poe

Birdo

2008-08-10T14:30:00.004-05:00

Okay, so it's been a while since I've made any effort to maintain this blog; however, I had an encounter with a small woodland creature today, and that seems like as good a time as any to stage a comeback. Granted, I have all intentions of this comeback being short-lived.

I was in the backyard watering the garden when I heard something from the back corner of the yard. It sounded kind of like splashing. At first I thought that perhaps the neighbors were watering their garden, but I didn't see anyone else outside. Maybe a water main broke and it was gurgling up through the ground? I walked over for closer inspection and noticed a large pot of grease sitting on the ground and inside, a small bird that was trying to escape it's slimy grasp. Unsure of what to do, I grabbed a pair of gardening gloves from the shed (my wife's gardening gloves... hopefully not a pair she was fond of) and hopped the fence. By this time, the bird had run out of energy and was floating upside down in the grease. I pulled her from the pot as she gave one last flutter in attempt to escape her impending doom. Sure that she was ripped from one awful death and headed for another, she looked terrified but resigned herself to the fact that their was no hope of escape.

I brought the bird into our yard, filled a bucket with a thin layer of water and placed her inside. My hope was that she would be smart enough to splash around and clean herself off but instead she sat there wishing that I would make her execution quick and painless. "Clean yourself off, Birdo," I told her. Birdo was the name I had chosen for her (no relation to "burdo", the word my youngest sister chose to call a woman's breast when she was little). After some concerned contemplation, I had an idea. I began to fill the bucket with water until it rose up to the bird's neck. The idea of drowning again did not sit well and she began to flutter around, trying to escape. While I felt cruel, it did the trick. All her thrashing around washed off a good bit of the grease that had coated every surface of her body. She continued her desperate attempt at escape, until once again she had depleted all her energy. I then lifted her from the water-torture-bucket and placed her into a dry one. She just sat there shivering.

I went inside, grabbed a washcloth (again, hopefully one my wife is not fond of), and headed back to where she sat. I picked her up from the bucket and walked back to a shaded part of the garden. We sat peacefully for a while - the bird wrapped in the warm cloth. She became very still, almost sedated. I slowly unwrapped the wash cloth. She climbed to her feet as if to make her get away but then she just stood there quietly on my hand. I took the corner of the cloth and gently wiped her wings, back, and little tiny peanut of a head. I decided to whisper things like, "It's going to be okay," which was either very soothing or very creepy. She didn't seem to mind though. In all honesty, I was probably just whispering those things to keep myself from shrieking, "I'm holding a bird... in my HAND!" After a while I started to alternate between things like, "it's going to be okay" and "you're safe now" to things like "you are probably going to smell bad for a while" and "I hope you are grateful for this, because you don't really appear to be."

After a while, without warning, she hopped from my hand, into the garden, and then through a gap in the fence. Part of me wanted to chase her down and bring her back and make her be my friend, but I knew it was time to let her go. There's a good chance that my help wasn't useful. She could very well be dead right now. And if she is still alive, she probably doesn't appreciate my attempt to help. But that's okay. I enjoyed our time together.

find this book

2007-02-27T18:57:00.000-05:00

About a year ago, I started a project in which I took blank Moleskine Cahiers and wrote "Find This Book" with a silver Sharpie on the cover. Inside were instructions to write something in the book and then leave it for someone else to find. I made over a dozen and placed them literally all around the world. Not long ago one came back... from France. This particular book was originally left at the Wounded Bookshop in Fredericksburg on April 2, 2006.

There was also an article about the books written in the local paper. You can read it here. The author does not know that I am the responsible party.

Click on the pictures for a larger view...

morning commute

2007-01-04T20:42:00.001-05:00

This is the conclusion of my morning commute...

(it's not always this pretty)

shed those holiday pounds

2006-12-29T20:24:00.000-05:00

It’s that time of year again; time to shed those holiday pounds. For our dog, Brinks, there is no exception. A little less than a year ago, we received the news that no dog owner likes to hear; our furry companion was grossly overweight. Sure there were signs prior to the vet’s analysis. Brinks’ barrel-shaped torso was one dead giveaway. Although, some of the indicators were more subtle. Take, for example, his ever-expanding collar and his favorite pair of jeans, which no long fit.

After we overcame the initial period of denial, we put Brinks on a rigorous weight-loss program. We walked him around town once a day and transitioned to a dog food specifically formulated for weight-loss (or so they say). When this whole project started, Brinks tipped the scales at 85 pounds. And today, we are happy to report, after a return trip to the vet, Brinks weighs a mere 85 pounds. That’s right, after however many months of strict dieting and strenuous training, Brinks had not gained a single pound.

Of course, as doctors, dentists, veterinarians, and other medical professions are trained to do, Brinks’ vet tried to make us feel guilty about our astounding progress. She even had the nerve to suggest that Brinks should not only be keeping the weight off, he should be losing weight.

So, once again, strategies have changed. Brinks now walks twice a day and his food consumption has been cut in half. It didn’t take much to convince Brinks to double his daily walk. It is, after all, his favorite past-time, second only to napping. The reduction in his food intake was an entirely different story.

When brinks is ready for a meal, he clanks his bowl around the kitchen noisily until someone obliges and fills it with food. However, this night, when the bowl was only filled halfway, Brinks looked at us with a puzzled expression. “Surely, there must be some mistake. You can’t possibly expect me to maintain this shapely figure on these meager rations.”

He scarfed down what little food we offered him, and again looked up at us with bewilderment. “Okay, I’m ready for the rest. You know, the other half of my dinner.” When the sad, puppy-dog eyes yielded no results, he resorted to banging his bowl around the kitchen again. This was our cue. We opened a can of green beans and dumped them into his bowl. Our vet told us that green beans were a great dietary supplement. Of course, she also tells us that we should brush Brinks’ teeth on a regular basis.

Fortunately, after a few hesitant sniffs, Brinks devoured the green beans ravenously. In fact, it’s now his favorite part of the meal. He refuses to eat dinner without a half-can of green bean garnish. He has even told us that he is thinking about becoming a vegetarian.

Photo by Ian Soper

wet paint

2006-11-08T20:39:00.000-05:00

We had a fundraiser for the Fredericksburg Athenaeum and the Panta Rhei Project and I created this short film with Ian and Johnny...

panta rhei

2006-10-26T15:43:00.000-05:00

My friends, Ian and Adam, and I are starting a non-profit digital arts studio in Fredericksburg, VA. We are going to teach under-resourced kids graphic design and digital video, among other things. Ian has been working hard on our website, pantarheiproject.com

Check it out and let us know what you think.

re-emerging

2006-10-14T12:38:00.000-05:00

Chris and I returned late Thursday night from four days in New Mexico. We were there for the Emergent gathering, a collection of friends discovering the way of Jesus.

Here are a few photos from the last day in the prayer garden...

You can view more photos by clicking here.

One of the conversations which I found interesting, questioned where our tithe goes. There is an interesting paper which set the basis for the conversation here.

get out the vote

2006-09-29T20:27:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again. Voting is upon us. My brother, Brandon, was just selected as a finalist in a short film contest (don't you hate how talented us Poes are?). Click here and vote for his short film titled "Day at the Beach"

opression

2006-09-19T16:35:00.000-05:00

Here is an art installation from Burning Man 2006;

The sign reads;

When you live in the U.S., it's a little but like living in the house of Tony Soprano. Somehow all this stuff shows up in your house that you enjoy. And you have some idea he's doing something out there in the world, but you don't really want to know what it is. And, if someone were to come intruding into your house you'd become outraged. 'How'd they get the idea they could come take away my palm pilot. We should bomb them!' But you don't really want to know how those things got into your house and got into your hands. 'Here I am, going along, enjoying my life, and somebody comes along and does something on September 11th'
-Bob Avakian

And then here is a paragraph from "The Culture of Make Believe" by Derrick Jensen;

"Our culture's deep foundation of competition creates waves of rage and hatred. Not only does this anger get misdirected because it's easier to express it against the powerless, and not only because we are routinely pitted against others of the powerless, but, most especially, because, if we were to focus on the real sources of that rage and hatred, we would soon find ourselves questioning our very indentities. Because so many of us have indentified ourselves so deeply as civilized, as producers, consumers, workers, engineers, bakers, writers, soldiers, policemen, teachers, we have forgotten that first we are human beings. And what is that? We have no idea. To identify so deeply with the system of production that permeates the deepest recesses of our bodies, just like dioxin from manufacturing, like radiation from fallout, like heavy metals from mining, is to identify with the founding processes of civilization: conquest and repression. To recognize that our lives are based on these processes would--if we reject instead of embrace them--set us adrift in unknown territory. Who would I be and how would I live if I were not a part of this system?"

chillin'

2006-09-15T17:02:00.000-05:00

My music so loud
I'm swangin
They hopin that they gon catch me ridin dirty
Tryin to catch me ridin dirty
-Chamillionaire "Ridin"

garden and concert

2006-09-11T13:51:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, Ashley and I went to the US Botanic Garden in DC. It's a beautiful building comprised of multiple greenhouses. The exhibits were incredible. Ashley loved the orchids...

After that we went up to Merriweather Post Pavillion to see Ben Harper and Damian "Jr Gong" Marley in concert. The concert was really good. Ben Harper sings with such passion. I know these are hard to make out, but I took a picture of Damian, Stephen, and Julian Marley (all sons of Bob) with my phone...

and here is Ben playing with the band...

At the end of the concert the guitarist threw his picks out into the crowd and Ashley caught one (technically, it landed on her shoulder)...

Click here to view more photos from the Botanic Garden

crash

2006-08-31T17:57:00.000-05:00

I wrecked my work van coming home the other day. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured and I wasn't at fault (which is unusual).

justin and jerry

2006-08-20T20:44:00.000-05:00

one of these things is not like the other
one of these things is just not the same...

long live cuba

2006-08-12T10:55:00.000-05:00

My brother, Justin, drew this rendition of my likeness...

sunshine short

2006-08-12T10:50:00.000-05:00

I was working on a short film with my good friend Jimmy Norton and we never had a chance to finish filming. He cut his hair and is heading off to college so it was all his fault, not mine. Ok, actually I was just to lazy to go out and film the second half. Anyway, I edited what little footage we do have and placed it over the song we were going to use. Check it out...

america goes green

2006-07-20T13:20:00.000-05:00

deltaville

2006-07-18T20:56:00.000-05:00

Ashley and I just got back from visiting with her family at the Bay. It was a very relaxing four days. We stayed busy by napping, reading, laying in the sun, taking naps, eating crab, lazing around, and every now and then we would lie down for a nap.

I finished two Anne Lamott books which were pretty good and Brinks took to the water quite well.

I think I am going to try to live every day with more of a Bay mentality.

Check out more pictures from the trip here.

subverting the dominant paradigm

2006-07-12T08:02:00.000-05:00

of fireworks and soccer

2006-07-11T21:38:00.000-05:00

Okay, where was I...

4th of July was great. Fireworks, rafts, craft stands and other such pleasantries downtown.

Click here to see more pictures from the 4th.

9th of July was also great as Italy won the World Cup. Chris and I went to watch the match at Castiglia's. A little shindig which received front page recognition in the local paper.

Viva Italia!

The Pauls returned from their walking pilgrimage. They seem wiser and tanner than when they left.

And tonight we transitioned back into our normal schedules with dinner and a rousing match of croquet at Bob's place.

wedding bliss

2006-06-27T15:09:00.000-05:00

Ian and Jamie are finally married!

Check out my pictures here...

Or check out the collection of photos here.

ninemillion

2006-06-21T14:00:00.000-05:00

our friends

2006-06-12T20:30:00.000-05:00

We recently had some gracious guests at the Charles House. Over the past few weeks we have had the opportunity to meet Paul, Heather, and Paul. I'm not exactly sure where they came from or where they are going but I do have some idea of where they are (and I mean that on multiple levels). Paul and Paul are currently walking around Virginia. There is a little more to it than that but I will let you check out Paul Rhode's blog for more accurate details. And Heather is on her way to Africa to serve the oppressed.

Their company was much appreciated (as was Paul's pizza). We opened our home but in truth, they were serving us. We look forward to the return of all three.

a little story

2006-06-07T08:29:00.000-05:00

There was once a beloved king whose castle was on a high hill, overlooking hise shire. He was so popular that the nearby townspeople sent him gifts daily, and his birthday celebration was enjoyed throughout the kingdom. The people loved him for renowned wisdom and fair judgments.

On day, tragedy struck the town. The water supply was polluted, and everyman, woman, and child went insane. Only the king, who had a private spring, was spared.

Soon after the tragedy, the mad townspeople bagan speaking of how the king was acting "strangely" and how his judgments were poor and his wisom a sham. Many even went so far as to say that the king had gone crazy. His popularity soon vanished. No longer did the people bring him gifts or celebrate his birthday.

The lonely king high on the hill, had no company at all. One day he decided to leave the hill and pay a visit to the town. It was a warm day, and so he drank from the village fountain.

That night there was a great celebration. The people rejoiced, for their beloved king had "Regained his sanity".

river dog

2006-05-29T11:08:00.000-05:00

So far it has been a beautiful Memorial Day weekend. On Saturday, Ashley and I took Brinks down to the river. He was hesitant at first but before long he was King of the River.

vacation

2006-05-21T10:03:00.000-05:00

Ashley and I are back after a wonderful vacation to New Zealand and Australia. We have uploaded a few of the pictures at this site. I will try to add captions in the near future so you know what you are looking at. Cheers.

3:13am

2006-05-10T02:13:00.000-05:00

It is 3:13am and a dog has been howling and barking outside our window for the past hour. Oh, and by the way, I am sick... and I have to get up at 5:30. Sleep well...

view film here

2006-04-13T15:39:00.000-05:00

short film

2006-04-12T21:13:00.000-05:00

I recently shot a short film called "Kull" with Jack Bosworth and Jimmy Norton. You can view the film by clicking on the picture below.

last friday

2006-03-31T18:23:00.000-05:00

This is the last Friday of the month; however, this post is actually about last Friday (the one before this one). Nevermind...

Here are some pictures;

snakes on a plane

2006-03-26T22:10:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to let everyone know about an exciting new movie called "Snakes On A Plane"

Snakes On A Plane is the gripping tale of two brothers, nicknamed Cobra and Viper, who call themselves The Snakes. At an early age, the brothers left their home country of Afghanistan, as well as their extremist parents, to move to America and live with their uncle. To bring honor to his parents, Viper decides to embrace the life of a terrorist and finds himself chosen for a high-profile attack that will destroy thousands of innocent American lives. Cobra disapproves of his brother's decision and finds himself torn between family and morality. Action packed and full of twists this movie will have you on the edge of your seat until the very end when The Snakes find themselves on a crowded airliner with a suicide mission, and the fate of thousands, at stake.

Just kidding...

The movie is actually about snakes... on a plane. It's almost hard to believe this is real but you can see for yourself;

IMDB Site
Trailer

furry bedfellow

2006-03-19T15:50:00.000-05:00

My wife and I have a problem in the bed. We didn’t realize it at the time, but our troubles began about two and a half years ago. It started as a small problem, but it has grown into something quite noticeable.

Approximately thirty months ago, my wife, Ashley, and I went to look at some puppies from the Orange County SPCA. Unless you have every intention of coming home with a new pet, never go look at the puppies. Homeless puppies are like candy in the checkout line. They are impossible to resist, and against your better judgment, you get one… or two.

So there we were. Perusing the latest four-legged rejects when we came across an adorable little fuzz ball. He obviously knew the game because he was silent, cuddly and downright pathetic. We would later learn that these were temporary qualities. Before we knew it, we were signing papers, buying supplies, and on our merry way. The ride home was the first time a passenger pooped on my front seat.

The little ball of fur we brought home that day was soon known as Brinks. At six weeks old, I could hold the little critter in the palm of my hand. Ashley and I were determined to be good parents. We would punish when we were supposed to punish, we would praise when we were supposed to praise, and we would get all of the best medical attention – when we felt like it.

Amongst our commitments to molding the perfect canine was a promise that Brinks would sleep in his kennel at night. This seemed like a reasonable goal at noon with Brinks nestled in my lap. However, at midnight, the small animal howling downstairs reigned victorious and entrance to our bedroom was his reward. With Brinks settled on the floor we made another attempt at rest.

Before long, two woeful eyes were peering over the side of the bed at the masters who had abandoned them. Just this once couldn’t hurt. So, we hoisted the lightweight pup onto the bed and slept peacefully the rest of the night. In fact, I would be willing to say that our peaceful sleep lasted the next few months.

It wasn’t long though before the cute little guy at the foot of the bed became more and more noticeable. Soon, every night became a competition for bedtime real estate. And Brinks certainly does his part to make matters worse. Not only is he an 85 pound dog with a little extra meat on his bones, he also feels the need to make sure he gets the best sleeping spots.

On an average night, I am in bed first as I get up the earliest. As soon as Brinks sees Ashley getting ready for her nightly routine, he hops onto the bed and takes her spot next to me. This doesn’t bother me, but Ashley usually has a problem with his chosen location. This is where things get interesting. Ashley and Brinks are a pretty even match when it comes to physical competition. Ashley, bless her heart, will climb into bed up by her pillow, lower her shoulder into Brinks’ side, and then begin a shoving match for that side of the bed. After an obstinate groan Brinks will begrudgingly pick himself up and move to the foot of the bed. He will plop down and let out a huge sigh as if we are a major inconvenience to the lifestyle with which he has grown accustomed. This is usually where I remind him that he used to live on the streets and would be lucky to have a ditch for a bed.

And this is how we spend our nights - three in a bed - pushing, kicking, and shoving for position. And yet, I don’t think we would have it any other way - myself, Ashley, and our furry bedfellow.

life is sweet

2006-03-19T12:26:00.000-05:00

At this very moment, I am sitting outside on the patio in our backyard. It's fifty degrees out, the outdoor fireplace is burning in front of me, two steaks are grilling on the smoker, I can hear the sounds of city, I am listening to music the from computer in my office on my laptop via wireless internet, Brinks is sunbathing in the grass next to me, and I am almost finished with my story for the Front Porch. Life is sweet.

picturesque

2006-03-09T22:51:00.000-05:00

Ashley and I got a digital camera for our trip to New Zealand. Here are a few pictures I took:

gentle leader

2006-02-22T20:22:00.000-05:00

Brinks is one of those dogs that doesn’t know where he is going, but he is certain that he wants to go. It’s not uncommon for us to hear the phrase, “who’s walking who?” when we take a stroll. Brinks would prefer to gasp desperately for air as he practically strangles himself at the end of his leash, all for the sake of leading the way by an additional three inches. Walking a dog in this manner is occasionally bearable but always embarrassing. Mid-walk counseling sessions in which I explain the dangers of a domineering personality fall on deaf ears. I have even gone as far as to threaten to let such domineering personalities fend for themselves out on the street and yet, Brinks continues to pull.

The difficulties of owning a strong-willed pooch are not new to me. Growing up, it seems that my family always fell for puppies that would later grow up to have an unquenchable need to charge forward on the open road. This was exceptionally humiliating due to the fact that our neighbor was a guru in the field of dog obedience. He owned dogs that would wake up a half an hour before he did, fix breakfast, and fetch the paper. This particular man’s best friends could mow the lawn, clean the gutters, and handle most minor engine repairs. Needless to say, we were always the family with the bratty canine pups, while he was the neighbor whose car was covered in those annoying honor-roll bumper stickers.

Not long ago, I was walking down Princess Anne and I ran into my former neighbor, who of course had his perfect pet at his side. The dog shook my hand and then sat at a polite distance while I conversed with his owner. I was awkwardly stumbling through small talk when I noticed a small strap across the face of the dog. I mentioned the oddity and my neighbor immediately introduced me to the greatest invention he had ever come across. He explained that until he found this special collar, his dog was constantly pulling on the leash. His sales pitch was convincing, as was the dog’s behavior, and I had myself a new pet accessory to purchase.

Soon after, I was sitting in the living room reading through the “Gentle Leader” instruction manual and debating whether or not to pop in the accompanying DVD. I finally managed to decipher the intent of the operating instructions and began lashing the contraption to Brinks’ face. You would think that I had just strapped a timed explosive to the dog’s snout. He pawed desperately at his face in an attempt to remove the new annoyance. Unsympathetic to his woes, I threw on my shoes and we headed out the front door.

Brinks was a mixed bag of emotions. He was delighted to be on a walk and yet clearly bothered by the restrictive new collar he donned. He made an admirable effort to paw at his face while keeping stride with his companion on the other end of the leash. It wasn’t long before it became obvious that this nuisance was not going to come off with standard techniques. Plan “B” was formulated and Brinks began dragging his face along the sidewalk as we journeyed. I was about to step in and put a stop to the nonsense when Brinks became a bit overzealous and drove his nose even harder into the concrete. His head came to a grinding halt but his hind legs continued their forward progress. His backside sailed over his head and Brinks successfully completed a full somersault. Disheveled and humiliated Brinks regained his composure and submitted to the collar.

The rest of our walk was relatively uneventful. In fact, that is somewhat unusual for us. Instead of pulling and tugging and dragging, Brinks and I took a normal civilized walk. It was rather nice. I think we both liked it. And every now and then, Brinks and I will see another dog and human couple who are taking the “Gentle Leader” for a test drive. Every time we just have to stop and laugh. Then we move forward… together.

trustee sidekick

2006-02-11T14:16:00.000-05:00

Every hero has a trustee sidekick. When I am at work, this is mine...

iPost

2006-02-08T19:58:00.000-05:00

I am currently typing this from my new mac... I am so trendy. Seriously though, I am very trendy.

sing-a-longs and lullabies

2006-02-07T20:08:00.000-05:00

Jack Johnson's new album "Sing-a-Longs and Lullabies for the Film Curious George" came out today and I am still a fan. If Ashley and I ever have kids, they will only be allowed to listen to Jack Johnson (especially on road-trips).

Last Thursday, Ian, Chris, and I went to Dodd Auditorium at UMW to hear Alan Lightman speak about his book "Einstein's Dreams". I had read the book in college and really enjoyed it. In fact, I wrote a short film based on some of the concepts in the book. The lecture was very interesting and we all learned the Theory of Relativity and the uselessness of Quantum Physics.

The Super Bowl and its commercials were pretty lame this year. We had a great party though. A handful of people came over to the house to enjoy homemade treats (including ice cream) and an intense game of Yatzee.

I started painting this past weekend (thanks to the knowledgeable and encouraging Ian Soper). Here are the goals I have set for myself;
1. Never take a painting class.
2. Never read a painting book.
3. Never learn the proper technique.
4. If I accidentally stumble across the proper technique while painting; vow to never use it again.
5. Give away all of my paintings immediately.

Painting was a very relaxing and enjoyable experience and I don't want to ruin that with rules and expectations. I will post a photo of one of my masterpieces shortly.

Life will most likely be taking an interesting turn for the better here in the near future. I will post updates as soon as they are confirmed. Until then...

new service available

2006-01-29T10:57:00.000-05:00

I have decided to provide a new online service to the readership of my blog. Have you ever been screwed over by a company? For example, Lumber Liquidators owes Ashley and I a lot of money and a lot of time. Will I ever be reimbursed? No. But now you can still find restitution even if you never get a refund. All you have to do, is send me the details of your unprofessional encounter, including but not limited to; the name of the company, nature of the problem, company phone number, and when this occurred. Try to include as many details as possible. Once I have the information I will give the company a call and talk to their customer service department for, oh I don't know, as long as they will stay on the phone. Then, if need be, I will call back and waste as much more of their time as I possibly can. In fact, I will keep calling them back until I feel like they have paid for their unacceptable business transaction. Call it a sort of vigilante justice if you will. Once the company has paid their debt I will end the harassing phone calls and write all about it here on this blog. Hopefully you can receive some sort of satisfaction knowing that, even though you will never get your time or money back, you "stuck it to the man". Now, I know the individual I will talk to was most likely not the person responsible for your bad experience. Keeping this in mind, I will try to make the phone call as pleasant as possible for the employee on the other end of the line. The goal is not to make someone else angry, it is simply to waste some of the company's time, because after all, they had no problem wasting yours.

the customer is usually wrong

2006-01-27T22:51:00.000-05:00

I have decided that "the customer is usually wrong". And as I quite often find myself on the customer side of the situation, I am comfortable with this statement. How often, as the customer, do I have no idea what I am talking about? Very rarely are customers informed. Therefore, this is my stance. As unpopular as it may be considering my current line of work, I am going to stick by my theory.

And while I am at it, I would also like to mention that whatever issue seems really pressing and important to you, actually is not. Trust me, life will go on regardless of whether or not you make the sale/satisfy the customer/complete your goal/meet your deadline/please your boss/get your raise/etc. I know these things seem like do-or-die situations but they are not. Relationships, dignity, and happiness are more important. So let it go and chill out. Please. By stressing out, you are just making matter worse. Get a grip on reality and try to see the big picture.

Okay, enough venting. Life, for the most part, had been good. Busy, but good. I was able to take Tuesday off and Ashley and I used our Christmas gift certificates at La Petite Auberge (thank you Brandon and Justin). I grew up playing with a friend at the restaurant and it was fun to revisit with Ashley. We hope to go back soon.

This past Thursday, Chris and I went to Dodd auditorium at UMW to hear a scholar from Yale talk about the life of Dante. Parts were very interesting and caused me to reflect on my own life. Chris and I were also able to spend some time talking about plans for the nonprofit and the nameless church.

Tonight we had our Friday night dinner. It was fun as always. Chris and Natasha whipped up some delicious Mexican food and we chowed down in good company. I am looking forward to a weekend filled with fun plans and times of relaxation.

benefit

2006-01-08T20:49:00.000-05:00

Last night Ashley and I went to a benefit for local potter, Phil Chapman. Phil was recently diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and immediately the community rallied around the Chapman family to support them during this difficult time. The benefit was very well done. It took place in Walker Home, a high-end oriental antique dealer in downtown Fredericksburg. The food and drink were excellent. There was live music and over 300 of Phil's close friends and supporters in attendance. About 90 pieces of art throughout the store were up for auction. Ashley and I had already planned to donate a sum of money to the Phil Chapman Benefit Fund and so it was fun for us to bid on some art while supporting a good cause. We had a really good time mingling with the crowd and enjoying good food and art.

We had the undeserved opportunity to hang out with some really great people. We had a good time talking with Paul Lewis, director of the Fredericksburg Athenaeum. We met Rob and Virginia Grogan, publishers of the Front Porch. We ran into Bill Beck, former mayor of Fredericksburg. We saw Morgan, our friend from the Wounded Bookshop, in giant Elvis-style pants. She introduced us to Johnny who visits Fredericksburg often. I was able to thank my high school guidance counselor, Robin DiPeppe, and introduce her to Ashley. And at the very end of the night we met John, who outbid us too many times. It was great to realize how many people we have been able to connect with since moving downtown. In the end, we walked away with two paintings of which we are very proud. The first is "Rappahannock in Autumn" by Ed King;

And the second is "Rock Series #2" by Jane Woodworth, the Best of the Burg's Artist of the Year;

It was a great night and we really enjoyed our time. It was also a blessing to bless someone who has spent their life blessing others.

year in review

2006-01-05T17:14:00.000-05:00

This isn't exactly a review of 2005 but that seems like a popular thing to do around this time of year so I am going to stick with the title.

Ashley and I finally sold our house. We signed a contract and then their financing fell through and then they got it worked out and then it fell through again and then they got it worked out again and then it may have fallen through a couple more times, I can't really remember. Anyway, after a couple weeks of stress and frustration the house finally sold. So instead of paying rent and a mortgage for Christmas we only had to pay rent, which was nice.

I have been very busy at work. I am managing jobs at both George Washington University and George Mason University. All the schools want to get all of their shiny new audio visual equipment before classes start. I can tell them from experience that it doesn't really matter because the students are just going to sleep through class and won't even notice the expensive system.

Christmas was nice but also very busy. It seems like we were always moving. We went to Ashley's parents' for Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. I was privileged to experience the Hypes Christmas Eve dinner for the first time. The food was delicious and I had a fun time hanging out with Ashley's family. Christmas morning was much more subdued at the Hypes home that it is in the Poe household. Get this, they take turns opening the presents. I know, it's crazy. At my house it is a free-for-all. At one point my mom told Ashley to hurry up and finish opening her presents because the company would be there soon. Anyway, Christmas was wonderful as usual and I am blessed to have such great family.

New Years Eve was a lot of fun this year. We checked out First Night in downtown Fredericksburg. It was great to walk a block or two and be at the hub of so much activity. We saw some really crummy performances and some really good ones. We joined thousands of people on Caroline Street to countdown the new year.

Anyway, this was just the obligatory update-everyone-on-what-is-going-on-post. Sorry that it wasn't more interesting. Maybe next year.

supersize me

2006-01-02T21:31:00.000-05:00

Ashley and I spent the weekend sorting through some of our junk. We tried to get rid of some of the junk so that we would have room to store our other junk. In the midst of sorting through this endless mound of junk, I came across some gift certificates for the movie theater (thanks Courtland Step Team). Ashley and I decided to take advantage of the discovery and catch the 9:30 showing of Narnia.

We arrived at the theater early and bought our tickets for a mere $16.50. We had a little gift certificate cash leftover so we figured we would treat ourselves to the snack bar. Here is the problem with the concession stand at the movie theater: You can buy a small drink or popcorn for some outrageous amount of money, or you can pay a couple extra cents and get the ginormous size. I am always torn between staying budget conscious and getting an insufficient amount of sustenance or spending a few extra bucks and feeling like a glutton.

Ashley noticed their McDonald's-esque value deals and we decided to check them out. Their smallest deal included two medium drinks and a large popcorn. That seemed like a nice sensible date snack so we opted for a number one. Our sodas we served up in two buckets. I didn't even know they made plastic lids that big. Then our popcorn came in this custom cardboard barrel. Ashley hefted her drink off the counter with two hands and I rented a hand-truck to wheel the rest of the snacks into the theater. Now you might think that this much nutrition would cost a lot of money, but you would be wrong. It cost us a ton of money. $14.25 for seven gallons of soda and twelve pounds of popcorn.

The grand total was $30.75! How do you people afford it!? Ashley and I rarely make it to the theater and now I remember why. How on earth can people afford to take a date to the movies and grab some snacks? Anyway, the movie was great but I'm not sure if I would have enjoyed it as much if we had coughed up the full price ourselves. If you ask me, the cost of going to the movies makes a compelling argument for investing in the home theater.

overweight brinks

2005-12-29T22:01:00.000-05:00

Brinks is overweight. There is no kind way to put it. He isn’t big boned. It’s not baby fat. He doesn’t have low-metabolism. He is just plain overweight.

Ashley and I came to this realization the other day when she took him to the vet and he weighed in at a whopping 83.9 pounds. The vet informed us that the ideal weight for a dog like Brinks lies right around the 70 pound mark. Now Brinks is as mutt as mutts can get. Actually, he prefers the term “mixed breed”, but good luck getting him to tell you the ingredients to his mix. So my question is; how does one determine the ideal weight for a dog who doesn’t exist in the books? I’m sure they take height, length, and their profit margin on weight-loss dog food into account, but what if Brinks is just a naturally heavy dog?

Anyway, Brinks is now on the fast track to losing 13.9 of his extra pounds. I think we are going to find most of those in his hips, but that is yet to be determined. Our first step was switching to a “weight control” dog food. For those who are not canine dietician experts, “weight control” is just a technical term for more expensive. But, I think the stuff is going to work because the extra cost adds a little incentive to skimp on his daily portions.

Unfortunately, Brinks has not been entirely cooperative in sticking to his new diet. The other day I let him inside after an outdoor potty break and he sat patiently at the door waiting for his post-pee dog biscuit. Most apologetically, I explained that we were in the middle of moving and that his treats were packed away and not immediately available. I went back to packing and soon heard the familiar sound of Brinks chomping away at his food. I supposed he had given up on the treat and opted for his chow instead. However, when I looked over at his food bowl, he was nowhere to be found. Still hearing the crunch of dog edibles, I looked over to see Brinks with his head buried in a box, munching away at his stash of treats.

Anyone who has attempted weight loss, and probably some who haven’t, know that exercise is just as, or more, important than diet, and this is no different for portly Brinks. Luckily, our new home has a fenced backyard which provides more running room. Although, it is still obvious that he prefers the couch to the backyard, not that I have taught him any different. We are also increasing the number of walks we take through the neighborhood. So far, this has been Brinks’ favorite part of losing weight.

On one such walk, Brinks and I discussed the deeper psychological issues that abound when one’s weight is a problem. “You know, I feel fine,” Brinks told me while breathing heavily. “Sure, you feel fine now. But what about 14 dog-years from now when you have weak joints because of the extra weight you are carting around,” I reasoned. After a thoughtful moment, Brinks responded, “Yeah, but, I mean isn’t it worth it to enjoy life now rather than constantly living with this nagging guilt in the back of your mind. This stress is probably worse for me than the extra baggage I am carrying.” “I can’t argue with you there,” I responded, “I guess, like most things in life, it’s about balance. You have to find that place where you are conscience about living a healthy lifestyle but you don’t allow that to take control of your every waking moment.” Brinks stopped to sniff a tree, “Yeah, I think I can live with that... Hey, is this the same tree that was here the last time we came through?” I took a quick glance, “Looks, like the same one.” He nodded reassuringly, “Smells like the same one too, I just wanted to be sure.”

newspaper man

2005-12-18T17:54:00.000-05:00

Today I finished writing a series of posts on the nameless church blog. You can read them here.

cartoons

2005-12-11T10:44:00.000-05:00

Ok, I spent about an hour looking through some cartoons and I just had to share some of them. For more hilarity, visit www.answersingenesis.org. Here we go...

If anyone ever buys me a get well card like that, they are going to experience my sin nature.

The cowboy and brain-washed-children cartoons have always been a classic.

"Gee! Thanks Pastor! I'm going to go home and eat a tub of ice cream now."

I think this one can stand alone without comment.

If you follow the logic carefully, you have to admit that they are right.

I think everyone can agree that this is the final word on the "Jesus Fish vs. Darwin Fish" debate.

At one time or another we have all known an Amanda.

I would love to have a conversation with these ladies about the Kingdom and when and where it exists.

I wonder if God is as big on the "I told you so" message as Christians make him out to be.

Ok it finally makes sense to me. The only evolution that took place was when the Darwin Fish t-shirts evolved into Jesus Fish t-shirts. That's incredible.

Alright, enough poking fun. I guess that doesn't make me any better than this cartoonist. But hey, I couldn't resist. Like I said, go to www.answersingenesis.org for more cartoons or to learn how to become a Christian, or to find out whether aliens and UFOs really exist.

new home

2005-12-04T14:32:00.000-05:00

I woke up slowly this morning, enveloped in a hundred year old cocoon. Last night Ashley and I spent our first night in the Charles House. After a long and busy week we were thrown headfirst into a short and busy weekend. Friday was another rich evening of dinner, art, and fellowship. We had an excellent meal at J Brian’s and then checked out the galleries of Libertytown, Old Stone Warehouse, and the Wounded Bookshop. On Saturday we brought most of the junk we have accumulated from our Spotsylvania house to the Charles House where it will faithfully clutter our lives for at least another ten months. After two large loads of furniture and such, we snatched up some of the few remaining parking spaces and hunkered down in anticipation of the parade crowd. Saturday was the annual Fredericksburg Christmas Parade and the streets were packed as usual. Around six we ventured out into the streets and made our way through the throngs of people toward Eileen’s. A million Boy Scout troupes and a handful of churches later Santa was pulled down the streets by his trusty late model GM vehicles and the parade was over. We eventually maneuvered our way back to the house and settled in for some college football and good old fashioned hanging out. The football was disappointing but the hanging out was not. Fortunately, I fell asleep on the couch and missed the end of the Hokie game. Around 1:30 in the morning Ashley called my cell phone and convinced me to come upstairs and sleep in the bed. I stumbled through the dark house to the top of the stairs and climbed in to our old bed in our new bedroom in an old house which is our new home.

published

2005-12-02T15:18:00.000-05:00

My "canine houdini" post appears in the December issue of the Front Porch.

To read the story in the Front Porch click here
To read the original post click here
To download the full-resolution photo click here

opinion

2005-11-30T19:59:00.000-05:00

I sent in a cranky letter to the editor at the Free-Lance Star this past weekend because I am arrogant enough to think people care about my opinions. The letter was printed today. After reading it, I realized that it doesn't really say much and I'm not even sure that I agree with myself but hey, my name is in print.

You can read the letter here.

Oh, and by the way, they put the wrong title on the online article. Oh well.

googling

2005-11-24T10:32:00.000-05:00

someone found my blog by googling "hillbillies eating supper"

freebird

2005-11-23T21:35:00.000-05:00

I am the current project manager of a $1.6M audio visual installation at George Washington University's new School of Business. The inside is spacious and cutting edge. The interior is quite enticing - especially if you are a bird. You see, birds tend to find their way into large buildings. I'm sure you have probably seen one in a Wal-Mart or a warehouse or some other large, open building. I mean who could honestly resist the temptation of a bright, warm space with access to an endless supply of crumbs. The problem is that the endless supply of crumbs does not end up being as infinite as it had once appeared. So anyway, these birds find their way into the building, often during construction, and then become trapped inside until they finally die of starvation. They will spend their final days trying to find an escape, but in a large building the odds are slim.

There was one particular bird who had caught my eye. He was hopping around on the second floor - too weak to do much flying. He was desperately searching for an exit, some crumbs, something. I knew he probably wouldn't make it much longer but there was nothing I could do - especially not with all of these people around. So I continued to work and watched as the little bird searched for salvation. As the day was coming to a close I saw my little feathered friend hop into a small room. I knew that if I were to play any part in saving this bird's life, the time was now. I hurried into the room and closed the door behind me. It was just me and him, and anyone who cared to look in on us through the glass wall. I had a small cardboard box in hand and proceeded to chase the little guy around the room. The bird used every last ounce of energy to avoid my pursuit. Finally, when he literally had no stregnth left, he sat in the corner and waited for his impending doom. I scooped the little brown bird up into my box and made my way toward the exit on the first floor. I walked out into the cold afternoon air and stopped under a small tree. I gently opened the box and the bird flew from the box and away from me, not looking back once. It was as if I had never existed.

I thought about the bird and our short-lived relationship. In my opinion, the bird was a little ungrateful after all I had done. But after some more thought I realized how much I am like that bird. So often I see something that looks so tempting and fufilling. I go inside to indulge myself, only to find that I am trapped with no escape and the joy I was once promised turns out to be quite empty. I search frantically for a way out which I soon find is impossible on my own. When help arrives I run from it. Eventually I am too weak to run any longer and I give myself up. It is when I give up and hand over control that I am freed from my bondage. I am saved - given a second chance - and I run off without looking back, to fly into another building. But now I am beginning to think that maybe that's for the birds.

walking tour

2005-11-20T16:40:00.000-05:00

Every weekend I try to walk to Hyperion Espresso for some Morrocan Mint hot tea, a fresh pastry, and some peaceful time of reading and writing. Today was a beautiful day and I was looking forward to my walk. I exited the Charles house and was immediately met with the historic Mary Washington House set to a colorful fall background.

I stepped off the front porch onto the sidewalk and began my trek down Charles St.

I passed by Bob’s house

and made my way down the street – surrounded by history.

To my right was the home that looks like a dollhouse and is occupied by Hokie fans. I have a feeling they were as pleased as I was with the Hokie’s victory over UVA and Miami’s loss to Georgia Tech.

Next, I peered over the brick wall into the Quarles’ backyard.

While approaching their front yard I caught a glimpse of Fredericksburg Baptist Church.

I reached the towering columns at the front of the Quarles’ house

and crossed Amelia St. Once on the other side I passed the basement entrance of the Booth House

and looked out across Charles St at the second floor office I would love to have.

I took a left to cut behind some houses

and passed the rear of La Petite Auberge where I used to play as a kid.

I turned onto Princess Anne,

passed a lawyers office,

and arrived at Hyperion.

Once inside Hyperion I discovered that they do not accept a card and that I only had a dollar and some loose change in my pocket. I left to make a quick stop at the Wachovia ATM down the street. I passed the Fredericksburg Area Museum,

the old firehouse turned antique store,

three steeples,

and a church with a fence (why would a church need a fence anyway?).

I finally arrived at the ATM only to discover the machine was broken. Undeterred I made my way back to Hyperion, passing an alley along the way.

When the old city bank came into view, I knew I was close.

From the corner of Princess Anne and William I decided to make my way over to Virginia Heartland Bank and give their ATM a try. I walked by the front of La Petite this time

and the Flower Shop.

Much to my dismay, the Virginia Heartland Bank ATM was also out of order. Not willing to give up my Moroccan Mint tea, I decided to continue down William St.

and try the Shell station a few blocks away. I walked past the rescue squad,

Free Lance Star,

Jan Williams',

the Confederate Cemetery,

and the house full of college kids with lawn furniture on their roof.

I finally reached the Shell station and was relieved to find their ATM in fine working order.

Ironically, Wachovia had a brand new non-functioning ATM while Shell’s cash machine was probably one of the first ever made and worked just fine. So, with twenty bucks in hand

I made my way back up William St.

and returned one last time to Hyperion. After some great tea and relaxation I was joined by Ashley and we made the journey home. We walked past a secret entrance,

a house with a quaint backyard,

a stately and patriotic home,

Mrs. Wheeler's home,

and a knotty old tree.

And then finally after plenty of walking, we arrived home. Whew!

canine houdini

2005-11-13T09:15:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I had to pick up Ashley from work around 5:30. I still had about an hour and a half before I needed to go get her so I decided to spend some quality father/pup bonding time with Brinks. I threw on a sweatshirt and tennis shoes and immediately Brinks was excited. Whenever Ashley and I start getting ready to go out, Brinks knows there is a possibility he might get to go along. I finished donning my attire and went downstairs to grab his leash.

The moment I reached for the thick black strap hanging from the door knob Brinks knew he was in for a treat. Ashley recently got this harness for Brinks that looks like it's more for skydiving than taking a walk. So I strapped all the straps and buckled all the buckles while an excited Brinks was overcome with anticipation. Finally we were all harnessed in and ready to go.

We loaded up into the cab of the pickup and made the 15 minute drive downtown. Usually, when we ride together, Brinks acts as my co-pilot. He will be the first to tell you that the best way to navigate any moving vehicle is by sticking your head as far as you possibly can out of the cracked window and then sniffing every smell that enters your airspace.

Once downtown and parked on Caroline St we exited the truck (which Brinks insists we do at the exact same time) and made our way toward Hurkamp Park. Upon arriving at the park I sat down on a park bench with my copy of Front Porch and tied Brinks to the wrought iron arm of the seat. Brinks restlessly watched everything that dared make the slightest move. He tested the length of his leash a number of times in order to be aware of the size of the territory he was currently in position to defend. Once certain that all dangers were at a safe distance, Brinks decided to let down his guard a little and lay down on the cool grass. With Brinks settled I was finally able to relax and read the top ten issues that the city of Fredericksburg needs to focus on.

Around issue number seven, which I believe had to do with parking, I glanced over to check on Brinks. To my surprise I found that I was not checking on Brinks but rather an empty harness laying in a neat pile by my side. Sure enough the leash was still attached to the bench, and the other end was still attached to the harness. It was just that now, the harness was no longer attached to the dog.

I immediately rose to my feet and instantly found myself eye to eye with a newly liberated and much more confident Brinks. We stood there for a moment contemplating our options. I acted first, "Hey Brinks, how's it going? Whatcha doing? Just hanging out?" Despite my efforts to be nonchalant, my voice put Brinks on edge. His freedom was being threatened and he knew he better make the most of it. He started sniffing the ground beneath him, probably looking for a scent that would take him on a marvelous adventure.

"Brinks, do you want a treat?" There was that word. Treat. He looked up. "Do you want a treat, Brinks?" I had his full attention. He took a step toward me. Then reality set in. "Nice try, Ryan. I'm not falling for that one again. Keep your treats for yourself. I'm outta here this time," and with that he went back to sniffing. When you are standing in the middle of downtown Fredericksburg with a loose dog you will sometimes hear voices. Specifically from the loose dog himself.

He had the upper hand. It was time for Plan B, "Brinks, do you want to go for a ride?" If there was one word more powerful than "treat", it was "ride". Treats are a dime a dozen. I mean you get a treat every time you pee. Heck, everyone knows you can go outside and pretend to pee and you will still get a treat when you come in. But "ride", now that was another story. Rides only come every so often and when they do you better snatch the opportunity. "Are you serious about the ride?" I hated to lie but I had no other options, "Yeah, come on Brinks, let's go for a ride!" It looked like he might buy it, "You sure you aren't pulling my leg? Cause if your serious, I could go for a ride right about now." Again, I hated to lie to my own son but it was for his own good, "Yeah, were going for a ride, come on." Brinks slowly made his way over to me with intense suspicion. He was giving up a lot for this supposed ride.

Once he reached me I knew I still had to play it cool. I slowly reached down and re-attached his leash. The second the leash latched, Brinks knew he was had. How could he have been so foolish. Of course we weren't going on a ride. He had the opportunity to run free anywhere he pleased in the greater Fredericksburg area and he gave it all up for the illusion of a ride. What a shame. To reward Brinks' obedient return, I let him lead the way around the park for a little while.

After finishing our stay in the park we made our way to Eileen's to pick up Ashley. We arrived early so I decided to take Brinks to the new parking deck. We walked the stairs to the very top of the garage. I picked Brinks up and set him on the wall that surrounds the top of the deck. We looked out over the city as the sun was setting and I said, "All this could have been yours, Brinks." He sighed and lowered his chin onto the brick wall. We sat quietly for a while pondering the various outcomes the day could have held. And then... well, then we went for a ride.

Photo by Ashley Poe

ode to housemates

2005-11-05T17:58:00.000-05:00

Our house is practically empty. The Kirks and Ian moved out and took most of their junk with them (Ian's cardboard mom is still in the office closet though). It has been nice the past few weeks. Ashley and I are empty nesters and living it up. I don't have to try to fall asleep at 8pm to loud noises from downstairs. I don't have to worry about other people's junk lying around. I can leave my dirty dishes out and nobody gets mad at me. I don't have to take other people's trash to the dump. And I get the couch all to myself when I get home. But you know what, something just isn't right. Sure I've been able focus on me a lot more lately but, honestly, it's not all it's cracked up to be.

I miss late night conversations with good listeners, early morning pancakes with my new extended family, and spontaneous trips to the store with someone who just wants to hang out... I miss spicy Mexican cuisine right before an hour or so of worship, prayer, and study... I miss talking about my day, listening to other's days, and spending days together... I miss conversations on the couch in PJs... I miss poker on the deck, grilling on the deck, and coming inside off of the deck with buddies... I miss huddling around a laptop with fellow nerds... I miss birthdays and Friday night outings... I miss my housemates... I miss Ian, Chris, Natasha, and yes... even Kinley.

Fortunately, we will be moving back in with the Kirks as soon as our house sells. And even though we won't be living with Ian anymore, he will hopefully be in the neighborhood living with his soon-to-be permanent housemate.

downtown

2005-10-30T13:57:00.000-05:00

Another incredible weekend. I got off of work early on Friday and walked from the train station to our new place on Charles Street. I helped Chris and Natasha move a few things inside and then went back our house in Spotsylvania when Ashley got off work. That evening we went to the Wounded Bookshop for dia:logos to discuss media. The discussion was great and it was nice to meet someone new. Afterwards we went home and I watched the first two thirds of Braveheart.

On Saturday I took Ashley to work and a couple couches over to the new place. Then I walked over to Hyperion for some mint green tea, reading, and writing. Next I went over to DSW to pick up a new pair of shoes. I also decided that I am going to stop going to Central Park. It might be hard during the Christmas season but I think it will be a good discipline and a break from consumerism.

That evening we went over to the new house for dinner and then Ian, Ashley, and I slipped over to Carl's for some dessert. After dessert we came home to watch the end of the Texas game. Today I worked on organizing our garage and watching the race. We are looking forward to our first worship gathering at the Charles House tonight.

I am looking forward to what the future holds. We will be officially moving downtown as soon as our house sells. Ian and I are talking about starting an art studio downtown. The nameless church is heading in an exciting direction. I just took a promotion at work. And we are always meeting and developing new relationships downtown. It is a good time to be alive.

pictures

2005-10-25T20:58:00.000-05:00

This post will contain multiple pictures beacause let's face it, everyone loves pictures. First, we will start with some sad news and a sad picture;

I shaved off my beard and I hate it. I am going to grow it back as soon as possible. This is a picture of me with a sad, almost naked face.

On Friday we went to a poetry reading at the Wounded Bookshop. We had a great time and a chance to hang out with some friends.

On Saturday I worked on the house; cleaning out the garage and then working on the shoe moulding with my dad. I think the thing I will miss the most about our house when it sells are the wood floors that my dad and I put in. I should have taken a picture of the wood floors but I haven't done that yet so instead I will let you in on the fact that Brinks has decided to start sleeping in our full-size bed with us. Here is a picture to give you an idea of how much space he takes up;

Needless to say it has made our nights very interesting and very warm.

Sunday was a really good day. Ashley and I took the Fredericksburg trolley tour which was a lot of fun and very informative. Afterwards we ran into Ray and Jeanette at Sammy T's and then we stopped in at Riversby Books and the Wounded Bookshop. Finally, we ended our little date with a stroll through Hurkamp Park.

That evening we gathered for worship and played a little Jenga;

Everyone did well but in the end Brinks won;

The rest of the evening was very rich and hopeful as always.

Well that is all for now. I wish I had another picture to leave you with but all I have left is this;

I know it looks a little wierd and that's because it is.

time for posting

2005-10-21T15:59:00.000-05:00

So much has happened since my last post. I will try to go in chronilogical order but I am probably to scatter-brained for that. Last weekend Ashley and I went to my parents house Friday night for dinner and then to Hyperion where we ran into a not-so-old friend. On Saturday I spent the day getting the house ready to put on the market. Which leads me to announce that we have found a house in downtown Fredericksburg and will be moving in as soon as our house sells. So without further ado I present... the charles house;

We are going to be living at 1205 Charles St with the Kirks and we are really excited about it. The house should be a good location for us to get plugged into the community and develop relationship with those we encounter.

On Sunday Ashley and I met her parents and my parents at Graves Mountain Lodge for the apple festival.

As always their was an odd assortment of hillbillies and city slickers. The food was good as well was the weather. It was a nice relaxing day away from the "big city".

On Monday we met with our realtor and put our house on the market. As usual this adds some stress to our lives but it will be worth it in the end.

Tuesday was Ian's birthday and we went to Jamie's place for some birthday dinner. The food and hospitality were excellent. Jamie is a very good hostess. Ian did absolutely nothing except get older but I guess that counts for something.

And of course on Thursday night the Hokies whipped Maryland for the second year in a row.

Which brings us to tonight, which I believe is Friday. We are heading to J Brian's with the Kirks, Ian, and Jamie for dinner and then afterwards we will head over to the Wounded Bookshop for an open-mic poetry night. I am looking forward to both. Well I think we are all caught up. Until next time...

practical joking

2005-10-09T12:49:00.000-05:00

This picture was taken in my parent's backyard.

It's probably not the funniest or most outrageous practical joke I have ever pulled, but for some reason it really cracked me up. As far as I know they still haven't seen it.

great weekend

2005-10-08T13:24:00.000-05:00

The weekend has been great so far and it is only about halfway over. I had Friday off so Ashley and I went to a concert at the Loft on Thursday. It was relaxing and enjoyable. Friday I dropped Ashley off at work and then went to Hyperion for a couple hours to write. Afterwards I hopped over to Carl's for some before lunch ice cream. After a root beer slush float, I stopped by Honky Tonk Tattoo to look into getting some more ink. By then it was lunchtime so I headed off for Soup & Taco, my favorite place to get tacos. Ashley got off while I was eating and she walked down to join me for lunch. After lunch we went shopping for pants and I found two pairs that I really liked at a good price. For dinner, Ashley and I joined my family at Brock's where I had a delicious Filet Mignon. From dinner we headed to the Wounded Bookshop to check out a short film called "Escape Velocity" by Scott Ligon. The film was an animated short about ADD and it was really good. We had a great time at the Wounded Bookshop, connecting with some old and new friends. Afterwards, we met up with Ian and Jamie and took a road trip down to Richmond. We went to Gallery5 to see a girl I went to high school with, Anousheh Khalili, in concert. After the concert we made the trek home and finally made it to bed at 2am. I slept in this morning and then made it downstair where I am watching the Virginia Tech game. We are up 34 to 7 right now and I think that lead is about to increase. Here's to hoping the rest of the weekend will be as good as the first half.

Oh and by the way, it's 41 to 7 now.

quarkery

2005-10-05T17:55:00.000-05:00

I received this in the mail the other day. The message is a little strong but I must say the page layout and graphic design is outstanding.

posting

2005-09-30T21:14:00.000-05:00

Today was an early day at work. Justin and I left the site before lunch and walked to K St where we ate at Potbellys. Afterwards we stopped for a look around Tower Records. We caught the early train home and then Ashley and I went over to my parents' house to visit with my grandparents and eat dinner. Afterwards we stopped by Hyperion for some hot beverages and I had a chance to talk to my wife which doesn't happen as often as we'd like. Ashley finished the day off with a post on her blog which means she has earned a coveted link on mine. While we are on the subject I would also like to mention that today marks exactly one month since the last time Ian posted on his blog. I am planning to contact the blogging authorities and let them know that Ian should have his blogging privileges revoked for a lack of effort.

blogger wife

2005-09-20T19:44:00.000-05:00

Ashley has finally started her own blog (ashleypoe.blogspot.com). I made a deal with her that as soon as she publishes five posts I will put a link to her blog on the right side of mine. Go to her blog and wish her luck.

mens retreat

2005-09-18T11:27:00.000-05:00

On Friday I got off work early and went with my dad and brother on a men's retreat with some guys from my parents' church. We stayed at the vacation home of Bill Howell, Virginia's Speaker of the House.

I went with an open heart and a judgemental attitude. While some of my judgements were accurate, many proved to be wrong. The trip was a good opportunity for me to see that while I can disagree with many of my Christian brothers, we are all seeking God in the ways we best know how. Through His grace he allows us to draw closer to Him despite our flaws.

All-in-all the trip was good. I had the opportunity to go sailing on a 27ft. boat. I also met a guy who was the first person to know what my tattoo says (Yodh He Waw He, Yahweh, the name of God in hebrew). He was also a great griller which makes him ok in my book. I also had the chance to have some great coversation with my dad on the way out (he slept like a baby on the way back though).

I got home yesterday evening and after a short rest, listening to the end of the Hokie game, and playing an extremely long round of Trivial Pursuit, Chris, Ian, and myself met to go over nameless church stuff. I always get excited after we meet because it is a chance for us to look to the future and dream of what God has in store for Fredericksburg. I am looking forward to that future.

crash

2005-09-10T15:25:00.000-05:00

Ashley wrecked our Nissan Sentra on Wednesday, August 31. She was fine the car was not. We are planning to donate the car and try to see how long we can go without purchasing a second car. We are also planning to move downtown in the near future which could make living with one car (or possibly one car and a motorcycle) a lot easier. If you are interested in moving to Holleybrooke, let us know and you can have our house for half a million bucks.

Ironically, Ashley's little accident happened almost exactly one week before the DVD release of "Crash" which we watched last night. It is a very interesting portrayal of racism and predujice. It cause me to look at the way I view other people in a new way. The movie was insightful as to how racism isn't always easy to spot and it isn't always easy to solve. Ultimately, it comes down to loving people, not treating people a certain way because of their nationality.

Anyway, I am very excited about the potential of moving downtown. It looks like our lives could take another series of exciting twists and turns. Until then...

wounded

2005-08-25T22:22:00.000-05:00

The following account is based on my own personal recollections and the story I was told by my brother, Justin.

Today at work I needed to run some cables to a projector and they were coiled up and tied off with a wire tie. I pulled out my trustee Gerber 3in blade and began slicing through the plastic tie. I cut through the tie and stabbed the knife straight into my hand. I closed the knife and put it away and then look at my hand to assess the damage. I was hoping the knife didn't penetrate the skin and I could continue working uninterrupted. To my dismay the knife had in fact penetrated the skin and blood was pulsating from the wound.

Not wanting to lose consciousness, I quickly sought out Justin in hopes that he might have some band-aids on hand. I entered the room and asked Justin if he had any band-aids. He nonchalantly said he did and began rummaging through his pockets. During his search he turned to look at me and saw my clenched fist and the blood oozing from between my fingers. He quickly tossed his entire first aid supply my direction and I made my way toward the restroom. In the bathroom I realized that I was becoming quite light-headed and queasy, so I made my way over to the far wall. I leaned against the wall and slowly slid to the floor.

Shortly thereafter, Justin entered the room to check on my status. I told him that I might be passing out soon and he immediately left to keep from vomiting. Justin located a coworker and alerted him to the situation in the bathroom. After checking my condition the coworker left the room momentarily and asked Justin to monitor my status. Reluctantly, Justin joined me once again in the bathroom and decided to engage in small talk with questions like, "So you cut your hand?" and "So, you're bleeding, eh?". Justin says that I just laid on the floor, white as a sheet, with my eyes open, unresponsive to his questions. Fearing the worst he asked, "Ryan, can you hear me?" I quietly said that I could and Justin was forced to abandon me once again due to a weakening stomach.

Shortly thereafter I was joined once again by my coworker who took it upon himself to clean my wound. My lightheadedness began to clear and I became more aware of my surroundings. I came to the realization that my coworker was sitting on the floor next to me, wiping my hand down with some wet paper towels. It was an awkward moment to say the least but I was too dizzy to care too much. I was able to get cleaned up, dress the wound sufficiently and then get back to work.

So far the only real benefit to this experience has been the ability to see inside my hand. Hopefully, I will heal quickly and not have to go through that again.

dia:logos and retreat

2005-08-23T16:07:00.000-05:00

On Friday, August 12th the nameless church hosted dia:logos at The Wounded Bookshop (thanks Paul!). It was a great experience and sweet time of meeting people and joining in conversation. We are hoping to host some more dia:logos in the future so stay tuned for more information. I really enjoyed the chance to sit down and agree and disagree with people who were both similar and yet very different from me with such a sense of unity and acceptance. I hope that the dialogue will continue. Thank you to everyone who came.

This past weekend Chris, Ian, and I squeezed into the cab of my pickup and headed off for Whiteoak Canyon to do some hiking and camping. It was a refreshing experience. We three everything on our backs (according to my best guestimation, my pack weighed exactly 3,298lbs) and set off to conquer the mountain.

After about three miles, and about 30 rest stops, we reached our campsite and set up our tents. We had a great time of eating, reading, praying, resting, and cuddling (the three of us were in a fairly small tent). It was a much needed time of reflection and renewal and I am thankful that I had the opportunity to get away.

when snakes attack

2005-08-23T15:48:00.000-05:00

This is the final installment of the "When Animals Attack" blogging series.

I went camping with Ian and Chris last weekend (more on that shortly). I was climbing down to the base of a waterfall when I noticed some larger fish in the pool at the bottom of the falls. I was watching a few of the fish when suddenly a snake sprung from beneath a rock and nabbed one of the unsuspecting prey (I have no idea what kind of snake it was so I can only assume it was an anaconda or an underwater cobra). The anaconda made a b-line (more of an s-line really) for the shore. Once he (yes, I checked his gender) reached the coastline he tried to heave the fish up onto the rock. As soon as the fish's body left the water she would start flapping around and the snake was forced to re-enter the water. I took a picture with my phone in case you didn't believe me:

I know the picture quality isn't that great but I had to get my hand really close to an underwater cobra to take the picture, so appreciate it for what it is worth. After an epic struggle of approximately three minutes the snake got tired (anacondas are known for having a very short endurance) and let the fish go. Then he made his way over to the rocks and wriggled half his body onto the rock so he could take a breather (which I believe occurs through his ears). He choose a precarious location to lay however and the current swept him off down the stream. I followed his progress for a short distance watching him struggle to swim against the current. I said my farewell as he was swept over a small waterfall and made my way back to camp, giving the fish a thumbs up for a fight well fought.

when pigeons attack

2005-08-11T17:32:00.000-05:00

The other day I was at work and I had to climb a 12-foot ladder to install a mount for an LCD screen. Now I should preface this by letting you know that I am working in a new building at GWU and the building is still in a construction phase. During the construction of a new building small critters (birds, mice, rats, raccoons, and small marsupials) sometimes find their way into the unfinished building. The sad part is that while they have no problem getting in, they never seem to be able to find their way out. And because construction sites aren't rich in vegetation and live prey the small critters tend to die of starvation and/or aids (starvation moreso than aids). Okay so back to the other day. I was climbing my 12-foot ladder when suddenly a giant stool pigeon took flight and hit me in the face. I'm not sure exactly what makes a pigeon a stool pigeon but it sounds bigger than a regular pigeon so I am going to refer to this particular pigeon as a stool pigeon for dramatic impact. I should also mention that the bird didn't really hit me in the face, but it's wing definitely brushed my cheek. Anyway, I kinda freaked out, almost fell off my ladder, and had to come down and regain my composure. After rebuilding my courage and dignity I reclimbed the ladder to finish my task. When I reached the top of the ladder, I discovered a nest on top of the duct work with two little stool pigeon chicks inside. The momma stool pigeon was obviously upset by my decision to invade her personal space and she eyed my from afar. As I continued to work, the stool pigeon gradually hopped closer and closer from conduit to sprinkler pipe and so on. I'll admit that I was a bit nervous of a second attack and so I decided to arm myself with hex nuts and washers. If the stool pigeon entered the no-fly zone, I was forced launch an array of hardware. I was able to keep the stool pigeon at bay for the remainder of my work and then I descended from my ladder and left the giant stool pigeon to tend to her young.

*The author would like to note that he has since discovered that a stool pigeon refers to a pigeon that is used as a decoy, which is why an informer is sometimes refered to as a stool pigeon. The pigeon that attacked me was most likely a federal pigeon.

long overdue update #3

2005-08-07T09:31:00.000-05:00

Ashley and I took a summer vacation to Deltaville, VA along the Chesapeake Bay. Ashley's family own a cottage on the water and we have the opportunity to spend a week there every summer. It was a much needed time of fun, rest, and relaxation. We had a great time hanging out with Ashley's family and hanging out with each other. I was quite the seaman during our stay. I had the opportunity to go canoeing, kayaking, and sailing (for the first time in my life). It was a lot of fun. Brinks also took to the water. He is now and avid swimmer (as long as there is a ball to be retrieved). He also feels right at home that the helm of a canoe. I also had a chance to read Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell. It was probably one of the best books I have every read. Anyway, the trip was very refreshing and I am thankful that I had the opportunity to take it with my wonderful wife.

long overdue update #2

2005-08-07T09:22:00.000-05:00

On July 27th Justin and I stayed in DC after we got off of work and went to the Holocaust Museum to hear Brian Steidle talk about his time in the Darfur region of Sudan. He had been in the country as an American representative with the African Union. His role was to document the cease fire which had been issued. He took hundreds of photographs documenting the atrocities that have occurred. I have heard a number of statistics and a handful of stories regarding the genocide in Sudan but these pictures brought the reality of the horror home. It was hard to look at pictures of children who had been shot in the back, men and women who had been raped, villages that had been utterly destroyed and not feel called to some sort of action. I am in the process of praying about what God would have me do in this situation. Hopefully I will have more details about this in the future.

long overdue update #1

2005-08-07T08:58:00.000-05:00

Worship in the Spirit of Justice in Fredericksburg went well. I think the best thing that came from our gathering was a chance to connect with some people. Connect with some new people, reconnect with some previous acquaintances, while sharing a connection with our brothers and sisters in Africa. In some way the event was a brief snapshot at the interconnectedness that we share in Christ.

You can read obout our next event, dia:logos, here.

Also check out the articles the local paper wrote about us; Article 1, Article 2.

*Photos courtesy of Tim Poe

marriage

2005-07-17T20:18:00.000-05:00

Ashley and I traveled down to Blacksburg for a wedding this weekend. We rented a car and they were out of the class we reserved so we got upgraded to a Chrysler 300 for free. We looked like a couple of rich geriatrics.

It was great to see the ole VT campus again. I remember our time their with fondness but I have no desire whatsoever to go back to school there. I can sleep at home for much less money than I can sleep in class.

We really enjoyed the opportunity to connect with all of our old college friends. They all seemed to be doing well and hadn't changed much (have we?). It was James and Nicole's wedding. Everything went well. It was good to finally see them get hitched. They are moving to Richmond so hopefully we will be able to hang out with them more often.

This line is a short but eloquent sentence for the purpose of wrapping up my entire post and closing with a thoughtful statement...

tattoo update

2005-07-12T21:18:00.000-05:00

As promised, here is an updated photo of my healed tattoo.

hairs cut

2005-07-02T12:15:00.000-05:00

I cut off all of my hair on Thursday. This is what was left over...

And here is my new do...

two ben folds tickets for sale

2005-07-02T10:35:00.000-05:00

I have two tickets to see Ben Folds and Rufus Wainwright in concert at Wolf Trap on August 3rd at 8pm. More information here. The seats are in the Rear Orchestra section, row BB. The tickets are $40 a piece of $70 for both of them. Let me know if you are interested.

emergent-mart

2005-06-16T19:15:00.000-05:00

The EmergentVillage (also known as Emergent) is a group of people journeying together to discover the emerging church. A number of great things have come from the fellowship and influenced a number of people. For some time the leadership has refused to call Emergent the movement that it is. Instead they insist on referring to it as a conversation. It started as a conversation but it has definitely moved beyond that by this point (I won't hold that against them though).

Emergent recently announced that they have named a National Director (Tony Jones). I will admit that while I think Tony is a great guy, I had a few concerns about the naming of a National Director. I had concerns that they were headed toward a top-down leadership style, that they were becoming institutionalized, that the "inner-circle" had just become deeper, that they were neglecting the diversity they are striving for, etc. I have realized that most of my fears were just reactionary anti-institutional feelings. I do however think that there is still one issue at hand:

Emergent and the emerging church are two separate things. Unfortunately, because of the name similarities and their close relationship, they have been lumped into the same definition. For lack of a better explanation the "emerging church" is the church that is beginning to develop as a result of the culture shift we currently find ourselves in. EmergentVillage, on the other hand, is a "conversation" which has supported and helped develop the emerging church. Now the emerging church will continue to emerge and be led by God regardless of what direction Emergent takes.

I agree with Bob Hyatt and suggest that EmergentVillage change its name in order to help alleviate any confusion that results in the name similarities. To a certain extent, I understand the desire for more organization but as Emergent develops a structure it also needs to make it clear that it exists to aid the emerging church, not be the emerging church. That's my $0.02 anyway.

worship in the spirit of justice

2005-06-12T22:25:00.000-05:00

I had a great day today. I traveled to DC with The Nameless Church for Worship in the Spirit of Justice. It was an honor to be a part of the event and a lot of fun sharing the experience with friends. I am looking forward to some events that are going to come about as a result of our trip today and the genocide in the Sudan. Stay tuned for updates.

Ashley and I also had a really good dinner with Bryant and his fiancee this evening. We went to J Brians and had some great conversation and food. I used to work with Bryant everyday and it was great to have the opportunity to reconnect with him. I am hoping that is a relationship that can continue in the future.

The evening was spent making preliminary plans for a lot of exciting developments in The Nameless Church. Like I said, I am very excited.

birthday

2005-06-06T19:10:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Justin!

nameless church

2005-06-02T21:18:00.000-05:00

We have done some work to the Nameless Church website and we now have some official beliefs and whatnot. It is nice to see this starting to take some sort of form, even if it is in a liquid state.

day two of memorial

2005-05-31T20:45:00.000-05:00

Today Ashley and I traveled to Head Waters, VA for the memorial service of Roger Vaus. I was glad that Ashley and I had the opportunity to visit Headwaters Lodge together and that she could meet some of the people that have influenced my life over the years. The service and the fellowship were very good and much needed.

During this time I have been reminded of a story Roger once told; While vacationing abroad, Roger noticed a small child running toward their father exclaiming, "Abba! Abba!". Roger explained to us that "Abba" is an affectionate name for daddy that was used in that culture as well as to describe God our Father. Roger was a powerful man who was able to make great things happen, but when I remember his life I see him with arms raised toward the heavens calling out, "Abba! Daddy!". Roger was always a man who pursued his heavenly Father above all. And now that same Father has scooped Roger up into his arms and said, "Well done my good and faithful servant."

Roger will be missed but his legacy will live on as those he influenced continue to honor the one he honored.

A memorial fund in Roger's name has be established. If you would like to make a contribution please send it to YDI, PO Box 777, Head Waters, VA 24442

tattoo

2005-05-29T11:33:00.000-05:00

I got my first tattoo yesterday. Chris and I went down to Honky Tonk Tattoo Parlor and I had "Yahweh", the name of God, in Hebrew tattooed on my forearm. The picture was taken with my camera phone and doesn't look that great. I will try to take a better one when it heals.

Last night we went to the Union cemetery in Fredericksburg. They had over 15,000 luminaries lit up. It was quite a sight. The flicker of all those candles gave an effect that electric lights cannot acheive.

in remembrance

2005-05-26T21:30:00.000-05:00

Jim Vaus was discharged from the Army in 1946 for stealing electronic equipment. He opened his own electronics store and was doing well for himself. Through a series of events he began helping the police with wiretapping. He soon found that it was more profitable to work for the mob and became a right-hand man to Mickey Cohen. After living a life of crime for some time, Jim heard Billy Graham speak and decided to turn his life around and pursue God. Jim Vaus went on to start Youth Development International (YDI) in 1949. Along with many other accomplishments, Jim Vaus founded Headwaters Lodge, a retreat center and youth camp, in Headwaters, VA.

It was at this camp that I spent a large portion of my youth. I encountered the living God for the first time at Headwaters. During the many times I visited Headwaters I was able to briefly get to know Jim before he died in 1997. I also had the opportunity to develop a relationship with Jim’s son Roger. Roger ran Headwaters Lodge and he had a huge impact on my life during some of my formidable years. Roger loved and trusted God like no one I have ever met. He also loved teens like no one I have ever met. He invested his life into mine despite the fact that I was a young, ignorant knucklehead.

Tonight I received word that Roger suddenly passed away this past Monday due to cancer treatment that he had been receiving. I’m not sure why things like this happen in life. For some time I have wanted to go back and visit Headwaters and Roger. I had wanted Ashley to see the camp and to meet someone who had a huge impact on me as a person. I have hope that I will see Roger again but that doesn’t make things any easier right now. Roger’s wife and two young children are left behind. Please pray for them as they work through this and please take a moment to let the people who have impacted your life know that you appreciate them.

virginia

2005-05-25T21:16:00.000-05:00

Yesterday my beautiful wife and I celebrated our 2-year anniversary. We went to Claiborne's, one of our favorite restaurants, and had a delicious dinner.

This past week I have been touring Virginia. In the past seven days I have been to; Clifton Forge, Lexington, Lynchburg, Richmond, Danville, Williamsburg, Newport News, Fairfax, Woodbridge, and of course Fredericksburg. I am ready to stick around the house for a while.

Last week Ashley and I had the opportunity to see Kingdom of Heaven. The movie was excellent. It had a great story and a powerful message. There were so many deep insights.

day off

2005-05-13T12:31:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I worked somewhat long and hard this week and finished a couple jobs early and in return I was given today off. This is a new concept for me and I think I like it. It is nice to be recognized and rewarded for extra effort. Quite often this goes unnoticed in our culture today. I am going to try to recognize someone else who has gone the extra mile lately and pass the compliment on to them.

I hung out with Peter and Paul last night. They are both really cool guys and it was a blessing to spend some time with them. Check out their music and support what they are doing.

still here

2005-05-08T16:12:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted in a while. This is mostly due to laziness but I have also been procrastinating. Yesterday I went to my brother-in-law, Matt's, graduation. Afterwards, there was a graduation party at our house. It's weird to think that I could be graduating from college right now.

Work has been going well. Nothing too exciting to report there.

We have some ideas that could lead to some exciting realities in the near future as far as The Nameless Church is concerned. I am looking forward to seeing where those lead. That's all for now. Until later...

community is fun

2005-04-28T21:30:00.000-05:00

Okay, so maybe I am a little naive, but so far living in community has been a great experience. Sure, it's not free of conflict, and certainly there is more to come, but for the time being the pros of community far outweigh the cons. Up until now the majority of the benefits of community have been somewhat superficial. I am even more excited about the future as we will begin to dig deeper and discover the intimate community that exists between us. Ian should be moved in this weekend and then this big happy family will be ready to go. I will leave you with a little quote from one of my favorite Virginia families; the Waltons.

Goodnight Jim Bob
...
Goodnight Mary Ellen
...
Goodnight John Boy
...
Goodnight everybody

and so it begins

2005-04-25T15:03:00.000-05:00

We are now officially living together in community with the Kirk’s. So far so good. I am amazed at how well the dogs are getting along. Today I was mowing the grass and the two dogs were sitting side by side on the deck like old friends.

I have been trying to get used to working 30-40hrs a week as opposed to 60-70hrs. It is nice to have a little extra time to get things done around the house. By the time things settle down around here I might even have some of that stuff people refer to as free time. That would be scary.

Ashley and I went with my family to Stratford Estates or something like that yesterday. They had a dog show and a horse and carriage demonstration thing. The dog show was a weird combination of appealing and unimpressive. The dogs just chased the owners around a big field. To make it even less impressive the owners had treats in their hands. So anyway, through hard work and discipline, these dog owners somehow trained these dogs to chase them around and try to get a treat. Brinks must be some dog-genius because he does that without me even telling him to. Despite their lack of talent the dogs were still cute and fun to watch.

The atmosphere at the show was weird because there was this obvious separation between the upper-class and the middle-class. The upper-class, or old money as I call them, looked like something straight out of the Great Gatsby. And us commoners looked like an ad straight out of the Wal-Mart flyer. It made me wonder how we make other people feel in our day-to-day lives. Anyway, it was still a lot of fun.

moving in

2005-04-23T20:10:00.000-05:00

We had dinner and discussion at the Liptrap's last night. The food and conversation were wonderful as usual. We spent today helping the Kirk's move in. The countdown to living in community is ticking rather quickly. Right now I am relaxing after a busy day and watching the NASCAR race. Greg Biffle is currently one spot ahead of Tony Stewart but that will change soon.

transition

2005-04-14T15:53:00.000-05:00

My transitioning is in full-swing. I have started my new old job. I am suprised how quickly everything is coming back to me. I have already been made a project manager which was somewhat intimidating, but so far things are going fairly well. I am working at du Pont which has all of these ridiculous safety regulations. We have to have on a full body harness if we are higher than 4ft in the air, we have to wear a hard hat, gloves, eye protection, and steel toed boots at all times, and do other stuff which get kinda ridiculous and makes the job harder than it needs to be.

I was dreading my commute to work but now I look forward to it. My truck is losing coolant so I started driving Ashley's car which is equipped with an MP3 CD player. I put a bunch of messages by Brian McLaren, Rob Bell, etc. onto a CD and now I can listen to them to and from work. At this rate, I will get in anywhere from 10-15 messages a week.

By the way, check out www.thenamelesschurch.com

last day

2005-04-10T07:01:00.000-05:00

Today is my last day at the church. I start at Whitlock tomorrow. I am wondering if I should have taken a day or two off.

The Kirk's house did indeed sell and they will be moving in with us before the month is over. It is exciting and scary all at the same time (much like every other part of our lives right now). Ian will also be moving in by the end of the month so it should be pretty entertaining from an outsiders perspective.

new job

2005-04-06T13:40:00.000-05:00

I got a new job... which is actually my old job. I am going to start working for The Whitlock Group again. Doing AV installations. I am actually going to be a project manager this time which could be cool. I might get a company cell phone, laptop, vehicle, business cards, etc. I was a little nervous about finding new work and this came along rather quickly and has turned into more and more of a blessing. I start on Monday.

Oh and the Kirks put their house on the market this morning and they potentially have a contract already. It is pretty cool to see how God is the God of our circumstances. Okay, more later.

i'm back

2005-04-02T11:02:00.000-05:00

Okay, I took a break from blogging for a while because a lot of stuff was going on. Basically, to make a long story short, the Kirks, Ian, and my wife and I quit our jobs at the church and we are going to go out and plant a new church. I think Austin, TX is at the top of our "cities to move to" list. In the next month we are going to have to find new jobs, move into the same house together, and begin living a completely different lifestyle. It should be exciting.

need rest

2005-03-19T23:41:00.000-05:00

I am sick and my long days aren't helping me get any better.

Can't stop listening to Chris Thomas King

new day

2005-03-18T23:58:00.000-05:00

Titled by my beautiful wife.

I went to an FCA luncheon today where I had the privelege to hear Ron Brown speak again. What joy (read previous post). He said the exact same thing that he had said the night before. I also got a free copy of his book, which I believe is a transcipt of his speech. We had Ray and Jeanette, the Kirks, and Ian over for dinner tonight. Afterwards we went with the Kirks and Ian to the Wounded Bookshop where we met up with the Crews and Jimmy for an open-mic poetry night. It was great. As Christ put it, it was an excellent picture of what the church should look like.

frustration

2005-03-17T22:21:00.000-05:00

Ron Brown spoke at Fusion tonight. Worst speaker ever. I think God is trying to teach me something through the experience but I am not sure what. Maybe just to be patient and love him despite his flaws. I can live with that.

awesome

2005-03-16T23:49:00.000-05:00

I went to Sojourners tonight with Ian and Chris. We were in the same room as Brian McLaren and Jim Wallis. We had an awesome night of worship and teaching. Afterwards we were able to meet both Brian McLaren and Jim Wallis. On the way home we had some great conversation, coffee, and prayer. Some big changes are coming so stay tuned...

peewee

2005-03-15T22:27:00.000-05:00

Today was interesting. I shot a video today of PeeWee's story. The filming took us to a bar, a tatoo parlor, and a junk yard. It was pretty cool to experience someone's story that way.

dc

2005-03-14T23:28:00.000-05:00

Ashley and I took today off and went up to DC with my dad, grandparents, and great uncle. When I was working in DC everyday I dreaded going into the city. After over a year of being away it was nice to come back and visit. I watched The Big Kahuna tonight. At first I was turned off by the movie because I second-guessed the direction it was heading. Although, a speech by Danny DeVito at the very end of the movie redeemed the entire film. It is really worth watching.

By the way, I have a wonderful wife.

good day

2005-03-13T23:39:00.000-05:00

Today was a relatively good day. The Sunday church services went smoothly. Afterwards I got in a half a round of disc golf. We finished the evening off enjoying dinner with my family at Captain Billy's in Maryland.

family

2005-03-12T23:35:00.001-05:00

Another very long day at work. My grandparents from Washington state are in town and they were able to come over to our house tonight. It was good to spend time with them. I enjoy family.

great evening

2005-03-11T23:48:00.000-05:00

After work my beautiful wife and I went with the Kirks and Ian to Mary Washington College for their Senior Art Show. Afterwards we ate Italian and then headed to Hyperion for conversation but no coffee. We ended the night at The Loft where some live Jazz musicians were playing. All and all it was a good night.

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