2 of My Favorite Things February 25, 2013
Posted by clintcarter in Beets.1 comment so far
2 things are coming to town this week. Not sure how they will play out, but I’m excited about both.
1) A blizzard! I love blizzards. 1 foot of snow. That’s what I’m hoping for.
2) Chick Fil A Opening! A new Chick Fil A is opening a few miles west of our house. You know what that means. Carey and I are hoping to be apart of the first 100 and get free CFA for a year. I’m liking our chances due to the blizzard and cold. We’re going to bundle up with everything we own that’s warm and huddle in a tent for 24 hours. This will be my 4th opening. Never done one in the snow though.
Warm Toes January 15, 2013
Posted by clintcarter in Beets.add a comment
After 3 1/2 years of doing my work in local coffee shops or at a desk in my bedroom, I finally have an office!
This is good news for several reasons:
- It helps me leave work at work. Ministry can be life-consuming. It’s hard to find the line between my job and my life. Having my office at home was not helpful in this regard. Having an office away from home has made it easier for me to leave work at work.
- There are fewer distractions. Working in public spaces made concentrating a challenge. Working at home when the kids were around was near impossible. And working from home when the kids were at school just made me want to “make out” with my wife all the time 🙂 (probably gonna be in trouble if she reads this post).
- But finally, and probably most importantly, my feet stay warm. It’s an understatement to say that our 111 year old house is drafty. Sitting at my desk during the winter months was frigid, even with 2 space heaters going next to me. There are no drafts in my office. We have nice carpet so I can walk around in my socks. It’s very cozy (I tried to think of a more manly word to use than “cozy” but all I could think of was “snug” and I’m not sure that’s a step in the right direction).
- Oh, and all of the walls are wood paneling. So all I’m missing now is a big leather chair, some mahogany cabinets and a smoking jacket – and maybe a moose head.
The Ghosts of Birthdays Past January 8, 2013
Posted by clintcarter in Beets, Friends.add a comment
36 years old. That’s what I am today. 36 years old.
The number itself doesn’t seem right. I’m not denying that I’m 36, nor do I feel that 36 is particularly old.
It seems surreal. Perhaps I just never imagined myself as being 36.
I’ve always enjoyed my birthdays and in recent years birthweeks. Today in particular I’m taking the day off from counting calories. There’s a Mexican dinner and banana pudding with my name on it this evening.
But the part of my birthday I always enjoy most is sharing it with friends. Which is why I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch in the cold today and why I’m looking forward to dinner tonight. Conversations not calories – although if I can get them both at the same time it’s even better 🙂
Facial Hair Guide May 24, 2012
Posted by clintcarter in Beets.add a comment
There is a proliferation of facial hair in our culture. I’m glad somebody finally gave us the key to understanding and navigating these harried times. The Trustworthiness of Beards
They’re getting smarter April 26, 2012
Posted by clintcarter in Beets.2 comments
5 down. At least 3 more to go.
But the squirrels in our back yard are getting smarter. Maybe it was watching their comrades be carried off one by one in the cage, maybe they’ve communicated with each other and decided that they like the taste of lion, whatever the case may be they have brought the fight to us.
Instead of meekly crawling into the trap with the acorns, they have begun to spring the trap, turn it over and spirit away the nuts. Today that ends. I put 3 tent stakes through the floor of the trap so it’s not moving.
I wish I could be out there when they try to tip it over now. I’d say “Did that go the way you thought it would? … Nope.”
You’re Bothering Me April 4, 2012
Posted by clintcarter in Beets, Music.add a comment
Carey and I went furniture shopping last night. First we went to Factory Direct Furniture and then Direct Factory Furniture (I bet they get their shipping swapped all the time). Both of those experience were pleasant. The sales staff was helpful but not obtrusive. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves as we walked around looking at couches and bed frames. We would sit on a couch for a while and talk and then move on to the next one.
Our last stop of the evening was Mathis Brothers Furniture. I do not like the way MB salespeople stalk you. We were greeted at the door and then followed. The salesperson stayed literally 2 steps behind us and felt the need to comment on everything I said to Carey. The shopping experience was no longer fun and I was getting frustrated. But I pushed through it because we wanted to compare prices with the other stores.
At that moment “In the Still of the Night” by Boyz II Men came on the overhead speakers. This has always been one of my favorite songs to sing along with – the bass line is a lot of fun. So I started humming along but the salesperson wouldn’t stop talking. That was the final straw. I stopped humming and kindly told the employee that they were making me uncomfortable and I wished that they would stop following us. After a moment of awkwardness they left and I was able to finish the song and our shopping experience in peace.
Squirrel Trapper April 2, 2012
Posted by clintcarter in Beets.2 comments
There are many things I love about my wife. Too many for me to try to list here. But there is a new side of her that has surfaced over the past week that makes me love her even more.
We’ve had squirrels bedding down in the attic since we moved into our house. Last week Carey put her foot down. She borrowed a squirrel trap from a friend and has methodically been eliminating the critters. So far Carey has trapped 3 squirrels.
She doesn’t actually do the terminating. We have a friend at church who takes care of the dirty business of killing and skinning them (Crosstown people I’ll give you one guess who that is).
If you have extermination needs, look no farther.
Showers of Blessing March 20, 2012
Posted by clintcarter in Beets.add a comment
There are 3 keys to a good shower: 1) temperature, 2) pressure, 3) coverage. There are important secondary factors like space and lighting, but these pale in comparison to the big 3. From my experience most shower heads offer only 2 of the big 3. It’s the rare treat when you find one that scores exceptional marks in all 3 areas.
I was thinking about this today as I was showering. In my home I have 3 showers to choose from. Each one with its own pros and cons. I don’t like showering in the same bathroom all the time. I like to mix it up for different reasons. For instance the shower my kids use offers different varieties of soap and shampoos. I don’t normally get to use Batman Bubblegum Body Wash – I did today.
3 separate showers is actually not the most I’ve ever had at my disposal. While we lived and worked at the Bed and Breakfast I had 5 different shower options to choose from. If you are ever going to the Lindley House and want a recommendation for accommodations based on shower heads, e-mail me for the inside scoop.
Hope you have a great shower today!
Bounty of Riches March 15, 2012
Posted by clintcarter in Beets.add a comment
Carey and I took a road trip to Wichita, Kansas this week hoping to collect a bounty of Chick-Fil-A riches. A new store was opening which means we had a chance to be apart of the First 100 (camping in the parking lot for 24 hours and getting a years worth of free Chick-Fil-A).
We arrived at 5:40 Wednesday morning for the raffle. There were about 150 people present. After waiting in line for an hour BOTH of our numbers were called! With much rejoicing we unpacked our gear from the car and set up our temporary home.
The day was fairly uneventful. This was Carey’s fourth rodeo and my third, as seasoned veterans we knew what to expect. The weather was great – highs in the 70’s, a little windy but never cold. The most difficult part of the experience was smelling the hot doughnuts from the Krispy Kreme store across the street – yet not being able to have any.
After the dance party (of which I was only an observer) and getting to catch up with a friend who lives in Wichita, it was time to watch some Raising Hope on Netflix and head to bed. The highlight of the trip was the futon mattress that I brought to sleep on – it made the concrete much more bearable.
Woke up for the 5:30 a.m. roll call, got our gift certificates, packed up the tent and headed home. But not before stopping to enjoy Krispy Kreme. Made it home by 9:30 a.m. I feel like a zombie today, but there’s a little box full of Chick-Fil-A riches that is now in my possession. I know you’ve seen it before, but here for your enjoyment once again – Tim Hawkins
My life just changed March 7, 2012
Posted by clintcarter in Beets.2 comments
I’m supposed to be writing a sermon right now. However I had to stop because my life just changed.
I just discovered a Chai Latte Frappuccino at Starbucks and I’ll never be the same. I love hot chai; iced chai was okay – but it always ended up being too watery and I felt like I wasn’t getting much because of all the room the ice took up.
This is everything I love about a cold chai with none of the drawbacks. If you want to try one, make sure and ask for an extra pump of chai. I got mine without whip cream, but still the cinnamon on top.
You’re welcome
the things you choose to be 
