Tripping the Field

Today our middle/high school went on a field trip to Port Hudson, Louisiana. It is a civil war battleground and the site of the longest siege of any war. It was quite interesting. Hanna was my photographer for the day (i.e, she jacked my camera and took all sorts of pictures and videos--mostly of people hiding their faces) The following are a few of the pics she took during the day. The bus pic was one I shot at the end of the day. I was fascinated by the image reflected in the side-view mirror--and I suspect that I was slightly delirious from the trip as well!

Josh, Briley, and Lauren

Lindsey and Micah experiencing an 'paparazzi moment'

Me and Jen on the way to Port Hudson--can you tell how excited we are?!

Grace, what are you doing?

Me looking large and in charge. Check out the capris and tennis shoe combo! (and yes, they are capris...just because they are almost to my ankles does not change the description of the pant itself!)

The girls were facinated with one of the mirrors in the bathroom. This picture cracks me up!

This was our tour guide in full confederate garb as he was describing to us some of the weapons of the confederate army.

Ok, a word about our tour guide Waylan...Wade...Warren...no one knows his name! Jen said it started with a 'W' and ended with and 'n'. What I don't understand is why I got picked at by all of the 10th grade girls everytime I had any sort of verbal exchange with him. Questions like 'where is the picnic area?' brought on accusations of flirting! We don't know his name, but we do know that he graduated from LSU and the girls wanted me to throw my love of LSU into our next conversation. They also wanted to discreetly 'drop' my card in the museum and see if he would call me. Right, because our conversations were THAT intense! ha!! Really now...it was funny, but slightly embarrassing! Silly girls! ;)

TG as he tells us about Fort Desparate

The VICIOUS beast that tried to attack some of our students. He was dealt with expeditiously by our lovely tour-guide and protector...what's-his-name!

Lauren, Garrett, and Heath identifying artifacts in a display case

Alright, I Like Smallville...there, I admit it

I don’t know why, but I’m always slightly embarrassed to admit that I’m a Smallville fan. I think it’s because most people think ‘a TV show about Superman = cheesy’ because that was my first thought when the show premiered 4 years ago. Somehow, I became involved with the storyline and I’ve been a fan ever since. Ok, so I know what drew me in and it wasn’t the storyline—it was Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luther)! Mmmmmhmmm, he is HOT, but I digress.

Despite the humble beginnings of my fan-hood, I have grown to really enjoy the show. Prequels fascinate me because I enjoy trying to figure out how the storyline will eventually match up with what I already know of the original story. I find Smallville particularly interesting because, in the show, Clark Kent and Lex Luther are close friends, while in the Superman storylines, Lex is Clark’s nemesis. I really don’t know much about the storylines in Superman other than the movies I saw when I was a kid, but I remember enough to know that they weren’t friends.

And the show is consistently well-written. Yes, as with all WB shows, they go for the sensational every once in a while, but it’s the ongoing relationship storylines that I really enjoy: Clark and Lex, Clark and Lana, Clark and Chloe, Lex and Lana, Lex and Lionel (his father), etc.

My favorite is that of Clark and Lex. Up until this season, Clark has pretty much been Lex’s staunchest supporter, believing in him when no one else would etc, etc. This season has introduced some subtle differences in their relationship. Tonight’s episode included interesting shift. To give the barest amount of storyline necessary, Clark had lost his memory and Lex, while purporting to help him remember, was basically using Clark’s vulnerable state to get information on some stuff he’s been working to figure out. Clark eventually regains his memory, all except the last 24 hours (of course). When he asks Lex about their interaction, Lex lies to him about what they talked about. With a subtle nonverbal shift in eye-contact, doubt creeps into the relationship—well, it’s been creeping about all season, but the writing and the acting in that interchange was very good. A subtle and understated but evident shift for the discerning viewer. Good stuff. And it didn’t hurt that Michael Rosenbaum was in that scene…have I mentioned that he’s HOT?!?!

Packaged Air For Sale

Ok, am I the only one who finds the concept of 'packaged air' hilarious? Today I received a package containing three little baggies filled with nothing but air, and this fascinating filler has prompted tonight's post. I first experienced this phenomenon in the fall of 2002 when I opened a box of books shipped to one of the professors I was working for. I was fascinated with the idea that someone had 'discovered' such an interesting product. Jim laughed at me...come to think of it, Jim laughed at me a lot when I worked for him! ;) Anyway, back to the point--I've seen the little bags of air several times since then and they still make me laugh every time I see them. While I completely understand the purpose of this packing product, the thought that people have figured out a way to sale packages of air (or, in the case of the link, a machine that will produce these little 'air pillows') is beyond me. Maybe I'm the only one who thinks 'packaged air' is funny, but it is my prerogative to laugh just the same!

A wonderful day for a baptism

I have attended Trinity Bible Church since moving back to Lafayette almost two years ago. It's a great church and I love the sense of community that it fosters among our group of believers. Our church does not have a baptistery as such, so twice a year, we have a big Baptism Celebration, complete with a blow-up pool (our temporary baptistery), funjumps for the kids, and a whole lot of food. Today's baptism celebration also included the ribbon-cutting for our new youth and children's buildings.

Dennis addressing the crowd from the 'baptismal' pool

Our pastor, Dennis Malcolm, as he waits for a canditate who's sharing his decision with those who are gathered

Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit/ Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." matthew 28: 18-20 (NLT)

There were several members of Mike's small group who were baptized together...it was a really neat experience and I'm sure it's something that they will all remember

young and old, everyone who was baptized today had the opportunity to share why they were participating in the celebration

Matt Adams, our youth minister, had the opportunity to baptize some of his students

a husband helping to baptize his wife...

...and his stepdaughter. He also helped with his stepson who's standing by Matt in this pic

a father baptizing his daughter

'courtside seats' for today's event!

the post baptism/building dedication scene

my sister Erica holding Drew and Kristy's little boy Jed. Jed has inherited those 'Caperton' eyelashes!

This is Kevin, our worship leader. Just in case you couldn't tell, that's his son he's holding! :)

this is my only pic of the new youth building and it's blurry because i was trying to not be too obvious...who wants some stranger taking a picture of you while you're trying to play pool?!

this is the lobby area of the children's building. these walls are beautiful, but I didn't try to include all of them. Following are several pics from different rooms in the children's building.

even the water fountain area has a theme!

in this room they are constructing a giant 'Skittles' rainbow, but it's not finished yet...that's a lot of skittles!

me and Colin, an ole' college buddy. Colin is finishing his masters in engineering this semester and is probably moving to the DC area for a new job!

I hung out with Jennifer and her friend Jeff for the picnic and all, so I thought I'd include them in this post

A beautiful day for a festival

You could not have asked for better weather! It was sunny, breezy ,and just a wonderful day in general to experience more of La Festival International de Louisiane. I walked down from my apartment--it's great to live close to downtown! I did a little shopping at some of the booths and met up with Erica and others for a bit. I ate a chicken pita from the Zeus Cafe booth at Parc Sans Souci and watched children playing in the fountains while folk music drifted over from the Pavillon de Cuisine. All in all, it was a great day! Wish you could have been there!

On my walk down to the festival

These guys perform here at the corner of Jefferson and Vermilion every year

This peanut roaster was manufactured in 1887. It's a regular here at the festival and at area UL sporting events as well. Mmmmm, can you smell the peanuts?

Amy, Jackson and Erica enjoying the day. I met up with them and Damon for a little while. Where's Damon, you ask? He's off talkin' to somebody! BIG surprise, I know! ;)

I can't help it! This kid cracks me up!

Marche Des Arts has the more 'artsy' booths. Following are a couple of examples of what's available

Street performers entertaining the crowd

A few pics of kids playing in the fountain at 'Parc Sans Souci'

This little boy in yellow was drawing quite a crowd as he danced while musicians played at 'La Pavillon de Cuisine'

The main stage

The Lafayette Stage