Tonite I willingly entered what could be my first online scam. Get this, people. Pay-to-do-survey website. One time fee of $35, promised to make lots more over the course of a long and healthy survey filling out career. Now, I did a bit of research, checked 'em out, figured it's mostly safe...And if not, it's only thirty five bucks. It can't be worse then selling my blood, right?
right?
March of the Penguins: $8.50.
My kid brother shouted at me as I left the house, "I can't BELIEVE you're going to go see that movie!"
"It's critically acclaimed!" I defended myself.
So it was amazing camera work. The guys that film flightless birds in tuxedo in antarctica in winter need to be checked out as to their mental stability, but it was pretty cool. Tho i think i'd already seen some of it on Wild Discovery, Sunday nights at 8.
Due to popular demand, I have tested out the purified water dispenser at Top Foods in Federal Way. It works. I pushed the ON button. Water flowed. I panicked, galen lost his composure, and i hastily punched the only red button on the machine. Water stopped. All is well.
8.31.2005
K, so here's the thing. Oatmeal actually sucks. It does. If you don't buy it in those little packets with all our traditional American favorites (Apples and cinnamon, Maple and brown sugar, Cinnamon and Raisin, Cinnamon Roll, Banana Bread, etc) and don't add stuff that completely negates that healthful quality of the oats such as heaping portions of brown sugar - there is little or no reason to be eating this stuff. It's goupy, it's sloppy, it's grainy, it never looks as hot as it actually is -- meaning that tongue burnage can be expected on a regular basis, and it lowers your cholestrol which makes me feel old.
I have no love for cholestrol
But should I really be eating anything that's going to lower it at the age of not-quite-twenty?
Uh oh, it's 4.51...i'm running late - ha, and i have to stop for gas. Guess I'll be hoping I make it to work today - i'll just call one of you to get up and help me on the cell phone i definitely do not have.
Ah, morning incoherence...
I have no love for cholestrol
But should I really be eating anything that's going to lower it at the age of not-quite-twenty?
Uh oh, it's 4.51...i'm running late - ha, and i have to stop for gas. Guess I'll be hoping I make it to work today - i'll just call one of you to get up and help me on the cell phone i definitely do not have.
Ah, morning incoherence...
8.28.2005
8.22.2005
Glass of water, anyone?
Allow me to state the obvious: there is a lot of water in the Puget Sound. Lots. A quick google search and one click of the mouse informs me that up to 367,000 cubic feet of water flows into the puget sound from fresh water sources alone per second. That is a lot of water.
I spent this last weekend at my favorite place in the world: Thetis Island, British Columbia. Every time I step off a ferry or boat and my foot hits the ground on the island, I am overcome with a sense of peace that I cannot explain. It's just -- everything is right no matter what is going wrong. I was able to re-connect with old friends and leisurely pass the time riding in speed boats and lying on floating docks between gourmet meals and fabulous teaching and encouragement. A couple of main things that have really stuck with me - the glory of God should be SHINING out of us, not just leaking, not even just noticeable SHINING! Unmistakable and unmissable. God's glory and work is no mere candle bobbing in a darkened attic, but a blazing sun piercing out of the blackest cave. Something else, it's okay if we don't know. Cluelessness is okay. When Jesus healed the blind man in John 9, the people and religious leaders were questioning the formerly blind man as to who Jesus was and how he had healed him. What did this man know? Nothing!
When the people ask him where Jesus is in v.12, he replies "I do not know!"
v. 24: So a second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, "Give glory to God; we know that this man (Jesus) is a sinner. v.25 He therefore answered, "Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see."
It's okay if we don't know! Jesus finds the man later and tell him to follow Him and the man does not because he knows everything, not because he knows that the scriptures point to Jesus as the Messiah, or because he could logically defend his choice but because he saw the transformation in his own life. And that transformation will be unmistakable if we rely on Jesus to change us to His glory.
Back to the Puget Sound trivia, this weekend was also my first extended small boat ride. About 12 of us piled into two boats to make the 8 hr one way trip to Thetis Island from Des Moines on Friday. The trip up went decently, though the boat I was in was significantly slower then the other boat so it was frustrating at times - I think I got some sweet pictures can't wait to develop my film. The ride on the way BACK was a little bit more interesting. The engine started backfiring immediately after we started it so we had to go even SLOWER to try to keep the engine running. Four hours later we reach Friday Harbor for U.S. Customs. After leaving Friday Harbor, we brave a long section of viscious rip tides, whirlpools, and stray logs before hitting the strait of wandafuka (sp?). Okay, the strait is a pretty big section of open water that gets rollers in from the ocean as well as the wind which whips up some pretty nice waves as well. I finished my book just as the first wave came flying over the side of the boat and we were off on a natural roller coaster. I stood outside the cabin, hanging on and smiling to myself with delight as we plunged and rolled and rocked and bucked our way through a sea that was growing steadily more angry. Forty five minutes later, the engine starts bogging down and we're doing about 5 mph before someone looks down. O. What's that? THAT is four inches of water in the bottom of the boat that is coming up very, very fast. O yes, friends, the S.S. Minnow with Gilligan, your's truly, is sinking. Bob, our fearless leader, immediately got on his antique, "sometimes works, I don't even know" radio and alerts the caost guard with a mayday! while I and the only other guy on that boat under 40 years old spring forward with five gallon buckets and start bailing for all we're worth. Somewhere in the thrill ride of the ocean, we'd gotten separated from our other boat so the only nearby vessels were three cruise ships leaving for a week of Alaskan site seeing. Fantastic. I continued to bail for the next two hours barely keeping up with the inrushing water as we limped to the nearest dock.
I didn't really mind too much, tho really. I was laughing and singing with my bailing partner glad for the distraction from the long ride - that is until someone pressed a life jacket into my hands and I suddenly thought that this whole situation could get interesting. Very interesting. Aren't life jackets for emergencies? Hmm... Then the only things I could think of is Paul writing "To live is Christ, to die is gain," how I no longer shook my head at the disciple's panic in the midst of a storm, Tom Sawyer (figure it out), and wishing I had more film.
Anyway, we obviously made it to shore where we discovered a rather large hole in the hull of our iron clad ship and proceeded to take hot coin-operated showers and eat crab chowder at the marina while we waited a few hours for a vehicle. MMm, 3 am arrival, anyone? Anyhow, we met some cool people and God is always good - had this whole adventure began twenty to fifteen minutes earlier when we were still in the strait, we all woulda been swimming for sure. Hey, I coulda been on the news! :)
Cheers, all.
I spent this last weekend at my favorite place in the world: Thetis Island, British Columbia. Every time I step off a ferry or boat and my foot hits the ground on the island, I am overcome with a sense of peace that I cannot explain. It's just -- everything is right no matter what is going wrong. I was able to re-connect with old friends and leisurely pass the time riding in speed boats and lying on floating docks between gourmet meals and fabulous teaching and encouragement. A couple of main things that have really stuck with me - the glory of God should be SHINING out of us, not just leaking, not even just noticeable SHINING! Unmistakable and unmissable. God's glory and work is no mere candle bobbing in a darkened attic, but a blazing sun piercing out of the blackest cave. Something else, it's okay if we don't know. Cluelessness is okay. When Jesus healed the blind man in John 9, the people and religious leaders were questioning the formerly blind man as to who Jesus was and how he had healed him. What did this man know? Nothing!
When the people ask him where Jesus is in v.12, he replies "I do not know!"
v. 24: So a second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, "Give glory to God; we know that this man (Jesus) is a sinner. v.25 He therefore answered, "Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see."
It's okay if we don't know! Jesus finds the man later and tell him to follow Him and the man does not because he knows everything, not because he knows that the scriptures point to Jesus as the Messiah, or because he could logically defend his choice but because he saw the transformation in his own life. And that transformation will be unmistakable if we rely on Jesus to change us to His glory.
Back to the Puget Sound trivia, this weekend was also my first extended small boat ride. About 12 of us piled into two boats to make the 8 hr one way trip to Thetis Island from Des Moines on Friday. The trip up went decently, though the boat I was in was significantly slower then the other boat so it was frustrating at times - I think I got some sweet pictures can't wait to develop my film. The ride on the way BACK was a little bit more interesting. The engine started backfiring immediately after we started it so we had to go even SLOWER to try to keep the engine running. Four hours later we reach Friday Harbor for U.S. Customs. After leaving Friday Harbor, we brave a long section of viscious rip tides, whirlpools, and stray logs before hitting the strait of wandafuka (sp?). Okay, the strait is a pretty big section of open water that gets rollers in from the ocean as well as the wind which whips up some pretty nice waves as well. I finished my book just as the first wave came flying over the side of the boat and we were off on a natural roller coaster. I stood outside the cabin, hanging on and smiling to myself with delight as we plunged and rolled and rocked and bucked our way through a sea that was growing steadily more angry. Forty five minutes later, the engine starts bogging down and we're doing about 5 mph before someone looks down. O. What's that? THAT is four inches of water in the bottom of the boat that is coming up very, very fast. O yes, friends, the S.S. Minnow with Gilligan, your's truly, is sinking. Bob, our fearless leader, immediately got on his antique, "sometimes works, I don't even know" radio and alerts the caost guard with a mayday! while I and the only other guy on that boat under 40 years old spring forward with five gallon buckets and start bailing for all we're worth. Somewhere in the thrill ride of the ocean, we'd gotten separated from our other boat so the only nearby vessels were three cruise ships leaving for a week of Alaskan site seeing. Fantastic. I continued to bail for the next two hours barely keeping up with the inrushing water as we limped to the nearest dock.
I didn't really mind too much, tho really. I was laughing and singing with my bailing partner glad for the distraction from the long ride - that is until someone pressed a life jacket into my hands and I suddenly thought that this whole situation could get interesting. Very interesting. Aren't life jackets for emergencies? Hmm... Then the only things I could think of is Paul writing "To live is Christ, to die is gain," how I no longer shook my head at the disciple's panic in the midst of a storm, Tom Sawyer (figure it out), and wishing I had more film.
Anyway, we obviously made it to shore where we discovered a rather large hole in the hull of our iron clad ship and proceeded to take hot coin-operated showers and eat crab chowder at the marina while we waited a few hours for a vehicle. MMm, 3 am arrival, anyone? Anyhow, we met some cool people and God is always good - had this whole adventure began twenty to fifteen minutes earlier when we were still in the strait, we all woulda been swimming for sure. Hey, I coulda been on the news! :)
Cheers, all.
8.18.2005
Pent up
500,000 tons of concrete damming millions of gallons
snow capped volcano struggling to contain a billion psi that broils from somewhere inside
angry and tired and frustrated and sad
silently crying and bitterly laughing
not because I am alone or because no one cares
they do -- I just don't know how to tell them
what I am feeling.
-------------
And then I almost do cry, only not from rage or hurt - but real tears because I may soon have to decide whether my dog is in too much pain to continue living. She is next to me sprawled on her blanket, her dark eyes twitching as she tries to stare up at me. Eyes that ask me why everything hurts, why I can't make it better, trusting me for what is best. She had her annual summer haircut a few weeks ago, so she looks sort of silly for a golden retriever. One ear flopped over her face, her side heaving with each breath - she's given up trying to keep her head off the ground. It's a small thing perhaps - "just a dog" - but anyone who has been here before knows that it is more then that. She's my first dog, the puppy I dropped when I was 12 but forgave me the very next instant. Walked with me, played football and soccer with me, rode in my car, hunted easter eggs, ate christmas paper, and always welcomed me home.
Ten minutes ago I was too angry at anything to speak, but now just by looking at me she's made me forget half of all the rubbish.
500,000 tons of concrete damming millions of gallons
snow capped volcano struggling to contain a billion psi that broils from somewhere inside
angry and tired and frustrated and sad
silently crying and bitterly laughing
not because I am alone or because no one cares
they do -- I just don't know how to tell them
what I am feeling.
-------------
And then I almost do cry, only not from rage or hurt - but real tears because I may soon have to decide whether my dog is in too much pain to continue living. She is next to me sprawled on her blanket, her dark eyes twitching as she tries to stare up at me. Eyes that ask me why everything hurts, why I can't make it better, trusting me for what is best. She had her annual summer haircut a few weeks ago, so she looks sort of silly for a golden retriever. One ear flopped over her face, her side heaving with each breath - she's given up trying to keep her head off the ground. It's a small thing perhaps - "just a dog" - but anyone who has been here before knows that it is more then that. She's my first dog, the puppy I dropped when I was 12 but forgave me the very next instant. Walked with me, played football and soccer with me, rode in my car, hunted easter eggs, ate christmas paper, and always welcomed me home.
Ten minutes ago I was too angry at anything to speak, but now just by looking at me she's made me forget half of all the rubbish.
8.17.2005
Frustrated
No one is that perfect, nothing is so sweet. What could be that beautiful? Money and perfection are not synonymous. One voice and one song transcend class and creed and clique. One day to change lives. This is what I have: a bit of money, a job, a concert, and a bus ride. This is what I have - this is what I can give. So...give that. One night to live, one night to lose. One life to live, one more to gain. Let us gain and lose too and stop pretending.
Pretending is not synonymous with beauty,
nor innocence with fear
Peace then? Peace.
8.11.2005
I say good day.
Did anyone watch the Peter Jenning's special on abc last night? Disney's network featured a two-hour, commercial-free commentary on the life and work of World News Tonight's late anchor. Now, I want to be clear - I have always, always, always been a Tom Brokaw loyalist prefering Brokaw's dry, sort of grandfatherly assertiveness to Jenning's silky approach which I always interpreted as a little weak and condescending. I've found myself in more then a few heated arguments about who is the better network news anchor, polling courtesy clerks at safeway, cashiers, people on the street, and fellow students. However, I retract any less then flattering things I've said about Mr. Peter Jennings during these debates and honor his passing by remarking on a man of insatiable curiosity, charm, intelligence, and awareness to the world around him.
Some deep blogging going on, people. There's a smattering of posting going on, some in big chunks, others in their usual steady stream - but really deep topics being addressed. I haven't had much of an inclination to write for the past week and a half or so -- my journal travels wherever I go from my bedside desk to the kitchen to my car to the machine shop where I work...but stays closed. Just resting. Sometimes, in fact most of the time, I prefer to absorb and listen to the thoughts of others -- of all of you rather then filling my ears with the scratching of my own pen.
Trust me when I say that I will wait for you. Trust me when I tell you that it hurts to look into your eyes -- and yet I can't look away. Eyes that sparkle in honesty and fly above triviality. Eyes that laugh easily, cry fearlessly, and judge slowly. Eyes that are made out of rain.
Ooo, wait...getting a scene here...ooo, gotta go write this down - enjoy your friday.
"I'm going to be honest with you, Bryan. That smells like pure gasoline"
Did anyone watch the Peter Jenning's special on abc last night? Disney's network featured a two-hour, commercial-free commentary on the life and work of World News Tonight's late anchor. Now, I want to be clear - I have always, always, always been a Tom Brokaw loyalist prefering Brokaw's dry, sort of grandfatherly assertiveness to Jenning's silky approach which I always interpreted as a little weak and condescending. I've found myself in more then a few heated arguments about who is the better network news anchor, polling courtesy clerks at safeway, cashiers, people on the street, and fellow students. However, I retract any less then flattering things I've said about Mr. Peter Jennings during these debates and honor his passing by remarking on a man of insatiable curiosity, charm, intelligence, and awareness to the world around him.
Some deep blogging going on, people. There's a smattering of posting going on, some in big chunks, others in their usual steady stream - but really deep topics being addressed. I haven't had much of an inclination to write for the past week and a half or so -- my journal travels wherever I go from my bedside desk to the kitchen to my car to the machine shop where I work...but stays closed. Just resting. Sometimes, in fact most of the time, I prefer to absorb and listen to the thoughts of others -- of all of you rather then filling my ears with the scratching of my own pen.
Trust me when I say that I will wait for you. Trust me when I tell you that it hurts to look into your eyes -- and yet I can't look away. Eyes that sparkle in honesty and fly above triviality. Eyes that laugh easily, cry fearlessly, and judge slowly. Eyes that are made out of rain.
Ooo, wait...getting a scene here...ooo, gotta go write this down - enjoy your friday.
"I'm going to be honest with you, Bryan. That smells like pure gasoline"
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