Miss Manners gives her idea of the perfect new year's resolution which to live within one's own means.
I guess it is a sign of getting old, but when I read her column I just wanted to jump for joy. I envision going to a wedding (or in the LDS world, a wedding reception) where in the foyer there will be an ATM from Target where all one has to do to is run one's credit card through the reader and select a present for the bride and groom.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
From my dad: Robin on Obama
Not for the easily offended. Of course, the Robin is Robin Williams, enough said.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Kwanzaa
Yesterday at church we celebrated Kwanzaa
and I was asked to carry in one of the seven candles at the beginning of the service. John was with me at church yesterday, so I asked a friend if John could sit with him until I finished my part of the program. While I was out in the foyer waiting to go in, I could hear John clearly explaining to my friend about his Winnie the Pooh DVD collection. The nice thing about taking John to church is that we end up talking to a lot more people than when I go with him.
Speaking of Winnie the Pooh, after church we stopped by a video game store, John wanted to see if there was a Winnie the Pooh game for Nintendo Wii. He didn't find one, so he decided to check for Mortal Kombat for Wii (which seems unlikely for some reason). Talk about going from one extreme to another.
and I was asked to carry in one of the seven candles at the beginning of the service. John was with me at church yesterday, so I asked a friend if John could sit with him until I finished my part of the program. While I was out in the foyer waiting to go in, I could hear John clearly explaining to my friend about his Winnie the Pooh DVD collection. The nice thing about taking John to church is that we end up talking to a lot more people than when I go with him.
Speaking of Winnie the Pooh, after church we stopped by a video game store, John wanted to see if there was a Winnie the Pooh game for Nintendo Wii. He didn't find one, so he decided to check for Mortal Kombat for Wii (which seems unlikely for some reason). Talk about going from one extreme to another.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Christmas 2008
We had our usual chaotic Christmas celebration today. We were very happy to have Rachel along with Russell and his lovely wife Sarah Jane with us this year, along of course with John. James and his family were celebrating together in Idaho Falls and they were very much missed.
Early in the afternoon Russell, Rachel and Sarah Jane went to the airport, Rachel and Russell to LA to attend a friend's wedding Saturday, and Sarah Jane to Pittsburgh to spend some of the holiday's with her family (I know, we are her family also, her family of origin). From LA, Rachel will go back to Washingington DC. It is always wonderful to have Rachel home for a visit though she may wonder how welcome she is at times with John telling her that she needs to go to the airport. What she doesn't hear of course is John counting down the days until Rachel comes to visit again.
I was happy to attend a candle light Christmas Eve service at my church last night. It was just what I needed to get me centered and focused on Christmas.
Early in the afternoon Russell, Rachel and Sarah Jane went to the airport, Rachel and Russell to LA to attend a friend's wedding Saturday, and Sarah Jane to Pittsburgh to spend some of the holiday's with her family (I know, we are her family also, her family of origin). From LA, Rachel will go back to Washingington DC. It is always wonderful to have Rachel home for a visit though she may wonder how welcome she is at times with John telling her that she needs to go to the airport. What she doesn't hear of course is John counting down the days until Rachel comes to visit again.
I was happy to attend a candle light Christmas Eve service at my church last night. It was just what I needed to get me centered and focused on Christmas.
Friday, December 19, 2008
If we must have an officiating priest at the inauguration, we can do much better than Rick Warren. - By Christopher Hitchens - Slate Magazine
Interesting editorial by Christopher Hitchens on Slate today. I am bothered by president elect Obama's odd choice of Rick Warren to give in invocation at the inauguration for a lot of reasons. Warren has managed to piss off homosexuals, Mormons, Jews and Muslims all at the same time.
Money quote from article:
Money quote from article:
"Will the American people be prayed into the next administration, which will be confronted by a possible nuclear Iran and an already nuclear Pakistan, by a half-educated pulpit-pounder raised in the belief that the Armageddon solution is one to be anticipated with positive glee?"
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Facebook status
I am now on Facebook, in fact, when I post to this blog it also posts to my Facebook account. How cool is that?
I am probably too old for Facebook, let alone Twitter. The other day I changed my status on Facebook so that it said something like 'David is in Pain.' I got a couple of emails, so I figure I should probably explain.
Several months ago, in an attempt to keep John from smashing his head against a wood chair, I tried pulling him away from the chair. It only took a moment to realize that wasn't a good idea, not that letting John continue banging his head was a good idea, but that pulling him the way I did wasn't a good idea.
I had a instant flash of pain in my left shoulder and upper arm. I figured it would go away in a few days, but as luck would have it, the pain has only got worse as time has gone by. Last month I made a trip to my friendly orthopod and he suggested that I spend some time in physical therapy and see if it would get better or not. So far, it has got a little better but I am afraid I may have to go back and schedule a slice and dice on my shoulder.
Anyway, that explains the pain. It is physical, not emotional. Sorry I wasn't more specific.
I am probably too old for Facebook, let alone Twitter. The other day I changed my status on Facebook so that it said something like 'David is in Pain.' I got a couple of emails, so I figure I should probably explain.
Several months ago, in an attempt to keep John from smashing his head against a wood chair, I tried pulling him away from the chair. It only took a moment to realize that wasn't a good idea, not that letting John continue banging his head was a good idea, but that pulling him the way I did wasn't a good idea.
I had a instant flash of pain in my left shoulder and upper arm. I figured it would go away in a few days, but as luck would have it, the pain has only got worse as time has gone by. Last month I made a trip to my friendly orthopod and he suggested that I spend some time in physical therapy and see if it would get better or not. So far, it has got a little better but I am afraid I may have to go back and schedule a slice and dice on my shoulder.
Anyway, that explains the pain. It is physical, not emotional. Sorry I wasn't more specific.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Let it snow....
There is just something wrong about having snow in Austin. Last Tuesday we had a high of 81 and then we got hit by a 'blue norther.' The next morning everything was covered by a light dusting of snow. Much to the dismay of school children in the greater Austin area, schools were not closed.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Clean shaven
Where to start. I usually wear a goatee (or more properly, a Van Dyke.) Here at the office a bunch of us started off clean shaven at the beginning of November for a mustache growing contest as part of an effort to raise money to fight prostate cancer. We had the results of the contest on Dec 4th (I did not win). For most of November I grew out a beard, but I was asked to change it into just a mustache. It was for a good cause I suppose, but for the time being I think I will keep my face shaved until I get tired of doing that also.
The contest is over, but it is never too late to donate money.
John Murdock Christmas List
John
Murdock’s Christmas List
Sonic
T-Shirt http://www.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=2766915
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Paddington-Bear/dp/B0017SBDYG
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Answered prayers
In the last month or so, John has been waking up in the middle of the night and banging his head against the headboard. This is an old behavior that we hoped was behind us, but it isn't.
A few weeks ago in church I decided to write John's name on a prayer card and then placed it in the offering basket when it was passed around. I figure, the more people praying for John, the better.
That night I woke up just before John started banging his head again.... and then I got a flash of insight that I suppose should have been obvious. That is of course, why was I sleeping in my bed when I should be sleeping with John in his bed.
I haven't had the most restful nights sleep for the last couple of weeks, but I have been able to intercept John before he starts hitting his head. He had a nasty looking wound on his head that is now pretty much healed up. I am not sure how much longer I am going to have to keep doing this, but it is certainly much easier on all of us when John isn't injuring himself.
I was touched when some of the people I know at church came up to me to reassure me that they are remembering John in their prayers.
A few weeks ago in church I decided to write John's name on a prayer card and then placed it in the offering basket when it was passed around. I figure, the more people praying for John, the better.
That night I woke up just before John started banging his head again.... and then I got a flash of insight that I suppose should have been obvious. That is of course, why was I sleeping in my bed when I should be sleeping with John in his bed.
I haven't had the most restful nights sleep for the last couple of weeks, but I have been able to intercept John before he starts hitting his head. He had a nasty looking wound on his head that is now pretty much healed up. I am not sure how much longer I am going to have to keep doing this, but it is certainly much easier on all of us when John isn't injuring himself.
I was touched when some of the people I know at church came up to me to reassure me that they are remembering John in their prayers.
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