Cubs Win..again

Great Cubs win lst night: 6-4 over Milwaukee. I am starting to see signs of this team back to its first place form. Looks like a playoff prelude. One can't help feel that one of them will win the division (Cubs of course) and one gets the wild card (Brewers - sorry, Cards fans). I finally get to see a live Cubs game in two weeks, but in Atlanta. Another road trip with Alec. That will be a lot of fun. However, I am kind of bumming in that I haven't seen a game at Wrigley this year so far. Haven't been able to snag any tickets. So, if any of y'all have a ticket or two to spare... :)

Where It's At

I am getting to the end of the second month of the "new" job. The rhythm is close to being manageable. The school director hat is now getting active and this is where the rubber will be meeting the road: registrations, sign ups, scheduling, students... Yeah, the fun begins here! Somehow I think that it can all work out. It really is all about delegating, prioritizing your time, managing responsibilities, and knowing when to say "NO". That last one is probably the hardest part. You want to help. You feel guilty about declining help. However, my job can best serve everyone by knowing my limits and not overstrech. If I overstretch myself it only leads to fatigue and damage - much like how it is with one's muscle. So by staying away (like hanging on to your time off and making it time off), I become more effective and efficient. At CCC (and most jobs out there) that is easier said than done. But I need to persue that mindset. Even Jesus had to get away from the activity from time to time. Let's take from that example to be better at what we do.

It still is weird walking into the YB. I can't explain it. It is like something has permanently changed since that black Monday so long ago. Now, it isn't a bad thing. I can't completely describe it in words. It must have more to do with my new responsibilities that circulate almost entirely around Romeoville. I mean, before, I really wasn't in the CAC much - other than teaching guitar and maybe playing a Saturday service here and there. Now, I am there all the time. My old job had me around the Naperville place a lot more often. I had resposibilities taht centered around the YB. I even had a desk there. Now I don't. Maybe that is it, it still kind of represents what I was. I am not that anymore. I am a different person - as anyone who has read this blog the last 4-5 months can attest to. So, maybe it is the me of now still going into the place of the me then. Kind of like when you have that dream when you are in your old house but you know you have moved on from there. Except I haven't completely moved on from there. Other than a staff meeting here and there, I don't need to be there anymore. It doesn't matter really - I like everyone there. I love what I do and have some of the best co-workers anyone can ever have. It is just that it is so different. And that is not such a bad thing after all!

Movie Review

Nah, this isn't about the latest ones out. I have been catching up on a lot of flicks that I missed over the past couple years. I really only like going to the big theatre for "big" films like the "Dark Knight" (I-Max next week - I hope).

One film that I saw a couple years ago was the highly acclaimed "Syriana". I watched it on the plane to France back in 2006. Few movies come my way that frustrate me. This was one of them. After seeing it the first time I had really no idea what the film was really about (ever had that?). Sure there was stuff about oil companies, middle east affairs, terrorism, etc. but I never really got the movie. I figured maybe it is hard to watch a film like that on the plane and thought I will have to see it again. I finally did yesterday. I watched the whole thing. I still didn't really follow it well. I think that sometimes a film-maker can just get way over the head of its audience - they get too smart for their own good. The scenes continually were jumping around and everyone was talking fast. I couldn't really follow it well. It was hard most of the time to really engage with what the characters were involved with. Nonetheless, the film was highly acclaimed and had some Oscars to boot. I read somewhere that this is a movie that you have to see a couple times to really appreciate it (believe it or not, I had to see "Napoleon Dynamite" a second time to get it. But, man, the second time, it was one the funniest movies ever!). Maybe I will have to see Syriana again to see if that statement makes sense. Maybe in a couple more years...

I Don't Know What to Call This Post

There is something that I have been thinking about lately. I have been reading a lot of my most favoritist blog: "stuff christians like". It's funny and interesting to see how our "hip" church culture progresses and expresses itself. I know for me personally there are things I notice - like guitar styles (listen to most any Hillsong/Chris Tomlin/Crowder electric guitar. They have LOTS of songs with delays: Coldplay, U2-like sounds. Sometimes it almost sounds like it is the same guy playing on all of them - hmmm, I wonder...); appearance (see the blog from "stuffchristianslike" on grading how metrosexual your worship leader is: wearing them black horn-rim glasses, shirt tucked out, girl-jeans, gel in hair, "designer" coffee on stage, etc.).

I'll describe my personal challenge this way: back when I was learning guitar, everyone, and I mean everyone, who wanted to be a lead player was playing "Eruption" by Eddie Van Halen. You could go into any large music store, like Guitar Center, and hear numerous kids trying to play it. Well, I never learned it. In fact, I know very few Van Halen songs. Why? I wanted to be different - be my own player. It was because the fact that everyone else was doing it that I would rebel against it and NOT learn that stuff. It is probably why in later years (mid 80's) I took to the early "alternative music movement". Until it eventually became popular, it embraced the idea of being yourself and going against the grain. I absolutely loved it when, in the early 90's, grunge overthrew the hair bands of the 80's. It was overblown, pompous, and comical to the point of being absurd. Grunge said "later with that' and went against the grain. Of course, as in many things like that, it eventually became popular to the point of me looking for something else different. And the cycle went on...


So, as I am now in a different environment (at a church), I start to see trends where "everybody is doing it - everyone is looking that way". Electric guitars go delay crazy; too many black horn rimmed glasses looks (in fact, it is almost to the point where if I see someone like that on the street I begin thinking "I wonder what church they go to?"). I get this irrational thing going on in my head that I don't want to do that anymore (no, I never wore the glasses - although my daughter thinks I should!). It is becoming way overdone - kind of like an overdone filet mignion for you meat lovers out there! So now I am wanting to find some different way of playing, for example. The funny thing about that right now is that I am resorting to what a lot of the kids are doing and playing like I did back in the early 80's! I know it won't last (but I'm enjoying it a lot!).


Now, I am not complaining here. In fact, I am all about what is happening now and not living in the past. I always have been. I just think that sometimes I become a bit restless and want change sooner than what the culture presents. I'm not a trendsetter type and, unfortunately, need to see what else comes up. I need to take a lesson from last Sunday's service: have a little patience! Enjoy the moment.

And now I am going to head over to Starbucks to get my grande soy mocha without the whipped cream and listen to the new Coldplay CD (it is great) while I contemplate the newest delay sound I just got on my effects unit. For real.

Did I just contradict myself?

Rats!

It's not too far from your front door...

Today I went on one of my bike rides. For me it was only 34 miles but a very tough stretch. Probably because of the humidity and heat with a little wind. These things do happen sometimes, you just have to battle through it.

One of my favorite routes has a stop by Aux Sable Creek along the I & M bike trail (just a little SW of Minooka, IL). Today I stopped there for the first time this year (that is too late in the season!). It is an area that was an old lock from the days when the canal was used over 100 years ago. The locktenders "house" is still there. It is a very tranquil place. Rapidly running water offers a setting that is very relaxing. I could sit there for hours some times. It is a place I sometimes take the kids. When they were little they called it the "kerplunk trail" because they would always be throwing these large rocks in the canal to see how loud of a "kerplunk" the sound would be!

There might be many of you who know of this place. There are probably many who live nearby who don't even know it is there. How often do we miss some of these little treasure spots right near our front door? It always lends to an awesome experience when we "discover" them. All you have to do is take a few hours, or even a day, to spend at these places. Take time out of your busy day to look for them. You won't regret it!

FREEBIRD!!!

So I am sitting here right now at C the J in Romeoville. The band is warming up and is seriously playing Freebird. For real. Like, the whole entire jam.

I love this place...

Tournament Baseball

I almost forgot! Alec is on the Romeoville tournament baseball team. Our beloved Romeoville Cubs didn't fare so well at the end of last month. We ended up at 9-11 and lost out in the playoffs.

He got called up for the team a week ago. He didn't try out earlier and wasn't really sure about playing. He ended up taking up the offer. After a rainout yesterday, the first game today didn't fare so well, losing 11-1 to a team from Bloomington. It is a double-elimination tournament so we move on and play tomorrow at 1pm.

Some Advice

I have only one thing to say. For those of you who still have little 'uns: don't let your kids grow up to become teenagers! Just have God skip them from about 11 or 12 right to maybe 30. Yeah, that's it. No problem.

You think I'm kidding?

heh....

I Win!

Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! I just found out in a random email that I just won 3 million British Pounds in some lottery that I never even had to participate in! WOW! And, check this out, they even send you a letter! Whoa. And, even better, it is signed by Ms. Jessica Tony's personal coordinator herself with her picture below her signature! Well, I don't know about you but that sells it for me. All I have to do is send them my drivers license number and my passport number. I am sure Mr. Lawrence Roy (the contact they refer to) is such a nice and caring individual. Oh man, what a deal! It must be true! Check out the letter. I can't wait. I am so gullible. I will do it! You will see. I'll be rich!

FROM: THE DESK OF THE E-MAIL PROMOTIONS MANAGER INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT, MICROSOFT CORPORATION WORLD LOTTERY UNITED KINGDOM.61-70 SOUTHAMPTON ROW BLOOMSBURY LONDON UNITED KINGDOM WC1B 4AR.

REFERENCE NO: 475061725/08
BATCH NO: 705649092/188
WINNING NO: GB8701/LPRC
WINNER: NO17

ELECTRONIC EMAIL AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION AWARD PRESENTATION CENTER: UNITED KINGDOM

DEAR WINNER,

MICROSOFT CO-OPERATION MANAGEMENT WORLDWIDE ARE PLEASED TO INFORM YOU THAT YOU ARE A WINNER OF OUR ANNUAL MS-WORLD LOTTERY (MEGA JACKPOT LOTTO PROGRAMME) CONDUCTED ON 9TH OF JUN 2008

YOUR PERSONAL E-MAIL ADDRESS OR COMPANY EMAIL WAS ATTACHED TO THIS YEAR’S MSWLL. WITH SERIAL NUMBER 7741137002 DREW THE LUCKY NUMBERS 5-13-33-37-42, AND CONSEQUENTLY WON IN THE FIRST LOTTERY CATEGORY. YOU HAVE THEREFORE BEEN APPROVED FOR LUMP SUMS OF £3,000,000 (THREE MILLION BRITHISH POUND) PAYABLE IN CASH CREDITED TO FILE REF NO: ILP/HW 475061725/08 THIS IS FROM TOTAL PRIZE MONEY OF £ 18,000,000 BRITISH, SHARED AMONG THE SIX (6) LUCKY INTERNATIONAL WINNERS IN FIRST AND SECOND CATEGORY.

ALL PARTICIPANTS WERE SELECTED FROM WORLDWIDE A COMPUTER BALLOTING SYSTEM THROUGH OUR MICROSOFT COMPUTER BALLOT SYSTEM DRAWN FROM 21,000 NAMES, 3,000 NAMES FROM EACH CONTINENT (CANADA, ASIA, AUSTRALIA, UNITED STATE, EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA AND OCEANIA, AS PART OF INTERNATIONAL "E-MAIL" PROMOTIONS PROGRAMME, WHICH IS CONDUCTED ANNUALLY FOR OUR PROMINENT MS -WORD USERS ALL OVER THE WORLD TO ENCOURAGE THE USE OF INTERNET AND COMPUTERS WORLDWIDE.

YOUR FUND (CERTIFIED CHEQUE) HAS BEEN INSURED WITH YOUR REF NO: ILP/HW-475061725/08 AND WILL BE READY FOR TRANSFER AS SOON AS YOU CONTACT YOUR CLAIM AGENT MR LAWRENCE ROY.
YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS SHOULD BE USED IN ALL CORRESPONDENCE WITH YOUR CLAIMS OFFICER, PLEASE NOTE THAT, YOU ARE TO CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS OFFICER VIA EMAIL OR TELEPHONE AS WE ARE PROMOTING THE USE OF E-MAIL. ALSO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO CALL HIM TO CONFIRM YOUR WINNINGS AND GOVERNMENT TAX PAYMENT THAT IS ALL, AS HE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH THE NECESSARY DETAILS ON HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE. AS PART OF OUR SECURITY PROTOCOL YOU ARE TO QUOTE THIS SECURITY CODE MSW/JAN/XX08 TO YOUR CLAIMING AGENT. THIS IS TO PREVENT SCAM.


CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS AGENT OFFICER IN UNITED KINGDOM.
NAME: MR LAWRENCE ROYEMAIL:

NOTE: IN ORDER TO AVOID MISTAKES, PLEASE REMEMBER TO QUOTE YOUR REFERENCE AND BATCH NUMBERS AND YOUR SECURITY CODE OF MSW/JAN/XX08 IN ALL CORRESPONDENCES WITH YOUR CLAIMS OFFICER. DO NOT REPLY ANY OTHER MAILS LIKE THIS ON NET, AS THEY ARE A LOT OF SCAM ARTIST OUT THERE PRETENDING TO BE US.YOU MAY SEE MAILS LIKE THIS DO NOT REPLY. DO CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS OFFICER, MR LAWRENCE ROY IN UNITED KINGDOM. YOU WILL BE ASKED TO PROVIDE SOME DETAILS AND AS WELL LET YOU KNOW THE COUNTRIES OF THE PAYING CENTRES AND ALSO TO ENABLE THE OFFICE PROCEED WITH YOUR WINNING CERTIFICATE AND FILE KEEPING.

CONGRATULATIONS, ONCE MORE FROM THE ENTIRE MANAGEMENT AND STAFF OF MICROSOFT CO-OPERATION TO ALL OUR LUCKY WINNERS. THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THIS PROMOTIONAL LOTTERY PROGRAM. OUR SPECIAL THANKS AND GRATITUDE TO ALL THE ASSOCIATES FOR ALLEVIATING POVERTY ROUND THE WORLD.

SINCERELY.
MRS JESSICA TONY





MRS. TAKIYYAH A’ISHAH
(CO-COORDINTOR).

LOTTERY SPONSORS: CHIEF SPONSORS;

MICROSOFT CORPORATION UK, MICROSOFT CORPORATION AFRICA,
MICROSOFT CORPORATION USA, MICROSOFT CORPORATION ASIA.

NAME........................................................................................................
ADDRESS: ………………………………………………………………………
NATIONALITY: ...........................................................................................
SEX: ……… ……………………………………………………………………...AGE: ............................................................................................................
PHONE/MOBILE: ........................................................................................

FAX: ............................................................................................................
OCCUPATION: ...........................................................................................
COMPANY: .................................................................................................
SECURITY CODE: ......................................................................................

WINNING NO: ..............................................................................................

You are to send a scanned copy of your driving licensee. Or international passport.

Thanks.

Pastor Superheroes

So on my newest, favoritest blog site, stuffchristianslike, there is a post about comparing pastors to superheroes. It is great. So I am trying to think, to whom do we compare Dave and Jon to? I can't help but think that they are CCC's Batman and Robin (or as a consolation, Captain America (Dave) and the Green Arrow (Jon)).

Think about it....then stop thinking about it.

Please.

Stop.

7 Cubs

7 Cubs to the all star game this year! Most ever. This is a weird year: a lot of phrases like "first time ever" or "first (or most) since some year that was decades ago".

Now how about something like "for the first time in one hundred years they...".

No, I can't say it.

I........just.......can't......say......it!

Mouse In the House - Part 2

Late January of this year we had a mouse in the house (see the Jan. 28 post). It has been back the last several months. Here is what has transpired during that time:

• It avoided all mouse traps


• It avoided both cats and the dog (or maybe they avoided the mouse?)


• It avoided all attempts for us to catch it


• I even sealed up a gas pipe riser through the floor behind the stove where I thought it was using to come into the kitchen

On Saturday there was one thing that it didn't avoid. Yeah it was caught. Found dead. Lost its life to that one mouse villain that every house should have: our dishwasher. It must have got caught in the rinse cycle and either drowned, burned (hot water), or got tossed around by the thing that churns the water. Mary saw it and was grossed out. I heard about it on the phone and thought it was amusing (sorry you mouse lovers out there!). Naturally, I was the one to remove it.

Now the dishwasher is...squeaky clean! Ah, thank you very much ladies and gentlemen - I'll be here all day!

Challenge Yourself

The Joliet Bicycle Club has a 4th of July bike ride every year. I haven't been able to do one for some time. Last Friday I decided to do it. I have been very much behind in my riding this year due to bad weather and equipment problems. However, I felt this year was the time to get back to doing these sponsored rides. It is called a Metric ride because they offer riders to go 100k (62 miles). That is what I should be doing about now. They also offered 30 and 45 miles. I was planning on going 30 and seeing how things go to try for 45. I had a stretch into the wind where I was thinking "30 miles" until I rode by a rider with this on the back of their t-shirt: "Challenge Yourself". That motivated me, believe it or not. I mean, that is how we get better, isn't it? We push just a bit beyond where we are comfortable and our performance improves. So I decided to "go for it". Not only did I make it (the distance was really 47 miles) but I tabbed my best average speed of the year to date: 17 mph.

Victory.