death of thousands of Americans in New York, when the World Trade Center towers were destroyed, and in Washington, D.C, when the Pentagon was attacked as well. Congress authorized him to use the U.S. Military to fight terrorism in Afghanistan and to remove Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq in attempt to create democratic governments. During the last year of his presidency, economic problems resulted in Congress passing legislation to “bail-out” failing companies and financial institutions to try and boost the economy.

8. Although he was the youngest president ever elected, he prevented the Soviet Union from establishing missile bases in Cuba during the “Cuban Missile Crisis.” He also supported a failed attempt by Cuban Nationalist to overthrow the Communist government of Cuba during the “Bay of Pigs Invasion.” He was the first Roman Catholic president and saw the building of the Berlin Wall in Germany and the start of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. He was assassinated in Dallas, TX.

9. He was the only sitting member of the House of Representatives to be elected president. He was ambidextrous, able to write in two languages at once with both hands at the same time. He was shot shortly after becoming president and died 3 months after taking office.

10. He was the first “natural born” citizen of the U.S. to become president. The Economic Panic of 1837 defined his Presidency and he failed to win a second term in office.

11. He was Commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and the first President of the United States. He helped create the U.S. Constitution and created the Judicial System of the U.S. He was the only President not to live in the White House. He is commonly known as the “Father of our Country.”

Accepting a Challenge From Big Doofus

Thanks to my blog friend Big Doofus, I have been busy the past few days. After my last blog, (which was not a list by the way), Big Doofus issued this challenge to me... "I know that lists are your weakness...so I challenge you to make a LIST OF THE LISTS YOU'VE MADE IN THE PAST YEAR ON YOUR BLOG. You can't resist it. It's in your DNA. Oh, and I want links."

Well I accept your challenge and here is the list, you big meanie! Just kidding.

1. Posted January 10, 2008 -- 5 Weird Things About Me!

2. Posted January 10, 2008 -- Part of a Thursday Thirteen: 13 of My Favorite Music Albums by Christian Artists

3. Posted January 19, 2008 -- A trivia quiz: Name That Movie

4. Posted January 22, 2008 -- A follow up trivia quiz: Name That Movie 2

5. Posted January 24, 2008 -- Part of a Thursday Thirteen: 13 Books I Have Recently Read # 3, I guess # 1 & #2 were posted in 2007.

6. Posted February 8, 2008 -- Remembering 2007

7. Posted March 8, 2008 -- 10 Things I Learned From My Son's Science Project

8. Posted April 2, 2008 -- Some 2008 Movies I am Anxiously Awaiting to See

9. Posted April 25, 2008 -- 13 of My Favorite You Tube or God Tube Videos

10. Posted May 3, 2008 -- My Favorite 100 Movies of All-Time (As of May 5, 2008) Since then my list has changed but I have not yet posted it. Give it time.

11. Posted June 2, 2008 -- Does this count as a list? My Votes For the Major League Baseball All-Star Game

12. Posted June 29, 2008 -- Tag I'm It: 30 Things About Me

13. Posted September 11, 2008 -- Where Were You On This Date?

14. Posted November 11, 2008 -- Sort of List, I think? -- Remembering Those Who Served -- I did list some relatives who are military veterans.

15. Posted November 18, 2008 -- Do You Know Your Spouse? A Quiz For You

16. Posted December 24, 2008 -- The Twelve Days of Christmas -- 2008

Lists Posted So Far in 2009

1. Posted January 1, 2009 -- The Best of 2008

2. Posted January 2, 2009 -- Have You Ever in Your Life?

3. Posted February 3, 2009 -- Praying For Things That Cause Me Stress

Page 56 -- a Tag From Facebook

Rules:* Grab the book nearest you.* Turn to page 56.* Find the fifth full sentence.* Post that sentence along with these instructions in a note to your wall.* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.* Tag friends that might actually own a book. (Magazines don't count. Even if you read them only for the articles.) The sentence is supposed to say something about you...?

The book closest to me is When Christ Comes by Max Lucado...my page 56 quote is: "It wasn't enough to see the course and walk the grounds, I wanted to see the locker room."

I haven't read this book in very long time. I rarely play golf; which this sentence is referring to. So what does this sentence say about me? I guess it's the history teacher in me. I don't just want to look at the golf course (the museum, the old fort, or the artifacts), I want to see the locker room. I want to "feel" the history involved in everything I learn. Maybe that's what it means.

Have You Ever in Your Life...? Another Meme List About Me

I picked up this meme list from my blog buddy Big Doofus! I have a hard time resisting a list.

Have you ever in your life...

Been on a blind date? No

Skipped School? I skipped on day with some friends during "Senior Week" in High School. Sadly I skipped more than a few classes in college.

Watched someone die? No, unless you count on television or a movie.

Been to Canada? Yes, I crossed the border for a few hours when my family attended my wife's, grandfather's funeral, about 11 years ago. I brought back some Canadian Maple Syrup and a mini-hockey stick.

Been to Mexico? Yes, I went to Mexico for about a month when I was in college. I had to pass the 2nd year of Spanish to graduate and this was the best way to do it. It was here that I climbed the Pyramid of the Sun and wrote my infamous "Chicken Lip Song".

Been to Africa? No

Been to Florida? Yes, in 1984, the band from my High School traveled to Florida to perform in a concert and march in the Disney World parade. EPCOT was brand spankin' new and we were one of the first to visit it.

Had your booze taken away by the cops? Nope! I never have been much of a drinker.

Lettered in a sport in High School? No, but I did letter in Band! (Band Nerds Rule!)

Cried yourself to sleep? Several times, during not so memorable moments.

Played cops and robbers? No, but I did play Army a lot and I have played Cowboys and Indians.

Played with dolls? The only dolls I played with were my sister's Barbies, which I burned at the stake. Action Figures and Stuffed Animals don't count as dolls do they?

Sung Karaoke? A few times, most recently at my work Christmas party.

Done something you said you would never do? We all do don't we? Sometimes I still wish I had never done them, other times I was glad; like when I ate Chinese Food.

Cheated on an Exam? Only once that I remember. It was on a college exam, but I plead the 5th on which subject it was.

Made prank phone calls? Yes. My sister and I used to call people and pretend we were from Family Feud and ask them a series of questions to use in the fast money round.

Laughed so hard a beverage came out your nose? Probably, but I can't remember a specific time.

Caught a snowflake on your tongue? In Texas are you crazy? What is snow? Actually I have several times. It is fun those rare times when you can.

Danced in the rain? Not really danced, but rain around and had fun in the rain.

Wrote a letter to Santa? As a kid, but not as an adult.

Watch a sunrise with someone you care about? Not a sunrise, but a few sunsets.

Kissed under the mistletoe? Yes!

Been arrested? No!

Blown bubbles? I have many times.

Been ice-skating? Yes, back in Jr. College. It was fun and cold!

Been skinny-dipping outdoors? If you count a hot-tub. Never in a lake or pool!

Had a nick-name? Other than "Spaz" no!

Had cookies for dinner? Not, that I can remember, but I did have pie for dinner once.

Been on TV? Yes, I can't remember what for though.

Been in a car accident? A couple. One really bad one back when I was younger.

I agree with Big Doofus... the following questions are not, Have you ever in your life...they are just general questions...but I will answer them anyway!

What is your mother's and father's names? Lamona & Louie

What is your favorite drink? Water, Dr. Pepper or Strawberry, Banana, Orange Juice.

Favorite alcoholic drink? I don't drink much, but I do like a good Mudslide!

Your Birthplace? Texarkana, Arkansas

Favorite Vacation Spot? Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. I love baseball.

Favorite Salad Dressing? Ranch or none at all.

Favorite Pie? Buttermilk

Favorite Number? any number with a $ sign in front of it.

Favorite Movie? To Kill A Mockingbird

Favorite Holiday? Christmas

Favorite Food? Sesame Seed Chicken, a good Steak, and Tacos

Favorite Day of the Week? Saturday

Favorite Body Wash? Soap

Favorite Toothpaste? Colgate or Crest

Favorite Smell? My wife's perfume and warm vanilla sugar candles.

Do you have any tattoos? No

Any body piercings? No

Do you drive a 2 door or 4 door vehicle? 4 door Chevy Cavalier

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Debt free and loving it!

Another Web-Site to Occupy My Time

A few weeks ago my wife introduced me to a web-site called Goodreads.com. This web-site allows you to enter any books you have read in the past, are currently reading, or wish to read in the future, onto a list to share with other readers. By listing you reading interest, other readers can suggest new books for you to read, (like I need more books to read!) or chat with you about the books they have read.

Of course my OCD kicked in big time with this one, and I started entering books. I have entered over 3oo books I have read, 3 I am currently reading, and at over 10 books I wish to read. HELP ME!

Just in case you want to see my profile and list of books I have read...click here. I hope you enjoy the site and "Good Reading!"

Tag I'm It ... 30 Things About Me

Recently, my lovely bride, Jamie, was "tagged" by a friend to complete a list about her. I wasn't officially "tagged" by Jamie, but I love list. So here goes...tag I am it.

1) LAST MOVIE YOU SAW IN A THEATER. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Krystal Skull, I really want to see The Dark Knight, when it comes out.

2) WHAT BOOK ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING? Adam by Ted Dekker

3) FAVORITE BOARD GAME? Beyond Balderdash

4) FAVORITE MAGAZINE? Country Magazine and Country Extra, I like to try and find the needles.

5) FAVORITE SMELLS? Brownies cooking

6) FAVORITE SOUNDS? My kids laughing, rain, silence, and the sounds of the crowd at a baseball game.

7) WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD? Knowing my kids are hurting and I can't do anything about it.

8)WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN U WAKE? Sadly, I think of all the things I have to do today (and just recently, when will God find me another job).

9) FAVORITE FAST FOOD PLACE? Chick-Fil-A, I love their Cow Calendars

10) FUTURE CHILD'S NAME? If we have any, we would most likely have to adopt. A girl, I would name Hannah Grace or Rebekkah Grace, maybe....a boy, Benjamin Luke, maybe....

11) FINISH THIS STATEMENT—’IF I HAD A LOT OF MONEY I’d… pay off all debt and travel more

12) DO U DRIVE FAST? In the city, I unintentionally do, but on the highways, not so much.

13) DO U SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL? Only if the dog or cat sleeps with me.

14) STORMS–COOL OR SCARY? Very Cool

15) WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR? Green Buick Limited with an 8-Track player in it.

16) FAVORITE DRINK? A Caramel-Mocha Frappachino from Starbucks

17) FINISH THIS STATEMENT-IF I HAD THE TIME I WOULD… finish writing my new book, travel and work on the house to make it beautiful.

18) DO YOU EAT THE STEMS ON BROCCOLI? Yes

19) IF YOU COULD DYE YOUR HAIR ANY OTHER COLOR, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CHOICE? Blondish?

20) NAME ALL THE DIFFERENT CITIES/TOWNS U HAVE LIVED IN. In order...DeKalb, Alice, Gilmer, Tyler, Abilene, Winnsboro, Mt. Pleasant, Howe, and Longview all in Texas

21) FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Texas Rangers baseball, especially, live!

22) ONE NICE THING ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? No one sent it to me, I just found it on Jamie's blog -- All Rolled Into One, she does have the most beautiful smile in the entire world though.

23) WHATS UNDER YOUR BED? Some storage items, lots of dust bunnies

24) WOULD U LIKE TO BE BORN AS YOURSELF AGAIN?? I was born again; when I became a Christian and I really don't want to go back to my old self. I hate my old self. Still haven't quite forgiven him yet...need to work on that.

25) MORNING PERSON OR NIGHT OWL? Morning Person

26) OVER EASY OR SUNNY SIDE UP? Over Easy, with bacon and some pancakes from I-HOP

27) FAVORITE PLACE TO RELAX? On the couch, I guess.

29) FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? I am a plain old Vanilla guy, but if I had to pick another flavor...Karamel Sutra by Ben & Jerry

30) OF ALL THE PEOPLE U HAVE TAGGED, WHO IS THE MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND FIRST? I am not going to "TAG" anyone. I just love lists and decided to fill one out for myself.

The Movie of My Life

Found this on the blog of Big Doofus and thought it would be fun to try it. Here goes!

IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?

Here's how it works:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing (don't skip to a song you think would be better)
5. When you go to a new movie scene, press the next button
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool...
7. Include commentary

Opening Credits -- "In Christ Alone" by The Newsboys -- This a great song that really sums up how I want to live my life. Since my soundtrack and my real life revolves around my relationship with Jesus, it is more than fitting that this is the opening song.

Waking Up -- "The Wallace and Gromit Theme Song" by Julian Nott -- How strange that the theme of an animated/claymation show should show up here. This song is kind of catchy and corny, which I guess could describe my morning routine when I wake up, especially when I was a kid, except I had a cat and not a dog.

First Day at School -- "Today has been, OK" by Guiliann Torrini -- This song has appeared on the Grey's Anatomy Soundtrack. I think it fits my first day of school. I thought it would be horrible, but it turned out OK anyway. It's a relaxing sound to it, which fits after a tough first day at school.

Falling in Love -- "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt -- A great song to fit an unhealthy love relationship. My "first love" was a crush I had on a girl named Lisa in first grade. I kept this strange crush until after High School. I really didn't know what I would do if I couldn't eventually marry her. I'm glad I didn't though. At least I didn't jump off a bridge as James Blunt did in his music video.

Fight Song -- "The Indiana Jones Theme" from Raiders of the Lost Ark by John Williams -- I wasn't sure if this was the school fight song or a song about a fight; either way the song seems to fit the theme. Swashbuckling hero who saves the day. Sadly I was the one who was getting picked on a lot and I could only dream of being Indiana Jones.

Breaking Up -- "Haunted" by Evanescence -- Sadly in real life I didn't have many girlfriends to break up with; however, if I did, this song would fit perfectly. It is "haunting" in the sound of the song and it is a great relationship song as well.

The Prom -- "Dancing With Myself" by Bill Idol -- This song fits on so many levels. # 1. It is a great 80's song, which fits the time frame of my prom. # 2. I was such a nerd, spent several dances at my Senior Prom, dancing with myself. : (

Life's Ok -- "There Goes My Life" by Kenny Chesney -- Not sure why this song popped up here, maybe it is because I found my "true love" at this point in my life (in the movie), even though I really didn't find her until near the end of college. Cool song though! It alone would fit almost any one's life story.

Mental Breakdown -- "Feel Good, Inc." by The Gorillaz -- Good song, Good beat, Easy to Dance To. This song is from a very strange group of animated monkey guys...It fits perfectly with a mental episode I might be having at any given moment. I would probably be bustin' out in some random dance moves during this mental breakdown though.

Driving Away -- "Chains of Love" by Erasure -- "Together we'll break these chains of love." Not my first choice for a driving song, but if me and my "love" are running off together after having a mental breakdown, it might work. It does have a nice 80's alternative sound to it.

Flashback -- "It Is You" by The Newsboys -- This is the second appearance of the Newsboys on the soundtrack. Good song to flashback to the moments in my life when Jesus was there for me and I was to busy looking somewhere else for my happiness. It is also a good song to refocus your life to.

Getting Back -- "When She Cries" by Restless Heart -- perfect fit for a song about realizing how your actions can cause pain for someone you love and how you want to get back to them and make things right. Great crossover country hit from the late 80's.

Wedding -- "Incomplete" by the Backstreet Boys -- ??? You would think a song at a wedding would be about completeness and becoming one, but then again isn't this song saying that without you I would be incomplete? Yeah, the song fits in a weird sort of way, but the Backstreet Boys...Ahhhh!

Birth of a Child -- "Dreamtime" by Daryl Hall -- I have racked my brains trying to figure out how a "you are living in fantasy relationship" song by one of the members of the 80's group Hall & Oates, fits into this part of my life. If I went by the title alone, then the song would fit. Having a child does tend to wake one up from a "All is perfect" fantasy life to the often difficult realities of being a parent.

Final Battle -- "Get on Your Feet" by Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine -- Interesting and upbeat song for a "final battle" but who says conflict resolution is always a difficult fight or sad time. I like the fact my final battle ends with a song about getting on your feet and making things happen, with a little bit of dancing to go along with it.

Death Scene -- "Say, Say, Say!" by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson -- You can "Say, Say, Say what you want" about me when I am dying, I won't care one bit. I know what Jesus says about me is the only thing that counts. I can imagine me watching a 80's flashback on MTV when this video comes on, and then I quietly "pass on" sipping on a Dr. Pepper, while sitting in my blue Lazy-Boy.

Funeral Song -- "Every Breath You Take" by the Police -- How funny this song is talking about breathing when I am no longer breathing. I guess it is referring to the people at my funeral and how "I'll be watching you" even after I am gone.

End Credits -- "For the Sake of the Call" by Stephen Curtis Chapman -- probably could have switched this song with the opening credits. Maybe my life will inspire others to "Abandon it all, for the sake of the call" of Jesus. It has a great musical piece at the start of the song, that fits how end credits normally run, before starting the inspiring song.