some more of that amazing sidewalk chalk art

i posted some pics of this guy and his artwork a ways back. i don't remember when though. if you're interested in seeing some of his other work, just search the blog and you should be able to find it. here are the latest pics. just amazing!



cheers!

estoy frustrado

boy! there's a lot going on. first, my car seems to be doing some funny things. recently, the engine started running really hot. without the heater on 3/4 to full blast, the engine will overheat. this is the same thing that was happening with my last car before it conked out.

it has me worried.

second, i don't have money to take it in and have it looked at. i'm frustrated because i can't afford to fix it and i know driving it around is only going to make the problem worse and cause even more problems. i don't know what to do.

third, i would like to be working more and earning more money. it's very hard with school though and i already feel like i'm working too much this semester. plus, my job entails driving my car. so the more i drive it, the more the problem worsens. sheesh!

please pray for me and the situation. i'm really concerned about the car pooping out, finishing the semester strong, paying off debt, avoiding going further into debt, saving, planning for the future, and having time and freedom to live and have fun. there's a lot going on and i want to be doing the right thing(s) and making wise decisions too. and i know i need help with it.

cheers!

adding another to the list

i have a running list titled "there are two kinds of people in the world". i won't put the entire list in this post but an example of one is:

"there are two kinds of people in this world, those who wear dress shoes to work, and those who wear work boots to work".

the most recent addition to the list springs from a conversation with sarah during the car ride home from an out of town visit. sarah has grown up in the biggest city in nebraska - omaha (mainly ralston). i grew up in a small town in nebraska. i prefer small towns to big towns and country to city. this led to a conversation about our mutual concern over the issue. it also led the brain i carry around in my head to come up with another entry on the list. here it is:

"there are two kinds of people in the world: those who think the country is a place you travel to/visit , and those who think the city is a place you travel to/visit."

cheers!

halloween 2008

this halloween i took off work and was planning to carve a special pumpkin for sarah (with i love you on it. i also wanted to get some flowers and a nice fall-ish scented candle to display with the pumpkin. all this was going to be placed on her porch so she'd she it when she came home from work at night. i thought it would be a nice way to surprise her. i was also going to show up in omaha early and have dinner with her parents.

the way the past two days have worked out, however, was nowhere near conducive for such a plan to be enacted. i won't go into detail but one of the wrenches in the gears was the conking out of my laptop. i did not make it to omaha last night but halloween turned out just fine. josh and i hung out together. it was really fun. we bought a pumpkin each for carving. i made some grilled sandwiches for dinner and then we started carving. we didn't finish until after midnight, technically not halloween any more. but who cares? we were excited to put them on the front porch. josh had to be at a medical study early in the morning at 5 so he and i stayed up the entire night. mostly, we watched videos on youtube. it was fun and we laughed so much.



cheers!

unattending

boy! it's been a LONG time since i've blogged. the days are just too full now and on top of that, i really don't like to sit in front of the computer all that long.

life's been good. i'm getting A's and B's in school. work has been going really well but recently it has been just a bit slow. the softball season has ended and that allows me to work on tuesday nights. it's six more hours a week and though it takes away free time, i am thankful to work more and thus to save more. on wednesdays and sundays, sarah and i get to see each other. i look forward to these days a lot.

i am thinking about a new job. delivering pizzas puts too many miles on my car, i'm always greasy and i smell like pizza when i leave. i am happy to have a well paying job though. i'd just like to find something outside of the food industry i guess.

that's the news for now. catch ya later.

cheers!

a little tidbit

it's been a while. here's a very short and compact update.

school is in full swing. it's still going well. work is still going good. and i'm still in love with the most wonderful girl.

cheers!

15sep08 today's quote

the worst of a modern stylish mansion is that it has no place for ghosts.

-oliver wendell holmes-

there's gonna be some changes up ahead

i won't be updating the blog every day for some time. this fall is a very busy one and daily blogging just can't be a priority. i'll still be blogging though, just not each day.

cheers!

28aug08 today's quote

poverty sits by the cradle of all our great men and rocks all of them to manhood.

-heinrich heine-

27aug08 today's quote

home is a name, a word, it is a strong one; stronger than magician ever spoke, or spirit ever answered to, in the strongest conjuration.

-charles dickens-

a little less than before

this fall is very busy for me. with all the business, i will unfortunately not be blogging as often as i'd like. i'm still going to try and put up a quote and a pic each day but no promises on other things.

cheers!

26aug08 today's quote

education is not filling a pail but the lighting of a fire.

-william butler yeats-

25aug08 today's quote

one piece of log creates a small fire, adequate to warm you up, add just a few more pieces to blast an immense bonfire, large enough to warm up your entire circle of friends; needless to say that individuality counts but team work dynamites.

-jin kwon-

24aug08 today's quote

the simplest schoolboy is now familiar with truths for which archimedes would have given his life.

-ernest renan- 1885

speaking of back...

i've gone and hurt my back. i am not sure how it happened but it happened some time this morning while practicing for softball. on a scale from minor injury to major injury, i'd rate it just above minor. oh but it's uncomfortable! :( the muscles are sore right below my ribs and the soreness wraps around to my front but only for a short distance. currently, it's not easy to twist at the hips.

grrrr! i don't like being injured. i don't like being unable to give 100%, being held back and having to take it easy. i don't like being on the DL. okay. i'm going to stop complaining now. pray for healing!

cheers!

i'm back!

i've been back from camp for about a week now. most of this past week has been spent wishing my sore throat and my cough would find somewhere else to reside. it has been a restful week though and that has been wonderful. my cold has sapped energy from me but nothing like the summer at camp has. i am still not 100% but i know i am getting close. can't wait to be back in the saddle in tip top shape!

cheers!

23aug08 today's quote

do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

-ralph waldo emerson-

29may08 today's quote

success isn't a result of spontaneous combustion. you must set yourself on fire.

-arnold h glasow-

28may08 today's quote

shoot for the moon. even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.

-les brown-

at it again

here i am again blogging about how great things are and how great i am feeling. there seems to be a tendency to do so after a stint of not blogging at all. it is said that bad things come in threes. well, too bad for the bad things, only coming in threes and all. for the good things come one at a time, in twos, threes, fours, fives, tens, twenties, and so on. and when i think about it, the good things will never end.

the past week has been great and this weekend was fantastic... awesome... amazing... and every synonymous word for them you can think of. i hung out with sarah a lot. she is absolutely wonderful and i like her immensely. i'd like to see her a great deal before i leave for camp in a week.

hope everyone's memorial day weekend was good and that you remembered the soldiers.

cheers!

27may08 today's quote

a sound mind in a sound body is a short but full description of a happy state in this world.

-john locke-

26may08 today's quote

we dare not trust our wit for making our house pleasant to our friend, so we buy ice cream.

-ralph waldo emerson-

25may08 today's quote

genius is more often found in a cracked pot than in a whole one.

-e b white-

24may08 today's quote

appreciation is a wonderful thing. it makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.

-voltaire-

23may08 today's quote

feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.

-william arthur ward-

22may08 today's quote

in a relationship, you learn about another person. but it's amazing what you learn about yourself too.

-me-

21may08 today's quote

people who don't cherish their elderly have forgotten whence they came and whither they go.

-ramsey clark-

20may08 today's quote

hope, like the gleaming taper's light,
adorns and cheers our way,
and still, as darker grows the night,
emits a brighter ray.

-oliver goldsmith-

little blogging

i haven't blogged much as of late. i feel i want to put down everything that's happening. that wouldn't be possible though. it would take way too long. i'm not sure many would want to attempt reading it all. things have been really good. this past week was amazing! i've been so happy. but i find myself feeling rushed as the departure for camp nears. additionally, my heart is sad for i won't be able to spend time with sarah. i have been praying for preparations to be made before i leave, time off to come back to visit, and god's eyes, ears, heart, and mind for learning, understanding, and growth while he has me at camp. please pray for me too. thanks. have a good day everyone.

cheers!

19may08 today's quote

the fire is the main comfort of the camp, whether in summer or winter, and is about as ample at one season as at another. it is as well for cheerfulness as for warmth and dryness.

-henry david thoreau-

18may08 today's quote

the most pleasant and useful persons are those who leave some of the problems of the universe for god to worry about.

-don marquis-

17may08 today's quote

i speak truth, not so much as i would, but as much as i dare; and i dare a little the more, as i grow older.

-michel de montaigne-

16may08 today's quote

gratitude is the memory of the heart.

-jean baptiste massieu-

remember this one?

Beatbox Fame Game
Uploaded by loranger

i love this guy!

cheers!

15may08 today's quote

fall seven times, stand up eight.

-japanese proverb-

14may08 today's quote

the real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.

-marcel proust-

13may08 today's quote

a discovery is said to be an accident meeting a prepared mind.

-albert szent gyorgyi-

is the glass half full or half empty?

ah yes, the age old question. i once had a roomie who thought about the question differently than most. he answered it this way. "the glass is twice as big as it needs to be." interesting...

cheers!

12may08 today's quote

i've got a theory that if you give 100 percent all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end.

-larry bird-

11may08 today's quote

you cannot plough a field by turning it over in your mind.

10may08 today's quote

life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon.

-doug larson-

09may08 today's quote

experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards.

-vernon sanders law-

08may08 today's quote

adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which, in prosperous circumstances, would have lain dormant.

-horace-

07may08 today's quote

god's gifts put man's best dreams to shame.

-elizabeth barrett browning-

06may08 today's quote

how many observe christ's birthday! how few his precepts!
o! 'tis easier to keep holidays than commandments.

-benjamin franklin-

straight from a, to z.

i treat people like i've known them for twenty years. someone beside me on the bus, a customer on a delivery, people at parties - you name it, there's no difference in how i treat them. today, i was thinking about the "twenty year comfort level" and how it affects the interactions i have with people. i see that i easily get to this level. it's natural to me. but i'm also seeing that i don't move from 1 to 2 to 3 (and so on) as effortlessly.

just something i'm thinking about.

cheers!

05may08 today's quote

sweet childish days, that were as long
as twenty days are now.

-william wordsworth-

04may08 today's quote

don't always think you're on the right road just because it’s a well-beaten path.

03may08 today's quote

there is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again.

-elizabeth lawrence-

02may08 today's quote

the ultimate result from shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools.

-herbert spencer-

happy may day!!!

i hope everyone's may day was fantastic. i spent most of the day in omaha. i had made a special may day basket for sarah and wanted to deliver it (i also wanted to see her :)). while in omaha, i purchased a sleeping bag for camp, hung out with ryan (which was so great to catch up), and played tennis for the first time (i did okay, but could've done beter). jonathan and i had scheduled dinner tonight so upon arriving back in lincoln and changing, i hopped on my bike and rode downtown. we ate at noodles and co. it was so good to hang out and chat like we used to. the air was getting a little brisk as the sun steadily was sinking closer towards the horizon. i was sure to ride hard on the way home to keep warm as i was only in shorts and a t-shirt. so now i sit here with amelia atop me as i blog. i told josh i'd hang out with him tonight. and becca is wanting to hang out after she gets off work. looks like tonight will be a long night!

cheers!

01may08 today's quote

i thank thee first because i was never robbed before; second, because although they took my purse they did not take my life; third, because although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth because it was i who was robbed, and not i who robbed.

-matthew henry-

30apr08 today's quote

one looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. the curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.

-carl jung-

29apr08 today's quote

everyone is the age of their heart.

-guatemalan proverb-

in many ways, i'd compare things to an amusement park

this year is so full of new and challenging things. i'm a mix of being excited, hopeful, impatient, wonderment, and joyful all rolled into one.

cheers!

28apr08 today's quote

the butterfly is a flying flower...

-ponce denis ecouchard lebrun-

27apr08 today's quote

i love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.

-george washington carver-

a crazy day!

yesterday was going along smoothly until the first suprise came at about 2:30. my brother benjamin called to say he was in lincoln. he sounded shaken up and soon he told me he was just in an accident by the super saver on 27th and cornhusker. i asked him if he was okay and he said he was. i told him i would be there as fast as i could (i was at the super target on 40th and yankee hill - the opposite end of town). benjamin had said he rear ended a truck. i caught nearly every green light and was there to see the damage in no time. the truck was unscathed. benjamin's car was not as fortunate however. the front end was smashed with the hood bent up in the middle. i noticed the airbag had not gone off. i assumed this was because the truck sat higher off the ground than benjamin's more sportier car. his car had gone under the back end of the pick up somewhat. if he would have hit another car though, there would have been more damage... to both vehicles.

i sat in my car and waited as benjamin sat in the police car and filled out the necessary paperwork and received a ticket. the policewoman suggested we have the car towed. but the car was still driveable, not leaking anything, and the fan (as she suggested) wasn't actually smashed into the radiator. i think benjamin was still a little shaken so i took him for a drive in my car and we chatted about what went on. when we had gotten back to super saver, he seemed unwilling to drive his car and requested that i drive it and he drive mine. i acknowledged and followed him to my place. i asked if he was hungry and he said he was. so i cooked up some food. i was hungry too. eating was quick. i wanted to stay and be around him and just be there for him, but i had to be to work. :( so i left him to himself. my roomie was coming home shortly though, and my parents were coming to town later in the evening.

the first run of deliveries i went on were delayed by the people in the kitchen making the food. they were running behind and this caused me to be ten minutes late to each of the three deliveries. needless to say, tips weren't too hot on that first run. one customer was annoyed and ended up calling back to the restaurant to complain. this was the same customer to whom i forgot to bring the plastic forks which she requested. it can be difficult for a delivery driver because he or she is the last contact the customer has with the restaurant. the driver gets the full brunt from the customer if the kitchen is slow in making the food, if the food quality was poor last time, if the prices seem too high, etc. even in doing the best delivery job possible (efficient, timely, courteous), the driver often is the receiver of the customer's angst, which is unfair. but it goes to show that everyone at the restaurant is on the same team, from taking the order, to preparing the food, all the way to the delivery. everyone is dependant on each other.

i also had to take a delivery to a strip club. i absolutely HATE strip clubs. before entering, i pull my hat down lower. trying my best to lose my peripheral vision, i wander to the back to the bar. i ask for the girl whom ordered. while waiting, a stripper comes to the bar and stands right next to me. she's topless and showing them off to me. "no i do not want to look at them." a few people look at me like i'm weird. finally, the girl comes over to pay. no tip. it bothers me only for a second as leaving the strip club is compensation enough for me. argh! i can't stand going there. it's cheap, it's gross, it's sad.

later, there was a mix up on an order and food that had already been made was nowhere to be found. after some short franticness from the kitchen staff, the food was discovered. on another order, i forgot cookies that went with a customer's order. luckily the manager called me and i turned and went back before i arrived at the customer's home. and luckily too, the delivery wasn't late. w00t! i was quite ready to leave work at closing time. it had been a frustrating day and i hadn't gotten a break or eaten much. tips were decent though, and i was thankful for the money i earned. i let the day's woes slip away and left humbled and cheerful. it was late and i was tired so it didn't take long to fall asleep when my head hit the pillow.

i awoke this morning and went to bible study. i had breakfast there and joined in the discussion. now i am at home blogging and have the entire day ahead of me. benjamin and i had planned to play paintball today, but with the accident, the plans have changed. with this new free time, i plan to make some phone calls, go shopping, and go thrifting too. i hope everyone has a swell saturday!

cheers!

26apr08 today's quote

i think i should have no other mortal wants, if i could always have plenty of music. it seems to infuse strength into my limbs and ideas into my brain. life seems to go on without effort, when i am filled with music.

-george eliot-

25apr08 today's quote

you can live for years next door to a big pine tree, honored to have so venerable a neighbor, even when it sheds needles all over your flowers or wakes you, dropping big cones onto your deck at still of night.

-denise levertov-

a little bump. hopefully not too costly.

on my way to omaha to catch the nebraska vs creighton baseball game, i bumped the car ahead of me. bumped, not hit. bumped. traffic was bumper to bumper and everyone was stopping and going and stopping and going. i stopped just a little too late and *ting* bumped the car before me. "ugh!" i thought. there was not even a scratch on the other car. no scuffed paint, either. just a hexagon-shaped hole from a screw which holds on my liscense plate.

i thought to myself tw things. one, "well there's hardly any damage at all. just fill in that hole, paint over it, and it's good to go." and two, "if they replace the entire bumper for this trivial little blemish, i may as well had took out the entire back end." i exchanged information with the driver of the car. he seemed pretty okay with things. his insurance card was outdated but he did say he had current insurance. though, he did ask if i would be willing to consider settling it mono y mono. i'd just like the quickest, easiest, cheapest way through this. i would really not like to have my insurance rates go up either.

i don't get in accidents and i am unsure of what to do. hopefully, things work out okay. any advice is surely appreciated though! here's some pics of the hole:

and i was only a block away from the stadium too!

cheers!

24apr08 today's quote

if a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. an investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.

-benjamin franklin-

23apr08 today's quote

the first duty of a leader is to make himself be loved without courting love. to be loved without "playing up" to anyone - even himself.

-andre malraux-

22apr08 today's quote

if i set for myself a task, be it so trifling, i shall see it through. how else shall i have confidence in myself to do important things?

-george clason-

this weekend...

here's a rundown of how the weekend went:

while working friday night, i was pulled over by a policeman and given a ticket for having expired plates (by a month and a half). i was completely unaware as to when my plates were do to be re-registered as i've not received the little card that comes in the mail each year. ben said he's not seen it in the mail either. i was upset at having been given a ticket for the offense. grrr... it was a late night and i arrived home a little before 1am. i went straight to bed.

saturday, i awoke with a ton of things i was anxious to do, but was having difficulty at choosing which things to do, and consequently, which things i wouldn't get to do. grace chapel was having a pancacke feed as a part of the missions conference they were holding. i was not going to miss pancakes. a few people spoke about the missions trips they'd either been on or were planning, a video was shown, and there was a raffle. tickets to the nebraska football spring game were prizes, and there was a nebraska t-shirt to be won, and even a mystery envelope. turns out the mystery envelope had a dollar bill in it. lol! i won the t-shirt and was really excited as i was eyeing it more than the other prizes.
tanya, pastor mike's wife, approached me and asked if i would drive her, mike, and the kids to the spring game as they had tickets and really wanted to go. i was stoked to be able to help them out. so i dropped them off and awaited their call to return for the pick up. meanwhile, jake was unexpectedly in town and i hung out with him because i'd neither seen him nor hung out with him for awhile. so i took detailing the car off the list of things i'd be doing that day. jake and i explored some drainage tunnels around town. it was a blast! we also followed a creek in town and enjoyed the nice weather. jake was looking for fish and crawdads. i was very happy just taking everything in and exploring. there were minnows in the water, but no bigger fish. we did see some ducks. they flew off before i was able to take a photo of them. a little past where the ducks were, i discovered an old, beat up bicycle stuck in the bank. i had to further investigate. someone had taken a lot of time to beat up this bike. wow! it was mangled - too mangled to be salvaged. i loosened it from the bank and gave it a proper burial at sea. jake and i then headed back. we had some ice cream at dairy queen and each remarked how boring the inside of that dairy queen was. the ice cream was amazing as dairy queen's always is. it was a nice treat. when we finished, we made our way back to grace chapel where jake's car was. on the way, mike hsu called and said the fam was awaiting pick up.

here are some pics of the creek.


after saying goodbye to jake, getting the hsu family, and returning to my home, i played a game of chess online and got slaughtered. becca then called and was on her way over. we were going to grill out. we went to the store and picked up supplies ie: buns, salad makings, cheese, etc. our meal consisted of morningstar burgers, baked beans, potato salad (yuck!), cole slaw, and spinach salad. we were then pretty stuffed and we watched a few episodes of arrested developement. as we finished them up, ben, josh, micah, josh, lisa, elijah, loren, and jay showed up. i was not expecting such a crowd. they all came over to play poker. someone who had gotten out in poker had turned on the playstation and there began somewhat of a street fighter II tournament. i grew up playing that game as a kid and so, went undefeated for a good stretch of time. i took myself away from the crowd and called sarah. we chatted for a bit. people were then beginning to leave. and it turns out becca won at the poker game.

i worked on sunday. the weather was so nice! tips were really good and i was thankful for them. i was able to leave early too. i arrived home and changed clothes and ate a little bit. then it was off to kopeli's for game night. we were playing phase 10. since we got started late, i had to leave before the game ended to meet up with some people at 80's night. lots of my friends were there and it was a good time. but it was really hot and everyone was sweating. becca came over to 80's night which was unexpected. her and i left a little early and headed over to jimmy john's. she ordered a sandwhich and her and i talked a bit. then i left to go home. i checked my mobile and saw that my manager had called. she was also at 80's night. i called her back and discovered she needed a ride home. upon reaching where she was, i discovered that two of her friends also needed rides home. it was no trouble at all and i happily played taxi. i arrived home tired and slept really well.

oh, and i discovered this weekend that amelia likes paper grocery bags too.


cheers!

21apr08 today's quote

pride does not wish to owe and vanity does not wish to pay.

-françois de la rochefoucauld-

20apr08 today's quote

mighty proud i am that i am able to have a spare bed for my friends.

-samuel pepys-

recognition

as i was looking over my paystub yesterday, i noticed my hourly wage had went up one dollar.

weeeeeeee!
yay!
w00t!

it feels good knowing that i do a good job at work and my managers have seen this, and given me a raise. i went to jeff, the head manager, and thanked him. he said many good things about me. they made me feel good and motivated me to keep working hard. i'm very thankful for the additional income as it allows me to save even more for school. well i'm on cloud nine. hope everyone's saturday is amazing!

cheers!

19apr08 today's quote

that which is striking and beautiful is not always good, but that which is good is always beautiful.

-ninon de l'enclos-

fuel costs

mike and i were discussing fuel costs yesterday while having coffee and playing chess. we, like most, were perturbed by how high gasoline prices are. a little less than seven years ago, gasoline was just under a dollar per gallon. i heard on news recently that national gas prices are $3.39/gallon. here in nebraska, gas is projected to go up $.30 or more this summer. it will be hard to breathe, looking at premium gas prices then, which will be at or above $4.00/gallon.

mike and i were rattling off all the things in the grocery store that have gone up in price too - milk, eggs, bread, etc. higher gas prices have an effect on everything you buy at the supermarket. the cost of basic foods is too high. gasoline prices keep going up. this, in turn, causes your grocery bill to go up. and who says we're not dependant on foreign oil? mike also pointed out that prices will go up even more when minimum wage is raised. ugh!

fuel costs are rising. fuel inefficient trucks and suv's account for the majority of the vehicles on the road today. and i don't see a decline in traffic. why aren't people driving less? why don't i see more people riding bicycles? why is public transportation here in lincoln so crummy? why are there only a small number of people actively paying attention to this? i hear people talk about the rising costs. it seems they only complain about it though, and speak of how they personally are affected by it.

all i'm saying is that something is awry. i don't have a solution, as the problem is a big one, and i'm just little ole me and don't know how to fix it. but i do know how to combat it, counter it, fight it, and ease the burdens it places on people. there are so many ways to do these things. i think the best way is to ask yourself... "what can i do?"

cheers!

18apr08 today's quote

big shots are only little shots who keep shooting.

-christopher morley-

who would get more wet?

someone once posed this question to me: which way would one get more wet? by walking a set distance in the rain? or by running the same distance in the rain? or would they both get you equally as wet?

cheers!

17apr08 today's quote

an optimist is the human personification of spring.

-susan j bissonette-

16apr08 today's quote

people who fly into a rage always make a bad landing.

-will rogers-

15apr08 today's quote

confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong.

-peter t mcintyre-

what wonderful weather

the weather for the past couple of days has been wonderful. there has been a good amount of sunshine and warmth. it has been a little breezy though, and that's given me just a slight chill. nothing a light jacket couldn't remedy however. i was so happy to see people bustling to and fro, to see animals and birds milling about, and to see flowers beginning to bloom. springtime puts a smile on my face and gives me a happy heart. it's so optimistic!


i stopped after a delivery to take a quick snapshot of these daffodils which were outside the apartment building i went to. downtown lincoln will soon be booming with daffodils as they are planted on just about every street corner. i can't wait.

cheers!

14apr08 today's quote

if you ride you know those moments when you have fed yourself into the traffic, felt the hashed-up asphalt rattle in the handlebars, held a lungful of air in a cloud of exhaust. up ahead there are two parallel buses. with cat's whiskers, you measure the clearance down a doubtful alley. you swing wide, outflank that flower truck. the cross-street yellow light is turning red. you burst off the green like a surfer on a wave of metal. you have a hundred empty yards of Broadway to yourself.

-chip brown-

13apr08 today's quote

a flower's appeal is in its contradictions - so delicate in form yet strong in fragrance, so small in size yet big in beauty, so short in life yet long on effect.

-adabella radici-

12apr08 today's quote

whenever it is possible, a boy should choose some occupation which he should do even if he did not need the money.

-william lyon phelps-

11apr08 today's quote

make all you can, save all you can, give all you can.

-john wesley-

after work and a trip to the bike shop, here's how my day went.

riding my bike yesterday was so much fun! after i installed the new seatpost and put the seat on, i walked the bike to a nearby gas station to fill the tires. this trip was necessary as josh has my air compressor. once the tires were filled to 50psi each, i was off to the races. once home again, i put my laptop in my backpack and headed for the coffee shop. i was going to blog and when josh arrived, we were going to catch up and play a few games of chess.

by the time i reached jone's, i had worked up a mild hunger so i purchased a strawberry muffin. it wasn't very strawberry-y. as i was eating it, my friend danny passed by. he was on his way to davinci's and was passing by the coffee shop. he stopped and and said hi. we chatted for a short while and then he left. i noticed there were two other people playing chess as well. i did not know them, and wanting to meet them, i went over and introduced myself. the first guy spoke quite softly and i couldn't make out his name. but the other fellow's name was matt. i asked if i could play in the next game. they were quite welcoming and accepting my self imposition. however, as they were playing their game, becca called and notified me she was on her way.

she wanted to show off her new shoes. she had bought some new clothes too, and was anxious to model them as well. she was also getting hungry and suggested we go to her parents' house (where there was already food prepared) and eat. i was quite ready for supper and was excited to go because her father was there and i've not met him before. he's in the air force and consistantly not home. so we left and i took a raincheck on the chess game with matt and soft-spoken man.

becca's father was caught up in filling out financial aid forms for one of becca's sisters so he was unable to hang out. we did get introduced though. after eating, becca, two of her sisters, and i went to a different coffee shop. they were all going to do homework. i felt left out and got really excited for homework when school starts in the fall. yeah, i know. that sounds silly, getting excited for homework. i'm just weird i guess. we weren't there for very long and i spent the time rewriting a poem i was working on. since it was getting late, becca's sisters went home and becca gave me a ride to my place. she came in for a bit to work on her homework, and i lounged and chatted with ben for a bit before he retired to bed.

and now with everyone gone, i am blogging and recounting the day's events as well as looking forward to tomorrow. i plan to visit the paintball shop, pick up a few things, and then get my gear ready for the season. i have lots so it'll keep me busy until i have to be at work. speaking of work, i have only one closing shift this week! w00t! and speaking of changing the subject, here's the pics of my new seat post:

this pic makes the seat look really tall! i hadn't adjusted it to where it needed to be yet. but after the adjustment, it only lowered slightly. lol! pleasant dreams all. goodnight!

cheers!

10apr08 today's quote

a bicycle does get you there and more.... and there is always the thin edge of danger to keep you alert and comfortably apprehensive. dogs become dogs again and snap at your raincoat; potholes become personal. and getting there is all the fun.

-bill emerson-

back in the saddle again

after work today, i stopped in the bike shop and picked up the seatpost i had ordered for my bike. i also got a new seat, too. i was sooooo excited to get home and bring my bike back to a rideable state again. i'll let you all in on why i was without a seatpost and seat. last fall, someone stole the seatpost, with seat, off my bike. i was very upset at having something of mine stolen, not being able to ride my bike, and because that seatpost was hard to find and expensive. as a rather tall person, a special seatpost is needed for me - one which is very long and strong enough to withstand the extra forces put on it. the stolen seatpost also had an inch and a half set back on it. this meant the seat could set further back. this was wonderful for me since it allowed for a more comfortable body position on the bike and thus, a nicer ride. the seatpost retailed for $120 and was hard to come by, from a great parts manufacturer out of canada. luckily, i was working at a bike shop at the time so it only cost me $60. unluckily though, they no longer manufacture that seatpost. grrr... so i purchased a thomson. it cost $75 and another $15 for a seat. i'll post pics tomorrow.

since my bicylce is whole again (and me as well!) and with nicer weather having arrived, it will be harder to find me at home, or at work, or even catch me on the phone. instead, i will be cruising the streets and trails around town. ah! the wind in my face! the freedom! he he. i've got a BIG smile right now.

cheers!

09apr08 today's quote

i love fishing. you put that line in the water and you don't know what's on the other end. your imagination is under there.

-robert altman-

notice the liscense plate?

i took this picture as i was on my way to the husker baseball game last saturday. it's great to see husker fans all the way from pennslyvania.


cheers!

08apr08 today's quote

because golf exposes the flaws of the human swing – a basically simple manoeuvre – it causes more self-torture than any game short of russian roulette. the quicker the average golfer can forget the shot he has dubbed or knocked off line – and concentrate on the next shot – the sooner he begins to improve and enjoy golf.

-grantland rice-

a much needed visit to the eye doctor

i haven't had an eye exam in nearly three years. my current (outdated) prescription works, but i know i need a new one. i need a new stash of contacts and i'd like a new pair of specs, too, as my current pair is out of warrany and i'd hate for them to break. when i worked at eyecare specialties, i received free eye exams and great discounts on contacts and eyewear. with no discount now, the cost will be much higher. i honestly don't want to spend as much money as it costs to go through the process of an eye exam and new eyewear. but i need to do it and i can't wait for clearer vision!

cheers!

07apr08 today's quote

the cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea.

-isak dinesen-

06apr08 today's quote

in giving advice seek to help, not to please, your friend.

-solon-

speaking of the wind...

i haven't flown a kite in forever. perhaps on one of these nice spring days ahead, i shall venture to the store and purchase one. hopefully there will be a little breeze and i can sit in the park and be entertained by a light weight plastic and balsa wood contraption fluttering about in the sky. :)

cheers!

05apr08 today's quote

a classic is a book that has never finished saying what it has to say.

-italo calvino-

today's episode: can't be everywhere at once -or- spread too thin

i've been slacking lately. i haven't kept up with the blog, working out, chores, or with all my friends. all this, because i've been hanging out and doing too many things. throw work into the mix and my younger brother hanging out in town for a bit and you end up with me not giving time to some things that really do need time. i suppose my tendency to over book only makes matters worse. lol.

it's hard to juggle so many things i guess. gotta keep time for yourself and for those things that need not be neglected. gotta schedule things. and plan a bit better, too. okay, got it.

cheers!

04apr08 today's quote

i'm convinced that every boy, in his heart, would rather steal second base than an automobile.

-tom clark-

some understanding

i've come to realize that i take pride in a job well done. i work hard and am deliberate about doing whatever i'm doing well. now there's nothing wrong with one taking pride in his or her work. i know this. what i've come to be aware of recently though, is that i can often be putting too much focus on doing the job well. i'll explain. sometimes when i'm doing a job, chore, task, etc i am pressured by expectations that i think others have of me, my work, or my performance. the thing i am seeing and trying to figure out, is that those expectations are all in my head. no one tells them to me. they seem to be there already. and i often feel there is a looming sense of disappointment, of me, in others. i know this pressure comes from growing up with my parents.

it is good to be seeing these kinds of things. i am thankful for this season of life because i feel it has allowed me to be more introspective and to have some really good time in thought. the understandind of what it is and where it comes from makes life so much easier.

cheers!

03apr08 today's quote

there is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion.

-sir francis bacon-

02apr08 today's quote

laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.

-victor hugo-

01apr08 today's quote

cows are amongst the gentlest of breathing creatures; none show more passionate tenderness to their young when deprived of them; and, in short, i am not ashamed to profess a deep love for these quiet creatures.

-thomas de quincey-

31mar08 today's quote

always kiss your children goodnight, even if they're already asleep.

-h jackson brown jr-

30mar08 today's quote

i am thankful for the mess to clean after a party because it means i have been surrounded by friends.

-nancie j carmody-

29mar08 today's quote

firelight will not let you read fine stories but it's warm and you won't see the dust on the floor.

-irish proverb-

she was just learning

last night, i delivered to a lady who i'd say was in her mid to late forties. it took her a little bit to count the money to me. she told me she was just learning how to count money. i thought it was great that she was learing something and trying to use it in real life. i was very patient with her. she didn't have any change, handing me only dollar bills. she was due sixty-some odd cents in change and i asked if she'd like it. she did and i counted back the change to her. she appeared proud that she had gotten to put her new knowledge into action. i was really happy for her. it was a very cool transaction.

i think it's great that this woman was trying to learn how to count money. she also mentioned that she was learning to read as well. i hope to deliver to her in the future and talk with her about how things are going.

cheers!

28mar08 today's quote

wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you'd have preferred to talk.

-doug larson-

27mar08 today's quote

the price one pays for pursuing any profession or calling is an intimate knowledge of its ugly side.

-james baldwin-

more go karting. weeeeeee!

last night, elijah and i journeyed to omaha. we met sarah and a few of her friends at the indoor go kart track. her friend theresa had to leave before riding though, to finish up some homework. it was great to meet her, and to meet jenny and steve too. after everyone was introduced to everyone else, we made our way in line to wait our go. i was sooooooo ready to get out on the track. there were a number of people who hadn't go karted much and also a couple people who kept spinning out. this brought out a lot of yellow flags (which means you need to slow down). it was a little disappointing. elijah passed me and i tried my darnedest to regain my position, but his driving was better than mine. lol! in my defense though, i did play around trying to playfully bump the girls. he he. we only raced one time. jenny and steve had to leave. i was hungry as i'd not eaten in awhile. sarah, elijah, and i decided on sonic. we ate there and made plans to then go to barnes and noble to hang out. unfortunately, they have new hours and close at 10 instead of 11. it was already 9:15 or so, so we were short on time. elijah looked at books and talked to a friend on his mobile. sarah and i got some coffee and played scrabble. we didn't finish though, becuase we were minus an hour. i was really enjoying the one on one time and was disappointed the night was ending. we said goodbyes (and i dislike and am no good at goodbyes).

elijah and i arrived back in lincoln at my place and went inside to see who was still around for movie night. everyone chatted for a short while then everyone left and we all went to bed. well, everyone except me. i went out with my manager and played a video bowling game. it was really fun! i got to bed a little late, around 1:30ish.

this week i'm working a lot. one of the drivers is out of town in florida so i've been given extra hours. i can't wait 'til sunday.

cheers!

26mar08 today's quote

when i get real bored, i like to drive downtown and get a great parking spot, then sit in my car and count how many people ask me if i'm leaving.

-steven wright-

25mar08 today's quote

how many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? four. calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg.

-abraham lincoln-

easter sunday and how it was spent

here's how easter 2008 went down.

i awoke and went to church for the easter potluck breakfast they were having. two plates full of wonderful breakfast goodness were consumed. :) church service was next. afterwards, there were invites to people's homes for food and fellowship, but i had to be off to help out at work. each year davinci's does a free easter meal for needing and homeless people. pizza, pasta, garlic bread, pudding, cupcakes and drinks are all free and for the taking. i'm not sure the exact number of pizzas i made, but it was a lot! the best guestimate of people served was between 800 and 850 people. it was really great to help out. i even got to take a pizza and some pasta home with me! w00t! my brother ben and i then went frisbee golfing. the course we played at had a total of 27 holes. ben and i were both under the assumption there would only be 18 holes, which we'd play and then go home. after seeing hole numbers 19, and 20, and so on, we had to keep going. you can't just leave without playing all the holes! even though we were a bit cold (and tired) by then, we trudged on. check out the par for hole b on #21. 666 feet in three throws? wow! i'll need to practice more to get to that level.


my first throw on the hole had perfect launch and height. i thought the disc was going to seward. but then the wind caught it, and it sharply hooked left. i thought it was now on its way to beatrice. the same scenario was repeated as ben teed off. as we finished the course, i congratulated ben on winning three more holes than me. upon arriving home, i was soooooo tired. i laid on the floor and amelia hopped onto me. i took a short nap and awoke to elijah and my roomie ben laughing at my snoring. i didn't mind though. amelia was very warm and i was comfortable and rested. people came over to hang out. instead of game night, we watched some movies, a double feature if you will - shaun of the dead and hot fuzz. i developed a massive headache brought on from muscle tension in my neck and shoulders. it kept me from going to dance at 80's night. :( the movies ended around midnight and all who came left. i drank a bunch of water and crawled miserably into bed. and when i awoke this morning, there was no headache! yay!

i hope everyone had a really nice easter as well. sorry for those i didn't get to talk to over the phone. have a really nice start to your week!

cheers!

24mar08 today's quote

one of the advantages bowling has over golf is that you seldom lose a bowling ball.

-don carter-

23mar08 today's quote

something that has always puzzled me all my life is why, when i am in special need of help, the good deed is usually done by somebody on whom i have no claim.

-william feather-

22mar08 today's quote

unselfish and noble actions are the most radiant pages in the biography of souls.

-david thomas-

sigur ros - glosoli music video

cheers!

21mar08 today's quote

i do not believe in a fate that falls on men however they act; but i do believe in a fate that falls on man unless they act.

-g.k. chesterton-

20mar08 today's quote

learn to... be what you are, and learn to resign with a good grace all that you are not.

-henri frederic amiel-

the past week in photos (a long post)

this past week has been another great one. weeeeee! last tuesday, my friend robin cut my hair. it's the first haircut i've had in 14 months. i had buzzed everything off awhile ago and wanted to go a year without a cut just to let it grow out. i have to say, my hair was pretty outta control at times. it is very curly and was almost eight inches long when i got it cut. i think my hair is something like three and a half inches now. i'm noticing the difference!

there were a lot of late nights this past week too. just hanging out with people, having pizza, or having coffee, or watching movies. i got to see becca and gunter's apartment too! wow! it's AWESOME and i'm so happy for them! the weather was very nice at times and i got to be outside in it a lot. that put a huge smile on my face because of my case of spring fever. lol!

on saturday, i went with some friends to omaha to do some go karting as part of a bachelor party. it was so good to hang out with the guys. and the go karts were soooooooo fun! i can't wait to do that again. on the way back to lincoln, i called sarah, whom is a girl i met online. it was the first time we've spoken over the phone. it was really nice to hear her voice (it's soft and very pretty). we chatted for only a short time and made plans to hang out in the near future. i'll get to that in another post. he he. once back in lincoln, we went to legend's on 84th st. we ate and had some drinks. i played a game of pool and hit the 8ball in on the break. wow! i've never done that before. my english accent came out and i think it got a little out of hand. i seem to have difficulty keeping under control at times. there was karaoke but i only listened to it... didn't sing. just hanging out with friends and meeting new people was so so fun. i had a good time, though i did have a little too much to drink. josh came and gave me a ride home as my car was still at jeremy's house. his friends clyde and roseanne were with him and i got to meet them. it's always nice to meet your friend's friends and to see the people they grew up with. we ended up hanging out at my place for a while. when everything died down, i went to bed. i woke up late for early service and thus missed a bet with ben. i then owed him a cup of coffee and a doughnut. with my car still being at jeremy's, i needed a ride to church and ben was happy to oblige. he came and got me. after church, roark, elijah, mike, and i went to the grateful bread for soup. i went home to relax as i was one tired hombre. i called sarah and we talked for a bit and made plans to meet and hang out. then i took a nap. and as i napped, amelia napped on top of me. i didn't know by taking in a cat that i'd become furniture. :D

since i asked off saturday for the bachelor party, i had to work sunday night. :ick: things went well though and i did almost 20 deliveries! i was very thankful for the tips i earned. 80's night was weird as the normal crowd wasn't there and in its place was a very young spring break crowd. it wasn't that fun and i went to o'rourke's to hang out with friends. my manager bought me a shot of something (something that tasted just awful!). there were plans to go to a party afterwards but knowing i'd be the only one not smoking pot, and that i was getting tired anyway, i went home to bed.

monday was st patty's day and work was suprisingly slow. in the evening, i went to yia yia's for a potato and a murphy's. i ran into a bunch of people there that i knew. it was very unexpected and made me happy to see them. case split a pitcher of guinness with me. i chatted with jason for a bit too. then, i went to the state theatre and watched a free showing of the sigur ros movie. i liked it. they have a good sound. i stopped in to duffy's and o'rourke's too. there wasn't really a lot going on downtown and to be honest, i was getting bored. so i went home to bed. then it was tuesday. and tuesday was awesome. :)

and now on to the photos... finally, i know.


sarah and i met at a bag and save in omaha. she needed to pick up some things for a fourth grade class she is observing/helping with. a grocery store is kind of a cool place to meet someone for the first time. anywho, while there, i spied these slippers that you wear to clean your floors. what a novel idea! we both laughed at the warning label on the back. it's kinda blurry but the best one says, "do not use if your balance is unstable."



and here's a pic of the slippers.



i spelled the best word ever in a game of scrabble. josh had to get a moment of fame with his word so he got his in the photo too. his is on the top. :P



these are the new growth on a plant at the mill on prescott. it's the same kind of plant i have in my room and i love the green color and seeing the new growth. i hope one day my plant can get as tall as the one they have there!



this pic is really dark, but i drew a quick picture on the chalkboard at o'rourke's. i think the description in parenthesis is perfect. lol!



this is just a sign in an elevator. i took a pic of it while on a delivery. i think i'll photoshop the letters around to make something funny out of the words.



i took this pic a couple of sundays ago. the sign was on the door of jone's coffee shop. a group of friends wanted to go play games there and we were all a bit suprised they were closed... and for this reason.

i'd post more pics, but i only have the camera on my phone. you couple that with the fact that i'm no photographer extraordinaire and you get a lot of blurry pics! ha ha ha! i do like taking pics though. well, i'm out to enjoy the coffee shop a bit more 'til i return to work for the second half of a split shift.

cheers!

19mar08 today's quote

this planet is covered with sordid men who demand that he who spends time fishing shall show returns in fish.

-leonidas hubbard jr-

18mar08 today's quote

to send a letter is a good way to go somewhere without moving anything but your heart.

-phyllis theroux-

happy st patty's day!

wear some green! don't get pinched! :P

cheers!

17mar08 today's quote

i used to visit and revisit it a dozen times a day, and stand in deep contemplation over my vegetable progeny with a love that nobody could share or conceive of who had never taken part in the process of creation. it was one of the most bewitching sights in the world to observe a hill of beans thrusting aside the soil, or a rose of early peas just peeping forth sufficiently to trace a line of delicate green.

-nathaniel hawthorne-

16mar08 today's quote

earth's crammed with heaven,
and every common bush afire with god;
but only he who sees takes off his shoes;
the rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.

-elizabeth barrett browning-

...

...

15mar08 today's quote

if instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give.

-george macdonald-

14mar08 today's quote

smiling is infectious, you can catch it like the flu. someone smiled at me today, and i started smiling too.

da da da...

i've been on a blogging drought. and inevitably when that happens, i find it hard to begin blogging again. i think to myself, "what should i start with?"

well, i've been working a lot lately. and when i'm not, i'm hanging out with friends. i'm in a season of life right now where i have mounds of free time just waiting for my summer camp job and then school in the fall. since i have all the time in the world (besides when i'm on the timeclock), i've been intentional about experiencing, strengthening, enjoying, and being in the relationships that i have. it's soooooo good. i encourage everyone to pull themselves away from their 9 to 5, to let the household chores wait, to get to the studying later, and to spend time with people they know. go hang out with the people in which you normally spend little time with or that you really don't know! go hang out with friends you've not hung out with in a LONG time! the time spent will be priceless.

cheers!

13mar08 today's quote

there is no personal charm so great as the charm of a cheerful temperament.

-henry van dyke-

12mar08 today's quote

most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they've got a second.

-william james-

does your cat do this?

amelia likes to lick the faucet in the bathroom. if i turn on the water, she will lap at the water with her tongue. she seems to think this is a more normal way to drink water than to drink it from her water dish. do cats do this? it's different. but it's cool and makes me like her even more. just one more special quirk she has. :)

cheers!

11mar08 today's quote

thank god men cannot fly, and lay waste the sky as well as the earth.

-henry david thoreau-

10mar08 today's quote

nobody trips over mountains. it is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain.

09mar08 today's quote

i have no doubt that we will be successful in harnessing the sun's energy.... if sunbeams were weapons of war, we would have had solar energy centuries ago.

-sir george porter-

08mar08 today's quote

because we don't think about future generations, they will never forget us.

-henrik tikkanen-

07mar08 today's quote

how can a society that exists on instant mashed potatoes, packaged cake mixes, frozen dinners, and instant cameras teach patience to its young?

-paul sweeney-

06mar08 today's quote

to be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.

-e.e. cummings-

going, going, going

i haven't been around much lately to be posting. been hanging out with so many people. always going, going, going. it seems i've only been home to sleep and shower, lol! have a good one all!

cheers!

05mar08 today's quote

friends are kisses blown to us by angels.

04mar08 today's quote

i like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. i like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.

-abraham lincoln-

03mar08 today's quote

the more we sweat in peace the less we bleed in war.

-vijaya lakshmi pandit-

02mar08 today's quote

happiness is sharing a bowl of cherries and a book of poetry with a shade tree. he doesn't eat much and doesn't read much, but listens well and is a most gracious host.

-astrid alauda-

01mar08 today's quote

the robbed that smiles, steals something from the thief.

-william shakespeare, from othello-

incredibly sore

i came home from a friend's house last night with one killer headache. it was still painfully existant this morning upon my waking. as i rolled around in bed, i noticed my neck/shoulders were really sore. i've been really really needing a neck/shoulder/back rub lately. i try doing it myself, but it just doesn't work. anyone with massage skills?

cheers!

29feb08 today's quote

don't be fooled by the calendar. there are only as many days in the year as you make use of.

-charles richards-

it has been answered

i posted yesterday a list of word groupings to see if anyone could see what each group had in common. it didn't take too long, but jd has figured it out. you can go to the oomments for that day and read his. you'll find the answer there. :) jd, you rule!

cheers!

28feb08 today's quote

if you do not raise your eyes you will think that you are the highest point.

-antonio porchia-

what do all these have in common?

BEST
CARROT
TONE
MIX

ROB
TEN
MEXICO
TARTS

MIX
ROOT
CANS
BETTER

TEN
STORM
EXOTIC
BAR

NEXT
CAME
ROBOT
STIR

MINT
CABOOSE
TEXT
RR

and finally...

T REX
ATE
MO
CORN
BITS

soooooooooo... what's up with all these? what do they have in common? you think about it. i'll be letting you know soon.

cheers!

27feb08 today's quote

it's only a matter of inches, but skipping gets me just that much closer to heaven.

-jessi lane adams-

26feb08 today's quote

skipping is a form of flying.

-jessi lane adams-

the days have been full

it seems each day of last week was packed to the brim with things to do. after awaking for the day, i was going here and going there, only to return a long time later and get some more shut eye. and not lots of it either. but don't worry. i'm not one requiring much.

i've been thinking about how many people i know. moreso actually, how many people know me. there are so many different people i know, and different groups of people too. i'm outgoing and an includer. i'm hopeful and believe things don't have to be the way they are. but lately, there has been these thoughts in my mind. "how many relationships can i have? how connected can they get? are some relationships going to fade away?" they are thoughts with enough validity that i need to give my time to them. perhaps instead of doing and keeping up, i need to focus a bit more. focus on me (what i believe, what i want, what i can do), and not the relationships. well, we'll see what happens!

cheers!

25feb08 today's quote

i have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.

-harry s truman-

24feb08 today's quote

you can't wake a person who is pretending to be asleep.

-navajo proverb-

23feb08 today's quote

her very frowns are fairer far
than smiles of other maidens are.

-hartley coleridge-

call me crazy...

but i like the smell of gasoline.

cheers!

22feb08 today's quote

a stiff apology is a second insult... the injured party does not want to be compensated because he has been wronged; he wants to be healed because he has been hurt.

-g.k. chesterton-

21feb08 today's quote

what's in a name? that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

-from romeo and juliet-

20feb08 today's quote

there is nothing in the world so much like prayer as music is.

-william p merrill-

believe it or not, i can talk to cats

i make some very convincing cat meows. occasionally, i sit and meow at my cat. she meows back. we meow. i have no idea what i'm telling her and only seldom does she give me the "what in the world?" look. it's fun and i feel i have a more personal connection to my cat. of course, it could all be in my head. but i really don't care. amelia and i are pals.

cheers!

19feb08 today's quote

humor has a way of bringing people together. it unites people. in fact, i'm rather serious when i suggest that someone should plant a few whoopee cushions in the united nations.

-ron dentinger-

blinky blinky

when in the turn lane, sometimes i watch the blinkers of the cars ahead of me. i watch them blink off and on and see how out of sequence they are. then i watch them slowly move towards blinking in unison. and then for a short time, they stay that way. but alas, the simultaneous blinking fades and the flashing lights gradually flash away from one another. but if it's a long light, i get to watch it again and again. :)

cheers!

18feb08 today's quote

never undertake anything for which you wouldn't have the courage to ask the blessings of heaven.

-g.c. lichtenberg-

did i ever tell you i love butterflies?

just another reason i can't wait for warmer weather to arrive!



butterflies are so beautiful! i can get stopped in my tracks when one flies by just captivated by their color, their movement, and their softness.

cheers!

17feb08 today's quote

am i not destroying my enemies when i make friends of them?

-abraham lincoln-

how you doin?

when i came into work the other day, my manager called for me. she gave me a note to read that a customer had brought into the restaurant. it read, "hi scottie. please give me a call. xxx-xxxx" the x's are her phone number. my manager says the customer came in asking if i was working, said i was really nice, and then gave the note. so um... wow!

this makes it the second time a customer has "hit on me" while i've been at davinci's. the other time, i was at the front counter and i was very bluntly asked if i had any interest in the customer. geesh!

if anyone is wondering, i don't have any intentions of pursuing these women. my heart does feel for their loneliness, and desperation of sorts. i do respect them asking and i am hopeful they will find someone, or someone will find them. i've done my best to tell them this and let them down as softly as i can.

cheers!

16feb08 today's quote

sweet is the memory of distant friends! like the mellow rays of the departing sun, it falls tenderly, yet sadly, on the heart.

-washington irving-

15feb08 today's quote

to know the road ahead, ask those coming back.

-chinese proverb-

a dozen roses? some chocolates? pfft! i'll take a hug.

today is valentine's day. a day which is wonderful for some and not so wonderful for others. it can be a very happy day or a very sad one. valentine's day should be a good day for people. be genuine today and show others your love.

this is my post from last year's valentine's day:
"what a great day valentine's day is! relationships and love are theme today. show the ones you love and care for that they are loved and cared for. spend time with your spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, friend, brother, sister, father, mother, etc. and enjoy them. be together. give thanks. i'm getting so happy thinking about this! ahhhh! my heart's gonna melt!

what a great start to the day, too. i had buckwheat pancakes for breakfast with apricot preserves, mmm. and yogurt and milk, mmm. ska was playing on my laptop while i was cooking/eating. megan called with exciting news her friend amy may move to lincoln for a short while. i have valentines to give to people. i'll be going in to work early (so i'll get off earlier). heidi is playing at the parthenon tonight and i will try to make it and listen to her. jonathan gets back tonight. and i get to hear everyone's awesome stories tomorrow, about how their valentine's day was. sweet.

this day is such a great day but it can also be hard for people. those who are sad, lonely, or single can have a pretty crummy day. i suggest being there for them. today is not a day when they should feel excluded."

have a super-duper valentine's day everyone!

cheers!

14feb08 today's quote

oh, if it be to choose and call thee mine, love, thou art every day my valentine!

-thomas hood-

been busy

i haven't been posting much as of late. i've been busy working, and then hanging out with so many people. been reading too. and i'll admit, there's been some video game playing too. tomorrow is valentine's day and i'm stoked. this year, i'm feeling a bit different about the day, though.

cheers!

13feb08 today's quote

surely a man needs a closed place wherein he may strike root and, like the seed, become. but also he needs the great milky way above him and the vast sea spaces, though neither stars nor ocean serve his daily needs.

-antoine de saint-exupéry-

12feb08 today's quote

decorate yourself from the inside out.

-andrei turnhollow-

just some random photos

this is some random guy sitting at o'rourke's watching sports.


this is a pic of the ceiling at the mill on prescott. i really liked it and wanted to capture it.


i saw this sign on a delivery to an apartment building. i think it's funny.


this is written on the men's bathroom wall at the zoo bar downtown. i especially like how someone took the time to write "sp?". that means "spelling?", as in, is that how you spell it?


i took this the last snow storm we had. the rear window of the cab was open and there was a gigantic teddy bear's head stuck in it. weird! it made me laugh all the way to work.

cheers!

11feb08 today's quote

never miss an opportunity to make others happy, even if you have to leave them alone in order to do it.

10feb08 today's quote

though the circular round-and-round of routine be the bulk of life's affairs, make an occasional jutting diversion - of fun, love, or something that will outlast you - so the shape and motion of your life shall resemble the round lifegiving sun with bright rays shining forth from all directions.

-destin figuier-

last night was fun

josh and paul came over. i made some baked mostacolli and we played risk, chess, and some poker for fun. josh and i then went to grace chapel to hear andy osenga play. i snagged a couple doughnuts that were in the coffee house already for sunday. he he. andy's concert was good, but quite short. i headed downtown afterwards and ran into a ton of people at o'rourke's. my manager was there and she bought me a drink. w00t! and my friend abby also bought me a drink. w00t! w00t! i had some good chats there. wish i could have had more. i then came home and farted around on the internet. everyone else was in bed. but i wasn't the least tired.

cheers!

09feb08 today's quote

we can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.

-thornton wilder-

08feb08 today's quote

science does not know its debt to imagination.

-ralph waldo emerson-

it's catching

not too long ago i posted a pic of a cup at work that i had written my name on. each day i do a different design on a styrofoam cup. it has caught on. here's a cup mandi did.



cheers!

07feb08 today's quote

the words "i am" are potent words; be careful what you hitch them to. the thing you're claiming has a way of reaching back and claiming you.

-a.l. kitselman-

everyone... meet amelia

i found her (actually, she found me) monday night after work. after closing at davinci's i went to o'rourke's and read the bible for a bit, played a game of pool, and chatted with my manager who was there unexpectedly. i came home after o'rourke's closed. when i got out of my car and began walking up the driveway to the door, i heard a meow. i saw a small, light colored kitty coming towards me, meowing some more - a friendly meow. she began rubbing up against my legs like cats do. i wasn't freaked out in the least as this kitty was not the least mangey looking or feral.

it was 1:30 in the morning and it is the middle of winter. a fellow employee told me that night that snow was expected all day tomorrow. the kitty didn't have a collar. i figured it was lost and i didn't want it to be outside in the cold, especially with the upcoming snow. so i let kitty inside our entry way and looked her over in the light. she was very clean and nicely mannered. no hissing. no biting. just a bit freaked out by sudden movements. poor thing! she was probably scared and missing her family. i also noticed she was declawed. she's obviously someone's cat then. i went in and brought out a can of tuna i had that i'll never eat and let the kitty eat that. she was soooooo hungry! she scarfed down a lot of it and did so very quickly. if cats could smile, i'm sure she did then for she seemed very thankful.

i decided to bring her inside the apartment as leaving her in the entry way felt weird to me. and what if the guy downstairs came out and saw her when he woke up the next morning? he'd probably shoo her back outside. i also was wondering how ben would take me bringing a kitty inside. so i put some water in a bowl, got the rest of the tuna, and put kitty in my room with me and closed the door. she explored my room for a while and then she hopped up on my bed and curled up next to me and slept there all night long. awwwwwww!

she's such a pretty cat. kind of a light tan color, faint stripes on her tail, a soothing purr, slender, and friendly. here's some pics of "milly". that's what i call her for short.



and when i sit down and get on the internet with my laptop, she hops onto my lap and lays there!



i'm going to call the paper and put a lost and found ad in today. she's a great kitty, but she needs to be with her family. if no one claims her, then i'll have to decide what to do. i would like to keep her though! :)

cheers!