Things of Note

Had a wonderfully encouraging service last night. We just sang and prayed for people. The prayer time was really powerful! After it, we worshipped again and I sang a psalm (something I don't do very often). I have to say that I am fully aware that I am not really a great vocalist or really even a good one, but I really felt it was from the Lord and so I was totally without any fear whilst singing it (a new feeling for me). Several people thanked me for it afterwards, which is nice, but it always leaves you wondering if they just felt they had to say something because it was so horrible and you need cheering up or if they really did appreciate it. Guess that is one of those things you will never really know the answer to. Anyway, church was wonderful and encouraging.
Hmmm... not really any other things of note right now. (At least none that I would feel comfortable putting up in a forum this public.) So that's it for today... boring, HUH?

Pretty pic of mine, because this post is so boring... sorry.

Seeing Green

I had quite a day today! I have not ever dealt with that much cash! (Of course, it wasn't really that much... but oh, well.) Had to deal with the cashouts for the last 11 days of fur sales at the Shoppers Forum Mall. It went fairly smoothly but it took all day! I had to start with tech stuff... setting up another computer ended up involving finding a KVM switch and a network router and all the cables etc. By the time I had both machines up and running, it was 10:30 am! Everything really went fairly well and it was fun to count that much cash and prepare a sizeable deposit.
Am I a metrosexual or an ubersexual? That is the question of the evening. Had a big house talk tonight about sexuality and our own orientations. It ended in a quick internet search because apparently none of us knew the true definitions or all the possibilities for classifying one another. Metrosexuals (like David Beckham, for instance) are men who are flamboyant, style conscious, effeminent and trendy to the point of appearing to be gay but do not actually have homo preferences. I thought initially that I pretty well fit into this category until I read more. As it turns out, metros are pretty much only interested in themselves and although they don't have a secure ID, they crave attention and dedicate their lives to their own image. I don't really prioritize my image enough to fit into this class of males. Learned tonight of a new brand of masculinity: ubersexuality. The uber is traditionally interested in his appearance and passes himself off to be soft and tender but is still quite masculine and is not totally focused on his own image. He is a gentleman (hmm) and finds others interesting too. I have to say, after fully exploring the possibilities, I don't really think I fit any one category, but I'd like to think that I am more of an uber than a metro. (One plus for my theory... I live far from any metro areas and so many of the activities of the metro are simply not available to me like: avid shopping, mani/pedi's, hair salons, day spas etc.) Cast your vote about what you think I might be (if you know me) by leaving a comment expressing your opinion.
My eBay auctions are off to a good start: five and a half days to go and two of the three have bids! Cheers.
Anthony, Hannah, Nathan, Jinni & Steven returned today... YEAH! I sat with J & S at dinner and we had a pleasant time. Lewis has supposedly also returned today although I have not seen him yet. Guess the big H is over. HOORAY!
Pete & Abby have been working on this big puzzle for almost a week and we all worked on it last night. Jessica and I worked quite late trying to finish the waterfall that runs down the middle of it. We finally had a continuous strip of waterfall and were gonna stop when I went and dumped the whole thing on the floor. This might not have happened if it hadn't been on such a flimsy board that had to be precariously carried down to the basement to be stored out of the reach of the little childrens' hands. During this fateful trip a treacherous part of the wall bumped into the board and the whole thing tipped. It fell all to pieces almost totally... completely obliterating all our hard work! It was such a calamitous blow and I was so tired that I laughed for like 15 minutes while picking up all the pieces. So, now that we have wasted a week's time, we will embark on the very same project again! How exciting can that be?
Guess that is all. WMFYL

On Christmas and other thoughts

Well, it is once again Christmas Day and unlike usual I am actually off today (because it is Sunday). I have been reminded this whole month how foolish this occasion is. I guess some people have a wonderful time with family (which I am all for) and so I am happy for them, but the rest of this holiday hype is for the birds! First off, the commercialization of this brief holiday, is disgusting. I have never celebrated Christmas (my parents are christian and think of this as being a pagan holiday) so I do not miss it, and I am repulsed by the whole affair. To one looking on at this ludicrous event, Christmas is an excuse to spend billions on gifts that no one really wants or are the wrong size or are for recipients who had such high expectations of what Santa might bring that nothing affordable will even be appreciated. It is also a time to lie to children while trying to teach them that a mystical oversized sleigh rider made a secret midnight delivery of presents to the good little children all over the world. It is also a time to overeat and see if we can become more like the giant, jolly, mystical creature: Santa Claus. Lastly, it is a time for inane songs to be sung over and over again until any right-thinking person could just scream about the repetition, never mind the foolish lyrics. Well, I can't say that I have any real convictions against this silly event called a holiday, but I also don't really see any sense in it. Christmas is a time for all the smart people in the world to show how stupid they are and all the less gifted ones to demonstrate their heritage. What if everyone just boycotted this foolish event? What would happen to this world? Who knows? Guess I'll start with my rewrite of one of those foolish songs called a carol (why?):

I shot Santa Claus!
I shot Santa Claus!
Right on Santa Claus Lane!
Vixen and Blitzen and all his reindeer
Are staring at his brains.
Lights are beaming, children screaming;
All is scarry and bright.
Hang your stockings and say your prayers,
'Cause Santa Claus dies tonight.

I shot Santa Claus!
I shot Santa Claus!
Right on Santa Claus Lane!
He's got what's coming to him
for all his foolish vim.
Hear those church bells jingle jangle,
What a beautiful sight.
Jump out of bed, clear your head,
'Cause Santa Claus dies tonight.

Okay, well I think I have vented enough for this season... I hate this foolish holiday and how long we have to be hyped up over it (it is over a month of solid carols and crap about presents and sales etc!).
Let's see, what else it going on today. I am relisting my eBay auctions... hope they sell this time. I am kinda tired and want to sleep, but I have quite a few other things to do. I need to go make some new shelves for my room. I have been talking about doing that for a while now, but have never managed to get it done. I also should be studying for the SAT. I have been out of school for four and half years now and feel I must study in order not to do very poorly on it... but I hate studying for tests! ARRGH!
I seem to not have much on the brain right now except all the other things I should be doing... guess I should go and work on them. So that is it for now.

Credits:
No real people were shot in the making of this blog post.
The author does not condone shooting Santa Impersonators or any other murders for that matter.
If you are enjoying (and celebrating) Christmas, the author wishes only the best for you and yours and hopes you got what you wanted, weren't fooled about it's origin and enjoyed the time off with your significant others.
Signed: The Author

Dabbling in Clarity

Boj, you aren't the only one searching for clarity, I just didn't know how blurry my path was until it was clarified with new glasses. Finally had an eye appointment and the doctor confirmed what the DMV had said, that I needed glasses to drive. I got some nice Oakley glasses yesterday and was surprised at how crisp and sharp everything was. Nearsightedness (my malady) is weird because when things are close enough, I can see them perfectly clearly and so I didn't realize how blurry things in the distance were in comparison with what I should be able to see. I feel like a new person when wearing them, although I can only handle them outside (or in bigger places... they are too strong for close projects and give me a headache when I am focusing on things right in front of me). I am having a slight difficulty adjusting to this new found clarity but it is worth it and I am once again legal driving!

Took this myself, so excuse it, but here they are on me. :)

Sorry it has been so long since my last post, but the week at SM got really busy at the end. I didn't even have time to check email, never mind blog. Anyway, I am home now, and life can return to normal (what is that, anyway?). Speaking of SM, it is really weird to be up there with only three guys! We all worked the North Pole accounts and even at that, had a fairly easy week. I had a great time with Jason and my Uncle Richard, so that was nice, but with only three guys, you have to do a lot more around the house just to keep up. We each cooked twice and the house upkeep is more demanding, but such is life and at least we won't have to go as often this way.
Let's see, what else is new? Oh, yeah, did well on eBay last week. Found an Armani suit at VVs for $34.99 it was a little short on me and it was olive green which I can't wear but it was otherwise in great condition, so I bought it and sold it last week on eBay for $75.56. I was pleased to more than double my money. The rest of my auctions ended without any bids... hopefully they will do better next time after a few small revisions. We'll see.
My computer has begun acting senile again. It keeps reminding me that euthanasia is the best policy for electronic devices. I would dearly love to replace it, but I keep spending all my money. Gonna have to start saving... it is always expensive to put something of such importance down and replace it with a younger version! My current plan (if I can ever get all my debt paid off) is to allow myself $10 a month for spending and put the rest of my meager allowance (FF) into savings toward some new (and nicer) things.
Can't believe that I have two 80 gig harddrives nearly full! I have a pile of electronic crap! Soon I will have to burn some of this stuff and clear some space. Never thought it would come to this... harsh!
Been thinking lately about one of the two commandments that Christ gave us: "Love your neighbor as yourself." How can I really do that? I mean, I like to think of myself as a fairly considerate and nice person (after you barf, feel free to comment otherwise) but seriously, I think about myself, and do an awful lot for myself, how is it even possible to love and care for all my neighbors that much. It is a very unnatural feeling to love anyone else that much, never mind everyone you are surrounded by. Let's face it, "neighbor" doesn't just mean the people you know and who love you back, it means everyone close to you and could even mean everyone you have met. How is it possible to love people that you don't really know? I have a long way to go here. Just goes to show that I really do need a new nature in order to accomplish what God is requiring of me. Well, that is all for now. Yada, yada... it is all a blur until you can see clearly!

For blog's sake....

If I were to record what I was thinking most of the day, it would not be a good thing. This is the problem with having your diary public. It is nice to be able to get to it anywhere there is internet and a computer, but it is kinda sad that anyone can read it. I've learned the hard way that whenever I have a bad time with people I know, I cannot publish it in my blog or they find out about it and it strains the relationship even worse. The upshot: today's post contains nothing of what my day was really like. (That should give you a vague idea of my current mental status.)
Had a revelation tonight at work: I haven't had an original thought in a long time. Then realized that this premise was self defeating because it was an original thought. Whatever, I thought it was proof of how weirded out my mind is right now.
I think I should go get some sleep. Zzzzz Maybe I'll feel better in the morning.

A hairdryer in a car crash

Hello blog! I did not really mean to make this a movie review, but I just watched King Kong and I have to say that Peter Jackson is probably the most amazing man in moving pictures (ever). Okay, well I don't really know that, but this moving picture was incredible! An absolute smash hit. I will say no more about it in order to encourage you to watch it for yourself. A+
Went out for coffee today and (totally uncharacteristic for me) ordered an Americano. I surprised myself by actually enjoying it immensely. I started drinking coffee black about a month ago in order to cut the fat calories from cream and the horrid toxins in cream substitutes, but this was a landmark because I actually drank a latte without the milk! Well, I'm still in shock about this so I have little else to say about it for now. I might keep you posted on my coffee habits from time to time (is that a threat?).... Hmm.
Work was droll last night. I was kinda dragging and tired, but it didn't matter because there was little to do and so we still got done at a decent hour. And I got to work with Emerson W. E. and we had fabulously funny time. On the way home we were stuck at the intermineable light on the Mitchell and decided to get out and dance in the headlights. We laughed so hard I hurt my stomach and we had a blast watching the faces of the bewildered passersby. It was such a laugh that I might do that again sometime. Anyway, the night passed away quickly and no one seemed to miss it in its absence. Will have to wait to see what the rest of this week will hold in that regard, but I am sad to see Willy leaving.
Feel a little bad because I had to cancel my plans with Angela (and Micaela, Esther & Amy). But they were going to go to the theatre at 3:45 and I have dinner at 4:30 and work at 6. Then we were going to just go to lunch before I had to split with them. But I got too excited about theatre-going and went there instead of going to lunch. I kinda wish I had waited for another day to go to the theatre and spent some time with them. Too bad, guess that opportunity is gone for good now. Anyway, hope they had a good day. And I don't feel too bad because I really had a nice time and truly enjoyed the show.
John and Seth returned from their class in California today. They had quite a time getting home too. At least they arrived safely. Their plane's engine fell off on the run way (hence the title of this post) but after 4 hours of mechanics and switching planes and queing etcetera, they made it safely into the air and back down again in Fairbanks. What a harrowing experience! Glad to have them back.
There is a major cover up going on right now locally. There was a major accident with an oil tanker and a pickup on the hill that descends to the bridge over the Tanana. The tanker sprung a leak and gallons of fuel spilled all over the local ecosystems (some even escaping into the river). Cleanup happened immediately and fairly quickly but the newspapers have yet to report about this. This all happened on Friday afternoon. It is now Sunday and still no word from the foolish local press. Anyway, you heard it hear first (if you were listening) SO THERE! I have exposed the seedy underbelly of a massive coverup op... but who cares or will notice. Whatever. It was a jolly good emergency as far as they go.
Well, I really have little else to say and should be helping with dinner (and eating it) so I must go. Sorry no pictures in this post... I can't think of what would be appropriate and I don't have the time to find it anyway. Guess that is about it for now.

And so it goes (to SM this week)

Well, I am off to ServiceMaster for the week again. I don't really have any plans this week so hopefully it will be quite and restful. We shall see.
Had a good talk with David yesterday about all the work I have and many other things too. The upshot is that we need to have a board meeting with all the members of WCA's board and decide what projects are priority and how much time to devote to them. Otherwise it will continue to eat up me whole life! Blimee!
Service this morning was about being refined in the fire and coming out as gold. It was a good topic and Verna caught my attention with her confirmation about the three Hebrew boys in the book of Daniel. She was saying how we usually can handle going into the big fires or tests but the everyday life ones we often avoid. She mentioned how the guards were killed by the fire in the ancient story, but the three who were thrown into it came out without even the scent of smoke on them because they were confident, not of God's being able to deliver them from the fire, but His being able to deliver them from the wicked king. Since they were able to give up their natural self preservation tendencies and place their faith in God, they were met by the fourth man in the fire and He caused them to walk through it unscathed. Anyway, I thought it was really true that when we choose to just skirt the fire, we are burned and maybe even die in that place. But when we embrace the test and walk right into the fire with our trust in God, the fourth man appears and we are saved even from the stench of it.
Whitestone is abuzz right now about a Yahoo! group called "Sam Fife" or something like that. It is apparently hosted and frequented by many "victims" of community. I have not joined because the shear volume of emails requires more time than I have and the demons running these people will never be convinced by me anyway so it is hopeless. But, I have heard much about the things that are being spoken of and it is quite funny and laughable. I guess my question for these sorts is: Why did you ever join communities in the first place if you have such vitriolic responses about them? And the other question is: Don't you have anything better to do with your lives? I mean seriously, let's face it, if there really is such a thing as a victim of community, it is people who have decided to leave it behind but can never move on. Sadly, these are really just victims of their own stupidity (not community) because their issues all reside in the fact that they are apparently not bright enough to learn how to put something in the past and go on with their lives. It is a very immature response that really is a little sad. I think if these people could just get a job and a couple of hobbies they might be able to forget all their pent up spite and hatred. But I guess they aren't smart enough to know how to have fun and can only live in what they themselves recognize as a mire. Anyway, whatever!
My work (research) for www.rikas.com and www.whitestonefurs.com is fast proving to be a waste of time. SAD! I would dearly love to see an improvement here and have them be integrated with our POS and inventory tracking software, but the costs of moving forward are sky-rocketing and the likelihood is plummeting in their wake. I don't know what will happen next, but I am already annoyed at the lack of time/support to make them a viable extension of the business.
News Flash: According to the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, there has been a rash of mailbox thefts. It is not the boxes in danger, but their contents. Of course, this is a federal offence, but someone is out there even as I write stealing people's mail! TRAGIC! Some tips to prevent this: Know when your mail arrives and get it immediately. (If you see me dashing out of the house at a mail man, I am not attacking him, just trying to save my mail.) Organize a locked, central delivery location in your neighborhood. (I have already tried to call a neighborhood meeting for this purpose but there has been little support... I just don't think people are aware the graveness of this threat. Or maybe it is one of the neighbors who is the horrid culprit!) Buy a mailbox with a lock. (I did this immediately... it is a great feature! The other day... before the postman had a key, he was there in the cold for hours trying to get my mail in and out of my box... he finally left it on the ground. Sadly, it was stolen from there. But at least the mailbox was safe! Thank heavens! And now I have the only key so the mailman just has to come find me and deliver my mail in person. I am safe, my mail is safe, and my mailbox has been untouched for weeks! I suggest this solution!)

Okay, enough foolishness. I just can't believe the stupidity around me, but here I go showing my own idiocy in not having anything better to do than rant on this blog. Sorry this post is so long... it is entertaining me while my comforter dries. As soon as it is out of the dryer I can go take a nap. I hope it dries soon. Well... till next time.

Siblings & the Mystery of the Improbability Drive

Today was a very busy day at work... didn't even stop for lunch. Ironically, I did almost nothing. My day consisted of watching Jeremy work and trying to figure out what the heck he was doing. I wish I felt like I had learned something... but oh well, that is what the rest of my life is for. "If we stop learning we die." - Important Person
Thankfully work is all a thing of the past right now (until tomorrow). I have actually been thinking about siblings today. I have four and have the wonderful ability to move from loving them deeply one moment to wanting to kill them the next. The weird thing is that recently I have just been totally bewildered by them (or is it me?). I mean, I'm the oldest and was the first to move out of the house (it has been almost 3 years since I did) and they all are totally ecstatic to see me every time they do. It's weird because I can't say I feel the same way. I don't hate them or dislike them or anything dreadful like that... they just don't really figure that largely into my current life since they are all in school and I am not. Anyway, I kind of regret not being more attached to them, but don't know what is even missing exactly so I can't work on it. Maybe everything is fine. I do feel like I am able to be kind and even have fun with them when we are together... I just lack what they all seem to have: a burning desire to be together more often. I guess I am just satisfied with my space currently. (Abby, Rachel, Esther and/or Joel, if you are reading this... don't worry, I do so love you and am flattered at the amount which you all seem to love me, if there is a problem it is probably all mine. I'm just writing my thoughts in my diary here.)

My siblings: Abigail, Rachel, Esther and Joel (oldest to youngest)

Speaking of space, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy really is pretty funny. I have seen it twice now and I think I am most fond of the whale that is created by the infinite improbability drive out the thermonuclear warhead. Something about that whole concept and the way it was filmed is funny in the extreme. Although it is quite foolish (just as the book of the same title) I found it entertaining and funny. Certainly nothing to complain about, but I doubt I'd watch it again.
Well, I have one bid on the suit I have on eBay and am hoping for many more in the next five days. Which reminds me, I was supposed to list some more things tonight... guess that will have to wait. It is late so I am going to bed... goodnight all (any who might read this at an appropriate time of day for that phrase) to the rest of you: till next time!

When I should be working...

Well, I should be working right now, but I don't really know where to go next. Have you ever had the feeling like there is just so much to do that it is unclear where to start? That is what I am feeling now.

This is a view from where I am at... Light at the end of the tunnel.

When all else fails, I guess it is time to do something totally unrelated to see if I can make heads or tails of where to go next.
On a different note, Bill said something this morning that caught my attention and I am trying to mull it over. He drilled that scripture into Steven and I in highschool that we are to possess our vessels in sanctification and honor. This morning he correctly assessed that we would still remember that and then ventured that we may not really know what it meant. I began wondering if I did know what that meant. One thing I do know is that something will possess your body to fill a natural void there. Our minds are naturally looking for something to fill them. Maybe possessing your vessel in sanctification and honor means choosing to fill your mind and soul with God and things holy. Whatever, at least my brain is working on that question and hopefully God will help it come up with something true and useful soon.
On a totally separate subject, Steve keeps pushing me to make some progress on the WCA community plan and the website. I feel totally over my head here too. Hopefully I will be able to have a sane conversation with Jeremy about it all and come up with a content management system and get started.
Sorry for the randomness of this post... my brain seems to function much better in random mode. Lastly, I thought the Narnia movie was largely worth watching. I was disturbed by the one deviation from the story line. Particularly the bizarre river/iceberg scene. This deviation and its subsequently added scenes were very unrealistic and unbelievable, they not only deviated from the storyline but from the tone of the book itself because they made it out to be a very hopeless and surprising chance that the children survived to meet Aslan instead of close call with a foregone conclusion of the possibility of success. That said, the movie as a whole what very entertaining and I liked it and would recommend it to any Narnia lover. The upshot: it was not perfect, but I wouldn't let that stop you from watching it as it is still a wonderful, entertaining and surprisingly realistic depiction of the book. Hope they put out the rest of them and get a little better at their finished computer generated graphics as some creatures had the appearance of not really be finished/real.
Well, enough thoughts for now. I must go back to work and then to lunch.

Hi Again

I have decided to begin blogging again! Yipee. This time, I am not here to vent all my mental turmoil. Just sort of like keeping a diary.
Recently, I've been asked to help Diane Folaron with the websites: www.whitestonefurs.com and www.rikas.com. I am disatisfied with the package we are currently using and so I have been researching a better, more upgradeable and more customizable package. It turns out that it will be a large amount of work to switch, but since when has that ever frightened me?
News: I am finally caught up on WCA books! It was quite a project to recover all the data that was lost, but it is now all caught up. Hopefully mostly correctly and I have my files in order. My bookkeeping instructor from Anchorage was to have come today in order to check it out, but since the road went, she rescheduled for January 17th. I think it will all be totally in order by then.
Speaking of January, that is going to be one hell of a busy month! I have my wisdom teeth out on the 12th, a meeting with my instructor the 17th, the school's performance to video the 19th, convention immediately following and then my SAT date is the 28th. It should be interesting.
Well, that is what I am thinking about right now. I will try to be more frequent in my postings. Although, who knows, with me. Cheers! Oh, and bye the bye, the road is back... YIPEE!

The view I have when walking home (or driving).