Hail to the Losers

Stupid Michigan football...wasting yet another 4 hours of my life. Get a new coach. Get a quarterback who can run without falling down. Underachieving rules. Yet another disappointing season. Oh well...it's only football...apparently I'm buying into Lloyd Carr's mantra.

It's been awhile...to say the least

Should you happen to refer to my blog as proof of my existence you would have made the logical conclusion that I had died...or at least I had been in the hospital dealing with post-triathlon trauma.  Though I am still ridiculously out of shape, that cannot be my excuse.  What to offer up as a reason?  Blog-boredom (is that a real category?)?  Mental exhaustion?  Perhaps.  Busyness?  Yeah could be that as well.  However, none of these really suffice.  Maybe I just suck as a blogger.  Most likely answer.  But I am now done with the self-depracating bit and want to move on...so here goes...

Exhausted but feeling good.  Heather, Sydnie and I had the great privilege of traveling up to the Chicago-area this weekend to be with some dearly missed friends...Nate and Kara Conrad.  It was the first time we had our "expanded" families together.  I've posted pics off to the left (courtesy of Kara).  It was a fantastic time.  I went and spoke at a retreat for Nate's high school students.  Amazing group.  Really, really good kids (I mean kids in the best possible way).  Whilst the retreating was going on, Heather and Sydnie stayed with Kara and their girls back in the Chicago-area.  It was so good to be with them.  So fun to hang out as parents together.  Surreal, but fun nonetheless.  The time with Nate and Kara was capped off in a most enjoyable manner...sitting by a fire on a cool summer night, drinking Caribou Coffee and then smoking a nice cigar with Nate (just for clarification purposes we each had our own cigar).  Fun times.

Now it is time for slumber.  Been up since 4:30 am.  We almost missed our flight.  Chicago traffic rules.  Sat in class all afternoon.  Downloaded the first chapter of "Through Painted Deserts" by Donald Miller.  Read a little.  Got envious of his writing skills.  Got my thoughts stirred.  Got motivated to actually blog.  Here we are.  Here is where it ends.  Peace.  Good night.

Baldwin Park triathlon

Well this here blog should have been written over a week ago, but I guess one could say I just recovered (that will make more sense in a moment).  Travel back with me about 7 weeks ago...

Heather and I are having dinner with the McKinney's at a new restaurant in a new neighborhood (Baldwin Park) down the street from where we live.  There in the restaurant is the postcard that would introduce me to my demise.  For it was advertising the first ever Baldwin Park Sprint Triathlon (lest you should be too impressed...1/4 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 3 mile run).  Though not ridiculously far, far enough for someone like myself who's mode of training post-college has been 2 donuts a morning.  Basically Heather and I were consistent in our training (she went to the YMCA, and I went to Dunkin' Donuts), and then the dreaded day arrived last Sunday. 

Having gotten roughly 3 hours of sleep on Saturday night (Syndie tooth), we proceeded to the race.  The short of it...now that I've rambled, is that Heather finished second in the fat tire division (mountain bikes) and I finished, albeit 8 minutes behind Heather.  She got a medal.  I got my breath back by Wednesday.  Fun times.  Anyway, there are some new pics posted to the left.  Enjoy.

Sydnie Swim Lessons Video

Video Post

David Wilcox, Staff Retreat & Date Night

What a week.  First, my dream concert came to fruition...David Wilcox playing in the building I work in!  Over the top fantastic.  As if that weren't enough, a few of us were hanging out and cleaning up The Grove afterwards, when we mentioned to David that he didn't play one of our new favorite songs.  His response?  "Would you like me to play it for you now?"  It was like Alice Cooper inviting Wayne & Garth backstage.  Again, over the top fantastic.  So there about 10 of us sat, whilst David played not one, but two songs just for our little impromptu concert.  Amazing.  That was the end of a phenomenal Wednesday evening (see pics off to your left).

Thursday brought the student ministries staff departing for Anna Maria Island for our planning retreat.  Tired but inspired by the previous nights concert, we plowed through 2 1/2 days of evaluating, dreaming and planning for next year.  I am confident that this next year could be our best yet.  Great ideas.  Great honesty.  Great enthusiasm.  Great team-building. 

Full weekend and the start of another week. 

Now it's Tuesday and Heather and I had our weekly "date night."  We spent the evening over good food and great music.  What music you ask?  Well, we have a little recording of last week's concert (with permission of course), and it turned out so well.  All 21 songs captured in crystal clear fashion.  So after dinner Heather and I just drove listening and reliving the concert.  I have issues.  I know.  But even more beautiful than the music is the connection Heather and I have in terms of what we value.  We spent our time conversing about how we couldn't imagine not being moved by the kind of things that move us.  Not to be elitist, but rather we are so thankful that we have each other and that we care deeply about the same things.  Does that make sense?  It's one of those deeply comforting and life-giving feelings that you know comes from the giver of all good things.

peace.

Aunt Andie Visit

Download syd_mellow.mov

Well Aunt Andie was in town tonight for a work-related conference, but we all got to hang out tonight at the Mellow Mushroom.  It was great to see Andie again...it's been too long.  Sydnie did her best to show off her new "moves" and "tricks."  I've posted a little video from the evening.  Click the picture or the link above to start the video.  Also, there is a new photo album for your viewing pleasure entitled "Aunt Andie Visit"...please keep the "Jamie, you look so much younger without your gotee" comments to a minimum.  Unless however, the alternative comment is "Jamie you look so much fatter" then please make the aforementioned comment.  Thanks much!  Peace.