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It’s been a long week (even if it’s not over.) First, I’d like to announce that I now play drums apparently. My position within the worship team at our church has changed a lot over the years. Bass to electric guitar back to bass, etc. When we lost our drummer, I eventually started playing the congas. I’m fairly decent with them, I think. Over the last year or so, I’ve stolen the crash cymbal from our cobweb-ridden drum set and incorporated that into the set. I’ve been using some multi-rod brush sticks and some inventive hand slaps for the cymbals and even used the sticks on the congas occasionally. For a while, I’ve been joking about dismantling the drum set and bringing the bass drum over so I can kick that too. Anyways, on Sunday morning at about 9:50, we were getting practice started. (Service begins at 10:30)I was joking around about moving the bass drum over and, with a little encouragement, decided to give the drums a shot as a whole. I’d tried before, but getting all four limbs to move together never really panned out. This time, however, it went off without much of a hitch really. We ran through the set fairly quickly. I was worried I would freeze or screw up during the service, but that went just fine also. It’s a little more tricky, though. I have to watch the worship leader rather carefully to see where they’re going with the song. On the congas, if I think we’re building up but realize they aren’t quite going there yet, I can back off subtly. Once you start building up on the big drums, you’ve pretty much committed to follow through. So, I guess I’m a drummer now. Luckily, I haven’t noticed any real drop in IQ. Quote of the day: Person 1: “That was great. When did he start playing drums?” My Wife: “About 45 minutes ago.”

On to the lousies. (You know that’s what you come here for.) Lost my keys this week. That sucks. House key, car keys, boopers to both vehicles, keys to the boss’s shop, etc. Gone. Probably buried in dirt at a new home construction or laying in a gutter some where. :\ I finally got my letter from Bellevue Police Department. I’ll save you the text in its entirety. The only important part read, “Unfortunately, your candidacy for one of these positions is no longer being considered.” I’m in the usual maelstrom of emotions on this one. Part of me is mad and depressed, but another part is relieved and thankful. I’m feeling very Jobish. It sucks that I didn’t get in. However, “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” I’ve been very dangerous in my prayers, at least physically. Throughout this process, after I received the invitation from Bellevue, I’ve prayed, “If this is Your will for my life, let it come to pass; however, if it is not within Your plans, let it fall away.” Sometimes I hate it when He answers prayers like that. Still, I am relieved and refreshed to know that He is still guiding my path. That is not to say my cup is running over in the faith department. As I stood there, holding the unopened letter in my shaking hands, I heard in my head, “Why are you so afraid of what I have placed before you?” I mistakenly took that for a good sign and tore into the letter. Since I read the decision, I’ve been thinking about the question that was posed to me Tuesday afternoon. The only answer I have is “because I have no idea what it is and that scares the crap out of me.”

I still have no idea where this road is taking me, or where the destination is, but still I find comfort in knowing that, for perhaps the first time in my life, someone who knows what they’re doing is charting the course.

In a week and or two. I contacted Bellevue PD on Thursday to find out how they were going with the search, and what kind of time frame they were looking at for hiring. Turns out they were making final decisions yesterday. Letters will be mailed out, starting tomorrow, letting candidates know if they are invited for an interview or if their applications are being tabled. It goes without saying, I’m really hoping my letter contains an interview date. As far as I know, none of my references have been contacted, which I’ve found to be a cause to worry. I can only hope they wait to do the background checks until after interviews.

I have to admit, I’m really nervous. “What if” has been plaguing me the last two weeks. If this doesn’t pan out on this try, I don’t have a lot of back-up plan in my pocket. I love what I’m doing now, but I don’t think it’s fiscally viable in the long term. I’m so sure that this is what God has for me. If my letter doesn’t have awesomeness in it, what does that mean? Does it mean I just completely read the situation wrong? Does it simply mean (even more) waiting? Will my faith be enough for such a let down? I can only hope it will be.

Really, everything would be much easier if it had good news. Then I get to start stressing about the interview, etc. The background check shouldn’t be a problem. I’ve been a good boy, and anyone they talk to should be able to back that up fairly easily. I don’t have any embarrassing or horrible stuff on the Internet that should cause anyone any concern. My Myspace page doesn’t tell anyone anything other than that I love awesome music. Oh well, that’s a bridge we’ll have to cross when we come to it.

I’ve added a last.fm plugin that shows what music I am/have been listening to. None of you care, but I think it’s nifty. So, there. Deal with it.

If you ever happen to see the Jonas Brothers listed, it’s just a mistake. Pay no attention to it. I don’t have any Jonas Brothers albums downloaded. I don’t even know who the Jonas Brothers are.

This past election has been an enlightening experience. When Barack Obama was chosen as the democratic nominee, it was a monumental occasion. Even though I’m against the vast majority of his positions and policies, it was a meaningful event. I listened to both what he and McCain said with an open mind before forming any opinions (even though my vote was for neither). I was wary, though, of the ways others would react. My fears were soon proven to be correct. Black people, I have to be honest. I am disappointed. I really had hopes that you would be able to put the black/white issue in the pocket and vote on the issues. I prayed that African Americans wouldn’t vote for Obama just because he was black. Now, of course I’m not saying that every black person that voted for Obama did so just because he is black. That would be preposterous. What I am saying, however, is that far too many did.

Now, before you go and claim I’m making racist presuppositions, I’ll allow individuals to speak for themselves.

“God has vindicated the black folk….Too long we’ve been at the bottom of the totem pole, but he has vindicated us, hallelujah,” she cried. “I don’t know about you, but I don’t have nothing to put my head down for, praise God. Because when I look toward Washington, D.C., we got a new family coming in. We got a new family coming in. And you know what? They look like us. Amen, amen. They look like us.”

Do you see anything in there proclaiming how excited she is about his proposed policy initiatives? Health care? Taxes? Foreign policy? The fact that she, as a pastor, voted for a pro-abortion candidate? Why did she vote for him? I can’t say with any comfortable level of certainty that her specific vote was based on race; however, her words (at least the little we get from the article) make that case. You won’t find anyone else in that entire article (nor any other I’ve read in recent days) excited over his qualifications or plans for office.

Is it great that we’ve come to a point in our history that a black man can become a freely elected president? Absolutely! However, let’s not pat ourselves on the backs for our advances just yet. We just witnessed a president get elected for two reasons: 1.) He’s not George Bush. (Thanks, George!) 2. He’s a black man. (further reinforcing point 1.)

I hope I have made it clear that I am not upset that we will soon have a black president. Far from it. Heck, if Alan Keyes would have made it on the republican ticket in 2000, I’d have voted for him in a heartbeat, even if he is a little bit of a nutjob. Rather, I am upset that this act has been cheapened in an ultimate act of irony: that he was elected “by the color of his skin, not by the content of his character.”*

In the end, history will tell us if this was a wise collective decision. I don’t have high hopes, however.

I’ll go out on a limb with my 2012 republican ticket request. Paul/Keyes. Go get ’em, boys!

*Emphasis, changes of pronouns, and addition of the word “not” – me

Sorry to be such a downer. =(

Yep, that’s us. While I’ve been able to work, the wage simply isn’t livable. I don’t know how much longer we can make this work. I can’t really get a second job because the hours for this one are unpredictable.

Work itself is still going okay, I guess. A lot of it, so far at least, is assisting and grunt work. When I do get actual tasks, I typically don’t get it right the first time or have to stop and ask questions. That part really isn’t easy for me. I’ve always been good at whatever I’ve done. Ask me where anything is in the Office Max in Colorado Springs. I can probably still tell you to within 3′ where everything in that store was when I worked there a decade ago. I can lay the smack-down a decent computer-networking issues. Heck, if you sat me down to retake my Series 7 Exam, I could probably pass or come darn close with no studying, and despite not being on the front lines for over a year. (If that doesn’t sound impressive, you’ve never taken that test.) I’ve just always adapted easily, and typically risen through the ranks to be one of the leaders, no matter where I am. So, it’s incredibly frustrating to be starting from scratch in a whole new world, where I know nothing and am lousy at everything. I’m learning some stuff, but still feel like I mess up a lot.

Here’s hoping Bellevue PD calls soon. If they don’t, I’m not sure what we’ll do. God help us. (He will.)

Please know I have not forgotten about you, even though you have likely forgotten about me. Guess you’re not that faithful after all. :\nbsp; I’ve been meaning to update this multiple times, but keep getting discouraged from doing so. Just yesterday, I had a nice giant rant about Alanis Morrisette and her nonsensical lyrics; however, I discovered other people had already covered this ground, and with greater quality. I’ve got some ideas brewing. I want my return to be glorious, however. Until then, I shall leave you with this to ponder… Is a hippopotomus a hippopotomus or just a really cool opotomus? br /