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.