Pain

Woke up this morning, did a nice little family show at a local festival.

The moment it was over, as I was packing up my show, I felt a twinge in my side.  Must be hungry.

Got home, ate about half of lunch – then doubled over in searing pain, as though I had been stabbed. (Yep, been there.) Lunch came back up. Violently. Repeatedly.

Assumed it was exhaustion or dehydration or both. Been on the move lately. Tried to sleep. No good. Tried to drink – nothing stays down because I’m hurting so bad.

Back story; my father was killed by pancreatic cancer. His symptoms are almost the same as mine, and the pain is increasing.

Dawn rushes me to hospital in the driving rain. Praying the whole way. Long wait in the waiting room. Long wait in the exam room. CAT scan. Pain killers (finally).

Verdict comes in: kidney stones. This too shall pass.

Never hurt so bad before. Never been  more scared. Never more grateful for pain, once I learned the source.  Through it all, I could hear a comforting voice. Peace. Be Still.

Large amounts of drugs, now. Waiting for my stone to leave.

Ow.

Biggest Laugh in Weeks

Garfield Minus Garfield

Who would have guessed that when you remove Garfield from the Garfield comic strips, the result is an even better comic about schizophrenia, bipolor disorder, and the empty desperation of modern life? Friends, meet Jon Arbuckle. Let’s laugh and learn with him on a journey deep into the tortured mind of an isolated young everyman as he fights a losing battle against loneliness in a quiet American suburb.

Assassin

What do you call liars who accuse liars, my friend?

Roused from my Warm Bed

… by a Big Friendly Giant.

I took the children to BFG, playing at the Children’s Theater at Imaginon on Wednesday morning. We enjoy live theater and we belong to a home schooling group that embraces the arts – as a bonus, my friend and occasional collaborator Nathan Rouse was playing several key roles.

This play is one of the highlights of the CT season. Great story (originally by Roald Dahl of ‘Charlie & the Chocolate Factory’ and ‘James & the Giant Peach’ fame), creative use of sets and props and directed in a way to spark the imagination. Most every variety of puppet style is represented, from shadow to hand to inverted marionette – and a cast talented enough to not only act but manipulate their counterparts.

Mr. Rouse was in fine form (call me biased). Playing a bloodthirsty mega giant, a Headmaster that would put Denny Terrio (look it up) to shame and the subtly sarcastic Mr. Tibbs – valet to none other than the Queen of England.

Five stars – catch it if you can!

Vengence

Somewhere in history you were wronged
Teach your children to bang the drum
Tell all your family, tell all your friends
Teach your brothers to avenge

It carries on

Or you could Love.

On Addiction

“If the bottle is no solution, why does it feel so warm?”

More later.

Hollow Man

I think I have become one of the hollow men
As I shine on the outside more these days
I can feel the outside feeding on my inside
Leaves a growing darkness in it’s place
I think I have become one of the lonely
Now that everybody talks to me
I feel I have become one of the empty

Hollow men can stop you with the twinkling of an eye
Hollow men can take you without even reaching out
Hollow men have got you long before you realize

The poison paralyzes

I think I have become one of a pair of men
It’s a feeling I’ve been having for some time
I look down upon myself and watch my movements
A blind eye sees the fragile vandalized

Sit quietly and listen to the breeze
The hollow and the lonely listen too
Sniff the air for something we can use

We’re tin-hard and we rattle when we’re shaken

The Nature of God

When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle.

Then I realized that the Lord, in his wisdom, doesn’t work that way.

I just stole one and asked Him to forgive me.

Please Read Don Follis’ Blog

Don is as straight-forward as they come.  That doesn’t mean he’s an answer-man.  He’s a Vineyard pastor who’s also a journalist at heart, and that means when you ask him for answers, he’ll pepper you with questions.  Or better, he answers the question you didn’t ask.  He’s been a religion columnist for years.

Here’s the link to his blog.

You should read the entries from November 22, 23, and 24.

Don’s college-age son, Ian, died November 12.

My Complex

Wendy
Darling
In the kitchen
With your dreams

Will you fly again
Take to the sky again

Undo the Hooks
Once and for all
Banish the tic tok (tic tok tic tok)
Again

Will you be
Yourself for me
Cause I can take it
I can stand
Anything

When you’re with me
I can stand it
I can stand

But when you’re gone
I never land
In Neverland

Want to be someone someone would want to be