Golf, Grill, and Groups.

The other day, I happened upon some free tickets to the practice round of Golf at the NEC Invitational here at Akron's Firestone Country Club.

I am not a golf fan. I don't even pretend to be. But it was a beautiful day, and I'd never been on this famous course that is right here in Akron's backyard. So I went.

Of course I got a huge sunburn, but it was worth it. I remember thinking, "Man, this is beautiful, relaxing, and hey - there's Tiger Woods!" Tiger Woods is a pretty good golfer, and I took several pics of him - see our photos page.

Earlier today, I was busy peeling layers of sunburnt skin off of my forehead when I stumbled haplessly upon a couple of free passes to today's final round at the NEC Inviational.

Yes, real golf. Real tournament golf. Fifty of the greatest golfers invited to this World Tournament event. I decided that, just a day after hearing our "dream team" lost to Lithuania in basketball, I needed a day at the golf course.

Usually, I need a day at the golf course like I need a hole in my head. I golf about once a year, and I don't know what words like "handicap, slice, or divot" mean. But on this 80-degree, clear day in Akron, I figured I didn't have much to lose.

My Dad and I had a great time, bumped into Jonathan Wiley, and saw Tiger and others up close. I wanted to see a pretty close finish, but Stewart Cink wouldn't allow it. Stewart, you see, is a golfer, and he pretty much shut down the competition again today. Tiger had his chances, but couldn't put very well. I remember whispering once, "Bad shot, Tiger," and thinking there's no way I could have shot that well at any time on any course in front of thousands of people either, so I have no reason to talk.

I can't golf, and a I can't grill. That's right, my grill is broke. So Jennie and I celebrated yesterday by going to two cookouts. One was for Scott Lambert's 30th birthday in Stow, and the other was our small groups cookout in Green. My grilling motto goes something like this: "Have Tabasco, will travel!"

That's right, I like it hot. I had delicious chili con queso dip at the Lambert's, which I hear is a family speciality. Then, at Dan & Jill Bahry's, I had a terrific burger off the grill.

I can't golf, and I can't play volleyball. We had volleyball at both cookouts. Dan and Jill's version was in the pool, which was a blast. (Here's about the time in a normal blogger entry where I wonder "Is this really so interesting that I have to put it on the internet?" Then I am quickly reminded by another voice inside that says, "You know, there's a lot of stuff on the net that's not interesting at all, so my post about backyard volleyball will fit right in.")

After pool volleyball and burgers, we watched the Browns pretend like they can be a good football team. I love the Browns, but I don't believe it. I think they'll be lucky to win five or six games. Then, on to to foosball table. I reflected momentarily on my college days, where we'd all hang out in the "student union" gameroom after dinner, and let the seniors thrash us in foosball.

Seemed like an eternity of getting beat on by Bryan Matheny, Gossard and Henderson, and maybe even Chris Radloff. Can't remember what that guy looked like, but I remember he was a mean foosball player. They were all mean, that is, until Dave Matheny and I got together. This is the part where I tell you that Dave and I went on to win the Grace College Foosball Fiesta Bowl or something.

I can still play foosball. Just not as good as Dan Bahry.

(Note: As this entry is coming to a close, Allie is giving me her opinion of this post, loudly filling up her diaper. She's the cutest!)

Blogosophy?

The other night, my good friend Jeremy Bear and I were discussing our varying approaches to doing this thing called a blogger. A "blogger" is what you are now reading - a "web-log" of whatever someone feels like writing.

Anyhow, lately when writing this (or not), I have been hesitant and pensive, wondering if I have anything to say that is really worth reading. I mean, how many times can I write stuff about my cute baby, the latest movie I saw, and other frivolity that only the dearest friends would admit they don't care about?

Tonight, we had Bob & Lori Siffert over for dinner. Good friends of ours here in Akron who are moving soon to Ocala, Florida. I wonder if they have a Coldstone Creamery there. Anyhow, props to them for taking the plunge and heading for warmer pastures. Note: the Sifferts also think Allison is very cute. I'll have to post a couple of the pics we got tonight.

Salsa Update: Well, yesterday I made about seven batches of my incredible salsa. I try to be humble about a lot of things, but my salsa isn't one of them. This batch was made mostly with FRESH VEGGIES from Jennie's garden in our backyard - tomatoes (roma, cherry, and, uh, "Better Boy" brand or something), jalapenos, onions, and, of course - cilantro! For all you readers who think you want to try making your own salsa someday, I highly encourage the appropriate dosage of cilantro. Not cheap to buy at the store, but very cheap to grow in our yard - and it adds a BURST of flavor. I also throw in a few other additives, but no preservatives. Go figure.

I have been eating out a lot lately. Today it was "Smokin' Joe's" in North Canton. I'd never been there before, but they told me about their "hot wing" challenge. What is up with these places? They said "if you can eat a dozen of our hottest wings, you get your meal free, ten bucks cash, and your name written on our wall over there by the mirror."

("uh, you mean I could be in the smokin joe's wall of fame?")

Yeah, it's their Habanero wing sauce, and they let me try a sample of it on a toothpick. Reality is, it wasn't THAT hot. I know I could eat a dozen, and it would probably set my stomach back a few days. But why? Is this a test of my manhood?

I think there is something in us guys where we just can NOT refuse a DARE. Like the old "Truth or Dare" game. Why even play? Because we love the dare. Doesn't matter if I hate Habanero wings. Doesn't matter if my tongue would take three days and fourteen gallons of milk and sour cream to recover from the madness. Doesn't matter if my stomach burned, my hair sweats, and my throat shakes. I'm sure all the side effects in the world are worth it, just to get my name up by that mirror at Smokin' Joes.

A real man would do it.

Whatever. I'll stick to my salsa.

P.S. Allie is still a cute baby, Collateral with Tom Cruise was average and a little disturbing, and all the other frivolity has already been written.

P.S.S. Are you a Mac guy or an IBM guy? Please comment. I dare you.

The Summit of things...

This week, I'm spending 2.5 days at the Willow Creek Leadership Summit. It's a yearly conference hosted by Willow Creek Community Church (www.willowcreek.org) in Chicago, but then sent live by satellite to 80 locations and about 50,000 different leaders around North America. I'm having a great time being challenged, sharpened, and getting to hang out with some terrific friends. I always look forward to this time of year.

I do tend to ramble on this blogger. Believe me, I have a lot of important things to say, I'm just not ready to say them yet. Ever felt that way? Sometimes life is like that.

Right now, I can tell Allie is like that. She has so much to say, but at only 7.5 weeks old, she really can't say any of it. What we have here is a failure to communicate. If you've seen the pictures, you know she's cuter than all get out, but she sets a new standard for "cute" every day. That is, except when she cries incessantly, which we knew would happen with our little angel. She seems to be quiet whenever we go out somewhere, which is amazing, but returns home to a world of noise.

We've got to pray for Florida right now, Hurricane Charley looks pretty incredible. Amazed to hear of a friend's relatives who are having to relocate right now, and all the chaos that is going on down there. When you see a movie like "The Day after Tomorrow," the weather effects are cool, but when it's reality, it's obviously terrible. I've always said I would love to see a real Tornado live someday, but I doubt I'd really mean it if it happens.

They are evacuating Myrtle Beach right now.

I like Columbus. Have I ever mentioned that on the blog?

Have I mentioned that this site for my journal is free, but now I have found one that might be even better? Xanga.com is very cool, might be easier to use, and is also free. I love doing Gary and Jennie.com, so we'll keep that.

I haven't written in a while, and life has been pretty busy. This past weekend, I was asked to be the "relief preacher" at The Chapel's Akron Campus, if needed. Well, I was needed, and spoke four times on Sunday. Loved every minute of it. Exhausted the next day. Stopped including subjects in my sentences.

When I write, I sometimes feel this humorous need to express myself. Sometimes, though, I wonder if my life is all that interesting. I mean, who do I think I am to have people read these random thoughts online?

But bloggers like this are becoming more and more popular, and are easy ways to keep in touch with people. Less personal, perhaps, but somewhat of a journal therapy too. I've been doing this for five months, and it is fun to look back and think about each part of the journey we've had.

Jennie is doing great as a mom. You can tell that "Mom knows best" isn't just a saying. It's amazing the connection and burden of love that a mom feels for her child. Never underestimate it. That goes for Allie, and for the child we lost last year, Laura. Allie is such a great gift, and every minute of every day is very special and just loaded with fun moments.

Like today, when I held her for the first time, and she threw up all over my dress pants. Uh, I mean, like the time when she hears my voice over the phone and broke out into a huge smile. Yes, that really did happen.

I am looking forward to the start of football season. Is there any surprise in that?

Lots more to say in future blogs, when I feel creative. Sometimes I just ramble. It is funny to find out who is reading these things. Have a great weekend!

The Melting Pot...

On Thursday night, Jennie and I celebrated our fourth anniversary! I am fortunate to have such an incredible, beautiful, and friendly wife - who laughs at everything I say. Allie is cute, but she is a distant second to Jennie, and always will be.

So we went to "The Melting Pot" restaurant up in Beechwood. This is probably our favorite restaurant of all time. They have a fondue burner at each table, and our whole meal was ours to cook! First, we had a cheese fondue (appetizer), with nacho/fiesta flavored cheeses. We dipped vegetables, bread, and tortilla chips there, and of course I added the recommended daily allowance of Tabasco. Then came the California salads, which were fare better than I had imagined. When the main course came, we could hardly believe our eyes or taste buds. A full tray of great meats (peppercorn tenderloin, chicken, salmon, steak, shrimp, and beef sat temptingly in front of us. We cooked each one in the fondue pot, and then had about 17 dipping sauces at our service. Dinner was amazing.

Dessert was not bad - a mint-chocolate fondue that was warmed up and primed for us to dip strawberries, cheesecake, brownies, and other fruits in. Totally amazing.

Truly an anniversary night out to remember. The Melting Pot can be found at www.themeltingpot.com. They have great deals and specials for anniversaries or other occasions. There's one in Cleveland (Beechwood), Columbus, and Cincinnati. I think South Bend has one too.

Mom and Dad watched Allie, but of course we called several times while we were gone. Can't get enough of that baby.

Allie has been doing great, and had a healthy doctor checkup last week, weighing in at 10 pounds, 8.5 ounces. She is starting to "coo" and seems to like to carry on that sort of conversation. It is awesome to hold her and interact with her on this basic level. We have found a way to get her smile pretty much on demand. If I hold her about 12 inches from my face, stick my tongue out, and make some silly noise, she smiles.

She smiles HUGE. And my heart melts. Love that kid.

More later on what turned out to be a pretty wild weekend for the Underwoods...

Sermonizing?

Yeah, I don't mean to preach, but... Okay, sometimes, I mean to preach.

Like this Sunday. I have done it a thousand times, but whenever I get the opportunity to speak at The Chapel on a Sunday morning, it is a pretty incredible experience.

I think the preparation and just thinking about it is more intense than the actual moment.

All these thoughts and more... "Can I be true to what the Bible is saying?" "Will this be interesting for people?" "Will they feel compelled by the message to change something in their lives?" "Do I have enough cool pictures on my PowerPoint?" "Should I even use PowerPoint at all?" "Will I sweat?" "Should I stop talking for two days before this, so I can save my voice?"

In the end, it is all about God and what He wants to do.

Some of you reading this blogger have heard me, and encouraged me in this ordeal of speaking or preaching.

Others may wonder why I hardly ever talk with you about my job, and I don't bring it up much. (That sentence was redundant.)

Anyhow, I love public speaking, and I love God and people. It seems to be a good fit. But just like anything, it takes practice and hard work. In practice, I've "winged it" a few times, and then think "that was fun, but I'll need some notes."

This week I am speaking on Hebrews 10:19-25. We live in a culture that pursues independence but craves connection. We strive for individuality and ache for intimacy. Jesus Christ promises to connect us intimately to God and deeply to each other. My goal on Sunday is to get that message across in an accurate and compelling way. If people leave convicted about how they can activate depth and love in their relationships, I'll be a happy camper. (Nevermind the fact that I don't camp very often, and I don't like when people use cliche's. I will suspend said preferences in that area, and "camp happily.")

(See, some posts will be about silly movie reviews and Allie's latest development, and others are all serious and such. Thus is life, friends).

Meanwhile, on the Allison front... sometimes she cries, and it sounds like she is about to talk. Tonight, she was doing a half cry, which sounded like a soft-spoken "ell." Maybe she thinks her name is "Ellison."

Tomorrow, Denzel Washington's new movie, The Manchurian Candidate, opens. So does M.Night Shyamalan's new movie, named after a certain fantasy basketball team - "The Village."

I know one couple who saw four movies last weekend. (I know, you're thinking, "yeah, Gary, you WOULD know a couple like that - and it's probably YOU GUYS!). Nope, it's not us.

I'll let that couple remain anonymous, but also mention to you that they gave "I, Robot" a big thumbs up. Even though I didn't review it, I'd have to agree. This July has been a great month for movies. August, on the other hand... Unless you feel this urge to see every Tom Cruise movie ever made (including the upcoming "Collateral" where he plays a hit-man who 'hijacks' a taxi...), the film cupboard is bare for the rest of the summer. Which is good, because I need a break from movies.

(Whatever!)

Finally, I must mention that I love how so many of the top songs out right now seem to have spiritual themes, passion, or implications. Take Hoobastank's song "The Reason," Evanescence's "My Immortal," or Switchfoot's "Meant to Live." Can't we just sing these songs on Sunday? They're great!

Movie Review Disclaimer...

My previous post was a movie review about The Bourne Supremacy.

Because of some conversations I have with people, or comments people make, I feel I have to make the following disclaimer. I will do so in a "comment/response" format.

COMMENT (from someone else): "Gary, you seem to watch a lot of movies - don't you have better things to do with your time?"

RESPONSE: "I do enjoy movies. I enjoy a great story that is well told by a director and well-portrayed by the actors. I think movies are actually the most effective sermons to today's culture. I actually do use much of my time to do other things. I spend a lot of time at work, doing ministry and being involved in people's lives. I have changed more diapers at this point, and I always enjoy holding Allison and spending time with her - I can't get enough of that. You know I like doing a website and writing a journal online. I am also starting to workout more at the local YMCA and spending time with people. I am very satisfied with how I'm using my time right now. I see movies as a productive hobby that I enjoy. I suppose I should mow the lawn tomorrow, though."

COMMENT #2: "Gary, you like to see movies right when they open - why is that?"

RESPONSE: "I don't know. I think it's because I'm a fan of movies. Again, I think stories are the most powerful way of getting through to people - and movies are our modern-day form of storytelling. Each movie is a parable, really. If a movie preview seems especially intriguing, or I really like a certain actor or director, I am excited to see it."

COMMENT #3: "Gary, I hear you go to some movies by yourself - what's up with that?"

RESPONSE: "I'd prefer to go with Jennie (my wife), and she has gone to more movies with me than not lately. An astute friend encouraged us to see two movies on the weekend before we had Allison, and we are glad we took his advice. We had a great time together. Just to be honest, there are some movies that Jennie doesn't like. She doesn't like action as much, and she doesn't like scary scenes or thriller movies.

I am also an only child, so I don't mind doing certain things by myself. I don't mind sitting in the theater by myself."

COMMENT #4: "Do you really think we care what you think of a movie?"

RESPONSE: "No, but it is a very easy way to start up a conversation. Especially with meeting new people, movies are often a great connection point. An easy way to start talking. I used to connect more in conversations about sports, but I'm getting tired of that."

COMMENT #5: "Tired of sports? Are you an idiot?"

RESPONSE: "No, I am not an idiot. I am just tired of talking sports sometimes. Maybe it's part of being a Cleveland fan. I'm tired of the same conversations about how things never go our way. I'd rather see Will Smith kill some robots than watch the Indians blow a lead late in the game for the 100th time."

The Bourne Supremacy...

If you don't like exciting and engaging and suspensful plots, don't bother seeing it. If you prefer seeing subpar acting and characters that are not well developed, spend your five bucks elsewhere. If you'd rather see poor camera work, slow-paced drama, or unrealistic action scenes, watch something else.

The latest film chapter in the Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) series is getting terrific reviews from all over the country, and add mine to the list.

I know several couples who made a point to watch the first movie (The Bourne Identity) before going to see The Bourne Supremacy. I highly recommend that, because the sequel plays off the first movie a lot. You can fully understand and enjoy either movie on its own, but they are very well connected.

In the first movie, Bourne is some sort of high-ranking, super-intelligent one-man weapon for the CIA. He suffers from strong case of amnesia, and completely forgets who he is and what he is doing.

The sequel shows him on a mission to not only find out more about his life and CIA exploits, but to also chase down the CIA operatives who are actually out to kill him.

Since this is my first movie review that you people are reading, I don't want to give any of the major plot events or surprises away. Let's just say that there are many twists and surprises.

Matt Damon does a great job of playing an intense, focused, and sometimes compassionate Jason Bourne. We get more glimpses of Bourne's personality and emotional life, which are almost as memorable as his incredible driving skills.

One thing you'll notice about the movie is the choppy camerawork. Several people have criticized the film for the too-rapid, too-diverse, too-small angles taken by the camera. I'll admit, my eyes needed a rest after the movie, because there was a lot of action shown in a more "rushed" way. Maybe you'll like that about the film - I guess the director said something like, "When the characters are in a hurry, we want the audience to feel rushed like they are." So true.

In contrast to a lot of the recent action films, this movie is very realistic. Bourne appeals to audiences as a modern-day, real-life hero - not some pimple-faced geek who shoots spider webs out of his wrists. This movie is filmed in real-life places that are fun to visit on the big screen - like Moscow, Berlin, India, and Italy. It's worth watching just for the scenery.

If you liked the first movie, I think you'll love the second, and I highly recommend seeing it in the theater. If you don't like action, international intrigue, great escapes and fight scenes, it's maybe not for you.

On a side note, I remember the movie as being very "clean." I didn't have to look away from the screen, and I can't remember any foul language. I'm sure it was in there, but not much (if any).

Would I go out of my way to see it again? Probably.

RATING: 3.5 stars. I want to give it 4 stars, and maybe it deserves that. If I see it again, maybe it will get a better grade, but I like it better than Spiderman 2 or I, Robot.

Other ratings:
The Terminal (Tom Hanks) 2.9 stars
Dodgeball (Ben Stiller) 2.9 stars
I, Robot (Will Smith) 3.25 stars
Spiderman 2 (Tobey Maguire) 3.3 stars

Allie's Day Out

As Jennie tries to rock Allison to sleep, I thought I'd write you a few blurbs about Allie's adventures in North Canton today.

Let me start by explaining that now, when you click on "mutterings" at our homepage, you arrive at a blogger/journal site which gets you the same fun updates, at no cost to me. In fact, because blogger.com allows me to journal on their site, I can post more pictures on our website. If you haven't checked the photos from today, you're missing out on some VERY cute events.

Tom, Christie and Turner Burns were in town. They are our great friends from Hilliard, Ohio. Tom was my best man, and I was his. They came up this morning, and spent the day with us here in Green.

We went to lunch at... (can you guess) RED ROBIN!!! Yep, it has been one of our favorite non-Mexican restaurants over the last six months. Sadly, their prices went up, and I paid about $8 for their "5-Alarm Burger." The "5-Alarm" burger is their attempt at heat, including a couple of jalapenos and some pepperjack cheese. While the burger was very good, and the fries were... bottomless? Uh, I don't think that burger was hot enough to set off any alarms, per se. Then again, I'd eat Jalapenos and Tabasco on my oatmeal every morning if I thought of it.

Anyhow, Turner Burns is a real treat. He chased me around the house, kissed my daughter (without asking), and let me play with his toys. At about 2.25 years old, Turner is extremely cute, adventuresome, and articulate. I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. It was great to see Honus, and spend a lazy-fun day together.

It is funny how, now that we have kids... a day together means "let's get together and watch our kids!" A few months ago, I would have thought that might be boring... but it was a terrific time. I guess we are indeed growing up around here.

I mentioned that Turner is smart, but this kid is off the charts. Somehow, this post-toddler suggested that we should all go to ice cream after Red Robin. He must have known that we were only a few hundred feet from Coldstone Creamery.

I really shouldn't have had ice cream. About 10 minutes after eating our cheesecake-flavored ice cream with Reese's and Cookie Dough, my mouth lost the good taste and my stomach felt horrible. Is Ice Cream really worth it?

I confess that I sometimes fall pray to the "instant gratification" thing.

Jennie notes that I like to see movies on opening night. Even if that was a criticism, we're still planning on seeing "The Bourne Supremacy" as it opens tomorrow night.

Oh yeah, Allison slept through our lunch and our Coldstone trip. She's asleep already - Jennie has the magic touch. Guess it's our turn to turn in.

Enjoy the pics on our site, and don't give in to ice cream urge.

Sickness?

Yeah, right now Jennie is sick, and has been for a few days now. I guess she can't take anything for it - except Tylenol for the headache - because it would affect the breastfeeding scenario.

Notice how, in the above paragraph, I explained that Tylenol is a drug that is used to cure headaches. And you didn't think reading my blogger would be educational.

Uh, speaking of education, I guess I am going after some. Because I wanted some sort of challenge, discipline, and further training in leadership, preaching, and ministry, I have applied for (and been accepted into) the Doctor of Ministry degree program at Denver Seminary.

I suppose it doesn't hurt that our friends Tim & Suzanne Cooper are moving to Denver as well, in less than two weeks. I can't believe it - less than two weeks! Major props to you guys for "taking the plunge" and heading towards full-time ministry. I wouldn't trade my on-campus seminary experience for anything, and I know you guys will be challenged and encouraged more than ever before.

So, I like Denver because it has the Coopers, some terrific professors (like Haddon Robinson and Erwin McManus), and incredible scenery (mountains). Jennie and I might try to sandwich a vacation around one of my classes there in the next 3-4 years. You know what they say, "When in Denver..."

My first class is January 10-14, 2004 - but the reading and research starts now. I have been getting books on eBay, and have almost finished two books already.

If you haven't guessed, I do love to read, and I am on kind of a roll right now. Books I am currently actually trying to finish right now include...

- Sacred Parenting - by Gary Thomas - a great book for parents about how God uses the parenting process to build your own character, faith, and attitude in many ways. I'm currently on chapter 4, and reading through this with a small group of guys.

- The Search to Belong - by Joe Myers - after seeing this book several times in stores and thinking I should read it some day, this book wound up as required reading material in my first class with Denver. I got it today, and am already on page 90. A thought-provoking book so far, that I'll probably post more thoughts on in the future.

- Angels and Demons - by Dan Brown - the prequel to Da Vinci Code, and I'm a third of the way through this one. This one deals with an ancient society of scientists called the "Illuminati" and their long-time vendetta against the Catholic church. So far, this book is just as exciting and engaging as The Da Vinci Code, but with fewer characters and fewer secret codes or mysteries.

- The Journey Toward Relevance - by Kary Oberbrunner - just a few chapters left, I just keep forgetting to bring it with me to the YCMA. I like to read as I ride the bike. Kary's book gives us a good framework for thinking about how we interact with culture today.

Yikes - I guess that's enough for now. I also read the Bible, and am studying James and some of the Old Testament prophets.

Highs and Lows... The Story of Us

I remember "The Story of Us" starring Bruce Willis and Michelle Pfeiffer. Jennie and I rented it because it looked like a good movie about marriage and all of the ups and downs a couple goes through.

Well, there's several scenes in the movie where they show the family at the dinner table, and each one shares their "highs" and "lows" for the day. It seems like a very cool tradition.

Before I share a few highs and lows, I'll just put this sort of disclaimer - that movie isn't very good, and has a fair amount of language. If you do choose to watch it, it is (I think) a realistic look at a non-christian marriage.

So, I guess here are a few of the "highs" from this past week....

- Tom & Marcia Bennardo and their daughters Lauren and Lindsey were here this afternoon. Tom is a long-time friend and pastor of mine, and they have been in Hilliard (NW Columbus) for about 8-9 years, planting and leading Life Community Church. We had Subway with them, gave them a tour of The Chapel's Green Campus, and - oh yeah - introduced them to Allie. Allie rules.

- Allie is one of the "highs" from every day. Right now Jennie has her in a bright-white outfit that actually looks like she's some angel (and she is). Strangely, it looks like she's dressed for a wedding, but we hope that's a few decades off. Allie still cannot smile on purpose yet, but is incredibly cute and has no need for such petty facial expressions. She is an awesome gift from God, and we are grateful and having a terrific time with her. I actually enjoy changing diapers. Who would have thought? Even the noise she makes when she poops is cute.

- I saw "I, Robot" yesterday, starring Will Smith. Jennie points out that I like to see movies when they open, as I always have to be the first to know. I plea guilty to that, and I'll add that "I, Robot" was really a great time for me. I love sci-fi-future-tech movies, but only if they are well developed and seem somewhat realistic. This movie was all that and more, with Will Smith doing a great job as the lead.

- Apparently Terry Pluto and his terrific wife, Roberta, are going to be our guests for a Young Marrieds event at The Chapel on Friday, September 24th. Terry is a sportswriter and author at The Akron Beacon Journal, and has a very strong faith as well. He and Roberta do jail ministry together.

- My friends Matthew & Kristi Harrelson had their baby, Kendra Nicole, last week. It was awesome to see them at City Hospital with their new daughter and her older sister, Kaitlyn. Matthew is in a men's small group with me, and I've enjoyed getting to know them over the last year or so. He is also a strong Michigan fan, having grown up in that state up north. Pray about that for me, will you?


Some of the "lows"?

- Well, Cleveland is in uproar over Carlos Boozer's breaking his word with the Cleveland Cavs and signing with Utah. This is a huge loss for the Cavs and for the NBA. We fans still like to think of our team and players as "good guys," but very few of them really are. It's all about the money - it's a business - as much as we "purists" like to delude ourselves. I am still a fan, but I don't expect these guys to behave as examples for the rest of us. As Terry wrote this week, "Don't let the millionaires ruin your day."

- Another "low" for me might just be a "high" for Jennie. Our beloved Sony PlayStation 2 is out of commission. Apparently, it skips now, pauses and gets stuck, and may have ruined a few of our games. (Don't worry, I only play one game really, and I don't even play it that much). The PS2 is also a DVD player that we use a lot. The good news is that the Sony corporation is going to repair it for FREE. I don't have a warranty, I don't have a receipt. They don't care. They are going to repair it for free, and send it back to me in 15-20 days. So, the "low" is that I can't play my game, but for Jennie, that is a possible "high."

- I am having another "low" as I try to get back into a consistent workout regiment. I went to the YMCA five times this week, in an attempt to jumpstart some sort of physical improvement. However, I am realizing it is going to take weeks and weeks of consistency to get back to where I want to be. It's all about self-discipline, and this is only the beginning... again. Jennie said today she can already see a difference, which is nice.

- I usually feel "low" when Allison cries for no apparent reason. Babies do that sometimes, you know. And about 47 people have told me things like "all babies need to cry - it builds up their lung strength." Fine, but it still stinks to see your little daughter cry. No, I don't pick her up just to stop her from crying, but it still is hard. That's all I'm saying. Hearing her cry is definitely not one of my day's happier moments. Sometimes it is pretty funny, though. You can tell when she's crying for attention. The term "crybaby" is a lot more meaningful these days."

The All-Star Game?

I don't really watch it anymore. Some friends of mine went to Quaker Steak and had wings while watching the game. That's a worthwhile event.

During last night's midsummer "classic," Jennie and I took Allie on her first trip to a Mexican restaurant. This was quite a moment, and all our friends at Pancho's restaurant loved finally meeting our daughter. We were hoping Allie would actually sleep through the whole ordeal, like she did our trip to the mall and shopping at Kohl's.

No such luck.

For the first 45 minutes or so, Allie was really awake, cute, and looking at the funny pictures of Jalapenos on the wall. Smart girl.

After that, it was clear she was "too tired" yet again. Allison sometimes forgets to sleep, you see, and so for the next half-hour or so, Jennie had a baby in one hand, and a guacamole-beef nacho in the other hand.

Some of you are reading this going, "Gary, don't you know you're supposed to hold Allison then so Jennie can relax and eat her nachos for once after having Allie with her all day?"

Right. You try taking a crying 3-week old from her mother at dinnertime! (ha ha)

Jennie loves holding her, as do I. I also think Jennie wanted to show off the fact that she can calm Allie down while calming her own appetite as well. My wife is quite talented.

Anyhow, Pancho's has great food, and I love going there with family and friends.

Overall, I can't believe it has been three weeks and things are so smooth in parenting so far. I am in NO RUSH for her to grow up, as much as I'd like to see her start smiling when she's AWAKE.

Let's take this Daddy business one page at a time, and enjoy every moment. I love Jennie and Allie to pieces. That sounds like a destructive type of love. "Love them to pieces."

You know what I meant.

Sometimes I wonder...

I wonder if people are reading this blogger/journal, or if they are still hoping I'll update the mutterings on our homepage. This really is the best option, and I hope people find it.

I wonder if people will get sick of me talking about my daughter Allison, either online or in person. Not that I'll stop, though.

I wonder if I should quit doing fantasy football this year. I love the guys in my league, but I'd rather not spend my Sunday afternoons hoping Domanick Davis gets into the end zone.

I wonder why Christians are so bothered by The Da Vinci Code. It is an excellent book that is obviously fiction. If the biblical controversies raised by the author cause more people to test their faith, that should be a huge positive. Of course there are already three Christian authors out with books that offer all the answers.

Meanwhile, The Da Vinci Code is an excellent and entertaining work that I read and finished last week. I couldn't put the thing down. Chapters were short, engaging, and suspenseful from start to finish. Characters were extremely well-developed, and the plot-twists were surprising.

I also wonder when we'll stop getting upset at non-Christians for their views. The author of said "Code" offers a plot that challenges traditional Christianity and Catholicism in a subtle, memorable way. Why not embrace the challenge and enter the discussion? A friend of mine got the audiobook (unabridged) from the library, and listened to it while driving around town on the job. It inspired him to study the origins of our modern Bible, how the text was protected and preserved by the Church, and become more solid in what he already believed. I confess I've had the same response to reading The Da Vinci Code. I got out some of my seminary notebooks, read a bunch of the Old Testament, and feel a much-renewed desire to study (and yes, defend) what I believe.

I wonder if Allison will like to read as much as Jennie and I do. I know you all think she's going to be a Buckeye-watching, fantasy-sport playing, movie-critiquing fiend just to win dad's approval. (ha ha). That couldn't be further from the truth. Last week, in one of our few quiet moments, Allie and I read the first few chapters of Proverbs and the book of Ruth. She was thoroughly engaged.

I can end this rant by saying... it seems like people who don't read, don't grow. That sounds simplistic and strong, but it's pretty true. I could take it one step further and say it really helps to read about things and people that view life differently than you do, as I described in The Da Vinci Code.

On a personal note, I think the timing of Allison's arrival, coupled with the stuff I've been reading lately, is pretty interesting. This is the time of year when I barely watch TV, because there are no sports on that I like. The Indians are getting better and have four all-stars, but I'm just not interested.

Usually this time of year is a downer for a sports fan like me, but maybe this time it's an eye-opener. In other words, life has been incredible these last two weeks, and I haven't missed it.

Uh, Allison is waking up now... I guess I'll talk at you later. Thanks for reading - post comments below if you want, especially on the Da Vinci thoughts or reading...

Allison, Jennie, and Leonardo.

Before I start, I must apologize for the website lately. Many of you logged on to find the kind words "BANDWIDTH LIMIT EXCEEDED" and at the worst possible time! I have contacted my host for our website, and plan to up the bandwidth. A couple of weeks ago, I saw a bumper sticker on a dude's car that said "Tekkie: Will work for bandwidth" - and now I know why.

Well, I can't believe how fast the first NINE days of my daughter's life have gone. Time flies too fast these days. She is doing great, and already loves Ohio State. I'll have to add a couple of her pics to our website.

Allison is doing great, and she's regained the weight that she lost. She looks so much different or older than her pictures from the hospital. If you want to see the actual hospital pics, they're at www.growingfamily.com, click on their "WebNursery."

I will probably do a few mutterings on the homepage until I figure out how to post pics to this blogger. This is a lot easier.

Jennie and I have slept pretty well at night, but overall she is exhausted. I don't know how she has done it, and I am amazed and blessed to have such a great wife and now a great mother for my kids. Allison is so incredibly cute to hold, snuggle with, and play with already. Any time I know we are going to get visitors at our house, I sing her a song with their names in it. She seemed to like the "Chadd and Cory song" that I did two days ago.

On Tuesday, Bill & Kim Underwood (my cousins) stopped by with their three kids - Jacob, Bryn, and Reagan. That was a whirling dervish of a visit. We love Bill & Kim, and I dearly love their kids too. But I realized how "orderly" and "protective" I am of my own stuff - or Allison's stuff, for that matter. Maybe I'll grow out of that. Jennie and I would love to have more children someday, but right now we are overjoyed and loving the one God has given us now.

Our friends have been tremendous - bringing food, mowing our lawn, trimming our grass, and visiting to say hello and love on Allie. God has really blessed Jennie and me beyond our ability to recognize. We are grateful and honored in so many ways!

Some things I used to do in my free time will now have to die. Rest assured, the webpage is not one of them. I am talking about some of my sports hobby. Let's rip away the chaff of watching sports on TV. If it's not Ohio State football, then I don't have to see it. Even if it is Ohio State football, you'd think I'd have my fix by now with two Fiesta Bowl victories and one national championship in the last two years.

Leonardo? Yes, I'm almost finished reading the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. Maybe I'll do a review of it on our website or on this blogger. Right now, it is a thrilling book to read, and it's obvious why it's become a bestseller. I bought the book on eBay, and I plan to sell it next week on eBay. Anyone interested?

Got to start the college fund somehow!

Allison's Arrival...

I am actually writing this three days after the fact - on Friday, June 25th - the first time I can really sit down and journal like I mean it...

So, we've had a wonderful experience in these first four days with Allison, but we'll always want to remember that surprise trip to the hospital...

MONDAY, JUNE 21ST

11:00 PM - Continuing to enjoy our last days before Allison's arrival, Jennie and I were up a little too late once again. Jennie, fortunately, goes to sleep just around midnight, but Gary is still awake. I had just started finally reading The Da Vinci Code, and it is very, very interesting. Since she can't sleep while I'm awake, I went downstairs to read Dan Brown's heresies and watch a little SportsCenter. For whatever reason, I cannot sleep, probably my unconscious grasping at a few last moments of "freedom" before being dominated by babyworld...

TUESDAY, JUNE 22ND, 2004

After falling asleep for about fifteen minutes downstairs, Gary finally returns to bed and is ready to sleep for real. As I got back to bed, Jennie was slightly awake, just enough to hear me say, "Man, it's a good thing Allison didn't come tonight, because I totally couldn't sleep..."

3:27 AM - I wake up to a lighted bedroom and a noisy hallway, and ask Jennie how she's doing. Response: "Ummmm... I think my water broke." I sigh and roll over, as if I'd heard that one before. We were both mentally and emotionally prepared for our baby to be born two weeks late, and acted sometimes like she'd never come at all. That was getting easier to do, instead of acting like every minute or every phone call might be "THE CALL!"

Anyhow, on her way back from the bathroom, Jennie exclaimed, "Yep - that's my water breaking -" as more water escaped. Pretty shocking moment at 3:30 in the morning, and the excitement woke both of us up, at least as much as possible... Once we realized it was actaully happening, we both cried and were fully awake with anticipation and joy.

4:00 AM - We call the nurse on-call at our Paragon Health Services, and she gives the following diagnosis - "Congrats, guys - you're going to have a baby today!" Apparently, once the water breaks, the clock starts ticking, and the baby should be born in no less than 24 hours. She also added that, unless Jennie feels strong contractions around 5 minutes apart, that we are in no rush. "You guys get some sleep, you're going to have a big day tomorrow. Call us if you need to." Gotcha.

4:13 AM - "Whoa.... CONTRACTION!" And this not just your average pressure-filled, breathe it out, early labor contraction, this was the strongest Jennie had felt in six months. And this was only the beginning. Over the next 45 minutes, contractions came, and about every five minutes, Jennie was hunched over, saying something like "Ohhhh!" - or - "Can you rub my back?" - or "Whoaaa!" In other words, it's time to call the doctor again. I took a shower, started packing my bags (of course I put that off till the last minute, and made Jennie some toast.) Jennie also got a shower, made sure the bags were ready, and didn't eat the toast.

5:30 AM - Contractions coming fast and furious, and we called our parents to let them know what's going down.

5:49 AM -





(more later, as I get time to finish... hate to leave you hanging... =)

New Home for Mutterings?

That's right, I found this terrific site called Blogger.com. Well, I didn't find it, Josh Smith found it. Josh has a site called www.Gitgan.com, and he uses Blogger.com for his online journals. If you haven't heard of a "blog," it is the term for "web log" or "journal" online. Just like the mutterings I have been writing and will continue to do.

I'd like to eventually move all the mutterings files to this site, because, well, it's FREE! Our garyandjennie.com is at a good price, but I'd like to use most of that space for pictures and videos, if you couldn't tell. Plus, I really like the look of this blogger.com thing. IT also sorts and archives my journal entries for me - saving me time and yes, money!

I think this blogger.com journal actually works FASTER than the program I currently use, so I will probably be able to update the MUTTERINGS more often, and from anywhere I can get online. Currently, I have to have my iBook (MAC) with me to do it, and be online to upload the file to my server.

(Whatever, Gary, just say something funny! Don't you know that's why we read this stupid journal blog or whatever in the first place?)

I'll get to the funny stuff later, I promise. Jennie and I had a great time at Giant Eagle tonight. You know you married the right girl when you laugh for 45 minutes straight at the stinking grocery store.

Kudos to Juicy Juice - that stuff rocks!

NBA Draft Preview...

I wonder what the Cavs will do this Thursday. Our baby could be born any day of the week, but I hope it is not Thursday.

My ideal Cavs' draft would probably be for 6-7 high school PG Shaun Livingston to fall to the Cavs at #10. We'll see - many people have Livingston going in the top four. The Cavs are not going to trade up, that's for sure. If they did, it would be with Charlotte at 4.

Then again, who can believe any of the rumors you read.

I also like Ben Gordon, Devin Harris, or Jameer Nelson for the Cavs at 10. Jameer Nelson, underrated again, will probably turn out to be a very solid NBA point guard.

No, Not Yet

Sunday, June 20th - "No, not yet..."



Jennie is feeling some contractions, but not enough of them to mean labor. In other words, we're going "late" - or at least past the due-date with Allison. I am all about being patient, and think that patience is a valuable sign of one's personal maturity. But patience is currently in short supply at the Underwood household.

Of course, we heard all the "Allison will come in God's time" comments today - and that is so true. Meanwhile, I'm going to be honest here on-line, and say we'd be glad if "God's time" would hurry up. Just because patience is a virtue, doesn't make it easy.

Last week, I got to hold a two-month old baby boy. I am getting better at actually holding a baby, and I'm starting to like that idea a lot. When I locked eyes with that 2-month old, I honestly felt goosebumps! I cannot even imagine that moment when we meet Allison face-to-face.

Guaranteed, though, that there WILL be some sort of CLEAR announcement on this webpage about the birth and all the details. I plan to have our camera and camcorder on hand. We are also the kind of people who love to have friends over, or have people visit at the hospital. Not a bad idea to call ahead or hear from us first, though, but we'd love to see you guys!

Jennie is really enjoying the break from work. Let's just say it's really good for her (and the baby) to have more time to rest, prepare, and not strain her back and lungs by working all day. Her workplace and friends have been very encouraging, and everyone is telling her and me to "get sleep now" - consider it done!

We saw "The Terminal" with Tom Hanks on Friday. Very good movie. I had read that it was a good statement by director Steven Spielberg on a lot about American society, and about people that are stuck in a certain place or situation in life. Tom Hanks is awesome, in case you didn't already know. Sometime, I'll do a top-ten list of movies or something. I probably wouldn't have any Tom Hanks movies on my top ten list, but he is a fantastic actor, and The Terminal is one of this year's best, at least that I've seen.

Zac & Hilary Derr were over last week, and they brought shish-kabobs. Not even sure if I spelled that right, but it was my first time doing shish-kebabs (note alternate spelling) on the grill. VERY good stuff. Zac is interning at The Chapel with Pastor Knute Larson, and looks great in a baseball helmet. Hilary is currently helping lead a youth missions trip to Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh, as we all know, is a town that really needs God and also more Browns fans.

Speaking of Browns fans, Dan & Jill Bahry are huge C-town crazies. Dan's basement has more orange and brown than Cleveland Stadium itself. He has Browns bobbleheads, jerseys, mugs, football cards, newspapers, programs, and autographed helmets. Dude is sold out, and actually used to work in Berea for the Browns.

Okay, now it seems like I'm name-dropping. "I know this guy who used to work for the Browns, so I am actually pretty cool myself." Ever wish that Butch Davis did NOT work for the Browns?

Anyhow, Dan & Jill are proud graduates of Green High School, and have the yearbooks to prove it. They also introduced us to "Juicy Juice" (an all-natural juice that is now half-price at Giant Eagle), and entertained us with Green High yearbooks from '92 to '95. Funny how much the hairstyles have changed since then. Especially the girls' hair. If you didn't have the "poof" in front, might as well not be in the yearbook.

Every few days, Jennie and I sit down and share some thoughts that might be good to "mutter" about. Anything else exciting this week?

Protecting my family...

Nine months can feel like a long time. We would be the last people to complain, for Jennie has had a pretty healthy pregnancy, and we know every day with Allison is a true gift from God.

If reading our website has ever made you ask, "I wonder what it would be like to be a fly on the wall in the Underwood household, and hear what they really talk about in there?" Let the following story be both a reality check and an answer to your insect-on-our-walls inquiries.

Today I mentioned the 10 Commandments in our young marrieds class at The Chapel. Many of you know that "Thou shalt not kill" is indeed one of God's ten commandments, and is thankfully a part of our legal system today. We are also grateful that such a commandment does not extend to other species of biological life. Take, for example, members of the insect world.

At left, you see a picture of a wasp that invaded our home about a half hour ago. Jennie, in the midst of a conversation with her mom, blurted out, "Honey, there's a huge insect that just got in!" (Click to enlarge)

Naturally, the protector-hunter-defender-of-my-home instinct overcame me. As you can see, the photographer tendency in me was also at its artistic peak. For a few brief moments, this wily invader hid behind the blinds in an attempt to plan his clandestine appraisal of the Underwood kitchen.

Eventually he resurfaced, just long enough to get a pose on the internet, and now you are benefactors of his foolishness. With my "capture the image" appetite satisfied, I went in for the kill. For a brief moment, I thought back to the book of Exodus, chapter 20, and the immortal words of God and Moses, "Thou shalt not kill."

As I looked at the newspaper clenched in my fist, the guilt almost overcame me, before the fact. At just the right moment, the thought occured to me that in Genesis chapter 1-2, God called Adam (and essentially all of humanity) to take charge and rule over all the other species of living things on the earth. Since part of my God-given responsibility as a human being is to exert leadership over other living species - and my responsibility to protect my family... I introduced that black-winged stranger to the Business section of the Akron Beacon Journal.

About now, you could be wondering about the sanity of a guy who posts his wasp-killing exploits on the internet. Quite frankly, I would question if you have ever been stung by a bee or wasp. See, these insect-attackers not only sting you - they ruin picnics, poison sandwiches, drink your soda, and embarrass whoever or whatever is in their path. I not only killed this one, but I now subject him to public humiliation on the World Wide Web. Dude deserves it.

(As I read this, I am wondering, "Now, who all knows about this website? They might think less of me after they read this. I mean, I not only posted an article about killing a wasp, but I tried to make it a moral issue, quoting parts of the Old Testament and such. Are they thinking "this Gary guy really does have some issues" or "I'm not sure Gary's really ready to be a father - he can't even do a webpage worth reading. If he's the kind of person who puts pictures of dead wasps online, I'm not sure I'm going to return to this website or even sign his guestbook." Then again, maybe you're not thinking that. )

Maybe you're quite thrilled for me and Jennie now that our house is pest-free. Like I said, nine months can be a long time. I promise that the next month will include cute articles, updates, and pictures of Jennie and Allison. But I want to remind you that God has called me to protect them against even the smallest of foes. Needless to say, I am ready to protect my family.

What's up?

Tuesday, June 8th, 2004 - "What's up?"



Hey, how's it going? For so long, this has been a one-way conversation, and for that - I apologize. I hope you know that we'd love to hear from you on email sometime, and hear your side of the story. If the idea of doing your own online journal intrigues you, you can do one for free at Blogger.com. A "blogger" is what you are reading now - an online journal that other people can read if they feel like it.

Did you hear about Smarty Jones? He was supposed to be another Seabiscuit - a triple-crown winner in horseracing. If you didn't see Seabiscuit, you should. I kept putting it off, cause I was like, "uh, it's a movie about a horse - don't we all have better things to do with our time?"

Actually, no, "we" don't. Especially when you watch television on a weeknight. Seabiscuit is better than that. Quality time with your spouse or a good friend is better than that.

I loved Ronald Reagan, and think our nation and our world is a much better place because of his leadership, personality, and love for people of the U.S. He's pretty much the first president I knew much about and grew up with. I heard the news of his death last week at a party where there were a bunch of kids, and thought, most of them don't even know who he is. But they benefit from his leadership decades later...

For those of you following the "countdown to Allison," there's just 12 days till Jennie is due, and of course I'm already dreaming up her next video. I did a web-search of songs with the name "Allison" in them, and let's just say Allie will have a "greatest hits" DVD by the time she enters pre-school. One of our friends recently wrote that "Allison is going to be one well-received child!"

So true, unless she begins to root for Michigan someday. But maybe that will be God's way of teaching me unconditional love. Love without conditions, requirements, bias, or expectations. I already love her like that.

But true, selfless "love" also implies that you want the best for someone. In other words, while I realize that good parenting involves more than just helping your children root for the correct team, I promise not to neglect proper guidance in that area. The total number of Ohio State outfits currently in Allie's closet? NINE. NINE!!!

We do have family members who inquire, "When is she going to get a Packers or Badgers outfit?"

Answer - "when you buy one for her."

We'll be glad to let her wear these things, of course, but so far the gifts are a plus-9 in favor of the Buckeyes.

(Note: this is the end of today's "blogger." I hope you enjoyed our "mutterings" as much as we enjoyed writing them. Meanwhile, the Lakers stink, and it's fun to watch.)

Meander

So I took the week off. I wanted one last breath of life as a mere guy with a wife. I know that in approximately 2.3 weeks, life will change exponentially. I suppose we have heard our fair share of cliche's, and how "you can't really be prepared," and "enjoy your time together while you still have it," and "(insert whatever cliche' is coming to your mind right now, cause we've probably heard it)."

I am tired of cliche's. Why do we say all the same things to each other? Are we trying to put people in our little box of how the world is supposed to work?

Several women that Jennie met yesterday INSISTED that she is "too tiny" to be almost 38 weeks. Let me get this straight: Every woman is different. Every body is different. Every baby is different. Every pregnancy is probably different too. And yet these "ladies" get to INSIST on the proper size of a 38-weeks-pregnant Jennie, who they barely know.

I would love to be there, just once, to speak up for my wife and tell them to mind their own business. I think she's just the right size, and can you tell I'm willing to defend that?!

Yeah, she's 37 weeks-plus, and 1 centimeter dilated.

We're pretty excited, and waiting in suspense. This is not one of those things I can schedule or plan in advance for. "Hey honey, why don't we go ahead and have that baby Friday night? We don't have any plans for Friday - that would work great. We could do dinner at Applebees, maybe relax at Barnes and Nobles for a while, and then drive on over to City Hospital and settle in for the main event!"

Wouldn't that be nice.

Actually, all we care about is a healthy baby. That's what we're praying and hoping for. Jennie adds, "We feel like we know her already, but we can't wait to meet her face to face." Then, after seeing that I'm typing what she's saying, she says, "No, I don't want it to be me (talking)."

"Seriously, can you erase that?" added Jennie.

"Sure, honey!" I responded without delay.

Meanwhile, it is nice to have a few days off to reflect on the world as I know it. I've relaxed a lot, cleaned out the garage (finally), and helped Jennie with the garden. You'd be proud to know I didn't see a movie this week, but I did eat at Red Robin again. The A-1 Peppercorn burger is a huge hit. Add Tabasco and you're in for a whole nuther world of fun.

So I'm writing out my personal journal at Red Robin, steak fries and all. It began something like this, "I'm thirty years old. What ten things am I most proud of about my life?"

Of course, I had to follow that up with "what things am I least proud of about my life?" It was a very revealing exercise. I dare you to do that about your own life. Usually, when you read the mutterings, it's all about getting a few updates and maybe laugh at something silly Gary says. But maybe this time you're supposed to learn something about yourself, and do a self-evaluation like I did. So rarely do we come face to face with reality, and I dare you to consider those questions.

I think it was Socrates who said that "the unexamined life is not worth living." It is hard to imagine Socrates "examining" his life while downing a peppercorn burger with steak fries and onion straws, but that's what I did.

I also dare you to eat at Red Robin. Did you hear that story?

I have other friends who do an online journal like this, and they usually say things about how it's such good "therapy" to get their thoughts out like this. Sometimes, though, it's just fun to let your thoughts meander for a while and have friends bring them up on the phone a few days later. For example, I bet one of you will say, "I can't believe you used the word "meander" in mutterings the other day." Call me crazy, but I bet one of you will bring it up.

I am running out of things to sell on eBay. It can be quite a hassle, but fun if you can buy something cheap at a neighbor's garage sale and then auction it off to the world. However, if your neighbors only peddle their junk, you're toast.

We miss Becks and Lee in Oregon. Then again, who doesn't. Wish they'd visit again and we could do Friday's or something.

The Usual Random Stuff

Memorial Day is this Monday, and we'll probably work on the garden (or see family and friends, which is my vote!). Sometime you should try my salsa. In my youth, I used to do "top ten lists" for a variety of reasons. One I wrote in college was about "top ten things to do in Winona Lake on a Friday night," and they were all pretty boring things. Winona Lake has gotten much better in the last 10 years.

I used to write a top ten list about my top ten favorite Taco Salads. It was my goal - wherever I traveled or ate - to try as many Taco Salads as possible. One of the best Taco Salads I've had was in downtown Moscow (yes, the one in Russia). Another was at the Sears Tower. For a long time, Don Pablo's had a chicken taco salad that topped the list. Right now, I can't say what the top salad is. I think that would be a complete waste of my time. I've grown out of that immature phase.

But if you MUST know, I love just going to Pancho's, getting a chicken taco salad SHELL, and dipping it in Italian dressing. Life is much simpler now.

We saw Troy on Friday night. Everybody's really talking about Shrek 2, but Jennie and I can't get excited about seeing cartoons. Maybe we think we've grown out of that phase too. Or maybe we are facing the reality that we'll be watching cartoons for the next 15 years of our lives!

I confess: I like movies. Sometimes I feel immature about it, and then I talk with pastors who are twice my age and have seen more movies than me over the last year, and I don't feel so bad. I do think that my "taste" or "preference" in movies has really changed over the last two years. I no longer like movies for the action, the effects, or the bravado of main characters. I am developing a dislike for movies that are "cookie cutter," or movies that do not clearly develop plot, characters, or conflict. All that stuff Mrs. Bee talked about in high school is starting to matter to me. If I wasn't a pastor, I'd probably consider being a professional writer of some sort, probably a movie critic or sports writer. I guess my ideal job is to write critiques of sports movies for pastors to read (while eating Taco Salads).

After saying all that about being a discerning movie critic, I'm really excited to see The Day after Tomorrow. I guess I am still somewhat intrigued by special effects and movies with Tornoadoes in them. Jennie and I had our first kiss after watching the movie "Twister."

'nuff said.

Inside the cutting room

Yeah, I procrastinate sometimes. I even wrote an article about procrastination once. I was thrilled to finish the video about Allison and her latest ultrasound. If you haven't seen it, you really should. Personally, I can't get enough of it.

Kevin Delaney, formerly the pastor of Campus Focus here at The Chapel, is now associate pastor at Mountain Brook Community Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Jody Bowser is currently the Senior Pastor of Moses Lake Alliance Church in the great state of Washington. Click on their names to e-mail them, but only if you already know them. That would be somewhat rude to just e-mail somebody you don't know out of the blue. You could say, "Yeah, I saw your name on that famous website garyandjennie.com, and it says you're like a pastor somewhere - in what state?" Please don't do that. Our website doesn't require much effort, but it does require that you not send junky anonymous e-mails to people you don't know in states far, far away.

I like to give updates like that once in a while. As if I were some monthly alumni magazine that gives updates on people you used to know. That's one reason I'm glad I didn't go to Ohio State. Cause if you get an alumni magazine with updates, you don't know any of those people, unless they are Orlando Pace, Eddie George, or - of course - Pepe Pearson. I don't mean to brag, but I saw Pepe Pearson play when he was a senior at Euclid High School.

I hate it when people say, "I don't mean to brag," and then they brag like crazy. Of course I meant to brag!

Then again, nobody knows who Pepe Pearson is. Nobody is impressed. So I guess it wasn't officially "bragging."

Yes, I am selling and buying things on eBay still. So I can tell my wife that I'm not spending our own money on things like the John Grisham book I just bought (The Last Juror, have you read it?), I am also selling a few things as a way of "trading." I remember when Pull, Hartley, Brunker and I would go to the Hartville Flea Market to buy and sell baseball cards.

Man, were we stupid. Just kidding, but it does occur to me that nobody collects baseball cards anymore, so I cannot make a killing on eBay. In high school, I put those cards to good use, selling them to the local card store to pay for dates and homecoming dances and such.

I think part of doing an online journal well is knowing when you've run out of interesting things to say.

Mother's Day, Baby!

Yeah, I procrastinate sometimes. I even wrote an article about procrastination once. I was thrilled to finish the video about Allison and her latest ultrasound. If you haven't seen it, you really should. Personally, I can't get enough of it.

Kevin Delaney, formerly the pastor of Campus Focus here at The Chapel, is now associate pastor at Mountain Brook Community Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Jody Bowser is currently the Senior Pastor of Moses Lake Alliance Church in the great state of Washington. Click on their names to e-mail them, but only if you already know them. That would be somewhat rude to just e-mail somebody you don't know out of the blue. You could say, "Yeah, I saw your name on that famous website garyandjennie.com, and it says you're like a pastor somewhere - in what state?" Please don't do that. Our website doesn't require much effort, but it does require that you not send junky anonymous e-mails to people you don't know in states far, far away.

I like to give updates like that once in a while. As if I were some monthly alumni magazine that gives updates on people you used to know. That's one reason I'm glad I didn't go to Ohio State. Cause if you get an alumni magazine with updates, you don't know any of those people, unless they are Orlando Pace, Eddie George, or - of course - Pepe Pearson. I don't mean to brag, but I saw Pepe Pearson play when he was a senior at Euclid High School.

I hate it when people say, "I don't mean to brag," and then they brag like crazy. Of course I meant to brag!

Then again, nobody knows who Pepe Pearson is. Nobody is impressed. So I guess it wasn't officially "bragging."

Yes, I am selling and buying things on eBay still. So I can tell my wife that I'm not spending our own money on things like the John Grisham book I just bought (The Last Juror, have you read it?), I am also selling a few things as a way of "trading." I remember when Pull, Hartley, Brunker and I would go to the Hartville Flea Market to buy and sell baseball cards.

Man, were we stupid. Just kidding, but it does occur to me that nobody collects baseball cards anymore, so I cannot make a killing on eBay. In high school, I put those cards to good use, selling them to the local card store to pay for dates and homecoming dances and such.

I think part of doing an online journal well is knowing when you've run out of interesting things to say.

Soccer? Not MY Kid!

Life is a mysterious thing. Yesterday, I looked at Jennie's stomach, and could clearly feel a foot kicking powerfully against it from inside, trying to get out. Jennie and I aren't big soccer fans, but it seems like our daughter is headed in this direction. Hopefully my connection with soccer lovers like Tim Cooper, Kyle Milligan, Jamie Kozick, and David Ward will serve us well.

Speaking of Tim Cooper, he's a friend of mine who actually cancelled his Cable (or Dish) permanently, so he and his wife wouldn't waste so much time watching TV. Think about how much our relationships, our physical fitness, our priorities, and everything else gets distracted by whatever's on must-see TV that night. Huge props to the Coopers for getting a grip on the situation, and it's a challenge to all of us not to just tune in and channelsurf for 5 hours a day or whatever the latest statistic says.

I can't really figure out why I don't like soccer. I went to Cleveland Force (MSL) games as a kid, and they were pretty exciting. I guess I can't understand a game that won't let you use your hands. In basketball, you obviously shoot or pass or dribble the ball with your hands. In baseball, you grip a ball, a glove, or a bat if you're on the field. In football, of course you use your hands to tackle, throw, or hold the other guy's jersey illegally. But in soccer, the ball can't even touch your hands without play coming to a screeching halt.

I think it all boils down to this - I am not good with my feet. I have never been accused of being "fleet-footed" or anything like that. So I play other sports.

I probably kicked in the womb too. Just because Allie kicks, doesn't make her a soccer player. We will see to that. I think when she starts to kick a basketball instead of bounce it, she'll be grounded.

Jennie has been sick off and on this week, but just a cold or flu-type thing.

Am I going to become one of those Dads who can't talk about anything else but his baby child? I do hear from everyone about how your life changes, and how you'll be so in love with this little person who depends on you. True - and bring it on!

But I hope that we can both keep up our "rep" and connection with the grown-up world as well. Time will tell.

Lots of random thoughts

Sometimes it feels weird writing stuff about our lives online. Time permitting, I'd rather talk to everyone in person. Then again, I also love to write, and this doesn't take very long to update.

Another "whirling dervish" of a weekend, involving birthdays, baby showers, parties, mexican food, and old roommates.

My roommate and good friend from Grace Seminary, Kary Oberbrunner, stayed overnight last night. Here's a recent photo of him, which, if clicked on, would get you to his website...

Kary recently wrote a book - The Journey Toward Relevance -that has been published by Relevant Books. His book is very insightful about the various types of Christians out there today. Some are "separatists" - choosing to remain totally separate from the world and setting up more boundaries from the world and culture. Others are "conformists" who want so desperately to connect the Christian message in a way that will be heard today that they conform too much to the patterns, tastses, and expectations of secular culture.

Kary's book challenges and equips people who are interested in becoming "transformists" - Christians who live a strong and distinctly-Christian lifestyle in such away that it is relevant to the world we live in. His book is personal, entertaining, and frankly makes me jealous. You can order it through Kary's website.

The guy to your left has a huge heart for God and others and tremendous gifts, passion, and commitment to living life to the fullest. I hope Allison marries a guy like this Kary. Jennie actually knew Kary before I did, cause dude is from Wisconsin. He wasn't here that long, but we worked out, shared some Mexican food, talked a lot, and had some of our legendary Tekken battles.

I had two terrific roommates in Seminary. Kary Oberbrunner (read the above paragraphs again), and Kelly Larned.

Kelly Larned and I have great history as well. We became friends during my senior year at Grace. I was his RA, and Kelly was the crazy frosh who was setting off fireworks in the hall when I'd least expect it. Of course, being such a good friend, I would let him off the hook for pretty much anything. Good friends look out for each other.

Anyhow, Kelly "mad bomber" Larned, was also a roommate for the summer when I lived on 704 Chestnut Street. He threw a tremendous graduation party, one of only TWO times that I witnessed dancing (light, fun, rated G-dancing) at Grace.

Well, I'm writing to tell you that Kelly is engaged! Maybe you already knew this... but he met his wife, Keri, at the end of last year on eharmony.com! I have met more people lately that have met their lifelong love on this website/cupid service! Check it out (if you're single).

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Thanks to all of you who wished me a happy birthday in one form or another. 30 is a good one so far, but I was definitely "sentimental" about it. I am off now to The Chapel for a meeting, and Jennie is headed to Babies R Us, our second home now. I'll have a video with lots of footage of baby shower "oohs" and "aahs" sometime soon. Thanks for reading!! Have a great day!

Almost 30

Well, tomorrow I turn 30 years old. It feels strange, and that's about all. I guess I sometimes get in these deep thought sessions and reflect on life. What did I accomplish over the last decade? Am I where I thought I'd be? Am I being faithful to God, and all the opportunities He's given me?

Turning 30 has gotten varying reactions. Yesterday, at the YMCA, the topic came up on the sauna. The sauna! It was two high schooler's, and older guy, and me. Here's the scene:

OLDER GUY (turning to high school kids): What high school do you guys go to?

KID #1: Green.

OLDER GUY (looking around the room, wiping sweat off his forehead, turns to me and says): Are you in high school?

ME: You are awesome!

KID #1 (turning to me, with a huge smile) : How old ARE you then?

ME: I'm twenty-nine (not mentioning that I'm only 29 for about 40 more hours).

KID #1: Man, that's not bad at all. my cousin, man - he's THIRTY!

To a High Schooler, 30 is ancient.

But I have found that everyone else thinks I have a lot of life ahead of me.

Since I'm getting sentimental, here's a brief review of the last 30 years...

- No Cleveland team has won a sports championship. Not in my lifetime. The 1995 and 1997 Indians at least made it to the World Series, and the '86, '87, and '89 Browns made it to the AFC Championship those years. But nobody remembers second place. We Clevelanders cope by pretending like there are more important things in life (like getting married, having a kid, and talking to God personally).

- A few weeks ago, I saw a yearbook from our church in 1974. That's right, 30 years ago. My picture is in it, and I am barely a couple months old. I have spent about 2/3 of my life attending or serving or being involved with The Chapel. God has really blessed me and my family with so many friendships, memories, and important moments in life.

- As I mentioned in a previous blogger, marrying Jennie was quite a coup - an enormous gift from God. One of the purposes inherent in a man's soul is that he has to rescue the beauty - he has to find a great woman who stirs his heart and complements him. If you haven't read Wild at Heart, you need to check out some of the stuff John Eldredge has written. Anyhow, I am grateful everyday for the terrific, loving, intelligent, giving, forgiving, hilarious, strong Christian woman God has blessed me with.

- I'm still proud to be a Lake High grad (1992). It's amazing how much of your life, personality, and relationships are shaped by those younger and adolescent years. I do hope we have a 15-year reunion. Unbelievable how fast those 12 years went. I remember the torment I went through as a 6-year old, hating to leave Cuyahoga Falls, but it was a great move. I think being in a public high school and making so many friends there helped strengthen my Christian faith even more, and love people who are different than me too.

- In high school, I adopted a life-mission to live a "no-regrets" life. I wanted to give my life to God and others in such a way that I wouldn't pass up opportunities, I would do the things I know are right, and never give God or others anything less than my best. Well, I still have that passion or heart inside me, but I have regrets about lots of things. I think we all miss opportunities, and we all fall short of our goals at times. However, those that keep fighting... that keep the faith... that persevere... I want to be one of those.

- Can't believe I went to Grace. I was excited about Taylor and the great people and beautiful campus there... I was accepted at Miami (Ohio), and really wondered if I should pursue a "tougher" degree at a more acclaimed university.... but then I visited Grace. And loved it. I spent 7 years of my life in Indiana - College and Seminary - and wouldn't trade it for anything. Jennie and I will secretly hope that Allison (our daughter) falls in love with Grace, and it wouldn't surprise me if we lived out there again someday.

- You know, maybe I should have started this list with the ones who got it started. Now that Jennie and I are parents, I know I'll gain a much greater respect, admiration, and awe at the job my parents did. I am eternally grateful to Jack & Rita for their amazing love, faithfulness to each other, encouragement to me, commitment to teaching me right & wrong, allowing me to be independent, and for changing all those diapers. "Thanks" will never do - and it's amazing how much parents do - it is an awesome task.

- If you're still reading, thanks! I know this mutterings has gotten more "personal" than "funny." Early tomorrow morning, I'll be 30 years old. I am excited and curious as to what the next 30 years will hold, let alone the next 3 months.

- I wonder what sort of legacy I'll leave.

Waggy?

Today makes 32 weeks. For you math majors, that's 80% of pregnancy completed. I suppose a quick Jennie update should come from her - but she doesn't want her direct quotes to be hastily replicated on the Internet. She is looking forward to June 20 (or earlier) (uh, or later?) and meeting Allison face-to-face. Jennie will sometimes admit to some back pain, soreness, and some asthma, but overall - she's really grateful to be pregnant and excited for what lies ahead. Some people probably don't believe that it's asthma, and say stuff about normal breathing problems in pregnancy, but no - this is real asthma, just exaggerated by pregnancy. FYI, I suppose.

She loves how everyone tells her constantly "you look GREAT." Or "you look so CUTE." Or cool stuff like that. I try to give her props like that on a regular basis, pregnant or not. I mean, let's face it - as Tommy Bennardo once said, "Gar, you're marrying WAY up!"

Seriously, to have landed a wife who openly and honestly empathizes with me every year when the Browns ruin their chance to improve through the NFL Draft - I mean, she seems to really feel my pain here - I have a terrific wife. Jennie somehow shares my unexplainable concern for the Browns, connected with a growing disapproval and resentment for their stupid coach, Butch Davis. If I thought you were interested in my reasons for Butch's incompetency, I'd write them. But it's just football, and only one team matters in football (see our daughter's wardrobe... now 4 Ohio State outfits and counting. A kid can never have enough of those goodies!)

Meanwhile, the demise of the Browns, coupled with the fact that they never pick guys from Ohio State, makes me think Allison will have more Green Bay Packer genes in her developing psyche than anything else in the NFL.

On to more serious matters. With parenting, I suppose my vocabulary will need to expand to include such profound expressions as "get your JAMMIES on" - or "honey, where are the BURP-CLOTHS?"- or - "Allie, here's your BINKY." But, when we registered for baby gifts at Target, I found the baby term to end all baby terms.

"Waggy."

I love that word. "Waggy." Still not sure what it means, but it's the name for a baby stuffed animal we registered for (and received), that I think is just beautiful, CUTE, and shrouded in mystery! The "waggy mystery" is that it's a very cute animal - but I have no idea what animal it is. It looks like some toy company ran out of cute animals to make, like the standard elephant, rabbit, duck, or bear, and decided to mess with genetics, breeding a new animal - the "waggy."

Silly "waggy" looks like part lady bug, part puppy, part turtle, part beetle, and part guinea pig. Mix them all together, paint the thing pink, and you've got your "waggy." If postmodernims had a favorite stuffed animal, waggy tops the list. Click here for a visual of our wonderful WAGGY.

I had to register for that one. I know that my daughter is going to grow up in a world full of mysteries, unknowns, and questions - and I want to prepare for that. I want her to know that not everything in this world is an issue of "black or white" but that some things are complex, and we just have to be willing to live and thrive in that kind of world.

In short, the "waggy" is a GREAT gift, and I wouldn't try raising my daughter without one.

Thoughts from Chicago...

I am typing this as Jennie is driving and we're on our way home from Chicago. We had a fantastic weekend in the Windy City, and got to spend some great time with family, food, and God.

"Family?" That's right, we stayed with Grandma Walta, and had a great time with most of the family there, in town for our baby shower. I know, it's primarily Jennie's baby shower, but rumor has it that this will by my baby as well. We got to hang out, laugh, go to the park, catch up, play with our nieces (Anna & Avery), and open lots of gifts. All the gifts were terrific, but I am especially fond of the Ohio State cheerleader outfit. It's beautiful, and I'm sure to put a few pics on the web for your viewing enjoyment. Just know that this girl is going to be raised right. "Raised right" means that she already has THREE Ohio State outfits and NO Cleveland Browns stuff. Allison is on the right track. Mix in some Green Bay Packer outfits, and she'll be a heartbreaker.

"Food?" If you've never been to Chicago, its food is legendary. Friday night, before entering the bountiful buffet presented to us in Chicago, Jennie and I followed the "Pizza Hut" signs to a truck-stop close to Gary, Indiana. Uh, bad move. Every person in the joint looked like they were just released from the JOINT. Honestly, there were signs all over the place that read, "Smile, you're under video surveillance." Security guards were not in short supply. "Uh, two personal pans to go - really soon, please!"

Anyhow, later that night after landing safely in Berwyn (near Chicago), Jennie's parents made a run to Portillo's. Portillo's is the home of some terrific "Italian beef" sandwiches, which I - of course - had to add hot peppers and pepperoncini's to. Unbelievable. The next day, when the ladies were ready to "shower" Jennie with gifts and "oh-how-cute" noises, the guys went to... Portillo's! If you haven't had an authentic Chicago-style hot dog, you're really missing out on the best life has to offer. Jennie's Dad (Bill Walta), a Windy City native informed me that, if you're really from Chicago, you don't eat the pickle separately. The pickle is part of the dog here. And for me, so was the jalapeno and the pepperoncini. Saturday night, Jennie and I made a run to Lalo's Mexican restaurant to snarf on some quality authentic burritos. I practiced some of my spanish with Jennie and her cousin Adrianna, when I asked, "Porque esta el banyo?" Still working on that one.

I suppose the next food bulletin from the city that Michael Jordan built goes along with the "God" section.

"God?" Yeah, Jennie and I had a terrific encounter with God today at Willow Creek Community Church. I've been there before for pastors conferences and other events, but never for an Axis service. "Axis?" Yeah, it's their church's worship service for twenty-somethings. Although, as I walked into Axis, they told me it was for "twenty-somethings... and older." I looked that girl-usher squarely in the eyes and said, "Young lady, I AM a twenty-something, and only for twelve more days, so you best respect your elders and let me enjoy it!"

Uh, okay, I didn't say that. But I did go in, and I was NOT the oldest person in the room. Axis had a tremendous feel of authentic, real, modern worship. The guest-speaker was Rev. Alise Barrymore (yes, a woman - no, not Drew's mom), and she spoke on Philippians 2:12-13, where Paul challenges some mature Christians to continue to grow and work on their faith and character. She was terrific.

Anyhow, afterwards, Jennie and I hit Willow Creek's food court - yes, this church has one.

That was indeed one of the best Taco Salads I've ever had. (Yes, with jalapenos and hot sauce - pass the Tums). But a church with a Taco Salad? More proof of God, I suppose.

Enough bloggering about Chicago. But Jennie did get pulled over on the way home.

Taxes or whatever

Aren't taxes due today? Yes, I believe I read that somewhere. Hope you all got great returns - not everyone does (including those who run this website). Certainly not a complaint here, though, we did get to use what we earned, and God has provided more than we deserve. We're not here on earth to try and grab as much money and stuff and then live as comfortably as possible.

Tomorrow we leave for Chicago, and Allison is reportedly growing hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes. Almost 31 weeks, and these are the details we get from "inside the womb." New life is an amazing thing. Life without eyebrows just wouldn't be the same.

We are overcome with the following thoughts... "What will she look like?" "I hope she is growing two eyebrows, not just one." "Let's hope for Jennie's sake that Allison is not getting her head-size from her daddy!" "Did we register for too much?" "Is that her leg sticking out?" "Is Allison going to be one of THOSE babies who cries and poops all day?" "Is there any other kind of baby?"

It is amazing to feel and see Jennie's stomach move and churn as Allie wrestles within.

On the fantasy basketball front, I finished 3rd out of 12 or 14 teams. Not bad, but I'd rather be a winner - you know? Being this close to Cleveland, I have really no concept for winning. The Cavs and their 35-47 record is the best team this town has had to offer in a few years. The Browns are terrible, and I wonder if I would ever allow my children to wear orange. The Indians are worse, but at least they know what direction they are going. Sports is so overrated - why waste your time following these spoiled millionaires as they either throw pieces of leather really fast, hit each other, or try to stuff a ball through a rim. Who cares?

I'm sure parenting will put everything in perspective. People say parenting really makes you grow up, but you and I both know people who refuse. They refuse to do the right thing, and they refuse to set good examples and boundaries for their kids.

How much money would people save if they stopped eating out?

But we're headed to Chicago, and I love Giordano's pizza. If you've never had Chicago-style deep-dish pizza, you're missing out on the finer things in life. Check out that link - look at the stuff!

Since we're talking Pizza, there's a chain in Northern Ohio called Zeppe's that is really, really great. We had dinner there the other night, and are forever grateful to Josh & Kirsten Smith for introduicng us to the world of Zeppe's pizza.

Happy Easter!

Yes, today is Easter. I hope that means you had a great time with family and friends. I did, and I'm here to tell you about it.

Even more importantly, I hope you've grasped the real meaning of Easter and that Jesus is your answer to the problems of evil, mortality, and truth.

Today, Brian Hunt is in town from Chicago, where he is a "relationship banker" for Bank One. Drop him a line and say hello! Brian and I were roommates at Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana. It is great to have a friend where you can always "pick up where you left off" and just enjoy each other's company. Brian is generally one of the most easygoing guys I've ever known, and he always makes life interesting and humorous. Props to Bennigans for being open on Easter night, while Damon's was not.

Bennigan's has the best Baked Potato Soup you'll ever have. Unless you like some other kind better.

We spent Easter with much of the Underwood clan, and had a terrific feast. I might even post some footage of said feast later in the week. However, I did feel a tad guilty having a "deviled egg" on Easter Sunday. Meanwhile, why do we give Satan credit for a good-flavored egg? It would seem the "devil" description should be given to moldy or decaying eggs, not flavored ones.

So, I think I am going to finish second in the FBL - again. I could blame my players for missing lots of free throws and not playing defense this week, but why not just give Dave Pacheco the credit he deserves? Nice job, D-pac - you've earned it!

If you saw the video on our front page, you know that Jennie is 30-weeks pregnant today. One of our readers spoke out for many of you, when she mentioned, "Could we please see some picture of JENNIE?" Well, our website aims to please, and there's the evidence, front and center. Any other ideas or requests? We'll try to make it happen!

At 30 weeks, you get a whole new set of "things people say that you hear a dozen times a day." The answers to those questions (you'll know them when you hear the answers) go as follows:

(1) Yes, we are ready for this baby.

(2) Yes, we are trying to get sleep now while we still can. We're not really afraid of this one, and we understand the life-change that is inherent to parenting. Quite honestly and personally... we have lost a lot of sleep over a child that did not survive pregnancy... so we're more than happy to lose whatever sleep necessary to actually meet this one face to face.

(3) Yes, Gary is trying to be more of a helper around the house. He is doing most of the heavy lifting, and often really tries to get Jennie to relax and put her feet up.

(4) No, Gary still has not changed a diaper yet. And no, he's not interested in changing your baby's for you as practice. This is a special moment for me and my family, and only ten weeks to wait.

(5) Yes, Jennie is feeling fine, except when Allison kicks her in the ribs or bladder. Allison kicks and moves a lot during the day, especially after Jennie eats.

(6) You get get into any of our registries by searching for "Jennifer Underwood" at Target, Babies R Us, and Burlington Coat Factory.

(7) Yes, the baby's room is all finished, and it's yellow. We are hoping to make the rest of it as pink as possible. Our theme is the "Isabella" design from the KidsLine brand. That theme has pink and yellow and blue in it. We have video footage of this room being painted - available upon request.

(8) Yes, we know it's a girl. 100% chance.

(9) Yes, we have a name.

(10) (And I always stall between question 9 and 10 to wait for people to ask...) Oh, her name is Allison Joy Underwood. "Joy " is Jennie's middle name, and "Allison" is a name we both really liked, and it made the cut. We started with about 10 names and kept cutting. Names on the "cutting room floor" include Hope, Rachel, and Tresselle (after a certain college football coach).

(11) I guess people never really get to question eleven, and I'm fine with that. I'd rather they didn't ask. Ten questions is enough - don't you think?

No title necessary

Hard to believe this site has been up for almost two months! Seriously, I am having a great time doing this, and look forward to making many more memories online. We do look forward to giving some pictures here of Allison and our new family.

However, this won't be a site that says stuff like "1,020 visitors since February 15th of 2004." I mean, that would be pretty self-promoting. And deceptive - since probably 250 of those visitors have been ME, checking my own site! Quality control checks, to be sure. I wouldn't just keep clicking "reload" just to up the visitor statistics for my site. That would be a pointless waste of time.

Rest assured, I am not doing this website to get your money, or to put silly advertisements on here from Yahoo, Geico, or anyone else.

I do, however, like to mention friends who are doing websites, or special events or things that I have noticed in my travels online. Kary Oberbrunner, Josh Smith, and Jeremy Bear are just a few of the guys I know doing fun websites. I could add Jon Schweitzer's link, but I'm not giving you my password.

Mad props to Becks & Lee (Jeff & Leanne Becksfort), two of our close friends from The Chapel who moved to Oregon over two months ago, and have signed the guestbook. I do think this is a great way to keep in touch with people, and I hear that Becks is considering a website. Can anyone validate those rumors?

Well, I got to speak Sunday night at The Chapel's "Illuminate" service - the 5:30pm version that is geared for a louder, faster, younger crowd, I suppose. The talk was about the various miracles or "signs" that took place while Jesus was dying on the cross - things like darkness, an earthquake, a torn temple curtain, and people coming back from the dead. All very shocking events that would make for a great movie. But this stuff happened in REAL LIFE, and we've all got to reckon with it. Who was Jesus? Anyhow, it is always a privilege to speak, and I always feel nervous like it's "game day" for an athlete or something.

Speaking of athletes, I am doing the "devotional" at this Friday's "Good Friday Prayer Breakfast" at the YMCA. Did you know that I have been a card-carrying member of 4 different YMCAs in 4 different states? I bet you can't name them.

Well, the Green YMCA is obvious now. I always get in great conversations with people there, and one guy recently asked me, "What's the difference between being 'spiritual' and being 'religious.'?" Well, what would you say?

When I lived in Michigan, I was a year-long member of the St. Joseph/Benton Harbor YMCA. I think that was the first YMCA I really got serious about. That one was always a 15-minute drive from home, with Subway as a nice halfway point. I'm not sure there's a better workout plan than going to the Y before a nice Turkey Breast Sub.

In Milwaukee, I actually WORKED at a YMCA for three months. "Front Desk Personnel" or something cool like that. Had several good friendships develop, and met a bunch of Russian-speaking guys. Never really played hoops there, but it was nice to get a free membership with the job.

By far, my favorite Y of all-time is in Winona Lake, Indiana. I'll probably tear up if I start to recount all the memories. For three years as a seminary student, I spent a great deal of time there. Played tons of basketball there...and got in the best shape in my life there. In case you wondered, that's how I landed Jennie. Think I could swing dance now? Hah!

Then again, even if I "could" swing dance today, doesn't mean I would.

I am a man of principles, you know.

Principle #1: Type whatever comes to your mind.

Principle #2: Once you're married, don't go swing dancing.

Principle #3: Be willing to give up principle #2, if the wife asks.

Principle #4: Honor principle #1 more regularly, to keep the "mutterings" current.

Principle #5: Don't assume people are actually reading this stuff.

Principle #6: Don't assume they aren't - make sure you don't say anything you'll regret.

Principle #7: Lists of principles often make for boring reading.