Norse gods and the like...

In my building, most people have their ID badges clipped to the belt loop on their pants (well, the men clip them there... the ladies don't always have belt loops - but that is beside the point). Anyway, in the elevator today there was a gentleman dressed in a suit (not the norm for Marathon culture) and I had not seen him before. So I took note of his name as I was curious who he was (perhaps he was important and I should know him). He also had a bit of a Euro look to him... I can't place what it was, he just looked European. Well... when I looked at his ID badge, I discovered that his name is Thor. Seriously... how cool would it be to be named Thor?

On a side note... his name reminded me of the old 80's movie Adventures in Babysitting. Does anyone remember this movie? It starred Elizabeth Shue. Cheesy, but definitely entertaining for me as an 11 year old kid.

The Apple of God's Eye?

In the this article, John Piper addresses an issue that has long been confusing to me.

The Bible teaches that God is supremely valuable. It also teaches that he delights in His children. So how does Someone of supreme value delight in/give praise to someone of lesser value?

The article offers one explanation... it is long, but worth the read.

Grammar Patrol

I was just reading a few of my more recent posts and I found a couple errors. Where is the grammar partol? Now granted, one of the errors was simply using the year 2006 instead of 2005 (you basefall fans were just too kind to point that one out to me, but I assure you it was a typo). The other one was the use of the word "of" instead of "or." Either way, I am ashamed of my blogging performance. Two errors in one week is simply unforgiveable. Do not let me get away with that in the future. I am sure if Joel Bain still read my blog, he would have pointed them out - in grace and kindness, of course. That guy has a keen eye for grammatical errors. But I digress...

Featured Pandora Station - Howie Day

This week's Pandora Favorites will be from my Howie Day station.

Pandora offered the follow explanation for why it played one of the songs so far:

"...it features basic rock song structures, a subtle use of vocal harmony, mixed accoustic and electric insturmentation, major key tonality and prominent organ."

So I am not sure what all of that means... but it sounds good.

I'm not sure...

but I may be sinning as I type this post.

I just went walking around my office looking for some kind of afternoon snack (an Antone's 7 Layer bar would have hit the spot, but alas I had none). Well, one of the admins on my floor has various snack items by her desk, so I made my way over to that area. I found snack that looked like it would satisfy my afternoon hunger. But I'm not sure God would approve of me eating it... it is one of the Little Debbie Raisin Creme Pies.

"...even as the LORD loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.'" - Hosea 3:1

Take me out to the ball game....

for 18 innings.

Last night, I went to the 2nd 18 inning game in Astros history. I did not, however, stay for the second set of 9. My buddies and I left after the 9th.

I did, however, attempt to will the Astros to a W by watching them on TV. I stayed up with them until 12:30 (yes, I am paying for it this morning). I retired to my slumber after the 17th inning ended... only to wake up this morning to find out the following:

1. The game only lasted one more inning (I could have stayed up for that).
2. The Astros lost.
3. Lidge has officially been pulled from the closer position.

Number 3 is one of those bits of information that you know needs to happen, but you don't really want it to (kinda like putting a dog to sleep). I heard this last night during the game... and apparently it has been discussed on the sports radio stations lately... but Lidge just has not been the same since the Pujols debacle of 2005.

A highlight of the night for me was when Mateo hit Clemmens in the 5th... only to have Clemmens take the mound and instill fear in Theriot by aiming straight for his chest/face region. I mean the Rocket was relentless... and while I felt a little wrong for encouraging such behavior, I cheered it on with the rest of the home fans. Roger received his warning and the game went on. Good times!

You see, I have this condition...

I have decided that my favorite movie (at least for the time being) is Memento.

It is my favorite movie because I have watched it 4 or 5 times since it came out a few years ago... and I still have to watch it all the way through to get the full story. If you are not familiar with the movie, it is shot in a pretty unique way that matches the condition of the main character. He can't make new memories and can only remember things about 5-10 minutes back. Well, the movie is a series of 5-10 minute chunks of events that happen in his life... and through out the movie, you realize some pretty shocking things about him and those around him.

The reason this is on my mind is that I watched the movie on Saturday and remembered just how great it really is.

So who else likes/dislikes the movie... and what are some other favorites out there?

(yes, this is a shameless ploy to get comments from my readers...)

Featured Pandora Station - Matt Wertz

This week, I will be listening to my Matt Wertz staion on Pandora. So my Pandora Sidebar will list songs that I like that (according to Pandora) have musical qualities similar to songs by Matt Wertz. Enjoy.

On a side note - check out the movie Inside Man if you have not already seen it. I watched it yesterday not knowing anything about it... fantastic movie.

That's all...

That thing is good... I mean REAL good

I just finished eating a gyro from Antone's. I can't tell if it is that I was hungry (cuz I was even though I had a decent breakfast) or if the gyro was that much of a standout meal. Seriously, from the frist bite, I wanted to be friends with it. The meat was perfectly seasoned... the only drawback was that it was a bit messy. But good food always is, right?

Anyway, later I will be enjoying my 7 layer bar from Antones (mid-afternoon coffee snack). I hope it pleases at least half as much as the gyro.

Pandora Favorites Sidebar

I have mentioned the website Pandora before, but it is worth mentioning again. It is a website that suggests music based on the style of a song or artist of your choice. Each artist you choose creates a "station" that will play music with similar qualities. I am not sure how it all works, but it is one of the best websites I have ever seen (thank you Daniel by way of Catha).

Anyway, I have recently added a sidebar to my blog that will show the songs I add to my favorites list from Pandora.

So I will be featuring a different station each week. This week, I have been listening to my "The New Amsterdams" station. This means that all of the songs that appear on my favorites list have musical qualities similar to the band The New Amsterdams.

There will likely be repeat stations if I continue this, but I will try to do a different one each week.

Enjoy...

The Line Between Fact and Fiction...

Well, that line can be very thin... at least in one's mind.

I was just at home eating lunch, and I decided to flip over to Food TV (some of my readers will remember from an earlier post that I have a mental love affair with Giada De Laurentiis - the host of Everyday Italian).

So when I flipped to channel 52, Giada was explaining what she would be creating today... and it looked good, so I decided to watch some more.

As she was preparing the meal, she explained that it was a picnic with a steak pasta salad... and some other things I didn't get to see her make. And she kept referring to Todd. She was cooking the steak medium rare because Todd likes it that way... she was using basil and parsley because Todd likes basil and parsley... she was packaging the food to take it to "Todd's office.

Unfortunately, I was watching the show alone and could not share the humor with anyone... so you all get to be in on the joke.

Maybe I should follow in this guy's footsteps.

Cry for me Argentina...

I just finished documenting how to perform a certain task... and then accidentally closed it without saving first. Truly one of the more unsettling moments a person can experience at work. Fortunately, I had saved since finishing the last task... so I only have to rewrite one. But still... I mean I think the first version was gold.. it was GOLD Jerry! And now I must try to reinvent that proverbial wheel.

She ate her peas one at a time...

So I was recently made aware of the fact that Sophie Milman does not write her own music. That fact effectively stiffled my love for her... maybe this is why I am still single.

I am in love...

This morning, I turned on my computer and decided to check out iTunes. I am reletively new to the iTunes arena, but I can say that I truly enjoy it. However, that is not the object of my newly found love.

One of the freatures of iTunes is what they call "Indie Spotlight." This week, the Indie Spotlight focuses on jazz... and at the top of their list is a young lady by the name of Sophie Milman.

She was born in Russia... fled to Israel with her family... and now lives in Canada. But all that is secondary to her amazing voice. Check her out.

Oooops, I did it again...

No, I did not buy or listen to a Britney Spears song... I snoozed for two hours again this morning. That is two weeks in a row.

This life of late nights and fast living will catch up with me yet...

My muse has betrayed me...

Apparently my muse is moonlighting with Laurie Johnson. Check out her rebuttal to my list of reasons I enjoy being single.

I find great joy in being the topic of two QQ posts. Who would have thought that anyone would have achieved such an honor at the young age of 30? And to think that if I were married, I would not have been in a place to post my Top 30... I think the list just grew by one.

I found my muse...

So on Wednesday, I said I could only come up with 3 reasons that I was glad I was single... well, I have given that some thought, and I have come up with 27 more. The list on Wednesday was of a more serious nature... and I considered deleting it. But it is what it is, so I will leave it. But in the interest of balancing the serious with the humorous... I present to you the Top Thirty Reason I am Glad I am Single:

1. I never have to share the covers
2. I don’t HAVE to put the toilet seat down (even though I ALWAYS do)
3. The floor works very well as a dresser/closet
4. I don’t have to change my sheets every week
5. I can use the same towel for weeks at a time
6. An HEB pre-made rotisserie chicken will sustain me for almost a week’s worth of lunches
7. When eating at a restaurant, I don’t have to share my meal with anyone
8. I only have to buy one ticket instead of two
9. When I have had a bad day, I don’t have to talk to anyone about it if I don’t want to
10. Holidays are simple… no extra family groups to fit into the schedule
11. I don’t have to share the remote control when watching TV
12. I don’t have to go see “Princess Diaries” or the like…
13. I never have to ask permission to hang out with the guys
14. I can hang out with females whenever I want to
15. I don’t have to shave every day
16. I never have to answer the difficult questions like “Does this dress make my butt look big?”
17. I can not notice a girl’s new hair cut and it is not really a big deal
18. If I am late for anything, I have only myself to blame
19. More discretionary income
20. I can snooze for two hours in the morning… or longer
21. I can choose to not attend weddings and people chalk it up to “he’s a guy”
22. I don’t have to redefine what “a clean bathroom” means
23. I can snore with complete immunity (not that I do… but the point is that I CAN)
24. I can talk in my sleep (again, not that I do… of course, I wouldn’t know one way or the other I guess)
25. I can change my stated plans at the drop of a hat
26. I never, EVER have to purchase feminine products
27. All four weeks of every month are pretty much the same for me
28. I get invited to all the “fun single events”
29. When visiting out of town friends, I can sleep on the floor or the couch in the living room instead of having to get a hotel room
30. I can post a list like this and not have to hear about it later

Apparent Contradiction

This morning, something happened that I am ashamed of and proud of at the same time....

I snoozed for two hours!!

Now I have been known to snooze for longer... but not on a work day. Regardless, I was on time for work.

Thirty-Schmirty

I am finally 30 years old. Wow.

I remember when my mother turned 30. Yeah... I can remember when my mother turned 30. Give it a second, and the weight of that may hit you.

Seriously, I remember that my parents' close friends at the time had us over for dinner... and there as cake. When they brought out the cake, it had 30 candles on it... and it was glowing. They all laughed and made fun of the fact that she was 30.

And now that is me. Seriously, I am 30 years old. Why is that such a big deal in our society? And add to that the fact that my left hand currently does not have any sort of precious metal on it... and you are left with what many people think to be a miserable existence.

At this point, I wanted to present a top 30 list of reasons I am glad I am single... but I only came up with 3.

So instead, I will present a top 30 list of "Things I am Thankful for on my 30th Birthday"

(i didn't take the time to put these in the order of importance... so just realize that some are more important than others. it is a little cheesy, long, and serious... but cut me some slack - i'm 30 years old.)

1. My justification before the Lord

2. My relationship with the Lord

3. My on-going sanctification (I don't always feel thankful for this one)

4. My parents

5. My brother and sister-in-law

6. My nephew (yeah, he gets his own number on the list)

7. The friends I have made at HFBC (including those who have moved away)

8. My friends from college (even though I don't always keep in touch with them)

9. My friends from high-school (even though I keep in touch with them even less)

10. A job that pays me

11. A God-honoring, Bible-teaching local church

12. My college experience in Ruston, Louisiana

13. A well-located house (with a/c)

14. A car that runs (and has a/c)

15. A great history of roommates (in college and here in Houston)

16. A comfortable bed to sleep on

17. A desire to know God (even though I don't always follow that desire)

18. Clean water to drink

19. Money to purchase breakfast, lunch, and dinner

20. Clothes to wear

21. A Bible in a language I understand

22. The opportunity to live in England and Germany as a child/teenager

23. The opportunity to be in Berlin the day the restrictions were lifted between East Berlin and West Berlin

24. The opportunity to be on mission for the Lord in Mexico, Kazakstan, India,
Guatemala, and Cuba

25. A mind that can comprehend things

26. Eyes that see (if aided by glasses)

27. Ears that can hear

28. A mouth that can speak

29. Freedom in Christ

30. The fact that this list really could be longer....

So there you have it... for what it's worth. At the age of 30, I am doing just fine.

Post Holiday Blues

I think the only word to describe this year's July 4th "season" is dreary. Yesterday was overcast... today is just downright stormy... all of this makes for a bleak rest of my week.

My apologies for the lack of Cuba Highlights... they will return, I promise. This week is just going to be busy... oh, and dreary.

In other news... I saw Superman Returns this weekend. For anyone who grew up watching the originals, this is a must-see. You will hear mixed reviews, but I strongly encourage you to go see it and form your own personal opinion. The only danger you face is getting the Superman Theme stuck in your head for days to come...