• Archive of "family" Category

    5 Days, 4 States, and All Kinds of Goodness

    February 18, 2009 // 3 Comments »

    Time to come clean. I can hide no longer. The Amy G. I have mentioned and interviewed, well… we’re actually a couple. I know, never saw it coming did ya?! That being said…

    This was a whirlwind of a Valentine’s Day weekend for us. Though Amy has traveled all over the world & lived in both Los Angeles and Chicago, she had never been to NYC. My brother and his girlfriend live there, so for Christmas, I got Amy 2 tickets to the city. But, as has been the case with all our other times being together, we sought to pack as much in as we possible could.

    Our journey began in Indianapolis where I got to meet some of her close college friends as well as a bunch of people she used to work with at Global Partners. Then, we traveled to NYC where we were able to spend time not only with my brother and his girlfriend, but 2 of my good friends who were in from OH and DC.

    We took the Staten Island Ferry to view the Statue of Liberty.

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    Saw ground zero.

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    The flat iron building.

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    And went to the top of the Empire State building – an unforgettable experience!

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    We also got to see Grand Central Station and Time Square.

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    For Valentines Day dinner, my brother managed to get reservations at a swanky Tapas bar that (though sadly small in size) offered some amazing tasting cuisine.

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    Quite serendipitously, we got to spend time with a good friend of mine and a good friend of Amy’s, both of whom happen to be part of the same church community that we were visiting on Sunday morning – and got to have lunch at the Seinfeld restaurant!

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    On Sunday, we traveled down to Princeton together. We got to see and stay with 2 of Amy’s good college friends, Dave and Holly and their 2 little girls. Dave is working on a PhD at Princeton and they were good enough to take us by “Schuller Field,” recently named for a good friend of mine who passed away a few years ago after finishing the first year of his MDiv there. Here’s a few pictures of small plaques fixed to two benches at the field.

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    The next day we got to take a nice stroll through Central Park, followed by visits to the coolest looking Mac store around and FAO Schwarz (remember the piano scene from Big?) where Amy got to choose any stuffed animal she wanted for her Valentine’s Day present.

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    Monday afternoon we traveled back to Chicago where we got to spend the evening with our friends Noel and Ashley in Lawndale.  Tuesday morning it was back to Memphis for me.  Told you we packed alot in!  Some more pictures here if you’re interested.

    Posted in Amy, family, friends, travles

    Some Me Stuff

    February 4, 2009 // 8 Comments »

    It’s been a while since I did some sort of a, “here’s what’s going on with me” sort of post.  Well, the wait is over.

    Where to begin?  Remember my interview with famed, “Amy G.”?  Let’s start there.

    That was right before Christmas, and then for Christmas, my mom and brother came to town.  None of us really have any money right now (a gloriously freeing reality) so our Christmas morning was spent opening up tons of random stuff that I had picked up at the dollar store for everyone.  I’m not sure I can even remember a Christmas morning that was so full of laughter and enjoyment.

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    That’s right, I’m wearing shorts for Christmas!

    The day after Christmas we all had to go our separate ways.  Mom, back to OH, Alex, back to NY, and me, off to Kenya.

    A few days after I got back, as part of the contract we had negotiated for the interview, Amy G. came down for a follow up interview.  This one lasted for a few days and was filled with plenty of serious conversations.sideways-amy-and-jr amy-and-jr-being-silly

    This is from when I asked some questions on sensitive subjects and she tried to choke me.

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    The highlight of the middle of the month was offered by way of my friend Jimmy and his floor seats to the Memphis Tigers basketball game at the FedEx Forum.  We sat down a ways from Penny Hardaway!

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    I love living in midtown and have been anxious to find a way to get more involved in the community.  That desire has finally taken shape in being able to help teach ESL (English as a Second Language) classes to a group of beautiful adult refugees on Monday evenings through the Refugee Empowerment Program of Memphis Leadership Foundation.

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    The capstone event of January was a trip to Chicago where I serendipitously ran into Amy G. who invited me to go see her family in Davenport, IA and do some bald eagle watching off of the north Mississippi River.

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    Not bad for the first month of the new year.  Can’t wait to see what February has in store.

    Posted in Amy, family, memphis

    Elfed

    December 24, 2008 // No Comments »

    My dad has too much time on his hands.  If you’re Christmas wasn’t already Merry enough, here’s me, my two brothers, my sister, and my dad’s dog to throw it into hyperdrive.

    Posted in family, funny, video

    My 4th

    July 9, 2008 // No Comments »

    I spent the 4th of July with friends and family back in Ohio and on Pelee Island on the Canadian side of Lake Erie.

    I left Memphis Wednesday night, was supposed to switch planes in Detroit and then get into Akron/Canton.  Unlike my brother, for whom traveling is almost always filled with surprises of the negative sort, things often work out in my favor when I travel and this was no exception.  Instead of landing in Detroit, adverse weather forced us to land in Columbus where I was able to get off the plane affording me the opportunity to see my friends Ryan and Heather (6ish months pregnant with twins).

    Then, my friend Pam drove me 1/2 way up to Canton while my friends Jay and Clay drove 1/2 way down to pick me up.

    I spent Thursday in Canton trying to soak up as much time with my community of friends and former students as I possibly could.

    Babs and I had breakfast at John’s Bar and Grille where we happened to see a former professor of mine, John Geib.  Then, we went over to hang out with Caris and JJ – 2 of my favorite kids in the world.

    Josh came down to visit me at Muggswigz that afternoon, then Lauren joined us.  The thee of us went to visit Lauren’s sister Olivia at work where I received my typical huge-and-excited Olivia hug – always a treat!

    A number of us went out for dinner together and then caught Hancock later in the evening.

    I was off early in the morning to catch a plane over to Pelee Island where I spent some time my my grandma, mom, brother Alex and his girlfriend Michelle, my cousin Beth and her husband Kale, and my long-time high school bud, Kenny.  Of course there were all kinds of other cottager friends who were there for the weekend – which was filled with plenty of boating, jet skiing, cards, bonfires, fireworks, and other goodness.

    Ken and I tackled the 2 mile hike out to Fish Point, the southern most part of the island and a feat I have been wanting to accomplish for as long as I can remember.

    All in all, a great way to spend a weekend.

    Posted in family, friends, travles

    Sometimes When You Win You Really Lose (but you might still win kinda)

    June 17, 2008 // 14 Comments »

    I was in California this past weekend.  I was most excited to see my family and friends as well as to remind myself of just how awesome LA is.  However, I was also set to appear in court to handle an outstanding matter.

    I first left Pasadena in the summer of 2006.  I left a car in the hands of my house church and asked them to find someone down on their luck who could use it.  They did, and I was thrilled.  Until about a year later when it came to my attention that I was receiving parking tickets on the donated car.  I spoke with the person who assured me that they would rectify the situation immediately.  This past February I flew out to California and was mortified to find out that the recipient of this car had not in fact rectified the situation and had amassed nearly $5,000 worth of parking tickets in my name.  Again, I spoke with this individual – this time in person – and again they promised me that they would do what was necessary to make things right.  A few months went by – still nothing.  So, I was forced to file a small claims court case, which was scheduled for yesterday in Pasadena.

    As I guessed, although this person was served with court papers, they did not show up for the court date.  I explained the situation to the judge and he found in my favor.  Translation, “Yes, she owes you the money for the tickets.  Have fun collecting!”

    I have not paid for these tickets yet and I am going to try a few other avenues, but the matter remains largely unresolved.

    This is not unlike when I came home to Ohio to discover that renters had done $15,000 worth of damage to my home.  There was a judgment in my favor there as well, but I haven’t (and don’t presume I ever will) see a cent.

    In all honesty, I am not complaining, just sharing.  I am not really sure exactly what to feel.  It would be easy to play the victim, I mean in reality I suppose I am, but I’d rather not settle for that.  I am trying my best to push through the frustration and financial hardship and ask myself, “What evil must have been done to a person to bring them to a point where they act like this?”  Certainly we all bear responsibility for our actions, but I do not count myself among those who feel people simply act evil impulsively.  I think we act out evil because some sort of evil has been done to us.

    So, while not merely excusing the actions of these folks, I am really trying to sympathize with their situation and ask for justice – not just for me, but for them.

    Oh yeah, I had my car in the shop while I was away to the tune of $500 in repairs for stuff and then I wrecked it this afternoon when I decided to drive through a ditch and into a fence rather than up the rear end of the lady who slammed on her brakes at the last minute to make a left turn she didn’t signal for.  Evil abounds!  (Yes, I’m fine)

    ** I almost hesitate to use the word “evil” to describe this sort of stuff – there are far worse travesties and situations in the world that are far more deserving of the title, but hopefully you get my drift.

    Posted in family, friends, justice

    A Mother’s Day Tribute

    May 11, 2008 // 3 Comments »

    I have no poems or whimsical prose – just a simple of message of, “My mom is incredible!“

    While it wouldn’t be quite fair to slight the other influences we had in our lives, the fact of the matter is, my mom pretty much raised my brother Alex and I single-handedly. Working full-time to make ends meet and doing all she could to make sure we had everything we needed and then some, my mom certainly had her hands full. Nothing has ever come all that easy for my mom, but she has rarely complained and certainly has never taken anything for granted. For as long as I can remember, my mom has always been full of laughter, never shied away from discipline when it was necessary, and has showered my brother and I with love and affection. It’s painful to not have the opportunity to be with her to celebrate Mothers Day with her as she is with her mom – another amazing quality about her, care and devotion. I am struck by just how Christ-like her life has been – sacrificing much so that those she loves could know a life made possible by that sacrifice.

    I love you mom. So much of who I am and what I have I owe to you. You’re a great treasure to me.

    Posted in family

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