Jordan Rippy

This morning Kristin’s sister, Natalie, called and asked if she could bring her kids for a visit this weekend. I explained that it was perfect timing because Kristin had been really missing her family, especially her nephew, Parker. So, Natalie and her three kids left Palatka around 1pm and made it here around 4pm…Just in time to surprise Kristin, who made it home from work around 4:45pm.

This evening I cooked up some poppyseed chicken (minus the poppyseeds), green beans, and white rice. It was tastetacular if I do say so myself.

Today was my last day at Cleveland School of Music. I began working at the school in Febuary of 2006. Teaching has been a great experience, but I’m definitely taking a break from it for a while. Reflections on teaching at CSM:

• Teaching is not easy.
• Kids can learn really quick when they want to.
• It is a waste of time and money for a parent to force a child to learn something that they hate.
• Communication is SO important.
• E-Mail is not a good forum for dialogue.
• 30 minutes can be agonizingly long and unbelievably fast all at the same time.
• I’m not good with uniforms.
• Rhythm is the hardest thing to teach.
• Adults often want to know how to play, but they don’t want learn.
• Anyone can learn if they want to.

Going away cake

My guitar studio at CSM

Ever wonder what the “R” in H&R Block stands for?

This is an actual photo taken by yours truly. I was sitting at the light at S.Florida and Beacon, when all of the sudden I realized that the local H&R Block sign said, “We rape your people”. Either this is a prank or H&R Block has engaged in a horrible marketing campaign.

UPDATE: An H&R Block employee informed me that the two-sided sign was supposed to read “We Are Your People”. Apparently a prankster took one of the P’s from the back and there you have it…

Click HERE to see Rosie O’Donnell “playing drums”…Yeah.

Girls and guys have completely different mindsets…Take for example this conversation that Kristin and I had on the way home from work/school yesterday:

Kristin: I don’t even want to go home, ’cause the house is such a wreck.

Jordan: That’s funny I was just thinking, “At least the couch is clear, so we can watch 24.”

UPDATE: The house is clean now.

So, this morning I’m trying to leave the house to get a haircut and this is what I see:

Brighthouse Cable was in the neighborhood checking something on my neighbor’s house. Apparently they chose to park across my driveway. I’ve never seen anything quite like it. The truck was literally completely blocking my driveway…Frustrating.

On Thursday, June 14, my great-grandfather passed away. Raymond Ephrem Rippy was born in Charletson in 1911 and was 96 years old. The last time I saw him in person was three years ago when he spent father’s day with my family in Montgomery, Alabama.

Last summer I was privileged to introduce him to my wife (then fiance), Kristin, through an online web cam. He kept returning to a single question…“How’d you get you such a pretty girl?” PaPa always said that he would live to be 100 years old so that Willard Scott would announce his name on the Today Show. Although he didn’t quite make it to 100, PaPa did make it to the Today Show. On easter Sunday, just two months before he passed away the NBC morning show featured PaPa and his daughter Kai in a special about long distance care-givers.

I am so glad that Kristin and I were able to attend the funeral. His funeral truly felt like a celebration of a life well lived. He was remembered by his friends and family as a man of faith, integrity, patience, and love.

Today Show

Obituary

Online Tributes

Zack’s Post

Wednesday morning me, my sister, and Kristin went to the church where the funeral was held to sound check. On a side note, the church staff was amazing and extremely well prepared for the funeral. When we finished I overheard my dad asking if anyone had a video camera, because they wanted to video the funeral. Apparently my brother forgot to bring his video camera…So, I offered to make a quick run to Wal-Mart and purchase a video camera. At this point, the funeral is supposed to start in about 25 minutes. I ask the sound guy for directions to the nearest Wal-Mart. He says, “It’s kind of far away. You need to get on 240 and head north and then catch I-40 heading west, take the first exit and turn right.” So, I follow his directions only to find out that the Wal-Mart is a little further off of the exit than he said it would be. I run in and buy a video camera and then ask the lady if she knows the quickest way to get back to Butterfield Assembly of God. After all of the twists and turns I was a bit unclear on how to get back. She says, “Oh sure, just take a left out of our parking lot and it will be on the left in about five miles.” That’s right. Five miles. The sound guy sent us in a complete square around Ft. Smith in torrential rain to get to a Wal-Mart that was five miles up the road. At least we made it back in time! After the funeral the whole family had lunch at Ed Walker’s. Ed Walker’s is the home of the five pound hamburger…Five pounds. The food was really good.

Then some of us went across town to my great aunt DoDo’s pie shop. She doesn’t own it any more, but they still use her original recipes and the pies are still amazing.

After the pies, we took Zack, Ashley and Bobby to the airport. We dropped them off and then took Taylor to ride the train. A local park has a pretty cool train that circles the park. My nephew loves trains (understatement) and asked about it all week. We rode it three times. Later that afternoon Kristin and I were delayed out of Ft. Smith. We literally made our connecting flight in Dallas by 60 seconds. At least that’s what the counter lady said. It was crazy.

This week Kristin and I made a very quick trip to Ft. Smith, Arkansas, to be a part of my great grandfather’s funeral. I am really glad that we were able to go. We flew out Tuesday and had to be dressed and ready for the viewing. It was a non-stop two days, but we fit in a lot of great family time. On Monday, I realized that we needed to carry-on everything that we had, so I went out and bought some top-of-the-line luggage from Goodwill. I got a pretty sweet rolling carry-on bag for only $6.00.

The next morning we were on our way. Tuesday we woke up in Lakeland, ate breakfast in Tampa, lunch in Dallas, and dinner in Ft. Smith. On the flight I was reminded of some of the amazing products available only in Sky Mall magazine. Check out this toaster that cooks weenies and buns at the same time!!!

It was a long day. As soon as we arrived in Ft. Smith we went straight to the viewing where we spent about two hours with family and friends. Then we had dinner with the family. Kristin, Ashley, and myself squeezed in a quick late night practice. We were asked to sing “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” at the funeral on Wednesday…We finally got to bed around midnight. I was delighted at the air conditioning in our hotel room…It was freezing!

My good friend, Drew Allen, moved back to Gainesville a week ago. It has been a somber but fitting week. Among other things, Drew introduced me to The Office and Blogging. Kristin and I have since become complete “Office” addicts. We’ve worn out our Blockbuster All-Access by renting the season DVD’s. Over the course of a week we’ve watched season 1 and 2. Every time the theme begins Kristin and I play left-handed air drums in honor of Drew.

This is not the last I will see of Drew, but the Allen-Intake has been significantly reduced…