I just got some encouragement from a Psalm of David and I wanted to share it with you. I'm sure you can look up the whole passage, and you should do so, but here's what I mainly got from it.
I have so many enemies against me saying, “God will not deliver him!" But you, O Lord, are a shield around me. I am not afraid of ten thousands of enemies who surround me on every side. Psalm 3
I've often heard, and have been asked, "Why do you carry a gun?" I'm not a cop, or security guard, or in the military, but just an armed citizen. Of course, what other kind is there? Without the right to own weaponry, a person is not free, but is just a subject to be ruled.
I often just respond with a simple phrase, "for personal defense." But here are quite a few other responses that work, put into categories.
Why do I carry a gun?
Popular answers: A cop is too big/expensive/heavy. When seconds count, the police are minutes away.
Frank: In case I need to shoot someone.
Misc: For safety. I'd rather have it and not need it then need it and not have it. Because I'm not expecting trouble, and trouble comes when you least expect it. I'm peaceful but that doesn't mean everyone else is. Because yelling never stopped anyone.
Light-Hearted: I haven't reached the stage in my life where I am ready to die. The police don't like it when I walk around with it in my hand. It doesn't do me much good left at home. Because when you need a cop, there isn't a donut around. I can't throw a rock at 1200fps.
Political: Because the police can't be on every street corner and I don't really want them to try.
Denny's has a VIP box suite at the Bi-Lo Center and when it's not being used and there is an event, a drawing is held for the tickets to be given to corporate employees. Employees can put their names in the proverbial hat by e-mailing the designated person in HR. Carried Underwood came to the Bi-Lo Center on tour last week. I had put my name in the hat, and was one of the names drawn, so I won 4 of the tickets complete with VIP parking.
The suite consists of two short rows of seats in front of a little room, about 12'x15'. The little room has a kitchen area in the corner, a coffee table, and four cushioned chairs with wheels so you can scoot them around the room with ease. The little room and the two rows are separated by a pane of glass.
Our seats....were in the little room! It was pretty awesome! Those were OUR four cushioned chairs. We had this whole little room to ourselves, just the 4 of us, where we could arrange our seats and move about as we pleased. We were separated from the other people and could enjoy the concert in comfort. We could control the room temperature and there's even a little private bathroom right in the back of the suite that the pickiest of us could certify as clean. There was a phone in the corner we could use to order food, though it wasn't cheap. Someone stopped by one time to check on us and make sure we didn't need anything. The room can have catering provided, but the company didn't pay for it this year. Funny enough, there's even a TV in the room. I guess it's for in case you want to go to the concert but don't wanna miss the big game on TV or something like that.
What a way to enjoy a concert! We had a blast. When there was a slow song we turned down the lights, paired off and slow danced on opposite sides of the room. We could stand up and boogie down to "Before He Cheats" and "Last Name." When the ice in my drink melted, there was some in the little dorm-size fridge/freezer in the kitchen area behind us. Amber and I went ahead and spent some money on concessions, because we hadn't yet had dinner. So our dinner music was Carrie Underwood, live!
We realized while we were there that it had been a good couple of years since the last time we had been able to hang out, just the 4 of us. First there was always Lukas around and now they have 2 foster children. Not that we're complaining about any of them, but it was nice for the 4 of us to hang out with no kids around.
And Carrie Underwood brought it! It was a splendid performance. Not that I'm surprised. She was the first person I ever picked out on American Idol as being genuinely good. I picked her out the first night I watched Idol that year. It was when they were down to the top 12 or 16 or something. She sang some kind of 80's-rock-ballad-kind-of-sounding song that I don't remember but that showed off her powerhouse voice. By the way, she can really punch out the song "Paradise City" by Guns & Roses. She did for part of her encore performance at the end of the show. Of course she was no less able to deliver a beautiful love song for us to dance to.
The pictures I took aren't too great. The glare is because I was taking them through the glass. But we had a great time and were very glad to be able to go, even if Amber was tired from HOBY, which she needs to blog about. (hint hint)
Hey everyone! Since I haven't blogged in a while, I've got some backlogged stuff for you today.
First, I have good news.
I told eveyone in my last blog that I expected to be hired on to the job where I had been working as a temp, and I'm pleased to report that indeed it happened a few weeks ago. Say hello to the newest Denny's associate. I work in the corporate call center on the technical team where we serve as the computer support help desk and since I work third shift I also take customer service calls. The pay is competitve and there is opportunity for advancement. The third shift hours aren't great but I can be a bit of a night owl anyway so I am able to manage. It's great because I'm working in a field I'm good at and the pay should be sufficient to put Amber and I back on track financially and build back up our savings, etc.
And in other news...
We had a pet emergency a couple of weeks ago. We bathed our cat with store-bought flea shampoo and he had a bad reaction too it. Amber already wrote about it in her blog so I won't go into detail. However, the cat really is male. We don't know why the vet thought he's a girl when he definitely has boy parts, but now he's even trying to do inappropriate things with his sister. We've scheduled an appointment to have him fixed.
We got a new refridgerator. Well, it's new to us anyway. Amber's dad and step-mom got a new one and there was nothing wrong with their old one. Ours leaked water from the ice maker. It would get all over the floor and pool up and make such a mess. Not only does the new fridge not leak, but it's also got a crushed ice dispenser, which is cool.
We also got new phones. I believe Amber already told you some about them. They are really nice.
Here's a video I made on my phone on saturday. You may have to view this blog entry at the website to see it. Every other time I've posted video it's been that way. You know the address. www.xanga.com/countrysinger19
As you can see in the video, spring has really brought out the foliage at our house. Later on I went out with my digital camera and took more detailed pictures of it. By then the sun had gone down but I think the pictures actually came out more colorful because of it.
You got to see the dogs in the video, so here's a picture of the cats. They really need boxhab.
Anybody want a cat? Poppy's cat had kittens, and we are NOT taking them home this time. They've gotten bigger since these pictures were taken, as kitten tend to do, but they're still adorable little kittens. Call today! Get them while they're cute!
Sadly, the one in the middle died.
And finally, I leave you with some Easter pictures of Amber and myself.
