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testing

2008-12-03T12:27:00.001-08:00

testing

King Albert became a US citizen this week

2007-02-09T08:22:00.000-08:00

King Albert became a US citizen this week.

"Pujols, 27, spent about a year preparing for the citizenship exam. That preparation showed on the exam.

"He even answered a bunch of additional questions and gave us more answers than we asked," Moyer said. "He clenched his fist and said, 'I got 100 percent!'"

Way to go Mr. Pujols.

I looked around for a minute to see what type of questions he had to answer. I would have failed.

Waffles

2007-02-07T19:46:00.000-08:00

WAFFLES
By Sam Carr

For me, true love can be found on a plate,
Round or square, they taste so great.
You can eat them with syrup, or without it.
Either way they’re delicious, there’s no doubt about it.
Out of the toaster, they’re piping hot.
Waffles are my favorite, but pancakes are not.
I’ve found that peanut butter goes with them quite well,
But if you never try it, you won’t be able to tell.
Some people are afraid of trying new things,
But trust me-these waffles are fit for a king.
So waffles are by far my favorite food.
If you’re laughing at this poem, I think you are rude.
All my words are felt from the heart,
And I’ve always loved waffles, right from the start.

Gloves

2007-01-31T23:02:00.000-08:00

(afomft cont'd.)

28. A familiar pair of gloves

Nothing beats a good pair of gloves. And it really makes me sad to lose good, familiar gloves.

I recently lost a glove from a pair of leather gloves which I had owner for approximately 15 years. They weren't anything special, and they were showing their age.

But, man I really liked those gloves. It was tough losing one.

My daughter Rachel bought me a pair of gloves in Uruguay last summer, which I appreciated, but they simply didn't fit as well or feel as good as my old leather gloves. After I lost one though, I started wearing them. They were ok, but after a few days I noticed they had an odd litter box-like odor.

(Btw, I lost my softball mitt last summer which I had used for 25+ years. I had repaired that mitt a half dozen times, and it also fit my hand perfectly. We searched high and low for that glove to no avail. I'm still grieving over that one.)

Anyway, I bought a new pair of leather gloves today. They're much better than my old ones, but they just don't fit right yet. It may take another 15 years.

CARDS WIN!!!

2006-10-27T21:44:00.000-07:00

What a season.

What a team.

What a year.

Congratulations 2006 Cardinals!

Go Cards!

Taskbar Shuffle

2006-09-21T07:51:00.000-07:00

I've been searching for years for a reliable way to reorder taskbar buttons on XP. Here it is:

Personal Slip-N-Slide

2006-09-14T17:03:00.000-07:00

"I have my own personal Slip-n-Slide ... in my armpit. Too bad it's not bigger."

- My son Anthony, while enduring the heat at a soccer game last week.

Will and Jen

2006-08-18T09:40:00.000-07:00

Will and Jen.

I'm so proud.

Rachel and Brooke in Uruguay

2006-07-02T19:31:00.000-07:00

A caricature of my Rachel (right) and her good friend Brooke in Montevideo.

Manilow Method?

2006-07-01T00:03:00.000-07:00

Manilow method?

City councillors in Rockdale, Australia just passed legislation that allows them to pump the music of Barry Manilow through speakers in their town to keep hooligan kids from loitering and revving their car engines in neighbourhood parking lots.

Those Aussies are brilliant.

Only Jesus Only?

2006-06-30T23:52:00.000-07:00

Good stuff from Rick Atchley:

Only Jesus Only?

whew, the streak is over

2006-06-29T07:36:00.000-07:00

Just as second place in the division was headed toward the Cards like a runaway freight train, some heroics in the 9th inning of last night's game causes St. Louis fans everywhere to breathe collective sigh of relief.

In spite of Izzie almost giving the game away.

So, in honor of the occasion, if you're looking for gift ideas for your favorite Card fan, look no further:

overpriced coffee at St. Arbucks

2006-06-22T18:12:00.000-07:00

A great comment by Jay...

Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Western Xian of the Emergent sort and the other an African Anglican. The Western Emergent type stood there, after turning down his iPod, he unfolded a prayer labyrinth that he kept tucked away in his J.Crew messenger bag, and started through this eleven stations of the ancient practice, while reading something by Brian McLaren at each point of contemplation. He then prayed, “Lord God, thank you that I am not a fundamentalist, or that I am not hung up on little things like doctrine, or Scriptural authority. Thank you for opening my eyes to the folly of the enlightenment systems, and for bringing me to a place where I can deconstruct everything and find safe haven in my small community of equally willy nilly 20-somethings.” After praying he went away for a cup of overpriced coffee at St. Arbucks.

When the African Anglican prayed, he was overwhelmed by the false humililty of the postmodern punk. He fell to his knees and prayed, “Oh God, I live in a land that church history has completely passed by. The thelogical arguments of the west are too small for us. Please give us the word in our native tongues. Let Christ incarnate himself in our culture. Please God Have mercy on us, translate yourself to the church here, for we are a people who need the gospel”.

I tell you the truth. It was the African, and not Mr. Emergent guy from America, who went home right with God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

The scenarios are endless…

Comment by Jay — June 21, 2006 @ 10:54 pm

Thanks Jay.

Whac-A-Mole philosophy of life

2006-06-10T19:32:00.000-07:00

Whac-A-Mole philosophy of life (from the perspective of a mole):

"You can stay in the hole all the time and you'll always be safe, but sometimes you just have to take the risk of being whacked, in order to enjoy the clear blue sky."

(from a 'King of the Hill' episode the other night.)

Give me Jesus

2006-06-06T12:16:00.000-07:00

I'm weary, disheartened, and disgusted by denomination-centric religion.

Watching a local station last night I listened to the minister of a large (3000+) congregation as he was interviewed. He made reference to the 'competition' more than once.

Why do we take so much pride in the particular group of believers we worship with? In fact, why does our domination/sect-association even muster the smallest molecule of pride?

Can we simply not take pride in my savior, Jesus Christ? ... and in only Him?

I've grown up in the Church of Christ, and the pride is very strong there. Lately we've been worshipping with another denomination. I had naively assumed that the CofC had the monopoly on this type of pride, but I was wrong. The stench of this pride is still there.

There's a wonderful movement back toward unity among the groups of believers that came out of American Restoration Movement, and that's fine and well, but it's not enough.

I'm still at a loss as to why we simply can't unite as believers of Jesus Christ. Period.

I'm not saying that we should attempt the impossible task of dissolving all the various sects and denominations, but we should at least celebrate and support our common beliefs. As believers in Jesus Christ, we're asked to do that, but so many times we choose not to. Why?
"I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."

Seems pretty obvious to me.

In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus

When I am alone
When I am alone
When I am alone, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus

When I come to die
When I come to die
When I come to die, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
You can have all this world,
You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus

Tulsa Health Department

2006-06-05T19:26:00.000-07:00

I was shocked out of my gourd this morning -- a guy from the Tulsa Health Department actually called me about the complaint I submitted!

He was very helpful and appreciated the fact that someone actually took the time to submit a complaint. They visited the store, issued a warning, and told them next time they would be fined.

Wow. Kudos to the THD on a job well done.

Taco 'not so' Bueno

2006-05-31T13:09:00.000-07:00

While we were waiting for our order at Bueno today, one of the manager ladies climbs up on the counter next to the soda machine wearing dirty hiking boots. She has a giant rubber scraper thing that she starts digging with from the top of the machine, trying to get the ice maker unjammed.

Beth and I look at each other and grimace a bit, but I'm thinking she'll get down and wipe off the counter when she's done.

She continues digging and digging ... and digging.

Then, she coughs several times while she has her head and shoulders in the ice machine.

Finally, judging from the sound of it, she coughs loose whatever was down in her chest.

Then our food comes, and she's still up there. We go sit down, feeling a bit disgusted.

A few minutes later I go back to get some napkins (which they hadn't yet refilled) and I take a look at the counter.

Sure enough... boot prints still on the stainless steel countertop -- plain as day.

Yummy.

http://tulsa-health.org/food-safety/citizen-complaints/

Sorry folks, I had to do it. I'd expect the same if someone caught me in similar behavior.

...

[I agree Rach. I had to remove the earlier picture, it started bothering me.]

"I'm lovin' it" ... not

2006-05-19T05:44:00.000-07:00

Could this be one of the creepiest ads of all time?

2006-05-12T06:36:00.000-07:00

Before the Throne of God Above
Written by: Charitie Lees Bancroft, Vikki Cook

Before the throne of God above,
I have a strong, a perfect plea,
A great High Priest whose name is "Love,"
Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart;
I know that while in heav'n He stands
no tongue can bid me thence depart.
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair,
and tells me of the guilt within,
upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin.

Because the sinless Saviour died,
my sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
to look on him and pardon me.
to look on him and pardon me.

Behold him there! the risen Lamb,
my perfect, spotless Righteousness,
the great unchangeable I AM,
the King of glory and of grace!

One with Himself I cannot die,
My soul is purchased by His blood;
My life is hid with Christ on high,
with Christ, my Saviour and my God
with Christ, my Saviour and my God

2006-05-02T08:13:00.000-07:00

How happy he is whose wrongdoing is forgiven, and whose sin is covered!
How happy is the man whose sin the Lord does not hold against him, and in whose spirit there is nothing false.
When I kept quiet about my sin, my bones wasted away from crying all day long.
For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me. My strength was dried up as in the hot summer.
I told my sin to You. I did not hide my wrong-doing. I said, "I will tell my sins to the Lord." And You forgave the guilt of my sin.
So let all who are God-like pray to You while You may be found, because in the floods of much water, they will not touch him.
You are my hiding place. You keep me safe from trouble. All around me are your songs of being made free.

I will show you and teach you in the way you should go. I will tell you what to do with My eye upon you.
Do not be like the horse or the donkey which have no understanding. They must be made to work by using bits and leather ropes or they will not come to you.
Many are the sorrows of the sinful. But loving-kindness will be all around the man who trusts in the Lord.

Be glad in the Lord and be full of joy, you who are right with God! Sing for joy all you who are pure in heart!

Psalm 32

Brod Bagert

2006-04-27T10:21:00.000-07:00

This morning I attended the awards presentation for Anthony's first-place poem.

The PTA forked over some major moola and brought in author, Brod Bagert, to speak to the 3rd-5th grade students.

I was planning to just stay a few minutes for the award presentation, but Mr. Bagert grabbed my attention and I couldn't pull myself away.

He was outstanding -- as a speaker/presenter -- but I was mostly impressed with his ability to command the attention of a horde of children.

One of the tips he left with the kids:

"Don't try to write your best the first time. Right your worst. Then, re-write it a little better. Then do it again, and again, and again..."

He explained how it was totally freeing and rewarding to simply TRY to write your worst, and SUCCEED, rather than to try to write your best on the first attempt, when you'll actually end with your worst anyway.

I.e., when you achieve your expectations in your writing, you're successful, and you'll feel better about your efforts and yourself, and you'll keep on trying.

When you don't achieve your expectations because you've set them way to high, you'll ended up frustrated and disappointed, and there's a high probability you won't try again.

Hmm. It doesn't mean lowering your overall expectations, it simply means setting smaller, achievable expectations all along the way.

Terry Tate

2006-04-26T15:34:00.000-07:00

Are you having any problems at your office? Productivity slipping?

An office linebacker like Terry might be the answer.

Sam

2006-04-26T07:32:00.000-07:00

Sam (center) running hurdles in a recent meet.

Run, Sammy, Run!

I gotta have more cowbell, baby!

2006-04-25T07:27:00.000-07:00

I noticed that "more cowbell" made it to Word Spy.

One of my favorite SNL sketches was "Behind The Music: Blue Oyster Cult".

I don't know anything about the characters they are portraying, other than listening to a couple of BOC songs as a teenager. Regardless, this skit by Will Ferrell and Christopher Walken always makes me laugh and laugh, and laugh some more.

The Da Vinci Code

2006-04-24T12:15:00.000-07:00

I probably wouldn't have read The Da Vinci Code had not it been given the huge amount of press coverage it is currently receiving. I'm sure Dan Brown is laughing all the way to the bank.

I will read it now.

I am a little disgusted at the attacks it has received, and it makes me wonder why those instigating the attacks are so worried.

Do they really believe that people aren't smart enough to think and study for themselves, and come to their own conclusions?

Or would they rather just cram what they (and I for that matter) know is truth, and have them accept it blindly? Sometimes, I really think so.

It is a novel, and as he says...

“It’s a book about big ideas, you can love them or you can hate them. But we’re all talking about them, and that’s really the point.”

...and...

"A very wise British priest noted recently in the press, ‘Christian theology has survived the writings of Galileo and the writings of Darwin; surely, it will survive the writings of some novelist from New Hampshire.’"

Right on.