Story Factory
They come from far,
They come from wide,
They come to hear a story
From the other side;
A million stories deep,
Way down under,
The Story Factory
Is a place of wonder;
Everyday it’s new;
Everyday it’s true;
Every time a story starts
Their ears are stuck like glue;
A tale of Hope,
A tale Divine,
A tale they’ve been longing for
Every single time;
Stories are for fun,
Stories are a game,
But listen to these stories
And you’ll never be the same;
We live a life of stories,
Yes, you know it’s true,
I’m a Story Factory
And so are you.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
"Technomaniac" - A Tribute to Canaan
Technomaniac
MP3, Iphone,
Didj, and Wii
He was a technomaniac
Before the age of three;
Upload, download,
Barcodes, I bet,
If you cannot find him,
He’s on the internet;
Webkinz, Penguins,
Freewebs, and more;
Gook Squad aspirations
Or the Apple Store?
STEM school, middle school,
High school, and beyond,
A college of technology
Is right where he belongs;
No matter where he goes,
Technology’s the game;
No matter what you call him,
Technomaniac is his name.
MP3, Iphone,
Didj, and Wii
He was a technomaniac
Before the age of three;
Upload, download,
Barcodes, I bet,
If you cannot find him,
He’s on the internet;
Webkinz, Penguins,
Freewebs, and more;
Gook Squad aspirations
Or the Apple Store?
STEM school, middle school,
High school, and beyond,
A college of technology
Is right where he belongs;
No matter where he goes,
Technology’s the game;
No matter what you call him,
Technomaniac is his name.
Winter Blankets
Winter Blankets
“Merciful snow,”
A call through the window
“Come, cover the dead;”
Autumn’s wake
Ushered the Dulled, Emptied, And Depressed
Into my soul.
“Come, redeem Brown and Gray;
Heal lifeless ground;
Protect my eyes;
Show beauty, purity, and hope
Into my soul,
And let it be their home;
Warm me with belief
That death is not a conclusion.”
******************************
“Merciful fleece,”
A call from the couch
“Come cover the cold one,”
Winter’s draft
Ushered the Chill Of Lonely Days
Into my bones.
“Come warm my skin and bones;
Soothe my goosebumps;
Protect my skin and bones;
Show warmth, coziness, and cuddling
Into my embrace,
And let it be their home;
Warm me with belief
That winter is not a conclusion.”
“Merciful snow,”
A call through the window
“Come, cover the dead;”
Autumn’s wake
Ushered the Dulled, Emptied, And Depressed
Into my soul.
“Come, redeem Brown and Gray;
Heal lifeless ground;
Protect my eyes;
Show beauty, purity, and hope
Into my soul,
And let it be their home;
Warm me with belief
That death is not a conclusion.”
******************************
“Merciful fleece,”
A call from the couch
“Come cover the cold one,”
Winter’s draft
Ushered the Chill Of Lonely Days
Into my bones.
“Come warm my skin and bones;
Soothe my goosebumps;
Protect my skin and bones;
Show warmth, coziness, and cuddling
Into my embrace,
And let it be their home;
Warm me with belief
That winter is not a conclusion.”
Will
Do you have the will
to fly?
Do you have the will
to cry out?
Do you have the will
to shout
“fear has no right to be here”?
Do you have the will
to fly?
Do you have the will
to cry out
“fear isn’t going to scare me”?
Do you have the will
to fly
to the rest of the universe?
Do you have the will?
-Sierra, 24 Dec 08
Do you have the will
to fly?
Do you have the will
to cry out?
Do you have the will
to shout
“fear has no right to be here”?
Do you have the will
to fly?
Do you have the will
to cry out
“fear isn’t going to scare me”?
Do you have the will
to fly
to the rest of the universe?
Do you have the will?
-Sierra, 24 Dec 08
Gonzalez Family Christmas
Merry Christmas to you all. May the peace of the season be with you. We have been incredibly blessed to have a very good Christmas.
Christmas Eve at my sister Amy's house was a blast. Great food, fund games, fund gifts, and great people. We have been blending a family since (before) my mother remarried. We are feeling normaler (if there is such a thing) than ever before. I really love my whole family. They are good and very fun people who make me laugh. I am lucky to have them.
Christmas morning was at our home. Big Breakfast is a tradition. Kids opening presents. The big hit, Nintendo Wii Fit. Pajamas all day, hot tea, phone calls to family members far away, and looking at the bright sun glistening off the pure white snow. Nothing better. This life is a very good life.
We are grateful to God for a good life. Here are some pics:
Sierra is 10 years old, smart, and rarely smiles for the camera. This on is a treat.
Canaan is 8 years old and makes crazy faces in the front of a camera. This pic was taken in the middle of gift giving.
By the glow of a Nintendo DS.
"Mom, did you know that Nintendo DS's are awesome?"
Canaan on Wii Fit.
Canaan still on the Wii Fit.
Dad jumps 127 meters on Wii Fit ski jumping.
Sierra rocks the house on ski jumping.
And even mom is getting into the act.
Christmas Eve at my sister Amy's house was a blast. Great food, fund games, fund gifts, and great people. We have been blending a family since (before) my mother remarried. We are feeling normaler (if there is such a thing) than ever before. I really love my whole family. They are good and very fun people who make me laugh. I am lucky to have them.
Christmas morning was at our home. Big Breakfast is a tradition. Kids opening presents. The big hit, Nintendo Wii Fit. Pajamas all day, hot tea, phone calls to family members far away, and looking at the bright sun glistening off the pure white snow. Nothing better. This life is a very good life.
We are grateful to God for a good life. Here are some pics:
Sierra is 10 years old, smart, and rarely smiles for the camera. This on is a treat. 
Canaan is 8 years old and makes crazy faces in the front of a camera. This pic was taken in the middle of gift giving.
By the glow of a Nintendo DS.
"Mom, did you know that Nintendo DS's are awesome?"
Canaan on Wii Fit.
Canaan still on the Wii Fit.
Dad jumps 127 meters on Wii Fit ski jumping.
Sierra rocks the house on ski jumping.
And even mom is getting into the act.Sunday, December 21, 2008
Sierra in Manga Christmas
Sierra does not like stage make-up
Sierra does not like to get her picture taken when she is wearing stage make-up.
Gabrielle (with disco hair) visits mary
Sierra is a shepherd minding her own business.
Sierra looks to the sky.
Sierra and Zoe sing
Sierra sings.
Sierra did such a good job on the Manga Christmas. We are so proud of her. She nailed her lines and got a big laugh out one line. It was a real boost for her.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Top 10 Irritating Phrases Unmasked
Bradley Wright let's us know what is getting under the skin of researchers at Oxford. Here is what is bothering them with my explanations:
The top ten most irritating phrases:
1 - At the end of the day - I just said a whole bunch of stuff that I know was irrelevant and don't care that you weren't listening, but I want you to get this one point.
2 - Fairly unique - There is absolutely nothing in the world just like this one, except there are a few things that are pretty much just like it, but they are few in number.
OR
You should buy this because it is valuable and rare...BUY IT NOW!!!!!!
3 - I personally - Proper language for fake plactic tree people who have no personality.
4 - At this moment in time - Now. Jack Bauer never, EVER says, "At this moment in time," because lives depend on econommy of language. He either says, "Now," "Now, dammit," or "ChloedammitNOW!"
5 - With all due respect - I do not respect you nor do I believe you are due any respect.
6 - Absolutely - I want you to think I really, superduper really, mean something because my YES is not enough - and I have no self esteem.
7 - It's a nightmare - (Usually accompanied witt an overly dramatic eyeroll). It was bad, but I have limited vocabulary, and I want to try to get you to say "Oh my God,," or better yet, "OMG." (If the responder DOES give in with an OMG, then the manipulation was successful).
8 - Shouldn't of - I messed up and don't read much.
9 - 24/7 - 3 remainder 3
10 - It's not rocket science - Almost nothing is actually rocket science, so this phrase is not making anything more clear. Scientists who use scientific methods for inquiry about rockets are the only ones who are doing rocket science. Calling something not rocket science is like calling something not the Bayesian Information Criteria. Depite the truth to the claim, little, if anything , is ruled out when using this phrase in fforts to points toward what "it" is.
The top ten most irritating phrases:
1 - At the end of the day - I just said a whole bunch of stuff that I know was irrelevant and don't care that you weren't listening, but I want you to get this one point.
2 - Fairly unique - There is absolutely nothing in the world just like this one, except there are a few things that are pretty much just like it, but they are few in number.
OR
You should buy this because it is valuable and rare...BUY IT NOW!!!!!!
3 - I personally - Proper language for fake plactic tree people who have no personality.
4 - At this moment in time - Now. Jack Bauer never, EVER says, "At this moment in time," because lives depend on econommy of language. He either says, "Now," "Now, dammit," or "ChloedammitNOW!"
5 - With all due respect - I do not respect you nor do I believe you are due any respect.
6 - Absolutely - I want you to think I really, superduper really, mean something because my YES is not enough - and I have no self esteem.
7 - It's a nightmare - (Usually accompanied witt an overly dramatic eyeroll). It was bad, but I have limited vocabulary, and I want to try to get you to say "Oh my God,," or better yet, "OMG." (If the responder DOES give in with an OMG, then the manipulation was successful).
8 - Shouldn't of - I messed up and don't read much.
9 - 24/7 - 3 remainder 3
10 - It's not rocket science - Almost nothing is actually rocket science, so this phrase is not making anything more clear. Scientists who use scientific methods for inquiry about rockets are the only ones who are doing rocket science. Calling something not rocket science is like calling something not the Bayesian Information Criteria. Depite the truth to the claim, little, if anything , is ruled out when using this phrase in fforts to points toward what "it" is.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Sunset on Lake Street
Orange and purple sunset
On frozen Lake Street;
Paints warm the grey city way;
Dispersed sunrays of orange mist
Burst upwards, into purple clouds;
One quick spray of sky graffiti,
Before dusk;
Concrete and steal tinted gently;
a brief smile in the bundled and hunched;
Even breath-mist takes color -
In the frigid heart of Winter,
Something warm happened.
On frozen Lake Street;
Paints warm the grey city way;
Dispersed sunrays of orange mist
Burst upwards, into purple clouds;
One quick spray of sky graffiti,
Before dusk;
Concrete and steal tinted gently;
a brief smile in the bundled and hunched;
Even breath-mist takes color -
In the frigid heart of Winter,
Something warm happened.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Worlds are colliding...or maybe hugging
I have lived in many worlds across varying political, religious, regional, and academic spectrums. Granted, there are more worlds I have not lived in than there are worlds I have, but having lived in a few sometimes highly contrasted worlds has given me exposure to some differences and similarities between worlds.
For an example of differences, in one religious world being countercultural has meant being against gay marriage whereas in another religious world being countercultural has meant marshalling resources through art to fight against human trafficking. Those are very different perspectives on morality and mission.
For an example of similarities, each political group seems to believe that their perspective is common sense and that any honesty and thinking person would arrive at roughly the same political perspective.
Another example of similarities is that people within one world find it hard to have conversations with people in a world different than their own. Not only do they find it hard to have these conversations, they rarely place themselves into contexts in which such a conversation would be possible. It takes effort, courage, and self-confrontation to effectively place onself in a context to have such a conversation and to converse without quitting because a quick convert cannot be made.
I will add one important caveat here: the less social power a person has the more that person is required to live in other people's worlds and therefore just living requires navigating such conversations. It is not a choice people with less social power have, but rather a necessity for survival.
So, to come to my point: I think that Obama being president (on Jan 20th, 2009) is necessarily two worlds coming together. A Black man (who is really biracial) is governing a mostly white (roughly 75%) nation. The question for us all is whether this coming together will be a collision or a hug. Will we CRASH into each other or will we find a kind a respectful way to connect?
For an example of differences, in one religious world being countercultural has meant being against gay marriage whereas in another religious world being countercultural has meant marshalling resources through art to fight against human trafficking. Those are very different perspectives on morality and mission.
For an example of similarities, each political group seems to believe that their perspective is common sense and that any honesty and thinking person would arrive at roughly the same political perspective.
Another example of similarities is that people within one world find it hard to have conversations with people in a world different than their own. Not only do they find it hard to have these conversations, they rarely place themselves into contexts in which such a conversation would be possible. It takes effort, courage, and self-confrontation to effectively place onself in a context to have such a conversation and to converse without quitting because a quick convert cannot be made.
I will add one important caveat here: the less social power a person has the more that person is required to live in other people's worlds and therefore just living requires navigating such conversations. It is not a choice people with less social power have, but rather a necessity for survival.
So, to come to my point: I think that Obama being president (on Jan 20th, 2009) is necessarily two worlds coming together. A Black man (who is really biracial) is governing a mostly white (roughly 75%) nation. The question for us all is whether this coming together will be a collision or a hug. Will we CRASH into each other or will we find a kind a respectful way to connect?
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