Wassup wit dat stick in your hand?!

When Moses was freaking out about going to the Egyptian Pharoah and demanding he let God's people (the Israelites) go...God said something simple yet profound:

Wassup wit dat stick in your hand?! - Exodus 4:2 (my wacked out version)

Basically God said if you're keen i will use whatever skills you have to totally blow away any opposition to the plans i have for you.

However it's only human nature to compare yourself to others and either seem superior or (much more likely) inferior.

In the immortal words of Napoleon Dynamite...

'Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills...you know, like nunchuku skills, bow hunting skills, computer hacking skills'

I was talking to a mate the other night about future plans etc and he told me about doing up houses and all the work he had been doing. I am always amazed at the talent of people who you wouldn't guess and was blown away by his skills.

I started to think about my skills or lack thereof.

Wood working (carpentry, building, house reno's) are skills that are very satisfying, because you get to see the final product from the work of your hands.

I believe all my woodworking efforts ended up 'lost' by my mum and dad...kinda sad really. So anyway...now i have children of my own, anything they bring home i'll absolutely cherish and display / use until it breaks completely (probably not long if they take after me...heh)

I have been trying to hone my wood working skills up in my dads shed. My 4 and 2 year old think i'm the man! YEYAH!

Update on Motorbike: Children rarely allowed to play with it for fear of breakage!

Update on Duck: Stick has fallen out of neck and has subsequently been lost.

Update on Parking Garage: One of the white side rails has broken off after 1st days use...ha ha. Go hard kids!

An Irish treat

I had a great day today. Married 7 years to an amazing woman. Wonderful children. A fantastic lunch with the best friends. And an Irish treat in the evening...

Da wife and I left the wonderful kiddies tucked up in bed (safely monitored by the awesome babysitter) and went out to enjoy a fabulous Irish dinner.

Monday night at McMorrissey's (never been there before) was great. A warm table close to the fire with quick friendly service that brought succulent slow cooked lamb shanks that honestly were the best i've ever tasted.

It came with a free guiness... o well, when in Rome (or Ireland). With one of these hearty brews under me belt and the Irish jigs belting out over the sound system it was a really authentic atmosphere.

I had just finished Patrick - Son of Ireland a novel by Stephen Lawhead. Good book. It is an awesome tale about Celtic legends, wars, love, loss, druids and adventure all set in old school Britain, Wales and Ireland. It was a good read. The author really transports you into this ancient time and place.

So here I was thoroughly enjoying my lamb shanks, mashed potato, pint of Guiness and bread and butter pudding with my wonderful wife of 7 years. And in my mind I was transported to this other ancient time right out of a Stephen Lawhead novel...awesome.

Like i said, i've had a great day...Thank you Lord!

So turn the speakers up loud and enjoy an Irish treat!

Whatchoo talkin' bout lesmond j?

Not much it would seem...




Ahhh...too good for words!

Wassup 'G'nomes

When we moved into our 1st house, i found a couple of dead garden gnomes. My wife wanted them to stay that way, 6 feet under would have sufficed.

Alas even as a young boy i would rescue worms trapped going the wrong way on the footpath. You know...they are the ones you step over knowing they are going to end up shrivelled up husks of...(breaks off crying)

So i carefully sequestered said gnomes to my parents place where restoration began. I haven't got a before picture unfortunately but they had no paint left on them and were half buried in dirt.

I did a little research on gnomes so i was armed with great explanations should my wife want to kill my resurrected friends.

Here's my top 7 things to know about gnomes:

1. Gnomes are a mythical legendary race endowed with exceptional vision and heightened awareness; their task is to provide assistance to all living things; gnomes symbolise integrity, honesty and hard work.




2. Originating in Germany in the mid 1800's there are estimated to be over 25,000,000 gnomes in Germany alone.




3. A phenomenon known as 'gnoming' exists where people 'return garden gnomes to the wild'. Some kidnapped gnomes have literally travelled all around the world and is the basis for Travelocity's 'Roaming Gnome' - anyone watch The Amazing Race??




4. 'Lampy' the only surviving gnome from the original batch brought back to England in 1847 is insured for One Million Pounds!




5. Gnomes have a life expectancy of 400 years.




6. Male gnomes can be easily identified by their red caps.




7. Gnomes and children under five are banned from the Royal Horticulture Society Chelsea Flower Show.

You may have noticed in point number 1 that the word mythical appears in italics...wassup wit dat you ask? Check out the gnome sighting in Argentina (below) you decide.

Wassat Paw?

Wassat Paw? You say you can't stop laughing at that ol' dag nabbit Claud Hopper?

I like to laugh. And I like The Hillbilly Bears so what better reason to write a blog.

We've all heard that laughter is the best medicine...but wassup with that statement really?

Funnily enough (not lol funny) it originates from the bible where it's found in Proverbs 17:22

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. Pr 17:22

Then I got to thinking about when I was a kid and me and my mates would just start out laughing at nothing until we were laughing uncontrollably at our laughing...soooo much fun. Adults are so lame in comparison...or are they?

I was at church on sunday evening just gone and witnessed 2 blokes laughing uncontrollably for a good 30 mins. It was so funny that i stayed around because it made me laugh...and as previously mentioned, I like to laugh.

Upon stopping the laughter bloke number 1 said, "Ahhh I needed a good laugh".

Why?? Wassup with needing a good laugh??

I did a little investigating and found out some cool stuff.

1. Laughter brings balance to all components of our immune system


2. Laughter releases natural killer cells that destroy tumours and viruses


3. Laughter stops the flow of stress hormones


4. Laughter is a good work out


5. Laughter releases stored up negative emotions which cause biochemical changes that affect our body

Did you know they are running classes to teach people how to laugh?

I mean wassup wit dat?

Shoot, all you need to do is listen as Shag Rugg translates Paw Ruggs incoherent ramblings to have a good laugh...

either that or come and get some at your local church!

Heh heh heh.......heh heh heh......HEH HEH HEH!