tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57467915896443083402024-03-14T00:13:03.228-04:00GableFamily.usToddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13708674073036211911noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746791589644308340.post-47834625757551048992011-09-11T09:05:00.001-04:002011-09-11T09:05:06.586-04:00Weirdest Day Of Fishing Ever!<p>I've heard of salmon jumping into boats but . . Four black-tailed Sitka deer were pulled from the icy waters of Stephens Passage, Alaska, by a group of locals on Tom Satre's 62-foot charter vessel. The four juvenile Sitka black-tailed deer swam directly toward the boat.<br><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QargwWOZywU/Tmyx-DMwS8I/AAAAAAAAFX8/hSEBug-DhCw/s1600-h/ATT00001%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="ATT00001" border="0" alt="ATT00001" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wivckVpXir8/Tmyx-XZZtBI/AAAAAAAAFYA/qopagDQqZG8/ATT00001_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="294" height="222"></a></p> <p>Once the deer reached the boat, the four began to circle the boat, looking directly at the humans on board. Clearly, the bucks were distressed. With help, the typically skittish and absolutely wild animals came willingly onto the boat. Once onboard, they collapsed with exhaustion, shivering.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--FktfEt63nY/Tmyx-sKIucI/AAAAAAAAFYE/i7ecXaD3mfA/s1600-h/ATT00002%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="ATT00002" border="0" alt="ATT00002" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Y41JTBV1eLY/Tmyx_BMdBJI/AAAAAAAAFYI/YBfEmrF9l6I/ATT00002_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="320" height="241"></a><br>Here the rescued bucks rest on the back of Tom Satre's boat, the Alaska Quest. All four deer were transported to Taku Harbor. Once the group reached the dock, the first buck that had been pulled from the water hopped onto the dock, looked back, then leapt into the harbor, swam to shore, and disappeared into the forest. After a bit of prodding and assistance from the humans, two others followed suit, but one deer needed more help.......</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tek7r-hlqvc/Tmyx_bTZuKI/AAAAAAAAFYM/f-cIqgJP30w/s1600-h/ATT00003%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="ATT00003" border="0" alt="ATT00003" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NQ11inB-xDA/Tmyx_03L7qI/AAAAAAAAFYQ/XKSyVMmewVU/ATT00003_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="275"></a></p> <p>Here he is being transported by Tom Satre:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Loj5jmcc9wU/TmyyAK5M4mI/AAAAAAAAFYU/mqITw3lRwNo/s1600-h/ATT00004%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="ATT00004" border="0" alt="ATT00004" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-H_GG_zdcQR0/TmyyAT06MaI/AAAAAAAAFYY/sbk4pZDMcis/ATT00004_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="325" height="266"></a></p> <p>Tom, Anna and Tim Satre help the last of the "button" bucks to its feet.</p> <p>They did not know how long the deer had been in the icy waters or if there had been others who did not survive. The good Samaritans (humans) describe their experience as "one of those defining moments in life." I'm sure it was for the deer, as well.</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><script expr:src='"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/GablefamilyBlog?i=" + data:post.url' type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13708674073036211911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746791589644308340.post-89772904588251664222011-02-05T08:53:00.001-05:002011-02-05T08:54:24.321-05:00Silly Fun<object width="210" height="725"><param name="movie" value="http://www.hulu.com/widget/embed/videopanel"><param name="bgcolor" value="0x000000"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="flashVars" value="partner=CSWidget&layout=Vertical4Thumbs&searchEnabled=true&sortEnabled=true&sortDefault=recentlyadded&watchOnHulu=true&categoryIndex=2"><embed src="http://www.hulu.com/widget/embed/videopanel" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="partner=CSWidget&layout=Vertical4Thumbs&searchEnabled=true&sortEnabled=true&sortDefault=recentlyadded&watchOnHulu=true&categoryIndex=2" width="210" height="725" wmode="transparent" bgcolor="0x000000"></embed></object><br /><br />Hopefully this year has some good commercials, too!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script expr:src='"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/GablefamilyBlog?i=" + data:post.url' type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17606546761685533269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746791589644308340.post-18994765186918713072011-01-28T14:29:00.001-05:002011-01-28T14:31:18.153-05:00Remember Today<h3 style="text-align: left;">High Flight</h3> <p align="left">Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth<br /> And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;<br /> Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth<br /> Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things<br /> You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung<br /> High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,<br /> I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung<br /> My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .</p> <p align="left">Up, up the long, delirious burning blue<br /> I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace<br /> Where never lark, or ever eagle flew —<br /> And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod<br /> The high untrespassed sanctity of space,<br /> Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><i>— John Gillespie Magee, Jr</i></p><br /><p>This is the poem that Ronald Reagan quoted from when consoling a nation after the loss of the brave crew of the Challenger. Today, 25 years later, it still holds true.<br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script expr:src='"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/GablefamilyBlog?i=" + data:post.url' type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17606546761685533269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746791589644308340.post-54786244712980690002010-09-11T08:22:00.001-04:002010-09-11T08:22:24.370-04:00God's Priest - Hero of 9/11<p>Father Mychal F. Judge was the son of Irish Catholic immigrants from County Leitrim on May 11, 1933, the firstborn of a pair of fraternal twins. With his twin sister Dympna and his older sister Erin, he grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y. during the Great Depression. </p> <p>His lifelong affinity for the poor began at a young age; he often gave his only quarter to beggars on the street.At the age of six, he watched his father die of a slow and painful illness. To compensate for his father's inability to work, Judge shined shoes at New York Penn Station from where he would visit St. Francis of Assisi Church on West 31st Street. Seeing the Franciscan friars there, "I realized that I didn't care for material things," he later said, "I knew then that I wanted to be a friar."</p> <p>In 1948, at the age of 15, Judge began the formation process to enter the Franciscan community. He trained at three seminaries in New York, New Jersey, and New Hampshire before receiving his BA degree from St. Bonaventure University. He completed his training and was ordained a priest at Holy Name College in Washington, DC in 1961. Upon entering the Order of Friars Minor, he took the religious name of Mychal.</p> <p>From 1961 to 1986, Judge served at St. Anthony Shrine in Boston, St. Joseph Parish in East Rutherford, NJ, Sacred Heart Parish in Rochelle Park, NJ, and St. Joseph Parish in West Milford, NJ. For three years he served as assistant to the president at Siena College in Loudonville, NY. In 1986, he was assigned to the Monastery of St. Francis of Assisi Church on West 31st Street, New York, where he lived and worked until his death in 2001. Around 1971, Judge became an alcoholic, although he never showed obvious signs. In 1978, with the support of Alcoholics Anonymous, he became sober and continued to share his personal story of alcoholism to help others facing addiction.</p> <p>In 1992, Judge was appointed Chaplain of the Fire Department of New York. As chaplain, he offered encouragement and prayers at fires, rescues, and hospitals, and counseled firefighters and their families, often working 16 hour days. "His whole ministry was about love. Mychal loved the fire department and they loved him." </p> <p>In New York, Judge was also well known for ministering to the homeless, the hungry, recovering alcoholics, people with AIDS, the sick, injured, and grieving, immigrants, gays and lesbians, and those alienated by the Church.</p> <p>For example, Judge once gave the winter coat off his back to a homeless woman in the street, later saying, "She needed it more than me." When he anointed a man who was dying of AIDS, the man asked him, "Do you think God hates me?" Judge just picked him up, kissed him, and silently rocked him in his arms.</p> <p>Even before his death, many considered Judge to be a living saint for his extraordinary works of charity and his deep spirituality. While praying, Judge would sometimes "become so lost in God, as if lost in a trance, that he'd be shocked to find several hours had passed." </p> <p>"He achieved an extraordinary degree of union with the divine," said Judge's former spiritual director, Fr. John McNeill. "We knew we were dealing with someone directly in line with God." </p> <p>Upon hearing the news that the World Trade Center had been hit, Judge rushed to the site. He was met by the Mayor of New York, Rudolph Giuliani, who asked him to pray for the city and its victims. Judge administered last rites to some lying on the streets, then entered the lobby of the World Trade Center north tower where an emergency command post was organized. There he continued offering aid and prayers for the rescuers, the injured and dead.</p> <p>When the south tower collapsed at 9:59 AM, debris went flying through the north tower lobby, killing many inside, including Judge. At the moment he was struck in the head and killed, Judge was repeatedly praying aloud, <em>"Jesus, please end this right now! God please end this!"</em></p> <p>Shortly after his death, firefighters found Judge's body and carried it out of the north lobby. This event was captured in the documentary film <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9/11_(film)" target="_blank">9/11</a></em>, shot by Jules and Gedeon Naudet. Shannon Stapleton, photographer from Reuters, photographed Judge's body being carried out of the rubble by five men. It became one of the most famous images related to 9/11.</p> <p>Father Judge's body bag was labeled "Victim 0001," recognized as the first official victim of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Former President Bill Clinton was among the 3,000 people who attended his funeral, held on September 15 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Manhattan. It was presided over by Cardinal Edward Egan. Clinton said his death was "a special loss. We should live his life as an example of what has to prevail." Judge was buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Totowa, New Jersey. On October 11, 2001 Brendan Fay organized A "Month's Mind Memorial" in Good Shepard Chapel, General Theological Seminary, New York. It was an evening of prayer, stories, and traditional Irish music.</p> <p>Some Catholic leaders recognize Judge as a <em>de facto</em> saint. His helmet was presented to Pope John Paul II. France awarded him the Légion d'honneur. The U.S. Congress nominated him for a Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 2002, the City of New York renamed a portion of West 31st Street "Father Mychal F. Judge Street", and christened a commuter boat "The Father Mychal Judge Ferry". Alvernia University, a private independent college in the Franciscan tradition in Reading, Pennsylvania, named a new residence hall in honor of Judge.</p> <p>The Father Mychal Judge Walk of Remembrance takes place every year in New York around the 9/11 anniversary. It begins with a Mass at St. Francis Church on West 31st Street, then proceeds to the site of Ground Zero, retracing Judge's final journey and praying along the way. Every September 11, there is also a Mass in memory of Mychal Judge in Boston, attended by many who lost family members on 9/11.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIksULK2BplKKPHvPFB85Xu_B4kePtZRAQx6FPqOUnZdIw_z3X8CVn7hgX6CRU0uw2d0axQ780zLNRPFNte408xJZp2cksxHVOBQEND7WOBntteMmLq38IFCbhfx8KGGGDvO8Si35VExT/s1600-h/Father_Michael_Judge_9_11%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Father_Michael_Judge_9_11" border="0" alt="Father_Michael_Judge_9_11" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKo7xUESAK2_8m9ParHtfKEhO8IP405CTYiW_e9pzxDJfC_Wnv81MuxPa7nhN39tDkP1cDm0n424atjhks9TbF3IaW99mdP2bJmJYMXe2nHOjqLioZ8NLoM_cTwyAoBpbbKkTKcWioXoDT/?imgmax=800" width="409" height="331"></a></p> <blockquote> <p>“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.<br> <br>“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’<br> <br>“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ </p> <p>“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’</p> <p><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matt%2025:31-40&version=NLT" target="_blank">Matthew 25:31-40</a></p></blockquote> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><script expr:src='"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/GablefamilyBlog?i=" + data:post.url' type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13708674073036211911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746791589644308340.post-85509314071409426642010-09-08T20:53:00.000-04:002010-09-08T20:53:38.742-04:00Will Work For FoodI feel like I should blog, although in truth I've really got nothing. It's Wednesday (cleverly disguised as Tuesday), work is a tad more stressful than it should be (hopefully it will calm down on a 5-day work week), all the normal stuff.<br />
<br />
And then I happened across this picture, and it just says it all.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKSgeXseXrpYs_4rEWqewlOR3MdAOCsMJM3mwehJEmXf2eLXAgnxksZ6iNC4p97Qhv-9QAECkyHJd0DLPAwpWS-9gFlIuwdodZx87dIeprLNIDJUQM-vWMCaZvyyMp_0CrugmsDlSbf3N/s1600/frog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKSgeXseXrpYs_4rEWqewlOR3MdAOCsMJM3mwehJEmXf2eLXAgnxksZ6iNC4p97Qhv-9QAECkyHJd0DLPAwpWS-9gFlIuwdodZx87dIeprLNIDJUQM-vWMCaZvyyMp_0CrugmsDlSbf3N/s640/frog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Good night ladies and gentlemen!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script expr:src='"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/GablefamilyBlog?i=" + data:post.url' type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13708674073036211911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746791589644308340.post-2960360203031246232010-08-24T18:28:00.000-04:002010-08-24T18:28:32.207-04:00Holy Cow I'm an Adult! WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN????For exercise I've taken to bike riding around the Wekiva sidewalk network. I'm not up to Dany or AJ biking standards by <i>any</i> stretch of the imagination, but it's a decent way to stay in some kind of shape (other than "couch potatoe" which Elizabeth assures me is NOT a shape).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://roadhouserealty.net/images/communities/Wekiva_Hunt_Club_Longwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://roadhouserealty.net/images/communities/Wekiva_Hunt_Club_Longwood.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>As I was riding today, feeling the cool breeze (yes, cool, it rained) on my face, I started to think back to when Pete, Jason, Kevin, Coker, Dave, and me would ride those same sidewalks to get where we needed to go. We could cut over to Kevin's, to Larissa's (which was, as I recall, a favorite stop), even out to Todd and Daniel's. Seeing the pieces of sidewalk that ran toward's Jennifer Estates, that cut out towards Bent Oak, I enjoying the fond memories. Back then I was much more fearless. You eat it on a bike then, you brush off the grass stains (maybe blood) and keep going.<br />
<br />
And then suddenly it hit me. Those fun, fond memories of riding the sidewalks as a young (pre car) teenager...are 20 years old!!!! Reality hit like a brick wall: <b>I am an adult</b>. The people I rode with are adults too. We're married, some of have kids, we all have careers (not jobs, <i>careers</i>), we own houses, cars...<br />
<br />
I enjoyed the rest of the ride, but it just wasn't the same. I was cruising the same hills, same sidewalks, but now I was thinking about it. Applying the brakes at times because I <i>don't</i> heal in five minutes any more. My wife does NOT think it's cool that I jump some crazy sidewalk hump and wipe out in the grass (grass stains BAD).<br />
<br />
So today is the day that I realized, fully and truly, that I am an adult. And I <i>guess</i> I'm okay with that. Dagnabbit!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script expr:src='"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/GablefamilyBlog?i=" + data:post.url' type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13708674073036211911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746791589644308340.post-65124420181742236092010-08-24T07:32:00.002-04:002010-08-24T07:34:02.724-04:00What REAL Floridians Already Know!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Map of Florida</b></span></div></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma;">Finally, a true map of Florida that explains this weird, but wonderful state. Those of you who live in Florida will recognize it, and those who don’t have </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma;">been warned!!!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Pf6ol_qQA-lPWpFpwCVcHVW6lcZvL-TZXpZaTiMbsTihNOZL4JWXTSn5uWab0eZaOIokXWMdOWkQkWFtT94rWGjrepeJPtI9OwQXE3c-bkIwgfC7ndk70eYIvGOwcsDCrtICg3ZL27CI/s1600/image001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Pf6ol_qQA-lPWpFpwCVcHVW6lcZvL-TZXpZaTiMbsTihNOZL4JWXTSn5uWab0eZaOIokXWMdOWkQkWFtT94rWGjrepeJPtI9OwQXE3c-bkIwgfC7ndk70eYIvGOwcsDCrtICg3ZL27CI/s320/image001.jpg" /></b></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You know you're a Floridian if....</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Socks are only for bowling. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You never use an umbrella because the rain will be over in five minutes. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A good parking place has nothing to do with distance from the store, but everything to do with shade. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your winter coat is made of denim. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can tell the difference between fire ant bites and mosquito bites. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You're younger than thirty but some of your friends are over 65. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anything under 70 degrees is chilly. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You've driven through Yeehaw Junction. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You know that no other grocery store can compare to Publix. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Every other house in your neighborhood had blue roofs in 2004-2005. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You know that anything under a Category 3 just isn't worth waking up for. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You dread love bug season. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You are on a first name basis with the Hurricane list. You don't say "Hurricane Charley" or "Hurricane Frances". You know them as Andrew, Bonnie, Charley, Dennis, Emily , Frances , Ivan, Jeanne, Wilma. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You know what a snowbird is and when they'll leave. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You think a six-foot alligator is actually pretty average. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you say "Down South", you mean Key West . </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Flip-flops are everyday wear. Shoes are for business meetings and church, but you HAVE worn flip flops to church before. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You have a drawer full of bathing suits, and one sweatshirt. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You get annoyed at the tourists who feed seagulls. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A mountain is any hill 100 feet above sea level. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You know that the four seasons really are: Hurricane season, love bug season, tourist season and summer. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You've hosted a hurricane party.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can pronounce Okeechobee, Kissimmee , Withlacoochee , Thonotosassa, Micanopy, Chassahowitzka, and Pithlachascotee. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You understand why it's better to have a friend with a boat, than have a boat yourself. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You were 25 when you first met someone who couldn't swim. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You've worn shorts and used the A/C on Christmas and New Years. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>You already know all of this!</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script expr:src='"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/GablefamilyBlog?i=" + data:post.url' type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13708674073036211911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746791589644308340.post-88706243370697698342010-02-12T14:23:00.003-05:002010-02-12T22:15:33.606-05:00Tithing God's Way vs. The Church's Way<p>Most people have noticed that they must keep giving. giving, giving to the church because that’s “what you’re supposed to do.” The church will guilt you into giving ever more (a favorite is <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi%203:8-10&version=NLT" target="_blank">Malachi 3:8-10</a> about not tithing being the same as cheating God). But is God the harsh task master that demands 20% or more of your income?</p> <p>Tithe is a Biblical concept. Abraham gave a tithe (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=gen%2014:20&version=NLT" target="_blank">Gen 14:10</a>), and God established tithing or His people in the wilderness in Leviticus and Deuteronomy.</p> <blockquote> <p>“One tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord and must be set apart to him as holy.” – <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=lev%2027:30&version=NLT" target="_blank">Lev. 27:30</a></p> </blockquote> <blockquote> <p>“You must set aside a tithe of your crops—one-tenth of all the crops you harvest each year.” – <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2014:22&version=NLT" target="_blank">Deut. 14:22</a></p> </blockquote> <p>Looking at that, you can see that you should give back to God 10% of what you have, since He gave it to you. For the Israelites, this was a spiritually humbling thing, and they acknowledged that everything they had they had because of God. In the same spirit we should tithe today. </p> <p>But what if you’re broke, struggling to survive on what savings you have left, are trying to find a job but just can’t seem to make it? Are you still supposed to tithe what you don’t have? The church would say yes, because it’s only by tithing that God will bless you (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi%203:10&version=NLT" target="_blank">Mal. 3:10</a>). But Deuteronomy gives a slightly different picture:</p> <blockquote> <p>“Now when the Lord your God blesses you with a good harvest, the place of worship he chooses for his name to be honored might be too far for you to bring the tithe.” – <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deut%2014:24&version=NLT" target="_blank">Deut. 14:34</a></p> </blockquote> <p>Look closely at the first part of that: “<em>When the Lord your God blesses you with a <strong>good harvest…”</strong></em> If you’ve lost your job and are struggling to make ends meet, do you think God wants your tithe before you can by a can of soup or pay your electric bill? I don’t think think so. In fact, go a little further in Deuteronomy and God gives some specific instructions about tithe:</p> <blockquote> <p>“Every third year you must offer a special tithe of your crops. In this year of the special tithe you must give your tithes to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows, so that they will have enough to eat in your towns.” - <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=deut%2026:12&version=NLT" target="_blank">Deut. 26:12</a></p> </blockquote> <p>So every third year, the tithe went to people who didn’t have land (Levites) and those who were struggling (immigrants, orphans, widows). God commanded the people to help those who needed it. Is that a stretch? Maybe, but:</p> <blockquote> <p>“There should be no poor among you, for the Lord your God will greatly bless you in the land he is giving you as a special possession. You will receive this blessing if you are careful to obey all the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today. The Lord your God will bless you as he has promised. You will lend money to many nations but will never need to borrow. You will rule many nations, but they will not rule over you. </p> <p>“But if there are any poor Israelites in your towns when you arrive in the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tightfisted toward them. Instead, be generous and lend them whatever they need. Do not be mean-spirited and refuse someone a loan because the year for canceling debts is close at hand. If you refuse to make the loan and the needy person cries out to the Lord, you will be considered guilty of sin. Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do. There will always be some in the land who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites in need.” – <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2015:4-11&version=NLT" target="_blank">Deut. 15:4-11</a></p> </blockquote> <p>God is very specific that we should use what we have to care for the poor. We should treat them with kindness and give them as we are able. As Jesus said: “You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me” (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%2012:8&version=NLT" target="_blank">John 12:8</a>).</p> <p>Going by what these Bible passages, God does want us to give a tenth of our increase. But if we simply don’t have any money, God doesn’t want to milk us even more. In fact, God instructs other believers to use their tithes to help you out.</p> <p>But is that what the modern church instructs? Most modern churches actually put a big emphasis on tithing. In the Adventist Church, believers are <strong><em>strongly</em></strong> encouraged to give as much as they can. The Biblical 10% is the <em>minimum</em> amount you can give, but you don’t want to just scrape by giving the minimum. Why? Because that 10% goes to a large, bloated organization, never to be seen again. Seriously, ask the General Conference to account for all the tithe they take in, see what happens. If you even get a response at all, they won’t (or can’t) account for it all, but not a dime comes back to the local church actually TRYING to minister to people, of that you can be certain.</p> <p>No, in order for the local Adventist church to survive, members <em>have</em> to give 20% or more, otherwise the electric bill won’t be paid. It’s not pretty, but it’s reality. So Adventists are encouraged to give a 20% tithe (or to use the jargon, tithes <em>and</em> offerings), because 10% is not enough. God needs more to do the ministry He needs to do, and you don’t want to cheat God do you (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi%203:8&version=NLT" target="_blank">Mal. 3:8</a>)?</p> <p>Modern tithing is flawed and broken. Biblically, you could give your 10% to the Red Cross to help others. You could take it to Publix and buy food for a needy family. You could use it to help put gas into the gas tank of a single mom trying to hold things together. <em>That</em> is what God wants. Jesus spells it out very clearly: </p> <blockquote> <p>“For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.”</p> <p>“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ </p> <p>“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’” – <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matt%2025:35-40&version=NLT" target="_blank">Matt. 25:35-40</a></p> </blockquote> <p>The church might encourage you to give more, more, more, because as Paul said “God loves a cheerful giver!” And if we don’t give, we can’t be cheerful and God will curse us (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi%203:9&version=NLT" target="_blank">Mal. 3:9</a>). And let’s face it, the local Adventist churches are in a bad spot because the bulk of everything you give to them for tithe is sent into the ether and can’t even be used for the power bill, the water bill, or anything. </p> <p>I would encourage you to reflect for yourself how to tithe. Look at the <em>full</em> advice that Paul gives: </p> <blockquote> <p>You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” – <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%209:7&version=NLT" target="_blank">2 Cor. 9:7</a></p> </blockquote> <p>Pray about it. If you can’t tithe financially (and many of us can’t right now), perhaps you can give a tenth of your time to God, helping out where you can. But it is up to <strong>YOU</strong> to decide what & how much you can give. That is all God asks of you. So talk to Him about it!</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script expr:src='"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/GablefamilyBlog?i=" + data:post.url' type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13708674073036211911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746791589644308340.post-17367514327550149262010-01-31T09:00:00.003-05:002010-01-31T09:46:24.869-05:00God Vs. "Church"It seems that today the majority of people are fed up, disenfranchised, disconnected, and so on with "Church." The idea of having to go to a building for an hour or two a week just because maybe you're "supposed too" really doesn't cut it for majority of people today. In tough economic times, people grow tired of hearing that God wants them to give more, more, more, so He can continue doing His work and convert more people into Church pews. I think the bottom line, to quote Solomon, is that for most people Church is "Nothing new under the sun."<div><br /></div><div>In my view, the problem is that people confuse Church and church (and for good reason). The denominational Church system is designed for one thing: to sustain itself. And in order to do that, it needs to get more tithe giving units, a.k.a butts in pews. That's why evangelists always talk about the number of baptisms or the number of people introduced to Jesus, which of course encourages people to give more to the evangelism funds and causes that all Church's have. What they rarely (I'd go so far as to say never) tell you is how they connected all those new conversions with a church in any sustainable way. The evangelist preacher moves on to the next town, and doesn't really think about what the next step for the new converts might be.</div><div><br /></div><div>For those already in the church, it's all about tithe and offering (because tithe is never enough). God, in His wisdom, asks for 10% of our increase, so if you got laid-off your job and and struggling to survive on savings, God does not ask you for 10% of what you have left. The Church, on the other hand, talks about the need for money and funds to do this, that, and the next thing, and the 10% minimum is just never enough. And then you end up repeating the evangelistic rally I described a second ago. That is the nature of the denominational system. It cares only about sustaining itself and not a whit about people's relationships with God. It's just a system, after all.</div><div><br /></div><div>I mentioned that there is also church. This is made up of local people who study together, fellowship together, and are on a journey with each other. The ministry the church does is in how the lives of its people are lived, and that includes helping and supporting others in need. God calls us from the front of the Bible to the back to take care of the poor. Jesus Himself said that "You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me." (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark%2014:7&version=NLT">Mark 14:7</a>).</div><div><br /></div><div>If you read Acts, you see that this connected group of people, this church, prayed together. With each other, for each other. They pooled their possessions and shared what they had. The result was that there was not ONE needy person in that whole group of thousands (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts%204:32-35&version=NLT">Acts 4:32-25</a>)! And their ranks grew because people saw how much these people loved each other, just as Jesus had told them to do (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%2013:34-35&version=NLT">John 14:34-35</a>). That didn't mean that their lives were easy, more often than not they were persecuted and killed, but they could count on each other for comfort and support no matter WHAT they struggled with! They lived truly as the prophet Zephaniah says:</div><div><div></div><blockquote><div> Seek the Lord, all who are humble,</div><div> and follow his commands.</div><div> Seek to do what is right</div><div> and to live humbly. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=zeph%202:3&version=NLT">Zeph. 2:3</a>)</div></blockquote></div><div>Personally I don't often attend a high Church service. When I do sit in an actual service, I'm fortunate enough to have found one that tries to be connected in this way, and even if I'm not physically there I'm blessed that the service is streamed live online so I'm able to connect in some way. But what I do go to every week, almost without fail, is a small group study. That, truly, is my church. We study together, journey together, socialize and fellowship together. We have different tastes, opinions, and ways of doing things, but we're in this together, and it's wonderful. To me, that is truly my church.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the end, I think that the denominational system Church (any denomination) does a lot to impede people forming a meaningful relationship with Jesus. Not that it can't happen, but it's made more difficult. To me, the essence of church is those personal connections we make with fellow sinners who don't have all the answers, either. People we can study, learn, and grow with as we all seek to build that personal relationship with our loving God.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's how I see it, anyway. I do hope that no matter your views on things, we find the friends and fellowship with other people who are seeking a connection with God (and don't have all the answers).</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script expr:src='"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/GablefamilyBlog?i=" + data:post.url' type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13708674073036211911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746791589644308340.post-39026469071927122142009-12-01T08:05:00.001-05:002009-12-01T08:05:44.726-05:00Surprised Kitty<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0Bmhjf0rKe8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0Bmhjf0rKe8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script expr:src='"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/GablefamilyBlog?i=" + data:post.url' type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13708674073036211911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746791589644308340.post-79333530917758721822009-10-31T08:30:00.000-04:002009-10-31T12:44:14.333-04:00In Persecution, the Light Carries OnIf you look back in history, after the Apostles had all died off, the Church admirably carried on their work with zeal for a couple hundred years. But over time, the Church (shortly thereafter called the 'Catholic' or 'Universal' Church) begin to become enamored with its own power and authority. After Constantine gave it power in the State, the egocentrism exploded, like fuel on a fire.<br /><br />God spoke of this when He said: "<span class="woj" style="">I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars.</span> <span class="woj" style="">You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.</span><br /><br />"<span class="woj" style="">But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!</span> <span class="woj" style="">Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches." (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%202:2-5&version=NLT">Rev. 2:2-5</a>)<br /><br />They did start out strong, and while many began to accumulate power in their own understanding and were able to use religion for personal influence, there were some who remembered the teachings of Jesus and His Apostles, some who, against all odds, stayed true to the simple law of God (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matt%2022:37-40&version=NLT">Matt. 22:37-40</a>):<br /></span><ol><li>Love God</li><li>Love Others<br /></li></ol><span class="woj" style="">The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waldenses">Waldenses</a> stayed true to God, and the Catholic Church declared</span> them heretics—the group's principal error was "contempt for ecclesiastical power"—that they dared to teach and preach outside of the control of the clergy "without divine inspiration." As such, these devout followers of God were persecuted, murdered, chased into the hills, but they could not be extinguished! They realized fully what the Apostle Peter spoke of:<span class="woj" style=""><br /></span><blockquote>"Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong! Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit." (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%203:13-18&version=NLT">I Peter 3:13-18</a>)</blockquote>The Waldenses realized, as the Apostle Paul had centuries before, that following God was the greatest thing a person could do. They saw, as Paul did, that "[E]verything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith." (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Phil%203:8-9&version=NLT">Phil. 3:8-9</a>)<br /><br />The Seventh-day Adventist church has always identified with the Waldenses and their plight. One of the church's founders, herself a young adult at the time, wrote of work of the Waldenses of carrying the light of truth out of the dark ages and following the Spirit of God above all else. The zeal of Mrs. White and her young adult contemporaries ignited a movement that would become the Adventist Church.<br /><br />But, just as the Catholics of old, the founders died off and the Church retreated from spreading the Word to upholding the institution. No longer is "<span class="woj" style="">Love the L</span><span class="woj" style=""><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">ord</span></span> <span class="woj" style="">your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength." and "</span><span class="woj" style="">Love your neighbor as yourself." (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark%2012:30-31&version=NLT">Mark 12:30-31</a>)</span> the bottom line. These days, you can't <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> love God unless you're a good Adventist and fully embrace all the Church's theology and teachings (because that makes you a good Christian follower of God). And you can't <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> love your neighbor unless you can convert them and have them baptized into the Adventist Church.<br /><br />Fortunately, even in these trying times, when the Church holds secret meetings to find the best way to extinguish Word of God (and let's face it, throughout the entire history of humanity this has taken place) that deviates from the man-made theology, the Spirit of the Lord will preserve the Lord's truth and, like Peter and John of old, God's followers will stand up and say: "Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard." (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%204:19-20&version=NLT">Acts 4:19-20</a>).<br /><br />And to those who meet in secret meetings, councils, synods, to extinguish the Spirit of Truth because it doesn't match your human theology, I pray that you remember the wise words of Solomon:<br /><blockquote>"God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad." (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes%2012:14&version=NLT">Eccl. 12:14</a>)</blockquote><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script expr:src='"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/GablefamilyBlog?i=" + data:post.url' type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13708674073036211911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746791589644308340.post-69136509223756592912009-07-21T19:47:00.001-04:002009-07-21T19:47:42.634-04:00The Penguin is Your Friend!<p>In the beginning, there was one computer system. Created in 1969 by AT&T Bell Labs, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unix" target="_blank">UNIX</a> served the computing needs of everyone (and still does to this day). Of course, in 1969 computers were pretty large, and people with computing needs were researchers. As the computer began to shrink to something smaller than a boxcar, people began to notice that UNIX wasn’t all that user friendly for the common man.</p> <p>So along came Bill & Paul, who decided that they were going to make something more user friendly, but they were going to start from scratch. Bill & Paul created their own programming language: Basic. They took their DOS idea to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibm" target="_blank">IBM</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows" target="_blank">Windows</a> began to spring onto Personal Computer. But Bill & Paul weren’t alone. The Steves were also trying to make a more user friendly system, and they decided to use pictures (or icons) to help users navigate around. Rather than start from scratch like Bill & Paul, the Steves used UNIX and made it friendly, and thus the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macintosh" target="_blank">Macintosh</a> system was born.</p> <p> About 10 years later, a Finnish university student named <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linus_Torvalds" target="_blank">Linus Torvalds</a> decided he wanted a system that would allow him to do <i>exactly</i> what he needed to do, the way he needed to do it, the most efficient way possible. He took a look at the UNIX system, and <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_QyqI_gYSrcg/SmZTYWrHG1I/AAAAAAAAE_k/xDEIH2vmCK4/s1600-h/New%20Picture%5B5%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Tux" border="0" alt="Tux" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_QyqI_gYSrcg/SmZTY-PYN-I/AAAAAAAAE_o/xYzmrMRL_Pg/New%20Picture_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="88" height="104" /></a>decided that was a good place to start. Rather than building something for profit, Linus thought that the best way to achieve the most optimal way of doing something was to get other people to help. Thus, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux" target="_blank">Linux</a> was born and has remained free and open-source ever since.</p> <p>Believe it or not, most people have been exposed to or dealt with Linux at some point. If you have the T-Mobile G1, you have a Linux phone. Many supercomputers and enterprise servers run Linux because it is lighter, faster, and more secure than either <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows" target="_blank">Windows</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osx" target="_blank">OSX</a>. In fact, Linux is the about the most secure operating system there is. And, as computer makers are moving towards lighter, faster, smaller machines, Linux has surfaced as a very viable option (not least because of the price tag). Since so many Netbooks and other portable devices (not to mention some mainline PC’s from the likes of Dell and HP), I thought it might be good idea to talk about Linux (the other <i>other</i> white meat of computing), or at least one of the most popular Linux distributions.</p> <p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu" target="_blank">Ubuntu</a> (pronounced /u: ‘bu:ntu:/ oo-BOON-too), is a computer operating system based on Debian GNU/Linux. It is distributed as free software. Ubuntu's goals include providing an up-to-date, stable operating system for the average user, with a strong focus on usability and ease-of-installation. Ubuntu has been selected by readers of desktoplinux.com as the most popular Linux distribution for the desktop, claiming approximately 30% of Linux desktop installations in both 2006 and 2007.</p> <p><a href="http://www.ubuntu.com" target="_blank"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Ubuntu" border="0" alt="Ubuntu" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_QyqI_gYSrcg/SmZTZOW2OpI/AAAAAAAAE_s/DTaZUF2b2Dw/New%20Picture%20%281%29%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="240" height="187" /></a></p> <p>Ubuntu is composed of multiple software packages typically distributed under either a free software or an open source license. Ubuntu is sponsored by the UK based company Canonical Ltd., owned by South African entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth. Instead of selling Ubuntu for profit, Canonical creates revenue by selling technical support and from creating several services tied to Ubuntu including Ubuntu One, Landscape and Launchpad. Canonical has yet to turn profitable, however. By keeping Ubuntu free and open source, Canonical is able to utilize the talents of community developers in Ubuntu's constituent components.</p> <p>The work of the Ubuntu team is driven by a philosophy on software freedom that aims to spread and bring the benefits of software to all parts of the world. At the core of the Ubuntu Philosophy are these core philosophical ideals:</p> <ol> <li>Every computer user should have the freedom to download, run, copy, distribute study, share, change and improve their software for any purpose, without paying licensing fees.</li> <li>Every computer user should be able to use their software in the language of their choice.</li> <li>Every computer user should be given every opportunity to use software, even if they work under a disability.</li> </ol> <p>Ubuntu Linux is free and available for anyone to use however they wish. I personally used it on an aging computer and extended the life be a couple of years, and was able to do everything I needed to do. Another nice feature of Ubuntu is that is <i>infinitely</i> customizable. For example, you can leave it looking like Linux, </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_QyqI_gYSrcg/SmZTa6jGySI/AAAAAAAAE_w/L8PLbGMRJUI/s1600-h/New%20Picture%20%282%29%5B13%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Linux Desktop" border="0" alt="Linux Desktop" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_QyqI_gYSrcg/SmZTbxPJAPI/AAAAAAAAE_0/v9tN0G8Nojg/New%20Picture%20%282%29_thumb%5B11%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="378" height="310" /></a> </p> <p>you can make it look like Windows, </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_QyqI_gYSrcg/SmZTeb2cY1I/AAAAAAAAE_4/6WPRoZj1fuE/s1600-h/New%20Picture%20%283%29%5B3%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Winbdows Desktop (on Linux)" border="0" alt="Winbdows Desktop (on Linux)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_QyqI_gYSrcg/SmZTg3y0HpI/AAAAAAAAE_8/TW6YedyAbrU/New%20Picture%20%283%29_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="364" height="262" /></a> </p> <p>or you can make it look like OSX. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_QyqI_gYSrcg/SmZTkHAei2I/AAAAAAAAFAA/dPrIBO-cXuw/s1600-h/New%20Picture%20%284%29%5B3%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="New Picture (4)" border="0" alt="New Picture (4)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_QyqI_gYSrcg/SmZTmoT0qcI/AAAAAAAAFAE/7JCNvcnoL5Y/New%20Picture%20%284%29_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="367" height="297" /></a> </p> <p>All for free!</p> <p>Again, most people will probably be exposed to Linux on Netbooks or low-cost computers. If you are considering a one of those products, or have an older computer that doesn’t run Windows that well any more, consider giving Linux a spin. I did, and I’ve been in love ever since.</p> <p>Sure, you can pay through the nose for an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple" target="_blank">Apple</a> with OSX or pay Microsoft another $120+ to upgrade Windows. And both of those systems have some wonderful attributes. But when considering that computer upgrade or purchase, the question you just have to ask yourself is not “Why pay more?” but instead: “Why pay?”</p> <p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tux_the_penguin" target="_blank"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Tux the Penguin" border="0" alt="Tux the Penguin" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_QyqI_gYSrcg/SmZTnH0m6jI/AAAAAAAAFAI/Mku-xtDJTe8/New%20Picture%20%286%29%5B6%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="190" height="184" /></a></p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><script expr:src='"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/GablefamilyBlog?i=" + data:post.url' type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13708674073036211911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746791589644308340.post-44924482937943377722009-07-10T20:06:00.003-04:002009-07-10T20:08:27.913-04:00Now That's Good Water!My dad found this one on YouTube, and I couldn't help but post it up. I think I need some of what these kids are drinking!<br /><p><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/_PHnRIn74Ag&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/_PHnRIn74Ag&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script expr:src='"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/GablefamilyBlog?i=" + data:post.url' type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13708674073036211911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746791589644308340.post-69318555622522383662009-04-05T16:11:00.002-04:002009-04-05T16:26:02.523-04:00Sunday Yard WorkFor....quite some time now we've had an unruly jungle of ferns right next to our front door (in hindsite we probably should've taken a "begore" picture, but it was early, so...).<div><br /></div><div>We finally decided that the jungle needed to go. Of course, pulling up the ferns was the easy part. It was getting all the roots up afterwards that was the tricky part. Plus there were the roots from the oak tree, the neighbor's rubber tree, the bush that's still there. We probably should've had a hatchet, but....oh well. We got it done, actually had some really decent soil, and our flower bed sprang to life (and better drainage just behind it). No more fern roots trying to grow into the house for us!<br /><div><br /><div style="width:288px;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="288" height="192" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fgablefamily01%2Falbumid%2F5321302089441540353%3Fkind%3Dphoto%26alt%3Drss" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></div><span style="float:left;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/gablefamily01/SundayFlowerGarden" style="color:#3964c2">View Album</a></span><div style="text-align:right;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/getEmbed" style="color:#3964c2">Get your own</a></div></div><br /><br /><br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script expr:src='"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/GablefamilyBlog?i=" + data:post.url' type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13708674073036211911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746791589644308340.post-5642723553635114482008-12-19T21:23:00.003-05:002008-12-19T21:40:30.541-05:00(Early) Christmas MiracleSo its been quite a while since I've had a job I've felt secure in. I graduated with a degree I discovered the summer before graduation I wasn't happy with and really didn't know what I wanted to do. Then I discovered working with students at school. I became a substitute teacher, loved it and have applied for certification. Then I got a position as a paraprofessional in an ESE room. This was great, while it lasted. With the end of the school year, came the end of my term in this position. It was back to substitute teaching since budget cuts took away the need for new teachers here in Florida.<br /><br />Today, God gave me an early Christmas miracle. Todd and I have been praying about a full-time teaching job for me. Inside, I felt as if searching was useless. No one needed teachers, and if they did, why would they hire one without a background in education? Today, I got a call about a position that was open... but I had to call the principal immediately!<br /><br />The conversation went a bit like this:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Me:</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span> Hello, is this Mr. ___? This is Elizabeth Gable.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Principal:</span> Oh yes, you must have received the message.<br /> (... information about the position... ) Are you interested?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Me:</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span> Yes, it sounds great!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Principal:</span> </span> Great. You'll start the second week after the break ends, around January 12.<br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Me:</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span> Really?!? This position is a go? (yeah, I know... not real professional)<br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Principal: </span> Yes. The job is yours. You can come by the week after break to help with the planning if you'd like.<br /><br />So now, I'm just terribly excited, because this is truly an answer to prayers. It is a teaching position. Instead of a class of my own, I'll be working with students in 3rd-5th grade in the 30th percentile, to help them raise their FCAT scores in math, and a little bit of reading. I don't think its my dream job, but at this point, I can't say I even know exactly what my dream job is. I'm just so grateful for this opportunity, and a little nervous.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script expr:src='"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/GablefamilyBlog?i=" + data:post.url' type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746791589644308340.post-30544593455010398762008-10-14T19:51:00.001-04:002008-10-14T19:51:00.442-04:00What We SHOULD Remember Voting<div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:53357c8b-5919-4e32-8c25-305d27c17a37:faa82d51-5e70-454c-a42b-4f8e38ec57b2" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/T_5XIOn68Hk" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></div> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><script expr:src='"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/GablefamilyBlog?i=" + data:post.url' type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13708674073036211911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746791589644308340.post-30269759019521220102008-09-29T18:50:00.005-04:002008-09-29T19:36:01.170-04:00Don & Linda's 40th AnniversaryOn September 20, we went had the chance to celebrate Todd's parents' 40th wedding anniversary (actually September 22).<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nEIsb1WzoYI/SOFb8AwfujI/AAAAAAAAAxg/OtpUALT0NuU/s1600-h/IMG_0494.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; clear: both; float: left; width: 257px; height: 195px;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nEIsb1WzoYI/SOFb8AwfujI/AAAAAAAAAxg/OtpUALT0NuU/s320/IMG_0494.JPG" border="0" /></a>What Don and Linda thought was a get-together with their friends, surprisingly turned into a celebration for them. With a delicious cake from Publix, and wedding pictures spread around the table it was obvious what we were celebrating.<br /><br />To celebrate 40 years, Don & Linda were joined by their two children, daughter-in-law, and their closest friends.<br /><div style="text-align: right;"> </div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nEIsb1WzoYI/SOFfAB1TGmI/AAAAAAAAAyA/fyT7dlL72ZI/s1600-h/IMG_0496.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 208px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nEIsb1WzoYI/SOFfAB1TGmI/AAAAAAAAAyA/fyT7dlL72ZI/s320/IMG_0496.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251583094587333218" border="0" /></a>Stephanie had a great idea... the three of us kids met at her salon where one of her friends took a picture of us. She found a fabulous frame which matches Don & Linda's decor perfectly!<br /><br />Todd & I decided to print one of their wedding pictures and one of ours to put in a bi-fold frame. Its hard to believe there was nearly 40 years between the weddings of both Mr. & Mrs. Gable's.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nEIsb1WzoYI/SOFhhkbOYKI/AAAAAAAAAyI/lPx3P3h5XO8/s1600-h/IMG_0499.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 231px; height: 178px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nEIsb1WzoYI/SOFhhkbOYKI/AAAAAAAAAyI/lPx3P3h5XO8/s200/IMG_0499.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251585869832151202" border="0" /></a>I suppose, one thing Todd & I haven't truly experienced yet, is the division of the sexes. I guess its since most of our friends are newly-weds....<br /><br />Even early on, the women gathered around the table to look at wedding pictures while the guys had their own conversations.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nEIsb1WzoYI/SOFiF6ZtduI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/w0Uui_Qj37s/s1600-h/IMG_0497.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 160px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nEIsb1WzoYI/SOFiF6ZtduI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/w0Uui_Qj37s/s200/IMG_0497.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251586494206670562" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I've heard it mentioned whenever Linda makes her fabulously, yummy chocolate sauce, but that evening, Sue made it come alive. Janice has mentioned that its so good she could drink it with a straw. The chocolate sauce is good on everything, and when we decided to try it on the cake, Sue brought out the straws.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nEIsb1WzoYI/SOFjSQPU5EI/AAAAAAAAAyY/0CKWF0vpmgM/s1600-h/IMG_0504.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nEIsb1WzoYI/SOFjSQPU5EI/AAAAAAAAAyY/0CKWF0vpmgM/s200/IMG_0504.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251587805738755138" border="0" /></a>The evening went off even better than I had hoped. Because of Sue's creative reasoning to get Don & Linda to their house and the help of their friends, the thought of wanting to celebrate a special event was turned into reality... and a very happy memory.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script expr:src='"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/GablefamilyBlog?i=" + data:post.url' type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746791589644308340.post-56434148487626199922008-08-31T23:48:00.002-04:002008-09-01T15:26:41.327-04:00Karen's Gatorland Birthday Adventure<p align="center"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/gablefamily01/KarenSGatorlandBday/photo#5240868167834307298"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/gablefamily01/SLtN1NJqiuI/AAAAAAAAEy8/SejFxJBK7aQ/s400/IMG_0655.JPG" /></a></p> <p>Our friend Karen is about to have a birthday. And, Karen being Karen, she wanted to get a bunch of friends together and spend time with them. Of course, being Karen, that means quite the adventure! So, using all the birthday favors she had, Karen got all her friends together at...<a target="_blank" href="http://www.gatorland.com/"></a><a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatorland">Gatorland</a>!</p> <p><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/gablefamily01/KarenSGatorlandBday/photo#5240865957280236866"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/gablefamily01/SLtL0iMgRUI/AAAAAAAAEjg/3phymVrIiCI/s400/IMG_0513.JPG" /></a><br /></p><p>As you can see, Karen even made a new friend!</p> <p>Of course, Elizabeth likes neither gators or snakes...which are in abundance at <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatorland">Gatorland</a>, but, being a trooper, she decided that it was worth putting up with all the crazy reptiles if she could hang out with her friends. And, not to be outdone, Elizabeth even mustered the courage to pet a gator herself!<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/gablefamily01/KarenSGatorlandBday/photo#5240865976541142482"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/gablefamily01/SLtL1p8qXdI/AAAAAAAAEjo/0M0nnjVP2PA/s400/IMG_0515.JPG" /></a></p> <p>As you can tell from the name (and the pictures) <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatorland">Gatorland</a> had quite a few <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alligator">gators</a> around. But they've also got quite a few other critters, too. Snakes (even poisonous ones, but you can't pet those), <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_Redbelly_Turtle">turtles</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandhill_Crane">birds</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullfrogs">bullfrogs</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_tailed_deer">deer</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goats">goats</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iguanas">iguanas</a>, and both <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gopher_tortoise">gopher</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galapagos_Tortoise">Galapagos tortoises</a>. And we got to see them all!</p> <p>On of the more fascinating things, to me, was walking along the boardwalk and seeing all the gators just swimming around and then, suddenly, there's a big ol' <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocodile">crocodile</a> sunning itself in the middle of them. Everyone was just minding their own business, doing their own thing. It was pretty cool!</p> <p>The other great thing about the day was that we got to spend it with some friends we haven't gotten to hang out with much in awhile. Hopefully this <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatorland">Gatorland</a> adventure will change that, but even if it doesn't, it was <em>so</em> much fun being able to spend time with Karen, Chad, Susan, Shae, Debbie, and Becky, and then even more friends later at Habeneros for dinner!</p> <p>And, as the day went by, Elizabeth was able to make a new friend from the animal kingdom (although it wasn't a gator!)<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/gablefamily01/KarenSGatorlandBday/photo#5240866969538300002"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/gablefamily01/SLtMvdJoiGI/AAAAAAAAEqs/nTtJYPoscNc/s400/IMG_0584.JPG" /></a></p> <p>Elizabeth found an aviary nestled in with all those reptilian creatures and got to play with a <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorikeet">Lorikeet</a>. These were some of the more beautiful birds I've ever seen, and, if it weren't for the cat, I think Elizabeth just might be wanting a new pet!</p> <p>So that's what we've done so far on our Labor Day weekend. And tomorrow the big plans are to do nothing, nothing at all.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script expr:src='"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/GablefamilyBlog?i=" + data:post.url' type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13708674073036211911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746791589644308340.post-22788659145365193312008-08-29T17:51:00.001-04:002008-08-29T17:51:28.425-04:00This is Really Cool<p>I stumbled across this <em>really</em> amazing video on YouTube today, and we both thought it was cool.</p> <p>So, well, why not through it up on our blog for everyone to see?  (I recommend watching in full screen)</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:2d850237-426a-4d0a-aac4-9f3b5bc05e94" class="wlWriterSmartContent"><div id="3f57f266-bedf-4f2a-989f-8236122a020a" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSm0VgGwBSo&hl=en&fs=1" target="_new"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/tgable78/SLhvX-gSB3I/AAAAAAAAD-I/RAM0_qf6bnE/videodc655dfe0858.jpg?imgmax=800" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('3f57f266-bedf-4f2a-989f-8236122a020a'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/CSm0VgGwBSo&hl=en&fs=1\"><\/param><param name=\"wmode\" value=\"transparent\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/CSm0VgGwBSo&hl=en&fs=1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" wmode=\"transparent\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div><label style="font-size:.8em;">Grant Johnson: The YoYo Kid</label></div> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><script expr:src='"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/GablefamilyBlog?i=" + data:post.url' type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13708674073036211911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746791589644308340.post-54387712193893463242008-08-22T20:28:00.001-04:002008-08-22T20:29:30.044-04:00Todd's New Car<p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:b61fba0f-a2e8-4c6a-9b71-c152dba74c01" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/tgable78/SK9ZmoPgMiI/AAAAAAAADFI/gGiWAakzRTo/IMG_0506-8x6%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Todd's New Altima" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/tgable78/SK9ZnyBNw5I/AAAAAAAADFM/8NeHnzBRMxg/IMG_0506%5B19%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></a></div> </p> <p>Well, we went and made our second major purchase together today, and it was another car.  Not that we wanted (or needed) to go and get another car, and certainly not in the middle of the weird Tropical Storm rain that's been going on, but it had to be done.</p> <p>I say "had" because it's true.  Back four years ago when I was just out of college and was barely making more than a part-time salary, the only option I had of getting a decent car that wasn't a 10-year old rust bucket was to lease one.  So I did.  And I really enjoyed the 2005 Altima sedan that I've been driving around all this time.</p> <p>So the lease was up, and I really liked the Altima.  Of course, I didn't want to buy out the lease either, because that would just have been a LOT of money down the drain, so what was I going to do?  Well, originally I was going to get a Nissan Frontier pick-up, but then gas went crazy and something that gets 21 MPG just isn't that feasible.  On a whim, I checked the new Altima coupe and, low and behold, for the same price I could get 32 MPG.  Plus--and this was awesome--it came with the available stick shift.</p> <p>In high school and college I had a Camaro that I loved that had a manual transmission.  It was a great car, but when I got rid of it at 140k miles I thought that with traffic and everything, an automatic was the way to go.  Not that the Altima disappointed, but there's just something about the stick that you can't get in an automatic.</p> <p>So now that the lease was up, we contacted the dealer and they were actually able to locate one....ONE!....in the whole state that had the manual transmission.  There was one other one in Miami, but it was just sold.  So, in a weird convergence of everything, I got the exact car I wanted and a better price than I expected, and since there wasn't a darned thing wrong with the lease I didn't get fined there, either.</p> <p>All in all, while we didn't really need a new car, I'm very happy with the one we got.  And this time, when the payments are up, I'll get to keep it!  SCORE!</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><script expr:src='"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/GablefamilyBlog?i=" + data:post.url' type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13708674073036211911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746791589644308340.post-83014075954931750492008-08-09T17:15:00.002-04:002008-08-09T17:17:10.288-04:00Olympic Fun<p>Last night we had the opportunity to watch the Opening Ceremonies for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.<img style="margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px" height="127" src="http://www.gamblingplanet.org/images/editorials/beijing2008.jpg" width="110" align="left" /> </p> <p>I've seen a few Olympic openings in my day, but I have to say that this year was the most spectacular I've ever seen.</p> <p>The event started with 2008 Chinese drummers completely synchronized.  If you didn't know they were <em>that</em> in sync, you'd have thought it was trick photography!</p> <p>The whole ceremony was spectacular.  The Chinese really went all out, and the amount of choreography and things that went into the program.....WOW is probably the best description!</p> <p>If you didn't catch it live, I'd definitely recommend going to <a href="http://www.nbcolympics.com/" target="_blank">NBCOlympics.com</a> and watching the replay on the Internet!</p> <p align="center"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://wgtclsp.nbcolympics.com/o/4812279165b55abb/489e0924a6a9a5d3/4812279147dd6d78/cbbd516/widget.js"></script><div style="font:10px arial;width:300px;margin-top:3px;">Exclusive <a href="http://www.nbcolympics.com/" target="_blank">Summer Olympics</a> news & widgets at NBC Olympics.com!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script expr:src='"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/GablefamilyBlog?i=" + data:post.url' type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13708674073036211911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746791589644308340.post-4617766551854144622008-07-16T16:19:00.000-04:002008-07-16T16:20:01.513-04:00The First MonthIt's been one month since our wedding day. Our wedding day was just what I had dreamed. I never wanted anything big and fancy, what we had was intimate and beautiful... if I do say so myself.<br /><br />The day began a little hectic since I had decided to do all the flowers myself, but all things aside, everything still ran on schedule. By 10:00, I was standing in the house, watching my bridesmaids precede me to the ceremony side of the yard.<br /><br />For six months, I had planned our wedding down to the details. That weekend though, I had things to do that did not include making sure those details were followed through. Thankfully, we had some incredible friends to take care of everything. Linda and Sue had taken the menu off my hands a few months earlier and enlisted friends to help make the food and make it look beautiful on the buffet table. These ladies made it possible for us to have an incredible menu that was still affordable.<br /><br />On the other side, there was our friend Gina, keeping things moving and making sure everyone knew where they should be, keeping everything running on time. Because of Gina, I was able to relax instead of worrying about what was going on.<br /><br />After months of planning, there's not much I can say about our wedding except that it was perfect. The pictures tell the story.<br /><br />Talking about pictures, the one oops from our wedding is that our photographer didn't take pictures of just Todd and I (except for the pictures when we were in the tree). Even though its a pain in the butt and is costing us another $80 to get a tux again for Todd, we're meeting again this Sunday to take the traditional wedding pictures of us. I guess the biggest annoyance is that those pictures were the first on my must have list. It was a crazy day and I didn't realize we didn't have those pictures until we were on our way to our honeymoon location, but I really don't think it should be my responsibility to remember that... hello... I'm not the professional photographer. It irks me, but it's hard to be upset when they're so nice.<br /><br />So, I titled this as "the first month." I guess to sum it up, its just been nice knowing that at the end of the day, I know Todd's going to be there... no matter what. It's nice to be together and laugh about everything. I think that's what we do most... laugh. I look forward to doing that forever.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script expr:src='"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/GablefamilyBlog?i=" + data:post.url' type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746791589644308340.post-1834765479992653322008-07-04T10:18:00.004-04:002008-07-04T10:34:38.869-04:004th of July WOW!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://dev.rhb.xl1067.com/cc-common/mlib/3843/06/3843_1212571597.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://dev.rhb.xl1067.com/cc-common/mlib/3843/06/3843_1212571597.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Each year for the last 10 or 12 years, the city of Altamonte Springs, with help from local radio station <a href="http://www.wxxl.com/">XL 106.7</a> puts on a 4th of July spectacular known as Red Hot & Boom at the downtown Crane's Roost Park. The radio station gets quite a few bands and music artists, and the city gets enough fireworks to last 30 minutes.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.orlandohomes-4u.com/blogger/uploaded_images/Fountain-775915.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 156px;" src="http://www.orlandohomes-4u.com/blogger/uploaded_images/Fountain-775915.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br />Crane's Roost Park</span></div><br />This year, in honor of Todd T's 30th birthday, Jeff and his roommate Ryan decided to have a party at their place, which is the penthouse overlooking Crane's Roost <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/media/photo/2007-07/30951201.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 325px;" src="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/media/photo/2007-07/30951201.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Par<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://z.about.com/d/columbusoh/1/0/b/9/fireworks_1_bg_070402.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://z.about.com/d/columbusoh/1/0/b/9/fireworks_1_bg_070402.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>k. Okay, maybe the timing and location had more to do with it than Todd's birthday, but it was a good added bonus.<br /><br />So, this year, we got about the best view of fireworks you can get, from the 12th floor! Sure, our ears are still ringing a little bit, and we had to do a fair bit of walking (but found be best parking place!)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://z.about.com/d/columbusoh/1/0/b/9/fireworks_1_bg_070402.jpg"></a><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script expr:src='"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/GablefamilyBlog?i=" + data:post.url' type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13708674073036211911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746791589644308340.post-16740163273254621182008-06-25T10:39:00.004-04:002008-06-25T11:26:42.809-04:00Our New Website<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/tgable78/SGJY086QF4I/AAAAAAAAC7M/cJVcRcx2KRg/s400/l_aa629524d61bb153b926330a5012b6b3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 244px; height: 183px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/tgable78/SGJY086QF4I/AAAAAAAAC7M/cJVcRcx2KRg/s400/l_aa629524d61bb153b926330a5012b6b3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Well, we went and got married a few days back (June 15, for those keeping track) and after the dust settled we decided that we should probably try and keep in touch with all the friends and family who were able to share in our wedding. Also, as a wonderful added bonus, we can also keep in touch with those who weren't able make it too.<br /><br />That's right, I'm talking about our website: <a href="http://www.gablefamily.us/">www.GableFamily.us</a> and yes, it really does exist now. What we'll be putting up there (other than these nice random blog entries) are photos, our calendar, some websites we think are cool and/or useful, even a guestbook (for anyone so inclined). Basically where to find us and what we're up to.<br /><br />Some people are probably wonder why we're requiring people to register at our site in order to get to...just about everything, really. The reason (which is really <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.gablefamily.us/"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 161px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6IaR3o_pNquel8vF9_wOmvrYfcfYwlzzxqkCq6lEsNd-GEAKdZPH8UeZU7IbrOwKXgZlbuEhqehHPiAk7nZmEoXpi6ir2nKZgsxeA-dGlaOKnsSW9Dsu5xN7UXCGgtXtJgpVrvcpLatvp/s320/website.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215840635493734594" border="0" /></a>quite simple) is that it will help us keep in touch with you. You can put in your e-mail at the very least, and your phone number, address, and some other information to help us keep in touch. And, if you move or get a new phone or whatever, you can update your info with us! I mean, if you're so inclined. Plus, the other reason we want people to register is that we don't necessarily want everything just hanging out there in the public domain (which isn't to say some of it isn't already, but...).<br /><br />So that's pretty much it! I would encourage everyone to play around on our site. And yes, as soon as we get pictures back from the wedding they'll go up. I swear!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script expr:src='"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/GablefamilyBlog?i=" + data:post.url' type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13708674073036211911noreply@blogger.com0