10 Things I Love About You

When Emily was a teenager, I remember having to watch one movie over and over and over again. It was called “10 Things I Hate About You,” and oddly enough it was a love story. After the 1000th showing in my living room, I had way more than 10 things I hated about that movie. In reality, the young lady didn’t hate any of the things that she said she hated, and it should have been named, “10 Things I Love About You.” She really didn’t hate the guy at all. Surprise, right?

The Cookie Monster

I traveled to Mena this week to help out with the aftermath of the tornado there, and my path led me to two churches: a Catholic church and a Baptist church. There was a one-stop help center set up in St. Agnes Catholic Church for people to come by for assistance, and the church was located in a heavily damaged and poor part of town. Miraculously the church suffered little damage even though the surrounding neighborhood was devastated. The metal cross on one of the steeples was bent, and it somehow was symbolic to what happens to people’s faith after something like this – it bends but does not break and when the dust clears it is still standing, albeit different.

Out of the Mouth of Babes

Well, I decided this week it is true that kids say the darndest things. Some of you know that phrase is a reference to one of the early kings of television, Art Linkletter, and his afternoon TV show called “House Party” which aired in the 50’s and 60’s. The first fifteen minutes of the show he interviewed some forgettable guests, but the last fifteen minutes he played the straight man as he interviewed four children ages 4 – 10, and often got the most outrageous answers to some very simply questions.

From Hero to Goat

I received a remarkable video this week by email about one Jason McElwain, a young man who managed his high school basketball team in Rochester New York. Now I understand that his story was on CBS news in 2006 and that it might be old news to you, but I had never heard it until I saw the YouTube video that was sent to me. You see Jason (Nicknamed J-Mac) is autistic, although technically he was labeled a “high functioning autistic, and was a special-ed student at Greece Athena High School in Rochester.

Cur Deus Homo

I was surfing the net this week and came across a website, the world’s largest things.com, which list the world’s largest things that are in the United States. In fact it officially says “What’s Large Where? What’s large where in the United States?” It lists classics like the biggest ball of twine in Minnesota and Husky the largest Musky also in Minnesota. In fact, Minnesota has 51 large things listed, second only to the very largest of states in terms of people, California. So what is large in Arkansas you say?

Do it Yourself

We went to the home show yesterday, and I still am amazed that we would pay seven bucks to see people try to sell us their products. Next year I am simply going to spend the day at Lowes and Home Depot (on free hot dog day) and save money and get a free lunch to boot. But the Home show was good; it was crazy full of people, a lot of whom are do-it-yourselfers like me. There is no project that I am not willing to tackle, even though my skill set might be running on fumes. Flooring? No problem, except that crawling around on your knees is tough. Plumbing? Again, it is simple, it is not rocket science, just have to able to contort your body to fit under the sink. Electrical? OK, that one scares me a bit; something about the house burning down while we sleep is a bit of a deterrent.

Putting Your Best Foot Forward

What is the most tired you have ever been? I guess the winner in my life has to be a night on call at the hospital, not one in particular, but any one of the many all-nighters that I have pulled through the years. I have decided that I am still “the man” when it comes to running to the hospital at 2AM, but if I get more than one call a night then I am toast.

Jumping Through A Few Hoops

Dianna and I go through a ritual almost every day and it goes something like this: “What do you want for supper Dianna?” “I don’t care, what do you feel like Stan?” “I really don’t know what would be good, do you have a preference?” “No, I don’t care, you pick.” “Do you want to cook something at home or go out?” “I don’t care.” “OK. Well, all we have is Bisquick and beanie weenies, let’s go out.” “Great” she says.

So Help Me God

The Presidential Inauguration is coming up in a little more than a week now, and there is lots of buzz concerning the events surrounding the our 44th President of the United State, Barack Obama. I personally know a lot of people who are going to the inauguration; there should be untold millions of people there. It will be very exciting no doubt, but I for one would not want to deal with those crowds and all that goes with it. It will be tough getting into the city, and it is a city that is always tough to get into. But for those brave souls who make the pilgrimage, it will surely be an event to remember.

Star Gazing

Well, I don’t know if 2009 holds any big dates for you, such as a significant anniversary or birthday, such as one that ends in a five or a zero, but there are a couple of anniversaries of note that you won’t want to overlook.