Thursday Night Mini Thoughts

- It’s not even 3:30 in the afternoon as I begin compiling these ‘Mini Thoughts’.
- But it’s already Thursday night for me.
- That’s because Friday morning will begin sooner than normal for me.
- I just set my alarm clock for 3:45 AM.
- I hope to be on the road no later than 4:45 AM.
- I’ve got about 825 miles to cover on the road tomorrow.
- That’s about 58% of the way to northeast of Dallas Texas.
- I’m really lookin’ forward to it !
- Last night I attended only my 3RD memorial service of my entire life.
- It was for a good friend and coworker.
- The service was done nice, and a few people stood up to speak of Kevin.
- If I could do it all over again then I would get up and speak too.
- It’s just one of those missed opportunities that I now regret.
- I’m learning to not miss so many of these opportunities in this new Life.
- It was an open casket viewing, but I didn’t go up to view Kevin.
- I’d rather remember Kevin as the dude that was full of life and laughter.
- The last time I saw a lifeless body in an open casket it was my Granddad.
- It’s an image that I can’t get out of my mind – 15 years later.
- This past Tuesday night I attended my 2ND Toastmasters meeting.
- I had a fun time – and an important role – as the vote counter.
- Joining Toastmasters was a wise idea for my own professional development.
- It’ll help me out in conquering one of my greatest weaknesses – speaking.
- It’ll enhance my professional career as well as my personal Life.
- Thank You Travis for leading me to Toastmasters !
- I am planning to continue the blogging during my entire vacation.
- The weekly ‘Disco Party’ is still on track for tomorrow night.
- I’ve got a gem from 35 years ago from a dude that called himself ‘Disco Tex’.
- Then on the ‘Retro’ on Sat. night I’ve got a bubblegum pop smash from 1996.
- Then on Sun. morning it’s my takeaways from a church service I’m attending.
- This church in Allen Texas looks amazingly similar to Life Pointe Church.
- So that’s what’s happenin’ with me on this Thursday night (and beyond).
- Keep it locked in – same blog time – same blog station.
- This blog post was transcribed.

My Fantastic Journey: It’s In The Lyrics

Tuesday Night Grab Bag O’ Thoughts

1.  I receive a lot of junk mail in my old-fashioned traditional mailbox. I wish there was a way where we could select which specific stores we would like to receive weekly advertisements for, and then only receive junk mail from them. But then I guess that it wouldn’t really be ‘junk’ mail, but rather ‘want’ mail. I receive weekly ads from Winn-Dixie, Sedano’s, and Diaz Supermarket (among others). I don’t shop at any of these fine grocery stores. I do shop at Publix, and I think that I would actually pay a small fee just to receive their weekly ad in the mail.

2.  It’s ‘The Major’s Lunch-A-Thon’. This past Sunday I ate at Longhorn Steakhouse. On Monday I ate at Beef ‘O’ Brady’s. Today I ate at Olive Garden. The tour de force of fine dining establishments in and around Homestead continues on Wednesday and Thursday before I head out-of-town on Friday. Lunch – It does a Chris good !

3.  ‘For Crying Out Loud !’ – Where does that phrase actually come from anyway ?  It’s a phrase that some people utilize in lieu of cussing - particularly when the’re astonished and can’t believe their eyes. I don’t think that I’ve ever uttered that phrase intentionally or otherwise. I suppose it’s a phrase (like many others) that’s probably inherited from generation to generation within the family. Incidentally how can you not ‘believe your eyes’ ?  Have your eyes ever lied to you ?  Well maybe after drinking !

4.  I filled up my car with gas this afternoon on my way home from work. I’ll be doing it again this Friday morning up near Orlando along Florida’s Turnpike. And then I’ll do it again about 5 hours later up in the northwestern panhandle of Florida along I-10. And then I’ll probably do it again another 5 hours after that at my first pit stop on my road trip. The adventure begins in less than 60 hours !

5.  The weather should be nice and seasonal on my way to the Dallas Texas area this Friday and Saturday with temperatures within a rather narrow range on both days – pretty much mid-60s to mid-70s on Friday and low-50s to mid-60s on Saturday – so neither cold nor hot. I should be able to maximize my gas mileage during my trip there by not using the A.C. We’ll see.

Monday Night Funnies

These were (allegedly) posted on an Australian tourism web site, and the answers are (allegedly) the actual responses by the web site officials (who obviously have a great sense of humour – not to mention a low tolerance threshold for cretins !)

Q.  Does it ever get windy in Australia ?  I have never seen it rain on TV. How do the plants grow ?  ( U.K. )

A.  We import all plants fully grown, and then just sit around watching them die.

Q.  Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street ?  ( U.S. )

A.  Depends how much you’ve been drinking.

Q.  I want to walk from Perth to Sydney. Can I follow the railroad tracks ?  (Sweden)

A.  Sure - it’s only three thousand miles - take lots of water.

Q.  Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in  Australia ?  Can you send me a list of them in Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and Hervey Bay ?  (U.K.)

A.  What did your last slave die of ?

Q.  Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia ?  (U.S.)

A.  A-Fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the Pacific which does not … Oh forget it … Sure … the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Kings Cross. Come naked.

Q.  Which direction is North in Australia ?  (U.S.)

A.  Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here, and we’ll send the rest of the directions.

Q.  Can I bring cutlery into Australia ?  (U.K.)

A.  Why ?  Just use your fingers like we do.

Q.  Can you send me the Vienna Boys’ Choir schedule ?  (U.S.)

A.  Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y … which is … Oh forget it … Sure … the Vienna Boys’ Choir plays every Tuesday night in Kings Cross - straight after the hippo races. Come naked.

Q.  Can I wear high heels in Australia ?  (U.K.)

A.  You are a British politician right ?

Q.  Are there supermarkets in Sydney, and is milk available all year round ?  (Germany)

A.  No - we are a peaceful civilization of vegan hunters/gatherers. Milk is illegal.

Q.  Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can dispense rattlesnake serum.  (U.S.)

A.  Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca which is where YOU come from. All Australian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled, and make good pets.

Q.  I have a question about a famous animal in Australia, but I forget its name. It’s a kind of bear and lives in trees.  (U.S.)

A.  It’s called a Drop Bear. They are so called because they drop out of Gum trees and eat the brains of anyone walking underneath them. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.

Q.  I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Can you tell me where I can sell it in Australia ?  (U.S.)

A.  Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.

Q.  Do you celebrate Christmas in Australia ?  (France)

A.  Only at Christmas.

Q.  Will I be able to speak English most places I go ?  (U.S.)

A.  Yes - but you’ll have to learn it first.

Life Pointe Church Sunday Morning Tossed Salad

It’s the middle Sunday of November of 2009 in the year of our Lord, and here are my takeaways in 15 words or less from this morning at the L-P-C:

- Kicking things off was an all-new ‘Praise & Worship’ band.
- But the’re not so new if you’ve attended service at our southwest campus.
- Our Plantation Key band got it done at the start of both services.
- They rocked and they rolled like nobody’s business.
- They were definitely cool like that.
- I hosted the first service for the first time ever.
- I read from 1 Peter 1:13-20 to lead us in to Communion.
- God’s ransom saved us – and that ransom – was the Life of Christ.
- God chose Him as His ransom long before the world began.
- Pastor Travis brought this week’s message all about ‘Friends & Neighbors’.
- If we treat our neighbours bad or not at all then we’re doing the same to God.
- Our friends and neighbours should easily see the work of Jesus in us.
- We should embody Jesus and be like Him to all of those around us.
- We should be like Him all of the time – not some of the time.
- We’re either hot or we’re cold when it comes to being like Jesus.
- We can’t be lukewarm, for we can’t serve two masters.
- Our embodiment of Jesus Christ must be consistent and unwavering.

This morning’s message was based on the following Scriptures out of God’s Great News:  Acts 1:8, John 1:1 / 1:14, Matthew 10:40, Proverbs 18:24 / 27:14.

Matthew 10:40 (NLT, 2ND Ed.):
Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the Father who sent me.

I’ll be out-of-town over the next two Sunday mornings, but I’ll be thinking about you wild and crazy cats from afar. Love your friends and neighbours, and invite them onto our fantastic journey. I’ll be back at the movie theatre three Sunday mornings from now on the 06TH of December as we kick-off our Christmas season at Life Pointe Church. Have a safe and festive Thanksgiving my friends !

Saturday Night Retro

Long before The Jonas Brothers, ‘N Sync, The Backstreet Boys, Hanson, New Kids On The Block, Leif Garrett, and David Cassidy there lived another HUGE teen pop idol that all of the young girls swarmed after. I’m talking of course about the incomparable Neil Sedaka.

From the age of 19 until the age of 24 (1958 to 1963) young Neil racked up an amazing 14 TOP 40 hits including the # 1 smash “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do” and the TOP 5 smash “Calendar Girl”. But then the American music landscape radically changed in the mid-1960s, and young Neil was no longer the hot thing. (He wasn’t British for one thing.)

Fast forward more than 15 years after his initial debut, and Neil Sedaka started hanging out with Elton John who was at the peak of his long career. Elton helped to pull Neil out of his extended slump, and Neil returned to the top of the pop charts as a middle-aged dude. He took his classic “Laughter In The Rain” straight to # 1 at the start of February of 1975, and just 8 months later in October of 1975 his funky “Bad Blood” (with Elton on back-up vocals) hit # 1.

Here now is that very funky middle-aged version of Neil Sedaka from 1975:

The Major’s Walk-A-Thon

Time: 6:33 AM – 7:13 AM
Sky: Clear
Temperature: 58°F
Dewpoint: 55°F
Relative Humidity: 89%
Winds: W 3 MPH
Barometric Pressure: 29.93 Rising

Here are my walking thoughts in 15 words or less:

- This morning I walked around my neighbourhood in the cold.
- 58°F is cold after a long hot and humid South Florida summer !
- I did something quite different this time around.
- I woke up, I put clothes and shoes on, and I did my walk.
- Last season I’d take a hot shower before the long walk.
- That really didn’t make too much sense to me.
- Especially when it wasn’t too cold out and I sweat.
- Now the hot shower comes after the long walk.
- It was the nicest-feeling hot shower in recent medium-term memory !
- This was actually my first walk around my neighbourhood in over 8 months !
- I last did the walk on the first Saturday morning of March !
- I set no records with this walk, but I did walk an estimated 2.2 miles.
- I did that in 40.7 minutes.
- My legs started to hurt just a little bit towards the end of the walk.
- That’s what happens when I don’t walk for over 8 months.
- Sunrise occurred at 6:38 AM – 5 minutes into my walk.
- The Sun first hit me at an incredible time.
- It was when Jesse Santoyo was singing on my iPod Shuffle.
- “I feel so alive – You are by my side.”
- I got the chills when I heard that as the Sun hit me.
- That’s the daylight that I’m chasing on this fantastic journey.
- Walking a couple of miles around my neighbourhood is good for me.
- It’s good for my health, and it’s good for my mind, heart, and soul.
- Thank You Lord Jesus for allowing me to live within your great creations.
- Thank You Lord Jesus for giving me a second chance at this thing called Life.

The Major’s Friday Night Disco Party

Kool & The Gang have been together for longer than I’ve been on this Earth – over 45 years. They’ve been known as Kool & The Gang for the past 40 years. In fact their very first radio single in 1969 was titled “Kool & The Gang”, and it was from their debut album “Kool & The Gang”. They got more creative – more funkier – and more rambunctious as the years and the decades rolled on. Their biggest success occurred during the early-to-mid-1980s when they racked-up 10 TOP 10 hits. But a full decade before that they scored this early TOP 5 funky Disco smash that had the whole nation movin’ to the “Jungle Boogie”.

Thursday Night Mini Thoughts

- For the first time ever I’ve got 2 systems connected to the ‘Net simultaneously.
- I bought a ‘Wireless-N USB 2.0 Adapter‘ for my antique laptop.
- That’s the laptop that was my main system before I bought my new desktop.
- It’s so old that wireless technology was a mere option when it was new.
- Now I can access the Internet whereever there’s Wi-Fi.
- OK so I’m about 5 years behind the times here – at least I arrived.
- This suddenly rejuvenated laptop is going on a long road trip with me !
- Next Thursday night at this time I’ll be on vacation.
- I’m actually working for about 5 hours next Thursday morning.
- After that I’m off for the rest of the month.
- I return back to work to celebrate my 22ND anniversary at the air base.
- I’ve got an early departure time to hit the road next Friday morning.
- I’ve got about 825 miles to cover on the first day of my road trip.
- I can’t wait to get out on that open road.
- Late this morning I ventured over to Beef ‘O’ Brady’s for Lunch.
- I rarely eat cheeseburgers nowadays, but when I do Beef’s is the place.
- They also serve up some mightly tasty buffalo wings !
- Pretty much everything that I’ve ordered there was hot and delicious.
- Well the cold air from the north is advecting our area as I type this.
- Once the skies clear out our temperatures will tumble rapidly.
- I’m forecasting a low of 56° for Homestead from 6 AM to 7 AM on Friday.
- But wind chills will actually be closer to 50° !
- Tomorrow (Friday) we will struggle to reach 75°.
- It’ll be another chilly morning on Saturday.
- I can’t wait until I can walk around my neighbourhood in it !
- That’s right – I’m doin’ a ‘Walk-A-Thon’ on Saturday morning.
- This Saturday night on the ‘Retro’ I’ve got a funky Neil Sedaka from 1975.
- But first before that we’re gonna do the “Jungle Boogie” at the ‘Disco Party’.
- Be sure not to miss those weekend shenanigans.
- Those are my ‘Mini Thoughts’ for this Thursday night.
- I thank you for checking them out, and I’ll see ya back here tomorrow.
- In the meantime – REMEMBER THIS !

Veterans Day – Honoring All Who Served

Tuesday Night Grab Bag O’ Thoughts

1.  Today was a very tough day at work for me and my co-workers in my building at the air base. We received the unsettling news shortly after 7 AM that one of our own was down on the street (SW 288TH St. – just down the road from the base) in very bad shape after being t-boned by a car and thrown off of his motorcycle. Word came in a short while later that he had died as a result of his injuries. Our building was in mourning for much of the day, and one of the  Base Chaplains spent much of the day with us. The guy that we lost was well liked by all, and I considered him as one of my favourite people to talk to and hang out with during the course of any given work day. Yesterday afternoon I spent the last 10 minutes of my work day doing just that – talking, hanging out, and laughing with him – not knowing that it would be the last time that I would ever be able to do that. God – Please bless Kevin up in Heaven, and take care of my buddy. I know that he’s in a much better place now that he’s with You. Thank You Kevin for being a good man – and for being my friend.

2.  This was actually the 2ND death in our base’s extended work family in the span of roughly 36 hours. The pilot who lost his life on Sunday night when his private plane crashed into the Everglades near I-75 was also one of our own. He was a Lieutenant Colonel / Deputy Commander on the base, and I used to work with him back in the mid-1990s when he was a Captain. He left work on Sunday night, went to Tamiami Airport, and took off in his plane to fly back home to North Central Florida. He never made it. He was 49.

3.  Yesterday was Day 7 of my severe cold that was born at work exactly one week ago today, and I still had a noticeable trace of the leftovers of the cold via sporadic sinus pressure and drainage issues. I’m not yet ready to officially declare my cold to be completely done and over with because I just now blew my nose quite thoroughly, and a lot of excess leftover snottage came out and my nose made some funny drainage sounds during the process. I do wish to thank my friends Airborne, Zicam, and Cold-EEZE for their great efforts to make me feel just a little bit better during the peak of the severe cold.

4.  I never knew that my all-time favourite take-out Chinese Food restaurant actually has the biggest, boldest, and bestest chicken wings in town – but they do. I deviated from my regular Lunch on Monday, as I ordered a pint of won ton soup, an order of 4 chicken wings, and an egg roll. These chicken wings were GINORMOUS. They were hot, juicy, and tasty. I highly recommend them. I must warn you though that these are your standard fried chicken wings – no sauce – no seasoning – but if that’s all that you want – and you want them BIG – then go and get you some at Shanghai over at the Waterstone Plaza in Homestead.

5.  Get ready for cooler and dryer air to sweep through America’s Riviera early this Thursday morning. Our coolest morning should actually be Friday with actual air temperatures bottoming out in the upper-50s and wind chills in the mid-50s. Friday should be sunny, crisp, cool, and dry with temperatures getting no higher than the mid-70s. It should be a little bit warmer on Saturday, Sunday, and beyond, but no rain is expected after tomorrow (Wednesday).

Be sure to check back here in about 48 hours for my weekly ‘Thursday Night Mini Thoughts’ in bullet statements of 15 words or less.

Tomorrow is Veterans Day here in the U.S.A. Never forget all of those brave men and women who have served and who are currently serving our country and defending democracy and freedom during wartime.

My Fantastic Journey: It’s In The Lyrics

Due to the upcoming Veterans Day holiday on Wednesday I present to you a very special Monday night edition of ‘My Fantastic Journey’.

8 years ago during the weeks and months following the terrorist attacks of September 11TH 2001 P.O.D.’s “Alive” was emerging on the radio airwaves as the ‘feel-good’ song of the season. It was sort of like the anthem to our recovering and reunited nation at the time. We felt so alive as a free nation after being brutally attacked by cowardly terrorists.

8 years later as a follower of Jesus Christ I look at the lyrics to this song in a much different perspective:

Sunshine upon my face
A new song for me to sing
Tell the world how I feel inside
Even though it might cost me everything
Now that I know this is beyond my control
‘Cause I could never turn my back away
Now that I see You
I can never look away

I’m chasing daylight, and I’m truly alive now with The Holy Spirit deep within my mind, heart, and soul. I’m sharing my Life via this blog to anyone who cares to follow along even though I’m routinely labeled as an extreme radical right-wing religious nutjob by the mainstream media and its puppet followers. Lord Jesus I will never look away. I will always follow You !

It’s in the lyrics:

Life Pointe Church Sunday Morning Tossed Salad

- The ongoing ‘Misfortune Cookie’ message series continued this morning.
- It was all about kids and the parents that lead them.
- Many kids today are not led, as they are left to fend for themselves.
- These unled kids are likely to be lost to the world as they grow up.
- God calls all parents to lead their children to be wise and godly.
- God calls all children to be wise and give joy to their parents.
- “Do as I say – not as I do” is not leadership, but rather a lame cop-out.
- Lessons are caught – not taught.
- Some people of the world would love Jesus if it weren’t for His followers.
- Many of His followers are simply not leaders in their families or their jobs.
- Any given church is a mere one generation away from being extinct.
- Lead your children.
- If you have no children then lead a ministry in God’s Great Kingdom.

Today’s message was based on the following Scriptures out of The Good News: Proverbs 23:24-25, Matthew 19:29, 1 Corinthians 7:6-7, 35, Psalm 78:1-8.

1 Corinthians 7:6-7, 35:
6  I say this as a concession, not as a command.
7  But I wish everyone were single, just as I am. Yet each person has a special gift from God, of one kind or another.
35  I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.

This morning was the unexpected final appearance of Jesse and Reina Santoyo at Life Pointe Church.

Jesse – I remember when you first arrived here and joined our church family some 29 months ago. You eagerly took over as the new leader of our ’Praise & Worship’ band. Your leadership as the leader of the band, a leader of our church family, and a leader in God’s Great Kingdom has truly inspired me to grow to be a greater Disciple on His fantastic journey for me. Thank You for being a friend and a leader to me, and Thank You for sharing your Life with me via your blog. Go forth to something bigger and better. Let God show you the way like only He can and will. Lead Reina, Diego, Zion Max, and the rest of Los Santoyos to a brighter daylight. May God Bless You and Yours forever mi amigo. Keep in touch dude !

Saturday Night Retro

Whenever the first two weeks of November roll around I think of cooler and drier weather, the upcoming holiday season, and The United Kingdom.

Cold fronts from the northwest are sweeping through America’s Riviera for the first time since last Spring dropping temperatures down below 72°F on a nearly nightly basis.

Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day are all within the next 8 weeks. Season’s Greetings Everyone !

These first two weeks of November also remind me of my two-year stint living in The United Kingdom serving as a young airman in the USAF. It was 24-years-ago this weekend that I departed stateside and arrived on British soil on my own to begin duty at my first permanent duty station. I served my country for two years in the U.K., and I took in all of the mid-1980s British and European culture at the time. It was a fun fun time for me and my friends that I spent it with. Good Times Forever.

22-years-ago next weekend I left the U.K. behind en route to my follow-on duty station at the original Homestead Air Force Base. Some time later on in my Life I plan to return to the U.K. to check up on the land across the sea I left behind.

Back in June of 1987 English novelty act The Firm scored one of the most unusual songs to ever hit # 1 on a major national hit music chart. It was a # 1 radio smash for 2 weeks all across The British Isles, and its unprecedented mainstream success reached deep into the European continent eastward into Asia and southward into Australia.

Here’s the original-length music video of that multi-continental # 1 smash, and it’s all about the legendary “Star Trek” television series from 20 years earlier:

The Major’s Friday Night Disco Party

31 years ago towards the end of 1978 Disco singer-songwriter Alicia Bridges was the star of one of the hottest hits on the radio and in the roller discos. She co-wrote this long-running gold-certified TOP 5 Disco smash that spent more than 7 months on the Billboard Hot 100.

Here now are the spiritual lyrics to “I Love The Nightlife (Disco ‘Round)”:

And here’s Alicia Bridges performing it via an early-form music video: