finally

David Finlayson LMT, NCTM

I finally got my state license yesterday.  Lance just messaged me stating that I can tag some acronyms to my name.  LMT is for Licensed Massage Therapist.  NCTM is for Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage.

Now that that's over with - it's time to get to work.

need some cash?

living in limbo

I feel as if I've been living in limbo since I got out of school last Summer.  I passed the national exam last November.  This Friday morning the Alabama Board of Massage Therapy will be meeting in Montgomery to approve license applications.  I don't foresee any problem getting approved.  I've jumped through all the hoops (that I know of).

It's been a strange experience for me.  I am ready to get on with my practice - get on with life.

I spent some money Monday.  I got online and bought a massage table and a massage chair, along with some necessary accessories. There are a couple of other things that I will need - but the big stuff is on it's way.   I'm pretty sure I got a good table.  There's a lot to choose from when picking out a good massage table - a lot of stuff to consider.  It's one of those decisions that you have to make, hoping that you're not overlooking something.  I guess I would have to compare it to a first time guitar purchase.  I spent a long time researching tables and I'm pretty sure that I made the right purchase.  No matter what - I'm stuck with it for a long while.

I bought the best massage chair out there - no question.  Oakworks makes a Portal Pro model in which I was basing my research.  After looking everywhere I knew to look, I decided to spend the money on the best one out there.

Hopefully by the end of the week I will be a licensed massaged therapist.

snow day

I got a call yesterday from Katie.  She said that school was letting out early and needed to be picked up.  I got the girls and drove to the grocery store to pick up some milk and bread.  Seriously, I was completely out at home.  I also picked up some chili fixings.

I let the Katie and Kelsey stay out and play in the snow.  They made snow angels and a snow man.  It was their first attempt at ever making a snowman.  They had a blast.  I stayed inside and made the chili.  Katie came in and helped me make some snow icecream.

We saved some snow icecream for mommy when she got home.  Gina sat down and ate it with tears in her eyes.  She said that she had never had snow icecream before and thought it was quite good.  She was very moved by the moment.   I remembered my mom making us snow icecream everytime it snowed.  Gina later told me that the moment  brought back a flood of memories for her.

The only thing missing from yesterday was a sled.

it is good

I once had this silly notion that I might one day grow up, grow out, or away from songwriting...that I might lose the ability or the inspiration.  Not true.  I've found that I enjoy creating lyric and rhythm more than I ever have before in my life.  I enjoy sharing/performing songs just as much as I enjoy creating them.  I've written a lot of decent songs down through the years, but the ones I've written in the past five, I believe, surpass almost everything I've ever written in preceding years.  I am not writing this to boast, but rather reflecting on a fallacy I once believed.  I am so glad that I was wrong about it all.  Art is an eternal thing.

Like any natural gift/talent, we need to use them and hone what we are given.  I hope to be writing and singing until I am an old man.  Over three decades ago, a very young me had a desire to create songs.  I beat the crap out of my old acoustic until there was rhythm.  I pieced simple little ditty's together - hoping to breath life into words.  It was a passion from my start.  It took years to get any good at it.

i sing to friends and strangers

i sing to my children and wife

i sing to myself

alone or in crowds

i sing for and to and about my God

God is The Creator.  We are made in His image, and like my Heavenly Father,  find great satisfaction in creating something out of nothing.  I know I am just a speck, but feel a real connection to my Creator when I create.  I know He planted that passion and joy in me when He made me.  

I had a discussion with my old friend Allan Rhodes many years ago.  He said something that made me look at God and the hereafter in a different light.  Allan had this thought that we were made to do what we were made to do here on Earth, but in Heaven as well. That it only made sense that our gifts, talents, crafts would be employed after we finish our job here.  Occupations in Heaven?   That seed, that desire, that gifting God gives each of us is for an eternal purpose.  I believe I will be composing long after my flesh has decomposed.

I just added a new song to add to my quiver, one that might just reach a heart or two.  It's eternal stuff we are doing here on Earth.  A mere song might seem insignificant, but music is a spiritual thing and often pierces deep.  I look forward to singing this song for years, decades, and an eternity follow.

end of weekdays

Kelsey, my seven year old, had a bad virus through out much of the week.  She came home from school last Friday not feeling well.  By Saturday her virus was in full swing.  She could not keep anything down for four days.  I don t know how she managed it, but she did.

She missed a half of a week of school this week.  I didn t got to work much of the week, so as to tend to the little one.  She is doing better now.  Both girls are staying with Granddaddy and Mary this tonight.  Gina has some kind of bug.   I told her to go home early today and she jumped at the offer.  She picked up the girls from school and went straight to bed.

My week had two highlights.  Starting this Tuesday night, many of the worship leaders of Vineyard are starting to get together for a special kind of kinship.  We are going to be getting together weekly, for songwriter workshops and sessions to enhance our guitar skills.  The first meeting was great, and I look forward to improving my skills.  The first meeting we all shared songs and songs bits.  There was a lot of great input.

Thursday night I lead worship at the Grace recovery meeting.  I love leading worship at Grace.  Sometimes I go with just my guitar and harmonicas, sometimes I invite a band.  Last night my niece Liz, brother Brooky, and Jimmy Henderson joined me.  LeNola was sick and I could not secure a bass player in time.  Brooky decided to bring his bass and play.  Even though we lacked some lead work, the evening had a cool vib.  I never know where God wants to go, or what kind of seed is being planted, but something is going on.  I love Grace.

By the way, I just got back from Walmart.  The first season of The Unit is there for 15.00.  They have a new $4.00 bin there where I ran across the movie Evan Almighty.  I thought Evan Almighty is a better comedy than Bruce Almighty (in the 5.00 bin).

go tele everybody

I've just started playing my old Telecaster during the past few weeks.  Ron Greer from Rainbow Jewelry and Loan was kind enough to work on it for me.  Brook had purchased it about 30 years ago from Laverty Music Company.  It was thought that the guitar was a '63 model, but Ron informed me a few weeks ago that my Tele is a '51 or '52.  The serial number has only four digits.

Though the guitar doesn't have the original finish, neck, or pick guard.  The body and hardware are all original.  It's got a great sound and I've found a new love in playing it.

I just composed a new worship song that's fun to play on it.  It's taken from Psalm 88 and 89.  I'm calling the new song 'King David Blues'.   Bruce Cornutt had asked me to join his team this Sunday and I'm taking my Telecaster with me.

It's a coincidence while I was finishing up my tune that Brook told me he has been working on a blues worship number too.

DePaul Motors

A little while ago I was running errands around town.  As I was exiting my bug, I noticed the name DePaul Motors from my driver-side door side pocket.  I don't know where it came from.  My only guess is that it was stuck to the inside of the pocket for many a year.  Perhaps to cold weather allowed it to come unglued from where it was affixed.

Do you see where the service adviser bravely and selflessly included her phone number?  How's that for service.  I hope the company paid her well for her dedication.

As you can see, DePaul Motors was located on East Meighan Blvd.  I don't know when the Volkswagen dealership left Gadsden - I think the early 1980's.  Mrs. Betty Hale (my mother in-law) bought her Superbeetle from DePaul Motors back in 1973.  I remember DePaul well because the Finlayson family owned quite a few VW's back in the day.   I used to have to drive them down when dad needed to get one fixed.  Brook on the other hand usually fixed his broken bug.  I personally don't know much about fixing VW's.  I hear they are pretty easy to work on - that all you have to do is replace the rubber band every now and then.

I've recently had an ongoing problem with my bug.  It's not a big problem - nor an expensive one.  If I keep loosing my tailpipes - it will start to be one.   Is there some secret to keeping them on?  I lost another one yesterday.  VW tailpipes are not that expensive (about $6.00) and can be purchased easily enough from Ed's Foreign Car Parts.  I clamp them on as tight as I can get them and yet they find a way to get free and roll away.  I wonder if there's some kind of adhesive.

When I need to get my bug fixed, I take it to Floyd VW on  US Hwy 431.  Eddie Floyd is a great guy and knows his stuff when it comes to fixing anything Volkwagen.  I'm glad I paid the money to get the heater going last year.  The little heater in my Superbeetle now warms me up better than any other car I own.  Mickey Boyd is also still in the neighborhood (down 77 in Rainbow City).  Mickey once told me that he even had an old VW 4-11 back there.  I used to drive a 4-12 years ago.  I would love to walk through Mickey's back-lot of old bugs.  It's nice to have folks close by who can fix old VW's. 

I do remember the day when I'd take broken bugs to DePaul.

hump day update

I've got to get a handle on my blood sugar.  I just haven't had the energy to finish a day this week. I went to bed after fixing diner last night.  I guess I slept 10 hours.  I still feel like I could have stayed in bed.

I know, I got off track during the holidays.  It's just not worth it.

I didn't see my girls much yesterday.  I helped Kelsey with her homework.  Daddy just wasn't much of a dad yesterday.  Gina put the girls to bed about two hours after I crashed.

I will say that my back is doing better.  The decompression therapy worked wonders.  I know that I'll be opting for it every time I go back.  Gina is urging me to walk more - to strengthen my back.  He advice is sound - but will I?  I haven't been riding my bike since the cold-cold weather.

Gina is feeling much better.  She had a terrible week last week.  Our patient load has been low - and there is only one up side.  I urged Gina to stay home Thursday and Friday.  Unlike me, she doesn't like stopping for nothing.  I am glad she stayed home.  She had a very restful weekend.  We seem to be playing tag with each others wellness.

My license didn't come through on Monday.  Gina remembered yesterday that the check that she sent wasn't to the Alabama State Board of Therapeutic Massage after all.  Okay.  I'm sure I'll be good to go by next month.  Maybe by then we'll be able to afford the massage table.

something Brit Hume said...

good stuff to hear