This Game Just Got Interesting, or at Least Involved

Ring Ring

I am afraid God is calling and I don't know how long I can keep ignoring the call. I just spent the weekend working at Common-ground with the youth of Grace Community UMC. It was pretty awesome and we did some good work.

But, I feel the urge to do more and I am afraid where it will end. If I jump into the pool is there any way other than the deep end, hole heart, mind, and energy. We are talking about a life makeover. And that is the scary part...

My New Hobby

So, at the ripe old age of almost 30, I decided to take on Mountain Biking. And it is kicking my Ass. I went for a ride today in the woods by the river near my house. I ended up doing to endos, which stands for end over end. Which means I flew over the bike, hit the ground, and for the cherry on top, had the bike fly on top of me. Twice! Then in fit of brilliance I went on a trail crossover with ramps.

Down the first hill, hit the first ramp, smile on my face. I catch air, my bike goes to the right, and I to the left. As a man, I can't let the trail win, so I dust myself off, put myself on the bike and set my face, determined to give it another go. Same trail and same result.

This time I land on my wrist and the bike falls behind me. I lay on the ground for a while looking up admiring the trees and thanking God that I am ok. This time I let the trail win and go home.

My wife asks me why I started such a round and dangerous hobby this late in life. I tell I don't know, but I have fun and ride by a motto, "Ride Hard and Fall Hard." The falling hard part I got down. I just need to work on the riding hard part. But I will get it.

Chicken or the Church

Have you ever noticed how the high crime areas tend to have more churches per ca pita? At least, in Shreveport, it seems this way. It begs the questions, though, Which came first, the church or the crime?

I am sure there is a "book turning" sociology paper published in some dark, moldy section of an unpopulated library with their version of the correct answer. But, if it demands research, I am almost not interested.

It is fun to pontificate about though. I wonder if a group got together and said "Crime is too much, we must fight it. I know, lets build a church, a beacon of hope." And if they did this did the dissenting faction say "If they are going to build a church, then we are too." So that eventually small ones were on every block and larger facilities lined the main roads. Or was it the opposite way.

"Man, this part of town has too many churches, lets rock things up." Then the crime/gangs move in. Wouldn't it be interesting if their colors changed with the liturgical calender, deep purples, reds and an occasional rainbow. That could prove decidedly hazardous to any preacher on the pulpit, sporting the stohl of the day.

The area of my mind consumed with nonsense like the chicken and the egg, will now have to make room for the parable of the churches and the crime. Now I must go repent. I am fearing damnation of trivializing intercity churches or maybe I should be more concerned with making fun of gangstas.

Return to Old

In this day of texting, tweats, facebook, smart phones and the like, we have lost sight of our good old fashion roots. And, as expected, without proper apprciation of where we have been, we can not truely move forward as humanbeings. As such, this is an homage to the old days of Billy the Kid, John Wayne, and slower times

MADE IT HOME FROM VACATION STOP
MONTANA IS THE WILD WEST STOP
CAN NOT WAIT TO GO BACK STOP
PRICE ON MY HEAD THOUGH STOP
DO NOT KNOW WHEN THAT WILL BE STOP

I think Western Union would be proud.

Until Another Day

I find procrastination to be a funny and fickle fiend. Take my wife for example. She has her big pharmacy liscensing exam on Monday at 3pm. She has persuaded me that she needed to take Thursday and Friday off to study, which I agree with. She has spent time studying, but she has also started doing things that she has never, or rarely, ever done so as to keep from burying her head in a book.

Just now she is walking through the house using a shark (a small horsepowered vaccum) on our rugs. When I told her of my insperation to write about her, she also informed me that she wiped down the baseboards in the dinning room. This was definetly out of character for her. That's when I knew, for her even housework is better than studying. Procrastination has sunks it's teeth in her like that of a rabid dog attaches it pursuers.

She will eventually, with my help, run out of things to do and return to her books. I can not fault her as I have been caught in that trap as well. But, I know she will rock that test and put procrastination in its place. Cause she's my gal.

Lackadaisical Approach to Blogging

So, it's been a while since I have posted anything. It's not because there is nothing going on, nor is it because the world has not been interesting enough to find oddities and idiocies in everyday life. Many times I have said, "I should blog about this." But, I never do, and I realize now why. It's because no one ever reads this. Why lay words that fall not upon deaf ears but no ears at all.

This blog sits in the back of my mind like an infected puss filled boil, festering as if to always remind you it is here waiting for decisive action before healing. I know I am the root of the problem and the answer to the problem. I need to focus more on getting out there and promoting my blog for readers to enjoy. Maybe the best way to get people to read is to be consistent. More likely I am harboring ill-fated thoughts of grandeur.

I am one of millions who have the access to the Internet and the cognisance to write down thoughts and opinions. I know the self serving dribble spewed forth from the mouths of cynics, bureaucrats, religious yahoos, and many more. But, just as I don't want to read their blogs, I become nothing more than a loathing contributory of endless Internet crap...self-deprecating and boring.

So, if motivation strikes or attitudes change I may attempt a regular written soliloquy, but until then deal.

Fireproof your Divorce

A couple of months ago I posted a "Fireproof Your Marriage" snippet on a class we were taking at church. It should have been more aptly named fireproof your divorce. I say this as everyone in the class with exception of my wife and I and one other couple had previous marriage. Hell, the instructor had been married three times.

At one point they asked did God want you to only marry one person, to which my wife responded with resounding and somewhat sarcastic "Yeah". Then it seemed as if the next couple of weeks was spent on how divorcing is ok and seeing why the bible hates gays. Actually that was only one week and there were off color jokes, told by participants and the instructor...not falling in line with my philosophies.

It aggravated me on how they can take such a literal view of the bible in one aspect, defending it with raised voices and looks of disdain, but then warp another part of the bible to better fit their situation. I guess hypocrisy is as true and the bible is true. I know I am guilty of being a hypocrite, but man did that bother me.

We decided after that to skip the last couple of weeks to endeavor upon other adventures.

Texting to the End of the World

So, I know I am not the first person to comment on how texting and the "innovation" of cell phones has marked the beginning of the decline of the American Kid. But, as everything must be beaten until dead before people can understand...allow me to do my part. Besides, my story has less to do with those under the age of 21 and more with adults who are addicted to their phones.

So I can understand the convenience of the text message. It helps to avoid the long conversations and can aid much in the "pick up a gallon of milk before you come home" to-do list, but when it's a substitution for a face to face conversation, then I must draw the line. What is he talking about, you ask?

The other night I went out with a couple of friends to a bar to celebrate a new job/internship. We all sat at the bar, me on the far left and the other two on my right. We were each enjoying a beer and exchanging conversations and catching up on our lives. As I have gotten use to, phones were on the bar and periodically they would receive, reply, and repeat a text message. No big deal, pretty much status quo now a days.

We moved to the pool table for a game. These two, man and woman, with a little history between them, were continually texting. I noticed they were not talking to each other. I figured one was mad or scorned or something that prevented conversation. I causally asked my friend who he was texting...and it was her. There they were less than three feet away from each other, in a bar (a social spot), texting each other. I couldn't be live modern conversation had been degraded to text short hand.

With no ability to read emotion or inflection, entire conversations are had, misinterpreted and friendship/relationships broken from a refusal to dial ten numbers. I was amazed at the "conversation" or lack of, that was happening in front of my eyes. It made the last 45 minutes of the night weird to say the least.

Dog Blogging

I, like many an other bloggers, have a few blogs I peruse a couple times a week. These are mainly local blogs, for example the Highland Restoration Association, Congo Missionaries, My buddy Pat's Blog, and good friends of mine The Delaney Family, to name a few. I also like to check out what is going on with the Shreveport Dog Park. I looked at the blog, only to, yet again, lay my eyes on no new information. I know I am partly to blame. I have the ability, the drive, and the willingness to take this over and to help. I want a dog park for my dog just as much as anyone else. But, I am at a loss.

A couple of months ago, I attended the Green Expo in the new Convention downtown. There was a lady there who had taken over the efforts to get this park up and running. The original mover and shaker bettered herself, and we are happy for her, by accepting a job in New Orleans. I think, however, it probably had something to do with a preexisting dog park and a community who supported it. But, as I have only every communicated with her via email, alas, I shall not know. However, I spoke with the new head of the "coalition." I expressed my desire to help anyway I could. We even specifically talked about the Dog Blog, but I have yet to hear anything. But, I will leave traces of information out there for her to get in touch with me. I won't openly give my information for the Internet world, but hopefully I connect with the right blog readers and I can get a name or a contact. Shreveport needs a Dog Park. This is not something that can wait for a 10 year master plan. For all the Regional and National recognition we have been receiving, it's time we kick it in to high gear and start acting like an Austin, a Boston, or Seattle.

I am going to end this with a picture of my dog, Pico, hopefully he can help those who respond to visual stimuli to get the lead out. Thanks to those who do help and care.