We're Here

We finally made it to SEMO. Oh my dude what a trip. Flying from California to Missouri on 1.5 hrs of sleep is not advisable. Thankfully our trip went through Salt Lake City and not Denver or we would have been stranded at the airport.

4 am - Cab Ride
As my wife will surely attest: I am a big dork. Our cab showed up on time at 4am and asked where we were going. "The Airport" I answered - forgetting that we had called them to take us to the airport. "I know, I mean on your trip."

Why is it that all cabbies, no matter what city you are in, sound like they are from New York? Is that part of the job? That must be what the license is for, "(Frankie/Johnny/Mikey/Habib) is licensed to slur speech and drive in two lanes at the same time."

4:20 am - FAT = Fresno Air Terminal
Praise God that our tickets took us through Salt Lake City. The line for our check-in consisted of us and the guy waiting behind us. Every other line was jammed because they were all flying through Denver, which was socked-in and eventually closed - stranding lots-o-people in the process.

We waited until 5:30 (and Starbucks) to go through the check-in line. I had the distinct feeling that we were in some kind of surreal movie about the future where your freedoms are controlled by the state and even mock-complaining will get you thrown in jail. Oh wait, that's right now. I'm exaggerating - though it was a little scary - especially when I open my camera bag and it looks like nuclear bomb parts. "Sir, we're going to have to ask you to come with us while we put you in jail for the rest of your life."

6:30 am - plane takes off
Ok, it's been a billion years since I flew and after the security screening I was um, let's say, tense about this flight. Going fast down the runway was fun. "How fast are we going?", Sara asks. "I don't know, maybe 200.", is my guess. If anybody does know how fast it takes to get airborn please let me know so I can be smart for my wife next time. Make sure to convert the speed to "knots per hour" so I can sound extra smart.

Plane ride was a real stomache churner. Sara and I both were ready to hit the barf bags. So glad that we landed safely - and finally. Prayer works.

10: 30 am - Salt Lake City, Utah
Cold. 16 degrees. Very cold. Also, don't try to find your own way at Salt Lake. The signs have nothing to do with the actual locations of the gates. Ask, and quickly, because it's a longer walk than you expect.

Dramamine is the best thing ever. Second plane ride was nice and easy, even when it felt like we were on a roller coaster. My right ear never depressurized though. Do what?

2:00 pm - St Louis, Missouri
Yeah! we made it. Catfish and Johnboat picked us up and we drove another 1.5 hrs. Finally made it. So tired. Must sleep...

7:00 pm - Branding Iron (Pig)
Oh my dude! The food was awesome!!

5:30 am, 21st - Lanier House
apparently our house was burning down back home. Thanks to Howard all is well. Sorry big guy. You had to wake up anyway right?

I'm in your SEMO takin my vacationz

Welcome to SEMO. I know that Sara and I have made fun of this place in the past but, much like the nerdy kid you made fun of in school, you just need to get to know it for yourself.

Today Johnboat and I went to "work" for Catfish - which included jamming on the drums and guitars and checking emails and blogs. Oh, I designed a flyer too! Then we went to Cape Girardeau for eating lunches and looking at stuffs. It was pretty cool. I got to see the Mississippi River for the first time ever. It looks like a giant lake, except it's moving all the time. It makes you feel really small...and glad you haven't fallen into it.
Downtown Cape is really cool. They have stores and cars and streets and other holy things. There is a church on almost every corner - kind of like Starbucks in Fresno. We got some sodas and coffees and drove around and ate the sandwiches Brandi made for us. Mine was full of meat and cheese - my favorite!!

It's amazing that there was no graffitti. Big open walls everywhere. Some even still have their faded painted signs from a long ago era. We saw the building that General Grant stayed in for a little while. I hope he comes back someday, it would be nice to visit with him in his quarters.

Then we drove back and I got a picture of the mini Statue of Liberty...well, her backside anyway...Then we went to Radio Shack and back to the office so Catfish could, um, go pee.

YO!

Ok, I'm pretty excited right now. We are going to Missouri in like 4 days and that is pretty cool. Sara and I have been waiting for like for ever to make this trip and now it's finally happening. Thanks to wise financial planning on my part (and gifts from family members...and really it was Sara who planned, not me) we are doing what some thought would be impossible.

Yes, Missouri is 2 hours ahead. So that means that everything that's happening in California has already happened in Missouri. I can't wait to see what's in the future. On returning to Fresno I envision our family saying, "Wow, nobody is wearing those fashions here!" And we'll say, "Just wait two hours. You'll see."

Ah good times are before us.

Everything is working now...mostly

Our technical difficulties have been solved, the storm of controversy abated, and the copious amounts of coffee consumed.

Our videos were down for a day due to sunspot activity. Who knows. they just stopped working. I suspect a Microsoft plot.

Now I've got some sweet code up in there and all is well. Just click on the image of the video to play the video. I know it's all kinds of extra steps but without that the videos would all start playing when the page loaded. "Martha, why is this website screaming at me?"

Ok, bye

New Video Format

Hey all of you all. I am officially switching the video format on my blog from swf/mov to wmv. I know, you are so excited. The Windows Media Player works way better and it looks nicer too - as long as you don't mind it taking over your entire system.

Of course if you have anything besides WindowsXP it might not look good or even work. But that's all the more reason to upgrade your tired old compy. Seriously, you know it's sitting on the floor sucking up more dust bunnies than the vacuum cleaner. Dust = old. Time to make the plunge homecheese.

tigerdirect.com has some refurbished computers for $99 that make your box look like an innertube trying to wrestle a paintbrush in sugar-free jelly.

I don't really know what that means. Act like you do, though.

Danged Quesadilla

Well, this blog is starting to look like all of my diaries, "...I really will write stuff in here this time..." I believe that most people who have time to blog daily aren't busy enough to actually have interesting things to say. So, basically, I don't write because my life is immensly interesting...and I'm busy. Don't be jealous.

Finally posted some sweet pics up here -> Click here for sweet photos. It's pretty much a few albums right now but there will be more later. I have so many pictures I don't know where to start. Be sure to check out the one of me and John L. crying. Dang I miss that guy!

Sara and I are all moved in to our house (John and Brandi's old one). We emptied two 5x10 storages and a two bedroom townhouse into it. Oh my dude we have a lot of stuff. Yar Sale!!

On Sunday I mowed the lawn. Nothing makes a guy feel more manly than getting an old Trimmer lawnmower (front rolling blades, metal bucket, tendancy to engage randomly and chop off hands) tearing up the turf. The Trimmer has this big rubber wheel on the back that can push the lawnmower for you. But there's no steering wheel so I can't drive it. Our lawn looks like a barber student cutting with clippers for the first time - it's mostly cut but patchy.

Ok, bye

God is faithful

God is increasing my business and teaching me valuable lessons along the way. My lifelong prayer has been "to be a real boy" (just like Pinochio). And God continues His transformative work in my heart to accomplish this. I was once told that I don't have a "killer instinct". This made me angry at the time - I wanted to be a tough guy! - but the longer I live the more I see the truth in that statement. I'm a nice guy. My wife even says so. Unfortunately nice guys aren't always very successful in business.

But I wasn't placed on this planet to "buy everything up and sell it off in parts." I was created to worship God, to praise His name and bring Him Glory. The Bible says that we were "created for God's good pleasure" - not our own. So, my business, my life, everything should glorify Him. And it's all in His hands.

Now, this does not mean that I'm supposed to just lay down and let everything happen to me. The Bible says that our relationship with Jesus is a walk. That means you keep going, keep walking - but your focus is on Him and what He wants to do in your life instead of being focused on yourself.

We often forget our prayers - the requests we've made known to Him - and just think that when cool stuff happens it has no meaning. Well, this has been one crazy week of cool stuff. And the more I think about it the more I realize that Sara and I asked for it! Well, most of it, anyway - the other stuff is just God's perfect Will (which we should be asking for too).

I'm excited to see what's going to happen in the next couple of months and hope and pray that I continue to serve God in all that I do - and not myself.

Ok, Bye.

John and Brandi, our two bestest friends in the whole world (and brother and sister), are moving to Jackson Missouri. How sorrowful am I? Well, I cried in front of about 100 people from church last Saturday while attempting to present them with a gift we all chipped in for. In reality I cry at pretty much everything - but still!!

It is a sad to think about them not being around but Sara and I know that God has some awesome things planned for them and the new church body they will now be a part of (Calvary Chapel Semo). We hope to be able to afford to drive out with them if finances are available. If not we are planning on visiting for Christmas.

Please be praying for their journey, protection and encouragement.

my first "real" weblog post.

Check it out, I finally have a blog! At least I got one before my Grandma did.

I'm eating a bagel right now. Uncle Harry's. It's yummy. That's pretty much it.