Busy

I haven't done a lot of blogging lately. Not sure if anyone's missed it, but daring to dream in the unrealistic expectation someone has, I am sorry. Something else has occupied my writing time; that being said, you can go to the first link on the sidebar. It is entitled 'My Hobby' and there you will find what has diverted my efforts.
It is still a work in progress, far from perfect...maybe far from good. But we can all dream, right? I'll post another chapters bi-weekly; that should finish it out in three months or so. Check it out if you want.

Shout Out: Nathan 'The Nerf' Roberts

This shout out is commemorating a quarter century of the ‘Nerf’, my younger brother just 16 months my junior. For Nathan and I, as long as we can remember there has been us. There wasn’t a whole lot of individualism in the beginning; we were ‘the older boys’ in a family of eight; we had the same friends, did the same chores, played on the same playgrounds, shared the same bedroom, same bedtime, same toys, same clothes, same parents…you get the idea.
It wouldn’t be a stretch to say Nathan and I were not overly fond of each other for a period of five years or so. From 1991 until 1996 we fought about everything it seemed: I supported blue as the best color, he chose red; he called me ‘Lonigan Geekazoid – Scientific Name’, I threatened him with physical harm. Three holes – one door, two walls – in our house and a broken screen door were the unfortunate casualties of our sibling war. It wasn’t pretty.
But then a little thing called football began to mend fences. I was 52, Nathan 51. The mending process began in the fourth quarter of the first varsity game of the '95 season against the Tongue River Eagles. Game well in hand, the scrubs entered the scene. On defense we both broke through the line and sacked the quarterback together – #52 and #51 in on the first of over 330 tackles (between us) before stepping off the field for the last time following a state championship on November 8, 1997. The healing balm of football forced us to compete against something beside each other, together. Together we were part of three seasons, totaling a 29-1 record and two state championships; and that state basketball championship.
We roomed together at college for 12 straight months, we created shizzle mayhem together (acknowledgement here to Zach and Arch), helped create the documentary “Ghetto Life 2: Return to the Ghetto”; we created revived the BYU-Idaho College Republicans together (it was his brainchild and I carried it on).
So happy birthday to the Nerfherder. A guy couldn’t ask for a better linebacker, example, friend or brother. Love ya little brother.

Appliances and Condos

The newly formed Logan and Paula Roberts family made its final move towards autonomy yesterday through the acquisition of a functioning washer and dryer. We had acquired a washer and dryer via Will and Natalie; however, they had obtained these items via freecycle.com and neither was working. Not one to nix a free washer and dryer, I moved them into the apartment and, with my feeble knowledge, attempted to repair them. The washer wasn’t much of an issue; the dryer was. After throwing the breaker – not the little one in my apartment, the big one outside it – during my mechanic fix, I but the dryer on the back burner to such things as a wedding, work, a trip to Wyoming, etc… Paula ended up switching off weeks between doing laundry at the Giddens’ and at her parents.
So, Paula found this nice washer and dryer on Craigslist and I shot the person an email, yada yada yada, we got it.
I made my way to Midtown, and to the 2300 square foot corner apartment of the Hakes family. Mrs. Hakes was very gracious, offered me a beverage and we chatted for a little bit until the hired help arrived…Kurt and Paul…and we loaded the appliances into the truck. Mrs. Hakes even helped with the tying down of the appliances, as she ‘grew up on the ocean’ and had an in depth knowledge of knots.
While I was visiting with Mrs. Hakes she mention her husband was writing a book and was about to be published. This peaked my curiosity, as I am interested in that area. So I Googled Mrs. Hakes in an effort to find her husband’s name and see what kind of author he was. And this is what I found:
Mrs. Hakes has a PhD and taught at FSU and USF. She has written a ton of articles concerning children and education and was/is on the board of directors for multiple organizations, mostly in Florida.
Her husband is the director of the Jimmy Carter Museum and Library, served in the Department of Energy under Carter and through 2000.
So, unbeknownst to me, I was hobnobbing with some of the crème de la crème of society. And our washer and dryer washed their clothes. Sweet.

Finally

One of the best parts about being married is being remind of things you need to do...like mentioning that you did get married and posting some pictures of the event.
Honestly, I'm a bit of a slacker at times and there some things I'd like to blog about; however, I would feel a bit remiss if I were to blog about random things of the world without paying appropriate tribute to the wonderful woman of my life. I guess I had something to do with it too, I suppose.

So, without any further adeau, CLICK THIS FOR PICS OF THE WEDDING. I've a bit of trivial commentary to help explain the pics. If they're too small for you, click on them and they'll show up in a new window and from there you can make them bigger.
Roberts, out.

Scalpel, Island, Murder, Words and Sleep

I was recently chastised for using the word 'boring' to describe my life. Allow me now to rephrase: my life is simplified. I think that more accurately describes my current situation. I have a home, a companion, a job, a schedule...all things that had never been alligned before in my life. Prior to this time in my life, I was always searching for one of the missing items and as such it created a lot more havoc and crazy adventures. Plus I lived with Zach, Arch and the Nerf.
Now, life is simpler, more predictable. With the exception of things like having organs removed, life is normal. Monday's are home evening; Tuesday has House at 9; Wednesday is Lost and the Amazing Race; Thursday is CSI; Friday and Saturday are the weekend; Sunday is the Sabbath. These are the hallmarks of each day, the little things I look forward to. Interspersed throughout these guarantee's are the other things that make life interesting: the occasional crisis, an unexpected expense, a great book (currently 1776), a good movie, a little trip, evening's with friends. It's all good.
Sad or simple, Paula and I's favorite day of the week is Wednesday because of Lost. It is our favorite show, garnished with all the trimmings that make any show worth watching. Our viewing pleasure began when I purchased the first season on DVD in an effort to get Paula to stay up past 8pm. The plan worked like clockwork - Rolex style - and we were hooked. The problem was that I'd purchased it too late; the second season had started, so we consigned ourselves to wait until the end of the second season and purchase it on DVD.
The fates smiled upon us, my friends. iTunes sells individual episodes of Lost and I purchased enough to catch us up. And now we look forward to Wednesday's with eager anticipation each week, to see what awaits the ill-fated members of Oceanic flight 815. Tomorrow Jack confronts "the others". I can hardly stand the excitement!

Frustrated

Ugh. I gotta say, I’m experiencing some fatigue. Seriously. Frustration fatigue. And these frustrations are mounting faster than illegal immigrants in the streets of Los Angeles. Coincidently, the subject matter of that analogy will lead off my list of frustrations.

1. Let’s talk illegal immigration. It seems a lot of people are up in arms about this topic; I mean, if laws - the violation of which result in consequences - are instated to stem the tide of illegal immigration, what’s next? Laws preventing driving 85 in a 55? Preventing siblings marrying each other? I can see the legislative system in our country really just spiraling out of control. This has got to stop! Our lawmakers have no right to enforce the law! That’s not why we elect them! We put them in office to spend…wait. What’s that?
   I’ve just been told that illegal immigration is, in fact, illegal. That can’t be right. Why would everyone be so upset about stopping something that’s illegal? Come again? I was just informed going 85 in a 55 is illegal, as is marrying your sister. Hmm. I guess I shouldn’t be upset measures are being taken to enforce those laws to make sure those who come into our country do so legally. Never mind. Next subject…
2. What’s the deal with people fussing over the Cynthia McKinney thing? So she broke protocol, avoided security, didn’t show the appropriate credentials and assaulted the officer who confronted her. Big deal. If the security at our buildings has to base who they let through on authenticated credentials and how a person looks, then the security guards should expect to be assaulted when they physically stop someone who doesn’t yield at their request. It’s not like she circumvented protocol and violated the rules. I mean seriously, I bet…wait. Come again? I don't believe you. Really? Hmm. Apparently it is against the rules to go around security; if you are a congressperson you are supposed to be wearing credentials. And if the security guard asks you to stop you should. What? Right. A person should hit a security guard, run away and lock themselves in their office. Who knew? Apparently I am wrong again. Next topic…
3. In Gwinnett County here in Georgia, Judge Mark A. Lewis has the audacity to stand in his courtroom and recite the Pledge of Allegiance prior to proceedings in his courtroom. Thankfully, attorney George Weissman has taken the initiative to put the stop to anything ‘indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.’ This is the United States of America, and as Weissman points out, it would be wrong to have court attendees “either declare their personal loyalty to this nation…or suffer the risk that they may be treated differently.” Lewis blatantly shows this bias every time he says ‘liberty and justice for all’ in his courtroom. Furthermore, Weissman echoes the sentiments of every American when he says “It is offensive to me as a citizen of the United States and it is objectionable to me as an attorney sworn to uphold the laws and constitutions of the United States and Georgia and as an officer of the Court that you apparently consider your Judicial forum to be an American Court, rather than a Court for all persons situated in America.” Yeah, where does Lewis think he is, America? Who’s law does he think he represents and upholds, America’s? No! He doesn’t because this….Wait. This is America. Judges make judgment and criminals are tried under American law. By standing and saying the Pledge of Allegiance, Lewis shows those in his courtroom he will follow the laws prescribed by the greatest, fairest country in the world and they are presumed innocent until proven guilty. He’s pledging his allegiance to that end.

Apparently I have nothing to be fatigued or frustrated about. My bad. Sorry for venting about what turns out to be nothing.
Stay classy, Planet Earth