Roughly $770,000,000,000

I'm not an economist.

I'm not really all that affected right now by the Dow Jones plummet yesterday. I have no credit cards, no car loan, no mortgage, and no stocks.

I have a decent amount of savings, nothing that will keep us going for 10 years, but enough to live on for about a year if we needed to do so.

But I started thinking about this close to $770 billion dollar bailout plan, and how much you could buy for it. Here's some figures I came up with:

- In 2007, the average home price in America was $220,000. With the bailout money, you could by 3,500,000 average price homes.

- The top of the line 2008 Honda Accord, brand new, costs $28,384. That's brand new, no negotiations. You would be able to purchase 27,147,088 top of the line 2008 Honda Accords.

- The average gallon of gas around North Alabama right now is $3.60. It takes 18 gallons to fill up my Accord. That equals $64.80 to fill up my car. Even though I don't, lets say the average person fills their car up once a week (for me its more like once every 2 weeks). That would equal $3369 a year to fill up my car once a week. With the bailout money, I could fill my car up once a week for 228,554,467 years.

- The average cost for milk across the nation is $3.81 a gallon. You could buy 202,099,737,532 gallons.

What other fun numbers can you come up with?

- According to the WFP School Feeding Program, a program that feeds orphans and needy children in Africa, it costs, according to March 2008 prices, $0.25 to feed a child per day. We could feed 308,000,000,000 with the bailout money.

Let's look at this way, as many of you think as well, if I don't pay my bills, I could go to jail. If I don't pay, then I will be punished. This is absolutely ridiculous.

Here's a number for you: I pay right at $3000 to the government every quarter. Why? Because as a minister, I'm technically "Self-employed". You can do the math. $12,000 a year to the federal government for taxes, and that's with all the great benefits we get. Since my wife is self-employed also, we pay close to 40 cents on the dollar to taxes.

Now, i don't like it, but its the law. I pay what the law asks me to pay. However, its hard to make it sometimes when almost HALF of your money goes to pay taxes. There's got to be a better way than what we're doing, especially if my taxes are going to pay for the mistakes of people making millions more dollar a year than I make.

I don't know how I feel about the bailout plan, because of all the mis-directions we're getting on it. How can we trust these guys when they've put us into this position?

Thoughts on the bailout? Thoughts on the fact that they won't meet again until THURSDAY AT NOON??

Introducing Josie "Michael Phelps" Widick

So I'm on the phone with a friend I haven't spoken to in about a year, and Kristen is giving Josie a bath. She yells for me to come into the kitchen, I rush in, and this is what is going on:

5 Years Ago

Five years ago, on a Saturday afternoon, September 13, I was fortunate enough to marry my best friend.

Five years has brought us much joy, happiness, and a new member of the family.

Today, we celebrate five years at one of Kristen's favorite places, the beach. Later today, we'll go and eat some shrimp and walk on the beach, but for now, we're relaxing in the Lighthouse, room 1217, watching the waves, and doing nothing but enjoying each other.

I don't have access to my pictures, so I'll post those later on in the week when I'm back at the office.

Here's to many more anniversaries. I love you, Sticky!

Vacation Time for the Widick's

This will be a lengthy post, so bear with me...

Saturday morning, Kristen, Josie and I left for our first family vacation. Our first stop was from Guntersville to Franklin, TN. We stopped and celebrated a monumental birthday for my mom and Buca di Bepa, an Italian place that has tremendous food. All the family was there, and we were able to sit around one large table with a lazy susan in the middle of it. Its family style food, so we all ordered different things and shared with each other. After that, we went on to Lebanon, TN, to enjoy the afternoon with my family and have cake and ice cream.

Sunday morning, I was able to worship with my family at the Maple Hill church of Christ. Being a minister myself, I don't have many opportunities to worship with my family at their local congregations. It was a wonderful service. They have worship first, which I really enjoyed.

After worship service, Kristen and I left Josie with my parents (this was the first time we left her with anyone) and we went to the Tennessee Titans vs the Jacksonville Jaguars game. It was amazing! I never really did anything like that growing up, and my eyes actually started to tear up when the game started. Here are a few pics from the start of the game:

Here come the Titans!!

Really cool American Flag for the National Anthem sung by Martina McBride

The airforce flew planes over at the end of the national anthem. This was so cool!

We were there amongst the boos for Vince Young, and the cheers for when Kerry Collins came in. Sure, Vince stunk it up, but that's no reason to treat him the way some of the fans were at the game.

After the game, we drove down to Birmingham and stayed with Kristen's aunt and uncle. They grilled out for us, and we had a wonderful time. The next morning, we drove down to Gulf Shores, AL. We're staying here till Monday of next week, spending our FIFTH anniversary at the beach.

Here are some pictures of us and first few days at the beach:

Us after eating at Sea N Suds.

Mommy and Josie at the beach!

Daddy and Josie at the beach

Mommy and Josie at the pool

Daddy and Josie at the pool

Hurricane Ike is supposed to miss us, but it might rain for the next two or three days. We're about to go walk on the beach, and then off to lunch.

**Prayer Request**
We just got word today that Jenny Finley, grandmother of two kids in my youth group, and sweet Christian lady passed away. Miss Jenny was informed she had cancer around Thanksgiving, and the doctors did not give her the best prognosis. She has been a fighter, but more importantly, she has been an example of courage to so many. God bless the Finley family at this time.

259

My weekly Weight Watcher meetings are on Thursday, so my offical technical weigh in is then, however, I just thought I'd report that this morning I'm down to 259, and feeling fine.

Starting weight: 266
Current weight: 259
Total loss so far: 7 pounds

Plus, I'm feeling pretty good. I'm learning what portion control is. Sure, when I was younger I could all I wanted and it would melt off, but now that I'm getting a bit older, the metabolism starts to slow down.

My true test will be vacation on September 8. We'll be at the beach for a week. Here's to a strong week!

A Conversation with an Indian

I despise calling for technical support, customer service, or any other calls like that, especially since none of them speak English.

Today, I called a Linksys support line for troubleshooting with my router. They asked for my telephone number, so they could open up a case number. Here is the conversation with lady technician:

Linksys: Hello. With whom do I have the pleasure of speaking with today?

Me: Yes, my name is Lane.

L: Can you give me your home telephone number so we can open a case for you?

Me: Okay, my number is (changed so I won't get junk calls) 256-682-5710.

L: I'm sorry, can you kindly give me that number again?

Me: Sure, its 256-682-5710

L: I'm sorry, I'm having a hard time understanding your English. Can you please speak clearly and slower so I can understand?

Me: Okay. its 2....5....6....6....8....2....5....7....1....0

L: Hold one moment please

I wait for a while, wondering what is taking so long, and also wondering how she's going to help me if she can't even understand my phone number. About 3 more minutes go by, and then I hear a different voice, this time male.

Linksys: Hello Mr. Lane, I understand that you are not giving your phone number to our technician, we can not help you until you do that.

Me: I gave the lady my number 3 times. She said she couldn't understand me, and then she put me on hold.

Linksys: All right, please hold for moment again (not a mistype, that's how he said it).

I wait for a few more moments. About 5 minutes later:

Linksys: Sir, we will not be able to help you at this time, please call back when you can give us your telephone number. Is there anything else we can help you with today?

Me: (Wanting to throw my phone at the guy, but remembering who I am, and that this isn't that big of a deal...) No thank you, I'll call back later.

Olympic Confusion

I'm more of a fan of the Olympics than I thought I would be. I honestly did not think I would get so into it. Of course, athletes like Michael Phelps has tremendously increased my interests, and the interests of millions of Americans. Enough so, that NBC is concerned their ratings will drop now that the swimming events are over.

Now, there are a lot of Olympic events in which I feel are merited as events: Track and Field (especially the marathon), all the racing events, the wrestling and gymnastics (even with the corrupt point systems they use). I'm amazed at the Diving, and the distance events like the 5000 meter events.

But there is one event, no matter how I look at it, that I can't understand it being an Olympic event, better yet, a sport at all. Now understandably, I'm not a horse lover. I'm not a horse hater either. I'm all for Horse Racing and the jumping events, but please some explain "Dressage" to me, and why its an Olympic event? Turn your volume down (annoying music) and watch the video below, and then weigh in.

The number is 39, no more

So, I took the plunge.

I took the plunge because I've been taking a plunge, daily, for the past 4 years.

If you went back over the writings of these blog pages, you would see at least 6 promises and guarantees to shed the pounds that have hindered me for so long.

But I haven't.

I've consistently stayed at the past year around 255-260 pounds. My scientifically determined healthy weight is 195. I was there 5 years ago. Now, I'm officially at 266, at least according to my official Weight Watchers weigh in last night.

How humiliating is it to get to a point where I have to pay someone to tell me I'm fat? How embarrassing is it to walk into a room where the youngest person by 20 years, and, oh yeah, the only guy? How does it affect one's budget to pay $39 a month to be a part of a group that weighs you in each week?

Turns out, not so much to all of the above. The meeting went well, and I found out what I already knew, I'm too fat and I eat too much.

My daily point allowance is 39. No more than 39 points worth of food can I eat. Let's talk about my bad days in the past and see how many points I would have had:

If I eat a breakfast sandwich from McDonalds: 9 points
If I eat the hash browns: 3 points
If I eat lunch with Jason at Five Guys: (cheeseburger) 13 points
If I eat the fries: 13 points
If I get a candy bar on the way home: 6 points
If I get dinner out with Kristen at the Italian Place in town: (with the bread sticks): 20 points

I'm already at 64 points, and I haven't added an evening snack to the mix. Now, this isn't a typical day, because most of the times, I don't even eat breakfast, and I don't eat lunch with Jason everyday, and we don't eat out every night. However, there are days when this happens in the life of a youth minister.

So here's to Weight Watchers, a program I know works for many, and praying it works for me.

I do get a weekly allowance of 35 extra points, that can be used all at one meal, or over the course of the week.

If I start exercising, I get to add so many points to my daily allowance.

Here goes nothing.

Josie "Cooing"

By the way, we officially moved Josie into her room on Tuesday night. She's been sleeping in her own little bed in our room for the past two and a half months, but now she has officially moved into her own room. We've been told horror stories of parents who waited too long to do this, and the kids would have a horrible transition.

For the past few nights, she has been sleeping wonderfully. She still gets up once a night, but that's to be expected for a while, because she still needs that early 3 am feeding. But we put her down at 8:30 or 9, and she sleeps till 3, and then she sleeps again till about 7.

So here's to the first major transition in her life, hoping it will continue to go smoothly.

The Gold, The Silver, and the Bronze

So Saturday morning, Kristen and I sit down to watch some of the Olympics. After such an AMAZING opening ceremony, I got really stoked about watching some of the events. We watched the US Women's Volleyball team beat China, we watched a game of Handball, which is really cool, and then we watched some of the Men's long distance cycling.

I believe, however, that I was most mesmerized by the Fencing event. I didn't understand a bit of it, but what was so amazing was that all three medals went to the Americans. As I watched the Medal Ceremony, it brought an enormous amount of Patriotism to me. Here I am, almost in tears over an event I know nothing about.

But what's even more amazing than that is that I find myself being extremely proud of anyone who wins a medal at all. Most recently I just saw a Men's Japanese swimmer win gold, and Norway's first swimming medalist ever on the Medal stand. These athletes work so hard to be as perfect as they can be to compete in these games.

It was stated in the opening ceremonies that around 80 of the 205 nations represented have never won a medal at all. The chances of winning a medal are extremely slim. Even though for most a medal is never realized, they strive for it with all their heart. Medals not being won because of a loss by less than .001 of a second. Its truly amazing

If we could learn as Christians from these athletes, I think it would be this: If we just try our hardest to be the best we can be in God's eyes, and do all we can to represent Him and His Kingdom, we have a guarantee of the prize. Why is so many can strive for something that is never guaranteed, but so many never strive for something that is promised?

Once they're in my head....

...they're stuck. The first one is my favorite. How about you?

God bless my family

Recently, I've been reminded how lucky I am.

- I have two very loving parents
- I have two very loving siblings
- I have two very great sibling-in-laws
- I have two very great parent-in-laws
- I have a great sister and brother in law on my wife's side
- I have a wonderful and beautiful daughter
- I have the most amazing wife

On top of this, I have a great extended family, with aunts and uncles on both sides who are all dedicated Christians.

My father and mother are in Cartagena, Columbia visiting with Missionaries. My father will be leading a team on a retreat for their ministry there in Columbia.

My parent-in-laws just returned from a mission trip to Timisoara, Romania.

My father is an elder and minister in the church.

My father in law is a deacon and teacher in the church.

I have a great family. Thank you God for such a great family.

Obama vs The World

I'm growing weary of the political battle already. Just for the record, I am not a McCain supporter or Obama supporter. I am one of those who believe that there is no strong candidate, not even in the independent realm.

However, there is one thing that really bothers me that Obama has said:

A day after Democratic candidate Barack Obama warned that Republican rival John McCain would tell voters “he doesn’t look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills,” McCain’s campaign on Thursday accused Obama of playing racial politics.

Obama “played the race card, and he played it from the bottom of the deck,” McCain campaign manager Rick Davis said in a statement. He called Obama’s remarks “divisive, negative, shameful and wrong.”

Stumping in Missouri, Obama, the first black candidate with a shot at winning the White House, argued Wednesday that President Bush and McCain will resort to scare tactics to maintain their hold on the White House because they have little else to offer voters.

“Nobody thinks that Bush and McCain have a real answer to the challenges we face. So what they’re going to try to do is make you scared of me,” Obama said. “You know, `he’s not patriotic enough, he’s got a funny name,’ you know, `he doesn’t look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills.”‘

Please Obama, don't bring up the race card. Please. In a country already clearly divided, not just between Presidential candidates, but also in democratic nominees, do you really think this is the best thing to do?

Am I mistaken, or is Obama bringing this up, not McCain? I don't think McCain or anyone else for that matter has brought up those points.

The media circus is getting ridiculous. This could be the first president ever decided based upon blatant media bias towards a candidate. No one can deny that Obama has received much more media coverage, whether positive or negative, than McCain.

What I think this particular election is proving: The role of the President is becoming greatly diminished. The judicial system and the legislative system appear to have much more power. When neither candidate is a viable solution, what is one to do?

I know one thing: I DO NOT WANT TO VOTE FOR SOMEONE JUST TO VOTE AGAINST SOMEONE! I think that would be the worst thing I could do. I don't want to settle for the "Lesser of two evils" as so many seem to say they are doing. Both candidates are full of fluff it seems. What is a society supposed to do?

**UPDATE**
People blast Bush for having "diarrhea of the mouth", but what about Obama? Earlier today, he continued some very egotistical remarks by saying:

"I have become a symbol of the possibility of America returning to our best traditions," Obama said, a witness told the Post.

Now seriously, between McCain calling Obama an Elitist running away from his voting record, and now you have Obama being as egotistical as egotistical can be...what are we to do?

Look Who's TWO MONTHS OLD!!!

Somebody's two months old! My how time flies.

Monday Music

Its been a while since I've posted anything that hasn't been about Josie, much less anything at all. I've decided to try to get into more of a routine with my posting, starting out with Monday Music. Recently, I signed up for a free trial of E-Music, which at first I wasn't too sure about. There are a whole lot of Indie label artists on the site, but the more I listen, the more I like. Here's a review of who I downloaded.

1. Old Crow Medicine Show: A unique blend of country and folk music. I know, I said country and folk music. For those of you who know me, I'm not a country and folk kinda guy (barring my country/western phase of 1992). These guys are amazing. Definitely give them a looksie. Also, everyone I know seems to be jumping on their train, so I thought I'd give them a try. Good call Jason, great band.

2. Earlimart: A rock/pop group based out of LA. I don't know too much about them. Their band was named for a town in California called Earlimart. Their sound is not too rock/pop, but just enough. Give their songs a listen.

3. Chris Letcher: What happens when the Beatles go alternative? I believe you get Chris Letcher. A British Invasion guy, his music has a very edgy sound that I can't seem to turn off. Give the song "Deep Frieze" a spin and tell me you don't think of the Beatles.

4. My Morning Jacket: MMJ is a slightly older band, forming around 1998. They've been on Letterman, and featured in the movie "Elizabethtown" They've also played at Bonnaroo for about the past five years or so. An interesting sound, one that is hard to pinpoint exactly. Sometimes they sound like U2, and some songs sound like CCR.

5. Josh Ritter: He calls himself country, but I think he's a bit more like a Simon and Garfunkel sound. He's been around for a while as well. Check out his "The Animal Years" album.

Anyone else heard any new music lately? What else should I be checking out?

Josie at 5 weeks

Here's a quick video I made of Josie

Baby Do's and Baby Don'ts

Baby Do's and Don'ts: A tribute to the first few days of fatherhood
(My favorite is "Waking Baby", what's yours?)

Josie Fun

Me, Josie, and Chloe hangin out on the couch.
Believe it or not, this was just after she rolled over by herself for the first time...at 4 weeks old!!
I turned her over, and she started sucking on my finger!
Somebody's sitting in daddy's chair!

The most amazing thing...

As I am learning day by day, the most precious thing in the world is a child. No matter how old, a child is so priceless. It all makes sense now. The word of God becomes clearer, the sacrifice of Jesus means so much more, and the innocence of a child is something you wish you could bottle up and cherish forever.

Tomorrow, Josie turns one month old. Over the past 30 days, I have grown so much as a person. There is something special about a child. There is something deep down everyday that triggers inside of me: "This is your daughter, God has blessed you with her. Take good care of her."

I know there are many people who struggle and suffer throughout pregnancy, with many losing their children to various reasons. I stumbled across the website "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep", and I realize more than ever how grateful I am to have my darling baby girl Josie. Another Website to check out is the "American Child Photographers Charity Guild"

God, thank you so much for her. She's a gift. She's a joy. God, bless those families who do not get to come home with their children. All over the world, many suffer the loss of a newborn. Give them peace.

Two Weeks Old, No More Sleep

Well, Josie is now two weeks old. Other than the fact she thinks nighttime is playtime, all is well. Of course, we still freak out anytime anything happens that seems even remotely like its not normal, but that's to be expected I'm sure.

It was hard being away last week while I was at camp, but I was able to come home each day and see Kristen and Josie for about an hour each day during rest time. A big thanks goes out to Kristen's mom for staying with her while I was away.

Schedule wise- we're still trying to figure out a pattern for us to get some rest at night. It doesn't help that next week we'll be traveling to Impact at Lipscomb University next week. We're not sure if Kristen and Josie will be staying with me in the dorm, or at my parents house near Nashville. Either way, it'll be another challenging week. After that, however, I don't have anymore big trips planned for the summer.

Here's a few more pics of our little girl:

Josie coming home/ First day at home

Well, its definitely not easier when you come home from the hospital. Josie slept all the way home from Crestwood, and then when we got home, she stayed awake from 10pm till about 6 am. Maybe tonight, she'll be a bit more cooperative. Even if we could lay down and get 2 or 3 hours, that would be great. She just loves to be held.

Here are some more pictures from the hospital and from when she came home.

Grandma Sims holding Josie

My sister, Mary Anne, her husband Kevin, and their kids Faith and John Derrick

Kristen and Josie and I, leaving the hospital to go home!

Chloe, our pug, watching over Josie, or "The thing that makes her really jealous".