Sharing Time

My friend, Kyle, is one of the deepest thinkers I know. Too far sometimes, by his own admission. But most of the time he inspires those around him to think bigger and broader, while at the same time begging for more introspective reasoning. He's an interesting guy, to say the least.

Yesterday he posted about, Sharing Time. All you church goers (and the non-church goers, I'm sure) know what this time is. Some use it to publicly share good news like a new pregnancy while others use it to discuss groin rashes. But the post was more than just great examples like those two; the post delved into the feelings surrounding this unique time.

Do me a favor, church goer and non-church goer alike, go to Kyle's blog and add your thoughts. This could be a great conversation and I look forward to where the talk could go.

To find it, click on KYLE in my blogroll, or just click HERE. I look forward to your comments.

Fall Colors

The other day I made a statement about the color of the fall leaves this year and someone (rather strongly) disagreed with me. Since that interaction I've taken another look around and decided I stand by my original statement.

I think this has been one of the prettiest fall seasons in quite a few years.

Feel free to disagree or argue other years, but I stand by my statement. The colors this year have been outstanding.

14 years ago

October 14th, 1995

At 6:30 that evening I picked up Ell for our first date. I'd only really met her a few weeks before that, and had only had a few short conversations with her. For reasons I still don't know (maybe pity?), she said yes when I asked her out and on October 14th we went to the age-old dinner & a movie. We ate at Ground Round restaurant and then saw Apollo 13. It was an okay date; enjoyable but nothing super exciting.

The next week, on our second date, a series of car problems would force us to cancel big plans and do an impromptu date that would ultimately end in me driving home knowing in my heart I was going to marry that girl. It took a lot more dates and a couple years for that happen, but I knew from that second date our futures were meant to be spent together. And I'm more certain of it every day.

It may not be our actual anniversary, or even a time we ever talk about, but it still holds a special place in my heart. Love ya, baby. Happy 14th.

Up in the Hills and back down again

Yesterday we got back from Hocking Hills after an awesome four day trip. It wasn't our normal, annual trip as we were there to celebrate the wedding of our friends, Jason and Diana. And what a wedding it was. Complete with a full vegetarian menu, five kegs of micro brew beer, outdoor ceremony, a killer band, and costumes. That's right, I said costumes. Jason's family is big on dressing up, so there were over one hundred different costumes and combinations of costumes for the attendees to wear. Led by some of my craziest friends, we danced for almost four hours straight; all dressed in the wildest ways. It was definitely a party for the record books. If you're on the book of faces, check out Ell's page for some pictures.

And now we're home and back to the grind. Starting an hour after we got home Sunday afternoon through the next 96 hours, Ell will spend 66 of them either in school, at work, or at her hospital practicum. In a total of ten days she will average 19 hours per day doing the same. That leaves 5 hours a day to sleep, eat, drive, and study. If I haven't mentioned it before, I have mad respect for that woman. I dare anyone to try and see if they could keep up with her or work as hard as her. (I know, I know, mothers work hard. But even the busiest mothers still get to sit down for a meal now and then; not live on pretzels and water while driving from one job to another after sleeping a half hour at a time in the back seat of a car.) Mad, mad, respect for her. That's for sure.

It's grape picking time

We have a fantastic crop of concord grapes this year. Ell and I canned about 5 gallons of starter this afternoon, but she is so busy with her eighty hour weeks that those 5 gallons are all we'll be able to do. We are very serious about not offending Mother and wasting the magnificent harvest she gave us, so we'd like to offer our grapes on the still-full vines to anyone who's interested in making jelly, jam, wine, or just good old fashioned grape juice. They are yours for the taking if you want them.

Judging by what we did today, the grapes will be really good for another week and a half, and hit or miss after that. If you want some grapes, we offer them to you free of charge. There is no need to call us or ask permission, this is your permission. Bring your baskets and bowls, and a pair of scissors or a sharp knife, and pick as many as you want. If you need directions to our house, leave me a comment saying so.

One request, please don't knock on the door to let us know you're there. Ell works all hours of the night and day, literally 80 hours a week sometimes, and she needs her sleep. We don't need to know you were there and we don't want any money. Mother has blessed us and we are in turn offering you the same blessing.

Please, come get some grapes. It's grape picking time.

Sadness personified

So this past week I heard something (and have since confirmed it with someone else) that someone I know/knew very well, was willing to do something very harmful to me to try and move themselves up in the world. What a shocking thing to find out. This action would have certainly caused me great harm in both my professional and personal life; all to get ahead in their own life-standing. I feel hurt and violated, and still not sure how to take it. The worst part is that this threat to my life and reputation is still possible if this person wanted to go through with their plan. Thankfully I don't stand in the way of this person chasing their goal but it's still a scary thought.

What do you do with something like this? At first I wanted to be mad but that quickly turned to only being sad for this person and their life. Who could ever imagine that someone you liked and cared for as a friend could ever do something so deceitful and malicious? Not me, that's for sure.

All I can say is that I'm happy my life isn't intertwined with this person anymore. I'm happy I never have to deal with them again. And I'm relieved I got out of their way while I still could. But it still makes me sad that you have to be so careful when dealing with people. Where did our world go so wrong? What ever happened to trust and faith in your fellow human? Or maybe I'm humoring myself thinking there ever was such a peaceful time. Sad; so very sad.