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31Dec
2007
Tale of Three Churches

Solange and I try to go to church once a week, but to be honest it’s been a chore because we have had nothing but bad and bizarre church experiences in 2007. One weird event after another. Sometimes, it makes you wonder whether it is all worthwhile. Here’s a tale of three churches.

Saint Andrews Catholic Church, Myrtle Beach, SC. Solange was born and raised a Catholic. It was a pleasant surprise that they have a Brazilian Catholic church in Myrtle Beach. We went to check it out, and the church was new, big and clean. Plus, everyone was from Brazil and spoke portuguese. It helped Solange make the adjustment to the United States.

One night we were driving back from mass, and Solange asked me whether I was listening to the sermon. Honestly, I usually space out the portuguese sermon. She explained to me that the Padre was railing on Americans. The sermon was that Americans are arrogant and selfish. Pretty strange thing to say to a group of Brazilians living in the US.

Up to that point, I had been giving generously to the church, but given this sermon, I decided to cut way back. About a month later, the padre gave a very different sermon. He explained that the church was really struggling financially now, and that everyone needed to contribute. It all seems ironic now.

Myrtle Beach Community Church. This is the largest church in Myrtle Beach and I have been attending for over 6 years. The church has been undergoing a major change in leadership and the main pastor moved to a new guy. His preaching style is much different than what I had been used to. I can give an example.

He was preaching that people were essentially one of two colors, red or yellow. He had two large stage spotlights, one red and the other yellow. But he argued that God did not want any of us to be red or yellow, but He wants us to be orange. At this point, the two spotlights come together, and the two colors unite to become orange. Now, he starts getting excited and waving his hands. “God wants us to be orange. Make a promise to yourself to no longer be red or yellow. God loves orange. Bright, bright orange.”

My head was reeling. Many of his sermons made no sense to me. As I already documented here, I went to jail trying to get some medical records. Guess what color are the prison uniforms? ORANGE. Now when I think of jail, I think of Myrtle Beach Community Church.

Catholic Mass, Rio de Janeiro. Just like at Myrtle Beach Community Church, our Catholic church in Rio is undergoing a change in leadership. We decided in December 2007 to have Teddy baptized. In order to do a Catholic baptism, the parents, the godmother and the godfather must go through a short half day course on baptism. Teddy’s godmother is Solange’s mother, and his godfather is Augusto Matos, my good friend here in Brazil.

We woke up early and attend the class. During the class, Augusto decided to be baptized also. He shared his wish with the teachers of the class, and they were excited, as was Solange and I. Catholic rules were just that Augusto had to be baptized before Teddy. Cool.

The class continued, and suddenly the head padre ran into the room nervously. He explained to the class, that he has been advised of a situation. He had an enormous key chain, and he jangled it nervously as he spoke. Now that he was in charge, it would now be a requirement that if over the age of 16 years old, one had to complete a one year course to be baptized. This was all happening quickly and in portuguese.

My gut said that something was wrong and I confirmed that Augusto could no longer be the godfather and Teddy could not be baptized. We also confirmed that prior to this event, it was common for a godfather to request to be baptized. Furthermore, all the other Catholic churches in Rio would allow a baptism without a one year course.

We decided to baptize Teddy anyways, and Augusto attended but is not the godfather in the eyes of God. But in my eyes, he is the godfather.
29Dec
2007
Cruising with the Lord

I remember the year well. It was 1998, and I had just gone through a messy break up. But I was in great spirits. I had just bought a brand new Toyota Supra. It was a great looking car for its time. It was a beautiful day and I started going to a new church in Austin TX. I was in great spirits and this song popped into my head.

G                 C
Going down life's lonely roads
     G           D
It's easy to get lost
G  D
At times
     C              G
I've got my signals crossed


G             C
So I stop and wonder
   G                  D
In which direction to go
G       D
My eyes closed
    C       G
I'm sure to know


    G        C        D
I'm cruising with the Lord
   G          D    C
He takes me by the hand
G        C        D
Cruising with the Lord
      G            D        C
We're going to the promised land



G              C
I was lost but now I'm found
    G               D
His grace abides in me
G       D
Finally found
 C                 G
A love that sets me free


G          C
Free as an eagle
   G                D
To soar where I may roam
G            D
Where ever I go
    C      G
I'm never alone


    G             C   D
I'm cruising with the Lord
   G        D      C
He takes me by the hand
G             C   D
Cruising with the Lord
      G            D        C
We're going to the promised land
22Dec
2007
Never Come Cry To Me

I really can’t describe how I write a song. It is the exact opposite of writing a blog or writing a computer program. In the latter case, you sit down with an intention in mind. With song writing, I try to make my mind as blank as possible. Think about nothing. Strum a few chords, and see what it makes you feel. Not what you want to feel, what you really feel. Sometimes, something happens, and many times not.

I wrote this song after I wrote “Cry Myself to Sleep”. Like I said before, I wasn’t trying to write this song. It just happened. It is a very very simple song with a basic beat and only two chords. But now that Tom has taken hold of it, it has really come together. I really like the guitar licks.

E                        A      E
Dried up tears hide your pretty eyes 

E                        A         E
you're feeling something you can't disguise

E                           A     E
You don't love him, but you can't let go 

E                        A     E
All these feelings we'll never know      



B
Girl, you're just a mystery 

E               A        E
Cause you never come cry to me 

E                A    E
The coolest lady I'll ever see 


Who you are is bottled inside 
Just because you can't decide      
Girl, you got to give it up 
All you got is tough enough 


Girl, you're just a mystery 
Cause you never come cry to me 
The coolest lady i'll ever see 


Honey,you know i love you so 
But it's almost time to let you go 
Open up your heart and let me in 
That's when our life begins 


Girl, you're just a mystery 
Cause you never come cry to me 
The coolest lady I'll ever see
18Dec
2007
Melatonin

It all began way back in 1996 when I moved to Dublin Ireland to become Managing Director of Gateway’s European facility. My job required that I travel frequently back and forth between our Ireland and South Dakota. At a minimum, I was making two round trips a month between Sioux City, IA and Dublin, Ireland. Although I was not a rookie traveler, all the travel made me experience jet lag like never before.

That’s when I learned about Melatonin. At the time, it was being declared a wonder drug. I remember it was on the cover of Time magazine. Not only was it a great cure for jet lag, it was also said to have anti aging and anti cancer properties.

Melatonin is a natural chemical made by the human body. It is said to control our body clock and hence the treatment for jet lag. The first time I took melatonin, it was incredible. It was one of the strongest and most peaceful rests of my entire life. Plus my body clock was immediately reset. I thought if I can sleep so strongly every night, then certainly I will be more healthy, and age better. It just made sense.

So from that point forward, I began taking melatonin each and every day. Gradually, I moved up to 2 X 3mg tablets. Each night, at 10:30pm, I would take my two tablets until it was firmly engrained in my lifestyle. I actually began feeling nervous when I began to run low. Note: melatonin is a non addictive drug. I was feeling nervous because I felt it would interrupt my lifestyle should I run out.

Fast forward 10 years to the present time. Last month, I was having a minor stomach pain. Through the years, I had always had some minor bouts with stomach aches, but this time was different. It was very minor, but it was lasting weeks. I was able to do all my normal things. Run around the lake, eat heartily, everything. But after a few weeks, it was becoming annoying. I tried everything. I stopped all alcohol, watched what I eat, and I even fasted. Nothing worked. Then I went to the doctor, and he did a full series of exams. All came back normal.

Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. MELATONIN. I immediately stopped taking the pills, and the next day the stomach pain was gone. Initially, I was worried that I wold not sleep as well, but the opposite is true. I am sleeping better than I can ever remember. It is always a very deep sleep. Sometimes, I might only sleep for 6 hours, but it feels like I slept for 10. And then sometimes, I will sleep for 9, but always it is a strong and sound sleep. I feel like a new man, and if anyone is taking melatonin, STOP! You won’t believe what a difference it makes.
13Dec
2007
I Could Not Ask For More


Solange has been taking a lot of video of Teddy, so I put them all together in a collage. I hope one day when he is older, he can look back at this video and laugh. When I look back in time at the happiest moments of my life, in many ways, none can compare to this point in time. Teddy + Solange is a terrific formula for me. That’s why I chose one of my favorite songs of all time as the background music. “I Could Not Ask For More”, by Edwin McCain. Sometimes, it is amazing how one song can catch your feelings so squarely. Then I threw in a few titles in Windows Movie Maker and voila.