find_me_anytime's Xanga

News

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:21:06 GMT

"BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia said its military rescued former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, three U.S. military contractors and 11 other hostages from leftist rebels today. Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos says no one was hurt in the operation in eastern Colombia. He said army commandos captured rebels manning a security ring around the hostages and got them to persuade their comrades to turn over the captives, without any loss of life. Santos says the other 11 hostages freed were Colombian soldiers and police. Betancourt, the Americans Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell, and the other hostages were taken to a military base. In Paris, Betancourt's son Lorenzo Delloye-Betancourt called her release after six years of captivity, "if true, the most beautiful news of my life." There was no answer at the homes of American families of the three U.S. hostages." Associated Press

INTERESTING ... just as McCain arrives in Cartegena to commend Colombia's drug control efforts and to discuss a free trade agreement. ...

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:14:08 GMT

Say hello to my little buddy...

There is something about tree frogs that I love. They are all sticky and fun.

Make your own CD cover

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:21:17 GMT

This is in response to Tim's post:

1) Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random The title of the page will be the name of your band

2) Go to http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3 The last four words of the last sentence of the page will be the name of your album

3) Got to http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days/ The third pic, it doesn't matter what it is, will be the cover pic

Here's Mine:

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:19:37 GMT

On Sunday, this was my worship service:

We had torrential downpours and then a huge double rainbow to follow.
It was majesty.

It’s all expendable

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 09:25:35 GMT

I feel stressed this morning. I had an insane dream last night about my life flooding.

I knew that impending doom was coming in the form of a flood so I was troubleshooting and preparing for the worst. "We may have enough time to rent a huge Uhaul and load up all our stuff and move to the hill country. We could load all day and night if we have to. And if we don't have enough time for that we can rent a few storage units on the third floor of one of those obnoxious storage buildings." I was thinking of the one I used to rent at called Alamo, but it is right on the bayou. Would the building float away with everyone's junk included? Do I really even want all this stuff?

Then I proceeded to stack all of my more valuable furniture on top of the furniture that I would like to replace one day. Chairs on top of tables. Dressers on top of couches. I was stacking stuff that I don't even own, but that I wished I did - like a really cool vintage wooden engraved chair and ottoman set that I imagined my mother-in-law gave me. We were doing crazy things like parking our Golf at the end of the block because it is higher ground than in front of our house, but I was stacking things in the house up to 3 feet high, so the car would have long ago been washed away by the time the water rose to the height that we were expecting. (By the way, I flooded the Golf in front of my house one time trying to get into the driveway when the water was way to high, and I should have know better being raised in Houston.)

I woke up convinced that this was all because of the Midwest flooding, but also that it is time to get flood insurance on our house so that I can afford to start over if I need to.

Water from the swollen Cedar River rushes past downtown buildings Thursday, June 12, 2008, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Officials estimated that 100 blocks in Cedar Rapids were under water forcing the evacuation of nearly 4,000 homes and leaving cars underwater on downtown streets. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Inherited

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:31:34 GMT

Do you think that passions are inherited? I wonder because I have passions that my father and grandpa have shared and now I also am ignited by it - music. There is something about it that affects me so easily. I am constantly on the look out for more. What's to come? What am I missing? There is so much talent and beauty out there that I have yet to hear.

After my grandpa passed away, Cara and I found ourselves pouring over all of his old vinyl albums in an effort to organize for my Grandma. Oohing and aahing over old Gene Krupa, Miles Davis, Gershwin, Sinatra, Bing, Nat... the list continued. He loved his music. He encouraged my dad to live out his passion for music. He gave my dad his first guitar and amp. He encouraged and imparted a gift to my dad. The first times my mom laid eyes on my dad, he was always behind a guitar.

I will never hear a Beatles song again without thinking of my dad. He played Hey Jude on the car stereo on the way to my graduation ceremony. I cried - I was reminded of my dad's love for me, but also God's love for me. This is because years before as I sat on the floor of the HouVin auditorium I was self conscience and aware of my vulnerability as I waited to hear from Him. What I heard was Mark McCoy singing out a word straight from Him: "Hey Jude, don’t make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better. Remember to let Him into your heart, and then He can start to make it better. - Hey Jude, don’t be afraid. You were made to go out and get Him. The minute you let Him under your skin, then He'll begin to make it better." At that time in my life no one called me Jude except my mom and dad and Cara. It was a very intimate moment that was shared with hundreds of other youth and it powerfully affected me. Now I am commonly referred to as Jude, but I don’t mind it one bit because it will always remind me of Dad.

"Remember to let Him into your heart..."

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:58:38 GMT

I've entered a chocolate competition at work. The dish can be anything as long as the main ingredient contains chocolate.

I woke up at 5:00 this morning to bake Black Russian Cake. Jess gave me the recipe back in 2004 and I love it! I don't even care if it competes as long as I get to partake. I’m not even sure that chocolate qualifies as the main ingredient, but it looks chocolatey.

I'll let you know if I win anything...

: : Edit : :

Didn't win, but I did grab a slice of my cake and then left it for the vultures. I may go back for some strawberries.

Monday, June 09, 2008

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:41:05 GMT

I forgot my camera this weekend. Bummer.

But, I did spend a good amount of time in the hammock, which is a favorite spot of mine, enjoying a new novel (see below). The margaritas were flowing and the food was extravagantly wonderful. Games were enjoyed by all - mostly beyond balderdash and boggle. The lake was beautiful and the constant breeze therapeutic. I spent enough time behind a jet ski that I significantly reduced my ability to walk. I also spent a small but impactful time being pulled behind a boat on an enormous red float. Fortunately, I am able to move my arms enough to bring you this update.

I am sorry that I don't have any pictures but those that are in my memory archive.

Friday, June 06, 2008

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:27:02 GMT

The plan is to leave town.
Float on a lake.
Or maybe jet ski.
Play games.
Nap in a hammock.
And read.
And drink.

Pics to follow.

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:47:27 GMT

Mayor Langford cracks me up.

Check it out.

Seriously, are you doing anything different this summer because of the gas prices?

I know that I will be sticking to Pearland a lot.