A Rave about The Rave

When I was younger, I never understood why so many good movies were released on Christmas Day.  It just didn't make sense.  Who went to the movies on Christmas Day?  Well for the past few years, my family has been to the movies the day after Christmas.  This year was no different.

Yesterday, Rachel, Micah, and I went to see Bedtime Stories at our local theater, The Rave.  Before the movie started, the kids and I noticed a rather distracting buzzing sound.  I believed the noise to be coming from a busted speaker.  Well, when the previews began and the sound of the movie started, the buzzing was not able to be heard above the normal volume of the movie.

  

About five minutes into the film, the lights came up, the movie was paused and the Rave manager came in to apologize about the buzzing sound.  He gave everyone in the theater the option of seeing another movie, watching the film with the buzzing and seeing a later movie that day, or coming back later to watch the same movie at a different time.  He also gave everyone in the theater a free pass to a movie at a later date.    We stayed and are planning to go back at a later time.  

I thought the Rave did an amazing job making it right with everyone in the theater even though no one had complained.  We are now a fan of the Rave Movie Theater.  

Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday Momma!!!

Peace on Earth and Good Wheels to Man

It's Christmas time in the city...and everywhere else.  I love Christmas time.  I love everything about it...the music, the lights, the spiritual aspects and I'll just get this out of the way now, I love getting gifts.  I know, I know, it is better to give than to receive.  I've heard that my entire life and I know that it is even biblical, but I've received from pretty good stuff during my 34 years and I'm looking forward to getting some pretty good stuff this year.  So far, I've received a few gift cards to LifeWay, a John Phillips Commentary on Romans, some money, and two pair of black dress socks.  It doesn't get much better than that.  Now if only someone would get me some new underwear.

Don't get me wrong, I like giving as well.  I really enjoy going Christmas shopping with my wife.  Now I'm not a nut who wants to get up and 4am and go on Black Friday, but I do enjoy picking out gifts for my family and friends.  I even enjoy giving to those I don't know.   For several years now, we have given gifts to children in need.  We like to go as a family and choose gifts that will make Christmas special for some needy children.  We have done the operation Christmas child, angel tree, and secret santa for different families.  Never have we actually met those we provided presents for and that's okay.  It was a blessing to us to be able to give.  It is something that we chose to do.  Now, I'm not telling you this to toot my own horn and make myself sound pious.  It is simply to explain the difference in choosing to give and giving without knowing.  I'll explain.

Heather, the kids, and myself have been out of town for the last several days.  My sister got married and we had pre-Christmas with our extended families.  As we returned home today, you can imagine the chaos that ensued.  We unloaded the car of all our clothes and Christmas gifts.  Kids were running and playing.  Parents were sinking into chairs and beds for naps.  All was right with the world...then...I noticed that the front porch looked a little bare.  I couldn't put my finger on it (pun intended) at first, but then I figured it out.  Bicycles.  That's right.  Both of my kids bicycles had been stolen.  

Evidently, someone wished for bicycles for Christmas.  And it looks like they will get their wish.  With the economy and all, I guess they were needed.  Really, I don't mind giving bicycles away for Christmas.  If I knew a kid that needed a bike, I wouldn't be against going and getting one for him or her.  But ask first!  Don't just take my kids' stuff.  Silver lining...my kids are getting scooters for Christmas...and new bikes.

Sneaux Day II

Apparently, it only snows in the greater Baton Rouge area only once every 20 years.  This fact became clear today while listening to the local news.  The broadcasters repeatedly said that all major roads had been sanded and were passable.  I wasn't sure why the roads had been sanded.  It was my understanding that icy roads were usually salted, not sanded.  Finally one broadcaster cleared up my confusion.  She explained that in south Louisiana, the roads are sanded and not salted because south LA doesn't stockpile salt since there really is no reason seeing it only snows once every 20 years.  Instead we stockpile sand for sandbags in case of floods and hurricanes.  Who would have thought?

Sneaux Day

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

There are not many times in the life of a Louisiana native to build a snowman. So when one gets the chance, he takes it. Rachel, Micah, and I built this snowman today. I learned something while working on this frigid figure. When you roll a ball of snow across the snow covered ground it actually does get bigger. I always thought that was just a cartoon characterization. I really didn't believe that a snowball would grow just by rolling along the ground, but that is exactly what happens. It took Rachel, Micah, and I about 45 minutes to build the base of the snowman one handful at a time. About the time we finished the first stage, our neighbor, who had been standing on his porch smoking and watching our labor, decided to tell us we were doing things the hard way. The torso and head were added within 10 minutes. I was at first a little miffed that the guy would stand there and not say something while we worked so hard and then sweep in and save the day, but I am thankful that he did. Otherwise, we would still be working on Ol' Frosty.

And, it's still cold and wet today.

Snow Day in South LA

Just wanted to add these pics of what is going on in Livingston today. I'll discuss it later.

And, of course, it's snowing today.

Don't Vacuum Fire

Well the title seems simple enough doesn't it. It should go without saying...it should, but apparently it doesn't. I've heard of the warning label stuff before. Did you know, the warning label on preparation H that says "Do not take orally."? Some genius had to try that (all he could do was drink from a straw for a week) or the label wouldn't be there. But who would have thought that you would need a label on the vacuum that informs the user of the hazards of vacuuming fire.

Case in point...

A lady in our church - we'll call her Rhonda (because that's her real name) - was recently at home on a cold afternoon. She started a fire in the fire place and went about her business. Later while adding some logs to the fire, a few hot coals fell out of the fire place and onto the ground. She quickly grabbed her vacuum and cleaned up the mess. A few minutes later, she smelled smoke. She walked back into the living room to discover her vacuum on fire. Frantically, she threw the vacuum out of the house into the edge of the woods that lined her back yard. Yes, this gets better. When her husband came home and entered the front door, he smelled the smoke and asked Rhonda what happened. She told him the sad story as he walked to the back of the house. Just as she was finishing the part of the story where she disposed of the vacuum, he said, "Rhonda, where did you put the vacuum?" Only then did it dawn on her that the woods were not the best place to put a flaming vacuum. As they rushed outside, they saw their back yard going up in smoke. Thankfully, they were able to put the blaze out before the house burned down.

Now I know this is just one lady. But...this was not just one event. I know this sounds unbelievable, but it is the truth. This was the second vacuum Rhonda caught on fire by vacuuming fire. So just for your information and safety (in case you are like Rhonda and couldn't figure it out on your own)...don't vacuum fire.

And, it's cold and raining today. I wish I had a fire.

Blogging is Hard

Blogging is hard. I don't know what to say. I don't know how to say it. I don't know who even cares other than me. I've never been a journaling kind of person. Journaling is a spiritual discipline so I've tried many times but always stop for one reason or another. I guess I'm not disciplined.

Today is Tuesday, December 9. I woke up this morning and took the kids to school. Then I went to the church to work. I did a little phone work and computer work then I cleaned the church bus. I hate cleaning the church bus. It's always nasty and dirty. There are gum wrappers and candy paper everywhere. It is a bad job, but I did it. It is the modern day foot washing. Then I went to lunch with Heather. I ordered the chicken. Now I am back at the church office and I am blogging. Woohoo.

I've read some people's blogs and they are long. I don't know how they find that much to write about or the time to write it.

Have you ever wondered why turkey is always dry? Seems like after all these years someone would have figured out a way to cook turkey and keep it moist. ONce when I was at the fair, I got one of those turkey legs to eat. Those things are huge! I was walking around for 4 hours gnawing on that thing. Flies were buzzing around, sticking to it...but...it was moist.

I don't know what I am going to get Heather for Christmas. I never know how much money to spend. She wanted me to take her somewhere real expensive, so I decided to take her to the gas station. But then prices went down, so now I'm stuck. Any suggestions?

Oh! This is good. Rachel went to the "girls class" at school this week. I would love to tell you how that went, but I didn't dare ask any questions. I just listened and when things got too close for comfort I told Rachel to go talk to her mom. On second thought...that wasn't that good.

And...it's raining today.

What's up with Twilight?

Okay...I'm a little out of touch. Just recently I heard about the Stephanie Meyers books (the real, real long ones). It wasn't until the movie Twilight was coming out that I paid that much attention to them. Then I saw 5 or 6 girls reading them at school one day. And now almost every girl that I've talked to has read them. So I have to ask, what is the attraction? Why are so many teenage girls spending the time it takes to read this series of books? If you have read any of the Twilight book, comment on this post and tell me why you read them. What did you like about them? Why do you think they are so popular? I've got to get to the bottom of this.

Wreck Update

Just thought you'd like to know...Heather's car has over $5000 worth of damage. It's going to be a rough Christmas this year.