Chris 
This whole being-sick-since-Christmas thing has got to go. I wish I could throw it away like a used tissue. It has thrown off all of my best laid plans of renewal and revival. Not to mention a longer than usual cold streak here in Houston has brought me down too.
I don’t do cold weather or cold sickness very well.
A big trend on Flickr and DeviantArt is to share one’s desktop wallpaper. I thought I’d share mine.
I cannot stand clutter on my screen. I have to have everything nice and organized so I can get to it quick.
The illustration is from Matthew Lyons and is called Intrepid Explorer. Which I think suits me very well.
Usually I would have an image of my daughter but I felt the need to change things up today.
“But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.” Psalm 39:7
Who or what do you put your hope in? Your spouse? Government? Your bank account?
Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
– Hebrews 11:1
I think we could all use a lot more faith this year!
*
We cannot keep doing what we are doing and expect change. Come to think of it, we cannot expect hope and change from those who would promise better things. The time is coming and has now come that we go back to what made us strong. Hard work. Are you as tired as I am with the status quo? Are you exasperated that for some time now you feel like you have lost control? Our households will not get better by themselves. Your bank accounts will not increase by themselves. The careers we have will have to be dictated by us, not at the whims of over-extending bigwigs. It’s time to wake up, Uh-merica. This year I am resolving to get back control over myself.
For far too long I have sat back and watched as the waistline increased, my brain cells decrease and my personal happiness go bye-bye. In 2010 I will be healthier, smarter and happier with the help of hard work and determination.
Because I have lost control of myself I have allowed outside forces to take control. I will reclaim my independence and start working harder and smarter for me & mine. I have never been afraid to work hard, I just have forgotten how. Time to relearn.
I enjoyed Chris Brogan’s article on making construction sexy. “Get your hard hat. Get your blue prints. Find your crew. Let’s make construction sexy. You with me?”
* Thanks to Hugh at Gaping Void for the illustration inspiration
I am ready to kick 2009 out of here and welcome 2010, aren’t you? It has not been a very pleasant year in regards to life changes here. I’m projecting a positive outlook and making the necessary changes. I love the "Good Riddance Day" idea.
December has been a grey, gloomy month down here in Houston. We typically enjoy pleasant weather and green landscapes but this year is something else. 3 out of the 4 weeks have been like this including snow, sleet, brown grass and bare trees.
I’m going on week #2 of cold here and I don’t like it. It just throws everything off including sleep schedules. So if you see me online at 3am, give me a shout.
Here’s wishing you a happy, healthy, energetic and prosperous new year. We deserve it
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Way back in 1983 I was a wee lad who lost a lot of quarters at the video arcade and especially to the game depicted above, Dragon’s Lair. As valiant knight Dirk the Daring, your noble but precarious quest is to rescue the beautiful Princess Daphne from the lair of Singe, a fire-breathing dragon who lurks in the foreboding castle of an evil wizard. DL was twenty years ahead of anything else and was also the most challenging video game.
I am happy to report to everyone else my age that you can now play this on your iPhone/Touch for only $5 (iTunes store link). Heck, I spent that much for the game within thirty minutes. Nowadays I am not a gamer, having outgrown such wastes of time and money. I am however looking forward to getting past the first level finally.
Merry Christmas to me!
Did you enjoy the special effects of the original King Kong and the Matrix movies mixed in with a little Dances With Wolves? Go see Avatar in 3D. The imagination, details, depth and scope of this movie is amazing. The future of film making is here and it doesn’t disappoint. Thank me afterwards. I’m thanking my good friend Jacob who took me to go see the visually best film I’ve seen in a long time and a great story today.
Just in case you are a last minute shopper as I have been known to be, stress not at the thought of visiting the mall with all of the other slackers. These are but a few suggestions. Not for me of course, although I would never turn them down! What makes them a great gift is the fact that most of them allow you to choose what you would actually want, come in various dollar increments, or would be something you would actually use and appreciate.
In celebration of the Christmas holiday this week, here is a very relevant passage. Below that are the lyrics to one of the only modern day Christmas songs I can actually stand and that is from Michael W. Smith’s “Welcome To Our World”.
Luke 2:11 “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Tears are falling, hearts are breaking
How we need to hear from God
You’ve been promised, we’ve been waitingWelcome Holy Child
Hope that you don’t mind our manger
How I wish we would have known
But long-awaited Holy Stranger
Make Yourself at home
Please make Yourself at home
Bring Your peace into our violence
Bid our hungry souls be filled
Word now breaking Heaven’s silenceWelcome to our world
Fragile finger sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us
Unto us is born
Unto us is bornSo wrap our injured flesh around You
Breathe our air and walk our sod
Rob our sin and make us holyPerfect Son of God
Welcome to our world
