News

When I was in third grade, everyone knew the Good News Bad News joke. It went something like this:

Dusty, the Crop Duster was sitting on the bench outside the General Store when a friend came by and sat next to him. "You're looking kind of banged up, Dusty, what happened?" "Well," answered Dusty rather slowly, "I was doing the field east of town when my engine gave out." "That's bad!" "Thankfully I had my parachute on and jumped out." "That's good!" "But my parachute didn't open." "That's bad!" "There was a large haystack right below me." "That's good!" "There was a pitchfork in the middle of the haystack." "That's bad!" "I missed the pitchfork." "That's good!" "No, that's bad - I missed the haystack!"

Here's a brief life update in "good news / bad news" format:

• Good news - Our Crossroads Life Group is starting up again, after the winter break. It will be good to see our "empty nest" friends again, and share life together. Leader Steve Prout does an awesome job...
  
  
• Bad news - Today marks the 11th day of my cold (sinus infection). Yesterday, I went to the doc and got a Z-Pack, which I started on last night. But instead of feeling better, I felt worse today than ever. Must have blown my nose well over 100 times today (TMI?). Anyhow, I want so badly to feel normal again...
  
  
• Good news - This weekend, I'm going to SPBGMA (pronounced "spigma"). SPBGMA is a massive bluegrass event at the Nashville Hilton, and is one of the two biggest yearly events for pickers and grinners. Picture a huge hotel where the lobby, hallways, and rooms are packed with people jamming round the clock. There's also an auditorium where all the "big name" national bands are playing (all day), and a room with all the top-name luthiers and instrument builders. I went last year, and it was a blast. I just hope I am well by then...I'm praying for healing!!!
  
  
• Bad news - Lots of car problems lately. New muffler for Zach's Accord, new front brakes for my truck, new thermostat for Cathy's CRV... But, it beats car payments! (Oh yeah, I still have one...bummer).
  

• Good news - My bluegrass band, Last Road, may have found a replacement banjo player. We've been auditioning guys for the last month or so, and we're ready to get someone on board before we start up with spring gigs. Sounds like an easy task, but it is tough to find someone who is compatible musically, spiritually, and personality-wise...

Cold

Cold is an appropriate title for today's post.

Not only is it really cold outside...but I have come down with my twice-a-year cold.

Regular as clockwork, I seem to get an "upper respiratory infection" twice a year, once in the summer and once in the winter. Nothing too awful, just runny nose and sinus/chest congestion that lasts about ten days, no matter what medicines I take. And that awful energy-drained "blah" feeling.

This time, the "magic cure" was Mucinex. Someone at work told me it was the bomb, so I bought some ($10) and after seven hours, I'm not too impressed. In fact, I don't think it has done much at all. Oh well, live and learn.

As Brandon's post today stated so well, we take our good health for granted until the Lord removes it from us for a while. Our bad days should make us all the more thankful for the good days...

Well, the brain is tired too, so no deep thoughts for today. Stay healthy.

* Sniff *

Well, fall is officially here.

How do I know this? Because when the temperature change happens, spring or fall, I always seem to come down with a cold. Today I had the scratchy throat thing, now it is getting sore, and I'm starting to sniffle. Cathy has already bought me vitamin C, Zicam, and throat lozenges. Where would I be without her?

Should be interesting trying to sing tenor at our Last Road gig Sunday night. Oh well.

Other cool news: a family friend has made available tickets to Saturday's Virginia Tech - Clemson game, so I think I'll be watching the Hokies clean up in Death Valley! I think this will be the first college football game I have attended since my senior year at Virginia Tech in '88. But it will be great just to be there and "see the spectacle". Go Hokies!

Oh well, gotta get some sleep to combat this cold.