I take this opportunity to remind you that all gamers everywhere ought to play Portal.
However, do not play it, then go six months without playing it, and go back to it thinking you're gonna be smart enough to figure out the two biggest map packs in existence. I'm already stumped on both of them, and in the one, I was still on the first (or possibly third) level, and on the other I'm definitely not a quarter of the way through. Unbelieveable.
I've made a couple of jokes about this recently, but God is definitely teaching me not to be gluttonous. Monday I felt sick for a while because of my three-chicken-sandwich-and-one-cookies-n-cream-milkshake lunch, and then I ended up spending an unfriendly half-hour in Matthew's water closet.
The next day I didn't eat all morning to make up for it, and that was good. And then I had a really lovely meal at Johanna's.
Today I didn't have much to eat until lunchtime. Problem was, that made me think that three Chalupas would be a good idea. It wasn't. I had to focus all my energies (half an hour later) on not screaming in pain all of sudden. And there were other people in the room, which would have made that awkward. Another trip to the common room. I ended up feeling okay afterwards.
I just ate a bunch of chili, but I think (hope) that was okay. And from here on out, I shall never be gluttonous again!
Ever!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Autumnally spectacular
Today was a day for:
Sunday school
Worship
Talking about my car
Talking about my car some more
Eating lunch at the house of someone I...didn't even meet.
Seeing Chelsea again. =)
Playing ultimate frisbee in bare feet (there was exactly the right amount of squishy mud on the field)
Now I think I'll read a book or two. And sleep. And maybe talk to someone.
Oh, and here comes a theological bit. We RPs struggle with how to really make sense of God's sovereignty and our free will. Personally, I simply try to believe both and not worry too much about how. But something interesting occurred to me today in church. I'm gonna take a stab at explaining it:
Jesus did not have to die. As Pastor Wenger put it this morning, the arrow of God's wrath was aimed at our hearts, but then Christ stepped in front of the arrow and took the shaft for us. Now, not only was it real nice* that He did that, but frankly, He had EVERY RIGHT to stand back and rejoice in the destruction of sinful humans. In fact, that's kinda what you would expect of God, isn't it? I mean, that would certainly have fulfilled all righteousness. And in a sense, we believe that since God is perfect, He pretty much always makes The Right Decision. But it seems clear to me that God would have been just as righteous and holy and Godly to let us die. But He instead chose to save us. Now if God, being seemingly constrained by His perfection, has the ability to choose between different Good options, why should we not also be able to choose, while still being controlled by His sovereignty?
Not a perfect analogy. If nothing else, it gives us something else to be confused about. But it seemed like there might be something to it.
* said with a Southern accent
Sunday school
Worship
Talking about my car
Talking about my car some more
Eating lunch at the house of someone I...didn't even meet.
Seeing Chelsea again. =)
Playing ultimate frisbee in bare feet (there was exactly the right amount of squishy mud on the field)
Now I think I'll read a book or two. And sleep. And maybe talk to someone.
Oh, and here comes a theological bit. We RPs struggle with how to really make sense of God's sovereignty and our free will. Personally, I simply try to believe both and not worry too much about how. But something interesting occurred to me today in church. I'm gonna take a stab at explaining it:
Jesus did not have to die. As Pastor Wenger put it this morning, the arrow of God's wrath was aimed at our hearts, but then Christ stepped in front of the arrow and took the shaft for us. Now, not only was it real nice* that He did that, but frankly, He had EVERY RIGHT to stand back and rejoice in the destruction of sinful humans. In fact, that's kinda what you would expect of God, isn't it? I mean, that would certainly have fulfilled all righteousness. And in a sense, we believe that since God is perfect, He pretty much always makes The Right Decision. But it seems clear to me that God would have been just as righteous and holy and Godly to let us die. But He instead chose to save us. Now if God, being seemingly constrained by His perfection, has the ability to choose between different Good options, why should we not also be able to choose, while still being controlled by His sovereignty?
Not a perfect analogy. If nothing else, it gives us something else to be confused about. But it seemed like there might be something to it.
* said with a Southern accent
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
absentee voting
This will be my first vote ever. Except for the time that I voted myself Most Likely To Succeed. I also wrote in Ron Paul for Homecoming King. Don't tell George Bush.
Anyway, it just seems like it would be awesome* if I could submit an application for an absentee ballot online. Since I don't have a fax machine, nor any stamps/envelopes. And don't tell me that I need to buy stamps and envelopes. I know, already.
So, yeah, there's that. And I have to mail this thing in, and then they mail me a ballot back, and then I mail them the ballot back when I'm finished with it. And it won't really count anyway, since Maryland is liberal and I'm not. This is the part where I start thinking that the world would be a better place if my vote was the only vote that counted.
I'm feeling a bit under the weather. Which might actually be the weather's fault. My immune system just seems a little depressed. I keep telling it that there's no use in being depressed, and that all things work together for good, but it isn't so sure. I am beginning to wonder if it is Arminian. OR MAYBE EVEN A DEIST?!?
Soccer tonight. And maybe buying some food. Oh, and I woke up early this morning, which was a blessing.
*not to exceed four hundred hot dogs
Anyway, it just seems like it would be awesome* if I could submit an application for an absentee ballot online. Since I don't have a fax machine, nor any stamps/envelopes. And don't tell me that I need to buy stamps and envelopes. I know, already.
So, yeah, there's that. And I have to mail this thing in, and then they mail me a ballot back, and then I mail them the ballot back when I'm finished with it. And it won't really count anyway, since Maryland is liberal and I'm not. This is the part where I start thinking that the world would be a better place if my vote was the only vote that counted.
I'm feeling a bit under the weather. Which might actually be the weather's fault. My immune system just seems a little depressed. I keep telling it that there's no use in being depressed, and that all things work together for good, but it isn't so sure. I am beginning to wonder if it is Arminian. OR MAYBE EVEN A DEIST?!?
Soccer tonight. And maybe buying some food. Oh, and I woke up early this morning, which was a blessing.
*not to exceed four hundred hot dogs
Monday, October 20, 2008
public journal entry
I mean, that's what this is, right? Especially that last post about sports, which had nothing to do with anything.
So....this weekend was great and sad. Samantha married Nick, and, not coincidentally, Nicholas married Sam. I totally fell for the pastor's "charge", which was an acrostic sermon (official term? probably not) of their last name. Suitability, Love, Adoration, Time, Example, Repentance. I needed to write that down, so that I won't forget to tell my pastor that his charge needs to do that, only with the names I've picked out for my first eleven children, instead of my last name.
So, that part was great. I met Brett Hawkins, whom I am about to friend on Facebook. Cool, huh? That part was also great...greater than I think anyone else is really willing to believe, when I tell them. Which is okay, because I enjoy the funny looks.
My car died right after the wedding, owing to a combination of exploded battery (not quite) and messed-up alternator connections. I did manage to limp it to Wal-Mart for a new battery, and home again later.
Oh, and then the evening with the guys was great too, except for the part about having nothing but my wedding clothes and being really cold. And then getting a headache, which I blame on the vodka, honestly. I've never gotten a headache from drinking before, and I didn't even drink that much. And then I had the headache until Sunday afternoon sometime, though it was off and on, so that was okay. I sought out the moon, and prayed in its light. I don't think that experience can really be replicated, so I'm not going to try.
And the sermon was good, because it was an excellent exposition of what Christ meant by "blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." And Sunday school was good too, though I find myself more confused than ever about what the Sabbath really is supposed to be.
Oh, but I *was* freezing cold from about 9:00 on Saturday night until 12:30pm on Sunday. Freezing. There was cold air coming out of the ceiling vents at the school.
And then came the afternoon. This was when I had to go ahead and fix my car so that I could drive anywhere. The heater still wasn't working, and the alternator thing was being dumb. I thought I fixed the alternator thing, and I headed out to the Wey's, uninvited, for their "Fall Potluck". Consequently, I felt very awkward about thanking both Mr. and Mrs. Wey as I was leaving. But it seemed like I should. =P
The thing at the Wey's was quite fun. Frisbees and soccer balls were involved, as were hot dogs, beer, marshmallows, one hay ride, at least three hugs, and substantial hand-holding.
Not telling.
Oh, yes, and the singing on the hay ride. Clearly, the hay ride was the highlight of the evening. Partly because, for the first time all weekend, I was in a situation where I should have been freezing cold, BUT I WASN'T. Did you hear that, Cold? The weekend ended in a loss for you!
Actually, it very nearly didn't. Because the ride home was more car problems. And then I had to spend another two hours just trying to get my car ready to make the trek back down here. But the outcome eventually turned out in my favor, and I now have heat and electricity. What I do not have is a water pump that won't need to be rebuilt. Gah! Stupid sports! Errr....I mean, stupid water pumps.
Today I got a really late start to work. Google lied to me twice, once about a McDonalds, and once about a Post Office. But I made it to a post office eventually, and I spent $4.49 at Cafe Joe to get a small coffee and a breakfast sandwich. Because I deserved to be pampered. Or not.
Work was pretty boring.
I am glad to be home. I am about to gorge myself on pizza, read That Hideous Strength (which I want to finish so that I can start in on When Sinners Say I Do), and fall ungracefully asleep. I need loooots of sleep, because this weekend, although excellent and wonderful in so many ways, was exhausting.
Oh, I sorta forget to mention why the weekend was sad. The car problems basically got me into a very self-centered frame of mind which I had a very hard time breaking out of. And I fell back into it many times. And I'm not entirely sure I'm out of right now either.
So....this weekend was great and sad. Samantha married Nick, and, not coincidentally, Nicholas married Sam. I totally fell for the pastor's "charge", which was an acrostic sermon (official term? probably not) of their last name. Suitability, Love, Adoration, Time, Example, Repentance. I needed to write that down, so that I won't forget to tell my pastor that his charge needs to do that, only with the names I've picked out for my first eleven children, instead of my last name.
So, that part was great. I met Brett Hawkins, whom I am about to friend on Facebook. Cool, huh? That part was also great...greater than I think anyone else is really willing to believe, when I tell them. Which is okay, because I enjoy the funny looks.
My car died right after the wedding, owing to a combination of exploded battery (not quite) and messed-up alternator connections. I did manage to limp it to Wal-Mart for a new battery, and home again later.
Oh, and then the evening with the guys was great too, except for the part about having nothing but my wedding clothes and being really cold. And then getting a headache, which I blame on the vodka, honestly. I've never gotten a headache from drinking before, and I didn't even drink that much. And then I had the headache until Sunday afternoon sometime, though it was off and on, so that was okay. I sought out the moon, and prayed in its light. I don't think that experience can really be replicated, so I'm not going to try.
And the sermon was good, because it was an excellent exposition of what Christ meant by "blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." And Sunday school was good too, though I find myself more confused than ever about what the Sabbath really is supposed to be.
Oh, but I *was* freezing cold from about 9:00 on Saturday night until 12:30pm on Sunday. Freezing. There was cold air coming out of the ceiling vents at the school.
And then came the afternoon. This was when I had to go ahead and fix my car so that I could drive anywhere. The heater still wasn't working, and the alternator thing was being dumb. I thought I fixed the alternator thing, and I headed out to the Wey's, uninvited, for their "Fall Potluck". Consequently, I felt very awkward about thanking both Mr. and Mrs. Wey as I was leaving. But it seemed like I should. =P
The thing at the Wey's was quite fun. Frisbees and soccer balls were involved, as were hot dogs, beer, marshmallows, one hay ride, at least three hugs, and substantial hand-holding.
Not telling.
Oh, yes, and the singing on the hay ride. Clearly, the hay ride was the highlight of the evening. Partly because, for the first time all weekend, I was in a situation where I should have been freezing cold, BUT I WASN'T. Did you hear that, Cold? The weekend ended in a loss for you!
Actually, it very nearly didn't. Because the ride home was more car problems. And then I had to spend another two hours just trying to get my car ready to make the trek back down here. But the outcome eventually turned out in my favor, and I now have heat and electricity. What I do not have is a water pump that won't need to be rebuilt. Gah! Stupid sports! Errr....I mean, stupid water pumps.
Today I got a really late start to work. Google lied to me twice, once about a McDonalds, and once about a Post Office. But I made it to a post office eventually, and I spent $4.49 at Cafe Joe to get a small coffee and a breakfast sandwich. Because I deserved to be pampered. Or not.
Work was pretty boring.
I am glad to be home. I am about to gorge myself on pizza, read That Hideous Strength (which I want to finish so that I can start in on When Sinners Say I Do), and fall ungracefully asleep. I need loooots of sleep, because this weekend, although excellent and wonderful in so many ways, was exhausting.
Oh, I sorta forget to mention why the weekend was sad. The car problems basically got me into a very self-centered frame of mind which I had a very hard time breaking out of. And I fell back into it many times. And I'm not entirely sure I'm out of right now either.
this week in sports
On Wednesday, there was a soccer! game! I played, and while I didn't do spectacularly, I was apparently in good enough shape to still be going strong at the end, which was so lovely I can't really.... We lost 7 to 3, or something like that. These games will apparently happen on a regular basis.
On Saturday, at 7pm, Tennessee started the very slow process of beating up on Mississippi State. While it was accomplished handily by the end of the game, it took them a while to warm up. I didn't watch, because I was....
talking about memories of Chestertown soccer with Richie, Scott, and Christian. At Scott's house. We were roasting hot dogs, drinking....things, and blowing up......balloons.
On Sunday, apparently, the Colts lost to Green Bay. Whatever. Sports are worthless. Stupid sports.
On Saturday, at 7pm, Tennessee started the very slow process of beating up on Mississippi State. While it was accomplished handily by the end of the game, it took them a while to warm up. I didn't watch, because I was....
talking about memories of Chestertown soccer with Richie, Scott, and Christian. At Scott's house. We were roasting hot dogs, drinking....things, and blowing up......balloons.
On Sunday, apparently, the Colts lost to Green Bay. Whatever. Sports are worthless. Stupid sports.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
I present to you....Johanna!
Oh dear. (laughter)
That's a little scary.
Hmmm.......
(laughter) I'm feeling entirely uninspired! (more laughter) And...which means you're going to end up with a really stupid sounding blog.
Like I said.
Hmmmm.
(laughter) Really, I can't think of anything. Quite literally. I was in the middle of reading the Bible, and my brain hadn't switched over. I'm really sorry too, because this could be really funny. If I could think of something...worth saying.
Oh, here's something funny:
That's a little scary.
Hmmm.......
(laughter) I'm feeling entirely uninspired! (more laughter) And...which means you're going to end up with a really stupid sounding blog.
me: So far, this is going to be the best blog EVER.
Like I said.
Hmmmm.
(laughter) Really, I can't think of anything. Quite literally. I was in the middle of reading the Bible, and my brain hadn't switched over. I'm really sorry too, because this could be really funny. If I could think of something...worth saying.
Oh, here's something funny:
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Chicken nuggets
If I have never posted about them before, this blog has been worthless.
They are excellent, they fill me with joy and chicken, and they are orange. Sadly, not UT orange.More like Texas orange, which is actually kinda gross, now that I mentioned it.
Running was interesting. Unlike recent runs, where my muscles have ended up in pain, I just totally ran out of energy. Which is a little silly, since it wasn't like I had starved myself today. Regardless, I kinda prefer the knowledge that I'm struggling because I'm out of energy to the fear that, after four days of not running, I'm back out of shape.
That Hideous Strength is still a good book (chapter 8).
Oh, I mentioned this to Maria, but....well. Just a few days ago, I came across a Bible verse, and, for the first time in my life, decided that I actually had a favorite verse.
As of two days ago...I've looked everywhere.
I can't remember what it was.
They are excellent, they fill me with joy and chicken, and they are orange. Sadly, not UT orange.
Running was interesting. Unlike recent runs, where my muscles have ended up in pain, I just totally ran out of energy. Which is a little silly, since it wasn't like I had starved myself today. Regardless, I kinda prefer the knowledge that I'm struggling because I'm out of energy to the fear that, after four days of not running, I'm back out of shape.
That Hideous Strength is still a good book (chapter 8).
Oh, I mentioned this to Maria, but....well. Just a few days ago, I came across a Bible verse, and, for the first time in my life, decided that I actually had a favorite verse.
As of two days ago...I've looked everywhere.
I can't remember what it was.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
distracted and amazed
I haven't prayed very much today. I did this morning on the way to church. But since then, it's been a constant stream of meeting new people, talking to them about surprisingly interesting and important things, and laughing and eating and maybe almost crying. So I...feel simultaneously very blessed and very dry. I've had a lot of communion with my brothers and sisters in Christ, but not so much with Christ Himself.
I don't know. Maybe, really, this is an okay thing. I mean, loving them is loving Him, if I'm not doing it for my gain. But I really need HIM, and maybe I need to learn how to see Him more in His people. Not just seeing that we're doing "Christian" things....but really seeing how He works in their lives, and consciously praising Him in the moment for that, instead of basking in the pleasantness which is fellowship and filing all of that wonderfulness away so that I can reflect on it in private later. That (reflection) is what I'm doing right now, of course. Or at least, what I'll be doing once I've posted this and settled my mind down just a bit more. I can't decide whether a beer would be a really great or really pointless thing right now.
I don't know. Maybe, really, this is an okay thing. I mean, loving them is loving Him, if I'm not doing it for my gain. But I really need HIM, and maybe I need to learn how to see Him more in His people. Not just seeing that we're doing "Christian" things....but really seeing how He works in their lives, and consciously praising Him in the moment for that, instead of basking in the pleasantness which is fellowship and filing all of that wonderfulness away so that I can reflect on it in private later. That (reflection) is what I'm doing right now, of course. Or at least, what I'll be doing once I've posted this and settled my mind down just a bit more. I can't decide whether a beer would be a really great or really pointless thing right now.
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
word
I am accustomed to having only customizing customers in my costume shop. Custom requires that all customers leave with a customized costume, and as all of my costumes are thoroughly customizable, the cost of such customization is not, customarily, a factor in customers' choices.
snooze
I think I am too tired to ever post here again. I shall spend the rest of my waking moments in this life trying to catch up on my nonwaking moments. Don't despair if I seem to have dropped off the face of the earth. Peter is not dead, he is only sleeping.
Saturday, October 04, 2008
airsoft, among other things
The game was really fun. I discovered that my gun shoots at 470 with this tightbore barrel in it. Of course, that's way higher than they'll let you play with, so I got to use Christian's P90. Actually, after chronoing at 350 with that gun, I decided I wanted to chrono it with his gearbox and my tightbore. To my great surprise, the FPS jumped to 400! So, I got to play with half of my gun today. And as 400 was near the limit, it really was one of the best guns on the field. I am not at all used to my gun working well, so this was quite the pleasant experience. Without much skill or talent, I managed to do really well all day, and especially in a little 2 on 3 match toward the end when most everyone had left. My gun was much too much for the guys on the other team to handle, so....although I'm sure it would've been boring after a while, those couple of games we played at the end were a lot of fun, because it was basically my field. =P
I am pleasantly tired, I am enjoying some really excellent beers (though I think I'll be saving the Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout for tomorrow or something), and eating macaroni and cheese. I am watching Tennessee put up miserable offensive (or is that miserablY offensive?) numbers on Northern Illinois, of all teams. I am nursing a shoulder which seems to increase in soreness on a schedule known only to itself, God, and probably some diabolical chiropractor somewhere. Obviously, my life is pretty good, but even the difficulties I count as joy. Which means, frankly, that life couldn't really be better.
Thankfully, I could still be better. It would almost be sad to know that there was no improvement left to be made.
I am pleasantly tired, I am enjoying some really excellent beers (though I think I'll be saving the Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout for tomorrow or something), and eating macaroni and cheese. I am watching Tennessee put up miserable offensive (or is that miserablY offensive?) numbers on Northern Illinois, of all teams. I am nursing a shoulder which seems to increase in soreness on a schedule known only to itself, God, and probably some diabolical chiropractor somewhere. Obviously, my life is pretty good, but even the difficulties I count as joy. Which means, frankly, that life couldn't really be better.
Thankfully, I could still be better. It would almost be sad to know that there was no improvement left to be made.
in which I (new word, one-time-use-only) pimp my favorite blog
Through a Glass, Darkly.
Her name is Kari, and I know of her through the Rumor Forum.
Her writing is consistently hilarious, and I couldn't help but share. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a good laugh on days when XKCD doesn't have anything new.
Her name is Kari, and I know of her through the Rumor Forum.
Her writing is consistently hilarious, and I couldn't help but share. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a good laugh on days when XKCD doesn't have anything new.
Friday, October 03, 2008
MY WEEK
I have the tremendous urge to write this post in capital letters. I don't know why, exactly, except that maybe I just can't really convey this week well enough without making it weird and having it take up lots of extra space.
On Sunday night, I decided to go to a Katie Herzig concert on Monday. I had totally forgotten about it. But I went, and it was excellent. I'd love to tell the whole story here, but it would really take up whole pages. Cool parts included the fact that it was in a tiny club called the IOTA Club and Cafe (yes, they have a website), and there were probably only 25 people there. I introduced myself to Katie, her accordionist/electric guitarist, and Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout. All three were excellent, though in very different ways. Actually, Jordan (she of the multiple instruments) is a very good friend of the Webb/McCracken family. Babysits for them and so forth, and also is involved with their music in too many ways to count. That was a pretty fun conversation. She is also good friends with Andy. Actually, I kinda wanted her to switch lives with me, but that would've been too awkward for a first conversation, so I didn't say so.
Oh, so...yes. That was when I decided to go to their concert in Philadelphia on Tuesday night. But before I get to Tuesday night, I need to start painting the picture of sleeplessness that was this week. For unmentionable reasons, I didn't get to sleep until 2:30 on Monday night. I got up, not early, but on time, for work on Tuesday. I worked a short day, so that I could get home and run and so forth before my drive up to Philly. I didn't end up having time to run, but Andrew and I (I picked him up from West Chester) got there just barely on time. Aaaand...whew. This is a long post already, and I haven't even started. The second concert was also excellent, and she even played Charlie Chaplin, and everyone laughed when I semi-involuntarily shouted with glee at her announcement of the song title.
I almost ran out of gas on the way home on Tuesday night. Also, I spent $150 on gas on Tuesday alone. Ahem. $150. Also, I nearly fell asleep like...8 times. I kept hallucinating that I was about to run into a car right in front of me or something (there wasn't anyone within a mile), and that would give me a shot of adrenaline that kept me going for a bit longer. Also, Little Cow, your concert after Katie's on Monday night was one of the best performances I've ever seen, and you were part and parcel of keeping me alive on Tuesday night. I didn't get to sleep until at least 2am.
Wednesday was...a blur. Except not exactly, because now it's all coming back to me. Yeah, I went over to the Chastains' and tried to fix Christian's computer. It took me like three hours to realize it was actually a memory problem. I'm never doing another test on a computer again until I've done a memory test. Never. (I had two or three reasons why it wasn't a memory issue, but all of them evaporated as soon as I ran MemTest for about two seconds.) I learned how to use a bump key while there, so it was an at least equal exchange, especially given the excellent meal and the chance to talk about airsoft and...stuff. However, this meant I got to bed too late on Wednesday night to catch up on any of my lost sleep.
Yesterday started out well, because my morning-drive prayer was actually coherent and purposeful, unlike the couple of days previously, when it had been very much a recitation of my current standard prayer which, though long and fully-fledged, doesn't really work so well as a liturgy. Work was actually not very fun, for reasons which cannot be posted on this blog. But then bible study was, as always, excellent. I do mean always. And I always try to keep my expectations low, because I'm afraid it won't be as good as last time, but I always end up being all the more shocked by it. Whew. I wish I really understood the Bible like it would obviously be POSSIBLE to understand it.
I didn't exactly catch up on my sleep last night, but I didn't go to sleep ridiculously late, either. This morning was cold, but beautiful. Actually, yesterday was beautiful too, for the record. Anyway, I had prayed a lot about work, and today was much better. It was also shorter, because I decided that six hours was enough. It was too lovely and wonderful outside of the office to really be in it. I had one last revelation at 2pm, and then I left promptly.
I now feel relaxed and ready to rest this weekend. And rest I will certainly need, because this has been a long and crazy week. I obviously have pretty low stamina. But regardless.
If you got through that, I congratulate and thank you. This is what not blogging for nearly an entire week does to a man.
On Sunday night, I decided to go to a Katie Herzig concert on Monday. I had totally forgotten about it. But I went, and it was excellent. I'd love to tell the whole story here, but it would really take up whole pages. Cool parts included the fact that it was in a tiny club called the IOTA Club and Cafe (yes, they have a website), and there were probably only 25 people there. I introduced myself to Katie, her accordionist/electric guitarist, and Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout. All three were excellent, though in very different ways. Actually, Jordan (she of the multiple instruments) is a very good friend of the Webb/McCracken family. Babysits for them and so forth, and also is involved with their music in too many ways to count. That was a pretty fun conversation. She is also good friends with Andy. Actually, I kinda wanted her to switch lives with me, but that would've been too awkward for a first conversation, so I didn't say so.
Oh, so...yes. That was when I decided to go to their concert in Philadelphia on Tuesday night. But before I get to Tuesday night, I need to start painting the picture of sleeplessness that was this week. For unmentionable reasons, I didn't get to sleep until 2:30 on Monday night. I got up, not early, but on time, for work on Tuesday. I worked a short day, so that I could get home and run and so forth before my drive up to Philly. I didn't end up having time to run, but Andrew and I (I picked him up from West Chester) got there just barely on time. Aaaand...whew. This is a long post already, and I haven't even started. The second concert was also excellent, and she even played Charlie Chaplin, and everyone laughed when I semi-involuntarily shouted with glee at her announcement of the song title.
I almost ran out of gas on the way home on Tuesday night. Also, I spent $150 on gas on Tuesday alone. Ahem. $150. Also, I nearly fell asleep like...8 times. I kept hallucinating that I was about to run into a car right in front of me or something (there wasn't anyone within a mile), and that would give me a shot of adrenaline that kept me going for a bit longer. Also, Little Cow, your concert after Katie's on Monday night was one of the best performances I've ever seen, and you were part and parcel of keeping me alive on Tuesday night. I didn't get to sleep until at least 2am.
Wednesday was...a blur. Except not exactly, because now it's all coming back to me. Yeah, I went over to the Chastains' and tried to fix Christian's computer. It took me like three hours to realize it was actually a memory problem. I'm never doing another test on a computer again until I've done a memory test. Never. (I had two or three reasons why it wasn't a memory issue, but all of them evaporated as soon as I ran MemTest for about two seconds.) I learned how to use a bump key while there, so it was an at least equal exchange, especially given the excellent meal and the chance to talk about airsoft and...stuff. However, this meant I got to bed too late on Wednesday night to catch up on any of my lost sleep.
Yesterday started out well, because my morning-drive prayer was actually coherent and purposeful, unlike the couple of days previously, when it had been very much a recitation of my current standard prayer which, though long and fully-fledged, doesn't really work so well as a liturgy. Work was actually not very fun, for reasons which cannot be posted on this blog. But then bible study was, as always, excellent. I do mean always. And I always try to keep my expectations low, because I'm afraid it won't be as good as last time, but I always end up being all the more shocked by it. Whew. I wish I really understood the Bible like it would obviously be POSSIBLE to understand it.
I didn't exactly catch up on my sleep last night, but I didn't go to sleep ridiculously late, either. This morning was cold, but beautiful. Actually, yesterday was beautiful too, for the record. Anyway, I had prayed a lot about work, and today was much better. It was also shorter, because I decided that six hours was enough. It was too lovely and wonderful outside of the office to really be in it. I had one last revelation at 2pm, and then I left promptly.
I now feel relaxed and ready to rest this weekend. And rest I will certainly need, because this has been a long and crazy week. I obviously have pretty low stamina. But regardless.
If you got through that, I congratulate and thank you. This is what not blogging for nearly an entire week does to a man.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
to love and obey
I went grocery shopping tonight. (No, this is not the post about my week. That's coming later, and I'm excited about it. You should be too.) I realized, among other things, that no one else was in the grocery store except for Johanna and a cashier who was hiding behind the cigarette...monstrosity. Why not? Because 10pm is entirely too late to be buying groceries.
Also, I realized that I've only cooked once in the last week. I'm warmed up some chicken nuggets, and eaten out a ton, but my food is never even close to as good as the food I had at the Chastains' last night.
Why is this? No division of labor! I am a 21 year old boy who has to do his own laundry, buy his own food, cook it (or not), clean up afterwards, clean his own bathroom, room, etc., fix his own car, and do all sorts of other things. It's crazy. One person can't do all these things well by himself. He needs someone to help him. Someone to be at his side almost constantly; someone who will do all the things he doesn't like to do and does a bad job of anyway, while he does the things he enjoys and is good at. Someone to do all of the things necessary to keep him alive, while he pursues his calling.
I need a slave. It's the perfect solution, of course. I'm not overly rich at the moment, so it's not like I can pay anyone to do all of this. And any other arrangement would probably be complicated, weird, and unnecessarily involved. What I need is someone who, probably because they're 10000 miles away from their home country, have no green card or whatever, and believe in the American Dream, is willing to do all of my work for me for no money whatsoever; just because he or she needs a place (my floor) on which to lay his or her head (and body) at night.
I don't want someone who is dirty, and I don't want someone who is smelly or oily. I would prefer someone with white skin, but this is not because I am racist. It's just because I wouldn't really know if I could trust this person, and so I'd want the person to be more visible in the dark. So he or she couldn't sneak up on me and steal my credit cards and fancy new mouse (more on this later).
This seems like the greatest arrangement, and I'm just not sure why no one else has thought of it. But it doesn't really matter. Maybe I can copyright the idea (or maybe just patent, I don't really know all about those crazy legal issues) and get really rich and famous. That would be awesome. Yesssss........
Also, I realized that I've only cooked once in the last week. I'm warmed up some chicken nuggets, and eaten out a ton, but my food is never even close to as good as the food I had at the Chastains' last night.
Why is this? No division of labor! I am a 21 year old boy who has to do his own laundry, buy his own food, cook it (or not), clean up afterwards, clean his own bathroom, room, etc., fix his own car, and do all sorts of other things. It's crazy. One person can't do all these things well by himself. He needs someone to help him. Someone to be at his side almost constantly; someone who will do all the things he doesn't like to do and does a bad job of anyway, while he does the things he enjoys and is good at. Someone to do all of the things necessary to keep him alive, while he pursues his calling.
I need a slave. It's the perfect solution, of course. I'm not overly rich at the moment, so it's not like I can pay anyone to do all of this. And any other arrangement would probably be complicated, weird, and unnecessarily involved. What I need is someone who, probably because they're 10000 miles away from their home country, have no green card or whatever, and believe in the American Dream, is willing to do all of my work for me for no money whatsoever; just because he or she needs a place (my floor) on which to lay his or her head (and body) at night.
I don't want someone who is dirty, and I don't want someone who is smelly or oily. I would prefer someone with white skin, but this is not because I am racist. It's just because I wouldn't really know if I could trust this person, and so I'd want the person to be more visible in the dark. So he or she couldn't sneak up on me and steal my credit cards and fancy new mouse (more on this later).
This seems like the greatest arrangement, and I'm just not sure why no one else has thought of it. But it doesn't really matter. Maybe I can copyright the idea (or maybe just patent, I don't really know all about those crazy legal issues) and get really rich and famous. That would be awesome. Yesssss........
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