I've Got A Notion To Say What Doesn't Feel Right

I have a problem. On the top of my computer screen is a link to Amazon. I love going there and reading reviews of books I've heard about and inevitably coming across a new one that I haven't. This isn't a bad thing in and of itself, but every now and then, I compulsively buy 4-5 books at a time that I just 'have to have.' I always read them, but by the time I'm finished with one group, another is ready to be bought. Anyway, the last group of books I purchased included Jesus Wants to Save Christians, Jesus for President, Dixieland Delight (about a season following SEC football), and Fields of Fire (about Vietnam). That's right, two books about religion, one about war and one about football. I am officially a walking cliche of a Southern male. Thank you.

I started Jesus for President this afternoon, and the first few pages hit me. Here's an excerpt:

You grew up in a good family;
hardworking dad and a mom who
was there when you needed her.

They taught you and your little
brother to share and showed you
how to pray every night before bed.

In Sunday school, you learned about
Jesus and sang all the songs with
the rest of the kids.

There was Noah and his ark, Moses
and the Ten Commandments, and little
baby Jesus asleep on the hay.

You learned about the blessing
that was America and were grateful
to live in a country led by good
Christian leaders.

With a hand over your heart or above
your brow, you pledged allegiance to

God and Country,

for the Lord was at work
in this holy nation.

But lately you are beginning to wonder
if this is really how God intended things
to be.

And you question if God is really working
though places of power.

Maybe, you wonder, God had a totally
different idea in mind...

Jesus for President:Politics for Ordinary Radicals, by Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw

Hmmm...Agan, prepared to be stretched.

The Spirit Of A Hustler And The Swagger Of A College Kid

Great minds have claimed that, "I can now rest easy knowing that we'll be spared at least one 'Feel-Good Movie of the Year' blurb in 2009." (Seriously, that should be on the movie poster) Other, slightly lesser minds have called it dark and depressing.


Good Golly. If you haven't read Cormac McCarthy's The Road, do so now. I may even re-read my copy before seeing the movie. This is big folks, because I never* read a book twice, usually I see that as a waste of time. Not now, not for something so great.

*See how I did that? I italicized the word 'never,' implying that I really really don't read books twice. I'm screaming through the computer screen that it's something I'm adamantly against in most cases. I paid attention in Blog Writing 202 during summer school at Temple College in 2003. Have some.

Don't Make A Sound. I Know They're Watching, They're Watching.

This is mostly for my dad, brother and uncle: It looks like Lake Loraine isn't the place to fish anymore.

According to this story, the giant catfish in the photo was caught recently by a 14 year old girl in Spain. However, by looking at some of the other 'stories' featured on the Daily Mail website, it may stand to reason that this is a hoax and this little gal didn't actually catch the monster fish. Until proven otherwise, however, I'm gonna believe it's true. In the meantime, if you need me, I'll be on Orbitz booking a flight to Spain.

In other dirty water news, here's a link to the H2O Africa Foundation. H2O was co-founded by Matt Damon (yes, THAT Matt Damon) and is an effort to bring clean drinking water to villages in Africa. If you have an extra buck or ten, send it their way. It's a great cause.

Doctor, Doctor I Must Have Gotten This Sick Somehow

I got this text from Kayla today: 'Ur not going to believe what i just did! I had a dislocated shoulder blade and she put it back into socket!'

This, in response to me asking how her visit to a physical therapist went this morning. Dislocated shoulder. That explains the trouble she's had breathing and sleeping. Huh.

In other mind-boggling news about separated shoulders, I read this article about Pete Rose's infamous takeout of Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game. Apparently, Fosse played for 7 years after the collision-even being named to the 1971 All-Star team-yet we're always reminded of how Rose ended his career with the play at the plate at Riverfront Stadium, even though his career ended in 1977 after he broke his neck while attempting to break up a locker room fight. Bizzare.

Monumental Return

A few things I've learned while living and working in Sugar Land this summer:

Sanding the bottom side of a patio roof is fun, I really enjoy it. Actually, the opposite is true. Sanding is difficult, and not fun. It's a little, how should I say it...balmy? in South Texas and having paint chips fall, and subsequently stick to, your arms, face and hair, is not what I call a fun time. However, I can't complain too much because the past two days have consisted of a little work and a lot of Internet-surfing at the job, so I guess you can say that I'm getting mine today. (I'm on break as I type this. There is now a white powder covering the keyboard)

I try not to be a very superstitious person, but I HATE the cover of this year's Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine. I won't put up a link, but if you've seen it, you'll know.

Speaking of the Horns-and I was-I'm still bitter about game one of the CWS. 5 home runs for a total of 5 runs, a two run lead with two outs in the ninth...uggghhh. Coulda, shoulda, woulda, I know, but that's a game they had, but lost it.

Stories like this and this have literally kept me up at night fuming about the state of our judicial system. They're a little long reads, especially the second one, but take a few minutes and knock them out-it's worth it. I know not everyone in the legal world is this backward, and a 'normal' court case would not be worth writing a story about, but it is still infuriating that things like these can happen in 2009. To the three new attorneys that check in on JAT once and a while-save us, please.

Hook 'Em