We went to the doctor yesterday and we were surprised to find out that Evelyn is 13 weeks pregnant.
We were not surprised that she was pregnant. Just that she was that far along.
For those of you that are bad at month math, that is about 3 months and it puts the due date in the middle of March.
The baby is an expert swimmer and has all its fingers and toes.
Another high-tech photo session is scheduled in 7 weeks so that we can give him/her a good look over.
At this point there were no problems apparent. Everything looks normal.
Evelyn cried.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Is this the kind of nanny that you want?
Here is story in today's news about Barak Obama's lost brother.
Barak Obama's 'lost' brother found in Kenya
George Hussein Onyango Obama, Obama's half brother, was found living in a shanty in Keyna.
Something about the brother of a very successful and wealthy senator living in abject poverty struck me as very wrong.
I am sure that there are unknown facts that would give a more balanced perspective to this story, but even so, the man's 26 year old brother is getting by on a dollar a month. He has to "take what he needs" to survive. He has been living this way for at least 10 years. That means that he was homeless and destitute at 16. A very different fate than his "American" brother.
A couple of bible verses immediately come to mind:
1 Timothy 5:8 "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."
James 1:27 "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world."
This story bothers me because it speaks of Obama's character, but it also bothers me because it speaks to his core beliefs.
As the leftist darling, he is running for the position of "nanny-in-chief." He will be expected to use the resources of the federal government to make sure that every person's need (womb to tomb) is taken care of by the state. This is a noble endeavor for sure, but what kind of nanny is Obama going to be if he will not even take care of his own brother?
If history is any indication, I think we all know who Obama is going to take care of.
Barak Obama's 'lost' brother found in Kenya
George Hussein Onyango Obama, Obama's half brother, was found living in a shanty in Keyna.
Something about the brother of a very successful and wealthy senator living in abject poverty struck me as very wrong.
I am sure that there are unknown facts that would give a more balanced perspective to this story, but even so, the man's 26 year old brother is getting by on a dollar a month. He has to "take what he needs" to survive. He has been living this way for at least 10 years. That means that he was homeless and destitute at 16. A very different fate than his "American" brother.
A couple of bible verses immediately come to mind:
1 Timothy 5:8 "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."
James 1:27 "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world."
This story bothers me because it speaks of Obama's character, but it also bothers me because it speaks to his core beliefs.
As the leftist darling, he is running for the position of "nanny-in-chief." He will be expected to use the resources of the federal government to make sure that every person's need (womb to tomb) is taken care of by the state. This is a noble endeavor for sure, but what kind of nanny is Obama going to be if he will not even take care of his own brother?
If history is any indication, I think we all know who Obama is going to take care of.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
More inconvenient truths
This article compares Algores house to Dubya's house.
Guess which one is the most environmentally friendly - by a HUGE margin.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/bush/house.asp
I think that this is interesting because it highlights the fact that the leftist environmentalists have an agenda that (judging by how they live their lives) is very far removed from an actual concern for the environment.
I think that the agenda has more to do with crippling capitalism that it does about protecting the environment. For example, if you read the Green Party platform it is pretty much just a communist manifesto.
Things and people are not what they seem to be... are they?
Guess which one is the most environmentally friendly - by a HUGE margin.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/bush/house.asp
I think that this is interesting because it highlights the fact that the leftist environmentalists have an agenda that (judging by how they live their lives) is very far removed from an actual concern for the environment.
I think that the agenda has more to do with crippling capitalism that it does about protecting the environment. For example, if you read the Green Party platform it is pretty much just a communist manifesto.
Things and people are not what they seem to be... are they?
Friday, August 15, 2008
Detox update
Day 9: No Starbucks yet, but I did have 1 medium glass if iced tea (no refills) for lunch - my reward for a week off. Feeling better all the time. I am sleeping better than I have in months.
Day 10: Nothing.
Day 11: A glass of tea for lunch. Feeling good. My pants feel loose.
Day 12 (Friday): I had a small glass of tea for breakfast. No refill. I am feeling good and sleeping good. I have spent a whole week staring at Starbucks. I go in - get a "venti" ice water...smell the coffee... and leave. I have done that every day this week. No cravings. No shakes.
Day 10: Nothing.
Day 11: A glass of tea for lunch. Feeling good. My pants feel loose.
Day 12 (Friday): I had a small glass of tea for breakfast. No refill. I am feeling good and sleeping good. I have spent a whole week staring at Starbucks. I go in - get a "venti" ice water...smell the coffee... and leave. I have done that every day this week. No cravings. No shakes.
Hillary is not done
Prediction:
Hillary Clinton will win the Democrat presidential nomination.
I don't know how. This is just a hunch, but she seems to be circling like a buzzard, waiting for Obama to make a mistake.
I would not be surprised if her people already have that "mistake" in the works.
I would not be surprised if Obama was suddenly too ill (or worse) to accept the nomination.
She did not give up her delegates.
She (nor her husband) have done much to support the Obama campaign.
She won a concession to have her name on the ballot at the convention.
She has asked her delegates to vote for her on the first vote - as a show of respect for all of their efforts - they want to be heard. The normal (gracious) thing to do in these circumstances is to ask your delegates to support the candidate that beat you.
I'll bet her minions are still trying to woo Obama delegates and super delegates into her camp.
She, her husband, and her daughter are all speaking at the convention. Why do the Clintons get more air time than the Obamas?
Hillary will try (is trying) to wrestle the nomination away from Obama.
That's my prediction.
What do you think?
Hillary Clinton will win the Democrat presidential nomination.
I don't know how. This is just a hunch, but she seems to be circling like a buzzard, waiting for Obama to make a mistake.
I would not be surprised if her people already have that "mistake" in the works.
I would not be surprised if Obama was suddenly too ill (or worse) to accept the nomination.
She did not give up her delegates.
She (nor her husband) have done much to support the Obama campaign.
She won a concession to have her name on the ballot at the convention.
She has asked her delegates to vote for her on the first vote - as a show of respect for all of their efforts - they want to be heard. The normal (gracious) thing to do in these circumstances is to ask your delegates to support the candidate that beat you.
I'll bet her minions are still trying to woo Obama delegates and super delegates into her camp.
She, her husband, and her daughter are all speaking at the convention. Why do the Clintons get more air time than the Obamas?
Hillary will try (is trying) to wrestle the nomination away from Obama.
That's my prediction.
What do you think?
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
The New Enemy
Mommy is wrestling with how to do school this year. One option involves a Friday afternoon program that focuses on American history. The teacher is always in costume. They go on camping trips in covered wagons. They learn vocabulary, writing, history, geography, etc - everything except math and science. Lots of homework, lots of public speaking, etc. It has a reputation for excellence. Everyone in the community that has done it just gushes on and on about it. I think it would challenge the boy genius. His younger brother is probably too young.
Mommy is telling the children about it. She is going over all the wonderful things that they will learn. Then she throws in, "Benjamin (a boy from their Sunday School class) is going to do it."
Andrew (8 - who would ALWAYS rather be fishing): "I don't care if every single person in Sunday School is doing it. I'm not going.
"School is the enemy!"
Jonathan (10 - a man of few words): "Ditto."
Mommy is telling the children about it. She is going over all the wonderful things that they will learn. Then she throws in, "Benjamin (a boy from their Sunday School class) is going to do it."
Andrew (8 - who would ALWAYS rather be fishing): "I don't care if every single person in Sunday School is doing it. I'm not going.
"School is the enemy!"
Jonathan (10 - a man of few words): "Ditto."
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Honesty is the best policy
My five year old is so yummy. You just want to snatch him up and give him a big squeeze. He has an infectious laugh and a little dimple that is so cute when he smiles his little mischievous smile. Everything is a big adventure. And he's so kind to his little sister - a great big brother.
Matthew is full of fun and mischief, but he has his limits on what he will take.
The other day, Mommy was in the process of disciplining him and she was trying to get the order of events straight. "now when you said ..... she said... then you did this and she did that....then she said and you said... etc." You know how it goes. You are trying to get to the root problem of the conflict.
Finally Matthew was DONE with the inquisition - he had had his limit of "he said, she said, she did, he did, then what happened..." A little brain can only take so much.
"I've had enough of this foolishness," he exclaimed - and he walks off.
Mommy is sitting there in stunned silence. It took her a second to realize that the "foolishness" that he was referring to was HER inquisition.
When she finally got her wits back, she tracked him down and confronted him.
"Were you talking about what *I* was saying," she asks?
His standard defense mechanism kicks in -
"I do not want to tell you."
When he is confronted with his bad behavior, he never lies - he just pleads the 5th.
"I do not want to tell you."
No admission of guilt, no untruth to worry about covering up later. A totally clear conscience.
No wonder he sleeps so good at night.
Matthew is full of fun and mischief, but he has his limits on what he will take.
The other day, Mommy was in the process of disciplining him and she was trying to get the order of events straight. "now when you said ..... she said... then you did this and she did that....then she said and you said... etc." You know how it goes. You are trying to get to the root problem of the conflict.
Finally Matthew was DONE with the inquisition - he had had his limit of "he said, she said, she did, he did, then what happened..." A little brain can only take so much.
"I've had enough of this foolishness," he exclaimed - and he walks off.
Mommy is sitting there in stunned silence. It took her a second to realize that the "foolishness" that he was referring to was HER inquisition.
When she finally got her wits back, she tracked him down and confronted him.
"Were you talking about what *I* was saying," she asks?
His standard defense mechanism kicks in -
"I do not want to tell you."
When he is confronted with his bad behavior, he never lies - he just pleads the 5th.
"I do not want to tell you."
No admission of guilt, no untruth to worry about covering up later. A totally clear conscience.
No wonder he sleeps so good at night.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Day 6, 7, 8
I don't know what to do with my hands.
I usually have a glass or a cup of something going.
I thought the caffeine detox was just about a chemical dependence, but I am realizing that its a whole lifestyle. The pleasure of boiling the tea bags, stirring in just the right amount of cream and sugar, lingering over the smell, or just plain carrying the coffee cup around.
It is kind of awkward to just let the coffee cup hand just dangle in mid air with nothing to do.
Day 6: Our drive home. I was nodding at the wheel. I had to let Evelyn drive part of the way. I crashed hard for a couple of hours in the middle of the day. A little irritable (Evelyn said no more than usual).
Day 7: Church day - my MUST HAVE COFFEE day. I didn't. I fell asleep in church. How embarrassing. Long nap after church. A little foggy, but mostly ok.
Day 8: (Monday) First day back to work. This should be interesting. I feel GOOD this morning. Let's see if I can figure out what to do with my hands. I hope I can stay awake all day.
I usually have a glass or a cup of something going.
I thought the caffeine detox was just about a chemical dependence, but I am realizing that its a whole lifestyle. The pleasure of boiling the tea bags, stirring in just the right amount of cream and sugar, lingering over the smell, or just plain carrying the coffee cup around.
It is kind of awkward to just let the coffee cup hand just dangle in mid air with nothing to do.
Day 6: Our drive home. I was nodding at the wheel. I had to let Evelyn drive part of the way. I crashed hard for a couple of hours in the middle of the day. A little irritable (Evelyn said no more than usual).
Day 7: Church day - my MUST HAVE COFFEE day. I didn't. I fell asleep in church. How embarrassing. Long nap after church. A little foggy, but mostly ok.
Day 8: (Monday) First day back to work. This should be interesting. I feel GOOD this morning. Let's see if I can figure out what to do with my hands. I hope I can stay awake all day.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Hello, my name is Barry and I'm an addict
The past year has been kind of stressful for a number of reasons: new job, new city, new house, new mortgage (I don't like debt), and the death of a child. Throw in a mid-life crisis and you have a recipe for disaster.
How does one cope? In our over-medicated society there are so many options. I talked to one friend that was on three anti-depressants - full dose. Very tempting, but he has a lot of medical problems that (he says) are unrelated to his drug addiction. I was skeptical. I had to find another path.
The path to addiction was only three stories below my office.
For the longest time, I just "didn't get" the whole Starbucks thing (what are those people thinking!?), but this past year I tried a cup. It was so convenient - just three stories down. It was great exercise to walk down the stairs, get a cup of coffee, and walk back up. How invigorating! How convenient (and how socially acceptable!).
In the past I have been a Sunday-only drinker. I had to have my cup of java as a part of my Sunday morning ritual. I was very cranky and not a very good worshiper in church if I was denied. Any other day of the week, my old standby - sweet tea - was sufficient.
Recently though, my Starbucks exercise program had become more and more expensive. I had been exercising twice a day some days - but only walking down. Now that I had graduated from "venti" to "grande" to "tall", I did not want to spill a single precious drop on the way up. The elevator was the only safe alternative.
All of this Starbucks was in addition to the large big gulp sweet tea (with a refill) that I would have with breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack.
I have never been to an AA meeting, but I came to see my real self in the past few weeks and, as they always say on TV, "My name is Barry and I am an addict."
My doctor told me about a year ago that my sweet tea habit was the source of all my (minor) medical problems. I cut the sugar for a while and all my problems cleared up, but I never cut the caffeine. Over the course of the year, I have phased back in the sweet tea, and some of my old friends have returned to haunt (or itch) me again.
It is time for a change. I am a caffeine/sugar addict. I don't know which is worse. They are both killers. You can read for yourself the ill effects of either drug. Both are poisons to the system. I know that. I want my poison. I am an addict.
Here is a picture of two spider webs. The top one is the drug free spider. The bottom one is hyped up on caffeine. The bottom web looks like my life. I want my life to be orderly like the top web.
So....
This week my family is in Destin, FL for a little rest and relaxation.
I am in Destin to detox.
Day 0: Leave home.
Last huge glass of sweet tea - for the road.
No sugar or caffeine the rest of the day.
Mild headaches late afternoon, early evening.
Day 1: No sugar no caffeine
Sleep until 10:00
I am violently ill.
Much diarrhea and vomiting.
Unbelievable headaches.
Mental fog.
Head feels like it weighs a hundred pounds.
Watch "Hanna Montana" for the first time.
Day 2:
sleep until 11:00
just vomiting (this may have been exasperated by the deep sea fishing trip)
still in a mental fog - very disoriented on the whole trip - zero fish caught.
go to sleep on boat
go to condo
go back to sleep
play
second episode of "Hanna Montana." Ok.. I get it... its a cute show. Two episodes down and nothing too objectionable.
Day 3:
sleep until lunch
feeling OK
must go back to sleep.
I cheat: a shot glass full of sweet tea - OH the ecstasy!!
nap
I take the family out for ice cream - I have to get a single scoop my self - not nearly the same ecstatic pleasure as the shot of tea.
"Phineas and Ferb" is hilarious.
Day 4:
sleep until lunch
feeling good, but foggy and sleepy.
another shot glass of sweet tea - THIS must be what Heaven must be like! So incredible.
nap
play - get stung by a school of jelly fish, but I am feeling no pain....
nap
Still loving "Phineas and Ferb"
Day 5:
Get up around 8:30
feeling good except that my head feels kind of floaty and full
Water is starting to actually taste good.
Cravings are subsiding.
Pass out in front of some mindless Disney Channel pre-teen brain candy (do kids actually LIKE this stuff?)
Play on the beach - feeling good - no sunburn (not because I have good sunscreen technique - but because I have been inside in bed most of the trip).
Tomorrow is our last day.
I think I can make it, but Starbucks is waiting... only three floors down.
How does one cope? In our over-medicated society there are so many options. I talked to one friend that was on three anti-depressants - full dose. Very tempting, but he has a lot of medical problems that (he says) are unrelated to his drug addiction. I was skeptical. I had to find another path.
The path to addiction was only three stories below my office.
For the longest time, I just "didn't get" the whole Starbucks thing (what are those people thinking!?), but this past year I tried a cup. It was so convenient - just three stories down. It was great exercise to walk down the stairs, get a cup of coffee, and walk back up. How invigorating! How convenient (and how socially acceptable!).
In the past I have been a Sunday-only drinker. I had to have my cup of java as a part of my Sunday morning ritual. I was very cranky and not a very good worshiper in church if I was denied. Any other day of the week, my old standby - sweet tea - was sufficient.
Recently though, my Starbucks exercise program had become more and more expensive. I had been exercising twice a day some days - but only walking down. Now that I had graduated from "venti" to "grande" to "tall", I did not want to spill a single precious drop on the way up. The elevator was the only safe alternative.
All of this Starbucks was in addition to the large big gulp sweet tea (with a refill) that I would have with breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack.
I have never been to an AA meeting, but I came to see my real self in the past few weeks and, as they always say on TV, "My name is Barry and I am an addict."
My doctor told me about a year ago that my sweet tea habit was the source of all my (minor) medical problems. I cut the sugar for a while and all my problems cleared up, but I never cut the caffeine. Over the course of the year, I have phased back in the sweet tea, and some of my old friends have returned to haunt (or itch) me again.
It is time for a change. I am a caffeine/sugar addict. I don't know which is worse. They are both killers. You can read for yourself the ill effects of either drug. Both are poisons to the system. I know that. I want my poison. I am an addict.
Here is a picture of two spider webs. The top one is the drug free spider. The bottom one is hyped up on caffeine. The bottom web looks like my life. I want my life to be orderly like the top web.
So....
This week my family is in Destin, FL for a little rest and relaxation.
I am in Destin to detox.
Day 0: Leave home.
Last huge glass of sweet tea - for the road.
No sugar or caffeine the rest of the day.
Mild headaches late afternoon, early evening.
Day 1: No sugar no caffeine
Sleep until 10:00
I am violently ill.
Much diarrhea and vomiting.
Unbelievable headaches.
Mental fog.
Head feels like it weighs a hundred pounds.
Watch "Hanna Montana" for the first time.
Day 2:
sleep until 11:00
just vomiting (this may have been exasperated by the deep sea fishing trip)
still in a mental fog - very disoriented on the whole trip - zero fish caught.
go to sleep on boat
go to condo
go back to sleep
play
second episode of "Hanna Montana." Ok.. I get it... its a cute show. Two episodes down and nothing too objectionable.
Day 3:
sleep until lunch
feeling OK
must go back to sleep.
I cheat: a shot glass full of sweet tea - OH the ecstasy!!
nap
I take the family out for ice cream - I have to get a single scoop my self - not nearly the same ecstatic pleasure as the shot of tea.
"Phineas and Ferb" is hilarious.
Day 4:
sleep until lunch
feeling good, but foggy and sleepy.
another shot glass of sweet tea - THIS must be what Heaven must be like! So incredible.
nap
play - get stung by a school of jelly fish, but I am feeling no pain....
nap
Still loving "Phineas and Ferb"
Day 5:
Get up around 8:30
feeling good except that my head feels kind of floaty and full
Water is starting to actually taste good.
Cravings are subsiding.
Pass out in front of some mindless Disney Channel pre-teen brain candy (do kids actually LIKE this stuff?)
Play on the beach - feeling good - no sunburn (not because I have good sunscreen technique - but because I have been inside in bed most of the trip).
Tomorrow is our last day.
I think I can make it, but Starbucks is waiting... only three floors down.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Church is boring
I was reading an article in Homelife by a guy that was in my college/youth group and he was talking about how men are leaving the church in throngs. His basic premise was that men are bored.I agree with him to some degree. It is boring because it has become too feminine.
Do you ever watch kids play? What are the girls playing? In general they are practicing to be nurturing adults. They play house or they play with dolls. They want to be beautiful.
What do the boys play? All war games all the time. They want to be dangerous. They want to be brave. They live for blood and glory.
Church has become girly.
It is so uncomfortable (for a guy like me) to be in a worship service where some breathful sensitive guy is leading you to sing stuff like:
"I'm desperate for you.. I'm lost without you... you are the air I breathe"
"I love you with an undying love"
"I want to hear your voice, know you more, touch you, see your face"
"I neeeeeeed you"
"Jesus o Jesus you are beautiful"
I could go on and on.
Warriors do not say these kinds of things to their commanding officer.
Worship leaders are expecting warriors to become gushing girlies when they come to church... "OOOO Jesus.. you are sooo wonderful.. you are soooo beautiful."
This is not appropriate. (would Warf on StarTrek EVER tell his captain how beautiful he looks in that crisp red uniform?)
Guys are made to be warriors.
"As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free...His truth is marching on"
"Onward Christian soldiers.. marching as to war..."
"A mighty fortress is our God.....and He will win the battle... one little word shall fail him (the devil)...."
"There is power in the blood..."
"Victory in Jesus..."
If I understand the story correctly, Jesus is coming back soon.
He is not coming back to cuddle or to listen to us tell him how wonderful and beautiful He is.
He is coming back as a conquering king.
There is going to be blood, sweat, gore, fighting, glory, honor. Extreme good versus extreme evil. An epic battle. A battle in which men will gladly lay down their lives.
There is going to be victory - and rewards.
Let's get past this mushy girly idea of who Jesus is and see him for what he claims to be.
Swords coming out of mouth and slaying thousands. A conqueror of death and hell.
A leader that is worthy to be followed into battle.
A conquering hero.
Lord of lords.
King of kings.
When the battle is over, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that he is the victor - the Lord of all.
The time that we spend on this earth is a battle. Its not a love in.
When the church realizes this truth and begins to equip warriors for battle (rather than asking them to tell another warrior how beautiful he is), the men will return.
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