Been a while...sorry.
I hope everyone had a great Christmas and start to the new year.
It was great to see everyone we saw at Christmas, although we did not get to see everyone. As usual, we traversed the state in the effort to see everyone we could, but it is just impossible to see everyone. Alex had a great time, and travelled really well. That made our lives a lot more peaceful.
I worked on some Christmas songs on the guitar during November, but was not able to get them down to the point where I was comfortable playing them, so I did not play them. I did some jamming with my brothers and our dad, though. So, that was really cool.
I have been battling a sinus infection since late October (I remember being sick during the World Series). I seem to be getting better, but my voice is still hoarse and I still have a little congestion. As long as it keeps draining, I guess I will be OK.
The day before Thanksgiving, in Clarksville, I got a speeding ticket. So, in order to keep it off my driving record and my insurance, this past Saturday I attended the Driver Improvement Program, which is otherwise known as Leadfoot College...LOL. I graduated with flying colors (which means I stayed awake the entire time), and immediately blazed a trail back to Memphis. I left Alex with his Mimi and Papa (my parents), and he had a great time. Michelle stayed in Memphis, so Alex and I rode up together on Friday afternoon, and he slept the entire way. Made my life a lot more peaceful. Of course, the theme song to the trip was Thin Lizzy's "The Boys Are Back In Town"...LOL.
I got two books for Christmas, Eric Clapton's autobiography, and a biography of Warren Zevon, which was written with his permission by his ex-wife. I knew most of the stories in the Clapton book, and it was great to get even more in-depth info about them. I did not know much about Zevon, although I now feel like he and I are kindred spirits. Except for the wife-beating and the drug and alcohol addictions. It has been said that there is a fine line between genius and madness, and if that is the case, I would say that Zevon danced all over that line.
I am not sure if I have told this story here, but my guitar instructor once played in a band with Roy Marinell, who co-wrote Zevon's most famous song, "Werewolves of London". That is cool.
I am currently taking an intensive course entitled, "The History of Reformed Worship". The last day of class is next Wednesday, and the regular spring semester starts the next week. My class is going really well, and I enjoy it greatly.
Michelle is scheduled for another treatment on her back next week. The first one did not have much effect, so we are praying that this one will. This time, the injection will go directly into her spine.
Alex is doing real well. He enjoys the day-care he is going to, and we like it because he comes home exhausted and sleeps really well all night. He is taking small bites of real food, such as green beans and banannas. Tonight, I introduced him to the concept of fire. He watched me as I grilled dinner, and we had a lot of fun.
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Thursday, December 20, 2007
It occurred to me that I never made my regular end-of-semester posting. I guess that's because I never that the semester would end. Or maybe, because once it did end, I was so miserable I did not want to talk about it. Anyway, I'll recap. Essentially, this was the least fulfilling semester ever. It was really hard adjusting to having Alex in our world, and I am not sure I ever really adjusted until the very end of the term.
The semester started off with a bang, having two big papers due the second week of classes. In order to complete them, I fell behind in my reading for all three of my classes, and never really caught up. Once Michelle went back to work in October, it really hit the fan. I was having a hard time separating from Alex, so I didn't really arrange much day care for him. Whenever I wasn't in class, I would take him with me to the office. Which prevented me from doing much school work, or church work. So, I knew that could not last. So, I started leaving him with his care-giver more often. Then, we discovered that she was in violation of basically every major law that governs in-home child care. So, we pulled him from there, and arranged for the woman that runs the nursery at the church where I work to watch him.
This was to be a great arrangement She was going to watch him at the church, so if anything were to happen, I would be right there. Plus, I could see him whenever I wanted; he was only a couple of minutes away. However, this care-giver started having some problems with high blood pressure, after only a week to two of watching him. So, we were back to square one, with no child care. The last few weeks of classes, we had a patchwork of friends watch him, but that meant me driving him out into the suburbs at the crack of dawn, and frequently getting to my classes (which are in mid-town) late. Some days, we could find no child-care at all, and I had to miss class. I missed one class twice, and each of my other two classes once each. That makes it tough to keep up.
Finally, by the end of the semester, we had found a reputable day-care where he could go. So, next semester should be much smoother. He has been going there all this week and is loving it. He gets to play with several other babies there, and gets a lot of personal attention. We are really happy with the situation now.
Back in October, the day after Michelle and I got our flu shots, I came down with a sinus infection. Unfortunately, it has never quite gone away. I went to the doctor yesterday, and discovered that in addition to the sinus infection, I have an infection in my lungs. The doctor was a little concerned that it could turn into pneumonia, so he gave me a strong antibiotic. I felt considerably better today. However, Michelle and I are not quite sure if we will be well enough to travel for Christmas. Two weekends ago, right before final exams, I came down with a stomach virus that knocked me out for a couple of days. It took about a week for Michelle to get it, and when she did, it was even worse. She missed several days of work, and just went back today. Which was the last full day of the semester for her. So, we have been just wrecked for quite a while.
She has a meeting early tomorrow morning, after which I am going to stop by with Alex for all her co-workers to meet. After that, I am going to drop him off at daycare, and Michelle and I are going to have some free time. Which will include a long nap for her, I think, and some guitar playing for me.
Also, during all this time, we have been searching for a new apartment. We found one that we really like, and signed the lease last week. We have been gradually moving stuff in, with the plan to move the big stuff (and be completely out of our old apartment) on the 29th. On the 27th, Michelle is going to have a treatment done on her back, because she has a ruptured disc. All of this has just been insane. We are praying that the treatment will work, so she can avoid surgery. If she has to have surgery, she will miss considerable time from work. I sort of dropped the idea to my senior pastor that if that happens, I may have to seek a full-time position somewhere. To which he replied that he may not let me leave...lol. Hopefully, everything will work out.
Alex is doing really well. I took him to the pediatrician today for his monthly RSV shot, and he weighed in at exactly 13 lbs, with some light clothes on. He seems to be getting ready to pop a tooth out; we are hoping it will be out before Christmas. That would be a great present for the grandparents. Also, in the biggest news of late, he no longer has to wear his heart monitor! YAY! He spent last Thursday night at the sleep lab, and got a great report. So, he no longer needs his monitor. The company that owns it is picking it up tomorrow. We are really excited! It was great to have it, since it gave us a lot of peace of mind, but we are glad that he no longer needs it. He is developing really well. He ate some Cheerios today for the first time. That was really exciting. He liked them a lot. We had dinner at a New-York style pizza place that recently opened nearby, and Alex licked some marinara sauce off my finger. He liked that, too. Although, marinara sauce is not exactly on the list of approved foods, so don't tell anyone. SHHHH! He is eating all his vegetables (except peas), and enjoys his cereals and fruits. He is doing so well!
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
The semester started off with a bang, having two big papers due the second week of classes. In order to complete them, I fell behind in my reading for all three of my classes, and never really caught up. Once Michelle went back to work in October, it really hit the fan. I was having a hard time separating from Alex, so I didn't really arrange much day care for him. Whenever I wasn't in class, I would take him with me to the office. Which prevented me from doing much school work, or church work. So, I knew that could not last. So, I started leaving him with his care-giver more often. Then, we discovered that she was in violation of basically every major law that governs in-home child care. So, we pulled him from there, and arranged for the woman that runs the nursery at the church where I work to watch him.
This was to be a great arrangement She was going to watch him at the church, so if anything were to happen, I would be right there. Plus, I could see him whenever I wanted; he was only a couple of minutes away. However, this care-giver started having some problems with high blood pressure, after only a week to two of watching him. So, we were back to square one, with no child care. The last few weeks of classes, we had a patchwork of friends watch him, but that meant me driving him out into the suburbs at the crack of dawn, and frequently getting to my classes (which are in mid-town) late. Some days, we could find no child-care at all, and I had to miss class. I missed one class twice, and each of my other two classes once each. That makes it tough to keep up.
Finally, by the end of the semester, we had found a reputable day-care where he could go. So, next semester should be much smoother. He has been going there all this week and is loving it. He gets to play with several other babies there, and gets a lot of personal attention. We are really happy with the situation now.
Back in October, the day after Michelle and I got our flu shots, I came down with a sinus infection. Unfortunately, it has never quite gone away. I went to the doctor yesterday, and discovered that in addition to the sinus infection, I have an infection in my lungs. The doctor was a little concerned that it could turn into pneumonia, so he gave me a strong antibiotic. I felt considerably better today. However, Michelle and I are not quite sure if we will be well enough to travel for Christmas. Two weekends ago, right before final exams, I came down with a stomach virus that knocked me out for a couple of days. It took about a week for Michelle to get it, and when she did, it was even worse. She missed several days of work, and just went back today. Which was the last full day of the semester for her. So, we have been just wrecked for quite a while.
She has a meeting early tomorrow morning, after which I am going to stop by with Alex for all her co-workers to meet. After that, I am going to drop him off at daycare, and Michelle and I are going to have some free time. Which will include a long nap for her, I think, and some guitar playing for me.
Also, during all this time, we have been searching for a new apartment. We found one that we really like, and signed the lease last week. We have been gradually moving stuff in, with the plan to move the big stuff (and be completely out of our old apartment) on the 29th. On the 27th, Michelle is going to have a treatment done on her back, because she has a ruptured disc. All of this has just been insane. We are praying that the treatment will work, so she can avoid surgery. If she has to have surgery, she will miss considerable time from work. I sort of dropped the idea to my senior pastor that if that happens, I may have to seek a full-time position somewhere. To which he replied that he may not let me leave...lol. Hopefully, everything will work out.
Alex is doing really well. I took him to the pediatrician today for his monthly RSV shot, and he weighed in at exactly 13 lbs, with some light clothes on. He seems to be getting ready to pop a tooth out; we are hoping it will be out before Christmas. That would be a great present for the grandparents. Also, in the biggest news of late, he no longer has to wear his heart monitor! YAY! He spent last Thursday night at the sleep lab, and got a great report. So, he no longer needs his monitor. The company that owns it is picking it up tomorrow. We are really excited! It was great to have it, since it gave us a lot of peace of mind, but we are glad that he no longer needs it. He is developing really well. He ate some Cheerios today for the first time. That was really exciting. He liked them a lot. We had dinner at a New-York style pizza place that recently opened nearby, and Alex licked some marinara sauce off my finger. He liked that, too. Although, marinara sauce is not exactly on the list of approved foods, so don't tell anyone. SHHHH! He is eating all his vegetables (except peas), and enjoys his cereals and fruits. He is doing so well!
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
This ad for the Apple Lisa, from around 1983-84, has recently found new life among Apple enthusiasts. See if you can identify the at-the-time unknown actor in the ad. Also, check out the mouse, which reminds me of both the first garage door opener and the first TV remote control I ever saw. Vintage!
Friday, December 14, 2007
This afternoon, Michelle and I went to Sam's Club to get some stuff. Alex had fallen asleep in the car, but as soon as we went in the store, he woke up, opened his eyes and began to look around. I casually waved my hand in his direction, and said, "You do not need to see anything here. This is not the store you were looking for. You may go back to sleep now." He immediately closed his eyes and went back to sleep. Using the force on your own child is awesome!
Monday, December 03, 2007
I forgot to tell a funny story that happened on Thanksgiving...
After we had eaten, my older brother Tim and I were upstairs in the loft of our parents' house. This is where my dad keeps his guitars, stereo, CD's, and books and other media-type stuff. I was strumming some chords when, out of nowhere, Tim sees the CD of Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water". He made a comment that we should slide across the floor on it, just for old times' sake.
FLASHBACK: When we were little kids (I was probably about 4-5, and Tim is almost two years older than I), we decided one day that we would use our dad's copy of this record as sort of a skateboard. So, we took the vinyl record out of its sleeve, and proceeded to start sliding around the floor on it. Soon after, our dad came into the room, and was none too pleased. Uh, actually, I guess you can say he was furious...LOL. One vinyl record, ruined. The term "time-out" wasn't en vogue back then, but you could say we were in time out. Probably for about two weeks. At least.
FLASH FORWARD: When Tim said that we should reprise our shenanigans, I said, "Follow me." I took the CD downstairs, and went to the entrance of the west (front) entrance of the kitchen. Dad was standing at the north (side) entrance. I then slid the CD's jewel case, face-up, across the kitchen floor, where it stopped at my dad's feet. He looked down, saw which CD it was, and started laughing. Our mom turned to see what was going on, and she also got the joke. Everyone else there had no idea what was going on, but our parents, Tim, and I were all laughing like crazy. Fun times, indeed.
After we had eaten, my older brother Tim and I were upstairs in the loft of our parents' house. This is where my dad keeps his guitars, stereo, CD's, and books and other media-type stuff. I was strumming some chords when, out of nowhere, Tim sees the CD of Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water". He made a comment that we should slide across the floor on it, just for old times' sake.
FLASHBACK: When we were little kids (I was probably about 4-5, and Tim is almost two years older than I), we decided one day that we would use our dad's copy of this record as sort of a skateboard. So, we took the vinyl record out of its sleeve, and proceeded to start sliding around the floor on it. Soon after, our dad came into the room, and was none too pleased. Uh, actually, I guess you can say he was furious...LOL. One vinyl record, ruined. The term "time-out" wasn't en vogue back then, but you could say we were in time out. Probably for about two weeks. At least.
FLASH FORWARD: When Tim said that we should reprise our shenanigans, I said, "Follow me." I took the CD downstairs, and went to the entrance of the west (front) entrance of the kitchen. Dad was standing at the north (side) entrance. I then slid the CD's jewel case, face-up, across the kitchen floor, where it stopped at my dad's feet. He looked down, saw which CD it was, and started laughing. Our mom turned to see what was going on, and she also got the joke. Everyone else there had no idea what was going on, but our parents, Tim, and I were all laughing like crazy. Fun times, indeed.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Well, given that it has been a month since I last posted, I guess I should make some kind of attempt at doing so.
Things got really crazy right after I last posted. The day after Michelle and I got our flu shots, we woke up really sick. I treated mine with OTC meds for about a week, and it seemed like I was better. However, as soon as I stopped taking anything, I got really sick again. So, I went to the doctor, and found that I had a sinus infection. The doctor said that it was purely coincidental that it came the day after the flu shot. Yeah, right. That's why they make you sign a disclaimer absolving them of responsibility if you get sick from the shot. Such is the state of American medicine. What a joke.
The weekend before Thanksgiving, we pawned Alex off on Michelle's parents and got out of town for a couple of days. We kind of did a Dick Cheney-type thing, which is to say that we stayed in a secure, undisclosed location...LOL. Alas, we did not shoot anyone while we were there. It was good to get out of town for a couple of days, although it was really strange to not have the baby with us. It was sort of surreal. There were several times when both Michelle and I could "hear" him cry, even though that was obviously impossible. One more reason to not be an empiricist, I suppose. Rationalism rules!
On the Saturday, Michelle found a an area where several of her favorite stores were concentrated, so she dropped me off at the nearest guitar shop, so I could dream whilst she spent...LOL. I played several Taylor acoustics, which all sounded fine enough, but there is just nothing quite like a Martin. Or my Epiphone. I also played a Guild 12-string, which really sounded great. Once I get considerably better with 6 strings, I want to play 12.
Among the many things that Alex's arrival has changed for me is my usual practice of picking a book or two to read during the semester just for fun. In the past, I have chosen a couple of books each semester, and each day, if I have done enough school work, I reward myself by reading some fun stuff. Now, with Alex in the picture, I have not been able to do that. So, I bought a book to read during our time away. I got "Revolution in the Valley: The Insanely Great Story of How the Mac Was Made." It was fun to trace the steps of the first Macintosh's development. I concluded that many of the people on the development team would today be diagnosed on the autism spectrum.
You may remember that last Thanksgiving, on the way home from Tullahoma, our Dodge Intrepid died. So, we approached this Thanksgiving with some trepidation, hopin our vehicles would emerge unscathed. Yeah, right. The week of Thanksgiving, I observed that the Explorer's serpentine belst was quite frayed, and in need of replacement. So, I ordered a belt online, and once it came in set about installing it. Turns out it was not the right belt, so after a trip to the parts store, where I had no small amount of trouble exchanging it for the correct one, I proceeded to install it upside down. So, this caused the belt to rub a hole in the lower radiator hose, which drained all the coolant out of the engine. After installing a new hose and refilling the coolant, the Explorer was once again road-worthy.
Thanksgiving itself was a lot of fun. We visited both families, and it was great to see everyone. Of course, we all ate too much, but I guess that is part of the fun. My dad's smoked turkey was awesome. He has truly become a grill-master.
On Sunday morning, we left early so we could worship at Mt. Denson. It was great to see everyone there, especially since most of them had not seen Alex. Of course, everyone doted on him, so we did not have to do much with him, which enabled us to relax a bit.
Classes have ended for the semester. Next week is the reading period, which is when everyone does as much of the work they should have done throughout the semester as they can. Finals are the week after that. Two of my finals are take-home exams, and neither is very long. I also have a paper due for another class, so in all I have three papers to write and one exam to study for. Not too bad.
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
Things got really crazy right after I last posted. The day after Michelle and I got our flu shots, we woke up really sick. I treated mine with OTC meds for about a week, and it seemed like I was better. However, as soon as I stopped taking anything, I got really sick again. So, I went to the doctor, and found that I had a sinus infection. The doctor said that it was purely coincidental that it came the day after the flu shot. Yeah, right. That's why they make you sign a disclaimer absolving them of responsibility if you get sick from the shot. Such is the state of American medicine. What a joke.
The weekend before Thanksgiving, we pawned Alex off on Michelle's parents and got out of town for a couple of days. We kind of did a Dick Cheney-type thing, which is to say that we stayed in a secure, undisclosed location...LOL. Alas, we did not shoot anyone while we were there. It was good to get out of town for a couple of days, although it was really strange to not have the baby with us. It was sort of surreal. There were several times when both Michelle and I could "hear" him cry, even though that was obviously impossible. One more reason to not be an empiricist, I suppose. Rationalism rules!
On the Saturday, Michelle found a an area where several of her favorite stores were concentrated, so she dropped me off at the nearest guitar shop, so I could dream whilst she spent...LOL. I played several Taylor acoustics, which all sounded fine enough, but there is just nothing quite like a Martin. Or my Epiphone. I also played a Guild 12-string, which really sounded great. Once I get considerably better with 6 strings, I want to play 12.
Among the many things that Alex's arrival has changed for me is my usual practice of picking a book or two to read during the semester just for fun. In the past, I have chosen a couple of books each semester, and each day, if I have done enough school work, I reward myself by reading some fun stuff. Now, with Alex in the picture, I have not been able to do that. So, I bought a book to read during our time away. I got "Revolution in the Valley: The Insanely Great Story of How the Mac Was Made." It was fun to trace the steps of the first Macintosh's development. I concluded that many of the people on the development team would today be diagnosed on the autism spectrum.
You may remember that last Thanksgiving, on the way home from Tullahoma, our Dodge Intrepid died. So, we approached this Thanksgiving with some trepidation, hopin our vehicles would emerge unscathed. Yeah, right. The week of Thanksgiving, I observed that the Explorer's serpentine belst was quite frayed, and in need of replacement. So, I ordered a belt online, and once it came in set about installing it. Turns out it was not the right belt, so after a trip to the parts store, where I had no small amount of trouble exchanging it for the correct one, I proceeded to install it upside down. So, this caused the belt to rub a hole in the lower radiator hose, which drained all the coolant out of the engine. After installing a new hose and refilling the coolant, the Explorer was once again road-worthy.
Thanksgiving itself was a lot of fun. We visited both families, and it was great to see everyone. Of course, we all ate too much, but I guess that is part of the fun. My dad's smoked turkey was awesome. He has truly become a grill-master.
On Sunday morning, we left early so we could worship at Mt. Denson. It was great to see everyone there, especially since most of them had not seen Alex. Of course, everyone doted on him, so we did not have to do much with him, which enabled us to relax a bit.
Classes have ended for the semester. Next week is the reading period, which is when everyone does as much of the work they should have done throughout the semester as they can. Finals are the week after that. Two of my finals are take-home exams, and neither is very long. I also have a paper due for another class, so in all I have three papers to write and one exam to study for. Not too bad.
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Godfather in 1 minute
If you are a fan of "The Godfather" book and/or film, but don't want to invest several hours to either watch the film or read the book, this video is for you. The entire story is told in about 1 minute. Absolutely hilarious!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Damn those flu shots. Last Monday, Michelle and I got flu shots, ostensibly to avoid getting sick. The next morning, we both woke up sick. Joy. So, the rest of the week was essentially worthless, at least in regards to getting anything productive done. I even turned in a football game Thursday night that I was supposed to work. I was, however, able to work my varsity game Friday.
To add to the misery of last week, we got the news that Michelle's great-grandmother passed away. She was about 95, and was a lot of fun to be around. She and Michelle were really close, and she will be missed. Michelle's mom was able to go to the funeral, but Michelle did not want to fly with her head stuffed up like it was. I am sorry that she was not able to go.
A couple of weeks ago, without telling me, Michelle ordered my Christmas present. She was very clandestine about the whole thing; she even had it delivered to her work so I would not see it. But, for whatever reason, once it arrived, she just had to tell me. First, she made me guess for a couple of days what it might be. The only clue that she would give me is that I had once said I would like one. That wasn't much of a clue, since there are tons of things I say I would like. So, after a couple of days of guessing, she finally revealed that she had gotten me a new computer. Not just any computer, but a really good iMac, loaded up with good stuff. She had even splurged and gotten me a wireless keyboard and wireless Mighty Mouse (Apple's 4-button mouse). Woo! So, I begged her to bring it home, and she did. So, while I was so miserably sick, I was able to enjoy getting it set up like I want it. Both of our laptops are showing signs of age, so it's good to have another hard drive to back up everything onto. Plus, I will be able to edit the videos I have taken of Alex, and make DVDs. That will be cool.
The stats on the iMac are: 250 GB HD, 1 GB RAM (I am upgrading to 3 GB), 2.33 GHz Intel Dual Core Processor. I am going to upgrade to the new OS (Leopard), which comes with Boot Camp, the program that allows Leopard and Windows to run on the same unit. So, I am also going to install Windows XP. Therefore, we will have the best of both worlds.
I have been having some pains in my neck and left shoulder, so I am going to a chiropractor to get checked out. It's been several years since I have gotten adjusted, so hopefully I can get straightened out again.
A friend of mine who is in grad school at the University of Chicago was struck by a taxi cab while she was crossing an intersection last week. Thankfully, she was not seriously injured, although she was shaken up quite a bit. Also, one of the kids in my youth group was hit by a car on Saturday. She, too, was very fortunate to have only been bruised and scraped.
The Red Sox finished off the Rockies last night. It's weird how they went 86 years without winning a series, and now have won twice in 4 years. The American League is so much better than the National League right now, it's just crazy. For so long, the NL was much better than the Al, so I guess they are due. I was glad that I was able to watch most of all 4 games. Last year, I was able to only see a few innings of the entire Series, and it drove me crazy. Michelle was able to make it through 3.5 games really well. During last night's game, she finally asked, "So, what game is this?" I told her it was Game 4, and with more than a little longing in her voice, she asked, "So, if Boston wins, it's over, right?" LOL. I am proud of her for making it that far. One day, I will teacher her the infield fly rule.
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
To add to the misery of last week, we got the news that Michelle's great-grandmother passed away. She was about 95, and was a lot of fun to be around. She and Michelle were really close, and she will be missed. Michelle's mom was able to go to the funeral, but Michelle did not want to fly with her head stuffed up like it was. I am sorry that she was not able to go.
A couple of weeks ago, without telling me, Michelle ordered my Christmas present. She was very clandestine about the whole thing; she even had it delivered to her work so I would not see it. But, for whatever reason, once it arrived, she just had to tell me. First, she made me guess for a couple of days what it might be. The only clue that she would give me is that I had once said I would like one. That wasn't much of a clue, since there are tons of things I say I would like. So, after a couple of days of guessing, she finally revealed that she had gotten me a new computer. Not just any computer, but a really good iMac, loaded up with good stuff. She had even splurged and gotten me a wireless keyboard and wireless Mighty Mouse (Apple's 4-button mouse). Woo! So, I begged her to bring it home, and she did. So, while I was so miserably sick, I was able to enjoy getting it set up like I want it. Both of our laptops are showing signs of age, so it's good to have another hard drive to back up everything onto. Plus, I will be able to edit the videos I have taken of Alex, and make DVDs. That will be cool.
The stats on the iMac are: 250 GB HD, 1 GB RAM (I am upgrading to 3 GB), 2.33 GHz Intel Dual Core Processor. I am going to upgrade to the new OS (Leopard), which comes with Boot Camp, the program that allows Leopard and Windows to run on the same unit. So, I am also going to install Windows XP. Therefore, we will have the best of both worlds.
I have been having some pains in my neck and left shoulder, so I am going to a chiropractor to get checked out. It's been several years since I have gotten adjusted, so hopefully I can get straightened out again.
A friend of mine who is in grad school at the University of Chicago was struck by a taxi cab while she was crossing an intersection last week. Thankfully, she was not seriously injured, although she was shaken up quite a bit. Also, one of the kids in my youth group was hit by a car on Saturday. She, too, was very fortunate to have only been bruised and scraped.
The Red Sox finished off the Rockies last night. It's weird how they went 86 years without winning a series, and now have won twice in 4 years. The American League is so much better than the National League right now, it's just crazy. For so long, the NL was much better than the Al, so I guess they are due. I was glad that I was able to watch most of all 4 games. Last year, I was able to only see a few innings of the entire Series, and it drove me crazy. Michelle was able to make it through 3.5 games really well. During last night's game, she finally asked, "So, what game is this?" I told her it was Game 4, and with more than a little longing in her voice, she asked, "So, if Boston wins, it's over, right?" LOL. I am proud of her for making it that far. One day, I will teacher her the infield fly rule.
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Last Friday was Alex's five month birthday, and he weighed in at 11 lbs., 8 oz. Woo! He is getting so big. Every time I pick him up, he seems to have gained some weight. He's such a big boy now...LOL.
I was (and still am) having some serious seperation issues, especially since Michelle has gone back to work full time. Alex goes to daycare on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when I am in class. The other days of the week, I had been hanging with him, instead of doing my school work. I would take him to the office with me, but I was not able to get much done. So, I finally gave in and made arrangements for him. The woman that runs the nursery at the church has agreed to come in 2-3 days a week and watch him, so I can get some work done. It's nice that he will be just down the hall and around the corner, so if anything happens, I can be right there.
Tonight, Michelle has class, so he and I are hanging out at home. He took a full bottle just a little while ago, after having taken one at about 2:30. So, he is napping now. While he is asleep, I am going to do some reading.
I think my parents are going to visit one day next week; that will be exciting. Alex told me that he needs to be spoiled by Mimi and Pa-Pa...LOL.
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
I was (and still am) having some serious seperation issues, especially since Michelle has gone back to work full time. Alex goes to daycare on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when I am in class. The other days of the week, I had been hanging with him, instead of doing my school work. I would take him to the office with me, but I was not able to get much done. So, I finally gave in and made arrangements for him. The woman that runs the nursery at the church has agreed to come in 2-3 days a week and watch him, so I can get some work done. It's nice that he will be just down the hall and around the corner, so if anything happens, I can be right there.
Tonight, Michelle has class, so he and I are hanging out at home. He took a full bottle just a little while ago, after having taken one at about 2:30. So, he is napping now. While he is asleep, I am going to do some reading.
I think my parents are going to visit one day next week; that will be exciting. Alex told me that he needs to be spoiled by Mimi and Pa-Pa...LOL.
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Yesterday at lunch, I decided to take my lunch and a guitar to a park near campus. After I had eaten, I got out the guitar, and started to strum. In less than 5 minutes, a ton of homeless people came out of the woods (from all directions) to hear the guy with the guitar. We exchanged hellos, and I continued playing. We all had a great time, and the music clearly lifted the spirits of several of them. In all, I played for about an hour in front of about 15-20 men. The whole thing was awesome. Michelle said that if I go on tour, she will print the T-shirts.
Last night, Michelle's class did not meet, so we pawned Alex off on some friends and went out on a date. We went to a really nice restaraunt that we can only afford when we have a buy 1-get one free coupon (even then, we spend too much). This was our third time going there, and every time it has been wonderful. Then, we went grocery shopping! YAY! What a date! LOL. We are just geeky enough to do that. Remember, our first date included a visit to a book store (she bought me Robert Frost; I bought her Ralph Waldo Emerson). Anyway, we got our groceries, took them home to put away, got some Starbucks, then picked up Alex. It was a fun night. Too bad I had class this morning; by the end of the day, Michelle and I were both exhausted.
Alex has an appointment with his apnea doctor tomorrow. After that, I think I will take him by seminary. I need to get a couple of books from the library, and a bunch of people want to see him, so it should be fun.
My grandmother called me the other day to tell me that she had gotten a new car. I am so happy for her; she had been needing one for 10 years or so! Now, she is riding in style. Cool.
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
Last night, Michelle's class did not meet, so we pawned Alex off on some friends and went out on a date. We went to a really nice restaraunt that we can only afford when we have a buy 1-get one free coupon (even then, we spend too much). This was our third time going there, and every time it has been wonderful. Then, we went grocery shopping! YAY! What a date! LOL. We are just geeky enough to do that. Remember, our first date included a visit to a book store (she bought me Robert Frost; I bought her Ralph Waldo Emerson). Anyway, we got our groceries, took them home to put away, got some Starbucks, then picked up Alex. It was a fun night. Too bad I had class this morning; by the end of the day, Michelle and I were both exhausted.
Alex has an appointment with his apnea doctor tomorrow. After that, I think I will take him by seminary. I need to get a couple of books from the library, and a bunch of people want to see him, so it should be fun.
My grandmother called me the other day to tell me that she had gotten a new car. I am so happy for her; she had been needing one for 10 years or so! Now, she is riding in style. Cool.
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
Monday, October 15, 2007
"A child arrived just the other day; he came to the world in the usual way. But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay; He learned to walk while I was away. He was talking before I knew it, and as he grew, he'd say, 'I'm gonna be like you, Dad, you know I'm gonna be like you."
Harry Chapin's lyrics have really haunted me the last couple of weeks, because I was definitely not around much. In fact, Michelle commented that she felt like a single mother. I almost cried. In fact, later, I did. With mid-terms, and taking on more responsibility at work, and football going crazy, I was gone more than I was home for the past couple of weeks. I am going to do better in the future. Of course, as I write this I am in my office. This is sick.
OK, so at least mid-terms have finally come and (mostly gone). I say mostly because my Acts professor was really slow about getting our test to us, so he gave us an extra couple of weeks. It is not due until next Tuesday, which is cool. Tomorrow, I am defending my paper in that class that I presented last week. Wish me luck.
In Christian Ministry class, we split up into groups several weeks ago, with each group being responsible for planning an entire worship service. My group will present its work this Wednesday. My role is to play the prelude and closing music on my guitar. This will be my first live performance ever, so wish me luck in that as well.
About 15 minutes after Alex came home from the hospital, Michelle started talking about having another baby. I have mostly put her on hold, until recently when she started really homing in on me about it. One night last week, in a half-asleep/half-awake stupor, she said that if I would agree to start trying soon, I could go to my favorite guitar shop and get whatever I wanted. Whatever I wanted. Of course, I replied that an open line of credit at the guitar shop would be a more equitable arrangement. The next day, I was at that guitar shop, telling the guys about my arrangement. One of them said with a straight face, "Dude, we could do that. Just put her Visa number on file, and we'll set you up." I said something to the effect that we shouldn't go getting crazy just yet. So, Michelle and I continue to be in dialogue about this.
This past weekend, I took my youth group to a weekend retreat near Camden, TN. We all had great fun, although the other adults were a little tired of "Smoke on the Water" and "Free Falling" by the end of the weekend...LOL.
Alex will be 5 months old this Friday. It's hard to believe...it seems just like yesterday. OK, no more cliches...LOL. He is rolling over more and more every day. Growing up so fast. He has an appointment with his apnea doctor tomorrow, and I am going to take him to the pediatrician on Friday to have him weighed. We figure he is between 12-13 lbs. now. When he first came home, he was just a limp little blob. Now, he feels really solid, and is getting heavier every day. It is great that he is so engaging; He likes to look around, and he responds to us by smiling and kind of laughing. He has started to make random sounds, so I think he is trying to say something. When I am playing guitar, he probably wants to yell out, "Free Bird!" Maybe, anyway.
I had my Epiphone AJ 500MNS up for sale, but took it off the market last week. It is kind of my favorite guitar in some ways (it is the easiest to play of the three), and it sounds really cool too. I will probably still sell it at some point, but just not now.
I think my career as a guitar tech has come to an end, before it ever started. Last week, I was restringing the Martin when I did something kind of dumb. After I removed the old strings, I decided to polish the guitar. So, I laid on a couple of thin coats of polish, and buffed it up real nice. Put a great shine on it. Then, I put on the new strings. Once I got the new strings on, and tuned it up, I started to play it. I noticed that the strings were really slick; so slick, in fact, that I could hardly hold a chord. I thought maybe it was the strings, since I was using a brand I had never used before. Elixer strings have a coating on the outside to reduce wear, which lengthens the life of the strings. Still, I could not imagine that the strings would be this slick. I could hardly play the guitar. Then, it occurred to me that I had put the new strings on with a bunch of polish on my hands. So, I had greased up my strings quite well. That put me in a quandry; should I cut the strings off, and waste $15, or should I try to play them until the wax wore off. I decided to try to play them, and although the wax seems to have worn off now, the strings do not sound real good. So, I think I ruined them. I am going to put on another set of Elixers to see how they will sound. This reminds me of the time I put Armor All on my motorcycle seat, even though it clearly says on the bottle not to do so. I slid around on the seat for two weeks before I was stationary again...LOL.
I hope everyone is doing well.
Peace...
Harry Chapin's lyrics have really haunted me the last couple of weeks, because I was definitely not around much. In fact, Michelle commented that she felt like a single mother. I almost cried. In fact, later, I did. With mid-terms, and taking on more responsibility at work, and football going crazy, I was gone more than I was home for the past couple of weeks. I am going to do better in the future. Of course, as I write this I am in my office. This is sick.
OK, so at least mid-terms have finally come and (mostly gone). I say mostly because my Acts professor was really slow about getting our test to us, so he gave us an extra couple of weeks. It is not due until next Tuesday, which is cool. Tomorrow, I am defending my paper in that class that I presented last week. Wish me luck.
In Christian Ministry class, we split up into groups several weeks ago, with each group being responsible for planning an entire worship service. My group will present its work this Wednesday. My role is to play the prelude and closing music on my guitar. This will be my first live performance ever, so wish me luck in that as well.
About 15 minutes after Alex came home from the hospital, Michelle started talking about having another baby. I have mostly put her on hold, until recently when she started really homing in on me about it. One night last week, in a half-asleep/half-awake stupor, she said that if I would agree to start trying soon, I could go to my favorite guitar shop and get whatever I wanted. Whatever I wanted. Of course, I replied that an open line of credit at the guitar shop would be a more equitable arrangement. The next day, I was at that guitar shop, telling the guys about my arrangement. One of them said with a straight face, "Dude, we could do that. Just put her Visa number on file, and we'll set you up." I said something to the effect that we shouldn't go getting crazy just yet. So, Michelle and I continue to be in dialogue about this.
This past weekend, I took my youth group to a weekend retreat near Camden, TN. We all had great fun, although the other adults were a little tired of "Smoke on the Water" and "Free Falling" by the end of the weekend...LOL.
Alex will be 5 months old this Friday. It's hard to believe...it seems just like yesterday. OK, no more cliches...LOL. He is rolling over more and more every day. Growing up so fast. He has an appointment with his apnea doctor tomorrow, and I am going to take him to the pediatrician on Friday to have him weighed. We figure he is between 12-13 lbs. now. When he first came home, he was just a limp little blob. Now, he feels really solid, and is getting heavier every day. It is great that he is so engaging; He likes to look around, and he responds to us by smiling and kind of laughing. He has started to make random sounds, so I think he is trying to say something. When I am playing guitar, he probably wants to yell out, "Free Bird!" Maybe, anyway.
I had my Epiphone AJ 500MNS up for sale, but took it off the market last week. It is kind of my favorite guitar in some ways (it is the easiest to play of the three), and it sounds really cool too. I will probably still sell it at some point, but just not now.
I think my career as a guitar tech has come to an end, before it ever started. Last week, I was restringing the Martin when I did something kind of dumb. After I removed the old strings, I decided to polish the guitar. So, I laid on a couple of thin coats of polish, and buffed it up real nice. Put a great shine on it. Then, I put on the new strings. Once I got the new strings on, and tuned it up, I started to play it. I noticed that the strings were really slick; so slick, in fact, that I could hardly hold a chord. I thought maybe it was the strings, since I was using a brand I had never used before. Elixer strings have a coating on the outside to reduce wear, which lengthens the life of the strings. Still, I could not imagine that the strings would be this slick. I could hardly play the guitar. Then, it occurred to me that I had put the new strings on with a bunch of polish on my hands. So, I had greased up my strings quite well. That put me in a quandry; should I cut the strings off, and waste $15, or should I try to play them until the wax wore off. I decided to try to play them, and although the wax seems to have worn off now, the strings do not sound real good. So, I think I ruined them. I am going to put on another set of Elixers to see how they will sound. This reminds me of the time I put Armor All on my motorcycle seat, even though it clearly says on the bottle not to do so. I slid around on the seat for two weeks before I was stationary again...LOL.
I hope everyone is doing well.
Peace...
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Monday, October 08, 2007
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Another busy Saturday...
I have been at the office all day, working on stuff. I worked on a paper for my Acts class, and have almost got that finished. Which is good, because I have to present it on Tuesday. I also finished my sermon for tonight (I am going going up near Reelfoot Lake to speak at a youth retreat.). While I am gone, Michelle and her friend Aimee will be out, tearing up the local malls. Aimee's husband is going to watch Alex.
I have seen no college football today, and I am starting to get the DT's. i told Michelle that from now on, before I agree to speaking engagements, I am going to consult my college football calendar. It's a shame to miss the UT-UGA game. I also haven't seen much of the baseball playoffs, but in some way that's OK because I am still sick about the nose-dive that the Dodgers did in the last month of the season. Another wasted year. Not since 1988 have the Dodgers done anything good. Oh well, I could be like Kent, a long-suffering Cubs fan. I remind him that 1988 is a lot more recent than 1908...the last year the Cubs won the World Series...LOL. Next year marks a century, baby!
The picture of Alex that I uploaded this morning is absolutely hilarious! Sweet potatoes and little kids do not mix...LOL.
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
I have been at the office all day, working on stuff. I worked on a paper for my Acts class, and have almost got that finished. Which is good, because I have to present it on Tuesday. I also finished my sermon for tonight (I am going going up near Reelfoot Lake to speak at a youth retreat.). While I am gone, Michelle and her friend Aimee will be out, tearing up the local malls. Aimee's husband is going to watch Alex.
I have seen no college football today, and I am starting to get the DT's. i told Michelle that from now on, before I agree to speaking engagements, I am going to consult my college football calendar. It's a shame to miss the UT-UGA game. I also haven't seen much of the baseball playoffs, but in some way that's OK because I am still sick about the nose-dive that the Dodgers did in the last month of the season. Another wasted year. Not since 1988 have the Dodgers done anything good. Oh well, I could be like Kent, a long-suffering Cubs fan. I remind him that 1988 is a lot more recent than 1908...the last year the Cubs won the World Series...LOL. Next year marks a century, baby!
The picture of Alex that I uploaded this morning is absolutely hilarious! Sweet potatoes and little kids do not mix...LOL.
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
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