April Fools Eve
Tonight, Steph and I did a practical joke on our senior pastor. This is quite a nerve wracking task to be in on.
Steph is a friend from Woodland Hills who leads a small group like Cara and I do. I've gotten to know her through different church singles events and retreats and what-nots. I also got to know her improv and acting ability.
About two weeks ago, an associate pastor from my church called me with a plan. He asked if I was interested in helping out with a huge practical joke on Dr. Greg Boyd.
The setting was Boyd was going to go to a bar on the first day of the smoking ban and smoke a fat stogy with a couple of other pastors- just to do it (in St. Paul, establishments that make 70% or more on alcohol can apply for an exemption from the ban, their boys night out was obviously in St. Paul). The joke was to have a media crew come up to him and start asking questions about the ban, and once he was on the hook, start to get into some very controversial topics that would just make him squirm. My media connections made me a prime candidate and Stephanie was the first person I thought of for an assailant. I'd be the camera man, she would ask the questions as the reporter.
The caper went down beautifully. Steph led right in, he protested. Greg was getting upset that this reporter wouldn't leave him/them alone and Steph kept pushing. The other two pastors were totally in on it with us and urged him on till he finally started to share his opinion about the ban. She asked him what kind of work he was in and he answered honestly (which was a funny image. Greg telling the media he was a pastor sitting in a bar with a fat cigar in his hand). From that point Steph started asking more direct and controversial questions that have landed Boyd in trouble before- like about abortion. He still didn't catch on. So she finally asked "what is your opinion on April Fools day?" and he realized.
Just then the other pastors came out of the back and everyone was laughing at how well it went. Greg was duped pretty well. We got him.
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Coast to Coast on the Way to Work
This has been a strange week pretty much only because my work schedule is giving me jet lag. I've been on the morning shift all week. 4am to 1pm. All week. My sleep pattern has been fish-tailing inspite of seemingly getting enough each 24 hour period.
Today, after work, Cara and I went to apply for our marriage license! What a simple little task it turned out to be.
This has been a strange week pretty much only because my work schedule is giving me jet lag. I've been on the morning shift all week. 4am to 1pm. All week. My sleep pattern has been fish-tailing inspite of seemingly getting enough each 24 hour period.
Today, after work, Cara and I went to apply for our marriage license! What a simple little task it turned out to be.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Green Light from Before You Say "I Might"
Bobo asked Laura to be his wife in October last year and she said yes. I asked Cara the day after Thanksgiving and Cara said yes. The last couple remain- Eric and Keesha. We all knew Keesha had a communication system with Eric about him asking her to marry him. She wasn't ready and would give him a green light when she was. And he wasn't to ask her until he got the green.
So for weeks we've been praying for him and her to get this green light.
Today he received it.
He got a package in the mail with several printouts of different types of engagement rings from different websites and on the front was a note written on a very bright green post-it. It seems hard to mistake what the message is here. So, congratulations to Eric. Now it will be neat to see how he asks her.
Bobo asked Laura to be his wife in October last year and she said yes. I asked Cara the day after Thanksgiving and Cara said yes. The last couple remain- Eric and Keesha. We all knew Keesha had a communication system with Eric about him asking her to marry him. She wasn't ready and would give him a green light when she was. And he wasn't to ask her until he got the green.
So for weeks we've been praying for him and her to get this green light.
Today he received it.
He got a package in the mail with several printouts of different types of engagement rings from different websites and on the front was a note written on a very bright green post-it. It seems hard to mistake what the message is here. So, congratulations to Eric. Now it will be neat to see how he asks her.
Friday, March 11, 2005
Black Friday
It was not a fun day at work today. There were layoffs. For some time everyone was talking about them under their breath, we seem to know they were coming. Everyone heard they were coming on Monday. But then there was an article about it in the Star Tribune and the Hubbards had to do them earlier.
The production department wasn't hit very hard. Losing one director- Kathy. I heard she found out right away and left immediately after. I feel bad for her. I'm not completely surprised she was let go, she wasn't very good with change and she worked slowly. Its just that she's been working here for over twenty years and, not being good with change, I don't imagine she's taking it well.
Another big change for the production department was for Monica. She gained a whole lot more responsibility- our department was merged with Master Control and renamed Operations. So now she is responsible for twice as many time cards and schedules.
It was not a fun day.
Sunday, March 06, 2005
South Dakota and Compatibility
This weekend was all about a road trip to Beresford, South Dakota, for a wedding of David, a friend of Cara's. There is nothing in Beresford. Beresford is what exists when you exit off the highway. It was a few roads intersecting between farmland. Out in the middle of one of the fields was an hot old church. It was a nice wedding- David and Kristin.
Our trip there and back again was pretty good. We've found, once again, that Cara and I are quite compatible. We listened to alot of music, talked about our wedding plans, and just talked with each other about anything. I am looking forward to being married to this girl.
music - lets do a list:
This weekend was all about a road trip to Beresford, South Dakota, for a wedding of David, a friend of Cara's. There is nothing in Beresford. Beresford is what exists when you exit off the highway. It was a few roads intersecting between farmland. Out in the middle of one of the fields was an hot old church. It was a nice wedding- David and Kristin.
Our trip there and back again was pretty good. We've found, once again, that Cara and I are quite compatible. We listened to alot of music, talked about our wedding plans, and just talked with each other about anything. I am looking forward to being married to this girl.
music - lets do a list:
- Life Aquatic soundtrack
- Air - Talkie Walkie
- Beatles - Abbey Road
- Cure - Staring at the Sea
- Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose
- INXS - Kick
- Donovan - Greatest Hits
- Kula Shaker - K
- Pink Floyd - Final Cut
- Genesis - Invisible Touch
Friday, March 04, 2005
12:30 on a Friday Morning
This may be the most frustrating night of my life. It is the night after one of the longest days of work I've experienced at KSTP, not the first time I've pulled a double shift, but one the few. One would think you'd have no problem finding sleep after a day like that, but one could be wrong about that, as well. As you can see by this post, I was wrong.
I can't believe I'm still awake. I have to be at work in 3 and a half hours and I haven't slept for 21 hours. I simply cannot stop my mind. Every single time I feel sleep creeping over me, my mind pushes it away with some thought about work tomorrow. I can't stand this!
We'll see if George Noory will be boring enough to induce sleep. Please George, you're my only hope.
This may be the most frustrating night of my life. It is the night after one of the longest days of work I've experienced at KSTP, not the first time I've pulled a double shift, but one the few. One would think you'd have no problem finding sleep after a day like that, but one could be wrong about that, as well. As you can see by this post, I was wrong.
I can't believe I'm still awake. I have to be at work in 3 and a half hours and I haven't slept for 21 hours. I simply cannot stop my mind. Every single time I feel sleep creeping over me, my mind pushes it away with some thought about work tomorrow. I can't stand this!
We'll see if George Noory will be boring enough to induce sleep. Please George, you're my only hope.
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
The Last Jay Day
Today was the last day Jay will work at KSTP. He put his two week notice in about three weeks ago and the time has come. His leaving will result in some major changes in the production department- probably more change than anyone else could have created leaving.
Good luck, Jay. Thank you for your knowledge and friendship.
he left us with this:
Today was the last day Jay will work at KSTP. He put his two week notice in about three weeks ago and the time has come. His leaving will result in some major changes in the production department- probably more change than anyone else could have created leaving.
Good luck, Jay. Thank you for your knowledge and friendship.
he left us with this:
Dear Friends,
It has been a good 8 year run for me. I want to thank all of you for teaching this farm boy what it means to be part of the news business and giving me the chance to challenge myself. I will miss all the people that I have grown to know and care so much about. Good luck in the future. I'll be watching from Winona.
Sincerely,
Jay Asfeld
Production Assistant
p.s. I wonder what being able to sleep past 2:30am will feel like?
Jay will be missed here.
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
All the Young Dudes Carry the News
Today was breaking news day. First we heard stuff about a robbery in Bloomington, then there was an Amber Alert, next was Randy Moss being traded and all hell broke loose with a St. Paul Police Officer getting shot. The energy in the News Room was crackling. Toss all scripts, we're winging it folks! Tempers flair and voices compete. I love this type of newsroom energy.
Today was breaking news day. First we heard stuff about a robbery in Bloomington, then there was an Amber Alert, next was Randy Moss being traded and all hell broke loose with a St. Paul Police Officer getting shot. The energy in the News Room was crackling. Toss all scripts, we're winging it folks! Tempers flair and voices compete. I love this type of newsroom energy.
Sunday, February 20, 2005
No TV, Music, Water or Bathroom!
This was a great weekend. Eric, Keesha, Cara and I went up to Keesha's family's cabin and had lazy, cold, roughin'-it weekend. Friday morning I was all packed to go after work. Picked up Cara and we headed off into the Wisconsin north woods. We were supposed to meet Keesha's brother at an intersection and he wasn't there. Just on the edge of cel phone reception, he told us his truck was in the ditch. We found him and gave him a ride to the cabin. From there the boys (Eric, me, Taylor- Keesha's brother, and Bob- Keesha's dad) went back to the truck to get it out. After a greater part of an hour or two we got the truch off the snow back and back on the road (with the help of my bick rack of all things). After we got back to the cabin and sent Bob and Taylor off, it was well into Saturday morning- middle of the night. The cabin was never truly warm. We had a good time anyways. Cooking, playing Settlers and other games and just cuddling to be warm. Two nights without water, electricity, tv, music, etc. It was very relaxing. This morning we had breakfast, launched Eric's rocket off the river (got stuck in a tree) and played a game of settlers, then packed and went home.
music - we didn't have music, but Dreadlock Holiday from 10cc was running through my head quite a bit.
This was a great weekend. Eric, Keesha, Cara and I went up to Keesha's family's cabin and had lazy, cold, roughin'-it weekend. Friday morning I was all packed to go after work. Picked up Cara and we headed off into the Wisconsin north woods. We were supposed to meet Keesha's brother at an intersection and he wasn't there. Just on the edge of cel phone reception, he told us his truck was in the ditch. We found him and gave him a ride to the cabin. From there the boys (Eric, me, Taylor- Keesha's brother, and Bob- Keesha's dad) went back to the truck to get it out. After a greater part of an hour or two we got the truch off the snow back and back on the road (with the help of my bick rack of all things). After we got back to the cabin and sent Bob and Taylor off, it was well into Saturday morning- middle of the night. The cabin was never truly warm. We had a good time anyways. Cooking, playing Settlers and other games and just cuddling to be warm. Two nights without water, electricity, tv, music, etc. It was very relaxing. This morning we had breakfast, launched Eric's rocket off the river (got stuck in a tree) and played a game of settlers, then packed and went home.
music - we didn't have music, but Dreadlock Holiday from 10cc was running through my head quite a bit.
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Home, 694, Church, Disco and Polyester
This has been a busy weekend. I figured out that after leaving work on Friday till getting home this afternoon, I have driven between my house and church a total of eight times this weekend. And to think the first nine years of my ten year stay here in Minnesota I may have been able to count the amount of times I drove on 694 on both hands.
Friday night I stopped by the church to finish a video shoot. There is going to be a ministry spotlight on the FOCUS ministry- that is Woodland Hills' singles group (obsolete for some of us, now, isn't it?). They needed some ideas for the video promo for the spotlight and came to me. Well, when you come up with ideas that people like, sometimes you become the idea and I was casted for one of those ideas. We shot it on monday night and finished some of it Friday night. It was in and out- quick and in ten minutes I was on my way to Cara's for dinner and to finish the Firefly series.
Yesterday I was at church to attend the Discover Covenant Relationships class to become a member of the church. I wasn't looking forward to it at all and was going to go through the motions, but the class is lead by Paul Eddy and his teachings turned out to be incredibly interesting. I even sat with him at lunch and asked him a bunch of questions. I also shamelessly promoted our small group to a couple of couples who were also at the class.
Lastnight Cara hosted a 70s themed party. That was pretty fun dressing up in horrible clothes and listening to funk and disco.
Cara and I were supposed to meet with Kevin Johnson today to talk about wedding plans, but he canceled because of the stomach flu. We did see Greg Wollan and received the CDs he was selling me. His music is very good. I've been on a huge 10cc kick and it turns out he loves that band maybe as much as my brother and I do.
music - Reds in My Bed 10cc
Friday night I stopped by the church to finish a video shoot. There is going to be a ministry spotlight on the FOCUS ministry- that is Woodland Hills' singles group (obsolete for some of us, now, isn't it?). They needed some ideas for the video promo for the spotlight and came to me. Well, when you come up with ideas that people like, sometimes you become the idea and I was casted for one of those ideas. We shot it on monday night and finished some of it Friday night. It was in and out- quick and in ten minutes I was on my way to Cara's for dinner and to finish the Firefly series.
Yesterday I was at church to attend the Discover Covenant Relationships class to become a member of the church. I wasn't looking forward to it at all and was going to go through the motions, but the class is lead by Paul Eddy and his teachings turned out to be incredibly interesting. I even sat with him at lunch and asked him a bunch of questions. I also shamelessly promoted our small group to a couple of couples who were also at the class.
Lastnight Cara hosted a 70s themed party. That was pretty fun dressing up in horrible clothes and listening to funk and disco.
Cara and I were supposed to meet with Kevin Johnson today to talk about wedding plans, but he canceled because of the stomach flu. We did see Greg Wollan and received the CDs he was selling me. His music is very good. I've been on a huge 10cc kick and it turns out he loves that band maybe as much as my brother and I do.
music - Reds in My Bed 10cc
Monday, January 24, 2005
Most Depressing Day of the Year?
I update this site on what scientists have said is the most depressing day of the year. And that might hold true for me today. I was scheduled to work the morning shift today (3:30 am to 2pm) but about half way through the morning show, I got sick. I spent about 45 minutes in the bathroom throwing up my guts. So as soon as I finished the last wave I bolted to the studio to tell Trish and Jay, "hey, I'm puking here, I'm going to go home." and they were fine with that. I made it home (with only one pull over to dry heave) and just stayed still in my bed.
8:30 am the construction crew arrived to work on the fireplace (remember the fire last month?) so I was laying there in half sleep.
its 5:04 as I write this and the dry heave out the car was the last wave but I feel very week and my stomach is a tiny knot. I've been eating crackers and water for the last hour, played Settlers of Catan online against a DragonLance author listening to BeeGees, Queen, Shins, Cowyboy Bebop, etc.
sorry if this is incoherent, I'm a bit out of it. I think the workers are going to leave soon.
I update this site on what scientists have said is the most depressing day of the year. And that might hold true for me today. I was scheduled to work the morning shift today (3:30 am to 2pm) but about half way through the morning show, I got sick. I spent about 45 minutes in the bathroom throwing up my guts. So as soon as I finished the last wave I bolted to the studio to tell Trish and Jay, "hey, I'm puking here, I'm going to go home." and they were fine with that. I made it home (with only one pull over to dry heave) and just stayed still in my bed.
8:30 am the construction crew arrived to work on the fireplace (remember the fire last month?) so I was laying there in half sleep.
its 5:04 as I write this and the dry heave out the car was the last wave but I feel very week and my stomach is a tiny knot. I've been eating crackers and water for the last hour, played Settlers of Catan online against a DragonLance author listening to BeeGees, Queen, Shins, Cowyboy Bebop, etc.
sorry if this is incoherent, I'm a bit out of it. I think the workers are going to leave soon.
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Thursday, December 30, 2004
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Burning Down The House...
Tonight, Bobo and I sat down in front of a great rerun of LOST with coffee and apple pie. He got a pizza and boneless buffalo wings for dinner just before and we were settling in. He chucks the pizza box in the fireplace and things start getting smokey. Just then my brother calls, we talk for a bit and Bobo was off somewhere. He's yelling for me to get off the phone- so I do. He then proceeds to call 911! His house is on fire!
At first it seemed like we just ran around getting esentials like jackets and IDs. We then cleared a way to the attic for the firemen when they arrive. I went outside to wave down the trucks, first one was an ambulance. Then the trucks started rolling in. I guess the Fridley department and the Columbia Heights departments were there. There were like 5 full trucks on our street! We sat in the warm ambulance and watched the ladder extend out over my jeep and onto the house while they contemplated chopping their way in through! We waited while they proceeded to tear down the wall in the living room! Soon the ambulance was dispatched to leave so we were sent to one of the fire trucks to stay out of the cold. Bobo and I watched from there, listening to the cb transmissions. It was over that system we heard it was ok for us to return to the house. For about an hour and a half, guys were coming in and out of the house, bringing tools and axes in and smoldering debris out.
In the end, there wasn't very much fire damage. Almost all the damage was from the guys getting to the fire. It looks like it was from the fireplace burning so hot, so long today on account of the furnace being out.
After all this, a guy came over to evaluate the house for a new furnace since ours died this morning.
Last night, Bobo was so worried about my room getting too cold, so he set up a space heater in my room for me (what a nice guy). This morning my room was fine. It was rather cold between my room and the bathroom, but thats normal. What was unnormal was Bobo running up and down the stairs checking stuff- turns out the furnce had died sometime in the night and my room was the only comfortable room in the house!
I guess the furnace was kicking out some high levels of carbon-monoxide- but not enough to trigger our alarms.
I was supposed to go bowling tonight with everyone from work, but I think it would be better to hang out with my poor poor roommate tonight.
So add all this up, this has not been a good day for my poor roommate. On a brighter side, he did get confirmation on his job, so he will be going back to work very soon.
pictures
Tonight, Bobo and I sat down in front of a great rerun of LOST with coffee and apple pie. He got a pizza and boneless buffalo wings for dinner just before and we were settling in. He chucks the pizza box in the fireplace and things start getting smokey. Just then my brother calls, we talk for a bit and Bobo was off somewhere. He's yelling for me to get off the phone- so I do. He then proceeds to call 911! His house is on fire!
At first it seemed like we just ran around getting esentials like jackets and IDs. We then cleared a way to the attic for the firemen when they arrive. I went outside to wave down the trucks, first one was an ambulance. Then the trucks started rolling in. I guess the Fridley department and the Columbia Heights departments were there. There were like 5 full trucks on our street! We sat in the warm ambulance and watched the ladder extend out over my jeep and onto the house while they contemplated chopping their way in through! We waited while they proceeded to tear down the wall in the living room! Soon the ambulance was dispatched to leave so we were sent to one of the fire trucks to stay out of the cold. Bobo and I watched from there, listening to the cb transmissions. It was over that system we heard it was ok for us to return to the house. For about an hour and a half, guys were coming in and out of the house, bringing tools and axes in and smoldering debris out.
In the end, there wasn't very much fire damage. Almost all the damage was from the guys getting to the fire. It looks like it was from the fireplace burning so hot, so long today on account of the furnace being out.
After all this, a guy came over to evaluate the house for a new furnace since ours died this morning.
Last night, Bobo was so worried about my room getting too cold, so he set up a space heater in my room for me (what a nice guy). This morning my room was fine. It was rather cold between my room and the bathroom, but thats normal. What was unnormal was Bobo running up and down the stairs checking stuff- turns out the furnce had died sometime in the night and my room was the only comfortable room in the house!
I guess the furnace was kicking out some high levels of carbon-monoxide- but not enough to trigger our alarms.
I was supposed to go bowling tonight with everyone from work, but I think it would be better to hang out with my poor poor roommate tonight.
So add all this up, this has not been a good day for my poor roommate. On a brighter side, he did get confirmation on his job, so he will be going back to work very soon.
pictures
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Hey Kid, I'm a Computer!
Interesting morning at work. Right off the bat there was a Rusty music project to tape. We had a clash of staff in front of the music guests and it was very unprofessional. Everyone dispersed unhappy. How many times does this have to happen till something gets changed?
I bought a new computer today. I used the earnings from the recent Bobo swords sale on ebay to purchase them. It will be nice to be closer to the rest of the world as far as computers go. The computer I'm on right now is so old it doesn't even have a CD Rom drive on it! [0^^puter
Bobo and I exchanged our Christmas gifts today. After spending an hour in two different comic shops he finially just gave me a check to be used on geekflag stuff. I got him a couple of Settlers of Catan expansions that he asked for. However, I wrapped it in a box shaped as a perfect cube and then cut post it notes into circles and taped them all over the box to make a 6 sided die. Here is some trivia for you... how many dots are on a 6 sided die?
music - Alison Krauss (who just so happened to be on GMA this morning)
Interesting morning at work. Right off the bat there was a Rusty music project to tape. We had a clash of staff in front of the music guests and it was very unprofessional. Everyone dispersed unhappy. How many times does this have to happen till something gets changed?
I bought a new computer today. I used the earnings from the recent Bobo swords sale on ebay to purchase them. It will be nice to be closer to the rest of the world as far as computers go. The computer I'm on right now is so old it doesn't even have a CD Rom drive on it! [0^^puter
Bobo and I exchanged our Christmas gifts today. After spending an hour in two different comic shops he finially just gave me a check to be used on geekflag stuff. I got him a couple of Settlers of Catan expansions that he asked for. However, I wrapped it in a box shaped as a perfect cube and then cut post it notes into circles and taped them all over the box to make a 6 sided die. Here is some trivia for you... how many dots are on a 6 sided die?
music - Alison Krauss (who just so happened to be on GMA this morning)
Sunday, December 19, 2004
Saturday, December 18, 2004
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
They Flew Away
Cara and I had another very nice day together. We had breakfast with BJ at the St. Clair Broiler then the rest of the afternoon to just be. She and I left to pick up Leesha from her school and then strait to the airport. Got them checked in, went for some dinner and then had some time before then flew out. Cara looked awesome in the shawl I got her! Right after dropping them off I rushed back to Cara's house for the last small group bible study of the year. I already miss my girls.
Cara and I had another very nice day together. We had breakfast with BJ at the St. Clair Broiler then the rest of the afternoon to just be. She and I left to pick up Leesha from her school and then strait to the airport. Got them checked in, went for some dinner and then had some time before then flew out. Cara looked awesome in the shawl I got her! Right after dropping them off I rushed back to Cara's house for the last small group bible study of the year. I already miss my girls.
Monday, December 13, 2004
Holly Jolly
Today is Christmas for Cara, Leesha and myself. They leave tomorrow and won't be back till after the real Christmas so we celebrated today. I had off from work so I got to spend a some time with Cara before Leesha got home from school. We had a lot of fun opening up our presents from each other and from my parents to all of us. Cara suprised me- she got me the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy boxset! I went from having none of the extended versions to all of a sudden having them all. One thing I gave Cara was a fleece shawl, this gift may be more for me than her because I think she looks so cool in it! It was a good night. (however, Leesha did feel the need to push mom's boundries tonight, we didn't get by without some conflict, but thats ok. She was a very tired kid and thats what happens when kids are tired)
Today is Christmas for Cara, Leesha and myself. They leave tomorrow and won't be back till after the real Christmas so we celebrated today. I had off from work so I got to spend a some time with Cara before Leesha got home from school. We had a lot of fun opening up our presents from each other and from my parents to all of us. Cara suprised me- she got me the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy boxset! I went from having none of the extended versions to all of a sudden having them all. One thing I gave Cara was a fleece shawl, this gift may be more for me than her because I think she looks so cool in it! It was a good night. (however, Leesha did feel the need to push mom's boundries tonight, we didn't get by without some conflict, but thats ok. She was a very tired kid and thats what happens when kids are tired)
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