waffle and a coffee

I remember on my birthday, my dad took me to the Huddle House for a waffle. I remember it happening at least twice as a kid. I'd be kept out of school for a few hours, long enough to drive down with dad and have breakfast together. Dad used crutches more at that time, and I remember opening the doors for him so he could make his way inside. We'd sit together I'd order my waffles and he'd listen to me talk about this and that. I also remember sharing a lot of meals with my father at the Murphee's lunch counter down at Agricola Shopping Center. I always enjoyed those moments.

Katie is like that.

If ever I want to treat my oldest daughter, I simply take her to the neighborhood Waffle House and have a meal with her. I'll let her order what she wants and sit back and listen to her talk about her life and times. We usually sit sipping coffee talking about God. Katie's very much into all subjects relating to God. She is really an excellent conversationalist. Having a father daughter breakfast together is a real treat for her. I am glad because it is for me as well.

It reminds me of times I used to have with my dad.

Gina doesn't really care for the Waffle House. It's not that she doesn't like the food, but because of the cigarette smoke that usually always in the air. If I am to go to the Waffle House, it is either alone, with a friend, or with one or both of my children.

I hope that Katie doesn't change in this regard. I hope that she will always enjoy talking with her dad over coffee and a waffle.

Monday is off

I almost made it to my office when I got a call from my 13 year old daughter, telling me that Kelsey was on the bus throwing up. I turned my car around and headed back to Southside. You should have heard the noise over the phone. Imagine a school bus filled with children, and then a little girl starting to projectile vomit within the crowded tightly enclosed space. I could just make out what Katie was trying to say over all the children freaking out - pure pandemonium.

Priceless.

I picked up Kelsey up and took her home. Gina cleaned her up and decided to keep her out of school. Her school teacher sent a bunch of work for her to do today. So I've been at the office playing teacher today. Kelsey is a real trooper.

I can't believe it's already after 1:00. It's been such a busy day already.

wondering about tomorrow

Tomorrow, September 25, 2009, Muslims are gathering on the West front of the Capitol building for a national day of prayer for Muslims called Islam on Capitol Hill. The gathering will take place by the site where U.S. Presidents have been inaugurated since 1981.



It was only a few months ago when President Obama announced that America wasn't a Christian nation and later announced that America was a Muslim nation. Do watch the video for exact phrasing. Obama played down the National Day of Prayer back in October.

Related media:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I64hu500FTo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na6XWpBVCwg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PleU1UF53dA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucOqiTiaeAQ

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g2qpzldpkKS9Jw-1dLZmZzZI-U5QD9ASKB300

May God save the United States

Judge Roy Moore on the right to acknowledge God. Kayle Moore just sent this link to me. I hope the Judge wins the race for governor this time around. He's a good man.

P.S. Glad to see the Moore logo being used in this video.

are we a democracy?

I just saw this at my friend Jack Jackson's site. Pretty good clip.

black Jesus

if Jesus were black
i would love Him just the same
i would still follow
if Jesus were black
i would still drink from His fountain
still bow at His feet
if Jesus were black
i would still be His bride
still vow my life
if Jesus were black
i would still give my all
still be His slave
if Jesus were black
He would still be The Christ
still be my King
if Jesus were black
His name still above all names
i would love him just the same
if Jesus were black
i would still drink from His fountain
if Jesus were back


-David Finlayson
09/17/09

hollywood is vacant

Yesterday I stumbled across a cluster of YouTube videos of www.hollywood,tv in which stars would respond to questions regarding their spirituality and God. I was saddened and yet not surprised.

hurray for huluwood

I've watched some interesting flicks at http://hulu.com during the course of the week. Free stuff and well worth the watch.

A Bucket of Blood
It had been decades since I saw this American International classic. Roger Corman is known for his low budget movies - and this one is worth watching.

Happy Town
I had never heard of this war time film starring Don Ameche. In Happy Town, Ameche plays a man coping with the lose of his son during the war. I can't really explain the movie - kind of sappy - but I am a sucker for the sappy of that particular era. A very young Harry Morgan (M*A*S*H) also has a great role at the end of this movie. I believe Irving Pichel (Miracle of the Bells) was mimicking the style of Frank Capra. Happy Town isn't a great movie, but was very enjoyable. It's nice to run across and old movie that I have never seen.

Haunted World of Ed Wood
This is an interesting documentary of the director of the worst movie ever made - Plan 9 From Outer Space. The documentary itself seems to be a low budget venture. I'll call it a B-Documentary, which is fitting for the likes of Ed Wood. What is interesting is are all the interviews with the actors and those who knew Ed.

If any of you have never heard of Ed Wood - go rent Tim Burton's 'Ed Wood'. It's a great movie. One of my favorite Don Ameche roles is a 1988 movie entitled 'Things Change'. Ameche had some more notable roles in two other eighties movies, 'Cocoon' and 'Trading Places'.

Firemen Hearing People Falling Through Glass - Jumping 9/11

9/11/2001

Firemen on the ground floor of the WTC.

happy family

Allen posted this on facebook today. I just had to share it.

Glenn Beck on Obama

labor day

Growing up on Lookout Mountain, there were a gazillion pine trees - half of which were in our yard on Scenic Highway. Our yard was so huge that it took a poor kid five hours to mow it with a push mower. I was that poor kid. There were always plenty of pine trees for every kid in the neighborhood to hide behind during a game of hide & seek. Ours was the yard to come to if you wanted to build a pine needle fort or have a good pine cone battle.

Every time I think of Labor Day, I think of pine needles. Labor Day to all the Finlayson kids meant laboring in the yard. We might have been freed from school work, but we were not free from raking pine straw. You wouldn't believe the pine needle yield we harvested each year. I spent all of my youth with the misconception that one had to work on Labor Day.

Today I am at the our clinic. Lymphedema patients need to receive five days of lymphedema treatment per week. This usually means that most holidays - Gina has to work. Since we've opened our practice, Gina works through most holidays and even on Christmas Eve. So today I am at the office thinking of the holiday and wondering why it works out in favor for so many families but my family. Labor Day is and I guess will always mean a labor day. No ribs on the backyard barbie, just ham sandwiches at the clinic. The upside to this Labor Day is that I still get to be with family, and I don't have to pick up a rake.

buster

My Uncle Buster died a couple of decades ago. I remember the drive Dad, Mom, and Grandmother Davidson and I made to the funeral. I drove them all down to the Anniston/Saks area (for visitation) in Dad's van. We then drove back in the procession for graveside service in the Alexandria area. We spent the better part of that day together.

I never want to have to experience having to bury a child. I want my children to long out live me. Gina lost her brother Terry Hale to cancer about six years ago. I know the heartache it causes Walter and Betty Hale to this day.

Walter Ray "Buster" Davidson was the only uncle on my mother's side of the family that I knew growing up. The rest of the Davidson clan scattered like seed from Alabama sometime in the fifties and early sixties. It was nice to have Buster around. He used to come up to the house every now and then to sit on our back patio under the arbor and have long chats with his sister Esther. Like most Davidson men, Buster was a very quiet fellow. The Davidson men that I met were different than the Finlayson men. Finlayson men, like myself like to talk and carry on. Davidsons, the ones that I met had a quiet and strong way about them. Wish I had been around them all more. I'd like to have drawn those men out of their silence and listen to the stories of their lives.

I think of Uncle Buster, I see him sitting out back on our porch swing talking to mom on a Sunday afternoon.

19 years

Gina and I were married 19 years ago today. It's kind of hard to believe. We didn't do anything special today. We went to office and worked. It was a busy day and we were tired by the end of it. Maybe we can do something this weekend.

We've been talking about going somewhere special for our 20th Anniversary. I'm not sure where. We've always wanted to go to Maine for some reason. We've always talked about going to Scotland. Chances are - we'll end up in Chattanooga for a weekend. I hope not. It would be nice to go somewhere we've always wanted to go together.

We let this year's anniversary pass quietly - only with a kiss or two. Celebration or not - I know that I am a very blessed man to have that woman in my life.