I’m sick today.
Blarg…

I do not like being sick…
I guess it’s better that I’m sick now and not this weekend!

EDIT ADD: I did get the soundtrack! It’s great! I love the music for this movie… It’s charming…
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Happy Thanksgiving!

We saw Enchanted last night–it was totally hilarious. I highly recommend you take the family to see it. I loved it.

Mike says:

Not only that–but they used lots of actors and actresses that had previously voiced main characters in the classic Disney animated films (and when I say classic, I don’t mean “Cinerella”-classic, I mean “The Little Mermaid”-classic…just a quick distinction…). Ariel was a big part, and also the chicks that voiced Pocahontas and Belle were in the film. Disney is pretty great at throwing stuff in like that, and this film was no exception. It was just great to laugh at Disney laughing at themselves. I love it when people are big enough to make fun of themselves, because THAT, my friends, is funny…

All that to say–it was amazing…PROPS to Disney.
Go see Enchanted. Perfect holiday movie.

I might get the soundtrack…

My apologies for the length of time between entries…

Our church has been in a series about the book of Revelation for several weeks now and we are getting close to the end. I hear every single message twice each Sunday, because I sit in the auditorium through both of our morning services. Although my A.D.D. tendencies sometimes kick in and my mind wanders during the message, I probably understand or “get” the message more than anyone else–strictly due to my exposure to it.
However, something has been much different about this series. This study has been incredibly in-depth, and if there is one thing that I will walk away from this series understanding, it’s that there is SO MUCH about God that I don’t know. I mean, I grew up in church, took my 18 units of Bible courses at APU, studied God’s Word regularly for many years–but I was simply blown away by the amount of stuff about God that I just don’t know. And this…this is refreshing to me.

Our 8th Anniversary was last week, and our little Vegas trip was pretty awesome, although short. We stayed overnight at “The Venetian” hotel. We had planned on staying in one of their smaller rooms (which is still very elegant) but when we got there they upgraded us to the biggest suite in the hotel!! We’re talking 27th floor 1500 sq. ft. suite with two bathrooms, three TVs, a HUGE view and the most comfortable bed you could imagine. It was a pretty spectacular treat! I took pictures on my phone, and I’ll leave it up to Christy to tell you the rest of the story. Needless to say, since we don’t gamble or drink (and there’s not a whole lot more to do in Vegas) we mostly just ate delicious food and hung out in our humongous room! It’s also very fun to walk around the inside of the hotel, as they’ve modeled it after the streets of Venice–complete with Gondola rides.

I finished the book “Sex God” by Rob Bell. It’s a pretty easy read, and very worthwhile. It’s not necessarily about sex as much as it’s about the worth that each of us has as human beings. It’s about how God has formed us and made us, and how we look for connection with each other in the wrong way. It’s an excellent book, and applicable to you whether you’re young or old, married or single.

I heard a new Travis Cottrell worship musical last night based on Max Lucado’s book “3:16 The Numbers of Hope”. It’s pretty cool–but not necessarily an Easter thing. I’m going to use it to teach some new worship songs in the Spring. I love TC’s arranging. He has a gift, and I respect his musical instinct.

The Midway Praise Choir and Orchestra is in the final stages of polishing their Christmas rep. This show is going to be phenomenal! I am not bragging about anything that I’m doing–but I do want to brag about my peeps in the choir and orchestra that are working their butts off to put on an amazing show. They rock! I am really privileged to direct this group. You all should really come, I know you’ll be blessed. We have 4 concerts that you can attend:

-Dec 1 at Noon at Imperial Beach. (We are singing for “Christmas Comes to IB” right after Santa shows up…)

-Dec 8 at 4pm at the Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park

-Dec 16 at 6pm at Midway Baptist Church

We’re also doing an additional concert on Dec 9th at a Training Center in La Mesa. This is a place where inmates go right after being released from prison to learn some skills and go through a time of rehabilitation before entering “the real world” again. I’m not sure that this concert is open to the public.

I’ll be super busy writing for my final project in Film Scoring that is due after Thanksgiving, plus a couple of charts for YLFC. Blessings to you all–and Happy Thanksgiving!

The WGA strike has seriously put the Spring television schedule in jeopardy. 24 will not be aired unless they can show the entire season uninterrupted–only about half of the season is taped as of now. LOST is on hold,  Battlestar Gallactica is down for the count, and The Office hasn’t taped it’s previously written Christmas Episode. Bummer.

That said–and as much as a consumer I am bummed that this will directly affect me–I completely support the strike. I even signed the online petition. I advise you to go see Scotlas’ video of The Office writers (of which most are also the main characters) and the blog to get your RSS feed for the most up-to-date info on the strike.

I hope the studios come to their senses…

…soon.

EDIT ADD: I just read this interview with the creator of Heroes apologizing for how bad this season has been so far. This is very encouraging…and the future looks promising. Come back, good Heroes!

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AHHHH!
I just got another caramel macchiatto from my friends in the UG REG office…this makes 7 shots of espresso this morning!!!!
I can barely type!!!

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Today the Starbucks Barista gave me two free add shots in my drink for my birthday. I am WAY hopped up on caffeine right now…

EDIT ADD:
Thanks be to the Lord! It turns out that we know some wonderful loving people (that usually don’t wish to be recognized) that can give us a loan through an equity line of credit! Yipee!
Now please pray that the school district will call our lawyer back and ask to mediate so that we don’t have to go to trial. If we can skip the due process hearing, we can get the $25k refunded and only end up spending the original 5k on the lawyer. I think we’ll know in the next day or so whether or not we’ll go to trial…

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What a spectacular Sunday!

Al Clifft and the New Song Choir
from Cal Baptist came and did a concert at Midway last night. Al is a
very gifted director (to say the least), and his style and finesse with
an audience can hardly be topped. It was a very interactive experience,
which I think is something that continues to connect with–and speak
to–audiences of all generations. It was really awesome.

That
was only topped by an incredible choir and orchestra rehearsal. Some
rehearsals are very draining–others are very energizing. This one was
totally energizing! One of my all-time most fulfilling rehearsals. What
an incredible blessing it was! Thanks to all who are working so hard.

Then we got home and opened a letter from our lawyer.
It
turns out that since a court date is set for Noah that we have to pay
the remaining fees to the lawyer that MIGHT BE incurred from the trial
up front. Sooooooo…we have to pay our lawyer $25,500.00 by Saturday.

Yes. That’s what I said…

So
if anyone knows where that stork is that carries around Bags of money
in it’s beak–let me know. I’ll shoot him down and take the cash…or
maybe I’ll hunt down that stupid Lucky Charms guy and steal his pot of
gold.
Oh wait…does the stork bring babies? Not money? Huh…there goes that idea.

Please pray for us!!

Heroes had it’s lowest ratings to date this past week, and due to the writers strike has postponed it’s spinoff “Heroes: Origins” indefinitely. Yikes. You can read the whole article here.

Now–I haven’t given up on Heroes yet, but the show so far ISN’T getting any better. This is an unfortunate turn of events for a show that had America in it’s grip last year. “Save the cheerleader, save the network”
 some were even saying…however, this year–not so much. In fact, it’s just the opposite. Magazines are now publishing articles on what NBC should do to fix the show…which is never a good sign. Although, at least it shows they care…for now…

Fall Fest was a lot of fun! Christy will post pictures of the kids later…she still has to finish a couple of papers for school by Friday. Then she’ll be done until February…yay!