A friend posted about haveing a lot to say (on her blog) but not having the time to say it. That got me thinking about the concept of brevity. Here are a few related quotes.
Good things, when short, are twice as good. ~Baltasar Gracian, The Art of Worldly Wisdom
It is my ambition to say in ten sentences what other men say in whole books - what other men do not say in whole books. ~Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, Twilight of the Idols
Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
I will be brief.
~William Shakespeare, Hamlet
The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do. ~Thomas Jefferson
My great-grandfather used to say to his wife, my great-grandmother, who in turn told her daughter, my grandmother, who repeated it to her daughter, my mother, who used to remind her daughter, my own sister, that to talk well and eloquently was a very great art, but that an equally great one was to know the right moment to stop. ~Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Friday Flashback
Yes boys and girls, we're setting the Wayback Machine for the 1980s and its a video (or more) each week here at Valtool's Box. Since Mark Lee, the awesome guitar dude in Third Day mentioned John Mellancamp/Cougar/Cougar-Mellancamp today, we'll go with the man from the heartland.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
The Ipod/mp3 Shuffle Meme
I was tagged by Frigga at http://www.anyapples.blogspot.com/ and here's the deal. Take your ipod or mp3 player. Set it on shuffle. Use the songs that randomly play as the answers to these questions. Here are the questions and my answers.
How would you describe yourself? Eyes on the Sky (Von Ra)
What do you like in a member of the opposite sex? Urban (Cirque du Soleil - La Nouba)
How do you feel today? Knowing Me, Knowing You (ABBA)
What is your life's purpose? Fad of the Land (Newsboys)
What's your motto? Father, Spirit, Jesus (Casting Crowns)
What do your friends think of you? Does Anybody Hear Her (Casting Crowns)
What do your parents think of you? In Me (Casting Crowns)
What do you think about very often? Between You and Me (DC Talk)
What is 2 + 2? He (Jars of Clay)
What do you think of your best friend? Cloud of Witnesses (Mark Schultz)
What is your life story? Running Just To Catch Myself (Mark Schultz)
What do you want to be when you grow up? No Signal (tobymac)
What do you think when you see the person you like? Lifesong (Casting Crowns)
What will you dance to at your wedding? Higher (Creed)
What will they play at your funeral? Loved You All Along (Von Ra)
What is your hobby/interest? Lord You Are (Mark Schultz)
What is your biggest fear? Rockstar (Third Day)
What is your biggest secret? Let My Words Be Few (Rebecca St. James)
What do you want right now? Scene Six : Home (Dream Theater - Scenes from a Memory)
What do you think of your friends? Jesus Is Just Alright (DC Talk)
What will you post this as? Im Not That Girl (Wicked Cast Recording)
What time is it? Ignition (tobymac)
Since I have no idea who if anyone reads my blog, I tag anyone who reads this blog to do this meme and then come back and let me know you did it!
How would you describe yourself? Eyes on the Sky (Von Ra)
What do you like in a member of the opposite sex? Urban (Cirque du Soleil - La Nouba)
How do you feel today? Knowing Me, Knowing You (ABBA)
What is your life's purpose? Fad of the Land (Newsboys)
What's your motto? Father, Spirit, Jesus (Casting Crowns)
What do your friends think of you? Does Anybody Hear Her (Casting Crowns)
What do your parents think of you? In Me (Casting Crowns)
What do you think about very often? Between You and Me (DC Talk)
What is 2 + 2? He (Jars of Clay)
What do you think of your best friend? Cloud of Witnesses (Mark Schultz)
What is your life story? Running Just To Catch Myself (Mark Schultz)
What do you want to be when you grow up? No Signal (tobymac)
What do you think when you see the person you like? Lifesong (Casting Crowns)
What will you dance to at your wedding? Higher (Creed)
What will they play at your funeral? Loved You All Along (Von Ra)
What is your hobby/interest? Lord You Are (Mark Schultz)
What is your biggest fear? Rockstar (Third Day)
What is your biggest secret? Let My Words Be Few (Rebecca St. James)
What do you want right now? Scene Six : Home (Dream Theater - Scenes from a Memory)
What do you think of your friends? Jesus Is Just Alright (DC Talk)
What will you post this as? Im Not That Girl (Wicked Cast Recording)
What time is it? Ignition (tobymac)
Since I have no idea who if anyone reads my blog, I tag anyone who reads this blog to do this meme and then come back and let me know you did it!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Flashback
Tonight Amy and I were watching a movie and I heard a song I recognized but could not remember the name or the artist. So I checked the credits and went to Youtube. This wouldn't qualify for my 80's blog, which I have not done anything with in over a month, so I am putting it here. From 1979, Blondie with "Dreaming."
Monday, February 09, 2009
Date Night
Last night Amy and I enjoyed are last major date night as childless parents. We attended the WinterJam concert as guests of Tour Pastor Tony Nolan who is also about to become the father of a Chinese princess. Here's a taste of what we enjoyed.... tobymac.
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Have you Ever Meme
Taken from Frigga at www.anyapples.blogspot.com
1. Have you ever been on TV?
Yes, barely. There was a news report from the tailgate at a Jimmy Buffett concert in orlando I went to back in the 90's. The stock footage they shot included me playing congas with our Parrothead club band in the parking lot.
2. Have you ever sung in public?
Yes, I've done karaoke on 3 occasions that I remember and I sang the lead in a church production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown back in '95.
3. Have you ever dyed your hair blond?
No, but I did get frosted highlights once, back around 2000. Was going for a Sugar Ray look.
4. Have you ever eaten frogs' legs?
No.
5. Have you ever received a present that you really hated?
Hate is a strong word. I've definitely received some I don't care about. I remember getting an Allman Brothers Band album when I was about 11 years old.
6. Have you ever walked into a lamp post?
No.
7. Have you ever fallen or stumbled in front of others?
Sure, but everyone does. No big deal unless you do something to make it memorable.
8. Have you ever done volunteer work?
Lots. With the Parrotheads of Central Florida we did river clean-ups and adopt a highway plus events for tornado victims in FL and the Make-a-Wish foundation and the AMerican Cancer Society Relay for life. Recently I have raised money for Relay or Life and the Juvenille Diabetes Walk for a Cure through my work, selling pictures I have taken and organizing charity poker tournaments. I have served at a soup kitchen and done construction at youth outreach camps in Tn. I have been a volunteer leader/counselor for Younglife and for my churches.
1. Have you ever been on TV?
Yes, barely. There was a news report from the tailgate at a Jimmy Buffett concert in orlando I went to back in the 90's. The stock footage they shot included me playing congas with our Parrothead club band in the parking lot.
2. Have you ever sung in public?
Yes, I've done karaoke on 3 occasions that I remember and I sang the lead in a church production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown back in '95.
3. Have you ever dyed your hair blond?
No, but I did get frosted highlights once, back around 2000. Was going for a Sugar Ray look.
4. Have you ever eaten frogs' legs?
No.
5. Have you ever received a present that you really hated?
Hate is a strong word. I've definitely received some I don't care about. I remember getting an Allman Brothers Band album when I was about 11 years old.
6. Have you ever walked into a lamp post?
No.
7. Have you ever fallen or stumbled in front of others?
Sure, but everyone does. No big deal unless you do something to make it memorable.
8. Have you ever done volunteer work?
Lots. With the Parrotheads of Central Florida we did river clean-ups and adopt a highway plus events for tornado victims in FL and the Make-a-Wish foundation and the AMerican Cancer Society Relay for life. Recently I have raised money for Relay or Life and the Juvenille Diabetes Walk for a Cure through my work, selling pictures I have taken and organizing charity poker tournaments. I have served at a soup kitchen and done construction at youth outreach camps in Tn. I have been a volunteer leader/counselor for Younglife and for my churches.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
99
This number 99 is the jersey of Wayne Gretsky. He is called "The Great One." Today is a 99 day.
Before work we had an appointment to meet our likely pediatrician. He is VERY positive about LynnMarie's current and future health.
I went to work. It was pretty much dead. Photo was a wasteland, but we had some vendor deliveries and stock issues to address.
After work I went straight to the gym. I spent 35 minutes on the eliptical (down from my regular 55) and burned just over 400 calories. I then moved to a number of the weight machines, all the time listening to music on my mp3 player. I was particularly motivate and moved when I heard songs by Burlap to Cashmere, DC Talk and tobymac. The last thing I heard was tobymac singing "Whatever I gotta be, I be for you."
That lyric struck me in two ways, as I want that to be my motivation regarding my God and my family.
As for 99. Let me say aome more. This morning I took my oral meds and after the meeting with the doctor I had a chicken breakfast burrito from Chick-fil-a. At work I had some natural almonds through my shift and lunch was a baked chicken breast and some corn. I had taken no insulin since last night and when I got home I checked my blood sugar level to find it at a very awesome 99!
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
