Thursday, August 31, 2006
It's Official!
Attention!
Sampson and Whikiwhak (see also, Bobby Teenager) have concluded their search for new more powerful names for the days of the week.
As of September 1, 2006, please be aware of certain calendar changes, especially for those affiliated in some way with Fivefloortytwo or FiveThirtyFloor and Landis Hall Council. The stale names (see also, traditional) of the days of the week have been revoked their rights due to lack of power and the need for people using these days of the week to have a more ready access to power. Original names (see also, outdated) may be used over the course of the next few months during a "phase out" time period, but mostly in a parenthetical format (e.g. Hemanday (Thursday)).
We would like to thank the sources of power that will be sponsering certain days of the week for the power they possess and for being so willing to provide everyday men and women with additional power to make it through the day.
And now, the annoucing of the new days
Henceforth, the first day of the week will be known as OptimusPrimeday.*
Henceforth, the second day of the week will be known as CareBearStareday.*
Henceforth, the third day of the week will be known as Sheraday.**
Henceforth, the fourth day of the week will be known as Voltronday.
Henceforth, the fifth day of the week will be known as Hemanday.**
Henceforth, the sixth day of the week will be known as SuperSaiyanday.*
Henceforth, the seventh day of the week will be known as NinjaTurtlesday.***
(may the reader understand that the first day of the week is equivilant with the day formerly known as Sunday.)
for a brief explantion, see below.
Optimus Prime, whose name come from the same roots as "optimal" and "primary," became an easy choice to replace the first day of the week. His source of power being one of transformation is also appropriate for the day before the workweek begins. As he stands tall and proud, so may those who derive his power and as he also is known to be solid as a mac truck, so may those who derive his power begin their week.
Care Bears are known in several formats, usually portrayed as cutesy little stuffed animals and playthings for children. Do not be fooled. For when evil threatens to disturb the ordinary lives of boys and girls (and men and women), a beam of hardcoreness shoots forth from their midsections, ready to stare evil down. Their placement on the first workday of the week is therefore appropriate as many need a beam of hardcoreness to begin the week.
She-ra is the princess of power and therefore stands ready to continue to provide power as the week tarries on. Her source of power comes from her twin relationship with He-man (see below) and from her Femininity.
Voltron's source of power comes from its unity of many coming together to form one. Its patron day, then, is appropriately placed that all may band together to make it over the hump.
He-man is the prince of power and provides and equal balance to the power of She-ra, albiet in a masculine form.
While Dragon Ball Z is at least better known in less "old school" times, the ultimate power that is the Super Saiyan provides power on the last day of the work week to finish projects and keep everyone going as they head out from work into the nightlife of the weekend.
The final day of the week is equally deserving and needful of power, but perhaps in a more laid back way. For this reason, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been chosen to be the fun-loving, butt-kicking source of power for the laid back, worry-free day of the week.
It shall also be recommending to refer to these days in short form as follows:
1: OP(D), 2:CBS, 3:SR(D),4: VD or VTD, 5:HM(D), 6:SS(D), and 7:NT(D)
OR
O -- C -- R -- V -- H -- S -- N (our apologies to Ms. Ra)
Feel free to leave comments voicing your agreement and rejoicing, they will be cherished. You may also leave comments of critique and they will be duly noted and discarded. Thank you.
*These 3 days of the week may be spelled with only one capital letter (the first) or as shown above. Either way is acceptable.
**It seems easiest to read and comprehend to leave these days without the hyphen that is part of the day's patron's name. However, we leave the choice to whomever whether to use it or not.
***We understand that this is not the full title of the source(s) of power representing this day, however, for ease's sake, the name has be shortened enough to be specific and at the same time not ridiculously long.
Sampson and Whikiwhak (see also, Bobby Teenager) have concluded their search for new more powerful names for the days of the week.
As of September 1, 2006, please be aware of certain calendar changes, especially for those affiliated in some way with Fivefloortytwo or FiveThirtyFloor and Landis Hall Council. The stale names (see also, traditional) of the days of the week have been revoked their rights due to lack of power and the need for people using these days of the week to have a more ready access to power. Original names (see also, outdated) may be used over the course of the next few months during a "phase out" time period, but mostly in a parenthetical format (e.g. Hemanday (Thursday)).
We would like to thank the sources of power that will be sponsering certain days of the week for the power they possess and for being so willing to provide everyday men and women with additional power to make it through the day.
And now, the annoucing of the new days
Henceforth, the first day of the week will be known as OptimusPrimeday.*
Henceforth, the second day of the week will be known as CareBearStareday.*
Henceforth, the third day of the week will be known as Sheraday.**
Henceforth, the fourth day of the week will be known as Voltronday.
Henceforth, the fifth day of the week will be known as Hemanday.**
Henceforth, the sixth day of the week will be known as SuperSaiyanday.*
Henceforth, the seventh day of the week will be known as NinjaTurtlesday.***
(may the reader understand that the first day of the week is equivilant with the day formerly known as Sunday.)
for a brief explantion, see below.
Optimus Prime, whose name come from the same roots as "optimal" and "primary," became an easy choice to replace the first day of the week. His source of power being one of transformation is also appropriate for the day before the workweek begins. As he stands tall and proud, so may those who derive his power and as he also is known to be solid as a mac truck, so may those who derive his power begin their week.
Care Bears are known in several formats, usually portrayed as cutesy little stuffed animals and playthings for children. Do not be fooled. For when evil threatens to disturb the ordinary lives of boys and girls (and men and women), a beam of hardcoreness shoots forth from their midsections, ready to stare evil down. Their placement on the first workday of the week is therefore appropriate as many need a beam of hardcoreness to begin the week.
She-ra is the princess of power and therefore stands ready to continue to provide power as the week tarries on. Her source of power comes from her twin relationship with He-man (see below) and from her Femininity.
Voltron's source of power comes from its unity of many coming together to form one. Its patron day, then, is appropriately placed that all may band together to make it over the hump.
He-man is the prince of power and provides and equal balance to the power of She-ra, albiet in a masculine form.
While Dragon Ball Z is at least better known in less "old school" times, the ultimate power that is the Super Saiyan provides power on the last day of the work week to finish projects and keep everyone going as they head out from work into the nightlife of the weekend.
The final day of the week is equally deserving and needful of power, but perhaps in a more laid back way. For this reason, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been chosen to be the fun-loving, butt-kicking source of power for the laid back, worry-free day of the week.
It shall also be recommending to refer to these days in short form as follows:
1: OP(D), 2:CBS, 3:SR(D),4: VD or VTD, 5:HM(D), 6:SS(D), and 7:NT(D)
OR
O -- C -- R -- V -- H -- S -- N (our apologies to Ms. Ra)
Feel free to leave comments voicing your agreement and rejoicing, they will be cherished. You may also leave comments of critique and they will be duly noted and discarded. Thank you.
*These 3 days of the week may be spelled with only one capital letter (the first) or as shown above. Either way is acceptable.
**It seems easiest to read and comprehend to leave these days without the hyphen that is part of the day's patron's name. However, we leave the choice to whomever whether to use it or not.
***We understand that this is not the full title of the source(s) of power representing this day, however, for ease's sake, the name has be shortened enough to be specific and at the same time not ridiculously long.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Hemanday!
Let all be advised.
Sampson and I have declared that henceforth the three middle days of the week will no longer be known as tuesday, wednesday or thursday. Finding ourselves in an adult world and feeling the need for extra-powerfully named days to encourage us through the week, we have chosen these days to be, respectively "Sheraday, Voltronday, and Hemanday."
Let all be advised.
We understand that there may be further need to name the other 4 days of the week and so we have allowed for all readers of either of our blogs to offer up candidates for these days. Next Hemanday we will convene and decide which offerings shall be given the priviledge of replacing the current names of the days of the week.
You may now leave your comments
Sampson and I have declared that henceforth the three middle days of the week will no longer be known as tuesday, wednesday or thursday. Finding ourselves in an adult world and feeling the need for extra-powerfully named days to encourage us through the week, we have chosen these days to be, respectively "Sheraday, Voltronday, and Hemanday."
Let all be advised.
We understand that there may be further need to name the other 4 days of the week and so we have allowed for all readers of either of our blogs to offer up candidates for these days. Next Hemanday we will convene and decide which offerings shall be given the priviledge of replacing the current names of the days of the week.
You may now leave your comments
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Political frustration
Attention Republicans and Democrats.
It has come to my attention that we are living in 2006 and elections are just over 2 years away. In case you haven't realized, out nation is absolutely polarized politically and overall, discontent. And the problem lies with you guys. There is never room for any middle ground. If you are republican and you don't think we ought to just keep doing what we're doing in Iraq, you're a traitor to the party. If you're a democrat and you don't think we ought to pull out of Iraq entirely, you're a traitor to the party. Do we really have to be so petty? Is there no room for middle ground?
So, from one voter to both major political parties: GIVE US A CANDIDATE! And I must say that as someone who is registered republican, I'm about ready to vote democrat, if the party can just offer me a decent candidate. I find myself disagreeing with the democratic party, but agreeing with most of the people who vote democrat. So, here's an idea, democrats: provide a candidate who isn't the most popular or who has the best connections, but who can be rallied around because they hold the ideals of their party members (and I don't mean the party members who are holding an office). I understand that politics is all about making friends and connections and trading favors, but do yourselves a favor, democrats: offer up a candidate who stands for american ideals. And I'm not talking about morals in the republican sense. For crying out loud, take a stand on some morals! Morals are not owned by the republican party. We need not be so polarized on every little thing. Can we focus on peace instead of war? That's moral. Can we focus on cleaning up the world? That's moral. Although, if I may say. I think that we can make compromises here. There's no need to enforce veganism on the nation, but there's got to be a safe way to drill for oil and a responsible way to cut down trees to provide for american industries that need oil and wood that also protects the environment around it. Because that's moral. Although, i must say that I'm about defending life in whatever form it comes and I always think that a right to live supercedes any other right of another person. Because I think that's moral. And I think the government has the responsibility to protect the rights of those who cannot protect themselves.
Also, Democrats, pay attention. The Grand Old Party traditionally has taken a stand on less government involvement. The current administration does not seem to hold with that. Get your federal education laws out of my state. Get your ears out of my telephone. Take notice and see if you can hold to your ideals as democrats, as liberals, and still govern less. Make a stand on the issue. It will be noticed by many who would traditionally vote republican, but only if it's a man or woman of ideals.
I've got more say, but I need to think through it first. You've still got a little time to get it together.
Oh. And by the way. I'm a Florida voter.
It has come to my attention that we are living in 2006 and elections are just over 2 years away. In case you haven't realized, out nation is absolutely polarized politically and overall, discontent. And the problem lies with you guys. There is never room for any middle ground. If you are republican and you don't think we ought to just keep doing what we're doing in Iraq, you're a traitor to the party. If you're a democrat and you don't think we ought to pull out of Iraq entirely, you're a traitor to the party. Do we really have to be so petty? Is there no room for middle ground?
So, from one voter to both major political parties: GIVE US A CANDIDATE! And I must say that as someone who is registered republican, I'm about ready to vote democrat, if the party can just offer me a decent candidate. I find myself disagreeing with the democratic party, but agreeing with most of the people who vote democrat. So, here's an idea, democrats: provide a candidate who isn't the most popular or who has the best connections, but who can be rallied around because they hold the ideals of their party members (and I don't mean the party members who are holding an office). I understand that politics is all about making friends and connections and trading favors, but do yourselves a favor, democrats: offer up a candidate who stands for american ideals. And I'm not talking about morals in the republican sense. For crying out loud, take a stand on some morals! Morals are not owned by the republican party. We need not be so polarized on every little thing. Can we focus on peace instead of war? That's moral. Can we focus on cleaning up the world? That's moral. Although, if I may say. I think that we can make compromises here. There's no need to enforce veganism on the nation, but there's got to be a safe way to drill for oil and a responsible way to cut down trees to provide for american industries that need oil and wood that also protects the environment around it. Because that's moral. Although, i must say that I'm about defending life in whatever form it comes and I always think that a right to live supercedes any other right of another person. Because I think that's moral. And I think the government has the responsibility to protect the rights of those who cannot protect themselves.
Also, Democrats, pay attention. The Grand Old Party traditionally has taken a stand on less government involvement. The current administration does not seem to hold with that. Get your federal education laws out of my state. Get your ears out of my telephone. Take notice and see if you can hold to your ideals as democrats, as liberals, and still govern less. Make a stand on the issue. It will be noticed by many who would traditionally vote republican, but only if it's a man or woman of ideals.
I've got more say, but I need to think through it first. You've still got a little time to get it together.
Oh. And by the way. I'm a Florida voter.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Christianity
Christianity is not merely a theology.
In fact, there are several theologies that would fall under the category of "Christianity" because of the central role Jesus Christ plays in them. Even that is beside the point.
If one takes the teachings of Christ seriously, then Christianity is a lifestyle. When Jesus says not to worry about tomorrow, Christianity is about changing the way I think about living. When Jesus says to care for the down-and-out, the widow, the orphan, and the foreigner, Christianity is about changing the way I seek justice. When Jesus says to turn the other cheek, Christianity is about changing the way I demand my personal rights. When Jesus says that it's better to pluck out my eye than to look lustily at a girl, Christianity changes the way I think about right and wrong. When Jesus says "come to me all of you who are weary...and I will give you rest," Christianity is about changing the way I view independence. When Jesus says to seek primarily after God's Kingdom, Christianity is about changing my entire focus.
When Jesus declares himself the son of God and declares that the only way to God is through himself, Christianity becomes more than a lifestyle change. It becomes something that affects every moment of life and every fiber of being.
Hebrew, or Jewish, beliefs established the concept that man once had friendly relations with God, but that due to direct disobedience of a simple guideline, humans found themselves in a place where their imperfection could no longer exist in God's presence. So that God set up a series of laws that, if kept, would allow him to have friendly relations again with humans, laws that required a blood debt for repayment when people disobeyed them. The system had a lot of faults. Well, it had one: that people kept disobeying the laws. After a while people just started depending on the repayment part of the law and stopped caring whether or not they did good or bad things. That's not how the system was supposed to work.
Christian beliefs would step in here and say that God had a better plan so that he could keep up friendly relations with humans. The sacrifices that were being offered were imperfect animals sacrificed by imperfect priests EVERY YEAR for the community at large, besides the sacrifices made for invidual sins (or "crimes"). So God sent himself in human form to be among his humans. And while he was there he fell down and scraped his knee, experienced betrayal, showed love, taught the people how to get back on track from their legalistic interpretations of the guidelines God had set for them, and offered himself as sacrifice to pay the blood debt that the humans owed.
Christianity would say that this offering, this sacrifice freed us from the debt owed and gives us the freedom to pursue God and his goodness. It would say that just like Jesus, God in human form, died and came back to life, we can end our current struggles against that thing within us that makes us do the things we know we shouldn't do, and lets us begin anew in a fresh life that can choose to seek goodness. It would say in the way that he ascended from Earth, we have been given new strengths in the presence of God in us to bring about a goodness here on Earth.
And that should change everything. It's more than belief in God and the afterlife. It's more than (if it can even be considered) a moral code. It's more than a way of thinking. It's a way of doing. It's not something that leads us to hate; it's something that causes springs of love to overflow into every part of life.
And I think that if the presence of God is heaven, a place where only goodness happens, and God is living in us, as followers of Jesus, then we have been given the strength and guidance to bring about heaven on earth. A place where the needs of the needy are met. A place where no human, plant or animal would ever be mistreated. A place where disagreements are settled and peace is prevelent. And I think that's what God wants. I think that seeking after this kind of kingdom, first and foremost, a kingdom where God's will is followed, would cause all these things to happen. And I think that's what God had in mind from the beginning. And I think that if everyone did this, God could again be present among us. And that's what I want. And that's why I would want to call myself a follower of Christ.
In fact, there are several theologies that would fall under the category of "Christianity" because of the central role Jesus Christ plays in them. Even that is beside the point.
If one takes the teachings of Christ seriously, then Christianity is a lifestyle. When Jesus says not to worry about tomorrow, Christianity is about changing the way I think about living. When Jesus says to care for the down-and-out, the widow, the orphan, and the foreigner, Christianity is about changing the way I seek justice. When Jesus says to turn the other cheek, Christianity is about changing the way I demand my personal rights. When Jesus says that it's better to pluck out my eye than to look lustily at a girl, Christianity changes the way I think about right and wrong. When Jesus says "come to me all of you who are weary...and I will give you rest," Christianity is about changing the way I view independence. When Jesus says to seek primarily after God's Kingdom, Christianity is about changing my entire focus.
When Jesus declares himself the son of God and declares that the only way to God is through himself, Christianity becomes more than a lifestyle change. It becomes something that affects every moment of life and every fiber of being.
Hebrew, or Jewish, beliefs established the concept that man once had friendly relations with God, but that due to direct disobedience of a simple guideline, humans found themselves in a place where their imperfection could no longer exist in God's presence. So that God set up a series of laws that, if kept, would allow him to have friendly relations again with humans, laws that required a blood debt for repayment when people disobeyed them. The system had a lot of faults. Well, it had one: that people kept disobeying the laws. After a while people just started depending on the repayment part of the law and stopped caring whether or not they did good or bad things. That's not how the system was supposed to work.
Christian beliefs would step in here and say that God had a better plan so that he could keep up friendly relations with humans. The sacrifices that were being offered were imperfect animals sacrificed by imperfect priests EVERY YEAR for the community at large, besides the sacrifices made for invidual sins (or "crimes"). So God sent himself in human form to be among his humans. And while he was there he fell down and scraped his knee, experienced betrayal, showed love, taught the people how to get back on track from their legalistic interpretations of the guidelines God had set for them, and offered himself as sacrifice to pay the blood debt that the humans owed.
Christianity would say that this offering, this sacrifice freed us from the debt owed and gives us the freedom to pursue God and his goodness. It would say that just like Jesus, God in human form, died and came back to life, we can end our current struggles against that thing within us that makes us do the things we know we shouldn't do, and lets us begin anew in a fresh life that can choose to seek goodness. It would say in the way that he ascended from Earth, we have been given new strengths in the presence of God in us to bring about a goodness here on Earth.
And that should change everything. It's more than belief in God and the afterlife. It's more than (if it can even be considered) a moral code. It's more than a way of thinking. It's a way of doing. It's not something that leads us to hate; it's something that causes springs of love to overflow into every part of life.
And I think that if the presence of God is heaven, a place where only goodness happens, and God is living in us, as followers of Jesus, then we have been given the strength and guidance to bring about heaven on earth. A place where the needs of the needy are met. A place where no human, plant or animal would ever be mistreated. A place where disagreements are settled and peace is prevelent. And I think that's what God wants. I think that seeking after this kind of kingdom, first and foremost, a kingdom where God's will is followed, would cause all these things to happen. And I think that's what God had in mind from the beginning. And I think that if everyone did this, God could again be present among us. And that's what I want. And that's why I would want to call myself a follower of Christ.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Bed
I'd like to thank the fans for their immediate responses and enduring support.
My dad is coming to town today, very much on his dime, to bring me a bed (among other things). A bed. It'll be nice to have a bed again, as I've been sleeping this past week on a friendly couple's and then my roommate's couch. I've become one of those people that doesn't need a comfortable bed every night...or maybe I've always been this way? At any rate, sleeping on floors in Nicaragua or on the ground in a tent makes sleeping on a couch seem like nothing worth complaining about. But it'll still be nice to get a bed.
It's actually my grandmother's bed. She's 8...3 and we finally convinced her to move out of her house where she's been living alone for at least 10 years in south-eastern Mississippi to go live near Nashville with my aunt. This is a hard time for her. She lived in that house for near 60 years. It's not easy to make great changes like that for any of us, especially as we get older and more set in our way. Although, she had a wonderful thing happen to her before she left. Garrison Keillor from Prarie Home Companion told a story telling of a man's funeral where everyone said great things about him. He said it was a tragedy wasn't there to hear all that, and that he only missed it by a few days. My grandmother had a little send-off party at her church. They all came and talked about their memories of her and nice things she'd done and talked about how much they're going to miss her. It was just like being a funeral where the person in focus is still alive and gets to hear all those nice things. May we all be so fortunate.
So, I know there were two beds in my grandmother's house that might be coming. One was in my dad's room from when he was a kid. It's a full size, so I don't know if he had it when he was a kid, but it is HIS. The other one was the one I slept on most of the time when I went to visit my grandmother. My Gran-gran. It's just funny to think how things can get passed down. She's been thinking about what she wants to pass along a lot in the past few years. She made my sister some 4-5 quilts and now she's working on me. She also left me Great-uncle Griffith's cuff links. I never met him, but being the only grandson, it kinda naturally falls to me and it's really touching to be given something with familial value.
Overall, I've been thinking a lot about how I'm going to make it lately. I don't have any money and even with scholarships and help from the parents, i don't know how I'm going to pull through. I'm looking for work, and that's going to help a lot. Even 20 hours would be huge. But knowing that I'm getting a bed that I can fall into each night that will be MY bed and MY place of solace helps me see that everything will work out. As it always has worked out. In the same way that birds don't save up food, and yet are provided for. In the same way that the lillies of the field are clothed. I do have food. And clothes. And a place to stay. And schooling. And a SWEET RIDE. And friends and family whom I love and who love me. I'm going to be okay.
My dad is coming to town today, very much on his dime, to bring me a bed (among other things). A bed. It'll be nice to have a bed again, as I've been sleeping this past week on a friendly couple's and then my roommate's couch. I've become one of those people that doesn't need a comfortable bed every night...or maybe I've always been this way? At any rate, sleeping on floors in Nicaragua or on the ground in a tent makes sleeping on a couch seem like nothing worth complaining about. But it'll still be nice to get a bed.
It's actually my grandmother's bed. She's 8...3 and we finally convinced her to move out of her house where she's been living alone for at least 10 years in south-eastern Mississippi to go live near Nashville with my aunt. This is a hard time for her. She lived in that house for near 60 years. It's not easy to make great changes like that for any of us, especially as we get older and more set in our way. Although, she had a wonderful thing happen to her before she left. Garrison Keillor from Prarie Home Companion told a story telling of a man's funeral where everyone said great things about him. He said it was a tragedy wasn't there to hear all that, and that he only missed it by a few days. My grandmother had a little send-off party at her church. They all came and talked about their memories of her and nice things she'd done and talked about how much they're going to miss her. It was just like being a funeral where the person in focus is still alive and gets to hear all those nice things. May we all be so fortunate.
So, I know there were two beds in my grandmother's house that might be coming. One was in my dad's room from when he was a kid. It's a full size, so I don't know if he had it when he was a kid, but it is HIS. The other one was the one I slept on most of the time when I went to visit my grandmother. My Gran-gran. It's just funny to think how things can get passed down. She's been thinking about what she wants to pass along a lot in the past few years. She made my sister some 4-5 quilts and now she's working on me. She also left me Great-uncle Griffith's cuff links. I never met him, but being the only grandson, it kinda naturally falls to me and it's really touching to be given something with familial value.
Overall, I've been thinking a lot about how I'm going to make it lately. I don't have any money and even with scholarships and help from the parents, i don't know how I'm going to pull through. I'm looking for work, and that's going to help a lot. Even 20 hours would be huge. But knowing that I'm getting a bed that I can fall into each night that will be MY bed and MY place of solace helps me see that everything will work out. As it always has worked out. In the same way that birds don't save up food, and yet are provided for. In the same way that the lillies of the field are clothed. I do have food. And clothes. And a place to stay. And schooling. And a SWEET RIDE. And friends and family whom I love and who love me. I'm going to be okay.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Melange!
I have been in Louisville for a little over a week now, including a full week of classes. It's an odd step. It makes sense, i suppose, but I can't tell if I'm moving forward or backward in going back to school. Everyone says that classes are hard and "not like undergrad." But they seem to be a lot like undergrad with just a greater expectation that students will excel and get things in on time. And I'm one of the most academic guys on campus. One of the advantages (disadvantages?) of attending a religious institution. They're more concerned with our believing the right thing than being able to articulate it well. That's okay, because I don't have to cave into that. Mr. Folds says, and I agree, that he never was okay with turning in a bunch of bunk.
Starting a new chapter always requires some saying goodbye to the previous chapter. Except that the last chapter was more like an entr'acte between two major chapters, 2-3 years long each. And very few new things got started during the past nine months. Friendships were rekindled, caught up with, a few were started, but most would really fall into the "acquaintance" category. I did meet Sara. and Jeff. and Dallas. and Luccia. I was able to say goodbye to a lingering question from many chapters ago in a perfect way that sent me on my way to the next chapter.
I'm old enough now, i think, to know what I want and who I want to be, although I still need a little work in being that person. Louisville, i think, will be a good crucible to let my personality simmer and to add a few things. I'm living in such a strange dichotomy on the campus of this religious institution, surrounded by students who believe unwaveringly in a Christian Right philosophy and politik, while nearby is a community of coffee shops and book shops and a "liberal" community that longs to protect the greenness of the waterfront area, to pull soldiers away from a war and who wants little to do with Jesus if he is best represented by a conservative political group. Oh, and bluegrass.
Addendum:
Eight and a half years ago, four adolescent boys stayed in a hotel room together and laughed at their own silliness hours into the already late night. They were friends before that, some of them better than others, but the power of an "in-joke" changed them, i think, that night. A strong connection was born, so much so that despite school choices and graduations and car accidents in parking lots and years apart, they still choose to run into each other and play catch up. Incidentally, if you're looking for me on December 31, 2007, I'll be with my friends in the Melting Pot, the Melange that is New York City.
Starting a new chapter always requires some saying goodbye to the previous chapter. Except that the last chapter was more like an entr'acte between two major chapters, 2-3 years long each. And very few new things got started during the past nine months. Friendships were rekindled, caught up with, a few were started, but most would really fall into the "acquaintance" category. I did meet Sara. and Jeff. and Dallas. and Luccia. I was able to say goodbye to a lingering question from many chapters ago in a perfect way that sent me on my way to the next chapter.
I'm old enough now, i think, to know what I want and who I want to be, although I still need a little work in being that person. Louisville, i think, will be a good crucible to let my personality simmer and to add a few things. I'm living in such a strange dichotomy on the campus of this religious institution, surrounded by students who believe unwaveringly in a Christian Right philosophy and politik, while nearby is a community of coffee shops and book shops and a "liberal" community that longs to protect the greenness of the waterfront area, to pull soldiers away from a war and who wants little to do with Jesus if he is best represented by a conservative political group. Oh, and bluegrass.
Addendum:
Eight and a half years ago, four adolescent boys stayed in a hotel room together and laughed at their own silliness hours into the already late night. They were friends before that, some of them better than others, but the power of an "in-joke" changed them, i think, that night. A strong connection was born, so much so that despite school choices and graduations and car accidents in parking lots and years apart, they still choose to run into each other and play catch up. Incidentally, if you're looking for me on December 31, 2007, I'll be with my friends in the Melting Pot, the Melange that is New York City.
