Archives: November 2002
Sat Nov 30, 2002
posting delay...
i'm still feeling sick. head feels like it will burst, and i wish it would. coughing constantly.
there are so many wonderful things i'd love to write about, but
frankly, i'm too tired to conceptualise more than a sentence or two...
thanks for all of the kind wishes. i'm going to go heal some more now.
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Thu Nov 28, 2002
update from Theo land...
slept late.
sanded and painted a bit in bathroom.
ate thanksgiving dinner with wifey and mother-out-law (much more to this story!)
rested at home.
still sick, so i'm off to bed.
more tomorrow.
night, night!
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I Think It's Done!!!!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!
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Wed Nov 27, 2002
Neo turkey and diseased thinking!
can you say,"art deco?"
i'm feeling a touch of a cold today. last night after work i was
unusually tired, and my throat was a bit scratchy. i ate some healthy
stuff and went straight to bed. my daughter (who i drive to school each
morning) is already out of school for the week, so i got to sleep in
some this morning. i feel some better.
i'm off to work in a few, and it should be a good day. i'm finalizing a quote for a HUGE bid for a MAJOR** company, today. we have our company Thanksgiving lunch today. and, i have only one sales call to make this morning.
this darn cold is already pulling my energy level down, but what is
there that i can do? i did hear the little voice of my 'disease' this
morning..."You know, Theo, there are some things that would make you feel better."
More...
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Tue Nov 26, 2002
Today's Turkey
did someone say Resistance?!
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Mon Nov 25, 2002
A Turkey A Day!
i've decided to post a different 'turkey' each day until Thanksgiving. i think it will be fun. Gobble! Gobble!
i'm a bit dissappointed, because we are not traveling to my 'folks'
home for Thanksgiving. there is something in my core being that wants
to head home for the holidays. i'll miss seeing my mother,
grandparents, step-dad, and uncles, aunts, cousins, etc. i will not
miss hearing the same stories about my childhood escapeds over again
for the millionth time. sobeit!
it is turkey at home here this year! (i'm with you though, Trinity. that dang bird makes me so sleepy that i miss enjoying my time off...ZZZzzzzzzzzz)
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Sun Nov 24, 2002
A Star is Born!
My 15 year old daughter was in a play at her High School this past
weekend. Neil Simon’s play, “Rumors” is a hilarious romp through the
antics of four couples’ encounter with an evening of misunderstanding,
gun shots, auto wrecks and a servant-less dinner. I laughed. I laughed,
a lot.
But, I felt much more than the merriment of the evening. As I watched my daughter on stage, I was one proud poppa!
I spent years in minor Theatre productions: college plays, community
and Church dramas. I worked with a professional summer theatre group
for two summers. Heck, I even did two ‘made for cable’ commercials.
Theatre was always my dream and fantasy career. I made other choices,
though. I do understand.
I have no delusions of living a vicarious existence through my
daughter’s dramatic pursuits. If she is never in another play, I’ll
still be proud. What moved me was more than just seeing her on stage,
although her stage prowess is quite impressive. What moved me is that
she has this opportunity and the self esteem to take advantage of it. I
saw not only my daughter, the thespian, I saw my daughter, the young
and growing woman. I know enough about staring in a production (and she
was THE STAR) to know that in order to pull it off successfully, you
must be able to stand alone. Yes, there is a cast around you. Yes,
there are crews for sets, lights and sound. Yet, when the lights go on
and the curtain is raised, the actor must stand firm, and he/she alone
faces the daunting task of reaching into the spirits of those watching,
and move them.
She moved me that night. I am proud.
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just so i can say, "I knew him back when..."
Mike needs to be famous... and fast.
got fame?
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Sat Nov 23, 2002
Planning for Thanksgiving!
got this from a two seperate emails. it's a bit shallow and tastless
(pun intended), but...i guess that is why i laughed so hard!
Things You Can Get Away With Saying Only at Thanksgiving
1. Talk about a huge breast!
2. Tying the legs together keeps the inside moist.
3. It's Cool Whip time!
4. If I don't undo my pants, I'll burst!
5. Whew, that's one terrific spread!
6. I'm in the mood for a little dark meat.
7. Are you ready for seconds yet?
8. It's a little dry; do you still want to eat it?
9. Just wait your turn you'll get some!
10. Don't play with your meat.
11. Just spread the legs open and stuff it in.
12. Do you think you'll be able to handle all these people at once?
13. I didn't expect everyone to come at once!
14. You still have a little bit on your chin.
15. How long will it take after you stick it in?
16. You'll know it's ready when it pops up.
17. Wow, I didn't think I could handle all of that!
18. That's the biggest one I've ever seen!
19. How long do I beat it before it's ready?
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Fri Nov 22, 2002
a good read...
it isn't often that you find a blogger out there who can manage to deal
with 'hot' topics without trying to ram their ideology down your
throat. but, i think i've found one. Brenda Stardom
(although her placement on the political scale seems pretty obvious)
writes well and clearly on current events and shares a great deal of
information while respecting the reader's integrity and mental
independence. i just wish she had a comments section!
Check it out.
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Thu Nov 21, 2002
Inks Blocks and Stuff
here's a fun link. be forewarned, it take a few miniutes to do this one.
What Motivates Your Unconscious Mind?
Emode's Original Inkblot Test
Theo, your unconscious mind is driven most by Peace
You are driven by a higher purpose than most people. You have a
deeply-rooted desire to facilitate peacefulness in the world. Whether
through subtle interactions with love ones, or through getting involved
in social causes, it is important to you to influence the world.
You are driven by a desire to encourage others to think about the
positive side of things instead of focusing on the negative. The reason
your unconscious is consumed by this might stem from an innate fear of
war and turmoil. Thus, to avoid that uncomfortable place for you, your
unconscious seeks out the peace in your environment.
Usually, the thing that underlies this unconscious drive is a deep
respect for humankind. You care about the future of the world, even
beyond your own involvement in it. As a result, your personal integrity
acts as a surrogate for your deeper drive toward peace and guides you
in daily life towards decisions that are respectful toward yourself and
others.
Though your unconscious mind is driven most strongly by Peace, there is much more to who you are at your core.
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Women, Men, Beer and Abuse?
i'm a pretty easy going guy, and after these many long years of trials and tribulations, i don't often get upset by simple things like commercials. but, this morning i saw an add on TV that bothered me. More...
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Tue Nov 19, 2002
What Was That?
i have been reading some lately about Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). My X-wife and i met with the pediatrician and my son (13yrs.) yesterday to begin the process of trying some medication for him. as we talked, it became clearer to me that he has in fact had a pattern in school, especially since middle school that fits with classic ADD. i hope and pray that this new medication is helpful and will allow him to thrive and reach the potential that he sees in himself, and yet struggles to realize. More...
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Mon Nov 18, 2002
Dreamcatchers and Renewed Dreams
there are somethings about relationships that are great for balance.
my wifey is a wonderful 'scout' for cultural events and art exhibits.
she spotted one for us this weekend at the Salem College Center for
Women Writers: The Native American Writers Festival.
We attended a poetry reading on Saturday evening.
More...
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Fri Nov 15, 2002
salvation rising...
our backyard is a little piece of solitude. although we live within the
city, the development was designed and constructed in the seventies
when home owners liked having larger yards and privacy. our house sits
on a triangular lot of about 3/4 acres with the widest portion of our
lot in the back. from the back porch, the yard of grass, rhododendron
and rock-borders slopes dramatically downward. the yard's perimeter is
set by a spilt rail fence lined with wire mesh to allow our
rambunctious doggie, Gizmo, to run freely. beyond the fence, towering
hickory trees, stately beeches, dogwoods and gnarled underbrush lead
down to a free flowing creek where granite rocks stand as sentinels,
channeling the steady stream or rushing current depending on the amount
of rain we have had recently.
this morning i stood outside in the crisp morning air, gazing through
the tall spindle branches, now nearly bare of leaf, at one of the most
wonderful sunrises that i can remember. overlapping clouds of radiant
amber and red, blanketing a sky of powder blue and the last ebony
traces of night's seclusions, seemed to draw my very soul from my body.
where it not for the chill of the air dancing around my ears and nose,
and the gentle bursts of vapor-ed breath reminding me of my place, here
and now, i might have left this world for some raptured impressionistic
existence. they say that to see God is to die. certainly to behold such
beauty, ever changing and varied, is to be held in the grasp of the
Divine. no photograph can capture the experience, for it is not the
lone tapestry of sun's rising that creates such wonder. it is not the
blend of color nor the shifting of silken shapes, fading into the
coming day. it is the miracle of the realization of true beauty in the
spirit of a man, a singular man, who had all but lost belief and who in
that minute piece of time, was recreated anew.
it is the simple truth that i am loved by that which is love. that is enough for me today.
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Thu Nov 14, 2002
Warning! Internal Chaos Threatening to Spill Over! "Danger Will Robinson! Danger!"
i'm just aggravated today. much is getting on my nerves, but none of it
is really of significance: wifey was rude to me this am (could just be
me), got several 'thanks-but-no-thanks' responses at job #1, tomorrow
is payday and i have more debt then money to cover it, my shoulder
hurts, my son is failing science (again) and his mom is pushing to try
the meds for ADD that he probably needs (but i hate the idea of it
all), i'm probably ADD myself (should i be on meds?), my energy level
is low, and i'm really wanting to be Pastoring again....ARGH!
More...
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Wed Nov 13, 2002
this one was fun!
now here's a different twist on the what ___ are you!
| "It is the chiefest point of happiness that a man is willing to be what he is." |
| You are Desiderius Erasmus! You have great love for others and will do just about anything to show it to them. You are tolerant and avoid confrontations, so people generally are drawn to you. You are more quiet and reserved in front of strangers, but around some people you open up. When things get tough, you like to meditate alone. Unfortunately you often get things like "what a pansy," or "you're such a liberal." |
What theologian are you?
A creation of Henderson
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live by the sword...die by the sword
i had forgotten about this one, but it is worth sharing. you just have to be careful about your sources of authority...teehee!
More...
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Tue Nov 12, 2002
Canine Interruptions and Morning Bliss
after 'camping out' with my son in the den downstairs for the
previous three nights, Gizmo, my loving, attentive and irritating as
chiggers in a sleeping bag dog, rebelled last night. when placed in the
horrid confines of my step-daughter's room, he decided to whine and
scratch at her door.
after 15 minutes of this and facing the risk of her sleep being
interrupted, i moved Gizmo to his crate. It has been a while since he
slept there, and after about 10mins of chirping (that is his "i'm
distressed! save me” sound) he settled down...until...4:40 am this
morning.
More...
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Mon Nov 11, 2002
today's thoughts on Veteran's day...sorta
"The role of religion is not to help one side win the battle. The
role of religion is to lift us above the battlefield. The role of
religion is to lift us to the level of consciousness where we see that
beyond this drama being played out, of us versus them; beyond this
drama being played out of hatred and separation, there is a truer
truth. And the truer truth is that we all love each other, whether we
know it or not."
-Marianne Williamson
truer words have not been spoken.
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a glimpse back...
a while back i wrote the poem below. on a impulse, i submitted it to poetry.com.
i don't know enough about the site to know how many of the submissions
regularly get published, but they notified me that they are including
'Gentle Walking' in their next publication.
of course, they wanted me to buy a copy of the anthology for $59.00! thanks, but, no thanks.
i'm repeating the poem here, mainly because it reflects where i am
today. the weather here is strange: pink and lavender morning skies,
billowing clouds, blustery winds, rain and tornado watches across four
counties. the 'weather' inside me today is similarly turbulent. so, i
must be intentional about my movement through life today. easy does it.
gentle walking...
More...
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Sun Nov 10, 2002
driving miss lazy
i'm waiting for my 15 year old daughter to get out of bed. she wanted
me to take her driving today. now, she says, "can i sleep a little
longer?"
i like the idea of teaching my kid to drive. it ought to be esp. fun
since this is the first time she has ever driven with a 'stick shift.'
oh boooooooooooooooy! more later, i think i hear her stumbling down the
stairs now. bye.
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Sat Nov 09, 2002
Hope out of Dispair
last evening my wifey, mother-outlaw, my son and i attended a wonderful concert by the African Children's Choir.
this wonderful group of children, representing hundreds of
thousands like them, are children who have been orphaned by war, murder
or famine. yet, they sing, dance and smile explosively from stage.
their travels across the Americas and Europe heighten awareness of and
raise funds for the many hopeless children in their countries.
i was moved by their presence. i pray for all of those who have not been so fortunate.
truly joy and hope rises from within.
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Fri Nov 08, 2002
it seemed like a good idea at the time
among the gothic towers and winding stone paths abides an institution
of higher learning of Ivy League proportions, Duke University. proudly
located in the heart of North Carolina and touting some of the highest
academic standards and tuition fees, this regal bastion of intellectual
leaders decided to honor a couple who donated 5.5 million dollars for
dormitory improvements.
as the university’s collective grey-matter conjured up ways to honor
this fine couple and their generous donation, it seemed like a good
idea to preserve a likeness of them in a stone statue. further elite
thought resulted in the posed question, "why not reflect the gothic
theme and let those statues be gargoyles" (yes you heard it right, and
i'm not making this up)?
More...
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Thu Nov 07, 2002
oops...comments down...
my comments are not posting right now. if you like, you can drop me an email at: staff@theophany.us
sorry for mess.
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Wed Nov 06, 2002
show me the money!
i wonder what it would be like to have unlimited financial resources.
this morning i took my son to the orthodontist for his first
appointment for braces. i've been working a second job trying to get
caught up on bills and earn extra cash to pay for these braces. they
are going to cost me a bit over $4,000.00 dollars. the first payment
today was for $330.00. i have another payment in about two weeks for
the same amount and then $119.00/month until it's paid off.
it's not that i mind paying the money, it is just that i'm broke again.
i have just enough money to cover my car payment and then will have to
squeeze by until payday. i'm not really complaining. but, as i sat in
the orthodontist office i was reading the November issue of ESPN
magazine and saw where these teenage athletes are making millions and
millions, and i wondered... what would it be like to have unlimited
wealth?
--SIGH--
More...
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Tue Nov 05, 2002
The Gut of It All
feelings today. mostly i'm feeling aggravated! behind it is a abiding
sense of self-doubt. so i'm finding myself questioning everyone around
me, short on patience, long on attitude and developing a thorough case
of the "F" its!
i really would like to change the way i feel. that's my eternal
dilemma. when i start feeling uncomfortable feelings, i start looking
for distractions. anything will do; spending money, flirting, drugs,
food, grandiosity, etc.
what to do. well, i have some appointments in a few minutes that will
take my mind off of me. then i can call my sponsor, pray, and keep
doing the next right thing...one moment at a time. i know these feeling
will pass. i know that all i have to do is stay focused and NOT act out
to try to change them. so, that's my commitment for the day. i can do
this, just for today
The Gut of it All
the fist has me again.
the fist that reaching from within,
deeper into the belly of the beast that abides within my soul,
grasping and tearing, creating chaotic funnels of desire and fear,
an intoxicating mixture of addictive brew that threatens to override all sensibilities and reason.
i am hurting. deep within, where those delicate fibers of translucent wings flutter vainly to lift me again.
up.
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Mon Nov 04, 2002
A Twist of Ivy...
In an interesting bit of historical trivia, "Sam" answers this question.
Q. Could you list the Ivy League schools? Why are they called Ivy League? - F.C.
A. The Ivy League schools are Brown University, Columbia University,
Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton
University, University of Pennsylvania and Yale University.
A sportswriter came up with the Ivy League name, according to a history
of the Ivy League on the Columbia University Web site. On Oct. 14,
1937, Caswell Adams of the New York Herald-Tribune was assigned to
cover a Columbia-Pennsylvania game. Adams would have preferred another
assignment. He asked his editor (and we're paraphrasing here), "Why the
heck do I have to watch the ivy grow? Why don't you let me cover a
football game away from the ivy-covered halls of learning?"
A fellow sportswriter, Stanley Woodward, overheard Adams and realized
that "ivy colleges" would be a clever way to refer to the football
teams. Woodward used the ivy reference in his Monday football column,
and other writers picked up the phrase.
The colleges had been competing in several sports in leagues of
different names. But in 1945, the Ivy Group became the official name
for football competitions. In 1954, the Ivy League was established as
the name for all of the schools' intercollegiate athletics.
Ivy League now also signifies the prestige associated with the schools.
More...
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Sun Nov 03, 2002
Come Howl With Me?
a look into the mind of Evan, from "The Gift", as we might see him in later years...
"What can i do amind the swirling, mystery of life? that space in
which we live where the chaos is held at bay, though only barely. that
space in the darkened wood where the howling of ravenous wolves echoes,
calling out to the beast within and beckoning, "come run with us. lead
us!"
here in this humble shack of patched dreams and broken hopes, i sit,
building a fire, boiling tea and tending to matters of the normal life.
but, in the evening, as the mists of dusk settle upon moss laiden roots
and daylight's rays are strangled into submission, I sit and rock by
the fire, feeling it's warmth on my face, and sometimes, sometimes,
close my eyes and let my spirit gather it's eternal longing...and I
howl.
I howl to the brothers of passion and speak of truths i do not comprehend... "
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can't decide
I can't seem to decide between these two images for my bio page. care to give me your feed back?
Image #1
Image #2
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Sat Nov 02, 2002
new look cometh!!!
special thanks to Trinity for setting up my new layout/graphics!
the new look is great! i love it. we still have some 'tweeking' to do, but it's coming along great!
stay tuned...
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Game Day
we have friends from Tallahassee, Fl. here for the Wake Forest -
Florida State Game today. SO, i'm entertaining friends and getting
siked for the game. ok, so the true confession of the day is that i am
a BIG
Florida State football fan. My wifey is a FSU graduate and i got hooked
on FSU football about eight years ago. The last two years have been
frustrating with the three and four losses, but i've had the
opportunity to work on my powerless and acceptance! HA!
i just hope today doesn't come down to a field goal! wide left! wide right! ARGH!!!!!
GO NOLES!!!
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Fri Nov 01, 2002
Runes, Swamps and Trust
one 'Oracle' that i have found helpful in my spiritual journey is
Runes. Runes are ancient written symbols from western lore. Their exact
meanings and origins is really unknown, but a number of accepted
interpretations are floating about. Just do a search for 'runes' and
you'll be off to the races...
for me, the Runes provide a focus point. Each, with their own spiritual
meaning, can serve as a focal point for personal reflection. Today i
pulled the rune Ingu. It's meaning is as follows:
Ing is a very positive rune and even when it appears in a negative
rune cast, it only hints at failure. It means that resources will come
to you to complete a great project or that a problem or situation you
have begun is now coming to an end. It also stands for the relief and
good feeling that comes with completion and represent a period of rest
and recuperation before embarking in a new stage of your life. It tends
to mean that a part of your life is ending so it can give birth to a
new and exciting part that may be a milestone for you. It marks a time
of deliverance, conclusion, and good energies. It has no reverse
meaning and always promises good fortune.
More...
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