Smart-Intelligent-Wondrous

I am constantly delighted by the new things I learn while reading the Fiction/Non-Fiction writings of Dan Brown. If all of history could be taught with some style, color, detail, and suspense, then every student who ever sat in a history class would make straight A's- The information is absolutely unforgettable.

Dan Brown has an amazing way of threading factual information into a fiction novel. Suspense novels written about actual people, places, and things lends an element of reality that is uncommon in most fiction lit. Brown writes in such a way that you feel like this event actually took place, and that only you- the reader, and the author are privy to this inside information.

I cannot put them down.

Once I have picked up a book from Brown, I cannot put it down. The information is like sunlight on a dying plant, immediately the dying vines of grey matter in my head are instantly recharged by the photosynthesis of Brown's words. I luxiariate in the warm blissfulness of his phrasing, the awesome alliteration, and the wonderful characters. And if the characters, the phrasing, and the information is not enough, the story is pretty darn fascinating as well. Dealing with secret societies and long-forgotten brotherhoods may not be intriguing to some, but if you have an appetite for something wildly different, something a little gamey, then Brown is the author for you.

When it comes to reading other's writing, I have a very critical eye. I hate poor metaphors, and simple simile's. I want style, color, visuals, depth- a meaty story with a zesty sauce- if you go too light on either you get a plate that is unpleasant to the palate.

When it comes to Dan Brown- I say you better grab a biscuit, he gives you plenty of information to sop up, and when you push away from the table, you leave feeling deliciously full and satisfied. B

A Recent Reconciliation

I recently reconciled with my real father after a 10 year period of a bizarre stalemate. Neither one of us seemed to want to move towards a reasonable resolve- and the reasons were unclear as to why.

Now the reasons seem clear- Neither of us really has that much to say. We both have separate lives. He recently remarried and he has two new step sons. I work, he works, we have no real history to talk about- we are not even really friends- eek. I realize that people who are related can actually not be friends. Friends requires a relationship, a give and take, a comraderie- we have never had that.

I am 27 and will soon be 28 and I realize that I don't even really know my real father. I have very few memories of us together when I was growing up. A few family reunions, a handful of times that he took us to dinner, or picked us up for the weekend- not a single moment of that stands out as some special moment between a father and a son. Something that we did just the two of us Father and Son.

The strange thing now is realizing that life was not always easy for him either, dealing with a step-father and an ex-wife could probably be difficult. He never really had time to just spend with me one on one. It would be easy to drift apart, hard to get to know, hard to know what to say when things needed to be said, hard to move forward, hard to pay child support- it could be very hard...

When he called the other day on the phone it was shocking to hear his laugh, it echoed mine. I saw some pictures of him recently and I realize that I got a few of his mannerisms too, but most of all, I think I got his inability to pick up the phone and make a call. Apparently neither one of us likes to pick up the phone and reach out. Life is just too busy, too full to add in what has never been. Making room in an already comfortable life is sometimes akward, cumbersome, not just for him, but for me too. I don't hold it against him for not calling, I don't hold any malice, or unforgiveness, we all make mistakes.

Only a few miles separate us, but within those miles is a chasm that will never be fully bridged. It is like an old scar that sometimes still burns with the memory of the pain that caused it.

The most frightening thing about injuries is the apprehension that comes with them, the not knowing if you are going to get hurt again, and the inability to take that risk. Fear and pride can be extremely paralyzing.

It was good hearing his voice, I had forgotten what it sounded like. It was nice talking and not talking about the past- letting sleeping dogs lie and moving ahead with life, and moving on with the understanding that we are who we are- we won't change, but we both accept that.

"Wiggle Your Big Toe..."

Uma chanted this mantra in Kill Bill as she willed her legs back to life. For some reason after being in a coma for 4 years she maintained all of her upper body strength, but her legs suffering from entropy, were paralyzed. There is not much I can say for the movie that has not already been said, and I hate quoting others.

The movie, if I had to describe it in one word would be- different. This is not the type of movie you take your kids to see- or your mother for that matter, but it is a fun movie that is action packed. I was fully entertained and when it was over, I was left longing for more.

Friday night I stayed home and rented a couple of movies- one of them was Lucky Numbers with John Travolta and Lisa Kudrow- it put me right to sleep.

Saturday night a group of us went to Joe T's. Traveling to Josh and Erika Wiese's in my truck, Alan and Nikki and I had a great time chatting about nothing. We met some new friends, made our way to Joe T's in Tom's Maxima, and had a wonderful rainless evening at Joe T. Garcia's. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is enchanting, the conversation was fun.

Our party then made it's way back to Lewisville to the game room in the apartment complex of the Wiese's. We played Shuffled board where Nikki and I both got Double 4's- which is really rare- I don't know how many times she did it- but I got it twice- shuffleboard is fun!

We then moved on to play some Power Uno- I wasn't up to snuff on that game- I only won once all night- Erika Wiese kept winning- that brat.

Mai Lee- I have no idea how to spell her name, played PU for the first time- poor thang- it is a hard game to play when you are playing with seasoned professionals- what she lacked in Uno, she made up for in Air Hockey- she totally destroyed me in air hockey- and I NEVER get destroyed at anything that I am good at. Apparently I am not so good at it after all.

Sunday we went to my sister's house- ate some yummy mexican food, talked, wathed football, ate some really good cookies, and then went home and watched some more football- later that night I picked up Jimmy from the airport and we went to Fuddruckers- the food was good but I almost had to kill Booch when he wouldn't get me any more ice water- when will people learn? I am HUGE! If you are smaller then me, then you should expect to get pushed around by me- besides if I tell you to get me some more water then follow it with please, and you are in my way so I can't get out of the booth, then I won't feel guilty at all when I shove you out of the booth and you almost land on the floor- be glad I didn't monkey stomp you while you were down there.

So the weekend was good-

The Cooking Gene

Some people are really good cooks- like most Grandma's and Chef's- other people are good at following recipes and making wonderful creations, and then there are those of us that are just born with a cooking gene. My real dad and my step dad and my mother and my grandmother all know how to cook- but I think that I am better than all of them- I have the cooking gene.

Some men are born with an extra Y chromosome making them more manly, I was born with an extra C chromosome that makes me cook better. The proof is literally in my pudding. It's good- it's basically just like yours- but mine tastes better.

Today was proof again that I am an AMAZING cook- we had a chili cook-off today and I entered this random recipe that I just made up and I actually won second place- one of the judges told me later that he picked mine to be first place. I got beat out by someone whose chili wasn't better tasting- it was just hotter.

I got a 25 dollar American Express Money Order that can be used virtually anywhere- very cool.

When it comes down to it- I don't know anyone that can cook any better than me- I am the best cook I know!

Kids

Yesterday I was at work and the lady behind me was talking to her son on the phone. I feel like I practically know him because she talks about him so much. Everyday he calls her when he gets home from school. Yesterday he called and he heard me laughing and so he wanted to talk to me. I picked up the phone not knowing what to ask a 9 year old, but I just asked him if he had homework, and what type- he was doing synonyms and antonyms- I love those things- I was good at them when I was his age. He is a cute kid, the entire episode reminded me of Kanakuk camp and working with Tee Pee #1. Those great kids hugging and laughing and just being innocent and fun. Even when they were brats I couldn't help but love them.

I love listening to Sandy talk to her kid on the phone- she always ask him how his day was, if he got into trouble, and if he has homework- he plays basketball and baseball and sounds like an all around cool kid. I hope my kids are cool one day. I will still love my kid if it is geeky, but it would be nice to have good kids that are just cooler than everyone else's.

My very lame attempt at Sketch Comedy


Arnold for Governor...

and Oprah for President!

"Today on Celebrity Government we are talking with the newest presidential candidate- Oprah Winfrey-
I'm David Antwerp your host of Celebrity Governor- we'll be back right after a word from our sponsor."

Queue music-

Commercial for McDonalds, Breast Cancer Awarness, and Inside Edition-

Music plays again

"And we're back, Today, we are talking about Celebrity Oprah Winfrey and her decision to run for President of the United States of America- Oprah, what gave you this crazy idea?"

"Well David, as you know I have been in the public eye for quite some time now- I have used my show for years to promote goodness, equality, women, children, and most of all- myself. America does not really care about what you stand for- they care about how popular you are, how much money you have, and how far up the ladder you have climbed- and if Arnold can become governor of California- a man not even born in the US- then I see no reason why someone as smart and intelligent as myself cannot become president of the United States."

"So what would your focus be if you did become President of the Free World?"

"Well, first of all I would start with getting those t-shirt sheets in every home- they are just so comfortable- and a world that sleeps well, lives well."

"What would you do for the economic decline? How would you help with the recessioin?"

"What economic decline? My account is full of money, and I don't know anything about male pattern baldness"

"Oprah, in the last 10 years your show has been one of the highest rated shows- would you continue with your daily show?- how would becoming the President change your life"

"Not much, currently I control what most women think in the world- when you control the women, you control the world, my platform might change a little, but my views won't- I have the women of this world hanging on my every word, when I say jump, they say how high, when I say lose weight, they say- how much, and when I say make babies- they go home and make babies. My approval rating is already through the roof, and people love me."

"What do you think about being a woman and a minority"

"This is the 2000's, I have the vote of the woman, the vote of the minority, the face of America is changing and it is looking more and more beautiful everyday- everyday it is looking more and more- well, like me!"

"That's quite a bit of brutal honesty."

"Oprah is synonymous with honesty."

"Well, we're out of time- tune in tomorrow when we have David Spade who will be running for Congress! I'm David Antwerp, thanks for tuning in to Celebrity Government!"

Crowd applaudes wildly

October Birthday's

Of all the people I know I think I know the most people with birthday's in October- at least people that are really close to me- now don't get upset if your birthday is not in October and you think you are really close to me- you probably still are, it's just that both of my sister's Birthday's- Precious and Dena- were born in October- the 26th and the 21st respectively. My sisters are not even a full year apart- they are the same age for 5 days- how cool is that!

My Grandfather who is now up in heaven with Jesus was born on October 21st, 1900. He died at the ripe old age of 93- his birthday was on the same day as Dena's- so we never had trouble remembering it. Do you remember your Grandparents birthdays? I know I don't.

Then two of my closest friends Alan and Cribby- they were born on October 7th and 4th- Cribby turned 32 on Saturday and Alan turned 27 today.

So- Happy Birthday October Birthday's!!

Weekend Update

I live an amazingly blessed life filled with a decent job, wonderful friends, and a blessed Savior. Because of him I get to have more fun in one weekend than some people do in their entire lives. Even when times are bad- they are still pretty darn good.

Por Ejemplo:

I flew to Wichita, Kansas this weekend for a Song of Solomon Conference. My plane was about the size of on of those cardboard rolls that hold toilet paper, but I was able to move so that I wasn't sitting in the single seat and I had a little more leg room- apparently people aren't banging down the doors trying to get to Wichita. The only other unfortunate thing about the plane ride there was the lack of Dr. Pepper- I settled for a coke and some Biscoff's- Biscoff's are these little cookies that look like they should be packaged in a tin with an assortment of other cookies that should be sippped with black coffee or hot tea with lemon- I had neither, they went well with the coke and I found then quite pleasing to the palate.

Wichita Airport is about as bland and boring as... well- the rest of Wichita. Maroon carpet and old orange brick circa 1970 still plagued the poor looking building- the lack of people, escalators, and functioning bathrooms made me miss chaotic but modern DFW.

I meandered down the mile long walkway to a vacant locale in one of the few restaurants and I had a coke that cost just under $3.00- I wondered where all this money was going- obviously not on the decor, or on the hired help.

Tom and Doug showed up later- an hour and a half later. I was starting to get worried- their plane was delayed so instead of arriving at 11:45 they showed up at 12:30- I had already decided that I was going to start making phone calls at 12:30 if they didn't appear- thankfully they did.

Avis Rent-a-Car rented us a 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix. What a poor excuse for a car- I have had more room in the back of a Ford Festiva- I just don't get why they don't understand that some Americans exceed 6 foot. I also think Grand Prix's are ugly.

Adaryl and Michael (they are the musicians for the conference- click on their names for their websites) normally meet us at the airport, but they met us at the church. Tom, Doug, and I went to Amarillo Cafe and ate lunch with Steve Brummer- one of the 14 assistant pastors at the church- he was really nice but I couldn't help but wonder why a church needed 14 assistant pastors...tres bizarre.

Lunch was good- burger and fries- I was the hot topic of conversation with my large size, silver glasses, silver phone, and Chinese watch- Tom is really funny- he kept putting on my glasses and acting like Space Ghost.

Later Doug and I went to the Church and worked- Tom went to the Y and worked out.

The Church was really nice- Purple and Gray with stadium seating. The conference went extremely well and afterwards I had a hotel room all to myself. I love to turn the AC on as cold as it will go, then pile all the covers on me and just hibernate- the room got cold, but I would have liked it colder.

Saturday we breakfasted in the hotel- biscuits and gravy, eggs, hashbrowns- and two bowls of pineapple smothered in cool whip- it was WTT.

Saturday the conference went along without a hitch and afterward we drove to Red, Hot, and Blue. It was good, especially the fried okra- Yummy!

Then we all drove to the airport- Michael and I were on the same plane- which didn't leave until 5:45- so I got to spend more time with Michael and more time watching Texas whoop K-State and more time in the lovely airport of Wichita.

Later on Saturday night when I finally made it home I reheated some pizza from Papa Johns, rented Big Trouble with Tim Allen and Rene Russo and had a very enjoyable evening at home.

Sunday was less eventful. I lunched with Alan Meadows at El Matador, and then we went and visited Cribby and Jenni- Jenni made an amazing cake for Cribby's- THIRTY SECOND birthday- the cake was the bomb.

Sunday night I went to church and Tom was all over the place in the Bible. He had mentioned his 32 point sermon over the weekend but I didn't know it was going to be last night- crazy! It was all about Revelation and end times and the church and the mark of the beast and all sorts of stuff that moved so fast I barely had time to process it all.

After church I went to Cody's house and we watched Trading Spaces 100 Grand! It was really good, but the rooms they did were really, really small- I was a little disappointed that they didn't do the entire house- how crazy to spend 50,000 dollars in one room- how will the rest of the house be able to compete? 15,000 dollars worth of furniture, and 34,000 dollars worth of paint, curtains, and molding- it looked good but I think I could have done better.

All in all it was a great weekend.

Unfortunate Cookies

I remember a time when Chinese Food places were rare, now they are almost as prevalent as McDonalds and Starbucks.

One of my favorite things about eating Chinese Food is the overly crunchy (So crunchy that I don't eat them) Fortune Cookie!

Well, as of late, I have noticed a decline in the fortunes that are foretold in the proverbial cookie. I could pontificate on this subject, compare it to the decline in our economy and morals- but I will let the cookies speak for themselves...

Don't let friends impose on you. Work Calmly and Silently.

That special someone loves to see the light in your eyes.

You should be able to make money and hold on to it.

You will be successful in anything relating to sports.

Success is at your fingertips- open your eyes.

You will have much happiness through the Internet.

What does all this garble mean? Who writes this lame, unimaginative, dribble? What happened to the high standards that are always set by the Chinese? Did they start sub-contracting the fortune cookie market?

How can I live in a world where my fortune cookies are so unfortunate? God only knows...

Biblically Speaking

The Bible has been around for at least 3 milennia- written by over 40 different men and is the best-selling book of all time- with these stats it is easy to see why it is so often- dare I say it- Plagiarised!

Now, plagiarism can come in a couple of forms- you can copy someones writing in it's entirety, or individuals writing style. I haven't noticed the second one, but in the first I have noticed that some of the stories that I have read today reference similar Biblical stories or names- just a few of the details are changed.

For example. When I was in my teens I read a book called Shogun by James Clavell, a young man is cooked to death in a large pot while this evil ruler delights in the sounds of his screams- well, this is the story of Anitpas- quite possibly the first Martyr- mentioned in Revelation chapter 2- he was cooked to death in a large copper kettle- this happened under the rule of Domitian- Coincidence? Maybe.

I just think it is interesting how many authors use the Bible for references- and ideas- it just proves the old adage- "Truth is stranger than Fiction"