Not quite the Gates Foundation...

I do hope to someday soon post stories and pictures from recent trips to Costa Rica, Missouri, and New Mexico. And pictures of the remodeled full-bath, which has been done for months...

But for now I'll mention something else that I'm excited about. The idea of Giving has been on my mind a lot in the past year or so. We discussed Money and Giving in our small group over the course of several weeks and a few months ago I led a communion meditation during a Sunday service whose theme was Giving. It's a very important topic for me and an important part of my spiritual life.

I remember discussing among our small group the idea of tithing via automated withdrawal. The idea would be to have, each month for example, 10% of my income automatically transferred to churches and charities and whomever else I choose to give to. I already have an automated withdrawal set up from my checking account to Shiloh each month. It makes me happy to know that I am consistently giving to Shiloh, so the idea of extending this consistency to my other giving is very attractive.

However, as my friend Bill pointed out, there may be negative aspects to making giving so convenient. It's possible that the act of remembering and choosing, week after week, to write that check is as important as the giving. As I told him then, I'm not exactly convinced; But Bill is a smart guy, so he's probably on to something. In addition, there is always giving that is irregular. It's never going to be the Gates Foundation, but the idea of accumulating some money to contribute to the starting of a mission team or a new building project is attractive to me.

So here's what Beth and I recently decided to do. We have two checking accounts, one "personal" and one "giving". Each month, 10% of our income is automatically transferred into the giving account. I'm not a legalist with an attitude of "not a penny more or less", I promise. But it does make me feel good to know that it's "not a penny less". My life is busy and there are at least a hundred things that I don't get done each week... sometimes giving is one of them. So now we can write checks from the "giving" account (which will still involve remembering and choosing to give, I believe) and whatever is not given will stay in the account. Over time, perhaps, that extra $100 or $200 a month will become $10,000, which we can use to jump-start some project that is important to us.

It's not the Gates Foundation, but it's a start.

ESPN2 ???

The most popular sporting event in the world is underway. Team from 32 nations have gathered in Germany for 64 games that attract greater audiences than a winter and summer olympics combined. Costa Rica's president declared a national holiday for their opening game last Friday and game day is a de facto holiday for almost every other nation competing.

...And then there's the U.S.A. Coming off its most impressive performance in recent history (reaching the quarterfinals in 2002) and fielding an arguably better team this year, American soccer fans are more excited than ever to follow their team's progress. Yet in the U.S., the game will not even be broadcast on network television! God forbid we preempt our soap operas. What's worse, it won't even be broadcast on its most widely-available cable sports station, ESPN! (Yes, ESPN, which last week gave the same time slot to the national spelling bee.) No, soccer fans... if you want to watch the U.S. play in the most popular sporting event in the world, you'll have to tune in to ESPN2. ESPN2 ?!?!?!?

Senior-itis

Yep, I've got it pretty bad. My spring semester ended on Wednesday with the submission of my last final exam and last group paper. This ends my eighth consecutive semester (spring-summer-fall) and gives me 46.5 of the 60 credits I need to graduate. That is 78% which roughly means that I have finished my "junior year" and entered my "senior year".

I remember the first MBA class that I attended. It was on a Tuesday night. Class started at 6:00 and ended at 9:00. It was so strange to suddenly be sitting in a classroom at 9PM rather than on my sofa at home (or whatever else it was that I did with my evenings in that previous life). I remember leaving the class very excited about being a part of the discussion that had just taken place, but at the same time exhausted from it. I told myself: that was just the first night of the first class of the first semester... hey idiot, what are you doing?!? And that was in September 2003! I have since attended more than 200 nights of 3 hour class meetings, and I'm still very exhausted after each one.

So everybody save the date for my big graduation party; it's just around the corner: Jan 27

Project [basically] finished!

Well I'm just about done -- a few minor details, like a missing door, still need to be addressed -- but it's looking pretty good.

Working on this bathroom has been a lot of fun and very educational. Big thanks to Todd for letting me borrow his tools and bigger thanks to Bill who donated consecutive Sundays to tiling the floor.

As Beth says, this was "the practice bathroom". Next weekend I'll start working on the full bath. Hopefully, with all that I've learned from this experience, it will go a little more quickly and look even more professional.

Project, cont'd

Still working...

Project

Feeling ambitious, my current project is underway...

Before


During


After
???

Basketball

I saw this on CNN at work yesterday and then saw this CBS coverage online... amazing. Beth insisted that I post the link so that all of her friends are sure to see it: http://www.youtube.com/?v=UBYPaNc57Ik

Athlete's Foot

Does any disease have better PR than athlete's foot? "Fungus between your toes? Hmm... must mean that you are a physically fit and active person!" Whoever came up with such a great name deserves the thanks of an entire industry of makers of sprays and creams. You may think twice about admitting to being afflicted with tinea pedis, but "athlete's foot"? It's practically a compliment!

What's next? "Take two Tylenol for your genius pain"

Viva Mexico!

Some pictures from our trip to Mexico

Beth in the courtyard of our hotel in Tepotzotlan

Tepotzotlan street leading to the cathedral and city plaza

Where to find great quesadillas in Tepotzotlan

Beth and her favorite flowers in one of the cathedral gardens

Lunch in Tepotzotlan

Alisa's wedding chapel

Alisa and Patricio going back down the aisle

Weepy Beth and Alisa after the wedding

Part of the fireworks during the reception ("ALICIA Y PATRICIO")

Beth and others protecting Alisa during the Snake Dance

Brandon and Beth with the beautiful bride at the reception

Brandon and Beth on top of the Temple of the Moon pyramid at Teotihuacan

The Temple of the Sun pyramid at Teotihuacan

Beth on top of the Temple of the Sun pyramid at Teotihuacan

Looking up from the bottom of the Temple of the Sun pyramid at Teotihuacan

Building with tile exterior in Mexico City

A street fair in Mexico City

Old and New architecture in Mexico City

Beautiful interior of the Palacio de Belle Artes (museum in Mexico City)

Mexico City skyline

Brandon and Beth on New Year's Eve

Huge plaza in the middle of Mexico City as viewed from our New Year's Eve party

40 Thoughts From My Morning Commute

I tried to let this sad blog die. I deprived it and ignored it. But still, people read it? Still, they post comments and complain? What's it going to take for people to leave me to my blog-o-silence? Maybe a little stream-of-consciousness will do the trick...

40 Thoughts From My Morning Commute

1. 2/3 or B/C?
2. Uhhh... it's a little cold, but the walk would be nice: 2/3.
3. Probably the only fresh air I'll enjoy until 8 tonight.
4. iPod? headphones?
5. No, seriously, just enjoy the walk. Listen to the city, the park. Allow someone to start a conversation with you.
6. Well, enjoy the park, anyway. Wait a little bit before entering the audible cocoon.
7. It's really not very cold. This is 40?
8. Either that, or this is a really good coat.
9. No, I think it's just not very cold.
10. Strange for December 1st... this is supposed to be winter?
11. Oh wait, winter is December thru February. No, March. So winter's really just starting.
12. Why do I always think that winter is over by January?
13. Probably because in Texas we started our soccer season on January 2nd every year. Yikes!
14. I'm glad I live where there are seasons.
15. Train's coming, hurry up.
16. Oh crap I totally forgot my - no, I got it.
17. Okay, good swipe, but fast. Make sure you see the 'Go' before running through this time.
18. Shoot, it's uptown.
19. Lots of people waiting for the downtown. That's good, I didn't just miss it.
20. Wait, it's too many people. There must be a problem.
21. Not what I need today.
22. Why did I move so slowly this morning? I had plenty of time. I could ha-
23. Oh good, headlights.
24. Hurry with the headphones before the train moves.
25. Let's see, what should I listen to? How about This American Life?
26. Geez, how can it be so hot in here?
27. Is anyone else sweating? Doesn't look like it.
28. This is a good coat.
29. OK, just relax and think cool thoughts.
30. Like what?
31. I need a seat.
32. Ok, that woman has her bag in her lap like she's ready to go. Stand in front of her.
33. Good, sitting now. Successful commute.
34. I wonder what the This American Life people look like. I don't even really have an image in my head when I listen.
35. Get a good hold on the briefcase and rest your eyes. That's g...
36. ...
37. ...
38. ...
39. ... Hehe, I wonder if anyone was watching me sl-
40. Wall Street, oh crap!