When I was a kid, I used to take my Gerbil, Nibbles, and put him into all manner of probably-uncomfortable-for-a-Gerbil situations that were some ridiculous attempt to vicariously do things that I, as a human, could never do. For example, I would put him in my plastic Ferrari, tape the windows shut, and ramp the Ferrari off of a cardboard box. I always thought it would be fun, so of course, my Gerbil should. Right?
I had a relatively large plastic C-130 cargo plane that was large enough to fit Bucket 'o Soldier sized army tanks and soldiers into, meaning this thing was roughly three feet long, and had a 'cargo bay' you could fit a kids arm in easily. Once again, I'd place my Gerbil inside, and fly him around the house, occasionally getting shot down, and coming to rest (rather violently) on the kitchen floor.
Of all the things I did, I'm sure there is one thing that really made the Gerbil the most upset. One day, for some reason or another, I found that if you take a Gerbil, place him in the center of a pillow, you can then fold the pillow in half, with the Gerbil stuck snugly in the center, then very quickly pull the pillow edges apart, leveling out the pillow, and sending little Nibbles high into the air. As a child, it never occurred to me that for a human, this may be fun, but for a small little animal with a heart rate that can top 450 beats per minute, this is freaking homicidal.
Imagine with me for a moment. You're a Gerbil. A baby Gerbil. No cares, no worries except making sure that you get yourself fed. At some point, some giant in a blue shirt with a square piece of plastic bearing the name "Jennifer" grabs you out of the cage, taking you away from your brothers and sisters, and most especially, your mom. Traumatic event 1. Now, you are transported in a small cage, bumped, poked, prodded, and touched by these giant giggling fanatics who act like they've never seen a small living creature with fur. Traumatic event 2. Now, one of these idiotic, most-irritating fools pulls you out of your cage, but lulls you into a false sense of security by placing you on a nice, soft bedding. Suddenly, the edges of the bedding close in on you. I'm sure, to a Gerbil, this alone seems very alarming. The darkness surrounds you, and you realize, you are stuck. There's no getting out. There's no way...
The edges open up, the sky brightens, you can see the light, and then you feel about 4 G forces (Gerbil forces) of acceleration upwards, and end up smacking the ceiling. Traumatic event final.
Ok, now substitute traumatic event 1, 2, and final with things that have happened this week, and you are now somewhat more educated as to how my life feels.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Friday, January 19, 2007
Whelk in a Supernova
Shift_Life
It's a bit of poetic irony that I drive a Nissan these days. Not to mention, one that doesn't warm up. I find it hilarious, in my own, slightly torqued, strangely comfortable mindset. I find myself writing these things simply because I can, and simply for my own memories, later down the road.
One of my favorite, most complex, feelings is the one you get when a major storm has just passed. In the paraphrased words of Terry Pratchett, you see that everything is fresh and new, yet you still have the feeling of a tremendous amount of energy that has just been spent nearby. It's that feeling you get when you walk outside, and you see bits of wood strewn about, huge hailstones on the ground, smashed windows, large amounts of rainwater gushing their way industriously down the curb to the nearest drain, and you turn around and see the deep gray-blue sky, and even the rainshafts, which appear to be no more than a hundred yards away from you, and yet, there is sunshine. Sunshine streaming through the clouds, illuminating the leaves which have been forcefully exiled from their native trees, playing with the wind which was only moments ago tearing through the area without mercy.
I love storms, and it's a sad feeling that the storm is over. I love hearing the wind and rain pounding on the house, stressing the foundation, making the blood run nervously through the veins while your hair stands up in anxiety (or merely from the static charge of nearby lightning). I love watching a gust front move in, when you see the clouds coming in and you get the feeling that you're sure that man in Independence Day got when he was on the White House lawn when the aliens shot the big fireball explosion thing; the feeling that you're about to get hit with something that's much bigger than you; something that doesn't care about you, and something that sees you as merely a speck of dust. I love that feeling.
When it's all over, and the storm has passed, I love the feeling of a 'new beginning', which sounds horribly poetically cliche (which it really is), but the idea still stands (in my estimation, things only become cliche because they are true, and so many people agree). So, when you walk out of the house, and see the mess, and see the sunshine, it stirs a feeling of joy.
Then you realize that you have to help everyone clean up this mess, there's no internet connection, and your dog is stuck in the tree, right next to the Toyota.
It's a bit of poetic irony that I drive a Nissan these days. Not to mention, one that doesn't warm up. I find it hilarious, in my own, slightly torqued, strangely comfortable mindset. I find myself writing these things simply because I can, and simply for my own memories, later down the road.
One of my favorite, most complex, feelings is the one you get when a major storm has just passed. In the paraphrased words of Terry Pratchett, you see that everything is fresh and new, yet you still have the feeling of a tremendous amount of energy that has just been spent nearby. It's that feeling you get when you walk outside, and you see bits of wood strewn about, huge hailstones on the ground, smashed windows, large amounts of rainwater gushing their way industriously down the curb to the nearest drain, and you turn around and see the deep gray-blue sky, and even the rainshafts, which appear to be no more than a hundred yards away from you, and yet, there is sunshine. Sunshine streaming through the clouds, illuminating the leaves which have been forcefully exiled from their native trees, playing with the wind which was only moments ago tearing through the area without mercy.
I love storms, and it's a sad feeling that the storm is over. I love hearing the wind and rain pounding on the house, stressing the foundation, making the blood run nervously through the veins while your hair stands up in anxiety (or merely from the static charge of nearby lightning). I love watching a gust front move in, when you see the clouds coming in and you get the feeling that you're sure that man in Independence Day got when he was on the White House lawn when the aliens shot the big fireball explosion thing; the feeling that you're about to get hit with something that's much bigger than you; something that doesn't care about you, and something that sees you as merely a speck of dust. I love that feeling.
When it's all over, and the storm has passed, I love the feeling of a 'new beginning', which sounds horribly poetically cliche (which it really is), but the idea still stands (in my estimation, things only become cliche because they are true, and so many people agree). So, when you walk out of the house, and see the mess, and see the sunshine, it stirs a feeling of joy.
Then you realize that you have to help everyone clean up this mess, there's no internet connection, and your dog is stuck in the tree, right next to the Toyota.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Sorry, I went political.
Today, it's very difficult for me to not be bitter. I really don't want to be. I really want to have a good day. I really want to spend it with friends at church and with my family, and yet, here I sit, in the store, with no traffic because everyone is at home with their friends and family.
Oh well. At least it's not cold in here. Or hot. The temperature is just right. I should have brought a DVD in or something.
So, has anyone been following this Iranian guy's latest comments? Call me a crazy republican but I think Mr. Mahmoud Ahmedinejad is a crazed idiot. Every time he denies sanctions and acts all big and bad, he just furthers the theory that he wants nuclear weapons, and not just nuclear fuel. In his latest rant, he said something along the lines of 'America knows itself that it cannot hurt the nation of Iran one iota'. Excuse me pal. If you are using the war in Iraq as a reference, then you are a fool. We don't destroy everything in Iraq because we want the true friendly Iraqi's to have their country. If Iran wants to pick a fight, we'll flatten them. It won't be hard. Look at the first Gulf War and what we did to Iraq's military. A military that was supposed to be in the top five militaries in the world. Frickin idiot.
Apologies.
Oh well. At least it's not cold in here. Or hot. The temperature is just right. I should have brought a DVD in or something.
So, has anyone been following this Iranian guy's latest comments? Call me a crazy republican but I think Mr. Mahmoud Ahmedinejad is a crazed idiot. Every time he denies sanctions and acts all big and bad, he just furthers the theory that he wants nuclear weapons, and not just nuclear fuel. In his latest rant, he said something along the lines of 'America knows itself that it cannot hurt the nation of Iran one iota'. Excuse me pal. If you are using the war in Iraq as a reference, then you are a fool. We don't destroy everything in Iraq because we want the true friendly Iraqi's to have their country. If Iran wants to pick a fight, we'll flatten them. It won't be hard. Look at the first Gulf War and what we did to Iraq's military. A military that was supposed to be in the top five militaries in the world. Frickin idiot.
Apologies.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
And then a reversal.
I walked outside and it was warm and dark. The air was heavy, smelling of rain, recently evicted, and the low cloudcover dashed orange from the city lights hinted at nearby downpours waiting to pounce. There was slow but constant wind, rustling the leaves but hardly even touching my hair, leaving a slightly uncomfortable feeling of nervous intent.
I walked out onto the sidewalk, recently rain-soaked, and looked around. The world was closing in. It felt as though there was nobody else around; that I was alone in the city, just like a movie, with nobody to talk to, nothing to find, and something stalking around the darkness.
The orange glow of the city reflecting on the purple clouds left me desiring to find more, as I strolled off under the trees and through the wet grass to find something; anything.
I watched with disappointment as I saw myself wander aimlessly into the dark. I called out, but my voice was stolen in the wind, leaving nothing but rustling grass and my will to attempt an intervention. There was nothing that could be done. I paced back and forth on the porch, wishing I could have stopped myself from leaving, but I was far too talented at ignoring myself. I had to let me go.
I walked back inside, turned on the lights, and made soup. Broccoli and cheese fragrances lifted from the pan, as the gracefully potent tones of 'I Choose Noise' drifted from the stereo in the living room. The rain picked up in perfect timing with the climax of the song in a fit of coincidence.
The soup finished, and I sat softly on the couch, propping my feet up on the coffee table, enjoying the rain, but missing the interaction. The lighting in the room seemed to fade, if only due to my inattentiveness, staring out the window at nothing and everything. The soup grew cold, the music repeated, the thoughts remained, the doorbell rang.
I opened the door, and walked into the house, rain soaking my clothes, almost down to my bones. Water puddles formed where my feet had been as I walked to the bathroom, stood in the tub and stripped down, donned a towel, and went to make soup. The stove was strangely warm as I prepared the nights banquet.
I sat on the couch, turned on the tv and pulled up the newest episode of "The Office". I sat and enjoyed my soup, and the show, laughed at Jim, felt bad for Toby, wanted to strangle Michael, and fell asleep with the series on 'repeat'.
I awoke to the sound of Josh running down the stairs, and the sun shining through the blinds, ironically causing me to squint. I smiled as Josh walked by in his long underwear, and felt oddly happy, as if I had spent the evening with a friend.
I felt at home.
I walked out onto the sidewalk, recently rain-soaked, and looked around. The world was closing in. It felt as though there was nobody else around; that I was alone in the city, just like a movie, with nobody to talk to, nothing to find, and something stalking around the darkness.
The orange glow of the city reflecting on the purple clouds left me desiring to find more, as I strolled off under the trees and through the wet grass to find something; anything.
I watched with disappointment as I saw myself wander aimlessly into the dark. I called out, but my voice was stolen in the wind, leaving nothing but rustling grass and my will to attempt an intervention. There was nothing that could be done. I paced back and forth on the porch, wishing I could have stopped myself from leaving, but I was far too talented at ignoring myself. I had to let me go.
I walked back inside, turned on the lights, and made soup. Broccoli and cheese fragrances lifted from the pan, as the gracefully potent tones of 'I Choose Noise' drifted from the stereo in the living room. The rain picked up in perfect timing with the climax of the song in a fit of coincidence.
The soup finished, and I sat softly on the couch, propping my feet up on the coffee table, enjoying the rain, but missing the interaction. The lighting in the room seemed to fade, if only due to my inattentiveness, staring out the window at nothing and everything. The soup grew cold, the music repeated, the thoughts remained, the doorbell rang.
I opened the door, and walked into the house, rain soaking my clothes, almost down to my bones. Water puddles formed where my feet had been as I walked to the bathroom, stood in the tub and stripped down, donned a towel, and went to make soup. The stove was strangely warm as I prepared the nights banquet.
I sat on the couch, turned on the tv and pulled up the newest episode of "The Office". I sat and enjoyed my soup, and the show, laughed at Jim, felt bad for Toby, wanted to strangle Michael, and fell asleep with the series on 'repeat'.
I awoke to the sound of Josh running down the stairs, and the sun shining through the blinds, ironically causing me to squint. I smiled as Josh walked by in his long underwear, and felt oddly happy, as if I had spent the evening with a friend.
I felt at home.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Crimson and Sickness
At least, that's how I feel this season starts off in retail. I mean, I spent last year's Thanksgiving all upset because I had to go to bed early so I could be at work at 4 am. One of my reasons for leaving Best Buy when I did was so that I didn't have to do that again. Long hours, impatient people, rude line-jumpers, and people who will sacrifice all kindness and fairness to buy a cheaper present for their kids.
So, I tried to get out of this, and moved to a new company. My attempt wasn't entirely in vain, but it was close. I spent yesterday (Thanksgiving) being upset because I needed to get to bed early because I was working a twelve hour shift starting at 7:45am. Crazy. I just want out of retail so bad. But what can you do? I mean, I've tried and as far as I'm concerned, I was lied to on many facets of this situation, and mix in a bit of naivete and a bit of my own bad decision making.
Anyways. Aside from that, I have recieved a new car, which is pretty cool. A 1990 Nissan Maxima. Funny thing is; the insurance on the Maxima is more expensive than the insurance on my Rx-7. No idea. Weird.
Also, I am probably going to start going back to school in the spring. That makes me excited. I like the feeling of 'belonging' to a school, so to speak (as long as it's not WSU, because then I just feel like I'm 'owned' by the school, which is stupid).
So ok. It's time to get back to work. *ninja vanish*
So, I tried to get out of this, and moved to a new company. My attempt wasn't entirely in vain, but it was close. I spent yesterday (Thanksgiving) being upset because I needed to get to bed early because I was working a twelve hour shift starting at 7:45am. Crazy. I just want out of retail so bad. But what can you do? I mean, I've tried and as far as I'm concerned, I was lied to on many facets of this situation, and mix in a bit of naivete and a bit of my own bad decision making.
Anyways. Aside from that, I have recieved a new car, which is pretty cool. A 1990 Nissan Maxima. Funny thing is; the insurance on the Maxima is more expensive than the insurance on my Rx-7. No idea. Weird.
Also, I am probably going to start going back to school in the spring. That makes me excited. I like the feeling of 'belonging' to a school, so to speak (as long as it's not WSU, because then I just feel like I'm 'owned' by the school, which is stupid).
So ok. It's time to get back to work. *ninja vanish*
Monday, November 20, 2006
...and the apex seal fell.
Man, I'll tell you what; I have been the brunt of many jokes involving luck with cars. I mean, people always tell me "Seth, man, you have the worst luck with cars", and sometimes, I feel as though I have very bad luck with cars, which leads me to believe that my luck with cars is less than desireable. Sometimes, my luck just sucks; involving cars. Once in awhile, I get a cool car, and then luck shows up and does its thing.
Today I was on my way to work (which is unfailingly always when my car acts silly) and one of my apex seals decided to go away. At least one. Anyways, in 'i-dont-know-jack-crap-about-cars-speak', my engine blew. And the worst part is, I wasn't even doing anything fun. I was driving on the highway. I wasn't racing, or drifting, or evading police; I was just driving.
But you know, I've been through situations like this before, many times, and I'm sort of just used to it, or at least accepting of it. I'm honestly not upset. I honestly think it's kind of funny really. Well, time to go looking for car #9. Let me give you a run-down in case you have forgotten my history.
That's all in the last 7 years. Yep, I keep myself busy.
Well, I'm going to go try to sell some phones so I can get a car. Bye for now.
-setH
Today I was on my way to work (which is unfailingly always when my car acts silly) and one of my apex seals decided to go away. At least one. Anyways, in 'i-dont-know-jack-crap-about-cars-speak', my engine blew. And the worst part is, I wasn't even doing anything fun. I was driving on the highway. I wasn't racing, or drifting, or evading police; I was just driving.
But you know, I've been through situations like this before, many times, and I'm sort of just used to it, or at least accepting of it. I'm honestly not upset. I honestly think it's kind of funny really. Well, time to go looking for car #9. Let me give you a run-down in case you have forgotten my history.
- 1968 Chevy Impala -- Wrecked, Sold
- 1994 Ford Escort -- Sold
- 1987 Toyota Supra -- Engine Blown, Sold
- 1990 Nissan 300zx -- Stolen
- 1991 Dodge stealth -- Sold to mom, Bought back, Engine blown, Rebuilt, Blown again and sold.
- 1988 Chevy Blazer -- Given Away
- 1992 Olds Silhouette -- Sold
- 1989 Mazda Rx-7 -- Engine Blown, TBA
That's all in the last 7 years. Yep, I keep myself busy.
Well, I'm going to go try to sell some phones so I can get a car. Bye for now.
-setH
Monday, November 13, 2006
I have fruit.
So it's been a few days since I've posted on here, or really anywhere online. Yeah, I've been busy, but truthfully, I just haven't really felt like posting. It is nice, however, to do so again. I know that for now, not many people read my website, let alone this blog, but someday, I will sit down with my wife and 2.5 kids in my suburban home after a long day as a middle class employee with limited responsibilities, and we will look back at these posts, providing blogger.com is still around, and we will laugh, and cry, and think, and then get bored and go watch The Office.
Things are strange these days. Lately I've felt a rush of personal responsibility, encompassing everything from finances to eating habits, and it's good. I'm excited for that. At the same time, however, I regularly encounter people who just seem to settle. Remember those 2.5 kids and middle-class job I spoke of earlier? I have no desire to be average (which hopefully you realized was the theme of that little rant). I want things that are out of the ordinary to become my ordinary. Just to make that clear. If I haven't said that enough yet.
I am going to admit, I wish like crazy that I was in a position to be with Aaron right now. He is living what I know God called me to do, and now, because I was doing my own thing, I have to sell phones to pay off debt before I can get out there. However, this time, I know what I did wrong. I don't know what exactly God has in store for me, but I'm excited about wherever I'm going, because I feel and see what he's leaning me towards.
I bought fruit. When I say "I bought fruit" I want you to understand what I mean. I bought 6 apples, 5 oranges, 4 bananas (yes, I'm one for numerical irony), three different varieties of fruit cups, and a bag of beef jerky. My shelf in the cupboard is strangely devoid of the usual participants, such as Campbell's various soups; the freezer is free from my usual frozen occupants, but I snapped and couldn't hold myself back from two things. Bawls and Tostito's Hint of Lime chips. Considering the usual habitation of my kitchen space, and adding to the mix my over-zealous bike ride across town the other day, I'd say I'm on track to lose a pound or two. Maybe three.
The time has come for my whimsical writing style to part electronic ways with your subconscious, so have a fine day, say 'hi' to someone you don't know, and trip someone you don't like.
Things are strange these days. Lately I've felt a rush of personal responsibility, encompassing everything from finances to eating habits, and it's good. I'm excited for that. At the same time, however, I regularly encounter people who just seem to settle. Remember those 2.5 kids and middle-class job I spoke of earlier? I have no desire to be average (which hopefully you realized was the theme of that little rant). I want things that are out of the ordinary to become my ordinary. Just to make that clear. If I haven't said that enough yet.
I am going to admit, I wish like crazy that I was in a position to be with Aaron right now. He is living what I know God called me to do, and now, because I was doing my own thing, I have to sell phones to pay off debt before I can get out there. However, this time, I know what I did wrong. I don't know what exactly God has in store for me, but I'm excited about wherever I'm going, because I feel and see what he's leaning me towards.
I bought fruit. When I say "I bought fruit" I want you to understand what I mean. I bought 6 apples, 5 oranges, 4 bananas (yes, I'm one for numerical irony), three different varieties of fruit cups, and a bag of beef jerky. My shelf in the cupboard is strangely devoid of the usual participants, such as Campbell's various soups; the freezer is free from my usual frozen occupants, but I snapped and couldn't hold myself back from two things. Bawls and Tostito's Hint of Lime chips. Considering the usual habitation of my kitchen space, and adding to the mix my over-zealous bike ride across town the other day, I'd say I'm on track to lose a pound or two. Maybe three.
The time has come for my whimsical writing style to part electronic ways with your subconscious, so have a fine day, say 'hi' to someone you don't know, and trip someone you don't like.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Ted Haggard
I have seen this man speak on a few occasions, and I have many friends who know him personally. His son Marcus was even on my wing at ORU the year before I was there. Let me take a moment to give you something that I believe the Lord has laid on my heart to say about this man.
He is a man of God. He is not forsaken, he is not cast out.
Please read this, one of the stories of David.
Ted Haggard was and is an amazing man of God. The media is retarded and worthless and is making it appear that he is a fallen saint who was disgraced and can never be seen the same again. Many people are going to lose faith in at least Ted, and at worst, Christianity thanks to this event, but the fact of the matter is, God is bigger than this. The love that we have thanks to God is bigger than this.
This isn't a situation where Pastor Ted's whole life was a blatant lie to further his own profit. He honestly believed and still believes in what he tought for years, and I honestly believe that he is a strong man who knows God. He is still a man, and capable of fault. God knows this, and allows for this. He is forgiven by God, anything anyone holds against him from here on out is a grudge. A hypocritical grudge at that.
Please read the following links, and make your own judgements based on the facts, and not the media interperetations.
Ted Haggard's Statement to his church.
Ted's wife Gayle's Statement to her church.
These people are truly seeking God, and I have all the respect and honor for them in the world.
He is a man of God. He is not forsaken, he is not cast out.
Please read this, one of the stories of David.
- David, infatuated with the beautiful Bathsheba, wife of Uriah the Hittite, commits adultery with her. Bathsheba conceives, and David tries to cover up his sin. Uriah is brought home from the army in order to report to David. David then sends Uriah home, with the intent that he should cohabit with his wife and claims of adultery would never surface. However, Uriah refuses to go home, and sleeps with David's servants in the palace, as it would be unfair for him to enjoy the comforts of home when his comrades are still at war. David tries getting Uriah drunk the second night, but this plot fails as well; Uriah still retires in the servant quarters of David's palace. Finally, David sends Uriah back to the front, with orders to the commanders that they should abandon him in the midst of the enemy. And so it is done, Uriah dies in battle, and David marries Bathsheba and has a son by her. But the prophet Nathan speaks out against the sin, and although David repents, God kills the child as a punishment. Still, Nathan tells David that "The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."
- He will establish the house of David eternally: "Your throne shall be established for ever."
Ted Haggard was and is an amazing man of God. The media is retarded and worthless and is making it appear that he is a fallen saint who was disgraced and can never be seen the same again. Many people are going to lose faith in at least Ted, and at worst, Christianity thanks to this event, but the fact of the matter is, God is bigger than this. The love that we have thanks to God is bigger than this.
This isn't a situation where Pastor Ted's whole life was a blatant lie to further his own profit. He honestly believed and still believes in what he tought for years, and I honestly believe that he is a strong man who knows God. He is still a man, and capable of fault. God knows this, and allows for this. He is forgiven by God, anything anyone holds against him from here on out is a grudge. A hypocritical grudge at that.
Please read the following links, and make your own judgements based on the facts, and not the media interperetations.
Ted Haggard's Statement to his church.
Ted's wife Gayle's Statement to her church.
These people are truly seeking God, and I have all the respect and honor for them in the world.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Ah, my last chance!
Yep, it's my last chance. To post in October. Remember back at the beginning of the month, where I told tales of October, and all it's temperature-fluctuational glory? Well, once again, this month has proved herself irritating and irrational. Two days ago, I was driving around in my car with the top down. The car's top.
Today, it's frickin 40 degrees out. It's a bit overboard, don't you think? I mean, what ever happened to the days where Fall was the season where it stopped being hot and slowly became cold? I mean, now it's like...there's a hot, perfect, and frickin cold button, and no way to find anything in between. You'd think that the proverbial 'they' would have figured this out by now.
Also, my car blew up again yesterday. Whoever decided to use plastic for the thermostat housing on the 2nd generation RX-7's was a flippin RETARD. I mean, come on man. It's a very hot, high-pressure piece of the car, and you want to use plastic? What an idiot. I've now blown up TWO of these things in a month. Plus, I cant tell you the mental torture it is to ride with towtruck drivers. Cree-eepy. I mean, the whole time, I'm just expecting them to either just drive out of the city and keep going...making me very uncomfortable, or I expect them to just start screaming and swerve the towtruck into a nearby lake.
Ok, it's time to work now. You all have fine days.
Today, it's frickin 40 degrees out. It's a bit overboard, don't you think? I mean, what ever happened to the days where Fall was the season where it stopped being hot and slowly became cold? I mean, now it's like...there's a hot, perfect, and frickin cold button, and no way to find anything in between. You'd think that the proverbial 'they' would have figured this out by now.
Also, my car blew up again yesterday. Whoever decided to use plastic for the thermostat housing on the 2nd generation RX-7's was a flippin RETARD. I mean, come on man. It's a very hot, high-pressure piece of the car, and you want to use plastic? What an idiot. I've now blown up TWO of these things in a month. Plus, I cant tell you the mental torture it is to ride with towtruck drivers. Cree-eepy. I mean, the whole time, I'm just expecting them to either just drive out of the city and keep going...making me very uncomfortable, or I expect them to just start screaming and swerve the towtruck into a nearby lake.
Ok, it's time to work now. You all have fine days.
Monday, October 30, 2006
Photofall.
This is the first time I can recall being in Riverside during the fall season. The most interesting part of the whole thing is my street. Woodrow Ave. It's a nice street that has quite a bit of character to it, mostly due to the trees. You see, when driving down my street, there are trees everywhere, overhanging the road and they create quite a mood. When it's a sunny day out, they create shade that just gives you that comfortable "driving down a shady road" feeling. When it's raining, I love the closed-in feel you get from driving under rain soaked trees. When it's snowy, it's looks like a scene out of a book, but so far, I had not experienced the fall season.
It's quite remarkable actually. When one drives down my road, the colors are astounding. I have seen trees change colors before, but to drive under them, ranging from the stubborn trees that are still a lush green all the way to the trees that somehow turn their leaves into a deep red color, brings a new type of feeling. I've never been one for fall. I don't really like it all that much honestly, maybe due to the fact that school starts in fall, or that it gets cold, or whatever, but I am thoroughly enjoying the photo oppurtunities that abound lately near my home.
It's quite remarkable actually. When one drives down my road, the colors are astounding. I have seen trees change colors before, but to drive under them, ranging from the stubborn trees that are still a lush green all the way to the trees that somehow turn their leaves into a deep red color, brings a new type of feeling. I've never been one for fall. I don't really like it all that much honestly, maybe due to the fact that school starts in fall, or that it gets cold, or whatever, but I am thoroughly enjoying the photo oppurtunities that abound lately near my home.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Just more meaningless banter.
I am doing something tonight that I haven't ever done. I am going to fall asleep listening to Handel and leaving one window partly open so I can hear the peaceful and gentle rumble of an October thunderstorm. I can honestly say that I have not had the pleasure of doing this before.
Tonight, I have tried many times to let myself relax, and thanks to one situation or another, it hasn't happened, until I found myself grabbing my laptop to share my thoughts with both of you who read this blog. It was at that moment that I realized that I was listening to classical music (yes, by choice), and that it was strangely thundering. So I turned off my light, turned on my lappy, and went to work relaxing (paradoxical eh?).
Sometimes I am glad that I don't write screenplays. You see, I get these great ideas that in my own head sound like they would make great movies, and then I picture myself in the movie theater, watching Kevin Costner play the main character, and I realize that, as a screenwriter, I think I would just suck. I'm glad I don't do that.
Though I do have a problem with writing. I like to do it all to much, and I like to do it all too differently. I mean, if you're reading this blog, chances are that you have seen how many blogs I have maintained in just the last few months. I mean, come on. At the moment I regularly fill up my own website, as well as three blogger.com accounts, with a touch on xanga (which I'm seriously entertaining the thought of quitting all together).
I like to write. I love to write about how I'm feeling, I love to write about storyline ideas that pop into my head, and I love to write poetically.
And then I find myself babbling whilst I type, laying my head down on my pillow, not even watching the screen, and still catching ninety percent of all my typographical mistakes. I truly am too much of a geek for my own good.
Well, it's bed time, and I'm in bed, but I'm not asleep. It's like laying in bed naked on your wedding night without doing anything. It just isn't right. So, I'm going to go sleep.
o/
Tonight, I have tried many times to let myself relax, and thanks to one situation or another, it hasn't happened, until I found myself grabbing my laptop to share my thoughts with both of you who read this blog. It was at that moment that I realized that I was listening to classical music (yes, by choice), and that it was strangely thundering. So I turned off my light, turned on my lappy, and went to work relaxing (paradoxical eh?).
Sometimes I am glad that I don't write screenplays. You see, I get these great ideas that in my own head sound like they would make great movies, and then I picture myself in the movie theater, watching Kevin Costner play the main character, and I realize that, as a screenwriter, I think I would just suck. I'm glad I don't do that.
Though I do have a problem with writing. I like to do it all to much, and I like to do it all too differently. I mean, if you're reading this blog, chances are that you have seen how many blogs I have maintained in just the last few months. I mean, come on. At the moment I regularly fill up my own website, as well as three blogger.com accounts, with a touch on xanga (which I'm seriously entertaining the thought of quitting all together).
I like to write. I love to write about how I'm feeling, I love to write about storyline ideas that pop into my head, and I love to write poetically.
And then I find myself babbling whilst I type, laying my head down on my pillow, not even watching the screen, and still catching ninety percent of all my typographical mistakes. I truly am too much of a geek for my own good.
Well, it's bed time, and I'm in bed, but I'm not asleep. It's like laying in bed naked on your wedding night without doing anything. It just isn't right. So, I'm going to go sleep.
o/
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
The lonely moth.
You know, it's days like today when I know that God exists. When I am having a doozie of a day that tops even my last post, and everything that could be going wrong is seriously considering doing so. I know God exists these days becuase there's no good reason for a pair of completely awfully nice people from South Carolina to come in and lavish their kindness upon me. There's just no way. Today is a day for more of God's most irritating kids, but he still sends people to me who brighten up my day and keep me from going completely postal.
On days when the world is throwing every punch at me that it can, it seems that something steps in to just give me a little boost. And on any other day, this kindness would maybe go completely unnoticed.
Yesterday was an interesting day. I managed to go to Burger King instead of McDonalds. The funny thing is; I didn't realize this, and was completely obvlivious to the fact that I was at the BK, all the way up until the girl said "Welcome to Burger King, ...". At first, I even thought she was kidding. She wasn't. So, being the "go with the flow" guy that I am, I politely asked her to wait a moment while I figured out what I wanted instead of snack-wraps. I chose two plain cheeseburgers (which ended up having little amounts of ketchup on them, which was actualy an nice little surprise. I like ketchup.) and a large Dr Pepper. It wasn't a bad little treat.
Yesterday, I also completely forgot to bring my frozen food lunch to work. I didn't realize it until I was at Kellogg & Greenwich.
I also accidentally showed up to work 30 minutes early. Not because I looked at the wrong schedule, or because I looked at a clock wrong. I just got up, and knew I had to get ready for work, so I did, then drove all the way out here, looked at the clock to see if I had time to go to McDonalds, and saw that I had 30 minutes with which to drive through, get my snack wraps, go to work, eat said snack wraps, read a book, learn to fold origami, play the fiddle, and then start work.
And then I went to Burger King.
You can see why this was an interesting day. In response, I thought that I would give myself a nice relaxing day today, which ended up not being the case, partly because Lisa wanted the afternoon off, partly because of other reasons, and partly because I paid my phone bill.
I wonder if what ducks would call duck-bluetooths. Phone bills?
There's a moth in my store.
On days when the world is throwing every punch at me that it can, it seems that something steps in to just give me a little boost. And on any other day, this kindness would maybe go completely unnoticed.
Yesterday was an interesting day. I managed to go to Burger King instead of McDonalds. The funny thing is; I didn't realize this, and was completely obvlivious to the fact that I was at the BK, all the way up until the girl said "Welcome to Burger King, ...". At first, I even thought she was kidding. She wasn't. So, being the "go with the flow" guy that I am, I politely asked her to wait a moment while I figured out what I wanted instead of snack-wraps. I chose two plain cheeseburgers (which ended up having little amounts of ketchup on them, which was actualy an nice little surprise. I like ketchup.) and a large Dr Pepper. It wasn't a bad little treat.
Yesterday, I also completely forgot to bring my frozen food lunch to work. I didn't realize it until I was at Kellogg & Greenwich.
I also accidentally showed up to work 30 minutes early. Not because I looked at the wrong schedule, or because I looked at a clock wrong. I just got up, and knew I had to get ready for work, so I did, then drove all the way out here, looked at the clock to see if I had time to go to McDonalds, and saw that I had 30 minutes with which to drive through, get my snack wraps, go to work, eat said snack wraps, read a book, learn to fold origami, play the fiddle, and then start work.
And then I went to Burger King.
You can see why this was an interesting day. In response, I thought that I would give myself a nice relaxing day today, which ended up not being the case, partly because Lisa wanted the afternoon off, partly because of other reasons, and partly because I paid my phone bill.
I wonder if what ducks would call duck-bluetooths. Phone bills?
There's a moth in my store.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
What the duck?
I would like to go on the record as saying that today has been one of the most awful days I have had in a long time. Talking about it won't make me feel better about it, and I'm still very very touchy in general.
On the plus side, it is rainy and cloudy (albeit cold), which I thoroughly enjoy, and I'm driving the rx-7 again, which is great. Mostly thanks to my CD player. You see, the Firebird that I had been driving has a malfunctioning CD player that makes a sound like an electrical short whenever you turn it on and off. So, no music. I would listen to my iPod, but I'm one of those guys who is against wearing headphones while driving. So, the moral of the story; buy a car-stereo.
If you're from New York, and you're impatient (you're normal), then get the MOTHERLOVE out of my state, go back where you came from, be impatient there, and if I treat you with patience and kindness, and you retort with assinine intolerance, then you only prove your worth as carpet mildew to me and if I ever see you out of my uniform I will not hesitate to explain in great detail and with great patience how much of a worthless rude pile of manure you are to me.
Jerk.
Also, I got broccoli and cheese soup today. I love soup. Especially on cold days. Especially when it has broccoli and cheese in it. Although, I must say, today's soup was quite hot. I mean, there's hot, and then there's "omgwtfpwn". Today was the latter. I sat it down on the counter for 20 minutes while I desperately tried to put the wonderfulness that is soup out of my mind. When I finally got to it, it was still hot. Not quite hot enough to encourage random abbreviations, but still probably a "good lord" hot. So I bit the bullet and went after it. It was so worth it. The soup is quite honestly the best thing that has happened to me all day (so far), followed closely by multiple repetitions of the song "Novocaine" on the "In Search of Sunrise 5" cd.
I hope somebody else is thoroughly enjoying the day that I'm supposed to be having today. I honestly hope that I run across many people today who are having excellent days, so maybe I can mooch a bit off of them. So, what can I do to make sure that today doesn't go to waste? I'm not sure. I'll have to work on that. I was super nice to the next two people who came in after the human scumlizards. That made me feel better. I realized at that moment that being nice and kind to people really is the best thing in the world (followed by broc & cheese soup).
I am going to go now, and hopefully I'll manage to sell a phone. If only to avoid an email suggesting that I read the sales manual again.
Sometimes I wish so much was different. Why isn't it?
On the plus side, it is rainy and cloudy (albeit cold), which I thoroughly enjoy, and I'm driving the rx-7 again, which is great. Mostly thanks to my CD player. You see, the Firebird that I had been driving has a malfunctioning CD player that makes a sound like an electrical short whenever you turn it on and off. So, no music. I would listen to my iPod, but I'm one of those guys who is against wearing headphones while driving. So, the moral of the story; buy a car-stereo.
If you're from New York, and you're impatient (you're normal), then get the MOTHERLOVE out of my state, go back where you came from, be impatient there, and if I treat you with patience and kindness, and you retort with assinine intolerance, then you only prove your worth as carpet mildew to me and if I ever see you out of my uniform I will not hesitate to explain in great detail and with great patience how much of a worthless rude pile of manure you are to me.
Jerk.
Also, I got broccoli and cheese soup today. I love soup. Especially on cold days. Especially when it has broccoli and cheese in it. Although, I must say, today's soup was quite hot. I mean, there's hot, and then there's "omgwtfpwn". Today was the latter. I sat it down on the counter for 20 minutes while I desperately tried to put the wonderfulness that is soup out of my mind. When I finally got to it, it was still hot. Not quite hot enough to encourage random abbreviations, but still probably a "good lord" hot. So I bit the bullet and went after it. It was so worth it. The soup is quite honestly the best thing that has happened to me all day (so far), followed closely by multiple repetitions of the song "Novocaine" on the "In Search of Sunrise 5" cd.
I hope somebody else is thoroughly enjoying the day that I'm supposed to be having today. I honestly hope that I run across many people today who are having excellent days, so maybe I can mooch a bit off of them. So, what can I do to make sure that today doesn't go to waste? I'm not sure. I'll have to work on that. I was super nice to the next two people who came in after the human scumlizards. That made me feel better. I realized at that moment that being nice and kind to people really is the best thing in the world (followed by broc & cheese soup).
I am going to go now, and hopefully I'll manage to sell a phone. If only to avoid an email suggesting that I read the sales manual again.
Sometimes I wish so much was different. Why isn't it?
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Suddenly!
...and then before you knew it, you were in Cologne, eating small beefcakes with the Swiss women's national bird-calling team.
Or so it seems. Life throws some rather odd things at us from time to time. Occasionally causing us to drop whatever plans we may have in favor of some new and exciting plan that involves major change, heartfelt goodbye's and delectible marzipans.
Sometimes life brings us to a point where we are frustrated, doing the "salesman" equivalent of assembling a railroad, one spike at a time for example. These points are where your guard must be up. Something will happen, if you'll let it. Store up your funds, supplies, toilet-paper, and magazines, and prepare for an oppurtunity that you will otherwise pass off because you've been just getting by.
These oppurtunities are what keep us happy; they are what give us joy and push us out of our box. Why all this seemingly-meaningless banter you ask? (Don't worry, even if you didn't ask, you were curious. You just didn't know it.)
Let me tell you why. One word, two syllables. China.
I've been given an oppurtunity to visit the land of the billions. The land once trodden underfoot of a very unpleasant but merely upset man in a funny hat, who had a fixation on burninating villages. He's gone now, though.
This oppurtunity has showed me that life isn't in the future. You are not preparing to live life. You are living life right now. Yeah, I have dreams, and desires, and goals for my future, and yes, the $2300 that I may spend in visiting the giant upside-down raygun shaped land with the huge and pointless wall could possibly go towards something in my future.
But then again, I would have never visited China.
So I move forward, growing in excitement that has a 37% chance of being revoked because sometimes that happens. However, if it all goes through: yay.
Now it is time for me to go visit other blogs, and other sites, and other forums, in search of the ultimate boredom-relief. Tune in frequently.
-setH
Or so it seems. Life throws some rather odd things at us from time to time. Occasionally causing us to drop whatever plans we may have in favor of some new and exciting plan that involves major change, heartfelt goodbye's and delectible marzipans.
Sometimes life brings us to a point where we are frustrated, doing the "salesman" equivalent of assembling a railroad, one spike at a time for example. These points are where your guard must be up. Something will happen, if you'll let it. Store up your funds, supplies, toilet-paper, and magazines, and prepare for an oppurtunity that you will otherwise pass off because you've been just getting by.
These oppurtunities are what keep us happy; they are what give us joy and push us out of our box. Why all this seemingly-meaningless banter you ask? (Don't worry, even if you didn't ask, you were curious. You just didn't know it.)
Let me tell you why. One word, two syllables. China.
I've been given an oppurtunity to visit the land of the billions. The land once trodden underfoot of a very unpleasant but merely upset man in a funny hat, who had a fixation on burninating villages. He's gone now, though.
This oppurtunity has showed me that life isn't in the future. You are not preparing to live life. You are living life right now. Yeah, I have dreams, and desires, and goals for my future, and yes, the $2300 that I may spend in visiting the giant upside-down raygun shaped land with the huge and pointless wall could possibly go towards something in my future.
But then again, I would have never visited China.
So I move forward, growing in excitement that has a 37% chance of being revoked because sometimes that happens. However, if it all goes through: yay.
Now it is time for me to go visit other blogs, and other sites, and other forums, in search of the ultimate boredom-relief. Tune in frequently.
-setH
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
I want a rain-stick.
I find myself struggling for the words to express how I feel about rainy days. To completely short-sell my feelings and use a cliche term; I love it.
There are few things in life that I find I enjoy immensely, and I do mean truly enjoy. Among these things are spending time with God, spending time with Naomi, DJ'ing, the feeling you get AFTER working on a car, and rainy days.
Rain and clouds bring character. In movies, it frequently rains. It brings a different feel to life. I also makes it much easier to do crazy-sick burnouts (which I make a point to sneak in frequently). It inspires emotion, and I, personally, have many songs in a "rainy day" category on iTunes that are PERFECT songs for rainy days.
Rainy days make me want to listen to old-school Tiesto and eat Crab Rangoon at Saigon on Broadway. They also make me want to listen to BT's 'Emotional Technology' and drive my Stealth around in Tulsa, and while on that topic, they make me want to be in my dorm in EMR with the window open and the lights off.
Rainy days remind me of my 300zx, and the fun I had drifting that car on rain-soaked side-streets near my house.
Rainy days remind me of the time Naomi and I just stood in the rain, embraced in a great big hug, completely oblivious to the fact that our clothes were thoroughly drenched, waterlogged, soaked and ludicrously wet (it was raining pretty hard).
Rainy days in the Fall remind me of working on the Stealth with the garage door open while a chilly rain was about, pulling the engine, putting it back, bolting up the tranny, breaking s-hooks which drop my engine into the bay unexpectedly, and so forth.
I love rain. I really do. You'll always find me at my happiest on a rainy day. Or you won't find me at all, as I'll be out and about, eating crab rangoon with Naomi at Saigon after getting pulled over for 'exhibition of accelleration'.
Enjoy the rain.
There are few things in life that I find I enjoy immensely, and I do mean truly enjoy. Among these things are spending time with God, spending time with Naomi, DJ'ing, the feeling you get AFTER working on a car, and rainy days.
Rain and clouds bring character. In movies, it frequently rains. It brings a different feel to life. I also makes it much easier to do crazy-sick burnouts (which I make a point to sneak in frequently). It inspires emotion, and I, personally, have many songs in a "rainy day" category on iTunes that are PERFECT songs for rainy days.
Rainy days make me want to listen to old-school Tiesto and eat Crab Rangoon at Saigon on Broadway. They also make me want to listen to BT's 'Emotional Technology' and drive my Stealth around in Tulsa, and while on that topic, they make me want to be in my dorm in EMR with the window open and the lights off.
Rainy days remind me of my 300zx, and the fun I had drifting that car on rain-soaked side-streets near my house.
Rainy days remind me of the time Naomi and I just stood in the rain, embraced in a great big hug, completely oblivious to the fact that our clothes were thoroughly drenched, waterlogged, soaked and ludicrously wet (it was raining pretty hard).
Rainy days in the Fall remind me of working on the Stealth with the garage door open while a chilly rain was about, pulling the engine, putting it back, bolting up the tranny, breaking s-hooks which drop my engine into the bay unexpectedly, and so forth.
I love rain. I really do. You'll always find me at my happiest on a rainy day. Or you won't find me at all, as I'll be out and about, eating crab rangoon with Naomi at Saigon after getting pulled over for 'exhibition of accelleration'.
Enjoy the rain.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Here it comes...
Yep, this week is a week of anticipation. I'm in the process of a massive redesign of my website, for starters. Also, I managed to start getting a scratchy throat, which I am anxiously awaiting in anticipation for it's timely demise.
Also, I am anxious that Naomi is coming home shortly, in a little over a week if memory serves. We have made tentative plans (by "we" I mean "I") to play cards and such. You see, Naomi is a special character. She brings out the "let's go out and do something fun" in me. Usually I'm content to sit at home and watch a movie or something. That's not always the best thing in the world to do. She tends to want to go do stuff. Elsewhere. Go to the park, kick ducks, maybe go get ice cream or coffee or coffee flavoured ice cream. She tends to have the influential ability to get me to get out of my comfort zone and do something productive. Which is nice.
For example. I had yesterday off from work, as I do every Wednesday. However, thanks to my hilarious prank of not stopping at a stop-sign right in front of a police cruiser, I had to use my day off to go downtown and get my ticket signed off on. I desperately wanted to avoid this because of past experiences. I just flat out didn't want to do it. So when Naomi called me, she was very sweet about asking me if I had done that yet, and of course I began to spew more excuses than Nixon, and then I felt it. The self-inflicted guilt-trip. The weird kind of self-infliction that is actually Naomi thinking that I should go downtown even if I don't want to, but she doesn't say it, but I know she's thinking it, then I feel guilty...
Yeah. So I did it. I went downtown with Josh and got my stuff taken care of, and to top it off, it really wasn't that bad. Just FYI, showing proof of insurance for a WPD ticket is much easier and faster than doing so for a Hi-Po ticket.
But, in the end, one thing still stands. My sore throat. I drank some Dr. Pepper this morning (which didn't help, but it tasted good and made me feel better; I'm so shallow) and ate an apple (which is definitely NOT nature's toothbrush) and now I'm working on my website whilst at work. I already transferred in all the new accessories, and cut out all the new price-tags, but I still have yet to face the formidable alliance of crickets and beetles in the back thanks to Mr. Ryan forgetting to let the backdoor close all the way last night. I may call in for backup on that one.
This post has exceeded the maximum limit of most peoples' attention span and will now close.
Also, I am anxious that Naomi is coming home shortly, in a little over a week if memory serves. We have made tentative plans (by "we" I mean "I") to play cards and such. You see, Naomi is a special character. She brings out the "let's go out and do something fun" in me. Usually I'm content to sit at home and watch a movie or something. That's not always the best thing in the world to do. She tends to want to go do stuff. Elsewhere. Go to the park, kick ducks, maybe go get ice cream or coffee or coffee flavoured ice cream. She tends to have the influential ability to get me to get out of my comfort zone and do something productive. Which is nice.
For example. I had yesterday off from work, as I do every Wednesday. However, thanks to my hilarious prank of not stopping at a stop-sign right in front of a police cruiser, I had to use my day off to go downtown and get my ticket signed off on. I desperately wanted to avoid this because of past experiences. I just flat out didn't want to do it. So when Naomi called me, she was very sweet about asking me if I had done that yet, and of course I began to spew more excuses than Nixon, and then I felt it. The self-inflicted guilt-trip. The weird kind of self-infliction that is actually Naomi thinking that I should go downtown even if I don't want to, but she doesn't say it, but I know she's thinking it, then I feel guilty...
Yeah. So I did it. I went downtown with Josh and got my stuff taken care of, and to top it off, it really wasn't that bad. Just FYI, showing proof of insurance for a WPD ticket is much easier and faster than doing so for a Hi-Po ticket.
But, in the end, one thing still stands. My sore throat. I drank some Dr. Pepper this morning (which didn't help, but it tasted good and made me feel better; I'm so shallow) and ate an apple (which is definitely NOT nature's toothbrush) and now I'm working on my website whilst at work. I already transferred in all the new accessories, and cut out all the new price-tags, but I still have yet to face the formidable alliance of crickets and beetles in the back thanks to Mr. Ryan forgetting to let the backdoor close all the way last night. I may call in for backup on that one.
This post has exceeded the maximum limit of most peoples' attention span and will now close.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Hextember
Holy crap, it's October. Stupid month snuck up on me. Let's talk about what October means to Seth.
Cold. October is here when it gets cold. Not "snow" cold, but "freezing rain" cold. We ease in to the winter months, and can withstand below freezing temperatures in February, for example, however I have learned that October is the month where temperatures drop from 90F to about 33F and then it rains.
Candy Corn Pumpkins. The little ones made of the same stuff they make Candy Corn with. I remember those at both my Grandparents' houses. There was always one on the shelf above the sink in Grandma Duncan's kitchen, and Grandma Bolen always had a little pumpkin-shaped candy-holder full of them.
Middle school. Specifically times when Cyle and Brice and I would hang out. We always seemed to have something fun to do in October. I don't know why, but when I think of the good ole' Oct, memories of late nights of movies and sour-ropes spring to mind. And Gweedo.
Naomi. Naomi broke up with me in October once. The first time actually. It was strange because it was the first time someone broke up with me while things seemed to be going so well. Strangely, I didn't mind because she said God had asked her to. Whatever He says, I'm fine with.
Cassie's Birfday. Yes, my sister graced this world at the end of Octime. Usually her birfday fests are more memorable and fun than Halloween ever was. Except the time I dressed up as a Star Trek character, complete with the uniform and even the little logo-on-the-chest-communicator-beamer-coffe-maker thing.
Adventures. Finally, the last thing that just screams in my mind when I think of this month are the Adventures that my Grandpa and I used to go on. I'm not 100% sure that they were in October, but it was always cold, the trees (I remember) were devoid of leaves, but it wasn't snowey out. I guess it very well could have been in November, but I doubt it. We would go on long walks just wherever, and see what we could see. We'd find fish, turtles, beer cans...just anything really. It was always tons of fun and something I'll remember for a long time.
Finally, I will depart with a little knowledge of the month for you. I've done some research and found that a little town in Indiana exists that goes by the name of Ober. Taking that knowledge with the previous knowledge of the language, October literally translates into "Eight Little Indians" or in some dialects "Eight Casinos".
With that, I leave you. Have a nice day.
Cold. October is here when it gets cold. Not "snow" cold, but "freezing rain" cold. We ease in to the winter months, and can withstand below freezing temperatures in February, for example, however I have learned that October is the month where temperatures drop from 90F to about 33F and then it rains.
Candy Corn Pumpkins. The little ones made of the same stuff they make Candy Corn with. I remember those at both my Grandparents' houses. There was always one on the shelf above the sink in Grandma Duncan's kitchen, and Grandma Bolen always had a little pumpkin-shaped candy-holder full of them.
Middle school. Specifically times when Cyle and Brice and I would hang out. We always seemed to have something fun to do in October. I don't know why, but when I think of the good ole' Oct, memories of late nights of movies and sour-ropes spring to mind. And Gweedo.
Naomi. Naomi broke up with me in October once. The first time actually. It was strange because it was the first time someone broke up with me while things seemed to be going so well. Strangely, I didn't mind because she said God had asked her to. Whatever He says, I'm fine with.
Cassie's Birfday. Yes, my sister graced this world at the end of Octime. Usually her birfday fests are more memorable and fun than Halloween ever was. Except the time I dressed up as a Star Trek character, complete with the uniform and even the little logo-on-the-chest-communicator-beamer-coffe-maker thing.
Adventures. Finally, the last thing that just screams in my mind when I think of this month are the Adventures that my Grandpa and I used to go on. I'm not 100% sure that they were in October, but it was always cold, the trees (I remember) were devoid of leaves, but it wasn't snowey out. I guess it very well could have been in November, but I doubt it. We would go on long walks just wherever, and see what we could see. We'd find fish, turtles, beer cans...just anything really. It was always tons of fun and something I'll remember for a long time.
Finally, I will depart with a little knowledge of the month for you. I've done some research and found that a little town in Indiana exists that goes by the name of Ober. Taking that knowledge with the previous knowledge of the language, October literally translates into "Eight Little Indians" or in some dialects "Eight Casinos".
With that, I leave you. Have a nice day.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
The wonders of music.
Everybody has a problem with attention span. I confess that I do. People like to multi-task, which is not always a good thing.
People drink coffee in their cars while listening to Ne-Yo or PCD and using BlueTooth to chat with their girlfriends.
People listen to Nickelback while blogging, and with the advent and popularity of iPods, people can now listen to Rod Stewart while biking, or Kiss while napping in a meadow; whatever the case may be.
People rarely pay attention to what they are listening to. I am not going to go down the path of "Christian music is the only good music" here, because I don't believe that is anywhere near the truth, however I do believe in music and it's power and I want to enlighten some of you who do not realize what is going on.
Music comes in two parts; the tones and the lyrics. Some only have one or the other. Tones; chords and such can carry a huge amount of emotion, even to the point of evoking tears or ludicrous dancing, but NEVER do they invoke hatred. Music NEVER brings pain. A person can associate pain with a song (for example, whenever I hear "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing", I think of Nicole, a great friend who died in a fire last year) and people can hate a style of music and build their own hatred or disgust just by hearing the music, however notes, chords, and tones can not bring hatred or pain. Music is powerful, it evokes emotion.
Lyrics are a completely different story. Bands and artists will write music about emotion, and usually about something that the artist feels strongly about. Whether an artist is singing about an ex-girlfriend, a current girlfriend, God, intentional rebellion, or even causing bodily harm of one form or another, lyrics carry a meaning. The main difference is this; lyrics CAN bring hatred, pain, or rebellion. Granted, people control their own emotions, but honestly, when was the last time YOU sat down and thought "okay, I'm in a bad mood, what actions should I take to kick this bad mood. I like Ice-cream and my friends, I'll go to braums with Josh". Seriously, people just ignore the instigator of the feelings and prefer to just feel. With this in mind, please watch what it is you listen to.
"Oh, I listen to it because they are great instrumentalists, I don't agree with the message." If you've ever said that, please pay attention to what you're saying. There are plenty of people with good messages, or at least non-violent messages that are plenty as good as x band.
"It's got a great beat and I can dance to it", but it talks about doing drugs and this and that etc...
What the heck. Listen to something that isn't so filled with hatred.
The whole point of this post is this. KNOW WHAT YOU LISTEN TO AND WHY. Listen to the lyrics. Read the lyric-sheet. Do not support something you don't stand for, if only as a character issue.
What do you listen to and why? I'm glad you asked.
Christian Rock - Do I really really need to explain this?
Other Rock - Most rock music isn't negative. I do read the lyrics though.
Electronica - It's got a good beat and you can dance to it. Very few lyrics. It evokes joy in me.
Foreign Classical - Traditional European classical bores me. Listen to Indian or Japanese music.
If music brings out hatred or rebellion in you, even if the music isn't supporting or encouraging that, please watch your attitude and maybe consider something else. You have to share this planet with billions of other people, so try not to piss everyone off.
People drink coffee in their cars while listening to Ne-Yo or PCD and using BlueTooth to chat with their girlfriends.
People listen to Nickelback while blogging, and with the advent and popularity of iPods, people can now listen to Rod Stewart while biking, or Kiss while napping in a meadow; whatever the case may be.
People rarely pay attention to what they are listening to. I am not going to go down the path of "Christian music is the only good music" here, because I don't believe that is anywhere near the truth, however I do believe in music and it's power and I want to enlighten some of you who do not realize what is going on.
Music comes in two parts; the tones and the lyrics. Some only have one or the other. Tones; chords and such can carry a huge amount of emotion, even to the point of evoking tears or ludicrous dancing, but NEVER do they invoke hatred. Music NEVER brings pain. A person can associate pain with a song (for example, whenever I hear "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing", I think of Nicole, a great friend who died in a fire last year) and people can hate a style of music and build their own hatred or disgust just by hearing the music, however notes, chords, and tones can not bring hatred or pain. Music is powerful, it evokes emotion.
Lyrics are a completely different story. Bands and artists will write music about emotion, and usually about something that the artist feels strongly about. Whether an artist is singing about an ex-girlfriend, a current girlfriend, God, intentional rebellion, or even causing bodily harm of one form or another, lyrics carry a meaning. The main difference is this; lyrics CAN bring hatred, pain, or rebellion. Granted, people control their own emotions, but honestly, when was the last time YOU sat down and thought "okay, I'm in a bad mood, what actions should I take to kick this bad mood. I like Ice-cream and my friends, I'll go to braums with Josh". Seriously, people just ignore the instigator of the feelings and prefer to just feel. With this in mind, please watch what it is you listen to.
"Oh, I listen to it because they are great instrumentalists, I don't agree with the message." If you've ever said that, please pay attention to what you're saying. There are plenty of people with good messages, or at least non-violent messages that are plenty as good as x band.
"It's got a great beat and I can dance to it", but it talks about doing drugs and this and that etc...
What the heck. Listen to something that isn't so filled with hatred.
The whole point of this post is this. KNOW WHAT YOU LISTEN TO AND WHY. Listen to the lyrics. Read the lyric-sheet. Do not support something you don't stand for, if only as a character issue.
What do you listen to and why? I'm glad you asked.
Christian Rock - Do I really really need to explain this?
Other Rock - Most rock music isn't negative. I do read the lyrics though.
Electronica - It's got a good beat and you can dance to it. Very few lyrics. It evokes joy in me.
Foreign Classical - Traditional European classical bores me. Listen to Indian or Japanese music.
If music brings out hatred or rebellion in you, even if the music isn't supporting or encouraging that, please watch your attitude and maybe consider something else. You have to share this planet with billions of other people, so try not to piss everyone off.
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