Wisdom and Folly

"Better a dry crust with peace and quiet

than a house full of feasting with strife."

(Proverbs 17:1)

I made a huge brunch spread to follow-up our sunrise service this morning. I viewed it as a family celebration. I worked hard to make things everyone would love. I wanted it to be perfect.

Basically, it was all about what I wanted.

Twice, Heather hinted that she wanted to get things started, and I brusquely put her off. I could try to spiritualize it and say I wanted to focus instead on the sunrise service, but that minimizes my bizarre insistence on selfish control.

It's odd, isn't it? I wanted to celebrate Easter--the risen Christ! I was VERY excited about that meditation and reveling in the joy of it. I thought that the great food would only heighten that festive atmosphere. The terrible irony is that what we want is not always what we need.

I'm sort of wishing we had made toast this morning and been done with it. There would have been less contention and more focus on Jesus. Maybe that will be the new family tradition: "peace toast" for Easter breakfast. It certainly seems a lot wiser to me right now.

Thought I'd Toss Up a Comment

This Lenten Season has been good.

Unfortunately, I wasn't particularly on top of my dates (which is really nothing new), so I was already halfway through Lent when I decided I wanted to make the most of it. But when I decided to focus on Jesus and draw near to him, I must say that I have enjoyed the company of his presence.

I cannot say I've heard the audible voice of Jesus. I can't say I've felt a warm, tingling sensation indicating his presence within. I've seen no miracle, heard no band of angels, tasted no divine manna. I've just prayed in the afternoon.

That may not seem like a big deal, but I think I've struggled with prayer all my life. How can you ever tell if you're "doing it right"? And I don't think my prayers these past couple of weeks have been "good" or "right" or anything special. They just keep me coming back to God. Sometimes it's as simple as saying "hi"; just checking in to let him know I'm thinking of him. But that reminder throughout my day, especially when I'm used to rushing around and forgetting about him, has been particularly sweet.

I hope I am not bragging. I want to be celebrating and declaring that God is true when he says, "Draw near to me, and I will draw near to you."

Yours, Mine and Theirs

It all started with Justin.

Justin is Brennan's friend, and he came over to play today. All day. And that's not a bad thing: he's a great kid, the boys entertain themselves better with friends over, and Aydan likes Justin as well, so it's kind of like tossing another little brother into the mix.

Then, we wanted to get together with Heather's friend Carrie. She has two daughters, and they also brought a little friend. So now we have three boys (10, 7, and 7) and three girls (11, 8 and 8).

The suggestion was made that we go play volleyball. So we called Justin's parents to come along, and invited our neighbor Chris. After volleyball, we all came back home to eat, talk and hang out. Justin has two sisters. Chris has a daughter. If you're keeping score at home, the total is now three boys, six girls (the new three being 10, 10 and 4).

Because we are a home based on gender equality, we had to even the score. (Actually, that's not true--boys always outnumber girls here, even if you count Lulu; and the real reason for the next addition was a pre-arranged sleep-over scheduled last weekend). For a short time, Aydan had gone with his friend Nick to watch his younger siblings, James and Antoine, play football. After the game was over, Nick (10), Tink (11), James (7) and Antoine (6) were added to the fray. That adds up to a grand total of seven boys, six girls.

So you may be asking yourself, "Why, after a day of being scorched by the sun while watching two football games, running yourself ragged by playing volleyball for a couple of hours, and then talking with friends over the din of 13 children racing around the house, are you still awake?" The answer, dear friend, is that I am waiting for the time to come when I can tell the seven boys (who are still here, after everyone else has left), sleeping here for the night, that it is time for bed. That hour is 11:00 pm, and it has just arrived. Please excuse me--I'm going to announce "lights out" and get some needed rest.

Share in the Blame

I remember when Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair" came out, she was ridiculed in online comments. There were comments on the poor quality of the song, its repetitive lyrics, its incongruence between her age topics in the song, etc.

It has become a meme, a trending topic, a fertile ground for vlog parodies (and even late-night TV spoofs).

Now Rebecca Black has released a truly terrible song, "Friday." It's ridicule is more singular: everything about the song, video, quality of the singer is terrible. I find it interesting that there are no comments this go-around about kids acting like adults. No one is asking, "Why is an eighth grader singing about waiting for the weekend so she can go partying? Why are the kids in the video dressed like they're going to the club...when they're only 13?"

But can we blame the kids?

Viral videos. "Jersey Shore." Twitter. Facebook. Internet sensations and immediate access to limitless information. Hip hop megastars (like the Black Eyed Peas). Tween stars (like Justin Bieber). Boys bands (like N*sync). Divas (like Brittany Spears).

We've come a long way from Zsa Zsa Gabor. Andy Warhol looks like Nostradamus. It's not just Paris Hilton anymore: now EVERYONE is famous for being famous...for an INCREDIBLY short period of time. Charlie Sheen can't get done sounding like an idiot before Gilbert Gottfried is fired by Afflack. And notoriety is based--in an inordinate amount of cases--on being stupid, of poor quality, or pure controversy. An unknown child is known by millions...because she's horrible. Infamy is the new fame.

And we are all to blame. We watch, transfixed and bleary-eyed; the blue light of our monitors the only illumination we ever see. Our culture is getting dumber. With the Enlightenment, we stopped reading intensively (like the works of Shakespeare, classic mythology, and the Bible) and started reading--and watching--extensively. Anything, regardless of how inane it is, is now worth our attention. So Rebecca Black is worth the attention of millions (even if they're only making fun of her), but this girl is buried in a column on the final page of the newspaper (wait...do they even make those anymore), if she's even mentioned at all.

It's fascinating and sad. I'm going to go watch TV to try to forget about it.

Give Me a Break

So Spring Break is a relaxing time. The weather is nice. We have a week off from school. Beautiful and soothing, right?

Well, in the past three days I have trimmed the pampas grass (a little late in the season to do it; still, it needed to be done)--and let me just say, if you've never wrestled with that nasty plant, you are missing out on a treat: it tears your flesh just walking up to work on it--as well as mulching the landscaping beds. I also raked the yard (for the second time this year) thanks to our "evergreen" Live Oak trees, who never lose their leaves entirely, but like to make an early spring shedding of their previous generation. I did a fair amount of shopping, and then spent the better part of today completely rearranging our house. Apparently, the haircuts which make our boys look older planted a notion in my wife's head that they need their own bedrooms. So we dumped out the contents of all our closets, got rid of what we didn't need, shuffled the contents of the boys' room, and got it all done just to have dinner at around 8 pm.

If I sound bitter, I am not. I feel very productive. It's just like a taxing vacation: I hope that soon I am able to get a break from this Break.

Heirs' Hair

I often bemoan the fact that Texas is so warm, but on days like this, when I think of all the northerners longing from a break from their 30-50 degree weather and how they long to come here to soak in the 70's during spring break I realize we don't have it too badly.

Yesterday the boys both received haircuts that are more fitting for these warmer days. Brennan seems almost unrecognizable to me at times, since this is the first time in his life he's had anything other than long hair. I know they are growing up, but it's amazing to see how much older they look with their new 'do's.

Break/Broken

"Staring in the water like Aesop's foolish dog

I can't help reflect on what it was I almost lost

What I thought I wanted, what I got instead

leaves me broken and grateful"

So the day began, with this melody in my head (though for the life of me I can't remember how it came into my thoughts). But that was when it was still school time, and now it is Spring Break time. So this evening, with time to spare and break just begun, I concluded a long meditation on brokenness.

I just finished reading "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens. I won't get into what put me onto this trail, but it was a silly whim. However, I soon found I had the book already upon my bookshelf, and had no more started reading it than I instantly began to love it. It is a wonderful tale, and at its heart lies what we think we want, what we get instead, and how those things leave us changed, broken...and better (not in spire, but) because of it all.

I won't trouble you with a book report; or should I say, I would hate to deprive you of the pleasure of reading the book yourself because of my excessive, in-depth analysis of its plot. It is enough to say that I wish to be like Pip, and that is to say, I want to be like the Prodigal. I want to come to my senses and appreciate what it is I've always had--not chase after all the things I hoped would come to pass. When all is said and done, there can be nothing finer than a simple, honorable life. And it is here now, if only it will be grasped. I don't want to look ahead, or abroad, or about.

This may not make any sense. I'm not sure I'm helping myself make sense of it as I type. I only know that I am welled up with feeling. There are moments when you see how close to have come or might have come to utter destruction in your life; to be broken and thank God for the breaks is what makes the present moment so full of joy.

The (Deplorable) State of the District

I went to Aydan's open house last night. We were encouraged, by the principal, to come early to hear a presentation by the assistant superintendent of the district on the current state of financial affairs. Having heard much already but wanting to clarify some things in my mind, and having missed a staff meeting earlier in the afternoon that dealt with the same subject I decided to go. I wanted to have a clear picture of the state of our school district.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is not good.

After our Federal Stimulus money runs out this year, we will face a $16 million deficit. Sure that's bad. Sure, it comes after years of already "tightening the belt" and so there is little left to cut but personnel. Sure, that's bad, but maybe not so bad right? A person here, a person there. Hopefully I'll be alright...right?

The presenter went on to explain how a Tax Ratification Election could produce an amount (neatly) of around $16 million a year. Just when things start to sound hopeful....

Did I mention that the state of Texas is facing a $20 BILLION dollar deficit this year. They are almost certain to cut educational funding. That means the $16 million we were facing could look more like $38 million.

And heads will roll.

To make up for that deficit, there might be a 1 in 5 lay-off rate. Budgets for programs (like fine arts) will be slashed. Positions in every department of every campus will be eliminated. Coaches will lose stipends, and coaching staffs will lose personnel. It just might be that I am doubly doomed.

We try not to take this too seriously, for after all: who knows what will happen? Heather and I feel confident that we have proven our worth to our campuses. My friend Josh and I joke daily about getting fired. It seems a better solution than sitting around crying and worrying. Humor lightens the situation, but does not make it go away.

Certainly, I will not be angry if you read this and decide to pray for us. We need as much help as possible. But we are content that God will provide, just as he's always done. If nothing else, he will provide opportunity to learn to lean on his staff and rod.

King of the Jungle

There's this old Steven Curtis Chapman song called "King of the Jungle", and it is running through my head right now.

Well the day has just begun and I'm already running late

with too many irons in the fire and too much on my plate

I'd be pulling out my hair if I could just get one hand free

and I'd stop this world if I could find the key

My week hasn't even begun, and I'm already feeling buried! I took yesterday off to paint with a friend, and spent the whole day today with my family. It was refreshing and restful. But I know tomorrow I have to get back to the grind, and there's so much to do that, as I began to think about the upcoming week, I realized I was already double-booked for 8 a.m. tomorrow morning! Let's hope that's not a foreshadowing of things to come.

A Brief Thought

If you're considering making a cookie pizza, and you think about stuffing an entire jumbo-size roll of store-bought cookie dough onto the pizza sheet, don't do it. The flames from bits of dough that have flowed over the sides of the pan and caught on fire at the bottom of the oven will then consume the rest of the cookie pizza baking above it. Even those parts not charred by the flames will have an odd mingling of sweetness and smoke when you taste them.

You may have guessed by now that I just foolishly did such a thing, and you would be right. In fact, I think I might need to go outside (at least it's 70 out there) to avoid excessive smoke inhalation.

The State of Music Today

I'm not one who frequently posts links on my blog, but this one might be worth it.

If you're not familiar with Willow Smith and her "Whip My Hair" song, the video will not be as funny. Nor will it be as funny if you don't realize that what you are watching is in fact Jimmy Fallon impersonating Neil Young. In terms of impressions, it ranks just behind Larry Norman's take on John Wayne as a Roman Centurion.

Enjoy!

A Sea of Pages

I've been reading a lot more lately. Perhaps that's why I haven't blogged in a bit. But, to be fair, I was blogging at an insane pace for a while there, and it was mostly due to all the snow days when I was sitting around with nothing to do. But back to books. The list of what I am currently reading includes:

1) The Bible
2) Sum (David Eagleman) A neuroscientist give 40 snippets on what the afterlife might be like
3) Severe Mercy (Sheldon Vanauken) The story of a love...not a love story.
4) Rigor is Not a Four Letter Word (Barbara Blackburn) A book study for AP teachers
5) Never Work Harder Than Your Students (Robyn Renee Jackson) A book study for any teacher at CHS
6) An Arrow Pointing to Heaven (James Bryan Smith) Biography of Rich Mullins

For a while there it seemed like I had sort of forgotten how enjoyable reading can be. I should probably focus on one at a time, but I'm never quite content with that. For all my complaints of being busy, I guess I enjoy having much to consider and many ways to engage myself.

With the end of the season this past week, there was a let-down in many of my activities or goals for this year. I struggled to draw daily. I lapsed in my 6-week goal toward 100 consecutive push-ups (though this was also due partly to frustration, as I know I am not on track to make it). I slept in. I basically shut down.

But this week, I must prepare students for their upcoming art show. I have to continue to work and improve in all those areas of my life that I reflect on and think, "I could be better." It won't be easy, but I'm sure it will be good.

"Is There Anything I Can Do For You...Today?"

As it often works in my mind, there are several thoughts (and one is from a movie; another from a song) swirling in my head and mingling into a unified whole.

Every New Day (Five Iron Frenzy)
When I was young, the further I could reach was not so high, then I
thought the world was so much smaller feeling I could fly
I believed in what I hoped for, and I hoped in things unseen
I had wings and dreams could soar
I just don't feel like flying anymore

When the stars through down their spears
watered heaven with their tears
before words were spoken
before eternity

Dear Father I need you, your strength my heart to mend
I want to fly higher every new day again

(Man versus himself, man versus machine, man versus the world, mankind versus me
the struggles go on, the wisdom I lack, the burdens keep piling up on my back
so hard to breathe, to take the next step, the mountain is high, I wait in the depths
yearning for grace and hoping for peace, dear God increase)

Healing hands of God have mercy on our unclean souls once again
Jesus Christ light of the world burning bright within our hearts forever
Freedom means love without condition, without a beginning or an end
Here's my heart, let it be forever yours. Only you can make every new day seem so new.

How much good can one man do? Depending on the intonation, that can sound like a question posed from a defeated perspective. I mean, really, I'm only one person--what can I really accomplish?
But from another point of view, it is a question touching on possibility: how much good can one man do? How many opportunities are out there, if I just watch for them? How many times a day am I presented with the possibility to treat someone with kindness, to give of myself, to act on their behalf because they are more important than I am?

I don't know if I need to tell you this, but I'm a very selfish person. I spend most of my day thinking about how I can make my life easier, how I can shirk responsibilities in order to pursue pleasure, how I can find enjoyment rather than fulfillment. That drives me crazy! I would think that by this time in my life I would understand that fulfillment always trumps all those other petty things, but then I wake up the next morning and spend the whole day yelling, "ME! ME! ME! ME! ME!!"

I love the movie "Groundhog Day." I started watching it again the other day on, you guessed it, Groundhog Day. I just finished it up tonight, and the point of the movie struck me in a particularly poignant way. The only thing that broke the monotony of the day was caring for others. The only way out of desperation and depression and loneliness and a lifeless existence was to live for others. Phil spend all his time (in the first half of the movie) tyring to enjoy every sensual pleasure. Then he tries to manufacture love (and, basically, tries to get in a girl's pants). Finally, when all hope is gone, he stops and articulates what he finds beautiful about that girl he is chasing: she is kind and good, treating others well. From that point on he thinks about others, bringing them gifts, encouraging them, helping them when they're in need. He stops living for himself and starts living for others, and in that moment--in living "in the moment"--he finds that he is truly happy.

This is a profound thing. I find that days seem to pass without number, that I go through the motions, that each day is the same, old, same-old. I long to "fly higher" with every new day.

I've been reading about Rich Mullins in this great biography on his life, "An Arrow Pointing to Heaven," and I was reminded about "the wreckless raging fury that they call the love of God." The grace and love of God are so great they go beyond our understanding. To be completely honest, I really struggle to believe that I'm worth receiving them. That was my prayer as I walked the dog this morning: the day was still wrapped in darkness, but the early morning glowed in the cover of freshly fallen snow, and as it fluttered down on me, and as I made fresh tracks in virgin drifts, I asked for belief in pureness and newness like this morning. I want to believe that God gives new beginnings, but I've asked for so many I feel like I don't deserve another. What it comes down to, I realize, is turning my attention FROM me and TO my wife, my kids, my students, the neighbors, and all the people who cross my path that need Jesus's love.

Coach Jesus

It's official: no school tomorrow either. We will have had almost a week of vacation due to a single snow "storm." Crazy.

Still, I've been enjoying (most of) the break. Certainly yesterday was a bit too eventful for my taste, but the other two have been very mellow and low key. The biggest blessing of being away from school for a week has been the break from basketball. With all the complaining and drama it's been awesome to have zero contact with players (and their parents). And being a JV coach, this week has basically been nullified. We likely won't make up the two games we will miss (having no school tomorrow will also cancel Friday's game), and we've had no practice (our district has a policy to have no extracurriculars when school is cancelled). Plus, this has been the last full week of practice, and so we'll just work out on Monday and conclude the season on Tuesday...and be done with it all. That is just a huge blessing.

But having read my brother's blog today, I was reminded of basketball in another way. He wrote about filling out tax forms as Jesus, and it makes me wonder if I've coached like Jesus. And I think about this a lot, actually, because of one girl on the varsity team. When I first started coaching, I was virtually unknown to the girls, but some of them did remember me from the previous year at Central as "the guy who looked like Jesus" (see above). The hair and beard were gone, but one girl took to calling me, simply, Jesus. This has persisted for two years, though she's the only one who does it. She recently told me that she refers to me that way almost exclusively, so much so that her mom asked her, following last week's game, "I didn't see Jesus on the bench--is he okay?" (I was filming the game, incidentally). That's awesome--Jesus wasn't on the bench.

But when it is phrased like that, and when I remember that I really am Jesus (Gal. 2:20) to these girls and all who see me, I hope I'm living up to that high calling in more than just hairstyle.

The Great Freeze of 2011

Two Two One One.

A day that will live in infamy.

Oh the horror! In the early morning hours on Tuesday, a terrible "wintery mix" rained down upon poor Keller, TX. We awoke to find ourselves BLANKETED in ONE WHOLE INCH of snow!! (To be fair, there was some slush and ice underneath the snow.) In the face of such insurmountable betrayal by Jack Frost, it was decided the Metroplex should shut down. Both Fort Worth and Keller ISD's (among countless others) closed on Tuesday.
But what's this? With temperatures hovering in the teens, that stubborn ice would not melt. And because of this, the schools would stay closed for not one, but two more days (we will not be going back tomorrow either).

So while blizzards rage in the northwest, we won't go to school because of lack of preparedness. It would have taken one snow plow, one salt truck, a single one-hour delay on Tuesday, and all these days off could have been avoided. I know, we are setting record low temperatures, and I know it's probably a cost-effective solution in the south to just sit and wait for a thaw (instead of buying equipment that will rarely be used), but the northerner in me bristles at such inability to deal with cold.

But that is nothing compared to the drama of today. It wasn't just that we woke up to having no power. It has nothing to do with our frozen pipes and lack of water. It started just after 8 am. The boys were excited to go sledding like they had yesterday. They got changed and went out as Heather and I were eating breakfast. They weren't gone for very long when Brennan came bursting into the breezeway crying. Usually this means that Aydan has hurt him in some way. But when he came through the door we could see he was wet. As I assured him he would be okay and we would warm him up, his words chilled my heart: "We fell in the creek...AND AYDAN IS STUCK!"

I sprinted out of the house in bare feet, pounding my feet into jagged ice, slipping and sliding as I raced to the sledding hill. When I neared I could see Aydan's black form clinging to the steep bank of Bear Creek. I pulled him out, stripped him down, took off my clothes and put them on him. In no time, Heather had flagged down a city of Keller employee, who radioed the police. Soon we were in an ambulance and headed to Baylor Grapevine.

At the hospital Aydan was connected to a heated IV and placed under a heating blanket. It took him several hours for his core temperature to get back to normal (at one point I think it was 92.3 degrees). I called home to check on Brennan, and thankfully he was doing fine. In the time while Aydan was being warmed, more of the story came together. Brennan had gone down the hill backward and, unaware how close he was getting, fell into the creek. Since Aydan could see he was in trouble and wouldn't be able to get out on his own he immediately jumped in to save him. He pushed Brennan out, having him stand on his head, and then tried to get out himself. When he couldn't, he sent Brennan to the closest houses on the edge of the park. Finding no one home there, Brennan then came home to get us. It is likely that from first entry into the water, Aydan was wet, frozen and exposed for 10 minutes.

And how do I feel about all this? Am I proud of Aydan for jumping to the rescue of his brother? Absolutely. Am I proud of Brennan for pushing his cold and wet body to find help for his brother? Without question. It fills my heart with gladness to know that, when push comes to shove, the boys will literally lay down their lives for each other. Do I think that I am blessed with quick-thinking, tough and determined boys? Of course. Do I love my boys and hold them tight, knowing things could have gone very badly today? I love them even more. But do you know what emotion dominates all of these? Shame. With tears in my eyes I apologized to Aydan in the emergency room. I am sorry I wasn't there. I'm ashamed that I let them go out without me. It makes me sick to think that my two sons were sitting in a freezing creek, scared that they might not make it, and fearful that I would not come. I should not have had to come; I should have been sledding with them and helping to keep them out of trouble.

So thanks be to God for protecting my kids and providing the help we needed. We're back to normal now, and hoping that tomorrow's snow day will be a bit less eventful than today.

For Emily (Whenever I May Find Her)

This post is being made as a direct result of my old friend Emily's request to see more updates. Glad to know the Chicago crew is still keeping up with us!

Well one might think that a four day week would, by nature of reduced time in class, be less eventful for a teacher. Not so. This week has been extremely "exciting." I have mentioned to some the basic nature of these events, but I think I must refrain from stating more here. I'm not trying to be cryptic, but I have googled my name before and it immediately leads here. And since anyone in the world could read this, I have to be careful about what I say. If you would like to know more, I would welcome a phone call from you. Look at that...my update has become a teaser trailer to entice all into a real life conversation.

I really don't feel like I have much else to report on. Since just before my birthday I've been doing a drawing today (missing a day here or there). I'm also done with three weeks of the 100-push-up challenge I attempted last year, and it is going well. I envision it as a goal-based entry point into my return to regular work outs (and it should coincide nicely with the end of basketball season). I think I have talked before about my struggles with trying to pray, and I've taken an approach based more in listening. Of course my greatest joy would be to audibly hear Jesus speak to me, or to "hear" very clearly God's direction, but even in the absence of those things I have enjoyed deeper times of worship and feelings of closeness to God. For that I'm thankful.

Both Aydan and Brennan lost their basketball games this morning. I am certainly not a delusional parent who thinks his child is the best basketball player in the world--I am very aware that they both need a lot of practice to get better. Still, they are having fun and they're doing well.

Hope you have enjoyed this rather tedious edition of "Hopelessly Uncool."

I Don't Know What I Said, But I Said Something

I was trying to think about what I should post. So I started thinking back to my last post, and it was hard for me to remember all that has transpired from then to now. But in an effort to update everyone on recent happenings, I will ramble aimlessly about current events in my life.

1) Hilarious Sayings

My boys are particularly good at coming up with these. While it may not be entirely appropriate, I laughed out loud at an interchange I overheard between them while I was in the kitchen this evening. They were pretending to joust (not against each other--Aydan was the horse and Brennan was the knight; so at least they were cooperating and getting along) when I heard a loud crash. I then heard Aydan moaning, and Brennan starting to laugh. Aydan complained, "Why are you laughing? That hurt my foot!" But Brennan's simple (and awesome) response was, "No...not at your foot. I'm laughing because your penis hit the table."

2) My job

I had my first student teacher this year. I learned a lot from the process, most notably how to manage a student teacher and maximize his/her time in the class (as well as maximizing the benefit for me). It was a bit draining, always having someone around and not feeling fully in control. Not the complete awesome benefit I was anticipating, but not bad in any way.

On the other front, my job as a JV basketball coach has become interesting lately. Due to injury and poor performance of some varsity athletes, my two best players were moved up to the varsity team today. Good for them--but winning willl become more difficult for us without them. Still I'm proud they're making that step.

3) The Beard-Off

Always a fun culmination of No-Shave-November, the beard-off ocurred on December 1st this year. I think for the first year, Josh may have one (see the pictures to judge for yourself). I, myself, had to vote for him, with "Jay" cut into one cheek, and "Asp" carved out of the other.

4) Random Meetings

By an odd chance, I recently ran into my friend Brian at a shopping establishment. I was encouraged to hear that he still visits HopelesslyUncool to keep abreast on our lives. Seeing him made me miss him. Hi Brian. It was awesome catching up.

5) Song of the Moment

I'm currently listening to Jethro Tull's "Another Christmas Song." It is a buried and forgotten holiday gem. If you've never heard it you must give it a listen.

6) Random Sayings, Endowed with Deep Significance

It is probably not funny to hear them retold, but I now have a new arsenal of phrases acting to augment my vocabulary, all but one of them being picked out from daily conversation and applied more generally than they were intented.

(On seeing our head coaches footwear) Josh: "I feel like your feet....'over-socked'."

Over-socked--ill; not quite right

(On the fare in a tournament hospitality room) Josh: "It's horrible: all they had were Sun Chips and a banana."

Sun Chips and Bananas--bad; of poor quality

(On an unfortunately incident in the shower) HM: "That's my life right now: shampoo on my loofa."

Shampoo on my Loofa--crazy, hectic, out of control

7) Performance

The boys sang during halftime at the Houston Rockets game on Saturday. They have been performing with their CPAC "show choir" somewhat frequently in recent months. They've been enjoying it, but they're about to take a break in order to play basketball.

I'm sure there's more, but it will have to do for now.

Happy Birthday to Me

I was reminded of this little gem while talking to Heather last night. Perhaps you will remember and it will make you smile as well.

Thanks to all of you for your birthday greetings. It was a good day.

Nostalgia

HM was working on a project for school today, and since it was a project I had done when I went through TMATE I thought I might look through my old things to see if I had something that might help her. In looking for that, however, I came across a treasure-trove of items from years gone by.

The greatest find was my old journals. It was both fun and sobering looking at them. When I looked back and saw where I was and how far I've come, it struck me how little time left I have with the boys (particularly Aydan). He is at the point in his life now where he has spent more years growing up in our house (10) than he will in the future before he graduates (7 1/2). It causes one to stops and consider.

Earlier today I had made a decision (based on Wyclef Jean's claim to write a song a day) to do a drawing a day for a year. I don't know if it's a resolution or a goal or something else. I do know that to make it less like any of those things, I started today (Sunday, November 28th. Not the beginning of a week, nor a month nor a year...whether birth year or calendar). We'll see how that goes. It may be a more attainable goal than showing paintings in a gallery...especially since I'm more desirous to spend the precious, little time I have with my sons.

Tricks and Treats

Here is a picture of the boys on Halloween.

In case you couldn't tell, Aydan chose to be Slash from Guns and Roses (I truly have no idea where he even heard of him), and Brennan wanted to be Sufjan Stevens.

And while we're talking about Sufjan, I was startled to realize I missed the release of his most recent EP, "All Delighted People" AND his new album, "Age of Adz." If you were similarly clueless, the treat of this post will be this link to download (for free) the track "I Walked" from the new album (at Amazon.com). As I searched for more info on Sufjan's new releases, I found interesting info on his creation of a symphonic masterpiece called BQE (and the resulting creative burnout), and an illness that halted creative output. Additionally, I really like what Sufjan is saying about the death of the album and the song, and how his BQE project seems to have opened new creative doors. There are even interviews out there where he speaks a bit more openly about his faith. This doesn't come as a shock to me, since I saw him on a documentary about the Danielson Family Band a couple years back, but it's interesting to read. He's a smart, creative guy...and I like him (and his music) a lot.