I think the “start” means this is a maze. Apparently to nowhere. It’s a trap!
Little Whiteboard on the Desk – “Maze” (or Intestine?)
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Category Archives: Fun
Little Whiteboard on the Desk – “Brains!”
I have a little whiteboard that lays flat on my desk at work. When I’m going to be away from my workstation for an extended period of time, I write on the board where I am. But I’m mostly there. So the board is mostly blank. Until my coworkers get in on the act. Case in point!
The Talents of Friends
My friend Dave got it in his head to do a song parody of “Dumb Ways to Die” and asked if I’d want to record it. Wonderfully flattered, of course. I quickly added, “but you’d have to write the lyrics!” He gave the classic cringe and then it hit me…the amazing TJ rhymes like no one else. I presented the opportunity to her and she’s almost got it written! I love collaborating with talented people! I don’t want to give the subjet matter away just yet, but I’ll let you know when we’ve got something.
Gone All Day Stew
My dear friend, Lisa, gave me this recipe and I need to share it with my sister-in-law. We had this as Christmas dinner last December and it was a big hit. Simple and absolutely yummy!
Wednesday Tugboat of the Week!
I just like to look at them. The John Arthur is a beauty!
Blue Like Jazz — a movie review
Many of my friends know how much I love the book, “Blue Like Jazz” (thank you, Bluestockings book club!). Don Miller really spoke confirmation and peace to my heart through that book as I began questioning my faith. And many of my friends know that I backed the movie on Kickstarter along with a couple thousand other folks to see that it got made. And many of my friends know that I flew down to Portland (in a 9-seater prop plane, thank you very much) to be at the premiere of the movie.
I wasn’t disappointed.
Director Steve Taylor and his wily band of civilly disobedient, Christ-follwing filmmakers have punted out a really great story by which any seeker of faith or truth or simple justice can be encouraged by. I love the way these men and women were not afraid to break the tired old mold of “Christian” films and just put out a solid story of life, religion broken and faith found. The people you love to hate are here, but in the end…none of them are hateable. Because we are all both broken and beautiful, petty and noble, desperate for love and abounding in generosity. That’s the story I love in “Blue Like Jazz.”
**SPOILER ALERT** You’ve been warned!
Almost my favorite moment in the film is when a pastor and his (maybe six-year-old) daughter come to their church on Sunday morning to see a giant smiley-face condom draped over the steeple, put there by drunken Reed college students the night before. A sign over the church entry reads “Don’t Let These People Reproduce.” His daughter asks him what the thing on the steeple is and he replies with a calm bemusement, “It’s…a balloon. A happy baloon.” His daughter then reads the sign out loud, carefully sounding out the word “reproduce.” He pats her shoulder and tells her how good she did.
We only saw this pastor about three times in the movie, but his impact on me was wonderful. There were some awful Christians in the movie. But this guy’s minor role was touching. He simply bore the hate of the world and showed kindness and gentleness to those who had intended to hurt him. He was walking the walk. Just beautiful.
So, in case you hadn’t noticed, I want you to go see this movie! Sprinkle with some popcorn, add a loved one and enjoy!
Me, and my Steve-Taylor-Uber-Fan friends, Jeff Blackburn and Ragan Crowe at the Portland, OR, premiere of “Blue Like Jazz.”
People are Cool
I listen to podcasts. I like hearing about other people’s lives and experiences. What’s fun about podcasts, too, though is that you usually can interact a bit with the podcasters. I think that’s pretty neat. It reminds me of the days of the telegraph or the ham radios when you could actually interact and converse with people thousands of miles away. It’s amazing really!
One of my favorite podcasts is “Lula’s a Pubcast” with two gents, friends, one of which is the owner are bartender at Lula’s in Wilmington, NC. It turns out that Bryan (the bartender) is also an artist–a really good one. He offered to do drunken doodles for the first ten folks to email them. I landed on the list. Today, I downloaded the podcast and got to see my doodle. It’s great! I have wings! Which is actually a real encouragement to me because I’m searching these days for the right path for my future, spiritually, artistically and career-wise. This has left me feeling a little unsure of things. But knowing that I have wings and that I’m flying right by just having faith in God’s providence and love has lifted my spirits.
Thanks, Bryan and Jim!
(Please have Candace on again…she’s was perfect!)
Haiku!
I won a haiku contest!
Heard
Unexpected joy;
Words forgot but sensed in mind
Return to delight.
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
The paperback version of this great book is coming out and Don is giving a way copies to those who will embed his video about it.
I really loved this book. Though I did want to throw it against the wall after reading it (couldn’t…it was on my Kindle). Why? Because it awakened in me the dreams I had set aside as impossible and unreasonable. And now I’m on the track of them again. Life is a journey to be lived to the fullest. It’s scary, but I’m going for it. Here’s Don’s vid:
What story are you telling? from Rhetorik Creative on Vimeo.
You can buy the book from Powell’s, the giantish bookstore!
Valentine’s Day Love
A lovely card from my mom. A wonderful phone call from my dad and katmom. It is so good to connect with those we love. We won’t have them forever! Be sure to say “I love you” to your parents as much as you can.