Monday, December 12, 2005
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Vacuum Cleaner Repair
Good news, I got my vacuum motor in the mail yesterday, installed it and got back together. My duplex now has very nice clean carpets. I will send a picture or something, later on. I spent $6 on the vacuum and 65 on the motor. I think they usually run about $120. Becca and John agree I might have missed my calling in life.
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Starting a new religion, A To Do List:
- Have a revelation
- Translate golden plates
- Find 10 friends that can fake illnesses well
- Hold services in a local middle school gym, work towards the superdome
- Write tracts
- Write treatise to discredit 2000 years of established religion
- Visit the
- Create own holy land
- Invent title for self
- Have another vision
- Market gold leaf, leather bound, red letter, signed, limited edition commentary
- Stockpile ammunition and canned goods
- Invest in property in
- Invite people over for Kool-aid
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Thanksgiving Eve Service
Come, ye thankful people, come. Raise the song of harvest home!
All is safely gathered in ere the winter storms begin.
God, our Maker, doth provide for our wants to be supplied.
Come to God's own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.
Last week Becca and I celebrated Thanksgiving by going to the Thanksgiving Eve Worship service. We got there and Becca found seats towards the front.
We went up, took of our coats, sat down and looked around at a packed house. Seats are in a semi-circle instead of the regular square looking church. We were in the very front corner. By the time we left it was about a million degrees. I wish they would have opened some doors.
I have not been to Our Savior's Lutheran Church for a service before. It is a contemporary, 'cool' church. They don't mind if there is a little hand waving, they invite people to stay afterwards and pray with the 'prayer team' afterward, and most noticeably they don't follow traditional order of worship. Communion is in the middle of the service and the sermon is last. Those crazy baby-boomers.
Knowing that about the church, I wondered how they would deal with a very traditional service like Thanksgiving. It's not as popular as say Christmas Eve or Easter Sunrise service, but it’s a good indicator as to what those services might be like. Most people think of these as ummm, sacred cows. Or at least there is something about them that you just want to make people feel comfortable, welcome, and invited. For Thanksgiving I suppose there is a little of that and to a lesser degree.
All that aside, I really like Thanksgiving and did not realize it until tonight, what it means to me, and how it impacts me.
You see, we walked in sat down; the pastor greeted everyone, read through a responsive prayer, and read Psalm 100. We sang a few praise songs, (it’s a contemporary church, and thanksgiving, what better a time to sing praise and thanks songs.) and read the scripture. Then came the anthem. Yes that's what is called in the service folder. The Anthem. This is where we all stand up and sing with one voice.
It’s not like a baseball game where everyone puts there hand over there chest and takes off their hats. But everyone knows the song and it has the same effect. Like mosquitoes to a warm body on a cool summer night. We are drawn to the song; and it is significant
Come, ye thankful people, come. Raise the song of harvest home!
All is safely gathered in ere the winter storms begin.
God, our Maker, doth provide for our wants to be supplied.
Come to God's own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.
The words of the song remind me of our agrarian roots. I say our, because I have never been a farmer, or lived on a farm. I don’t consider myself farm inclined. Unfortunately. But I do have images of my grandparents and their milk cows, pigs, and chickens in Minnesota, and miles of corn, soy, and wheat, in Nebraska. A time long ago when people lived closer to the land and died closer to the land. I live in a city, I commute, I sit in front of a computer all day, I buy milk in plastic jugs.
I did do something cool this year though, Becca and I planted a garden. A modest potted garden consisting of some basil, green peppers, 4 tomato plants, parsley, more peppers, marjoram. Some things did well, others did not. The tomatoes, basil, and green peppers did very well.
We marveled when the first shoots came up in May. I carefully watered everyday this summer. We picked weeds. We marveled some more when the first flowers came. And speculated on how nice a salad they would make, or pasta sauce. (Keeping quiet so as not to alarm the plants and their newly formed flowers of our designs.) We watered more, positioned them in the front of the house for maximum sunlight and heat from the brick wall. We were saddened one day after a heavy rain took the main stalk of our first plant and snapped it off. Our first success met with setback. I wondered what it must be like on a larger scale. For farmers to see entire fields destroyed, acres and acres wiped out. The loss of an entire crop, the mental, physical strain, the loss of income, and effort with nothing in return. These are things too great for me, for anyone to take on alone.
Finally in August we saw the first fruits. I remember popping one in my mouth biting down and tasting Red ripe cherry tomatoes that we had grown. They ripened by the handful. Enough for a salad here, and pasta dishes, a Greek salad, with feta cheese. I took pride in eating what we grew, we were pleased with the garden and what the plants brought.
It is November now and for the past few days, the plants have been hanging around, a few tomatoes still hanging on, a little frost bitten, and the leaves withered away. I am only now able to take a scissors and cut everything down and place it on top of the soil in the buckets.
We stood, and sang “All is safely gathered in ere the winter storms begin.” It marks the passage of a season, from fall to winter. A slow march towards the end of the year. Plants are done growing for this year, fruit was produced, it was good, and now its over. I only know a little of what happened this year. I am barely in tune with the cycle of life and gardening. But I know that I have been singing this thanksgiving song for a long time, and now it gains a new significance. I still have a vision of farmers bailing hay and putting it up in the loft, bringing in all the cattle and closing the big heavy wooden doors. Like the doors of a huge castle, fortified ready to withstand the fiercest enemy or longest siege.
Like the farmer, I make plans to go and plant a crop, work at a job, earn a living. Knowing the risks and weighing my options. I can not do it alone though. God gives me strength and I rely on him for his hand to provide my needs. Like the farmer, all my effort can be wiped out without reason, or notice. God gives me strength, and I rely on him, to provide for my needs. Like the farmer I watch the seasons, I watch flowers bloom and fade, and I take care to do what I can to help the plants and fruit to grow, and when harvest comes, the cycle is complete. God gives me strength, and I rely on him, to provide for my needs, and I am thankful for what he has provided. I return in thanks to God and the cycle is complete. The relationship grows.
Fall is a time when plants die. I waited until now to finally cut down the green pepper, and tomato plants that had been languishing in the cold nights and cold rain. It was long overdue. I snipped away at the plants and reduced them to a pile of small sticks. Green plant juice ran down the blades, I removed the wire cages, and cut the plastic wraps off the cages that held once heavy vines, now withered and olive grey-green. It was dark out, at 5:00 pm. No one else was out, and the thermometer read 52 F. I looked at the main trunk of the plants; they were once sturdy and solid now lightweight and hollow. We’ll see about next year, what to plant, when. Becca and I will probably do this again, and see what other tasty things we can grow. For now it’s a time to reflect, and give thanks to God for all of the good things he provides.
All is safely gathered in ere the winter storms begin.
God, our Maker, doth provide for our wants to be supplied.
Come to God's own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.
Last week Becca and I celebrated Thanksgiving by going to the Thanksgiving Eve Worship service. We got there and Becca found seats towards the front.
We went up, took of our coats, sat down and looked around at a packed house. Seats are in a semi-circle instead of the regular square looking church. We were in the very front corner. By the time we left it was about a million degrees. I wish they would have opened some doors.
I have not been to Our Savior's Lutheran Church for a service before. It is a contemporary, 'cool' church. They don't mind if there is a little hand waving, they invite people to stay afterwards and pray with the 'prayer team' afterward, and most noticeably they don't follow traditional order of worship. Communion is in the middle of the service and the sermon is last. Those crazy baby-boomers.
Knowing that about the church, I wondered how they would deal with a very traditional service like Thanksgiving. It's not as popular as say Christmas Eve or Easter Sunrise service, but it’s a good indicator as to what those services might be like. Most people think of these as ummm, sacred cows. Or at least there is something about them that you just want to make people feel comfortable, welcome, and invited. For Thanksgiving I suppose there is a little of that and to a lesser degree.
All that aside, I really like Thanksgiving and did not realize it until tonight, what it means to me, and how it impacts me.
You see, we walked in sat down; the pastor greeted everyone, read through a responsive prayer, and read Psalm 100. We sang a few praise songs, (it’s a contemporary church, and thanksgiving, what better a time to sing praise and thanks songs.) and read the scripture. Then came the anthem. Yes that's what is called in the service folder. The Anthem. This is where we all stand up and sing with one voice.
It’s not like a baseball game where everyone puts there hand over there chest and takes off their hats. But everyone knows the song and it has the same effect. Like mosquitoes to a warm body on a cool summer night. We are drawn to the song; and it is significant
Come, ye thankful people, come. Raise the song of harvest home!
All is safely gathered in ere the winter storms begin.
God, our Maker, doth provide for our wants to be supplied.
Come to God's own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.
The words of the song remind me of our agrarian roots. I say our, because I have never been a farmer, or lived on a farm. I don’t consider myself farm inclined. Unfortunately. But I do have images of my grandparents and their milk cows, pigs, and chickens in Minnesota, and miles of corn, soy, and wheat, in Nebraska. A time long ago when people lived closer to the land and died closer to the land. I live in a city, I commute, I sit in front of a computer all day, I buy milk in plastic jugs.
I did do something cool this year though, Becca and I planted a garden. A modest potted garden consisting of some basil, green peppers, 4 tomato plants, parsley, more peppers, marjoram. Some things did well, others did not. The tomatoes, basil, and green peppers did very well.
We marveled when the first shoots came up in May. I carefully watered everyday this summer. We picked weeds. We marveled some more when the first flowers came. And speculated on how nice a salad they would make, or pasta sauce. (Keeping quiet so as not to alarm the plants and their newly formed flowers of our designs.) We watered more, positioned them in the front of the house for maximum sunlight and heat from the brick wall. We were saddened one day after a heavy rain took the main stalk of our first plant and snapped it off. Our first success met with setback. I wondered what it must be like on a larger scale. For farmers to see entire fields destroyed, acres and acres wiped out. The loss of an entire crop, the mental, physical strain, the loss of income, and effort with nothing in return. These are things too great for me, for anyone to take on alone.
Finally in August we saw the first fruits. I remember popping one in my mouth biting down and tasting Red ripe cherry tomatoes that we had grown. They ripened by the handful. Enough for a salad here, and pasta dishes, a Greek salad, with feta cheese. I took pride in eating what we grew, we were pleased with the garden and what the plants brought.
It is November now and for the past few days, the plants have been hanging around, a few tomatoes still hanging on, a little frost bitten, and the leaves withered away. I am only now able to take a scissors and cut everything down and place it on top of the soil in the buckets.
We stood, and sang “All is safely gathered in ere the winter storms begin.” It marks the passage of a season, from fall to winter. A slow march towards the end of the year. Plants are done growing for this year, fruit was produced, it was good, and now its over. I only know a little of what happened this year. I am barely in tune with the cycle of life and gardening. But I know that I have been singing this thanksgiving song for a long time, and now it gains a new significance. I still have a vision of farmers bailing hay and putting it up in the loft, bringing in all the cattle and closing the big heavy wooden doors. Like the doors of a huge castle, fortified ready to withstand the fiercest enemy or longest siege.
Like the farmer, I make plans to go and plant a crop, work at a job, earn a living. Knowing the risks and weighing my options. I can not do it alone though. God gives me strength and I rely on him for his hand to provide my needs. Like the farmer, all my effort can be wiped out without reason, or notice. God gives me strength, and I rely on him, to provide for my needs. Like the farmer I watch the seasons, I watch flowers bloom and fade, and I take care to do what I can to help the plants and fruit to grow, and when harvest comes, the cycle is complete. God gives me strength, and I rely on him, to provide for my needs, and I am thankful for what he has provided. I return in thanks to God and the cycle is complete. The relationship grows.
Fall is a time when plants die. I waited until now to finally cut down the green pepper, and tomato plants that had been languishing in the cold nights and cold rain. It was long overdue. I snipped away at the plants and reduced them to a pile of small sticks. Green plant juice ran down the blades, I removed the wire cages, and cut the plastic wraps off the cages that held once heavy vines, now withered and olive grey-green. It was dark out, at 5:00 pm. No one else was out, and the thermometer read 52 F. I looked at the main trunk of the plants; they were once sturdy and solid now lightweight and hollow. We’ll see about next year, what to plant, when. Becca and I will probably do this again, and see what other tasty things we can grow. For now it’s a time to reflect, and give thanks to God for all of the good things he provides.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Warren Miller Ski Movie- Ride
Whistler hires a team of avalanche hunters known as the dawn patrol.
...always
remember that an avalanche has one job. and that job is to kill you.
I rented two Warren Miller movies yesterday from the library. Ride, and
Storm.
Warren miller has been making movies about skiing for the past 50 years.
they are an annual event that are shown in local theaters across the
country.
usually they are shown in the late fall. One effect is that people get
excited about the sport and look forward to the ski season with the
anticipation of a dog to T-bone steak.
When I was in high school I went to the movies along with my friends and we
got
to see what real skiing was like.
I lived in Michigan, halfway between the windy city, and Motown. During the
ice age the glaciers stopped there advance in Northern Michigan. Leaving the
southern half a puddle of lakes and forest. From the west the great lakes
are
a perfect snow making machine. cold air comes down from Canada and across
the
plains, meets warm water and gathers it into clouds. The clouds travel
across
the lake over the ground turn cold again and it snows. The Keweenaw
peninsula
is known to have up 250 inches of snow a year. It is called "lake effect"
snow.
We got ready and waited another two months for enough snow to accumulate or
for
machines to place a layer of deep enough for skiing at the local ski hill.
The
local hill is about 150 or so feet high. It is very small and not very
interesting. But to go out every Thursday night and ski until our legs fell
off was more than enough. We never tired of it.
I took three trips to Colorado with our church youth group. A small place
in
Glenwood Springs. It boasted of a 2000 vertical foot from top to bottom.
the
longest run- 1.5 miles. the time there was well spent. the excitement was
limitless. Skiing was a dream come true. I spent hours looking at ski
magazines trying to improve my style. checking out the latest gear.
Warren Miller movies caught the excitement, bundled it into a 1.5 hour
Presentation and let it loose. Then as now, I watch these movies and
reflect.
The statement is. Life is meant to be lived. It is borrowed time as Miller
puts it, why not get the most out of it. Enjoy the beauty of creation, live
a
Little, take risks, and ski.
I think one of man's desires is to fly like a bird. Or dance god like on
water
isn't that what we're doing when we are out there skiing? Dancing with the
mountain dancing on frozen water. Dancing on borrowed time. -Warren Miller
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Bus Riding
Joel: So did I tell you what happened last night
Rebecca: no
Ben dropped me off at the bus station
Rebecca: yeah?
I was scrounging around for 2.50$ I asked a nice later for change for a
10.00 just to get correct change. I needed a quarter. Well she laughed dug
into her purse and pulled out a quarter. I was so happy. I had correct
change! Well then the bus shows up at stall 4, I eagerly hop on thinking I
was just in time. We sit for 3 min the driver closes the door, and we head
out of the bus station to 405 and the driver turns north. Umm. North as in
towards Everett I panicked and started to rifle thru the bus guide I was
on the 530 heading north not good we made the first stop but I hit the
request stop bar too late and ended up going on to the second stop quietly
went forward and asked if there was a station nearby where I could catch the
530 southbound he gave me a transfer and I walked across the overpass
about 20 min later I got on the bus headed back to Bellevue and ended up
getting on the 565 all in all, an extra hour of joyriding I was tired and
not paying attention
Rebecca: wow, that's quite an adventure
yea stupid mistakes thankfully I parked in auburn
Rebecca: but some quick thinking too
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Yahoo Messenger
I just joined yahoo messenger. it surreptitiously added all the addresses from my addy book to its list. before I knew it. I was emailing my grandmother, former employees, old girlfriends and long forgotten people. I think the introduction email read something like this " Joel has finally joined the new milennium! lets congratulate him and breath a sigh of relief. Now you have one more person to distract you whilst attempting to study, work.... " well anyway, i tried it out and started talking to someone I had biked with a few years ago on a ministry trip. let me tell you how that went. A. screen names or sn's do not help me try to recall people I should remember but don't "lilangel" and "confica" or "the-gr8t-one" do not tell me who you are in real life. please add your name.
B. i had old girlfriends email me. ummm what the heck? that was weird. i did write back but hey thats out of curiosity I suppose.
C. when people are flaky and talk for about 5 min in short choppy conversation and then need to leave. I guess I am not offended. Its the ADHD/ instant culture we live in. hopefuly real life is more entertaining that chatting and being glued to a computer.
the big question. how long till i have to pay for all this? no seriously. the question is, is it worthwhile and bringing me closer to people? depends on how close I live to them and how much friendship is there to begin with, and how long i'm online at a time.
so feel free to say hi to me whenever
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
work
I went to work at a company up in Bellevue this morning. the first time I have worked in a while. its good to be doing something constructive. learning new things. Can't wait for tomorrow. the guys I work with are cool, we all seem to get along. There is lots to be done.
I just viewed photos from PNG again. wow I miss that place, with all its heat and humidity. am I nuts? haha that place is hotter than hell. well except the highlands.
I wonder if I will ever make it back there. one can hope.
I just viewed photos from PNG again. wow I miss that place, with all its heat and humidity. am I nuts? haha that place is hotter than hell. well except the highlands.
I wonder if I will ever make it back there. one can hope.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Hurricane Katrina
I just gorged myself on one hour of video / photo and msn
news on what's been happening in Biloxi/ New Orleans. Wow. I am going to
go pray now.
news on what's been happening in Biloxi/ New Orleans. Wow. I am going to
go pray now.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/interactive.aspx?type=ss&launch=9145300,9115520
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Sunday
so I am still looking for a job. Tomorrow I visit a guy and ask him about what he does and see if it sounds intersting. I have an interview on Tuesday. been without a job for about a month now. I need to find something soon or I will not be able to pay rent. I still wonder how it happened that I would have such luck. does anyone know?
life isnt bad, I have lots of nice things to think about and do. I spend my days doing productive things, like writing a blog. growing tomatoes. reading books. "What color is your parachute?" and "Soul Mountain". I finished Don Quixote and as luck would have it got to see the musical production on Public TV yesterday. how cool is that? I enjoyed it, now i know where the song - The impossible dream, comes from.
life is ok. pray that I can meet the right people who have the power to hire me, and like me well enough.
my question of the day is "What is a hollaback girl" ?
i have no idea. please enlighten me someone...
also saw March of the Penguins. I rate it 4.5 stars out of 5.
life isnt bad, I have lots of nice things to think about and do. I spend my days doing productive things, like writing a blog. growing tomatoes. reading books. "What color is your parachute?" and "Soul Mountain". I finished Don Quixote and as luck would have it got to see the musical production on Public TV yesterday. how cool is that? I enjoyed it, now i know where the song - The impossible dream, comes from.
life is ok. pray that I can meet the right people who have the power to hire me, and like me well enough.
my question of the day is "What is a hollaback girl" ?
i have no idea. please enlighten me someone...
also saw March of the Penguins. I rate it 4.5 stars out of 5.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Friday, July 29, 2005
Mowich Lake
Some of the best views of Mt Rainier can only be found at the foot of the mountain. From the northwest corner of the park there are two inlet roads that provide access. One to Iuput Campground and the other to Mowich Lake Campground. they are both 'rustic' meaning no water and pit toilets. clean pit toilets w/ hand sanitizer and plenty of tp but pit toilets. Becca and I spent two days hiking near Mowich lake. yesterday was a 3 hour hike up to Eunice lake, 600 ft elevation gain. the kicker is the last half mile. the trails blaze wide through forests of 80 year old pines, and narrow along exposed rocky areas. Today I went alone up to Spray falls and Spray meadow a little ways above. the view was wonderful. to the southwest Mt Rainier stood beyond a small ridgeline. the cap is bright white, unlike the view from Puyallup, which is a hazy grey yellow in the sunset. the glaciers are also in sight. dirt and rock mix with snow. it was a drought winter and it is late summer. lots of rock visible. the sun was bright, air cool but warm.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
jobless perspective.
like pastor said this morning to me. "pray like a jewish person... "Lord, you said you would provide and bless. where are the blessings?!?"" I thinik its true sometimes, you have to get a little feisty. talk to God and pray in conversation. thats what I am going to do. God Provides, God is Good. I am not mad a little thrown off but not mad. I am trying to regroup and go through a reexamining life right now. its tough. what else can I do? I have tried to separate what has happened with who I am. I am still alive, I breath I eat, and laugh. what ? a little job loss is going to make me change? be afraid? eh so what. I have been here before. It sucks as a place to be, but I am not dying. separating these two things and it shows a laughable situation. It makes me see that I may just have a bad time keeping a job, but I still am who I am. and thats not all bad. you know?
Tomorrow I go hiking. I am going back up to Mt Rainier. it should be beautiful hiking weather. I am going to bring Don Quixote Man from La Mancha. hopefully as part inspiration part distraction, and because I have been meaning to finish the book off. thats all.
I would like to spend some time in contemplation. it would be nice to have more than a day about a week or so, but even then I get sick of myself. =)
thats all for now.
Tomorrow I go hiking. I am going back up to Mt Rainier. it should be beautiful hiking weather. I am going to bring Don Quixote Man from La Mancha. hopefully as part inspiration part distraction, and because I have been meaning to finish the book off. thats all.
I would like to spend some time in contemplation. it would be nice to have more than a day about a week or so, but even then I get sick of myself. =)
thats all for now.
Friday, July 22, 2005
Monday, July 11, 2005
My dear teammate Ruth this blog entry is for you.
So I talked to Ruth my teammate last night. We had a few good laughs. I think though she was laughing at me. she does this alot. I think its because I am funny and intelegent and cool and awesome. she calls it a Blob. she miss names alot of things. thats ok, it made for good times on the road. I think she might plummet me now.
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Concacaf Football results
Seattles Qwest field was the host of two CONCACAF Gold Cup matches on Saturday. I bought tickets online Thursday for probably way too much and ended up taking the bus to try and keep expenses low. hey 5 bucks, not having to drive, saving gas, and people watching, off-set not being in control of the steering wheel.
The games were awesom. Costa Rica V. Cuba, and USA V. Canada. (Oh Canada.. what a cool national anthem. Nice melody and talk about Patriot love and all, of course it doesnt match ours for bombs and fighting. yea that explains alot.) anyway
The day was beautiful, sunny and hot in the sun. I sat on the shady side, in the second level. I have never had such awesome seats. usually players are about half the size or less from where I sit. The first game was evenly matched the first half. in the second half, Cuba scored and then Costa Rica came back to even it up. Everything was nice until about the 75th minute. Costa Rica Scored. Cuba still had a chance and then Cuba when ummm, South. the Cuban goalie tried to trip an opponent, and then feigned innocence. after a penalty kick. it was over.
the USA V Canada game looked fast paced, and creative in some moments, by both sides. USA made it evident that they were going to take control over the ball by the close of the first half. Although there were some charges made by the Canadiens that looked impressive.
The first 3 minutes of the second half can be so crucial to a game. The US with their heads screwed on straight and Canada's not, Canada made an own goal header off of O'briens pass/shot. anyway. Landon Donovan got a goal towards the end. a very nice header, and clinched it. after that there were a few more shots but that was it. nice day for a game of real Football in a football stadium.
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Sunday
I washed my car inside and out today. RainX on the windows, armor all on the vinyal, and spray waxed the outside. its looking sweet. and for fun drove around town with the windows down. Its my version of a sunday joyride in a convertable. Someday when I am old and grey I'll buy a Mazda Miyata and get the full effect.
I watched Napoleon Dynamite. wow. its cool. It brings out the inner geek in me. Makes me remember way back to when I was in high school. ahh the memories. I recommend this movie. oh and no sex, violence or blood. so refreshing.
I watched Napoleon Dynamite. wow. its cool. It brings out the inner geek in me. Makes me remember way back to when I was in high school. ahh the memories. I recommend this movie. oh and no sex, violence or blood. so refreshing.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Sunday, June 05, 2005
Here is something to chew on
I just found the total for my dental bills, excluding a crown that will be placed this Friday, comes to 4 fillings, a root canal and corebuildup, all for more than the price of a 42 steak dinners for 2 at black angus. I have to pay for some of that but still. Dental insurance is good. COBRA is good. My teeth on the otherhand, well not so good.
I have neglected them for the past two years. Working as a temp and then as a Volunteer on Youth Encounter, does not help at all. It was much needed and long overdue. And I am almost done with the major work, for now. Is this the welcome to middle age? =)
I guess it gives me joy to know that there is something good out of working at a previous employer. (Ask me about that someday if you want.)
other than that, start of a new week.
I have neglected them for the past two years. Working as a temp and then as a Volunteer on Youth Encounter, does not help at all. It was much needed and long overdue. And I am almost done with the major work, for now. Is this the welcome to middle age? =)
I guess it gives me joy to know that there is something good out of working at a previous employer. (Ask me about that someday if you want.)
other than that, start of a new week.
Friday, June 03, 2005
Dinner party
Becca and I went to see Tricia and Jenny, two of Seans teammates to visit and have dinner, share stories. Tricia is in the Northwest for an international missions convention. what a blast, All of us had stories to tell about different places we toured on team. Becca to Ghana, Trisha and Jenny to Philippines and Taiwan, and me to Papua New Guinea. most of our conversation revolved around food. its the least common denominator of travel, somethings we liked others hated, but it brings people together, and we had a chance to share our experiences.
Tonight is a Thomas Kinkade gallery party. Becca bought tickets but I am not sure if I am up for going out tonight. it has been a long week.
Monday, May 30, 2005
happy memorial day
saw Star Wars today! wow I feel a little closure. its been what 27 years in the making. I am thirty. yep I have been around since before SW was on the big screen. thats a long time to wait for a final movie, I say. Except I hear that there is another trilogy that happens chronologically after episodes 456. can anyone confirm that?
well anyway, I guess I can say that I saw the movie. hmm yea. thats about it. nothing really to say. The plot is good, the scenery and different creatures and droids are always cool to look at. other than that, in my opinion, not much else worth the six and a half bucks. I really did not like the acting and interaction between Anakin (sp?) and Padumae (sp?) its down right awful. cliche. contrived. yuck, Becca and I laughed at the groaner issued from the fair lips of Padumae, "Hold Me." Oyi ve! where are we? high school? comon people! the best dialogue is between Anakin and the soon to be emperor. I like a good bad guy, and this guy is down, way down. He makes used car salesmen look good. yikes! well anyway, he is convincing and devious, and thats what matters. I like his style, even if he is on the dark side. You can see the manipulation going on, even if Anakin is oblivious, he makes a perfect setup guy. anger fueled, suble direction, machiavelli power. ah I could go on. anyway. on the good side of the force, yoda is there to balance him out, selfless, and wise, its his leadership that salvages whats left of the jedi, umm himself, Obi-wan and hmm well not much else really. oh yes, two little sprouts, Luke and Leah.
I liked the duels, all six of them, especially Obi-wan vs. General Grevious. The Gen. is a veritable food slicer with all his appendages. Can I get that w/ the salad shooter attachment? I still don't understand, was he just a heart and a brain and a whole lot of metal?
Yoda and the emperor had a great duel that they appear rising up into the federation senate chambers on the center platform. It places the battle of good and evil in the context of the control of the federation and the people it governs. and as is shown, the senate is completely empty. a struggle for power that no one is there to witness or have say in.
anyway, the rest of the movie plays more like a soap opera. just trudging on like a tired horse. waiting for the sequel which will, I mean, started this whole long journey. As we see Anakin turned Darth Vader, fry to a crisp, more is revealed about the birth of the twins, and Darth Sidious gains control of the world, I mean universe. Eventually Darth Vader finds out that his woman died in childbirth just like he dreamed and he lets out an impassioned "Noooooooo!!!!" and then breaks some stuff with his mind. um its like a comic book anger that I was just waiting for and hoping would not happen. I was hoping for something a little more reserved and violent not impassioned and human. I think of Darth Vader and one of the ultimate bad guys, you don't like him because he wears a black hat and crushes people with his hands from long range because the report bad news. Its stuff that is so bad you clearly know its bad. not this Darth Vader. this is/ was a charachter that has feelings and emotions. And its too human. Well maybe thats what George Lucas wanted, someone you can relate to in this age of Dr Phil. Present a transformation and show what happens. We can see what a nice guy he was before, how he transitioned into a bad guy and what he turned out to be like in the next three episodes. Its a tough line to follow, to show a transformation effectively, beliveably. Not Cliche. its what sets good directors appart from the best directors.
my other thought is that the movie was tired and the plot was tired and the actors were tired and they just wanted to get finished. I mean its been 27 years right? of course back in the day the money did not just appear. and its anachronistic in that 4, 5, and 6 were made first. Now in the 6th episode, who cares how much you spend on a budget, right? George is finally in a position to do just that. spend money and do whatever he wants.
in the end does the movie tie up loose ends? yes. I really like it that we see the old school costuming of Vaders new minions. and I like the control panels in the room that Yoda, Obi-Wan and the other guy make plans to split up and 'disappear' for a while. they have the look and feel of a cheap budget set that is reminiscent of the first starwars movie, that as a grumpy old man I appreciate. (Back in my day...) I wonder if that was intentional or if I am streching.
does it drag on? yes. about 5 minutes into the fight scene between Obi-wan and Anakin, Becca leaned over and whispered is this movie over yet? I agreed.
Do I have a sense of completion? yes, I can now say I saw all 6 movies and am a better person for it. although we saw the trailers for the movie Narnia that comes out in Dec, and it looks hot. wow. I am marking my calendar.
thats about it for me. enjoy the movie if you havnt seen it. well, now that I have ruined it for you, I do appologize.
well anyway, I guess I can say that I saw the movie. hmm yea. thats about it. nothing really to say. The plot is good, the scenery and different creatures and droids are always cool to look at. other than that, in my opinion, not much else worth the six and a half bucks. I really did not like the acting and interaction between Anakin (sp?) and Padumae (sp?) its down right awful. cliche. contrived. yuck, Becca and I laughed at the groaner issued from the fair lips of Padumae, "Hold Me." Oyi ve! where are we? high school? comon people! the best dialogue is between Anakin and the soon to be emperor. I like a good bad guy, and this guy is down, way down. He makes used car salesmen look good. yikes! well anyway, he is convincing and devious, and thats what matters. I like his style, even if he is on the dark side. You can see the manipulation going on, even if Anakin is oblivious, he makes a perfect setup guy. anger fueled, suble direction, machiavelli power. ah I could go on. anyway. on the good side of the force, yoda is there to balance him out, selfless, and wise, its his leadership that salvages whats left of the jedi, umm himself, Obi-wan and hmm well not much else really. oh yes, two little sprouts, Luke and Leah.
I liked the duels, all six of them, especially Obi-wan vs. General Grevious. The Gen. is a veritable food slicer with all his appendages. Can I get that w/ the salad shooter attachment? I still don't understand, was he just a heart and a brain and a whole lot of metal?
Yoda and the emperor had a great duel that they appear rising up into the federation senate chambers on the center platform. It places the battle of good and evil in the context of the control of the federation and the people it governs. and as is shown, the senate is completely empty. a struggle for power that no one is there to witness or have say in.
anyway, the rest of the movie plays more like a soap opera. just trudging on like a tired horse. waiting for the sequel which will, I mean, started this whole long journey. As we see Anakin turned Darth Vader, fry to a crisp, more is revealed about the birth of the twins, and Darth Sidious gains control of the world, I mean universe. Eventually Darth Vader finds out that his woman died in childbirth just like he dreamed and he lets out an impassioned "Noooooooo!!!!" and then breaks some stuff with his mind. um its like a comic book anger that I was just waiting for and hoping would not happen. I was hoping for something a little more reserved and violent not impassioned and human. I think of Darth Vader and one of the ultimate bad guys, you don't like him because he wears a black hat and crushes people with his hands from long range because the report bad news. Its stuff that is so bad you clearly know its bad. not this Darth Vader. this is/ was a charachter that has feelings and emotions. And its too human. Well maybe thats what George Lucas wanted, someone you can relate to in this age of Dr Phil. Present a transformation and show what happens. We can see what a nice guy he was before, how he transitioned into a bad guy and what he turned out to be like in the next three episodes. Its a tough line to follow, to show a transformation effectively, beliveably. Not Cliche. its what sets good directors appart from the best directors.
my other thought is that the movie was tired and the plot was tired and the actors were tired and they just wanted to get finished. I mean its been 27 years right? of course back in the day the money did not just appear. and its anachronistic in that 4, 5, and 6 were made first. Now in the 6th episode, who cares how much you spend on a budget, right? George is finally in a position to do just that. spend money and do whatever he wants.
in the end does the movie tie up loose ends? yes. I really like it that we see the old school costuming of Vaders new minions. and I like the control panels in the room that Yoda, Obi-Wan and the other guy make plans to split up and 'disappear' for a while. they have the look and feel of a cheap budget set that is reminiscent of the first starwars movie, that as a grumpy old man I appreciate. (Back in my day...) I wonder if that was intentional or if I am streching.
does it drag on? yes. about 5 minutes into the fight scene between Obi-wan and Anakin, Becca leaned over and whispered is this movie over yet? I agreed.
Do I have a sense of completion? yes, I can now say I saw all 6 movies and am a better person for it. although we saw the trailers for the movie Narnia that comes out in Dec, and it looks hot. wow. I am marking my calendar.
thats about it for me. enjoy the movie if you havnt seen it. well, now that I have ruined it for you, I do appologize.
Saturday, May 21, 2005
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Monday, April 04, 2005
cool website
http://www.robertjblake.com/
I just helped this guy make changes to his travels.
thougth I might promote him, since he sounded like a nice person on the phone.
I just helped this guy make changes to his travels.
thougth I might promote him, since he sounded like a nice person on the phone.
Friday, April 01, 2005
untitled
I am speaking to a customer about the rules and restrictions associated with a hotel that he purchased on the website. unfortunately it is subject to 100% cost of stay penalty now that he has checked into the hotel. he is disputing it saying that he was missinformed as to the location and rules and restrictions.
he agreed to the hotel and charged for the rates. He is a major buisness owner, and will tell his friends
he is complaining that we will not help him. We are bound to the rules and restricitons of the hotel.
cannot refund money b/c it is non refundable.
call ends in frustrations, threats to tell friend of the bad service, thats his opinion and right.
no further action
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Smells in an office space
Today I am playing a game at work. its called What is that funky smell? Cause I know I showered today... work in a call center, there are about 50 stations and due to limitations in floorspace we have a policy called hot seating. this works like this. when an agent arrives for their shift they find an available seat and begin taking calls. its that simple. but it also casues a few problems like bacteria growth. but my problem is not with clean desks. I regularly disinfect my keyboard, mouse and work area with Lysol. I am probably a good candidate for a OCD label, or my co-workers just don't have that much interest in bacteria. of course I break my own rules of cleanliness, as I write I alternate writing and taking a bite out of the Big Mac next to my desk. Yes! using my grubby paws that have touched an office keyboard. I might as well roll around under the desk and clean the top of my monitor with the bun for flavor. I am an inconsistant person. This is my humanness. my problem is w/ personal hygene. a co-worker walks by and i signal her... Pssst Nejima, come over here... Do you smell something... umm... Funky? She stops and sniffs a little. Something smells? You smell something funny? This is loud enough so that the agents within 10 feet can hear. I try to give her the DL sign. the Down Low sign, because the last thing I want to do is offend and make people think I am a prude for expecting personal hygene from my co workers. Me casting judgement in my lowly position of average coworker? these are things that are handed down from management not from a fellow employee who have no say over what you do, how you do it and how high you jump. the nerve! I could not image if word got out that I was uptight. I think we have enough uptight people here anyway. I mean the job does kind of grate on you after a while. day in day out, I need to change my flights, cancel my hotel, what! I will not pay 100.00 to change my flight. your charging me 25 dollars to cancel my hotel!! no way.!! no ,I say, I mean something Funky. she looks around "lysol?" she says Obviously she is not smelling what I am smelling. Yes just a few minutes ago I sprayed lysol in the perimiter around my cube, kind of like a first line of defense, my personal Zone of Security to guard the homeland against terrorist smells. where is the Bush Freedom and Liberty Machine on this issue? I guess this job is stressful. and it raises a hypothesis about what the causes are if infact it is my coworkers who are offending. It starts with Stress. Stress raises the hearlevel increasing body temperature and heightens the senses. As sweat glands kickinto high gear secreting oils and phenomes the result is The Funk that pervades my air space. By now it is the middle of my work day, 5:00 pm. i have been here for 4:30 hours and my nose has gone numb to the smells around me. I catch faint whisps here and there but nothing big. I wonder if the co-worker has left. I am positive that it was a coworker and not something fermenting under a desk or in a trash can. I am getting used to my surrounding and the smell bothers me less. I have learned to cope with the irritation, what else can I do? Move to a new seat? spray more lysol. I work and I react to the things that happen around me but no more or less, I cannot get away from my surrounding and nor can I stop observing what happens around me and shut out bad smells. Earlier I sprayed Lysol for the second time just as my coworker Nejima happened to walk by. She laughed all the way back to her desk.
Saturday, March 19, 2005
I want to travel
Hey I just got off a call that lasted 20 min. I talked to a guy who is booking a trip to Prague. I know nothing about prague. I talked about Greece and Belgium instead. ohwell he shared some stores about his adventures as a college student in the 70s. it made me want to go to Europe for a month.
shoot. here I am stuck at my job. heres to hoping...
Work Sucks
I am tired of this job. I am tired of the low pay and the bad hours. I wanted a career, something that I could do, successfully.
that I might beable to improve upon, unfortunately i am in a deadend job. there is no hope no future. I am tired and tired and want to look for a job but don't have the energy. My time is committed to taking calls and working. I really want to leave and find a new place to work. I don't like the amount of calls that I have to take, the attitude of callers, the loss of control of my time, no end in sight of the calls that I take, Not being able to see a future. pressure to perform. There has to be something better out there. I want to leave and not comeback. I am tired. very tired.
day off tomorrow
I am just waiting to get out of work. I cannot wait. tomorrow is my day off. I am going to try fixing my computer, and play soccer in the evening. so many things at work I would love to write about, but am so busy here.
Joel
Monday, March 14, 2005
life at work
what a day very busy here at work, pushing buttons and calling people. what a hoot. I am tired and ready for the weekend. Tomorrow I play soccer and try to fix my computer
Joel
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
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