Life with The Swell Guy!

Just a piece of cardboard

As first this just seems like a neat idea. Cool...a way to get folks involved. Then one or two of them hit you. Take a look.

Easter Candy

So I was going to do this riff on how Easter Candy has become big business and it's a bit of a stretch tying candy to the greatest event in human history. I mean if you go into CVS, Walgreens, or Wal-mart you going to see a loaded aisle or more of special candy for Easter. But really, Easter candy has been around a long time. The fine contributors over in Wiki-land do a nice job of telling about some of the traditions, folklore, and connection to Christianity. 

So failing to have a good riff, I'll mention a couple of Easter observations from my childhood. The observations are solely my own, but I would prefer that you completely agree. Really.

PAAS Easter Egg Dye does not work very well, but you have got to have it. Dying the eggs can be part of your special "family time" for Easter.

Milk Chocolate vs. White Chocolate = Tie

Milk or White Chocolate vs. Dark Chocolate = Dark Chocolate

That homemade chocolate covered Easter egg that Grandma's church ladies group made as a fund raiser is going to be as hard as a rock. Proceed carefully

Biting the ears or butt off a chocolate bunny = fantastic. Biting the arm off a chocolate cross = creepy

Malted Easter eggs are great. Really great. Thank you candy coated chocolate coated malted egg laying bunny!

Fresh peeps vs. stale peeps? Stale peeps...preferably yellow

Spiced jelly beans are way better than fruit flavored jelly beans. Let's get that straight.

The best ever jelly bean is red cinnamon 

The bad flavored jelly beans are the last thing to go, but it is way cool to dig those last few out from under the fake grass when you think everything is gone

Putting on that new outfit that includes a new tie to pose for photos with your grandparents in front of the daffodils after Easter church may be a ploy to keep you out of the Easter candy while the ham bakes. Maybe. But, I love those old family photos of me, Paula, and Brian with Mom & Dad and my grandparents. I guess that's part of the tradition, too.

We'll do something deeper later. This was my Easter candy observation. Have a nice day.

Three Afros That Rocked 1981

Me - Michelle Obama - Some Other Guy

Friday in Costa Rica - Big Brother & Little Brother start their morning

The No Post, but maybe an encouragement

 
I was noodling this post that took the scene where Paul, in the 90s movie "A River Runs Through It" is described by his brother as breaking through as an expert fisherman. He took the basic fly casting lessons from his youth taught by his father and transcended it to something beautiful and singular to him. It is a beautiful scene.

Then, even though I don't really watch it on TV, I was going to talk about how in the past 5 or 10 years poker tournament broadcasts have gained a sizable fan base. The point I wanted to make is I don't think most people are all that excited about watching the basic hands being played. I think they are waiting for those dramatic moments when a player reaches that do or die stage. The player goes "all in" and typically is compelled to stand up as they face victory or complete, absolute defeat.

After that I was going to "go bible" on you and talk about all of the examples of people in the bible, both rich and poor, both simple and wise, both blessed and cursed, who reached a point in their relationship with God where they went "all in"...where they transcended a basic existence to something beautiful and unique to them...where they found a more complete version of what they were to become or more fully understood where they were headed. I wanted to point out that these people were both new believers and old veterans when it came to pursuing God. They simply reached a point where it was time to go.

I was thinking on these things because of the number of friends recently who have mentioned that they are working through what is next. Most have said they are not completely clear on where they are going, they just know it it time to move forward because they just can no longer stay as they are. Emotions have run the gamut from fear, to excitement, to bring-it-on, to what-am-I doing. These have been interesting conversations.

Usually when I work on a deeper post I more or less chew on it until I can put it in words and draw out some key points. Many times I can not completely work it out and I set it aside for the moment and many posts just end up on the scrap heap. In the case of this post, I decided my conclusions are not really important. I decided it is more important for me to say my friends fears, concerns, excitement, or opportunities sound exciting and I hope they will share the stories of their journey.

So if you are out there working though it, keep working. If it's time to go... go. If it's time to jump... jump. I look forward to hearing your story.

Peace - Zig

I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. - Philippians 3:12 - The Message

Easter Invite

This video played at the start of church last Sunday. It's an instant classic. If you have spent any time around church folks you have got to laugh. Enjoy.

It's pretty sweet when the sermon includes a little disco action

This past Sunday our pastor, David, was talking about being real and he sang the "To Be Real" title to this 1978 disco hit. Sweeeeeet. It fit and it was relevant. Now, if we could just get David to learn the dance moves....

PS: Note the video above was recorded on Soul Train. Double Bonus!! 

-Wanted - Anyone Just Plain Mean, Tough, or Bad

I found this flyer this past week at a country store near town. This is the best backyard country marketing piece ever written. Look at all the stuff they packed in and how many pitches it contains. It's brilliant.

Somewhere a bunch of rednecks are saying, "Heck yeah, let's do this thang!". Somewhere a few good old boys are talking about going after that cash as soon as they finish that last beer and a few more are saying they would clean up if it were not for that dang back problem. Somewhere a couple guys are thinking of signing up Mamma, cause' no one takes down Mamma.

I don't think I'm going. It is too rich just thinking about it. Unless you are signing up for 3 one minute rounds of slugging...in that case I will be right behind you. That is right behind you to go watch. Let me know. I'll even take photos for you.

A hard combination to beat.

My girls, a very large rooster rocking an egg necklace, a plastic easter bunny, and breakfast at Grits & Groceries.  That, my friends, was a very good Thursday morning this week. Good indeed.

Friday in Costa Rica - We were men

We played like boys. We built like men.

We planted posts in the muddy earth. We made a roof reaching into the sky.

We shared and we laughed. We shared and we cried.

We spoke. We sang.

We talked about the simple life. We talked about our complex lives.

We did rugged work and our shoulders ached. We spashed in cool waters and we were soothed.

We pulled rough lumber out of freshly sawn trees. We crafted smoothly planed lumber to exact measurements.

We spent time togther. Then we parted.

We were men. We were men.