Happy Thanksgiving

Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving!
(note you can see my lips moving)

My Mamma Prays

God has blessed me far beyond what I deserve. I think part of the reason he does that for me is because my mother prays. She prays good. And God, who apparently likes my mom, listens to her. She has always prayed for us (my sister and I) to be protected and safe and healthy and happy. For the most part, I have nothing in life to complain about (I still do of course)and I have always attributed a good deal of that blessing/grace/luck to my mother's prayers. So, thanks mom.

All Purpose

Today I was
a train,
a bulldozer,
a jungle gym,
a car,
a robot,
a chef,
a superhero,
a teacher,
a ghost,
a jar opener,
a dancer,
a drummer,
a badguy,
a cheerleader,
a masseuse,
a dog trainer,
a sanitation worker,
a critic,
a therapist,
a pillow,
a stop watch,
a designer,
a husband, father, brother, son, and friend.

What a Man's Got To Do

Today I spent the entire day moving my email contacts around in different programs trying to get a list that is comprehensive and consistent between my outlook, my spreadsheet, and my gmail. (If Google would just offer desktop software I would never have to open outlook again. I'd probably delete the whole program.) anyway, I am NOT the kind of person who gains personal satisfaction from this kind of work and I find it overwhelming and intimidating and it always puts me in a slightly bad mood. But today that's what my day was all about so, I haven't had a great day. It's not a bad day really but just not a great day and it adds to that sad feeling I've been having. I didn't see any of the kids or parents or volunteers and I didn't plan anything fun or engaging. My friend Mike did come by and we went to lunch which was a nice break in the day but then it was right back to the spreadsheet and the outlook and the typing. At least tonight I'm playing CoH with the Rock and the Schaam.

Home for the Holidays

I have recently moved and while I have always had a way of making friends wherever I am, I have been missing the friends I made over the past five or so years in Rogers. The holidays are coming up and I'm preparing a lot of the same kinds of things that I always prepare only this year it's a little bit harder. The people that I used to call on and the activities that I used to plan for are no longer part of my routine. I'm having to look for new ways and new people and new experiences. This is very exciting and I am enjoying myself but i can't help but be a bit sad all along the way too, because I do miss the people that made Rogers home for me and my family.

Makin' Pictures

So this guy is moving into town who I guess is a big country singer in Europe. I guess over there they have the European CMA (Country Music Awards)and he's been nominated for singer of the year 6 times and won twice. Which is a big deal. especially if you happen to be from Europe, which I don't, so I've never heard of the guy. BUT, he's coming to Hot Springs and I got the opportunity to make his first commercial for the Christmas gig he's doing. SO here is my very first "professional" commercial. He liked it alot so I'm hoping he'll ask me to do a few more.

Just Trying to Get Home

The other night I was leaving band practice and as usual the VW started up just fine. I backed out of the space and into the street and the engine promptly died. This wouldn’t have bothered me so much except that I have recently made some bold modifications to the ignition system and I was worried that I had created a disaster waiting to happen. I re-started the engine (it started as it always does) and started down the street. As soon as my foot was off the clutch it sputtered and kicked until I pushed the clutch back in… then it died. So I rolled into a spot across the street from where the preacher was getting into his Jeep. I started the engine again, this time listening closely, but the engine started without a hitch and held at idle. So I got out opened the deck lid and the engine spit something out at me. A small round disk or plug of some kind shot out and hit me in the foot. Just about that time the preacher pulled in next to me and offered me a flash light. Well of course God had placed the plug right next to my foot so it was easy to find (he is always looking out for me like that) and I picked it up and began to wonder to myself… “What in the world is this thing?”
After the preacher had retrieved a flashlight he found a hole in the back of the carburetor where this plug had once been. Now, I have built this engine from just a block, but that in no way makes me a mechanic and the only thing that has brought me comfort all this time is that I made it run in the first place so if I break it I’m not any further back than I was when I started. Only on this particular occasion our other, more reliable car was in the shop and this was my only means of transportation. I said a little prayer of thanks for all the years of service the car has given me, placed the plug back into the space (it kind of snapped in) and asked the preacher to step back while I started the engine… It started up, just like it always does. I drove it home without a problem and drove it today without a problem. I guess I need to get a new carburetor but it’s going to have to wait. It’s being held together with shear faith right now.