Moved

I have finally moved to Word Press. I have gone back to The Thoughts From The Dungeon. The move was a little more challenging then I thought it would be. I have about 120 blocks to add catagories to but it is off to a good start.

1st Ever Football Game

Yesterday I went to my first ever Football Game. It was the preseason opener for the New England Patriots. There wasn't an empty seat in the house. We had tickets in row four at the 40 yard line (visitors side.) I say we, but the tickets belonged to my Brother Dan and he was nice enough to invite me. The stadium is quite impressive. There doesn't seem to be a bad seat in the house, though this is probably easier said when sitting in the fourth row. We alls watch part of the game from the wall near the tower. It was different to be able to qwatch a game from the end zone side of the field. You really get a better view of each play as it is unfolding. There were several little things I noticed too, like QB's throwing towels behind themselves. The stuff that goes on over at the side lines and several other things that you don't normally see whan you watch the game on TV. I also took about 100 pictures and a dozen video clips. Matt Leinart made his debut and he looked pretty impressive for Arizona. He seemed to be the one bright spot in an otherwise drury day for the Cards. New England on the other hand looked Awesome!!!!

Can't get enough of this song

The Only Light We Need - Charlie Peacock (I have the copy with Michael Tait from the Left Behind Worship CD) You're the only light we need By Your light we see All eternity The glory and the majesty Of the new Jerusalem Where no sun will be For Your presence, Your glory Is all the light that heaven needs You're the only light we need By Your light we see All eternity The glory and the majesty We're a people bought by blood Brought together by the Son From death of life, we all believe You're the only light we need You're the only light we need

A lot going on

First off, writing has been so exciting. I find myself looking up when I pause and it is 2am and the time just flew by. I am starting to get together some ideas for books (though they may end up being short stories) and periodical ideas that were part of my last assignment. I am looking forward to what Norm (My Mentor in the Christian Writers Guild) thought of them. Football season is approaching and that always makes for an exciting time. My Mother-in-law, Nancy, celebrated her Birthday on the 7th along with my friend Paul. My brother Dan's birthday is the 8th and My Friend Artie celebrated his birhtday yesterday. Happy Birthday to you ALL!!!! My annaversery was last Tuesday, the 8th. 8 Years!!! My parents celebrated there 20TH!!!!!!!!!! last Wed. Way to go Mom and Dad. I also got my review yesterday at work and it was real good.

Survey Says

[Marital Status]	Married
[Shoe size]	9 1/2
[Parents still together]	No and Yes
[Siblings]	Yep 4
[Pets]	A fish
FAVORITES
[Color]	Baby Blue
[Number]	7
[Animal]	Mouse
[Drinks]	Grape Cool Aid
[Soda]	Diet Pepsi
[Book]	The Glorious Appearing or The Rapture
[Flower]	Rose
DO YOU
[Color your hair?]	Brown
[Twirl your hair?]	No, just thankful to have it
[Have tattoos?]	Nay, I have not been branded
[Have Piercings?]	Nope, only the original manufacturers holes
[Cheat on tests/homework?]	No
[Drink/Smoke?]	6 beers a year / No
[Like roller coasters?]	Not really
[Wish you could live somewhere else?]	Nope
[Want more piercings?]	No
[Like cleaning?]	Not really
[Write in cursive or print?]	Print
[Own a web cam?]	Yes, but it is not hooked up
[Know how to drive?]	Yes
[Own a cell phone?]	Yes
[Ever get off the damn computer?]	It doesn't feel like it
HAVE U EVER
[Been in a fist fight?]	In the 5th grade
[Considered a life of crime?]	nope
[Considered being a hooker?]	nope
[Lied to someone?]	yes
[Been in love?]	Oh Yeah
[Made out with JUST a friend?]	nope
[Been in lust?]	yes
[Used someone]	yes
[Been used?]	yes
[Been cheated on?]	yes
[Kicked someone in the nuts?]	nope
[Stolen anything?]	When I was young
[Held a gun]	yep
CURRENTS
[Current clothing]	Shorts and Tank Tops
[Current mood]	Psyched
[Current taste]	Parmassan Basil Wheat Thin
[What you currently smell like]	The same as I always do
[Current hair]	Short and Thin
[Current thing I ought to be doing]	Writing, Oh I am writing, look there another letter
[Current cd in stereo]	Mixed Christian Music
[Last book you read]	These Will Not Be Left Behind
[Last movie you saw]	The Barnyard
[Last thing you ate]	Parmassan Basil Wheat Thin
[Last person you talked to on the phone]	Brian Fanny
[Do drugs?]	No
[Believe there is life on other planets?]	I don't know
Remember your first love?]	Yes
[Still love him/her?]	No
[Read the newspaper?]	Yes when I have the time
[Have any gay or lesbian friends?]	I think so
[Believe in miracles?]	YES
[Do well in school?]	yes
[Wear hats]	sometimes
[Hate yourself?]	NO
[Have an obsession?]	not really
[Collect anything?]	Books
[Have a best friend?]	Yes
[Close friends?]	Yes
[Like your handwriting?]	Not really
[Care about looks]	not really
LOVE LIFE
[First crush]	In the sixth grade, don't remember her name, but I hit a teacher with a desk because of her.
[First kiss]	Julie S in the 7th grade
[Do you believe in love at first sight?]	Yes
[Do you believe in "the one?"]	Yes
[Are you a tease?]	Not really
[Too shy to make the first move?]	kind of, sort of
ARE U A
[Daydreamer]	Yes I am
[Bitch/Asshole]	Nope
[sarcastic]	Never, not me, no way
[Angel]	Nope
[Devil]	Never
[Shy]	Sometimes
[Talkative]	Sometimes
CREATE YOUR OWN! - or - GET PAID TO TAKE SURVEYS!

Created another Blog

OK To those who already know me well this will come as no surprise but I created anothe blog. NH Christian News. I want to use this for News articles and the like that I write up. My first sstory is going to be on the Alabaster Box concert that happened at MCC and a few othe churches in NH.

What's going on

I just finished reading the Secret Message of Jesus. It was a very challanging book. I really loved the first 3/4ths of the book and these chapters gave me a lot to think of and remember. There were some great ideas to carry around with me for the week and put into practice. I am still trying to get my mind around the last few chapters. Not sure if it the information I have a problem with or am I stuck in some ideals I am unwilling to let go of. Well, I am going to be going chapter by chapter in my Reflections blog so maybe I will sort it out then. I figure to use the group study guide questions as a spring board for each chapter. Besides that I have been feeling out of sorts the past couple of days. I had a minor accident, in which no one was hurt, but it has left me mentally shaken. Not sure why. Football season is right around the corner.

Second Chance

I just got the movie Second Chance on DVD and it was awesome!! I plan on loaning it to several of my friends.

Man in the Mirror

I have decided to share something I have never done before, at least on a public blog. Currently, I am going through the book The Man in the Mirror with the group I belong to in Band of Brothers. I got permission from Zondervan (the publisher) to re-type the questions here. I will cover 2 a night till I catch up (we are on chapter 3. I will use the Book title in the name to focus for people who may not want to follow this. I am going to be publishing these in my Reflection in Christ Blog.

Strengths and Strengths I have yet to develop Part II

As I last left off on, I was getting to the point were I acknowledge that one of my biggest short comings is staying in touch with my friends. One of the things I have noticed about having ADHD is "out of sight is out of mind". This is why I never set anything I want on the roof of my car. I would leave a trail of debris behind me everywhere. Or why I never bake without a timer. If I didn't use a timer I would remember I was baking 3 hours later only when thick black smoke was pouring out of my oven. So it is one of the things I really love about email. Even junk email. It reminds me, hey, I left that person on the roof of my car:) You know what I mean. I also look forward to football season for the same reason. Probably 75% of me friends are involved in one of the leagues I am in each year so it gives us a good opportunity to connect again. Speaking of which, football season is right around the corner.

Strengths and Strengths I Have Yet to Develop

That was always my favorite line in an interview. You know the setting. You get asked that questions no one ever wants to answer. What are your weaknesses. It ussually seems to follow the "what are your strengths?" question so we are feeling pretty good about ourselves. We just told some stanger the great accomplishments or skills we have that make us a great hire. Now the boom!! What are your weaknesses? They say to never answer this with "I don't have any" or "I work too much" because HR people can see right through this. But I dared once to say "I don't have any" and of course I got the usual "Everybody has weaknesses". I then tried something I never dared to before in an interview. I gave the most optimistic answer I could think of. I don't have any weaknesses, I just have strengths I haven't developed yet. If the person I had said it to were standing, I think they would have taken 2 steps backwords. As it was he looked as though he would fall out of his chair. "I like that, very positive and upbeat. Sounds like you see everything as a challenge. OK. So tell me about the strengths you haven't developed then?" Well that backfired. But I did give him somethings I wanted to work on and I got the job. I would like to think it was that answer? But I am not writing this to suggest any interviewing techniques. Partly I am writing this because I wanted to write about my challenges with having ADHD. But as this writing shows, one of the challenges is getting sidetracked. One of the other big challenges is staying in touch with my friends. Since it is getting late and my eyes are closing I am going to write more tomorrow.(and the last time I wrote like that it took me three rewrites just to make sense ... is this making sense ... Oh look a chicken... sadly only three or four people in the world are going to see the joke in this part.?) More tomorrow.....

A very interesting day

My back seems to have gotten worse in the past couple of days. Today I could barely get up and walk. Still we had a release today so I was at work plugging away. The people I work with are really great though. It is more then just a work place it is like another family. Today people offered to run around for me and help out with in any way they can. People stopped by breifly to crack or joke or make sure I was ok. 2 people even brought me over lunch. I learned too that it is OK to be inter-dependant with people. I generally like to do everything myself. But I think God wanted to teach me a lesson about the power of leaning on others when you need to. I am very grateful to everyone who helped me out today and it also makes me value all the more, the times when I can help someone out the same way.

Icy Touch

This is an old story I wrote about 10 years ago. I had a sperate site for stories I had written but I am going to try and condense down the number of blogs I have. Also I am going to be posting some of the writings I do for the Christian Writers Guild class I am taking. ICY TOUCH "OH MY, I can't believe it" was the first thought that went through my mind. As the incredible coldness grasped at my feet it sent a shock wave through my nervous system and I screamed out in pain. "AHG AHG What am I doing here", I cried out as I felt the icy feeling at the bottom of my feet creep up toward my ankles. The sensation was more incredibly painful then anything I had ever felt before in my life. It was as if both my feet were about to fall off. What seemed like an hour, but in reality was more like a few moments, finally passed and I was now numb up to my knee caps. I couldn't even feel my feet anymore. I thought the pain was more than I could take and yet I endured. I tried to focus my thoughts on something else but to no avail. A few moments later, the icy touch had moved to my waist. At this point I tried to move away but it's freezing grip was already upon me. There was nothing I could do as my legs went numb. I could only feel the icy touch all around me and I began to grow more fearful, but I pressed forward. A short while later I could feel the cold all the way up to the middle of my chest. I felt that I would surely die from this and yet I hung onto life. The pain was incredible as it shot through my body and again I screamed in my mind. I was too proud to admit defeat and therefore had little choice but to continue with the task at hand. By now the icy touch had come all the way to my neck. My entire body was numb. Only my head remained conscience of what was going on around me. The rest of my body felt as though a thousand daggers were being forced through it. The pain was tremendous. I wanted to scream again. I wanted to run away. I wanted to seek refuge at some far off dessert were the temperature was about one hundred degrees. A voice ahead of me called out to hurry up. My body told me I had gone far enough and yet my mind wanted to press on. It was as if something was tugging at me; drawing me farther into the icy coldness ahead of me. I pushed forward. An instant before my head was consumed by the icy touch my mind raced with wild thoughts. What if I don't survive? What if I am frozen here forever? What if I am found ten thousand years into the future in a block of ice? Then suddenly there was silence. Then I came back to the top of the water. "See, now that wasn't so bad now was it" my wife said. "I nearly froze to death", I replied loudly. She looked at me and laughed. "Don't worry, once you get used to it you will find the water is fine. After all, how cold could a pool get in the middle of July."

Change will do you good

I changed the fan in my PC so it is now working, though it is not the same speed as the old one so I will eventually need another one. But at least it lets me on for more then 5 minutes at a time. My goal is to write here everyday for at least 2-3 meaningful paragraphs. This weekend I will get back to something besides what is going on in my life. That is the good news. The bad news is my back is killing me. I have to go for an MRI Tuesday night. I was doing pretty good with it till my friend P.L. started talking about how your eyes can explode from metal fragments. I hope he was kidding. Anyways, they tell I will know whether or not I am Claustrophobic by the time I am done. I start Physical Therapy a week from tomorrow. To close on a positive note: there is only 3 more months left to the start of football season and with the moves that went on this past offseason it looks to be a very interesting year. My biggest challenge will be getting used to seeing Adam Vinetari in a colts jersey.

Quick Post

This post will be quick. I haven't been writing because I need to replace the fan in my system. I will be posting again in about a week. Might have something up sooner.

Still ramping up or just rampaging

Well, computers stink!! No, I don't mean they smell funny, I mean they are real annoying. I had a great idea for a post about faith on Sunday night. When I sat down to write it up in my blog the cooling fan on my PC choked. I got so caught up in fixing it that I forgot what I wanted to write. Then I thought of it again yesterday about half way home from works. By the time I got home, I forgot it again. I guess I am losing my mind in my old age. The good news is Steph found the direction for my pocket recorder so I could unlock it. Thanks Babe. Now I can just record things when I think of them. So if you see a guy on the side of the road on a motorcycle taking into a recorder, it is probably me. I have also been pretty frustrated lately. I wanted to get up this morning for prayer team but I couldn't haul my lazy butt out of bed. Like Paul, I have no trouble doing the things I shouldn't and never do the things I should. And oddly, it isn't that I feel I have too and am resisting. Quite the contrary. I want to do these things and yet I let myself get distracted with small and insignificant things while the important things end up skipping right by me. It's like at work. I let the little annoying things that go on in a day get the better of me and so I end up going home frustrated even though it was a good day and I got a lot done and I should be able to look back on the day and see that. Probably just venting over nothing.....

Changed Look and What's Happening

Well, I went through and made some changes to the site mostly in the links and header and I am going to be bringing over the posts from some of my other blogs. I have a few I have been keeping private, but I am going to start to open them up. Not sure how that will go but we shall see. You never get anywhere without taking the first step. As to what has been happening: First and foremost, Steph got back her results from the MRI and there was nothing!!!! I was so psyched to hear those words and even more psyched when Steph was happy too. It has been a crazy three weeks but that's behind us now. I finished reading the first book in the Prequel of the Left Behind series, which I think is called "Before They Were Left Behind". The prequel has the same dramatic style and it is setting the stage quite well for the series. The series as a whole deals with the Rapute of the church by Jesus Christ and what happens to those who are left behind. It is a very moving series of books and the Dramatic Audio is awesome too. It is like listening to old time Radio shows only with state of the art sound quality. For school updates see my last post. Well, back to some more reading. I will be posting a lot more often so keep a look out:)

Excerpt from one of my other Blogs

Well, I finished the Thessalonian class. I learned a lot. However I ran into several challenges: 1. This is a big one too. Ask more questions and make sure I really understand what I need to do the class. This was definitely my pride and ego getting in my way. I am so used to just figuring things out on the fly and winging it. But I don't think I learn as much that way, it just gets me by, and I really want to learn this. 2. Need to be in the class from the very beginning. And by this I don't mean sitting in the room, I need to be committed out of the gate. Next time I won't hesitate. Jeremiah used to tell me I had that Peter like quality of hopping out of the boat. Somewhere between the time he told me that and the fifth week of the class I lost it. But I have found it again. 3. Don't wait till the last week. I used to know this one when I was in college years ago, but I didn't remember till I went to work on the paper this week and other things started pushing it out of the way:) I also learned a lot more about Eschatology, a field of study I pray I will be pursuing for many years to come, I learned the importance of using peoples names and that I could remember them if I take the time to try, made some great friends at LCC. All in all it was a great experience and I am looking forward to the next class!!

Update and thoughts as I sit here

I have just finished reading "If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat" by John Ortberg and what a life changing book it was. It is a great book and I would strongly reccomend it to anyone. If you are looking for a book to help you stretch beyond yourself then this is the book for you. Fantasy Baseball season is gearing up. It should be another exciting season. The Red Sox also look real good this year.

Very Busy Lately

I am just writing the last paper for my class. It was so exciting being in the I and II Thesalonians class and I made some great friend at Londonderry Christian Church. I went down to visit them last Sunday and it was good to see everyone as I had not seen them in a few weeks since the class ended. Well, I have an early morning meeting so this is all for now. I will write more by this weekend.

How do you listen to God?

Today, someone at work and I were having a discussion..... OK. Let me back up a step. I am reading (among the other recent books) John Ortberg's, "If You Want to Walk on Water, You Have to Get Out of the Boat". It was given to me by a very dear friend about 2-3 years ago and I never read it. Wish I had, but anyways. I was so into it last night, that I brought it to work to read at lunch. I left it out on my desk and several people commented on it. One of my co-workers asked me what it was about and I told him it was about taking risks and learning to surrender in faith. He asked me how do you know which risks to take. I mentioned a few ideas but my last and probably most important one was you listen to God, to know that what you are risking is right. Then he asked me the stumper. How do you listen to God? I had no answer straight off. Prior to 2 months ago, I wouldn't have had any idea what that was and at that time I had been a Christian for over 4 years. Oh, I knew how to ask God for what I wanted in prayer, but listen to God, not happening. Not that I didn't want to, but I just never thought about it. Now, I am finally listening to God, but I never really sat back and thought of how I listen. This questioned ran around my mind all day and I am still not sure I have a clear answer or if a clear cut answer exists, but here is how I see it basically anyways. I guess this is the first three things that come from a day of thinking about this but I am sure there is more. (Warning!!! This is from at best a novice and at worst someone who is completely clueless when it comes to matters of faith and God. If you read on you were warned) 1. The Holy Spirit - The changing spirit that is like a fire inside your soul. I believe God talks to my spirit through the Holy Spirit. The question is can my brain calm down enough to hear what the spirit is telling me and how do I know when it is the spirit and when it is my own desires clouding the way. 2. The Bible - Like so many of my daily relationships at work and home, I need to understand the people that I deal with. I know when my son is being sarcastic and when he is serious based on my years of experience with him. At work, I know who to joke with and how much based on the time I have known them. God is no different. The way I learn about God is the Bible. By understanding God, I can understand my direction is based on what God wants or what I want. 3. People - I believe God speaks to me through the people around me. The network of people that help me through life. At just the right moment it seems, someone will say something or be there just when I needed them. The person from work whose question inspired me to write this would be a great example, as well as countless others in my life. Well, Not sure this really clarifies the answer because to be honest it feels like there is a whole lot more that I am leaving out. I am only beginning to understand this subject and there are probably whole books written on the listen to God by people who know far more then I. All I know is that in the future, this is one of the exciting area I am going to explore.

Happy Birthdays

First off. Happy Birthday Brian!!! I remembered this year:) WOW!!! It has all been 3 years that I have been blogging.

New Game

I just order the New Left Behind: Eternal Forces RTS game. It is scheduled to come out in April 2006. If you like the books, the game looks awesome.

Great Season New England

Well, unfortunately the Patriots lost this past weekend. It was a tough game to watch as they seemed unable to get anything going and seemed to lose their cool later in the game. Still, 10 playoff wins in a row is a record. And they set countless others over the past few years, so I say WAY TO GO PATS. With all that happened to them going into this year, it would have been easy to be unfocused and walk away with a losing record. But not the Pats. They just go onto to win their division. Again, Congratulation to the New England Patriots for a great season and looking forward to many more in the future.

I have been reading lately

I am still reading the Left Behind series.I am up to book 3 Nicholi (sp?) and have finished the Dramatic Audio Series. A very moving book that has something for everyone. It certainly has meant a lot to me on my journey. It has given me a lot of clarification as to who I am.

Football Continued

Well, the Patriots have passed their first test. 28-3 over the Jaguars. 3 more to go. Denver should be a good game. The defense looks real good and Brady and the offense are clicking. I would love to see them at least get the chance to 3peat. The Carolina vs. the Bears game looks really good too.

Playoff Time

Tomorrow the NFL playoffs begin. I of course am rooting for the Home town Patriots. I like the way the Defense has come on at the end of the season and with Brady and BB I have to say I like the odds.

Do Unto Others

What a world it would be if we spent our time trying to lift each other up. I am amazed at how much of my day I spend hearing people tearing each other down. A fair amount of it is good humored fun but there is much that is not. I wonder if everyone realized how important each and everyone of us is, and truly understood what that really means, if we would suddenly change the way we treated each other.

Happy New Year

And that it is. I currently go into the new year with a lot on my mind but also with a lot of faith that solutions will be on the horizon. We had a great Christmas. Jackson could barely wake up till he heard Santa had been here and then he shot up like he was sitting on a spring. It was great getting together with family and friends.

Chronicles of Narnia

I saw the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe this past weekend. Brought a tear to my eyes quite a few times. Part of it was the movie itself but most was my memories of performing it myself 25 years ago. Several of the characters reminded me of the people who played those characters in my youth. It was like a flood of memories. It is a great movie and I would recommend it to anyone.

No More Song Titles

Though an interesting challenge, I am no longer going to name all my headings after song titles. I have no idea why I ever started doing that but once I did I think I just kept finding it a challenge to keep going. But on to bigger and better things. What's new: Currently reading the Left Behind Series. I am on the 6th book in the audio series and on the 1st book for reading. I am a much slower reader then a listener, or typer for that matter:) I am still practicing the drums, getting a little better. The kids want to start a family band. Chris is learning guitar. Taylor wants to as well. Look for more on this in the future. I joined the Band of Brothers through MCC. The group has worked out better then I ever imagined. I am going to be facilitating for this weeks discussion on accountability. I am really psyched. Ektron is as busy as ever and that is a very good things. We have added a lot of new slick features over the past couple of months and it is a very exciting time. I am going to start writing a little differently on these pages. I am going to write about ideas like, Faith, World Events etc.... Going to call it a night though. May the Lords blessing be on you today. Amen.

Time in a Bottle

Well, it has been a while. I have probably written this more often then any other line in my blog. Well as my profile now states I am 40. Turned so on July 15th. No biggy. I survived. It feels a little different but not very much. I notice more in how other people sometimes treat me. It is not really any different then it was before maybe I just notice it more. It is late tonight, so I am just going to make a list of some of the topics I want to hit on. Friends Family OKCupid Gaming Drums Poker Houses Work The Future TV Movies That will do for now.

Are You Ready For Some Football

I love the start of football season. I had been a baseball fan for the better part of my first 35 years. But 8 years ago I started to learn about football. And boy am I hooked. Lat week I almost woke up at 5am to watch the first pre-season game. (missed the start by 30 minutes.) Here are my top three reasons for following football: #1 The Patriots Dynasty: Say what you will, but they are nothing short of amazing. For the top brass all the way down, this is the classiest and winningest team in football. NO T.O. egos, just class. It is great to follow a team, not a player with an attitude. #2 The time. Unlike baseball which is a day in and day out grind, fottball is played on one day and that leaves you 6 to sit around the water cooler and hash out the last game as well as the next game. The only thing as much fun as being an arm chair quarterback is being and arm chair Head Coach / General Manager. #3 Fantasy Football. This is what drew me to football in the first place. Not only is fantasy football loads of fun, but I end up chatting and emailing people I barely hear from the rest of the year. But we all want to discuss our fantasy teams. And now we seems to find time to do it too:)

Nobody's Hero

Tomorrow, I will write thoughts on being a hero. For tonight, enjoy lyrics of Rush. Words by Neil Peart, Music by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson I knew he was different, in his sexuality I went to his parties, as a straight minority It never seemed a threat to my masculinity He only introduced me to a wider reality As the years went by, we drifted apart When I heard that he was goneI felt a shadow cross my heart But he's nobody's --- Hero --- saves a drowning child Cures a wasting disease --- Hero --- lands the crippled airplane Solves great mysteries --- Hero --- not the handsome actor Who plays a hero's role --- Hero --- not the glamor girl Who'd love to sell her soul If anybody's buying NOBODY'S HERO I didn't know the girl, but I knew her family All their lives were shattered in a nightmare of brutality They try to carry on, try to bear the agony Try to hold some faithin the goodness of humanity As the years went by, we drifted apart When I heard that she was goneI felt a shadow cross my heart But she's nobody's --- Hero --- the voice of reason Against the howling mob --- Hero --- the pride of purpose In the unrewarding job --- Hero --- not the champion player Who plays the perfect game Not the glamor boy Who loves to sell his name Everybody's buying NOBODY'S HERO As the years went by, we drifted apart When I heard that you were gone I felt a shadow cross my heart --- Hero ---