NY'06 Entry #10: You've Got Blog

NYC'06 Entry #1: Early Morning (Opening Thoughts)
NYC'06 Entry #2: Encounter(s) in Stamford (Saturday Review)
NYC'06 Entry #3: The Truth is Served (Sunday Review)
NYC'06 Entry #4: Moments (Monday Review)
NYC'06 Entry #5: Don't Stop Believin' (Tuesday Review)
NYC'06 Entry #6: Popcorn for Jesus (Wednesday Review)
NYC'06 Entry #7: Speechless (Thursday Review)
NYC'06 Entry #8: Crack Pipes, Big Chicks & Cancer (Friday Review)
NYC'06 Entry #9: Manhattan Afternoon (Saturday Review)

Man, it was hard going to work today. It took me a few seconds to remember how many pumps go in a caramel macchiato, or how to ring up a peppermint mocha cream frappuccino... but I finally got back in the swing of things, I guess.

Now comes the hard part. Feeling the fire this week was enormous, but now the challenge is to fuel that fire this week, this month, this year with the Word, prayer and following Christ like never before. Will I do it? I dunno. Will I try? You betcha.

I'd be remiss if I didn't discuss Sunday morning... after all, I promised start to finish coverage, didn't I? Nothing really that special to tell, honestly. I met K-Swiss downstairs for breakfast, costing $11 for essentially a bagel, some toast, some fruit, milk and some apple juice. Coach Tim and Anna Lynn came down a few minutes later, and we ate quietly, not chattering like usual. We were all a little tired, all ready to get going and just worn down.


Myself and Courtney the Stairstep Child... at 15, she actually could be my daughter...

Courtney the Stairstep Child came down to meet us and see us off, which was nice, especialy considering she was the only Trippe to do so. Landon was also there, he was going to lead us to the airport.

We loaded up the vans with our luggage, I climbed in with Gary, my idol, and The Hobbits and Danielsahn, everyone else dispersed into the other vans, and we were on our way. I asked him, "So, whats it really like to be married to Margie Eubanks?" He smiled and said, "Pretty much like you see it. Drama queen."

We returned the vans, said goodbye to Landon, and took the shuttle over to the main terminal at La Guardia. Baggage was checked, everyone went to the gate--well, I didn't at first, because I got pulled out for checking. I'm wearing my Encounter Church shirt, and here's this dude waving a wand and patting me down, saying, "So, you on a mission trip of some kind? I done seen a few of you people with them Encounter shirts on."

Got to the gate, waited, boarded and took off. The only other tidbit worth mentioning was the chick sitting next to me on the plane. Tall black lady, long fingernails, high heels, very thin, a small heart tattoo on her left arm. She sat by the window, and I debated on whether to strike up a conversation with her. She got on her phone immediately, and I heard the words,"Hey (racial n-word)... yeah, we on the plane..." I tuned her out after that. Any thoughts I might have had of getting to know her ended when she pulled out her magazines. When she sat down, I noted that she was carrying a Cosmopoliton. I was reading, and out of the corner of my eyes, I caught something... "was that what I think it was?" I thought. I carefully turned my head ever so slightly to allow my peripheral to double check what I thought I saw. At first, I thought Cosmo had gotten even more adult, but then I quickly realized the female anatomy I just witnessed (but only for a split second, mind you... I'm pretty good at the 'bouncing my eyes' thing) came from a certain men's magazine beginning with the word "play". I wish I was making this up.

Two hours later, the plane touched down at Birmingham's airport, and slowly but surely, everyone got off the flight. I met K-Swiss' dad and brothers, which put a face to her prayer request of her family. And as a testimony to how much everyone was ready to leave, K-Swiss was gone. Coach Tim & Anna Lynn disappeared a few minutes later, with nary a word. Mama Faith and Natedawg were leaving, and Abby Lohan actually spit on my shirt. I felt loved. I grabbed her and licked her forehead. Perhaps Cindy was right about this whole personal space issue. I'll work on that.

Larry Long & Mackey met us with the vans, Paula Mackey and Nicole in tow... so Yours Truly, the Warners, Chucky and Danielsahn and Gary, my idol, Margie and The Hobbits went to the church, then home. And seeing Stephanie gets better every time I'm gone.

By the way, I called Stephanie today and asked her where our copy of You've Got Mail was... and that led to this:
Steph: I don't think we own it
Me: What? How can we not own that movie???
Steph: Well, we had the videotape. I just don't think we ever bought the dvd
Me: Something's not right when Dave and Stephanie Dollar don't own You've Got Mail.


That's right, I've got the You've Got Mail poster on my blog. Cause I'm a sensative man.

So, I went out and bought it, and remembered how much I truly loved this movie. I think I could rank it ahead of Sleepless in Seattle... especially now, since I've been to Cafe Lalo, so the movie holds a place in my heart. I watched it today, and thought how perfect it would be to use quotes from this movie to hand out props and feel goody moments... so away we go:

Joe: The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, non-fat, etc. So people who don't know what the heck they're doing or who on earth they are can, for only $2.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self: Tall. Decaf. Cappuccino
I’m sending this line out to Gary Eubanks, who doesn't really even like coffee, but seemed to somehow get hooked when I gave him the strawberry lemonade. Truly a fun guy just to be around, I can never see him again as only "Margie's Husband". Glad he was there... heck, Gary Eubanks is my idol.

Kathleen: I love daisies
Joe: You told me
Kathleen: They're so friendly. Don't you think daisies are the friendliest flower?
To the friendliest flower on the trip, Anna Lynn gets this line. Its been a joy to watch her mature just a little more from last year to this year, and I hope she comes back next year too.


Abby Lohan and Anna Lynn Swinging at orientation

Joe: Let me ask you something? How come you'll forgive him for standing you up and you won't forgive me for a little tiny thing like putting you out of business?
This one goes to Abby Lohan… yes, yes, I made her life miserable at times, so right here, I ask forgiveness for gleekin on you, and promise never to do it again. How can you not love this girl? Everything about her just exudes "cool", plus, she loves God and can beat most of you in basketball. When she makes it big, consider me a fan. I love you Abby Lohan!

Birdie: You're daring to march into the unknown armed with… nothing. Here, have a sandwich.
This is for Mark Warner, who, at the end of the day put alot of planning into this trip, and pulled it off almost perfectly... of course, like any trip, who knows what God will do. I truly could not ask for a better leader and spiritual role model than Mark. Thanks Marky Mark for letting me a part of your Funky Bunch.


And at the last minute... Marky Mark made the blog!!

Matthew Fox: F-O-X
Kathleen Kelly: That is amazing - you can spell 'fox'? Can you spell 'dog'?
Matthew Fox: F-O-X
This one is a triple send-out, both to The Hobbits and to Danielsahn, for keeping the child-like faith real to us, and for making us laugh. Well, all except Margie, of course.

Kathleen: Forget it. We don't talk about anything personal. We made a rule about that. I don't know his name, what he does or exactly where he lives, so it will be really easy to stop seeing him, because I'm not.
Christina: Kathleen, he could be the next person to talk into the store. He could be... George.
This line goes out to Natedawg, only because he’s the one guy I didn’t get a chance to spend much time with, aside from teaching him the popcorn ropes in Wednesday’s Fall Festival. That's alright though... I can tell he's a good guy. I'm glad you came, bro, and I hope you and I can connect more soon.


Magically, even with small hands, Natedawg can palm a ball.

Person in Theatre: Do you mind?
Frank Navasky: A HOTDOG is singing. You need quiet while a hotdog is singing?
The funniest line about hot dogs in the movie goes to the man with the most hot dog experience, that being Coach Tim. Seriously, watching Coach Tim get fired up because God is moving is enough to fire anyone up. A huge heart, a love of kids, a great family and the dad on the trip. Thanks Coach Tim for being Coach Tim.

Joe: I like Patricia. I love Patricia. Patricia makes COFFEE nervous
Margie Eubanks, sounds like you. I'm hoping that this trip will dispel the notion that I had that, for the first year I knew you, you didn't even like me. Your antics make me laugh, your heart for God makes me joyous and being around you makes me... well, just happy.

Joe Fox: It wasn't... personal.
Kathleen Kelly: What is that supposed to mean? I am so sick of that. All that means is that it wasn't personal to you. But it was personal to me. It's *personal* to a lot of people. And what's so wrong with being personal, anyway?
Joe Fox: Uh, nothing.
Kathleen Kelly: Whatever else anything is, it ought to begin by being personal.
I give this to Mama Faith, who I think is one of the more personable people I've met. A great mom, talking to her really helped me sort out the Julissa Saga, and she washed my shorts, which is no small feat. I hope God spoke to you lots on the trip, and I'm excited I was there for your first one!

Kevin: The electrical contractor called, his truck hit a deer last night, so he's not gonna be here until tomorrow. And the upstairs shelves are delayed because the shipment of pine we ordered has beetles.
Joe: Very good, very good.
Kevin: And we got a $50,000 ticket for construction workers peeing off the roof.
Joe: Great, that is great. Is the electrician here today?
One of the most disturbing thoughts in the movie goes to Cindy Warner, who had one of the more disturbing visuals of the trip. Whereas I felt like I claimed a kid sister on this trip, Cindy is always a big sister to me. She's funny, she's country, she's cute and she threatens to kidnap small children and smuggle them in her suitcase... what more could you want? You're the best, Cindy!

Patricia Eden: When I get out of here, I'm having my eyeballs lasered.
Send this out to Chucky, because I think that by Wednesday, he was kinda looking like he was ready to go home. Danielsahn awoke in a fit of coughing one night, and the next day, Chuck looked weary... and he had a few sniffles and coughs of his own. But, I'm glad he came again... and being his roommate, I can say he didn't snore much, which is good.

Annabelle: What is that?
Kathleen: A handkerchief. Oh my, do children not even know what handkerchiefs are? A handkerchief is a Kleenex you don't throw away.
In this scene, Kathleen is feeling kind of old, because young Annabelle doesn’t even know what a handkerchief is. That’s why I send this line out to G-Ann. During the trip, we found out G-Ann's age... which is crazy, because she looks 10 years younger. Anyway, she was a good sport as J-Bo, K-Swiss and I prodded her all day on Saturday. J-Bo, your mom is awesome, don't forget that. Thanks, Georgia Ann for being... well, a great friend on the trip.


And who could forget our precious J-Bo??

Joe: Kevin, this woman is the most adorable creature I have ever come in contact with. If she turns out to be even as good-looking as a mailbox, I will be crazy not to turn my life upside down and marry her
This whimsical line I thought would be perfect for J-Bo, who is in fact adorable, much better looking than the best mailbox, and though I don’t forsee any marrying happening, I absolutely loved spending time around her. Her mom said to me that J-Bo thought I had forgotten all about her... absolutely not. But I will say that I haven't had much chance to talk to her, so I was pumped that she came to NYC and we got to hang. Loved every minute of it... and thanks for coming with me to Midtown Comics.

And Finally

Joe: Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address. On the other hand, this not knowing has its charms.
To the girl who loves New York as much as I do, this is for K-Swiss herself. We both decided that we aren't even tourists anymore, and we want to seek out the out of the way places next time we come. I don't imagine a time when you and I will get to spend nearly as much time together as we did this past week, but I appreciate you greatly. Thanks for the holy roar, K-Swiss.

And, ladies and gentleman, thats the blog for the Valleydale Church (an sbc fellowship) 2006 New York City mission trip... this blog will continue with a new posting in a few days, very possibly unrelated to New York City, but who knows. Y'all come back now, ya hear?

Thanks--Dave