Fun With Your iPod

I saw this on Jenni's blog and thought I would do it only if the answers made sense. Not only do they make sense, some of them scare me! I promise I didn't cheat!

The Rules
1. Put your music player on shuffle.
2. Press forward for each question.
3. Use the song title as the answer to the question.
4. NO CHEATING.

Q: What does next year have in store for you?
A: Requiem: Dies Irae - WA Mozart

(Uh-oh! That’s a funeral mass!)

Q: What does your love life look like next year?
A: The Kiss – Last of the Mohicans Soundtrack

(I promise I didn’t cheat!)

Q: What do you say when life gets hard?
A: Jessica’s Theme – Man from Snowy River Soundtrack

Q: Song that reminds you of good times?
A: You Move Me – Susan Ashton

Q: What do you think when you get up in the morning?
A: Price to Pay – Blues Traveler

Q: What song will you dance to at your wedding?
A: You Are My King (Amazing Love) - Newsboys

Q: Song that reminds you of your first kiss?
A: The Man’s Too Strong – Dire Straits

(Oh boy - I can't wait to read the comments after that one!)

Q: Your favorite saying?
A: “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” – Sir Neville Marriner

Q: Favorite place?
A: Paperback Writer – The Beatles

Q: Most Missed Memory?
A: Yakety Yak – The Coasters

(I knew this song would come up!)

Q: What song describes your best friend?
A: Pulling Teeth – Green Day

Q: What song describes your ex?
A: Hard to Handle – The Black Crowes

(Seriously! I didn’t cheat!)

Q: Where would you go on a first date?
A: Good Intentions – Toad the Wet Sprocket

Q: Drug of choice?
A: Words of Love – The Beatles

Q: What song describes yourself?
A: Too Little Too Late – Barenaked Ladies

Q: What is the thing you like doing most?
A: You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away – The Beatles

Q: The song that best describes the president?
A: Only the Good Die Young – Billy Joel

Q: Where will you be in 10 years?
A: I’ll Be Back – The Beatles

(Yeah, but back from where?)

Q: Your love life right now?
A: All Because of You – U2

Q: What is your state of mind like at the moment?
A: Let the River Flow – Darrell Evans

Q: How will you die?
A: I’m Only Sleeping – The Beatles

It Only Takes A Spark!

This picture doesn't do it much justice - but this is a wild fire I happened across just outside Graham, Texas. By the way, that's not a cloud sitting on the horizon - that's smoke from the fire.

With all this crazy wind we've had the last two days I'm surprised the entire state hasn't gone up in flames.

I struck up a conversation about the wind with an old guy in a doctor's waiting room and he said in all seriousness, "Yeah, West Texas blew through town yesterday."

Why I Blog . . .

For me, blogging is a lot of fun and yuks. But if there is one thing that has won me over to the dark side of the blogosphere it's that blogging creates a way to re-connect with old friends.

Case in point: I received an email early this morning basically saying:

"Wade, I got your email address from your blog and I'm curious to know if you are the same Wade I met in Varna, Bulgaria [15 years ago]. I am Konstantin - please write back if you remember me."

At this point I practically fell out of my chair - of course I remember Konstantin!

Long story short: Me and two friends from Richland Hills Church of Christ spent the summer of 1993 on a mission trip to Varna, Bulgaria to work with a church that RHCC was supporting. While I was there, I met Konstantin.

Konstantin was quite literally the voice of the church. Since none of us spoke Bulgarian (including the missionary), Konstantin was the guy who would stand up at the podium and translate as Peter gave his sermon. Konstantin also did a lot of ground work to help get the church established.

I'm sure the Bull's can talk all day long about having 'that guy' who knows the language, the culture and can help get things done. Konstantin was that guy!

Something that I'll always remember about Konstantin was that he taught me how to deal with the men on the street who kept asking me if I wanted to exchange my American Dollars into Bulgarian Leva - which you never wanted to do because (1) it was illegal and (2) you'll get ripped off!

As you can see, since I stuck out in the crowd as being an American these guys were constantly badgering me to 'change money? change money?'. So I got Konstantin to teach me how to say in Bulgarian, "What do you think I am - some stupid American?" I can still say it today - although Konstantin would probably say it sounds a little rough.

But from then on I couldn't wait for some guy come up and and try to change money. By the end of the summer I could rattle off my pseudo-Bulgarian so quickly that many of them would turn and walked away shocked. Although one guy did respond, "Da!" ("Yes!")


So in a show of gratitude for helping me develop a little Bulgarian street cred, I helped Konstantin develop a love for America's favorite past time - baseball! He would have been a .300 hitter, for sure!

By the way, no one could pull of the red t-shirt, black & white striped shorts with red socks look quite like Konstantin! Needless to say, he was a big hit with the ladies!

(Just playin' with ya', Konstantin!)

This is me in my flat eating what is still the most delicious ham sandwich I've ever tasted. Everything there was so fresh - the bread was baked that morning and the ham was smoked just the day before - top it off with a Coke and you've got yourself quite a meal!


These are some kids who came to our VBS. Brad should go to Varna to recruit for his team @ UMHB. These kids played full contact soccer on a concrete playground - and everyone of them was a striker!

Anyway, I'm so glad Konstantin emailed me. I've been rushed with memories of Varna all day - what a great time that was!

Like I said, I enjoy blogging and trying to come up with all my random posts - but the big pay off is when I bump into a great guy like Konstantin!
_____________________________________

PS: Please refrain from leaving comments saying "Wow, Wade! You were quite the bean pole in high school, weren't ya'?" Yes, I was a bean pole . . . and God loved me just as much then . . . and he definitely didn't snicker to Himself when he read my blog . . . and, yes!, God reads my blog! Ever heard of WWJB? What Would Jesus Blog? So stop laughing at my bean pole-ness!

Random Google Search Results #4

Although things have been busy over here, there's not much to comment on.

Thank goodness for random Google searches that somehow, someway draw people to Wade's Rantings!

1. "i hate christmas because of walgreen's" - It's a bit odd that you'd blame your holiday hostility on a drug store, but I'm sure you have your reasons . . . however psycho they may be!

I just hate their customer service.

2. "santa getting whipped" - Wow! You really do hate Christmas, don't you?!

(Hey Santa! Duck and Cover!)

3. "what's worse than flipping someone off?" - Flipping someone off with both hands while driving an 18-wheeler!

4. "bless your heart in Texan means" - Uh . . . bless your heart?

I'm not sure where the phrase 'bless your heart' is found in my blog, but I'm almost certain that my mom-n-law wrote it in one of her comments!

5. "how will I know if I get the stomach virus" - Isn't it kinda obvious?

6. "old man taking a sponge bath pictures" - That's just gross! How about some cute pictures of Tate's first sponge bath instead?

Props to EDMC and her cool new car as always!

Random Factoid of the Week #1

Sometimes you'll overhear someone in another conversation say something so seemingly preposterous that your head swivels around on your shoulders faster than a Nascar fan with front row seats!

Which is what I did today when I heard someone say that you're not allowed to buy or sell chlorine bleach in Germany.

"Whaaaaaaaaaaa?"

I had to fight back my disbelieving laughter while asking this person why on earth that would be.

"I dunno - you just cain't."

I googled 'bleach is not allowed in Germany' . . . and what do you know, bleach is not allowed in Germany.

But here's where the all-knowing Google left me hangin' - it didn't tell me why bleach is not allowed in Germany!

So let's hope one or two of you out in the blogosphere can clear this up for us - inquiring minds want to know!

Renaldo Lapuz Is My Brother Forever!

Remember that crazy dude on American Idol this past Wednesday night who wrote and sang that crazy "We're Brothers Forever" song?



Well, Tate and I were walking around North East Mall tonight killing time while Kelly was doing some much-deserved shopping when I saw a guy who looked just like that dude on American Idol . . . and then I realized, Holy Smokes!!, it really was that dude on American Idol!!



Me: Hey! Are you that dude on American Idol?

Renaldo: Yeah! You want to take my picture?

(Sheesh! Talk about embracing your newly found celebrity-dom!)

Me: Uh . . . well . . . sure, since you're offering!

There are a few things crazy about this:

1. This dude appeared on national television only 2 days ago.

2. I, being one who very rarely watches TV, actually saw this dude on national television 2 days ago.

3. I saw this dude walking around North East stinkin' Mall of all places - how random is that?????

4. And probably the craziest of all, Tate kept trying to give the dude an open-mouth kiss - which is one of his latest tricks!

(Don't worry, I'm trying to work with him on this!!)

I was reading on some one's blog just this week about how American society has evolved from a community-based culture to one that actually promotes individualism through venues such as YouTube, MySpace, blogs and reality television . . . which allows individuals to break away from the community and becoming instant celebrities.

(Sorry that I can't remember who blogged about this - feel free to leave a comment and take credit if it's you!)

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's pretty crazy how 7 minutes on prime time TV can turn some random dude wearing a bad hat in a mall into a famous random dude wearing a bad hat in a mall!

But the biggest bummer part about it is that Kelly missed it all because she was in a store trying on a dress!

American Idol Disclaimer: I don't watch the entire season - just the first few weeks of first auditions when the potential of train wreck TV is at its highest!

Obsessive Compulsive Confession #4

I can't handle people reading something that I've written before it reaches a final draft.

This comes in play most often when Kelly walks into my office as I am working on a blog post or something for work. I can be typing just a simple email to my manager asking for time off and I'll still have to resist the urge to close my laptop before she sees it!

(A little high strung, are we?)

I think it has to do with Kelly being a copy editor ever since she learned her ABC's - I can't handle her finding something that needs correction or re-wording before I do.

The good thing is that my neuro-psychotic tendency tends goes away once I'm happy with a final draft (yeah, emails to my manager usually require drafts). But as soon as I'm finished Kelly is free to pull out her red pen and go to town on my latest literary effort . . . just not before then!

Church Marquee of the Week #1

I took a picture of this church marquee a couple days ago . . .


I laughed to myself because it sounds like they've got a master list of who's going where and you can call them to find out which way you're headed!

96 Blue & Silver Tears . . .

This song pretty much sums up what it's like to be a Dallas Cowboy fan today . .

Seek And Ye Shall Find . . .

You may remember that not too long ago Kelly and I made the difficult decision to leave our wonderful church home at Vista Ridge (sniff, sniff) and search for a congregation closer to our part of town.

Kelly has already told most of the blogosphere that we've finally decided to place membership at Richland Hills Church of Christ!


It's a homecoming of sorts for me since I grew up at RHCC. Although there's a refreshing familiarity to it, it is also a much changed congregation.

I'm excited to finally get plugged in again. Tuesday night is the kick-off for Letters From Dad - a program which teaches you how to write down your testimony so that others in your family can know not only what you believe but why you believe it - and the men's retreat is a just a few weeks away.

The only bummer part of it is that we can't park in the super close visitor parking up front anymore!

Because Kelly Would Have NEVER Let Me Do This If She Were Here!

I've spent the last 48 hours entertaining this little guy. Now it's time for me to have some fun!

The look of concern on Tate's face is his realization of the eventual social humiliation that will be littered throughout his childhood!

Macy's (our golden) look of concern is because she's worried she may be next!

But that's what daddies are for, right?

Piece of Cake, Right?

Kelly called to say that she was expecting her update to come via blog.

Everything has gone so swimmingly that there's really not much to give an update on.

Dinner at Chick-Fil-A last night went great. Helen will be glad to hear that Tate ate fruit instead of french fries with his chicken nuggets!

Here's photographic proof of Tate's approval!


I did have one observation during our outing to the mall today - people don't give near enough respect to the baby stroller.

Instead of making room for you to pass they just stare at you as if you're the one who's getting in their way.

It's fine with me if that's the way they really feel about it. It helps me feel less guilty when Tate's baby stroller "inadvertently" rolls up on their ankles as we pass by!!!

"Whoops! These things have a mind of their own, don't they?"

(Fake an obnoxious laugh then stop suddenly and give them a blank stare . . . now turn and walk away! Oooooo! That show'd 'em!)

So yeah, everything has gone just swimmingly!

By the light of an iPhone . . .

Wade & Tate's Weekend of Fun

Kelly's leaving town to hang with her sister for the weekend. That means us boys have the house to ourselves for 2 whole days!

I know what you're all thinking . . .

• Uh oh! Can Wade take care of Tate for a whole 48 hours . . . all by himself?
• Will Wade suddenly forget how to change a diaper?
• How many times will Wade have to call Kelly to ask what Tate likes to eat?
• I bet Wade whimps out and just spends the entire weekend with the grandparents!
• Is that Tate or Wade who is a sobbing mess on the floor? Oh, it's both of them!

Wanna know what I'm thinking?

• Game on!

I'll even post pictures throughout the weekend to prove it!

Hello? Anyone Out There . . . ?

Have you ever looked at your calendar and thought to yourself, "Something's gotta give!"

Well, this year started off with a bang and I knew I would have to clear my table of a few things if I was going to get off to a good start.

So a week of no blogs (No reading! No writing!) gave me time to focus on a couple things that needed my attention.

And a week away from the blogosphere was about all I could handle!

Talk About Instant Ratings!

As I've told you all before, I watch very little TV. The little TV I do watch is almost completely centered around a major sporting event of some kind. The only regular programming I've watched recently has been ESPN's SportsCenter every morning - but that really has been about it.

But that will soon change since I recently heard that a certain Cynthia Izaguirre will be joining Dallas/Fort Worth's WFAA Daybreak News team!

Don't remember Ms. Izaguirre? Maybe this video of her fine work in Albuquerque will jog your memory . . . .

(Sorry for the extremely poor video quality!)

Yesss! Train wreck TV at it's finest! And it's all local all the time!

I'll be boundin' out of bed every morning and wringing my hands in great anticipation of the current weather, the latest traffic report and most recent faux pas slip of the day!

Intermission

Hey Folks,

I'm gonna take some time away from the blogosphere. Nothing long or extended - just a short cyber-vacation to get some things taken care of in the real world.

Have a great New Year!