Nervous

Just being honest. I know Matt has given me a hard time this year for being so "down" on the "hot" Cowboys who are now more in the "lukewarm" category. Easy for him to say being such a diehard fan of - well, fantasy football stats and persevering with no team in particular (his allegiance went something like this - 80's- 95' Niners, Montana's Chiefs, Moss's Vikings... and then what Matt?)

Anyway, the Boys have struggled and I am very aware of their weaknesses (#35 being one of them - just throw it to Jaques Reeves and it is a gimme TD). I am hoping for a strong performance but with all of the distractions, injuries and asst coaches being courted for coaching jobs, plus trying to beat the Giants THREE in a row... I think the odds are against The Boys in this one. Plaxico Burress plays very well against us and our pass def is in desperate need of some high draft picks. Ware - please help us.

I would like to see what you all think - Cowboys or Giants this weekend? 

Juno

Last night Joy and I went to see "Juno" after eating one of our favorite "fast casual" restaurants (thanks Evan for the term, he works for Boston Market) - Pat & Oscars. Dang that bread is so bad for you but it is soooo good - a true butter bomb. 

The movie: Loved it. Quirky characters and folksy music brings out the awesome awkwardness of this funny and endearing story. A witty combination of life seen through a 16yr old, pregnant teenager armed with an articulate vocabulary (love it) and a brutally honest-let-me-tell-you-exactly-what-I-am-thinking personality that this emerging generation appreciates. And did I mention the movie was PACKED with teenagers at a 6:50pm showing? This movie resonates with students. Youth pastors may wanna check this movie out.

Day 1

I have been a lame blogger but apparently there are some people that "care". I just read the comments that five of you so kindly left from my last post over two weeks ago. I laughed out loud... Vorbau and Chris Gap... hilarious.

I'll highlight Christmas next post.

Well, I didn't want to throw a New Years party but my wife had different plans... we had 23 of our friends hang out last night. It was awesome. Speed Uno was another outstanding hit (thanks Gaps) as we yelled, laughed and slapped the NINE card. So fun with the Schultes, Jensen, the Dos (yeah - I get to co-perform their wedding with Sogo!), Karen and Eddie, the Rasmussens, Kurian, Sogos, Meeshee, Elisabeth and Michael, Nick and Terry, Jacob, Josh, Christy, the Sakkoulas, Kelly Mcfadden... it was awesome.

Those with kids eventually went home at around 9:30pm when Kurian said "Man, 9pm has become the new midnight."

We finished out the night and into the new year with our Martinelli toasts. And we had our first offical sleep over with Elisabeth staying in our 2nd bedroom, Christy and Joy sharing the Master, Erin took the second floor couch and due to Kurian's snoring issues... we forced his little body onto our small couch downstairs in the office... sorry Kurian:).

Today has been a day of reflecting upon some of the joys and learnings from last year. I am really thankful and overwhelmed at our familys, our friends, our jobs and our neighbors, the Dallas Cowboys season (hehehe)... and ofcourse my wonderful, beautiful and patient wife - Joyus.

New Years resolutions? I am still processing goals for this next year but I know it will involve - relational, physical, vocational, financial and marital goals... yeah, all talk at this point but I mention it to have people ask me about them - ensuring that I define them soon:).

Watching Colt Brennan struggle... looks like Hawaii "doesn't belong"... I hope they can turn it around against Georgia but it isn't looking good.

Looking forward to going back to work tomorrow to get ready for the new church... 13 weeks and counting until launch! Yikes.

I am Legend... I Hope

Haven't blogged in a while. Had a relaxing day with Joy, woke up... went to Corner Bakery for some Swiss Oatmeal and coffee with our reflection time over Beth Moore or Dallas Willard. 

There was a, not so shy or quiet, self-promoting soccer coach sitting with some soccer parents and all their kids nearby outside. Joy and I laughed as we left there about 1 hour later and he LITERALLY had not stopped talking the WHOLE time - we couldn't believe it, an amazing feat for someone so obviously humble. 

We went shopping for PEOPLE and then we headed home for an afternoon of gift wrapping (JOY) and Halo xbox live (with Irons)... we later hit the gym and came home. Joy made an amazing stir fry with a full on vegetable platter left over from her staff Christmas party the night before. WOW... nice.

And now... I am hoping and blogging that we can go see I Am Legend with Will Smith. That's it, that's all I got. I don't know if anyone cares but that IS what the Socal Kerrs did today:). 

Isella Visit - Oh, I mean Thanksgiving too!

We had EVERYONE over the Thanksgiving weekend starting off with Joy's mom and brother (Ben) who came down Wednesday. My parents also came down early and crashed at a nearby hotel. We had a Kurian sighting and got the latest on his SF adventures. Thanksgiving Day was a blast with Randy and "Nanner" (my name for Joy's grandmother) driving down from ventura around noon... and the fact that the Cowboys won didn't hurt the day either:).

Did I mention that my WIFE did an AWESOME job with the turkey this year? And did I also mention how incredible Nancy, Carol and Nanner helped pull off such a great feast? Thanks women - it was sooo good.

Games, food and a memorable Thanksgiving "thank" session over speakerphone with Jordan and Lindsey (who are in Maryland) filled our day. God is good all the time but it was fun thinking about it together. Randy and Nanner had to head out after some serious "speed uno" and an attempt at learning how to play Halo 3:). I am proud of you Randy.

Tony, Wendy and Isella arrived on Friday morning and got to hang with Nancy and Ben before they left back for Ventura. The rest of the weekend was hanging out with the Kerr/Gap side - doddling Isella, seeing movies, working out together (with Tony and Wen) and even going to Saddleback Church on Saturday night.

The Kerr/Gap entourage left Monday morning for the "short" drive up the 5 back to NorCal. It was a great weekend - Joy and I had a blast with our families we love and appreciate them so much for making the trek!

Maryland Trip and 2 yr Anniversary!

We have a TON of picts so be forewarned (and they are out of order-sorry!)




THURSDAY NIGHT and FRIDAY

We had a great time with Jordan and Lindsey! Arriving Thursday Night at Baltimore Airport, we spent all day with him dropping off his Audi in Alexandria and taking the metro to the "Mall" where we went to the Natural History Museum, the Art Museum (lunch), the National Archives (Declaration of Independence) and finished strong at the Air & Space Museum (my fav).

There was so much to see but didn't have the time so we have an excuse for another trip to see the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, the Holocaust Museum, etc.

We met up with Lindsey on Friday night (she has to drive so far to work she sometimes stays at a coworkers house to alleviate the commute!) and had an awesome Italian dinner at Carrababa's (sp?).

SATURDAY

We "chilled" all day on Saturday - the girls went shopping and so Jordan and I were FORCED to play Halo 3 for 5 hrs... it was rough. I even took Charlie for a little walk at night in the neighborhood - yeah, it was cold and Charlie liked to sniff everything every 5 feet - good times.

SUNDAY

Sunday we went to Bay Area Community Church in Annapolis and met up with Jordan and Lindsey's friends. We grabbed a bite at "Pusser's" - our waitress was so sweet and she even asked for prayer as she saw us pray before our myriad of seafood platters. Turns out she needed some encouragement and so we connected her with Bay Area Community - it was very cool.

Finally, Jordan and Lindsey gave us a drive through tour of Annapolis (beautiful naval town due to the academy) and brought us to our bed and breakfast spot at Fell's Point in a historic district of Baltimore near the Inner Habor. Praise God, for once, the internet investigation of a location to go to a bed&breakfast worked out! I had no prior reference - just picked it after some research online. Celie's Waterfront Inn - it was a great little charming place. Simple but with personality and it is located in a cobblestone laden, colonial feel street right near the water.

It wasn't Maui or anything but it was cool. There are a lot of taverns and random eateries all over that area. We even got to see a Naval ship docked in the harbor, playing music on Monday morning - we thought it was a US vessel though I believe the flag was South Korean - not sure.

But with Jordan and Lindsey still with us on Sunday afternoon, we walked around and landed on Bonaparte's Cafe which was a french boulagerie - we played speed uno's and drank coffee - Jordan finally vindicated himself as he was on a hefty losing streak until then.

We said our good byes and later grabbed dinner at a GREAT Mediterranean restaurant called Mezze. Food was awesome and the ambience was warm/fun and contemporary. We loved it.
We asked the waitress if there was a movie theater around so we walked over to the Inner Harbor area and saw the movie "Lions for Lambs" with Cruise, Streep and Redford.

We both enjoyed the movie, recognizing that it was designed to motivate people to vote or simply get off their passive seats and be involved in finding your stance on present matters in the world. It seemed to give arguments for and against both sides of the war in Afghanistan but it had some other interesting character interactions - with Redford as a college professor talking with a disillusioned but apparently gifted political science student, two ethnic minorities deciding to "be a part of the solution" and signing up for the military and Cruise as a young congressman or senator articulating his vision to Streep (a reporter) for modifications in waging a successful military strategy overseas. It was interesting.

MONDAY

We wrapped up our weekend, took a taxi to the BWI airport that was driven by a great guy named Isaiah who had only been in America for five years from Ethiopia. He was such a good hearted and positive spirited person - he shared about his newfound love for American football, his bouts with considering being a nurse and realizing he hates hospitals. Now he is trying to finish his degree in dental hygiene - hilarious.

Pardon me: Iraq and Bin Laden

Pardon me for the seemingly "random' nature of this entry in light of my wife's previous Halloween post but I have to mention something I have thinking a lot about lately: Iraq and Bin Laden.

What is REALLY going on? HOW did we get here? Where did Bin Laden come from and what's his problem anyway? HOW did we decide to go into Iraq anyway - I mean, what were the detailed sources of evidence (and lack of) that we purportedly had?

I have watched CNN. I have read the paper. I have discussed the subjects with friends and aquaintances but even after a few years of Bin Laden and Iraq becoming household names, I still haven't felt informed enough to have a grasp on these two subjects.

Oh I have EMOTIONAL opinions about them but not detailed understandings where I could speak with even pseudo authority.

So, I have read these two books over the last two months and I HIGHLY recommend both of them in getting a grasp of the subjects aforementioned.

Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq by Thomas E. Ricks

I found myself saying "AHA" or "OHHHHH" as the journalistic testomonies illuminated the leadership decisions, flops and lessons in the US deciding to invade and through the occupation of Iraq.

Suspend your rightist or leftist judgements. This book is about costs - not that avoiding costs was/is the solution to Iraq, but that the costs of poor planning, communication and leadership have contributed to the present mire. A key takeaway for me was the profound leadership errors - large and small - made by good people who, at pivotal times, made decisions not taking into account their own blindspots or mistaking humility with cowardice. Not all of the book was negative - there are some refreshing examples of military and civilian leaders that responded in this fog of uncertainty - with courageous leadership and tremendous sacrifice. A very helpful read.

The Looming Tower: Al Quaeda and the Road to 9/11 by Lawrence Wright

As for Bin Laden, this books is so much more than just about him. It provides the overall worldview and context that led to 9/11. I could NOT PUT IT DOWN - little did I know that the Al Qaeda belief in takfir - 'a license to kill' interpretation of the Quran - found its inspiration in the writings of Sayyd Qutb in the 1940s as he visited the U.S. - specifically Greeley, CO of all places! Like most of history, stuff just doesn't happen but is a culmination of individual choices based on beliefs, socio-economic events or conditions, disasters and paradigm shifts - this is a tragic and fascinating account of the emerging extremists the US faces.

I don't know if I can say 'enjoy' but definitely 'dive in' and be better informed - it's worth it.