The Blue Line

Monday, 8 July 2013

We took the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway from Blue Ridge, GA to the twin border towns of McCaysville, GA and Copperhill, TN.

We started the trip from where we just spent a week on vacation - Sapphire, NC. It was just over 2 hours to get to Blue Ridge, GA. The first almost-hour of that trip was a harrowing (for me!) drive through twisty, narrow mountain roads.

Joe was driving. Not that that was a bad thing. But maybe I should have driven because then I would have been more preoccupied with the act of driving instead of the 3-D images that kept greeting me around every bend and curve of the road. Images of rocks jutting out of the mountainside coming right towards me. Ok it sure did seem like they were coming right towards me, it didn't seem like there was any room for a car to go around those corners without hitting something. It was like watching a 3-D movie and thinking something was coming out to get you.

Seriously. You should have seen me. I was half-way leaned over, ok more than leaned over, most of my body was coming off of my seat and practically jumping in Joe's lap. But we made it - safely - without a scratch on me, or the van.

I thought I could relax on the ride back until I realized I would be on the side of the road that had the sheer drop offs into the unknown. Fun times.

The train ride was worth it though. We sat in the open air car and got popcorn and big pretzels from the concession car. It was a beautiful 1 hr train ride along the Toccoa River.

The border towns of McCaysville, GA and Copperhill, TN have a blue line right through the town that mark the border of the state line.

Lucas thought it was neat that we can stand in one state and be in another state by stepping over the blue line. Or straddling the blue line and having a foot in each state. Ok, we all thought that was pretty neat!

 

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Superbook Review

Sunday, 7 July 2013

I was recently asked if I would like to receive DVDs of episodes from the Superbook Summer Series to review.

I hadn't heard of Superbook before, but was intrigued by the description and went to the website to check it out further.

This series is based on CBN's classic cartoon with the new series featuring Bible stories brought to life using state-of-the-art animation. This is an award-winning series that engages children and teaches them about the truths in God's word. 

Lucas has been soaking up all the info he can on what God and Heaven are all about since he started attending preschool at a local church and during Vacation Bible School. He enjoys reading his children's Bible (actually one day after VBS he asked me if we had any Bibles in the house and when I reminded him he had 2 of his own he said, "No I mean one without any pictures.") He is so curious and has been asking a lot of questions.

My kids don't watch a lot of TV and with Lucas's interest in Bible stories, and this being something neither of my children have watched before, I thought this would be a great series to review.

We received 14 episodes to include In the Beginning, Let My People Go, The First Christmas, The Last Supper, The Ten Commandments, Jonah, and A Giant Adventure.

We haven't watched all of them yet, but what we have seen so far both Lucas and Kayla have thoroughly enjoyed and have asked to watch one every day. These are great videos to watch with your children and talk to them about the lessons and morals Chris and Joy learned about and how to apply them to their own lives. I anticipate this being a series that my children will enjoy watching over and over.

The animation is well done. The story lines are fast-paced enough to keep the attention of most children. Kids can identify with the main characters as they are (mostly!) modern-day characters - Chris (and his robot Gizmo), and his next-door neighbor Joy. This trio find themselves in everyday situations that take them through a portal back to biblical times to learn the lesson from each episode.

You can see video clips here.

Not only will members of the Superbook DVD club receive the newest episodes as they are released, but they will receive two free copies of each episode to share with friends.


Disclosure: We received the 14 DVDs, trading cards, and a t-shirt to facilitate this review from CBN and MomSelect. Opinions are mine (and my children's!)

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"Thursday's Remnants"

"Thursday's Remnants"

November with June hearts.
Form fits the part.
Parted ways with time
For a chance to unwind.
Playful banter.
Nervous laughter reminiscent of giggles
Trickling from your full lips.
Oft imaginary but you've become my trip.
Bypassed hips for those thighs.
Presumed to have misplaced timing.
Stared too long to employ moonlight
as the next of my excuses.
You tie my broken phrases
Like loose pieces of thread.
Your fingertips form my nooses.
Your voice that of exotic juices
Never savored before this moment.
I must find atonement.
I should be contrite.
Dark paths under these lights
And I've sized you up completely.
Moved about discreetly
hoping that you wouldn't notice.
Every man has motives;
But most men are organized.
Nothing quite devised in nature
With how I'd ravage and savor.
Lust for you my cheerful labor.

This week and I wish the sun would vanish.
Deliberate in your brandish,
you toy with your delay to my dismay.
We will have today.
Tonight is undetermined;
So don't be concerned with
What is borne of the latter.
What remains will be drawn after.

Here under this umbrella
And no cloud lines the sky.
Mid-month musing of our choosing;
Perusing through each try.
Each advance more deliberate.
You and I less considerate
of what the other would think.
Before we even blink,
our intentions take the helm.
Seldom solemn or embarrassed
Over what is surely cherished.
Your full lips as soft as air;
Eluding your hair, leaning into your chair
For a subtle hint of pear.
First kiss caressed my cares
Until they became foreign.
Sovereign in this instance;
Unscripted and instantaneous in nature.
Your scent fresh like vapor.
I exhale reluctantly.
Redundancies in revision
So I recall this moment fondly.
Found me besides myself
Yet I don't cry out for help.

Nothing more salvaged this week.
In distance we speak;
But no words in favored proximity.
These desired decadent obscenities
Have enveloped my existence.
The night is relentless
And I delight in each finish.
We will gather the remnants.

Doors slam shut through hallways.
This window remains always
To impart some ventilation.
Rapture and titillation in your moans;
Zoning out after I sink in.
Blink when it gets too deep
And I will breach your soul;
Filling each and every whole
As if I were the missing half.
Your inhibition slaughtered
For trying to steal away
Beneath these silken quarters.
Luxurious the moisture.
Warmer with each serving.
Each slight hindrance so unnerving
That pacing becomes our casualty.
Casually diverting from each established norm,
These fingertips slide and swarm
Across the curvature I've desired.
Frozen amid this fire
are the moments that led us here:
Fear and sheer excitement,
Deviant enticement,
and more thoughts than one can write with.
Mounted in my chair.
Two fists full of hair
And my grip is surely deliberate.
Delivered it in balance
But ignored all rationed portions.
Absorbed my lust whole.
Lobbied for control with sharp thrusts
Until pinned down and gutted.
Looking back full and flustered
As if to request more rigor.
With requited vigor,
I invoke your stern request.
We perspire as if required like that of badge and vest
And silence was not tolerated.
Bent over and dilated,
you strain through desired pain.

You don't refrain until I'm drained.

Grace mixes well with intention.
Abhorrent means are contradiction
and I am no one's fabrication.
Approval and elation
I could claim as insurance
but I'd rather your endurance.
Assuredly, the future looms
Along with hope of returning soon.
I will recall your nervous laughter
With what residuals are left.
The taste of you still fresh years after.
Should you return, we'll enjoy the rest. ;)

Written By: Devin Joseph Metz

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=( =) =( =) ;) =( =) =( =)

Thursday, 4 July 2013

NEW BLOG FOREVER GOODBYE OLD BLOG FOREVER I STILL LIKE THE WAY YOUR PILLOW SMELLS

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The Last Pictures

I spent last July 4th with my dad.

I knew since he decided to stop his chemo treatments (he didn't feel like they were working anymore) for pancreatic cancer that we would inevitably have to say goodbye to him sooner rather than later.

But last July 4th I wasn't expecting it to be so soon after that day.

July 4th was his last good day. The last day he was really alert, more mobile (although he still couldn't walk because of the blood clots in his leg), in great spirits, and 'with it' in his conversations with us. I guess it was something like a last 'surge' before his body shut down.

We left the next day, Thursday - July 5th, and exactly one week later he passed away. I still can't believe he's gone. I can't believe it's almost been a year since I said goodbye to my dad.

The days to that one-year anniversary are hurtling faster and faster towards me and I just want to stop time. I don't want July 12th to get here. I just want to skip over that day. I don't want to have to remember and associate July 12th with his death. I don't want to have to associate the July 4th holiday as the last time he had a good day, and that there are no more July 4th celebrations for him.

I don't like remembering that he's not here anymore.

As painful as these pictures are to look at I also cherish them ... the last pictures I have of my father.

Since I can't avoid July 12th I'm wondering what I can do to honor my dad on that date. We aren't going to be in Florida to visit his grave site ... so what can I do at home for him? For myself? For Kayla and Lucas to acknowledge the significance of this date? Any suggestions for something else besides maybe releasing balloons?


 

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