For Christmas, I got....I got....I got a....I got a refrigerator?!??

My Christmas list this year was one request deep:

A Moody Blues DVD....

I was blessed with two! Yes, two!

One from bro and sis-in-law, and one from the fam this morning. :)

But THEN.......

Sliding over toward me is a LARGE package. Heh? I didn't ask for anything that would be THIS size!

And what did Dad get?

Heh?

A refrigerator??!!??



Yep. Apparently I chose door number two on Let's Make A Deal. :)

My immediate thought was this would be for me to put, well, wherever I may end up employed (SOON, I HOPE), in an office, as wifey had asked me if I wanted one at my old job, lessening the chances my food/drink would be stolen from the communal refrigerator, which, of course, got pretty nasty over time.....

But, no. I was quickly informed this itty bitty fridge is for.....

the bedroom.

Yep. The bedroom. Why? So I don't have a stumble at 3am down the hall, and, honestly, since I sometimes get "stuck" in bed (like yesterday when I pretty much slept all day) I don't come out of the room to be shocked at the sight of, like, members of wifey's family or something.

Sounds fine to me.....unless it cost alot!!!!

So, I guess the moral of this story is, "now Rob can chill out while watching the Moody Blues!"

Heh. Sorry, that was lame.

And did YOU get a surprise for Christmas??

She Shall Bring Forth A Son......

.....from myself, wifey, Robbie, Rachel, Cody and Zoe (the cats), Harry J (the dog), and even Peanut (Rachel's new hamster)......

.....we wish you the peace found in the one who was wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger; the peace which only God can give when we come to the ChristChild, who was born to bear the sins of the world, so that we may be free from our sin, and live with Him forever.

It's Christmas Eve! And, after 40 years, I know why I ALWAYS wear socks!!

You Are Socks!

Cozy and warm... but easily lost. You make a good puppet.

What Crappy Christmas Gift Are You?

One year = 52 weeks = 71 pounds....

Thank you, Lap Band!

I offer that sentiment on behalf of my wife, as well as me.

Over a year ago, when wifey decided to green light having the Lap-Band procedure, I was happy for one reason.

Health.

I've known her grandmother for 20 years; she's very overweight and I normally see her only sitting in a chair.

I did not want wifey ending up in that position, knowing how active she loves to be and how much (but she's NOT RUSHING IT!) she looks forward to running around with and spoiling grandkids.

So, I supported her 100 percent. I can assure my support had nothing to do with looks. Had that been the case, I never would have dated her, much less said "I Do".

So, today, we are one year and two days removed from her surgery. And where's wifey?

---she still has a couple of tiny scars (no big deal, she doesn't like bikinis and trust us, the Lap-Band procedure IS minimally invasive).

---she has radically revolutionzed how she eats and drinks (I'm SO proud of her; I wish I had that kind of gumption and courage)

---and, well, she's down 71 pounds. That's just over a quarter of the weight she carried into the surgical procedure.

The first 10-20 weeks, she would get down sometimes if there wasn't a weight loss of a pound on any certain morning, and I would have to remind her:

If you lose one pound a WEEK, you lose 52 pounds in the first year.

She stopped obsessing, stopped weighing herself every single morning, and focused on diet and walking. And now? Try 19 pounds MORE than 52!!

She stole the show at Rachel's elementary school open house in September (she lost quite a bit of that weight over the summer), turned heads in November when we visited our old church home, and she's a different lady.

I still love doing, well, you know....even though there is now much less of her to love. :) :)

Congrats, wifey!!! I love you!! Now, I need to catch up.

CLICK THE LINK at the top of the post for details on the Lap-Band procedure. Note that you cannot just "have" it done; you must meet eligibility guidelines and initial screenings.

....the days, and milestones moved on....

Yesterday was Day 9 of 19....our last conversation.

Today is Day 10 of 19....the day I was mad. Very mad.

A Pantyless Preacher's Wife??

I've always called wifey the "Anti-Pastor's Wife". I never thought of giving her this nickname. :)

This is an excellent blog! It's the newest edition to the blogroll on the right.

Visit now by clicking here!

Of scars and fish......

....great post over at "A Piece of Joan's Mind".

Read how Joan got over her fear of anything medical (I do NOT recommend going down her road and I am VERY SURE she wouldn't, either!)....

....then discover some information you may not have been told about transplants.

And the days continued.....

Wednesday was Day 6 of 19.....the admission day.

Thursday was Day 7 of 19.....

Today is Day 8 of 19.....the sad, family day.

Rachel loves her teacher!!!

Merry Christmas, Mrs. Clark!!! See you in 2008!!!

School Christmas Parties (1997-2007)

Well......

.....today was my last "Elementary School Christmas Party". Hey, I could care less what the PC name is at school ("Winter Party", bah humbug!), it's Christmas for me!

Ten years ago, a ten-month old Rachel went, in her stroller, to Robbie's first-ever Christmas party, in his Kindergarten class (Go Miss McGrew!!!).

FAST forward (emphasis on FAST!!) to today; when that same Rachel, now amongst the tallest in her fifth grade class, enjoyed HER FINAL party.

The cool connection between the two? I got to be at both of them. :)

We had the best time today! Lots and lots of food, a cool craft, some cool games (including one that actually had me having to draw a picture! Yikes!!)

Like "Pictionary", or "Win, Lose, or Draw", I draw, kids try to guess for points. The funniest part was when I hadn't even put marker to whiteboard and two kids guessed what the picture was. I noted the smudge on the board, which was all that was there!

Anyway, I drew.....




...and no one got it until after I drew the rectangle, wrote Rachel's name, then did the "backward J". Then the screaming commenced. The parent-in-charge declared it a tie. Our ear doctors rejoiced at our future appointments being moved up six months due to the damage received.

Then, it was clean up and stack up chairs, and call by call, the kids began to leave. Lots of hugs and pictures...while I'm standing on a stack of chairs or a desk trying to take snowflakes down from the ceiling.....

Trust me, I needed the exercise, but my back was a' killin' me when all was said and done! But it was A GOOD TIRED. I gave Rachel's teacher a "virtual hug", since I was all sweaty and got a GREAT picture of Mrs. Clark and Rachel as we left. Oh, and to be known here in the blogosphere for all time, Mrs. Clark loved her Starbucks basket from Rachel. :)

I remember thinking back in 1997, "WOW; we'll have at least one kid in elementary school all the way through 2008!!".

Guess what? When it comes to the annual class Christmas party....time's up. :( :(

This was NOT me; so it has NOTHING to do with my current job status.....but it sure is funny!

Yesterday and Today....

Yesterday was Day 4 of 19.

Today is Day 5 of 19.

Day 3 of 19

Today is Day 3 of 19.

New Reads! Get Your New Reads Here!!

I've added several new bloglinks to the right; check out our newest members!

---A Piece of Joan's Mind

---Beth Moore

---Beth's "Right Wing Conspiracy"

---Cindy Swanson

---Contemblogging

---Darlene Schacht

---Geeky Girl

---HisAir.net

---Jaffe Juice

---Lone Prairie Art Works from Julie Neidlinger

---Ragamuffin Ramblings

---Right Voices (A Political Blog)

---Sugar and Ice

---The Dawn Patrol

---The Adventures of Dawn Lady

---The Fun Times of Matt, Jenna, Jorja and Gigi

---The Heather Show

---Victoria Jackson (yep, the SNL alum)

---Weasel Knits

---Weird Cake--Treats from a Bipolar Mind


Check 'em out and tell 'em I sent ya! :)

Day 2 of 19

Today is Day 2 of 19.

Day 1 of 19

Today is day one of 19.

Another Year, Another Travesty!!!!!

The 2008 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees were announced today.

See them here. Also read it to see this blogger's advice for the Hall when it comes to future inductees and who should be among them.

In 2004, I brought up the absolute absurdity that is "the Moody Blues" NOT being in the Hall. And now, the '08 class is announced, and guess what.....

I've heard there's some politicking "inside the Hall", with some in power simply, for whatever reason, not wanting them to be inducted. Gee, you'd think once one enters the "Hall of Fame" of whatever their profession is, they would have an easier time, oh, maybe, not being so insecure?

Madonna-----she's due; I can certainly agree with that one

Dave Clark Five-----integral part of the "non-hippie" 60s; welcome them in.

John Mellencamp-----eh....not yet. Before Chicago? Compare his musical career to Neil Diamond and it's at best a wash, at worst a victory for Neil. Oh, that's right, Mellencamp espouses political causes at the heart of the left's agenda. Okay, now I've got it.

Little Walter-----I am a big supporter of remembering those who lay the foundation of any genre of music, medicine, philosophy, etc, EVEN when those who don't understand the generation from which one is from balks, saying, "How many hits did they have? Did they sellout concerts? Hey, dude, what about a website?" Welcome, Little Walter!

Leonard Cohen-----The "insiders cool" inductee. I don't see a rush on Leonard Cohen coming to a Target music department any time soon, but it is the Hall's right to do this if it so feels.

BUT THE VENTURES???? The guys who did the theme to "Hawaii Five-O"???? They had a great instrumental sound for the surfers of the 60s, but I must be amiss if somehow I never heard of the great "Ventures" reunion tours of the 1990's.

Now-----WHO SHOULD ALREADY BE IN THE HALL--------

1) The Moody Blues (duh....big duh)

2) Chicago

3) Boston

4) Linda Ronstadt

5) Yes

Put these guys in, then we'll talk about the integrity of the Hall.

Word of the Year is......

...according to Merriam-Webster, "w00t".

What? Never heard of it. The definition?

"expressing joy (it could be after a triumph, or for no reason at all); similar in use to the word "yay."

Example: w00t! I won the contest!


Well, I guess "w00t for w00t". What a stupid word of the year.

-------------------------------

Back on December 5, I gave you a link to the contest and to the definitions of the ten finalists, and said I'd tell you who I voted for after the Word of the Year was announced.

Well, here goes.


BLAMESTORM


---blamestorming

(verb) : Sitting around in a group, discussing why a deadline was missed or a project failed, and who was responsible.


(verb) : Gathering around in a group to discuss why a deadline was missed or a project failed and who is to blame or responsible.
"All the managers were locked up in a meeting for the all day blamestorming about the lost contract."

(other) : A meeting held in order to come up with a name of a person to assign guilt to a certain incident.
"The board of directors where exhausted after a four hour blamestorming session which finally resulted in two names for the chopping block."


And if, by the power of reason and deduction, you can't figure out why this was a no-brainer choice for me for Word of the Year, leave me a comment. I'll school ya on it. :)

Tonight, on the CBS Late Movie!!!

NASA faces a new kind of technical "bug"! Don't miss "The Spider That Ate The Space Shuttle!"

(and tomorrow night, it's "Killdozer", only on the CBS Late Movie!)

Hannah Storm---God Bless You, You Are So Right!!

WOW.

I doubt Ms. Storm will ever come across this blog or this posting, but she will never know how applicable the prayer she carries in her wallet, and posted 12/4 on her blog as she left "The Early Show" on CBS, is to my life right now.

I feel so much in a desert. Friends I can see and touch are almost nil; those I can call and email thankfully quite a few. All I see right now in the desert is sand, a size two pissed-off Jennifer Love Hewitt, and a "lemonade-type stand" that says "Apply Here".

And I keep going there, and going there, and going there, leaving my calling card. I'm beginning to think no one is scheduled to work that kiosk.

Then, at night, what happens? I dream of my old job; once so vividly when I woke up I swore this whole firing/layoff/budget cut (whatever) was a dream and I was supposed to go to work that day.

I spent too much time in bed Wednesday thru Friday....I could have gone to a great luncheon one day to meet up with old friends and colleagues, but I didn't. I realized this whole ordeal is still "raw", and I wasn't ready to answer the same question over and over. And I know I would have had a FANTASTIC time had I gone, but I just didn't want to go under these circumstances.

Let it be known far and wide this was because of MY WEAKNESS, and not of the people who were there. I love them all and know that all would have been wonderful.

But you see, I'm still traveling in this desert. Where are the paved lines? I can't tell when I can pass the slow mirage on a two-way road. They're like the old country roads I drove as a teenager in my hometown. Only they're not made of asphalt or dirt/mud.....

And, as you know, anything heat-related goes totally against my very nature. So, let's face it, I really need to get to some air conditioning soon. But I suffer from the "Charlie Brown Mirage": when I get within touching range of the AC blowing its cool air at full blast, it turns into a rock. I got a rock. Another flippin' rock.

So, tonight, on this the 23rd anniversary of Rupert, the Railroad Track, and the Ring, I look back at what was, what might have been, what should have been, what has been great, what has been disappointing.....

....and what is, well, "is". As in this moment.

And I just ask God to help me follow the wonderful prayer linked to above, and prepare me as well for the next great friend of my lifetime. Come to think of it, the next great group of friends!

But please understand....there is good news! The great friends of one's lifetime are a collection. You never have to trade them in or lose one to have another. They are with me forever, whether I see them every day or once in a blue moon. It's just that right now the deepest pain is losing time spent with my friends, and one friend who's been and is so special and so dependable. But, praise God, the friendship NEVER ends, but is always in my life, just now in the way God wants that person to be during this, a new season for me.

And all the more reason I pray for them, because I don't want to be in Heaven without them. :)

Choose the word of the year!!!

Click here to vote for the 2007 Merriam-Webster Dictionary Word of the Year.

FIRST, click here to see the definitions of the words as well.

What did I vote for? For me to know, you to discover......after the Word of the Year is announced.

You go, Jennifer Love Hewitt!!!

It is SO REFRESHING to see a glamorous Hollywood star not be vain about having just a bit of that career-ruining body accessory.

To all the idiots making fun of her; SHUT UP!

I wholeheartedly agree with Jennifer's statement at the end of this article! One victory for reality!! :)

Chuck is her Life Heroes!??

Charlie Brown lost out to another Chuck (on NBC).

Heroes is a given on the TV Monday nights (I have NEVER understood that show)

CSI: Miami a repeat? No problem! NBC gives you a bonus episode of "Life"!

All this while there is a special two-hour all-new "The Closer" on TNT.

Wifey will be up 'til 1am; just watching TV.

Me? I took my meds, so my body is looking forward to the new pillowcase I used today while putting away clothes.

--------------------------------------------------

I've discovered there are a BILLION job search websites. Jobster.com is a most interesting site. It asks alot of questions, but it ends up giving you the opportunity to present a great profile of yourself for potential employers to see.

I'm looking at my aquarium right now, asking myself if there are any fish openings.

Oh, well. :)

Welcome to week five.....

....with week four being classified in several ways.

FAST! Easily the quickest of the four weeks since "the day".

FRUSTRATING! You get tired of signing up with job search engines, one, then another, then another.....

FRAGILE.....but only to a point. Wednesday was the first day I gave myself the day off and just slept.

Today (Sunday) though, I just couldn't pull myself out of bed (except to eat) until 9pm tonight. So I missed church and a chance to do something fun. :(

I guess this was the first of "those days", which I've had for years.

"Those days" mean spending all day in bed. Sometimes it's physical, sometimes it's because of depression, some days, it's both. Today was pretty much physical. If these days could limit themselves to only one per month, that would be a HUGE improvement over what life has been like. :)

I couldn't bring myself to read today's Classified ads in the paper; so I'll do that Monday and resume the search then, as well.

I do have a unique opportunity this year to do what I've wanted to do for years, and that is send out Christmas/Holiday cards to everyone I want to. At least I can't blame "lack of time" this season! I look forward to connecting, if only via card or letter, with either those I haven't seen for awhile, or those I no longer can see.

---------------------------------------

I haven't mentioned my first trip back to the stations....it was Friday PM (pick up the check time!), and since Bonnie worked all day long and couldn't go, it was left to me. So, Rachel was wonderful enough to go in the building and ask for the person who had the goodies (I emailed her to say we were coming by), and out comes Rachel with the former co-worker and an envelope. I talked with her, waved at another co-worker, and shook the hand of a third, never having to leave the van.

I'm thankful wifey has been kind and dealt with everything so far that has required someone to go to the building, so I haven't had to.

Rachel was so cute Friday. On the way to the stations, she looked up at the towers and said, "Daddy, even though you don't work there anymore, they're still your towers."

I smiled. She's right. Rachel will have some really fond memories of being there with me, and that is not just a source of solace, it's a source of great joy for me, both now and the final day I live.

It's December......

....we officially have no health insurance (on earth, that is; reliance on God is a VERY good source of calming the frayed nerves....)

....it is "put up the Christmas tree" weekend. I stopped enjoying that years ago, I'm afraid. I don't get into Christmas until almost the last minute. But that's for another post.

....I just dreamed Tina Fey came in to use the bathroom just as I was finishing and I told her just to hang on a second without sending her out of the room. I hope there's nothing to this other than my subconscious playing out that American Express commercial where she's running around like crazy because the world is exploding around her....

AND....

....I'm dreading Christmas Eve like you wouldn't believe. 20 years ago, I would have never dreamed I would be in the position I'm currently in.

And that's for another post, too. :)

November's Winning Numbers.....

....4, 7, 17, 27, and 29.

a list....from a Witham....No. #1......

Kerrville
Wichita
Los Angeles
Bloomington
Phoenix
Burlington
Portland, OR
Pleasant Garden, NC
Dallas
Lancaster
Richmond, VA
Buffalo
Bradenton
Plymouth
Houston
Missouri City
Detroit
Malibu
Minneapolis
Hales Corners
Montpelier
San Diego
Fort Myers
Omaha
Alamance
Hillsboro
Sarasota
San Antonio
St. Paul
Garden Grove
Elm Grove
Greensboro
Vontay
Tehachapi
Pasadena

Double Sucks to be You, CNN!

First, we have the left whining that the newest anchor on CNN, Campbell Brown, called MoveOn.org "American insurgents", when discussing their now infamous "General Petraeus or General Betray Us?" print ad. Brown said General Petraeus fought insurgents in Iraq, then faced "American insurgents" on Capitol Hill, going on to label MoveOn.org "...the liberal, anti-war group....".

First, let's define "insurgent".

1: a person who revolts against civil authority or an established government; especially : a rebel not recognized as a belligerent

2: one who acts contrary to the policies and decisions of one's own political party

Now, an important key here is the latter part of definition #1. A rebel NOT recognized as a belligerent. The definition of "belligerent"?

Inclined or eager to fight; hostile or aggressive.
Of, pertaining to, or engaged in warfare.

So, let's review.

The use of the term "insurgent" more accurately defines MoveOn.org rather than those in Iraq who have received that label. Why? Because insurgents may "revolt against civil authority" (questioning military certainly would fall into that category), but are not considered a belligerent, i.e.---hostile or aggressive.

No one that we know of with MoveOn.org wanted to assault or assassinate General Petraeus while he was on Capitol Hill.

--------------------------------------------------------

On the other hand, what do the "Iraqi insurgents" do? They are better described with other terms that branch off of "insurgent" to zero in on the aggressives who have no problem at all being a belligerent.

Guerilla: a member of an irregular armed force that fights a stronger force by sabotage and harassment.

Insurrectionist: a person who takes part in an armed rebellion against the constituted authority (especially in the hope of improving conditions).

These terms accurately describe those in Iraq, whether with Al Qaeda, Iran, other splinter groups, or representing radical fringe Muslim groups, who have killed, bombed, maimed in hopes of preventing any peace in Iraq, especially if it is in any way connected to or associated with the values of the United States.

I specifically remember the media using the term "guerillas" and "guerilla forces" back in the 70s and 80s when reporting from Beirut, Lebanon during that nation's 16-year civil war.

They should be using "guerillas" rather than "insurgents" in Iraq.

-------------------------------------------

Hey Media Matters! Lay off Campbell Brown! Her use of the English language is correct. And you thought you owned CNN......


---------This is why it "double sucks" to be CNN, since by now the whole world is aware of CNN's inability to root out Democratic Presidential Candidate supporters who send in questions to YouTube.

As Major Garrett reported to perfection on Fox News, apparently, for example, CNN couldn't Google the name "Keith Kerr" to discover his membership on a steering committee for the Clinton campaign. Now CNN is trying to defend the debate and all participants.

Why did CNN fly Kerr in and not all the video participants? Why did he alone get a chance to follow-up on his question when it wasn't answered to his satisfaction? The other video participants weren't afforded that, were they?

NOTE TO CNN: Google. It uncovers a multitude of information.

Friends.....good to see and hear from.....

....got to enjoy lunch with two great friends from my former church pastorate today. My first-ever trip to O'Charley's, and I was very impressed. In this current "life-stage", where some days are filled with three pets, job-hunting web sites, and eventual human interaction as the day turns to night, it was VERY WELCOME company. :) :)

....at least there are some positives to this period between jobs. It's giving me a chance to do some catching up with friends, which eases the hurt of so abruptly losing daily contact with my work friends.

My psychiatrist used the best term I've heard since the events of November 5. He has seen some emotional improvement in my mental health and outlook, reminding me that the pain I readily showed at our meeting two weeks ago was "raw". He hit the nail on the head.

Raw. In fact, some of the most "raw" pain I've ever felt. It's one thing when you know something is just around the corner, or going to happen at some point, and yes, there were times from August on that I thought my job was so precarious I had my "future endeavors packing box" underneath my cubicle, partially packed. Honest!

Still didn't change the emotional impact. Days are better, the tears are less and the wounds are working toward the healing process. I think I'm past "raw", but continue to be mired in the first stage of "permanent reality", i.e.---this isn't going to change; that chapter is done.

With the job? No problem. The people? Another story. I'm leaning on God big time to help me through and begging Him that I not lose touch with special friends.

It's been wonderful to be with the kids more! We've probably spent more hours together in November than in the months of July through October COMBINED. You think I'm kidding. I'm not.

And on that note; I have to take one of them to school in just a few hours, so I'd better run. These thoughts came through my mind at, of all places, the eye doctor on Tuesday morning. It was so cool; they had a Bible in the waiting room, and it was opened to Proverbs 25. So I grabbed it and read more than that chapter and was challenged, blessed, chided, and brought closer to God. And something along the lines of the following went through me....

--CHERISH the moments of your past that you shared with special people in your life.

--PRAISE God for those moments and the wonderful memories you hold of those special people during this, an uncertain present.

--TRUST God for Him to introduce you to more special people, while keeping you bonded with those mentioned above, making for a grace-filled future. It also makes for a bus "fuller of friends" than there was before.

Just sitting here; I realized something. I haven't loved enough people yet. I just don't know where the next bunch of people are currently located. :)

Giving Him The Business!!!

I LOVE referees who cut to the chase and have a sense of humor; especially when my team is being shutout!!!

Smile!

My newest blog find is "Write From Karen", now appearing on the blogroll to your right. Click the pic above to enter her contest and make sure you visit her blog.

Super cool reading. :)

Hello, and welcome to week four.....

Unemployment:

Week One: SHOCK

Week Two: DEPRESSION

Week Three: HOLIDAY WEEK (no one hires while going home for Thanksgiving)

....and tomorrow?

Well, I guess we're about to find out. At least you don't have to drive around town and fill out separate apps and make sure you have 15 copies of your resume.

When I'm fully vested in employment again, I'll let you know. Until such time, I search, I search.....

....then I give myself at least a break for blogging. :)

The previous two posts are now put into proper perspective by Miss Mel....

Read here.

Enough said.

P.S.---take some time and read her blog; her story, originally linked from here last month. Then you'll know why she gives proper perspective on thanksgiving, pain, and the God that supplies all our needs. :)

pain......

....we have all experienced pain. It likes to come in different forms in specially shaped packages, and, with timing that often increases its sting.

I know there are millions upon millions of people who, tonight, experience pain the depths of which I could not even begin to fathom.

But I also know that, earlier yesterday afternoon, I excused myself from watching football, came to my room, thought of those I now miss SO much because I do not see them daily, and shed another round of tears.

One day God's grace will heal this hurt and until then I give Him glory for great memories and even for this season of yearning to see someone and not being able to.
Thank God they are not dead; just out of my small sphere of life currently.

And if I feel this much pain over this, I cannot even begin to imagine what it would be like to lose my wife, son, or daughter. Losing Mama has been hard enough and I'm still dealing with that.

Hug the friends around you; tell them how much you love and appreciate them. One day, you may not be able to do so, because someone else put a wedge between your friend and yourself; a third party. But only a physical wedge.....why?

They can't take the friendship away, though. And Dear God, this is why you pray for salvation for ALL the ones you love. One day, I'll see all my friends and family again, and the word "parting" will only reference what one does with their hairstyle, if our heavenly bodies even have hair.

For now, I cry. One day, I smile again. And there's nothing wrong with both.

Why not "Happy Thanksgiving" today?

No, I didn't make it to the ol' blog during the "recognized holiday" called Thanksgiving Day back on Thursday, but as I lay me down to sleep shortly (I like my night-night pill!), I want to publicly be thankful for a few things.

NOTE: This is NOT an exhaustive list. Just a few ice chunks off the side of the iceberg.

--I am thankful my daughter looks and acts more like her Mom every day.
--I am thankful that, though my son looks alot like me, God can still use Him and even provide him with a good wife! In about 15 years, of course.
--I am thankful that Virginia Tech won yesterday.
--I am thankful that Missouri vs. West Virginia is a now a possible National Championship game in college football. It would be the best thing that ever happened to the sport. If Mizzou or the Mountaineers could make it, why not TCU, or Hawaii, or Central Florida, or even N.C. State? No more juggernauts (hear that Oklahoma, USC, Florida, Miami, Texas, Ohio State, etc.....)!!!
--I am thankful that my blood pressure levels are down when compared to my last doctor's visit in March. Gee---wonder why that is......hmmmm....
--I am thankful for a lunch date with two great friends next week.

and, I am thankful I got to call another season of Patrick Henry High School football on the radio. Didn't miss a game, either!

Be thankful for something today, or better yet, someone. Like the woman lying beside me. Whoa, now--I'M thankful for her, you find a lady of your own! :)

I'd Better Hurry Up, Or I'll Be Late For.......

.....taking Harry J. out back for the morning wee-wee?

Welcome to week three of "Hi, you've reached Rob and I ain't working right now. At least for a wage, that is."

So, as you may note, I didn't show up here on the blog during week two. Here are some highlights from last week:


And those were the highlights of last week.

JUST KIDDING!

In reality:

--I spent four hours watching wrestling with Robbie (two for Raw, two for TNA Impact, which I enjoy more, if Mike Tenay would just SHUT UP!)

--Working on my sports card collection; figuring out what to keep, what to say goodbye to, and what I might do with some of the cards I'm not keeping. Could a connection with a blog be far behind?

--Dentist delivery, piano practice delivery, eye appointment.

--Spent Friday night not broadcasting Patrick Henry's football playoff game. And they WON! I hope we get clearance to air the Regional Final against Hanover Friday night, which is a rematch of the week one 29-28 cliffhanger won by Hanover.

--Went to our "home church!" on Sunday for the first time since, well, last Thanksgiving time. Enjoyed the service, Dr. Posey's sermon on Psalm 100 (she is so cool!!) and got to spend some time talking with some old friends. Even got a lunch date lined up with a couple of them for next week. At this moment in time, I'm "starving for good conversation", especially without having a cell phone, so I'm really looking forward to catching up and sharing.

Never been to O'Charley's, which was their immediate destination choice.

--Actually watched some TV with wifey! NCIS (which I actually like), and...ah...

NCIS! (hee hee)

Caught a great biography of Jack Benny last night; what a comedic genius. When you can say nothing or just make a simple facial expression and make people double over laughing, that's a gift.

I also caught some of a special on the 75th anniversary of the Washington Redskins. Interestingly enough, could have stopped at, about, year 59. When Mark Rypien is your last "hero".......

I mean, I was disappointed. WHAT??!!?? No Heath Shuler? No Gus Frerotte and the helmet-butt? What about Norv Turner or Steve Spurrier?

Now I can certainly understand not mentioning Daniel Snyder. He sure reminds me of a baseball club owner just up I-95......

Terry Allen, Michael Westbrook, Deion Sanders version 3.0, Rod Gardner......

------------------------------------------------------------

Now, I could go on for hours about the great 'Skins, especially during the George Allen "Over The Hill Gang" days when I watched them every Sunday with my brother.

But I might lose a job offer if I get too focused on that list.

Oh, I don't think job offers are as available this week as are unfortunate turkeys. Maybe another post. :)

This was the week that was......

....unexpected greetings from myself and Harry J. when Rachel departs the school bus

....an all-expense paid trip to tour the new Target on Staples Mill Road

....a BORING Thursday night (haven't had one since 1999)

....for the first time since 1999, new ISCI codes have been released for new commercials that I actually do NOT know.

....legal stuff

....the beginning of the great sports card purge of 2007-08 (it'll take more time than '07 has left to give)

....a weekend filled with hardly any appetite

....GOOD NEWS! Got to church! Kids enjoyed it, Mom didn't feel well, so I think the foursome make the trip next week.

....for the first time in six years of broadcasting Patrick Henry football games, the continuous clock rule went into effect, not because PH had a huge lead (over 35 points), but THE OPPONENT did.

....still, PH makes the playoff and is rewarded with a trip to Dinwiddie.

....second prize, by the way, was a one-way trip to Dinwiddie. Just kidding. :)

....at least we're getting some cold weather! The air conditioner in the bedroom, though, is leaving much to be desired for "Winter Plan 07-08". (Leave heat pump around 65-66 for kids while using window AC in our room for frozen conditions)...

....I was actually awake an entire day on a Sunday; saw football, went to Target, even folded clothes!

....but I missed my nap.

....but I missed a Sunday afternoon/evening trip into work to catch up more.

...........................................

And, so, the worst week of my life since December, 2002 mercifully comes to an end. This week? Heck if I know. I don't have a key, or a code, or an invitation to be employed at the moment. Looks like I'll be reducing the 110,000 + sports card collection even more.

Now, if I could do something about looking four months' pregnant rather than seven. Well, let's not be too hard. I did walk Harry J. this week, so that's a start. Besides, what am I gonna do at 330 in the afternoon? Watch Dr Phil? When that happens, start the suicide watch.

(That last joke was, indeed, a joke.)

THANK GOD this week is done. Well, in seven minutes....

BREAKING NEWS: NO JACK BAUER??!!?? NO CHLOE??!!??

First my job is gone, now Jack isn't coming to my house in January??

This week cannot end soon enough!!!

Click HERE for the saddening saga.

But I'm Not In Bed Yet!

A different take on the classic line from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail".

"Bring out yer dead!"

"But I'm not dead yet!"

I am happy to announce that both yesterday and today I was stirring by 11a, and up and running not much later than that. :)

Right now it's appointment city, as we go to the doctor, the dentist, etc. to catch up on checkups and cleanings now that we have some copious spare time. :)

Tuesday was walk Harry, take out the trash, take Rachel to dentist, pick up Mom and Robbie, go to Rachel's parent-teacher conference, stop by school book fair, and, finally, take Dad to the new Target to give him the grand tour.

Today? Get up, take Robbie to school, come home, lie down (never went to sleep), get up, go to dentist for my checkup, go to Dollar Tree for my Crystal Geyser Water (they didn't have any), then back home for awhile.

Coming up? Rachel gets home, Harry is happy, Harry is walked, Mom gets home, Robbie gets home and I have no clue as to what else.

I'm new to this "being at home on a Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday" deal, you know. :)

----------------------------------------------------------

In closing, I will say, now that it's standard time again, I'm thinking a midday nap is useless....when it's dark before 6pm. :)

Breaking News, or, got a job opening? :)

As of about 930am today, I am, for the first time in my life, unemployed.

I no longer work for Clear Channel.

And that will be my only statement on the issue on this blog. Just wanted to let you know where I am and where I'm not. So don't call my work number or email me there. Leave a comment here instead! :)

October's Winning Numbers

....7, 17, and 27.

At least they rhyme. :)

Praise God for the rain!!!!

So, so thankful for the past 60 hours of mostly rain! Yes, rain! Remember rain?

Some of us may have 6 inches over the 3 days by the time it's all said and done tomorrow. This is not enough to "solve" the drought, and I PRAY the area jurisdictions KEEP the water restrictions intact for now.

----------------------------------------

If we get stuck in several days' of dry weather again....it's a little easier to take if I get the news from this lady. :)

Happy Birthday, Uncle Frank! Or...enjoy my latest nostalgia kick....

The World's Best Brother turned (fill in the blank here) today!

My daughter was honored to read the school announcements each day this week on the school TV! One thing she did was announce birthdays....I asked her to slide in "and my Uncle Frank" today, but we thought that may not be the greatest idea. :)

-------------------------------

You'll notice lots of YouTube videos lately as I wax poetic (that age 40 thing again?) and find LOTS of wonderful memories from way, way back.

I mean, where else in the world can you find, in seconds,

---The King of 8's from Sesame Street
---The Opening to the Game Show "Whew!"
---One of wrestling's best-ever brawls, circa 1989
---Classic cereal commercials
---and "I SAID A BEEF HOT LINK!"

Right here, my friends! Right here. :)

Enjoy the past posted, and the videos still to come!

P.S.---Good Grief, that's Princess number 9!

It's The King of 8's!!!!!

One of my all-time favorites from Sesame Street!

"WHEW"!!! It's the theme song to "WHEW"!!!!

I CANNOT BELIEVE I FOUND THIS!!!! This game show theme song has been in my mind since this aired in 1979-80.

One of my ALL-TIME favorite game shows....

THIS is professional wrestling!!!

Oh, that it would be this way today.

Who do I watch?---Round One

Maria or Alexis? They're making it too hard!! I can't figure out my picture-in-picture feature on my TV, either!!

Gee Peyton, couldn't you have let me down gently?

I mean, I know I look seven months pregnant and I REALLY want to lose some of the gut, but dang!

Peyton, you're no help at all!! But you sure are funny!

A sad day for game show "parting contestants"....

....the co-inventor of Rice-A-Roni has passed at age 92.

See more here.


Now, enjoy some of the greatest "parting gifts" of all time, courtesy of Match Game, with Rice-A-Roni at 3:41 of the video, and, earlier, a special appearance by Rice-A-Roni's little sister!

.....potpourri.....

---you're Tennessee head coach Jeff Fisher. You're up 25 one minute, then within an hour of real time, you've just witnessed a complete collapse of your team at the hands of......

SAGE ROSENFELS?

....but moments later you are rescued from the depths of losing by.....

KERRY COLLINS?

And then, Rob Bironas saves the day. EIGHT field goals in one game; a new NFL record.

I like Rob (other than the name, duh!); last year I caught the end of a Tennessee game where he was going for a 60-yarder to win and I thought, "Lord, it would be so cool if he could make that."

And he did. After the game the CBS announcers asked him what the longest field goal of his career was.

"You just saw it", he replied. He sounded like the kid who just became owner of the candy store. :)

So, did YOU wake up this morning thinking Sage would sling, Kerry would barely carry, and Rob would do the job? What a quarter!

------------------------------------------------------------------

---You have to feel for Byron Leftwich. He loses his job in Jacksonville, then is released, then finally gets picked up by Atlanta. He starts, starts out well, then goes down injured. That simply sucks. We'll learn more tomorrow; hope he's gonna be alright and back on the field soon.

------------------------------------------------------------------

---No team is a machine. The Patriots will not go undefeated. They will probably beat the Colts, but they'll stumble somewhere. I don't think alot of people truly understand the team that was the 1972 Dolphins. They won with a back-up quarterback at age 38 (though Earl Morrall was a darn good quarterback) and in an era with no ESPN, no NFL.com, no podcasts, no 24/7 punditry on whether "The Fins" could go unbeaten in '72.

For a team to suffer a big injury (Quarterback) and still go undefeated is astonishing. If Tom Brady (God forbid) went down next week, who saves their perfect record?

In closing, I will readily admit to saying I'm biased. I can't stand the Patriots; I am so tired of them (and, oh, they cheated). I hope the Colts can find the chink in the armor. But I'm not holding my breath on it.

Profiles in Courage 2007

I'm so glad this young lady left a comment on this rather meaningless blog.

Because I discovered hers, and it is a must read. Hold Melissa up in your prayers, and email her with your support. I will be. :)

Click here. Now.

XXXChurch.com presents "Porn and Pancakes"!

Yep. You read it right. :)

What a bold idea! Click here to go to Chris Harmon's blog here in Richmond; he attended the breakfast, and he has links to newspaper articles as well.

As for XXXChurch.com? Click here.

The latest from Nikita Leonid Putin.....

...my new name for "Vladimir", who shouldn't be taken seriously any longer as a present or future leader of a nation interested in expanding or even maintaining current levels of personal freedoms.

Today he's hangin' with Iran's "President I'm-A-Nim-A-Rod", trying to settle long issues regarding the oil and gas reserves in and around the Caspian Sea. Iran and Russia join emerging world powers Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan in talks, being the five nations that surround the Sea.

Yeah...like Russia hasn't occupied them other three before. Ya think Nikita Leonid Putin would nix a move into those areas again for the sake of "Russian long-term security"?

Read this article and see how "happy" a Congressman's wife is......

....she doesn't worry about her health care.

Doesn't she understand, she's paying for it? We ALL are!

For those of you who don't know me, I'm the guy who blogs here.....or, how Hillary wants to bloat your government yet again!!!!!

Honest.

Really.

I'm Rob, and I've neglected my blog.

(therapy group responds...."Hi, Rob!!")

Let's see....life has been spent in the following places lately:

--Work
--Bed
--Work
--Work
--Bed
--Press Box calling football game
--Collapsed on recliner
....watching "The War", or Beth Moore, or ESPNews.....

...but with no energy, no fire, no desire to blog.

My philosophy on blogging, as I mentioned in August, is like the Moody Blues' philosophy on recording albums; they do it when they have something to say. If I'm absent awhile, part of the reason will always be I currently have nothing that fires me up enough to fire up the laptop.

That doesn't mean I don't miss blogging. I love blogging, my blog, and those I've come to enjoy and read myself.

So, bottom line--it's nice to be home. Let's rant. :)


ITEM: Hillary Clinton's Secret Partner in the Government Takeover of Health Care!!!

---THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY ITSELF. My 2008 Health Insurance "Enrollment Period" has been as much fun as stabbing yourself in the eye with a pencil. Which would, of course, require medical attention, and the vicious cycle would go on.....

The process of signing up has become so complex, so time-consuming, so confusing, that I and others are convinced the real purpose of this maze is for consumers to throw their hands in the air and yell, "I QUIT---GIVE ME WHATEVER!".

And, of course, the era of "you can only have the best health care if you're healthy" has definitely begun. You know, if you commit to having a "health coach" call you and help you and participate on a sports team or join a gym, etc, etc.....

I never saw the term "invited" in an Enrollment book until this year. Invite? What?

The days of Capitalism (you know, if you can afford the best insurance policy, you can buy it!) are fleeting away.

AND----this is exactly what Hillary Clinton had in mind in 1992-93 when she first tried, in the ELECTED position of First Lady I might add, to socialize medicine.

And don't EVEN TRY to tell me it wouldn't be. When Big Brother tells me what doctor I have to see, what hospital I must go to, etc.....that's Socialism. Ask anyone who lived in the Soviet Union. You remember the Soviet Union, don't you?

But see....here's the difference between 1993 and 2007.....back then you could enroll for your health care plan for the next year in about 30 minutes. Getting a referral to a specialist was your biggest worry.

Now? Simple. Let's frustrate the masses with high prices and confused care plans, and one day they'll just say, (like I said earlier)...."I QUIT! GIVE ME WHATEVER!"

And Hillary will be there to answer their frustration.

BUT IT'S NOT GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE!!! They say.....

Don't you understand doublespeak!!??!!

Here's a quote from her website:

The American Health Choices Plan gives Americans the choice to preserve their existing coverage, while offering new choices to those with insurance, to the 47 million people in the United States without insurance, and the tens of millions more at risk of losing coverage.

The Same Choice of Health Plan Options that Members of Congress Receive: Americans can keep their existing coverage or access the same menu of quality private insurance options that their Members of Congress receive through a new Health Choices Menu, established without any new bureaucracy as part of the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program (FEHBP). In addition to the broad array of private options that Americans can choose from, they will be offered the choice of a public plan option similar to Medicare.

A Guarantee of Quality Coverage: The new array of choices offered in the Menu will provide benefits at least as good as the typical plan offered to Members of Congress, which includes mental health parity and usually dental coverage.

Now a point or two....

1) Members of Congress receive their health care benefits from....ah....the Federal Government. So, if I start getting their plan, my plan will be authorized by....ah...the Federal Government. Formed by the Federal Government. Controlled by the Federal Government.

2) No "added" bureaucracy. Listen to yourself!! Who needs "new" bureaucracy when you can take the current one and bloat it to a fare thee well. Of course, if one is bloated, don't they then need quality health care? Sorry, got off the subject. Taking care of the health of humans isn't the issue here.

3) Yay! I might get a "public" option! Who gets the invitation to Congress and who doesn't?

Finally, under the heading "Promote Shared Responsibility", here is what the "individual" (you and me) is responsible for:

Individuals: will be required to get and keep insurance in a system where insurance is affordable and accessible.


Excuse me? Required? What if I don't want health insurance? I'm independently wealthy and choose to pay my bills on my own. What do I do? Pay a fine?


AND IN CLOSING.......

One more sentence from Hillary's web-house of horrors.....

Over half the savings (alleged in overall health care costs, parentheses is my commentary)come from the public savings generated from Senator Clinton’s broader agenda to modernize the heath systems and reduce wasteful health spending.

If Hillary can't spell "health", how can she be trusted to take it over?

Ric Flair Carolina Hurricanes parody

September's Winning Numbers

3, 11, 16 and 27.

Here's the spot that stokes the co-workers.....

...I missed them today. Hoping this stomach bug is done.

...and I love my innards tickled!!!

The Count! Franken Berry! Ah, the Saturday morning memories....

Possibly the greatest answer in game show history....

Hey, Bro----here's a throwback TV moment!

But why, Barry? Why?......No, really, why?

So Barry Manilow cancels on The View the day before a scheduled performance after the show refused to allow him to be interviewed by everyone EXCEPT Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

So, I read the EXCLUSIVE statement Barry gave to TMZ.com.

Okay, dangerous and offensive. Not really a detailed explanation of an apparently new phobia with appearing with her on the same stage. Did you note he was on the show last year twice, and he was gracious enough to show up in spite of Elisabeth's presence CO-HOSTING THE SHOW, WHICH IS HER JOB, BY THE WAY.....

....but I digress....

So, I go to Manilow's own website. I get this insightful announcement....

Monday, September 17, 2007
A message from Barry...
Hey guys,

I wanted to let you know that I will no longer be on The View tomorrow as scheduled. I had made a request that I be interviewed by Joy, Barbara or Whoopi, but not Elisabeth Hasselback. Unfortunately, the show was not willing to accommodate this simple request so I bowed out.

It’s really too bad because I've always been a big supporter of the show, but I cannot compromise my beliefs. The good news is that I will be on a whole slew of other shows promoting the new album so I hope you can catch me on those.

Love,
Barry


Okay---compromise his beliefs. Which, to this point, he has yet to express.

Obviously, TMZ itself had it right (she happens to commit the sin of being politically conservative).

This is Manilow's decision, except for the fact that he waited 'til the 11th hour, as if Elisabeth might become Hillary or something (which was rude to The View in total), and I certainly have no problem with his right not to do the show. I just wonder why he'd not had a problem the other times (doesn't he get his staff to research the political backgrounds of all talk show hosts?)

So, again, a member of the "tolerant progressives" proves they indeed are intolerant, too. The least Barry could've done was, well, explain himself.

Unfortunately, intolerance is not the property of any particular group of humans. We are all easily capable of doing it.

I don't think Sally Field was ever a "youth football" Mom.....

Apparently, Sally Field had something to say last night at the Emmys......


"And, let's face it, if the mothers ruled the war, there would be no (expletive) wars in the first place..."

Yeah.

Pit two moms with 12 year old sons on a youth football team whose kids are always on the bench, even though they're good players, against two moms with 12 year old sons on a youth football team whose dads are coaches, so their kids play all the time, even though they're not very good.

I think Sally will see it's not as cut and dry as she thinks it is.

:) :) :)

No posts, now lotsa posts!

See below, as I went from no posting over several days to four posts on Saturday alone (and now this one just after midnight ET Sunday morning)

Scroll down to read about:

--James Brolin's complete insensitivity
--A game-winning field goal by a LADY named Rachel!
--holy laughter
--Bill Maher
--Simpletons for Jesus
--...and a drinking game! (non-alcoholic, of course).

Thank you! And good night. :)

What?!? What?!? WHAT?!? Happy 9/11??!!??

That was the pronouncement of James Brolin (aka Mr. Streisand) last Tuesday on a Connecticut radio show.

Click here. Someone help me....does he support Hillary?


P.S.----Content advisory!! Some links to questionable celebrity photos are on this page, too.

Rachel Moore, football star!!!

Rachel Moore kicks the game-winning 21 yard field goal as Hanover stuns Patrick Henry on Friday, 9/7, 29 to 28, on our opening night broadcast of PH football on the radio. More on this wild game soon, plus a look at their win last night over Atlee.

I LOVE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SEASON!!!

"God told me to...."---the drinking game!

Turn on many Christian TV programs tonight and you'll hear preachers, pundits, and others say the following (or words to this effect):

"God spoke to me...."
"The Lord said to me...."
"God told me to...."

Sometimes it's absolutely true, and praise God for that!! Other times though, it's brutally sad to see someone wrap their love for themselves, their fame, their power in the Christian community to make people believe they are constantly listening for the "voice of God".

How do you know the difference?

1) The Holy Spirit can show you; if you are in tune with Him;
2) listen to the context of which it's placed.

When the context is wrong, grab a Mountain Dew, put some in the shot glass, and take a drink!

Trust me, you won't get drunk, you won't act like you've been afflicted with "holy laughter", but you will have to go to the potty, probably more than once before going night-night.

THEN.....tomorrow night, choose, say, Coke instead, but use the term....

"Sow a seed...."

I promise you, you'll have a two-liter downed in many small quantities in under an hour. And yes, channel changing is allowed in order to search for said quotes.

Because they're all over the airwaves. Too bad more are used for earthly gain than for heavenly matters.

Bill Maher, meet Proverbs.....

....as funny as Bill Maher can be (the "New Rule" segment on his Real Time show last night was classic), he can also be as simplistic as those he says are, well, simplistic.

This exchange caught my ear at work the other evening with Chris Matthews, of Hardball (or Softball, or Loftball, or Beanball, depending upon the guest)....regarding (of course), the Iraq War and President Bush.

MATTHEWS: But you know, let‘s give President Bush credit. He‘s a conservative, and one thing you and I agree, conservatives tend to be pretty good when it comes to tribe. They understand tribal tendencies, ethnic prejudices, you know? He doesn‘t seem to understand why the Islamic people in that part of the world would have a problem with us landing 150,000 troops over there and building a permanent base in their world. He doesn‘t seem to understand the instinct they have to get us—the tissue rejection that they‘d feel toward us. He doesn‘t get it, it seems.

MAHER: Right, Chris, because he‘s not a reader. He didn‘t think he had to learn anything about Iraq before he invaded it because he prayed about it, and people who pray about something, Chris, don‘t need to learn. They don‘t need to talk to experts or Arabs or prime ministers or ambassadors. They talk directly to Jesus. Case closed.

---------------------------------

Hmmmmm.....so I don't need to learn because I pray. I got Jesus on the mainline, so screw the rest of you, eh?

A few nuggets of wisdom and advice from the guys who gave us Proverbs in the Old Testament suggest otherwise.....

First, easily the most quoted verses from Proverbs come from chapter 3, verses 5 and 6...

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Well; proves Bill's point, doesn't it? Shut down your brain and follow your sense of hearing God and you're home free. Sounds simple enough.

But, that theory is destroyed when I see two words in verse five:

"....your own...."

One's own means the understanding I alone have cultivated over time, whether I sought anyone else's advice or not, prayed or not, read the Word of God or not, read the Koran to figure out Islam or not, etc, etc, etc. It's all sifted through the "Rob" filter, and that's pretty dangerous.

So, therefore, to fully grasp the wisdom found in this oft-quoted passage, let's remember that, just like God gave people the wisdom to create medications which heal the body, God also provides wisdom in the form of messengers. You know, like your spouse; or your parents...how about your best friend, your accountability group, your minister or priest....heck, sometimes it comes from a complete stranger! Maybe a blog you stumble upon (or so you think) but wisdom given to that author provides what you needed at that moment. God in the box. Stop thinking that way, my friends.

So, back to some verses from Proverbs, which, when adhered to, show that not only does God NOT have to "speak to you" about what color socks to wear tomorrow, but also that the opinion of Maher, in this case, is woefully simplistic.

-----------------------------------------
Proverbs 13:10 "Pride only breeds quarrels,
but wisdom is found in those who take advice."

Proverbs 19:2 "It is not good to have zeal without knowledge,
nor to be hasty and miss the way."

19:8 "He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;
he who cherishes understanding prospers."

19:27 "Stop listening to instruction, my son,
and you will stray from the words of knowledge."

......and finally, backing up a few verses to these two:

19:20 "Listen to advice and accept instruction,
and in the end you will be wise.

21 Many are the plans in a man's heart,
but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails."

------------------------------------------------

Sounds like we can find wisdom in many ways. And certainly, it is when we allow God to lead us in the direction of wisdom that verses 20 and 21 become alive for us.

BUT, there's the caveat of the Maher argument. "SEE, all that "wisdom" you're talking about has to come from JESUS." You do speak truth there.

BUT, as mentioned earlier, I'm not a "drone for Christ"; existing with no brain, charged to find an enemy and smite them for the apparent evidence of disobedience.

I've got enough smarts (I HOPE) in my brain to know things like, wear clothing in public or get arrested (as well as make hundreds sick to their stomachs). Wash your hair regularly to avoid, like, bugs. Find a tick after playing in the field all day? Ask God to take it and watch it fall off? Eh, normally I get a cotton ball and some rubbing alcohol, and woozy the poor leach to his/her death. And I cannot begin to tell you how many hours I've saved by not having to ask God each day to intercede for me as to whether I put my left shoe on first, or my right.

That way, when I do use the prayer time, I can work on being transparent on more important matters.

Bill, my case isn't "closed" when I pray to Jesus; because prayer is a 24/7 conversation in a lifelong journey. Christians who will be brutally honest with you would tell you that we miss the mark MANY times when thinking we "heard" what God said to us, only to discover later we didn't do our homework assignment. Those who DO think they always hear God right the first time probably include, in their population history, those who brought us such wonderful events as slaughter during the Crusades, et al.

I'm sorry that your understanding of a prayer life and the fact that Christians are charged to seek wisdom and advice from others (but not just ANYBODY) is limited.

Try the advice given from the above verses in Proverbs. Pretty wise stuff, if you ask me.

Excuse me, I gotta go seek God about this new issue I've got. Once and for all, I want to know what Jesus would say to the one who asks, "Paper or Plastic?"

Those were the days!!

Remind me.....

....to talk about Bill Maher's simplistic degradation of people like me who "talk to Jesus" on today's Hardball on PMSNBC.

Wonder how many times he's read the book of Proverbs?

August's Winning Numbers.....

....3, 8, 16, 22 and 28.

A Frozen Tundra Better Than Lambeau Field.....

Click here for an incredible story on how one person can make a difference....thousands and thousands of miles away.

Oh, and always good to see Elizabeth Vargas!

Get A Goat!

And Rachel thinks High School Musical 2 is so good. Ha!

CNN's "God's Warriors".....

Though I know I'm a little late in discussing this topic, I have just a few thoughts on the three-night documentary.

GREAT:

1) What was covered on all three fronts was covered very well. I especially was impressed with night one, "Jewish Warriors", for the scope and breadth of the analysis of facets of present-day Judaism, complemented by comments and views from those quite orthodox.

2) Amanpour. No one is perfect or completely unbiased, but she's about as close as they come, and having her do this made perfect sense. No one else in news comes close when it comes to credentials. Not even Anderson Cooper (insert tongue in cheek here).

3) Greg Boyd. God bless Greg Boyd!!! The point of the feature with him I absolutely cannot agree with more! STOP the marriage between evangelical Christianity and conservative American politics! I think I said this in a post a LONG time back, but if we had taken all the money spent on political causes, et al from Christians and spent it instead on feeding the poor, caring for the sick, and loving people no matter Red State or Blue State, we'd see alot more people lovin' Jesus. Let the Holy Spirit change hearts!! We focus on Jesus. Deal? Deal!


GOOD:

1) The first two nights, "Jewish", and "Muslim" Warriors. I learned much and appreciated the opportunity to do so, rather than seeing another night of Larry King bumbling through an interview on the latest with Paris Hilton/Lindsey Lohan/insert name of irrelevant person here.

2) Overall span of interview subjects; wide ranging that I could see, at least on the first two nights.

3) Rehan Seyam. Not deterred by the majority of Americans who would look at her in traditional Muslim wear (with headscarf) thinking she was a homicide bomber, she lives her faith, all the way. Her frank comments about never wanting anyone to see her body in a revealing way other than her husband was, frankly, a welcome breath of fresh air to hear a Muslim woman in America make that statement. Granted, I know, I know, if she were in an Arab nation, her story would not exist, for she wouldn't be able to be outspoken in the first place.


FAIR:

1) Night three: "Christian" Warriors. While doing a good job in discussing present day evangelical Christianity in America, it actually overdid it. How many "Religious Right White Guy" stories did we really need? Other than John Hagee's "Christian Zionist" drive, the others (Falwell, Johnson, et al) were repetitive.

2) Ron Luce and Teen Mania--much, too much emphasis on Luce looking like a Taliban leader raising the next generation of homicidal warriors....and catching them in San Fran was a nice backdrop to it all. One of the few cheap shots in the entire series.


BAD:

Did anyone else notice what few commercials were in the first night's two hours regarding the Jews, and very little additional commercial time on night two? Then, the night of the Christian Warriors...EVERY time you turn around...commercials! But first, five promos on Soledad O'Brien, Spike Lee, and the fourth airing of a Diana retrospective.

Guess which night they thought they'd get the most viewers?


VERY VERY DISAPPOINTING: Instead of talking to multiple white guy leaders of the Religious Right, why not investigating the post-modern church movement beginning a groundswell in Europe, Christian persecution around the world, and what's it like to be a Christian in a country like China? Having the whole two hours on Christianity in America actually distorted the real worldview and current world experience of the Christian Church.

On the whole, 4 out of 5 stars. It was a huge undertaking, and I applaud CNN for that. :)

I have some catching up to do......

....I have much to say regarding several things; but have been either in bed, at work, and/or in limbo the past several days.

--The CNN Documentary Series, "God's Warriors" gives me the chance to offer lots of comments on not only the TV event, but the state of religion.

--Been studying online recently on our good friends in the crazy camp of Christianity, Prosperity Theology, with special guest stars, holy laughter, and getting caught using earpieces.

--The upcoming football season, of course!

--Current events (Utah, Greece, Floods, Drought, some TV news changes, Supertramp in a commercial, the Orioles' pitching staff, the LLWS walk-off HR, and more...)

BUT....no commentary on Michael Vick.

I'll be around; promise. :)

Watch this report, and remember those who sacrificed...

....I saw this on the CBS Evening News tonight.

I urge you to watch this and then go get more information. I'm going to.

The Storm, The Sequel, Its Powerful Cousin, and the long-lasting crazy uncle filled with lightning and thunder.......

I was so engrossed in work and other stuff yesterday that I totally forgot there might be a chance of thunderstorms in the evening.....

....it did hit 100 degrees, so the cauldron had been stirred apparently. When I turned on the TV at work to listen to the evening news, I'm greeted by radar pictures showing a fierce thunderstorm cell over Louisa County (seems like Mama's gotten little rest this summer with tons of storms rolling right over the cemetery up there....)

Oh, that's right, I thought. There's a chance for storms. A chance. Yeah, right.

As the next 30 minutes pass and I see that storm continue to rock, roll, blossom, and blow through the radar screen, I realize it's headed our way, it's a force to be reckoned with.....my family's at home and I'm not, and a good friend is a sitting duck on a football field watching youth football practice.

About four phone calls and a report of 92 mph winds 10 minutes from my friend and 25 from my house, I know the family is in and safe, and I'm happy to hear my friend and her boy are headed home!

So, this is storm one coming through; once it hit the station, HEAVY rain, TONS of lightning and thunder, and six close-calls where power was lost, but popped right back on. This is 730 or 8p.

By 9p or so, here comes another round; didn't know that was coming; but it wasn't as severe and rain was the star. I call home at 10p announcing my exit from work, only to get into a conversation with someone, and not leaving until 1030pm.....

....and as I left the building, totally and completely unbeknownst to me.....

....I walked into round three. It was about as vicious as round one. Tremendous wind, torrential rain, and a lightning show that left you breathless. From awe, and, while driving, from fear.

My prevalent thought going home was "watch the trees". And I had never had that thought driving in a storm before. Wind and ponding rain, but not the trees. So, I kept that at the forefront, as well as looking for the sudden "road ponds", and slowly, slowly headed for home, the van being rocked one way and another.

When I get to Wawa, I find them the last vestige of electricity. So, with some angst, I head down Old Staples Mill Road, which has been known to pond, and now with Target being built right beside it, who knows how the waterflow will be....or not be....now.

Had some ponds, made it through. Until just before I get to Hungary Road. A police car just on the scene.

A tree. Yes, a tree. Road blocked. I turn around in a minivan, whose transmission is quite suspect at this time, now needs to turn around on a two lane road, while NOT coming close to either ditch, not knowing their depth, or their current, well, water current.

Thanks to God, a success. So, back to Wawa, down Staples Mill more, a longer way home, and then in the house. About 1050pm. Rachel clings to me; I'm tired and still surprised.

Finally, after 1am, as I go to fall asleep, I see a new event outside my window...

....storm number four.

Strong lightning for an hour, or two, or so, isn't incredibly unusual....

We were at 5 1/2 hours when I drifted off to night-night after 1am.

So, while the crazy uncle outside told more "light stories" in the sky, my body, mind, and psyche called it a day.

Whew!

I Love Jesus, so I follow Karl Rove....repeat....I Love Jesus, so I follow Karl Rove.....

I don't need to commentate on this one, fans.

Apparently, Bill Moyers decided Karl Rove replaced the Holy Spirit in the Trinity for the past several years. Funny, I don't remember thinking about Karl Rove when deciding my 2000 and 2004 Presidental voting.

I remember comparing George W. Bush to Al Gore and John Kerry.

Oh, well. I love Jesus, so I follow Karl Rove.....now, for more GOP Kool-Aid....

My philosophy of days I don't blog....

....is in agreement with John Lodge's comments on when the Moody Blues decide when to record music, and when not to.

"I think the No. 1 secret is being truthful to who you are. When we've had nothing to say, as a group, we haven't recorded. And when we have had something to say, we've recorded. To be honest, I haven't had something to say, which is partly why we haven't had a new record in years."

So when I'm not here, I'm either in bed (yeah, I wish...), working too much, or I'd only type drivel.

I don't wanna do that. :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLOG!!!

Happy Birthday to Blog, Happy Birthday to Blog.......

.....sorry, I know, a little carried away I am. :)

I cannot believe today begins year four in the blogosphere; it's been so much fun.

I'm not Drudge or Arianna or my lady Blonde Sagacity, but I am proud of my finite slice of the world of blogging.

Why do I do it? It's a place to talk when I have something to say, a place for releasing what my brain thinks is creative writing and discussion (all depends upon your definition of "creative", of course!), a place to share the events of this, the Witham Nation, the events in my heart, a struggle with OCD and depression, even reviews of the high school football games I get to call on the radio (my alma mater, too!)

So, to those of you who actually invest a few moments here, a big thank you! For the people I run into in the blogosphere thanks to tags and keywords, thanks to God! I enjoy meeting lots of people from all walks of life. After all, that's what My Boss did. :)

Off to year four. What's coming? One can only hope for a resurgence of NC State basketball, another Moody Blues concert, and lots of hot se.......oh. Wifey may read. She wouldn't like that comment released to the world. Wouldn't be prudent to post that at this juncture. Thanks Bush 41 for those words of wisdom!

Here's a taste of what you missed at Wolf Trap....

....from a 2004 appearance on German TV; marvel at the music, as well Norda Mullen's wonderful flute performance.

WOW!!!!!

Thanks for all the responses to last night's Moody Blues concert post.

So glad to be able to connect with many who share the same appreciation of the Moodies.

NOW---go to my links list on the right (it's in alphabetical order) and CLICK ON the newest addition, the "Moody Blues Message Board"!! They were nice enough to post my review from the Wolf Trap performance!!

To Gloria and Summerfields----thanks for the props!!

The Moody Blues, Filene Center at Wolf Trap, Vienna, Va: Sunday August 5, 2007

I'm having a very, very hard time believing it will ever get better than this.

Tonight was simply phenomenal; above and beyond any and all my expectations.

Chronologically speaking: First, before and after the show.....

Leaving home this afternoon, my first thought was "test of patience". It began with a slow train passing on my way to get gas. Then, there was the bear called Interstate 95.

There's just been too much migration to places like Caroline and Spotsylvania Counties. From Ladysmith, past Fredericksburg, to Stafford, traffic was continually stop and go, with the emphasis on STOP.

The funny thing....the easiest part of I-95 North was the part CLOSEST to D.C.!! You know, where it's supposed to get really congested. :)

So, leaving early was good; for a time I thought maybe I hadn't left early enough. The trick was this:

--manage some roads I'd never driven
--get to free parking, while it lasted (according to their website)
--and make sure you're there by 730p when the indoor/covered part of the Filene Center opens.

Happy to report we made it through the roads, got there at 7pm (it took almost 3 hours to get there), found a parking spot and got in by 710. One pit stop at the men's room later, I'm standing in the light rain waiting for 730pm.

Yes, I said rain. Other parts of the DC Metro got bad storms this evening; I'm thankful that didn't occur in Vienna. You may recall my 2004 Moody Blues evening here in Richmond ended up being "Mudfest", plus a delay due to lightning. I still had the time of my life. :)

Witham plus Moody Blues equals rain of a certain extent.

GREAT SEAT!!!! Second row, front of balcony, left hand side. Great view. Made EVEN BETTER when the people seated in front of me left at intermission (What?!?! Are they nuts???), so I had a clear view for the rest of the show.

Leaving? In the van at 10:22, pulled into the driveway at 1250am. That includes dealing with leaving the parking lot and stopping for a Wendy's burger. Now I'm home and you KNEW I had to blog before bed, especially since I took Monday off from work. Deft move, Dad. Very deft. :)

NOW THE SHOW:

The three members of the group, plus a drummer, keyboardist, one lady providing backup vocals and flute, another on vocals and keyboard. Seven in all.

Set One: (Yes, I wrote it all down!)

--Lovely To See You (of course, they're opening number!!)
--Tuesday Afternoon

...then the official "warm welcome from the Moody Blues" from John Lodge which made things officially official.

--Lean On Me Tonight
--Never Comes A Day
--Time Zone
--The Voice (the first tears appear!)
--One More Time To Live
--I Know You're Out There Somewhere
--The Story In Your Eyes (with a wonderfully extended jam to end the first part)

Set Two:

--Your Wildest Dreams (what a song...)
--Isn't Life Strange (performed very powerfully)
--The Other Side of Life (I couldn't help thinking of playing that song on cart at WUPE in Pittsfield, Massachusetts when it came out in 1986)
--December Snow (from the "December" CD of 2003---beautiful song)
--Higher and Higher (the Graeme Edge show, narrative, tamborine and dancing!)
--Are You Sitting Comfortably (harmony; I love harmony)

....then the triple crown of a Moody Blues concert:

1) I'm Just A Singer In A Rock 'n Roll Band----Oh, my gosh. What a song, what crowd participation, the band was VERY energetic and the jam, well, I wished they were still playing it.

2) Then, as only they can do, the Moody Blues are able to take us from that to the haunting yet liberating, unmistakable sound of "Nights In White Satin". Graeme did the narrative first (bit of a twist), then the song, and that is when I lost it. By the time the song ended, I was giving them another standing ovation, wiping now intertwined tears and sweat beads from my face.

I'm sorry, but the words "I love you" have never and WILL NEVER be as powerfully sung in a rock song as they are by Justin Hayward in "Nights In White Satin".

COMPLETE ERUPTION from the crowd, loving every bit of it.

3) Then, to marry the two distinct emotional "screenplays" as it were, of the previous two songs, the third is "Question". Tremendous energy with the two calm, reflective verses, each time going to the heart of what everyone is looking for, worldwide....

"I'm looking for someone to change my life; I'm looking for a miracle in my life..."

Yes, even me, a 32 year believer in my Savior, Jesus Christ, could identify emotionally with the message, thinking of those things past, those yet to come (or maybe aren't supposed to come to pass); and feeling a flood of emotion in a sea of pure musical energy. The song begs for a "jam" version at the end, which we willingly receive. At this point I think they could have started singing from the latest New England Journal of Medicine and as long as the flute played, the guitars rocked and the harmony soared, we all would have been happy to stand in that pavilion for hours on end.

Now, I'd cheated on my blog (thanks to Witham News Headlines), and knew the encore was coming and so when they left, I was ready for that "one more song"....

"Ride My See-Saw"----great ending song! Plenty of rock, energy, pure happiness and, hey, here's a concept, GIVING TO OTHERS!!

"...ride my see-saw; take this place on this trip just for me. Ride, take a free ride; take my place, have my seat; it's for free."

By this point, my concerns about "...if I stay standing can the people behind me see?" were replaced by "...what if I never get to see them again? Screw it, I'm standin'!"

Great ending; great show; incredible performance, AND, my favorite part....it was ALL about the music.

Yes, John likes yukking it up with the guitar and basking in some applause; Justin is pretty level-headed, and Graeme is talented, hilarious, and energetic (and throws drumsticks across the top level of the stage to his fellow drummer rather well....)

Norda Mullen is, in my mind, a very key element to the success of the concert performance, between her incredible flute playing, her vocals and her contagious energy. And Julie Ragins, at the keyboard with great vocals and high energy and knows how to swing with the beat!

Julie and Norda make the live performance go from great to even better. Thank you, ladies! I have to laugh; once during the show I wondered if they were born around the time of "Long Distance Voyager" (1981). God, I'm old. :):)

The bottom, bottom line, is nothing onstage ever attempted to "upstage" the music. The music is the story, the focal point, the "sun" of which everything else orbited.

What a night.
What a night.
What a show.

Unless they come back around here one more time and do it again for us, I think I just hit rock music's mountaintop tonight. At least, the top of my mountain.

It's almost 3:30am and I'm still jazzed; trying to go to sleep should be a hoot.

A wish as I lay down---come back to Virginia...please...one more time!!

I yield the balance of my time to this young lady who was at Wolf Trap tonight, too....

The biggest difference between her and I is I took Monday off from work. :)

Click here.

The day is here!!

Leaving later this afternoon for the Filene Center at Wolf Trap.

I have an appointment with the Moody Blues.

It will be "Lovely To See You" again, my friends.....

(Complete details come Monday) :)

July's Winning Numbers.....

....3, 8, 14, 22, and 30.

A taste of things to come on Sunday.....

.....as expected, a wonderful review of the Moody Blues performance at Saratoga Springs, New York.

Sunday's coming soon!!

Please welcome to the Blogosphere.....

snobbymommy.blogspot.com

:)