Midsummer Musings: A/C Goes Down

Our house is over 20 years old, and sometimes it feels its age. Unfortunately, we sometimes have to feel its age with it.

We have this guy who comes and gives our heat pump and our evaporative cooler a checkup every spring. He's managed to keep our old units running for several years, but with a warning that they could go at any time.

The first casualty was our evaporative cooler. We didn't even turn it on this year. Repairs were deemed inoperable. No big deal. We could replace that at our leisure.

About mid-June, I noticed the house wasn't cooling off as well as it should. The A/C kept cycling. I called our guy and he checked it out. Sure enough, our heat pump's time had come.

Fortunately he called around and got us a good deal on a new unit. The price included installation, a new digital thermostat, the crane rental, and a ten year warranty. In less than 48 hours, we had our new unit up and running. Nice.

Midsummer Musings: High School Reunion

I had just come home from a week at camp when I just as quickly took off for my 30-year high school reunion.

It was fun to see some old friends (although a little disappointing that some others didn't show). Lots of memories were shared with folks I hadn't seen in 10, 20, or even 30 years. One surprise was seeing someone who had been at a retreat I had led (I didn't know him in high school). And I knew his wife - a pastor with whom I had served on another retreat.

Another surprise was that I actually sang karaoke - something I had never done before. I picked out Desperado by the Eagles. Although I was not in the best voice (my throat was still scratchy from performing my pirate voice two nights prior), it actually turned out okay and I got a rousing ovation. Even the guy running the karaoke said it was good.

It was a fun evening. Hopefully I don't have to wait another ten years to see some of these folks again.

Midsummer Musings: Pirate Humor

Did you know that there is a table grace sung to the tune of Pirates of the Caribbean? Just another tune you can sing the Doxology to.

And this grace was the inspiration for some levity during music camp. I was getting a bit silly with one of the other cabin leaders with some pirate jokes, and it just escalated from there. Before you knew it, I was asking my pastor if T2 and I could lead the grace for dinner that evening.

We managed to get eye patches from the camp nurse (and colored them black); bandanas completed our outfits. And so the Mingus Mountain Pirate Standup Comedy Show was born:

"What's a pirate's favorite letter of the alphabet?" - "R(rrrrr)!" (okay, that's old, but a good warmup).

"What's a pirate's favorite subject in school?" - "Arrrrrrt!"

"What's a pirate's favorite Bible story?" - "Noah's Arrrrrrrk!"

"What's a pirate's favorite Gospel?" - "Marrrrrk!"

"What's a pirate's favorite movie?" - "Purty Woman." - "Purty Woman? Why?" - "Because it's rated R(rrrrrrr)!"

And who said pirates couldn't have good Christian fun?

Midsummer Musings: Music Camp

Music camp went as well as expected. The kids worked hard and played nice (for the most part). I only had one incident where I had to intervene and lay down the law with one camper. But all in all, I had a very good group this year.

Our theme this year was writing a musical around the Creation story (Genesis 1, 2). We also had quite a bit of technology where a fair amount of music was done electronically and there was a Power Point slideshow going on in the background.

We had a several hikes, as usual, including a biodiversity hike where we would go out and photograph as many different species of plants and animals as we could find in an hour. We would then go back to the camp and - with books and internet - try to identify as many of the species as we could. Our group had managed to find an Abert's squirrel - not real common, but not as rare as its cousin, the Kaibab squirrel.

The weather actually was a bit cooler - even cold at times - this year. It wasn't so much the temperature, but the windchill. On Wednesday morning, a steady breeze came up and it didn't let up all day. Normally we have one day at camp (usually Wednesday) where we pick up a sack lunch and take our groups somewhere outside on the grounds or just outside of camp. But it was so cold this year, everyone opted to eat in the dining hall.

The show was written and rehearsed. Unfortunately, as well-behaved as my guys were, they weren't as focused, and had some difficulty learning their parts. It was down to crunch time. But T and I gave them a good pep talk, and they were all able to step up to the plate. They did alright.

Midsummer Musings: Prelude

It has been an incredibly busy summer for me - perhaps the busiest ever. Some things were planned, some things were not.

I had looked forward to blogging while I was at music camp during the first week of June. I even posted from there once. Then, inexplicably, my laptop died. We thought it was just a bad AC adapter or the cord that plugs into the computer. I ordered new ones. The laptop still does not power up. Perhaps I'll get into it sometime later when life settles down.

But now that things are sort of settled a little, it is now time for me to make contact with the world again and let all my peeps know what the heck I've been up to for the last several weeks. Hence the Midsummer Musings.

Music Camp: Arrival

We arrived safely and uneventfully at camp yesterday afternoon. I came up with T, someone I've known since she was a little girl - now she's a sophomore in college!

It is nice to be up in the cool pines. It's peaceful for now - the campers don't arrive until this afternoon. The staff is all here now, and we've already had one of our preliminary meetings.

Last night a few of us took a night hike to the overlook which is about a quarter-mile away. From there we could see the lights of the Verde Valley below.

We also saw a rather spectacular shooting star. It was rather large and bright, and turned several colors - even green!

On the way back to camp we also spotted two deer. Not a bad start.

Vinyl Goes Digital

Thomas Edison once invented a machine called a phonograph (also known as a record player or turntable) on which one would listen a vinyl disc called a record. A record could be a single song or a collection of songs (called an album - a term still used today). Actually a single consisted of two songs as - unlike compact discs - records are playable on both sides. I don't think my grandchildren are even aware of these precious antiques.

The phonograph forever changed the way we listened to music, just as the printing press changed how we communicate the written word. In my generation, the phonograph was in its heyday. It wasn't until the advent of the compact disc that the phonograph met its demise - along with the cassette player.

So what about all those vinyl records? Are lost forever in the dust? Nay, nay! The turntable is making a big comeback - as a device that connects to your computer and converts your vinyl recordings into mp3 files.

Between my wife and myself (hey, she's older) we have a pretty extensive record collection. This turntable also has an input for tape players - and that collection is even more extensive.

So now I'm enjoying a bit of nostalgia this weekend by converting my collection of 45 rpm records (from about 30+ years ago) into mp3 files - complete with that slight scatchy noise associated with records. I plan to burn these into a CD (or CD set) aptly entitled Paul's 45's. It's been so long since I've played these that on some I've forgotten which was the hit single and which was the flip side. Sometimes I've forgotten them altogether!

Well, as my wife once said to her father: "That's the great thing about getting old - there's no reruns!" This will be a nice nostalgic weekend for me as my vinyl goes digital.

So Young, So Tragic

I was saddened to hear some of the news this week.

Five-year-old Maria Sue Chapman, the youngest adopted daughter of Contemporary Christian artist, Stephen Curtis Chapman, lost her life yesterday after being struck in her driveway by an SUV driven by one of the Chapman's teenage sons. The police said the incident at the Chapman's Franklin, Tennessee home was simply a terrible accident.

In Phoenix earlier this week, a three-year-old boy who was with his mother visiting a friend's home found a loaded gun on a nightstand and fatally shot himself. Again, just another terrible accident.

My prayers go out to these families and friends, especially to those who may somehow feel responsible and struggling under a mountain of guilt.

As children of God, we often find it difficult to understand why these things happen. Fortunately, God knows perfectly well, and understands our pain, too.

Reflections: Ted Kennedy

I must admit, I have very little love for Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.). This week, Kennedy was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. That will be a struggle. No doubt he will get the best medical treatment that money can buy. No doubt he won't have to pay a dime for it. He probably doesn't have to hassle with insurance companies, or be concerned whether his treatment is in-network or out-of-network. Meanwhile, the rest of us do.

Kennedy is considered a giant in the US Senate. I'm not sure if that's a compliment or insult when you consider that Congress has an appalling 18.7% approval rating right now. At least President Bush has a 30.5% rating. [source]

For someone who has championed civil rights, I'm disappointed that he has turned his back on the illegal immigration issue which is so prevalent here in the states bordering Mexico. He could have at least gotten his fat rump down here to see for himself. But no.

Kennedy has suffered back pain due to a plane crash in 1964. Of course, that pain extended into his neck after that little car crash in 1969. His passenger wasn't so lucky. She died. And Ted's presidential hopes fled as quickly as he fled from the scene of a fatal accident (one that possibly would not have been fatal if he stayed and helped the poor girl).

Despite my disdain for the Honorable Edward M. Kennedy, I don't wish him ill. This is a terrible illness he has to face. I've lost two friends to cancer just this year. My prayers are with him as well.

Should Hilary Quit?

At this point, the Democratic presidential nomination is certainly not decided - but try telling that to Hillary Clinton's detractors. Some are calling on her to quit the race. But why? Just because it's May already and she doesn't have enough delegates to secure the nomination? Well, neither does Obama.

I seem to recall that as of late last year, John McCain's run for the presidency was in serious trouble. His campaign was out of money and he was lagging far behind in the polls. But McCain did not quit. Look at him now. The GOP convention is a mere formality in which he will be named the Republican nominee for president.

If Obama can secure enough delegates to secure the nomination, then certainly Clinton should bow out. But that hasn't happened yet. It just may go down to the wire. And then there's those pesky super-delegates (courtesy of Richard "Vote-early-vote-often" Daly). Don't get me wrong - I'm no fan of Hilary. But tell me again why she should quit.

Blogging From Remote (Sort Of)

This post represents the first one done away from my desktop.

I wanted a laptop so that I could work away from my desktop (or even away from home). Turns out we just happen to have a laptop here that no one was using (S has a laptop from work with a wireless connection). So I checked it out to see what it would take to get it up to speed. After all, I successfully assembled my own desktop PC last fall, right?

All it really needed was more RAM (it had 256 MB and is upgradeable to 2 GB) and a wireless card. I ordered those last Thursday and they arrived today. Easy upgrades. Blazing speed. And I can surf in the living room in front of the TV. This year I'll even be able to blog from camp. Sweet.

Advice To Our Youth

I heard this on the radio the other day.

1. Finish high school.
2. Don't go to jail.
3. Don't bring children into the world that you're not capable of taking care of.

If our youth would just heed this three basic rules, perhaps we wouldn't be such a welfare state.

Rising Food Prices: A Taste of What's To Come

"I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, 'A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages...'" Revelation 6:5b-6b

Rising food prices. Yet another sign of the end times prophesied in the Bible. The timing of this passage would suggest this event takes place during the Tribulation.

It's interesting to note that this Bible passage mentions wheat specifically, especially in light of recent news of the rising price of wheat. In an effort to create more biofuel, price of corn is up and the supply is low, therefore leaving less to feed our livestock. Now there is a run on rice worldwide, even here in the United States where Costco and Sam's Club are limiting how much they sell to each customer. And in Japan, butter has become a luxury item.

It might be a good idea to start growning your own food.

Keep watch, my brethren. Be vigilant.

Immigration Is Not The Problem

There's a lot of talk regarding illegal immigration, and as long as the issue remains unresolved by country's leadership, it will only serve to polarize our nation.

I would submit to you, however, that illegal immigration in itself is not the problem. Instead, it is merely a symptom of a much bigger problem.

I think it is quite obvious that the United States is becoming or has become a welfare state. The Democratic Party under Franklin D. Roosevelt made some sweeping and progressive moves to help those who can't help themselves. I applaud FDR for this. Unfortunately, every Democratic administration has somehow perverted Roosevelt's policies to the point where we are close to living in a socialist state. Both candidates vying for the Democratic nomination are certainly capable of tipping our nation over that edge if elected.

I don't have a problem helping those who truly need it. But our government makes it relatively easy to enable many who don't work just because they don't feel like it. Conversely, it is also difficult for people to get out of the vicious circle of the welfare system.

Our country is not in very good shape. The health care system is near meltdown, schools are not adequately educating our children, drug abuse is as rampant as ever, and our prisons are overcrowded. These may be a contributing factor to the moral decay in this country.

A good case in point is Hurricane Katrina. A lot of folks in New Orleans are angry at the government. They feel let down because they expect the government to take care of them, but the government has not been able to take care in the manner that they are used to. Meanwhile, the rest of the Gulf region, and other areas hit by disaster (i.e. - the California wildfires) are quietly rebuilding without bitching to the government for a handout.

Despite all the indications that we are or will soon be a welfare state, we are an attractive country, especially to those who have a rough life in places like Mexico or Central America. It's not their fault.

Since our country was born, many have immigrated here. They came here for a better life than what they left behind. It wasn't necessarily an easy life. They didn't come expecting a handout from the government - nor did they get one. These immigrants took care of themselves and each other. That's still true today (if you go to a homeless shelter you will see very few Hispanics).

So if it seems that immigrants today - regardless of where they're from - are taking advantage of the system, it's because they can. It's not their fault. If you give a man a fish, you can feed him for a day; if you teach him how to fish, you can feed him for life. People are deemed disadvantaged because the standards set by our government are set too low. We're giving out too many fish and not teaching enough how to fish. We need to get our act together before it's too late.

And the way I see it, immigration is not the problem.

Taxes: Well, That's Done

Finally got the taxes done today (Good, Paul - they were due today). When it comes to taxes, I normally procrastinate about them. Last year was an exception as we needed the money for our vacation. But with this year's crazy schedule and everything else going on, it was back to our normal procrastination, already in progress. I don't know. We always get a refund on both Federal and state. Turns out our refund was even bigger this year (I think that happened as a result of having to redo our W-4's last year - I evidentally allowed for additional withholding). Taxes are done. Life is good.

Another Saint Called Home

Our church said goodbye to yet another saint today.

C was a wife, mother, and friend who was a vibrant member of our church. Although she couldn't sing terribly well, she was an accomplished bell player. She once chaired our trustees committee, served as an executive director for our community theater. C had a knack for convincing people they needed to do whatever it was she needed them to do. And she was so nice, described frequently as a cheerleader.

It was a difficult service to get through - there was so much love in the Sanctuary. The choir sang Daniel Gawtrop's Sing Me To Heaven and Franz Biebl's Ave Maria. Many former members of our church were there today - some even thought they might be back. Just what C would have wanted.

Wanna Refinance? Sure!

After buying a new car with payments bigger than we had anticipated (but could still afford on our stellar credit), I was thinking more seriously then ever about refinancing some of our debt. But with the busy time and all, I was somewhat procrastinating.

Then a few weeks ago, I got a phone call from the company that services our first and second mortgages. They wanted to know how things were going and was there anything they could do to help? I jumped on that opportunity.

It's now been finalized, and we are now saving about $500 a month without taking on any additional debt. Sweet.