While on a conference call today at work, I made a "toy" out of a paperclip and a bullet, which I proceeded to roll all over my desk. I think I have ADD.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Computer Update
I have one of the newest computers in the office. Yet my computer decided that it would conspire against me with the tech people, and now is having to have its memory completely erased and reloaded. Who knows how long that will take, so I am continuing to work on my laptop. While working on my laptop, I have noticed that just a slight change in routine, such as working from a laptop instead of a desktop, can affect motivation to work. Fortunately, I am starting to get used to the laptop and even feeling motivated to work from it. Of course this means that I will have some of the same issues when I get my desktop back after adapting to my laptop.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Merfield's
I am always looking for good lunch places, but one of the problems in Texarkana has been that the good lunch places are not conveniently located near my office. Fortunately, that has now changed!
Across from the federal courthouse that sits in both Texas and Arkansas, and is the location of the photo opportunity that many people take advantage of on the stateline, is a new little place called Merfield's. This shop has had the name in the window with "Coming Soon" painted under it almost as long as I have lived back in Texarkana (3 years now). Obviously it did not come very soon, but it is amazing!! Part of the delay has been obtaining grants because the building is part of downtown, and there is funding available for revitalizing downtown. However, it takes forever to obtain the grant money.
In Waco, I enjoyed going to two little sandwich shops that were downtown. One was cute, the other was not about appearances, but I have often said, "I wish we had a ____________ in downtown Texarkana." Now I do not have to say "I wish" anymore. Merfield's has all sorts of fun little sandwiches with different spreads and things on them, like what you would find in the French Quarter, just less spicy. The atmosphere is very fun, with classic fixtures, but a modern look. The best part is that it is just a few blocks from the office. It is nice enough that we can take out of town clients to a nice lunch close to the office without the lunch having to be a heavy Mexican food or Italian lunch, or at the always appetizing, but not always aesthetically pleasing hamburger joint or home cooking joint downtown. So if you come to Texarkana, and want to eat at a fun place downtown, call me up and I will meet you at Merfield's!
Across from the federal courthouse that sits in both Texas and Arkansas, and is the location of the photo opportunity that many people take advantage of on the stateline, is a new little place called Merfield's. This shop has had the name in the window with "Coming Soon" painted under it almost as long as I have lived back in Texarkana (3 years now). Obviously it did not come very soon, but it is amazing!! Part of the delay has been obtaining grants because the building is part of downtown, and there is funding available for revitalizing downtown. However, it takes forever to obtain the grant money.
In Waco, I enjoyed going to two little sandwich shops that were downtown. One was cute, the other was not about appearances, but I have often said, "I wish we had a ____________ in downtown Texarkana." Now I do not have to say "I wish" anymore. Merfield's has all sorts of fun little sandwiches with different spreads and things on them, like what you would find in the French Quarter, just less spicy. The atmosphere is very fun, with classic fixtures, but a modern look. The best part is that it is just a few blocks from the office. It is nice enough that we can take out of town clients to a nice lunch close to the office without the lunch having to be a heavy Mexican food or Italian lunch, or at the always appetizing, but not always aesthetically pleasing hamburger joint or home cooking joint downtown. So if you come to Texarkana, and want to eat at a fun place downtown, call me up and I will meet you at Merfield's!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
2008: God of this City
It seems like that for the past few years, there are certain songs that stand out almost as my theme song for the year. In 2005 and 2006, it was Casting Crowns "Praise You in This Storm" because of Hurricane Katrina.
In 2007, it was the classic hymn "It is Well" because of deaths that occurred that year. It is a great testimony to God's love and the hope that we have in Him when we are able to say, in the midst of crisis, that it is well.
2008 was an interesting year for me personally. In 2007, I had paid little attention to the people in New Orleans that I had come to love so much because I had things going on at home that prevented me from going to New Orleans for at least two trips that I had tentatively planned. In fact, 2008 started the same way. I didn't make it to New Orleans when one of the boys was murdered. However, I finally took time to go in April and I am so glad that I did. Although I was never really close to Guy, his murder really is the thing that I think will always stick out about 2008. I am so glad that I had just been to New Orleans and had just seen him when it happened. My relationship with so many people in New Orleans has forever been changed by this event. Other things happened as well, but this seems to be the one event where I could have easily decided to quit doing what I was doing and give up. Instead, there was a song that kept playing over and over in my mind. In fact, the morning after Guy died, I went out and bought the CD that had this song on it, and I played that song over and over again reminding myself of God's promises. Here is my song of 2008:
Chris Tomlin's "God of this City" is one of those songs that is a musical reminder of these verses in Galatians 6:9-10: "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." (ESV) This year I have had a chance to continue to do good to those who are of the household of faith. In the process, I have had the opportunity to share the gospel with others. Through it all, I have grown as a person. "Greater things have yet to come, and greater things are still to be done in this city."
Gervais Nicholas - died 01/12/2008
.JPG)
Guy McEwen - died 04/17/2008
.jpg)
In 2007, it was the classic hymn "It is Well" because of deaths that occurred that year. It is a great testimony to God's love and the hope that we have in Him when we are able to say, in the midst of crisis, that it is well.
2008 was an interesting year for me personally. In 2007, I had paid little attention to the people in New Orleans that I had come to love so much because I had things going on at home that prevented me from going to New Orleans for at least two trips that I had tentatively planned. In fact, 2008 started the same way. I didn't make it to New Orleans when one of the boys was murdered. However, I finally took time to go in April and I am so glad that I did. Although I was never really close to Guy, his murder really is the thing that I think will always stick out about 2008. I am so glad that I had just been to New Orleans and had just seen him when it happened. My relationship with so many people in New Orleans has forever been changed by this event. Other things happened as well, but this seems to be the one event where I could have easily decided to quit doing what I was doing and give up. Instead, there was a song that kept playing over and over in my mind. In fact, the morning after Guy died, I went out and bought the CD that had this song on it, and I played that song over and over again reminding myself of God's promises. Here is my song of 2008:
Chris Tomlin's "God of this City" is one of those songs that is a musical reminder of these verses in Galatians 6:9-10: "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." (ESV) This year I have had a chance to continue to do good to those who are of the household of faith. In the process, I have had the opportunity to share the gospel with others. Through it all, I have grown as a person. "Greater things have yet to come, and greater things are still to be done in this city."
Gervais Nicholas - died 01/12/2008
.JPG)
Guy McEwen - died 04/17/2008
.jpg)
Computers - Necessary Evil
I hate my work computer. It does not matter that they bought a brand new one a few months ago, my computer at work seems to have the same problems as the old one. My computer never likes to log on to the server, which is unfortunate since everything is on our server. Yesterday, my computer decided it was a good idea to let some malicious software attach to it, and conveniently it is software that does not want to be removed. Therefore, my computer had to be taken today to the tech people's office (small firms are too small to hire tech guys full time), and it is unknown when I will see my machine again. Fortunately I purchased a laptop not long ago that is able to connect wirelessly to our server. Unfortunately, my server address does not like any computer, and I have been able to write an entire blog while waiting for it to long on ... and it is still going with no indication of connecting anytime soon. Now there is just more work for me to make up!!!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Can you see the resemblence?
Like father ...
... like son!
Even cousins tend to look similar ...
... when they are not getting their way!
... like son!
Even cousins tend to look similar ...
... when they are not getting their way!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Random Thought #20
I lost about 30 minutes of productivity this morning because someone found a rat drowned in the toilet that we do not use in the office. Apparently it was a sewer rat that got swept away by the rain and decided to crawl up our pipe and drown with his nose centimeters away from the surface. That is all hearsay because I decided not to inspect our rodent corpse. It did cause quite the commotion in our office though as almost everyone else did inspect our unfortunate rat.
Grocery Shopping in the Big Easy
I have tried to find different items in local stores here in Txk so that I can cook spicier and more cajun like dishes, but I have been unsuccessful. Therefore, I decided this trip to shop in NOLA for different items that I cannot find locally. Some of these include:
* anduille sausage - it tastes different from a Texas hotlink so I want the real thing
* Cajun Land seasonings - the best that I have tasted
* cane sugar Abita Root Beer - I really wanted Big Shot, but could not find any. Big Shot is awesome, cheap flavored soda that people love to drink when they come over to my house. However, they are going to have to survive on the cane sugar root beer until March.
* bread machine bread mixes - for some reason I can only find white bread here in Txk. However, in New Orleans there was a better variety, and I decided to try several different types.
Now I can cook sausage and rice casserole and even make some red beans and rice with sausage in the coming days. Top that off with a side of bread and Abita root beer, and I will have a meal!
* anduille sausage - it tastes different from a Texas hotlink so I want the real thing
* Cajun Land seasonings - the best that I have tasted
* cane sugar Abita Root Beer - I really wanted Big Shot, but could not find any. Big Shot is awesome, cheap flavored soda that people love to drink when they come over to my house. However, they are going to have to survive on the cane sugar root beer until March.
* bread machine bread mixes - for some reason I can only find white bread here in Txk. However, in New Orleans there was a better variety, and I decided to try several different types.
Now I can cook sausage and rice casserole and even make some red beans and rice with sausage in the coming days. Top that off with a side of bread and Abita root beer, and I will have a meal!
Saturday, January 3, 2009
It's raining, its pouring!
It has been raining for 5-1/2 hours straight here in New Orleans. Not a light sprinkle either, but pouring down buckets. In a city that is below sea level and that has drainage systems that have been neglected for more important projects such as the levees, this much rain means you need a boat to get around. I thought I was going to wait to come back the Center from seeing the baby until it stopped raining, but gave up two hours in. Glad I did!
Friday, January 2, 2009
Random Thoughts #18 and 19
Tonight is a two for one.
First, if you happened to catch the Sugar Bowl and saw one of the blimp shots, I might have been one of the cars passing by. I think I made three trips past the Superdome tonight. The first time I wondered why the lights were on because I forgot the Sugar Bowl was tonight. Apparently so did Alabama.
Second, I love the smell of babies! I love how the smell lingers on your clothes too! Of course I am referring to the good smell, not the stinky ones.
First, if you happened to catch the Sugar Bowl and saw one of the blimp shots, I might have been one of the cars passing by. I think I made three trips past the Superdome tonight. The first time I wondered why the lights were on because I forgot the Sugar Bowl was tonight. Apparently so did Alabama.
Second, I love the smell of babies! I love how the smell lingers on your clothes too! Of course I am referring to the good smell, not the stinky ones.
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