We took our new dog, Maggie, to the beach on the first weekend after we picked her up from the Animal Protection Society of Durham. Just a short jaunt down to Topsail Beach for a day of fun and relaxation!

I just finished reading another book by Donald Miller.

His books are always a journey for me. Emotionally, intellectually, and in the end I always end up feeling like there is a better life out there somewhere.

That probably sounds a little too dramatic. I enjoy many things about my life. I do. I have been greatly blessed by God with a gorgeous wife, a good home, and the ability to live in a beautiful city. In fact, our new city is so full of beauty that even after a full month I have yet come to grips with the drastic disparity between here and Amarillo.

But lately, my story has gotten to be boring. If for some ridiculous reason one of you would be interested in reading about my life (which, if you made it to this blog and are reading this puts you in the ridiculous category) it would be a very self-centered and egotistic story that revolves around watching TV and eating. Seriously, if you were to look in on my day you would most likely find me in the living room. Eating. In front of the TV. While playing Words With Friends on the iPod Touch.

In the past few days, I’ve had the TV shut off long enough to take another vicarious journey through one of Donald Miller’s books. His stories are always so appealing and un-boring; and he writes so well that I sometimes I begin to feel as if I was a part of his stories. But then the chapter ends and if I set down the book for even a second I find my hand has gravitated back towards a remote control or my mouth is salivating in response the siren call of the Words With Friends chime.

If you aren’t familiar, Miller’s latest book to be put on the shelf is “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years.” I highly recommend it. It points to hope and of better stories out there worth living away from the glow of the flat-screen panels.

Since moving, I have had tastes of better stories. KB and I already feel as if we have great friends-in-the-making. Despite KB working 15 hours out each day, with only 4 days of in the past month, we seem to have different crowds of people to go out with 2 or 3 times a week. It is fun celebrate the end of days over cold drinks and hot food.

On the off nights, however, the nights that we are not with friends and KB is at the hospital, those nights I seem to return the regularly scheduled programming.

I want a better story for the off nights. I’m tired of being fed stories of overpaid athletes, great cooking recipes, home renovations, or wild safaris. I want to create stories of great athletic feats, failed cooking attempts, handy-man blunders, and memorable journeys. I want to experience life while I’m still living.