book and cup

Another cup o' mocha. I was reading in "the devil's cup" that the original name for coffee came from a town in what in now the nation of Yemen. I will take his word for it. I am hoping that for my birthday, I will be able to arrange a coffee tasting up in Seattle. I hear that there are one or two places to try the stuff.

And if you have not read the book "The Spirit of the Disciplines" by Dallas Willard, you should. If Dallas isn't your thing then Foster's book, "Celebration of Discipline" is the other "quick" read. And if you have a taste for a dead author, William Law's "A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life" is a rich challenge to live a life of repentance and joy.

Movies in Liquid

I am not a big fan of the wet. When I was a small child and easy to chill with a mist, I decided that water was not my friend for recreation. So when I tell people that surfing looks like a great idea, they look at me like I have forgotten that it involves a great deal of the wet (and salty). It is a kind of "are you forgetting something or are you just stupid" look. But I think what I really mean is I like the movies about surfing. So far my favorites have been The Endless Summer and Big Wednesday, which might be the obvious choices but, if you are going to be introduced to a topic, the basics are the best place to start.

Last night I saw "Step into Liquid" directed by Dana Brown, son of Bruce Brown of Endless Summer. Wow, what is possible today with photography! Some of the most enchanting shots were inside the wave. It reminded me of lead crystal, cut into scalloped shapes. The blue of the water and sky as the fore and back ground and makes the surfer appear to be flying. It is a dazzling thing to watch.

The long silence

Over the last week, I have tried several times to log on and post. But the server/wi-fi/ether fairies have been against me. Hope I am back.

A better way to experience the game

Several posts back I was complaining that modern stadiums don't respect the game. Well, here is a place where you can watch in peace. Yes, I do enjoy watching the game.

Another one gone

I found this at the local park last weekend, and it caused me to pause. Scoot was a sometimes visitor in a youth group that I volunteered with. About a month ago he was shot in a sports bar just before closing time. He was the local pharmacist for the middle school set and I am sure he made enemies (he was shot accidentally by a friend) but he was always polite and quick with a smile. I am sorry that I never got to see him as a regular at the church (any of the four churches)that he walked passed everyday.

Late Night Mocha with Wi-Fi

What a great place. It is open 24hrs with smoking kids, angry G.I.s, angry women with loser boy-friends, on a warm August night. Thank you cafe culture.

A salute for you

In LKWD we have two major military installations, with lots of retired military as well. Outside City Hall we have a group of statues, including this one, to remember WWII.

NPR geek

YEA! If I am going to lose KEXP, then this is a great replacement. I like radio.

My Very Energetic Mother Just Sent Us Nine Pizzas

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune...Pluto?

PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) -- Leading astronomers declared Thursday that Pluto is no longer a planet under historic new guidelines that downsize the solar system from nine planets to eight.

Jerks.

These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth

Here is the last of the chalk art. I found this picture outside the Tacoma Art Museum. It's subject matter is dear to my heart.

As a jr. high student, I spent much of my time as a teacher's aide (suck-up). One of my favorite teachers was Mr. S. He would let me avoid all school assemblies and if I needed to school lunches. The one weak spot in this was my duty to clean the ferret cage, daily. This is when I discovered that ferrets are nasty little creatures that stink to un-godly hights. I am not a fan of the rodent family in general, but the idea of these little beasts as pets turns my stomach to this day. So I am not really sure why someone would pose long enough to hold a glorified rat. Enjoy the picture...

Bear sidewalk

 

Another picture from the sidewalk. I couldn't fit the whole think into the frame. Too bad there was a lot to it. 

My chalk Butterfly

I found this on a walking date with my wife at the University of Washington, Tacoma. The walk didn't have the effect I was looking for however: energy and conversation. We were drifty and distant. But I got some cool photos.

Freedom!

Thank you Utilikilts. My biggest frustration is waiting till I can afford another of these beauties.

Black Water Fawcett

I found a new coffee place in Tacoma. Tasty mocha with attractive foam art (I wish I got a picture of that), Cute art on the walls(lots of pink with cartoon characters), but bad wi-fi connection. This is a problem as they advertise as a wi-fi shop. I guess that is Tethered Swimming for me. However there are two other shops within one block of Black Water Cafe, so them's next.

Section 341 row 20 seat 6

The baseball stadium is not about the game. It is really just an amusment park with baseball as one attraction. I don't know why but this supprised me. I took my daughter and she sat there for the entire game. I had to make her go to the bathroom. She liked the game.

White for harvest

In the day, I would get all high and mighty self-righteous about this "cliche". Now it seems to be the clearest call I have heard in a while.

Not much coffee in Ol' Miss, but...

Sweet sweet mocha.

Going to pascagoula

hi-wireless

I will be taking some pix with my camera but I don't know if I want to post while I am there. Notes will be taken on this, my favorite wireless device. I am returning home on the 22nd of July.

Let's call it Perspective

I came into the shop today listening to Bowie. Life on Mars was on riding along with me in the back seat. He jumped into front shot-gun when I caught the chorus. It caught me in the thinking seat along with some of the books I have been reading. It is hip to talk about the poor and those in unjust lives. I hope that we take it beyond "hip" and make it a life.



Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Oh man! Look at those cavemen go
It's the freakiest show
Take a look at the Lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh man! Wonder if he'll ever know
He's in the best selling show
Is there life on Mars?

Back into the routine

And it feels really nice. I didn't know that some day I would find so much value and comfort in doing things regularly.

Steilacoom provides a quaint fireworks display year after year. Last night was enjoyable if not weak in the finale. It is a chance to meet with some friends and watch my youngest fall and stay asleep 5 minutes before the show.