Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Taste Every Moment and Live it Out Loud

My grandfather turned 89 years old on Sunday. He's pictured here with my mom and grandmother (just a little younger...they've been married for 68 years!!) taken at Thanksgiving last year.

When I talked to him on his birthday he said he was sure he'd make it to a hundred. Knowing him as I do, I'm certain he's right. When he handed me over to my grandmother to chat for a bit, he was on his way to a finance committee meeting at church. I LOVE that my 89-year-old grandfather is on the church finance committee. How great is that?

I've been thinking a lot about that Five for Fighting song, 100 years (lyrics w/out the choruses below):

I'm 15... for a moment
Caught in between 10 and 20
And I'm just dreamin'
Countin' the ways to where you are

I'm 22... for a moment
And she feels better than ever
And we're on fire
Making our way back from Mars

I'm 33... for a moment
Still the man,
But you see I'm a they
A kid on the way, babe
A family on my mind

I'm 45... for a moment
The sea is high
And I'm heading into a crisis
Chasing the years of my life

I'm 99... for a moment
Dying for just another moment
And I'm just dreamin'
Countin' the ways to where you are

I wonder how many of us stop at various points in our lives and think about where we are. We might think about where we're going, but typically we're not content with where we are. I think most of us live in the moment not really thinking about it at the time...looking back to observe where we've been...and what/who has impacted our life. As the lyrics say, we're really only here for a moment...and let's face it, a moment's not very long at all.

As David Cook sings, "And I'll taste every moment and live it out loud...I know this is the time, this is the time of my life..." Good words I think. And not a bad song either.

Without getting too melancholy, let me close this entry by expressing my sorrow for a friend who lost her son last weekend. As my grandfather took one step closer to 90, this 21-year-old kid lost his life on a 2-lane highway just south of San Jose. I can't pretend to understand why this happened, but believe that God is in everything and that He will use this tragedy to bring glory to himself.

I think the divergence of these two events is a good reminder to taste every moment...and live it out loud...

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Further Confessions: It's All About the Coke

Just in case you didn't know...or had any doubt in your mind...be it known, that IT'S ALL ABOUT THE COKE. And more recently, it's all about the REAL Coke...with the REAL sugar...that we import from Mexico. Thank you Costco for importing my addiction for me! Not that I shun the cans, but let's face it...there's nothing like the REAL THING!

Many of you know of my Coke addiction. It might actually be worse than my potato/French fry addiction. I mean, I have magnets, I have toys, I have a shirt, I have a watch...it really is ALL ABOUT THE COKE.

While the Mexican Coke is high on my list, the best Coke to be found is, without question, hands-down, at McDonald's. You know it's true. Some days, it's the only thing that a person needs. If you haven't experienced it for yourself, do it now. Seriously. You need it. Matter of fact, I think I need to make a detour on my way to the game today...for some McDonald's Coke...and a side of fries. See ya!

Photo 1: Oh yes. That's the scene inside my fridge right now. It's like I'm on Cribs or something...

Photo 2: My August 2008 run-in with the Coke Bear in Vegas.


Photo 3: McDonald's Coke. Even inanimate objects are drawn to it.


Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Traffic Lights, Transition and Tour

Today I give you three topics...pretty much unrelated...and without much segue from one to the other...

So, I don't know about you, but I daily bear witness to a strange phenomenon...people standing at intersections...waiting for lights to change. Don't roll your eyes at me. I'm not finished yet. The strange part is, on many occasions, no one pushes the button. And in San Jose, we don't have those fancy infrared buttons like they do at 4th and King in San Francisco. No. You actually have to push the button if you'd like something to happen. Why is this a hard concept? I really don't know, but on many days, I've walked up and watched a group of folks waiting...and waiting...and then, for fun, I go ahead and push the button, and like MAGIC, the light changes. Am I alone in my observation? I do see this primarily around the SJSU campus, so maybe it's a Gen Y thing, and people think they're entitled to have the light change for them without lifting so much as a finger. It is, after all, all about them and of COURSE the light should know they need to cross the street without them taking that ever-so-difficult step of actually DOING something to make it happen. How exactly do these folks get up and out of their houses every day? It must be magic...

And...scene.

So. I'm in my last few weeks at SJSU before moving to my new office at CSU East Bay. I'm not MOVING moving...just changing jobs. I've been all over the place the last couple of weeks starting my transition, so please forgive me if I haven't emailed, called, messaged, carrier pigeoned or Hallmark carded you. I promise to catch up...you know...some time in 2009...you still love me, right?

Next!

In the midst of my transition and watching these random traffic light waiters, I got the great joy of journeying to Wheatland, CA with a friend to see some of our all-time favorite bands at the Music Builds Tour a couple of weeks ago. Can you say awesome? I think you can. Let me just lay it out for you...

1 - Jars of Clay ... have always loved their music; actually met Steve Mason earlier this year; saw them play a number of years ago at The Warfield; really enjoyed seeing them again!

2 - Robert Randolph and The Family Band ... not really my favorite music, but boy could they play! great musicians who had a lot of fun on stage; they definitely impressed.

3 - Switchfoot ... my 8th time seeing them live; yes...big fan...and they did not disappoint; I really do become the 15-year old I always claim to be when I see them live...they just plain ROCK!! and along they way, they always make me think about a lot of interesting things.

4 - Third Day ... my 6th time seeing them, and they were, as usual, pure joy; they rock in a completely different way from Switchfoot and stir my emotions in a way few other musicians do.

At the end, members of all the groups played a few songs together. It's always fun to see collaborations, and these guys were great. I hope some of you had a chance to see this tour...it was truly awesome!

You can check out my photos to the left...click any picture as it scrolls through the slide show and it will open larger...our seats were pretty stinking good...if I do say so myself. And oh yeah, I just did.

Curtain please.