Another year has gone by.  How many of us remember where we were that morning, what we were doing?  I remembr watching the black smoke coming from the towers.  I can still remember my reaction, what I was thinking.  I remember calling my friend, and I can remember my exact words.  Never forget.

During our Men’s Book Club meeting, I mentioned that it would be good to make a list of things that, we as men think, we are good at or deem useful doing and of things we wish we could do. One brother, Josh, decided to take on that challenge; in doing so, he has spurred me on to do the same. So here is my list. There is no particular order to the items.

Things I Can Do

1. Cooking- Plain and simple, if you have tried my cooking you know what I mean. If you haven’t had my cooking, well then you will have to ask someone who has.


2. Baking- Yes, there is a distinction. In cooking, there is a certain amount that you can improvise. Baking on the other hand is an exact science; one mistake and the whole thing is ruined.


3. Shooting/firearms- I am an expert marksman. I know how to dismantle and reassemble most small arms and I am proficient in the use of numerous firearms. I also know how use a bow and arrow and a crossbow. I can use these tools to hunt and gather meat.


4. Hand-to-hand Combat- I know martial arts. I can defend others and myself with my bare hands if the need arises.


5. Public Speaking- I just love the sound of my own voice. Some may find it grating, but I just enjoy talking when I have a captive audience (by captive I mean they have no choice but to listen, haha).

Things I Wish I Could Do

1. Play guitar- Yeah, I have very poor coordination in my fingers. How I managed to play clarinet and saxophone, I don’t know.


2. Sing- have you heard me sing? I cannot carry a tune, let alone get the right pitch. How I lasted through band and orchestra is a miracle.


3. Athletic ability- I wouldn’t say I have no athletic ability. I just wish I was more coordinated and graceful in my movements.

Well, there you have it. It’s not much of a list; I could add more, but I just can’t think of anything else useful that I can and cannot do.

What a fun day today was.  I went out to the lake with some folks from church.  We had a barbecue and rode a wave runner.  It had been a long time since I was on one of those.  The last time I rode one of those I was off the coast of California.  I felt really good to push the throttle all the way to the stop.  I think I hit about 55, but of course I told my passengers we were only going 45.  I didn't want to scare them, but I think they would have been more thrilled to know that they we were going that fast.  That was probably the highlight of the day.  (And not because my passengers were female; it was the going fast and going airborne a few times that was the highlight.)

After that fun time.  I went to my fantasy football draft and yet another barbecue.  Also another fun time.  I think this should be a good year. 

This weather is killing me.  Just walking to class from my car gets me drenched in sweat.

Well the school year has officially started for me.  It's going to be fun.  13 units, not too little, but not too much.  Here's what I am taking:

Elementry Chinese with a lab component- 4 units

Constitutional Law- 3 units

Leadership Study- 3 units

Intro to Emergency Management- 3 units

I may have to become a hermit for the next four months due to the ammount of reading and writting I have to do.  But, we'll see.

I miss Northern California weather.  (Not to to mention other things I miss.)

35 more hours before school starts.

It feels good to be back in the booth.

I'm back in TX now.  So many things to do before school starts.

In case some of you haven't noticed.  And I'm guessing it is the majority of you,  I'm still in California.  But do not fear I will be back in Dallas to man my stattion in the back soon enough.

Okay, so my posts have been a little behind.  I'm in California right now.  I came here for a consult at Stanford Medical Center.  They have a device here called a Cyberknife.  It is really cool.  I originally came out for just the consult, however it turns out that I can get treated next week.  So, I mad some tweeks with my schedule and now I am going to get zapped next week.  I don't have an exact time yet since tey still have to plan out my treatment and the doctor needs to sign off on it.

I don't have much else to add.  Just keep me in your prayers, and also keep the missions team in your prayers as well.

One last thought, the nurses at Stanford are really good looking, I mean really good looking.