Month: December 2005

Well, Christmas is over. It came in fast, then got laid back.

After the blitz of the North Mississippi Family Tour, we came back to a quiet home and not much planned. We hit my dads, my moms, my grandmom’s, Bev’s parents, and a few stores/malls inbetween. We got more than we needed, a lot of what we could use, and things that I’m looking at thinking regift. But it was good to see people and let them see us too. Also good to read the familar news papers and see the old newscasts we’d been so used too.

We left late Friday night and drove through the night. Of course we had to take a drive through the Mississippi State campus. It was dark and empty. And the construction put us at a few dead ends. But it was good stuff.

Christmas Eve was church services and Domino’s Pizza. We have no family traditions so I think take out pizza on Christmas Eve will be our new one. That and breakfast for lunch on Christmas Day. We had pizza 2 years ago when Addie was really sick one Christmas Eve.

Christmas Day was church again. Yes, I went to one of those churches that actually met on Christmas Day. I think most churches did. But the few that didn’t got the headlines. It was fine by me either way. Working at a church made the idea sort of appealing.

But after some down time, tomorrow starts another blitz. BreakThru lasts until Saturday. Sunday we drop off the eldest child with the grandmothers, then Monday head to Nashville for Passion. Should all be quite fun, but busy none the less. Actually plan to try to blog from Passion. We’ll see how the hotel rooms shake out…

Yep, yesterday was the last day of classes for the high schools. That means freetime for all the kids and whatnot. Good times, huh?

Last year Christmas was a time that felt pretty disconnected from tradition. I was living out of a suitcase in Clinton, and Bev and the girls were living either in Amory or with me out of their own suitcases. Ella was barely a month old and I’d just started a new job. So the return to Amory was pretty nontraditional. We made it to the Christmas Eve service at my old church. So of course I had to weather the “How is it going so far” comments when I really didn’t want to go through that again and again and again. But it’s to be expected.

After the service we went to my grandmother’s for the traditional chaos and lasagna dinner. The gluttony of presents and wrapping paper ended as I went to my house. A brief night of sleep ended w/ the realization of having to drive the family circuit further north on Christmas day before heading back to Clinton to live out of a suitcase again for a couple of days. Then it was on to BreakThru and more suitcase living until we secured a rental house.

All that to say that the Christmas feeling I used to remember just never seems there with the same punch these days. I guess that’s part of growing up. But I wonder where I lost it. Or did I have the wrong ‘punch’ anyhow?

[Well, the entries haven’t been nessarily flowing have they?]

One of the great things with this new broadband internet is that I can do some good “streaming” over the internet now. And I get reunited w/ old friends. There was a morning radio show I listened to quite regularly while in Amory. But after the move down here, couldn’t find them anywhere. But now with high speed internet VOILA!, here they are. So now I can listen to Kidd Kraddick live out of Dallas while I’m close to my bedroom (where the computer is.)

They have some crazy antics on there. Sad that as soon as I get access back w/ them, one of the main members of the morning crew is leaving…such is life.

Man, I remember when I was just beginning to get online. I was a Junior at Mississippi State. I’d walk to the computer lab in the building next to my dorm. I’d get online and read about MSU sports and college football/basketball in my spare time.

Graduated, got a job, and bought a computer. Had dialup. Good ole 33.3kbs. Then an upgrade later. I could connect around 53kbs then. I was zooming. But people started to talk about DSL. Even had a friend or two with it. Then we finally got it at work. I could zoom around the net then. But still had dialup at home.

Fast forward to Clinton. Still on dialup at home. But waaaay slower: 24kbs. I blamed it on the old rental house (though newer than my Amory home.) But even after we bought our house here, the “new” new house still connected at painfully slow connection rates. But as of last Friday, I now have broadband. And not just wimpy DSL, but cable internet.

So now the computer is out of the floor, on a table (I assume it’s temporary, but so was using the floor since June), and I’m actually sitting in a chair. How cool is that. So the plan is to begin to post on a much more regular basis. Like at least once a day. We’ll see how doable that works outto be. I’ve not been posting much at all lately. But been reading blogs a good bit. Some good stuff out there. And I’ve found a few new favorites I frequent too.

I’ve also been wondering if I want to stay here at ASmallTwist.com. I used to be at home over at StateDOG.com. But my mom read way too much and commented way to much and even sent me grammar corrections over email. So I found my “creativity” was stiffled there. But I almost want to say “what the hey!?” and go back there. I like that domain. Plus I think more people are still linked to that. So what do you think? A Small Twist or StateDOG?

Cingular Voice Mail :: I got snailmail and text messages about this great upgrade I was going to be getting in my voice mail system for my Cingular phone. But I was thinking it wouldn’t be as good. I used to have a Cingular phone and didn’t like the system. Couldn’t delete a message until I listened to the whole thing, couldn’t skip to the end and felt “clunky”. WhenI got my new phone in Clinton the voice mail lady was nicer(She’d tell me “Good Morning” and “Good Evening” when I called her), the keys to operate were 1, 2, adn 3. There was even a fast forward/rewind option.

But after the nice “upgrade” I feel I was just demoted down to a less featured system that is now “clunky” again. Go Cingular. But still, gotta love the nationwide coverage and the free mobile to mobile.

Mississippi State Sports :: MSU football had hope for the season when it started, and the Murray State win was deceptive. We went in the tank after that. But the Egg Bowl win is something we can build on and use the momentum to do something with. It’s up to the coaches now. But hopefully the circus that is UM Football right now will continue to entertain by their antics. Basketball? Very young but talented team. We’ll take our lumps this year. But look out next 2 years!

Christmas Tree :: We got our crooked tree from Home Depot. It’s up and lighted, but now needs some decorations. That shall be done today. Yes, I said “Christmas Tree”, not “Holiday Tree.”

Youth Ministry :: Seems to be one of the busiest times of the year. Right now and summer. Gotta love it.

LOST :: Best show on television.

Appetizer
When was the last time you did something you would consider courteous, what was it, and who was it for?
Opening the door for some ladies coming into the church yesterday.

Salad
If you were to have a painting done of you alone, what would you want the background to be?
Copper Mountain

Soup
Describe your voice.
Deep with a southern twang to it sometimes that I really don’t notice unless I hear myself on tape.

Main Course
What is something you would like to do, but you’re afraid of the risk(s)?
Hmmm…good questions.

Dessert
What was the last television show you watched?
Survivor