Florida Here I Come

I'm off to visit the grandparental units tomorrow in Florida. Posting will be sparse for a bit as they don't have Internet (*GASP*).

Oskee Wow Wow!!! Go Illini

And for another year Illinois has Bragging Rights over Missouri!!!

Hey Boo Boo

He's up there in a place with lots of pic-a-nick baskets.

Thank you Joe.

Joe Barbera (1911-2006)

Lyrical Thought #39

I'm All Alone
Spamalot

King Arthur:
I'm all alone
all by myself
there is no one here beside me
im all alone
quite, all alone
no one to comfort me or guide me
why is there no one here with me
on the long and winding road
to lift my heavy load
if there were someone here with me
how happy i would be
but im alone
quite all alone
all by myself im all alone

I'm all alone
(Patsy: he's all alone)
All by myself
(Patsy: except for me)
I cannot face tomorrow
(Patsy: he cannot face it)
I'm all alone
(Patsy: Though i am here)
So all alone
(Patsy: so very near)
No one to share my sorrow

Patsy:
You know it seems quite clear to me
because im working class
i am just the horses ass
he sells me down the river
so what am i, chopped liver?

Arthur:
But i'm alone
(Patsy: oh no you're not!)
So all alone
(Patsy: I'm here you twat!)
All by myself im all alone

Knights: he's all alone
Arthur: i'm all alone
Knights: all by himself
Arthur: all by myself
Knights: there is no one here beside him, He's all alone
Arthur: so all alone
Knights: apart from us,
No one to comfort him or guide him

Arthur: each one of us is all alone
so what are we to do
in order to get through
we must be lonely side by side
it's a perfect way to hide

Knights: we're all alone
Arthur: we're all alone
Knights: yes all alone
Arthur: so all alone,
each by ourselves
we're all alone.

New Years Survey

*New Years Survey*
So, are you excited for the new year?:	It's got to be better than this year.
What was your favorite thing about this past year?:	I finally worked my way out of tech support.
Who was your best friend(s)?:	Matt and Michelle
Did you fall in love this year?:	Only puppy love.
Did you get your heart broken?:	Thankfully no, but does one ever fully heal?
Did you get a new car?:	No
Go somewhere exciting?:	I went to Vegas for a Networkers Conference
Did you have a resolution for this year?:	Yes
Did you keep it?:	No
Did you dye your hair?:	No, but dang it I might need to next year.
Lose any friends?:	Yes, Nathan, may he rest in peace.
Make any?:	A few.
How much do you think you changed?:	Well beyond the shaving and the contacts I'd say a little bit emotionally.
Did you grow any?:	Yup, emotionally.
What month was your birthday?:	February
Was it special?:	Not really.
How were you in school?:	I went back to school just for Jazz Band. I got schooled.
Do anything you regret alot?:	Yes
Anything you regret NOT doing?:	Asking out a certain woman.
Was it a leap year?:	No.
What are you most thankful for this year?:	Friends
Did anyone you love die this year?:	No
How many significant others did you have?:	None
Did you get in trouble alot?:	Nope
Who are you going to kiss at midnight?:	Thin air.
Who do you WANT to kiss at midnight?:	I plead the fifth.
What is your resolution for next year?:	Find love.
Who's house are you going to party at?:	Michelle's
Going to watch the ball drop on TV?:	Maybe
Will this year be better than last year?:	I really hope so.
Take this survey | Find more surveys Bzoink - The Original Survey Site

I'm 1 of 32!

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 32 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

My Christmas Stocking

Christmas Stocking

leave a gift for byte228 your username: your gift: (30 characters or less) get your stocking

Billy Joel!!!

I just ordered two tickets(being very optimistic, women may apply via e-mail :-p) for Billy Joel's concert in St. Louis April 25th. This is the first time he's been anywhere close since I went to see him during finals week my Freshman year with my buddy Brian Flowers. Woohoo!

Lyrical Thought #38

Angel

Sarah McLaughlin

Spend all your time waiting
for that second chance
For the break that will make it OK
There´s always some reason
to feel not good enough
And it´s hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction
or a beautiful release
Memories seep from my veins
Let me be empty
and weightless and maybe
I´ll find some peace tonight
In the arms of the Angel
far away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room,
and the endlessness that you feel
You are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
You´re in the arms of the Angel;
may you find
some comfort here
So tired of the straight line,
and everywhere you turn
There´s vultures and thieves at your back
The storm keeps on twisting,
you keep on building the lies
That make up for all that you lack
It don´t make no difference,
escape one last time
It´s easier to believe
In this sweet madness,
oh this glorious sadness
That brings me to my knees
In the arms of the Angel
far away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room,
and the endlessness that you feel
You are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
You´re in the arms of the Angel;
may you find
some comfort here
In the arms of the Angel;
may you find
some comfort here

Silly String Saves Soldiers

Ok so I couldn't miss the alliteration. Soldiers are using silly string to detect trip wires and other booby traps. You can read more on MSNBC.

Pearl Harbor

Let us never forget the lessons learned 65 years ago today. Always be vigilant, always be prepared.

Lyrical Thought #37

Sleepyhead Sun

Chris Rice

Wake up you sleepyhead sun
Rise from your eastern bed
Stretch and yawn, now it's time to shine
And chase our shadows west
Burn in your pathway across the sky
And brighten up our stories
Wake the continents and oceans to
Another blessed morning!

You are the gift, you are the proof
The Lord looks down and warms my roof
You are the light, you are the sign
That I am loved and life is mine

You even played a part
On history's saddest day
You closed your eyes and the world grew dark
While the Father hid His face
And then two more circles around the world
To weep and wait for glory
And then you rose to show the way
On Resurrection Morning!

You are the gift, you are the proof
The Lord looks down and warms my roof
You are the light, you are the sign
That I am loved and life is mine

Evening so quickly comes
You're ready to kiss the sea
Enhancing the colors of our skin
You cast our shadows east
Your blankets are fading, their purple glows
Your sleepy head is turning
And to our dreams we'll gladly go
And see you in the morning

You are the gift, you are the proof
The Lord looks down and warms my roof
You are the light, you are the sign
That I am loved and life is mine

Lyrical Thought #36

Does Anybody Hear Her?

Casting Crowns


She is running
A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction
She is trying
But the canyon's ever widening
In the depths of her cold heart
So she sets out on another misadventure just to find
She's another two years older
And she's three more steps behind

Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?

She is yearning
For shelter and affection
That she never found at home
She is searching
For a hero to ride in
To ride in and save the day
And in walks her prince charming
And he knows just what to say
Momentary lapse of reason
And she gives herself away

Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?

If judgement looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can't see past her scarlet letter
And we never even met her

If judgement looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can't see past her scarlet letter
And we never even met her

Never even met her

Does anybody hear her? Does anybody see?
Or does anybody even knows she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me

Does anybody hear her? Does anybody see?
Does anybody even know she's going down today?
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her? Does anybody see?

He is running a hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction

QOTD

"Christmas isn't just getting too commercial, it's getting too dangerous." -Linus (Peanuts)

QOTD

"No! You have too much to live for. It may hurt for a while but one day you'll share your love again. After all, it's shareware." Futurama

Lyrical Thought #35

Place in This World

Michael W. Smith

The wind is moving
But I am standing still
A life of pages
Waiting to be filled

A heart that's hopeful
A head that's full of dreams
But this becoming
Is harder than it seems

Feels like I'm
Looking for a reason
Roamin' through the night to find
My place in this world
My place in this world
Not a lot to lean on
I need your light to help me find
My place in this world
My place in this world

If there are millions
Down on their knees
Among the many
Can you still hear me

Hear me asking
Where do I belong?
Is there a vision
That I can call my own?

Show me, I'm
Looking for a reason
Roamin' through the night to find
My place in this world
My place in this world
Not a lot to lean on
I need your light to help me find
My place in this world
My place in this world

Lookin' for a reason
Roamin' through the night to find
My place in this world
My place in this world
Not a lot to lean on
I need your light to help me find
My place in this world
My place in this world

Lookin' for a reason
Roamin' through the night to find
My place in this world
My place in this world

Random Gripe of the Day

Ok so Vanessa Carlton's A Thousand Miles has historical meaning to me relating to a past relationship. Normally songs like this don't bother me because I hear them only every so often, but thanks to Zales I'm now hearing that song multiple times during one documentary on TLC. Ok random griping for the day is concluded, return to your regularly scheduled blogging.

Top Ten Girl Geeks

Top Ten Girl Geeks

Ok so I know if they existed in the past that they must still exist... why can't and I find them??? Oh and Paris Hilton??? They must have gotten tired.

QOTD

I have lost friends, some by death... others through sheer inability to cross the street.
- Virginia Woolf

Lyrical Thought #34

Turn, Turn, Turn

The Byrds

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven

A time to build up,a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven

A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven

A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time to love, a time to hate
A time for peace, I swear its not too late

Married Priests

This article from Fox News brings up some interesting factoids.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,229884,00.html

Christmas Party

It's that time of year again. Time for the corporate Christmas Party. Frank Caliendo is the featured entertainment this year so that should be good. If any single women are going to be in the area December 2nd, I'm still looking for a date. ;-)

Lyrical Thought #33

Here Comes The Sun

The Beatles

Wishful thinking on my part.



Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right

Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it's all right

Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it's all right

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...

Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right
It's all right

QOTD

"Here's a hint. Women are not confusing we just generally know what we want and don't like to share what that is." -- My Friend Kimmy

Going Home Again?

Today I had the opportunity to "go home again" so to speak. I grew up (K-8) in St. James parish in Riverton, IL. This is the same parish that my mom grew up in, my parents were married in and that I received most of the sacraments. Unfortunately one week when I came home from scout camp I found out that the pastor had accosted my father in front of others in the communion line about where he was taking the hosts that he received to take communion to my home bound relatives. That coupled with a growing list of issues with the pastor and his assistant priest led to Dad moving us to another parish. Until recently those priests were still there and the parish had suffered a tremendous loss of congregants.

Recently though the two priests were removed from the parish after allegations of financial misdeeds surfaced and were apparently verified. Today was the first KC Father/Son Breakfast since then and the first time that my parents and I had gone back to St. James except for funerals. It was an interesting experience in a couple of ways. First looking around at the various people at Mass I think I knew more people there than I do at my current parish after 5 years. The second thing was that people recognized us and came up and talked to us after Mass. We felt welcomed. I think that even with all of the hurt that the poor parish has had to endure that they are a model of how a Parish COMMUNITY should be. May the people of St. James continue to heal and grow. Maybe someday I'll be back in the area close enough to call it home again.

Always Remember

Today is Veteran's Day, no matter what you think of the Iraq War or what you think of the politics of the day, never forget the brave Men and Women that serve and have served our nation. Tell a Veteran thank you. Do something nice for them. Comfort a family who has lost a Veteran.

If you're a brass player, one way to help is to join Bugles Across America and volunteer to ensure that no Veteran's funeral has to have a recording of Taps.

Lyrical Thought #32

Faith of the Heart

Rod Stewart

It's been a long road
Getting from there to here
It's been a long time
But my time is finally near

And I can feel the change in the wind right now
Nothings in my way
And they're not gonna hold me down no more
No there not gonna hold me down

Cause I've got faith of the heart
I'm going where my heart will take me
I've got faith to believe
I can do anything
I've got strength of the soul
And no one's gonna bend or break me
I can reach any star
I've got faith
I've got faith
Faith of the heart

It's been a long night
Trying to find my way
Been through the darkness
Now I finally have my day
I will see my dream come alive at last
I will touch the sky
And they're not gonna hold me down no more
No there not gonna change my mind

Cause I've got faith of the heart
I'm going where my heart will take me
I've got faith to believe
I can do anything
I've got strength of the soul
And no one's gonna bend or break me
I can reach any star
I've got faith
Faith of the heart

I've known a wind so cold and seen the darkest days
But now the winds I feel are only winds of change
I've been through the fire and I've been through the rain
But I'll be fine

Cause I've got faith of the heart
I'm going where my heart will take me
I've got faith to believe
I can do anything
I've got strength of the soul
And no one's gonna bend or break me
I can reach any star
I've got faith
Faith of the heart

Faith of the heart
I'm going where my heart will take me
I've got faith of the soul
That no one's gonna bend or break me
I can reach any star
I've got faith
I've got faith
Faith of the heart

Its been a long road

Update

Ok so I haven't written much of substance lately. Here's the last week or so in the cliff notes version. Last weekend I drove over to Kansas City to visit Nick and Kimmy and my God children. I can't believe how fast Gabe and CeCe are growing up. They're both running a mile a minute of course and really starting to talk. They've developed their own twin language between the two of them in addition to the English they know. Getting to hold them and run around with them has really made me more sure that I want kids someday.

This week has mainly been work and more work as normal. I'm taking today off to sorta relax and get started on reorganizing the apartment into a semblance of order. This afternoon I'm driving up to Rockford to visit Michelle. Makes me wish that all of my friends and I could live in one place and still have our jobs. It'd be like college without the exams.

I would do this for her...

Of course I need to figure out who her is, but it is a very good list.


What a girl wants!!!
1-touch their waist
2-talk to them
3-share secrets
4-give her your jacket
5-kiss them slowly


are you remembering this?


6-hug her
7-hold her
8-laugh with her
9-invite her somewhere
10-let her be with you when you're with your friends


keep reading


11-smile with her
12-take pics with her
13-pull her onto your lap
14-when she says she loves you more, deny it. fight back
15-when her friends say i love her more than you, deny it. fight back and hug her tight so she cant get to her friends. it makes her feel loved


Are you thinking about someone?


16-always hug her and say i love you when you see her
17-kiss her unexpectedly
18-HUG HER FROM BEHIND AROUND THE WAIST
19-tell her shes beautiful not sexy!
20-tell her the way you feel about her!


..20 u need to show her you mean it too


21-kiss her on the lips
22-DONT ask her to buy you stuff. you buy HER stuff
23-TELL HER WHAT FEELS GOOD
24-make her feel loved
25-always listen to what she has to say


i hope every girl gets treated this good...


26-don't lie to her
27-dont cheat on her
28-take her anywhere she wants
29-txt messege or call her in the morning and tell her have a good day at school, and how much you miss her
30-be there for her when ever she needs you, & even when she doesn't need you, just be there so she'll know that she can always count on you


are you still reading this, u better be its important


31. Hold her close when she's cold and she can hold you too.
32. When you are alone hold her close and kiss her.
33. Kiss her on the cheek; (it will give her the hint that you want to kiss them).
34. While in the movie, put your arm around her and then she will automatically put her head on your shoulder, then lean in and tilt her chin up and kiss her lightly.
35. Dont ever tell her to leave even jokingly or act like you're mad. If shes upset, comfort her


remember this next time you are with her


36. When people diss her, stand up for her.
37. Look deep into her eyes and tell her you love her.
38. Lay down under the stars and put her head on your chest so she can listen to the steady beat of your heart, Link your fingers together while you whisper to her as she rests her eyes and listens to you.
39. When walking next to each other grab her hand.
40. When you hug her hold her in your arms as long as possible


MAKE SURE SHE KNOWS SHES LOVED


41. Call her at night to wish her sweet dreams.
42. Comfort her when she cries and wipe away her tears.
43. Take her for long walks at night.
44. Always Remind her how much you love her.


youll never know when she needs just a lil more love



repost this in 20 sec. or you will lose the one you care about the most!!! <3
Guys Repost: "i would do this for her"
Girls Repost: "44 things a girl would die for"

Veteran's Day Tribute

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWiTH2yomww]

Agenda for the DNC Convention in 2008

I got this in an e-mail forward and had to share.

Democratic National Convention, Agenda 2008

7:00 P.M. Opening flag burning.
7:15 P.M. Pledge of allegiance to U.N.
7:30 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
7:30 till 8:00 P.M. Nonreligious prayer and worship. Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton.
8:00 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
8:05 P.M. Ceremonial tree hugging.
8:15 P.M. Gay Wedding, Barney Frank Presiding.
8:30 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
8:35 P.M. Free Sadam Rally. Cindy Sheehan , Susan Sarandon.
9:00 P.M. Keynote speech. The proper etiquette for surrender. French President Jacques Chirac
9:15 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast.
9:20 P.M. Collection to benefit Osama Bin Laden kidney transplant fund
9:30 P.M. Unveiling of plan to free freedom fighters from Guantanamo Bay by Sean Penn
9:40 P.M. Why I hate the Military, A short tale by William Jefferson Clinton
9:45 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
9:50 P.M. Dan Rather presented Truth in Broadcasting award, presented by Michael Moore
9:55 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
10:00 P.M. How George Bush and Donald Rumsfeld brought down the World Trade Center Towers by Howard Dean
10:30 P.M. Nomination of Hillary Rodham Clinton by Mahmud Ahnadinejad
11:00 P.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
11:05 P.M. Al Gore reinvents Internet
11:15 P.M. Our Troops are War criminals by John Kerry
11:30 P.M. Coronation of Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton
12:00 A.M. Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
12:05 A.M. Bill asks Ted to drive Hillary home

All Saints Day Mass

Ok so tonight of course was Mass for All Saints Day. The Gospel reading was the Beatitudes. Unfortunately when the Priest read the part about "Blessed are the peacemakers" my silly brain started into the Monty Python routine from the Life of Brian... "Blessed are the cheesemakers? Why the cheesemakers?"

DAEC Day 2

Well today's keynote from Christopher West was even better than yesterday's. I've bought a few of his books to read. I'm hoping to better understand the whole Theology of the Body thing.

DAEC Day 1

Ok so today was the first day of the Springfield Diocese Adult Education Conference. This is the first time that I've taken the time to go and I'm glad that I did. The day started with a prayer service that was just awesome. Lots of good music and the Sister that gave the reflection was very insightful. That led into the Keynote by Christopher West. I've heard a lot of things about the Theology of the Body and about him, but this was the first time I'd heard him speak. He is a very charismatic and informative speaker. I'm looking forward to tomorrow morning when he speaks again. The fact that the Theology of the Body is not the stereotypical traditional Catholic line of sex is bad and shameful is very hopeful for the Church.

Due to the morning liturgy going over I missed my first breakout session, but I did go to Donna Dousman's session on marriage and relationships in the afternoon which was very good.

After the second session we had Mass with Bishop Lucas. The music was very good with all sorts of instruments and a full choir. It's always a joy to go to a Mass where EVERYONE is being a full participant. Ah Newman how I miss your Wednesday night Masses. I ended up being drafted as a Eucharistic Minister which proved to be interesting as we had to consume the remaining Body and Blood. One of the other Eucharistic Ministers had a lot of Blood left in the chalice and asked me to consume it. I know in college we used to call it a "party with Jesus" after Mass when we consumed the remaining Body and Blood, but with the amount of Blood left in that chalice I almost felt like I was chugging Jesus. Hmm Maybe tomorrow they'll estimate better. ;-)

The night was topped off with an awesome concert with John Angotti. He's like a Billy Joel Catholic musician. Awesome piano player and great composer.

Tomorrow I'm taking off work to go to the second day of the conference. I think it's definitely worth it. I wish they had more breakout session time slots, but I know they're trying to leave lots of free time to go to the conference floor to see the various vendors. My only other wish is that they had more for liturgists and musicians since they advertise it for both, but most of the classes are either generic or geared towards Catechists.

Well I should get to bed now. I have to be in Springfield tomorrow around 7:30am for the start of the conference.

QOTD

If we don't go crazy once in a while, we'll all go crazy. -- Hawkeye

QOTD

"Ladies and gentlemen, take my advice, pull down your pants and slide on the ice"~Sidney Freedman. (M*A*S*H)

Restless...

All through life it seems there are milestones that we strive to achieve. When we were babies it was crawling, walking and then talking. As we got older we finally got to go to school. Once we were in school, school itself was full of goals for us to strive toward. What is beginning to bug me is now is that I don't have anything like that any more that I can actually control.

Right now I look at my life and while things are good around me, I'm not happy. At times I'm content, and during certain get togethers and such I'm momentarily happy, but not happy in general. I need something to be working toward that I can actually measure progress on and see my achievements. My real goal right now is to find "the one" and be able to settle down, have a family, etc. The problem is that I can't really control any of the steps toward that goal. I can try and try, but I never know if I'm getting closer, farther or just treading water (which is what I feel like I've been doing for years).

Because of this turmoil, I've been contemplating all sorts of potential changes to try to get where I want to be. Part of me wonders if it's time to leave Dot Foods behind and find a job either closer to Jacksonville or perhaps in another area altogether. There are things that I want to do, but don't want to do until some of the entropy in my life is abated. For example, I would like to buy a house of my own instead of renting so that I could work on the house as I please, but I don't want to tie myself to an area until I'm married and know I'm where I should be.

Ok so for those of you that made it this far, thank you. I've thrown my open questions out into the ether and now once again I wait for God to give me just a little clue.

Uh oh, Time to Give up the Cell?

Heck with causing cancer, this might scare me more. ;-)

Study Suggests LInk Between Cell Phone Use, and Low Sperm Count

My Journey from IE6 to IE7 to IE6

Ok for those geeks in the audience here's my take on IE7 that was released about a week ago. I eagerly downloaded and installed it hoping to finally have some of my favorite Firefox features in my work browser. My first impression was that the installer was a much smaller download than normal for an Internet Explorer point release. The install was smooth and as part of it they required that I install all outstanding security patches (kudos to Microsoft on this).

My initial experience with the browser itself was "Hey this is Firefox with Microsoft logos", but unfortunately my elation was soon brought back to reality. The UI is very minimalist which gives more room for viewing pages, but at first is difficult to find common functions. For example the traditional placement of the back, forward, stop and refresh buttons in close proximity has been replaced with having forward and back one place and the other two elsewhere. I also searched high and low and never did quite find the browse history.

Rendering was where IE7 really started showing its true stripes. First I tried pointing it to my Parish website and was thankful for it being able to render my positioning correctly, but some rollovers that work fine in Firefox and in IE6 no longer functioned. My next big test was to use the browser on a day to day basis for work. I quickly found out that several bits of normal functionality in my Altiris Helpdesk were no longer functioning with IE7 deciding JavaScript that has worked in IE6 for years is suddenly not good enough to run. It was because of this that I decided to pull the plug and return to IE6. Thankfully Microsoft made this a very easy and painless uninstall back to IE6. For now I'm sticking with the time tested IE6 with all its bugs and hoping that IE7.01 comes soon... either that or Altiris will rewrite helpdesk to be usable with Firefox.

Smoking Ban

"The right to swing my fist ends where the other man's nose begins."
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes

Ok so Springfield, IL has had a smoking ban in all public places and businesses in effect for a few weeks now. Of course the local businesses, especially bars, are now whining that that they're going to go out of business because of it. Last night I went to a local bar in Springfield to listen to my friend Don's Dixieland Jazz Band. Amazingly there were more people there this month with the ban than there was the month before without the ban. The only change I noticed was that I could breathe and not smell like smoke afterward. Yeah!

QOTD

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks.
--Terry Prathcett

Autumn Leaves

I've been meaning to write this for some time and always forget by the time I get to a time that I can write. Every day for work I drive around 70 miles round trip through the Illinois River valley to get to work. I've been making this drive for almost four and a half years now and I've noticed a trend. Every fall it seems that either I mirror the valley, or the valley mirrors me(I haven't figured out which just year.).

As the farm fields start to turn brown and are harvested leaving the barren browness across the valley, I tend to start withdrawing. Like the falling leaves my hope starts to fade and I start reminiscing about the year that's been, what has been and what didn't happen like I would like. It's like I go dormant just like the Earth. I wish it wasn't like this, but it just seems to happen. The days get shorter and I seem to get gloomier. Just once I wish I had something to look forward to in the fall and winter.

Maybe it's because things like hay rack rides and curling up on the couch during the winter watching a movie are more fun with someone to share the moments with. I guess the root of things is that as the natural world dies off I feel more alone.

Lyrical Thought #31

It Was a Very Good Year
Frank Sinatra

When I was seventeen
It was a very good year
It was a very good year for small town girls
And soft summer nights
We'd hide from the lights
On the village green
When I was seventeen

When I was twenty-one
It was a very good year
It was a very good year for city girls
Who lived up the stair
With all that perfumed hair
And it came undone
When I was twenty-one

When I was thirty-five
It was a very good year
It was a very good year for blue-blooded girls
Of independent means
We'd ride in limousines
Their chauffeurs would drive
When I was thirty-five

But now the days grow short
I'm in the autumn of the year
And now I think of my life as vintage wine
From fine old kegs
From the brim to the dregs
And it poured sweet and clear
It was a very good year

It was a mess of good years

Miracle in the Desert

I'm still not exactly sure how they did it, but the Bears went from 20 down to winning. Really they deserved to loose, but man it was exciting at the end.

Lyrical Thought #30

Keep in mind that this song was written during the Cold War, but after last night's test by North Korea it seems to be appropriate this morning.

Who's Next
Tom Lehrer

One of the big news items of the past year concerned the fact that China, which we called "Red China," exploded a nuclear bomb, which we called a device. Then Indonesia announced that it was going to have one soon, and proliferation became the word of the day. Here's a song about that:


First we got the bomb, and that was good,
'Cause we love peace and motherhood.
Then Russia got the bomb, but that's okay,
'Cause the balance of power's maintained that way.
Who's next?

France got the bomb, but don't you grieve,
'Cause they're on our side (I believe).
China got the bomb, but have no fears,
They can't wipe us out for at least five years.
Who's next?

Then Indonesia claimed that they
Were gonna get one any day.
South Africa wants two, that's right:
One for the black and one for the white.
Who's next?

Egypt's gonna get one too,
Just to use on you know who.
So Israel's getting tense.
Wants one in self defense.
"The Lord's our shepherd," says the psalm,
But just in case, we better get a bomb.
Who's next?

Luxembourg is next to go,
And (who knows?) maybe Monaco.
We'll try to stay serene and calm
When Alabama gets the bomb.
Who's next?
Who's next?
Who's next?
Who's next?

Lyrical Thought #30

Where Everybody Knows Your Name
by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo - Cheers Lyrics


Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.

Wouldn't you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.

You wanna go where people know,
people are all the same,
You wanna go where everybody knows
your name.

Full Lyrics never actually aired

Making your way in the world today
Takes everything you've got;
Taking a break from all your worries
Sure would help a lot.
Wouldn't you like to get away?

All those night when you've got no lights,
The check is in the mail;
And your little angel
Hung the cat up by it's tail;
And your third fiance didn't show;

Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came;
You want to be where you can see,
Our troubles are all the same;
You want to be where everybody knows your name.

Roll out of bed, Mr. Coffee's dead;
The morning's looking bright;
And your shrink ran off to Europe,
And didn't even write;
And your husband wants to be a girl;

Be glad there's one place in the world
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came;
You want to go where people know,
People are all the same;
You want to go where everybody knows your name.

Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came;
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came...

Fire

Tonight after the KC fish fry I was out behind the building burning the grease laden cardboard since we can't recycle the stuff with oil on it. As I was standing there watching the fire I started to think how important fire has been to me in my life. And also how it's been a source of comfort and solitude as well as a source of fellowship and fun times.

I remember as a young scout always volunteering to be the fire builder in the morning for my patrol. I usually got up early any way so I figured I might as well do it. Ok so I'm also a slight pyromaniac, but let me rationalize here. Those early mornings were usually slightly chilly with dew on the ground and just the sound of nature besides my walking and breathing. First I would gather my wood and kindling into the fire ring and get things laid out just right. My goal was always to try to get the fire going using only one match. Many times I succeeded, but not always.

Once the fire was started I would just sit there and stare at the fire. I would watch the flames as they devoured the wood and the smoke slowly rising into the morning air. Many times it would almost be a spiritual experience just sitting and watching the fire in the silence.

Another time later in my scouting career I was tasked with staying up all night on a Vigil while tending a fire that I built. The goal was to spend time in silence pondering life and such while also staying awake and keeping the fire going. Through the night the fire would grow and then burn down as I'd neglect it while reading or thinking or dozing off (oops). I would always get it back to roaring again, but it was like a cycle. Symbolically looking back the fire really could represent my faith life. It seems like God is my fire tender. He makes sure that the spirit is burning in me, unfortunately sometimes I don't feel it or shut it out and the fire through my neglect gets weak, but whenever I need it and turn to it for warmth God makes sure that it's ready for me.

I need more fire in my life right now. I used to feed off of the fire of those around me in college, but now unfortunately I feel like a lone candle a lot of times. Back in college our flames came together to make a conflageration. Now I feel like one small flame that could easily be extinguished.

Lyrical Thought #29

Tick Tock
Chris Rice

Got our heels dug in
But time is draggin' us toward
The time when time won't matter anymore
They say life is but a vapor
Just a blip on a radar screen
Not the dates on your tombstone
But the dash in between
There's just today, that's all we got
There's just today, that's all we got

Tick-tock, the past is locked
The future's far away
You can't go back, you can't hurry it up
You gotta learn to live today
Tick-tock, it's now o'clock
The little hand is ours
The second hand sweeps us around
And the Big Hand has the power
The Big Hand has the power

Well am I livin' or am I dyin'
Will the world get another day?
I hear a baby cryin', and I pluck out another gray
I'm always talkin' about a change
But talkin's all I've done
I'm gonna start tomorrow
But tomorrow never comes
There's just today, that's all we got
There's just today, that's all we got

Tick-tock, the past is locked
The future's far away
You can't go back, you can't hurry it up
You gotta learn to live today
Tick-tock, it's now o'clock
The little hand is ours
The second hand sweeps us around
And the Big Hand has the power
The Big Hand has the power

Always runnin' late
Don't procrastinate
Leavin' in a hurry
Life is rollin' on
Give me just a second
Wait another minute
Sleep another hour
See another day dawn
Call you next week
See you in a month
Celebrate a season
Now another year's gone
Well there goes a decade, a century, millenium
And here comes eternity, eternity, eternity
Here comes eternity, eternity
What's up with eternity?

Tick-tock, the past is locked
The future's far away
You can't go back, you can't hurry it up
You gotta learn to live today
Tick-tock, it's now o'clock
The little hand is ours
The second hand sweeps us around
And the Big Hand has the power
The Big Hand has the power

Quote of the Day

"God's in control, I'm going to bed." Pope John Paul II

(inspired by JoAnn's away message)

Hijackers Protest B16's Comments on Islam's History of Violence

Does anyone else find this a bit ironic that they're protesting Pope Benedict's comments by an act of terror? You can read about it on Fox's website. Perhaps a nice old fashioned protest march would have been a better choice?

I'm Proud to Be an American

You Are 80% American

You're as American as red meat and shooting ranges. Tough and independent, you think big. You love everything about the US, wrong or right. And anyone who criticizes your home better not do it in front of you!

How American Are You?

Stress Level

I thought it would be higher...

Your Stress Level is: 52%

You are somewhat prone to stress, especially when life gets hard. When things are good, you resist stressing over little problems. But when things are difficult, you tend to freak out and find it hard to calm down.

How Stressed Are You?

Could you pass 8th Grade Science???

You Passed 8th Grade Science

Congratulations, you got 8/8 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade Science?

Da Bears

Baseball? Who needs stinking baseball. Da Bears! Oh and for you Cardinal fans out there, congratulations on losing your way into the playoffs. Go Bears Go!

Lyrical Thought #28

Keep the Candle Burning
Point of Grace

You think youre alone there in your silent storm
But Ive seen the tears youve cried falling down and trying to drown
The flame of hope inside
Let me tell you now, tell you now

(chorus)
When youre walking in the dead of night
And your soul is churning
When your hope seems out of sight
Keep the candle burning
All it takes is one steady heart in a world thats turning
Shine a light and pierce the dark
Keep the candle burning
Keep the candle burning

When youre down and youre discouraged
When the darkness clouds your view
Youve got to gather up your courage
You know the lord is gonna see you through
Let me tell you now
Tell you now

(repeat chorus)

One ray of light always breaks through
Follow wherever he takes you
Wherever he takes you

Let's say I break into your house...

(This came from an e-mail forward)

A lady wrote the best letter in the Editorials in ages!! It explains
things better than all the baloney you hear on TV. Can you relate?

Recently large demonstrations have taken place across the country
protesting the fact that Congress is finally addressing the issue of
illegal immigration. Certain people are angry that the US might protect
its own borders, might make it harder to sneak into this country and,
once here, to stay indefinitely. Let me see if I correctly understand
the thinking behind these protests.

Let's say I break into your house. Let's say that when you discover me
in your house, you insist that I leave. But I say, "I've made all the
beds and washed the dishes and did the laundry and swept the floors;
I've done all the things you don't like to do. I'm hard-working and
honest (except for when I broke into your house).

According to the protesters, not only must you let me stay, you must
add me to your family's insurance plan, educate my kids, and provide
other benefits to me and to my family (my husband will do your yard work
because he too is hard-working and honest, (except for that breaking in
part).

If you try to call the police or force me out, I will call my friends
who will picket your house carrying signs that proclaim my right to be
there.

It's only fair, after all, because you have a nicer house than I do, and
I'm just trying to better myself. I'm hard-working and honest, um,
except for well, you know.

And what a deal it is for me!! I live in your house, contributing only a
fraction of the cost of my keep, and there is nothing you can do about
it without being accused of selfishness, prejudice and being an
anti-housebreaker. Oh yeah, and I want you to learn my language so you
can communicate with me.

Why can't people see how ridiculous this is?! Only in America....if you
agree, pass it on (in English). Share it if you see the value of it as
a good smile. If not blow it off along with your future Social Security
funds.

Culture Warrior

Based on the answers you gave...
You are a traditional warrior.

Take the quiz here.

QOTD

"I love Bob, but am I in love with him. I think what I'm in love with is the idea of getting married. I'm in love with the idea of not being single." -- Nurse Curly on Doogie Howser MD.

Five Years Later

"Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day?"

As opined in his blog, so will I.

It was my Senior year at Truman State and I was living in Campbell Apartments up by the football field. I remember turning on the TV to see the first tower already on fire. My initial thought was, how did the pilot hit the building, there's no fog. Then as I was watching the second plane slammed into the other tower and I said to myself that someone is attacking the United States. Who that someone was I wasn't quite sure, but I knew at that point that the relative peace that my generation had been blessed with since the Berlin Wall fell was history.

At that point I went to Violette for my first class and found everyone glued to the various TVs that line the walls in that building. We did have class, but that was the only class for the day as the rest ended up canceled. It was right after my first class that I learned about the Pentagon being hit too. Even being in the middle of nowhere Missouri I was scared of what was to come. Subconsciously I must have been looking for shelter because the rest of the day I spent working in the Math and Computer Science Department Computer Support Office with my fellow student Eric Norige. The reason I say that I must have been looking for shelter is that this office is in the core of the building with brick walls on all sides and no windows.

It wasn't until I got back to my apartment that afternoon that I realized my parents had been trying to get in touch with me. Dad was worried because he had been on Southern Illinois University's campus during the Kent State riots and he remembered being caught up in a mob that torched the ROTC building while he was walking downtown Carbondale. Knowing that the National Guard had a depot across from my apartment didn't help ease his mind.

I also remember talking to my friend Jill who at the time worked for the exchange student office at Truman. She was telling me how scared the foreign students, especially of the Muslim faith, were that we (the American students) would take out our anger, fear and rage against them. Many were scrambling to find ways home as they did not feel safe in the country or they were worried about not being able to get back home.

Where are we now five years later? Well I for one still got tears in my eyes listening to the clips on the radio of the newscasts that day. It scares me that we seem to be more worried about politics now in this nation than the problems at hand. Terrorism hasn't gone away, if anything it's more prevalant today. We've got to stay on the offensive and keep them off guard. The politics of appeasement that occurred in the 1930s with the fascist regime of Nazi Germany unfortunately is returning. Iran and Syria are both known state sponsors of terrorism yet the world community would rather suggest that they change there ways than to actually enforce it. There is no united will at this point, I only hope that it doesn't take an act of terrorism of a scale tens or hundreds of times greater than the 9/11 attack to make the world realize that the terrorists won't just disappear. The style of attack used on 9/11 read almost completely out of Tom Clancy's novels Debt of Honor and Executive Orders. I hope that Sum of All Fears (read the book, toss the movie) never comes true.

Trust

I was sent this in a weekly reflection e-mail.

A Prayer

Trust in the slow work of God.
We are quite naturally impatient in everything
to reach the end without delay.
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient at being on the way to something new,
and yet it is the law of all progress
that it is made by passing through some stages of instability
and that it may take a very long time.
Only God could say what this new spirit gradually forming within us will be.
Give our Lord the benefit of believing that His hand is leading us,
and accepting the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense and incomplete.

Amen.

Lyrical Thought #27

The Last Fallen Hero
Charlie Daniels


Oh, the cowards came by morning and attacked without a warning
Leaving flames and death and chaos in our streets
In the middle of this fiery hell brave heroes fell

In the skies of Pennsylvania on a plane bound for destruction
With the devil and his angels at the wheel
They never reached their target on the ground
Brave heroes brought it down

Chorus:
This is a righteous cause so without doubt or pause
I will do what my country asks of me
Make any sacrifice
We'll pay whatever price
So the children of tomorrow can be free
Lead on red, white and blue
And we will follow you until we win the final victory
God help us do our best we will not slack or rest
Till the last fallen hero rests in peace

Now the winds of war are blowing and there's no way of knowing
Where this bloody path we're traveling will lead
We must follow till the end
Or face it all again

And make no mistake about it, write it, preach it, talk it, shout it
Across the mountains and the deserts and the seas
The blood of innocence and shame
Will not be shed in vain

Chorus

God help us do our best we will not slack nor rest
Till the last fallen hero rests in peace

Jazz

It's been a long time since I got to listen to live Jazz. Recently I joined the Jazz band at LLCC, but I've been a bit overwhelmed by the talents of the other trumpet players. Because of this I called my friend that is a Jazz trumpeter and retired band director and asked to take some lessons. While talking to him he invited me to come hear his band.

Tonight I went and did just that. It was great to get to hear some great players playing the classics. It reminded me a lot of my college days when we'd go to the Jazz place in Kirksville. One of the dentists in town (aka Dr. Wisdom) bought this house and turned it into a place for Jazz performances. Usually it was him on a piano, Chris Ellman on drums and a mix of horn players from Truman.

Hopefully some day I'll be good enough to play in a group like Don's or Dr. Wisdom's.

Facebook Draws Ire

Apparently my friends and I aren't the only ones that think the new Facebook is a little much. Even Slashdot is talking about it.

QOTD

"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams."
~Dr. Suess

QOTD

From Thenetworkadministrator.com

Blessed are the Geeks, for they shall internet the earth.

Katrina

Ok so I've been watching the various anniversary documentaries and such about Hurricane Katrina. The one thing that hits me is that even a year later with 20/20 hind sight the tough decisions are not being made in the recovery.

Why are we (taxpayers) paying billions of dollars rebuilding levees and pumps for the lowest parts of New Orleans? Why not relocate those neighborhoods to higher ground? In '93 when the Mississippi flooded the government bought out many people and forced them to move to higher ground instead of letting them rebuild so that the next flood would wipe them out again. In at least one case an entire town was relocated. To me this is just common sense.

To make matters worse, the scientists are saying that the flooding and surge was worse because of the levee system. Because of the levees the natural processes that built the land on which New Orleans and much of southern Louisiana are built on are no longer allowed to work. As a result much of the natural protections against hurricanes including the wetlands and barrier islands are no longer being built and are being lost at a great rate.

I know what I'm saying is not politically correct because the lowest neighborhoods are the poorest and the most racially segregated, but it needs to be done. Turn those areas into parkland and let the river flood the area. Overtime they will naturally be built back up to sea level.

My other observation revolves around the people that are decrying the amount of time that it took for the Federal government to come in and provide relief. I think more so the responsibility was on the local and state officials. Why were hundreds of busses not used to evacuate poor and immobile people to safety instead of having them sit unused until they were flooded out? Why were the shelters like the Superdome not stocked with supplies and emergency generators capable of running life safety systems (include air conditioning)? What happened to personal responsibility?

Ball of Confusion

I think the subject is a good synopsis of what's going on in my head right now. Today I ended up listening to a friend tell me about how she was going to ask a guy out. This kind of thing isn't abnormal for me as I listen to a lot of friends about relationships, but unfortunately this was one friend that I would rather have been asking out. I guess I've had plenty of time and just blew it, but it still stings a bit.

Sometimes I just sit and ponder all of my relationships and look at what worked and what didn't. It sometimes makes me think that it isn't worth the time, effort and pain. Yet at the same time it seems that I am wired to seek out love no matter what the cost because I seem to crave being in relationship.

It seems that I'm waiting in line for my turn. When will it be my turn?

Maynard

Trumpeters everywhere have lost a great mentor. We'll miss you Maynard. Read about his career here.

I Feel Old...

According to a Beloit College study the incoming college Freshman class grew up after the Soviet Union, only knew one Germany and to them Google has always been a verb. You can read their whole list here.

I mean back in the good old days blue versus red states meant the US versus the Soviet Union...

Jazz Band

Ok so on a whim I decided that I needed a challenge this fall. I haven't played anything outside of church music in almost 4 years. I signed up for the local community college's Jazz Band. Tonight was the first rehearsal. Ouch I am SO out of shape when it comes to range. My chops are like jello right now.

What's really interesting is that two of the trumpeters in the band are former adjudicators from my high school days in solo and ensemble contest. One actually remembered me which I'm a bit scared of since he always ripped my solos. Myself and one other student are the only ones that are not Jazz gurus in the trumpet section. We were looking at each other in awe of the others. I feel like a little Freshman again like high school looking at the almighty senior trumpet gods. I did find out my senior year that they're not gods, they're just older, but don't tell that to any freshmen.

To all my music major/degree friends out there. Any help on basic theory websites or basic improv would be greatly appreciated.

Lyrical Thought #26

Smell the Color 9
Chris Rice

I would take no for an answer,
Just to know I heard you speak,
And I'm wondering why I've never,
Seen the signs they claim they see,
A lotta special revelations,
Meant for everybody but me,
Maybe I don't truly know You,
or maybe I just simply believe...

Chorus: Cause I can sniff, I can see, and I can
count up pretty high; but these faculties
aren't getting me any closer to the sky,
but my heart of faith keeps poundin' so
I know I'm doin' fine but sometimes findin
you is just like tryin to smell the color nine.
Smell the color nine...

Now I've never felt the presence,
But I know You're always near,
And I've never heard the calling,
But somehow You've led me right here,
So I'm not lookin' for burnin' bushes,
Or some Divine graffiti to appear,
I'm just beggin You for Your wisdom,
And I believe You're puttin' some here...

Chorus

(ah's and do's)

Chorus (repeat)

Nine's not a color...
and if even if it were you can't smell a color,no
that's my point exactly.

do do do do do do do (repeat)

Strange

It's kinda strange to read the paper and see a guy you grew up with on the front page as a professional ball player. It's so fun to hear all of the buzz that Ryan has created in this community. Finally some good news has pushed the bad to page two.

Here's hoping he gets to stay up in the majors.

Congratulations Ryno!!!

My buddy made his Major League debut a great one. He pitched 8 innings of shut out ball and got his first career win against the Astros.

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20060816&content_id=1612955&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

Go Ryno!

I just got word from my parents that my buddy Ryan O'Malley from grade school is going to be the starting pitcher today for the Chicago Cubs!!! He's been working hard in the minors for a few years and finally he gets his chance. Good luck Ryno!

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20060816&content_id=1612747&vkey=pr_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

Lyrical Thought #25

Who Am I
Casting Crowns

Who am I?
That the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt.
Who am I?
That the bright and morning star,
Would choose to light the way,
For my ever wandering heart.

Chorus:
Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.

I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,(ocean)
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours.
I am yours.

Who am I?
That the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again.
Who am I?
That the voice that calmed the sea,
Would call out through the rain,
And calm the storm in me.

Chorus 2x

I am yours.
I am yours.

Whom shall I fear?
Whom shall I fear?
'Cause I am yours.
I am yours.

QOTD

"On my income tax 1040 it says 'Check this box if you are blind.' I wanted to put a check mark about three inches away."

- Tom Lehrer

Confusion

For those of you not on facebook. As of Monday I thought that I was actually in a relationship. As of last night I'm afraid I'm facing yet another one week fizzler. I'm not sure what changed in her mind, but I got a very random spiel about not wanting to hurt me and that she wasn't sure now. Guess more than anything I'm asking for prayer hugs right now.

Kentucky

Well as some of you know, I took off Friday morning for Lancaster, KY for a weekend workshop on being a better Cantor at church. I drove straight through Friday and got to the workshop about 30 minutes before the first presentation. Along the way though I ran into the "World's Longest Yard Sale" on US 127 through KY. Apparently they have this annual sale along US 127 from somewhere in Alabama to Covington, KY. Needless to say traffic was a bit crazy as people were going from sale to sale along the highway.

The workshop itself was great. Both clinicians were excellent and I got a lot of good coaching and tips that should help me improving my singing. I also met a lot of great people there. One of which was a woman by the name of Anne. She may be blind, but the weekend showed me that in many ways God gives her more vision than any of us that can see. The joy that was always on her face was testament to the Holy Spirit that was just pouring out of her.

Well there is more news from my mini-vacation, but that will have to wait as I need to dig out of the e-mail abyss at work now. :-)

Oh and if you have me on facebook you might be able to get a clue as to what the other news is...

Lyrical Thought #25

This thought is coming due to the amount of times this song has come into my head as a response to those worrying about how pretty a church is or the organ or ....

What is this Place

What is this place where we are meeting?
Only a house, the earth its floor,
walls and a roof sheltering people,
window for light, an open door.
Yet it becomes a body that lives
when we are gathered here,
and know our God is near.

Words from afar, stars that are falling,
sparks that are sown in us like seed.
Names for our God, dreams, signs and wonders
sent from the past are all we need.
We in this place remember and speak
again what we have heard:
God's free redeeming word.

And we accept bread from this table,
broken and shared, a living sign.
Here in this world, dying and living,
we are each other's bread and wine.
This is the place where we can receive
what we need to increase:
God's justice and God's peace.

"What is this place?"
Hymn text by Huub Oosterhuis, Tr. David Smith, © 1984 TEAM Publications.

J.A.G.

Finally after lots of waiting J.A.G. season one is on DVD. Hopefully the rest of the series will come out quicker.

Bye Mad Dog

Well once again you're leaving Wrigleyville for greener pastures. Someday we know you'll be back as a hall of fame inductee hopefully wearing Cub blue.

You Mean Like Democrats...

Memorable Quotes from

The Ghost Breakers (1940)

Geoff Montgomery: It's worse than horrible because a zombie has no will of his own. You see them sometimes walking around blindly with dead eyes, following orders, not knowing what they do, not caring.

Larry Lawrence: You mean like Democrats?

Obligatory Post

Cubs Win Cubs Win Cubs Win Cubs Win! (note that's four wins in a row against the Cardinals)

Mighty MO

My home for 3 years during college is being renovated this year. It seems kind of weird to think that they're going to be putting kitchens and laundry on each floor and that it will be air conditioned. I mean kids these days just don't have it as tough as we did. http://reslife.truman.edu/facilities/moplanning.stm

Quote of the Day

It's like being drunk.

What's wrong with being drunk?

Ask a glass of water.

Marvin the Paranoid VCR???

I bought a copy of the original BBC miniseries version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy on VHS at a garage sale awhile back. Tonight I decided to fire up my good old VCR (had to search everywhere for the remote) and watch it. Apparently the VCR knew I wanted it to work so of course it didn't. All I got was sound. Now of course this ticked me off so I started pulling cables and trying all sorts of things. The really crazy part is that it all of a sudden just started working. Like I said I think the VCR is part Marvin.

Error Messages for Dummies...

Pascal's Wager

God is, or He is not. But to which side shall we incline? Reason can decide nothing here. There is an infinite chaos which separated us. A game is being played at the extremity of this infinite distance where heads or tails will turn up...Which will you choose then? Let us see. Since you must choose, let us see which interests you least. You have two things to lose, the true and the good; and two things to stake, your reason and your will, your knowledge and your happiness; and your nature has two things to shun, error and misery. Your reason is no more shocked in choosing one rather than the other, since you must of necessity choose. This is one point settled. But your happiness? Let us weigh the gain and the loss in wagering that God is. Let us estimate these two chances. If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation that He is. -- Blaise Pascal

Duct Tape... That'll Fix It

Apparently NASA is in worse budget shape than previously thought. According to an article on Fox News today, astronauts are asking if they can fix their jet pack with duct tape. In other news, the name of the astronaut is purported to be MacGyver, but this has not be substantiated.

Lyrical Thought #24

Can't Buy Me Love -- The Beatles


Can't buy me love, love
Can't buy me love

I'll buy you a diamond ring my friend if it makes you feel alright
I'll get you anything my friend if it makes you feel alright
'Cause I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you love me too
I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you
I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love

Can't buy me love, everybody tells me so
Can't buy me love, no no no, no

Say you don't need no diamond rings and I'll be satisfied
Tell me that you want the kind of thing that money just can't buy
I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love

Can't buy me love, everybody tells me so
Can't buy me love, no no no, no

Say you don't need no diamond rings and I'll be satisfied
Tell me that you want the kind of things that money just can't buy
I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love

Can't buy me love, love,
(Can't buy me) love

Lyrical Thought #23

"Unsent"
-Alanis Morissette

dear matthew I like you a lot I realize you're in a relationship
with someone right now and I respect
that I would like you to know that if you're ever single
in the future and you want to come visit me in california
I would be open to spending time with you and finding
out how old you were when you wrote your first song

dear jonathan I liked you too much I used to be attracted to boys
who would lie to me and think solely about themselves and you
were plenty self-destructive for my taste at the time I used to say
the more tragic the better the truth is whenever I think of the early 90's
your face comes up with a vengeance like it was yesterday

dear terrance I love you muchly you've been nothing
but open hearted and emotionally available and supportive
and nurturing and consummately there for me I kept drawing you in
and pushing you away I remember how beautiful it was to fall asleep
on your couch and cry in front of you for the first time you
were the best platform from which to jump beyond myself what
was wrong with me

dear marcus you rocked my world you had a charismatic way
about you with the women and you got me
seriously thinking about spirituality and you wouldn't let me get away
with kicking my own ass but I could never really feel relaxed and looked out
for around you though and that stopped us from going any further
than we did and it's kinda too bad becasue we could've had much more fun

dear lou we learned so much I realize we won't be able to talk for some time
and I understand that as I do you
the long distance thing was the hardest and we did as well as we could
we were together during a very tumultuous time
in our lives I will always have your back and be curious about you
about your career about your whereabouts

Tempus Fugit, Memento Mori

Having my friend die this week has really caused me to think about life and death. My first real experience with dealing with death was with my Grandma and Grandpa Viola. I was in 8th grade when Grandma died and a few years older when Grandpa died. I was sad for sure, but it really didn't hit me like some of my older cousins. Unfortunately I didn't really have the opportunity to know my Grandparents when they were more like the vibrant people that their friends and my older relatives tell me stories about them. Fortunately I have been able to get to know my Grandparents on the Story side much better. I can't fathom what it will be like when they pass on some day. I know that it will come, but I don't really want to think about it.

Since HS I have really had two people die that really affected me. The first was Dave Lescynski, my Newman director's husband. He was a mentor for me while in college. To have a man like him so strong and healthy just die suddenly was a big shock. Maybe I've gotten more emotional as I've grown older, but I definitely cried at his funeral.

Nathan's service today was very moving. I was glad the lights were dim in the theater as his theater mates took turns singing songs that he had chosen. Sitting between my mom and my grade school principal I was definitely loosing it. It's hard to think that someone my age is already dead. Like the title says, Time Flies, Remember Death.

Lyrical Thought #22 (In Memory of Nathan Cooke)

Nathan was a fan of all musicals and theater, but this song in particular was one of his favorites.

Music of the Night
-- Andrew Lloyd Webber

PHANTOM:

Night-time sharpens,
heightens each sensation . . .
Darkness stirs and
wakes imagination . . .
Silently the senses
abandon their defences . . .

Slowly, gently
night unfurls its splendour . . .
Grasp it, sense it -
tremulous and tender . . .
Turn your face away
from the garish light of day,
turn your thoughts away
from cold, unfeeling light -
and listen to
the music of the night . . .

Close your eyes
and surrender to your
darkest dreams!
Purge your thoughts
of the life
you knew before!
Close your eyes,
let your spirit
start to soar!
And you'll live
as you've never
lived before . . .

Softly, deftly,
music shall surround you . . .
Feel it, hear it,
closing in around you . . .
Open up your mind,
let your fantasies unwind,
in this darkness which
you know you cannot fight -
the darkness of
the music of the night . . .

Let your mind
start a journey through a
strange new world!
Leave all thoughts
of the world
you knew before!
Let your soul
Take you where you
long to be !
Only then
can you belong
to me . . .

Floating, falling,
sweet intoxication!
Touch me, trust me
savour each sensation!
Let the dream begin,
let your darker side give in
to the power of the music that I write -
the power of the music of the night . . .

Fireworks and the Loonies Trying to Ban Them

Interesting article on Fox News about fireworks and the efforts to ban them. You can read about it here.

Curious

I know for the most part who on LJ is reading my blog, but for those anonymous people out there, leave a comment and let me know who you are.

Nathan Cooke 1980-2006

I just read the online news paper and saw that my friend Nathan from high school passed away on Tuesday at Barnes Jewish in St. Louis. I knew he had been sick for some time with lymphoma, but it's still a very big shock. The last time I saw him he was a waiter at TGIF's and was his normal energetic self. This isn't the first high school classmate to die, but it's definitely the closest. It really makes you wonder why.

I remember back in grade school Nathan declaring to us that he was going to work for Disney and be an animator. After graduation he did end up going to Disney and got a job in security. Someone noticed how much fun he was having along a parade route as security and helped him get into being Prince Charming. Later he did get his shot as an animator intern. It's some comfort that he did get his life dream shot.



Published Saturday, July 01, 2006 in the State Journal Register

Nathan Cooke

SHERMAN - Nathan A. Cooke, 26, of Sherman died Tuesday, June 27, 2006, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

He was born March 16, 1980, in Springfield, the son of Louis and Karole Lehmann Cooke.

Mr. Cooke had been the artistic director and producer for Muni First Night shows for the past three years and was most recently employed as the artistic director and producer for the Miss Illinois Pageant. He appeared in Hoogland Center for the Arts, Muni Opera, Theatre in the Park and Jacksonville Theater Guild productions. He had been an artistic director, scenic designer, set artist and set assistant for several productions.

Survivors: mother, Karole (husband, Pat) Bell of Springfield; grandfather, Keith Lehmann of Springfield; two sisters, Rhonda (husband, Chris) Carter of Williamsville and Rachelle (husband, Bob) Bartnick of St. Charles, Mo.; brother, Nicholas (wife, Mavis) Cooke of Springfield; six nieces and nephews; stepmother, Kathy Cooke of Springfield; two stepbrothers, Van and Brad Bell, both of Springfield; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Cremation was accorded by Cremation Tribute Center.

Services: 5 p.m. Monday, Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St.

Kirlin-Egan and Butler Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

That's Punny!

Man this is just punny!

I Haven't Disappeared!!!

Ok so a friend of mine (deanster) wrote on my facebook wall today and told me I had disappeared. I'll admit I haven't been on IM as much as normal, but that's because I've been travelling. So without further adeiu here is what I've been up to for the past week and a half. (Yeah some of this is in previous posts, but consider this the Readers' Digest version for those who haven't read them.)

Saturday June 17

My dad, my boss and my boss' family went to see the Cubs play the Detroit Tigers at Wrigley. AT&T had given us tickets for their mezzanine suite which was awesome. Free food, free drinks and an awesome view of the game. Unfortunately the Cubs got pounded, but as a Cubs fan I'm used to that this season. After the game I drove to St. Louis and spent the night at the Hilton by the airport so that I could catch my 8am flight to Vegas for my Networkers conference.

Sunday June 18

After a very short night in the hotel (I got to St. Louis around 1am.), I caught my flight to Vegas. When I got into town I checked in and studied a bit for my certification exam that I was taking that night as part of the conference. I'm happy to say that I passed the test so I'm now a Cisco Qualified Specialist in Firewalls. It's the second test of 5 that I plan on taking to earn my Cisco Certified Security Professional certification.

Monday - Friday

During the week I attended the conference classes and convention floor stuff. I took the monorail down the strip a couple of times for dinner and found Gelato in the Venetian. I didn't win anything in the casinos, but I won a personal DVD player at the Websense booth. :-)

Saturday June 25

I took a plane to Phoenix and met up with my old college friend Pat who lives down there now. He's a science teacher for a charter school in Scottsdale. We caught up and had dinner that night and then both crashed early since he had just flown back from a competition with his students.

Sunday June 26th

Ah Sunday, what a wonderful experience. Pat and I went to St. Timothy's in Mesa for Mass. St. Timothy's is the birthplace of Life-Teen and amongst their parish musicians two names tend to stand out... Tom Booth and Matt Maher :-) It was a very upbeat Mass and you could just feel the spiritual energy from the congregation. Everyone was participating in the Mass, it was awesome. Man I wish I lived in Mesa.

Monday June 27th

Flew back to STL and proceeded to stop at my apartment long enough to unpack and repack. Then I picked up my boss and went to Chicago for the night so we could hit a NetworkWorld expo the next morning.

Tuesday June 28th

Got back home around 1am from Chicago. Thankfully the deer all stayed off the road. It was good to be back in my own bed, but it was all too short before the alarm went off. Of course that brings us to the present which is bedtime. Time to hit the hay and do it all over again tomorrow... well not the travel, but work.

See Deana I didn't disappear, just got busier than normal!

Lyrical Thought #21

To All the Girls I've Loved Before

by Willie Nelson

To all the girls I've loved before
Who travelled in and out my door
I'm glad they came along
I dedicate this song
To all the girls I've loved before
To all the girls I once caressed
And may I say I've held the best
For helping me to grow
I owe a lot I know
To all the girls I've loved before
The winds of change are always blowing
And every time I try to stay
The winds of change continue blowing
And they just carry me away
To all the girls who shared my life
Who now are someone else's wives
I'm glad they came along
I dedicate this song
To all the girls I've loved before
To all the girls who cared for me
Who filled my nights with ecstasy
They live within my heart
I'll always be a part
Of all the girls I've loved before
The winds of change are always blowing
And every time I try to stay
The winds of change continue blowing
And they just carry me away
To all the girls we've loved before
Who travelled in and out our doors
We're glad they came along
We dedicate this song
To all the girls we've loved before
To all the girls we've loved before
Who travelled in and out our doors
We're glad they came along
We dedicate this song
To all the girls we've loved before

Lyrical Thought #20

Taste of Heaven

by Tom Booth

Verse

Throughout all of history you have had a choice.
Throughout all of history there has been a voice
calling you and me to the jubilee,
calling you and me to the jubilee.
But it comes down to this:
God can understand your questions.
God can understand your doubts.
But don't you want a world that's bigger than you,
bigger than your pride and all that you try to hide?

Refrain:

Don't you want a taste, a taste of heaven?
Taste the bread of life.
Don't you run away, away from heaven!
Receive the love of Christ,
who sacrificed his life.

Verse

You may struggle with addiction.
You may not love yourself at all.
But God can calm the storm within you and me,
and his love has conquered sin and evil.
Come and be set free!

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of all the world.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of all the world.

And on this jubilee,
Christ gives his body, blood, soul and divinity,
for the forgiveness of our sins.
And many, sage and saint, have tired
to contemplate this truth,
but it comes down to this:

Bye Bye Vegas... Hello Phoenix

Well I'm sitting at the Las Vegas airport waiting for my flight to Phoenix. Last night I had plenty of time to do whatever I wanted as the conference was over. I went to eat at Quarks Restaurant in the Star Trek Experience at the Hilton. Had a very nice waitress. I think that she could tell I was a little bummed to be eating alone. She was a real sweet heart. Now the Andorian that was walking around on the other hand told me I should never travel alone in the galaxy (ok so it was someone acting like an Andorian and yes I realize that it's sad I could remember which species of alien she was supposed to be).

Thankfully tonight I'll be meeting up with a friend in Phoenix which should make for a more enjoyable evening. Well it's time to join the Southwest shuffle and get into line to hopefully get a good seat.

Networkers is Almost Over

One more day long session to go and Networkers 2006 will be history. Last night they had the customer appreciation party at UNLV which was pretty fun. They had live music, battle bots and lots of free food. Most people are headed home today, but there are still probably 1,000 of the 10,000 sticking around for the intense one day course on various topics that they have today. I'm going to one on Network Admission Control (NAC) today. Basically NAC allows the network to scan a new computer before giving it access to make sure it's virus free and has all of the newest OS patches. Should be interesting as long as the presenter isn't dry.

Stopped by the Star Trek Experience last night to pick up some stuff various people have requested I bring back. should enjoy his surprise from there.

Tomorrow I'm flying out around lunch time to Phoenix and then spending two nights in Phoenix visiting a friend from college and getting a chance to go to St. Tim's again in Mesa. Someday I know that I won't have to travel this far for an upbeat liturgy of this nature, but for now I'll get my fix when I can.

Viva Las Vegas

Watch out Vegas, the geeks are coming the geeks are coming. :-)

Well it's that time of year again. Cisco Networkers conference. I'm staying in the Hilton right on the strip which is cool. I took another professional certification test today and passed so I only have three more for my CCSP.

Countdown to Vegas

Let's see, between now and Sunday morning when I leave for Las Vegas I have:

2 days of work
Guitar Lesson
Packing
Laundry
Study for Cisco ASA and Pix Firewall Test
Go to Cubs Game
Drive to STL after Cubs Game

eek, what was I thinking when I scheduled myself?

Come Holy Spirit!

Well today was the Mass I talked about earlier in my blog. Wow it was great. The congregation really seemed to like what was going on. Hopefully this starts a trend!

Cardinals Trivia...

Q. Which team was the first team to win a series against the Cardinals in the new Busch Stadium?

A. The Chicago Cubs.

Baby Steps

Cubs Win! Yet another small step towards respectability.

Enjoying the Small Victory

Cubs Win! Yeah I know we're still way out of it, but I have to take what I can get.

Congratulations Fr. Aaron Nord

My buddy from college was ordained over the weekend. He is going to be an awesome Priest for the Catholic Church. I still remember how he would often lead the homily discussions at Wednesday night Masses in college.

Holy Spirit Come! And Set Our Lives on Fire!

Wow! Tonight we had the best choir practice since I've been going to Our Saviours. We were planning for Pentecost and our director asked us to just throw out new songs to try. We ended up making Pentecost a "Choir's Choice Mass" and the songs we chose are downright inspired compared to our normal fare. It's going to be an awesomely joyful Mass. I hope that this is the spirit moving in us and that we keep this boost into next fall. :-)

Lyrical Thought #19

Somewhere Out There

written by James Horner, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil

Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight
Someone's thinking of me and loving me tonight

Somewhere out there someone's saying a prayer
That we'll find one another in that big somewhere out there

And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star

And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky

Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true

And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star

And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky

Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true

I knew him when...

Got some great news this morning off of the Cubs website. My old classmate and soccer teammate pitched 5 innings of perfect ball at AAA Iowa. You can read about it here.

Go Ryno!

Life Goes On...

I just got off the phone with a good friend of mine that was on her way to my college girlfriend's baby shower. It's got me thinking. In 5 days it will be 4 years since my graducation from college. At that point in my life I had a new job, a beautiful fiance and a world to conquer. Four years later I still have the job and it's been very good, but beyond that I feel like I've basically just been treading water for four years with the occasional near drowning.

I'm ready to move on to the next big thing in my life. In my mind that is finding a loving woman, getting married and having a family. Unfortunately I've not had any luck in finding a woman to love in a very long time. Eight years ago as a Senior in High School, that wouldn't have mattered to me. I was happy being alone. College, college friends and most importantly Katie changed all of that while I was at Truman. They combined to break down my masks and shells to prove to me that I needed people and people needed me. Unfortunately a necessary side effect has been that my heart is now much less guarded and in some ways requires more.

I'm no longer content being alone and just working all of the time. Somewhere out there I imagine that God has a woman waiting and probably thinking the same things. Like the Apostles in Jesus Christ Superstar, I just want to ask "What's the buzz, tell me what's a happening". Sometimes I feel like Sam Beckett in Quantum Leap in that I want to know what I'm here to do at this moment. Unlike Sam I don't have a hologram and a super computer to give me odds on what it is. Instead I just have to try to figure it out on my own.

So again I just wonder aloud. When will it be my turn?

Quote of the Day

All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.
- Arthur Schopenhauer

The da Vinci Code

Ok so I finally got around to reading the book. My main motivation was to read the book prior to seeing the movie as is my normal practice. I thought that it was a well crafted piece of fiction in a similar vain to National Treasure. Just like National Treasure the book uses the mythical accounts of the Holy Grail. Do I buy the conspiracy theories? No not exactly, but I would not be surprised that there are things over the year that have been altered through the internal workings of the Church hierarchy. Anyone that knows me knows that I respect authority, but that I'm not afraid to ask why.

While I was reading, I put an away message on gaim saying that I was reading the book. When I got done reading it and came back to online status, my cousin accosted me with a statement about how her Parish Priest had put a letter in the bulletin telling her congregation to not read the book or watch the movie as it was detrimental to the Catholic Church. I've not figured out why the Catholic Church always gets so bent out of shape by fictional works. Do they not trust us as intelligent human beings to determine truth from fiction? Or is it that they would prefer we not be critical thinkers in general because that leads to questioning the Church's supposed infalliability on doctrinal matters?

If anything the book was more an indictment on mindless following of religion and in particular misguided religion. Opus Dei is a good example of a part of the Catholic Church that I don't trust and it has nothing to do with this book. The fact that their money seems to buy influence is scary. Will the Holy Spirit be able to counter the monitary pressures?

Lyrical Thought #18

Looking for Love

Carpenters


Always have said there is a thing called love

And in my life, I said the word a thousand times

Looking around I can see lovers, lost in a world that's all their own

Though people say love is everywhere,

I'm looking for love, but it's just not there



I live my live growing from day to day

Hoping I'll fined someone who cares

Though people say love is everywhere,

I'm looking for love, but it's just not there

I'm looking for love, but it's just not there