Archive for February, 2010
This is what I do…
One of my co-workers placed this comic on my desk yesterday. I’m not a big LOL’er, but this one did it for me.
I know it’s kind of dorky to post comics, but this pretty well describes what I do:
She’s all growed-up.
Hayley has her very own blog now. It’s amazing.
The Great Ramsey Smokeouts
I have an unhealthy infatuation with gadgets and kitchen implements. Our closets and cabinets are filled with testaments to that reality. However, two of my recent purchases filled our house on a completely different level.
The first Ramsey smokeout happened around New Year’s Eve. Hayley and I are somewhat addicted to one of the greatest video games ever created, Rock Band 2. And by somewhat, I mean stupidly obsessed. We’ve spent money adding songs, new instruments (Hayley has a schweet bass guitar) and, the accessory to beat all accessories:
The stage kit was first announced with the release of Rock Band 2, but was priced at $100. Even at that steep cost, I wanted it. Then, a few months ago, I noticed that the price had dropped to only $60. Again, it was expensive, but I still wanted it to be mine. And then, at Christmas, I was looking for something to spend some gift-card money on, and I saw that Gamestop had the kit listed for only $25. It was time.
The stage kit extends the virtual stage into your living room with a strobe light, light show and a fog machine, all timed with music on screen. It truly is a marvel of entertainment engineering.
Unfortunately, this marvel is a little too powerful. As we started to rock out to Kelly Clarkson’s classic “Miss Independent,” the fog machine kicked out its first blast – which promptly filled our small living room with smoke. Then, about five seconds later another blast. Five seconds more, another. By the third blast, our smoke-filled living room started choking Hayley and me up. And setting off our smoke alarm. Which is connected to our ADT security system. And doesn’t stop beeping very easily.
Fortunately, ADT called, we answered and no fire trucks were dispatched to our house. Sadly, I’m not sure when we’ll be able to use the fog machine again.
The second happened just tonight, on Valentine’s Day. Being the romantic type, I thought it would be nice to make a nice dinner for Hayley. So I bought some red-skinned potatoes, asparagus, bread and strip steaks for a delicious dinner at home. I also bought a cast-iron grill pan for the steaks, since it’s 30-degrees outside. And, much like the stage kit, I’d been wanting one for quite a while.
Everything was going swimmingly – the steak marinade smelled great, the potatoes were cooking and the asparagus was simmering nicely – until I threw the steaks on grill pan. Immediately, our house filled with smoke.
Our exhaust hood was powerless to do anything with the amount of smoke that was coming from the steaks. We opened windows and doors and tried to fan the smoke out, but after only about 30 seconds, the ADT smoke alarm started going off. And we couldn’t get it to stop. At all. It beeped, loudly, for at least 5 minutes, which, in ear-spitting-beeping-time, is actually an hour.
Also, we somehow missed the call from ADT. So, we got a nice visit from three very friendly firemen. In a very large red truck, called a fire truck.
On the upside, we were able to throw the steaks in the oven and salvaged the dinner.
But I definitely hope that the future objects of my desire are smoke-free.
In the whitespace
I’m a relatively busy individual. My job, friends, wife and cats all conspire to keep my schedule full. And I know I’m not alone in this.
A couple of weeks ago, Paul Hill, pastor of Wheatland Mission, was leading a discussion around the idea of margins and he made a pretty shocking suggestion: living a busy life is sinful.
At first, I was taken aback. I wasn’t necessarily offended, but I was certainly surprised. Then I began chewing on the idea and arrived at the following conclusion:
Being busy is not sinful harmful. Living a busy life is sinful harmful. (Note: Edited because I wanted to.)
Everybody is going to experience a season of busyness in his or her life. I can feel confident that God understands that. But I know some people who manage to constantly fill their life with activities and obligations. For them, busyness isn’t a result of circumstances. It’s a result of choice.
My former employers had a great saying about needing to be “restfully available.” That idea has resonated with me since I first heard it. And though I haven’t always achieved it, I’ve tried to be aware of times when I’m not restfully available.
When driving, am I in such a hurry that I’m unable to stop and help a stranded motorist? Am I so strapped for time that I don’t have a moment to spare for a hurting coworker? Are my finances so stretched to the limit that I’m unable to pitch in to help with a need?
Margins are critical in our lives. They allow us to be open to what God is doing around us and to be able to join Him in it.
I don’t know what your life looks like, but I encourage you to carve out some whitespace. I know I’m going to try.