Glenn Beck Hates Me

What can a guy do when a jerk like this attacks him. Oh, Glenn... your day is coming. You'll feel my wrath.

Indiana Brian

I didn’t sleep well last night. The wind was blowing, my wife was wandering around the room and my muscles were sore from my first road run in a long time. The one thing I did last night well was dream, long detailed crazy dreams.

The dream I remember most clearly was one of complete fantasy and fiction. There was a team of us SCUBA diving in a cavern. Our first discovery was a highly detailed stairwell chiseled into the stone of the cavern floor. My first thought was that the water wasn’t always there if there were stairs. Duh. We followed the stairs down to the bottom which ended at a small opening that was barely big enough for someone to fit through. The team leader (I assume this since he went first) squeezed through the opening and I followed. My mind was racing with the fear of getting trapped in the opening and drowning. I passed through without much effort and ended up on an ornate room filled with wonders.

The whole team came through the opening into the room and we stood in awe of what we saw. I say we were standing because there was no longer water. I don’t know where it went, it was just one of those dream changes that isn’t explainable. The four of us began to look around at the objects in the room. They all appeared to be really old artifacts from either Mayan or Egyptian history. The room was huge. Most of the objects in the room were made of stone with ornate metal decorations. I distinctly remember one blue vase of about 4’ in height that had a silver décor. I remember thinking that if I could I would take this with me. The majority of the dream took place in this room.

There was one large stone block that must have been over 20’ tall that kept moving. It was at the end of the room and was the centerpiece of all the objects in the room. We speculated that the water, which was not longer there, was making it move. Only in a dream, right?

We removed covers of the sarcophagus’ to reveal shriveled up bodies or piles of dust. What I remember about these tombs was that they were all small. The covers on them had dark metal decoration and weren’t as ornate as some of the other objects like the blue jar.

Then we were running. We were setting off traps that shot metal arrows through the room. Our leader had a crossbow and was firing at targets that released a barrage of these arrows as we ran through a long corridor. This was very Indiana Jones like. I don’t think anyone was ever hit by the arrows.

Dream ends.

I can’t explain it, I just dream it. What took place felt like hours, in reality it probably took seconds.

The only thing I can think of in regards to the meaning of the dream is that it was God confirming my adventure.

Getting Wet

Lately my mind has been filled with possibilities. Nothing small. These are big scale ideas. Huge big. So big I barely know where to begin. These ideas could become a full time job to just think about. Or, a full time job to implement.

I've never been entrepreneurial in my endeavors but I might need to learn. I've never been one to take huge risks in life but I might need to try. These possibilities would require me to step way outside of my comfort zone and try new things. I would have to put it all on the line.

I plan to investigate and map out these possibilities. First, I'll dip my toe in to check the temperature. Then I'll need to decide if I can wade in or if jumping in will be required. I struggle with the boogieman of doubt but I know that God is bigger.

You're probably thinking I'm going to tell you all about these ideas. Maybe I will. Later. Not now. Sorry to disappoint but I'm not ready to reveal them yet.

Low Rising

I am just loving this song. It is by The Swell Season which is comprised of Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová who starred in the movie Once.

A Long Road

Today (as I write this at 12:02 am) ends a long three weeks. My family has been in Illinois helping family. I've been home alone with the dog. It has been hard.

I want to thank family and friends who have helped keep me company, fed me and helped take care of Owen while I was at work.

This three weeks pales in comparison to the sacrifice our fighting men and women of the military make when they serve overseas but it does help me to appreciate and understand their sacrifice that much more. Thank you, all of you who wear the uniform of the United States Military to help protect our freedoms around the world.

Beach Day with Owen

I took the day off work today to enjoy a day at the coast with Owen. He deserved it. Since Kathi and the kids have been gone for almost three weeks he's mostly been couped up in the house. Thanks to good neighbors and friends he gets let out to potty, walked and played with each day I'm at work.

I just figured since the weather was going to be good and he needs some special attention I'd treat him to a day out. And what a day it was. I challenge you to find a day at the Oregon coast that clouds aren't visible. Today not a one.

Usually there is a ridge of clouds miles off the coast but since there were easterly winds there were none.

Our first stop was Cannon Beach were we walked for miles and miles. We stopped to pose with Haystack Rock and its little buddy rocks. Owen was out of control with his nose. Nothing got past the sniffer.

The next stop was Oswald West State Park where we hiked the Cape Falcon Trail for a number of miles and then took the trail down to the beach and walked it. The surfers were a plenty.

For the record this is the beach were I caught hypothermia as a kid. I don't think my brother ever used his sleeping bag again after that trip. It is what they used to warm me up after stripping me naked. He just couldn't use a sleeping bag I had been naked in. I think he should have enshrined it as one of the tools that saved my life.

The day ended with a wonderful steak dinner at mom and dads. Yum.

All in all a great day. The only thing that could have made it better would have been the company of my wife and kids. Miss you guys terribly.

Sad Puppy

Somebody misses his family.

Oregonians Understand Oregon

Yesterday I posted a comment about people in Oregon with umbrellas that got lots of responses on Facebook. Today my sister-in-law who lives in beautiful Hawaii sent me this list. I post it because it is true which makes it funny.

THIS IS WHAT JEFF FOXWORTHY HAS TO SAY ABOUT 'LIVING IN OREGON' . .

If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you live in Oregon.

If you've worn shorts, sandals and a parka at the same time, you live in Oregon.

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed the wrong number, you live in Oregon.

If you measure distance in hours, you live in Oregon.

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you live in Oregon.

If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' and back again in the same day, you live in Oregon.

If you install security lights on your house and garage but leave both doors unlocked, you live in Oregon.

If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in Central, Southern or Eastern Oregon.

If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a 2 layers of clothes or under a raincoat, you live in Oregon.

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow and ice, you live in Oregon.

If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction, you live in Oregon.

If you feel guilty throwing aluminum cans or paper in the trash, you live in Oregon.

If you know more than 10 ways to order coffee, you live in Oregon.

If you know more people who own boats than air conditioners, you live in Oregon.

If you stand on a deserted corner in the rain waiting for the "Walk" signal, you live in Oregon.

If you consider that if it has no snow or has not recently erupted, it is not a real mountain, you live in Oregon.

If you can taste the difference between Starbucks, Seattle's Best, and Dutch Bros, you live in Oregon.

If you know the difference between Chinook, Coho and Sockeye salmon, you live in Oregon.

If you know how to pronounce Sequim, Puyallup, Clatskanie, Issaquah, Oregon, Umpqua, Yakima and Willamette, you live in Oregon.

If you consider swimming an indoor sport, you live in Oregon.

If you know that Boring is a city and not just a feeling, you live in Oregon.

If you can tell the difference between Japanese, Chinese and Thai food, you live in Oregon.

If you never go camping without waterproof matches and a poncho, you live in Oregon.

If you have actually used your mountain bike on a mountain, you live in Oregon.

If you think people who use umbrellas are either wimps or tourists, you live in Oregon.

If you buy new sunglasses every year, because you cannot find the old ones after such a long time, you live in Oregon.

Dad's 70th Birthday Party

Here's the birthday boy with mom.

We got the trolley room at the Old Spaghetti Factory.

Hey, hey the gangs all here except for... oh... about 16 other immediate family members who were dearly missed.

Every man needs a powerwasher... right? Here's Pops with his new one and a load of his grandkids.

Hop in Ben and take it for a spin. Nobody will care. Especially the owner who thinks it's okay to have a six figure black European auto with water spots.

A Day in Portland

Today was a perfect day in Portland in terms of the weather. It would have been more perfect as a day if the family was with me.

Owen and I took a stroll down the Eastbank Promenade today and then took the Steel Bridge over to enjoy the opening day of Saturday Market.

The sun was out but it was still cool. The trees were blooming and the grass was green. People were out in droves enjoying the nice day.

We stopped to enjoy a little bluegrass on the waterfront. It was the perfect music for a day like today. Cheery and uplifting as it goes.

OkGo Strikes Again

This is an amazing video. This is the most incredible Rube Goldberg device I've ever seen and reports are it was done in one shot.

AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

I was trying to improve my blog and totally messed it up.

CRAP!

Three. Long. Weeks.

Thursday begins a long three weeks. Three. Long. Busy. Weeks.

Kathi and the kids are heading to Illinois to take care of her Grandma for a few weeks while her parents are away. I am staying home 'cause somebody has to pay the bills. I'm glad she gets to go and spend time with the Grandma and it will give Grandma a chance to spend time with the kids. It is a small interruption in this life of ours which we will survive.

I'm listening to Sarah Vowell's The Wordy Shipmates on CD and it makes me glad that we live today. In that book she talks about the Puritans and their journey to this country. It's not the story itself that makes me mention it but the fact that in those days it took three weeks or more to get anywhere.

Today we just hop a plane, get in the car or just call somebody when we want to see them. Technology has made it easier to be closer. Skype is wonderful as it lets you see and be close even though you're miles away. Cell phones give us the ability to catch people at a moments notice no matter where they or we are.

I've got plans for the three weeks. How much of that I get done doesn't really matter but I'm going to try some new things. Owen will freak out and be extremely neurotic but he'll survive also.

All this said I'll miss Kathi and the kids tremendously.