You don't always die from tobacco.

Sweet Lord of Hosts

Everybody needs somebody

Just a short update...

I blogged about my boy Bao Xishun saving the lives of dying dolphins back on December 27th. I also mentioned that the 7 foot 9 inch "Don Juan" was looking for a wife. Sorry ladies, he has been roped, hog tied and put out to pasture. A few days ago Bao married 5 foot 6 inch Xia Shujian. We now know there is someone for everyone.

I mean everyone...

aaaaawwwww

New Blog Motivation

I think I am going to need to start laying down a blog on a more regular basis. If nothing else, a hodgepodge of thougts, regurgitated readings and ridiculos expereinces; if for no other reason than to keep my wife from having to hear ALL of my absurd rantings on all of the stuff I inhale throughout the day.

Here are a few things that have risen to the top with me in the past few weeks.

First off, a self centered chart topper:

I spend way too much time in my own head. I don't know how many people stll watch Scrubs,

I think it's beginging to fade off the radar. I still dig it, but I seem to have an un canny knack to build an affinity for shows that are doomed for cancelation. i.e. Studio 60, 4 Kings and Boomtown

If you can relate > http://www.brilliantbutcanceled.com/

All that to say, on Scrubs, half of the show is Zach Braff's inner monologue. I feel like that's me. Not so much with the hip moosed hair and awkwardly big lips, but I live in my head. I'm not sure what that's all about. If I read something engaging, I will walk circles around it in my head for hours. I do that with conversations as well. I don't have an obsessive desire to go back and change what I did or didn't say, I just run the replay. Now I'm trying to figure out why I felt the need to write this?

Back story on my second life revelation:

John Piper hosts an annual Pastors conference in Minnesota each year. I have never been, and now that it has become the trendy thing to do, not sure if I can force my anti commonplace/rebellious/cynical/jaded ego to make the pilgrimage. I have a hard enough time reading his books. Not because the man isn't a humble genius and his understanding and interpretation of scripture blows my freaking skirt up, but because I wanna vomit due to the fact that the 20 something ministry types sip coffee and regurgitate his personally theology like it's their own then attempt to judge me because I won't take part in that thrill a minute keebler elf mental giant exchange. I'm a jerk. Anyway, I have allowed myself to sidetrack.....imagine that.

Piper preaches biographical sermons at the conference, and before Amazing Grace came out I listened to his sermon on William Wilberforce. Piper justly refers to Wilberforce as a "Big Soul". I have been camped out with that term for over a month now. I let that term marinate as I read through the book of Hebrews. The author of Hebrews lists of their hall of Fame of big souls in Hebrews 11.

As I read the stories of these big souls, taught my students the 3 references to Abraham in the hall of faith and marveled at Moses and Noah, I have been burdened to surround myself with Big Souls.

I sat with Uncle in New Mexico two weeks ago whose body is rapidly giving way to cancer overrunning his body . I actually sat between my dad and my uncle, who is my dad's oldest brother. I listened as they told stories of growing up in the depression with no running water, electricity or assurance of the next meal. Memories of picking cotton at the age of 6, and CONSTANT references to the grace, deliverance, sovereignty and power of God.

Dan Collier (My Dad) Home Collier (My Uncle)

Big Souls.

Where to start

It's been two weeks since my last blog, which if I did this for a living would translate to iminate termination. But thankfully- this is not my job. However, I will dedicate this blog to people who do a crack job!

James Cameron:

Here's to you. You made one "blockbuster" movie, that in my humble opinion was criminally overhyped. But, to your credit you made enough money and celebrity to spend the past 10 years convincing companies to fund your Steve Zissou like mini sub expeditions. Don't worry, we won't leave out your executive producer title for the monumental FBI/Surfer Bank Robber masterpiece Point Break. Now, however, you have reached you panicle. You have indisputable evidence that Jesus and Mary were married, AND they had a son. Thanks James - I am so "convinced " ( they don't have a sarcastic font, or I would have used it there.) http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23386857-details/I

Louis Farrakhan

You crazy crazy S.O.B.!

I don't have one item in particular to salute you for, jut simply your compilation of K-razy reversed racism rants, anti goverenment propaganda, and delicious bow ties! You're stepping down as the Leader of The Nation of Islam this week...you will be missed....I'm assuming.

In the Category of most predictable Train Wreck:

Britany Spears - I don't even have to write anything - the G.I> Jane pic says it all.

Daniel Radcliffe : Way to traumatize children by transforming from sweet innocent wizard in the Harry Potter films to Horse "Loving" dude on stage in Eguus.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Yikes.

Everybody's Gotta Pay

Big weekend. Manning is golden. Golden.

I don't care if you think he is too hyped. One, if you believe that, you're a moron. Two, hype or no hype, one of the most amazing comebacks ever. I think Urlacher and the Chicago D can be the best in the NFL but they are going to get stomped.

I filled up this morning for $1.96 a gallon. Thanks Kroger Plus Card! When I first started driving gas was 86 cents a gallon at the Texaco by our house. My truck had a 15 gallon tank and got crazy gas mileage. My 30 hour work week check from K-mart went crazy far then. I can't imagine people grinding away for minimum wage now.

I have been thinking about my first car today. Here's how that story goes.

My brother turned 16 in 1986. After he got his license (in our house you couldn't take drivers ed until you had already turned 16, and you had to take it through the high school - complete with the driving simulator located in the single wide trailer behind the school) he got a 84 Toyota Tacoma.

Pretty Marty McFly.

Two years later, my sister turns 16. She suffers through the film strip simulator via the mildew fragranced trailer. Her reward: The sweet 91 Ford Festiva dream machine.

Which now retails for a pocket busting $490-$650. Should have held on to that beast; it could turn a bigger prophet than Desert Storm Trading Cards - someone stole my Wolf Blitzer. It unfortunately met it's demise through the back end of a Chevy 3500 diesel monster that folded the Festiva up like an accordion. I didn't turn 16 for another 5 years. What happened in those five years you ask? After my sisters Festiva met an ugly and untimely end, she got a used Nissan Sentra. In all fairness, it wasn't a good car to start out with, but the electrical system eventually burnt up and was no more. Now in college, dear old dad got her a turquoise Pontiac Lamanse, which was a product of the "How about all auto makers make really bad hatchbacks" trend. After she ran it into the ground, she eventually inherited my parents Eddie Bower Ford Explorer. From there she was on her own to purchase transportation. My brother drove the Tacoma into the early years of college where he decided it wasn't necessary to change the oil....ever; which subsequently sent his engine to the junk yard in the sky. My folks gave him their old sedan which he drove several years before eventually being on his own and buying his own car.

Why did I feel the need to tell you all of this? When I was 16, I assumed the trend of gifting a car to the 16 year old child would continue with the youngest son. I had several back issues of "Auto Trader" and had highlighted several items of interest for my dad. I was informed that my option for a vehicle was that I could buy my dad's truck from him. Yea, that's right, BUY his OLD truck. I wasn't as put off about having to buy my own car, I have always been pretty self sufficient, but the fact I had no choice of what to buy. My first taste of Communism. Brutal. So from 94-98 I drove the Blue Barron. 1989 Chevy s-10

Jealous?

Two blogs in one week...who knew?

As if I needed another reason to loose respect for/hate/wish a painful death of wrathful flying monkeys on Barry Bonds. If they are gonna black ball McGuireand the continue to let this moron play... http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/487795p-410640c.html - I might have to boycott pro baseball and find refuge in the college ranks like I have with football and basketball.

In other news. Looks like the marathon dream is dead....at least for now. Unbeknownst to most everyone, I had been training for the Austin marathon. But, it seems I have developed a premature type of tendon and joint arthritis. So I have cut the running in half and started swimming and biking and lifting again this week. Sprint Triathlon season starts back up again this spring, so I think that might be the new adventure. I have been looking into training regiments and this Korean sub-zero training seems to be the most time to result beneficial.

I'm on it.