DAY 333 - Sunday, Sunday

There is nothing I enjoy more than our worship services. Grace Community Church works very hard to keep the hour and fifteen minutes fresh and new. This week we had two dances, a performance piece, amazing worship and creative opening. You have to admit, any church that uses a cut from "Family Guy" on Mother's Day is on the cutting edge.

DAY 332 - The Perfect Tree

We take our tree-gathering very seriously. From the moment we walk onto the tree farm property, we are looking for the idea representative of the holiday joy. Our living room always looks so good when the tree goes up (and I'm always happy to take it down at the end of the season).

We have to keep close track as to who gets the privilege of placing the angel on the top of the tree. There have been minor battles on this point. We finally were smart enough to develop a historical document so that the rotation was fair and just. We keep the record on the box lid of the angel to ensure the right person is conducting the ever-important placement.

It's Ben's turn this year but Jonathan always has to help.

DAY 331 - Stuffing Hangover

The Friday after Thanksgiving is always a tough one for me. The day before provides too much stuffing, a couple of glasses of wine, several desserts, potatoes (sweet & mashed) and several hours of football and couch time.

The combination keeps me lethargic the next day. One advantage of Thanksgiving is the number of leftovers in the freezer the next day. Naps, re-heated potatoes and movies are the perfect way to spend the day.

DAY 330 - Happy Thanksgiving

I mean it...HAPPY being the key word. Jonathan is home for the weekend and that's made everyone joyful.

So many things to be thankful for this year. Health (I still have money to spend in our flexible spending account), safety (one year car accident free), and family.

We live in luxury and enjoy a warm home and a filled pantry and freezer. We want for nothing. Actually, we want a lot...we need nothing.

Blessings to you on this, my favorite holiday.

DAY 329 - Food Prep

Despite all the food prep for the coming day, my wife fixed me a beautiful banana cream pie. I had a piece and it was wonderful. My children devoured the rest of the pie before the evening was over. They inhaled it.

Anita was glad because she wanted to use the pie plate for tomorrow's feasts.

Wasn't that sweet of her?

DAY 322 - Happy Birthing Day

The day was just average. Work is work, no matter how much you want to dress it up. But every once and a while something wonderful happens...like today.

I received the text early in the morning and before the evening was over, Anita and I traveled to the hospital to see the newest member of our small group.

Audrey Cruse joined the world. The most beautiful little thing. Her long feet, bright eyes and perfect mouth are wonderful. I'm so happy for the Cruse family. They are wonderful folks and now have a perfect addition to their family.

DAY 319 - Sunday Fantasy Football

I really like church. Have I told you that? It ALMOST makes me want to get back into the fight. I said ALMOST!

I also enjoy a good Fantasy Football challenge on a Sunday afternoon. My team is 7 & 4 and I'm moving right along. Although this week it looks like I might drop to 7 & 5.

I play the "Guru" points. FFB tells us me who they think will be the top points player on my team and on the free-agent list. I have no loyalty. I'll drop, add, trade, pick up, scrub, borrow, beg and steal any player with the most Guru points. It's worked pretty well so far this year. It's worked great over the last 3 years. I'm the champion of our league two years in a row. I'm shooting for my third.

See you on the field.

DAY 318 - That's my gas tank

Okay...we have the boat and some of the tasks are a little daunting so I decided to work on something a little easier and something that would show results. So today I sanded, primed, painted and cleaned out the engine's gas tank. It won't matter if we don't have a boat that floats but it is the first "complete" item of the boat.

We bought the boat for $50, the motor for $50. I'm just looking for a trailer for $50 to call it perfect.

DAY 317 - Self-Reflections

I like the architectural art that I see on my way home. Fences, buildings, walkways, and even windows have their own artistic flair.

This window is located on 11th street shortly before Illinois. It is a window that causes me to pause. I want to get out of my car and walk up to the edge of the glass and peer inside. I want to see if there are perfectly cooked steaks on the table. I want to investigate possible business occurring. I want to spy on architects as they draft skylines. What is going on in that building? What is happening behind the glass?

I want to know!

DAY 316 - One Wreck After Another

I did everything in my power to make it home tonight at a decent time. But there was construction on Meridian and 54th, a police car at Meridian and 96th, an accident at Meridian and 465, another police pull-over at Westfield.

I drove to Noblesville to get a pizza and the movie, UP. On my way home there was another wreck on 38.

It was late in the evening before I could get into the house. Two hours on the road made it a long drive.

DAY 315 - Veteran's Day

This was an interesting day. Working in the VA, I have a new appreciation for these men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country. They've put their lives on the line so that I can have freedom.

I fail to fully understand all that they've done for me, for my country, for my freedom. They were wounded. They served in un-Godly locations doing horrific work.

To put it all in perspective, I tripped over a chain this evening on the way to my car. I landed just right and knocked the wind out of me and believe I've cracked my rib on my left lower chest. I'm sure it is nothing compared to what they went through.

Thank you.

DAY 314 - Building Fences

Our neighbor moved in the middle of the night a couple months ago. She sold some of her worldly belongings in a yard sale and then disappeared. She took the church pew from the front porch and the Buddha statue from the back porch.

Years ago there was a problem with the neighbor's husband. We had a major issue. It had something to do with our fence.

I had someone working in my back yard. The only way to get the equipment in place was to take down a section of fence and drive the loader though the neighbor's yard. I made a mistake and failed to ask permission. I didn't even think about it. The gentleman working in our yard showed up unexpectedly and I missed this critical step. This issue was huge to my neighbor. He had no problem expressing his anger at my thoughtless act. In fact, he used words and a volume that made it very clear that he was unhappy.

I visited him the next morning to apologize for my actions. He was very gracious (especially since I had the crew repair his yard). I replaced the fence section and we only spoke one other time after that.

I don't think it had anything to do with the fence section but he's living in a homeless shelter in Colorado now and his family was left to work out the house. I truth, it was a mess.

Fences are important. They keep the dogs in and some times they keep the neighbors out.

DAY 313 - Gas, McDonald's & Burger King

There are certain necessities in life. Fuel for your transportation and fuel for the body. Here's a place I see every day on my way to work...it provides both types of fuel. One is bad for the world and the other is bad for me.

In an effort to make myself more healthy, I've decided to give up meat. I've been a vegetarian for a month now and feel great. Fewer trips to Micky D's has been good for the system.

As for my dependence on foreign oil, I've tried pouring olive oil into my gas tank but it hasn't worked as well as dropping quarter-pounders from my menu.

DAY 312 - Sunday to Lexington

I like to travel in a clean car. So, when I decided I needed to drive to Lexington, Kentucky to pick up my transcript from Asbury Seminary, the first thing I did was to wash the car.

It was a great day. Having gone to church the night before, I could sleep in, clean out the inside of the car, gas up and make my way south.

I stopped at IU to pick up Jonathan and together we made our way to the Blue Grass State.

Once settled into our room, Jonathan worked on his homework and I worked on my resume. We took a break for some pasta and breadsticks for supper and Monday Night Football.

All in all, it was a great day.

DAY 311 - As Good a Place

The boat is looking really good. Ben and I work on it every few days. Sanding one day, sawing another, scraping yet another.

The hole in the bottom is cut and ready for its plywood replacement. The rot along the port and starboard still needs to be patched and some bond has been purchased just for this job.

Of course, I've lost my car's spot in the garage but it is worth it. At least I thought it was worth it until the frost started falling on cold mornings. Now I'm not so sure.

DAY 310 - The West Haven Team

I work in research. The project is happening in two locations: Indianapolis, Indiana and West Haven, Connecticut. The two teams meet by video conference every Friday. I've never done this before and, even though it isn't very high tech, it is a great way to keep in touch with these good men.

Vinnie, on the left, is a great guy. He is the local researcher (like me). The difference is that this guy is crankin' out the entire study on the east coast. At least I have a co-worker to share the load.

Vinnie is a machine. He's working the study and keeping the entire program rolling along at both sites. Klar, Fred, and Zhu are all helpful but my friend Vinnie is the guy.

DAY 309 - Full Speed Ahead

She's slowing down. Unless she isn't. Sidney's decided that my butterfly bush is tasty. She eats a branch a day and then uses it to floss her teeth.

She carries the stick in her mouth as she races around the yard at full speed.

DAY 308 - Waves for Wednesday

Another gorgeous morning sky greets me as I drive to work today. I've always wondered about the way the clouds take shape.

Actually, it reminds me of my day-to-day existence. Some days are perfect and blue sky days. Others are partly cloudy; sun, clouds...in fact, they have variety and are a little interesting. Some days are stormy and bring rain, lightning and thunder.

Today is just right. Nothing too hard to handle. JUUUUSSSSTTTT right. :)

DAY 307 - A View From the Road

I spend so much time on the road and I'm never really surprised when I come upon an accident but today's was a doozy. The first-responders had just arrived and they were removing the drivers of this one. I couldn't believe the extent of the damage.

Many times the accidents I see are minor fender-benders. They are minor annoyances, nothing more. But this one required a stretcher. It demanded emergency personnel and a lot of patience from the waiting cars.

DAY 306 - Monday Sunrise

I am always amazed at the beauty of an Indiana morning as the sun rises through high clouds.

Today's sunrise was just magnificent. The way the light reflected off the clouds made the sky look like rolls of sheets pulled back over a warm morning bed.

I wish I was still there.

DAY 305 - All Saint's Sunday

I love my church. It's quite the place. A huge auditorium provides a great space for music, dance, drama and video. The thousand people who gather for each service sing in one voice and laugh easily as they experience life and love together.

What could be a better place to share in All Saints Day?

DAY 304 - Halloween

It just isn't Halloween unless my daughter can carve a pumpkin. Kids dressed in super hero outfits and make up, carrying bags stuffed with candy visit the door in search of more sweets. I would think that their parents have enough sense to keep this from happening but they're standing on the street, beers in hand, waiting to move to the next house.

If it were up to me, I would dump all the candy in the first kid's bag and be done for the night. But my wife, Anita thinks that is not sporting. She insists on handing out one or two pieces per annoying kid. As you can imagine, this results in additional hours of candy distribution to more annoying children and their sloppy drunk parents.

Tell me again, what is the point of this holiday?

DAY 303 - Apple Season

It's that time of year again. The apple orchards are loaded and a traveler can expect to spend WAY too much money for a single apple covered in some caramel on a stick.

A visit to the local orchard always provides my wife great joy. I'm not sure why, but she wants to go to a apple farm every fall. We buy a bag of apples for $73 and two sugar covered apples on sticks for an additional $12.37. Anything to make my wife happy.

DAY 302 - Fall Break Trip To Bloomington

Fall Break is a good opportunity to visit my son at IU. We ate lunch at Sung Ho's Korean restaurant. I would tell you the name so you can visit there yourself but it is written in Korean and, well, while I like the food and love Sung Ho, its like its a foreign language every time we visit the place.

Despite the long drive down and back, it was a wonderful day. We ate foreign food, bowled two really bad games wearing funky shoes, and enjoyed the time with our oldest. Besides the rain, it was a perfect day.

DAY 301 - Sidney & Dino

Perhaps I've shared with you the budding relationship between Dino and Sidney. They play well and hard. The lovely part of their friendship is that their owners get to enjoy an evening of peace after they've played.

Running around the yard at top speed, mauling one another in slobbery bites and affectionate kisses takes a lot of energy.

As Sid's owner, I am always happy to have Dino join us. He brings a new level of energy and in the process reduces Sid's energy by a magnitude that is immeasurable. It's the perfect relationship.

DAY 300 - Late Night Shoppin'

Every few days I need to stop at the store on my way home. Sometimes it is form milk and bread. Other times it is to pick up some medicine and bananas. Its on the way and really never a problem.

But there are some days when I really just want to get home. Peanut butter and olive oil could wait. Eggs and pork chops are for another day.

But tonight required a stop. I had to pull into the local Kroger to pick up a few necessaries. Woopy.

DAY 299 - Monday Morning Blues

You just wouldn't expect it to be this dark, this early in the day, this early in the week. Is it the clouds? Is it the phase of the moon? Is it poor timing when I left for work this morning?

Who knows? Not me.

All I know is that I go to work early and work late nearly every day. It is all made possible by liquid fuel: Some coffee in the morning, diet Mt. Dew in the afternoon, and a beer before bed. And then it all starts again tomorrow.

DAY 298 - Sunday with Friends

We stopped by Mac & Linda's after church today. They were cleaning up their yard. I don't envy them. With a yard full of large oaks, their work will never end.

But dressed in his flannel, Mac is ready to face the music. With rake in hand, he's actively fighting the battle against the fall.

I'm so proud of him.

DAY 297 - Saturday Sunrise

I'm still not feeling well. I can't imagine being so tired, even on a wonderful day like today.

I sat in the garage and watched college football, took a nap, watched more football and not a whole lot more.

I would call it a restful day if I hadn't just burned an entire week laying around.

DAY 296 - Another Sick Day

This has been a really long week. I WANT to go to work. I WANT to lift my head and keep it upright throughout the day. I WANT to feel better. But I'm wiped.

DAY 295 - Are you kidding me?

I'm home again. Today my legs feel as if I've run a 5K. My neck hurts and I have no energy at all. I spent the entire day on the sofa, watching West Wing, Season 3.

Even as I type this I can barely keep my eyes open. When I stand up, the room begins to spin. I'm so over it. Hate to miss work again tomorrow but it may be in the cards that an entire week is lost.

Anita had this about a month ago and she missed nearly two weeks but she also had a cough and sore throat. At least I missed that part of it.

So, in place of a daily picture, I thought I'd show one of my favorites from the past. This picture was taken of my son, Ben. He was about 12 years old at the time and went off to camp for a week. As parents often do, we worried about him. We hoped he would not be too home sick. We prayed that God would touch his tender heart and bring peace into his fragile, teen-plagued world. THIS is the picture we found on the camp's web site.

Our son, the warrior, preparing to enter into battle in the massive flour war of 2007. Even now, his war cry can be heard. I'm not sure who won the battle. I believe we had to throw away the clothes.

But it was worth every penny spent, every moment of worry, every lost hour of sleep to see this picture. It was classic Ben.

DAY 294 - H1N1 Blues

I'm so over this flu. Honestly. I drove to work this morning, thinking if I just got out of the house, I would feel better. Made my 8:00 a.m. meeting and was upright until 10:15. That's when I threw in the towel.

I drove home, falling asleep at one light, and crashed on the recliner for the remainder of the day. My energy returned for about one hour at 4:00 p.m. and then I was out again for the rest of the evening. I went to bed at 8:00.

My head hurts. My neck hurts. I am so tired. I couldn't even lift a camera.

DAY 293 - What Kind of Man Would I Be?

From my sick bed I am watching my wife repair our rickety old fence so the dogs will not escape.

I am always amazed by my wife. I don't know if she could birth babies in rice patties and go right back to work but she is always ready to work. She is getting her Masters' Degree, working, cooking, doing laundry, taking kids to doctors' appointments, walking dogs, and now carpentry. How does she do it all?

I'm lucky if I can walk and chew gum at the same time.

DAY 292 - Sick at home

I get sick about twice a year. It isn't usually anything too serious. A day or two on the couch and then I'm back at it.

With the timing of H1N1, my family has determined that I'm a risk to their health and safety and have locked me in my bedroom. I have a laptop, movies on demand, and a bottle of Motrin.

DAY 291 - Food Rescue, A Good Idea

www.foodrescue.net

My friend, John Williamson came up with a brilliant idea two years ago: Collect food that would be thrown out and deliver it to hungry people. Yes, there are organizations that do this type of thing but Food Rescue is different. They have a relationship with Panera Bread and Little Caesar's and collect the food that would otherwise be thrown away at the end of a day's business.

In two years' time, they have collected millions of dollars worth of food. The organization, made up entirely of volunteers has become a national presence. From Oregon to Florida, Texas and Ohio, Missouri to Massachusetts, people are taking one night a month and helping hungry people.

This weekend, our church took some time to do service projects around the area. Food Rescue had two different options. First, we had two teams drive to the south side of Indy to collect pizzas from 5 different Little Caesar's. It was then delivered to a downtown women's shelter. The second option was for people who wanted to thank the 40+ Chapter Presidents across the country by sending gift cards, thank you notes, packages of chocolates and t-shirts. In total, we had more than 70 people take several hours of their weekend to be a part of the ministry.

Even better, a number of them went to the website and volunteered for future food pick ups. It was a great weekend. It was a real success.

DAY 290 - Weekend of Service, Saturday

For the second year, my church closed its doors on a fall weekend to send its attenders into the community to perform thousands of acts of service.

Meeting in the church parking lot on Saturday morning, the band plays worship songs and people drink their hot coffee, waiting for a few words of direction and a prayer. From this location teams will travel to work on run-down homes, food pantries, flower beds, homeless shelters, an auto repair center for the poor, and much more. Nearly 3,000 people gave several hours of their weekend to make a difference in the community. It was a great day.

I helped with Food Rescue (www.foodrescue.net). Some of the team picked up pizza and delivered it to Wheeler Mission. We have more great events scheduled tomorrow and I'll tell you about it then. But for now I can report that nearly 30 pizza's were collected and delivered.

The funny thing is that I had this idea about 12 years ago but could never find a way to make it happen. When this thing was mentioned, I was blown away. It's one thing to tell 150 people to go into the community. It is another to find something for thousands to do.

Bottom line: I'm really proud of my church. As church's go, it isn't perfect, but it sure is close.

DAY 289 - NO SCHOOL?

I guess I didn't realize it but today be a national holiday...at least the kids have the day off so it must be something very special.

It must be the celebration of a president's birthday, death, inauguration, or impeachment.

Or perhaps it is a religious holiday. Autumn Equinox Day. Post 911 Meditation Celebration. In-Praise-of-Pickle Week.

I'm guessing it is a teacher work day of some sort. They're probably reviewing new educational techniques designed to capture the attention of our wayward children. They're eating doughnuts and drinking coffee with grade books opened. They shake their heads as the look at dropping grades, a sign of the current system's failures.

Or...it could just be a good excuse for a three day weekend. I know it is for my kids.

DAY 288 - Birthday...Officially

Say goodbye to 16. Today my daughter turned 17...and she did a little dance to celebrate.

Pizza King Pizza (royal feast for her) and salad. Nothing is better.

Did I ever tell you about my daughter? When she was a little girl, she wasn't a lot of fun. We prayed for her. Every night. We would ask God to make her sweet.

And then, one day, she was sweet. She was a doll. She was generous and loving and happy all the time. God did a miracle in her life. In her heart.

Now Em works with disabled children. This last summer she traveled to the Ukraine to work with an entire group of kids with disabilities. She's learned sign language. She started learning Braille. She wants to go to Goshen College, where they have a major in sign language.

Seventeen years have passed and she's become a beautiful, wonderful person. Where will she be in another seventeen?

DAY 287 - Jared

My co-worker is hard at work tonight knocking out a sleep study at someone's home.

We take turns doing the work for this study. One of the primary jobs is to do an in-home sleep study. It is very interesting. We attach EEG leads, EKG leads, respiration straps, 02 sensor, leg movement sensors and much more.

We drive out about 7 p.m. and start hooking up the participant. It takes more than an hour to connect all the wires. It takes a fair bit of glue to keep it all connected for the night. In the morning, we drive back to their home and pick up the equipment. It is usually quite a tangled mess.

It isn't uncommon for us to spend another hour just cleaning the wires and electrodes.

If all goes well (and the Principle Investigator for the study REALLY hopes it goes well) we will do nearly 167 sleep studies before it is all said and done.

DAY 286 - Tuesday

The boat is coming along and Ben is totally committed to the process. We swept out the rest of the dirt from under the front of the boat and removed some more hardware today.

I wish the boat had a name...it would make it easier to refer to the ship.

We've settled on a blue bottom, red top and white support stripe. I think it will look fantastic. Now if we can just fix the hole in the bottom.

DAY 285 - Day Off

Columbus Day is the perfect time to sit, contemplate great discoveries, watch your dog chew on a bone, and write a blog or two.

I've been given the charge of writing blogs for my former employer. It's been hard to get it all in...work, family, a new dog, and blogging. It is hard enough to write my own blogs, let alone a blog for someone else. But today I worked for about 8 hours writing, posting, researching, editing photos. It was time well spent.

Plus, Sidney liked me at home.

DAY 284 - Nothin' Better Than A Nap

You might think this is a rare event...but as a family, we see this group together quite often. It is cute.

Sundays are a good day to kick back and rest. Even as I type this, Anita, Sam and Jack are crashed on the sofa together. Jonathan is crashed in his room, getting a few more winks before he drives back down to IU.

I'm typing this post while gentle breathing comes from Anita, light purring from Sam, and rattling snores from Jack.

Emily & Ben are at their youth meetings. Ben will be home at 5:30 and my daughter will go on to another church meeting until later in the evening. In the mean time, it's awfully quiet in the house.

DAY 284 - Early Birthday Wishes

Emily doesn't turn 17 for another few days but the weekends are made for celebration. Jonathan is home from IU, Anita's folks joined us for lunch, and we're using tea-lights for birthday candles. A typical Austin gathering.

Jonathan pulled in at 1:00 a.m. after working a Friday night shift at food service. No one heard him arrive. It reminded me of the Maxwell House commercial from years ago.

Emily will celebrate her 17th year of birth and is enjoying her friends, her hobbies, and her family (most days). She plays her violin with passion and lives life with creative sensitivity.

Benjamin is a blur of activity. He either has a guitar or a trumpet in his hand every time you see him. He writes poetry and draws illustrations. He rides his bike at top speed and when he finds time to sit, he is thinking of new inventions to make society a better place to live.

I love my kids. They are fun and funny. They care for each other and others. They laugh easily and loudly.

They make my life a pure joy.

DAY 283 - Row, Row, Row...

Let the work begin!

Step #1 - Admire the boat.
Step #2 - Turn the boat over.
Step #3 - Admire the boat again.
Step #4 - Scrape a bit.
Step #5 - Step back and admire again.
Step #6 - Scrape again.

So far, we've put in 5 hours and spent $59. We're going to track this to see how many thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours we invest in this $50 boat with a hole in the bottom.

Even though we've worked on it for a short amount of time, I can see that over the course of the winter we will invest a large some of money and time.

I just hope it floats when we're all finished.

DAY 282 - It Ain't Summer Camp

I drove past a decontamination drill today. I was a little concerned at first because I didn't realize it was a drill. But no one seemed concerned and they were letting traffic drive right through the scene so I assumed it wasn't anything too dangerous.

At least I hope not...Perhaps I'd better go wash my car.

DAY 281 - Golden Morning

The storm clouds are coming in...I've seen the radar but in the mean time, this is one of the most beautiful sunrises I've seen in a very long time.

The angle of the rays reflecting off high, quickly moving clouds make for a spectacular show.

I don't know what else is in store for my day but at this point, I really don't care.

DAY 280 - Muddy Tuesday

I love having a dog. They love you back, unconditionally. They have energy. They are forgiving. They are warm and fuzzy.

And boy are they muddy. When it comes to rain...lots of rain...a dog can find every puddle, mud hole, and mess.

Years ago we had a dog named Isha. She knew just where to find a dead animal. The deader, the better. She would roll until she was covered with stink.

My black lab, Chip, would wait until he'd had his bath and then go out to roll in the mud, ruining his hairdo.

Sid likes dirt and is willing to dig deep for some good mud. If it is raining, even better. If there is no rain or no mud, she'll make her own by burying her head into the pond and drooling in the flower bed. Yesterday she came into the garage with dirt on her back and mud on her haunches.

So imagine what all this rain has done for my pup. She's been in mud heaven all day.

DAY 279 - Where's my phone?

I found my phone and was also surprised to find that someone had been messing with the built in camera.

How nice.

DAY 278 - That's my boat...

Here's the newest project...

I think it is a 1930's Chris Craft. At least that is what the guy who sold it to me said it was. It is possible he could be wrong.

I loaded up my son in our neighbor's truck and told him that we were going to pick up mulch. Instead, we drove to this river-side home and hopped out of the truck. We wandered over to the craft and I asked Ben if he liked it. He thought it was cool. That's when I informed him that I bought it for him. We loaded it into the truck and drove it home.

It's really Ben's boat. We're going to work on it over the winter. Our goal is to get it in the water on Memorial Day weekend. We'll see how it goes. But for now, we're looking for names, making a list and getting the supplies together.

DAY 277 - The War of 1812

My day was very odd. I drove to Avilla this morning to see an old friend who was diagnosed with bone cancer. He is being made comfortable and I went to sit with him, hold him in my arms and kiss his bald head, pray with him, cry for him, and hug him as tight as anyone would, knowing it was my last good-bye.

And then I went to 1812.

At least that is what they wanted you to think. But I was on to them. I'm nobody's fool. I knew that we were still in 2004 but that they were just dressed like Indians and British soldiers. They didn't fool me. Oh, sure, the cannon nearly knocked me to the ground with it's percussive BOOM!!! But I know that Indians are brown all over and that guy with the war paint and the loin cloth had VERY white thighs (among other things).

Like I said, it was a very odd day.

DAY 276 - Friday...VERY Friday

Some Fridays are VERY Friday. This was one of those days. If it could go wrong, it did. If it could be added to the calendar, it was. If one more thing was required to make a project fail, it was thrown on the pile.

I honestly couldn't think of one more think to make this day worse.

But the sunrise was stunning and that made every moment worthwhile. That sun, lighting the eastern sky reminded me that this was another glorious day. This morning was a gift and I shouldn't waste it.

So, no matter how terrible the week was...no matter how horrendous the day became...the morning sky set the tone.

Thanks, God.

DAY 275 - Takin' out the Trash

Every Thursday we go through the same ritual. We gather all the trash in the house, throw it in the bin and then ask the same question, "What Thursday is this?"

The question pertains to the every-other-Thursday that requires the additional recycling bin to accompany the trash bin. Now, we in the Austin house have not reached the pinnacle of the recycling food chain but we are trying. So, in the course of two weeks, we pretty much fill our recycling bin. So if we miss a week, we're in trouble.

One missed week of recycling means that we have to wait another two weeks before we can set out the green bin beside the blue. And if we wait that long, its a guarantee that some things that should be recycled won't fit into its designated container, thereby relegating the left over reusable refuse into the blue bin intended for every day trash, like old paint cans, dead animals, and jars of mercury. And I really don't need that kind of guilt.

DAY 274 - Another Day, Another Deer

Seriously, I see a deer almost every day. It isn't like I'm always on back roads...this picture was taken in a person's back yard. These guys are everywhere. Sure they are cute but one day I'm going to have one mounted on the front of my car.

What I've noticed is that they stand perfectly still until you get very close to them and then, instead of running into the woods on the side of the road that they've been standing on for the last half-an-hour, they bolt across the road into the path of your vehicle.

A year ago on February 14th, I was unfortunate enough to witness a deer/car interaction. One deer bounced off my side door. The other committed suicide by jumping in front of a brand new pickup truck. The truck didn't look much better than the deer. It was grizzly. I mean, really, what can be so bad about a deer's life that they would want to end it that way? Yuck.

DAY 273 - It's All A Blur

I've been to Nashville.
I've driven to Martinsville and Muncie.
I've traveled past Post Road.
I've drove north to Southport.
I passed through Greeensburg, Greensville and Greenwood.
I've paused at Brownsburg.
I've blown through both Center Point and New Point.
I've driven past the Children's Museum and the Indianapolis Museum of Art
I've flown by the Indianapolis International Airport.
I've heard the roar of the crowd at Victory Field, Conseco Field House, Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

DAY 272 - Raise the Dead

WOW was last night WINDY!!! I made the mistake of hanging some wind chimes outside our bedroom window a few weeks ago. Until last night, they were a gentle reminder of the great out doors. But the 45 mph winds that blew up led me to believe we were in a church tower!

The patio table blew over. The bells were ringing. The trees were swaying to and fro. The bells were ringing. The flag was flying. The bells just kept ringing. In the morning when I finally climbed out of bed (not when I woke up because that had been several hours before) I couldn't believe how tired I was. Then I remembered the stupid wind chime.

Please understand that this is one of those big gonging chimes. It isn't a little tinkling decoration. This puppy has heart. It doesn't clink. It bangs and bongs.

I was so happy when I came home and found Quasimodo's play thing hanging in the garage, away from the whipping fall winds. Now for a good night's sleep.

DAY 271 - Dog Days

I think Sid and Jack have finally resolved their differences. In other words, Sid has stopped trying to use Jack as a chew toy and Jack has cut back on hoarding all of Sid's possessions. Okay, at least Sid isn't chewing Jack, even if Jack is chewing everything Sid owns.

Sid does very well when she can have a bone and gnaw it to pulp.

Jack does very well if he can have Sid's bone and stash it in his crate.

I love to watch the two of them together. They romp, play, roll, bark, growl, run and occasionally sit down for a rest.

DAY 270 - My Back Yard

I have a small fountain in my back yard. It isn't pretty and, honestly, I would just as easily take it apart and start all over. But the problem is that I love the sound of water. I know that it attracts birds. I know my dog loves it. It reminds me of a walk in the woods along a trickling mountain stream. It comforts my heart.

And so, the best part of my day is when I can sit on my back porch, sipping a hot cup of coffee, listening to the water as it breaks over rocks and into the pool below.

DAY 269 - I'll Take You Out

You see it...don't you? He's threatening me. Unfortunately, this was the highlight of my day. We were in a two day training event, learning what we've done wrong and all the multiple steps that are required to fix the problems.

The people I work with are fantastic. They are funny. They are nice. They are in no hurry...ever. They like one another. Most of all, they have fun.

They made a very long day very enjoyable. Even Z's threatening fist was formed in love.

DAY 268 - Obstacles

You know it is harvest season in Indiana when your way down the road is blocked by a combine moving from one field to the next.

I love this time of year. Corn fields slowly disappear. Huge clouds of dust rise as the beans are harvested and the chopped up stalks are thrown out the back of the tractors. Cold winds blow dry leaves. Night lengthens and the fleeting moments of autumn sun become more precious with each passing day.

I believe this is my favorite time of year.

DAY 267 - Turkey Season

You know you are in rugged country when a herd of turkey greet you. I'm just driving along, minding my own business and over a hill I spot this gathering of gobblers.

I can say that I've experienced the most beautiful country on my drives south. The people are friendly and the view is spectacular. I've really enjoyed the solitude of the car during my 4-5 hours alone each day.

DAY 266 - The Road Keeps Getting Thinner

My days are getting longer and the roads are becoming more narrow. Today, I drove to Nashville, Indiana and ended up on a gravel road in the middle of the woods. I eventually arrived at my destination but for a little while I thought I heard banjos and a hillbilly telling me I had "Purty Lips".

DAY 265 - I think I might be lost

My job is taking me farther and farther away from Indy. Originally, we thought we would try to work with patients in the Indianapolis area. But there are only so many who meet the criteria for our study. So now we're driving to remote locations, like Nashville, Bloomington, Crawfordsville, West Lafayette and Richmond.

Usually, we are on the interstates but occasionally, we happen into a beautiful little valley. Mist covered and remote, the heard of cows pay no attention to the camera man, clicking away to catch the perfect angle of shadow and light in the lifting mist.

Scenes like this make my job just that much better.

DAY 264 - My remote office

I know...my new office looks like a garage. I can see how you would think that. With bikes hanging on the walls and the dog's crate there beside me...

Okay. It IS a garage. But from this location, I can update my website, watch rugby on the TV in the corner, hang out with Sidney and listen to the birds in the tree outside the door. It is the perfect location, really.

And it is the perfect place for a lazy day.

Day 263 - Homecoming Dance

No...Emily and Benjamin did not go to the dance together. But they both look really nice.

The kids worked so hard all day at the house. Ben and I planted mums. We pulled weeds. We filled holes. We mowed the dead grass. We watered the lawn. We scattered fertilizer. We swept the back porch.

Emily and Anita kicked butt inside. They swept the floor. They dusted. They cleaned the bathroom. They washed windows.

Anita and I made a killer supper. The kids all ate at the house and left from here for the dance. We boiled pasta. We browned sausage. We chopped herbs. We made bread and tossed the salad. We set the table and arranged the flowers.

When the kids arrived they snacked on crackers and cheese, cut veges, chips and pretzels. After pictures, they found their seats at the table and took their time eating.

By 7:45 p.m., they were ready to go and the men held open the car doors for the women as they filled the vehicle. Primped, combed, and ready they traveled to the dance.

When they all returned home after 11:30, the opinion was unanimous: The Dance Was Terrible. Nothing but a "grind-fest" (their words, not mine). Having little interest in butt-bumping, they left the dance (after a long day of preparing) and went to another house for after-dance fun.

Despite the low ratings for the dance-proper, the evening was a great success. Beautiful women, handsome men, a good dinner and loud music: The perfect combination.

DAY 262 - A Squirrely Week

Fall is around the corner. The birds and squirrels are saving up for the long winter. In driving to a patient's home today, I saw a flurry of activity at at the base of a tree. Pigeons, sparrows, squirrels and turtle doves all push and flutter, hop and jockey for another bite of seed.

It was quite a scene.

It reminded me of my entire week. Every day is spent working for the next day. Contacting new patients, entering new data, making more calls in an effort to fill the 167 slots for our study is a never-ending push. It's a flurry of activity. A race against February, when enrollment in the study ends. It is quite a site.

DAY 261 - Just one glitch

It only takes one bump, one slow driver, one little glitch in the system and every car comes to a grinding halt. No movement, no action, no happy drivers.

The funniest thing about this portion of my day is watching the one driver who thinks he / she can move ahead by changing lanes. Repeatedly. Left. Right. Left. Right. Zoom ahead. Slam on breaks.

The best is that this person never moves forward, they way they hope. Eventually, we all end up at the same light, the same wreck, the same police stop. It may take a little longer but we all get there.

Unless you turn off the main road.

DAY 260 - Crops a Plenty

The weather hasn't been too hot but it's been plenty dry and the tomatoes have loved it. Go to work...come home...pick a tomato...fry some bacon...make the best sandwich in the world.

Got home tonight and sent the kids off to youth group and watched my wife take an evening nap while the dog and cat tried to snuggle up to the sleeping beauty.

I watched old Seinfeld episodes and Myth Busters. I may not be smarter but I'm better informed and funnier.
By the way..."A dingo ate your baby".

DAY 259 - Looking Back

I took a moment to drive into a local cemetery and was impressed with the number of people buried there who were alive during the Lincoln administration, the civil war, World War I, and World War II.

I've been listening to the book A Team of Rivals while I drive across the state for my job. It is the wonderful book by Doris Kearns Goodwin about Abraham Lincoln and his amazing political prowess.

There are so many people in this grave yard who heard the news of his election. They were shocked by the war between the states. They were devastated by the news of their President's death.

These folks were alive during many world changes: Electric lights, Indoor plumbing, motorized travel. Their heads must have been turning with each new alteration to their daily lives.

Of course, even during my lifetime there have been unbelievable changes: Manned space travel, Vietnam war, a president shot, 9/11, Afghanistan, Iraq, personal computers...

Who knows what will change in the next 40 years?

DAY 258 - From Logansport to Southport

Up early, I made a trip to Logansport to meet with one of my best friend, David. He is special and I really enjoy our time together. We ate Bob Evans' eggs and talked about our families and churches.

From there, I drove back to the house to finish up some work.

My day didn't end until I finished my sleep study in Southport and returned the VA car at 9:40 p.m.

DAY 257 -

This was an odd Sunday. Anita studied during the first worship service and I went to a morning meeting. We went to the second service. This put us out of the church around 12:30.

We drove home, Anita started studying again and I watched football and worked around the house.

The kids had small group in the afternoon and were gone for several hours. When they returned, we had dinner and a "family meeting" to make sure we were all on the same page for the week.

Before I knew it, the day was finished. Nothing of substance got done but the day.

DAY 256 - Saturday

Working in the garage is one of my favorite things to do during cool fall weekends. Turn on the TV, find a good rugby or football game and paint, cut, clean or sit and read the paper. It is a the perfect way to spend the day.

Add my best four-legged-friend to the mix and then a perfect day gets even better (which isn't really possible but you get the idea).

My dog joins me, sits at my feet, and slobbers all over a bone. The All Blacks fail to win their weekend match but the Colts finish strong.

I love my Man Cave.

DAY 255 - Football Friday Follies

My son is in the band. The entire band is playing together at the football game. Parents stream into the stands. They find their places and wave to their children, other parents, teachers and coaches. They move from one location to the next in an effort to catch up on the latest Noblesville news. They laugh loudly. They tell stories. They hug happy children and quickly compliment them on their brilliance and accomplishments.

My shadow casts long and lonely across the filling stands.

I have no interest in talking to people. Their lives seem carelessly intertwined and I don't want to be a part. They know too much about one another and it makes me uncomfortable. They obviously attend the Friday night games with regularity and it appears excessive.

I know some of these people, from a distance, of course. They aren't that happy. One man hits his children. Another drinks into a drunken stupor. One woman is too friendly with male neighbors. Another sits alone in the evenings while her husband "works late".

For all their smiles, all their laughter, all their banter, there is a stadium full of pain. The friendships and friendliness on display appears to nothing more than a show.

Perhaps it is a character flaw.
It might be antisocial behavior.
It is possible that I smell bad.
I'm not really sure that it is a problem, but I tend to sit alone.

A lot.

DAY 254

Land of the free, home of the brave quarter pounder.

As I've mentioned, signs are starting to really stand out to me. Their words, their images, their placement all speak to me as I drive around.

Some of the signs make sense. Others are just stupid.

Today I found that the McDonald's sign is higher and bigger than the American flag. It was a little concerning.

DAY 253

Another day. Another trip to the south side of Indy.

My job is interesting...there is no doubt about it. I meet lots of fascinating people all over the Indy area. Today I drove to Brookville road. Tomorrow I'm suppose to be back in Southport. Friday I'll return to pick up some equipment.

The driving gives me some alone time. It's also given me a good opportunity to listen to a lot of books on tape. I'm finally making my way through "Team of Rivals". It's quite a thick stack of CD's and that's only part one.

DAY 252 - Tuesday

Yesterday just about did me in. In an effort to show my physical prowess, I played football. Who would have guessed that a trip and fall would lead to such a sore chest. I think I cracked a rib.

I had to come home early from work. Every breath brings pain. Carrying a brief case and pulling a suitcase is quite a problem.

I should walk the dog but even that hurts.

DAY 251 - Labor Day at the Mullens'

We've been friends with the Mullens family for close to 20 years. We've watched the kids grow up...and in Jonathan's case, move out. We've gone from seven kids in the picture down to six. It won't be long and we'll drop out two more.

What a wonderful day we shared together. Historically, we hang out on New Years and some time in the summer. I think this might be the first year we ever spent together during Labor Day.

It was a wonderful day.

DAY 250 - Lazy Sunday

I did it. I cleaned my garage! We've lived in this home since August of 2000. In those nine years, we've had at least one car in the garage nearly every day. Several years ago, I organized and we were able to get BOTH cars in the space.

Recently, we moved some items from the office to help make space for flooring and painting. Unfortunately, this forced the cars to spend their nights in the elements.

So Saturday was for cleaning and I made space. I also made a fence. Now Sid and I can work in the garage without concern for her bolting through the open door.

Saturday was for cleaning but Sunday was for resting. We watched Rugby on the garage TV ($14.99 at Goodwill) and cleaned the car, swept the floor, straightened the work bench.

It was a perfect day.

DAY 249 - A Trip Down Memory Lane

We pulled out an old year book and I found this page. Cindy Butt (far left), Heather Hinshaw (center) and Kelli Elder (far right) provided spirit during our high school basketball games.

Heather was my friend since elementary school and that friendship survived many years.

In second grade we played together on the playground. In an effort to impress my friends, I called her "Heather Henshit". This childish name hurt her deeply. Never one to hold back her feelings, Heather let me know how painful my words had been. I was mortified that I could hurt my friend with thoughtless words. Thankfully, she forgave me and we resumed our play.

Later, in high school we played together in the band. She played her flute and I played my french horn. We sang together in show choir. I was the base for her lift in New York, New York (a rousing tribute to America).

Heather never ceased to amaze me. She could type 100 words per minute on an electric type writer and could could play piano like no one I'd ever heard before (really fast). She was talented, smart, funny and just a little irreverent. Okay...a lot irreverent.

Several years after high school, Anita and I were married and living in Ball State Student Housing. Heather brought her first-born to our apartment and I held this precious little girl in my arms. Tears filled my eyes. She was just as beautiful as her mother.

After college, we all went our separate ways. Every so often I see Heather's mother and I catch up with the events of her life. Heather is a grandmother now!

But this picture did more than send me for a stroll down memory lane. This picture reminded me of the many people in my life who helped shape me. They helped me become who I am today and I've never fully thanked them. School mates, church friends, neighbors and co-workers have all taught me something. They've all changed me in one way or another.

Heather, Cindy and Kelly each taught me something over the years.
Rick, David & Mac teach me something every time we are together.
Chris & Jenny, Andy & Judy, Raith & Sarena offer new insights into my soul with each visit.
Tracy, Mike, Tilden and Dee helped shape me into who I am today.

To each of these and so many more, I say Thank You.

DAY 248 - Kroger U-Scans From Hell

Every so often, you have to go shopping. It isn't that you WANT to go shopping. You HAVE to to shopping.

The shopping cart's front right wheel thumps and pulls, oddly enough, to the left.

The produce is either ripe to the point of rotting or so green that it needs another week to be edible.

The items on the list are out of stock but there are plenty of other things you find that you never knew you needed but now cannot live without. You came to the store for a toothbrush and bananas. You are leaving with powdered milk and sushi rolls.

But the shopping experience hasn't even reached its most troubling point until you prepare to "check out". You are no longer allowed to step into an lane and allow a qualified, all-be-it, underpaid checker to finish the shopping transaction. Now you have to do the work yourself.

U-Scans are from the devil. There. I've said it and I feel better. Now that their origins have been established, we can talk about their evils. First, every third item has to have approval from the one person who manages the six stations. Second, alcohol sales all require approval from someone other than the person who manages the six stations because that person is too young to provide the secret alcohol pass code. Third, every item must be placed on the specially calibrated scales after being scanned and approved. Unfortunately, your scales are calibrated to one of the other U-Scan lanes, and their scale is calibrated to yours. Your can of tuna must weigh the same as a 5 pound sack of flour or you are prevented from scanning any other items, until a manager is brought to the U-Scan Island to agree that you in fact are scanning a can of tuna.

Finally, you have a cart of groceries that all have to fit on the scales that are actually bathroom scales disguised by plastic grocery sacks. Two gallons of milk and a box of kitty litter fill the platform. You are not allowed to remove any of your items or your scanning experience ends. If you want to add a jar of pickles and a pound of hamburger, you must contact a district manager who will verify that you can remove one gallon of milk. And only one gallon of milk.

Before you can pay, you have to scan all your coupons, provide picture I.D., submit to a full body search, a chest x-ray and a nasal swab.

The shopping took 10 minutes. The check-out took an hour and a half.

DAY 247 - Wrong Way...Again

I really need to stop turning on highway 32 in an effort to get home quickly. There is always a traffic accident or an incident of some kind. Cars line up for miles and there are always those drivers who think that they don't have to wait their turn. They drive along the side-burn in an effort to move ahead of the crowd. They drive along the left, into on-coming traffic just to get a few car lengths further than the rest of us.

It is the worst part of my trip home.

DAY 246 - Wednesday

Jack is a little stressed. His new best friend is hyperactive and this is more than he can handle. He would do well to remember what he was like as a puppy. He needs a little perspective.

As a beany-baby look-alike, Jack was adorable. He has razor sharp teeth and like to gnaw on everything, including Chip's ears.

He yelped frequently as a way of getting attention (which, honestly was very annoying). He piddled (a dog this size can't pee) in places I didn't know a dog could piddle. In fact, if piddling was a sport, Jack would have received a gold medal. He was a Gold Medal Piddler.

He found pleasure in snuggling up with who ever would have him, which was nearly everyone. He was as cute as a puppy with Marty Feldman-like eyes can be.

So, looking back, I think he has a right to be stressed. Like this morning, when Sid destroyed the planter, dug up the Chicken 'N' Hens and chased Jack around the yard. Jack acted a little on edge. Jack would never have done anything so blatantly evil.

Take it from the Champion Of Piddles. He should know. Would those eyes lie?

DAY 245 - Time Keeps on Tickin'

I'm not sure why but we have a clock in nearly every room of our house. Some rooms have more than one.

Living Room: 3
Dining Room: 1
Kitchen: 2 (microwave and oven)
Family Room: 2 (mantle & computer)
Downstairs 1/2 Bath: None
Emily's Room: 1 alarm clock
Jonathan's Room: 2 alarm & computer (and he isn't even there any more)
Ben's room: 1 alarm clock
Master Bedroom: 2 alarm clocks & a 1/2 dozen watches.
Master Bath: 1 wall clock
Garage: 1 wall clock.
We also have our cell phones that tell time in synchronization with some atomic clock hidden in a mountain fortress.
We also have a clock in every car, to remind us how late we are as we drive to our destination.

And this begs the question: With all this time-keeping capability, why are we always late? How is it that the kids are hardly ever on time and we leave late for church every week? How is it possible that we go to bed WAY too late and have a hard time getting up in the morning? We miss deadlines. We eat dinner at seven, long after the rest of the neighborhood has finished cleaning their dishes.

And why is it that every clock tells a different time? I understand the three in the living room, they are set to report the time of different nations but why is the oven clock 17 minutes faster than the mantle clock in the next room? Why does my cell phone report 4:03 p.m. when my car clock says 4:05 p.m. and the radio announcer just informed me that it is really 4:01 p.m.? The clock in the dining room is exactly 12 hours slow. How did this happen?

I have given this much thought and can only come to one conclusion. We don't have enough clocks. We need more. There is space in the utility room and on the back porch. The refrigerator would also be a perfect location to hang a digital time-piece. You never know when you might want to time yourself as you look for a cube of ice.

DAY 244 - Monday Night Live

What an evening. Our neighbors came over and shared some beer and lively discussion.

Dino and Sinatra (two Dobermans a couple houses away) have decided that they like to play with Jack and Sidney. They come into the yard and go crazy, running, jumping, biting, snipping and yelping. It is a blast to watch them wear one another out.

It was a very nice, spontaneous evening. I wish we could do it more often.

DAY 243 - Dinner & Entertainment

Our neighbors joined us for supper tonight. It was a wonderful evening. The weather was pleasant and the food was wonderful (nothing is better than Papa Murphy's Pizza...NOTHING).

We played Blockus and I didn't do so well (I was yellow). This is a fun game, especially when you win.

DAY 242 - Saturday

I really like signs. I can't get enough. Truck signs. Yard signs. Big signs. Little signs. Billboards and placards, they all give another bit of information.

Some of the info is important. Other parts of of little interest, even to the person who made the sign.

Some of them have taken creativity and time to prepare. Others are written with markers.

I've seen offers for mattresses and lawn mowing, organic milk and synthetic motor oil.

It makes the day go by so fast.

DAY 241 - Sunrise over Center Point

Perhaps one of the most beautiful sunrises I've seen in many years. The sun was very large...a trick of the atmosphere, I guess. The color was wonderful but the intensity of the glow was gentle enough to allow a viewer to look directly at the light.

It was a metaphor for my day. I started early and light guided my way. I couldn't have asked for more.

DAY 240 - Road Closed

I thought this was very funny. As I've pointed out, my travels are taking my into some unpaved roads; however, this is the first path that seems to lead to no where. To make it even better, someone has posted notice that the "road" is closed.

I was tempted to drive down the trail just to see what had closed it. But I was having a hard time finding my destination (which was located on another gravel road that ran nearly 300 yards before coming to an end of its own). I don't know why TomTom couldn't find it!

DAY 239 - Country Roads Taking Me Home

Today I spent my day driving back roads in the southern part of the state. It has been quite a while since I've driven on gravel. This is a shot in my rear view mirror (right before I swerved off the road and into the ditch because I was taking a picture of the gravel road and dust from my rear view mirror).

I really like my job and now that I'm listening to books on tape, my travels are even more interesting.

DAY 238 - New Ross Steak House

My work takes me on the road and one of my recent stops has been in New Ross, Indiana. Actually, I've only found two stop signs in town.

In truth, the burg boasts much more than stop signs. There is a state bank, a small post office, a grain silo and a seed company (I'm sure you've heard of New Ross Seed).

But the highlight of any trip to New Ross is the New Ross Steak House. Located in the shadow of the grain silo and across the street from the New Ross Seed Company (I'm sure you've heard of it), this dining establishment offers fantastic steaks, small side salads, and microwaved dinner rolls. The baked potato was, in fact, baked. The service was very fast, especially given the fact that only one other family was in the dining area. I didn't go to the bar but suspect that the service there was even better because everyone was very happy. I know because you could hear them yelling and laughing all the way into the family dining area. I didn't bother the cigarette smoke that drifted in from the bar, it added an old-world feeling (at least an '80's feeling) to the atmosphere.

I don't normally spend much for supper but I was scheduled to do a sleep study in the area and I knew the late night would require some good protein. Who knows, I might find another reason to stop in again another time and try their fried cheese appetizers.

DAY 237 - Avoiding Hell

This interesting sign is popping up around the Indy area. I've passed it several times but today I just had to stop and take a shot of this one.

Let me start by saying that I get the idea and am sure the person who is paying for these billboards had the best intentions. But I'm struggling with one issue. Follow me on this:

"Avoid Hell". Webster defines AVOID as the following: 1. To make legally void. 2. obsolete 3. To keep away from: SHUN 4. To depart from.

Now, if you are facing eternal damnation in the burning fires of Hell, is the first thought on your mind to make it legally void? Can we get a judge to determine that it just isn't a legal option and therefore it no longer exists? I don't think so.

If God has just banished you to the noxious sulfur-clouded underworld for all eternity, can we just proclaim it obsolete, as in, "Hell is old school and is of no real value to today's world". I doubt it.

If you skip to #4, you'll find that the "depart from" spin just doesn't work either because you are already there and getting out of Hell, I've heard, can be a little tricky.

So, we're stuck with definition #3. AVOID: to keep away from or SHUN. This must be what the billboard really means. But is it a strong enough word to take on the situation? Really? We're talking HELL!!! An eternity of shoveling coal for the guy in the red tights and all we want to do is Avoid it?

I want to avoid taxes.
I want to avoid the flu.
I want to avoid oatmeal.
I want to avoid eye contact with some people in the elevators.
I want to avoid the blood tests and the dentist.
I want to avoid a bad haircut.

I shun the extra piece of pie.
I shun my dog when she soils the carpet.
I shun my neighbor who needs their hammer back.

Heck, (or Hell for my more worldly friends), even Wikipedia gives a religious take on Shunning, providing several contextual examples of the Shun principle in action in the New Testament.

1Corinthians 5:11–13: But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. Expel (SHUN) the wicked man from among you."

Matthew 18:15–17: If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector (SHUN).

2Thessalonians 3:6: In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from (SHUN) every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.

2Thessalonians 3:14–15: If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person and have nothing to do with him (SHUN), that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

Romans 16:17: I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from (SHUN) them.

Good stuff. But even in this context, I don't see anything beyond those pesky sinners. Nothing really about the eternal damnation that is waiting. I just think that God wants us to do more than just avoid, evade, eschew and shun?

I believe that God wants every fiber in my body to recoil at the very thought of the sorrow and pain that will wrack my body for all time. I should have absolute disdain at the mere thought of the demonic underworld. I should be filled with unmitigated horror at the suggestion that my soul, precious to the creator of the universe, would even pass by the gates.

Like I said before, I get the point, I just don't think the writer of this pious placard has really thought through the full ramification of this issue and how it could lead millions of sinners astray as they just try to avoid hell with the same energy they would avoid termites in their three-season porch.

That's all. Everything else is fine.

DAY 236 - Another Year at IU

Dropped off my son again for another year of college. He's happy to be out of the house and we're happy he's at IU.

We miss him, of course, but we're also happy to have him living his life and preparing to be a productive citizen of the world stage.

It is amazing to see this picture of myself and my men. We are all so different but also so much alike. I suppose that comes from living together for 19 years.

I love them both so very much. They'll never know how much they mean to me.

DAY 235 - Ruby, Ruby

Once in a while a great deal comes along. That's true for us today. Today, my wife brought home our newest car. We call her Ruby.

Ruby is a 1995 Buick Century who has a plush interior with tilt a steering wheel, a cassette tape player, only 82,000 miles on the odometer.

All this for only $1.00.

That's right. One Dollar.

The previous motor vehicle we purchased was a 1993 Plymouth Voyager for only $50.

That means that I have two cars with an average age of 15 years and with an average cost of $25.50. I might have a future in this.

DAY 234 - Here Kitty, Kitty

Lately, this is one of the rare glimpses that we have of our cat, Sam. The presence of the new dog, Sid, has forced her to retreat to yet-unknown locations in the house.

If there is any whiff of the dog or the slightest chance that Sid will be entering the house, she bolts around the corner and up the stairs. We think she is hiding under the bed, but that's only a guess.

Sam, Sid, and Jack live happily together as long as they are apart. I've known many families that function well with this same model.

It really is the perfect family system.

DAY 233 - Drivin' in the Rain

Today was a wet one. Driving to southern Indiana to recruit new participants in the research study has resulted in many hours of rain-soaked driving.

I'm amazed by the number of idiot drivers who don't know better than to get out of my way so I can still move along without interruption of my route or my speed. Besides, their road spray gets my car dirty.

Sheesh.

DAY 232 - JACK

This has got to be one of the ugliest dogs.

If it weren't for his wonderful disposition, Jack would have been passed over as a mix between an overgrown bat and a sausage.

Poor Jack has had to endure Sid's chewing on his neck from the first day she arrived in our lives. But he's found a way to get back. We discovered today that he is hoarding all Sid's toys and chew toys in his crate.

That'll teach her.

DAY 231 - Food On the Road

Okay...I'm done with it. This new job puts me on the road throughout most of the day and often I find myself sitting at a Burger King or McD's before a meeting with a new patient.

Despite all these junk food meals, I've managed to loose several pounds. But I can't help but think that a few more would have melted away if I was eating better rather than faster.

So, as of today, I make a new resolution to eat less burger and carry my lunch whenever possible. Turkey sandwiches. Ham on rye. Peanut butter.

Anything but Burgers served by a freakish king or a clown that's been around 43 years.

DAY 230 - German Visitors

Taalea is here!! What a wonderful visit. She came to show off her boyfriend, Flo. He is a very nice young man and we enjoyed the evening with them both.

Food, fresh from the Farmers' Market and grilled to perfection was enjoyed by all.

It's been more than 4 years since she was here but it was as if she had just left us.

I hated that I had to go to bed so early but I could never stay up with the night owls.

DAY 229 - Green Tomatoes

Saturday offers the best, most meaningful part of our week. Anita and I awake, pour up a cup of coffee, gather our reusable bags and drive to the bank to pull cash from the ATM. From there, it is just a short skip and hop to the Farmers' Market.

Everything you've ever wanted is waiting on tables under tents, just in case of rain.

This Saturday was no different from any other. We shopped for produce, stopped at Kroger for a gallon of milk and made our way home to enjoy the rest of the restful day.

I love Saturdays.

DAY 228 - Colts Season Begins

The game wasn't very good but when the military dropped down from the rafters carrying the American flag, it was pretty cool. We were all singing the national anthem and these guys slowly lowered the flag to their awaiting crew on the field.

My day at work was full and it was nice to kick back and enjoy the game with my neighbor, Chris. His son bought him two tickets for the 2009-2010 opening game and he invited me. I bought him a beer and a brat and we called it even...well, I called it even but he deserved more thanks than that.

The roof was open and we were sitting near the open end of the building. It was a great evening.

DAY 227 - Thursday

I think my desk looks pretty clean, all things considered.

Okay...so this isn't my desk. This is a painting by Edwaert Colyer from around 1696. It was a style of painting called trompe l'oiel. It is a painting that, in closer study, reveals the fleeting nature of power. At least that is what the little sign next to the painting said.

I think it is about obsessive organization and detail. I took this picture while visiting the Indianapolis Museum of Art with my bride of 24 years on Sunday.

I bring it to you today because this was one of those days when I felt anything BUT organized or detailed. This was a day that started very early and ended rather late. I never really had a good grasp on anything that was happening during my day but I flowed with it, all the same.

DAY 226 - A short summer

With the kids going back to school, Jonathan home from Yellowstone and already packing for his return to IU, it seems like the summer just flew by. So many great memories. So many fun events. It doesn't seem like it should be over already.

Our family visited so many places and shared good times with so many people. From Mississippi to Montana to the Ukraine. We hit the State Fair and Turkey Run State Park. We hiked mountains and swam in ice-cold lakes. We mowed the yard and pulled garden weeds. We said goodbye to one dog and hello to another. We just unpacked backpacks and lunch boxes, only to turn around and repack them a few short weeks later.

This was a great summer.

DAY 225 - The First Day of School

It doesn't matter how much she stretches, Emily is just getting shorter and shorter...No, wait...Ben is getting taller and taller.

Every year we take the picture. For the past 9 years that picture has been taken in front of the house. For the last half-dozen, it has been taken in front of a growing flower that has actually kept up with Ben's height.

So, Emily is a Junior and Ben is a Freshman. Jonathan, my oldest is a sophomore. How does that work?

DAY 225 - Long, Long Days

Breakfast of Champions!

Starting early and ending late, this was a big day. I drove from Brownsburg to Lawrence to Mooresville and back to the hospital.

This was a day of driving, working, smiling, selling, more driving, blood pressures, paper work, shuffling from one house to the next and more driving.

I really enjoy my job. Never a dull moment.

DAY 224 - 24 Years...Hard to Believe

We've been married 24 years today. We celebrated in style, the first time we've done it right in all 24 years. Usually, we'll eat dinner or see a movie but last night we stayed in a beautiful hotel, watched a good movie, stopped at the art museum, and enjoyed one of the best weekends of our married lives.

But let me take a moment to say one thing...I love my wife. You think that's no revelation but it is. As someone who has counseled people through years of marriage, love for a wife is rare. Love for a husband is a gift. A unified family is unheard of.

But here we are, twenty-four years after she said "I do" and we're happier than we've ever been. Our kids are happy. We are happy. We enjoy one another and can share the good times and the bad with mercy (some of the time) and grace (most of the time).

But here is the mystery: When did it become 24 years? When did we go from 5 years to 15 years to 24? How did this happen? Will the next 24 years go as quickly? Will we have changed as much in 24 years as we changed these first two dozen years? Of course, I have no answers for these many questions. My only desire is to walk through the years, hand-in-hand, with the one who has made them so special.

DAY 223 - Celebrating 24 years.

Away for the night, we drove to down-town Indianapolis and strolled hand-in-hand. It was a wonderful day.

We went to Harry & Izzy's for a late lunch. We've never eaten there before and it was pleasant. Anita had the bass and I had the pork chop.

From there, we walked to the Circle Center Mall and watched Julie & Julia. Let me just say that it is one of the best movies I've seen this year. Yes, even better than Harry Potter. I laughed until I cried. Meryl Streep is outstanding. If she doesn't win an Academy Award for this...well, I just might write a letter.

After the movie we sat on the circle and enjoyed the passing traffic. It was a warm but fun evening and a great way to spend the day.

DAY 222 - The Great Indiana State Fair

NOTHING says it better.

I spotted this young lady in the hog barn. Her big brown eyes and her hog whip just jumped out at me. As we walked past the food vendors, I spotted her again eating the largest plate of fried potatoes I've ever seen.

I have no idea if she won a ribbon but she had to do something right to make it to the State Fair.

I love the Fair. It is amazing to see so many people gathering in one place to celebrate farm animals and fried food. And its fried food of every kind: Fried pizza, fried Twinkies, fried potatoes. If it isn't fried, it is on a stick: Pork on a stick, corn on a stick, cheese cake on a stick.

Every food you could want was waiting for you under one tent or another. There were beef burgers and pork burgers. We had french fries and cotton candy. Turkey legs and pop corn. Beef loin and tender loin.

But there is so much more than food. You can watch horses barrel racing or milk goats showing. You can stroll through the hog barn or the dairy barn. It is quite an experience.

Each day offers a new feature. Tractor pulls and horse races might be to your liking.

The highlight of the day for our family was the Band Competition. Forty-four bands of every size from around the state came to compete. My alma mater, Monroe Central Junior Senior High proudly appeared with 20 kids performing. Anderson Highland (this year's winning school) must have had over 250 kids marching up and down the field. Noblesville had under 100 kids but they were stunning, placing in 12th over-all. They should have been in 10th but that could be a proud parent rather than a qualified judge speaking.

This year's fair goes an extra five days. If you get a chance, stop by and eat something fried and gander at the state's largest sow. Your life will never be the same.

DAY 221 - Thursday

I'm ready to call it a night. It has been a long week and I'm ready to have the three day weekend.

I had an embarrassing moment today. My boss asked how the job was going and I reported that it was going well BUT....and that's when it happened. The BUT. In that moment, I turned red and started to make excuses for what I believe are short-comings in my performance. She caught my flushed face and we all laughed about it but I'll tell you the truth, it really bugged me. Not because she asked about my level of performance or that I became red-faced. It bugged me because I want to excel. I want to do my best. I want to be the best. When I feel that I'm just shy of that level, I get rosy.

I'll work past it but in the mean time, I wish I had kept my cool.

DAY 220 - Dress Rehersal

It is state fair once again and the kids have worked hundreds of hours on their show. We had the privilege to watch their dress rehearsal at the football field. They look pretty rough but they'll pull it together before the show on Friday.

I do this every year. I watch the kids perform, knowing how much effort they have put into their performance and sit back in awe. I cry every year when I watch the show. They're doing their absolute best and giving it their all. It shows. It really does.

DAY 219 - Storm Clouds

I don't know how it happened...I was out three different times to visit patients and make house calls. Not one time did I have to drive in the rain or storms. Sure the windshield wipers were on once and a while but I never got nailed by the wind and falling trees.

I did have to re-route my travel a couple of times but nothing serious.

DAY 218 - Monday

Our patio is covered with flowers. Petunias of red and white adorn our front and back porches. They are really very pretty. They don't provide any scent but they do provide a lovely color against our beige home.

It has been a good year for the flowers. Plenty of rain has made watering a simple task.

The yellow, blue and red pots make a statement. I just love them.

DAY 217 - Sunday

This was a good day of rest. Church in the morning, lazy afternoon and wonderful evening. The weather was perfect and the family was relaxed.

Sure, we had to mow the back yard and read books for summer homework and do laundry and dishes and sweep the floor....

But it was a relaxed day all the same.

DAY 216 - Farmers' Market & Swimming Dogs

I'm writing this in the early evening. I still have several hours before I go to bed but the day has been so full already that I can't think of anything else I can do that would be worth writing about.

We started the day with our weekly trip to the farmers' market. We love that place. Tomatoes, potatoes, corn, cabbage, chickens, pork, flowers, kettle corn...you name it and they have it. Massages and Angora yarn being woven right off the bunny. Sculpture made of spoons and honey on the comb. Signs made of metal and rhubarb bread. It is almost more that the senses can take in.

After we purchased our onions, blue berries and mushrooms, we drove to some friends' home to help them move. It really was only one U-Haul truck full of worldly belongings and it didn't take too long. What a joy to help people you love.




After we arrived home, I took Sidney to the lake for a little work out. She is a natural. She loves her new retrieval toy and, while her swimming needs a little practice (her form is rather rough), her ability to spot the decoy and bring it in is rather impressive.

DAY 215 - The Bunnies

We found a clutch of bunnies in our back yard tonight.

Emily, in her effort to save the creatures moved them to outside our fence. They were sure to be dog food if we left them there.

Having raised rabbits as a boy, I don't hold out a lot of hope for them. They are fragile creatures and their mothers will abandon them for no apparent reason.

But, on the other hand, nature has a strange way of helping the helpless.

Of course, nature also empowers hawks to see little helpless bunnies from 1000 feet in the air and provides the stealth-like hawk with a set of dagger-sharp talons made to snatch the helpless bunny from it's protective burrow without ever knowing what hit him.

So, I guess, it could go either way.

DAY 214 - Our Newest Family Member

Sidney.

9 month old Yellow Lab Puppy. VERY puppy. Everything goes into her mouth: Her lead. Her bowl. A shoe...any shoe. Your foot. My foot. All God's Children's Foots.

She loves to swim but is rather clumsy in the water.

She likes water and my pond that I've worked all summer to build is now a dry stream bed.

She wants to be friends with our black Pug, Jack. Jack isn't convinced that this is a good idea.

She is curious about our white cat, Sam. Sam is very convinced that this is not a good idea.

She is beautiful and I'm happy she is part of our lives. I think it is a very good idea.

DAY 213 - Back to Work!

After traveling across the country, it is always hard to settle back into the routine.

Today was a killer. I started working early and got home late. Playing catch up always makes taking a vacation a challenge.

DAY 212 - Goodbye

Until recently, I worked at a law firm. I answered phones and spoke to the people who wanted to sue other people. One of the partners in this firm was Timothy Kennedy. He fought a valiant fight but in the end, cancer won out. I believe, from speaking to people who knew him well, that the cancer took his body but it never took his spirit.

He died this last week and the viewing was tonight.

I went to the funeral home and was happy to see so many of my former co-workers. They are all such nice folks. The attorneys were great but the secretaries were the best. Tracy, Nicole, Kelly and Kristen were all there and we told "Tim Stories" and laughed a little too loud for the solemn setting but Tim would have wanted it that way.

DAY 211 - From Denver to Indy & Home

Waiting for the luggage to drop down the shoot is the hardest part of any trip home. You've landed. You've used the rest room. You've called the people that matter the most to you. And then you wait. And wait. And wait.

Even when bags appear, they are seldom yours. In fact, many of them make multiple trips around the conveyor, causing you to ask if it is even luggage from your flight.

But eventually, your suitcase, duffel bag, or back pack arrives and the drive home begins.

It is so good getting home.

DAY 209 - Our Last Full Day

Our first stop in the park was Grand Prismatic Spring. Look it up some time. The view from the air is much more impressive. From the ground, it is a colorful, steamy pot of boiling water. One of the largest in the world, this feature was one of my favorites in the park.

We then traveled to Storm Point for a glorious hike. We witnessed a Hoary Marmot sunning himself (or herself) on a pile of rocks. We searched the beach for beautifully shaped wood. We looked for bears but didn't see any. Anita and Jonathan claim the heard a wild turkey but I'm not convinced.

The view was stunning. The wind blowing off the lake was powerful. It was obvious why Storm Point is a favorite among the staff in the park. Not a soul was there while we were on our hike.

It is hard to believe that our week is nearly over. It seems like only yesterday that we arrived in this beautiful place. I don't want to leave.

DAY 208 - Mammoth Hot Springs & Lamar Valley

This has been one of my favorite days of our trip so far. The hot springs, the bears, the elk, the buffalo...It has just be fantastic. We slept in and that helped everyone.

We didn't get to our hotel last night until after midnight. Our room was a sauna and we couldn't figure out the air so we just didn't sleep very well. So the day didn't start until after lunch and we were just casual tourists but it was wonderful.

On our way home last night, we stopped on a road just outside Mammoth and took a moment to star gaze. It was amazing. No other lights to compete and the stars stretched from one corner of the sky to the other. The milky way spilled across the entire night sky. Satellites trailed across the view as we stood in utter amazement at the magnificent splendor before us.

I have to say that this is an unbelievable place.

DAY 207 - Black George

We've had two very big days and we are all exhausted. But today was one of the best so far.

First, we drove down to the Tetons. We stopped in a visitor center and listened to a string quartet play as we looked out over the mountains. It was a spiritual experience for us all. I wept as a listened and viewed the unbelievable beauty.

We then loaded the car and drove down a mountain path. Don't tell National Rental Car but we bottomed out a more than a couple times on the rutted, rocky road. At the end of the trail, we parked the Prius and started hiking one of the most beautiful paths I've ever seen.

We made our way to an ice-melt-fed lake and swam into the ice-cold water. Jonathan and Ben jumped into the ice bath off a 30 foot stone that had rolled down the mountain and parked at the water's edge. It was thrilling coming down and going under.

The hike back seemed more brutal than the hike in but it was worth every step. The view was as breath-taking as the hike.

Back at the trail head, we stopped at a small, one room cabin nestled beside a gurgling brook. This cabin is the home of an octogenarian volunteer ranger named Black George. His name is deceptive.

On the wall of his cabin's front porch hangs multiple clip boards listing important data used by the park department and some data that is only of interest to Black George. The data is in columns, listing daily amounts and the totals to-date. The boards tally the daily temperature, rainfall, total mice killed in the cabin and, perhaps most importantly, the number of root beer floats served in 2009.

The cabin shelves are lined with whiskey bottles (some full and many empty), pork and beans, and multiple two-liter bottles of A & W Root Beer.

Black George found seats for our family of five using chairs, stumps, and the edge of his bed. Digging for a half-gallon of vanilla ice cream from his freezer, he told stories of his time in the war, recent visitors to his cabin, and his work with the park service. He found five tumblers and began scooping the melting dairy goodness into the cups. As he told more stories, he poured just the right amount of root beer into the plastic glasses and served his guests.

We drank the cold, sugary mixture with delight. As the bottoms of our cups began to appear, three hikers made their way up the steps of the small cabin. They were looking for floats of their own. Before we could thank him for his hospitality, two more back-packers had arrived and were waiting patiently on the porch.

Before we departed, my wife offered Black George money for the dessert but he refused. But he made no attempt to prevent her from offering a hug. Together they turned to the camera and let out Black George's famous cry, "YEEEEHAAAA!!!"

It was a great day.

DAY 206 - Oh, the Places We Go

Staying the night in Cody has been quite a pleasure. Cabins located just east of the Rodeo allows for the occasional whinny of a horse or two.

Today we left our palace and traveled into the park where we will spend a night in Grant Village. We stopped at the Bill Cody Dam and hiked several miles to the Lone Star Geyser. Our timing was perfect and watched that mound of calcium blow for nearly a half-hour. It was amazing.

Tomorrow: The Tetons & Black George!!

DAY 205 - Together Again

We are all together after a couple months apart. Jonathan has been working this summer at Yellowstone, Lake Lodge as a cook. No, the hat he is wearing is not dress code. Emily gave him this. She bought it in the Ukraine.

The kids couldn't have been happier to see him. We all hugged and laughed at stories about the kitchen, Mississippi, the Ukraine, and life at home.

It was a great family reunion.

DAY 204 - From Denver to Cody

It is rather windy on the open planes, as evidenced by Ben's unsuccessful attempt to get a Cheeto's to drop into his mouth.

Our drive from Denver north to Cody was highlighted by a stop at Goldeneye Wildlife and Recreation Area.

Emily's peanut butter sandwich was like toast after 10 minutes in the breeze. Certainly a lunch to remember.

DAY 203 - From Indy to Denver

It is hard to believe that I didn't see it before. Why would I select a flight to Denver that leaves the airport at 6:30 a.m.? Why would I click the purchase button on the computer that forces our family to awake at 3:30 a.m. so we are at the airport at 4:30 a.m.? What in the world was I thinking!?

Despite this oversight, we were able to make our way to the airport with good spirits and high hopes.

DAY 166 - My Friend

I took my dog to the vet today and said goodbye. He was 11 years old and had days when he couldn't get up from the floor without the assistance of a towel.

I held him in my arms as the vet injected the medicine into his front arm. He slowly laid back and went to sleep.

This was my dog. He was the first dog that really belonged to me. He sat with me in the garage when I worked in the summer. He rode with me in the car as I made trips around town. He sat motionless in the boat as I fished for bluegill. He was nearly perfect.

I will miss him terribly.

DAY 141

Ben drew this. It took him a couple days of coloring. I think it is brilliant. We were driving and he had his notebook out and showed me the artwork. The closer you view the image, the more simple and more brilliant it becomes.

We went to church and now God is happy. We came home and I ironed my shirts for the week so my co-workers will be happy. We weed-eated the fence and now my neighbors are happy. Anita and I weeded the garden so the tomatoes are happy. Jonathan mowed the back yard and I mowed the front yard and now I am happy. I'm updating CurtAustin365 and now my friends will be happy.

DAY 140 - Mayfest in Full Swing

Every year the kids play at the school for Mayfest. It is a big day for all the kids in the music and visual arts programs. This is Ben's last number for the year.

DAY 139

Andrea graduated from IVY Tech and passed her boards. She'll start work next week as a Radiology Tech. We're so proud of her. She's worked so hard.

After a good day at work, we drove up to Marion, Indiana for her pinning ceremony. We shared dinner at Damon's Grill. It was a very nice evening.

Good luck, Andrea.

DAY 138

This was a long day.

I arrived at work around 7:45 a.m. and didn't get out the door from the hospital until nearly 7:00 p.m.

Three patient visits, lots of telephone discussions, and driving from one side of town to the other, east, west, north and south, made for an interesting day.

But it was sure beautiful, wasn't it?

DAY 137

How about these two beauties?

Wednesday is always a big day. Youth group makes for a long evening. We have a child with a license but she can't yet have riders so we are still driving to the church, dropping the youngest off and picking up after a couple hours.

What made this night different is that we went to Frye's Electronics to look at flat-screen TV's. I didn't say we were buying. Just looking. We'll finish the front room, save 6 months worth of money, pay off our credit cards, and buy a new car before the flat-screen becomes a reality in our home. But they are fun to look at.

In the process of browsing the shelves, warm with the electric glow of Television Heaven, I ran into a friend from high school. Tony and I graduated in 1982 from Monroe Central Junior-Senior High School. What a blast to see someone who was so old and fat that he didn't even recognize me.

My favorite story about Tony (and I think there are many) is when he, Doug, Greg and some others were egging cars in town. As the policeman attempted to chase them down, he kept running ahead of the police and yelling at the top of his lungs, "RUNNNN! RUN Doug! RUN DOUG MILLS! RUN!!! RUN DOUG MILLS!!"

Needless to say, the police were waiting at Doug Mills' home when he arrived later that evening.

At least that's how I heard the story.

DAY 136

Sometimes, the common becomes art. It is the way the light hits the object or the juxtaposition that forces the viewer's eye to see it in a new way.

Other times, the object retains its original purpose.

Most of life is like that, if you stop, squint your eyes and tilt your head slightly. Although, people will look at you funny if you do it too long.

DAY 135

Driving home, tonight was quite a challenge. Lots of traffic was made even worse when the intersection was blocked by police cars, fire trucks and an ambulance.

As I sat at the red light, I watched a woman searched frantically through her purse, her driver's side mirror dangled from the car. Emergency personnel worked frantically to address the needs of the person injured and laying in the street. A mangled bike was thrown into the side berm.

In a moment, in a chance encounter, their lives were never the same again.

DAY 134 - Mother's Day

My son bought flowers, candy and a card for his mother. The rest of us dressed up for church, prepared lunch and dinner, and allowed for naps and leisure. I think it was a lovely day for the mother of my children.

It couldn't have been prettier outside. The wonderful sun and the gorgeous breeze made for the perfect day.

DAY 133

It has been a beautiful spring. The flowers never suffered a deep freeze, the rain has kept everything blooming and green, and the birds sing with more gusto than normal.

My heating bill has dropped off again, the windows are open, the night are fills the house.

The dogs aren't shedding so much, the kids are out and active, and my drive to work includes the Best of Kansas cranked up with the windows cranked down.

I love spring.

DAY 132

HE'S BAAAAACK!!!!!

One year under his belt. He's home from IU and ready for an exciting summer of working out at Yellowstone Park.

It seems like yesterday that we were going through graduation from High School. Now he's got one year complete and living life larger than ever.

I think the pipe smoking is my favorite change.

DAY 131

The best thing you can do in the spring evenings is blow bubbles and watch the warm breeze carry them away.

DAY 128

The pond is finished and the guests arrived just moments later. My boss and her mother, a visitor from Connecticut and my coworker and his family joined us for an evening of dinner on the patio and conversation in the living room. I had a fantastic time and was so thankful that they were able to come. It was a long day for us all but worth every minute.

DAY 109

I've spent hours working on this thing. Every night or two I go out to the back porch, rearrange some rocks, drink a beer and dig some more. I think it has potential but I have yet to find the answer. I need more slope or more rocks or thicker liner. Something...I just need something more.

DAY 108

It was a big day for me. I spent some time catching up with my blogs, made some great stride in my work and had a wonderful evening at home with the family.

I did learn something about myself today: I like routine.

I wake up at a certain time. I like to go to be at a certain time. I like to eat my lunch at a certain time. I like routine. But even in this wonderful rhythm, I find that I can get bored.

So, every once and a while, I like to mix things up a bit just to spice up my life. For instance, I got off the #10 bus tonight at Illinois and Ohio instead of Pennsylvania and Ohio. I thought I would catch the Carmel Express at its last stop, instead of its first.

I waited at the 5/3 Bank as the Fishers' Express picked up its passengers. I patiently allowed the Greenwood Express to board its travelers a few minutes later. As the third bus approached the stop, I pulled out my ticket, handed it to the new driver, and climbed aboard. I found my seat and pulled out my laptop and started typing.

The driver took an unusual route home but I assumed he was avoiding traffic on Illinois. I became suspicious when we pulled onto I-70 and headed north. I removed my headphones from my years and tapped the shoulder of the woman in front of me.

"Excuse me. What bus are we on?"

That's right. Fishers' buses seem to run more frequently than the Carmel buses. So I didn't make it to Carmel. I off-loaded in Fishers. My wife drove from Noblesville to pick me up and drive me back to Carmel to collect my car and then we drove home separately. It was a great evening.

So, just a lesson for you all. Stick with the routine. It is safer in the long run.

DAY 107

Another week begins. I drove to work for an early meeting. I'm starting to get the hang of this job (at least I think I am). I really enjoy the work and the people I work with. They are good folks.

DAY 106

HAPPY EASTER!

What a glorious day!

We enjoyed an early church service in the morning and a delicious brunch at home in the afternoon. Ben made the eggs. Jonathan made the bacon and sausage and sauteed mushrooms. Emily cooked up some killer French toast. I set the table. Anita poured the orange juice and coffee and we rested in God's grace.

Praise God.

DAY 105

This was a big day. I bought an electric mower and knocked out the yard without cutting the extension cord.

Anita's family and my God-children came for Easter dinner. It was a glorious afternoon: Mostly because my mower did such a nice job on the yard.

Let me tell you about my mower: It hums. It glides. It requires no gas, no oil, and no spark plugs. It DOES require a 100 foot cord and some dexterity to prevent a tragically shocking event. I will admit that it took me a good 1/2 hour before I finally developed the rhythm necessary to mow the yard and not the cord.

The mower has no self-propelled hardware. I push it ever square foot of the yard. Not surprisingly, my calves felt the effort by the end of the evening. Thankfully, it is a light machine and fairly easy to push along.

I'm thinking about plugging into a 220 outlet to give it that extra umph it needs to mow tall grass. I'll let you know how that works.

DAY 104 - A Day Off

This was a perfect day. My family, being in Bloomington, gave me a gift of solitude and I really enjoyed it. i spent most of the day cleaning the house and re-arranging furniture. It was cleansing to the house and my own soul. That chair really needed to be in that other corner. The TV should face the other direction. The carpets are spotless...Okay, there are still one or two spots). The mirrors sparkle. The dishes are stacked neatly in their cupboards. Nothing is out of place. What a great day.

By the way...this is a drawing I did of our dog, Dale.

DAY 103

The day was fun at work but then night came. My family is all in Bloomington. Ben is spending the night with his oldest brother and the women are sharing a "Girls' Night". I don't mind being home alone. Its just that a guy can only watch so much Arrested Development and watch his dog sleep.

DAY 102

Today was crazy. Meetings from noon to five with no breaks in between. We ran the kids to youth and it was tough to get home to help make this happen without running in, grabbing a bite to eat and running out. This schedule is really requiring patience from my family and fortitude from my wife.

Even the cat misses me.

DAY 100 - My First 100 Days

It is hard to believe that 100 days have passed since I started this little experiment.

Reading back over some of the posts, it appears that I'm a little busy but also a lot boring. No mountains climbed. No lions wrestled. No cars raced. No bull fights.

My life is summed up with some sunsets, flowers, birthday cakes and bus rides.

But the other thing I have discovered is that my life is about my family. I love my wife. I love my kids. (Okay...I love my dogs, too.)

So it might be low energy but my life is high in quality. You can't beat that.

DAY 99 - GeoCaching

We used the gentle, dulcet tones of TinaTina took us to a Geocache in Rossford. Right along the river and in a beautiful little park, we shared the excitement of the find.

It was a HUGE day. We left the hotel, found the Cache, drove two hours to Cleveland and then drove 6 hours home. To top it off, we left Ohio under a beautiful spring sky and arrived in Indiana to thunderstorms, torrential rain and downpours.

It was a long drive. Really, really long.

DAY 98 - Saturday - Nature Hikes

We had a wonderful day. We went to a couple nature parks in northern Ohio and saw some of the most beautiful birds and scenery.

I've always loved birds and birding is the perfect hobby. I got hooked a dozen years ago and have an extensive life-list. But life gets busy and taking the time to visit wild-life locations can be easily moved to the back burner.

So my wife gave me a wonderful gift. She planned this trip to go to one of the top 10 birding locations in the U.S. While it was a little early to get the full migration, we saw birds EVERYWHERE!! I couldn't believe how many birds and how close they came. We saw Golden Crowned Kinglets on every branch. Winter wrens, wood thrush, ducks, geese, herons, buzzards and hawks were visible through the glasses! It was quite exciting.

After hiking all day, we returned to the hotel and swam in the pool, watched basketball and slept soundly.

DAY 97 - Friday -- Travel to Ohio

Down town early morning.

I love the city, especially in the early morning. People are quiet and move slowly along the streets. You can hear the birds awake and the smell of the diesel fumes mixes with the chilly air.

I worked a half-day today and hurried home to pack for our trip to Ohio. My daughter spent some time with her very good friend near Cleveland and we need to travel that way to pick her up. It was a blustery drive. Thankfully, the wind was to our back most of the way and we benefited from the assistance.

We found a hotel south of Toledo and hope to see some birds tomorrow as we visit a national nature preserve near the lake.

DAY 96 - Thursday

This is where I work.

The VA Hospital is a great place and I am proud to be a part of the mission to the men and women who served our country with their very lives.

My day was fun. I spent the morning with my son, visiting the orthodontist and getting braces tightened.

This trip took me back to the school and then back to the bus-stop where I missed the bus and had to drive down-town. It was a beautiful day so I didn't mind too much.

DAY 95 - Wednesday

It was a nasty drive home. Great day at work but a long drive in pouring rain.

I am constantly amazed at the differing quality of driving based on the conditions. It is as if people lose all sense when the roads get wet. Break-lights flash every few feet.

It can make a good day pretty exhausting.

DAY 94

My daughter took back her own camera today. It was very painful for me and I had a hard time saying goodbye.

Emily received a camera for her birthday last year but she found that batteries didn't last very long and she was quickly frustrated by the turn-around time. My camera burns batteries but it didn't appear to be as quickly as her camera.

Being the caring, loving, selfless father that I am, I offered to switch.

While she was happy to have the battery savings, she noticed that the older camera just didn't take the same quality of pictures as her new fancy camera that her father was now using.

She has her new camera back in her hands and I'm missing it.

DAY 93 - A Perfect Day for Pie

Anita tried a new recipe for tofu stir fry for supper. We all ate big helpings...to be nice. When she finally announced that she didn't care for it, we all quickly agreed.

To save the meal, my wife started a Chess Pie. I can smell the caramel goodness even as I type.

Chess pie, Princess Bride, and a bottle of beer: The way God intended an evening to be spent.

DAY 92 - Spring Has Sprung

I know...it snowed today. But the daffodils are still in bloom and the grass is still green. The Acre is growing quickly. We have snow peas and lettuce planted in the garden and no amount of snow can stop them from filling our tummies later this spring.

The fountain is flowing, the grass is growing and it is about time to fire up the ol' mower! Life doesn't get any better than a humming mower floating over fresh green grass.

DAY 91 - Lights Out

No new pictures today. Instead, I slept and worked in my garage. Then I slept some more. It was easy for me to honor the lights out hour for the World Wildlife Fund.

This is a shot of Eric Wendorf, Roger, and Lara working on the Raggedy Anne Used Clothing Store that became our art gallery. You can't see me...I was washing the inside while they worked on the outside.

This little island of culture was going to be a good idea until we allowed fellow art student, John Atkins to fill the gallery with his one man show. It was comprised of many photocopies of John's genitals, enhanced by color pencil. We were closed down a short time later.

DAY 90 - Heading Home

It was a full week. I learned more than I thought possible. My brain is full. I put in ear plugs to make sure my new knowledge didn't spill out while I sleep.

I am now trained in the art & science of sleep study, 24 hour blood pressure monitoring, and much, much more.

I'm really excited about putting all this new information to use. But I'm also so tired that I can hardly keep my eyes open.

DAY 89 - A Busy Day

Louis' Lunch. I didn't eat here.

I ate at BAR across the street.

The story (according to my host and Louis' web site) is that Louis' is the place where the hamburger was invented.

I ate at a pizza joint. Mashed Potato and Bacon Pizza. Yum. Yum.

DAY 88 - CT, NY, NJ & Back Again

Thought I would take a road trip since I'm just 60 minutes away from Gotham. Work ended around 6:00 p.m. and I jumped into the car, plugged "take me to Radio City" into my TomTom (which my son now calls TinaTina because of the sexy British voice), and started driving.

TinaTina took me right to it the historic landmark. I saw it, took the picture and should have come home. Let me just say that driving in NY is quite an experience. It really was my fault. TinaTina would have taken me directly to my hotel room but I turned on the wrong street at the wrong time and found myself driving over the George Washington Bridge and into New Jersey.

Ordinarily, this is not a problem. TinaTina will usually explain the best route and get me back on track. Not tonight. Here's were the system can break down (just in case you decide to drive to New York City with nothing more than a few bucks in your pocket and a GPS on your dash).

1. There are lots of streets in the Greater New York / New Jersey area.
2. TinaTina hates lots of roads.
3. TinaTina hates to schedule trips that avoid toll roads.
4. TinaTina hates bridges that are made of metal - especially when you are on the lower level in the left lane.
5. Satellites also hate bridges that are made of metal - especially when you are on the lower level in the left lane.
6. TinaTina gets confused when she can't connect with the satellites and you keep driving at an insanely high rate of speed to keep from being run over by the NY/NJ drivers who already know where they are going and don't need technology to direct them.

So, I'm driving the wrong direction because I turned on the off-ramp one exit early. I know this because TinaTina reported the error in a huffy British voice (I SAID take the motorway dumb***!!) This new direction sends me to the GW Bridge and into the beautiful state of New Jersey. Unfortunately, I lost contact with the satellites as I drove over the GW. When I came out the other side, TinaTina was thoroughly confused and started stuttering (Take.......the next........right.........dumb.........***.)

I pulled into a parking lot and waited for TinaTina to catch her breath. Her screen reported that she was analyzing 5 million roads in an effort to help the dumb*** get home. At 3.5 million roads analyzed, TinaTina shut down. She went black. Nothing. She just went into her electronic shell and wouldn't come out.

I tapped her screen...gently, so as not to startle her. Nothing. Not a peep.

Then she sprang to life, asked me to stop tapping her, and gave me new directions that took me over an $8.00 toll road, back across the GW, on 95 North and to my hotel. A Roadway Inn never looked so good.

I love TinaTina, even though she can be a little moody.

DAY 87 - New England Wildlife

Nothing like a drive in New England to put you back in touch with nature. I found these beauties just around the corner from my hotel room. They were making their way to the vending machines for nacho chips and chocolate milk after hanging out in the jacuzzi. Animals.

Today was quite busy. I had the privilege of visiting several patients and learning more about the study protocol & procedures. My favorite part of the day was learning how to take blood pressures: Sitting, standing, and lower limb.

It was a wonderful day. I do need a good night's sleep. I'm bushed.

DAY 86 - Now Entering...

I'm in a foreign country. Well, maybe just a foreign state. Connecticut is a little different than Indiana. Well, maybe just a little prettier.

Okay. It is a lot prettier.

I'm staying in a town that was established in 1630. I think the hotel is not quite that old.

The people here are winter-hardened and warm-hearted. I'm receiving training for my new job. Today was a lot of travel. Tomorrow should be more work.

I ate dinner with Fred and Eve. He is a Project Manager for the study and they are the most wonderful hosts. His invitation was right on...good food and good brew. Tried a new beer, Celerator. Wonderful. Eve was so pleasant and hospitable and Fred had so many interesting stories. Their dog, JayJay didn't care for me too much but we worked past it.

Nothing is a better ending to the day than a slice of apple pie and a scoop of ice cream. The really know how to treat a guy.

DAY 85 - Packing Day

Packing clothes for my trip to Connecticut.

Packing Jonathan for his return to IU.

It is a stunning day. Full sun. Flowers blooming. You just got to love it.

DAY 84 - Ben's Birthday

What a wonderful day. While it isn't officially my youngest's birthday, we celebrated in style. Ben turns 14 on Tuesday and he wanted two things for his special day.

First, he wanted to eat at Red Robin. This was an excellent choice. The burgers were wonderful. The steak fries were scrumptious. The clam chowder was the best I've ever tasted. He brought home a free balloon. Certainly 5-star dining.

Second, Ben wanted a drum. But it wasn't just any drum. Ben wanted a Djembe. And really, what 14 year old doesn't? So of course, being the good parents we are, we found a Djembe. It wasn't that hard really. I'm not completely sure what Ben plans on doing with this African Tribal Drum but that's for his 14 year old mind to determine. Our job was to get it for him. His job is to thank us and remember that we are the best parents, ever. Especially when he's 28 and realizes how many other ways we screwed up his life. When that day comes, we'll remind him of the Djembe and how we did get at least one thing right...Unless he was hoping for a bigger drum or a different color or synthetic material or we completely misunderstood his request. I sure hope he didn't want an Ashiko or a Goblet Drum and we misunderstood. Oh man....We're screwed.

DAY 83 - Squid Challenge

I love to cook. Some times this is a curse...like when my friend Brian came up with this crazy idea for a Cooking Challenge between friends of his that blog. He's calling it the Tri-Blog Challenge.

Now, I'm always up for a challenge but this is a little tricky (and perhaps a little weird). Brian's secret ingredient is Squid. Of course, he isn't willing to supply the squid. He expects me to go out and find it somewhere in Indiana. I think I can seine out some crawdads from the creek or use a triple hook to snag a big ol' catfish from the pond but squid is a little hard to come by. If my research is correct, squid come from the ocean.

I'm leaving for Connecticut on Monday for a work trip. I think I'll take my fly rod and try to hook a few from the beach while I'm there. Connecticut DOES has beaches, right?

DAY 82 - The Circus Bus

I rode a packed bus home tonight. No one was shoving or pushing but the isle was filled with people standing and the bus driver had to tell people at each stop that there wasn't any more room. But the best part of the trip was a young man in the front seat. He summed up the entire trip when he yelled out, "WooWee! Ridin' the bus is like goin' to the circus!"

What he wasn't fully aware of is that HE was the circus. In 15 minutes on a crowded bus, I learned that he is on work release for his first felony. He can't get a job but he did share that during his recent 9-hour pass he was able to "get him some". I think he was talking about ice cream but I am not sure.

I also gleaned that he's not fully aware of Indiana's political scene. At one point in his rant he shouted that Mayor Greg Ballard hadn't done anything for the city. In his educated and high-decibel opinion, he announced that this Mayor was worthless. Now he did report that Mitch Daniels was a great Mayor and we should have kept him. (NOTE: For those readers outside the state of Indiana, Daniels was never mayor. He is the current governor of the state.)

Understand, I was in the back of the bus. It wasn't like I decided to sit by this gentleman and engage him in conversation. His words carried through the mass of commuters to anyone unfortunate enough not to have headphones in their ears.

He was right about one thing: Riding the bus is like going to the circus. You get to meet some real clowns.

DAY 81 - Spring Hours

As a boy, I was always amazed by the violets and cactus that my Aunt Judy grew. She had a wonderful front sun porch and I remember the exotic flowers and plants with fondness.

We've owned a violet for more than 10 years now and it blooms on a regular basis. The delicate flowers grace our window with beautiful color, even in the dead of winter.

Of course, this week is very much like spring. Warm weather, spring showers, greening grass all point to the change of seasons.

I also like the change in time. I know many do not like the shift but I love having the extra daylight in the evening. I can come home in daylight and actually accomplish something. This has been a great week and it's only Wednesday.

DAY 80

Here's a problem. I have two dogs...and yes, technically they are both mine.

Chip, the Black Lab, is my dog and I love him dearly. He wants nothing more than to sit at my feet and be in my presence.

Jack, the black Pug, was a Christmas present for me five years ago. He's a great dog but he is a little odd. I can't decide if this is just how Pug's roll or if this is unique to Jack. For instance, if you put your feet out in front of you on the floor, he will casually stroll over and straddle your foot in order to get his chest rubbed. He will stand there as long as your foot is touching his chest. It isn't quite as endearing as a sleeping lab.

DAY 79

Something about this sign strikes me as funny. It is posted on the elevator and I laugh every time I see it. I had to snap a shot with my cell phone.

Wouldn't it be nice if we had a light like this for our lives? There are so many situations when a light like this would come in handy. I assume that the help that is on the way is qualified to help with the situation (a elevator repair man for this one).

Flat tire on the side of the highway? The light starts flashing, a mechanic is coming. You can relax.

High tax bill?
Dog doo on your carpet?
Gained 35 lbs?
Crabgrass in your yard?
Flooded basement?
Not ready for HD TV?
Wrong paint color in your living room?
You bought 5W30 for your car and it takes 10W40?
Nothing but Decaf coffee in the pantry?
You ate at McDonald's 3 times this week?
Uncle Steve came to visit and hasn't left for 7 days?
Gastric upset due to eating onions for lunch?
No Rugby on TV?

Yes...a flashing light could come in handy.

DAY 78

Church & Head-colds do not mix. I made it through the service but really wished I was at home sleeping instead.

Several loaves of bread were baked today and everyone is smiling in a yeast-induced haze.

DAY 77

The show is over and the kids can finally relax. They've done really well. Several months of practice, three shows, and lots of time invested all paid off.

The week ended on a high note. Work couldn't be any better.

DAY 76

Ben has done a wonderful job as Mayor Shinn. What the audience doesn't know is that this scene is complicated by the fact that the school board members have handed Ben a note (suppose to report that they will NOT perform a patriotic tableau) that actually says "I Love You". Ben said it was difficult not to crack up laughing when they did this.

Work was good today. I'm learning more with each passing hour. I expect I will have the opportunity to actually begin performing my duties soon. There are still several items of training that remain before I can become fully engaged in the job.

DAY 75

Music Man, Jr. began today. It was a great show. Mayor Shinn's wife was shot early in the show...but she will recover.

The kids did a great job. We had front row seats and it was so good to see them up-close. The acting and dancing was done very well. We have two more nights of performances and I'm looking forward to the shows.

DAY 74

I went in late to work today. Had to spend the evening in the Sleep Lab. Very interesting. Ben was very upset...just kidding. This is a picture of me "comforting" Ben for Skye & Tyme's benefit.

I had a nice conversation with Jonathan on my way home from work around 11:00 p.m. Despite the long hour and the intense learning, it was a wonderful day.

DAY 73

My bread is getting prettier all the time. It doesn't always turn out this nice but I'm starting to get the feeling of what I need to do.

Life in the Austin Home is becoming more hectic with each passing day. Ben's play, my new job, Anita's work schedule and school...we're doing our best to come and go at the right times. Not very easy.

I haven't had the opportunity to ride the bus this week due to the need for a flexible schedule. It's tough putting 54 miles a day on my car (more if I get lost from here to there)!

DAY 72

I'm busy. I mean, I'm really busy. I haven't been this busy since we castrated 300 over sized pigs in 2 days. But I smell better so I'm good with it.

In essence, I'm learning two jobs at once. I'm learning how to be a researcher and a project manager and it is quite challenging. In the midst of this, I'm meeting doctors, nurses, technicians, other project managers and researchers. I remember some of their names and others are just a blur. But I love it.

This is a big week for the Austin Family, especially our youngest. Ben is Mayor Shinn in the Music Man, Jr. He won't practice in front of us because he's hiding his performance...waiting to impress. Three big shows: Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I'll be at all three. Wouldn't miss a minute.

DAY 71

My church is an amazing place. Lights, color, sounds, smells all merge together to provide an experience that touches the heart and opens the mind.

There are people who make this possible because of their creativity and their talent and each week I am amazed. But it is their heart for God that moves me: Eric's desire to be a pure man of faith. Amy's soft heart. Carmen's hope to hear the voice of God. Dave's passion for proclaiming truth. Daryl's love for God's sense of humor. Jeff for his compassion.

I'm so blessed to know these folks and to attend this wonderful church.

DAY 70

I know this is cheating. I just didn't have the energy to take a picture today. So this is a picture of our cast from some play we did in high school. Interestingly, no one can remember the name. We've discussed it on Facebook and we all come up blank or with a dozen potential titles. Even more interesting is that I'm a Facebook friends with 14 of these folks.

I left early to have tires put on the old van. Emily and I dropped it off at Walmart and walked across the way to Steak 'n' Shake for breakfast. We returned to watch them finish up the tires (that would have been a great shot). After paying, we drove to Habig's to check on my daughter's application. She wants to work at the garden/yard supply store this summer. She would be great at it. From there, we drove to find a place that would align my tires but no one was open. So, in an effort to kill an hour, we drove around. Emily drove, actually.

After a while we passed a 5/3 Bank and stopped in to open an account for my daughter. Once this was done, we were back on the road.

EVENTUALLY, we got home. I spent some time talking to my neighbors that I'd not seen for a while. The spring thaw always puts everyone back out in their front yards and chatting season begins again.

I fell asleep at 4:15 and woke in time to head off to our small group meeting. Have I told you how much I love those folks? It really is amazing that we have such a variety of backgrounds, careers, family situations, parenting styles and yet, we still laugh until we're in tears. We know each other's hearts and it is beautiful. I can't imagine life without them.

DAY 69

This is the morning view from my bus stop at Penn & Ohio. There is something amazing about the morning light as it strikes the buildings. Sharp angles of shade and brilliance combine to form an artistic explosion of color.

My day went very well. Morning meeting. Mid-morning meeting. Meeting through lunch. Work in the afternoon. Home on the bus early but the bus was late so really home very late.

But the days are flying by. I explained to my wife that this new position does not leave me overwhelmed. I am simply saturated with new information. Every time you move to a new position you have to figure out how someone wants the job done. That is hard enough. This position brings regulations and expectations on a federal level. THIS is new and trying to remember it all is quite a challenge. I know that eventually I will learn it all and be the best darn employee in the Federal Government.

But right now, I'm just glad it's Friday.

DAY 68

I get off the Carmel Express at Ohio and Penn. I'm feet away from the Circle in Downtown Indy. On a beautiful day like today, I can't help but walk over and take a shot of the monument.

Jenny asked for this perfect recipe for bread. Here it is:

3 cups warm (100 degree) water
1.5 Tbs yeast
1.5 Tbs salt
6.5 cups of all purpose flour.

Put this all in a heavy stand mixer and let it go until it is all mixed together. Put it into a big bowl (not kidding - you'd better get a big bowl) and let it set for 2 hours. When your time is up, you pour it into a container and put it in the fridge until you are ready to use it (up to 14 days).

If you want to make bread, you sprinkle some flour over the top, cut off a grapefruit sized lump with a serrated knife and form a tight ball by rolling it in your hands. Let it set for 40 minutes. After 20 minutes, you can turn on the oven to 450 degrees. Put in a baking stone or the equivalent. On the rack under the stone, place a empty broiler pain.

When your 40 minutes are up, slice decorative patterns into the bread to allow for more rising in the oven. Slide the loaf onto the baking stone and add one cup of water to the broiler. 25 minutes later, your bread is ready to come out. Let it sit at least 1/2 hour before cutting into it.

Enjoy.

DAY 67

It has been a busy time for the Austin family. Ben is in "The Music Man, Jr." as Mayor Shinn. They are currently practicing 6 days a week. He comes home and eats like a ravenous dog, does any home work remaining from his day, plays guitar, lifts weights, hits his Facebook and then hits the hay.

This is how we found him last night (Tuesday) at 9:00 p.m. He was out cold on his bed, fully clothed, with his cell phone in his hand.

Tonight, the kids had youth group. I like it when they can go and have fun with their friends, sing and laugh. The interesting thing is that their program is unlike anything I ever worked on.

When I was doing youth ministry, I thought I was really something if I had 30 kids show up in a night. This program has 300 kids show up. That's almost bigger than my entire high school. I can't even believe it and we've been here 9 years. But it has energy and it has creativity and it has depth. I'm happy for the kids. It has made a huge impact in their lives...more than any musical ever will.

DAY 66

The bus ride gives me plenty of time to ponder, sleep, or read. Once on the bus, I find a seat. I settle in, brush my teeth and shave. Sure, I get a few stares but they talk on their cell phones and I don't let it bother me. Then I settle in to read. Right now I take a few moments to read a chapter of Proverbs. Each day brings new insight.

For instance, today's passage explains that the wise will inherit honor (Proverbs 3:35a). I like to understand what I read so I like to research words that might be important to the passage. For example, Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (which I carry with me everywhere I go) states that honor means "to be heavy". But I doubt it means "to be heavy" as in "the fatter you are, the wiser you are". I know a lot of fat people and some of them are very dense (and I don't mean thick...well, yes I do but not in the BMI index sense of the word).

So, I thought about this passage all day. There was a time in college when I read the Psalms and Proverbs every day in an effort to gain wisdom. I was on a search for wisdom and knowledge and thought this might be a good place to start. I read and studied each day. I pondered. I meditated. I prayed. And then I flunked 3 classes in one semester. Something wasn't working.

So I read. I studied. I pondered. I meditated and prayed some more and then I married my wife...the best thing that's ever happened to me. So you see, it does work after all.

DAY 65

The Sunset on the way home was really interesting. The sun looked warm and inviting but it was chilly outside the bus.

A bad accident at the corner of Michigan and Illinois slowed down everyone's trip home this evening. The four lanes all heading north were funneled down to two slow lanes and this backed up traffic all the way past the Arts Garden. I am glad that I chose to ride the bus today.

My friend gave me a bread recipe that is one of the easiest and best tasting I've ever tried. I made three baguettes this evening and it only took 30 minutes from start to finish.

We had Taco Salad tonight and watched Toy Story. It was really a fun evening. We all laughed hard at the movie, even though we've seen it a few dozen times. I suppose we are easily entertained.

DAY 64

Emily is getting better at driving with each passing day. She's really doing well.

It was a busy Sunday for us. Drive to church. Buy the groceries while the kids help out "Special Friends". Pick the kids up. Drive home and unload. Cook lunch. Eat lunch. See? It was really quite a chore.

But THEN Emily gets to drive. She places herself behind the wheel and off we go. Small Group, here we come!

This weekend flew by. It seems like it is not possible that Sunday night is here already. We all agree that something happened to make the time go faster this weekend.

DAY 63

Saturday: Cleaning, cleaning, and more cleaning.

First we cleaned the house.
Then I drove Ben to play practice.
After that, I came home and cleaned some more.
Then I went back to get Ben from play practice.
Next, I cleaned some more and then we were done cleaning.
Now I had time to hang a mirror.
My son's friend came and they made cookies together.
I ate cookies and milk.
Again, I drove Ben's friend home. After that, we washed the dogs at the pet store.
Once home, we ate some food and waited for our Small Group to arrive.
Our small group trickled in (although, wasn't the same without the Drumms).
We did our small group thing which was good. David took pictures of us the entire time which was bad.
Then all my friends went home which was good and bad. I'm glad they all left or I would still be up but I'm sad they left because I miss them already. They are all good people and an important part of our lives and worth every minute of cleaning (even washing the dogs).

DAY 62

The work week is over. It was a good start to a new experience.

I was approached by a guy at the bus stop this morning needing a dollar. He pulled deeply on his cigarette while he explained that he was short just one dollar to get home. His lie was met with my own as I listened to tunes on my MP3 player and he walked away to ask for money from someone else in the shelter.

The bus system just might be the way to go. It doesn't add too much time to my trip and I can get some reading and writing done.

But I will tell you, I am sure tired. Trying to learn something new every 10 minutes has worn me out!

DAY 61

My wife studies hard as she works on her Master's Degree. She settles into her place on the couch, opens her laptop, and the cat finds her place. If you join us on any weeknight you will find these two women in this spot.

My day was really good. The high point was supper with my family. Mixed salad and a baked potato. The conversation was energizing and the dessert (home-made brownies and ice cream) was spectacular. The other woman in my life (my daughter) is quite a cook.

DAY 60

Nothing says, "I'm done with this furniture" like taking an ax to it in the middle of the night.

My day was perfect and ended even better when Ben and I cut up a chair that wasn't even worth passing on to GoodWill. Male bonding time at its best.

As for my day, the bus didn't show so I had to drive to work.

DAY 59

I've ridden the train in Paris, a Taxi in London, and the Subway in Washington but I've never taken a bus in Indianapolis.

I'm giving it a try.

The drive to and from the VA is 50 miles from door to door. That's 250 miles a week. That's roughly 13,000 a year in stop and go traffic. At the current IRS calculation for reimbursement, that's $5,200 a year in expenses of gas, oil, breaks, etc. Compare that to $1,900 a year in bus fare and I think I've found a winner.

But let me say, it isn't like a typical morning drive alone in my BMW x6, smoking my morning cigarette and drinking my Chai Latte, talking on my cell and listening to the newest cuts from Kings of Leon.

Since I don't own a BMW x-something (I drive a Saturn) or smoke or drink Chai (yuck) and no one is up that early to talk on my cell phone with and who in the world are the Kings of Leon (I Googled "top music"), this really is no big change for me.

In fact, I can read a book, write a letter, sleep...all in the comfort of a motor coach from Carmel to Downtown.

Now the city bus is a different story. It is a little busier, a little tighter, a little louder, and let's be honest...it smells different. Oddly enough, I like both and will try it again tomorrow.

I'll let you know how it goes.

DAY 58

Yes, I know this is cheating. I'm suppose to take a picture every day but hey. With the first day on the job, I just couldn't find a good time to whip out my camera and ask everyone to say "CHEEEESEE!".

So this is a picture of one of the best dogs in the whole world, Nomi. I'm there, too. I think this was taken my Freshman year of college.

So, about my first day. Let me just say, wow. Perhaps I didn't stress it enough. WOW!

I found a great parking spot because I don't have a parking sticker on my car and pretty much can go anywhere I want. That will change soon.

I think I met 3,274 people today. I remember the names of two.

I have no computer access (top secret clearance has not been granted).

I do have a badge with my picture on it. I would have scanned this and shown you this shot but I think this would have violated several security codes and I would have ended up in Guatanamo Bay.

I learned that I am a WOC (Work Without Compensation) which was a little unnerving until I realized I'm an IUPUI employee housed in the VA Hospital. Then I felt better.

I was finger printed. This was the first time for me. Everything is digital. I am somewhat competitive (okay...a lot competitive) and I was determined that I would not have to have the ink smeared on my hands. Several people told me how they were unable to complete the digital prints because it was so hard. I only had to repeat one finger. I chastised that finger later in the day when we were alone.

Other than the drive down and back, the day flew by. Can't wait to tell you about tomorrow!

DAY 57

Happy Birthday to Meeeeeee!!!!!

I love the tradition of birthdays. Every year, rain or shine, sleet or snow, I get a pineapple upside down cake for dessert. Although, I've never had one with a tea light for a birthday candle before.

I had a GREAT day. We went to church this morning. Good service, great singing. Carmen did a wonderful job with the worship and the choir. Rick was a genius with the creative story-telling.

After church, we drove to the Indianapolis Convention Center to watch my God-daughter perform her cheering routine with her team. It was so much fun to see her tumbling and cheering.

We came home and I ironed my shirts and laid out my suits for my first week of work at my new job. I have my paper-work finished and my passport to prove I'm a U.S. citizen. I'll probably drive tomorrow but after that, whenever possible, I'll take the express bus from Carmel. It will be nice to have someone else drive. I'll get a lot of reading done.

After a satisfying supper of meatloaf and baked potato, I've settled in to watch Rugby and drink a Pilsner. If every day is like this 45th birthday, this next year will be all right.

DAY 56

Life in the Austin house is pretty relaxed. We don't make anyone dress in a tie for dinner and if their elbows are on the table, we're okay with that, too. Got a little mustard on the corner of your mouth? Just lick it off with your tongue. No one will say a word.