Kay Bailey Hutchison is running for governor of Texas. It's all over the news lately which is the on;ly reason I'm thinking about it at all. Normally I'd be encouraged about a conservative running for office. Honestly though, I can't stand the woman. It's purely personal and actually has no bearing on her politics.

Back when I was a Senior in High School, my government AP class went to a rally or press conference for Hutchison. Attending in support of her was Phil Gramm (the lost offspring of Yoda and a turtle). He's okay for the most part. He just only ever had the one paragraph he memorized and repeated every time he spoke.

Anyway, after Gramm opened up for her, Hutchison came up to the podium to speak. There were only about 20-30 people attending this press conference, including about 15 or so students. So they had us crowd into a tight knot around her so as to make it look like a crowd for the local news crew to air later.

I hate crowds. I hate being pressed into a crowd so much that I'm being touched on all sides of my body. So I edged my way to the back. That's when I noticed Hutchison's interns walking around behind us; young college age or possibly graduated guys. At first I thought maybe they were security. sure as heck I didn't want to be in any line of fire. Too many TV shows watched maybe...

So Kay Hutchison started speaking. It was the typical political rhetoric and passion you see any time you watch something government related. What was different for me was that when ever she made a particularly (what she felt was) important point, those interns that they had seeded into the "crowd" would whoop and holler and clap. Those of us who were attending looked confusedly at each other and began clapping and cheering as well. That's group mentality and peer pressure at work for your viewing pleasure.

That's it really. I saw a bad side of politics and I forever associate it with Kay Hutchison. Evidently, I'm naive enough to think that if something a politician says is applause worthy, maybe we should be able to make up our own minds on whether or not applaud. I resent some political flunky being put into an audience to make someone seem popular. Guess that's the Scotsman in my ancestry rejecting being told what to do.

Anyway, that's what writer's block gets you: an insignificant musing on my past experiences.

So there's this internet conferencing software called Skype. You can use it for phone calls or video conferencing. I've only used it for a handful of months now, I'm almost embarrassed to admit. I kind of dismissed it out of hand early on. I didn't think it was something I was ever going to need to use.

That was until I bought a laptop with a built in camera and microphone.

A friend reminded me of the program. After setting it up and a bit of awkwardness of him answering me in bed with his own laptop wearing no pants, I was off and running. It was a cool little program. I played with it for a bit, marveled at the jump in technology from the last time I seriously considered a webcam, and then didn't do much.

Then I did some thinking and realized that I hate, no loathe, talking on the cell phone. I'm not good at it and my skills have only diminished with time. I can't seem to get the rhythm of conversation down. (Shut up, I know phones have been around forever. Quote the entire Star Wars trilogy and then we'll discuss a person's particular skill set.) I can do it when I have to, but even phone conversations with my wife are usually one syllable. I simply prefer face to face.

Skype offers that. What's more, it can connect me to people who don't live near me and that I rarely get to see. I can have real conversations with people that I've missed having the long talks with. It's finally a real tangible way for the internet to actually bring people closer instead of alienating them.

Problem is, no one seems to think this is as cool as I do. I'm singling anyone out individually, so I don't want anyone in particular to get defensive. Because I'm actually referring to all of you. There have been several people I've tried to get in on it so I can reconnect with them. I know it's not personal and I know people are busy. So I'm not angry, just frustrated. I love the area I live in but miss some of the people I used to interact with.

Skype is a great piece of technology. It's not the only program out there for this sort of thing but it is a well put together bit of software. I had hoped that it would bring some people more regularly back in my life. I need some of that face to face interaction. Hopefully as technology improves and get more accessible, it'll be something that becomes so second nature that we hardly remember a time without video calling. Then maybe I'll be able to visit as I'd like with people who refuse to move to where I live.

And I promise I'll wear pants.

Things are going well at the moment. Not a whole lot that's exciting, though.

Work has it's ups and down depending on whether or not I feel like I'm accomplishing something. Still getting used to things, or more accurately, still learning to do things.

I get a little fed up now and then with what seems a lack of interest or apathy regarding one's spiritual well being. I have to remind myself that I do this for a living and that others will have other things to focus on. I'm learning not to take it personally and to simply be there for my students.

I'm taking November and December off from classes to be able to focus more on family as well as work related items. It's been kind of nice to be able to just sit and spend some time with Tami at night. I'll pick up some regular semester classes come spring. Parish Administration, I believe it's called. Project driven, apparently, so I'll be able to integrate my job into it. Should be interesting and possibly a lot of work.

Kyllan is doing well. He's walking and talking a lot. He's not eating all that well though. Vegetables are a particularly aggravating issue. Nor does he drink milk. And when he wakes up from a nap or sleep he screams. It's for attention, not because he's hurt. And we don't get him until we're ready but it's still pretty annoying to hear him scream the house awake in the morning.

I'm sure it's something we're no doing correctly yet but it's wearing me out and making me irritable at times. Oh well, it's a learning process I suppose.

He's also a lot of fun. Our HOA put in a park recently. One that actually has swings and a merry-go-round. The others for some reason don't have swings. Kyllan's not sure about slides yet so it's nice to have to swings. We're also trying to master the "tr" in truck so the cops will stop asking me why my child is asking for "crunk" all the time.

Anyway, not exciting but that's the state. Stay tuned true believers.

It's just not my week for things to go right. Two meetings didn't come together and school is kicking my ass at least for the moment. I've got to be doing something wrong or too little because this is a week that makes me wonder why I'm bothering to do anything. Just when I think that maybe I'm getting the hang of some stuff - gah! 

Just...bloody hell...


Oct 8th. Feeling better today, just venting there. No need to comment on it.

I had a meeting scheduled at our church office with the parents last night to talk about the LCMS National Youth Gathering. It had been in our email newsletter for about two weeks and in our family website for about the same amount of time.  I checked to make sure. So I went there and set up the chairs and TV for the little video that the Gathering staff had sent out to each church. I waited about 20 minutes after the set time and then went home.

Today I tried sending an email to my fellow staff members because my church email has had trouble before. I got responses back so I know that it can work but don't really know if it did work that day. So I'm not sure what happened.

What I did not do was call people individually. I guess maybe I assumed that in the information age, people would respond to email better. I still don't use text messaging much, so maybe that was what I did wrong.

I want to be furious about it. I want to be angry that not even one person showed up. Surely the chances of at least one person seeing the weekly church eNews letter were good. I don't know, maybe I'm assuming too much.

But honestly, I'm not angry about it. I'm disappointed to be sure but not angry. I guess if it's not a priority to the church, then I don't need to worry about it. It's one less thing I have to plan. It leaves me with more time to concentrate on my studies and day to day church work.

I'm going to try to get the word out about the Gathering this week. I have a couple of chances to talk to the kids. I'll try and call the parents early next week after I've made sure the kids are aware.

After that, I'll let it go if that's what God wants. Maybe this year is a transition one of taking things slow and simpler for the church. We do have the ground breaking on our new land and building of our new facilities and school to worry about. Maybe this lack of interest in the Gathering is a chance for me to catch up and really settle into the day to day of church work.

I think I'm just not going to worry over much about it.

My best friend is getting married this weekend. I'm very happy for him. His bride is a great girl and foolishly agreed to marry on of the freakiest weirdos I've had the pleasure to know. I pray that their marriage is a long and joyous one. Marriage is one of the greatest gifts God has given us.

However. My best friend also made me buy a suit. This made me reconsider his status as my best friend. Ultimately, my distaste for suits lost out to the fact that I look good in everything I wear. The wedding had almost nothing to do with it. No, seriously.

This clothing adventure did however point out to me that I have not worn a suit for so long that I have forgotten how to tie a, well, tie. I hope to resolve this issue before the wedding. Otherwise, I'm going to have to rely on my shoe tying ability and Mike's just going to have to settle for my pretty face. This is indeed a bonus for him but I would like to honor my friend by being at least slightly less unconventional than I usually am.

I tried on the suit and while it's not a leather tuxedo with a cobra on the back, it seems to be alright. Revelry ahead!

Today, my son (who's been walking for about three weeks now) came into the living room saying his version of "Daddy, Daddy" and handed me a piece of cat poo.

I had to put weights in the plastic bin I've been using to block the laundry room. I'm going to have to finally break down and buy a baby-gate for that pathetic excuse for a hallway. Up until today he had shown no interest in the litter box. Hooray for curiosity...

I can honestly say I'm becoming less and less grossed out by things.

So the boy can walk now. He started last week, much to his own surprise. The not falling part anyway. And despite all those who told me I'd wish for the crawling/non-mobile days, I like it. He's actually turning into a little boy from the baby he's been.

He's taken to sitting in cabinets, much to the dismay of my fish that he scares the hell out of because he keeps slamming the doors closed.

His vocabulary has extended to lightson (one word), out side, towel, pool, crap (unfortunately but not all that often), up, down, hi, and bye. I'm sure there's a couple more but I can't remember them at the moment.

Sure enough, he's growing up. I like the way it's going.

I find it odd that some try to spread the Gospel through email chain letters. These letters/messages/videos convict us for (supposedly) not being Christian on other days besides Sunday. They convict us for being afraid because the person in this letter/message/video stood up for their faith. Then we are told we don't have to be afraid, that Jesus loves us and is there for us - which is of course true.

But then these chain letters proceed to tell us that if we love Jesus, we need to pass this message along. As if the passing of this message assures your faith and salvation. The latest one I received told me that I had two choices: to stay silent like the fearful/lost/sinful masses, or to pass this message on and be like that one guy who actually stood up for his faith.

I honestly think these type of chain letters are means of the devil. They play on our guilt and fear that maybe we're not really Christian enough if we don't pass them on. This tactic reinforces the non-Scriptural perspective that works, not grace, is how you will receive salvation. If this were the case - that what you do somehow influences your salvation - then Jesus was only up on that cross for His own happy fun time. This is not Gospel, this is Law. Law condemns, the Gospel frees. And the only requirement of salvation is belief, which in turn is given to us by God Himself. We couldn't do it on our own.

I know that probably most people who send these messages are not thinking about it in this way. They probably think they're doing something nice for those they care about. And I suppose that's fine. But I think it's a misinformed tactic. If we pause to consider it, I'm sure we could come up with better ways to tell people that Jesus loves and saves us than through messages with fine print.

It's also something that's taking up way to much space on my internet.

Things are still going okay. I've finished my first class and have started on the next. Mostly I've either been super busy or too tired to write. Balancing all that has forced me to neglect the blog. I'll try and have something clever to write about soon.