Say hello to my little friend...

I've thought for a while, "I wish I was cool enough to be one of those coffee people. They just seem so... cool." Granted, this has all the trappings of good old fashion middle school envy. And, granted, the whole Starbuck's scene is so trendy it's comical. But you have to admit, there's something about the aura of those coffee people.

With the impending late nights and early mornings I'm told to expect with a new baby, and my pension for enjoying sleep occasionally, I got to thinking... This may not be an issue of cool-factor-ness; it may be an issue of survival.

So, I'd like to say thank you to my mother-in-law and introduce you all to my newest toy, friend, and kitchen appliance. Any tips or recommendations for a rookie?



Well, josh, welcome to the world of chemical dependence!

Technorati tags: mr coffee, kitchen appliances, chemical dependence

...You make the rockin' world go 'round!

So, Shannon is doing well with the whole pregnancy thing. We're due in June and are going through all the getting ready stuff. We had the first baby shower this past weekend and came away with all sorts of loot - thanks to everyone for the thoughtful gifts. We're having someone come in and finish out the unfinished bonus room above the garage, relocating the dvd player, weight bench, and xbox up there, and then moving the nursery into that downstairs room. Big times!

My friend Jason and his wife are also expecting less sleep in the coming months and less money in the bank in coming years. He brought up something in a recent post, and felt it was my obligation to respond. Jason writes:


"... is into her 6th month now and is getting bigger by the minute. I've recently had a thought. Most women when they are pregnant look cute, but they usually not happy about the whole pregnant thing. They love the idea of having a baby, but hate the being pregnant part."

No, from what I've observed, most women don't like the weight gain part of pregnancy. Coping with things like that come from the rational thinking part of the brain that women don't have. [Totally a joke. No need for women to send scornful remarks. Men have that rational thinking part of the brain and don't use it, so we're even.]

Jason, from one man fumbling his way through this thing for the first time to another, here are my immediate thoughts...

-never again in reference to Beth use the phrase "getting bigger by the minute." Ever.

-be on the lookout for those times you know she's not thinking about how she looks, when she's in a good mood about everything else, and then slip in a casual "you look cute" kind of comment (if you can be specific about the compliment, it's even better: clothes, etc..)

-keep talking about all the things she's excited about - nursery, showers, parents excitement and over-excitement, the ultrasound pictures, picking names. Talking about these means you're not talking about her getting big.

-and when she is talking about getting big, memorize this phrase and repeat after me: "You're not fat. You're pregnant. You have a baby in there. You're SUPPOSED to look this way." Then smile sweetly, hug her, and quickly run away to work in the garage for thirty or forty minutes.

-offer to go for walks; it's quality time together and also helps her feel like she's doing something helpful for the way she looks (carefully bring this up if it's something totally new. you don't want it to be, "let's go for a walk, fatty!")

-Shannon has some maternity clothes she borrowed from a handful of friends who've recently been preg. It's like she's got a whole new wardrobe to choose from, and girls like clothes.

-talk to the baby about mommy, like she's not there. i don't know how this fits this list, but do it. it's funny.

-avoid the use of any words that reference size. This includes, but is not limited to: fat, large, chubby, chunky, hefty, heavy, super-sized, thunder thighs, or elephant woman. Not even in joking. These words can send you straight into a tailspin.


There are times you set out to do something the right way. And then there are other times you just kinda look around you and all of a sudden realize some of the things that are working, that just sort of happen. These thoughts are mostly those 'just realized what's working' category. Not an expert, just some from the hip thoughts on your subject.

Technorati tags: baby, weight gain, advice for men

They see me rollin...

Shannon & I got a new truck today. It's a '02 Toyota Tacoma SR5 Prerunner Crew-cab, V6, 27k miles. I'm excited. Take a look.




Shannon's still driving the Camry, and this will replace my '96 Saturn. Don't fret, good friends, "White Lightning" is still around... for now... more news to follow.

Technorati tags: toyota tacoma

Feeding on what?

I came home today for just a little bit before we went out to eat at El Sombrero (the finest in Mexican cuisine that can be found in Statesboro, Georgia). I had skipped lunch, so I was really hungry. We had some hotdogs left from an event over the weekend, so I threw one in the microwave for a little snack... just to get me through to supper. That and a glass of grape juice. We also had some brownies (left over from the same event), and they looked really good, so I ate four of them. And a glass of milk. Really, it was like two and a half glasses of milk - cause it makes the brownies taste that much better. mmmm... And I ate a chocolate chip cookie, too.

So, my snack just turned into a binge that would make Richard Simmons cry and invite me to his next taping of "Sweatin' to the Oldies VII" (note: first ever Richard Simmons reference for this blog. mark this date in history.). And fifteen minutes later, we were out the door for El Som (as it's affectionately known to the locals - because we're too lazy for those last two syllables - and because it gives it a little code name you only know if you're in - so call it El Som and sound like you're in). So then I'm eating dinner w/ friends at El Som, and I'm so full by the end of the meal...

And it's like I filled up on a hotdog and brownies when I could have much more enjoyed the flavorful delights of my Quesedilla Roja with beans.

I think I've done the same thing lately spiritually. I fill my time with so much other stuff, some of it even good stuff (ok, so some of it has been NCAA07's "Campus Legend", but some of it has been good stuff). But I haven't put in my regularly disciplined time with God. I've skimmed and piddled, but haven't been diving in like I feel I should, and like I want. I'm sure others experience a similar season. Our time goes somewhere, we're doing something. But we're too full of the wrong stuff. We don't devote time to those areas of life we should.

I recognize my lack of quality time with God when I skip posting here for lack of questions and insight. I recognize my lack of quality time with God when I hear myself parroting just what I've heard from those around me rather than hearing from God for myself. I recognize my lack of quality time with God when my passion for Christ begins lagging behind.

So, I need to make some changes to my diet (and I'm not just talking about the empty calories from four brownies and a cookie). I've been spiritually anorexic lately, and it's time I start feasting again.

"Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD." -Deut.8:2,3 (and really, probably all of chapter 8)

Technorati tags: el som, spiritually hungry,