Here is a lovely photo I snapped yesterday of my mother and I before church.

If only we weren’t wearing glasses, there wouldn’t have been such a light radiating from our eyes.

Speaking of light radiating from people’s eyes, it’s incredible to imagine that just 2,000 years ago there was this dude that got nailed to a cross and then a couple days later supernaturally rolled a heavy stone away from his tomb (in front of two Roman soldiers caught napping, no less). The death and resurrection of that man, named Jesus Christ from Nazareth, Israel, saved the world literally and figuratively.

We all celebrated that yesterday at church and it was awesome. They had a bunch of songs, a couple mini-sermons and a guy who made a pretty cool painting of Jesus on the cross while another song was going on. A bunch of people gave their lives to Christ so that was the highlight of the day.

Then after we came home I got a massive headache that is still lingering in the background. Prayers for my health are appreciated.

Well the weekend is upon us, which means I work 11-8 on a gorgeous Saturday. Gorgeous yet cold — I think the high is forecast somewhere in the 50s. It is definitely good to see the weather make a nice rebound after two straight days of rain in which we got 6-9 inches over the span of 36 hours.

What really amazes me about this place (Springfield in general) is the number of people that tried to drive through flooded roads after every single news outlet, radio station and blog in town was screaming for people not to. I don’t know what possesses people to think they can drive through a flooded road, but I can honestly say I have no sympathy for people who get stuck after they’ve been warned. Stupid is as stupid does and KY3 even had a report on Tuesday about a guy who tried driving a minivan through standing water on a road. Got his van up and running again but at what cost? Having his story told for about 200,000 people to potentially see, shake their heads collectively and call the guy “Idiot” all at the same time.

The point being, don’t drive through flooded roads. There, I said it too. Because some roads around here are STILL flooded. Like Hwy 60 in Rogersville.

So how about that NCAA Tournament? After a first day that included Belmont nearly pulling off the upset of Duke, every higher seed in Tampa fell yesterday. Western Kentucky beat Drake on a 3 at the buzzer in OT, San Diego beat UConn on a jumper with 1 second left in OT, Siena pummeled Vanderbilt, and Villanova shocked Clemson. All of the winners I just mentioned were seeded 10 or lower. Thank God for upsets.

Only things I’m not happy about are Oregon squandering a 13-point lead in losing to Mississippi State by 10 (then again I can’t be ultra-disappointed because they would have gotten smashed by Memphis tomorrow), and Gonzaga letting Stephen Curry walk all over them in a 82-76 loss. That leaves Washington State as the sole team I have my wholehearted support behind, and they’re in decent shape if they can play defense like they did against Winthrop in the second half.

Of course, the NCAA Tournament only serves as a foreboding sign that basketball season is almost over. That means, cue up BASEBALL SEASON.

And what a baseball season it is to look forward to. Everyone around here is crazy about the St. Louis Cardinals, but I say Cardinals Shmardinals. Go Seattle Mariners!!! We’ve made a few key additions, especially a couple pitchers (Erik Bedard and Carlos Silva) that should help us at least replicate the 88 wins we had last year. Our only true competition in the AL West will be the Angels because Texas perennially sucks and Oakland is rebuilding. I look forward to taking a trip up to Kansas City in July to watch my Mariners beat up the hapless Royals.

Locally, we have the Springfield Cardinals to cheer on and I like heading out to Hammons Field to catch the games. Top notch ballclub who really do what they can for the fans to keep them interested and involved with the team. In fact they’re hosting the STL Cardinals for a couple exhibition games that have, needless to say, been long sold out. I think I might be headed to a few Springfield games this year — the fan experience for AA Springfield is a lot better than it was for the AAA Beavers when I lived in Portland.

Enough about sports…I’m outta here.

Oh, and one last thing everyone, enough about Vincent David Jericho already. Please.

So by now you Springfield blogger types have undoubtedly heard the audio, read the News-Leader’s editorial, and read all the blogs about local radio show host Vincent David Jericho’s appearance at the town hall meeting on illegal immigration a couple of weeks ago.

I’ve listened to it all, seen it all and I for one think the issue is getting old. I could care less about what Vince did or didn’t say, or what the evening was all about. It’s done and over.

We have a more pressing immigration issue on our hands now. One we cannot ignore. It’s cause for a lot of discrimination in our society and I AM TIRED OF IT, because yes, I am one of these people and I am discriminated against EVERY SINGLE DAY.

I am left-handed. We lefties need to stand up for our place in America, just like every other ethnicity that immigrates to this fine nation. Watch this video.

(There are a couple swears but it’s funny nonetheless.)

Stand up for your rights, left-handed folks.

Okay, so I don’t share an opinion with Desdinova on this one. I love March Madness and everything it brings with it.

Give me wall-to-wall coverage on CBS all day today and tomorrow. I can’t get enough of it. I’ll eat it all up. This only happens two days out of the year so you gotta live it up.

Who can’t say they’re rooting for Oral Roberts, Siena, Portland State (rest in peace, Vikings), Gonzaga or Butler in the tournament? Let the upsets happen!!!

I love March Madness and the camaraderie it brings. Also the historic game-winners, upsets, and sports moments we remember for the rest of our lives. Just go to Youtube and search for “NCAA Tournament” if you want to see some.

Sorry those of you who wanted to see your soaps won’t get that opportunity, for a few days. Remember this only happens once a year so give us sports fanatics our time to shine.

Even if I only say that because I’m 23 years old as well (by a few months), 23 is still a good age and now I have another friend to accompany me in this rather nondescript year in my life.

A friend of mine from my time in Virginia, Melissa Atchley, has turned 23 today and I would like to take an opportunity publicly to wish her a very happy birthday.

Over the years many friendships have come and gone, and my time in Virginia was no different. In fact I have been in touch with only three people from my duration in Newport News, and Melissa is one of them — in fact we communicate on a regular basis.

So here’s to someone who has stuck with me as a friend through three tumultuous years of my life. Iraq, the breakup, etc…she’s been there and I’m thankful for that. (Oh, and it doesn’t hurt that she’s beautiful as well.)

Since I don’t drink I’m lifting up my bottled water as I type this with my left hand. It’s taking me forever so I’ll toast the air right now — there, that was nice.

Happy birthday Mel, enjoy it and go do something FUN. Two more years till your car insurance rates go down. And here’s to hoping two really good things (I think you know what I’m talking about) happen to EACH of us soon.

This is akin to National Signing Day in football. There are three hats sitting on a table for a young man to choose from, to continue his journey from the high school hallways to the hallowed quads of America’s public university system.

It is all quiet on the western front now, as Adam Gillette (remember him from Here’s What’s Brewin’, Transmission 2?) steps up to the table and will choose one of these three hats to wear: The College of William and Mary, University of Chicago, or the University of Michigan.

The crowd holds its breath in silence as he jokingly takes the William and Mary cap and sets it right back down. He does the same with the other two, eliciting some boos and people screaming “just put one of the dang hats on already.”

Oh here we go. Moment of truth. He picks up a hat and puts it on, and it reads…

[Read more]

Jeff over at Ozark Storms has some pretty amazing photos and video from the flood event in Nixa (just about 15 miles east of Republic on Hwy 14). Head on over to his website to check them out…it looks like Nixa got it much worse than Republic did.

This might be my last Rick Astley post, then again it might not considering this one trumps everything else I’ve ever posted about Rickrolling.

At an Eastern Washington University women’s basketball game sometime in the recent past, the PA folks, an Astley impersonator, and even the cheerleaders get involved in a massive Rickroll of the audience. The reactions and the video in general are priceless.

Bonus points for the Scientology/Anonymous raid references.

Rain keeps on coming down today and has made not only made a mess out of the Brewer Compound’s front yard, but has sent a cascade of water down the shoulders of our street and, on a larger scale, has shut down some roads all over the area, like this one…Farm Road 99 just a short drive from Highway ZZ in Republic.

I drove out to take a look at the roads in and around Republic, and while it wasn’t too bad, you can be sure it will get worse overnight. Take a look at some photos I shot today (keep clicking Next to see all the ones from today) in the Republic vicinity.

Check out KSPR for the latest news updates here in Springfield…they’ve done an excellent job staying on top of everything and their coverage has been top notch.

Doesn’t look like my next couple of days off will be anything close to what last week offered in terms of the weather. In fact it’s been raining just about nonstop for about four hours, and our yard is slowly turning into a lake.

Still, this rain doesn’t hold a candle to Oregon or Washington, where it would rain…the old adage I heard someone use up there was “it rains 366 days per year here even in non-leap years.” True dat.

So I guess a little of this rain can’t hurt. And I remember it’s only March and in four months we’ll all be roasting under 100 degree skies and 100 percent relative humidity. I’ll take the rain, kthxbye.

Instead, I’ll be enjoying my top 5 cuts this week, as listed on this week’s edition of the on-again, off-again 54321, where I chronicle my most listened to electronica tracks of the previous week.

Enjoy them with me…