Thursday, September 28, 2006

Happy Birthday...


Benji!

One year old.

Cool.

Love you Benjino.

Monday, September 25, 2006

Pain...

Sometimes it is a twisted ankle or a broken arm...
Sometimes it is a body riddled with uncurable cancer...

Sometimes it is a Husband or Wife falling short of his or her vows...
Sometimes it is a Father's words cutting like a double edged sword that destroys a daughter's confidence...

Sometimes it is losing a loved one...
Sometimes it is feeling like you have lost all control...

Sometimes it is as simple as harsh words on the playground when you were young...
Sometimes it is someone not valuing you as they once did...

Sometimes it is a Son looking to His Father, wondering why He has forsaken Him...

I have been on the receiving end and I have also delivered the blows... but standing from a distance seeing someone else deliver the painful blow to another hurts worse... (especially when you see yourself in the other person's actions.) But, there is nothing you can do; it is a painful feeling of helplessness. Until the one who lands the blows realizes the hurt caused by their actions... nothing will change. You can't get through to them... they must come to this realization on their own. Unfortunately, once they come to this realization... they experience a pain that is like no other... Realizing how their actions have hurt another. What's done is done... you can't take it back.

You can only hope that it's not too late to change your ways.

Life is full of pain... fortunately, there is forgiveness and Grace.

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

I am the unluckiest lucky guy I know...

Or am I the luckiest unlucky guy I know...

Last Thursday and Friday, I traveled up to Duluth MN for a Minnesota International Educators meeting... and I won a Dell Inspiron 2160 Laptop. About 3 years ago, our organization purchased a laptop for our secretary to use; however, the secretaries, over the last few years, have never used it. So our organization had a laptop that was pretty much unused and in pristine condition. As a result, they had a lottery and all the members dropped our business cards in a bag and my business card was pulled out. Now, normally, I would be estatic that I just won a laptop computer... but the problem is, that Sydney and I purchased two laptop computers about a year ago and we already have a desktop as well. So our family now has 4 computers.

Hm.

Now I am in a dilema about what to do with this computer. I was talking this over with one of my close friends the other day and our conversation when like this:

Me: "Why couldn't we have purchased the secretary a 4 wheeler?"
Friend: "...because a 4 wheeler is needed so much more in an office setting than a computer?"
Me: "EXACTLY... need to go for coffee... jump on the 4 wheeler."

...If someone is giving you a hard time at the office... run them over. I could find all kinds of uses for a 4 wheeler at the office. And the point is, she wouldn't have needed the 4 wheeler either, so I would have won that instead of a computer that I don't need. Anyway, this is just my luck. So now I am trying to figure out what to do with this computer that we have... I was going to use it at the office... but my current computer has 712 megabytes of RAM... and this computer only has 256 megabytes of RAM. So I decided that won't work. We thought that my brother-in-law may need a computer... but he doesn't anymore. We have a couple other ideas, but for the sake of making things more confusing... I am looking for suggestions. The most creative suggestion may even win a computer... who knows?

Monday, September 18, 2006

Just Say No Sydney.

Setting the stage... when Sydney and I met in Fargo for the first time, I was wearing blue jeans and my Brett Favre Green Bay Packer Jersey. After talking for a while, Sydney said, "Who's Brett Fav -er-ay?" (At the time, he was the league MVP for 3 years running.) My response was, "What kind of vacuum do you live in? ... You must live under a really big rock." Anyway, I soon found out that she had absolutely no clue about football what.so.ever. Didn't know teams, rules or scoring. Nothing, Nada, Zip. Fortunately for her, she was very hot, gorgeous and sexy... so I looked passed this major flaw. Over the years however, Sydney has studied the game... picked up on the rules and joined fantasy football. The fact that she loves football turns me on.

That said; I have created a monster. Yesterday, there were only 2 games on during the afternoon... so Sydney spent the afternoon moping in the living room upset that she didn't have a chance to watch our fantasy football players. She even went as far as complaining about how expensive the "NFL Ticket on Direct TV is and how it is a big conspiracy and that the networks are working together to reduce the amount of games on Sunday afternoon so that if people want to watch football that they have to purchase the $250.00 Sunday Ticket...."

Internet... it was really sad. I felt like I was a crack dealer who was watching a customer suffer withdawl. I couldn't tell if Sydney was just cold or if she was suffering from "the shakes."

I feel bad about what I have created... but then I would choose this over a wife who yells at me for watching too much football.

... So stuff that NFL crack pipe full and smoke it baby!

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Picking your brain...

What is your perspective on a woman's role in the Modern day church... and what is that based on? Scripture or changing societal norms?

Interesting discussion last night and I am interested to see what you all think.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Are you here Daddy?

Many times when I come home from work, Bug Bug walks into the bedroom and asks, "Are you here Daddy?" It would be easy to say no... just to keep her on her toes... but the smile that she gives me after I reassure her that, "Yes, I am here Bug Bug." is worth somewhere between 1 million and 10 million dollars.

Moments like that are worth any sacrifice you have to make when it comes to standard of living... we are broke... but dad's here and that's all that matters.

Monday, September 11, 2006

I am tired of losing...

This weekend was filled with losses... Jake got sick on Friday, so he lossed out on being able to go to the football game on Saturday at the college I work at... but then, one little boy's loss is two little girl's gain... so Micker Mackers, Bug Bug and I went to the game instead. We ate at McDonald's before hand and then headed over to the game... and then they "gobbled" up some snacks at the game. (We even thought about Jake and bought a big box of Milk Duds for him... so it wasn't a COMPLETE loss for him.) We had fun... except for our team lost by 3 points to some team that wasn't supposed to be any good. Then... Sunday rolled around and the Packers lost. First time they have been held scoreless in a game since 1991. So they lost in a big and bad way. Felt bad for Shenna who was at the game. Didn't even get to celebrate once. It was a good day because we got to watch the Packers, but it was a bad day because they lost.

So anyway... my Alma Matter lost and then the Packers lost... and then our Fantasy Football Team, "The Gangster's of Love" look like they are about to lose. It's not looking promising anyway... we have LaDainian Tomlinson playing tonight... but he needs to have a BIG game cause we are down by 17 and our opponent still has his kicker left to play.

It has been a weekend of losing. I am tired of losing.

So everyone say a quick prayer for the Gangsters of Love tonight... so that we win... and so that we don't have to be dejected once again.

Thursday, September 07, 2006

I feel like Job... with sores all over my body.

Okay... well I guess I don't have sores all over my body, but I do have this huge honken pimple on the end of my nose and it is making me all self concious. I have a big nose already, and really, that doesn't bother me because it fits my big head... but the zit on the end of my nose makes me notice that: PEOPLE ARE NOT LOOKING AT ME IN THE EYES. But rather, they are looking at my big red shiny nose... thinking, "GOOD GOVENOR! LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT THING!!!" They are in awe of the grandure of such a huge, inflamed pimple. I notice that their eyes get really big and then they realize that they are staring and then they look away quickly... and then they don't look at me because if they do... they know that, like a curious monkey to a shiny object, they will be drawn back into it's mesmerizing power. And the worst part is, I have had it for about a week... and it was getting better... but then I picked the scab and now it is festering... so it is my own fault. I had this vision this morning that it is going to get infected and then I am going to have "red streaks" going up the bridge of my nose and then the infection will effect my brain... and then I am done for.

Needless to say, it's not a pretty sight. It's a good thing I am married... that way I don't have to worry about "total rejection." Just call me Rudolph. And no... you don't have to allow me to play in any reindeer games... it's okay.

Really. It sucks to be me today.

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

A smorgasbord of Chicken McNuggets, coveting and guilt.

Thou salt not covet... thy neighbors Packer's/Bear's Tickets...

I know this is wrong on so many levels but after Shenna said that she is going to the Packer's vs. Bears Game this weekend... I had twinges of jealousy. I would love to go to a Packers game. (Hint, Hint) Someday, I will... but it looks like this will be in the very distant future...

In the meantime, I am trying not to covet...

Anyway, I had to drop a movie off at Redbox at the local McDonalds last night and guess what?? Through September 24th, you can get 6 Chicken McNuggets for a dollar. How cool is that?? Lather those babies up in ranch sauce and SCORE. I ordered a 6 piece chicken nuggets, medium fry and a water for $2.56. Cheap AND Tasty!

So, I go up to the counter and I say, "I will take a 6 piece chicken nuggets for a dollar."

And the girl behind the counter says, "I can give you a 6 piece chicken nuggets... but it will cost you more than a dollar."

My left eyebrow raised and I said, "So what... these signs hanging all over the place saying that you are selling a 6 six piece Chicken McNuggets for a dollar are just for show??"

Her manager walks by and tells her, "They are a dollar."

She responds back, "Oh."

They really need to have people who are working behind the counter that can READ.

I know... that's not nice.

So I guess I need to work on being nice AND not coveting.

I felt twinges of guilt afterwards too... because Sydney had made homemade spaghetti and the chicken McNuggets ruined my appetite. So, she did all that work for nothing.

Oops.

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Now back to your regularly scheduled program...

Well, I decided to start posting more regularly again. It has been hit and miss lately... but I am changing my ways because... as always, I am all about change.

This weekend was pretty good. On Saturday, I lazed around... I think. I am having a mental block on Saturday. Now that I think about it, I actually can't remember what I did on Saturday. Hm. Completely blocked out of my mind. That's spooky... kind of having a moment here. Wonder if this is the first sign of old age? Saturday, Saturday... *shrug* Well, I can't remember what I did on Saturday. WAIT! It just came to me... I did lay in bed all morning and then in the afternoon, Sydney and I went grocery shopping. That's what we did. Okay... whew... feel much better now. MUCH BETTER. Okay... anyway, Sunday started out with me preaching at my church which went really well. I enjoyed getting up there and speaking God's word... it is amazing how God will use you if you allow him too. Very humbling experience to stand before the Lord preaching His word. However, I would do it again in a heartbeat. Sunday afternoon was an international student picnic. So Sydney and the kids joined me as we hung out with people from all over the world. Jake had a blast playing baseball, soccer, frisbee, football. Definately in his element.

And then yesterday was our Fantasy Football Draft. Which was good except for our Curtis Martin Pick in the 10th round. What a waste! I didn't know he was out for the next 6 weeks! Fricken Fracken! Razzle Frazzle... And people told us we could change, but my pride got in the way and I kept him. Other than that... it was okay. Think we will be alright... hopefully. So yesterday was the "Official Start" to the NFL season... which is great. I love football... I must admit that it is one of my most favorite all time things.

Go Pack!

Anyway, that was my weekend...