Carson, Angels and new pic

Okay - trying out the "draft" function of blogger... I'm actually typing this right after publishing "yesterday's" post about my week in pics. I started out wanting to do a quick catch up and, as is normal for me, I had more to say than I thought I did. :-) I really must blog more often... I'm not even sure now what all I've said recently. :-)

At any rate, before I get to last night, I want to mention that as I was driving back from Murfreesboro I was listening to different things on my iPhone. I have one old podcast episode saved from a podcast that is no longer even being published. It's a song by someone called "Carsonator" and I've googled that many times in the past with no luck. Well, yesterday I had some luck... All of the google searches I did brought up the same old links with no info - except one... It listed a twitter address, which is interesting because Twitter didn't even exist back when this podcast was published.

At any rate, I found that it's a guy named Jason Carson and I have started following him on twitter - http://twitter.com/carsonator   I sent him a message to ask if I could have permission to perform the song locally, and of course he agreed right away. It's not the standard "Haggard and Jones," but I think it's a GREAT song with a great story & message behind it, and I'm looking forward to working it in.

So while I'm on his Twitter page I see that he's part of a group called Angels Landing - http://angelslandingmusic.com/ (geek side note here - while exploring their website I see they're using iWeb to create their site). I have several friends in the Nashville area and I implore you to find where these folks are playing and GO LISTEN TO THEM! I make several trips to that area each year and I look forward to seeing them in person. As you know, gentle reader, I was in their neighborhood just this week, but at the time I had no idea where this guy was from that did this song. Small world, eh?

Oh - quick insert here - while grabbing the links to share on this page I find this one - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOe02iPvKkg

So - about last night (finally). At the risk of sounding like I'm bragging, I nailed it. I know people come to dance and you have to play dance music for that to happen, but it was a smaller crowd and they were mostly two steppers, so that's what we keyed on, but I think they got bored of it because there was a point that they'd only dance to slow songs. And I noticed more than once that they weren't dancing, but they were having a good time anyway!

There's a particular couple that dance almost every song and I was singing a song I'd not done there before (Tennessee Whiskey, maybe? no - that came later - it was Wanted, by Alan Jackson) and they didn't get up to dance, but I noticed that they stopped talking and turned around and listened to the song. It seemed that everyone was paying attention to the music and the singing - and I got the vibe that they liked what they heard, which made me put even more into it. Well the applause after the song told me they were enjoying it, and not just tolerating it. :-)

One last thing - Vanessa took this pic of me before the show. I have my new shirt along with the collar tips she gave me, and my hat. We decided it looked okay untucked, so I wore it that way. I wanted an updated pic for blogger, twitter, etc. so she took this one for me to use...

my week in pics

First, a bit of journaling housekeeping... Has been almost a week since I posted here, and the last posts were "old posts" I was archiving. Monday Kyle had his ear surgery. This is, hopefully, the last surgery due to his car wreck on New Year's Day. They went in and repaired some bone damage under the ear drum. He goes back Tuesday to get the "packing" removed. It was a 45 minute procedure, but he was in Pre-op for over three hours, then the actual procedure took about 20 minutes. The doctor said it went off without a hitch! Since he'd not had anything to eat since before midnight, we went to one of his favorite places...

I also want to mention that a dear friend actually drove to the surgery center to see us and make sure we didn't need anything. Thank you, David, for taking your lunch break and coming to see us! Very cool of you!

Spent a couple of days in Murfreesboro meeting with the TETA Board of Directors. Good stuff, but very tiring. Took some pics along the way. This was at a truck stop that had a "western" corner. The only shirt they had that was big enough was this one, though, and not "vintage" enough...

I thought it was encouraging to even find them though! For those that might not know (and I don't know if I've put it in blog form or not), I've been looking for something in vintage style for my stage clothes. When I started with NashVegas it was on a trial basis - to make sure they were comfortable with me, but more so that I could have an "out" if I didn't want to stay. Well, once I made the decision to stay I bought a new hat, started wearing my boots on stage, started doing my best to look "western," like I used to.

    The next pit stop saw this shirt...

This next pic was taken as I checked in (on Foursquare) to a little town that me & daddy used to drive to. It's right on Hwy 96 between Franklin and Murfreesboro. This building used to be a retread plant where we'd take truck tires to and sell them. Brings back memories for sure...

So, while I'm in Murfreesboro, I stop at this specific store to get Vanessa something. I was going to find a Charming Charlies no matter how far I had to drive. Turns out there was one RIGHT BEHIND the hotel.

While I'm there I ask one of the helpful sales staff if she knew where I might find a place that sells western shirts - vintage, retro, etc. She tells me of French's Boot & Shoe, so I drive out. WOW! They had several of shirts that were EXACTLY what I was looking for. 

 I'm not good at taking those mirror shots like you see, but here's the one I finally settled on... Took this shot so I could send it to Vanessa to see what she thought...

The two ladies working the register were nice enough to give me their opinion as well, and I asked one of them to take a pic so I could send it to Vanessa, who approved. I know the pics don't do it justice, but it's a very nice black shirt with gold toned embroidery.




Okay - was going to talk about last night, but that's enough for one day's post. :-)

old post - prayer

And here's the next "old post" - I shared a prayer request on August 24, 2009. The SPECIFIC request mentioned has not materialized yet, but there have been MANY small miracles (monetary and otherwise) along the way...

It’s been a long while since I’ve posted. School is back in session so things are more than busy. 

Here’s an email I sent earlier to a Christian mailing list I’m a member of. Feel free to join in as well. :-)

Okay, calling all prayer warriors...

I have a specific amount of money (no, not "a million" or anything like that) that I have asked God for. It is NOT an arbitrary number. I have added up some specific things that I need to pay for plus a specific item I need to buy without financing, so I have a legitimate, nice round number.

Just for sake of discussion, there are some specific things I'm keeping in mind...

1) we have not because we ask not

2) if a father who is evil knows how to give good things to his son, what about our Heavenly Father? How much better can he give?

3) during revival services last week, the preacher said this during an alter call - "what is your need? Whatever it is, God can supply it. It may be health, it may be relationship, it may be money - it may be because of something you yourself caused. Just because you're suffering from your own bad decisions doesn't mean God doesn't love you and doesn't want to meet that need.

4) I am bringing this up here because I want HIM to get the glory.

5) when Jesus was asked about paying the tax, he told his disciple to catch a fish and it would have the money in it.

6) the amount I'm asking for is GREAT to someone like me, but there are people out there that this would be a SMALL amount.

So - I covet your prayers.

Peace and Blessings to you all...

old post - dozen

Here's today's "old post" - from July 13, 2009.

My son is driving us to a conference so I’m assisting from the passenger seat. My imaginary break is not working as well as I’d like... I’m trying hard to let him listen to what he wants - but -

Anyway, I’m sitting here going through some emails and found one from a few days ago that was “too long” for a quick read. Boy am I glad I didn’t skim it and go on! I would have missed something big!

From my Bible verses emails - Sunday, July 12, 2009

Blessed Beyond Resources

   Late that afternoon, the followers came to Jesus and said,
   "No people live in this place. And it is already late. Send
   the people away so they can go to the towns and buy food for
   themselves." Jesus answered, "The people don't need to go
   away. You give them some food to eat." The followers
   answered, "But we have only five loaves of bread and two
   fish." Jesus said, "Bring the bread and the fish to me." Then
   Jesus told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took
   the five loaves of bread and the two fish. Jesus looked into
   the sky and thanked God for the food. Then Jesus divided the
   loaves of bread. Jesus gave the bread to the followers, and
   the followers gave the bread to the people. All the people
   ate and were filled. After the people finished eating, the
   followers filled twelve baskets with the pieces of food that
   were not eaten. There were about 5,000 men there that ate.
   There were also women and children that ate.

                           -- Matthew 14:15-21 (ERV)

Now - me again - I’ve heard that passage spoken, taught, preached, etc., but here’s a key point I’ve never caught before...

KEY THOUGHT:
Don't you just love it that the disciples who didn't think they could
do anything to feed the whole crowd each got to pick up a basket full of pieces that were left over!

Wow! I’ve always just caught the fact that it was not only “enough” but that there was extra as well - more “extra” than He started with. But to look at it as “each one had a basket as a reminder...” Wow - that hits home...


Lord - may I recognize the blessings you bestow and not be so quick to assume it’s impossible. I don’t want a basket to remind me of my unfaithfulness, but if that’s what it takes...

old post - home or work ?

Last old post of the morning - this one also from July 9, 2009.

Sitting here learning more about iWeb, I wonder when the line between home and work was made so small... I guess it happened when I started using a laptop for day to day business stuff. I have a separate email address for work and home, but I check them both at the same time. I check them both at my desk; I check them both at home in the recliner.

The question is now - do we “turn on” iWeb for the teachers at school? We’re using a CMS site at work - http://www.dyersburgcityschools.org - and it’s of course cross platform (browser based). Some teachers are really using it like we want - most are not. Would they use iWeb like we’d like or would it be simply another thing that sits there and is only used by the people that would do it anyway.

Pros: iWeb is “free” if we host it locally
Cons: can’t update from home (I don’t think - have to check on that)

old post - iSummit 09

Next old one if from July 9, 2009. Yep - over a month since the last "old post..."

I’m in a colleague’s session on iWeb and we’re “practicing” so I’m taking a moment to make an update.

Twitter has been my friend the last couple of days... I don’t normally “hang out” on Twitter, but I’ve kept Tweetdeck open with #iSummit and #iSummt09. There has been lots of conversations going and I’m sure my “friendly” Twitter followers have been wondering “what the heck!?!” :-)

BTW - I’m jimmylogan on Twitter as well...

old post - saturday morning

Another old one - this one from May 30, 2009.

We have a cache called “A Drop of Water.” I felt that way last night when the new pump was installed (thanks Uncle Tommy!). After being without water for a couple of days, I had forgotten how good it felt to simply turn on the faucet and get good, clean, clear water. :)

Woke up this morning to a couple of new caches on my phone. I have “instant notification” for a 50 mile radius setup to go to my phone. That way I know when new stuff pops up and we can grab the FTF. :)

Anyway, they were both in Caruthersville, which is just across the Mississippi River from here, and ALMOST close enough to run grab. Vanessa worked on the yard last night and she wants to finish it today, so I knew it was out of the question. So, like all “new” caches, I added them to my watchlist. Less than five minutes later there’s a log on them. :)

I hope it doesn’t sound like I’m fussing, because I’m not, just talking about my morning. :)

Oh - I’m also reminded of something Jimmy Minelli used to say (I worked with him at Riggs a LOOONG time ago - he loaned me the book “IT” and got me started reading King), “Gumbies, gumbies everywhere and not a one can think.”