Friday, November 04, 2005
RUBBER SHOES
While visiting a big city, I went into a discount store's shoe department and asked the clerk where I could find a pair of rubber shoes. She smiled and led me directly to...the galoshes! I was surprised and amused, since (and you true country Southern boys and girls who are reading this will know this already) I was requesting the location of their selection of flip flops. I didn't bother to explain the clerk's mistake to her, but I thought you might enjoy the joke. I surely did.
ELEVEN BUCKS AT KINKO'S
$11.oo spent at Kinkos...lots of eHarmony communications...3 downloads from iTunes...finally getting to the blog...can't wait to get home internet access again!
eHarmony has been like being at a dinner party/mingler with lots of cute girls, so I'm, of course, enjoying it. But having dated so few women, I feel so inexperienced and not at all dating savvy. Some of the women I'm talking to seem a lot more experienced with this than I feel. Isn't learning fun?
With some encouragement from friends (you know who you are) I have decided to take that month-long trip to Germany this Christmas. It will actually be a little over a month to avoid the price increase in tickets. Spending time with my brother and his family is exactly what I need right now. It will give me the time to get my brain back in order, and they are exactly the next ones I need to be around when I need to be grounded in who I am in relation to my faith and family (after being with family on American soil).
I'm on a leg of my life's journey that I never anticipated, but I'm past the grief for the most part (though having everything I own crammed into crates in my parent's living room is something I could live without right now) and moving into the excitement of all the possibilities that starting over in this way allows.
I'm headed to the Coast tomorrow for the first time since moving out what I salvaged after the storm. Time to tie up some loose ends and say some better goodbyes to three of my friends. Breakfast with the first, lunch with the second and dinner with the third. Sounds delicious, ha ha.
I'm going to a play with my brother's girlfriend this upcoming Tuesday. I'm filling in since he's back on duty with the LA national gaurd. Having him on a two week break has been great, and the whole family hated to see him go back, but duty calls, you know? I'll still be staying at his place the month of November before I leave for Europe, keeping his girlfriend and son company. I'm hoping to make a couple weekend trips to see my bro's family in Arkansas - camping - yipee!
eHarmony has been like being at a dinner party/mingler with lots of cute girls, so I'm, of course, enjoying it. But having dated so few women, I feel so inexperienced and not at all dating savvy. Some of the women I'm talking to seem a lot more experienced with this than I feel. Isn't learning fun?
With some encouragement from friends (you know who you are) I have decided to take that month-long trip to Germany this Christmas. It will actually be a little over a month to avoid the price increase in tickets. Spending time with my brother and his family is exactly what I need right now. It will give me the time to get my brain back in order, and they are exactly the next ones I need to be around when I need to be grounded in who I am in relation to my faith and family (after being with family on American soil).
I'm on a leg of my life's journey that I never anticipated, but I'm past the grief for the most part (though having everything I own crammed into crates in my parent's living room is something I could live without right now) and moving into the excitement of all the possibilities that starting over in this way allows.
I'm headed to the Coast tomorrow for the first time since moving out what I salvaged after the storm. Time to tie up some loose ends and say some better goodbyes to three of my friends. Breakfast with the first, lunch with the second and dinner with the third. Sounds delicious, ha ha.
I'm going to a play with my brother's girlfriend this upcoming Tuesday. I'm filling in since he's back on duty with the LA national gaurd. Having him on a two week break has been great, and the whole family hated to see him go back, but duty calls, you know? I'll still be staying at his place the month of November before I leave for Europe, keeping his girlfriend and son company. I'm hoping to make a couple weekend trips to see my bro's family in Arkansas - camping - yipee!
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
MRYTLE BEACH
One week in Mrytle Beach is long enough to lose track of what day it is... Ahhhhhhhh, relaxing.
Thursday, October 27, 2005
GERMANY FOR CHRISTMAS
Since I'm taking a break from work, I'm totally enjoying seeing my family again. (I keep expecting somebody to hand me a Christmas gift, though, since that's usually the season that brings all of us together under one roof).
Speaking of Christmas, I talked to my brother Dan tonight about the possibility of nabbing a cheap (ha ha) ticket to Germany and spending a couple three weeks sharing their fa la la's, ho ho ho's and the like.
What do you think? Should I go to Germany? Maybe I'll never come back... It could happen. What would Mom and Dad think about me moving to Germany (or to Japan to teach English at a university) the same year that Dan moves back home to Mississippi?
Speaking of Christmas, I talked to my brother Dan tonight about the possibility of nabbing a cheap (ha ha) ticket to Germany and spending a couple three weeks sharing their fa la la's, ho ho ho's and the like.
What do you think? Should I go to Germany? Maybe I'll never come back... It could happen. What would Mom and Dad think about me moving to Germany (or to Japan to teach English at a university) the same year that Dan moves back home to Mississippi?
SO THIS EHARMONY THING...
So this eHarmony thing is interesting, but it takes up a lot of my computer time, so I've not been posting regularly. But back to the grindstone...
I went camping a couple weekends ago north of Birmingham. I called Terry on Friday, and he & a group of friends were driving up there to hike & camp. I was driving up to my sisters' in the city anyway, so I borrowed a sleeping bag and jacket and drove north to join them.
Hiking in the mountains, enjoying the campfire and the views, the whole time I couldn't stop thinking about God and how much he deserves our praise. I needed that realization that weekend in particular; I was getting a little mopey, but I'm cured now.
I went camping a couple weekends ago north of Birmingham. I called Terry on Friday, and he & a group of friends were driving up there to hike & camp. I was driving up to my sisters' in the city anyway, so I borrowed a sleeping bag and jacket and drove north to join them.
Hiking in the mountains, enjoying the campfire and the views, the whole time I couldn't stop thinking about God and how much he deserves our praise. I needed that realization that weekend in particular; I was getting a little mopey, but I'm cured now.
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
NUMBER, PLEASE
My brother in law got a phone message late tonight. He was going to bed at 10 without returning the call. My sister fussed at him, insisting he call back because, "the man is waiting on you to call him back!"
Wow! I'm glad she doesn't know my dirty little secret. Apparently, I'm the world's worst at returning phone calls. Evidence? I've got, like, 15 missed calls/voice messages/text messages that have built up the last couple of weeks that I've yet to return. 'I've been busy' sounds like a totally lame-o excuse, since I'm not working yet. I mean, I guess I have been pretty involved with getting re-acquainted with my sister's family and helping around the house. Three small kids in one house are enough to make you forget that you have a phone, I'm finding out. But I'm thinking the real reason I've procrastinated is that I'm not ready to talk with my acquaintances about my feelings about the hurricane, and I suspect everyone is going to try to make me talk about it before I'm ready. I'm more of a wimp than I thought... I need to call them tomorrow. They probably will understand if I explain that I don't want to talk about it right now.
How long was the longest time you ever took to return a phone call? Come on, beat my record if you can!
Wow! I'm glad she doesn't know my dirty little secret. Apparently, I'm the world's worst at returning phone calls. Evidence? I've got, like, 15 missed calls/voice messages/text messages that have built up the last couple of weeks that I've yet to return. 'I've been busy' sounds like a totally lame-o excuse, since I'm not working yet. I mean, I guess I have been pretty involved with getting re-acquainted with my sister's family and helping around the house. Three small kids in one house are enough to make you forget that you have a phone, I'm finding out. But I'm thinking the real reason I've procrastinated is that I'm not ready to talk with my acquaintances about my feelings about the hurricane, and I suspect everyone is going to try to make me talk about it before I'm ready. I'm more of a wimp than I thought... I need to call them tomorrow. They probably will understand if I explain that I don't want to talk about it right now.
How long was the longest time you ever took to return a phone call? Come on, beat my record if you can!
Sunday, October 02, 2005
COMFORT FOOD?
So, I'm sitting in the wing chair working on pictures on Snapfish when the phone rings, and its Sarah: "We're in the driveway. Throw on some clothes so we can go to dinner at Cracker Barrel." And I seriously dressed so fast I hurt myself. Literally...I smashed my toe, and it bled. Yikes.
But dinner was nice. Nothing like Sunday night breakfast dinner. Mmmm. I've eaten so much while I've been in Birmingham - too many cookies and not enough veggies. I think that comfort food is making me feel less comfortable. While dressing for dinner I realized that I've gained a few pounds since the Hurricane. In that regard, I'm looking forward to being in Ruston where I'll be back on my regular running schudule and back to my normal diet. Goodbye comfort food. Hello being comfortable in my clothing.
So, if you are in a stressful situation, I've got 4 words for you: Don't eat too much.
That's all for tonight. Thank you.
But dinner was nice. Nothing like Sunday night breakfast dinner. Mmmm. I've eaten so much while I've been in Birmingham - too many cookies and not enough veggies. I think that comfort food is making me feel less comfortable. While dressing for dinner I realized that I've gained a few pounds since the Hurricane. In that regard, I'm looking forward to being in Ruston where I'll be back on my regular running schudule and back to my normal diet. Goodbye comfort food. Hello being comfortable in my clothing.
So, if you are in a stressful situation, I've got 4 words for you: Don't eat too much.
That's all for tonight. Thank you.
Saturday, October 01, 2005
HAPPY OCTOBER!
Happy first day of October to you! I love Fall. I can't wait for the first crisp day when the heat of summer disappears and I get a little burst of energy brought on by the colder temperature. Sarah just invited me to go with her and the kids on their Fall Break vacation trip to the Carolinas. Hooray. Now I don't have to be sooo sad about missing Summer Break the last two years. (Boo! Hiss!) I guess I'll just ebay until after the trip, and then it will be time to find a real, albeit temporary, job until next school year starts.
Speaking of Fall, there's always a big debate in Christian circles about Halloween. Is it just a harmless holiday or is it a demonic ritual, or what? What's your opinion?
Speaking of Fall, there's always a big debate in Christian circles about Halloween. Is it just a harmless holiday or is it a demonic ritual, or what? What's your opinion?
Friday, September 30, 2005
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
HARDY COURT
Every time I watch a movie at a Rave or Cinemark Theater, I think about the improvements that movie houses have made in the last couple of decades. Can you imagine doing without stadium seats with cushy padding and cup holders? But for all their amenities, there’s a missing quality in these new megaplexes, something special that my old hometown theater had. It seemed like it was my theater, like it existed just for me.
The seats at the Hardy Court Theater were sticky, uncomfortable and smelled a little like dirty socks, but they were the first place I watched a big screen film. In 1986, I turned 12. Previous years my parents threw me a regular birthday bash with a cake and balloons. Desperate to grow up, that year I asked for something other than a kiddie party, so Mom drove my friend Steve and me to the theater. I can recall a few sketchy details of that evening. I know what gifts I received. My parents gave me a Swatch and an Ocean Pacific sweater; Steve gave me a Transformer. The food is a little less clear, but I think we went to Baskin Robbins for ice cream after the flick. More vivid are my memories of the theater and the movie. I perceived them as a milestone - a first taste of adult life, so both made a big impression.
Flight of the Navigator is about a 12-year-old boy (one hit wonder Joey Cramer) who’s abducted by aliens. He ends up in the care of a robot (voiced by Paul Reubens), and he must fight to return home. It’s a coming of age story, and the boy gradually learns to make his own decisions and to “navigate” life. There’s a time travel twist that complicates things for him. When the boy returns to Earth, he finds he has traveled 8 years into the future. To his confused dismay, everything once familiar is now different, and everyone he loved has changed. It’s that discontinuity, life flying by as he slowly matures, that I identify with now. It sustains the original memory - the connection fostered that night.
Many changes are driven by people’s constant desire for improvement – bigger, better, faster, more. So it’s appropriate, if not totally symbolic, that the Hardy Court Theater closed in 1987 to make room for a laser tag maze. A new and improved theater across town took its place. I saw many shows there as a teenager, but I never felt that same special connection with a movie or a theater, like I did at the Hardy Court watching Flight of the Navigator.
The seats at the Hardy Court Theater were sticky, uncomfortable and smelled a little like dirty socks, but they were the first place I watched a big screen film. In 1986, I turned 12. Previous years my parents threw me a regular birthday bash with a cake and balloons. Desperate to grow up, that year I asked for something other than a kiddie party, so Mom drove my friend Steve and me to the theater. I can recall a few sketchy details of that evening. I know what gifts I received. My parents gave me a Swatch and an Ocean Pacific sweater; Steve gave me a Transformer. The food is a little less clear, but I think we went to Baskin Robbins for ice cream after the flick. More vivid are my memories of the theater and the movie. I perceived them as a milestone - a first taste of adult life, so both made a big impression.
Flight of the Navigator is about a 12-year-old boy (one hit wonder Joey Cramer) who’s abducted by aliens. He ends up in the care of a robot (voiced by Paul Reubens), and he must fight to return home. It’s a coming of age story, and the boy gradually learns to make his own decisions and to “navigate” life. There’s a time travel twist that complicates things for him. When the boy returns to Earth, he finds he has traveled 8 years into the future. To his confused dismay, everything once familiar is now different, and everyone he loved has changed. It’s that discontinuity, life flying by as he slowly matures, that I identify with now. It sustains the original memory - the connection fostered that night.
Many changes are driven by people’s constant desire for improvement – bigger, better, faster, more. So it’s appropriate, if not totally symbolic, that the Hardy Court Theater closed in 1987 to make room for a laser tag maze. A new and improved theater across town took its place. I saw many shows there as a teenager, but I never felt that same special connection with a movie or a theater, like I did at the Hardy Court watching Flight of the Navigator.
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