Maple can touch her toes to her head

Yes that I had to show you. Maple was taking a nap and I look over and see that her back legs are rested underneath her chin. I thought that was funny.

Maple can touch her toes to her head

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Many Tech. difficulties over the Holiday

I have to come out and say that At&t needs to go ahead and invest in a cell tower in Ansonville, NC more specifically Cedar Hill. I have had a few issues over the past few days getting my blog to post and I am sorry for the problems. I thought I had a few posted that I found to be pretty funny and turns out they never made it to be viewed. So with that said over the next few days I am going to try to post some of the pictures that I wanted to get online a few days ago and catch up to speed. As for now, I am a bit under the weather and I am letting the nyquil set in.... ahhhhhhh

Turkey day

Happy Thanksgiving!

FYI

Also for the record I chekd my blog just now and the post from yesterday did not come up even though it said it loaded yesterday. So I still count the streek as alive.

Roadkill

The next few days might be alittle shorter than usual as I walk around the yard searching for a signal. I was driving late two nights ago and I noticed a bunny in the middle of the road. It looked at me and instead of running quickly, it decided to show me how good It was at slow motion or the robot. Needless to say, it was to late for peter and he got tagged at 80mph. That is my story for the day. It sounds worse when you say bunny instead of rabbit. I said I ran over a rabbit, I think of a stupid dirty rabbit that steals credit cards and identities, but bunny, that conjures up thoughts of free chocolate and goodies.

If you are sweamish do not look... seriously

I went to the doctor today to get a bump removed off my arm. It was pretty intense, I guess when I was younger and got stitches, my Mom was just so good at keeping my attention that I never knew that I could watch. So, I watched... most of it. So he used like a hole punch looking thing and some other stuff, I was actually proud of myself, that I was able to watch like I did. I looked away for a moment, and then when I looked back... BAAM there was a hole on my arm. He put some gauze over and went over to the table for a minute. I could not resist, I looked under the gauze again, to check it out. I am not normally like this, I am usually not big on blood etc. Then the doctor took out some tool that pretty much soldered my arm, there were sparks and all. Below is a picture of the aftermath. It is pretty crazy looking.

Not sure what to name this one

"Love, by definition, seeks to enjoy its object." C.S. Lewis

I read this today and it got me thinking about our passions. I do not go hiking in the mountains because I am going to get paid for each mile I hike. I go hiking because of the surroundings, and the peace I feel as I walk through woods, the smells, the beautiful views. I go because I love to experience the outdoors. Our passions are driven by our loves. Poets do not write poems just to put words on paper, but they are laying down what they paint in their minds on paper. This is where their passions/love line up together. I hope this makes sense. I have been thinking about passions within life today and wanted to share.

Wuffy ate a Ram today

Today was a big day for the Springer household. The Wolfpack beat the Tarheels today 41 to 10. Can I add it was a great day again. What can I say it felt nice. Well Sarah and I talked today and have decided we are going to have a wager for each ncsu/unc rival game that they play. So if anyone has any ideas, let me know. Right now we are throwing around having to wear the other teams stuff out in public etc. But we are open to ideas.

the lost art of conversation

As I sit here tonight at the kitchen table with Zach Slay and Sarah, I am reminded of the old art of conversation. We have been sitting here for the past four hours just talking and talking. From Jim Jones and The Peoples temple, to Zach telling us about his time in Europe, to cellphones, to watching video on you tube of "The Do" who was the cult leader of the Heavens Gate group who "drank the koolaid" waiting for the comet" to get them. We have talked about so many things. One thing that we hit on was the Christian world today and the overwhelming feeling that the art of talking to people has been lost. It is easy to tell someone that they are wrong. It is easy to tell them why you are right and why you could not be wrong. It is easy to speak your peace with deaf ears and then turn around with your held held high and walk away feeling a sense of self worth. But what a challenge to stick around and hear someone else out, and to share your thoughts and to be shared to. This is something that we have lost, I feel like we have come to a point where if you have a different point of view you are now a heretic. I was reading a book today that talked about how the Evangelical world has been spending to much time working on fixing other people and telling them why they are wrong, and it needs to take a moment to look in the mirror and do some reflecting of its own. The Church cannot change people, Love powered by Jesus changes people.

Me and The Apple Lady

So I went to the Apple store today because my phone had been messing up. Come to find out she wanted to restore it. I thought I had my contacts safe but I did not, so she told me I could either, go home and back them up, a sheet of paper, or Mobile Me them. I asked if I could use mobile me in the store and she hooked it up big time. She got me a laptop and I proceeded to type in 160 contacts right there. It took a while. Then after all was said and done, she tried to restore my phone and the hardware was bad. So new phone for Brad.

Maple does it again

As I was sitting here looking at my computer screen, thinking about what I wanted to write about, Maple inspired me once again. She was walking around the living room and walked up to the kitchen table and off down the hall. Then all of the sudden I hear a noise behind me and see Maple sprint past me across the living room into the bedroom. I yelled in to Sarah wondering what was going on. She said Maple came flying into the room, went directly to her bed and spun three circles and laid down. She is still there right now. I sat here and thought about it for a moment. I always think about the book Marley and Me. Even though I have not read it and have no idea what happens in the book, it always makes me think of ways to learn from my dog. Tonight Maples' actions made me sit back and laugh. How many times, I sprint towards something to sit down on it. I think in my daily life how I will push quickly to accomplish some task or what not and sit down and plant for a moment. I am not sure where that brings me to as far as some insightful thought. But maybe finding a way to maintain a more constant pace is what she taught me tonight. I am not sure. To think how many things Maple has shared with me, without even saying a word.

natural alarm clock

I love how your body can be a natural alarm clock. I fell asleep tonight without writing my blog. I have been asleep for hours as you can see. All of the sudden as I am lying here sleeping my eyes pop open and I like, I forgot my blog. It is funny how that works. Wide awake as I can be I sittinf here typing away on my phone. I bet when I am done, I will pass right out and go back to bed. Today I wore flip flops to work thinking I would be inside all day so it would not matter about the cold. Wrong. My feet about froze off on multiple occasions. Also I have a question for everyone, you know smacks the ceral. Has It always been smacks or honey smacks. If you would let me know that would be great. I am counting on your knowledge here Pat.

I gotcha back

I was on the phone tonight with a buddy of mine Bradley. We were catching up on life and just talking about this and that. It is a great time to catch up with him and see what is going on with him. I was reminded tonight about the blessing that it is to walk through this life with friendships like that. I do not think we were made to walk through this world alone. We are built to interact with each other and love each other and that is where we come alive. It is truly an awesome thing.

Are you my mother?

Do you remember that book, "Are you my mother?". I think that was something like that. A little bird went around to a bunch of different animals and said, "Are you my mother?". He searched around and around asking over and over again. Looking all over for some closure for his journey, for the moment he was in, he wanted to find what he was looking for in that journey. I was thinking about how that reminds me of God today and how I interact with him. This might seem like a stretch, but it made sense to me. I think all the time in all kinds of situations, "Is that you God?".

MIA

So it would not let me post. Sorry about the tech difficulties last night.

Perception

Perception is reality. I think in many situations our perception of what we are dealing with becomes our reality of it. I think we can sometimes be blinded to the reality of what is around us, the truth. We can think we have been wronged or are right or deserved an apology or recognition etc. I could go on and on about the many areas I have seen in life that our perception rules over the reality. I think this can be seen in our Culture on a really big level. Lets look at Christians for example. I think this is one area that perception has really twisted the common view of a group of people. Christians, those Bible beating, hate gays, burn in hell if you drink, smoke, have had sex before your married, and its our job to make sure you know about what you have done and how we can direct you in the right path to fix yourself and we have no room to talk about it because we are right so do not waste your time. Wow. When typing that out, it seems a little absurd but I think that is the common view of the outside world to the Christian faith. But in reality this is a faith of love. Jesus commanded that we love each other first and most importantly. Not to look at others with what they do wrong, but to love... period. Jesus loved to talk to people and to meet them where they were no matter what. He was always around people and up for a conversation. That description is a little different than what I perceive the cultural view to be. Watch the news, talk to some people, ask questions, I think the perception will surprise you from the reality.

What you own

I was talking to a buddy of mine named Jacob. We were standing outside the office where we work and going over a variety of topics. Amongst many things that we had a chance to chat about, something came up that I have been thinking about for the rest of the day since then. We were talking about how what you can own as a person. As in, what you own that no one can take away from you. Something that cannot be lost or stolen but is completely yours. Integrity. That is something that no matter what, you stand to keep one way or the other. You shape your own integrity and stand to show it to the world in what you do with your life and interactions with those you come in contact with. Integrity is what you are made up of. I was thinking about the fact that everything you do and in every decision you make, you are consistently molding yourself into who you are becoming, which we all know. But Integrity is in the thick all this, always.

Middle Creek YL

I was watching some old DVDs tonight that I was given as a gift at my last club as a Young Life leader at Middle Creek High School. This was about three years ago. I watched a bunch of stuff, from singing songs, to doing a skit with my buddy Asa, to watching Harrison doing a skit in my sumo suit, to giving a talk about Jesus. I had always been very concerned with making sure that the clubs went well and as smooth as they could go. I was always thinking about what they next skit or song or thing that was coming us was. I was always looking to see how I could make sure things were running smooth and if not, what could be done to make sure the kids did not notice. I was very engaged in every aspect of club. I loved it, I watched smiles on my face that I could never reproduce outside of those moments. Those times at Middle Creek were very special to me. As I watched tonight, I thought about how consumed I was with the flow of club and the accuracy in that it was produced for our high school friends. I think sometimes I might have missed the point of what was going on, kids having a great time because they are being loved by people with no strings attached. I watched kids in the video watch games, sing songs, listen to talks. They were not worried about how smooth the transitions were, or if someone forgot a line. They were just enjoying feeling safe in a place where some college kids did not care about what they do or have done,just that they were loved.

What I say it true... really

I have a quick story for everyone. I rode in a bike ride this past weekend in North Carolina. It ended up being about 74 miles. It was a pretty intense ride across some of the country in Anson County. Anyways I have one specific part of the ride to tell you about that I thought was pretty funny. I had not trained in over a month for this ride, but I figured I would be able to push through. Around mile 64, I was going up a small incline nothing much and my left hamstring started to cramp. I kept pedaling and reached down to start to work out the knot as I have done before... no big deal right. Well, then about that time my right calf started to knot and each time I would push the pedal down it would stretch it out and when I would pedal up, it would knot again. It was pretty silly to watch I am sure. I think the calf was the straw that broke the camels back, about one minute after that, my other calf, hamstring and both quads all decided to start knotting up together at the same time. If this has every happened to you then you know what I am about to say and it's funny, very funny to watch. With all these knotting muscles when I would pull the pedal up on one side all the muscles would contract violently and pull my leg up to my chest area and on the other side the opposite towards the ground with the other leg and the sides would alternate with each pedal. You can imagine this was nothing graceful. Also, it was some of the most pain I have experienced. Well about this time, I could not pedal anymore and I was still on this hill that I was bent on climbing. I realized that was not going to happen and began to try to unclip my cleats and pull over. I got my shoes out of the cleats just in time to fall over onto the ground. As I laid on the ground and would stretch one muscle while the others would cramp because to stretch one set, I had to knot up the other. About this time a support vehicle came by and saw me on the ground... humbling... he said, "you know there's a rest area about 50 feet that a way don't cha". I looked at him and said, "yes I do, my body just won't take me there". After about five minutes of stretching and massaging knots out I was ready to get back on the bike and go to the rest stop. All said and done, I wish I had that on video.

Fairness Doctrine

Here is something to go google and look into. This will become a pretty important thing here in the near future, if you like talk radio etc. Also, I read today that there is talk about taking America's 401k's and putting them into a community account for all... Just throwing somethings out there to go check out I have been checking out some of these things on the internet tonight and think the word should be spread.

Two Things for you... Pic from yesterday and an idiot

Okay so the first picture is the one I was talking about from yesterday. Yes folks this was from the Ansonville BBQ parade. I guess all you need is 50 bucks and something to show off.

The next picture is someone from Dawsonville, Ga. The gas station on the right had gas for 2.07 and the gas station on the left had gas for 1.99. Do you see what is wrong with the picture here. Well the picture is a little blurry, but there is someone pumping gas, actually there were two cars getting gas for 2.07 instead of 1.99.

Look at my facebook pic I posted today. Tech diff with iphone.

sister inlaw on caffine

tonight I witnessed something that was amazing. Deedie had maybe two sips of coke and fell off the deep end. It was awesome. I think if you gave her a red bull she could punch through a brick wall. Since I am typing on my phone I cannot go into a lot of detail. I will fill you in later when I slip her some jolt.

Sleeping Pills

I took a dose of sleeping pills tonight. I did not sleep very well last night and wanted to make sure that I had a full nights sleep. I took them about one hour ago. I have been sitting here for a few minutes thinking about what to share with you tonight. The sleeping pills are slowly creeping up on me. As I was staring at the computer screen I noticed that I really did not want to lift my hands up to the keyboard. I started to and they just said, "naaww why don't you just leave us right here... ahh thats better." I have noticed that as I type my body is getting slower and trying to let me know that it is now time to sleep. It is kind of funny, when I blink I can tell it's a little slower and when I close my eyes they are very content. I have decided to give in. Good Night.

The Day Maple stood her ground.

So my inlaws dogs like maple in a not nice way. Every time she comes to their house they try to... How I put this nicely .... Hump her. Usually she can out run them because they weigh 125 pds or so . ( 3 of them) I will yell at them and after a while they calm down. Tonight Maple decided she has had enough. She went on the offensive, it was awesome. They would make a move an she would snap at them. She bit their necks, faces etc. It is cool to watch a 65 pd lab fight off 3 130 of dogs at the same time. She kicked serious butt, after a short while they left her alone and Maple won. Tonight my dog became a total "badass".

Why not get a little Polictical

I hear that if Obama is elected, that I will no longer have to pay for my mortgage and my groceries and gas are going to be free. Now that may be somewhat of a misquote, but that is what I was told a voter said today on the news when they came out of the polling place. That was why she voted, so today I will get as political as I get and say that I want free housing, gas and food too, so when the dust clears and if Obama wins, let me know how to sign up for that. Because I want to get on that train with that lady.

Maple and Me

I have been sitting here hanging out with Maple for the past few hours. It has been pretty fun, just chillin doing this and that... playing with Maple's cow and running around the apartment. I looked at Maple and little bit ago and said "is your Mom home?". That is when she knows Sarah is getting home. Maple got excited and went to the door to see if Sarah was behind it. Sarah was not to get home for about three hours. So Maple set up shop about ten feet from the door and laid down with her head between her paws and stared at the door. So Maple and I have been sitting here waiting for Sarah to get home. We are both pretty pumped to see her walk through that door. Maple taught me a little bit today about loving someone. I have been sitting here reminded constantly about Sarah getting home by Maples' unwillingness to budge from her post. (that is a little white lie, she moved after a while, but only to hang out at my feet) That dog sure does love Sarah and gets super excited every time I mention her name. So with that I am going to join Maple with the anxious wait for Sarah.

Where is your home?

Where is your home? What is home to you, what does that look like when you think about it. I have been thinking about that the last few months. You know sometimes when I go to Ansonville, NC where my extended family is from, and sit on the swing under the carport, I think man this is home. I can sit there with my family in the fall night air and chat about what is going on and life and think wow... this is what home feels like. Then I can be sitting at home in Cary, NC and hanging out at the Barn and reliving the ol' college days with JA or b-lew or straw and rock in Jon's old rocking chair and feel as if I couldn't dream of being anywhere else. I can remember when I was a kid sitting on the porch in Bear Den Campground on my Uncle Harold's and Aunt Judy's mountain house and listening to the creek flowing down the hill, smelling the mnt smells and the waffles that were awaiting me on the table that Harold had just finished making. I can specifically remember as a child, this is home, I could stay here for ever and be happy. I guess what I am trying to say, is home to you where you are, or who you are there with. As I sit here and write about it, family is those who you love to be around. The people who breathe life into you, the people who help you understand what true love is. I am going to the Ansonville BBQ this weekend, it makes me think... man that is going to feel like home, I couldn't imagine being anywhere else. Home I guess is who you meet up with.

I have a blank mind

I have to laugh because i have nothing to talk about tonight. I sat here and thought about what I would like to talk about and have had a fart in my brain. I just took another five minutes between sentences and have nothing. So goodnight. If you have anything you would like me to write about let's know. I always have something to say.

peg leg or eye patch and why?

question of the day. Would you rather have a peg leg or an eye patch and why?