A Jester's Promenade

This Blog's a-Movin'

2008-01-31T23:11:00.001-05:00

I think they've got a better thing going over at Wordpress. So, this blog's new address is:

http://markphelps.wordpress.com

The old posts will be deleted eventually.

Cheers!

3...2...1...

2007-12-13T15:43:00.000-05:00

And, I'm done....with the degree.

I turned in my final assignment on December 7th, attended my final class on December 11th.

I've been waiting for a sense of celebratory elation to overwhelm me ever since...like a pitcher's mound celebration by World Series champions. Probably not going to happen that way; more like a gradual dawning, I'd guess. [shrug] Whatever. Point is: I'm done.

Just thought I'd share.

Cheers!
Mark

15 Yankees on Mitchell's List

2007-12-13T15:38:00.000-05:00

And I am just shocked--SHOCKED, I tell you--to learn of it.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3153509

Cheers!

Like apples?

2007-11-15T17:57:00.000-05:00

Barry Bonds indicted on perjury, obstruction charges

How do ya like them apples?

Song Leader Revolution

2007-11-14T11:53:00.000-05:00

"Dance Dance Revolution" took the nation by storm a few years ago. Kids are still playing it.

Some of you may have seen the video for the spoof game "Song Leader Revolution". If not, click the first link to see it. Click the second link for the updated version. Song leaders and those who love them will laugh out loud. Really.

2006 game promo

2007 game promo (The Update)

I got a feevah! And the only prescription...is more cowbell!

2007-11-13T21:45:00.000-05:00

2004 Was No Fluke

2007-10-30T08:46:00.000-04:00

That's all. Just wanted to get that point out there.

For those who abandonded the AL for some siren-singing mistress (*cough* MacKenzie *cough*), know that we happy Sox fans wish you all the best and hope that you're happ---

Feh! Forget that noise! SOX WIN!!

JMac...here's to you, in slo-mo...

Go Sox!

2007-10-12T20:10:00.000-04:00

You don't have to be from Boston. Boston wants you anyway.

I wore my World Champions sweatshirt this week, deep in the heart of Tribe territory. A few looks; a few bland comments. Whatevvuh. I was represeh-en.

Cheers!
Mark

I am NOT making this up

2007-10-01T10:27:00.001-04:00

Bonus points for seeing what's wrong with Motorcycle Jesus.

Double bonus points for figuring out what's wrong with Soccer Jesus (or is that David Beckham?)

http://www.wearefishermen.com/splash.html

And check out the Bullrider Jesus.

I am NOT making this up. And I fully expect to see them for sale in Gatlinburg.

Cheers!
Mark

Red Sox redux

2007-09-19T22:48:00.000-04:00

No, seriously...

Who gets SWEPT by the Bluejays?

And this put the Bad Guys only 1 1/2 back.

And how 'bout them Cubbies? Wow!

It's gonna be a great October.

Cheers!
Mark

Papa was a Rolling Stone...

2007-09-18T11:01:00.000-04:00

...and you can wear him on your finger until you come to your senses.

http://www.lifegem.com/index.aspx

Thanks to Brenda for the link. Here's what she said about it: "...one of the most incredible rip offs ever dangled before the grieving!!"

I agree with her. The predators behind this product belong in the same cellblock as snakes like "psychics" Sylvia Browne and John Edward.

When we grieve, money is generally meaningless to us. Predators know it, but the grieving forget it. Turning bits of mom or dad into a diamond, or throwing money at mediums...those are expressions of grief, but they contribute precious little toward acommodating the reality of a loss or toward healing the broken heart. As my friend Jim told me on this blog about a year ago, "The most powerful thing we can do with grief is to grieve."

Cheers!
Mark

Less that 100 left

2007-09-06T12:19:00.000-04:00

It's down to double digits in my pursuit of a graduate degree. December 14 is the last official day of classes. My intention is to have all work completed earlier that week.

After the degree is posted on the transcript, it's off to Lansing with the application package. Depending upon when the University gets the transcript out the door to Lansing, the limited license should arrive some time in February.

I sat in on my first case conference at the Samaritan Center this morning. What a neat experience it was. A psychiatrist, two psychologists, and a handful of LPCs and MFTs were in attendance. Everyone at the table welcomed me warmly, and expressed that they were glad I was joining them. It seemed to me that they genuinely meant it. The meeting started--ON TIME--with a prayer. New intakes were presented, and we all contributed ideas and perspectives for the presenting therapists to think about. Caseloads are pretty full. I got the sense that it won't be terribly difficult to fill my own docket, too. Then the meeting ended--ON TIME!

I am struck by the absence of chaos at SCC. Counterpoint was chaotic because it just is chaotic. It's a crisis shelter: it is chaotic by definition. Social service agencies like Counterpoint cannot help but be touched by the anxious family systems with which they work. It's a hazard they have to live with; they know it, and they cope with it pretty well.

Still, I'm grateful for the chaos of Counterpoint. My first case conference there is, in my mind, highlighted by an intrapsychic struggle to maintain control of an almost-overwhelming anxiety. As the case managers there presented 6 clients, all of whom were deeply involved in promiscuity and drugs and gangs and truancy, I was monitoring my heart rate and breathing as both escalated. I managed to control myself externally, but internally I think I was screaming and scrambling for the exit.

500-plus contact hours later, I can listen to stories about people who struggle with sexual identity or collapsing marriages or PTSD, or pastors who cheat, and what I feel is a mixture of empathic concern and fascination. The only anxiety I feel is motivated by insecurity: will I do good work here? I suppose that's what was motivating my anxiety 500 hours ago. I just don't feel overwhelmed now. At Counterpoint, it was a question of survival. Now, it's a question of thriving and excelling.

Just one more thing: in spite of my struggles with faith, I am increasingly convinced that God's guiding hand has been in this part of my life. There are times when I feel like He's just a step ahead of me; kind of like coming home to an empty house, but it's obvious that somebody's just left the place because the table is set and dinner's in the oven. With each step toward licensure, it's like stepping into a place on the path which God has cleared and straightened for me.

It's humbling.

Cheers!
Mark

The drama that is Red Sox fanhood

2007-09-06T12:10:00.001-04:00

At the risk of offending Jim MacKenzie (whom I've never been afraid to offend)....Who loses to the Bluejays? No. Seriously! Who...loses...to the Toronto Bluejays? Other than Baltimore and Tampa Bay, I mean.

23 games left (22 now) and the boys decide to drop one.

To Toronto!

And the bad guys decide to get one.

Sheesh....

Mark

News from Catacamas

2007-09-05T10:35:00.000-04:00

This from Stephen Edelhuber:

"i've talked to wilmer 3 or 4 times...they are good...some rain but not overwhelming..as of 10 pm tuesday. they are getting ready for alot of rain.
the storm was downgraded to a tropical storm. thanks for asking and i will tell wilmer about your interest.....stephen"

Wilmer Espinoza is the Honduran director of the Journey Missions camp. He manages the facility, and facilitates all of the work projects and the public relations in Catacamas. He and his wife have two small children, and they are leaders in the small congregation of Christians which meets a couple of miles away from the camp.

Cheers!
Mark

Felix downgraded

2007-09-04T16:22:00.000-04:00

Felix has been downgraded to a tropical storm. However, a "red alert" is still in effect for many areas of the country, including the Department of Olancho (where our friends live in Catacamas). The alert continues in those areas due to the heavy rains (up to 25 inches in mountainous areas like Catacamas, according to the linked article).

Catacamas sits at the bases of several small mountains, and very near a river which is nearly always swollen at this time of the year. There are concrete bridges which cross the river near Catacamas. Each time I have crossed the river, the bridges have been about 3 or 4 inches underwater. Needless to say, people living in remote areas are likely to be cut off from supplies and help for a while. There is one major road leading from Juticalpa (the capital of the Department) to Catacamas. It also runs along the base of those same mountains, and thus is likely to be flooded for a while.

I'm still awaiting news from Catacamas, either directly or via Stephen E. in Searcy. Updates as they become available.

Mark

Honduras: 1998 all over again

2007-09-04T08:50:00.000-04:00

Hurricane Felix, a monster category 5 storm (think "Katrina"), slammed into Honduras and Nicaragua overnight.

The last time a Category 5 storm hit Honduras was 1998: Hurricane Mitch. Mitch killed 11,000 people in Honduras. If you had visited the country yesterday, you would have seen evidence of people still trying to put their lives back together after Mitch.

Click here for a video report.

Many of us have personal friends in Honduras. We're praying for them. I ask that you pray, too.

Mark

Just one more thing...

2007-08-21T11:38:00.001-04:00

http://www.ibdeditorials.com/CartoonPopUp.aspx?id=269210477732142

Schilling implies Bonds, McGwire are guilty - Barry Bonds - MSNBC.com

2007-07-26T09:17:00.001-04:00

May I just say something at this point?

ASTERISK!

That's it.

Cheers.

Without further comment

2007-07-25T11:08:00.000-04:00

I've been Simpsonized!

2007-07-19T22:04:00.000-04:00

What do you think? Is it close?

Test Post #2

2007-07-19T19:52:00.001-04:00

The guys at Eepybird have done it again. Here's their latest Diet Coke/Mentos experiment.

Extreme Diet Coke & Mentos Experiments II - The Domino Effect

Test post using Windows Live Writer

2007-07-18T21:45:00.001-04:00

I recently downloaded Microsoft's Windows Live Writer, and I'm testing its capabilities. The next few posts will likely be tests like this one.

Meg's wheels

2007-07-14T22:35:00.000-04:00

Is this a good thing? Sure it is. And it's a very big thing, too.

Meghann has been saving up to buy a car, and she finally saved enough that she felt good about wading out into the minefield that is the used car market. This thing's a real peach, too. Power everything, sunroof, 6 disk CD changer, etc....and it all works like new.

But the car isn't the point. The fact that it's Meghann's car is the point. Little baby Meghann, who fell asleep on my chest in Huntsville 18 years ago, just bought her first car. Starting kindergarten was one thing. Graduating from high school and buying a car....

I'm feeling just a smidge older than I did yesterday.

Cheers!

Residency!

2007-07-11T21:14:00.000-04:00

So, the interview went well. There's still some talking to do, but the general idea is that I'll start taking on clients in September: just a few per week on Mondays, building to @ 10 cases or so. The position is "Resident". When I finish the M.A. and have the limited license in hand, I'll be able to take on a larger caseload at the full compensation SCC gives per case (it's a percentage thing, so some cases pay more and some pay less). Then, for the remaining year I'm on staff at Livonia, I'll continue to build a caseload at SCC.

There are quite a few opportunities for learning and service with SCC. I'll post a bit about that later.

Cheers!

At least it wasn't the Spankees

2007-07-09T15:04:00.000-04:00

Yes, I got my chain yanked more than once on Sunday over Boston's pathetic showing at Comerica. I'm sure I'll hear more about it Wednesday, too. That's all right. If the Sox have to get swept by somebody, I'd rather it was the Tigers than the "Dark Side". So, that puts Detroit in first by a full game over the Tribe. Pretty nifty.

Cheers!
Mark