Life with The Swell Guy!

The Monday Report

It's Monday and just like Willie Nelson, I'm on the road again later today.  This time I'm heading to Las Vegas for a big industry trade show.   The photo above was taken Friday afternoon coming home from  Georgia.  Lot's of stuff is going on.  Here is some junk to start your week.

• Denine's shoulder is healing nicely from the surgery.  Thanks to our church family for the prayers, concern, and wondrous food!  We feel the love.
• Speaking of our church family, we are starting small groups and community outreach projects in April.  It's great people stuff that I love and I'm stoked!
• Thanks to Paul's Funky Stuff I dreamed that I was eating Krispy Kreme donuts last night.  There was no other part to the dream...just eating donut after donut.
• Mr. T's voice brought a boy out of a coma.  Proof that everyone likes it when Mr. T yells at them.  Move over Chuck Norris!!
• Congratulations to Easy Go Dave on the new job!  It's been a long time in the works and we know you and Val are excited.  We are so happy for you. 

Killing ourselves in the name of green

It was not too many years ago that environmental concerns were the domain of the Birkenstock-dread lock-free spirit crowd.  That has changed.  The change has been good.  We are all beginning to understand we can make personal choices that have an impact.

Last night at our daughter's encouragement we dimmed our lights for Earth Hour.  Since our trash company does not pick up materials for recycling we collect it ourselves and drop off at a collection point about every two weeks.  The building materials for our new home will be green when we have the option.  We've become more aware of our own consumerism and are trying to make better choices that are friendly to our planet.

With rising fuel prices, biofuels have been a hot topic lately.  This Time Report (read it now!) tells us that our zeal to feel good and cut corners towards "Going Green" may have a devastating effect on our big blue ball.  If you care, and we all really need to care, take a few minutes to understand the situation. 

Christ-followers have spend hundreds of years caring about helping a few souls, but not caring for our earth.  That is changing with many.  Again, that is a good and necessary thing.  We can not bring thy kingdom come to a kingdom we have ruined.  Today, whether you are a Christ-follower, or Buddhist, or Muslim, or anything else, I hope you are praying for our planet.  We won't be getting another one soon.

A Sunday Treat

Yes, it's Sunday!  Let's get our worship on.  Let's get our praise up in here.  Let's get out our KJV, or NIV, or ESV and word up.  Kneel down and pray up.  Can I get a witness?  Get with the one your love and don't forget...baby got book.  Enjoy video here.

Alternate Non-Jiggy Translation:  I found this video that you may enjoy here.

What is better than World Famous?

Wurl Famus is so, so much better than World Famous.  I mean, lots of people and places are Famous or World Famous, but only a few are Wurl Famus!  Welcome to Walt's.  It's on Route  178 a few miles west of  Hodges, SC.   If you swing by get your hot dawg "all the way" and say hello to Walt for me.  He's the big fella behind the counter and he'll remember The Swell Guy recently asking him how he got started down the path to Wurl fame.  I told him that he had one of the best signs ever.

PS:  T, this post is for you!

Is Bill Parks really Drew Carey?

Friend Bill Parks is part of an on-line celebrity look-alike contest.  You can vote how much he looks like Drew Carey here.  Go ahead.   Have fun.

Happy Something On a Stick Day!

Hey, it's  National  Something On a Stick Day!  Grab a skewer or chopsticks and go nuts...or corn dogs...or mystery meat...or popcicles...or ...

Failed ID Card Concept

Hello.  I will be at a management retreat the next two days.  While I am busy with high level conversation, I thought you may enjoy this post from our company blog.

The ID card mug concept did not get very far.  Deficiencies included:

• Too heavy to wear around the neck
• Did not fit wallet
• Looked unseemly if placed in a pocket
• Difficult to incorporate other security technologies
• Security guards thought the staff was always requesting tips
• Every time Joe "lost" his we found it in the company dishwasher

Signs of Greenwood, #2

The Greenwood Civic Center is back on my sign watch radar with interesting scheduling.  It's a shame these two groups did not meet in the middle and jointly schedule on April 3.  That would be a Shrine Circus no one would forget!  That would be a prom no one would forget!  That would make Greenwood, SC the talk of the country! 

Happy Feet & Happy Children

Have you ever purchased a product with a label that says something like "A portion of all profits go to charity"?  While I applaud the giving I am left wondering how much is given.  Is 1/2  a percent or 10 percent?  Does it vary when profits are good or bad?  Is it genuine or am I being manipulated?  Why not provide full disclosure and complete integrity?  Don't get me wrong, there is some good work being done by good people.  I'm just saying.

So people who know me well know I have a shoe thing.  That's right.  I'm a man and I like shoes!  I'm no Imelda Marcos, but I do have a few pairs in the closet.

A while back I heard about Toms Shoes and their mission of social responsibility.  I did not run out and buy a pair, but I heard their story.  Last week I was thinking of ordering a pair of casual shoes for travel that I have coming up and I ended up ordering a pair of Toms from Zappos (The Valhalla of Shoes).  The shoes arrived last evening.  The are comfortable and unique enough that you can tell a great story when someone mentions what you are wearing.  The story is for every pair of shoes purchased Toms gives a pair of shoes to a child in need.  That, my friends, is a pretty clear message about giving!

Give Peeps A Chance

The Washington Post has come up with a use for marshmallow peeps other than eating them stale.  Their 2nd. Annual Peeps Diorama Contest drew over 800 entries with 37 finalists.  What is sillier than this contest you ask?  That would be picking your personal favorite!

PS:  My alternate title for this entry was "People who have way more time than bloggers!"