
Bienvenidos, 2021. Don't let us down.
January 1, 2021 12:13 PM | Posted in: Navel Gazing

*whispers* 2020 wouldn't even rank in the top 1000 worst years in human history
-- Kyle Mann (@The_Kyle_Mann) December 31, 2020
Y'all. I wasn't. https://t.co/a9ToNDGjjZ
-- Beth Moore (@BethMooreLPM) December 30, 2020
For unto us a child is born...
December 24, 2020 7:20 PM | Posted in: Faith
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy
Would some day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy
Has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered,
Will soon deliver you.
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy
Would give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy
Has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby,
You've kissed the face of God.
Oh Mary, did you know...?
The blind will see,
The deaf will hear,
And the dead will live again.
The lame will leap,
The dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb...
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy
Is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy
Is Heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding
Is the great
I AM!
"Mary, Did You Know?"
Words by Mark Lowry, music by Buddy Greene
Music Review: Sturgill Simpson's "Cuttin' Grass, vol. 1"
December 2, 2020 8:48 PM | Posted in: Music

It sounded like home. Bluegrass music is healing. I truly believe this to be true. It is made from ancient, organic tones and, as with most all forms of music, the vibrations and the pulse can be extremely therapeutic.
Adapting the songs was pretty easy; even a few of the tunes that I thought might be a little weird worked very easily. Some of the more esoteric psycho-babble songs, like the song "Just Let Go," we got in the first take. It was just extremely easy, fun, everybody was laughing the whole time. Mostly, I was just humbled and amazed to be in the room with all these musicians. You can't overstate all their talents--truly next-level freak show kind of stuff.
Music Review: "From Elvis In Nashville" -- Too much? It depends...
November 22, 2020 12:09 PM | Posted in: Music


Trish, Sam, and Debbie paddling to the horizon

A line of pelicans head south along the shoreline at Boca Chica

Looking toward the mouth of the Rio Grande

This wizened-looking heron appeared to be keeping watch over the beach at Boca Chica.
Our day trip had a dual purpose. The route brought us to incredible scenes of nature, but it also took us past an impressive manmade achievement. Boca Chica is the location for the SpaceX suborbital launch site, as well as the main production facility for SpaceX's Starship spacecraft and SuperHeavy first-stage booster rockets. In combination, they comprise the system that SpaceX plans to use to carry crew and cargo to the moon, to Mars...and beyond (*cue the Star Trek theme song*).

Part of the SpaceX production facility. If you could peek inside that tower, you might see a spacecraft under construction.

SpaceX's Starship SN8 at the testing facility. I can't believe they wouldn't let me fly my drone there.

SpaceX's Starship SN8 as seen from Boca Chica Beach, perhaps a mile away. I have no idea what the structure on the right is used for (platform for testing the Starhopper, perhaps?). Hey, Elon...you really need better signage, amigo.

Closer view of SpaceX's Starship SN8. That's dust -- not smoke or steam -- blowing around the base. Interesting to note that Elon Musk has been quoted as saying the inspiration for the rocket's shape comes from Explorers on the Moon, the 1950s Belgian comics series featuring Tintin.

This is the Starship Hopper or Starhopper, a low altitude vehicle previously used by SpaceX to test the rocket engines -- named Raptors because why not? -- and other components that will be used in the Starship. This one is now out of service, and has been repurposed for something else that's probably classified and well above my pay grade.

Nothing new under the sun

A typical sunset over Laguna Madre

Does this look right to you?













They could be really short snakes.
As with most things, this too shall pass. At least walnut caterpillars don't transmit COVID-19.

For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." 1 Corinthians 1:19 (NIV)