So, what is my favorite time of day?
My favorite time of day is coming home and taking off my work clothes and changing into comfortable "lay-around-the-house" clothes.
So, why is this my favorite time of day, you ask? If you ask, then I shall answer. It is my favorite time of day, because the most hated part of my day is getting dressed for work in the morning. So, I thought it only fair, since they are polar opposites, that getting out of those clothes would make it my favorite. (blah, blah, blah, blah)
QUICK INTERRUPTION--While I was typing this post, my wife just had me sign some type of document. She said, "You need to sign under your name." I said, "What am I signing?" She said, "Oh, nothing...." So, if something happens to me in the next few days I just wanted to make all who read this aware of this "signing". :)
OK back to the party.....So, why is getting dressed in the morning my most hated part of the day, you ask again. (You are getting kind of pushy with all of these questions!!) OK, the reason I hate getting dressed in the morning is because when you are six-foot three-inches tall, weigh 340lbs. and have short legs, a long torsoe and a broad chest, YOU CAN'T FIND AN ENTIRE OUTFIT THAT FITS WELL!!! I always end up with pants that are too short, or a shirt that is too short. Or, I'll have two or three of the EXACT same pants and shirts, same brand, same size, but different colors and they don't fit the same. How annoying is that. Now, granted I realize that I could lose weight (easier said than done, by the way. I have been trying for 10 years) and find better fitting clothes. But, why can't I go to a store and find clothes that fit.
I guess my real problem is with clothing manufacturers and public facilities in general. I can not go into a store in a mall or even Wal-Mart and find clothes that fit. I either have to go to the Big & Tall section or order through a catalog and hope it fits when it comes in. Then, once I have the clothing, it usually fits the first time I wear it, but after you dry it, they make everything to shrink and it always shrinks up, so it is not long enough anymore. And, on top of that, they charge you almost DOUBLE what people pay for "regular-sized" clothes. Now, someone please explain to me why a couple more inches around the waste costs TWICE as much. Did that really double the amount of fabric and labor put into making the clothing? I doubt it.
Along with not being able to find clothes that fit, I have a hard time with seats. They don't make seats for people with a wide load in the back. Even though, the MAJORITY of Americans are overweight. I have to ask for a table at the restaurant because the booths are too small. The last airplane that I rode in, I had to ask for a seatbelt extender, because the seatbelt would not go all the way around me. Again, I know that this is my fault for not eating better or exercising enough, but there have to be more people than me out there who struggle with this.
Which brings me to our vacation. We will be flying on an airplane. Hopefully, this airline has enough sense to boost their average passenger girth when they measured their seatbelts. Once I get past the flights, I think I will be able to relax and enjoy my vacation. But, I hate thinking about squeezing into those little seats and sitting there squished for 4 hours.
Anyway, I will step down from the giant soap box now and move on with my day...I feel better.
Until we meet again........
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Monday, October 10, 2005
The Countdown Has Begun...
The countdown has begun...to VACATION!!!
Now, I am as excited as the rest of my family to be going on vacation this week, but Claw and Punk started the official countdown a few days ago...
"Only 8 days left..only 8 days left..only 8 days left...only 8 days left"..All of this was in a span of about 14 minutes. (Just an approximation:))
Of course every day since then they have had to inform us how many days are left. Punk has been trying hard the last week to meet his AR goal before we left, because he will miss a week of school before the 9 weeks is over...And, he told me today he made it. Way to go punk!!!
I hope this vacation turns out to be as exciting as they are anticipating. We are going on a Disney Cruise and then spending a day at Disney World...Of course, Disney World is my favorite place on earth. I am pretty sure I could live there. No really, it is my plan, if my wife will let me, to retire down there and get a job working there part time, so I can get in for free and spend my free time there. I haven't quite figured out what is so great about it. Is it the smell? Is it the sights? Is it all the Disney "stuff"? I don't know, but I haven't gotten tired of it yet. This will be my second cruise and my fourth time at the World. I can't wait....
So, secretly, I began the countdown long before my children started to vocalize there anticipation...
Only 5 days left, only 5 DAYS LEFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now, I am as excited as the rest of my family to be going on vacation this week, but Claw and Punk started the official countdown a few days ago...
"Only 8 days left..only 8 days left..only 8 days left...only 8 days left"..All of this was in a span of about 14 minutes. (Just an approximation:))
Of course every day since then they have had to inform us how many days are left. Punk has been trying hard the last week to meet his AR goal before we left, because he will miss a week of school before the 9 weeks is over...And, he told me today he made it. Way to go punk!!!
I hope this vacation turns out to be as exciting as they are anticipating. We are going on a Disney Cruise and then spending a day at Disney World...Of course, Disney World is my favorite place on earth. I am pretty sure I could live there. No really, it is my plan, if my wife will let me, to retire down there and get a job working there part time, so I can get in for free and spend my free time there. I haven't quite figured out what is so great about it. Is it the smell? Is it the sights? Is it all the Disney "stuff"? I don't know, but I haven't gotten tired of it yet. This will be my second cruise and my fourth time at the World. I can't wait....
So, secretly, I began the countdown long before my children started to vocalize there anticipation...
Only 5 days left, only 5 DAYS LEFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Trivial Questions for God When I Get There..........
I was thinking about some not-so-important questions I would like to ask God when I get to meet Him face to ground (me on the ground in front of His face).....
- The first and most important question I would ask is...WHY DID YOU CREATE WASPS?!! What are they good for, besides stinging the tar out of you. Oh, yes, I have heard the "they are pollinators" argument, but really, can't the bees and butterflies take care of that. Do we really need wasps? Come on, really?
- Why is the sky blue? Why not purple, red, orange? Why did you pick blue?
- Did you really create dinosaurs, or did you just make up some bones and bury them in the ground just to mess with us?
- Have you ever tasted popcorn and when you created it, was it your intent for people to pop it? (this is nasty, nasty tasting stuff)
- Are you a Ford or a Chevy kind of guy?
- What style of music do you like? Do you like to rock or rap? Do you like jazz, blues, hip-hop? Country? Gospel? Or are you like me, you just like them all?
- Do you like dogs or cats better?
- Are there vehicles in heaven? And if so, is there crazy traffic like here in Northwest Arkansas? The traffic here is terrible.
- Do you like sports? I see a lot of athletes praying before they play or thanking you after they do something good...But do you really care?
- If man is created in your image, how come we all look so different? We are different sizes, shapes, colors, etc...
I am sure that these questions are meaningless and pointless and don't really matter in the broad scheme of things, but they would be fun and interesting to ask anyway......
Until we meet again.........
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Willy Wonka and 200 squirming kids....
Let me tell you a little story about a man named Willy...Wonka that is...the candyman...
Last night, we went as a family and watched a production of Willy Wonka at the Walton Arts Center...It was a good show, however, I noticed something different than the other productions I have seen, both on Broadway and off....
KIDS...KIDS EVERYWHERE!!!! Now, granted, I had my own kids with me, but watching a stage production with 200-300 kids under age 10 in the audience was an interesting experience....
As I looked out across the crowd during the show, I noticed waves, small flowing waves all throughout the theater. No, there was not a fire, and no the sprinklers had not come on, these were little human waves. Squirming, turning, up and down going to the bathroom-the room was in constant motion. And then there were the little whispers and small voices, all those little constant voices. And you can't quite make out exactly the words or the sentences those words are making, but you hear them. OH, do you ever hear them..........
So, I've come to the conclusion that what I saw was a tiny human ocean. The waves, the sounds of the surf coming in and out, and every once in awhile a large cascading wave that would drift right in front of you, up and down the aisle as the wave made its way to the porcelain ponds.
But, overall it was fun (I'm a huge WW fan, so I loved it automatically) and made for some interesting observations...
Until next time......
Last night, we went as a family and watched a production of Willy Wonka at the Walton Arts Center...It was a good show, however, I noticed something different than the other productions I have seen, both on Broadway and off....
KIDS...KIDS EVERYWHERE!!!! Now, granted, I had my own kids with me, but watching a stage production with 200-300 kids under age 10 in the audience was an interesting experience....
As I looked out across the crowd during the show, I noticed waves, small flowing waves all throughout the theater. No, there was not a fire, and no the sprinklers had not come on, these were little human waves. Squirming, turning, up and down going to the bathroom-the room was in constant motion. And then there were the little whispers and small voices, all those little constant voices. And you can't quite make out exactly the words or the sentences those words are making, but you hear them. OH, do you ever hear them..........
So, I've come to the conclusion that what I saw was a tiny human ocean. The waves, the sounds of the surf coming in and out, and every once in awhile a large cascading wave that would drift right in front of you, up and down the aisle as the wave made its way to the porcelain ponds.
But, overall it was fun (I'm a huge WW fan, so I loved it automatically) and made for some interesting observations...
Until next time......
Monday, October 03, 2005
Everything You Never Wanted to Know....
It's true, here is everything you probably never wanted to know about our family...
We are Christians. By Christians, I mean we strive to live as Christ lived on a daily basis. We accept that Jesus Christ was the son of the one and only true God and that because of God's immense love for us, He sent Jesus to earth as a man. As a man, He chose to die on a cross for our sins, because that is the only way our debt, as sinners, could be paid. He then rose again three days later as He said he would. He then returned to heaven, but left the Holy Spirit with us to be our guide and comforter until He returns. We believe that no one comes to God, except through accepting the free gift that Christ offers. We believe that if you repent of your sins, that God is faithful to forgive those sins and cleanse your heart from all that is wrong. He will then fill your life with joy and you will spend eternity with Him in heaven....
We live in Northwest Arkansas. Home of Wal-Mart, Tyson Foods, J.B. Hunt and lots of other commerce. We live in one of the fastest growing areas in the nation. My wife and I were both born and raised here and plan to raise our children here. It is beautiful country, with most people still holding on to strong Southern values of taking care of your family and your neighbors. However, NW Arkansas is seeing an influx of transplants from all over the nation and the world, which makes for a very diverse and ecclectic culture. And, unfortunately, a loooooooot of traffic!!! Way, way, way too much traffic. But, I will save this discussion for another post.....
So, then we come to the question that everyone seems to have to ask when they meet someone new...WHAT DO YOU DO? What do I do? I assume they mean for income or a career? So, I will answer it as follows....My "career", my calling rather, is as a worship leader. Currently, I am the Worship Pastor at Lowell Assembly of God Church in Lowell, Arkansas. I have served in this position for about 15 months. My "job" or my "source of income" is with the Direct Imports department of the Logistics division of Wal-Mart. Basically, I pay Ocean Freight bills by typing numbers into a computer and solving problems that come up with those numbers ALL DAY! VERY BORING!!! But, it pays the bills and allows me time to work on my music...My wife's "job" is working part time for Mercy Health doing charge entry and sometimes working as a cashier in the after hours clinic. Her "career" is raising our children and taking care of our home. I don't know what we would do without her....My kids are full-time students in Elementary School..My daughter plays soccer and soon basketball and softball. My son is the drummer on my worship team at church and sings in the choir at school. He also plays basketball and soon baseball.
Now, there is one more individual that lives with us in our home that I have yet to mention. She is about two foot tall standing, has brown coloring, short hair, very attentive and protective, she has four legs....OK if you haven't guessed it by now, I am talking about our princess, our one and only pet, Brownie. She is the best dog in the world. Of course, I am a little biased. But, hey, whose blog is this anyway!! :)
That's enough for now...If you are still awake to read this, check back later for daily updates. I plan for this to be a place to discuss current events, funny stories or daily happenings of our family. It should be interesting.
Stay tuned.........
We are Christians. By Christians, I mean we strive to live as Christ lived on a daily basis. We accept that Jesus Christ was the son of the one and only true God and that because of God's immense love for us, He sent Jesus to earth as a man. As a man, He chose to die on a cross for our sins, because that is the only way our debt, as sinners, could be paid. He then rose again three days later as He said he would. He then returned to heaven, but left the Holy Spirit with us to be our guide and comforter until He returns. We believe that no one comes to God, except through accepting the free gift that Christ offers. We believe that if you repent of your sins, that God is faithful to forgive those sins and cleanse your heart from all that is wrong. He will then fill your life with joy and you will spend eternity with Him in heaven....
We live in Northwest Arkansas. Home of Wal-Mart, Tyson Foods, J.B. Hunt and lots of other commerce. We live in one of the fastest growing areas in the nation. My wife and I were both born and raised here and plan to raise our children here. It is beautiful country, with most people still holding on to strong Southern values of taking care of your family and your neighbors. However, NW Arkansas is seeing an influx of transplants from all over the nation and the world, which makes for a very diverse and ecclectic culture. And, unfortunately, a loooooooot of traffic!!! Way, way, way too much traffic. But, I will save this discussion for another post.....
So, then we come to the question that everyone seems to have to ask when they meet someone new...WHAT DO YOU DO? What do I do? I assume they mean for income or a career? So, I will answer it as follows....My "career", my calling rather, is as a worship leader. Currently, I am the Worship Pastor at Lowell Assembly of God Church in Lowell, Arkansas. I have served in this position for about 15 months. My "job" or my "source of income" is with the Direct Imports department of the Logistics division of Wal-Mart. Basically, I pay Ocean Freight bills by typing numbers into a computer and solving problems that come up with those numbers ALL DAY! VERY BORING!!! But, it pays the bills and allows me time to work on my music...My wife's "job" is working part time for Mercy Health doing charge entry and sometimes working as a cashier in the after hours clinic. Her "career" is raising our children and taking care of our home. I don't know what we would do without her....My kids are full-time students in Elementary School..My daughter plays soccer and soon basketball and softball. My son is the drummer on my worship team at church and sings in the choir at school. He also plays basketball and soon baseball.
Now, there is one more individual that lives with us in our home that I have yet to mention. She is about two foot tall standing, has brown coloring, short hair, very attentive and protective, she has four legs....OK if you haven't guessed it by now, I am talking about our princess, our one and only pet, Brownie. She is the best dog in the world. Of course, I am a little biased. But, hey, whose blog is this anyway!! :)
That's enough for now...If you are still awake to read this, check back later for daily updates. I plan for this to be a place to discuss current events, funny stories or daily happenings of our family. It should be interesting.
Stay tuned.........
Welcome...
Okay...First, let me explain the title. All nicknames:
My daughter is Claw...She is a 6-year old, beautiful, intelligent first grader (takes after her mother :))...So, why Claw? Her nickname comes from me. Since she was old enough to understand, I have been giving her a "claw" gesture with my hand as a form of greeting. Most people wave at each other, but not us. We give "the claw". In the years following the origination of the original claw, many other claws evolved. Along with the regular claw, we have the junior claw, the baby claw, the tiny claw, the lobster claw, the giant claw, and several others. So, eventually I just started calling her claw. I tried to change her nickname to "Beautiful" a few months ago, but she didn't like it...She still lets me get away with "Claw" for now...
My son is Punk...He is an 8-year old, way too smart for his own good, handsome, musically talented third grader (who mostly takes after his dad, I'm afraid :))...Punk? I am trying to remember how this nickname came to be, but am drawing a blank. But, he answers to it and it is a term of endearment in our house.
My wife and I are the Couple of Jolios...We are a husband and wife who have been married for eleven years now and are 29 and 30, respectively. We also happen to be the proud parents of the above Claw and Punk, who are 20 months apart. I know, I know..two in diapers at once!! We must be crazy. (Talk to God about this one!! :)). Jolio (pronounced Ho-lee-o) originated, as I shamefully admit, from the ever so popular irreverant cartoon of the '90s, "Beavis and Butthead". Beavis, after a large dose of sugar, would put his shirt over his head and say in a Latino-type accent, "I am Cornjolio..I need tp for my bunghole!" I know what you are thinking. Dumb, stupid show. I agree, but I was a dumb stupid kid when I watched it. Anyway, we had a little chihuahua at the time, and we started calling him Copper Jolio. Somehow, from that we started calling each other "Jolio"...We don't call each other sweeetheart, baby, sugarplum or any other nauseating nicknames you see on sitcoms or romantic comedies. We also don't use each other's name unless we are talking to someone else about each other. In fact, it sounds really weird when I use my wife's real name....I can't even say all of the syllables..It just kind of runs all together.
Anyway, that is us....If you are reading this, you probably know us or somehow found us...Either way, welcome to our humble site. In the next post, I'll tell you where we live and what we are about...It should be real exciting..Just try and stay awake. Or not, feel free to take a nap if you need to. Naps are good !!!!! See you next time. :)
My daughter is Claw...She is a 6-year old, beautiful, intelligent first grader (takes after her mother :))...So, why Claw? Her nickname comes from me. Since she was old enough to understand, I have been giving her a "claw" gesture with my hand as a form of greeting. Most people wave at each other, but not us. We give "the claw". In the years following the origination of the original claw, many other claws evolved. Along with the regular claw, we have the junior claw, the baby claw, the tiny claw, the lobster claw, the giant claw, and several others. So, eventually I just started calling her claw. I tried to change her nickname to "Beautiful" a few months ago, but she didn't like it...She still lets me get away with "Claw" for now...
My son is Punk...He is an 8-year old, way too smart for his own good, handsome, musically talented third grader (who mostly takes after his dad, I'm afraid :))...Punk? I am trying to remember how this nickname came to be, but am drawing a blank. But, he answers to it and it is a term of endearment in our house.
My wife and I are the Couple of Jolios...We are a husband and wife who have been married for eleven years now and are 29 and 30, respectively. We also happen to be the proud parents of the above Claw and Punk, who are 20 months apart. I know, I know..two in diapers at once!! We must be crazy. (Talk to God about this one!! :)). Jolio (pronounced Ho-lee-o) originated, as I shamefully admit, from the ever so popular irreverant cartoon of the '90s, "Beavis and Butthead". Beavis, after a large dose of sugar, would put his shirt over his head and say in a Latino-type accent, "I am Cornjolio..I need tp for my bunghole!" I know what you are thinking. Dumb, stupid show. I agree, but I was a dumb stupid kid when I watched it. Anyway, we had a little chihuahua at the time, and we started calling him Copper Jolio. Somehow, from that we started calling each other "Jolio"...We don't call each other sweeetheart, baby, sugarplum or any other nauseating nicknames you see on sitcoms or romantic comedies. We also don't use each other's name unless we are talking to someone else about each other. In fact, it sounds really weird when I use my wife's real name....I can't even say all of the syllables..It just kind of runs all together.
Anyway, that is us....If you are reading this, you probably know us or somehow found us...Either way, welcome to our humble site. In the next post, I'll tell you where we live and what we are about...It should be real exciting..Just try and stay awake. Or not, feel free to take a nap if you need to. Naps are good !!!!! See you next time. :)
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