276 - Forget the Lifeboat, let's play values classification on Southwest

This week, I had a quick trip down to Dallas for business. We flew on Southwest Airlines and I have never flown Southwest before, so forgive me if this been like (where have you been the past century?)

Southwest is like a bus in the air. There are no assigned seats. You can check in online 24 hours in advance and the earlier you check in, the better chance of getting that coveted 'A' boarding group. The boarding groups are 'A', 'B', and 'C' and each gate has a line-up area for each corresponding letter. My boarding pass was with group 'B' and the co-worker I was flying with was in group 'A.' He had obviously flown many more times than me and knew when to check in.

My co-work then gave me the low-down. The plane has one central aisle with 3 seats on each side. The first seats to go are usually the aisles and then the windows, which means the middle seats are last.

And then it hit me, the horrid realization that I might have to play the values classification game in picking a seat. Certain seating situations will lead to a more comfortable and enjoyable flight, but what can one infer about my choice that may or may not be true. Let's play out possible scenario's:

• A seat between two big guys with their elbows over hanging the armrest. This obviously would not be comfortable as I would be sitting with my arm tucked-in between my legs, but it might look like I have a prejudice against big people and that I think they are smelly.
• A seat between two attractive girls. Very comfortable choice as I would have plenty of room for myself and that they would probably smell good, but it seems like every guy's first obvious choice and one that a player would take.
• A seat between two guys about my age. They are hoping an attractive girl will choose their spot and will be wondering why I passed on the seat between the girls. There will be awkward moments when our arms make contact on the arm rest.
• A seat between to people of a different race. Nothing wrong with this choice, but if I pass it up will I look racist?
• A seat between a man and women with their laptops, blackberry's, briefcases spewing out of their seat as they talk loudly into their bluetooths. Actually, no one will fault you for passing this seat with way too much ego.
• A seat between a couple people who are engaged in a book and zoned out on their iPod. Stop right there. I found my perfect choice. I just want to read, listen to music, and zone out.

Luckily, since I got in the 'B' line early, I never had to choose a seat between two people.

*********

After we landed in Dallas, the flight attendant gave us the usual seat belt and mobile phone message and the burst into song singing:

We love you

You love us

We are faster than a bus

We hope you enjoyed our hospitality

Marry one of us and you can fly for free

**********

After returning my rental car, the shuttle bus driver (I was the only one on board) and I engaged in some small talk. He asked me where I was from and when I told him Kansas City, he grinned from ear to ear. Yes, I know that grin. And he said "Gates BBQ, have you been there? Arthur Bryant's! Yes, that is good stuff. Good BBQ." Mmmmmm! I'm hungry.

275 - My June Book

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling.

I have been reading these books slowly over these last 5-6 years. My pace has been to stay one step ahead of the movies. I guess I am two steps ahead of the movies now and the final book is about to be released. Can I wait for paperback?

I am glad to see that Harry Potter lost his whiney side that he had in the Order of the Phoenix. That was getting pretty painful to read.

I have some questions (Dash are you out there yet? I hope you have your internet connection set up at your new house and can soon join us. Dash is my resource for all thing HP.)

• The US versions of books 5, 6, and 7 are all monochrome (blue, green, yellow) compared to the earlier books. Is there a reason for this change compared to the earlier books?

• A lot of marketing for book 7 has been about Snape - good guy or bad guy. I thought book 6 cleared this up. Is there something I have missed? What are the theories out there?

I think that is all I have for right now. I got to get back to work.

274 - music in june

The National - Boxer

Listen here.

Wow! I bought only one new album this month, but if you were to buy only one album for a month make it this one. I have been listening to this non-stop and it is great for those late night warm summer walks. How to describe it? Hmm... haunting, beautiful melancholy, moody, layered, diversity of insturments/sounds. What I really love about this record is the 'sound' of it. The singer has a great baritone voice. I think the band is a five piece but I have seen pictures of them with six members. They do a really good job of not introducing to much to soon and to fast. These songs really build and there is always that moody distorted guitar just providing background texture. And Sufjan plans some piano on these songs.

After listening to this album, I sort of cringe when I think of the new Arcade Fire and I am a little fearful of the new Interpol. (Brian you need to get this.)

Other music related activies for June:

• Brian my 'concert buddy' now lives in Portland, but came back for a visit. The best show going at the time was Bloc Party, so we went to that. We were both unfamiliar with a majority of their work. They were okay and a bit more rock than what I was expecting. If he came a week later we could have seen Travis.
• Being a big fan, I decided to order the Starflyer 59 "Ghost of the Future" 7" box set record club thing, whatever it is. I'll post pictures once they start coming in the mail.
• I got a record player from my mother-in-law's basement and set it up in my art studio. I got out a bunch of old records from the 70's that we inherited and have been having a good time with it. I see the alure of vinyl. It is all about the process. Although, I don't care to much for '70's rock.

273 - Taz speaks

I meant to post this earlier.

Last Sunday was the holiday schedule at church, which means no morning classes, one combined service and no evening service. The do this because they take into account many people traveling and to give everyone else a break to spend time with family.

It would have been one of those perfect Sunday to skip or sleep in (what's that?), since I did not have the responsibility of teaching my class. Our pastor was in Mexico and you never know about that guest speaker.

I did go to church and our friend Taz who is a Chaplin in the Unites States Army was our guest speaker. I have never heard him speak from the pulpit. I have hear him many times over a cup of coffee. Taz was eloquent, funny, and he gave a great message that I think challenged a lot of believers. It was a simple message and I am not sure that I remember everything.

He related what it is that he does as a chaplin and what it is to live the Gospel or to live out the life of Christ. What it is to love somebody without an agenda. To listen and love without evangelizing or better yet following the Holy Spirits direction. He also spoke of unity amonst believers and respect of other faiths.

I have always been impressed by Taz. I've seen little things he does that is unselfish and loving to strangers - those things that I tend to struggle with. (Taz would probably tell you that he struggles with them too.)

I like that fact that Taz is sometimes frustrated with Christianity or the christian ghetto and his simple reaction is to be more like Christ, to love God and love others. If more of use would follow Christ's commandment...

Good bye and good luck, Taz. I hope our paths will cross again soon.

272 - I'm gonna try harder

It's no secret - I have been a bit bored with the whole blog thing for a while now.

I guess I felt embarrassed by it...like I am some teenage girl who feels that they have something to say and the world is collectively rolling their eyes.

So as you can tell, most of my post over the last year have been impersonal.

But a lot of my Homers have moved away:

Darwin is in Madrid.

Doc is in Wisconsin.

ActungBrian is in Portland.

Dash is in Indiana

Taz is in the Military going somewhere soon.

Our crew is down to Dust and me on Thursday nights...and we are looking at a rebuilding effort to keep things alive.

I am going to make an effort to try harder at this. Maybe give you a story every now and then. We started the whole blog thing when Darwin left our group in hopes that it would be a good way to keep in contact. And it has been successful.

I am saddened when I think of all the good friends that I have had in my life that I have let slip away. I blame it on being a guy, but maybe it is just laziness. I just don't keep up very well and when friends move away, the contact is gone and soon the relationship naturally ends.

Here is to a better future with this blog and hopefully maintaining contact with my friends.

(besides, it will be nice for Dust to have something to read considering all the work he puts into his.)