I need a Bahamavention!

Fantasy Island

I am by no means an isolationist but this would be kind of cool.

Where do you live?

On an island?

Yeah? Which one? Maui, the big island, Rhode Island?

No, my own private island.

Cooool.

Call me Mr. Roarke.

Preacher Man

A while ago our pastor Justin asked if I would do one of the sermons at the men's retreat in March. I said yes. Without hesitation. Without really thinking about what that meant. Yikes. What did I get myself into. Now I'm all sweaty and nervous and self conscious and... and... deep breath. Breath in - Breath out. Kegels. Clear the mind. Firm up the core. One more breath, in through the nose, exhale through the mouth. Aannnndd okay. Phew.

I'm okay now. Colossians 3:1-4. I must get to know this verse:

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

And since it starts with a Since, then, I'll have to get to know the verses before it to.

Got to go study. And pray. Big.

Monday GRRR!

Here are a couple of things that got my goat today. My wife calls them grrrs, so I will too.

Grrr #1: When you are using the drive up drop box at the Post Office please have your mail ready to slip into the slot. This goes for you Mr. Brown Crappy Looking Celica Guy who had to lick a thousand envelopes closed as I waited behind you cursing your very existence.

Grrr #2: When waiting to turn at a light that has cross traffic use your turn signal. This one goes out to the cool guy in the black Vette who just didn't get it. People were waiting for you because they thought you were going straight and had the right of way. People like me... thus the lights flashing at you.

Grrr #3: Don't use my jokes right after I used it. Get your own sense of humor. It was funny just then, not again. It was situational, thus funny, and the situation was gone, thus not funny a second time. You know who you are! Wait... Sadly you probably don't. And since you don't read this I'll probably have to call you on it next time, which won't be fun, yet will be appropriate.

Got a Grrr? Share.

Snow Shots

The backyard. The birds were loving us today. You can't tell this by the photo but they were around most of the day.
Our new neighbor. Kept the kids busy for a while.

Unexpected Suprise

Last night before heading off to bed the news people were saying that there will be rain mixed with snow in the morning turning to rain in the afternoon. As usual they were wrong. There is snow. Lot's of it. My neighborhood has become a winter wonderland.

I am going to hang out with my kids this morning and enjoy it. Work will still be there when (if) I get there.

Great Song

Check out the video below. This is one of my current favorite songs.

I AM JACKED!!!

Tomorrow is the 2-hour premier of "24". This is the best show ever on TV and I will not miss it.

For those of you who have not yet watched this show don't try to start now. Go to your local video store and rent the first season. Finish the first season and rent the second. Repeat until you are caught up. By the time you've watch the first five seasons, season six will be out. Watch that and you'll be just in time for season seven this time next year.

Hello? Hello?

I have a frustration with somebody.

God.

I often wish that God would speak to me more clearly.

I hate to think the problem lies on my end of the conversation but it probably does. It would be nice to hear a voice, a clear voice, that speaks truth straight to my ears.

A Case of the Monday's

Does anyone like Monday?

When I think of the days of the week I have my favorites. They are easy. My top three in reverse order are Friday, Sunday, & Saturday. Yes, Saturday is my favorite day. I know some of you are wondering why it isn't Sunday, our day of worship. It is an easy answer my friends. Monday doesn't follow Saturday. The fact that Monday is right after Sunday is a stain on Sunday's likeability. The fact that Friday is a work day is a no brainer for its placement on the scale.

Today is Monday. I am not excited about it. No sleeping in. Work. A hundred emails just waiting for me. Blah.

Product Placement

I have a minor beef with some of the books I've read lately.

For years we have been treated to obvious product placement in movies. Wayne & Garth do a great job of spoofing this in Wayne's World. Lately I've notice that popular authors are getting into the game. Maybe they've been there all along, but now I am seeing it.

The Mercedes R350 makes a grand appearance in James Patterson's book Cross. The car is a cross between a minivan and a station wagon. How do I know this? Because Mr. Patterson spells it out for you in the book. I got to the point where I was tired of hearing about the damn car.

Some other authors are not so obvious about the products they seem to be pushing. Vince Flynn make a brief mention of the FN 5.7 pistol in his latest book. It was placed at the beginning and is an obscure enough gun that many of his readers will be curious and look it up on the web. How do I know? 'Cause I did just that, I looked it up. Mr. Flynn's mention of the product seems considerably more innocent than Patterson's promotion of the car but it is still there and not real key to the story.

In a day where everything has advertising you'd think there would be a safe place but there isn't. From stadiums to races and sporting events being named after some large corporation to meals at fast food places promoting the latest movie we are inundated with advertising. I guess I'll have to suck it up and live with it. I just wish I didn't have to.

Here We Go Again

Wow, it's 2007. Soon it will be 2019. That's right 2019 is right around the corner. Remember the movie Blade Runner. Of course you do. It is set in 2019 and is Ridley Scott's early 80's vision of the future. It was on AMC tonight. I watched the first hour and a half. I doubt very much that Los Angeles in 2019 is going to look like what is portrayed in the movie.

It is fun to watch old Sci-Fi to see what concepts of the future existed in the past. Yeah, maybe there will be flying cars and androids so life-like they look human, maybe. Probably not in 2019 but in the future sometime. What there won't be is their crappy idea of computer monitors, pay phones, the lack of cell phones, and blended languages. If you have no idea what I am talking about, you haven't seen this masterpiece. And you should. A great flick.

What do I expect in 2007? I'm not sure. I don't make resolutions out loud. I've got a few tucked away in my head. They are the ones that have resided there since I weighed 205 lbs. and skied like a banshee.

I do know that I love to look to the future and imagine what it could be. That is the one time I am able to put away my pessimistic views and fill my cup to the brim. Dreaming is easy for me. With that said one resolution I will speak out load is that I long to increase and use my creativity. How? That is yet to be decided.

Here's to another year marker. Here's to the plans we have and the future God has laid out for us. Here's to you, me, and the people that we will influence for a lifetime. May God bless 2007. And may the flying car come sooner than later.