Category Archives: Uncategorized

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What??? They’re coming home???

Mercy me, the house is a mess. I have been removing carpet, padding, staples, and doing laundry. What I haven’t been able to do is to get it all done, so things are a bit of a mess. I did however, get all the carpet done. Amanda and Ben will be returning from Lindenwood this evening.

I’d like to think that this was merely a mis-calculation of the total amount of work and not an “age of the worker” thing, so we will just go with that….okay? Regardless, the good part is that my working to get this done saved a lot of money…..something I will be saying again and again as she and I talk about all that laundry on the couch. (It’s clean because I washed it! I just didn’t fold it…..I’m a guy)
So I suppose I will just wave the white flag, because I am really just too tired to do much else. At least I will live to be an indentured servant another day!
Good night my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Tom the Builder….yes I can!

I thought about writing a particularly serious entry this evening, because something happened to me a while ago, and I have been meaning to address it. BUT, I have been working feverishly on our house today, and I just do not have it in me. And, I am currently VERY BEHIND on where I thought I would be.

So I am on the porch once again with our “free” alarm system, who is fast asleep on the porch floor. I don’t blame him, after all he has a pretty tough life…..sleeping all day and riding in the car and all. Who wouldn’t be exhausted after all that? I do imagine that he will find it in him to get up and eat just as soon as I fill up his food bowl……even though he had a McDonald’s cheeseburger when I stopped to get myself a Diet Coke.
So tonight my blog lacks purpose and direction, a lot like my ministry I am told, but I really never listen (yes, that is a joke….at least the latter part). I am just pleased to be home and am within just a couple of hours of having all the tack strips pulled up from the old carpet. As I understand it, the new carpet will be in town at least on the 18th. We hope to see it installed next week.
My next big job will be to paint the baseboards tomorrow and possibly replace that door jam on the back door. The house really doesn’t need too much, and that is a good thing. The next major job will be to remove the kitchen counters and sink the day before the new ones are installed. My ability to do these things is saving us a ton of money, and since it is money we do not currently have, this is a good thing.
So I guess I will go make my hands bleed some more….I mean pull up some more tack strips. The good news is that I am on my 8th day off blood thinners in preparation for a procedure on Monday, so a nick will not make me lose most of my weight. And without the blood stains, those baseboards should be a total breeze to paint!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+
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A peace of carpet, a glass of whine, and thou……

Well it’s just Viper and I, and the cat I suppose, here at home alone tonight. Amanda has abandoned me for a weekend at Lindenwood to see Steph, and I am left with pulling up carpet in preparation for its replacement early next week. We are putting our house up for sale, and are carpeting the upstairs and stairwell, as well as having new counter tops installed. If you know of anyone looking for a house with an awesome back porch, please let them know that I will throw in the cat.

But for now I am out here and just enjoying the peace and quiet. It is perfect…..52 degrees, and yes, I have the ceiling fan on. I am a BIG FAN of the cool weather, and I not only love it, but to type this blog I sit under a BIG FAN…..I do hope the irony is not lost on you dear reader!
But tonight really represents more than just some peace and quiet….something BIG happened tonight as well. You see, I was originally not coming home until tomorrow, but with a game tonight I made arrangements for my rookie Assistant Coach, Jack Russell (yeah, I know…..just like Russell Crowe) to coach the game. He is a talented soul, and just thought I would stay away tonight and give him a shot.
WELL……he not only coached the Lady Millers to victory by TWO…….but he did it without a GOALIE. He is AWESOME. I think I will ask him for a job at practice!
So it has been and is a great day. I have one more room to pull up, and then the stairs. It may all wait until tomorrow. I am enjoying this peace and quiet just too much to let it go!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Missing the dark ages……

One of the disadvantages of being away at a meeting in a facility where email and electronic communication is limited is that all that you have been missing is waiting for you when you return to electronic civilization. I will be working to catch up with that all weekend.

Of course in the “good ole” days, a trip such as mine wouldn’t have been such a big deal. There would be some letters in my mailbox (it’s that metal thing out on the street) and I might have a few calls to return. But all of it would be quite doable and doable quickly.
Now we have conversations that take place via email and the ways we connect are electronic and instantaneous. As a matter of fact, as I was standing on the edge of the beautiful lake at Ferncliff trying to get a better signal I even wondered if I needed to get myself one of those satellite phones to make sure I could always be in contact.
WHAT is the matter with me????? Do I really need to be that connected? And what is the matter with us that it is so important to make sure each breath is connected, or better yet posted, for someone to read?
In truth, what we call convenience causes me a lot more stress than if I hadn’t had it at all. And although I certainly enjoy the concept of being connected, I enjoy my sanity too….or at least I used to. So maybe the key is to find a balance. I think I will work on that. But for now I just can’t……I have about 100 more emails to go through.
Let me know if you know which movie the picture is from….it’s one of my favorites.
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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The return of the referee….

I am once again in the north, although I am not yet home. I am in a hotel in Effingham, Illinois where I am hopefully going to bed soon. The great part is that I will be home tomorrow and perhaps can pick Ben up to go goof off a little after lunch.

I spoke to Ben tonight who was in trouble. He was crying uncontrollably, and all I really could get out of him was that he was upset that his mommy was mad at him. Later Amanda told me that he had cried for the last hour because she would not buy him an Ironman toy, but he’s just 3, and I am sure that just could not be the case. Stopping for the night disappoints me, but I suppose it keeps me in a better position to mediate that conflict tomorrow. But let’s face it…..women just do not understand the male need for action figures as kids and it just gets worse for them in understanding us as adults. Clearly they need help!
But for now I am in a nice room (the last they had) and I have the air down COLD (the last night I have for that too) and I am pretty relaxed. I am just 170 miles from home, but have already traveled 450 today, and I am ready to be home, but for now more ready for bed. I need my beauty rest for my return tomorrow. If Amanda and Ben are still fighting, at least the dog will be happy to see me!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Getting by with a little help from my friends…….

This will be my last night at Ferncliff, at least for another 6 months. And, I want to thank Dempsey, the camp dog for visiting me again and for his help in writing this blog. He got right up on the table next to where I was typing this for the picture. He wanted to type, but it has rained here and his paws were muddy! It has been a beautiful setting, and although I will hate to leave it tomorrow, it will be good to get home. It is approximately 610 miles from my house, and since I will be leaving Little Rock at about 4 (5 my time) it is doubtful I will make it home until Friday.

But on the upside, I will at least be heading there. It’s not that I do not think being here is fruitful, because it has been, but I do miss my family. Life is often a matter of balance, and lately it has been heavy on the work and travel side for Amanda and I both. And it may surprise you to hear this, but I really do miss being wrong! But it is not as easy as it appears for me….. I will arrive on Friday, she will not be there anyway, so I will need to get used to being right a few more days I guess. I will await Sunday night with baited breath!
But for now I am on a break, awaiting dinner and then a service this evening. Tomorrow will be less conversational and more informational. I just hope to feel like driving!
So goodnight and God Bless from beautiful Ferncliff…..I hope you have had a blessed day!
Tommy+
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Posting on a wing and a prayer……

Yes, I am still in Little Rock, and I still am struggling to get a good signal and be able to post this blog. I am worried that even this one may not go through. So no pictures and it will be short.

Today has been a blessing and an eventful day. This gathering is one of the 20+ people who also serve as Network Leaders in the Anglican Mission and they are truly some of the most amazing people I have ever worked with. It is like being in the midst of this wealth of knowledge and it is just awesome to take in.
Today is also my brother Mike’s birthday. It is his 21st too, so he will probably have his first taste of alcohol today, especially since he has spent all his college career living in the fraternity. And as a former student at Butler myself, and of course as a fraternity guy, I can assure those pre-21 college years are all about the studying. Regardless of this weak attempt to make my dad believe this…..happy birthday Mike!
Okay, off to save and then hit post. It is going to take a big prayer to make it!
Goodnight from the home of the Razorbacks…..and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Ferncliff…….once more……

Yep, I am finally in Arkansas for my meeting and Ferncliff is beautiful! I will look up when I was here last, but I did post on it…..I believe about 6 months ago. I even wrote about the camp dog, who I hope to once again see on this trip. He was just a little guy then.

But the day has been eventful to say the least. I realized very quickly that my brain is still “math-damaged” and that Lindenwood where Stephanie goes to college is no where near half way to Ferncliff. I had an 8 hour drive! It was uneventful, but it was just too much! I had a couple of hours tonight to gather with the other Network Leaders and AM Leadership, but I honestly was not at my best.
And to make it all even worse, I had to run across the lake to post this because the Internet does not reach my side of the lake. Tomorrow I will post in the day, and I will even have a picture. There is nothing to take a picture of tonight….just darkness.
AND….while I have been gone (just 2 days) Ben has decided to become completely potty-trained. (He was just not yet peeing all the time in the right place but does now) What stinks about all this is that I had bought him most of that superhero underwear and now I will not see him in it or get to high five with him for a week. But, I am thankful he is now there!
So it is off to bed for me! Goodnight and God Bless from peaceful Arkansas……somewhere around the equator I am sure, and I know because I am certain I drove that far!
Tommy+
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At college…….

Oh yes, I am a college parent, and had I been a bit more savvy about it there would have been a picture of Stephanie and I at dinner or something. This one from when I was in college will have to do. (yep, that was in my era)

Of course the time change highlights our age difference more than it would had she stayed home for school. I was back to the hotel at 8:30 MY TIME, which is just 7:30 for her. It availed her the opportunity to go out to a party with her friends and gave me the opportunity to recover, I mean rest up. Fortunately for me I have plenty to do, including update her laptop here at the hotel. We will meet in the morning for breakfast and some shopping and end our time together with lunch before I head off to Arkansas for my meeting.
I have to say, it is really great to see her. She loves it here, and although she is pretty low on the lacrosse depth chart here after being on the pinnacle for the last three years in Indiana, her resolve is no less than it has ever been. She has already plotted out her entire Thanksgiving break. It seems it will be all lacrosse on her equipment there. I do hope she takes some time to have some turkey and visit with us though.
So for now I will just wait for Amanda, Scott, and Ben to call. I am always the 5th wheel in the family. But at least I can have the room as cold as I like, and I can even fall asleep watching TV. (The TV doesn’t work in the garage where Amanda makes me sleep). I will finish this an plan out my day and drive for tomorrow.
I hope your day has been as much a blessing as mine.
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Danger! Danger! Beware lacrosse teams, Missouri, and Arkansas!

Danger, danger!! Yep, I just LOVE our lacrosse team. After losing a real solid group of girls our team has really stepped up. Where last year we a great team with a few big stars, this year we seem to have a great team with our own galaxy!

Tonight we played Cathedral, and although we lost, it was not by much. Our defense was solid, our skills were certainly B+ material, and the best part was that our scoring was spread out all over. This is BIG, because when the season starts in February (right now we are just playing indoor as a warm-up/development) having teams not know who will put the ball in the net is a big thing! I have been more excited about this than any other year I have coached.
And of course now I will miss the next game and put it into the hands of one of my Assistant Coaches……Jack Russell. I will be leaving tomorrow for a week long, mostly work, trip to Little Rock, Arkansas. I say “mostly work” because my first stop will be in St. Charles, Missouri to take Stephanie out to dinner. Yep, I am driving just so I can do that too! But if it is like the last time I will get to take her to dinner, buy her a few things, and then sit in my hotel why she does the college Saturday night thing. I do not mind though, because ultimately it is not about me…..and I am old and will be fine in the hotel.
So it is off to bed for me! Scotty will be taking his SAT tomorrow while I am driving so I can visit him next year like his sister. These kids will do anything for a dinner with their dad!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+