Unheard Musings

Why the gap isn't wider...

2008-08-29T19:23:00.008-04:00

I should have said more... but I bit my tongue. It was an exchange that could have happened in any corner of our country. This one took place in our local auto dealer while I waited for our car to receive it's second recall in 12 months.

There were about ten of us gathered around the TV in the waiting room as John McCain revealed his top-secret, secret weapon of a V.P. choice. Some were just watching, one lady was definitely not all about his choice, I was remarking about how it was amazing that history would be made one way or another now... how we would either have our first woman V.P. or the first African-American president.

It was after I said what I said that an elderly man, sitting next to his wife, told me he hoped it was a woman. "I'm a McCain guy." I listened, but told him I was probably on the other end of the spectrum and hoped Obama would be elected.

"You ever spend time in Chicago? If you had you wouldn't be for Obama."

"Well, yes, I have visited." I replied.

"No, lived there... I lived there and we spent years fighting them."

"Fighting who?" I asked.

"Them... they are a different culture."

I pretended I didn't know that he was basking in his own ignorance when I asked, "Culture?"

"The blacks. We fought 'em for years, they are a different culture."

"Hmmm, you do know that Obama isn't originally from Chicago?" I replied. "And that his mother was white and his father was from Kenya?"

"Well..." He began to reply when his wife interrupted.

"Now, don't be discussing politics here..."

I didn't say what immediately boiled to my lips. I wanted to say that the discussion that was about to start wasn't about politics, it was about race. It was about the ignorance that has plagued our country for years while many of us have been sheltered under the privilege of being white. The fact that what he perceived as a battle, his African-American counterparts considered a reach equality.

There were many things I should have said. But I didn't.

Maybe I just thought it in vain. Pointless.

I mostly was just pissed as I sat there thinking that this was the guy. It was this dummy whose vote I would cancel out.

don't shoot the messenger...

2008-06-05T23:11:00.005-04:00

Because "Anonymous" Comments Drive Me Crazy

2008-05-19T22:54:00.009-04:00

Mostly, I've found them to say, "I'm remarkably insecure, unwilling to be identified with my own (often judgemental) words of criticism, and am unable to carry on an intelligent conversation." Please be warned now, if you make an anonymous comment to this post - it will probably be deleted. But, if you'd like to carry on a conversation (which is always welcome whether you agree with my opinions or not), please leave your name.

Recently, on a blog I frequent, one such Anonymous commenter left words that "Mean no disrespect at all." Yet those words are at the heart of what I believe is wrong with our discussion of faith and politics in this country. This idea of lobbing 'catch phrases' from the 'Right' without thinking about the whole scope of issues that we face is infuriating to me.

It seems whenever James Dobson (Please keep in mind that Dr. Dobson is neither a trained theologian or political scientist.) says something about theology or politics, the evangelical right just mindlessly nod their heads, get bumper stickers, speak high and mighty around those who agree with them, *and post anonymous comments on peoples' blogs who disagree*.

Let us be clear - Life is of greatest value to God. Given the choice between death and life - we (His followers) are to choose life.

Abortion -or- No Abortion --> We choose no abortion.

Abusive relationships -or- Healthy relationships --> We choose healthy relationships.

War -or- Peace --> We choose peace.

Death Penalty -or- Mercy --> hmmm.... another post, another time. (Two guesses where I think the church should stand on this.)

Now, how then should we respond to our Presidential choices that we face? We face two (pretty soon anyway) choices.

One side seems to dodge what they really think and wants to tow the party line. When questioned about "family conference" time... if his daughter decided to get an abortion, John McCain answered, "I am proud of my pro-life record in public life, and I will continue to maintain it. I will not draw my children into this discussion. As a leader of a pro-life party with a pro-life position, I will persuade young Americans [to] understand the importance of the preservation of the rights of the unborn..." (GOP Debate in Manchester NH Jan 26, 2000)

The problem with this 'philosophy' is that it is not a philosophy. It is merely a political facade to appease the 'conservative' voters. And beyond the familiar rhetoric, these politicians offer no clear plan on how to fight the causes of abortion or address the reasons why women feel the need to get abortions in the first place. Instead, they have just had a history of making election year policies with no results once the get into office. Don't believe me? Do a little math and count the number of years a Republican has been in office since Roe v. Wade and then count the number of Supreme Court Justices that have been put into power by those presidents. Sorry - but so called 'one issue voting' hasn't been working. If it had, the decision would have been overturned long ago.

But, let us look at the other choice for president who has "suggested that perhaps we could agree on ways to reduce the number of women who felt the need to have abortions in the first place." (The Audacity of Hope, by Barack Obama, p.197-8 Oct 1, 2006) He has also stated that "[he] think[s] that most Americans recognize that this is a profoundly difficult issue for the women and families who make these decisions. They don't make them casually. And [he] trust[s] women to make these decisions in conjunction with their doctors and their families and their clergy." (2007 South Carolina Democratic primary debate, on MSNBC Apr 26, 2007) Now, before you jump to conclusions - think about that statement. He believes that this is a choice to be made in conjunction with families and clergy. Now, where would you as a family member advise your sister on this issue? LIFE. Where would clergy stand on this? I presume LIFE.

Also remember that there are numerous issues that we face when we vote for a candidate.

Mis-directed war -or- Re-directed justice and peaceful dialogue?

Policies that benefit the richest in our country and the richest in the world -or- policies that help pull people out of the grasp of poverty?

Benefits to corporations that continue to pollute our world while trusting them to choose environmentalism over profits -or- an approach that requires conservation?

Give lip-service to those who will vote for one issue -or- actually work on issues (chiefly poverty and education) that our country faces that perpetuate the perceived need for abortion for some --> we choose the latter... I HOPE.

Life Imitates Art?

2008-03-24T20:31:00.001-04:00

Lasers firing from a moving aircraft?

Umm, pardon me Boeing and Popular Science... I'm pretty sure Chris Knight figured this one out years ago.

By the way... this movie had one of the best soundtracks ever. I dare you to rival these amazing tunes.

In Case You Missed It...

2008-03-18T19:56:00.004-04:00

And here are all the words...

Happy Birthday Chuck Norris

2008-03-11T17:59:00.001-04:00

The man, the legend... turned 68 on Monday. Take a look at boston.com's salute to one of our national heroes.

Creflo Dollar Defends His "Gospel" Pt. 1 & Pt. 2

2008-03-07T20:41:00.000-05:00

2008-02-29T10:24:00.004-05:00

Another way to convey info...

2008-02-16T17:02:00.004-05:00

It seems harder and harder to throw quick posts together that provide a good update of our lives to our family and friends far away. We spend far too much time chasing a two year old and when we do get time at the computer, it is usually interrupted with a visit to sites like this one.

So in response, we have decided to be better stewards of our freakin' awesome and superior Macintosh computer and .mac membership. You can now find quickly posted material here.

(That's: http://web.mac.com/angandryan)

Idea for Downtown Event?

2008-01-19T11:12:00.000-05:00

A little glimpse

2007-11-27T18:40:00.000-05:00

As Ang talks on the phone downstairs with her mother, I can hear a persistent little (although loud) voice in the background.

"Momma! Momma! Bye, Bye! Momma! Bah, Bye!"

Kuyper on Patience

2007-11-21T20:07:00.000-05:00

"...Patience ought to be the possession of every child of God. If it is not his when he is reborn, it ought to grow within him as he grows in Christ.

But it is sadly lacking among us.

That is evident from our restlessness, from our aversion to the cross, though we hide that aversion behind a veil of resignation. It is especially evident when suffering fails to produce spiritual fruit, even suffering that is drained to the bitter dregs with apparent willingness.

We need patience. We need it to comfort us in trouble, to renew in us the joy of being God’s children, to revive our song of praise as we bear the cross which His love assigns us..."

Just something I’ve been thinking about lately...

My beautiful Maya...

2007-10-15T19:39:00.001-04:00

...just got her first pets. Two gold fish.

We think their names are "Sha-bops" and "Pee-pot." Actually, the second sounds closer to "Pol Pot" - but I'm trying to discourage that. We wouldn't want an uprising in the new fish tank.

2007-10-14T16:35:00.000-04:00

altar call

don't close your eyes

are you willing?

let me see that hand

thank you

~the rest of you shouldn't feel ashamed - just apathetic~

have a great day

you are dismissed

Saturday Morning

2007-10-13T08:57:00.000-04:00

I'm an old man.

I woke up at 7:00 A.M., took a shower, dressed, and waited... for the rest of the house to get around. Angela even called me Grandpa due to my flannel shirt and zipped up sweater I am wearing over it.

Momma got ready and Maya and I made breakfast together. A perfect english muffin - one side covered in peanut butter, the other in jelly. The two never touched. While the intricate breakfast ritual was being perfomed by the shortest member of our family, Mommy and Daddy ate english muffins and eggs. Breakfast is my favorite part of Saturday.

And now we are off to the farmer's market. It is time for pumpkins on our porch and cider on our lips. Fall is also my favorite part of Saturday.

2007-10-07T21:25:00.000-04:00

tags: don't know what i'm doing, large eye, desperate, housewives, is, boring, so, i'm, doing, this, instead

---------------------------------------------------------
since i've been away, there have been crazy new developments in blog world.

namely: tags/categories/labels

i don't want to spend too much time studying up on this topic, but would like to roll with the 'in-crowd.' can someone please explain what they are and provide a quick way for me to use this fancy feature.

thank you and much love.

the view from the pew

2007-10-07T16:25:00.000-04:00

(or chair in this case)

why does it feel as though these two things shall never meet in my lifetime?

relevance

liturgy

breaking the silence...

2007-10-06T18:57:00.001-04:00

so, has it really been over a year since i've really said anything here?

there has been so much happening in life and i haven't wanted to miss a single moment with this beautiful girl:

or this one:

or whomever this may be:

so, in the middle of all the poo-poo (as Maya would put it) there is goodness and hope and peace and love in one little corner of the universe.

Just watch...

2007-02-13T19:01:00.000-05:00

Thanks for showing up to the mandatory drug awareness assembly...

2007-01-21T18:20:00.000-05:00

Just because I haven't blogged in quite awhile and these folks were on my mind...

The Cabin Series - Entry Six: Leaving Here

2006-08-05T10:10:00.000-04:00

It never seems all that real anyway. A week of reading, writing, enjoying all day with my family, wandering through the day as if it were totally mine...

We left yesterday afternoon so we could have a few days at home before I had to go back to work. I'm in the airlock now.

It will be a nearly a year before we go back.

The Cabin Series - Entry Five: Happy Anniversary

2006-08-05T09:46:00.000-04:00

This post was originally meant for 8/3/06, but when I arrived at the Cedarville library I was greeted to a sign on the door. "No internet today, 8/3/06" - this was apparently true of long distance service, and cell phone coverage across Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio??? Anyone else experience this? There were no news reports and my dad had internet and phone at work on Thursday. This didn't help the librarian's case that she "knows what she is talking about... it's not like we don't have a tech person who deals with this every day."

Today we celebrate 4 years of marriage. We dated four years before. Eight years seems long and so short all at once. This past year has been the best so far. We could never have imagined how a child would deepen our love for one another.

It was just a few weeks after our last anniversary that we found out about Maya. What a whirlwind of a year and particularly the last three months since she has been here. Will we find out about baby number two in a few more weeks? Stay tuned!

The Cabin Series - Entry Four: Coming Out of View

2006-08-02T16:39:00.000-04:00

Seeing your reflection through the ancient glass that is all warped and disfiguring can make one anxious.

Even when I try to capture all the fun and beauty of a moment, I mostly fail at pulling it all together into something that will tell the exact story years from now. This picture was taken at Niagara Falls with my Dad. I had the great idea of holding the camera out at arms length and snapping the picture - just capturing the beauty of the place and the fun with my Dad. Oh well, even if I couldn't get the picture just right, there was a tourist from Germany who did a wonderful job of capturing our whole bodies. But I'm pretty sure we can't rely on German tourists for everything.

The past few years have allowed me to be more comfortable with uncertainty in my story, in the story. I'm okay with knowing that there is a huge picture and we have the privilege to see just enough for hope.

The Cabin Series - Entry Three: Bambi Killers

2006-08-01T20:38:00.000-04:00

There they were, those bright orange letters blaring through the black.

As a child, I was always slightly frightened of hunters. In my mind, they were always mentioned next to words like "trespassing" or "under the penalty of the law." I used to imagine hardened criminals wandering through the woods, practicing their killing on the forest creatures. The animated movie to which I allude in the title, only helped this theory.

Not only were hunters obviously criminals, they also had a very bad sense of style. I used to sit on the toilet leafing through old Cabela's catalogues. (A practice apparently inherent among the men in my family.) These criminals would wander through the woods, gun on shoulder and fake antlers clenched in their fists, dressed in the most hideous plaids you have ever seen. To top this off they could splash on a little fox urine to throw the deer off their scent.

I'm not condemning hunting. I'll chow on a venison taco any day of the week. I am of the mind that hunting could become a little more '2006' - a bit softer around the edges. A little more 'urban meets backwoods.' Maybe we could have a 'metro' hunting line? A nice fox pee and white tea lotion or flat front camouflage pants...

Just an idea.

The Cabin Series - Entry Two: Being Here

2006-07-31T16:05:00.000-04:00

It is hard not to be anxious here. “Okay, now what?” I will sometimes ask Ang after a few days here. I don’t practice this enough.

Respite

Solace

Stillness

Well, as much stillness as Maya allows us. But she seems to enjoy the time away from the hundreds of hands that reach out to her and the voices that prophesy to her. A time for her to just be with the those that she needs the most right now.

I should approach my time here the same way... I’m re-learning.

The Cabin Series - Entry One: "Salvation 101 - or 2, or 3, or 4, or..."

2006-07-29T20:44:00.000-04:00

It wasn’t really that long ago. It seems philosophies and mores change so quickly when you look at life in retrospective. (As retrospective as my twenty seven years allow.)

***

“...come in today, come in to stay, come into my heart, Lord Jesus.” I finished singing as dozens around me enjoyed the same enlightened feeling that had just enveloped me. They had been here before as I had, and here we were again - enjoying a clean slate. I couldn’t really pinpoint when I had lost it; when my soul had taken the journey over the line from light to darkness. Maybe one or two around me were “first timers,” those who were experiencing the Holy Spirit’s ‘tug’ for the first time, but for many of us - this was a familiar journey. We had taken the walk down the aisle to the ‘altar’ to lay our sins before God. We had slid back and if we didn’t re-commit our lives to our Savior - who knows where we would end up if we ‘died in a car accident on the way home from church’ (this was always presented very dramatically and was usually a guarantee that the altar call wasn’t a complete flop for the pastor who was obviously tracking his stats) or worse - the rapture (See: Isaiah, or is it John? No - Revelation... oh wait, it’s not in there!) happened.

Having seen those action packed seventies rapture flicks, I knew that if I survived the car wreck - that most assuredly would occur as my Father suddenly disappeared and a pile of clothes were left in the driver’s seat - I would have a chance of getting saved within seven years, but would probably die after my head was removed by a guillotine. I lived with this fear for most of my adolescence. I quaked every Sunday night during my junior high years when the preacher would ‘get a word’ that there was a young man in the crowd that was having impure thoughts and they needed to ‘get right or get left’ (Seriously - we had a modern day prophet on our hands). You can imagine the great relief I would feel when he was just having a word that there was a young lady who was drowning in some emotional sorrow.

***

Admittedly - It was a great learning experience for me. I began doubting some of the basic ‘theological’ beliefs that our charismatic church held during my last year of High School. When I entered one of that denomination’s colleges my Freshman year and took my first theology class, I was convinced I needed to make a change to somewhere that would give me a better look at theology from a post-Christ to now viewpoint. That stuff that came off Azusa Street after the Great Quake was too fabricated, too forced, didn’t last, and lacked approval from thousands of years of saints.

Much of my questioning was at the prodding of my friend, then girlfriend, and now wife. She made me question why I believed what I believed. And when I would question - a lot of the answers that typically rolled off my tongue didn’t make a lot of sense. I am forever thankful that she had studied and had continued to challenge what she believed. (See below - yep, those are “Gospel Tracts” Ang and Daniel are studying. If there is anything I have learned in my studies of theology, it is that most truth lies within those 2x4 inch booklets.) She has been the perfect wife of Proverb-like stature. I really love that she keeps our house in perfect order and that when I get home from work my dinner is ready... okay I can’t really keep going with this. She is amazing, but not because of her Martha Stewart qualities.

But Seriously, I am so glad the need for re-salvation has turned into the need for confession and communion with a God who will never leave me, and whose grasp I can never escape. (See: The Bible - that’s in there.)

These tiny creatures...

2006-07-01T18:44:00.000-04:00

...as it turns out, have the ability to empathize with each other.

Being a Father has re-awakened some of my deepest held beliefs. Now, more than ever I want justice, peace, hope and love to pervade our planet. This is just a small part of this re-awakening. I don't want Maya to live in the same world in which I live. This makes me realize that I have a huge responsibility to change things that surrounds us - just how, I don't know.

I do know that as I drove to visit 'Casa Communitas' on Thursday evening, I was captivated by a story playing on some Canadian radio station. The host of the program was interviewing a researcher from Montreal that had discovered that mice actually empathize with one another. As these mice live together, they grow very attached to one another and are able to console one another as they are faced with an impending injection of 'pain serum.'

It made me think that if mice could empathize - to have the ability to project "a subjective state into an object so that the object appears to be infused with it" (Websters) - shouldn't we be way better at this? Shouldn't we be able to look into the world of someone else who is experiencing pain and be about the business of infusing their life with the good that we have been given in ours?

The crazy thing is - these mice communicate this feeling to one another through their eyes. It has become far to easy for us to not stare into the eyes of those who are oppressed and understand what they are facing, and give them hope. These eyes are from a child in Darfur.

Now, I know that there are many problems all around the world - but this one is huge and something needs to happen soon. I do know that if that face was Maya's, I would be trying to do a lot more. I know that is wrong - I do want Fatherhood to change some things in me.

Sit, stay, no need to get up...

2006-05-20T13:50:00.000-04:00

Magnetic Poetry Online... really. But beware... you aren't the only contributor on the site.

Not much time for blogging...

2006-05-15T23:07:00.000-04:00

So Maya consumes most of our time... but it is good consumption.

Check out this link. It was on today's Rocketboom and is well worth your time.

2006-03-27T21:52:00.000-05:00

I Miss My Girl

Linking you to bigger and better things!

2006-03-10T18:14:00.000-05:00

A New Blog Home For Ryan? Maybe... My new mac experiments lend themselves to this other site.

Enjoying Saturday...

2006-03-04T13:58:00.000-05:00

...with Ang and my Maya, who...

...will soon be here.

2006-02-16T18:11:00.000-05:00

A mouth full of exhaust - or - God made sulfates, so they can't be that bad

2006-02-08T20:23:00.000-05:00

Hmm... another shout out to good old boy James Dobson for siding with SUVs. I don't know about you, but I'm always looking for environmental advise from psychologists. I think I'll stick with scientists (anybody know anything about trend lines?).

It's not all bad. Thanks to Irish Dave for showing that there truly are Christians out there that care about the environment.

Yeah, I know the signers of the reaction letter state that they too care about the environment... but why the need to make a perceived contrary statement?

**********************************************************

Oh... and in case you missed the State of the Union... here is a quick summary.

It's time for Christians to take a stand...

2006-01-29T18:30:00.000-05:00

...or is it? Perpetuated by the fear mongers, our church voted today to amend our constition to make absolutely sure that no gay people would ever be married there. No matter that it is already illegal in Michigan - twice over. Apparently there was need to take action because the law could change at any moment and droves of homosexuals could run into our church demanding to be married, and if we don't have a clear statement we will be S.O.L... or so the thought process goes. Apparently they think that the supreme court couldn't make them allow gay marriage if we had an existing statement in place.

What a waste of time. Eight months wasted, when we should have been about the politics of Christ.

Seeing a picture of the future...

2006-01-23T19:31:00.000-05:00

Every once in a while you get to see what your life will be like in a few years...

Tonight, as Emma and Marianne came over for respite from their waterless house of construction, a duet filled my living room. Normally when two or more Rudds combine to make music I'm a bit frightened... but this wasn't so bad. It was actually kind of nice to listen to.

I'm so excited to see Maya grow and eventually be able to make music with her mommy... only 9,158,400 seconds until you're supposed to come out. I can't wait!

No you can't date my daughter!

2005-12-23T11:56:00.000-05:00

You've met Maya, haven't you?

Vote Santa Out This Year

2005-12-13T17:58:00.000-05:00

Santa (1) vs. Chris Christmas Rodriquez (1) (2) (3) (4)

I don't know about you, but my vote is with Rodriquez.

Windows Media People Click Here And Follow The Appropriate Link. I Will Not Do The Work For You If You Have An Inferior Media Player...

Out of the hive...

2005-12-12T17:59:00.000-05:00

So it turns out Amoxicillin and I don't get along too well. It is a trigger for my system to develop something called Erythema Multiforme(EM). If I take it again, the EM can become major - this is called Stevens Johnson Syndrome. From what I have read, it doesn't sound pretty. So I'm asking all of you to refrain from offering me any "-cillin" type medications. Please don't cook with it if you know I'm coming over. Try not to use it as a cleaner on your toilet seat, this will hurt me more than you know.

Thank you for your cooperation.

In other news...

Turns out if you are trying to sell your car in the winter - putting the top up is a good idea.

Props to dear ol' dad for spotting this gem near his house.

Is blogging out?

2005-11-30T17:51:00.000-05:00

I recently heard my brother Daniel mention something about blogging being a fad that may be on its way out. It may not be that that blogging isn't something that people have lost interest in, it may just be that there is no possible way to keep up with reading everyone's blogs as they come on line. As you have noticed by my link bar to the right, I can't even keep up with linking all the people that have blogs now. My wife on the other hand seems to be right on top of things - check out her links.

Acoording to recent news reports, blogging remains all the rage. It just seems to make me so tired sometimes...

Hello...

2005-11-15T20:26:00.000-05:00

Since we have lived in our house on Forest Hills we have noticed an interesting phenomenon that occurs most nights. (No cheap jokes please) It seems that the sand company down the road uses its pumps all night. This activity - aside from ruining our natural barrier from the elements - shakes the entire neighborhood in a tapping, rhythmic fashion. Often, we will have just fallen asleep when the pumps start up and the rattling begins. Usually, the problem can be solved by securing a closet door that is partially open and causing the noise.

Last night, Angela and I were very fast asleep when the annoyance began. It was loud enough to wake us both at the same time. I mentioned that it sounded like knocking and Angela quickly sat up in bed and said in a very nice, 'you didn't wake me' tone,

"Hello."

It seems she was answering to whomever it was that was knocking on our door.

Its so fun being married to a sleep talker!

Since this is what you like...

2005-11-11T19:19:00.000-05:00

enjoy

For some reason I can't stop watching this. It is the same feeling that repeatedly brought me to play Sonic the Hedghog for hours on end.

Out-Of-Whack-Stat

2005-10-31T08:04:00.000-05:00

Okay, I'm not saying your focus is in the wrong place here. Maybe it is just because you all have heard the news from us in person... But when I scroll down I see it like this:

One of the biggest stories ever - the news of my child to be: 0 COMMENTS

Guy playing guitar solo in 'Hello-Kitty' bikini top: 13 COMMENTS

So I have decided to make the announcement unique. Forget that you know about the pregnancy. When my Hello Kitty bikini top arrives in the mail I will be requesting Daniel's video production services as I lip-sync a song announcing the birth of our child.

Exciting, isn't it...

2005-10-26T18:19:00.000-04:00

I'm excited...

Nervous...

...to be a Dad. But also extremely greatful.

But don't say I didn't tell you about this before. If you all were faithful readers of my blog you would have noticed the cryptic message at the bottom of my post from early September hinting at the idea that we might have a big secret.

Maybe this will teach all of you to have a link to my blog at the top of your lists. There were a few who interpreted my message and we have shared many a good laugh at all of you who failed to pick up on the secret.

"...may you ever be captivated by her love." prov 5.5

2005-10-22T08:33:00.000-04:00

I hate women's retreats. They don't occur that often, but when they do I am left for a weekend alone. I am trying to stay positive about them and I have come up with a few things that are good about my wife getting a weekend away:

1. She gets to spend quality time with her mom and sister-in-law. (Although a 'day-camp' format may be better - just a thought ~)

2. I get to go to sporting events - i.e. the Michigan State game today. (Although it would be nice to go with Ang, I'm afraid she wouldn't enjoy it as much as me.)

3. I fell asleep on the couch last night. I love sleeping on the couch - although I prefer that Ang sleeps with me on the couch. Sometimes (because Ang is so very gracious and understands that I think couch sleeping is one of the most comfortable things ever) we pull our couches together and sleep in our living room for a ritual we have deemed 'couch night.'

btw - Couch night is best during the holidays when the Xmas tree lights are left on...

Okay, enough with the positive spin - there isn't much else. I just miss her lots...

You must do as I say...

2005-10-13T21:50:00.000-04:00

Please click here...I promise it is worth it!

To the cabin...

2005-10-05T17:39:00.000-04:00

Ah yes...

This is the second Fall in a row that we will be taking a trip to the cabin.

I can't wait to get there and enjoy the peace and quiet...

Pull my finger...

2005-09-21T21:03:00.000-04:00

So it turns out my little lady of a niece has discovered one of the best elementary school jokes of all time.

Emma chased me around my front yard today until I promised to pull her finger. She did vow to not really pass gas when I gave in. But the noise she made with her mouth sounded pretty authentic.

Ahh, third grade. Life is getting more complex, but you can still captivate a room with a fart.

Dancing ain't my game...

2005-09-15T17:32:00.000-04:00

So tonight's the night...

I'm worried! What if I'm awful?

I suddenly find myself concerned with what to wear. My leg warmers don't fit anymore... What shoes should I go with?

"My tennis shoes would be comfortable, but my nicer shoes sure would allow me to glide across the floor better."

Ang will be good at this - she is the graceful one. I am worried that I will look like a big ape - no, I think Father Bill described 'me' as a gorilla at the wedding - as I trod along the floor.

I can at least be sure of the fact that whatever it may look like I am doing, I will still be good at dancing with my wife. It turns out there really is no such thing as a bad dancer.

just when you think you've learned everything...

2005-09-12T17:51:00.000-04:00

I have been pounding the books for almost a year and a half now... i am so ready to be done. I'm afraid I've grown a bit carefree this last class just longing for the end. It will be here in two weeks and 1 day. Only 12 more hours of sitting in a classroom that smells of old carpet and has flashing florescent lights to illuminate the way.

I feel like I haven't taken a deep breath for the entire time, even before I started school I was constantly making our house livable... you know - electricity, a toilet, etc.

Just when I was thinking I'd get a break, we decided to embark on a siding and roofing project next month... anybody handy with a hammer? I will be taking volunteers. You may sign up by posting a comment.

Millions of Fat Cells Waiting For Their Moment...

2005-09-07T21:28:00.000-04:00

I was so ready to accomplish so many things tonight when I got home... I did get several of them done right away, but then the energy faded away.

Ang came home, and with her was Sunflower food (for which we are ever thankful!). Upon dishing up our food we made our way in front of the TV. (Stop judging...) As we flipped through the stations we stumbled upon a professor explaining that for energy to be used, it must first be stored... Ah, all the potential energy lessons I had in school came rushing back.

As I looked down at the selections that I had made from the variety of food items available, I noticed that I had chose about 90% carbs. This potential energy is going to be with me for a long time.

I think I might go to bed now and dream about the power of potential.

Pictures from the last six months of my life...

2005-09-05T13:12:00.000-04:00

...okay, not every picture. But these pictures made me *feel* positive emotion when I looked at them today. I thought I would share...

Oh Yeah - By the way... Ang and I are having a baby in early May.

2005-08-27T23:54:00.000-04:00

I should've known by the outfits...

***

...but they failed to immediately tip me off. I must be losing it. It seems like I was a part of this unique culture not too long ago. Only those of us who lived it can truly know why the outfits and lack of social skills are truly necessary. I will reveal the truth now:

The outfits and overly hyper behavior would make us easily identifiable to each other when... Parents and children were captured and taken into custody for homeschooling. This detention could only happen if the children somehow were spotted playing in the outdoors before the 4 PM mark. (No matter that we never showed up to the local elementary school. No worries there. Just, whatever you do, don't get spotted in your yard before four!)

***

As Ang and I wandered about the grounds of Maranatha waiting for Bill as he dialogued (thank you Dave Livermore) with an admirer, we met up with Gloria. All around us were kids running about like they were hopped up on something. I asked Gloria if it was homeschool week. Ang answered for her by pointing to a family that was standing nearby. It was all I needed.

As we approached the snack shop it became very apparent that this was no ordinary night at Maranatha. There were groups of children in the lawn polishing up some moves for an upcoming performance. As we neared the building the lights went out and a spot went on and one of the little ones screamed, "The talent show is starting!"

While we waited in line for our ice cream, we took in the talent show. It seems things have changed since I was in the ranks of home school "look-what-I-can-do" crap-that-really-isn't-that-impressive-to anyone-but-your-parents. Back in the day we would have pulled out a choreographed 'dance' to the latest dc talk single or possibly a Petra classic. But these new home scoolers are really trying to pull on the parent's heartstrings to win their contests. The entries that were really in the running featured sign language to music. I think it came down to the costumes worn while performing - I'm pretty sure the purple sequin jumpsuit girl took the grand prize.

The jumpsuit was a risky move. Had the secret agents swept in and taken them all away she would have never been identifiable as one of the pack.

yard work today...

2005-08-20T11:16:00.000-04:00

I had grand plans of gathering up the pine needles from the large tree in our back yard. After I had cleared the ground I was going to plant some grass seed in hopes that it would fill in the dead patches of lawn that were previously covered. Unfortunately, it is raining.

Bored?

Yep, so am I.

Late Chicago Update

2005-08-14T22:26:00.000-04:00

...So most of you have probably read Ang's post on our chicago trip. We had a great time and always seem to enjoy the city and each other. Our hotel was beautiful, the city was perfect, IKEA was bigger than I thought it would be, but I think I miss the burrito the most.

The one bad part about living in Michigan is the lack of Chipotle.

Lack of motivation...

2005-08-06T17:28:00.000-04:00

Coast Guard Festival fireworks are tonight...

In High School I would have been "So There." But all I can think about right now is going to bed early.

I think 'it' has happened. I've become an old man prematurely.

Most of you know that I'm an old soul. I like old leather shoes that require polish, buying furniture that will last, carrying a 'hanky.' I even have recently traveled back in time with my shaving habits. Gone is the shaving cream and introduced is the bar of Colgate and brush. (If you haven't tried this you must.)

Many of these habits I've brought into my life voluntarily, but other old soul practices and feelings have just always been with me:

"Stay away from the edge..."

"Have I told you that ___________(Insert name of dead relative) used to say..."

"We are just running to the store - why can't I wear this? Nobody cares what I look like."

"I'll take Nursing Homes for $500 Alex."

~~~~~~

I think I'll find the motivation to go... just after this little nap.

a midnight concert in my house

2005-07-30T23:57:00.000-04:00

Greg and Dave are here at this very moment.

Angela and I are being treated to a concert - Dave on Piano and Greg on Cello. We wandered around Grand Haven, ate dinner at the Rosebud, and stopped by Starbucks on the way home. Now we find ourselves here, listening to this wonderful noise...

If you look close you can see how into this Greg is...

i posted

2005-07-27T22:06:00.000-04:00

...because I was told I was going on blogger probation. You know, that place where people write you off because you haven't contributed anything to the cyber world in at least 5 days.

You gotta keep up with these things.

So now I ask you: How many days does it take before my readership is back to 5? Is anyone out there? This is not a ploy to get you to comment... just a genuine question.

Okay, maybe it is a ploy... Maybe there really isn't anyone else out there in addition to anti-onion katie, ang, and "thank heaven for Colorado Jason. " Jason may be the one person that reads this blog who doesn't feel some sort of obligation.

Well it has been a fun ride and now i must...

*end.*

-Not really... but it was pretty dramatic don't you think. Kind of like when the backburner went off the air, eh? (But even that didn't really go away. After all that drama in the end, we can still find a recent post. So, is that blog over? Or does it keep calling to the writer to return?)

4 hours...

2005-07-26T22:52:00.000-04:00

...of straight math problems. I just returned from my finance class and I need to be engulfed by something that doesn't make any logical sense.

As much as I like order and fixed principles I can bank on, I deeply feel the need for something that is less certain. I would once like to ask if we could figure problems assuming that 3 = 8 or 9 = 21. I feel like that would be a way to make math artistic - or at least get it to put on a hemp necklace. Wouldn't this approach to math always insure that this art would remain in motion?

mixed nuts

2005-07-20T18:48:00.000-04:00

home again...

2005-07-17T15:34:00.000-04:00

After a relaxing vacation two weeks ago, I faced a week of busy preparation and then travel. I flew to Burlington, Vermont last Wednesday and then drove to Montreal for meetings Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. I was held up at the border for a while because I didn't have enough information with me explaining my work relationship with our corporate offices. Apparently, they thought I was trying to drive into Canada to work without a permit. Oh well - thirty minutes later and a fax from my company in the hands of the customs agent, I was on my way.

It is strange to me how immediate the feeling of being in a different country washes over a person. Well, at least this person. It is one thing to visit Canada in Sault Saint Marie, it is quite another to drive into Quebec. Everything is immediately in French. My mind starts working on overtime,

"Did I want to take that highway 'Nord' or 'Sud?'"

"Am I following all of the traffic laws here?"

Most of all there is an uneasy feeling of the unfamiliar. A feeling of being in an Eastern Bloc country in the Nineteen Sixties. This feeling mostly comes about because of the road signs that lack words of any kinds. There are just the symbols for 'arret' and 'rendement.' When you are approaching the U.S. border there is only I sign showing an officer at a table indicating that a checkpoint is approaching.

I like being home... I like being back with 'mon amour.' Her signs are easier to read, and are more comforting.

Translate the French

free

2005-07-03T22:55:00.000-04:00

I'm listening to Jack Johnson right now and thinking about how much I love Summer. Ang is laying on the couch across from me conquering her next book for the Summer. Sometimes I am slightly jealous of her extended break during these months. I envy the freedom to be able to vacate employment during the prime months of the year. She seems so free...

Over the next week I will get a glimpse of this freedom. I have taken the rest of the week (after the 4th) off. You can be guaranteed I will enjoy being free.

when I am weak...

2005-06-25T13:03:00.000-04:00

Last Sunday I was typing a paper when I was suddenly hit with the most remarkable pain in my left shoulder and back. My laptop typing had apparently thrown the worst possible kink into my back. The pain persisted into Monday and Tuesday... by Wednesday I was ready to just quit everything and sit (for the rest of my life) in the one position that didn't cause my pain. I couldn't even breath in without buckling over in pain. I think I might be a wuss. The events that followed confirmed that...

Ang knew the pain that I was feeling so she scheduled a massage for me. After the massage therapist had worked out the knots in my shoulder she left me to get my things together. When she came back into the room she brought with her some 'medical' advice/instructions for me.

"I noticed that your pecs are pretty weak and your back is overcompensating for them," she noted quite professionally.

Yeah... I didn't have much to say at that point.

"So I want you to do some push-ups..."

"Like 200 every day?" I ask.

"Like 10 wall push-ups," she added without cracking a smile. I think she was serious.

***

Those wall push-ups are tough. But I'm up to fifteen a day just three days in.

Chained remnants...

2005-06-18T18:08:00.000-04:00

So I had the chance to go back to a place I spent much time in as a child - the church building of my youth. My cousin Jessica had her open house in the hall o' fellowship. The punch and pasta salad was flowing... and I briefly got bored. Upon catching the eye of my wife, we walked hand in hand towards "The Sanctuary." (Aside: I realize now, that to most people this term brings about imagery of futuristic human sacrifice.) When we entered the "Narthex" (Aside: I realize now, that no one really knows what the crap a "narthex" is...) I was shocked at what I saw. No, it wasn't the awful ceiling tiles that have been dropping white junk from the ceiling for years - I expected that. What shocked me was that all the doors to enter the worship center, the chapel, the temple, the place where we symbolically meet with God were chained and padlocked shut.

I know we meet with God wherever we are ever since the veil was torn... but this symbolic imagery of being locked from the presence of God made me kind of sad. I remember that as a child I would be so excited to enter those very doors. When I was first reading I attended this church; I can remember practicing on the brass letters that adorned each side of the middle door.

"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving in your heart... and into his courts with praise."

Those letters had been torn off... but if you looked hard enough, you could still read the words through the paint job that was meant to cover all remnants...

Strange, But True

2005-06-03T18:57:00.000-04:00

Christ Rocks My Socks- Really.

Obsessed

2005-06-02T18:39:00.000-04:00

Ryan
Originally uploaded by AngandRyan.

I have been lost in school, work, and every other mundane thing I have to do in life. My thoughts and time has been spent going from one thing to the next the past few weeks (or is it months? I've stopped counting). But alas, the Summer season is just blooming. Soon every last ounce of sun-filled time will be filled with something... just something else to be obsessed with.

Just when I think all of my friends have married, and that my bank account is safe... another Summer rolls along. I think we are even getting invited to third party weddings. You know, "A friend of a friend is getting married that you met once a few years ago..." Congrats! You're invited!

***Don't even get me started on high school graduations***

With all this time consuming activity that seems to clog my life, it is always helpful to to focus on the right obsession. (See June 2nd entry)

Forced Addition

2005-04-28T18:10:00.000-04:00

This past week my wife has become some kind of 'outoffreakincontrol' blogger. She learned how to do all kinds of crazy things with her piece of the digital world. Apparently, she even learned how to create a link to other people's blogs. Unfortunately, my blog is linked on her page.

I know I shouldn't - but I suddenly feel this great sense of obligation to "keep up" with my blog. To write nonsense for my unseen audience. Maybe it is because of all the traffic I know that I will now get on my blog that I feel this sense to spout something. I would hate for all our family and friends to read Angela's blog with great interest and then click on my button. I can almost hear the "out-loud" comments that I would get.

"Well, her blog was nice."

"I guess we know who the intelligent one is."

"Nothing interesting here - he must be a business major."

I promise that I will make this blog so super-cool that all of you reading will link to Ang's blog from mine - not the other way around. I will learn to use pictures. I will discover hyperlinks. I may even change fonts. Who knows - maybe I'll post more than one entry in a single month!

hopeful...

2005-03-25T11:03:00.000-05:00

for the second. i believe that is what I said. although, it has been a few months. but hope is like that, isn't it?

angela is standing over my shoulder right now, correcting my every word. i just told her she crushes my creativity... her emotional response only seemed to further damper my excitment for blog writing. i'll write later.

one

2004-12-15T18:01:00.000-05:00

'first' things are supposed to be exciting. a first kiss, a first job, first base... so i feel a strange amount of pressure to perform on my first posting. the problem is that i am finding this nothing like a first kiss or a first job; thankfully, it is nothing like first base either.

i am hopeful for my second...