I just got back from Ladies Retreat

Ok - so I did not actually go to ladies retreat (though I have been lobbying to be the guest speaker there sometime..... If they don't give in soon I am going to take them to court for discrimination.... you cannot ban someone from an event based on race, colour or gender!!!   Right????  Why should I miss out on a weekend away just because I am a man, huh????  It is wrong I tell ya!!!!).

Anyway - what was I ranting about before I started ranting.... oh ya.... I just got the minute by minute replay from the daughters.  I am serious... it took like 2 hours to tell me all about the three days..... 2 hours (literally!).

I am not sure where they got their "detail oriented story-telling" from....their mom maybe?  :)

Actually, it is sort of funny.... before the kids started going to this event, Sari would come home and I would ask, "So how was it?  What happened?"...... now that the kids go, I don't have to ask that question any more.


I am glad that they (all 3) had a really good weekend and I enjoyed hearing about it.  It was a nice weekend for me too.  I am enough of a hermit that I don't mind a few days by myself and I had enough outside activities (hockey game, work day remodeling the old kitchen in the church building, a few stock car races on TV) to keep me from going stir crazy. All in all - a good weekend.

But, mark my words..... I am going to the retreat next year!!!   I am going to be the "Jackie Robinson" of Ladies retreat (Jackie broke the colour barrier in Major league baseball). One day they will make a movie of my life.... I will be a national hero!!!!  They will build a statue of me outside the Kenosee Inn to commemorate the spot where I stood up for the rights of men everywhere. My dream is that it will no longer be referred to as "ladies retreat" - it will just be "retreat".

Or maybe I will just go to Daytona for the 500 instead.

For my "Word Nerd" friends

Flipping around the stations last night, I saw a guy doing a stand-up routine.  Most of it was not that funny or interesting, but I liked this part.....

I hate spelling.  In fact, I really hate the word "doubt".  It has a silent "b" in it and I always look at that word and think, "Did I spell that correctly?"..... and that makes you actually experience the feeling that the word is meant to convey.

Wouldn't it be cool if other words worked the same way? 

I mean.... what if the spelling of "random" just had an "x" thrown in there for no reason?

Or what if you spelled "Stutter" with like 18 "T"s...... "Stutttttttttttttter"

That would make a lot of sense to me.  :)

Doing the right thing

Left alone, I don't know how much longer he would have lasted.... it is hard to say.  When we found him he was shivering in a tarp garage alone behind this guy's house.  He was cold... there was no heat.  He was in the dark.... no windows or lights.  It was easy to tell - just by looking at him - that he was being neglected.... abused even. 

When we asked the owner about the poor little guy, he said that he had checked in on him the previous day, but I was not sure that was true.  Then, as the guy talked, he revealed that frustration had set in recently, causing him to just give up on the little guy.  It was sad, but it happens.   I am just glad that we got there when we did.

As we got closer, it was obvious that all the little guy wanted was someone to love him and care for him..... you could see it in his headlight.  He just wanted someone to take him for a run out on the open road, so he could feel the wind through his spokes one more time.

It is not every day that you get to rescue a motorcycle from neglect, but yesterday was one of those gloriously good days!

My friend Dennis and I went to Weyburn, found a 1984 Honda Magna V45 (750 cc) and rescued it.  In fact, we got 3/4s of another bike thrown in for nothing (a frame, various wiring parts and an engine that was spread out in 4 different totes and literally a thousand pieces).  

Dennis was looking for a project bike.  Something that he could make into a "bobber".... and he found it and bought it.

Some may say we are heroes for what we did.... but I don't see it that way.  We just did what any other red blooded, thinking male would have done for a motorcycle in distress.

Sometimes the right thing to do is the easiest thing to do.   :)

(Ps.  The funniest part of the transaction was when the gruff 24 year old oilfield worker who was selling the bike said.... "I don't know.... this is hard.... it is like selling your girlfriend!"  :)   I am not exactly sure how it feels to "sell your girlfriend" but Dennis and I both understood...... and Dennis gave him an extra $100)  

A Valentine's day commentary

This is not a Valentine's Day rant.... even though that is sort of the popular thing to do these days.  I sort of like the idea of Valentine's Day.  I don't like all the commercialism but the basic premise is good. 

So, these are simply a couple of observations and questions related to the day.......

1.  I was shocked again this year at how many "To my Wife" cards start with a line that sounds something like, "I know that our lives are so busy that we hardly get to spend any time together any more" or "I know that I don't say things like 'I love you' as much as I should" and then go on to say something like "I hope this card helps you to know what you mean to me". 

Really??? Is this what we have come to as a society???  Neglect your wife most of the year and then buy her a $4 card and that makes up for the whole thing????    Isn't that like burning your neighbour's house down and then going to the house warming party for their new place and saying, "Here - I bought you a pineapple... I hope we are good!"  

2.  Men are funny when they buy Valentine's day cards.  First, there are the "on fire" guys.  Those who race in, grab the first card they can find, make sure it has hearts on it and does not say "To my dear husband"... they then spin around, run to the checkout and out the door as if they are spies about to be caught and tortured by the KGB. I literally saw one guy come in, barely stop walking, grab a card and go in less than 15 seconds.  Hopefully, he had spent so much time over the past few weeks looking at cards but not buying that he knew exactly where the absolutely perfect card was on the rack so that he did not have to look any more... he just grab it and went based on hours of research.  I would not bet the farm on that one though.

The other type of guys that are funny are the "deer in the headlight" guys.  They wander in as if they have never seen a Valentine's Day card before and have no clue as to what is expected of them.  They stand there forever as if the perfect card is going to jump off the shelf and into their hands.  The fear of process totally incapacitates them to the point that they cannot function.  Eventually, they end up buying the card they buy because it is the most sparkly.


3.  I heard on the news tonight that the average Canadian spends $126 on Valentine's day and that Saskatchewan residents spend the most.  Were you higher or lower than the average? (Full disclosure... I was lower and I bought for 3 girls)

4.  A survey on the news stated that 75% of people (or something in that range) do not look forward to Valentine's Day.  That sort of shocked me.  If the 75% are saying that b/c they do not like the commercial garbage and the pressure - then good.... I could be with them.  Otherwise, if it is a vote on whether it is a nice idea or not to have a special day, then I will go with the 25%.   You?????

So there you have it.  Not a rant.... not a ringing endorsement.... just some things to think about.

Very cool

This video was taken by the crew of Expedition 30 on board the International Space Station. The sequence of shots was taken January 30, 2012 from 06:13:36 to 06:23:09 GMT, on a pass from northern Mexico to northwest New Brunswick. This video begins looking northeast over Texas, where cities like San Antonio, Houston, and the Dallas/Fort Worth area can be seen. Continuing northeast over the Great Plains states, cities like Oklahoma City, Kansas City, and St. Louis can be easily distinguished. The pass continues over the familiar shape of the Michigan Peninsula, with Chicago at the south edge of Lake Michigan. As the ISS continues northeast, the Aurora Borealis can be seen over Canada.

I am going to miss Estevan

After 22 years in the same place, you make a lot friends and become comfortable doing the things you always do.  I like going to the hockey game or to to the mall and running into people and chatting. Small town life has been great.... and I am going to miss it.

Where am I going?  Well - I am not completely sure yet.  I think I am just going to take all the offers, look them over and decide from there. 

You see, I officially start my "Basketball coaching career" tomorrow and who knows where it will take me?  Right now I am helping coach the "Hillcrest School Grade 7 and 8 Boy's" team, but after the tournament this weekend, who knows? 

Do I know anything about basketball????  Well, check out the picture at the top of this blog.... does that look like I know what I am doing? (What do you mean that doesn't look like me?  After 22 years of living near a coal mine your skin darkens up a bit)

Anyway, it is not all about my skill.... but my brain.  You see, I am going to have ONE KID on the bench at all times.... so I am really going to have to manage the game and make sure everyone gets playing time and that no one gets lost in the shuffle.   And then there are the water bottles..... SIX of them!   And they have to be cold (I once threw a bottle across the gym because it was warm..... I still have flashbacks about that). 

I am not sure who TSN is sending to cover the event, but I have written up some questions for them to ask me just so that they don't look dumb.  Things like this can be intimidating.

I'm sure going to miss Estevan...... but you can't stop your destiny!

I think we have a misunderstanding here

"No, I didn't watch the Super Bowl".......  What???

 Super Bowl Sunday is not about the game... whether you are interested or not.... or even like football or not.

Super Bowl Sunday is all about the Super Bowl party.

It is about getting together with almost everyone you know.

It is about having tables of junk food stacked so high that you cannot see over the pile to the other side of the room.

It is about eating Louisiana style chicken wings until it feels like your mouth is going to burn off and it feels like you have a lump of lead in your stomach.

It is about watching the commercials (or at least it would be if Sasktel allowed us to see the US feed instead of the CTV one on every channel)

It is about rating the halftime show (Our crew gave Madonna an average of 4.5 out of 10...... And then agreed that Tom Petty, Michael Jackson and Bruce Springsteen have been among the best halftime shows ever.....  Paul McCartney =  the worst..... "Time for bed Grandpa!")

It is about challenging the teenage sons of your buddies to see how many gummie bears they can put in their mouth at one time

It is about drinking so much Coke and eating so much cake that you can't sleep for a week afterwards

Oh - and occasionally - like yesterday, the game turns out to be really good too

So for all of you who missed out yesterday, let me just say that you are all invited to my place next year (Maybe just let me know an hour or two before you show up so I can tell Sari..... That is sort of what happened this year - "Hey Sari, I invited half the church over for supper and to watch the game" - it was great fun after she calmed down)

So I am serious... Consider yourself invited.... But please do not bring anything - we still have 456654556 bags of chips left over from this party

Something fun and something new (and also fun)

Megan is currently in the middle of her school basketball season. The city tournament went last night and today and here are some shots from it......

She enjoys playing, it is fun to watch and the kids that she plays with are really nice.... what could be better?

Katie had something new and unique happen to her today too..... here is a hint:

Well - the "monkey" part is just for me (I love monkeys), but the fancy "froo froo" coffee part is the hint.... she worked her first day of her first real job at a very nice coffee shop in town. 

I was trying to convince her to work at Peavey Mart, because...
(a) she would not spend all her money on stuff from the store (like she would if she worked in a clothing store) and....
(b) I would get a discount.

In the end, though, she thought that the coffee shop would be a better fit.  She likes her boss, her co-workers and the atmosphere and I like the fact that not many guys go in there (the only male presence seems to be married guys with their wives)..... so everyone is happy!

A good weekend so far.

Well - it has been awkward!

I found the "Creepiest place on earth" this past week. 

Surprisingly, it was in the "Dakota Square Mall" in Minot, North Dakota. Even more surprisingly, it was NOT "Bath and Body Works" (if you ever go to Minot, you likely know what that means).

The most creepy place on earth is "Scheels Sporting Goods".

Now, normally, that is the first place I go.  In the sea of girly, smelly, "pretty" stuff that is any modern mall, Scheels is a manly, hairy, haven of guy-ness...... but it was weird this time.

It was like the staff had been taken over by zombies.  They were all wandering around like they had lost the will to live (Not that unusual when you see teenagers working retail) and if I got within 10 feet of one of them they would ask (with no enthusiasm), "Can I help you?" (Again, not that weird).

But then it got worse!  As I kept walking past the various staff people, the questions increased and became more personal..... "Can I help you?...... Do you need help finding something?..... Have you seen our new shoe line?...... How are you doing today??......  Have you called your mother lately??...... Are you getting enough fiber in your diet??"    It was getting creepy (and sort of personal) so I ran away.   I think they must have been bored.

(Ok - that may have been exaggerated a little.... but this part is 100% true).....  As I am running away from the creepy sales people, I head for the front door.  Now, Scheels has cash registers on each side as you go out (about 4 per side) and there were literally 2-3 people standing at each one..... so I am running away and I hear......

"Have a nice day" - so I turn left and say "thanks". 

Then I hear, "Thanks for coming" so I turn right and say "Thanks!" (Why I thanked them for thanking me is beyond me - it is a Canadian thing).  

Then "Come again" from the left......

"Have a good day" from the right.......

"auf Wiedersehen" from the left (to which I replied "Wienerschnitzel"..... it is the only other German-ish word I know)

It was bizarre!!!!  It was like being in a shooting gallery, or on the red carpet at a movie premiere (Mr. Pippus..... Mr. Pippus - over here!!" .....Click)

I may have been safer in "Bath and Body"
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Speaking of odd things in Scheels.......  I saw two bizarre products in there:

1.  A tennis ball air preserver.  Apparently, tennis balls are supposed to have 14 psi of air in them.  However, over time the air leaks out, so this company sells a container that holds the air inside the tennis ball, or (in serious cases) will re-inflate the ball (but this process takes a month).  You put the balls in this long container and then twist it down to about 1/2 its size.  This, supposedly, compresses the air around the tennis balls and - ta da - now air cannot escape.   Seriously????  Those of you who play tennis.... have you seen this thing?   Do you use one????  Is the loss of a quarter pound of air really the world tragedy that this product's packaging described?????   Help me out here.

2.  I saw a "Frisbee golf set" that had three Frisbees in it:  One "Distance driver", one for "Medium range" shots and one "Short range putter"...... all for the low low price of $43.99.   So this gets me thinking... "Why not just buy a $10 Frisbee and NOT THROW IT AS FAR?????? .......  "Oh look - my 'Long range driver' just turned into a 'Medium range putter' (all for 10 bucks instead of 43).    In fact, if you don't throw it at all, it turns into a really big coaster to set your coffee cup on...... it is magical!

I must be missing something here.  

It is hard to be a modern Dad

 I am an old fashioned sort of guy... I like working on vehicles and getting my hands dirty... I get my hair cut at a "barber" not at a "salon" (well - actually Sari cuts my hair but that is beside the point).... and the thought of going for a massage makes my skin crawl (In fact, I gave myself the heebie-jeebies just thinking about it).

Some things about being a Dad and husband have not changed over the years.  For example, the need for Dad to be an "awe inspiring example of awesomeness" has not gone out of style.  People need someone to look up to.... someone to idolize.  I can't tell you how many times I have heard my kids say, "I wish I was as cool as my Daddy" (Ok.... most of the time I have supplied that voice for the girls.... and it was only heard in my own head..... but I could see it in their eyes!)


However, some things are different in this modern age.  I live with three females (and a very girly dog - even though he should not be) and I recognize that they need me to be more sympathetic to their "feelings" and other silly things like that.... so I work very hard at this aspect of "fathering" and "husbanding" (Is that really a word?  I think I am thinking of "husbandry" which means "to grow a crop"..... ah well - close enough).

For example, when the kids or Sari get sick (which it seems they often do - sniffles and such), I try to be supportive..... empathetic..... sympathetic..... and other "etic" things.  

I also try to offer them some good advice (distilled from my years of experience, knowledge and logic).   Helpful things like....... "GET AN IMMUNE SYSTEM!!!!"

So what happens when this sympathetic, caring, kind, modern "feeling" Dad gets sick ONCE in like 10 years?????  These sweet kind girls that I live with (including their mother to some extent) come to my death bed (which I valiantly fought back from mind you) and say...........

"Oh you look sick!  Are you sick?  You are looking a little half dead.  Are you sure that you are not dying?......  GET AN IMMUNE SYSTEM!!!!!"

I am telling you..... it is hard to be a modern, nice Dad.

Good thing I don't live with really bad kids!  :)

Single-handedly saving the internet and a dream comes true

Many months ago, I declared that I was done with blogging.  "Bah!" I could be quoted as saying (I like saying "Bah!" especially out of context...... "So what are you doing next weekend?"...... "Bah!" ... I find that and a crazy look in your eyes generally stops useless "chit-chatty"conversations).

Anyway.... I had decided that "Facebook" had killed blogging.  No one reads blogs any more because they are wasting all their time on Facebook. Facebook status lines have reduced people's attention spans to the point that no one has time to think about, write or read anything if it is more than 10 words words long. Fortunately, though, it is mostly important, earth shattering stuff like "I just opened a can of soup" .......or "I am really enjoying this tomato".

Well here is the thing..... I DON'T CARE WHAT TV SHOW YOU ARE CURRENTLY WATCHING, NOR DO I WANT TO KNOW WHAT SOME ACTRESS WORE ON THE RED CARPET LAST NIGHT AND IF I WANT TO BE ANNOYED BY SOMEONE I WILL DO IT THE OLD FASHIONED WAY...... BY ACTUALLY FINDING SOMEONE TO TALK TO.... NOT BY READING THE LAMEST THOUGHTS THAT 200 OF MY "FRIENDS" CAN COME UP WITH WHILE PLAYING "FARMVILLE".

BAH!

Ok that rant is over.... though I will say that this advice posted below is really good.....

I think I would wear out the "You're an idiot" button though.

So, with all that being said, I decided not to let Facebook take out all the bloggers in the world.  Along with my vast collection of readers (which from the survey that I just completed seems to be 4 real people and two cats....), I have decided that I will be the last blogger standing (if necessary).  I am not promising a blog per day, but I promise that if you keep coming by there will be something to read (whether it is worth reading or not is another discussion).

So - in an effort to combat the Facebook drivel and in an attempt to inspire.... I have a story about dreams coming true......

When I was 20 years old, I attended a curling bonspiel in Langbank, Saskatchewan (near Moose Mountain Provincial Park).  Since that time, I have played in that bonspiel almost every year (always losing.... no matter what. In fact one year I loaded up our rink... I was convinced that I was finally going to win..... and then we were beaten by a 45 year old man and three 10 year old girls....... but that is a story for another day).

Along the way, over the last 20 years, I thought to myself, "It would be fun to curl with my own family someday".  Well, this year it happened... and I hope it was the first of many more.

And I am happy to say that we did not lose to a bunch of 10 year olds this year..... we did, however, lose to a team of seniors - one of whom could not remember which foot to put his slider on (I thought he was going to break a hip several times).

The point:  It may have been a little dream, but it eventually came true..... and to me it was a big dream!  It was fun.  It was with my three girls.  We all made a shot or two and best of all..... no one could check Facebook all day!  :)

Thanks for coming by......

Maaayyybe!!!???

Hey all (if there are any "all"s that still come by here)

I have a bunch of funny (to me anyway) stories to tell.... some pictures to share.... some observations to - umm - observe (I didn't really know where I was going there)...... but I want to know if anyone is still checking this thing..... so here is the deal.......

If you read this, please sign in.  If I get 5 people on board.... away we go!  :)

Final Blog Post (30 of 30)

So some of you have noticed that I did not really finish my "30 blogs in 30 days" thing.... but as the 29th post title says, "We gots furniture!" (I don't know why that has a "hillybilly accent" to it with the "gots" part... it just does).

Anyway, the last many nights have been all about carting furniture home from Sears, decoding the very confusing instructions ("Honey, have you seen the piece of the coffee table that looks like Cambodia?   What do you mean, 'What do you mean Cambodia?'   Look at the the drawing in the instructions.... clearly the top of the table attaches to Cambodia.... it says so right here"), setting things up, moving things in from the garage, taking hundreds of pounds of cardboard boxes in for recycling etc, etc, etc.   However, we are almost done and almost have our basement back.  The girls are back in their bedrooms.... all is good.

So - to end the blog run for now..... two short video clips that I came across today.  Enjoy!

PS.  No one answered my questions about your first concert, first record, etc (see post below).  Does that mean you are too shy to respond, too embarrassed that you bought "Staying Alive" by the Bee Gees (don't be - I like the Bee Gees) or that no one reads this thing?

I would take another run at blogging a bunch of stuff if I knew someone was reading.  Check in and comment if you are around here in the next week or so (just to prove you passed by)..... if no one comments, I will mothball the blog (Yes that is a threat!!!!)   :)

We have furniture (29 of 30)

Thanks to my friend Shane (who helped me load and unload 11 separate pieces today), we now once again have (some) furniture in the basement again.

I am thankful and happy to get the space back, but I HATE putting the furniture together.  Any furniture.... take the piece that in the diagram looks like an elephant's trunk and then stick it (somehow) into the other piece that looks somewhat like a stop sign on its side while holding the screwdriver and the hammer that you will need.  Oh and by the way, the stuff is made so that no screw will actually (a) fit or (b) stay.   ENJOY!!!!

As a comedian I heard one time said, "I hate IKEA furniture.... and I hate working with my wife to put it together.  We always fight... no one can understand the instructions.... someone is always crying at the end.  IKEA's slogan should be 'Hope your marriage is stronger than our furniture!'"   :)

Anyway - with any luck the kids will be downstairs again in a week or so (we are waiting on a few more pieces) and maybe the family room will be ready for a "Grey Cup party".  
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Hey - since I got no response to this, I am posting it again (I will not argue, laugh or criticize.... or even use anything you say in a sermon.... I am just curious:

1.  How many movies do you watch on average (either per month or per year)?

2.  What was the first record/CD/Album/8-track/45 (whatever era you are from) that you ever bought?

3.  What was the first real concert you attended?
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T-shirt.....

Goodnight!

Three questions, a T-shirt and a story (28 of 30)

Every Wednesday night I read English with people who are new to Canada.  Normally, I read with a very nice guy from Korea, but he could not be there tonight.  Fortunately, there was a new "nice guy from Korea" there, so I sat down and asked him to read a portion of the book of Luke (we use the Bible as an English text).

When he finished I said, "Wow!  You read really well!  Very clear... easy to understand...very good!"

He said, "My English is not good.  I can read, but I do not understand.  I have been here 2 years and I am very bad at English".

I said, "Come on!  You are doing great!  Look, you just read a whole paragraph to me.  Not only that, you are carrying on a conversation with me. My other friend has been trying to teach me Korean  for 2 years and I only know one word, so you are doing well".

"What Korean word do you know?" he asked.

I said my word.... and he just stared at me.  So apparently I don't even know one word!

Then - to make matters worse - I went and told this story to a friend of mine who was visiting with a lady from Germany.  When she heard this story, she said, "Well, you still remember the German I taught you, right?"

I said that I did.  In fact, I said that I remembered several words.  Then I proceeded to mash some of them together into a nice sounding phrase.


The lady started laughing at me and would not stop.  When I asked her why she was laughing she said, "You just said, 'I will crazy'".


So maybe my career as a translator will have to be put on hold for now.  :)

But, as the German's say, "Egal" (that is the only other German word I know.... it really means something.... look it up)
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Three questions......


1.  How many movies do you watch on average (either per month or per year)?

2.  What was the first record/CD/Album/8-track/45 (whatever era you are from) that you ever bought?


3.  What was the first real concert you attended?


(I will give my answers in the coming days - comment below)
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T-shirt of the day (in honour of my language confusion.....)

Have a good week.  Hug the ones you love just b/c they are there!

Some silly and some sad (27 of 30)

Life here is always a mix of good and bad... happy and sad.... and this post reflects this truth today.  First some happy/fun things.....

A buddy of mine had this video on his blog.  It is pretty good.  Have a look.....

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Maybe Megan has found her calling.... .she helped me put put up new lights in the basement tonight.  She is a good little electrician.  Shocking, hey? (Get it..... "shocking" .... electrician)  :)
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T-shirt of the day.....

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And the sad part......

If you have been around Megan at all, I am sure you would have heard about her buddy Tess.  Tess was one of her best friends all through younger years at school.  Even after her family moved across town and "Tessica" (as I called her) started going to another school, they kept in touch.  Megan used to go to sleepovers and hung out there a bunch.

Her parents, Carmon and Debbie, were very, very nice people.  They were kind, giving and fun.  They were involved in lots of things - most of which involved their kids (such as coaching soccer and basketball and going to cheer their kids on when they played anything).

I enjoyed visiting with them.  They always had stories to tell and were interested in what you were doing too.  As well, they were believers and, so hardly a conversation went by (especially with Debbie) where we did not talk about spiritual things.  They raised nice kids and were simply really good people to know.

A while ago, Debbie was diagnosed with cancer.  A few months ago Sari ran into her and asked how she was doing and her reply was, "Well we have gone from Hope to Faith now".  Sadly, for those left behind, Debbie died this morning.


So we have spent much of the day thinking about and praying for Carmon and the kids (and if you pray I would ask you to add this family to your list too).


And I thought a lot about the brevity of life.  Debbie was about our age and was (like us all) looking forward to lots of good years... watching her kids grow up and get married.... enjoying retirement someday..... etc, etc. 

The Bible says, "What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14) and that is true.  No matter how long our life is, it is short compared to eternity, so we better be ready.

Anyway.... hug your loved ones, tell them how much you care..... you do not know what will happen tomorrow so value the blessings in your life while you have them.

I finally get it (26 of 30)

So for quite a while now... all summer actually.... Sari has been gathering things and putting them in the garage.  First, when we were at my mom's farm she gathered up a big pile of old barn wood.... an old door that used to have 6 panels in it but now only has 4..... and an old iron grate that you would see in the floor of a two story house (you know the ones that were there to allow warm air to rise and heat the 2nd floor).

Then, on Saturday, she happened to find an auction sale and she came home with a great, big, old storm window sort of thing, and old "hope chest" and a leaded glass window.

So I am standing there the other night looking at all this stuff wondering, "What on earth is she thinking???  Like what good is all this stuff?" and then it hit me......

SHE IS BUILDING US A CIRCA 1910 PRAIRIE FARM HOUSE!!!!!!!!

Oh it is going to be sooooo fun!!!!!   Lighting the kerosene lamps..... sitting by the wood burning stove...... listening to the old Gramophone or the wind-up radio..... sleeping under a feather blanket that is so heavy that it almost completely compresses your chest so that you cannot breathe.....  wind blowing in around the window so hard that it moves the curtains.....  chipping the ice off the water bowl in the kitchen in the morning........  IT IS GOING TO BE GREAT!!!!!

That has to be it, right?????  I have no other idea as to what she could be up to.
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I was reading an interview today and the guys says,  "I mean, it is not like......."

The "I mean" count now stands at 1.   (Help me out - you will see/hear it if you look/listen.... report it to this blog when you do..... the goal is 13 by Saturday)
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T-shirt of the day.....

So true!

The most wonderful time of the week (25 of 30)

Ssssshhhhhh..... can you hear it????   It is the most wonderful time of the week..... if you are a preacher.

You see.... it is Sunday night and Sunday night (especially if "Sunday day" went well) is a good time.  You may not know this, but Sunday night for me is like most people's Friday night.  You see, right now the day went well.... I thought my classes went well with lot of discussion.... my sermon (which earlier in the week looked like it may go DOA this morning) actually turned out way better than I had thought it would..... and now - at this very moment - I am as FAR away from having to do it again as I can be.

Don't get me wrong, I love what I do, but it is hard to be creative and try to write 4 brand new lessons with nothing to guide you except for the text for that week.  Add in the fact that I have been here for 21 years and the fact that most people either have heard all my best stories (from my youth) or were there when the other stories happened (b/c they experienced them with me) and it makes it hard to be interesting or even creative week in and week out (That is why I believe in Divine intervention - I have seen it at work - like today - sometimes things just connect with people even when you thought they may flop).

Anyway, right now, it is a long way off once again.  Sure the preparation will start again tomorrow morning, but at least I have another seven days to get a run up on it.... and I don't have to start just yet!   :)
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T-shirt of the day.....

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It seems that the "It is what it is" count has stalled out at 11.  I thought for sure we would reach 20 by Halloween, but I did not hear once sports broadcaster, athlete or anyone else use the phrase all weekend long.  You know what that means right????? 

WE DID IT!!!!!  WE HAVE COMPLETELY ELIMINATED THE USE OF "IT IS WHAT IT IS".... ERADICATED IT..... JUST LIKE CHICKEN POX!!!!"  (What do you mean kids still get chicken pox???  Hmmmm - maybe we have not been that successful after all)  :(

Well onto the next battle.... in the next week count how many times you hear someone start a sentence with "I mean"  as in "I mean.... we ran a good race today. We just did not get the finish we wanted".   It REALLY bugs me because those are their first two words.  It is not like they have been trying to explain themselves.... failed and then said, "Well..... here is what I mean.....".  Instead they just start there..... "I mean, it has been a tough day......" etc.

I heard it twice today.  I think (if you listen and write in) we can count 13 used by Saturday..... and "GO!"  :)
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One last thing:  the answer to the "top 40" question posed a few posts ago = Adam Levine.  He is the lead singer for "Maroon 5" who were on the top of the charts with "Moves like Jagger" and he was also in the number 2 spot doing guest vocals on the "Gym Class Heroes" song "Stereo Hearts" - first guy to hold down both spots since Donnie Osmond like 40 years ago (now you have something interesting to say at coffee tomorrow - or when the song comes on the radio).

Have a great Monday!

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz and other stuff (24 of 30)

So we were up until almost 2:30 am at the "Church youth sleepover" at the church buildingt.  All the guys slept on the floor in the foyer.  Now "on the floor" is not an exaggeration or shorthand for "I got out my 5 inch thick air mattress and put it on the floor"... I mean we put our sleeping bags on the floor and that is where we slept (Sari is going to want me, at this point, to say "I told him to take an air mattress" - and that is true - I chose not to, so it is my own fault right?)

"Slept" is an exaggeration though.  Between people snoring, kids getting up at 3 am to watch teenagers yelling and wandering around the street ("Get away from that window!! If they know you are in here trying to sleep, we will never get rid of them") and then several boys whispering back and forth all night (oh and did I mention the hard floor?)..... it was a long/short night (if you know what I mean).   Actually, given all of that, I think I had a good sleep!  It could have been much worse anyway.

But the kids had fun and that is the main thing.  And every time I walk across that spot in the church building from now on I will remember how nice it is to sleep in a bed.  :)
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Here is a serious question:  What do you do when you are in a store and you see someone treating a kid badly?  Or "What should a person do?"   I saw this Grandma just beaking at a little girl all around the store.... beak.... beak.... beak.  Now the kid was being a brat, but so was the Grandma!  Seriously I just wanted to walk up to her and punch her in the head and then ask "How do you like someone picking on you????"  I followed them around the store for a while.... and I kept staring at her.  When she noticed me she seemed to change her actions a bit - but we all know it won't stop.  

I was really really tempted to go yell at her - or punch her (did I mention that).... but I was so mad I decided not to do anything (for fear of it escalating).... then I was mad for not doing anything.   Maybe I should have asked if she was having a bad day and needed some help??? Reported her to a store person (but what are they going to do????)  Honestly, I don't know what the protocol is here.... someone help me.

It made me feel very sad for little kids who have to grow up like that..... it isn't right!
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T-shirt of the day (this seems to fit the part above).....

Answer to the "American top 40"question (a few posts ago) tomorrow - so if you want to look smart you better figure out the answer tonight.

That is it for me..... I will call you for the next youth group "lock-in".... bring a rock to sleep on - it may be more comfortable that the options last night   :)

Wipeout!!! (23 of 30)

So I am real biker now.... after 6 years of riding I had my first wipeout (well - sort of anyway).

I was putting the motorcycles away today and I thought, "I should start the Honda (the old one) and run some fuel stabilizer through it", so that is what I did.  However, to make sure that I got all the old "unstabilized" gas out of the carbs I decided to take it for a rip or two up and down the back alley.

Now, my back alley is a little muddy.... which is a good thing - if you like "drifting" (or "fish-tailing") the back end of the bike.  So there I was, hitting the gas hard.... swinging the back end out.... it was fun.... until I turned into the green space behind the house.... the really wet grass with the even more slippery leaves on it.

I hit the gas, while turning I may add, and in no time I was sliding one way across the grass and the bike was skidding the other way. 

Now - there are several fortunate parts to this story.....

1.  I got my leg out before the bike fell on it

2.  The ground was super muddy so it really didn't hurt me or the bike (no visible damage to either of us)

3.  It was the old bike and not the new one

4.  And the really important one..... No one (especially the big Harley guy across the street) saw it happen! (He would have laughed and laughed at me.... and so would his biker wife).   The road behind out house is sort of busy, but fortunately (for my pride) no one was out there.   So I jumped up - grabbed the motorcycle... pulled all the mud and leaves off of it... and sat there for a minute trying to look cool (you know - like I meant to do it).   :)

So - all's well that ends well, right?  :)

Everyone says that anyone who rides will have at least one wipeout in their lifetime.... maybe I will be lucky and that will be mine.
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Even more scary than that though...... I am helping at a huge "youth group sleepover" tonight at the church building.  Wish me luck!!!!
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T-shirt of the day......  this one seemed appropriate considering the story of the day..... please ignore the sale price..... unless you want to send it to me just because (please add $16.73 for postage and handling.... watch your mail in 4 to 6 weeks..... nothing is coming - I don't own a t-shirt company.... but I think you should watch your mail anyway...... you have no idea what it is doing behind your back!)   :)

Have a good weekend!