SWITCHFOOT-Hello Hurricane

Remember back in the day when I would blog about switchfoot like every other day? Well, then life got serious, and I had to act like a respectable member of society and not like a groupie, which is truly what I'd like to be. Well their new album came out a few weeks ago, and I got it on itunes the day it came out. It's super fabulous, close to as good as Beautiful Letdown, which is my all time favorite Switchfoot album, this one doesn't top that one but comes closer than any of their other albums, it's great! So their tour isn't coming even remotely close to cincy, so I stalked flickr and found.....

This, amazing pictures that makes me feel as though I was right there. Enjoy, and if the photographer is out there....thank you, thank you, thank you!

So that we'll never forget.....

Charlie Matthews Celebration of Life from Mason Vineyard Church on Vimeo.

For those I've spoken to since the service, and for those who weren't able to attend. I hope to never forget the impact it had on my life. And now those of you who never knew Charlie can now see why it's so important to never forget him.

Do Over!

This week I'd like to ask for a Do over! Not Halloween it was dandy, and it involved candy. Not sure why I just said dandy but I think it's because it rhymes with candy. "Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker....." Anyone??? So Perry was a sock monster. I caught a brief glimpse of this costume at Spookeree last year and memorized it in my head, and recreated it because it's a genius idea. But before Halloween could even begin, while at work I got word that Charlie Matthews , had passed away that morning. Due to medical complications, he had been in the hospital since October 5, and days before seemed to be on the road to recovery. I was crushed. 2 Corintians 4:8 is crap. " We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;" Some of it I am certain is true. Crushed.....CHECK.....hard pressed....CHECK......perplexed......CHECK CHECK.......not in despair.....WRONG....Saturday I was fine, sad, but not in despair just yet because I was working and somewhat in disbelief, Sunday in church....was when I started feeling that despair that Paul says in that verse I'm not suppose to be in. Then Monday when I read Dave Workmans blog, he said all the right words, and it was almost like he gave me permisson to be in complete despair.....thanks Dave! (honestly something needed to be released) It just seemed to get worse from there like a crazy downward spiral of overwhelming sadness. It seemed to get worse as the day of his funeral drew closer. Felt somewhat alone in my sadness as I hadn't really been connected with anyone from Alpha in over 2 years. Then I got connected, and it was as though we had never lost touch and they were experiencing the same kind of grief I was. It was so good to reconnect. And grieve with people who knew exactly how I felt. It was good to see even more Alpha peeps at the memorial service.....which was super sad.....super cleansing and was pretty much a life changing event. You could not walk away from that service and not feel like you were commissioned to change the world, and be passionate about doing it. 3 of my Alpha peeps and I were invited back to the Mason Vineyard, after the cemetary. What an honor to see what Charlie had poured his heart into over the past 6 months. And wow these people loved him and his family. They embraced us immediately. It was as though they saw some of Charlie in us, afterall we were trained leaders who served under his leadership for many years. All 4 of us were what many refer to as Alphaholics.....those who serve every session often it would be 3 sessions a year. (that's 30 weeks people) So we got the grand tour.....what a special place.....clearly inspired by all that was Charlie. As I stepped foot into the sactuary, first of all the smallest sactuary I've seen in my whole life. It seats 50 people, anymore you are violating the fire code. I've been at VCC for 22 years, when I first started one service was 200 we had 3 services, when we moved to crescentville we were at one point at like 7 or 8 services. And by the time we got to where we are now, we eventually grew to 8,000, don't check the math but I think it's fairly accurate. So I digress...basically 50 people is like a small group to us. Just a little bit before my time VCC started with as few as 50 people.

So asside from the smallness, it was actually very quaint and cozy, the first thing I noticed was the chairs. I recognized the chairs. Ok so to most these chairs are just chairs. To someone like me who thrives on the simple things.....these chairs signify way way more than just a place to


rest your rear. These chairs were at VCC when we were at Crescentville. These chairs bring back a lot of great memories. Lots of great worship, with Dave Workman as the worship leader. I once saw a women get slain in the spirit and nearly hit her head on one of these chairs (true story) me and my friend Weezer (mean Kim) were right behind her and both of us neglected to even attempt to catch her. She was fine the HG....allowed her to rest gently to the floor. These chairs represent growth and change, because they are moveable and you can always add more. Which I truely believe is going to happen at Mason Vineyard. Charlie set them up for great success.....I got a great sense of the Holy Spirit in this sactuary, and felt like he was saying "great things are going to happen here." Can't wait to see what happens. So I am "double dipping" on Sunday with some of my Alpha peeps, Charlie had prepared to do a series called "One Month to Live." I listened to the first week online at the Mason website....and well lets just say, it's going to be a good one I'm sure of it. Ok so no more crying, pretty sure I've got no more tears left...I said that before then found some more. On to the business of living people we got a world to change! Lots of people blogged about Charlies death. When my friend Michelle had mentioned Steve Fuller had visited Mason Vineyard on Sunday, he's always had a way with words, this time was no exception, very well put and keeping it real just like Charlie would have it.

My Secret...

It's really not a big deal. I was just told by someone who appeared to have a bit of authority, "please don't tell anyone." So I kept it on the "DL" till now. So Chipotle in Fairfields official grand opening isn't until friday. I saw people there eating at lunch time. So I assumed they were open, and the big celebration is on friday. So I made my plans for dinner before leaving work. Went at dinnertime. Walked in like I owned the place (trust me I'll be partial owner in no time) and was stopped by an official looking burrito dude. He asked "do you have an ivitation?". To which I said "no", so he whispered over to an official looking burrito lady....while I stand there looking like a goon. She then said "go ahead, but don't tell anyone since it's free tonight...". DO WHAT? Oh I've had my fair share of free love from them before, lost wallet, tax day, mothers day ect....but not a whole meal. Apparently you could feed the whole fam fo free since the dude in front of me did. I didn't want to be greedy so I just got my burrito and the drink. Considering I didn't get officially invited. So I got the fam's food at the other one that was only like 7 miles up the road. So there's my secret. Was it worth the wait?
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Fall Fun and Blogging from the Blackberry

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Testing Technology

So this is a test. Just set up to blog from my phone! We all know I sure do love me some technology. But which is easier? 140 character tweet, or an entire blog post from my blackberry? That question was answered right away since an SMS post is limited in characters and it breaks it up. So I'll try and do it as an MMS or another way, or just tweet.......

Socks.....and other Nonsense I might come up with at 1:45 am

So I had an epiphany while putting clothes in the dryer, and seeing the mountain of socks on top of my dryer. Socks should magically find their mates while spinning around in the dryer. There I said it. I mean really how many countless hours are spent matching.....(or not)....up socks? In my line of work people rarely see my socks, so if I am too lazy to find the mate sometimes I will find something that's close. Surely I am not the only one in the whole world who does this.

Those right there are my favorite socks, with my favorite shoes. One of the socks is missing, but I have a red, white a blue striped one that came in the same pack so essentially it's the same sock just diff colors. Yep I've worn them together. Oh let it out people it's not a big deal, no one cares really. And if you've always wanted to do this and have not, I'm now giving you permission. Make it happen, you'll feel liberated. So while we are on the topic of socks according to Walmart only grown ass men have a need for warm wool socks. True story. Now granted I am not a fan of going to walmart, and if I could afford it I'd avoid it like the plague, but lets be real folks, most of us are BROKE these days and we can't afford to buy that crap anywhere else but walmart. So I was on a quest to purchase some either super warm or wool socks at the Mart of Wals, for the boy and I, along with other essentials needed for camping with the boy scouts in the cold wet climate, of which we are experiencing right now. None could be found for dainty lady feet like mine, and none for little boy feet either, oh but if you are a manly man, and entire section is devoted to warm wool socks. And apparently there aren't any wee little men in the world with wee little feet, they all must have size 9 or larger. UGH.....So I will have to venture out on my day off tomorrow to score warm socks....because Lord knows my strippedy, mismatched socks would not be cold ass camping worthy! My first camping adventure with the Boy Scouts and I choose a wet cold weekend. Cub Scouts don't camp when it's cold. Boy Scouts camp no matter what the climate.....I've hit the big time, pray I don't freeze to death. So to see some of the sites I saw during my late night adventure just go HEAR and pretend it's Hamilton, OH.....or should I say "The Township", don't get all offended Hamilton folks......you know I love you all and you are an exception to the rule, most of you anyways!

The Boy got a TV....in his Room??

I kind of feel like the reason my child has ADHD, would be because he watched ALOT of TV as a baby. Ron and I worked opposite shifts, and opposite meaning we saw each other coming and going. He worked nights and I worked days. So he was home in the mornings with the baby, often quite sleepy. So the TV helped him babysit. Sad but true. So once we got on a regular schedule I vowed the child would never have a TV in his room. I mean seriously, theres a TV in ever other room in the house why would he need one in his room? I don't ever remember having one in my room until I was 16. He didn't really ask for one until the past few years when he started going to friends houses and saw most of his friends have TV in their rooms, and he's like um wheres mine? So he has a whole wall, painted with chalkboard paint, so he drew one, and then crafted a remote control out of cardboard. Imagination+chalk TV+cardboard remote= cheapest TV ever! The power of that TV didn't last very long. So in order for us to get him to do his summer reading this summer we bribed him with a TV in his room if he completed his book. With a little help from Geegaw, and a TV she was getting rid of his dream finally came true today.
So now heres my question, to those of you who are parents of children who are fortunate to have a TV in their room. What sort of rules do you have for that. I can see him up at all hours watching TV. Never leaving his room, ect.....I'm going to need some guidance on the rules here. This is a whole new territory for me. Dag remember when you turned 12 and got a phone in your room? Do people even do that anymore? Few people even have land lines anymore, I am considering getting rid of ours. I mean seriously, why do you even need a landline anymore? I know I've not blogged in forever. Blogging is so 2008 people, microblogging is the wave of the future, regular old fashion blogging involves way too many words.