Friday, August 22, 2008

ATL Fishing trip

The fishing boat captain finally sent me my picture of one of my catches during our fishing trip so I thought I'd go ahead and post it. Better late than never.


Thursday, August 14, 2008

Trip to Hueston Woods State Park

Yesterday, Tina asked me to take a vacation day from work and go on one of our last trips of the summer with the children. She had heard of this park that wasn't too far away so we decided to give it a try. The park was about 40 minutes from our house and we kinda got a late start (around 12:30).

Once we pulled into the park we stopped and ate a picnic lunch we had packed for ourselves. I was starving by the time we got there so it made sense. Then we hit the little nature center at the park. It was kinda small but neat none-the-less. They had several snakes behind glass (which is the only way I like to see them), they also had several fossils, and a bee hive behind glass where I was very impressed that my children knew that the queen bee had a red dot on her head. It amazing that their education has left them with such wonderful knowledge about so many things.

After the nature center we made our way to the fossil beds. This was a somewhat dry stream bed that ran for quite a long while that had layers of broken shale in which were all sorts of fossils. The best part is you could take it with you so we have lots of fossil bearing rocks around the house right now. We spend an hour scouring for neat fossils. We also saw huge fish in the stream, several snakes, and interesting water features. Unfortunately with lots of loose shale and a wife with a bum ankle she ended up hurting herself just a might.

After the fossil beds we made our way to the beach for swimming in a large man made lake. We laid out a blanket and all climbed into the water. It was amazingly warm and clean. The kids had a blast. Tina and I waded in for a bit as well, and then got out and chilled in the sun on the blanket. I started by reading a few chapters in a book recommended by my friend Rob. Then I just luxuriated in the sun and did something I rarely do; I did some hardcore sunbathing. I should have put the sunblock on a bit earlier though, as I now have a slightly pink appearance. I'm not really burned, just a bit pink.

Anyhow, it was a great time had by all the Savage clan, and we will definately mark that park down on our list of places to go back to when we have time. It also had lots of other activities we plan on attacking out next time out which included, horseback riding, mountain bike rentals, archery range, paintball course and some I'm sure I forgot about already.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Interesting day

Okay, so I had an interesting day. Basically got the old, we really need you on the sound boards response from my audition from last week. That being said, I always pray that God use me where he will, and maybe he wants me to chill in the rear of the church on the sound boards for a while. Today I also found out that our company in a cost cutting bit slashed 2/3 of the transportation department positions and many fine people lost their jobs. 35 of these individuals can re-apply for a new transportation position and not be out a job next Friday but the remaining 60 some odd people are gone. This worries me just a bit being that I am in a support position with in my organization and reorganzation in my department wouldn't be out of the question. So I'm looking on Monster, and keeping my options open. I'll hope for the best but plan for the worst. I know God didn't bring us here just to drop us on our heads, so I just have to trust he'll work out everything in due time.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Praise and Worship Audition

Well it came tonight and I felt my voice was a bit shaky during the audition. As a matter of fact I kinda blew one part on the first song I did on the Piano as well. But I did rather well on Bring the rain, and then they asked me to do a song where we could all sing together and they could hear me with a group. At first they asked if I wanted to hop up so they could play it for me or if I wanted to play it. It was Draw Me Close and I just happened to be practicing that particular song quite a bit over the past few weeks. So I stayed and played. And that part went really well. Then they gave me the whole tour of the sound and video stations. At the end they said they needed to schedule a night where I could come to practice with my guitar and play with the band and then at the end try leading a few songs. So long and the short is, I really don't have any answers. I don't know where I stand, but at least they didn't say thanks but no thanks. I think they are trying to decide where to put me. Whether that be playing an instrument, singing, leading, or sound bouards. So stay tuned and I'll clue you all in when I know more.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Wednesday is closing in quickly...

So feedback and suggestions will be greatly appreciated. I have two songs that I'm contemplating using for my solo performance during my audition. If I had to pick from the two I would choose "Bring the Rain" by Mercy Me. The other song is "You have Been So Good" by Paul Baloche. I thought I would record them on video cam and get everyones feedback. Let me know what you think, and those with a musical background (such as Linc, Jim or Deb), if you would give me technical recommendations and feedback that would be very much appreciated as well. So here they are..


Friday, August 1, 2008

Atlanta draws to a close....

Sitting in the airport waiting for a flight that is much later today and thought I would get on here and declare my stupidity for all. Last night is a blur, and not because it flew by, but because I over imbibed. We went out to dinner as a group (the Business Services Division guys from Office Depot) and I had a few glasses of wine with dinner. I actually didn't cheat on my diet too awful much as I only ate half my Chicken Marsala and did not eat desert. Then after dinner I was planning on playing Eukre with some of my co-workers, but we couldn't find the fourth to join us. I was going to just run down to my room and pack, but my old boss Mark asked me to join him at the bar. I normally might have sat and drank one more glass of wine and politely excused myself, but from previous issues that occurred with Mark back when I transferred to Cincinnati, I felt that he was offering a sort of apology so I felt somewhat obligated. As such I settled in for a while and played numerous rounds of billiards, and drank numerous glasses of wine.

Here is where things get a bit fuzzy. At some point Tina called me (I know this because she told me this morning that we talked), and I know I had intended on calling her when I got back to my room. Somehow I made it back to my room (I assume under my own power) and woke up laying on top of my bed (it was still made), all the lights in the whole room were on (and I'm not talking one or two, every single light), and my clothes were strewn throughout the room. It was 3 am. I went around the room and turned out all the lights and went back to sleep.

When I woke up at 6:15 am to pack and prepare for my trip home a forensic examination began. I found an article of clothing in almost every room. I vaguely remember being in that room and leaving clothing as I went. That is why I'm fairly sure I did all this under my own power and wasn't carried there by the culprit that gave me the Rufe (Just a joke). Why I turned on all the lights I don't know. What I do know is that I had a horrendous hangover the likeness of which I have never felt in my life (and hopefully will never ever feel again). At some point during packing I placed my car keys inside a pocket of my laptop case that I never use and subsequently in my hung over state got to the airport and was sure I had left them in my room. I called the hotel and had them check while calling one of my counterparts that was with us last night to see if they would collect them and get them to someone on the way to the airport if they were found at the hotel. I didn't get any strange or odd response or tales of my inebriation so I assume I didn't do anything stupid. My counterparts are always very ready to let each other know when we've done stupid things. Its like sharks in the water when blood is spilled. I also discovered that the bus drivers that take you from the rental car return to the airport tend to stomp on the gas and the brake frequently, and make sharp turns. I also found that in a hung over state, quick starts, and stops and sharp turns result in extreme nausea. But I managed to keep my cookies in the cookie jar sparing those poor rental customers from sharing my Chicken Marsala with me. So I just have to make it a few more hours to the other end of this funk and I'll remember to make wiser choices in the future.