2.28.2006

It's Snowing Information

It snowed last night. I love snow and have barely seen it this season, but it was nice to see a bit even if it was a little bit. It started while I was watching the wonderful movie, Miracle. If any of you haven't seen it, go out and rent it. It is really well done and pretty stirring.

I know that I have said this before, but the wikipedia is awesome. It is so informative and helpful when trying to find information. It is easy to search on and the information is usually very accurate. In fact it is so cool that I am going to give it a place in this blog. Combine it with google and that would be an incredibly awesomely wonderfully lethal combination.

2.27.2006

Reflections of a Sacred Weekend

1. Good show by the ex-Rainchildren
2. You can see snow at Ski Roundtop
3. It may be fake, but it is still snow
4. It is good to talk stuff out
5. My mind is swirling and affecting my sleep
6. It was nice being outside in the cold watching the skiers and tubers
7. Barne and Nobles has some nice informative books
8. It may happen
9. The Baden-Wurttemberg region seems like a nice region of Germany
10. 6.30 am is way too early to arise on a saturday
11. Gary Thomas is a good speaker
12. Velvet Elvis is a challenging read
13. A good sandwich is one of the great things of life
14. Why do some people deem it their right to complain about anything they don't like?
15. Arsenal lost...YEAH!!
16. Pink Glop
17. Dennis Miller is pretty funny, but he can get too political for me
18. Beetle Juice is not a very good movie
19. It may have been a waste of time to watch it
20. Naps are beautiful things
21. High school guys are a challenge
22. Congrats to Sweden on their Olympic hockey gold
23. I have this strange urge to watch Miracle
24. Lent starts on Wednesday
25. I enjoyed the Olympics
26. Sleep...sleep...sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

2.24.2006

I Don't Know - Part 2

I'm 28 years old. I haven't had a permanent job in almost two years. I have had a few job searches. I don't even know what benefits are anymore although I do know what sports injuries are. I'm single with no prospects on the horizon.

I have no idea what to do with my life. I don't know where I am headed with my career. I would like to have a family one day and wouldn't mind owning a house someday. I'm lost. I have no idea where to start. I feel like I've been spun around and then told to go towards the goal. I can't see the goal and don't even know what it looks like as well as being dizzy trying to reach it. I am not sure what I am supposed to do next or where I am supposed to look. I have been looking for two years in some areas and that clearly hasn't worked so I need to look somewhere else.

Somehow I am still doing okay and every once in a while even have some fun. I guess I have to find myself before I start looking, but that really sounds like a cliche. I guess I just don't know. Maybe I don't know anything.

2.23.2006

I Don't Know - Part 1

Sunshine, won't you be my mother
Sunshine, come and help me sing
My heart is darker than these oceans
My heart is frozen underneath

We are crooked souls trying to stay up straight
Dry eyes in the pouring rain well
The shadow proves the sunshine
To scared little runaways
Hold fast to the break of day light were
The shadow proves the sunshine

Oh Lord, why did you forsake me?
Oh Lord, don't be far away away
Storm clouds gathering beside me
Please Lord, don't look the other way

Crooked souls trying to stay up straight
Dry eyes in the pouring rain well
The shadow proves the sunshine
To scared little runaways
Hold fast to the break of day light were
The shadow proves the sunshine

Yeah Yeah, shine on me

Crooked souls trying to stay up straight
Dry eyes in the pouring rain well
The shadow proves the sunshine
To scared little runaways
Hold fast to the break of day light were
The shadow proves the sunshine

Shine on me
-Switchfoot

2.22.2006

Initial Reactions

I'm stuck between a few emotions. Part of me wants to destroy something. Part of me wants to cry. Part of me just wants to give up. Part of me just wants to sink into depressing thoughts.

The part of me that want to destroy something is my reaction of anger. Pissed off at why things don't go right just once in this whole screwed up situation. That if I just chuck something against a wall or break something, I feel a bit better.

The part of me that wants to cry is saddened by the constant rejection that I have experienced. I don't really know how to cry though. What is it to cry? You can only be rejected so often before it just beats you to a bloody pulp. It's the part that just wants to curl up in a ball and have the whole world just go away for a while.

The part of me that wants to give up is the part that is sick of trying. The funny thing, though. There is nothing to give up. I could say I am giving up, but I can't. It is not a possibility. But I want to. I'm tired; I'm stressed; I don't want to go through this anymore. But I have no choice.

The part of me sinking into depressing thoughts about how much of a loser I am. My complete inability to be wanted to anyone. It is amazing how easily and casually people throw other people aside like they don't matter. It's just a business, who cares about feelings. I feel worthless when this stuff happens. Maybe I am...

I pray...nothing happens. I cry...no one's there. Promises of love and strength are left unkept. Maybe I am supposed to do this on my own. Do I doubt? Yeah, but not seriously. I know He is there and loves more than I can comprehend, but it is hard when I don't feel anything except a void.

So what do I do? I just go on. It will happen again. Things positive and negative always happen in this life. I can't quit so I won't. I will keep trying and maybe someday this cloud will actually break. I hope. I have to hope because to lose hope is to lose everything.

2.21.2006

Eleemosynary one

I hate being sick. I can't wait till I find out what it is like to breathe again. But anyway, on Friday night, I saw a chilling video about Ugandan children whom are abducted into a rebel army to fight a war. It was quite a shaking and disturbing problem. Find more information here.

I got an encouraging email from someone today. It really lifted my day. It's amazing how a couple of sentences can change a mood. So go out and give a couple of kind words to someone to put a smile on their face.

2.20.2006

Reflections of a Sickly Weekend

1. The kids wonderfully fasted to raise money for Zimbabwe
2. It is good to see college friends
3. It is fun to play percussion with good musicians
4. I enjoy the Olympics
5. Diener's has good breakfast foods
6. Small group leadership is not always easy
7. Why do churches always concentrate on foreign missions, but ignore the people in their backyards?
8. MF still has a belly button, what a shame
9. 'War of the Ring' is a fun game to play, but can go too long
10. Congrats to MF, although it was ultimately a losing effort, it was one of the best jobs done in playing a game in a long while
11. We won, but were tested
12. Jazz worship...strange idea
13. Will ICON survive?
14. Fever, aches, stomach, head, nose, throat=uggghhh
15. Feeling better, but not great
16. The Daytona 500 was boring
17. I can't really take figure skating, especially ice dancing
18. I lost in Candyland
19. 11 hours of sleep helps to heal
20. I hate fevers because it means that I am freezing even if I have 20 layers on
21. I didn't know that Italy and Norway had such a huge rivalry in the 4x10km cross-country skiing event
22. I rarely get sick and hate when I do
23. I had avoided it all season
24. Drugs help sleeping

2.16.2006

Where Am I Going

Thought about dumping on the blog today, but don't feel up to it so here are some nice lyrics.

When you try your best but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse

When the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

High up above or down below
When you too in love to let it go
If you never try you'll never know
Just what your worth

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face and I
Tears stream down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face and I

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
-Coldplay

2.15.2006

Sweet Dreams are Made of These

Something I have never blogged about before. Last night I had a dream. It was such a strange dream that I thought I would share it with y'all.

I dreamt that I was engaged. Strange already. I wasn't engaged to any recognizable person from reality(no one that anyone would know). That being said, in the dream I knew who she was, but I did not really know her. I knew her about as well as you know an acquaintance. I don't even know why or how we met or got engaged. Stranger...

Since we had gotten engaged recently we had an engagement party in a non-descript house. Many of my family and friends were there. Some thought it was great that we were engaged while others weren't really sure that it was a good thing although she was a nice enough person. We weren't together a whole lot at the party initially. I was--in my dream--wondering why in the world I was engaged to a person that I didn't really know and decided that after the party I was going to break off the engagement. She was also a little unsure about this whole thing, almost like neither of us had decided to get engage.

Well, throughout the day(long party), we got to spend a some time alone and had a blast together. We found out that we had a huge amount in common and went quite well together. Because of this new information, I decided that I would keep the engagement on.

Then I woke up. This is one of the strangest dreams I have ever had. I usually don't remember my dreams either. So, y'all are welcome to make guesses as to what it meant. If you don't want to, just enjoy the rather odd story.

I'm in love

A snowboarder that laid down the biggest run in the Olympic games except for one snafu. Here is a story about her.

2.14.2006

So what day is it

I was looking up information on Valentine's Day today in the wikipedia. As I was reading about the day I found that it was also Singles Awareness Day. Interesting.

Anyway, I am single for yet another Valentine's Day. I actually have only had one Valentine's Day of romantic significance in my life. This seems like it will be a depressing post, but I promise it won't. That day is a day that I look back very fondly on. The relationship was done shortly after, but now a few years later I look back on it with nothing but good memories.

Have you noticed that most everything in the past is in rose-colored glasses. I know I do. Even if when I am going through a rough period of life, I always look back on those periods remembering the fond times. And I enjoy doing that. It always brings a smile to my face. So as I go through this Valentine's Day, I will think about happy times and in the present enjoy chilling with my good friends of nowadays.

2.13.2006

Reflections of a White Weekend

1. The Olympics started this weekend
2. I wouldn't mind being in Torino
3. I would need a passport for that, huh?
4. Oh well, I don't have the money anyway
5. I don't like tortuous situations
6. Haven't played chess in a while
7. Still way better than ST
8. A source has told me that ST has seen, by choice, First Daughter
9. Soccer in a ballpark...odd
10. Torino seems to be a pretty city
11. Did you know that the hymn 'Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken' is a rip off of the German national anthem?
12. Hymns are soooo lame, nothing original
13. I don't like Duke
14. Maryland needs a backcourt
15. Isn't laundry so fun?
16. I like to watch the Olympics, especially the halfpipe and freestyle skiing
17. Not the figure skating
18. You know who wins in figure skating, the ones with the reputation, not the ones that did the best
19. I like playing my guitar
20. The Fugitive was a good movie
21. They have to talk about figure skating even when none happened on that day
22. It snowed around 8 inches
23. It looks purty
24. It was nice outside around midnight with the snow falling and not many people out
25. I shoveled
26. Paper bags under doormats everywhere
27. I got lots of sleep
28. I love snow
29. It would have been fin to be in Central Park, New York where they got 27 inches
30. I survived by myself
31. When I spell-checked this, it asked me if I meant tornados when I typed doormats

2.10.2006

What's in a Name

For the next couple of weeks, the winter Olympics will be held in Torino, Italy. Many people over on this side of the pond may know it as Turin, Italy, which has the Shroud of Turin. So, why do we have two different names here and which is right?

Well, Torino is the Italian name for the city. Turin in the English name that was given to it by the brits which carried over to the USA. This seems troubling to me. I can say Torino as well as I can say Turin. Why to we find it necessary to change the names of cities to what we may want? Why can't we just call their cities what their natives call them? This seems very egotistical to me.

Fortunately for the Olympics, NBC, who has the television coverage here in the states, is calling the city Torino. And I am going to enjoy watching the Olympics. Especially when they are in another country, you really get to learn about another culture. A great chance to maybe take a little bit of good ole American egoism out to lunch.

Now is it Munich or Meunchen...

2.09.2006

Who is Found Out?

Last night the Grammy's were on. I try to watch the Grammy's every year. Even if I am not around, like last night, I tape them. Some people would ask why. I love music and I love listening to music. Last night U2 was the biggest winner with Kelly Clarkson, Kanye West, Mariah Carey and John Legend pulling in a good number.

The Grammy's have many live performances and by watching them you can see who actually has talent and also get to see some people perform together who usually wouldn't. Last night was no different and I enjoyed making many observances:
- Madonna again proved that she doesn't have any musical talent. By now they have gotten smart enough to cover up her voice as much as possible to try and hide the fact. She can gyrate though.
- Coldplay put on a good performance with Chris Martin venturing farther into the crowd than any other performer.
- U2 did a pretty standard version of Vertigo, but that wasn't the thing of note. They then did 'One' with Mary J Blige and it was just incredible. Still not sure whether Bono actually plays his guitar.
- Mariah Carey can just flat out sing. Wow. Also Randy Jackson of American Idol fame was in Carey's band playing keys and bass.
- Kelly Clarkson also has a good set of pipes on her delivering a slightly eerie version of 'Because of you.'
- They did a tribute to Sly and the Family Stone which Sly Stone came out for in the middle and left before it was over. Very odd.
- Ciara can't hold a tune. Well at least she has her 'Goodies' to give her a career.
- Somebody needs to get a message to Christina Aguilera that moving her mic like that just creates problems for the sound guy. No helping there.
- How is Keith Urban a country singer? He is just another singer songwriter that is marketed under a different label. Not a bit of country in the song that he performed.
- John Legend is pretty darn good.
- Bruce Springsteen needs to shut his mouth. Not every concert is a chance for him spray political propaganda. He needs to shut up and just play his music.
- Kanye West. What an incredible talent. He put on the most creative performance of the evening. The man in a creative genius whether it's in his music or performance. I don't like the man or his ego (not sure which is bigger) and disagree with most of the things he says and does, but his talent is undeniable. Too bad it's not being used for a greater cause rather than himself.

2.08.2006

I Have a Beef...

...with oil companies. That's right, in recent news Shell and Exxon recorded record profits for 2005. Shell made $23 billion in profit and Exxon made $36 billion. This would be the same year in which gas prices skyrocketed. Seems to me that these companies were feeding us a pile of crap about their costs shooting up.

This bothers me due to the amount that I have been spending on gas. So I am going to do something about it. I am boycotting oil. No more. I am tired of feeding into these companies profit margin and getting nailed at the pump. I have no choice, but to do what any right wing organization does when there is something that they don't like. Boycott. I am sure that it will accomplish so much by me boycotting oil. In fact, I believe that by my singular boycott, I can bring these oil companies to their knees. Gas prices will surely drop from the outlandish $2.30/gallon that they are now, down to a much more reasonable 30 cents or so.

Anybody with me?

2.07.2006

Reflections of a Uncliscious Weekend

1. Ikea is awesome
2. Chick-fil-A is delicious
3. Adventures are fun
4. Where is the grocery store?
5. Sometimes it is really nice to drive in the rain
6. Saturday afternoon drives are relaxing
7. If it had been colder we would have gotten snow...GRRR
8. I think my niece actually may have recognized me
9. I hope my brother did
10. Lasagna is a favorite food of mine
11. My brother's designing abilities are impressive
12. Why is it easier to see other's gift before your own?
13. Relaxing is nice
14. It stinks to be left out
15. It's good to see a friend that you haven't seen in a month or so
16. Super Bowl party food is good
17. It can make you sick though
18. I love cheese
19. I didn't throw my hat once
20. Great friends are a gift that you can't take for granted
21. I like to sleep
22. 'Lasagna' is not in the spell checker
23. Have a great week

2.06.2006

And the real Super Bowl MVP is...

...the refs!!

Yes that is right ladies and gentlemen. You may have just witnessed the worst officiated Super Bowl ever. One in which the referees actually changed the outcome of the game by choosing to call penalties against the Seahawks that never existed and to not call penalties against the Steelers that were blatant.

You say, how do I know the outcome would have changed? Well, let me walk you through it. Pass interference on Darrel Jackson when he caught the ball in the end zone. Where was it? Evidently the Steeler corner who was holding Jackson's arm made it offensive pass interference. There is a disallowed touchdown. They got a field goal so that was 4 points.

The Willie Parker 75 yard touchdown run should have been disallowed because of the clipping and holding that was occurring at the offensive line. 7 points.

Ben Roethlisberger's run that was eventually called a touchdown even though the ball never crossed the plane. The oddest thing about this one was that the official ran almost the complete way into the pile holding one hand up signaling fourth down and at the very end, after running in from the sideline, signaled a touchdown. 4 points.

On the trick reverse to Randal El that resulted in a touchdown throw, the offensive lineman in front of Randal El dragged the defensive lineman down and no flag was thrown. Not to mention that the Steelers got to the Seahawks 43 yard line by a phantom 15 yard penalty on Matt Hasselbeck. They called him for an illegal block when he blocked no one. He made the tackle. 7 points.

Hasselbeck threw a pass to Jeremy Stevens at the one which would have set up 1st and goal. A holding penalty was called when no holding ever occurred. 7 points.

Those were the calls that mostly just affected points. There were a couple of other bad calls though. Like the one where Warrick had a 34 yard run and it was called back on a holding penalty that never happened. That is a 44 yard swing. Or towards the end of the game when Roethlisberger called a timeout after the play clock had hit 0. No delay of game.

The calls were incredibly bad so let's figure out what the score would have at least been. Instead of Pittsburgh winning 21-10, we have Seattle winning 28-10. Oops. And that is why the referees should be the Steelers Super Bowl MVP.

This is a black mark against the officials. Here are some other articles to read: ESPN and FOXSports

Plus, the halftime show wasn't very good either.

2.03.2006

Is It Really XL?

This weekend is the Super Bowl. I enjoy watching the Super Bowl as I enjoy watching most championship games in sports. The Super Bowl seems to be the biggest one in terms of popularity in the US. This year the Seattle Seahawks are playing the Pittsburgh Steelers. It's a hard game to figure out, but my rooting interests are easily defined. Most of you know that I hold no love towards the Steelers. In fact, you may say that I don't like them at all. Also, the Seahawks have never won a Super Bowl as opposed to the Steelers' four. So I will definitely root for the Seahawks.

How about the commercials? I hope to see some inventive ones. I have gotten tired of animals. It's not creativity to keep going for the same laugh with animals. Let's see something I have never seen before. The GoDaddy.com commercial had to be edited 14 times before it was approved. The last year's one was inappropriate and shouldn't have aired. Let's hope this years isn't as bad or at least hope to miss it.

So who is going to win? This is a tough one. Seattle had the better season and was very consistent in playing well. The Steelers looked pretty weak for a couple of weeks but otherwise had a good season. The Steelers have looked like gods in the playoffs and their opponents have looked horrible. The Seahawks demolished a very good Panthers team. In the end, I think it will be a close game and come down to the last couple of minutes. I am going to say Seattle 29 - Pittsburgh 27. But I am usually wrong on these things and the Super Bowls are usually blow outs. Who knows?

2.02.2006

Joyful Candlemas

Last night Duke University played Boston College in a game of men's college basketball. Now those of you that know me and my sports loyalties know that I can't stand Duke. There are many reasons why I don't like Duke, but one of them is that refs tend to favor them. It's how they are coached. They are coached to flop and act in certain ways as to get calls. They also have a reputation of being the most well coached team in the world although it hasn't been true for a long while.

Last night they won the game by two points. In the game they shot 24 more free throws than BC. That has direct correlation to how many fouls are called on a team. That was bad enough, but the worst part was the end of the game. BC had the ball and a BC played dribbled towards the basket to try to score. At the point one of the Duke players mugged him and knocked him to the floor. Did a whistle blow for a foul? Nope. In what was a clear foul, the referee did not do anything because it would have gone against Duke.

Man, does that irk me. Maybe they will be the first number 1 seed in the tournament to lose to a 16 seed. And I will continue my passionate dislike for Duke.