Get all you can...

'Tis not better to give than to receive anymore. At least not when you try to go to the mall on the double eve of Christmas. It was too busy to shop. I spent more time trying to get out of the parking lot than I did inside the mall. Receiving is much better. You don't have to go through the pains of malls and waiting lines, and you don't have to pay for what you get. Receiving also brings true fulfillment. You know the old Biblical truth.."Ye ask not because ye have a lot."

This time of year is a reminder of a gift already received (by some)-- the gift we should be re-receiving every day. If we remember that part of Christmas.

Merry Christmas to all. May your last minute shopping be as painful as mine was.

Imagine...

Imagine you were 56 days old hearing of John Lennon's death on that fateful Monday night in Manhattan. I cried that night. My dad probably did too. Except I cried because I was hungry and I knew no other way to get food.

It seems our generation knows no equivalent. Bono may be the closest, but U2 will never be the Beatles. After a full day of Beatles songs (no repeats), I was reminded of their greatness. I'm not a superfan, just appreciative of great music. Long live their legend. Could I have such a long-lasting impact on just one person? Let it be.

A girl, a billy goat, and a spider-monkey...

We surprised the bird by flying, so why not take a shot at the billy goat with its suction-cup hooves. Went climbing Saturday... Fingers, forearms, and toes are sore. Great feeling.


World, meet Jennifer. I entrusted my life to her and a figure-eight knot. She is light as a feather. When I fell, she was catapulted into the sky. I actually hit the ground before she did. Humorous? Yes. Did I spider-monkey after that? Yes. Also humorous.

They say you can't buy love...

Saw the motion picture Rent last night. It reminded me of a lot of things. Go ahead and throw your festive ribbons and pilgrim hats because believe it or not, it made me thankful. It made me thankful for love and for the great friends I have. It made me thankful that I am straight. Very thankful. It made me thankful that I have a decent job and a roof to cover my head. It made me thankful for simple things. But I think most of all it made me thankful for great music and for the appreciation I have for it. If you can look past a little perversion, go see the movie or at least "rent" the soundtrack from the library. If you are one of those people who feel they need to separate themselves from everything worldly, more power to you-- but you are missing out. I personally find it hard to reach a world I am not in, or at least do not have a taste of. I like to see the good in things. And the music is definitely good. Go take my twisted philosophies, have yourself a beer, and think it over. Happy Thanksgiving too. I'm going to go brave the snowstorm to see a friend.

Another Man's Treasure...

I could not figure out how to move the dumb thing. I thought I would need an enclosed truck with a lift, 6 guys, and a prayer. I was getting worried. Finally, with one day to spare, I brought it home. Three guys, one dolly, and little Chevy S-10. I guess it was for a good cause. After all, it's not just a normal thrift store. Their name reads "Bibles for Mexico Thrift Center." Can I spend money there and count it towards my tithe? Doubtfully. I guess it's a matter of the heart. Anyway- yesterday I brought home my very first piano. It is an antique upright-- you know, the tall, top-heavy kind that make small trucks sway heavily at 40 MPH. It even has the little window that slides open so you can better hear the masterful melodies pouring out from the wonderfully tuned strings. So it's a little out of tune. It might even be a lot out of tune. Look, the beast obviously needs a little TLC... seeing as though I paid a mere $30. I'm going to fix her up and make her beautiful. Love makes things beautiful. That either means I love my piano, or I am in essence "Love". I feel I have reached a new low. I guess I'm trying to say that it's true. One man's trash truly is another man's treasure.

Deciduousless Pity...

Oh yes I did. I declared a pity party for those who live in states with a lack of deciduous trees. Big deal you say. Yes it is a big deal. In fact, I don't even know how we breathe up here in the winter. The photosynthesis process is on hiatus, so where do we get our oxygen? Maybe that's why I like October so much. I get a little high from the lack of oxygen. Wow, that was not where I was going with this. I pity you all because you cannot enjoy the vast colors a sugar maple can produce. You don't get to see the rainbows of leaves displayed as trees enter their state of dormancy. The dead brown branches on your evergreens don't count so don't try. But I don't know how you can even call Fall "Fall" with out corn mazes, pumpkins, and leaf-covered lawns. Ok, so maybe you have pumpkins but you get the point. Fabulous time of year in these parts.

Boo.

It's scary to think that kids walk around in the dark with costumes of death and go door to door demanding a sugary substance to masticate. Even worse, we give it to them. It's raining here. Boo hoo.

Dolphins and Winged Clocks...

Time flieth far and fast. 'Tas already been a week since the previous post and I feel like I just finished typing it (Thought I would try to abbreviate and make a new word.. or is it already one? That's what great about English... I bet you knew what I meant). Anyway...

So, in recent days, I have turned the ripe age of 25. Yada, yada - 1/4 century, mid-life crisis, silver birthday - I've heard them all. It really doesn't mean much to me. Yeah, car insurance goes down and I don't have to pay the extra $35 to rent a car. Petty bonuses.

BUT.... by rumor from word-of-mouth or other sources I've seem to have forgotten in my old age, I may now insert myself into the USCG through a mere two weeks of training. Now I, feeling better than ever (despite my sawdust intake and recent smoking habits... j/k mom), should be able to pass such physical and mental challenges with flying rainbows of color encompassing me. But the question remains... Do I guard the coasts of our beautiful nation from drug-smuggling dolphins? Or do I endure the final 12 months of my selective service availability? I believe the former clearly trumps the latter. Much thought required.

Piece.

If I had to learn English again, and I were extremely flexible - I would kick myself in the face. The language of my own people is bloody confusing. Yeah, I'm pretty good at it, but I'm thinking of the more challenged people. How are people supposed to spell? Don't worry Dave and Roth I won't mention names. But seriously, do patients have patience? Or do patience have patients? It's the former. Realistically, neither wood bee true butt bare with me sew eye can make my point. Then we get all lazy and "contract" words and call them contractions. Is it that much easier to write "isn't" rather than "is not?" I'd say it isn't. Then we have contractions that we claim are not words, yet we throw them in the dictionary anyway. I ain't complaining. But mothers should. Why? Because contractions to them are extremely painful. At least that's what I read. Wait, is it the "read" that sounds like "reed"? Or the "read" that sounds like "red"? I guess yule never no.

So we have words that sound the same and are spelled differently. And we have words that are spelled the same and have unrelated meanings. Words in different tenses are spelled the same. We shorten words. We make them up. There's so much more but if people see that I wrote too much they won't read it. Actually I just can't stand to sit here for another minute. Anyway - my point: I was watching the sports ticker on ESPNews and I saw that Mel Stottlemyre was resigning. I thought "Wow, he's sticking around? That's weird, I thought they were saying he was done." Did he resign or did he resign? Not that you or I care about the Yankees' pitching coach. But why do we have two frickin words that are spelled exactly the same and mean the exact opposite? Yeah, they sound a little different but how am I supposed to know when I am reading? Ok, I'm over it.

Sign Language should be the universal language. But then we would have to look at each other all of the time. That'd be weird. Thinking of college, someone could drop their shampoo and it could roll into the adjacent shower unbeknownst to the adjacent showerer. That conversation may not go well. Music would be like CU Women's Choir 24/7.... "My Lips Will Praise You." Whoa, let's stick with what we've got. Later people.

Oh, for the record, Mel is resigning. Hard "s". He's quitting. He's done.

Piece out.

I got nothing.

There are times when you feel like you should do something that's not really important. You don't want to let down the faithful billions who count on you for next to nothing. Sorry people, I got nothing to post. Just thought I would confirm my continued existence on this earth. It's 10:30 -- I'm too tired to think. Sleep is no longer a crutch. It's a prosthesis.

My twisted gridiron...

Things have been strange in this magical mitten ever since Michigan lost (to Notre Dame of all teams) and the Lions won in the same weekend. That has to be more rare than a blue moon. I, for one, haven't been the same since. But hey, after a couple days off work, some expired Ibuprofin, and an over-the-phone prescription (getting drugs is easier than i thought?), I'm back in the game for now. Unless I have mononucleosis - which is possible. But my spleen feels ok so I'm hoping for the best.

Through all of this, I have learned something. If you are on Jeopardy and you beep in accidentally and you don't know the answer, just guess "Lake Titicaca." Oh, and go for the 64,000- even if you are out of life-lines. But the survey says that only 4 people out of 100 actually watch the gameshow network's re-runs anyway, so some kind of loss is inevitable.

Go Lions.

Freedom.

The day of labor brings a lack thereof. Why is that? We don't burn flags on Flag Day. We don't boycott gratitude on Thanksgiving. We don't cut down trees on Arbor Day. We don't even celebrate our hatred for love on Valentines Day. Ok, so that's not totally true for everyone. Lest you think I am crazy, I am far from complaining. Labor Day is a great holiday. The working man needs a day to sit back and say "Yeah, I'm pretty sweet."

Labor Day is the third indication of summer's end (1 - End of July, 2 - Start of school), even though there is officially 2-3 weeks of summer left. By the time the Autumnal Equinox actually rolls around, nobody even cares anymore because they already feel like summer ended a bunch of times. I don't know. I guess I feel like I never even had a summer. The increase in heat just made work more miserable anyway.

Cooler air and earthtones. No more white shoes, ladies. It's finally arrived.

I find freedom in this much needed 3-day weekend.

I'm losing money!

It is true. It has happened. In the course of a day, the price of regular unleaded gasoline has risen a whole dollar to $3.49 9/10. In fact, a year ago I think it was a mere $1.49 (Correct me if I am wrong). This does not affect me and my Civic as much as it does others. It cost me about 17-18 dollars to fill up last year. Now it costs me around 36-37 dollars. I guess when you look at it that way it is pretty bad. Every 10 cent jump adds about a dollar to my tab. I'll never own a pick-up.

I guess it doesn't help that Michigan gets most of its oil from the New Orleans area. Or that's what they're saying anyway. Either way, Katrina sucks - which brings me to the point of my post. Truth be told, I would rather pay $5.00/gallon for the rest of my life than go through what those people are going through down there. If you haven't sat down and watched CNN for a half hour.. do it. Shame on self-pity. I'm sure anyone in NO or the surrounding areas would pay an extra $20 a week (even $100 for you truck drivers) if it meant they could have everything back. Peace be upon them.

High socks and hopes...

It's getting to be that time of the year. The overnight temperature is under 60. The waves are picking up. School starts next week. This is the first time in 20 years I have gone through a summer with nothing to look forward to in the fall. Last year I moved to Michigan this time of year. The year before that I moved to Ohio. The 17 years before that I went to school. I am not yet sure if I am complaining about this or not. So far, I am not one to settle down. I have to be doing something else-- which is probably why I am not very good at anything. Sometimes, however, I like to think I am pretty good at things. I'm coaching soccer again this fall for my HS Alma Mater. Often I play with them in practice and I feel like a stud. It is those times I have to remind myself that I am 24 and they are 13-17 years old Christian school players. Nothing against Christian school players, some are actually pretty good- but we barely have enough to field a team, let alone cut players who are all but adequate. Good times.

I guess I've just got that October itch. Maybe it's because I'm a Libra. Either way, I can't wait for pullovers, hayrides, pumpkins, and a cold nose. Michigan football every saturday, Lions every Sunday. Bound to be a decent season.

Come, sit on my wall...

Not as a trophy, but as a reminder of an era. An era of revelation- good and bad. Not a many sour word or action. Laughs and smiles prevailed. In the hearts of both- a bond was lacking. Truth denied, shoulders shrugged... silence demanded an answer. 'Twas only fitting that the final revelation in the era of revelation was one of congruence. Peace obtained, sadness sustained, purity maintained, maturity gained. Time: far from wasted.

Read me the story of how life goes round and round.
Tell it like you still believe that the end of the century
brings a change for you and me.

Country Seasons

#3, third egg, over-easy, hashbrowns, sausage links, pancakes, and water to drink." You walk in and you see the same people every day- usually sitting inthe same exact spot. The waitresses know you and could probably put your order in before taking it. You talk about work, hunting, and fishing... You get up, pay your $4.77, and head back to work. Friday I did it one last time. Country Seasons, the homely little restaurant nestled in the north side of Holland is closing its doors, giving up its property to the expanding grocery store next door. It is a sad time for carpenters and mechanics who go everyday, if just for a cup of coffee. As we look for a new place to park our rear ends for an early lunch, I am sure our lunchtime oasis will ne'er be the same. This post is dedicated to all the little grease box restaurants that tend to their faithful customers not for a great profit, but as a place for the community to come together, get a bite to eat, and forget about the outside world for an hour or so...

"...I'm gonna be free!"

It's been free (3) years already. You would never know how much someone so small could change your life... I'm speaking of my first niece-- the smartest, most thoughtful, most beautiful person under three feet. Her latest question: "Mommy, if you make me a birthday cake, and you make daddy a birthday cake, who makes you a birthday cake?"

I cannot imagine having one of these for myself. I am sure the blessings of being an uncle (although sufficient for now) will be far outweighed by the blessings of being a father.

Happy Birthday, Anna.

There were fireworks?

You've been there. It wasn't the noise from the boats in the channel. It wasn't the tree that blocked 90% of the view. It wasn't the feeling of sitting too long in an uncomfortable position. It wasn't the mile long walk to and from the car wedged between the landscaping of the Home Depot parking lot. It wasn't the smell of the wacky tobacky while walking through thousands and thousands of people. We expect all that. This time it was the flames billowing over the giant anchor, the pillar that symbolizes the security of our coastlines. West Michigan's O.C., Coast Guard City USA, was filled with people in awe and wonder last night as the dry hill on the other side of the Grand River burned to rubbish. Sure, we are used to small areas of dune grass catching fire, but this was unbelieveable... "Turn on the musical fountains!", "Take a picture!", "Should we leave?" When we finally left, it seemed like over half the hill was charred. It was the worst I've seen. Oh, almost forgot... there were fireworks. Couldn't even tell you how good they were.

P.s. Here's a video of it...http://video.woodtv.com/vid.wvx.php?video_id=1113

Forgiveness accepted...

In the history of new bloggers, I've got to be the worst. Nobody creates a blog then doesn't update it for 3 (almost 4) days. Apology given, Forgiveness accepted.. Lets move on. Truth be told - I don't have a whole lot to say. Yeah, yeah, so I never do... (I get the point.) As long as people don't automatically assume the verbally challenged have a lack of depth, I can live with the nametag. But anyway, I didn't join blogger so you could hear about my day. They're all the same anyway. If something cool happens, I'll let you know.

Forgiveness accepted... Kinda wish it was always that easy. Maybe I'm on crazy pills but sometimes it is harder to accept forgiveness than it is to give it-- with God and in everyday life.

Choo Choo

I guess I just got on the Blog train. My last attempt at triple-W communication was derailed through laziness. The result was discontent and purple aprons.

Here goes nothin' kids..