Our local news tonight offered two stories as teasers before the news: there's road construction on the campus of Black Hills State University (a small school nearly 400 miles away) and the cost of paint is going up.
Tomorrow night's news: there are traffic cones in Pukwana and the cost of drapes is going up.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Obedience
Oh how I love lessons in obedience. Unfortunately, I feel like I've been teaching a lot more of them as our free spirited, beauty of a four year old Maia seems to take direction about as well as a compass in a magnet store. A common response to us finally getting fed up when she has ignored our third directive to do something and the threat of punishment is imminent is, "Sorry, sorry."
My standard response to her has become, "Don't be sorry. Be obedient."
I don't know how many times we have had this exchange over the summer, but it's been a lot.
Another favorite phrase at our house that applies to both kids is "Delayed obedience is disobedience." Xander heard this a lot when he was younger and seems to grasp the idea. We haven't used this one as much with Maia yet since even delayed obedience would be a step forward.
She's such a joy (and I mean that in sincerity with all the love a father can feel) and brightens our lives in ways that can't be described, only experienced. Yet, there's the hope that she will grow into a young lady who is not only fun and delightful to be around, but also respects those around her enough to show obedience and grace.
When I look inward, I wonder how many of these lessons I have yet to really embrace myself. If I truly desire a life of Christlike obedience where what I say and what I do are intimately mated, then there's a lot of room for improvement. I find myself with so much on my plate that I keep putting things off until they absolutely have to be done. I'm reminded that "Delayed obedience is disobedience." I trip up in my attitude, actions and heart and am compelled to say "I'm sorry." I hear, "Don't be sorry. Be obedient." I keep learning and praying that God will grant me the grace to put what I learn into practice.
My standard response to her has become, "Don't be sorry. Be obedient."
I don't know how many times we have had this exchange over the summer, but it's been a lot.
Another favorite phrase at our house that applies to both kids is "Delayed obedience is disobedience." Xander heard this a lot when he was younger and seems to grasp the idea. We haven't used this one as much with Maia yet since even delayed obedience would be a step forward.
She's such a joy (and I mean that in sincerity with all the love a father can feel) and brightens our lives in ways that can't be described, only experienced. Yet, there's the hope that she will grow into a young lady who is not only fun and delightful to be around, but also respects those around her enough to show obedience and grace.
When I look inward, I wonder how many of these lessons I have yet to really embrace myself. If I truly desire a life of Christlike obedience where what I say and what I do are intimately mated, then there's a lot of room for improvement. I find myself with so much on my plate that I keep putting things off until they absolutely have to be done. I'm reminded that "Delayed obedience is disobedience." I trip up in my attitude, actions and heart and am compelled to say "I'm sorry." I hear, "Don't be sorry. Be obedient." I keep learning and praying that God will grant me the grace to put what I learn into practice.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
If I'm not carefull I'll develop a reputation
I had a couple of interesting complements at work over the weekend that I thought were rather humorous. The first one is not so uncommon, but the enthusiasm with which it was delivered made it so. I had a junior high kid ask where the skateboard stuff was and after I gave him directions he said (again, enthusiastically), "You rock, dude!".
So, let it be known that I, indeed, rock.
The same day there was a lady in looking to buy a heavy bag (punching bag) and a pair of gloves. She was buying them for her place of employment where, apparently, several women work who carry a fair amount of tension. The customer was buying the bag so that when one of her coworkers needs to let off some steam, they can throw on the gloves, give the bag a beating and go about their business.
When she first arrived in the store, she got a little short with the manager who first tried to help assist her because he didn't look directly at her and she is somewhat hearing impaired and reads lips. I made a point of maintaining eye contact and took a little extra time making sure that communication was happening because it didn't seem like it would take much to piss her off. I think she appreciated it and I was the only one she communicated with that she didn't seem to get at least a little put out with.
I hooked her up with a 70 pound heavy bag and a pair of gloves and after I loaded it into the car she said (I kid you not), "You have pleased many women."
So, let it be know that I have pleased many women.
Wait, I don't think that came out quite right...
So, let it be known that I, indeed, rock.
The same day there was a lady in looking to buy a heavy bag (punching bag) and a pair of gloves. She was buying them for her place of employment where, apparently, several women work who carry a fair amount of tension. The customer was buying the bag so that when one of her coworkers needs to let off some steam, they can throw on the gloves, give the bag a beating and go about their business.
When she first arrived in the store, she got a little short with the manager who first tried to help assist her because he didn't look directly at her and she is somewhat hearing impaired and reads lips. I made a point of maintaining eye contact and took a little extra time making sure that communication was happening because it didn't seem like it would take much to piss her off. I think she appreciated it and I was the only one she communicated with that she didn't seem to get at least a little put out with.
I hooked her up with a 70 pound heavy bag and a pair of gloves and after I loaded it into the car she said (I kid you not), "You have pleased many women."
So, let it be know that I have pleased many women.
Wait, I don't think that came out quite right...
Sunday, July 20, 2008
I wish I could say I was surprised
I know it's a few days late, but I wanted to comment on the positive drug tests of Ricardo Ricco and the subsequent firing and confession of his teamate Leonardo Piepoli. I expressed my disgust about the arrogance of Ricco last week on the blog and censored myself from saying that I wished he would just test positive so that he'd go away. Unfortunately, I got my wish.
I really was hoping that any doping reports from this year's race would be from domestiques who rarely showed their faces at the front of the race. While Ricco testing positive isn't quite as bad as Rasmussen being removed from the race while in the yellow jersey, you hate to see a stage winner (much less a multiple stage winner) cast such a shadow over the race. The fact that Piepoli (who won a stage the day after Ricco's second win) has confessed to it as well means that we now have three stages of this year's race that were won by riders who I hope never ride a bike again professionally.
If there is any positive from this situation it's the fact that a test was in place for a relatively new drug. When I heard Ricco had tested positive for a very specific form of EPO it left very little doubt as to his guilt. After all, he has stated that he has a naturally high hemocrit level which is often an indicator of performance enhancing and because of that naturally high level, a positive test based on hemocrit levels without the presence of a specific drug would put the testing in doubt. The collaborative effort between drug manufacturers and drug testers to develop a conclusive test so quickly after a drug's introduction to market is something that the cycling community should hail as the sport continues to try to change its culture into one of clean sport.
I think David Millar from the Garmin-Chipotle team put it well when he stated that it will take years to reach a point where there are no positive tests that come from a high profile race like the Tour de France and that we need to take the long view. My hope is that we're working toward a day where we can begin to believe again in all of the performances that we see play out in France in July and I think this was an important step toward that dream. The fact this incident took out an arrogant, obnoxious jerk (it's times like this that I wish I was capable of stronger language) is merely a consolation to the shadow that Ricco and those like him have cast on the Tour.
I will go on record as saying that I hope that Ricco owns up to what he's done, serves out his (assumed) suspension and returns to cycling with the resolve that David Millar showed after getting caught several years ago. Ricco is a talented, young rider with a lot of career in front of him and I would love to see him come back more humble and an advocate for clean sport.
I really was hoping that any doping reports from this year's race would be from domestiques who rarely showed their faces at the front of the race. While Ricco testing positive isn't quite as bad as Rasmussen being removed from the race while in the yellow jersey, you hate to see a stage winner (much less a multiple stage winner) cast such a shadow over the race. The fact that Piepoli (who won a stage the day after Ricco's second win) has confessed to it as well means that we now have three stages of this year's race that were won by riders who I hope never ride a bike again professionally.
If there is any positive from this situation it's the fact that a test was in place for a relatively new drug. When I heard Ricco had tested positive for a very specific form of EPO it left very little doubt as to his guilt. After all, he has stated that he has a naturally high hemocrit level which is often an indicator of performance enhancing and because of that naturally high level, a positive test based on hemocrit levels without the presence of a specific drug would put the testing in doubt. The collaborative effort between drug manufacturers and drug testers to develop a conclusive test so quickly after a drug's introduction to market is something that the cycling community should hail as the sport continues to try to change its culture into one of clean sport.
I think David Millar from the Garmin-Chipotle team put it well when he stated that it will take years to reach a point where there are no positive tests that come from a high profile race like the Tour de France and that we need to take the long view. My hope is that we're working toward a day where we can begin to believe again in all of the performances that we see play out in France in July and I think this was an important step toward that dream. The fact this incident took out an arrogant, obnoxious jerk (it's times like this that I wish I was capable of stronger language) is merely a consolation to the shadow that Ricco and those like him have cast on the Tour.
I will go on record as saying that I hope that Ricco owns up to what he's done, serves out his (assumed) suspension and returns to cycling with the resolve that David Millar showed after getting caught several years ago. Ricco is a talented, young rider with a lot of career in front of him and I would love to see him come back more humble and an advocate for clean sport.
Running, running, running...
Amy and the kids were gone for the weekend for Amy's 18th class reunion and I was overbooked and am exhausted. I think I slept for about five minutes this afternoon, but I think it will take a good night's sleep or two to recover from the weekend. I was stuck working 12-9 pm both Friday and Saturday or I would have gone with Amy. Throw in a trip to The Dark Knight, an extra rehearsal with Mike our drummer and a long morning at church and you have the perfect recipe for me running on fumes.
I can't really complain though. I have been looking forward to The Dark Knight since I first heard about it, not just since Heath Ledger's unfortunate death or since the glowing reviews started coming in. Since the opportunity presented itself, I decided to go on Friday night after work. I don't think there's anything else I can say that hasn't already been said, but it was an amazing movie that lives up to the hype and is of rare quality for a July release. It is a dramatic re-imagining of The Joker from performance to appearance to motivation and immediately places this incarnation of the character among the greatest movie villains ever. An immensely dark movie that easily should have earned an R rating and that I will not let Xander watch for several more years.
I had originally intended to check out Jazz Fest after work on Saturday, but I was already running on fumes and decided to save my energy for Sunday morning instead. With as much time as I spent at work Friday and Saturday I was pleased to have good days in sales to make it worth my while since I missed seeing so many of my friends at Amy's reunion. I'm really bummed to have missed John, but will probably give him a call soon just to reconnect.
With as hectic as the weekend was and as many extra things that I had to do for this morning's services, things went okay. We had some technical issues and I'm thinking I need to take a more active role in training our video volunteers, but in spite of a few hiccups, people seemed to connect through worship and that's what we should be concerned with. I keep hoping that we'll hit a stretch where everything just clicks and I place the blame primarily on myself. Full time ministry definitely makes for better focus and I need to figure out what I can do differently to make sure that ministry isn't just getting what's left of my time and attention after taking into account my full time job, family and hobbies. I may not have more time to give to my responsibilities in ministry, but I have to find ways to more effectively use what I have. I feel like I'm ready for a breakthrough. Hopefully, there will be more to come on this topic.
As for the full time gig, things continue to plug along well. This week will begin the transition from our summer seasons to winter seasons, so we will begin to see less bikes and begin resetting my youth cold weather shop. "What?!!," you say. "It's still July!" Yes, I know, but back to school is almost upon us and we need to get things rolling. I'll spend some time reacquainting myself with Columbia, North Face, Burton and others as we start the process that will carry us through until next March. Nothing like eight months of zipping coats to make you long for the beginning of the next bike season.
I can't really complain though. I have been looking forward to The Dark Knight since I first heard about it, not just since Heath Ledger's unfortunate death or since the glowing reviews started coming in. Since the opportunity presented itself, I decided to go on Friday night after work. I don't think there's anything else I can say that hasn't already been said, but it was an amazing movie that lives up to the hype and is of rare quality for a July release. It is a dramatic re-imagining of The Joker from performance to appearance to motivation and immediately places this incarnation of the character among the greatest movie villains ever. An immensely dark movie that easily should have earned an R rating and that I will not let Xander watch for several more years.
I had originally intended to check out Jazz Fest after work on Saturday, but I was already running on fumes and decided to save my energy for Sunday morning instead. With as much time as I spent at work Friday and Saturday I was pleased to have good days in sales to make it worth my while since I missed seeing so many of my friends at Amy's reunion. I'm really bummed to have missed John, but will probably give him a call soon just to reconnect.
With as hectic as the weekend was and as many extra things that I had to do for this morning's services, things went okay. We had some technical issues and I'm thinking I need to take a more active role in training our video volunteers, but in spite of a few hiccups, people seemed to connect through worship and that's what we should be concerned with. I keep hoping that we'll hit a stretch where everything just clicks and I place the blame primarily on myself. Full time ministry definitely makes for better focus and I need to figure out what I can do differently to make sure that ministry isn't just getting what's left of my time and attention after taking into account my full time job, family and hobbies. I may not have more time to give to my responsibilities in ministry, but I have to find ways to more effectively use what I have. I feel like I'm ready for a breakthrough. Hopefully, there will be more to come on this topic.
As for the full time gig, things continue to plug along well. This week will begin the transition from our summer seasons to winter seasons, so we will begin to see less bikes and begin resetting my youth cold weather shop. "What?!!," you say. "It's still July!" Yes, I know, but back to school is almost upon us and we need to get things rolling. I'll spend some time reacquainting myself with Columbia, North Face, Burton and others as we start the process that will carry us through until next March. Nothing like eight months of zipping coats to make you long for the beginning of the next bike season.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Getting back into playing shape
As we start to stare the end of summer in the face, I begin my annual "will I/won't I" ritual where the trumpet is concerned. Usually I spend a little time tryin to get into playing shape only to discover that I don't have any students to teach at USF which allows me to slide back into brass hibernation. I haven't taught in a year and a half and haven't played with any organized group for more than a song on a Sunday morning since 1999, so I flirt with the instrument and begin to reestablish some conditioning all in vain.
This year is a little different though. There are rumored to be two trumpet majors coming to USF (time will tell) which means I should get to teach and there is a faculty recital at the end of October where I will be performing a piece on recital for the first time since my Master's Recital in 1997. I'm planning on doing Enesco's "Legend" which is short, expressive and fairly technical, so I won't be able to fake my way through it. Amy is accompanying me and is ready to begin practicing together. I am not, though I hope to be able to begin working together by the end of the month. She's also preparing for a September voice recital and has been doing great work, so she's inspiring me to get my butt in gear and get down to business.
I have to admit that the recital is good motivation since my philosophy for lessons has been that I only need to play just a little bit better than my students. With everything else that I have going on I simply can't devote the time to the instrument that I would need in order to be proficient, but I keep working to improve in the time I have. Thankfully, I also can teach without having to demonstrate much. Past experience has shown me that I can pull a lot from a student without having to play much, but I would still like to be able to do duets and sightread together which will be a bigger challenge for me this year as I sold my B-flat trumpet and purchased a C trumpet as my only teaching instrument. This means I will have to sight transpose with students and play things in a key other than what I see on the page. I did this a lot in grad school, but that was two lifetimes ago.
On a side note, I did finally finish paying off the trumpet that I bought in March and now I can begin to focus my energies on saving for either another guitar (since Nich moved my guitar playing is having to take on a new importance) or a new bike. I figure I'll save awhile and see what direction I want to take, but I am thrilled that I've got the trumpet payed for without a penny of interest!
This year is a little different though. There are rumored to be two trumpet majors coming to USF (time will tell) which means I should get to teach and there is a faculty recital at the end of October where I will be performing a piece on recital for the first time since my Master's Recital in 1997. I'm planning on doing Enesco's "Legend" which is short, expressive and fairly technical, so I won't be able to fake my way through it. Amy is accompanying me and is ready to begin practicing together. I am not, though I hope to be able to begin working together by the end of the month. She's also preparing for a September voice recital and has been doing great work, so she's inspiring me to get my butt in gear and get down to business.
I have to admit that the recital is good motivation since my philosophy for lessons has been that I only need to play just a little bit better than my students. With everything else that I have going on I simply can't devote the time to the instrument that I would need in order to be proficient, but I keep working to improve in the time I have. Thankfully, I also can teach without having to demonstrate much. Past experience has shown me that I can pull a lot from a student without having to play much, but I would still like to be able to do duets and sightread together which will be a bigger challenge for me this year as I sold my B-flat trumpet and purchased a C trumpet as my only teaching instrument. This means I will have to sight transpose with students and play things in a key other than what I see on the page. I did this a lot in grad school, but that was two lifetimes ago.
On a side note, I did finally finish paying off the trumpet that I bought in March and now I can begin to focus my energies on saving for either another guitar (since Nich moved my guitar playing is having to take on a new importance) or a new bike. I figure I'll save awhile and see what direction I want to take, but I am thrilled that I've got the trumpet payed for without a penny of interest!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Interesting Tour
This year's Tour de France has been fairly interesting to this point and still has many strong contenders in most of the competitions (the overall race win is just one of the awards at stake). Kim Kirchen's race lead has been a surprise to say the least, but he's always been a decent rider and could surprise and hold on for a podium spot by the time all is said and done. You do have to wonder how so much time defending the race lead will effect him and how much it will wear on his team. It's times like that Columbia has to be happy to have a guy like George Hincapie who knows a thing or two about working for the Tour leader (seven times for Lance and last year for Alberto Contador).
On that note, for the first time we have two U.S. registered teams in the Tour. Columbia Sportswear and Garmin-Chipotle are serving as title sponsors for teams that started the year as Team Highroad and Slipstream powered by Chipotle. Both teams were essentially competing under the names of the teams' management companies before new sponsors were announced in June.
Both teams have had a fair amount of success to this point. Columbia not only has Kirchen in the race lead and points lead (a competition that generally awards the most consistent finisher on each day's racing) but they have two stage wins with sprinter Mark Cavendish and had several days with Thomas Lovkvist as the best young rider. Garmin-Chipotle currently has American Christian Vande Velde in third place and actually led the team classification for most of the first week.
It always seems like there is one guy that wins that I just flat out can't stand. Usually it's Robbie McEwen, but he's been out of the picture with his entire team devoting their efforts to helping Cadel Evans win the overall race. Instead it's been Italian climber Ricardo Ricco who has been the most obnoxious winner taking both Thursday's and today's stages. He's a phenomenal climber in the mold of the late, great Marco Pantani who just flies up hills and makes everybody else look like me when the road turns upward (only they're much, much better than I am).
Ricco is a rider that has a tendency to say what's on his mind, for better or for worse, and has managed to alienate a good portion of the pro cycling world. His attitude is arrogant as evidenced by his post race comments from today: "I was impressive, I went very fast [on the final climb]. My directeur sportif was impressed with my power output the last three kilometres of the climb." That sound you hear is me puking. Yes it was impressive, but what a schmuck.
I would say there are maybe a half dozen guys capable of winning the whole thing, but there's a lot of racing left and just about anything can happen. It should be fun.
On that note, for the first time we have two U.S. registered teams in the Tour. Columbia Sportswear and Garmin-Chipotle are serving as title sponsors for teams that started the year as Team Highroad and Slipstream powered by Chipotle. Both teams were essentially competing under the names of the teams' management companies before new sponsors were announced in June.
Both teams have had a fair amount of success to this point. Columbia not only has Kirchen in the race lead and points lead (a competition that generally awards the most consistent finisher on each day's racing) but they have two stage wins with sprinter Mark Cavendish and had several days with Thomas Lovkvist as the best young rider. Garmin-Chipotle currently has American Christian Vande Velde in third place and actually led the team classification for most of the first week.
It always seems like there is one guy that wins that I just flat out can't stand. Usually it's Robbie McEwen, but he's been out of the picture with his entire team devoting their efforts to helping Cadel Evans win the overall race. Instead it's been Italian climber Ricardo Ricco who has been the most obnoxious winner taking both Thursday's and today's stages. He's a phenomenal climber in the mold of the late, great Marco Pantani who just flies up hills and makes everybody else look like me when the road turns upward (only they're much, much better than I am).
Ricco is a rider that has a tendency to say what's on his mind, for better or for worse, and has managed to alienate a good portion of the pro cycling world. His attitude is arrogant as evidenced by his post race comments from today: "I was impressive, I went very fast [on the final climb]. My directeur sportif was impressed with my power output the last three kilometres of the climb." That sound you hear is me puking. Yes it was impressive, but what a schmuck.
I would say there are maybe a half dozen guys capable of winning the whole thing, but there's a lot of racing left and just about anything can happen. It should be fun.
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