the searbys

When he called my name at the Hair Cuttery I knew I was in trouble. This blond Key West kid did not look gay enough to be cutting my hair. I could tell by the way my head hit the sink as he washed it. Next step: The Chair. I normally love to get my haircut and don't really mind trying something new. I had thumbed through a magazine and saw a simple layered haircut that I thought would work for me. When I showed it to him, he studied it and finally said, "Sure, that looks easy." He began cutting, concentrating so much that there was no chance for the usual small talk. I think my Aunt Ellen, who cut my hair for many years, would have laughed had she seen the outcome. It looked nothing like the picture. It was all layered at the back on the bottom but the top was so heavy that you couldn't see the layers, and he didn't think the sides needed layered. He asked what I thought, I suggested that maybe my left side looked longer than my right and that the back didn't quite have the layered look like the picture. He then asked a co-worker for a second opinion. I could tell by the co-worker's face that it wasn't this guys's best work. The manager noticed that there was something going on and she approached the scene and proceded to tell my man "Chris" that he had the angles all wrong and that we would have to start all over. He looked pretty sad and he apologized. The manager then took the second hour to fix what Chris had done. She asked him to stand and watch as she explained how he should have done it. Thankfully, I left with my layers where I wanted them but feeling like I'd wasted half of my day at the Hair Cuttery.

-Jen

Here we are, sitting around in Bellflower, Illinois. It's freezing here. Did I really live here for 24 years? In six months I've gotten spoiled by the Florida weather. Tonight we've sat around and told stories, laughed a lot and generally just had a great time. We had great travelling weather, which was a blessing. We had a nice visit with Aaron and Shauna in Louisville on Saturday and Sunday. We spent last night in the bustling metropolis of Tamaroa, IL, where my granny and grandpa Searby live. We had great food and saw some family, which is always good. Hope everyone is staying warm these days and enjoying the holiday season. Greetings from Illinois!!
-joel

Yeah, you guessed it....of a white Christmas. As I headed out the door this morning into the pleasant Florida air and got into the car in the dark, and left our apartment complex, I noticed the pansies at the entrance, in bloom. I couldn't help but think that it sure would be nice to see snow for Christmas. As I neared the coffee shop I heard good 'ol Bing (Crosby that is) come on the radio and sing, "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, just like the ones I used to know." And it was true. And I am. Looking forward to seeing many of you in Illinois and seeing a white Christmas. At any rate, I hope your week is wonderful as we all prepare for this craziest and holiest of seasons.
-joel

Ok, so I didn't really go to Mexico. But have any of you tried the new Doritos chip flavor called "ranchero?" It has that strong chile/ lime flavor that is so prevalent in Mexico, especially in snacks such as chips, corn on the cob with mayo and chile and even suckers. I have a picture form Teotihuacan, the pyramids near Mexico City, that shows little kids gathering 'round their mother to have chile powder sprinkled on their popsicles. When I tasted these chips today I went straight to Mexico. For me, that is the only place that I associate with this flavor. I'm not even sure if they're marketing them in the North with a lower concentration of Latinos so you "northerners" will have to let me know. If you do find them, try them. And if you've been to Mexico and know what I'm talking about, I guarantee you'll agree with me. That's my mostly useless thought for the day. Yet, one useful part of it is that flavors can also evoke memories of times and places, just like music. Anyone have a good "flavor evokes a memory" story?
-joel

Yesterday was a good day. Church went very well with a good spirit among everyone, several new and returning visitors and a young couple officially placing their membership with Harvest Christian Church. Matt and Ashley (the young couple) have become friends of ours as well and it is neat to see the things that God is doing in their lives and through them as they serve others. They are really living out their faith and it's great to see. We also said goodbye to a young family that is moving which was bittersweet but overall a joyous send-off. Last night we had our Sunday school class party, a potluck complete with gift exchange. It was a lot of fun with great food and good times together. We'll put some pictures up shortly.

This morning it's pretty cold here, frost on some windows (or your face if you ride a scooter!) but the high is still in the mid-sixties so it should be nice by this afternoon. Hope you're doing well and looking forward to another great week of life.
-joel

When will they be rescued? I love this show. It’s the only show I even watch on TV (with the exception of “First on Fox News” and that’s dramatic enough to be a TV show.) For those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about….check out ABC on Wednesday nights @ 9pm Eastern Time.

“Oceanic Air flight 815 tore apart in mid-air and crashed on a Pacific island, its survivors were forced to find inner strength they never knew they had in order to survive. But they discovered that the island holds many secrets, including the intense howls of a mysterious creature stalking the jungle, as well as a polar bear, a marooned and possibly crazy French woman, a mystical boar, a mysterious group known only as "The Others," a ship called The Black Rock and... a hatch.”

Sounds crazy huh? But, the show has a way of developing each character and really makes you want to see the next episode. Each character is handling the plane crash differently, some think its coincidence, others think the island is haunted, and yet others have a belief in God and say they were brought there for a reason. I hope you get hooked too!

Sorry I can't let this whole weather thing go. Especially as I hear about the six inches of snow in Illinois and the cold temps, it is so strange to be here. Last night we went Christmas shopping. Most people were in t-shirts, some in shorts. This morning it's foggy, rainy and 60 degrees. It's so interesting how, just like with music, we associate other things with moments and emotions in our lives. For me, cold weather and snow is what I associate with Christmas. Not having that almost makes it not feel like Christmas. As october rolled around it was still hot here. That was strange too because I grew up associating colder days, earlier sunsets and the last leaves falling with the start of basketball season. Even when my career was over I would still get that same old feeling in early october, that feeling that "the season" was about to start. Just another one of those things that are lodged into our memories and connected to concrete things in our everyday world.
-joel

I was talking to my brother-in-law, Jake, on the phone this morning. He lives in northern Illinois. We were talking about the weather and he indicated that it is supposed to be "warming up" in the next couple of days. I asked him what that meant. He said, "into the twenties," and I cracked up laughing, then felt bad. It is so strange to be here in Florida right now and know that that winter I grew up with is in full-swing in Illinois. No snow here. No bitter cold. Just a little rain and a breeze. It's actually really nice. I hope you're warm, friends and family in Illinois!!

Today I've been thinking a lot about the idea of the soundtracks of our lives. It is amazing to me how most of us associate songs with certain memories, moods, people or times in our lives. Just a few notes of a song can take you instantly to another time and place. Is that not amazing? I think it would be awesome to develop a survey that asks people to associate a song with those events and moods and people and whatever they come up with, to make an album out of it. Not only would it be emotional and fun to listen to your own but fascinating, I think, to listen to the soundtrack of others. What do you guys think?
-joel

Only in America...

I just ate a sausage, egg and cheese biscuit. But wait, there's more...it was in egg roll form and that's not all, it was formulated to cook on those little spinny things that cook hot dogs in the gas station! Sounds like gourmet to me. Yep, that's right, I ate one. They actually aren't bad if you like the taste of pepper and a little cheese. Just thought I'd share more from my adventures in gas station eating.

No, I don't mean the average age of people passing through on their way to Boca Raton. I mean the temperature expected for this week. As I hear reports of twenties and teens along with snow in Illinois, I can't say I'm jealous. I would like to see some pretty snow on the ground when we're "home" for Christmas though. Jen and I were talking the other day about how many people down here (some quite old) have never seen snow. It is so odd to us. Then again, there's lots of midwesterns who've never seen the ocean, a concept foreign to most Floridians. So, I guess we're all more alike then we might think.

On another note, in this month's national geographic there's a blurb about a new book coming out about dialects in the U.S. It had a map showing the different dialects around the U.S. and showed Florida as the only place where the entire state has no discernable dialect. It is such a melting pot of retirees, immigrants and southern heritage that it makes for interesting language. If you get a chance, check out the latest edition.

I hope you all have a great week. I'll commit to more regular posts. You commit to reading them! Take care,
joel

Sorry for the long time with no posts. Here's a list of some things I've learned since the last time:

1) My scooter is neither amphibious nor heated. Yes, you get wet and cold on these things.
2) It's great to be with family.
3) I still love coffee.
4) Even though its cold when its dark, Florida is still a great place to be in the winter!
5) Four pairs of pants will keep you warm on a scooter. (yeah, it's true)
6) There is no substitute for a beautiful white blanket of snow. I hear there's some now in Illinois. Maybe we'll see some at Christmas.

Hope you all are well.
-joel