The weekend is over. Back to work in seven hours. I should be sleeping, but I'm not. I'm plenty tired; I just don't want to go to bed. Because that means my mini vacation is over. It makes me sad. And my Aunt and Uncle are leaving tomorrow. That makes me sad too. It was awesome to have them around so much. Never felt so close to them as this get together. It was really nice. It made me wary though. Last time I got real close to an Uncle suddenly like that, he died. Still made it one of the best years of my life though. Up until November anyway.
My cousin called me today. It was nice. We hadn't talked since I came home from school, but while I was out there we talked (for a long period of time) at least once a week. Often more than that. I missed her. I missed hearing about her life and friends and just everything. She can talk a lot. I like it. I've always liked people who talk a lot. I think it's 'cause I don't know how to do that. Well, more like I don't trust very many people that much. So I don't talk to them that much. Sometimes I feel like Mr. Darcy - once you lose my good favor it's nearly impossible to regain it. I try not to be that way too much.
Will is awesome. So are Alice and Sophia, but Will is awesome. I want boys when I get married. Lots of little boys. I'm afraid of having girls.
So my Uncle was talking about his book. It sounded so amazingly sweet. They should make a movie about it, seriously. It'd be so cool. Anyway. I had this timeline I'd worked out a while ago, but I'd never gotten a story going from it. I just kind of had the setting, but I knew it was missing something very important. I couldn't figure out what it was, but it just wasn't interesting enough to me. Well, because his book was so sweet, it got my imagination going again, and I started figuring out all kinds of things. It was cool. And fun. Then I got tired, and it sort of died. . . . But I got some stuff done, which was neat. I still don't have much of a story though. Just a setting mostly. Usually I start with characters and then make the setting around them, so this is different. Maybe it'll work better.
I like Korax. My Uncle thinks he's evil. And he is, but how are you judging him? By the Bible? If so, then Korax is no more evil than the guy who owns the tavern he's staying in, 'cause that guy isn't saved either, and he doesn't feel bad about ignoring God every day of his life either. Korax does have a code though. He wouldn't kill children. But soldiers? He kind of figures they should be able to defend themselves, and if they can't, too bad for them. Women. . . He'd only kill one if he had to in order to save himself. Kind of like Mat Cauthon. He didn't want to kill the Aiel lady, but she was trying to kill him. Korax isn't a womanizer though, so really, is he better than Mat? Or do the mass slaughterings make him worse? In a world without God, everything IS relative. Every man does that which is right in his own eyes, and there is no perfect Creator to stop them.
I made up a world once where the gods were more like the mythological beings. Where they messed with mankind for their enjoyment because they were stronger. It got kind of twisted and weird. I stopped writing it. The main character of that? Now she was evil. Wicked through and through.
Anywho. I must needs be off to bed. As it is, I'm going to feel like Death in the morning. Much love to all who read. Unless I don't know you. . . Comments are welcome in case you're wondering. ;)
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
It must be Wind's Day again
It's storming outside. :) Rain in the summer makes me happy. You know what else makes me happy? Uncles who send bonuses for being the first to comment. =D How I love our capitalist thinking. Mike V, socialism rots. lol
So I keep getting my work schedule mixed up. Which is rather odd because it's right there written on the paper and I just have to read it. But I think I figured it out. See, I have absolutely no stress about work. Nothing to worry about at all. It's all easy. Most people like me, and the people who don't, I disliked first, so I don't really care. Therefore, since I have no stress, I give it very little thought. And when I give it little thought, I don't pay attention to what hours I'm really working.
I had another motorcycle lesson last night. I got into second shift. :) It's soooo amazingly awesome. I love motorcycles. I wonder if Mom would freak out if I bought one at some point. . . . It's a fun thought. I should probably practice a lot more with the starting up though. Shifting really isn't that hard. It's actually pretty easy if you're thinking about it. But I think I killed it about five times last night trying to get started. Yeah, not so great.
I want to see Iron Man. Mike keeps going on and on about it, and I still haven't seen it. King Henry V is a great movie. Just to say that. Such great speeches. The one at the end where he's trying to woo Kate it awesome. If only people still talked like that. . . . . I think it's funny how he goes on and on in English even though she can't understand it. Hehehe. Ah, I like that movie.
I'm supposed to sing something for church tonight, but I don't know what. Hmm. I'll figure it out. I always do.
Isn't Mike funny? I think he's pretty funny. It's like a talent, I think. I can play the piano. Mike makes people laugh.
. . . . . What does Dave do? ;)
Hogan's Heroes has been on TV lately. It's a funny show that reminds me of when we were little. (Not the show. . . We used to watch it when we were little at Grandma's house.) Makes me want to see Animaniacs too. Hm.
Uncle Matt, Auntie Yuisa, and cousin Will are flying to Michigan tonight. :) It's exciting. They're going to be staying here in town with my pastor. Isn't that cool? Our pastor is so hospitable. Always offering their empty rooms to our extended family. =)
So I keep getting my work schedule mixed up. Which is rather odd because it's right there written on the paper and I just have to read it. But I think I figured it out. See, I have absolutely no stress about work. Nothing to worry about at all. It's all easy. Most people like me, and the people who don't, I disliked first, so I don't really care. Therefore, since I have no stress, I give it very little thought. And when I give it little thought, I don't pay attention to what hours I'm really working.
I had another motorcycle lesson last night. I got into second shift. :) It's soooo amazingly awesome. I love motorcycles. I wonder if Mom would freak out if I bought one at some point. . . . It's a fun thought. I should probably practice a lot more with the starting up though. Shifting really isn't that hard. It's actually pretty easy if you're thinking about it. But I think I killed it about five times last night trying to get started. Yeah, not so great.
I want to see Iron Man. Mike keeps going on and on about it, and I still haven't seen it. King Henry V is a great movie. Just to say that. Such great speeches. The one at the end where he's trying to woo Kate it awesome. If only people still talked like that. . . . . I think it's funny how he goes on and on in English even though she can't understand it. Hehehe. Ah, I like that movie.
I'm supposed to sing something for church tonight, but I don't know what. Hmm. I'll figure it out. I always do.
Isn't Mike funny? I think he's pretty funny. It's like a talent, I think. I can play the piano. Mike makes people laugh.
. . . . . What does Dave do? ;)
Hogan's Heroes has been on TV lately. It's a funny show that reminds me of when we were little. (Not the show. . . We used to watch it when we were little at Grandma's house.) Makes me want to see Animaniacs too. Hm.
Uncle Matt, Auntie Yuisa, and cousin Will are flying to Michigan tonight. :) It's exciting. They're going to be staying here in town with my pastor. Isn't that cool? Our pastor is so hospitable. Always offering their empty rooms to our extended family. =)
Saturday, June 28, 2008
A snipet
This is a story I started a little while ago that never went anywhere. But I like this and I like the character here, so I might use him somewhere else. He reminds me of one of David's mighty men of war sorta thing. I wanted a character who could fight so hard and so long that he couldn't let go of his sword. So I made Tavarius.
Silently shadows slipped over the forst-covered ground. Korax Tavarius slowly drew his sword, his breath remaining even and sure. He'd done this far too many times before. There were two score of his prey to a line advancing through the night. Not really his enemies, he was only earning his living through their deaths.
Absently, he wondered if any of the six hundred had spotted him yet, though they were not looking for one man lying alone on a night like this. Covered in his light gray cloak, he knew he was nearly as invisible as any spell could have made him. His sword simply looking like a bit of snow glinting in the moonlight. They never saw him.
Waiting till the host was about twenty feet away, Korax sprang to his feet, rushing to meet them. There was no battlecry that poured from his lips - he had none - as he dealt out silent death. They fell easily to his skill and flashing katana. Soon, almost too soon, they were all dead, their blood staining the snow crimson.
For a moment, Korax stood looking at them, filing them away with the hundreds and thousands of others. But his money was waiting for him. Gripping the jade talismen that hung from his neck, he chanted a moment and in a quick flash, he was back in his room at the Blue Starlight Tavern.
He washed his face and hands, put on a fresh tunic and descended the stairs to the common room. A glowing fire greeted him as the dry wood crackled loudly. His light blue eyes scanned the room for his contact, but apparently they had underestimated his abilities. With an inward shrug, he sat down at the table and ordered his dinner along with a mug of the innkeeper's best ale. He doubted it would be better than the city's worst, but it would have to do.
Soon he was engulfing the mediocre meal, while half-listening to a barmaid sing the tale of Gradus and Tilone. She had a fair voice and a pleasant shape, but the story was not his favorite. A man throwing away his life for a woman? And not only that, but a woman who didn't love him? To Korax, that was beyond idiocy, but he had little time to dwell on it. His contact arrived with the same swagering, self-involved look of uncertain pride that he always had. The combination of his unconfindent manner coupled with his alarmingly forward arrogance made Korax keep their conversations short and to the point. Even more so than normal.
Darond sat down at the table with a grin like they were old friends and ordered a drink. "I guess I should have listened. Didn't think you could really pull it off quite so fast." Reminding himself one more time that the man was a sufficient go-between, Korax let the comment slide.
"My money."
"What? That's it? You don't want to tell me how you did it?"
"Darond, if I told you, showed you, and trained you, you still wouldn't be capable of what I am." It was disgust more than pride that prompted the statement. Standing, Korax extended his hand and Darond was at least smart enough to hand over the bag of gold coins without further prodding. Having finished his meal and acquired his living, Tavarius retired to his room for the night. He would have to make his way back to the city to find another job. And for that trip he would need a good amount of supplies and for the weather to hold.
Laying down on the bed without removing his clothes or using the blankets, he glanced out the window. It was a clear night and cold. The weather was changing almost too quickly. He had no doubt the snow would fly soon, and once it started there would be no leaving the valley. Not even his magic could get him through the snow-covered pass of Tharon.
Silently shadows slipped over the forst-covered ground. Korax Tavarius slowly drew his sword, his breath remaining even and sure. He'd done this far too many times before. There were two score of his prey to a line advancing through the night. Not really his enemies, he was only earning his living through their deaths.
Absently, he wondered if any of the six hundred had spotted him yet, though they were not looking for one man lying alone on a night like this. Covered in his light gray cloak, he knew he was nearly as invisible as any spell could have made him. His sword simply looking like a bit of snow glinting in the moonlight. They never saw him.
Waiting till the host was about twenty feet away, Korax sprang to his feet, rushing to meet them. There was no battlecry that poured from his lips - he had none - as he dealt out silent death. They fell easily to his skill and flashing katana. Soon, almost too soon, they were all dead, their blood staining the snow crimson.
For a moment, Korax stood looking at them, filing them away with the hundreds and thousands of others. But his money was waiting for him. Gripping the jade talismen that hung from his neck, he chanted a moment and in a quick flash, he was back in his room at the Blue Starlight Tavern.
He washed his face and hands, put on a fresh tunic and descended the stairs to the common room. A glowing fire greeted him as the dry wood crackled loudly. His light blue eyes scanned the room for his contact, but apparently they had underestimated his abilities. With an inward shrug, he sat down at the table and ordered his dinner along with a mug of the innkeeper's best ale. He doubted it would be better than the city's worst, but it would have to do.
Soon he was engulfing the mediocre meal, while half-listening to a barmaid sing the tale of Gradus and Tilone. She had a fair voice and a pleasant shape, but the story was not his favorite. A man throwing away his life for a woman? And not only that, but a woman who didn't love him? To Korax, that was beyond idiocy, but he had little time to dwell on it. His contact arrived with the same swagering, self-involved look of uncertain pride that he always had. The combination of his unconfindent manner coupled with his alarmingly forward arrogance made Korax keep their conversations short and to the point. Even more so than normal.
Darond sat down at the table with a grin like they were old friends and ordered a drink. "I guess I should have listened. Didn't think you could really pull it off quite so fast." Reminding himself one more time that the man was a sufficient go-between, Korax let the comment slide.
"My money."
"What? That's it? You don't want to tell me how you did it?"
"Darond, if I told you, showed you, and trained you, you still wouldn't be capable of what I am." It was disgust more than pride that prompted the statement. Standing, Korax extended his hand and Darond was at least smart enough to hand over the bag of gold coins without further prodding. Having finished his meal and acquired his living, Tavarius retired to his room for the night. He would have to make his way back to the city to find another job. And for that trip he would need a good amount of supplies and for the weather to hold.
Laying down on the bed without removing his clothes or using the blankets, he glanced out the window. It was a clear night and cold. The weather was changing almost too quickly. He had no doubt the snow would fly soon, and once it started there would be no leaving the valley. Not even his magic could get him through the snow-covered pass of Tharon.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Weekend
So I got out of work early today. I wasn't really sure if I wanted to; it wasn't like it was a bad day so far. But it was nice. And I don't think Kaity (How exactly does she like it spelled, Mike?) wanted to go home. She hasn't been having as many hours lately. Anyway, I was tired and it worked out.
Dad started teaching me how to drive his motorcycle the other day. It was sooooo cool. :) I loved it. I've thought it would be really neat to drive a motorcycle for a while now, and then he just offered to teach me. I was so scared at first. But it was exciting. I killed the engine like twelve times, but he didn't seem very worried about it.
I have the Fourth off. And I don't work weekends, so I'll be free Saturday too. Yay! :D I'm excited. I was surprised that I got it off because the request book was already full. But I have connections. Mike says the scheduling manager has a crush on me. Hehe. /shrug I can't help it if I'm cute. ;) He (Tom, the manager) was hilarious this morning. . . He'd had too much coffee. Running around and so hyper. It was cute.
I like our pool. I accidentally spilled the chlorine in it though. . . I don't know if Katie told anybody . . . I probably should have mentioned it to Mom last night, but she came in with oodles of strawberries and I got excited. Kaylynn and I then proceeded to stem them all and Mom made jam and stuff. :D It was nice. And very domesticated. Hehe.
I miss my friends. I try to be around, but conflicting work schedules rot. I also miss being able to stay up late. . . Well, later than 10:30. . . lol Getting up at 5am isn't so much fun. Ah, well. I continue to survive.
Yesterday was stressful. It made me sad. Today was better.
Well, I should be off to do something productive. (That means practice the piano or the violin.) I probably won't though. . . . Hehe. :)
Dad started teaching me how to drive his motorcycle the other day. It was sooooo cool. :) I loved it. I've thought it would be really neat to drive a motorcycle for a while now, and then he just offered to teach me. I was so scared at first. But it was exciting. I killed the engine like twelve times, but he didn't seem very worried about it.
I have the Fourth off. And I don't work weekends, so I'll be free Saturday too. Yay! :D I'm excited. I was surprised that I got it off because the request book was already full. But I have connections. Mike says the scheduling manager has a crush on me. Hehe. /shrug I can't help it if I'm cute. ;) He (Tom, the manager) was hilarious this morning. . . He'd had too much coffee. Running around and so hyper. It was cute.
I like our pool. I accidentally spilled the chlorine in it though. . . I don't know if Katie told anybody . . . I probably should have mentioned it to Mom last night, but she came in with oodles of strawberries and I got excited. Kaylynn and I then proceeded to stem them all and Mom made jam and stuff. :D It was nice. And very domesticated. Hehe.
I miss my friends. I try to be around, but conflicting work schedules rot. I also miss being able to stay up late. . . Well, later than 10:30. . . lol Getting up at 5am isn't so much fun. Ah, well. I continue to survive.
Yesterday was stressful. It made me sad. Today was better.
Well, I should be off to do something productive. (That means practice the piano or the violin.) I probably won't though. . . . Hehe. :)
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Update
Time for a quick update!
Life is boring. I work and eat and sleep and go to church and that's about it. Icecream is wonderful and all, but when it gets to be the highlight of your day, there's a problem.
I don't know what to do. About anything. I feel like I should go back to school, but I don't have enough money, and knowing that I don't have enough money, I want to spend what I do have on stuff that I want. Nothing I need, just things I want. I think I finally got over Mom's voice in my head saying, "Do you really NEED that?" Maybe not. . . I still haven't bought the stuff. But I am more free (freer?) with my money than I was before I went to school. Wish I weren't. I could use some of it now for next semester. Assuming I go back. I know it'd be good for me. But I so despise the thought of owing someone money, even if it's my parents. I hate it. . . And so, I don't know what to do.
No one talks to me anymore. I miss Steph. She used to talk to me. It didn't matter what it was about. She would just talk, and for a while too. For some reason, I need that. Maybe it's because I can't just talk to people. I'm too insecure or something. I need people to ask and ask again till I'm sure they really, truly care. Then I can tell them. Sometimes. If I try really, really hard. There are very few people I trust. I've found it to cause pain. Because you think you're so tight with someone; you let them in and then they disappear. And you're alone and someone out there knows your deepest thoughts and dearest secrets. That's just terrifying.
Someone should slap me upside the head because we watched Jumper tonight, and I actually thought Hayden Christensen was pretty good looking. He looked grown up. . . He's always had a cool voice. And then he had special powers. I was trying to focus on the bad attitude and complete idiocy of how he wouldn't tell the truth and such, but. . . He really didn't look half bad. Anyway. Mike'll probably read this tomorrow and smack my head. . . . Ah, brothers. :)
Maybe it wasn't such a quick update after all.
Life is boring. I work and eat and sleep and go to church and that's about it. Icecream is wonderful and all, but when it gets to be the highlight of your day, there's a problem.
I don't know what to do. About anything. I feel like I should go back to school, but I don't have enough money, and knowing that I don't have enough money, I want to spend what I do have on stuff that I want. Nothing I need, just things I want. I think I finally got over Mom's voice in my head saying, "Do you really NEED that?" Maybe not. . . I still haven't bought the stuff. But I am more free (freer?) with my money than I was before I went to school. Wish I weren't. I could use some of it now for next semester. Assuming I go back. I know it'd be good for me. But I so despise the thought of owing someone money, even if it's my parents. I hate it. . . And so, I don't know what to do.
No one talks to me anymore. I miss Steph. She used to talk to me. It didn't matter what it was about. She would just talk, and for a while too. For some reason, I need that. Maybe it's because I can't just talk to people. I'm too insecure or something. I need people to ask and ask again till I'm sure they really, truly care. Then I can tell them. Sometimes. If I try really, really hard. There are very few people I trust. I've found it to cause pain. Because you think you're so tight with someone; you let them in and then they disappear. And you're alone and someone out there knows your deepest thoughts and dearest secrets. That's just terrifying.
Someone should slap me upside the head because we watched Jumper tonight, and I actually thought Hayden Christensen was pretty good looking. He looked grown up. . . He's always had a cool voice. And then he had special powers. I was trying to focus on the bad attitude and complete idiocy of how he wouldn't tell the truth and such, but. . . He really didn't look half bad. Anyway. Mike'll probably read this tomorrow and smack my head. . . . Ah, brothers. :)
Maybe it wasn't such a quick update after all.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Dum, de dum-dum, dum.
Well, it sure has been a while. Over a month now since I've been home and June starts in an hour. (Okay, 47 minutes. Er, 46.) Back home and back to work within a week. That's kind of quick, but it's good. Don't know what I'd do if I didn't have to get up and go to work. Probably waste a lot of time watching movies or . . . reading comic books. I do miss college a little. I miss. . . the people, sitting in class. The "dining commons." I don't miss having to walk through the snow and wind up to the campus, or having to go up three flights of stairs just to play a piano (if one is open). I don't miss the homework or the papers or the stress of getting good grades. I don't miss all the girls or my roommates even. I definitely don't miss my dorm sup or my teachers.
I think I miss the motivation the most. The reason to do well. The opportunity to work hard and make people happy with the results. I don't do that enough at home. I have been trying. Trying to be more helpful with little things around the house. But I lock myself away in my room too often I think. It's hard when you've been at work all day to come home and have the desire to do anything that you're not asked to do. To do something that will get done whether or not I'm the one to do it. Something that doesn't need to be done right now. It's easier to sit at my computer or the TV and not think, to just relax for a little while. But what good does that do? Do people really need to relax? Shouldn't helping BE relaxing? If I'm relaxed when I sleep, and I get at least seven hours of sleep, do I really need to spend time during the day not doing anything? Hmm. It's hard, nonetheless, to do things you're not asked to do when you come home.
It's also hard to get up at 5am. I'm going to get some good practice in next week though. And a dentist's appointment on Tuesday assures that I won't really have a shorter day at all. In fact, it'll probably be slightly longer. . . At least I won't have to be standing at the dentist's. Maybe I'll actually fall asleep this time. But I doubt it.
I still haven't gotten the invitation to Telah's candle party. I think it's this Friday. I'm hoping I can come up with something else that I'm going to do instead. . . I really would rather not go. And then I wonder if I should go just because. I know I'm not going to spend any money (unless it were as a gift). I don't need candles; I don't want any more candles; I don't ever use candles. Candles produce smoke, and I don't like smoke. But anyway. I have enough as it is. There are better and easier ways to make a room smell nice than producing smoke. But that still doesn't answer the question of whether or not I should go. Ooo! I could gas prices as an excuse! . . . . That's actually a pretty good reason too. Heh. Over 4 dollars now. . . . When I started driving gas was just over 2 dollars I think. That was what, three years ago now? Three years = a 2 dollar raise. That's kind of nasty.
Well, I should probably be off to bed, off to bed. "Oh, I couldn't possibly go to bed now-" *ehem* Yes, when the movie lines start freely flowing, 'tis time for me to be goin'. (And here comes the ryhmes. . . ) So I bid thee adieu and goodnight. Till we meet again. And a happy first day of June to ye (in 31 minutes).
I think I miss the motivation the most. The reason to do well. The opportunity to work hard and make people happy with the results. I don't do that enough at home. I have been trying. Trying to be more helpful with little things around the house. But I lock myself away in my room too often I think. It's hard when you've been at work all day to come home and have the desire to do anything that you're not asked to do. To do something that will get done whether or not I'm the one to do it. Something that doesn't need to be done right now. It's easier to sit at my computer or the TV and not think, to just relax for a little while. But what good does that do? Do people really need to relax? Shouldn't helping BE relaxing? If I'm relaxed when I sleep, and I get at least seven hours of sleep, do I really need to spend time during the day not doing anything? Hmm. It's hard, nonetheless, to do things you're not asked to do when you come home.
It's also hard to get up at 5am. I'm going to get some good practice in next week though. And a dentist's appointment on Tuesday assures that I won't really have a shorter day at all. In fact, it'll probably be slightly longer. . . At least I won't have to be standing at the dentist's. Maybe I'll actually fall asleep this time. But I doubt it.
I still haven't gotten the invitation to Telah's candle party. I think it's this Friday. I'm hoping I can come up with something else that I'm going to do instead. . . I really would rather not go. And then I wonder if I should go just because. I know I'm not going to spend any money (unless it were as a gift). I don't need candles; I don't want any more candles; I don't ever use candles. Candles produce smoke, and I don't like smoke. But anyway. I have enough as it is. There are better and easier ways to make a room smell nice than producing smoke. But that still doesn't answer the question of whether or not I should go. Ooo! I could gas prices as an excuse! . . . . That's actually a pretty good reason too. Heh. Over 4 dollars now. . . . When I started driving gas was just over 2 dollars I think. That was what, three years ago now? Three years = a 2 dollar raise. That's kind of nasty.
Well, I should probably be off to bed, off to bed. "Oh, I couldn't possibly go to bed now-" *ehem* Yes, when the movie lines start freely flowing, 'tis time for me to be goin'. (And here comes the ryhmes. . . ) So I bid thee adieu and goodnight. Till we meet again. And a happy first day of June to ye (in 31 minutes).
Monday, April 28, 2008
Again!?!?
28th now and it snowed again. Just thought I'd share that fact.
The wedding was last Saturday. Dave and Kaylynn are married and off somewhere on their honeymoon. I haven't heard anything from them or from anyone else about them. Someone asked me if they're doing alright or where they are. How should I know? I'll probably be the last one to hear if they're still alive even.
The whole wedding affair went pretty well though, in my opinion. I rather enjoyed it. And I almost cried a few times. Poor Mom. . . I don't think she stopped crying. And then people were like, "You're supposed to be happy!" Wha??? She was happy. She was also having to let go. Leave her alone, people. Like you didn't have mixed emotions when your kids got married. As if anyone expected you NOT to cry. Sheesh. . . .
White glove is tonight. . . I really, really, really hope that we cleaned well enough and don't have to pay any fines or anything. . . I'm afraid the floor wasn't clean enough. . . Guess we'll find out. I'm hungry. It's only a quarter after four. . . Although I did eat lunch at eleven something. That's probably why.
Tomorrow is going to be interesting. I just have to work for about six hours on a computer/music project. Yeah, that's all. I was going to work on some of it tonight, but there's a bunch of stuff going on. An icecream party thing and then my dorm is having a bonfire. Weather-permitting. Or rather Lord-willing. Personally, having the thing in the basement if the weather isn't nice sounds better than sitting outside (It's cold!!). But we'll see. I don't really care. If it's not mandatory (I think it is. . .), I probably wouldn't do it at all. Heh heh. (Not the icecream thing - I want to do that for sure. =D)
. . . I'm really hungry. . . . I thought there was something else I was going to write about. . . Oh, my test this morning was pretty easy. Actually, so far, none of them have really been too bad. And I just have two left. Whoo! T. Woot.
Oo! Dr. Phelps preached in chapel today! =D It was a happy day. All last week we had special chapels, presenting awards and all sorts of random things. But today we went back to the preaching. =D YAY!!!! It was good. I like him a lot. . . . Reminds me of Pastor. I think they'd get along pretty well. And Uncle Pete too. =D
This is most likely the last time I will post during this semester. I should be leaving around 1:30pm Wednesday the 30th. Two days. I think it's about time to start counting down the hours. In about 45 hours I will be leaving. In about 51-52, I'll be home. =D
The wedding was last Saturday. Dave and Kaylynn are married and off somewhere on their honeymoon. I haven't heard anything from them or from anyone else about them. Someone asked me if they're doing alright or where they are. How should I know? I'll probably be the last one to hear if they're still alive even.
The whole wedding affair went pretty well though, in my opinion. I rather enjoyed it. And I almost cried a few times. Poor Mom. . . I don't think she stopped crying. And then people were like, "You're supposed to be happy!" Wha??? She was happy. She was also having to let go. Leave her alone, people. Like you didn't have mixed emotions when your kids got married. As if anyone expected you NOT to cry. Sheesh. . . .
White glove is tonight. . . I really, really, really hope that we cleaned well enough and don't have to pay any fines or anything. . . I'm afraid the floor wasn't clean enough. . . Guess we'll find out. I'm hungry. It's only a quarter after four. . . Although I did eat lunch at eleven something. That's probably why.
Tomorrow is going to be interesting. I just have to work for about six hours on a computer/music project. Yeah, that's all. I was going to work on some of it tonight, but there's a bunch of stuff going on. An icecream party thing and then my dorm is having a bonfire. Weather-permitting. Or rather Lord-willing. Personally, having the thing in the basement if the weather isn't nice sounds better than sitting outside (It's cold!!). But we'll see. I don't really care. If it's not mandatory (I think it is. . .), I probably wouldn't do it at all. Heh heh. (Not the icecream thing - I want to do that for sure. =D)
. . . I'm really hungry. . . . I thought there was something else I was going to write about. . . Oh, my test this morning was pretty easy. Actually, so far, none of them have really been too bad. And I just have two left. Whoo! T. Woot.
Oo! Dr. Phelps preached in chapel today! =D It was a happy day. All last week we had special chapels, presenting awards and all sorts of random things. But today we went back to the preaching. =D YAY!!!! It was good. I like him a lot. . . . Reminds me of Pastor. I think they'd get along pretty well. And Uncle Pete too. =D
This is most likely the last time I will post during this semester. I should be leaving around 1:30pm Wednesday the 30th. Two days. I think it's about time to start counting down the hours. In about 45 hours I will be leaving. In about 51-52, I'll be home. =D
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Snow in April
It's snowing here. April 12th. Snowing. I didn't realize it was cold enough for that, but I guess so. It's been coming down for a while now. It's kind of funny. I don't mind it, but probably a lot of people are somewhat unhappy. What bothers me is the wind. It blows my hair and my skirt and just isn't very friendly.
I've been kind of wasting my Saturday thus far. Which isn't good, especially considering I'd like to get to Walmart later and I need to have stuff done before I can go. I need to record my hymns and finish my notation project for the week. And practice for another few hours. And Whoa. . . I think it stopped snowing. . . Anyway. What else do I need to do? . . . . . Hmmmm. Oh, my NT journal. And. . . . My Keyboard Skills stuff. . . Bleh. That's what's really getting me down. That stupid Keyboard Skills, which doesn't even count anymore for anything. It's Personal Enrichment that doesn't count toward my major. What's it matter anyway though if I don't plan on getting a degree? It matters because I have to do my best. I'm one of THOSE people. . . And yet the other kind of people drive me crazy because I can't understand them, so honestly, I don't know what I'm even talking about anymore. Maybe I should just go.
To do what though? Play the piano for another three hours like I did yesterday? Try to figure out the bass root melodies again, so I can memorize them? I need to print up my Hymnplaying test too. . . Why can't they just test our playing skills? I'm not in music. I haven't taken Aural Skills. How am I supposed to suddenly be able to just do this? They never really taught us how. Just assumed that we could. It's annoying. . . . Not everyone can do all the same stuff.
Anyway. It's been like an hour now, and I still haven't gotten anything done. I have learned about the Free Tibet Movement and how rotten the Chinese government is. They banned YouTube from the entire country because of a few videos that were uploaded showing something that reflected poorly on the government. Because banning YouTube for that reason Doesn't reflect poorly on the government. The whole banning thing reminded me of school though. Don't let people make up their own minds. You have to do it for them. Don't let people think, they might realize they're smarter than you are.
But enough of that ranting. I should do something worth while I suppose. It's snowing again.
I've been kind of wasting my Saturday thus far. Which isn't good, especially considering I'd like to get to Walmart later and I need to have stuff done before I can go. I need to record my hymns and finish my notation project for the week. And practice for another few hours. And Whoa. . . I think it stopped snowing. . . Anyway. What else do I need to do? . . . . . Hmmmm. Oh, my NT journal. And. . . . My Keyboard Skills stuff. . . Bleh. That's what's really getting me down. That stupid Keyboard Skills, which doesn't even count anymore for anything. It's Personal Enrichment that doesn't count toward my major. What's it matter anyway though if I don't plan on getting a degree? It matters because I have to do my best. I'm one of THOSE people. . . And yet the other kind of people drive me crazy because I can't understand them, so honestly, I don't know what I'm even talking about anymore. Maybe I should just go.
To do what though? Play the piano for another three hours like I did yesterday? Try to figure out the bass root melodies again, so I can memorize them? I need to print up my Hymnplaying test too. . . Why can't they just test our playing skills? I'm not in music. I haven't taken Aural Skills. How am I supposed to suddenly be able to just do this? They never really taught us how. Just assumed that we could. It's annoying. . . . Not everyone can do all the same stuff.
Anyway. It's been like an hour now, and I still haven't gotten anything done. I have learned about the Free Tibet Movement and how rotten the Chinese government is. They banned YouTube from the entire country because of a few videos that were uploaded showing something that reflected poorly on the government. Because banning YouTube for that reason Doesn't reflect poorly on the government. The whole banning thing reminded me of school though. Don't let people make up their own minds. You have to do it for them. Don't let people think, they might realize they're smarter than you are.
But enough of that ranting. I should do something worth while I suppose. It's snowing again.
Monday, April 7, 2008
April 7th, 2008
Today is my birthday. I'm nineteen years old. . . . I don't know what age I feel like. Maybe nineteen. Seems like yesterday that I was turning seventeen though. Not sure what happened to that 18th year. Same thing happened with 15. I was 14 and then I was 16. Wha? Oh well. Enough about that.
Thank you for texting, Mike.
Thank you for calling, Mom.
Thank you for calling, Dave.
Thank you for commenting on my paper, Dad. (Just saw that today.)
Today has been mostly uneventful, though oddly, I've been freezing most of the day and that's very unlike me. I think it's because my hair is up. . . . I have to have a paper written by Wednesday. It's only three pages though, so it shouldn't be difficult. It's on capital punishment, which we're generally not supposed to use, but because it's a civic discourse paper, we're allowed to. Ha. :)
I also have a presentation to do tomorrow. . . . I don't think it's going to be so bad, because there are only four of us in class, and the teacher is very laid back. Hopefully, my handout is good enough though. I wasn't sure how detailed to make it, so. . . . Oh well. Maybe I should email Miss Tschida about that. . . . Maybe I will. Probably wouldn't hurt. I ment to ask her about that today and completely forgot.
Something good that happened! I asked her about how I was supposed to memorize all these songs for the final and she explained a good way to do it, so whoohoo! :) It shouldn't be too hard. :) Just have to actually do it. If I start now though, I should have them all pretty well down by the time the final rolls around. It's only like. . . . two and a half weeks away. . . . That's a scary thought. . . . But three weeks from now. . . . Wait, I'll still be here. . . Three weeks from now, I'll be packing. :D I really hope I don't have to stay till Wednesday like the schedule says. . . . I want to be done on Monday. Phoo.
I am so cold. . . . Seriously. . . I'm only this cold when I'm sick or something. . . .
Steph's recital is tomorrow. It's exciting. :) I'm going to a play a week from Thursday. That's exciting too. With my roommate, but oh well. Wasn't like a guy was going to ask me. Hehe. They're all chicken. ;) Anyway. I hadn't written anything for a while, so now I have. All you guys need to update your blogs. Joe, Dave, Mike. Uncle Matt, at least, has a good excuse. I suppose Dave has somewhat of one, but not really. Maybe the week of the wedding, it'll count.
I've been wanting to play for a wedding for like ten years. . . . :D It's so cool. :)
Thank you for texting, Mike.
Thank you for calling, Mom.
Thank you for calling, Dave.
Thank you for commenting on my paper, Dad. (Just saw that today.)
Today has been mostly uneventful, though oddly, I've been freezing most of the day and that's very unlike me. I think it's because my hair is up. . . . I have to have a paper written by Wednesday. It's only three pages though, so it shouldn't be difficult. It's on capital punishment, which we're generally not supposed to use, but because it's a civic discourse paper, we're allowed to. Ha. :)
I also have a presentation to do tomorrow. . . . I don't think it's going to be so bad, because there are only four of us in class, and the teacher is very laid back. Hopefully, my handout is good enough though. I wasn't sure how detailed to make it, so. . . . Oh well. Maybe I should email Miss Tschida about that. . . . Maybe I will. Probably wouldn't hurt. I ment to ask her about that today and completely forgot.
Something good that happened! I asked her about how I was supposed to memorize all these songs for the final and she explained a good way to do it, so whoohoo! :) It shouldn't be too hard. :) Just have to actually do it. If I start now though, I should have them all pretty well down by the time the final rolls around. It's only like. . . . two and a half weeks away. . . . That's a scary thought. . . . But three weeks from now. . . . Wait, I'll still be here. . . Three weeks from now, I'll be packing. :D I really hope I don't have to stay till Wednesday like the schedule says. . . . I want to be done on Monday. Phoo.
I am so cold. . . . Seriously. . . I'm only this cold when I'm sick or something. . . .
Steph's recital is tomorrow. It's exciting. :) I'm going to a play a week from Thursday. That's exciting too. With my roommate, but oh well. Wasn't like a guy was going to ask me. Hehe. They're all chicken. ;) Anyway. I hadn't written anything for a while, so now I have. All you guys need to update your blogs. Joe, Dave, Mike. Uncle Matt, at least, has a good excuse. I suppose Dave has somewhat of one, but not really. Maybe the week of the wedding, it'll count.
I've been wanting to play for a wedding for like ten years. . . . :D It's so cool. :)
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
College Life
This is a "paper" I wrote in a few afternoons after being at school for a while. Not sure why, but I felt like posting it. Criticisms or comments on writing and content is welcomed.
"Regardless of his religious beliefs, a young person must not be subjected to rules that are made up because of the ... beliefs of a teacher or for the convenience of a school administrator.”
I am a student attending at a Baptist Christian college. I agree with their views on most everything doctrinally, and am very thankful that Maranatha is in existence: for there are very few colleges who stand firm on the King James Version and hold to the Calvinistic view of salvation, just to name a few. However, their Pharisaical approach to the rules and guidelines is most disturbing.
The most interesting part about this though, is that the makers of these rules understand that they having no real backing. The Dean of Students, Mr. Richards, said multiple times during freshman orientation that they did not hold their rules to be morally right. They would not condemn us in our homes if we did not abide by their rules because the rules are without Biblical backing. The only reason they are in place is because the founders of the school put them there. These rules include the following:
Girls must wear nylons before 12:20 on class days.
Guys must wear ties before 12:20 on class days.
Females are not allowed to wear blue jeans, unless they are in their dorm.
Girls are not allowed to wear any type of slacks to class.
What is the point of these? Modesty? If modesty were the issue, all pants on girls would be banned from any activity. Girls would not be allowed to wear pants to a basketball game. Guys always would have to wear ties. But how are ties modest? How are nylons? How are blue jeans worse than black jeans? How are things that before 12:20 are wrong, suddenly become acceptable afterward?
I understand the desire for students to be dressed appropriately for class, the desire for them to look nice. However, wouldn't consistency say that either you require the students to dress up the same amount for all classes or you let them go without nylons or ties as they choose? Why are morning classes more important than afternoon classes? How do these rules make any sense at all?
Is it really necessary to require girls to wear skirts on days when the wind chill is more than 20 degrees below 0? Oh, you have a bus taking them from their dorms to the main campus? Well, that makes it better then. Say again? Students have actually gotten frostbite during the walk from the main campus to their dorms. How does this not scream lunacy? Mostly likely this hasn’t been changed because the students come to school anyway. We agree to abide by these “standards” and are then bound by our word, much to the displeasure of our reasoning faculties.
These rules are not only logically unsound, they are also spiritually blind. This college is supposedly based on the Bible, supposedly run by Christian teachers and staff who wish only the betterment of the spiritual welfare of their students. And though I have personally witnessed an amazing amount of kindness and an eagerness to help from this blessed group of people, they are still holding to these rules which were created much for the same reason the Pharisees created their traditions. They are created to safeguard the keeping of the law.
Eve told the serpent that she and Adam were not even to touch the fruit when God had commanded no such thing. Had Eve only touched the fruit, she would not have died. She created a rule to safeguard the law of God. This should not happen. This does not need to be. God’s law is sufficient, and pure, and holy. By creating excess rules, we are, in effect, declaring His standards to be ineffective. We are mocking the work of the Spirit of God in the hearts of His people.
Should there be standards? Most assuredly, yes! But wouldn’t it be wise to have Biblical backing for such standards? Wouldn’t it be wise not to contradict such standards within your own rules? For a young Christian who does not understand, these rules will be all the more confusing! Why am I allowed to do some things at certain times but not at others? Why is alright for me to ride with a boy to church (as long as there is an odd number of us) without needing special permission but not to Wal-Mart?
Do you see where someone might be confused? Do you see where these rules make no sense? Do you see how there are so many flaws in them? These rules are not hard to get around. No kissing? How many couples do you think have kissed and never been caught? How many have not filled out passes when they were supposed to and were never found out?
These rules do not greatly hinder those who are going to break them anyway. They only succeed in making life more difficult for those who will abide by them in the first place, those who have their own standards for life and their own boundaries.
As the quote at the beginning of this paper states, students should not be under rules that are devised for the sole purpose of the convenience of those running the school. The administrators should not make rules that makes things easier on them if such standards are to the detriment of the rest of the campus body, whether student or teacher. Rather than seeing the hurt of one student, dorm supervisors are only seeing the student whose shoes are too casual for class at that particular hour. Rather than helping the one who is struggling spiritually, they are making sure that all the girls are wearing nylons and the men have ties. These are the outward things that the Pharisees were so careful of. This is the washing of hands before meals and not gathering corn on the Sabbath.
This Pharisaical element of many of the rules in place here at Maranatha, is only harming those who already have their foundation in the Bible, who are already more than willing to listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and it is misleading those who do not know better. How easy it is to be like the Galatians and go back to keeping the law! Rather than enable us, should not college be the place where we learn to develop our own standards which we will carry throughout life? Should not the school and teachers be available for advice and Godly counsel, rather than the recitation of the school rules?
College is to be the place where a young adult comes into their own. It is a separation from home and from the rules and confines of it. It should be a breath of the fresh air of freedom and as such should be a time to search the Scripture to see where your personal convictions are. It should not be yet another place where the rules are laid out for you and in strict adherence you remain unprepared for life in the real world, life in an ungodly world; a life where there are no human rules other than those you impose on yourself.
God will not hold the college accountable for me. He will have my parents give account. He will have my pastor give account, but this college has no Scriptural rule over me. This college is not watching for my soul. And as such, this college should in no way assume to have authority over me and other adults who are attending when it comes to matters of spiritual discernment. If you truly believe a student is violating the law of God, then follow the guidelines in the Bible and talk to them about it. If they continue, take it before one or two witnesses and then before the church bring the situation to light, and as God has prescribed in His Word, let that be the system.
"Regardless of his religious beliefs, a young person must not be subjected to rules that are made up because of the ... beliefs of a teacher or for the convenience of a school administrator.”
I am a student attending at a Baptist Christian college. I agree with their views on most everything doctrinally, and am very thankful that Maranatha is in existence: for there are very few colleges who stand firm on the King James Version and hold to the Calvinistic view of salvation, just to name a few. However, their Pharisaical approach to the rules and guidelines is most disturbing.
The most interesting part about this though, is that the makers of these rules understand that they having no real backing. The Dean of Students, Mr. Richards, said multiple times during freshman orientation that they did not hold their rules to be morally right. They would not condemn us in our homes if we did not abide by their rules because the rules are without Biblical backing. The only reason they are in place is because the founders of the school put them there. These rules include the following:
Girls must wear nylons before 12:20 on class days.
Guys must wear ties before 12:20 on class days.
Females are not allowed to wear blue jeans, unless they are in their dorm.
Girls are not allowed to wear any type of slacks to class.
What is the point of these? Modesty? If modesty were the issue, all pants on girls would be banned from any activity. Girls would not be allowed to wear pants to a basketball game. Guys always would have to wear ties. But how are ties modest? How are nylons? How are blue jeans worse than black jeans? How are things that before 12:20 are wrong, suddenly become acceptable afterward?
I understand the desire for students to be dressed appropriately for class, the desire for them to look nice. However, wouldn't consistency say that either you require the students to dress up the same amount for all classes or you let them go without nylons or ties as they choose? Why are morning classes more important than afternoon classes? How do these rules make any sense at all?
Is it really necessary to require girls to wear skirts on days when the wind chill is more than 20 degrees below 0? Oh, you have a bus taking them from their dorms to the main campus? Well, that makes it better then. Say again? Students have actually gotten frostbite during the walk from the main campus to their dorms. How does this not scream lunacy? Mostly likely this hasn’t been changed because the students come to school anyway. We agree to abide by these “standards” and are then bound by our word, much to the displeasure of our reasoning faculties.
These rules are not only logically unsound, they are also spiritually blind. This college is supposedly based on the Bible, supposedly run by Christian teachers and staff who wish only the betterment of the spiritual welfare of their students. And though I have personally witnessed an amazing amount of kindness and an eagerness to help from this blessed group of people, they are still holding to these rules which were created much for the same reason the Pharisees created their traditions. They are created to safeguard the keeping of the law.
Eve told the serpent that she and Adam were not even to touch the fruit when God had commanded no such thing. Had Eve only touched the fruit, she would not have died. She created a rule to safeguard the law of God. This should not happen. This does not need to be. God’s law is sufficient, and pure, and holy. By creating excess rules, we are, in effect, declaring His standards to be ineffective. We are mocking the work of the Spirit of God in the hearts of His people.
Should there be standards? Most assuredly, yes! But wouldn’t it be wise to have Biblical backing for such standards? Wouldn’t it be wise not to contradict such standards within your own rules? For a young Christian who does not understand, these rules will be all the more confusing! Why am I allowed to do some things at certain times but not at others? Why is alright for me to ride with a boy to church (as long as there is an odd number of us) without needing special permission but not to Wal-Mart?
Do you see where someone might be confused? Do you see where these rules make no sense? Do you see how there are so many flaws in them? These rules are not hard to get around. No kissing? How many couples do you think have kissed and never been caught? How many have not filled out passes when they were supposed to and were never found out?
These rules do not greatly hinder those who are going to break them anyway. They only succeed in making life more difficult for those who will abide by them in the first place, those who have their own standards for life and their own boundaries.
As the quote at the beginning of this paper states, students should not be under rules that are devised for the sole purpose of the convenience of those running the school. The administrators should not make rules that makes things easier on them if such standards are to the detriment of the rest of the campus body, whether student or teacher. Rather than seeing the hurt of one student, dorm supervisors are only seeing the student whose shoes are too casual for class at that particular hour. Rather than helping the one who is struggling spiritually, they are making sure that all the girls are wearing nylons and the men have ties. These are the outward things that the Pharisees were so careful of. This is the washing of hands before meals and not gathering corn on the Sabbath.
This Pharisaical element of many of the rules in place here at Maranatha, is only harming those who already have their foundation in the Bible, who are already more than willing to listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and it is misleading those who do not know better. How easy it is to be like the Galatians and go back to keeping the law! Rather than enable us, should not college be the place where we learn to develop our own standards which we will carry throughout life? Should not the school and teachers be available for advice and Godly counsel, rather than the recitation of the school rules?
College is to be the place where a young adult comes into their own. It is a separation from home and from the rules and confines of it. It should be a breath of the fresh air of freedom and as such should be a time to search the Scripture to see where your personal convictions are. It should not be yet another place where the rules are laid out for you and in strict adherence you remain unprepared for life in the real world, life in an ungodly world; a life where there are no human rules other than those you impose on yourself.
God will not hold the college accountable for me. He will have my parents give account. He will have my pastor give account, but this college has no Scriptural rule over me. This college is not watching for my soul. And as such, this college should in no way assume to have authority over me and other adults who are attending when it comes to matters of spiritual discernment. If you truly believe a student is violating the law of God, then follow the guidelines in the Bible and talk to them about it. If they continue, take it before one or two witnesses and then before the church bring the situation to light, and as God has prescribed in His Word, let that be the system.
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