Country Music Ruining My Life

Essentially the only genre of music I don't appreciate is country.

Today, when I went to lunch at Arby's they were broadcasting a country station through the speakers.  I didn't appreciate this.

In my confusion (I'm confident that music makes me lose common sense) and hurry (it's like torture) I left the restaurant without the coat I was wearing.

By the time I noticed and called, it was gone. 

Country music has passed annoyance, it has now ruined a lunch and stolen a coat from me.  Maybe i'll write a song about that!

Another Insight...

Jenny added another post to our adoption blog today...

Pastoral Holiday Choices

Because we work on so many holidays, Grace Fellowship has decided to just roll holidays into our "PTO" (paid time off) allotment.  Meaning, we don't take holidays off as a staff.  If we want the holiday off, we simply use our own PTO.  So for instance, I preached on Christmas morning.  Not exactly a day off work, so I won't take PTO for it.

We do however, also recognize that there are times that many of us will take our PTO and it isn't worth having the building open (with maintenance and office staff), for example, July 4th when not on a Sunday.  Today (Monday the 26th) was one of those days.  No building open, even though 4 of us were getting together for a meeting at 3:30.

I went in earlier and had to open the building by myself.  I was essentially alone all day until the meeting, when the other 3 showed up.  They took PTO for the rest of the day and just came in for our meeting.

I didn't actually accomplish much while I was there, but I put the hours in so I wouldn't have to use my PTO.  My holiday choices all now affect the time I have saved up to spend in Columbia when we travel (perverbially knocking on wood) to meet our future child.  So I'll sit in the building alone, tacking another day onto my stay in Columbia.

These are my pastor holiday choices.

When Santa Comes Early

There are occasions which bring Santa to a house earlier than Christmas.

I'm convinced that the elves at the North Pole are still jam packed with making all the toys to be delivered that night, but some gifts from Santa he needs to get out of the way early.

Home appliances fit that category...not really a gift, and definitely not made at the North Pole.  Something Santa has to go out of his way for and can do at any time of year.

We had him visit this week already.  He brought us a new vacuum.  Jenny jumped with joy like it was everything she would have actually asked Santa for, I found it mildly amusing.  Jenny even called it "her toy" when she was using it, a thought I'm comfortable with her keeping for a long time.

I think vacuums are one of the things that Santa will deliver early.

A Jury I Understand

Jenny and I watch Survivor.

We thoroughly enjoy watching it, and talking about our opinions of it.

This season was an interesting one, in that by the end, there wasn't anybody left I was rooting for to win, but also not anybody I was really strongly against.

I was fine with who the jury picked, it made sense, but what made more sense was the fact that they seemed more up in the air about their decision on the last night than is usual.

Me and the jury were finally on the same page.

Link of Awesomeness

Another post has been added in our adoption story on the Fearful. Wonderful. Secret. blog

Out of Tots!

A disappointing revelation when the waitress tells you that they are out of tator tots. 

More bad news came when she also told us that their custom brewed Ginger Ale was unavailable tonight.

Luckily, the dry rub wings are always delicious as well.  The third strike might have made me go crazy!

Done With Rehearsals

We've made it through all of our Christmas production rehearsals and I have yet to be fired from my lighting technician job.

I'll consider that a success...as it is too late for them to train a replacement now.

Looking forward to getting some actual performances under my belt now to pad any future resumes I may need to send out (I'm not planning on that anytime soon).

4 Performances coming.  Friday and Saturday nights at 7:00, Sunday morning at 9:00 and 10:30.

Hope I don't screw it all up now.

It Doesn't Slow Down

The holiday season isn't the relaxing time of reflecting on the birth of Christ I would want it to be.

In fact, things are often busier for me.  Our Church (and I hope most) are hoping to help others reflect on Christ and as such our workload is increased.  I had a staff commitment for every weekend in December.  Not just Sundays, I mean every weekend, either Friday night, Saturday night, or both...and often Saturday during the day as well.

This week, there isn't an evenening that won't have some form of "extra" hours spent at the church except Thursday when my "normal" hours keep me there until late anyway.

While it hasn't been slow on the schedule though, I've felt about as peaceful and low stressed as possible for all that's going on. 

Hoping that continues as this week's schedule remains the most hectic, until the next weekend shows up :)

White Elephant Gift Exchanges

Tomorrow night is our staff XChristmas party.  We are to bring a $5ish dollar gift to play the gift exchange game with.

Best idea so far...Stop at a Subway on the way and pick up a Five Dollar Foot Long.

I think I've convinced one of my co-workers to actually do this, and to order my favorite sandwich.  I will then pick it, eat it, and nobody can steal it from me.

This is the most genius Christmas party idea we've ever come up with.

Fearful. Wonderful. Secret. (Awesome)

I won't re-post everything here, but it's begun.

A joint blog from Jenny and I that will tell our adoption story.  The story we are beginning to participate in, that we see God authoring.

I'll post a link here anytime my blog for the day is about adoption (so you only need to check one place if you are already accustomed to that), but all of those posts will be kept on their own separate blog.

"The Beginning" of this process has been posted.  Or find that blog linked on the right side of this page!

Epic Post Looming

It's in Creation!

T-Minus 1 day to the epic "Fearful. Wonderful. Secret" post!

Expectation level:  Awesome!

Basketball? Really?

Some of the guys at our church are joining a basketball league.

I'm going to be on the team.

I'm not good at basketball.

I haven't played a lot of organized sports that I don't stay good at.  I tend to just not sign up for those things, but this team needed some more people, and I'm still fairly athletic.  I'll be the guy at the end of the bench only coming in when all the other old farts (other meaning I'm included) decide they need a short breather.

My goal will just be to not foul out of too many games.

Not the Special One

Sorry for the improper hype, I don't have the time to dedicate to the "special" upcoming post today, but it will happen before Jenny returns.

Got to spend this weekend hosting "The Skit Guys" at our church.  They are hilarious (a two-person skit driven comedy team if you don't know them) and are worth watching on youtube, even though they are much better live.

They are also far funnier when off-stage than they are on.  Over the course of the weekend, I spent roughly 8 hours with them, and had a great time getting to know them.

10 Days and Counting

Jenny is leaving me tomorrow for 10 days.

I'll try to still be alive when she gets back, otherwise she might not have a ride home from the airport.

Excited however, for my next blog (the first while she is actually out of town).

Been planning on it for a while, but the freedom for it doesn't come until she is away...

Prepare yoursevles.

She Gets Me

Birthday things from Jenny:

Junk Food (oreos)
Fast Food (chipotle gift card)
Buffet Food (all i can eat crab)

This woman understands me!