Tuesday Ramble...

Since my last few posts have been on Tuesdays, I thought I'd "check in" with a weekly update from the land of Underwood.

- Jennie and I went to the Ohio State game Saturday. They beat San Diego State 27-6 in one of the sloppiest offensive games I've ever seen. Still not sure what Jim Tressel is doing with his quarterback situation.

- We ate lunch at some "Alumni Grille" down on Lane Ave there, and the nachos were great. The food and atmosphere were all BUCKEYE, and the Ohio State athletic director - Gene Smith - walked right in and ate at the same place with us! Not every day you get to eat lunch with a Big Ten Athletic Director, now is it? Actually, Gene was in the other room, reserved for OSU dignitaries... Once they hear about my Buckeye Room, I'm sure to get an invite.

- Allie is almost 15 months old and cuter than all get out.

- Jennie is 26 weeks pregnant and cuter than all get out.

- The Cleveland Indians are the hottest team in baseball, and all are getting out of their way. 34-11 since the all-star break. Fans still aren't selling out Jacobs Field, and I don't blame them. Give them one more week and they'll be back.

- Exciting goings on in the life of the Ostovics. We're happy for you guys!

- Life as a lead pastor is going well, and I guess as challenging and exciting as I could have asked for. Can't believe it's been a year since our week of interviewing here in Delaware! Jennie and I are loving it. We get our first taste of the Delaware county fair this week too. We had heard about what a big deal this thing is, with over 50,000 people attending Thursday's fair festivities. But now, every night, we literally HEAR the noise, the announcers, and the fanfare from this fair, just blocks from our house.

- Speaking of our house, I had another encounter with BEES. Some of you remember when I drove a mini-tractor into a tree with a bees nest the size of a small country. Well, this time, a zillion bees built a nest inside the front wall of our house. We keep finding dead bees in the basement. It's great!

- Actually, it's not great.

- October is usually my favorite month of the year. I probably wrote about this last year, how I love the weather, the football, the whole smell of fall. The colors are great too, eh? But October 14th will always be known in our home as the due-date for Laura, the baby we miscarried. Yep, we still love her, miss her, and think about her on a regular basis. We also identify deeply with others who have lost a child - or cannot have children - for various reasons. God has enlarged our hearts and our ability to sympathize. He's also reminded us that this world is not our home.

- A few weeks ago, Jeremy Bear asked me for a review of Hootie & The Blowfish's new album, entitled Looking for Lucky. I recently confessed to my small group that Hootie is my favorite artist of all time, and the legend only gets better. When "pop culture" or opinion gave up on Hootie after their first album (1994-95), I think their music started to get better, deeper, and more refined. (As I type this, I quickly realize that I should do another post, ranking their albums and songs of all-time, but I digress...) Overall, I think I am as committed to Hootie as Jer is to the Beatles. Gary is to Hootie as white is to rice. As Barton is to Dylan. As Tressel is to conservative playcalling. As Kelliouse is to making silly noises. Whatever that means. Anyhow, Jer - since YOU asked... the new album, "Looking for Lucky," is actually very catchy, original, and heart felt. The group actually has four or five songs that refer to religion and quote Scripture. I'm not saying there's been any conversion here, but if the lead singer of Korn can come to Jesus, then Darius Rucker could easily have the same response. "One Love," the first released-single of the album, talks about One transcendent love that can tear down all walls of hatred and discord in our society - and He's talking about God's love. I think this group might have Southern Gospel background.

- This concludes the weekly ramble. Do any of you use podcasting? I think that's cool.