Santa Claus is Dead

There, I said it. I feel like I can say that without too much reprisal since Christmas is over. I don't mean it to sound harsh, but it's true. He has been dead for over 1500 years. There is a very nice and short article over at Pastor Mark Driscoll's blog that is a great read.

Nell and I decided back when Zeke was a baby that we were just going to be up front about Santa. We have always told our kids about St. Nicholas and why he became famous. We just don't tell them that he lives at the North Pole, flies a magical sleigh, and slides down our chimney to enjoy milk & cookies. I know some people think we are monsters for corrupting the youth of our children. I'm okay with that. But I just don't get it. Most parents would not tell their kids Scooby Doo, or the Ninja Turtles or Batman is real. Well, Batman is real...

Now that being said, we do enjoy Santa. We have Santa decorations up, sing Santa songs, and watch Santa movies. In fact, Nell and I both grew up with Santa when we were little and somehow we miraculously turned out okay. I never look down my nose at any family who "does" Santa. It's all fine and dandy, it's just not for us.

I love the last sentence in Driscoll's blog post-

"...we keep the center of Christmas focused on Jesus; it’s probably what Nicholas would have wanted"

Now, if you'll excuse me, Batman is going to be signing autographs down at the mall in a few hours.

Song of the Week: "I Celebrate the Day" by Relient K

I have loved Relient K ever since I heard "Softer To Me" on an old HM compilation back in 2000. This song is a few years old, but it still brings a tear to my eye during the holidays. The vocals are amazing, the piano melody is absolutely beautiful, and the lyrics speak for themselves:

And with this Christmas wish is missed
The point I could convey
If only I could find the words to say to let You know how much You've touched my life
Because here is where You're finding me, in the exact same place as New Year's eve
And from a lack of my persistency
We're less than half as close as I want to be

And the first time
That You opened Your eyes did You realize that You would be my Savior
And the first breath that left Your lips
Did You know that it would change this world forever

And so this Christmas I'll compare the things I felt in prior years
To what this midnight made so clear
That You have come to meet me here

To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me
In the hope that what You did
That you were born so I might live
To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me

And I, I celebrate the day
That You were born to die
So I could one day pray for You to save my life

You can listen to this song on Last.fm Just click play on the player in the upper right. Check out their homepage here.

I truly hope that, today, you are celebrating the fact that Jesus came to die for you and me. And if not, what are you waiting for?

Really?- Dog Water

I saw this on my trip to the big W today. Wow. Vitamin water for dogs? Really?

There are a couple of rules in my house. Rule number 36b states that the dog will not drink better water than me. I drink it out of the tap or from the little dispenser thingy on the freezer door. If it's good enough for me, it is definitely good enough for Briscoe.

This stuff was regularly priced at $2 and something a bottle and red tag clearance priced at $0.79 per bottle. I am shocked that Wal-Mart's clientele is not buying this up. But then again, when you have $0.79 to blow on your dog at Wal-Mart, you might as well get the 60 pound bag of Ol' Roy.

Musings- Wal-Mart

I'm not sure if it's the shady business practices, the poor customer service, or the general uncleanliness that keeps me feeding the beast that is Wal-Mart. Oh, I remember. It's my um... er...frugality.

Here are some pictures from recent outings:

The carts were so far out into the lot, that it was almost impossible to drive through the lane. (And heck yes that is my sweet ride in the background)



A common Sunday afternoon sight. Chicken anyone?

I got to bare-hand a toilet seat down to the customer service desk to make a return today. It was great walking in with that bad boy. The packaging had a handle at the top so I got to carry it in like a plumber's attache case. There were quite a few stares and I saw some smirks from the peanut gallery in the McDonald's area. But, I nabbed $6 of store credit for my return. Dip that in your ketchup Greasy McGee.

The trip was topped off by an extended check out session. I wanted to pay with my new $6 Wal-Mart credit card, then cash, then my debit card. My poor cashier had a very hard time getting the Wal-Mart card to read. It really wasn't her fault. She tried all kinds of stuff. I especially enjoyed watching her wrap a plastic bag over the card and then try to run it through the scanner.

She finally had to call her manager. By this time the lady behind me in line just sat down to rest in the aisle. The manager, who looked young enough to be the cashier's son, came over, put a key in the register, punched two buttons, and gave the cashier a dirty look. I felt bad for being such a nuisance, but a $6 toilet seat return is a $6 toilet seat return, you know?

Some other choice photos from the last excursion to the big W:

No cheapo crackers, No macaroni & cheese, No strawberry pop-tarts




No cookie dough for the Mrs., No green bag chips for lunch

I just thought this was funny. Nice work whoever you are.

Going to Wal-Mart is like gas station coffee, you know it's going to be bad, but it's so cheap you can't help yourself. And, I mean, where else are you going to get fishing lures, garlic bread, an eye exam, Pepto Bismol, and a movie rental, all while getting the oil changed in your car and enjoying a Big Mac?

I know where I'll be next weekend. You?

What is keeping you going?

My frazzled edges are turning a crispy golden brown. Beyond the sheer, undeserved grace of God's will, these are a few things keeping me going right now:

1. Strong coffee


2. Re-runs of "The Office"


3. Escaping into Google Reader


Drop a comment about what's putting gas in your tank.