Daniel: "Ben, what are you gonna do with your life?"

Ben: "Live it."

zerOweez0: josh
zerOweez0: fill in the blank
lIlIbby61: ok
zerOweez0: josh is _______
lIlIbby61: true

Here is an excerpt from a radio interview with Secretary Rumsfeld. I got the link and ideas from Jon Boben's blog (http://jonboben.blogspot.com).

"...troops in Iraq had recently come across – I’ve forgotten the number, but something like 16 or 17 – warheads that contained sarin and mustard gas.Now these are weapons that we always knew Saddam Hussein had that he had not declared and they have tested them and I have not seen them and I have not tested them, but they believe that they are correct that these, in fact, were undeclared chemical weapons -- sarin and mustard gas -- quite lethal and that is a discovery that just occurred within the last period of days."- Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, Wednesday, June 30, 2004

http://www.dod.mil/transcripts/2004/tr20040630-secdef0949.html




July 16th, David Ortiz, gets tossed from the game and throws a bunch of bats at the umpires. 5 game suspension handed out.

He appeals it.

Then, he drops the appeal. David Ortiz owned up to his actions.

July 24th, Alex Rodriguez is hit by a pitch. On the way to first base, he gets into a shouting match with Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek. Varitek hits A Rod in the face with a palm/glove.

A Rod begins swinging and they fight. Benches clear and people join in. Wow, the Bo Sox / Yanks rivalry is intense, probably more intense than any in sports.

A Rod gets fined a whopping 2000 dollars (as well as Varitek) and a 4 game suspension.

A Rod then holds a press conference next day to announce that he plans to appeal the suspension.


Let me get this straight, you tell extremely harsh words and then don't walk away, and then you throw punches, and you expect to get minimal punishments.

I took some excerpts from http://www.mlb.com

"Any time you get into an altercation like that, Major League Baseball should do something," Rodriguez said. "My words were very strong and ugly, but they were simply a reply and a repetition of what was said to me. I thought four games was too much.

"I've never been called out like that before in my 10-year big league career," the third baseman added. "I was surprised and shocked, and in the heat of the moment, I did what I did."

Rodriguez, who missed just one game from 2001-03, also hinted that Varitek should receive more games than he did because, as a catcher, he doesn't play every day to begin with.

Grow up A Rod, grow up and own up to your actions. You over-paid sissy.


In other news, I went to New Braunfels this weekend and got to hang out with Sheridan, Erin, and Carly - aka "Disturbin' da peace!" Meeting my new friends Blain, Brandon, Brian aka Porkchop, an old friend STEEEEVE, and hanging out with Camp McGuire. Higher and Higher and Higher and Higher, you know who WE be; we be camp MCGUIRE!

I'm done working at day camp, which is nice. But i really enjoyed having an impact on those kids, and hopefully they will take something from what i shared with them this summer. If they do, my summer couldn't be more complete.

Its about the effects you have on people's lives, its not about what you do. Well, it kind of is about what you do, but pictures will not live on after you die. Things you accomplish are just that accomplishments. They are memories, and they are defintiely worthwhile - but diplomas and pictures and certificates and badges and cash and all that jazz will go bye bye in the end. But what you say to people, what you tell them, the effect you have on their lives, that, friend, will stay with them forever.

Invest in things worthwhile, and focus on things that are beneficial. Thats what i'm trying to do.

Veritas.

I got back from Aruba on Saturday afternoon, and I went and saw John Mayer and Maroon 5.  Wow, what a show. What  a week.  It was so amazing, yes, way amazing to sit on the beach and just chill out. Take a nap, get tan, swim in the ocean with Will Lanier and my family. 

I want to be so sincere.  I want people to really truly believe me, because i feel like i'm sincere in my actions.  I"m not saying - oh i want people to believe me no matter what i say - i'm saying- i want people to believe me like - because i'm an honest person. I'm not shady, I'm not a liar, I really just speak the truth.  I mean, what more can you do?  What more can you do besides be yourself and be honest with people?  Moreover, what more can you do for yourself besides be honest? 

I don't care what you're going through, i don't care who you are.  The best thing you can do for yourself, is be honest.  If you are weak in some area, admit it.  It hurts so much when I have to admit that to myself.

When i have to admit that i was wrong, or that i'm struggling with this or i can't handle something, it sucks, alot.

Random, i know.

Another thing:

I want to have such an amazing perspective. I want to be able to see things from so many different points of view.  I want to have such a great view on things, so like - i can understand how people see things.  I don't want to look at a situation and see it from 1 side, i want to be able to understand it and truly catch all of its dimensions.

Honesty, Perspective

Gain both, gain much.

Ok,
 
So i'm in the Newark hotel business desk typing this up - i'm gonna try to make it short but i'll update later
 
i'm going to aruba tomorrow morn before a brief stop in newark/new york city
 
my parents grew up in enyce so i've been there alot - like 4 times in the past year - anyhow - so - we waited in line for a/b an hour to go up the empire state building - and it was kinda fun - i'm with will lanier, my mom dad and steven and his girlfriend kelly, and i notice a guy wearing what appears to be an aggie ring on his hand - i try to take a look at it closer, but i fail - and i assume that it might be but oh well - on the way down - after seeing some amazing sights of enyce at night lit up - wow - guess who i'm in the elevator with - and i decided, once we got off - to ask him about it - and i go - 'excuse me sir, i noticed your ring, what school is that from?' to which he replys with a heart "TEXAS A&M".  My heart skipped a beat - and i said - 'howdy, i'm daniel, class of '07' - it was awesome - and i know some of you might think this was ridiculous and goofy - but i don't expect you to feel a/b it the same way i do - i guess thats why this is my blog and i share my feelings - anyhow - he shakes my hand and says - i'm class of '54 (This is his 50th year reunion - this past Muster was) - so he puts his arm around me and we walk out of the empire state building talking a/b my major and his major (journalism) and - he was just way cool - a cool old guy - a/b 72+ , he was so awesome - so - he said - have a great time here - and i echoed it back - and he left - and then i wanted to ask him so many questions -where does he live - where did he live on campus - he had to have been in the corps - what outfit - was his wife an aggie -
 
anyhow, i leave for aruba in '07 hours
 
 
I'm proud of my school, it is so special, I wish i could share it with EVERY, SINGLE ONE of my blog readers - because it means so much to me - and you reading my blog means alot to me too
 
I'll talk to ya'll soon
 
Daniel

Chris Hill. Look for his link.

I was driving along home from work on Thursday afternoon and just cruising and jamming to incubus or coldplay one of the 2

and i decided it would be way tight to wave to other people on the road - it was a beautiful day - ya know?

so i caught eyes with this guy on a harley - going the other way - and my hand was already hanging out the window - so i raised my hand and waved to him - he took his hand off his bike and gave the biggest most happy grin i've seen in a long while - it was really really funny - and i laughed - and it was like - he knew me or something - one of those ones that you do to someone you know - anyhow - it was really awesome and it made my day

When I listen to Foo Fighters songs, I feel inspired and very, man i don't know how to say it - but - well reflective would be the best word.

Listen to Learn to Fly, be reflective. Good music is good music.

I went to Austin by myself this past weekend. I stayed with Evan North and Ryan Granzow. Austin is really really fun and cool and I think I might like to live there next summer.


Thanks and gig 'em.

"To gain a bird's eye is to turn a blizzard to a breeze..."

-Incubus

Day brings new things. When you wake up and you see light out - and you don't have to turn on lights in your house, there is something about that which renews one's sense of...

Hope, i guess, joy, etc.

I suppose that God knew that a long time ago...in Lamentations 3, it talks about God's compassions and lovingkindness and how its new each day.

Its been really nice to not go to work today and be frustrated by the kids. I enjoy working with them, but i decided that its not a career path for me.

This is my 200th post in my blog.

I beat yours.

Thank you Kim Podraza, you are great.

Soon I will have 10,000 hits on my blog.

I'm really proud of my blog - it has character.

It has sparked controversies.

It has made people laugh.

It has served as a record keeper for me.

It has helped communicate to people.

It has helped me - and if it has helped you or you enjoyed it, please let me know.


Cal-State Fullerton beat Texas in the College World Series in 2 straight games. They played as a team and they were a true underdog. I was shocked that they beat Texas.


Driving to and from Dallas yesterday, i was reminded how amazing Texas is. It is far and away the best state in the Union. I don't think other states are ridiculous or inadequate, I just believe that Texas is amazing, more amazing than other States.

However, i believe that the United States as a whole, is better than Texas.

I'm going to see the Astros beat Texas tomorrow at the Ballpark in Arlington.

Booya!

"Two Points For Honesty"
by Guster


If that's all you will be, you'll be a waste of time
You've dreamed a thousand dreams, none seem to stick in your mind
Two points for honesty
It must make you sad to know that nobody cares at all
I want to be where I've never been before
I want to be there and then I'd understand
Know I'm right and do it right, could I get to be like that
I'll know what I don't know with nothin more to gain
Will I get better or stay the same
I find I always move to slowly
Can't lift a finger, can't change my mind
I never knew till someone told me that...

And all the people who've seen it all before
And all the people who really understand
Know they're right, and have done it right, could I get to be like that
I'll know what I don't know, it's harder everyday
Can't lift a finger, can't hurt a fly
I've found I always move too slowly
One things for certain, I'm insecure
I never knew till someone told me that...."



Its nice to be honest with yourself. I'm glad that there are times in my life that I have to spend with myself. I can really look at what I think, and analyze my own ideas. I'm glad that God overlooks my faults when others cannot. Thats ok, because people are imperfect, and they make mistakes. (Myself included ;-) )

"Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
You been out ridin' fences for so long now
Oh, you're a hard one
I know that you got your reasons
These things that are pleasin' you
Can hurt you somehow"


Is music supposed to be ambiguous to all? Are lyrics and songs supposed to have one exact/a few directly implied meanings? Or can songs be twisted and interpreted to mean different things?


I think ole Don had something specifically on his mind when he wrote this. I'm not sure if i have the gumption to deviate from its meaning.

"Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
You been out ridin' fences for so long now
Oh, you're a hard one
I know that you got your reasons
These things that are pleasin' you
Can hurt you somehow"


Is music supposed to be ambiguous to all? Are lyrics and songs supposed to have one exact/a few directly implied meanings? Or can songs be twisted and interpreted to mean different things?


I think ole Don had something specifically on his mind when he wrote this. I'm not sure if i have the gumption to deviate from its meaning.

In the past week I've:

Called into Sports Radio 610 and had a call taken and broadcast on air.

I found my Bible up at the church. I can't really begin to tell you how relieved and happy I am. God is so faithful and is so much bigger than...everything i guess.

Been on the big screen at the Astros' game - doing the twist. (If you've ever been to an Astros' game with me, then you'll know that I do the twist when the twist is playing, and the announcer is saying "Lets see ya'll do the twist!") Mission Accomplished - thanks to Chip and his family.

Caught a Major League Baseball, sort of. I got to roam around Minute Maid before volunteering delivering food that people ordered to seats, and saw Astros' batting practice. Got myself a ball hit by Jason Lane (#24).

On a sadder note: my heart hurts. However, God is bigger than my heartaches. He is bigger than my desires, bigger than my thoughts and feelings. He is bigger than my life, and deserves ALL of my life.

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD." Job 1:21

Blessed be the name of the LORD.

Psalms 145:17-21

"The Lord is Righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever."

Dang



Dang

Ya know what?

I'm sick and tired of seeing people let themselves down.

Myself included.


It hurts to see us let down our defenses and compromise. Why do we?

Why do we settle for doing things that we don't want to do?

Working downtown for the week has been quite an experience. I mean, i've worked at my dad's office before - but i usually went in with him at like 5 am to play ball. Now, i'm working at his offices without him there, and going in at 7 am. I feel mature sometimes; when i'm sitting in traffic, or walking through the lobby. It would be cool to be out on my own - like for real. But then i sit in an office and work.


from 8 till 5

sure there's your lunch break - wow - but - its just a rat race. A repitition. For some, its great achievment - to have a stead job, earning a living, and enjoying it. For others, its a drag, its boring and they could be doing something else. I'm quite certain that i don't wanna hit the 8/9-5. I mean, wow that sounds gay "i don't wanna do the 9-5, i wanna conquer the world". But i do. I want to do something that i'm going to enjoy. I want to travel (like most everyone else in the freakin world) and i want to make a difference in peoples lives.

My diploma will not matter as much as the people's lives i touch. I would fail out of college if it meant that i would touch more people's lives than if i graduated. thank God thats not the case, but if it was...we know what i'd do.

If you invest too much time into things that don't matter, you are investing wrong. If you are investing alot of time into important areas of your life, you are succeeding in your investment. What you and i shouldn't do is this: spend our time on things that will fail us; things that don't fulfill your hearts desires, or give you a sense of pride and efficacy.

We also shouldn't settle. When we settle, we give up our strenght, and we are weak.

Weak as our vices that aim for our destruction.

That sucks.

My strength fails me sometimes. Honestly: most of the time.

"Because of his strength I will watch for You, For God is my stronghold."
Psalms 59:9

Last night i went on a date with my girlfriend Amanda.

After wendys without any dr pepper, we went to the cardinals, err astros game

in the 2nd inning, tony womack comes to bat for the cards. amanda is looking away, and after the annoucer says his name, i echo, "number 4, tony womack" and amanda says "do you think he's related to leann womack?"

and i point to his black face on the display board, and she laughs

and i laughed

amanda is funny



and i had a great time

Man, this minimester - well these 2 - are really ideal for earning hours of credits quickly - i'm glad that i'm getting this crap out of the way -

it takes up alot of time that i would like to be spending elswhere but- thats ok - i gotta do what i gotta do -


speaking of which...

you shouldn't let other people make decisions for you

i'm gonna do what i want to do when i believe its best -
i want to do what God knows is best for me - see - i trust that - because i know it won't fail

i know HE won't fail - and everything else will - my friends, family, etc they'll all fail me at some point - ya know? some are more reliable than others - and some are almost perfect but oh wait - they're not perfect so - you gotta step out and put stuff in perspective


perspective...

I'm helping morris move his couch into Billy and co.'s house.

Morris owes me.


Sike!

Today I played in the Aggie world series of poker. I played pretty conservatively - and made it through to take 32nd place of 160. I was pretty proud. It was fun. I pushed about half a dozen guys out and that was fun.


So i'm sitting at my fish camp buddies house and we're (surprise) playing a little poker tonight. I'm looking through the 2004 Guiness Book of Records and notice the 3:43 record mile time by your random Nigerian, maybe it was Mr. Morocco, anyhow...so i say "wow, that really freaking fast" (remembering back to my seemingly impossible 5:23 that i remember running soph. year in cross country...odd i know...i can hardly believe it myself).

Drewsky speaks up: "Man, i can't take a crap in 3:43" it was hilarious.




I guess you had to be there.



Echo: You shouldn't settle, you're too amazing, friend.


NEVER settle.

I guess the same luck that allowed me to lose 5 last night, allowed me to make 5 tonight. It ebbs and flows, as does the world.



Oddly enough, at 205 am i found a parking spot in front of my dorm. Lucky i guess.


I don't want to spoil my last blog. Skip over the boring poker story if you aren't interested.

You shouldn't settle, you're too amazing, friend.

I can't believe it. I can.


I go over to Northside lounge because i'm itching to play some poker. I sit for a little bit and watch, then buy in. I sit and take 2 rounds of blinds not playing a hand. Then I get some cards. Then I get queens. Then Kings come out on the board. So I have 2 pair, and Mr. Blue Devil (known by his hat and shirt from Duke) pushes me all in. I know he doesn't have Kings or he would have acted earlier. So, lets look back to an earlier late night poker in the Northside lounge by FHK: Daniel gets queens delt to him. Mr. Blue Devil bets high and Daniel can't fold queens. On the river comes a thrid king. Daniel has a full house Kings over Queens. Mr. Blue Devil shows his Aces and wins. He gets lucky only on me, because his friends were taking his money.

Tonight: Daniel has 2 pair and is pushed all in. As soon as he does - Daniel knows Mr. Blue Devil has Aces, like he had before when he took me out. Its unfair how i play conservatively - more conservatively than i ever play, and get knocked out on a load of horse freaking crap. It really makes me mad. That's unlucky. Some say cards is all luck. I disagree.


"But Daniel, don't you realize? Whoever gets good cards in chump games like you play is going to win."

No, ________, i don't agree. Whoever gets the right job offer makes more money? No, thats night right either. Its how you play what you are given. You can make money with a low paying job if you are patient and work hard.


I know you, generic blog reader who disagrees with what i'm saying, will disagree once again. That's ok. Do you know why thats ok? Becuase I'm the one who plays cards, and not you.


I suppose there are bigger things in my life to talk about.


Like the end of AFC tonight. It was kinda sad, but amazingly fun and cool too. We went to the press box of Kyle Field and got to sit and read our NiceThings and get our old-army AFC shirts. Then all the counselors shared their hearts and words of advice to us. It was amazing reading all of the "nice things" that people said to me. Some of them were straight from the heart. I hope that all of them were, but I doubt it. That's ok too. Every single one that i wrote, especially to the people I told in person, were straight from my heart. I've noticed a trend. Everything i say is a flow from my heart. I really speak with my heart; and sometimes a filter is needed. Let me echo Pete's sentiment's once again.


Things I have yet to master:
1. Words
2. Timing
3. Preparation
4. The Heart


This is a long blog and i'm going to dedicate it to my new readers: perhaps Brooke Weid (who is linked on the left hand side) and Jennifer Barron, and Adrienne Kocher.



I miss you Pete, bro. Stay strong, I'm praying for you. Ditto Chip, thanks for serving my country.


Thank you AFC for making my freshman year amazing. Absolutly amazing. Ineffable.



Jeremiah 24:7

"'I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart."

"It is irresponsible to vote against legislation that gives support to U.S. armies."

-Vice President Dick Cheney

I don't think that anyone except my Aggie family could understand the emotion that I just felt at Muster. I'm so amazingly thankful to be a part of this family. I really don't have the words.

2 separate things:


1. I was at Sweet E's and my ID card wasn't working for Aggie Bucks, the cashier tried like seven times and it still wasn't working. So this guy, who was much older, I guess put my drink on his credit card; so when I took out my credit card, the girl was like, Oh its taken care of. And I looked at the guy and i was like - thanks man. It was the nicest thing that someone has done for me in a while. It was so simple, but it meant so much. So blessed (G. Haake).


2. "As long as there is a Texas A&M where young men and women are taught the lessons of leadership, and trained to make a difference for their fellow man, we who once walked its grounds will have a love for her that does not fade with the years, or ebb and flow with the times. Neither the passage of time, nor the evolution of progress, can dim the enthusiasm, or temper the love, the former student feels for Texas A&M. With each new generation, a new verse is written, but the same chorus is echoed... When our nation calls, Aggies answer. When freedom is jeopardized, Aggies fight. When danger draws near, Aggies run to the sound of the guns!"

Texas Governor Rick Perry
April 21, 2002

Wow,

that was really weird - the chairs in the SCC lean back very far - so people will sometimes just like recline - and i felt this brushing on my hair only for like 2 seconds - very soft - like someone was playing with it or something - but then it stopped and i looked back and i saw this dude like sit up really quick - he was like 'oh , sorry man' and i went on writing this blog



I'm not sure what i want to do next year - i really really wanna have like this extremely positive (or the best i can do) impact on the fish of '08

but i really wanna get invloved in Aggie Men's Club, - that is an amazing amazing organization - and it would be pretty impossible to both - and i want to do other things too - like be on the student senate and do carpool and get invloved with Crocker - man i've got alot on my plate - and school - oh yea - school


ha

Did she want me to change?

But I change for good.

And I want you to know.

But you always get your way,

I wanted to say,

Don't you shiver...

It just got rainy and cold.


Thats a bummer.

2 stories for you

1 - Last week i was riding my bike in the breezeway of the MSC and as i slowed to go around the big grass median, i saw another biker, so realizing that one of us was going to have to stop our paths, i applied my brakes - and then i stopped, but he couldnt stop quickly enough - so he thought he would cut across the grass - but then he realized that its grass on the msc - and it would be not cool to do that , so at the last second he tried to turn his wheel and - off he goes - and his bike goes under him - and i was like - oh my - is that my fault? i stopped and he like couldn't control his bike - but he ate it hard and i didnt know what to say "i'm sorry man, are you ok?" came out of my mouth - "yea i'm fine man, i thought i would just cut across the grass but then i realized i couldn't, so yea..." and i just kinda sat there, remounted my bike and was off


2- Last friday - i left college station about 330 to go to Austin for a Switchfoot (ft. Jealous Sound, Copeland) concert - and it was unbelievable - we got there at about maybe 730 when the doors open for the general admission concert - so we get up there and manage our way to about 5 people deep from the stage and a little towards the right - so maybe 65 percent of the way through the night some guys in front of us bust out signs asking him to play "Might Have Ben Hur" from thier first album "Legend of Chin" (which is amazing). The song is one my personal favorites from that CD and any of thier songs in general. So at the beginning of this song they say "This one goes out out to Charlton Heston" so i said "Yea! Charlton Heston!" and John Foreman says "Charlton Heston! What's your name Charleton Heston man?" "Daniel! " i yell. "Hey daniel" he says. The summer after my freshman year, they came to my church's beach camp and played. They were, needless to say, much less popular, and it was a crazy concert, because like me and miori and only a few other people had ever heard of them. so i say "Do you remember Panama City Beach?" and he says "I do, actually!" and i say "I was there!" and he said "I was there too! Thats great!" so me and my friends are freaking out. "This one goes out to you Panama City guys!" and then he played the song. It was unbelievable.

Today, April 5, they are playing live on TRL.


Wow

Things I have yet to master:


Words
Timing
Preparation
The Heart

There was a extremely graphic and gory display about abortion and such today in front of the academic plaza (rather it was yesterday the 23rd)

I was reminded of something Matt Skains put in his blog along the lines of pro-choice:

"You want choice? Make the choice before you sleep with him."
(This statement obviously doesn't apply to rape situations; but all for all others)

Along with sexual activity, I feel comes a consequence of getting pregnant.
If you are going to be sexually active, you are at risk of becoming pregnant. (Simple, huh?)



I kind of liken abortion to emailing a professor to get out of a test or a quiz that you were not prepared to take (obviously because of choices you made instead of preparing).

Howdy everyone

I'm sitting in my friends place at Callaway - and i'm listening to Daniel Weathers and Steven Miori sit and figure out music - listen to some songs and jam - w/ daniel on the keyboard and miori on his alvarez - just jammin' - and its so great - what a gift -what an amazing gift - music is - its another language - i'm quite sure -

i would give alot - close to an arm and a leg to be able to read and write and play music - on any instrument - i'm so serious -

i just wish that so bad - my heart just really really wishes that - badly - anyhow - i guess music is not a gift of mine - i'm thankful that i have gifts of my own - i love: loving people - i love hearing their stories - their thoughts and passions - and i love discussing things- i love drawing out of people - their views - their thoughts about certain topics - b/c if they don't realize that they have some - then when will those thoughts - and opinions about other things grow?

idle attitudes and opinions are wasted sometimes - other times they grow in value

dig it?

i dunno

i really miss sand volleyball - really really bad - i love playing it so much - and its tough b/c miori can't come play at the rec and sometimes - alot of times - people's schedules clash about times to play - i'm just glad that i'm at least on a co-rec team on tuesdays- thats gonna have to suffice for now


express your opinions - challenge them - b/c only when things are challenged -they grow.

yep

Sometimes you are put in situations that you can't do anything about.

You can pray and make your attitude as positive as you can.

Outside of those two things - there is ABSOLUTLY NOTHING that you can do. If you dwell on that - then you will be frustrated.


In situations i'm in that i can't do anything about, i'm trying to do the 2 aforementioned things.


I suppose sometimes I/we need to GET OVER IT.

So, this week has gone by amazingly quickly - its been rough - so much stuff on my mind


i'm trying to keep my grades up but i'm worried that i might not be able to register early

man that makes me bummed


this weather is so amazingly inconsistant - so now - its like 48 and raining when i was sweating yesterday

My heart is broken.

"But there is nothing in the nature of tolerance that requires you to say that all beliefs, all religions, and all social practices are equally admirable. If you did not think that some were better than others, there would be nothing for you to tolerate."

On the inside of one of the stalls on the 6th floor of Evans Library there is written:

"High school hero = non-reg zero."



ok

I've got a great idea...


why don't we be extremely critical of our president's policies


why don't we arouse people to NOT support our leader

oh wait - you have the right to disagree with W's policies - of course

but do you really understand what they're about?

maybe you do - and if you do - then your opinions are justified - you really understand the issue and are knowledgeable about your side if someone were to question it...

if you are - thats awesome.

but if you aren't - your arguments are empty - they are just words w/o meaning or significance - just fightin' words

and thats too bad

Well...its 330 am and i don't think i'll make it to history tomorrow

but i might


STORY:

Its 1130 and i just got dropped off by angie black and tom hope (thope)

it was nice that angie treated me to shakes...after an amazing time at breakaway

and after getting paid from work

and after getting a good parking spot - right in front of my dorm

Evan from the 4th floor (hssss FLOOR WARS) calls me and tells me that we are having a poker tourney
and to bring my chips up -
Austin my roommie has borrowed my chips so i borrow some other guys down the hall - i know him don't worry - he is lebanese (yes i checked that spelling - i'm right) and him and i go back and forth - but i love the kid
and his car is very fast - very very fast - turbo protege fast
so i go up to play and we move the 9 person tourny down to the tv lounge...
where i proceed to fall into last place w/ 8 chips
2 people go out - and i'm sitting around paying blinds when i have to - just playin' pretty very conservatively

which paid off

so it comes down to 4 people - after some people dropped - i double up a couple times thanks to the chip leader at the time Noah -
we agreed that 5 dollars from 9 people would split - 30 winner 10 second 5 third (money back)
so at this point w/ 3 left - i'm in third and i've made my money back so i'm happy
i'm playing pretty chill - looking at cards - seeing free flops, etc.
so i catch some cards and after a while aaron "slim pickens" goes all in and noah busts him on the river - it was nuts

meanwhile a drunk, long-haired patrick stumbles in and passes out on the couches that are holding up the half ping pong table that we are playing on - the room smells like alcohol and its unpleasent

so noah has a phenomenal lead and i just earned at least 5 bucks - so i'm even more happy - keep in mind - i went all in w/ pocket rockets and i doubled up to like 20 or so - from my 8 all in - so i catch some cards and double from 35 to 70 from 80 to 160 and we go up from there - i am catching alot of cards and noah won't go all in when i call him in - so to make a really long story short - i win - when he calls on a pair of sevens - and i have a queen and a 7 on the board matching with a queen and 7 in my hand - so i win
30 dollars - which is a good thing - it makes me happy - but more importantly i had a great time - and i got to know some guys much better - and for the first time - so - i might have had less of a good time had i not won - sure - but i still expect to lose money when i play - its not a profit deal for me - if it was - i'd be in Gamblers anon. -

God is faithful - for reasons other than a good night in cards

He delivers me from a bad week - He provides for me over and over again


"Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name."
1 Chronicles 29:13

Emmalie and Katie Tenney - hi katie - stopped by this evening - late - and we got a chance to talk

thanks girls for stopping by and giving me a breath of fresh air - i love you guys - you're still that cool! haha

anyhow - i think i'm going out of town this weekend w/ BBH - big booty hoes - to a ranch house

get off my case

and get off of carolina's case -

tom brady is a stud - but he's not gonna have it this weekend

I don't understand why a prof. gets mad at himself if he lets class out 5 minutes early - so - i was in history today and he goes "wow...well this is the shortest lecture we'll have all year

and i look down at my watch to see that it was 1105 when class ends at 11 10

go away ...

college basketball is so good - almost every night of the week there is a good game on - where an unranked team is pushing it very close to beat a ranked team - last night was no exception -

brandon crump (#4 for the Tenesseeeee Volunteeeers) went to my high school and to my church - and i remember the last time i saw him and talked to him up at the church - he was lifting weights at the end of the summer - getting ready to go of to UT as they call it - so it was exciting to hear the ESPN announcers talk about how he is a crucial player for the vols and how he filled out his 6' 10" fram - by putting on 50 pounds since he got to UT - so that was cool - but what was not cool was the fact that with about 1:15 left he got an outlet pass and was wide open for an easy dunk - and he forgot to put the ball on the floor and turned it over - and then he passed it out of bounds a few possesions later

then the officials blew 2 class - blatant - it was very upsetting because some white benchwarmer (or as the announcers described him "a deep bench player") came in as a shooter - got the ball and drilled a 3 from way downtown - like it was sick - with a hand in his face - so he did that to make a 6 pt. lead a 3 pt. lead - and then fransico garcia - for Louisville slipped (for the 6th time in the game) after limping in on his sprained ankle (from an earlier slip) out of bounds and the official was blocked but called that he was pushed out - it was way not cool

anyhow - i love sports


"standing in the middle of yesterday, when it all went wrong and we made mistakes. I'm sorry for the things i forgot to say..."

name the band - and don't look up the lyrics

Reason #3-#588 for not getting drunk: I would probably do stupid things, like the faggots in my story.


Its almost 2 am and i'm drifiting off to sleep when i hear commotion outside my window - some guys just walked back from shadow canyon or fitzwillys or some bar across the street - so since my bed is by the window i look outside to see some chumps picking up bikes and carrying them somewhere - so i put on some shorts and head outside to see what they're doing -

they are throwing the bikes that are not on the racks into a huge pile about 10 feet high - what complete retards

first of all they are probably not too concerned about their 1.4 GPA - since i doubt they are bothering (they probably couldn't handle) with more than 9 hours in their 6th year at A&M. Sure, they'll graduate, eventually. If they stop spending week nights tossing 'em back -

They don't have any concern for people's property - which - ya know - i couldnt imagine why...is it because they have expensive stuff themselves (besides the clunking 1982 ford they drove off in)? they scoff at the bikes that everyone has outside our dorm? no - i'm going to guess that since they walked back from a bar across the street - that they weren't - umm in their right state of mind. i really really dont understand why they would want to do that - i dont. and i wish someone could give me a good reason why - i know they were drunk - or at least not sober -

hey listen - if you want to get drunk - thats your thing - i'm no one's conscience (or spell checker) - but when you start messing with other peoples stuff - not realizing (or realizing) that its wrong or just plain stupid - i've got a problem - seriously - when you throw my bike - which is not 60 bucks at wal mart - on the bottom of a pile of bikes - you are wrong. you are stupid. you are a fool without good judgment. there is no argument here. tell me that these guys were right in what they're doing - YOU CANNOT. their bad decisions affected me - and that is ridiculous.

i spent 10 minutes untangling some of the bike heap - which by the way - imagine all pedals and handle bars through other bikes spokes and such - it was a mess - but i refused to get physically mad about it - i salvaged my bike from the wreckage - where the seat was bent and the handlebars a little off - gave it a little test ride - and locked it up -

man - its really upsetting that someone would do that -

i don't understand and i wish i did.

Maybe they'll get up for their classes tomorrow - either way - i don't really care - who's ever money they are wasting for their college education - i wish they could see what a dumb thing they did tonight


((((now i do understand that these kids could have made one honest mistake - made a bad choice just this one time - and vandalized dozens of peoples bikes- and i hope that this is the case - i do - i hope that they won't do anything like this again - and that they will get up for class and feel bad about what they did - and then move on to a constructive semester - so guys if you are reading this - come by some time and apologize to some of the guys you see hopping on their bikes - you were absolutly retardedly stupid tonight - make better choices - lest you continue to be an incompetant, rude, selfish fool the rest of your God given life - what do you think? do you think they will do what they need to do from now on?))))


i hope they do. but i do have my doubts.

Charlotte - she is one awesome friend



we have geology together - in a room i've never felt more comfortable in - there is something about my room

i have 16 hours, and i'm planning on getting A's

i hope

" 'Cause you and I both loved

What you and I spoke of

What you and I spoke of

Others only dream of the love that I love "

I'm really glad to be back.

Its crazy - how a few months ago - the people that i miss hanging out with and the people that i'll spend the next few months with are people that i didnt know existed - well sort of - ya know?

i had no idea who everyone was but now i LIVE with them - minutes away - i spend hours studying w/ them - hanging out at their 'houses' - its just crazy

but anyhow - i'm so excited to be back - and i'm going to make the most of this semster - however general that sounds

I just spent part of the weekend with AFC.

I like AFC so much.

I like the people in AFC and i like people in general.

http://www.bethelehemstar.net

Jesus Christ is the ruler of all creation.


What gives peace to your soul?



Do you sleep well at night?


I do, becuase my faith and comfort is in an unfailing God.

I'm kind of bummed that I have a test tomorrow (Thursday).

I kinda wish i could be playing Risk down the hall and talking to friends on the phone.



But i have to study - i have to make an A.


Dang...this sucks

"We've got him."



The media is biased and slanted and very liberal.




Its just a statement.

I spent 5 days in New York

It was emotionally draining and exciting

Wow

"Texas A&M has a unique spirit and culture, and we are proud of both.
Our culture is grounded in patriotism, religious belief (however expressed), loyalty to family and to one another, a hard work ethic, character and integrity. We want all who share that culture to feel - and to be - welcome at Texas A&M. We want and need to persuade all who embrace that culture - and who meet our admission standards -- to become a part of the Aggie family...

A final observation. The reality we all must accept is that Texas - and the nation - are part of a far more diverse, more competitive and more complex world than ever before. The reality we all must accept is that the alternative to change is stagnation and decline. The reality we all must accept is that we must do a better job of meeting our obligations and responsibilities to all of the citizens of the state of Texas in preparing its students for a changed world. This is not political correctness. It is political realism."

Robert M. Gates
President of Texas A&M University
Former Director of the CIA

Music

Frank Sinatra's songs sum up most of the feelings i want to have towards my wife.


I can't wait for the day where i get to sing those to her - and mean every single word.


For the mean while - i guess i'll just wait.


There is something about running late at night that just makes me feel good. Ya know?

Ya just get out there and go - do some miles - and end up sweating - and go to bed a little stiff/sore, but feelin' good.


tonights one of those nights




I love Texas

and I love Texas A&M - look for comments in the next blog.

Instead of studying for my test (because chances are that i learned more tonight than i have in my Poli Sci class all semester - and that if an opportunity presents itself like it did - you don't say "oh, i cant talk right now because i have to protect my precious GPR - get real people - get logical)- i just sat down with my new friend David - in the crocker computer lab and we talked - about some of the most important things humans can deal with - politics - he is from England - and he is on an exchange program... he told me - that this is the first time he has been in America. He said that we was bored with school over in Lancaster - the school he was at - and someone suggested it to him and he said "Texas? Hell yes!" ...

He is a political science major so he was studying some stuff for his test tomorrow and so i was coming in to study as well - political science - as fate would have it - so we got to talking and we talked about so much stuff - it is absoultyl amazing to see the differences in opinion - like you would have no clue unless you have sat down and talked with someone who is that knowledgable and that researched in politics and current worldly affairs - it turns out that he is jewish - and he's been to israel - and he has the heaviest british accent i have ever heard - i can't begin to describe to you how much he made me think - how deep his thoughts were and how much i appreciated us being able to share - he is in my dorm - just a floor below me and i'm sure that we'll have conversations again - one of the most interesting things that we talked about was the EU, and another one of the most interesting things we talked about was 9/11 - he was in israel when he heard about it - and he was starting his 6 month stay - he is taking a 2 day bus ride to NY for a week in christmas - and then he is taking a 3 day bus trip back to go to mexico - i dont know what else to say besides wow - besides the fact that i appreciate his thoughts and opinions so much - and that i know that i want to get involved in politics - that i want to serve my country and i want to make the world a better place - and i know - it sounds so gay and so overused - but i'm so far from kidding its not funny - people suffer and many places are far from good- far from anything close to a decent environment...and i want to help those places - but i dont know what i can do right now - i can educate myself, i think - i can educate myself to become aware of the problems, and become aware of the opportunites i have to resolve them - or at least - give my effort to resolutions -

you just don't know....

but i wish you did

find something you're passionate about -


mediocrity and apathy suck so much

The Texans lost today in overtime

The United STates is going to win in overtime against the rest of the world in the President's Cup

I have been tired this week - i got 19 hours in 4.5 days...thats crazy

"It is all gonna burn"

Anything i earn here on this earth can't come with me after I die...
The impact i have on people's lives...and their impact on me will live...

I went to the Fightin' Texas Aggie Reveille Ball tonight...at least from 12-1

It was so much fun - just hanging out in Reed, with about a thousand other people- just dancing and having a great time - all dressed up - a big stress relief from the week - so now i'm back to studying for my 8 o'clock...

tomorrow more dancing and poker with my boys and AFC...rock my face off

I can't wait to talk to YOU, i miss you and i love you, friends (close and distant)...you are so important that if you called and had a problem that i could help out with...i would fail my test tomorrow...well - i would study as much as i could - but - if i can help - you bet i'll be there

Apple juice tastes the best before 10 am and after 12am...try it

Two consecutive days with alot of bike riding around campuse, without being able to sit down on your bike seat will make your legs sore...

There has to be a solution...to predicting the weather and when i can cover my bike seat...

I want to take off my shoes and dance in The River...for the rest of my life...it is the only thing that brings me peace

There is more to life than a 4.0 or a diploma...be realistic, friends...but at the same time...be realistic and don't be lazy

Today is monday and these are the things I did in chronological order:

1-4 a.m. - planned out ticket pulling strategies for the group i'm pulling with
(2:30 a.m. - recieved a sports pass without have to pay royalties - only the conversion)
4-830 a.m. - sleep
830-850 - pulled tickets for 'our group'
910-10 - went to RENR 205
1010-1230 - Nap
1230-140 - eat at 12th man
145-345 - hang out at the cube/do some constructive things
4-445 - hang in my room

i have seen this on more away messages today than i have seen anything non-holiday related
"Sounds like somebody's got a case of 'The Mondays'"

its raining and its pretty miserable - but God is still good, and He puts joy in my hear, and gives rest to my soul

Its 2:21 a.m. and i'm in the SCC, studying. Its amazing how many people are here with me...alive, vibrant, filled with passion (err...red bull and supplements) for learning. They care...they want to suceed in their classes...but they...like I have put off studying until a little bit before. Thats unfortunate.

There is not one education at any University.
There are 2 kinds.
1. Diploma and graduation plans of education
2. The 'other' education...experiences and involvment...

It is only with both that you will have a complete education. Period.

They amaze me, people do...to no end...

People I miss:
Will Lanier
Ashley Sullivan
Amanda Kizer
Bobby Greenwood
Matt Skains
Adam Hull
Michael Parsons
Anthony Fichera
Joey Eaton
and more...another time

Ashley Sullivan (one of my best friends ever) won Klein's Homecoming Queen honors.
Matthew Roberson of company B-1 and his roommate Kyle found my wallet and returned it to me.

Look for an upcoming blog that is my letter to their commanding officer.

God is good; all the time.

I'm fairly certain that in some things there is no luck

there is 'chance' but chance is merely a realization of what will happen

i said to myself, as i was driving down welborne figuring out weather or not to pull in to kyle field to park, or try my "luck" at a closer spot ... "I'm feeling lucky"

Do my feelings mean that i'm going to get lucky?
Do my feelings increase the likelihood that i will find a spot in the closer lots?
Do my feelings really make a difference; an actual, physical difference in whether or not i get a spot?

I believe that they don't.
I believe that i was not going to find a spot at the time i drove through those lots whether or not i felt as though i was. I
I belive it is a simple matter of fact that tonight...I'll be parking in the so aptly named "S*&# lot"

Fate?
Luck?
Act of the Omnipotent God?


Proverbs 16:9

"The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps."

I feel like there is not much more you can do to honor someone's passing than a 21 gun salute

name something - besides the stereotypical funeral

Yea, ya know what...

God is good....He is faithful to give me everything I need

He puts a smile on my face, passions in my heart, a bounce in my step, and he gives my soul rest when i lay my head down

He is faithful to every promise He's made...and I'm so thankful to have this hope...

Hebrews 6:19
"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast..."

"There are two things I have in my life: my balls and my word; and I don't break either of them for anyone."

How about that?

When i'm not extremely agitated driving around looking for a spot at 1:30 am, i find one.

Thats so amazingly ironic i can't put it to words...but i'm glad a i got a spot relatively close - b/c it was pretty nippy last night and it would have been a long, cold ride back w/o my sweater...ha

cold...this isn't cold...

Scripture without context is PRETEXT

I'm sitting at my computer at 245 am - its so crazy - people are leaving - jenny left- parsons and goodie leave soon - and its sad - but its exciting at the same time

my friend emily (hi emily) had a quote in her profile that i'm stealing and putting in herre

"Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better."

Its good - and its tough - but it is necessary

Proverbs 21:5
"The plans of the diligent lead to advantage, But everyone who is hasty surely comes to poverty."

I noticed a woman wearing a "fight against prostate cancer" shirt today as i was running....haha

Do men wear "race for the cure" and if they do - why would they wear them in public -too often

It takes a strong person to listen completely to an entire album of Radiohead songs...in silence

Here's something thats worth blogging about - it really gets me frustrated - and by no means do i dislike people this applies to -

Why do people still wear their senior class rings? I saw 2 people in the course of my night with theirs still on their right ring finger - why?

YOU ARE NOT IN HIGH SCHOOL - you are fixing to be a college student - and if you've registered and/or paid - you could consider yourself one now - but why wear that ring that holds meaning and memories of high school - its time to move on - people who are staying in town - nothing wrong with that - just dont hang out with all of the people still in high school - make new freinds -meet new people - MOVE ON it really is tough to see people refusing to move on - and in some respects - i think the brandishing of that high school ring symbolizes that

however...i do understand if someone is adamant on wearing it until they begin classes in college - because high school held such meaning and such - thats great - cherish those memories - but do look forward to new scenarios -new challenges and new achievements...

Wow - 8th day of august...

time flies...eh? what a trite and stupid phrase...nevertheless true

i'm leaving for fish camp in 12 days

i bought a down comforter and thermal blanket for my dorm room, as well as a fridge...i'm very very excited

why do people act as they do? why must people make stupid mistakes, after seeing friends and loved ones of theirs make a horrid lapse of judgement - do people really think they will not make the same mistake? or are the just ignorant...

WEll i'm up here at a&m in the student computing center writing this blog - i took off from my house at about 10 am - and i got here - i needed to come up here for a few reasons - 1 is to get a shot at the health center - why there? you may ask - because its alot cheaper - esp. for the menigitis shot - so i tossed my new bike in the back of my truck on the way up herre - figuring i'd ride around campus - and thats exactly what did - and it has been one of the coolest things - to ride around-and people just look at me not like a visiting high school student but - as a normal college kid on his way to class - it just amazed me - it really was one of the coolest feelings - and i dunno - maybe i'm just acting like an excited freshman - but thats what i am - and thats ok. i ate lunch at quiznos up here and the girl who had very little clue a/b properly making a quiznos sandwich dumped so much carbonara sauce on it - i thought i was gonna choke - anyhow - i got a permanent assignment - and i'm in crocker - on the north side - and i'm rooming with this guy named george austin mccurry - i havent talked to him yet - but i imagine i will sooner or later-
and i'm not sure if ben and i are going to try and switch but - i'm not sure if we are going to do that -

anyhow - i'm very excited -

its very crazy - this is the last day of july - this is far and away the fastest summer yet - its just flying by - wow

I'm in Hazlett, New Jersey - at my aunts house- and i'm having fun - its been pretty miserable weather herre - but tomorrow i get to go to the beach with my cuzin's and my brother and his gf kelly - yay - and we get to go to the boardwalk as well -

friday i will get to go visit west point - and i'm very excited - hopefully i'll get to see pete and chip and wrendon and adrian - that would make this trip really great -ya know?

fantasy football is starting up and that makes me excited

college is coming up and that makes me excited too - i just wish i knew where i was living - bummer...

i've met alot of people who i'm looking forward to hanging out w/ next year - whoohoo

i'll update my blog at a later time- so check in with it

I just got back from playing wiffle-ball at the church - it was so much fun - we played 2 games and my team won both - it was so fun to play ball again just like when i was a little kid - ghost runners and pegs and everything

anyhow - food time

This is such an exciting time in my life - i'm getting ready to go off to college - and i just got a bike - its a sweet Haro - V1 - and i'm gonna get a computer - i finally broke down and decided on a PC - but i'm gonna get a dell Axim as well -so thats exciting - i think i'm gonna buy myself an IPOD from Mac and some new oakleys with my birthday money and the leftover cash from graduation -

anyhow - i'm ready - ready to go off - ready to start new - ready for a challenge, new people, new places, new everything - and its close enough to home - to make a weekend trip - but far enough away, barely -

i'm ready

This sucks

everyone is getting their housing assignments except for me -i'm really bummed - i just want to be in a dorm - even in a temporary space - and i want to figure it out - i just wanna get it over with - dang...maybe i can room with ben - maybe not - hopefully though i can be exactly where God wants me - and i know that i will - its just such a bummer that i hear stories and stuff - and i'm not in yet - anyhow - i won my 2 games at king of the beach -so i'm in our bracket finals - and hopefully i'll win that tonite

today i was driving along and i saw a sign for "sno-cones" and it pointed down a street - so i turned around and proceeded to support the local industrious attitudes of some young entrepreneurs - i pull up and they charge me 1 dollar for a 'sno-cone' served in a 16 oz. styro. cup - it was mostly ice and it had just a little bit of flavoring - so - it was like slightly flavored ice not a sno cone - but its ok - i was glad to pay them and tip them a quarter each - those young guys are up to something good - keepin out of trouble...ha

anyway - as i was driving along - eating my crushed ice - i started to think - hey - i would expect some young'ns like that to overdo the flavoring

instead - they under-flavored it - bummer...

i'm over at miori's updating and my family just told me that we're going to New York in the next few weeks - yay

update time -

i am up at a&m for my orientation - and i'm having a really good time - surprisingly -

i'm getting really really excited about just like - getting into the world of college - being on my own and meeting SO MANY NEW PEOPLE - its really very cool -

i got my ID today and i signed up for my claim account - so i can access everything like - schedules and stuff - but tomorrow will be the real test at 1:30 when it becomes a crapshoot for classes - its crazy - i'm sure i'll blog at a later time - but i just got back from mission trip in chicago - it was way awesome - definately taken out of my comfort zone was i - walking the streets of englewood ya know - the 3rd roughest neighborhood in America - 1st in chicago - it was quite and experience - stories later

well - my deepest apologies for those of you who have visited my blog within the past few weeks and have seen no such update - its a shame that there is not more time in the day to do the things i would like to do - i.e. blogging, sleeping, et cetera...

however - since my last post - i've done a few amazing things - first of all - i've graduated from high school - i am going to Texas A&M University in College Station next year and i'm unbelievably excited - so far this summer i've already visited the following places (in chronological order):

Panama City Beach, Florida
Miami, Florida
Labadee, Haiti
Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Georgetown, Grand Caymans
Cozumel, Mexico
Cleveland, Ohio (layover)
Greensboro, North Carolina

and i'm scheduled to fly from N.C. to Chicago, Illinois, and then back to Spring

I calculated that of the 30 days in June, I've spent 9 at home, that means - sleeping and eating in my house. Its kinda upsetting - i really would love to spend alot more time with my friends - however i did get to go to Panama City Beach with my chruch youth group and on a 7 day cruise with Kyle Craddock and some other guys including Daniel Lockley and Rob Davis. Kyle and I met some girls from Minnesota - they have funny accents - Howdy girls, if you're reading this -

After coming home from the cruise on Saturday, I left this past wednesday morn for North Carolina, since my brother Steven is playing in the 2003 Southern Regional. Select soccer teams are part of United States Youth Soccer Assn. - and they have a national tournament - starting within the state - so the state champions go on to 1 of 4 regional championships to face other state champs - and the regional winners meet in the Final Four of the nation at 'nationals' in Baltimore. So, Steve's team has made it thus far and hopefully they'll do well at this regional tournament. I get to watch 3 of their games then i leave for Chicago - and our missions trip with our church - i'm really excited to get to serve in
Chicago - When i get back on the 7th - i immediately go to A&M for my testing and NewStudent Conference - where i get my schedule for next year - what i'm hoping for is no 8 am classes and no classes on friday -however - i will sacrafice either one to get one of those 2

I WILL POST later this week before i leave - regarding feelings and thoughts i've had in the past few weeks - thanks for reading this - and please continue to be my friend - ha.

thank you for visiting my blog

well let me...uhh...'clarify some things'
1st of all - i edited my last post to pacify upset critics - maybe i shared a little too much
2nd of all - never did i ever say that catholicism was wrong - i know that its a religion that people believe in - i know this - i'm not denying it or criticizing it at all - in fact - its believes coincide with mine as a Christian - i would classify myself as a non-denominational Christian - not a Baptist or Methodist or Catholic - i'm just a christian - but all i mean by my comments about the museum - was that i was confused as to some of the thoeretical reasons behind such an extravagant display - i mean - i'll stick by what i said in that, some parts didnt make sense to me, i simply was confused about the extravagance with which it was presented - i wish i had someone there to ask questions of but since i didnt - i still remain confused to this day
- the art was amazing, from the papal tiaras to the plaster reliefs of bernini to the drawings of michelangelo - and the educational value of the exhibit was undeniable as well - i learned alot about the catholic religion as well as other religions (there being a section of how catholicism - the Pope to be more specific - interacts with other religions - i.e. the 'Thanka' hand stitched by the Dali Lama, given to John Paul in '79 i believe it was)
and i'm sorry if i personally offended anyone with my comments -in NO WAY do i HATE the catholic church or anyone who is catholic-and i pray that no one mistakes me as an ignorant, hateful, bigot
i'm sure that i'm the only one with views differing from others- but isnt that what makes us all diverse? the fact that we can get along in the midst of our differing feelings.

Well i went to the museum of natural science today and i saw an exhibit on Popes and the Vatican - it was really cool - and a few things came to my mind as i meandered through the exhibit:
1- old people have nothign to do during the day - i realize that this is an exhibit which might spark more interest in older people than younger ones, however - there was just a complete domination of women over 65 - with white hair parading around in groups yelling to each other since they couldnt understand their own words over the "audio tour earphone set" they were wearing...it was so bad- i would gently wisper (it is a museum after all) "excuse me ma'am" and even slightly tap them on the shoulder - no response - it was so stupid - like i tried not to get frustrated but it was futile - however the exhibit was nice but it did spark another set of feelings:
2- with all the starving people all over the world as well as the instability in the catholic church (so it seems to an onlooker) i found all of these exhibits unbelievably, outrageously too much - as i walked through, the exhibit was selfguided and began with many works of art from painters and sculptors ranging from modern works to works from the 400's - paintings, frescos, statues, etc.- and that was very nice - some of the reliefs done by bernini were unbelieveable - then we got to the papal artifacts part of the exhibit - and thats were my mind raced - as i walked through -looking at jeweled crowns made of gold and rubys and diamonds, i thought to myself - wow - this is completely unnecessary - now i understand - it is part of a history of the catholic church - and these were implemented in the past into the papal vocation, however - it just seemed like too much - from the 30 pound hand embroidered gowns that the popes wore once or twice, to the exhuberant staffs made of sterling silver with picutres of the crucifix decorated with rubies and gems. i thought - and actually heard a few comments very close to this one: "i probably shouldnt be saying this but, ya know what - with all of the poor children throughout the world, and the catholic third world countries, it seems as if this is all a little much" - and when i heard that - yea....anyhow - so we went on to see the velvet ivory chair in which the newly elected pope (elected by all of the worlds cardinals) rides around the streets of the vatican and rome in, and we saw the pure white ostritch tail feathers with which him and the 12 men who carry the throne on his shoulders are fanned off with - and it just seemed to me that this isnt what a religion should be all about - it should be about a relationship with God -

thats just my feelings - take it for what you wish -

that was my exciting day - ben also got an airsoft gun - and we're having a war at will's old house at 8 - bring the pain, girls

And prom is over

the beach was so much fun i cant believe it - we shot each other with airsoft guns, snuggled around fires, played in the ocean, traded money with each other through hours and hours of poker, and ate much food provided by the girls.

What a great memory

As we were walking out of capital Grille, where we ate, matt skains sees a ferrari and gawks, so the owner comes up and starts talkign to him; skains is telling him about his car's specs and the guys like - hey - hop in - check this out and so skains does, wait it gets better, he lets skains start it up, wait it gets better, he tells skains he races them and gives him his card "call me and we'll go driving" he says to skains, and he goes on "if your group didnt have to leave, i would let you drive it." so our group doesnt leave - and he drives it around westheimer and streets for a few minutes - wow -like this is a silver FERARRI - like amazing - any how

ape was a blast - my roommate won a digital camera, and i didnt win anything - except a good time

i got accepted into a&m - i'm very relieved and excited so, yea...

PROM WAS FUN.

VERY FUN.

AND THE FUN IS STILL COMING.

YES!

Wow - how about that

Prom 2003 is here! I cant believe it - i remember going last year w/ Chelsea Meyer - hey chelsea

i cant wait - tonite i'm having a cookout for our group who wants to come over then - tom. we take pictures at 4 - dinner at 530 - waterwall- to the sofitel for the dance - back to APE - then to galveston and our beach houses -

i'm so freakin' pumped - i have an AWESOME DATE - my girlfriend brittany.....thats part of the reason why i'm so excited - and all of my best friends - i get to spend the weekend with too

well i'll be sure to update with stories and some pictures

There ya go
i just got back from oklahoma - visiting the University of Oklahoma and Whitney

it was really cool - i loved the campus - it really is nicer than a&m's but i'm not sure what i'm going to do
i have a deicion to make between the 2 schools and its really tough - i dont know what to do -

oh well

i stayed with whitney in her new summer house and her roomate was not there the first night so my mom and i got a room - saturday after i went on a tour of the campus, i was very tired so i went to take a nap and whatever - my mom went shopping and whitney was napping in the other room - and her roomate (who was graduating that day) decided to bring her whole family - over to see her house she was living in this summer - and her room happend to be the one i was napping in - so this is how the situation worked out
-i hear whitney get up and welcome them to the house and i think to myself - you have 3 options here (as i was sleeping in ONLY my shorts)
1. Get up and shut the door quickly -
2. Pretend to be asleep as they peek in the room
3. Get up, put a shirt on and go meet the people - expecting them to be gone in a few minutes

now this isnt a particularly big house - so you can here where people are and stuff
so i hear whitney say "and this is my room..." (next door) and i think "ok - decision time" - so i decide option 3 - get up and put a t-shirt on - and just as i bound off the bead and dive for a t-shirt - whitney's roomate's sister peeks her head in - and sees my scrambling through my stuff on the side of the bed for a t-shirt - and i think she happened to see me dive off the bed as well - and i KNOW she noticed whitney coming from down the hall when she came to greet the guests...so i said - "hi." and the situation was awkward from the get-go
so i walk in to the living room - down the hall - and i notice her sister is pregnant and sitting down - and we catch eyes as i step in to the room and i just smile and nod and listen and meet some people and afterward - i got to tell whitney and her roomate - the story - it was very funny i must say....yea - anyhow - i did have a great time this weekend though visiting OU - thanks again whitney and janna for letting me stay w/ ya'll - and thanks mom - for being my mom and for driving up there and staying with me too

Variety show is over
and so is the weekend following it -
we have some excellent new standleaders and some standleaders that i personally am bewildered at how they made it -i'm just beside myself at the list of people who didnt make it - more than i am at the people who did make it - i mean - it was crazy - i was at tryouts and i saw who did well and who had crappy tryouts and crappy shirts - i saw that and i remembered and i'm pretty sure that every standleader there voted for many of the people who didnt make it - and i'm not sure about the teachers but - it just seems so weird to me - who knows

well its over and its really too bad to see my school year end - especially such a big part of it - eh...but its ok - soon enough i'll be opening a new chapter in my life...we'll see

Well herre i sit, its 9 52 and i just woke up. I love going in late - its really really great, and i certainly want to have late classes in college - ya know - the 10 am classes followed by the 2 pm then be done for a day

but i know that may not happen, especially if i get into a&m late

well i'm fixing to go get breakfast, on a school day

its miori's bday tom. - happy bday bud if you are reading this - we're playing tonite - and you're gonna have a blast

i'm so sick and tired of klein's administration and how i have limits on what i can and cant do in school - i'm not talking about crazy things - i'm talking about - walking down the hall during lunch, where i get stopped asking where i'm going
"i'm not in school ma'am, matt and i dont have a class right now, we are running errands"
"ok, well where is your pass?"

"ma'am you dont understand, we arent in school, we dont have a class right now"
"well, son, i dont think i can let you go down the hall without a pass"



go figure...and wait - tardies - i may not have exemptions - somethign else from high school that i wont be dealing with in a few months
i might not keep them if i'm tardy 2 more times - see - i have to be at a certain place when they tell me to - my life is controlled by bells
and i'm sick of it

very sick of it

very, very, extremely sick of it

Yo everyone - i hope all is well

i got done with another weekend and boy and am i tired

it was filled with poker, ninjas and variety show rehersals
holy crap - some people cant focus on anything and get done what needs to get done
instead, they want to goof around and stay at the school wasting time because they dont want to go home

eh...o well - its gonna be worth it friday - when the show is - and next years standleaders will be named...wow

its so crazy to think that i have 4 weeks left in the year...in my high school life - its just wild

I'm about to post my SATIRICAL ESSAY that i wrote for english the other day -
i got some bad vibes after reading my essay and i wanted to make sure that no person felt singled out and hurt by my comments
i was hoping that everyone who heard me read aloud our assignment - as we were supposed to - would realize that this was supposed to be an EXTREME, OUTRAGEOUS EXAMPLE...but - i think that some ppl really thought i might do this - wow - that blows me away - it was a satire - (see dictionary.com) for definition - and it had a ring of truth to it - but just about the issue - here
you make the call...remember - THIS IS A SATIRICAL ESSAY



My Modest Proposal (Based on Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal"

In Jon Bon Jovi’s song Its My Life he says “It's my life / It's now or never / I ain't gonna live forever / I just want to live while I'm alive”. This seems to be the feeling of many teenagers today. Anyone should be allowed to do what they want; why should we respect authority – and obey the rules that apply to our lives. Because they are stupid, because they have no meaning and those who made the rules just “don’t get it” or “have no clue what its like living today”. A certain area where many teenagers feel as if they have the right to blatantly disregard the rule is with alcohol. It is evident today in many high schools especially – both public and private, that underage drinking has gotten far out of control. Teenagers with immaturity lack the discipline and the critical thinking skills to disregard opportunities to be, and subsequently drive intoxicated. Many teenagers feel as if it is their lives, and why should they let opportunities for fun pass them by? You only live once you know, many will say, however, I propose that in “living life to the fullest” there is quite a high risk of death as well.
If someone is to notice that on a typical weekend during the school year, many high school students make the decision to drink and drive, they would realize how big an issue it really is. I believe that I have found a way to solve this problem. In order to solve the problem, a complex plan would need to be put into place, however, this plan would only need to be done once in a wide mile radius of subdivisions. I would use an informant to find out where there would be a party where underage drinking might occur – and have that informant contact the event coordinator when someone who is evidently intoxicated is leaving the party to drive under the influence. The coordinator would then take a number of armored vehicles and follow the intoxicated driver until the right opportunity presented itself for one of the vehicles to slam into the car with the driver, making sure that the car would subsequently burst into flames, and the driver would be killed by either the violent crash or the burning aftermath. Some people think that teenagers think they are invincible, and I must admit, that sometimes, as a teenager I feel that way too. I believe that a public sacrifice of a teen drunk driver would definitely make others feel as if they weren’t invincible, and perhaps cause many to realize what a horrid mistake underage drinking is. If one were to take a close look, they would realize how out of hand it has gotten and how many teens don’t have enough strength to say no to peers and to realize what a bad thing it is, and see how they could easily support my proposal. There are a few advantages to this “sacrifice”. For example, to reiterate, people would definitely have a wake up call, and someone would lose a friend. Others might ask, “Is this really a viable solution?” Another might propose to launch a big anti-underage drinking campaign, showing the violent effects of it all without the personal trauma, or even stage a large, fake accident, that only appears real, but in actuality no one was hurt. Granted, it may be a little extreme, but if you sit down and think about it, it really makes sense. Only one teenager would lose their life, as opposed to countless others who might drink and drive, had this public example not been made


there...take it for what you want

Hello everyone -
i just won back money in poker
and jon grey gave me some money

i think i'm going to a&m tom.
frustration sets in sometimes
but it too - like everything else in the world - will fade away into the past
and it wont matter

what matters is that God loves us and He sacraficed His Son for our sins
and that wont go away...
it is the basis for my life- and the truth on which I stand

I'm upset - someone let me down

maybe i'm just naive - i dont think that i am - but isnt that the whole part of being freakin' naive

you let me down

.Wow - here it is almost a week later after i last blogged
nothing new - i'm still not into any college
however i am applying to the University of Oklahoma - much to the chagrin of Whitney and Jill
prom is coming up soon - i cut a phat check to Sue Skains for the limo bus and its crazy - time is just flying by
i got a note in class today from the school that talked about the end of the semester - and it said on it like -may 29, 2003
and i just freaked out
i had never really thought about it - but in approximately 1 month - no way - no way
i'm graduating high school
many of my friends - who graduated last year went throught this same type of thing i'm sure - but the funny thing is that - when i heard them mention it - i just laughed and said - "yea, thats pretty crazy"
but now its me - now i'm the one who will be leavign home in 4 months
even though i dont know where i'm going....
and i'm the one who never will be in a high school environment again -
next week i think starts the new six weeks and i'll be experiencing alot of lasts
progress reports - newsletters - newspapers - and yearbooks - wow - its so scary
anyway - i'm off to do more important things
katie- if you read this -call me

emily u - i'm praying for you
and i'm praying for all the rest of my blog readers - i'm going to try and keep up - although many many people are just giving up on blogging - but i think its something special - yea so...
peace ya'll

Well - thank you matt skains - for letting me know that my archives are extremely long

katie wynns - gave up AIM for lent - katie - if you are reading this i'm so proud of you - what a sacrafice
thats something folks - i'm willing to bet (money) that you who are reading this could not truley give up your AIM for 2 weeks - let alone 40 days -
props katie props

in other news - marti claims that she can beat me at raquetball - marti, sweetheart, i hate to do this to you but i'm going to have to put you in your place
why dont you ask your prom date Ben what happened to him when he talked all kinds of crap about how he was "good" at raquetball - and how he could "keep up" with me -
i believe that i beat him -15-0 (that means he didnt score)
and cameron - if you are reading this - i'm anxious to play you in our septathalon - however - your injury may postpone our competition well into the summer or next year in college -

I'm going to win 80 bucks from all of you chumps who gave 5 bucks to Chris Hines - your 5 bucks is going to pay for my prom - because carmelo will lead syracuse to vic'try over Texas University - sorry Chris Riley, T.J. Ford (Found On Road Dead) and thomas (number 0 - like me!) but you just wont stop them -

kyle craddock - i'm sorry that you will be giving me 5 dollars - because you bet that marti could beat me in raquetball - psh...

jon boben - you're a great person

man - this week has been nuts - and i'm tired

God, I give all of these problems to you - I cant handle them
and You can, so i surrender all of these situations to You.
Free me from my worries...and grant me supernatural peace and comfort - which ONLY You can give

Amen

well - yesterday was long

i dont have much to say and i dont really want to get into it

i know that God will work things out for the best of those who Love Him and and have been called according to His purpose
Romans 8:28 - right caitlin?

What gives you peace at heart in the middle of turmoil? Nothing that this earth can offer you