Mulberry Street

Don't forget to visit PetLand and take advantage of their year end close out sale on huge puppies.

Post hoc ergo propter hoc

We took our Christmas tree down tonight. Tomorrow I'll remove the wreaths from the windows and the candles from the window sills. We'll box it all up, poorly, and toss it in the attic with no particular order or reference. Much like the Grinch unloading Whoville.

Funny, putting the Christmas tree up is a joy in our house. It signals the season and we listen to Christmas music and talk about ornaments and joy is experienced by all. Taking it down is another story. It ends the season and we watch the news and toss ornaments in boxes and pretty much hose ourselves off of joy.

"After this, therefore because of this." An argument could be made that the hectic experience of taking the tree down is caused by putting the tree up. Makes sense, I guess. If we never put a living tree in our house, we would never experience the arboreus nightmare of removing said tree.

But they say that phrase itself is a 'logical fallacy'. Maybe there is more to it. Maybe the tree has nothing to do with it at all. Maybe we're just sad the Christmas season is over and the great, gray beast of winter is creeping in as we start a year all over again knowing we now have one less Christmas to enjoy. Maybe. Maybe not.

I think the hardship of cleaning up after Christmas is innate. I think that we want to hold on to that joy so hard and so long that we forget we can have it all year long. I know I do. Christmas joy doesn't fill me up in March or in August when it's 115 degrees but it can and it should. So next July, ask me about it. I'll probably say, "huh?". But remind me that I don't need a tree in my house to be filled with the Holy Christmas spirit.

Christmas Eve

In the space of the beginning was the living Word of Light.
When this Word was clearly spoken all that came to be was right.

All creation had a language, words to say what must be said.
All day long the heavens whispered, signing words in scarlet red.

Some have failed to understand it, so God spoke His final Word.
On a silent night in Judah's hills a baby's cry was heard.

Glory! sang the angel chorus. Glory! echoed back the night.
Love has come to walk among us. Christ the Lord is born this night

All creation sing His praises. Earth and heaven praise His name.
All who live come join the chorus. Find the words His love proclaim.

Find the words His love proclaim.

--- "Anthem for Christmas" (Michael W. Smith / Gloria Gaither)

Concerts

My buddy Kyle-o posted about concerts seen and unseen and it got me thinking. I wish I had kept an accurate record of all shows I've seen. It would be interesting to know that I saw Hootie & The Blowfish at a frat house in college only to see them get huge in the years to come. Here's a list of concerts I've seen that I gathered from the ticket stubs I've kept. I've added opening acts if I could remember and if they mattered. The number after the show is how many times I've seen them.

AC/DC, Aerosmith, Amy Grant 2, Autograph, Billy Joel 3, Blind Boys of Alabama, Bob Dylan, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Bon Jovi, Buddy Guy, Charlie Peacock, Cinderella, The Cult, David Wilcox, DC Talk, Def Leppard, Dick Dale, Don McLean, Dream Theater, Drivin' & Cryin', Elton John, Every Mothers Nightmare, Firehouse, Foreigner, Giant, Guiffera, Indigenous, Indigo Girls, James Taylor, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Nettles Band, Joe Satriani, John Denver, John Hayes, John Mellencamp, Journey 3, Junior Brown 3, Kenny Wayne Shepard, KISS 3, Kris Kristofferson, Kristen Hall 2, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Melissa Ethridge, Metallica, Michael W. Smith 2, Mothers Finest, Mr. Big 2, Mylon & Broken Heart, Neil Diamond, Pearl Jam, Petra, Poco, Poison, Quiet Riot, Rage Against the Machine, Ratt 2, Red Elvises, Rich Mullins, Ricky Martin, Robert Earl Keen 4, Rush 6, Russ Taff, Sarah Brightman, Seven Nations 3, Skid Row, Steve Taylor, Stryper, Ted Nugent 4, Tom Petty, U2, Usher, Van Halen 2, Wes King, White Cross, WhiteHeart, Willie Nelson, ZZ Top 2.If anyone out there has any that they know I've missed, I'd like to know.

Various & Sundry

Yeah I come from a long line of frontiersmen and outdoor types.

College. In the 80's. Write your own joke.

Man, I love cutting grass. I mean, heck, we all do,
but it means more to me.

Can't get enough of Utah. It's still the right place.

Samuel

Happy 1st Birthday Sam!

You've been toting us around for a year now. I hope you've enjoyed it. I know we have. A year ago today you were no bigger than the size of my forearm and weighed 7 pounds. Today you're twice the size of my forearm and weigh 21 pounds. If this keeps up, when you're my age you'll be 39 feet tall and weigh 819 pounds.

Here you are enjoying your party with some fat guy wearing a dad mask.

The wonderment of the Birthday cake.

That's the guy! He's the one that what tried and took my cake!

Dad wins the birthday javelin catching contest.

Christmas Time is Here!