Last October, I thought I learned a pretty important lesson. The amount of promotional sunscreen that I put on before going into the sun is never enough. I always need to put on more.

The October comment was a reference to my honeymoon. We went to Aruba and, after one day in the sun (with multiple applications of SPF 50 promotional sunscreen), I was a lobster. So it goes with the Irish.

This past weekend, I was outside with my promotional garden accessories weeding a flowerbed. I weeded from 9am - 11:30am with a tank top on. It was sunny, but it was the early morning! No way I'd get burned! Wrong again. I had to have some of the leftover Aruba Aloe put on to lessen the pain of yet another sunburn. Will this be the time I learn? I hope so!

I'm really looking forward to the 4th of July this year. We're taking a trip down to Washington, DC to visit friends and family. I expect we'll come across many 4th of July Giveaways in the nation's capital. Friends have told us about a parade at the National Mall, which I'm sure we'll check out. The fireworks at night will be amazing.

I think the highlight of the trip, however, might be on Saturday. We made plans to check out the Mets vs. Nationals at 7:05pm. Over the weekend, we discovered that the game was moved to 4pm, aka the Fox Game of the Week. Hmmm why would they want to televise this game nationally? Could it be a STRASBURG outing? If so, I'm sure the Baseball Giveaways will be in full effect.

(Disclaimer: I did the math, and it doesn't look like the National Treasure will be pitching. This would be a good thing for the Mets, of course, but it would be cool to see him throw.)

I can't believe it's been almost 12 years since I graduated high school. I didn't know it then, but the Graduation promotions that were handed out that day would become a part of my future. We received, among other promotional products, custom keychains with the year 1998 on them. Of course, if you're getting these for the current graduates, you'll need the 2010 version.

There are definitely cooler Graduation giveaways around these days. Who wouldn't love a Photo Friends Graduate Bobblehead? That would've definitely been found in my room. The Custom Die Cast Graduate Clock is a classy option for graduates.

I'm sure I'll continue finding occasions from my past that foreshadowed my future in the promotional products industry. I wonder what will be next.

Mother's Day snuck up on me, but that's something that can be covered up. Go to the store in the morning and buy some flowers; you'll be a great son! It's not so easy on Father's Day (unless your dad likes flowers). You really have to plan ahead with custom Father's Day gifts.

There are so many promotional products that can double as imprinted Father's Day gifts. Promotional stainless tumblers are great gifts for dads on the go. For the golfing fathers, there are golf giveaways that I'd never seen before, but now use on every outing. If your father commutes every day, why not looking promotional auto accessories? Many dads would be excited to get promotional barbeque items.

Whatever you go with, don't let Father's Day sneak up on you. Maybe I just need to pay closer attention to my promotional calendar!

I'm sure I'm just piling on here, and you've seen this picture everywhere, but tell me this isn't the best picture of 2010:

Here's the story, about a Phillies fan jumping on the field and being taken down by a taser. Very nice. As a Mets fan, I can't say I'm surprised. Fans from Philly are constantly finding ways to top themselves; though getting tasered by a police officer isn't worse than throwing snowballs at Santa. The organizations should know better by now and hand out some sports promo products to distract these fans. Give out eco promo products to remind them of their humanity. Give out custom printed stress balls so that they can take out their frustrations. I don't know exactly what, but they should do something!

We Mets fans would never do something ridiculous to get on the field, right?!?

To celebrate 30 years on the air, ESPN has been running a series of 30 documentaries (named, obviously, 30 For 30). Each documentary tells about a different, unique sports story that has happened over the last 30 years.

ESPN was able to recruit so big-named directors for this series, including Peter Berg (King's Ransom - the story of Wayne Gretzky being traded to the Los Angeles Kings) and Barry Levinson (The Band That Wouldn't Die - the story of the Colts leaving Baltimore for Indianapolis). This past week, ESPN ran Silly Little Game, which tells the story of the first Rotisserie Baseball League, or as it's now more commonly known, Fantasy Baseball.

The underlying theme of this documentary was that Fantasy Sports has become a multi-billion dollar industry and none of the founders have made any money off the idea. They did publish a book, which brought in a small amount of revenue. They also tried selling promotional t-shirts at their trade shows. This trade show apparel was another small revenue stream, but it didn't last. There are people who make their living analyzing Fantasy Sports. The man who's idea it was, Daniel Okrent, can only dream about what might have been.

And one last note, to add some salt to the wound: The documentary closed noting that Okrent, the creator of Fantasy Sports, have never won a fantasy league championship. Ouch!

Moving has not been fun. The last couple of weeks, it seems like I haven't had time to do anything besides pack, lift, and unpack. So many promotional products have crossed my path; some have been useful in the move (imprinted tote bags came in very handy), while some (like imprinted stress balls) reappeared from behind the couch.

Some things had to go into storage. We don't have enough room for all of our stuff! Laurie's custom printed trophy (for her bowling feats) won't be seen for a year or so. The same can be said for the aforementioned promotional tote bags, which have become storage bags.

The finish line is near. This weekend, we'll finish unpacking and rearranging. Then no more moving.. until next year, that is. Rats!

I did better research this time, so I know that Adam already wrote about the MLB season approaching, and his fantasy league. But that's what's on my mind, too. No March Madness bracket this year for me. I didn't get any cool Basketball Madness Giveaways. I watched 0 college basketball games this year. I have, however, watched some spring training baseball. I'm gearing up for the season.

I'm sure I'll look back on this in a few months and shake my head, but the Mets are going to make the playoffs this year! Here's what we need: Reyes back soon.. Beltran back in May.. and good seasons from 2 of Pelfrey / Maine / Perez. Three positive things - not too much to ask for! Add those to Santana, Wright, Bay, and Rodriguez, and the Mets should compete. After the last few years, I'll be happy with getting to the playoffs. Once there, anything can happen.

I'm also gearing up for my fantasy league. Last year, I ran away with the regular season title. Nobody came within 10 games of me in the last 2 months of the season. I met a buzz saw in the finals (led by Kung Fu Panda's two triples in the final two weeks.. come on!) and lost the crown.

I really could've used promotional stress relievers on the 2nd to last day of the fantasy playoffs. I was frustrated because, on this day, I saw the owner of 'Lord Helmet' and knew that I had no chance of coming back. Here's what he looked like:

Yes, the owner of 'Lord Helmet' showed up wearing a helmet... TO MY WEDDING! Come on! Who does that? Looking back, it was pretty funny. But I will have my revenge this year!

It's been such a nice week! I honestly can't believe the difference two weeks have made. Two weeks ago, I was stranded at a gas station with a flat tire and a busted tire iron. I tried walking to an auto parts store to find a tire iron or some other custom auto accessories that could help, but since the snow was a foot and a half deep and the blizzard was still raging, I didn't make it very far. Yesterday, I drove past that same gas station. I had no jacket on, the window down, and there was no snow to be found. How did this happen?

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that Spring seems to be here. I can get outside again and get some use out of the promotional water bottles that we own. It just seems crazy that I went from struggling through snow drifts in my heavy winter coat to no coat at all so quickly!

Time for the big decision: 24 oz. Custom Aluminum Bottle or 20 oz. Custom Recycled Bottle? Thoughts?

With the Masters less than a month away, there seems to be one major question in the golf world: Will Angel Cabrera repeat as champion? Wait, it's not? Oh right, the Tiger watch. Will Tiger play? He'd most likely need a tune-up tournament, so he'd have to return to the PGA Tour in 3 weeks. I'm not sure what will happen, but Tiger at Augusta would lead to some pretty big ratings (not necessarily for the right reasons).

Personally, I hope he plays, and plays well. I like watching professional sports because I can see the best athletes in the world competing against each other. Tiger is in our lives because he is a great golfer, not because he is a great person. Most public figures aren't on our radar because of their morals and values, but because of their special talents. Let's separate these things. I don't need him to apologize to me (as a member of "the public"). Apologize to your family and friends, fix your private life (in private), and get out there and golf! Sunday at Augusta is better with Tiger in the hunt.

One thing that will definitely come from this episode is a decrease in Tiger Woods-related golf promotional items. Given the choice, people will most likely go for the item without the picture of the philanderer. I'm sure the people at Augusta have come up with many golf giveaways that promote their course and their sport rather than their star.