Friday, November 26, 2004
ramble on
so i woke up at 6.30 on the biggest shopping day of the year and thought i'd go to best buy in search of a $29 mp3 player or a $59 plasma screen tv or a $89 laptop because i didn't have to work and i like the holidays and it seemed like a way to get in the conspicuous christmas consumption seasonal spirit and besides the early bird gets the worm unless the supplies of worms are limited to 3 per store then they usually go to the pakistani family who've been camped out in front of the store doors for a fortnight along with the thousands of pale joyless shoppers who packed the parking lot awaiting the automatic doors swinging wide open to reveal glorious deals and the thrill of jamming the aisles with their bleary-eyed, disheveled selves so late risers like me would have to deal with msrp on every electronic item in the store with the exception of the $199 sansui televrator which i passed on since the line to purchase an item was 322 people deep and i figured time is money so i went home to eat some bacon and collect the kids for a trip to the zoo where we saw some meerkats and came home to eat some soup and do some yardwork before eating a hearty protein rich dinner so i wouldn't get lightheaded and pass out at the gym where i overheard some musclehead proclaim to his lady friend over a military press that "vertical run is one of my all time favorite films."
Thursday, November 25, 2004
happy thanksgiving
"If you do not fall down on your knees each day with overwhelming gratitude for your blessings -- your multiplying multitudes of blessings -- then you just have not yet seen the big picture."
--Sir John Templeton (honorary member of Funegro)
--Sir John Templeton (honorary member of Funegro)
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
Music & Memory
I was struck yesterday morning and again today while driving to work how powerful music is in its ability to transport you to another place and time. Yesterday morning on XM I heard "Tuesday's Gone" by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Only three chords in, I was instantly transported back to my bedroom circa 1976. Sitting on the red shag, carefully placing a penny on the tonearm, examining the liner notes and squeezing every watt out of that Pioneer SX-750 with the big-as-a-Volkswagen Marantz speakers (and trying to ignore the world outside my door).
Eric was undoubtedly either out on a date or working (anything to just be OUT somewhere). I remember the smell of Minute Steak wafting up form the kitchen below. I remember my Dad arriving home in the jalopy du jour, tie tucked safely into his shirt (per DuPont guidelines) and awkward silences throughout dinner as we struggled to maintain our happy family persona.
Music did then and still does today provide me an escape from the world outside my door. I'm thankful for it, and thankful for a brother who laid a solid foundation upon which to build - Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, Allman Brothers, Beatles, and many more.
New Commenting System
In an effort to continuously improve the user experience for the vast Funegro community, I have implemented a new commenting system (because I think it is cooler). Please embrace this new system in the spirit of progress and brotherhood.
Monday, November 15, 2004
my deaconly purpose
as a rookie deacon, i've been trying to find my fit in ministry. how best to serve the church.
i'm happy to report, dear reader of funegro, my month of november obligation has now become my passion: counting attendance.
of course, the power of a clipboard and the freedom to hang with the sound guys in the balcony is intoxicating.
but it's the accurate count that i find to be so elusive, so seductive, and yet so compelling.
for years, our brotherhood has been subjected to sloppy counting techniques. i, myself, have borne witness to numbers that were a bit too round, so-called "preacher counts," and some just not finishing the work by citing the biblical precedent of joab in 1Ch 27:24.
it's a vexing problem, to be certain, what with parishioners carelessly milling about the halls and going "to the bathroom" -- all during prime counting time.
to guard against the dreaded double count (curse you, o counter's nemesis!) i took the bold initiative to chalk the back of every member and guest as they entered the sanctuary last nite. admittedly, this move took most by surprise -- especially that one lady in the cashmere suit. but i do believe the spirit of my effort was appreciated. or at least it will be over time.
of course, this lo-fi chalk effort was merely child's play, serving as a stopgap measure until my requisition to retrofit nametags with rfid tags is approved.
in addition to the moratorium i'm placing on coats draped over pews and that numbered vest experiment, i welcome your bold ideas.
i can't rest until every person is counted. on my watch, no child (or adult) will be left behind.
i'm happy to report, dear reader of funegro, my month of november obligation has now become my passion: counting attendance.
of course, the power of a clipboard and the freedom to hang with the sound guys in the balcony is intoxicating.
but it's the accurate count that i find to be so elusive, so seductive, and yet so compelling.
for years, our brotherhood has been subjected to sloppy counting techniques. i, myself, have borne witness to numbers that were a bit too round, so-called "preacher counts," and some just not finishing the work by citing the biblical precedent of joab in 1Ch 27:24.
it's a vexing problem, to be certain, what with parishioners carelessly milling about the halls and going "to the bathroom" -- all during prime counting time.
to guard against the dreaded double count (curse you, o counter's nemesis!) i took the bold initiative to chalk the back of every member and guest as they entered the sanctuary last nite. admittedly, this move took most by surprise -- especially that one lady in the cashmere suit. but i do believe the spirit of my effort was appreciated. or at least it will be over time.
of course, this lo-fi chalk effort was merely child's play, serving as a stopgap measure until my requisition to retrofit nametags with rfid tags is approved.
in addition to the moratorium i'm placing on coats draped over pews and that numbered vest experiment, i welcome your bold ideas.
i can't rest until every person is counted. on my watch, no child (or adult) will be left behind.
Thursday, November 11, 2004
Monday, November 08, 2004
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
u.s.a.! u.s.a.!
on this rainy election nite, i can hear the faint drone of tv pundits who offer sketchy projections in the next room.
it's an exciting time. democracy is energizing. i must say, though, i felt the unforgiving and judgmental gaze of the senior citizen volunteers manning the polls as i voted tonite. yes, i feel hassled, intimidated and disenfranchised.
caught the prez and the requisite group of marginal g.o.p. texas-style celebrities (toby keith, chuck norris) at his campaign stop at smu last nite. it was novel to see a sitting president. yet despite the urgings of mary to "get in the spirit of the proceedings", i was as enthralled by the david brent lookalike seated in the next section as i was by the sign-waving histrionics, chants of "four more years," and the immovable hair of pete sessions.
the first four years have taken their toll on w. they've also polished his speaking skills. and while he still doesn't strike me as "presidential" and he lacks the rock-star charisma of clinton, i continue to be impressed by his conviction, his principles and his compassion.
here's hoping we know the identity of the next commander in chief in a matter of minutes, not months.
it's an exciting time. democracy is energizing. i must say, though, i felt the unforgiving and judgmental gaze of the senior citizen volunteers manning the polls as i voted tonite. yes, i feel hassled, intimidated and disenfranchised.
caught the prez and the requisite group of marginal g.o.p. texas-style celebrities (toby keith, chuck norris) at his campaign stop at smu last nite. it was novel to see a sitting president. yet despite the urgings of mary to "get in the spirit of the proceedings", i was as enthralled by the david brent lookalike seated in the next section as i was by the sign-waving histrionics, chants of "four more years," and the immovable hair of pete sessions.
the first four years have taken their toll on w. they've also polished his speaking skills. and while he still doesn't strike me as "presidential" and he lacks the rock-star charisma of clinton, i continue to be impressed by his conviction, his principles and his compassion.
here's hoping we know the identity of the next commander in chief in a matter of minutes, not months.
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