Tuesday, February 22, 2005

Things I'm surprised about myself

I was reflecting about my life the other day, and here were some things that surprised me. I'm surprised . . .

. . . I don't watch the Golf Channel more than I do.
. . . that I'm crankier than I had hoped.
. . . I like yogurt and cottage cheese.
. . . at how difficult it is to lose weight.
. . . that the computer, cell phone, and my PDA have become an integral part of life.
. . . that my best essays and preaching are developed without technology--long-hand, with legal pad and pen.
. . . how much I treasure silence and solitude.
. . . how much I treasure my great family and congregation.
. . . how lousy I am at showing my appreciation for both, especially family.

What surprises you about your life? Let's talk about it. See comment link below.

Monday, February 21, 2005

A predictable end

Hunter S. Thompson, famed "gonzo" journalist died yesterday of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. You may know him through his book, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. He also wrote for Playboy and Rolling Stone. He was famous for inserting himself into the story he was writing about. He often portrayed himself as wildly intoxicated or stoned. Although, in his defense, he told USA Today once that his description of his own drug use was highly exaggerated--he'd be dead otherwise. Here's what a journalist colleague said about him:

"He may have died relatively young but he made up for it in quality if not quantity of years," Paul Krassner, the veteran radical journalist and one of Thompson's former editors, told The Associated Press by phone from his Southern California home.

"It was hard to say sometimes whether he was being provocative for its own sake or if he was just being drunk and stoned and irresponsible," quipped Krassner, founder of the leftist publication The Realist and co-founder of the Youth International (YIPPIE) party.

"But every editor that I know, myself included, was willing to accept a certain prima donna journalism in the demands he would make to cover a particular story," he said. "They were willing to risk all of his irresponsible behavior in order to share his talent with the their readers."




Quality of life? I guess I don't see it. And apparently, in the end, neither did he. Hunter Thompson may have seemed to have a lot, but in the end, it seems it didn't nourish his soul.

Saturday, February 19, 2005

Catching my breath . . . Catching up

It's been over a month since I have posted anything. Much has happened in my little family. After Christmas, we noticed my eight-year old son, Jesse, needed to go to the bathroom a lot. Naturally, he was complaining frequently of being thirsty. We thought he was peeing a lot because he was drinking a lot. So we restricted his fluids, thinking that would get to the bottom of it. It didn't. My wife was quite insistent that we take him to the doctor. I resisted for a time, but eventually she prevailed.

I took him to the doctor on January 24. Blood and urine samples were taken. His urine sample contained excess sugar and ketone levels. The physician's assistant called me and asked me to bring Jesse back for a random blood glucose check. After school we took him back and his test revealed a blood sugar level of 427 (normal is 80 to 150). The PA spoke with pediatric endocrinologist, who recommended we take him to the emergency room at Austin Children's Hospital. We did.

Jesse was admitted that evening, and by Tuesday morning a diagnosis of Type I diabetes was made. He stayed at the Children's Hospital for five days. They do a great job there. He didn't really want to leave. The doctor discharged him partially because he was getting a little too comfortable!

So that has been my big news. The last three weeks has been spent adjusting routines and trying to get his insulin levels correct. His school and our church have been incredibly good sources of support. I can't imagine being in a better situation given the circumstances. So God is still taking care of us. May it continue to be so!