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Today is moving day. We are relocating to the NorthWest. I have a new job. We are all excited. Really, the biggest challenge so far has been the relocation process such as finding a school, temporary housing, getting your house on the market, among other items. It is also a bit of a challenge to relocate pets. We have decided to go with a ground mover for the pets. It costs more but is far less complex than working through airlines.

The boys are at a young enough age, five and seven, that they should be able to manage the transition well. We are also excited about the school we picked for them.

We do still need to find a church that we like. I am not sure we will ever find another Saint Andrew Christian Church or a Reverend Holly. It is hard to leave such a wonderful place.

Sean

We will be heading back to San Diego for New Years again.  We went last year and had a wonderful time.  We visited LegoLand, the San Diego Zoo, Sea World, and Disney Land.  We enjoyed great food and good weather.  Cannot wait!

Sean

As an addition to book reading for Colm, I have started telling him stories at night. No, not the kind about your neighbors. But actually weaving a folk tale from elements of other stories I have read in Irish or in Scottish Gaelic.

Colm is at an age, where everything is still a wonder. Something I think we all could use now and again. He really relishes the folk tales that I tell him. Sometimes for long stories I split it up.

When growing up, I remember the many stories my grandpa would tell me. Many were funny and amusing, some sad. But they were always something to cherish.

I want Colm to look back on our evenings of story telling as something to cherish as well.

Sean

This is the second boot in a new series from the Commonwealth universe. It reveals more insight into the Void in which the dreams of Edeard and others of the lost city are told. We also learn of the many Commonwealth factions seeking to leverage the encroaching Void towards their own ends. What I like best about this author is the fact there are no clear favorites. Each party in the story have clear definitions and goals. What is right and what is wrong with regards to plans for humanity is open for debate. This sense of openness keeps one riveted to the book. Looking forward to the next!

Sean

This book brings to conclusion the trilogy starting with the Butlerian Jihad. It seeds the foundation of the spacing Guild, mentats, the Bene Gisseret and other elements. It also explains the Harkonnen and Atreides animosity. I found it richly rewarding and felt the story came to a strong end with the Battle of Corrin.

Sean

For those seeking to delve deeper into the history of the vikings as well as to learn more about the culture, you would do quite well with this book by Gwyn Jones. I have always wanted to learn more about the stories of viking expeditions and settlements in ‘Vinland’, Greenland, and Iceland. Further, recent historical fiction works covering Danish settlement and conquest in England by the likes of Bernard Cornwell, further piqued my interest. Be prepared, this book is a scholarly work and not for the faint of heart. But I relished digging into the details.

Sean

As I grow my faith in Christ through scripture and work in our new church, I am constantly reminded of the importance of being earnest in one’s actions. When I enter the church, I cannot leave Sean the Engineer at the entrance but must bring both the disciple of Christ and the questioning Engineer.

There is a concept in Buddhist study known as “Killing the Buddha”. The idea of “killing the Buddha” comes from the Zen sayings of the 9th century Chinese sage, Lin Chi. Contrary to the teachings of other schools of Buddhist thought, Lin Chi advocated questioning the authority of even his own tradition. In addition to his suggestion that Buddhist practitioners “kill the Buddha,” he challenged those who revered the Buddhist scriptures “to burn the sutras.”

In order to fully embrace one’s faith, you must question, challenge both yourself and others, and in so doing open yourself to a hopefully richer and more fulfilling life.

Sean

Planning our next vacation. We had such a blast in San Diego last year over new years we are planning to go back again. The kids love LegoLand too.

Might be fun to spend an extended weekend at Big Cedar Lodge in the Fall as well.

Sean

The Medium – Facebook Exodus – NYTimes.com.

“The more dependent we allow ourselves to become to something like Facebook — and Facebook does everything in its power to make you more dependent — the more Facebook can and does abuse us,” Harmsen explained by indignant e-mail. “It is not ‘your’ Facebook profile. It is Facebook’s profile about you.”

I agree.  I have pretty much stopped using facebook.

Sean

Recently switched to MarsEdit for blogging editor on my Mac. I had been using Blogo, but have felt that Blogo was too unstable. Further, the recent updates to MarsEdit have really impressed me.

Sean