Life as I know it

This is going to sound like a complaint but I promise that it is the furthest thing from a complaint...my life has become very busy lately.

I always thought that when I got a big boy job that things would open up and I would have so much time to just relax and enjoy life. Come to find out, I just like to fill my time with stuff. Very little of it is of great importance, but it is stuff at that. For instance:



I got a dog. His name is Bandit. Yes, I named him after the intramural franchise I played for. He was quite the handful for a few weeks but we are learning how to live with each other and he is slowly less of a pain in my butt. He is still a puppy so he does still get into trouble, but he can't help that. No matter how hard I try. He's getting there though.

Back to this job thing. I work at the coolest place in the world and do probably the least cool thing in the world. It's a give and take. I work at Heifer International's international headquarters here in little ole Little Rock. Why it's here: I have no idea. That's the cool part. The not so cool part is that I work in the call center. And really, the only bad thing about that is that people always have a negative impression towards that idea. Like I wasted 4 years of my life or something. I don't let myself see it that way. That would make getting up in the morning impossible. It truly is an unbelievably rewarding job. I get to talk to people who are excited about helping people all day, everyday. The people who are not so happy when they call in: I get to make them happy in the short amount of time I get to speak with them. I get to improve people's day. Even if that just means letting them vent their frustrations to me for a few minutes. I've been getting griped at for 22 years. Now I get paid to do it. It's not always happy go lucky there, but I can't imagine it being that way anywhere. Not even if you worked for Ellen or Oprah.

So, between Bandit and Heifer plus softball and trying to avoid getting fat, I am usually pretty worn out by the time bedtime arrives. That is definitely the case tonight. Maybe I'll start doing this more regularly than I've been doing it. Only time will tell...

Kids grow up so fast

I would like to apologize to my favorite sister and nephew before I go any further with this post. There will be pictures and videos of Jude and Cale shortly. And I will refer to them as "cute" or "precious" or any other similar adjective. This, in no way, implies that Ben is not cute, precious, or any other similar adjective. I just do not get to take pictures or videos of him doing all of these fun things. So please do not hate me. However, if you would like to see pictures and videos of Ben, check out how cute and precious he is here.

Now that we've got that out of the way...this post is dedicated to the nephews. Apparently I am going to have to keep the cyber world up to date on Jude and Cale's growth because his parents barely know how to turn on a computer and if his Nana is at the computer for too long, her "tennis" elbow starts to flare up on her. Good thing they've got their uncle Bob here to save the day. The poor kids are just so neglected.

We'll start off with the less impressive of the two impressive videos...keep in mind that he has yet to turn one. He's still zero.





I don't think those were his first steps, but they were the first ones that I've seen him take with no assistance. However, I don't think anyone would be surprised if he waited to see me to take his first steps. We all know that I am Cale's favorite. In fact, it is not very much of a contest. I have no idea why that kid loves me so much, but you will never catch me complaining about it.

Now for some random pictures...


Jude was my wake up call the other morning and was nice enough to pose for a picture.


This is the boys' (all three, Micah) new pool. You can't tell in this picture, but it is a helicopter with a built in water gun, among other features.


This is Grandad's swing set. Jude approves.


Grandad also built a new sand box under the swing set in the back yard. Jude approves.

I could keep going going, but I think that is enough cuteness, preciousness, and a bunch of other "ness-es" for now.

Too soon?

So, the timing of this video is, admittedly, poor but I'm hoping that the humor behind it shines brighter than the sadness.

This is my little way of sending Josh off with a bang. He has hopefully landed safely in Sydney by now and is maybe even into his apartment. I think it is the middle of the afternoon tomorrow where he is but I'm not totally sure on that one. Anywho, Josh is famous for making really goofy/funny videos for any reason at all, so I am taking this opportunity to make one for him. It is my first excursion with iMovie so I will surely get better with time. Because I am by no means an editing expert yet. Sorry bout that...



I really just wanted to make a stupid and funny video but I found myself getting sad as I played with the video. If you're unaware, our friend Josh (the one from the video...) has moved to Australia for a year. That's kind of a long way away. He's going to the Hillsong college so he should stay busy enough to not think about home a whole lot. But he definitely appreciates any extra prayers you send his way. Oh yeah...you should check his blog out too.

That's really all I've got for now. I (sorta) started the video blogging, so now maybe this little fad will grow from here.

This could be interesting...

Well, look what the cat drug in...

So...my posts have been few and far between here lately. I'm trying to be more consistent, though, I promise. And this should help me with that...



Yes, that is my new toy that I have become quite fond of in the 4 days I have had her so far. She does not have a name yet but that is being worked on. My laptop has moved on to laptop heaven (at least I think it went that route...) a while back and I have been mowing yards again the past several weeks, so it has been increasingly difficult to actually get on here and blog. And, as you see here, Gentry has moved to town.

There, that's three legitimate excuses to explain my lack of posts lately. But I'm back now and hopefully for the long haul.

I really just wanted to post a picture of my new computer but I felt like I needed some additional words to go with it.

See ya soon.

"No one's perfect"

Those are words that have been said millions of times. Each of us have said them a thousand times following various screw ups, even. But hearing those words out of Armando Galarraga's mouth this morning impacted me in a new way.

Galarraga pitches for the Detroit Tigers. He's not a great pitcher. Probably not even a good pitcher (compared to other major leaguers, of course). But he pitched the game of his life last night. He was on the verge of history. Attempting to throw the 21st perfect game in major league history, he entered the bottom of the 9th having retired all 24 Cleveland hitters who had stepped to the plate. The 25th man to the plate was Mark Grudzielanek (stop trying to pronounce it. it's not that important) and he hit a blast into the left-center field gap. Centerfielder Austin Jackson ran faster than I'm sure he has ever run before and made an unbelievable over-the-shoulder catch to keep the perfect game alive. The next batter grounded out harmlessly to short. Then this happened...



Umpires, referees, and officials in general catch blame for losses daily. Rarely are those accusations accurate, though. But in this case, the umpire, Jim Joyce, cost a pitcher his perfect game. That out would have ended the game and secured Galarraga's place in history. Joyce is an excellent excellent umpire, too. He has twice been voted the second best umpire in the game....by the players. I'm gonna assume that this is not the first incorrect call that he has made but I am positive that no one will remember any of them better than that one.

You could see the disappointment in all of the Tigers' faces. You would have expected Galarraga to explode in rage after the call was made. He had to know that Jason Donald was out. He had to feel his foot hit the bag before Donald's. But he didn't erupt. The camera caught him smiling in an almost awkward stare down with Joyce. And in the locker room, before showering off, he uttered those words-"no one's perfect"- to a reporter who, undoubtedly, was looking for an expletive filled quote from the pitcher. He was still sweaty from the action of the game but did have a few extra minutes to let the realization sink in that his perfect game had been taken away by a bad call. A time that most people would use to become enraged about the whole situation. Not him. And how fitting it is that he said "no one's "perfect."

He never showed one bit of frustration toward Joyce. Possibly because Joyce found him in the locker room after the game- immediately after the umpire watched the replay of the call- and embraced the pitcher and wrapped him in a hug and began sobbing. He apologized repeatedly. He admitted his mistake and showed how awful he felt about the situation. And today, in a much more public form, Galarraga showed that he had no hard feelings by delivering the lineup card to Joyce at home plate. The delivery of the lineups is generally done by the coaches, all umpires are present, and the event signifies it's time to start the game so all eyes were on home plate at that time. It was a simple gesture but one that brought Joyce to tears again.

Galarraga showed more forgiveness than was required. No one would have been shocked if he had showed anger or frustration towards Joyce. But he took the high road. He showed the courage and integrity that I hope I would be able to show. That I should be able to show. That I fail to show again and again. He set an example for players to follow. He set an example for fans to follow. He set an example for Christians to follow. He set an example for me to follow.

Galarraga managed to turn something devastating into the most positive, encouraging thing of the year. A quality that I strive to obtain.