tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68886016691652284232024-03-19T15:56:43.962-07:00the [occasional] fiestabecause in my world, every day is a party.
(...only in spanish.)fiestalelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298569017285875793noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888601669165228423.post-40490848203119814002010-03-13T08:16:00.000-08:002010-03-13T08:19:25.523-08:00fanaticsI had the incredible priviledge of attending the ACC Tourney night games Friday and discovered how fan-to-fan resentment grows. Yes, some of it is during the game when one's team bests another and so the fans reciprocate. But the real, deep-seeded resentment grows AFTER the game on the way from your seat (4 rows from the very top for us) to the car out in the Goofy-5 lot (Disney anyone?). This becomes the walk of shame for many. Most instigating are the annoying chants from fans whose alcohol is just kicking in again or is wearing off in a withdrawal-infested haze. To you fans who think you need to shout ridiculous things in tight quarters in the name of celebration, you are offensive to me, the opposing fan...and I would say now, even to your team's reputation. I guess that's the point though...why yell if it's not offensive?! Yep, your team was the better mediocre team tonight. Go Team.fiestalelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298569017285875793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888601669165228423.post-48330048039752270102010-02-25T15:06:00.000-08:002010-02-25T15:06:10.445-08:00ya big babyHey folks, here are some pics of our growing baby from January 28th (I know, 4 weeks late, sorry).<br />
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Here they are!<br />
This one is profile (from the side), legs to the left and head on the right...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Z4aoREG0v2H44owlvkZzYnJtEkEa6JplfCs0roIjem1Nd5wIjTfT-NJXnk2xUu2WUMh5L6gtvEPeAVed8obfJ2v1KsP3rLF5RRIC4UMMxJcTLY82EP8TJbwgEqDaiwSJ0gD_r4pF2ktA/s1600-h/baby+side+1.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Z4aoREG0v2H44owlvkZzYnJtEkEa6JplfCs0roIjem1Nd5wIjTfT-NJXnk2xUu2WUMh5L6gtvEPeAVed8obfJ2v1KsP3rLF5RRIC4UMMxJcTLY82EP8TJbwgEqDaiwSJ0gD_r4pF2ktA/s320/baby+side+1.28.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This one is the moneymaker, use your imagination...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR98ZSPrgfruQIZWUi4QrZVcyYllXybSxa0Cl5c0fjwZApKfAL8RI4IDxMPl9qWuFtnKsGMQteDGu6kvE-8I-F3K-_fopF6B4QwfdEeeJj17uPVj8zEaF3yVxjQX1eVeiS9HiDunCHGIJy/s1600-h/baby+boy+1.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR98ZSPrgfruQIZWUi4QrZVcyYllXybSxa0Cl5c0fjwZApKfAL8RI4IDxMPl9qWuFtnKsGMQteDGu6kvE-8I-F3K-_fopF6B4QwfdEeeJj17uPVj8zEaF3yVxjQX1eVeiS9HiDunCHGIJy/s320/baby+boy+1.28.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And finally, here's a 3-d sonar image...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlTN3VD25ZyesYgVwU7e6GFavzXFJQfL1-NaGdyJ5vKi6U8_qX7lUfVNETwuMWbML8svDN2yYqPDpMMhom0zEZuEBHxI-M8O4tX7jB9jmrcQeS-0dOCIDsDcMmvr2owaZz47LiyZltN-y/s1600-h/baby+3d+1.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlTN3VD25ZyesYgVwU7e6GFavzXFJQfL1-NaGdyJ5vKi6U8_qX7lUfVNETwuMWbML8svDN2yYqPDpMMhom0zEZuEBHxI-M8O4tX7jB9jmrcQeS-0dOCIDsDcMmvr2owaZz47LiyZltN-y/s320/baby+3d+1.28.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Just think, that was 4 weeks ago! He's a big baby now.</div>fiestalelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298569017285875793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888601669165228423.post-23907265258302249682010-02-16T17:54:00.000-08:002010-02-16T17:54:51.755-08:00Wintry OlympiadIf I competed in the Olympics, I would compete in:<br />
Snowboard Cross<br />
Speed Skating<br />
Luge<br />
Biathalon<br />
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How about you? What would you compete in?fiestalelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298569017285875793noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888601669165228423.post-21136179171637048992010-02-01T15:18:00.000-08:002010-02-01T15:18:38.028-08:00SnowWhy is it that when we get a good snow, the braintrust decides it would be a good idea to "plow" the roads? This only makes things worse! We got about 7" or 8" of snow on Friday night and I went out Saturday morning to get Tums for my pregnant wife. The roads were fluffy and beautiful and most of all: not slick. Then the plows came out and ruined everything. This morning was a mess. I say leave it alone.<br />
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BTW, the brilliant city of Greensboro decided that $30K worth of snow removal should all be dedicated to the downtown area to prepare for the opening of the International Civil Rights Center instead of throughout the city. They hauled all of the snow out and dumped it, who knows where...probably into a polluted stream. The whole city shuts down (just watch the "closings" on the news) but I guess this was money well spent. Maybe snow's too white?<br />
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...or was that racist.fiestalelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298569017285875793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888601669165228423.post-78928229171016214522010-01-26T22:23:00.000-08:002010-01-26T22:30:36.050-08:00Special Needs<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><img alt="Victory-Junction-New-logo-1.jpg" src="webkit-fake-url://DD9C8FBC-AEBC-414C-98E9-3092A6BCF914/Victory-Junction-New-logo-1.jpg" /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Tuesday I got to go to Victory Junction Gang Camp in Randleman, NC...this is Kyle Petty's camp dedicated to giving kids with special needs an exciting camp experience. I'm part of a project that is donating a lot of goods & services to their organization, so they hosted us and we held one of our group meetings there. They were gracious enough to give us a tour of the property and even feed us! You can see more about their mission/facility/etc <a href="http://www.victoryjunction.org/">HERE.</a> On the tour they showed us one of their typical promotional videos which shows all of these kids having the absolute time of their lives, despite whatever physical or emotional baggage would typically hold them back. I actually started to tear up towards the end. Let me back up a little...</span><br />
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When I worked at Rockbridge (YL camp in VA), I had the opportunity to help pioneer some of the challenge course access systems for kids with special needs (ie: how do you get a child with physically debilitations through a ropes course so he/she can experience the same thing as the rest of her cabin mates). My partner in this effort was a local leader from Maryland named Suzanne, who, through this experience and others like it, would turn out to become a long-time dear friend. Suzanne worked with a YL ministry called The Capernaum Project, which focused on sharing the Gospel with kids with special needs. My contribution to the task was the physical logistics...working knowledge of carabiners, cables, ropes, etc. We tried several different methods that ranged from basic brute force to sophisticated rigging with pullies and wrap around seats, fumbling through the process as we went. The physical part, no matter the technique, turned out more often than not to be incredibly draining and required a coordinated team of people. The emotional part was always rewarding, no matter the sweat, no matter the tears, no matter the cost. <br />
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Even above all of this, though, Suzanne shared something with me early on that has stuck with me beyond all else: It's not "Special Needs Kids," they are KIDS with special needs. We always want to label things so they fit nicely into our little categories we file away...and we do that with people, too. The last thing these kids need is a label...they are Kids, just plain kids (who just happen to have special needs and need a different kind of love and attention). I still remember our first sweet Sarah who was wheelchair bound and had VERY limited mobility and VERY limited communication. It was awkward at first, trying to figure out the right system, who should be where, how do we do this? But one step at a time, we did it. The next one was easier, and the next easier than that. Each time, the reward was much greater than the cost.<br />
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So I sat in that dark theater, entranced by the video which showed giant smile after ecstatic giggle, thinking back to when these seeds of compassion were planted in me years ago. I couldn't help but get a little choked up. We later had lunch and were even able to spend some casual time with Patty & Kyle Petty (yep, Patty Petty). He's a huge NASCAR star, yet is the so unassuming and approachable. You can tell that it's not about boosting an ego or "look how great I am"...but it's about KIDS.<br />
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I think we're the needy ones.<br />
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</div>fiestalelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298569017285875793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888601669165228423.post-68044832398980634482010-01-19T17:38:00.000-08:002010-01-19T17:38:54.865-08:00why the vikings could go all the way...now this is just plain awesome. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UQXnsD9CF8">GO HERE TO SEE WHY THE VIKINGS COULD GO ALL THE WAY.</a> it is only 2 minutes long...totally worth it.<br />
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stacey and i decided that the NFC Championship would pretty much be our SuperBowl since we don't really care about Indy or the J.E.T.S. (well, stacey unfortunately likes Peyton Manning but I think he's a toolbag). <br />
<br />
I hereby vote for a round-robin playoff system.<br />
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Go Vikes?fiestalelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298569017285875793noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888601669165228423.post-8590521732138201102010-01-12T18:05:00.000-08:002010-01-12T18:07:26.295-08:00chuck!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: medium;">i'm so glad Chuck is back. it's such a simple pleasure for us...every episode is digestable but leaves you wanting just a teeny bit more. </span></span></span></span><br />
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</div>fiestalelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298569017285875793noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888601669165228423.post-68743595314530295922010-01-07T16:20:00.000-08:002010-01-07T16:22:15.979-08:00interactionI would like to state, even for the very few who follow this blog, that in order to participate in a blog, one must leave comments so as to reassure the writer(s) that someone actually reads these things. It doesn't have to be every day, or every entry, but maybe every other entry or so?! It's not as important on this blog, but please visit <a href="http://www.stackeylee.blogspot.com/">my wife's blog</a>...and let's see some interaction folks.<br />
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COME ON PEOPLE, COMMENT!fiestalelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298569017285875793noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888601669165228423.post-36713438612942925772009-12-14T19:17:00.000-08:002009-12-14T19:17:19.987-08:00Top of the WorldTwo years of planning and preparation (also referred to as madness and mayhem) involved in the project downtown only to have it still come down to the wire as usual. Craziness, stress, pressure, anxiety...all culminating in the grand unveiling of my blood, sweat, and tears merged together in the form of wood veneers, faux finishes, and a giant wall of glass. Visitors arrive with mouths agape and the sound of oohs and ahhs dribble out uncontrolably--but I arrive and see every flaw, every dent and ding, every oversight, every missed opportunity, and every shoulda' woulda' coulda'. As I stand in the space and play the male cabinet salesman version of Vanna White during the awkwardly named "Uptown Living Expo" (like it's craft fair or something?) while gawkers and hopeful clients come in, I wear a nametag hung around my neck that says simply, "Lee Williams, Cabinet Concepts," but couldn't it just say, "It's not my fault". <br />
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On the flip side of the nametag I carry a black and white image that looks like something produced by either Air Traffic Control or the Red October (ladies, that is a submarine from a classic movie). This image is the icon of a year and a half undertaking which also required hard work, determination, perseverance, procedures, appointments, etc. This image is the ultrasound of our not-yet-born child. I carried it around so I could show it off to past and current clients at our Grand Opening party on the 16th floor. I carry it while I play Vanna and sneak peeks to distract me from my throbbing feet. <br />
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Despite the heartaches, despite the frustrations, and even when I'm not up on the 16th floor...<br />
<br />
I'm on Top of the World.fiestalelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298569017285875793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888601669165228423.post-19666901212111235982009-12-02T23:41:00.000-08:002009-12-02T23:41:33.677-08:00Who's the pregnant one?It's 2:30 am and I'm awake--UGH. Who's the pregnant one, anyway? Oh don't worry, she's fast asleep upstairs...sleeping as she has done most of the day. Don't get me wrong, she needs the sleep because she is literally--as we say--growing another human being. But what about me? I need sleep too! <br />
<br />
Full moon. A lot going on at work. My mind's racing. ...or maybe it's just the caffeine. I'd bet on a wicked brew of "All of the above." I guess aspiring daddies have to get used to not sleeping and running on our preferred method(s) of energy supplements also. <br />
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At least we can eat hot dogs and take Nyquil though. Now there's an idea...fiestalelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298569017285875793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888601669165228423.post-50293628146974920992009-11-07T10:07:00.000-08:002009-11-07T10:07:24.764-08:00the name gamemy wife and i had to come up with names for a new blog so we could be official with our lives. i came up with several AWESOME names which sprouted mostly from tv shows we enjoy together. apparently stacey had a different idea in mind. csi was a show we shared early in our relationship, which brought to mind some options. can't you imagine a blog called "blunt force trauma" or "pitichial hemorrhaging"? or from the office, "tell me before i come there" or "that's what she said"? totally appropriate! also from the office, "protruberance" or "the moonfaced kid". and then there's the MMA fights which offers a plethora of submission names: "rear naked choke" or "the peruvian necktie"...all gold (or at least diamonds in the rough). stacey opted for a much less aggressive option and one that was much more inclusive and descriptive of us. i'm honored to be included in the title of "stackeylee". "stackey" the name that was donned somewhere amidst the mayhem of youth ministry, "lee" the name that was given to me upon, well, birth (apparently john was too boring and leland was too weird). so there you have it. <div><br />
</div><div>so why "fiestaleland"? </div><div>WHY NOT.</div>fiestalelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298569017285875793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888601669165228423.post-73542107429232487762009-11-06T16:49:00.000-08:002009-11-06T18:10:34.601-08:00THE NERD OFF (6e657264206f6666)what better way to kick off an online computerworld blog than to dedicate this inaugural post to a nerd-off conversation by brother and i (and my undercover-nerd wife) just had as he/they explained how binary works, and the ins-and-outs of the art of hexadecimal. <div><br /></div><div>hexadecimal? it's "base 16"...derrrrr.<br /><div><br /></div><div>...you know, how "0" (pronounced "OH") can't be the letter "O", because in computerworld "OH" has no place in hexadecimal (because it only goes to "f"...of course!), but in the builderworld "o" (pronounced "OH") is most always a "zero" usage...like a 3068 door (three-oh-six-eight) means 3-feet wide by 6-feet 8-inches tall--the "oh" signifies "zero" inches. <div><br /></div><div>WHAT?! yeah, i'm still lost. so you know what i said to him? i just stomped my foot and said, </div><div>"7768617465766572206e657264".</div><div><br /></div><div>HA! that'll show 'em!</div></div></div>fiestalelandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298569017285875793noreply@blogger.com2