tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405584Sun, 16 Nov 2008 02:42:19 +0000Welcome! This blog (i.e. weblog) is my way of keeping everyone up-to-date with the events of my life, including everything from wedding plans to general thoughts. The point in doing so is not to get rid of traditional e-mail--only to make it more meaningful. I hope you enjoy it.http://life.andymurphy.com/noreply@blogger.com (Andy Murphy)Blogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405584.post-7814207588053980640Sun, 16 Nov 2008 02:15:00 +00002008-11-15T21:42:19.301-05:00Friends and Family, With your help, I am hereby asking an enormous favor, and one that means a lot to me: I am asking your help to ensure that I do not receive a single Christmas gift this year. Have I gone mad? No. :) With the world economy spiraling us down into darker times than we would like, spending has been cut across the board in almost all categories. People are foregoing manyhttp://life.andymurphy.com/2008/11/my-christmas-wish.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Andy Murphy)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405584.post-7413092678780086462Thu, 14 Feb 2008 22:27:00 +00002008-02-14T15:47:33.086-05:00For those of you that know me (which is practically everyone, unless you're hitting the "Show Me a Random Blog" button on Blogger, in which case you must really be bored), you know that I don't often ask for help. But in this case, I've decided to take on a cause here in Greensboro...the Feral Cat Assistance Program. To do I will be walking in The Human Race on March 15, and I am kindly asking http://life.andymurphy.com/2008/02/rare-request-for-assistance.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Andy Murphy)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405584.post-3800134461472824812Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:37:00 +00002008-01-28T16:50:23.638-05:00Faithful readers, I'm quite pleased to announce that through an friendly solicition (thanks to Kevin Lee), I was dragged into the world of Facebook: http://www.facebook.com Although I'd heard quite a bit about Facebook through everyday news, I had never really paid a whole lot of attention to it...mostly because MySpace just ain't my thing. Gaudy colors, dancing animations, and tacky colors http://life.andymurphy.com/2008/01/my-face-online-at-last.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Andy Murphy)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405584.post-4485622775472658146Thu, 13 Dec 2007 19:23:00 +00002007-12-13T14:29:28.460-05:00For those that aren't aware, Kelly and I had the opportunity this pastweekend of attending a Green Bay Packers game at Lambeau Field (Wisconsin),thanks to my brother Kyle. Five of us made the trip, including my fatherand Kyle's girlfriend, Blair. All in all, it was a lot of fun--especiallywith a rowdy 38-7 beatdown handed to the Raiders by the guys in green.Gametime was about 17 degrees, and http://life.andymurphy.com/2007/12/green-bay-and-grey-goose.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Andy Murphy)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405584.post-3730241746856021922Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:07:00 +00002007-12-06T17:10:04.052-05:00Well, as you can tell, I've once again fallen victim to the combination ofa busy life and a non-updated blog. And in doing so, my thousands of blogreaders have lived in depression, anxiously awaiting a salvation that hasnot come (scale: 10 actual readers = 1,000 claimed readers). In theinterest of truth, however, there are 64 people who currently exist on thesubscription list, so my apology ishttp://life.andymurphy.com/2007/12/rebirth-new-beginning.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Andy Murphy)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405584.post-1890939570439419069Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:39:00 +00002007-08-06T21:50:13.504-04:00My friends, I write tonight to relay that on Wednesday morning, I had the true privilege of attending the FBI Academy graduation of Josh, my best and oldest friend of over seventeen years. It was one of those things one never forgets. The same kid I used to do everything with in middle and high school is now a Special Agent of the FBI. And he completely knows my dark and sordid past. Okay, http://life.andymurphy.com/2007/08/true-graduation.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Andy Murphy)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405584.post-7827233324121493002Fri, 20 Jul 2007 20:21:00 +00002007-07-20T16:26:08.778-04:00Greetings! It has been quite some time, and it only taken me a couple months and a lot of stress to remember why summer always feels like running the gauntlet. There is just an impossible number of things to do. I remember back to my younger days when I was so quiet no one really knew me, and a summer would be a blissful repetition of lazy days in the sunshine. I'd stay up until all hours of http://life.andymurphy.com/2007/07/life-of-bliss.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Andy Murphy)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405584.post-8667430227498075069Mon, 25 Jun 2007 22:28:00 +00002007-06-25T18:36:29.564-04:00For whatever reason, I've recognized that many people are somewhat reluctant to use the phone these days. It's an odd reversal from when I first logged onto the internet back in '95, when I was typing all over the place and everyone else was on the phone. At any rate, I've decided to revive a little of this glorious past, and go forth once again into the realm of instant messaging. I'm http://life.andymurphy.com/2007/06/art-of-instant-message.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Andy Murphy)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405584.post-4934658759932135162Sun, 24 Jun 2007 01:06:00 +00002007-06-25T18:27:00.248-04:00Hello, everyone! Life is still very busy, as I was away from home twelve days (returning on Wednesday)--half of which was a trip to New York City and the other half a trip to Charleston, South Carolina. As part of the Charleston trip, Kelly, Lauren, and I had a chance to see the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, a plantation that was originally built around 1670 in early Charleston. This was a http://life.andymurphy.com/2007/06/photos-charleston-trip.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Andy Murphy)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405584.post-1523051236533722521Thu, 01 Mar 2007 14:55:00 +00002007-03-01T10:27:10.546-05:00For those that aren't aware, I have not been able to walk normally for nearly ten weeks now. And no, it's not because I've done prison time. Back on December 19, I was playing basketball for our incredibly successful UG basketball team, when for only the second time in 23 years I suffered an injury bad enough to keep me out of the next game. Only this time, it kept me out of the entire rest ofhttp://life.andymurphy.com/2007/03/fall-from-grace.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Andy Murphy)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405584.post-6746035764263184975Sun, 31 Dec 2006 05:31:00 +00002006-12-31T00:48:37.677-05:00While many songs travel the airwaves, full of catchy lyrics and stylish performances, at times it's easy to forget those few artists for whom it's all about the voice. Faith Hill is one of those artists. And on her last album, buried down in the later tracks there is an absolutely incredible song in which she deviates from her norm a little--and produces a little song about Paris. Song #10 (http://life.andymurphy.com/2006/12/paris-inspiration-20.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Andy Murphy)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405584.post-7634329199929907938Fri, 29 Dec 2006 04:30:00 +00002008-01-18T21:26:05.743-05:00At long last, only seven months after moving in, I am able to bring you exquisite photographs of our new home! This is a special password-only event, but you should have received your password via e-mail...if you did not, please let me know. I am sorry for the precautions, but my wife has so many attractive qualities that she has seventeen stalkers/restraining orders filed with the Greensboro http://life.andymurphy.com/2006/12/mi-casa.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Andy Murphy)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405584.post-116398894357986606Mon, 20 Nov 2006 02:06:00 +00002006-11-19T21:20:23.630-05:00One of the most beloved movies of all time, Forrest Gump has not only an incredibly popular 2-CD soundtrack but also a fantastic instrumental score as well. Everything from the famous feather-drifting theme at the beginning and end to all scenes in between. This selection is my favorite--it plays during the final credits and is a blend of all of the movie's various themes. Song: Suite From http://life.andymurphy.com/2006/11/peas-and-carrots-inspiration-21.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Andy Murphy)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405584.post-116374759108978607Fri, 17 Nov 2006 06:42:00 +00002006-11-17T02:13:11.100-05:00Greetings, friends and faithful readers! I've been longing to get in here for another post, and am happy to return among the land of web pages where I feel most at home. Other than at home, anyway. It has been a while since I've answered that oft-asked question: "What the hell are you doing these days?" So here we go. First of all, I sincerely apologize to those of you that I have not http://life.andymurphy.com/2006/11/life-update-volume-i.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Andy Murphy)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405584.post-116175509774618530Wed, 25 Oct 2006 05:38:00 +00002006-10-25T01:44:57.756-04:00Everyone always seems to have in mind their own version of the "best band most people haven't heard of." Nominations in that category come in all shapes and sizes, and more often than not such bands are geuninely talented. I'm hoping you find that to be the case with my own selection: Jump, Little Children. An amusing name and a terrific group of musicians as well, JLC is local to the http://life.andymurphy.com/2006/10/mexico-inspiration-22.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Andy Murphy)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405584.post-115911432068022736Sun, 24 Sep 2006 16:11:00 +00002006-10-18T18:39:04.506-04:00For those that know me well, you're probably thinking right now that this post has been a long time coming. Too long in coming. But it's here now, and all I ask, honored guest, is that you read it with an open mind. Because it may change your life forever. All right, so I have a flare for the dramatic. The topic of this post is Lost, the breakthrough ABC series now in its third season. But http://life.andymurphy.com/2006/09/lost-experience.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Andy Murphy)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405584.post-115907119391373175Sun, 24 Sep 2006 04:08:00 +00002006-09-24T00:13:13.926-04:00In the continued efforts of sharing music, here is the first instrumental selection--a gorgeous cut from The Village, composed by James Newton Howard. Regardless of whether you enjoyed the movie or not (and I very much did), Howard chose to create a score that mainly consists of haunting violin work. I've never really heard anything like it. The track below, Rituals, plays within the middle ofhttp://life.andymurphy.com/2006/09/rituals-inspiration-23.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Andy Murphy)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405584.post-115896098339816205Fri, 22 Sep 2006 21:17:00 +00002006-09-22T17:39:21.690-04:00As of Tuesday, I will have been a homeowner for exactly four months. Coming on the heels of nine years of renting, this has been quite an experience. And by my calculations, the homeownership experience of those reading this post literally goes from zero to two days to forty years. Thus, my task here will to see if I can describe the process to you--those who are long-time homeowners can tell http://life.andymurphy.com/2006/09/homeownership.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Andy Murphy)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405584.post-115795741343210263Mon, 11 Sep 2006 05:35:00 +00002006-12-31T00:44:46.918-05:00As I mentioned via my post in August, I have always been someone greatly inspired by music. I have enjoyed playing it, writing it, and certainly listening to it. So whether I find myself on the worst of days or at the top of the world, I've found that music always has something to give to us. For me, it often comes in the form of inspiration. Because of this, I have decided to share a little http://life.andymurphy.com/2006/09/beauty-of-rain-inspiration-24.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Andy Murphy)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405584.post-115774476165786316Fri, 08 Sep 2006 18:51:00 +00002006-09-08T21:21:06.283-04:00As you can see from my writing this post, I have returned home from two separate trips: Mexico City and Charleston. Next week I am headed for Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C., with a trip to Kentucky not too far after that. 'Tis the season of travel! (This actually reminds me of an occasion, many years ago, when I knew this kid who was the smartest guy I've ever met. I think he http://life.andymurphy.com/2006/09/viva-mxico.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Andy Murphy)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405584.post-115645642047525092Thu, 24 Aug 2006 21:36:00 +00002006-08-24T17:57:09.696-04:00In approximately sixty hours I will board a plane headed for Mexico City, crossing the border into our southern neighbor for the very first time. It is a business trip, of course, but I am eager to see what awaits...what should one expect from a city of 25 million people? To help prepare for the trip, however, I've been visiting my local Wal Mart as much as possible. The language barrier is http://life.andymurphy.com/2006/08/mexico-city-or-bust.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Andy Murphy)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405584.post-115622678687519206Tue, 22 Aug 2006 05:42:00 +00002006-08-22T02:27:51.610-04:00Okay, so I know what you're thinking...but everyone needs seven months off now and then, right? School teachers take three, football players take five, and retirees take as many as they can get before the Grim Reaper says, "All right, all right. That's enough." Be while many endeavors lose strength and never return, I do not. At least not this time. So, my dearest friends, I will welcome youhttp://life.andymurphy.com/2006/08/return.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Andy Murphy)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405584.post-113641464638767690Wed, 04 Jan 2006 22:43:00 +00002006-01-04T17:44:14.650-05:00Welcome to 2006! For all of you, the end of 2005 almost surely means two things: 1) you're now through with family gatherings until at least March, and 2) you're determined to lose just a little weight over the next few weeks. See, it's not just you...it's January. The month comes with so much guilt it should officially be renamed to The Recurring Catholic Month of January. In my case, guilthttp://life.andymurphy.com/2006/01/heres-to-2006.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Andy Murphy)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405584.post-113408237912711046Thu, 08 Dec 2005 22:18:00 +00002006-08-01T17:29:16.210-04:00There hasn't been this much excitement about a "To Be Continued..." event since Ross had to choose between Rachel and Julie! Thank you for the hundreds of letters that flooded our mailbox here at home. As a result, Part II is now here, sponsored by Coors Light. And what does Part II have to do with, exactly? Well, cell phones, of course! Not since the invention of the wife have men become sohttp://life.andymurphy.com/2005/12/digital-age-part-ii.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Andy Murphy)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405584.post-113261177626988499Tue, 22 Nov 2005 01:46:00 +00002005-11-21T20:46:14.773-05:00Isn't it funny how technology can literally change everything about how people interact? Not only the method, but the actual way in which we do it--such as what we say and how we say it. It happens very slowly over time, so that you don't realize everything is different until you look back to where you started. The only question is whether or not you're better off now, and that one is always http://life.andymurphy.com/2005/11/digital-age-part-i.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Andy Murphy)