My Life at Present

Alright gang, I need your help on this one. I am enrolled ina PR Writing and Techniques course this semester, and we’re doing a ton of hands-on projects. We are actually going to end up building media kits for a campaign that we create. It’s very cool.

Our first assignement is to write a feature ona new enhancement to the iPod, and I need your help on this one. I can do anything with it, have anyone promote it - BUT, I cannot distract from the other iPod models on the market. Meaning, I can’t tell people not to buy the other iPod units just because this one is “better”. I need to actually add something to the market.

So, as a user of an MP3 player, iPod / Zune / feaux-Pod / etc etc…what would you want added to that package? What’s a feature that would make you spend money to buy it? I am brainstorming a few ideas, but I am somewhat at a standstill. You guys can comment below and help out - and your help will be appreciated. It’s due Monday of next week, so comment quickly.

Category : beadles boys, eye

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I have something to share with you guys.

Over the past few weeks, my vision has fluctuated. I have days where I think I am seeing more light, and then others where, even though I am seeing objects a bit clearer, it seems darker. I am very anxious about my appointment with my doctor next week - and where we stand at recovery and the long term prospect of vision. However, today something interesting happened.

I turned on my screen magnification software, Zoomtext, and wanted to see if I could see anything on the computer screen…and sure enough, at 14X the original size of the screen - I could see text! This is coming from the dude who was told about two months ago that I likely would not see even light, anymore.

God is incredible! Even if this is for a moment, it’s more than even medicine and science can explain. I am an anomaly, guys. I have far surpassed any medical assessment of my eyes. I have said it before, but they didn’t expect me to be able to see after age 10, and here I am reading words on a computer screen…that’s amazing.

I pray that I don’t lose sight of what God puts in front of me. I am so prone to thinking on the negative about how I have to adapt some task that once was so simple. I can handle big life changes…but for some reason, those little daily chores bother me. BUT, I pray that God continues to reveal to me just how much I DO HAVE. It’s a miracle…plain and simple.

Thank you all for prayers over the last few months. It’s been so encouraging to know that Angela and I are not alone in all of this. And God is answering them all - in many different ways. Please continue to pray for this excitment to be that…but not let my hopes get set too high (I am also very easily excited and hopeful), but help us realize that God is in control of this situation and that He will provide as He has seen fit. We are trusting in that. Thank you all so much.

Category : life, surgery, eye

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Why have I posted a stop sign with the title of a Journey song on my blog? Better question, who would deface public property with the title of a Journey song?

Well, because Journey is awesome. And actually, it wasn’t until after one of their biggest fans (John Rolf), left the church a few years ago, I would have never noticed my adoration for them as well. Dave Buchanan and I gave him such a hard time for his obsession with the band…but that was another post. The purpose of this post is for the recovery process that Dave and I are going through. We are now very “open” about our interest in the band, and we are now very aware of their omnipresense. Seriously, I cannot go a day where I don’t hear at least one of their tunes. But, this one happens to be my favorite.

So, it brings me to the part where you are involved. I want to share a game that Dave and I have been playing for about four weeks now. It’s called, simply, “Steve Perry”. That’s right, Steve Perry, the magical man behind the madness. Behind such gems as “Oh Sherri” and “Wheel in the Sky”…and now he has a game named after him. And, the rules are simple. Whenever we hear a Journey song, or a Steve Perry solo track for that matter, we text message the other with the words, “Steve Perry”. And…laughter ensues. However…

I think I have trumped Mr. Buchanan this time. This is a picture of a stop sign on the corner of Upton and North Street in Nacogdoches.

Category : Uncategorized

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Todd did an interview of me over at his blog.

Go and give me some comment love. I will be your friend, on MySpace.

Category : Uncategorized

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Woke up at 9:30am, much to everyone’s surprise – I am sure. I did my part to see my wife off to work, and helped take the dogs out and give them water (or “thirsty” in our house). Then, Angela left for work shortly before 10:20am. From that point on, I curled up on the couch and listened to internet radio and researched assistive technology blogs and websites. I listened to an online, old-time radio station called WNAR-AM. I also listened to an audio magazine for the blind called News Reel. I don’t know how, but that all managed to get me to 4:00pm or so. Time to take a shower for the day…Yes, that’s right folks. I was still in my sleeping shorts and shirt. I figured it was high-time for me to get cleaned up,  dressed ,and make it appear that I actually did something with my day other than eat an entire tube of Ritz Crackers. I got cleaned up and decided I was going to do some dishes, however I got distracted by a Weird Al song I heard on XM. So, I decided to go see if Napster had any Weird Al…and sure enough. Thirty minutes later, I am in parody-paradise. Ok, ok…a little cheesy, I know.Angela got home around 5:30pm and we get the dogs tended to for early evening “busies”. Mandi decides she doesn’t want to eat…a new thing. Larry, who actually started eating Mandi’s food yesterday when we weren’t watching, ate all of his instantly. We were hungry ourselves, so we headed to Wal-Mart to pick up some home repair needs…and stopped by Taco Bueno.

Category : Uncategorized

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I feel I need to come clean with you all. I have been hiding something from you – for almost two years now. It’s been difficult to conceal…some times more challenging than others. And, to be perfectly honest, I am not sure how to deliver it. I could play it off like it is no big deal. Or, I could tell it like it is…with all the gory details. But, whichever way I go…I know I am going to have a load off my chest. It started innocently enough – just kept it to myself…but now it’s affecting my family. Actually, Angela has had to intervene now. What could be plaguing me so?

Less graphic posts to come…

Category : Uncategorized

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I listened to a childrens’ radio station called Radio AAHS, which you’ll learn about in my Six Random Facts post. This was a blast from the past when I found this…one of my favorite songs from the station. You may recognize this gentleman, Cheech Maren. Yes, in 1992 Cheech recorded a childrens’ CD titled, “Cheech the School Bus Driver”. This performance was probably not one of his best, I noticed before I posted it.

Category : Uncategorized

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Ryan tagged me in this little survey. The rules are simple…and the name of the survery is “Six Random Facts”. I hope to shock and amaze you…

1. When I was a wee-tot, I enjoyed listening to a radio station called, Radio AAHS, which is much like the children’s station Radio Disney now. I won several contests with prizes such as a microscope (with a telescope and moon shoes), tickets to the circus, the Wild Bill Western show, and a $1400 laserdisc karaoke machine (with some karaoke discs). I was on-air quite a bit…I think I annoyed some of the DJ’s.

2. I enjoy sequencing tracks with Reason and my keyboards. I love ambient, programmed, spacey tracks…BUT, music can have the tendancy to creep me out. By that I mean, if I hear a song that “scares” me - I turn on all the lights, and turn the source of the song off. In fact, even though I create a majority of “minor-ey” tunes, I have scared myself with some of my own music. Pathetic, I realize.

3. I, even being almost 24 years old, still prank call people. I love it. And, I am stinkin’ good at it.

4. In the first two years of college, I failed 15 hours of courses. And, it wasn’t even really for exciting reasons. Let’s just say, instead of studying, I browsed eBay (way to much!), played video games, and watched too much Boy Meets World. (I wish I were saying all that to be funny.)

5. I was a rather manipulative child. I can recall numerous occasions where I would yell “Oh no! My eye fell out!” and pop out my prosthetic eye. Sadly, I would also try this little “trick” with relatives who would babysit me, who knew better.

6. And last but not least, while at the School for the Blind in Austin (during my 10th grade year)…I was in a rather small, and very appropriately named rap/hip-hop/freestyle group. We were called, “Dirty J. and the Three Blind Mice”. I was Dirty J., just in case you were wondering.

AND…I am not tagging anyone. I am squashing this survey. Plus, let’s be real, I don’t have any friends that weren’t already tagged, nor do I know anyone that will actually do it. Sorry Finn, we still tight, bro.

Category : Uncategorized

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Last night, Angela and I decided we would try the “RedBox” at Wal-Mart. We’ve passed by it at least a dozen times, and looked at the DVD offerings they had maybe once or twice, but never saw anything we wanted. But, last night we went on a date, and we wanted a movie. We’ve decided Blockbuster is a bunch of crooks, so we turned to the RB.

First off, I am giving props to my friend, Philip, for his very helpful information about the Redbox. He gave us a little code, a promo code, to get us a free movie. I am going to send you over to his blog to see just how to get that free movie. But, it does work…and we enjoyed not having to pay a buck for that DVD rental.

Redbox is inside Wal-Mart, which comes with a few other stories, but I would be wrong for not telling you this story. We pull up and see a blind dude entering Wal-Mart. I will say that I am quite familiar with the blind community in Nacogdoches, and this dude was a new cat on the scene. So, Angela sees him go over to the Redbox area, and then walk into the store. As we get inside the store, we see him around the Moto-Scooters, where an employee is talking to him now. He has gotten on a Moto-Scooter (cane, BrailleNote, and all) and has proceeded to drive it towards the exit. The employee starts talking to him like he was deaf and shouts (rather slowly for some reason), “Are you trying to go outside?”. Ummm…I could think of about three other questions I would have asked before that. Oddly enough the blind guys says, “Yes”.

Secondly, we are browsing the titles at the Redbox, and these two guys (who were obviously very masculine, very cool, very tough dudes) start looking through the movies. One of the guys says, “Look, they’ve got 21, and Jumper, and First Sunday…and dude look, Spongebob.” If you saw these guys, you wouldn’t have expected that. The second dude says, “Nuh uh, where’s Spongebob?” then “Oh, there it goes. Yeah, there’s Spongebob”…as in, “Yes! Spongebob! Let’s rent this my good sir.”

Two, very interesting, stories from the Nacogdoches Wal-Mart/Redbox. I say all this to say, go to Philip’s blog and snag that promo code…and go get a free movie. More updates very soon.

Category : Blind People, RedBox, Philip

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…and here is the update I have promised.

The most important thing folks have been asking me is, “How is the eye?”. Well, first off, we’re at the point where my doctor is spacing visits out over about six weeks at a time…which is awesome. Gas is too stinkin’ expensive to be traveling 120-150 miles one-way and then back to see the doctor every week. That said, the eye is doing alright. As I have explained in the past, it is so difficult to put into words what I see. But, medically, the eye is in good shape. My pressure is holding steady, and my light perception is still there. I am becoming more able to utilize my adaptive resources on the computer, and will soon order my books on CD for next semester. Other than that, we just have to wait and see. I am not sure if there will ever be, and out of the woods, for this situation. I think it will be a constant watch - but, I am so glad we have “something” to watch at this point.

I had the opportunity to lead worship at the United Methodist UMARMY in Willis, TX for David Runnels. Todd was set to lead - but, Kristen was put in the hospital the week before. It ended up working out that David had connection to a young guy from Huntsville who stepped in to lead. It was a blast getting to hang out with David, Karen, and Adrieene for the week. The kids were a blast to work with as well. Some pretty amazing, God-filled, moments happened that week. One group at this camp, which is a missions/work camp, replaced the siding on a mobile home. They wrote prayers on the trailer before they replaced the siding and the client they worked for said that there were many folks who came through that trailer that needed Jesus and she now felt like here home was covered with prayers. It was an amazing experience to be a aprt of.

We are getting geared up for “SOS Weekend” - which is a weekend in which Danny, our youth pastor, is leading our studnets in a sex/purity curriculm that will help prepare them to lead their lives’ in sexual purity until marriage. It’s going to be a pretty amazing weekend, as it stands now. Philip is leading the worship throughout the weekend - and he’s got a pretty rockin’ band. We started planning some sets this week, and we may be doing some live Mogulus feeds for the weekend. We’ll see.

Also, the guide dog school came out to work with Larry, myself, and Angela (and Mandi too), last week. Since my surgeries, my relationship with Larry has changed significantly. In fact, he is very confused, because I am very confused. We worked a few of our major routes around Nacogodches, and even the bus station in Lufkin, and Larry and I feel like two very independent travelrs now. We are going to start traveling to Lufkin once or twice a week to work some at the office.

Alright, that’s a lame update. I promise some more regular updates, and some fun posts…not just boring recallations of my past few eeksweeks.,

Category : Uncategorized

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