Looking To The Sky For Answers: An Explanation
The three-part Looking To The Sky For Answers is a true story, it happened to me in 1992. I have considered developing it into a book from time to time (thus the copyright notations on each segment) but lately it's just been sitting around collecting the computerized hard drive equivalent of dust...and I thought that was a waste, especially when thousands of people read IR Haven each month (which is both amazing and an honor).
In my life, I've been through some rough spots and on more than one occasion, I know I could have lost my life. Looking is one of those times. It's worth noting that after I got back from this experience in June 1992, my friendship with Angel (now my wife) really began to bloom. By Fall 1992, she and I would be dating; by Christmas 1992, she would propose to me and I would happily accept; and in March 1995, we would be married. I believe that the Lord or one of His angels spoke to me that day and the Lord spared my life and allowed me to develop this interracial relationship that would so change my life for the better. He blessed me with a real-life Angel and we would be blessed with two wonderful biracial sons.
I wanted to share this story because maybe it can be of help to someone somewhere. If that still, small voice speaks to you, please listen to it. It could save your life, your future -- or even your soul.
At the very least, I hope Looking is interesting reading. Please feel free to make comments and give me feedback about this real-life story.
Make sure to start at Part One; it's a little strange reading it backwards from Part Three. If you don't want to scroll all the way down, you can just click on this link.
Thanks for your time.
Best Wishes,
Allen
Sunday, June 29, 2003
Looking Into The Sky For Answers: Part Three
Copyright (c) 2003 Allen Steadham
My father left Austin at 5:00 a.m. Sunday and, according to him, depended on the 18-wheeler truck speeds as his radar detector because he made it to Fabens by 1:30 p.m. We were delighted to see him but we were soon faced with a new problem: Bill’s 9-piece drum set would not fit into a Honda Accord LX-i hatchback alongside my bass guitar, amplifier, keyboard, keyboard stand and clothes bags. So Bill had to choose between leaving his drums and coming home with us or staying and finding a way to get himself and his drums back to Austin. He chose to stay.
The journey home should have been long but simple. It was early summer in Texas. Armed against the Texas heat with an air-conditioned car, we should have been fine…except we were in Texas. Warnings and jokes about changing Texas weather are based in fact, not fiction.
As we crossed the Texas desert to head back to Central Texas, I noticed the really cool-looking clouds rising like nukes from the surface. There were a lot of them. I think I counted four or six easily, from multiple directions across the landscape, behind us and to each side.
“That one looks like the Enterprise-D,” I said about one cloud. Dad grunted in acknowledgment, probably trying really hard to stay focused on the road.
As the afternoon progressed, the sky wasn’t so cool-looking anymore. It was actually looking dark and rather stormy. The rain started light, followed by distant lightning and thunder. A minute later, sheets of monsoon-like rain were battering the car from multiple directions and the thunder was tremendous. This was too much for Dad’s nerves; he had to pull over. I volunteered to continue the driving.
No sooner had we started driving again when the hail started. We didn’t even know how bad our situation was. Undaunted and refreshed from the good night’s sleep, I increased our speed and drove on. It’s probably a good thing I didn’t know at the time that rain-wrapped tornadoes often mingle with such weather.
By the time we reached Fredericksburg, the rain began to let up. Now it was only a matter of time before we reached Austin. It was midnight before we made it home to crystal clear skies.
The inner voice had been right...and that had gotten me home safely.
We had more guardian angels than we knew.
THE END
Copyright (c) 2003 Allen Steadham
My father left Austin at 5:00 a.m. Sunday and, according to him, depended on the 18-wheeler truck speeds as his radar detector because he made it to Fabens by 1:30 p.m. We were delighted to see him but we were soon faced with a new problem: Bill’s 9-piece drum set would not fit into a Honda Accord LX-i hatchback alongside my bass guitar, amplifier, keyboard, keyboard stand and clothes bags. So Bill had to choose between leaving his drums and coming home with us or staying and finding a way to get himself and his drums back to Austin. He chose to stay.
The journey home should have been long but simple. It was early summer in Texas. Armed against the Texas heat with an air-conditioned car, we should have been fine…except we were in Texas. Warnings and jokes about changing Texas weather are based in fact, not fiction.
As we crossed the Texas desert to head back to Central Texas, I noticed the really cool-looking clouds rising like nukes from the surface. There were a lot of them. I think I counted four or six easily, from multiple directions across the landscape, behind us and to each side.
“That one looks like the Enterprise-D,” I said about one cloud. Dad grunted in acknowledgment, probably trying really hard to stay focused on the road.
As the afternoon progressed, the sky wasn’t so cool-looking anymore. It was actually looking dark and rather stormy. The rain started light, followed by distant lightning and thunder. A minute later, sheets of monsoon-like rain were battering the car from multiple directions and the thunder was tremendous. This was too much for Dad’s nerves; he had to pull over. I volunteered to continue the driving.
No sooner had we started driving again when the hail started. We didn’t even know how bad our situation was. Undaunted and refreshed from the good night’s sleep, I increased our speed and drove on. It’s probably a good thing I didn’t know at the time that rain-wrapped tornadoes often mingle with such weather.
By the time we reached Fredericksburg, the rain began to let up. Now it was only a matter of time before we reached Austin. It was midnight before we made it home to crystal clear skies.
The inner voice had been right...and that had gotten me home safely.
We had more guardian angels than we knew.
THE END
Looking Into The Sky For Answers: Part Two
Copyright (c) 2003 Allen Steadham
It was dark by the time the van from the orphanage arrived. The people who came to our rescue had brought more sophisticated tools and were experienced mechanics that knew this car. They even brought a battery-powered generator and lights. I remember thinking that I didn’t care that none of them spoke English, I was impressed with the way they got down to business with that car! Soon, we would be able to continue on our way home, I thought.
But as time went on, something didn’t feel right. I became antsy and pretty agitated as we got closer and closer to our “freedom.”
You need to call home, an inner voice said to me. You need to put aside your pride and ask your folks for help.
I paced back and forth a while, not wanting to let go of hope. I really wanted to believe that Bill and I could get home on our own.
The voice and the nervousness persisted.
You need to do it. You may not get another chance. You’d better call home now!
Scared by the thoughts, I walked up to one of the gas station pay phones, chucked my pride with a sigh and called my parents collect. My mom answered the phone. I told her what had happened and that I needed help. Clearly startled by the news, she put my dad on the phone for me to repeat my story. While I heard disappointment in his voice, I also heard relief that I had turned to them for help and compassion for my predicament. Dad told me he would come pick us up the next day if we could just get back to the orphanage. I agreed.
I went over to Bill and explained what I had done. I asked him if we could head back to the orphanage and await our pending rescue. Looking back on the situation, I think he was as relieved as I was. Had we had more problems several hundred miles down the road, it’s unlikely the mechanics from Fabens would have come to help us. We committed to the rescue plan instead.
That turned out to be wise, as 30 miles into our return trip, the warning light came back on to let us know the engine was overheating again. Now going on 44 hours without sleep, we stopped the car and took a much-needed nap of about 30 minutes or an hour (I honestly don’t remember which). When we woke up, the overheat light stayed off for about 10 minutes before flaring to life again. Realizing the prospect of another stop-and-go journey, we decided to take our chances and just keep on going.
About 10 miles from the orphanage with the overheat light still glaring at us in neon red, the tailpipe fell down with a thud and began dragging rather noisily on the ground. Please keep in mind that it was welded together and had previously only been held up by chicken wire.
We kept on racing along, sparks flying and engine overheating, even driving across a field to try and knock the tailpipe off (sleep deprivation is the inventor of many odd thought processes). Finally, at 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning, we limped into the orphanage parking area, tailpipe still dragging. We found some empty beds and collapsed.
If only that were the end of the story… (To Be Concluded)
Copyright (c) 2003 Allen Steadham
It was dark by the time the van from the orphanage arrived. The people who came to our rescue had brought more sophisticated tools and were experienced mechanics that knew this car. They even brought a battery-powered generator and lights. I remember thinking that I didn’t care that none of them spoke English, I was impressed with the way they got down to business with that car! Soon, we would be able to continue on our way home, I thought.
But as time went on, something didn’t feel right. I became antsy and pretty agitated as we got closer and closer to our “freedom.”
You need to call home, an inner voice said to me. You need to put aside your pride and ask your folks for help.
I paced back and forth a while, not wanting to let go of hope. I really wanted to believe that Bill and I could get home on our own.
The voice and the nervousness persisted.
You need to do it. You may not get another chance. You’d better call home now!
Scared by the thoughts, I walked up to one of the gas station pay phones, chucked my pride with a sigh and called my parents collect. My mom answered the phone. I told her what had happened and that I needed help. Clearly startled by the news, she put my dad on the phone for me to repeat my story. While I heard disappointment in his voice, I also heard relief that I had turned to them for help and compassion for my predicament. Dad told me he would come pick us up the next day if we could just get back to the orphanage. I agreed.
I went over to Bill and explained what I had done. I asked him if we could head back to the orphanage and await our pending rescue. Looking back on the situation, I think he was as relieved as I was. Had we had more problems several hundred miles down the road, it’s unlikely the mechanics from Fabens would have come to help us. We committed to the rescue plan instead.
That turned out to be wise, as 30 miles into our return trip, the warning light came back on to let us know the engine was overheating again. Now going on 44 hours without sleep, we stopped the car and took a much-needed nap of about 30 minutes or an hour (I honestly don’t remember which). When we woke up, the overheat light stayed off for about 10 minutes before flaring to life again. Realizing the prospect of another stop-and-go journey, we decided to take our chances and just keep on going.
About 10 miles from the orphanage with the overheat light still glaring at us in neon red, the tailpipe fell down with a thud and began dragging rather noisily on the ground. Please keep in mind that it was welded together and had previously only been held up by chicken wire.
We kept on racing along, sparks flying and engine overheating, even driving across a field to try and knock the tailpipe off (sleep deprivation is the inventor of many odd thought processes). Finally, at 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning, we limped into the orphanage parking area, tailpipe still dragging. We found some empty beds and collapsed.
If only that were the end of the story… (To Be Concluded)
Looking Into The Sky For Answers: Part One
Copyright (c) 2003 Allen Steadham
I remember sitting on the trunk of the broken-down, dusty, gold-colored 1977 Oldsmobile LS. It was 1992 and I was in a small town called Sierra Vista, about 100 miles east of El Paso, Texas. Looking up at the beautiful blue sky scant with white clouds, sweating from the June heat, I wondered what I’d done to deserve being stranded at a gas station in the middle of nowhere, 600 miles from my home in Austin. This fine specimen of a car had broken down from multiple problems ranging from a stuck thermostat to a sick engine and my friend Bill, a mechanic in addition to being a great drummer, was doing his best to fix the unfixable. I heard him curse as one of the engine bolts broke on the vehicle we had nicknamed “The Deathmobile.”
Looking up to the sky in utter hopelessness, I thought to myself “Okay, God, I can see you’re trying to get my attention…”
I was a 22-year old electric bass guitarist recently divorced from a four-person rock and blues band called the “Killer Tomatahs.” Having gotten the opportunity of a “make or break” gig in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, we had decidedly broke – and this had broken the band, too. The actual break up happened in a border town called Fabens, Texas, at a little orphanage where Bill had grown up. The generosity of strangers had landed us a vehicle home but no guarantee that said-vehicle would actually survive the trip! One hour into our triumphant voyage home proved that to be the case.
Young and determined to defy the source of engine overheating, Bill and I decided to outwit and outlast the car’s problems…yeah, right! We would drive one mile, the engine would begin to overheat and we would have to turn off the car and wait an hour for it to be drivable again. That became very nerve-wracking after 9 hours, realizing we could have probably walked further in that amount of time. But with hundreds of miles to go and all our band equipment and clothes in the car, walking was not an option.
The generosity of another stranger helped get us to Sierra Vista. A retiree named “Gibby” used his RV to literally push the Oldsmobile 18 miles into that next town. Tired and frustrated as we were, a push was a welcome relief and we were immensely grateful for Gibby’s help. Pleased to be of service, the senior citizen drove his RV onward down Interstate 10. We called him our “guardian angel.”
It was mid-morning on a Saturday. Bill felt confident that he could go to a parts store a block away and pick up a gasket for the thermostat. He felt he could get us up and running in no time. Of course, he didn’t count on the whole town shutting down for a rodeo parade. Two hours later, Bill obtained the magic gasket and placed it where it was needed – until something else broke.
Suddenly, our guardian angel reappeared! Gibby had only left to go buy some tools for us to repair the car. For a brief while, hope soared...until that engine bolt broke. Nearing our level of frustration, Gibby had to move on. He had done all he could. We graciously thanked him for all his help and watched the RV drive off again. If even our angel couldn’t help us, we knew we were in trouble.
Bill called the Fabens orphanage to update them on our predicament and ask for help. More help was coming but it was 100 miles away. So we waited. (To Be Continued)
Copyright (c) 2003 Allen Steadham
I remember sitting on the trunk of the broken-down, dusty, gold-colored 1977 Oldsmobile LS. It was 1992 and I was in a small town called Sierra Vista, about 100 miles east of El Paso, Texas. Looking up at the beautiful blue sky scant with white clouds, sweating from the June heat, I wondered what I’d done to deserve being stranded at a gas station in the middle of nowhere, 600 miles from my home in Austin. This fine specimen of a car had broken down from multiple problems ranging from a stuck thermostat to a sick engine and my friend Bill, a mechanic in addition to being a great drummer, was doing his best to fix the unfixable. I heard him curse as one of the engine bolts broke on the vehicle we had nicknamed “The Deathmobile.”
Looking up to the sky in utter hopelessness, I thought to myself “Okay, God, I can see you’re trying to get my attention…”
I was a 22-year old electric bass guitarist recently divorced from a four-person rock and blues band called the “Killer Tomatahs.” Having gotten the opportunity of a “make or break” gig in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, we had decidedly broke – and this had broken the band, too. The actual break up happened in a border town called Fabens, Texas, at a little orphanage where Bill had grown up. The generosity of strangers had landed us a vehicle home but no guarantee that said-vehicle would actually survive the trip! One hour into our triumphant voyage home proved that to be the case.
Young and determined to defy the source of engine overheating, Bill and I decided to outwit and outlast the car’s problems…yeah, right! We would drive one mile, the engine would begin to overheat and we would have to turn off the car and wait an hour for it to be drivable again. That became very nerve-wracking after 9 hours, realizing we could have probably walked further in that amount of time. But with hundreds of miles to go and all our band equipment and clothes in the car, walking was not an option.
The generosity of another stranger helped get us to Sierra Vista. A retiree named “Gibby” used his RV to literally push the Oldsmobile 18 miles into that next town. Tired and frustrated as we were, a push was a welcome relief and we were immensely grateful for Gibby’s help. Pleased to be of service, the senior citizen drove his RV onward down Interstate 10. We called him our “guardian angel.”
It was mid-morning on a Saturday. Bill felt confident that he could go to a parts store a block away and pick up a gasket for the thermostat. He felt he could get us up and running in no time. Of course, he didn’t count on the whole town shutting down for a rodeo parade. Two hours later, Bill obtained the magic gasket and placed it where it was needed – until something else broke.
Suddenly, our guardian angel reappeared! Gibby had only left to go buy some tools for us to repair the car. For a brief while, hope soared...until that engine bolt broke. Nearing our level of frustration, Gibby had to move on. He had done all he could. We graciously thanked him for all his help and watched the RV drive off again. If even our angel couldn’t help us, we knew we were in trouble.
Bill called the Fabens orphanage to update them on our predicament and ask for help. More help was coming but it was 100 miles away. So we waited. (To Be Continued)
Sunday, June 22, 2003
A Few Updates 
You've probably noticed the new updates to IR Haven by now. I recently added the Amber Alert banner because I think it's a tremendously valuable tool that helps save lives. If you have a website, please add the banner to your site by going to http://www.codeamber.org and follow the directions for adding the banner to your site.
In addition to the alerts, I have added new ways for you to interact with me through Instant Messenger (IM) software. I have added interfaces for ICQ and Yahoo! Messenger. At any given time, especially in the evenings, I will be on one of those IMs. And if I'm not online, send me a shout (leave me a message) anyway, I love hearing from you!
Today started early for me and my family, as First Light was the praise band at church today. We played a total of five songs today and the entire service was wonderful! Our church has two missionary groups on the field in Belize and Guatemala, Central America. Our pastor and a number of laymembers and officers have gone to support our sister churches in those countries and to witness Christ to the peoples of those countries. We are blessed to have quite a few Spanish-speaking missionaries.
I've been wanting to convey more of my feelings concerning my faith and what I believe but I've been waiting for the right time and the right words. For now, I will leave you with these:
Romans 13: 8 - 14 (King James Version)
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Have a great day!
Best Wishes,
Allen
You've probably noticed the new updates to IR Haven by now. I recently added the Amber Alert banner because I think it's a tremendously valuable tool that helps save lives. If you have a website, please add the banner to your site by going to http://www.codeamber.org and follow the directions for adding the banner to your site.
In addition to the alerts, I have added new ways for you to interact with me through Instant Messenger (IM) software. I have added interfaces for ICQ and Yahoo! Messenger. At any given time, especially in the evenings, I will be on one of those IMs. And if I'm not online, send me a shout (leave me a message) anyway, I love hearing from you!
Today started early for me and my family, as First Light was the praise band at church today. We played a total of five songs today and the entire service was wonderful! Our church has two missionary groups on the field in Belize and Guatemala, Central America. Our pastor and a number of laymembers and officers have gone to support our sister churches in those countries and to witness Christ to the peoples of those countries. We are blessed to have quite a few Spanish-speaking missionaries.
I've been wanting to convey more of my feelings concerning my faith and what I believe but I've been waiting for the right time and the right words. For now, I will leave you with these:
Romans 13: 8 - 14 (King James Version)
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Have a great day!
Best Wishes,
Allen
Saturday, May 31, 2003
It's A 
World!
I was watching Nightline last night (well, it was interesting for a change!) about the "modernization" of climbing Mt. Everest. The son of the man who first climbed Everest 50 years ago called his father from the peak using a cell phone while being taped for a National Geographic documentary. And I started thinking, y'know, we are more technology and internet-connected, driven and dependent than any other time in history -- and yet, the internet was virtually unknown in 1994, less than 10 years ago. I can remember enjoying text-based bulletin boards in 1989 and we are WAY more advanced than that now-!
If I want to check the weather while online, I can activate Weatherbug or go to a local news website. If I need to contact an associate in another country, I e-mail or look them up on an instant messenger and chat "live." I don't even need local or cable television for my news anymore, I can catch it live from the internet.
I have been getting more (non-spam) e-mails than phone calls for years!
And we also have online communities -- like this blog -- to allow us to meet and learn about complete strangers...then lo and behold, before too long, they're our friends! Wild, huh?
Gotta run now, I'll post again soon.
Best Wishes,
Allen
World!I was watching Nightline last night (well, it was interesting for a change!) about the "modernization" of climbing Mt. Everest. The son of the man who first climbed Everest 50 years ago called his father from the peak using a cell phone while being taped for a National Geographic documentary. And I started thinking, y'know, we are more technology and internet-connected, driven and dependent than any other time in history -- and yet, the internet was virtually unknown in 1994, less than 10 years ago. I can remember enjoying text-based bulletin boards in 1989 and we are WAY more advanced than that now-!
If I want to check the weather while online, I can activate Weatherbug or go to a local news website. If I need to contact an associate in another country, I e-mail or look them up on an instant messenger and chat "live." I don't even need local or cable television for my news anymore, I can catch it live from the internet.
I have been getting more (non-spam) e-mails than phone calls for years!
And we also have online communities -- like this blog -- to allow us to meet and learn about complete strangers...then lo and behold, before too long, they're our friends! Wild, huh?
Gotta run now, I'll post again soon.
Best Wishes,
Allen
Wednesday, May 28, 2003
Thursday, May 22, 2003
Tribute To My Dad
My father, Joe Steadham, died of cancer on May 20, 1997, five days before his 56th birthday. The threat of colon cancer had already appeared once in his life, had gone into remission for ten years and then came back with a vengeance around 1995. This week marks the sixth anniversary of his death. I don't mean to be dark or macabre; in fact, it is my intention to honor my father and his life with this entry.
My father was a huge impact on my life. He taught me responsibility, dignity, humility, friendliness and a lot about how to be a father. My father was a people person. He made trips to the grocery story -- almost daily -- just to converse with people at the store...and get one or two items. He was deeply respected by his co-workers at the Texas Department of Health, where he worked for 32 years (almost as long as he was married to my mother, which was 33 years)...a fact that was shown when over 300 of them paid their last respects at his funeral.
But perhaps the most important thing my father ever taught me was not something he told me, it was what he didn't tell me. He never discouraged me from making friends of different nationalities, he never encouraged me to think or believe in a racist manner. And when I began dating interracially in the years before I got married, he would take the time and make the effort to get to know the women I was dating.
I'll be honest, my father and I had some issues to deal with when it came to my entering into an interracial marriage but once my (biracial) son Adam was born in October 1995, things began to change. My father was given a six-month prognosis in 1995 but he lived an additional two years after that, sharing the first two years of my son's life. I truly believe that my father's love of my son is what kept him going for so long. My mother was so moved by my father's love for Adam that she had a picture of the two of them buried with my father (see picture below).
During the last weeks of my father's life, I had many opportunities to talk with him and we both had a chance to make our peace with each other over past hurts and misunderstandings. I have since learned how rare an opportunity -- what a gift -- that was.
I loved my father and I know he loved me. I hope I can be that kind of father to my two sons.
I know that the Lord has blessed me to have a wonderful wife and family and I feel honored to live this life with them -- and you!
Thanks for sharing this experience with me.
Sincerely,
Allen
My father, Joe Steadham, died of cancer on May 20, 1997, five days before his 56th birthday. The threat of colon cancer had already appeared once in his life, had gone into remission for ten years and then came back with a vengeance around 1995. This week marks the sixth anniversary of his death. I don't mean to be dark or macabre; in fact, it is my intention to honor my father and his life with this entry.
My father was a huge impact on my life. He taught me responsibility, dignity, humility, friendliness and a lot about how to be a father. My father was a people person. He made trips to the grocery story -- almost daily -- just to converse with people at the store...and get one or two items. He was deeply respected by his co-workers at the Texas Department of Health, where he worked for 32 years (almost as long as he was married to my mother, which was 33 years)...a fact that was shown when over 300 of them paid their last respects at his funeral.
But perhaps the most important thing my father ever taught me was not something he told me, it was what he didn't tell me. He never discouraged me from making friends of different nationalities, he never encouraged me to think or believe in a racist manner. And when I began dating interracially in the years before I got married, he would take the time and make the effort to get to know the women I was dating.
I'll be honest, my father and I had some issues to deal with when it came to my entering into an interracial marriage but once my (biracial) son Adam was born in October 1995, things began to change. My father was given a six-month prognosis in 1995 but he lived an additional two years after that, sharing the first two years of my son's life. I truly believe that my father's love of my son is what kept him going for so long. My mother was so moved by my father's love for Adam that she had a picture of the two of them buried with my father (see picture below).
During the last weeks of my father's life, I had many opportunities to talk with him and we both had a chance to make our peace with each other over past hurts and misunderstandings. I have since learned how rare an opportunity -- what a gift -- that was.
I loved my father and I know he loved me. I hope I can be that kind of father to my two sons.
I know that the Lord has blessed me to have a wonderful wife and family and I feel honored to live this life with them -- and you!
Thanks for sharing this experience with me.
Sincerely,
Allen
Friday, April 25, 2003
Ah, It's Friday...
First, let me announce that we got our van back last Thursday. I was glad for that, even though the PT Cruiser was pretty nice (as was having a CD stereo system in the car).
The musical drama A Crown Of Thorns went extremely well last Sunday. We had a good turnout, the program had a good pace and transitioned very smoothly between scenes and songs. One of the elements I like about our church and about this musical drama is that the makeup of the people is interracial and international. We have many IR couples in our nondenominational church and many biracial and multiracial children, young people and adults. The Bible says that God is no respecter of persons and Jesus told his disciples to preach the gospel of peace to all nations. We practice that in our everyday lives, although it took the Lord changing us to make that possible for a group of over 300 people of all ages and all nations. God gets all the glory for that because people have a hard time doing that on their own.
It's been a good week so far. Tomorrow will mark the Fifth Annual International Size Acceptance Day (ISA Day). I'm pleased to announce that Austin Mayor Gus Garcia granted my request to have Saturday April 26, 2003 proclaimed "International Size Acceptance Day" for the City of Austin, Texas. ISAA began ISA Day in 1998 as a way to bring attention to size- and self-esteem-related matters and more recently, ISAA's Respect Fitness Health Initiative.
You can view the proclamation here
I also had the pleasure of being interviewed by USA Today and the San Antonio Express-News. I don't know when the USA Today story will be printed/go online but the SA Express-News story will see print tomorrow. If I can find it online, I'll relay a link in my next blog.
That's all for now. See you soon!
Best Wishes,
Allen
First, let me announce that we got our van back last Thursday. I was glad for that, even though the PT Cruiser was pretty nice (as was having a CD stereo system in the car).
The musical drama A Crown Of Thorns went extremely well last Sunday. We had a good turnout, the program had a good pace and transitioned very smoothly between scenes and songs. One of the elements I like about our church and about this musical drama is that the makeup of the people is interracial and international. We have many IR couples in our nondenominational church and many biracial and multiracial children, young people and adults. The Bible says that God is no respecter of persons and Jesus told his disciples to preach the gospel of peace to all nations. We practice that in our everyday lives, although it took the Lord changing us to make that possible for a group of over 300 people of all ages and all nations. God gets all the glory for that because people have a hard time doing that on their own.
It's been a good week so far. Tomorrow will mark the Fifth Annual International Size Acceptance Day (ISA Day). I'm pleased to announce that Austin Mayor Gus Garcia granted my request to have Saturday April 26, 2003 proclaimed "International Size Acceptance Day" for the City of Austin, Texas. ISAA began ISA Day in 1998 as a way to bring attention to size- and self-esteem-related matters and more recently, ISAA's Respect Fitness Health Initiative.
You can view the proclamation here
I also had the pleasure of being interviewed by USA Today and the San Antonio Express-News. I don't know when the USA Today story will be printed/go online but the SA Express-News story will see print tomorrow. If I can find it online, I'll relay a link in my next blog.
That's all for now. See you soon!
Best Wishes,
Allen
Thursday, April 17, 2003
More Updates
Okay, so I rescheduled Entitled 2003 to the fall of this year, for numerous reasons (the war's impact on travel and planning being a huge factor) -- so now all I'm really concentrating on is Easter 2003. And actually, that's quite enough as I'm playing electric bass guitar for my church's Easter Drama/Musical this Sunday. The drama/musical is called A Crown Of Thorns. My wife, Angel, will be performing in the musical as well, as part of the orchestral ensemble. So we've had a lot of rehearsals in the last couple of months.
Click here to listen to one of the songs from "A Crown Of Thorns" called "Praise Ye The Lord"
"Praise Ye The Lord" is in Windows Media Audio (WMA) format. If you need a copy of Windows Media Player (also available for Mac), click here. It was recorded live and is not quite CD-quality but should give you a good idea how the song goes (and yes, I play bass on it)...
If you're in the Austin/Manor, Texas area and would like to come to "A Crown Of Thorns," it's this Sunday at Manor High School Auditorium in Manor, Texas. Admission is free and you can e-mail me for directions if you are interested in attending.
We (my wife and I) hit an interesting snag last week when our van started having radiator problems, so I took the van to the dealership. Of course, there were complications and delays and cost add-ons (I have learned my lesson about dealerships now). Bottom line: we are still waiting on the final repairs and the return of our vehicle (I took it in almost a week ago) BUT there was one silver lining to an otherwise frustrating cloud...we got a loaner of a 2002 black PT Cruiser! (which looks almost identical to the pic below)
We will probably be informed that our van is fixed by the end of today or tomorrow but in the meantime, the `cruiser is fine with us...although it's not well-suited for transporting a bass guitar and amplifier.
Why do people stare at PT Cruisers so much? Sure, they're unique-looking enough but they've been around for a couple of years now! I see plenty of them on the road but it seems like everyone has to stare when we park or are waiting at a traffic light. Do you think no one's ever seen an IR couple and their kids in a PT Cruiser before? In a way, it's funny because no one's said anything rude...they just stare like they've never seen one of these before. Go fig?
Anyway, I'll write again soon. Bye for now!
Best Wishes,
Allen
Okay, so I rescheduled Entitled 2003 to the fall of this year, for numerous reasons (the war's impact on travel and planning being a huge factor) -- so now all I'm really concentrating on is Easter 2003. And actually, that's quite enough as I'm playing electric bass guitar for my church's Easter Drama/Musical this Sunday. The drama/musical is called A Crown Of Thorns. My wife, Angel, will be performing in the musical as well, as part of the orchestral ensemble. So we've had a lot of rehearsals in the last couple of months.
Click here to listen to one of the songs from "A Crown Of Thorns" called "Praise Ye The Lord"
"Praise Ye The Lord" is in Windows Media Audio (WMA) format. If you need a copy of Windows Media Player (also available for Mac), click here. It was recorded live and is not quite CD-quality but should give you a good idea how the song goes (and yes, I play bass on it)...
If you're in the Austin/Manor, Texas area and would like to come to "A Crown Of Thorns," it's this Sunday at Manor High School Auditorium in Manor, Texas. Admission is free and you can e-mail me for directions if you are interested in attending.
We (my wife and I) hit an interesting snag last week when our van started having radiator problems, so I took the van to the dealership. Of course, there were complications and delays and cost add-ons (I have learned my lesson about dealerships now). Bottom line: we are still waiting on the final repairs and the return of our vehicle (I took it in almost a week ago) BUT there was one silver lining to an otherwise frustrating cloud...we got a loaner of a 2002 black PT Cruiser! (which looks almost identical to the pic below)
We will probably be informed that our van is fixed by the end of today or tomorrow but in the meantime, the `cruiser is fine with us...although it's not well-suited for transporting a bass guitar and amplifier.
Why do people stare at PT Cruisers so much? Sure, they're unique-looking enough but they've been around for a couple of years now! I see plenty of them on the road but it seems like everyone has to stare when we park or are waiting at a traffic light. Do you think no one's ever seen an IR couple and their kids in a PT Cruiser before? In a way, it's funny because no one's said anything rude...they just stare like they've never seen one of these before. Go fig?
Anyway, I'll write again soon. Bye for now!
Best Wishes,
Allen
Monday, March 31, 2003
GOT COOKIE?
Last week, I was in a baking mood, for some reason. The results turned out rather spectacular, so I thought I'd share them with you.
The first is my SUPER-Cookie, which is a combination of traditional chocolate chip and butterscotch chips. A YUMMY one-two that I highly recommend! By the way, that's Pampered Chef stoneware I cooked it on (completely covered by the cookie). After it cooled, I added blue icing and sliced it up into squares.
That night, I also made banana-raspberry pancakes -- also delicious!
I'll blog again soon, more stuff is pending.
Best Wishes,
Allen
Last week, I was in a baking mood, for some reason. The results turned out rather spectacular, so I thought I'd share them with you.
The first is my SUPER-Cookie, which is a combination of traditional chocolate chip and butterscotch chips. A YUMMY one-two that I highly recommend! By the way, that's Pampered Chef stoneware I cooked it on (completely covered by the cookie). After it cooled, I added blue icing and sliced it up into squares.
That night, I also made banana-raspberry pancakes -- also delicious!
I'll blog again soon, more stuff is pending.
Best Wishes,
Allen
Thursday, March 20, 2003
I apologize for the long break since my last blog
It's been quite a month! I've been extremely busy preparing for Entitled 2003, my size acceptance organization's first Austin, Texas convention. I mean, it can be kind of overwhelming sometimes when you think about the concept of organizing not only a convention but also a film premiere, plus-size fashion show and concert. We're also preparing to have a contest as part of the event -- and the winner will receive a vacation package to a resort in Cancun, Mexico! I've also been responsible for a lot of the marketing of Entitled 2003. I have had help, though (for which I am very grateful...)
Of course, like everyone else, I've been keeping an eye on the war news. But since everyone else (pick a television station/network or radio station) has been covering it, I don't think you need my 2 cents at this point.
Besides, I expressed my opinions on war here.
Oh, yeah, and there was Spring Break, too, which I got to enjoy with my family.
I will be blogging more regularly. So I hope to be back tomorrow for more blogging. Blogging is cool. Not having blogged for a month, I didn't realize how much I missed it. (How many ways can one say "blog" in one paragraph? Hmmmmm!)
Bye for now. Later!
Best Wishes,
Allen
It's been quite a month! I've been extremely busy preparing for Entitled 2003, my size acceptance organization's first Austin, Texas convention. I mean, it can be kind of overwhelming sometimes when you think about the concept of organizing not only a convention but also a film premiere, plus-size fashion show and concert. We're also preparing to have a contest as part of the event -- and the winner will receive a vacation package to a resort in Cancun, Mexico! I've also been responsible for a lot of the marketing of Entitled 2003. I have had help, though (for which I am very grateful...)
Of course, like everyone else, I've been keeping an eye on the war news. But since everyone else (pick a television station/network or radio station) has been covering it, I don't think you need my 2 cents at this point.
Besides, I expressed my opinions on war here.
Oh, yeah, and there was Spring Break, too, which I got to enjoy with my family.
I will be blogging more regularly. So I hope to be back tomorrow for more blogging. Blogging is cool. Not having blogged for a month, I didn't realize how much I missed it. (How many ways can one say "blog" in one paragraph? Hmmmmm!)
Bye for now. Later!
Best Wishes,
Allen
Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Welcome To Austin, Texas - 2 days ago it was 80 degrees and sunny...
Yesterday, the temperature dipped into the low 30s by 4 p.m., while I was still at work (my paying "day" job), and the sprinkling of rain began. By 10 till 5, it was 30 degrees and ice was accumulating on vehicles in the parking lot. I called to let Angel know I was braving the weather to get home.
I figured the normal 30 minute cross-town commute would take about 45 minutes instead, if I took the highway feeder roads. Then the sleet mixed with snow starting falling, at times quite hard.
Two hours later, I was still stuck in traffic and laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation. You see, Austin never gets snow, rarely gets ice. And in February??? The last time we got any accumulations in February in Austin was 1985!
I had to drive between 5 and 15 mph, tapping on the brakes every few feet to give myself the impression I had some traction on the road. When every other tap produced a slight sliding effect, I was not comforted. By the time I got off the highway and onto back roads, where it was really icy, I was in full praying mode. Eventually, I made it home.
So Angel and I are watching the weather at every opportunity, wondering whether our oldest son would be attending school the next day (today). There was no doubt when we woke up. Ice was still everywhere...and now it was in the 20s!
No school and no work, nothing that had been planned occurred today.
Tomorrow is supposed to creep above the freezing mark, so life should get back to something resembling "normal" -- at least by late morning!
That's all for now...
Best Wishes,
Allen
Yesterday, the temperature dipped into the low 30s by 4 p.m., while I was still at work (my paying "day" job), and the sprinkling of rain began. By 10 till 5, it was 30 degrees and ice was accumulating on vehicles in the parking lot. I called to let Angel know I was braving the weather to get home.
I figured the normal 30 minute cross-town commute would take about 45 minutes instead, if I took the highway feeder roads. Then the sleet mixed with snow starting falling, at times quite hard.
Two hours later, I was still stuck in traffic and laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation. You see, Austin never gets snow, rarely gets ice. And in February??? The last time we got any accumulations in February in Austin was 1985!
I had to drive between 5 and 15 mph, tapping on the brakes every few feet to give myself the impression I had some traction on the road. When every other tap produced a slight sliding effect, I was not comforted. By the time I got off the highway and onto back roads, where it was really icy, I was in full praying mode. Eventually, I made it home.
So Angel and I are watching the weather at every opportunity, wondering whether our oldest son would be attending school the next day (today). There was no doubt when we woke up. Ice was still everywhere...and now it was in the 20s!
No school and no work, nothing that had been planned occurred today.
Tomorrow is supposed to creep above the freezing mark, so life should get back to something resembling "normal" -- at least by late morning!
That's all for now...
Best Wishes,
Allen
Friday, February 14, 2003
St. Paul and New England radio coverage and, oh yeah, now I'm A Movie Star...
Happy Valentine's Day
I apologize for the lack of blog in the last week or so but I have more than enough exciting info to make up for it!
Last Monday (2.3.03) I got a call from a radio show producer in St. Paul, Minnesota. She had seen the TIME Magazine article I was quoted in and wanted me to appear on the Arnie Arneson show. Arnie was a most gracious radio host, included me in her morning topic prior to discussing ISAA and the TIME article; I had about 25 minutes on her morning show. Then, after we finished, she called me personally at my home and said she felt things went so well that she wanted to include me in her afternoon show. She told me she is heard throughout New England on her afternoon show and of course I agreed. The afternoon show was even more productive, as we discussed size acceptance, health, fitness, the decline of physical fitness in schools, Without Measure, Entitled 2003 and more! All in one day...
That same Monday, I got a call from a filmmaker named Morgan in New York who's shooting a documentary concerning the recent fast food lawsuits. This has the potential to be a major documentary that could be released in theaters around the country. After communicating via phone, voicemail and e-mail for over a week, Morgan and Steve The Cameraman arrived in Austin late yesterday afternoon. I asked Gia Melissa Marciano, my co-host from The ISAA Rapportand the President of the ISAA Austin chapter to be a part of the documentary; I also asked if we could film our segment of the documentary at her and Darren The Producer (her partner)'s house; she agreed.
After waiting a mere 45 minutes for them to make the house environment suitable for filming, Gia and I were miked for sound and the interrogation began.
Actually, Morgan and Steve were perfect gentlemen (although I think they would cringe at being described that way) and went out of their way to make everyone comfortable and engaged in what we were doing. I'm not going to go into much detail about the film because I don't want to give too much away, it's a really great concept and should help inform a lot of people about health- and size-related issues. Morgan seemed to be very pleased with the sound bites he got from our interview and felt it would get some good facts out to the public, which what ISAA is all about.
Now, considering that the whole interview was somewhere between one and two hours, (where does the time GO?)
we'll probably be fortunate to get 10 minutes in the film, but that's fine. This was a great opportunity.
...and now Gia and I can say we are movie stars...
...non-paid movie stars...
...but movie stars nonetheless!
Best Wishes,
Allen
Happy Valentine's Day
I apologize for the lack of blog in the last week or so but I have more than enough exciting info to make up for it!
Last Monday (2.3.03) I got a call from a radio show producer in St. Paul, Minnesota. She had seen the TIME Magazine article I was quoted in and wanted me to appear on the Arnie Arneson show. Arnie was a most gracious radio host, included me in her morning topic prior to discussing ISAA and the TIME article; I had about 25 minutes on her morning show. Then, after we finished, she called me personally at my home and said she felt things went so well that she wanted to include me in her afternoon show. She told me she is heard throughout New England on her afternoon show and of course I agreed. The afternoon show was even more productive, as we discussed size acceptance, health, fitness, the decline of physical fitness in schools, Without Measure, Entitled 2003 and more! All in one day...
That same Monday, I got a call from a filmmaker named Morgan in New York who's shooting a documentary concerning the recent fast food lawsuits. This has the potential to be a major documentary that could be released in theaters around the country. After communicating via phone, voicemail and e-mail for over a week, Morgan and Steve The Cameraman arrived in Austin late yesterday afternoon. I asked Gia Melissa Marciano, my co-host from The ISAA Rapportand the President of the ISAA Austin chapter to be a part of the documentary; I also asked if we could film our segment of the documentary at her and Darren The Producer (her partner)'s house; she agreed.
After waiting a mere 45 minutes for them to make the house environment suitable for filming, Gia and I were miked for sound and the interrogation began.
Actually, Morgan and Steve were perfect gentlemen (although I think they would cringe at being described that way) and went out of their way to make everyone comfortable and engaged in what we were doing. I'm not going to go into much detail about the film because I don't want to give too much away, it's a really great concept and should help inform a lot of people about health- and size-related issues. Morgan seemed to be very pleased with the sound bites he got from our interview and felt it would get some good facts out to the public, which what ISAA is all about.Now, considering that the whole interview was somewhere between one and two hours, (where does the time GO?)
we'll probably be fortunate to get 10 minutes in the film, but that's fine. This was a great opportunity....and now Gia and I can say we are movie stars...
...non-paid movie stars...
...but movie stars nonetheless!
Best Wishes,
Allen
Saturday, February 01, 2003
I'm Still Having A Hard Time Believing It Happened... 
Thanks to Wil Wheaton for the image!
PRESIDENT BUSH: My fellow Americans, this day has brought terrible news and great sadness to our country. At 9:00 a.m. this morning, Mission Control in Houston lost contact with our Space Shuttle Columbia. A short time later, debris was seen falling from the skies above Texas. The Columbia is lost; there are no survivors.
On board was a crew of seven: Colonel Rick Husband; Lt. Colonel Michael Anderson; Commander Laurel Clark; Captain David Brown; Commander William McCool; Dr. Kalpana Chawla; and Ilan Ramon, a Colonel in the Israeli Air Force. These men and women assumed great risk in the service to all humanity.
In an age when space flight has come to seem almost routine, it is easy to overlook the dangers of travel by rocket, and the difficulties of navigating the fierce outer atmosphere of the Earth. These astronauts knew the dangers, and they faced them willingly, knowing they had a high and noble purpose in life. Because of their courage and daring and idealism, we will miss them all the more.
All Americans today are thinking, as well, of the families of these men and women who have been given this sudden shock and grief. You're not alone. Our entire nation grieves with you. And those you loved will always have the respect and gratitude of this country.
The cause in which they died will continue. Mankind is led into the darkness beyond our world by the inspiration of discovery and the longing to understand. Our journey into space will go on.
In the skies today we saw destruction and tragedy. Yet farther than we can see there is comfort and hope. In the words of the prophet Isaiah, "Lift your eyes and look to the heavens. Who created all these? He who brings out the starry hosts one by one and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing."
The same Creator who names the stars also knows the names of the seven souls we mourn today. The crew of the shuttle Columbia did not return safely to Earth; yet we can pray that all are safely home.
May God bless the grieving families, and may God continue to bless America. (View This)
I was 16 when Challenger blew up in 1986 and I remember watching that disaster on television. I got the news mid-afternoon while in one of my high school classes and I got to see news coverage on one of the classroom tv's.
This morning, I turned on the news and thought I was seeing a flashback segment on FOX News (like one of those "seventeen years ago today, such-and-such happened.."), then they said the name -- Columbia -- and I realized a new disaster had happened. I was floored. I saw the pictures of the flight crew and the descriptions about the people and the continous replay of the burn-up and all I could say was "Oh my God." I went and told my wife and she couldn't believe it, either. We had to explain what was on t.v. to our kids, which was eerily like what we had to do on 9.11.01.
It was kind of chilling to hear my oldest son say "so those seven people died?" Of course, I had to answer "yes." In one respect, I'm glad that my son is mature enough to understand things like this...in another sense, I'm sad he understands things like this.
Imagine this flag at half-mast...
Best Wishes,
Allen
Thanks to Wil Wheaton for the image!
PRESIDENT BUSH: My fellow Americans, this day has brought terrible news and great sadness to our country. At 9:00 a.m. this morning, Mission Control in Houston lost contact with our Space Shuttle Columbia. A short time later, debris was seen falling from the skies above Texas. The Columbia is lost; there are no survivors.
On board was a crew of seven: Colonel Rick Husband; Lt. Colonel Michael Anderson; Commander Laurel Clark; Captain David Brown; Commander William McCool; Dr. Kalpana Chawla; and Ilan Ramon, a Colonel in the Israeli Air Force. These men and women assumed great risk in the service to all humanity.
In an age when space flight has come to seem almost routine, it is easy to overlook the dangers of travel by rocket, and the difficulties of navigating the fierce outer atmosphere of the Earth. These astronauts knew the dangers, and they faced them willingly, knowing they had a high and noble purpose in life. Because of their courage and daring and idealism, we will miss them all the more.
All Americans today are thinking, as well, of the families of these men and women who have been given this sudden shock and grief. You're not alone. Our entire nation grieves with you. And those you loved will always have the respect and gratitude of this country.
The cause in which they died will continue. Mankind is led into the darkness beyond our world by the inspiration of discovery and the longing to understand. Our journey into space will go on.
In the skies today we saw destruction and tragedy. Yet farther than we can see there is comfort and hope. In the words of the prophet Isaiah, "Lift your eyes and look to the heavens. Who created all these? He who brings out the starry hosts one by one and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing."
The same Creator who names the stars also knows the names of the seven souls we mourn today. The crew of the shuttle Columbia did not return safely to Earth; yet we can pray that all are safely home.
May God bless the grieving families, and may God continue to bless America. (View This)
I was 16 when Challenger blew up in 1986 and I remember watching that disaster on television. I got the news mid-afternoon while in one of my high school classes and I got to see news coverage on one of the classroom tv's.
This morning, I turned on the news and thought I was seeing a flashback segment on FOX News (like one of those "seventeen years ago today, such-and-such happened.."), then they said the name -- Columbia -- and I realized a new disaster had happened. I was floored. I saw the pictures of the flight crew and the descriptions about the people and the continous replay of the burn-up and all I could say was "Oh my God." I went and told my wife and she couldn't believe it, either. We had to explain what was on t.v. to our kids, which was eerily like what we had to do on 9.11.01.
It was kind of chilling to hear my oldest son say "so those seven people died?" Of course, I had to answer "yes." In one respect, I'm glad that my son is mature enough to understand things like this...in another sense, I'm sad he understands things like this.
Imagine this flag at half-mast...
Best Wishes,
Allen
Friday, January 31, 2003
Hey, It’s Friday, Let’s Kick Back & Listen To Some Tunes… 
Last night, Angel, the boys and I attended a band practice for the Christian band we are a part of called First Light. Angel sings and plays viola and I play electric bass guitar and sing. We’ve been preparing for an upcoming performance at our church.
(Yes, let it be known: at one time, I did have a full beard.)
First Light is unique in several respects: first, it has two married IR couples in it; second, we perform many different flavors of international sound, usually with a jazzy “twist.” First Light plays some cover tunes and many original tunes. To check out the whole First Light website, click here.
And to hear a couple of songs of First Light performing live (in Real Player M4A Format), click on the links below:
If you need a copy of Real Player, click here. There is a free version available.
These aren’t studio quality, since they were recorded off of video, but they should give you an idea of what First Light sounds like in concert. “Praise Ye The Lord” is part of an annual Easter musical drama our church performs; Keishia Gordon is a member of First Light.
Well, I'm gonna wrap it up for now. Have a great weekend!
Best Wishes,
Allen
Last night, Angel, the boys and I attended a band practice for the Christian band we are a part of called First Light. Angel sings and plays viola and I play electric bass guitar and sing. We’ve been preparing for an upcoming performance at our church.
(Yes, let it be known: at one time, I did have a full beard.)
First Light is unique in several respects: first, it has two married IR couples in it; second, we perform many different flavors of international sound, usually with a jazzy “twist.” First Light plays some cover tunes and many original tunes. To check out the whole First Light website, click here.
And to hear a couple of songs of First Light performing live (in Real Player M4A Format), click on the links below:
- Victory Is Mine/At The Cross (Medley)
- Praise Ye The Lord - Featuring Keishia Gordon (with First Light & Choir)
If you need a copy of Real Player, click here. There is a free version available.
These aren’t studio quality, since they were recorded off of video, but they should give you an idea of what First Light sounds like in concert. “Praise Ye The Lord” is part of an annual Easter musical drama our church performs; Keishia Gordon is a member of First Light.
Well, I'm gonna wrap it up for now. Have a great weekend!
Best Wishes,
Allen
Monday, January 27, 2003
Gearing Up For A Major Event (IR Tie-In)
This April, my organization (ISAA) will be hosting its first-ever convention in Austin, Texas: Entitled 2003. Entitled 2003 is a wonderful challenge: a combination of film premiere, size acceptance convention and music concert with Austin size acceptance band Ursula's Curse over the course of two days - Friday April 25, 2003 and Saturday April 26, 2003. The film which will be premiering is called CURVE and it is about the plus-size fashion industry. The film features some well-known celebrities such as Emme and Kathy Najimi but also focuses on some up-and-coming plus-size models such as Tami Fitzhugh-Thompson and Tomiko Peirano, both of whom are of multiracial.
Tami is described as Japanese, Irish, Mexican and African-American. She is the only woman in the industry to have a spokesmodel contract with Lane Bryant, the premier specialty retail store in plus-size fashion. She has worked with renowned photographers such as Walter Chin, Carlo Della Chiessa, and Ranken. Tami has graced the covers of Mode Magazine and an issue of Essence. She has appeared on The View, Today, and other morning shows wearing designs from Gianfranco Ferre, Richard Metzger, and Tomatsu.
Tomiko Peirano is of Asian and White (Caucasian) descent. She models with the 12+ Division of Ford. She has modeled for Dockers, Emme, Federated, Hanes, Levis, Mode, and Sakes Fifth Avenue.
Click here to view or download the movie trailer for CURVE
Entitled 2003 will also have speakers and workshops including but not limited to Constantine Valhouli, the Director of CURVE; ISAA Goodwill Ambassador and Artist Paul Delacroix; Kelly Bliss, Psychotherapist and Plus-Sized Fitness Professional; Stephany Baskin, Executive Director for Dress For Success (Austin); Susan York, fitness expert; Gabrielle Peak, Eating Disorders Therapist; Joy Geisinger, M.S., Weight Loss Surgery Survivors Workshop; and more to be announced!
There will also be a plus-size fashion show sponsored by Avenue
Since there is an IR tie-in, I wanted to make the IR Haven websurfers aware of this event. I would also love the opportunity to meet some of you and I feel that you would enjoy this event! You can learn all the details about Entitled 2003 and even sign up for it online (Click here for the event website)!
All proceeds from the event will go towards ISAA's efforts to educate the public about size- and health-related issues.
Best Wishes,
Allen
This April, my organization (ISAA) will be hosting its first-ever convention in Austin, Texas: Entitled 2003. Entitled 2003 is a wonderful challenge: a combination of film premiere, size acceptance convention and music concert with Austin size acceptance band Ursula's Curse over the course of two days - Friday April 25, 2003 and Saturday April 26, 2003. The film which will be premiering is called CURVE and it is about the plus-size fashion industry. The film features some well-known celebrities such as Emme and Kathy Najimi but also focuses on some up-and-coming plus-size models such as Tami Fitzhugh-Thompson and Tomiko Peirano, both of whom are of multiracial.
 |  |
Tami is described as Japanese, Irish, Mexican and African-American. She is the only woman in the industry to have a spokesmodel contract with Lane Bryant, the premier specialty retail store in plus-size fashion. She has worked with renowned photographers such as Walter Chin, Carlo Della Chiessa, and Ranken. Tami has graced the covers of Mode Magazine and an issue of Essence. She has appeared on The View, Today, and other morning shows wearing designs from Gianfranco Ferre, Richard Metzger, and Tomatsu.
 |  |
Tomiko Peirano is of Asian and White (Caucasian) descent. She models with the 12+ Division of Ford. She has modeled for Dockers, Emme, Federated, Hanes, Levis, Mode, and Sakes Fifth Avenue.
Click here to view or download the movie trailer for CURVE
Entitled 2003 will also have speakers and workshops including but not limited to Constantine Valhouli, the Director of CURVE; ISAA Goodwill Ambassador and Artist Paul Delacroix; Kelly Bliss, Psychotherapist and Plus-Sized Fitness Professional; Stephany Baskin, Executive Director for Dress For Success (Austin); Susan York, fitness expert; Gabrielle Peak, Eating Disorders Therapist; Joy Geisinger, M.S., Weight Loss Surgery Survivors Workshop; and more to be announced!
There will also be a plus-size fashion show sponsored by Avenue
Since there is an IR tie-in, I wanted to make the IR Haven websurfers aware of this event. I would also love the opportunity to meet some of you and I feel that you would enjoy this event! You can learn all the details about Entitled 2003 and even sign up for it online (Click here for the event website)!
All proceeds from the event will go towards ISAA's efforts to educate the public about size- and health-related issues.
Best Wishes,
Allen
Wednesday, January 22, 2003
A Strange New Milestone Of Sorts 
The latest issue of TIME Magazine (the January 27, 2003 issue) is hitting many shelves across the country today -- and I am quoted in it, as part of their business article "How To Sell XXXL." My quote is in regards to the Southwest Airlines policy towards "people of size" from July 2002 and it appears on the last page of the article (which starts on page 43). I was interviewed because of my role as Director of the International Size Acceptance Association (ISAA). The article addresses how American businesses are adapting to service larger and larger-sized Americans (or in the case of SW Airlines, how some businesses are working against larger-sized Americans).
I've done media interviews before but none of this kind -- in a generally well-respected national/international publication like TIME Magazine. It's already snagged me a radio interview with Atlanta's WGST 670; I did that yesterday morning and was interviewed by Tom Hughes. I thought it went well.
In other news closer to home, I'm very proud of my sons (and my wife, too -- but that should go without saying.
My oldest son, Adam (he's 7), is in first grade but reading at mid-2nd grade level. He's also astoundingly creative and writes short, illustrated stories he calls his books; he can write them spontaneously and they are always to-the-point, interesting and tend to have a moral or a distinct message.
Josey (4) has just reached the point of being able to play with us or his brother or be able to entertain himself in song or thought or drawing or playing. He'll be entering pre-school this fall. Josey is much more cerebral and serious but he often wakes in a good mood and stays in a good mood throughout the day. He imitates his brother a lot (which is normal, of course, but uniquely amusing sometimes, too).
My wife is a very private person so I can't divulge too much about her, except to say that she is a wonderful, beautiful person whom I deeply adore.
I'll blog more soon...
Best Wishes,
Allen
The latest issue of TIME Magazine (the January 27, 2003 issue) is hitting many shelves across the country today -- and I am quoted in it, as part of their business article "How To Sell XXXL." My quote is in regards to the Southwest Airlines policy towards "people of size" from July 2002 and it appears on the last page of the article (which starts on page 43). I was interviewed because of my role as Director of the International Size Acceptance Association (ISAA). The article addresses how American businesses are adapting to service larger and larger-sized Americans (or in the case of SW Airlines, how some businesses are working against larger-sized Americans).
I've done media interviews before but none of this kind -- in a generally well-respected national/international publication like TIME Magazine. It's already snagged me a radio interview with Atlanta's WGST 670; I did that yesterday morning and was interviewed by Tom Hughes. I thought it went well.
In other news closer to home, I'm very proud of my sons (and my wife, too -- but that should go without saying.
My oldest son, Adam (he's 7), is in first grade but reading at mid-2nd grade level. He's also astoundingly creative and writes short, illustrated stories he calls his books; he can write them spontaneously and they are always to-the-point, interesting and tend to have a moral or a distinct message.
Josey (4) has just reached the point of being able to play with us or his brother or be able to entertain himself in song or thought or drawing or playing. He'll be entering pre-school this fall. Josey is much more cerebral and serious but he often wakes in a good mood and stays in a good mood throughout the day. He imitates his brother a lot (which is normal, of course, but uniquely amusing sometimes, too).
My wife is a very private person so I can't divulge too much about her, except to say that she is a wonderful, beautiful person whom I deeply adore.
I'll blog more soon...
Best Wishes,
Allen
Thursday, January 16, 2003
Concerning War
Everybody seems to have an opinion on the impending war with Iraq and possibly North Korea. Opinions abound everywhere you go, especially on the internet. There’s a very loud contingent of the population that is anti-war, which is all well and good. At the heart of the concept and reality of War is life and death and most people don’t want to die or lose anyone close to them. That’s understandable. Unfortunately, in reality, although war can be postponed, it cannot always be avoided altogether. It boils down to communication – and when communication breaks down due to one or both parties either lying or manipulating or generally being uncooperative, whatever issue is at hand has to be resolved, one way or the other. When you have countries and governments with different political and economic issues and agendas, usually diplomacy works…
…then September 11, 2001 happened and the world changed. The United States definitely changed. Suddenly there was a clear and present threat to the lives of every man, woman and child. People handle such threats in different ways but suddenly, it was on the shoulders of the U.S. Government and the U.S. President to uphold their first and foremost sworn duty: to safeguard the lives of this country's citizens.
Do I agree with every step that’s been taken, the laws enacted, the freedoms affected? No, I don’t. I am sure there will be political and social fallout for decades concerning the issues raised by the Patriot Act and other government measures and policies.
Decisions had to be made, though, and they were made, for better or worse. Time will tell and history will either exonerate or condemn the policymakers.
But at the heart of this whole controversy is the most important issue of all, something that I feel had been taken for granted by many in this country for far too long:
Life and Death.
How we live is important; it’s more important than how we die because it’s inevitable that we’re all going to die someday.
Many of you know I’m a Christian and I’m not going to apologize for that. I’d like to end this particular blog entry with some scripture from the King James Bible that I think is relevant to this topic.
Matthew 24: 3 - 14
Everybody seems to have an opinion on the impending war with Iraq and possibly North Korea. Opinions abound everywhere you go, especially on the internet. There’s a very loud contingent of the population that is anti-war, which is all well and good. At the heart of the concept and reality of War is life and death and most people don’t want to die or lose anyone close to them. That’s understandable. Unfortunately, in reality, although war can be postponed, it cannot always be avoided altogether. It boils down to communication – and when communication breaks down due to one or both parties either lying or manipulating or generally being uncooperative, whatever issue is at hand has to be resolved, one way or the other. When you have countries and governments with different political and economic issues and agendas, usually diplomacy works…
…then September 11, 2001 happened and the world changed. The United States definitely changed. Suddenly there was a clear and present threat to the lives of every man, woman and child. People handle such threats in different ways but suddenly, it was on the shoulders of the U.S. Government and the U.S. President to uphold their first and foremost sworn duty: to safeguard the lives of this country's citizens.
Do I agree with every step that’s been taken, the laws enacted, the freedoms affected? No, I don’t. I am sure there will be political and social fallout for decades concerning the issues raised by the Patriot Act and other government measures and policies.
Decisions had to be made, though, and they were made, for better or worse. Time will tell and history will either exonerate or condemn the policymakers.
But at the heart of this whole controversy is the most important issue of all, something that I feel had been taken for granted by many in this country for far too long:
Life and Death.
How we live is important; it’s more important than how we die because it’s inevitable that we’re all going to die someday.
Many of you know I’m a Christian and I’m not going to apologize for that. I’d like to end this particular blog entry with some scripture from the King James Bible that I think is relevant to this topic.
Matthew 24: 3 - 14
And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Best Wishes,
Allen
Friday, January 10, 2003
Even though this is my second blog entry for IR Haven, it's more like the first real entry, because it's personal.
My name is Allen Steadham. I'm married to an African-American woman who is also descended from Native Americans. We have two sons, Adam and Josey, who are 7 and 4, respectively. My wife and I are nondenominational Christians who are also musicians and creatively inclined (music, art, stories, etc.) I work as a Network Administrator at an engineering firm here in Austin, Texas. I also founded and run a not-for-profit organization called the International Size Acceptance Association. My wife is a stay-at-home mom for our youngest son.
Angel and I brought in the New Year at church (along with our sleepy kids) dressed for the occasion in our African outfits (it was our first time wearing them). Yes, real African outfits from Africa! We enjoyed participating in the service, bringing in 2003 on our knees praying.
My name is Allen Steadham. I'm married to an African-American woman who is also descended from Native Americans. We have two sons, Adam and Josey, who are 7 and 4, respectively. My wife and I are nondenominational Christians who are also musicians and creatively inclined (music, art, stories, etc.) I work as a Network Administrator at an engineering firm here in Austin, Texas. I also founded and run a not-for-profit organization called the International Size Acceptance Association. My wife is a stay-at-home mom for our youngest son.
Angel and I brought in the New Year at church (along with our sleepy kids) dressed for the occasion in our African outfits (it was our first time wearing them). Yes, real African outfits from Africa! We enjoyed participating in the service, bringing in 2003 on our knees praying.
Me and Angel in our African attire at about 1:30 a.m. on New Year's Day.
I'll write more later!
Best Wishes,
Allen
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