Just chew on that title for a second before reading any further.
Done chewing, or is your mouth still full?
What a fantastic phrase, folks. Change is Inevitable, Growth is Optional. You may remember from past posts the mention of a dear friend from my college days, Jeff. Jeff has gone onto bigger, better, and wonderful things and now calls Highland, Indiana home where he is an associate pastor at Ridge United Methodist Church. He continues to pontificate about all kinds of topics, and I am a frequent visitor of his blog. I encourage you to drop in from time to time.
Yesterday, Jeff discussed a bumper sticker he noticed while out shopping with his wife. The bumper sticker read, "Change Is Inevitable, Growth Is Optional." Because Jeff has battled the bulge much like I have, his wisdom regarding this phrase was especially meaningful. I contacted Jeff this morning and asked his permission to use his words in my own post, and he has very willingly granted me the freedom. My original intentions were to just quote a few lines here and there from his post, but the more I read Jeff's words, the more I believed I would only reduce his powerful message by not using the entire post. There is an inherent risk with quoting his entire post, however. I do not want you to simply read his words on my blog, and then not take a few minutes to visit his blog. Therefore, I have chosen to simply provide a link to his post from yesterday in the hopes that you will use the link, and then continue to explore Jeff's mind through his blog.
Here is the link to the specific post about change and growth.
And here is a link to Jeff's blog.
Happy exploring!!
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
Comfort
"Congress' approval ratings lower than president's"
"Al-Qaida shows it's definitely up to speed"
"10-year-old car thief receives probation"
"U.S. troops kill six Iraqi police after capturing policeman linked to militias"
"Police investigate robbery at bank"
The above headlines are just a few taken from the local paper over the course of this past week. At the risk of sounding similar to your grandparents, "the news is so negative these days." We've all heard similar phrases describing the general opinion of the media echoed time and time again, and these days are no different. It seems a daunting task to maintain a jovial attitude by the time the last words of the daily paper have been read, or the evening newscast has concluded. Our country is in the midst of difficult times on nearly every imaginable front, and an attempt at comprehending it all is enough to leave my head spinning.
I did, however, find a couple of stories over the last few days which provided some much-needed medication for my soul. The first one actually made the front page of the paper, which is even better. The headline read, "That's no paltry poultry donation." Okay, so, the wording is a touch on the cheesy side, but the content of the article is nothing short of inspiring. MBA Poultry in Tecumseh, NE., has decided to begin donating 2000 pounds of chicken to the People's City Mission, on a weekly basis! I am thrilled to see such a handsome and generous donation, and the best part about the arrangement is that it will continue indefinitely. What a leap forward for Lincoln's hungry, and what a leading example for other businesses to follow. What's more, the day before MBA notified the Mission of their intentions, the Mission received a donation of two large deep freezes. Pastor Tom Barber, executive director of the Mission, said, "The freezers were delivered...just one day before MBA Poultry approached me about the chicken. Tell me that's not divine intervention."
The second article I enjoyed was about the Global Service Learning group at Nebraska Wesleyan University. Many of you are aware of my involvement in the group during my days at NWU, so to see the group making headlines is special to me. This one read, "Opening eyes; making a difference," and discussed the group's travels to Swaziland, Africa, for it's annual trip abroad. (You can read the NWU press release here.) The trip was supposed to last the usual two weeks, but most of the students stayed longer because of the impact the experience was making. Nearly six weeks later, and one student is still there. This is exactly the kind of emotion I remember being embraced with during my trips with Global Service Learning. Submersed in another culture, surrounded by folks who desperately needed what we could offer, and the cold hard realization that there are millions of people who have no idea what the next hour, day, or week could hold in terms of shelter, food, and family. It was all very eye-opening, and I am thrilled the program still continues and is still making impacts on both the students and faculty, and those who benefit from their giving.
Thank God for good folks who make reading the paper and listening to the media a bit easier, and more importantly, are working hard to make a positive difference for those who desperately need it!
"Al-Qaida shows it's definitely up to speed"
"10-year-old car thief receives probation"
"U.S. troops kill six Iraqi police after capturing policeman linked to militias"
"Police investigate robbery at bank"
The above headlines are just a few taken from the local paper over the course of this past week. At the risk of sounding similar to your grandparents, "the news is so negative these days." We've all heard similar phrases describing the general opinion of the media echoed time and time again, and these days are no different. It seems a daunting task to maintain a jovial attitude by the time the last words of the daily paper have been read, or the evening newscast has concluded. Our country is in the midst of difficult times on nearly every imaginable front, and an attempt at comprehending it all is enough to leave my head spinning.
I did, however, find a couple of stories over the last few days which provided some much-needed medication for my soul. The first one actually made the front page of the paper, which is even better. The headline read, "That's no paltry poultry donation." Okay, so, the wording is a touch on the cheesy side, but the content of the article is nothing short of inspiring. MBA Poultry in Tecumseh, NE., has decided to begin donating 2000 pounds of chicken to the People's City Mission, on a weekly basis! I am thrilled to see such a handsome and generous donation, and the best part about the arrangement is that it will continue indefinitely. What a leap forward for Lincoln's hungry, and what a leading example for other businesses to follow. What's more, the day before MBA notified the Mission of their intentions, the Mission received a donation of two large deep freezes. Pastor Tom Barber, executive director of the Mission, said, "The freezers were delivered...just one day before MBA Poultry approached me about the chicken. Tell me that's not divine intervention."
The second article I enjoyed was about the Global Service Learning group at Nebraska Wesleyan University. Many of you are aware of my involvement in the group during my days at NWU, so to see the group making headlines is special to me. This one read, "Opening eyes; making a difference," and discussed the group's travels to Swaziland, Africa, for it's annual trip abroad. (You can read the NWU press release here.) The trip was supposed to last the usual two weeks, but most of the students stayed longer because of the impact the experience was making. Nearly six weeks later, and one student is still there. This is exactly the kind of emotion I remember being embraced with during my trips with Global Service Learning. Submersed in another culture, surrounded by folks who desperately needed what we could offer, and the cold hard realization that there are millions of people who have no idea what the next hour, day, or week could hold in terms of shelter, food, and family. It was all very eye-opening, and I am thrilled the program still continues and is still making impacts on both the students and faculty, and those who benefit from their giving.
Thank God for good folks who make reading the paper and listening to the media a bit easier, and more importantly, are working hard to make a positive difference for those who desperately need it!
Monday, July 9, 2007
Vacation: Day Seven
Friday was a bittersweet day. As I crawled out of bed and looked at myself in the mirror, it was hard to believe today was the final day of freedom from work. Yes, it was the final day of my vacation, but I had every intention of making the most of it.
Believe it or not, one of my favorite activities is working in the yard. I love tending to the garden, mowing, watering, and all of the care taking involved in maintaining a nice yard. Not only is it enjoyable to see the fruits of my labor as the garden produces veggies, the flowers bloom, and the grass is trimmed, but it also gives me time to sink into my own world and ponder life. It's almost a time of mediation, really. I'm sure I picked this up from my Dad, who spent much of his free time working outside.
At any rate, I spent the latter part of Friday morning mowing the church lawn, then came home for a quick bite of lunch, and was back out in my own yard mowing. Mandi and I squeezed in a workout, then we were off to meet some friends for dinner at Grisanti's. After tricking Mandi into thinking we were going to eat there in order to pull off her surprise birthday party, she couldn't get the thought of yummy Italian food off her mind. We had a fantastic dinner, then we all met back at our house for a fun evening of games and laughs. We had a great time, and I couldn't have asked for a more fitting end to such a great vacation. I consider myself a lucky man to be surrounded by the kind of friends and family that make my life so great.
Believe it or not, one of my favorite activities is working in the yard. I love tending to the garden, mowing, watering, and all of the care taking involved in maintaining a nice yard. Not only is it enjoyable to see the fruits of my labor as the garden produces veggies, the flowers bloom, and the grass is trimmed, but it also gives me time to sink into my own world and ponder life. It's almost a time of mediation, really. I'm sure I picked this up from my Dad, who spent much of his free time working outside.
At any rate, I spent the latter part of Friday morning mowing the church lawn, then came home for a quick bite of lunch, and was back out in my own yard mowing. Mandi and I squeezed in a workout, then we were off to meet some friends for dinner at Grisanti's. After tricking Mandi into thinking we were going to eat there in order to pull off her surprise birthday party, she couldn't get the thought of yummy Italian food off her mind. We had a fantastic dinner, then we all met back at our house for a fun evening of games and laughs. We had a great time, and I couldn't have asked for a more fitting end to such a great vacation. I consider myself a lucky man to be surrounded by the kind of friends and family that make my life so great.
Vacation: Day Six
We had planned for some time to take the kids to a water park somewhere near Lincoln. We had explored several options, including Mahoney State Park, Omaha, Grand Island, and Hastings. In the end, however, we decided the kids probably wouldn't care so much about how fancy the water park was, but more about how long they would have to spend in the van traveling to and from said park. Thus, Lincoln's Star City Shores was the final choice, as it was just a drive across town and every bit as entertaining.
We had an absolute blast! Kaedyn spent the majority of his time on the water slides, while Mandi, Madilyn, Korynne, and I hung out in the fountain and pool areas. It took some encouragement, but Madilyn finally worked up the courage to tackle the kiddie slide, and loved every bit of it. Mandi and I did take turns joining Kaedyn on the bigger slides, and when all was said and done, each of us had soaked in our share of sunshine.
We came home and grilled steak, cooked up some corn-on-the-cob from one of those little roadside stands, and mashed some potatoes for supper. After baths, we partook in an old summer classic - Dilly Bars from Dairy Queen. Sunshine, swimming, kiddos, Nebraska beef, ice cream. Now that's a vacation, people!
We had an absolute blast! Kaedyn spent the majority of his time on the water slides, while Mandi, Madilyn, Korynne, and I hung out in the fountain and pool areas. It took some encouragement, but Madilyn finally worked up the courage to tackle the kiddie slide, and loved every bit of it. Mandi and I did take turns joining Kaedyn on the bigger slides, and when all was said and done, each of us had soaked in our share of sunshine.
We came home and grilled steak, cooked up some corn-on-the-cob from one of those little roadside stands, and mashed some potatoes for supper. After baths, we partook in an old summer classic - Dilly Bars from Dairy Queen. Sunshine, swimming, kiddos, Nebraska beef, ice cream. Now that's a vacation, people!
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Vacation: Day Five
July 4th. My favorite holiday of the year, hands down. At no other time can a person hold a beer in one hand, and an explosive in the other, and get away with it. It is a glorious holiday, and this years' celebration did not disappoint.
It took some effort to finally drag our butts out of bed after the previous night's activities, but once we did, we were off and running. We had breakfast, then headed out to get some fireworks for the kids. We visited a stand which was run by the cheerleaders from Northeast High School in Lincoln, as one of our dear friends' daughter is a cheerleader. They were raising money for their group, and we felt it only necessary to show our support.
We headed home for lunch, naps, and a quick workout, then we were off to Mandi's folks' place to celebrate with the family. I was originally to have helped with a fireworks show in Springfield, NE., but through a series of miscommunications, I ended up relaxing with Mandi and the rest of the family all evening. I have always shot a show on the 4th in some capacity, which means taking time to organize and prepare. I must admit, as much as I missed not doing the usual show, it was wonderful to relax and not have that worry. After Mandi's birthday cake and gifts, we all drove the five minutes into Hickman for their show. It was spectacular, and a perfect end to a fantastic day.
Warm weather. Brewsky. Fireworks. Good friends and family. BBQ. Did I mention how much I love this time of year??
It took some effort to finally drag our butts out of bed after the previous night's activities, but once we did, we were off and running. We had breakfast, then headed out to get some fireworks for the kids. We visited a stand which was run by the cheerleaders from Northeast High School in Lincoln, as one of our dear friends' daughter is a cheerleader. They were raising money for their group, and we felt it only necessary to show our support.
We headed home for lunch, naps, and a quick workout, then we were off to Mandi's folks' place to celebrate with the family. I was originally to have helped with a fireworks show in Springfield, NE., but through a series of miscommunications, I ended up relaxing with Mandi and the rest of the family all evening. I have always shot a show on the 4th in some capacity, which means taking time to organize and prepare. I must admit, as much as I missed not doing the usual show, it was wonderful to relax and not have that worry. After Mandi's birthday cake and gifts, we all drove the five minutes into Hickman for their show. It was spectacular, and a perfect end to a fantastic day.
Warm weather. Brewsky. Fireworks. Good friends and family. BBQ. Did I mention how much I love this time of year??
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Vacation: Day Four
As I mentioned previously, my fourth day of vacation saw the coveted 3rd of July bash at our friends' acreage near Palmyra, NE. Middle of stinkin' nowhere. Live bands. Endless beer. Kick-ass fireworks. Friends. Family. Seriously, what else can a guy ask for in life? It was the epitome of a summer celebration, and it was another rockin' good time.
As for the fireworks, the show went very well, but we were unable to avoid another glitch similar to what we experienced during last Saturday's show. We had set up several "filler" cakes which were all being hand fired by our crew. They began the show, and the plan was for Chris to electronically fire a few of the bigger shells at various times while these fillers were being fired. As soon as Chris launched the very first shells, we completely lost power to the panel and had no way of firing anything electronically. Since all of the bigger items were wired for electronic fire, the loss of power severely crippled our show. We checked the connections from the battery to the panel, and they appeared strong. All indications were the battery had failed, but it seemed odd that we fired just once and then the battery died.
At any rate, it only took a few seconds for us to realize we had to stop the show, so I began screaming to the rest of the crew to cease fire while Chris hopped in his truck and tore off in search of another battery. I continued to fiddle with the panel in an attempt to dissect the problem while one of our crew members, who is an expert mechanic, ran up to help me. Chuck discovered the ground connection from the battery to the panel was loose, which was the source of the problem. We fixed the connection, and I was on the phone to Chris to beckon him back to the shoot site. He was quickly back to Ground Zero, and we restarted the show and had no problems the rest of the way. In terms of the fireworks and the design of the show, it was our best yet, no doubt about it. The finale was an amazing, breathtaking spectacle, and we were heavily applauded upon our return from the shoot site.
Still, our second issue in as many electronically fired shows left both Chris and I with a strong yearning to overcome the problems. Both of the glitches stemmed from electrical connections, and as we begin to seek out pyrotechnic contracts, it is imperative that we overcome these issues. Another learning experience, and a good one.
I was able to talk the band into singing happy birthday to Mandi after the clock turned to midnight, then we danced, laughed, talked, and enjoyed the bash for another couple of hours. It was another fantastic evening, and I am already looking forward to the next one. Check back soon as I will post a recap of yesterday's activities before too long. Peace.
P.S. I actually began writing this post yesterday, and saved it as a draft. The date at the top reflects when I began the post, not when I finished it. If you care. If you don't care, then nevermind. Okay, shutting up.
As for the fireworks, the show went very well, but we were unable to avoid another glitch similar to what we experienced during last Saturday's show. We had set up several "filler" cakes which were all being hand fired by our crew. They began the show, and the plan was for Chris to electronically fire a few of the bigger shells at various times while these fillers were being fired. As soon as Chris launched the very first shells, we completely lost power to the panel and had no way of firing anything electronically. Since all of the bigger items were wired for electronic fire, the loss of power severely crippled our show. We checked the connections from the battery to the panel, and they appeared strong. All indications were the battery had failed, but it seemed odd that we fired just once and then the battery died.
At any rate, it only took a few seconds for us to realize we had to stop the show, so I began screaming to the rest of the crew to cease fire while Chris hopped in his truck and tore off in search of another battery. I continued to fiddle with the panel in an attempt to dissect the problem while one of our crew members, who is an expert mechanic, ran up to help me. Chuck discovered the ground connection from the battery to the panel was loose, which was the source of the problem. We fixed the connection, and I was on the phone to Chris to beckon him back to the shoot site. He was quickly back to Ground Zero, and we restarted the show and had no problems the rest of the way. In terms of the fireworks and the design of the show, it was our best yet, no doubt about it. The finale was an amazing, breathtaking spectacle, and we were heavily applauded upon our return from the shoot site.
Still, our second issue in as many electronically fired shows left both Chris and I with a strong yearning to overcome the problems. Both of the glitches stemmed from electrical connections, and as we begin to seek out pyrotechnic contracts, it is imperative that we overcome these issues. Another learning experience, and a good one.
I was able to talk the band into singing happy birthday to Mandi after the clock turned to midnight, then we danced, laughed, talked, and enjoyed the bash for another couple of hours. It was another fantastic evening, and I am already looking forward to the next one. Check back soon as I will post a recap of yesterday's activities before too long. Peace.
P.S. I actually began writing this post yesterday, and saved it as a draft. The date at the top reflects when I began the post, not when I finished it. If you care. If you don't care, then nevermind. Okay, shutting up.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Vacation: Day Three
Wow, and I thought I wouldn't have much time to blog this week since there are so many activities on the calendar. I ought to vacation more often - this is pretty cool!
Today began at about 9:00 this morning, which was wonderful. I haven't had the chance to sleep in that late in a long time, as the kids are usually up and at 'em pretty early. We must have worn them out yesterday, so they cashed in on a few extra minutes of sleep, which in turn gave us the same opportunity.
After breakfast, I just sat at the table and worked the daily crosswords and drank coffee. And then I sat some more. I thought about doing some things, but my rear end wasn't having any of it, so I stayed planted for quite some time. I did finally decide to pack up the kids and run a couple of errands before lunch, then we decided to enjoy some Popeye's chicken which we haven't eaten since we changed our eating habits. It was every bit as tasty as I remembered it, but Mandi and I both knew full well what we had just done to our bodies. This knowledge prompted us to go for a 3-mile afternoon power walk, and we will do it again before bed tonight. Still....mmmmm....Popeye's chicken.....mmmmmm.......
I got moving on a my huge to-do list this afternoon, and got the shed completely cleaned out and reorganized. That was a huge job, and I am very satisfied and happy to have it done. There still remains quite a few projects in the back yard, but the shed cleaning was one of those nagging jobs that just wouldn't leave me alone. It's good to have it done.
After supper, I took all three of the kids on in a wrestling match, and I'm pretty sure I lost. Mommy came to my aid after awhile, though, and we turned things around to our advantage. Korynne is really beginning to walk well, and is certainly not afraid to jump right into the mix and flex her muscles. It's times like these that leave no doubt as to my role in this life. I love being a family man, and wouldn't trade it for the world.
Tomorrow, ladies and gents, starts the big party for us. We are headed out to my buddie's acreage that I referenced a couple of days ago in a post for our annual 3rd of July bash. Beer, fireworks, beer, live music, beer, friends, beer, food, and beer. Oh yeah, it's gonna be a good time! This annual bash is special to Mandi and I, as it was at this very party several years ago that she and I first met and spent some time together. It's funny to think about how neither of us had a clue that night that we would soon dedicate our lives to each other. Oh, sorry - didn't mean to get all mushy and sentimental on ya. Where was I? Oh yes, beer. I can almost guarantee that I won't blog tomorrow, but I'll be back in a couple of days to catch up and share some stories. Until then, have a great 4th!
Today began at about 9:00 this morning, which was wonderful. I haven't had the chance to sleep in that late in a long time, as the kids are usually up and at 'em pretty early. We must have worn them out yesterday, so they cashed in on a few extra minutes of sleep, which in turn gave us the same opportunity.
After breakfast, I just sat at the table and worked the daily crosswords and drank coffee. And then I sat some more. I thought about doing some things, but my rear end wasn't having any of it, so I stayed planted for quite some time. I did finally decide to pack up the kids and run a couple of errands before lunch, then we decided to enjoy some Popeye's chicken which we haven't eaten since we changed our eating habits. It was every bit as tasty as I remembered it, but Mandi and I both knew full well what we had just done to our bodies. This knowledge prompted us to go for a 3-mile afternoon power walk, and we will do it again before bed tonight. Still....mmmmm....Popeye's chicken.....mmmmmm.......
I got moving on a my huge to-do list this afternoon, and got the shed completely cleaned out and reorganized. That was a huge job, and I am very satisfied and happy to have it done. There still remains quite a few projects in the back yard, but the shed cleaning was one of those nagging jobs that just wouldn't leave me alone. It's good to have it done.
After supper, I took all three of the kids on in a wrestling match, and I'm pretty sure I lost. Mommy came to my aid after awhile, though, and we turned things around to our advantage. Korynne is really beginning to walk well, and is certainly not afraid to jump right into the mix and flex her muscles. It's times like these that leave no doubt as to my role in this life. I love being a family man, and wouldn't trade it for the world.
Tomorrow, ladies and gents, starts the big party for us. We are headed out to my buddie's acreage that I referenced a couple of days ago in a post for our annual 3rd of July bash. Beer, fireworks, beer, live music, beer, friends, beer, food, and beer. Oh yeah, it's gonna be a good time! This annual bash is special to Mandi and I, as it was at this very party several years ago that she and I first met and spent some time together. It's funny to think about how neither of us had a clue that night that we would soon dedicate our lives to each other. Oh, sorry - didn't mean to get all mushy and sentimental on ya. Where was I? Oh yes, beer. I can almost guarantee that I won't blog tomorrow, but I'll be back in a couple of days to catch up and share some stories. Until then, have a great 4th!
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Vacation: Day Two
The second day of my vacation was another event-filled one, and lots of fun. It started with the usual Sunday-morning coffee, paper, and conversation with the kids over breakfast while Mandi got up and ready for church. Upon our return home, I began finalizing what I have to come to realize is probably my greatest heist ever.
As many of you already know, Mandi's birthday is on July 4th and we typically celebrate with food, fireworks, water games, music, etc. It is always a memorable time, but one of the drawbacks to all of this is a lack of focused attention on Mandi and recognizing her birthday. She tends to get left in the shadows a bit, and while she would never complain, I have often wondered if we might figure out a different way to celebrate in order to shift the focus more on her. Since she will turn the big 3-0 this year, I wasn't about to allow this birthday to become secondary. In order to avoid such a tragedy, I called on one of Mandi's close friends and we set to work planning a surprise birthday party for her. Today was the big day, and it went off without a hitch.
Some time ago, Mandi had requested a couple's night out with a few of our friends as part of her birthday celebration. She mentioned the desire to eat at Grisanti's, which is a popular Italian restaurant in Lincoln, and home to the coveted peach bellini which she dearly loves. I used this request to set up the party and after talking to our friends, they all agreed to play their parts in the heist. Each person did a wonderful job of not "spilling the beans," and acting as if they were looking forward to our night out. My Mom arrived this afternoon to supposedly watch the kids, and I tricked Mandi into visiting a couple of hardware stores in search of some home improvement ideas while Mom packed up the kids and headed over to the party house. It all went very smooth, and the look on Mandi's face when she walked in and saw everyone was priceless.
We grilled burgers and hotdogs, ate my Mother-In-Law's famous macaroni salad, as well as fruit salad and other various munchies, and topped it all of with cake and ice cream. Lots of laughs, lots of memories, lots of love. Everyone had a great time, and Mandi seemed genuinely grateful for all of the attention. And, since we happened to be only a few blocks away from Grisanti's, I talked my Mom into taking the kids home while Mandi and I stopped for a peach bellini! Dare I say, it was a celebration fit for a beautiful, wonderful, and amazing 30-year-old!!
As many of you already know, Mandi's birthday is on July 4th and we typically celebrate with food, fireworks, water games, music, etc. It is always a memorable time, but one of the drawbacks to all of this is a lack of focused attention on Mandi and recognizing her birthday. She tends to get left in the shadows a bit, and while she would never complain, I have often wondered if we might figure out a different way to celebrate in order to shift the focus more on her. Since she will turn the big 3-0 this year, I wasn't about to allow this birthday to become secondary. In order to avoid such a tragedy, I called on one of Mandi's close friends and we set to work planning a surprise birthday party for her. Today was the big day, and it went off without a hitch.
Some time ago, Mandi had requested a couple's night out with a few of our friends as part of her birthday celebration. She mentioned the desire to eat at Grisanti's, which is a popular Italian restaurant in Lincoln, and home to the coveted peach bellini which she dearly loves. I used this request to set up the party and after talking to our friends, they all agreed to play their parts in the heist. Each person did a wonderful job of not "spilling the beans," and acting as if they were looking forward to our night out. My Mom arrived this afternoon to supposedly watch the kids, and I tricked Mandi into visiting a couple of hardware stores in search of some home improvement ideas while Mom packed up the kids and headed over to the party house. It all went very smooth, and the look on Mandi's face when she walked in and saw everyone was priceless.
We grilled burgers and hotdogs, ate my Mother-In-Law's famous macaroni salad, as well as fruit salad and other various munchies, and topped it all of with cake and ice cream. Lots of laughs, lots of memories, lots of love. Everyone had a great time, and Mandi seemed genuinely grateful for all of the attention. And, since we happened to be only a few blocks away from Grisanti's, I talked my Mom into taking the kids home while Mandi and I stopped for a peach bellini! Dare I say, it was a celebration fit for a beautiful, wonderful, and amazing 30-year-old!!
Vacation: Day One
As I mentioned in my last post, we fired our first contracted fireworks show last night, and I am happy to report it went wonderfully well. Not only was it the first show we've done for someone else, but it was also the first show we've fired electronically. It was a great experience, from building the new racks of mortars, to wiring the shells and cakes, to actually firing the show. I can't describe what a rush it is to flip a switch, push a button, and watch the night sky fill with colorful explosions, all the while knowing we assembled the entire show practically from scratch.
We had but one glitch during the show, which was due to our own error in not double checking all of our connections. We recovered rather well, though, and the spectators had no idea of the mistake. Once we finished cleaning up, we joined the rest of the crowd for live music, beer, and lots of celebrating. The evening was a perfect one for kicking off a week of vacation, and a great opening to our 4th of July week festivities!
We had but one glitch during the show, which was due to our own error in not double checking all of our connections. We recovered rather well, though, and the spectators had no idea of the mistake. Once we finished cleaning up, we joined the rest of the crowd for live music, beer, and lots of celebrating. The evening was a perfect one for kicking off a week of vacation, and a great opening to our 4th of July week festivities!
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