Okay...so round two attempting to write this weekend's message was a success.

I'd say it didn't have anything to do with Chipotle, but I'd be lying.

And I'd say it didn't have anything to do with copious amounts of coffee, but I'd be lying too.

I'm blogging. I'm not supposed to be blogging. I'm supposed to be writing my message for this weekend's gatherings at Vineyard Westside. They've asked me to speak on community and building relationships. This feels like it should be a natural topic for me...and yet I'm struggling.

Oh I know I thought to myself, I'll go to Panera and get some writing done. Panera has always been a place of rackety seclusion for me. It's like...there's stuff going on all around, but it's not distracting. Well...normally it isn't. It is today though. I can't focus. I've got my mind racing in a thousand different areas and I just don't think I'm going to be able to force myself into intentional writing right now. There's always tomorrow.

Anyone got a place of peacefulness (with WiFi of course) that you're willing to share?

[P.S.] Here's what my 2 hours at Panera looked like from my computer screen...speed up of course.

Bad. I have been shooting with the same Nikon D100 camera for close to 7 years now. It was extremely expensive, but it has worked wonderfully for me since I've owned it. As of late, my D100 is starting to crap out on me. Pixels are burning out and images are showing up slightly out of focus at all times. The shutter release is slow and the camera overall is just beginning to wear out. I suppose you'll have that after many years of hard use.

It's time for a new camera. Trouble is...it's been time for a new camera for a while and I don't have any money. Dangit! It's one of those deals where I really want to get back into the hobby, and I wouldn't mind making some fat cash while I'm at it via weddings and portraits and such...but the jack just isn't there. If it were however, I'd pick me up one of these puppies:

The Nikon D60. It's pretty much an intermediate camera, and it would be a step down as far as durability goes, but the advancements that have taken place over the last several years in digital photography make this little thing a far more versatile camera than my old D100.

I'm coveting. If you're a photo dweeb you need to let me know if this is a bad move. That's all for now...

...and so I'll leave you with this:

Here's a video I created for this weekend's gatherings. We're a small church compared to many...but we're trying to make a dent. Peep it.

Sometimes I feel like I have so much to say that I can't say anything at all. I'll wait until I have something worth mentioning...until then, here are some random findings from this past week:

Blogs:

www.proofpurchase.com

www.thehomelessguy.blogspot.com

www.cfhusband.blogspot.com

Photos:

Stunning photo of Siberian Tiger.

No, this isn't photoshopped...oops...©

Organizing books by color.

Videos:

Kitchen Beatbox.

Best. Karate Moves. Ever.

Andy McKee is the man.

*1:30am...can't sleep. Must...shave...head.

Below is a video project of people ages 1 to 100 drumming a drum. I'm not really sure why, but I feel a wide range of things when I see it. It conjures up many thoughts really. The humanity. The diversity. The shortness of life. So many stories.

I began growing a beard about three months ago for a project in my mind. I wanted to see how my beard would grow over a 90 day period. I started taking photographs each morning about one week into the Beard Project. I devoted myself to take a photo on my laptop as soon as I woke up each morning. The results weren't pretty.

I had no idea how different I began to look after about 90 days. My face took on a totally different shape. This may seem obvious, but my wife and daughter were shocked when I shaved. Ava couldn't stop looking at me with this strange, bashful gaze. It was so adorable. She was flirting with me. It made me want to stay clean shaven. Too bad I look like I'm twelve.

Here's a before and after the shave:


I told you I looked like I was twelve.

Here's a video (remember, it was first thing in the morning!) of the growth:

...well, more accurately she likes her mama's shoes. Ava seems to be addicted to wearing shoes made for adults lately. She actually goes into the closet and searches them out.

Here's what I found the little weirdo up to a couple days ago:

Below is a video tutorial of how to make some awesome Guacamole. Now while I normally know full-well just how strange I am, I must admit I did question some things about myself after creating this video. Oh well...

Last night Allison, Ava, and I went to a Christmas party held at Children's Hospital for Allison's work. Allison works with a program called Project Search where she provides job coaching for people with special needs. Students in the program might have Down Syndrome, or Autism, or some other form of mental/physical disability.

While these students might have a hard time learning how to do certain things in life, I don't believe dancing is a problem area. Those peeps can dance. You know how you go to a wedding and maybe 25% of the people dance? And that's at a good wedding! This was nothing like that...at this party there was some serious dancing happening. Without reservation people flailed wildly and it was exquisite. No one cared if they looked cool or dorky. There wasn't any room for people who couldn't get over themselves.

Here's a little taste:

...here's a video we made starring our friend Johanna. This video will play during the Sunday Gatherings at Vineyard Westside tomorrow. If you're seeing it today, it's almost like you are viewing the future. Almost.

...not to be confused with the Yeti Monster.

The Neti Pot is somewhat of a last resort for me trying to eradicate my sickness. I woke up this morning and after praying persistently for God to remove my sickness I've decided to take some prayerful action. I'm pretty sure I have some kind of sinus infection and it's time for it to go.

I'm not sure where you are on your spiritual path. I'm not sure if you would even care about this. For me, this book is very important.

I'm not usually one to try to get people to read what I'm reading. I read lots of stuff. Most stuff I read I could really go without reading...it's just not that crucial. This is crucial.