Back in the Saddle.

Well, I've oiled the guns and put them back in their cases, hung up the spurs, and boxed up the camo. While we didn't bag nearly as many pigs as in years past, we still managed to have an awesome adventure. There's just something about Texas, that would make a hailstorm enjoyable.

So today I'm back in the office and by 2:54pm, I've got the desk cleared off and the voicemail box emptied. Not too bad. I expected much worse. Maybe it's the grotesque boar skull I brought back to sit on my desk that is keeping the secretaries away. (it is a BIT creepy).

Last night I attended Gina's lifegroup meeting for the first time. Although they have invited me to parties and events in the past, this was the first weekly meeting. To be perfectly honest, I was a bit apprehensive at first, as it's another thing to add to the schedule each week. But it's much more than that. It's people that truly care about one another, who choose to become involved in one another's lives. It is a blessing. And I am grateful to be a part of it.

It's good to be back (but I miss my gun).

Truly Amazing.

Thank you Don for this video.

After seeing this, I had to order the Bible Experience. How can you listen to that passion and not be moved? A new way to experience the Word...

What a hog!

So, I haven't killed anything of the swine variety, but I did shot a hog last night! We went bowfishing on Richland Chambers Lake last night, which is a 41,000 acre man-made lake near Fairfield. Crossing the bridge, the thing looked like an ocean. It was huge!
The weather was iffy all day and it was supposed to rain during the night (when we were to be on the lake). It started misting just as we arrived at the marina, but when the boats showed up, it stopped and was still in the mid-60's when we pulled back into the dock at 2:30am.
The fishing was absolutely amazing! There were three of us on each of two boats. We were all standing on the bow, which was lit with floodlights. Some of the fish were clearly visible, but for the most part, you could only determine a fish's presence by a slightly lighter color in the sandy-colored water.



In all, we shot over 35 carp, drum, buffalo, and gar. I shot the biggest fish (some would argue the small ones are tougher targets), which was a 15lb buffalo.
I think I've discovered a new hobby! (sorry, Gina).

Big Boar Adventure 2008

So I've been here since Saturday afternoon and just now discovered I have wireless internet.

We've been having a blast in East Texas, but the boars are hard to come by this year. I have yet to even SEE a hog. My uncle and Kurt each shot a boar and Kurt also bagged a big bobcat, which I caught on film.


This afternoon we took some time off to fish a small pond on the property we hunt. I caught a 2-2.5lb bass on the first cast. The guys are out fileting the haul right now. We bowhunted tonight and all I saw were 2 skunks. Kurt shot two racoons with one arrow. He's the next Annie Oakley.


So, with the trip half-over now, I hope that by the end of Friday, I will have at least fired my new gun at something.


And from what I hear from the folks back home, it's a bit warmer here than there. Sorry!

My Balentime.

Since we are old and crotchety, Gina Bean and I went to The Riverstation on Tuesday night at 8pm, thus beating the Valentine's Day crowd by two full days. It was a lovely night. Our waiter was awesome and recommended a couple of wines and entrees. He was right on. I had a ribeye fromage, which was quite possibly the best meal I have ever consumed. It would even give Charlie and Ryan's New Year's smorgasboard a run for its money.

But more importantly, it was a chance to sit for an hour and just enjoy each other without a nagging cat prowling around or other distractions. and I didn't have to do the dishes.

We spent our first Valentine's Day doing what we usually do. We made chili, talked to Cougar, and then went to Bergener's to get a wedding shower gift. Not exciting, but nice. and quiet.

I'm going to miss you next week, Miss Gina! Please take good care of Cougar! Don't shoot him if he destroys your house. We love you!

The Time Has Come.

I can't believe that in 7 hours we'll be on the road for another boar hunt. On monday, I thought today would never come, and now it's here too soon. I haven't begun packing yet or even had time to make a list. Oh well, all I need is cameras, film, socks, and bullets.

While this is a "hunting" trip, it's so much more than chasing animals. It's a chance to spend time with my dad, which I cherish more each year, and my crazy uncles and the great people we've met in Texas over the years. Once we're down there, we're all treated as family. They cook for us, invite their friends to meet us, take us on guided hunts, etc. It's things like that that money can't buy. That's what we look forward to.

So as you drift off to slumber tonight, say a prayer for 4 guys in a big red Chevy, pulling a trailer full of 4-wheelers, camo, guns, bows, and ammo. Pray that nothing eats us and that the bullets hit their targets.

I'm kidding. well, kind of.

Until next time...

Pranksters.

It's been a regular episode of "The Office" around here lately. And I'm ashamed (not really) to say that I may have started it all.

Last Friday, one of the inspectors cleaned out our lab and set a big box of styrofoam packing peanuts in the kitchen. Ryan, a fellow prankster and culprit of covering the earpiece of my phone with lotion (try that one sometime), was working in the conference room all afternoon. I saw a target of opportunity. I ran back to our cubicle jungle and asked Melissa if she'd like to assist me in getting Ryan back. Grinning, she jumped up and followed me to retrieve the supplies. We opened all of his desk drawers and filled them until overflowing. Then we waited anxiously for Ryan to return. While he came back to his desk several times, he didn't open any drawers. The day ended and the surprise was still not found out. Monday passed and still nothing. Then Tuesday he discovered our gift and instantly started questioning people. With all involved playing it cool, he pinned it on our supervisor, Jerry, who was oblivious to the whole situation.
Ryan found a cardboard box and filled it with the peanuts and then perched it precariously on a ruler above his office door. Apparently Jerry has bat-like hearing though, and spied the trap before becoming the next victim. Ryan still has no idea who got him and has publicly declared a cease fire.

Today I filled our secretary's coat pocket with approximately 200 rubber bands. She didn't find it until she got home for lunch and took the dog out. Then she came back and put them in Ryan's coat pocket, thinking he was the guilty party.

I'm kind of scared to leave my desk unprotected next week. Maybe I'll set up a laser.

Bonus!!

I was just informed we are most likely going here http://www.fishstickerbowfishing.com/ on our trip!
We decided not to do the dog/spear hunting this year, so this will be something new and different. We attempted to shoot some flying carp on the Illinois River this summer, but this looks like more fun!

Mounting Excitement.

I spent five hours in the lab at Springfield on Saturday, which is twice as long as the procedure should have taken. However, this is par for the course in my world. Everything went well, as far as I know. We didn't actually read the results, because that would have taken another 50 minutes. So the data should be sent to me today.
In other news, I started preparing for the Texas safari by modifying the camera mount for my rifle. Last year, my buddy Kyle fabricated an aluminum "T" (sideways) that attached to the side of my gun. It worked well. But this year I have a new weapon of mass destruction, and the camera needs to hang below the gun. So this is what I came up with:

It consists of the original mount, which the camera attaches to, a nail plate (so height is adjustable), two shelf hangers, and a switch plate.

On top of the switch plate is a conventional scope mount, which attaches to a rail on the rifle. I also included a pen light as a spacer and as an accessory.

The whole contraption is 12" high and it a big weightier that I would like when the camera is attached. The only way to fix this would be to buy a lighter camera, which I obviously can't do right now.

This is what it will look like on the rail. It can be easily removed from the gun with a thumb screw. Beneath the camera, you can see the quick-release thumb lever to remove the camera from the mount. This is essential, because you can't point the camera to film people while it's on the gun, only targets!
While it still needs a couple slight modifications, I'm quite pleased with the results. It's going to be another great hunt and another exciting video!

Thesis update.

My Master's degree was orgininally supposed to be completed on November 30th. Obviously that didn't happen, and it turned out to be a good thing. I had run myself into the ground working on the thesis day and night. My advisors had the first paper for a month before I got their revisions back. It has now been edited and updated and is only missing one crucial piece of data that I will acquire at SIU-Springfield tomorrow.
The second paper is almost ready to be resent to them, but that missing data point will change all the results for the second paper. Therefore, I have to redo all the graphs, charts, tables, etc. It won't be difficult, just tedious and time consuming. Hopefully it won't take another month for them to edit paper #2 or the revised paper #1.
Once they are satisfied with both papers of the thesis, I have to make a public announcement of my presentation and defense, wait 30 days and finally put an end to this 5-year ordeal.
What will I do without this gorilla on my back?!

1 year.

Today, February 6th, is my one-year anniversary at TCHD. To celebrate, I inspected three of the diners on the main drag of Tremont. Since getting back to the office, 4 different people have complimented me on my smell (i've been deep fried).

One place was so smokey from the grill that clouds of grease were visible in the dining room. I asked the owner if she had an exhaust fan. She then shouted, "anybody bothered by the smoke?," to the customers. They said no. So she decided the exhaust fan was not necessary. I guess they have to have something to inhale since the smoking ban went into effect.

I guess this is a good thing, as I only lasted 10 months at the the insurance company. And things are looking up. I am now the one in charge of testing everyone's poo water for the county. So, here's to 365 days as an inspector!

And remember, chew carefully.

It's about that time again...

11 days until we once again pack the trailer full of rifles, pistols, assault vests, ammo boxes, 4-wheelers, and all the associated gear required to do our part in assisting the Texas Department of Parks and Natural Resources control the wild hog population.
Needless to say, it's hard to not get excited. Last year was the best trip I've been on and we harvested 34 nasty beasts. This year, we hope to break the record of 36. I know we can do it!
The video below is from the final day of last year's hunt. WARNING: Do not view if you are easily offended. My attempts at censoring were sub-par. Those boys get a "bit" excited when the bullets start flying and the hogs start charging.

Enjoy.

P.S. I'm fighting with youtube. For some reason, the video quality is terrible, no matter what format I upload video in.

Super Weekend.

Snow days are not JUST for kids! I got the call at 5:15 on Friday morning that the health dept. was closed due to the weather. So I slept for a few more minutes and then got up and got to work. I had been wanting to paint the big room in the basement since I moved in, but it had been put on the back burner. Gina and I began painting at 8:30 and after finishing that room, we painted the hallway to the room and the stairway leading up to the theater. What an amazing difference a little paint makes! The problem is now I want to replace the basement ceiling, lights, etc. maybe some day...

Saturday night we had dinner with Josh and Trina at Olive Garden to give them their wedding video gift (the wedding was in June, but these things take time). Here's the opening clip:


Yesterday at Northwoods we had a high school/jr. high not-a-superbowl-party (due to legal restrictions imposed by the NFL). The game was on 6 or 7 screens so you could watch wherever you went, but the highlight was definitely the dodgeball games going on in the activity center. The half-time high vs. jr. high game could only be described as Braveheart-esque.
After dashing through the snow, I got to watch the second half at the Sletten's. Great end to the game, great end to the weekend.

What blows me away...

Last night I arrived early for rehearsal at Northwoods. As I sat in the empty auditorium and listened the wind pounding on the walls and ceiling, I couldn't help but be still in awe of the power of what God sent spinning those millions (or billions) of years ago.

Wind.

It can be a gentle summer breeze that sweeps away the heat of a humid night. Or it can be an arctic blast that screams through your goose down jacket and penetrates to the marrow of your bones.

It is unseen, yet is power is undeniable. It can topple buildings, toss heavy equipment around like they are tonka trucks, send ocean waves over seawalls, and drive pine needles through tree trunks. No one doubts its existence or its potential and yet it is unseen.

Is God not the same? We can't see him, yet we can feel his power. The warmth of his presence and the cold of his absence when we turn away. He has the power to heal, to right wrongs, to destroy the temple and rebuild it. How He works is beyond comprehension, but we know He is there.

Thank You for the wind and for the "nature" You created...

Did I really sign up for THIS?

At the Health Department, there are several other offices that operate on the same property. The highway department, animal control, ESDA, and Tazewell County Resource Center all share the compound. However, the facility is not on a city sewer or septic system. Instead, the waste from all the buildings drains directly into a lagoon, which is regulated by the EPA. For some reason, though, we are responsible for sampling the influent "water" every month. Since the guy that usually does this glamorous task is on medical leave, I was somehow charged with doing it. I took two of the other guys down with me. After all, someone had to hold the bottle while I scooped out a "sample" with a 5-foot pole. and it was windy.

The procedure requires a morning, noon, and afternoon sample (1 liter), which all have to be mixed into a composite sample at the end of the day.
This morning it was fairly pleasant (temperature wise) and the water in the 6-foot deep sample well was mostly clear.

By noon, the temperature had dropped a little and we could clearly see what everyone ate for dinner last night floating in the well. disgusting. I let Nick wield the sample stick this time while I made little gagging noises to cheer him on. Just what you want to be doing before lunch.

The afternoon sample was bone-chillingly brutal. Arctic winds on hands covered with latex gloves are a recipe for frostbite. I won't mention the vegetable medley we discovered in the waters below.

Apparently the inspector who does this routinely gets a bonus for doing so. He deserves every penny.

Life as of late...

Where to begin?
Me vida loca hasn't stopped to catch its breath since we arrived home from the frozen tundra of Wisconsin last Monday. And it seems the weather has followed us. A delightful 50F Monday and a balmy Tuesday morning have now given way to Icelandic conditions. Ah, such is an Illinois winter.

Work has been (for the 1st time since my February, '06 start here) crazy busy. I am now in charge of two programs within Environmental Health, which has increased my work load more than 2-fold. It IS better than being bored, but I don't like coming back to the office after spending a day doing food inspections to see my desk completely covered in paperwork. It takes an average of 2 hours each morning just to get things back in order before I can begin chipping away at everything else. Oh well. They hired a new inspector that is starting Thursday, so maybe that will take some pressure off. Another inspector had brain surgery two weeks ago, so he will mostly likely be gone another couple of months.

In other news, more progress on the thesis revision has been made. I had an encouraging meeting for the first time in a loooooong time with the profs on Friday. I was to have the first paper revised and back to them by the end of last weekend, but hit another snag. Apparently, when we ran the radioactive trials at SIU, one component of the protocol was not run without a sample present, which has to be done to determine efficiency. So I have to go back to Springfield Saturday for that little number. Then paper #1 will go back to the profs for revision #2. They haven't looked at my second paper, which has now been in their hands for 10 weeks. ah, the frustration. maybe i'll get my PhD after this.
or not.

Life has been weird lately. I feel a tension in what I'm doing (professionally, at church, etc.). I don't know if it's because of what people around me are doing and telling me I should be doing, or if it's a higher calling. I am just aware of it. It feels like something big is on the horizon, but I've had that feeling before and then didn't see anything happen. Who knows, maybe I'm just weird.

What it's all about.

So we had fun at "The Fort." Lots of fun. And I think that's important-it builds and strengthens relationships within the ministry.

but that's not the reason for a retreat.

Jeff Eagan, also known as "Ol' Redbeard," and a former member of the band, "Boulder, CO," was our speaker for the weekend. It's always good to hear the message from someone outside the walls of the church to get a fresh perspective.

Jeff's teaching focused on Matthew 22:
34Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[b] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

He also questioned what it looks like to worship God. So many times when we hear "it's time to worship," or "i'm going to 9am worship," we think about singing songs or attending a church service. Romans 12 calls us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices as a "spiritual act of worship." With every breath and every word we speak, in every interaction with co-workers, people on the street or the idiot in traffic, worship HIM.

On Saturday night, Chris invited us to take 10 minutes and just go outside and LOOK. The moonlight shining off the snow on the bowing evergreen branches, the stars like a thousand headlights in the sky, the air so incredibly clean and brisk it almost hurts to inhale it. How can anyone look at this world and not see HIM?! Even in the frigid north in the middle of winter when everything is dormant, I felt soooo alive. and there it is.
worship is not about ME. it's not about how it makes ME feel. it's not about MY song or MY sacrifice. it's all about being passionately consumed by HIM.

back to love.
Jeff read a story about a guy who couldn't sleep one night so he walked to the local doughnut shop at 3am. There were a couple of "ladies of the night" there talking about business. One mentioned to the other that the next day was her birthday. The other sarcastically said, "what do you want me to do about it? buy you a cake, throw you a party?" She replied, "why should you? i'm going to be 38 and have never had a birthday party." He got an idea. He asked the store owner if these women came into the store every night. They did. So he conspired with the owner to throw the woman a surprise party the following night. They put up decorations and got her a cake with her name in the icing. When she walked in, the was completely overcome by the love of these strangers. She asked through her tears if instead of cutting the cake, she could take it home to savor the moment. After she left, the store owner asked what kind of a church the man came from. He replied, "a church that throws birthday parties for prostitutes at 3 in the morning." The man said, "I don't believe you. If there were such a church, I'd go."

I want to be a part of THAT church too. I want to love others more than myself. I want to stop talking and start doing. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, and Love your neighbor as yourself."

We retreated and now we've returned. Let's change the world one life at a time...

Fort Wilderness.

This weekend, Reality headed north. WAY north. 8 hours north, to Fort Wilderness. The first morning it was -21F. Sunday it was -22F. At that temperature, when you step outside, your nose hair instantly freezes and the condensation from your breath turns to miniature icicles on your eyelashes. it's good.

There were plenty of activities to keep everyone entertained, such as broomball (like hockey, but with a ball and sticks and no skates or pads), ice skating, snow tubing, and cross-country skiing. They also have horses for trail riding and sleigh rides, but it was too cold even for the horses to go out.

Broomball was a blast, and several of us bare the bruises to prove it. It's much harder than the natives made it look. I went down the tubing hill once, but it was more work than fun lugging the tube back up the hill. And then there was skiing...

Chris, Jeff, Samantha, Max, and I headed out on the trails at 2:30. Approximately 200 yards down the trail, we came to the first hill. It was actually just a slight dip compared to what was to come. And all 5 of us bit it. Sam and Max decided to take off their skis at that point and walk. So we continued on. On the next hill, I went first and got up the other side and waited for the next victim, Chris. I saw him come down the hill and then disappear in a cloud of powder. All that made it up the other side was one of his poles that went flying in the collision. hilarious! There were several other comical crashes along the way, but nothing could prepare Jeff and I for what lie beyond the "y" intersection we happened upon after crossing the frozen lake. The trial we started on was 3.9 miles. That sounded doable. BUT, 3.9 miles is 3.9 miles from the camp. Then you have to take another 3 mile trail back. CRAZY.
By this point we had lost the other 3 skiers. They had turned back apparently, because after waiting 10 minutes at the top of a hill that required climbing on my hands and knees, there was no sign of them. So we sullied on. And climbing up requires coming back down the other side. fast. and curving. Jeff went first. and faceplanted. BIG time. I laughed hard and then stopped, realizing it was now my turn to rocket down the narrow trail. I waited for Jeff to collect himself and I thought he was far enough down the trail. i was incorrect. I somehow managed to keep my balance all the way down the hill and a collision was immanent. so with no room to get out of the way, I fell back on my skis, landing on my tailbone and hitting my head. and then i laid there tingling in areas that shouldn't tingle.
After several minutes, I got up and we continued on. On the very next hill Jeff crashed again and hurt his knee badly. He was on his back, trying to get his skis off because he said he couldn't go any further. After struggling several minutes without removing them, the throbbing went away and he got up. After a couple more miles, we ran into some kids on the trail who said we were almost back to the camp. We were honestly beginning to wonder if we'd make it back before the sun set.
As we trudged up the last hill to the ski house, we saw Chris and Sam walking down the road. jerks had found a shortcut.
The next morning, we were told that we had inadvertently taken the "expert" trail. I suggest labeling their trails.

What an awesome weekend in a place that boasts God's handiwork in every snow-laden pine tree and ice-covered lake. I hope I see it again sometime soon...

It's a Cinch!

It's January. The gyms and fitness classes are packed. 2008 resolutions are still going strong...or are they?

Every year it's the same. There's no where to park in the gym lot at 5pm from January 1 to approximately April. And then the determined many become few. Why? It's hard. Pounds are hard to lose, whether you spend 60 minutes on a treadmill or pumping iron. And the most important part to weight loss is often over-looked-maintaining a healthy diet while striving toward your goal.

So many times, people yo-yo back and forth with fad diets, skipping meals, etc. The reason is when you starve your body of its necessary caloric intake, it metabolizes lean muscle tissue for energy. So, you may see weight loss, but you're losing the good stuff! Then when you "relapse" and start eating the unhealthy foods again, the weight comes back as more fat and you have less muscle tissue to burn it!

Enter, Shaklee's "Cinch" program. There are some great videos on my website: http://www.cinchplan.com/green4life/home. The Cinch program is based on the amino acid, leucine, which is essential for muscle growth and preservation. The kit comes with an assortment of meal shakes, delicious meal bars, energy tea, and metabolism boosting vitamins. Also included are meal plans, calorie counters, a pedometer, and a success guide.

As always, Cinch comes with a 100% money-back guarantee. People on the program have seen dramatic reductions in their hip-to-waist ratio, cholesterol levels, triglycerides, and blood pressure. You've got nothing to loose but inches and pounds and the only side-effect is a healthier you! There are no medications or chemicals to take, no empty promises made. The science and personal testimonies to back up Shaklee's claims are available on the website.

I would love it if a friend of mine would make the decision to become healthier in 2008 with this program. I'd love to be right there with them through the journey to cheer them on and see the results. And remember, "it's not about being beautiful, it's about being healthy!"

Don's Blog

Don Bowen has set up a blog with his story, his surgery, and updates on what you can pray for. http://wizidm.wordpress.com/ There is also a link on my sidebar.

Presidential Match-o-Matic

Take this online questionaire, which matches your responses to the presidential candidate's positions:
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/page?id=3623346
Not surprisingly, my #1 was Huckabee, followed by Romney and Gulianni.

Ashleyisms

Our dear secretary says the "funniest" things some times. She blames it on the "Ashley Bubble," in which she lives. For instance, she coined these intellectual gems just this week:

"O.J. Simpson? Who is that? Oh, is he the guy with the white truck like yours, Claire? All I know is there was something about a glove."
wow. had no idea about the murders, trial, nothing.

"I ate at McDonald's in Mexico and I couldn't believe they had hamburgers." We asked why. "Because they don't have any cows in Mexico. I mean, come on, it's an Ocean."
i couldn't make this stuff up.
I asked her where she went in Mexico. She replied, "Cancun." So if you went to New York City, you'd expect to see cows? "Yeah, I see them when we're driving around here all the time." But you were at a resort. "But we still drove!" Where? "Down the strip."
she was serious.

Today she was running around telling everyone the director granted her permission to get a Chameleon to keep at her desk. I asked her when she was getting the lizard, to which she replied, "I'm not getting a lizard, I'm getting a chameleon."

at least she keeps things interesting.

In the Maker's hands...

Many of you who attend Northwoods know Don Bowen, whether you've met him or not. He's the fireball that sings the high tenor part on all the southern gospel songs Cal mananges to sneak into the services.
A few days before the Christmas program took the stage, Don visited a neurologist for an MRI due to blurred vision and chronic headaches. What the MRI revealed was serious and scary, to say the very least. There was a large tumor growing in the occipital lobe of his brain. The surgeon removed as much as he safely could on monday. The cancer type is a glioblastoma, which is very aggressive and difficult to treat. Needless to say, without divine intervention, the outlook is bleak.

But Don has a power on his side that the statistics don't take into consideration. He is under the care of the ultimate physician, the very one who crafted each of his cells. And while it is impossible for us to understand His ways, we remain faithful and pray that His will be done in Don's life. Please pray that His awesome and undeniable work would be unleashed on the cancer and that the doctors would have no medical explanation for the results...that science would stand mystified...that there will be no doubt that the Maker was responsible for healing that which man could not...

Thank you Ben, for sharing Psalm 34: "I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak His praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord's greatness; let us exalt His name together. I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy! No shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation, I prayed and the Lord listened; He saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the Lord is a guard; He surrounds and defends all who fear Him. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him! Fear the Lord, you His godly people. for those who fear Him will have all they need."

My Name is John Daker.

This is amazing. What a voice. What an entertainer. He's listed as one of Peoria's famous people. And it's all because of this video. It gets better every time I watch it!

enjoy.

He's got my vote!

Mike Huckabee is the only candidate I trust with our country's future. Check out www.mikehuckabee.com

Smoke-Free Illinois!

While I am sooooooo sick and tired of hearing about the new law on the news, in the paper, and from every bar owner and restrauteur I run into, and how it is going to destroy all commerce in the state and send it into poverty, I rejoice in it!

I headed back into the field today for some food inspections and visited one of my smokiest establishments. The front door bore a large "no smoking" sign. When I entered, the entire place looked cleaner and brighter than ever before. And when I left, I didn't smell like an ashtray or have the usual headache that was typical after such a visit.

I guess Rod Blago will have ONE redeeming piece of legislation.

And to all the bar owners and restrauteurs, rest assured. People are still hungry and thirsty, despite the fact that they have to walk 15 feet from the door to light up.

New Years, '08

New Years Eve was a great evening of food, revelry, and laughter with Gina's smallgroup. I was thankful to be invited for the 3rd annual event. Charlie and Ryan prepared an extravagant 6-course meal. Here's a visual sampler of the festivities!

A slate of various cheeses, apparently made from goats and "sweet" goats. I don't know how they tell the difference.

Two men in their element. Here Ryan and ChuckDean are preparing the salt beds for the oysters Rockefeller. Check out his blog for the complete menu!

The ladies set up a beautiful table presentation of crystal and red rose petals.

Myself with the new senior pastor of Imago Dei Church, Peoria.

Gina, calling geese.

Ahhhh, the oysters. Much better than "Rocky Mountain Oysters." Dad, I will never forgive you for telling me they were chicken nuggets. Trauma to a young boy...

Now look at that pile of sexy.

Here's to a great '08!

New Website!

My very own Shaklee website is up and running!
Please visit http://www.shaklee.net/green4life to check out what Shaklee can do to change your health, nutrition, workout, and household.

Shaklee specializes in vitamins and dietary supplements that actually DO what they claim. 2,000 product quality assurance tests annually. Over 100 published peer-reviewed scientific studies. One vitamin product alone has 12 patends! The stuff is pure gold.

Shaklee specializes in household cleaning products that are biodegradable, non-toxic, and effective. Eliminate the poisons under the kitchen sink and replace them with something safe for you and the earth. Oprah loves Shaklee, why shouldn't you?!

Give Shaklee a chance. If you aren't completely satisfied, there is always a 100% money-back guarantee. If you have any questions, I'd love to chat!

Thanks,
Justin

poopsicle.

This morning I learned what is worse than doing a septic inspection in the rain:
doing a septic inspection on the coldest day of the year when everything has been covered with 2 inches of snow.

When my boss called at 8:35 and asked if I could do an inspection ASAP, I honestly thought she was kidding. What contractor in their right mind would be out in 1 degree weather putting in a system? But kidding, she was not. So I went back out to the car and pulled out my coveralls and boots, which were starched stiff with frost.

I went to the "big house" to check out a 4x4 and when I got to the blazer, there was no ice scraper to clear off the windshield or windows. So I used my hand. (Joy is overflowing from my heart at this point).

It took 45 minutes to get to the location, which was literally at the farthest point in the county you can be from the health department. When I pulled into the driveway, I could see no excavating equipment or even fresh footprints in the snow. The back yard looked like a war zone, covered in snow. I knew there were old tanks that had to be abandoned and could see jagged concrete and rebar emerging from drifts here and there, but couldn't be certain where was solid ground and where immanent, smelly danger lurked. The weirdest part was that the contractor was no where to be seen.

So I made my drawing and took all the measurements while stumbling awkwardly over mounds of dirt and concrete. As I was taking the last notes, I noticed a Lexus parked with the motor running in the cornfield on the other side of the fence. The driver's seat was reclined and the bill of a hat could be seen peaking over the back window. The old codger was passed out. I knocked on the window, which startled the poor fella. After several seconds, he rolled down the window and said he couldn't be much help because he hurt his back. I informed him I was already finished, but he was over 100 square feet short of the required square footage for the system. I think it's time to retire. maybe we both should.

2007 in Review.

Wow, where did the year go? Blogging is a great way to keep track of all that occurs over the past year, as I don't write in a journal. I feel the end of the year is as great a time as any to reflect on where you've been, where you are now and how God answered prayers along the way. So, as I skimmed through this year's posts, a few stood out...
Jan. As I was at the end of my professional rope, I was seeking a new job with every ounce of my strength and about to snap. I was offered a job at the Tazewell County Health Dept., where I am currently employed. Vast improvement from where I was to where I am! I was also seeking roommates to help pay the mortgage, and I had two show up within days of each other. Definitely answered prayers. They both were great!

Feb. The best boar hunting trip to date! The trip ended with running into a herd of monster hogs, one of which was between 400-500 pounds. It should be hanging on my office wall in a few weeks. That trip will be hard to top, but we'll give it a shot in two short months from now.


March. A relationship ended. Thank you GOD! I can't imagine where I'd be or what I'd be doing if we had not parted ways. For new things to begin, old things must end.

April. I met Gina. There's not much else to say, except all I said in the many posts about how incredibly great she is and how much better my life is with her in it!


May. Softball season. And rain. LOTS of rain. I think I did 5 septic installations in torrential downpours this month. I also starting spending time with my buddy, Joe. We destroy, remodel, build, and talk about life. It is good.

June. Some idiot ran into my car while it was parked at the office. Apparently that's all that happened that month.

July. Bow fishing on the Illinois River. I wish it was legal to fish with shotguns.


August. Completion of the Mendota High School Football dvd's. 9 hours of video. Much bigger project than I anticipated, but it was the first project for $$$. I also got a new 61" TV. booyah.


Sept. Gina's birthday. What could top that?

Oct. The Lifehouse "Everything" skit at Northwoods. I still run into people, who I don't know, but stop me to say that it was powerful and memorable.

Nov. Tragedy was avoided while removing a squirrel from the Hayes's chimney. I believe I wrote 4 posts involving squirrels in the past year. weird.
Thesis was supposed to be done by November 30th. what a joke. Still in the revision process. Maybe by January 30th?

Dec. The Northwoods Christmas Program. The rest of the month is a blur. Had a great Christmas with Gina and our families. Recieved some awesome news about my friend, Randy, and some scary news about another, Don.


And that brings us to today. What will 2008 bring? I am hopeful for new beginnings. I yearn for the day when a paycheck will cover the bills entirely. Or when two incomes (wink, wink) become enough so we can afford to go to the movies or out to dinner, etc. I am hopeful I find a career that I am passionate about. But mostly, that it will be a year of continued health and happiness and growth.

Happy New Year to you all!

CHRISTmas

8 services, 5 family gatherings and a tank of gas later, Christmas 2007 has come to a close.

Northwoods goes all-out for the Christmas program every year. After seeing the past two years' performances, I HAD to volunteer this season. It was such a great experience that I will definitely being doing more in the future. When you spend that much time together, relationships are deepened and friendships are formed. And the best part, the reason we serve-246 people took "Yes packets," indicating they committed their lives to Christ after the services. awesome. Even if it were only for one person, it would have been worth it.

Family time was wonderful, but a bit rushed. Christmas shoudln't be spend driving all over the state to spend a couple of hours here and there, stuffing as many carbs into our gullets as possible. We will rethink this next year!

Now it's back to reality. Tonight I will begin revising the first of my thesis papers. Goal is still to be finished by the end of January-depending on how long it takes to get each draft back after being turned in for review. Then I can forget everything about it. forever.

places!!

Tonight's the big night. Premiere of the 2007 Northwoods Christmas Program.

tired. excited. anticipation mounting.


I forgot to add that the other night, my "daughter," who is about 7 years old, looked up at me as we were waiting to go on stage and said, "So are you like a REAL adult?". Then she asked her "mom" when the wedding was and why she wasn't invited. kids say the darndest things.

???

ok, i was just sitting at lunch when the secretary came in and told my supervisor that there was someone there to file a complaint against the restaurant that i am going to inspect in about 24 minutes.

they were upset that the owner of the establishment is always drunk. and cooking. but there is nothing in the FDA food code against this. you can be as drunk as a skunk on saturday night and it's kosher. (well probably, not "kosher" kosher, but you know what i mean).

ok, why is it raining right now?

anywho, the complainant then admitted that they were recently fired and that this was retribution.

sooooooo, why am i to investigate this?

hilarious. and stupid.

from the mouthes of babes (children, that is).

Rehearsals for the Christmas program at church this week have been.....long...yawn...but fun. We've already logged over 16 hours this week and it's only Thursday. The first show is tomorrow night and we're all excited for it to get here!

Some of the funniest occurrences thus far involve that shorter members of the cast. Our little 3-year-old showstopper wears a wireless mic that gets turned on just prior to the curtain opening. Over the past few nights, the auditorium has heard (over the band's intro music), "Mommy, are my microphones on?", "Mommy, I have to tell you something...", "Is it time to go yet?", "We get to take our places now?"
So freaking adorable.

Last night, one of the junior high kids was attempting to step over a row of folding auditorium seats, when his foot slipped in between the cushion and backrest, leaving him "high centered." His feet didn't quite reach the floor, resulting in pain, humiliation in front of his friends, and much hilarity. I think he's singing soprano now.

There's been a fair share of stubborn livestock, scenery malfunctions, and forgotten lyrics, but hopefully all that will subside with our final dress rehearsals tonight.

It's been a wild ride so far and I'm blessed to be a part of it! Come see the show!

She's bigtime

My little sister, Jillian, had the honor of representing the ISU madrigal singers on ABC Channel 7 News in Chicago this weekend. She's the soprano on the right in the video. I'm sooo proud!
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=resources&id=5832848

grateful

Thank you all for the birthday wishes. While I'm not big on celebrating, it was great to get all the myspace and facebook messages from friends near and far! i feel loved.

Gina...thank you for hanging out at home for hours with Cougar, waiting for me to get home from rehearsal...for the deeeeeelicious angel food cake. perfection. thank you for making homemade salsa for my work Christmas party and picking up a gift for my boss. Thank you for the gifts and for ironing my clothes. But thank you most of all for meeting every need and for making life more enjoyable. You are the greatest gift of all!



and now i will build a nest under my desk and nap through the afternoon.

What's wrong with this picture?

remodeling

i heard something last night that just came to mind while contemplating how i'm going to pay my mortgage and credit consolidation bill, both due tomorrow, when my mortgage alone is more than the paycheck i'll receive at midnight.

i have taken a stand on financial accountability and have cut out unnecessary spending, including all entertainment expenses except cable. and yet, it is not enough. i still face a seemingly unclimbable wall.

but that's where faith steps into play. usually you undertake a remodeling project because a change is necessary. maybe things are falling apart, are dingy, or broken. the place is a wreck. the goal of remodeling is to beautify, to upgrade, and to make life more enjoyable. the result is rejuvenating as you bask in the newness of things made right.

but unless you checkout completely during the process and let a contractor do all the work, things are going to get messy before they get better. when my parents remodeled their kitchen, they tore out a wall, knocked out the ceiling, and tore out all the old wiring. at one point, there was so much dust in the air, they could not see more than 5 feet in any direction. but once it settled, was swept away, and the hardwood was laid, the new cabinets and appliances installed, it looked like a million dollars.

so i pray that they dust is settling and has more than filled HIS trashcan. that the foundation beneath is strong and changes are soon to come. maybe one day i'll be a part of the home tour...

just wondering...

does anybody have a contact in the environmental consulting field? i think i'd like to get back into the corporate world and out from under the local government pay scale. i keep cutting back and cutting back and still can't make it paycheck to paycheck. a little help?

i'll have a water, hold the microbes.

How often do you ask for a lemon slice with your water at the local diner? Or maybe it's standard issue. Either way, what's crawling on that little citrus crescent may surprise you. or make you hurl.

I just finished reading a study in the latest issue of the Journal of Environmental Health entitled, "Microbial Flora on Restaurant Beverage Lemon Slices." The researcher collected a total of 76 lemon slices from 21 restaurants and tested the rind and flesh for a myriad of different bacteria, fungi, yeast, etc. Shockingly, 69.7% of the lemons had microbial growth on the surface, and 25 different species of microbe were detected. While the definite source for each microbe could be pinpointed, the type of microbes present are commonly found in/on human skin, saliva vaginal secretions & feces, and in raw meat/poultry. Furthermore, if the lemon is not thoroughly washed before use, there is no telling what else could have come into contact with the rind while it was in the field or handled during processing.

So the next time your server asks if you'd like a slice of lemon, you may want to dose it with alcohol first. just a thought.

BIG losers

Gina and I started watching "The Biggest Loser" this season. I'm not sure why. Probably because it's on one of the only weeknight's I'm at home on a regular basis. And while I can't identify with the same struggle as the contestants, I can see that ever-striving, ever-stretching, reaching, fighting, stumbling, falling, scrambing soul in them that lives in me.
And when the weigh-in comes at the end of the week and they stand before the scale, I can't help but see a servant standing before his master, hoping that his best was enough to change this place for the better.

I would love to be the catalyst in someone's life to help make their dreams a reality. To journey with them through the struggle. To boost them over the barriers and pull up the barbed wire so they can crawl beneath. Where do I go from here?

storms

As I awoke to the ping of ice crystals pelting the windows, the blankets of my bed could not have been more inviting. As if a newly-transfigured butterfly resisting emergence from a cocoon, I finally pulled myself from slumber around 8:30. There was a mental list of things to accomplish for the weekend: wash and wax the car once more before the county trucks encrusted everything in winter salt, do the bit of Christmas shopping my pitiful checking account could afford, get some groceries, etc. But unlike the sweet whipped delight that covers holiday goodies, the icing that coated the midwest had nixed all plans. I was a hostage in my home.

I had lunch with a friend today. He recently was released from a ministry role he had poured himself into entirely. Now he is adrift, questioning, searching, wondering.

I think sometimes God allows storms to arise, permits boulders to fall from the mountain tops and come to rest directly in the footpath that leads to the summit, and otherwise alters our plans so we are forced to rest. To take a break, re-evaluate, regroup, and resolve. Sometimes we get so caught up in running our own race that it takes a broken ankle to get our attention and regain our focus during our recovery.

So I rested during the storm. I relaxed for the first time in weeks (maybe months). I did....nothing. and HE was there. in music. in friends. in silence.

Lord, send more storms...

The Real Jesus

to be more like the real Jesus everyday...

so ashamed

Last night, an old friend from the insurance company came over to work on a video project. We wanted some old home movies converted to DVD for a Christmas present to give his parents. While I had never done a VHS to DVD conversion, I figured I could run the VCR to my video camera (which has an analog input and firewire output) and then digitize it for editing.
However, my editing program didn't like what it was being fed and would choke on it every 10 seconds. At that moment, Mr. Eric Potter walked in to my house randomly and assessed the situation. He said he may have something at home to fix the problem. He promptly returned with the bane of my existence. a Mac.
I mostly hate Macs because of their flagrant air of superiority and so-called intuitive operation. Last time I attempted to use on, I couldn't even find the "power" button.
But I didn't have much choice. Eric got everything wired after struggling a few minutes to get his Mac power supply to work, which helped my PC ego. When he fired up the camera and "iMovie," it began importing video flawlessly. bittersweet victory.

So, i'm still importing video, some 7 hours later. and have fallen to the Mac. so soo ashamed.

merry "2.5 weeks before Christmas" party

The office is filled with the familiar tunes of Christmas carols. Health inspectors have transformed into little elves, decorating doors with collages of holiday scenes and transporting desserts here and there.

The conference room had a smorgasbord of appetizers at 9am, on which everyone grazed until there were only crumbs left.

At 10:00 there was to be "turkey bowling" in one of the main hallways, but that was changed to "chicken bowling" (due to the high price of turkey), which was changed to "bowling with a balloon filled with ice" (because bowling with poultry is just weird and unsanitary).

The main feast is soon to come, after which I will be so engorged and carb-laden that typing a complete sentence will be nearly impossible.

hardly feels like work today.
joy!

God vs. Science.

A science professor begins his school year with a lecture to the students, "Let me explain the problem science has with religion." The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

"You're a Christian, aren't you, son?"

"Yes sir," the student says.

"So you believe in God?"

"Absolutely."

"Is God good?"

"Sure! God's good."

"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"

"Yes."

"Are you good or evil?"

"The Bible says I'm evil."

The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible!" He considers for a moment. "Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?"

"Yes sir, I would."

"So you're good...!"

"I wouldn't say that."

"But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't."

The student does not answer, so the professor continues. "He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?"

The student remains silent.

"No, you can't, can you?" the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.

"Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?"

"Er...yes," the student says.

"Is Satan good?"

The student doesn't hesitate on this one. "No."

"Then where does Satan come from?"

The student falters. "From God"

"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"

"Yes, sir."

"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?"

"Yes."

"So who created evil?" The professor continued, "If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil."

Again, the student has no answer. "Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?"

The student squirms on his feet. "Yes."

"So who created them?"

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. "Who created them?" There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. "Tell me," he continues onto another student. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"

The student's voice betrays him and cracks. "Yes, professor, I do."

The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?"

"No sir. I've never seen Him."

"Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?"

"No, sir, I have not."

"Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?"

"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."

"Yet you still believe in him?"

"Yes."

"According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?"

"Nothing," the student replies. "I only have my faith."

"Yes, faith," the professor repeats. "And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith."

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of His own. "Professor, is there such thing as heat?"

"Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat."

"And is there such a thing as cold?"

"Yes, son, there's cold too."

"No sir, there isn't."

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. "You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees."

"Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."

Silence across the room.
A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

"What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?"

"Yes," the professor replies without hesitation. "What is night if it isn't darkness?"

"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word."

"In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?"

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. "So what point are you making, young man?"

"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed."

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. "Flawed? Can you explain how?"

"You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains. "You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought."

"It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it."

"Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"

"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do."

"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

"Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?"

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.

"To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean."

The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen
the professor's brain?" The class breaks out into laughter.

"Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's
brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir."

"So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?"

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.

Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. "I guess you'll have to take them on faith."

"Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life," the student continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?"

Now uncertain, the professor responds, "Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but
evil."

To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."

The professor sat down.

2nd season

What a refreshing weekend...despite the freezing rain, high winds, and drizzle.

Friday, I hunted with my dad & uncle, and their friend Steve. Between the four of us, not a single deer was spotted the entire day. To our recollection, this was unprecedented. But that all changed later that night. We were on our way home from the Pizza Cellar in Princeton, about 1/2 mile from camp. Uncle Dave was driving his truck, Dad was in the front passenger seat, and I was sitting behind him. All of a sudden, Steve, who was sitting next to me, shouted, "deer....Deer....DEEER!"

At the second exclamation, I caught a flash of antlers above brown and white lighting, racing like a torpedo towards the passenger door.

Time stood still for a moment and then....BOOM.

Dave never even saw it coming. When he got stopped and turned around, the deer had made it about 70 yards out in the field, but was obviously servery injured.
We called the Sheriff to report the accident and waited for him to come fill out a report. We ended up shooting and cleaning it ourselves, so it wasn't a total waste. Quite an expensive deer, however, with a $500 deductible!

Yesterday morning, I was sitting in the drizzle and was about to head back to the shed when I heard some commotion in the brush. But there was something out of the ordinary. The crackle of ice on the leaves was accompanied by a clanking sound that brought forth images of escaped prisoners clad in iron shackles. It got louder by the moment and suddenly a ghost-like creature emerged from the shadows. It was a giant coyote that had apparently been caught in a foot-hold trap, but managed to pull the stake from the ground and was now wearing some iron jewelry.
I knew this animal would not survive long, as a predator with an alarm on its foot would have no chance of catching prey. The cross hairs settled on my target and with a single, thundering shot, she was dispatched.

It is good to be in the woods. It doesn't matter if the sun is shining or you are getting pelted with ice. Any bad day in the woods beats the best day in the office.