... or Convert? I just bought an Alison Krauss CD from Cracker Barrel.
And Kansas City is out for the kid.
And I still haven't seen King Kong.
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Nick-isms
Comment from Nick as we’re sitting around the dinner table munching on homemade nachos:
“Umm, this is good! Mama you’re a good cooker! I’m gonna be a good cooker too when I grow up and get a job.”
“Daddy, when I grow up, who’s gonna be my grandparents? And who’s going to be my mommy and daddy?”
You gotta love kids.
“Umm, this is good! Mama you’re a good cooker! I’m gonna be a good cooker too when I grow up and get a job.”
“Daddy, when I grow up, who’s gonna be my grandparents? And who’s going to be my mommy and daddy?”
You gotta love kids.
Friday, December 16, 2005
Power to the People
Several of the local brethren are without power tonight after an ice storm passed through. Luckily we weren't affected, though the dogwood tree in our yard was a casualty. We stopped by the Brooks' to find them sitting in the dark around a kerosene heater. Did I mention the giant redwood that was blocking their driveway? I'll let TMan tell yall about that. Greenville, Williamston, and Anderson were hit harder than Clemson, apparently. I know that Country Girl is without power, but her mom has electricity. I don't know about the Greenville brethren, or the Hughes, Higgingbotham, and Wakefield families. The Burdettes are OK too.
Potluck sure oughta be interesting tomorrow. I foresee lots of cold cuts and peanut butter sandwiches.
Potluck sure oughta be interesting tomorrow. I foresee lots of cold cuts and peanut butter sandwiches.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
1 Little 2Little 3 Resurrections...
Hey - the Recover post link really works!
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Rev 20:11-13, NKJV
This past Sabbath we heard a sermon from Rod King on Resurrections. I enjoy this type of sermon for a few reasons: 1) It shows God's incredible love and mercy in insuring that ALL humanity will have a chance to choose to receive His offer of salvation; 2) The Scriptures we covered are great for reviewing a "trunk of the tree" church doctrine; and 3) It helps me look forward to the day when I will see my daughter again.
Daughter? What daughter?
The M.R.S. and I had a daughter, Kierra Nicole, on August 13, 1997 during the sixth month of pregnancy. She didn't survive, but she didn't suffer either. She never took a breath. I can remember holding her tiny body in my hand; she was soooo small. I remember her perfectly formed hands and feet, and the fact that she had my nose. We had a little funeral for her, and I really remember only two things from that day: my mother-in-law bringing in a dress from a doll, because that was the only thing that would fit Kierra, and I remember her casket. It was about the size of one of my shoeboxes. The sight of the miniature coffin amidst the normal gravestones was incredibly surreal. It was almost like I was outside of my body watching the goings-on from afar. The M.R.S. took it pretty hard, but we've both recovered pretty well, I think. Forgive me for piggybacking on something the Burdette girls mentioned a while ago, but it's scary when I realize how infrequently I think of her. And I feel guilt also; not only don't I think of her enough, I remember how bummed out I was initially over the pregnancy and how inconvenient the pregnancy was to my life. So much for not being selfish and callous. But boy, am I gonna make it up to her! I'm going to be the daddy of daddies to her. I look forward to seeing and raising my little girl. Of course, I'll let mommy love her too. And change her diapers.
And just as uplifting is knowing that all who have lost children, parents, friends, and lovers will see them again as well. Think of the mistakes we've all made in relationships with others; people you've left on bad terms, never to see them again. People you've loved whom you hurt in one way or another. People we weren't able to help whose problems cost them their lives. Think of how good it will be to be able to help them; to repair damaged relationships; to be able to help them achieve the happiness which is available for all. God speed that day!
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Rev 20:11-13, NKJV
This past Sabbath we heard a sermon from Rod King on Resurrections. I enjoy this type of sermon for a few reasons: 1) It shows God's incredible love and mercy in insuring that ALL humanity will have a chance to choose to receive His offer of salvation; 2) The Scriptures we covered are great for reviewing a "trunk of the tree" church doctrine; and 3) It helps me look forward to the day when I will see my daughter again.
Daughter? What daughter?
The M.R.S. and I had a daughter, Kierra Nicole, on August 13, 1997 during the sixth month of pregnancy. She didn't survive, but she didn't suffer either. She never took a breath. I can remember holding her tiny body in my hand; she was soooo small. I remember her perfectly formed hands and feet, and the fact that she had my nose. We had a little funeral for her, and I really remember only two things from that day: my mother-in-law bringing in a dress from a doll, because that was the only thing that would fit Kierra, and I remember her casket. It was about the size of one of my shoeboxes. The sight of the miniature coffin amidst the normal gravestones was incredibly surreal. It was almost like I was outside of my body watching the goings-on from afar. The M.R.S. took it pretty hard, but we've both recovered pretty well, I think. Forgive me for piggybacking on something the Burdette girls mentioned a while ago, but it's scary when I realize how infrequently I think of her. And I feel guilt also; not only don't I think of her enough, I remember how bummed out I was initially over the pregnancy and how inconvenient the pregnancy was to my life. So much for not being selfish and callous. But boy, am I gonna make it up to her! I'm going to be the daddy of daddies to her. I look forward to seeing and raising my little girl. Of course, I'll let mommy love her too. And change her diapers.
And just as uplifting is knowing that all who have lost children, parents, friends, and lovers will see them again as well. Think of the mistakes we've all made in relationships with others; people you've left on bad terms, never to see them again. People you've loved whom you hurt in one way or another. People we weren't able to help whose problems cost them their lives. Think of how good it will be to be able to help them; to repair damaged relationships; to be able to help them achieve the happiness which is available for all. God speed that day!
Moving
Don't you love it? I came home Monday to find a notice from Family Housing. The University is shutting down our complex due to the rising operating/maintenance costs. It appears that some of the underground oil tanks are leaking, and must be dug up along with any contaminated soil. So far they've tested 7 of the duplexes, and found 2 oil tanks to be leaking. They had to dig 75 feet down to remove all the contaminated soil from the first duplex, which damaged the foundation and forced the demolition of the unit. The second duplex is scheduled to be demolished this month; it's leak did not descend as far as the first one but covered a larger area. According to figures shown at the "town" meeting last night, it cost Housing ~$360,000 to take care of the first duplex; the second is expected to cost about $150,000. There are also 36 townhouse units which need sprinkler units to be brought up to university standards. This is expected to cost another $150,000. It's estimated that to keep these facilities going would require us to pay more than $300 additional bucks per month in rent. They realized that isn't feasible, so they're shutting the units down. There are 98 families living here, and many of us went to a "town" meeting last night to hear from the Director of Housing. Needless to say, there was quite a bit of anger directed at her. I felt sorry for the lady. Anyhoo, we all have until June 30, 2006 to find new cribs. At least we have 6 months. So Tman, what are you doing around the end of June/beginning of July? lol
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Thanksgiving weekend
The M.R.S. and kids
Tryptophan.
Me and my neice Ashleigh
Nick, Ash, and cousin Queen
My older brother Ronnie with his neice and nephews
Cosa Nostra
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
H.G. & Me
I’ve been skimming H.G. Wells’ The Outline of History (yes, THAT H.G. Wells) and came across some interesting passages. I thought I’d share them with you. The italicized comments are Mr. Wells’ – the rest are mine.
We shall tell what men have believed about Jesus of Nazareth, but him we shall treat as being what he appeared to be, a man, just as a painter must needs paint him as a man. The documents that testify to his acts and teachings we shall treat as ordinary human documents… This is what we have already done in the case of Buddha, and what we shall do later with Muhammad. (Outline of history, page 497)
We are left, if we do strip this record of these difficult accessories (the great star that brought wise men, the massacre of the male infant children, the flight into Egypt, etc.) with the figure of a being, very human, very earnest and passionate, capable of swift anger, and teaching a new and simple and profound doctrine – namely, the universal loving Fatherhood of God and the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven… (page 498)
Now it is a matter of fact that in the gospels all that body of theological assertion which constitutes Christianity finds little support. There is, as the reader may see for himself, no clear and emphatic assertion in these books of the doctrines which Christian teachers of all denominations find generally necessary to salvation… …There is no evidence that the apostles of Jesus ever heard of the Trinity – at any rate from him. The observance of the Jewish Sabbath, again, transferred to the Mithraic Sun-day, is an important feature of many Christian cults; but Jesus deliberately broke the Sabbath, and said that it was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. Nor did he say a word about the worship of his mother Mary, in the guise of Isis, the Queen of Heaven. All that is most characteristically Christian in worship and usage, he ignored. Sceptical[sic] writers have had the temerity to deny that Jesus can be called a Christian at all… (page 499)
As remarkable is the enormous prominence given by Jesus to the teaching of what he called the Kingdom of Heaven, and its comparative insignificance in the procedure and teaching of most of the Christian churches…This doctrine of the Kingdom of Heaven, which was the main teaching of Jesus, and which plays so small a part in the Christian creeds, is certainly one of the most revolutionary doctrines that ever stirred and changed human thought… (page 499)
During this indefinite time (the first two centuries A.D) a considerable amount of a sort of theocrasia seems to have gone on between the Christian cult and the almost equally popular and widely diffused Mithraic cult, and the cult of Serapis-Isis-Horus. From the former it would seem the Christians adopted Sun-day as their chief day of worship instead of the Jewish Sabbath, the abundant use of candles in religious ceremonies, the legend of the adoration by the shepherds, and probably also those ideas and phrases, so distinctive of certain sects to this day, about being “washed in the blood” of Christ, and of Christ being a blood sacrifice… The contributions of the Alexandrine cult to Christian thought and practices were even more considerable. In the personality of Horus, who was at once the son of Serapis and identical with Serapis, it wa natural for the Christians to find an illumination analogue in their struggles with the Pauline mysteries. From that to the identification of Mary with Isis, and her elevation to a rank quasi-divine… was also a very natural step. Natural, too, was it for Christianity to adopt, almost insensibly, the practical methods of the popular religions of the time. Its priests took on the head-shaving and the characteristic garments of the Egyptian priests, because that sort of thing seemed to be the right way of distinguishing a priest. One accretion followed another. Almost insensibly the originally revolutionary teaching was buried under these customary acquisitions… (pages 512-513)
Jesus called himself the Son of God and also the Son of Man; but he laid little stress on who he was or what he was, and much upon the teachings of the Kingdom… (page 514)
Mr. Wells certainly did not share the COG view of who and what Jesus was, nor did he have the same understanding of the Kingdom of Heaven – but it’s interesting that he could see that that was the thrust of Jesus’ message while here on earth.
We shall tell what men have believed about Jesus of Nazareth, but him we shall treat as being what he appeared to be, a man, just as a painter must needs paint him as a man. The documents that testify to his acts and teachings we shall treat as ordinary human documents… This is what we have already done in the case of Buddha, and what we shall do later with Muhammad. (Outline of history, page 497)
We are left, if we do strip this record of these difficult accessories (the great star that brought wise men, the massacre of the male infant children, the flight into Egypt, etc.) with the figure of a being, very human, very earnest and passionate, capable of swift anger, and teaching a new and simple and profound doctrine – namely, the universal loving Fatherhood of God and the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven… (page 498)
Now it is a matter of fact that in the gospels all that body of theological assertion which constitutes Christianity finds little support. There is, as the reader may see for himself, no clear and emphatic assertion in these books of the doctrines which Christian teachers of all denominations find generally necessary to salvation… …There is no evidence that the apostles of Jesus ever heard of the Trinity – at any rate from him. The observance of the Jewish Sabbath, again, transferred to the Mithraic Sun-day, is an important feature of many Christian cults; but Jesus deliberately broke the Sabbath, and said that it was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. Nor did he say a word about the worship of his mother Mary, in the guise of Isis, the Queen of Heaven. All that is most characteristically Christian in worship and usage, he ignored. Sceptical[sic] writers have had the temerity to deny that Jesus can be called a Christian at all… (page 499)
As remarkable is the enormous prominence given by Jesus to the teaching of what he called the Kingdom of Heaven, and its comparative insignificance in the procedure and teaching of most of the Christian churches…This doctrine of the Kingdom of Heaven, which was the main teaching of Jesus, and which plays so small a part in the Christian creeds, is certainly one of the most revolutionary doctrines that ever stirred and changed human thought… (page 499)
During this indefinite time (the first two centuries A.D) a considerable amount of a sort of theocrasia seems to have gone on between the Christian cult and the almost equally popular and widely diffused Mithraic cult, and the cult of Serapis-Isis-Horus. From the former it would seem the Christians adopted Sun-day as their chief day of worship instead of the Jewish Sabbath, the abundant use of candles in religious ceremonies, the legend of the adoration by the shepherds, and probably also those ideas and phrases, so distinctive of certain sects to this day, about being “washed in the blood” of Christ, and of Christ being a blood sacrifice… The contributions of the Alexandrine cult to Christian thought and practices were even more considerable. In the personality of Horus, who was at once the son of Serapis and identical with Serapis, it wa natural for the Christians to find an illumination analogue in their struggles with the Pauline mysteries. From that to the identification of Mary with Isis, and her elevation to a rank quasi-divine… was also a very natural step. Natural, too, was it for Christianity to adopt, almost insensibly, the practical methods of the popular religions of the time. Its priests took on the head-shaving and the characteristic garments of the Egyptian priests, because that sort of thing seemed to be the right way of distinguishing a priest. One accretion followed another. Almost insensibly the originally revolutionary teaching was buried under these customary acquisitions… (pages 512-513)
Jesus called himself the Son of God and also the Son of Man; but he laid little stress on who he was or what he was, and much upon the teachings of the Kingdom… (page 514)
Mr. Wells certainly did not share the COG view of who and what Jesus was, nor did he have the same understanding of the Kingdom of Heaven – but it’s interesting that he could see that that was the thrust of Jesus’ message while here on earth.
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Blue-eyed devil?
My wife is convinced she’s married to a white man – although she’s the one with the pointy nose, thin lips, and green eyes. This belief is most often vocalized when I’m singing along with those country and 70s AM Gold compilations you see offered on television at 1 in the morning. Hey I can’t help it if my musical tastes cover several different genres. I tell her she doesn’t have anything to worry about until I come home and start singing bluegrass tunes. Incidentally, I DID almost but an Allison Krause and Union Station CD when I stopped by Cracker Barrel yesterday. Almost. Maybe she should start to worry now…
I had to make an impromptu trip to Anderson yesterday, and while I was there I stopped by the Ridgeway’s sign company. I ended up staying there for about an hour and met several of the people who work there. It’s kinda odd seeing people you know socially in a professional environment. All is I know is if I ever need a sign made, they’ll be the people I turn to. I even got to chat with Caesar the iguana for a while. Reptiles are sooo cool. Patti was surprised to find out that I wanted to be a herpetologist at one time. I wanted to curate a reptile exhibit in a major zoo or in a natural history museum. And here I am working with cotton. Go figure.
It was quite a pleasure seeing Desiree this past week. Nick didn’t want her to return to California. It was also nice to see Tom, as well as the other visitors we had at services. Mafia was a pretty fun game. I’ve just got to remember not to be taken in by Summer’s sad “y’all are pickin’ on me” faces. Mr. B., you would’ve put Johnny Cochran to shame in a courtroom.
I’m really considering skipping the San Antonio conference and driving to KC. What do I do? The San Diego trip in mid-January is a done deal though. Got my tix and everything… Nothing beats San Diego in January man, absolutely nothing. Except eating Pot Stickers at the Cheesecake Factory for lunch in San Diego in January. One of my co-workers wants us all to go whale watching while we’re there. Sounds cool to me.
One other thing I learned while in Anderson yesterday: it’s amazing just how much of a guy’s crack can be exposed to the world and him be completely unaware of it. And that’s all I have to say about that.
I had to make an impromptu trip to Anderson yesterday, and while I was there I stopped by the Ridgeway’s sign company. I ended up staying there for about an hour and met several of the people who work there. It’s kinda odd seeing people you know socially in a professional environment. All is I know is if I ever need a sign made, they’ll be the people I turn to. I even got to chat with Caesar the iguana for a while. Reptiles are sooo cool. Patti was surprised to find out that I wanted to be a herpetologist at one time. I wanted to curate a reptile exhibit in a major zoo or in a natural history museum. And here I am working with cotton. Go figure.
It was quite a pleasure seeing Desiree this past week. Nick didn’t want her to return to California. It was also nice to see Tom, as well as the other visitors we had at services. Mafia was a pretty fun game. I’ve just got to remember not to be taken in by Summer’s sad “y’all are pickin’ on me” faces. Mr. B., you would’ve put Johnny Cochran to shame in a courtroom.
I’m really considering skipping the San Antonio conference and driving to KC. What do I do? The San Diego trip in mid-January is a done deal though. Got my tix and everything… Nothing beats San Diego in January man, absolutely nothing. Except eating Pot Stickers at the Cheesecake Factory for lunch in San Diego in January. One of my co-workers wants us all to go whale watching while we’re there. Sounds cool to me.
One other thing I learned while in Anderson yesterday: it’s amazing just how much of a guy’s crack can be exposed to the world and him be completely unaware of it. And that’s all I have to say about that.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Troop 625
I was a Boy Scout once. If I remember correctly, it was for about 3 years, beginning somewhere around the time I was 12/13. I absolutely hated it. Boy Scout Troop 625, Clio, SC. Our meetings were on Wednesday nights @ 7 p.m.; our hut was a little wooden building about ½ mile from my house. There was this one house I had to walk past that had dogs. I still remember the fear of not knowing whether they were going to pick this week to chase me home or not. For some reason, they never seemed to bother me when I was on the way to Scout meeting. In my memories, the hut is always cold when I arrive, though I know that couldn’t have been the case in the spring/summer. The mind is funny that way. You ever wonder how many of your memories are actually memories, and how many of them are revisions of what REALLY happened?
Anyway, I was the first (and only) black member of the troop. My brother joined a couple of years later, but I was on my way out by then. My Scouting experience has been one of the few times I intensely felt like an outsider. I NEVER felt like I belonged. For one, I just wasn’t gung-ho on camping like most of the others. I couldn’t enjoy our canoe trips, or our tubing trips down the Chattooga River because of my inability to swim. Try spending 12 consecutive hours fighting panic and see how you like it. The biggest reason I think I never “fit in” is because of some preconceived racial/socioeconomic baggage I brought with me.
You see, the rest of my troop was white. And they went to Marlboro Academy, the private school in the county. Many of their parents taught in the public school system, but they sent their kids to the private school. We (the black kids) were taught that the reason the private school existed had nothing to do with academics – it was strictly an option to integration. In short, they didn’t want their kids interacting with US – which was fine, in that the public school and academy kids didn’t cross paths much. We assumed they didn’t like us, and called us n-----s when safely within the confines of their precious academy, so therefore we didn’t like them. I have no idea how accurate that picture is or was, but I do know that that’s the picture I had in my head as I tried to become part of the Scouts.
As a result, I held back. I was polite, somewhat friendly, etc. But I refused to completely “buy in”, so to speak, partially because I didn’t completely trust the other guys. Looking back, I never had any problems with any of the guys. Many of them went out of their way to make me feel welcome. I just couldn’t shake my preconceived notions. Couldn’t shake them. When we were having fun, I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop – the racist joke (“No offense, Mike), the “accidental” use of a racial epithet… To my knowledge, it only happened once, and it was perpetrated by someone who came into the troop after I did. Even though I know better, there is still a large part of me that wishes I’d knocked him into next week. What made it worse is that I don’t (and didn’t then) think he said what he said to be mean – I think he thought what he was saying was acceptable and OK.
Once I got into high school sports my practices interfered with attending Scout meetings, and I eventually stopped going altogether. My brother pretty much stopped when I did. I do wish I could go back and interact with those fellas again without my biases. Most of them were good guys; several of them went to Clemson. We occasionally crossed paths, and exchanged pleasantries. I lament the missed opportunity to forge stronger and longer-lasting relationships.
Scouting wasn’t all bad though. We had a memorable campout on the beach, where I found out that sand gets EVERYWHERE. There was a five-mile hike, followed by the planting of hundreds of pine trees that ended up being very enjoyable; and there were trips to Carowinds that were quite pleasurable. And I did learn to tie a bunch of knots. I think the Scouts are a good thing; perhaps the boys will get to experience it.
Anyway, I was the first (and only) black member of the troop. My brother joined a couple of years later, but I was on my way out by then. My Scouting experience has been one of the few times I intensely felt like an outsider. I NEVER felt like I belonged. For one, I just wasn’t gung-ho on camping like most of the others. I couldn’t enjoy our canoe trips, or our tubing trips down the Chattooga River because of my inability to swim. Try spending 12 consecutive hours fighting panic and see how you like it. The biggest reason I think I never “fit in” is because of some preconceived racial/socioeconomic baggage I brought with me.
You see, the rest of my troop was white. And they went to Marlboro Academy, the private school in the county. Many of their parents taught in the public school system, but they sent their kids to the private school. We (the black kids) were taught that the reason the private school existed had nothing to do with academics – it was strictly an option to integration. In short, they didn’t want their kids interacting with US – which was fine, in that the public school and academy kids didn’t cross paths much. We assumed they didn’t like us, and called us n-----s when safely within the confines of their precious academy, so therefore we didn’t like them. I have no idea how accurate that picture is or was, but I do know that that’s the picture I had in my head as I tried to become part of the Scouts.
As a result, I held back. I was polite, somewhat friendly, etc. But I refused to completely “buy in”, so to speak, partially because I didn’t completely trust the other guys. Looking back, I never had any problems with any of the guys. Many of them went out of their way to make me feel welcome. I just couldn’t shake my preconceived notions. Couldn’t shake them. When we were having fun, I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop – the racist joke (“No offense, Mike), the “accidental” use of a racial epithet… To my knowledge, it only happened once, and it was perpetrated by someone who came into the troop after I did. Even though I know better, there is still a large part of me that wishes I’d knocked him into next week. What made it worse is that I don’t (and didn’t then) think he said what he said to be mean – I think he thought what he was saying was acceptable and OK.
Once I got into high school sports my practices interfered with attending Scout meetings, and I eventually stopped going altogether. My brother pretty much stopped when I did. I do wish I could go back and interact with those fellas again without my biases. Most of them were good guys; several of them went to Clemson. We occasionally crossed paths, and exchanged pleasantries. I lament the missed opportunity to forge stronger and longer-lasting relationships.
Scouting wasn’t all bad though. We had a memorable campout on the beach, where I found out that sand gets EVERYWHERE. There was a five-mile hike, followed by the planting of hundreds of pine trees that ended up being very enjoyable; and there were trips to Carowinds that were quite pleasurable. And I did learn to tie a bunch of knots. I think the Scouts are a good thing; perhaps the boys will get to experience it.
Friday, November 18, 2005
Something I meant to post a while back...
A link to an article by Philip Skell, from Penn State U. it's entitled "Why do we Invoke Darwin?"
Not surprisingly, his article generated some responses. I also like his reply to those responses. I won't post the responses, but he has a link to them.
Not surprisingly, his article generated some responses. I also like his reply to those responses. I won't post the responses, but he has a link to them.
Post-op Deux
Noah’s procedure went quite smoothly. The docs called him back at 8, and the doc came to tell us everything went smoothly at 8:07. By 8:45 we were sitting in Cracker Barrel eating breakfast. Not bad, Medicus, not bad at all.
I was experiencing shoulder and neck fatigue last night and this morning, so I jokingly mentioned to the M.R.S. that maybe I should hit Jalen up for one of his Loritabs. Well, mother-in-law (who went to the doc’s with us) pulls out this Tylenol bottle and whips out a Loritab. She gives it to me and I take it on the way home. After about 15 minutes my neck and shoulders started to feel much better. I decided to lie down for a little while and take a short nap before going to work. This is around 10:00. Next thing I know it’s going on 2:30 p.m. and I’m just now coming to. I rush to my 3:30 seminar and still feel sluggish and drowsy @ 5:10. No more of those for me.
Thanks for all the well-wishes and prayers. I think I’m going home now. A nap sounds nice.
I was experiencing shoulder and neck fatigue last night and this morning, so I jokingly mentioned to the M.R.S. that maybe I should hit Jalen up for one of his Loritabs. Well, mother-in-law (who went to the doc’s with us) pulls out this Tylenol bottle and whips out a Loritab. She gives it to me and I take it on the way home. After about 15 minutes my neck and shoulders started to feel much better. I decided to lie down for a little while and take a short nap before going to work. This is around 10:00. Next thing I know it’s going on 2:30 p.m. and I’m just now coming to. I rush to my 3:30 seminar and still feel sluggish and drowsy @ 5:10. No more of those for me.
Thanks for all the well-wishes and prayers. I think I’m going home now. A nap sounds nice.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
20051117
So Nick drew a picture of the earth yesterday and showed it to us at the dinner table last night. It's a fairly good representation, overlooking the fact that he had Greenville and Clemson (30 miles apart) on different continents. He graciously labeled a few other key locations: American, Jamaica, and My Am Me (say it quickly). Apparently our Feast trip has made an indelible impression upon the young man. I love this kid.
Noah gets the tubes in his ears tomorrow morning. He can't eat after midnight, so I really hope he sleeps through the night and doesn't wake up looking for sustenance. I suggested stuffing him with a nice big bowl of oatmeal around 11. Let's pray it works.
We had our first frost this morning - almost six weeks before the end of the year. This year's weather has certainly not been normal. Oh well, it's back to homology searching for me. Technically it should be similarity searching, since the term homology assumes an ancestor/descendant relationship. Let me not bore you guys. Later!
Noah gets the tubes in his ears tomorrow morning. He can't eat after midnight, so I really hope he sleeps through the night and doesn't wake up looking for sustenance. I suggested stuffing him with a nice big bowl of oatmeal around 11. Let's pray it works.
We had our first frost this morning - almost six weeks before the end of the year. This year's weather has certainly not been normal. Oh well, it's back to homology searching for me. Technically it should be similarity searching, since the term homology assumes an ancestor/descendant relationship. Let me not bore you guys. Later!
Grrrrrrrrr
I am hating UNIX right now. And similarity searches. And labwork. And seminars.
OK. I feel better now.
OK. I feel better now.
Monday, November 14, 2005
Clemson/USC
I just received this in my Inbox. Of course it means nothing to you if you don’t live in SC. This year the game was only going to be available via Pay-per-View. Hmmm… I think I know some people who might want to watch. Maybe it’s time to have a social gathering at the crib!
One of the many benefits of living in University Housing is that from time to time you are able to enjoy additional amenities. We are pleased to announce that you will be able to view the Clemson/USC game in the comfort of your Clemson Home without having to pay the Pay-per-View cost. This event is presented in conjunction with the INC Group (providers of the Direct TV service on campus). They also are providing the link at Littlejohn where you may view the game in a larger setting. We hope you enjoy the game and we thank you for being a resident of University Family Housing.
Go Tigers!
One of the many benefits of living in University Housing is that from time to time you are able to enjoy additional amenities. We are pleased to announce that you will be able to view the Clemson/USC game in the comfort of your Clemson Home without having to pay the Pay-per-View cost. This event is presented in conjunction with the INC Group (providers of the Direct TV service on campus). They also are providing the link at Littlejohn where you may view the game in a larger setting. We hope you enjoy the game and we thank you for being a resident of University Family Housing.
Go Tigers!
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Post-Op
The surgery went well. Jalen had some debris removed from his left knee in a 45-minute arthroscopic procedure. We got some great news from the doc - the ACL was only partially torn, so the doc thinks it may heal on his own, removing the need for reconstructive surgery when he's done growing. They also found a slight tear of the lateral cruciate ligament, but it's very minor and should heal itself as well. Jalen was quite groggy afterward, but there appear to be no long-term negative effects. Everyone's prayers and well-wishes are greatly appreciated.
I'm a little (ok, VERY)disgusted at myself. I haven't gotten very much work done this semester. Where has the time gone? Apparently, much of it has been spent right here in front of the PC or in front of the telly. Anyway, it's time to pay the piper: I have a committee meeting Friday, in which I'll learn if my research project is sufficient to earn a degree, and whether or not I'll have to take anymore classes. If there's one thing I'd like to change about myself, it's my laziness. And my insecurities. And my desire to be liked by everyone. I guess I also need to work on my inability to count to one properly.
Heather L., if you read this, know that Mark thinks you look like Julia Roberts too.
The whole T.O. saga really makes me feel good about Monday's Dallas/Philly game.
So where's the Clemson/FSU viewing party going to be?
I'm a little (ok, VERY)disgusted at myself. I haven't gotten very much work done this semester. Where has the time gone? Apparently, much of it has been spent right here in front of the PC or in front of the telly. Anyway, it's time to pay the piper: I have a committee meeting Friday, in which I'll learn if my research project is sufficient to earn a degree, and whether or not I'll have to take anymore classes. If there's one thing I'd like to change about myself, it's my laziness. And my insecurities. And my desire to be liked by everyone. I guess I also need to work on my inability to count to one properly.
Heather L., if you read this, know that Mark thinks you look like Julia Roberts too.
The whole T.O. saga really makes me feel good about Monday's Dallas/Philly game.
So where's the Clemson/FSU viewing party going to be?
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Almost Friday
The NBA is back! The Miami Heat were making a run against the Indiana Pacers when Shaq stepped on Ron Artest's foot and rolled his ankle. Of course TNT showed the ankle bending at 90 degrees several times, in sloooow motion. That had to hurt - particularly with 350+ lbs. coming down on it. Miami just lost by three.
Jalen went to the doc today. It's official - his arthroscopic surgery is scheduled for Tuesday. No more sports for him for a while. The doc says that he's gonna need another surgery later on, after his skeleton has reached maturity. Whether that means no sports until then, I don't know. I even got to bring him home for dinner today. He stayed here for about 3.5 hours, and got a kick out of playing with Noah. Noah cried the first few times Jalen picked him up, but he seemed to be coming around by the time I took him home.
Jalen went to the doc today. It's official - his arthroscopic surgery is scheduled for Tuesday. No more sports for him for a while. The doc says that he's gonna need another surgery later on, after his skeleton has reached maturity. Whether that means no sports until then, I don't know. I even got to bring him home for dinner today. He stayed here for about 3.5 hours, and got a kick out of playing with Noah. Noah cried the first few times Jalen picked him up, but he seemed to be coming around by the time I took him home.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Sights
A view of Montego Bay from a hillside
On the streets of downtown Montego Bay
Ironshore - one of the wealthier residential areas
Chillin'
Joy, pure and unaldulterated
Noah stands!!!!
The boys by the end of the Feast
Some of the Jamaican brethren
Choir
Speakers/Ushers
And of course, the beach!
Gettin' my fix...
I should've captured all my thoughts on the Feast immediately upon returning. Dr. Scott Winnail and Mr. Wally Smith and Mr. Lascelles Frazier gave wonderful messages, each touching on various aspects of the meanings of the Holy Days, the final fulfillment of the days, and training to be servant rulers/judges and members of the family of God. We also had good sermonettes by members from different locales, and a couple of DVD sermons as well. I knew a couple of people who were celebrating their first Feast (one has only been attending services PERIOD for a coupla months), and I think the messages, particularly the messages given on the last day of the Feast and the Last Great Day, did a great job explaining the meanings of the Festivals in a way they could easily understand. Whenever we have visitors at services who don't have a COG background, I often wonder how some things come across to them. When we have a live speaker it's not as much a problem, as the live speaker can give a little background info on the topic, but when it's a video... I remember the jolt I felt when I heard someone mention 2nd and 3rd tithe without explaining what they were.
Nicholas had a wonderful Feast. He made quite a few friends (as usual), and did not limit himself to the kids he already knew. He now has friends in Jamaica and Canada to go with his U.S. contingent. He became particularly attached to little Rachel from Calgary. He wanted us to stay in MoBay until Sunday b/c that's how long Rachel was staying. He's already ready for next year's Feast. He said something quite touching on our flight from Atlanta to Miami on the way down. We were looking at the scenery below us when he says in a soft voice, "I wish Grandma could see this." Awwww... One day, son; one day.
The M.R.S. is still on Cloud 9. She got to hook-up with her "sister", and go shopping, and FINALLY make it to Jamaica. I'm planning to milk the FoT as long as I can.
Getting back into the real world has been a bit of a drag. I've got to put my nose to the grindstone for the remainder of this year and crank out some data, prepare for conferences, catch up on my labwork, and write a paper for submission to a journal. I've got to have a meeting sometime in the next two weeks to find out if I have to take any more classes or not, and to determine if my project is sufficient to earn a doctorate. Theoretically, my committee can decide that my project is insufficient and have me do something else, or they can make me take more classes. I don't think that's going to happen, but I'm a little nervous nonetheless.
I need to update my links. I read more blogs than I have listed, and I think the links should reflect that. Incidentally, I met another blogger, Jalpenojelly, at the Feast - though I didn't know she had a blog at the time. I'd even left a comment on it before leaving, but I didn't make the connection until I returned home. Oh to have back those brain cells I killed back in the day!
Nicholas had a wonderful Feast. He made quite a few friends (as usual), and did not limit himself to the kids he already knew. He now has friends in Jamaica and Canada to go with his U.S. contingent. He became particularly attached to little Rachel from Calgary. He wanted us to stay in MoBay until Sunday b/c that's how long Rachel was staying. He's already ready for next year's Feast. He said something quite touching on our flight from Atlanta to Miami on the way down. We were looking at the scenery below us when he says in a soft voice, "I wish Grandma could see this." Awwww... One day, son; one day.
The M.R.S. is still on Cloud 9. She got to hook-up with her "sister", and go shopping, and FINALLY make it to Jamaica. I'm planning to milk the FoT as long as I can.
Getting back into the real world has been a bit of a drag. I've got to put my nose to the grindstone for the remainder of this year and crank out some data, prepare for conferences, catch up on my labwork, and write a paper for submission to a journal. I've got to have a meeting sometime in the next two weeks to find out if I have to take any more classes or not, and to determine if my project is sufficient to earn a doctorate. Theoretically, my committee can decide that my project is insufficient and have me do something else, or they can make me take more classes. I don't think that's going to happen, but I'm a little nervous nonetheless.
I need to update my links. I read more blogs than I have listed, and I think the links should reflect that. Incidentally, I met another blogger, Jalpenojelly, at the Feast - though I didn't know she had a blog at the time. I'd even left a comment on it before leaving, but I didn't make the connection until I returned home. Oh to have back those brain cells I killed back in the day!
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