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I hate traveling.

Don't get me wrong; I love going places. I just don't like the getting there part of things. I don't like driving long distances. I don't like riding for any length of time, especially since I don't trust 90% of the drivers out there. I don't like flying either.

I realize the old statistic says that you're more likely to die in a car accident than you are to die in a plane crash, but in a car it's a surprise. BOOM! Out of nowhere. With a plane, if something goes wrong, you're going to have at least 3 minutes of anguish and panic before you FINALLY explode on the ground. I'd rather never see it coming.

Shari and I drove back from Crestview, Florida this Monday. Crestview is about 45 minutes east of Pensacola, so the trip normally takes about 8 hours. It took over 10 hours Monday. 10...long...hours...

For some reason, between Pensacola and Biloxi, people decided to drive much, much slower. I'm not talking about slowing down from 70 mph to 60. I was going as slow as 0 mph at times. We came to complete stops on the interstate at least 15 times! This shouldn't happen. There wasn't a wreck. There wasn't construction. It was just a mass of people coming home after a Labor Day weekend spent out of town, getting congested in traffic and handling the wrong way. Therefore, I drove between 25-30 mph for well over half the distance to Biloxi.

When we finally got out, I went as fast as I could without setting myself up for a ticket. I refused to stop for stupid reasons; I was ready to get home.

Well, I was under the impression that I could make it from Alexandria to Natchitoches with less than a quarter tank of gas. I thought that I had done it before, so I decided to make it again. I spent the last 20 miles to Natchitoches with the air conditioner off and the gas light on. We rolled into the gas station safely, but the gas meter in my Element had dipped below the red line.

So we're full of gas and making the last stretch home. About 15 minutes away from the house, Apple starts shaking. Apple is mine and Shari's little puppy that we've had for about 2 weeks now. She had done well on the trip to Florida, and was looking fine on the way back too. Well, when Apple starts shaking, that usually means that she needs to use the restroom, and she's scared because she's not outdoors and she knows she'll get in trouble if she can't hold it. If she's shaking, then she's barely holding it.

Well, Apple had been trying to get over to me on the driver's side, so Shari sits her on my lap...

...and I feel a warm sensation...

As you can probably guess, Apple couldn't hold it anymore, so I spent the last 15 minutes of the trip with dog urine soaking my lap and a scowl on my face. It wasn't really the dog's fault. I just hadn't stopped in too long, and we didn't read the sign. Shaking dog = stop NOW!

So I hate trips. I'm glad to be home.

I just got my camera back today. I can't believe how much I missed the thing. I was literally getting semi-depressed about not having it, but now that I've been swapping lens back and forth, taking pictures of the dog, and generally snapping away at everything, life finally feels complete again.

Thank GOD that Canon got the repairs done quicker than expected!

Shari's picking up Apple tomorrow. I'm going to be a dad!

...if puppies are kind of like children.

This is from my trip to Tampico, Mexico 2 weeks ago...

Friday, August 3, 2007

A few observations from Tampico, Mexico…

This is my second trip to Mexico. Shari and I spent our honeymoon in Mazatlan, on the Pacific coast. A little more than a year later, I agreed to accompany my dad in his trip to speak at the Mexican General Conference. Some things I had forgotten from Mazatlan have become fresh again. Some of my opinions have changed. I’m finding more things to observe; sometimes to laugh at, others to worry about.

When we arrived, I noticed the airport is much smaller than Mazatlan’s. Then plane was forced to brake much harder than usual to compensate for the significantly shorter runway. After we got out of the airport, Bro. Daniel Drost picked us up in a very nice SUV.

Driving along the road, we started laughing at the different businesses we saw—Sam’s Club, Applebee’s, Domino’s Pizza, Popeye’s, Subway, and so on. Most don’t even have Spanish writing on their outside walls. Applebee’s, for instance, has “Neighborhood Grill and Bar” plastered across its side. Inside, it’s a different story. Unlike Mazatlan, the employees don’t know English at all. This truly made us feel like outsiders—it made me wonder about all of the tourists that have come to America that I’ve snickered at.

Dad and I had Subway last night at about 9:45. When we walked in, the employees immediately bombarded us with requests to take our order…in Spanish. Dad and I just stared blankly ahead; we must’ve looked like morons. Finally I managed to shrug and say, “No habla espanol.” The young guy behind the counter looked at his friend and tried to suppress a grin. Dad didn’t appreciate that, I don’t think. I wish I were done with Spanish classes by now. I could’ve used a bit more familiarity with the language.

Since I didn’t know how to order my typical turkey/shredded cheese/and bacon, toasted, I just nodded when they put turkey, ham, and American cheese on the wrong kind of bread. When he asked for vegetables, I made what I thought was the universal sign for “close it up, we’re finished.” Evidently, closing one’s hands together in a folding motion isn’t as universal as I thought. I hope it wasn’t some kind of obscene gesture. I ate the sandwich. It was still good, but not as good as a toasted TCB.

The hotel has a few English subtitles here and there. The clock is actually totally in English. Are there no Spanish clock makers? Unfortunately the only English-language channel is an international version of CNN. It’s strange getting the weather forecast for Argentina right before you get the forecast for France.

This is not a U.S. tourist destination. This is authentic Mexico. It’s still a very nice city, from everything I can tell, but it is not a tourist haven. If you cannot speak Spanish, then you should probably not think of Tampico as a lovely vacation spot. You will be lost and confused.

Nooooooooo!!!

I just found out that my Canon XTi is going to have to be sent in for repairs, and it's going to take FOUR TO SIX WEEKS to get it back!

I'm going into a cave...

I had the privilege of driving to the hotel this morning before church and picking up our visiting minister, an experienced gentleman named C.R. Free. He'll be speaking at church for Heritage Night.

We're dedicating a Sunday Night service to our older members, some of whom have been going to our church for over 50 years. The music will be geared more towards the older demographic; they rarely get to hear the songs they love anymore. We've been slowly getting more progressive with our music selection and volume, so hopefully they'll enjoy tonight's music.

Brother Free, however, is clearly more than an experienced elder who has come to preach Heritage Night at The Pentecostals. He is a sharp-minded man of God who immediately revealed his intellect on the drive to the church. His eyes bear a sparkle of wisdom when he speaks--a far off look of understanding and wisdom comes across his face when he begins talking about God.

I've only spent a few minutes thus far with Bro. Free, but I already respect him greatly, and not only because of the respect his age and experience commands. I'm looking forward to tonight.

Feeling beyond tired but knowing rest is still days away...is a bad, bad feeling.

Having fun on ESCAPE 2007

"Spin it with Beckham"

Yes, yes, I know! It's "bend it like Beckham." But the MLS and Los Angeles Galaxy are heralding David Beckham as the savior of soccer in America. The question is whether or not the excitement is warranted.

Beckham received the obligatory panic attacks (or applause, perhaps) every time he would simply receive the ball last Saturday night. The media covered the mess out of the game. Hollywood was watching. America, believe it or not, seemed to be watching as well. It was the first time I had ever seen a soccer game actually playing on the large screens at Buffalo Wild Wings at the Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier City.

Sure, people are crazy about Beckham. But are they crazy about soccer?

I have news for you; if you didn't like soccer before (or don't know if you like it or not), David Beckham is not the one to make you a believer. He has traditionally played as a right midfielder. In other words, he is a passer. He is not a scorer. Yeah, he BENDS ONE IN every now and then with his spectacular free kicks, but he only scored 15 goals in 4 years of club play with Spanish giants Real Madrid. He's a setup man.

He's not fast. He's not particularly skilled with his dribbling. He's not flashy...except for his hair. He can't really use his left foot (understatement). He's NOT going to score a ton of mesmerizing goals. David Beckham is a passer. He is a REALLY good passer. He is one of the best set-piece players in the world, if not the best ever. But he's not awe-inspiring to an untrained eye.

Simply stated: David Beckham is not going to draw that many brand spankin' new LEGITIMATE fans to the sport. Giggling girls will line up to see him, but serious sports fans who have thus far been oblivious to the fact that the rest of the world is in love with the beautiful game are not going to be swooned by Beckham's metrosexual appearance and teeeeny weeny high-pitched voice.

So what can Becks bring to America? OTHER STARS!

If Beckham can increase attendance and revenues, not just for the LA Galaxy, but for the rest of the country, then the MLS just might be able to allure some other big-name stars. MLS needed Beckham, but he might be best used as the biggest lure in the sport. MLS needs a Thierry Henry or a Ronaldinho. Beckham might help bring someone like that across the pond.

Okay, that might be a bit unrealistic. Fine. MLS needs a Brazilian maestro, who does with a Soccer ball what Steve Nash does with a basketball. MLS needs FLAIR and refined talent, not just the methodical American players who permeate the league. MLS doesn't need hand-me-down Europeans and sub-par South Americans. MLS needs some big guns, much like the NASL had with Pele, Best, and Beckenbauer. The NASL handled everything wrong, of course, but it might have worked if managed properly.

The Galaxy is a below-average team (second from last in their conference). Beckham is a great, but businesslike player. MLS is short on style and deep in delusions of grandeur. The All Star team beating Celtic in a friendly isn't going to prove anything to anyone. The SuperLiga is a good way to gain respect. However, MLS isn't going to do it with its current crop of players.

I'm excited about the potential Beckham brings, but I'm still not sure if America is ready to understand, appreciate, and fall in love with soccer.

But one can wish...

1 Corinthians 4:9-13 (NLT)

But sometimes I think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor's parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world-to people and angels alike. Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you are so wise! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are well thought of, but we are laughed at. To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, without enough clothes to keep us warm. We have endured many beatings, and we have no homes of our own. We have worked wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. We respond gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world's garbage, like everybody's trash-right up to the present moment.