Minneapolis: You Suprise Me

Two of our new best friends in Owensboro are constantly lamenting how much cooler Minnesota was than Kentucky (literally and culturally). Well, I knew Minnesota was cool ... especially considering my escapades in Minnesota, which involved professional wrestlers and the Mall of America.

Today, though, I saw proof that Minnesota (and Minneapolis) is indeed cool. This building says it all:


That is just freakin' cool ... an industrial modern building hidden within the remains of an industrial retro building.

This is the Mill City Museum, and you can find out more about it here. The only way to get something like this done in Owensboro is to have it endorsed by the Pope or President Bush.

Wes

Mysticism through Immersion

"I have come to believe that the true mystics ... are not those who contemplate holiness in isolation ... but those who manage to find God in a life filled with noise, the demands of other people and relentless daily duties that can consume the self. They may be young parents juggling child-rearing and making a living ... If they are wise, they treasure the rare moments of solitude and silence that come their way, and use them not to escape, to distract themselves with television and the like. Instead, they listen for a sign of God's presence and they open their hearts towards prayer." - Kathleen Norris as quoted in Eugene Peterson's Eat This Book.

Reading the Sands of the Hourglass

Here's a fun link, which will determine how many years you can expect to live: click here.

I came to 82-83 years. Anna: 97! She better figure out what she's going to do for those additional fifteen.

Oh, and if you discover that you should already be dead ... I'm terribly sorry.

Wes

The Existentialist Anniversary

As I wrote recently, Saturday was our anniversary and we hoped to celebrate it with more gusto this week. Well, it is true we carved out space to celebrate it: two days, in fact. The original plan was to get away - off to Louisville where we could spend the night in a cool hotel. The big piece of this puzzle was getting someone to watch Wyatt, and when it became clear Lisa - Anna's mom - was not going to be available we should have nipped it in the bud. However, we pressed on, still trying to figure out a way to make it happen.

About last Friday, though, we realized our planning was senseless. Truly getting a good sweep of Louisville - enjoying some good art, dining and romantic space - was not an option. I was severely bummed by this.

Actually, I forgot a key piece. We were also lining up a plan B all the while we prepared for Louisville.

9 to 5

Today marked the 9th Annual Multicultural Festival of Owensboro - hosted by (and largely run by) First Presbyterian Church. Subsequently, I found myself enjoying the first reasonably warm summer day in a long, long time on the beautiful grounds of the church which has called me to pastor them.

The Multicultural Festival is something more of a fair or circus, without the games and with the addition of some hints dignity. In truth, the multiculturalism is hidden beneath the more palatable guise of "multiculturalism in America." Therefore, anything goes, including the opening ceremony consisting of "America the Beautiful," the presentation of the colors, a Scottish band (yes, bag pipes rule!) and a Chinese dragon you'd likely see the streets of Shanghai. That said, I was surprisingly pleased to look around at one point and notice several peoples and nations represented across the lawn. And, it is indeed a beautiful collection of cultures - everything from the slow grace of martial arts to the playful prancing of country cloggers. We even had four or five solid booths set up to taste the world - including Chinese and Filipino food, which was all fairly authentic. The Middle Eastern food was definitely true to form, and I had a great conversation with two men - one a professor of criminal justice at a nearby university and another a Muslim from the nearby city of Evansville. I - along with others - encouraged these men to open up a Middle Eastern eatery somewhere in Owensboro. The best we could get from them was an invitation to an international food day sometime in November.

I played master of ceremonies to one of the two stages set up for the day - announcing in brief the various acts: blue grass band, Aikido demonstration, Latino dancing, a Zumba class, and the "Footstomping Express Cloggers" to end the day.

...

Today, also marked our 5th anniversary of marital life (Anna and I, that is). We nearly forgot to say congratulations to each other until we happened upon the farmer's market this morning. Actually, we knew it was coming up, but with multiple obligations creeping up and surrounding our lives, we had pushed hopes of celebrating our anniversary off into the coming week, which is why we suffered some amnesia. I couldn't let that stand, so we went with impromptu and bought some flowers at the farmer's market. And later we went to dine at Nikko's - the local eatery which actually seems worth finding a baby sitter, the time and the money to enjoy in Owensboro.

Wes

Wow

Steve McQueen's Ferrari went for $2,100,000. That's $1.5 million more the usual price for this type of Ferrari. I just need to get Johnny Depp to come back to Owensboro and plant his cheeks in the xA!

Wes

Good Writing, Good Thinking

Here are two links for you today:

1. An article about one of Steve McQueen's old cars - a ferrari - that is going up for auction this weekend. Dan Neil's writing is superb. He brings me about as close to driving a hundred thousand dollar automobile as I'll ever get.

2. A blog from a cool couple in Southern Illinois who are making a go about sustainable living - interestingly, they moved to Illinois from the Los Angeles area about seven years ago.

Wes

My Boy

Tousled and tumbling into the thickest patch of grass,
I chased your laughter -
hoping it would fill my dreams,
nullify my worries.
You ran, circling me in jest and discovery -
all boy, my boy,
muscles forming and imperfect steps,
grunting the words "bug,"
and "ball."
Not words, sounds really -
Speaking a world into being.

Serious and serenely staring at the television,
you curl your body backwards against your spine -
stretching it against the sofa,
turning over in my lap,
wrestling your blanket in torment and delight.
My boy, your life is
a wonder of infinite unknowns and insights -
a steady collection of gestures and
mimics,
the shake of your head,
an extended arm to present a pea,
the over-sized brush over your teeth.

Your face is discovery,
and behind your eyes is a map awaiting
visions and formations,
Somehow, my boy, you are part of me,
and not.
The thousand scenes play in my head
of why you are life,
of why life is a gift.

Wes

Project Runway

[disclaimer: spoilers regarding Project Runway: Season 1 follow]

Oh my gosh. A and I just finished Project Runway: Season 1, and we are so charged up to be creative. Unfortunately, I am also way too tired right now, so creativity will have to wait at least one more night.

But, I did just want to say the following:

1. Wendy Pepper - wherever you are ... you are definitely a crazy bird ... my arm-chair psychologist in me definitely thinks you have HUGE insecurity issues and - therefore - have to bring every one else into a crap hole so you don't feel entirely inadequate. And Kara Saun fitted you better than a model ... don't give away your soul, you may need it someday ... just ask Bart Simpson.
2. Jay McCarroll won in what I believe is the best way - by immersing yourself into the regions that formed you and then screaming out at the top of your lungs in your own distinct voice. His stuff was not only cool; it's cool to know it emerged from a country setting where fashion is the farthest thing from most peoples' minds. Check out his website and the line of clothes he released by clicking here.
3. As much as a I hate to say it, I think Kara Saun was hurt by going back to LA to finish up her designs and clothes. When she was in NY, she was able to shine by letting her artistic vision rise above the rest of the contestants. In LA, I think she relied much too much on the designs coming out of Hollywood (not to mention the disappointing turn of events when she employed her friends to complete her design ... totally out of character).

Wes

I'd Buy That for A Dollar

I paid my $20 to Steve Jobs this past weekend - as if Apple's pockets are not stuffed like teddy bears already. Anyhow, here are the twenty songs I selected. Oh, briefly, a word about them: I didn't get much feedback from all of you ... huurruumph. A friend from Los Angeles had given Anna a heads up about a cool artist named Regina Spektor ... that was great advice. Her two songs are my favorite on the cd. The rest of the songs came from hearing one song on "Lost": Joe Purdy's Wash Away (end of episode 3 of Season 1). I decided to go with the folksy, alternative stuff. So, again, here I go ...

1. Fidelity by Regina Spektor
2. On the Radio by Regina Spektor
3. Gotta Have You by The Weepies
4. The New Love Song by Joshua James
5. Today by Joshua James
6. Wash Away (reprise) by Joe Purdy
7. The City by Joe Purdy
8. Cinderella & the A Train by Joe Purdy
9. Laughing Man by Joe Purdy
10. Why You by Joe Purdy
11. Colors by Amos Lee
12. The Guy That Says Goodbye to You Is Out of His Mind by Griffin House
13. Never Again by Griffin House
14. Come On! Feel the Illinoise!, Pt. I: The World's Columbian Exposition / Pt. II: Carl Sandburg Visits Me In a Dream by Sufjan Stevens
15. Chicago by Sufjan Stevens
16. Casimir Pulaski Day by Sufjan Stevens
17. They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back from the Dead!! Ahhhh! by Sufjan Stevens
18. Title and Registration by Death Cab for Cutie
19. Rottura by Polmo Polpo
20. Chicago (To String Remix By Jongalloway) by Sufjan Stevens

Wes

Michael Vick

Of all the lousy, shameful sports stories to emerge this summer, I've been following the Michael Vick story the closest. I'm not exactly sure why. Maybe it is because of a long personal fascination with black athletes (beginning with Michael Jordan) and - at the same time - a sadness and revulsion about the personal moments of utter failure: Jordan's long-recorded gambling addiction and infidelity, Kobe Bryant's sexual assault, Barry Bond's immense and intolerable ego. Maybe it's just the lure of an "Achilles" tale, of a demi-god who seemed to have it all but for the minor fault that brought him down.

Maybe you've read some of the news stories about what Michael Vick is accused of: running and funding a dog fighting scheme, which includes the accusation of viciously killing pit bulls if they did not perform well in practices or fights. Perhaps you've seen the loud cries of PETA and other concerned advocacy groups on television. I tried to remain as objective as possible and chose to read the 18 page indictment. There is no way around it; if the events suggested are true, then Vick has some reckoning (even if that doesn't occur through a judge and jury).

While acknowledging the potential horrors committed, I also couldn't escape an underlying irony: the fact that there would be such outrage and shock over an star football player engaged in brutal acts given that the very culture of professional football is brutal and violent. I also couldn't believe there wasn't anything written about how much race plays into this story ... until I read the following story at ESPN.com. Hopefully, you'll find this story worth your time. I think it's an important voice in this whole Vick drama:

A History of Mistrust by Wright Thompson

Wes

Hot as Hades

Goodness gracious it is hot in Owensboro!

I rode home from work today, and I kept expecting an inferno the size of a city block just around the corner. That would presume that a wave of fiery exhaust was spewing from something the fire department could at least contain. But, noooo, the heat I felt on the way home was nothing but the searing sun and heavy humidity - turning Owensboro into a kiln.

I think this is what walking the rim of a volcano feels like.

Weather predictions have the heat ranging in the mid 90's (low 100's) with the heat index for the rest of the weekend and well into next week.

Wyatt and I go outside for some play time most afternoons when I get home, but even those are becoming unbearable. Thankfully, there is some shade to protect us. I am still nervous that the grass (or worse, myself) might suffer instantaneous combustion.

Just to make sure you know I'm not lying ... here is the weather report from the National Weather Service:

...DANGEROUS AFTERNOON HEAT INDEX VALUES EXPECTED NEXT WEEK...

WIDESPREAD HEAT INDEX READINGS BETWEEN 100 TO 105 DEGREES ARE
EXPECTED TO OCCUR...BEGINNING OVER PARTS OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
AND SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS SUNDAY AFTERNOON...AND OVERSPREADING THE
REMAINDER OF THE QUAD STATE REGION EACH AFTERNOON THROUGH MOST OF
NEXT WEEK.

A LARGE AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL BECOME ENTRENCHED ACROSS THE
REGION STARTING THIS WEEKEND AND EXTENDING THROUGH AT LEAST THE
MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. HEAT AND HUMIDITY WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD AND
LEAD TO SOME OF THE HOTTEST WEATHER SO FAR THIS SUMMER.

AFTERNOON HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO RISE INTO THE MIDDLE
AND UPPER 90S....WITH DAYTIME RELATIVE HUMIDITIES EXPECTED TO
REMAIN AT OR ABOVE 50 PERCENT. THE COMBINATION OF THE HEAT AND
HUMIDITY...AS WELL AS RELATIVELY LIGHT WINDS WILL PRODUCE HEAT
INDEX VALUES IN THE EXTREME CAUTION TO DANGER CATEGORY...WITH
READINGS RANGING FROM 100 TO 105 DEGREES.

HERE A FEW TIPS TO GUARD AGAINST THE UPCOMING HEAT WAVE...

STAY OUT OF THE SUN...WHEN POSSIBLE.

SLOW DOWN. ANY STRENUOUS ACTIVITY SHOULD BE REDUCED...ELIMINATED
OR RESCHEDULED TO THE COOLEST TIME OF THE DAY.

DRESS IN LIGHT COLORED CLOTHING THAT REFLECTS HEAT AND SUNLIGHT.

DRINK PLENTY OF WATER OR OTHER NON ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES. BE SURE TO
DRINK FLUIDS...EVEN IF YOU DO NOT FEEL THIRSTY.

PERSONS WITH SPECIAL MEDICAL CONDITIONS SHOULD CHECK WITH THEIR
DOCTOR ON HOW TO DEAL WITH MEDICATIONS...FLUIDS AND DIET DURING HOT WEATHER.

THOSE ESPECIALLY SENSITIVE TO HEAT SHOULD SEEK SHELTER IN A COOL
PLACE. IF A COOL PLACE IS NOT IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE...CONTACT YOUR
LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR COMMUNITY AGENCY TO FIND AIR CONDITIONED
LOCATIONS TO STAY IN DURING THE HOTTEST PART OF THE DAY.

IF YOU HAVE LIVESTOCK OR PETS...MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE PROVIDED
WITH PLENTY OF WATER AND SHADE...WHEN POSSIBLE.

FINALLY...TAKE TIME OUT TO CHECK ON THOSE NEIGHBORS OR FAMILY
MEMBERS THAT MAY BE PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE TO HEAT.