She's Here!

At 1:22am on June 30, 2007, Aurora Eve Logan came into the world with a full head of auburn hair. She weighed in at 9 lbs. 2 oz. She's absolutely beautiful. Her name means "the dawn of new life."

The Proud Dad and His Little Girl

Sally and Aurora

Oh yeah, Liz declined to have her picture taken, she's still hurting a bit. But Aurora was happy to be photographed, she doesn't get a chioce. But she'll appreciate it later.

Not Now ... But Soon!

Liz is in labor and we're at the hospital in Lexington. Won't be too long now, less than 12 hours at least.

To All Kentucky Drivers ...

... I just can't keep my mouth shut anymore. Some pointers:

- Red flashing lights are treated like stop signs, not "speed up."

- Just because your car is bigger than mine doesn't mean you get more right-of-way than I do; your ultra-mega-whatever truck has to obey every road rule just like my land yacht.

- Cutting street corners will get us into accidents, so don't do it.

- There is a little lever on the left side of your steering wheel, and when you push it up or down, it will indicate the direction you wish to turn. Kindly make use of this at every convenience, including (but not limited to) turning left, turning right, merging into traffic, changing lanes, changing multiple lanes, and indicating your intention to do any of the above. Also, if you do use your indicator lights, proper use means you turn them on a few seconds BEFORE you turn, not halfway through.

- There are white signs all along the road that have black numbers on them under the words "Speed Limit." There is a little guage on your dashboard with the same sorts of numbers, and a gizmo that will point to them; if the gizmo points to a number five higher or five lower than the number on the signs, you're not going the right speed and will get somebody hurt. Stop it.

- When on two-or-more lane roads, the right lane is for slower traffic, the left lane is for passing or faster traffic. If you favor slow speeds, fine, but stop keeping the rest of us from getting where we need to go by driving side-by-side with another car for ten miles.

- We are not in the UK or Australia; you have to drive on the right-hand side of the road. Any other side is incorrect.

- The same goes for parking - park with the direction of traffic, not on the other side.

- I know KY roads are not the widest ever, but please, stop taking up both lanes; if your truck takes up more than one lane of road, you need a smaller truck.

- Please, for goodness sake, LOOK FOR OTHER CARS in the following places: parking lots, highways, country roads, four-way-stops, two-way-stops, yield-intersections, and well, pretty much EVERYWHERE. I've been nearly run over several times this week from cars that didn't know I had been backing out of my parking space for fifteen seconds before they were.

That is all.

Coldstone Extreme!

This is what we don't do (but wish we could) at our store ...

Shane Claiborne

I Fancy A Ramble

So I've managed to plough my way through a bunch of books already:

The Abolition of Man, by C.S. Lewis
Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card
Exiles, by Mike Frost
Stone Tables, by Orson Scott Card

And I'm now working on:

A Brief History of Everything, by Ken Wilber
The Art of Happiness, by the Dalai Lama

Though perhaps I'll start another few in there somewhere, it's too much philosophy and not enough light reading. And then maybe I'll get around to finishing up a song I've been working on. Also some photos to edit and put up on Flickr, a job to find (with one new promising lead and one lead that was disappointing in its distance from home), and perhaps even some orchestration for that scifi orchestra piece I started in college but never finished. Maybe some video editing or script writing.

The summer is full of possibilities.

Sally's here. Mike was here this past weekend, and a good weekend it was (if a touch busy). I'm still working at Coldstone, doing better with the new management, and getting to like my teenagers - they're a fun bunch to work with :)

That is all.

This is How I Feel About Sousa

Nessun Dorma

Translation:

None must sleep! None must sleep!
And you, too, Princess,
in your cold room,
gaze at the stars
which tremble with love
and hope!

But my mystery is locked within me,
no-one shall know my name!
No, no, I shall say it as my mouth
meets yours when the dawn is breaking!

And my kiss will break the silence
which makes you mine!

(No-one shall know his name,
and we, alas, shall die!)

Vanish, o night!
Fade, stars!
At dawn I shall win

via Anchoress

Brief Update and a Song

Busy couple of weeks, in which I've had little or no time to post. Sorry. So many things to do. Sally's here, visited home, went to a wedding, set up many baby things at home again, etc.

Until my next post is written, I highly recommend you go out and buy Skillet's new album Comatose which is ... wow. Then listen to it, especially the last song, "Looking for Angels." Lyrics belos. Cheers.

Going through this life looking for angels
Peoplepassing by looking for angels

Walk this world alone, try to stay on my feet
Sometimes crawl, fall, but I stand up cause I'm afraid to sleep
Open my eyes to a new day, with all new problems and all new pain
All the faces are filled with so much anger
Losing our dignity and hope from fear of danger
After all the wars, after settling the scores,
At the break of dawn we will be deaf to the answers

There's so much bigotry, misunderstanding and fear
With eyes squinted and fists clinched we reach out for what is dear
(We want it, we want, we want a reason to live)
We're on a pilgrimage, a crusade for hope
Cause in our hearts and minds and souls we know
(We need it, we need, we need more than this)

[Chorus:]
Going through this life looking for angels
People passing by looking for angels
Walking down the streets looking for angels
Everyone I meet looking for angels

So many nations with so many hungry people
So many homeless scrounging around for dirty needles
On the rise, teen suicide, when we will realize
we've been desensitized by the lies of the world
We're oppressed and impressed by the greedy
Whose hands squeeze the life out of the needy
When will we learn that wars, threats, and regrets are the cause and effect of living in fear

Who can help protect the innocence of our children
Stolen on the internet with images they can't forget
(We want it, we want, we want a reason to live)
We represent a generation that wants to turn back a nation
To let love be our light and salvation
(We need it we need, we need more than this)

[chorus]

I became a savior to some kids I'll never meet
Sent a check in the mail to buy them something to eat
What will you do to make a difference, to make a change?
What will you do to help someone along the way?
Just a touch, a smile as you turn the other cheek
Pray for your enemies, humble yourself, love's staring back at me
In the midst of the most painful faces
Angels show up in the strangest of places
(Angels show up in the strangest of places)

[chorus]

Steve and Bill