Last night Shelley was working and Chase was a little cranky so I got up since Shelley was busy. I laid him on my chest and he fell asleep. What else could be better than having a 2 month old sleeping on your chest.
And here is another Joy. Read here.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
France Funnies
Today, Jacques Chirac raised the terror alert level across France from RUN to HIDE. Paris residents fear that this may continue to escalate to the next level of SURRENDER or possible the highest level of COLLABORATE. These events were triggered when a massive fire broke out at the white flag factory outside of Paris, which has temporarily crippled the French military. - Reuters.
and one more
How many French soldiers does it take to defend Paris?
Nobody knows. It has never been tried.
and one more
How many French soldiers does it take to defend Paris?
Nobody knows. It has never been tried.
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Monday, August 08, 2005
Joys of Fatherhood #11
Cheers!
Our niece taught our oldest son how to toast. He now wants to click his glass with yours and say "Cheers" before he drinks.
Our niece taught our oldest son how to toast. He now wants to click his glass with yours and say "Cheers" before he drinks.
Sunday, August 07, 2005
100th Post
I have been blogging for a little over 2 months now and this is my 100th post. I thought I would list out some of my favorite post up to this point.
The Ordeal
Nana, Grandmama, Where are You?
God's Plan
Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway
The Lake
Brothers
Happy Anniversary
Chase
Quitter or Failure
Terry Storch
Swimming Lessons
July 13, 1968
Saddam and Osama
Accidents
Introduction from Terry Storch
Life's Curve Balls
The Night I met my Wife
The Ordeal
Nana, Grandmama, Where are You?
God's Plan
Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway
The Lake
Brothers
Happy Anniversary
Chase
Quitter or Failure
Terry Storch
Swimming Lessons
July 13, 1968
Saddam and Osama
Accidents
Introduction from Terry Storch
Life's Curve Balls
The Night I met my Wife
Friday, August 05, 2005
The Power of Terry Storch part 2 (and the power of a Blog)
Look what happens now when I google my name. The top 2 entries are from Terry Storch's blog. Prior to his post the first result that actually referred to me was number 10, now I have 1 and 2.
Shows what a Blog can do for your search engine placement.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
The Night I Met My Wife
As I promised this is my version of how I met my wife. If you want to read her version then see below. Also, this might be "too much information" so I apologize in advance.
First, a little background. I was in the process of going through a very painful divorce from my wife of nearly 6 years. She was leaving me and had no desire to reconcile.
My sister-in-law at the time (my soon to be ex-wife's brother's wife) loved nothing more than doing the "set-up". So, she got the idea she would orchestrate a happy hour on my behalf and invite all of the single woman from her office with the intent of hooking me up with one of two woman in particular (neither being my current wife). (The other woman were invited so it wouldn't appear to be a set-up).
I really didn't want to go but it became obvious that was not an option for me, my sister-in-law was going to make this happen. Well, the night finally arrived, February 6th, 1997, and it was a horrible night. It was cold, pouring down rain and the location of the happy hour was 20 miles from my house and I was going to have to make my way through some of the worst possible Dallas traffic to get there. But, my sister-in-law had left no stone unturned and had planned on the fact I might try to back out at the last moment so she sent my brother-in-law over to drive me there.
On the way there I kept hoping that the weather would keep everyone away and I could go home peacefully.
When we got to the location of the happy hour, a hotel bar(sounds sleazy doesn't it?), my brother-in-law and I made a direct path to the bathroom. On our way there we ran into one of the two candidates I was there to meet and I instantly ruled her out as a possibility. We then located everyone, which was just a handful of people, and we found our spot at some tables. I was seated directly next to candidate number two and she was eliminated from the running in about five minutes. Now that my work was done, I could relax.
The turn out wasn't very large because of the weather and several people made quick exits leaving just a few of us around a small table talking. Sitting catty-corner from me was a cute brunette wearing a plaid jacket and a little hat. I noticed she seemed to have spunk, a little attitude, a good sense of humor and was well versed in the ways of Seinfeld. We all talked for several hours and I must say I was interested it this girl but really didn't think there was any interest on her side. Then an Elvis medley was played and this spunky little thing got up, didn't really ask, and pulled me to the dance floor. Now, I could have put up more of a fight if I wanted to because I HATE to dance. In fact, the last time I had danced was at my wedding nearly 6 years earlier, but I didn't.
On my way home, I stared out the window and just kept repeating to my brother-in-law, "this isn't suppose to be happening". I knew it was too soon for me to be interested in someone and I really didn't want to be, but I was.
We were married June 12, 1999
First, a little background. I was in the process of going through a very painful divorce from my wife of nearly 6 years. She was leaving me and had no desire to reconcile.
My sister-in-law at the time (my soon to be ex-wife's brother's wife) loved nothing more than doing the "set-up". So, she got the idea she would orchestrate a happy hour on my behalf and invite all of the single woman from her office with the intent of hooking me up with one of two woman in particular (neither being my current wife). (The other woman were invited so it wouldn't appear to be a set-up).
I really didn't want to go but it became obvious that was not an option for me, my sister-in-law was going to make this happen. Well, the night finally arrived, February 6th, 1997, and it was a horrible night. It was cold, pouring down rain and the location of the happy hour was 20 miles from my house and I was going to have to make my way through some of the worst possible Dallas traffic to get there. But, my sister-in-law had left no stone unturned and had planned on the fact I might try to back out at the last moment so she sent my brother-in-law over to drive me there.
On the way there I kept hoping that the weather would keep everyone away and I could go home peacefully.
When we got to the location of the happy hour, a hotel bar(sounds sleazy doesn't it?), my brother-in-law and I made a direct path to the bathroom. On our way there we ran into one of the two candidates I was there to meet and I instantly ruled her out as a possibility. We then located everyone, which was just a handful of people, and we found our spot at some tables. I was seated directly next to candidate number two and she was eliminated from the running in about five minutes. Now that my work was done, I could relax.
The turn out wasn't very large because of the weather and several people made quick exits leaving just a few of us around a small table talking. Sitting catty-corner from me was a cute brunette wearing a plaid jacket and a little hat. I noticed she seemed to have spunk, a little attitude, a good sense of humor and was well versed in the ways of Seinfeld. We all talked for several hours and I must say I was interested it this girl but really didn't think there was any interest on her side. Then an Elvis medley was played and this spunky little thing got up, didn't really ask, and pulled me to the dance floor. Now, I could have put up more of a fight if I wanted to because I HATE to dance. In fact, the last time I had danced was at my wedding nearly 6 years earlier, but I didn't.
On my way home, I stared out the window and just kept repeating to my brother-in-law, "this isn't suppose to be happening". I knew it was too soon for me to be interested in someone and I really didn't want to be, but I was.
We were married June 12, 1999
Shelley's Love Story
The Happy Husband blog Has posted a story Shelley wrote about the night we met.
See it here.
In the next few days I will post my version of this story.
See it here.
In the next few days I will post my version of this story.
Raffy Update
It appears that Raffy tested positive for a "potent" steroid called Stanozolol which isn't found in any dietary supplements. It is appearing that Raffy's assertion that this was an accident is appearing even more unlikely.
Raffy, please just tell the truth.
Read the entire story on ESPN.
Raffy, please just tell the truth.
Read the entire story on ESPN.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Raffy
I am really disappointed in Rafael Palmeiro.
Back in March he told Congress "I have never used steroids. Period." Then yesterday he said "I have never intentionally used steroids."
Intentionally?
Raffy, please just tell us the truth.
Back in March he told Congress "I have never used steroids. Period." Then yesterday he said "I have never intentionally used steroids."
Intentionally?
Raffy, please just tell us the truth.
West Nile
When I came home yesterday the city had posted a notice on our door that a mosquito that tested positive for West Nile was found in our neighborhood. It then continued on with tips on what to do and what not to do. It basically boiled down to not going outside during the morning or evening hours and if you do wear long pants and long sleeves.
It's August in Texas and the only time you want to be outside is in the morning or evening, and long pants and long sleeves? Again, it's TEXAS!
As I was dumping the water from my son's blow up pool in order to "eliminate any possible breeding grounds", I was getting irritated. Not only do my kids face the threat of sexual predators, abductors and other various sickos, they can't even play in their own back yard because of a stickin' mosquito.
It's August in Texas and the only time you want to be outside is in the morning or evening, and long pants and long sleeves? Again, it's TEXAS!
As I was dumping the water from my son's blow up pool in order to "eliminate any possible breeding grounds", I was getting irritated. Not only do my kids face the threat of sexual predators, abductors and other various sickos, they can't even play in their own back yard because of a stickin' mosquito.
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Life's Curve Balls
When I was in high school and playing baseball, one thing I struggled with was hitting a curve ball. This skill is usually what keeps young athletes from moving on to college baseball and college baseball players from moving on to the pros. But, when I came up against a pitcher who was throwing curves, I would often move up in the batter’s box (closer to the pitcher) and choke up on the bat. By moving closer I was attempting to try and hit the ball before it actually curved. While this didn't always work I found I was more succesful than just waiting on the ball to break and reacting.
Many people are being thrown curves by life and they aren’t sure how to handle it. I know someone who is having a particularly difficult time, and it has left him feeling that God is vindictive and punishing him. He has been unemployed for over a year and there are no prospects in sight. His health has deteriorated to a point where he says he has prayed his heart would stop.
There are others who wonder if there is a God at all. They see little children coming down with horrible diseases or a father of two being killed while he sits at his desk one Tuesday morning and some evil people fly an airplane into his office building. “If there is a God, how could he allow these things to happen?” they ask.
I used to be in that place. I remember a night in November 1996 when the woman I loved told me she didn't love me and was leaving me. My world crashed in around me, the plan for my life had just changed.
The good news is there is a God, and he isn’t a punishing or vindictive God but a loving God. He is our Heavenly Father and now that I am a parent I understand so much more about how God works. He wants the very best for all of us, but sometimes the road of life is a little rocky, and instead of shielding us from everything, he lets us learn from choices we make and from events that we have no control over.
God gave each of us free will to make our own choices. He didn’t create a bunch of robots. In many, many cases, the problems people suffer are not hard to explain. People have problems because they have made some poor choices in their life. Take the example of a man who loses his job and marriage because he had affair with an employee. Is God to blame for the consequences? What about the person who wrecks his car because he drove while being intoxicated? Is God punishing him or being vengeful? No, these individuals are just suffering the consequences of their choices.
There are things that we will never understand, but God has a plan. If one assumes there isn’t a God then one must assume or believe that everything in the world occurs at random. Because if it weren’t random then that would mean someone is in control and planning it all out.
But, look around. Is what you see a culmination of random events? I don’t understand how anyone could believe that. Things that happen in Random are not generally beautiful. Go grab some leaves and flower petals and roll them in glue and stick them to a sheet of paper. Now, how does what you see compare to a vast field of Bluebonnets in Texas? It doesn’t compare because the field of Bluebonnets was carefully planned and created by our God.
Our God is a God who is in control and has a plan for each of us. That plan may not always be clear or even seem to make sense but there will come a day when it does. Our job while we are here on this earth is to be obedient.
One reason so many people don’t understand life is because they haven’t read the Bible, God’s Word to us. The Bible is a book of letters written by a variety of different authors. These writers were witnesses to God’s miracles and lived through more difficult times than people I know. Ninety percent (90%) of what we need to know about living on this earth is in there. One hundred percent (100%) of what we need to know about what happens when we die is in there.
So, instead of sitting back in life and waiting for the pitch to break so you can swing and miss, step up in the batter’s box and try to hit it before it curves.
Many people are being thrown curves by life and they aren’t sure how to handle it. I know someone who is having a particularly difficult time, and it has left him feeling that God is vindictive and punishing him. He has been unemployed for over a year and there are no prospects in sight. His health has deteriorated to a point where he says he has prayed his heart would stop.
There are others who wonder if there is a God at all. They see little children coming down with horrible diseases or a father of two being killed while he sits at his desk one Tuesday morning and some evil people fly an airplane into his office building. “If there is a God, how could he allow these things to happen?” they ask.
I used to be in that place. I remember a night in November 1996 when the woman I loved told me she didn't love me and was leaving me. My world crashed in around me, the plan for my life had just changed.
The good news is there is a God, and he isn’t a punishing or vindictive God but a loving God. He is our Heavenly Father and now that I am a parent I understand so much more about how God works. He wants the very best for all of us, but sometimes the road of life is a little rocky, and instead of shielding us from everything, he lets us learn from choices we make and from events that we have no control over.
God gave each of us free will to make our own choices. He didn’t create a bunch of robots. In many, many cases, the problems people suffer are not hard to explain. People have problems because they have made some poor choices in their life. Take the example of a man who loses his job and marriage because he had affair with an employee. Is God to blame for the consequences? What about the person who wrecks his car because he drove while being intoxicated? Is God punishing him or being vengeful? No, these individuals are just suffering the consequences of their choices.
There are things that we will never understand, but God has a plan. If one assumes there isn’t a God then one must assume or believe that everything in the world occurs at random. Because if it weren’t random then that would mean someone is in control and planning it all out.
But, look around. Is what you see a culmination of random events? I don’t understand how anyone could believe that. Things that happen in Random are not generally beautiful. Go grab some leaves and flower petals and roll them in glue and stick them to a sheet of paper. Now, how does what you see compare to a vast field of Bluebonnets in Texas? It doesn’t compare because the field of Bluebonnets was carefully planned and created by our God.
Our God is a God who is in control and has a plan for each of us. That plan may not always be clear or even seem to make sense but there will come a day when it does. Our job while we are here on this earth is to be obedient.
One reason so many people don’t understand life is because they haven’t read the Bible, God’s Word to us. The Bible is a book of letters written by a variety of different authors. These writers were witnesses to God’s miracles and lived through more difficult times than people I know. Ninety percent (90%) of what we need to know about living on this earth is in there. One hundred percent (100%) of what we need to know about what happens when we die is in there.
So, instead of sitting back in life and waiting for the pitch to break so you can swing and miss, step up in the batter’s box and try to hit it before it curves.
Friday, July 29, 2005
The Power of Terry Storch
Yesterday Terry Storch introduced my blog on his blog and look at what it did to my traffic. I have been averaging about 15 visitors a day and yesterday I had 112. Now I am curious if any of those will return.
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Introduction from Terry Storch
Terry Storch just posted an introduction to me on his blog. This is an extremely exciting and incredible honor but also a little surprising. As Terry points out, we really don't know each other. But, as an example of the power of the blog, we have connected and share some sort of bond. Also, this is a big honor because Terry has only done 10 introductions up to now and to be one of those is really cool.
Thanks, Terry.
Thanks, Terry.
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Can you speak two and half year old?
If I were to say to you "yatch shakes sphere?" what would I be saying?
Answer - Can I watch Baby Shakespeare from Baby Einstein?
Answer - Can I watch Baby Shakespeare from Baby Einstein?
Joys of Fatherhood #10
Chase smiled!
Yes, our 6 week old really smiled for the first time yesterday. It is so cool to see them smile when they hear your voice.
Yes, our 6 week old really smiled for the first time yesterday. It is so cool to see them smile when they hear your voice.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
2nd Amendment Blogger Fired
Should you say Should?
One of the first things Shelley and I began learning when we started attending counseling is the power of vocabulary. Our counselor began removing certain words and replacing them with others. One of those is the word "should."
How often do you say "My wife should...." or "I should...."
Try replacing "should" with "beneficial." "It would be beneficial if I did.." or "Honey, it would be beneficial if ..."
The response you get from people is amazing. They will be much more receptive to what you are saying.
How often do you say "My wife should...." or "I should...."
Try replacing "should" with "beneficial." "It would be beneficial if I did.." or "Honey, it would be beneficial if ..."
The response you get from people is amazing. They will be much more receptive to what you are saying.
Being a Pastor to your Wife
I am reading a book from Tony Evans titled A Man's Role in the Home. He says the man needs to be the Pastor in the home, a shepard who knows how to open up the Word and minister to his family. He says, "If your wife has to go to church to find a pastor, then you are giving another man more influence over your wife and family than you have."
Ouch!
It is one thing to know you have a weakness, but when it jumps out of a book and hits you between the eyes, it can be very convicting.
Ouch!
It is one thing to know you have a weakness, but when it jumps out of a book and hits you between the eyes, it can be very convicting.
Sunday, July 24, 2005
What is the point?
This morning I went to Home Depot to purchase some tools. I purchased about $200 worth of tools and when I checked out one of the security devices must not have been properly deactivated because all of the alarms went off as I tried to exit. I stopped, turned around expecting someone to be coming my way but not one person had even looked up? Apparently everyone had come desensitized to these alarms.
What is the point then?
What is the point then?
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