The Department of Redundancy Department

It’s Been a while

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:01:35 -0700

1. It’s been about 5 months since my last post. Usually this is followed by a comment about how one plans to do better and post more often, but that is simply not true. I will be just as busy in the next few months and probably won’t post for another 1/2 year.

2. We went to Flag to play in the snow last weekend. The snow was up to my thigh and early in the morning the temp read “5”. Thats ridiculous.

3. Rubios fish tacos have officially moved into my top 5 foods, just above the Chipotle burrito but below buffalo wings.

4. I have been working at the prison doing psychotherapy for juvenile sex offenders. The state just announced that it will be reducing its force by about 20%. It doesn’t affect me directly because I am an intern, not an employee. But it means that my campus will be increasing by 30% with fewer staff than we currently have. Thank you budget cuts.

5. Christmas was cool this year. We purposely scaled back on the amount we spent on gifts for the boys this year so that we could do more charity stuff. Besides the warm fuzzy you get from the charity stuff, it is so nice to not be trying to outspend yourself. and the kids were just as happy.

6. Tay got an ant farm, and I’m kinda jealous.

7. My aunt Steph passed away on Sunday afternoon after a 10 month battle with pancreatic cancer. It was one of those situations where I am sad that she is gone, but glad that the struggle is over. She did not have kids of her own so she always made us her priority; never missing a birthday or special occasion. I will miss you at the kids birthdays, but I am thankful that you now have peace.

8. All AZ sports teams will contend for a title this year, but none of them will win it all. This is my prediction.

9. Jen and I have been training for the PF Chang’s 1/2 marathon that will be held in about 2 1/2 weeks. We are trying to balance exercising the legs while resting the knees.

10. 2009 will be remembered as a year of busyness for me and my family. So far I do not have any clear resolutions for 2010. What should I work on this year?

What’s going on with me...

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:50:20 -0700

A rapid fire glimpse into my mind...

1. Ronney Wheeler passed away Sunday morning. Ronney was the preacher at Northwest when I started going there. He was also the man who talked me into pursuing ministry. In a lot of ways I was like Timothy to his Paul. We went our separate ways in the last few years, only talking when our path’s would occasionally cross, but his impact on my life remains. This news comes on the two year anniversary of Officer George Cortez’s death, a friend of my family and the first time I ever counseled a family through a death. It also comes 4 days after the funeral of Dennis Webber who was about the same age as Ronney, who also had Northwest connections and was also a preacher in the Phoenix area. This also comes three weeks after the sudden passing of my Aunt Patti, who I barely knew, but 1 week after my Aunt Steph had her diagnosis of terminal pancreatic cancer confirmed. Needless to say my thoughts have been a bit morbidly focused recently. All very young, all very unexpected, all solid faithful people.

2. 6 days from now I will be at Adobe Mountain “Safe School” (juvenile prison) to begin a 10-12 month, 20 hrs per week internship. I am excited for the opportunity, but not about the schedule.

3. During a paraphrased retelling of the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Sunday Morning Sermon)...
Me - “And that’s a pretty crappy attitude if you ask me”
Elder - “Amen!”
Me - “I just used ‘crappy’ in a sermon didn’t I”
Youth - “actually you said it twice”
Me - “Oh well, you know you talk like that outside of church anyway”

Not my finest ministry moment.

D-Backs still stink. How long till cards camp?

5. Summer courses should be taken 1 at a time, not doubled up, and not with the same professor 4 days a week.

6. Spent two days with the family at the Arizona Grand Resort on a staycation. Happiness meter increased, stress meter decreased. Taking my own sermon advice.

6. Statistics are easy.

7. I have been too busy to go to the gym, and this makes me sad.

8. Jen’s bout with sickness and testing turned out to be an exasperation of that which we already knew she had. This is bad because she is still sick, but better than the alternative. Despite her struggles and her frustrations she missed almost no work and it did not even phase her time spent with the kids. This impresses me.

9. The building move is nearing completion (first Sunday - August 9th). I am excited that it is almost done, but I have been working as a part time handy man/mover for the last two weeks because of it.

10. My life is busy, but I can handle business as long as God continues to provide me with supports (Jen, the Church) perspective (my youth) and joy (my kids). The remainder of my life comes and goes in a rhythmic chaos that is both overwhelming and exciting at the same time.

hmmmmm....

Mon, 6 Jul 2009 17:03:07 -0700

Been a long time since I last updated you, so here we go with the rapid fire thoughts on the last few weeks.

I started summer coursework last week and I think that Dr. Maiselli may be the nicest/easiest instructor I have encountered thus far.
I start working with the teens at the Juvenile Detention on August 3rd. Kinda scared, kinda excited.
I have started training for my first triathlon which will be in September. I might want a better bike.
I am planning a lock-in for this Friday. Should be fun.
So this is what it’s like to live in a city with an irrelevant baseball team. When does Card’s training camp open?
The building will be done in about 3 weeks. I will believe it when I see it.
I have become addicted to the redbox movie rental machines. I watched Bolt, Vantage Point and Quantum of Solace this week.
Being sick is for lazy people. It does not suit me well.
I think I love my wife more this week than I did last week.
I hate how youth can’t be counted on to show up for anything during the summer time.
We tag teamed with a youth group from Amarillo, TX for a service project this week. First class group of kids. Thanks to all who hosted guests this week.
Working from home is challenging. Especially when your laptop is floating in water.
Taylor may be the best lego master ever. Pound for pound.
Should I write something random just to make it to 15?
no.

Rapid Fire thoughts on the last weeks

Tue, 2 Jun 2009 09:10:03 -0700

I spend last week cruising around Hawaii with my wife, sort of a way to celebrate our 10th anniversary. We were asked if we were newlyweds about 43 times.

Is the NBA still going on?

I am teaching at Encounter next week. Guess I should get on that.

Strange pain sensation in my knee when I run lately. Not good.

I managed to skip all my workouts and eat like crazy for about 10 days and am still the same weight. Love it.

I spent 4 days in training at the Juvenile Prision. Fascinating, Scary, Exciting...all at the same time

The building needs to finish. Soon.

I love pineapple.

Looks like the AJ Hinch over BO Mell switch was a good idea.

10. 4 weeks still I resume school. Must make the most of it.