Hey everyone!
We've been busy and fighting summer colds, so I haven't had a chance to post lately.
Plus, I'm struggling with an idea for a post and I'm not sure how I'm going to handle it. Prayers for wisdom and discernment will be greatly appreciated. Whatever I come up with, it will be posted on Sept. 5, so keep an eye out for it.
In the mean time, I was scrolling through some Rush stuff on the MP3 player on the way back from dropping off Jadyn from daycare and got another listen to "Vital Signs," the last track on what I consider their masterpiece album, "Moving Pictures."
Obviously, the lyrics and music are not mine so they belong to Neil Peart, Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee. But "Vital Signs" contains some of Neil's best lyrical work. Have a read (after this rambling missive) and have a great Labor Day weekend.
For our friends on the Coast, we're praying for you and will do whatever we can to help you guys recover from whatever ol' Gustav dishes out.
Speaking of Gustav, I've got to go cut the grass before he gets here. So I'm off. Later, and please look out for that post on Sept. 5 (Lord willing!)!
Vital Signs by Rush
Unstable condition:
A symptom of life
In mental,
And environmental
Change
Atmospheric disturbance--
The feverish flux
Of human interface
And interchange
The impulse is pure--
Sometimes our circuits get shorted,
By external interference
Signals get crossed--
And the balance distorted
By internal incoherence
A tired mind become a shape-shifter
Everybody need a mood lifter
Everybody need reverse polarity
Everybody got mixed feelings
About the function and the form
Everybody got to deviate
From the norm
An ounce of perception,
A pound of obscure.
Process information at half speed.
Pause, rewind, replay,
Warm memory chip,
Random sample, hold the one you need.
Leave out the fiction--
The fact is;
This friction
Will only be worn by persistence
Leave out conditions--
Courageous convictions
Will drag the dream into existence
A tired mind become a shape-shifter
Everybody need a soft filter
Everybody need reverse polarity
Everybody got mixed feelings
About the function and the form
Everybody got to elevate
From the norm
Showing posts with label random thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label random thoughts. Show all posts
Friday, August 29, 2008
Saturday, March 01, 2008
It's kinda like spring
Now that the writer's strike is over, we're finally seeing some shows return (or their returns announced) on television. I guess we'll have to wait and see if any of the newer shows will return.
But we're finally seeing actual dates for things like the wrap up of the new version of "Battlestar Gallactica," which Amanda and I have been waiting on for months.
The painful attempts of people like Conan O'Brien to stretch their shows can now come to a close and while I've mentioned here that some reality television is helpful and beneficial, a whole lot more of it is junk. I'm glad to know we'll start seeming new, creative material coming our way.
Now, as for whether the ideas are original or not, that's another story. But I recently heard somewhere that it's not that the writers haven't run out of original ideas, it's that those in control want to make sure they make a profit and renewing an old idea is usually a safe way of doing that. That may be true but the regurgitation of age-old ideas just makes me tired. It'd be nice if there were an avenue for independent television like there is for music and movies. In some ways it's starting on the Internet with some of these serials that people have started.
I like being entertained and I like thinking that the people who bring me the entertainment have put some thought and effort into it.
And broadcast television isn't completely devoid of this.
An example is "Lost." These people have worked long and hard on how to mess with their viewers heads, and there's something satisfying blended in amid the frustration of it.
So, here's to new stuff on television and here's to people who have creative, inventive ideas getting their stuff seen and heard.
But we're finally seeing actual dates for things like the wrap up of the new version of "Battlestar Gallactica," which Amanda and I have been waiting on for months.
The painful attempts of people like Conan O'Brien to stretch their shows can now come to a close and while I've mentioned here that some reality television is helpful and beneficial, a whole lot more of it is junk. I'm glad to know we'll start seeming new, creative material coming our way.
Now, as for whether the ideas are original or not, that's another story. But I recently heard somewhere that it's not that the writers haven't run out of original ideas, it's that those in control want to make sure they make a profit and renewing an old idea is usually a safe way of doing that. That may be true but the regurgitation of age-old ideas just makes me tired. It'd be nice if there were an avenue for independent television like there is for music and movies. In some ways it's starting on the Internet with some of these serials that people have started.
I like being entertained and I like thinking that the people who bring me the entertainment have put some thought and effort into it.
And broadcast television isn't completely devoid of this.
An example is "Lost." These people have worked long and hard on how to mess with their viewers heads, and there's something satisfying blended in amid the frustration of it.
So, here's to new stuff on television and here's to people who have creative, inventive ideas getting their stuff seen and heard.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Insomnia, Mexico and Roofus
The mention of our southern neighbor comes with part of the chorus from the old James Taylor song called "Mexico" stuck in my head. "Ooooh Mexico." That's about all I remember about it.
Well, Mexican food is one of the reasons I'm blogging at this hour. Enough said.
But the other reason is a cat named Roofus. I need to regale Blogdom with the tales of Roofus. As you read the stories, he may sound mythical. But he was a real, black cat who lived from around 1991 to March 1999.
He was the most intelligent cat I've come across to date.
Since I don't want to stay up until the alarm clock goes off, I'll just share a little bit about "Roofy". First, my Mom found him on the roof of a house - hence the name. He was a neighborhood cat who lived off the land, and the kindness of people like Mom.
She took him in and gave him to me, and he became my roommate in my bachelor pad overlooking Mobile Bay. He was an instant hit with some of the neighbors. He had a way of charming his way into many a heart even though he could be a bit on the rough and tumble side too. (Remember to tell them about how you'd get him back in the house when he was little.)
But somewhere along about 1993, when we lived in Talladega, Ala., he got into this habit: He'd wake up about 4 a.m. and want to go outside. Almost every day, without fail.
So now, when I have to get up and go to the rest room, it's usually sometime within an hour of 4 a.m.
The power of habit is amazing, especially when it's set by a cat.
Well, Mexican food is one of the reasons I'm blogging at this hour. Enough said.
But the other reason is a cat named Roofus. I need to regale Blogdom with the tales of Roofus. As you read the stories, he may sound mythical. But he was a real, black cat who lived from around 1991 to March 1999.
He was the most intelligent cat I've come across to date.
Since I don't want to stay up until the alarm clock goes off, I'll just share a little bit about "Roofy". First, my Mom found him on the roof of a house - hence the name. He was a neighborhood cat who lived off the land, and the kindness of people like Mom.
She took him in and gave him to me, and he became my roommate in my bachelor pad overlooking Mobile Bay. He was an instant hit with some of the neighbors. He had a way of charming his way into many a heart even though he could be a bit on the rough and tumble side too. (Remember to tell them about how you'd get him back in the house when he was little.)
But somewhere along about 1993, when we lived in Talladega, Ala., he got into this habit: He'd wake up about 4 a.m. and want to go outside. Almost every day, without fail.
So now, when I have to get up and go to the rest room, it's usually sometime within an hour of 4 a.m.
The power of habit is amazing, especially when it's set by a cat.
Friday, September 29, 2006
Warning - this is pretty random
Been hanging out on another blog/friend site more recently, playing around with the technology, etc.
Still missing our friends.
We think about them at least once a week it seems.
Amanda and I were talking tonight about how strange it is to think about people their ages and realize that we won't be able to talk to them again in this lifetime.
In other stuff:
We're hoping to start unpacking the new house more soon, but seems like we haven't had the energy or time to think about such lately.
Our daughter keeps growing and we absolutely adore her.
Sometimes we feel like we're just Jadyn's parents, but that's how it goes sometimes.
Wow, it's late.
Gotta do some weekend stuff in the morning before the weekend's up.
Later!
Still missing our friends.
We think about them at least once a week it seems.
Amanda and I were talking tonight about how strange it is to think about people their ages and realize that we won't be able to talk to them again in this lifetime.
In other stuff:
We're hoping to start unpacking the new house more soon, but seems like we haven't had the energy or time to think about such lately.
Our daughter keeps growing and we absolutely adore her.
Sometimes we feel like we're just Jadyn's parents, but that's how it goes sometimes.
Wow, it's late.
Gotta do some weekend stuff in the morning before the weekend's up.
Later!
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Gotta put something in the May folder
Apologies
Been busy dealing with life stuff, so to my blog audience that's left, thanks for your patience, but I do have some things to say, or at least pass along.
Finally.
Felt like the best fodder to come along in a while came in my inbox from my mother-in-law today.
It's a forward and it's a good one. At least IMHO.
It reads (including what appears to be a signature from a previous forwarder):
THE PROBLEM
Secure the Mexican border, protect New Orleans from flooding, and
eliminate the threat of alligator attacks in Florida.
THE SOLUTION
1. Dig a moat the length of the Mexican border.
2. Take the dirt and raise the levies in New Orleans.
3. Then put the Florida alligators into the border moat.
Any other problems you would like for me to solve??
If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If you can read this in English, thank a soldier.
My take
Great solution. I like the idea. Also, the signature makes a great point too. We should remain ever grateful for the sacrifices of our fighting men and women who put their lives on the line and those who paid the ultimate price.
Regarding English as our primary language, I might sound like a stick in the mud, but it is what it is and it should stay that way.
However, we shouldn't bury our heads in the sand and act as though we're not seeing a steady growth in the Hispanic population in our country. We can address this very simply on an individual level - learn Spanish.
It's one of the things on a mental "to-do" list of mine. We should face the reality, learn what we can about the culture and gently instruct those who are arriving - illegally or otherwise - about our adopted native tongue.
A sad and amazing story
Haven't read a story like this in quite some time. It's about a family who'd been caring for a woman whom they thought was their daughter, who was severely injured in a car wreck. Turns out the young woman in the hospital was not their daughter, but another woman who was in the wreck too.
Their daughter was actually already in the ground.
It's hard to fathom these families' emotions. But the family of the woman who was, in reality, dead is trusting Christ through this, and this was visible on the blog they used to update the young woman's progress, which has since been deleted. The first link is to the story and the second is to a blog now updating people on the young woman who survived.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060601/ap_on_re_us/mixed_up_victims_12
http://efree.alpine-web.net/blog.cfm
That's it for now. Hopefully I'll post more than once a month in the future. Buenos noches!
Been busy dealing with life stuff, so to my blog audience that's left, thanks for your patience, but I do have some things to say, or at least pass along.
Finally.
Felt like the best fodder to come along in a while came in my inbox from my mother-in-law today.
It's a forward and it's a good one. At least IMHO.
It reads (including what appears to be a signature from a previous forwarder):
THE PROBLEM
Secure the Mexican border, protect New Orleans from flooding, and
eliminate the threat of alligator attacks in Florida.
THE SOLUTION
1. Dig a moat the length of the Mexican border.
2. Take the dirt and raise the levies in New Orleans.
3. Then put the Florida alligators into the border moat.
Any other problems you would like for me to solve??
If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If you can read this in English, thank a soldier.
My take
Great solution. I like the idea. Also, the signature makes a great point too. We should remain ever grateful for the sacrifices of our fighting men and women who put their lives on the line and those who paid the ultimate price.
Regarding English as our primary language, I might sound like a stick in the mud, but it is what it is and it should stay that way.
However, we shouldn't bury our heads in the sand and act as though we're not seeing a steady growth in the Hispanic population in our country. We can address this very simply on an individual level - learn Spanish.
It's one of the things on a mental "to-do" list of mine. We should face the reality, learn what we can about the culture and gently instruct those who are arriving - illegally or otherwise - about our adopted native tongue.
A sad and amazing story
Haven't read a story like this in quite some time. It's about a family who'd been caring for a woman whom they thought was their daughter, who was severely injured in a car wreck. Turns out the young woman in the hospital was not their daughter, but another woman who was in the wreck too.
Their daughter was actually already in the ground.
It's hard to fathom these families' emotions. But the family of the woman who was, in reality, dead is trusting Christ through this, and this was visible on the blog they used to update the young woman's progress, which has since been deleted. The first link is to the story and the second is to a blog now updating people on the young woman who survived.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060601/ap_on_re_us/mixed_up_victims_12
http://efree.alpine-web.net/blog.cfm
That's it for now. Hopefully I'll post more than once a month in the future. Buenos noches!
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Temporarily disconnected
Ahh... modern life.
It's strange what we get attached to and what we find important.
For about 15 hours beginning Tuesday afternoon, I felt exposed and otherwise out of sorts when I discovered I couldn't find my cell phone - a little bitty piece of plastic with some fancy electronic stuff and a battery in it.
You'd have thought somebody cut one of my fingers off when I realized it was missing.
Maybe I left it on the charger in the truck.
Nope.
Maybe I left it on my desk at work.
Nope.
Maybe I dropped it before I got in the truck.
Nope.
I began to think ... maybe I left it at ...
A phone call this morning to the place of business confirmed my suspicion, and the folks there kept it safe until I retrieved it.
The lesson?
Keep checking until you make sure you have everything you think you're supposed to have with you, no matter how insignificant you may think it is at the time.
It's strange what we get attached to and what we find important.
For about 15 hours beginning Tuesday afternoon, I felt exposed and otherwise out of sorts when I discovered I couldn't find my cell phone - a little bitty piece of plastic with some fancy electronic stuff and a battery in it.
You'd have thought somebody cut one of my fingers off when I realized it was missing.
Maybe I left it on the charger in the truck.
Nope.
Maybe I left it on my desk at work.
Nope.
Maybe I dropped it before I got in the truck.
Nope.
I began to think ... maybe I left it at ...
A phone call this morning to the place of business confirmed my suspicion, and the folks there kept it safe until I retrieved it.
The lesson?
Keep checking until you make sure you have everything you think you're supposed to have with you, no matter how insignificant you may think it is at the time.
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