The Saga of the Wrist: Final Chapter

So if you’ve been following my blog you probably know that about a year ago I developed some serious pain and swelling in my wrist. I’ve done various things to try and treat it with no luck. So a little over a week ago I finally had an MRI done, so I went to the doctor today to take a look at the results.

I have tendinitis. Three doctors, two bottles of pills, a cortisone shot, two sets of X-rays and an MRI later, it’s just tendinitis. So the treatment remains the same, rest it, take anti-inflammatories, and hope for the best.

Now to me, this kind of sucks because none of the treatment the docs have recommended has worked. But my doctor says that sometimes this is just the way it is. Some cases are more severe than others. The only other option is surgery, but he really didn’t recommend that and frankly I’m with him. I’m not letting anyone cut me open unless I’m dying.

The good thing is, now that we’ve done all the tests we can do, there’s no doubt as to what it is. So I don’t have to worry about being misdiagnosed, or not getting the right treatment. At this point I just need to be more diligent about resting it as much as possible and finish the medication I have.

So that’s it. I shall never speak of it again. Now if my arm hair would hurry up and grow back, I would be a happy man.

Father / Daughter Hike

Today I took Deanna hiking in the Sierras. We’ve been talking about going hiking forever but it always seems like something comes up. So this weekend I just decided I was going to make it happen. Shoot, the kid is almost 16, I don’t have much time left! So I got up early, made us some pancakes for breakfast, packed some ham and cheese sandwiches for lunch, and we hit the road!

We went up to Rancheria Falls up above Huntington Lake. I figured it would be a good way to spend the afternoon; Not too far to drive to, it’s a short hike in, and it’s a beautiful waterfall. We had a really cool time just shooting the breeze on the way up. We got there around 11 and after passing the trail-head and almost getting the truck stuck turning around (what’s a hike without a little adventure?), we got on the trail, and finally to the falls.

It was absolutely beautiful up there today. Nice and cool and only a few people on the trail. We found a nice shady rock formation to have lunch on and then we just kicked it together, talking and taking in God’s amazing creation. It was really a good time and we’re going to make it a point to do this together more often.

Pictures are in the photo section to your right.

Funny How Life Works

Last year I quit my band South of Shaw and stepped away from secular music altogether. It had been cool over the years. I played a lot of great shows with big name bands in some pretty good sized venues, but there were also untold numbers of crap hole bars that we played in. And along with those bars come everything else that can get a guy in trouble. So after 20 years of playing clubs, I decided to leave the rock scene and play at church and other religious events exclusively. Along with that decision came the acceptance that I would never play a “big arena show” and would never be a musician for a living.

So when Paul asked me to jam with him for the Christian Music Awards competition today I didn’t think anything of it. I figured it would be a day spent jamming with my buds and watching other great musicians, and that it was. Some fantastic talent was there today and it was humbling to sit amongst and share the stage with them. Anyway, our band went on last and we did a song that Paul wrote that we originally worked out and recorded in my home studio. It went reasonable well, of course every musician thinks that they sound like crap, but we got a good response and some kind words from the judges and so I was ready to pack up and call it a good day.

Then they announced the four finalists that will go on to compete in the Christian Music Awards next week at the 16,000 seat Save Mart Center….. and we were one of them. Yep, I’m playing the big house!!!! We’re going to share the stage with the best Christian artists from around the nation. There will be TV crews there, record execs, the whole deal.

So I just think it’s amazing how God works. I struggle for 20 years to get that big show, to “play an arena”, then I give up my dream to do what he wants me to do, and he gives the dream right back to me when I’m least expecting it. Amazing.

So you have to come out and check out the Christian Music Awards next Saturday, August 23rd, The Save Mart Center in Fresno. Here’s a link to pick up some tickets. Come on out and see what great things God is doing.

Free Chicken!

So I’m a little freaked out this morning. A little freaked out and a lot proud. My little baby girl called me at work yesterday and told me she got a job! Yep, her very first job. And she got it without parental intervention too. Her youth pastor turned her on to an acquaintance of his who happens to be opening a chicken joint and two interviews later, she’s a official member of America’s working class! God is good.

So I’m real proud of her, and I know she’s going to be so stoked to get that first check that she earned herself. And I know she’s going to be even more stoked to take her mom and I out to dinner with it! And of course there another benefit to me as well…. free chicken!!!!!!! Alright, that probably won’t happen. I don’t want to be the one to get my daughter canned. But with all the money I save by not having to fork out $10 here and $20 there, I can buy all the chicken I want! YESSSS!!!!!

So why am I freaked out? Because this is another sign that I’m getting old man. Odd thing is, I’m still waiting for the day when I actually start to feel and act my age. I’m starting to worry I’m never going to grow up, you know? I keep waiting for the day when jogging shoes go with every outfit, Golf replaces the UFC, and I trade my bike in for a Hoveround, but it never comes! I can see it now, my daughter is going to be grounding ME for bad behavior in five years. Oh I know, you’re probably thinking I’m selfish and this is all about me isn’t it? Well, yes it is, hence the name of this blog!

Joking aside, this is really exciting for me. Watching somebody literally enter the world, and then grow into an adult right before your eyes is amazing.

Great job kiddo, I’m proud of you. I got us a table for 3 at Ruth’s Chris. Don’t forget to bring enough for a tip.

Wild at Heart: Fathers

We covered the second chapter in our Wild at Heart study last night and it was pretty interesting stuff. While the first chapter covered those desires that men have in our hearts, the second chapter dealt with where we inherit those from. So there was a lot of talk first about our fathers, and then about Jesus and our Father in Heaven.

Let me just say that there’s nothing worse than talking about your old man. Honestly I’m amazed that the world even functions given the fact that most guys dads completely ignored them. I think most dads view kids like they view puppies. They are cute and fun to play with (as long as mom feeds and cleans up after them). Then when they get big and start thrashing the furniture, they need to be run, and aren’t cute anymore, they’re just a big pain in the ass and it’s time to get them out of the house.

At any rate, the second half of the chapter focused on God and I found this part of the chapter to be pretty cool. I love the picture of God as an adventurer. The author draws connections between God’s personality and his creation and I think it’s cool to look at creation with all it’s complexity and randomness and wildness, and know that God likes it that way! I can see him up there crafting Mt. Everest and just saying to himself.. “oh they’re going to dig this one… they’re going to try and climb this sucker for generations”. You know?

The other aspects the author talks about; a battle to fight and a beauty to rescue, are even more fascinating. For so much of my life I viewed God as simply somebody with power over me, but who I could never please. But when you look at the Bible and begin to look at what God’s battle to fight is, you begin to see that the battle is for a relationship with us and that is amazing to me. God is not just some rule keeper in Heaven waiting to smack the crap out of you for screwing up, he is actually seeking us out every day, going to battle to win us to Him, in spite of our shortcomings. That’s an amazing picture.

And then there’s a beauty to rescue. There’s a lot of things in the book about how god created women and the whole subject of desire and romance, and I think guys tend to wrongly associate romance directly with sex. When I started thinking about this it occurred to me that romance is really about sacrifice. We watched Braveheart last week and there’s a scene where the Queen is talking with her handmaiden and they are talking about romance, yet the conversation is all about Wallace facing danger and risking his life for his woman. Even in our modern day, things that are considered romantic are the things that guys do that are out of character. They are things that require a man to put himself at risk for his woman.

So bringing around that line of thought… there was a question asking if we thought God is a romantic. And I have to say of course he is! When you think about the fact that he sent Jesus, to take on the body of a man, to face the wrath of the religious leaders of the day as well as the Roman government; the fact that he died a horrible drawn out death…. and did it for us… yeah, that’s a romantic personality.

So it was a good study and as usual, not your traiditional idea of a bible study. I actually got to hear a pastor use the term “bumping uglies”. You won’t hear that at church very often.

Next week we’re taking the week off to go hang as dudes and watch the manly sport of baseball. The Grizzlies are taking on the Las Vegas 51’s and honestly, I could care less who wins. I just enjoy the hot dogs and spitting seeds on the floor and not getting in trouble for it.

Peace!