We went to the big city over Columbus day, and found the Botanical gardens to be a pleasant morning's stroll. the night before we stayed at the Bonner House Inn, which is in a beautiful old neighbourhood within walking distance of some "upscale" Mexican food. One of these days, we'll make a veranda of our own to mirror this one.

Kermit flies the desert

While he's gone, allergy season sets in and gives every other person the heavy eye, the nasal voice, the alligator cough. The time has come for a few friends to take their leave, passing on to happier flying grounds. Those left behind are rather forlorn.

Take a drive

join millions of Texans in the Left Lane: http://in-left-lane.blogspot.com/

two great names

Belle and Sebastian. Do you mind if I steal them from your husband's witty hand, Rachel?

Musty Musings

The subject of South Texas I think deserves a blog all to itself, like a book in the making, a virtual dream never to be inflicted upon future generations to read. But--on second thought-- somebody must warn them! Thus, when I find this blog, I'll give you the link and dedicate it to my two friends who are transplanted north landers. Not alone in their sentiments, these women live as iconic reality to me of man's struggle in the wilderness of a tormented earth (see Romans 20-22).

Goshawk Video

Follow the link to access a short video of the mighty T-45 in action... It takes about a minute to load.

Mustachioed No More

There are no words to describe what myself and 24 other guys did this past weekend except Wow! I have never felt the personal effects of prayer as I have over the past few weeks. For those of you out there praying...Thank You!
While I am extraordinarily thankful that the Det went off safely and successfully, Electra and the other wive are especially thankful that their husbands were finally able to shave their mustaches off!

Confessions

We like to write our deepest thoughts and reveal our innermost secret selves--to the right unassuming, non-invasive, sensitive crowd. In Confessions of an Organized Homemaker, Deniece Schofield reveals that the dirt in her house provoked a radical rebellion in her psuedo-messy life: throw out the perfectionism. She preaches the professional approach to housework. Make into a science what one always thought mundane. Of her top Six Principles of Organization, my favourites are "Be motion minded"--store things where you use them, and have duplicate copies of things to store at the place of useage--and "Use accrued benefits," ie., form good habits for the every-day jobs we do. Before I can get control of my house, I have to get some control of myself.

Method To The Madness

Electra and I once again began discussing how we should organize our bookshelves. This discussion comes up every few months, especially when we go looking for a book and can not find it. I have been reluctant to start this task, and not just because it is a big job, but for some other reason that I just have not been able to put my finger in until just the other day.

Electra and I were out with some friends who are also avid readers and we were describing our need to organize our shelves. Their response really struck me as to exactly why I do not want to perfectly organize our library...They said that their bookshelves tell a story. A history if you will on what they have been struggling through, what they are thinking about, and what their interests have been.

Of course! That is brilliant! And it explains perfectly why we have The Art of War next to The Pity of War, Umberto Eco next to Tom Wolfe, C.S. Lewis next to Kant, Modern Art next to Schaeffer's Addicted to Mediocrity. And the list goes on. Once again, this proves to me that just when some things seem to be the most disordered, we find them to make perfect sense.

clouds

Hanging low over the fields, we get little sprinkles in bursts over the newly ploughed land, calming the dust with the soft hands of water drops. Cool breezes chase each other every evening through the gnarled old trees. Summer shows signs of age, the sun running her abbreviated marathon across the sky.

time marches on, and off again

Herbie finds it highly entertaining these days to nip a leg accompanied by an ear busting contata of woofs. Nearing a year old, he's feeling his new age with assertive demands for attention; yes, me now, please. And then he tries to eat the ant bait. One goes to bed in mortal fear of waking to a deadly deflated Herbs. I would then miss his air shattering barks.

Music Makes the World Go 'Round

I really do not have a good ear for music, which is a bit hard to believe due to the size of my ears. I can't carry a tune with a wheelbarrow, and I am so uneducated that I can still not tell you the difference between Mozart and Bach. My gracious wife is working with me on the above items...so, I won't be dumb forever.

However, I love music, especially good music. Music inspires me, it relaxes me, helps me study, and helps me focus on things loftier than things here on terra firma. I have found that I enjoy different music during different parts of the day, and even different music on different days of the week.

Mornings and mid-days find me enjoying Jack Johnson or G-Love. Their folksy, relaxing rythms keep me in a "Chilled out" state and help me remain laid back when my mind is trying to do anything but be laid back. Evenings/ Early Mornings find me enjoying H.E.M. or Over The Rhine. The smooth, beautiful, artisitic sounds of these two groups wrap me up in a big hug of sound as I try to unwind and soothe the adrenaline flowing through my veins after a late night flight. (I have found a little help from Uncle Jack helps as well, you know, the one from Lynchburg, TN) Weekends find me enjoying all of the above, but I have to have my fill of Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson as well. These two keep me humble and focused on what really matters...they sing about life.

I am so thankful for music, for just as it soothed King Saul, it does me also.