A Listening Change

Saturday, February 23, 2008:

A couple posts ago I included a list of songs the kids have been listening to, which included a song called “Crank That Soldier boy” which I had not researched or scanned because of the innocuous dance that seemed to be at the heart of the song, but after some digging into the lyrics, the song appears to be sexually based and the dance just fronts the song’s acceptance. So, after all of that, it has been removed from listening options and I have scratched the surface of explanation to the kids so that they understand the purpose of my actions without me having to dissect the song for them, explaining each phrase and its meaning.

It is certainly possible that I have misunderstood the lyricist’s intentions, but if so then let it be my mistake and I’ll live wit knowing that my kids are being deprived of a questionable song.

If I’m right, then shame on the writer for targeting a dance audience for his smut. Period.

Big Uncle Kevin came over this morning and stayed for the day and early evening, bringing with him Brittney (17) and Austin (13). More than just bringing the presence of his family and their love, he brought with him a calm to my internal storm just by sitting and talking with him and laughing with him, remembering with him and receiving his loving hugs as only my little (big) brother can give. You know, I just realized the origin of the comforting familiarity of Kev’s hugs; they remind me of the hugs I used to get from Ben Clanton. Ben was my Youth Pastor for a time while growing up at TPC in San Carlos. Ben was stolen from all of us while he lived in Arizona or Nevada, I can’t remember which one…anyway, he was murdered by knife by a youth he had picked up along the road who had wanted a meal. None of that is particularly relevant to Kevin with the notable exception that his hugs feel like those of my very long, long ago friend and big brother, Ben. Wow. What a revelation to comprehend, yet it is pretty simple at the same time. Kev stayed for dinner and just left a short while ago. He took the kids (his and mine) to John’s Pizza place/arcade but it was packed so they went to Sun Splash and played in the arcade for a few hours while I slept. I began to fade before he and I had lunch and after I ate, my body called it quits and I had to take a nap for a few hours (which he said he was expecting and prepared for, having brought his laptop and work with him in case). I need to catch up on sleep; I’ve lost a bit over the past few days.

My brother. May God richly bless him and keep him safe in ALL that he does. He’s head of security for a hospital out in Sutter so his safety is often on the line on any given day at work.

Please be praying for his wife, Chelle, for her continued recovery from some hospital stuff.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Strange symptoms;

The past couple days have included hardcore heartburn which has been somewhat tamed by Gelucil.
I have not been able to go to sleep until nearly 2:00 AM the past couple nights.
I’ve gained back all the weight I had lost last year (now I am back up to 247 where I was at 225 at one point)
Same old exhaustion that comes on very quick and leaves me unable to walk and talk.

More later-