Revelations

Back to work yesterday. Another typical day at the office. Nothing special going on.

Went to church last night to practice for the church Easter play. We're doing an interesting little play that ties into Leonardo Da Vinci's "Last Supper" painting. Each disciple in the painting comes alive and talks about themselves and their life. I play Peter. As I was practicing at home and trying to get my part the way I liked it, I was trying to figure out how to make Peter sound.... I dunno... Apostolic. Big. Sure. I mean, he's The Apostle Peter, ya know? Jesus right hand guy in the Gospels. He's got to have a big, booming voice, be strong, powerful... ya know? Well, I got to church to practice with the other guys, and as we were all doing our parts, none of us sound particularly Disciple-ish, or Godly. We're just guys. Then I was struck with the thought that.... so were the 12 disciples. Just men. Not particularly perfect or anything. Just guys. Was interesting food for thought.

Today.... work, work, work. "The Passion of the Christ" is all the talk about work. I find that fascinating because talk about God and Jesus doesn't usually work it's way into work. I prayed about that this morning. Funny how when I actually take the time to really pray, God usually does something with my requests. Hmmmmmm......

Watched "Secondhand Lions" with LMJ tonight. GOOD movie! Had me in tears (which isn't hard, because just about every movie that has any emotion to it has me in tears. I'm not in denial... I cry at movies... ). Robert Duvall is great! Highly reccommend it.

Time for Stargate SG-1 now!

Ate too much at lunch!

I took my dad out to lunch today. He's legally blind. Doesn't mean he can't see ANYTHING, just that his vision is so bad it's virtually useless in day to day life. He can't read a book. Can't even see your face if you're in front of him. But he gets around OK. I try to get out to breakfast with him each Wednesday. It's so much fun to talk and shoot the breeze. He's taught me a lot. He's a very wise man. But mostly, it's just a dad and son getting to know each other. I know him better now, in his old age, then I ever did when he was younger and healthier. My fault mainly; I was busy being married and helping to raise my girls. But I didn't make time for my parents, and that IS my fault. I'm glad I've had the chance to rectify that, and say the things you always hear people wish they'd said before their parents die. My mom and dad both know I love them, and that they gave me a wonderful gift: a happy childhood full of love and kindness and security. Can't beat that with a stick.

Took my youngest, CLJ, to her 2nd counseling session. She's 12. She'd been wanting to see a counselor for a long time. She's been dealing with anger and frustration over her mom and dad breaking up, which is perfectly normal. Her mom and I split up in June, 2003, but the split was in the making for several years. In fact, this is our 4th and final seperation. Yeah, quite a hell to put the kids through, I know, but I honestly thought we had it licked that last time we got back together. Turns out, we didn't. Anyhow, CLJ is doing SO well now. She's really come a long way, and she's such a great kid. I've encouraged her to be very honest with me about how she feels, and once she realized I was serious, she SHARED! Hehehe... She laid out for me just how much it sucks that her mom and dad broke up, sold the home, and moved her away from her friends. I really hadn't thought about that a whole lot. For me, it was a welcome release from the stress of being in a failed marriage. For CLJ (and her sisters) they were losing their home and their family, as they knew it. They had to adjust to a whole new set of rules and realities, where their mother and I were "released" from our stress. So, CLJ (and I, since it's a family type thing; I most just sit and listen) is seeing a wonderful therapist, and I hope her healing continues. She's a great kid.

My middle daugher, LMJ, who's 15, had a friend over this afternoon. Really nice girl. Had dinner with us. I'm glad LMJ stepped outside her comfort zone and invited a friend over. Good for her!

Went to choir tonight at church. Enjoyed the singing. It's funny; I love choir. I really like my church. I just don't know that many people there any more. I mean, I know tons of people, who they are, but I don't KNOW hardly anyone. Again, I think that's mostly my fault, because I'm a pretty quiet, closed-up person. I don't go to church on Sunday mornings because I work, and I gotta be honest, I havn't FELT like going to church on Sunday nights. Been tired, and it's easy to just slough things off when I'm tired. Even though Sunday nights is a really cool men's group that I'd been praying for. I guess the ol' Devil just grabs ya where your weak and works on that. I need to GO next week.

Getting Started

Well, I've done it. I've decided to jump in and join the billions and billions of others who are chronicling their lives on-line. Mainly so I can look back and see where I've been, and how far I've come. I have no idea how this is going to turn out, or what kind of things I'll post. Should be fairly mundane, filled with daily-life stuff, but who knows. I do like to ramble and pontificate on things I'm passionate about. Could be quite boring, but it's MINE and I'll do what I want with it.

Hehehe... I'm such a tyrant.

I had a blog for a short time when I was still with my x-wife. Well, soon to be, some day when I/we get around to filing the paperwork. It was actually a little bit interesting. It's still available, if you are truly so bored, at www.mike_blog.blogspot.com. Terrible reading, since it's so old and out of date that Blogspot has deleted most of it, but I may as well admit to who I am and, as I stated above, how far I've come.