There are 48 straight hours between MCYM Italy Beach Breaks. The busses and kids left last night after club, most of them at least. The next set does not arrive until tomorrow night. 48 glorious hours. It isn't like I am dreading this next week, or even wishing it wasn't, it is just that I really need some time away. This blog is part of my time away.
The Camp Darby library is open from 1000 hours until 1900. I will probably spend the majority of that time here. If for no reason other than the fact that it has air conditioning. This part of Italy can be described as warm. Not hot, just warm. I am enjoying the warmth, but just like most other humans, I long for what I don't have. Here, I don't have A/C.
Once again, there is so much to say that I can't begin. I keep sneeking away from this blog to look at other people's blogs. That leads to other people's blogs, and more people's and more and then I have spent all my computer time reading and not writing. Here are some of the blogs I hit:
Tiff's - nothing new.
Robb's - he is dating now, good job, I think
Adam's - too much to read
Cat's - still can't understand her
Justin's - sorry buddy, stupid article, didn't finish it
Jenn's - I spent most of my time there. It is weird to see more about a person through their blogs, but you get an even deeper insight from the comments left. I don't know Jenn that well, a few months, and the context that I know her in is Heidelberg, MCYM, Italy, Europe. She actually has friends in Ohio. Don't be offended Jenn, but it didn't hit me until just now.
I am curious how much I don't know about a lot of people now. We humans have such a small perspective of everyone else around us. I have thought about this before, but this week I was thinking about the relationship that God has with each of us. Let me put it in context.
This last week was spent with about 350 other people. Going into the week, I knew say 50 of them. That meant that there were 300 new people that I had the opportunity, if I chose to, to meet and build a relationship with. I started the week slowly, but then decided to get to know the names of the work staff. Twenty High School and College aged kids. I know all their names now, a little about some of them, nothing about some of them, and less than I want to about all of them. Of the 200+ campers, I met and know the names of maybe 25 above the 60 from Heidelberg. Including the other staff and volunteers from around Europe, I began new relationships or grew old ones with maybe 150 people this last week. These 150 relationships are all at different levels and all require different amounts of personal energy, but the key is, all require some energy. Heck, just remembering some of the names is stressful enough. Now, at the end of the week, you can stick a fork in me because I am done.
150 relationships and I am tapped completely dry. My question, or maybe not so much a question as a statement of awe is, "How does God do it?" He knows everyone, and more than just our names. He has a relationship with each human soul on this earth and with bllions of people that used to be on this earth. Amazing!! I am stretched and moved by each person that I meet and know. I am a unique individual with each person I know. Not because who I am changes, but the different aspects of who I am comes out uniquely to each individual person. If God really does have a relationship with each of us, then that alone would make Him a pretty powerful dude.
This next week is going to be especially draining because I basically have to start over. Besides the 20 work staff guys and gals, I won't know anyone and will have to build all new realtionships. Scary? No! Just tiring to think about. Which I am going to stop doing now.
I would write more about all that happened last week, but not yet. Partly because I am still processing all that happened. Hopefully tomorrow when the library is open from 1100 till 1700, I will be able to write more.
I have asked this before, and it caused a bit of a stir. I don't mean to do it again, cause a stir that is, but I am asking for prayer. I am tired, as previously alluded to, and next week is more of the same. In fact, I am going to sign off and go sit by the pool.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
Friday, June 24, 2005
Friday, June 17, 2005
Day 99: Guilt has become me
I am overwhelmed with guilt. Not really, but it seemed like a great beginning. A friend just sent me an email and she placed the straw on the camel's back. I have been thinking about what the next blog was going to be. Unfortunately, inspiration has to strike before words come out and recently there has been none. As I said, yesterday was an inspiring one, but that time has passed so now I am working on forced inspiration. Consider this...
Breakfast this morning is a bowl of instant oatmeal. Blueberries and Cream with peanut butter. I love peanut butter. I put peanut butter in everything. If you know anything about me you know that I love peanut butter. Today's blueberries, cream, and peanut butter oatmeal is a far cry from oatmeal with peanut butter, butter, and brown sugar, but I am grateful for what I do have.
Yesterday included two marathon games of Axis & Allies. If you have never played the game, know that one game usually takes about four hours if one team is inexperienced. If both teams know what they are doing, then the games take six to eight hours. Yesterday was the later so both games combined for 12 hours of play. I lost both games, which is humbling, but I also have many excuses for my lack of victory. But back to the peanut butter.
For a marathon day of gaming, as with any intense sporting event, the competitors require large amounts of nourishment. Yesterday was no exception. Knowing yesterday was going to be a war to end all wars, I stocked up prior to my arrival. At the commissary, I bought double stuffed peanut butter Oreos, peanut butter Chips Ahoy, Peanut M&Ms, and Reeces Peanut Butter Cups. Essential for hydration was four two liters of that golden, nectar of the gods, Mountain Dew, and because carbs are essential, we ate Doritos, Fritos, Cheetos, buritos, and all the other members of the -itos food group. It worked to my advantage because one of the competitors didn't like peanuts, more for the rest of us.
Unfortunately, even fully charged with peanut butter and sugar, I still couldn't manage victory. A small bit of joy can be had because I was the Axis powers both times so world order is still intact, otherwise we would be driving German cars and playing Japanese computer games on Japanese electronics.
Here is why I lost. In the first game, the Allied powers got incredibly lucky with their technology rolls. Right out of the blocks, they rolled three straight technology gains. As the game continued so did the rolls. In the end the Allies over-powered the Axis with to much technology. If that hadn't been the case, Japan had conquered the entire Eastern hemisphere so world domination was close. In the second game, the dice were against me again and this time in the form of unheard of luck. At one point, the Allied power of Russia rolled four times better than odds, we never really recovered. I am not sure how many hours of sleep I will lose over these loses, but it has already been a couple.
Sleep lose due to the loses will probably be the least of my worries. Today is the first day of Italy Camp. At 2000, I will be arriving at the Chapel and await the arrival of the students and then the bus. The bus is scheduled to arrive and bring us to Italy at 0300 Saturday morning. Until it arrives, we will be corralling the 60 teenagers and trying to rest as much as possible.
I will tell you more about Italy as it happens and after it is over, both weeks of it. Two days ago my friend Josh Butrin, from Bamberg, Germany, called me up and asked if I could fill in as a leader for his community. Things worked out and I am able to, which means I will be spending two instead of one week in Italy. France is not going to happen, but Croatia and Greece are still on the agenda. Wait, I don't think I have told everyone my plans. Before the change, I was going to Italy for the week, coming back to Heidelberg and then leaving on the 1st of July for a short road trip to France to watch The Tour. On the 7th I was going to fly down to Croatia, then Greece, back to Germany on the 16th and back to the States on the 20th. Now, France is out, replaced by Italy the week prior. Everything else stays the same.
My time in Europe is coming to an end, just over a month to go. It will be bitter sweet when I leave because if I didn't leave then I could come back. But now, I must think about today. Much must be accomplished before this evening and so my time here has come to an end. I am going to head out and purchase some things for Italy. When I get back, hopefully the mood will strike and another blog will come of it.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
Breakfast this morning is a bowl of instant oatmeal. Blueberries and Cream with peanut butter. I love peanut butter. I put peanut butter in everything. If you know anything about me you know that I love peanut butter. Today's blueberries, cream, and peanut butter oatmeal is a far cry from oatmeal with peanut butter, butter, and brown sugar, but I am grateful for what I do have.
Yesterday included two marathon games of Axis & Allies. If you have never played the game, know that one game usually takes about four hours if one team is inexperienced. If both teams know what they are doing, then the games take six to eight hours. Yesterday was the later so both games combined for 12 hours of play. I lost both games, which is humbling, but I also have many excuses for my lack of victory. But back to the peanut butter.
For a marathon day of gaming, as with any intense sporting event, the competitors require large amounts of nourishment. Yesterday was no exception. Knowing yesterday was going to be a war to end all wars, I stocked up prior to my arrival. At the commissary, I bought double stuffed peanut butter Oreos, peanut butter Chips Ahoy, Peanut M&Ms, and Reeces Peanut Butter Cups. Essential for hydration was four two liters of that golden, nectar of the gods, Mountain Dew, and because carbs are essential, we ate Doritos, Fritos, Cheetos, buritos, and all the other members of the -itos food group. It worked to my advantage because one of the competitors didn't like peanuts, more for the rest of us.
Unfortunately, even fully charged with peanut butter and sugar, I still couldn't manage victory. A small bit of joy can be had because I was the Axis powers both times so world order is still intact, otherwise we would be driving German cars and playing Japanese computer games on Japanese electronics.
Here is why I lost. In the first game, the Allied powers got incredibly lucky with their technology rolls. Right out of the blocks, they rolled three straight technology gains. As the game continued so did the rolls. In the end the Allies over-powered the Axis with to much technology. If that hadn't been the case, Japan had conquered the entire Eastern hemisphere so world domination was close. In the second game, the dice were against me again and this time in the form of unheard of luck. At one point, the Allied power of Russia rolled four times better than odds, we never really recovered. I am not sure how many hours of sleep I will lose over these loses, but it has already been a couple.
Sleep lose due to the loses will probably be the least of my worries. Today is the first day of Italy Camp. At 2000, I will be arriving at the Chapel and await the arrival of the students and then the bus. The bus is scheduled to arrive and bring us to Italy at 0300 Saturday morning. Until it arrives, we will be corralling the 60 teenagers and trying to rest as much as possible.
I will tell you more about Italy as it happens and after it is over, both weeks of it. Two days ago my friend Josh Butrin, from Bamberg, Germany, called me up and asked if I could fill in as a leader for his community. Things worked out and I am able to, which means I will be spending two instead of one week in Italy. France is not going to happen, but Croatia and Greece are still on the agenda. Wait, I don't think I have told everyone my plans. Before the change, I was going to Italy for the week, coming back to Heidelberg and then leaving on the 1st of July for a short road trip to France to watch The Tour. On the 7th I was going to fly down to Croatia, then Greece, back to Germany on the 16th and back to the States on the 20th. Now, France is out, replaced by Italy the week prior. Everything else stays the same.
My time in Europe is coming to an end, just over a month to go. It will be bitter sweet when I leave because if I didn't leave then I could come back. But now, I must think about today. Much must be accomplished before this evening and so my time here has come to an end. I am going to head out and purchase some things for Italy. When I get back, hopefully the mood will strike and another blog will come of it.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Day something: Playing Axis and Allies
I can't talk now. If you must know, I only logged on to tell you that I don't have time to type. That is unfortunate because I am, for the firt time in a while, in a typing mood. Right now, I must leave, pick up four teenagers, go to another teen's house, and play Axis and Allies till the break of dawn.
What I can do, is direct you to Barb's blog and have you read her lastest. It is really good. Click the link, something witty, i'm sure, and read about her Christ years.
Time has left me and I must be going. Wish me luck as I battle the teens in an attempt to take over the world. News of my victory will follow.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
What I can do, is direct you to Barb's blog and have you read her lastest. It is really good. Click the link, something witty, i'm sure, and read about her Christ years.
Time has left me and I must be going. Wish me luck as I battle the teens in an attempt to take over the world. News of my victory will follow.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
Friday, June 10, 2005
Day 92a: FYI
Just to let you know, I updated my website with some new pictures. Be advised, in the continent of Europe you have to click on the country name to navigate to the specific pages. Enjoy.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
Day 92: Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon. Grand Canyon. Tonight’s activities included going to the Hospitality House here in Heidelberg followed by the movie, "Grand Canyon". I remember seeing this movie years ago, probably in High School. The first time I saw it, I remember it as being weird but good. Tonight was no different. It is funny because I realize just now that I require some sort of inspiration to write. Something has to get me thinking and then words just flow. Grand Canyon will do that to you. It is a thinking movie. If you haven't seen it, do. Before we discuss the movie, lets talk about the place.
The Grand Canyon National Park, located in the South West United States is a nine-hour drive from Los Angeles. It is on the boarder of Utah and Arizona, with most of the park and hole in Arizona itself. It is huge. The Grand Canyon means a lot to me. In a sort of spiritual/worldly sense, I relate a lot of life to the Grand Canyon. Just like the movie, but I don't want to include the movie just yet.
When I was a freshman in College, I went with about 50 other students from Intervarsity Christian Fellowship to the GC. A couple of the students put a small Spring Break trip together. It started as a car full of friends and ended with a chartered bus and the 50. It was a glorious trip. I look back and remember it as one of my more fond ones. The thing about the GC is that it is next to impossible to describe to someone that has never seen it. Big is not a description. Any one that does try to describe it will never fully do so. If you have never been there and someone who has tries to describe it to you, listen, but know they are not doing it justice. When you eventually see it with your own eyes you will know what I am talking about. Which is why I am not going to say anything more than, "it is big", with the foot note of the bad description.
Here is a point. It is the same with a lot of things. My human experience and following description will always fall so short of reality. So will everyone else’s, but that doesn't stop us from putting them out there and attempting to convince others of whatever.
So in my mind there is a dilemma. We want people to experience the same things as us, but our descriptions will never do justice to their object. I wonder what that has to do with God. There is one side of mainstream Christianity that favors free-will, and another that talks about a big word, predestinedtodowhatGodalreadyfiguredoutation. I don't know which one is right, but I do know that my description of the right one falls woefully short of accurate. Smart dudes have been arguing their shortsighted sides since a boy started talking to his stuffed toy tiger. I ask, “why argue?” We will never fully know what is out there before we see it for ourselves and if you haven't seen it then you won't get it and if you have seen it, those of us that haven't still won't get it even after you tell us. It is like the GC, if I haven't seen it, no amount of adjective filled description is going to help.
But we do it anyway. Tell others about our experience or sightings. Why? Because I am human and selfish and what is good for me must be good for everyone else. And it is true. I do know someone that is good for me and good for everyone, but if you haven't met Him then no amount of my adjective filled description is going to amount to a hill of beans. (Does anyone know where that saying came from, "Hill of Beans"? It is so random and makes no sense out of context.) But I am going to wear my voice out telling you anyway.
This last week has been amazing. I have been able to spend time with some guys just hanging out and doing manly things like shopping for bathing suits. (I bought this great one that is definitely going to get me in trouble at camp next week.) Wednesday was the last club for the school year and we celebrated with a Water War Extravaganza. 50 middle schoolers running around trying to soak each other. Rules of the games went right out the window and no one cared because everyone was having a blast. Less than 50 high schoolers doing the same but with more force on the thrown water balloons. I stayed wet pretty much the whole day. It was cold too. My white T-shirt stuck nicely to my body and revealed the manly hairy chest and back beneath.
Has anyone else noticed that the popular depiction of a man is a skinny, hairless pretty boy? I saw an advertisement from the 70's and it was of this big guy without a shirt, covered in hair. Today you would never see that. Abercrombie has endeared us to the half naked, and sometimes all naked, boys has they laugh and hang all over each other. I remember being in Iraq and there were a couple girls that wanted to wax my back. I thought about it for a moment, then ask why they wanted that. Why would they want me, or any guy, to look less like a guy and more like a girl? They responded that it was cuter. Why would a girl want a guy to look cuter? Cuter? Puppies are cute. Babies are cute. Kittens, bunnies, two toddlers holding hands, and Shirley Temple are cute. Men are not cute; at least they are not supposed to be. It is sad that girls' minds have been warped to think that men should be cute. I don't blame the girls just as much as I don't blame the guys that try to fit into that role. I just shake my head in frustration.
With any water fight, the ground got wet. With wet ground comes wet dirt and wet dirt is also called mud. Mud, if you don't know, makes for great wrestling. Wrestling makes for great fun, and fun is fun. After wrestling, we showered up. I was good and clean, almost dry when someone decided that a mixture of Lemon Lime Gatorade and Worchester sauce would go great on me. I showered again. Can you begin to see how I love this? My day, my job, my purpose was to have a water fight, wrestle in the mud, eat hamburgers and Polish sausages, hang out with kids, and have fun. All because in this fun, I hope someone out there sees in miniscule amounts the dude named Jesus that is fun, is love, and is everything. I can't use words to adequately describe anything, but maybe words aren't necessary.
You know, who cares about the movie, I couldn't describe it anyway. Just go see it.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
The Grand Canyon National Park, located in the South West United States is a nine-hour drive from Los Angeles. It is on the boarder of Utah and Arizona, with most of the park and hole in Arizona itself. It is huge. The Grand Canyon means a lot to me. In a sort of spiritual/worldly sense, I relate a lot of life to the Grand Canyon. Just like the movie, but I don't want to include the movie just yet.
When I was a freshman in College, I went with about 50 other students from Intervarsity Christian Fellowship to the GC. A couple of the students put a small Spring Break trip together. It started as a car full of friends and ended with a chartered bus and the 50. It was a glorious trip. I look back and remember it as one of my more fond ones. The thing about the GC is that it is next to impossible to describe to someone that has never seen it. Big is not a description. Any one that does try to describe it will never fully do so. If you have never been there and someone who has tries to describe it to you, listen, but know they are not doing it justice. When you eventually see it with your own eyes you will know what I am talking about. Which is why I am not going to say anything more than, "it is big", with the foot note of the bad description.
Here is a point. It is the same with a lot of things. My human experience and following description will always fall so short of reality. So will everyone else’s, but that doesn't stop us from putting them out there and attempting to convince others of whatever.
So in my mind there is a dilemma. We want people to experience the same things as us, but our descriptions will never do justice to their object. I wonder what that has to do with God. There is one side of mainstream Christianity that favors free-will, and another that talks about a big word, predestinedtodowhatGodalreadyfiguredoutation. I don't know which one is right, but I do know that my description of the right one falls woefully short of accurate. Smart dudes have been arguing their shortsighted sides since a boy started talking to his stuffed toy tiger. I ask, “why argue?” We will never fully know what is out there before we see it for ourselves and if you haven't seen it then you won't get it and if you have seen it, those of us that haven't still won't get it even after you tell us. It is like the GC, if I haven't seen it, no amount of adjective filled description is going to help.
But we do it anyway. Tell others about our experience or sightings. Why? Because I am human and selfish and what is good for me must be good for everyone else. And it is true. I do know someone that is good for me and good for everyone, but if you haven't met Him then no amount of my adjective filled description is going to amount to a hill of beans. (Does anyone know where that saying came from, "Hill of Beans"? It is so random and makes no sense out of context.) But I am going to wear my voice out telling you anyway.
This last week has been amazing. I have been able to spend time with some guys just hanging out and doing manly things like shopping for bathing suits. (I bought this great one that is definitely going to get me in trouble at camp next week.) Wednesday was the last club for the school year and we celebrated with a Water War Extravaganza. 50 middle schoolers running around trying to soak each other. Rules of the games went right out the window and no one cared because everyone was having a blast. Less than 50 high schoolers doing the same but with more force on the thrown water balloons. I stayed wet pretty much the whole day. It was cold too. My white T-shirt stuck nicely to my body and revealed the manly hairy chest and back beneath.
Has anyone else noticed that the popular depiction of a man is a skinny, hairless pretty boy? I saw an advertisement from the 70's and it was of this big guy without a shirt, covered in hair. Today you would never see that. Abercrombie has endeared us to the half naked, and sometimes all naked, boys has they laugh and hang all over each other. I remember being in Iraq and there were a couple girls that wanted to wax my back. I thought about it for a moment, then ask why they wanted that. Why would they want me, or any guy, to look less like a guy and more like a girl? They responded that it was cuter. Why would a girl want a guy to look cuter? Cuter? Puppies are cute. Babies are cute. Kittens, bunnies, two toddlers holding hands, and Shirley Temple are cute. Men are not cute; at least they are not supposed to be. It is sad that girls' minds have been warped to think that men should be cute. I don't blame the girls just as much as I don't blame the guys that try to fit into that role. I just shake my head in frustration.
With any water fight, the ground got wet. With wet ground comes wet dirt and wet dirt is also called mud. Mud, if you don't know, makes for great wrestling. Wrestling makes for great fun, and fun is fun. After wrestling, we showered up. I was good and clean, almost dry when someone decided that a mixture of Lemon Lime Gatorade and Worchester sauce would go great on me. I showered again. Can you begin to see how I love this? My day, my job, my purpose was to have a water fight, wrestle in the mud, eat hamburgers and Polish sausages, hang out with kids, and have fun. All because in this fun, I hope someone out there sees in miniscule amounts the dude named Jesus that is fun, is love, and is everything. I can't use words to adequately describe anything, but maybe words aren't necessary.
You know, who cares about the movie, I couldn't describe it anyway. Just go see it.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
Monday, June 6, 2005
Day 88a: A great day off.
It is Monday morning. I am sitting in the Swope's living room playing on the computer. Chris bought a wireless hub the other day and with the wireless card Corrigan gave him, we can now use the computer anywhere in the house and still be on the Internet. My plan is to be on the Internet all day today. Save for times I will eat and then the required bathroom trips to finish the eating process.
The Internet is a marvelous thing. I have mentioned before about all the blogs and how everyone and their brother has one, if not two or three. I now have two. I know a bunch of people with xanga sites, and since the big people in blogging land force you to have a site to make a comment, I have a site. My goal in being on the Internet is to catch-up reading as many blogs as I can of the people that I know. I already finished Jenn's (it was easy since she just last month switched xangas, I am wondering what she is hiding, and from who she is hiding it.). Next one, I don't know. But obviously it is difficult to read and write at the same time. I am not very good at doing two things at once( like talking and thinking), but I don't know of anyone that can read and write at the same time. If anyone out there can, identify yourself because I would love to learn how.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
The Internet is a marvelous thing. I have mentioned before about all the blogs and how everyone and their brother has one, if not two or three. I now have two. I know a bunch of people with xanga sites, and since the big people in blogging land force you to have a site to make a comment, I have a site. My goal in being on the Internet is to catch-up reading as many blogs as I can of the people that I know. I already finished Jenn's (it was easy since she just last month switched xangas, I am wondering what she is hiding, and from who she is hiding it.). Next one, I don't know. But obviously it is difficult to read and write at the same time. I am not very good at doing two things at once( like talking and thinking), but I don't know of anyone that can read and write at the same time. If anyone out there can, identify yourself because I would love to learn how.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
Friday, June 3, 2005
Day 86: I consider my self, the luckiest man on the face of the earth.
Today has been a good day. No, wait; today has been a GREAT day. It has been one of those, things just went perfect, I am glad that I was born, God is good kind of days.
It started this morning at 0748. I got this new Timex, Indiglo, travel alarm clock. I slept in last Saturday and didn’t want to do that again so I spent $7.95. Because the clock is new, I wasn’t sure how long the snooze button would delay the inevitable. It turns out four minutes. Which sucks because you can’t really get back to sleep in that amount of time and it also means I have hit the button about 12 times to get my needed pre-get-out-of-bed-hitting-the-snooze-waking-up time. This morning I only hit the snooze four maybe three times. So just after 0800, I hobbled out of bed.
Hobbled because my body had rejected any sort of movement this morning. It went on strike because of the additional exertion it endured yesterday. Something came over me and I decided that yesterday was the day I start my exercise. The early afternoon included a short run, about five minutes worth, and then some push-ups and that is it. The real problems of today were caused by the futball game yesterday evening with the kids. After club, Corrigan asked me to join the kids. I would have regardless. It is no fair that my body has to be subjected to the same physical breakdowns of this fallen world. I would much prefer it to stay in line with my heart and mind and never grow past the age of 22. It also didn’t help that there were some girls playing that needed impressing so I was forced, force I tell you, to put on a good show.
This morning, I literally had to drag my sorry butt out of bed. My left knee wouldn’t bend because I pulled something in my hinter (that is German for butt). Both of my feet need a serious massage due to the cheap, none supportive, shoes I bought for a great price last Saturday. My right thigh is killing me, both groin muscles prevent any sort of normal walking, and my lower back feels so weak that I can’t pick up more than 10 kilos. My hammies are screaming at me. My ITBs need a good stretch and to top it all off, I think I twisted my ankle for like the two thousandth time. I really could use a 90-minute full body massage from Pam back at Green Lake Massage.
After the game, Megan, Jen, Randy, Austin, and I went out for ice cream. It was worth it because Meg game me some of Tom’s prescription Motrin, 800 mg ibuprofen.
I compromised with my body and promised that I would never do that to it again. Don’t tell it I lied. It allowed me to function enough to get out of the house and over to Chris’s office. I didn’t have much to do because I was picking up a couple guys at 1200, so I went outside and soaked up some rays while reading II Thessalonians. It was so exciting because I think I actually understood a little of what Paul was saying. Usually, I read a book of the Bible and have no clue what is going on. I can pull out the simple things; love one another; abstain from sexual immorality. It is the bigger, deeper things that fly completely over my head. But this morning I think I got it. Paul was encouraging the Thessalonians in their faith. He wanted to make clear that Jesus hadn’t come back and that they still need to live and work here on this earth. There is more, but that is the basic idea. I was pretty excited about that understanding because for weeks now, I have been reading the word with much confusion.
At 1200, I picked up Josh and Kyle and we headed back to the Swope’s for some Axis and Allies. If you have never played that game, it is awesome; my favorite game of all time. I won’t try to explain the game, just trust me; it is great. One unique thing about the game is that it is complicated so all participants have to be rather skilled or it just isn’t fun. The last time I played before today, I whipped up on Brent Rollins, three straight games. Today was different. Josh and Kyle were worthy foes.
It was two on one, me versus them. I was the allied powers, which I admit has the advantage in the game. It started off well and I started to think that it was going to be another easy day; maybe we would get in more than one game. But right as Germany was on its last breath, Japan pulled a fast one and obtained this super powerful technological advantage. Three hours into it, I had the game wrapped up, but then the tide began to change. I spent the next three hours battling for my life and was very close to throwing in the towel. There wasn’t much hope. Times were desperate. I was forced to put my full mental abilities into the game and finally I figured out the necessary strategy that allowed me to eek out a W. Kyle and Josh said that, despite the loss, it was the greatest game they had ever played. I would agree. We will play again.
With the game over, I drove the two back to Kyle’s place and then returned home for the evening. I had to stop and make plans for the weekend, it will include swimming, but it was important that I get home quickly because I had a cheesecake to prepare.
Let me go back for a second. As you guys know, I have never been a big fan of that thing people call “a job”. Job just sounds bad to me and that is why it has been a good five years since my last real one. Knowing that I must be productive, I have been looking for a compensating activity that doesn’t include work. I have found it. Today I spent 6 hours working, and working hard. The time spent with Kyle and Josh fell right in line with the “job” description of my current assignment. This is awesome; I get to do what I would do without any prodding, and I can even call it work. Life is perfect and that is the real reason today has been so grand. I have definitely found my calling.
Of course my realist father had to bring me back to “real” life and point out that all of what I did today was good but there is a lot more to this line of “work”. He pointed out a lot of the down sides to what I will be doing. Thanks dad. I know all of those things, but today, right now, life is good.
The evening was awesome too. I am preparing dinner tomorrow. The main dish is stuffed peppers. I also prepared dessert. I made my favorite cheesecake recipe and was actually in the cooking process at the beginning of this blog. Since then I have pulled them out of the oven and, much to my dismay, they are over cooked. The stupid German stoves have yet to cook anything right for me. The temperature is not right; the heating is uneven; they just don’t work. There is nothing I can do about that now, except complain, but hopefully, even over cooked, they will taste decent. Either way, my day has not been ruined.
Now, I must get some sleep. I mentioned in my previous post that Adam instructed me on how to reply to emails. Unfortunately, it is way late, and I am way tired. I don’t imagine that I will have much time tomorrow to respond, but I will give it the old college try. If not, then definitely Saturday… after swimming.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
It started this morning at 0748. I got this new Timex, Indiglo, travel alarm clock. I slept in last Saturday and didn’t want to do that again so I spent $7.95. Because the clock is new, I wasn’t sure how long the snooze button would delay the inevitable. It turns out four minutes. Which sucks because you can’t really get back to sleep in that amount of time and it also means I have hit the button about 12 times to get my needed pre-get-out-of-bed-hitting-the-snooze-waking-up time. This morning I only hit the snooze four maybe three times. So just after 0800, I hobbled out of bed.
Hobbled because my body had rejected any sort of movement this morning. It went on strike because of the additional exertion it endured yesterday. Something came over me and I decided that yesterday was the day I start my exercise. The early afternoon included a short run, about five minutes worth, and then some push-ups and that is it. The real problems of today were caused by the futball game yesterday evening with the kids. After club, Corrigan asked me to join the kids. I would have regardless. It is no fair that my body has to be subjected to the same physical breakdowns of this fallen world. I would much prefer it to stay in line with my heart and mind and never grow past the age of 22. It also didn’t help that there were some girls playing that needed impressing so I was forced, force I tell you, to put on a good show.
This morning, I literally had to drag my sorry butt out of bed. My left knee wouldn’t bend because I pulled something in my hinter (that is German for butt). Both of my feet need a serious massage due to the cheap, none supportive, shoes I bought for a great price last Saturday. My right thigh is killing me, both groin muscles prevent any sort of normal walking, and my lower back feels so weak that I can’t pick up more than 10 kilos. My hammies are screaming at me. My ITBs need a good stretch and to top it all off, I think I twisted my ankle for like the two thousandth time. I really could use a 90-minute full body massage from Pam back at Green Lake Massage.
After the game, Megan, Jen, Randy, Austin, and I went out for ice cream. It was worth it because Meg game me some of Tom’s prescription Motrin, 800 mg ibuprofen.
I compromised with my body and promised that I would never do that to it again. Don’t tell it I lied. It allowed me to function enough to get out of the house and over to Chris’s office. I didn’t have much to do because I was picking up a couple guys at 1200, so I went outside and soaked up some rays while reading II Thessalonians. It was so exciting because I think I actually understood a little of what Paul was saying. Usually, I read a book of the Bible and have no clue what is going on. I can pull out the simple things; love one another; abstain from sexual immorality. It is the bigger, deeper things that fly completely over my head. But this morning I think I got it. Paul was encouraging the Thessalonians in their faith. He wanted to make clear that Jesus hadn’t come back and that they still need to live and work here on this earth. There is more, but that is the basic idea. I was pretty excited about that understanding because for weeks now, I have been reading the word with much confusion.
At 1200, I picked up Josh and Kyle and we headed back to the Swope’s for some Axis and Allies. If you have never played that game, it is awesome; my favorite game of all time. I won’t try to explain the game, just trust me; it is great. One unique thing about the game is that it is complicated so all participants have to be rather skilled or it just isn’t fun. The last time I played before today, I whipped up on Brent Rollins, three straight games. Today was different. Josh and Kyle were worthy foes.
It was two on one, me versus them. I was the allied powers, which I admit has the advantage in the game. It started off well and I started to think that it was going to be another easy day; maybe we would get in more than one game. But right as Germany was on its last breath, Japan pulled a fast one and obtained this super powerful technological advantage. Three hours into it, I had the game wrapped up, but then the tide began to change. I spent the next three hours battling for my life and was very close to throwing in the towel. There wasn’t much hope. Times were desperate. I was forced to put my full mental abilities into the game and finally I figured out the necessary strategy that allowed me to eek out a W. Kyle and Josh said that, despite the loss, it was the greatest game they had ever played. I would agree. We will play again.
With the game over, I drove the two back to Kyle’s place and then returned home for the evening. I had to stop and make plans for the weekend, it will include swimming, but it was important that I get home quickly because I had a cheesecake to prepare.
Let me go back for a second. As you guys know, I have never been a big fan of that thing people call “a job”. Job just sounds bad to me and that is why it has been a good five years since my last real one. Knowing that I must be productive, I have been looking for a compensating activity that doesn’t include work. I have found it. Today I spent 6 hours working, and working hard. The time spent with Kyle and Josh fell right in line with the “job” description of my current assignment. This is awesome; I get to do what I would do without any prodding, and I can even call it work. Life is perfect and that is the real reason today has been so grand. I have definitely found my calling.
Of course my realist father had to bring me back to “real” life and point out that all of what I did today was good but there is a lot more to this line of “work”. He pointed out a lot of the down sides to what I will be doing. Thanks dad. I know all of those things, but today, right now, life is good.
The evening was awesome too. I am preparing dinner tomorrow. The main dish is stuffed peppers. I also prepared dessert. I made my favorite cheesecake recipe and was actually in the cooking process at the beginning of this blog. Since then I have pulled them out of the oven and, much to my dismay, they are over cooked. The stupid German stoves have yet to cook anything right for me. The temperature is not right; the heating is uneven; they just don’t work. There is nothing I can do about that now, except complain, but hopefully, even over cooked, they will taste decent. Either way, my day has not been ruined.
Now, I must get some sleep. I mentioned in my previous post that Adam instructed me on how to reply to emails. Unfortunately, it is way late, and I am way tired. I don’t imagine that I will have much time tomorrow to respond, but I will give it the old college try. If not, then definitely Saturday… after swimming.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
Thursday, June 2, 2005
Day 85b: My Genius Friend Adam
So I know this guy named Adam. He is one of my best friends and the friend I have known longer than any other. We met my freshman year in High School, but didn't really get to know each other until sophomore year and really my junior year. He lives in Altamonte Springs just outside of Orlando, FL with his wife, Amy, now I believe, two dogs. Without trying to sound like I am kissing up, he is one of the smartest people I know, which says a lot because I know tons of smart people. He helps me out with any computer problems that I have. My website and this blog exist because of him. I tell you all this because, as you have read, his last comment has made it possible for me to reply to emails.
It is great. I can now get back with everyone without writing to them in my blog. I don't know how Adam knows all these things. He got his undergraduate in like Japanese or something and then went to Law School at WU, Washington University, as opposed to my alma mater, University of Washington. As I said, he is a smart dude and runs a large Internet/Doctor/Job finding company, www.thedoctorjob.com. If you are a doctor or future doctor and need a job, look his company up.
Adam, thank you for helping me out.
I have another post in the works. It will follow shortly.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
It is great. I can now get back with everyone without writing to them in my blog. I don't know how Adam knows all these things. He got his undergraduate in like Japanese or something and then went to Law School at WU, Washington University, as opposed to my alma mater, University of Washington. As I said, he is a smart dude and runs a large Internet/Doctor/Job finding company, www.thedoctorjob.com. If you are a doctor or future doctor and need a job, look his company up.
Adam, thank you for helping me out.
I have another post in the works. It will follow shortly.
Until then and tomorrow.
Jason
Day 85: Messed up computer
Things can be very frustrating when the computer doesn't quite work right. Like now, I am having lots of computer issues. First, my computer doesn't want to get on the Internet anywhere. The Swope's have DSL, but my computer doesn't like their DSL so it won't access it. Down the street is another friend with DSL, I could use theirs, but I didn't bring my wireless card here and I refuse to buy another one of those. Then there is the Swope's computer itself. I am not complaining, but their computer has some sort of pop-up blocker. The blocker doesn't allow me to respond to emails because my email program opens a new browser page when I try to respond and that new page is blocked. Don't ask me why. I have turned off every security feature I know of and it still doesn't want to work. (Feel free to advise me, but I am pretty sure that I have tried everything. They have Windows ME and some version of Norton.) The result of all of this is that I haven't been able to return very many emails over the last few weeks.
Which brings me to the purpose of this blog. There are a few people that I want to know that I am trying to respond to their emails, and will as soon as I get to another computer. So the following are to a few people that I am eventually going to respond to (though I am now realizing that I don't think all of them read this so it could be futile):
Max - Haven't seen you yet. I have been around, where are you?
Margaret - nothing particular, but you emailed me a while back and I am just trying to respond.
Anne - I hope you are still reading this. It means a lot to me that you do. You still doing staff this summer?
Jon - I don't know, I just talked with you today so I guess I don't have anything to say.
Juls - I have a lot to say to you. I still owe you a more in-depth response from two emails ago. That is amazing how strong your grandma was for so many years. Tell your family I am praying for them too, even though I don't know them.
Janell - What are you doing in CA?
Rachel - you will definitely not read this because you don't even know it exists, but I am including you just because I need to respond to your email.
Mom and Dad - I love you guys
Tiff - I love you too.
Justin - I love you and when exactly is your flight coming in to Frankfurt?
Bus Eireann - Thank you for the refund.
Hannah - You are awesome, see you in a few months.
Barb - Sounds like a cool book and that was an interesting thing that you and that other girl had two of the same interests. Would you recommend the book or is it a chick book?
That is all for now.
Until then or tomorrow.
Jason
Which brings me to the purpose of this blog. There are a few people that I want to know that I am trying to respond to their emails, and will as soon as I get to another computer. So the following are to a few people that I am eventually going to respond to (though I am now realizing that I don't think all of them read this so it could be futile):
Max - Haven't seen you yet. I have been around, where are you?
Margaret - nothing particular, but you emailed me a while back and I am just trying to respond.
Anne - I hope you are still reading this. It means a lot to me that you do. You still doing staff this summer?
Jon - I don't know, I just talked with you today so I guess I don't have anything to say.
Juls - I have a lot to say to you. I still owe you a more in-depth response from two emails ago. That is amazing how strong your grandma was for so many years. Tell your family I am praying for them too, even though I don't know them.
Janell - What are you doing in CA?
Rachel - you will definitely not read this because you don't even know it exists, but I am including you just because I need to respond to your email.
Mom and Dad - I love you guys
Tiff - I love you too.
Justin - I love you and when exactly is your flight coming in to Frankfurt?
Bus Eireann - Thank you for the refund.
Hannah - You are awesome, see you in a few months.
Barb - Sounds like a cool book and that was an interesting thing that you and that other girl had two of the same interests. Would you recommend the book or is it a chick book?
That is all for now.
Until then or tomorrow.
Jason
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