New neighbors.. A Lutheran minister, his wife, teen daughter, three young boys and a beagle who sounds like a tortured demon when he howls, which he does primarily when I'm napping. I'm sure I'll adjust.

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Taking vacation this week...if you can call playing host to four teen boys - taking them to the coast, and Mexico- a vacation. Get paid tonight, that should at least ease things a bit. We're still broke, but not as broke as we were.

Got a lesson in blessings today when I was informed a girl we've hired to care for babies at the church has no electricity because her husband has been out of work for months. They have a baby of their own. I was glad our church is the type of place that helps, no questions asked. I also became quite aware that when I "do without", I'm not "doing without" anything I really need.
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Had a nice discussion last nite about the nature of our church and why it doesn't appeal to some folks. I truly believe some people want to be yelled at and convicted at church. We're not that type of place. If you need that type of thing THIS be of use.
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"Are we there yet?"
Sometimes I feel like our military leaders have taken the role of parents driving a cross country trip with a backseat full of kids. Metaphorically the "kids" are reporters. "How come we haven't won the war yet?" "Did you underestimate the Iraqi military might?".

What value are these questions? What value is such speculation? I can see how it's of value to Saddam.
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Leaving soon to go see another Winter Guard competition. Did I mention we are "charged" every time we go to see our child perform? Each time the charge goes up. Today it's 10 bucks each to watch Lisa for less than 4 minutes. To think I've seen her for free for all these years. Such a deal.
I may be overly optimistic, but I think this is the last competition she is in...hopefully forever. 10 bucks may be a small price to pay.
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On war front: Flipper come home!

Friday...very little else has to be said.

Dealing with a deadbeat who bounced a check to Amy...That means we're livin' lean till Monday... we've done it before, however usually it's our own doing not someone elses. Guess we'll be able to demonstrate grace and forgiveness...sure hope we can.

Very cute web page purporting to be a "Google search" on FRENCH MILITARY VICTORIES.

Suffered through jury duty yesterday. It's a wonder anyone ever goes on trial in this country and even more of a miracle that juries don't convict everyone who does stand trial after having to suffer the indignities of being chosen for a jury and losing patience with the process. I wasn't picked for a jury but I still had the pleasure of standing in line several times and answering a prosecutor's question in a "restoration" hearing. A "restoration hearing" is when someone who has been ruled nuts previously returns from the rubber Ramada and prosecutors try to prove they're no longer nuts. The dribbling gentleman whose fate was nearly put in my hands was mumbling to himself and looking everywhere but at the potential jurors during my brief encounter with him. Looked like an act to me, but I might have been rushing to judgement since I heard zero testimony and don't even know what he was accused of doing. In any case, I was ruled "unfit" to determine if he was fit...I think it's best not to dwell on that. His name wasn't Wayne or Mohammed.

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UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE: The urinal cake is gone. I diposed of it quietly, yet respectfully. No formal ceremony.

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Life's a ball ....SOMETIMES.

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On the war front....I found some web domains that, according to Yahoo, are still mysteriously available. For some reason no one has applied FOR THESE. .

Read into that what you will.

Prayer boundaries.

I usually set aside time to pray. What does God think about "non prayer" time?

It struck me as curious last night how I pray and then end with "amen" like that is God's cue, "Okay God, I'm done praying, you can go now." It's like I end my prayer by closing the door on God. Presumably God knows my thoughts after I stop praying too, though I guess it could be argued that God only goes where He's invited. Nonetheless, I think I'll keep the door open more. Amen.
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Onto the less relevant and reverent: The must have Michael Jackson souvenir.
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On the war front...more shots at France...Something of an assault from the rear.

This is a sweet scoop.

Urine Trouble

Psalm 143
In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;
destroy all my foes,
for I am your servant.

Do we still pray to this God? Should we be ashamed to pray this way? At times like this I almost feel more comfortable in an Old Testament world.. I'm sure it will pass. Thank God for grace...I need it.

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Baghdad Bingo:
SAN DIEGO (Wireless Flash) -- A new drinking game is hitting U.S. barrooms and college campuses harder than Scud missiles in Saddam Hussein's palaces.
Boozehounds play the so-called "Baghdad Bingo" by watching the news and taking a shot every time they hear a journalist use buzzwords like "shock and awe."
Other lush lingo includes "embedded journalists," "weapons of mass destruction," "decapitation attack," and "bunker buster bombs."

Some folks are passing out before Peter Jennings says goodnight.

The urinal cake debate-Why do "urinal cakes" exist? First off, I don't want to think of urinals and cakes in the same sentence. I like to think of cakes in terms of festive events. I don't want to wear a party hat around the urinal.



In any case, I walked into the men's room at church on Sunday to be overpowered by this pungent aroma of "industrial cherry" or something. One of my fellow congregants took it upon himself to install a "urinal cake". He and his wife are wonderful "doers". They see jobs that need to be done and do them. We need more people in the church like them.
In addition to the pleasantly pink "cake", he also installed a "duel purpose mat" which serves to hold the "cake" and prevent cigarette butts from clogging up the urinal.

I love it when people in the church contribute...this contribution though didn't hit me right.

To make a long story longer, I ended up in this protracted email conversation asking about the origin of the church urinal cake and trying to politely explain that I didn't think it was necessary. I pray I didn't offend the "givers" but we agreed I would stick my hand in the dirty urinal and remove it. The duel function catch all mat is going too.

First time I've ever turned down cake.
Of course in this day and age of increased federal wiretapping and surveillance, maybe I should be more SUSPICIOUS.

Ambivalence Sunday
Main Entry: am·biv·a·lence
Pronunciation: am-'bi-v&-l&n(t)s
Function: noun
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary
Date: 1918
1 : simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings (as attraction and repulsion) toward an object, person, or action

How does a word get a "date" anyway? Oh well, I'm feeling ambivalent today. We talked in Sunday school about how you weigh the "commandments" in the Bible and I was struck by how easily we seem to be able to be able to put our own values on God's.

We have two groups in our Sunday school class, the talkers and the non-talkers. I am among the non-talkers because the talkers talk over my head or talk too much. Perhaps our most learned talker says a lot but each time he does I wonder if he is helping me draw nearer to God or not. He has been "delivered" from piety, but now, to me, his irreverence too often seems counter productive to bible study. I'm not sure I want to doubt and question. I'm not sure I want to interpret and decide. I'm not sure there is so much gray. I am sure I don't need to let cynicism creep into my religious life. I'm cynical enough.

Maybe what I need is a "bible study" class the studies the basics of the bible. Maybe then I'll feel more willing to doubt, question and interpret its meaning.

I was hit by the 'ambivalence' of my church family in these discussions and even in prayers about the war. We seem to want to cover all the bases, remain open to 'options' and suddenly I was struck by the lack of definition of it all. I sometimes feel our church is too willing to "accept", and too willing to be the white line in the middle of the road...not sure over the long term that will attract any more than the equivilent of dead skunks. Sometimes I need more definition. This is what we believe. This is why we believe it. I believe we'd be stronger for it.

Time to go walk it out of my system..

By the way... The Dish Network is apparently being run by thugs operating from behind prison walls. They are most unpleasant. No one should ever subscribe to their service without reading up on them. You can start with my latest tirade.
Too much introspection these past few days...maybe it's war fatigue

Just suffered thru the movie "Ali". Didn't realize it was in real time. The story of the most exciting athlete in history which Hollywood managed to make into a three hour epic of suffering. Makes me want to put my head in a George Foreman grill.
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French Alert!! I'm glad we've resolved this issue

News Flash:Human Shields take off their foil helmets and get glimpse of reality:

From UPI:
A group of American anti-war demonstrators who came to Iraq with Japanese human shield volunteers made it across the border today with 14 hours of uncensored video, all shot without Iraqi government minders present. Kenneth Joseph, a young American pastor with the Assyrian Church of the East, told UPI the trip "had shocked me back to reality." Some of the Iraqis he interviewed on camera "told me they would commit suicide if American bombing didn't start. They were willing to see their homes demolished to gain their freedom from Saddam's bloody tyranny. They convinced me that Saddam was a monster the likes of which the world had not seen since Stalin and Hitler. He and his sons are sick sadists. Their tales of slow torture and killing made me ill, such as people put in a huge shredder for plastic products, feet first so they could hear their screams as bodies got chewed up from foot to head."

The battle for Iraq is taking our troops over what's believed to be the area where the Garden of Eden was.

Apparently there was stilll one bad apple there.

Aw shucks...shock and awe.
The Canadians are booing the American National Anthem. Liz Taylor is defending Saddam Hussein. The Iraqi people are cheering as American forces move in. What's wrong with this picture?

I can almost understand the youthful peace protests. If you can't be stupid when your 17 when can you be? I can understand the protesters in San Francisco...they live in a communist community. The rest of 'em, in my mind, are giving aid and comfort to the enemy. We're at war... there are no "sides" to choose. Our country is at war. You either support our country or you don't.

When did I become a redneck? Not exactly a spiritual question. Speaking of which here's something to chew on.

Lasers painting buildings in Iraq that are then slammed by 40 cruise missiles..high tech weaponry that automatically returns fire and Iraq lobs a few ill aimed Scud missiles, at least two of which land harmlessly in the desert. Saddam is talking about swords and we're hitting them with missiles.

This war may be the technological equivilent of beating up your little sister.

The first casualty...a peace protester.

Some of the protesters are no longer losing their clothes but they're losing their lunch.

10 hours and counting...

The Iraqis remain defiant in public saying they'll be "martyred" with Saddam (how's that for an optimistic stance?), yet there are all these reports of Iraqi military leaders saying they're preparing to rollover once the bombs drop. Almost feels like we're going to fight the French.

I know I'm breathing easier knowing the Oscars are going to go on as scheduled Sunday... what a relief that is...


My question: which will last longer the war with Iraq or the Academy awards ceremony?

The peace protesters are still not swaying me. At least THIS GUY kept his clothes on...still looked like a butt though.

Code Orange! Code Orange! Sorry...it sounds like a bad soft drink to me...

My current bet for when the missiles fly is 2:23 p.m. Central time on Thursday..


What's important hits home...one of my many bosses who has been obsessed with war preparations has now rushed out of town. His father is dying. Some things you can never prepare for...

The State Senate in Tennessee has passed a bill making it illegal to watch porn on your dashboard television set if it's visible from the street. Is this really a problem? I always thought the scenery in Tennessee was pretty, but I guess it could become mundane after a while....

Scientists at Rice University say the air in and around Houston contains tiny bits of polyunsaturated fatty acids. It's the result of thousands of Texans cooking meat on their barbecue grills. Today's forecast: Cloudy with a chance of ribs.

"When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come"


Looks like we're on the brink....enough talking...time to act. I know this is serious stuff. I know there are dire consequences. However, when push comes to shove, I personally have only one goal for this war...to free the men of Iraq from having those cheesy mustaches.

"What if Jesus came back like that?"

I initially read this story and laughed, "Great, God is here speaking like one of those "Billy Bob singing trouts". How could anyone think God would reveal Himself through a 20 pound carp?

Now I'm wondering what form God would have to take to get our attention where we wouldn't laugh or doubt it.
Say He took over all the TV sets. Wouldn't a good percentage of folks think that was merely some form of high tech wizardry or maybe a prank by a 14 year old computer hacker?
Take over the radio broadcasting frequencies? Surely that could be just some government conspiracy.

He could shout at us from the clouds...most of us would probably say we didn't hear anything and then double our medication.

Do we need to look to the clouds or listen to fish to hear from God? Can't we just look at and listen to each other?

I think most of time it's not God hiding from us...it's the other way around.

"Freedom was just another word for nothin' left to lose"

When you hear the phrase "No War for Oil" consider a different meaning: the countries whining about "No War" are doing it "FOR oil".
The "Peace" protestors seem to be lacking a great deal of (WARNING ADULTS ONLY) credibility in my mind. What is this penchant for getting naked for peace? I still don't make the connection. In a peaceful world will we all run around with our wrinkled butts out in the open? Maybe the ideal is a return to the Garden of Eden. Don't think we can put that toothpaste back in the tube.

On the criminal front... this guy is going to do a lot of hard time before he gets "sprung"

About to head to the church to do some early morning yard work since Lisa has two winter guard events (see previous blog on my thoughts on Winter Guard) and it's her 18th birthday so I want to cheer her on...while trying not to giggle.

About to head out for Lisa's 18th birthday party. She's 18 tomorrow. 18. EIGHTEEN!!

Okay I'll get over it in a minute...maybe.

A website to keep an eye on

Ah, my blog is back. I've been blogless for a few days, which was a new experience. If you've come here looking for wisdom, I'm sorry to disappoint. My thoughts will have to suffice.

Natalie Maines from the Dixie Chicks made a brilliant career move by announcing to a European concert audience how she was "ashamed that President Bush is from Texas." You know if I could sing, I think I'd count my blessings and try not to open my mouth for much else.

This is Mrs. Main. I'm fixing Michael's blog. I'm probably the cause of most of Mr. Main's lessons in patience that didn't take :-)
But he loves me. And I love him.
Now, back to your regularly scheduled blog.

Well, I'm getting a lesson in patience. Still no access to the website so this can't be published, but I sort of told myself I would try to write everyday...I've slipped the past several days but now I'm just going to write even if I never get access to my website again. I can't complain since I don't pay for web hosting and I probably could use more lessons in patience since most of the previous ones didn't take.

Well hopefully the very fascinating Main Point "blog" will be back on line sometime today. So I'm really writing for my own amusement now, since this can't even be published. How sad is that? At least prior to this I had the illusion someone would read what I wrote... oh well.

Clear Channel Shareholders mull suit

(Undated)-Shareholders of Clear Channel Worldwide are mulling a lawsuit as a result of what they term "legal bottom feeders" seeking to profit from the Rhode Island nightclub fire tragedy.

"I've suffered great emotional distress", says Bob "Wayne" Guthrie, a stockholder who is one of the early potential plaintiffs in the case. Guthrie says he opted to consider legal action "after reading reports of trial lawyers hoping to solicit clients by dangling the bait of suing the deep pockets" of Clear Channel Worldwide. "Even though the lawyers admit Clear Channel had virtually no role in this tragedy, they say they're going to sue the company because it has lots of money". Guthrie says after reading the reports he had to seek psychiatric counseling, "it makes no freakin' sense to me but all these other people apparently think it's logical, so I must be crazy". Guthrie says he has suffered from loss of sleep and has been forced to take medication to quell his desire to "throttle every dang lawyer I see".

Guthrie says he's being joined in considering a lawsuit by several other shareholders including Dan "Wayne" Walthers. "I think the lawyers owe me something for my trauma" says Walthers, "I've watched my stock portfolio tank for two years and now these sharks rise out of the pond scum!".

Legal experts say the potential suit is tenuous, "It's difficult to sue sleazy lawyers because you have to find a reputable lawyer willing to sue them", says Professor Fredrick Wayne Hitzniner at Pleugerville State University, "reputable lawyers are not easy to find".

"I think these legal bottom feeders should be forced to recognize the harm they've caused me and my family", says Walthers. "They're money thieving hands are all over this and its time we take them out of our pockets".

The San Antonio broadcasting giant Clear Channel has not been named in any suit stemming from the Rhode Island tragedy, but recent articles in the Boston Globe indicate several trial lawyers hope to include the company in future action. "It seems to me they're just trolling for potential clients by saying they'll sue a big fish like Clear Channel", says shareholder Michael "Wayne" Main. " Main says he's suffered night sweats and had a bad taste in his mouth since the reports surfaced. "I feel like I've been forced to swallow so much cow dung my eyes are going to turn brown" says the blue-eyed Main.

The potential plaintiffs say they plan to seek damages "in the billions".

So I have a website for two years and do nothing to it. Then a few weeks ago I decide I'll put some pictures up. Revamp the front page. Start publishing a blog.

What happens?

My webhost changes servers, has problems, and my page has reverted back to the old one.

Retro-tech or is there a vicious editor out there? Probably someone named Wayne....or Mohammed.

Can't even post this since my passwords have been changed. Oh well I have something to do this week...reposting my website.

Sigh...

A rain free weekend! I feel like it's been six months since we've had a dry weekend with sunshine...surely it hasn't been that long. Of course we'll probably lounge around watching movies, but the sun is out there if we need it...somehow that's reassuring.

I read where Hans Blix failed to mention some rather damning evidence during his latest "report" to the U.N.... well, he mentioned it, just not out loud. Maybe since he drones on and on the discovery of a drone aircraft seemed irrelevant. Selective truth, why are we so used to that? I hope when this war is over we seriously debate the need for the U.N.

Dan Morales, former Texas Attorney General, former San Antonio State Representative, and the first " official " in San Antonio I established a rapport with has now been indicted on 12 counts of fraud. Dan always seemed like a straight arrow. He's a Harvard grad...
THIS might explain it.

"Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other."

Sometimes I get the impression that the UN will always be happy if there are simply enough meetings. It's like UN members think as long as they can talk to each other there's always a chance of finding a solution. That sounds noble, but not if you simply keep talking and talking and talking for talkings sake. Occasionally you also have to listen, to hear, to understand what's being said. Otherwise it's like a giant "Dilbert" cartoon.

Speaking of cartoons, check this out: Homestarrunner

War and rumors of war....This could be the last war free weekend for a while...We'll celebrate when the war is over..shouldn't we rejoice once before it starts?
Think I'll spend it pulling weeds and teaching Sunday school kids...wish I could teach the weeds but they won't listen...course neither do the Sunday school kids.

A "Sherpa" is planning on opening a "Cybercafe" 17,000 feet up Mt. Everest...seems like a long way to go for more meaningless Internet surfing.

They're selling a pistol this weekend in Central Texas that once belonged to Elvis.. he used it to shoot his television. It may fetch 100 thousand bucks and considering today's "Reality TV" explosion it could get some more use.

Saw something today in San Antonio I haven't seen in ages....sunshine.

Seems like it's been raining or gloomy for months. Managed to cut the back yard, or at least smush down the weeds.

Been adding links...I love this one that says "Click the Heads". You can actually click anywhere. Have to figure out how to embed a link in my ramblings.Try this

For some reason I'm always surprised by Thursdays...the early recognition that the weekend is near consistently startles me with joy...

Apparently war is near too... maybe we should start a pool. I'm betting the first cruise missile launches at 1:17 p.m. Central time one week from today...but then again I got zero numbers in lotto last nite.

An 85 year old woman in England has had the words "Do not resuscitate" tattooed on her chest because she fears she'll keel over and doctors will try to keep her alive..don't they make bracelets for that type of thing? I'm sure the unlucky tattoo artist trying to negotiate the wrinkles would have preferred the bracelet approach.

Second post of the day...not that I'm particularly inspired, but I had a few moments to kill before heading to tonight's Ash Wednesday service.

I've been surfing random "blogs", since I'm new at this and wanted to see what other say in theirs and I've come to the conclusion there are a lot of angry people out there. Inevitably somewhere in their rantings they mention how they don't believe in God.

Guess I was that angry once too... glad I'm not anymore.

Thank God.

Ash Wednesday.

Time to walk the walk...literally. My Lenten pledge to walk 40 minutes a day for the next 40 days begins today... it was easier talking about this than doing it. That's the case in a lot of things.


For dust you are and to dust you will return.....

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Those cloning freaks, the "raelians", say they're going to have some of their members, only the females, strip naked at peace rallies this weekend... Why do people think getting naked helps their cause? Am I missing something? In recent weeks we've had folks from Australia to Canada running around in the buff in the name of peace. I would think we'd be able to discuss the prospect of peace without having to avert our eyes.

It's March 4th, the only day that's also a command.

This is my wedding anniversary. Nine years. I thought I married a sensible woman, yet she's still married to me. Obviously she's not that sensible after all. Love her more every day, even if she's still crazy enough to love me.


Off topic: The Mohammed Theory. Struck by the thought this morning that "Mohammed" may be the "Wayne" of the new millenium. I think it's well documented that people named "Wayne" are predisposed to crime, many to mass murder. Would you trust someone named Mohammed these days? Never trust a Wayne.. that much I know.

The human shields are leaving. About a dozen or so European "peace" activists who marched into Bagdhad with great fanfare saying they would lay down their lives to try to prevent the U.S. from bombing, are running back home. They say they feel to vulnerable because not enough folks are joining them in their stupidity. So much for the courage of your convictions.

I love these people who say, "War never solved anything". Tell that to African Americans... tell that to the Jews.

An exhausting weekend. Said our goodbyes to Silvey Harris. It was a nice memorial. She touched a lot of lives...quietly yet with determination. It was a good feeling sharing her memory.

Decided I'll abstain from cheese and bread for Lent and will walk every day, no matter the weather, for 40 minutes, for 40 days. I hope it will be contemplative.

I need to make some spiritual strides in more ways than one.