Gender specific computers?

If you read this blog you read Annie's so I don't have to explain who Camden is to you guys. (Just in case he's the little guy Annie watches on Mondays and Tuesdays.) Well, he left his computer here, and tonight Hannah and I played with it and her Barbie 'puter. Can I tell you these things couldn't be any different if they tried.
-Hers: It's pink and light blue with gold stenciling, thin and elegant with picture of Barbie and some animals on the top.
-His: While it's blue, it's dark blue and yellow. It's got the words Bob the Builder in big bulkie letters. It's big and bulkie and looks like it would survive a nuclear blast.
-Hers: There is a small button under a little jewel that opens it up.
-His: The button on top. It's bright red, and completly obvious.
Her: There are about a billion buttons that all do various things. You may have to have a masters in computer science to unlock its maximum capabilites. The numbers aren't even really legible. If you didn't know they were there, you would miss them.
His: The buttons are huge, and look like they are meant to be hit with a hammer. They are simple. There are pictures and numbers on each button that are easy to read.
Hers: The On/Off switch is the same button it's small and in the bottom right hand corner. If you don't know where it is you'll have trouble finding it.
His: There is no On/Off button. There is an On button. And there is an Off button. They are distinctly different and mutually exclusive. They are clearly marked and easily defined.

Am I the only one that sees the irony in this?
Women are elegant, and beautiful and (for the most part) fragile. Men are Big and bulkie and as they say on Seinfeld "Good for gettin around, like a Jeep." Women have about a billion "buttons" that aren't easy to find and don't always work the same way. Men's "buttons" are much easier to "find" and almost always work. Speaking of "buttons"...Sometimes what turns a woman on will also turn her off (Just like Hannah's Computer!). It just depends on the situation. The lighting. The timing. Needless to say conditions have to be perfect. What turns a man on is what turns a man on (Just like Camden's). It almost always works.

Maybe it's different for you, but I know for me these two innocent children's toys hit a little too close to home, if you know what I mean.

Playing Play dough....

Hannah loves to play with playdough. What 2 year old doesn't. Originally, the only thing I could make with this magical clay was a snake. (Though I have branched out and can now make a snow man). Well, tonight we busted out the dough, and Hannah in her sweetest voice said: "Makt a sssnakte." (somehow she runs her hard 'c' sounds into a 't' sound.) We had a blast! We made a Daddy snake (of course) a slightly smaller "mommy" snake, a baby snake, a nanna snake, and even a "Tamden", or Camden snake. (Not gonna lie, my heart sank a little when she wanted to make this one. If you are a dad with a daughter, you know exactly why. YOu see Camden is the little boy Annie keeps a couple days a week.)
As we were playing and laughing, and hissing at each other it hit me....In the not too distant future just making a clay snake won't do it. Now, things are simple. I can take her & mommy to see the Veggie Tales movie, and then to Chilis and everything is great! This morning she actually said "Sorry daddy" and gave me a hug after she had thrown what can only be described as a "fit". She was genuinly sorry. My heart melted. You see Annie gets to spend all day with her. There are several times when I would say in amazement: "Hey, Hannah just did so & so (some new discovery). Annie would reply: "Yeah she's been doing that all week." I would simply laugh, and say: "Well, it's news to me!"
I know there will be a time when the sweet, loving "Daddy"'s become annoyed, or embarrased "DAAD!" And, honestly, apart of me looks forward to being a little embarrasing, but for now, I'll just have to be content "Maktin a snakt."

GOOOOD MORNING BLOGLAND!

(That was supposed to read like Robin Williams' GOOOOOOD MORNING VIETNAM so, if it didn't read that way when you read it, then go back, read it again. If you don't know what I am talking about, it's a movie. Watch it. It's one of my favorites. Now, on with the post.)

I started this blog at 5:58 am. I typically don't blog much before noon, but I just read something that I wanted to share.....
Read this verse: "Then those who were in the boat worshiped Jesus and said, 'Truly thyou are hte Son of God.' "(Matthew 14:33)
After the storm [the disciples] worshiped him. They had never, as a group, done that before. Never. Check it out. OPen your Bible. Search for a time when the disciples corporately praised him.
You won't find it.
You won't find them worshiping when he heals the leper. Forgives the adulteress. PReaches to the masses. They were willing to follow. Willing to leave family. Willing to cast out demons. Willing to be in the army.
But only after the incident on the sea did they worsip him. Why?
Simple. This time they were the ones who were saved.

Capernicous called, the Universe doesn't revolve around me...

Earlier this year I wrote a blog about a bumper sticker I saw In REASON we trust? Well someone who calls him/herself Capernicous found it this week and made a comment. I have no idea who this person is, but I am glad they thought my topic of such a worthy discussion. Their comments were not mean spirited in any way. I appreciate the discussion, and in an attempt to further discussion I have included his/her comment below. I have broken it out with my responses in bold. Hopefully they will return to see my response. Feel free to comment as well.

How do you *know* that guy thought he was being "ultra intelligent"? You are correct, I do not know that he was being ultra intelligent; however, based on previous experiences it stands within REASON that he probably is, but since I can't know for sure, I will concede the point here.

(For future reference, it's actually spelled "intelligent".) Thanks for the spell check. I make no apologies for my spelling, it's just part of what this blog is. I encourage you to check out this post for future reference regarding spelling and grammar as it to pertains to this blog.

Seems like you're pretty eager to assume some arrogance on this guy's part. The fact is, being reasonable often leads one to understand one's own fallibility and therefore develop the humility to question one's own judgment. I think you are actually making my point stronger here. I would say I am a self-aware (reasonable if you will) guy. I realize the fallibility of my own understanding, because as I said originally, I don't see the whole picture. It's for this REASON that one cannot trust in REASON ALONE. We are fallible. So wouldn't it be prudent to put your trust in Someone who isn't fallible.

That gets to the fallacy of your argument. Trusting in reason does not imply relying solely on one's own understanding. For example, I may reason that my father is a wiser man than I am, and therefore I should follow his guidance. You have, at some point, either reasoned that the Christian god is the real and true god OR reasoned that you should accept that as fact without reason (i.e. on faith.) Ultimately you are using your powers of reason to make at least one decision, even if that is to blindly accept everything your minister (or preacher/pastor/pope/re-re-re-translated ancient text/imam/rabbi/mom/dad) tells you. You make a lot of assumptions here. I never stated that one should not use reason at all. I don't think GOD wants us to ask Him what groceries we should buy, or what shoes to wear. GOD gave us common sense (some more than others--not a dig at you personally, just an overall observation of society.) The other part of this whole conversation is that GOD is the creator of reason. Let that sink in a minute. God gave us free will. Free will is the root of reason. He doesn't want us to simply follow Him like a mindless robot. He wants us to TRUST and follow Him because we love Him and WANT to. Just like you reasoned your father was a wiser man, and you reasoned to follow him. I reason that I don't have all the answers, and I should trust in a GOD that does.

**Editors note: Thanks so much for the conversation. Don't be a stranger. I look forward to hearing from you again, and it is my hope that you come back. I am not a theologian by any stretch of the imagination, just some dude that started a blog to spite my wife. Take a look at this web-site. They have a very entertaining way of making part of my point.

Dress for the job you want...

Today, while I was coming back from visiting customers in Summerville with my boss, he got on his soap box. Whenever he does this, he usually has many nuggets that he throws at you. One of them was "You should dress for the job you want..." (REAL QUICK disclaimer, he wasn't fussing at me for dressing unprofessionally, and my job is not endanger -- Annie wanted me to clarify.) Now bear in mind I work for a uniform company, and I wear a uniform about 80% of the time. Maybe I should start wearing a space suite to work, since I want to be an astronought.
Tonight, my man Ted talked about worship and what that means. This maybe a leap, but I think the two topics are related. Bear with me... A lot of times we think about worship in an almost formulaic way (is that even a word?). Because they sang this song, and I raised my hand and got a chill, I must have worshiped. You could have the flu and get a chill. You can't use that as a measure of success when it comes to worship. Mostly worship is about us, when it shouldn't be about us at all. It's about how we can praise a GOD that is worthy of praise.
I think the problem is when that becomes the focus becomes about the music, or how it makes me feel, the focus is taken off of GOD, which is the heart of Worship.
Maybe I will wear a fireman suit to work. I always wanted to be a fireman.

Which is it?

The first time I took this stupid test, I was told I am the Giver. Honestly, it was pretty dead on. I didn't copy it that time, but this afternoon I decided I would put it on my blog for all of my adoring fan (singular on purpose). No problem right? Just take the test again and it should show the same thing. Right? Not so much. I have taken it three times now and here are the results:

You Are An ENTP

The Visionary You are charming, outgoing, friendly. You make a good first impression. You possess good negotiating skills and can convince anyone of anything. Happy to be the center of attention, you love to tell stories and show off. You're very clever, but not disciplined enough to do well in structured environments. In love, you see everything as a grand adventure. You enjoy taking risks for love. And if things don't work out, you're usually not too much worse for the wear! You would make a great entrepreneur, marketing executive, or actor. At work, you need a lot of freedom to pursue your own path and vision. How you see yourself: Analytical, creative, and peaceful When other people don't get you, they see you as: Detached, wishy-washy, and superficial

What's Your Personality Type?

That is pretty accurate, but the third time I got this....

You Are An ENFP

The Inspirer You love being around people, and you are deeply committed to your friends.You are also unconventional, irreverent, and unimpressed by authority and rules.Incredibly perceptive, you can usually sense if someone has hidden motives.You use lots of colorful language and expressions. You're quite the storyteller! In love, you are quite the charmer. And you are definitely willing to risk your heart.You often don't follow through with your flirting or professed feelings. And you do break a lot of hearts. At work, you are driven but not a workaholic. You just always seem to enjoy what you do.You would make an excellent entrepreneur, politician, or journalist. How you see yourself: compassionate, unselfish, and understanding When other people don't get you, they see you as: gushy, emotional, and unfocused

What's" Your Personality Type?

So which is it? I have no idea. Annie says I am a pretty good combo of each. I just think these personallity tests are a bunch of malarkie.

The Ox and Lamb kept time...

It seems I have broken the seal on this whole blog thing so you are getting two in a two day period. There are some things I don't get here are a few of them:

1.) Why do I have to press '1' for English? If anyone in this country is calling anywhere else in this country, English should be implied. If I'm in Mexico, I will press Ocho, or Uno, or Dos, or whatever I need to press, but here, in the good ole USofA it's English or it's nothing.
2.) Why do we park on driveways and drive on parkways. This one has been mentioned before, but I have yet to get a real answer.
3.) Is there really a need for Psychic Hot lines? I think if they are really psychic, maybe they should call me. You know, you are walking over about to call old Deon Warwick when the phone rings: "Hello?" "Well hi, Deon. I was just about to call you!" Just a thought.
4.) Have you ever noticed that Donald Duck wears a towel when he gets out of the shower, a bathing suite when he goes swimming, but wears no pants ANY OTHER TIME! Am I the only one this bothers? What kind of kinky place is the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse?
5.) So the wise men at the Nativity were from the Far East right? So why does Hannah's Nativity Scene we got from Fisher Price have a Chinese Man, White Man, and what can only be described as Black woman? Maybe they are from so far east that they were really west? Maybe?
6.) Have you ever listened to the famed Christmas Carol The Little Drummer Boy? I am sure you've heard it, but have you really listened to it? There is a ton with this song that drives me nuts. However, The Ox & Lamb kept time just blows my mind. I know there was that horse that could count by stomping with his hooves, but I don't think he could keep common 4/4 time. So what kind of crazy Ox and Lamb were they? I guess if God can use a donkey to get a man's attention, He can use a couple farm animals to help some little boy stay on beat for a brand new baby Jesus.