Crazy time at the beach...

We spent the morning at the beach, and although it was a bit windy, we made the best of it. The kids wanted to play tag so we ended up running around like escapees from a mad house and playing in the sand. It was a crazy fun time. By Grayson's facial expressions on this .avi file, you can certainly tell that we made his day.

"Christ the Lord, The Road to Cana," by Anne Rice

Once again Anne Rice delivers a first-person narrative, this time of Christ's adult years. Jesus reveals his feelings for Avigail, is confronted by Lucifer in the wilderness, casts out demons from Magdala, gathers his apostles, and turns water into wine.

I jumped right into this novel immediately after reading the prequel because I was dying to know what events would next unfold. And again, Anne Rice did not disappoint. Another thumbs up!

Grayson's first 5K Run

I participated in a 5K-Run fundraiser today. It was a pleasant surprise to see Alicia and the boys show up to support both me and the event. Minutes before the start, Grayson volunteered to join me. Although I wasn't initially enthusiastic about his proposition, it's hard to say no to Grayson when he gives you his supplicating droopy eyes. I succumbed to his charm and we ran together.

There were mothers pushing strollers and older boys running with their families. Grayson was overwhelmed with joy. Unfortunately, joy isn't enough to carry a 5-yr old boy on an endurance run. We stopped to catch our breath at .92 miles. A quarter of a mile later, Grayson was in need of another break. I carried Grayson on my shoulders for the next half mile and afforded him some needed rest. We started to run again and stopped after .3 miles. We ended up walking the next half mile at which point Grayson called it quits. I finished the rest of the 5K run with him on my shoulders.

Our results, 37 min 49 sec!!!

It was an extremely memorable event; one that I'll cherish for many years. After the race Grayson exclaimed, "That was fun Daddy. Let's do it again!" I slouched in exhaustion and told him that I would first have to recover.

"Christ the Lord, Out of Egypt" by Anne Rice

I just got done with this book. Anne Rice delivers a first-person narrative of Jesus' adolescent years. She seems to have done some extensive research for this work, and although it wasn't my favorite Anne Rice novel, it is "Rice-esque" in its rich language and imagery. I give it a thumbs up.

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Coincidentally, the sequel to "Christ the Lord, Road to Cana" was released on 4-March-2008. I'll get started on that in the near future. For those that expect the secular, atheist themes which have brought Anne Rice acclaim, you'll be disappointed in the "Christ the Lord" Chronicles. After decades of atheism, Anne Rice has returned to her Catholic roots and is devoutly religious. She swears that there will never again be another Lestat novel, never another Mayfair saga. I neither applaud nor mourn the decision as it's always been her poetic style that has captivated me.

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Here's an excerpt:

"I lay down on the grass, and felt of the wildflowers with my open hand. And I looked up through the branches of the olive tree. I wanted it that way---the sky in bits and pieces. I was happy. I could hear far away the pigeons and the doves of the village. I thought I could even hear the bees in their hives. I could hear something that was like the grass growing, but it wasn't that, I knew. It was all the sounds coming together and being soft---so unlike the sounds of a city."

"Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" by Harriet Jacobs

Although this Harriet Jacobs work wasn't one of my favorites, I did appreciate learning about the horrors of bondage. Let the darkest chapter in American history be closed forever, and never to be repeated.

Harriet Jacobs wrote under the name of Linda Brent. Linda Brent suffers the death of her benevolent mistress and falls in the hands of Dr. Flint (a sexual predator). She describes the consequences of slave insurrection. She mothers two children (Ellen & Benjamin) with Mr. Sands (a white, yet kinder man), but they become Dr. Flint's property since children assume the mother's status (free vs. captive).

Linda Brent endures unimaginable suffering at the hands of her master. She escapes and is hidden in her grandmother's house (dungeon) for seven years. She faces new perils in the North as she attempts to purchase her freedom and reunite with her children, etc...

It's a good read, but pick up the paperback copy.