The Chronicles of "C"

a new chapter begins

2011-03-03T08:10:00.000-06:00

i know it has been a while and i am sure sorry for that. So much has happened. I moved from Oklahoma back to West Michigan. I was sad to leave there but knew it was the right thing to do.

After 9 months of bouncing of my apartment walls and unemployment, i landed a job at AVI Systems in Grand Rapids. I am a Design Engineer II and will be doing some project management as well. The company is A/V driven primary corporate, higher education and health care. We do digital media systems, teleconferencing, audio, video, and much more. I am very excited to be part of this company. Solid financially and management makes me a happy camper.

I will be updating on other things as time goes on. But for now, i will let you chew on that.

Thanks
C

Friday

2009-09-18T21:57:00.000-05:00

It has been a challenging week. Much going on at work. Work load increasing. Problems arising. people issues.

I am often reminded of how much God really loves us. I know that is a big leap. But i was walking today after a particularly difficult morning. (i needed to take a walk). As i was out, a bird flew by and i am reminded that God takes care of the sparrow. This gave me the strength to once again engage and move thru the rest of the day.

In other news, I may be making a trip to MI soon. I will be this weekend making some arrangements and figuring out if i have enough money. It has been too long.

well i am looking for a relaxing weekend. enjoy yours!

My Daughter is a 10th Grader

2009-09-14T23:53:00.000-05:00

I was thinking the other day - where does the time go? Becca is a sophomore. Ug. Getting ready to take drivers ed. I was speaking to Becca's mom the other day - planning out some upcoming things that need to be purchased. Wow, seems like things move too fast. Pictures, year books, clothes, braces - or now no braces - band camp, color guard, football games, i just cannot keep up.

But things are good in Grand Haven. Becca has a challenging year ahead. She has a few classes that are going to require some time reading. But she has her "game face" on and i think it will be ok.

One regret i have is i wished a was a bigger reader. I think i go thru spurts. I get interested then lose interest. then it comes over me again. I really am a fair weather reader.

I really think this is going to be a good year for Becca. I pray she stays focused and keeps moving.

Here in OKC, things are heating up. I recently accepted a promotion at work. I am still trying to figure out if it was a good thing or not. It is challenging. Some of the dynamics of my boss are very interesting to say the least. I have a good team here. We get lots of stuff done and time to play too. My boss is learning sometimes the hard way how to be a better businessman. Sometimes kicking and screaming but he is learning.

Still looking for a church. I have been hanging at one for several months now. Still not connecting very well. I think the teaching is good and the worship style is close to mine but i have not locked in just yet. Going to give it a few more tries though.

I am hopeful i will be traveling back to michigan soon. Catch up with friends and family. I miss them so. Next round i need to catch up with my nephews while i am there. Man, talk about growing up. I want them on Facebook. Reminds me just how much older i am now.

Weight loss update. slowed way down. Could be because i am not taking enough time to do it. Ug. need to get back on that pony and ride!

Well, keep reading.

C of the C squared.

wow has it been this long?

2009-06-03T00:01:00.003-05:00

it is june and things are going aok. I recently have been on a facebook craze. too addicting i must say. It is getting hot here now and summer is right around the corner.

The becca arrives next week! booyah. i cannot wait. it was been a moth since i have seen her. it will be good. She made Color Guard again for next year, so the summer for her will be full.

I have worked out a way to work here for 6 weeks and go to Michigan for 2. i am geeked about that so i can see family and friends in michigan more often.

Well it is storming pretty bad out and i need to hit the sack.

Good night

once a month bloggin

2009-03-09T17:33:00.002-05:00

hmmm

well i am getting paid again. big plus to see more going in to my bank account than going out!

All is good. Health is getting better. Personal trainer is after me on some things. Work is busy. What can i say about that? good problems to have.

Becca is aok. I miss seeing her. But she is good.

Headed to west michigan soon. Cannot wait for that.

i will post more as time allows.

Friday before Valentines Day

2009-02-13T13:34:00.002-06:00

Well, things are looking good. Cash is starting to move again with the company. This is a major relieve because it is always better to see things moving in my bank account instead of out...

Tried a new church last weekend. A major change in worship for me. I like the teaching/preaching. The song service is all acapella. I liked it. NOt sure i like it enough to hang with it. Anyway, it is a church that is currently attended by one of my co-workers. It is small and easy to get connected. More on that later.

Family is good. Weather here is better. Becca is in a good place right now.

Carter

hmm.

2009-02-10T01:12:00.003-06:00

Well i tried a different church on Sunday. it was good. i have been hanging at Life Church South here in OKC. Not really getting connected very well. The church i hit on Sunday is one attended by one of my co-workers. Interesting. It is a Church of Christ. Extremely traditional; no instruments; music from hymnal; speaker was good.

This quite a major transition for me. i like music. i like a worship band; not for the emotional rush, but i just like to hear music. I may hang here for a bit. Not sure, but i will pray it thru.

The paradox of my life is i deal with some of the most technically based churches in the states. large ones with high expections for their worship experience. yet, when it is all said and done, i like an acoustic set - one singer, guitar, piano, percussion. Weird i know.

Still rough times with cash flow at work. Times is hard - a friend of mine i used to work with would say. Would be nice to see cash flow improve and flow again.

once cash does start moving, the first place i am headed is to see my daughter. it has been too long.

it is late. Personal trainer kicking my butt in the morning. Good night

PS Facebook rocks!

wow has it been this long?

2009-01-23T09:37:00.003-06:00

Much has happened.

I am in a tough period right now. I am feeling like a total failure in several areas. I really do not want to go into details right now but just to say it is hard.

Decisions i have to make. Hard stuff. I don't like it. I have been taking the time to re-evaluate my life as i do during this time of the year. I hate this stuff.

I can say - God is good and he is always there. thru good and bad, he is there.

I can also say i am finally on a weight loss program that is good for me. I have a personal trainer who kicks my butt 3 times a week. Why is that so hard? lol.

Missing my daughter. that has to be the biggest thing on my mind these days. i need some time away to connect with her and just be.

More later, i promise i will be alittle more faithful to the blog. much is clouding my mind right now. Gotta get a hold of it.

Carter

time for a new entry

2008-09-23T20:02:00.000-05:00

i am too busy

work is on fire and my schedule is not good.

more later

a point of clarification

2008-08-27T10:36:00.004-05:00

the power of the written word. I did not realize how powerful it really is. I have been sharing and babbling in this blog for awhile now. Sometimes i write well and sometimes .... well frankly not.

I need to say something. I have been thinking about this for the last couple days. This is really not prompted by anything thing but where i am at now. I do not say this enough; so i want to go on record now.

My immediate family. I have the greatest respect and love for my ex wife, Sarah and her husband Dave. They are cool people who are making it work blending a family. I respect who they are as a couple, as believers, as family and friends. Just like everyone, they have had bumps in the road, but they land on top - which is a great place to be. They work it out. They have always communicated well with me and that makes life much easier. They have a great home they have created and a wonderful place for becca to live. I hope and pray that i have been as positive to them as they have to me. I love knowing that i am accepted and welcomed by them into their home every time i am in town. They welcome me and accept me in spite of my many faults. It never feels weird or strange.

This is the goal right? When we knew we were getting divorce, Sarah and i made commitments to each other. Things we said we would not do for Becca's sake and for ours. I am happy to say, we have stuck to those commitments. i am proud of the relationship i have with Sarah and Dave. We all have worked hard to make it work. i wished more families in our situation could have what we have.

With all that said, i need to publicly apologize to them and the 4 of you that actually read this blog. if i have not communicated that over the years, i am so sorry. With my ramblings and lack of detail, i may have left the wrong impression. Let me be clear. Sarah and Dave have created a good home environment for themselves and for becca. Sometimes it is just fun to sit back and watch them interact. Communication with a teenager is tough. Communication with a teenager as a step-parent is tougher. But between the four of us, we work it out.

Enough on that.

My extended family. Sarah's family is wonderful. Birt and Gaye. Britt, Suzy, Tyler, Drew, Seth. Matt, Heidi, Izak, Libby and Levi. these people rock. They have been more of a family to me then my own. We have laughed, ate, cried together. We have shared many good, and sometimes not so good, memories. There was this one time.....na for another time. I love them and respect them for who they are. One of many things i appreciate is that they will tell me things sometimes i do not want to hear. They care about me enough to have hard conversations. I don't like it sometimes, but they do. The things they say always have wisdom and thought behind it which makes me really think about how i can apply and better myself. One other thing is they love me and accept me. I cannot thank them enough. Like with Dave and Sarah, i hope that i have been a positive influence on them as they have been on me.

Well, wow. i need to turn off the orpah script and get moving.

that's my thought for the day
Carter

wow.

2008-08-25T20:45:00.004-05:00

i just received a not so positive comment about my last post.

I was not trying to make a statement about dirty laundry. I was not trying to make a statement about my ex wife or her husband. I have a pretty good relationship with them and would not want to damage that. I will certainly call them and talk to them about it. I certainly did not want to offend anyone or to upset anyone who might be reading this blog. If i have, i am certainly sorry. I am sure my daughter does call and talk to her mom about things that are going on here when she visits. Not everything happens perfectly in anyones world.

I was commenting on my decision to move to Oklahoma and how i feel far away from my daughter. I have struggled with the decision. I was trying to focus on that and only that. Maybe i should have been clearer with my intent. I removed the posting because i do not want any further confusion or misunderstanding.

For the person who left the comment, thanks for commenting. I meant no harm in the statement.

Thanks for reading.
Carter

one more added

2008-08-16T21:36:00.000-05:00

Steve Yoder -- good friend! enjoy

ummm yeah

2008-08-08T09:41:00.001-05:00

How you can tell you've pissed off an engineer

I laughed. I hope you do too.

Can't wait for Becca to get back from band camp. I miss talking to her. I am sure she is going to be tired when she gets back. But i am excited to hear about her trip.

Headed to Rochester, NY this weekend. Yada yada.

More later.
Carter

New Pic

2008-07-30T10:03:00.002-05:00

Well with the new haircut, i thought it would be best to update my wee-mee pic. It is a closer reflection of me. Bald guy, with grey in the facial hair, on route 66, play a bass guitar. Enjoy!

On the weight loss trail, man it is hard. i don't mind saying so. the older i get the less motivated i am. but the weight must come off. Biggest problem: exercise. i need to do more and i hate it. I am not sure why i do but i do. anyway, i will keep u post on my progress. Just know i hate it.

Work: busy.

Becca: good. busy with myspace, color guard, band camp, keeping up with her friends, and getting ready for 9th grade.

Clark for now, out

it is sunday

2008-07-27T18:32:00.003-05:00

Good afternoon, fellow bloggers

BIG NEWS: i got a haircut. well more than that i guess. see below:

It is fricken hot here right now and decided to downgrade the hair to cool things off. Let me know what u think. I am undecided. If you know me, you know i can always grow hair. So i can grow it back if need be.

In other news, i am undecided about the upcoming election. I have always been conservative in my political view but not sure where i stand right now. I am sure i will become more informed as time goes on but i just do not at this point where i stand.

Things are ok here. Business is booming. I found a church i like and seems to fit my style. I have not fully engaged. Sidebar thought. I deal with churches all day long during the week. I get tired of the BS that is associate with it. It is few and far between a church that has it going on. So, i am enjoying not be active. I am sure i will round that corner and engage. It is not part of my DNA not too.

Well that is what is new. I am thinking of making my way back to west michigan around labor day. we will see. More on that later.

Carter

Guitar Hero III

2008-07-18T12:47:00.002-05:00

Have u played?

One of the items we picked up while Becca was here was a Wii. Highly recommend it you have not purchased. It is alot of fun and it really funny to watch while others are playing.

One of the games is called Guitar Hero. Now, i thought i would be good. RIGHT! i suck. I keep trying to play like a real song instead of a game. I am more successful when i turn the sound off then with it on. but that defeats the purpose i guess.

needless to say, becca is getting quite good at the game and lets me know it.

Well, i am in the dumps having withdrawal on becca headed back to Michigan. The distance pains me. It was time for her to go back. Summer is ramping up to the school year as she is headed for band camp and Coast festival right around the corner.

Anyway it is hot here as summer is in Oklahoma. And work is busy which is a good thing

I am looking forward to this weekend. Kick off my shoes and relax.

Carter

Blogger list adds and deletes

2008-07-10T12:58:00.002-05:00

Well i have updated my blogger list. I removed some and added some. Apologize to anyone who is removed...but chances are you have not blogged in a while and that is the reason.

Anyway....

Carter

Blogging mad man

2008-07-08T09:09:00.003-05:00

Hey

first months of not blogging....then two in two days???? how long can i keep this going?

Well, becca is going to the Jonas Brothers concert tonight here in OKC. She is going with my boss's wife and a troop of nieces and one nephew. Becca loves the Jonas Brothers. I hope she has a great time and i am thankful i am not going.

the weekend was great. We saw some great fireworks. We hung out with friends. Most of all it was just a great weekend to hang with my daughter.

If you don't have a wii, get one. It is addicting. I created my weemee the other day and have been playing the wii games. One of our favorites is cooking mama. it is a game where you have to make recipes and the game rates you on how well you do. Becca consistantly beats me at it. But that's ok. i can handle it.

One other game we picked up is Guitar Hero III. I was thinking that i would be pretty good at this because i am musically inclined. WOW was i wrong! you see it is not about music. it is about hitting the right buttons in the right sequence and frankly i suck. Becca is playing well on the medium and sometimes hard level. I cannot even make on the easy. that hurts!

Well, more in a couple days
Guitar not so much Hero

what is goin' on?

2008-07-06T20:12:00.002-05:00

Well here you have it

i have been spending time with my daughter, Becca. She arrived around father's day and is leaving july 17th. Becca will be a freshman starting in the fall at Grand Haven High School. Where has the time gone? i am so happy she is in Grand Haven. It is a good school district and it is where she started. I am pleased that her mom moved from Whitehall back to Grand Haven. It has been good from them all the way around.

Becca tried out for the Color Guard. She was the only freshman and there were 25 that tried out. Only 20 made the squad. this is very cool. Although she is very excited, i am not sure she really realizes how much work it will be. Well, one way or another she will find out. The Band is very busy until after Christmas. This will make connecting alittle move difficult but we will manage. The Band will travel to Disney this year; which will be a great experience for her. Anyway, she needs to be back on the 17th because they start practices and band camp.

Becca is doing great. i am proud of well she is doing.

Things at work are crazy. Good to be busy but this is crazy.

other than that, i think i have found a church i am going to hang in with for a while. it is good.

Catch ya later!
Becca's dad

how long?

2008-07-01T11:12:00.000-05:00

How long can one person go without blogging? WOW! it has been awhile.

I will update when i get home tonight.

sorry for the delay
Carter

EARTH DAY 2008

2008-04-22T18:53:00.002-05:00

Earth day. Everything earth. Conservation, environment, green.....that is the big word Green. The Green Generation. The birth of Green Technology. Is your company green friendly?

HELLO!

2008-04-15T09:19:00.002-05:00

Well a great spring break was spent with Becca. She came down for 10 days. We have a great time. Her birthday was on the 11th. We went to dinner with several co-workers and had dinner at a japanese steakhouse (one of becca's favorite places to eat)(2nd only to BD's Mongolian BBQ). We laughed alot. We talked alot. It was great to have her here. She flew back to the great white north on Saturday the 12th. I spent the weekend missing her.

Things at work are busy. We have major projects that are demanding our time. But that is a good thing, right? Most of our group is at a conference in Vegas call NAB - National Association of Broadcasters. This show is a great showpiece for us. We take several key customers out there to show some of the new technology. It is a demanding time on the feet. Thank you Jesus i am not there. Someone has to stay back and get things done.

I am slacking in the going to church realm. It is hard finding a fit for me. I was spoiled with the Watermark experience. It is a standard hard to hit. I will continue looking. It is draining.

Mom and dad are doing ok. I miss them too as i am so far away from them.

Well that's all for now.
Carter

Good Friday - 2008

2008-03-21T16:16:00.002-05:00

WOW. is it really Easter time? Where does the time go?

How are u?

things are good here. Had a great time last week up in west michigan. I miss being there. But it was good to see family and friends and hang out.

Things here are busy. demands on time is great but it is still manageable. I would rather be busy than not. that is for sure.

Keep up on the political environment? i have. Not to get too political; but i see some falling apart in the democratic party. Not sure how this is going to shake out. Are we ready for a women president? are we ready for a black president? or will the GOP pull out all the stops? and where is Nader?

I don't know where i stand yet. too soon to tell. Being conservative by nature or nurture...lol...i am not sure where my loyalties lie at this point. I am sure it will become more clear as time goes on. Anyone's guess at this point.

I wished we would stop the blame game and focus on issues. the war. the economy. energy dependance. green environment improvements. healthcare.

I hope as time goes on we can see more definitive leadership in these areas and clearer communication on how change can be made.

Hope you have a blessed Easter season. He has Risen!

from the 405...
Carter Lee Clark

update #2

2008-03-07T11:24:00.002-06:00

I have sat down to do this three times.

Dad is doing well. No cancer and no abnormal effects on the system. Should be fully recovered soon.

I am mucho better. The flu is AWFUL! but after 3 weeks, i am near 100%.

I am headed to the great white north next week. Cannot wait to see my daughter, family and friends.

In other news, the Lela Johnson Basketball tournament is happening the weekend of the 15th. The tournament raises money for 1st Priority in Grand Haven. It is cool because i have personal connection to this and am happy it is going well. I talked to Jeff about it the other night. Jeff is Lela's dad and the person who puts on the tournament (and my best friend). He is encouraged about the turn out and people signing up to play. It is a great opportunity for Jeff to speak with the kids about things. Jeff is a great speaker. And it raises money for a great organization.

Work is work. Busier than i can manage but i always say the opposite is far worse. I would rather be busy than not!

That's what up!
OUT!
Becca's dad

flu bug and other updates

2008-02-20T09:17:00.002-06:00

Sorry to the 4 people who actually read this blog for not updating lately.

I have been struggling with the latest strain of flu bug going around. I am not sure what it is but holy cow, it is BAD. I am not sure but i think it should be called the Terminator of Flu. If you have not had it count your blessings. If you have consider yourself a survivor. if you are in the midst of it, hold on it does not get better any time soon.

In other news, the Becca is doing fine. She has relocated with her mom and stepdad to Grand Haven. THIS MAKES ME VERY HAPPY! The stress of getting up early for school and being away from her friends and family was great. In addition, there was a possibility that in her 9th grade year she would transfer schools - which i think would have been really rough on her. But now that she is in GH, she will continue thru until graduation in Grand Haven.

The other note is that she and family tried Watermark. Now for Becca this was a homecoming of sorts. But for the rest, i am just glad that tried it and really liked it. I pray they continue to get involved and immersed in what Watermark has to offer.

Becca is coming to Oklahoma for spring break. This is really cool! we have tickets to see the Blue Man Group which are coming to OKC in early April. Also, it is around her birthday - super cool for dad. I plan to take some time off around that time to see some sights and just hang out!

Other than that my dad is having some surgery today. Pray for him. There is a tumor on his bladder that needs to be removed. I am hopeful that is the extent of the damage and all will be fine.

Check in later
C

it is like running the 90 yard dash...

2008-01-21T09:47:00.000-06:00

the only problem is it is a 100 yard race.

This is the way i felt last night when the NY Giants kicker did his job under pressure and weather conditions. As i sat there watching the Packers dream of a super bowl game go down the toilet, i was thinking about the weird year in football. College games that were major upsets all season. It just goes to show anyone can get beaten by anyone at anytime.

I know this is a long leap but....

this is why we need to by on guard - as a family, as husband and wife. On guard, because anyone can get beaten at anytime, anywhere. I like to watch TV land sometimes. They run the show MASH alot. This particular episode BJ Hunnicut was struggling with the fact that he found a women overseas. She was perfect. Her attitude, sense of humor, the look. Lets not forget that his character is married and has a child.

The odd ball part of it was a part of the dialogue. He was talking to this lady. She is apparently a journalist - so she comes and goes as the news hits or as she pleases. His comment was he is trapped. He wakes to the army; he sleeps for the army; he eats what the army tells him to eat. She can come and go as she pleases. She tries to make him feel better. He gets more enraged. He is trapped at home with his wife and that house...he confesses.

I am not sure where i am headed with these thoughts. I just know how easy it is to get distract. I know how easy it is to lose someone very special. I know how numb i became. i know the hard work it has taken to come as far as we have. I know the pain of waking up and not having family there.

Wow. i guess the show did bug me a little.

Carter

bumper sticker

2008-01-17T15:44:00.000-06:00

Enjoy!

what a great holiday

2008-01-07T11:08:00.001-06:00

yeah it was great. spent two weeks in michigan at the holidays. caught up with becca and other family and friends. Great time. Couple campfires. good quality time with becca and of course christmas and new years.

It is back to the grind this week. I am in indianapolis finishing up a couple loose ends. things are crazy at work. we have much to do with little time to do it in.

thats all for now. gotta get back at it.

Carter

how you know you have been naughty

2008-01-02T12:11:00.001-06:00

naughty

It is better to give than receive

2007-12-17T16:58:00.000-06:00

i love that statement. it was a premise i was raised under and it is one that my daughter is very familiar with. It brings a different feeling at christmas time.

I alooted to some feelings i have about Christmas time. I hate the material aspect. It is like the advertising media goes crazy this time of the year. Even financial analysists base how well the economy is doing by how much comsumers spend.
it drives me crazy.

A few years ago, a good friend of mine was talking about the buy nothing for Christmas. i am not so sure that line of thought is not spot on. It does not mean give nothing christmas and give from the heart.

That is my rant for now.
C
buy nothing for Christmas

pics from this morning

2007-12-10T14:57:00.000-06:00

here is what i woke up to. these are pics of where i live.

extreme weather?

2007-12-10T11:36:00.000-06:00

howdy.

right before i took the job at Spectrum, one of my future co-workers said that the weather in Oklahoma City is extreme. i am finding that out. late last week it was in the 40's here. for the last three days, it has been raining and freezing. we have ice and lots of it. many places out of power including some of my friends and co-workers. hopefully, that will correct itself soon.

anyway, we had our company christmas party friday night. good time was had by all.

in other new, i had an eye doctor exam on from friday and picked up contacts. i was having problems with my glasses seeing up close. so, the eye doc suggested having two different prescriptions in each eye to compensate. i understand this is a common practice. so i am trying it. i am having alittle tought time but it going well.

Getting ready to head to west michigan. can't wait to see my daughter.

Well, that is all for now.

l8r
carter

Getting ready for the Christmas holiday

2007-12-03T15:49:00.000-06:00

Why is it that this holiday is so expensive?

I was conversing with my younger brother about this. We both struggle with the emphasis that is placed on the material side of Christmas.

I don't know. I think we miss the point.

More as i formula what the heck i am trying to say later
Carter

2007-11-30T15:45:00.000-06:00

isn't this a nice pic?

Thanksgiving 2007

2007-11-26T09:32:00.000-06:00

Wow. Has it been that long since i posted last? I apologize to the handful of you who actually read this.

Well, it was a good holiday. I spent the day with one of my co-workers and his family. it was great. we went out to the family farm in rural Oklahoma. There was a spread of food two tables long. I would guess there were probably 25 or so people there. We spread out all over the house and watched football. it was a good day.

The rest of the weekend i spent laying low. i was not active at all. i resisted the urge to go into work and started rethinking some things. between thanksgiving and the new year is always a renewing time for me. to reflect on the year past and see what changes to make for the year ahead. i will keep u posted.

In other news, i will be up in west michigan for christmas. My daughter wants to come down for Spring Break. and i am already making summer plans as becca wants to roll with me for the summer.

thats it! i hope u had a blessed holiday!
Carter

funny.

2007-11-12T11:37:00.000-06:00

Yup. you are out of the office for 2 weeks on business and this is what happens.

Enjoy! Balloon-man

Carterland

The power of words

2007-10-25T09:46:00.000-05:00

I frequent the bloggers i have. i am addicted. I do it because most of the time God shows me something. My friend Ken, whom i respect because of his wisdom, said to me one time "always remember Carter, words are eternal".

Check out these blog entries Moments of Clarity and My tiny little human.

People are always watching and listening to see how we react to situations.

Good stuff.
Carter

2007-10-24T16:42:00.000-05:00

i have seen some silly things in my time. i stumbled on this reading another blog. This mom to be is worried about how the jackhammering is going to effect her unborn child. So much so that she had to light a cigarette to think about.

Way to go!
Carter

ok. there are times when life is just plain good

2007-10-22T23:38:00.000-05:00

Ok. what i am about to write may not seem like a big thing but i am busting at the seams to share. I also know that this may be a small speck but...

I was talking to becca today. We talk almost daily. It is awesome. It helps keeps the distance shorter than it is. She was telling me that she is writing an essay. The essay is on who she thinks is her hero.

She had thought this out. Her mom. Her favorite teacher. My best friend Jeff Johnson. Two people from watermark (who have now moved on to other ministry positions) - wally harrison and jason deroche. and me. At this point i was really excited to make the list. So she proceeds to tell me why she chose each person. Great descriptions of how these individuals impact and impacted her life. Then she tells me who she chose to write the article on and why. It is me. i was and still am blown away.

Well, thanks for letting me brag for a moment.

carter

well -- all things come around

2007-10-15T09:24:00.000-05:00

I am back in OKC now. I arrived thursday night about 9:30 pm. It is good to go but it is better to come home.

I have some time to think about things. Without going too deep, how important it is to tell the people you care about how much you love them. Let me give you an example.

My oldest brother's name is Chuck. He is married to Valerie. They have a great marriage and one daughter Melissa who is married and has two boys. They all reside in Cincinnati, Ohio. Chuck and Val have had up times and down times just like everyone else. But thru it all they have a great marriage and great relationship with God and others.

I have the greatest respect for all my brothers. But Chuck being the oldest hold my highest regards. He is not only a good husband, good father, but he is a man of character. And he is developing a wisdom side that is pretty awesome too. To see him in operation this last weekend with my family and people he does not even know just being the church and loving on people at the funeral was really cool. Needless to say he inspires me to be a better person than i am.

with all of that side, i have dished out a ton of crap to chuck. He is a funny guy and i have picked on him about many things for a long time. Well, in that process of harassing he was under a completely different opinion of how i felt about him. In fact, i stumbled on that while i was chatting with him on the phone.

I spent a good deal of time on the phone straightening that out.

I guess what i am saying is do not assume that the people you care about know that. Tell them, let them know. Life is too short.

Carter

dust in the wind

2007-10-04T09:47:00.000-05:00

it does not take long in a conversation to me to discover how much i like classic rock. 80's, some of the 70's, 90's good stuff - well some of anyway. I am listening to Dust in the Wind by Kansas. I can remember when i was much younger and did not know Jesus how music influenced my world view. How music shaped my thoughts and would change my heart and feelings.

Well, i have sat here for 5 minutes staring at this screen trying to figure out how to write what i am about to write. so here it is. i received a call this morning from my dad. i never get calls from my dad in the morning. it us does not happen. so i know when he does call, it is bad news.

One of my nephews committed suicide last night. My brother Chris, who is slightly older than i, is a quiet person. He would give the shirt off his back - until you wrong him; than look out.

I have not spoke to him yet. i plan on trying to call later today. but that brings me back to dust in the wind. isn't it amazing quickly things change?

I have my itunes set up for shuffle. Ya know what was the next song? U2 still haven't found what i'm looking for. Next song. Boston more than feeling. not sure what all that means or what point i was trying to make.

Carter

NEW BLOGGER ALERT

2007-09-21T09:41:00.000-05:00

Yes, yet again, another brave soul enters the blog world. One of Watermark's (my former church family in michigan)core values is to plant churches; reproduce what they are doing in another community.

Rob Paterson is the guy God has chosen to lead the charge. I have only talked to Rob a few times. but what i know about him i like. A man with a strong love of God, his wife and his family.

Anyway, read about his journey as God pushes him.

Should be good stuff.

i am "that guy"

2007-09-14T09:34:00.000-05:00

Ok. this is ridiculous. I have an 8 minute trip to work from home. I have to travel up south meridian avenue here in OKC. Meridian is one of the main north/south conduits here. It just so happens that on my end of meridian is under construction. So the traffic is close and it is slow.

One Wednesday, we went to the Golden Palace for lunch. It has a mongolian b-bque which i personally love. Anyway, it was a beautiful day. So i was cruizing the construction zone with my windows down.

As i was rocking to the "classic rock" - sidebar: when did 80's music become classic? - when i here some one in the opposing traffic say to me, "hey how you doing?"

So for the 2 minutes i sat there i had a brief conversation with a total stranger in traffic.

Now that is not bad enough but it happen again a little further down that same stretch.

I am that guy who people like to talk to.

from OKC talking to strangers
Carter

back in the saddle again

2007-09-12T16:10:00.000-05:00

what a wonderful time in western michigan! the weather was amazing. I was able to hang out with my daughter - that was great. Saw my good friends the johnsons and the fischers. Took the thompson family swimming and the thompson boys to their first game of laser tag. We laughed and smiled and eat alot. In addition, i stopped by the watermark offices and ended up playing bass sunday morning. HOW COOL IS THAT!

Well i am back; trying to get my head back in the groove. not so quick story about the trip back. i had not seen one police officer the entire trip until one of my co-workers called and said, jokingly, "don't get stopped".

I took the next exit ramp to get some gas and saw the familiar bubble lights flashing in the mirror. i pulled over and the police officer approached my vehicle. He quized me at some length about where i was coming from, where i was headed, how long i been on the road, etc.... at great length. I answered all the questions and said, "why are we hanging this conversation?" he told me that people have been picking up drugs in mexico and driving them to chicago picking up money and taking it back to oklahoma, texas, or arizona.

and then said, "Would you step out of the car, please?"

I did and he called another cop. He asked me to step over by his car and i said, "Hey i have seen COPS, i know the drill." they laughed. Then they frisked me. I asked if he could call a female cop for that. They did not laugh. That was ackward.
Then they proceed to search my vehicle.

This took 25 MINUTES! after it was all said and done, shook my hand and said have a nice day.

I have decided if it is going to happen - i will be the one it will happen to.

Carter

labor day 2007

2007-09-04T03:54:00.000-05:00

Well i greet your from the western michigan area. yes it is true. after some kicking and screaming, i am here for the weekend and the rest of the week. i say kicking and screaming because we are so busy right now with upcoming and existing projects that it is difficult to find time to go to the bathroom - let alone a week time off. but all is good.

i am hanging with the becca. she starts school this week. i cannot believe she is going into 8th grade. wow. things are moving much to fast. but this her last year in middle school and i am sure she will have a good year.

spent the weekend with good friends cooking and laughing. it has been a much needed time for me to relax and let my hair down. started off with a great conversation with my ex and her husband. i cannot explain it but we laughed and talked seriously about some things. it was great!

as time goes on i am reminded more and more how important things are. i have commented on this before. most of my career and the things i accelerate at have to do with technology. Computers and electronics, sound reproduction, acoutical evaluation, lighting, programming, video recording and reproduction etc, is what i do. all of those things and more revole around technology. but what makes me happiest - hanging out with friends, fire optional, talking about things that are going on in life. turning off the tv and picking up the phone. where i work we set up some of the most technically advance systems in the lower 48. stuff that would blow your mind. yet, when it comes to my personal style of worship - acoustic, paper to read words and a good speaker who listens to God.

i am reminded of these things because i am back in west michigan and it is a point of reference for me on my journey. it is great to regroup and refocus.

that about it for now except i am here all week - don't forget to tip your waiters.

hee hee
C of the C

Yet another blogger.

2007-08-29T09:45:00.001-05:00

I have added another blogger. She is a great thinker, with her heart in the right place and funny sometimes too. And she is a long time good friend. Anita Wilson - enjoy!

Tuesday August 28, 2007

2007-08-28T10:00:00.000-05:00

greetings.

all is good here in okc.

love your neighbor as yourself. I think i were to add anything to that i would say, "and do not be afraid to express it." i was reading in the paper and heard on the news a story of tragedy. I do not understand why things happen the way they do. I know there is a purpose and plan, i am not sure why sometimes.

This is one of those times. The story came across about the rain and how danger it is. Don't mess with mother nature. anyway, a cross country team from a local school was out running. Apparently they run near one of the rivers hear - it may be the Oklahoma River - i do not know. So several runners ran thru an area that had water run off. This run off crossed the path of the runners. a few of the runners were swept into the river. some died. some were injuried.

several things start running thru my head. as a parent, as a friend, as a believer, as a community driven guy who likes to help

i bounce in my mind my own thoughts about why this happened..but my thoughts quickly go to the effected families. are they connected? do they have a support group? is there family to help things thru? is the support connected to a church? what is my role or is it my role?

I cannot tell you how many times i have helped people put groceries in their car, or pushed a car out of an intersection, or helped someone on the road with a flat tire. I know there is inherit danger; but i am pushed to help.

all i know is this. keep up the vision - love your neighbor as yourself. First and foremost love the Lord God. but do not forget the very practical live it out. People are NOT targets.

Think about the people you see everyday. Next really mean that phrase that rolls off our lips so freely - how you doing? take a minute and listen.

From my desk in OKC
Carter

Friday in Oklahoma

2007-08-24T09:56:00.000-05:00

Good day to ya!

it is raining here today. it has been raining on and off for the last week. The hurricane activity in the gulf region is really screwing things up here for us. I lived in Michigan all my life until i moved here. One of the things i enjoyed about Michigan was after a rain or thunderstorm. The smell it would leave, the fresh air. Even the fact that the rain would cool things off. Not here in Oklahoma. Rain only makes the heat and humidity worse.

Today is my dad's birthday. Happy birthday dad!

One week from today i will be in michigan. I have plans of visiting my daughter before school starts. that will be fun.

anyway, i am taking some of deurty's recommendations on books and going to pick one or two. i am excited. i am not sure where this need to read is coming from but hey i am not complaining either.

I am looking forward to this weekend. Lots to do and alittle relaxing too.

Later
Carter

Sarcastic eh?

2007-08-17T22:15:00.001-05:00

Occasionally, i like to take these online tests. I am not how accurate this one is, but here is the results. You be the judge:

You're Totally Sarcastic

You sarcastic? Never! You're as sweet as a baby bunny.
Seriously, though, you have a sharp tongue - and you aren't afraid to use it.
And if people are too wimpy to deal with your attitutde, then too bad. So sad.

How Sarcastic Are You?

Life from Indy

2007-08-12T12:35:00.000-05:00

The church was hosting the Leadership Summit from Willow. There was lots of activity and people there. it was cool to see so many people taking advantage of the conference. I always wonder how much people take in and utilize once they leave. It is such an intense time and so much information to soak in.

Anyway, things are coming together on the job here. i have had some set backs that hopefully will be resolved early next week. so i should be headed home middle of the week.

I am hoping to sneak up to MI to visit the becca before school starts. 8th grader? man, i am feeling my age.

Still looking for suggestions on good books to read. pass on the information - its ok to...

more later
C

well from Indianapolis

2007-08-09T22:45:00.000-05:00

yikes has it really been that long?

so much has happened. becca came to visit for alot of the summer. man it was great to see her. i miss her. her laugh, her comments... just hanging out. Waking up and making becca breakfast. it is amazing the things u miss. There are times i wonder if this was the right decision. especially right now. i am in a hotel room trying to wind down. i have been here almost 2 1/2 weeks programming an AV system. brainbusting work.

I wish my family and friends in Michigan. Don't get me wrong..i am making a life for myself here. it really boils down to i am tired of starting over. I spent most of my adult life in GH. Great and deep relationships are there. now i know those relationships will always be there. it is the fact i miss them.

Anyway, out of the pity pot (as my ex-mother in law would say). Things are good. It is hot here. although on that note, it is way hotter in OKC. heh heh heh.

Have u seen the new simpsons movie? i was not impressed. thoughts?

Becca is reading the Harry Potter book. she keeps me up to date on who is getting bumped off. i need to do more reading. i currently read alot of AV related stuff and current events. Any good books people are reading? let me know. i would love to dive into a good book.

Well thats all for now. check in later

Carter

ok enough

2007-06-11T18:19:00.000-05:00

it is hot. fricken hot. and humid. Should i be surprised -- it is Oklahoma after all. I am told this is only the beginning.

So i dropped the bomb about moving to Atlanta. Our business focuses on large church installations. We have a large church we are doing the audio, HD video, lighting and acoustics for near atlanta. In addition, there are satielle venues we are setting up and recording suites - both video and audio. I think their Middle School program has more A/V equipment than most churches. Now this is cool but...

It is the paradox of my life. You see, I would be happy with a Mike Morgan on Acoustic, with Whitey or Wade on percussion with a great speaker like Deurty, Thomps, N8 or Wally speaking. That is where my heart it.

You see i have done the "big" church thing. I worked for one part time and full time doing the tech thing. It is not where i am at. Not that i am knocking it. it is just not where i am.

So i say - Watermark keep planting churches. keep reproducing yourselves into other places. it is the right thing to do. Multiply not meg-a-ply.

But i digress...

I will be there to oversee the installation, make sure everything is working and training or line up training so this place will run smooth.

when you ask? not sure yet. but i will let you know.

In other new, The Becca arrives on the 19th to stay with me for the summer. I CANNOT WAIT! and neither can she. i think the change of pace and venue will do her some good. i know it will for me.

thats all for now.
Carter

has it been this long...

2007-06-07T16:56:00.000-05:00

sorry for the delay in update.

it has been a crazy month.

things are good in OKC. we are in tornado season. that's ok. The Spectrum Group is going like gang busters. Which is great; just makes for a busy schedule.

I went back to Michigan for a week around Memorial Day. I was able to see my daughter - which was my focus. Had a great time seeing people i have not seen for a while. That was awesome. I was not able to connect with everyone i wanted to - so i apologize upfront to those i did not see.

We did alot of grilling and swimming (not at the same time). Saw some movies i had not seen. Becca did some horse back riding. That was cool.

Since i have been back, i made a trip to Atlanta. Did i mention i am moving to Atlanta for 6 months?

More on that later. i promise.
Carter

taken the quiz; reading the results

2007-05-19T17:34:00.001-05:00

I was reading my favorite blogs and came across a quiz i needed to take. I don't normally take these quizes because i do not hold alot of stock in them. But this one is pretty close to my view.

You scored as Emergent/Postmodern. You are Emergent/Postmodern in your theology. You feel alienated from older forms of church, you don't think they connect to modern culture very well. No one knows the whole truth about God, and we have much to learn from each other, and so learning takes place in dialogue. Evangelism should take place in relationships rather than through crusades and altar-calls. People are interested in spirituality and want to ask questions, so the church should help them to do this.

Emergent/Postmodern

68%

Neo orthodox

64%

Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan

61%

Charismatic/Pentecostal

46%

Classical Liberal

43%

Reformed Evangelical

43%

Modern Liberal

43%

Fundamentalist

36%

Roman Catholic

21%

What's your theological worldview?
created with QuizFarm.com

Survivor - Oklahoma?

2007-05-16T11:26:00.000-05:00

Well, i have been here now for almost 6 months. and things have been cool. Work, church, starting to make some friends outside work (thomps - getting ready to launch Landmark.)

On tuesday my boss, tom, decided to take me and another co-worker greg out to shoot guns. well, rifles really and we were shooting skeet. Tom is an avid hunter. He has a deep, blood lust thing. So anytime he can go hunting he jumps at the chance.

Well, Tom has a friend who has a huge piece of land. Something like 10 square miles! We arrived in the afternoon, set up and shot the guns. It was a lot of fun. So we shoot some skeet and that was awesome. I have never fired a gun before. I am hooked.

After we finish destorying some clay, tom decides to get his polaris 6 wheel ranger out. The ranger is not suppose to be able to get stuck (more on that later). So we head out to the north west side of the property. Beautiful drive. Animals, sun, wind, green pastures. It was awesome.

Tom decides we need to head to the other side of the property. So we're off. Not up until this moment i have having the time of my life. I mean, i have not been out in wilderness for a long time. It was awesome.

We blow over top of a small hill and sunk into a creek bed. Now there was not any water preset but it was moist. and we buried that ranger. Bad. We pull out the winch and hooked it up to (3) trees - and pull them out of the ground trying to get the ranger out of the clay. It was no use.

By this time, it is getting dark. So we decided that we need to go get tom's truck to pull the ranger out. Tom and Greg cross the "creek" bed and climb the next larger hill and start discussing our options.

Tom yells across at me, "Carter, grab the whistle out on my bag and come on up."

Now i know i am in peak physical condition - NOT. Walking across that creek bed (sinking up to my knees in clay) and then up the hill. i was huffing and puffing by the time i go to the top of the hill. Then we had to walk close to a mile where a gate was located.

So Tom and Greg decide they are going after the truck. Tom has his rifle and flashlight. I am armed with a whistle.

Now, i have watched Spike TV. I have seen those shows about animals attacking people. So going thru my mind is this: i am going to get mulled by a mountain lion and all i have to protect myself is a fricken whistle. Funny imagery now; not then.

So i convince Tom to leave the rifle and flashlight. He takes off and Greg decides to stay with me. While we were there, Greg suggests making a fire to keep the bugs away. OOOO. my chance to make a fire. Then Greg remembered the fact that i love fire and thought it would be bad to burn all of oklahoma!

It was dark and bugs were all over us. Tom had to have hiked several miles to get the truck. We were out there quite a while before we saw the headlights on the truck. What a welcomed site.

We did get the ranger out of the creek bed. That was an experience. And we did not get attacked by any animals. And just so we are all clear - there were no Broke Back Mountain situations out there - if ya know what i mean.

I left the office at around 2:00pm and did not get in the shower at home until 11:45 PM.

What a trip.

Sorry, Jeff Probst did not show up with the million dollars.

Later
Carter

Happy Mother's Day

2007-05-13T14:47:00.000-05:00

To all moms, grandmas, and moms to be....Happy Mother's Day!

and especially to my mom who never reads this blog... i love you and proud to call you my mom!

Your favorite #3 son (and only #3 son)
Carter Lee Clark or Yacky Doodle

it has been a couple weeks

2007-05-13T00:26:00.000-05:00

Life just does not slow down.

I did have a birthday though. Number 41, i think. it was a good one. Two of my co workers were at a trade show. They went to lunch at Hooters. Called me up on the cell; had the hooters girls sing happy birthday. And then as a gift sent me pictures. Then told me not to have impure thoughts. So close yet so far away.

making preparations for Becca to head to OKC. gotta get her room put together. Yikes - big task.

anyway, the jobs continues to be fulfilling and extremely busy.

More later
Carter

back to the grind today

2007-04-25T11:07:00.000-05:00

after an exceptional weekend in Michigan, i am back in tornado alley.

It was great! celebrated Becca's birthday, worshipped well at Watermark - and some great teaching to! - hung out with friends and friends that are family. it was great. And the weather was awesome to boot.

trip back was good too. not flight problems. and the weather here when i arrived was good to. Now yesterday, weather was YIKES. it rained and rained and rained!

all is good. i now have to start thinking about when becca comes to OK for a trip.

i am so looking forward to that.

anyway, more later.
Carter

making the trip...

2007-04-17T15:48:00.000-05:00

back to the USSR..

no not really. Headed back to Michigan this weekend. it will be great to see my daughter and friends.

Flying into GR on Thursday and out on Monday.

Pretty cool.

hey! becca turned 13! oh the humanity!

later
Carter

Two Post, One Day - What is on your iPod or MP3 Player?

2007-04-10T18:13:00.000-05:00

I know i know - two posts one day - i almost cannot handle it.

I work with a guy who absolutely hates the iPod. When asked why, he says because apple has marketed the iPod so well that every thinks that have to have it. That there is no other MP3 player. Personally, i think he is right to some degree. But i love my iPod and that is that.

I add a list of things on my iPod. it will change from time to time. I am interested in knowning what is on your iPod or MP3? is it interesting? funny? inspirational? down right dirty?

Also i added a couple bloggers i have been checking in on for some time. Mike Koert and John Patton. Lots of interesting and thought provoking things to say. Enjoy!

Later,
Carter

The Silence Breaks.............

2007-04-10T17:32:00.000-05:00

Howdy from the great state of Oklahoma! how the heck are you?

things here are really busy. business is going well and that is good. we are traveling all over the continental US winning projects from coast to coast. now this is good because the alternative is bad -- really bad. this entertains my days, part of my nights and alot of weekends.

I am not going to mess around - i miss Grand Haven. I miss my friends and family from there and just the general feel of West Michigan. I most of all miss my side kick who has been awesome thru this transition - Becca. If you are getting this and you are from that area know you are missed.

Oklahoma and its people continue to amazing me everyday. not in a bad way but it is amazing how different parts of the world are.The pace is different and even values are different.

I hope you all had a blessed easter holiday.

He is risen.

Outie like Quattro
Carter

I am back and i'm ok

2007-03-06T09:01:00.000-06:00

what a great weekend? it was so good to see Becca, some really close friends and watermarkers. huge props to Steve Deur who as always made me feel good to see him!

I flew into Midway Thursday evening late. I drove part of the way before getting tired and finished the rest of the trip on friday. Friday was spent fixing a problem for a customer. I picked up Becca around 4:00 and we partied. Swimming and eating and laughing. it was good!

we also saw Ghost Rider Friday night. Interesting movie.

Saturday was chilling. Swimming in the morning with some shopping. Ya know Becca is almost 13! She likes that shopping thing. The afternoon and evening were spent with the Fischers. Grilling and ribs!!!! Mmmmmmm.....7 layersalad ..mmmm ...baked beans. oh it was so good. i love the fischers (for lots of reasons) because they know how to entertain and make you feel at home! Their son Aaron (or Fish as the football coaches called him) is the coolest kid i know. It was really good to laugh and see all of them.

Sunday was the gathering. Great to connect with people i have not seen in a while. Sunday afternoon was hanging with the Johnsons and Thompsons. Great again to reconnect, laugh and talk. Thomps has some pretty funny videos on his blog about a sledding trip he made with the boys. too funny. one video is of steve sledding. he put his phone in his hat and made the video of his trip down the hill.

Well, it was good and this was long. but we have to get back to the week ahead.

thanks for listening
Carter

Headed back to Michigan

2007-02-28T11:52:00.000-06:00

yup, i have a trip planned for this weekend. I am hoping the bad weather will hold off until i get there.

it will be get to becca. i have not been back since christmas. i am excited.

nothing new here. busy working and trying to make new friends. i have not grilled once since i have been here. that is not cool. i am really looking forward to seeing some friends in GH - the fischers. they are grilling machines!

anyway. more when i get back.

Carter

a time to think

2007-02-20T09:43:00.000-06:00

I was doing my usual reading of the blogs this morning. And i came across Arkay's blog entry called Catch a Wave. It made for some interesting reading. And i will tell you why.

Oklahoma City is a large city. There are many homeless here. I see them everyday and my heart goes out to them. But i do not know the answer. I do not know the1r story. I do not know how to help.

There is an Outback Steak House right near where i live - way too convenient to where i live. (well, it recently had a fire - but that is not important.) as i pulled in to pick up my order and head home, there was a couple walking in the parking lot. They waved at me like i knew them. Extremely friendly. i did not have enough time to really engage in conversation but ended up giving up my meal for that night. Not sure if that was the right thing to do but that is what i did.

well, i don't know. I wrestle with the issues too. I am not sure what is the right thing to do.

Then the King will say to those on his right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."

Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?"

The King will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

Matthew 25: 34-40

so you say the super bowl....

2007-02-04T13:35:00.000-06:00

is in a few hours. the day where people all over gather to watch the game of the year. just so we are clear, i would like the Bears to win. No reason really.

So a coworker and his family were going to the movies on friday. they invited me to go. i have not seen a movie in quite some time so i decided to go. Had a great time. lots of laughs. they had been wanting to see the Messengers for quite some time. that is what we saw. I wished i had the 2 hours back and the $8.50.

it sucked.

on more positive news. i am traveling all month. California, georgia, all over. And i will be in michigan the first weekend in March. YeeHaa

so there you have it.

Later
C

Oklahoma

2007-02-01T10:05:00.000-06:00

I have been here since mid-december. we have had (2) ice related storms and (2) snow related storms. the temperature has not creeped much over 40 degrees. Now for a guy from Michigan, this is not much for me to be concerned with. But the drivers here freak out.

the thing that kills me is i thought i was leaving the snow behind. i have be harassed heavily at work about "bringing the snow with me" or "you did not need to pack that up too". I am told that this is a fluck. this snow thing only happens once every ten years. well....i don't believe. just like the ground hog, i think we have alot more winter ahead of us.

enough about that.

things here are busy. business is good and solid - which is great. it my social life that suffers.

I have been communicating with becca - video and telephone. i will be making the trip to michigan soon.

Why are we in iraq? if the CIA has stopped searching for Bin Laden, why are we still occupying Afghanistan? how much money has the US government spent on this war?

hmmmm
Carter

Oh yeah - things are getting back to normal

2007-01-23T16:19:00.000-06:00

All is well in OK. the sun is out - and even though the temperature is still cool, it is good to see the sun again. The other thing that is good is that the town is coming alive again. With the weather being uncooperative, OKC shut down. It is good to see things getting back to normal.

People here are friendly. that is cool.

Becca is doing well. Just ended another semester. She is a little boy crazy right now. not sure how that happened. i was talking with her mom the other day and she really notices it. I might have to break some legs. LOL, right.

The hunt for a church continues. The last two weekends have slowed the process right down. With no churches open, it is hard to attend. Yes, i have attended Bedside Baptist the last two weekends - no by choice.

Work is fricken busy. several major projects rolling, a few in design and a conference we are presenting at is all coming up. Lots to do!

The transition has helped me really focus more on God and my relationship with him. I have been coasting for a while. With the move, it really has made me stop and think about what His role is in my life.

So along with the Thomps, my word for the year is prayer. followed closely by trust (and obey). I do have a lot of time on my hands. It will be good to fill it with positive things.

Have you sign up for the month of prayer? DO IT NOW! Shoreline Prays website. i am considering signing up for a slot.

Out like a light,
Carter

2007-01-17T10:33:00.001-06:00

This was fun.

Get Your Cyborg Name

Give it a try

Ice Ice Baby

2007-01-16T17:53:00.000-06:00

Hi there

from the land of OK and drivers who do not know how to drive on ice, i bid thee hello. No joking there. we have be buried in ice. it has sucked because this ENTIRE area has shut down. So, thank God the electricity did not go out.

Other than the weather, things are going ok. i am starting to feel like i know where i am going and that is good. Work is great. things are slowly falling into place. Our company is out of control busy and it is taking a toll on our people. but there are far worse problems like not having any work at all.

We, becca & I, are making the transition ok. We talked often and have lots to say. We are set up on the video chat thing now and that has helped ALOT.

Still looking for a church. There is an all cowboy church here. i refuse to even go near. too much reality there.

If you think of it, pray for me. Weekends and nights are extremely long.

out for now,
Carter

Happy New Year

2007-01-02T08:03:00.000-06:00

One of the things i missed last sunday morning is the time honored "goals for 2007" teaching i sure went on at watermark and SLWC. I am almost positive that these teachings happened because it is such good stuff to think about this time of the year. goals goals goals....

because the amount of driving i have done (over the last 2 weeks), i have had some time to think about what i would like this new year to look like. relationships, new location, new job, finances, physical. i have run the list.

Do you have goals for the new year?

Carter

the move is complete

2006-12-30T20:03:00.000-06:00

and the Christmas holiday behind.

I cannot believe the whirlwind that has been my life for the last 2 weeks. Let me explain. After moving 1100 miles, i was blessed with some guys at work helping the unload process. Now is the challenge of getting out of those boxes.

i had negotiated a trip back to west michigan for Christmas to see my daughter. Let me tell you. I felt a little like the guys from planes, trains, and automobiles. I arrived at the airport saturday morning at 3:30 am. I did this to see if i could get my seating set and all that jazz. when the ticketing agent opened up, we all found out that flights going to chicago were canceled because of the snow situation in denver. I spent 2 hours trying to get re-routed on another flight another airline or even dog sled. But i was determined to be home for Christmas - u can count on me..... yada yada. I did find out that the only way home (flying) was to wait until the 26th. that was not acceptable. So i cashed in my ticket and rented a car. and off i drove back to michigan.

I arrive on Christmas eve. I had not done any shopping for becca so off i went. That was alot of fun. But i was able to get what i needed and rolled from there.

Christmas eve i was suppose to hook up with becca. My "ex" family always gets together on Christmas eve and has chinese dinner. Good times! I was still shopping and could not make the dinner. that was a bummer. anyway, i received a call from becca's mom early evening. I was already in route to meet them, but the conversation was becca is getting sick. Something she ate we all agreed. At the time of the call, she was in another restuarant worshiping the porclein god. we all agreed it would be better for the becca to head to the farm and chill for the evening.

Sidebar: the thompsons let me use their house while they were on the east side visiting family. Shout out to them for the use of the crib!!!! Also, i ended up with one of their towels. Sorry guys. Don't charge my credit card. i will bring it back.

So Christmas morning rolls around. I have a wonder breakfast at the Johnsons. that was awesome. I received a call from becca and away i went. We opened gifts at the farm. that was fun. Becca was totally geeked and Tigger was doing awesome. after a little bit, Becca's mom and husband decided they were going to visit some family. No prob as becca and i were trying to figure out what to do from there. As they were pulling out, they backed into my rental car. DUH! OUCH! that was a bummer. it was an accident. So i called the rental company to figure out what to do.

So becca and i chilled out the rest of the day and night.

The next day we spent a portion of the day dealing with insurance, police reports and the rental company. SUCK OUT LOUD! But becca and i were able to go and hang with the fischer clan. It was awesome to see them again.

by now it is wednesday, we, becca and me, are hanging - watching movies, eating at her favorite restuarant.

So i left on Thursday to OK.

And here i am.

Overall, it was great to see family and friends. Most of all, it was great to spend quality time with becca. I miss her in the worst way.

So, i am busy at home trying to get out of boxes. And i am busy at work - projects never stand still. I am trying to get my way around OKC. Also in search of a good church. should be an interesting journey.

More later.

Carter

Well - i made it

2006-12-21T10:00:00.000-06:00

Yes, it is true. i am in oklahoma. Giddy up! the trip was extremely long and i am tired but it is good to be here.

My place is cool. it will be good until i can figure out the lay of the land. Our company office is moving. SO i did not want to commit to a place and then find out i have an hour trip to work. Right now it is about 5 minutes. tough i know.

Becca and i are still dealing with the separation stuff. Pray for her. It will work it is just a difficult time for us. Also please be praying for another realtionship i am trying to work some things out with. A delicate time for sure.

God is good and so is the weather right now. I am flying back to Michigan for Christmas and then i don't know. this has all been a blur.

More later
Carter

How do we finish well?

2006-12-10T02:21:00.000-06:00

And i break the blogging silence.

Since i made the annoucement to move, i have been wrestling with the issue of finishing well. I struggle with my own feelings of wanting to move on and not leaving the relationships i have. I am a creature of habit. my life is predictable from a schedule stand point. So the move is tough because in essence it is starting over.

I am concerned about the significant relationships i have made. How do you maintain them? how to sustain them? I am riding the line of i don't want the friendships to change and change being inevitable.

I have a couple i am close to. I have spent basically the last 10 years of my life getting to know. And for the last 6 years have spent basically two and sometimes three times a week at their house. they have a child the same age as becca and for the most part have really gotten along well. We spent some time over to their house this weekend and it is getting more difficult to leave their house. I spent most of this evening with talking to becca about not seeing this family and seeing how upset she is about that. You see the other child was spending time with friends in the neighborhood & not really paying attention to becca. Now that is normal and i am not saying i "blame" the other child but it was upsetting to becca. The question that kept coming up, "Does _______ realize we have just a week and everything changes?" So we are all trying to figure out how to finish well. Yet, i feel the pull.

I have a couple i am close to. i have been connected deeply for years. been thru alot. i cannot even break that statement down for you - it is so big. But i can tell you that we have spent many hours at a campfire dreaming, praying, worshipping, laughing and solving the worlds problems. This is a part of my life i do not want to change. Just like the last paragraph, these are relationships i do not want to lose. yet, i feel the pull.

I had some close relationships from work. The disconnect did not happen very well. I am not sure where those relationships are now or if they will ever be reconciled. You see i feel like i finished well -- 3 weeks notice, projects complete (except a programming thing)(an issue that could have been avoided), etc. Yet, i am sure if you asked them they would have a completely different opinion. You see, we were a pretty tight group. The team was strong. Then, over the last 9 months, some things happened and levels of relationships changed. I felt a real connection on one relationship while the other relationship changed for the worse. I have enjoyed watching the one friendship blossom while i have agonized over the other friendship dying. The funny thing is i can see the dying process happening in this one relationship - but i could not stop it. You cannot make some one see the destructive path they are on and denial is a powerful tool. With all that said, i still have good feelings about those relationships, about my employment and employer. I will always have good things to say. Yet, i feel the pull.

I spent some time over the holidays with my family. it was fun to connect and have meals. Becca and i had a great time. It was difficult to leave. There was one spot where i wished i had a camera. My dad is not the most emotional guy. It has only been since becca was born that i would hear i love you between the two of us. He and i made an "unspoken" pact not to part conversation without saying those words. Life if too short not to tell those you care about that you care! I have made the trip home to the farm many, many times. Every time i would leave, my parents would stand in the window and wave. This time was different. As i got settled in my car and made ready for the trip how, i looked up to see my dad standing on the porch waving. I will never forget the image. it is burned in my mind. I know it does not seems like a big thing but it was a moment for me -- never to forget.

Not to mention watermark. I have been part since close to the beginning and i mean before the church started, while we were having test sundays. The disconnect here is going to be hard too. I have enjoyed so much the relationships i have been blessed with. The team, the people, the experience of God here....i am going to miss.

the reality is that all of these relationships will change and that is my struggle because i do not want them too. Oh carter you will make new friends. Thanks for the encouragement but frankly i love the relationships i have! and that is my struggle.

Well, i am sure i will rant some more but it is late and i need to get some sleep.

Love your neighbors as yourself. hmmm lets practice that one for a while.
Carter

and the winds of change start to blow

2006-11-19T22:24:00.000-06:00

Hi all

yes i have been keeping quiet about some things. one is a job change in my future. i needed to keep it quiet but the cat is out of the bag. i am moving to a company called Spectrum Design Group in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. There are a dozen reasons why and this decision comes out of hours of prayer. I leave my old employer with good feelings and honestly i am going to miss the guys i work with there.

As time goes on, i will fill in my detail. But for tonight, Becca and I went to a Watermark gathering tonight called Core Focus. This is a time for people who call Watermark home to come, hear stories about what is going on thru Watermark. It was so cool to hear about how God is using our laundry facilities to impact peoples lives. It was awesome to hear about the vision of our new church planters. Yes, Watermark after 3 years is birthing another church. HOW EXCITING!.

I was reluctant to go. I see myself as such a minor part at Watermark. We all have our role to play in the body of Christ, right? I have just been playing my part. So i just wanted to go to OK and leave my "family" at Watermark behind. Well that was not in the cards. They took the opportunity to talk about my move, to pray over me and celebrate the decision. It was pretty cool. i am so thankful for a place where i am accepted for me!

Well more later.
Carter

I am back

2006-11-10T16:36:00.000-06:00

after a short period of time. i am back.

don't get me wrong. i liked iWeb and the mac setup

i just like not having to store everything i do.

so here i am enjoy.

Carter

changing it up

2006-06-27T00:24:00.000-05:00

i am leaving the blog world

not really check it out!

http://web.mac.com/carterclark49417

please change my address!

it is really not June already???

2006-06-08T05:17:00.000-05:00

where is time going? i cannot believe that it is summer time already. I am really looking forward to summer and spending time with the Boo.

So, i have a question. When faced with life changing decisions, what do you do? What steps do you take to make the decision?

People will tell me to seek God first. I have no idea what that means. That is the heart of the quesiton. How to seek God out. Is it as "easy" as just sitting in a room and listening for God to speak?

I had the opportunity to help out a friend with a speech he was giving. He spoke to the 2006 graduating class at Grand Haven HS. One of the things he wanted to communicate (and did well) is find yourself in God and then follow Him where he leads. i am excited to what the next few years show. Our kids are being raised with a far deeper understanding of what and who God is.

Anyway, deep rant there. Becca's last day of sixth grade is tomorrow. Her dance recital is tomorrow. cool stuff.

Gotta run.

Reporting from GH,
Carter Lee Clark

been a couple

2006-05-31T05:16:00.000-05:00

Hidi ho!

End of the school year stuff going on. Band Concerts; Honors Choir Concerts; Dance recital! yes, the year is coming to a close with a bang. for the 2 or 3 of you that read this i apologize for not being available or returning calls. it has been busy and will not stop yet.

Things are ok at work. Weird vibe right now. I cannot put my finger on it, but it is definitely there. I just feel like i am continually fighting for position. I am not sure what that means. It is a situation where there is a partnership that has been in existence for a while, which is ok. I am cool with that. They are comfortable with the way the work with each other. Therefore it is difficult to break thru that. And one of the partnership is "overly" protective of his position and passive/aggressively protects it. I feel like i can help more in the organization but I am having difficulty figuring out how. There are so few of us at the office. it is hard not to stumble over each other. but still not anything to complain about. With all that said, I still love what i do and who i do it for.

Other than the schedule, Becca is good. we spent most of the holiday weekend catching up on homework. We did make a trip to the Fruitport Old Fashion Days carnival. I really do not like carnivals. they are a hole for which money just gets sucked in and never to return. But Becca had fun.

Only wednesday and i am looking forward to the weekend.

More later
Carter

DaVinci Podcast

2006-05-16T11:12:00.000-05:00

go to iTunes podcast directory and look for it. it is hosted by Josh McDowell.

I am downloading it now.

More later.
C

Thoughts....

2006-05-12T23:27:00.000-05:00

The Rules of Chocolate

-If you've got melted chocolate all over your hands, you're eating it too slowly.

-Chocolate covered raisins, cherries, orange slices & strawberries all count as fruit, so eat as many as you want.

-The problem: How to get 2 pounds of chocolate home from the store in a hot car. The solution: Eat it in the parking lot.

-Diet tip: Eat a chocolate bar before each meal. It'll take the edge off your appetite, and you'll eat less.

-If calories are an issue, store your chocolate on top of the fridge. Calories are afraid of heights, and they will jump out of the chocolate to protect themselves.

-If I eat equal amounts of dark chocolate and white chocolate, is that a balanced diet? Don't they actually counteract each other?

More World's Thinnest Books

Everything Men Know about Women

Everything Women Know about Men

George Foreman's Big Book of Baby Names

To All the Men I've Loved Before - by Ellen Degeneres

Mike Tyson's Guide to Dating Etiquette

Spotted Owl Recipes - by the EPA

The Amish Phone Directory

I hate not feeling well

2006-05-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

Yes, for the last two days i was home with a bug of some sort. Hate that! i normally can work thru most illiness but not this one. Wednesday morning i met our installers at a job site, met with a customer and reviewed the project with installers. I was starting to get a headache on the way back to the office. I made it have way to Zeeland before having to pull off the side of the road. To make the long story short, i stayed home Wed and Thursday.

In between naps, i saw some "must see" daytime television. Ok, talk about brain rot. it is truly amazing how much garbage is on TV. I finally shut it down and started reading the book "Hoot". Becca has been strongly encouraging me to read it so i picked it up. It looks good (between naps).

Mother's day coming up. what are you doing for mom's day?

And what about the hurricane weather we are having? Yikes!

that's all for now.

C

Happy Birthday to me!

2006-05-04T23:30:00.000-05:00

yes today - Cinco de Mayo - is my 40th birthday. Wow. i have lived to see 40. Lordy, lordy look who is 40? me.

I spoke to my best girl Becca last night. It was great to hear her voice. She is doing just great and i am really pleased. Grades are up. She is singing in an honor's choir at school. I am just so thankful she is doing the things she is doing!

ASU is really busy. That is the company i work for. Great company. I love what i am doing there. It is great to help create something so vital for ministry to continue. I think i have one of the most awesome bosses around. I really enjoy it!

Watermark is doing great too. I am playing bass on Sunday. That will be great. I am excited about that. I am not excited about the departure of our worship leader and his wife - mike and joni morgan. Now before we go further i just have a problem with important people in my life leaving. And i know this is important for mike to continue in school and follow what God is leading him to do. I still do not like it. I have known Mike and Joni for years. I have had interaction with them on different levels. And it has been good. I will miss joni's laugh and over all awesomeness (if that is a word). And i will miss mike - his leadership, his passion and overall coolness. To mike and joni -- i love you guys and will be thinking of (and missing) you often!

Another couple i think the world of is leaving too. Jason and Judy DeRoche are taking a ministry position at a church in Kansas. (there's no place like home...there's no place like home.) Again, i am excited for them as this will be great for them. And the Heartland Christian Fellowship is blessed to have them on staff. Big shoes here to fill! I have said it before and say it again -- Jason, Judy always in your camp! and there is always a place at the campfire for you two!

So what are the big plans for the 40th? go to work, struggle thru a problem with a customer and then i am headed over to Johnson's for a grill out and a fire. Pretty low key! which is ok with me.

Well, i need to head to bed.

Good night!
C

He is Risen.....

2006-04-17T11:46:00.000-05:00

How do you answer that statement? what is your first response?

I had a great weekend. I had a rehearsal on saturday and then hooked up with the Becca. We had a great saturday afternoon. Before that though, i was in the prayer room at the Hub (watermark offices). Watermark had a 24/7 prayer time the week before Easter. I signed up for Sat at 1:00. what an amazing time! taking an hour out for just praying and listening and reading what people have written on the walls. Amazing. I makes me want to do it everyday!

Yesterday was great too. Three Gatherings on Sunday. we had a choir which sounded great. the band and choir were on fire if you as me. After that Becca and i headed home for a small meal. We had a larger meal over to some friends house. PRIME RIB! what more can I say?

well it feels like spring now. I am looking forward to nice weather, thunderstorms, smells and sounds of spring.

Wishing i was golfing,
carter

Thought for the day

2006-04-13T07:13:00.000-05:00

After starting a new diet I altered my drive to work to avoid passing my favorite bakery.

I accidentally drove by the bakery this morning and as I approached, there in the window were a host of goodies. I felt this was no accident, so I prayed ...

"Lord, it's up to you, if you want me to have any of those delicious goodies, create a parking place for me directly in front of the bakery.

And sure enough, on the eighth time around the block, there it was! God is so Good!"

Happy Birthday, Becca - one day later

2006-04-12T15:26:00.000-05:00

well it was a great birthday for the Boo (and Dakota Smith).

We had dinner with the Fishers and the Hilsons. The Furrs and Carys could not make it. but they were missed. it was a good meal and good conversation. And becca enjoyed her gifts.

It is amazing to me that she will be a teenager next year. all the things i have seen and done in the last 12 years. it is truly amazing.

Anyway. big weekend coming up!

Carter

Monday, Monday, Monday

2006-04-10T08:23:00.000-05:00

well another week starts. what a long week last friday? yes you heard me. it felt like a whole week in one day. I, and two of my co-workers (my boss included), went to the Kalamazoo area for a site visit and then to northern indiana to correct a problem with a system. The 1st part of the trip was great (except that it rained and it was muddy). Accomplished what we wanted to with the trip.

The 2nd part of the trip was rough. even though we were able to correct the problem -- it seemingly took forever to do. In fact, my boss was really late for a dinner party at his house -- kudos to his wonderful wife (and daughter) for holding the fort down until he arrived.

Great weekend. It was awesome playing on Sunday. I really enjoy that. I have always struggled with the motive for doing things. Let me explain. I used to be more interested in being someone's friend so i could say i was that person's friend. I wanted to be Steve Deur's friend so i could drop his name in conversation. You should see people in awe over that!!! heh heh. I wanted to be Nate Smith and Wally Harrison's friend because that somehow made me cooler (which in reality it did.) But i can honestly say that i have been prayerfully delivered from that. Thank you Jesus. It was that same way with music. I just enjoyed more that i could say i am part of the band. But again, i am glad i am over that. i can honestly say i am enjoying the worship experience more for the "right" reasons. Which is great!

Well, Becca's birthday is tomorrow. That will be fun! big 12! man am i getting old.

Carter

what an "interesting" couple weeks.

2006-04-06T08:30:00.000-05:00

Well here is the what is happening....

We had teacher conferences last week. That is always an interesting time. Becca has her mom for some classes. So i sat across the desk from my ex-wife. I am so thankful i have a good relationship with her. Life would be so difficult without that. Becca is doing well in school. Having a little struggle in science but i and her mom are very pleased.

So Becca has been on spring break since last wednesday. and will be on spring break until next monday! i am not sure how that happened -- but 12 days off for spring break -- nice.

Last Friday, i played hookie and becca and i hung out together. I made breakfast -- couple eggs, bacon, and toast -- and we launched into our play day off. We visited the Mongolian Barbeque. Love that place. Food is great. I get to assembly. i am happy. I do not even get up to go prepare anymore. Becca is learning the fine art of spice. That is great. She does not like it but she is not afraid to try it. So, i had a prime rib meal with minced garlic, salt, pepper, soy sauce, a smige of curry, and an egg. it was very good. loved it.

After lunch, we went to visit the butterfly exhibit. that is always cool to see. We took lots of pictures. Becca even had (2) butterflies land on her. Cool. While we were there, we went thru the children's outdoor exhibit. That was fun too. especially since the weather was ok. it was great to be outside. i have serious cabin fever.

more later
C

Bob & Tom

2006-03-27T07:36:00.000-06:00

I am not a big bob & tom fan. i was flipping thru the radio stations this morning and heard a news story. last thursday, a man went to a strip club. Now that is not where the story ends. The man took his 4 year old son with him! now that is not bad enough, he left the child in the car and told him that monsters would eat him if he got out of the car.

I am not sure how to react. Outraged is the first thought! I mean really what was the dad thinking?? Wow, what is that? Maybe a child should be left in a car, thinking monsters are going to eat him while his dad gets his jollys in a strip club.

Wow, where are people's heads these days?

Well, what a get weekend we had. I did some spring cleaning. I played at the gathering -- that was fun.

Becca has a big science test today. we spent time studying.

Carter

SAHM

2006-03-23T09:57:00.000-06:00

So, the stay at home mom is the newest threat to society???

Over the years, religion in general has taken an awful lot of shots. The philosophy of a moral absolute truth has been beaten pretty bad. The concept of marriage has been skewed & stretched to an almost out-of-control state. Most of these conversations come out of the political left or the feminist movement.

i heard part of the Good morning America interview with the women who made the comment that the stay at home mom is the newest threat to society.

How far will Satan go to destroy the family??

thought for the day

2006-03-21T09:43:00.000-06:00

The ox is slow -- but the earth is patient

i am not sure what that means. but it just sounded cool.

i have been preoccupied with some personal things going on for the last few weeks. So i apologize for the delay. Most notibly some friends of mine are dealing with some things - medical things - that just suck out loud. It is just another situation in my life to see God move.

I was talking to one of them this morning. Several cool things came out of the conversation. Day by day. that was the first thought. Not looking ahead -- just day by day. Another was this thought. we do not know how we are going to get thru this situation but we do understand the process. you see this is a couple who has been thru alot: family and friends members dying, financial pressures, etc. But they understand the power of prayer and the God we serve. They understand how God works and His faithfulness. Yeah.

i am confident of this -- the voice sounded down, but the heart and spirit is not beaten!

C to the C

Hollywood

2006-03-07T07:24:00.000-06:00

I did not watch the Oscars. I am not in touch with my feminine side to do that. But i did catch up on some articles and listened to talk radio shows the day after. With all the hype, one would think that there was some huge discovery being made. the hype leading up to the Oscars would make you think a new cure for cancer was happening. It is amazing to me how much the hype does not match the actual event.

Why do i bring this up? i am curious about the amount of influence Hollywood has on the general public. Hollywood has a long standing tradition of bring social issues to light. From the racial issues to youth-in-asian to just this year two gay cowboys, Hollywood brings that stuff up for all to see. i did happen to hear George Clooney speak. He said -- something like -- we should be proud of the fact that we are the extreme left on issues.

There were other parts of that speech i cannot remember. But i wonder what was he really saying. i wonder how many people watch what happens in Hollywood and basis their decisions on what they hear.

It is so important for us to engage with people. the influence we have in our own little circle is extremely important. I am not saying we need to march and hang posters that say "God Hates Fags". (that is a whole other thought i will not address right now.) I think a consistent, humble, Christ-like mentality is the key.

later,
C2

DO NOT MURDER

2006-02-20T12:01:00.000-06:00

Three words that most of us do not struggle with, right? Go to the Watermark's website or iTunes store and download the teaching from yesterday. And then lets talk. WOW. I will never look at those three words the same way again.

We are in the middle of a series called Life is Waiting. It is a study of the ten commandments. It has been great, challenging and eye opening.

I once worked with a guy who was nicknames "brother loop-hole". He was looking for a loop-hole in everything. I have learned a great deal of good things from him.

So here is the the thought of the day. At the risk of looking for the loop-hole, i ask the question "when is it murder or just sharing ones burdens?" You need to listen to the teaching because what i am about to write is a huge paraphrase and i will not do it justice. The word murder has a much deeper meaning. The fact of the matter is words have a powerful effect of people. The thing that we heard on Sunday is that back biting, calling people names etc. is considered murder.

Matthew 5:21 (from the Message)
21"You're familiar with the command to the ancients, "Do not murder.' 22I'm telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother "idiot!' and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell "stupid!' at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.

Wow. how many times in my life have i called someone a name? sarcasticm, anger, just off color -- just trying to be funny??? I am sure i could not tell you how much i have done it in the last month let alone a lifetime. Yesterday's teaching was a difficult one to hear. An area i really need to work on.

I used to work for an "interesting" person/company. Most everyone that worked there would agree. In fact, there was a website created while the company was going out of business. the purpose was for former employees to comment on their experience there. Some of these comments were not good. And it was attended. For the record, i had nothing to do with the site. I was told about it in a blind email. I did read it and thought about making comments.

I have two guys i am close to. I value their option HIGHLY. Some conversations go great and others i leave totally tick off. But it is all good. While i was working for the company that went out of business, i vented ALOT to these guys about things that were going on there and the owner.

I guess to make the blog alot longer than it needs to be -- where is it sharing a burden or "murder"?

I am certain i will be replaying this and praying my way thru.

Thoughts?
Carter

new blogger added.

2006-02-20T07:54:00.000-06:00

Hey, my boss and his wife recently had a baby. there names - Tim and Stacey Heneveld. And the new bundle of joy -- Abby Rose.

Stacey started a blog tracking the life of Abby and being a new mom.

Check in out!

Sunday morning..

2006-02-19T06:24:00.000-06:00

and all is well.

Sunday mornings are usually very quiet around my place. it is a good time to read and reflect.

i am not sure where i was headed there.

Anyway, have a great Sunday...
Peace

this is a new statement

2006-02-13T15:25:00.000-06:00

I was talking to my daughter this weekend. and a subject came up i was a little surprised at. She said, "dad, i have a quesition for you."

I said, "fire away, becca."

She said, "are you becoming a pirate?"

Wow, what kind of question is that? Well, let's review.

1. i have a beard that looks like a pirate.
2. i love talk like a pirate day.
3. i enjoy a Cap'n Morgan and coke drink once in a while.
4. i have a parrot at home. Well, he is a conyour but close enough.
5. i have new houseshoe style ear rings.
6. i have a favorite computer game -- Ages of Empires II. one of my favorite parts of the game is the "sea" battles. they are cool.

Conclusion: yes i am becoming a pirate.

Well.....

2006-01-31T11:08:00.000-06:00

i did it.

i have pierced ears!! Yes both of them! It is something i have wanted to do for a long time. And so last night it happened. I did not pass out. I did not cry. It actually was not as painful as i thought it would be. Becca was the one encouraging me to do it.

Good week so far. Becca and the Fisher clan was in Florida over the weekend. So it was a long weekend for me but she had a great time and that is what is important. But they are back and i am looking forward to seeing her.

thanks what i know. Except -- Thomps is my hero!

later
Carter

yeah!

2006-01-30T09:14:00.000-06:00

I realize this is just a joke -- as i checked thru snopes.com -- but it is still too funny!

For all of us who feel only the deepest love and affection for the way computers have enhanced our lives, read on. At a recent computer expo (COMDEX), Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated, "If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25.00 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon."

In response to Bill's comments, General Motors issued a press release stating: If GM had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics (and I just love this part):

1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash twice a day.

2. Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car.

3. Occasionally, your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For some reason you would simply accept this.

4. Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause you car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine.

5. Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive -- but would run on only five percent of the roads.

6. The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by a single "This Car Has Performed An Illegal Operation" warning light.

7. The airbag system would ask, "Are you sure?" before deploying.

8. Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lift the door handle, turned the key, and grabbed hold of the radio antenna.

9. Every time a new car was introduced car buyers would have to learn how to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.

10. You'd have to press the "Start" button to turn the engine off.

A friendly conversation

2006-01-18T17:17:00.000-06:00

I have been in contact with some of the gang i used to hang with in high school. This is an excerpt from a conversation i have been having from one of those friends.

Okay...imagine we are "God's Antfarm"....he is watching us move about our world in our hurried fashions or walk about in wonder. What would bring Him the most pleasure?? Would not He want us to experience the many wonders He has provided, rather that saying, "Hey thanks, but I just don't have time for these things....I am just going to keep thanking you and assume their nice." It's like when I am teaching math. (No...I am not saying I am a math Goddess) Is it the kid who stares at me like I am "so cool" that makes me feel like I am doing something productive with my life? No...it's that argumentative hyper little shit in the corner who questions the theories, who has to experience the problem solving in their own way, who comes in the next day with a question they hope (and sometimes I can't) answer. It is the kid who comes in the next day with this useless long division problem they had to tape two pieces of paper together to solve (and got it way wrong anyhow...but I can't bear to tell them that). That is the kid who I am reaching. That is the kids that is enjoying the world I am providing for them. I am not trying to slam religion, although I am much more cautious than the rest of you in this area, due to my background. I am also not saying to question your faith, absolutely believe in whatever your heart allows you. Instead, I am trying to say that we have been given so much in this world...nature, friends, relatives, education, entertainment, relationships, and I don't think that we are meant to chose only one and go with it alone. To chose one, and SHUT out the other areas is turning away from the gifts of this world. This...is my thoughts...

She goes on to say after another friend chimes in on the conversation:

You will still talk to me when Darin pretends I am a "dead goat"! (Talk for someone you no longer speak to because they aren't a Jehovah anymore!)

Dead Goat? What the?? She explains. "JW" is Jehovah Witness.

And the "goat" thing, let me explain. When you are a "JW", you are a "sheep", everyone else are "goats". When you leave, you are not only a "very bad goat", but also "presumed and treated dead" by the continuin JWs. The vocabulary is, well, interesting!

Wow. I am taken back by this whole conversation. I am struggling how to respond. My first reaction is frustration that a group of people would treat someone as if they are dead because they left the church. Sympathy for the gal writing this is another.

I may edit this later and add more thoughts. Stay tuned.

Thoughts??

Thoughts for 2006

2006-01-16T14:13:00.000-06:00

I stumbled across this -- thought you might enjoy!

New Rules for 2006

1. New Rule: Stop giving me that pop-up ad for Classmates.com! There's a reason you don't talk to people for 25 years. Because you don't particularly like them! Besides, I already know what the captain of the football team is doing these days: mowing my lawn.

2. New Rule: Don't eat anything that's served to you out a window unless you're a seagull. People are acting all shocked that a human finger was found in a bowl of Wendy's chili. Hey, it cost less than a dollar. What did you expect it to contain? Trout?

3. New Rule: Stop saying that teenage boys who have sex with their hot, blonde teachers are permanently damaged. I have a better description for these kids: lucky bastards.

4. New Rule: If you need to shave and you still collect baseball cards, you're gay. If you're a kid, the cards are keepsakes of your idols. If you're a grown man, they're pictures of men.

5. New Rule: Ladies, leave your eyebrows alone. Here's how much men care about your eyebrows: do you have two of them? Okay, we're done.

6. New Rule: There's no such thing as flavored water. There's a whole aisle of this crap at the supermarket — water, but without that watery taste. Sorry, but flavored water is called a soft drink. You want flavored water? Pour some scotch over ice and let it melt. That's your flavored water.

7. New Rule: Stop f***ing with old people. Target is introducing a redesigned pill bottle that's square, with a bigger label. And the top is now the bottom. And by the time grandpa figures out how to open it, his ass will be in the morgue. Congratulations, Target, you just solved the Social Security crisis.

8. New Rule: The more complicated the Starbucks order, the bigger the asshole. If you walk into a Starbucks and order a "decaf grande half-soy, half-low fat, iced vanilla, double-shot, gingerbread cappuccino, extra dry, light ice, with one Sweet-n'-Low and one NutraSweet," ooh, you're a huge asshole.

9. New Rule: I'm not the cashier! By the time I look up from sliding my card, entering my PIN number, pressing "Enter," verifying the amount, deciding, no, I don't want cash back, and pressing "Enter" again, the kid who is supposed to be ringing me up is standing there eating my Almond Joy.

10. New Rule: Just because your tattoo has Chinese characters in it doesn't make you spiritual. It's right above the crack of your ass. And it translates to "beef with broccoli." The last time you did anything spiritual, you were praying to God you weren't pregnant. You're not spiritual. You're just high.

11. New Rule: Competitive eating isn't a sport. It's one of the seven deadly sins. ESPN recently televised the US Open of Competitive Eating, because watching those athletes at the poker table was just too damned exciting. What's next, competitive farting? Oh wait. They're already doing that. It's called "The Howard Stern Show."

12. New Rule: I don't need a bigger mega M&M. If I'm extra hungry for M&Ms, I'll go nuts and eat two.

13. New Rule: If you're going to insist on making movies based on crappy, old television shows, then you have to give everyone in the Cineplex a remote so we can see what's playing on the other screens. Let's remember the reason something was a television show in the first place is that the idea wasn't good enough to be a movie.

14. New Rule: No more gift registries. You know, it used to be just for weddings. Now it's for babies and new homes and graduations from rehab. Picking out the stuff you want and having other people buy it for you isn't gift giving, it's the white people version of looting.

15. New Rule: and this one is long overdue: No more bathroom attendants. After I zip up, some guy is offering me a towel and a mint like I just had sex with George Michael. I can't even tell if he's supposed to be there, or just some freak with a fetish. don't want to be on your webcam, dude. I just want to wash my hands

16. New Rule: When I ask how old your toddler is, I don't need to know in months. "27 Months." "He's two," will do just fine. He's not a cheese. And I didn't really care in the first place.

Christmas Party

2006-01-12T11:01:00.000-06:00

Yes, it is true. Our companies Christmas party is this Friday. I think we should call it a "Martin Luther King Day" party. Not sure what happened there but it is this Friday night. should be good time.

Well, the Becca made the honor roll at school. Pretty cool. I need to figure out a way to reward her for the effort. thoughts?

Anyway, I am looking forward to this year. I have made some positive changes Health-wise and financially which will make a big difference this year.

Work is good. Busy as usually.

That's it for now. More later!

C

The Chronicles of "C"

a new chapter begins

Friday

My Daughter is a 10th Grader

wow has it been this long?

once a month bloggin

Friday before Valentines Day

hmm.

wow has it been this long?

time for a new entry

a point of clarification

wow.

one more added

ummm yeah

New Pic

it is sunday

Guitar Hero III

Blogger list adds and deletes

Blogging mad man

what is goin' on?

how long?

EARTH DAY 2008

HELLO!

Good Friday - 2008

update #2

flu bug and other updates

it is like running the 90 yard dash...

bumper sticker

what a great holiday

how you know you have been naughty

It is better to give than receive

pics from this morning

extreme weather?

Getting ready for the Christmas holiday

Thanksgiving 2007

funny.

The power of words

ok. there are times when life is just plain good

well -- all things come around

dust in the wind

***NEW BLOGGER ALERT***

i am "that guy"

back in the saddle again

labor day 2007

Yet another blogger.

Tuesday August 28, 2007

Friday in Oklahoma

Sarcastic eh?

Life from Indy

well from Indianapolis

ok enough

has it been this long...

taken the quiz; reading the results

Survivor - Oklahoma?

Happy Mother's Day

it has been a couple weeks

back to the grind today

making the trip...

Two Post, One Day - What is on your iPod or MP3 Player?

The Silence Breaks.............

I am back and i'm ok

Headed back to Michigan

a time to think

so you say the super bowl....

Oklahoma

Oh yeah - things are getting back to normal

Ice Ice Baby

Happy New Year

the move is complete

Well - i made it

How do we finish well?

and the winds of change start to blow

I am back

changing it up

it is really not June already???

been a couple

DaVinci Podcast

Thoughts....

I hate not feeling well

Happy Birthday to me!

NEW BLOGGER ALERT