Blog Switch - head on over!

Hey, friends - I've switched my blog over to www.beezerboyd.com. Check it out!

Half-Marathon Playlist... help me make it!

Okay, so I'm just a few weeks from running/jogging/walking the Seattle Half-Marathon, and I am loading up some MP3's on the player for the run.

What would you put on that playlist? What would keep you going as you meander pitifully through Seattle?

What a Weekend!

Some weekends are just full of it.

YMCA swim with the kids. Eagan's Big Tom. The Library. Mr. Bean's Holiday. Fountain Church Gathering. Dan's Birthday (you rock, Dan!). Rubber Band Fight.

It has been a great weekend!

Krauss & Plant... One Day Away!

Allison Krauss and Robert Plant are playing live in Seattle tomorrow... on my wife's birthday. Couldn't be a better present to give her.

Oh yeah, I guess 2nd row seats would be a bit better...

Well, and I guess free tickets would be even better. And they are free (radio call in contest), and they are 2nd row. Thanks 103.7 the Mountain, you guys rock.

I will be zoned in, watching the Zep Vox, while my wife will be enjoying one of her favorite gal singers. You would think this would inspire joy in my friendship village, but it has also seemed to spawn some envy. So for all my friends with Krauss/Plant envy, I don't know what to say. I guess you could always catch some concert clips on YouTube or something...

Laced Up.

Yes, I ran the four miles yesterday. And it felt great.

Thanks.

I Don't Want To Run

I've slowly been running a bit more each week, getting ready to walk/run the half marathon in Seattle this fall. I love going out and taking the loop, especially with my wife's hot pink MP3 player jangling around my neck.

But not today.

I don't want to run. Once I'm out there, I love it, but honestly... right now I don't feel like it. At all. I feel like eating the heated up leftovers from Saturday's date with Kristy (curry and rice), and just reading a book or something.

But if I made all of my choices based upon how I felt, it could get scary, quick. And I probably wouldn't run that much. I already don't run that much.

So I've got to go for that deeper motivation - I will lace up today. And I will run the 4.

Celtic Jam

It's Wednesday night - checking out the Celtic jam at Tugboat Annie's with Kristy and some friends... should be real good. Nothing like a night out with good friends, food, and a pennywhistle piping in your ear!

So Here's What I Learned...

Now that I am about a week away from my first bike commute, I can be a bit more objective about what I learned...

1. I learned that cycling is pleasurable only to people with iron butts, or who might Tour France, or who might marry Sheryl Crow, or who simply enjoy painful experiences (viva mordeo!).

2. I found out that on my bicycle, I can outrun a German Shepherd barking and chasing me in parallel fashion along a fenceline. This is really good to know, although minus the fence, would he be sauntering along like that?

3. I learned about an ant hill on my normal commute road that I've never seen before - about 4.5 feet tall. No joke. How did I miss this?

4. I learned that I need a gel seat cover, and that my current bike seat feels somewhat like straddling a 2x4 for an hour.

So there you go. Deep lessons from the road.

Bicycle Commute - Lessons Learned

Wow. I rode my bike to the office today - I am out of shape. It took an hour (10 miles), so I think I was semi-puttering. Not so out of breath, but my thighs are on fire!

Still, it felt great. I learned all kinds of things on my trip - I will be posting my lessons soon.

What A Rowdy Pirate

Sunday was Dress Like A Pirate Day at the Fountain. My son is quite a brute:

In case you're wondering, it's not a sword in his hand; it's a sharpie - for signing his leg cast.

So yes... he is a peg-leg pirate.

Plant, Krauss, Shawn Stewart & The Mountain

Locally, there is only one really good radio station available (a la FM, you HD heads.) - KMTT, 103.7 the Mountain. Great music, really listenable DJ's (a luxury these days), and they are always spot on about creative new music and artists months before the bandwagon rolls into town.

I'm sorry; does this sound like an ad? It's not, rather it's more of a thank you. You see, at 10:37am they have a call-in contest to win local concert tickets. And though I often face the constant sound of busy signal, today that was not the case.

Guess who just won 2nd row seats to Robert Plant and Allison Krauss, on Kristy's birthday, no less?

Yep.

Summer In The Park

I'm excited for six summer Sundays in the park for our 10:30am FountainChurch gatherings. Lawn sports, BBQ's with friends - good stuff.

You comin? Maps to the park, info on what to bring - it's all here.

Back to my Americano!

Life is good. My coffee drinking days are back, and in full swing. Two weeks of drinking only water taught me a lot of good stuff - and a huge win was that by several families in FountainChurch giving up our favorite drinks together, we raised $400 - going straight to the 1000 Wells Project!

That's good stuff.

On Track & Going For It.

There's nothing like a public blog for accountability, so... "I am going to walk/run/jog the Seattle Half-Marathon this November." Seeing my wife do Seattle and Eugene, coupled with a few times out taking a run with her has gotten to me.

To prepare, I am on a 22 week plan of running, jogging, sweating, and crawling. Pretty awesome. To you running aficianados, any words of encouragement/caution/etc. would be great, and very welcomed.

I'll keep you updated.

Apple Pie. Get Smart. Still No Coffee.

My son Aiden wants to be a chef. What a stud - he baked apple pie pockets. Awesome.

About to go on a date with my gal - Get Smart and dinner.

Still no coffee. Day five. Headaches are gone, but it's still hard. I really miss my friend.

Day Three, No Coffee...

Ouch. This is harder than anticipated. No coffee.

Some of us families in the FountainChurch are foregoing Lattes, sodas, etc. for two weeks, saving that easily spent cash to send to BloodWaterMission. The translation? Our daily dollars go towards the 1000 Wells Project, who since 2004 have built 340 wells in 11 countries in Africa.

So I decided, not only will I give up buying drinks in town, I'm going without completely. How am I (glad you asked.)? The headache last night melted me into a pathetic puddle.

Maybe caffeine has a bigger hold on me than I thought? I miss my friend.

I stand corrected.

To add to the humor, it wasn't 'Indiana and the Jones'.

Libby calls it 'Indian of the Jones'. This is just getting better.

My little gal.

My Libby is great. She just graduated preschool, and next fall becomes a big kindergartener!

Here's her quote of the day (trust me, there's plenty to choose from):

"So when you and Aiden go see 'Indiana and the Jones', am I going to get to go see 'The Karate Panda Bear' with mom?"

Indiana and the Jones.

Coffee & People

Had a great meeting with Brian, who started Mud Bay Coffee Co. He makes insanely good roasts. We had a long talk about coffee shops, making quality coffee, and why you do what you do in life.

When everything boils down (simmers, reduces), it really is about people. Coffee is a connection, a vehicle, a passion, but whether it's customers, farmers, or employees - it's definitely people.

Although on some days, the coffee makes a real close run for first.

Haiku (one single impression) - Bleeding

This week's haiku prompt: Bleeding.

Bleeding hearts? The old medical practice of letting? Sheep? ... wait, sorry - that's bleating. You could go many ways with the prompt from One Single Impression, so I just went with my first response - bleeding knees, care of my creative, fun, silly and a touch-clumsy wunderkind Eli.

Hobbling over
A big fall from the bigtoy
"Kiss my knee, daddy."

Funk.

I'm in a funk. That term could describe James Brown (RIP), but right now my meaning is different.

I'm kind of tired, and I don't like rainy days when I planned on mowing the lawn. I love mowing - all of the perfect lines and how it feels when you're done and you look out over manicured horticultural bliss...

Instead, I'm inside, brewing another pot of coffee.

Lord, get me out of this funk.

We're Running Two Marathons...

My wife Kristy is heading down to Oregon today to participate in a half-marathon in Eugene, which is really impressive to me.

I sometimes jog from my car to the coffee shop door.

Nevertheless, I am mutually inspired and convicted about exercise, so next week I am carving out some time to think about possibly doing that.

This weekend is also a marathon for me - I am at home with our four kids alone for the weekend. Friday family movie night, tackling the laundry pile, dropping off Libby for a birthday party, going to Aiden's baseball game, finishing two websites, and getting to our church gathering on time.

Exercise enough?

It's Celtic Rock Monday...

Perhaps this just won't translate for a large lot of the population, but it's Celtic Rock Monday here on the Boyd laptop. I'm sitting in Mud Bay enjoying an extra helping of the Hothouse Flowers, The Pogues, etc.

But taking the cake this morning - Dexy's Midnight Runners version of Van's "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)". Really well done. C'mon, Eileen - you know you like it.

But dad, the swimming pool has a waterfall...

The rhythm of life is less like a Dokken song (4/4, same beat every song), and more like a live jazz set. Switches, 9/8 timing, breaks, tempo changes...

Sometimes seasons of life are demanding! If we won't guard ourselves, we lose out. We have to choose those moments of rest that give us strength for each new season.

So bring it on! Spring break is coming up for our kids this Monday, and we are off! It's just good to get away for a few days, enjoying each other and sleeping in.

So we're heading north of Seattle, to one of our family favorites - a great hotel with a big to order breakfast and a swimming pool with a rock face and waterfall splashing in. It's pretty much just an aesthetics gig, but I guess it's fun to ride your dad (the dolphin) under the magic waterfall...

Van Morrison Is The Man.

I have met folks who do not see life as I do - and that's fine. In this instance, my particular point of view being that Van Morrison is the man - top chief musician/songwriter. Period. End of story for me, but some see it different. And I respect people's right to be wrong...

The shocking moments for me as of late though have come from the confused, unknowing look I receive from small pockets of people when I even mention Van in conversation. "Who's Van Morrison?" I wasn't sure a group like this existed, but just like some of the Sci-Fi movies that exist - they are out there.

Don't know Van Morrison? C'mon! So then I rattle off his most obvious moments in music: "Brown Eyed Girl"? "Moondance"? "Domino"? "Have I Told You Lately" (before Rod Steward placed it on the butcher's block)? "Gloria"? "Baby, Please Don't Go"? "Warm Love"?

After I mention another 20 songs or so, I usually give up, and instead offer them a brief primer (it all fits in a 5" notebook) on Van the man. I won't go into it here, suffice to say he has a new album out (yes, we're talking half a century of music and still going - thus the man). And it's great.

Here's a link to check it out - it's like doing yourself a favor without knowing it. And it might keep me off your back about not knowing Van...

Haiku (one single impression) - Laughter

The week's prompt from One Single Impression (online haiku community) is laughter. I laugh a lot. I find a lot of things in life ironic and funny. Of course, I sometimes laugh at not so opportune moments... a like so.

Your flushed cheeks, clenched fists
Furrowed brow, taut lips, all say
I should stop laughing.

Pirates Are Coming...

Had a great meeting with our church's kids director, Jeff. Over Pho (our meeting of choice) we finished the outline for a summer family event in August. There's a lot to it, but suffice to say...

The Pirates are coming.

Haiku (one single impression) - Kindness

My haiku for this week's prompt from One Single Impression - a blogging haiku community. The prompt was Kindness.

Sweet teardrops fall
Adult children coming home
After all these years

Hugs at the doorway
“Just set your coats anywhere!
And how was your flight…”

And then in the hall
A quiet apology
“My dear, it’s okay.”

Eating Hummus Is Like Being Part of a Church

I'm eating Stacy's Pita Chips Simply Naked (the chips are, not me), dipped in really good hummus, with garlic, pesto, pine nuts, and roasted red peppers.

Dang.

It's real good stuff. There was a time when I was real unsure about hummus; I had eaten hummus that really was nasty. I'm sure the AFHL (Association For Hummus Lovers) would have cried out if they had tasted it, warning me, "No! That's not how hummus should taste! You've been robbed!"

I never had that conversation; I just decided to give it a go a few more times. Some more bad hummus came my way, and some good. And because of that, my lunch today is unreal.

Sometimes it takes another try in some fresh new hummus, but we have to be brave - bad hummus stinks. It's worth it when you taste the good, though.

Haiku (one single impression) - Change

This is my haiku for this week's prompt from One Single Impression - thanks for continuing the weekly haiku community! And to Jennifer (premiere sister o' mine) and Susan, thanks for many moons of providing One Deep Breath.

This week's prompt - Change. It was a fun one.

Grey clouds and grey streets
My tired old monochrome life
But I’ve bought red shoes...

Beautiful Americano

Powerful in its simplicity. Pure goodness, in liquid form. Americano, you are my friend.

Sunday Drumming

I often leave our Sunday morning gathering with such a huge amount of gratitude. Thanks to all of you for your friendship, comraderie, and unity on loving Jesus and loving each other.

On a side note, getting to play music with all of you was great. Bill, you are a rockstar, except in the truest sense (most miss this). Dan, it's like walking down a road with an old friend; I usually know where you're headed, and I always want to come along. Chris - great guitar work. It was fun to hear what you chose to play when you didn't have to sing too! Chara, it's like a magic carpet ride (Beatles?), your keys always in the mix, pulling us to a new spot. Very cool. Bryan, considering our conversation the other day, your steady strum is like a Sunday drive.

And of course, all of you singers doing your thing - Crystal, Rachel, Elisha, Jennifer, Melissa, Chris, Bryan - You give words to our worship, and I love how you all sound together. Unreal.

Tron. Oh yeah.

I just watched Tron with my kids; it had been too long. I'm on a childhood movie kick, enjoying some stuff from my early years.

My son Aiden looked over at me halfway through the movie and said, "Maybe when I'm a dad I'll watch Spiderman 2 and it will look kind of fake compared to how real movies will be then."

Uh, Yeah. Pretty much. But the light cycles are so cool...

Love Days Off

Monday was great; snowshoeing, sledding, and fortbuilding at Paradise on Mt. Ranier. The day was gorgeous - we were actually shedding our clothes in the snow!

Good times. Stopping for milkshakes and burgers afterwards, my kids falling asleep in the back of the van - top notch.

A Book, a cup, two with the flu, and He's enough

A Book - Right now I'm reading Christ Plays In Ten Thousand Places, by Eugene Peterson. So far it's a great read; a conversational yet in depth look at spiritual theology.

A Cup - Of rich, full bodied java. Few friends are as faithful as coffee. Of course, it's a limited friendship.

Two With The Flu - Our kids have been taking turns. Eli and Libs are home today, coming out of days with fever and such. We watched The Aristocats this morning - "everybody wants to be a cat!" My son disagrees; he says dogs do not.

He's Enough - In talking with a few friends this week, it's a good reminder. Jesus' grace is sufficient for me, and His power is perfected in weakness. I can rest in the fact that God has (and knows) what I need, and the fuel I put into worries, anxieties and fears can instead fuel my trust in Him. He's good like that.

Haiku - I Love 'Ku

The topic for this week's posting at One Deep Breath was love. A fun one.

Familiar yet new
I can’t move; can barely breathe
Your blue eyes again

Don't Stand To My Left...

I had to finish up a novel the other night, thanks to the advice of my sister Jennifer - Germ, by Robert Liparulo. The book had some good tense moments, the kind that you choose to have a late night and dragging morning in order to finish.

That left me reading on the floor, slowly developing a kink in my neck, or a pinched nerve or something - possibly a spine goblin wreaking havoc? I moved to the couch around 11p to finish up, but sleep took over. About 4:30a, Kristy came and found me knocked out, in an even worse position.

So you can't stand to my left. Or I guess you could, but you'll get the feeling I'm ignoring you. I just can't turn it that way. The book was good, though.

Good days, bad days, perspective

I am at home taking care of my son Aiden, who stayed home from school today, sick with the flu.

Which could make you upset, worried, whatever. Or you could take it for what it is, make chicken soup, and watch Rudy together.

We went for option B.

Haiku - Winter Wonders

Frozen breath, red cheeks
Numb fingers in soaked-through mitts
“Hot chocolate time?”

This haiku is part of One Deep Breath, and online poetry collaboration blog. The post for the week is "Winter Wonders". Really gave me an instant mental picture of my little ones coming in from the cold after whatever outdoor adventures were done being found.

Thirteen Years...

It goes by so fast. Yesterday Kristy and I celebrated thirteen years of choosing each other! We talked about trips we took, things we've done. And I came to a great conclusion: It gets better and better every year.

The Olympia Oyster House just rocks. And because I was in anniversary mode, I looked on the left side of the menu first (descriptions), instead of the right side (price). This allowed me the fun freedom of choosing Steak Oscar...

I guess some guy named Oscar liked rich, heavy ingredients.