A Different 4th

Posted on 07/04/2008 by RLW3

This is quite a different 4th of July.

We haven’t really made a bunch of new friends yet so a BBQ picnic is out. And three of our children are in other states! We are down to three this weekend!

It is times like these that lead me to question my decision to move. I know that it was the right decision but that doesn’t mean that there is no pain or discomfort accompanying it.

Sometimes I am marvel at the enormity of the upheaval in our lives, in my life.

I was already reeling a little at the change of season that I am facing in my life before we actually moved.

In addition to that, I left the house that I had personally built and lived in for the last 19 years.

I left the church that I have attended since I was converted to Christ 27 years ago.

I left the state that I have lived in for 31 years.

All of the boundaries that helped to stabilize me are gone. I, we, are really starting over.

I did this once before when I left New Jersey to move to California. However, I was 17 then, very naive and oblivious to any possibility of failure. Now, I am 48, a little bit wiser and very aware of my limitations.

I suppose that I could look at the removal of the boundaries through the lens of being given complete freedom. However, the increase of freedom requires an increase in responsibility. In my weaker moments, I wonder if I am up to it. On days like today, I have more questions than answers.

How will we celebrate this holiday in the future? With whom? What are my plans for our family going forward in the future?

I am sure the answers will come when they are needed, but this morning I woke up with lots of questions.

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Dad, am I flying Southwest?

Posted on 07/03/2008 by RLW3

Twenty minutes into the drive to the airport, my youngest daughter asked me this question! She is flying to Dallas to spend some time with her oldest sister.

“Did you print out your itinerary?”

“No.”

“Then how do you know what airline you are flying on?”

“Well, I know my verification number.”

“But you don’t know which airline. You don’t even know which terminal. Are you going to just walk around saying ‘My verification number is _ _ _ _. Is this my airline?”

She flipped open her phone.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m going online to check it.”

“Honey, we haven’t signed up for Internet access. That is going to be a very expensive call.”

She scrunched her face at the bad news…then smiled when she found the necessary information.

“Honey, after you pay for that call, I think you might be more likely to remember to print out your itinerary next time. I think that you will find that it is MUCH cheaper!”

We arrived at the airport in plenty of time. She got her boarding pass and was off to Dallas for some wonderful time with her sister.

I wonder how much AT&T charges to access the Internet…

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Alfred Hitchcock is dead

Posted on 06/30/2008 by RLW3

About 1/2 mile into my morning run this morning, I ran by a tree and was attacked by a bird! I mean I the bird actually made contact with my hair and then screeched!

When I turned my head to look to see what was going on, the bird let me know in no uncertain terms that this was not a mistake on his part! He flapped and held his ground about a foot over me and followed me to the next tree!

Someone evidently forgot to inform him (or perhaps it was a her!) that they are no longer holding auditions for the movie and that Al is dead.

I just kept running.

Posted in Physical | 1 Comment

The Last Breakfast

Posted on 06/29/2008 by RLW3

After service, our family ate The Last Breakfast at IHOP. Good food, fast service.

I am so full that I am actually starting to look forward to the fast…

I just have to eat that piece of cheesecake tonight and then I’ll be ready!

Posted in Family | 1 Comment

My next book?

Posted on 06/29/2008 by RLW3

I weighed myself first thing this morning, as is my custom.

I have gained 3.4 pounds in the last two days!

That would make a great book title:  

How I gained 3.4 pounds in just 2 days! You can do it too!

But, this is what I normally do before I go on an extended fast. Both my body and my emotions fear that I will never eat again, or that I will die on the fast so, like a bear before winter, I bulk up!
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Fresh doesn’t mean fresh

Posted on 06/28/2008 by RLW3

With the 40 day fast rapidly approaching, my wife and I went out to eat at our favorite restaurant for our last dinner date, The Cheesecake Factory. While she was figuring out what we would eat, I looked at the page on the menu with all of the different types of cheesecake on it in anticipation of my favorite dessert.

There it was…

Fresh Banana Cream Cheesecake!

The word Fresh really stuck out to me. Oh, my goodness, I could already taste it!

We ordered the appetizer, the main dish, our drinks and dessert all at the same time. 

When we finished our meal, our waiter asked if we would like any dessert. I politely reminded him that we had already requested Banana Cream Cheesecake.

He returned with BAD news: “It’s not completely thawed yet.”

THAWED??? Buy your menu says “Fresh.”

He apologized.

Crushed with disappointment, I let my wife reorder the dessert.

“How about key lime cheesecake?”

“That’s frozen too.”

My wife then ordered some really complicated thing…vanilla, macadamia nut, caramel something or other.

We ate it. It was REALLY sweet. And there was hardly any cheesecake in it!

The waiter returned with the bill and confidently asked how we liked the pie.

I chose to be honest: “I didn’t. I would have preferred just a plain piece of cheesecake.”

He said, “I feel bad. We didn’t have your first two requests. Would you like a piece of regular cheesecake on me.”

Now, our waiter was probably balding because he had shaved his head. When he said that, I could have resisted, but I didn’t. His words painted such a vivid picture in my imagination that I said “Won’t that mess up your hair?”

He burst out laughing and then went and brought us a piece to go for free!

Posted in Marriage | Comments Off on Fresh doesn’t mean fresh

The next BIG step!

Posted on 06/28/2008 by RLW3

Our second daughter called to inform me that she is moving to Nashville in two weeks!

The mother of the bride has a particular fondness for our daughter and has agreed to let her stay with their family until she gets on her feet!

She has already applied for and received a transfer to the Olive Garden restaurant in their neighborhood and has made an appointment to meet with the manager on the 14th of next month!

“That’s great!”

“But, Dad,…(long pause)…I don’t have any way to get there…I was wondering…if…you…could…

It was as if her mouth stopped working because the words barely made it out as she said “help…me…get there.”

It turns out that she doesn’t think that her car can make it.

“Yes, honey. I will help you get there.”

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Watermelon never ceases to amaze me

Posted on 06/28/2008 by RLW3

This morning, while eating a slice of watermelon, I had an epiphany. You can read about it here.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

I should have known this

Posted on 06/28/2008 by RLW3

Reminder to self: DO NOT DRINK CHAI TEA AFTER 9:00 PM!

It makes it VERY difficult to get to sleep.

We went to pray tonight because our youngest daughter’s worship team lead the 8:00-10:00 service at the main prayer room last night. They (and she) did VERY well.

It was at about 9:20 when the not quite irresistible urge for a Vanilla Chai hit me. I gave in and as you can see, I am STILL awake.

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The blog has launched!!!

Posted on 06/27/2008 by RLW3

Yesterday I officially launched this blog! By that, I mean I sent out an e-mail to my friends to inform them that it existed. I have to tell you that it is thrilling!

I have been planning this for years. I have owned the domain name for 2 1/2 years! My wife and a few of my friends have been encouraging me to write for nearly a decade.

I have come to understand why so few people venture out and do anything creative. It is very hard!

I was probably further behind on the technology curve than most. However, with that said, I have had to learn how to use the blogging software, how to download/upload widgets and plugins, how to write a little code, figure out how to set up new e-mail accounts on the host server and then get my mail software to talk to it, etc., etc., etc.

Then there was the time commitment to write enough posts to make the blog worth visiting. Then I had to learn to write (hopefully) interesting posts that people will actually enjoy reading!

So, this is the beginning!

Thank you for being a part. Thank you for reading. I hope that you enjoy what you read as much as I enjoy writing it.

Posted in Goals | Tagged | 4 Comments