Another list (that I allegedly hate):

» Reading (online): Mars Hill sermon guides for their Sermon on the Mount series

» Reading (offline): "Flickering Pixels: How Technology Shapes Your Faith" by Shane Hipps

» Fixin' to Read (offline): "Messy Faith" by AJ Gregory

» Listening: Catching up on sermons by Greg Boyd and Rob Bell

» Singing Along To: ... a little bit of everything

» Working: See below.

First things first (in this case, I suppose ... second). Last week was a curious tale of a lost weekend. Saturday started off fairly well, but two things happened to throw a monkey wrench into that day. First, I had a massive case of cell phone fail. It seems that G1s get a bit clunky after a year or so of actively confusing the memory indexing. So my phone was stuck in boot mode for most of the time I was supposed to be enjoying the service. So, naturally, what follows made perfectly clear sense: the Loft was graced with the presence of a particularly chatty individual. Maybe it's because I'm just an introvert, but I really do not see how it is humanly possible to talk for two hours straight. Just my opinion, but I think that at some point, it helps to breathe. OK, enough with the ranting.

Due to the phone thing, there's no alarm to wake me up on Sunday. So biology takes over and wakes me up in the early afternoon. So no Sunday services online, no heading to the office to catch up on work. I opt to sulk my worries in a bit of catch-up reading, an ounce or two of work from home, and a relaxing dinner. At this point, I'm finding it much easier to be grateful than I was 24 hours ago.

Now, to add to all of this, the rather simple list from last week - which looked so easy to accomplish - mocks me. There's no mobile site for the blog because by the time I looked at the new code for updating the machine that runs this show, I have to say I wasn't impressed with it. So I'm taking the technologically heretical notion of switching software for the blog. This should mean absolutely nothing to a normal person, but it's enough for me to break out in hives. Short version of this very boring, techie story is that there's no point in going through the hassle of doing a mobile site design for the blog if I switch to the new code since that one comes with a ready-made plug-in for mobile layout. So I'm giving the decision another day or two. For now, though, nothing changes.

In more upbeat news, I've balanced my proverbial checkbook and have nothing but good things to sing about the personal finances this year. What better way to reward that situation than to go shopping for a guitar. I did this last year with some bonus money egging me on. But last year's endeavor was to shop for a starter guitar that would just make practicing a bit easier than my clunky, cheap pawn shop guitar that I really dislike. Bottom line: I can shop around for a better guitar than I could last year and given the options available ... I don't think there's an excuse to talk myself out of one this time around.

Last year, I was pretty finicky about what I wanted: a Kramer Striker 110. It's the mass-produced version of the Eddie Van Halen guitar from the mid-80s. They sell for a reasonable price on eBay, but you have to look long and hard to find one that's been maintained well for 25+ years. Add on the fact that I'm very well skilled at talking myself out of buying things, and you'd find me guitar-less one year later.

This time around, I'm eyeing a Charvel San Dimas model if I can get one for the right price. If not, then there's a few Ibanez and Jackson models that intrigue me. Yes, I'm heavily influenced by the musical culture of the 80s. Such is my cross to bear.

So that's the stuff I'm really excited about this week. With any luck, before the year is out, I'll be adding my "joyful noise" to the blog if I can regain any of my chops. If not ... well, the neighbors will have to tell you all about it ;-)

Elsewhere, reading through Shane Hipp's "Flickering Pixels" is a real treat. I'd recommend it even for someone not interested in how technology and different mediums pertain to faith since much of the book is about how those things impact the broader culture around us as well. Expect an outtake or two, as well as some more extended observations about this book. It's really good stuff. I dived into it at the same time I cracked open my first AJ Gregory book and it now occupies a more focused place on my reading list for the week.

I'm hoping to pick up AJ Gregory again tomorrow and maybe have her two books finished by the end of the week. They're both very accessibly written, quick reads, and incredibly encouraging books. "Messy Faith" might mean more to the female set than the male set, but I don't necessarily consider it to be exclusive to demography. She's definitely coming from a place that a lot of other writers aren't and that makes it a refreshing read.

Alrighty now ... back to work. More this week, hopefully.