Tagging along...

Random bits of me, straight ahead. Mind the bumps.

I suppose that this saves you all from a compilation of my favorite Chuck Norris facts.

Here are the rules:
1.Post the rules on your blog
2.Write 6 random things about yourself
3.Tag 6 people at the end of your post
4.If you are tagged, just do it, and pass the tag along!

1. In 1990-91, I had the pleasure to finish out high school in St. Andrews Scotland. This random fact is not really about Scotland, or high school.

Since that time, every time I've gone to give blood, my donation has been politely turned down. When I ask why, I'm told that it's because I've been exposed to Mad Cow Disease.

I'm not terribly put off by this, as I have a natural squeamishness about having a pint or so of MY blood sucked out of my body. But I do on occasion wonder about all those really tasty meat pies and sausages I ate in Scotland. Was one of them carrying those nasty little prions?

2. My wife used to have a total cow fetish. Well, maybe it wasn't so much a cow fetish as some as yet unexplained cow paraphernalia attraction field. The way I understand it, she thought cows were pretty neat at one point, but at some point, she no longer sought out bovine knick knacks. Given her fairly widely known cow fancies, it took some time for people to get the hint that she no longer desired cute little cow-themed gifts.

Now here's the thing. I have started to acquire cow stuff. It started off innocently enough: Chik-Fil-A calendars, cow screen-savers, playing "HEY COW!!" from a moving car, responding to perplexing questions with a soulful moo... Though now I've started to receive the knick-knacks. For instance, I have a stunningly rendered resin cow that adorned my office birthday cake this year, and now guards the stack of unfiled papers on my desk.

Coincidence?

3. Skaggs has a cow story, which is kinda weird.

4. I wanna be a farmer. If I believed in reincarnation, I'd say that I was a farmer in my last life. I've really felt the lack of having a garden the last 2 summers that we've been in an apartment. The sense of satisfaction I get from tilling and preparing the soil and figuring out how I'm going to water it all is quite unlike any flavor of satisfaction I've ever tasted.

My daydreams often include gardens and orchards. I long for the pumpkin patch I'll have one day. When I'm really given over to a full-blown farmer fantasy, I've found a spring on a hillside, and I've dug out a terraced rice patty, complete with carp.

5. I'm becoming more and more convinced that population centers are bad. Not overtly out to get me, but certainly not healthy either. I am increasingly aware that I would like to be far away from population centers, and as self sufficient as I can be.

Now don't get me wrong, our level of technological sophistication, our economy (despite it's current woes), our government is still the best thing going... but it's not good for me.

Besides, when the zombie apocalypse comes, a city is the last place you want to be.

6.I think that I've always had a little tiny Luddite in me that wants to get out. Usually I just strap him into his little Clockwork Orange chair and turn on the Interweb.

I can't forget that he's there though... strapped pitifully into his chair.

My chances of actually being a Luddite are very slim, especially given that I'm a web developer.

Still, so I don't feel like an inhuman monster for keeping him confined, I'll heed him this once, therefore I must decline all your Facebook invitations.

Tagged by:
Mike

Tagging:
My wife
Lisa
Kathie
Kristin
Skaggs
David

Eats

This seems to be all the rage amongst the blogonauts, and maybe because I'm hungry, it rose to the top of the pile of my unfinished posts.

From the blog, Very Good Taste

"Here’s a chance for a little interactivity for all the bloggers out there. Below is a list of 100 things that I think every good omnivore should have tried at least once in their life. The list includes fine food, strange food, everyday food and even some pretty bad food - but a good omnivore should really try it all. Don’t worry if you haven’t, mind you; neither have I, though I’ll be sure to work on it. Don’t worry if you don’t recognise everything in the hundred, either; Wikipedia has the answers.

Here’s what I want you to do:

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results."


My results:

1. Venison (and antelope, elk, moose, caribou...)
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare (looking forward to this one)
5. Crocodile (had some of this that didn't agree with me, but I'd have it again)
6. Black pudding (Had this once in Scotland, but don't remember much about it - I'll have to try it again)
7. Cheese fondue (Apparently it's poor form to lick the bowl...)
8. Carp (does catfish count?)
9. Borscht (excellent entree for those discussion of bears and BSG)
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho - I would totally go for that.
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi (does curried cauliflower count?)
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses (anytime you want to mix brandy with cheese it can only be a good thing)
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes (best... tomato... ever...)
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese (after reading the wikipedia article, I'd actually like to try this)
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper (from what I've read, this could help me cultivate an endorphin addiction)
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters (raw, smoked, barbecued, in soup... MMMMmmmm)
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda (Beth... why have we not had this?)
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi (I'd try that)
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar (I've had one or the other, but not together... guess I'm not that cool)
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects (I'd try this as part of some established cuisine)
43. Phaal (another dish I'd like to try - thanks Wikipedia)
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu (nah... everything I've read says it's a pretty bland dish - flirting with death by fish ought to be really tasty)
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear (I've always wanted to try this)
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone (fond memories of eating abalone that my dad brought back from scuba diving - yum)
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini (I suppose I should try this... just so I can stay cool)
58. Beer above 8% ABV (Carlsberg Elephant... I think... memory's a bit fuzzy about this one)
59. Poutine (so THAT'S what it's called)
60. Carob chips (that's a really rotten thing to do to a kid)
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads (not specifically, but I have had some burritos with the same ingredients)
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian (I keep telling Beth we ought to try this - she keeps asking me, "What's this 'we' stuff?")
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake (all of the above and more - deep fried twinkies y'all)
68. Haggis (Beth makes the best haggis I've ever had, and I lived in Scotland for a year. She's actually converted people with her haggis.)
69. Fried plantain (another thing I need to eat)
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette (I'd try it)
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe (eh... can't say I'm not curious about it)
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill (Can't say I haven't thought about how fresh the backstrap might be on that deer on the side of the road... but come on... BACKSTRAP)
76. Baijiu (this seems an awful lot like bathtub gin, or industrial moonshine... can't say that I'm in a hurry to try it)
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail (does escargot de la mer count?)
79. Lapsang souchong (I like smoky tea)
80. Bellini (this sounds better than a mimosa... and it's peach season right now!! - Beth...)
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant
85. Kobe beef (I'd very much like to try this...)
86. Hare (does wabbit count?)
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse (supposedly the British burger joint Wimpys used horse in their burgers - if that's the case, then yes... and MMMMmmmm good.)
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam (do you hear singing?)
92. Soft shell crab (Had these in Annapolis - awesome)
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish (battered, deep fried, and yummy)
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake (I've had rattlesnake soup and barbecued rattlesnake - both pretty good)

Yes... Ninja Bears

That's a funny name for a blog...

Or is it?

Standard

I will no longer believe that my life has to be carried out in the shadow of the lies of the accuser.

I will take up my armor and sword and rally to the standard of The Kingdom of Heaven.

Rebellion to our Lord is my enemy - in whatever form it takes.

Breakfast and hearing from God

I had breakfast with Angus and Hamish this morning. It's a weekly event that's about 3 weeks overdue. Usually we go to Js and have man time and breakfast.

Funny how a commitment to spend time with my sons tends to fall by the wayside so easily. I won't go into why, except to say that it really isn't funny. It seems to have less to do with funny and more to do with a certain adversary desiring to kill, steal and destroy my Wednesday morning breakfast with my sons.

I've been part of what seems like a recent conversation about what the practical appearance is of a close and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Even now, as I put the phrase "close and personal relationship with Jesus Christ" down in black and white, it seems somehow weird. Not weird because that concept seems alien (except when I really get down to it, it is alien). Weird in the same way it would be weird, as a Christian, to have a conversation about whether or not Jesus loves me.

Back to breakfast. I asked the question, "Does God talk to you?" Without missing a beat, the answer was, "You know, you and mom have kinda drilled this into us... Of course God wants a relationship with us..."

I realized that "close personal relationship with Jesus Christ," is not something that I've specifically imparted to my sons, beyond the need for it... Now it's probably true that I can't actually impart that relationship. I can only visibly strive and yearn for it. And even then, the yearning and striving doesn't seem to be enough.

If I say, "I'm a really good friend of so-and-so", and Angus and Hamish ask, "Cool. What do you guys talk about...?" My present options seem to be either reply with dumb silence, or to try to pass off one of my one-sided conversations as something else.

Fast forward to Wednesday night jr. high youth group. Lately I've gotten away from a specific curriculum, and I've been looking for topics in my own experience with God: semi-daily scripture readings, thoughts about God, something I read or heard on the radio, etc.

Tonight I had the inspiration or thought to ask whether or not any of the Jr. High yout's have had God talk to them. Most immediately asked what it meant to have God talk to them, to which my response was simply to repeat the question. Probably half said they weren't sure. Almost half replied that God does speak to everyone but that most people aren't listening (themselves included). Only 1 youth in a group of about 8 said that she heard from God, and naturally, soon after giving this response, had to leave when her mom came to pick he up.

Oddly enough, I'm not discouraged by the numbers. And the responses didn't stop me from assigning homework. "Over the course of the next week and beyond, be mindful, and in fact ready to ask questions of God. Be persistent in asking those questions and doubly persistent in listening for the answers."

It sounds like good advice, and now that it's coming from my own mouth, I really must participate in the assigned homework.

I think the results should be worthy of a follow up blog post, which is about as close to saying "I'll post again soon" as I will get.

How to not be a lurker...

Just post something already.

I read my chapter out of Proverbs today...

... albeit a little later than I should have.

I've made it a point to at least get in a chapter from Sol's primer every day. The neat thing about that is that when I miss a day, I can just look at the calendar and pick up reading the chapter that matches the date.

Now here' s something that is worth noting. When I go back and read a missed chapter, almost without fail the hand comes up unbidden and smacks me on the forehead as I realize I shouldn't have missed that day's proverb.

So the following choice morsels are taken from todays chapter. Number 29.

This one keeps popping up on my radar. Though, to be honest, it's only the second time in the last, oh... little over a month I guess... that it's popped up on my radar. Perhaps I'm reading too much into it, but I really don't think so.

A man who hardens his neck after much reproof will suddenly be broken beyond remedy. - Proverbs 29:1 [NASB]

This next one really just jumped off the page at me. Especially the part about there being no rest.

When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man, The foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest. - Proverbs 29:9 [NASB]

I imagine that those who know me don't think of me as being one who is prone to losing my temper, but just the same, it does happen. I'm pretty sure that internalizing anger, as is my tendency, is no better than raging. I also now know that there's a difference between internalizing it , and keeping a reign on it.

A fool always loses his temper, But a wise man holds it back. - Proverbs 29:11 [NASB]

These tell me that it's good to discipline my sons. It also reminds me that when I start to whine and complain about wanting my own way, that I'm being child-like. I have to believe that since God wrote these, that He lives by them as well. And that as His son... well... you get the picture.

The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother. - Proverbs 29:15 [NASB]


Correct your son, and he will give you comfort; He will also delight your soul. - Proverbs 29:17 [NASB]

Your lurking days are over.

So I've had this blog for quite some time now. It's led an unfulfilled life. Mostly, it's been passing the days with it's cold, wet nose up against the small, dark attic window - wanting so much to run and play with the other blogs.

Anyhow, it's not that I fear letting my blog run and play and frolic with others of it's kind. No really. I mean, I guess it's a little intimidating. The other blogs can do such neat tricks, and have had so many grand adventures. However, that's all in the past. I've let it out of the attic, and with it's first taste of the outside, I'm guessing (hoping really) that I won't be able to keep it cooped up anymore.

Oh, and if you happen to find that my blog has made a little mess in your yard... it probably wasn't mine.