Hello friends! A Sunday afternoon post here. I am freshly showered and feel cool and clean and it is truly delightful, especially after the last hour I spent outside sweating vigorously in the glorious steam bath that is our weather here in June just now. Not sure why I’ve been in such a walking mood lately, but that’s now two walks for the day. Went for my usual Sunday walk immediate upon waking this morning. The sun wasn’t quite peeking over the trees yet still the humidity bid me a hearty hello. But I did love the walk and it did me good before I eventually came back and had my pre-church coffee and reading time. Then this past hour? I could have and probably should have just sat down and enjoyed the cool of the flat this Sunday afternoon. Instead for some reason I was itching to move and be outside and so I went out and let my legs stride on. A little 3 mile walk, ho hum. But it was good. Chatted with Earnie on the phone the whole time, which was glorious indeed. It has been oh so long since we’ve had a proper chat and it was very much encouraging to my soul. Now? I think reading time approaches. Candle is already lit and flickering on the table and soon I shall turn on some music. No more World Cup games on right now, alas!! I have been much enjoying all the World Cup action lately. Group stages which means multiple games every day and it’s just fantastic! The US team (surprisingly somehow) played a very adequate opener game against Paraguay. 4-1 and 3 points, hurrah! On to Australia. Yesterday Dani and I went went down with Angela and Lauren to a downtown bar that was swarmed with Brasilians and we cheered on Brasil with all our might. Alas they managed only a draw against Morocco. Well, Morocco is a strong team. Or at least that’s what we keep telling ourselves. And last night, Scotland grabbed 3 points against Haiti!! Oh Scotland let’s go!!! Though I don’t have high hopes of them going deep (especially with Brasil & Morocco both in their group), I’m hoping they make it to knockouts. We shall see. But that’s enough football talk for now I suppose. I do love the World Cup though and it makes me so happy that we have so many games upcoming these next few weeks!! Even today, there was a game actually played in Houston! (Germany vs. Curacao) Just wish the ticket prices were slightly less expensive. Ah well. Now I’m off for real. Sorry for all the rambling, maybe I shall write something more substantial in a bit. Peace and love, my friends.
Tag: friends
The Baseball
So I have a little time and I thought I may as well write now even though I am tired(and yet don’t feel it). Mocha americano and adrenaline still pumping through my veins…last night watched one of the greatest games of baseball I’ve ever seen, not even taking into account the fact that it’s Game 5 of the World Series with my Astros in it. (And yes they’re my third team after Rays and O’s – but gosh if I can’t help but love them!) Last night though – so many moments of ups and downs I can’t even describe them all. It’s starting to all run together now…but I still vividly remember the end…we had been down so many times(4-0…7-4…8-7…each time we battle back). Finally we had the lead 11-9 in the bottom of the 8th but I know our bullpen too well and I am not satisfied…we need insurance runs, I tell Emily! And happily enough – McCann(the beast) provides – solo shot – exhilaration! 12-9 going into top of the ninth. Surely that is enough. And oh no. The Dodgers(pesky foe that they are) scratch and claw and even when we’re one out away from winning we cannot put them away. They tie the game. We fail to do anything in bottom of ninth. 12-12 extra inning time. We go into the tenth and I’m thinking there’s no way our beleagured bullpen stops them. Somehow we do. Bottom of the tenth. First two hitters go down. 2 outs. Then McCann is up again…hit by pitch! He’s on first. Springer is up – what a hero. He’s seeing the ball well…battles for a walk. McCann is on 2nd and now Hinch pulls him and puts in a pinch runner(Fisher). I’m a little nervous at this point, commenting that McCann is such a good catcher…we’ll regret not having him if this goes deeper. But oh me of little faith. Hinch and the Astros are playing to win *now*. And Bregman comes up. World Series Game 5, 12-12, bottom of the 10th, 2 outs. You dream of this. And…he hits to shallow left and Fisher is flying around the bases and oh he scores and oh it’s game over. 13-12 what a game. What a night! We all kept looking at each other saying “This game!” each time something crazy happened…a roller coaster of baseball I’ve never experienced before! So much cheering ecstatically – so many groans and heads bowed…but the end. Oh the end. I guess I’ve neglected to mention the fact that this game was a home game…I was with Erica and Emily and Michelle and friends downtown at a little establishment known as HTX Fan Tavern. Literally right across the street from Minute Maid Park! We decamped to an outdoor viewing area around…the 8th inning I think? And as we stood(and shivered) and watched the last few innings(me wondering if I’d get any sleep tonight at all – oh wait it’s morning now, hello midnight!)…I realized how rare a chance it is to get to be a part of such an epic World Series. The last hit that Bregman got…as we were watching, we heard some shouts and screams from people down the street…I’m wondering why they’re shouting when nothing happened…then thought…wait…is our game broadcast slightly delayed…wait…and then it happened and Fisher flew around the bases and everyone’s screaming and jumping up and down and and and baseball. Truly my first sports love and now I remember why. I may always remember this Astros line-up – such a special group – Springer, Bregman, Altuve, Correa, Gurriel, Reddick, Gattis, Gonzalez, McCann. Team of dreams. Go Astros.
And yes this is an atypical post full of sports and possibly a bit too much gushing over athletes…and it’s terribly sloppily stream of consciousness written…but I don’t care and shall still leave it for posterity just so that I shall remember what a fun amazing night this was. My (probably) sleep-deprived brain is not that great at writing eloquently. Alas. Somehow I still don’t feel tired yet. Apparently my strategy of telling myself when I went to bed that I was just going to sleep for a nice hour and a half nap worked. I feel so fresh! Went in to Starbucks and got my drink(and I gave Jake and Katie some chocolate chip cookies I baked yesterday!) and now I’m at work and the office is all buzzing about the Astros. As is proper.
I’m off to attempt to work. Happy Monday, all. Peace and love.
What is Not to Love?
Hello friends – happy Saturday!! I am posting at a later time than usual this Saturday…and a not-normal place. Currently sitting on my couch as I enjoy my raspberry/banana/spinach smoothie…most notably not at Starbucks, shocker! But I’ll explain why in a bit. It’s been a beautiful Saturday so far…starting off with sleeping in until 6, which was much enjoyed(and much needed). It’s been a long week, with work just being crazy busy and moderately stressful and most tiring all the way around. So last night was an enjoyable relaxing evening. Dinner of fish and potatoes followed by reading…started reading John Owen Vol 3 – “The Holy Spirit”. It may take me a year to read it but it will be glorious. Over six hundred pages of very small words…in sentences that are not easy to understand. But oh so worth it and oh so beneficial and encouraging to my soul. Thus continues my lifetime quest to read all of John Owen.
Anyways! This morning as said previously, woke up at 6, enjoyed a nice coffee and reading time here at the flat. Then went down to Black Walnut for a nice breakfast with Julie! We haven’t had time to get together in quite some time…so as I enjoyed my salmon eggs benedict and honey-sweetened coffee, we had much good chat(and at least on my side – I was much encouraged!!). Oh what a sweet friend is she. Following that, went to Men’s Wearhouse to get fitted for my suit for Julian’s wedding(which is in January and I can’t wait! Kelsey and him are perfect together – such a God-honouring couple. Truly glorious shall this wedding be!). After that, did a few other errands…then stopped at Starbucks where I truly meant to sit down and get some writing done. I got distracted by Katie who had just got off her shift and was having lunch before preparing to study for some of her classes. We ended up talking for over an hour about sundry topics…a totally unplanned conversation that was very enjoyable nonetheless! I do so love talking with someone that loves God and seeks to honour Him in all things. Very thankful to God for this random talk that He blessed me with!!
Following chat with Katie, I realized it was past lunchtime and I still needed to do my food shopping. No time to stay at Starbucks and write alas! So left Starbucks and went and did my HEB/Trader Joe’s run and finally made it home…talked with John and Camille for a bit before they ran off and I sort of enjoyed some leftover soup that needed to be eaten.
Now…I’m sitting here on the couch, half-watching the Michigan State/Indiana game(incredibly boring 3-3 game at the moment…) while I write this entry. This is a bit of rambling entry, but it’s been a while(I think?) since I’ve done one of these, so I will indulge myself. Soon I shall be off to Starbucks(yes, again!) to meet up with Earnie and Julian. It will be a sweet time of fellowship with dearest friends, of that I have no doubt. And because I really have nothing else to write…I guess I’ll sign off? Oh! I do have a poem that I need to finish and post at some point, but don’t think I have the muse at the moment. It’s the kind of poem that needs to be written at early-weekday-morning time…with the melancholy that can only come from brooding at work in the early dark. So – maybe next week you’ll get to see that.
Oh one more thing. Pizza Hut commercial just came on. I cannot wait until I can eat that again. It will be BEST NIGHT EVER.
Now I really shall end this. Peace out!
Jazz and Coffee and Sun Most Bright
So thought it was time to post another one of my recent(eh – sort of – sometime earlier this year at least!) mix CDs. This one is a fun one, with a very brooding first 3/4…you may not know most of these songs, but I have much enjoyed this CD. I have fond memories of this CD…the first time I listened to this one was when driving to Earnie and Mandy’s wedding reception up in the country north of Houston. Driving along a winding country road to the beat of quality tunes…good times indeed. Will always remember that! (Side-note – just had Earnie and Mandy over last night…much good chat was had over chocolate chip cookies and wine. Quality combination? I say yes!)
Back to the mix…there is also a few more foreign language songs than I usually would put on a CD. I think I have Portuguese, French and Arabic all represented! I know at least Caisson and Laura like this one, since I sent them one copy when I first made it!!
Laura was just listening to it when I called her the other day. Anyways…let me present…Long My Imprisoned Spirit Lay:
1. Silence – Portishead
2. The Rip – Portishead
3. Sour Times – Portishead
4. Lise – Emilie Simon
5. To The Dancers in the Rain – Emilie Simon
6. Demier Lit – Emilie Simon
7. Desert – Emilie Simon
8. Ya Sidi – Orange Blossom
9. We Carry On – Portishead
10. Starve the Ego, Feed the Soul – The Glitch Mob
11. Fortune Days – The Glitch Mob
12. Small – Portishead
13. Sing it Out – Switchfoot
14. Hello Hurricane – Switchfoot
15. Lightning – Morningsiders
16. Empress – Morningsiders
17. I Built a Home – The Branches
18. Fight to Keep – Run River North
An Interlude
So briefly…enjoying a remarkably relaxing Sunday afternoon. Laundry done. Room cleaning done. And now chilling on the couch with Daniel watching some animated Superman adventures…after a long weekend, it’s the simple things, no? And being with Daniel again, just talking and hanging out like old times…well, that’s pretty special. Soon off to the Hadley’s for dinner. Then, another week begins.
Have a most amazing Sunday evening, one and all. Peace and love.
A Little Bit of Sunshine
Happy Saturday, friends!! It’s a gorgeous afternoon here in Houston…and by gorgeous, I mean extremely hot and humid – it is the first day of July after all. But I’m enjoying an afternoon inside after a most productive and enjoyable morning…nice to relax a bit, just saying!!
This morning, after sleeping in shockingly late(I don’t think I got out of bed until a little before 8AM!!), I had a nice breakfast of fried eggs and tea…then I made my way over to the Texaco to get my annual inspection done. Figured I’d stop by Starbucks and enjoy a nice iced mocha while I waited. It’s my old Starbucks that I used to go to all the time when I lived down in that area, so…it was a pretty great feeling to have several of the baristas(props to Laura and Katie!) so excited to see me make my grand return! Anyways…I read a bit of my “Sermon on the Mount” by Lloyd-Jones(and enjoying that heartily – but no worries – I shan’t quote a large portion of it on here today!). Eventually, the mechanic called and told me they had to replace my awkward third brake light in order to pass inspection, which meant it’d be another 3-4 hours. Joy. Fortuitously enough, Julie was also nearby(well, within 3 miles!) getting her own car worked on! So I grabbed some water and walked down to meet up with her. Totally unplanned…but it worked out rather well – we got to hang out at the shop for a while before eventually going to grab lunch at Adair. Such a fun time with such a dear friend! We talked about all manner of things, serious and not…before finally my car was ready. Julie dropped me off there, I went to HEB and did some shopping…and now I’m back here at the flat, doing laundry and enjoying a restful Saturday afternoon. God is good to me, of that I am forever reminded.
Anyways, this was an extremely random summary of my day thus far…I shall bore you no further with an account of my workweek(really, who wants to hear about that!?) and sign off. Have a most lovely day, my friends – remember to lift your eyes to the heavens this day and thank our Lord God for all He has given us. Peace and love.
An Old Kind of Music
Hello friends…and happy Saturday! I have but a few minutes to write, as my steak is currently sitting on my counter and it will be time to cook it in less than 15 minutes! So I fly. Just thought I’d briefly chronicle the events of today, as it truly has been a most lovely day. Started out the day with a nice cup of coffee(warmed and heartened by honey and milk!) and some Psalm-reading. Fortified in both body and spirit, I then got some errands done – haircut and car wash, check! Following, had a nice lunch with John, Camille and Julie…good food, good chat, good friends. Thanks be to God. After that, I needed to give Julie her last birthday present, so she came by briefly…but it was such a gorgeous day(and it still is!) that we decided to go for a walk and soak in the sunlight a bit. We had a fantastic walk and even better talk…but eventually further errands demanded my attention. Did various shopping and then came back here, cleaned a bit…and now it’s almost dinner time! I decided I craved steak…so steak, mashed potatoes and asparagus is on the menu for tonight. Mmm…
Now, thought I’d leave you with a poem from last night’s Lord of the Rings reading. I do love it so, how each time I read this book, I find new favourite chapters…and so last night, shockingly enough, I discovered how much I loved the chapter “The Old Forest”. Who knew? Certainly not I. But reading Tolkien’s lovely prose and poetry…oh was my heart warmed and spirit thrilled.
Now let the song begin! Let us sing together
Of sun, stars, moon and mist, rain and cloudy weather,
Light on the budding leaf, dew on the feather,
Wind on the open hill, bells on the heather,
Reeds by the shady pool, lilies on the water:
Old Tom Bombadil and the River-daughter!
So yes, I think it is safe to say that this is still a book that brings joy to my heart. Now – time to create something that will bring joy to my stomach. Before I do – just know again how thankful I am for this day my God has made. My heart is overflowing with thankfulness. Peace and love.
A Lighter Shade of Violet
Hello friends…it is Monday and currently dark outside. Thus does another week begin. I wish I had something profound to write this morn, but alas my mind is sleepy and I don’t think I have the energy to write, though I do have the desire to! Briefly shall I describe the weekend? Or yesterday at least, as that is freshest! It was a calm, normal Sunday…a wonderful time at church, hearing Dr. Sullivan expound on Romans 14 in Sunday school. Then worshiping God in the sanctuary with my fellow saints…beautiful. Following, had a good lunch at MODs with friends – yummy pizza and good chat – how can you go wrong with that? Me and Jonathan had a good time talking about various subjects…how blessed am I by his friendship! Afterwards – was about to go home and get started on my study, but ended up meeting Julie for coffee instead. She had some things she needed to talk about, so we spent some good hours discussing life together. Totally not what I’d planned for my afternoon, but it was a deeply encouraging chat and so no complaints here! At some point that evening, finally got home, finished my study for 1 Peter…and then dinner and hang-out with John time. And thus was my Sunday. A day blessed by God…as indeed all my days are! Now, it is work time here and I shall go forth and get things done. Hopefully. Have a most lovely day, my friends.
Oh So Spartan
Happy Sunday, friends!! Shan’t write long, just thought I may as well write a few words this rare moment I have my laptop on and humming away. I sit here on the comfy chair as the afternoon wanes away, having enjoyed a lovely day of rest. And no, it is not over yet! Was able to attend church today and be heartily encouraged – by the preaching of God’s Word, singing songs of praise and talking with dear friends. And then…had a nice salad for lunch, hanging out with John…took a quick nap then a quick workout then a not-quite-as-quick chat with Maryanne! All in all…a good day.
And now I watch the Kansas/Michigan State basketball game and read a bit more of my book…and even though I feel sleepy and in a bit of a contemplative mood at the moment, I will thank God for what He has granted me this day and I shall rest in the joy that is my salvation – fixing my hope completely at the grace to be brought to me at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Love you, my friends.
A Framing of the Mind
Hello friends…and happy Tuesday! I dare not write too much right now, as my eyes are sleepy – despite the coffee I’m currently gulping down! – and at some point I need to attempt to wake up by doing work. But at least a few words? I am still recovering from Sunday night…me and John had a small Oscars-watching party at our place, a fun time with a few friends(Joe, Julie, Abby, Camille, Julia…) but of course the only problem with the Oscars is it’s approximately a four hour show. Eventually everyone left or (in John’s case) just went to bed, but Julie and I persevered to the bitter end! Worth it to see Moonlight‘s best picture win…of course, I’ve not seen that movie – looks a bit depressing for my taste. Maybe someday. Emma Stone did win best actress for La La Land, so all is well! Anyways! Sunday was a late night. I really need to get more sleep. Not tonight, since it’s community group night. Not tomorrow night, since I’m hanging with Sammy. Oh well. Maybe someday my poor body will get sleep.
Anything else? Hm, I guess I’ve just been pondering thoughts lately of life, the universe and everything. You know, the usual! And just the realisation that people(myself included!) are far too consumed by thoughts of how to please and love ourselves to the exclusion of all else. Yes, we say we love others. But words are cheap. Our actions are dictated far too often by the desire to please the god of ourselves. That sacred throne of rank pride – how we do love that seat. And at the end of the day – at the end of all things – does it really matter how much we’ve sacrificed to bring oblations to our own soul? God forbid that we should live so. I so much want to not be so concerned about my own vanity or cravings or heartache… Fierce and most loathsome ambition to raise myself above all else, why is this part of me? I flee. I am on this world for a purpose far greater, a cause far purer. May I remember that and forget myself.
Peace and love.
Something Weird 