You are currently browsing the monthly archive for March, 2008.
COUNTDOWN: 126 days
Things to do today:
*So we were given a choice today: a first-floor apartment, conveniently located next to the laundry room, or a third (top)-floor apartment, with an ocean view. We chose the ocean view. Three years of living with an ocean view. How can you turn that down?
* Tonight Jody is planning to do some touch-up painting in the formal dining room.
Malibu fact of the day:
* Malibu is represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by Henry Waxman, who has held that position since 1975.
What I’ll miss about Ocean Springs today:
* Driving to Biloxi to visit Hezekiah in the nursing home. Lucky for me, he won’t even know I’m gone. But I’ll know.
What I’m thinking today:
* I’m totally thinking about that ocean view.
1. Did I help make life better for anyone this week?
I’ve had some phone conversations with a friend who is going through a horrible time. The jury is still out on whether I’ve been any help at all, but I sure hope so.
2. Did I reach across lines that divide and meet someone new this week?
Habitat for Humanity to the rescue again. I briefly met Jeannie (our volunteer coordinator) at a community leaders breakfast in Biloxi Friday morning. The breakfast was a big deal, complete with Governor Haley Barbour and new U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (Trent Lott’s replacement) in attendance. I enjoyed sitting between two new friends, Erica and Art, at the breakfast and hearing both tell stories about their law school days (Art in San Diego, and Erica at Louisville). I especially enjoyed seeing my friend, Diann, get an award at the banquet!
3. Did I learn anything worthwhile this week?
Yeah, I did. I learned that our popular conception of the “sins of Sodom” is a bit incomplete. Ezekiel 16: 49 says Sodom was “arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.” Okay there was some sex stuff going on, too, but God mentions these first. Sounds a lot more like “us” than I suspect we care to notice.
4. Did I spend time with close family and friends this week?
Jody & I set aside Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings to walk together. I already think these are going to be some of my favorite times in the world.
5. Did I take the time to notice nature this week?
Click on El Whoppo below, our fourteen-foot-long alligator friend, from the Honey Island Swamp tour in Slidell, Louisiana.
6. Did I laugh this week?
We had a great time on the swamp tour (click on the pic below to see 15 of the 19 of us that went). On the way back, our preaching candidate friend, Roddy, told us about car shopping a few years ago. His daughter suggested he buy a baby blue Volkswagen, to which he replied, “Honey, they don’t even sell cars like that to guys!”
7. Did I do my best at my job this week?
Yeah, I did my best navigating a tricky subject in my class Wednesday night, but today I got to sit and listen to someone else preach and teach!
8. Did I engage in a discussion of things that matter this week?
Our CASA group had an in-service training Thursday night, and we talked about a cool event coming up soon called Walk of Hope. We are going to try to get 100s of people to join us in walking across the brand new Biloxi-Ocean Springs Bridge on April 12 to raise awareness and money for what we do to battle child abuse and neglect in our community.
9. Did I read or hear or see a good story this week?
Roddy told a fantastic story this morning about going to a crack house in Chicago to rescue a girl on behalf of some friends. Are we willing to answer God’s call to adventure?
10. Did I feed my soul with music this week?
In honor of the beginning of baseball season, and in honor of my friend, Scott, who died far too soon, I found the best song of all time on YouTube and watched, listened, and enjoyed. You try it, too!
COUNTDOWN: 127 days
Things to do today:
*Lots and lots of cleaning this afternoon. Together, Jody, Hillary, and I cleaned all the windows/windowsills, doors/doorframes, light fixtures, and kitchen cabinets/appliances in the entire house. In addition, Jody cleaned out the girls’ bathroom closet and began work on a couple of spots in our wood floors.
Malibu fact of the day:
* A common misconception is that Malibu’s coastline runs north-south, when it in fact runs east-west.
What I’ll miss about Ocean Springs today:
* Preaching. Today’s break was nice. Plus, I know I’ll preach in California periodically. Still, I’ll miss it.
What I’m thinking today:
* I’m thinking that I’m sleepy. And that we still have a LOT to do prior to our move.
COUNTDOWN: 128 days
Things to do today:
*No moving work accomplished today – swamp tour in Slidell in the morning, and a cookout with a preacher candidate tonight!
Malibu fact of the day:
* Point Dume in Malibu is an excellent place to go whale watching, especially from late December through March. I’ve got to see me a whale!
What I’ll miss about Ocean Springs today:
* Alligators. Weird, huh? We saw our old friend, El Whoppo, a fourteen-foot alligator, on the Honey Island Swamp tour today. Alligators are cool. Whales will have to suffice from now on.
What I’m thinking today:
* Today I’m thinking of how much I hope the next preacher in Ocean Springs is a perfect fit, along with how little right I have to offer my opinions about it.
COUNTDOWN: 129 days
Things to do today:
* Got word this morning that the University of Virginia made a decision on my application (the last one to hear from). I’ve already made my decision, but I’m interested to hear what they have to say. Got to check the mail until the letter arrives!
* Tonight is mostly “move stuff around” night. Furniture and yard sale stuff and a daybed into Erica’s freshly painted room, then fix a few things in our bedroom, and maybe find a hardwood repair kit for some places in our entryway.
Malibu fact of the day:
* Ben Stein was a law professor at Pepperdine from 1990 to 1997. In 1997, he began hosting “Win Ben Stein’s Money” (with Jimmy Kimmel) on Comedy Central.
What I’ll miss about Ocean Springs today:
* My secretary, Laura. She’s a hoot and can really make me laugh! Heck, I’ll miss HAVING a secretary!!!
What I’m thinking today:
* I’m still thinking about choosing a couple of interests/hobbies to keep me sane during law school, along with how I can balance family/school/hobbies appropriately.
COUNTDOWN: 130 days
Things to do today:
* Scheduled the carpet cleaners this morning
* Jody is planning to finish painting Erica’s room tonight
* Revamped my plethora of “things to do” list into one master list
* Our friends, Tom & Laura, are coming to pick up our gas grill tonight and take it to the church for all the cookouts Tom will be doing for our preacher candidates – he plans to talk to the elders about the church buying our grill to keep it around for future cookouts. If so, that will be one less thing to sell and move.
Malibu fact of the day:
* Tomorrow Malibu will officially be 17 years old! (only citified since 1991!)
What I’ll miss about Ocean Springs today:
* Eating lunch with Bruno on Thursdays. We ate at Mikey’s on the Bayou today. The food was good, but as always, the conversation was better.
What I’m thinking today:
* Today, I’m thinking about my marriage as it relates to the impending law school experience, and how blessed I am to be thinking that it is strong enough to actually thrive there.
Here’s the YouTube video I mentioned the other day…
COUNTDOWN: 131 days
Things to do today:
* We rented our moving truck last night. We found the best deal with Budget, and the actual cost for the truck all the way to California isn’t bad at all. But then there’s the fact that it will maybe get 10mpg – it’s paying for gas that’s the killer!
* Jody’s still painting in Erica’s room!
Malibu fact of the day:
* My daughter will have to pass Cher’s house every day on her seven mile ride to school down the legendary PCH (Pacific Coast Highway).
What I’ll miss about Ocean Springs today:
* Azaleas blooming in the spring.
What I’m thinking today:
* I’ve been thinking about some advice I read in a book called Law School 101:
“Every attorney should become an expert in three hobbies that have nothing at all to do with law.”
The example in the book chose the Civil War, baseball, and marathon running. I’ve been thinking about what I should choose.
COUNTDOWN: 132 days
Things to do today:
* More painting of Erica’s room tonight!
* Received my financial aid package from Pepperdine via email today!
Malibu fact of the day:
* The first working model of a laser was demonstrated by Dr. Theodore Maiman in 1960 in Malibu at then Hughes Research Laboratory (now known as HRL Laboratories LLC).
What I’ll miss about Ocean Springs today:
* I know I’ll miss the Ocean Springs School District no matter how good the schools in Malibu are… We have had a terrific experience here.
What I’m thinking today:
* I’m getting ahead of myself, but my brain has been dwelling on what it will be like to be a lawyer – trying to get a picture for myself…
COUNTDOWN: 133 days
Things to do today:
* I called my friend, Roland, to begin the process of getting ourselves down to one car for our move to California
* Jody plans to start painting Erica’s room tonight, a process that will take up about every evening this week
Malibu fact of the day:
* The population is 12,575 (which will be the smallest town I’ve ever lived in!)
What I’ll miss about Ocean Springs today:
* The Studio (Hillary’s dance studio). You can read about it HERE.
What I’m thinking today:
* Listening to someone try out for my job this Sunday will be weird!!!
