This was our first Halloween (All Saints / Reformation Day) in this new neighbourhood. The little boys were excited because of all the house for them to Trick or Treat at. Our old neighbour hood was much smaller and more in the country.

We had a couple of extra kids with us last nigh. We volunteered to keep the two children of some friends so they could attend a party. Lisa and Rhonda took the children trick or treating I stayed here to hand out candy, but Christian did that job for me.

The youngest child soon tired out, and Lisa took her home. I then went with the boys to continue the quest for candy and treats. They had a blast.

This morning we (Lisa, the little boys and our two extras) went to the early (traditional) service at the Lutheran Church. I think that was fitting considering this is Reformation Sunday (the day Martin Luther nailed the 95 Thesis to the church door at Wittenberg, Germany)
If read another of Richard Weaver’s essays titled Lee’s Philosophy. Like the other two articles I found it to be an insightful work. I am still working in Calvin’s Institutes as well. Calvin is amazing and his insights are, at times, tremendous. The more I read him, the more I like him.

I have to leave this evening for rescue training in Beaumont, Tx. I am glad our week long training is so close this year, that way I can still get with the family this week. I will bring Calvin, Weaver and Cicero with me to read. I would really like to get a lot reading done in the Institutes this week.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

Today was a somewhat busy day at work, especially this afternoon. The one big item we had to do was to purge and then line up one of our HDS hydrogen compressors. The whole crew jumped on the job and it and we got it done quick enough.

Christian and Ryan picked me up after work, then we went to pickup some Chinese takeout and came home. Morgan’s "beau," Sean, was at the house when we got here, and we all sat down at the new dinningroom set that Lisa purchased and enjoyed our supper.

The little boy’s were at their Reaux Reaux’s house (Lisa’s sister Rhonda) when I got home, and didn't get home until about 8 pm. My good friend David (Dah-veed), who lives in Grand Coteau called to remind us of the lunar eclipse, which had just started.

I called everyone onto the front porch to see the event. I explained what was happening to the little boys, who were soon bored, because of the eclipses slow progress. I went and got them now and then so they could witness the progress of the event. They were excited each time by the change, but were immediately ready to do other things.

I called them out again after the full eclipse was visible, then we went to their room, prayed, recited the The Apostles Creed, did our kisses and hugs and then they went to bed. I poured myself some bourbon (on ice) grabbed The Southern Essays of Richard M. Weaver and read his essay titled "The Older Religiousness in the South" while sitting alone on the front porch enjoying God’s awesome display in the heavens.

I’ve owned Weaver’s book for a number of years and I am just now reading it. I’m impressed!! This latest article was very good and useful.

It is past my bedtime, so I’m off to bed. 4:45 AM will come quickly and I am behind on my sleep quota for the week.

Dominus Vobiscum,
Kenith

Yesterday was a work in the yard day. I dug up six camellia bushes that were in front of the porch. Gary came over and took them to plant at his house. He did bring a six-pack of Killians. So after we loaded the bushes we sat on the porch and enjoyed a couple of cold beers.

The little boys spotted a racoon climbing in the old oak in the backyard right about their bed time, so we all went outside, me carrying a flash light, and there was the racoon looking down on us. It was not near as excited as the little boys were.

Lisa and Christian came home from the store with a new dinning room set. I started putting it together. MK called while I was working on the table. He had a bottle of wine that needed to be consumed. I told him to come on by. He came over and we had a couple of glasses of Jacob’s Creek Shiraz (2001). It was a good wine. We then went for our walk around the neighbourhood. We talked about a number of issues (political and social) and then had a good time of prayer.

Oh! I also voted absentee yesterday. I will be glad when the election's over.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

Saturday MK and his son, Chester and his son, plus Christian, Ryan and I, all went to the LSU vs. Troy State game in Baton Rouge. We went in two vehicles. There was an accident on the bridge crossing the great Atchafalaya Basin , so we detoured north to highway 190. On the way back south to I-10 MK took a wrong turn and we drove a beautiful scenic route. We saw beautiful ancient cypress, and life oaks. And lots of sugar cane fields. We also passed through the town of Maringuin (Cajun for Mosquito). It was a nice drive. Then we were back on the interstate heading for Baton Rouge and Death Valley.

LSU tried awfully hard to loose the game put managed to pull out a win in the last part of the fourth quarter. The most interesting thing came at the beginning of the game, but it was not on the field but in the air above us. An owl (I think) came over, swooped down and caught something (a moth I think) and then flew off.

We had an uneventful drive home, and arrived here at two in the morning. This morning we got up and ready for church. Morgan spent the night in Longville and went to First Baptist up there. Christian and Ryan went to Bethel (PCA) and Lisa, the Little boys and I visited Trinity Lutheran Church ( Missouri Synod ), which is here in Sulphur. I enjoyed the service, though it was their “contemporary” service. I would like to visit the more traditional service. I would like to experience the traditional worship and liturgy.

I hope to take a nap this afternoon.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

Friday was an ok day for me. I got home from work and went to bed about 6:30 am. Christian woke me at 11:30 am to see the air conditioner repairman. While he was here I called the electric company to try and fix an on going billing error that has come about since our move.
The billing error is fixed, but the AC man said that the problem is with the electrical breaker box and we need an electrician. Ugghh. I think we will see the electrician Monday. Thankfully we have a two units so half the house is cool.

The little boys and I went to the park again today and we raced back home. I did read an essay by Richard Weaver today. The article is “Two Types of American Individualism” and it is in a volume of his essays titled The Southern Essays of Richard M. Weaver . The book is published by Liberty Fund. They put out some GREAT stuff.

I found the article interesting; in it weaver compares the views of John Randolph of Roanoke (a political hero of mine) and Henry David Thoreau , who was a fine writer, but someone whom I dislike him and think little of his views.

This evening Gary and Liz called to see if we would like to go to supper with them. We were able to do so and they picked us up at about 6:45. We went to the local Chili’s Restaurant (love their two for the price of one bar) and ate. We then went dancing for a little while. We were home around 11.

It's way past my bed time.

Dominus Vobiscum,
Kenith

Ps: I'm still making headway in Calvin.

My buddy Seep has just left for home. We've not been able to get together for a while, because of his or my schedule. He got here about 9:30 with a bottle of Beringer Merlot (2000). We opened it; poured a couple of glasses (MK was amazed that I actually had some wine glasses, because I usually serve the wine in jiggers) and sat at the table an discussed our thoughts on Calvin’s Institutes and other theological and other topics. My nephew Ryan joined in the early part of the conversation.

After a few glasses of wine and a good time of conversation we were ready to pray. So we walked a round the neighbourhood. MK lead off in prayer and when he finished I prayed. It was a good time of prayer and praise to our most holy and awesome Lord God.

I am tired. Christian and I spent a good bit of the morning at the Social Security office getting his birth date straight (they have him listed two years older than he is), then I spent most of the rest of the day removing, painting and replacing shutters on the house. Of course we worked on home work (and a little bike riding too).

Coram Deo,
Kenith
Ps. The Merlot is all gone.

My buddy Pete needed to be off for a couple of days of his regular shift, so he and I did a trade. He is working for me tonight and tomorrow night and I will work the first two nights of his shift. So I am home this evening and AWAKE. I slept until after 1 pm so I’m hardly tired yet. So I am going to write a quick note for the blog and then read some in the Institutes.

The little boys and I went to the playground by the house. They played for a while and then they wanted me to spin them on the merry-go-round. "Faster - faster" was the repeated request from them. After a while of this I was ready for a break and sat down near by in the grass. The boys continued on the merry-go-round a bit longer. Then my 8 year old just laid there as the, soon to be 7 year old, pushed.

My 8 year old then got up an walked over toward me. He wasn’t looking very good, and he sat on my lap. We sat there a while then, when he did not start to feel better, I decided we needed to come home. So I put my boy on my back and we walked the two blocks to the house.

He then layed down with his mom for a while, before he lost his lunch. But he did recover quickly after the purge. Then it was time to do our routine of homework, baths and bed.

Deo Vindice,
Kenith

I got off work at six this morning. I had a little task to do when I got home. That took about an hour, then I got ready for bed and crashed in my special room for when I’m on the graveyard shift. It is a very small, very dark, very cold room that I’ve made especially for sleeping when working graveyards. I sleep until about 2:30, then I got up and vegetated around the house for a while.

I did toss a football with my youngest son, before making a quick trip to the Lowes Hardware Store. Then I got ready for work.

Tonight we will be having more gumbo (it’s always better the next day). Mitch brought some smoked deer sausage to add to the pot. We will have a pretty good feast on that later this evening.

C. Cudd cooked some squirrels and sausage in a brown gravy today and brought it out to work. I had a nice serving of that, over some rice earlier this evening. It was very good. I need to get Cudd’s recipe. I’ve cooked my share of squirrel, but it’s never turned out that good.

We are trying to get together to make a squirrel hunt, but it doesn’t look promising for next week. However I’m hoping Christian and I can make a hunt next week. I’m also looking at taking the little boys on a little camping trip next week as well. All depends on my work and the weather.

In my reading I’ve noticed Calvin quotes from or refers to Cicero’s little book De Natura Deorum (On the Nature of the God’s). So I have acquired a copy of it and have started reading that as well as all the other “stuff” that I’m reading.

Gotta go; -- Dominus Vobiscum,
Kenith

Lisa and I had the pleasure of each others company Thursday evening. The two of us went out alone to a local restaurant, where we enjoyed a nice meal and pleasant conversation together. After twenty-one years of marriage I still, very much, enjoy my wife’s company. I think I enjoy her company more now then ever before.

Our night out for fine dining, did through a little kink in our normal routine of home-work and baths for the little boys, but all got done as it was needed.

I did not get much reading done while I was off from work, but I did get some. I am still slowly working my way through Calvin’s Institutes. This is taking even longer than I thought, because he quotes lots of ancient secular and Christian writers, and I go and look them up and read what I can, before returning to Calvin. It is worth the time I am putting into it. I become more impressed with Calvin the more I read him.

I did finish the biography on Thomas Fairfax. It was a good, easy read.

I’m working tonight. Things a pretty quiet here at the refinery. I did bring all fixings for chicken and sausage gumbo tonight. The cool weather has made it down here to the Deep South, and in Cajun Country that usually means gumbo!!!

We all ate our fill and It was very good. (Mitch actually cooked it)

Coram Deo,
Kenith

We are now back on the web at home. We got DSL from BellSouth. When it is up and running it works fine, but for some reason we can’t access the web at times. We will find out why and (hopefully) get it fixed.

Things are going well. My youngest son has finished his reading to me for the day. He finished an A Beka reader yesterday and started on of our McGuffey’s Readers today. Our next to youngest will be finishing his McGuffey’s Reader in the next few days.

I grilled my first brisket two days ago. It was very good. I had to open a bottle of red wine to enjoy with the meat. It was a cabernet sauvignon and accented the meal wonderfully. Neither Lisa or the kids like red wine, so I have had it all to myself. There are benefits to having a family of semi tea-tottlers. (Lisa likes margaritas and some sweet drinks so my stuff is safe).

The first really nice cool front of the fall season came through this morning and it feels so nice outside. I would really like to go squirrel hunting. I hope I can do so next week when I work off of the graveyard shift.

We are still settling in to this new house. I still have lot’s of painting to do, and more light fixtures to change, but we are making headway.

I got a very bad headache while I was watching the presidential debate last night. It was a sinus headache and not caused by the debate (though it could have been). I’m glad the debates are over. I missed most of the first one, caught all of the second one and watched a little more than half of the last one before I went and buried my aching head under a pillow in a very dark room (to help my head).

I don’t think the debates are of much use for someone serious about the truth. They are interesting to hear spin, lies, half truths and rhetoric, but this is not what you depend on if you want to make an informed decision. Sadly though, this is where lots of folks will make their choice from.

I am not a member of either major political party, but at sometime in the past I had belonged to each at one time. I started out, like so many Southerners as a conservative democrat. But I became disillusioned with the Democratic Party very early on. I switched to the Republican Party after acquiring and reading the 1980 Democratic Presidential platform.

What I read in that platform shocked me. It was the platform of fellow Southerner Jimmy Carter and it was liberal to the gills. It had strong socialistic leanings, was pro-abortion and pro-homosexual rights. After I read the platform, I returned it to the co-worker who had loaned it to me. I thanked him and then went to the courthouse and changed party affiliations.

My leaving the Republican Party was not so dramatic. I simply don’t want to be a part of a party that I differ with on so many points. I am far closer to them than I am to the modern Democratic Party, but that is not saying a whole lot.

I have voted for people from both parties (and third parties), even when I belonged to a particular party. I have never voted a "party ticket" and never will. I will vote for the candidate that I think can do the best job no matter which party he/she belongs to, with this exception. I will never again vote for a Democrat to fill an office in Washington D.C.

I can not vote to put even a good democrat in the US House, US Senate or the Presidency. Party politics are too big a deal there and the Dems are too beholding to pro-abort, homosexuals, left-wing demagogic civil rights types (e.g. Jessie Jackson, Al Sharpton, etc...) and other assorted political degenerates.

When it comes to the US Congress or the President, I will be voting Republican (often while holding my nose) or I will vote third party.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

My blogging is still a bit off because I still don’t have internet access at the house. This should be remedied soon. I have subscribed with Bell South for DSL access. I am presently waiting for the DSL set-up to arrive and we will be good to go.

I worked overtime last weekend so I was only off Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday I ran a few errands and did some stuff around the house. Tuesday evening was routine. The little boys and I played with the football, then we did their spelling and reading home work before they took baths.

After their baths it was my turn to read to them, so I read them a chapter from Joanne De Jonge’s wonderful little book My Listening Ear (Discovering the Wonders of God's World). Then I read Hansel and Grettle from a children’s story book. After that we said our prayers. After our regular prayers we always recite either the Lord’s Prayer or the Apostles Creed.

Wednesday the little boys, Christian and I all went to Longville. I brought my mom her birthday present (Thursday was here birthday). We visited in Longville for most of the day. We returned home in the early evening and went about our routine.

Yesterday was a very busy weekday. We had a number of items hit our shift from almost the time we started the shift (6 AM) and stayed very busy most of the day. Lisa picked me up from work. She and Christian went out for a mother/son visit over supper at Outback Steakhouse. The little boys and Morgan were not home. So I stayed home alone and eat a nice salad (with a Killian’s), then I took a long hot bath and relaxed. After the bath I fixed myself a drink (made with moonshine, that I recently acquired, and coke – I can’t even sip the moonshine straight). I then got one of my current books and went to bed.

I am at work tonight on overtime. I have to post from here because we still have not been hooked up to the internet at the new house. That is my fault, I will try to do something about it this week.

So far, here at work, the night has been fairly quiet in my area. I hope that continues for the whole weekend, because I will be out here tomorrow night (on overtime) again, then I should be off work until Thursday morning, when I will start my regular shift.

All the kids seem to like our new house and neighbourhood and things are slowly getting ordered at our new house. It’s been slow getting completely settled there because Lisa fell and hurt her tailbone (and got a black eye) about two weeks ago. She is getting around ok, but she still hurts and there is much that she can not do.

I have met a few of our new neighbours. One neighbour, Jody, works in maintenance out at the plant. I’ve known her for a number of years and she’s a nice lady. I met her husband the other day; and he seems to be an ok guy. Another neighbour, who I have met only once, is an eighth grade history teacher. I love history and hope to talk with him more.

Our next door neighbours to the south (Stan and Beverly) are old friends of our good friends TK and Kelly. They all attended First Baptist Church of Sulphur for many years together. Our neighbours still attend there and Stan teaches Sunday school there and I think he’s a deacon as well. These folks seem to be very nice and I've spoken with them on a number of occasions.

I think Lisa and kid’s are going to go to Morgan’s boyfriend’s church (Sales Street Baptist Church) tomorrow. I hope to wake up in time to make the 1pm service at Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA) here in Sulphur.

I am still reading (slowly) in Calvin’s Institutes and I’m reading his letters as well. I am also making good headway in John Wilson’s biography of Thomas Fairfax (a Puritan general in the English Civil War). I’ve also started reading The Real Lincoln by Thomas DiLorenzo .

Let me get back to work.

Coram Deo,
Kenith