Gun Club member Cornhusk 1 laments: "I wish I could Google while on my Kawaski Mule!"
And in the "Way with Words" department, Jackson says: "It'll be like that sensation you get when you have a wedgie and you finally fix it."
3.30.2006
The Wheel Bearing and the $10,000 Shirt.
I am wearing my $10,000 shirt. I don't particularly like this shirt, and I never have, but I wear it for what it does for me on the inside.
Three years ago, we were beginning to raise missions support to move to IHOP. We were stepping out from a comfortable salary to living on faith - something not entirely foreign to us, having church planted, but in planting we were asking for money for a church and this felt different. This time it was personal, vulnerable, and alltogether difficult.
It was a glorious, miserable summer. Glorious in that God provided in some amazing ways. Miserable in that throughout the process, it was continually revealed that I had the discernment and insight of a camel.
One of my camel moments came the evening of our largest fund raising event - a worship event held at the Vineyard chapel. I had worked at VCC all day, mostly moving stuff in a storage room, I believe. My shirt was filthy. Kelsey was going to meet me at the venue, so I called her to tell her to bring me a shirt. She was already en route, so she stopped at Target and bought me a striped, short sleeved shirt. We met in the lobby, she handed me the bag, and I went to the Men's Room to change.
I hated the shirt the moment I pulled it out of the bag. I didn't like the cut, the color, the cloth, or anything else one can like or dislike about a shirt...but I wore it. Ten minutes later, I was standing there greeting people, nervous about the event, worried about finances, a little sheepish to be asking and embarrased of a shirt that I did not like. In that moment, had you asked me how it was going to go, I would have said "This night stinketh."
At the end of the night, someone handed us a check for $10,000. Yes, ten thousand dollars. You have to understand, we're a family of five, but $10k can be made to go a long way. This was (and still is, by far) the biggest windfall of our lifetimes.
That night, crawling into bed, I saw my ugly shirt laying crumpled at the foot of the bed. I dubbed it my $10,000 shirt. I wear it regularly now. I still am not crazy about it, but it always reminds me that I have no clue about what God is going to do today.
One more story about provision...
When we moved here, we met a young couple we really liked. They were newly married and had just bought a house. They told us how they had just received an unexpected $2500 for work he had done long ago...and the next week, a water main in their yard exploded. It was on their side of the meter, so they had to pay for the repair. You guessed it - just shy of $2500 worth.
My reaction was probably like yours - "Oh man...I am so sorry!". I saw their windfall heading back out with the wind. I'll never forget his reply.
"Are you kidding me? We were rejoicing. We've never had $2500 in our lives, and God gives it to us immediatly before we need it! God is good!"
Uh. Yeah. That's what I meant.
We had a moment like that this week...our truck went into the shop for surgery. It's still not finished, and every day that they work on it, the bill increases. The day it went in, we received a very unexpected check for $500, which is probably close to what we're looking at for parts and labor. The timing of God, says I.
We live a life of faith...in all areas. It is no easier or more comfortable than it was three years ago, but it is more precious to me than it has ever been.
Thanks to all who have helped and are helping us as we pursuit night and day prayer and training young people to do the same. These stories are your stories too.
Three years ago, we were beginning to raise missions support to move to IHOP. We were stepping out from a comfortable salary to living on faith - something not entirely foreign to us, having church planted, but in planting we were asking for money for a church and this felt different. This time it was personal, vulnerable, and alltogether difficult.
It was a glorious, miserable summer. Glorious in that God provided in some amazing ways. Miserable in that throughout the process, it was continually revealed that I had the discernment and insight of a camel.
One of my camel moments came the evening of our largest fund raising event - a worship event held at the Vineyard chapel. I had worked at VCC all day, mostly moving stuff in a storage room, I believe. My shirt was filthy. Kelsey was going to meet me at the venue, so I called her to tell her to bring me a shirt. She was already en route, so she stopped at Target and bought me a striped, short sleeved shirt. We met in the lobby, she handed me the bag, and I went to the Men's Room to change.
I hated the shirt the moment I pulled it out of the bag. I didn't like the cut, the color, the cloth, or anything else one can like or dislike about a shirt...but I wore it. Ten minutes later, I was standing there greeting people, nervous about the event, worried about finances, a little sheepish to be asking and embarrased of a shirt that I did not like. In that moment, had you asked me how it was going to go, I would have said "This night stinketh."
At the end of the night, someone handed us a check for $10,000. Yes, ten thousand dollars. You have to understand, we're a family of five, but $10k can be made to go a long way. This was (and still is, by far) the biggest windfall of our lifetimes.
That night, crawling into bed, I saw my ugly shirt laying crumpled at the foot of the bed. I dubbed it my $10,000 shirt. I wear it regularly now. I still am not crazy about it, but it always reminds me that I have no clue about what God is going to do today.
One more story about provision...
When we moved here, we met a young couple we really liked. They were newly married and had just bought a house. They told us how they had just received an unexpected $2500 for work he had done long ago...and the next week, a water main in their yard exploded. It was on their side of the meter, so they had to pay for the repair. You guessed it - just shy of $2500 worth.
My reaction was probably like yours - "Oh man...I am so sorry!". I saw their windfall heading back out with the wind. I'll never forget his reply.
"Are you kidding me? We were rejoicing. We've never had $2500 in our lives, and God gives it to us immediatly before we need it! God is good!"
Uh. Yeah. That's what I meant.
We had a moment like that this week...our truck went into the shop for surgery. It's still not finished, and every day that they work on it, the bill increases. The day it went in, we received a very unexpected check for $500, which is probably close to what we're looking at for parts and labor. The timing of God, says I.
We live a life of faith...in all areas. It is no easier or more comfortable than it was three years ago, but it is more precious to me than it has ever been.
Thanks to all who have helped and are helping us as we pursuit night and day prayer and training young people to do the same. These stories are your stories too.
3.29.2006
a story about a boy.
I have a story. A story about a boy. This boy, walking to his friend's house, notices it's bulk trash day.
This boy and his friend get industrious and go searching for treasures. The boy finds fifteen old records by Elvis and hauls them home, promptly listing them on eBay.
And he waits. No bids. No bids. Then, suddenly there are bids. Five, twelve, thirty one dollars, thank you very much.
A few short hours after the auction closes and the money is safely paypaled, the same boy blows the wad on a pair of tweed Chuck Taylors.
Free shoes. Cool shoes that Dad did not have to buy. Long live the teenage boy with an industrious streak!
This boy and his friend get industrious and go searching for treasures. The boy finds fifteen old records by Elvis and hauls them home, promptly listing them on eBay.
And he waits. No bids. No bids. Then, suddenly there are bids. Five, twelve, thirty one dollars, thank you very much.
A few short hours after the auction closes and the money is safely paypaled, the same boy blows the wad on a pair of tweed Chuck Taylors.
Free shoes. Cool shoes that Dad did not have to buy. Long live the teenage boy with an industrious streak!
CNN.com - College student lives in Wal-Mart for 41 hours - Mar 29, 2006
CNN.com - College student lives in Wal-Mart for 41 hours - Mar 29, 2006: "Bartels, 20, an aspiring writer and Drake University sophomore, thought he'd spend a week in a Wal-Mart as a test of endurance, using it as the premise for a magazine article. For 41 hours, Bartels wandered the aisles of a Wal-Mart Supercenter in Windsor Heights that's open 24 hours a day. He checked out shoppers, read magazines, watched movies on the DVD display and played video games.He bought meals at the in-store Subway sandwich shop, but was able to catch only brief naps in a restroom stall or on lawn chairs in the garden department.Other shoppers and employees didn't pay much attention until the end of his stay, he said, when it appeared some store greeters began to take notice -- pointing at him and whispering. A shift manager approached him and asked him if he was finding everything he needed.
"He said, 'Didn't I see you over by the magazines, like, five hours ago?'"
I don't know what's more interesting...that this kid wandered Walmart for nearly 2 days or that it took that long for someone to ask if he was looking for something. Sam Walton would turn over in his customer service grave...
"He said, 'Didn't I see you over by the magazines, like, five hours ago?'"
I don't know what's more interesting...that this kid wandered Walmart for nearly 2 days or that it took that long for someone to ask if he was looking for something. Sam Walton would turn over in his customer service grave...
i am unsure how this works....
OK, without getting into the details, yesterday had it's funky moments. While none of the three situations are life-wrecking for anyone, all three are involving some straight truth talk, and two are on-going discussions that will not be solved in one or two discussions.
The third of the trio sort of ambushed me electronically late in the evening. My attempts to defuse it resulted in a bigger explosion, providing me with a caveat example to the "soft answer turneth away wrath" principle.
All this to say I went to bed in a bit of a funky mood. Not discouraged....just that feeling you get moments after you realize you've hit a nail with your tire. In the desert. Without a spare. You know it's not going to kill you, but it sure is going to eat up a good chunk of time to fix it.
Here's the wild part...when I woke up this morning, I was carrying the exact same feeling. I don't mean "I woke up, thought about it, got bummed...". I mean between the time I opened my eyes and my feet hit the floor I was under this cloud.
A shower, a killer pot of Bolivian Chuck Roast and twenty minutes of rational thought dispelled the entire thing, so it's not like it's going to wreck another day....but think about it for a minute. That stinking thing, whatever it is, was on me all night.
I have a tendency to think of sleep like death, only shorter. You close your eyes. Your brain shuts off. The world stops spinning, for all intents and purposes. The idea that a feeling...an emotion...could stay with you through the night hours is huge.
I can guarantee you that this will change the way I spend my evening hours. If I am going to own a thought or an emotion for five or six hours, I want to choose that very carefully.
The third of the trio sort of ambushed me electronically late in the evening. My attempts to defuse it resulted in a bigger explosion, providing me with a caveat example to the "soft answer turneth away wrath" principle.
All this to say I went to bed in a bit of a funky mood. Not discouraged....just that feeling you get moments after you realize you've hit a nail with your tire. In the desert. Without a spare. You know it's not going to kill you, but it sure is going to eat up a good chunk of time to fix it.
Here's the wild part...when I woke up this morning, I was carrying the exact same feeling. I don't mean "I woke up, thought about it, got bummed...". I mean between the time I opened my eyes and my feet hit the floor I was under this cloud.
A shower, a killer pot of Bolivian Chuck Roast and twenty minutes of rational thought dispelled the entire thing, so it's not like it's going to wreck another day....but think about it for a minute. That stinking thing, whatever it is, was on me all night.
I have a tendency to think of sleep like death, only shorter. You close your eyes. Your brain shuts off. The world stops spinning, for all intents and purposes. The idea that a feeling...an emotion...could stay with you through the night hours is huge.
I can guarantee you that this will change the way I spend my evening hours. If I am going to own a thought or an emotion for five or six hours, I want to choose that very carefully.
3.28.2006
Observation of the Day
Life is one series of No. 2 Lead Pencil events after another. Today is no different. Discuss amongst yourselves.
3.27.2006
after five years, who cares?
Windows Is So Slow, but Why? - New York Times: "Last week, in the latest setback, Microsoft conceded that Vista would not be ready for consumers until January, missing the holiday sales season, to the chagrin of personal computer makers and electronics retailers %u2014 and those computer users eager to move up from Windows XP, a five-year-old product."
Major Pothole
CNN.com - SUV swallowed by sinkhole - Mar 27, 2006: "The driver of the SUV escaped without serious injuries but was taken to a hospital for treatment of shock, said Fire Department spokesman Brian Conlon."
It's the Christian Monsters of Rock Tour!
Yes, I'm hanging with Sandy & Owen and feeling all the hipper for it. These people are phenomenal.
Now there's a reacton...
Sunday morning, I taught at First Baptist in Pleasant HIll, about 30 miles southeast of here. First Baptist is a great group of folks - all ages and with a genuine affection for God and one another. I loved it. I also loved seeing the front section packed with teenagers in the first service.
Following the service, I was standing near the front of the auditorium near a doorway. People were filing by me en route to the fellowship hall to snarf down some donuts and coffee, and walking past me, felt compelled to shake my hand and say something. Comments ranged from "Nice talk" to "Thanks for coming" to several teary eyed "This was life changing." Meanwhile, a group of teenagers hung back, waiting for the crowd to clear.
When it did, two of them came up to greet me. I could tell something was up. Perhaps I had said something earth shattering for them. Perhaps they were going to become missionaries to the Congo or burn their rock and roll records or something.
The spokesman, a young lady of about 17, shook my hand and announced "We like your shoes."
Huh?
"Your shoes. We like your shoes. They're cool."
And therein, the scripture was fulfilled...."As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"
If you can't reach them with profundities....wear cool shoes.
Following the service, I was standing near the front of the auditorium near a doorway. People were filing by me en route to the fellowship hall to snarf down some donuts and coffee, and walking past me, felt compelled to shake my hand and say something. Comments ranged from "Nice talk" to "Thanks for coming" to several teary eyed "This was life changing." Meanwhile, a group of teenagers hung back, waiting for the crowd to clear.
When it did, two of them came up to greet me. I could tell something was up. Perhaps I had said something earth shattering for them. Perhaps they were going to become missionaries to the Congo or burn their rock and roll records or something.
The spokesman, a young lady of about 17, shook my hand and announced "We like your shoes."
Huh?
"Your shoes. We like your shoes. They're cool."
And therein, the scripture was fulfilled...."As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"
If you can't reach them with profundities....wear cool shoes.
3.26.2006
a rude awakening
Normally I get up at 5 AM, but it was 6:30 this morning and I was sleeping the sleep of all ages...crashed out, sheet-lines-on-my-face smashed...and then it was over.
I was jolted from my sleep by the voice of a frantic 8 year old boy shouting what no parent wants to hear. "KIWI'S ESCAPED!" (Kiwi is Gray's hamster...). I dragged myself out of bed to find Kiwi sitting in the corner, staring at us even as we stared at him. One short 'Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom' episode later, I had him back in the cage...and then saw that he'd nibbled the tops off of a bunch of the little starter plants Kelsey was going to plant outside once it warmed up.
Second Rude Awaking: My coffee pot, aged yet beloved as it was, passed into the great beyond this morning. The power switch turns the light on, but alas, no drip, no brew, no aroma for the chosen few. As I am speaking this morning and they will expect me to be awake, I believe I need to stop by Dunn Bros . on my way.
Todd Loughry / aka Cornhusk / and I went to First Baptist / Pleasant Hill last night where I spoke at a volunteer appreciation banquet. I'm headed back this morning to do their two AM services. Great folks - a wonderful cross section of ages. I'm looking forward to getting to know Wyatt, their senior pastor, a little better.
I was jolted from my sleep by the voice of a frantic 8 year old boy shouting what no parent wants to hear. "KIWI'S ESCAPED!" (Kiwi is Gray's hamster...). I dragged myself out of bed to find Kiwi sitting in the corner, staring at us even as we stared at him. One short 'Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom' episode later, I had him back in the cage...and then saw that he'd nibbled the tops off of a bunch of the little starter plants Kelsey was going to plant outside once it warmed up.
Second Rude Awaking: My coffee pot, aged yet beloved as it was, passed into the great beyond this morning. The power switch turns the light on, but alas, no drip, no brew, no aroma for the chosen few. As I am speaking this morning and they will expect me to be awake, I believe I need to stop by Dunn Bros . on my way.
Todd Loughry / aka Cornhusk / and I went to First Baptist / Pleasant Hill last night where I spoke at a volunteer appreciation banquet. I'm headed back this morning to do their two AM services. Great folks - a wonderful cross section of ages. I'm looking forward to getting to know Wyatt, their senior pastor, a little better.
3.24.2006
saturday cometh
It's nearing 11 PM. I am sitting in a dark room, listening to the split track of rhapsody in one ear and two snoring little boys in the other.
Kelsey and Jackson are at the prayer room for Misty's 10pm set. They'll be home a hair after midnight.
If you haven't caught this set, you need to. Of course, Misty would prefer you refer to it as the Friday 10pm, but let's just say if I were leading the 10pm while playing an accordion....well, it wouldn't be hard to find a parking spot, that's all I'm saying.
Which reminds me, at the ol' Gun Club this morning, we talked about Polka-based intercession meetings. It was a brief segment of the converstion.
I've spent the better part of the last two days in the prayer room. Generally I spend a portion of the day in there and the rest hurrying from meeting to meeting, alternately being flooded with and flooding others with email. In anticipation of teaching this weekend, I intentionally didn't schedule anything and just parked it most of yesterday and more than half of today. It felt great and reminded me that this is why I am here. Oddly enough, it's not the meetings, although we need those to insure the wheels don't fall off. At the end of the day, though, a well trained monkey could handle a lot of the meetings I have...but the monkey can't pray. And that, kids, is why we're at the top of the food chain.
Kelsey and Jackson are at the prayer room for Misty's 10pm set. They'll be home a hair after midnight. If you haven't caught this set, you need to. Of course, Misty would prefer you refer to it as the Friday 10pm, but let's just say if I were leading the 10pm while playing an accordion....well, it wouldn't be hard to find a parking spot, that's all I'm saying.
Which reminds me, at the ol' Gun Club this morning, we talked about Polka-based intercession meetings. It was a brief segment of the converstion.
I've spent the better part of the last two days in the prayer room. Generally I spend a portion of the day in there and the rest hurrying from meeting to meeting, alternately being flooded with and flooding others with email. In anticipation of teaching this weekend, I intentionally didn't schedule anything and just parked it most of yesterday and more than half of today. It felt great and reminded me that this is why I am here. Oddly enough, it's not the meetings, although we need those to insure the wheels don't fall off. At the end of the day, though, a well trained monkey could handle a lot of the meetings I have...but the monkey can't pray. And that, kids, is why we're at the top of the food chain.
3.23.2006
Now in theaters...
Props to my chief home slice Steve Willis @ Underpin Design for the design of Jackson's birthday poster. Click on the image to see a larger version - make sure and read the shout outs sprinkled through the credits!
It arrived today. The look and feel of it is PHENOMENAL - printed on this incredibly heavy stuff...not paper. Sort of like a fabric version of pvc.
These make killer gifts - go to CustomMoviePoster.com and and getcherself one!
wisdom 101
A lesson I continually learn is the lesson that I don't learn much.
I find myself in judgement-call situations, and my initial reaction is not right as often as I'd wish. Not that the circumstances are all that different than any other time...often it's the same situation, different characters. Perhaps the problem is with my nature rather than my insticts.
Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
I must know the One who can change my nature. I must draw nearer to the One who can rewire my reaction process. Knowledge of the Holy One is desparately needed if I am ever going to reflect Him with any sort of accuracy.
just stuff I think about....
I find myself in judgement-call situations, and my initial reaction is not right as often as I'd wish. Not that the circumstances are all that different than any other time...often it's the same situation, different characters. Perhaps the problem is with my nature rather than my insticts.
Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
I must know the One who can change my nature. I must draw nearer to the One who can rewire my reaction process. Knowledge of the Holy One is desparately needed if I am ever going to reflect Him with any sort of accuracy.
just stuff I think about....
3.22.2006
minor shoe envy
OK, I got the cool low top Fluevog flames for Christmas, but man, THESE ROCK. Bummer that they're 11's. They've got playa style all over'm.
Kelsey wonders about me. I have horribly boring taste in clothing but will put pretty much anything on my feet.
Kelsey wonders about me. I have horribly boring taste in clothing but will put pretty much anything on my feet.
How did I miss this?
Some of my favorite peeps are doing something I thought they wouldn't do. Kinda wish I was there to do it with'm once in a while.
Vineyard Central | Weekly Worship Gathering: "We're 'out of the gate' with our weekly worship gatherings at St. Elizabeth's! After a few year's hiatus, we began our new Sunday morning meetings on January 8, 2006. What can you expect? You'll hear contemporary music and see very dressed-down folks milling about and drinking coffee. Our gatherings each look different, but we try to incorporate teaching, worship in song, communion, outreach, and children's activities into our gatherings."
Vineyard Central | Weekly Worship Gathering: "We're 'out of the gate' with our weekly worship gatherings at St. Elizabeth's! After a few year's hiatus, we began our new Sunday morning meetings on January 8, 2006. What can you expect? You'll hear contemporary music and see very dressed-down folks milling about and drinking coffee. Our gatherings each look different, but we try to incorporate teaching, worship in song, communion, outreach, and children's activities into our gatherings."
3.21.2006
grrrr went the front wheels
Regular readers know that as it screams towards 150k miles, the S.S. Family Truckster is making an ominous sound in the front axle. My Inner Farm Boy says 'wheel bearings', although I know there's a whole mess of stuff down front that can make those sounds. Still, if I had to bet the corn crib, I'd bet wheel bearings.
Yesterday, we dropped it off at Mac der VonderMechanic. I called at 11 AM to check. "I'm just goin' to drive it now," said Mac. I called back at 2 PM, expecting to hear him say "Yeah, I swapped the front granny bar with the wobble bar from a 95 Geo and she's quiet now." Or something like that. Instead, he said "It didn't make the sound."
Huh?
It didn't make the sound for Mac. The sound, which makes us wonder if the wheel is going to fall completely off, did not surface for Mac. He blamed the rain - that the rain must be lubricating the problem. So I picked it up and went home.
The evening was redeemed when I remembered Good News Tim was supposed to pick me up and take me home. I ended up not needing the ride, but he never called - which is unusual. So an hour after he was supposed to pick me up, I turned on the faucet to simulate rain and called his cell phone. I left a voice mail in my most pitiful voice..."Hey, Tim....it's me. Randy. I couldn't find you and so I started to walk, but I am at the fire station now and freezing cold. If you get this message, can you come get me?"
Ha! I think he fell for it. At least a little.
Yesterday, we dropped it off at Mac der VonderMechanic. I called at 11 AM to check. "I'm just goin' to drive it now," said Mac. I called back at 2 PM, expecting to hear him say "Yeah, I swapped the front granny bar with the wobble bar from a 95 Geo and she's quiet now." Or something like that. Instead, he said "It didn't make the sound."
Huh?
It didn't make the sound for Mac. The sound, which makes us wonder if the wheel is going to fall completely off, did not surface for Mac. He blamed the rain - that the rain must be lubricating the problem. So I picked it up and went home.
The evening was redeemed when I remembered Good News Tim was supposed to pick me up and take me home. I ended up not needing the ride, but he never called - which is unusual. So an hour after he was supposed to pick me up, I turned on the faucet to simulate rain and called his cell phone. I left a voice mail in my most pitiful voice..."Hey, Tim....it's me. Randy. I couldn't find you and so I started to walk, but I am at the fire station now and freezing cold. If you get this message, can you come get me?"
Ha! I think he fell for it. At least a little.
3.20.2006
ebaynium
Ebaynium is a term that Adam Mosley or I cooked up back in 2000 while assembling stuff for our first tour of Burning Man. We discovered the term 'obtainium' in the Burning Man vocabulary...'obtainium' is anything someone gives you for free that you turn around and use. Ebaynium is sort of like that, except you sell the stuff and get whatever you really need. My Burning Man 04 trip was financed almost entirely by ebaynium - unbelievable what people will give you and what others will pay for it.
This morning I realized that we've done almost 100 transactions on 'the 'bay'. Of those, only two have not gone as expected. One was an FBI hat that Jackson bought and never received ($4 down the tubes, softy Dad replaced the cash). The other was a flute I purchased for Kelsey that never arrived. When I filed a grievance with Paypal, I had my money back in less than 12 hrs.
Also included in those transactions:
Purchased: 1984 Isuzu Trooper. Great runner that literally left little piles of rusty dust everywhere I parked it. It's redeeming quality was that it had a cassette deck that led me to listen to my old SpiritLife messages and realize that I was not crazy during those years.
Sold: One pair of Oscar De La Renta boots with all sorts of nicknacks glued all over them. They were part of the BM 04 Ebaynium sale and brought a couple of hundred bucks from a very happy Canadian with a Chinese name.
Purchased: Oxblood Red Doc Marten laceups. They should arrive in a few days.
Sold: A 35mm camera with sand in it. Advertised it as such and made seventy bucks. Go figure.
Purchased: 3 pda's. A Treo 180, an older Blackberry and a Handspring Visor (retrotech chic!).
Sold: 3 pda's 2 of which were among the above mentioned 3. (The Treo was a victim of a sledding accident. Don't ask.)
If you're not an ebayer, I'm telling you, get in the game. Or let me come rifle through your garage. We could make some money. I say "E Plurbius Ebaynium!"
And just out of curiosity- what is the strangest thing you've bought or sold on ebay?
This morning I realized that we've done almost 100 transactions on 'the 'bay'. Of those, only two have not gone as expected. One was an FBI hat that Jackson bought and never received ($4 down the tubes, softy Dad replaced the cash). The other was a flute I purchased for Kelsey that never arrived. When I filed a grievance with Paypal, I had my money back in less than 12 hrs.
Also included in those transactions:
Purchased: 1984 Isuzu Trooper. Great runner that literally left little piles of rusty dust everywhere I parked it. It's redeeming quality was that it had a cassette deck that led me to listen to my old SpiritLife messages and realize that I was not crazy during those years.
Sold: One pair of Oscar De La Renta boots with all sorts of nicknacks glued all over them. They were part of the BM 04 Ebaynium sale and brought a couple of hundred bucks from a very happy Canadian with a Chinese name.
Purchased: Oxblood Red Doc Marten laceups. They should arrive in a few days.
Sold: A 35mm camera with sand in it. Advertised it as such and made seventy bucks. Go figure.
Purchased: 3 pda's. A Treo 180, an older Blackberry and a Handspring Visor (retrotech chic!).
Sold: 3 pda's 2 of which were among the above mentioned 3. (The Treo was a victim of a sledding accident. Don't ask.)
If you're not an ebayer, I'm telling you, get in the game. Or let me come rifle through your garage. We could make some money. I say "E Plurbius Ebaynium!"
And just out of curiosity- what is the strangest thing you've bought or sold on ebay?
3.19.2006
a busy week to come...
Chapters 1, 2 & 3 of the book I recently ghostwrote are coming back from one of the contributing authors...I have to have edits and fixes all edited and fixed by Wednesday (for the whole book). This all sounds a little more intense than it really is, as the contributing author's fixes are good ones and easily marked. Writing this project has been hugely rewarding.
Also, I've got to get my ducks in a row for next weekend, when I'll be speaking at a Baptist Church in Pleasant Hill (30 minutes or so southeast). I'm doing their volunteer appreciation banquet on Saturady night and then both Sunday AM services. They've been very nice folks to deal with in making preparations - I look forward to being with them.
We're starting the week in a rush as we have nine places to be tomorrow and the truck is back in the shop to expore the grinding noise in the front end. You can look for a full report coming soon. I'm a little afraid of what Mac will find in there.
Also, I've got to get my ducks in a row for next weekend, when I'll be speaking at a Baptist Church in Pleasant Hill (30 minutes or so southeast). I'm doing their volunteer appreciation banquet on Saturady night and then both Sunday AM services. They've been very nice folks to deal with in making preparations - I look forward to being with them.
We're starting the week in a rush as we have nine places to be tomorrow and the truck is back in the shop to expore the grinding noise in the front end. You can look for a full report coming soon. I'm a little afraid of what Mac will find in there.
Photo from the Roswell Mac Store
Jackson, Truman & His Royal Timness made pilgrammage to the Mac store today where they snapped some fun shots with the new MacBook Pro.
It would appear that my son is an alien.
3.18.2006
That's a switch.
Our basement is in a bit of a state of undoing, because undoing always precedes doing, I guess. It is fully finished but we're making a few changes, including taking three bookshelves and trimming them out to appear to be built in to the wall (thank you, Terry Eklund...).
The big problem was the location of a light switch exactly where the bookshelves will go, so today's job was moving the switch. This was made much easier by the fact that the backside of the wall that holds the switch is also the inside of the furnace room and therefore unfinished.
All of this would take my fellow gunclubber Chuck fifteen minutes, although through inferior tools and generally shoddy workmanship, I managed to trim it down to forty five.
The big problem was the location of a light switch exactly where the bookshelves will go, so today's job was moving the switch. This was made much easier by the fact that the backside of the wall that holds the switch is also the inside of the furnace room and therefore unfinished.
All of this would take my fellow gunclubber Chuck fifteen minutes, although through inferior tools and generally shoddy workmanship, I managed to trim it down to forty five.
hear that???
Do you hear that? It's the whirrr of the dishwasher. I make a point of it because it's the only noise in the house that I am currently not the cause of. Generally, our house is full of all sorts of human-generated noises, but this Saturday morning Kelsey announced she was going to a church garage sale and the hordes followed her out in pursuit of resale nirvana, leaving the dishwasher, the powerbook, and yours truly.
The only other noise - except for the click of these cool, metalic keys - comes from the surprisingly good speakers built into the 17 inch Powerbook. Earlier this week I was ranting about the fact that Napster was pc-centric. That set me out on a little search. I found Rhapsody, a music rental service, and signed up for the 14 day trial period. I am not sure if I'll continue the service at the end of the 14 days, but I will admit I'm tempted. The catalogue is quite impressive. I've spent some time thinking "I wonder if they've got...." and rarely been dissappointed. Billy Vera and the Beaters? Check. Thompson Twins? Bingo. John Cafferty*? Yes. Also has all the current stuff, but the fun in these services is finding the old one hit wonders that you haven't heard in years and realizing you still remember every guitar lick.
If you have eclectic taste and a short attention span, I highly recommend trying this service out. Let me know what you find. :)
*I am one of far less than thousands who saw John Cafferty live back in the mid eighties. His band were the unlikely hits of the movie Eddie & the Cruisers...which shot them into some measure of sudden fame and on a nationwide auditorium tour. If I remember right, they didn't have enough original music to play a full set and ended up taking requests from the crowd, which they did amazingly well with. I also remember that while we waited for the band to come out, the sound man played Dire Strait's 'Money for Nothin' at least six times in a row. The band finally emerged, the crowed roared, and the guitar player launched into the exact same song. People stood and stared in unbelief. About six measures into the song, he stopped and yelled "Just kiddin!", afterwhich they tore into a rocking version of "The Dark Side." They were obviously there to have fun. If they entertained, it was a byproduct. :)
The only other noise - except for the click of these cool, metalic keys - comes from the surprisingly good speakers built into the 17 inch Powerbook. Earlier this week I was ranting about the fact that Napster was pc-centric. That set me out on a little search. I found Rhapsody, a music rental service, and signed up for the 14 day trial period. I am not sure if I'll continue the service at the end of the 14 days, but I will admit I'm tempted. The catalogue is quite impressive. I've spent some time thinking "I wonder if they've got...." and rarely been dissappointed. Billy Vera and the Beaters? Check. Thompson Twins? Bingo. John Cafferty*? Yes. Also has all the current stuff, but the fun in these services is finding the old one hit wonders that you haven't heard in years and realizing you still remember every guitar lick.
If you have eclectic taste and a short attention span, I highly recommend trying this service out. Let me know what you find. :)
*I am one of far less than thousands who saw John Cafferty live back in the mid eighties. His band were the unlikely hits of the movie Eddie & the Cruisers...which shot them into some measure of sudden fame and on a nationwide auditorium tour. If I remember right, they didn't have enough original music to play a full set and ended up taking requests from the crowd, which they did amazingly well with. I also remember that while we waited for the band to come out, the sound man played Dire Strait's 'Money for Nothin' at least six times in a row. The band finally emerged, the crowed roared, and the guitar player launched into the exact same song. People stood and stared in unbelief. About six measures into the song, he stopped and yelled "Just kiddin!", afterwhich they tore into a rocking version of "The Dark Side." They were obviously there to have fun. If they entertained, it was a byproduct. :)
3.16.2006
Ask a Question Thursday
Periodically, we feature Ask a Question Thursday. Honestly, we've held it on different days...but for our purposes today, it's Thursday, hence the name.
Today's question comes from regular commentator Mikie3toes:
Great question, Mr. Triphalanges. It's true, I am a dedicated Mac user, although that's a bit of a redundancy.
For years I was a PC user. I did not know much about macs. For a good fifteen years, I thought as a child and I spake as a child and I computed as a child. It was a two year period of seeing through a glass particularly darkly that caused me to look to the Bright White Side.
When I joined the staff of an unmentioned megachurch, I was issued a new laptop. I was excited. I'd had laptop computers before, but they were always castaways that had served their time. This was my first new (i.e. functional) laptop.
Two weeks after joining staff, it arrived and went straight to IT for prep. It loved IT. I assume so anyway, because it spent most of the time I had it in the IT office.
In the pursuit of clarity, it may not have been entirely Dell's fault. When IT issued it to me, they had stripped off Windows XP and replaced it with Windows 95. This is not a misprint. Perhaps a crime, but saddly, not a misprint. When I inquired as to why they did such a thing, the reply was "We don't service XP." That struck me as something akin to the car dealer pulling new engines out of new cars and replacing them with last year's engines because "we don't work on new engines".
The Dell was a dud. I performed the three finger reboot salute multiple times each day. It would lock up when I taxed it by doing such outrageous things as checking email or opening a second program. It would go to IT, IT would send it back to me. I would sent it back to IT. It was a Radio Shack version of Hot Potato.
When it came time to buy my own, I bought a Mac. To chronicle the headaches, we bought two iBooks - a 12 inch for me and a 14 inch for Kelsey. In the first year, I lost three logic boards and a hard drive. They gave me a new iBook. Kelsey lost one logic board.
I wore the second iBook out. Literally typed the letters off the keyboard. The logic board and hard drive croaked at 11 months and one week. They replaced both.
Kelsey's second logic board died last week, just short of the three year waranty expiring.
In December, I was gifted with a 17 inch powerbook. It is an awesome sight to behold.
You know what? Even with the headaches, I'd buy another one...even if it goes to the shop for a week every year, I'm still time ahead given that I'm not rebooting three times a day. Like all machines, they break. Unlike my PC experiences though, my Macs generally work like swiss watches.
Thanks for your question, Mike3toes. My question to you....are you Mike3toes because that's how you resort to rebooting? :-)
Today's question comes from regular commentator Mikie3toes:
I have followed your blog for some time now. I've lost count of the number of hardware failures you and yours have experienced on your Macs. Why are you so loyal to the Mac, given the number of problems you have had?
Great question, Mr. Triphalanges. It's true, I am a dedicated Mac user, although that's a bit of a redundancy.
For years I was a PC user. I did not know much about macs. For a good fifteen years, I thought as a child and I spake as a child and I computed as a child. It was a two year period of seeing through a glass particularly darkly that caused me to look to the Bright White Side.
When I joined the staff of an unmentioned megachurch, I was issued a new laptop. I was excited. I'd had laptop computers before, but they were always castaways that had served their time. This was my first new (i.e. functional) laptop.
Two weeks after joining staff, it arrived and went straight to IT for prep. It loved IT. I assume so anyway, because it spent most of the time I had it in the IT office.
In the pursuit of clarity, it may not have been entirely Dell's fault. When IT issued it to me, they had stripped off Windows XP and replaced it with Windows 95. This is not a misprint. Perhaps a crime, but saddly, not a misprint. When I inquired as to why they did such a thing, the reply was "We don't service XP." That struck me as something akin to the car dealer pulling new engines out of new cars and replacing them with last year's engines because "we don't work on new engines".
The Dell was a dud. I performed the three finger reboot salute multiple times each day. It would lock up when I taxed it by doing such outrageous things as checking email or opening a second program. It would go to IT, IT would send it back to me. I would sent it back to IT. It was a Radio Shack version of Hot Potato.
When it came time to buy my own, I bought a Mac. To chronicle the headaches, we bought two iBooks - a 12 inch for me and a 14 inch for Kelsey. In the first year, I lost three logic boards and a hard drive. They gave me a new iBook. Kelsey lost one logic board.
I wore the second iBook out. Literally typed the letters off the keyboard. The logic board and hard drive croaked at 11 months and one week. They replaced both.
Kelsey's second logic board died last week, just short of the three year waranty expiring.
In December, I was gifted with a 17 inch powerbook. It is an awesome sight to behold.
You know what? Even with the headaches, I'd buy another one...even if it goes to the shop for a week every year, I'm still time ahead given that I'm not rebooting three times a day. Like all machines, they break. Unlike my PC experiences though, my Macs generally work like swiss watches.
Thanks for your question, Mike3toes. My question to you....are you Mike3toes because that's how you resort to rebooting? :-)
3.15.2006
Second time around
OK, I know I've complained about this before, but I cannot believe that Napster will not run on OS X. I assume the think there's no use in competing with iTunes on the mac platform, but my attention span is so short that I'd love to have access to such a huge range of music a rental basis.
Anyone got any suggestions for comparable services that are mac-friendly?
Anyone got any suggestions for comparable services that are mac-friendly?
So what are we DOING?
While my blog can serve as a clearinghouse of all things trivial, I realize that once in a while people are wondering "what exactly are you doing?!?" If you already know what exactly we're doing, feel free to skip. If you don't, here's the deal.
Kelsey
In addition to home schooling, Kelsey is team teaching a class on Song of Solomon with Deborah Heibert & Jennifer Roberts at FSM. This is a fearsome treo and I would not mess with'm. Kelsey is loving it. She's always been more of a line-by-line scholar than I am. Yesterday she spent about 3 hrs digging out part of a verse.
Jackson
Along with his regular school work, Jackson is taking two FSM night classes - a writing class and a class on the Psalms. He has class from 7-9pm on Mondays and 7 - 10pm on Tuesdays which means on Wednesdays he's a bit of a slug! ;) He is also planning some travel with Lenny Laguardia. They'll go to Albany, NY in a few weeks.
Grayson
The warm weather has Gray chomping at the bit. He is anxiously awaiting our assembling of a used trampoline that was given to us. (Yes, we had a trampoline - but just before we realized we'd be moving back to KC, I gave it to Dwayne Roberts. Oops.) Like his older brother, he loves reading and has checked out nearly every book in the library twice.
Zion
ZB's days are spent strumming and drumming, with occassional breaks to beat us at Uno. He is a card shark. I cannot explain it but he wins way more than he loses. He misses his buddy from DC. After having spent nine months nearly inseparable from Judah Engle, he gets a very quiet and a little teary eyed once in a while when we talk about it. I deeply regret that we don't have many pictures of those two conquering the farm - Zion with a guitar and Judah with a sword.
Me
In addition to giving leadership to the marketing & design team at IHOP, Kelsey and I are now overseeing the Short Term Training Programs (internships and the like...). Currently, IHOP has four that run nearly continously. The Onething internship (young adults, 6 months), Fire in the Night (nocturnal young adults, 3 months), Intro to IHOP (peeps of most ages and all sizes, families, etc, 3 months), and the Simeon Company (over 50ish, 3 months). This all just started and I'll be meeting with those respective internship leaders beginning today. They are really amazing folks. I'm looking forward to working alongside them to train people in the values and practices of day & night prayer.
Grandma
Mom has lived with us for some time now. The boys love a live-in grandma. She periodically substitute-teaches in Belton and regularly helps us out as life gets a little crazy.
The Whole Family
We're excited about a family trip in April. We're going to Walkaway Springs, a family campground near Laurel, MS. Yes, this is the location where I nearly met my Maker while riding in the back of an out of control duece-n-a-half. Since then, we have visited several times with far less drama. We love the woods and the fantastic staff. Kelsey and I'll be speaking at a conference there while the boys run around in the woods with their friends.
There you have it. Now back to work.
Kelsey
In addition to home schooling, Kelsey is team teaching a class on Song of Solomon with Deborah Heibert & Jennifer Roberts at FSM. This is a fearsome treo and I would not mess with'm. Kelsey is loving it. She's always been more of a line-by-line scholar than I am. Yesterday she spent about 3 hrs digging out part of a verse.
Jackson
Along with his regular school work, Jackson is taking two FSM night classes - a writing class and a class on the Psalms. He has class from 7-9pm on Mondays and 7 - 10pm on Tuesdays which means on Wednesdays he's a bit of a slug! ;) He is also planning some travel with Lenny Laguardia. They'll go to Albany, NY in a few weeks.
Grayson
The warm weather has Gray chomping at the bit. He is anxiously awaiting our assembling of a used trampoline that was given to us. (Yes, we had a trampoline - but just before we realized we'd be moving back to KC, I gave it to Dwayne Roberts. Oops.) Like his older brother, he loves reading and has checked out nearly every book in the library twice.
Zion
ZB's days are spent strumming and drumming, with occassional breaks to beat us at Uno. He is a card shark. I cannot explain it but he wins way more than he loses. He misses his buddy from DC. After having spent nine months nearly inseparable from Judah Engle, he gets a very quiet and a little teary eyed once in a while when we talk about it. I deeply regret that we don't have many pictures of those two conquering the farm - Zion with a guitar and Judah with a sword.
Me
In addition to giving leadership to the marketing & design team at IHOP, Kelsey and I are now overseeing the Short Term Training Programs (internships and the like...). Currently, IHOP has four that run nearly continously. The Onething internship (young adults, 6 months), Fire in the Night (nocturnal young adults, 3 months), Intro to IHOP (peeps of most ages and all sizes, families, etc, 3 months), and the Simeon Company (over 50ish, 3 months). This all just started and I'll be meeting with those respective internship leaders beginning today. They are really amazing folks. I'm looking forward to working alongside them to train people in the values and practices of day & night prayer.
Grandma
Mom has lived with us for some time now. The boys love a live-in grandma. She periodically substitute-teaches in Belton and regularly helps us out as life gets a little crazy.
The Whole Family
We're excited about a family trip in April. We're going to Walkaway Springs, a family campground near Laurel, MS. Yes, this is the location where I nearly met my Maker while riding in the back of an out of control duece-n-a-half. Since then, we have visited several times with far less drama. We love the woods and the fantastic staff. Kelsey and I'll be speaking at a conference there while the boys run around in the woods with their friends.
There you have it. Now back to work.
3.14.2006
Not quite, but almost.
OK, so perhaps I'm exaggerating with the photo at right, but it sure feels like this in the prayer rom this morning. Normally they get the temp nailed - it's rarely an issue. This morning is an exception.I'm thinking of hunting for an .avi file of a fire r something.
In the Stuff to Consider File: Stuart Taylor had a good question this morning regarding Noah's Ark and it's possible location in Turkey:
Given the role of rebuilding life in the wake of a collosal flood, why would Noah and his family leave all of that precut, treated wood sitting there? Wouldn't they disassemble the boat to build houses?!?? or at least pre-Katrina Cottages? Because man, the Home Depot's not going to be open for a while and even when it does open, the price of plywood's gonna skyrocket.
3.13.2006
Blogging from the Plaza
I'm parked out front of the Mac store in at the Plaza, cribbing their wifi and waiting for them to open so I can kindly explain that we lost another logicboard on Kelsey's iBook. I am right next to their broken window display, but since Scott is already famous for snapping the shot, I won't bother.
On my way to the plaza, I stopped at the post office in a very differen neighborhood. You can tell a lot about a neighborhood by the sound of the music blasting in the post office. In this case, rap music, played so loudly that it was hard to concentrate. I am not kidding.
As I walked up to the desk, I saw a label taped to the counter top as an example of how to fill out the forms. I could hardly believe it - it doesn't show up well in my camera phone photo, but is this a shout out to Eminem or what?
On my way to the plaza, I stopped at the post office in a very differen neighborhood. You can tell a lot about a neighborhood by the sound of the music blasting in the post office. In this case, rap music, played so loudly that it was hard to concentrate. I am not kidding.
As I walked up to the desk, I saw a label taped to the counter top as an example of how to fill out the forms. I could hardly believe it - it doesn't show up well in my camera phone photo, but is this a shout out to Eminem or what?
sweet victory!
Ok, this may not seem like much to you, but trust me, it is a major victory.
Sitting on my desk is a small HP 1210. When I hit print on my Powerbook, this little baby barfs out whatever I see on my screen.
Yes, I know, you're thinking "This is as it should be..."...but without going into the gory story, be advised that it takes an act of congress to print with a Mac on the network here at the office, and I apparently have done a congressional end run and gone direct to USB with great success.
Ha!
Sitting on my desk is a small HP 1210. When I hit print on my Powerbook, this little baby barfs out whatever I see on my screen.
Yes, I know, you're thinking "This is as it should be..."...but without going into the gory story, be advised that it takes an act of congress to print with a Mac on the network here at the office, and I apparently have done a congressional end run and gone direct to USB with great success.
Ha!
Life is a vapor.
I learned Friday morning of the passing of a friend, Chad Canipe. Chad was a dedicated husband and father who moved seemlesly between the business and ministry world. He loved the city of Cincinnati with his whole heart. He was 34 years old and had little or no warning that he was as sick as he was.
I did not know Chad very well beyond the blog world - I believe we only met in real-time once at VCC and then had a series of scheduled and rescheduled coffee meetings that never happened - but I appreciated the keen mind and honest heart that was obvious in his writings, both blog and email.
My heart breaks for his wife, Renee, and their two small boys. Several times this weekend, I gathered my boys and prayed for Colin & Aiden. The reality of children growing up without an earthly father is sobering and drives home the responsibility of the church to care for one another.
Please join us in prayer for them. Also, consider reaching out to them financially by contributing here.
Also - many blessings to their community there in Cinci that has wrapped their arms around the Canipe family. You are representing the kingdom well.
I did not know Chad very well beyond the blog world - I believe we only met in real-time once at VCC and then had a series of scheduled and rescheduled coffee meetings that never happened - but I appreciated the keen mind and honest heart that was obvious in his writings, both blog and email.
My heart breaks for his wife, Renee, and their two small boys. Several times this weekend, I gathered my boys and prayed for Colin & Aiden. The reality of children growing up without an earthly father is sobering and drives home the responsibility of the church to care for one another.Please join us in prayer for them. Also, consider reaching out to them financially by contributing here.
Also - many blessings to their community there in Cinci that has wrapped their arms around the Canipe family. You are representing the kingdom well.
a very quick storm
I'm not sure how it happened, but a freak storm blew through yesterday...so quickly, in fact, that I did not even notice it. Later, the kids found golf-ball sized hail in the back yard.
How exactly did I miss golf-ball sized hail hitting the roof? This had to make some sort of racket!?!?
How exactly did I miss golf-ball sized hail hitting the roof? This had to make some sort of racket!?!?
3.12.2006
sunday morning review...
Firmly ensconsed on the couch this morning, piping hot cup of french pressed java sitting on the end table and Powerbook in my lap, I have the following mental ruminations.
The S.S. Family Truckster's front axle or brakes continues to emit a growl like an old tomcat. Another trip to Mac is needed. I am praying that it's brakes although the nature of the sporadic grinding makes me worry it's a little further in from the hub than that.
I have been surfing eBay for possible replacements (surfing in faith, as we have zero budget for this sort of thing at this point) and discovering that a family with three growing boys - the oldest as big as mom and dad already - has precious few options when it comes to automobiles.
The S.S. Family Truckster's front axle or brakes continues to emit a growl like an old tomcat. Another trip to Mac is needed. I am praying that it's brakes although the nature of the sporadic grinding makes me worry it's a little further in from the hub than that.
I have been surfing eBay for possible replacements (surfing in faith, as we have zero budget for this sort of thing at this point) and discovering that a family with three growing boys - the oldest as big as mom and dad already - has precious few options when it comes to automobiles.
- It must be able to remain comfortable for our periodic gonzo road trips (we've seen multiple 1000 mile days in the last few years).
- We need something that can comfortably haul seven and their luggage.
- It must hold enough stuff to resource the invasion of a third world country and yet be nimble enough for Kelsey to enjoy taking in to the grocery store.
- It must offer a driving position that will allow the short adults in our house to see over the car in front of us, yet not have a propensity to turtle when I hook it down the ramp from 435 N to 71 N (where I very nearly balled up an old Volvo one time).
- It must be fairly economical to drive.
3.11.2006
3.10.2006
a day with my boys
I took Jackson, Grayson & Zion to the Kansas City Autoshow today. We also brought along Grayson's friend, Joshua. We knew we were in for a fun day when, as we wandered into the convention center, a stranger approached us, said "here, use this!" and handed me a VIP family pass. We breezed past security like Grant through Richmond - no charge!
First stop was the Suzuki display, where we saw this funky concept truck. The truck wasn't too impressive but we did like the trailer it was pulling - stocked with two 250 cc dirt bikes and a four wheeler.
The boys registered for freebies and noticed the drawing was about to take place. Grayson made off with a cool blue water bottle and Jackson won a backpack with built in cooler. ZB and I were unimpressed. We were heading elsewhere.
Next stop: HummerLand. We like the H1 because it is the big hoss, but we dig the H2 and H3 as well, especially in all it's different configurations. The H3 pickup truck was considered particularly funky.
Zion was disappointed that the H1 was locked. Apparently it's due to military secrets. Or too many unmarked switches for little boys full of curiousity.
The H3 pickup truck had these oddball doors to the box.
We finally decided we liked them, but it was a close vote that hinged on the ability to sling a plastic sack of Little Debbies into the box without walking around to the back of the truck.
No-Brainer of the Year Award goes to FoMoCo, for adding a foot in length to the Expedition, making it a genuine Suburban competitor.
It looks very sleek - and this white was easy on the eyes. I'm thinking we could slink out of our Montero and right into this bad boy without any problem 'cept the payments.
And of course, the Matchbox Car Award goes to this funky Ford pictured below. It was a concept car with a full alluminum body polished to a mirror finish. We went to take a picture of it and got a picture of us.
First stop was the Suzuki display, where we saw this funky concept truck. The truck wasn't too impressive but we did like the trailer it was pulling - stocked with two 250 cc dirt bikes and a four wheeler.The boys registered for freebies and noticed the drawing was about to take place. Grayson made off with a cool blue water bottle and Jackson won a backpack with built in cooler. ZB and I were unimpressed. We were heading elsewhere.
Next stop: HummerLand. We like the H1 because it is the big hoss, but we dig the H2 and H3 as well, especially in all it's different configurations. The H3 pickup truck was considered particularly funky.Zion was disappointed that the H1 was locked. Apparently it's due to military secrets. Or too many unmarked switches for little boys full of curiousity.
The H3 pickup truck had these oddball doors to the box.
We finally decided we liked them, but it was a close vote that hinged on the ability to sling a plastic sack of Little Debbies into the box without walking around to the back of the truck.
No-Brainer of the Year Award goes to FoMoCo, for adding a foot in length to the Expedition, making it a genuine Suburban competitor.It looks very sleek - and this white was easy on the eyes. I'm thinking we could slink out of our Montero and right into this bad boy without any problem 'cept the payments.
And of course, the Matchbox Car Award goes to this funky Ford pictured below. It was a concept car with a full alluminum body polished to a mirror finish. We went to take a picture of it and got a picture of us.
Gun Club Minutes
We had the whole troop at the Club House this morning, with both Corn Husk and the UP Kid back from their forays. Topics included, but were not limited to...
- A 30 lb lump of gold.
- Zero Gravity in Jetliners.
- The pros and cons of various Home Depots.
- How long it would take to get thrown out of the prayer room if you wandered in with a stack of Danielle Steele paperbacks and cried your eyes out, reading them one after the other, surrounded by a pile of kleenex
The Royal Order of the Gun Club Convenes...
The tribe will gather in a few minutes, shake the snow from their mukluks and warm themselves around the synthetic fire. It's particularly odd that the fire is roaring this morning, as it never has been on before and this is one of the warmest days of the year.I need to talk to the lodge manager about his wasting valuable dues on such frivolous things. We told him that thought 2-ply toilet paper was extravagant.
3.09.2006
Correct those textbooks, kids.
So they tell us it's extinct for 11 million years, and they find out that they carry them in the 7-11 in Laos. Apparently science is not an....exact science.
CNN.com - Rat-squirrel back after 11-million-year absence - Mar 9, 2006: "Locals call the rodent kha-nyou. Scientists haven't yet a bagged a breathing one, only the bodies of those recently caught by hunters or for sale at meat markets, where researchers with the New York-based conservation society first spotted the creature."
CNN.com - Rat-squirrel back after 11-million-year absence - Mar 9, 2006: "Locals call the rodent kha-nyou. Scientists haven't yet a bagged a breathing one, only the bodies of those recently caught by hunters or for sale at meat markets, where researchers with the New York-based conservation society first spotted the creature."
'nuff's enuff
That's it. Me'n the boys are heading to the swimming pool for a little bit. Last one in the water's a monkey....
preconference...
Our Passion for Jesus conference starts...uh, I guess it started an hour ago. I missed the opening ceremonies. I think Mohammed Ali was going to light the torch again this year. Oh well.
Saturday, Kelsey and I are both doing breakouts on the End Times...me at 2 pm and she at 3:30 pm. I was wrestling with some unwieldy notes for the thing - this morning around 11 AM I followed Kelsey's advice (which she offered on Tuesday of this week) that I jettison the whole thing and start over with a much narrower focus. Four hours later, I have something I can work with. It's not finished, but it will be... is more than I can say about the War-and-Peace-sized version that I threw out.
Saturday, Kelsey and I are both doing breakouts on the End Times...me at 2 pm and she at 3:30 pm. I was wrestling with some unwieldy notes for the thing - this morning around 11 AM I followed Kelsey's advice (which she offered on Tuesday of this week) that I jettison the whole thing and start over with a much narrower focus. Four hours later, I have something I can work with. It's not finished, but it will be... is more than I can say about the War-and-Peace-sized version that I threw out.
3.08.2006
Where my brain is this morning....
In my experience, sanity can nearly be restored to it's original glory by spending fifteen minutes sitting on the couch in the dark, contemplating the day and sipping very dark columbian roast. As I hear the train go by at the bottom of the hill, this morning's mental include:
My text for this weekend's breakout session at the conference.
Friends here and here, on both coasts geographically and philosophically.
NCC did a rocking small groups brochure, and I'm not fond of small groups or brochures.
The big day with the boys on Friday. We'll be the ones crashing the Maybach VIP room when we really probably belong here.
My text for this weekend's breakout session at the conference.
Friends here and here, on both coasts geographically and philosophically.
NCC did a rocking small groups brochure, and I'm not fond of small groups or brochures.
The big day with the boys on Friday. We'll be the ones crashing the Maybach VIP room when we really probably belong here.
3.07.2006
Matthew 5
I'm reminded this morning of the harsh practicality of the sermon on the mount. The first twelve verses...the beatitudes...contain enough pointers to my own failings to make me want to go back to reading Leviticus, which is every bit as anointed but a little easier to misapply.
Meekness. Hunger for righteousness. Peacemakers. Not much room for misapplication here. Just the stark reality of my shortcomings.
We started a fast last Wednesday. On that day, I grabbed a stack of notecards, started cribbing thoughts about the beatitudes and sticking them in the back of my Moleskine. A week later, I have five cards. This morning, I reviewed the cards and realized that it could be argued from my behavior that I have learned absolutely nothing from this exercise.
My journal entries, usually very tidy 3 point entries that I could stand up and teach from, have deteriorated into half coherent notes and accompanying pen drawings that often do a better job of conveying what I am learning that my prose ever will.
Meekness. Hunger for righteousness. Peacemakers. Not much room for misapplication here. Just the stark reality of my shortcomings.
We started a fast last Wednesday. On that day, I grabbed a stack of notecards, started cribbing thoughts about the beatitudes and sticking them in the back of my Moleskine. A week later, I have five cards. This morning, I reviewed the cards and realized that it could be argued from my behavior that I have learned absolutely nothing from this exercise.
My journal entries, usually very tidy 3 point entries that I could stand up and teach from, have deteriorated into half coherent notes and accompanying pen drawings that often do a better job of conveying what I am learning that my prose ever will.
3.06.2006
today's blogging time was invaded
Today's blog time was bumped by multiple meetings - some planned and others impromptu - a trip to the ER to pickup His Timness, and an evening meeting. Regular blogging will continue tomorrow presuming I am able to avoid all contact with real human beings.
On a side, time-saving note, I went through my list of blogs that I check daily and removed most of the whiners. I'm left with very few blogs. I wonder what that means.
On a side, time-saving note, I went through my list of blogs that I check daily and removed most of the whiners. I'm left with very few blogs. I wonder what that means.
3.04.2006
If you needed one more reason to register your Apple product...
NBC11.com - News - Police Use iPod To ID Unconscious Woman: "SAN FRANCISCO -- An Apple iPod music player has helped identify a San Francisco woman who was the victim of an apparent hit-and-run in the Presidio."
Live from the FSM Building
It's Tim & Grace on the Jumbotron as they do a duet. Rbohlender.blogspot.com is your source for on-the-spot coverage. Stay tuned, people.
Gladwell says it well.
Once again, Malcolm Gladwell says what I think. But better.
gladwell.com: Lazy Centers: "Beware contract-signing offensive lineman who are 'naturally' big (QBs should be ok), jockeys with bird-like skeletal structures, and third generation sons who ascend to the CEO's office in the family firm (bought a Ford lately?). Short, unattractive CEOs, generals, coaches should show fewer contract effects than tall, good-looking ones."
gladwell.com: Lazy Centers: "Beware contract-signing offensive lineman who are 'naturally' big (QBs should be ok), jockeys with bird-like skeletal structures, and third generation sons who ascend to the CEO's office in the family firm (bought a Ford lately?). Short, unattractive CEOs, generals, coaches should show fewer contract effects than tall, good-looking ones."
"John" was wrong. So was "Sonia".
This morning, I hightailed it over to Costco to pick up cartridges for the printer, per "John" and "Sonia's" earlier instructions (see last night's post).
After rushing back and installing the cartridges...still no fix. Same message assuring me that my cartridges and printer were not only not in proper relationship to one another, but that there was no hope of reconciliation and they were filing for divorce. I boxed the whole mess up and hauled back to Costco.
Here I am with the third set of cartridges and second Photosmart 3210xi, and we're printing again.
The March Newsletter is dangerously close to becoming the March/April Newsletter.
After rushing back and installing the cartridges...still no fix. Same message assuring me that my cartridges and printer were not only not in proper relationship to one another, but that there was no hope of reconciliation and they were filing for divorce. I boxed the whole mess up and hauled back to Costco.Here I am with the third set of cartridges and second Photosmart 3210xi, and we're printing again.
The March Newsletter is dangerously close to becoming the March/April Newsletter.
A Venti Egg Beater?
CNN.com - Starbucks gets serious about breakfast - Mar 4, 2006: "It started selling toasted egg sandwiches alongside its scones, muffins and other breakfast breads in hometown stores three years ago, and the effort is expanding."
I do NOT want my local Starbucks to start smelling like Waffle House. Honestly, I hope this goes the way of their CD Burning Stations that never really caught on...
I do NOT want my local Starbucks to start smelling like Waffle House. Honestly, I hope this goes the way of their CD Burning Stations that never really caught on...
3.03.2006
ok. i'm a little steamed.
Do you know what gets my gander? Do you know what gets me so fired up that I could blow enough steam out my nostrils to straighten my nose hairs!
I'll tell you: Customer service that is not.
Tonight, our new printer fritzed out and would not recognize the cartridge. Keep in mind that the cartridge and printer have known one another intimately since the day we took them out of the box a few weeks go. All of a sudden, the printer starts playing hard to get and the cartridge is a nobody.
So what do I do? I call customer service. And why do I do this? Because I am insane enough to think they will help me.
After getting disconnected once, I finally get ahold of a real person with an accent so thick that I struggle to understand him. Understand there is not one bit of racism in me, but I am immediately irked when he tells me his name is John. Trust me. Never in the history of mankind has anyone with this accent been named JOHN! I'm sure he is well trained and highly qualified, but his name is not John and I resent being lied to from the get-go.
"John" takes my name, my phone number, my email address, and the model and serial number of the printer. He asks me a few questions and has me shut the machine off and turn it on again. "John" tells me I have a problem with the machine. I am developing a problem with "John". "John" now tells me that I need to speak with technical services, and asks if I would hold. Of course, I have no choice.
Next one the phone is "Sonia", who is no more a "Sonia" than "John" was a "John". Sonia takes my name, my phone number, my email address, and the model and serial number of the printer. I want to ask if she knows "John". She asks me a few questions and has me shut the machine off and turn it on again. "Sonia" tells me I have a problem with the machine.
She eventually decides that she and "John" will send me a new set of cartridges. They should be here in a month. Did I mention I was printing our March newsletter? Maybe I'll send out "Dear John" letters.
I'll tell you: Customer service that is not.
Tonight, our new printer fritzed out and would not recognize the cartridge. Keep in mind that the cartridge and printer have known one another intimately since the day we took them out of the box a few weeks go. All of a sudden, the printer starts playing hard to get and the cartridge is a nobody.
So what do I do? I call customer service. And why do I do this? Because I am insane enough to think they will help me.
After getting disconnected once, I finally get ahold of a real person with an accent so thick that I struggle to understand him. Understand there is not one bit of racism in me, but I am immediately irked when he tells me his name is John. Trust me. Never in the history of mankind has anyone with this accent been named JOHN! I'm sure he is well trained and highly qualified, but his name is not John and I resent being lied to from the get-go.
"John" takes my name, my phone number, my email address, and the model and serial number of the printer. He asks me a few questions and has me shut the machine off and turn it on again. "John" tells me I have a problem with the machine. I am developing a problem with "John". "John" now tells me that I need to speak with technical services, and asks if I would hold. Of course, I have no choice.
Next one the phone is "Sonia", who is no more a "Sonia" than "John" was a "John". Sonia takes my name, my phone number, my email address, and the model and serial number of the printer. I want to ask if she knows "John". She asks me a few questions and has me shut the machine off and turn it on again. "Sonia" tells me I have a problem with the machine.
She eventually decides that she and "John" will send me a new set of cartridges. They should be here in a month. Did I mention I was printing our March newsletter? Maybe I'll send out "Dear John" letters.
Another mystery solved.
Which theologian are you? created with QuizFarm.com |
Gun Club Minutes
The Royal Order of the Gun Club met this morning at our undisclosed location. We added a new, yet-unnamed member to replace those who have gone before. Topics covered were as follows:
1. Hopeless romantics.
2. Working on the railroad.
3. Getting punched in the prayer line.
4. Brian Kim.
5. Flying to the U.P. > Is it possible?
1. Hopeless romantics.
2. Working on the railroad.
3. Getting punched in the prayer line.
4. Brian Kim.
5. Flying to the U.P. > Is it possible?
3.01.2006
The Birthday Present?
C'MON!
Jackson calls a fast on his birthday...and check this out:
AP Wire | 02/28/2006 | Miss. House committee votes to ban most abortions: JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI. - A Mississippi House committee voted Tuesday to ban most abortions in the state - an unexpected move that left abortion opponents grappling to stake out a position on a proposal that could prompt a lengthy court battle."
Jackson calls a fast on his birthday...and check this out:
AP Wire | 02/28/2006 | Miss. House committee votes to ban most abortions: JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI. - A Mississippi House committee voted Tuesday to ban most abortions in the state - an unexpected move that left abortion opponents grappling to stake out a position on a proposal that could prompt a lengthy court battle."
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