OTG Redux

This will be my last update for the next eleven days. I understand this may cause some consternation and heartburn to the twelve folks who read this blog and, for that, I apologize. I actually considered contacting you all personally but I realized that would break the illusion that I am catering to a larger audience than actually exists so I have opted to make this announcement publicly.

“What’s going on?”

Thank you for asking. My wife and I have been offered a chance to accompany my brother and his wife (and daughter--can’t forget Miss T) to Hawaii for a week. We said, “Yes.” Now, don’t hate (although it would be easy to cave in to your initial emotional response). We leave Saturday morning and will return next Sunday. Obviously, we are excited although, having never been there, we are basing the excitement on photos displayed on websites (thank you, A.P. Stylebook), other people’s personal anecdotes and fond memories of Hawaii Five-O (Zulu as Kono! Kam Fong as Chin Ho!).

Now we are ready to make our own memories. My typical M.O. for a trip is to document with daily updates to this blog and whatever other social media outlet I can abuse to keep folks that are interested up-to-date. But not this time. I have decided to go off the grid, relax, read, enjoy my wife and hosts and not deal with the pressure of updates until I come home. All I am taking is my camera and some books (I am still e-reader poor) and if I feel compelled to write, I will embrace my inner Luddite and use a pen and a notebook. I am not even going to take my laptop. (Okay, I admit my hands were shaking when I typed that last sentence but I will carry through with my plan no matter the physical reaction to the separation.) I pray it will be as refreshing and mind-clearing as I anticipate.

“You said you’re leaving Saturday. Why are you posting this today?”

I am so proud of my perceptive audience. Tomorrow we are going to Orlando to watch Vera play in the Bonded Records showcase at The Social in Orlando. It is part of the Florida Music Festival being held this weekend. In fact, Vera has a very busy weekend (see the links below) and, if you are in the Central Florida area, you should try to see them play. Sunday night is free, by the way, if that helps (and it should--I know my audience). Alas, we will be returning to Tallahassee on Friday to prepare for our trip but we’re thankful to get to see them perform on Thursday.

Now you know.  Thanks for stopping by...

Vera’s Weekend Schedule:
Thursday Night: http://www.reverbnation.com/artist/index/weareVERA#/show/2099220
Friday Night: http://www.floridamusicfestival.com/film/fmf_indie_film_jam_2010/
Sunday Night: http://www.vimeo.com/11086902

A Thousand Words (Implied)

Jordan, Hard Rock Cafe, April 18, 2010

Vera played this past weekend at the Hard Rock in Orlando as part of the semi-finals for the Ambassadors of Rock Battle of the Bands. They won last night and play again this coming Sunday, facing off against the other two victorious semi-finalists. The winner moves on. I say all that just so I can have an excuse to post this picture of Jordan, preparing for the sound check last night. His friend Erik took the picture from backstage. I realize it was just a quick phone capture but, man, it captured so much. The waiting, the anticipation, the spotlight, the empty venue, the soon to be frantic feet curled around the stool... Maybe it is just me but I wanted to share just in case it wasn't. Enjoy...

Ode to Hope

I saw her one morning at church and vowed to learn her name. A year later we met. One week later we went on our first date. What jumped out at me that night was how perfectly our hands fit together. Three months later we were engaged. Eleven months after our first date we were married. That is the first picture.

10,220 days have passed.

The kids are moved out so we had to adjust to the quiet. She finally succumbed to glasses and we had to adjust our kissing angles. We’ve lost friends and family members so we had to adjust our relationships. We are more forgetful so we had to adjust to lists.  But the hands still fit together perfectly, no adjustment there. The smiles are coming from a deeper place, the joy is earned. That is the second picture.

April 10. Happy anniversary, Hope. Thanks for saying yes (and grabbing my hand).

Day in the Life: My Sketchbook, Round Twelve

Once more, into the church sketchbook breach. This one is from one month later and we are still in 1 Corinthians. (Yes, our church goes through the Bible verse-by-verse, we are not in a hurry.) This spread covers several teaching sessions from September 20 through October 11 but not everything on the page synches with what was being espoused from the pulpit. The robot is back, there is reference to a worship song (Hillsong!) and God is a black man which makes my Visual of Controversy even more controversial. Excuse me, is that one guy hugging a missile or a tube of lipstick? So much to see, so little that makes sense...

 

September 20 -October 11, 2009

(click on the art to see it gigantic on your screen!)

Day in the Life: My Sketchbook, Round Eleven

Today we are delving into a whole 'nother area of my sketchbook collection: Church Notes Edition. Yes, I have separate sketchbooks for taking notes in church (doesn't everyone?). This revelation (note my use of spiritual jargon to make a point or at least allude to deeper spiritual things) may help you understand why my wife has learned to have a love/hate relationship with all the "little books" laying around the house. They are legion (there I go again—I just can't help myself!). Moving on...

This first example is from last August and our pastor was teaching from 1 Corinthians. Combine my deep insights into chapter seven with robots, levels and rough sketch ideas for a Halloween Hallelujah Harvest tract ("Sanctified Sweets or Jujubes for Jesus") and it's a smorgasbord of wackiness (which, sadly, is an accurate, visual display of my brain on a daily basis). I'm not sure why I keep posting this stuff. I don't have that many friends and this can't be helping but, regardless, I may post one more tomorrow. And in case you are wondering, yes, I do listen while I doodle in my book. Actually, I listen better when I doodle (which could be faulty wiring but Mike Holmes has not returned my call).

Coming Friday: A Very Special Post (hint: my 28th wedding anniversary is Saturday)

August 26, 2009

(click on the art to see it gigantic on your screen!)

Monday, Monday

A full, wearying weekend is behind me and this morning has been a struggle BUT! the weekend was worth it. My parents were visiting for the weekend and, with Jordan home for his spring break from school, the entire family was able to eat, visit, eat and eat (a little more) as a unit. It was nice having the nuclear family intact for a few days.

This is a snapshot from the weekend, my kids preparing to eat seafood on Saturday afternoon, enjoying their Easter baskets prepared by mom (and decorated by dad—yes, that is a rabbit with drum sticks on Jordan's bag; good guess!). William, his wife Jul, Jordan and Laura... my crew.

Unfoolish Words For April First

Is there anyone who can explain God?
Anyone smart enough to tell Him what to do?
Anyone who has done Him such a huge favor that 

God has to ask His advice?

Everything comes from Him;
Everything happens through Him;
Everything ends up in Him.
Always glory! Always praise!
Yes. Yes. Yes.
[Romans 11:34-36: The Message]