...I'm not sure what that means, but it probably describes my present stage at life.

Okay, I'm going to look it up before I stick with the above statement... Wow I was totally off. I knew there was a reason that term was in my vocabulary, but it comes from my Middle East History class a couple years ago... Anyways, my life has been busy.

I'm finally over the sickness that somewhat flattened me for the past week or so. My wife ordered me to stay on the couch and slow down - which I forcefully resisted... until I stood up. I now know understand the definition of "loopy".

I want to think that I haven't completely shelved plans for graduate school - the big question is for what? I have a strong interest in history and how it applies today. That's too broad, though. Add my interest in the intersection of politics and religion along with my strong passion for issues routinely ignored by the loudest churches, and I have no clue what to do. I want to learn - I feel like I don't know enough yet I may have something to contribute. Operative word = "may".

I really enjoy Baptist history, as I look at Southern Baptists I wonder if they're being true to what a Baptist really is. I want to call attention to the issues that are being ignored... I want individuals, churches, denominations to step up and respond to the moral issues of our day that are forgotten. I don't envision myself as a pastor at all, but I feel like seminary may help... or should I go to a university and get a history degree?

Okay, assuming I answer those questions, what would I do with said degree? How would that degree help? I like the job I have now - it's challenging, the hours are great, I have a ton of responsibility, but the reward is high. However, I'm not fulfilled. I'm not fulfilled with everything I'm involved with at church. After being burned at Oklahoma where I learned my interest in meteorology was merely pedestrian, I'm skittish at the prospect of committing to something.

Maybe lunch with a good buddy next week will help clear the air...

I think my cold turn into the flu... or at least a touch of it. I had been denying a fever for about a day now, but there's no doubt. 100.5 degrees... not raging, but enough for me to say "whoa" when I stand up, causing me to want to lay back down again.

However, there is a remedy. Dish Network with a DVR loaded with South Park and Reno 911!. woot.

A slight risk in February? Nonetheless Dad and I went to the southwest side of Richmond and found a Panera Bread with wifi. We were hoping to position ourselves in a clear area (it was extremely cloudy) in the very narrow warm sector. We figured we would head whereever the sunshine was and pray for the best. We decided that the action was going to happen on the east side of town, and as the James River is a significant barrier, we planned to drop to the south and cross at Hopewell. We observed some energy moving from the south, but from our vantage point, we thought the chase was over.

We then got on 295 to head back to my house, but once on the interstate we spotted a rotating storm. Unfortunately it was bisecting two major roads over swampy farmland. We struggled to navigate the impossible rural roads and keep up, but only caught glimpses of the storm as we crested hills.

Finally we found a pull-off and we could observe both the warm and cold fronts during the sunsest. Here are a few of those pictures from along the King William/Hanover border:

It seems like I'm not the only one who approached this weekend's storm w/ caution. Warm January...the preponsity for Hanover to get rain while everyone else gets rain...model inconsistency... eh, we may be lucky and get a couple of inches.

And then I get home tonight to see this Heavy Snow Warning:

SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 8 INCHES ARE EXPECTED BEFORE THE STORM
WINDS DOWN SUNDAY MORNING. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR LOCALLY
HEAVIER AMOUNTS.

Unlike my faith, I'll believe it when I see it...

The other day I received an AARP invitation for my father - at my house. Three months I received one for me. I was 23 at the time.

My mother has received an unsolicitated catalog here at our house - although the catalog was aimed at black women looking to by books by minority authors. My mother is white, and though she may be interested in those books, I'm fairly shure she wasn't the intended audience. Again, she received it here.

My parents have received credit card applications here, among what's already been mentioned. What's truly scary is that my wife has received mail at my parent's house... she's never lived there.

And there are folks who want to trust this country's welfare in the corporate world's hands?

Yep, I'm concerned, and so should you.

Today Dad and I went out and chased a storm system... after traveling all over the Metro Richmond area, we finally ended up in King William County following a rotating storm. Unfortunately, the part of Virginia that I love, the rivers and waterways, is the bane of chasing here. The road network sucks, especially when the storm split the two major highways closest to us, leading us on a wild goose chase on backroads that I'll never see again.

Oh well, good times... good times... especially considering it's early February.