?

The world has seemed a little harsh lately.

How come grownups play games with each other? Not fun games. We all know that we are following all these stupid rules and mind tricks. Can't we just all say we are sick of it, cut the bullshit, and be real with each other?

A friend told me yesterday that love is just a game. I don't buy it. I can't buy it.

I absolutely refuse to acknowledge that it is all about winning and losing. Because you must learn something along the way, right? You just must.

And I don't understand how people can be so downright cruel to each other. Don't you get it that we are all just as scared and insecure as you are? Being an ass to somebody doesn't put you in a better situation, it just puts the other person in a worse situation. Is that really what you want your contribution to the world to be? I think people hurt others because they are scared of getting hurt. But how come some people don't? How come some people use kindness and some people use malice?

I don't get it. I think I'm turning into a Dharma Bum.

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Now playing: Jason Mraz - Lucky Featuring Colbie Caillat
via FoxyTunes

[untitled]

So, I got a friendly word from a stranger. And as friendly words usually do, and as strangers usually do, it got me to thinking. What have I got to lose? Not much...

MobTxt: We can learn so much from fiftysomethings. Our generations have so much in common. Iowa is great, more later.

a new haiku for you-know-who

time passes so turn
turn to the sun and enjoy
me, this day, and love.

newsflash: language repetitive!

Apparently, 80% of English makes use of only the most frequent 3000 words, and 50% makes use of only 100 words. Plus, the most frequently-used words are the function words like prepositions and conjunctions-- the ones with the least information in them. The least frequent words are the most important for the content-- think about newspaper headlines...

Alan Johnston

a surfer on life:

"Dude, first you have to be. Then you can go."

fog jazz river night
My kind of town, chicago.
waiting, and waiting...

dc: a few snapshots

I can't figure out how to rearrange the order, but here are a few snappies from DC:

abe.

a white house.

conservatory. constantly summer.

secret underground tram. thanks, raleigh!

supreme court.

national gallery of art. renoir, anyone?

national archives-- declaration of independence, bill of rights, constitution, magna carta, etc. live here

museum of the american indian-- best caf out of every smithsonian

room service

this lady lives in a tent across the street from the whitehouse

metro

chinatown. yummy capital Q bar-b-que.

washington at night.

"it's all happening..."

sassy in the elevator.

windowzoo

http://windowzoo.com

At least they spelled it right. There are pirates around! I look like a giant... Meow meow?

"how do stupid people figure things like that out?"

DC snippets...

Overheard on the plane: "it's a beautiful day tomorrow!"

Best texas barbeque I have ever had: in Chinatown, Washington DC.

What does it say about my personality if I think that I would be happy spending the entire day underground in the Metro system, switching trains, watching people, taking notes?

Washington/Lincoln memorials at night = two of the most beautiful things I have ever seen in my entire life.

On-tap for tomorrow: Native American History Museum? Arlington Cemetary? Not sure about much, but sure about several things... much more Pentagon city, much more food, and much more fun.

Stay tuned.

philosophical pearl

"A finite clam can better understand a finite human being
than a finite human being can understand an infinite god."

Overheard:

"In like a lion, out like a fuckin light."

eyes turned skywards

"For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been, and there you will long to return."
-Leonardo DaVinci

sapere aude

There are lots of things that I used to know to be true that now-- now I do not know. I do not, for instance, know that there is God. And, even if there is a God, I do not know that He can hear my prayers. And, even if there is a God and even if He can hear my prayers, I do not know that He cares. I do not know how a God could be omnibenevolent and dream up the notion of damnation. I do not know how a heaven free from sin and independent thought would not turn us into love puppets. Like I said, there are lots of things that I do not know.

What is really bothering me, I think, is that I haven't been asking these questions all along. The Church has raised me as a Christian who knows all kinds of nifty phrases like "resurrection of the body and the life everlasting," "saved by grace through faith," and "Light of the world." But this is such a hollow way to do things, and I can't stand it anymore. I need some meat on these bones-- some substance for all their flowery language. The protocol on which we stand means absolutely nothing other than the fact that we are a part of a community. But what does that community stand for?

Do we stand for justice? What is just about putting new stained-glass windows across the street from the poorest housing development in the city? Do we stand for mercy? How can we allow the political party which has hijacked us support corporate punishment? Perhaps we stand for love-- only let's not love those who love differently than we do...

This has no real point, other than the fact that I have never been more un-certain of religion. Not religion, maybe-- the church. And I am delighted with it, simply because it hasn't damaged my faith. If anything, I think I own my faith more now than ever before. You can't tell me what to do.

the shakedown (no breakdowns)

So here's what's up, sugar puppy.

Fair Trade Sales went FAR better than I could have hoped for, considering this whole "Service Project Facilitator/SALT Liaison" position sort of fell into my lap out of nowhere. Thanks to everyone who volunteered, ordered something, or listened to me stress. I'm starting work on the Guatemalan Gifts Project. I've also been talking to PJ a lot, because I'm itching to start something new. The projects we have now are great, but the binder full of stuff we have always done doesn't leave me much room for creativity. I want to stir some new excitement, maybe involve some different groups of people. My dream would be to gain/strengthen a sister congregation like St. Paul Synod does with Tanzania. That would be a huge project, but I know it would be just as awesome (if not more so) at Augie as it has been at St. James. We'll see!

I have an archaeologist test tonight WOO! Yes, it's dorky and awful, but I am unbelievably and inexplicably excited about that class and excited to (get ready) show off what I've learned! Man. On another nerd note, Kyle Rodgers let me rip open an X Box controller and helped me open a broken DVD player. (So far) I've only shocked myself twice and just a little slice on my finger. And I've got two sweet little motors and lots of buttons and switches and we haven't even pulled anything cool out of the DVD player yet. We're going to build a helicopter. Probably a small one.

I miss you, home friends. I'm ready for Thanksgiving break to be right now. Except I'm enjoying myself immensly, so not RIGHT now, I guess.

My mom and dad and Eric came to visit this weekend. We went to the apple orchard (which was just as much fun as last time we went like ten years ago) and played at the hotel and ate lots of good restaurant food (Granite City Brunch= best. buffet. ever.) and had a very nice time.

I've been having good discussions lately. God (or the possible absence of), politics, love (the new analogy is lions and antelopes), and everything in between. I'm still writing, too, which is only worth noting because I've actually been sticking with the same thing for the most part, and I think (knock on wood) I may finally FINISH something. I know, I can't believe it either.

Football game on Saturday is in Vermillion-- definitely going. Take it easy, guys :)

a glad version

"bad hair day night"


out to dinner


a game


onesie


omaha

My new obsession is a band called "The Glad Version." They're from the cities, and their lead singer Adam was at the Fringe Fest.

In other news, I've got the autumnal cough/cold that I get every year. Didn't make it to the homecoming game, but I don't feel to bad since we stood in the freezing rain in Omaha. Apparently it was a good game, though I do feel much better after sleeping all day and watching Finding Nemo twice through.

I've realized I'm in a rut, but I've also realized that it's okay since I've realized it. Does that make sense? I'm working on it, no worries.

The girls on my floor are great. They're wild and friendly and loud and creative and great. It's going to be a good year.

I got footie pajamas at Target. They glow in the dark, and I plan on buying at least three more pairs.

I've got three tests next week, but I'm only really concerned about government. I LOVE archaeology. I've been thinking maybe I'll end up in Australia to study anthropology instead of Ireland for government/religion. We'll see.

We're going to the Firehouse tonight, there's a dance, too. Tomorrow we're going to Vikings Varieties. Happy Homecoming!

piddly

Wow, it has been quite a while since I've written in this little chunk of cyberspace. Partly because I've been busy, but mostly because I've been back to writing in the real-world. Something about typing makes me think I'm doing it for an audience (as if anyone even reads this), which automatically turns on the vocabulary-grammar-spelling machine in my college-conditioned head. So I finally went back to my old notebook and a cheap ballpoint pen. That's the way it should be, really. Without anything terribly fantastic to say, I think it would be a bit conceited for me to write about piddly things that fill my day. I'm not in a different country, I'm not at a new school, I don't work for the devil who wears Prada. This isn't supposed to be melodramatic, just honest and apologetic for the few people who I know check up on me now and then...but I TALK to you guys every week at least. I was in Chicago two weekends ago. Maybe going to Omaha this weekend. I'm staying at school for Fall and Easter breaks. At least. More later maybe, take it easy kids.