Natural Science History Museum in DC

Here are some pictures from our trip to DC. Had a lot of fun. Even though I think I walked 45 miles.

ARMY SURPLUS STORE

In my childhood there were few restraints. On one particular outing those restraints were pushed to the limit. My friend Dennis and I went to the army surplus store to buy crap, cause that's what 12 year olds do. So we bought a lot of useless trinkets that had probably saved someone's life once, but all and all it was worthless crap. Except for the trip wire. Just the mention of it makes me think about the things that I could do with it right now. Well that night we snuck out of his house at about 3 am. And terrorized the neighborhood. The usual potato in the tailpipe and writing with Kool-aid packets on concrete driveway's so when the dew comes out it is stained for life. (You should try it.) But the Coup de Grace was when we strung our trip wire between two mailbox's on opposite sides of the street. I'm not really sure what we were thinking was going to happen. But as we laid on our bellies in the yard dreaming of a tractor trailer driving by and ripping out the mailbox's. Our dreams were jolted by the sound of a motorcycle coming through the neighborhood. We went to take down the wire but it was no use. FAST back to the yard to watch this unfold. At this point let me tell you 1 thing that I am so thankful for. The fact that we strung that wire as low as we did, by about 4 inches, or this story wouldn't be as funny as it would be deadly. So here comes the motorcycle, he's going about 35 miles an hour and he hits the wire. Thankfully with his handle bars. To our surprise it held. He went from 35 miles an hour to about 1. 1 mile an hour. All we heard was twwwaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggggggggggggg POP. As the wire gave way he popped a wheelie and came to a stop about 70 feet away. Looked around , revved his engine a couple of times thinking it was engine trouble. Meanwhile I went to find something to clean the crap out of my pants.

true story, except for the crap.

Last In This Series

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Thank You GOD

For always being enough no matter what.

Thank You for caring enough to teach.

I WIN!!!!!

Alright I won but I kinda lost too.

Ohhhhh POOP!

That's right everybody has a story about pooping. Some of us have several actually, but here I will only share 2 (tehe the amount seemed fitting)
1. I was about 5 years old and at the house where we lived had two bathrooms. I just couldn't decide which one I wanted to go in. So I just kept running back and forth looking at the toilets. Until half way between both places my body had enough and made the decision for me.

2. I was in the 10th grade and was at the park 4 blocks from my house, playing basketball. Well I needed to go, but they needed one more player to make a game so I stayed. It was the longest game of my life so when I finally left I was in a bad way. So I did what we all have done. The walk where your knees don't bend and you just make forward progress by swiveling your hips side to side. I did this for 3 blocks. Stopping every now and then at a light pole to try and retract the monkey tail I was growing. Well I made it about 200 feet from my house and I thought "HEY I'M GONNA MAKE IT!" Well we all know that there is only one thing worse then telling an already strained sphincter that you are almost there. That is starting to undo your pants. The last 100 feet to my house was a dead sprint of waddling like a speed walking champion. I burst through the front door, past my dad on the couch, pants half way off. Into the bathroom where the toilet was behind the door. As I went in around the door I shotgunned the wall on my way to the toilet. I calmly reached up and closed the door and locked it. My dad came to the door and said "you alright?" "Yeah" I said. Then I heard snickering from outside the door. I guess I wasn't the first guy to wait too long.

"JJ Drinks His Own Pee"

He doesn't really, but he said that was the funniest sign he had ever seen in his time at DUKE. I got to go to an appreciation dinner for JJ last night at the Hotel Roanoke. The county of Roanoke declared April 19th JJ Reddick Day, so adjust your calendars accordingly.

Two things stuck out in my mind last night. The first was how classy of person that JJ was, and that he had a genuine concern for the kids who were there.

The second thing is more important in my mind. JJ's highschool coach said that "God never puts a dream in your heart that He doesn't give you the skills to attain. But, you may have to do some work to get there". That really spoke to me. Number one it has to be Gods dream that is in your heart, but second is that things don't just fall in your lap. JJ was a prime example of that. Not a highly athletic guy, but he worked harder than anyone else on the court. He said that he wanted to be remembered as the guy who never took a play off. He gave 100% all the time. I think that life is the same way. I know I can't say that I haven't taken several plays off. It's good to be encouraged by someone who exhibits Godly quality's not just in his speech but in his actions as well.

Halfway Mark

The beard contest is halfway home. May 20th can't come soon enough. (for my wife)

Following the Leader

God is so great!
His Love and Grace are never ending!
Something neat that for some reason I was unable to remember was that to follow God, you have to keep him in sight. I got myself in a place where I was following what God wanted for my life, but without walking with Him near by. The burden became too much. He said that He would help me carry my burden, but I couldn't see Him. I had let him get out of sight when I thought I could do it on my own. A relationship is built daily. Thank You God for never leaving me or forsaking me, my life is in your hands. Only you are mighty to save.

Ethan Turns 5!

The big day is this Saturday. The littlest one gets bigger. Time is not measured by the clock or the callendar, it's measured by the growth of kids.


-Aaron 2: 3-4

SEEING THE LIGHT

Have you ever had a hard time seeing the light? Where your mind is spiraling down and taking your spirit and joy with it. You know what is right and true, the promises that God has given you. But for some reason, you can't shake the fear of the unknown. Standing outside yourself you can see what needs to be done. You just need a snap back. I got mine today when I asked 6 different friends who happened to be on-line at the time, to pray for me. Without hesitation they did. I felt the love of God through them. I can see Jesus all around me. In their faces I can see the light.

PICTOURS

Please to be enjoying.

MR. Touch-Me-Not

I know this guy, for anonymitys sake we will call him Jeremy. He really does not like to be touched by other guys. I have known this Jeremy fellow for some time now, and the amount of times that we have hugged has moved down to maybe once a year. Like when we think we just cheated death or something, maybe then there would be an embrace. But that is totally speculation. If I was to come in the room and put my hand on his shoulder, he would shudder it away like it was electricity, and then yell DOOOOOOOODD. So I wonder, why is this? Could it be that I have used this quirk against him for to long and like a scolded dog he is just playing on reaction. All the times that I hugged him when he wasn't looking and nuzzled my head into his back. That might have had an adverse effect. Although it was HI-larious. After I told him that I was going to tazer him, them lay across him while he was helpless, I thought that would bring healing. Alas it only made the ravine wider. So to anyone other than his wife who may try to embrace him and get turned away...I blame myself mostly.

A Messy Divorce of Sorts

Ok so it's not really a divorce in the normal sense, between two married people. But a divorce of a different sort. VASECTOMY! That's right, my WIFE made the appointment and I held my end of the bargain and went. I have to be honest more kids isn't sounding so bad after this doctor visit. First off, while I waited, they gave me reading literature to look over. It basically spelled out every last detail, down to how to shave. I actually laughed uncomfortably out loud to myself several times. But I figured Ok I'm going to go talk to this guy Mr Chun and weigh some options. Well when MRS. Dr. Chun came in we went over the steps and how ice is my friend. Then there was the awkward checking of equipment. After all was said and done I couldn't get out of that place any faster. So as of right now there is no execution date set, but the warden has made her threats and I know that soon enough I will walk the green mile. But tonight at my house there will be much crying and whining about how I have always wanted 10 kids and that she is not respecting my feelings. My boys and I figure that may buy us another year together. If not I have a full tank of gas and a car running outside.

OHHH AND HOW!!

The other night a few friends and I went down to Roanoke to take pictures and go to the Texas Tavern. A seedy kinda joint that is open all night, and could easily fit in along the Boardwalk at Atlantic City. Well a hamburger with everything, which is lettuce and onions is 1.20. A hotdog with onions is, Yep you guessed it 1.20. Parker and I were hungry. So of course it turns into a contest. By the end I had eaten 3 hotdogs and 3 hamburgers, 2 cokes, a water, and the WORST cup of coffee I have EVER had. And I have had the free coffee at rest stops. I blame Pegg for that purchase. Well Parker was on the war path, so he had 1 hotdog 5 hamburgers, and a cheesy western. When I went to make my 1-up order he said that he would pay for my food if I didn't order more. He won. Technically. Needless to say, but I will, when I backed up to the bathroom the next day...birds fell from the sky.

SO WHAT'S INSIDE?

We have all probably heard our spirit life or being or our heart referred to as a house. Sometimes we need to let God into small areas that we may keep closed off and let anyone near. The reason I say this is because I have some issues in my life that throw up red flags as to what is inside some of my rooms. Judging by the some of the things that come out of my house, I would say that I may have a large room with high ceilings and a tramp-aline. Jumping on the tramp-aline are some seedy dudes. I want to evict these so called unwanted guests, but they are fun as Hell. Hmmm maybe that's the problem.

PURE 100% DISAPPOINTMENT

This post will not go the way you may expect. Yes I was bummed my team lost but something else came out of that event that I think will have a more profound effect on my life, mainly how I live it.

I think that all of us have probably at one point or another thought they were going to die. A car accident, a mis-step near something dangerous, or maybe even a threat from another person. I believe that these types of moments give you an in-sight on life that you did not have before. You now realize what you have in life, because of the hint of death. The moment may fade, but the memory is deep inside. Effecting the way you live.

I think disappointment is the same thing, but gives you in-sight into another area. When I say disappointment I mean pure disappointment. Where you have 100% given everything that you have to a certain cause or situation, thing or person in your life. The other night I watched JJ Redick walk off the court for the last time as a DUKE player. He had a horrible game, and was blaming himself for the fate of his team. And as he walked to the bench you could see the disappointment, the loss of that moment from his life. Dreams falling down. Everything that he had worked for since he was a kid, when at 6 he told his dad he was playing ball for DUKE. Pure 100% disappointment.

Now his dreams and goals may be different than yours but the idea is the same. I don't think I have ever experienced 100% disappointment, because I have never 100% given to anything. In turn I don't fell like I have experienced the pure joy that comes from giving your all and seeing it succeed, knowing what it feels like to fail. The thing about disappointment is that no one wants to ever feel it. So they do things only far enough that it won't hurt so bad if it doesn't work. This is not the right way. We are supposed to do what we are called to do 100%. Then no matter what you can hold your head high, knowing that you did everything that you could on that day.

As he walked to the bench, I couldn't even watch. I looked down at the floor in my living room.
I'm still afraid of disappointment

OK, so I thought I was going to die!

Let me start this at the beginning. I was having some mysterious beating of the heart for a few days. To the point that it was starting to concern me. So I say "hey" I think I should go to the doctor. So I do, and he does some stuff, then an AKG. And says there may be a problem. OK. I just figured I was a bit over stressed, but WHAMMM. So they send me right up to the big hospital for a MRI type of thing of my heart. This is where the story picks up for me.

Here I am in a dimly lit room with my shirt off, laying on my side left arm extended above my head, with a lady sitting behind me on the side of the bed jamming a camera probiey thing all over my chest. Needless to say this gave me pause for thought. No epiphanys or anything. Just me thinking about the chances of dying. I thought, I need to tell Joanna to give my dog to Sam, that will be one less thing for her to worry about. It was weird. I started thinking of my death as matter of fact. Maybe it's because I didn't really think anything was wrong with me. I know this because the women rubbing jelly all over my nips was telling me so. But also because as I laid there staring at the wall, Huey Lewis was telling me ever so softly over the ceiling speakers, that everything was going to be fine. God Bless you Huey. The heart of rock and roll IS still beatin, just a bit off rythm.

MY KIDS THINK I'M OLD

OK, so I'm now 31 years old. I can't say as I ever fathomed this day coming. Because when your younger you basically waste your time thinking about how your never going to get old. Or that it's some date in the future where you will get to, then time will stop. It is strange how your perception of time changes as you get older.

Thats when it hit me. I am as Old as my dad was when he had kids the same age as mine. OHHHHH DAAAMMMMMNNNN! I never once in all my existence thought of my dad as young. Cool, invincible, strong, yes. Young, NO! So there it is. I'm old and that's OK, it really is. I just wish I wasn't going bald.

To My Best Friend On Her Birthday

Smooth Walk

Slow Touch

Deep Blue

Warm Breath

Caring Curves

Calming Brushes

Loving Frown

Whispering Hair

Cool Glances

Best Friend

Words I wish I could Write

I have found myself often entranced by a well described scene. I will read something and the words seem to lift and move my imagination to where it would never have thought to go. I think that's why I like really good song writers, and lyrics that tell a story. Leaving me thinking...DAMN! I would never have thought of putting that word to that action. Here is the example that spurred this thought. By the way if you can tell me the singers who wrote these lyrics I will give you a big pat on the back. Pegg and Diddy you have to wait for 1 hour after reading to post to give others a chance.

"Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake"

(Extra Credit) artist and song, and not very hard. "lights flicker from the opposite loft, in this room the heat pipes just cough"

AND HEY I want to give credit where credit is due. Rayna, a girl I knew what seems an eternity ago turned me on to the Beatles, so there that is.

Watered Down

I normally don't write things that I don'’t think will at least be somewhat amusing. I also try to keep my posts short and sweet, but this may follow neither trait.

Something that has bothered me for some time is the watering down or diluting of Jesus, and Christianity simply for our own comfort and in that missing what God really wants from us. I'’m sorry if anything that I say may be offensive to you but...…well I just apologize.

Jesus is very clear about the guidelines that He puts in our lives. He has put them there not for our oppression but for our good. There IS a right and wrong. I am not about to tackle the whole gamete of what is right or wrong. If you want a fast test, take an OBJECTIVE look at your life and see what the fruit of your actions are. If your life is a pile of crap, or you are always mad at other people, or if you think that everyone around you is stupid. Maybe it'’s time for a real change. If you are an arrogant person, or a know-it-all, ask someone around you. Then you will get a real answer. That said, I believe that the number one thing that we are commanded to do by our faith is to love other people as we do ourselves. Putting others in front of ourselves, as Christ did time after time. But that does not mean that you can never say "“that is wrong you shouldn't do that"” to someone that you have a relationship with. The reality is that there are things that Christ has called us as Christians not to do. I know the cool way to make fun of someone who thinks like that is to call them a fundamentalist. But that doesn't relieve you of your responsibility. We don'’t need to be walking around judging people that is not what I am saying at all. But the idea of "“how can you say what I am doing is not right?" Well it'’s simple, because it'’s in the word of God. I get so sick of people saying your OK I'’m OK, and "“well that'’s OK for you". And that somehow in all of that there is some sort of Christianity. BULLCRAP.

The reality is that our society is totally set up for us to attain as much pleasure as WE possibly can before we kick it. We are completely self-centered. We are more concerned about being better than everyone around us than loving others. That'’s why parents don'’t put their children'’s needs before their own and straiten out their priorities so that they can lay down their life for someone else. Or spouses, first concerning themselves with their own needs and desires over their mate. The idea that we are owed something for nothing, that we should have what we want right now. There is no reason to refrain from instant gratification. If it feels good to me and isn'’t hurting someone else (directly) then I can do it. The reality is that no one wants to be told what to do or that what they are doing is wrong. But the thing is that sometimes it is wrong. And so in this Christianity suffers and becomes diluted so that no one is left out or feeling condemned. God does not want us to be condemned, that'’s why he has given us grace. But not the freedom to do whatever you want and say it'’s OK He loves me. Your abusing the gift He gave you. What I am saying is to stop making excuses for area's in your life that you just really don't want to change. Just admit that you don't want what God wants.

We have all probably read or heard of the book "Blue like Jazz", well here is my problem with that book. It is 95% true. He mainly tells us to get out there and love people don'’t worry about how they smell or dress or talk, and that is 100% right we shouldn'’t worry about those things, or hold back the love of Jesus because of them. But just because God has charged us with that kind of love for others, doesn'’t mean that He is not concerned with how we are living our lives. The reality is that there are things in all our lives that will kill us if we don'’t turn and face them. But pretending that it'’s OK or that from some weird angle it'’s OK to keep going, just doesn'’t line up with the word. I believe that you should only correct with love not from a pompous attitude or anger. But if you are the person who every time someone says you shouldn'’t be doing that, you freak out or have 5 reasons why they don'’t understand. You my friend need to hit your knees. God has given us grace. And there is no one person more deserving than another. Just because you do a bunch of things right and only a couple wrong, doesn't mean that Jesus doesn'’t still have to cover you in his sacrifice every day, so that you can commune with the most high God.

I guess the thing I want you to get if anything from all this ramble, is to love other people like Christ does. To not concern yourself with little things that make no difference for the kingdom. Don't be lured into meaningless "“Christian conversation"” that is fruitless in your life. If you are not constantly asking God, "“Lord what do You want to do in and through my life"”? Then you are missing what God wants and has for you. Plain and Simple. It is not about you, it is about Him. Think about how much of your day is consumed with the thought of how to take care of and please yourself. I'’m not saying that you should kill yourself in service. You have to love yourself, but others too. And I'm not talking about just your spouse or kids. I mean the people you don'’t like, the one'’s who irritate you. The ones who piss you off in traffic, and at work. God wants to keep you in constant growth and change. But many Christians have robbed themselves of this by creating the ability to talk and go in circles. But if your not changing and changing others, you are missing it. God has a great plan for each of our lives, but it takes constant death to ourselves. You will fail all the time, but the journey will be far more rewarding than ignoring it.

A good friend of mine said the other day, "“What kind of fruit do you get from an apple tree?, Apples. What kind of fruit do you get from a disciple tree? Disciples. What kind of fruit do you get from a Christian tree? Christians." ” Just go ask God, what does He want to change in your life to make you more of who has called you to be for Him. If you ask Him, He will show you. If you choose not to do it. Don'’t worry, you won'’t be alone.

SNOW DAY!!!!

I am sometimes reminded of my growing age in funny ways. The number of times that I sled the hill is the latest. I have noticed a steady decline in the number of times I am willing to stumble up a snow covered hill. I spend most of my time standing at the top of the hill looking down, wondering if one of the boys are going to plow over some other kid on their reckless abandon to the bottom. But I will say this about my growing age. I make the trips I take count baby!

And after a great run I usually spend some time laying there in the snow thinking ahhhhh this feels good. Then one of the boys throws snow down the one chink in my armor, and the other one jumps on my nads.

AHHHHHHHH SNOW DAYS!

FUN WITHOUT DRUGS

I recently took a trip to DC with two friends. I realized later that we did almost everything. There were several times that I thought I was going to throw up I was laughing so hard. I was at one point scared for my life. When we realized that the lady behind me on the train, we thought was on her cell phone cussing loudly at her boyfriend, was really talking to a pocket mirror. And I was asked twice by the police to stop taking pictures. There was the silent time on the train when I bet Sam a dollar he couldn't not talk for the rest of the ride. This came after we rode the wrong train, and I bumped my head on a pole to the delight of college girls. We bought records, played poker, smoked cigars, drank coffee, and ate giant burrito's . The only thing I didn't do was have sex with my wife or take hard drugs. But Jeremy and I did spoon, so there's that.

What a Brother Does, and What He Doesn't

My dad used to tell us. A brother never fights with someone else against his brother. You ALWAYS stick up for your brother. I think my dad was John Wayne. I think it was his way of extending his protection to the playground through his covert operatives. Namely my older brother, who was known to think that only he could hit his brothers, everyone else couldn't touch us.

I think the feeling of knowing that at any point in a problem you would have guaranteed help. That's what my dad set up in us. And now I have carried that over to a few very close people. It's not always fighting either, just being there in a time of need. To KNOW that you have a partner, a friend, someone who is fully invested in your problem, it is now theirs. I am thankful I have a God better than all 5 of my brothers.

brothers do fight, but they don't hate.

Balloon Knot

Two words that used to hold another meaning to me have been taken from my vocabulary, ROBBED actually! I am that guy who hears the word balls and wants to repeat it and laugh. I have been polluted, and at the same time I pass on my pollution. The other day when my youngest son called two other kids a couple of retards I knew I had to change. The Lord has been slowly changing my heart for sometime. And that is what it will have to be, a heart change, because like Sam my mouth is about 20 miles ahead of my mind and 40 miles ahead of my heart. But I am aware and I am making the change. But the hard part is that it is bloody funny, I mean Balloon Knot come on that is good, but not as good as "tar star"

Sorry God ... again

MY BROTHER FROM ANOTHER MOTHER

Happy Birthday Parker.

I pray for you everytime I look at your mug.

MY BEST FRIEND JJ

YESSSSSSSSSS. I went to the DUKE game last night with my good friend Ryan. Who I must say orchestrated the best basketball experience of my life. YOU ARE THE MAN!

So there I sat 2 rows from the court surrounded by all tech fans, who kept yelling at the refs for everything. So after I had a few yell backs that got no reaction, I had to bring out the A game. So towards the middle of the second half I moved into action. Waiting for a quite moment. After tech missed more freethrows and the guys just got done yelling at the ref I said:

HEY REF IT"S YOUR FAULT THAT WE CAN"T HIT A FREE THROW! (this got an amused reaction from surrounding Tech fans)

A couple of minutes later after they yelled at the ref again, and it got quite I yelled.

HEY REF IT"S YOUR FAULT THAT OUR TEAM SUCKS AT BASKETBALL! (not so amused reaction, we are getting there)

And then last, after another ridiculous "hey you missed that call" at the refs. I yelled...

HEY REF! IT"S YOUR FAULT OUR BASKETBALL PROGRAM IS HORRIBLE! (ahhh yes the reaction I wanted, much grumbling) Also to which Ryan replied, "you are so not walking out with me"

and after a tech dunk on dukes point guard, the drunk behind us had one more genius bit of trash. Take that Paulis YOU SUCK!
Which I kindly replied too at 100 decibels and hands cupped over my face turning to him.

SCOOOOOOOORRRRRRREBOARDDDDDDDDD! (the fans no longer talked around us)

scoreboard indeed!

Hanging it out there!

Have you ever just hung it all out there? I mean everything. Your well being, the well being of those around you, your imagination, your ego, your self-confidence? I am hanging it all out there right now. And you know why. Because God told me too. That's it! That's why. Because the reality that throws itself up against what he has called us to do is so blaring opposite to what he has said to do. But I know he told me to do it. What choice do I have.

And you know what? I wouldn't trade it for anything. He has met every promise that He has given us. He has always been faithful. And I know that He has a path for me that will bring LIFE. Maybe not for me but for Him. I am willing. My Wife is willing. My Best friend is willing and his wife is willing too.

So we step out in confidence that the God of the universe directs our path.

Hanging in there, hanging out there.

It's still good! It's still good! -Homer Simpson

DON'T LET ME DOWN!!

I think that John Lennon must have been a sports fan, because only a sports fan could understand that line truly. There is no way that nasty hag of a legendary band ruining tramp Yoko could have brought on these types of feelings. As many of you may know and those that don't, you soon will. I love Duke Basketball. I also really like the Colts, and Redskins. But as everyone not living under a rock knows, both my football teams lost.

Fine OK FINE!
I still have one hope left for not being a fan loser. DUKE. They are at this point undefeated and on their way to having a great year. But that's not good enough. They need to get it done. They need to win it all, or I will fall apart like a cardboard box on a rainy highway.

All I am asking for is that my dreams aren't smashed and scattered over the world of sports THATS ALL. My wife is on suicide watch now every night there is a game on. For once in my life I had 2 winners. I was rooting for teams that had the potential to win it all. But much like A's in the hole I have been screwed. I am drawing on the river here, and all I'm asking this group of 20 year olds is DON'T LET ME DOWN!!

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