What about Annie?

HEY!! The news media is crawling all over the Miley Cyrus photos like ants over chcoclate cake. My question is this: IF (and I say "IF") this is such a horrible thing and IF this is a case of exploitation, why isn't anyone going after the renowned photographer, Annie Leibovitz? After all, there wouldn't be any flap if there were no photos and there would be no photos if that nasty child pornographer Annie Leibowitz hadn't taken advantage of poor Miley (and apparently of her parents and "handlers"). Of course, there wouldn't be much of a flap either if someone hadn't splashed the photos all over the media. After all, Vanity Fair is hardly sitting on coffee tables in every living room in America. There wouldn't be much to "explain" to our children (God, how I hate that. Kids are not as dumb as some like to think) if the talking heads hadn't broadcast it and drawn it into national attention. Come on, folks! The girl, the photographer, the magazine, perhaps the parents -- all used questionable judgment -- okay! But it's hardly what I would call newsworthy. BUT -- if you wsnt to keep harping on it and, as some have done call it porn, go after the photographer. After all, the 15 year old celebrity is an innocent teenager (Isn't that an oxymoron?). Let's go report some real news and leave this celebrity drivel alone.

The End is in Sight

No,folks, not THAT butt LOL. However, the move is just about done. We decided to take today off from moving and finish tomorrow, leaving the clean up for Friday. Thank God that is nearly over -- about killed us! No more third floor walk ups!!!!! And -- I will have lots of time to finish up on Friday since my lovely temp employment assignment ends tomorrow!! Unless they have something else lined up -- yeah, right!-- I will be back in the ranks of the unemployed. I guess the State of Michigan can support me for a while. At least the weather is starting to get nice. That also means that I can focus on getting all the boxes unpacked and all the crap put away -- like THAT will ever happen LOL. Even though we downsized from the house less than a year ago, we still have more stuff than two people should have in an apartment. Anyone have a spare basement? Ah well, the Bible says that to everything there is a season -- I guess the moving season and the working season are both about over. That's what is happening on this wonderful Wednesday. Hug someone!

Hey, Everyone

Well, it's been a wild and crazy couple of weeks since my last post. I worked lots of overtime on my temp job that is probably ending this week. The paycheck was nice, but I am pooped. Add to the extra 30+ hours in two weeks the stress of our move and the continuing challenges of guiding a church through a transition time and you can see why I am bordering on exhaustion. The move will be finished within the next day or two. We had a neighbor (a nice one, not the idiot) help in the morning. He was good hearted, but when he decided to the dryer on the dolly down the stairs backward (Bang, bang, bang, clunk, clunk) I shuddered. It seems to be okay, but he was better hearted than organized for the move. In the afternoon, Ben had a couple of friends from work come and help with the rest of the big stuff. All that is left now is a lot of piddly little stuff. It is nice having the ground floor unit, but the move from the third floor has about done us in. Ah well, at least we are getting a really good deal on this unit -- and no more three flights of stairs -- now we come in the front door and down 5 steps. And I can take the dog out the slider and NO STAIRS. Hooray -- so we are going to relax a bit this evening and I will start again in the AM before work. Hug someone.

A Lazy Morning

Hi all! The past few days have been a blur for me. After working my 40 hours last week, I had the joy of working Saturday and Sunday. That gave me 17 hours of overtime. On top of that, I worked 10 hours Monday and -- get this -- 14 hours yesterday. It'll be a nice paycheck -- just hope I don't need to spend it on doctors when I collapse. Now, for the rest of the week, they have me working 1PM to 10PM. At least the drive to and from will be a great improvement from the morning and evening rush. I left a picture of myself out so that the dog will recognize me when I do come home. LOL. Hug someone!

A Meme

Lemuel tagged me for this, so here it goes.
As usual there are rules and they are:
1. The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
3. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog.
1) What was I doing 10 yrs ago?
On 11. April 1998, I was pastoring a church in Springfield, IL and was considering a change in location. My five years there had been semi-productive but God was knocking at the door to let me know it was time to move on to a new call which actually came a year later.

2) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order):
1. Pay bills
2. Play Sudoku on line
3. Fix dinner
4. Walk the dog
5. Get a good night’s sleep

3) Snacks I enjoy:
1. chips – prefer Ruffles
2. Chocolate
3. pretzels
4. Bread and butter – the cheap white bread
5. pastries(!)

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
1. pay off all my debts
2. set aside enough savings that I could quit my job and live comfortably for the rest of my years
3. Endow a few churches I know of.
4. Make sure my family is provided for.
5. TRAVEL

5) Three of my bad habits:
1. I’m a bit of a slob.
2. Like to sit around and waste time
3. Overeating.

6) 5 places I have lived: (in no order whatsoever…)
1. Florida – several locations
2. Michigan - around
3. Springfield IL
4. Augusta, GA
5. On the road in a travel trailer

7) 5 jobs I have had:
1. Pastor
2. Computer Operator
3. Bank Branch Manager
4. Shoe Salesman
5. Help Desk Agent

5 bloggers that I wanna know more about:
JUST FIVE? If you read this and want to do it, go for it.

It Takes All Kinds

Well, just when we think people couldn't get any more rude or stupid, we are proven wrong. This evening, since the weather was nice (at least by Michigan standards), Ben and I went for a walk. Our walk was through the local cemetery -- it's not as odd as you may think. Anyway, as we were headed back to the car, a car passed by and I guess I gave it a second look. It looked a lot like the car of a local relative and I wanted to make sure it was or wasn't. It wasn't, and we went on to the car. As we were about to get in, the car in question came by after having to loop around or make a U turn. The guy -- a real winner -- slowed down, opened the window, and said, "You got a staring problem?" I wisely ignored him and he == along with the family (yes, this idiot has apparently figured out how to reproduce -- poor kids)-- drove on their merry way. Now, he wasn't worth a second look and I would surely hesitate to give a man with a family a lingering look. I wonder why he's so insecure. I wonder what kind of example he is setting for his kids. I mused as we drove out of the cemetery, "All of these nice people below ground and yet this idiot is above ground -- how unfair." Ah, stupidity reigns.