GREAT SCOTT! I haven’t blogged in a while. I really have not forgotten you (not that you really missed me either) I’ve just been caught up in a massive amount of goings on lately between family, work, and trying to finish up school. Have I mentioned that I am now 3 WEEKS away from being DONE for real now. Granted, I will have to take my Comprehensive Exams in the spring but I won’t have to actually spend the semester sitting in a classroom two nights a week (three hours a night) for the first time in three and a half years! It’s going to be a LONG three weeks getting there (not to mention the three papers, two finals, and a presentation that I have to do) especially considering I have…you know…a job, and kids and a wife and stuff.
John Mayer-Battle Studies: (an early review) Many of you are aware that I have a musical man crush on a certain John Mayer and have always been a huge fan of his music. There are so many levels where I am amazed by his talent (songwriting, guitar playing, vocals, he really can do it all…if you don’t believe me listen to him sing standards with Chris Botti). Yesterday saw the release of his current album “Battle Studies” and upon the first few listens I can say right away that it is definitely not Continuum, but that is also not necessarily a bad thing. This album steps away from his bluesy persona to get back to a place that focuses more on basic pop sensibilities. In several songs he definitely pulls in a slight 70’s Fleetwood Mac vibe. Some standout songs right off the bat are “Assassin”, “Half of My Heart” (with Lil Tay-Tay), and “I’m On Fire” (Springsteen cover). More thoughts to come soon.
I’m heading to Atlanta this weekend for the National Youth Workers Convention which should be a good time of networking, and learning some new stuff to help me as I continue to work to resource the youth directors of the good ole AWF. One of the things that I am looking very much forward to is hearing Donald Miller speak while we are there. I am about 3/4 of the way through his latest book “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years” and have really been thinking about life as story (more to come on that in a post very soon). Not having read the last fourth of the book I highly recommend it to you to pick up and read for yourself (assuming there is not a zombie uprising or worse yet Sarah Palin as President in the last fourth).
The girls had their 18 month check up yesterday and they are doing great. Both are still under 19 pounds but their health is great and aside from some little colds and slight ear infections we have been remarkably healthy to this point in the flu/cold season so hopefully we will stay that way. They are both walking now and it is so fun to watch them interact with the world in completely new ways.
I have been watching TBL with Mrs. M this year and have also been keeping very close tabs on a certain KICK ACE partner in crime o’ mine who has been doing some amazing things in the area of health and weight loss lately. Being in the position of observer of all of this I had a slight revelation tonight (nothing earth shaking and certainly NOT to brag in ANY way). I see these folks on TBL, particularly the men, who bust their butts for a week and lose 10-15 pounds and that is great and I am so happy for them and what that means for their life. What this also does to me though is point out how lazy I am and how little effort it would take for me to get to the shape I want to be in. I am by no means overweight or anything but as I’ve gotten older I’ve gained that middle section that just doesn’t sit right on my skinny arms and legs. I know full well that I could stop drinking soft drinks for two weeks and stop eating the crap foods that I eat and lose 10 pounds without ever stepping foot inside a gym. Is this fair? I’m sure its not but its a realization to me that I just have to stop being so selfish and lacking in self-control and say “if this is what you want then this is what it takes” (and for me its not even anything hard which is why I am ashamed at my laziness). This thought turned into a bit of a ramble so if you stuck in there I applaud you. Basically I just need to stop being a lazy ass and everything will be fine.
People were losing their minds earlier this week about how President Obama bowed to the Emperor of Japan when he was there for his trip this week. Really? REALLY? I mean should we really think that we’ve just ceded our entire foothold on the world because he decided to show some respect to someone in a position that garners a level of respect? I know “we” as Americans seem to think that everyone should be bowing down to us but first of all that is CRAP, and secondly we can’t all be so suave as to Yak in the Prime Minister’s lap at dinner. Whatever.
Alright I’m out of here for now, but I’ll check back in over the weekend from Atlanta. So long for now.

(Days of Lot circa 2000)
(Days of Lot circa 2009)
(The crew from MWITW)
(The M’s first family vacation-beach style)
(Lily dancing a silly jig)
(Harper smiling a sweet smile)
(the obscured head in the left of the picture is Mr. H and the beauty in the middle is a certain Mrs. M who will NOT be attending the DoL boys weekend seeing mostly as she is not a boy nor was she ever in the original DoL)











