How inappropriate it would be to shun each other rather than embrace, to look at each other with disdain instead of eyes full of understanding and love. We ought to want to meet together, imperfect as we are but sharing one thing in common. Click here for full article.Let's Live a Life of Gratefulness
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Seven Pounds
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Defiance
I often wonder why so many movies like Defiance and Valkyrie about the Nazi regime and those who would stand up against it are coming out. Is it a history lesson for those of us that did not live through that time? Click here for more.Is It Harbinger of Things To Come?
Monday, May 25, 2009
Part VI: Fast Forward (100th Post)
This is the sixth part of Beauty and the Beast (BatB): The Linda and Patrick Story and a special tribute for my 100th blogpost (finally). On the main blog, there is a list of all the chapters if you need to get caught up.
I thought I would fast forward a bit (2.5 years or so) to our engagement. Our courtship was a great season for God to grow us into two people who were ready to be married. I reserve the right to go back and capture some of that, but in this episode I'll chronicle the period of time surrounding our engagement.
It was fall 1992, Linda and I had a few conversations at that point and the general consensus was that we should get engaged even though the wedding wouldn't be until late 1993 or early 1994. Linda was almost done with her bachelors and would only have her credential (late 1993) and student teaching (early 1994) to go.
We started shopping for rings and we found out together what Linda wanted. This is one of the first doses of reality for us as a starry eyed young couple. See we just thought all of this stuff was just supposed to happen. Rings, wedding plans, apartments, furniture would all just fall out of the sky. Ring shopping was so...practical, unlike it is portrayed in Hollywood. That isn't a bad thing, because I think we kept it romantic and fun, just a bit of a wake up call that life isn't a Hollywood scripted movie.
Asking for her hand
Anyways, we had some great ideas on what Linda wanted after some shopping and investigating cut, clarity, and color as well as settings. But I still had to "ask for her hand." At this point I already knew Dean and Sandy Durand so well, but I knew this was a rite of passage that should not be skipped. So I called them up and set up a time to come over and have "the talk."
Now you have to imagine this...Dean (aka Mr. Durand) is an intimidating figure. He is over 6 ft. tall and a tough as nails 32 year veteran of the Glendale Police Dept. He rides Harleys, owns guns, and loves his daughter to no end. At the time, I looked kinda like a Filipino gang banger when I wasn't at work, where I wore suits. I could not have imagined anyone with Mr. Durand's resume to even allow anyone like me to date his daughter, much less marry her.
My imagination went wild...this was before Gran Torino, but I felt a lot like Thao coming to meet Clint Eastwood's character in that movie.
You can probably imagine what was running through my mind...pictures of Dean cleaning his guns and them going off by "accident." But in fact, that was very much not the case and never has been or ever will be.
The Durands welcomed me into the family. I distinctly remembered Dean reaching out his hand to me and saying, "Welcome to our family son." Talk about being moved! It was all I could do to not cry right there in front of him...
Buying the ring
Then Dean gave me some great news, he had a contact in the diamond industry in downtown Los Angeles. He took Linda and I there soon after that meeting.
Imagine driving through the worst parts of downtown L.A. and then parking your car there and walking in to a dirty decrepit building. Now imagine the fact that hundreds of millions of dollars of diamonds are kept right in that very building, in office suites for diamond brokers...weird.
We went to the office of Dean's friend. The door was more like a bank vault door with a gigantic state of the art peep-hole. His friend let us in and behind him was an identical vault door, which he had to unlock with a combo and I think a key to open...just in case he was held up I guess. He shut both doors behind us, which was a bit un-nerving, but Dean and this guy seemed to know each other really well.
He proceeded to show us many many diamonds after we told him the shape, cut, color, and clarity we were looking for. Everything, pouches and display boards was covered in black velvet. We found the one we wanted an absolutely brilliant marquis shaped stone. We weren't really thinking we'd buy the setting there too, but he was showing us what it would look like on some settings and BAM there it was, the perfect setting too!
He wrote some prices on a piece of paper and shoved them my way. I looked at them in disbelief and shoved them back nodding my head. I'm pretty sure I would have had to pay at least double that in a store. He told us when the ring would be ready and he let us out the two vault doors and back into the harsh reality of downtown L.A.
Popping the question
Now Linda knew I had the ring ordered and ready to pick up. So that took the surprise out of proposing to her...or at least she thought. Here's how it went down.
One day I called her up and asked, "Hey do you have such and such a day open?" I don't remember the exact date, but December 5th sounds about right. She asked me what for and I told her a carriage ride and picnic in the park. She was thrilled and said yes, all the while she is thinking, "Oh predictable old Patrick, how cute that's how he's going to propose." Little did she know!
It was a beautiful day out in Burbank, CA. There is a great park where you can ride horses and such. The company that I had used did the whole shooting match; a horse drawn carriage ride through the streets and through the park with a gourmet picnic all set up and a carriage ride back. Later I learned that Linda had told her parents I was going to propose that day.
The carriage ride was everything we expected...I highly recomend it. Then we sat down and had the greatest picnic lunch you can imagine with Martinelli's and cold something or other soup, all on china no less. I gave her my jacket because it was quite brisk and I had something in there, not on purpose, that was the size and shape of a ring box and she got excited. I had something prepared. I read to her how I loved her in the five biblical words for love.
We finished the wonderful meal and went back to the carriage. At this point, Linda's mind is reeling, "When will he propose? In the car, at my parents, when?" I think she got worried. We got back to her parents house and they were waiting with humungous smiles on their faces looking at her ring finger. Linda was shaking her head and then they had huge looks of disbelief. I was only half smiling inside...and I left them like that.
I found out later that Linda was deliciously frustrated. She was a bit upset for being duped, but glad to know I wasn't THAT predictable. She had no idea when, where, how, what, etc I would propose. Every day was like amazing torture!
Two weeks later, I think it was December 19th, I surprised her. We were having our annual college group Christmas party. ALL of our closest friends were there and most of them were in on the dealio.
We had a tradition of showing slideshows (on one of those old slideshow thingys where you put picture slides into it and it carousels them around). At the end, I came up and said, "I have a story to tell about a couple. We'll call the guy; Pat and the gal; hmmm Linda." The jig was up and Linda knew what was coming...we both started crying and so did everyone in the house. I told our story through slides and concluded by kneeling next to her and asking her to marry me. Luckily she said yes!
I am not kidding when I say a) all of our closest friends were there and b) there wasn't a dry eye in the house. I'm talking tough guys were sobbing uncontrollably. It was a magical moment, one that we'll never forget! I wish I could share it with you in a video, but even though we had three, count them (3), cameras going not one captured the moment. Trust me when I say it was absolutely amazing!
I think Mary, Jesus' earthly mother, had it right when she "treasured these things in her heart." I think God wanted me, maybe us, to do the same thing and that's why those cameras didn't work. I don't know, but I do treasure that time in my heart and will forever. Times are so precious...I don't know that we've ever had such a large tight knit group as that or ever will again. I am so thankful that God gave us that time, that season in our lives. I will always treasure it and all the times I get to share with my bride!
Thus ended our 2.5 year courtship period and began our 13 month engagement. We would be married January 8, 1994. We have enjoyed, so far 15 years of marriage and almost 20 years of knowing and dating each other. I am honestly more in love with Linda now and grow more and more in love with her every day.
I love you my beautiful bride and soulmate...thanks for sticking with me for so long, even through that fake proposal. To many many more years ahead!
That concludes Part VI of BatB. As usual keep the comments flowing. I hope writing the next part doesn't take another seven months...wow!
Valkyrie
Jesus came to release prisoners and heal the broken-hearted. The amazing thing is that he allows us to serve him in that great calling. For some reason, though, there are very few who will commit their lives to him, in the service of others. Click here for more.ValkyrieThe Choice is Yours, My Friend
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Journal Entry 3: Relationship Enhancement Training (RET)
This is Journal Entry 3 in the series Adoption: The Wild Goose Chase. You can find the other entries in the left hand menu bar.
We had our first class; Relationship Enhancement Training (RET) on Saturday, Mar 21st. Well technically it was our second, but we don't really count Water Safety as we basically got certified to know things like: swimming and ringing bells in church steeples in a lightening storm are bad...real bad.
But I digress, so we woke up early on Saturday morning quickly got ready and headed out the door with Team Adopt all lined up and ready to go. Right on time Mary R. picked up Josh from our house to take him to their house for the morning shift (even though they had a birthday party to prepare for!) Then off to SLOtown to drop off Jason, who would hang out with Christa S. and her son Brock for the morning.
We hung a huge u-turn south to Santa Maria (yeah we know that was backtracking, but we were just thankful to get the babysitting!) We were a bit late, which is unusual for us [sarcasm], only to find the class was all en espanol! Yeah...
So I dusted off 4 years of Spanish and Linda dusted off 3 (taken 20 years ago) and we tried to follow along. Fortunately, Anne Ward who normally teaches the class in English was there to save the day for us. At first we tried to stick with the class, but basically we ended up in the corner getting a private class, which was way cool!
So what is RET? Good question, one that I did not know the answer to, even though I worked at the agency we will be doing Fost/Adopt with, for almost 4 years! Honestly, I thought it was all about Oprahesque touchy feely mumbo jumbo, but I was so wrong!
RET is all about communication that leads to better relationships. This training has helped us with the kids we already have! One of the things they taught us, is to take more of a consultant approach with our kids. Teaching vs. Punishing.
I know that sounds mamby pamby to many of you reading this, because spare the rod spoil the child and all that. And before taking this class I would have been right there with you, but it really comes down to a saying that I've heard quite a bit since being a parent, "Rules without Relationship equals Rebellion."
There I was in the middle of class, overly convicted that I am that father. You know the one, with overly harsh words that belittle and crush the spirit of their sons and daughters. Words that estrange rather than bring closer. I have very little doubt that the way I have been communicating to my sons, especially Joshua our oldest, would likely lead to the rebellion the saying above describes.
So what's the big deal about RET? How does it work? (BTW this is just one aspect of RET, one tool so to speak.) Well let's take a common occurance here at Casa Zalamea: dirty clothes left all over the house (quite literally...even outside).
Pre-RET class
Me: Son, stop whatever you are doing right now and pick up your dang clothes! (I over exaggerate only a little.)
Me: Son, stop whatever you are doing right now and pick up your dang clothes! (I over exaggerate only a little.)
Son: Uuuuugggggghhhhh!
Me: What did you say to me?
Son: Nothing...
Me: Yes dad? [Like I'm talking to a parrot!]
Son: Yes dad...[he grumbles]
Followed by a 5-30min lecture on why he should be picking up his clothes right when he takes them off, how much clothes cost, how much time Linda takes to wash our clothes and how thankful he should be that she does, and would he want to wash his own clothes? [You get the picture.]
Son: No dad...can I play now?
Post-RET class
Me: I get upset when you leave clothes all over the house, because it leads to more clean up work for your mom and I at night when we are pretty tired. (Feelings, Behavior, Effect)
Son: [Contemplates this] Oh, I'm sorry.
Me: I forgive you. It seems to be a bit of a pattern, what do you think we can do about it?
Son contemplates
Me: Do you need some ideas or are you still thinking about it? [I can see the gears are turning, so I just want to make sure he doesn't need any help.]
Son: No, I know I need to pick up my clothes.
Me: Just right now or...
Son: Right now and everyday, I'll try real hard dad.
I know that seems robotic and weird, but I'm here to tell you it really works! In the first scenario I got my son to do what I wanted, but I belittled him and more importantly robbed him of the chance to really think for himself. Now that may (or may not) be fine at 3 and 8 years old, but it definitely will not fly at 13 and 18!
Even more importantly, which dad does my son want to hang out with? The pre or post RET dad? Which one would you rather hang out with and have a relationship?
I'm not perfect at this obviously, plus there is a whole 'nother class to take this coming Saturday to finish off RET, but I'm sure glad to get the training.
A big thank you to Jeff L. and the Nessies for taking Josh and Jason respectively for the afternoon. Jeff, Josh's Sunday School Teacher, even took Josh to get his whittling badge in Cub Scouts!
So all in all, Linda and I are having a blast following God on this journey. It is hard...and I'm sure about to get harder, but I feel like we are right where He wants us to be...
Until next time...
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Australia now on DVD
Though I am sure I could find statistics to show how much our culture and our nation struggles with the family unit and raising boys to become men, I think our experiences prove that this movie touches on issues that grip our society today. Click here for more...Come Out From Down Under
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Journal Entry 2: Team Adopt
This is Journal Entry 2 in the series Adoption: The Wild Goose Chase. You can find the other entries in the left hand menu bar.
So it's almost been 3 months since I originally posted that we have decided to apply to be fost/adopt parents for Family Care Network, here in SLO. Since then we've been busy with Christmas, New Years, our 15 year anniversary, and many other miscellaneous activities and decisions and...well you get the picture.
About a month ago, Linda posted a Help Wanted sign on her blog asking anyone who was reading (and local) if they would help us. See to become Fost/Adopt Parents there is a labyrinth of trainings that must be navigated, many of which are half or full day sessions. We have two sons that need to be watched, thus the Help Wanted sign.
I'm happy to say that many of our friends have stepped up to join what we affectionately call: TEAM ADOPT! Thank you ever so much: Squires, Weedons, Sweigharts (sp?), Shell Shackers, future Lists, Wytmans, and of course momma Durand! We are humbled and quite honestly overwhelmed with gratitude! There are still a couple more slots in the coming month that need to be filled. Please let us know if you would be interested and we'll send you the slot times and dates.
Please be praying for us as we continually wonder if we can actually handle this. We are so busy now with two kids, ministries to oversee, and just this week we had to pull Josh out of school as he was not progressing for various reasons there. So Linda has an extra 4 - 5 hours of work to do per day with him.
That is it...a short one this time. Next up, taking the training and actually turning in the mountain of paperwork ;)
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
New(ish) on DVD
Eric Liddell, in Chariots of Fire, said that he felt God’s pleasure when he ran. As I watched this movie, I could imagine God smiling on those that use the gifts he has given them to make wine. Is he smiling on you? As for the DVD… great special features once again. “A Golightly Gathering” reunites actors from the infamous cocktail party, and “Henry Mancini: More Than Music” is a touching featurette which chronicles his impact on the music industry.Linda and I wrote a couple of reviews on HJ. If you want to see them you have to click on the hyperlinks available.Bottle ShockA Thing That Has Its Source in GodBreakfast at Tiffany’s (Centennial Collection)And A Film To Grow Into
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
38 and still ticking
I read this passage this morning (my 38th birthday) from My Utmost for His Highest. I especially was moved by the last two sentences:
"That is why the bedrock of Christianity is personal, passionate devotion to the Lord Jesus. We mistake the ecstasy of our first introduction into the Kingdom for the purpose of God in getting us there; His purpose in getting us there is that we may realize all that identification with Jesus Christ means."
A subtle and beautiful reminder from my Lord of whence I have come. Born again in 1989 and full of that personal, passionate devotion, I later slipped into a Christian malaise full of bitterness, criticalness, and sin. Only to be reawakened about 5 years ago to Jesus, precious Jesus.
The subtle and beautiful reminder is to continue on faithfully! I so want to do that...to be ever devoted to my King who will one day return a Conquering King, yet beloved by all who recognized what an amazing thing he did for us on the cross and out of the grave!
May he be my heart's devotion in 2009 and beyond! Amen...
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Journal Entry 1: Decisions, decisions
This is Journal Entry 1 in the series Adoption: The Wild Goose Chase. The only entry other than this one so far is the Intro, which you can find in the left hand menu bar.
So we decided to look into the whole adoption thing and found out there are so many different ways to adopt. In times like these I have found it best to start asking God what he wants, walk with him through it. He wants to reveal his will, we just have to listen.
There was one thing I knew for sure, God was not calling us to Fost/Adopt (famous last words as you'll see). Fost/Adopt is when a couple becomes Foster Parents and then takes in a foster kid or kids that are likely going to need to be adopted. There are no guarentees at all and it can be heart wrenching, thus my reluctance to go down that road.
So we started talking to people who have adopted. One couple from our church have adopted multiple children, so I was talking to the husband (actually about going on a motorcycle ride sometime) about adoption. To be honest I asked pointed questions about private adoption, where one party (us) could adopt someone else's child...usually a baby still in the mother's womb.
He gave me some great information, even about a lawyer who does private adoptions, if they stop an abortion, pro bono (which I think is lawyer talk for free). Then he ended the conversation with, "but you should really look into doing it through social services." I was like, "Oh yeah [inside I'm thinking heck no that's Fost/Adopt!] sure I'll look into that."
I remember saying a little prayer like, "Dear Lord, don't make me Fost/Adopt...that's so hard and I know you died and rose again so I could have an easy life, please!"
Then I was talking to someone else from our church who I work with about it. He says, "Hey so and so in the cubicle behind me adopted his sons, you should talk to him." Sweet. The next day I talked to him and guess what he says? Yup...Fost/Adopt. Dangit, God is thwarting me here.
So we went to Evos for lunch and discussed it. He confirmed that Fost/Adopt was one of the hardest things he's ever done in his life. He also told me how much he wanted to not recommend it, except for the fact it is one of the most rewarding things he's ever done...most difficult AND most rewarding.
I don't know about you, but God speaks to me and confirms things to me in threes. It's not an exact science or formula I just know if something comes up in my life three times that means God may be doing his wild goose thing.
So this was two conversations about Fost/Adopt. I was still very against the idea, but I also knew if it came up again I would have to yeild...to a sovereign God who loves me and has great plans for me, even if that means it will be difficult.
Number three came in the form of some old friends who live down south. Now we consider ourselves Central Coasters now because we've lived here for 10 years! But we got on Facebook recently and are getting caught up with so many of our friends.
This couple (Can you guess what comes next?) not only does Fost/Adopt, but they are advocates that go around Southern California churches to tell them how great Fost/Adopt is. Linda called up the wife and had an hour long conversation asking about every fear that I have with her, which by the way were confirmed!
So the picture above, at the beginning of this blog, was taken 11/29/08. It is of Linda and I sitting on the couch meeting with Janaan Miles, Foster Parent Recruiter from Family Care Network, Inc. (FCNI). They are a local non-profit, that I used to work for, that administers none other than...Fost/Adopt for San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County. They do much more, but that's what we were meeting Janaan about.
We have started the paperwork process to become Foster Parents for FCNI, which is extensive. I can truly say that I am excited, mostly because I can see the hand of God upon our journey.
I don't look forward to having my heart broken if/when they take a child from us. It will be harder to see my wife and kids heart's broken. But I do look forward to the fullness of the blessings and unspeakable joy that comes from following hard after God, like following a wild goose.
That concludes Journal Entry 1. The next entry will happen when something significant goes down...like finishing this mountain of paperwork and handing it in!
Monday, December 01, 2008
A Few DVDs to consider
I obviously love this second edition of the Narnia movies. As I watched it again, on DVD, I focused more on the idea of the children wanting so badly to go back to Narnia. When they do, they realize it’s not the same place they remember… Just because Jesus loves you as you are, does that mean you should stay that way? And by the way, that’s a pretty big assumption, because yes we are in a era of God’s mercy; but there will be a time when Jesus will not be so merciful… We often place blame on those who we perceive to have failed at a role that should have been our own. Roman Holiday subtly poses the idea that perhaps we have been fashioned for a particular role and have the responsibility to fulfill it.Prince CaspianYou Can't Go Back, And Maybe You Shouldn't Want ToHancockAnd Thank God They Can Change!Roman HolidayParamount Centennial Collection Scores Again
Friday, November 21, 2008
Adoption the Wild Goose Chase - Intro
That analogy has resonated with me ever since. I look at a flock of wild geese and wonder, "Where are they going?" and right after that think, "Wouldn't it be cool to find out?" That parrallels my thoughts on God, specifically the Holy Spirit's leading. I often think the same two thoughts, whether it be my family life, job/career, or ministry calling.
Where is the Holy Spirit going and/or taking me? Man I can't wait to find out!
This series of entries, Adoption the Wild Goose Chase, will chronicle my families' adventure to follow the Holy Spirit's leading towards adoption. We have no idea where it's going, honestly, so many thoughts run through our heads; private adoption, fost/adopt, holding a sign out front of Planned Parenthood/Abortion Clinic reading: Don't Abort we'll Adopt! Heck it could lead nowhere.
I hope you'll join us on our journey, but first a bit of background. If you've been following the Beauty and the Beast: The Linda and Patrick Story series you know that Linda and I have been married almost 15 years and together almost 20.
Early on we weren't sure if Linda could have babies, due to some health problems. I remember
maybe even as early as 2 years into our courtship, we were open, maybe even called, to adopt. I definitely remember talking about it a great deal during our pre-marital counseling.
We got hitched in 1994, but didn't feel ready to "multiply and fill the earth" until about 1999. We felt led to try to get pregnant and if it was not happening we'd look into adoption. Well, the Wild Goose, was at work because we got pregnant right away...like first try. Adoption hold number 1
.
Joshua Patrick, was born to us in March 2000 and even though he is a bit strong willed he is a joy and delight, for a father the first born son is always special and Josh is no exception. His strong will, and the Wild Goose, led us not to propogate again until 4 years later.
That time, it took a few months. We were a bit saddened, but wondered, "Does this mean God wants us to adopt?" The answer came in June 2005, when Jason Travis was born to our family. He too is the apple of my eye. But again Adoption hold number 2, maybe we weren't meant to adopt after all...
Fast forward to 2008, Jason is actually sleeping rather well now and we've somewhat forgotten the fact Linda had stroke like symptons during Jason's gestation (long story). Well, we feel that urge to once again fulfill the blessing God gave us to be fruitful. Thus quite a bit of prayer and conversation have gone on that I can best sum up like this:
Linda: Doesn't this picture look like there's room for at least one more kid.
Me: Are you getting frisky?
Linda: No I'm just saying, it looks like we have room for at least one more.
Me: Hhhmmmm, I seem to remember you having stroke like symptoms last time, maybe we should consider adoption.
Linda: Yeah, we've always felt called to adopt, but I really get sad thinking I won't have no more babies. (I've taken artistic license here, Linda wouldn't be caught dead talking like that.)
Me: Huh, I really think we should look into adoption.
Linda: Maybe, let's keep talking and praying about it.
A few hours later (Again, artisitc license I think it was 24 hours later.)
Me: Ok, so what do you think?
Linda: Let's look into adoption!
Me: Sweet, you still feelin' frisky?
With that our journey has begun, into the adventure of looking into adoption, hopefully ending in an addition to our family (maybe two?). We'll see...
That's the intro, I just wanted to give you some background into how this adventure got started. In Part I, I'll chronicle our look into private adoption vs. Fost/Adopt and where the Wild Goose is taking us next.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Sabrina (Centennial Edition)
What we learn in this tale, however, is that Prince Charming isn’t necessarily the road to happily-ever-after. Love might not be what ignites our passion in a worldly sense, but rather what quietly and surprisingly meets our needs.Linda takes a turn...CoachZ Lets His Better Half Speak
Friday, November 07, 2008
Tinker Bell
Be proud of the talents that you have been given. Tinkerbell tried to be someone else in the movie, a garden fairy instead of a tinker fairy, and she ruined Spring. She fixed it later, but bad things happen when you try to be someone else.Even Kids Know What's Good and What Isn't
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Obama-McCain Phil 4:8 Challenge
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Phil 4:8)
With a little over a week left before the BIG election day, I thought I'd issue this little challenge. Are you up for it? It comes from personally wanting to vote FOR someone, not just AGAINST someone else.
Here it is, please read all the guidelines, I have the ability to delete your comment here and I will if you do not adhere to the guidelines to the T.
OK let's go...here's what you do:
1. Leave a comment with a list of true, honorable, just, pure, etc; thoughts about eithter Obama or McCain
2. Your comment must adhere to Phil 4:8. In other words, what is true, commendable, praiseworthy about Obama or McCain?
3. Your comment must be true, therefore provide a link showing that it is (i.e. Obama promotes Fatherhood and Responsibility http://www.prolifeproobama.com/plpo_willdo.htm)
4. Leave your name. You don't have to create a blogger ID, just do anonymous and leave our name inside the comment. We don't like anonymous around here...it's hiding and cowardly.
If your comment is not in this format (i.e. McCain is a warmonger: which doesn't fit any of the top 3) I will delete it. This exercise is meant to be different than all the press coverage, blogs, etc you've been going to. They are negative, let's find some positive. One of these men is going to be our President.
I'll combine all of these lists into one big blog. Thanks!
Here's an example of what I'm looking for:
Obama:
1. Promotes Fatherhood and Responsibility http://www.prolifeproobama.com/plpo_willdo.htm
2. Wants to see better disclosure of the budget http://www.obama-mccain.info/compare-obama-mccain-budget.php
3. Worked as a Civil Right attorney for more than a decade http://www.obama-mccain.info/compare-obama-mccain-civil-liberties.php
McCain:
2. Has 25 years of experience as a Representative or Senator http://www.obama-mccain.info/compare-obama-mccain-career.php
3. Has extensive military service experience as well as a war hero (good since he'd be commander-in-chief) http://www.obama-mccain.info/compare-obama-mccain-military.php
4. Adopted a daughter from Bangladesh that his wife brought home from a trip with Mother Theresa http://www.obama-mccain.info/compare-obama-mccain-children.php
That kinda thing...looking forward to seeing whatcha come up with!
Friday, October 24, 2008
BatB Part V: Illegal Maneuvers in the Dunes
This is the fifth part of Beauty and the Beast (BatB): The Linda and Patrick Story. On the main blog, there is a list of all the chapters if you need to get caught up.
DISCLAIMER: Please remember Linda and I were 18 and 19 years old, respectively, when this happened. We, meaning I, was young and foolish. Read on...
Whenever you call a customer service center, like the one above, you can bet that the people are messing around when calls are slow. We were no exception. We would challenge each other to take entire reservations using Australian or English accents. One time, I turned my chair on it's side and pretended I was on the Millenium Falcon shooting down tie fighters.
The best thing we did, other than leave cute love notes in each other's inbox, was play pranks on those we worked with. We could see our friend Ruth in the reception area, through closed caption TV (now that I think about it I don't see the logic in that). So I called the main number.
Ruth: Red Van Shuttle, the crimson van not the blue, serving all of Orange, Ventura, and Los Angeles Counties, some of San Diego, and for an extra charge Santa Barbara, this is Ruth, how may I help you?
Me (in my best old man voice): Hello!
Ruth (rolling her eyes, cursing the day she took this receptionist position, but with a very pleasant voice over the phone): Yes how may I help you sir?
Me: Um, I left my Depends on your van! [While I was talking Ruth would mute the phone and pound her fist on her desk]
Ruth: Sir do you know the driver's name or van number?
Me: It was a red van, red one! I need my Depends, I can't go to Puerto Vallarta without them! Uh-oh I think I just peed my pants [remember I'm doing this in old man voice]. Wait a minute, I think I left my teeth on the van too!
You get the picture. I must have kept the old man bit going for at least 10 minutes. Every 30 seconds Ruth's blood pressure would rise to dangerous proportions. The RA area was riotous! When calls would come in, the people on the phone had to mute every time they weren't talking. It was epic!
At the end, I changed back to my regular voice and said, "Ruth, it's me...Pat" Oh my Gosh, if it is possible she was livid and cracking up at the same time. If she wasn't afraid to get fired she would have rushed the RA area and killed me!
Here's the best part; through our 3 years of dating they kept asking us to come back to work for them...because we were so responsible! If only they knew. In fact, when the company hired some consultants to help take the business to the next level, they asked me, Patrick Zalamea, to be the RA representative...classic.
That's how we spent the summer, either at the shuttle company, on a date, or at church. It was great. A couple of times that summer we went on camping trips to the Oceano Dunes...yes the ones we live 10 minutes away from now. My family had a couple of Quads that we towed up to the Dunes in our RV. We'd get stuck, sometimes for a week at a time and just ride. It was insane!
On the first trip, we saw the sign above: No Passengers. We only had three quads on that trip for four riders. So we did what any red blooded, Bible believing Christian would do: we broke the law. Repentently, I think back on those days and wonder what the heck we were thinking! We parked right next to some Dunes and would sneak in away from the Park Ranger's trucks and jeeps and have a blast.
One night, we were doing a speed run. This is where we went as fast (and I mean so fast it scared you) as our Quads would take us along the beach...in the dark. I would wear no helmet, Linda would ride on the back with mine on, and my brother and his friend would try to keep up with us.
After a run, we were sitting on the Quads talking and up pulls none other than a Park Ranger. Pause. Remember, I had accepted Jesus less than a year before this time. So I sometimes still had sinful first reactions. This was one of those times. I started up the Banshee and took off...in the pitch dark...into dunes...with a Park Ranger hot on my tail with lights flashing. It was like a scene out of the Dukes of Hazzard.
I remember Linda yelling into my ear, "What are you doing? Stop! What are you doing?" I remember thinking once we get past the first set of dunes there is no way he is going to follow us in that SUV. Guess what? He did. Not just past the first set, but the second and third as well. Then he stopped.
I remember looking back and seeing him at the top of a dune and turning back. I also remember us hurtling over a dune in the pitch black. It must have been a big one, because it took a while for us to hit the ground. When we did we almost hit some kind of dune vegitation and I had to swerve to miss it.
This is probably a lot like the Dune we fell off of
I turned everything off, engine and lights, and waited a little bit. Linda wouldn't talk to me...I think she was in shock. Once I felt the coast was clear, I started the Banshee up and headed back to the RV. Now I had already made mistake #1 by running from the law. So I made mistake #2 by leaving Linda alone by a mile marker in the pitch black to check our camp for cops.
The coast was clear and I went to go pick her up. She wasn't very happy with me and I apologized profusely. It was a knee jerk reaction from my old days. See back then: 2 broken laws (no helmet and passenger on quad) + Park Ranger shows up = RUN!
It was a crazy thing that we (ok maybe just I) look back on with fondness and regret. Another thing that happened on one of those trips was me telling Linda that I was going to Bible College that September. I remember the sun was setting and we were sitting on the trailer watching it and I broke that romantic setting with:
Me: Linda I'm going to Bible College [subtle Zalamea, subtle]
Linda: What? [I was genuinly surprised that she was so freaked]
Me: Yeah I'm going to Bible College isn't that awesome?
Linda: No, you are going to find some other girl up there.
Me: Oh, is that what you are worried about? There is no way! You are the only one for me.
Linda [clearly not convinced]: Ok, I think we can make it work.
I was so surprised that Linda was so concerned. She was, and is, the best person in my life other than Jesus. Nobody could steal me away from her. I tried to console her during that conversation and the days and weeks before I left, but she was very sad.
Me on the Banshee with all my gear
Linda, post-Banshee on my Honda 250X (ain't she cute?)
That concludes Part V of BatB. I'm not sure how much farther I'll take this, but if you wanna see more let me know. From here I live in Lake Arrowhead for about 9 months and that was an adventure before instant messaging, cell phones, e-mail, and Skype.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Iron Man on DVD
Not sure if I posted this...
Iron Man
And Tons of Bonus Features on DVD
This is a refreshing blockbuster superhero flick. Many of us waste our lives… maybe not as blatantly as playboy Tony Stark, but waste it nonetheless. I hope God uses this film to wake some of us, including me, out of that malaise.
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