Happy New Year!

To my Jewish friends, Happy Rosh Hashanah

Thank God for the Third Son

The sermon for Sunday can be found here.

The Last Couple of Days

Well, the last few days have been interesting.

Thursday started off with getting up at 4:15 am after working until 7:30 the night before. Then I left my cup of coffee back at home. Then I realized that I had put on my underwear backwards while trying to get dressed in the dark. At work, things were ok except for the fact that we had the "Splenda Thief" stop by. This is a woman who does a "Drive-By" Splenda stealing. She will look around then run up to our stock of Splenda and grab all of them and shove them into her pockes and then rush off. I was told about her from my coworkers, but this was my first encounter with her. Kind of sad really, she does not appear to be playing with a full deck.

Friday was pretty uneventful. I got off of work at 1 pm and Nick had to be at work by 3 pm. We had burgers for lunch and then he headed off.

This morning we went out for breakfast. We went to Bob Evans because I love their biscuits. While we were eating, the waitress looked at me and asked (I don't know why) "Is this your dad?" I choked for a moment and said, "Uh, no." Then she said, "Oh you are friends." To which I said, "Yes." (I also had my Michigan Pride shirt on.) She came back later and apologized, saying, "I realized that you are not as young as you initially looked, it must be the hair cut." To which Nick said to me, "What a compliment, you look old!" The waitress came back and again, trying to make things better, told me how old I look. After she left, I looked at Nick and said, "Sometimes we should just pretend something didn't happen."

We both got a laugh out of it.

Nick had to go to work and I had a meeting with the Deacon who has been also working with my congregation. It was a great meeting! She told me that she has noticed a positive change in the congregation, a "Breath of fresh air." She said that she has noticed the congregation has been coming back to life and that I appear to be just what they needed.

She also said that the Bishop has been impressed with the changes that have been occurring.

I guess I will stay at the Bucks and look forward to a time when I can get a congregation full time.

Speaking of Bucks, I get to work with the Immature 16 year-old on Monday. We will see if there has been any changes. I sure hope so.

My schedule for this weeks sucks. Three closes followed by two openers. 37 hours after I said that I really didn't want many over 20. Oh well, that is what happens when one of your coworkers quits.

Hope you all are having a great evening. Enjoy life. And realize, it could be worse, you could have your underwear on backwards.

You Better Watch Out!

Santa will be coming! Just three months to go!! Ho! Ho! Ho! (Oh! That is right! I'm not supposed to say that.)

More News from Starbucksland

I don't know what it is about me and starting a new job at Starbucks. Last time it was the guy with OCD, this time it is the immature 16 year-old.

Today, she again got indignant that I would deign to suggest that she might do something different. Then she immediately pointed out how I did the exact thing a few days ago that I was correcting her for. Arrggg...

I spent the last two hours of work just doing my job and not talking to her. I felt like a 10 year-old but I was afraid that anything I said would cause her to get angry. I said that I was frustrated with the situation and that I didn't want to not talk to her but I get fed up having everything I say cause her to get pisssy. She said that if she was in a bad mood, then comments would make her angry. I told her that I didn't have time to try to figure out if she was in a good mood or not.

Tomorrow I am going to talk to my manager. This cannot go on. If I am to ignore when she does the job wrong, then so be it. If I am to help her learn, then she needs to know that I have the authority to do so. Otherwise, I need to be scheduled at other times than her or I will just ignore her.

I hate situations like this.

OMG!

Ancient scientist were right, sperm are just little people.

Thinking Back

I was just thinking back to my days working as a chaplain in Houston. It is hard to believe that it has been ten years this past summer that I was there. There were so many people I came in contact with, from the exotic dancer who broke his kneecap to the raped and beaten teacher.

Each of these people left an impression on me and influenced my life and ministry.

There was the man who was paralyzed from the neck down who communicated through mouthing words. When I got frustrated with not being able to understand, he told me to just keep coming back, I would get it. Words of wisdom that have helped my life.

There was the family of the man who died of AIDS. When I showed up as clergy, they didn't want anything to do with me. Their comment: "We are just tired. How do we get this cleared up so we can leave?" Sometimes we just need to care for the person physically before we can take care of the person spiritually.

There was the teacher that I had mentioned. She wanted to pray for her attacker. She wanted him to find peace in his life so he would not have to ever do this to another person. I was humbled.

There was the family who chose to turn off the ventilator of their husband/father. I can't remember laughing and smiling more at the death of a person. This man lived a full and joyful life and his family wanted me to know the joy that he brought to the world.

Finally there was the woman who died (almost) alone. We did not know her name. She died of drugs. Myself and a nurse where the people who witnessed her passing. It was quiet, but sad. I was honored to be there to acknowledge her life and that she did not die alone.

I have not heard what has happened to these and so many others I met. I just need to trust that God traveled with them and hopefully I was able to bring some peace to them.

I Guess I Must Be Getting Old

I've got to be getting old. I am starting to do the "when I was a kid we..." routine.

What brings this all up is one of the people I work with. She is a whole of 16 years old. She was having some problems at work and I was trying to help her. She got all snippy and told me that I was giving her "attitude." To which I responded, "I've done this job for almost a year, you have done it three weeks." Then she got angry and started to throw stuff around.

Now, I cannot think of a situation where I would have told a person who was over twice my age that that person was giving me "attitude." I may have complained or talked to the person, but to be so totally disrespectful would not have been an option.

Am I getting old or are kids just more disrespectufl that in the past? I think about my nieces, my one niece looked at my dad and said, "Get out of my face, Grandpa." OMG! That kind of rudeness would have never been tolerated.

Nick said that I probably remind this girl of her father as I am probably near his age. True, but that still is no excuse. It just makes me think of the whole cell phone culture. We are allowing rudeness to rule.

I heard something interesting on NPR the other day. A guy was talking about the use of corporal punishment. What he said was that corporal punishment DID NOT work as a way of teaching children to behave. The children may pay better attention to their parents, but when it comes to attending to others in authority that cannot physically hurt the person, then the child does not feel the need to pay attention.

I don't know if corporal punishment was used on this girl and I am not suggesting that she was abused. She did say that her father did yell at her, though.

I just find our whole culture of rudeness and disrespect tiring.

Oh, the pic is the finished Witch. I like to think of her as a Moon Catcher!

We Are Not Getting Ripped Off, We Are Being Blessed

This Sunday's sermon can be found here.

Random Thoughts

Sometimes I feel that people are truly "sheeple." We are currently out of the hot sleeves for the cups. So we put a second cup on each drink. Eve after the people pick up the drink and walk away, they will come back and want a sleeve. Even though it shouldn't be hot because there are two cups, they have been conditioned to "need" a sleeve. Having to explain it gets old.

Yes, the Christmas stuff has begun to hit the shelves.

I guess this is good. Having a spacebound farm would be way too expensive.

This is the next glass project in the foil stage. Nick said, "We need a Halloween decoration of some kind." He was expecting a Jack-O-Lantern or something small. But you would think he would know me better by now! Why make a little suncatcher when you can make a PROJECT!

Even animals have more common sense than some people I know!

When had the center lane of traffic become the "Slow Lane?" It seems like that is the lane that all the blue-haired ladies get into and will not budge, no matter what the speed of the rest of the traffic.

My manager asked me today if I had considered a position in management. I said that I had but I really wanted to stay working with the church. But I have to tell you, sometimes I wonder, could I do just a much for the kingdom by working in retail? I don't know.

Have a great day!

Avast Me Hardies!

Plank Castle Palin

Plank Castle Palin, according to the Sarah Palin Baby Name Generator, that would be my name if I were sooooooo lucky as to be one of the drug taking, teenage "I just said no" pregnancy, airplane hunting children of Sarah Palin. Granted, I would have been born when she was less than 8 months old, but hey! She can see Russia, that has to count for something!

(So, can you figure out the visual pun of the picture? Check here)

Turkey Baster Babies

Nick has a way of creating expletives. Where most would says something that would need to be bleeped or typed with a first letter and a bunch of asterisks, Nick comes up with a combination of words that often have quite a funny effect. Today, as he was getting out of the shower, "Turkey Baster Babies" was heard emanating from the bathroom. I had to laugh!

I told him that we need to start a band and that needed to be the name. Or maybe that would be a better name for a lesbian band?

Zing!

Stolen from Jay at Bailey's Buddy

70 X 7

This week's sermon can be found here.

Science Fiction Meets Reality

(Hat Tip to Failblog.org )

I Want One!

A flying RC lawn mower. Does it get any better?

(Thanks to the electronic replicant)

How Can People Be So Uninformed?

I saw this over at Pam's House Blend. It really made me angry/frightened. Hearing someone just recite back the talking points without even investigating the veracity of these claims. *shakes head*

I go to give blood today and the technician working with me asked me what I do for a living. I told her I have a liberal political talk radio show. Something pretty close to this conversation took place as she was asking me all of the "Have you ever..." questions and taking my vitals.

"Oh, liberal? Isn't that bad? Y'know, like 'bleeding-heart liberal'" she says.

"Uh, no, it actually means someone who believes in the Constitution, the rule of law, fiscal discipline, equality of people, tolerance of differences, and helping our fellow man," I reply.

"Y'know, like 'they wanted to build such-and-such, but the bleeding-heart liberals wouldn't let them', right?"

"I suppose, if you're listening to Rush Limbaugh or watching FOX News."

"Ha ha! Yeah, Rush Limbaugh, you're like against him?"

"Yeah, I'm like Rush Limbaugh, except I tell the truth."

"So who are you for in the election?"

"Barack Obama all the way."

"What do you think of Sarah Palin?"

"I think she is by far the most unqualified person to run for the vice presidency ever. She is a liar and a bully, she is clueless on foreign affairs, and her views on most every issue would be disastrous for everyone, especially women."

"Well she has more experience than Obama!"

"Barack Obama was a state senator from a city with 3 million people for eight years, and a US senator from a state of 13 million for four years. Sarah Palin was a mayor for six years of a small town with less people than Belmont High School in Los Angeles. If the principal of Belmont High is more qualified than Barack Obama, then Sarah Palin can be a heartbeat away from the presidency."

"Well, I think Obama made a big mistake by not picking Hillary Clinton. A lot of women really want to see a woman in the White House."

"Sarah Palin is ideologically the complete opposite of Hillary Clinton. Sarah Palin believes that if your husband rapes your daughter, your daughter should be forced to have the baby. Sarah Palin believes that girls should get no sex education or contraception, abstinence only. Sarah Palin believes that Creationism is true and should be taught in science classes. Sarah Palin believes that polar bears aren't really going extinct and that global warming is a myth, even as the glaciers in her own freakin' state are melting away and polar bears are drowning and turning cannibal! If any woman who supported Hillary votes for Sarah Palin, they are doing so for the most sexist reason possible and they'll deserve the loss of their reproductive rights!"

"Wow! They sure got a good one in you - you really get into this stuff."

"It's only the future of our country and our lives. I guess it's kinda important."

"Well, I heard Obama made a huge mistake in an interview the other day."

"Really. What was it?"

"He was talking and he said, 'from what I learned in my Muslim upbringing... I mean, my Christian upbringing..." That's a huge foo paw!" (It took me a minute to realize she meant "faux pas") "You can't just say you're something and then say you're something else!"

"You mean like John McCain being for his own immigration bill, then being against it, or being against Bush's tax cuts, then being for them, or being a POW who was tortured and opposed torture, but now he supports it, or being against drilling offshore, but now he's for it? Or do you mean Sarah Palin, who was for the Bridge to Nowhere before she was against it, or against earmarks while she was taking them?"

"Yeah, but Obama made a big foo paw! He said he was a Christian!"

"To be honest, I'd prefer if all the candidates would keep their religion to themselves. I don't care what you pray to, how are you going to get me $2 gas and a job?"

"Don't you think Sarah Palin has really changed the race? I see all those things on TV where everybody is real excited about her!"

"Yeah, sure, the GOP base never liked McCain much and now the evangelicals have God-fearin', gay-hatin', abortion-fightin', science-denyin' whackadoodle to cheer for. Seriously, as a woman working in health care, the very worst thing you could do for your rights and your career is to vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin. Obama is not a Muslim; those are vicious smears by the same people who wanted you to hate him for his Christian pastor that he listened to for twenty years! Which is it? You can't hate him for his Christian pastor and for being Muslim at the same time!"

...

"Alright, you're done. Your blood pressure was 140 over 90. That's a little high."

"Hmm. I wonder what could have caused that to happen."

So every time I feel that pang of Hope and longing for Change, I try to remember that there are so many of these people out there. Nobody ever went broke overestimating human stupidity. And then there are those Diebold voting machines.

Please, Obama, don't let me down. Let me trust in you to win this thing.

Get out and vote!! If you don't, the clueless people will be doing all the choosing and we can't afford to have that happen.

Weekend Stuff

Well, the weekend is on its way out. Not much to say about it. It has been nice. I actually had two days off so I enjoyed just not having to go make coffee.

Yesterday, Amber and I went for a walk in the park. It was a great late summer day with a nice amount of warmth and very low humidity. While walking, Amber and I saw some interesting plants. And since Doug shouldn't get all the fun of posting pictures of plants, I decided I would also post some pictures of the plants I saw along the way.

Dogus Peedonus

Dogus Fertilizedus

Makeus Meitchus

Whatus Wasthefrogthinkingus

This is also the third anniversary of the day I met Nick. We had to laugh when we saw what the readings were going to be for this Sunday.

Three years ago, I went to visit Nick's church for the first time. Nick preached on the gospel and discussed how we should approach people with whom we have problems. It was a pretty good sermon. But what made it a totally memorable sermon was the fact that after the service, two lesbians got into a knock-down, drag-out fight in the parking lot! My first time visiting this church and there are fisticuffs in the parking lot. Well, needless to say, I didn't let the fighting stand in my way of getting to know the associate pastor of this church!

Nickus Mybelovedus

Love Your Enemies

Here is the sermon for Sunday. It is a rehashing of one from six years ago. I still think the message is relevant.

Confession

Ok, I'll admit it: I think Steve from Blue's Clues is cute. He is kind of geeky, but I still like to watch him. Maybe it is the whole adult acting like a child. I don't know. Just had to make that confession.

Food Meme

This one has been flying around so I guess I will play along.

1) Bold all the items you have eaten.
2) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.

1. Venison - My brother would marinade it and grill it. Not too bad.
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari - Yes. I love it!
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich – I still eat them.
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes – Yes, I love cherry wine.
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries – I used to walk in the park by my house and "graze" on the berries. It was heaven.
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans - Yes, love it!
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche - Great stuff!
28. Oysters - Yes, I even like blue points on the half-shell.
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl – Yes, from Panera, but still good.
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut – Yep. Even thought I am German, I hate it.
35. Root beer float – Yes, especially A&W root beer.
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo – Yes, I am a fan of most Cajun food
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects – No. And I have no desire to!
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk – I have had feta and also goat's milk ice cream.
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more - I like scotch, but not at that price.
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut - Of course the free ones, but also ditched church to have donuts and coffee in Spokane. Great stuff!
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly Pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal – No. I dislike most of the stuff on a Big Mac.
56. Spaetzle – Yes. Pretty good! That German background.
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV - Of Course!
59. Poutine - It was ok, but if I want to clog my arteries, I will stick with deep fried cheese curds.
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores – Uh, duh! I worked as a camp counselor for 5 summers.
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs - I would feel sorry for those poor amputee frogs.
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake - Yes to all four.
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette - Yes,once and only once!
71. Gazpacho – Yes. It was at a birthday party for a one-year-0ld.
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill .
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie - Yes, apple was my favorite. But I never had one in years.
78. Snail – Yes, in wine sauce.
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict – Yes. I order it often.
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash -Yes.
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam – Yes, but not too often.
92. Soft shell crab - Had it in Texas. I had to wait for it to be unloaded from the boat.
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish – Yes.
95. Mole poblano – Good mole poblano is a sublime experience.
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

Bonus: What food item have you tried that should be on this list but isn't? Lutefisk! The piece of cod that surpasses all understanding. If it weren't ethnic, it would be illegal.

John Stewart Smacks It Head On!

Thanks to Pam

Just A Bunch Of Photos

This was a house in Charlotte MI that I thought was pretty cool. Nicely painted.

This was an urn out in front of the house pictured above.

This was an interesting wedding "dress" that I saw in Bronner's Christmas Store. Now, I like Christmas a whole lot, but this is just too much!

And a rainbow just now out in the sky. And remember: Everytime you see a rainbow, God is having gay sex!

An Alternative Idea

Ok, there are so many theories floating around about Sarah Palin and the whole Water Breakgate thing.

But a friend of mine said something that made me think. He said, "It sounds like she was doing everything in her power to miscarry."

OMG!

Was that really her intent? Abortions may be wrong, but gosh, if God wants to call the baby before it is born, well...

First Day At The New Old Job

Today I started my new job. Well, actually, it is the same old Starbucks job at a new place. Now Nick and I work in the same building, but it doesn't look like we will ever have the same shifts. So even though we are going to the same place, we will still need to take two cars.

But the first day went well. I guess I wouldn't have expected anything different. So far the people seem nice. One of my coworkers didn't quite know what to expect but I think I proved that I did know what I was doing and could be trusted to make the drinks correctly. Just some tweaking of the way things are done. Even though it is supposed to be the same at each store, each place has its own little quirks. So I guess I will spend some time learning the quirks.

I did shave off the beard and mustache so now I am bald of face. I still have to do a double take when looking in the mirror. It has been a while since I have seen my naked face.

I have 40 hours this week, but then my schedule will get cut down a bit. That will be nice.

I will have to take another picture to show you my new view from the box.

The Irony of It

OK, I am not getting pleasure out of peoples' suffering. I do not take pleasure in Gustav descending upon the Gulf coast.

BUT

I find it kind of ironic that Focus on the Family wanted people to pray for a torrent to wash out Obama's acceptance speech and now a deluge is overshadowing the Republican Convention.