Oh yeh ... its warming up in Maine. This winter has been harsh, and today was the warmest day in months. I can't wait to get back out on the road.

I put the battery charger on the V-star today and gave her a crank. She sounded happy for warm weather too. She popped and backfired a few times. But she smoothed out and the pipes were cracklin' in no time.

I actually took a run down the street to go through the gears once or twice. But I have been fighting a nasty cold and didn't want to go far. However, that quick trip really got my blood pumping! I started thinking about some places I would like to go this summer.

I want to make a few more rides for the CMA this season. And one trip I gotta do is up the coast to Bar Harbor and Cadillac Mountain. The last time I was there in my car, I saw a guy riding a new Indian Chief up at the peak. I thought, "THAT"S COOL" ... I gotta do that. So I say, COME ON SUMMER !!!

MI-5 & Ginny

1.  I got my tax refund last week.  Have you filed yet?
Will you get a refund? What are your plans for the
money? Save? Spend? Something you've been wanting
and can now get with the "extra money?
I would love to get money back. Unfortunately, its been 
a few years since that happened. As a 'self-employed' 
pastor, I have to keep all my own records and pay 
"estimated" taxes during the year. As you can imagine,
I usually have to pay more at the end of each year.

2.  Do you do your own taxes or have someone else do them?
A minister's relationship with government is somewhat 
'dicey' since the tax laws change almost every year. I was 
fortunate to meet a retired IRS agent while living in
Northern Virginia. He was a good friend and advised me to 
always use a good accountant who stays current in law. 
I listened ... 

3.  Have you ever been audited?  What was it like?
Nope! ... and now I wonder who is reading this.
 
4.  Did anyone else hear that Seniors will be getting checks
for $250?  I heard it once and then nothing more about it.
Seems only fair since they don't benefit from a reduction in
payroll taxes.  Your thoughts?
Sounds alright to me. There must be a few more billion
lying around somewhere.

5.  Do you wait until April 15 to file if you have to send
a check?  Or do you just want to get it over with?
I usually get the balance I owe before the April deadline.
But I end up mailing my last check on April 14.

Really Mr. IRS man, its ALL LEGAL !

Jim's Five

This 5 is inspired by the fact that I have been able to reunite with many
friends from my past via facebook.  The Friends 5.  If possible answer
these without using immediate family members.

1.  Would you consider yourself a person with a few close friends or many
acquaintance type friends?  Maybe somewhere in between?
I am definitely a person of "many acquaintances". Not necessarily by
choice. I think its somewhat of a job hazard. 

2.  Did you have a best friend growing up?  If you did tell us about them
and what happened to them.  Do you know where they are now etc...
Yes, I did had a best friend - actually two that I would mention. One
was named, Dennis and the other Jeff. We hung out during those
'formidable' years, so we did lots of experimenting and crazy stuff.
But there was a level of dedication to friendship I have not
experienced since. Dennis is still living in the same town and a
manager for the local lumber yard. Jeff however, I have lost track of
him. Last I heard he inherited serious real estate out in the Mid-west,
and moved there to manage his fortunes.

3.  Have you ever been reunited with a friend after not seeing them or
losing track of them for a long time?  If yes tell us about it and if no
tell us about a friend you might like to find.
I looked up that friend, Dennis a few years ago when I was back in
South Florida (where we grew up). It was a bit awkward at first. Our
lives have taken very different tracks since the time we were close,
and that brings a certain level of discomfort. But in some ways it was
like we never parted, and our sense of commitment was just as strong as
ever. 

4.  Best and worse.  Tell us a nice thing a friend once did for you that
you remember and if you have a story of betrayal share that (no names
here).  You can just pick one of these to share if you wish or both.
Best = My friend, Jeff rented a plane (at his cost) and flew Josey and
I to the Bahamas for our honeymoon. 
Worse = A girl I thought I was madly in love with dropped me like a bad 
habit ... and totally unexpected - O-U-C-H !!!

5.  Tell us some friend stories.  Pick a few memorable friend stories from
your past and share.  Maybe a special day or event.  It could even be
something negative that you look back on now and laugh about.
My friend Jeff and I did lots of boating when we were young. Jeff's
first car was a '64 Corvair Van. Once we were trailering my boat home
from a day of skiing. Jeff backed down the boat ramp and we got the
boat on the trailer. He got back in the van to pull the boat out. He revved
it up, popped the clutch, and had it in "reverse". YUP, we had the first
Corvair submarine. We laughed about that for several years after.

Good one, Jim.

Billiam's Five

I'll name five places. You name five things you keep in those places, and
tell something interesting about one of those five things. If you don't
have one of the places, make something up. Simple, huh?

Name five things you keep in your:

1) Glove box
Glasses, chap stick, hairbrush, pen, and paper napkins from every
fast-food place known to man. Ever since we had small children, my
wife has collected paper napkins for emergencies. They came in real
handy when my middle child got car-sick on occasion - or when
somebody had to pick their nose ... HEY, REALITY CHECK!

2) Medicine cabinet
My daily meds, toothpaste, dental floss, Asprin, tweezers.
It seemed whenever I had a splinter (quite often actually) I could not
find any tweezers. And if I did find a pair, they were so bent-up I
couldn't even use them for that purpose. So many years ago I started
hiding some really good tweezers in the medicine cabinet
.
3) Refrigerator
Milk, Diet Pepsi, various cheeses, fruit, and LOTS of veggies.
Josey and I are on another 'health kick'. So we juice for one meal 4-5
times per week. That requires lots of produce.

4) Wallet/purse
Did you say, "murse"?  Um ... OK, I'll talk about
my wallet. Driver's License, kid pictures, several
receipts, tiny notes, and a few pictures
of dead Presidents. Yup, I never carry much cash,
but never leave home without a few bucks.

5) Desk drawer
Assorted pens, storage CDs, portable web cam, old
computer mouse, and all the papers for which I
cannot find a proper place. I consider myself an
orderly person, but sometimes I get overwhelmed. Tax
info and receipts for Self-employment, receipts to be
turned in to the church bookkeeper, household bills,
and the load of stuff I get each Sunday from church
members. OK,maybe I'm not as "orderly" as I SHOULD be !!!
Alright, OK, I admit it ...

Amy's MI-5

Amy writes, Many of you know- I am a NASCAR fan...and this weekend is the Daytona 500!!! During any auto race- NASCAR including- flags of different colors are displayed along a track and mean different things. This MI-5 is based on some of those flags but answers do not have to be race related at all....(I will omit the two most well known flags- the green and the checker).

1. The Black Flag- also known to some as the consultation flag- is waved at a driver for various reasons but means that the driver must pull into the pits. Most of the time the driver is called to the pits to take care of extensive damage on the car or to take care of any penalties that may be incurred. Tell us about a time you had to deal with a penalty of some sort or of a time you had to take a time out to fix something right away.
Once I fell down the stairs in my house. When I noticed my right foot was sort of 'hanging' on the end of my leg, I knew I was about to take some "time out" to fix something. In actuality, I was at the total mercy of someone else to fix something.

2. The Yellow Flag is sometimes called the caution flag. When this flag waves it alerts a driver that there is something wrong on the track and they should slow down and fall in line behind the pace car. Tell us about a time you slowed down your pace.
I moved to Maine! I moved from the Northern Virginia area where almost everyone drove into Washington DC for work. It was the most chaotic place where everyone moves and lives their lives at incredible speed. I like the slower pace of Maine much better.

3. The Blue Flag with Orange Diagonal, known as the courtesy flag is the only "optional" flag in racing. This flag alerts a driver that he (or she) is holding up traffic- specifically the leaders- and that they should be courteous and move over to let the leaders continue to race. While this flag is optional- officials and fellow racers will look down upon anyone who repeatedly ignores it. Tell us about an experience where you let someone take the lead even though you really wanted it or about a time someone gave you the lead in something.
Interesting ... Well, I remember when I first became a 'station officer' in the fire service. I was put in charge of a building, several trucks, and a crew of 5 men ... plus whatever happened to them during emergency situations. It was a pretty heavy responsibility. Probably most stressful was the responsibility I felt for the lives of the men who were in some cases 'risking their lives' for others in need.

4. Red Flag means all activity on the track must come to a stop. This is usually done because of poor weather or a a lot emergency vehicles on the track. Drivers must line up according to position in the designated area (usually on track or in the pits), Crew members are not allowed to work on the cars during this time. Depending on the length or the red flag drivers are often allowed to get out of the car if parked on pit road. Tell us about a time when everything stopped for you.
It seemed the world stopped turning when my father died. Dealing with the death of a parent is disabling because it demands an immediate emotional response. I couldn't do anything but sit down and cry. I was SO red-flagged in life for a time. It was quite literally "THE PITS" for a while there.

5. When the White Flag is thrown during a race, it signals to all drivers that they are entering the last lap of the race. What is something you are almost done with?
I am currently building a bathroom in my house. Can't really say I am "almost done", but the hardest part is over and I feel like I'm on the last lap. The final 'straight-away' is almost in view and the crowd is cheering ... that would be my wife. Can't wait for the 'victory donut' !

Melanie's 5 for the MI

Melanie sez, The basic concept of the idea is to build the story as a group. The only twist is that each of you can only add three words at a time. With a little wit and some creative thinking, you can generate some amazing and hilarious stories.

Start your individual blogs with 5 words.
You may give your story a title to help with a theme if you wish but the beginning of your story must have no more (and no less) than 5 words written by you - The next person to visit your page would then comment by coping & pasting your 5 words & adding their 5 words to help develop the story.

"Space Travel"

Since the beginning of time ... scientists have disagreed as to the origin of the planet Earth. But since Wookies were found the debate has become a bit more controversial. The fiasco of Wookie trials came to a big halt when the mutant judge announced the quite recent discovery of a tiny organism that seemed rather peculiar considering it was deoxyribonucleic in its makeup.

There's a wonderful movement taking place in Christian missions around the world ... its called "church planting". Many don't understand the need for such activity, and some traditionalists see it as some kind of threat to the established church in America.

But I'm really proud - in a positive way (I think) to be associated with mission-minded people who continue to recognize the spiritual needs of all people. I'm speaking of the Maine Baptist Association.

What MeBA is attempting to do is, prioritize in such a way that associated churches make it THEIR priority to reach out to others. It seems SO easy to become ingrown, protective, and self-focused. Yet, its quite obvious that people everywhere are searching for something more than the Country, a political party, or hopes for financial security can offer. And the local church should have something more to offer. 'Church planting' provides a powerful way to do that.

I was very active in Virginia's church-planting movement between 2000 and 2007. It was a great blessing to see lives touched and people changed by the power of God - as we discovered creative ways to 'reach out' and offer Christian love. Now I dream of such things happening in Maine. And I pray that Maine Christians will rise to the occasion.