Merry Christmas

An observation: This season I've heard WAY MORE people wish me a Merry Christmas than a Happy Holidays. Sometimes I'll thank the person for the Merry Christmas instead of the Happy Holidays. Usually if I say Merry Christmas to them, they'd return it with a hint of 'oh, it's OK to say it with this guy' in the inflection- or that could be my imagination, just wishing the thought there. Perhaps it's my appearance for some reason that prompts people to use the term I'd prefer over the politically correct one the ACLU would have you use.

By CookevilleTimes.com

Story Published: Dec 8, 2010 at 10:21 PM CST

Story Updated: Dec 8, 2010 at 10:21 PM CST 

School superintendents across the state were reminded by the ACLU this week that holiday celebrations focusing primarily on one religious holiday amount to an unconstitutional endorsement of  religion. 

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) letter, addressed to 137 public shool leaders across the state, stated that it was responding to a number of complaints from families about school party activites this Christmas season. 

Hedy Weinburg, ACLU executive director in Tennessee, cited several U.S. Supreme Court decisions about the matter.  

But several area citizens, like Jim Brown, think that such admonitions are misguided and potentially dangerous.  Brown commented on the news, saying "We are a Christian nation.  Let's act like it."  and said that he hopes that the teachers and administration will celebrate the Christmas season.   

Said one area teacher (name withheld), "I respect people of different faiths, but that doesn't mean that I'm going to eliminate my own from my work and and my classroom.   I can enjoy Christmas as Christmas without worrying that I'm going to offend someone.   My money still says that I trust in God.   Are they going to stop me from using that, too?" 

The letter was sent from the ACLU to the top administrators across the state.  What those administrators do with the information is yet to be seen. 

Some co-workers and I were joking about it. We said we should show the love of Christ to people who wish us a Happy Holidays with this return- Piss off! It's 'Merry Christmas'!

I really don't know where we sit with that one this year as I've pretty much cut myself off of political talk radio and the like. I'm hoping it's a backlash of the political correct pushing this type of thing too far down America's throats. Whatever the reason, it's nice to hear it more often than not.

TRON and the Purple Sandpiper

Rob and I scheduled a play-date to walk and talk, watch TRON, and eat- in that order. We walked around the MOA for a while while we waited for our showtime. We also toured our old neighborhood back when we lived for very cheap in Bloomington. The movie was great. Next our plan was to find the Bloomington Falafel King for a Mediterranean buffet. But the Falafel King was gone and instead stood the Purple Sandpiper!?! We were defeated. But after looking at their menu we decided to accept defeat and dine there anyway. First of all the sweet potato fries were amazing! We both ordered omeletes that were excellent (mainly because of the goat cheese). The service was very nice. When she overheard us talking about Doctor Who she pretty much joined right in saying her husband likes it but she's more into... RomCom. While I didn't get my desired gyro meat, the Purple Sandpiper was pretty good.

Six Years Ago Tonight

... I asked Cara to marry me.




She said yes.

Pasties at Jerabeck's

For lunch, today, Willis East went to Jerabeck's New Bohemian Coffeehouse just because they sell pasties. What are pasties? Not a question anyone from Eagle River should have to ask (and nothing to do with adhesives, I'll have you know!). Jerabeck's pasties taste exactly like I remember from Trigg's, but they were much smaller than I remember. Missing were the large potato wedges that often accompanied them in the north woods.

I had been by there hundreds of times on various school bus routes and was always curious what the joint was like. I'd say it's definitely good enough to return.

www.jerabeks.com

New Command

A strange and wonderful evening with New Command.

We received an invite to a concert in a tree house and a pot luck. The invite came from the Browns, a family in our Bible study small group. The concert was held up in the most amazing tree house I've ever seen at the Brown's parents house... the Browns... uppercase B which is up in Stillwater, MN. Wonderful music. Most of the music was from a new album called Damascus Journey performed by a band called New Command featuring my friend, Greg Wollan. They started the show with an old track of his called Glorybound (see this post, this post and this post) which he dedicated to Cara and me. That was a very nice way to start off.

The whole event was a totally free concert performed for special and invited guests. It was informal and very relaxed and right outside up in an elaborate tree fort! Totally wonderful.

When we get the chance, Greg and I share our music obsessions and its surprising how many bands we both are very passionate about. Most of it is progressive rock such as Peter Gabriel and 10cc. He and I went to lunch a couple of weeks ago where he discovered that we were going to be at the this show. It surprised me that he didn't know. Apparently, he wasn't privy to the guest list. So somehow through our big church we happened to cross paths for this.

He was very happy we were able to go and my family and I had a wonderful time.

Taxes

Our taxes are done... sort of. We sat with the guy this evening. He's going to actually do them and they'll be done within a week. The gathering of the info was done by Cara. I pretty much just earned most of the money and attended our little tax meeting tonight.

So Long, My Friend

Today I sold the good old green Jeep. I purchased him in 2000 making him the longest I've ever owned and drove any vehicle. We are now purely a Honda driving family. You will be missed, old friend.