Opening Day Thoughts

In honor of opening day...

While I believe in everything this clip has to say, I don't know if I like having opening day in Japan at a time when no sensible American is awake.
Opening day should occur in Cincinnati with the President throwing the first pitch.
Also I don't like these teams playing official games over there yet returning to the states to resume their spring training. That's just stupid.
So Commissioner, while you may have built it, I don't think anyone is coming. Figure out another way to globalize the game.

Records

This is a cool unique site.

Deconstruction

Justin McRobert's new album is now available.Visit his website and purchase his album(s)!
Or visit his youtube site and watch him play all 13 songs from the album.

Beautiful

This is a beautiful post.

Pic

I saw this today and had to share it with ya'll.--------------------------------------------------

Me Likey

Freddie Highmore may be my favorite young actor right now. Between Finding Neverland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and this.
Also if you've seen it...didn't you love the Peter Pan connections? As well as the Oliver Twist type storyline with Robin Williams as a Fagan type?
Plus Keri Russell's really pretty.
Good flick...and I only escaped with a couple of wet eye moments, no crying. Barely.
(I'm a crier, sad but true, so this is a achievement. Although I'm not a weeper, just let tears flow sometimes. I've learned to accept it.)

Easter Quote

"To preach the Resurrection is to announce the fact that the world is a different place, and that we have to live in that "different-ness." The Resurrection is not just God doing a wacky miracle at one time. We have to preach it in a way that says this was the turning point in world history."

- N. T. Wright

Thanks

Lunch w/ Celebrities

Today the Deuce, MyPhilip and I ate lunch at Red Robin. As usually we all ordered the Whiskey River BBQ Chicken Wrap (with campfire sauce for the fries).
This isn't anything news worthy, because we go here often and order the same thing every time.
What was amazing was the celebrities that we sat near.
First while we were beginning our meal, and I must clarify that I'm not a big WWE fan (although I will watch occasionally and recapture some of my youth), non other than Shawn Michaels - The Heartbreak Kid sat down next to us with his wife and children.
MyPhilip suggested I take a stealth photo for you all, but with his wife and children there it didn't feel right. I've seen several of the Spurs around town before, but this was the first time I'd seen HBK.
It's always amazing how much smaller celebrities are in person. I could have taken him...except for that "sweet chin music" kick to the jaw.
After we had finished eating, enjoying a good conversation about church history and how there really is nothing new under the sun in walked Colonel Sanders of KFC fame and sat down beside us too.
I'm telling you it was a glorious lunch!
Maybe tomorrow I'll somehow pump gas next to George Strait or Eva Longoria.

(Okay it wasn't really the Colonel, but HBK was for real.)

Book Review

As much as I'd like to be able to tell you this review is completely unbiased, I can't. On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson was already a favorite of mine halfway through the second introduction. Of course I had a feeling that this would be the case even before receiving my advanced copy in the mail. (BTW - Thanks to Staci Carmichael of Random House for the free copies and the chance to have a sneak read).

In case we aren't friends (I've already confessed my deep admiration for Andrew Peterson on numerous occasions with my pals and to those who frequent this blog) and you are unaware of who Andrew Peterson is, let me quickly try and inform you. I first heard Andrew Peterson (along with his wife Jamie and fellow musician Gabe) at a Caedmon's Call concert in the spring of '98 at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR. My music world the previous year had a huge missing piece due to the loss of Rich Mullins, and I thought I'd never hear music like that again. Then Andrew opened the show. I promote Andrew Peterson as the artist who filled the void of Rich Mullins. I don't say this lightly.

So as you can read, I had a bit of a bias as I cracked the pages to On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness.

Upon receiving the two copies (one I'm allowed to give away) I read the three introductions and first couple of chapters sitting outside the door to my apartment. I had accidently locked myself out, leaving my keys inside and my phone had just died on me. Surely those were the makings of a bad evening, but my laughter as I read the introductions removed all my day’s frustrations.

When my roommate, the Deuce, arrived we went to Chipotle with MyPhilip, where I read aloud to them the three introductions as well. They were hooked too and asked me to hurry up so they could borrow the book.

Now I'm a slow reader, somewhat dyslexic, but I devoured this novel. Well what I consider devouring, for many others you might have been able to read the book twice, but nevertheless.

I hesitate to compare this story with C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia or with the Harry Potter series, although it might be in the same vain as those, but it truly is its own story.

Here are three of things I initial appreciate about AP’s writing:

1. Timing – He’s takes his time with the story, allowing the story to build and the characters to develop without having to write an entire “year-in-the-life” story (not that I don’t like that either, this is just unique now a days.)

2. Humor – using wit, puns, and just clever wording

3. Built In Soundtrack - As I was reading I could hear Andrew’s songs in my head. Especially from the ablum The Far Country.

This is only Book One in The Wingfeather Saga, and I can’t wait until the next book comes out.

Here is how one person summarized the book:

In the quiet land of Skree, the Igiby children—Janner, his younger brother Tink, and their crippled sister Leeli—stumble upon the lost jewels of Anniera and determine to return them. Unfortunately, the scary-bad Gnag the Nameless seeks the jewels for his own evil ends… and so our band of friends, accompanied by their trust dog Nugget, must escape with the help of their mom and grandfather (who happens to be an ex-pirate).

Their journey takes them through an inventively fantastical world of wonders, complete with memorable characters (like Gnag’s evil minions the Fangs and Peet the Sock Man), fanciful creatures (like sea dragons, snickbuzzards, toothy cows, flabbits, and bomnubbles), and captivating places (like the Books & Crannies bookstore, Shaggy Tavern, the Dark Sea of Darkness that divides the land of Skree from Anniera, the Glipwood Forest, Ice Prairies, and the Stony Mountains).

Through fast-paced storytelling, little ditties, songs, and poems, side-splitting asides, sensory descriptions of time and place, and characters rich in heart, courage, and smarts, Andrew Peterson has created a wondrous tale you’ll enjoy and treasure—just like those lost jewels.

Seriously, bad guys named the Fangs of Dang, loathsome toothy cows, and a used bookstore. What an amazing book!

BTW - - On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness came out on Tuesday!!!

I want to encourage you to run out and pick up your copy. Try ordering HERE from Amazon. While you’re buying yours think about buying a second and giving it away to a pre-teen in your neighborhood. Even though I got my copy for free I still plan on purchasing one as well. I know exactly who I want to give it to. There is this one young guy at church who always has a book with him and I talk to him often to hear what I should be reading.

FYI BooksChristian.com, as of today, has the best price online.

Hope

I love this song...

...especially the lyrics:

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you had a choice
You've made it now
Falling slowly sing your melody
I'll sing along

Tonight I'm thinking about Paul and Silas sitting in their Philippian jail, beaten and shackled, and yet "singing a robust hymn to God (Acts 16, MSG)."
What's got you singing tonight?

Quote

I took the day off from work today and hung out with Zach and Josh, here from Harlingen still.
Tonight while looking through my movies Zach said this after I recommended The Departed,

"I don't want to watch a senseless violent movie. Do you have any Zombie movies?"

Also I learned today that Zach has a man crush on Mark Wahlberg. A good day.

Quote

Josh and Zach Taylor, some high school fellas from Harlingen, are here for their spring break. They have graced me with their presence. At 12:30 this evening they began to scavenge my food supply. While eating what little I had to offer, Uncle Ben's Instant Rice, Josh posed this significant question while talking about Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup:

Don't you think it's weird that the chicken is dry despite being soaked in fluid?

Cravings

Some days I crave Dr. Pepper more than others. Today is one of those days.

Today is 77 days without DP, 289 more to go.

65 day until Indy!

Lunch plans

I had lunch with my mom today. She brought me my cell phone, because I'm an idiot and left it in her car after a family luncheon Sunday afternoon.
I love my mom, and I wish I was a better son.
If she don't mind I'll just keep trying to be the best me, and hopefully somewhere down the road something good just might come of this mess.

DOTHETEST

Have you done the test?
Click HERE.

Pink Shorts

Tonight the Deuce, Philip, Chris and I went to Buffalo Wild Wings for some grub. Across the tables from us was this couple in the photo (sorry my camera phone sucks). It's hard to tell in the photo but the gentleman was rockin' some pink short shorts. Awesome!

It would be real easy to mock him, but I chose rather to be in awe of his confidence. Hey he was actually on a date tonight, while I was eating with three other dudes...maybe there is something to the pink short shorts.

The question here is two fold:

1. Guys at what point in a dating relationship do you feel confident enough to sport some pink short shorts?
2. Ladies at what point in a dating relationship would you accept your man wearing pink short shorts?
   

As the man left with his lady friend, who was cute, I tipped my hat to him.
Rock on pink short shorts man, rock on!

Weekend Plans

I saw this and immediately made weekend plans. You in?

Juno Politics

Up and Over

http://view.break.com/469591 - Watch more free videos
You have to admire the way he finishes the segment. Brilliant commitment.

Daniel Needed (a revisit)

Just in case you don't follow this blog: I recently asked my readers for some help interpreting a recent dream I had.
My friend Jon McClarnon (J-Mac), who has planted True North Church in Apex, NC (near Raleigh), offered these thoughts:

T-Rev, this is truly fascinating. I rarely remember dreams myself, so when I do, I pay special attention to them.
I think this one is clear. There are 2 obvious gleanings:
1. The 1/2 assed version of yourself today is much better than the full on version of yourself 8 years ago.
2. The trip is irrelevant. It only means that if "she" had won rather than you, the prize would have been the girl. But since you won - she could only see it as having lost. She would never have ended up with you because of the male tendency to always have to be right. Thus, you got Thailand.

My roommate Chris, offered these thoughts:

I don't think this as confusing as you want to make it.
There's a contest, and there's a girl. There was at least one girl you wrote letters to. The girl in the dream may or may not be this girl, but in general, it represents "the one that got away." The contest being back at Ozark shows a deep internal desire to relive those days, in hopes that those relationships might come out differently.

I replied to Jon with this email:

That's very insightful. I would never had seen that.
The question now is what is this dream telling me. Is it a call for behavior or thought change? Or is this just my dreams mocking me about the one that got away? Why would my subconscious want to inform me that I'm a better man today than 8 years ago? And should I still go to Thailand?

I decided later that it should have read, "Why would my subconscious and/or God want to inform me...", because I do believe that God can speak to use via our dreams. Even though I haven't had those clear experiences in my life yet.

Jon then replied:

that's about all I got...try consulting a "what do my dreams mean" website - might be interesting.
It's a good sign for you to say that you've come a long ways in the last 8 years - you're twice the man you used to be. Was there a hot girl at Ozark who ended up in Thailand?

To which I responded with:

I'll google some dream sites today and see what I find.
Not sure of anyone that ended up in Thailand. I know I passed on a trip to Thailand my first summer at East Tulsa. I wasn't sure how to ask for a month off, and didn't know how I was going to manage the next years tuition if I didn't have a job.
Oh wait. Kara Kunkel (now married, so Kara Somethingelse) went on that trip. I was head over heals for her.
But then again why would God or my subconscious bring that up?
On to the googling.

Now there were plenty of other hot girls at Ozark who could be in the dream girl (ha ha), but Kara was the only one with ties to Thialand.

Well my googling turned up a website called Dream Moods (it was the first one, and I didn't really look at any others...yet). Here is some of what it had to share with me:

Competition
To dream that you are in a competition, represents your need to grow and expand. Learn the value of endurance and perseverance. Also be more assertive.

To dream that you win a competition, suggests that you possess the necessary skills to accomplish a goal or solve a problem in your waking life.

Crush
To dream about a former crush, refers to that particular period in your life and what you were feeling. The former crush represents a point in time when you first had the crush on that person.

College
To dream that you are in college, indicates that you are going through some social or cultural changes. You may be wanting to expand your knowledge and awareness. It also suggest that now is a good time for you to experiment and try new things. If you had gone to college in your past, then also consider your personal experiences and memories of your college days. However, if you are currently in college, then it may be a reflection of your current surroundings. It may also represent stress.

Paris
To dream that you are in Paris, symbolizes your need for romance and passion. It also suggests that you are a person of distinction. You own personal experiences and knowledge of Paris will supercede the suggested interpretation here.

Asia

To dream that you are in Asia, suggests that you need to adjust to some situation. If you are traveling to Asia or thinking about visiting Asia, then your dream may indicate your anticipation of such a trip.

Writing
To dream that you are writing, signifies some sort of communication with someone or with your conscious mind. It also denotes a mistake that you have made.

Eight
Eight stands for power of authority, success, karma, material gains, regeneration, and wealth. When the number eight appears in your dream, trust your instincts and intuition.

Emotionless
To dream that you are emotionless, suggests that you are closing yourself off from those around you. You may be neglecting your own feelings and should start paying more attention to them.

Emotions
Emotions expressed in dreams is a way for people to act out their feelings which they would not normally express if they were awake. This provides a "safe" outlet for these emotions instead of letting them be pent up.

Guilt
To dream that you feel guilty about something, relates to how you are handling your successes and failures or competence and incompetence. You may feel undeserving of your achievements or on the other hand, you may feel that you have let other down. Alternatively, it is also symbolic of repressed and negative feelings that you may have about yourself.

Lazy

To dream that you are feeling lazy, signifies that you will make a terrible error in a business deal resulting in bitter disappointments.

Friend

To see your friends in your dream, signifies aspects of your personality that you have rejected, but are ready to integrate these rejected part of yourself. The relationships you have with those around you are important in learning about yourself. Additionally, this symbol foretells of happy tidings from them and the arrival of good news.

Woman
To see a woman in your dream, represents nurturance, passivity, caring nature, and love. It refers to your own female aspects or may also represent your mother. Alternatively, it may indicate temptation and guilt. If you know the woman, then it may symbolize the concerns and feelings you have about her.

Win

To dream that you win at something, signifies triumph and success. You have much confidence and belief in yourself. All your self-doubts have subsided.

Victory
To dream of victory over something, suggests that you are in need of some motivation or confidence in your abilities. Sometimes you need to imagine or visualize success before actually achieving it.

Um...I don't think I have gained anymore insights beyond what J-Mac shared. Some of Dream Moods insights seem to conflict.
Oh well.
But I suppose I should look into plane tickets to Thailand.
Does anyone have any contacts in Thailand?