Pray for our brothers and sisters in the middle east.

May their work and martyrdom lead others to Christ.

Detroit Lake '07

Just home from a nice long weekend at Detroit Lake. We left Thursday to meet up with a big group of friends to camp at the lake for a long weekend. We had a good time. Yesterday the wind kicked up which brought my allergies out for a fire storm of yuckiness. All in all it was fun.

Thanks to the Powers and their boat we got to go out and enjoy the lake. Kathi skied and Brianna tubed. Alex and I make good boat riders. The evenings were filled with games and fun conversation.

One bummer about the campsite was the proximity of neighbors. We had choice ones. Granted we didn't have to deal with the smell and flushings others had to deal with by being close to the bathrooms. We just had neighbors who stayed up late drinking then were up early with load obnoxious kids. They didn't know how to use quiet voices I guess. Bless my wife for letting me sleep in each day. If you can call waking up every five minutes to a crying or screaming kid sleep.

Here are some photos of our weekend. Sorry Alex but I somehow didn't get a single photo of you.

Brianna at the lake.
Brianna tubing.
Taking a ride.
She insists that it was a scratch... no pick.
Hot momma skiing.

It was fun to hang out with everyone for the weekend. We are looking forward to next year. Thanks all.

Okay, I did find a photo with Alex in it.
He's right behind Kathi, just follow the arrow.

Edit:
Thanks to Mrs. V. here is a photo of Alex...

The Scary Carbon Stuff

6.2

That is my carbon footprint according to the Live Earth survey.

It is less than the 7.5 tons per year average.

So my life style produces 6.2 tons of carbon? What does that mean? What does that look like?

If everything on earth is carbon based where is that 6.2 tons of carbon going? Into the atmosphere? The ocean? Is somebody eating it?

My point is the number means nothing to me. My existance alone no matter what I eat, drink, or drive probably produces some amount of carbon. Isn't it part of the cycle of life. Spiders eat flies, birds eat spiders, cats eat birds, I kick cats.... That cycle. (Matt, I don't really kick cats, I just think about it)

So 6.2 is that good? Bad? Indifferent? What should it be?

Al... any thoughts?

Sigh...

Wind, Rain, Sand and Good Friends

Yesterday we went to Gearhart to celebrate a couple of birthdays and just to have fun. Happy Birthday Anthony. Happy Birthday Me.

We had wind, rain, and blowing sand. If it wasn't for the fact that we were with friends we would have turned right around. With a borrowed tent, some tarps, and a hot fire we made the best of it. It turned out to be fun. Here are some photos of the grand event.
The camp. The kids.
The girl saving the world one bird at a time. Somebody (to be unnamed) was shooting seagulls with a potato gun so Brianna ran around scaring away the birds.

The boy in a hole.

Thank you to all the brave souls and true Oregonians that came out for the fun.

My son put his temporary tattoo's on his buttocks this morning. Oh my. He just had to show us.

In the past I've posted on the funny things my kids say... here & here.

Recently my mom mentioned during my kids week at her house that she should have written down some of the things that the kids had said that she found funny. This reminded me that I haven't posted any for a while.

So here are some more gems:

• Alex, Kathi & I were trying to take a nap on the bed. Alex said "This is like watching a sunset with blankets."
• Alex to Kathi, "Mom, does my p*nis look like a hot dog?"
• Me to Alex "Where did you get that laugh?!" Alex "It's how God made me!"
• Me to Alex "Where do you think up all these questions?" Alex "In my brain."
• While watching a video of himself at swimming lessons Alex says "I sound like a girl."
• Alex "Dad, when Brianna was a baby she wasn't my arch-enemy, she was too cute." Brianna informed him he wasnt' born yet when she was a baby and he said "Well I was thinking about you."
  Ten seconds later...
  Alex "Dad, before I was born I was a puzzle and God put me together." Me "So are you a puzzle?" Alex "No! I'm Alex."
• Alex to Kathi "Mom, if I didn't believe in God would you kick me in the head?"
• While watching Superman: The Movie specifically the scene when Krypton is being destroyed... Alex "Look, it's raining people and buildings."
  Later during a chase scene "Do bad guys have licenses?"

Psyco Kia

Monday on my way home from work I met Psyco Kia (PK). Two cars ahead of me was a brand new Kia that loved her new brakes. I watched her tail end bob up and down as she punched her brakes clearly irritated by the driver behind her. The sad thing is is that the driver behind her was a good 4 or 5 car lengths back, and for good reason. This went on for about 3 miles before the car in front of me and directly behing PK turned another way. Now it was my turn.

Driving along with plenty of room between PK and my beloved Camry I finally got to see the driver. She is an older lady who is flat out, down right, out of her mind psyco. She would look in her mirror, punch the brakes, and roll her finger around her temple giving the crazy sign. To me. Hello! Who is the crazy one here? Her other move would be to first punch the brakes, point behind her, and yell something. What she was saying, I have no idea. I am sure it was priceless.

The other thing that was maddening was the fact the she was a double footed driver. One foot on the gas and one on the brake. So her brake lights were always on. This way the punch would come as a suprise to the person behind her. This at the time being me.

This was beyond irritating, especially after a long day. I had had enough. I gave her the bird and not the kind with feathers if you know what I mean. To which she responded with obnoxious clapping. I don't feel good about flipping off and old bat who is out of her head, it just happened. I couldn't get around her or go another way. For miles I was trapped.

Up ahead came my salvation. There are two ways to get to where I was going. She went straight and I went left. But I wasn't fast enough. Somehow she beat me to the next intersection and again I was behind PK. And pissed. Another mile behind the psyco crazy women twirling her fingers and stabbing her brakes. She finally turned off. F.I.N.A.L.L.Y.

Tuesday morning bright eyed and bushy tailed I was off to work. Half a mile into my commute guess who pulled in front of me. Like she was waiting, watching for her favorite brake punch game victim. Suck. What are the odds. Maybe she last night was a fluke. Nope. Punch, punch, finger wag and twirl.

Birthday Week

Those that know me know that I don't make a big deal about my birthday. To quote myself "it's just another day". I get to my birthday each year and I don't feel any different than the day before. I don't mean to bum people out by being so blah about my birthday so this year I'll try to be more excited. WAHOO!

On Saturday I'll be 39. One step closer to 40. Ooooh. I know, 40, so old.

The plan for Saturday is to spend the day with our church at the beach. It will be fun. There will be food, games, a bonfire, singing, and good times in general. I hope it is hot enough for a dip in the Pacific. If you read this and aren't part of our church you are still invited. Please come. See here for info.

So in celebration of my pending birthday I am providing a list of the ultimate gifts somebody could buy me for my special day. These are in order of value. Rich people in the audience... keep scrolling. I am giving ideas from under $100 all the way to Bill Gates can buy me that. Please note this is not my way of asking for a gift, I don't need gifts. This is just the dream list that if I wanted or needed gifts these would speak well of the gift giver.

Idea #1
$24.99 at Amazon.com

Idea #2
$130.00 at your local liquor store.

Idea #3
Sig Sauer P232- Two-Tone
$720.00 MSRP

Idea #4
Macbook Pro 17" 2.4Ghz
$2,799.00

Idea #5
Harley Davidson fFLHX Street Glide
$18,000 or so

Idea #6
Ariel Atom - Supercharged version
$50,000+ approx.

Idea #7

Ferrari Dino
$... if you have to ask, you can't afford it

Here is to my birthday. Yeah, me.

Thank you Lord for the 38 years and 360 days thus far.

Bad Song Lyrics

Sometimes a line in a song ruins the whole song for me. A case in point:

This is from The Fight Song by Sanctus Real.
"I don't really want to cry over issues
Wet tissues stick to my shoes"

Really... that's what you came up with to rhyme with "cry over issues"... so sad... Wet tissues... come on... why are you stepping on them... I throw mine in the garbage after a good cry... wait... no. I don't cry. come on.

Back to lyrics school for you boy. Back!

Robots in Disguise

Last night I took in the movie Transformers. It was awesome. Better than I thought it would be.

I went into the movie with little expectation due to my disappointment with Spiderman 3. I left wanting to see it again.

The low points include a very unnecessary discussion during a scene with the mom & dad in the boy's room regarding what he may have been doing in his room behind the locked door. Some of the action scenes moved too fast to understand who was who and what was really happening. And the one thing that always bothers me in books and movies is when the time frame of events is difficult to follow. As far as you can tell all the events in the movie took place in a day.

The high points include amazing CGI and a sweet soundtrack. The actors did a good job. There were a number of recognizable faces but no huge stars that overwhelm the movie. The hype about product placement is true, there is a lot, however it didn't take away from the movie. The comedy was well placed and not too over the top silly.

All-in-all it is a fun ride worthy of the $9 it takes to get in the door.

And a final note to Chevy... you need to produce this car

Damn Noise

Pop, pop, pipity, pop!

That is all I am going to hear until midnight for the next week. Damn noise.

If I can't be the one making it I just get irritated. Damn noise.

Why do Oregon lawmakers make our firework restrictions so tight. Damn noise.

Why can't we have things that fly? Damn noise.

I want to light things up and shoot things like a real man does. Damn noise.

Why do we just get noise and petty sparks. It is just irritating. Damn noise.

Booms, streaks of fire, showers of fiery rain, explosions. Washington gets'em why can't we?

Damn the noise and give me fire.

Do Over

Have you ever wanted to just start over? Just move away to another place and start over. New job, new house, new neighbors, new friends... you know witness protection sort of start over.

Years ago my sister in-law and her husband did it. They moved from Illinois to Hawaii. As a matter of fact I did it too nine years ago. It was refreshing. A little nerve racking but refreshing nonetheless. Hawaii sounds nice.

I don't know what is bringing this on. It is just a thought. Or is it? If you get a change of address notice for us you'll know the answer.

Why the Atom is for ME

This video totally speaks for itself. Especially for those that know about me and the motorcycle.

Apocalypto

I stayed up late last night and watched Mel Gibson's Apocalypto. I just start out by saying that this is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. I didn't recognize a single face on the screen or understand a single word that was spoken and I still liked it.

The movie is subtitled so be prepared to read.

This movie was a combination of Gladiator and The Last of the Mohicans. The violence is brutal. The scenery is amazing. The camera work is genius, especially during the final chase scene. And the actors take you back a few hundred years and make you believe you are watching a documentary.

If this movie and The Passion of the Christ are examples of what Gibson is capable of creating I look forward to more of his work behind the camera.

Bugs Everywhere

Our roses have aphids and this is our eco-friendly way of taking care of them. We set free a mighty warrior, a killer, the destroyer of aphids. Today we set 1,500 ladybugs free in our yard.

Here are a couple of photos.


Ash... I would have used my gun on the aphids but it would have hurt my roses ;-)

Gosh Durn Allergies

I should be a church right now. However, my allergies have had my nose in an uproar all day. Sniffling, sneezing, blah, blah, all day. Yuck.

Paul had a "thorn in his side"... if I had written the NT I'd've said that I had a stuffy nose. Not quite as poetic or inspirational.

For fathers day I received Sienfeld's fifth season. I think I'll sit with some of that for a bit. Nothing like a Puffy Shirt to make one laugh and feel better.

Dream Theater

Yesterday was the release date for Dream Theater's new album Systematic Chaos.

Today I bought it. I actually bought the Special Edition which includes a bonus DVD. The best part about the bonus DVD is the addition of the whole album in 5.1 surround sound which is currently playing on my stereo system. So sweet.

I may have said this before and I'll say it again... Dream Theater is amazing.

So far the album does not disappoint. They carry on with the same virtuoso playing they've always had. Tight as ever. The track "Constant Motion" sounds like a tribute to Metallica; sounding much like "Battery" from the Master of Puppets album.

This past week I've had the pleasure of borrowing a friends copy of the Score DVD. This is a concert celebrating their 20 years together. It was the last concert of the Octavarium tour which took place at Radio City Music Hall. Half the concert was just the band and the other half they were joined by an orchestra. This DVD is just awesome and is high on my want list (My birthday is in July).

When it was over and they could talk about it
She said there's just one thing I have got to know
What in that moment when you were running so hard and fast
Made you stop and turn for home
He said I always knew you loved me even though I'd broken your heart
I always knew there'd be a place for me to make a brand new start

Oh love wash over a multitude of things
Love wash over a multitude of things
Love wash over a multitude of things
Make us whole

When it was over and they could talk about it
They were sitting on the couch
She said what on earth made you stay here
When you finally figured out what I was all about
He said I always knew you'd do the right thing
Even though it might take some time
She said, Yeah, I felt that and that's probably what saved my life

Oh love wash over a multitude of things
Love wash over a multitude of things
Love wash over a multitude of things
Make us whole

There is a love that never fails
There is a healing that always prevails
There is a hope that whispers a vow
A promise to stay while we're working it out
So come with your love and wash over us

~Sara Groves

For those that know... you are LOVED!

FIFTEEN SWEET YEARS!!!

Happy Anniversary Hon!

Fifteen years ago I pledged myself to a beautiful woman. For some crazy reason she said yes and has stuck with me all this time.

In celebration we got marked and will jump out of an airplane. Wahoo!

I am proud to be married to my best friend.

Here's to the next fifteen years.

Kathi, I love you.