Longest day ever

I'm usually just saying that, but I cannot remember a day when I had as much driving and work to do as I did today. It started at 8 a.m., when Dori and I left for the Chinese consulate in Los Angeles. Keep in mind I have never driven to downtown Los Angeles. But we found the consulate, picked up my visa for this summer's two-week trip to China, and made it back to Carlsbad by 12:15 p.m. I was proud of that, but whether it implies something about my driving I will let you decide.

Once we had In-N-Out burgers and fries in us, we were ready for round two, which was the drive down to La Jolla for my newspaper assignment at Seal Beach. That is the informal name for a small cove that used to be a children's beach but has been taken over by seals. If you live around here and haven't seen it, well, whether you should make the trip or not depends on how much you like barking marine mammals (read: water dogs).

It turns out the sand was too hot for the seals (read: sissy water dogs), so there were none on the beach, but I still took plenty of pictures.

Someone else was taking a photo of this seagull, so I felt I should, too. Maybe there's something special about it. Maybe I'm just susceptible to even the mild peer pressure of a weekend warrior with a disposable camera bothering the wildlife.

The sea wall at Seal Beach is neat, and the view of La Jolla Coves makes one feel he is somewhere exotic. Today the sky was spotless and the weather was just right, cool and breezy.

At one point, I lost track of Dori. Then I turned around, and there she was, just standing and looking wistful. Or maybe she was waiting for me. Oops.

If you require evidence of our wide-ranging adventures today, I will show you my sunburned arm. It is proof of the three hundred miles I drove with my left elbow poked out the window. Toward the end of the day, Dori mused, "You know, all the time we've spent in the car today is only a third as long as our flight to China will be." Now that's something to look forward to.

Word of the day: 'Gibbous'

"adj. More than half but less than fully illuminated."

Today's word was selected not for how it sounds or is spelled, but because I deem it useful in everyday conversation and writing. Before this word became part of my vocabulary about 30 seconds ago, the closest I could get to what it means was "partially-lit," which just doesn't cut it. In case you're wondering how it's said, the "g" is hard, as in "globe" or "gimme a break," which is what you're probably thinking right about now. You don't have to thank me for trying to expand your verbal horizons. It's what I do.

Blogger's note: Books, and especially dictionaries, are full of good words. Feel free to leave a comment sharing one of your favorites, and keep watching for more of mine.

Shooting a rose garden

A friend asked if I knew anyone who could take some good pictures of his rose garden. Having just bought my camera a month ago, I volunteered. It was an amazing display--at least a hundred bushes, most in full bloom. Here is a sample of what I got.

Lions and poison ivy

You've heard of the horse whisperer? The dog whisperer? Now meet the lion whisperer. That's right. He befriends young lions and they treat him as "one of their own," according to the article.

Also, from the global warming news department, poison ivy is supposedly becoming more poisonous. The article is interesting, but a little misleading. Look closely, at the beginning of the third paragraph, and you'll notice the data came from "controlled studies." But, the article suggests, since we know without a doubt that global warming is happening just like Al Gore says it is, this must be occurring in the wild, too. There you have it; watch your step.

At least someone is enjoying the new, warmer planet.

Word of the day: 'Fluorescent'

To the adjective describing the most mind-numbingly white light imaginable;
To the way that light drowns colors and bestows headaches;
To the way fluorescent bulbs pop when they shatter;
To the fact that it is perhaps the only kind of light that actually makes one feel colder;
To the frustrated writers who can never figure out how it's spelled;
I say,

At least it is an interesting word, with a "u" before an "o." And it even comes packaged with a verb that I bet no one has ever used before: "Fluoresce," which means, roughly, to act fluorescent. Please let me know if you ever use "fluoresce" legitimately in a sentence. You may win some kind of prize, and it will most likely be a pocket protector, because you are either a bored scientist or crossword puzzle freak and I know how you guys love your pencils.

Episode 1

I think I am a little rusty at sitting at a desk and taking notes. It's been three years since I last set foot in an English class, but hopefully, I will have reason to again soon.

I earned my bachelor's in June 2004, and when several of my friends received graduate degrees in recent months, it rekindled my desire to study creative writing and begin my post-baccalaureate education. There are two reasons why I want to go back, and two more why I want to go back now. Unlike my bachelor's degree, the creative writing master's will be a matter of writing and improving my craft. Instead of having to read and digest hundreds of pages of literature and regurgitate them in term papers, I'll have room to write things that are actually rewarding. That's the first reason I want to pursue my secondary degree; the second is because it will open more job possibilities in future years.

As far as timing, I feel like I need to seize the moment because we don't have children yet. I am also starting to figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life (besides living in a van down by the river). I need to be able to go beyond newspapers in order to provide well for my family without having to spend fifty hours a week in the office. A master's degree is great for teaching, and it is also the requisite stepping stone on the way to a Ph.D. I'm not sure yet whether I want to go that far, but there is a distinct possibility that I would, depending on how my master's goes.

At this point, I only have a rough list of schools to which I will apply this winter. If I am accepted, I would begin classes beginning in fall 2008. It seems so soon, but I am ready.

My journey back to school will be chronicled here. Please share it with me.

Busy day

Saturday began early for me--7:30 a.m., to be precise, when I started getting ready for my first guitar gig outside of Bible study or church in more than five years. I played at an outreach just south of the Oceanside pier with Jim Hollingsworth, a really experienced and talented guitarist from Fallbrook. On Thursday night, he showed me the songs we'd play, then we practiced yesterday morning for about an hour and a half. So, with about four hours of practice, we did eight songs ranging from John Mayer to Jimi Hendrix to Miles Davis. Yes, Miles Davis. Jim has an eclectic taste in music.

It was fun, but it was also challenging. For example, when I play guitar, a pick is like a blankie. I don't feel right if I'm not using a pick, but the first thing Jim did on Thursday when we practiced was tell me to put down the pick. The songs were mostly outside my frame of reference, and one was in 3/4 timing, syncopated. But I think we sounded OK. We got plenty of compliments afterward, but that could have been church folks just being nice. Overall, it was a great experience, and I look forward to playing more with Jim in the future.

After playing the gig, Dori and I headed over to her brother's house and then to the county fair with Dustin, Ashley and Danielle. We ate plenty of unhealthy food and browsed the shops. The hypnotist was funny but his act got kind of inappropriate a couple of times. It always amazes me that so many people want this guy to mess with their subconscious in front of five hundred spectators.

Dustin got plenty of compliments on his shirt, advertising the next installment of the Halo video game series.

We also walked through the photography exhibit so I could get my dose of humility. Just when you start thinking you're a good photographer, march your big head into a competition and it'll knock you down a few notches. Some of the pictures in there were unbelievable. So I walked out inspired, and took this:

Not the most difficult picture to take, but it was still fun. We ate some more and went back to Dustin and Ashley's house to watch a movie. When you start nodding off during Die Hard, you know you've had a long day.

You go, Mr. Huckabee

My sister directed my attention to this YouTube clip of presidential candidate Mike Huckabee answering a question during the Republican debate. He gets a little testy with the moderators, which is always fun, but the main thing is how he articulates his position on evolution versus the biblical account of creation. Before today, I had barely heard this guy's name. Now I'm hoping he makes it to the election so I can vote for him.

As it turns out, the Home School Legal Defense Association has endorsed Huckabee for president. To find out more about him, visit his Web site.

Countdown: 35 days

China is getting closer. Not really. The continents are staying where they are; what's getting closer is the date of our departure.

We are now in the tedious, stressful period of our pre-trip planning when we have to get all our paperwork in order. Today I filled out my second visa application, because the first was rejected, and in five days I will have to drive to the Chinese consulate in Los Angeles to pick it up. I have not traveled out of the country enough to overcome my wary fear of foreign governments. That of the U.S. and a few in Europe are perhaps the only ones I trust and under whose authority I would not be nervous to travel. I know we'll be fine, just as we were on our honeymoon to Mexico, but I can't just tell my anxiety to take a hike.

Looking back on our fund-raising effort, I realize that our friends and family were extremely generous to us, and that through them God has provided all the money we needed to pay our way for the two-week trip. We should be studying Chinese more often, should be practicing skits and hanging out with little kids as much as possible to prepare for two weeks of it, but what we need more than anything is for God to soften our hearts. Me especially, as Dori's is already tender toward children. I love kids, but I will need a celestial helping of patience and energy to do any good this summer in Beijing.

Film review: 'Seraphim Falls'

Dori and I just finished watching this stunning Western about one man trying to kill another for a painfully tragic wrong done to him years in the past. It is beautifully shot and well-acted (Pierce Brosnan and Liam Neeson co-star), and if the plot sounds typically Western, it is. But the ending is not. It will surprise you. If you're familiar with John Wayne's films, the lessons that linger after Seraphim Falls will definitely resonate, even though the look and pace of the movie are unlike most early Westerns in every way.

One thing I enjoyed about Seraphim Falls was the fact that the dialogue and script do not make everything in the plot obvious. In other words, this movie does not treat viewers as unintelligent, needing every little detail spelled out. Instead, it allows things to happen that explain the plot--a mark of good literature and good film-making alike.

Warnings: Some foul language is peppered throughout, and a lot of realistic, gruesome violence is shown. It is definitely not a film to let the kids watch, but it would not offend most adults I know, and in the end it is actually edifying.

Summary: If you enjoy a compelling movie with adventure, guns and horses aplenty, combined with a meaningful plot, this movie is for you. I can't give too much away, but suffice it to say this film is worth an hour and 45 minutes of your time in more ways than one.

A good reason for thumbs to be sore

When I was younger, I used to play Super Mario Bros. so passionately and for so long that my thumbs would be sore afterward. That stupid little directional pad would dig in and make things miserable. My thumbs are sore again this morning, but not because of any video game controller.

Anyone who's tried to force-feed eight rounds into a brand new magazine at the shooting range knows my agony. It feels like I should have a few blisters, but there are none yet. Just red-hot pain. It was worth it, though. As far as hobbies go, shooting is on the expensive side, but it beats Nintendo, even the cheesy duck hunt on the original console. I must admit, though, when I went with my in-laws to visit their extended family in Arizona for Thanksgiving last year, the aunts we stayed with had an original Nintendo and Dustin, Dave and I spent hours playing Duck Hunt. (Side note of interest: According to Wikipedia's page dedicated to Duck Hunt, the gun was named the "Zapper.") So last night, it was kind of like that, only more expensive and painful. I still give it two thumbs up. Ouch.

From the explainer of gravity: No Apocalypse before 2060

A British news Web site published a story today about a collection of personal letters written by Sir Isaac Newton predicting the end of the world would come no sooner than 2060. It's an interesting read, but it has flaws that have become the standard when the media writes about faith and science. His calculation was based "on religion rather than reasoning," the story says. I love that. He used mathematical calculations drawn from timelines in the book of Daniel to estimate the soonest the end of days could arrive, and it's not reasoning. Not even from one of the greatest, most reasonable scientists ever. If he had been guessing at the Apocalypse based on the rate of global warming, divided by the number of years since the big bang, then the media would hallow his calculation as "reasoned." Draw anything from the Bible, which must be badly twisted to even begin to seem inaccurate, and it's tagged as religion and dismissed. But if it agrees with the trendiest pop-science, the newspapers will decide that it's infallible, newspapers that mostly don't know the first thing about science.

As one of my teachers used to say, I'm off my soapbox now.

I also really like what Newton said in his letter about trying to predict the exact date of the Apocalypse, exercises which he called "rash conjectures of fanciful men who are frequently predicting the time of the end, and by doing so bring the sacred prophesies into discredit as often as their predictions fail." Sound familiar?

I recently heard Chuck Smith speak on the end times, and he said God wants us to live as if tomorrow will bring the end of the world. It's no mistake, he said, that every generation since Jesus' time thought theirs was the last. That resonated with me. If you have two minutes, check out the story. It even has images of the original pages of Newton's letter.

Quotations, v.1

I love quotes because so many great men have said so many great things. I feel that trying to figure everything out for ourselves anew is counterproductive. Better minds than ours and stronger generations have already wrestled with most of the problems we now face. Here are a few good insights from those minds and generations.

"None can love freedom heartily, but good men;
the rest love not freedom, but license."
-John Milton

"Freedom: The state or quality of being free; liberation from the the control of some other person or arbitrary power."

"License (as in, "poetic license"): A formal permission to do something; freedom to deviate from strict conduct, rule, or practice, generally permitted by common consent."

The dictionary also says that the word "license" means "excessive, undisciplined freedom, constituting an abuse of liberty."

"Arnold Schwarzenegger wrote an editorial in The Wall Street Journal on immigration reform. In it Arnold complains that too many immigrants are sneaking into the country and becoming governors."
-Conan O'Brien

And here's a good post-Father's Day reflection from Mr. Twain:

"When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years."
-Mark Twain

Lastly, having picked up my first pistol from the store last night, I give you this one:

"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
-Richard Henry Lee

I skimmed all these quotes from The Patriot Post. I would highly recommend visiting the Post if you appreciate good wit and a strong, historically conservative worldview.

Father's Day in photos

I spent most of the day at Felicita Park in Escondido with my new camera in hand. It's an interesting place--similar to Live Oak Park in Fallbrook, only with more grass and better playgrounds. There were some great moments. Here are a few.

Dad seemed to enjoy himself, opening gifts and playing with his grandsons.

"Baby" was a very skittish chihuahua who only let me take his picture because he was on a leash.

At one point, Jonny saw me resting, camera around my neck, and said, "Will you take a picture of me with sticks, Uncle Tom?" How could I resist?

Routines

Here are a few of our favorite: Trying to get up early, setting the alarm, then turning it off and going back to sleep. That's a must. We lead music every Sunday, play volleyball every Monday and generally do the same things over and over again. It's not boring, it's just life.

Interesting how the smallest chores become important elements in the daily routine. Watering plants outside is one of our favorite activities, perhaps because it is so easy, yet so necessary. We've rehabilitated our lawn back to health, we've watched our little mango tree grow and we've enjoyed eating blackberries and grapes from the vines along the walkway back to our little house.

We love living in a little garden of sorts, except for the spiders. They love our yard, too, and during the summer we routinely walk through webs spun face-high over the aforementioned walkway. See? There's another routine, wiping the spider webs out of our eyebrows.

All told, though, we enjoy the yard. God made people to live in gardens. Try it some time.

Word of the day: 'Fisticuffs'

I love a good baseball fight, and there was a doozy on TV today. To make a long story short, Padres pitcher Chris Young beaned Derrek Lee, the best hitter in the big leagues, in this morning's game in Chicago. Lee charged the mound and punches were thrown. Jake Peavy, Marcus Giles, Lou Piniella--everyone got involved and three players and a coach got tossed. The announcers called it "fisticuffs."

The word is simply defined as "a fistfight," according to my dictionary, but it means so much more. When I hear it, I picture two gentlemen in three-piece suits and fedoras "putting their dukes up" to defend the honor of their women. You don't describe a UFC bout as "fisticuffs," nor a street brawl. But when baseball players punch each other, it still applies. Something about fighting over sticks and bases and a little leather ball deserves nothing more of a description than today's flippant and whimsical word of the day.

Blogger's note: Books, and especially dictionaries, are full of good words. (Baseball announcers are full of them, too.) Feel free to leave a comment sharing one of your favorites, and keep watching for more of mine.

Cows and dirty feet

This morning, my middle nephew stood at the threshold of our front door and peered in. Dori had come inside for something, but he stayed outside.

"Come here and give me a hug," I said.
"I can't," he replied. "My feet are duh-ty."

His feet, it seems, are always dirty. Those are his on the left:

Jason also has a great lisp. Last Sunday, he held up a shiny red model car and announced, "I have a Fewawi." Cars are "cows," and my wife's name is "Do-wee." He is even a little self-conscious about it, which makes it even cuter.

Some friends of ours have six kids, all full of personality and opinion. The parents made a book of all the outrageous things their kids said, and it was astounding. It gave me the idea of keeping a similar log of conversations I have with my nephews, since I see them every day. I'll post them here every so often.

Word of the day: 'Tarmac'

It's precious when dictionary definitions include other words you have to look up. Mine defines "tarmac" as "A bituminous road or surface." Wow, thanks.

"Bituminous," in turn, means "Like or containing bitumen." Oh, OK.

And finally we get to the bottom of it. "Bitumen" refers to a component of asphalt and tar.

I chose "tarmac" as my first word of the day because I just like it. It's no-nonsense. Doesn't even have a "k" on the end of it, which makes me wonder how it survived the spelling inquisition where all words ending with the letter "c" were forced to add a "k."

"Tarmack" just wouldn't be the same. So, tarmac, I salute you.

The word also reminds me of some great memories, tarmacs across which I have traveled on my way to somewhere better, bigger or more exciting. A tarmac is all I've seen of South Carolina, when a flight to North Carolina was diverted during a rainstorm and landed for half an hour just over the border. And I plan on seeing my first one in Asia this summer, when we fly to China (see "Countdown," below).

Blogger's note: Books, and especially dictionaries, are full of good words. Feel free to leave a comment sharing one of your favorites, and keep watching for more of mine.

Countdown: 43 days

For both Dori and I, this summer will mark the first time either of us has flown over an ocean to a different continent. We went to Cabo on our honeymoon, so we've been out of the U.S., and I've been to New York City. But that's about as far away from home either of us has been.

Beijing's a little further.

On July 27, we'll be leaving with dozens of other Bring Me Hope volunteers for two weeks. If you are reading this, you probably already know of our plans.

Preparations, at this point, are mostly emotional and psychological. Playing with kids all day long for 10 days is no walk in the park. But it seems like nothing that's really worthwhile is easy. Except eating at In-N-Out. And if there are no In-N-Outs in Oregon yet, I'll assume there are none in China.

The point is, we need prayer. Please pray that we will have the strength and patience to love these kids like Christ would love them. And to love our teammates. And to love each other, before, during and after the trip.

It will not be a walk in the park, but with God's help, it could be a life-altering experience, and that is what I'm trying to prepare for.

Stepping

I have had baby nephews in a steady stream for almost seven years. There are three now, ages 6, 3 and 1. That little one, he's special.

Joel has a rare neurological disorder that caused seizures for the first year of his life, then he had brain surgery. In December, they cut out something like a third of his brain mass, because it was deformed anyway and was pushing against other parts of his brain and causing the seizures. He recovered quickly, was crawling within a few months, and this week took his first steps alone.

A few days ago, my wife called me and said to come over and see what Joel was doing, and when I stepped into their kitchen, he was waddling toward the dishwasher. He got there, banged on it a few times with his hand, then turned around and walked back into the living room. My sister said he'd been "doing laps" all morning. On Sunday, when our pastor called all the kids to come down to the first row for the children's story, mom got him walking down the aisle and he went almost the whole way himself. The church has been very supportive through this ordeal, and when they saw Joel walking, they applauded.

If you have met my littlest nephew, you know how special he is. To see him walking is so precious. Thank you for your prayers.

First stab at it

I've now been blogging for a few weeks at Bring Me Hope's Web site, and I figured I'd better start my own page. This is my first attempt at personal blogging, so we'll see if I really have enough to say to make it worthwhile.

Writing about Bring Me Hope and its mission has helped me understand the benefits and drawbacks to instant publishing. I'm used to having at least an overnight delay when I write for the newspaper, and when it goes on the Web, I have but a few seconds to think over what I'm about to publish and decide whether it's worthy, appropriate, and so on. The benefits decidedly outweigh the drawbacks, however, and I think I will enjoy having this outlet. Thanks for reading, and please leave a comment when you feel so led.