Oh she's lookin' all fine!

It was pick-up-my-bike day after work. Of course another hurricane is messing up the weekend. I just wanna turn IKE into BIKE.

I know, that was good.... buh ha ha ha

So Dan and the guys have the bike looking good. Serious. When I started rolling it out to the car I could already tell. They really dug in deep and cleaned and lubed anything moving. New cables, new bar tape, new chain, new back tire and tube. Oh how I wish I would have done this just before MS150. The bike just feels tighter again and I'm a very happy camper. Arkansas Cycle and Fitness... oh yeah buddy, those guys rock!

I hope really bad that when I wake in the morning that the tropical rains haven;t started yet and I can get even just a quick down and back on the river.

Man I'm happy it's Friday evening!

Life is oh so good....with a fine tuned up bike!

The first 5 buck a gallon gas has appeared

The first 5 buck a gallon gas has appeared in Arkansas! The Attorney General is going after them too! Go get 'em Dustin!!!!!

Someone slap those fools!!!!

Serious! Someone has got to slap the snot out of these gas guys! Gas was 3.41 when I left the house and now my daughter called and said it's 3.95.

I heard one story a few minutes ago that there was no gas in Camden last night because everyone was filling up.

Insane what gas guys can do and get away with it.... pure insane... no that would be robbery.

Life is good... well except for gas....sigh....

That's a lot

Just a quick hit. Y'all know that band I saw on MTV that I liked? Tokio Hotel. Will I headed over to Youtube to check out what they were like in concert and the first video up is Monsoon. Cool, so I watched it and while I was watching it a number caught my eye... the number of times the video had been veiwed... over 25 ... that's as in over 25 MILLION!! It has me curious what the most watched video ever is/has been on Youtube.

MS150 photos

Here are a few MS150 photos. Like so many other times I wish I was more like Yale and kept my camera out taking 50 million photos. Maybe that should be my new years resolution.

Chainwheel dude at the rest stop. This guy gave me the big thumbs up as he was driving by when he saw I had made it up the mountain. Thanks Chainwheel dude. The lady is the mom of the girl who spoke at the dinner on Saturday night. Talk about a proud mom!

This was one of the rest stops in the middle of nowhere but the cool thing was was that it was at a Church of Christ. (How many times can yo use was in a single sentence?)

Fast Girls Slow Guys biggest rival! The Megasoreasses.

Rhonda! You are looking at one of the Arkansas State champs!

Ironmaiden, Ironman, and JBar

"Well little mister, I hear you have Ipod contraband!"
Ironmaiden was one of the ride troopers.
She would even yell at the snakes.... "Hey you there... slither back over there and wait for us to ride by. You don't want to hear Geo scream like a little girl do you?"

Thanks to everyone for riding like it hurts for MS.

9.11

It's 9.11 ... there will never be words to express this date. To this day it still is hard to believe.

1,2,3...1,2,3....1,2,3...1,2,3...1,2.3...

Like a bad LSD trip from Dragnet back in the 70's my hearing aid went all ghost-in-machine! Mike and I were loading the desk for the control center and I got really hot and sweaty and no air to dry the sweat like when I'm on the bike. So I think the sweat got into the circuits of the aid. Suddenly it's changing programs from regular to soft to phone (silent without a phone to your ear). It repeating this over and over and over. I tried everything but no luck. Today it seeme fine after it spent the night in the dehumidifier. I stopped by Audio and they gave me the same aid as a loaner and sent ghost-in-machine in for a fixing.

I dropped the bike off to Dan and the gang at the bike shop for a tuning. First thing Eric said was man, you've been riding...need a new back tire. Chain was a tad stretched too so I'll be getting one of those as well. White handlebars will now be back. White is great for pro's who don't have to do anything but get on and ride but for commoners who have to fix their own chain and flats... white bar tape is a pain.

Ya hear Lance is coming out of retirement? There was a collective groan across France. HA!

Tyler Hamilton is doing great with the Rock Racing team this year. Big win! Rashaan is pushing the limits (and pain) in London.

The computer system that drives the media is acting all crashy and isn't coming back to life. I'll get some of the guys who had this job before me to look it over and see if I'm missing something. If not... there will be a new computer up there Sunday but that's not what I want for now.

By the way... I feel asleep during the MTV video awards. Serious... it was boring. Too much of the try to shock you stuff. But I do have to say that ex-American Idol Jordan S. stood up for a good fight. The emcee was poking fun of the Jonas Brothers about their no sex before marriage promise rings. Then Jordan came out to present an award and said that the rings are a good thing and that not everyone wants their boyfriend or girlfriend to be a slut. I know, tacky word to say, but it was a major league hit! Way to go Jordan for standing up for the good in people.

I got to talk to a couple of folks about to get implants. They were in the clinic. Super nice folks. One wanted to know about hearing in public places like church and I told her about my first live public experience was in church the Sunday before Christmas and how I heard people turning the pages in their bibles. A sound I hadn't heard since I was a kid. Yep, this CI continues...still... to amaze me... 9 months later!!

Note to nephew Jim.... hey man, zip your lip and stop bashing our Hogs. (Melissa...stop laughing... ok, go tell Ryan I just said that) On a serious note...Jim, please tell Trae we are so proud of her marathon career! Running in 102 degree heat is endurance of the pro's!

Life is good...seriously, it's just plain all out good!

Whoo Hooo!!

New control center going in for the media team! We got it for the most part set up tonight. I'll go back tomorrow night to do some tweaking! But oh my goodness was it hot up there. I had to drop the air and push the turbo fans to get it cooling down. Should have seen us taking the desk up the stairs. It was like moving in to a 2nd story condo!

Hey, shout out to Rebecca for riding with me for a bit Saturday. Thanks friend! I was able to ask all sorts of trainer type questions while we rode together and she didn't even charge me.

I grabbed a new tune today from a band I saw on MTV last night. Tokio Hotel. Ok, before y'all go bashing me... they have a song called Monsoon that is really good.


Life is good.... but boy am I pooped tonight... good night John boy... good night Mary Ellen...

Awesome weekend! Just awesome!

Woke at 4:30 on Saturday all excited about the MS150 ride. I took my time and that was the problem. I took too much time and got there just early enough to sign, suit up and get to the start line. I'll write more later on the ride. It was a great ride. Slow, steady and got the job done while having fun. One of the best supported if not the best supported rides I've ever been on.

Church today was out of the park! We changed up EVERYTHING! New program, new media look, new order of service, one jam packed service. So full there were folks in the balcony behind the control center where I sit. Hasn't been like that in a long time. Nothing but positive feedback all around. The team just nailed it today!

Changing gears... no hate awright... I'm right now watching the MTV pre-awards show. I watch it just so I know what is going on in the pop culture. Som band called Tokio Hotel came rolling up to the red carpet in a monster truck. Dude looks like someone from Motley Crue. Something tells me the technical part of the shw (which I'm interested in) is going to be the best so far. I heard Pink is going to blo up building and they set some things on fire.

Friday morning quick hit

Take a look at the new South Wing of the hospital! They had ground breaking yesterday. I'm loving the cool waves that run across the top!

It was like Wal-Mart at 6am on the Friday after Thanksgiving

It was like Wal-Mart at 6am on the Friday after Thanksgiving! I kid you not! Seriously!

Someone spotted a spot of sunshine coming through the lobby window and everyone busted down the hall to see it.

Gustav really messed with us huh?

OK, MS150 coming up Saturday. I'm excited to get to see some friends I've not seen in a few. I'll be riding slow but that's fine and dandy with me. I want to enjoy the ride while I look at the horses and smell the country air (except for around the chicken houses). Wonder how many dead snakes there will be? Wonder if I will ride by one that I think is dead and it's not?

I'll be working on Sunday media stuff tonight so I will have a clear calendar for the rest of the weekend. They are starting a new series and changing everything up. Remember a week or so ago how I was on my soapbox abut church? Man was that prayer ever answered! I will be using a lot more art to help folks visualize. The services have also been put in a bowl, stirred up and pored out in a whole new format! No more 3 songs, prayer, song.... I'll have a couple of videos in the mix too. Will I sleep well Saturday night... not at all. Will I drink coffee at 5:30 on Sunday morning... lots with Cinnabon creamer (oh man that is good stuff!). We return to a single service (fall & winter) this week. Can you say packed house?! I love it when everyone's together in one service.

Well time to jump over the pond and listen to whatever Rodney is talking about on the Aussie radio. So fun to listen to but so strange to think he is talking tomorrow morning... yep, it's Friday morning in Perth.

Life is good...really really good now that the rain stopped for a bit. Makes me feel like I need to put an olive branch in my mouth and ride my bike around the neighborhood.

Wednesday afternoon quick hit

Wednesday afternoon quick hit... uh... still pouring down rain. I'm about to call Noah's Boat Depot.

GUSTav get on outta here

This is the scene behind my building today. The wind just ripped more than enough umbrellas. Ok, we actually enjoyed watching some (can you say employees with attitudes?!) folks trying to walk across the parking lot with umbrellas and the wind would just flip them inside out. Most flipped out so hard they would break. The entrance to the hospital was nothing but broken umbrellas. Serious the trash can at the main entrance must have had 20 umbrellas overflowing the trash can.

Well New Orleans survived for the most part and now we are sitting in a swirl of rain and wind. The rain we can handle but when you put the wind and the rain together you get a lot of cranky folks.

The rain is supposed to continue for the next couple of days then the sun will come out and say hello to the humidity! At least the temp will only be 87 for Saturday's MS 150 kick off. If I can just get up the mountain by 2pm then I'll survive. I plan to take it easy until the mountain... then I'll take it even easier so I can climb that bad boy.

My pal Brandon is coming to town for the BDB 100 in a few weeks and I'll be heading to J'Boro where he lives to ride the Better Life Ride. He has a screaming fast new bike so he'll be dropping my butt right out of the cage but that's alright. I am old enough to be his dad. Serious... I'm actually friends with his dad for years but Brandon and I became biking pals. He is married to the sweetest girl, Hannah and has those little guys named Will and Ben. It will be great to catch up with him.

Life is good even in the wind and rain.

Sunday night mind dump

Fun day today. Lots of work and coordinating but was nothing but good. I did the art and songs merge today and so far it was 100% positive. My mind is completely blown over it. When folks told me today and tonight how much they liked it and that I did such a good job I was quick to say it wasn't me. It was a gift given to me. We have an amazing team that work together.

Now the evening service was a riot right up until the start. We were using some different lighting effects tonight during a prayer service. Certain lights were to be left off on purpose to give the auditorium a den or coffeehouse type lighting effect. But different guys would come into the auditorium and do their good deed and flip the other lights on. I would have to run down and turn them back off. It was really funny. We finally stationed a guy by the lights and told him to not let anyone touch the lights.

We put together a Prayers of Confession presentation that was actually only seen by a very few. There was a 2 and a half minute silent prayer time and the lights were shut completely down except for the screen and it was a fade in and fade out of different confession type statements. You only saw it if you weren't with your head bowed and praying and... that was the whole purpose. Folks who didn't feel like they could pray and just sat it the pew in the dark could read different prayers and maybe one had an affect on them. We'll never really know.

I've had several people ask me if we had all of the controls together if I would put together a team to work it. The keep saying stuff like lighting control, visual and audio. AUDIO?! Who would have ever thought they would ask a guy with a CI to handle audio?!

I know I haven't written much about my CI lately but that's because it's just a part of me now like my hearing aid. Both products are amazingly awesome and sure I still pick up a new sound here and there but like I said, it's just part of my everyday life. Hey, I do get to meet the Untiron hearing aid rep in a couple of weeks. That will be exciting for me. Just for, if nothing else, to say thanks for a great product.

Em and I ran down to the folks house today and on the way back we noticed several cars for Louisiana. All the hotels here are sold out and we've spotted more LA cars around town later. New Orleans for those who don't know is 6 hours south of here. I just hope they are spared what happened during hurricane Katrina.

Well, happy Labor day friends!

Always lovin' it!

I set out this morning to jump in a training ride group for our upcoming Big Dam Bridge 100 ( www.bigdambridge.com ). So I got up, ate and had the car all loaded and ready to leave and kes... where are my keys??? I look and I look and I think ugly words and I look... oh there they are... in my jersey pocket ... I have my jersey on. Whadda dork!

Oh crud, it's 7:19 and the ride starts at 7:30. I can do this. No cops hiding on North Hills Blvd on Saturday mornings. But oh no baby, e.v.e.r.y stinking light has to change to red. UGH! Burning tires and pushing the nitrous button I'm screaming at 120 down through the neighborhood. Ok that's a lie, but you get the picture. I want to be there.

Finally, last red light changes to green but wha???? A cop is standing in the road just up ahead. Oh man, a 5K is about to start and they have closed the roads. Nice guy cop allows me to jump the road and into the Alltel Arena parking lot so I can get my bike ready and jump in after the runners pass. Oh crud again! I see them leaving on the other side and down the street. No problems, I'll ride hard and catch up in a moment. runners, runners, more runners. OK I see a break coming up. Wha? Mister slow that pace down you are messing up the break I need to get across. Runner, runners, and more runners. Blocker cop says to me I can jump over as soon as I want. Bikers are gone. That's OK, I will ride a even harder. Runner, runners, and s.t.i.l.l. more runners. When is that break coming?

Break comes and off I go. up to 23mph right off the bat. Not a smart riding thing to do, for me anyway.

I hang a right onto Washington and I don't see them. They can't be that far ahead. I drop to the bars and head down and get it going. Pace is good. Still don't see them. Ugh!

Turn to the farmland road and over the train track that I still have issues with. Ok it's flat and straight and there is no sight of these friends. Oh man this is going to taking some work to get caught up.

I never see them the whole ride. I finally stopped on the way back in at Scott. Out to Keo, looping back to Scott nonstop made this ole boy a bit tired. I shot a lemon flavored gel. Eric from The Ride bike shop in Conway gave me these and they are the bomb!! After about 10 minutes maybe I hop back on the bike and head on back to town. Road a little on the river trail and called it a morning.

I'm keep wondering if that was not the group I was going to ride with that I saw leaving.

Funny story... I accidentally drug some old Go-Go's tunes into my training IPod tunes. I was riding along and their song came on.... I'm out on a country road, no one for miles and I'm laughing myself silly. Just keep your "lips sealed" about this ok?!

Life is good... even when you've got a Go-Go's song stuck in your head.

Sunday

This was so funny but oh boy is someone gonna get in trouble! If you are in central Arkansas and get the Democrat newspaper then go look again at the Wal-Mart insert. Look really close. Did they r.e.a.l.l.y mean to send Arkies an insert that was all LSU team gear? Someone is gonna be in the principals office tomorrow morning. You just don't insert the rivals team game gear into an Razorbacks Sunday paper.

Meanwhile at church today...

E #1: Geo, what do you need?
Geo: Huh?
E: What do you need? Is your computer (at church) what you need?
G: I'm making it work but for what I want to raise the bar to before the next Echo conference. Well, I could use some new equipment.
E: Ok, and this time we're not buying the cheap stuff. You get what you pay for, you know? Start looking and give me your list. OK?
(I'm sleeping right... I'll wake up in a moment and it will be a Commador 64)

E#2: Hey Geo, are you all set up and comfortable?
Geo: Huh? (note to readers... no this isn't a Huh? like my hearing aid and CI are turned down)
E#2: Do you have what you need?
G: You mean the system? One of the other E's already asked me but thanks, I appreciate you!
E#2: No, I mean do you have the set up such as desk and stuff up there?
G: Well, there are some exposed wires and a couple of switch boxes on the floor that guys step on. I need to build a small cover for them.
E#2: Let's get a new control center for you.
(I've gotta really be sleeping huh??? Really!)

I'm looking around for the joke cam. Ok I go to Echo and then I'm asked if I want new equipment. The honest truth, I need new equipment in the control (crows nest) booth bad. The set up goes way back... leave to Beaver back.... but I've made it work for a whole year next month. The system is really about 5 years old.

It's hard to believe I've been doing the media in services for a year next month. It's been a good year. Some services I'd be so wrapped up in the song or message that I'd almost forget to advance. I sat through the transition back in the spring that caused a lot of heartache but turned out to be a blessing after all. Some folks left and others grew stronger.

Our team has built sets that we've never had before. I still love the rock that rolled away from the tomb on Easter. That was the MOST nerve racking service I've ever sat through. It (rock) was bottom heavy to hold it in place and once it started to roll we could only pray (and boy did we ever) that the rock was not going to roll off the stage and take out the whole deaf ministry section of the audience.

I've been asked over and over if I'm recouped from Echo yet. My answer is close to the same each time... I'll never come down off of that trip! It pushed me and pushed hard to make me step out of my comfort zone box and be bold but it couldn't be a "me" media or it doesn't count.

I injected a little into the services today. The Welcome was more of a modern look rather than the usual flower of the week type photo. Those are nice, don't get me wrong, but I've been using that type format since last year. The communion service was actually a motion loop. A cross with moving clouds behind it. Folks loved that one.

Next week is going to be a great service. It will be about prayer and I'm going to do some lighting effects and motion graphics in one part. It will be broken up into different areas of prayer where different folks will get up and pray about a certain thing then in the middle of the service the lights will go down and I will play a mini movie of people praying. It really cool because it's all shot at real modern angles and in black and white. It's different people praying or maybe a shot of their hands and it very subtly fades in and out. This will be a 2.5 minute confession, individual (silent) prayer. Afterwards they were talking about the lights coming back on. I said, no, let's leave them off and have only the light from the song on the screen and have the song be some very personal "is your heart right" type song. Then we'll bring the lights up slowly. The E's loved the idea!!! I was so excited that they are letting my team do this!

It's been a good year in media ministry! It real good year.

This afternoon our small group went to River City to cookout for the homeless. I'm telling you what, American Idol has nothing on some of these ladies and men who are homeless and can sing. They usually have one or two of them sing and it's that soulful bluesy sort of singing that only a black person can do. That's not a racial statement by any means. It's a true statement that means they have a gift from all their pain and suffering. There was a huge crowd that came out today so I was glad we had extra help on hand. I think we get to do it through October. If you've never gone to a homeless shelter and worked a little, try it. It makes you look at things in a whole different light.


Awwright, I'm done yapping....

Life is good!

Saturday quick hit

i.rode
i.rode.long
i.rode.in.the.rain
i.rode.faster.after.the.rain.to.dry.out
i.am.happy

Twitter me and Thanks Mark Batterson!

So I went to Dallas last weekend and everyone is Twittering.... except me. I set up an account while I was there and changed it a couple of times. It's really a lot of fun. So set up a Twitter account and feel free to add me as a "follow on Twitter". It's cobbgeo

I been fighting with myself a lot this week. I really had an awaking in several ways while I was in Dallas. Friday night I spent a lot of time thinking and praying. It was a good thing. A needed thing. I had just spent two days talking God and how to reach people through our gift, which was art. I try so hard to slowly inject a little pop culture if you will into the art I do. I struggle with how do I use my art gift for God and reach the younger set? Everything is entertainment and I know most Church of Christ folks will say, "Well we're not here to entertain." Well, OK... but how are you planning on holding the attention of the upcoming generations? It won't be with the 2 songs, prayer, song, communion, song, sermon, announcement, song, by-by. Well at least not when there's nothing but a song leader not open enough to try new songs because the brethren want the stuff from the 60's. The preacher is telling you that you are going to hell every week or at least threatening. Is there anything to hold your attention? Several weeks ago there was dialog about whether the "c" in Church of Christ was capitalized or not. Honestly, does it matter? Think the big picture..... the person driving down the road who sees your sign could really care less. Serious. They want whats inside the building. They want what's inside the building to be outside the building. They want to be a part of something they are moved by. The "c" doesn't mean a thing to people...really.

I told one of the song leaders I was thinking about putting the songs on art backgrounds such as photos and graphic art to help illustrate the song and to help focus your mind on the meaning of the song rather than looking at the white 4-part-harmony pages. He said, I'm not really into that. Hmmm, might take a little coaching. I might just do it and say sorry later. We know these songs and don't need sheet music... most folks can't read music anyway. They know what the song sounds like and they sing it.

Tonight, I've decided to go in a pit with a lion on a snowy day. (thanks Mark -- this is your fault! HA!)

Protecting Dad

Em: "Dad, I was in an accident but it wasn't my fault!"

Me: You ok?

E; Yea, it was in a parking lot.

M: Ok then we'll talk about it when i get home.

This was the phone call I got when I stopped at my parents house on the way home from Dallas.

Now... here's the what I perceived as a parking lot dent....


Ohhhh the Black Pearl!!! Yes, the passenger window was blown out and the back seat is even bent up. Em had glass all over her and is sore but will be ok. She is just heartbroken. We called the insurance and no rental car until they decide to except the liability. Will probably be a couple days. She will be driving my Explorer and I'll be driving the Yugo or whatever rental car we luck into.

The truck that hit her? Hardly a scratch. Em did say she was nice to the girl because she had been in the same situation, but thank goodness not anywhere nearly as bad, just a few weeks ago.

Tim Stevens, Mattew Turner, and Blue Mesa

Full day here at Echo!

Heard a guy named Jack O'Neil this morning. He was good enough that I bought his CD. Ever heard of Jackopierce? Here's the link http://www.myspace.com/jackopierce

Got to see a side by side demo of the big 3 worship software then got to spend some time with the head of Easy Worship and he showed me a couple of great tricks. Get ready guys, I'm gonna unleash them in a couple of weeks!

This afternoon I got to hear Tim Stevens present how they get their services together. He had lots of great video examples. Man, this guy had my head filling up with great ideas!

Just before dinner we heard from Matthew Paul Turner. Oh man oh man, I haven't laughed that hard in months! He caught the crowd off guard so many times with the wild and funny stories he told.

Dinner was a Blue Mesa buffet. It was great! I ate too much.