Here I am. One and a half hours after getting home from my camping trip with the Mayers.
It was a most wonderful time. Clouds the whole way. That is, until today. Haha! Those washingtonians were probably a bit disturbed by that. They were praying the whole time for sunshine. "Oh. We're going to get sunshine today." "Just wait. It will come in the afternoon." Oh well. It's just to bad that they didn't get their sunshine till it was almost over. But that's ok. They are on their way back to "Warshington, God's state." And I hope they are able to take the sunshine with them. Cause it would be awful if we stole it and they got home to find buckets of rain falling from the sky.
I leave again tomorrow. I Have to be there at one o'clock. This is going to be fun.
Laters.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Miles and Miles of Little Brown Piles
Day #3 Camping:
The day was farelly un-eventful. I slept in 'till somewhere around 9:00. That was nice. Then we had chili-dogs for lunch. Those were delicious. But the really excitement of the day started shortly after lunch.
I had been sitting there in front of the fire, as I had done for a great part of the last two days. I had nothing to do with myself other than eat. (Eating when I'm bored is a habit I have recently been breaking myself of.) After I started feeling as though I had definitely eaten too many milk-duds and fruit-snacks I decided that I should go for a walk to clear my head and to think.
I stood up and mentioned that I was going for a walk, so Ben said "That's a good idea" and got up to go with me. So we set off with no idea what was in store for us that day.
I had no plan as to how far I was going, or how long it would take. All I knew was that I was going for a walk. So we walked. We didn't talk a whole lot, but that's ok 'cause I wanted to think for a while anyway.
Eventually we came upon the sign post for the trail. It read something like this:
"South-Shore Trail
Distance of path
around Timothy lake
13 Miles"
I had absolutely no intention of going all the way around that lake. Regardless though, I began calculating the time it would take and the potential of actually doing it. It would definitely be an interesting experience. But, alas, I didn't know whether or not Ben, with his bum knee, would be able to make it, and in time for dinner.
So with absolutely no intention of going very far we continued walking. Eventually we crossed a bridge that went over the dam of the lake. On the other side of the bridge there was a park sign. It had a map of the lake, as well as a "you are here" arrow. We took a look at it. I asked Ben which camp ground our base-camp was located at. He assured me that is was the one furthest from our current position. With that in mind I figured that we were one third of the way around the lake.
It was at that point that I pitched the idea to Ben.
"Want to keep going? We can just keep walking and see how far we can get. And hey! If we get far enough there wouldn't even be any point in turning around."
The whole time I had no intention of turning around. Unless of course Ben found himself unable to continue forward.
Well, he liked the idea and we ended up having ourselves a grand adventure. 13 miles of laughs, tears, sweat, and blood. (Ben got a blister on each of his feet.) Now I can look at that lake, and honestly point at any spot around it and say "I have been there".
I would still like to go around the edge of it in a boat and see how far the perimeter is, cause there were a lot of places where the trail went way back into the woods, There by increasing the distance greatly. Someday... someday.
P.S. It was also a horse trail. Hence the title.
The day was farelly un-eventful. I slept in 'till somewhere around 9:00. That was nice. Then we had chili-dogs for lunch. Those were delicious. But the really excitement of the day started shortly after lunch.
I had been sitting there in front of the fire, as I had done for a great part of the last two days. I had nothing to do with myself other than eat. (Eating when I'm bored is a habit I have recently been breaking myself of.) After I started feeling as though I had definitely eaten too many milk-duds and fruit-snacks I decided that I should go for a walk to clear my head and to think.
I stood up and mentioned that I was going for a walk, so Ben said "That's a good idea" and got up to go with me. So we set off with no idea what was in store for us that day.
I had no plan as to how far I was going, or how long it would take. All I knew was that I was going for a walk. So we walked. We didn't talk a whole lot, but that's ok 'cause I wanted to think for a while anyway.
Eventually we came upon the sign post for the trail. It read something like this:
"South-Shore Trail
Distance of path
around Timothy lake
13 Miles"
I had absolutely no intention of going all the way around that lake. Regardless though, I began calculating the time it would take and the potential of actually doing it. It would definitely be an interesting experience. But, alas, I didn't know whether or not Ben, with his bum knee, would be able to make it, and in time for dinner.
So with absolutely no intention of going very far we continued walking. Eventually we crossed a bridge that went over the dam of the lake. On the other side of the bridge there was a park sign. It had a map of the lake, as well as a "you are here" arrow. We took a look at it. I asked Ben which camp ground our base-camp was located at. He assured me that is was the one furthest from our current position. With that in mind I figured that we were one third of the way around the lake.
It was at that point that I pitched the idea to Ben.
"Want to keep going? We can just keep walking and see how far we can get. And hey! If we get far enough there wouldn't even be any point in turning around."
The whole time I had no intention of turning around. Unless of course Ben found himself unable to continue forward.
Well, he liked the idea and we ended up having ourselves a grand adventure. 13 miles of laughs, tears, sweat, and blood. (Ben got a blister on each of his feet.) Now I can look at that lake, and honestly point at any spot around it and say "I have been there".
I would still like to go around the edge of it in a boat and see how far the perimeter is, cause there were a lot of places where the trail went way back into the woods, There by increasing the distance greatly. Someday... someday.
P.S. It was also a horse trail. Hence the title.
Monday, June 27, 2005
Wisdom Of The Aged
Day #2 camping:
7:00 A.M.: Ben and I jumped into the lake. Crazy? Yes. Cold? Not really. It was coming out of the water that was the bad part. Then is was cold.
Some items were left at the house by members of the camping party, who's names I will not mention. Thus, the ladies took a little drive, all the way back home, leaving the men to sit and tend the fire.
I learned all kinds of stuff from the "mountain man". Like, "jerky is for sucking on, not chewing", and stuff like that. He also talked about how the kids in his family, when he was a kid, would entertain themselves because they didn't have "t.v.". Apparently, fun stuff to do was things such as:
#1: Getting baby birds from their nest, stuffing a firecracker in their mouth and letting them fly off 'till "BOOM!".
#2: Catching frogs and stuffing a lit cigar in their mouth and watch them fill up because they aren't capable of exhaling, 'till "BOOM!".
#3: Taking a fish tale, putting it on a hook, casting it out for some unsuspecting bird to catch, and then reeling in the bird.
Yeah, I'll just stick to reading and blogging.
Poor birds.
7:00 A.M.: Ben and I jumped into the lake. Crazy? Yes. Cold? Not really. It was coming out of the water that was the bad part. Then is was cold.
Some items were left at the house by members of the camping party, who's names I will not mention. Thus, the ladies took a little drive, all the way back home, leaving the men to sit and tend the fire.
I learned all kinds of stuff from the "mountain man". Like, "jerky is for sucking on, not chewing", and stuff like that. He also talked about how the kids in his family, when he was a kid, would entertain themselves because they didn't have "t.v.". Apparently, fun stuff to do was things such as:
#1: Getting baby birds from their nest, stuffing a firecracker in their mouth and letting them fly off 'till "BOOM!".
#2: Catching frogs and stuffing a lit cigar in their mouth and watch them fill up because they aren't capable of exhaling, 'till "BOOM!".
#3: Taking a fish tale, putting it on a hook, casting it out for some unsuspecting bird to catch, and then reeling in the bird.
Yeah, I'll just stick to reading and blogging.
Poor birds.
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Rain, Rain Go Away...
Day #1 camping with Mayers:
A most excellent day. Everyone else was praying all day that the rain (For which Oregon should be quite grateful at this time, seeing as we had a very dry winter) would stop. It was actually rather funny. I'm an Oregonian, I have learned to enjoy the rain. It did get dry before long.
I invented a new card game. It happened rather quickly. Ben was dealing the cards and I made it up as we went. The best part about it, it's actually a really fun game. Ben was a bit addicted to it. We figured out a way to play it with multiple players as well as with just two people. Pretty awesome. The name of the game is Waterside. (Yes. I am running the risk that there is already a game by that name, but I don't care.)
Ben and I went for a walk and found a fallen marshmallow. We thought the honorable thing to do would be to give it a Viking burial. We took him back to camp, lit him on fire, and sent him out into the lake. It was magnificent. Well, accept that he didn't get far into the lake at all. And before too long he fell off his raft (a.k.a. piece of tree bark). But it was still fun.
A most excellent day. Everyone else was praying all day that the rain (For which Oregon should be quite grateful at this time, seeing as we had a very dry winter) would stop. It was actually rather funny. I'm an Oregonian, I have learned to enjoy the rain. It did get dry before long.
I invented a new card game. It happened rather quickly. Ben was dealing the cards and I made it up as we went. The best part about it, it's actually a really fun game. Ben was a bit addicted to it. We figured out a way to play it with multiple players as well as with just two people. Pretty awesome. The name of the game is Waterside. (Yes. I am running the risk that there is already a game by that name, but I don't care.)
Ben and I went for a walk and found a fallen marshmallow. We thought the honorable thing to do would be to give it a Viking burial. We took him back to camp, lit him on fire, and sent him out into the lake. It was magnificent. Well, accept that he didn't get far into the lake at all. And before too long he fell off his raft (a.k.a. piece of tree bark). But it was still fun.
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Could You Watch My Cat While I'm Gone?
Well, this is it. The last time I shall post for a while. I might post on Wednesday. We'll see.
I think I figured out what I'm going to do. I am going to, each day, write in a journal so that I can put it all in my blog when I get back. Don't worry It won't be one massive blog. Hehe. I'm going to make the blog think that I'm actually blogging on the days that I was gone. Mua hahahaa! So there will probably be five-day installations everyday for the week after I'm back. Or something like that. Hmm... Now that I think about it, that seems a bit overwhelming. Maybe I'll just write every other day. Well, there's only one way to find out what I'm going to do. We'll just have to wait and see.
With that last sentence I probably made a lot of enemies. Or at least angry people who don't like to have to wait for information that has been left to dangle in front of their nose. To those people, all I can say is, "your loss".
Well, as my grandfather used to say, "See you in the funny papers."
I think I figured out what I'm going to do. I am going to, each day, write in a journal so that I can put it all in my blog when I get back. Don't worry It won't be one massive blog. Hehe. I'm going to make the blog think that I'm actually blogging on the days that I was gone. Mua hahahaa! So there will probably be five-day installations everyday for the week after I'm back. Or something like that. Hmm... Now that I think about it, that seems a bit overwhelming. Maybe I'll just write every other day. Well, there's only one way to find out what I'm going to do. We'll just have to wait and see.
With that last sentence I probably made a lot of enemies. Or at least angry people who don't like to have to wait for information that has been left to dangle in front of their nose. To those people, all I can say is, "your loss".
Well, as my grandfather used to say, "See you in the funny papers."
Friday, June 24, 2005
"2 Reasons:"
I have finished! I'm done with that book. The Da Vinci Code was a good story. However, it was tough on me. The reading itself wasn't hard, it was all the junk that it presented as fact. I think my paper on it is going to be about the use of fiction stories to manipulate the minds of the reader in matters of personal beliefs. Like I said, it was a tough read. But I'm ok.
I'm going to be leading worship at this little gathering tonight. That should be fun.
Tomorrow a group of high schoolers from the Christian church are going to the beach. I was invited, but I can't go because they get back around midnight and I'm leaving to go camping the next day. It's really too bad. I don't get to hang out with that whole crowd much now that school is out. If any of you guys are reading this (and you know who you are), I miss you guys. And God bless your summer.
Two days till "psycho time". I decided to give it that name for two reasons:
#1: The Three weeks strait that are likely to kill me.
#2: I'm going camping with Ben "Call me crazy" "Sock-juice" Mayer.
This is going to be awesome. I went camping with his family last year. The only problem with camping at the beach... sand gets in everything. But we had a great time anyway.
This year we aren't camping at the beach. We're going to some undisclosed lake area. I leave it undisclosed for two reasons:
#1: I wouldn't want everyone to find out where I was summering, and then find myself surrounded by a flock of adoring fans while I'm trying to get away from it all.
#2 (And the more logical reason): I can't really remember where it was that we are going.
I feel like I have had so much to say for the last week. And, yet, I haven't written it because I wanted to keep the posts short. Most of it will come out eventually. But not today.
Later days.
I'm going to be leading worship at this little gathering tonight. That should be fun.
Tomorrow a group of high schoolers from the Christian church are going to the beach. I was invited, but I can't go because they get back around midnight and I'm leaving to go camping the next day. It's really too bad. I don't get to hang out with that whole crowd much now that school is out. If any of you guys are reading this (and you know who you are), I miss you guys. And God bless your summer.
Two days till "psycho time". I decided to give it that name for two reasons:
#1: The Three weeks strait that are likely to kill me.
#2: I'm going camping with Ben "Call me crazy" "Sock-juice" Mayer.
This is going to be awesome. I went camping with his family last year. The only problem with camping at the beach... sand gets in everything. But we had a great time anyway.
This year we aren't camping at the beach. We're going to some undisclosed lake area. I leave it undisclosed for two reasons:
#1: I wouldn't want everyone to find out where I was summering, and then find myself surrounded by a flock of adoring fans while I'm trying to get away from it all.
#2 (And the more logical reason): I can't really remember where it was that we are going.
I feel like I have had so much to say for the last week. And, yet, I haven't written it because I wanted to keep the posts short. Most of it will come out eventually. But not today.
Later days.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Woo Hoo!
I have three days left to be bored. That's right, only three days. I have been sitting in this house for two weeks.
I have been spoiling my family for two weeks by actually doing my house work. They won't even know what hit them come the middle of the second week I'm gone. And at that point I'll still be gone for another week and a half.
It looks as though I am going to be counseling out at Eagle Fern Camp for a week. In fact, I leave for that the day after I get back from summer seminary. Thus the three weeks of absence.
These past two weeks haven't been as bad as I sometimes think they have. It is nice to know that I actually got things done. Like, actual work. I did go bowling twice, swimming one-and-a-half times, and got to go all the way into Clackamas Town Center. So I suppose it really hasn't been that bad.
But come this Sunday, I'm out of here. I'm not comin' back for four days. Then I leave again the next day for a week and a half. And of course all of that is followed up by another trip the day after my return that will last yet another week. ("Down time? What's that?")
Sadly I will not be able to blog for any of that time. We'll just see whether or not I feel adequately rested enough to blog on the two nights that I am home amid all that time.
I have been spoiling my family for two weeks by actually doing my house work. They won't even know what hit them come the middle of the second week I'm gone. And at that point I'll still be gone for another week and a half.
It looks as though I am going to be counseling out at Eagle Fern Camp for a week. In fact, I leave for that the day after I get back from summer seminary. Thus the three weeks of absence.
These past two weeks haven't been as bad as I sometimes think they have. It is nice to know that I actually got things done. Like, actual work. I did go bowling twice, swimming one-and-a-half times, and got to go all the way into Clackamas Town Center. So I suppose it really hasn't been that bad.
But come this Sunday, I'm out of here. I'm not comin' back for four days. Then I leave again the next day for a week and a half. And of course all of that is followed up by another trip the day after my return that will last yet another week. ("Down time? What's that?")
Sadly I will not be able to blog for any of that time. We'll just see whether or not I feel adequately rested enough to blog on the two nights that I am home amid all that time.
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Brotherhood
Ok. So we have established that my brother and myself are goof balls. Let me tell you, the things we come up with can be pretty crazy. It gets especially weird when we are working off each other. He says something that makes absolutely no sense what so ever, then I follow it up with something else that "explains" the nonsense in a nonsensical way. Usually our best material is brought out when it's kind of late and we are both so tired that our minds aren't working at full capacity. Of course... everything is funny then... usually.
I can remember this one time when I was up late working on a puzzle and somehow my brother and I got into this big dialogue. I have no idea where it started or where it finished. However, I do know that Keiko did enter the conversation and our sides were splitting. Good times.
I had another one of those days that start out with all these great plans and plenty of backup plans, just in case. It ended in almost complete failure. I did get all the work done that I had planned. But I didn't get to do much of the playing. It's summer. Kids are supposed to play during summer. Oh well. The day was slightly salvaged when Fanno decided it had finally become warm enough to go swimming.
We never did jump into the river. It took too long to get there, and then too long to get the rope ready so that we could climb back out. But it was fun none the less.
Well, I have been invited, yet again, to join a group of peoples for bowling tomorrow night. Not that I was invited once before to go bowling tomorrow night. Just that I was invited to go bowling. We'll just have to see who all is going, first. I don't like going to things where I don't know who is going to be there.
Call me paranoid. It would be the truth. And I won't deny it. I get that from my brother. The paranoia, not the lack of denial. Though, I'm sure I get quite a bit of that from him as well.
I can remember this one time when I was up late working on a puzzle and somehow my brother and I got into this big dialogue. I have no idea where it started or where it finished. However, I do know that Keiko did enter the conversation and our sides were splitting. Good times.
I had another one of those days that start out with all these great plans and plenty of backup plans, just in case. It ended in almost complete failure. I did get all the work done that I had planned. But I didn't get to do much of the playing. It's summer. Kids are supposed to play during summer. Oh well. The day was slightly salvaged when Fanno decided it had finally become warm enough to go swimming.
We never did jump into the river. It took too long to get there, and then too long to get the rope ready so that we could climb back out. But it was fun none the less.
Well, I have been invited, yet again, to join a group of peoples for bowling tomorrow night. Not that I was invited once before to go bowling tomorrow night. Just that I was invited to go bowling. We'll just have to see who all is going, first. I don't like going to things where I don't know who is going to be there.
Call me paranoid. It would be the truth. And I won't deny it. I get that from my brother. The paranoia, not the lack of denial. Though, I'm sure I get quite a bit of that from him as well.
Take This, Da Vinci
Top story in the news today: The flight of birds has been found to be created by super telekinetic powers from within the bird's own gizzard.
It seems the small stones, that are used to grind the bird's food, contain large amounts of highly magnetic materials. This discovery was made by a New York City bum, who, while trying to find something to eat, happened upon the remains of a dead bird that was levitating over a man-hole cover.
Side note: Humming birds drink waaaaaay to much coffee.
It seems the small stones, that are used to grind the bird's food, contain large amounts of highly magnetic materials. This discovery was made by a New York City bum, who, while trying to find something to eat, happened upon the remains of a dead bird that was levitating over a man-hole cover.
Side note: Humming birds drink waaaaaay to much coffee.
Monday, June 20, 2005
Blogs, Malls, And Storms
As some of you might have noticed (yeah, right) I haven't blogged for two days. It seems terrible for such a thing to happen to the, as Eric put it, "Blogging machine". And I do regret its happening.
Saturday I was at Clackamas Town Center. I needed to get a birthday present for my Mom, and a fathersday present for my Dad. Well, that, and I really wanted to get out of the house and to hang out with friends.
The plan, which was devised in one hour, was for a group, emphasis on group, of people to go to the mall, probably by bus. I pitched the idea to Stephanie and we spent the hour making calls, trying to get at least one other person. One rejection after another. Jessie, Jill, Joy (wow, I know a lot of people who's names start with J.) All of them were busy.
It was getting down to the last minutes. The bus would leave soon, and, if we were to go at all, we would have to catch a later bus.
Stephanie made one more call. Anna "Banana" "Bandanna" Ferante (try saying that ten times fast.) She wasn't going to be able to take the bus, but we could meet her once we got there.
Well that plan worked great.
A little piece of advice: When you are going to meet someone at Clackamas Town Center, Don't, I repeat, DON'T agree to meet at the "J.C. Pennies entrance"!
Reason #1: There are three exterior entrances on the top level alone.
#2: There is also an exterior entrance on the lower level.
#3: on both levels there is an interior entrance.
WHERE IN THE WORLD WERE WE SUPPOSED TO MEET HER?
Well, we didn't have time to think about it. By the time we had confirmation of another party member we had to get to the bus. I was able to walk at no particular pace. Stephanie, on the other hand, had to book it down "the hill."
I'm sure Reagan Hill could get a person killed if they tried to descend it too quickly. I want to try it some time. Not too quickly. Just... quick enough. Not enough to get killed though.
Well, we made it too the bus. We made it to the mall. We even found the gift for my dad before it was time to meet Anna "Bandanna".
Then we had the most fun time checking every and any entrance to that darn Pennies. We even sat at the main entrance for half an hour.
After that we were too hungry to wait around any longer.
All in all the trip was great. I hadn't had a chance to really talk with Stephanie since before all the graduation stuff, so it was nice to catch up.
Anyway, we got back just in time for me to leave for my mothers birthday party at my grandparent's house. That lasted 'till 10 o'clock. Thus I was not able to blog that day.
Sunday I was in the middle of taking care of all my blog duties when I was forced to shut down the computer due to an on coming storm.
The storm was pretty awesome. And the way it came in was incredible. I had never seen anything like it. It was just this really dark cloud, in the distance at first. Before long it was right over the entire town. The lightning and thunder were amazing. It lasted almost exactly two hours. Pouring rain, and thunder that shook buildings.
Of course, I was so unattached to the whole thing that I just sat there reading a book. And not only that, because I tend to get a little sleepy when I read, I read for a little while and then took a nap. Right in the middle of this tremendous storm I was sleeping.
Hey, maybe I'm getting a little better at that whole "more like Jesus" thing. He slept in the middle of a storm. But he didn't have a roof over his head and a warm room and a good book. Oh well. Close enough.
Saturday I was at Clackamas Town Center. I needed to get a birthday present for my Mom, and a fathersday present for my Dad. Well, that, and I really wanted to get out of the house and to hang out with friends.
The plan, which was devised in one hour, was for a group, emphasis on group, of people to go to the mall, probably by bus. I pitched the idea to Stephanie and we spent the hour making calls, trying to get at least one other person. One rejection after another. Jessie, Jill, Joy (wow, I know a lot of people who's names start with J.) All of them were busy.
It was getting down to the last minutes. The bus would leave soon, and, if we were to go at all, we would have to catch a later bus.
Stephanie made one more call. Anna "Banana" "Bandanna" Ferante (try saying that ten times fast.) She wasn't going to be able to take the bus, but we could meet her once we got there.
Well that plan worked great.
A little piece of advice: When you are going to meet someone at Clackamas Town Center, Don't, I repeat, DON'T agree to meet at the "J.C. Pennies entrance"!
Reason #1: There are three exterior entrances on the top level alone.
#2: There is also an exterior entrance on the lower level.
#3: on both levels there is an interior entrance.
WHERE IN THE WORLD WERE WE SUPPOSED TO MEET HER?
Well, we didn't have time to think about it. By the time we had confirmation of another party member we had to get to the bus. I was able to walk at no particular pace. Stephanie, on the other hand, had to book it down "the hill."
I'm sure Reagan Hill could get a person killed if they tried to descend it too quickly. I want to try it some time. Not too quickly. Just... quick enough. Not enough to get killed though.
Well, we made it too the bus. We made it to the mall. We even found the gift for my dad before it was time to meet Anna "Bandanna".
Then we had the most fun time checking every and any entrance to that darn Pennies. We even sat at the main entrance for half an hour.
After that we were too hungry to wait around any longer.
All in all the trip was great. I hadn't had a chance to really talk with Stephanie since before all the graduation stuff, so it was nice to catch up.
Anyway, we got back just in time for me to leave for my mothers birthday party at my grandparent's house. That lasted 'till 10 o'clock. Thus I was not able to blog that day.
Sunday I was in the middle of taking care of all my blog duties when I was forced to shut down the computer due to an on coming storm.
The storm was pretty awesome. And the way it came in was incredible. I had never seen anything like it. It was just this really dark cloud, in the distance at first. Before long it was right over the entire town. The lightning and thunder were amazing. It lasted almost exactly two hours. Pouring rain, and thunder that shook buildings.
Of course, I was so unattached to the whole thing that I just sat there reading a book. And not only that, because I tend to get a little sleepy when I read, I read for a little while and then took a nap. Right in the middle of this tremendous storm I was sleeping.
Hey, maybe I'm getting a little better at that whole "more like Jesus" thing. He slept in the middle of a storm. But he didn't have a roof over his head and a warm room and a good book. Oh well. Close enough.
Friday, June 17, 2005
Confusing, Like F. Scott Fitzgerald's Writing
Well that was fun. (To find out what, read post below titled "Multi-Tasking")
It just started and ended up real poetic like.
Big day that wasn't full of much. I ran a science experiment that proved that Newton's law of cooling applied to viscous solids (eg. butter). I had a rehearsal with Jessie and Stephanie for that song we are going to sing for church. I turned into a pile of goo when I had a Jones (I'll explain later.) I pulled grass out from under a hedge of lilacs in the rain (my fingers are still sore.) And I'm sure I did many other things today. I just don't remember what.
Joy, I'm sorry if I wasn't much support today. I was a bit preoccupied with being a pile of goo. I am praying for you though.
Did anyone else see the sun break today? It was beautiful. A sign of hope that summer would soon bring forth the required heat that would drive one to jump into the river and swim 'til they could swim no more (that, or catch hypothermia.) The river calls to me, and I shall heed that call. Oh, summer, shine your light down upon this town. Darn global warming has this whole state messed up. Dry winters, and dark summers. Everyone knows that Oregon is supposed to be one of the wettest states this side of Washington and the Mississippi in the winter, and an uncomfortably hot place in the summer.
I think I shall stop here for sanity's sake. Though sanity never did anything for me. I don't know why I should do him any favors. You're getting off easy this time, Sanity. But don't be expecting the same red-carpet treatment next time. I've got my eye on you, so you better watch your back. Take that sanity!
That's what I should name my dog (the one that I will have in the distant future.) Sanity. Great name. A lot of jokes will come from that one. "I've lost my Sanity!" Hehe.
Good night, ladies and gentlemen!
It just started and ended up real poetic like.
Big day that wasn't full of much. I ran a science experiment that proved that Newton's law of cooling applied to viscous solids (eg. butter). I had a rehearsal with Jessie and Stephanie for that song we are going to sing for church. I turned into a pile of goo when I had a Jones (I'll explain later.) I pulled grass out from under a hedge of lilacs in the rain (my fingers are still sore.) And I'm sure I did many other things today. I just don't remember what.
Joy, I'm sorry if I wasn't much support today. I was a bit preoccupied with being a pile of goo. I am praying for you though.
Did anyone else see the sun break today? It was beautiful. A sign of hope that summer would soon bring forth the required heat that would drive one to jump into the river and swim 'til they could swim no more (that, or catch hypothermia.) The river calls to me, and I shall heed that call. Oh, summer, shine your light down upon this town. Darn global warming has this whole state messed up. Dry winters, and dark summers. Everyone knows that Oregon is supposed to be one of the wettest states this side of Washington and the Mississippi in the winter, and an uncomfortably hot place in the summer.
I think I shall stop here for sanity's sake. Though sanity never did anything for me. I don't know why I should do him any favors. You're getting off easy this time, Sanity. But don't be expecting the same red-carpet treatment next time. I've got my eye on you, so you better watch your back. Take that sanity!
That's what I should name my dog (the one that I will have in the distant future.) Sanity. Great name. A lot of jokes will come from that one. "I've lost my Sanity!" Hehe.
Good night, ladies and gentlemen!
Multi-Tasking
Today I was many things.
I was a laundry man, and a gardener.
I was a musician, and a critic.
I was a pile of goo, and a firm opinion.
I was a brother, and a friend.
I was a scientist, and a theologian.
I was a sinner, and I was saved.
Thank you, everyone who helped me be so much in one day.
I was a laundry man, and a gardener.
I was a musician, and a critic.
I was a pile of goo, and a firm opinion.
I was a brother, and a friend.
I was a scientist, and a theologian.
I was a sinner, and I was saved.
Thank you, everyone who helped me be so much in one day.
Thursday, June 16, 2005
DJ Kin-Dog
First I would like to make it clear that I was given the name Kin-Dog. It was not my idea. Come to think of it, I got that name while bowling, years ago. Weird!
Ok. So, after our little excursion last night to the bowling alley we were driving home. I suppose I shouldn't say "we" were driving, 'cause Jessie was the only one driving. Anyway, the point is we were on our way home when someone puts a CD in the stereo. We start listening to it when all of a sudden Stephanie says, "Oh! This CD is like the theme CD of my junior year", or something to that effect. Well I started thinking about it, and I thought, "I have a lot of CDs that are the theme CDs of my junior year." And, yet, not every song on those CDs are the theme of said year. So I got this idea. Why not take all those songs that signify my junior year of high school and put them all on one CD?
Thus, this has become my new project. This morning I went through all the CDs that played a large role in my life this last year and found all my favorite songs on them. The only problem was that I ended up with 36 songs. But I had anticipated the fact that I wouldn't be able to put all my favorite songs in the mix. So, I then went through the list and scratched off all the songs that didn't actually have any historical meaning for the year. That cut it down to about 20 songs.
Now, I figure this CD will only be able to hold about 15 songs tops. Besides, if there were any more than that, I'm sure it would be an obnoxiously long CD. For this reason, 15 is the limit.
Seeing as I had to eliminate five songs I went back through the list. I then proceeded to scratch out any songs that didn't have any profound meaning to me. I got it down to 15 songs.
The only problem I have left to deal with is the order I want the songs in. Originally I was thinking chronological, but I tossed that idea. I'll figure something out.
I had the idea of producing this mix and then selling it on E-bay. However, I decided against that idea because it violates a lot of copy rights. That, and it makes my junior-year mix subject to horrendous rejection. A good dose of reality for my ego, but a waste of perfectly good CDs.
Ok. So, after our little excursion last night to the bowling alley we were driving home. I suppose I shouldn't say "we" were driving, 'cause Jessie was the only one driving. Anyway, the point is we were on our way home when someone puts a CD in the stereo. We start listening to it when all of a sudden Stephanie says, "Oh! This CD is like the theme CD of my junior year", or something to that effect. Well I started thinking about it, and I thought, "I have a lot of CDs that are the theme CDs of my junior year." And, yet, not every song on those CDs are the theme of said year. So I got this idea. Why not take all those songs that signify my junior year of high school and put them all on one CD?
Thus, this has become my new project. This morning I went through all the CDs that played a large role in my life this last year and found all my favorite songs on them. The only problem was that I ended up with 36 songs. But I had anticipated the fact that I wouldn't be able to put all my favorite songs in the mix. So, I then went through the list and scratched off all the songs that didn't actually have any historical meaning for the year. That cut it down to about 20 songs.
Now, I figure this CD will only be able to hold about 15 songs tops. Besides, if there were any more than that, I'm sure it would be an obnoxiously long CD. For this reason, 15 is the limit.
Seeing as I had to eliminate five songs I went back through the list. I then proceeded to scratch out any songs that didn't have any profound meaning to me. I got it down to 15 songs.
The only problem I have left to deal with is the order I want the songs in. Originally I was thinking chronological, but I tossed that idea. I'll figure something out.
I had the idea of producing this mix and then selling it on E-bay. However, I decided against that idea because it violates a lot of copy rights. That, and it makes my junior-year mix subject to horrendous rejection. A good dose of reality for my ego, but a waste of perfectly good CDs.
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Alley Auction
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. I would like to begin today's festivities with a little song.
(Insert Music Here)
Thank you.
Now our first order of business this evening will be the Vacus-yuemus. This lovely piece was created in the early baroque period by the infamous Don Crustmest, the very same one that was said to have the funniest name ever conceived by man. In fact his middle name is said to be so funny that if it was ever to enter the mind of any human that said human would fall over dead with laughter.
Can I get a bid of fifty for this fine piece, the Vacus-yuemus? It's the only one ever to be made, and the only piece ever by the Don. Do I hear fifty? Fifty, anyone?
Ok that was fun.
I'm going bowling tonight. I really like bowling. Not that I'm even very good at it, though I do have my moments. It's just a fun challenge. You hurl a ball down a long straightaway and try to knock down these huge pins (Have you ever seen how heavy those pins are?).
And then, as if that wasn't fun enough, I like to try the joke shots. Some people call them trick shots, but lets face it, you're just goofing off. There's no "trick" to it. Only a big joke that occasionally works completely on accident.
I know some people get mad at me cause I'm not taking the game seriously. I don't care. There are times when I do the best I can, but as soon as it gets too "starchy" (I've never used this word before, but it seemed like a good word to describe what I'm talking about) I just loosen up and have fun. After all, that is the point of the game, right? To have fun.
Bowl on!
(Insert Music Here)
Thank you.
Now our first order of business this evening will be the Vacus-yuemus. This lovely piece was created in the early baroque period by the infamous Don Crustmest, the very same one that was said to have the funniest name ever conceived by man. In fact his middle name is said to be so funny that if it was ever to enter the mind of any human that said human would fall over dead with laughter.
Can I get a bid of fifty for this fine piece, the Vacus-yuemus? It's the only one ever to be made, and the only piece ever by the Don. Do I hear fifty? Fifty, anyone?
Ok that was fun.
I'm going bowling tonight. I really like bowling. Not that I'm even very good at it, though I do have my moments. It's just a fun challenge. You hurl a ball down a long straightaway and try to knock down these huge pins (Have you ever seen how heavy those pins are?).
And then, as if that wasn't fun enough, I like to try the joke shots. Some people call them trick shots, but lets face it, you're just goofing off. There's no "trick" to it. Only a big joke that occasionally works completely on accident.
I know some people get mad at me cause I'm not taking the game seriously. I don't care. There are times when I do the best I can, but as soon as it gets too "starchy" (I've never used this word before, but it seemed like a good word to describe what I'm talking about) I just loosen up and have fun. After all, that is the point of the game, right? To have fun.
Bowl on!
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Hmm...
The time has come. I have been at this computer most of the day, and have put off this post until I had actually experienced the day. I thought that to be the best way to do it. Seeing as I can't honestly write about a day that hasn't really happened yet.
Really it hasn't been very eventful.
You know what? Strike that! This day has been very eventful.
I read around ten chapters of "The Da Vinci Code", one of the books that is on my summer reading list. Now I know that some people hear of that book and think that it is not fit for christian consumption. Well, to those I would say, "then stay away from it." I say this with the utmost respect of course. If you are not able to read such things with a clear conscience then that's perfectly ok.
Do not fret for me though. I say this not because I see myself as being a "super christian", but rather because I am blessed with the abililty to read a book without it becoming a truth in my mind. It remains a story. (Regardless, there are still a lot of books that I won't read.)
In all honesty this book is more sad than tempting. Reading about all these characters that believe all these strange things that will "save" them, and knowing that some people really believe this stuff brings sadness to my heart. And the strong faith these characters have, if only such faith was in the hearts of christians today. We would have faith and truth. Imagine what could be done in the name of the Lord.
Then there is the unity that they have. They aren't fighting over trivial matters within their religion. And again, here the christian church is often too busy fighting with each other to work together.
Why is it that people with such understanding of these things so often turn to false teachings?
Really it hasn't been very eventful.
You know what? Strike that! This day has been very eventful.
I read around ten chapters of "The Da Vinci Code", one of the books that is on my summer reading list. Now I know that some people hear of that book and think that it is not fit for christian consumption. Well, to those I would say, "then stay away from it." I say this with the utmost respect of course. If you are not able to read such things with a clear conscience then that's perfectly ok.
Do not fret for me though. I say this not because I see myself as being a "super christian", but rather because I am blessed with the abililty to read a book without it becoming a truth in my mind. It remains a story. (Regardless, there are still a lot of books that I won't read.)
In all honesty this book is more sad than tempting. Reading about all these characters that believe all these strange things that will "save" them, and knowing that some people really believe this stuff brings sadness to my heart. And the strong faith these characters have, if only such faith was in the hearts of christians today. We would have faith and truth. Imagine what could be done in the name of the Lord.
Then there is the unity that they have. They aren't fighting over trivial matters within their religion. And again, here the christian church is often too busy fighting with each other to work together.
Why is it that people with such understanding of these things so often turn to false teachings?
Monday, June 13, 2005
This Is Summer?!?!
I was just thinking about the summer assignment I have to finish this summer. I think it would be totally awesome if they just required so many hours/pages of writing. My reasoning behind this is that I'm writing anyway. So far I've written every single day of this entire summer break... all three days of it. It would just be cool to be able to walk in the first day of school and hand over my blog. Pages and pages of nonsense dotted with moments of brilliance. And "Mr. C", as some call him, (though I still maintain that the title of "Mr. C" belongs to Mr. Christensen and not Mr. Christiansen) would flip out just looking at the volumes of Kin's thoughts. I know I'd be scared.
Ok, so today I started off my morning with a little yard work. Ralph Branson needed some grass taken out from around his lilacs. I did the best I could, but I'm going to have to return and get the grass that resides directly at the base of the lilacs. That stuff doesn't just shovel out, and you don't want to pluck the tops off. You have to get 'em, roots and all.
So I picked up some money for that. It's always nice to start off the summer with a little cash in the pocket. Not that it will last long. Jones may be cheap, but the're so good why stop after just one.
I got the information in the mail for summer seminary today. I leave on the 30th of June. That just happens to be the day after I get back from camping with Ben and his family (Yes. Sock-juice Ben). I get back from summer seminary on the 9th of July. This means I'm going to be gone for exactly two weeks. And to top it all off, on the 10th of July Jessie, Stephanie, and I are going to play a song for church. This is going to be very interesting. I know I'm going to be dead tired. Fourteen days strait without any down time, then perform. And yes Eric, I'm going to be fully dependent upon God to get me through it because there is no way I could do it on my own.
The real trick with this song we are going to be playing/singing is going to be getting in practice. As I have already stated, I'm going to be gone for the two weeks before we perform. As if that weren't enough, I might be able to practice the day before, but they might not. Jessie and Stephanie will be getting home from camp David Jr. on the 9th as well. Who knows what time they will get home. So we might just show up on Sunday morning, run through it once after not having played it for two weeks, and leave the rest to God. Although, that does sound like a good idea, but we should still do our best to practice. Otherwise we would just be lazy, and that isn't good.
I had jazz band today. We are meeting on Monday evenings over the summer, and I'm playin' bass guitar. I need to practice a lot. It was very embarrassing, 'cause everyone else new what they were doing. I was just standing there trying to find where they were and figuring out what to do about all the flats. I had a few good moments. Like I said, I just need to practice.
Ok, so today I started off my morning with a little yard work. Ralph Branson needed some grass taken out from around his lilacs. I did the best I could, but I'm going to have to return and get the grass that resides directly at the base of the lilacs. That stuff doesn't just shovel out, and you don't want to pluck the tops off. You have to get 'em, roots and all.
So I picked up some money for that. It's always nice to start off the summer with a little cash in the pocket. Not that it will last long. Jones may be cheap, but the're so good why stop after just one.
I got the information in the mail for summer seminary today. I leave on the 30th of June. That just happens to be the day after I get back from camping with Ben and his family (Yes. Sock-juice Ben). I get back from summer seminary on the 9th of July. This means I'm going to be gone for exactly two weeks. And to top it all off, on the 10th of July Jessie, Stephanie, and I are going to play a song for church. This is going to be very interesting. I know I'm going to be dead tired. Fourteen days strait without any down time, then perform. And yes Eric, I'm going to be fully dependent upon God to get me through it because there is no way I could do it on my own.
The real trick with this song we are going to be playing/singing is going to be getting in practice. As I have already stated, I'm going to be gone for the two weeks before we perform. As if that weren't enough, I might be able to practice the day before, but they might not. Jessie and Stephanie will be getting home from camp David Jr. on the 9th as well. Who knows what time they will get home. So we might just show up on Sunday morning, run through it once after not having played it for two weeks, and leave the rest to God. Although, that does sound like a good idea, but we should still do our best to practice. Otherwise we would just be lazy, and that isn't good.
I had jazz band today. We are meeting on Monday evenings over the summer, and I'm playin' bass guitar. I need to practice a lot. It was very embarrassing, 'cause everyone else new what they were doing. I was just standing there trying to find where they were and figuring out what to do about all the flats. I had a few good moments. Like I said, I just need to practice.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
The Bomb-Diggidy
I am very tired. However, I know that in a little while I won't feel as tired as I do right now. That's the disadvantage to being able to draw energy from out of nowhere. I want to be able to go to bed soon, but if I am forced to stay awake for even a short time more I'll be running full throttle again. It comes in handy at times, but I really want to sleep.
I played paintball today. Got shot right in the shin. Now I have this welt the size of a quarter. It doesn't really hurt. Mostly it just feels kind of like a sunburn. So as long as I don't touch it I'm fine.
Battle scars are the best. After the incident at winter retreat, from which I ended up with my whole face scratched up for exactly one week (Darn super human healing abilities), I was hoping that I would at least have one scar. Sadly the only scar that developed from that trip was a faint one on my arm that, by all rights, shouldn't have become a scar.
I still need to get the footage of that from Masami. I don't have any pictures of my face after the crash, I want to get the film so that I can remember it forever. Haha. Then I can show it to my kids and say, "This is why you guys have to toughen up. You never know when something like this might happen."
No. I'm going to love my kids. Though I will want them to be able to stand back up after falling down, so to speak, I'm sure I'll end up being a softy. I just don't really have it in me to be excessively over baring, and... mean.
I should probably explain that my youth group had it's "Final night BBQ" at the Hambelton's. That's where I played paintball. I also had a great time just hanging out. Talking with friends, eating a little food, and watching as everyone was thrown into the pool at some point or another.
Barring alzheimer's and concussion, I will never forget Ben's "sock juice". Ben, you're crazy, and you really should have thought a bit more before actually drinking that stuff. (Gag)
Apparently I look like I could be a psycho killer when I smile while wearing sunglasses. Jason still has one more on me. He looks like a psycho killer without the glasses.
I played paintball today. Got shot right in the shin. Now I have this welt the size of a quarter. It doesn't really hurt. Mostly it just feels kind of like a sunburn. So as long as I don't touch it I'm fine.
Battle scars are the best. After the incident at winter retreat, from which I ended up with my whole face scratched up for exactly one week (Darn super human healing abilities), I was hoping that I would at least have one scar. Sadly the only scar that developed from that trip was a faint one on my arm that, by all rights, shouldn't have become a scar.
I still need to get the footage of that from Masami. I don't have any pictures of my face after the crash, I want to get the film so that I can remember it forever. Haha. Then I can show it to my kids and say, "This is why you guys have to toughen up. You never know when something like this might happen."
No. I'm going to love my kids. Though I will want them to be able to stand back up after falling down, so to speak, I'm sure I'll end up being a softy. I just don't really have it in me to be excessively over baring, and... mean.
I should probably explain that my youth group had it's "Final night BBQ" at the Hambelton's. That's where I played paintball. I also had a great time just hanging out. Talking with friends, eating a little food, and watching as everyone was thrown into the pool at some point or another.
Barring alzheimer's and concussion, I will never forget Ben's "sock juice". Ben, you're crazy, and you really should have thought a bit more before actually drinking that stuff. (Gag)
Apparently I look like I could be a psycho killer when I smile while wearing sunglasses. Jason still has one more on me. He looks like a psycho killer without the glasses.
Saturday, June 11, 2005
A Sad Farewell
I have decided to devote this particular post to one of my greatest supporters throughout this entire year of high school... My shoes.
These black vans went with me the whole way. From the beginning of the year when they were new, crisp, and still had that new-shoe smell, all the way to the last day of school when the soles were so soft I could feel every bump in the road as I walked home from school.
I would like to take a moment to describe these things of magnificent beauty, and I think I shall try to do it in poem form. Don't laugh. But if you do then by all means don't stop. Ok, here I go.
Oh, this thing of great feeling,
Of great expression.
Were I to dare feign attempt to describe
The blackness that is your majesty,
I surely would fail to match the power
That radiates from your soul.
The mossy greens that line your in most being,
And the glistening sheen on your heels,
Neither of these can be compared
Even to a Summer's day.
Oh, the letters and words on the tip of your tongue
Speak volumes of the feet you bore.
Your width like that of the oceans,
Your length like that of the Chinese wall.
Long has your journey been,
And great has been your struggle.
The flowing V that adorns your side,
And the glorious banner that you wave,
Shall forever more be held in high regard.
For you have brought honor and beauty
To the name
VANS.
Thank you. These guys have been my primary support the whole way though the year. Whenever I wasn't wearing them I was wearing my dress shoes, and those can get a little uncomfortable.
I thought I should give them a little recognition today because today they went into retirement. That's right. I got new shoes today. The old ones will still be around. I bring them out of retirement for jobs like mowing the lawn, when I can't walk around the house in grassy shoes because people in my house have allergies. So I bring them out, cut the grass, put them away, and don my newer shoes.
I try not to think about it as "replacing" them. That just sounds cruel. I prefer to think of it as, "they are tired, worn out, and need a rest." That way we all get what we need. My old shoes get a break, and I don't have any holes in the shoes I'm wearing.
So, for the last time, thank you, my vans. I will never forget you. That is, unless I develop alzhimer's.
These black vans went with me the whole way. From the beginning of the year when they were new, crisp, and still had that new-shoe smell, all the way to the last day of school when the soles were so soft I could feel every bump in the road as I walked home from school.
I would like to take a moment to describe these things of magnificent beauty, and I think I shall try to do it in poem form. Don't laugh. But if you do then by all means don't stop. Ok, here I go.
Oh, this thing of great feeling,
Of great expression.
Were I to dare feign attempt to describe
The blackness that is your majesty,
I surely would fail to match the power
That radiates from your soul.
The mossy greens that line your in most being,
And the glistening sheen on your heels,
Neither of these can be compared
Even to a Summer's day.
Oh, the letters and words on the tip of your tongue
Speak volumes of the feet you bore.
Your width like that of the oceans,
Your length like that of the Chinese wall.
Long has your journey been,
And great has been your struggle.
The flowing V that adorns your side,
And the glorious banner that you wave,
Shall forever more be held in high regard.
For you have brought honor and beauty
To the name
VANS.
Thank you. These guys have been my primary support the whole way though the year. Whenever I wasn't wearing them I was wearing my dress shoes, and those can get a little uncomfortable.
I thought I should give them a little recognition today because today they went into retirement. That's right. I got new shoes today. The old ones will still be around. I bring them out of retirement for jobs like mowing the lawn, when I can't walk around the house in grassy shoes because people in my house have allergies. So I bring them out, cut the grass, put them away, and don my newer shoes.
I try not to think about it as "replacing" them. That just sounds cruel. I prefer to think of it as, "they are tired, worn out, and need a rest." That way we all get what we need. My old shoes get a break, and I don't have any holes in the shoes I'm wearing.
So, for the last time, thank you, my vans. I will never forget you. That is, unless I develop alzhimer's.
Friday, June 10, 2005
Was That Your Car That Just Went By?
In honor of the momentous occasion of today I have written a song, *cough* on the spot *cough*.
Schooooooooooooooo
ooooooooo
oooooooooooool
is out.
I know. It's a masterpiece. A work of art. A piece of junk... I mean... beauty.
I smiled so much today. I smile a lot usually, but today was like a dream that seemed impossible and then came true. It was a beautiful thing. I can't even guess what these next few months will have in store for me. But that's ok, cause I have a song now that will get me that recording contract I've always wanted. Yesssssss!
Attention: Days left of school,
NONE!!!
Schooooooooooooooo
ooooooooo
oooooooooooool
is out.
I know. It's a masterpiece. A work of art. A piece of junk... I mean... beauty.
I smiled so much today. I smile a lot usually, but today was like a dream that seemed impossible and then came true. It was a beautiful thing. I can't even guess what these next few months will have in store for me. But that's ok, cause I have a song now that will get me that recording contract I've always wanted. Yesssssss!
Attention: Days left of school,
NONE!!!
Thursday, June 09, 2005
The Ultimate Question of Life, The Universe, And Everything = 5 x 7
You know what I miss? You probably don't, but I do. I miss "idg". That's right, I said "idg". Allow me to explain. Last year at Eagle Fern camp my buds used this thing in their speech where they would turn nouns into verbs. Or was it verbs into nouns? I don't know. I don't have to know the titles behind words in order to use them properly, so it doesn't matter much. Anyway, what they would do is if something happened that was kind of funny they would say something like "That was some major smack-idg." Ok, so it was verbs into nouns. Or does the word change at all? Did I mention that I'm not going to be an English teacher. I can't remember all the different "idg"s there were, but you could put it on the end of almost anything.
Haha. Then there were the real jokes. At first there was the classic come back "your mom." I don't exactly know how but that later developed into "your hamster." The two were eventually combined into one great big "Your mom's hamster." Then I took it to the next level with "Your hamster's mom." At that point people knew you were serious and they started to get offended. Never pick on a guy's hamster's mom.
Good times. I had never been to camp before, so these are my camp memories. Good times.
Attention: Days left of school, one 24 hour period that includes time in school. However, that school day is only a half day.
In other words, 1 day of school left. Only three and a half hours of school time left. WooHoo!
Haha. Then there were the real jokes. At first there was the classic come back "your mom." I don't exactly know how but that later developed into "your hamster." The two were eventually combined into one great big "Your mom's hamster." Then I took it to the next level with "Your hamster's mom." At that point people knew you were serious and they started to get offended. Never pick on a guy's hamster's mom.
Good times. I had never been to camp before, so these are my camp memories. Good times.
Attention: Days left of school, one 24 hour period that includes time in school. However, that school day is only a half day.
In other words, 1 day of school left. Only three and a half hours of school time left. WooHoo!
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Ultimate Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything = 42!
I would like to start this blog by saying
"True musicians don't have houses. They have pads." - Leon Cotter
That having been made clear I can, with a clear conscience say that the next few days are going to be great. Yesterday I gave my presentation for my English class. It was after school, so the only one there was Mrs. Schulfer. It was the first time I had ever put a power point presentation together.
Uh oh. I'm beginning to think I may have already blogged about this. Oh well.
Something I know I haven't blogged about, I got the official notice in the mail today. I am going to be on Omega TCL this summer. The only other person that is going to be coming back from last year is Linda. But that's cool, for two reasons.
#1: It's great getting to meet new people, especially at TCL. I'm sure if the whole thing was the same people as last year that it wouldn't take as long for us to be at each other's throats. That and it could be great to meet more people who really believe in God with all their heart. It's just awesome being around so many real Christians.
#B: Linda is really cool. So her being there is going to be great in itself.
Today I went through my dresser drawers. I'm one of those people that has a couple of drawers for clothes, but all the rest are for stuff. Different things: Things I use, things I don't use, things I might use. So the junk drawers were the ones I attacked today. I've gone through them in the past with very little success in actually getting rid of much. I'm also one of those sentimental people who thinks that they have to save everything... just in case. So I went to it today thinking I may not throw anything away, but at least I'll be able to see what's in there. So I went at it, and low and behold I found myself able to just throw stuff out. This is a big deal for me. I'm a very possessive person. That possessiveness is something I have been asking God to take away. So this whole thing is very good news. It shows me that even when I'm not taking conscious steps towards being the kind of person I want to be, God is working me through my faults.
That's another cool thing I have learned from this year in school. As I became closer to God, and as I continued to develop my relationship with him, I found myself looking less at the tragedies and good times in my life, and looking more at how God was working in my life. Whether he was working through the things that I thought were just the bad things that happen to some people, or the blessings that 'I surely deserved'. Now I'm able to look at just about anything in my life, even past experiences, and see that God really does have a plan that works out great, in some way or another.
Now, I realize that those of you who read this blog may think that I've been doing a lot of preaching lately. But really, for the most part, I've just been trying to get all this stuff in writing so that some day I can look back and remember where it all started. I don't mind you guys reading it. Actually I do have an underlying hope that maybe my words might be of some encouragement to anyone reading this. But I'm not preaching. I've just been seeing so much of God lately that he is what I end up writing about. I'm sure you can understand. If you were to find yourself in love with someone, and that person was all you thought about most of the day, you'd probably write about that person a lot. That's all I'm doing.
And yes, for you literalistic people, I am say that I'm in love with God. Not in a physical sense, but in a spiritual sense. And I do think about him a lot throughout my day.
Wow! I think I'm finally beginning to understand your blogging a bit better Eric. It's like no matter how hard I try to keep it short the thing just mutates into this oversize monster. I'm a little worried that the length of my blogs will begin to scare away the few people that are actually interested in my blog. Oh well. Their loss. Or not. They could probably find better things to do with their time.
Attention: Days of school left, 2!
actually it's more like 1 1/2 days, because we don't have a whole day of school on Friday.
P.S.
How do you do that inverted exclamation point, Eric? It's been buggin' me for the longest time.
"True musicians don't have houses. They have pads." - Leon Cotter
That having been made clear I can, with a clear conscience say that the next few days are going to be great. Yesterday I gave my presentation for my English class. It was after school, so the only one there was Mrs. Schulfer. It was the first time I had ever put a power point presentation together.
Uh oh. I'm beginning to think I may have already blogged about this. Oh well.
Something I know I haven't blogged about, I got the official notice in the mail today. I am going to be on Omega TCL this summer. The only other person that is going to be coming back from last year is Linda. But that's cool, for two reasons.
#1: It's great getting to meet new people, especially at TCL. I'm sure if the whole thing was the same people as last year that it wouldn't take as long for us to be at each other's throats. That and it could be great to meet more people who really believe in God with all their heart. It's just awesome being around so many real Christians.
#B: Linda is really cool. So her being there is going to be great in itself.
Today I went through my dresser drawers. I'm one of those people that has a couple of drawers for clothes, but all the rest are for stuff. Different things: Things I use, things I don't use, things I might use. So the junk drawers were the ones I attacked today. I've gone through them in the past with very little success in actually getting rid of much. I'm also one of those sentimental people who thinks that they have to save everything... just in case. So I went to it today thinking I may not throw anything away, but at least I'll be able to see what's in there. So I went at it, and low and behold I found myself able to just throw stuff out. This is a big deal for me. I'm a very possessive person. That possessiveness is something I have been asking God to take away. So this whole thing is very good news. It shows me that even when I'm not taking conscious steps towards being the kind of person I want to be, God is working me through my faults.
That's another cool thing I have learned from this year in school. As I became closer to God, and as I continued to develop my relationship with him, I found myself looking less at the tragedies and good times in my life, and looking more at how God was working in my life. Whether he was working through the things that I thought were just the bad things that happen to some people, or the blessings that 'I surely deserved'. Now I'm able to look at just about anything in my life, even past experiences, and see that God really does have a plan that works out great, in some way or another.
Now, I realize that those of you who read this blog may think that I've been doing a lot of preaching lately. But really, for the most part, I've just been trying to get all this stuff in writing so that some day I can look back and remember where it all started. I don't mind you guys reading it. Actually I do have an underlying hope that maybe my words might be of some encouragement to anyone reading this. But I'm not preaching. I've just been seeing so much of God lately that he is what I end up writing about. I'm sure you can understand. If you were to find yourself in love with someone, and that person was all you thought about most of the day, you'd probably write about that person a lot. That's all I'm doing.
And yes, for you literalistic people, I am say that I'm in love with God. Not in a physical sense, but in a spiritual sense. And I do think about him a lot throughout my day.
Wow! I think I'm finally beginning to understand your blogging a bit better Eric. It's like no matter how hard I try to keep it short the thing just mutates into this oversize monster. I'm a little worried that the length of my blogs will begin to scare away the few people that are actually interested in my blog. Oh well. Their loss. Or not. They could probably find better things to do with their time.
Attention: Days of school left, 2!
actually it's more like 1 1/2 days, because we don't have a whole day of school on Friday.
P.S.
How do you do that inverted exclamation point, Eric? It's been buggin' me for the longest time.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
(Sigh of Relief)
I'm back!
That's right. The year for schooling is coming to a close. I have already completed most of my finals. Spring Fling is over. No more performances. No more after school activities.
As for the things I am going to miss. No more youth group on Sundays. No more home group on Wednesdays. No more seeing my friends every day at school. No more eccentric Reedisms (pernt, missoura, lawr). No more singing sweet choral music.
Back to the good side of it all. No more paper crams late at night. No more dead lines. No more projects.
I have made it through my first year ever in public school. And though this experience has been a stressful one, full of joys and sadness. It has also been a tremendous lesson for me in the sovereign power of God.
It's almost a faint memory, but I do remember the beginning of the year. The loneliness. Being separated from my old friends, and not having any new ones (yet). The fear of all the school work, and not being able to meet up to the standards. Looking for the end of it all as though I was looking through a seemingly eternal tunnel.
And now that end has come. I have more friends than I could have hoped for. I have better grades than I ever thought I could possibly achieve. (Take that Martha Grace Josie. I am a good writer and I bet you knew it all along. You were just holding me back, weren't you? Well thanks for "trying" to help. I did learn a couple of things from you that did help a bit.)
I look back after coming to the end of this terms finals, and I see definite and apparent works of God in my life. At the very least there have been the miracles that he has pulled at the end of every term, when I have had a billion things to do and no way that I knew of to actually finish my finals projects. Every term he has brought me through my finals successful and unscathed.
Each term has been more than just a change in classes and routine. Each term has built me up a little at a time, each one preparing me for the next. And I see this not as the great work of the schools planning staff and counselors. I see it as the divine plan of God for my life.
It hasn't been all fun and games. In fact most of the growth I have undergone has come in times of great distress. Times when all I had to fall back on was God. No one else was able to help. No one else could understand.
As I look back I see that it has been a very hard year. And one that I would not want to do over again next year. But I do not regret in the slightest having done it this year. I rejoice in every step of the journey. In the good times, as well as the bad, I rejoice unto the Lord. For it is because of him that I have become the person I am today. And it is because of him that I look forward to the journey it will take to become the man he desires me to be tomorrow.
Attention: Days of school left, 3!
Senior count: TERMINATED!!!
Haha. Sorry. I couldn't help myself.
That's right. The year for schooling is coming to a close. I have already completed most of my finals. Spring Fling is over. No more performances. No more after school activities.
As for the things I am going to miss. No more youth group on Sundays. No more home group on Wednesdays. No more seeing my friends every day at school. No more eccentric Reedisms (pernt, missoura, lawr). No more singing sweet choral music.
Back to the good side of it all. No more paper crams late at night. No more dead lines. No more projects.
I have made it through my first year ever in public school. And though this experience has been a stressful one, full of joys and sadness. It has also been a tremendous lesson for me in the sovereign power of God.
It's almost a faint memory, but I do remember the beginning of the year. The loneliness. Being separated from my old friends, and not having any new ones (yet). The fear of all the school work, and not being able to meet up to the standards. Looking for the end of it all as though I was looking through a seemingly eternal tunnel.
And now that end has come. I have more friends than I could have hoped for. I have better grades than I ever thought I could possibly achieve. (Take that Martha Grace Josie. I am a good writer and I bet you knew it all along. You were just holding me back, weren't you? Well thanks for "trying" to help. I did learn a couple of things from you that did help a bit.)
I look back after coming to the end of this terms finals, and I see definite and apparent works of God in my life. At the very least there have been the miracles that he has pulled at the end of every term, when I have had a billion things to do and no way that I knew of to actually finish my finals projects. Every term he has brought me through my finals successful and unscathed.
Each term has been more than just a change in classes and routine. Each term has built me up a little at a time, each one preparing me for the next. And I see this not as the great work of the schools planning staff and counselors. I see it as the divine plan of God for my life.
It hasn't been all fun and games. In fact most of the growth I have undergone has come in times of great distress. Times when all I had to fall back on was God. No one else was able to help. No one else could understand.
As I look back I see that it has been a very hard year. And one that I would not want to do over again next year. But I do not regret in the slightest having done it this year. I rejoice in every step of the journey. In the good times, as well as the bad, I rejoice unto the Lord. For it is because of him that I have become the person I am today. And it is because of him that I look forward to the journey it will take to become the man he desires me to be tomorrow.
Attention: Days of school left, 3!
Senior count: TERMINATED!!!
Haha. Sorry. I couldn't help myself.
Friday, June 03, 2005
Life, The Universe, and a Few Other Things
Hello again. Yes, it has been a long time since I last blogged. One week to be exact. I think. Well, I have alot I want to blog about, but not the mindset for any of it. I just thought I should give you a rundown of how things were going.
Haha! You know what the funny thing is. When I started this blog I figured that one, maybe two other people would read it. So I wasn't too concerned. I thought I would just write things for the sake of writing my thoughts and ideas. But now... now I have this sense that if I don't blog for a while people will wonder what ever happened to me. That and they would think I'm a slacker for not keeping posted. So I have this felling of obligation to blog. I still do write about my ideas and things that are going through my head. It's just that now I also feel I have an audience.
Some might think this to be a bad thing. I don't. I'm a performer. It's what I do. I do things in a way that causes people to think and feel. The thought and feeling I go for is usually determined by what they need to think and feel at the time. Not Manipulation. More motivation. Lord knows I don't get anything out of it. And yet peoples happiness and joy brings me satisfaction enough. Which, as Eric explained it, makes me selfish. Well guess what Eric. I am selfish. Nothin' but love, man.
Well, I guess the whole point of all that was to say that I live in front of an audience. Now that audience has moved onto my blog. Good for them.
So I thought I should blog today.
Spring Fling is almost over. It's the last night tonight. Those solos and duets I mentioned are putting me in a weird position. Sure, I have been tolled that I have done a great job performing, and that I'm so wonderful. But it was usually from smaller audiences like my church and small recitals. Anything other than that and they are confusing me with my brother, who is a phenomenal performer and happens to look alot like me. Actually I should say I look like him. The point is that usually when people say that I performed well they don't really mean it. Now people that don't even know me are congratulating me. I was down at High-School Pharmacy and this guy walks by and tells me I did a good job in spring fling. I had seen the guy around school a couple of times, but neither of us knew who the other was. It was just my face. Haha! Now maybe my brother will get that recognition.
Seniors are all gone. They had their assembly of recognition today, then they were off. I'm going to miss you guys. Some of you. I admit there are some of you that I say good riddance to. But for the most part I will miss you guys. That is until I swipe one of your lockers this next week. MUAHAHAHA! But seriously, I wish you all, not the best of luck, for I do not believe in such a thing, but rather I wish that God will bless you all in this next part of your life. And I leave you with this parting wisdom. No matter how hard life gets; no matter how frustrating, down in the dumps, and messed up this world becomes for you, God has complete control.
For those of you who don't believe in God this may not mean much to you. And to you I say, God has a plan. You are part of that plan. You may think you are fighting the current, but you're swimming down steam.
To those of you who do believe I hope you will find the peace of mind that I find in this knowledge. Life can be hard, and we may not succeed in every endeavor we take up. But It will all work out. Our failure can be what God uses to make his success.
So to all of you, strive on to do your best. Don't seek defeat, but don't be distressed by it when it comes. The world will be spinning tomorrow, if God so desires, no matter what task is left undone tonight. Do your best. What more could you do?
God bless all of you.
Attention: Days of School left. 5!
Senior count: 0! So long, and have a safe weekend. (Psh! I'm talking to Estacada teens. Yeah right.)
Haha! You know what the funny thing is. When I started this blog I figured that one, maybe two other people would read it. So I wasn't too concerned. I thought I would just write things for the sake of writing my thoughts and ideas. But now... now I have this sense that if I don't blog for a while people will wonder what ever happened to me. That and they would think I'm a slacker for not keeping posted. So I have this felling of obligation to blog. I still do write about my ideas and things that are going through my head. It's just that now I also feel I have an audience.
Some might think this to be a bad thing. I don't. I'm a performer. It's what I do. I do things in a way that causes people to think and feel. The thought and feeling I go for is usually determined by what they need to think and feel at the time. Not Manipulation. More motivation. Lord knows I don't get anything out of it. And yet peoples happiness and joy brings me satisfaction enough. Which, as Eric explained it, makes me selfish. Well guess what Eric. I am selfish. Nothin' but love, man.
Well, I guess the whole point of all that was to say that I live in front of an audience. Now that audience has moved onto my blog. Good for them.
So I thought I should blog today.
Spring Fling is almost over. It's the last night tonight. Those solos and duets I mentioned are putting me in a weird position. Sure, I have been tolled that I have done a great job performing, and that I'm so wonderful. But it was usually from smaller audiences like my church and small recitals. Anything other than that and they are confusing me with my brother, who is a phenomenal performer and happens to look alot like me. Actually I should say I look like him. The point is that usually when people say that I performed well they don't really mean it. Now people that don't even know me are congratulating me. I was down at High-School Pharmacy and this guy walks by and tells me I did a good job in spring fling. I had seen the guy around school a couple of times, but neither of us knew who the other was. It was just my face. Haha! Now maybe my brother will get that recognition.
Seniors are all gone. They had their assembly of recognition today, then they were off. I'm going to miss you guys. Some of you. I admit there are some of you that I say good riddance to. But for the most part I will miss you guys. That is until I swipe one of your lockers this next week. MUAHAHAHA! But seriously, I wish you all, not the best of luck, for I do not believe in such a thing, but rather I wish that God will bless you all in this next part of your life. And I leave you with this parting wisdom. No matter how hard life gets; no matter how frustrating, down in the dumps, and messed up this world becomes for you, God has complete control.
For those of you who don't believe in God this may not mean much to you. And to you I say, God has a plan. You are part of that plan. You may think you are fighting the current, but you're swimming down steam.
To those of you who do believe I hope you will find the peace of mind that I find in this knowledge. Life can be hard, and we may not succeed in every endeavor we take up. But It will all work out. Our failure can be what God uses to make his success.
So to all of you, strive on to do your best. Don't seek defeat, but don't be distressed by it when it comes. The world will be spinning tomorrow, if God so desires, no matter what task is left undone tonight. Do your best. What more could you do?
God bless all of you.
Attention: Days of School left. 5!
Senior count: 0! So long, and have a safe weekend. (Psh! I'm talking to Estacada teens. Yeah right.)
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