Dirkmonster

My New Year's Resolution - Take the "Dirkmonster Challenge"

I'm no web 2.0 genius, but it seems to me that there are two things among many I have to do to get more readers (and commenters!) to the Dirkmonster blog in 2009:

1. Write more posts and post more regularly.
2. Give people a reason to read them regularly

To reiterate, I'm no genius about this stuff, so here's my lame solution which will also be my New Year's Resolution:

I will post at least 5 times every week.  In the event that I fail to do so, the first person to point it out in the comments will receive a gift card from me.  There.  Hopefully I will generate posts that won't be so boring that even a gift card is not worth the torture of keeping up with them.

An easy way to keep up, should you choose to do so, is to subscribe to this blog's RSS feed.  If you don't know about RSS, add a New Year's resolution to give it a try.  It will change the way you surf the Internet and bring you information you would have missed otherwise.  Learn more here.

Happy 2009 Dirkmonster Blog Aficianodos! The 2009 Dirkmonster Challenge is on. 

Please comment on this post and prognosticate on how this turns out.

Sianora 2008

Happy New Year everyone!

There are those years no one will ever forget, like 2001.  Others register instant memories for me: 1976 (Bicentennial celebration in DC), 1987 (Mom died), 1996 (I got married) and 2002/2005 (our children were born).

Other years, I'd have to think about it order to come up with something hugely significant.  There's something every year of course, but not every year is attached to my brain's random access memory.  I'll throw one out: 1983.  Eh?

Folks, I have a feeling 2008 will be one of those significant years for me.  I won't forget this was the year the Titans surprised everyone with the best regular season record in the NFL.  I agree with those who suggest 2008 was the best sports year ever.

I won't forget 2008 was the year Barack Obama was elected President of the United States.

I won't forget 2008 was the year I realized God didn't want me to drink.

I won't forget watching Lyn work harder than she ever needed to and ride a professional roller coaster in the process.

I won't forget watching Ross go to Kindergarten in a wonderful public school in the fall of 2008.  And by Christmas he was 6 years old reader and writer.  Jenna Claire is in preschool for the first time and loves all things Princess.

<--And just when you thought 2008 couldn't get any more wierd, my Dad asked me to be his friend on Facebook.

Tonight we'll close out the year with old friends in a new way.  I'm not worried about 2009 yet.  I'm waiting until next year for that.

Ross brushes off sickness for a Merry Christmas

We learned about Fifth Disease this Christmas as Ross broke out in rosy cheeks, a rash and woke up with sore legs.  He was sick on his birthday a week ago as well.  It did not slow him down.  Notably, this Christmas was the first one where we could sit back and have Ross deliver gifts from under the tree - he's reading!

Jenna Claire was overjoyed that Santa brought her a dollhouse, lots of Barbie and Princess related items and pretty clothes that matched.  Ross is excited about his basketball goal, a Nintendo DS and some video games.

See some pictures here.

This Christmas reminded me more than any what the Gospel teaches, that "With God, nothing is impossible".

Please add your items to this gratitude list

This Thanksgiving, I'm overtaken with what I have to be thankful for.  I pray for grace, mercy and peace to be with you and your loved ones.  If you wish, please comment on this post with a gratitude list you'd like to share.

I'm thankful for: My wife Lyn and our children Ross and Jenna Claire, the love and support of friends and family, my work family at Acxiom, Lyn's work family at NewsChannel 5, Sunset Elementary School, 1st Baptist Preschool, Jesus' birth, life, death, resurrection and exaltation, nourishing food and a warm home, my Dad, my late mother, my step-mom Jane, my brothers Adam and Carlos, Lyn's Dad and Cheri, Lyn's late grandparents, my college roomate and life long friend John and his family, my aunts, uncles and cousins, my late grandparents, cold water, warm coffee, exciting sports, the 10-1 Titans, the Predators, music, veterans and long weekends.

I will add more as I think of them.  You are welcome to list people and things you're thankful for in the comments of this post.  I would love to see it.