Precious New Life

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

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

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

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...

... 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?

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

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?

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

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...

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...

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

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

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

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...

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.

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

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

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...

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...

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


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