Apparent Contradictions...

I am sitting in the kitchen, helping Veronica work on her homework, doing a little bit of odds and ends for my work, and trying to catch up on the joys that are the internet. I had just started helping Veronica with some math problems and given her some time to work them out and the next thing I know she is in tears talking to me about her brother and sister that she has not seen in years and did not remember prior to one of the final parental meetings just prior to her being adopted, when her birth mother decided to pull the entire family (even grandparents) in for a final visit. The tailspin that this threw Veronica in still continues to this day and at times I believe will continue in some way for the rest of her life.

I am not upset about her feelings, her desire to talk about them, her longing to remember more, and to make sure that they are okay. In all of those things I wish I could help and do more, but I can't. God has not given me this ability, so I sit and listen and sometimes (like today) I fume at those who have hurt my daughter. The many ways they have carelessly damaged my child. The time it will take her to see these scars as the parts of life that will one day make her the incredible person she is to become (all a part of the mysterious and glorious providence of God). I am angry and I hurt for her and that makes me angry on days like today and I am totally powerless.

All I can do is sit, listen, dry her tears, and hope for the day this does not hurt her so badly. And maybe a time when I can forgive those who have done this to her and not burn with hatred toward them as badly as I do today.

What is going to happen tonight? Is Jack going to be in FBI custody? Is he going to kill Jon Voight's supper evil bad guy character? Is this season starting to seem a little sluggish to any one else? Maybe it is just me or maybe it is the crazy work schedule I have had the last two weeks, but I am just thinking that 24 doing multiple plot lines in a single season is a bit to much. I am interested to know the rest of the fanboys and girls think. Please let me know.

I plan to offer a new feature to my readers. I am going to highlight the work out music I have decided to listen to that week during my workouts. I hope you enjoy it and maybe you can recommend some great tunes for me to listen to in the process.

This week I am starting with one of my favorite musicians. His name is Andy Osenga. He is an independent artist from Nashville and is a part of my all time favorite band Caedmon's Call. I picked his music because it has a great mix of tempos and the songwriting is amazing. I can also say that he is one of the nicest guys I have ever met. Please check out his site at ilikeandy.com and buy some of his stuff. You will not be disappointed.

Early in the Morning (The Morning)
New Beginnings (The Morning)
Swing Wide the Glimmering Gates (Letters to the Editor, Vol. 1)
Wanted (Letters to the Editor, Vol. 1)
Good Things Always Are (Letters to the Editor, Vol. 2) (Veronica also calls this her song, because he put a line in there about her)
Let Us Know You (Letters to the Editor, Vol. 2)
Canada (Letters to the Editor, Vol. 2)
After the Garden (The Morning)
White Dove (The Morning)
Santa Barbara (The Morning)
Expectations (Overdressed w/ Caedmon's Call)
Hold the Light (Overdressed w/ Caedmon's Call)
Kara (Photographs)
The Best I Can (Coming to Life w/ The Normals - serious back catalog here)
We Are Beggars... (Coming to Life w/ The Normals)

Give it all a listen and please comment about your favorites.

I am going to be posting my brains out this weekend because I finished my marathon email project up for the University. I have probably only slept a couple of hours per night the last two weeks, but it is done and it is ready to go for the faculty, staff, and students on Monday.

Wow, what crazy day of racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway! The racing was fast, loose and crash filled and that was the first 65 laps of 325. As my blog readers already know, I am really on here to talk about how Tony Stewart did so I will not say much about Kurt Busch's dominance, Jeff Gordon's resurgence, Brian Vickers' bad luck, or Joey Logano's relentless quest to test the build quality of every outside retaining wall at each track the series visits (one of the announcer's actually referred to brushing the wall as pulling a "full Logano" today).

I was actually afraid that today was going to be a relatively poor day for Tony as his car was a little off the pace and after 60 laps he was pretty close to falling a lap down to the leader of the race. He pitted to have his car serviced and fell two laps down in the process, after one of the strangest caution flag calls I have ever seen. A crew guy ran half way across the infield grass to retrieve a stray tire and the officials threw a caution flag that lapped all but 6 drivers 65 laps into the race. I have watched NASCAR for at least 20 yrs. and I have never seen anything like this.

For the next hundred or so laps Tony was mired in the field 2 laps down in around 30th position. Then his car came alive and he managed to get both of his laps back and start his march back toward the front of the field. It was awesome! He finished 8th for the third time this season and moved up to 6th position in the season long points standings.

All I can say is that he is doing great and it looks like Stewart Haas Racing is going to be a racing force all season long. Keep going Tony!

How do you like these hot ladies out playing in the snow?





Just make sure you stay away from the little one until she is 35 and be sure that you have her Daddy's permission first even then.






These are my snow bunnies as we are out in the snow having fun.

This morning has been very interesting. It started with my sick little girl acting like a wild woman waiting for her medicine to kick in. At the same time, I was working on breakfast because I was constantly hearing "I am starving, Daddy!" I am also trying to respond to the torrent of emails and questions that come at me all the time and are a seemingly inescapable part of my job (even when I am taking time off).

For a second week in a row Tony has had a strong top 10 run. He is one of only three drivers to have top 10 finishes in the first two weeks. Not bad for a guy with a new team. I hope the season keeps going this strong all year long.

I know I have been a bit sporadic to say the least these last few weeks, but it has been a very trying time in the Patterson household. I will give you a quick run down.

I will be back soon, but for some reason I just cannot shake this funk.  Some of it physical, some of it mental, all of it funky.  I hope all of you are doing well.

I am not going to make to much of a deal out of it tonight as it was just the Bud Shootout Race, but Tony Stewart looks like he is great.  He was in 16th position with two laps to go and with 1/2 a lap to go he made his way up to 3rd and was moving up but the race ended on a wreck and he didn't have any more time to move up.  I am so glad to see he is looking this strong to start his new season as a owner and driver.

Just a quick note, a new John Piper book "Finally Alive" has landed at my house.  It will be a few days before I can review it, but I am sure it will be awesome.

Just thought I would share a little more about one of my favorite players.

Over the past few weeks I have noticed the beginnings of a terrible affliction befalling my sweet little girl.  It started slowly at first, but I have noticed considerable advances of the disease in the last few days and now it is starting to trouble me by its depth and pace.

Just a quick update for everyone keeping score.  Another team I was cheering for has lost the big game.  Sorry Cardinals!  There is a cost in having me cheer for you and today you have seen what this is.