I miss that bowl cut...

Guess who...

Ready to Start Advent?

If I were a Lego...

DA BOMB

The Career Key is a total dud. Can't believe I just payed for it, but it was less than $10. I guess you get what you pay for. It was less helpful than going to the library to research jobs.

INVENTING?

I took Princeton Review's free career quiz . I'll cut and paste the results below in case I want to see them later. These forced-choice format things can be so one-sided. The style is, "Would you rather eat a fly or an ant?" I think I'm anything but quiet and solitary. But I guess I can be sometimes, like when I'm trying to write...

"People with blue Interests like job responsibilities and occupations that involve creative, humanistic, thoughtful, and quiet types of activities. Blue Interests include abstracting, theorizing, designing, writing, reflecting, and originating, which often lead to work in editing, teaching, composing, inventing, mediating, clergy, and writing."

"People with yellow styles perform their job responsibilities in a manner that is orderly and planned to meet a known schedule. They prefer to work where things get done with a minimum of interpretation and unexpected change. People with a yellow style tend to be orderly, cautious, structured, loyal, systematic, solitary, methodical, and organized, and usually thrive in a research-oriented, predictable, established, controlled, measurable, orderly environment. You will want to choose a work environment or career path in which your style is welcomed and produces results. "

...

PASSION OF THE MOMENT: PEPPERMINT TEA

Often I get swept away in a 5 minute crush. Tonight's is Celestial Seasonings Peppermint Natural Herb Tea. It's the perfect way to cap off a winter's night. What are the ingredients? Peppermint leaves. No calories + no caffeine = guilt free YUM. It's so good I wanted to share it with you! Enjoy!

Snow...Snow...Snow..Snow...Snow...

I'M DREAMING OF A TV CHRISTMAS

I just finished watching "Christmas at Rockefeller Center." When the program started, I excitedly called my mom and dad to see if they were watching, too. But the folks were watching Rudolph. For some reason, I'm so much more prone to being a couch potato at Christmas time.

I think it starts at Thanksgiving when I watch the parade. I LOVE THE PARADE! This year's was great, and I was totally annoyed with Fox News for trying to make a scandal out of a grounded balloon. If you don't know what I'm talking about, google it and then tell me what you think...

There's just something about Holiday Specials/Movies/Cartoons that captures my imagination. I love watching them. Especially White Christmas. Which one is your favorite?

bancorpsouth.com...

CATHY

Some things, it seems, are even more expensive than gas. Have you ever tried buying liquid paper by the gallon?

THE COUNTDOWN CONTINUES

Only 9 days left until Narnia!

Here's a funny quote from the trailer -

Lucy: [holding out her hand to Mr. Tumnus] Oh, you shake it.

Mr. Tumnus: Why?

Lucy: I don't know.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Have you ever been curious about what your name means? There are lots of great baby name websites, but I recommend a book by Dorothy Astoria called The Name Book. Besides meanings and origins, it includes the spiritual significance of the over 10,000 names listed inside its covers. I don't own it, but a friend of mine used in back in jr. high to tell me what my name really meant.

Thinking about names, I decided to look up my family's monikers and I found an interesting theme: royalty. Our family name can have two meanings: abbreviated it means "Queen" or in its full form it means "Promise Keeper" (faithful in keeping promises). I like both of these meanings, since "Queen" reminds me that we are part of the Bride of Christ. I like "promise keeper" for obvious reasons.

Dad and my nearest brother share the same name. It means, "Highborn, resolute protector." It suits them both perfectly.

Mom's name means, "Gracious, God is my Oath." It suits her, too.

The twins' names mean, "Bold, God is my Judge" and "Truthful, Wears a Crown." Those are perfect for them.

My sister's name means "Princess, Crowned with Laurels."

My name is the longest. It means, "Like God, Nobleman, Gift of God." I almost got the name Bejamin. It means, "Son of My Right Hand" or "Son of Blessing." It would have been OK if they'd tacked that one on the end.

The part of my name I like best is my middle name, the name I go by: Patrick. Astoria's book goes beyond the Latin meaning, "Nobleman." She explained that the name implies obedience to the king. The obedience is not given out of duty or fear. It's the best kind of obedience, given because of love for the one in authority and family ties to him. I am obedient to the king because I'm his loving son. Cool, huh?

Whenever I'm having an identity crises, I just think about my name and remind myself that I am, "like God, a nobleman, an obedient loving son of the King, a gift of God, the son of His Right Hand, the child of His Blessing, faithful to keep His Word, the Royal Bride of Christ."

If you don't know the story and meaning behind your name, then what are you waiting for?

BRIAN HEAD WELCH

I just read this archived USA Today article from last March about Brian Head Welch getting baptised in Isreal. For those of you who don't know, he's Korn's former lead guitarist. For those of you who do know, I've got a question for you. What's he up to now? Has he released his Christian album yet?

The LegoTown I Auctioned on eBay

MORE THAN ONE WAY TO BE AN ARCHITECT

If you are one of my secret readers (the ones who never leave comments, but I know you are there - Hi.) then you will know that I sold my Legos on eBay. Well, I am totally shocked at the prices they commanded. The town I made had only 7 houses and ended at $100.00 plus shipping and handling! I got emails from all sorts of parents and collectors from all over the US and even Europe who complimented the buildings and wanted to know if I plan on selling more...wouldn't that be an awesome way to make extra money? Maybe while I'm in Germany I'll find some cheap legos and can do this again. Could be fun.

Still can't believe it went for over $100

THE SEVENTH SEAL

FIRST LINE
Everybody has their death dance
Their Thriller at the jr high prom
We are all united in the steps and melody
And the frescoes the woodcuts
The words writen here
Can not express the power of the melody
That commands us to perfom
To dance
The Danse Macabre

NO SURPRISE. BUT WHERE'S MARY JANE?

Hey, the "Which Superhero Are You?" quiz I just took says I'm Spiderman. I'd post the pic but it's taking up too much room and looks a little tacky.

In my own defense, it only takes a few minutes to take these quizes, and I need a break from selling. B4 you label me a couch potato who wastes too much time on online quizes, take one yourself. They are a nice momentary distraction.

WHY AM I ALWAYS THE DAD?

OR MAYBE NOT

DUH

A NERD BY ANY OTHER NAME

One of my friends always introduces me as, "the coolest nerd you'll ever meet."

Not one to be pigeonholed so easily, I decided to test his label online by taking this QUIZ.

And the results are in: The test reads "Pure Nerd."

The site elaborated, "For The Record: A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia. A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one. A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/ interactions. You scored better than half Nerd (82%), earning you the title of: Pure Nerd."

And went on to say, "The times, they are a-changing. It used to be that being exceptionally smart led to being unpopular, which would ultimately lead to picking up all of the traits and tendences associated with the "dork." No-longer. Being smart isn't as socially crippling as it once was, and even more so as you get older: eventually being a Pure Nerd will likely be replaced with the following label: Purely Successful. Congratulations!"

Go ahead and take the test for yourself. I dare you.

GOOGLE GAME

first line
stare blankly at the wall
divide your argument
play the seashell game
the spatula
how would you know
a hummingbird's guide to
daria
the date rolls around again
typical days
prayers
while rebooting
message like a fish
getting started
honorable mention
fiction
noise abatement
film
going mobile
solar charged
headcheese
drug thing
infiltration
evolution
if you stare at someone long enough
sports machine
cup of lukewarm
chapter two
people who suffer
madhouse
stupid questions
sampler
I'm still going
everything
alone at last
he screams on the floor
the evidence
elephant
chemical
search

FRAGMENT WITHOUT A FIGHT

We all know the type.
. He only took what she wanted.
. Stealing everything
. He never said, "I'm sorry."
. Just, "I'm sorry for you."
. And he believed it.
. And she questioned herself.

REQUIRED READING RESOLUTION

Here's an early New Year's promise to myself. Besides finishing Gordon MacDonald's Ordering Your Private World, I'm making two additions to my must read/finish reading list:

Richard Florida’s The Rise of the Creative Class
Corrine Maier's Bonjour Laziness : Jumping Off the Corporate Ladder

...

AT THREE

I put on my little boots
. And my feet take on a life of their own
. Im not one
. But three
. And We
. Can go anywhere
. Step over anything

WORKING FOR PEANUTS

aaahhh!!! I have, like, a kazillion eBay auctions closing, and I have to get all this stuff boxed up and shipped. I need more packing peanuts!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

What are your plans for Turkey Day? In about 7 hours I'll pull myself out of bed and drive to my brother's house to spend the day visiting with his family.

Hope your day is filled with food, family, and fun. What great things to be thankful for!

One of the toys I'm auctioning this month...

EBAY

I'm doing pretty well on my eBay auctions. I'm almost to 20 listings. It is so hard selling what I own, especially when I know I'm selling at a loss, but it will be worth it when I'm debt free! The process is gradually getting easier with each listing. When it's over, I should be able to carry everything I own in a few suitcases. I wonder what it will feel like to own nothing but clothes?

THANK YOU!

I like to practice my writing with trivial stuff that I find amusing or annoying or whatever, so I don't normally directly address my spiritual life in this blog, but I've got to do it today.

Church hit me right between the eyes. I knew I had it coming, but in both services it was like the sermons were spoken right to me. Even the Sunday School lesson was a bullseye.

The main thing I came away with was this life lesson: I've got to admit that I'm depressed before Jesus can help me recover from it. I've been spending all my energy denying the problem instead of just owning up to it and asking God for help. So, here's my real first step: Help, God!

Here was another thing I need to write down before I forget it. Men tend to look to their careers to define their self image, and when work goes bad or stops, men are more vulnerable to depression and temptation. That's normal. Another one that I'll file away for later: women tend to look to their relationship with their partner rather than work. So they tend to get depressed and tempted when they perceive the relationship as having problems, or when they are between relationships. I don't know if that's true or not, but the work thing is for me.

But I don't want it to be! I don't want to be defined by a job, good or bad. I want to be defined by God's design and plan for me as his creation and the object of his affection. And I want to be stable emotionally no matter what my work circumstances are. Like Paul and Silas, I want to sing out from the jail cell! So I'm going to rally my faith and fight this thing like my life depends on it. I'm going to focus on Jesus and not my circumstances, and (it's Thanksgiving for cryin' out loud so this part should be easy) praise God with a thankful heart for his blessings, most of all his gift of Jesus, who, by the way, has stuck with me like glue through this whole ordeal!

BEAUTY FOR ASHES

I accept.

Peter Paul Rubens
The Triumphant Entry of Constantine into Rome, 1622
Indianapolis Museum of Art

PERSONIFICATION

I feel like a triumphant Constantine entering Rome. The hideous wallpaper border in Keri's apartment is finally down. And all it took was two days of elbow grease and two kinds of stripping solution. When a friend suggested painting over the stubborn eyesore, I balked AND scoffed. Surrender was not an option. I would win this one: defeat the enemy at all costs.

Ever find that a simple possession, an inanimate object, can seem to take on human characteristics when it stands in your way? Well, I put this one to bed and tucked it in. At least one of my life's battles is won.

NEWSWORTHY

Since I have no permanent address right now, my parents are getting my subscription to USA today. I've been missing getting a daily paper, feeling isolated, but I just realized that I can get the newspaper online, sort of - even the comics. Check out this link.

COUNTING DOWN

20 Days Until Narnia...YAY.

easterncoastcostume.com...

REALITY CHECK

I don't recognize myself. Where did my tan go? Where did these funky glasses come from, and where did I put my contacts? I can't remember the last time I tucked in my shirt. My belts are still in the suitcase. And when was my last haircut? I'm sitting here on a Friday night barefoot in my 3-year-old Gap t shirt and worn out AE shorts, (OK, they were worn out when I bought them) sporting a four-day beard. Working on eBay, I glanced over and saw a Tommy ad on TV with lots of well-dressed college-age kids looking happy & fulfilled. Being here in Ruston, a college town if there ever was one, is reminding me of what it was like to be in school full time - spending an hour on my hair every morning to get the curls just right or buying new clothes for that party on the weekend. I think about those days, a time when my biggest worry was which shirt I was going to wear. I had a wardrobe that probably cost what I make now in a year. I'd like to go back in time and visit those days.....and smack myself into reality. Isn't growing up fun?

I don't think any of my friends would label me socially retarded, but I'm questioning myself. Have you heard Jamie Cullum's song "Twentysomething"? How can I be a 30 year-old twentysomething?

GOOD GRADES

My nephew finished his finals. He earned a 4.0 this quarter. I'm a proud uncle. Ben's GPA made me think about getting report cards in college and high school. I always earned A's, but in the end, the grades didn't mean that much to me. They didn't seem to be accurate measures of my level of learning in the different classes. It's strange to think about being graded again, but I'll experience this phenomenon just the same when I return to school in the Fall. Were (are) grades important to you? What would be a better alternative?

SINGING THE WALLPAPER BLUES FOR MY SUPPER

I went over to my my brother's wonderful girlfriend's house for supper tonight. She didn't make me sing for it, exactly, but my arms sure are sore. The wallpaper border in her bathroom doesn't match the look she's going for in there, so she asked me to help her strip it. I scored it, and coated it in this wallpaper remover stuff. And being a person who follows directions, I waited a half hour. Then I started to scrape it, but LO AND BEHOLD the previous tenant (it's a rental) used paste that was not water soluble. (NOOOOOO! Why God? WHY?) So I called it a day,and we decided to use something stronger later. Instead, we sat down and I showed her how to use eBay. Why on Earth would somebody apply non-strippable wallpaper in a rental?

STORY STARTER

Thinking about my parent's toys got me thinking about a story idea. I sketched out the idea below. It's totally fictional, sort of a compilation of vague memories of family stories. What do you think? Be gentle. Remember, this is an undedited incomplete rough draft.

Betty Anne lay quietly in bed thinking about the day stretched out before her. She wiggled her toes under the covers. 5:30: No use getting up now. Mother would just make her get back in bed. She stuck out her nose from under the covers, and, feeling an uncomfortable chill, darted it back under. Too cold to get up and get dressed, anyway. She thought about the scene that was waiting in the living room: the stocking from Santa with the new pencils, the walnuts, and of course, the orange in the toe. Maybe a new book would be in there, too. She would know soon enough, she consoled herself. After their stockings, the family would take turns opening gifts. Her turn to unwrap would be after her mother, but before her brothers. "Ladies first," she could hear her father saying. She imagined the boys' irritated expressions when they were forced to put their gifts back under the tree. She wondered who was more patient, her brothers in waiting to open their gifts, or her father, in training the boys to have good manners. She must try to be patient, too. But the anticipation was killing her. What gift had her parents bought her this year? Betty had dropped hints about the star-shaped silver charm for her bracelet. How could Mother and Dad not have heard her remarking last month to her cousin how much she'd like it, how wonderful it would look next to the two other charms dangling from her wrist. If their gift wasn't the charm, then she had no idea what it would be. She had already started writing a thank you note to Aunt Grace and Uncle Leo for their card with a silver dollar in it. Their gift was the same every year. From ther grandmother she'd get either handkerchiefs or underwear. The boys would give her something they'd made together from scrap wood. Though she'd been very careful when making their gifts, they had not turned out as nicely as mother's potholders. She'd tried to make desk sets for her brothers and her father, but the glue on the decoupaged pen cans had stayed tacky, and she was afraid that the tissue paper she'd wrapped them in would stick. Oh, well. She'd done her best, and after all, "it's the thought that counts." Betty glanced at the clock: 5:50. Right on cue, she heard her mother making noise in the kitchen. "In 10 minutes," Betty thought, "I'll get up and help her. Well, I certainly am in the Christmas Spirit." Most mornings, because she had to bathe and dress for school, Betty was excused from helping prepare breakfast. Mother insisted that the family eat their regular meal together in the dining room before "going anywhere near those stockings or tree." Then, Dad would have Bob read the family the Christmas story. And finally, they would go into the living room and see the tree. She wondered how Mother could get up so early after staying up so late putting up the decorations. Reluctantly pulling back the covers Betty thought, "I guess I'll get up now to help her."

This birdie jalopy was the 1st Happy Meal Toy I ever got. It's from 1981. Wonder what it will bring on eBay?

TOYS

So, like I said yesterday, I'm playing with little plastic toys (I know, I'm a loser.) all day. And I started thinking about the toys my parent's, both in their 70's now, played with when they were children. They kept a few of them, and I've heard stories about the others. There are some big differences between their playthings and the things filling today's toyboxes. Firstly, they didn't have many toys, and they had to use their imaginations alot. Mom's favorite toys were spools, matchboxes, and a dollhouse made from an orange crate. Dad, being a city kid, was a little more sophisticated. He had cast iron cars and celluloid horses. Mom had a couple of celludoid dolls. And they had their books, and that was pretty much it. But they have more fond memories of their simple toys than I think today's children will have of their trendy gadgets. Maybe I'm just being sentimental, but I don't think so. Growing up in the Great Depression, I think the folks understood that buying a toy was a great sacrifice for their parents. Mom said that her mother used to pinch a penny until it cried 'uncle.' But their childhood wasn't overshadowed by what today's standards might label poverty. They both got up Christmas mornings overjoyed because they'd have walnuts and oranges in their stockings - rarities in their households. I have a hard time grasping how much their world has changed since they were children. I mean, they grew up in a world before plastic. Think about it: cast-iron trucks! Can you imagine it? I wonder what kids will play with when I'm 70.

Some of the Legos I'll be listing...

LEGO

I'm selling my Lego collection to make some extra cash; I'm right in the middle of sorting & inventory...snore... And I decided that they would probably sell better put together instead of in zip lock bags. I can't just put them together the way they came from the factory because I bought them used and at different times, making any potential sets missing so many parts that it's hopeless. I checked out the prices of some "custom models" on eBay. After seeing the prices on them, I think I should choose "Master Lego Architect & Builder" as my new career. Hmmmm.... I think most of the serious Legofiles must avoid eBay for their buying/selling. I found a site called Bricklink that looks like it's their secret love nest. Seriously, I always thought it would be cool to be one of those guys who worked at Legoland doing nothing but making Painted Lady Victorians or Statues of Liberty from little plastic bricks. I never thought about freelancing it, but that just what Burik Models and Lions Gate do, and I'll bet a lot more, those are just the first 2 that turned up when I googled "custom lego models." Well, I guess I'll go to bed now and dream of mini figures and models. If you could build anything from Legos, what would you pick?

NEW BOOK

I just started reading Gordon MacDonald's new update of Ordering Your Private World. Heard of it? If you've read it, tell me what you think.

Here's a quote from the jacket:

"As a young, ambitious pastor, Gordon MacDonald was off to a fast start in a sizable congregation. A naturally gifted leader with a full schedule, he was a man of influence in his church and community. Pastor MacDonald was driven in his ambition to serve God and His people. Until the day he 'hit the wall' . . . . Driven people often project a bravado of confidence as they forge ahead with their acheivement-oriented life plan."

WELCOME HOME

I'm totally enjoying being with my nephew this month. He is hilarious. I am so glad that we share the same sense of humor; while he's kicked back on the couch, I can just lean back in the recliner and listen, laughing until my sides ache. Losing touch with my extended family these last couple of years, I didn't know what I'd been missing.

...

PASSION OF THE MOMENT: YANKEE PUMPKIN PIE

From time to time I develop a crush that I've got to share. This week's is Yankee Candle Company's Pumpkin Pie Housewarmer. It's flickering next to me, lighting up the room with all the comforts of Grandma's kitchen on Thanksgiving morning & Christmas eve combined. What's your favorite Yankee Candle?

"I NEED TO HAVE A GOAL"

Wow. I just read another of Jim's entries in his blog, and again I'm going to copy and paste it here so I can easily reread it a few more times. This quote sounds like a strange hybrid of something I'd say at 20 and how I'm starting to feel at 30:

"It's crazy how right when you think you have life figured out, you end up confused again shortly thereafter (usually worse than before). That's how it's been here lately. I've been going to school for 3-4 months now, but it looks like if I continue according to their plan...I'll just end up some boring businessman - I'd honestly almost rather die. I know that living for that would kill me in the heart. I need to do my own thing. I'm not going to live life everyday doing something that doesn't make a difference...and come on...redesigning sites for some guy's company to make him more profit really doesn't matter...at all...in the slightest bit...What would be my dream job...? If I could pick anything it would be a photographer that does stuff like they do in National Geographic or something. I'd love to travel all over the world, go to remote villages or mountains or jungles and just take pictures. I've been told a couple times I should be a photojournalist... There is a great need for that in the Christian community. Someone to inform people on what is going on. Maybe I could find some way to combine web design, photography and writing. I like doing all three...I need to have a goal...some way to use these three things soon...hmmm..."

RESTORATION

I just found a blog entry written by a guy named Jim that I totally identified with. He explained a concept that I struggled in vain to explain to one of my matches on eHarmony. She asked me what my goal for my life was. I told her I wanted to be the man God made me to be. Here's what Jim had to say:

"I don't want to kill it. I want to be who God made me to be. I have to admit, right now, I'm quite far from being that person. The real me just sits in hiding, afraid to come out. This isn't good at all. God has put things in me that other people need, but instead...I'm distant, detached, and afraid to love the people that God has put in my life. 'You're such a jerk' Satan chimes in, 'That person needed encouragement, but once again you failed to give it - That person needed you to love them, but you were too afraid...as usual.' Good thing I serve a God who is going to finish His work in me. Jesus came to 'bind up the brokenhearted, [and] proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound' Isaiah 61:1 KJV. My heart is His now. There is nothing that He can't fix and there is no situation that is hopeless with Him. He is restoring my heart everyday."

I guess that's my goal. I want to be restored.

I think I've figured out what attracted me to the stories of those three characters from the past. They weren't too afraid to care.

HEROES

It's 2:42 on a Saturday morning, and here's what I'm thinking about. The three books from my childhood that had the greatest impact were The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson, The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boon, and The Biography of Jane Addams, the founder of Hull House in Chicago. It was the personal connection that I felt with the main characters that made these books special to me. I identified with them in a way that I'm trying to piece together this morning. What was it about them that made me connect with them? I loved them, of course. Who wouldn't? All three were heroes, but I read a lot of stories about heroes. Not all of them were special to me - just these three. Why are they in my mind now?

...

OKLAHOMA!

Kari took me to see Oklahoma! in Monroe tonight. Reading the casts' biographies made me want to go into full time theater, but then I thought, "Wait a minute! Weren't you planning to change to a career that would make you MORE money?!?"

Speaking of actors, I'm hoping to travel back at the end of the month to see Ryan and Amanda when Ryan's students put on their show. (Mental note to double check the dates). I found out he just auditioned for a commercial. I can totally see him becoming famous.

PREMATURE

I had myself totally convinced that I was OK about Katrina. No more grieving, just moving on. "I'm finished with this whole grief thing; I'm just excited about the possibilities." I can't believe I even thought that, much less spoke it to a friend.

So, I went to Gulfport and had breakfast with Ryan and his girlfriend Amanda this morning. And then I visited Chris and Wendy. And then I left and went home, forsaking the rest of the day's plan. I just couldn't handle being in Gulfport anymore. I needed to get out of there, for sanity's sake. My thoughts wouldn't stop racing. My heart wouldn't stop hurting.

I'm just not ready yet.

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!

...

HOME

Tonight I had dinner with Gwen, an old friend from college. It was so good to catch up and reminisce. After dinner we went to Joe Muggs for dessert. There we ran into 2 more old friends. Bumping into people I know is one thing I love about going home.

my neices and nephew at myrtle beach

MRYTLE BEACH

One week in Mrytle Beach is long enough to lose track of what day it is... Ahhhhhhhh, relaxing.

...

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?

...

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.

wikipedia.org...

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!

...

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.

oldtimeconfection.com...

WHERE SHOULD I MOVE?

OK. So here goes. I am relocating. The question is - where? Any suggestions?

johnmhightower.com...

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?

DIGITAL BLISS

Snapfish rocks! Have you tried it?

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 MATCH GAME

Am I having an early midlife crises brought on by hurricane displacement? On a whim, I logged onto a match making service and took the personality quiz! Mostly I was taking it for self-discovery purposes, not expecting anyone to respond to my profile. I wondered whose personality the super computer would suggest as a match. Lo and behold, a couple of women (who live far away) have shown interest.

I'm more shy than I thought. It's taken me two days just to get used to the idea - and to work up the nerve, and today I'm going to respond to their inquiries.

What's your opinion of online match making? What about long distance relationships?

WIT

Sa and I just watched a chick flick: Mike Nichols' Wit. I picked it up at the library, thinking she would appreciate an Emma Thompson picture. At the end, while my sister was bawling her head off, she reached over and slugged me. "Don't ever bring another movie like that into my house."

Regardless of Sa's reaction, I think it was good for us to watch it. Seeing somebody die of cancer really puts things into perspective. Bravo to Ms. Thompson for her performance.

What is your favorite tearjerker?

HOLY WATER IN A SIPEE CUP

I took my neice to preschool this a.m. She was late. It took me 10 minutes to get her into the child safety seat. She was cooperative. It was the seat that gave me problems. Mysteriously, it was no longer attached to the car. And two of the straps were twisted. As I wrestled with the seat, struggling to reattach it and straighten the belts, it seemed to take on its very own personality (not a nice one, by any means). I think I will nickname the thing "Emily Rose." Please don't get the impression that I am planning to see that movie. Have you seen the preview? I had to get up and leave, it freaked me out so much.

When I pick up a novel, I may get a movie from the Hoover library tonight. I dropped off a couple of books there the other night for my sister. It was so much better than my last library - the one my class just visited on a field trip. Hoover has the nicest small branch I've ever seen, and it was packed at 9 at night! It has wireless internet, as well as computer stations. And the selection of books, periodicals and movies was top notch. Forget checking out the mall or country club. When I'm picking a new town, one of the things I'm going to check out is the library; I want to make sure I relocate to a community of avid readers.

I just finished reading my last novel, and I'm hungry for more. It took me a little longer than usual to finish it; my neices and nephew love to climb all over me while I'm trying to read. I usually ended up putting my book away and reading one of theirs, so at least we clocked some good literary time together. My favorite book of theirs so far is Love that Dog by Sharon Creech. It's written like a child's response journal. The main character begins writing poetry. It reminds me of my own students, and my own feelings about writing.

A BURGER BY ANY OTHER NAME

I heard my surname more times during my first year of teaching than I had during the previous years of my life combined. The students whined it every few minutes, and with each request I hated the sound of my own name more. The effect was so nerve-wracking that my own last name began to echo in my waking thoughts and to haunt my dreams.

One day I had finally had enough of the students’ calling. I wrote my name on the board and crossed through it. “This is no longer my name,” I instructed. From now on, my new name is, “Here’s five dollars.” Use my new name in place of the old one. For example, if you need to borrow an eraser, you will now address me in this way: “Here’s five dollars, can I borrow an eraser?” If you need the bathroom pass, you should say, “Here’s five dollars, can I have the pass?”

The new name only lasted for a day, but it broke the strain of hearing my real name repeated so frequently. The nightmares stopped and my sense of humor returned.

That wasn't the first time work had given me funny dreams. For my first job, I did a stint at the local fast food dive the summer after my high school senior year. I had a girlfriend and dates to support, so I worked a lot of hours. After the first few weeks, I started dreaming about taking people's orders. Then one morning, when the alarm clock rang, instead of rolling over to turn it off, I woke up saying, "May I take your order?"

REUNION

I'm sorry I didn't ask R. for a date. If I could live my senior year over, I'd ask her. I'd had a crush on her since kindergarten. She might have said yes. Insecurity stopped me from making the first move. Now I'll never know what might have been.

I have a handful of teenage regrets like this one, only a few. Summed up, I had a satisfying teen experience. High school was a fun time. It would be hard to ask for more, really. But I don't put those years on a pedestal, and they were not the best years of my life. In that respect, I'm in a slim minority when compared with my classmates.

Lets go back two years, to 2003. My 10 year high school reunion was painful. As I maneuvered the room between tables of ex-classmates, I got the sense that some voodoo witchdoctor had hexed everyone, removing the living part of them - and leaving shells. My diagnosis was an easy one - the smell of death was everywhere. Their dreams were beyond resurrection, and their funk overshadowed the festivity. And something else constantly resonated under the feeble party music "I was happy, once" was the evening's theme.

The star quarterback was bald, and the head cheerleader was fat. Their lives had turned out differently than they'd hoped, and they had changed for the worse. They had stopped making plans for the future and had lost hope in a happier tomorrow. My '93 graduation address to the class came back to mind several times during the evening, the words echoing back hollow and meaningless. Who had I been talking to that night? Were these really the same people? It wasn't just the gowns and mortar boards that were missing. Where were the bright faces, shining eyes, and hopeful grins? Maybe college, careers, marriage, and children were not what they had expected, but was it all so bad? Bad enough to make them bitter and hopeless? It was the saddest funeral I've ever attended: RIP youthful optimism. Not to mention good looks.

I (of course) found myself in a different place that summer night. I was optimistic about my very promising future. I looked better than I had in high school. My dreams weren't dead, just pruned. Life was balancing itself out so that I'd have a stable foundation for the next fifty years. Was it my faith in God that made me different? I thought so at the time. The witch doctor could just shove it. I was never going to be a zombie.

That was just pride on my part. Now I think I was immature. I hadn't avoided the same place the rest of my class was in. I just hadn't reached it yet - the place they had been living in for a year or two - or more. But here I am in that place now. The ghosts of my classmates greeted me upon arrival. They are glad to help me mourn my losses. Drawn to my dead dreams, they circle around me, whispering, "I used to be happy." Should I mimic their refrain? Stop dreaming? Lose faith? What am I doing?

AIMLESS

Yep.

GET A HAIRCUT AND GET A REAL JOB

Where do I begin? OK. First off, thanks to everyone who's been praying for my family and friends. God is faithful!

Christen is alive! She was rescued during the hurricane and taken to a total stranger's house, where she has been staying without phone access. She couldn't have called us anyway, because she did not have anyone's phone number memorized. She had plugged them into the cell phone and all she had to do was enter the shortcut code or say our names. Not knowing anyone's phone number! There's a new hazard of modern living! I realized that I'm just as guilty; I only know two phone numbers of loved ones. I guess I need to memorize some more just in case I lose my phone during an emergency.

My apartment was gross - black mold and mildew. It took two days to box up my stuff and drive it up to my parents' house for storage. During that time the exposure to the toxins in the apartment made me ill - I'll spare you a list of symptoms. Man, I wish I had worn gloves and a mask. I thought I was smarter than that!

I'm shuffling between family member's houses until I can figure out what I'm doing. Steve is still serving in New Orleans, so his place is my eventual destination. Jenny is staying with my cousin in Hattiesburg since Southern Miss Hattiesburg classes started this week. They are redoing her apartment for her, but it will take a couple of weeks. My apartment complex released me from my lease since my place is unlivable. They said they were just glad I turned my keys in since most of the residents had left and not turned in their keys or told the manager if they were coming back or not.

Terry and Jo went down to Florida for a couple of weeks to get away from the mess and sort things out. Terry already is starting to sound normal again. I think we are all coming out of the shock we've been in. I got a haircut today and shaved. I was starting to look like Tom Hanks in that shipwreck movie. I guess getting a haircut is moving one step closer to finding a job (if that song is right). How much longer will I be living out of a suitcase?

CHRISTEN

Terry called on his cell phone. He turned Christen's name and description in to the morgue. Bodies of people who were washed out to sea are washing in every day. The local government is afraid of a dysentery outbreak. Terry and Jo went to look at a shelter that they were considering staying in for a day or two. They said people were going to the bathroom in the middle of the restroom floor because the toilets were so full. Of course, they won't be staying there. Terry said that the riots had gotten a lot better now that there are curfews and a stronger police presence.

He is finally starting to realize that he and Jo can't live there anymore. I've been trying to tell him that for a week, but with the stress he's having trouble processing what I'm saying. (Apparently he's got the same brain thing I have had this week). He finally said, "Where am I going to go to school? How will I finish my degree on time when the campus is gone? I have to move."

Coastal authorities are not issuing a mandatory evacuation, but they are encouraging people who can leave to leave. That would include me, since I'm already gone. OK, so where do I go? The news reports say lots of people in damaged areas are wandering aimlessly. They didn't report that evacuees are wandering aimlessly, too. If you go to the strip malls here in Birmingham, you see lots of MS and LA tags in the parking lot.

To update you on our travel plans, we did go south yesterday. We split into two teams. Daniel and Jasper went to Purvis. They had a difficult time convincing the police to let them through the road block. They brought the water and other supplies to mom and dad, but they couldn't convince them to evacuate. I can't understand their reasoning. When I spoke to Mom on Jasper's cell, she would only talk about me. She's been worried about me. It was good to hear her voice.

Driving south with Jenny was like living out a doomsday epic - the damage worsened as we approached home. We had gas cans in the blazer so that we could fill up before heading back north. Because of the gas shortage and because of terrible rumors we've heard, we were afraid someone might try to steal our gas. Once we left Alabama, there were bags over the pumps of most of the stations we passed. The ones that were open had long lines. We were impressed with the number of police and military who were making the drive with us. They were everywhere, thank God.

Jenny and I checked out her apartment in Hattiesburg. She spent our time there crying and processing the loss emotionally. I folded her clothes and put them in bags to take back. Her living room furniture is a total loss from water damage. Water poured down inside her walls and under the cracks below her doors. All the doors in her apartment had to be forced open and the smell of mildew was overpowering. The walls in the living room, dining room and bath are covered in mildew and black mold. She has to find somewhere to stay before classes start back at Southern. Her grad program is only a year, so they have to resume quickly. She talked to somebody on campus and found out that they are cutting holidays to make up the lost time.

Jasper and Daniel got caught by the curfew and had to spend the night at Mom and Dads. They have half my gas cans, so I can't go to the Coast until they return. I'm trying to figure out if I should even go down there yet. Terry got my important papers out of the apartment. I'd like to try to get down there tomorrow to bring Terry and Jo some supplies (if they won't leave now) and maybe even salvage something from the apartment. Terry went and checked it out. It's not destroyed, like I first thought. But it is water damaged, and he said it stinks to high heaven.

MOM AND DAD

My parents just got through on the phone! Dad is talking to Sa right now. He's saying they need water and a bunch of supplies. Good thing we just found out that the roads opened up going south. Sa is trying to convince Mom and Dad to come back to B'ham with us.

Jenny's Grandparents finally got phone service and called Jenny's mom to find out why nobody had come looking for them. We tried to explain that nobody had contact with their entire town, and that nobody could get in or out, so we didn't know what had happened to them and were more worried than they were.

Steve used a pay phone in New Orleans to call us yesterday! He was down by the Aquarium of the Americas. He had no idea that the MS Coast had been hit. He'd gone straight to New Orleans before the storm hit there when his Nat Gaurd unit was activated. It's so weird to think that I stood by that same payphone on July 4th watching fireworks and listening to a brass band. Now he's there surrounded by floodwaters and troops carrying machine guns!

We had been planning on checking out the damage at Jenny's apartment in Hattiesburg tomorrow morning, but it looks like we'll be going a little further south to Mom and Dad's instead. It will be good to see them. I hope that we can convince them to leave and come back with us until power and water are restored there. Wondering when I can try to salvage some things from my apartment. I am sick of wearing the same clothes day after day, but I don't want to buy new ones if I can salvage some of the ones in Gulfport.

Still no word on Christen. I put her name on all the missing persons lists that I could find online today. I am not going to give up hope!

AFTERMATH

I never dreamed that the damage would be this bad. My town is gone. It looks like a nuclear bomb hit it. My apartment building is destroyed. The city has no power, water, sewage or gasoline. There's a curfew from 7 to 7. Officially, the roads are blocked for everyone but official vehicles, but the authorities are letting people leave.

My roommate Terry and his girlfriend Jo are both trapped. The only way to contact them is text messaging. They are begging to be rescued; they don't have enough gas to leave. There is a shortage of gas here-all over. There are no gas containers either. People are raising the prices to $30 for a 5-gallon plastic gas can! I found a stash of 1-gallon containers at a hardware store and bought 50 of them. I'm planning on going down Monday if they will open the roads. I'll check the damage at the apartment and bring Terry enough gas to get out of there.

I don't know where I'm going to live and work now. The estimates say it will be months before we have working power and sewage/water. That means I'll have to move. I'm looking at options, probably somewhere close to family. My top three are Birmingham AL, Oxford MS, and Ruston LA. Or should I move to Japan and teach English? Maybe I can do that when I'm debt free.

My brother Steve is a National Guardsman. He was sent to watch over the refugees at the Superdome. They are being moved, and Steve is being outfitted with a machine gun and armor to patrol the streets of New Orleans. His kids are freaked. He's too old to be doing that, they think. He gave us a 30 second phone call to tell us what he would be doing. He said he would be in New Orleans doing that for at least a month, and that we should not expect any communication with him during that time. What's the deal with that? Even soldiers during the world wars had mail. How are we supposed to manage his finances without being able to talk with him again? And a cop and a guardsman have already been shot. Rescue workers were crying into their phones and refusing to land helicopters because they were scared of the people with guns. That's what Steve is facing? Why aren't they sending in young federal troops to assist and relieve them?

And why haven't they started fund raising to help the poor people who have lost everything and have no other way of getting help? What's going on with the president and congress? The governors can't do this by themselves? I want more on the news about relief efforts.

I'm wondering what to do about my bills. How do I cancel utilities and my rental agreement in the middle of this mess, and can they still try to hold me to them? The credit card gave me two months of no payments and zero interest til '07 on new purchases made from now til December. That offer surprised me.

I think my best bet would be to move into my brother's house in Louisiana while he is gone and to try to get a job teaching in Ruston. Tons of refugee children from Southern LA are enrolling and will need teachers. At least I could get get a full time sub position.

I just keep thinking of the life I had on the Coast and how it would be impossible for me to live there now. No dinner at Gregg's next week. No running with Algernon in the morning. No biking with Chris and Wendy. No church on Wednesday night or homegroup on Tuesday. No field trip to the museum with my class. No camping with Josh and Rachel next month. No living with Terry and helping him and Jo with the wedding. No getting to know Ryan. No dance class. No auditions for plays. No festivals in Ocean Springs. No hockey games with Brice. No shopping. No late night dinners at Mary Mahoney's. No walks on the beach. No cooking waffles for Terry or making milkshakes for Jo. No Christmas party for the class. No spring break trip. No games and cookies with Chris & Katie. No shared laughs with Christen....maybe never again. Oh God, where is Christen?

It's like I just died, or at least a part of me did...and I don't have time to grieve. Even if I could take the time to grieve, other people are determined not to let me do so. I feel so helpless anyway, and at the mercy of others' good graces and well-intentioned but unwanted words of advice and glib "wisdom." They haven't ever been through anything like this, so I wish they'd just be quiet and give me some space - and allow me to make my own decisions about what I have to do next.

I am scared about Christen Wirth. She and her mom refused to leave their house on Oceanview. Terry said their house is not there anymore. It washed into the ocean. They are missing, maybe dead, and the Red Cross won't let me put them on the missing persons' list because I'm not a family member. How stupid is that? They don't have any family members to report them missing. Bureaucracy is from the pit of hell and only hurts people. Damn their paperwork and procedures. I can't find my friend and Terry and I are the closest thing she had to family who are here and who can ask somebody to find them! I don't even remember her Dad's first name. How am I supposed to find him so he can put her on the list? How is he - all the way in Colorado - supposed to know that she is missing and report her?

Seeing the overhead footage of the destruction only reminded me of all the happy memories I have of living on the coast for the past 8 years. Burying myself and Chris and Terry in the sand in our tuxedos. Wishing that night I could live in the beach house - and then moving in there with Terry a year later. Jason waking me up at the crack of dawn to eat French toast - scaring me to death bangin on my windows. The cookout with fireworks and bonfire when I met Josh and his dog. Being in Josh and Rachel's wedding. Teaching with Erinne. The road trips with Terry and Jo and Kristen and...Christina. Visiting Terry at the Fire Station. Visiting Jesse at the Fire Station. Going to Marine Life with Alan - and saying goodbye to my life in Hattiesburg that weekend. Dating Chris...for better or for worse. Trying to get to know the enigma that is Ken Tims. Helping John write his Valedictory speech. Cooking Thanksgiving dinner for my parents at the beach house. Trying to help Richie. Friendship with Billy D. My secret crush on Bridgette. Early morning donuts at Tato Nut. Hockey and football with Rob. Running with Casey. Running with Algernon. Steak dinners at Captain Al's with Chris Creel. Working out with Jerry. Living with Jack and Sandee. Living with Josh and - God help me - Casey and Warren and Tony and Jesse (and Teddy) and Matt. Teaching with Kim. Acting with Ryan. Eating Paul's King cakes. Teaching Zeke, Elizabeth, and Alyssa. I love the Coast. I love its people. And when I finally realize that, I still know I have to leave and start over. But, where?

ANOTHER KATRINA LINK

WLOX news had this to say about Katrina.

MORE ON KATRINA

Here's a link to a Hattiesburg American article from midday Monday.

Sa just spoke to Annette to let her and the kids know that Dan is safe and will fly into B'ham tonight.

We just got through to Mom and Dad via a neighbor's cell phone. (They're in the same shelter). He said that the downed trees and power lines were so bad that they couldn't get out to check on the horses and other animals at the farm. From what they said, the storm was worse than Camille, and they guess it will be weeks before the town has full power. That sounds like an exaggeration, but then, I'm not seeing what they can see. They said the amount of downed trees is mind-blowing and that Purvis/Hattiesburg were hit severely. They said that all the buildings near the church building were severely damaged.

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

AAAHHH...I can't reach Terry and JoEllen. The last I heard they were trapped in Ocean Springs, unable to drive any further East. No news from Christen,either. Still can't believe she decided to stay at her house - a block from the beach!

I spoke to Algernon. He decided to stay at my apartment complex - who knows why. He said the power was off and would be for about 72 hours or more. According to Algernon, the complex suffered a lot of damage - downed trees, siding knocked off, and (aack) lots of water damage including collapsed ceilings - hopefully not in my building, but I won't know until I get back down there.

Last I heard from Mom and Dad, they were headed to a local church set up as a shelter. Even if they had a cell phone, we wouldn't be able reach them. Nobody from the southern half of the state can get a working signal, apparently.

How ironic is it that my brother Daniel picked today to fly in from Germany. He's switched his flight from New Orleans to B'ham, so I can pick him up tonight and bring him back to Mom and Dad's when this blows over. If my apt. is badly damaged, looks like I might be living with the folks for a while. That's a long commute to work in Gulfport with these high gas prices, though.

Man, I wish our phones would start working so I could know how everybody is. Please, God, let the phones start working soon.

KATRINA

I am a refugee. On the road all day, fleeing the hurricane, I've used nothing but public restrooms. I haven't even washed my face; we left right after I ate my last bite of raisin bran. Without a shower and dressed in yesterday's laundry, I finally arrived at my sis's house in B'ham about an hour ago. I say finally because we'd been in town a while. Sa and her family got a later start leaving Mom & Dad's house than Jen and I did, so they arrived hours after us. While waiting for them to unlock the house, Jenny and I were left to wander around the Summit, taking in a movie and listening to music at Barnes & Noble. Doesn't sound too bad, until you consider how we looked and how we smelled. Ha ha. All the well-dressed couples on dates gave us funny looks. It wasn't just my imagination, was it? Wish I had taken a few more clothes in my rush to evacuate. Wearing the same 2 t shirts and shorts may get old. Looks like the storm is headed right this way, so I'm left wondering when we can return south. It was hard to take the storm seriously after the last one was a false alarm, for us, anyway. So I left my electronics and clothes and pictures and... Oh, well. I've heard Katrina compared to Camile about a hundred times today, so I'm imagining catastrophy waiting for us with open arms. Hearing horror stories about category 5 hurricanes obviously planted some deadly seeds in my brain. I was impressed with the number of friends who called to make sure I was getting out of harm's way. And just like the last storm, Inoticed how friendly people became when they heard about the hurricane. We were greeted by countless friendly, loud voices at every restaurant and gas station where we stopped. Most were from the New Orleans area - judging from accents and license plates. Even lots of H'Burg residents left (Jen included), letting me know that the storm really is serious, but we couldn't convince Mom and Dad to evacuate with us. What is it with older people and their houses? It's just a rental, for Pete's sake. It was certainly a strange end to Dad's birthday celebration this weekend. One minute we were cutting cake and the next we were throwing clothes into travel bags and filling jugs with drinking water. If you pray, please ask God to protect the people in the path of this storm. I'm sure most were as surprised by the category rating as we were. Wish they all could have driven out of harm's way.

WAR AND PEAS AND QUIET PLEASE

I took my class to the public library today. The trip cast me in a role I hate: drill sergeant. Picture the line of perfectly uniformed teens melting on the library lawn in the hundred-degree heat as I read them the riot act. "In public libraries we speak in quiet voices. We do not throw books or rough house. We do NOT talk or laugh in loud voices. We whisper!" Though unpleasant for us all, the lecture seemed to work. As the librarian issued cards and gave them a tour, they were as quiet as mice. After learning to use the card catalog, they dove into the stacks like accomplished bibliophiles. While the herd grazed, I set out to round up the stragglers - helping them find books on appropriate reading levels. Two students presented books for my approval, "Are these on our reading level?" One was holding a beginner board book (the laminated kind that keeps toddlers from wiping peas and carrots into more delicate pages). The other held an enormous copy of War and Peace. I broke my own rule and laughed out loud. Sometimes I take my job too seriously. Do you think that's what they were trying to tell me?

BULLSEYE

Target is hitting the mark with its new line of furnishings and accessories by Thomas O'Brien. Have you see any of these pieces of retro coolness? They look like I designed them. Literally...it looks like ideas jumped off the pages of my sketchbook and into the photos of a magazine spread. Why can't Wal-mart follow their lead? Good design for all!

LIKE ICE CREAM ON A HOT DAY

Bryant and Alicia brought the kids over to the apartment for an ice cream snack after work today. I invited them on the spur of the moment. It was such a hot day; I thought we all needed a big scoop of ice cream. After we ate, the girls played, and we talked. They gave me good advice and prayed for me. I'm encouraged! Thanks, God.

BLIK

You never know what you'll learn by reading Business 2.0. The new one has an article about Scott Flora and Jerinne Neils -- the creators of Blik. Maybe I've found the solution for my apartment's zero-art problem. Check it out and tell me what you think.

MASTER THESPIAN

Jon Lovitz is funny! I'm excited to see his name on the roster for the new Producers. He is the Master Thespian! And he and Victoria Jackson will always have a place in my heart. Who's your favorite SNL vet?

TOP 3 FUNNY QUOTES FROM SHORT CIRCUIT

1. "NO DISASSEMBLE! Number 5 is alive!"
2. "I am standing here beside myself."
3. "What do we do now?" "Well, I don't know about you, but I am planning to scream and run."

FINE ART

I was browsing eBay today for midcentury modern - just window shopping. I ran across a pair of Elvis-looking motel lamps. The picture was enjoyably ugly, so I saved it. Then I ran across a similar picture and then another one. I'm going to Snapfish them into 8x10's. I wonder if my friends will get my attempt at witty irony. I can't afford something from a gallery or Museum store, and I'm not putting some Monet from Walmart on my walls. Yep, gaudy lamps taken with a cheap digital camera will have to do. I guess they'll be my tribute to Warhol - a protest to overpriced snooty art . Why isn't decent art affordable?

MOUTH WATERING VS EYE WATERING

Terry and JoEllen treated me to dinner at Sakura last night.   The atmosphere in the restaurant was so restful; I didn't want to leave.  And the food was fantastic - a pleasant surprise.  My first experience with sushi had me fearing the worst.  I'd eaten it once with Casey at a Chinese buffet, but it was nothing like this!  The buffet sushi was so bad that we drowned it in spicy mustard so hot it made our eyes water.  That was not the case at Sakura!  When matched choptick to chopstick, the two places are not even in the same league.  Everything I tried was delicious, but I especially liked the california rolls and smoked salmon sake.  If you haven't been brave enough to sample sushi, I recommend it.  But make sure you spring for the expensive stuff, or the tears in your eyes won't just be from the mustard.