You'll fly the way we want you to fly

I enjoy adventures and this week was full of adventures in the skies.

I took a plane trip from Georgia to Texas, including a leg of flying between Hartsfield-Jackson and DFW. The day I flew to Texas, there was a bad weather system over Dallas. The storm dumped snow, created ice on the roads and runways, and had heavy winds. As a result, the airport was reduced to one runway and we were delayed 4 hours leaving ATL. Once in the air, we proceeded to DFW. Upon arriving in the airspace, we were informed that the airport had closed its last runway and we were put in a holding pattern making left turns out east of Dallas. After an hour, the captain informed us that we were out of fuel and were being diverted to Houston Intercontinental to take on more fuel. We landed in Houston, took on fuel, and were told that DFW had reopened one runway. We flew to DFW and landed, 8 hours late. Since it was so late, my rental car company was closed and I had to find another rental. I left DFW about 9 hours later than planned.

I returned to Georgia today. Leaving DFW this morning was delayed by about 45 minutes because a part was broken. They ended up swapping out our plane. We made it to ATL and the captain came over and said he would appreciate it if those who did not have to make an immediate connecting flight remained in their seats and let those of us who did go. I had 45 minutes to make my flight, so I stood. I remained standing for 15 minutes on the plane. The jetway broke and they had to bring in an electrician to fix it so we could deboard. Now with 30 minutes to make it, and 4 terminals to go, I hot footed it to my connecting flight, making it after the entire plane was loaded. I got to the gate and couldn't find an agent, so I walked down the jetway to find one. I found one, but she was not happy to see me. I was chastised for walking down the jetway. Returning to the counter, I gave her my ticket and she then admonished me for being late. Finding that my explanation that I was looking for an agent and I was late because of multiple mechanical failures involving my last flight was not satisfactory for her, I promised to not do such things in the future and boarded the plane, just as they locked the door.

I love adventures!

The Saga Continues

In July, we met Dave Carroll and the Sons of Maxwell who sang United Breaks Guitars, a true song outlining the frustrations they experienced when Dave's guitar was broken on a United flight. The story continues with another song by Dave. This chapter focuses on his relationship with Ms. Irlwig of United. Ladies and Gentlemen, United Breaks Guitars Song 2!

How did you do? Terrible

This past Sunday I taught Sunday school. The lesson went well and afterwards, many people gave me positive feedback, including a round of applause that broke out. But if you asked me how it went, I wouldn't give such positive feedback. I would instead think that it didn't go well and that it wasn't a good lesson.

This is a typical response of mine whenever I give any sort of presentation or have my work critiqued. As a teacher, I rarely felt a lesson went well, even if the students responded well or if teachers or my principal were present and gave positive feedback. I always felt I could do better and that what I presented was not good. When I take tests, I rarely walk out of a test feeling that I did well or knew the material, even if I do exceptionally well on the test. Sometimes it even seems that the better I do at something, the lower my view of my performance is.

I tend to think that this response is OK if not even good. I think it prevents me from being overly arrogant of my work. But if it prevents me from doing things that I am capable of, it is counter-productive. It is an odd balance of humbleness and confidence.

I do a terrible job at it.

It's all about the music

I love the Christmas season. The decorations, the cool weather, but mainly, the music. I really like a lot of Christmas music. A lot I do not! Paul McCartney's Wonderful Christmas is a song that causes me to turn off the radio or run from the stores playing it. Santa Baby is a very creepy song. But there are lots of good songs. Let's take a look at some of them.

I enjoy some secular songs that have little to do with Christmas. They either are about Santa or the weather. But I do like them.

One is the Overture from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker.



Another secular song I really enjoy is Leroy Anderson's Sleigh Ride.



I really like some of the songs that truly are about Christmas.

One of these songs is commonly song during Advent, the season leading up to Christmas. O Come O Come Emmanuel.



Another one has had its name change. Here we will listen to it in the original name, that is Good Christian Men Rejoice. This version is in Latin.



Another song I enjoy is God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman.



Finally, a song that for a long time I didn't know what a Christmas song. I first heard this song in middle school when we played it in band. I loved the tune, but had no idea it was a Christmas song until I heard it with its words last year. I wrote about it at the time. Here is, I Wonder as I Wander.



As great as the music is though, isn't it really all about Jesus?