2010 October

Gravity

Saturday, October 09, 2010 we took our annual International Student Exchange (ISE) trip to Chicago. This years trip proved far better then last year as the weather was just absolutely beautiful. Last year it was rainy, and chilly. This year could not have been a better day.

With the weather being so nice the city was buzzing with activity. Also, because Sunday, 10-10-10 was the Chicago Marathon there was a lot of people in town.

One of the many attractions, or for some distractions, are the street performers. I personally find them an attraction and like to stop and watch and listen.

This one in particular caught my ear before my eyes. Jin and I had just come along Lake Shore Drive, walking along the path that was streaming with runners, cyclists, and walkers alike. We came to an end where there was a park ( I believe it is PFC. Milton Olive Park, as we then walked to Navy Pier) and the pedestrian underpass. We had sat down on a bench by the beach area and I heard a faint sound of music coming from the pedestrian underpass. So, as Jin sat on the bench I made my way down to explore this music.

As I approached the entrance to the walkway I see a man sitting in a chair playing a guitar and harmonica and singing.
I sit outside the entrance to listen. This is the first time I have heard the song he is singing. I like the song and the music, he is doing a good job. I walk over to call Jin down so she can sit with me and listen.

So, Jin and I sit and listen to him sing and play some more. I am intrigued by this song and this gentleman’s performance. After listening for a little while longer, I walk over to the man and place some money in his guitar case. I then take this video and some photos (one which is just above).

Gravity is working against me
And gravity wants to bring me down

Oh I’ll never know what makes this man
With all the love that his heart can stand
Dream of ways to throw it all away

Oh Gravity is working against me
And gravity wants to bring me down

Oh twice as much aint twice as good
And can’t sustain like one half could
It’s wanting more
That’s gonna send me to my knees
(repeat)

Oh gravity, stay the hell away from me
And gravity has taken better men than me (Now how can that be?)

Just keep me where the light is
Just keep me where the light is
Just keep me where the light is
Come on, keep me where the light is
Come on, keep me where the light is
Away from all the dark
Keep me where the light is
Keep me where, keep me where the light is

Here is a video of John Mayer singing the entire song.

Thumbs Up For Guedes (south bend tribune article)

This article was in the South Bend Tribune today (Friday, 10-01-10) We are very proud of our son. He is definitely a unique individual and we are very happy that God placed him in our home this year.

Tribune Photo/BARBARA ALLISON Adams High School senior Will Guedes, an exchange student from Brazil, is still learning about the sport of football after having arrived in the area two months ago. Here he works on his kicking with help from teammate Adam Jolly.

High school football: Thumbs up for Guedes
Football, not futbol, a kick for Brazilian exchange student at Adams.
COMMENTARY
By AL LESAR
Tribune Columnist

SOUTH BEND — Minutes into the first high school football game of his life, Will Guedes learned a valuable lesson.

The Adams High kicker lined up for a PAT. The snap sailed high, over the holder’s head.

Guedes, an exchange student from Brazil, didn’t understand the game very well, but he knew that wasn’t good.

“I saw the ball rolling on the ground and I knew the other team (Chesterton) could pick it up and run the other way,” the 5-foot-7, 136-pound senior said. “I jumped on it and grabbed it with my arm. Then, everyone started piling on me. My helmet started shaking. My hand hurt, but it was more fun than it was painful.

“The next time, though, I told the snapper not to do that again.”

“That was Will’s welcome to American football,” said Adams coach Frank Amato. “This is football with ‘two o’s’ (football), not a ‘u’ (futbol, or soccer).”

A left-footed kicker, Guedes never played organized soccer in his hometown of Brasilia. There are no school sports, just clubs. His main sport is diving. Guedes placed second nationally in his age group two years ago, and fourth last year. He plans on diving at Adams this winter, but, for now, the focus is football.

“I always thought football was about, take the ball and hit someone,” Guedes said. “I never realized the strategy in it.

“I’m impressed with the support a football team gets from the students and the community. The technology is amazing. Coaches on the sidelines talk on phones.”

Guedes, who arrived in South Bend two months ago, tried for a couple weeks to divide his time between the soccer and football teams.

Didn’t work.

“I wanted to give all of myself to football,” he said.

A couple times a week, kicking is a significant part of the Eagles’ practice. The other days, he and his partners — a kicking tee and a contraption that holds the ball — spend their workouts at the other end of the field, working on distance and accuracy.

“My goal is a field goal from 50 yards,” Guedes said.

Through five games, he owns a 30-yard field goal against Washington and about a half dozen PATs. That first three-pointer was a milestone for the guy who taught himself the proper kicking technique by studying it on the Internet.

“All the team was celebrating for me, throwing me up in the air,” Guedes said of the kick that put Adams ahead of Washington, 9-7, early in the fourth quarter.

“While all that (celebration) was going on, Will’s saying, ‘It’s not over guys. The game’s not over,’” said Amato. “He’s a unique guy.”

Adams ended up losing that game to the Panthers. Guedes took it hard. Though a newcomer to the program, Guedes has struggled through the Eagles’ 1-5 start to the season.

“It’s hard to come to practice after a loss,” he said.

That’s why last Saturday, after Adams got its first win by beating Riley, was so much fun.

“That was joke day,” Guedes said.

Football has helped Guedes, who speaks Portuguese and Spanish along with much-improved English, get comfortable in his new surroundings. Making friends hasn’t been a problem.

“People in America are so open, so friendly,” Guedes said. “That’s the best thing about being here, the friends I’ve made.”

He’s noticed that at just about every Adams football game this season, a fight involving fans has happened.

“Caveman behavior,” he called it. “It’s a problem in Brazil, too.”

“The funniest thing about Will, before every kick, just before the snap, he’ll give the holder the ‘thumbs up,’” Amato said. “That’s the kind of kid he is, always positive.”

It’s easy to understand in any language.

You can read the article online at South Bend Tribune

Long Black Train

During my run today Long Black Train by Josh Turner came through my iPod in the shuffle. I had not heard this one in a while . Singing along with this song reminded me of the video that went with it. I thought that I would share this you all. I have included the lyrics to the song so that you can follow along.

No matter what we may be going through, getting on that long black train is not worth it. The engineer does make us wonder if getting on would be worth the pain, he tries to convince us that it would actually soothe the pain we are having at that moment. But remember who is driving that train, it is not our Father, but the devil, trying his best to deceive us.

James4:7 (NKJ) Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you
“Roaring lion”
The devil is described as a lion: fierce and predatory, always on the lookout for somebody to attack and bring down. The key to resisting his attacks to be continually vigilant against them.

1 Peter 5:8 (The Message)

He Gets the Last Word

8-11Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.

There’s a long black train,
Comin’ down the line,
Feedin’ off the souls that are lost and cryin’,
Rails of sin, only evil remains
Watch out brother for that Long Black Train

Look to the heavens
You can look to the skies
You can find redemption
Staring back into your eyes
There is protection and there’s
Peace the same, burnin’ your ticket for that
Long Black Train

‘Cause there’s vict’ry in the Lord I say,
Vict’ry in the Lord,
Cling to the Father and His holy name,
And don’t go ridin’ on that Long Black Train

There’s an engineer on that Long Black Train,
Makin’ you wonder if the ride is worth the pain,
He’s just a waiting on your heart to say
Let me ride on that Long Black Train,

But you know there’s vict’ry in the Lord I say,
Vict’ry in the Lord,
Cling to the Father and His holy name,
And dont go ridin’ on that Long Black Train

Well, I can hear the whistle from a mile away,
It sounds so good
But I must stay away
That train is a beauty, makin’ everybody stare
But its only destination is the middle of nowhere,

But you know theres vict’ry in the Lord I say,
Vict’ry in the Lord,
Cling to the Father and His holy name,
And don’t go ridin’ on that Long Black Train

I said cling to the Father and His holy name
And dont go ridin’ on that long black train
Yeah, watch out brother for that long black train
The Devil’s a drivin’ that long black train.