Just a picture.

Passing the Baton

...or, at least, something shaped like one.

Today I handed my clarinet over to my son. I am proud that he decided to play the same instrument as his dad. Not sure that he did it to be like me (which is probably for the best anyway), but it was a big moment for me.

I loved playing the clarinet in junior high and high school (and I was decent at it!), but I didn't really keep up with it much except for playing it in one church body for a time.

I thought it needed some repairs and wasn't too optimistic about its availability for him in the short term, but I put it together and started playing -- and it was like an old friend. I loved the feel of it, the tone, everything about it. J heard me playing and ran in excitedly.

"Does this mean I can start playing?"

Yes, I guess it does.

Play well, son. I love you.

Arrgh of the Day

A radio station I listen to occasionally has a contest every afternoon in which they give away something (concert tix, CDs, etc.). They play a lame, usually obscure song until someone stops it by calling in with the title and artist.

Today's prize was a set of Outlaws tickets. Not into lacrosse, so I hadn't planned to even try to call in.

But then, as soon as the opening notes of lameness sounded, I knew what it was.

"Hungry Eyes." Eric Carmen.

It's so terrible I had to try to stop it.

And I just can't not try to win.

(Side note: I love my BlackBerry. It does a lot of things really well. A notable exception is speed dialing. Faster to use an old dial phone.)

Despite my phone's deficiency in dialing, I managed to get through. I was so happy to hear the DJ say, "93.3, who's this?" "Robert," say I, happy to have the win in sight.

"Who?"

"Robert!"

"Who? Dude, I can't hear you!"

I can hear him crystal. "Robert! Robert!"

"OK, sorry man, movin' on..."

Now, they take these calls on a delay so they don't get into trouble with the FCC for someone's creative language. I had time to turn the radio up to hear...

"Bert!" (crackle crackle) "Bert!" (crackle) "Bert!"

"OK, sorry man..."

Perhaps BEING A PHONE isn't my phone's strongest point either.

Denied by technology.

Sigh...

Link: I Don't Want My Children to be Happy

Excellent article here -- wish I'd written this. Although I'm not adopting children from Ethiopia...yet.

C'mon Spring!

OK, I have to admit I really love winter. I know a lot of people (including most of my family) complain about it, but I do love it. I love the crisp (?) below-zero air, the snow, the frozen lake. Don't much love driving around people who don't know how to drive in it (Snow? Must be new this year!), but otherwise I kinda dig it.

But I'm ready for spring.

I'm pumped about starting a garden this year. I haven't done that for a long time, and I'm really looking forward to it. Colorado's soil is pretty fertile apparently, so it should be pretty productive. The one weird thing is that it stays cold here until, like, August. Then it goes back to being cold. So many people start their veggies indoors and then transfer them outdoors when it warms up.

Here's my dilemma.

I need to buy a lamp to simulate sunlight indoors. You might think this wouldn't be that common, but there are tons of shops here that sell hydroponic supplies.

Did I mention that medical marijuana is legal here?

So I'm thinking, do I go to one of these places and ask for advice on starting tomatoes indoors? All I can picture is the guy going, "Tomatoes? Duuuude...you need to grow buds!"

Perhaps I'll just put them in the window.

Has it been a year already?

Wow...is it too late for a resolution? Consistency...that's it. Yeah.

It's Giveaway Time!

Made you look! No, I am not giving anything away this time, but I will point you to a cool website that's giving away a signed copy of Mark Driscoll's Death by Love. All you have to do is post a comment publicly thanking someone who has helped you on your Christian journey. It's a great excuse to say "Thanks!" to someone who's made your path straighter while having a chance to win what looks like a great book. Win-win!