it consumes my life

I talked with a co-worker today about social media, networking, new media and the like in the classroom and church setting. She had just returned from a conference and was amazed at all the things available to academics – usually at no additional costs to the users (i.e. professors or students). She mentioned that we needed someone who could evangelize (my word) all this new technology to folks across the district. Someone who could explain what it means and how to use it to professors who are fed up with being forced to use “technology” (typically antiquated technology at that).

I wanted to jump up and down and say, “Pick me! Pick me! Pick me!”

I didn’t. We were in a semi-public environment and I didn’t want to cause a scene (so instead I just post this in a very-public environment).

I mentioned this scene to Laurie and she made the point that I’d be good at a job like that because, “it consumes your life.”

I think she’s pretty dead on. I just have a passion/fire/drive for connecting people. Whether its online or offline (or a combination of the two) I love to see people making connections. I want to see a distributed Christianity and world – rather than a mainframe world. I want to see crowd-sourcing rather than scholarly opinions. I want to see people understanding others in new ways and thus building newer, stronger relationships.

So as a side note: if you know someone wanting/needing a social media guy (like the job Chad just got) let me know. Let’s talk!

And — all this to say — I know I typically turn to Twitter or micro-blogging to share what’s going on in my life — but figure I owe all the readers here an update on my weekend as well.

weekend roundup

Each and every Saturday I do my best to meet with Josh to discuss life, faith, church, families, friends etc. This week was no exception. Due to a few schedule changes, we made plans to meet at 8 a.m. I arrived at his house and he fixed some great BOBs (breakfast on bread). We ate and chatted for an hour or so and then I was off to event #2.

Another friend had a deep freezer his mother wanted to donate to Daniel’s Den in Waxahachie. Brad met me at Josh’s house and we headed to Duncanville to pick up the freezer and then back to Waxahachie to deliver it. As soon as we finished I rushed back to Red Oak to make it home before event #3. I had hoped/predicted I’d back home by 11. I didn’t make it back till 11:38 :-(. Laurie had said as long as I was home by 11:30 things would be fine and even though I was “only 8 minutes late” it really irked me that I didn’t make it by either time.

After I arrived home, I quickly changed shirts and we were off to take Presley to the dog park and the vet. We spent 30 minutes or so at the dog park before Presley got to “enjoy” her visit with the vet. Seems like more and more we’re realizing she doesn’t like men. Not sure what it is – but she doesn’t like em. After the vet we headed to the doggie wash – where she got a nice warm bath with shampoo and conditioner.

Presley would rather sniff than play

Getting a wash

We stopped by Sonic on the way home. And then I was off to a birthday party for Juston. Had a good time and got to play some ping-pong with his younger brother Andrew. We did a cool thing at the party – in that each “man” gave words of advice to Juston as he turned 13. I shared 3 things I wish I would have known — (or actually paid attention to) when I turned 13.

  • find a group of guys/friends that will stick by you no matter what — and stick by them no matter what
  • find a mentor who will be honest with you and be willing to set you in the right direction when you’re going the wrong way
  • have fun! and don’t worry what others think except for your family and the guys mentioned above.

After the party I headed back home to finish cooking the dinner we had planned to share with Josh, his wife Shalyn, their baby girl, and my sister Kara and my brother-in-law, Tim.

They arrived short time later and we enjoyed some chicken tacos, rice, beans and assorted fixings along with some fun stories and conversations.

One thing I truly love about Laurie is that she loves hosting people at our house. She’s not near as outgoing as I am and usually doesn’t “thrive” in group settings like I might – but she still loves serving others by inviting them over and enjoying dinner with them. We both love doing that and I hope its something we continue doing for years to come.

Sunday was a whole different day but just as fun (other than the annoying sunburn I got).

Our church/tribe gathered outdoors at the Tucker’s house for our normal celebration time as well as BBQ and games. I was there outdoors from roughly 8 a.m. till 2 p.m. No wonder I got a little red ;-).

Some folks even took a ride on the Tucker’s 4-wheelers before it was all said and done.

Carl and Brian 4 wheeling

I came home and crashed on the couch before mowing the yard and pulling some weeds in the front.

All in all a tiring weekend but one I’d gladly do all over again (minus the sunburn).

So there you have it (if you’re still reading).
Be sure and click over to Laurie’s blog for her take on the weekend as well.

Lauries procedure today

For those interested or curious I found some info on Wikipedia about the EP study. She may also have a heart ablation (I’m hoping that’s the right link/description) as well — depending on how the EP study goes.
Ill post updates on my Twitter feed :: twitter.com/jdblundell

re: Simply living simply

Suzanne at Adventures in Daily Living shared some thoughts and ideas on how to live simply. She shares the following list from A Vision Splendid:

1. Living within our means in a small house with no debt
2. No commercial TV
3. Cooking from scratch
4. Finding old ‘sturdy’ items second hand rather than a constant supply of cheap ‘made in china’ items that need replacing every 12 months
5. Spending quality family time together
6. Baking our own bread
7. Brewing our own beer
8. Fixing things ourselves
9. Growing what we can
10. Doing our own renovations
11. Using the town library as a resource
12. Buying local produce
13. Composting our food scraps
14. Minimising plastic packaging on foods
15. Avoiding petrochemicals in products
16. Work on a completely cash budget
17. Changing all lights to CFLs
18. Line dry the washing
19. Menu planning
20. Buying Australian grocery items where local not available
21. Stockpiling
22. Managing my home in a single binder
23. Getting ahead by applying the 6P principle
24. Having a planning day once a week
25. Having a cooking day once a week
26. Work hard at ‘saving’ through the year for an annual holiday
27. Using old fashioned items and remedies – e.g. washup with sunlight soap, put eucalyptus oil on your hankie if you feel a cold coming.
28. Wear an apron to keep your clothes clean
29. Turn the TV off and read out loud to my children
30. Wear hand me downs
31. Avoiding food additives and chemicals

The original list also contains some ideas for a “family eco-challenge.” Are you and your family doing any of these things? Anything you would add to the list?

Related ::
Adventures in Daily Living :: Stay Home Day
A Vision Splendid :: Our Simple Life
SSL :: Simply living simply pt 1
SSL :: Simply living simply pt 2
Shaun Groves :: Simplicity

Update on Laurie

Well Laurie went and saw the neurologist this morning. I probably should have gone with her – I couldn’t focus on work after her initial txt message ;-).
The neurologist said she did fracture her t-spine in 4 places from her fall last week.
When she passed out last Tuesday morning she basically took a nose dive off the examination table and landed on the top of her head.
She then continued her roll and strained her neck and shoulder muscles.
The resulting compression from the fall is what likely fractured her t-spine.
She’s still in a good deal of pain but the neurologist said that because it is her spine and not her neck her rib cage works as a natural protection so no C-Collar is necessary and she can return to work tomorrow – but must avoid any heavy lifting.
The doctor expects her to heal naturally on her own and X-Rays from this morning seem to show that has already started.
Please continue to pray for her healing – specifically a continued reduction in her pain.
The mornings seem to be the worse and if she returns to work tomorrow she won’t be able to take any pain meds early in the morning to help reduce the pain.
Thanks again for all your prayers, txt messages, emails and such – and a special thanks to those of you who helped out by providing several meals for us!
We do have some great friends and family!

Related ::
Info on the T-spine
Vertigo :: Laurie’s recap of the fall
SSL :: Meeting the girl of my dreams
SSL :: Red Oak water supply and other updates

Meeting the girl of my dreams

Almost 2 years ago… exactly (as I write this)… I sent a text message to a beautiful woman.
The message read, “standby for a knock at your door.”
She didn’t get the message till 4 or 5 hours later.

But in the meantime I met and got to know this same beautiful woman over a dinner at Blue Mesa, a trolley ride and coffee at Cafe Brazil.

Yup. 2 years ago today I met my wife for the very first time… in person that is.

Come to find out later – she’s not a big fan of Blue Mesa and she had a strict one-date rule. If she wasn’t impressed on the first date – you’re done – you’re through – no more attention from her.

Yet some how another I managed to impress her with not knowing where to board the trolley and running out of things to do by 8:30 p.m…. luckily you can always count on Cafe Brazil (or maybe it was the singing of the Aladdin theme that impressed her — doubtful).

Now after knowing her for two years its amazing to think about all the changes that have happened in our lives – and all for the better.

I can’t imagine my life any other way than with her by my side.

Happy “unofficial anniversary” Laurie. You are the pride of my life. I love you more than I ever thought possible!