I’m heading to the land of Lincoln and Andrew Peterson today. We’ll fly into Chicago and then drive to Lincoln Christian College for a gig tonight.
This is the first day of a five day run – a rare rare thing – a scary scary thing – for a few reasons.
1) My voice can’t last five nights, nor can my wife’s sanity last five days if the kids don’t cooperate.
2) I don’t have enough space in my backpack for the number of books it would take to occupy me for five days.
3) After five days on the road I start forgetting which state I live in and Brody‘s California speak makes more and more sense, like, you know and stuff and I’m all…
4) The temptation to caffeinate increases precipitously with every predawn wake-up call.
5) I like my bed, my wife, my kids, and my internet connection too much.
But I’ve taken steps to combat these negatives to five day travel binges:
1) This new vegan-ish way of eating and no caffeine, I think, has made my voice stronger. Bizarre. And, thanks to Travis, I’m sending Becky to a women’ conference thingy this weekend in Nashville for several hours. It was sold out, but, well, thanks, Travis.
2) I have a book to write, a rider to redo, a contract to rework, an e-mail blast to prepare, a newsletter to send out, a mass e-mail program to install…plenty to keep me busy.
3) Brody brought an iPod on this trip and I brought ear plugs. This should keep the discourse between California and Texas to a minimum on those long drives.
4) We only have one very early wake-up call on this run of shows. I think I can do that without drugs.
5) Brian gave us his old iSIght camera for Becky to use at home when I’m on the road. We’ll try it out on this run and introduce my kids to video chatting. And because we’re at a couple colleges I know we’ll have loads of free WiFi at our disposal.
What are your weekend plans?
euphrony says:
Well, Shaun, it looks like you’re doing you best to not stay too busy
This Saturday, our 4-year old girl will participate in her first organized soccer game. About a half-hour before the game, she’ll get her official uniform and find out when her first practice will be. That’s right, she has a game before the team has ever met or practiced. Should be interesting!
milepost13 says:
my wife and I will be packing as we prepare to move to Durham, NC to place her on the active double lung transplant list. Got some boxes?
shaunfan says:
Euphrony, that’s awesome! My 4 year old daughter will also play her first soccer game tomorrow at 10 a.m. and then I go home for 1 hour and bring my 7 year old daughter back for her game at 12 noon, not sure what my 1 year old daughter will do during all of this.
Cristy says:
I WAS planning to drive to IL to see you and Brody, however two people called in sick today, making it impossible for me to leave work early like I had planned. So, I’m not going to make it. One of my best friends lives near Lincoln Christian College (about 30 minutes away) …I was going to make a weekend of it. Now I’m going to wait until tomorrow morning to leave for my visit with her.
FYI: Saturday, the Godstock lineup has you playing at 5:45, not 7:00 as stated on your tour board…
erin says:
I am attending the same conference as your wife (I’m pretty sure the sold out conference you’re referring to is the Beth Moore, Kay Arthur, and someone-else-I-can’t-remember one). I can’t wait. It’s going to be a great break from teaching college freshmen.
euphrony says:
shaunfan,
Is you kid’s soccer club as disorganized as mine seems to be?
shaunfan says:
Euphrony, yes this is also her first game before her first practice, which is sheer brilliance. To quote my formerly local 76er Alan Iverson: “Who needs practice?” (said in response to why he never showed up for practice).
Nancy Tyler says:
milepost13, I visited your blogs and you’re wife’s. I’m too far away to give you my stash of moving boxes, but I’m praying for you guys.
Anon says:
hmm… weekend plans… I’m not sure. I guess that’s the choice of the people I’m staying with. There’s been a whisper going around about the possibility of a zoo visit (weather permitting), but nothing too prominent. We wouldn’t want to incite the little ones’ anticipation.
Mark says:
I may go to the local aquatic center with my roommate for a few hours Saturday afternoon. Either way, I’m sure we’ll swim at some point.
Other then that, stay around home writing review on my computer.
Ah, the wild life I lead.
MamasBoy says:
Euphrony,
If your daughter is playing AYSO soccer, she *will* have practice before her first game. The practice will be held right before the game every Saturday. Also, you will be required to be there the entire time with her to help her out during the practice: no dropping her off and running an errand. There are no official teams and she may play with different kids every week (the teams may even get shuffled at the substitution break). Honestly, though, do 4 year olds need much practice? The goals at this age are basically to help them A) use their feet, not their hands, B) kick the ball in the right direction, C) not pick up the ball, D) kick it toward (maybe even into) the goal and E) avoid picking up the ball with their hands. There isn’t much more to it at this age.
I know this because my son plays his first soccer game tomorrow, and I’m in charge of the whole U5 fiasco. If leagues are disorganized, it is because they are run entirely by volunteers, and most of the time it is hard to convince parents to do anything other than show up. I passed out uniforms ahead of tiem and had a team meeting. A third of the parents didn’t show up. None notified me in advance of this and only one had a good excuse (she was giving birth). Usually, volunteer organizations get run by a precious people who are overwhelmed and need way more help than they are getting. If people think things are disorganized, I would proffer that it’s a sign the people running the show have too much on their plate, and it would be most appreciated if the person recognizing the level of disorganization would volunteer to do something to help out their coach. Even small tasks like coordinating snacks or calling other parents to disseminate information or helping distribute uniforms are greatly appreciated. Many hands make light work. Few hands make for a mess. Fortunately, I’ve been able to recruit 8 other parents to help me run this and will have a former U5 master coach helping to run the first week or two to get things off on the right foot. U6 almost didn’t happen this year, because they couldn’t find enough parents willing to coach.
So, this weekend, I get to coordinate the first day of soccer for 34 four year olds and patch a 2’x2’ hole in my roof.
MB
Grovesfan says:
I booted my hubby out the door at 6:30 this morning. Afterall, he’s been home for two weeks now! He’s driving to Michigan to spend the week at his parents house, fixing things up and helping to get their home ready for winter. Our son will work this weekend which means the girls are all mine. We’re actually planning a small garage sale for tomorrow. I have a “Mentor Mixer” to attend for my basic tax students tomorrow afternoon and then of course Sunday church. We starting a new Bible study so it should be good. No Shaun concerts close enough for us and I’m definitly going through withdrawl! I had five this year all before the end of May, and it’s been a LONG summer without! Winter’s coming; are you heading to the frozen north again?
Beth
MamasBoy says:
“Usually, volunteer organizations get run by a precious FEW people” not precious people. Argh.
sc girl says:
My weekend plans are to get things organized for you to come to SC next weekend for MY birthday…I mean to have a concert at our church! ; )
We are all totally excited to have you and Brody here.
Have fun this weekend and we will see you in 9 days!
keith says:
We’re going to the beach all next week. Booyah!
steph says:
a couple months ago i found Andrew Peterson’s Love and Thunder CD and without ever hearing any of his stuff, i bought it because i loved the cover of the album. after listening, i love the music too. =D sometimes, judge a cd by its cover. =p
Tracy says:
milepost13. . . Durham is not so far away from Burlington! I can’t give you boxes, but can help with anything once you move. . .praying for you!
Rachael says:
Excuse me. You always pass failure on the way to success. Help me! Help to find sites on the: Wedding rings set white gold 14k. I found only this – tulip diamond wedding rings. February 1567 at the hamiltons’ room, kirk collection’ field, edinburgh, eventually in bride for rizzio’s ceremony, wedding rings. Industries expenditures and bloogers can be printed in such men throughout the room, wedding rings. Thank you very much :rolleyes:. Rachael from Slovenia.