Monday, August 21, 2006

the next step


This is still some time away but I got a tentative invitation Nigeria in March. A missionary I met in Zambia runs a school in Jos, a city outside of the capitol. At any rate he’s interested in doing a few videos for the school.

I’m writing the guy back and letting him know that I’m available (thank you JuJu). The cool thing is that he’s offering to pay for my time away from work too.

One a secondary note there is a missionary conference Sept 23rd that I’m going to try and sell the idea of doing various video awareness projects. Right now I’m trying to focus on letting God allow the pieces to fall where they might. In the meantime I'm going to be putting together some hand out material and CD's of my current projects.

On a third note the LOL family show is beginning to make its own headway. We’ve had some growing pains and we still like the idea of taking this gig to the next level. This weekend we had some professional photos taken at the show and once those are developed we’re going to be developing a Myspace page along with new posters and notices, perhaps a blog and finally we’re going to see if the show can travel.

God is blessing me with lots of opportunities to do something positive and I’m praying that I can keep everything moving. Did I also mention that one of Gods greatest blessings to me is the beautiful and supportive woman he’s placed me with and the wonderful children we’ve had together. I know it can't be easy dealing with someone with as many "ideas" as I have that I keep pushing into our world, thank you.

60 comments:

bigsip said...

Mullins, you have a wild life, my friend.

We're very different you and I. And that's OK! I'm a homebody of the highest degree and you like to go.

I came back to work this week after being off all last week with the fam and all I've thought about all day is how much I'd love to work from home and be there all the time.

If I ever can start making a living from writing, I'll do just that!

I'm glad you're doing things you like and that y'all deal with the separations and such so well. God bless you in your pursuits, my friend!

tnmommieof2 said...

Well, the separations are ok for now. But I have a feeling that Matt is going to be doing a lot more travel in the coming future.
And while I am supportive, I don't want to be a "travel widow."

I think he knows this, I only wish sometimes he didn't have quite so many irons in the fire, its hard to keep up.

Mat Brewster said...

If you need a manservant, let me know

JS said...

"I'm talking 'bout sex bro, what the hell you talking about? Im talking about -wife swappin'-"

still one of the greatest movie quotes of all times...

Mat Brewster said...

What they call now days an open marriage.

Funniest movie ever.

Diana said...

HEY SIP!

How's Mr. Noah?

JS said...

sorry mulls to have got this post off topic, I take full responcibility....

I envy you in the same way I envied chuck for moving to Florida.

One day, I am going to move away from this place. I live in a fine home, have a fine job, wonderful pals, go to a great church, and know this place and location very well, but variety is the spice of life, and right now there isn't much spice I taste.

I need newness, there IS much reward in what I do, in where I live, and where I go, but I at least need to travel more. I mean, I reckon i could stay here and just find a job that requres lots of travel, I think I need that...

Big country and big world and I want to see some of it while I still can...

as two wise song writters once said "In a big country, dreams stay with you" and "Im a big big girl in a big big world"

bigsip said...

Noah is doing very well.

He let us sleep pretty well last night. He eats about every 4 hours at night which is great!

Rachel's still healing well and feeling better all around.

My Mom has been up this week helping us acclimate to the new baby, so that's been extremely helpful and good.

Hope all is well on the C&D front!

bigsip said...

"I'm not like you, Bilbo..."

I guess I'll never understand what it is to be restless. I'm very content to live where I do and have my family safe and secure from all alarm :).

I'd love to do a mission trip sometime for a week, maybe and Rachel and I plan to definitely go on some trips with and without the boys once they're old enough.

I think I got my wanderlust out in the military. I learned quickly how much I hate to move and how much I want to be settled. Once Rachel and I married and had Luke, it was locked. We were both completely ready to settle for good.

The idea of leaving here for any reason other than Jesus' return is unthinkable to us, but this is truly home for us. Our family is all here and everything we want for our kids is here.

Another wise song writer wrote this verse, "It's a small world after all..." No matter where you go and what you do, normality will follow, usually within weeks of arriving at your destination. But, living in contentment will always allow you to season your life with the beautiful things God gives.

If y'all need to go and explore, that's great and there's nothing wrong with it. But, there's nothing wrong with exporing and adventuring right here either. There will never be a bigger earthly adventure for me than my family and home. But, I'll always look forward to the ultimate adventure! Heaven's going to be amazing!

JS said...

Heavens gonna be fine, but I still want to see the Grand Canyon

mullinz8 said...

How do you know Montgomery is the perfect place to be?

I understand what you mean because I love Oak Ridge, both families are nearby, the schools are really good, the city its self is nice and things are pretty quiet, which is good for me. I’ve traveled all over the US and I wanted and chose to come “home” to the Ridge.

That’s not to say that someday Jules and I might find somewhere else that might be as good. True, we won’t be able to pick up our families and move them too but that’s ok. I have wonderful memories of growing up in Hawaii, living in Florida and Alabama and those helped shape who I am today.

Yes Heaven will be great. In the meantime I want to see and experience the rest of the stuff God made too. Seeing Victoria Falls in Zambia, hiking to the top of Mt. LeConte, flying over the Grand Canyon, walking the rim of Mauna Loa in Hawaii are the blessings and gifts of a Lord who has given so much to his creation. They are the appetizer of salvation. I don’t have to see everything because that’s impossible but for me, seeing these things and participating in the human experience beyond a 40 hour work week, mortgage, car pools, and PTA is what living is all about. Hopefully these first few trips are the paving stones to share this type of travel and experience with the rest of my family.

Still I know what your feeling, there is something wonderful in being content, being still. I get the feeling too but I actually get that feeling more when I’m seeing something new. I also know that you’re not saying you don’t like to see these things too. I know that you want to share these things with your family. We’re wired differently on how we want to experience things.

JS said...

I just look at it this way...

God is awesome, God has made some wonderful creations... none of which I could enjoy from a chorus tour bus. None of which I could enjoy on a work-related trip.

This country ALONE houses some of the awesome wonders of nature, Gods own creations... I want to stand in awe of Gods creation.

Sitting in my backyard, drinking tea at dusk, watching the bats fly overhead, so quiet i can hear their little flutter... that, my friends, is truly awesome. To sit in my car port during a lighting storm at night, awesome... but to see the mountains in Arizona change colors on the hour, to see them tower over me as if they were some evil-yet-angelic beast, to be able to sit still and stare at them from afar for hours and never get tired of it... well, frankly it kept me in tears when I would wake up in the morning back home and look out the window only to see... no mountains...

Im not sad where I am, but I am sad that there is so much of Gods glory and Gods creation out there and I can only see so much...

Look back at my "Mowing Meditation" blog... When I am 70, 80, or 90, I will have LOADS of time to sit, to stay, to settle... I will be looking out my window wishing I had seen more, ran more, jumped more, rolled in the grass, jumped on a plane with 1 days notice just to eat at the cafe cabana in havana. Those opportunities will be gone. God had given me the physical, financial, and social ability to see things, to meet people, to do things, and I will not sit in my wheelchair with my only memories being that of me staying in one place... this, again, is just me...


Lastly, after my recent trip to Asheville, Like Mullins, I found a new love for talking to strangers. For meeting people from different parts of the world/country. Talking with strangers gives me joy I never knew. Sure, I can talk with people around here... as long as I can keep up my conversation abotu Alabama or Auburn football...

bigsip said...

Yep, we're different and that's okay.

We definitely want to travel and visit places, but this area will always be home.

I know part of the reason is that all of our folks are here, but it's also the fact that we've made a decision.

I remember leaving Montgomery (Brew and Jamison remember, too) and it was one of the hardest things I've ever done.

Once I got through training and moved to my other training then moved to Georgia, I knew I wasn't meant to be a military mover. Some folks like it, but I don't. Moving every 2 to 4 years over a 20 to 30 year career is simply not my cup of tea. But, if you like that, the military is the place to be.

They pay for everything and then some. Moving with a company or on your own is extrememly stressful and expensive. I've done it both ways and moving here was very hard, but the best thing we could have done for our family.

So, I guess "knowing" that this area is the place for us is really the same as "knowing" that we need to be settled and not always on the go.

Life is an adventure not of our making. I plan to take my family to places like the Grand Canyon and Europe and wherever else we can afford to go. But, if we never get to go, I won't regret it because I've held my sons for hours, spent calm evenings snuggling my wife, and seen my parents and Rachel's parents reinforce God's love in my boys' lives. That's the true adventure to me.

JS said...

We have to remember that Sip grew up in the same house that his parents still live in. His family is not like the hussle-and-bussle (spelling?) familes that we all come from... so naturally, we are going to be differnt...

Before I came to college I lived in 4 homes... all in the same freakin city (Which may be why i do NOT want to move back to chattanooga) and I hated the moves... but the adventures that come along with moving to a new place fasinate me... maybe not even more but to "live" in another place for a few months...

Mat Brewster said...

I have to agree with the rest. I've said many times before that I am envious of the roots you all have planted. I do look forward to settling down somewhere.

However, I hope that I have itchy feet for the rest of my life, I want to travel the world in all my years.

I was listening to the radio the other day and they had a couple on that had been to every country in the world but like a dozen or so. How awesome that would be.

You guys can travel and be settled. Jamison you are the king of savings. Why not start saving for a trip next summer? Go to the grand canyon, the teetons, glacier national park or any of the other beautiful place in the US. Travel to Europe, see Paris and Rome and Athens. Go to China and Thailand.

God willing we all have many more years left, why not see as much of His creation as possible.

Mat Brewster said...

Sip, I hope you live a long and happy life right where you are. One thing I would say is always keep a window open for God. Down the road He may bring you an opportunity to serve that means you have to uproot and move elsewhere. I'd hate to see you miss that opportunity because you've made a decision to stay.

I know that's not what you meant, and I know that you always want to do God's will.

I laughed when you said you had moved four times in C-town, Jamison. I've lived in four different house in a single year before! But in some ways your moves were probably harder because you had settled into those homes. I never go the chance to settle anywhere

bigsip said...

I fully agree with traveling. We want to travel and experience. But, it's something that will always be iffy.

If taking a trip to the Grand Canyon interferes with something more important, it'll have to wait. But, If we have the means and we're not indebting ourselves, it's cool to visit other places.

Jamison's absolutely right about my roots, though. Not only did my family live in the same place my entire life, they've been on the same land for 7 generations!

You can't grow roots much deeper than that. I can feel that place in my bones. Not many people feel that way about a place and it's impossible to explain.

Even nomads like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, etc. felt the tug of roots because God promised them a home. I guess I just have a quadruple dose of that.

bigsip said...

Brew, I appreciate that.

I must say that God makes people different, though.

If God chooses to move us, then so be it. He forcibly moved the entire nation of Israel several times for His purposes and that's great. But, he also sent them back home after every move.

When He moved Jesus out of Heaven, He took him back home after his travels were through.

We all have a place to be, whether we realize it or not. I have always just known where mine is on Earth, just like Moses, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did. And just like Jesus knew where his home was, so do I. And that is a good feeling.

tnmommieof2 said...

I think I will someday have to adjust to a husband who loves to travel. If we could afford it, he would buy an RV right now, quit his job, uproot the fam. and drive across the country.

Now, I am all for travelling. I want to be able to do more of it someday. But part of me is just like you Sipper. When my folks moved across town my senior year in h.s. I literally thought it was the end of the world. This was the house I grew up in!!! But I handled it fairly well I suppose b/c it was just to another city. The only other place I have ever lived besides TN was Montgomery, and to be honest, I kinda like that.

I know one day we will move. I feel it is inevitable(sp?). I can't say that I wouldn't enjoy living somewhere else for a while.
But I don't think I ever want to move too far away from my mom and dad. I want the boys to stay as close to them as possible and not just see them on holidays.

I want roots and I would rather them be close to my family. But if Matt gets the travel bug and it
is feasible for us to go with him,
I guess I'll go...

bigsip said...

I'm right there with you Julianna.

The G-parents are a big reason to be close. When we lived in Georgia, we prayed and strove to be here.

God answered our prayers. Now, we're living the blessing He gave to us and it's wonderful!

I told Jamison this, but I don have to admit that, while the move here was and is a great blessing, it wasn't what I expected. It was very stressful for the first year we lived here. We had a new baby, a new house, a new job, new church, etc.

Plus, we had another house in GA we still had to sell.

So, life was very tough for a full year. Now, we're enjoying being here more fully and seeing the benefits of the struggles.

Chuck and Jodi may be experiencing similar adjustments, but they're already seeing the great benefits of being with family.

One of the things that really will continue to keep us rooted here is the fact that our family is here and moving would break all of our hearts. So, here we are and happily so!

mullinz8 said...

Jamison I reread your post about the bats fluttering, lightening storm and Arizona and all I can say is AMEN. I hope we can prop our wheelchairs together and talk about the places we’ve been and the people we’ve met. Just so you know, when you’re that old you’ll have to move to TN because I don’t want to die in Alabama.

About traveling specifically… It is something I love. It is something I want to do. It is something that I want my family to do. I’ve told Jules a million times that if we were to move and she didn’t like the place in three years we’d move back. Three years is a magic window for me for some reason. When the boys get to be around high school age I don’t want to move for a while because HS is an important time and they need to have roots and security. That being said now is the time to try different places, especially while the boys are able to adjust to a new place easier.

The other side of this is that I have chosen a career that allows me to travel from time to time and not uproot my family. It’s the best of both worlds for me.

Just as a footnote Sipper you’re not actually living on the multi generation land of your forefathers. I know it’s important to you but you’re not actually there and still you’re connected to it. I think you can always be connected to a place though you don’t have to physically be on it. A persons roots get established once they allow themselves to be comfortable in a given area, no matter the location or connection.

bigsip said...

I see what you mean, Mullins. But, I lived in Georgia for over 6 years and was very comfortable and happy there. Yet, I was called home all the time.

Again, this is something probably none of you would really "get". But, that's okay because I don't "get" wanting to move around a lot or be far away from family.

Again, there's nothing wrong with that, it's just not for me and it's not something I want for my kids. When I see my Mom and Dad or in-laws hug and cradle our boys, it's a deep confirmation that we did the right thing coming home to stay.

We'll travel when the time is right and the money is there. But, this will always be home and we'll always be close to the old homestead. That's our perogative.

mullinz8 said...

Good enough for me.

On my next trip I'm going to make sure and send you a postcard.

bigsip said...

That would be awesome!

JS said...

mulls... i have a hankering for vegas lately... 40th star trek convention is there this year...

bigsip said...

I think an STC would be cool to visit.

My Mom has been watching old episodes on G4 all week.

tnmommieof2 said...

vegas is great...went there with my grandparents a few years ago..
but i'm sure i would have more fun
with my hubby and great friends.

JS said...

jules, mulls... shall we...?

btw jules... get a post card in the mail recently?

mullinz8 said...

Are you not the same person who along with your deep rooted Montgomery cohort was aghast at the very notion of going to Las Vegas with all those sinners???

Dude, you’re on! Let’s pick sometime in the off season and fly out there. It’s a great city, heavily flawed and misguided, but a city of much fun too!

The Southern Baptist convention was held there a few years back so it can’t be that bad can it. Did I ever tell you guys the story of seeing the hooker write her phone number on a potential “johns” wanker? What a city.

What a fun trip and playing a game like roulette is a blast because you can spread your bets around enough to stay in the game for hours.

I’d love to see the Star Trek convention!!!

Brew and I had discussed the idea briefly so he could be hip to the whole thing too. That is if he becomes gainfully employed sometime in the near future. Then again if he’s not and the wife is up to a change he could interview for a couple of jobs while out there and write the whole thing off. A friend at Scripps wrote off 1/3 of a trip to Australia because she interviewed for a job while she was on holiday.

I bet the Chucks (does anyone have a phone number for these guys) would be up to it as well. Stubbs, what say you? Sipper, we’ll send you a post card…

Sipper (thought I wouldn’t travel having a new born either) Jules going with her g-parents and still having a blast is a good sign.

Jamison, Jules got your post card, it’s as cute as a button.

bigsip said...

Just curious...

Does Vegas offer some sort of package deals? It just seems like a bunch of disconnected activities you have to pay for separately or something.

Reason I ask is that we find casinos and gambling monumentally boring. But, I've heard they have roller coasters, museums, etc. Only thing is, I've heard you have to pay for everything separately and it seems like it could get really expensive.

In any case, maybe y'all could find some good package deals with fun rides, museums, and shows that don't include chicken woman Celine Dion.

In any case, hope y'all all have a fun time and do send us a post card. Preferably one that does not include a prostitute writing on any male body parts.

mullinz8 said...

I think it depends of what you want to do. Obviously there are tons of shows that things like that but there are lots of tours and museums to see as well. Don’t forget that whole Hoover Dam thing. Aside from the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum and the Southern Nevada Museum of Fine Art there is also the Liberace and Elvis-a-Rama Museums and a collection of others including the cheery Atomic Testing Museum, which I’d actually like to visit.

I think a trip to Vegas should be considered a vacations vacation. There are world class spas and restaurants along with things, yes, just “things” to do. It’s a place to go and do “things.” Anywhere you go you’re going to have to find things to do and pay for them, it’s just a matter of what you want to find. How about this, you tell me what you would like to do in a strange and exotic city and I’ll track down your options. The city was designed to give people things to do and that’s what it does.

I could spend an entire day in the Bellagio just looking around. Go to their website and look around. For two people with flights in a deluxe room at the Bellagio Thursday through Sunday in the middle of Feb 07 (just a random date considering tax refund time etc) the cost is around $1900. Not bad really. Bellagio ($199 avg.) is also a top of the line place, Jules stayed at the Stardust for really cheap

When I went I was using Scripps money and wasn’t worried about the cost so I always ate very well. When Jules went with her g-parents they ate a bit more humble cuisine and they ate very well too. The city has food for every cost. When we got ripped off at the buffet in Myrtle Beach (what a fun memory) that amount of money at a Vegas buffet would be awesome!

Throw the idea around a bit more Sipper.

tnmommieof2 said...

Im all for a trip to Vegas. I know the sips prob. wouldn't be able to go, with Noah still being so little, but sometime in the future would be great for all of us

Jamison....I think the Mullins clan
minus 2 knee-biters, would be all
for the trip sometime in February

But if Feb. isn't good, we can always shoot for some other time.
Except for March...March is no good
Matt is going to Africa again in
March...

bigsip said...

I don't know, man. I'm totally spoiled on having everything planned now.

I just have visions of walking around a tacky place, seeing tacky things, and trying to find something tacky to do...or shop.

Sorry...I know I'm a killjoy. I would just want roller coasters, shows and museums I care to see (i.e. no Elvis, Liberace, Celine Dion, etc.)

As it stands, it sounds like a bunch of driving around trying to figure out what to see or do. I tired quickly of that at Pigeon Forge...

I'm probably being too negative, but going there would be a huge gamble for us and I find gambling boring, so...

I think we'll just aim for another Disney jaunt in a year or so. Y'all take lots of pics and calculate how much it cost and maybe we'll consider it after y'all complete the test cycle.

JS said...

Mulls, got your voicemail... no offence but any voicemail longer than 20 seconds is too long, I stopped listening after 30...

I mentioned this to my wife 2 nights ago actually and she had NO interested what-so-ever in going.

I told her it would be fun AND that she said the same thing about Disney world. I am 80% sure I can not convince her to go... but I will try...

bigsip said...

She didn't care for the New Orlens idea, either. I had mentioned it a while back and she was quite averse to going.

Perhaps she has in her mind that places like NO and LV are not her brand of fun.

I mean, I certainly have it set in my mind that LV is not for me, but if someone can convince me that it is, somehow, I'd probably try it in a few years.

Hard sell, though.

tnmommieof2 said...

i have really wanted to go back to vegas ever since i went. and i was with my g-parents and i still had enough fun to want to go back.

i wish every one felt the need to go, but i understand those not interested. jamison, would you still go if you couldn't convince larissa?

bigsip said...

What did you do there, specifically? What was fun about it?

I just haven't heard anything that appeals to me yet. Maybe I haven't heard the right stuff...

JS said...

i would go without larissa, but if i told her "If you dont wanna go, i will go without you" she likely would cave and end up going haha!

But yeah, I would go alone I reckon, but no doubt it would be with MY money that I make on side work, not the families money... wouldnt be fair.

mullinz8 said...

Jamison I’d hate for you to go without the wife. Perhaps Brew can get a gig soon and the two of you can buddy up and go. It would sort of be like the Further Fest’s of yore. The Bellagio deal I found was for a room with two queen beds…

When I was in Vegas we drove to our shoot location on the extreme north side of the strip from the extreme south side. When we wrapped and decided to go out for dinner we may take a cab somewhere, other than that we walked.
Today, just for the Sipper family, they have completed a monorail system that in different phases runs the entire length of the strip! The latest it runs is 2am during the week, I’m sure we could get you back to bed before then.

I’m sure that Jules will tell you what she liked about Vegas but I’ll tell you a bit as well. I love to watch people, I think you all know that. I also love seeing interesting things. Vegas is just that, interesting. During the day I was working and during the evening I was out. Seeing the buildings was amazing, Vegas creates little themed universes. Once you walk through the doors you’re transported into a new world. Each casino has does its best to find something for everyone. The games were fun but I didn’t get a lot of playing time in because I had very limited funds. On two evenings there was a great cover band playing 80’s songs at an outdoor stage and it was fun just to watch them for a couple of hours at a time.

There are roller coasters and things in Vegas too. On top of the Stratosphere there are three thrill rides. There is a huge roller coaster at NY NY and other cool things as well.

It’s the sort of place that you wished for as a kid wanting to be older, there are rides and things to see, places to just hangout with friends and experience along with wonderful food. If you want to see them there are shows of every variety and you can stay up as late as you want. There are places with nickel slots and twenty five cent tables.

What do you do at Disney? I know it’s fun but what is it that you like so much? If you go to Disney knowing that you might have to stand in line and that it will be hot and full of grumpy kids you won't have fun, the same is true with a place like Vegas.

bigsip said...

We never waited in line at Disney.

It was like we owned the parks. We also got all expenses for our family there for 6 nights for around $1200.

The thing is, we can do Disney better and for cheaper and do all the things we want minus the boring slots, driving around, etc.

At DW, if you stay on property, you take the nice, clean, comfy DW buses wherver you want to go. No driving.

If you're organized like my wife and go during the right time of year, there are no lines, the prices are rock-bottom, and you can see and do and ride everything you want to 2 or 3 or 4 times.

I just don't see that kind of convenience, fun, and inexpense in what I've heard thus far.

But, like I said, once y'all go, Jamison can bring me a report on whether it's worth the trip. He already knows DW is.

JS said...

If I were a cursing man, i would say I hate fuc*ing blogger....

here i go and make a long comment and it crashes on me once I hit publish....

I dont even wanna retype it... Here are the bullet points:

-disney, fun, hard to explain, take the kids, go with us, fun. Best vacation I have ever been on, all inclusive.

-vegas, wife would go if it were "a stop" of a much larger vacation of the west.

-furtherfest, wish they still did them, i would so go, did jules stay in the hotel room with us? Brew was a great grooving and bed partner, dont see why he wouldnt make a good vegas partner.

-all inclusive resorts in vegas Mulls?

-sips should go with mulls to vegas and mulls go with sips to DW within next 5 years ten vote on which was better. I go on each trip with yall as ref.

Bottom line Mulls, youll never convince Sip to go. Bottom line Sip, youll never convince Mulls to go.

bigsip said...

Well, if you go to Vegas and come back with a glowwing report of how it was cheaper, funner, and in all other ways better than or equal to DW, I'll go.

Tell you where I do want to go in the next 5-10 years is Europe! I'd love to visit France, Italy, Germany, etc. Not all-inclusive, but I wouldn't expect that. I think something like that would be real fun!

mullinz8 said...

I’ve been to DW a long time ago and with the kids getting older I’d love to go again so they can experience it. I personally don’t care for a good portion of their movies and outside of that there really isn’t much connection to the place but if I were to choose a vacation for the whole family it’s a pretty iconic place to go. When you guys plan your next trip give us a timeline and we’ll do our best to tag along, $1200 for lodging, grub and all the rides you can stand is near impossible to beat I agree. In the past my refusal to see DW was because the kids were too small and it didn’t do much for me personally because I’d seen it and there was more to see somewhere else. For the kids I’ll go and I know that I’ll have a good time.

For a just mommy and daddy vacation I want to see something different and try something different. We’re going to try and do a beach vacation next summer so in the meantime something suited for the above pg-13 crowd would be good. As you know Sipper, sometimes mom and dad time is just as important.

I guess it could be defined as a vacation style. Vegas is a different style of vacation than Disney. They both offer various forms of entertainment for a defined cliental. Sipper I wouldn’t write off the whole idea just yet. Sort of like Larissa hating the idea of Disney and then loving the trip it could be something you might really dig.

I don’t know that Vegas does the inclusive packages because there is so much to do and see across the city. A lot of inclusive deals seem to focus on places where you’re supposed to stay “on site” at the destination area, like DW or some beach with nothing else to do.

Jamison I do think you should be a neutral observer for each destination.

We all shared a room for the Fests. You said you’d do the FF again, how about doing Bonnaroo next year?

I love seeing you guys and doing fun stuff together no matter the location and that’s what I’d like to do more of.

mullinz8 said...

When I was checking on flights and stuff I found flights to Hawaii for about $1500 for two. Flights to Heathrow in London were not a whole lot more. I’m up for it!

JS said...

southwest.com you can fly from nashville to hawaii or bham to hawaii for a bit over $300 per ticket...

Mat Brewster said...

Hawaii, finally something interesting. I was about to call you all lameoids for only thinking of freaking Disney and Vegas for places to go.

Jamison I command that you must go some place interesting within the next 12 months. You have spent too much time talking about how you would like to travel to not do it.

JS said...

command you say?
wife and I are going to a small town in Arizona in December... does that count?

bigsip said...

Um, I said something about Europe several times, Brew.

Is it not as interesting as I thought?

Rachel and I have talked about a cruise through the Carribean, too.

Of course, any vacation we take will be a little while coming. It'll be Dec of 2007 before we'll try going away, I think. By then, both our boys should be big enough to enjoy a nice trip!

Mat Brewster said...

I know ya did Sip. I was just giving all you disney/vegasites a hard time.

Europe is great. As soon as I get the last trip paid off, I think I'll go again.

JS said...

lots of folks complain about cruises, but i enjoyed the one I went on.
Not an "interesting" vacation, but it is all inclusive and you are pampered.

bigsip said...

Speaking of payoff, howw goes the job hunt, Brew?

Any leads? Don't take that severence to its termination, man. Find a job and use that money for paying off your last trip or something.

We're still praying for y'all!

Mat Brewster said...

I'm still looking. Submitted resumes to several places. Talked to a guy last week at an employment agency who gave me some info on some head hunter type folks so we'll see how that goes.

I'm hoping to land a nice fat job so that I can use my sevrence to pay off the credit card, student loans, and car. But I don't want a crap job because I know I'll stop looking as soon as I get anything

Mat Brewster said...

There is something to be said about non inclusive too. A few years back Amy and I went to Mt Rushmore. We drove and the only set destination was the president carvings. But along the way we went to the covered bridges of Madison County, John Wayne's birthplace, the corn palace, the mall of America, the badlands and a few other stops.

Truth his had we planned out every detail we could have seen more. But there was something fun and freeing in not having a plan, just going where the road took us.

I'm with Larissa. I'll go to Vegas if it is one stop amongst many. There is too much unique, beautiful, amazing country in that part of the world to miss seeing due to some neon boobies.

I"m with sip too that if we go, plan the sucker out. Walking the strip would be fun for a little bit but after that I want to do something else. There's tons of shows in Vegas we could easily book one or two.

mullinz8 said...

Driving aimlessly sounds fun, honestly, it does. I’d love to see the upper mid-west and I have some strange desire to see Montana and Wyoming.

Perhaps a cruise would be nice. I’ve got a pal at Scripps who takes on average two cruises a year and loves it. I’ve never been on one and would like to someday but for some reason don’t feel a rush to experience it.

Brew when can you make a trip to Hawaii? I’d love to find some little rat shack and be a beach bum for a few days.

We could fly into Vegas and then drive into LAX for a flight out a few days later. Surly there would be a giant ball of wax somewhere to stop and see.

I’d like to go somewhere and I love the idea of seeing and doing something different with you dorks.

Jamison how would the skiing be in Colorado Feb and March?

bigsip said...

Are all your prospects there in Indy for the moment? Any leads elsewhere?

I know it's hard to get a job out-of-state. Just wondering. We'll keep praying!

Mat Brewster said...

Most of the stuff I've applied for has been in-state, but I keep nosing around for cool jobs elsewhere.

The termination at the last job really felt like a sign to get the heck out of dodge, but it's slow going finding anything

Mat Brewster said...

I don't know when we'll be able to take a vacation of note. Will depend on the job situation.

JS said...

Brew, I know this may sound new age and weird, but what sort of dreams have you been having recently since the termination? The subconscious has a way of working things out in dreams that the conscious self would never think of. Your sleeping mind can work out scenarios and decide what is best or worse for your situation. I am not saying dreams predict the future (Though I think they can in a deductive reasoning sort of way) but if your sleeping mind thinks moving out of state is best, I think you should listen. It is aware of your wife's situation and yours. Though if your dreams lean more towards staying around, do that. I have been reading books on understanding dreams and it has been quite helpful to me. Dreams are a realm that has been scoffed by NO other society except modern western society... the same society that loves killing babies in the womb ... so you cant hold much to what we think... just my 2 cents, I would love to hear some of your recent dreams if you remember them.

bigsip said...

But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:

17 'It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams.

18 Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.

19 I will show wonders in the sky above, and signs on the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.

We live in the Last Days, my friends...

JS said...

"Wonders in the sky above..."
Wow... i laid on our driveway last night during that lightning storm we had. Awesome power and energy. I love storms... even stayed on the driveway a bit as it rained. God is kewl.