Sunday, June 24, 2012

Baby Pictures



Baby Mary and her first
BFF, Winnie The Pooh

Baby Jason, rockin' some
groovy red-striped socks



Baby Mary, cooperating quite
nicely for the photographer


Baby Jason, wearing – more
than eating – a bowl of grits



Baby Mary, pretty then and pretty now

Baby Jason, smiling like he knows something



Wonder what this little one will end up looking like?


BABY HILL
(At 6 Weeks)
Due To Arrive 
On Or Around 
January 5th, 2013!

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Interesting Quotes By Guys Named Mark

1)  "By giving people the power to share, we're making the world more transparent."  ~  Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder of Facebook.com


2)  "Every life is narrow. Our only escape is not to run away, but to learn to love the people we are and the world in which we find ourselves."  ~  Mark Haddon, novelist


3)  "I never lie. I believe everything I say, so it's not a lie."  ~  Mark Wahlberg, actor


4)  "Silence is so accurate."  ~  Mark Rothko, artist


5)  "Swimming isn't everything; winning is."  ~  Mark Spitz, swimmer


6)  "I became an actor so I didn't have to be myself."  ~  Mark Ruffalo, actor


7)  "Every faculty and virtue I possess can be used as an instrument with which to worry myself."  ~  Mark Rutherford, writer


8)  "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug."  ~  Mark Twain, writer


9)  "I haven't inherited the earth from my parents, I am borrowing it from my children."  ~  Mark Udall, politician


10)  "Each moment is a place you've never been."  ~  Mark Strand, poet 


11)  "I'm not here to discuss the past...I'm here to be positive."  ~  Mark McGwire, baseball player


12)  "All generalizations are false, including this one."  ~  Mark Twain, writer


13)  "I haven't celebrated coming in # 2 too many times."  ~  Mark Messier, hockey player


14)  "I felt like a raisin in a giant fruit salad, and I didn't even know who the cantaloupes were."  ~  Mark Hamill, actor


15)  "I just want to be able to play and make people feel good with what I do. When you're thinking that way, anything can happen. And, usually, what happens is good."  ~  Mark Knopfler, musician

Friday, June 22, 2012

10 Christian Songs I Just Can't Seem To Stop Listening To (Non-Rap)

1)  LIGHTS ~ "Cactus In The Valley" – There's just so much raw emotion in the lyrics of this song, and I can relate to it in so many ways. I consider it a bonus that the music is hauntingly beautiful, too.




2)  Audrey Assad ~ "Restless" – This is another song that I just want to belt out with all my heart, because it's so true. "I'm restless, until I rest in you, O God..." You can't get much better than that!




3)  Phil Wickham ~ "Safe" – Just when you thought I was only going to pick female singers! The studio version of this song has backing vocals by Bart Millard, lead singer of MercyMe, but Phil holds his own here by himself. Beautiful music, awesome lyrics!




4)  Caedmon's Call ~ "Mystery Of Mercy" – "My God, my God, why hast thou accepted me? It's a mystery of mercy..." Wow...just, wow! This one never gets old, because I see myself in so many of the people mentioned here.




5)  Sidewalk Prophets ~ "You Can Have Me" – The singer asks: "When did love become unmoving? When did love become unconsuming?" Great questions, both. He continues: "Forgetting what the world has told me, Father of Love, you can have me!" Amen to that!




6)  Addison Road ~ "Change In The Making" – "There's a better version of me that I can't quite see, but things are gonna change." Yes, please! The song continues: "This is me under construction, this is my pride being broken. And every day I'm closer to who I'm meant to be – I'm a change in the making."








7)  Kari Jobe ~ "Revelation Song" – I don't care how many times I hear this song or watch this video. I get chills every time! This is by far one of the most powerful songs I've ever heard. And sorry, Phillips, Craig, and Dean, but Kari Jobe's version of the song will ALWAYS be my favorite!




8)  Casting Crowns ~ "East To West" – "I don't wanna end up where You found me, and it echoes in my mind, keeps me awake tonight..." How often I feel like I'm "just one mistake away" from God leaving me where I am. But this song reminds me every time – He's forgiven me, and He'll never leave me!




9)  Kara ~ "We All Bow Down" – "Losers and winners, saints and sinners, one day we'll see His face...And we'll all bow down. Kings will surrender their crowns, and worship Jesus, for He is the love, unfailing love, He is the love of God." Can't wait for that day!




10)  Big Daddy Weave ~ "Audience Of One" – "And now just to know You more has become my great reward. To see Your kingdom come, and Your will be done – I only desire to be Yours, Lord." This is the prayer of my heart as well.




BONUS TRACK:  Sara Groves ~ "First Song That I Sing" – I wish I could say that I lived this song out every day. I don't. But I want to. And I'll never stop trying.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

An Interview With HIS Radio's CJ Mason


Today, I'm putting on my journalist cap (which I've rarely if ever worn) and interviewing an actual person, and not just an imaginary version of myself. (See here.)

As I've mentioned here previously, one of the many professions I aspired to as a youngster was that of a radio announcer.  Thirty-plus years later and it still hasn't happened yet – but I'm no longer even getting my hopes up.  And that's perfectly fine, since I think I've found my niche – as a writer (for good or ill).

That being said, I thought it would be fun to chat with someone who's actually living one of my dreams, and doing so in the genre of music that I enjoy listening to the most: Christian music.

Here in Eastern North Carolina, we're blessed to have a great Christian radio station like HIS Radio, which not only pumps a wide variety of wholesome music into our ears on a daily basis, but is also responsible for bringing some great artists and bands to perform (or rather, to minister) in our area.

One of the most recognizable voices at our local HIS Radio affiliate is that of CJ Mason, the Community Outreach Coordinator (and Board Operator, and Announcer).  For some reason, CJ – whom I am friends with on Facebook, though we've never met personally – agreed to let me interview her for the blog.  My bet is she didn't know what she was getting into.  That's okay, 'cuz neither do I.


CJ Mason


JH:  First of all, CJ, thank you very much for agreeing to let me interview you, even after I told you from the get-go that I don't have a clue what I'm doing.

CJ:  That's okay.  When I started in radio, I didn't know what I was doing either.  I'm happy to be part of the learning process with you!

JH:  So, for those of us who don't know – and for those poor unfortunate souls who don't listen to HIS Radio (for shame, for shame!) – what does a Community Outreach Coordinator do?  And what are your other responsibilities at the station?

CJ:  It's a good thing I have a big head – physically – because I wear a lot of hats.  ;)  Community Outreach Coordinator means that I have the privilege of handling our outreach events.  Some of those include: our regular annual events like Hearts4Kids (collecting homemade Valentine's cards and delivering them to hospitalized children at eight local hospitals on Valentine's Day); Blanket Bundles (collecting canned goods wrapped in new or used blankets for 5 different homeless shelters); and Give Life & Get Ready (a blood drive and disaster awareness event).  I also organize our new Teacher of the Month recognition program that we just started this past school year, where we take nominations via our website and then recognize a Christian School teacher in our area once a month.  Another thing that falls under that umbrella is getting to coordinate individual, as-needed outreach events – like the Toys4Kids drive we did after the tornadoes that swept through our area a couple years ago.  As far as "other" responsibilities, I get to do the local news every weekday morning at 7am and 8am.  I also get the opportunity to record and/or produce several of the spots heard on our station for everything from "advertising" spots for our business ministry partners, to spots for upcoming concerts and other events, to spots that promote the events that I get to coordinate as the COC.  The "Board Operator" part of my position means that I make sure the Morning Show (which is actually aired via satellite from our sister station in Greenville, South Carolina) stays on the air here.  I also make sure the local weather and traffic reports are downloaded, mixed, edited, and put into the playlist so they play here in our local area.  Oh, and if you ask the rest of the staff around here, since I'm one of the first in every morning, my most important responsibility is making the first pot of coffee every day.

JH:  Wow, that's incredible!  Sounds like a lot of work, but I'm sure it's very rewarding.  So, how long have you been in radio – specifically, Christian radio?

CJ:  I have only ever worked in Christian radio.  I grew up in the Toledo, Ohio area, and my dad was very involved with the Southern Gospel station there.  So I got to spend a little time around their studios when I was a kid.  I wasn't able to do anything on the air then, but the studio sure looked a lot different [then] than 30+ years later when I started volunteering at WCLN in Fayetteville.  After volunteering to do voice-overs for them for a few years, they offered me an afternoon DJ position.  However, I knew my husband (at that time) was going to be getting out of the Air Force soon, which would require a move.  I didn't want to commit to them and then have to quit.  Turning down that job was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.  So, as soon as we moved to Raleigh I looked up HIS Radio and started volunteering with them.  After a few years of that, they asked me to come on staff just to fill in as the Board Operator when one of the full-time staff members was on vacation or out of town.  As the station was able to expand its staff, they asked me to come on regular hours as the Board Operator in 2006.  Then, in January of 2011, I was hired on full-time and the other job responsibilities were added.

JH:  Awesome!  So, what would you say is the best part about working in Christian radio?

CJ:  Wow!  There are a lot of things that could fit this description.  It is way cool to get to hang out with some of the top Christian artists from time to time.  And I can't tell you the last time I actually had to buy a ticket to a concert.  It's also pretty fulfilling to get to award concert tickets and other great prizes to listeners who participate in our contests.  However, the best part definitely comes in the fact that, because we are a Christian station, we have the privilege and honor of being able to be part of pointing people to Jesus on a daily basis.  We hear quite often from folks thanking us for being such a blessing to them.  We get to bring life and hope to the lost, and encouragement to the found.  It just doesn't get much better than that.

JH:  I couldn't agree more.  Christian radio is a blessing and an encouragement.  It also comes in handy when you feel a sudden bout of road rage coming on.  But I'm getting off-topic.  Sorry...  So, what would you say is the worst part about working in Christian radio?  Or, better put, what are the biggest challenges you face in the Christian radio (for lack of a better word) industry?

CJ:  Unfortunately, just about every ministry also has to have some business aspects to it.  I wish we didn't have to ask our listeners to support us financially.  And I wish every concert we hosted could be free.  And I wish I could take every phone call that comes in during our contests and give them all a great prize.  But the reality is that the artists have to make a living to support their families.  And we all have to make a living to support our families.  And if folks could see all the equipment needed to send a radio signal out to thousands of people in Eastern North Carolina every minute of every hour of every day... it would probably be clear why we also need to be a business.  Of course, ministry is always the primary motivation for everything we do, but the business part is necessary, too!

JH:  Oh, absolutely!  So, CJ, I see from your bio (on the HIS Radio WRTP website) that you're the mother of three daughters.  In your personal experience, do you think that it's easier or harder to reach young people today with good, God-honoring music?  There seem to be more and more distractions that fight for their attention these days.

CJ:  I can definitely see a difference in this compared to the generation in which I grew up.  I think as young people become exposed to Christian music and then grow up and pass that on to their children, it becomes easier to reach young people with good, wholesome music.  The problem is that parents are disconnected and assume that the music their kids are listening is the same "not so bad" stuff they listened to in the '70s or '80s.  I'm a firm believer in the "garbage in, garbage out" theory!  We have to get past the idea that "it's just music."  Music is a very powerful medium – especially to those who have musical talents.  I remember word-for-word most of the songs I learned in choir in the 5th and 6th grade.  And satan knows that!  Therefore, I myself have to be very careful what I listen to.  I wish we would realize that our kids are no different and go out of our way to make sure they have the Christian alternatives to what the world has to offer.  There truly is a good-quality Christian music equivalent to about every genre of secular music out there.  And that does make it easier to reach young people, but the parents have to encourage it!

JH:  That's so true, and I can attest to that personally.  When I was a teenager, I was listening to a lot of stuff I knew that a Christian young person probably shouldn't listen to; but I listened because I liked it.  I was big into Alanis Morissette at the time when I heard a few songs by Rebecca St. James (from the GOD CD) which sounded very similar musically but had way better lyrics.  It wasn't necessarily the style of music that my parents liked or were used to, but they recognized that the "new" music was better than the "old" I'd been listening to before.  I was sold on Christian music then and there – but I'm afraid that not all kids today are that easily convinced.  Okay, two more "serious" questions, then this whole thing will devolve into utter silliness – if you're okay with that.  First, I know that you get to meet and interact with a lot of Christian artists and bands at the various concerts hosted by HIS Radio. Who is the most memorable artist or band that you've met personally – and why?

CJ:  Oh, now you're asking me to pick favorites.  To avoid that, I'll choose favorites in a few categories.  The humor award would have to go to an artist we don't really play, but I've had the privilege to work with a few times.  And that's KJ-52.  He's just crazy!  The random award would definitely go to Jamie Grace.  She's just a cutie – inside and out – and you never know what's going to come out of her mouth!  The humble award definitely has to go to tobyMac!  I've spent time with him on several occasions and just become more and more impressed with his "down-to-earth" attitude.  The ministry-minded award has to go to Casting Crowns, without a doubt!  Most folks don't know that they – the band members – [don't] accept a salary for their concerts.  They are all full-time pastors and earn their living from that.  The proceeds from everything else go to sponsor a number of charities and ministries.  They are also one of the few groups I've seen to actually all meet together in the auditorium to have devotions before the show, and then spread out to different areas of the seating and pray over the folks who will be filling them.  And when I say they "all" meet, I mean they ALL meet.  Merchandising people, managers, band members, sound and lighting crew, family that may happen to be around, even the runners and anyone else who wants to join.  Their concerts truly are about ministry above anything else!  I could come up with an award for everyone.  There truly are only a couple groups/individuals that didn't impress me, and I choose to give them the benefit of the doubt that we all have bad days.

JH:  That's fascinating!  Most of the groups and artists you mentioned are among my favorites, and it's reassuring to know that they live out their faith – not just "talk the talk" in their music because they think that's what we want to hear.  Okay, lastly, if you weren't working in Christian radio, what job would you most like to do?

CJ:  Either acting in Christian films or being a missionary in Africa!

JH:  Interesting!  So, if I ever get around to making my first Christian film, I can give you a call?

CJ:  Absolutely!  If Christian film had been what it is now when I was young, I definitely would have pursued it.  I've been acting since I was a child.  I did have the opportunity to tour with a professional Christian drama ministry when I was a young adult, but now I have kids of my own to take care of.  I do still act/write/direct at my church, and have been encouraged to sign with a local agency, but it would have to be something very local for me to be able to do it.  Unless, of course, the pay is good – LOL!

JH:  Wow!  That's something that we actually have in common then.  I've been acting in and directing dramas at my church for the last dozen or so years now.  How cool is that?  Okay, now that we've covered all the "serious" questions, the real madness can begin!  First off, what is the funniest or most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to you on the air?

CJ:  I'm not actually on the air live very much, but I did get into a spell one day where "dot com" just would not come out of my mouth.  For some reason, I kept saying "dot clom."  No clue where that "l" came from in there, but the harder I would think about it before it came out, the more I would mess it up.

JH:  Yeah, that happens to me all the time.  Which is probably a good reason for me not to ever work in radio.  Okay, you mentioned earlier that you're originally from the Toledo area – which according to Google Maps (and not my innate knowledge of Ohio geography), isn't all that far from Cleveland.  So I have to ask – LeBron James: love him, hate him, or couldn't care less?

CJ:  LeBron who???

JH:  That definitely answers my question...  Okay, so being on the air primarily in the mornings, I'm guessing you probably get a really early start to your day.  What's your favorite "wake-me-up" beverage?  Coffee, an energy drink, or something else entirely?

CJ:  Definitely coffee.  However, it's not the caffeine, because I actually avoid the addiction by using half-caff.  But it's the smell and the thought of having a hot beverage in the mornings that wakes me up.

JH:  Wish I could say the same – for me, it's the caffeine.  And I'm probably addicted.  Okay, next question...  Describe yourself in three words, all of which end in the letter "S."

CJ:  His, humorous (or so I've been told), and ageless.

JH:  Great answers! And I read your Facebook posts – "humorous" is definitely accurate.  Next up... If you could be a superhero (keeping in mind that it hasn't been proven that you're not one already), what would you want your superpowers to be?

CJ:  Well, Jaime Sommers was my hero as a kid.  I had the doll, her blow-up home/power center, and all the tubes that plugged into her.  So any powers that come with that totally cool sound effect are good with me!

JH:  In all honesty, I had to Google "Jaime Sommers" just then.  But then I saw that she was The Bionic Woman, and I was totally with you.  It is an awesome sound effect!  Okay, so are you a "cat person," a "dog person," a "parakeet person," or none of the above?

CJ:  I have a cat and a dog, but the dog and I both believe the cat is nothing more than a furniture ornament.

JH:  Having three "furniture ornaments" at home, I would agree that they do tend to serve that purpose and not much else.  Next question... What is the plural of hyena?  Besides the name of this blog, that is.

CJ:  Oh, OH!  I'm a homeschool mom!  I know this one!  Dogs!  Just kidding!  And yes, I know hyena are not even part of the dog family.  Did that answer your question?

JH:  Mostly, yes.  Okay, now what are four things you would never leave home without, in alphabetical order?

CJ:  Cell phone, earrings, a purpose, and spiritual armor!

JH:  Excellent!  What is your favorite flavor of ice cream, and where do you go to get it?

CJ:  Elvis from Lumpy's Ice Cream in Wake Forest!

JH:  I'm not sure I want to know what "Elvis" tastes like, but fair enough.  Okay, that about wraps it up.  Do you have any questions for me?

CJ:  What do you do when you're not writing blogs?

JH:  I write about clothes mostly, oddly enough.  I'm a copywriter for Gander Mountain, a national sporting goods company.  I write the apparel product descriptions – primarily for their website, but also for their catalogs.  When I'm not doing that, I'm probably at home with my wife, or at church preparing for, practicing, or performing in one of the dramas.

CJ:  That's cool!  I'll bet you're really good with adjectives then, huh?

JH:  Yeah, and I have to get really creative with them sometimes. I mean, seriously, how many different words can be used to describe a pair of pants – they're rugged, comfortable, they stretch, resist abrasions, and etc. – it makes you see your clothes in a completely different way.  Okay, last question.  For those of us out there who haven't been paying good enough attention, where and when can we listen to you on HIS Radio?

CJ:  I'm on for local news in the mornings at 7am and 8am, but the spots I record can be heard throughout the day (very little radio is actually live anymore).  As far as where to hear, that depends on where you live.  We have several frequencies throughout the Triangle and Eastern NC.  We're also in the process of boosting some of our lower wattage signals.  You can always listen online and/or find the frequencies closest to you at our webpage: www.hisradiowrtp.com.

JH:  Sounds great!  Any final thoughts or comments you'd like to add?

CJ:  This was fun!  Thanks for the opportunity to share a little about myself!

JH:  You're welcome!  And thanks again, CJ, for agreeing to do this interview.  You're a really good sport!

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Stuff That Makes Me #smh

For those of us outside the Twitterati, and those of us who aren't hip to all the latest internet and/or texting lingo, "#smh" is an abbreviated way of saying "shaking my head" or, simply, "shake my head." The acronym (word?) (phrase?) is usually preceded by something that the tweeter or texter disapproves of, or at which they are shocked and/or dismayed.

So, here's my own list of #smh stuff found in the media and across the internet. Enjoy!



1)  "A Man, A Parrot, And A Zebra Walk Into A Bar..."

No, it's not the beginning of a joke.



2)  Lady Gaga's Meat Dress

This was not USDA-approved...



3)  Awkward Family Photos

Many, many more of these at AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com 



4)  Hollering Contests

Yep, right here in good ol' North Carolina... (sigh)



5)  Corn Starch Junkies

There are way better things to be addicted to...or so I've heard.



6)  Bearded Beanies

If you can't grow one on your own, just leave it alone!



7)  "Duck Face" Photos

Sorry, ladies... It doesn't look sexy, 
it just looks stupid!



8)  People Who Think They Can Sing And Film Themselves Doing So In Extreme Close-Up

I'm warning you...this is VERY painful to watch!



9)  Ill-Conceived Church Sign Messages

Misogynistic much?


Sorry, folks, Jesus is NOT your homeboy!


Is their pastor Dr. Kevorkian or what?


I don't even know where to start with this one...


I guess The Rev gets paid in backhanded compliments...


Well, alrighty then!


10)  The Jersey Shore

I don't watch the show myself, because I don't enjoy being
nauseated. I just don't get why it's so popular. I mean, really?

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Swimming In The Stream Of Consciousness Again

So, I've got a lot on my plate, and just enough utensils to get the job done. Bear with me if you dare...

Last night, in the VBS skit at my church, I was a wannabe aviator, complete with bomber jacket and hat, Dollar Tree swim goggles (the bomber hat busted the budget!), and my favorite Charlie Brown scarf (thank you, sis-in-law, for the gift – several years ago now – that I don't get to use nearly often enough here in eastern North Carolina).

I "flew" around the stage in my cardboard plane, "flying the Seven Seas" (as I mistakenly blurted out in practice a couple of weeks back), and making the kiddos laugh – maybe because it was funny, or maybe because I was kind of pathetic, having only "really" flown a plane on the Nintendo Wii, as my character begrudgingly admitted.

I get to do it all over again tonight, and tomorrow night, and the next night after that, and the next night after that, which is good because I have a lot of fun with it, and my fellow cast member (just the one) is cool to hang out with, and because as much as I want it all to be over, I don't want it to be over at all.

I have to be really loud in the skit, which doesn't come naturally to me, though I can "put it on" when it's necessary (but it tires my throat out rather quickly). Thankfully, it's only five full-throated minutes per night.

All that clothing is very hot in and of itself – but put it on and stand in front of a hundred-plus young'uns and try to remember your lines (that you've only had about four weeks to memorize in total) and it suddenly becomes approximately 22 degrees hotter.

In other news, I'm currently working on a great blog post – which might be finished by tomorrow, or maybe the next day – which I think you all will really enjoy reading. I did an actual interview, with an actual person who isn't a thinly veiled version of myself.

Do you listen to Christian radio? If so, do you listen to HIS Radio? If so, then you might be familiar with the name – or at least the voice of – CJ Mason, the Community Outreach Coordinator and morning news person at the HIS Radio affiliate based in the Triangle area. Yeah? Well, that's who I did an interview with.

Let's be clear: She didn't interview me. Nobody would want (or need) to do that. At least not on purpose. I interviewed her, by e-mail, which is surprisingly easier and more efficient than you might think. At least more so than I would have thought. It's coming together quite nicely so far, but isn't done yet. So wait for it, but don't turn blue or anything.

I think it's a fascinating interview, if I do say so myself. I've learned loads about the Christian radio business, cool tidbits about some of my favorite artists, and – of course – a lot about CJ herself.

In case you're expecting the interview to be all stuffy and serious, I'll go ahead and tell you, it's not. I asked CJ some really stupid questions in addition to the normal, more serious questions. And, by jove, she answered 'em all. Go figure that!

Now that the VBS play is up and running and no longer "the next thing" around the bend, my mind is freed up (just a little) to start thinking about the fall Night of Drama production. I have had oodles of skits lined up and ready to read for some time now, but hadn't made any progress on them thus far, with too much else to think and worry about.

But now I'm starting to read through them, in order to weed out the losers, set aside the maybe's, and form a small stack of yes, definitely's. It's early on, so nothing to report as yet, but there are some good possibilities.

Did I mention that the theme for this year's Night of Drama is "evangelism"? No? Well, it is.

I've got another bit of news on the horizon as well, but I'm not quite ready to share that just yet. You'll know when I am. I won't we weird or vague about it (well, not anymore at least). I'll just blurt it out in one fell swoop. You'll know it when you see it.

I got some new shoes the other week. Two pairs, actually. The one pair is like a canvas, loafer-type shoe, but it's made by Crocs, so the footbed and sole are constructed from this cushy "Croslite" material that's super-kind to the feet. My friend Chris almost exclusively buys and wears this particular shoe, and often swears by it (well, not literally – Chris is a respectable boy, and I seriously doubt that he swears any at all). I had been meaning to try these shoes out, but had never run across them in a store. Then the other week I did, and I tried them, and I had to have them.

The other shoes were actually a pair of flip-flops, called "Beer Cozy Flip-Flops." They're called that because the footbed of the flip-flops is made out of this super-squishy material that's really similar – or maybe in fact the very same material – to the "cozies" that people use to put around their cans of beer, or soda, or what have you. These shoes also feel extremely comfortable beneath my feet, and make me wish – not unlike my favorite Charlie Brown scarf – that I had better reasons to wear them more frequently. Wearing them simply to take out the garbage seems like such a waste of good footwear.

Perhaps I need to go the beach. Just maybe not the beach that – to get to – I have to pass through the area where an approximately 10,800-acre wildfire is currently raging uncontained, because that could get quite smoky and might cause me to get an even bigger headache than the ones I've been intermittently fighting off for two consecutive days now.

I haven't updated you on my efforts to read War And Peace lately. Mainly because I forgot to. Secondarily because I don't have a whole lot to report. I have been reading books left and right this year, but War And Peace hasn't often been one of them.

There are so many more books that are much easier to read and which more easily hold my interest. We're On Your Side, Charlie Brown comes to mind, as do The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Side Effects (by Woody Allen), and Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, all of which I am also currently reading.

That being said, I'm not giving up on War And Peace – I have completed approximately 25% of it, which is more than I ever read the first time – but it's slow-going and I may very well be coming down to the wire when it's all said and done to finish it by December 31st as previously promised.

You know what I like best about Diet Dr. Pepper? It's that it tastes more like regular Dr. Pepper. I know they say that on the commercials, but it's actually true!

I usually have to force myself to drink something diet, and even though I drink Diet Mt. Dew regularly, I am constantly aware, when I'm drinking it, that I am consuming a diet drink. But when I drink Diet Dr. Pepper, I completely forget that it's diet. It just doesn't taste like it is – even though it actually is. It's kind of amazing when you stop to think about it.

Did you know that today is the 171st day of this year? I know that because – thus far at least – I have been successful in posting something – not always what I want to write, and not always what you want to read, but something – every single day of this year so far.

When I got this crazy idea to blog every day, I didn't really think I would be able to do it. I was a self-naysayer, so to speak. The very epitome of self-doubt. But so far, so good. At this point, I would be ashamed of myself for getting this far and failing. And I don't need to feel more ashamed of myself than I already do – so I persevere.

Until tomorrow...

Monday, June 18, 2012

Poems For Your Perusal: The (Better?) Half Of An Alpha Poetry Cycle I Started Last Week

Never learn, do I?
Always saying "yes"
And never "no"
Even when "no"
Is what I know
Is best. Yes
Of course I can
Say it when
It doesn't matter.
But when it counts –
When best interests
Are at stake, and
The question's asked
Do I say "no"? No.
Do I know better?
Yes. But I can't say so.


Of all people
I should be the likeliest
To keep my mouth shut
To keep my thoughts in
To keep a secret.
And yet I find
That it's the hardest thing
I've ever had to do.


Past the point
Of no return
We turn and watch
You crash and burn.
We told you so –
We knew you would.
But telling, knowing
Does no good
If you refuse to
Heed advice.
But then again
You never did.
Some things don't
Need to be said twice
But then again
You're just a kid.


Quick, act like you're asleep
Maybe they'll go away.
Or maybe you'll remain
Invisible, untouchable.
Life's less scary with eyes closed
Heads bowed, and thoughts
Turned upward. But someone
Is always watching, and waiting.


Right about now
You're probably
Wondering when
The other shoe
Is going to drop.
Soon! Gravity
Got in the way
For just a bit.
But you can't
Stop forward
Momentum
That easily.


Spotted it from a mile away
The solution to the problem.
I never thought it was that simple
But there it is, plain as day.
I wish I'd known this years ago.
But perhaps I had to go through
All of that then, to get to this now.
Funny, isn't it? And sad, too.


Taken by surprise
I put on my best "whoa!" face.
And the funny thing is
I'm not even acting!
How is this even possible?
I'm still in shock, weeks later.
They say seeing is believing –
Well, I will, and I will.
Hearing helps too – that comes sooner.
But knowing it to be true
Unseen and unheard, just knowing
Is still enough to blow me away.


Under the bus
Sucking in my gut (easier said than done)
Wondering how I ended up under here
Hoping the tires don't crush my legs
Knowing this too will pass, but at what cost?
You're standing on the curb, grinning
Like you know something, or like
You did something to make this happen.
I'll just bet you did. Thanks a lot.


Vain pursuits consume my mind
Wishing that I had more time
To do the things I want to do
And not just things I have to do.
If I had time for everything
I'd probably never do anything.
That's something I don't understand
But sometimes ignorance is grand.


What do you do when
Everything changes?
What do you do when
Your mind is blown?
What do you say when
Things are strangest?
What do you say when
Facing the known?
I'll tell you when I find out.


X-ray my brain and you will see
Jumbled thoughts and memories
Pieces of this, and chunks of that
Simmering in a steaming vat
Of consciousness, or lack thereof
Bits of hate, and bits of love
I wonder how all this can fit
But this is normal – isn't it?


You thought you saw a pattern
And I tried to make you think
That what you saw was nothing
'Least not much of anything.
But you're too clever, aren't you?
And you can do the math –
You put up all the markers
After I had cleared the path.
I should have known you'd know it
You've always been that smart.
Suppose I shouldn't try too hard
To only tell you part.
I might have guessed you'd guess it
Though I'd left subtle hints
I could be disappointed
But that would make no sense.
Instead I'll give you credit
Where credit's often due
You said you'd solve the mystery
And somehow you always knew.


Zealously I persevere
But I'm the only person here
Who never chose to disappear
So what am I still doing here?
My motivation is unclear.
I LOVE being a volunteer!

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Words I Wish I Wrote: Father's Day Quotes

1)  "I decided in my life that I would do nothing that did not reflect positively on my father's life."  ~   Sidney Poitier


2)  "Nothing I've ever done has given me more joys and rewards than being a father to my children."  ~  Bill Cosby


3)  "Dad taught me everything I know. Unfortunately, he didn't teach me everything he knows."  ~  Al Unser


4)  "I'm a father; that's what matters most. Nothing matters more."  ~  Gordon Brown


5)  "I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection."  ~  Sigmund Freud


6)  "If the new American father feels bewildered and even defeated, let him take comfort from the fact that whatever he does in any fathering situation has a fifty percent chance of being right."  ~  Bill Cosby

7)  "When I was a boy, I used to do what my father wanted. Now I have to do what my boy wants. My problem is: When am I going to do what I want?"  ~  Sam Levenson


8)  "My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person – he believed in me."  ~  Jim Valvano


9)  "He who is taught to live upon little owes more to his father's wisdom than he who has a great deal left him does to his father's care."  ~  William Penn


10)  "It is easier for a father to have children than for children to have a real father."  ~  Pope John XXIII


11)  "I talk and talk and talk, and I haven't taught people in fifty years what my father taught me by example in one week."  ~  Mario Cuomo


12)  "Be able to confide your innermost secrets to your mother and your innermost fears to your father."  ~  Marilyn vos Savant


13)  "Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope."  ~  Bill Cosby


14)  "I am not ashamed to say that no man I ever met was my father's equal, and I never loved any other man as much."  ~  Hedy Lamarr


15)  "I would say my greatest achievement in life right now – and I'm still trying to achieve it – is to be a wonderful father to my kids."  ~  Bo Jackson


16)  "Love and fear. Everything the father of a family says must inspire one or the other."  ~  Joseph Joubert


17)  "To me, having kids is the ultimate job in life. I want to be most successful at being a good father."  ~  Nick Lachey


18)  "It never entered my father's mind nor my mind ever to do a job other than at one's best ability."  ~  Lord Mountbatten


19)  "My childhood should have taught me lessons for my own childhood, but it didn't because parenting can only be learned by people who have no children."  ~  Bill Cosby


20)  "[My father] didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it."  ~  Clarence Budington Kelland