Holy Hanna. Write one blog slamming Facebook and the next thing I know I'm avoiding dark alleys and staying indoors.
If I made you feel like a moron for liking Facebook, my apologies. I wasn't slamming the entire Book itself, and certainly wasn't slamming you, I was just pointing out that much of Facebook is Fadish cheese that annoys me to no end.
Still, as I've already said, I too have a Facebook account and even check it. I like the fact that I now know where Torrey Willett and Nathan Kirkam, to name a few, are. I like how I can update them on who I am, where I am and what I've done the past decade. That's cool.
But all the other crappidy daily commentary that gets fed to us as news makes me want to stay away forever.
Still, I'm here. So go ahead, Friend Me.
Just don't tell me what you're doing this very minute. I don't care.
John
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Tyler Mullendore - Canadian Idol June 25, 2007
This guy is the real deal.
Note: I picked him to win it all in his first audition.
Note: Yes John watches Canadian Idol.
Shane Claiborne at Fusion Youth
If you have 50min, and you just might because its the summer, watch this message. Its one of the best I've heard period.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Great New Book
I just started reading this book. I just finished the first chapter and already I know its going to be one of those reads that rocks my comfy world.
Here's my favorite quote from the first chapter. "The gloating Hummer owner may preen with macho pride, unaware or simply uncaring of the fact that he drives an ecological behemoth that saunders fossil fuel resources, pollutes the environment, and make the United States more dependant than ever on foreign oil resources - contributing quite inadvertantly to the justification for Middle East military interventions he otherwise vehemently opposes."
Note: The Hummer was actually created as a vehicle for the military to be used in the deserts of the middle east. Yet. . .everyday on my way to work I pass one roaming the streets of Suburbia.
Makes you wonder a lot of things.
John
Here's my favorite quote from the first chapter. "The gloating Hummer owner may preen with macho pride, unaware or simply uncaring of the fact that he drives an ecological behemoth that saunders fossil fuel resources, pollutes the environment, and make the United States more dependant than ever on foreign oil resources - contributing quite inadvertantly to the justification for Middle East military interventions he otherwise vehemently opposes."
Note: The Hummer was actually created as a vehicle for the military to be used in the deserts of the middle east. Yet. . .everyday on my way to work I pass one roaming the streets of Suburbia.
Makes you wonder a lot of things.
John
Sunday, June 24, 2007
paper boy
Wow. It's been a while. I feel like I'm intruding on someone else's phone conversation or awkwardly sidestepping my way into a cluster of visitors in the church lobby. But then, if I don't blog for a while I feel snotty. Conundrum.
I would like to give a few updates, the first being that the kids are going to school next year. Cool school. Calgary Arts Academy, to be exact. It's arts immersion with no desks, so I was sold. Yes, we're wierd, but wierd people need wierd schools, or they homeschool, and that was great while we did it. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sad about having to miss out on homeschooling next year. Really, I could cry. But Maddie was ready and Alexa will love it and it will be good for Ethan who is surrounded by girls all the time (even our street is full of little girls, not a boy to be seen). But, I'll miss it, and when my friends Hope and Claudia go on their picnics and field trips and zoo days I'll try not to leave jealous, mean spirited messages on their machines.
We went to CAA for a school tour, thinking we would be put on a three year waiting list and for some reason (I'm guessing it had to do with our knock out personalities) the principle gave us the last spots in each of our kids grades. Aside from turning to give John an ecstatic thumbs up but accidentally giving it to the principle instead, and the crying on the way home because I was instantly thrown into jilted mother without a job mode, we're thrilled. I'm not going to mention how John tried to comfort me by suggesting I get a job at Tim Horton's or drive bus. I'm also not going to mention how I responded with all the ways that I supported him while he followed his dreams, including living in Yuppieville, going into debt for his educaton and singing Days of Elijah at church while clapping. That stuff is private, so don't even ask about it. I'm just saying, it's his turn. Nine years, I'm not kidding.
What will I do? No idea. Just guess how scary that is. Possibly some kind of education with debt and maybe several workdays at Starbucks with the laptop and a half sweet white chocolate whipped mocha. What kind of workdays? Don't know. For now, I've got a paper route. No, it's not exactly a step up from wearing the Tim Horton's visor or lurching around the city in a giant yellow bus. But it means I can bring in an actual income and still be at home with Lex every afternoon, and when ever else the kids are off. Plus, the education. The debt. The workdays. We need time for these things.
So, here I am. Thirty, almost thirty-one, pulling my little red wagon down the street every morning at four o'clock, limping because I have a blister, sweating because it's a serious workout or I'm seriously out of shape, soaking wet (it poured for my first two days), tripping (sometimes), wiping out (once when I couldn't see over the stack of papers I was carrying), getting yelled at, stared at, honked at and hitting some green truck's side mirror with my side mirror but there was no damage so who needs to know.
It's a new phase for me, I just hope it doesn't end at papers. I just hope I can find something I love to do and I'm good at. Maybe that's what's so scary. The thought that I won't find that thing, so I'll do papers until I retire at 65 with a little silver plated wagon to put on my mantle. Nothing against silver plated wagons.
And just a little reminder- be nice to your paper person. It's probably an eight year old boy, but even so.
Ang
I would like to give a few updates, the first being that the kids are going to school next year. Cool school. Calgary Arts Academy, to be exact. It's arts immersion with no desks, so I was sold. Yes, we're wierd, but wierd people need wierd schools, or they homeschool, and that was great while we did it. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sad about having to miss out on homeschooling next year. Really, I could cry. But Maddie was ready and Alexa will love it and it will be good for Ethan who is surrounded by girls all the time (even our street is full of little girls, not a boy to be seen). But, I'll miss it, and when my friends Hope and Claudia go on their picnics and field trips and zoo days I'll try not to leave jealous, mean spirited messages on their machines.
We went to CAA for a school tour, thinking we would be put on a three year waiting list and for some reason (I'm guessing it had to do with our knock out personalities) the principle gave us the last spots in each of our kids grades. Aside from turning to give John an ecstatic thumbs up but accidentally giving it to the principle instead, and the crying on the way home because I was instantly thrown into jilted mother without a job mode, we're thrilled. I'm not going to mention how John tried to comfort me by suggesting I get a job at Tim Horton's or drive bus. I'm also not going to mention how I responded with all the ways that I supported him while he followed his dreams, including living in Yuppieville, going into debt for his educaton and singing Days of Elijah at church while clapping. That stuff is private, so don't even ask about it. I'm just saying, it's his turn. Nine years, I'm not kidding.
What will I do? No idea. Just guess how scary that is. Possibly some kind of education with debt and maybe several workdays at Starbucks with the laptop and a half sweet white chocolate whipped mocha. What kind of workdays? Don't know. For now, I've got a paper route. No, it's not exactly a step up from wearing the Tim Horton's visor or lurching around the city in a giant yellow bus. But it means I can bring in an actual income and still be at home with Lex every afternoon, and when ever else the kids are off. Plus, the education. The debt. The workdays. We need time for these things.
So, here I am. Thirty, almost thirty-one, pulling my little red wagon down the street every morning at four o'clock, limping because I have a blister, sweating because it's a serious workout or I'm seriously out of shape, soaking wet (it poured for my first two days), tripping (sometimes), wiping out (once when I couldn't see over the stack of papers I was carrying), getting yelled at, stared at, honked at and hitting some green truck's side mirror with my side mirror but there was no damage so who needs to know.
It's a new phase for me, I just hope it doesn't end at papers. I just hope I can find something I love to do and I'm good at. Maybe that's what's so scary. The thought that I won't find that thing, so I'll do papers until I retire at 65 with a little silver plated wagon to put on my mantle. Nothing against silver plated wagons.
And just a little reminder- be nice to your paper person. It's probably an eight year old boy, but even so.
Ang
Saturday, June 23, 2007
That's it. I've had enough. I tried for a good month to believe Facebook is the best thing since the printing press (why is sliced bread our 'go to' metaphor) but I can't take it any longer. So here's my rip.
Facebook is hokey, cheesy and causes me more nausea then Ben Mulroney.
"John Doe is feeling tired"
"Susie May has left the group Ottawa Senators"
"Jane Smith is now friends with Becky Botsworth."
"Victor Johnson has changed his profile picture"
"June Costello is chillaxing this weekend."
AHHHHHHHHHHH! Have you ever read anything more shallow in your life?
Here's the long and short of it.
Feeling tired? Yawn.
Left the Senators group? Yawn.
Changing your profile picture? Yawn.
Chillaxing this weekend? Gag.
Sorry if I'm stepping on some toes here but my goodness people, must we be reduced to ooey gooey balls of superficiality and cheese in order to stay in touch?
Its time one of us took a stand. I say us because, yes I also have a facebook account. That fact gives me the right to speak into this I think. I joined the thing for one reason - to find long lost friends. And I have. Just yesterday two of my best buddies from high-school found me and that was really cool. That's where Facebook shines.
But all the other useless, irrelevent, moronic "news" deserves to be banned. In fact, I think I'm going to write to the facebook team and suggest that the next time someone informs the world that they're "chillaxing" this weekend, they should feel free to drive to that person's house, confiscate their computer then slap them on the way out.
Now I've probably offended most of you and I'm sure you feel I'm way off so I'm gonna shut-up now. That being said, if you do happen to wonder if its possible that I'm right here's a little experiment you can do.
Next time you talk to your friends Face to Face, hopefully you still do that, look them in the eye and say any one of the following:
"Hey, I changed my profile picture."
"Did you hear, I spent the weekend chillaxing."
"I'm feeling tired, just thought you might want to know."
If your friend doesn't fall into a boredom induced coma then by all means continue.
Regards,
John
Facebook is hokey, cheesy and causes me more nausea then Ben Mulroney.
"John Doe is feeling tired"
"Susie May has left the group Ottawa Senators"
"Jane Smith is now friends with Becky Botsworth."
"Victor Johnson has changed his profile picture"
"June Costello is chillaxing this weekend."
AHHHHHHHHHHH! Have you ever read anything more shallow in your life?
Here's the long and short of it.
Feeling tired? Yawn.
Left the Senators group? Yawn.
Changing your profile picture? Yawn.
Chillaxing this weekend? Gag.
Sorry if I'm stepping on some toes here but my goodness people, must we be reduced to ooey gooey balls of superficiality and cheese in order to stay in touch?
Its time one of us took a stand. I say us because, yes I also have a facebook account. That fact gives me the right to speak into this I think. I joined the thing for one reason - to find long lost friends. And I have. Just yesterday two of my best buddies from high-school found me and that was really cool. That's where Facebook shines.
But all the other useless, irrelevent, moronic "news" deserves to be banned. In fact, I think I'm going to write to the facebook team and suggest that the next time someone informs the world that they're "chillaxing" this weekend, they should feel free to drive to that person's house, confiscate their computer then slap them on the way out.
Now I've probably offended most of you and I'm sure you feel I'm way off so I'm gonna shut-up now. That being said, if you do happen to wonder if its possible that I'm right here's a little experiment you can do.
Next time you talk to your friends Face to Face, hopefully you still do that, look them in the eye and say any one of the following:
"Hey, I changed my profile picture."
"Did you hear, I spent the weekend chillaxing."
"I'm feeling tired, just thought you might want to know."
If your friend doesn't fall into a boredom induced coma then by all means continue.
Regards,
John
Monday, June 11, 2007
Action
This past month has been like an action movie - constant motion with a sub par plot. Oh yeah, and a hot chick. Love ya Ang. We're scheduled to finish shooting this month, about the same time summer rolls into town.
As I peruse your blogs it appears you are shooting the same film. Sometimes there is so much life to shoot its hard to find time to do normal things like blog, stay in touch with friends, shower, etc.
Speaking of action, Angie just informed me that our darling cat Rusty may in fact be dead, squished in the head from a miscellaneous driver. As Maddison and I ran over, hearts pumping, there the cat laid, stuck to the road like a block of furry ice. After 10 minutes of poking and prodding with a stick borrowed from a concerned neighbor it became obvious it wasn't Rusty but the property of 294-6454. We came home relieved yet saddened that some poor little girl named Daisy with solid pigtails and a million dollar smile was about to discover that her best friend Ginger would not be coming home for supper tonight, or any night. I ended the bad news conversation by encouraging them to view the body before the City trucks transported Ginger to the afterdump. Ready, Set, Action. So much action.
Yesterday my teens led our Sunday morning church service. We had 20+ involved in everything from greeting, to handing out bulletins, to leading us in worship, to passing and praying but most of all acting, in a skit we wrote called The Grind. It ended up being an amazing morning and once again I was reminded why it is that I do what I do. Witnessing a teen living up to their potential is about as rare as catching a rose in mid bloom but oh what a sight when you do catch a view. As I end my 6th year in the biz, the witness of such things continues to insure another year in the game. We end off the year with our annual garage sale this week, all profits sending the teens and me to Mexico next summer - as well , we are honoring our grads with a John Style Banquet.
Last night I stayed up late watching presidential hopefulls Obama, Edwards and Hilary do their best to convince the world that God is the greatest and so are they. Jim Wallis organized the thing and I actually quite enjoyed it when I gave them all the benefit of the doubt. Who would have thought the day would ever come when America would pin their leadership hopes on a black man, a chick and a guy with an annoying accent. I was most impressed by Hilary. Although I do wonder how she'll juggle the responsibilities of both the United States of America and the kitchen. Oh right, its 2007, kitchen's out.
Our van is having trouble again. In the past year our Montana has managed to squeeze us for more then $6000 so when this last debacle involving wheel bearings and tie rod endings occured, I could have screamed but I decided to have a garage sale instead. 12 hours later. We woke up the next morning at 6am eager to make hundreds and by noon we had $5. I could have screamed but I decided to see the humor in the situation, there was none except for a guy that bought our mattress and box spring and asked me to help carry it to his house which was just down the road. Half a km later, no joke, we arrived at his house grunting and sweari I mean sweating. We got it all in 4 trips. The $50 we sold it for didn't stop my muscles from twitching. By 4pm we had managed to get $400 and change.
Well I should go, its Maddie and Daddy time and then Ethan and I (I'm his coach) have a soccer game tonight although I just heard thunder. . .
Peace out.
John
As I peruse your blogs it appears you are shooting the same film. Sometimes there is so much life to shoot its hard to find time to do normal things like blog, stay in touch with friends, shower, etc.
Speaking of action, Angie just informed me that our darling cat Rusty may in fact be dead, squished in the head from a miscellaneous driver. As Maddison and I ran over, hearts pumping, there the cat laid, stuck to the road like a block of furry ice. After 10 minutes of poking and prodding with a stick borrowed from a concerned neighbor it became obvious it wasn't Rusty but the property of 294-6454. We came home relieved yet saddened that some poor little girl named Daisy with solid pigtails and a million dollar smile was about to discover that her best friend Ginger would not be coming home for supper tonight, or any night. I ended the bad news conversation by encouraging them to view the body before the City trucks transported Ginger to the afterdump. Ready, Set, Action. So much action.
Yesterday my teens led our Sunday morning church service. We had 20+ involved in everything from greeting, to handing out bulletins, to leading us in worship, to passing and praying but most of all acting, in a skit we wrote called The Grind. It ended up being an amazing morning and once again I was reminded why it is that I do what I do. Witnessing a teen living up to their potential is about as rare as catching a rose in mid bloom but oh what a sight when you do catch a view. As I end my 6th year in the biz, the witness of such things continues to insure another year in the game. We end off the year with our annual garage sale this week, all profits sending the teens and me to Mexico next summer - as well , we are honoring our grads with a John Style Banquet.
Last night I stayed up late watching presidential hopefulls Obama, Edwards and Hilary do their best to convince the world that God is the greatest and so are they. Jim Wallis organized the thing and I actually quite enjoyed it when I gave them all the benefit of the doubt. Who would have thought the day would ever come when America would pin their leadership hopes on a black man, a chick and a guy with an annoying accent. I was most impressed by Hilary. Although I do wonder how she'll juggle the responsibilities of both the United States of America and the kitchen. Oh right, its 2007, kitchen's out.
Our van is having trouble again. In the past year our Montana has managed to squeeze us for more then $6000 so when this last debacle involving wheel bearings and tie rod endings occured, I could have screamed but I decided to have a garage sale instead. 12 hours later. We woke up the next morning at 6am eager to make hundreds and by noon we had $5. I could have screamed but I decided to see the humor in the situation, there was none except for a guy that bought our mattress and box spring and asked me to help carry it to his house which was just down the road. Half a km later, no joke, we arrived at his house grunting and sweari I mean sweating. We got it all in 4 trips. The $50 we sold it for didn't stop my muscles from twitching. By 4pm we had managed to get $400 and change.
Well I should go, its Maddie and Daddy time and then Ethan and I (I'm his coach) have a soccer game tonight although I just heard thunder. . .
Peace out.
John
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Our kiddos
This was taken yesterday at the Zoo.All is well with us except apparently we no longer blog. Must be the summer or something.
We'll get back into it at some point I'm sure. For now, just know we are busy with soccer, end of year stuff, and are excited to see the grandparents this summer.
John
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