This is likely one of the last posts...at least for a few days. The Christmas tradition around here begins in about an hour and a half when we head out for the Christmas Eve service, where I somehow got arm-twisted into playing/singing (ok, so I was more than willing ti participate). Then we come back unwrap some PJ's, and proceed to play games and eat munchies until the wee hours of the morning.
Then after everyone else goes to bed, my brother-in-law and I head for the TV to see what "amazing" movie we can watch. This year, we had to rent one and decided to go for, "The Man With the Screaming Brain".
Then it's on to the presents tomorrow morning, and then a turkey dinner. And to wrap it all up we head off for some Boxing Day shopping. I don't think we ever actually find any deals, but it seems to be a good enough excuse to spend some cash we don't have on things we don't need, but we think are cool.
And then it's time for hockey... the World Juniors to be exact. While I wish I could have landed some tickets to watch them play live, I'll have to settle for TSN. At least I don't need to get up at 0-Dark-Hundred to watch the games this year...Go Canada!
I'll just wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Enjoy your holiday season.
It's amazing what you can find online. I found another trailer at http://www.kiefer-rocks.com/news/index.htm. I'll warn you that it will provide some spoilers about what the upcoming season has in store, but you won't be dissapointed.
So we just finished up season 4. While I wouldn't necessarily classify it as the best season so far, it was still 24. And for that reason I will have no major complaints.
I think that after three seasons of twists and turns it's getting harder to be surprised by anything that happens. It's as if my brain automatically starts searching for what could go wrong.
This upcoming season will be the first time ever that I've actually watched the show on a weekly basis. My wife and I jumped on the bandwagon late, so we've constantly been playing catch-up. And now, thanks to unemployment, we've been able to get caught up.But now the questions are coming...how did Jack get to Chicago? Why is Chloe in Chicago? Who is trying to hunt Jack down? Who is the woman? Will we ever see Tony, Michelle, Kim, Edgar, or President Palmer again?I cannot wait...
Ok, so we'll break this into parts because so much happened today.Part #1I've been getting headaches and a fuzzy head lately after I've been reading, watching TV, on the computer or driving at night. Any guesses why? My wife suggested I should get my eyes checked. I figured $75 would be worth it if it told me what was wrong with me.It turned out that I have a slight case of astigmaticsim which would explain everything. So tonight I went and picked out some glasses with my family. Then we killed an hour by getting haircuts (the first one I've paid for in about 9 or 10 years), ate some supper, and then saw Santa (I know, he's not real...and we explained that to the kids). Then we picked up the glasses, and believe it or not, I can actually see better.I guess I can't call anyone "four eyes" from now on...Part #2We got a pile of Christmas cards tonight. First of all, thanks Bryce (and your family) for the Best Buy card. It was greatly appreciated and I'm sure we'll find a use for it somehow...Thanks!Second, we received a card from a student of ours who just graduated this past spring. It was beautifully hand-crafted card that was overflowing with love. Her words said "thank-you/love you/miss you" and left us with happy hearts (I don't know how else to explain it).Then we noticed a little piece of paper tucked inside a paper presnt on the inside of the card. Upon closer examination we found a cheque for $300! I'm not sure what to say. Who am I to accept such a huge gift from college girl who, no doubt, works for minimum wage and is trying to save for school. We are speechless. We are amazed. In the words of Wayne & Garth, "We're not worthy, we're not worthy!"
So I think it's all worked out. We'll have to see if they repay me for the cost of my original shipment. The woman on the phone said that 9 out of 10 times you get your money back. The police report got filed too, so that should also help.And now the parcel is in California, and it didn't get stolen! Now we'll just have to see if UPS can get it here. They can't do as bad as FedEx, can they?
So I ordered a present for my lovely wife. But as it turns out, the company won't ship to me because I'm in Canada. I think that's borderline racist...But a friend of ours, Katie, helped solve the problem by agreeing to have it shipped it to her and then she was going to ship it to me. (And for this I am completely grateful. Thanks Katie!)But...apparently FedEx left the parcel at her front door, so guessed what happened?!?! Surprise, surprise...someone helped themself to my wife's Christmas present! Crap, this sucks.Now I'm waiting on FedEx to do some "research" before they get back to me tomorrow morning and let me know what (if anything) they are going to do.The other bad news is that even if I reorder it, it probably won't make it here in time for Christmas. This sucks.
The unwritten rule is that your not usually supposed to buy yourself anything this close to Christmas. But sometimes this rule needs to be broken. I don't think Jack would have waited until Christmas.Season 4 wasn't supposed to be released until today, but due to the simple fact that people out here in the lower mainland occasionally get ahead of themselves (apparently something like this happened with the last Harry Potter book), my wife found it yesterday and bought a copy.Last night we got my brother-in-law hooked as we made it through disc 1. Our goal is to get this done so we can actually watch season 5 on TV like normal people. We'll see how that goes...At this rate though, we should be done by the weekend.I love this show and I'm sure glad that Bryce got me hooked on it.
Went out with my wife last night to watch "Walk the Line" (freaking awesome movie, by the way...I may try to post more on it later) and returned to the in-laws to find a message that I needed to call the head of the YP search committee at SOA. So I did. Their question: Would we come candidate in January?Our answer: Yes.While I would have loved to do it sooner, it makes sense to wait until the New Year when the Christmas schedule slows down. So right now we just need to pick a date and then wait some more.Waiting seems to be a normal part of life, even though I'm not a huge fan. But we're fairly excited about what God may have up His sleeve for us.
My wife looked at my a liitle sideways when I said I needed $5 (and that's US, which is equivalent to about $15 CAN) to sign up for a forum. But alas, she succumbed to my powers and I am now registered at YMExchange.com.I've been part of a few message boards in the past and I have come to appreciate them as an essential part of my online existance. I even tried to get my last youth group hooked on "posting" (which, I might add, actually worked for a few months).I've found myself connecting with a group of people who share a common bond: youth ministry. It is in these online communities that I have found others that will challenge, encourage, frustrate, inspire and amuse me (sometimes all at the same time). I've prayed and been prayed for. I've received and given advice. I've shared in the highs and joys of many people and their ministries. And I've even had the chance to meet some of them face to face.Sure, we may not all agree about everything all the time (what fun would that be?). We may get completely ticked off at each other occasionally. But hey, it's a journey...and we're all on it together.My hat (or toque, because it's currently snowy here) is off to Derek, Drew & Co. for starting up YMX. May it turn out to be a great online community for fellow youth workers!
A late congratulations to the Esks on winning the Grey Cup. I know this will mean very little (or practicaly nothing at all) to my "foreign" readers, but alas, another CFL season came to an end last Sunday.
One of the strangest stories coming down to the final game of the season had to do with Edmonton's quaterbacks Ricky Ray and Jason Maas. Maas played second fiddle all season and he handled it with the outmost class. He never once complained to the press. He always verbally supported Ray and the head coach, Danny Maciocia.
In fact, in the final two playoff games Maas came off the bench to lead the Esks to victory when Ray was failing to get it done. Maas delivered, but never once did he flaunt it. And when it came down to that last game of the season and it was announced that Ray would once again be starting, Maas' story did not change. He backed Ray. He backed the coach's decision. And he sat on the bench.And now the news is finally announced that Maas is on his way to Hamilton, a team with a dismal record, but again his ever-present great attitude is present.I think Edmonton dropped the ball with this one. Guys like this don't come around very often. Sure, Ray may be a good QB, but how do you get rid of a guy with so much potential and such a team spirit? I think they should have sent Ray packing instead.Jason Maas was a class act... and I'm not even an Eskie fan! Go Bombers!
This is likely one of the last posts...at least for a few days. The Christmas tradition around here begins in about an hour and a half when we head out for the Christmas Eve service, where I somehow got arm-twisted into playing/singing (ok, so I was more than willing ti participate). Then we come back unwrap some PJ's, and proceed to play games and eat munchies until the wee hours of the morning.
