Turn A Lemon Into A Mustang

Today's agenda took me by jet plane to a meeting in Oklahoma City. Even though the meeting went a little long, I still had time for a quick lunch at Irma's Hamburger Shack before my flight home.

(If you've never had Irma's hamburgers then think Kincaid's in Fort Worth. If you never had Kincaid's then there's your first problem! And all of you In-N-Out people can just sit down 'cause I ain't hearin' it!)

Having completed a successful meeting and enjoyed a tasty burger, the week looked as if it were coming to a perfect ending - that is, until The Evil Empire decided to delay my return flight to D/FW by some 2.5 hours!

Grrrrr!

Hey! It's not my problem that there have been massive thunderstorms rolling through North Texas for the last 24 hours! My boarding pass says this plane leaves at 1:20 - so let's get on it, people! . . . so I heard some guy in the terminal say!

That's when I decided to ditch the plane and drive home in a rental.

The worst thing about trying to rent a car without a reservation is that there's usually not much to choose from. Since I knew I would need some good music to keep me awake during the drive home, all I wanted was something with a satellite radio.

"Unfortunately, sir, the only thing with a satellite radio that we can offer you is a RED FORD MUSTANG."

Unfortunately?

"Well, if that's all you've got."

(I bet she could actually hear my testosterone go from 0-60 in less than 6 seconds!)

Needless to say I made it home in record time despite a Noahic downpour lasting from Norman, Oklahoma all the way to the Red River.

So here's the closest I'll get to having a red sports car sitting in my garage - at least for a while. (Yeah, Kelly, you read that right - I said 'for a while'.)



Now let me think of all the errands I need to run tomorrow before I have to return my 'Stang to Hertz . . .

Prayers for Janell & The Twins . . . and Jody, too!

OK, Blogland - Listen up!

Jody & Janell, our good friends who are expecting twins in April, need your prayers!


I don't want to steal their thunder (because I know Jody will eventually give the official update on their blog) . . . but . . . now that Janell has already endured 6 weeks of bed rest at home she has been told by her doctors that she must stay at the hospital for the remainder of the pregnancy - the Dr's want her to try for another 4 weeks!

4 weeks in the hospital, people!

The twins are doing great - but there's a high risk factor that necessitates her remaining at the hospital from here on out.

So needless to say, please pray for Janell's comfort of body and peace of mind! And while you're at it, pray for Jody as well.

If you don't know Jody & Janell (your loss!), then know that you are praying for a truly great couple that cannot wait to be loving parents.

Jody & Janell - We all love you guys so much and are praying for you everyday!

QOTW: Zzzzzzzzzz . . . .

I'm one of those who holds sleep as one of the most precious and important things we do all day.

However, I have found that the mid-night feedings and diaper changes are quite tolerable when my son gives me one of those wide-eyed gummy grins from behind his pacifier! Sometimes when its really dark the only way I know his smiling at me is by the squint in this eye.

It's moments like those that make me think, "OK kid, I'm glad you dragged me out of bed after all."
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"Would you go without sleep if your body's physiological need for rest was no longer needed?"

Total votes: 16

Only if I could still sleep if I just wanted to: 7 votes, 43%

Yes, there would be so much I could do with the extra time!: 6 votes, 37%

I dunno: 2 votes, 12%

No, sleeping is my favorite thing to do!: 1 vote, 6%

Dreams That Go 'Bump' At Night!

Disclaimer & Warning: If you get easily spooked when you're home alone . . . and you happen to be reading this post while you're home alone . . . then don't read this post. Seriously, I don't want to freak anybody out. Also, sorry if this seems a little dark . . .

Ever have dreams that freak you out and leave you wondering if anyone else has the same kind of dreams . . . or if you are just . . . well, a freak?

I have had a reoccuring dream that has troubled me now for several years. By sharing, hopefully, I will learn if at least somebody else 'dreams' this same way from time to time.

In my dream, I'm asleep in bed in the middle of the night when suddenly I am woken up by men trying to break into our house. I get out of bed and run to lock the front door - which I do just in the nick of time! But just as I lock the door, I hear windows breaking on the other side of the house!

That's usually when I wake up . . . in a screaming panic! Poor Kelly, me waking up from these dreams is enough to send her over the edge as well!

The worst part about the dream is that I wake up in the very spot where the dream began - in my bed. Even though I'm awake it feels like I'm still in the dream and someone is trying to break into our house.

The only way I can get back to sleep is by going through the house, room by room, turning on each light, checking each window, checking each door, checking the alarm system and then, and only then, once I am sure that we are all perfectly safe, can I calm down enough to fall asleep again. And even then, I do so praying for God's protective hand.

I know . . . neurotic! By morning I'm usually laughing at myself for getting so upset over a silly dream. Too bad it never seems so silly in the middle of the night.

I don't know what triggers these kind of dreams. I don't know why I have the same dream over and over. And I'm not even sure I want to know what they are supposed to mean.

It had been a while since the last time I had this dream but it reared its ugly head again just the other night. I'll ask you the same question I asked myself at whenever-it-was AM in the morning - Am I the only one who has these types of dreams?

In The Service of My Lord

I don't think I've ever mentioned here that I have been serving as a Deacon at my church for the last 2 years.

It has definitely been a lot of fun getting my hands dirty with church stuff like the building search, the website, mergers and non-mergers, VBS, the bulletin (who am I kidding, Kelly did the bulletin), ministry-this & ministry-that, prayer breakfasts, budgets, communion prep, communion thoughts ('Who's got communion thoughts?!?!), announcements, and . . . whew!

Add on top of that Tate, Kelly and my regular 9-5 that sends me all over this blessed state - I thought it was time for a break! So I resigned.

It's really because I only committed to serving for 2 years in the first place. So now is the perfect time to scratch a few obligations off my To-Do List.

I've had quite a bit of difficulty coming up with words to sum up my first stint in church leadership.

As always there are things I should have done differently. Things that I could have done better. And things that I could have just done more of. All in all, I enjoyed being a part of my church's leadership. It wasn't something I asked for but it also wasn't something I planned on turning down had I been asked to serve.

It's not that my attitude has changed - I will continue to serve this church with or without title.

But for now, I need to take a moment to 'be still and know that He is God.'

Kelly and I have very much appreciated all the kind words and understanding we have received from our church family.

It was aboslute joy serving you!

QOTW: Back To The Future?

We spend half our time wondering and worrying about the future and the other half trying to preserve, change or run away from our past.

(I'll skip the obvious 'live in the moment' comments that are usually inserted here.)

But what if we really could either see the future or change our past? Which would you choose?

If you consider yourself a forward thinker, what in the future would you want to see? Do you care to know who'll be our next president? Do you want to see what your grandkids look will like? Or perhaps you're thinking about putting a little money down on this year's NBA finals - hey, it ain't gambling if there's no risk, right?

For those of us who have a love-hate relationship with our past (all of us?), being able to do a little tweaking here or there probably sounds good, too.

Wouldn't it be nice to skip through our past and click an 'Undo' button when needed? There are a few instances where I'd love to be able to take back something I said to Kelly - those little snide remarks or 'a-little-too-quick' comebacks that I actually regretted saying as I was saying them.

Then you have those moments when you wish you had picked whatever was behind Door #2 instead. For instance, I've told you that I wish I had spent 6 years studying Spanish instead of French - speaking La Langue D'Amour doesn't do you much good en Tejas del Norte.

But before you go around rewriting history, you have to heed the warnings of Dr. Emmet L. Brown in Back to the Future - the paradox of changing the past is that there are unknown consequences in the future.

For example, let's say I chose to study Spanish in High School instead of French:

- Let's assume that I do not enjoy studying Spanish as much as I did French.

- Therefore, I do not become an International Business Major at ACU.

- So instead of studying in France in Spring 1997, I stay in Abilene.

- Kelly and I go on a date and I say something stupid (see comments above) and she rightfully breaks up with me.

- We don't get married and we don't have Tate (gasp!).

So as you can see, Tate is here because I chose to study French in High School!

I think I'll leave my past just the way it is!

Now, if I can only get a good handle on who's gonna win the NCAA Basketball Tournament!________________________________________________

"Would you rather be able to see the future or change the past?"

Total votes: 14

See the future: 6 votes, 42%

Change the past: 8 votes, 57%

I've Officially Lost My Mind

It's all fun and games until you forget how old your wife is.

All week I thought Kelly was turning 32 on Thursday- try only 31. At least I remembered that she even had a birthday this week! I could have forgotten altogether!

The funny thing is since I'm 7 months older than Kelly, her turning 32 would mean that I would have turned 32 last year - which obviously didn't happen! So I guess I forgot my age, too!

I claim temporary dementia resulting from new born associated sleep deprivation - it's a very serious condition!

Oh well! I'm sure there are no long term effects.

Happy Birthday, Krista- I mean, Kelly!

Look Who's A Birthday Girl!

I’ll let Kelly tell you how old she turns today should she decide to make that public information.

But meanwhile, let me add another 12 random things I love about my wife to my previous list of 20.

(Side note: Do you know that 20 + 12 = 32? Yep, 32! Crazy, huh?)

In no particular order:

1. The cute little things she says; such as when Kelly called me at home when she got lost driving around Carrollton and simply asked, “Where am I?”

2. Even though Kelly has cute little sayings, it seems like we have really cool thought-provoking discussions once a month about everything from politics and religion to parenting systems. I’m usually the one walking away from those discussions telling myself that I need to be more open-minded.

3. When I helped Kelly pack up her office after she resigned from American Heart Association I was cornered by her assistant who went on and on about what a wonderful experience it was to work for Kelly.

That reminded me that Kelly is much better at what she does than I am at what I do. And, yes, I actually love that about her!

4. And because of #3, Kelly is a great soundboard for me when I need to ‘think out loud’ about my work.

5. Little known fact about Kelly: One of her prized possessions is a collection of about 30 different colored Sharpie pens that she uses to write notes to her friends. And Heaven help me if I were to use one to so much as write down a phone number!

6. She’s perfectly fine if the outside of her car is covered in mud, yuk and bug guts so long as the inside is nice and clean. (For those of you who don’t know, Kelly’s car is black not dusty brown)

7. Kelly at least pretends to like my cooking.

8. Kelly is an even better Mom than I thought she'd be.

9. She teaches me not to respond with emotion but instead with logic.

10. She always compliments my yard work. (Although with all the weeds I don't know why.)

11. Kelly is very protective of our family time.

12. And last, but certainly not least – She’s proud to be a Strzinek! (Although she’s pretty quick to remind people that she was first an Enright!)

Happy Birthday, Babe!

PS: No, I did not bake that cake!

Kelly-ism #11

Let's see . . . which one should I tell you about? There were just so many this past weekend!

How about the one where she was talking in funny voices to Tate?

So she's sitting in front of Tate making goofy voices when she rolls out a raspy, "Hey, hey, hey!"

She stopped and said to me, "Who do I sound like - 'Hey, hey, hey!"

"I couldn't tell ya' - who?"

She said, "Listen, 'Hey, hey, hey!" (As if repeating to me made any difference!)

"Are you trying to sound like Fat Albert?"

"Right! I sound like Fat Albert! Hey, hey, hey!"

"You sound more like an inebriated Pee-Wee Herman."

So for the rest of our beautiful Saturday afternoon, Tate and I were inundated with one-liners that sounded like a cross between Kelly, Fat Albert and Pee Wee Herman.

Nothing screams growing up in the 70's & 80's like Fat Albert & Pee-Wee Herman on a Saturday morning!

QOTW: The Four Seasons

For me, 'hope springs eternal' this time of year - and that's one reason why Spring is my favorite season.

The other reason? Spring marks the beginning of cycling season! Whoo-hoo!

Here's a pic of the MS150 training ride at Texas Motor Speedway this last Saturday. I sure do have a sore bum for only riding 30 miles!



My second favorite season is Fall. The 'F' in Fall stands for football -obviously!

My third favorite season is Winter - but only if I get to go snow skiing. Otherwise it's a 2-way tie for last with Summer.

Summer is just too dang hot!

(By the way, stay tuned for updates this week - I got about 4 Kelly-ism's all on Saturday!)
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"Which is your favorite season of the year?"

Total votes: 24

Spring: 11 votes, 45%

Fall: 9 votes, 37%

Summer: 4 votes, 16%

Winter: 0 votes

Top Ten Signs You've Seen the ‘Star Wars' Movies Too Many Times

(Courtesy of David Letterman - although I had to change a few to keep a PG rating.)

10. Your poodles are named "C," "3," "P" and "O."

9. You won’t help out around the house unless your wife says, "Help me, Obi Wan, you're my only hope."

8. You spent $10,000 trying to Rogaine yourself into Chewbacca.

7. You're continually stunned when the President makes major decisions without consulting Mark Hamill.

6. Just as you sit down to watch Episode V for the 86th time you ask yourself, “Why don’t I have something better to do?”

5. You keep referring to your lawn mower as "that crazy droid."

4. You spend most of your days trying to use "the Force" to open a can of pears.

3. You once saw an eggplant that looked kind of like Darth Vader and almost had a heart attack.

2. You constantly fear being attacked by a roving gang of Trekkies.

1. You like Yoda so much, you voted for Ross Perot in the ’92 Presidential Election.

QOTW: Got Any Loose Change?

First, let me thank the majority of you who said you'd pick up a coin on the ground.

Ever since I was a child I've never been able to pass by even a penny without picking it up. I've always thought of it as some type of obsessive compulsive disorder.

Even as I pick up an old, dirty coin I think to myself, "Who knows where this thing has been!" (as if a cash register was a sterile environment!)

I remember my Mom telling me to always pocket change I find on the ground since 'even a nickel is a blessing from God.' I guess since then I've always felt subconsciously that walking away from a coin was the same as walking away from a blessing from God.

Since most of you feel the same way I'm not going to worry about it anymore - so thanks!

But has anyone noticed that there aren't as many coins lying around these days? I think it has something to do with the advent of the debit card - nobody uses cash anymore.

When I was in school I saved up money by putting all of my loose change in a vase. It usually took me only a couple months to collect over $50 in coins - which is quite a stash for a college student.

But now, I can't remember the last time I emptied out my vase because I never come home with loose change anymore.

It's probably for the better though - who wants to mess with those nasty coins anyway!

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"You are walking to an important appointment when you see a coin on the ground. You . . ."

Total votes: 15

Pick up the coin: 13 votes, 86%

Do not pick up the coin: 2 votes, 13%

Tate-ism #6

"I'm begging you! No more Wheels on the Bus!"