So it’s been a month. Boy the end of the school year is a busy time. I spent so much time on the computer doing “work” (writing a grant, writing progress reports for my students, evaluation reports, etc.) that I didn’t want to come near the thing to do anything “fun” like blogging.  Well I’m back, and since school is out for the summer, I guess I have a few things to catch up on.

Janna has been really getting excited for our Disney trip, and it’s like six months away. Oh well, I guess, it will be fun! Otherwise, things around the house have been keeping me very busy. Throw in a couple of Indian Powwows here and there, along with church activities, and taking care of two boys, and you’ve got insanity.

The boys are wonderful. They keep me well on the edge of my seat on a daily basis. I see so much of myself in David, he can be so high strung like his ol’ man! I pray daily that pre-school will be a positive experience–he starts in September. Daniel is busy climbing everything he can get his little feet on. I’m suprised he hasn’t had us rushing to the emergency room yet. They both are such a blessing from God–I tell them that every day, hopefully some of it will sink in some time.

Be back soon, promise…

So we decided to see the new Indiana Jones movie. Being a HUGE Indie-Jones fan, I had very high hopes for this movie. Let me say up front that I won’t spoil it for you if you haven’t seen it yet, I’ll “be general” with my comments.

The movie started a little slow for me. Even the quality of the picture and sound were a little ‘off’. (Maybe our theater had a poor copy of the film reel?) Anyways, I was somewhat disappointed in this one. Perhaps I just expect more from film-makers like George Lucas and Steven Spielberg? This film doesn’t seem to really fit with the first three. I don’t know, is it supposed to?

(Wow, I’m asking a lot of questions today). Don’t get me wrong, there were some exciting parts, and some pretty typical (good) Harrison Ford acting. The plot and story-line just seemed too far fetched for me, and there were a few cheesy moments that I feel could have been left out. I’d be specific, but then I’d ruin it for you, right?

Some might argue that a search for the “holy grail”, or “Ark of the Covenant” are far fetched, perhaps I don’t see that in the same light as many because I’m a Christian. (I dunno.) I would recommend catching this movie if you can–make up your own mind.

Still cool to have a date night though…

This powwow is going to drive me insane. My food vendor backed out on me this week, and now with three days to go, I don’t have anyone to sell food at the event. I guess that’s why I get paid the big bucks. 

While frantically searching today for a replacement food vendor, I decided to take a look in the yellow pages, that good old source for everything under God’s golden sun, from aardvark trainers to zoological species analysts.  So what do you call the roach coach guys again? You know, the guys who drive their burger and ‘dog trucks (usually silver) around town selling goodies to all the blue collar guys who never bring a lunch to work.  What the heck are these guys listed under in the yellow pages?

I give up…

Fend for yourselves, hungry public. I’m going to McDonalds.

So here they are, part 1:

Abscond—(verb, used without object) to depart in a sudden and secret manner, esp. to avoid capture and legal prosecution: The cashier absconded with the money.

Amalgam—(noun) a mixture or combination: His character is a strange amalgam of contradictory traits.

Anachronism—(noun) something or someone that is not in its correct historical or chronological time, esp. a thing or person that belongs to an earlier time: The sword is an anachronism in modern warfare.

Anathema—(noun, plural) a person or thing detested or loathed: That subject is an anathema to him.

Appertain—(verb, used without object) to belong as a part, right, possession, attribute, etc.; pertain or relate (usually fol. by to): privileges that appertain to members of the royal family.

Atwitter—(adjective) excited; nervous; aflutter; twittering: They were atwitter at the prospect of meeting a Hollywood star.

Behoove—(verb) to be worthwhile to, as for personal profit or advantage: It would behoove you to be nicer to those who could help you.

Bombastic—(adjective) (of speech, writing, etc.) high-sounding; high-flown; inflated; pretentious.

Boondoggle—(verb, used without object) to do work of little or no practical value merely to keep or look busy.

Capitulate—(verb, used without object) to surrender unconditionally or on stipulated terms; to give up resistance: He finally capitulated and agreed to do the job my way.

Chockablock—(adjective) extremely full; crowded; jammed: a room chockablock with furniture and plants.

Clodhopper—(noun) 1. a clumsy boor; rustic; bumpkin. 2. clodhoppers, strong heavy shoes.

Debacle—(noun) a general breakup or dispersion; sudden downfall or rout: The revolution ended in a debacle.

Diatribe—(noun) a bitter, sharply abusive denunciation, attack, or criticism: repeated diatribes against the senator.

Frobnosticate/variant of frobnicate—(verb) (Usually abbreviated to “frob”, but “frobnicate” is recognized as the official full form) To manipulate or adjust, to tweak: Please frob the light switch (that is, flip it), also Stop frobbing that clasp; you’ll break it.

Learn one or two of these gems this week and use them in a random conversation. You may surprise someone with your ‘sturdy command of the English vernacular’. You can quote me on that…

-Me

Sometimes I tend to forget this, but I was reminded this morning. I believe this is true. Although at times, I feel like my sons try to push my buttons on purpose just to get me going (because they do), it’s good to take a step back and realize what a gift they are.

They say the funniest things sometimes. One second you’re ready to throttle them into next week, and the next, they have you rolling on the floor in laughter. I’m glad God has a sense of humor. I only hope and pray that my boys can learn something from me that they can pass on to their kids someday. Not something superficial, like how to build things using a hammer and nails (although that’s cool too), I mean something of substance, with eternal consequences. I hope to show my boys by the way I live, the things I say (and how I say it) that God is real, that His son Jesus is worth believing, and that He loves them very much.

It’s not easy, but it’s a privilege. Thanks God for the two gifts Janna and I have been given.