We never really had any when I was growing up, as opposed to Audra's family who has many. It was exciting to realize that are now at the point where we would be starting the traditions that my son will write about on his blog 25 years from now.

So I'm about to go home where my wife has a wonderful supper prepared, with the china and candles no doubt because she loves doing that. We pick out a new ornament to buy for ourselves each Christmas and write the year on it. After we eat, we'll decorate the tree as a family and tell the stories behind each ornament. There will be hot chocolate and Christmas music playing. I love Christmas.

I subscribe to Interlinc and just got in a new box of music. It's a great shipment this time so today I'll be checking out(amongst some other stuff) the new...

TobyMac
Relient K
newsboys
GRITS
Michael W. Smith
Steven Curtis Chapman
Shane & Shane
Salvador

Michael v/s Charlie.

True, I like Atlanta(and they'll probably win) but sometimes you've gotta choose sides, plus Charlie and I have argued over this one since back in 9th grade before I liked Atlanta.

I'm pretty close with my brother, I have always been very proud of him. He is an officer in the Army and I think that is extremely honorable. I hold him in very high regard. He was able to take some time off to come to Thanksgiving and it was great to see him at our parents house. We always go to my grandparents house, along with my aunt and uncle and 2 cousins on the actual turkey day. On the way back to my parent's that night, he rode with Audra and I and it was the shortest hour of my life, I wish it were a longer drive. We just talked and talked. Our family doesn't get together at Christmas so we do ours at Thanksgiving. He bought us the most thoughtful gifts. Most people who know me know that I am a rabid Far Side fan. He bought me the 2 volume set of every single Far Side that has ever been published, I mean these books are super nice and weigh like 25 pounds(no kidding, it's huge). I just about teared up. This Thanksgiving, I am thankful I had the chance to hang with Matthew.

How do you feel about social security? Do you feel obligated to stay with this system? Ordained ministers can opt out of it, I'm not sure what others would have to do to get out. I don't feel that it is the government's job to provide for my retirement and I think I could make my money work harder on my own, especially since I am so young. But will we be cheating out the old folks who are drawing benefits now by not contributing today?

The family won in the box office this weekend, according to this Reuters article.

#1 - National Treasure - $35.3 mil
#2 - The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie - $33.5 mil
#3 - The Incredibles - $26.8 mil
#4 - The Polar Express - $15.2 mil(this one cost $270 mil to make and market, ouch!)

A question for you, how do you feel about using questionable language? I ask this because as I surf the web, I run across many sites run by christians and am surprised by those that use profanity. Many of these are youth pastors(understand that there are many "youth pastors" that I don't hold in high regard, just because they have a title and a job doesn't seal the deal for me) and I have a hard time imagining these guys saying to their students some of the stuff they write. If they don't come right out and say it, they use symbols(%$@) to get the point across, which is the same to me. Give me some feedback.

...off to the oral surgeon I go! Put me to sleep and pull my teeth, hi ho, hi ho!

Do yourselves a favor and check out THIS POST and THIS POST on Charlie's blog. It's funny stuff.

We don't have cable at our house, not really any time to watch it so why pay? The last time I watched cable for a few consecutive days was before college in '98. Being in the hotel this week gave me time to check out what's going on out there.

It was great to watch SportsCenter, I missed that. I love Monster Garage. I was happy to catch a couple reruns of Boy Meets World and the Steve Urkel show(Family Matters). Pimp My Ride was a little bit entertaining and I was surprised when I heard them playing GRITS. It's hard to remember everything because I was watching 5 shows at a time while I was in that room all the while playing with JonMichael.

In the end I guess I learned that aside from SportsCenter, I don't really care for much else on cable tv. Except maybe Monster Garage.

We're back, been in Dothan since Sunday night. Audra will be working a couple days a week as a bereavement specialist for Hospice and had some training to do. I went with her to keep JonMichael, which turned up being the best time in the world. We got to spend all day together, just father and son, and it was great. Not so great to be in a tiny hotel room, but great to be together. And as least they had cable.

I hate being gone from work and then having to catch up when I get back, but it doesnt' look like I'll have much time for the catching up thing. I go to the oral surgeon this afternoon and hope to get my wisdom teeth cut out tomorrow. Then there's T-giving next week. I just hope I can eat.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages, are you ready for AUBURN v/s GEORGIA?!?!?!

The game with everything, I would agree. I don't care who ends up in the championship game, I don't think it'll get any better than this one. And of course these are my 2 teams, leaving me torn. I always pull for Georgia when they play Auburn, but since they don't have a shot at the championship, I may lean towards Auburn. Either way, I can't lose.

Allrighty folks, I've got a new book as of yesterday that I can't put down. Ever hear of Dave Ramsey? If not then you should check him out, he's the real deal. We're reading his Total Money Makeover and wow, it's taught us so much already. Thankfully we're young and don't have much debt so this could really be huge for us. This is a no gimic kind of deal, it's all about debt free living and making real money.

His motto - "Live like no one else, so later you can live like no one else.

"Michael, I got wipes on sale for $6!"

"Wow Audra, you did good!"

Funny the conversations you have and the things you get stoked about when you have babies. Oh and the thing about them being more interested in the box than the toy that came in it, totally true.

I've been talking for the past month about relationships and it ends tonight with a discussion about friendships. I've had this planned for quite a while and they know it, so the people involved in that party this past weekend can't really say I'm singling them out when I tell them that true friends won't lead them into such STUPIDITY.

Why did someone come up with the name "wisdom teeth?" Seems pretty dumb to me. Whatever the case, it looks like I may be drinking Turkey and Gravy Soda at Thanksgiving this year. I just hope they let me keep the teeth, they're mine anyway.

...I'd have to prime just to spit. Dr. Windsor used to say that in class and I found it amusing. I have never had alcohol in any form. Not for lack of opportunity, just lack of desire. I have had access to it while no one was looking but wasn't curious. Even though I was raised in a church-going family, we never talked about drinking, drugs, sex, and so on. It's not like it was pumped into my brain by some nutty right wing parents or anything like that, it just never interested me. I had no use for the things I heard about the party life and so I must admit I am inexperienced in this arena of life.

But now I have to deal with it, not in my life but in my line of work. Read my previous post to understand why. I understand full well that the 9th graders drink because they think it would make them cool to the seniors, and the seniors drink because at some point they wanted to feel cool and now they want to continue looking cool to the younger kids. But what is the fascination with being drunk? What does it feel like? When these kids get to 21, is this something they will want to do alone in their apartment someday or do you have to be with someone for it to be cool?

I would love to hear some opinions, both from drinkers and non-drinkers. I need some education in this.

I obviously didn't post yesterday, I was too consumed with other things. This has been a hard past couple of days, beginning Sunday night when I learned that some of my students were at a drinking Friday night. A couple of seniors and a few 9th graders. This is nothing new or shocking to me, I've actually been to a couple of parties to pull my kids out. When I hear the story after the fact, I call them and talk to them point blank. Confronting them is no big deal for me, part of the job. Some end up being sorry about what they have done, some are just sorry they got caught. They know I love them and there has never been a damaged relationship because of it, if anything they love me more when it's over.

Confronting the parents is a whole different ordeal. Most, while broken, are very grateful to be informed. Some defend their child and tell me my facts are skewed, regardless of the details presented.

Thankfully I don't have to deal with this every weekend with my students, more of an occasional thing. But this one was especially hard.

This project of the American Family Association started a couple of years ago. Basically it is an email campaign that works a like so... We get an email about a company that is supporting an offensive product or is advertising during an offensive television show. We also get emails encouraging us to email or call our senators and representatives about different issues in the government. In that email is a link to an email that is already filled out, all I have to do is sign my name and click send. It takes seconds but has been extremely successful.

Some of the things that they take issue with are a bit too "neo-conservative" as it is now called so I don't write in, but most of it lines up with what I believe is appropriate. I wanted to be a part of something that was helping to make a difference. You don't really have to be a dad so I'd encourage any guy to sign up for OneMillionDads and any lady out there to check out OneMillionMoms as well. There is also OneMillionYouth.com.

Call me bored but I had some spare time on my hands so I just kept hitting the next blog button to see what was out there. Man, there's some strange stuff. Some really strange people.

I found many people lamenting the election. "I just can't believe it. America has lost it's mind. I'm moving."

I found many first posts. "OK so like this is my first post on my brand new blog! Yay for me! I'm a blogger! I'm just testing my blog out. Here are my reasons for starting my very own blog... I just love to say blog! Blogbloggityblog!!!"

There are lots of people who write poetry and storys and stuff like that. Many "magazines."

Found some businessess trying to advertize. What a cheap way to try to get a website for your company!

Found cooking recipies.

It's always easy to tell when the writer is older, especially if it's an older woman.

Many people used them as personal diarys, writing VERY personal stuff. I guess they didn't think anyone would see.

Found someone lamenting the decision to have an abortion because now she couldn't get pregnant.

Quite a few soldiers.

Lots of spainish and other languages.

More weird stuff.

Funny how some people have written TONS of stuff, yet recieve zero comments. I would have quit long ago.

Micah has recently joked about me being a bit of a redneck. This simply is not true, I am country, and there is a difference. I thought I should give a bit of an education so that everyone will know what that difference is.

One must be very careful in trying to identify a true redneck because a country boy, a like a me, can have several of the same characteristics yet still be very different from the redneck. The only thing I love more than a big 4x4 covered in mud is if I'm the one who got it muddy. I love to hunt and do prefer the country to the bigger cities, although I very much enjoy visiting big cities. I've had dogs and will have more, although I prefer not to hunt with dogs because I would be too fearful of them getting seriously hurt or killed. Riding and caring for horses is one of the greatest experiences in life. I have an accent that I have tried to shake but am unable to do so. I do prefer a slower pace of life and I like the sound of some country music. However, I am quite diverse in that I love hard rock and even some hip-hop/rap/r&b...although I'll only listen to rap if it's by an artist with a Christian message. A major difference in a redneck and country boy is the way they treat their women, family, animals, and humanity as a whole. I would hope my love and compassion for people is obvious. I am not afraid of nor am I discriminate toward people of a different race. Some of my best friends have been black, but the fact that they are black and I am white isn't even something that occurs to us. Truth be told, I wish I had the rythm, vocal, and athletic abilities of some of my black brothers.

The first thing we must learn is that there is no true stereotype when classifying the possible subjects. There are varying degrees of redneck.
The High-Tech Redneck - This is the guy in the extremely nice truck with the killer sound system. They can dress pretty sharp and think of a Stetson as a fashon statement rather than protective headgear. Often has a high opinion of himself. Not too much of a redneck but he puts more value on himself and his toys than on stuff that matters, thereby pushing himself into the category. This is his truck. I actually like this truck, but if a high-tecker gets a hold of it I wouldn't like it anymore. He bought it already built up like this because he doesn't know anything about lifting a truck. He never gets it dirty and often isn't sure how to lock it into 4 wheel drive. He thinks that because it is a big 4x4 that he will never get stuck. He isn't sure what kind of motor is in it, he just knows that his speakers in the back seat are dA bOmB.

The Hick - This is pretty much a country boy. He is a fairly agreeable person, not hard to get along with. Not quite as open to change and diversity as the country boy so we call him a redneck and he doesn't mind that. He is actually friendlier than The High-Tech, but is more country than him so that is why we put him on a deeper level.
The Bubba - The obvious stereotype of a redneck. He will always hunt, drive a 4x4, prefer the woods to the city, have several dogs, drink, is often unkept, uses smokeless tobacco aka Scoal-RedMan-BeechNut-etc..., looks for Hank Jr. on his presidential ballot, and is generally not very educated. One must be careful though because in the same way that a blind person is very acute in hearing, Bubba can make up for his lack of book learning in other areas. He can be very friendly, but don't cross him. He is feircly protective of his family and the things around him that he loves.
The Deliverence Boys - Take The Bubba and add a crooked wondering eye, and presto, you've got The Deliverence Boys. They pick up their women at family reunions. Personal hygene is not a priority. They have a lot of body hair. They have their own language. They don't like people much. The Deliverence Boys really do exist, I have seen them. I worked at a grocery store in the mountains of Georgia while I was in highschool. The whole family came out of the mountains 1 time a month to get groceries and tobacco, then we wouldn't see them till the next month.

I'm surprised to hear that Kerry has conceded. Honestly, I tip my hat to Mr. Kerry in not prolonging things. Our country is divided enough without dragging things out like 4 years ago. I voted Bush, but that doesn't mean I'm a party man. I didn't vote a straight ticket and probably never will.

"Kerry told Bush the country was too divided, the source said, and Bush agreed. "We really have to do something about it," Kerry said according to the Democratic official."

I agree.

Last week was a great sex talk. I really have fun with those and give them on a regular basis. Tonight we are continuing in our series on relationships with a discussion about purity. I'm actually using the same Scripture that we used in Sunday School a couple weeks back, Mk. 7.1-23.

In highschool I was pure externally, but internally I was rotten half the time. Purity isn't just about the body, it's so much about the mind. Man I love Wednesday nights.

I've had a little trouble with a couple of teeth. Went to the dentist yesterday and the forcast is looking good for wisdom teeth extraction. I have to go now and won't be available to post for a week or so. I've got to catch a plane to South America so I can sell a kidney on the black market to pay for this mess.

I didn't post yesterday because my mind was engulfed in the election but there really is nothing original to say anymore. I voted yesterday and it was fulfilling for me. I actually wanted to wait until Tuesday to cast my ballot, just something sentimental for me. I was there with my wife and son and perhaps I'll dig my "I Voted" sticker out of the trash and keep it in his baby book. I must admit that this was my first presidential election in which I voted. I have felt guilty for not participating in the last one and vowed to get more involved, which I believe I have. I have weighed the issues, done my research, and I stand by my choices. I'm extra proud to be an American right now.

I'm very pleased with how it's turning out of course.

Kerry hasn't conceded yet of course.

We won't know the finality for a while...of course.

It's not really a political comment so maybe I'm not really, but for what it's worth I came across an interesting site today. I learned about it from this Associated Press article. I don't know exactly where the information comes from but it's a little scary.

"The site features a map of the United States in shades of blue, red, pink and white and a tally of which way the electoral college vote will go if the most recent polls are correct. (White is for tied, light blue is for states that are weakly leaning toward Kerry, pink is for states that are weakly leaning toward Bush.)

Updated as the poll numbers from each state arrive, it has become one of the world's 1,000 most popular Web sites and gets 600,000 visitors a day, according to Tanenbaum. At 11 a.m. EST, the site had Kerry ahead of Bush, 298 electoral votes to 231."

All 3 Florida teams lost on the same day, which according to Freezer hasn't happened since 1978. I'm happy about Georgia's win over Florida, although the Gators have had some hard times lately. Even still, they have had Georgia's number for years and anything could have happened.

I'm tickled about Maryland's win over FSU. Don't know why, but I've found myself pulling against them most of the season. The only FSU game I've been to was homecoming a few years back. They played Maryland and of course whooped on them. My highschool football team wasn't too great. Actually we were decent but there weren't enough of us and after playing both sides for a couple of quarters, you quickly lose steam. We played several homecoming games a season. Everyone always wants to win at homecoming so they scheduled us. Maybe that's why I wanted Maryland to win so bad.

And then there's Auburn. I don't want to say it too soon with big rival games coming up, but man have they been playing some good football.

I'll probably stay up watching the news, seeing how the polling is working out. That's always pretty interesting to me. I'm not writing anything else political concerning this election. There's really no need to rehash the same mess, I've made up my mind and am leaving alone. It feels better that way.

I don't watch much TV but another reason I'm ready for this election to be over is so all the ads will cease. It's really useless to watch them and try to form an opinion because they will tell you what they want you to hear, truth or not. OK, that's really that last political comment concerning the election. That plus go Bush.

Don't get too excited, I havn't written a new devotional book. I have 30 days to finish up all my classes. I have been completing one 3 hour class every 10 days. I finished my philosophy this weekend and only have 2 more to go. I wish college was like this, work at your own pace. I would have been done years ago and probably would have learned much much more.

I love the Rodeo. I love the animals, the mud, the pagentry, I love everything about it. I go as often as I can, which isn't very often these days. We didn't have church last night, just a dinner, so Audra and I decided to rent a movie. It's been a while since I've seen the movie "8 Seconds" and I was all over it. True story you know. I had forgotten just how bad the acting was. Not really the acting, just the country accents, very overdone and fake. I had been told that Luke Perry actually rode the bulls for the movie but am now convicned that an old 90210 fan must have told me that because there's no way he did. Funny how we can pick a movie apart yet still love it.

we will ride

Well, I was fooled. I thought my friends Rick & Christie were having a baby, but instead they got a Jeep. I'm totally excited for them being that Jeeps are one of my picks for the ultimate machine. If they ever take us up on our offer and come see us, we will ride...thru the mud.