nairb

Hollywood: What about us?

2008-02-11T21:48:00.000-06:00

I watch TV and enjoy it... at least I did. I am totally behind the writers and so have waited patiently. What I don't understand is why it's ok to keep the TV season as if it was being "re-joined already in progress". As in tough luck. Sorry you were bored to death for a couple of months but we won't be bringing your favorite show back and if we do it will only be a few episodes. Don't worry we'll bring them back in the fall... you know after the Olympics are over.

This all makes me wonder if I can sue the television networks for failing to entertain?

Why Church

2007-07-05T19:58:00.001-05:00

Does anyone know why we have Church? I know one answer is our parents went. Really, there must be a reason. I believe we come together to worship. On the other hand... whener two or more are gathered in his name, they praise him... right? So then why Church?

In the past year, my family has been blesses by our Church family. We've had some trying times, especially the last few months. Our friends have been HUGE in our lives. They have feed us, cleaned our house, stepped up to teach, produced another great year of VBS and even taken my wife nd I out for a 'mental health night'. I haven't even mentioned the help with taking care of our children.

What a better testament could we have than friends like these? I can't imagine. How would we have these friends if not for Church? This brings me to my only conclusion for 'why Church'. It is the relationships.

We build each other up, protect one another and even clean the toilet of someone who needs it. I often hear how my Church doesn't do enough outreach or enough benevolence or a hundred other things the church doesn't do or provide. Let's not forget the one thing it does provide that is bigger than all of those. It provides each of us the opportunity to 'love one another'. If you choose to truely take part in it, you are family.

Ask A Ninja: Least Favorite

2006-10-18T07:56:00.000-05:00

I see this Guy as Trey.. but it's not.

A Ninja's Least Favorite

Farewell September

2006-09-25T08:09:00.000-05:00

Another month nearly gone. I was reminded last week (again) that I haven't posted in some time.

It occured to me this morning that I have done a dis-service to the Crowley Church of Christ. They changed their sign some time ago, but I never updated my blog to reflect this. It appears that they are waiting for me to give them the press that my blog provides them. They have also nearly missed all of September. So today I changed my blog.

I hope the folks at Crowley Church of Christ can forgive me...

PVR Greatness or Curse?

2006-07-31T11:34:00.000-05:00

We got a PVR (DVR/ Tivo like device) a few years ago. My first thought was how great it was to not have to worry about finding a blank VCR tape when I recorded a show. Truth was most shows were not worthy of such attention from me. It was always a hassle. Over the year I have learned to appreciate it much much more. I love to pause.. go do something.. and return where I was.

In the last year I have noticed the PVR has given me some type of affliction. I have a type of 'jump-back syndrome'. In my head I feel like everthing should be able to jump back 5 seconds. This all started in the car. I change radio stations a lot. I wwould hear the end of a weather forcast and reach out to the radio to 'jump back'. I don't have the ability to do this with my radio. It is a side effect of my PVR illness. At one point I started thinking about how I could develope this idea into a product. I soon realized that, unlike my TV PVR, I didn't want to jump back on the station I was listening to but any station I may turn it to. That is a very different problem. For now it is just a frustration.
Last night at Church, we attended a dinner. Some people spoke. Most of it was quite humorous. I turned to look at something going on and missed what was said and immediately thought how can I jump back to hear the joke. Basically this has entered my life as something I think about often.

Do you think God does this when we do something funny?

Is the Devil on the Phone?

2006-06-01T14:22:00.000-05:00

Tuesday Night at VBS rehearsal was very good. We had a circle prayer time to re-unite and energize the group. During the prayer at least four cell phones went off. One was on vibrate but being next to them I heard it. I talked with my wife afterward to get her take on it. Did she think it detracted from the prayer. She said something I found a very refreshing way to see it. She said she pictures the devil on the other end of the phone. Cell phones give him another way to try to interrupt our talking with God. Since it never stopped the prayer he loses. She said it reminds her of how he is always trying to come between us and God.

Obviously since I know how many times it happened, it did distract me. On the other hand it didn't really have any effect on the groups as a whole. In fact I felt the entire group was uplifted through the prayer and me especially.

Another one the devil couldn't win!

Fame, Glory or Downright Shame?

2006-07-10T15:36:00.000-05:00

I got a fever... And the only prescription is more cowbell!

Something brings May flowers?

2006-05-28T21:10:00.000-05:00

A few months ago I complained about how short February was. While May is not short, it IS over (almost). Mowing season is upon us. We are taking our chances on four new trees this year. Not really a great bet considering we started out the year in a bad drought. It has been 21 day since our last measurable rain. I think the first tree is showing some shock. I think I'lll cal it early on-set death. Jen yanked out two trees that dies since last fall. My favorite willow suffered as well losing nealy half of its growth, but it remains alive. The glass is half full!

Our blue bonnets did not come up again this year. I say the "April showers bring May flowers" Myth is .... BUSTED!

Tagged

2006-04-25T13:10:00.000-05:00

I was tagged by Danny....

Four jobs you have had in your life:
1. Engineer
2. Printing Press Operator
3. Air Force Maintainer
4. Mazzios Pizza cook

Four movies you would watch over and over:
1. The Jerk
2. Fletch
3. Blazing Saddles
4. Tommy Boy

Four places you have lived:
1. Fort Worth
2. Tulsa
3. Biloxi
4. Altus

Four TV shows you love to watch:
1. Scrubs
2. Las Vegas
3. Earl
4. CSI

Four places you have been on vacation:
1. Disney World
2. Las Vegas
3. Madison, Alabama (sister & NASA)
4. Hawaii

Four websites you visit often:
1. www.woot.com
2. www.twit.tv
3. www.live.com
4. www.digg.com

Four of your favorite foods:
1. Pizza
2. Steak
3. Mexican
4. Italian (not Pizza)

Four places you would rather be right now:
1. Las Vegas
2. Hawaii
3. Disney
4. Anywhere with wife and kids

Buying cars

2006-04-19T08:37:00.000-05:00

I hate buying cars. You always feel like your getting ripped off, even when you do all the research in the world. I can't think of another item that we purchase that costs so much and is worth so little just a few years down the road. In fact its worth drops the moment that first wheel leaves the lot. I actually wonder if the worth drops before the pen is lifted from the gigantic loan you just took out to pay for such a car.

Don't you love hearing Bill Gates analogy of cars and computers? I don't either. While it's true I use a computer far more than I do a car, if it crashes no one dies. I know it may feel like it, but they don't. I actually expect to buy a new computer every few years to keep up with technology. This is not how I feel about cars. I want to drive them into the ground. Before buying our last two cars our previous cars had 170,000 and 145,000 miles on them. I still have the later car and continue to drive it some. Unfortunately, depending on the nature of the break-down, I now consider a car a throw-away similar to a computer. Our Explorer spawned transmission troubles a couple of years ago just before we got the van. We spent over $3000 to get the transmission repaired. We barely got it home before the transmission flaked out again. I know we should have taken it back. Instead I asked my wife to meet me at the dealer. If we were lucky the transmission would be flakey as they drove it to the back of the lots for valuation. It didn't, we got a decent price for it and traded it in on the van.

You know our parents paid less for their houses than we do for our cars and I am not talking about buying a Hummer, just a regular new car.

Does it seem backward?

2006-04-08T20:21:00.000-05:00

To be honest I don't think Crowley Church of Christ meant it this way but this is how it reads. I hope they reverse it. I' ve always included their billboard saying in my right menu-bar because they are always quirky. If this keeps up I may have to replace them.

Just down the road is a bit better.

Two quick, what I clicked

2006-03-22T16:05:00.000-06:00

Chris Bliss can Juggle
http://marketplace.espeakers.com/movie.php?sid=5290&aid=10558

News story on autistic basketballer
http://gprime.net/video/autisticballer/

New Truck

2006-03-21T07:56:00.000-06:00

Operation: Taco Bell

2006-03-13T09:26:00.000-06:00

Never mind the thievery. This is funny. I don’t know why. I think it’s the music.

Dare to dream big!

http://media.putfile.com/Operation-Taco-Bell

Debunking Katrina Myths

2006-03-08T11:26:00.000-06:00

Hopefully this post is viewable. Unfortunately, this post is a link to some interesting Katrina Myths put together at Popular Mechanics

Debunking Katrina Myths

It at least some interesting information that isn't presented by the media.

I hate February

2006-03-03T08:58:00.000-06:00

Ship Residents Sue?

2006-02-28T09:45:00.000-06:00

A news story yesterday told how residents aboard one of the Katrina ships were suing the government to stay on-board the ship since FEMA hasn't provided them alternative housing yet. Are you kidding me? Six months isn't enough? I can see a few months to see how the water would recede and find out if their home we habitable or not. It has been six months.

I can understand that losing everything is a horrible thing. At some point you need to pick yourself up and move on. Get off the government dole. Even though FEMA didn't put its best foot forward from the beginning, thousands of other groups did. My Church took up a healthy collection and provided meals for the first few months afterward for those who made it to North Texas.

The question to be asked is "How long is fair?" If not six months, is a year long enough? Should we see some of those people into retirement? Don't forget there will be another hurricane season coming. I hope we can provide 'Emergency Needs' for the people affected by the coming hurricanes.

Father Daughter Date Night

2006-02-18T14:21:00.000-06:00

My date started on Tuesday. On Tuesday I took my cell phone into the far end of the house and called the home phone. I asked for Emma and ultimately asked her if she'd like to go on a date Friday night. She was very excited. I could hear her telling mommy all about it.

On Friday, I met Jen for lunch and bought some daisies for Emma. Over lunch Jen told me that Emma said she needed to bath before her date and that she would do it right after school and snack time. By the time I got home from work al of that was finished and she was practically all ready.

Our date actually started in the entryway of our house. I presented her the flowers and helped her on with her coat. I helped her into the car and headed off to Olive Garden. She loves Fettuccini Alfredo. She was very excited and kept telling me how happy she was. The folks at Olive Garden were nice and complemented her on her flowers. She didn't put them down all night. Funny enough she didn't eat much. She was to excited. After OG we headed off to Build a Bear. This was another surprise to her. She picked out monkey, who we named "Dates" (to remember the night). After that we went to the Church for dessert(s). Everything was great! Emma wanted to be sure we had our picture taken together. We decorated a frame together to keep the picture in. When we left for home we added Coleton to our car. (Jen and Eric stayed to finish clean-up.) Coleton assumed, since he was older, that he would sit shotgun. I pushed him toward the back and told him my date wasn't finished. I could tell Emma was quite happy about this. When we got home Cole kept telling her to get out and she said, "A lady waits for a gentleman to open the door."

It was a great night; we talked to the whole time.

Coleton Baptized

2006-02-15T20:47:00.000-06:00

The Trouble with Boys

2006-02-07T16:15:00.000-06:00

While at CPC, one of our speakers talked mentioned this article. On the plane ride home I read it. I think you should too.

The Trouble With Boys They're kinetic, maddening and failing at school. Now educators are trying new ways to help them succeed. Here!

Brokeback.. to the Future

2006-02-06T15:13:00.000-06:00

I came across this today and just had to give you guys the link.

Brokeback to the Future

Enjoy!

CPC Technology Dissappointment

2006-01-30T16:28:00.000-06:00

One of the workshops I attended at CPC was about new 'stuff'. (Technology for use by Children's ministers.) I am very geeky myself but am always open to new ideas, so I went. I fully expected to hear about things I already knew. Needless to say I was very disappointed. The guy giving the talk came un-prepared, spent part of class setting up equipment and only proposed equipment and software that is well beyond what most Children's Ministries have budget for ($900 rack-mountable DVD player). Note for presenters: When you plan to rely on using a projector, don't rely on everyone having a smooth white wall to project onto. (The walls were tan and textured. He ended up projecting on a side wall that was tan, but smooth) Take a screen or ensure one will be available.

Instead of just throwing out negativism on the subject, I put together a new blog for 'on the cheap' tech stuff for use in Children's Ministry. Want to se a topic, just let me know. Want to co-write this deal let me know. I will set us up.

6th Graders

2006-01-16T09:12:00.000-06:00

These kids have too much energy for their own good. We hosted a lock-in Friday night (8p-8a). One of the first questions they had upon arrival was, "Do we have to go to sleep?" I thought I was up for it. While we did have a quite time starting at 2am, I agreed to stay up and keep movies going until morning. I think I was the only one up at the start of the second movie. I caught a quick nap and woke in time to change to the third movie. The concrete floor sleeping surface had something to do with it also.

I felt good that the few kids that stood in the corner determined to not have any fun or enjoy no part of the evening got over within the first hour. These kids know how to have fun together. Most of the kids brought an outside friend to the lock-in. I was surprized by the old school rap on one the kid's ipod. Some of the stuff I enjoyed in the early eighties. (My break dancing years... yes I know the worm very well).

I love teaching them on Wednesday nights.

Great Game

2006-01-05T08:13:00.000-06:00

I'm not really a big UT fan. I'd love to be an OK State fan, but with things the way they are I am really more of an anybody but OU fan. Last nights game was awesome. Two top notch teams playing some heavy duty football. Way to go Texas!

After Holiday Food

2005-12-27T08:30:00.000-06:00

With Christmas officially over, I consider myself officially over with holiday food. Here is the twist. Our tradition doesn't really involve traditional holiday food. This year our family decided that my home made fajitas would be our 'Christmas dinner'. Last year I believe it was home made pizza. I can't really recall when or if we ever had Turkey or Ham at our home for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

So what do you do with holiday, being sick of holiday food that simply isn't holiday food? I think more of it is a bit of house fever. Maybe its just an excuse to say I am tired of eating anything we already have in the house.

After thanksgiving we also go through this. When we leave our families and head back to Texas, we usually stop for McDonald's french fries. I think I will see if going to Luby's today will cure this illness.