For What It's Worth...

Cajun? I think not...

2009-01-09T12:31:00.002-06:00

I just picked up lunch at our cafeteria, and I am not pleased with my purchase. In an effort to eat healthy (like the rest of the nation during the month of January), I opted for the turkey. It was labled "Cajun," but it is far from. I recently had a discussion about how much sodium is in food that we order. Well, the preparer of this "Cajun" turkey must have overheard that conversation. I do not think there is one mg of sodium anywhere on the turkey.

I do not feel that this post is good enough given the length of time since my last post, so I will try to do better next time. I have a story to share (for the 1.3 readers I still have), but I need to formulate it.

Canadian Effects

2008-11-06T14:59:00.002-06:00

It has been just over a year since I first arrived in Calgary, and I have noticed a few things that have stuck with me from my time there.

1. I sign my emails with "cheers." I know that is not uniquely Canadian, but it isn't very American either. I saw it a lot up there, and I liked it. So now I used it.

2. I say "for sure" all the time. Again, this is not unique to Canada (so few things are, actually), but it is definitely not native to Texas or Louisiana.

3. I still say "eh" at the end of some sentences. This one is more associated with Canada than anything else. I like that I have adopted it, actually.

So there you have it - the lasting effects of my trip to Canada.

There are various others that are not blog worthy, for sure. These are just the ones I want to share.

Subtle, eh?

Cheers,
Todd

Post Election Thoughts

2008-11-05T08:21:00.005-06:00

Well, it is over. Twenty-plus months have finally come to an end, and the outcome is not what I hoped for. However, I like to think of my cup as being half full, so I will offer a few thoughts.

I watched the election results last night with some friends of mine, and none of us voted for the man who will be our next President. So the mood was a bit cynical and disappointed. However, when Senator Obama came out to give his speach, the reality of what was happening sunk in for me. A man who would have been counted as only 3/5 of a person when our country was formed was elected to the most powerful office in the world. The significance of that was breathtaking for me. I realize that is not news to anyone. It was not news to me last night; it just hit me in a fresh way. I am not saying that I suddenly think that Barak Obama is a good choice to lead our country - I still don't think he is. I was just impressed with the fact that he won considering the adversity his ancestors have had in this great land we live in.

On a much more eternal and important note, ever since I became a Christian, I have not looked to the government for my security. I know where my security is - it is in Heaven, held by the King of kings - Jesus Christ. So since I do not expect security from my government, I also do not fear my government. So I am not fearful or depressed by the outcome. As noted above, I still do not agree with Barak Obama's policies and philosophy of government, but my Heavenly Father knew the results of last night's election before the foundation of the world. If He allowed (or dare I say appointed) it to turn out the way it did, I need not resent the results. He has it under control. The Bible tells us that those who trust in Him shall not be put to shame. So four(or even eight) years is truly a blink of an eye.

That's all I got. Now go out and get a Red Cup of coffee from Starbucks. For the record, I think it is too early for these to be out; but they didn't ask me.

The Mystery of the Growing Pant Legs

2008-10-03T14:10:00.002-05:00

Something odd is happening to my jeans. Normally, jeans or pants shrink after months of being worn. Well, it seems that one of my pairs of jeans is getting longer. I feel them under the heal of my shoe all the time (but I don't recall that they were that long when I bought them). Frankly, I am perfectly fine with this because I hate wearing pants that are the slightest bit on the high water side.

Happy Wall-Street-Bail-Out-Passage-Day to all of you...

Prince Ali...

2008-10-01T14:57:00.002-05:00

I just had a meeting with one of our Internal Auditors, and his name is Ali. During the whole meeting, the song from Aladin was running through my mind. Fortunately, I was able to keep it in...

Prince Ali!
Mighty is he!
Ali Ababwa

Spin it, baby... spin it!

2008-09-08T09:15:00.005-05:00

We Republicans love to criticize the "liberal media."

Well, this short video from The Daily Show shows how difficult it is to tell a story accurately when people keep spinning differently things depending on the situation. Granted, some of these clips may be taken out of context... but I think Jon has left enough context in to get his point across. And (unfortunately) he makes that point very well in my opinion.

What this video does not show is how the Democrats do the same thing when the tables are turned. Case in point: the private life of President Clinton was none of our business... but the private life of the daughter of a Vice President candidate is a different story.

For more on this, you may want to check out Thank You For Smoking. Fair warning, there is at least one scene in that movie that will be offensive to most viewers.

Overcoming Adversity at the RNC

2008-09-05T10:50:00.003-05:00

I was called out for blogging about the DNC and not the RNC. I was told that this makes me a closet Democrat. I guess I am part of the liberal biased media that only reports on what the Blue Left is up to.

In an attempt to be "fair and blanced," here is my obligatory blog on the RNC.

In all seriousness, I have not been able to watch as much of the RNC. I have it all saved on my DVR, and I plan to watch the speeches this weekend. But I did make a point to listen to Gov. Palin and Sen. McCain. They both did a great job, in my humble but accurate opinion.

Let me say this about the RNC... there was not a lot of internal drama like there was in Denver last week. There was only one candidate, and the whole arena was solidly behind him. He and Palin didn't have to create any unity within the Party. They did have to present Palin as capable... and I think that was done with ease. She has the kind of gumption that I love. I love it in a leader... and I find it attractive in a woman. Of course, elections are not based attraction. But I digress.

They also had to create a little distance between McCain and President Bush. I liked how McCain wore a yellow tie last night. Don't think for a second that such a choice was not very intentional. He has the vast majority of the Red vote... he may get some of the Blue vote... but what he needs are the Independents.

McCain's best line last night (which I assume was on the fly): "Don't be deterred by the ground noise and static." He was not shaken at all by the protests and moles that infiltrated the RNC. I thought he handled it very well.

At the end of the day, the RNC may have overplayed the "service to country" card. But I still feel that it is an important and effective card. It means a lot to me, and I am sure it means a lot to many Americans. The man clearly comes off as not being in this for himself. Obama does not really send that same message.

I am looking forward to the debates... especially the VP one. Palin may have a little trouble with Biden, but I think she will be able to hold her own just fine. McCain will struggle a bit against the polished talk of Obama; but at the end of the day, I think he will pull it out.

I will proudly cast my vote for McCain/Palin.

Precious New Life

2008-08-28T10:01:00.015-05:00

I can't imagine what it feels like to have a child of my own. I mean I am so proud of and in love with my nephew and niece... I can't imagine those emotions being stronger. But I know they are, and I long for a day when I may experience them. Of course, that desire (along with all other desires) must be surrendered to the Lord. Along those lines, I was speaking with a friend last night about one of her life's desires that was recently fulfilled. She said it was surreal to look at the situation and see that God had graciously answered her prayer. She went on to say that He didn't owe her anything, but gave the gift nonetheless. I feel that way about being a father - if He grants it one day, great. But He is certainly not obligated to me in any way. But that is really another post for another day...

In any event, this is my niece Avery. She was born last week...

I know I am biased, but I honestly don't think newborn babies are ever this cute. Her brother was in the same category. In fact, to see the two side by side is almost like they are twins separated by 3.5 years.

I can't wait to watch her grow. Life is so precious, isn't it? And to see it in such a fragile state as a newborn reminds me of how great God is to create us, love us, and grow us into His image.

Going for Gold at the DNC

2008-08-27T09:10:00.004-05:00

Now that the world's largest sporting event has ended - aka the Olympic Games - I have been drawn in to the Democratic National Convention. I do not really consider myself a Republican or a Democrat, but I do lean a bit more to the right than to the left. In any event, I am enjoying the drama surrounding the DNC.

So as you are probably aware, there are loads of Hillary supporters at the Convention. There is a contingent of delegates who desire to bump Obama and replace him with the Senator from the Great State of New York. This is great news for the Repubilcans because we all know that a house divided will not stand.

Last night, Hillary was charged with rallying the Party to unify around one candidate - namely Barak Obama. Regardless of your views of her as a person, a leader, a wife, or whatever... you pretty much have to agree that she gave a stellar speech last night (which many people on CNN referred to as a "message.") She did exactly what she needed to do, and as James Carville said - last night was a good night to be a Democrat.

I watched the coverage on CNN last night. At one point, Wolf Blitzer was interviewing Rudy Giuliani. Rudy said that Obama needs to explain why he chose Biden over Clinton as a running mate. Blitzer (in his best "unbiased" manner) then defended Obama saying that as the DNC's candidate for president, Obama doesn't have to explain anything. It was truly laughable.

I can't wait to see how CNN handles the RNC next week...

Deep Thoughts on Rain

2008-08-20T11:18:00.002-05:00

As it rains outside, I am reminded of something I read years ago by John Piper. It comes to mind quite often during heavy rain storms... so I wanted to post it here for others to enjoy.

Victory & Defeat

2008-08-20T10:11:00.005-05:00

If you have talked to me in the past 12 days, you know that I am addicted to the Olympics. My bed times is normally 10:00 pm, but that time has been temporarily moved to 12:00 am.

So last week was all about Michael Phelps. He had goals to accomplish and the whole country (well, the whole world, for that matter) was cheering him on. He performed like the champion he is. Everything went exactly as planned, and he didn't miss a single beat in his quest. Even when his goggles filled with water, he counted his strokes as he made his way to the wall ahead of his competitors.

But the same cannot be said for Lolo Johnson. She was the favorite to win the 100 M hurdles. She was tearing it up... until hurdle #9. She clipped it with her right foot, and that was the end for her. What a heart breaking finish, eh? I watched as she stared at the screen in disbelief with what had just happened. There is another shot of her (after her gracious interview) where she is alone... crying. Very sad.

But then there is Dawn Harper. For her, Lolo's defeat meant golden victory. Her disbelief equaled Lolo's... but for completely different reasons. You could see all over her face that she did not expect to win. But the joy on her face when it set in. There was a moment (that I have not been able to find a picture of) where I swear she is praising God. Everything about her body language, face, etc. screams "Thank you, God." It was a great moment for her.

It is events like this that fuel my addiction to the Olympics.

Those Crazy Utes...

2008-08-13T08:24:00.007-05:00

... or should I say "youuuuths." Check this out.

First - why would you do such a rediculous thing?
Second - why would you let someone video it in this day and age?
Third - why would you post it on your MySpace page?

This reminds me of a great episode of Seinfeld where Kramer installs a garbage disposer in his shower...

Mid Life Crisis?

2008-08-12T12:39:00.003-05:00

I don't think I am going through a mid-life crisis (mostly because I hope I have not yet hit the middle of my life). But I got a rental car yesterday because my Mazda is in the shop for some minor repairs; and I got a convertible PT Cruiser. It was all they had available in the price range that was covered by the insurance. I can hardly imagine driving it with the top up. Driving with the top down is such a new and different thing for me. One of my good friends discussed this phenomenon on her blog. Her perspective turned into a much more spiritual one than mine has...

For me, I feel just a little bit cooler driving around town with my rag top down so my hair can blow - girls on standby, waiting just to say hi. Do I stop? No... I just drive by - keep on, pursuing to the next stop.

But I digress... my fear is that I am going to end up being one of those 55 year old men who buys a convertible to feel young. May such a thing never be true of me.

In any event, convertibles are fun. So I will enjoy it while I can.

888 is the new 777

2008-08-08T14:26:00.003-05:00

I read an article earlier today that explained how today is viewed as a very lucky day in Chinese culture because of all the 8's involved. It was for this reason that the city of Beijing chose to open this year's Olympic Games on this day. Something about the number 8 being circular and round... I didn't retain all the particulars. The article also talked about how two years ago there was talk of the Antichrist being born on June, 6 2006. Apparently, superstition is no respector of religon or faith background.

In any event, if today is really supposed to be the luckiest of days... I may have to change my evening plans. I am currently scheduled to watch the above referenced opening ceremonies at home with a handful of friends. But I am thinking I should hit the clubs... who's with me?

Are you kidding me?

2008-08-07T10:20:00.003-05:00

Whatever your view is of Joel Osteen and his ministry at Lakewood Church, this situation will likely strike a nerve with you.

Granted, I was not on the plane. Granted, I have never met either of the parties involved. But this is such a clear case of gold digging, in my humble opinion.

This is the part the really dumbfounds me:

According to court documents, Brown claims that she suffers from anxiety and hemorrhoids because of the incident involving Victoria Osteen and said her faith was affected.

I mean if your faith is affected by the actions of a Pastor's wife, your heart may be the rocky or thorny soil discussed here.

I am just befuddled by the whole scenario... and the fact that it is Headline News material. And yes, I just wanted to use the word befuddled.

My New Addiction

2008-08-06T08:01:00.004-05:00

I don't know if this makes me cool or a dork... but either way, I am fully enjoying this new craze in video gaming. And for all the haters - I do realize that I am not actually playing the guitar, bass, or drums when I rock out to Rock Band. But it provides hours of entertainment nonetheless. If you have not yet played this game or Guitar Hero, I highly recommend checking them out. But as luck would have it, I see that Rock Band 2 is already slated to come out... and the instruments look so much better. And the drum set is wireless. Such is the technological age we live in, I guess. Maybe I should take mine back within the 30 days and get the new one when it comes out. Hmmmmmm....

Blasts from the Past...

2008-08-04T07:53:00.005-05:00

My cousin is in the process of collecting pictures for my Grandmother's Christmas gift, and she found these little gems along the way...

That is me on the right, and my brother on the left. Love my hair... and I look scared for some reason. Either way, I think we were a couple cute kids.

And check out how cool my parents were... this is why Brad and I were so cute. So much about this picture makes me laugh (in a good way, of course). Good times indeed!

This guy votes...

2008-07-31T12:27:00.002-05:00

One of my new favorite sites on the world wide web is www.failblog.org. Some of the pictures on there are probably doctored in some way, This one, however, appears to be all too legit...

The Power of Advertising

2008-07-28T13:09:00.003-05:00

I feel like a tool... I bought the LG Shine phone. You know, the one that Brody and Lauren from The Hills advertise. I feel like a tool because I like to think I am above the power of advertising - especially advertising that involves characters from a show like The Hills. But clearly I am not. I will say that the phone is pretty sweet. I will also say that I had no idea who Brody and Lauren are until after I decided to buy the phone. I just thought they were a random commercial actor and actress. I had no idea they were part of one of the most rediculous "reality" shows on tv. In any event, I am now well equipped to check out hot girls as they walk past me while sitting outside with my equally hot girlfriend while she applies lip gloss. My life is complete.

Singing At Work

2008-07-23T13:14:00.002-05:00

Whenever I have a song stuck in my head (which is most of the time), I can often be heard singing said song out loud. The bad thing is that I have been told by more than one person that I "shouldn't quit my day job" or "American Idol is safe" or insert your own critical comment about someone's less than stellar singing voice. Oh well... an accountant can't be fired for having bad pitch, right?

For the record, today's song is from the new Coldplay album. I am not sure what the name of the song is, but this one line is stuck in my head. I am not even sure if the lyrics I am singing are right...
Oh well... an accountant can't be fired for singing the wrong lyrics, right?

Odd Things Seen in Bathrooms

2008-07-12T11:27:00.003-05:00

I am sure we all have stories that could be filed under the title of this post. But I want to share with you one of the oddest things I have seen in a bathroom in a long time. Food crumbs. Yep... someone was eating while on the porcelain throne. I know this because the crumbs were on the floor in one of the stalls. Now this is bad enough in and of itself, but keep in mind that this is the bathroom here at work. Clean as it may be, it is not suitable for luncheons and dinner parties.

Because people are sick of reading about Londontown...

2008-07-10T12:56:00.003-05:00

Yeah... I am back. A friend of mine who does not typically read my blog was reading it the other day when I called her, and she was a little annoyed that I didn't have any fresh content. So here goes.

First, price elasticity. In one of my college economics classes, I learned about price elasticity. It is the basis for things being priced at $6.99 instead of $7.00. For some reason, seeing a 6 instead of a 7 makes it easier to buy a given product. I balked at the concept because I am so much smarter and more sophisticated than to be lured into a purchase that way. But I tell you what, if gas is selling for $3.93, I am not nearly as upset as when it is selling for $4.01. I can't believe I am happy for $3.93 gas. This is the world we live in.

Second, surprise birthday gifts. I just received a phone call from our mailroom informing me that I had flowers to pick up. Flowers? Really? I was shocked. First because flowers are not a normal gift for men to receive. Second, who would send me anything of the sort? I am not dating anyone... I have not been on a date in a long time (like over a year)... so who would see fit to send me flowers? Turns out, it is a plant... and it is from my parents. It is partially for my birthday, and partially because I have a new office with a window. It was a nice surprise, actually.

So there you have it - two random Toddatello stories in one day.

Baxter... I will take you down to foggy Londontown.

2008-06-15T05:58:00.002-05:00

I am in London. I have been here for a little over three days. Well, actually I am in Wimbeldon because that is where my friend Dovie lives. Another dear friend of mine (who never reads my blog and I am fine with this fact), Catha, is also here. Furthermore, the legendary Jason Bailey joined in on the fun. He is now gone, but Dovie, Catha, and I are just chillin' on this lovely Sunday morning (which is actually closer to Sunday noon).

Anyway, we have had a right jolly good time so far. As soon as I arrived, Jason, Catha, and I went to see the famed Wimbeldon tennis courts. We went to the museum... and because we were with Bailey, we ended up going for free. Things like that just happen with him. When I used to live in England, I loved watching the Wimbeldon tournament on TV, so going there was definitely a good way to kick off the trip.

That night we went to the Absolute Ice Bar. (Renee - you would love this place). It is a bar where everything is made of ice - even the glasses. They give you a poncho to wear during your 50 minute stay... and the price of admission includes a drink. Good times, indeed! Following the Ice Bar, we had a delicious dinner... then we topped the night off with a visit to a pub.

The highlight of the trip so far has been our visit to see some of Dovie's friends who live in Brighton (which is right on the southern coast). Meeting and visiting with this couple was such a blessing. They truly just love life... and Jesus. They opened up their home to us... cooked for us... and cracked us up with stories and whatnot. Great times.

OK... this post is far too long already. Stay tuned for part two. Of course, at my current posting rate, that may not turn up until mid-fall.

Because People Like to Say Salsa

2008-05-21T09:21:00.003-05:00

On Sunday, I cleaned out the fridge in my apartment. Since I have been in Canada for the past 7 months, it has accumulated various items that should have been discarded long ago. My roommate has known this, but (understandably) it is has just been easier to ignore the issue. I could not ignore it, however, because I was used to a very lean and clean fridge in Calgary.

During the cleansing process, I discovered that we have 8 jars of salsa in our fridge. Eight jars. EIGHT! I mean that is just crazy. The cause of this phenomenon is multiple parties/gatherings that have been held in our apartment over the past 6-9 months. Being that we live in Texas and that my roommate has started a ministry that is connected to a country in central America... these gatherings tend to involve Tex Mex fare. Hence... salsa galore.

And to be fair, we have mild, medium, and hot... green and red... as well as a variety of brands. So if you are in need of salsa, stop by and I can hook you up.

I'm Applying to the Food Network

2008-05-13T13:08:00.002-05:00

I made dinner for myself last night, and then brought the left overs for lunch today. The meal consists of pot-stickers and fried rice with mushrooms, shrimp, and imitation crab meat. I heated the food up on a plate and brought it to my office. Upon my arrival in my office that I share with two other people, I was asked where I went to get my lunch.

So clearly, my food LOOKS professionally made... and that is all you need for TV, right?

Iron Chef, here I come...

Weekend Update...

2008-05-05T13:17:00.002-05:00

This was my last weekend in Calgary. I will still be here for two more weeks, but I will not be here on the weekends anymore (unless I foot the bill). This post will be longer than most as I have a lot to cover...

I spent Friday evening at my Calgary Sendoff party - thrown by some wonderful ladies I have met during my time up here. One of them gave me the nickname Texas Todd, and they all enjoyed the fact that someone else gave me the nickname Louisiana Heat. So as a going away gift, they gave me a shirt that has Texas Todd on the front and Louisiana Heat on the back. There is also a large Canadian flag on the back. Good times. There was a lot of discussion about how big the shirt was, and they thought I would be offended by that. But then it fit me quite well... but it is a LARGE shirt. So I am not sure what that says about me. But stories were told (one involved a zombie on a toilet and another involved mutated jelly fish killing Seatle) and good times were had.

On Saturday, I took off to Banff for a hike. I hiked Johnston's Canyon while listening to worship music. There were a few times when I could be heard singing... and seen raising my hands. It was a great time for me. The hike lasted two hours, but I pray that some of the moments will last in my memory for years to come.

Then I headed into town for lunch. I decided to just pick a place and hope it was good. I picked a winner. Cafe Soleil satisfied me in every way that food can. I kept commenting to the waiter how good everything was. When I sat down, I didn't intend to get dessert... but since the food was so good, I said why not? Man... the dessert was as good if not better than the meal. I highly recommend this place. I am still happy about it.

That night, I went to a birthday party at a Mexican restaurant. I had heard that there was no good Mexican food to be had in Calgary, but this was good stuff. The margarita left a lot to be desired, but the food was very authentic... more Mexican than TexMex. But the best part of the night was the salsa lessons (because people like to say salsa). I learned Cuban style salsa... and had a blast.

Sunday morning I was an hour late for church (totally confused the time). I missed the singing portion, but heard the sermon... and it was solid.

So all in all, not a bad way to spend my last weekend in Calgary.

Looks can be deceiving...

2008-04-30T12:14:00.001-05:00

Notice the before and after reactions of the judges...

Britians Got Talent Opera Singer - Watch the top videos of the week here

Location, location, location...

2008-04-28T16:00:00.002-05:00

The following words were just said in my presence in mixed company in my office...

Penis
Vagina
Hermaphrodite
Sperm

The person who can guess what was being discussed wins a prize.

Airports & Imaginations

2008-04-16T21:24:00.002-05:00

On Saturday, I arrived at the airport at 1:30 to pick up my friends who were supposed land around 1:45. Well, when I got there, I saw this young dude holding a huge bouquet of flowers. He was looking anxiously at the door where passengers from all US flights must pass through. I was intrigued by this because he clearly was expecting someone special.

He realized that the object of his affection was not arriving as soon as he expected, so he took a seat in some chairs that faced the above mentioned passages way. My intrigue continued to grow. At one point, I could see a huge smile on his face... but he was trying to be cool about it. Someone commented on his flowers, and he fought hard not to show how excited he was.

So I sat waiting... for my friends, of course... but also for this couple to be united. I had the whole scenario planned out in my head. I even texted a friend of mine who I knew would appreciate the story. She informed me that we were both weird for being so interested... and I agreed. But it was just so much fun for me.

Alas, the love of this guy's life arrived after I had already left... so I am not sure if her enthusiasm was a great as his. But the friend I texted is convinced that he proposed there in the airport... and they will live happily ever after. I like this ending, actually... so we will go with it.

And as promised, here are some pics from the weekend. If I had a camera, I would have taken a picture of flower dude... but again, I don't own one. (hint, hint)

Weekend Update...

2008-04-15T15:44:00.000-05:00

This weekend, my college roommate and his lovely wife came up for a visit. The weekend could not really have gone any better than it did …except for the overwhelming tea house we popped into on Sunday night. I thought Teresa’s head was going to explode as she considered the 50+ tea varieties available to her. It was a bit on the stressful side, for sure. We ended up walking out of the place with a peanut butter cookie for Philip instead.

But we did have a great day on the slopes. We went to Sunshine Village because it is known for still having great snow even this late in the season. When we arrived, it was pretty icy, but as the sun did its work… the snow softened up and by the end of the day, we had some great skiing conditions to work with. The wind, however, was relentless. There was a moment when I just had to sit down because the wind was about to blow me over. Phil and I considered taking the final lift up to the very top… but we reconsidered it as the wind picked up. We both agreed that such a final run would not be as fun as we would like.

We ended the trip at Diner Deluxe. I was worried I had oversold the place to them… but judging by their reactions, it was a hit. Phil had banana stuffed chocolate French toast. Come on, right? It tasted even better than it sounds.

Old friends really are the best. I have known Philip for about 12 years, and anytime we get together, things just flow. And as I said to someone else… old friends who bring with them new friends (like spouses) are even better.

Stay tuned as I hope to put some pics up from the weekend. Since I don’t have a camera, I will have to steal the pics from their blog.

(So if anyone feels sorry for me for not having a camera… my birthday is in July.)

It has been one of those days...

2008-04-11T21:40:00.003-05:00

... when I just want to sit in a comfortable chair with a cup of coffee and my Bible and let the Lord minister to me through His Word. But instead, I have been putting out fires all day here at work (some of which were started by me).

Thanks Adam and Eve.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow... or make it stop.

2008-04-10T11:11:00.003-05:00

It is snowing like crazy this morning...

My first thought when I walked out of my bedroom into the living room was, "you've got to be kidding me." I was totally not expecting it because I barely needed a jacket last night when I walked home.

My next thought was how pretty the snow is. I have said it before, but it is still true... snow is just a cool thing. I thought I was over it, but really I am not. I did, however, quickly make the decision to walk to work in the +15 - not because of the temperature... but simply because I didn't want to be covered in snow. Even in the two blocks from my apartment to the closest +15 entrance, I had more snow on me than I wanted.

A woman I work with lives about 45 minutes away from the office… it took her 2.5 hours to get to work. Wow! And keep in mind, it is April 10th.

I thought the snow was done, but clearly my Texas thinking was flawed on that matter.

What a game...

2008-04-07T23:09:00.003-05:00

I made it home just as I expected - with moments to spare before the game started. And what a great game it was. The spread never exceeded 10 points. It was tight from beginning to end... Chalmers' shot to tie it up... overtime... Kansas taking the win. All around, a good time.

I wonder if the Defense Lady was at the game. Perhaps she should have yelled a bit louder this time. In any event, I am sure she was very proud of her Tigers - as well she should be.

Until next March 2009...

A Watched Clock...

2008-04-07T19:59:00.002-05:00

I am running a report that I have to send to our Houston office before I leave tonight. At the same time, I am anxiously awaiting the NCAA final game between Kansas and Memphis. The report is almost done... but then I have a solid 10 minute walk home. So what should put me on my couch just moments before tip off.

Ah... the report is on its last phase. The screen is jumping around just slightly - my clue that it is almost done.

Sports are not a huge deal for me... but for some reason, I really enjoy watching the Tournament. So I have cut a few corners here at work (none that amount to anything, really) to get finished tonight. Oh... I think the report is done.

See y'all...

Adios!

Out and About

2008-04-06T18:20:00.005-05:00

My camera phone dose not take great pictures, but I used it recently to capture the following images.

This one is from a gas pump at a gas station in my home town:

I am so glad they clarified what prepay means. I would have been completely lost and unable to fill up my car other wise... As one of my friends said when I sent him this picture - I don't know if these people should have access to flammable liquids.

This one... well, I just have to ask why? Why? What possible reason would someone have for doing this to any vehicle?

The Power of Advertising

2008-04-05T21:47:00.002-05:00

I have no idea if Mr. Sub makes tasty sandwiches or not, but I sure want to try one. These two commercials cracked me up...

In the vernacular...

2008-04-04T15:09:00.003-05:00

Question:
Which of the following sentences rolls off the tongue easier?

"We will use y'alls numbers in our calculation."

"We will use your guys's numbers in our calculation."

Answer:

It depends on the address of the house you grew up in, I guess.

As you can imagine, this southern boy get no small amount of flack for my constant use of the work y'all. But I have noticed that the Canucks sound just as strange to me when they say "your guys's." So in the end, I guess we're even.

[But be honest... "y'all" just works better]

April Fool Feedback

2008-04-02T13:50:00.002-05:00

In addition to the comments noted on the actual entry... here are some responses I received when I came clean about the "non job" in Calgary (some are a bit vulgar):

"Dick! Hahaha, that was a good one."

"Bastard!"

"I even cried."

"[I'm surprised] that someone I thought I knew is actually missing a heart."

"That's genius."

So all in all, it was a good time for me... but some people didn't enjoy it so much. I feel bad for making the one person cry... and an apology has been given.

If I ever doubt that I am missed by my Houston peeps - I just have to look back on this one blog entry for a reminder. That, of course, was not my goal... but it was a nice surprise. I can't wait to be back for good... and that is no joke.

(yes, I do realize how cheesy that last line is... but I couldn't resist)

Huge (unexpected) News

2008-04-01T17:20:00.004-05:00

I have kept this under my hat for the past two weeks because I didn't want to be influenced by anyone's input on the matter. But it is official... so I decided this was the best place to let the cat out of the bag.

I have just accepted a full time position here in Calgary - effective July 1. The position comes with a handsome raise, so I felt like it was too good to pass up. I will be taking on more of a supervisor role, so it is also a great career move.

I will be back in Houston May 16 through June to get things sorted out. It may seem like a fast decision, but it is something I have been praying about for the past month, and actively considering for the past two weeks (since the offer was made to me).

When I moved up here in October, I had no intentions of moving here permanently. God really has a sense of humor sometimes.

Cheers, eh?

Full Disclosure

2008-03-31T13:28:00.002-05:00

We will all agree that the fashion rules for men are a lot less stringent than those that apply to women. We have fewer items to coordinate... we can mix or match items with more ease... etc, etc. But there are a few easy rules that do apply to us that I try to hold to. They are as follows:

1. When wearing slacks, a belt is not just a functional item... and therefore, it is not optional. This rule is basically true whenever you tuck your shirt in. Wear a belt.

2. Said belt should be the same color (or at least in the same family of colors) as your shoes.

3. Socks should match your pants - not your shoes. And they certainly should not be a different color from both the pants and the shoes.

Like I said, I try to hold to these general rules at all times. But today, I somehow left my apartment in violation of rule #1. Fortunately, I am wearing a sweater... so my fashion faux pas is well concealed. But I know... and sometimes that is just worse. Kinda like when you "get away" with a lie as a kid, but your parents know the truth. They let you stew in your web of lies until it eats you up so much that you just have to confess. This blog post is just such a confession.

And Happy Opening Day to all you baseball fans.

Unfreaking Believable

2008-03-30T18:16:00.003-05:00

I am so annoyed with living in Canada at the moment. Davidson just lost to Kansas, and I missed the final shot because the network I am forced to watch the game on took a commercial break during the last 16 seconds of the game. Who does that? I can't believe it. I would like to blame it on Canada... but the station is broadcast out of Spokane Washington. Who takes a commercial break with 16 seconds left in a two point game?!?!?!?! I can't wait to get back to Texas where such lunacy would never happen.

OK... I'm done. Carry on.

But really... 16 seconds? Commercial break? WOW!!!

Solo Ski Trip - #2

2008-03-29T22:20:00.003-05:00

I went for another day of skiing again today - this time I hit Lake Louise. I liked it for the most part, but the conditions were poor. It snowed the whole time I was there (actually stopped at 4:00 as I was taking my last run of the day). The powder was pretty good as a result, but the visibility was horrible - and that brought out the apprehensive/timid skier in me. I stuck to blues, and only attempted one black run. That black run saw me sliding down the hill unable to stop. Not cool. Part of the reason for the uncontrolable sliding was the icy conditions (which I found out is because the base at Lake Louise is man-made snow). Anyway, I think I prefer Sunshine... so that will be the venue for Solo Ski Trip #3 (if there is one). I did find another good run with nice moguls... and I did it a number of times. The last time, I actually said (quite loudly, actually) "Why do I keep doing this run?" It was a beast... but I kinda enjoyed it.

I did have an interesting moment while driving back to Calgary. There is a stretch of the road that runs very close to a huge mountain. I mean the mountains are all around you as you drive (and, of course, they are all huge)... but this one in particular is REALLY close to the road - so its size appears even bigger. I get nervous every time I drive by it, and I realized why today. It is because the mountain is so much bigger than I am. That sounds stupid, but that is exactly what it is. I realized that I don't always have that kind of reverence for God, though. I mean the mountain can't do anything to me... but God can take me out in an instant. So while I am not advocating that Christians go though life scared of God... I was just reminded today that I do not always have the healthy fear of Him that I should. I mean I am not really scared of the mountain either... but I am very careful when I drive by it. In the same way, I should care more about how I live my life since God has called me to be perfect as He is perfect. Fortunately, He desires that kind of holiness in my more than I do... so He is actively working to bring it about. Speaking to me through His creation is just one way that He does that.

Is That Toilet Paper in the Sky?

2008-03-14T22:10:00.008-05:00

Last Saturday night, I saw something I thought I would only see in pictures. I was out with a couple friends at a house party, and on the way home one of them said she saw the Northern Lights off in the distance. I was ecstatic because this is truly one of those things that Texans and Louisianians rarely (if ever) get to see. So the other friend drove to a place where we could see God show off a bit.

While the show was not as dramatic as you may see in movies or pictures, it was definitely a treat. There was one spot that was really bright, and the rest of it just danced around a little.

I enjoyed it for obvious reasons, but it also reminded me of something my brother and I used to do when we were kids. My mom always bought Northern toilet paper, and my brother and I used to throw the rolls around the house calling it the Northern Lights. Now we didn't do this all the time, but I think we did it more than once. In any event, it is a memory I have that just makes me laugh... and it made me smile last weekend as well.

Guest Blog - The Traveler

2008-03-12T19:35:00.000-05:00

Top 10 Etiquette Rules of Flying by The Traveler

So based on my comment to a blog regarding the bush league practice of requesting to swap higher quality airline seats for lower quality seats, it was asked of me “Hey Traveler, you should totally write a guest blog on this matter”. Ok, he didn’t say it like a 16 year old girl, but it sounded funnier and hey I got to make the whole “16 year old girl” joke. On to the rules!

Now these are in order of boarding to deplaning and not necessarily importance.

10. Pre-boarding: Look at the little card in your hand and use common sense. If it says Group 3, you do not board first. First Class always boards first, then Status members, then everyone else. If you are on an Embraer where everyone is First Class and there are three groups to board starting from Group 3, YOU STILL DON’T BOARD FIRST! The people who fly week in and week out board first and then Group 3 boards and 2 and so on. This has two parts:

A. Don’t try and sneak on to get your luggage on board. This is very poor form.
B. Don’t stand at the entrance to the boarding line like they may magically call group 4 before they call group 6 or 1 (or First Class or Status). All you are doing is blocking the way and angering people. This, by the way, should be punishable by a public slapping.

9. When you get on the plane, stick your roll-aboard in the over head compartment and move in to the aisle to take off any extraneous garment you don’t want on your person during the flight. This is not Paris, Milan, L.A. or New York. This is not your personal runway. Other people are trying to board and you essentially are holding up the process of taking off.

8. Luggage stowage: If you have two items. One goes under your seat. If you have a small item only, THIS STILL goes under your seat. Taking up precious overhead space is bush league. If you are sitting in Row 28, your luggage is not that heavy. You have lugged it around all day and another 50 feet will not kill you. DO NOT put your luggage in the bin above aisle 10 or so help me… All this does is slow the boarding process because the people in Aisle 10 have to find a place for their belongings and inevitably it will slow the deplaning process.

7. Sit in your assigned seat. Again look at that little card in your hand and do the math. Oh and don’t try and sit in the exit row seats (the poor man’s First Class) and think the frequent flyer who got that seat will just see you and say “Oh I better find another seat”.

6. Flight Attendants: Be nice to these people. Do not refer to them as stewardesses. This is not 1950. These people are there to ensure your safety (As much as anyone outside of the cockpit can). They are not there to wait on you hand and foot. If you are rude to them then that puts them in a foul mood and the rest have to suffer. Oh and don’t be surprised if you get a sneezer.

5. Seat positioning: If you have the bladder of a new born puppy, don’t choose the window seat. In fact don’t choose the middle seat unless you can not help it. If you are not able to help it you are to be on a liquid fast 3 hours prior to take off and during the entire flight. Because the first time you get up to go to the bathroom people will understand. The third or fourth time, you may get lynched.

4. Swapping seats: Don’t ask to do this unless the swap is equitable. (See my Comment on Airline Etiquette Lesson #1). If you are traveling for pleasure and you book far enough in advance you should be able to sit next to your companion. Go online to the airline’s website and make this happen. I know you can do it! If the airline screws up and moves you to another flight then my apologies but don’t make me suffer for their mistake. If you book a Super Saver seat and end up having to take the left-over seats then that is your bad.

3. Leaning back: Don’t lean back if you don’t plan on sleeping. I and many others on the plane are trying to work. We have laptops and it is very difficult to work with our laptop screen in our Adam’s apple. I don’t mind if you are sleeping but don’t sit there and have a conversation with another person reclined like you are in a Laz-y-boy at your house.

2. I don’t want to talk to you: Nobody wants to talk to you. Question: Do I come to your car and sit there and talk to you while you are going to work? That is exactly what we are doing. There is a 90% chance that if you see someone in a suit or dress slacks and shirt on Monday morning, the same attire on Thursday evening, or wearing jeans and a haggard look then there is a good chance that person is going to or returning from work. I may chit chat with you. You know, “price of tea in China” type conversation. This is mere politeness. It is not an invitation to yap for the next three and a half hours.

1. Deplaning: Ok here are the rules. They are simple. Do not chit chat. Each row on the plane leaves. If you have issues getting your roll-aboard down move inside and struggle there. Let the other people off the plane. I am finally getting home and don’t want to have to sit there and listen to your conversation or determine that you need to hit the gym. Do not try to get your briefcase to connect to your roll-a-board before getting off the jet-way and clear of the entrance. This is still blocking everyone and you are not nimble enough to maneuver your luggage as so. This is the airplane equivalent to rubber-necking in traffic and it angers others.

So you ask what give The Traveler the right to make these bold statements. Last week, I was in another city and The Airline calls me. “Mr. The Traveler, we noticed that you did not fly with us during the month of December and we wanted to check in and make sure everything was ok, and that there was nothing we did to discourage you from flying with us.” To which I responded that everything was fine and that I had a slow month. I also find it ironic that they were calling me in March about December when I had flown 20 times or so since then. Oh well just goes to show how “important” I am.

Rack’em,
The Travler

Indian Food & Other Heated Things

2008-03-08T10:27:00.003-06:00

It has finally happened... I have had Indian food that I liked. I mean I have been to India, and I didn't like the food. But last night (after a few hours of drinks), the group I was with suggested going out for Indian food. I said I would go and break nan with them... but I would not likely eat since I don't care for Indian food. Well, I was wrong. Everything I tasted was filled with flavor. I still don't like the textures involved in most Indian dishes, but the flavors were nice. This is a huge thing for me because I like pretty much any type of food in the world. But Indian food has always been like pimento cheese for me - just can't make myself like it.

I also learned that chutney is originally from India. I have always thought is was a British thing. The Canadians love to point out my ignorance on things.

Along those lines, get the Canadians going on the US political race... throw in the fact that I am a Christian... and you have quite the makings of heated discussion. One of the girls in the group last night stopped the conversation because she said it was unfair for me. I appreciated this, but also stated that I can take it. It is so funny how perceptions can be so different depending on where you live. In any event, I enjoy sparring with people even when I am in the minority.

The Calgary Chronicles continue....

I gotta say it was a good day...

2008-03-07T14:03:00.002-06:00

No, I am not going to launch into a tribute to Ice Cube.

I have been having a great iPod shuffle day.

As you were.

A New Snack

2008-03-06T12:08:00.003-06:00

In my efforts to eat healthier (and in smaller portions throughout the day), I bought some apple sauce. Generally speaking, I do not like apple sauce. The flavor is just not good enough to overcome the strange texture. But they are making huge strides in the world of apple sauce. You can get it with strawberries, kiwi, and my current favorite - peach/mango. Of course, I feel like I am about 1 year old eating it... and the fact that the spoon is extra small is not helping.

Single Isn't So Bad

2008-03-04T12:14:00.002-06:00

Two weeks ago, I decided to finally make my way over to Banff to go skiing. I have lived here for 4 months, and this was my first time to hit the slopes. A buddy of mine who lives in Houston has already gone three times this year. What is wrong with this picture? Quite a lot, actually.

Anyway, I went skiing alone... and this was a bit nerve racking for me. I wasn't sure if I would enjoy skiing as much if it was not part of a vacation with friends. Fortunately, I was wrong. I totally enjoyed it.

During the first half of the day, I skied with my iPod playing. I selected some songs that would go nicely with being out in some of God's most beautiful creation. So the first half of the day was truly more of a worship time for me. The weather was fantastic... the skiing was great... all of this made for a nice morning.

After lunch (as sandwich and chips that cost me almost $15), I decided to go into mogul mode. I had seen a run earlier in the day that had some nice bumps on it, but was not too steep. My goal for the afternoon was to negotiate that stretch of moguls over and over until I could do it without falling. I met my goal... but it took me many tries. But to make the story even better... it is listed as a black run. I felt like I had arrived. But truly, it was more of a blue-black.

Side note here. I had skied a run earlier in the day with large moguls, and it wore me out. When I saw it from the lift later in the day, my only thought was "I don't like that run." This was funny to me (and me alone, I'm sure) because it reminded me of my nephew. When a character comes on the screen of during one of his cartoons, he always says (very emphatically, actually), "I don't like that man." So I felt a strange connection to the little guy as I saw the brutal moguls - even though I was hundreds of feet away from them.

The best thing about skiing alone is the "singles only" lines at the ski lift. For once, I was happy to be counted as a "single." I rarely (if ever) had to wait in the lift line. There was always a group of two or three who needed a tag-along. I was happy to be that tag-along.

So solo skiing isn't so bad. Now I don't think I would be willing to fly to Colorado or Utah from Houston to do it alone... but given my current proximity to the slopes, I plan to do it again (maybe even this weekend).

Great Lyrics

2008-02-27T17:38:00.002-06:00

Most of Jack Johnson's songs sound very familiar. But I really like this one... specifically the lines in italics. Such great thoughts...

"What You Thought You Need"

I can't give you everything you want
But I could give you what you thought you need.

A map to keep beneath your seat,
you've been to me in time I'll get you there.

I fold it up so we don't find our way back soon,
nobody knows we are here.

We can park the van and walk to town
Find cheapest bottle of wine that we could find

And talk about the road behind
how getting lost is not a waste of time.

The water moor will take us home in the moment
we will sing as the forest sleeps.

Well it's all for the sake of arriving with you
Well it's all .. for the sake of arriving with you

Well, I will make the table into a bed
The candle is burning down its time to rest.

I can't take back things already gone,
but I could give you promises for keeps.

And I would only take them back
if they become your own and you give 'em to me .

And it's all for the sake of arriving with you.
Well it's all for the sake of arriving with you.

We could make this into anything
We could make this into more than words we speak.

This could make us into anything
It could make us grow and become what we'll be.

Mmmmmm ..
How and we really know
It's just like it feels.

Lost in Translation

2008-02-13T09:25:00.002-06:00

Last night I was hanging out with some guys watching hockey (that is pretty much the only sport the Canadians care aboot).

Anyway, somehow we got on the topic of real estate. I asked if the Calgary market had started to decline (because it has been on such an upward trend for the past couple years). That then led to them asking me how much a typical house would cost in Houston...

What I said: "It depends on where you are."

What was heard: "It depends on where y'ar."

One of them stopped me and repeated what I said back to me... and I just stopped an laughed. I had no idea I sounded like that.

I have been told by some that I don't have a Texas accent... and then I have been told by others that I do (especially when I say my vowels). I prefer to have one, actually. So last night was good.

On another note, I am over the snow. It is great as long as it stays frozen (and white) on the ground. But when it melts and mixes with the mud, my walk into work becomes an obstacle course. Not only do I have to worry about the possiblity of slipping because my shoes have no tread, but cars drive by and spray the slushy mud mixture on my pants from time to time. OK, so that only happened one time and it was not that bad. But once really is plenty.

A Force To Be Reckoned With

2008-02-10T19:43:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I bougth some Jell-O at the grocery store. Yes, I am a 31 year-old man who willingly chooses to buy, make, and eat Jell-O.

Anyway, I looked at the instructions on the packages to make sure I used the right proportions of hot water and cold water. The instructions end with the following admonishment:

Do not add fresh pineapple or kiwi fruit. Jelly will not set.

Who knew that pineapple and kiwi wielded so much power in the gelatin world? Oranges don't have near this level of influence...

Airline Etiquette Lesson #1

2008-02-05T09:20:00.000-06:00

With the advent of the on-line check in option provided by most airlines, passengers are afforded certain privileges and rights regarding their seat choices. As many of you are probably aware, Continental allows passengers to check in for their flight at least 24 hours in advance. At such time of check in, you are allowed to choose your seat from any of the available empty seats on the plane. So this means that if you are forced to choose a middle seat when you purchase your ticket, you have a slim chance of getting one of the coveted aisle or window seats at the time of check in. Of course, there are no guarantees of this, but there is a chance.

I always choose an aisle seat first... then a window seat... then (and only when it is absolutely unavoidable) will I choose a middle seat. I would rather sit in the bathroom than in a middle seat - but that is just weird, so I never do that.

Last week, I boarded my plane and took up residence in my 7th row aisle seat. This is a premium coach seat because it is at the front of the plane AND on the aisle. It really is a rare occasion that I get such luxury in coach.

Well, a kind lady and her husband boarded the plane some time after I had settled in to my seat. The wife had the middle seat next to me, and her husband purchased the middle seat in front of her. Surely they did this because there were not other seats available. My heart goes out to them... really. But the wife (not the husband, mind you) asks me if I would mind switching seats with her husband. Take a minute to let that request set in in light of all I have stated above.

What could I possibly do? You can't say no to such a request. But everything in me wanted to explain to them the process and the fact that I am 6'2"... and I do not have a swimmer's build. Middle seats are miserable for a guy like me. But I made the switch.

It is one thing to ask someone to move from one aisle seat to another... but to cross the line from aisle to middle is just too much. That is my airline etiquette lesson for you all.

Oh... and have a happy Mardi Gras and Super Tuesday.

Cheers.

Election Mania

2008-01-30T22:52:00.000-06:00

I am not looking forward to the next few months. I am so over the mud slinging and cat fighting and he said/she said garbage. I watched the Republican debate tonight, and Sen. McCain just kept saying the same things over and over again. No matter what the question was, he found a way to bring up "timetables" in an effort to discredit Romney. Now I am not a Romney supporter, but I feel like I am less of a McCain supporter after watching him tonight. The whole thing kinda makes me tired. I know I need to vote, but I just have no idea who is worth voting for. Besides, the Democrats are going to win... so my vote will probably be wasted anyway.

(how's that for a cynical view?)

It has finally arrived...

2008-01-28T17:48:00.001-06:00

I have been hearing stories about temperatures as cold as -40... and I was starting to think it was all a lie to scare the Louisiana Heat out of Texas Todd. Well... we are there. We are not quite at -40 in the pure sense, but we are there if you factor in the wind chill. I think the high tomorrow is -26 C (-15 F). So it is cold. Just walking from the street to the door of my building (like across the sidewalk) was enough time for my nose to freeze a little. It's true.

Early reports are that it will "warm up" by Thursday to a refreshing -10 C (14 F). Nice huh?

But I still say I prefer this weather to the heat. I will check back in on Friday and let you know if I still feel that way...

You put WHAT in the cake?

2008-01-25T12:31:00.000-06:00

I just learned first hand that Canadian French culture and Cajun French culture are worlds apart.

One of my co-workers told me that there was a cake in the break room. So I made way over to check out what kind of cake was available. To my surprise, it was a King Cake - one of my favorite desserts of all time. I cut a slice and went to tell my co-worker that this was not just a cake, but it was a King Cake.

I then started explaining the traditions surrounding King Cakes. I told her that it symbolizes finding the Baby Jesus... and that you put a baby in the cake. It was at this point that things took a turn. Her face was full of shock. I went on to tell her that they used to bake the cake with the baby inside it... she had had enough at this point. She exclaimed, "A real baby?!?!"

I quickly explained that it was a porcelain baby... and then I was able to finish my story. We had quite a laugh over that. I guess she thought the tradition was started by Sweeny Todd and Mrs. Lovett.

No really... what's in a name?

2008-01-23T15:01:00.000-06:00

I have been given many nicknames over the course of my 31 years. I think I may have even blogged about them early in my blogging days.

Well, this past weekend I was given yet another one.

I went out for drinks with some people from work, and one of the people happened to be a single girl who used to work for the company I now work for. So my boss up here knows her pretty well... and has a good rapport with her. Oh, and she happened to be the only female at the table.

My boss commences to try to set us up right there at the table... "she's single, you're single..." It was at this point that he referred to me as Louisiana Heat. I was actually speechless....

I know what a reservation is....

2008-01-19T15:09:00.000-06:00

'No, I don't think you do."

This very scene from Seinfeld actually happened to me this morning. To the dismay of at least one person, I can't say that I reenacted the dialogue; I was just too frustrated to find humor in it at the time.

Last night, I reserved a car for this weekend. I booked it for 9:00 am because I had plans to meet someone for breakfast at 9:30.

*Sidebar: We met at a place called Diner Deluxe, and I am not sure I have been to a place that serves better breakfast. Buffalo Grille in Houston comes close, but this place is at the top of my list.*

So I show up to Avis promptly at 9:00. The kind young lady behind the counter (with whom I have had other "service issues" in the past) proceeds to tell me that she does not have any cars to give me. Now I walked right by the holding lot, and saw plenty of cars; but none of them were compacts (which is what I had reserved). Rather than give me a free upgrade, she tells me that I have to go to another location to pick up my car. So she gets one of the guys from the back to drive me to this other location. He does not speak English very well, so I was not sure where I would end up. It seemed like a simple (albeit inconvenient) plan, but he just didn't seem to grasp what was happening.

In the end, I got my car and made it to breakfast by 10:00. This is why Seinfeld was such a great show. It captured moments like these and made them funny.

So now, I am sitting in my appartment watching the snow come down... it really is a nice site (especially from the comforts of my livingroom with the fireplace roaring). I am living the hard life for sure.

Fish out of water... but loving it

2008-01-18T15:38:00.000-06:00

Around 4:30 yesterday afternoon, I was talking with a co-worker and noticed that it was snowing outside. I expressed some excitement/pleasure over this, and he basically said I was weird for liking the snow. I told him that for those of us who rarely see white stuff on the ground (that wasn't used as packaging), it is a bit glamorous. Of course, as one of my lurker friends said some weeks ago - it is just water on your shoes and windshield. That is true in the physics realm, but snow is just good times. I went for a run in it last night... and it was great. It is so much more enjoyable to run in sub-freezing temperatures with snow falling than in 95 degree heat with 100% humidity.

Of course, I got reflective as I watched the snow fall and stick on the ground. I likened it to God's Word in a round about way. Under the right conditions, snow sticks to whatever surface it fall on. Every once in long while, snow will fall in Houston. But it rarely sticks for any length of time. The reason - the ground is just not cold enough. It is not prepared to receive the snow. And it occured to me that our hearts are the same way with God's Word. We can read it every day, all day. But if He has not prepared our hearts for what His Word has to say - there will be no long term effects or changes.

What's in a name...

2008-01-17T17:17:00.000-06:00

Two posts in one day? Holy Free Time At Work, Batman... what's going on?

We have a consultant up here helping us find my replacement.

*This just in - I do not plan to be up here forever. *

Well, her name is Eva. I keep wanting to call her Eva Longoria.

No, guys, she doesn't look anything like her... otherwise, I might consider relocating.

I'm just sayin'...

When in Rome....

2008-01-17T13:01:00.000-06:00

"Yes? Please continue...."

So this post really doesn't relate to the saying "when in Rome, do as the Romans do." But since it does relate to me not being in the USA, I wanted to title it that. And the reader who guesses the context of the quote above gets extra blog points.

Since I am working in another country during an election year, I am getting a lot of questions about our political process. The two questions of note so far are as follows:

1. What is going on with all these primaries and caucuses?
2. What does G.O.P. stand for?

My favorite response was the one I received to my answer to the second question. I told this guy at work that it stands for Grand Old Party (which I later found out is only partially true - it was believed to stand for that, but the original meaning was Gallant Old Party). Regardless, the guy was shocked. He thought it was something much more official - where the G stood for government or something like that.

I told him that all his questions are really testing my civic knowlege... and I like that. I also found myself saying that the primaries are part of what makes our political system so great in that they force the candidates to go to all the states - not just the most populated ones.

Expensive Mistakes...

2007-12-19T15:49:00.000-06:00

I accidently booked a first class plane ticket last week, and I just realized my mistake. Friday morning, I will be flying in luxury... and I didn't even mean to. I thought my ticket was pretty expensive, but I thought that was just because I was booking it at the last minute and it was during the Christmas season. I am not sure what my boss will say when he sees the price of the ticket... and I am not sure what I will say if he asks me about it. And to top it all off... I am flying at 7:00 AM. I can't even take advantage of the free wine at that hour.

"You probably don't like Christmas much"

2007-12-18T14:56:00.000-06:00

Yes, someone said those very words to me just this morning. I asked why this person thought that would be true... and she said because I am a guy. Now maybe this is a Canadian thing that I just don't understand... but I just don't understand. Who knew that men were not supposed to like Christmas. Well, if liking Christmas deducts man points, I will just have to make them up somewhere else... cuz I love this time of year.

More than anything, I like what Christmas celebrates - the Word becoming flesh to dwell among us. Said more simply, the birth of Jesus. Now unless I have some readers in some distant lands... this is not news to anyone. We all know that is what is being celebrated all over the world on December 25th.... hence the big deal over saying Merry Christmas. But that is another blog topic for another blogger. I will not get into that fray. Simply put - the season of Christmas exists because God humbled Himself and was born in the brokenness of humanity so that He could redeem that brokenness. Hallelujah!

But I even kinda like the commercial aspect of Christmas. I don't like that it tends to outshine the aspect discussed above... but I like giving gifts. I like getting gifts. I like surprises. I like finding the perfect gift (which I don't always do... but when I do, what a great thing it is). I like how stores decorate for the season (this may very well deduct some man points... but so be it). I like the specialness of the season. Some things only happen between Thanksgiving and December 25th. Being a person who appreciates traditions - I eat this up.

I like Christmas music... yes, even some of the songs that don't sing about Christ. I like the ones that do a lot more, of course... but Silver Bells, Winter Wonderland, Frosty the Snowman, and Jingle Bells are just good tunes.

I like Christmas musical programs that churches put on. I went to the one at HFBC this past weekend, and I really enjoyed it. Sure, there are some cheesy aspects to these shows... but the central theme is still there - Jesus Christ was born. Usually, the part when the Wise Men kneel before Jesus is pretty elaborate (at least in the HFBC musicals it always has been). This year, it was very understated. But as I was telling a friend of mine this weekend... I don't care how you do it, the symbolism will always make my eyes well up.

Christmas movies, Christmas cookies (and other treats), Christmas lights, Christmas cards, Christmas parties... and on and on and on. I like it all.

So if you are reading this, I hope you have a merry Christmas. Even though I have been away from home for most of it, I have enjoyed it nonetheless.

Under Pressure

2007-12-06T15:42:00.000-06:00

(cue the David Bowie song as background music)

I realized yesterday that I don't like myself when I am under pressure. The past few days have been terribly busy for me here at work. (Clearly things have eased up slightly since I have time to blog, right?) But I just didn't like myself. I was short with people... I was even referred to as "snippy." That is just not who I am under normal circumstances.

But therein lies the rub, eh? When my circumstances change, my personality changes. When things are not as I would have them to be, I become someone I was not meant to be.

So last night as I was going to sleep, God reminded me of my circumstances.

I live in an appartment that has heat in a city that is experiencing prolonged periods of below freezing temperatures.
I do not want for food. In fact, I could stand to eat a lot less.
I have a job. Even if it is a bit stressful at times, nobody's life is at stake.

Of course, there are many other blessings and positive things I could list above... but those are the ones God specifically reminded me of.

So the point is that sometimes I just have to choose to not let things affect me. And when faced with the way my reality compares to that of others... that is an easy choice, I guess.

Sorry for not being funny and lighthearted today... maybe tomorrow.

(end music)

Negative Twenty... Cold Enough For You?

2007-12-03T09:07:00.000-06:00

Winter is in full swing up here in Calgary, and I am noticing a couple things that I thought were blog-worthy.

1. I was told yesterday that if I refer to the temperature as being "negative 20" the person I am talking to will not know what I mean. Apparently, I have to say "minus 20" in order to be understood. That is Canadian for "20 degrees below zero" on the Celcius scale. This is rediculous to me. But in any event, it has been between minus 20 and minus 10 all weekend.

2. In Houston, we complain about the heat. "Man, it's hot." "Hot enough for you?" "Why do we choose to live in this city?" These comments are heard frequently in June, July, and August. Well, up here... it is the exact same thing but in reverse. I guess it is just the easiest thing to discuss when you are standing in line at Starbucks... or in the elevator. Everyone is very friendly, actually. They just love to complain about the cold. I tell them all how much I am enjoying it, and the look at me like I just said "it's negative 20 out there." Completely baffled.

In any event, I am enjoying the super cold weather. And from what I hear, this is just a prelude to the really cold months of January and February. I say bring it on. I get enough heat in my normal life... it is refreshing to be cold for a season.

Calgarian Winter Fast Approaching

2007-11-09T08:51:00.000-06:00

So I have been up here in Calgary for about three weeks. The temperature has been hovering around the freezing level, but it always seems to jump up to around 50 by the afternoon. However, I think that period of grace is about to end soon. I have been told that the temperature can get down to -40 (which, by the way, is where the Celcius and Farenheit scales meet. At -40, they are both the same... just a bit of trivia for those who care).

So this morning I had a nice brisk walk from my apartment to the office. I live just under one mile from work. Now that is the same distance between work and home in Houston as well, with one minor difference. Humidity. I walk to work up here, but would never dream of doing so in Houston. But back to this morning....

There is a system of sky walks called the "+15." It is named that because it is 15 feet from ground level. During the harsh winter mornings, this is where I will be between 7:30am and 7:45 am. But until then, I tend to walk outside and enjoy the nice cool weather.

As I was walking today, I noticed something that some of you will find enjoyable... and others will find annoying. The streets were littered with people carrying Red Cups of coffee.

Now those little cups are not only a sign to me that Christmas is fast approaching... but also that the coldest winter I have ever experienced is right around the corner.

Canada is a foreign country, right?

2007-10-15T23:20:00.000-05:00

The Calgary Chronicles have not begun well. I spent all day in IAH terminal A waiting for a flight to Calgary. I was supposed to be on the 7:45 am flight with my boss and two other colleagues. Yep, I missed the flight. This has never happened to me in my life. In fact, I am the guy who usually arrives 1.5 or 2 hours before the scheduled departure time. I am ridiculous when it comes to airport punctuality. I guess I should say I was ridiculous when it came to airport punctuality.

I was up pretty late last night packing and getting everything ready to leave. Granted, it is only a three-day trip, but I still had to make sure that I had everything I needed. One of the items I packed was my alarm clock. Not to worry, though, because I have a travel alarm clock. I decided to pack my iHome clock so I would be able to listen to my iPod in the hotel and just rely on the travel alarm clock for this morning. That was my first mistake.

I set my alarm for 5:00 am. I was certain that would give me plenty of time to wake up, shave, get dressed, and still make it to the airport by 6:00 am. My plan was fool proof. Furthermore, I am not one who normally sleeps through an alarm. I have done it, and I am very prone to snoozing. But usually when I have make a flight, I wake up on time (if not early) and get up right away. You can clearly see where this is headed.

I woke up and thought to myself, “it is probably 4:30, so I have a few minutes.” But then another, more insistent, voice told me that I better check the clock. To my utter surprise and dismay, it read 6:25. What!?!?!? "You’ve got to be f---ing kidding me" were the next thoughts in my head. I apologize if that offends anyone, but it is just true. I need to begin praying for better thoughts in the midst of stressful situations. But back to the story...

I jumped out of bed (actually made the bed… not sure why), shaved, got dressed, and jumped into my car by 6:40. Fortunately, I had everything ready to go, so I didn’t need much prep time. I began praying that God would see fit for me to make this flight. Did I mention that my boss and two other colleagues were scheduled to be on this flight? Yeah. They were. Missing the flight would not go unnoticed.

So I was making good time, actually. I was sure God was answering my humble prayer. Then, as I was almost passing the George R. Brown convention center, I realized that I left my passport at home. Fool proof? Nice. Guess I am a bigger fool than my plan was prepared to handle. Holy flight emergency, Batman… what will I do?

Call my roommate. It was my only option. By God’s grace, he answered his phone and responded to my urgent need like a pro. I owe him big time. This call was made at 6:50 am.

I made it to Terminal A at 7:10, but Justin was a solid 20 minutes behind me. I asked the kind lady at the Air Canada desk if she thought I would be able to get on the 7:45. She was very kind, but responded with a negative. Great! Thanks for playing. But she did switch me to the 1:25 pm flight at no extra charge. Marathon is surely grateful for that small favor.

Justin arrived at 7:30. By this time, I had already called one of my colleagues (couldn’t get my boss’s number) and explained what happened. My prayer then changed from “Lord, please make it possible for me to get on that plane” to “Lord, please give me favor with my boss.”

At the end of the day (which it is as I post this) this episode is not a big deal. But I hope it makes for a funny blog post.

For the record, I knew that I needed a passport to go to Canada. But as I was packing my small bag, I was not thinking in terms of international travel. So that is why the passport was not with my wallet (where it normally should have been).

Which One Are You?

2007-10-08T12:48:00.000-05:00

You may need to click on the picture to be able to read it...

Classic?

2007-09-27T14:51:00.000-05:00

At what point does something become "classic?" According to Apple, it only takes 6 years .

The original iPod style is now being referred to as the "iPod Classic." Actually, the 80 GB and 160 GB models carry that name. According to Wikipedia, these versions (which just arrived this year) introduced the classic name. The 20 GB 4th Generation (which is what I have) is not even mentioned on Apple's web site - much less its parent, grandparent, and great-grandparent. These have all become the Macaulay Culkin of the MP3 player world - they are simply overlooked.

Apple is, in a word, amazing. Their products may not offer more functionality than their competitors, but Apple has created a brand that is the industry standard. I mean seriously... how in the world can an iPod be considered classic? Blows my mind.

Take a good look at the current iPod line-up... it will likely be totally different this time next year. From left to right: iPod Shuffle, iPod Nano, iPod Classic, and iPod Touch.

As Requested...

2007-09-24T08:08:00.000-05:00

In my last post, someone asked if I could just post a picture of a 6 month old baby instead of pictures of my minor head wound. This blogger is happy to give the readers what they want... so I give you the following:

I googled "6 month old babies," and this is one of the many pictures that came up. There were quite a few pictures of some human babies as well... but the reader was not specific enough. :-)

It's Merely A Head Wound...

2007-09-21T08:16:00.001-05:00

Last night, I had dinner with a couple guys (Chad and Travis) at Texadelphia. We were going to be discussing some things that are pretty personal to me, so I got a table in the far corner from the front door. Well, we stayed there for a couple hours… talked about all the stuff we needed to talk about… and then it was time to go. I just stood up as any normal person would, but the fact that I am probably a little taller than most other people caused a bit of a problem. I full-on crashed my head into the TV stand right above my head. You don’t think about how fast you move when you are standing up until a stationary object is there to prove Newton's Frist Law of Motion. I immediately sat down and touched my head… there was blood. Very nice. So Chad got the waitress to get some ice and a towel while I just sat there feeling pretty stupid. One of the waiters said, "I'm sorry." I replied, "It's not your fault… I'm just 6'2"." Then I asked if I could take the towel home with me (since it had my blood on it, I wasn't so sure they would legally be able to take it back), and the waitress said I could keep it. Apparently, they only cost about 5 cents. I told her I would pay for it on my next visit… and she replied that they probably owe me.

When I got home, I wanted some sort of proof of the indicent, so I stood at the mirror trying to snap some good shots of my head wound with my phone camera. Here is what I was able to come up with. They are not great, but you can just see the cut in the lower right corner.

Coffee Addiction

2007-09-13T10:17:00.000-05:00

It is no secret that I am addicted to coffee. To some, it is bitter brown water. To others, it is a necessary morning elixir. I fall into the latter category.

I believe there are three kinds of coffee in this world. Really Good, Tolerable, and Not Fit For Human Consumption.

Because I have been sick the past few days, I have avoided my regular morning cup in favor of water. Since I feel much better today, I decided to go for it and partake of this delicious beverage. Unfortunately, I opted for the free stuff in our breakroom - which falls into the third category noted above.

But this is what separates a coffee addict from all other coffee drinkers... I am drinking it. I don't really like it, but I am drinking it. How messed up is that?

Things are not as they should be...

2007-09-10T09:01:00.001-05:00

This morning saw a first for me. I overslept. I never oversleep.

Now the full story is that I woke up at about 3:45. I then went back to sleep, and my alarm woke me up at about 5:00. I snoozed... and snoozed... and snoozed... and I think my alarm clock finally just gave up. (the weird thing is that the alarm started to become a part of my dreams... but what was happening is that the people in the dreams were emitting this annoying beeping sound everywhere they went). When I woke up again (not to the alarm... but simply by God's grace), it was 7:45. I am supposed to be at work at 7:30. D'oh!!!

Now for the best part of the story. Remember the pestering nail guns from Saturday morning? Well, they were in full effect yesterday - the Lord's Day of all days. But not this morning. I guess the construction company has decided to only disturb sleep on days when people actually can sleep in.

To make matters worse, I am fighting some sort of sinus issue that is causing me to sneeze and my head to ache... so things just really are not as they should be.

Two Suburbs and a Local Island

2007-09-08T23:18:00.001-05:00

Today was quite a busy day for old Toddatello.

My day started at 8:00am to the loud popping of nail guns. There are some loft style homes being build less than 20 yards away from my bedroom window... not a great way to kick off a weekend.

I had scheduled coffee with my buddy D-Lux, who lives in Pearland, (suburb visit #1) at 9:30am. So around 9:00am, I set out to meet him at his new coffee shop of choice. He graciously bought my coffee since I had used so much gas to get there.

Since D-Lux and I had not seen each other in a few weeks, it took us three hours to adequately catch up. So by the time I left it was 12:30pm, and I had to be at a birthday party for Cooper (son of my friends Chad and Teresa) in Katy (suburb visit #2) at 2:00pm.

In that 90 minute window, I had to purchase a gift for the lad (he turned one today), get some lunch, stop by my house to pick up a key that I had to return to some friends who would be at the birthday party, and treck across the greater Houston area. (for the non-Houston peeps... Pearland is on the south side, and Katy is on the far west side)

So I set out on my journey, and arrived at the party at 2:10pm with a full stomach (Whataburger chicken fingers) and gift in hand.

I left the birthday party at 4:30pm, and had another party to attend in Galveston (island in the Gulf south of Houston) that was to start at 5:00pm. Needless to say, I did not make it to that party on time, but I did make it. (Yes, Chad, I did send him a text telling him that I would be late...) This event was being hosted by a former roommate of mine (Clint) and his wife Gina. They recently moved to Galveston, and just wanted to have people over to see their new place. On the way, I picked up another buddy (Preston) to accompany me on the journey south (roughly an hour).

I returned home around 10:00pm after having taken a detour to avoid the closure of I-45 at NASA road and dropping Preston off at his house.

Each portion of my day was enjoyable and well worth the effort... I just need some sleep. I really hope the nail gun guys have tomorrow morning off.

Why coffee and I are still friends...

2007-09-07T09:11:00.000-05:00

... but I have developed a love/hate relationship with the Rubik's Cube.

I was up a lot later that I intended to be last night, but coffee was not to blame. Rather, the multi-colored cube puzzle that is an icon of the 1980's is at fault.

I grew up in the 80's, but was never into the Rubik's Cube. I guess I always figured I was not quite smart enough for it, and that it was better to have never tried than to have tried and failed.

Well, as the Colts slaughtered the Saints last night, I sat on the couch twisting and turning the various sides of this infamous game... and still, I can only get to the last step. I can't seem to complete the last side. D'oh!!!

I will confess that I was using a step by step guide to help me... but it still isn't a cake walk. In any event, I am tired again this morning... and Rubik is to blame.

Why I like coffee...

2007-09-06T16:22:00.000-05:00

...well, at least why I like it at the moment.

It is pretty helpful in the jet-lag battle. I started to feel the effects around 2:00; but rather than take a nap under my desk (cuz who actually does that, right?), I got a double shot latte. It has done wonders. I am pretty wired at the moment... I just hope it wears off by the time I want to go to sleep tonight. Otherwise, tomorrow's post may be "Why I hate coffee..."

Divine Moments

2007-09-05T07:16:00.001-05:00

This morning, as I was leaving my house, I saw a sunrise that was simply beautiful. Shades of pink, orange, yellow, and blue filled the sky. My "commute" to work only lasts about 7 minutes; and by the time I arrived at my building, the colorful explosion was gone. But I couldn't get enough of it in those seven short minutes.

As is true for us all, there are things in my life that I just have to trust Christ for... things that can easily take me over if I let them. Well, I happened to be praying about one of those very things this morning as I was leaving for work... and then I saw this amazing site filling the sky. God graciously reminded me that just as He is faithful to make the sun rise everyday, He will be faithful in the difficult areas of my life. So it really was a divine moment that I am truly thankful for.

Seoul, Korea...

2007-09-02T01:18:00.000-05:00

I am passing the time here in the airport in Seoul, Korea... and I figured it was a good time to post an update "from the field." Some of you may not know that I have been in Mongolia the past two weeks visiting a friend of mine who is working for a Christian ministry over there. I had a great time experiencing the Mongolian culture (and I experienced a good bit of it in two weeks, actually). I hope to have lots of posts with pictures and the like, so bear with me on that.

For now, let me share something that happened just a few hours ago. Since my layover is so long (12 hours), I decided to take a tour of the city. Part of the tour involved riding a ferry; and while on said ferry, a random Korean guy approached me and commenced to tell me that his daughter was studying English in Canada. He then asked me what my job is and how old I am. So awkward. The girl was very pretty (I have a picture of the whole family). But I am big on communication... and even if she started learning English 5 years ago, she is a bit behind for me. Sorry.

So there you have it... I basically get proposed to by a Korean girl's father. Nice.

Good Times at Starbucks...

2007-08-09T10:33:00.001-05:00

The other night, my friend LB and I were returning from dinner and she wanted to stop at Starbucks to pick up a deliciously overpriced beverage. Well, when LB and I are together – the laughter just doesn’t seem to stop. So as we were driving up to the drive-thru window we were laughing and talking about something… and I overshot the ordering speaker box.

The voice asked if we were ready, and I told her that we needed a couple minutes. LB then told me that she wanted a Grande Orange Mocha Latte. I turned to order and realized that I was past the ordering speaker box… so I said, “Oh, I missed the thing…” The voice in the box said, “you want a Venti Mocha?” What?!?! How did she get that from what I said? Well, LB and I commenced to laughing pretty hard… and I finally got out that she would like a Grande Orange Mocha Latte.

The next thing we heard was a guy on the speaker asking if we would like an Orange Mocha McFlurry. This was followed by much laughter on both sides of the speaker… and as I drove away from the speaker, I said, “They totally think we are drunk.” Apparently, I was still in ear shot, because that brought on more laughter from the friendly baristas… which only caused me and LB to laugh more as well.

I am sure this story does not translate well in that is probably was one of those “you had to be there” moments. But suffice it to say that LB and I found it extremely hilarious… as did the baristas.

OPP - I Finally Know What It Means...

2007-08-08T10:07:00.000-05:00

OK... I always knew what it meant in the song, but this is not that kinda of blog.

My company uses OPP as an acronym for something related to overseas travel. I have asked and asked what it means, but no one could ever tell me. The people I asked who are around my age would always snicker and reply saying they didn't know (and we would trade that knowing glance that says "we can't make a joke about that because we have to be professional"). The older folks would just flat out say they didn't know - but I would secretly laugh.

Well, when I was in Cuba a couple years ago, one person suggested "Other People's Per Diem" as a possible meaning. Ever since, that is what I have thought it to be (even though I knew it really wasn't).

Today, the mystery was solved. I now know what it officially stands for... but I think I will keep it to myself and continue to let Other People's Per Diem linger in the minds of those who care...

Mystery Bruises

2007-08-03T08:32:00.001-05:00

I think it is Brian Regan who does a bit about mystery bruises. Basically, he talks about how as you get older… you just start to develop inexplicable bruises.

Well… I have a bruises on each are just below the inside of each elbow. I have NO idea what caused them. The one on the left arm is larger than the one on the right arm, but that doesn't help solve the mystery.

Details are everything...

2007-07-22T12:03:00.000-05:00

I love this commercial... makes me laugh out loud everytime I watch it.

2007-07-08T11:48:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, the comment was made by a friend of mine that it would be very difficult to be a Christian on a reality show (Amazing Race, Real World, etc). Another friend then said that it shouldn't be that difficult (making the point that it is possible for a Christian to live life in such a way that is honoring to God). This comment was met with some disagreement based on the way so many shows edit things to portray whatever the producers/directors/writers want to portray. This argument is valid, for sure. I think reality TV is reality in name only... especially with as many as there are now.

But the comment made about Christians living life in a consistent way even on camera has really struck me. I wonder what the tv world would think of my life if there was a camera on me every day (without editing). Would my life reflect a sincere love for Jesus... or would it reflect a sincere love for something else? Sadly, I fear it is the latter.

So my question for those who wish to respond is this: what does it look like to live a life that is "worthy" to be filmed and broadcast to the world for the purpose of reflecting Jesus?

I think authenticity is a large part of it, but I think we almost glorfiy our sinful authenticity at the expense of being obedient to what Christ has called us to (and empowered us for). I am not advocating legalistic sinlessness... rather, I am advocating walking in the Spirit as Paul tells us to do in Galatians 5:16 - "But I say walk in the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."

Food for thought. Comments welcome and requested...

Napping at work...

2007-06-28T11:31:00.001-05:00

Sometimes (on casual Fridays) I will close my office door and take a short nap under my desk during lunch. I have told a number of people about this (and I thought I blogged about it, but I can't seem to find it in my archives). Regardless, I have not done this in quite some time. But I just walked by the office of one of my co-workers, and the door was shut. Not a big deal at 11:15... but her light is off. Normally, I would think she was gone for the day... but I saw her close the door while staying in the office. She is full on taking a nap in her office. I, of course, have been advocating a throw back to kindergarten days of mid-day napping for most of my professional career (albeit a short 7 year career). I guess she is taking it upon herself to start the practice in hopes that other follow her lead. We'll see...

Friday things...

2007-06-22T10:03:00.000-05:00

It is 10:00 on a Friday, and I am bored. I am caught up on my work, and all that remains for me to do is the stuff that you always put off for days when you have spare time. But the problem is that we never want to do those things... that is why we put them off. But alas, I have no choice. I will actually accomplish some of those elusive tasks because I have been too efficient in my other tasks.

In other news, if you were not there for METRO Live last night, Afshin gave a fantastic talk about God's will. Granted, I have been thinking about a number of things that God directly addressed through the talk, but I think it was just good regardless. Check it out here.

That's all for now... but seeing as how I am bored, I may pull a double entry today. But then again, I may not. Last week, my boss walked by my office and asked what I was doing. The funny thing is that he was asking the question because I was in a different office than normal... but I responded saying, "I'm working on my blog." He then said explained that he was not asking about that... but that I had just busted myself. So I need to be a little more careful, I guess. Fortunately, he is an understanding boss and didn't give me too much grief for it.

OK... that is really all. Can you tell how much I don't want to do those other tasks? Seriously.

No More Faith

2007-06-19T17:03:00.000-05:00

I have known of this song by Andrew Peterson for a while now, but I was reintroduced to it this weekend. The lyrics just scream of a reality that many of us don't like to admit is true in our lives. If you have not heard much by Andrew Peterson, I suggest that you check him out... he is really good. On iTunes, he is compared to Rich Mullins (which is fair enough) but he does have his own style. In any event, these lyrics have been resonating with me for the past few days...

No More Faith

This is not another song about the mountains
Except about how hard they are to move
Have you ever stood before them
Like a mustard seed who's waiting for some proof?

I say faith is a burden
It's a weight to bear
It's brave and bittersweet
And hope is hard to hold to
Lord, I believe
Only help my unbelief

Till there's no more faith
No more hope
I'll see your face and Lord, I'll know
That only love remains

Have you heard it said that Jesus is the answer
And thought about the many doubts you hide
Have you wondered how he loves you
If He really knows how dark you are inside

I say faith is a burden
It's a weight to bear
It's brave and bittersweet
And hope is hard to hold to
Lord, I believe
Only help my unbelief

Till there's no more faith
No more hope
I'll see your face and Lord, I'll know
When there's no more faith
And no more hope
I'll sing your praise and let them go
'cause only love
Only love remains

So I will drive these roads in thunder and in rain
And I will sing your song at the top of my lungs
And I will praise you, Lord, in glory and in pain
And I will follow you till this race is won
And I will drive these roads till this motor won't run
And I will sing your song from sea to shining sea
And I will praise you Lord, till your kingdom comes
And I will follow where you lead

Till there's no more faith
No more hope
I'll see your face and Lord, I'll know
When there's no more faith
And no more hope
I'll sing your praise and let them go
'cause only love
Only love remains

Thursday iPod Stories

2007-06-18T17:14:00.001-05:00

Story One - "iPod Lost and Found"

Last week, I had quite a scare. I got in my car on Thursday morning to head out on my "commute" to work, and I opened the center console to retreive my iPod. When I saw that it was not there... I really think I may have gasped. I was horrified. I knew I had it on my drive home the night before, so I couln't imagine where it was. I caused myself to be late to work by looking all over for it (I even looked in the trash). Well, fast forward to lunch time of the same day... I decided to look in my gym bag one more time. It had fallen into a side pocket that I don't use... so it had simply been overlooked. Poor thing. It must have felt so abandoned in there.

Story Two - "iPods and Panties"

Thursday night after METRO Live, I volunteered to take the musical guest to his hotel by Hobby airport. On the way down there, he said he really wanted to stop for some Taco Cabana because he can't get it in Nashville. So we pulled into the closest one and sat in the drive thru. As we sat, he commented that he was great friends with the guy singing the song that happened to be playing. He then asked if he could look at who else I have on my iPod... and I said sure. He thought that was awefully brave of me (and when he said that, I suddenly thought it was too... and I got a little nervous). So as he scrolled down, he commented on some of the artists I have (Beyonce', G. Love, and Nickle & Dime being the most notable) - but surely he noticed that he was not in there. D'oh! Oh well... he is now. Back to the story. When he finished his investigation, I told him that was quite an intimate moment for us to share since we had just met and all... to which he retortred, "yeah, it is kinda like I just looked through your panty drawer."

So my poor iPod spent the morning dealing with abandonment issues... and the late hours of the night dealing with identity issues.

Pain Avoidance Update

2007-06-11T09:55:00.000-05:00

Turns out that I did, in fact, pull my calf muscle. In fact, early reports say that I may have torn it. I wish I had a camera so I could take a picture of my the lower part of my leg. I first noticed the bruise on the calf Thursday night. Then, on Friday, I noticed some bruising on the shin. Then on Sunday, I noticed a bruise on my ankle. The whole inner portion of my lower right leg looks like I have been beaten with a lead pipe (well, maybe not quite that bad... but it is pretty discolored). I am sure I can draw a spiritual parallel about the visible signs of the pain in our lives... but I will just leave it at that and let your imagination run. In any event, I was wrong about being able to run on it by the end of last week. I still can't... and I don't expect to be able to for a couple weeks.

Pain Avoidance

2007-06-05T12:46:00.001-05:00

I hurt my calf muscle yesterday while working out. I think I pulled it... but I am not sure. However, it has caused me to walk with a limp since it happened. Yesterday, I was still trying to walk normal... but today, I have figured out a way to walk without feeling the pain in my calf muscle. So at first, I thought my calf was getting better... but really, I just learned to move in such as way that avoids the pain while the muscle does what it needs to do go get fixed.

Isn't that what we do in life? We think things are getting better; but really, we just medicate life's pain in other ways.

Even as Christians... life does not really get better (contrary to what many of the preachers on TBN will tell you). Rather, we know Who to turn to when life is painful. The pain does not always go away... nor does the underlying problem causing the pain. (this is the point where the calf injury analogy breaks down... because my calf really is getting better and I will be running again before the week is out)

Unlike the pseudo strut that I naturally developed to avoid the pain in my calf, truly seeking refuge in Christ is not something we naturally do. The next time you walk into a bookstore, check out the Self-Help section and you will see my point proven. Furthermore, my new way of walking is only temporary. Eventually, my calf needs to heal for real. Christ offers ultimate healing... but it may take a lot longer than a couple days for that to take place. In fact, some of the hurts/troubles in our lives will never be fully healed this side of Heaven. But He promises us Himself in the midst of the pain... and really, that is more than enough.

Already Too Cool For School...

2007-05-18T10:15:00.000-05:00

This picture was taken this past weekend when Brad's family took a trip to Florida. I am telling you, this kid is gonna be a heart breaker in about 15 years.

Nominal Christians

2007-05-15T16:23:00.000-05:00

As Voddie Baucham says, "If you can't say amen, you better say ouch!"

Unfortunately, I think I have to say ouch... I see myself in this description all too often.

Looks can be deceiving...

2007-05-14T14:59:00.000-05:00

I think I will ask this guy to disciple me in the ways of entertainment...

Hot Lips...

2007-05-08T12:48:00.000-05:00

Every year, my brother's in-laws have both sides of the family over for a crawfish boil. This year, it was held on Good Friday since everyone was off work. The Legnon's live in Lafayette... so I can always bank on having well-seasoned crawfish at their house. This year was no exception.

At one point in the afternoon, Renee commented on the color of my lips... and then dubbed me "Hot Lips" for the rest of the afternoon.

Since he is the star of every family gathering, I can't pass up the opportunity to say a few words about Landon. He is now just over 2 years old... and getting more and more lovable each time I see him. He was not sure what to make of the little mud-bugs while they soaked in the salty water... but he knew what they were and that he should not touch them. He was seen in this position many times during the cooking phase of the day...

After everything had been cleaned up, Landon told me (did not ask me, but told me) "Crawfish all gone." Indeed they were... and quite tastily gone.

After eating, everyone else decided to sit in the house and visit... but Landon wanted none of that. Like a typical little boy, he wanted to stay out side and kick the soccer ball (or any other round object he could find). So Uncle Todd gladly volunteered for Landon Duty... unfortunately, there are no pictures. It was definitely good times for both of us, though...

And lastly, I couldn't resist putting this fine shot on the world wide web. Yes, folks... this is my father.

Shock and Awe

2007-05-07T08:01:00.000-05:00

In 1729, Jonathan Swift wrote a satirical article entitled A Modest Proposal.

This morning, I recieved this article from a buddy of mine. Note that this one is not satirical.

The state of our world scares me. It really does.

Thank You

2007-04-05T22:02:00.000-05:00

Tonight at church, we had a service to remember the sacrifice that Jesus made to restore fellowship with God... a fellowship that was broken when Adam and Eve ate the fruit in the Garden. It was truly a powerful service as we heard various passages of God's Word spoken... various passages that told the great story of Jesus and why He came to earth. There was no commentary... just the pure Word of God. Nothing compares to it, honestly.

At the end of the service, we sang a song that repeatedly expresses thanksgiving to God for the cross. The lyrics "thank you for the cross" are repeated over and over again. I have sung that song many times, but it hit me in a fresh way tonight. As I was singing it, the Holy Spirit reminded me of the 10 lepers who were healed by Jesus. Of those 10, only one returned to Him to say thank you. Only one. I so want to be that one. But it occured to me that just saying thank you to Jesus misses the mark a little. He did not come to save only me... but rather, He came to redeem and restore a world that is broken and separated from Him. So I want to be found faithful in sharing what He has done with others so that they also may run back to Him and say thank you.

Another funny email..

2007-03-30T08:19:00.000-05:00

This morning, I received the following email from a friend...

Today is Norah Jones' birthday. She's 28. Thought you might like to know. :}

So I am canceling my weekend plans, and booking a flight to wherever she is to celebrate with her. I am perplexed by the fact that she didn't mention it when we talked earlier this week. I guess she wanted me to find out on my own and surprise her.

Don't ask the question...

2007-03-30T08:11:00.000-05:00

... if you can't take the answer. I received this as an email forward, and since I am not a fan of the forward, I decided to post it here instead.

I was shopping at the local supermarket where I selected:

A half-gallon of 2% milk,
A carton of eggs,
A quart of orange juice,
A head of romaine lettuce,
A 2 lb. Can of coffee, and
A 1 lb. Package of bacon.

As I was unloading my items on the conveyor belt to check out, a drunk standing behind me watched as I placed the items in front of the
cashier.

While the cashier was ringing up the purchases, the drunk calmly stated, "You must be single." I was a bit startled by this proclamation, but I
was Intrigued by the derelict's intuition, since I was indeed single. I looked at the six items on the belt and saw nothing particularly unusual about my selections that could have tipped off the drunk to my marital status.

Curiosity getting the better of me, I said: "Well, you know what, you're absolutely right. But how on earth did you know that?"

The drunk replied, "Cause you're ugly."

Not for the faint of heart

2007-03-21T12:17:00.000-05:00

The Black Donnelly's is a new show on NBC, and like the subject says... it is not for the faint of heart. It is as if the writers took 1 Cor 6:9-10 and decided to bring it to life on the screen. These Donnelly brothers are pieces of work for sure... the only thing that is sacred to them is family (and I wonder if that will change as the seasons progress). They will literally do anything for their family. The show is well-written, the acting is great (especially the lead character), and the story is well-developed. I am holding out for the writers to pull in 1 Cor 6:11, but doubt they will...

Bizarro World

2007-03-20T10:05:00.000-05:00

I just walked into our break room to find two grown men watching The View. In all fairness, I think they were truly taking a break (they were there to replenish our vending machine), but they are tall enough to reach the TV to change the channel... yet neither of them did. Very strange.

My new love...

2007-03-19T11:46:00.000-05:00

So I have a crush... I am 100% smitten with the Toyota FJ's. I think the white tops are the real magnet that draws my eyes to every single one of them on the road. Not a day goes by that I do not covet one at least once. At first, I wanted a blue one because they look like a Smurf. But then I decided that novelty would ware off. So silver is my number one choice... my birthday is July 12. I'm just sayin'....

Accountants are detail people, right?

2007-03-16T09:21:00.000-05:00

So I spent about an hour yesterday and the past 1.5 hours looking for a variance that popped out in a reconciliation that I prepare each month. (Those of you who don't like or don't get "numbers people" may just want to stop reading right now).

Every month, I have to compare two sets of data to ensure that they equal. Even for those of you who do like numbers... the explanation is more than you would care to read - trust me. So I began preparing the reconciliation yesterday afternoon by gathering the appropriate numbers... dropping them into my nifty spreadsheet... and I was left with a variance of $232,640. Now for an oil company in this day, that is not a lot of money; but it still needs to be addressed... I mean we aren't ExxonMobil.

So like I said, I spent 2.5 hours looking at this... there was no reason that the variance should be there. It just didn't make sense at all. Well hold and below... I had simply left an entire number out of the calculation. Any guesses on what the number was?

Yeah. I know... I take almost a month off from blogging and this is my comeback? My appologies. I just felt like such an idiot that I felt the need to share it with anyone who would listen.