Zuzuland

Soup: Potluck Edition.

2011-01-30T17:42:00.001-05:00

There was a soup potluck at church today...with eight different varieties of homemade soups brought in by several different ladies from the congregation. Chicken noodle, turkey, lentil...along with the kinds that I can't eat...minestrone sausage, beef stew, beef chili, potato chowder, salmon chowder.

I think I love soup more than I hate clothes shopping.

Five bowls of soup. And a tuna salad sandwich on the side. With two or three brownies for desert.

'Nuff said.

Profession of Hatred

2011-01-29T22:29:00.005-05:00

Just thought that I should put into writing a truth that has defined my existence since forever:

I hate clothes shopping.

Clothes are, in of themselves, alright...and I will stoop so far as to admit that it's fun to find something that I feel comfortable in or that I think looks good on me. But, shopping for them is pain. Pain. Whenever I find myself in need of some new clothing, be it a new pair of jeans to replace an old and ratty pair, or a new dress shirt to wear in the place of one that lost a fight with a bowl of spaghetti, the process of shopping for my new article of clothing is inevitably about twenty times longer than it should be. If that weren't bad enough, this ridiculously long process rarely results in my obtaining all the items I need. Therefore, it is loathed by yours truly.

For example, looking for a shirt usually goes something like this:

Found a shirt in the style I was looking for...but all the colors left are in garish hues such as lime green and hot pink.
Hey, here's some properly colored shirts...but the styles make them look like they were designed by a drunken clothing artist who was also on crack at the time.
Oh look, here are some shirts that are exactly what I was looking for, with good style and color...but they're all XL, XXL, XXXL, or XXXXXXXXXL.
Gasp...I'll never find what I was looking for...HEY!! I think this one will work!!! (reads price) SIXTY BUCKS FOR A LOUSY T-SHIRT?!?!
All hope is lost, I'll never...whoa...WHOA. THIS SHIRT. THIS SHIRT IS THE RIGHT STYLE AND COLOR...IT'S A MEDIUM...AND IT'S ON SALE FOR A RESPECTABLE PRICE!!!!!
Better go try this on just to make sure (does so). Well, whaddya know...this shirt is baggier/tighter than a medium should be, and it fits in an awkward way that makes me look (fill in the blank with an adjective of your choice that has the general idea of "stupid")

Of course, I'm posting this because I went clothes shopping today. It wasn't as bad as it usually is, because this time Andrew and my dad put in requests for clothes. Thus, I got Andrew and my dad a combined total of about $120 worth in clothes, and only $18 for myself. Why? Well, part of it was that I wasn't the one paying for the clothes, so the money had nothing really to do with it (though all their clothes were for really good prices, being on sale and/or clearance). No, the real reason I got them so much is they're bigger than me...so all those way-too-big shirts are just right on them! :D

So yes, when clothes shopping is productive, I don't mind it as much. But the fact still remains, clothes shopping bears the mark of my hatred.

A Different Me

2011-01-29T01:19:00.002-05:00

Well hello there, strange blogger world of my youth. It has been quite a while since we last met. So long, in fact, that I have aged about two and a half years...and am thus an old geezer now. Alas and alack, such is the way of life.

As a result of my newfound geezer-dom, my blogging shall be quite different from what it was. Less article-like, and now geared towards being written more than towards being read. Oh, and it will also tend to avoid the long rambles I had a penchant for back in the day. Don't know if I'll ever feel comfortable writing a journal that everyone can read, but I definitely need some new outlet for my thoughts. Consider yourself warned!

Anyhow, for those of you that may be wondering, this sudden return to blogging comes as a result of nostalgia for days long ago; a nostalgia brought about by the timely reminder of some fans of stupid lego videos I may or may not have had a part in :) (told you I was a geezer!). Turns out, going back to my blog to re-watch the director's cut of the timeless classic and checking out Face to the Sunshine's new and improved blog reminded me of just how much fun I had....and made me realize that blogging could be just the outlet I need, since I have the very uncharacteristic urge to write a journal but feel like that would make me lose some serious man-points. Along with the fact that I type faster than I write.

Plus, this will be the perfect release area for the next installment of aforementioned stupid lego videos. >:D

Let's see how long this blogging urge lasts...until it runs out, prepare for a different Zuzusmoosher.

(P.S--My background has a picture of cells under a microscope. It is thus 1000x more awesome.)

Nicholas...Nickleby?

2008-07-03T22:47:00.002-04:00

Here's that big, meaty, and juicy post I promised you. I think it's long overdue.

So, just by way of introduction to this soon-to-be-hefty post, three weeks ago my family took a small camping trip up in the White Mountains for a few days. It was just a time to relax and lie around, so we didn't do very much, but one thing we did do was check out this "Antique Book Store" that was right next to the campground. Book shopping and video game shopping are the only two times you will ever see me actually enjoying shopping, and this book shopping was no exception. I think I could have spent hours in that shop, just looking at the beautiful old books lined up on the shelf. I actually did spend hours in the shop, and got a book I've been looking for for a while (an old hardbound copy of all the Leatherstocking Tales, though that's a post for another day). So, since pretty much all of my family enjoyed the book shopping, we checked out another little book store nearby, where I got a two-volume copy of Charles Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby (I picked the book because I like Dickens' work and I figured a book with my name on the cover couldn't be too bad :D).

Ok, now to the meaty goodness of the post.

I should hope you've at least heard of Charles Dickens, though you should've read one of his books as well. So, under the assumption that you have not lacked a decent education in literature, I will merely say that he wrote classics that were both very popular when he wrote them and still are decently popular, considering their age. Why were his books so popular?

Well, to really understand that, you'd need to read his writing. Just make sure it's unabridged.

Dickens always writes with a certain sympathy for the common, downtrodden person, and usually always assumes such a person's viewpoint for his story. So, since most of us are common people, we can all sympathize with the character and go through their struggles as if they were our own.

But, for me at least, the best part of Dickens' writing isn't what he writes, it's how he writes.

When Dickens describes a character, he doesn't make the mistake of most other authors by giving a long, painstaking description of how they look, of what they like to do, of the way they think, and so forth. He does give some description, of course, but as to the person's character, he generally gives you a little hint as to what they're like, and then lets the way they behave in the story show you exactly what they're like.

And when it comes to the main character, he lets you know exactly what he's like to the point where it seems like you no longer are entering the main character's head, he's entering yours. Sounds strange when put like that, but really what I mean is you so fully sympathize and empathize with the character, that when you begin to react in the same way as the character to different situations that arise, you wonder whether it's because you always would have reacted like that, or because you're so fully bonded with the character that you feel his triumphs and despairs as keenly as if they were your own.

Dickens also tends to over-emphasize his characters' traits, stressing one aspect of their personality as much as possible. It would seem at first that this would be annoying, but in reality, it's so like real life, with each person having some unusual aspect to them, that the characters become very believeable and real. And it also adds a little humor to what would otherwise be a very dry character.

Speaking of humor, I think I found the genius version of my own.

Although I hate putting myself in any way, shape, or form on the same plane as a literary genius like Dickens, I have to say, at times his humor reminded me of something I'd add into a more humorous post. He injects a subtle sarcasm, a manner of stating something with perfect seriousness that you know isn't serious by the sheer ridiculousness of it, a way of indirectly stating word-for-word what the person said without actually quoting them, a tendency to have certain characters make fun of themselves or people outside the book in a subtle yet obvious way (by the way, the only one of those aspects listed above that I claim any tie to is the slight sarcasm). Dickens also likes to make up his own words to explain something in that one word that would either have taken much longer to explain or would never have added the same mildly sarcastic humor to the statment (a couple of my favorites are "...after much speechifying..." and "...how the accused man evilly, cruelly, dastardly, and otherwise evil-adverbiously deceive such-and-such a person...") I mean, how often are you going to read a 19th-century author using words that you'd usually make up when joking around with friends?

Good stuff.

So yeah, I finished that 999-page, two-volume hardbound copy of Nicholas Nickleby a couple weeks ago. Very good reading, although if you're reading Dickens for the first time I'd suggest A Tale of Two Cities first. It's shorter, more action-packed and just as excellently written (that book is actually how I found out I liked Dickens' work so much).

Thus, if you find yourself wondering what kind of book to read next, take my suggestion, grab one of Charles Dickens' books, it'll be worth it.

Your Eyes Do Not Decieve You...

2008-07-03T21:58:00.005-04:00

Whoa.

What's this? What could it mean? Where did it come from? How did it get here?

Is it...Could it be...A post?!

Yes, it is! Oh the joy that floods within your soul as you gaze upon this long-lost treasure that has eluded you for so long! At last, after more than two long months, this wondrous item has resurfaced once more! You kick your reading into high gear, ready to swallow up whatever you can glean from it, before it too disappears into oblivion...

No, I don't actually think that you're really that excited. In fact, if you're reading this, I'd be surprised that you even bothered to check this blog anymore.

Anyway, where to begin, where to begin. Hmmmmmm. So many choices, so much bloggable goodness. So little time...

Ah, well, I suppose that I should probably give at least one reason for my absence...

So yeah, I've been very busy recently working on a cure for cancer.

...Really.

No, I'm not joking. This is actually perfectly honest. Well, perfectly honest when you take into consideration that this isn't my cure for cancer, I'm working for the doctor working on this intended cure. But I still am working on a cure for cancer.

Yep. Remember that job I mentioned earlier, about working in a research lab in the summer? Well, now it's summer, and now I'm working in the lab. Every day since Monday, I've been waking up around 6:45, driving to the train station at Sullivan Square, and riding the train to the research lab at Brigham and Women's Hospital so that I can get there by 9:00 and leave around six.

Guess how much I make every day? Somewhere around -$10.00 a day.

Yes, that's a negative sign. I have no experience in lab work, and only a high school education, so it would be near impossible to get a paying job like this right now. So, what with parking and train tickets and gas, I end up losing more than $10 every day. But, on the plus side, I'm learning tons (I already filled up 11 pages of notes in my four days there!). And I'm also learning how much I like the medical field. I'm actually enjoying all the time and money I'm putting into it. I see it kinda like a free summer course. I'm learning more than I could have had I signed up for a normal summer course, and I'm getting job experience to boot, which will look great for medical school and will help me land a paying job in the near future.

However, in the process, I'm waking up really early and coming home around 7 or 8. Not too fun, and that leaves me with almost no time.

So, sorry about that rambling, somewhat aimless and rather self-centered post. But I gotta start somewhere, y'know.

Big, meaty, and juicy post in the works.

I'm Back Again! Now Bye!

2008-04-21T22:48:00.002-04:00

Yes, I've been gone.

Yes, I've apologized many times about being gone without doing anything about it.

Yes, I have excuses.

Yes, I'm going away again.

I haven't had any time for blogging whatsoever, what with a Calculus AP test coming in three Wednesdays, a violin piece to nail down before our school's French Café night, two plays to nail down for the same, a drama performance following that, a choral performance on the same night, and fundraisers every weekend for my class's senior trip.

Speaking of which, I'll be gone tomorrow at 2 pm and on my way to sunny California, not to return until late next Wednesday night.

Which means I'll only have a day and a half to nail down the violin piece and the two plays for French Café. Only four days after that to finish reviewing for the Calculus AP exam (a lot rides on my doing well on this test: if i get a high enough grade, I don't have to take the course in college). Only a week or two after that for Fine Arts night. And then I graduate, have the month of June off, and start work in Boston on July 1st, go on a missionary trip to Nova Scotia on the 2nd week of July, come back and work, and, come the end of August, start college.

Whoop-dee-do.

If you see very much of me on this blog, savor it, cuz it'll be a rare ocurrance.

Sorry 'bout that.

WaHoo!

2008-03-29T10:24:00.002-04:00

Just a somewhat late update on some important events for me.

Last Friday, I got the two things I've been wanting (and at times felt like I was needing) for a long, long time. Two things that open up worlds of new freedom--Driver's license and a cell phone.

So yes, I am quite happy right now.

And I'm cured of my stomach sickness, so I'm even happier.

Sigh, Gasp, Moan, Groan

2008-03-27T15:09:00.002-04:00

Finally able to make it to school today after having the stomach bug from Sunday night to yesterday.

Missed homework waiting for me. Test tomorrow on notes I only caught up on today. Stomach still kinda queasy.

Despair...hopelessness...utter loss............not really, but still.

So, though I want to post, all you're getting is:

*sighgaspmoangroan*

I'm Baaaaaaack!

2008-03-19T16:03:00.003-04:00

I know what you're thinking. This is a post written to apologize for not posting enough, something I apologized for in my last apologetic post.

Well, I can't blame you for thinking that, what with the title and the fact that I haven't posted for a while and all; but in fact, I don't really feel the need to apologize for not posting.

*Gasp* you say? How could I be so callous and un-remorseful after repeating the offense, you ask? Why did I take the time to apologize before for the same thing, whilst now I brush it off like I did absolutely nothing wrong, you wonder?

Because, in all honesty, the only thing I should apologize for is not warning you about my going to Washington D.C. for a class trip last week.

Phew, I haven't seared my blogging conscience yet.

So yes, I was gone from Thursday 1 o'clock PM to Monday 10 o'clock PM on a quite enjoyable class trip to first Philadelphia and then our great nation's capital. Good stuff. Before you start getting angry with me as you realize that I didn't warn you about such an event interrupting my intended resurgence in blogging, let me offer the excuse that I had every intention of doing so. However, on Wednesday, I caught strep throat, which complicated things, and sapped any time I had that could have gone to a short 2 minute post of notification.

Yes, I got strep throat. Not what you want to get the night before you leave on a class trip. Not that you ever want to get it, but right then was a really bad time. I knew I was starting something that day in school, and as it kept getting worse, I could tell right away it was strep (remember one of my excuses for previous absence? I had had strep throat, and that was only three weeks before I had gotten it on Wednesday, so the feeling was still fresh in my head.) Anyhow, I knew I needed to get an appointment so I could get antibiotics before the trip, otherwise there was no way I was going to be able to go. Problem was, our doctor's office had no openings before the intended journey. So we had to get an appointment with a similar office in Burlington, which took up a lot of time to get to. Anyway, we got there and I got the meds, and since strep throat stops being contagious after 24 hours on the antibiotics, I was good to go. Six or seven hours of germs wasn't going to kill anyone on the trip (don't worry, none of them caught it). So I got to enjoy cramming myself in with the 13 other people and luggage in a 15-passenger van, and getting to see Washington D.C. (I've seen it before, but not as much of it). Good trip. Lotsa stuff happened, enough that I don't feel like writing it all down, but suffice it to say things were never boring.

Anyway, I've got homework to do. Too lazy to upload pictures from my camera, you'll have to wait 'til later for those.

I have returned!

Even though you didn't know I was gone!

Guys Vs. Girls 2

2008-03-07T19:15:00.003-05:00

Gym class at school ranks way down there on my list of non-academic classes at school.

It's not that I don't like exercising. Trust me, I would have quit karate long ago were that true. And, although I'm not crazy about sports, I do enjoy playing them enough for that not to be a factor in my disliking of P.E. My school just seems to find ways to make gym class incredibly dumb, such as "capture the flag", which sounds fun until you realize that our version has 50 kids on a soccer field for a playing zone. Very, very stupid. Things like that are profusely infused into our P.E., and serve to make said class quite unpopular.

Thus, a fun, interesting gym class is a rare gem buried in a pile of junk.

So a few weeks of fun gym classes has felt really, really good.

I stink at soccer, but I'm capable of playing defense well enough to make it fun. So soccer is always nice to have. With snow on the ground, though, you can't exactly play outside on the field. So, we use the gymnasium instead (basically, a basketball court with a little extra space). For the last two weeks, we've set it up using lunch tables as goals (as an encouragement to keep the ball low) and would swap out having all the guys out or all the girls. Good stuff, especially when we guys sort it out so we only have six on the court at one time. Very fun, actually; gym floors and low, narrow goals make things interesting. And it's nice to have periods of rest in between intense games (when the girls play).

Anyway, all this to get to the point.

When the guys are out playing soccer, everyone, excepting two or three, get really into it, and at least make some effort to run after the ball and try to score/defend our goal and whatnot. While watching the girls play, however, you find only a handful who run, who try hard to score, who do more than stand around and wait for the ball to come near them for them to try to kick it.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not insinuating in any way, shape, or form that girls can't play sports or are lazy or are inferior to guys. I know plenty of girls that could cream me in any sport. The only thing I'm saying is that most of the girls in the gym class were not trying as hard as the guys were. In fact, half of them were purposely sitting out and talking. Besides three or four that ran around after the ball and actually tried to score or defend their goal, the others would just stand around, occasionally jogging a few feet here or there when the ball came near them, unleash a kick, then stroll along back to where they were standing with their friends and giggle while they continued the conversation they were having with their friends before the ball entered their general proximity. Thus, it was more like watching pinball. The ball gets launched from somewhere, it bounces off a pin, then another pin, then another, and somehow doesn't seem to go very far.

I was sitting there watching this amusing sight, wondering why it was that the girls seemed to not try at soccer. I knew most of them were better than me in sports like basketball or volleyball, so athletic ability wasn't really a factor. It just seemed like they didn't care. They just didn't really care whether they won or lost. We guys were working our heads off, being tied at 0 to 0 for almost the whole game, until the other team finally scored a goal at the end (yeah, we lost, but 1-0 was actually WAY better than I thought we'd do. Their team was stacked with some of the best guys on the soccer team, and I was hastily made captain of a rag-tag bunch who were all of an average skill level. We played hard to make sure they didn't cream us, and I'm proud of it). The girls just didn't care, they almost didn't even consider it a game, just something to do to pass the time, it seemed. And, as I thought about it, why should anyone care? It was just an activity we all had to do, it wasn't like we were playing another school and trying to make our school look good by winning, we were just all out there doing what we were told to do.

The only difference was the guys just had the desire to win, to be the best, while the girls didn't care, as it didn't really matter anyway.

So, upon pondering such a pondering, I pondered a little more, and my pondering led me to think beyond the soccer game taking place before me. (oooo, dramatic sentence, :D)

I think, for the most part, guys are just way more competitive than girls. Again, notice I said for the most part and please note that I know many competitive girls. Guys just always want to be the best, no matter what it is. Thus, guys have a bigger ego, thus they don't submit to leadership as easily as girls do, thus they do their own thing more, etc. (e.g.--Who gets in trouble more at school? Girls or guys? And even though part of that at my school is due to sexism (trust me, lol), I will admit guys break more rules than girls do). Guys don't like feeling inferior, even if they are. That's honestly one of the reasons why I like going to Saturday morning karate classes as opposed to the Monday night ones: there are less people there of a higher rank/higher skill level than me. This hatred of inferiority makes us want to win, makes us not like to have to have someone governing us, makes us not want to have to have someone else's help for something, makes us more independent.

Girls seem to lack this competitiveness, for the most part. True, everyone likes being the best, but we guys just take it to the next level. Girls like having people they can tell their thoughts and feelings to, and thus have closer friendships, because they don't care if they need someone else's help. They don't rebel against the rules as much (but they still do it plenty) because they don't feel inferior, or at least don't care. Basically, they have a smaller ego. Which is a good thing, obviously, although it results in less drive to become the best, and less independence. Thus, less effort in a soccer game whose only reward is the satisfaction of winning.

So then, after expostulating this wondrously basic, and yet somehow not often thought of, thought, I decided that it would make good blog material. And, as I did in my first Guys Vs. Girls post, I am now asking you, the general masses, to further expostulate on said thought. Do you agree with my thought, or am I hopelessly confused/utterly wrong?

Impart some of your collective wisdom unto me.

(And before I get any nasty comments, let me again take the time to re-specify that this post is not in any way, shape, or form, meant to demean females/make guys look good, nor do I assert that this is true for everyone--I already know of some exceptions. This is only meant as a general thought which has seemed to be true)

Alright, after that disclaimer, comment away!

To Enjoy or Not to Enjoy?

2008-03-04T21:06:00.002-05:00

Methinks Shakespeare stinketh not, as I heretofore thought.

If, perchance, a small while ago, thou hadst asked of me what I thought of said renowned bard, I doubt, forsooth, that I wouldst have given mine approval. Shakespeare hath not much pleased me, nor have I enjoyed the learning of his plays. His dramas have always seemed dramatic overmuch, and his comedies have not touched upon my humor. If 'twere not enough, all his plays are scribed in "ye olde English", with nary so much as a footnote hither and thither to guide thee along the path. 'Tis not much unclear, methinks, wherefore I have not quite found his plays to be of that enjoyable mold, and have rather regarded them with somewhat of disdain.

However, I find Shakespeare groweth on my taste.

Nay, I should specify the aforementioned statement. I find not Shakespeare's Hamlet to be of unenjoyable quality, in sooth, I am finding that I, verily, enjoy it. Verily. Take not this statement in a light manner. As afore remarked, I have been one of the many, I daresay, who findeth not Shakespeare to their liking. Yet, as I read through Hamlet in mine English Literature class, I discover that, perhaps, I have been wrong about how Shakespeare stinketh. Hamlet seemeth to contain a vast horde of insight into the human mind. A exceedingly vast trove of insight, such that as I read I find mine own wonderings and doubts spoken by the characters. A remarkable feeling, mind you, to find thine own thoughts written by another. Such insight I have found in no other place, excepting the Bible. If such wondrous knowledge were not enough, the book hath managed to hold my interest with its surprising suspense, a feat that, were I remembering correctly, no other Shakespearean play hath managed to perform. Ergo, Shakespeare hath redeemed himself by his writing such an impressive work.

Verily, this post hath not been overly facile to compose. My speculation saith that 'twill not be easily read, either.

But, forsooth, this exercise in "ye olde English" hath been quite entertaining.

Thoughts...

2008-03-03T21:43:00.002-05:00

My mind is swimming with thoughts that want to be written down.

Unfortunately, I have neither the time nor the will to write all of them, at least not yet, so you'll have to settle for a paltry few.

1) w00t!!!! UMass Lowell accepted me and gave me the Commonwealth Scholarship, which covers all tuition and fees and even pays an allowance of up to 2000 bucks to cover living and commuting expenses. I seriously doubt I'm going anywhere else for my higher education after the Lord provided this.

2)I need to learn how to stop procrastinating. Shoulda had my license by now. Should learn how to get homework assigned earlier than a day before it's due done, would make life much easier.

3)Need to get homework done earlier so I can make it out to Karate more. Made it last Wednesday because there was no prayer meeting, but that's been my last time. Not good. I'll never get my black belt at this rate. Grrrr, but I WILL, even if it wasn't as soon as I hoped.

4)I need to practice kaatas more. Last Wednesday was a great refresher for Cat 3, so at least that's nice and fresh in my head. Unfortunately, Cat 1 and 2 are rusty, Circle of the Tiger lacks the energy and confidence I could do it with (peaked before my third-degree brown belt test, heehee), and I'm not adding in the little details of the Pinans that come as you advance. And Statue of the Crane? Heh, I remember the beginning, and I'll remember the whole thing after seeing it one more time, but right now, even practicing it is impossible. Grrrrr-sigh<----(combo of frustration and determination mixed into one exclamation of remorse) In my defense, kaatas were forgotten during the period of time with college applications and summer job e-mailing and school exams and whatnot.

Did I ever mention that I did get that job working in Boston with a doctor doing research on osteoporosis cures? And that it pays absolutely zip, while requiring that I get my rear end over to Boston whilst shelling out dough for fuel for said journey? Thus creating a situation where I lose money but gain experience and education, thus making said money-draining job worthwhile? Considering the fact it will land me a similar, paying job in the future, and help me get accepted into medical school? 'Cause if I forgot to mention all that, I just mentioned it now.

5)I love it when people ask me if I'm counting down the days until I graduate. My response? I'm in no rush to grow up. Reaction to said response varies. Old 'n' crusty middle-aged people seem to think that's smart, young 'n' green people either feel the same way or think I'm crazy. Usually they think I'm crazy.

6)Need to learn how to sleep. Seriously. I stink at it. I get into sleep habits way too easily and can't break out of them no matter how tired I am. Should probably start thinking of hitting the sack soon, but I'm not even on the verge of sleepiness....

7)I need to learn how to stop thinking and start doing. Too often I plan or dream or imagine, but don't follow through. Not the way to get through life, I venture to say.

8)I should review the definition of "A paltry few". Eight thoughts just doesn't quite seem too paltry to me, though I do have much more stashed in the ol' noggin that are just itching to be expressed in writing. Look for a few more posts, each on a bigger thought.

Excused Absence?

2008-02-25T15:31:00.007-05:00

It seems like half my posts are apologies for not posting.

Well, I apologize for that, but this post is an apology as well.

So, I apologize. Not that I'm alone in my misdeeds. (*cough*ericjohnchristineaaron*cough*)

If you were wondering what's kept me away from the oh-so-beloved blogging community, I'll take the time now to expound upon them. If you weren't, it doesn't matter because I'm gonna expound upon them anyway.

Excuse #1: Biohazardous Basement

No, this excuse is not a joke. Our basement apparently contains high levels of radioactive, cancer-causing radon gas (Ra on the periodic table--heh, haven't forgotten my Chemistry lessons yet). When we bought this house, the owners told us that when they did the radon test, the results came back fine, but then when other people did the same test, they got results that showed the presence of dangerous levels of said radon gas. Well, we were more concerned about getting the house than worrying about conflicting results, so we overlooked it. So we bought the house, put the computers in the basement, and didn't pay much thought to it (at least I didn't--I hear that my parents wanted to test it right away but never got around to it). Well, a week or two ago, my mom decides she wants to check up on the radon, considering we were never sure about it. And guess what. High levels of radon gas. More than a year after we buy the house, and play computer down in the basement, we find out it's unhealthy. Great. However, from what I understand, a year isn't enough to pose a serious health threat. It's not good, but it doesn't mean I'm getting cancer now. And yes, I'm in the basement right now typing this, although my mom doesn't like it now that we know. She's been stopping me from going down as much as she can. Thus, blogging has been non-existent.

Excuse #2--Illness

What would a list of excuses be without the classic, "I was sick."?

It's true. I started what I thought was just a bad cold two Wednesday's ago, which got worse before it almost disappeared on Saturday. Then it got worse again. In fact, it became strep throat. So until last Thursday, I was sicker than I've been in a while. Which stunk, considering it was a school vacation. My sickness led me to invest more time playing on my Nintendo Wii, which leads me to my next excuse.

Excuse #3--Conflict of Interest

I know, I know. What could possibly be more important than blogging?

Well, sorry, but I know one thing, at least, that is.

I recently got back into playing the latest installment of what I consider the greatest video game series of all time. For some, The Legend of Zelda may mean nothing to you, but those who have played it will agree that it is an awesome, awesome game. I mean, it's awesome. Listen, I've played plenty of video games, many of them considered great games by almost everyone. Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, however, has got to be one of the best. I know, it has a kinda girlie name. But trust me, it's definitely worth playing. Heh, it's worth buying a Gamecube or Wii to play this game, seriously. Even if you don't play/like video games, you'll like this one. My mom and my sisters want me to tell them when I play, because they consider it to be like watching a movie, only this one has an uncertain outcome, and the main character is figuring it out as they go along.

Y'know, I think I might as well add some beefiness to this post, considering my long absence.

"What makes the game so good? And why would I like it if I don't like video games?", you may well ask.

What makes this game so good is hard to put simply. It's something that needs to be experienced for one to fully understand and appreciate why it's so good. But I think the fundamental aspect of its goodness is its ability to make the player feel as if they're Link, the main character of the series. Not only do you feel as if you are the main character, but the depth of the gameplay immerses you in the video-game world of Hyrule.

How does this game accomplish more than what many video games, books, and movies do?

Hard to say. Maybe it's the storyline? Maybe it's because of the satisfaction you get of actually being the hero? Being a hero who's always doing good, squashing evil, and doing it all in a noble fashion? Maybe it's just that I like that kind of storyline, like being the hero, like doing good and squashing evil in a noble fashion.

Not sure, to be honest with you. I have a feeling, though, it's the little details that do it. The fact that everyone in the game calls you by the name you put in as your own. The freedom you have to do little side-quests in between the challenging dungeons (large...um, I dunno how to put this...levels, I guess, filled with little puzzles and traps before you get to the "boss", a huge, hard-to-beat enemy at the end). The way that even the most insignificant character you meet in town has a personality that is evident despite the fact that none of the conversations have any voice, it's all written in a text box.

Lemme sidetrack a bit to explain that last point. Actually, I'll just give an example. You walk into Castle Town, the largest town in the game, and, after talking with a few random passer-by, hear about this tent on the eastern thoroughfare with something new. The people you talk to don't seem to know what it is, though some seem a litrle suspicious. You decide to check it out, and upon finding the tent, walk in. A brief cinematic plays, in which you walk into the dark tent to be greeted by a slick-looking guy in a robin-hood like costume with a gameshow-host smile under a spotlight. With dramatic gestures and enthusiastic expressions on his face, he explains that this is a game, which, although it costs money to play, promises amazing prizes for the winner. After you have the rules explained to you and you pay the fee, the man wishes you good luck, but you catch a little snicker after his well-wishing (This probably isn't making sense to you, considering I said that there isn't any talking. Let me give you an example of what you'd see in the text box.)
___________________________________________________________

Thank you, good sir! The game begins as soon as you enter the cage! Good luck!......Heh heh heh......

__________________________________________________________________

That little snicker gives you a little hint about what the guy is like. You realize that the suspicions entertained by the others you talked to are confirmed when you step into the cage and see the huge amount of glowing orbs you have to collect before the 30 second time limit runs out. You try, and fail. The man's condolences are also tinged with snickering. Now, this begins to get personal. You wanna teach this jerk a lesson! You're not gonna let him just take your money without a struggle! He thinks he's made an impossible game, but you know better. You have a special piece of equipment earned in one of the dungeons that'll help you in the game, but it still will take a significant amount of skill to beat. You try again, this time collecting all the orbs in the time limit. A bunch of ditsy little onlooking girls squeal. You exit the cage and talk with the man. The distraught look on his face is very satisfying. I'll go do another text box example for this one.

____________________________________________________

What??? How??? Impossible......
....Well, it seems we have a new star! Here's your prize, good sir!

___________________________________________

(He hands you a quiver with a greater capacity than the one you have, a very useful prize, actually. He continues...)

_____________________________________________________

Since you've done so well, I'm sure you won't mind if we construct a new setup especially for you! It'll take a little while to complete, but you must come and try it out when it's finished!

.....I will GET you for this...

___________________________________________________________

And thus, you walk away happily with your prize, which is all the more satisfying for having foiled the game owner's scheme.

Keep in mind, this is only a little side "quest"-like thing you can do optionally, it's not actually part of the storyline. Anyway, that should give you a taste of how the little details add to the appeal of the game.

I guess that maybe this game isn't the kind of game that a non-gamer would easily enjoy playing. I can almost guarantee, though, that if the person is patient, and likes to read books or watch movies, they would at least enjoy watching. In my opinion, this video game's story has an advantage over stories in movies, and even some books. Instead of just being an onlooker, you actually have to be the one solving the puzzles, fighting the bad guys, figuring out what to do next. It's a whole new level of immersion. And personally, I like being immersed in a story.

Final note: If you like The Lord of the Rings, chances are you'll like Twilight Princess.

Okay folks, that post took me a collective two hours to put together (lol, I've been working on it over two days so it isn't as bad as it sounds).

Hope that makes up for my silence, and covers me if I am silent for a little while longer.

Harvard?

2008-02-11T15:33:00.000-05:00

You may remember my being absent from the blogosphere with the excuse of college applications.

If you don't remember, I applied to Tufts, Harvard, and UMass Lowell.

Now, in my opinion, 35,000 dollars a year is too much (Tufts tuition), and 40,000 a year is even worse (Harvard tuition--neither of these include room and board). Especially as opposed to 0 dollars a year, which seems to be almost guaranteed with UMass (scholarships for valedictorian). Naturally, UMass is looking very good right now, and since Tufts and Harvard are extremely selective schools, I was sorta hoping that they would pass me over and UMass Lowell would give me a certain scholarship that pays for everything including traveling expenses. To be honest with you, I was hoping that God would let me know where He wants me to go by letting two colleges reject me and one accept me, and not leave me faced with choices.

He still may do so, but an unforseen (on my part, of course) event has occurred.

Harvard had an alumni interview with me on Sunday.

Now, this really doesn't mean that they're going to accept me, or that they're even interested in me. They try to do this with all their applicants, from what I understand. But I was hoping that they'd ignore me completely, heh.

Anyway, I didn't write this post to discuss college admissions.

On our way to "Not Your Average Joe's", where the interview was to take place, my mom joked around with me saying, "Wouldn't it be funny if we got into a car accident, and it ended up being the guy who's going to interview you?"

I played along with the joke, adding to it and whatnot. We got to the restaurant, and before my mom dropped me off so she could go to Market Basket nearby, she said, "Wouldn't it be funny if I got into an accident with the guy here in the parking lot, so that the guy came late and tells you, 'Sorry, I got in an accident with a dumb old lady'" I told her, "I hope he doesn't really get in an accident, with anyone, because if he does and he tells me, I'm gonna crack up."

We laughed, and went our separate ways.

Anyway, the interview began with no incident. Half-way through, the guy got a call on his cell phone, and excusing himself, took the call. When he was finished he apologized,

"Sorry, I got in a car accident...yesterday..."

I managed to keep it down to a slight smirk.

Do Us All a Favor.

2008-02-06T15:06:00.000-05:00

This post is written partly to appease the request of a certain illustrious Shodan (shodan=Japanese word for "black belt"; illustrious shodan=Mrs. B) and partly because I was gonna write this anyway when I got the time.

I will not even mention by name last Sunday's painful occurrence, it's still too fresh a wound to touch. Obviously. I won't go into reasons why--I don't even want to remember.

This last Monday I found the time to make it out to karate class (which the aforementioned certain illustrious shodan found herself absent for--a very, very rare event, I can assure you). The whole class was happily beginning the workout, when a certain purple-belt with an apparent lack of common sense decided he would talk about that occurrence-which-we-shall-not-mention.

Not only did he decide to talk about it, but he had to comment on how it was a good event-which-we-shall-not-mention.

What???? <-------(general response of a class that was filled with brown-belts and above)

Oh, he was just being "objective". Oh, he tries not to root only for one team, but appreciate the skill and good plays of everyone. Oh, we all have to admit that it was a good game, and that we don't have a right to complain, cuz it was a good game. Oh, we have admire along with him that Mann--*cough choke*--managed to--*urk*--squeeze out of a blitz.

Pffft.

I wasn't the only one annoyed. A certain illustrious Sensei was annoyed as well. In fact, he expressed his annoyance with an eloquence that I aspire to emulate. He grabbed a tanto (the short knife samurai would carry and commit suicide with--seppuku--rather than be dishonored by being captured in battle), unsheathed it, and placed it in front of the annoying purple belt.

"Do us all a favor."

(Unfortunately, Mrs. B., this was the most exciting part of the class. Combinations, stances, strikes, and self-defense are good, but not interesting.)

Anyhow, the annoying purple belt shut up.

Angel of Death

2008-01-21T12:20:00.001-05:00

Some of you may remember my previous posts about AWANA, a Bible-club thingamajig my church holds every other Friday that I teach a class in.

Well, every so often, we hold a special AWANA night (e.g. Pizza Night, Ice Cream Night, Crazy Hair & Hat Night, etc.) Last Friday was "Bible Character Dress-Up Night".

Hopefully I don't have to explain it. :D

Anyway, even though I, as a teacher/helper at AWANA, am under no obligation to participate (technically not even the kids are, but there's prizes for best and most original, so that's encouragement enough), I decided I'd have a little fun and join in. And, since I was a teacher, I wanted to have a really cool, somewhat-original costume (Gotta be a good example for the kiddies, y'know :D). So, after mulling over what would fit the bill, I came up with what seemed to be the perfect idea.

I'd say it here but you can read the title of the post. (heh, I'm so lazy I'll say all this instead of just giving you the name)

My plans, at first, were quite extensive. After buying two, three-dollar, black bedsheets at Wal-Mart, I took pains in planning out how I was going to cut them, sew them, put them together, etc. (Yes, I know how to sew [a little]) Somehow, my mom talked me out of it and convinced me to just use a simple design and safety pins. I think she thought it a waste of perfectly good bedsheets. Anyway, I ended up cutting up one of them. I even had plans to make my staff into a scythe, but, alas, my procrastination got the best of me and I ended up with no time Friday night (after getting a lesson ready, eating dinner, blogging, and pinning my cloak together). So, I went with a staff. Not like the Angel of Death had either, but I wanted to get the message across. Bet he didn't even wear black for that matter, heh heh.

Anyway, all that to introduce these pictures to you.

Lol, perfect time for red eye in the first one. In all of them actually. Makes me look a little bit more evil than the Angel of Death though, I think. :D

"Yeah, We're Rolling."

2008-01-18T16:35:00.000-05:00

WARNING: If you have not yet seen Alpha Squad Vs. Pickaxe Gang: Directors' Cut yet, DO NOT READ THIS POST UNTIL AFTER YOU SEE IT.

Maybe this sounds dumb, but I love watching the Alphas vs. Pickaxes movies.

No matter how many times I hear them, certain lines make me laugh. For example, the title of this post, which John said so perfectly in the interview with the director, never ceases to make me crack up. Some other favorites: "Hey, you can't do this, this is discrimination!"; "(in a perfect British accent) Scurvy scum?! Now I'm the Billy Bob Joe Pegleg around here!"; "I love treeeeeesss"; etc. (and for actions in the movie, I loved it when the "shovel demonstrator" got wiped off the scene by the cue ball the third time we tried it, and when the tree guy wobbles around before tumbling under the director's assault)

Now, while I was thinking about what my favorite parts were, I wondered, "What parts do the general audience, the hoi-poloi, the viewers of our masterpiece enjoy the most?" (Actually, it was more along the lines of: "Wonder what everyone's favorite parts were.")

Which brings me to my point.

What part(s) of our movie(s) is your favorite?

Maybe John and I could get some ideas from your comments, and who knows? A third installment of the blockbuster hit could be in the works! (I doubt we'd be able to use any ideas though, lol, those movies are done with hardly any ideas at all, just randomness)

Until then, let us know what you think, and vote in the poll I put up!

Flying Squirrel!!!

2008-01-18T16:04:00.000-05:00

Picture this: You come home from youth group at church, are only home for about five minutes, during which time your sister goes to her room, when suddenly you hear a blood-curdling shriek emanating from her bedroom.

Your parents leap up and yell, "What's wrong?", as expected, and already begin their journey to either cure the cause of the scream, or give a cause to scream, when the hysterical reply is heard.

"There's a flying squirrel in my bedroom!"

Welcome to my last Wednesday night.

Now, I can probably guess what you're thinking, or at least part of it. Number 1: you're thinking, "WOW! A flying squirrel??? AWESOME! I want to see one!" Number 2: (this one varies depending on gender and personality) you're thinking, "Eek, that stinks to find a furry little animal running around in your bedroom. But, wow! A flying squirrel!" Number 3: "How did she know what a flying squirrel looks like? Did it fly? Wow, a flying squirrel!" And Number 4: "What happened? A flying squirrel!"

Well, I can answer those questions/thoughts.

Before I start, I should probably mention that I wanted to post about this earlier but did not get the time until today.

First of all, I will say that although for a very long time I wanted to see a flying squirrel, I have come to not particularly enjoy seeing them. This is due to the fact that we have had a flying squirrel infestation in our house, and the times I would see them would be when I would go down to the basement to use the computer, hear a little scratching noise and turn around to see a squirrel peeking out of a little hole in the ceiling. Or when I would open the basement door and see one standing on the second-to-top stair staring at me. Or when they were running sideways on the giant beam going across our basement. Or when they'd be running around the garage. Or when...

You get the picture.

Needless to say, I came not to enjoy seeing their cute little face or their cool gliding skills. (I would love to see one in the wild, but that's nearly impossible since they're nocturnal and very good at blending in with their surroundings) And so, when we finally fixed the problem and closed off the hole that it seemed they were coming in from, we thought we had gotten rid of them.

Well, we almost did.

This one little bugger managed to find his way in somehow, and make it to the girls' room. And so, when my sister walked in and turned on the lights, there was a little furry creature staring at her (which she knew to be a flying squirrel since she had seen her share of them). To quote her upon this discovery:

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!"

Anyway, when we learned of the problem, Andrew, my dad, and I were dispatched to remove the little guy. So, we shut the door, cutting off his only escape route, got a broom and a walking stick and a wastebasket, and started chasing the poor stinker around, trying to catch him. We thought we'd lost him, and I left my dad and my brother to try to figure out where he'd come from/escaped to, when I heard the shout, "We found 'im!" and hubbub from behind the closed door. Thus, I did not see Andrew actually rustle him out of the *ahem* big mess under my sister's bed with the walking stick and somehow catch him with the wastebasket in the other hand, but that's what I'm told, and since the squirrel was in the wastebasket, trapped under something they put on top to keep him from climbing out, I have to give Andrew credit for having lightning reflexes.

So, my mom drove Andrew, still holding the wastebasket with its rodent cargo, 7 miles out to be dumped off in some woods somewhere.

My sisters are still sleeping in the family room.

Alpha Squad vs. Pickaxe Gang: Directors' Cut

2008-01-15T15:29:00.000-05:00

(Please note that the following was written yesterday night, at the intended time of publishing, but due to an error with Blogger, had to wait until today to be posted)

And now, yet another moment you've all been waiting for!!!

...Although, I guess you couldn't really be waiting for it since you didn't even know it was coming.

But, whether you were waiting or not, whether you're ready or not, whether you even care or not, it's here!!!

"What's here?", you ask?

What's here??? Hopefully you're not asking that question, because the title basically says it all. What you should be asking is, "What do you mean by 'Directors' Cut'?"

Glad you asked!

Directors' Cut means that John came over my house today. Directors' Cut means that John and I wanted to make a sequel to our well-beloved, timeless classic. Directors' Cut means that we did it by interviewing various characters from the aforementioned well-beloved, timeless classic. Directors' Cut means that it's ten times crazier and random than the original. Directors' Cut means that you should not watch this if you're a sane, reasonable person. And, last but not least, Directors' Cut means that I, and I'm sure John as well, have a sore throat.

Good stuff.

Just a few points to note before you watch this movie: Watch, if you haven't already, the edited version of the original first: it'll make us look a little bit less like maniacs with absolutely no logic at all. And you may want to see the original to remember what it was like. Also, please take note of the fact that the movie was recorded on a new camera with the setting accidentally put on widescreen mode, and that the beginning of the movie somehow got messed up. It's supposed to begin with the pickaxe gang member describing how he wanted to use a shovel instead of a pickaxe because he thought it would discriminate against shovels to use only pickaxes.

Oh yes, this one is somehow ten times wierder and crazier than the first.

And so, with that in mind, ladies and gents, boys and girlies, I hereby present unto you, the Directors' Cut of The Alpha Squad Vs. The Pickaxe Gang! (applause here)

Lol, good stuff. Yeah, we're crazy. But we had a blast. Did you? :D

Coming Soon...

2008-01-14T22:31:00.000-05:00

This post is to forewarn you about something special that will, hopefully, be posted tomorrow. For some reason, Blogger is giving me problems and isn't letting me post it tonight. This post is just here to show you that it was supposed to be out by now.

This Just in: Blogging Slump

2008-01-11T17:39:00.000-05:00

Dunno how the Dow Jones or NASDAQ is doing right now, but I do have the unfortunate news that the MFBP (My Fellow Bloggers' Posts) market has seen a steep and steady decline.

Yes, I will be the first to admit that I am a longtime and current offender. But, what's distressing me, all those faithful others are suddenly...acting like my lazy self (insert *gasp* here). John, Eric, Christine, and Aaron have all either not posted for a while or have just posted after a long period of silence. This terrible news may be enough to break your heart (including, of course, the lax behavior of yours truly), but it gets worse...

(The reader is hereby warned that the following information is not for the faint of heart or those with weak constitutions. If for any reason you feel lightheaded or dizzy after reading this information, stop reading, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, then quickly close the browser window.)

...Anyway, for the horrifying part...

...Mrs. B....is only posting...an average of 1.25 posts per day.....

(insert creepy organ music and chorus of *gasp*s and sounds of ladies fainting here)

What is this world coming to???

I would think that our mass-lack-of-posting was due to Christmas and New Year and such, with the business encased therein consuming our time, and that we still haven't recovered. I know, for myself at least, that Knights' Academy took up much of my time, and kinda killed the blogging spirit (speaking of which, does anyone mind that I haven't even started chapter 2 yet? I just didn't think anyone really finished chapter 1--except Andrew--so I took it easy) But, this un-bloggy spirit shall not prevail! I have returned! And, I hope, so will the rest o' yas!

Until the blogging spirit dies again, that is. ;)

(By the way, I take back the horrifying news that Mrs. B. was only averaging about 1.25 posts a day. Apparently, that's yesterday's news. She's back on track with about 50 bazillion a day)

2008

2008-01-02T21:10:00.000-05:00

Here I am. I made it to 2008!

For those of you that have forgotten, this is the year I graduate from high school, decide which college to attend (I've applied to three but am not sure of which one I want or will go to), decide what major to study (looking like Biology right now), and thus begin my journey into--*cough cough hack*--responsibility and maturity.

Yeek.

In case you didn't know, being a kid is the best. Being where I am: the best also. Being an adult: Scary. Although adulthood does have aspects to look forward to.

Ever come to a major turning point in your life and, looking back, realize how great life has been so far? And, when you look at your current station in life, realize that where you are is really, really, good, so good that you'd almost be happy to stay the same age at the same area of life?

Then, you look ahead, and realize that you have no idea how it's going to be later on? Actually, you realize that later on, you're going to be responsible for not only yourself, but, possibly, for others? That you actually will be responsible for yourself, that you will shape your future in the most drastic way yet? That all the free time you enjoyed, the times of blissful idleness that are already becoming few and far between, will all but disappear?

And, considering all this about the future, you take a step back and see...you have very little in the way of a plan. You're stepping out into a cloudy future, with barely anything in the way of a map. Yet, this is your future. This determines what you will now make of yourself.

Like I said, scary.

The future is not all dark and forbidding, however. In it, you catch glimpses, dreams of the independence you will have, the blessings you may receive. And these visions of happiness and the thought that maybe, just maybe, each station of life one is in can be the best, give you the hope and courage you need to begin to almost look forward to your future.

A new year. A new chapter of my life.

I'd like to ask whoever reads this for prayer. I really need God's guidance for deciding which college to go to and what to do. And I want to make sure I do what God wants me to do, because I know that whatever it is, I'll be happy as long as I'm doing His will.

Perfect!

2007-12-29T23:39:00.000-05:00

Muhahaha.

For some reason or another I feel like annoying Eric and posting about the Patriots season-clinching game that just ended tonight before he gets a chance to.

>:D

Yeah, I watched the game. The whole thing. Well, except for about 5 minutes after half-time when my break took a little longer than expected. Anyway, I didn't miss anything important, and I went through the stress and anxiety of the first three quarters with the Patriots looking like they were gonna mess up their perfect season. I saw Brady beat Peyton Manning's record for touchdown passes and Moss beat Rice's record. And I am finding that I am developing that tendency of yelling at the TV.

Very strange.

This year has been strange for me, sports-related. I'm finally getting into it. I've never really cared about the Red Sox, or the Patriots. I'm not even sure if I watched a full football game before tonight, or a full baseball game before game 4 of the Red Sox vs. the Indians. And all of a sudden, for no reason whatsoever, I begin to care.

Yeah, maybe this seems not that strange to you. I mean, who doesn't like sports, right? Well, to be honest, I don't really. Thus, I never cared to watch any. But now I enjoy watching them, and I find myself wanting to learn more about them. I'm becoming a regular Eric!

Heh, just kidding. Not that bad of a sports nut. :P

So anyway, there's my little blurb about the Patriots 16- season, finished with this 38-35 game against the New York Giants. A blurb you would never, ever, have heard coming from me a few months ago.

I beat you to it Eric! >=D

Oh, and just for the record (and in case this didn't annoy Eric). Tom Brady is a pretty-boy!

Chapter 1 (Finally!)

2007-12-23T20:59:00.000-05:00

Let me start out by saying I'm a zuzu.

A very busy zuzu, but a zuzu nonetheless.

I had scheduled the first chapter of Knights' Academy to be finished over two weeks ago. Yet it's not until now that I can say it's done.

Yeah, a little late, huh?

In my defense, there was a lot going on. Calculus homework (eek! some took 3 hours!), before-Christmas-break-tests, staying for basketball games at school so I could help my class (the seniors) sell stuff so we can raise money for our trip in April, Christmas shopping, teen activities, Christmas programs at school and church.

Not much free time.

Thus, not much work done on Chapter 1.

But, I still managed to eek in a little here and a little there, and today, after tacking on the final 2 pages of this 14-page chapter, I finished it.

Read it if you want. I will warn you though, I don't consider it in any way a work of art, and it has some areas that have potential to cause dangerous boredom. Areas that I hope are not as annoying to read as they were to write. So, read at your own risk.

Anyway, it's there now, I'm back now, and Christmas approaches. What more could you ask for? :D

Creativity Redirected

2007-12-06T20:44:00.000-05:00

Whew.

Writing Knights' Academy is a lot of fun, but it sure saps my creativity from this blog. Thus, expect fewer meaty, fat & juicy posts here.

In fact, expect fewer posts in general, at least in the near future. If I plan to keep up with a chapter every two weeks, there will hardly be any time for writing anything else for fun. Writing can be fun, but it gets tedious if done in excess.

Anyway, just an apology in advance for not posting as often as I should here. Hopefully I'll make up for it in Knights' Academy.

Chapter 1 (10 pages, and growing) is due out tomorrow night or Saturday morning. Not my opinion of excitement a-la-mode, but hey, it's the start. Ya gotta introduce your story somehow. I promise Chapter 2 will be more exciting.

Knights' Academy

2007-12-03T07:43:00.000-05:00

This post was gonna have to wait 'till after school to be written, but since today is a SNOW DAY (oh yeah!) I'll write it now.

You almost definitely don't remember this, but a while ago, in the post Busy, Busy, Busy, I mentioned having an idea I wanted to follow through with, but not having the time.

Well, now I have the time.

This idea is something that's been hatching for a while, but was finally given the inspiration it needed from Corey's blog (I'd put a link to it here but something seems to have happened to it and I can't get there anymore). One of the links he had was "Blog for a story me and a friend are working on." Now, there was only one post on the entire page, and that didn't contain any story, but the idea was there, and I'll give credit where credit is due and say that after reading that I thought, "Hmmmm, it would be fun writing a story, maybe I'll do that." But, alas and alack, I had not the time! And so my wonderful idea has not had the opportunity to be followed through with.

But now it does!

Thus, I have put my idea into action. I now have a new blog for the story, Knights' Academy. The story isn't completely new; I wrote a short story for school last year for a little class competition we had (the stories were all voted on by the ninth and tenth grade classes--mine won :D) that I decided to build on, giving the story backround and adding events in there. Actually, now that I've started writing, that short story is a very, very minor event in the grand scheme of what I'm planning. Anyway, what should be happening is that I will post a chapter every other week (I originally wanted to do it every week, but after Chapter 1 took me two weeks--it's 7+ pages so far size 12 font and double-spaced in Word, I expect it to be around 10 pages when I'm done--I figured it would be wiser to give myself more time.) So, if all goes well, I'll have a fun and constructive diversion that will last me a long time, and you'll have more stuff to read.

The first chapter should be out soon.

Hope this goes well, enjoy!

(Oh, yeah, I want to get some ideas for a more creative name for Sam Williamson and some ideas for a name for the kingdom he lives in. Comment here if you've got some.)

Alpha Squad vs. Pickaxe Gang (Zuzusmoosher Edition)

2007-11-26T18:08:00.001-05:00

I finished my version of the well-beloved, classic blockbuster movie!

Finally. Yeah, I thought it would get done earlier, but I had more stuff I had to do than I thought I did. But now it's done!

I was gonna wait 'till John got his done, but he's being a lazy zuzu, and hasn't worked much on his edition yet. So I got authorization from him to post my version, with his coming out whenever he finds the time for it.

I gotta say, I'm almost wondering if it was a good idea to tamper with the original. I mean, the Zuzusmoosher Edition is cool and all, but why mess with perfection? Heehee. Well, here it is anyway. You can decide which is better for yourself.

And now, without any further ado, I present to you, the one, the only, Alpha Squad vs. Pickaxe Gang (Zuzusmoosher Edition)!

So, is the original better? Is this one any good? Feel free to leave any input. :D

Thanksgiving!

2007-11-22T10:11:00.001-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

AWANA Class

2007-11-20T18:57:00.000-05:00

My church runs a Bible club for kids called AWANA (Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed) that takes place every other Friday night. Most of you probably know about it. Anyway, last year I had the awesome opportunity to teach the 9-12 year old class there. I still do it, except now another guy and I alternate classes. Teaching has been such a blessing to me (I think sometimes Christians use "blessing" to the point of cliché but I really mean it here); as I prepare the lessons I'm about to teach the kiddies I learn so much myself. I'll share the idea of last Friday's lesson here, as it is relevant to Thanksgiving. This isn't the way I actually taught it, it's sorta different writing it down as opposed to saying it, but all the important ideas are there.

**********************************************************

What do you want more than anything else? Now, what would you do if someone gave you that exact thing?

Here's a story about ten men who had that very thing happen to them, and how they reacted to it.

Luke 17:11-19--11 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.
17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

Leprosy is a terrible disease. Nerve endings die, flesh rots, fingers fall off, and extremely contagious. Not only did these men suffer from the actual symptoms of the disease, but the contagiousness of the disease meant that they were unable to be with their friends or families, and were forced to live as outcasts. I'd say the one thing these guys wanted more than anything else was to get rid of their leprosy. And guess what? They got it. Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priest (God ordained the priests as the identifiers of leprosy--Leviticus 19 gives a detailed explanation of what the priest looked for to diagnose those thought to have the illness), and as they were on their way, "they were cleansed".

Now what did they do?

Luke 17:15-18 says that only one of the ten went back to thank Jesus. Only one. The others just took the blessing and ran off excited that they had just gotten their life back.

I find what the Bible says about that one leper and what he did interesting, and a good lesson for us. First off, in verse 15, it says that as soon as he saw he was cleansed, he returned. As soon as he noticed God's gift, he acknowledged it and went to thank Jesus for what He had done for him. Not only did he go back to thank Jesus in person, he "with a loud voice glorified God." Not whispered a thank-you to God for helping him, not secretly rejoiced in his heart about what had happened, but out loud, so that others could hear and know what God had done for him. That part there was the most convicting to me, as I tend not to talk much about what God has done for me. After praising God out loud, the leper who had been healed went straight to Jesus and worshiped Him. He realized the power of God because of what had been done for him and worshiped Him for it. And the last thing this verse tells us about this man is that he was a Samaritan. A man who, in the Jew's mind, was lower than they were and sinful. The other lepers were probably Jewish, but he, the Samaritan, was the only one who did the right thing.

And when Jesus saw that man, the only thankful leper, after He pointed out the fact that only the Samaritan had thanked Him, He told him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well." Now, I think we can say that He wasn't talking about the leprosy. The other nine lepers all were cleansed, yet none of them showed any signs of faith. The Bible doesn't tell us whether or not that man believed, but Jesus knew the man's heart, and since we see the man's outward signs of faith, it's very reasonable to say that that leper, once he saw what had been done, understood who Jesus was and believed. And his faith healed him from his sin.

Now, to draw some parallels from this story to our lives.

Here in America, we enjoy many, many blessings. We have freedom of religion, we have a safe place to live, we live in a place where all our physical needs can be met. But besides this, we have a blessing somewhat in common with those lepers. Leprosy and sin are much alike: they both cause much pain, spread, and result in death. But, if we have accepted Jesus as our savior, we have been cleansed from our sin, just like the lepers were cleanse of their leprosy. Yet, how often do we thank God for what He's given us? Do we glorify Him with a "loud voice" so that others know? And when new blessings come our way, do we acknowledge that they're from God, or just take the blessing and continue along our merry way, happy that our life is now better, without recognizing their true source or thanking God for it? And do we worship Him for His wonderful grace and power? I know that I, at least, don't do this nearly as often as I should.

As Thanksgiving comes tomorrow, let's remember not only to thank Him on Thanksgiving for what He's done for us, but also to thank Him as He gives us blessings.

Have a happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Blah

2007-11-17T22:21:00.001-05:00

Blah. Blah blah BLAH blah blah.

Blah-blah, blah blah w blah blah, blah-blah BLAH blah blah. Blah blah blah-blah blah blah blah; blah blah blah blah h blah-blah-blah-blah e. Blah blah, "BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!!!!!", blah n blah blah blah w blah blah BLAH blah i blah, "Blah-blah-blah." Blah l blah--blahblahblahblah blah l. Blah-blah, blah blah, blah.

Blah blah i blah...blah blah blah???

Blah blah blah t blah-blah BLAH, blah blah blah blah BLAAAAAAAAAHHHH. Blah blah blah e blah (blahblahblahblahblahblah) blah blah blah blah Blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah, blAH blah blah blah-blah. Blah blah blah...blah blah n blah. BLAH!!!! Blah blah blah-blah-blah. Blah-blah-blah. BLAH-BLAH-BLAH. Blah d blah.

(In case you're wondering, this was done out of boredom/frustration/attempted escape from responsibility, and it's not all meaningless blahs. There's actually a secret message hidden in there. If you get it, feel free to say so, but let others try to find it and don't give it away. It shouldn't be hard, I didn't really put much thought in it. Oh yeah, no jokes saying that this is what most of my posts look like, I see those coming from a mile away!)

Qu'est-ce que j'ai fait en Montréal?

2007-11-12T21:26:00.000-05:00

I'm glad you asked! (In case you're wondering what you asked, you asked what I did in Montreal) I'll try to keep it brief, there's alot that happened but I would probably be unable to write them all and yet manage to keep this post interesting.

The trip up to Canada was relatively uneventful. I manged to sneak in an hour or so of sleep to save up for the sleep I knew I was going to lose. Listened to my iPod, talked here and there when the others and I were awake. Got over the border with no problem, Canadians don't seem to care too much about who's getting into their country. Nothin' special. After entering Quebec, we stopped by a bank to change our American bucks into Canadian currency, discovering the awful truth that inflation is so high that the Canadian dollar is worth more than its Canadian counterpart. Ninety-one cents American equals one Canadian dollar. Pretty sad, last year we went it was one American dollar for a Canadian dollar and 14 cents. Anyway, after exchanging said dough, we stopped by a mall in Montreal. The mall was actually made up of about five malls connected by tunnels, which made for lotsa walking and lotsa looking at what was, for the most part, clothes. Blech. However, and the plus side, I got an awesome tee-shirt. The front side had the question, "What's the definition of a Canadian?" The back side said, "An unarmed American with healthcare.......heh heh heh." >:D Lol, I love it. Funny that you can buy shirts making fun of Canadians in Canada. Unless it was intended as a lame insult to Americans for not having an inefficient socialized healthcare and for actually fighting in wars? I doubt it, I don't think even Canadians could be so bad at insulting someone that they'd insult themselves. Heehee, just kidding. Anyway, after a while at the mall, during which we ate dinner, we left for our hotel. We had reserved two hotel rooms, one big and one not-so-big. The intent was for the girls to get the big room, as they were supposed to have more people, and the guys to have the smaller one. Well, one of the girls wasn't able to go on the French trip because she had gotten sick the day we left. So the number of males equaled that of their feminie counterparts. But, our French teacher, who so happens to be a woman, decided that since the girls were supposed to get the big room in the first place, they would still get it. And thus, we were split up to our separate rooms. The girls room was a few steps away from the registration desk; they snickered as they walked into our room. And we, the guys, climbed the stairs. Then we climbed another flight of stairs. Then another. Finally, we cam to our room, number 46. WE looked at each other in dismay. The door was tiny! It was half the size of all the other doors in the hotel. We opened the door, prepared to enter whatever size room lay ahead. And came face-to-face with a small spiral staircase. We climbed yet again. Upon reaching the top, we beheld a large, spacious room, with four queen sized beds, two large round windows, and a third window that could be opened. It was the best hotel room any of us had ever seen. This set us to wondering about how big the girls' room was. Turned out, our teacher had made a mistake; 46 was the big room, in fact, I'd say it was the biggest room in the hotel, as it was built into the attic. Our teacher felt bad making us move, since we all had settled in, so we got to keep it, and gloat over it every time our group congregated in the room. Those two windows were big enough to sit in, and thus me and another guy would regularly sit in what we called our "emo windows." Heh, I can't really describe it in any way that would make sense, I'll just leave it at that. Anyway, after devotions and bedtime, thus ended our first day.

The second day was packed with things to do, and since I don't want to bore you any more with details, I'll just say that we visited a giant cathedral, went to a few restaurants, walked around Montreal, etc. Oh yeah, I got this awesome Russian-looking hat. In the evening, we went to a giant indoor ice skating rink. This was only my second time ever skating, the first time being my first French trip, while I still had a broken toe (during which endeavor, I, going faster than I probably should have given my complete inexperience, I knocked over a girl from my class when she suddenly swerved in front of me while I was trying to pass her...I still don't know how to stop on the ice). I did decent, in my humble opinion, for a second time. The only time I fell down was because an attempt of kindness on my part. I had been skating behind a couple, and noticed the man's gloves drop out of his pocket onto the ice. I was unable to pick them up for him, but instead caught up to him to let him know (a difficult task, he was going pretty fast and there were lotsa little kids who unkowingly tested my dodging skills) I finally caught up to him, and tried to tell him in French that he had lost his gloves. But he didn't understand, probably because of my accent and the fact that I had probably used the wrong word for gloves. So I, passing him, tried to turn around to tell him again what I had said, and in doing so, fell over. A group of friends was conveniently taking a picture together near where I had tried to tell the man about his gloves' impending doom; and I, of course, fell right into their picture. Remind me not to try to help anyone anymore. Anyway, I told the man where he had lost his gloves, he thanked me, and snickered a little with his little amie. Oh well, can't blame them, musta been hilarious to see. And so I learned a very important lesson: never try to do do good deeds and speak French while skating without much experience. Oh yeah, when we went to a restaurant to eat, the place was full and we had to wait for our seats, which took a while. During that time, Andrew and one of his buddies went outside and pretended to be bums, making a sign that said "Donations will buy us a coat" and an attempt at "Give us money" in French, also using shot glasses they had bought to beg for money. Heh, immature but still pretty funny.

The third day, Sunday, was relatively uneventful. We went to a little French church in the morning, which was really cool. I didn't understand too much, the people kinda had funny accents (in French I mean), but it's cool to meet other believers in other countries. After church, we stopped by a restaurant called Boston Pizza (kinda ironic, ain't it?) and left for home. Uneventful trip down, until we stopped by this little Chinese restaurant in Vermont, and continued on our merry way. And now I'm back, it's good to be home.

Nuthin' quite like the sound of good ol' American English.

In Quebec

2007-11-09T07:41:00.000-05:00

The girls lost, thus resolving my dilemma. We will leave half-way through the school day and come back Sunday night. Won't be around until then, so cya all later.

Go Team! No Wait, Don't!

2007-11-08T16:36:00.000-05:00

I am faced with a conflict of interest. Namely, should I root for our school's girls' volleyball team, as they enter the second-to-last game of the regional tournament, a feat never before accomplished in the history of the team, or should I hope that they lose, and drop out before having to play the last game on Saturday?

Seems like a no-brainer, doesn't it? Cheer on the team and hope-like-crazy that they win, right? Well, normally it would be a no-brainer, but as there currently are special circumstances influencing my judgment, it's actually a pretty confusing choice.

You see, if they win this game, then we will have to postpone our French class's annual trip to Quebec. "Why?", you may ask. Well, we're scheduled to leave tomorrow for Canada. However, if the girls pull this off tonight, then they will have to play the final game on Saturday. And, as my school is very tiny, the sports teams likewise, the girls on the volleyball team who are also in French II or III are very much needed. So, if the girls win tonight, then they'll be needing everyone for the Saturday game. Which means that we won't be able to go this weekend. Which means we'll have to go next week.

"So what?", you may ask, and rightly so. Well, it goes like this. We're leaving at noon tomorrow (assuming, that is, that the volleyball team loses) and coming back Sunday night. This is a long weekend, courtesy of Veteran's Day. Next weekend isn't. Thus, we miss out on the day of rest we would have had. "Eh, deal with it, you big baby." Well, I obviously would, but that won't make it comfy. "Why?" Each day of the French trip is packed with travel and activities from about 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM. And it's not exactly a vacation either, true it's fun, but there's also a certain amount of work each student is obligated to do. Oh yeah, let's not forget the freezing-cold weather up there. So basically, in a nutshell, you come back from one of these said French trips pretty pooped. Rest isn't the only issue either. My teacher already made reservations and whatnot at hotels. Changing them will be complicated, and most likely messy. "Hmmm, maybe I see what you're saying now." And just so that nobody accuses me of being oh-so-selfish, the girls in French who are also on the volleyball team say that they hope they win but hope they don't at the same time. So yeah, it's not just me saying this.

Thus, I am faced with the dilemma of not knowing what I want. I guess my only option is ambivalence.

Oh yeah, I'm still working on my revised edition of Alpha Squad vs. Pickaxe Gang >:D. So far it's pretty good. The date of release will vary according to the resolution of said dilemma. Other than that, you will be hearing from me one way or another about the French trip, whether this Monday or next we'll see.

What Happens When We're Left Alone.

2007-11-03T22:42:00.000-04:00

I took my SATs today. And afterwards, I was, and still am, a little brain dead. So, my parents, in their infinite kindness, allowed me to stay home with Andrew and invite John over whilst they took my sisters to visit some relatives. Heh heh heh, home alone from four to nine. Good stuff.

Anyway, needless to say, we had a blast. John, Andrew, and I pigged out on leftovers and such, and after playing some good ol' video games on this rainy day, we took some hilarious pics and John and I made an awesome movie--out of LEGO guys.

Good, good stuff.

Since I know you're absolutely dying to see it, I shall allow you to watch the uncut, unedited, and unrated version right here (don't worry it's completely clean lol). John, Andrew, and I plan to have an editing contest to see who can fix it up the best, more to come on that later. Any-who, without any further ado, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, young and old, it's time for the feature presentation. Please turn off any electronic devices at this time. Thank you, sit back and enjoy the show.

Heehee, good ol' nonsensical stupidity, I love it. Maybe John and I have a deranged sense of humor O_o Gimme some feedback so I can figure out if we're as deranged as I think we are ;D.

Red Sox!

2007-10-30T16:39:00.000-04:00

YEAH!!!!! WOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!! THEY DID IT!!!!!

A few weeks ago had you asked me who Pedroia was or Mike Lowell I'd be like, "Who?" Somehow, during game 4 vs. the Indians, I caught the infectious Red Sox Fever, as evidenced by my symptoms of lack of sleep and great happiness.

Today I found another reason to rejoice that the Red Sox won. Our principal mandated that the teachers of our 6th period class let us out early and the teacher of our 7th period class allow us to come late so that we could all congregate in the chapel and watch the Red Sox parade projected on the wall. Good stuff, although I must admit it was more fun knowing we were missing class than actually seeing the parade.

Just a question: Am I the only one who found the sweep of the World Series to not be as much fun as a nail-biter like their games against Cleveland? I mean, the Rockies didn't stand a chance. They got smooshed like zuzus, if you know what I mean. I almost felt bad for them.

Almost.

Yeah, I know I'm a bit late in celebrating this momentous occasion. But better late than never, right?

Busy, Busy, Busy

2007-10-27T11:52:00.000-04:00

Pesky remains of college applications to take care of. Putting together a resumé. Sending e-mails to my doctor who is helping me procure a summer job in research. Getting ready for the SAT tests next Saturday. Keeping up with homework in Calculus, Physics, and whatnot. Trying to prepare for my black-belt test coming, hopefully, at the end of the year. And staying up late to follow the Red Sox in the World Series.

Yeah, I'd say I'm busy.

I can't wait 'till this is over, it's annoying to have so much hanging over your head. And, even worse, I got this really good idea that I wanna follow through with, but can't because of lack of time (more on that later). Well, the end is near! November 3 is the magical date for me, the day when my responsibilities slow down, in other words, when all my college applications are sent in, the Red Sox either win or lose the World Series, I've finished all the stuff I need to do to get that summer job, and I've finished my SATs. Can't wait.

Bear with me, not long now.

[Sir] Zuzusmoosher

2007-10-23T21:27:00.000-04:00

I felt like posting right now, and since I sorta wanna get some sleep I'm gonna make this short. This'll be a short post intended for the sole purpose of short-term entertainment, not my more favored fat & juicy post.

You may or may not have noticed my profile pic. Regardless, here it is. I actually made it a while before I got my blog, and before I made it I had made a simpler version with the word "SMOOSH!" and the drawing of the boot and the little guy, nothing more. This was used for my "spray" for Counter-Strike Source, which you must have heard John talk about (if you haven't, check out this video here that he made of him pwning noobs in CSS), as my name for the game was "The Smooshinator". After getting Guild Wars I spiced it up, since I named my character "Sir Zuzusmoosher", I added the "Sir" and the explanations of the pic, and very educational explanations they are, heehee. Doesn't this picture speak wonders to your heart? This is true art, right here. (Yes, don't worry, I'm just kidding, as I said, this is just for kicks.) I've actually sent this pic to people I know from Guild Wars so that they can fully appreciate the derivation of my name. Well, since I'm referring to the legendary Sir Zuzusmoosher of Guild Wars lore (yeah right), I might as well post a picture of him. There he is, folks, the level 20 Air elementalist/mesmer, with an awesome skill build I worked hard to make. This guy's saved Tyria from the evil undead Lich, and is currently working on stopping Elona from falling into darkness and Cantha from being overrun by a plague that creates mutated and malicious creatures. Better not make him mad, or you may find a bolt of lightning in your chest before you can say "Sir Zuzusmoosher!" Heehee.

Anyway, that's my little entertainment there, it was more for my benefit than it was for yours, I need a break and blogging is quickly becoming a beloved pasttime.

When the Cat's Away...

2007-10-19T15:18:00.000-04:00

Hey! Im back on taking a little break from my normal resposibilities/activities. I haven't had time to post too much, what with homework, college applications, Karate, and Red Sox games I suddenly got interested in this post-season taking up all my free time.

Anyhow, onward to the feature presentation.

My French teacher has been out all week, due to her father's death, and we've had a substitute the past four days. And I must say, we are a very good class to be a substitute teacher for. Two juniors and one senior aren't a very rowdy bunch (in case you're wondering how the class is that small, first know that my school is very small with only 113 kids from kindergarten to 12th grade, my class--the senior class--has only five people in it, French III and French IV are optional courses, and that since there were only two in French III and me in French IV, they combined the classes.). Well, somehow today, by some details overlooked by the administration, we had no teacher, no sub, and actually no monitor whatsoever. Initial reaction: KOWABUNGA! PARTY TIME! Final realization: I got a Geography test next period I haven't studied at all for. The others came to the same conclusion. I guess that's what comes of maturity, somehow responsibilities take the place of fun. Stinkin' maturity. Well, we didn't let maturity FULLY mess up our fun, we still talked a very little, albeit enough for me to revel in my more glorious past experiences in un-mentored situations at school. It actually happens quite a bit in my school, not so much as when I was in eighth grade, but with so few teachers to go around, it does happen. Since I know you all are absolutely starving for one of my succulent, plump & juicy posts, I shall recount a few here.

In eighth grade, I had one of the best study halls ever. Eighth period, with a friend, and almost always without a monitor. My friend and I used to sit in the corner near the windows and make paper airplanes and throw them around and stuff. Good times. Anyway, it was quite chaotic, since the study hall was comprised of the 7th through 9th grade (which was actually only 16 kids at the time), and, needless to say, many rambunctious deeds were performed. I'll only write the best one (heh heh "best") here. A group of seventh-grade scumbags (heehee, that's what my friend and I called the annoying ones) were fooling around, as usual. I dont remember all the details, but one of them threw another's books out the window. As the window was not high above ground level, the seventh grader leaned out to grab the books. Oh, by the way, don't feel bad for this guy, he was the biggest scumbag of the scumbags and when he was eventually expelled in eighth grade, the others actually went up a level in decency. While he was hanging half-outside, two ninth-graders grabbed his legs and, ahem, "helped" him by half-tossing the rest of him out. Now, this guy, like the numbskull he was, didn't just climb back in through the window he was tossed out of. Oh no, he had to walk all the way around the building to the back door, and in the proccess walked in front of the windows where a teacher was teaching. The two ninth-graders responsible got detentions, and that was the end of that little episode.

This same seventh-grade scumbag was very small. So small, he could cram himself into one of our teensy-weensy half-size lockers. He liked to showcase this talent. One time, after he had stuffed himself in one and shut the door, a tenth-grader came, held the door shut, and stuck a pen in the hole where the lock would go (notice this kid is hated by all the others: there's a reason for this, it's not like he's being bullyed, HE bullyed everyone.) So the seventh-grade scumbag rattled the locker and begged to be let out, and they let him out. He never crammed himself into a locker again.

Fast-forward one year.

By this time, that kid had gotten expelled for numerous offenses despite having had repeated chances to redeem himself, which he had refused. Anyway, I'm ahead a grade in math, so I was with the now-tenth-graders in Geometry class. We had one of the most boring and most unwilling-to-explain teacher. So we would goof off alot, and a couple guys would always get in trouble. Well, this teacher also so happened to be the principal of the school (he was teaching because there was no other teacher available and because he had taught Geometry before). He was a robot, seriously. Anyway, as he was the principal, he would often come very late to class, sometimes never coming at all. One day, when he was late as usual, one of my classmates came up with the brilliant idea of speeding up the class clock so that the teacher would think the class ended earlier (a useless idea anyway since we have bells which are unconnected to the clocks to tell us when the class is over) So he took down the clock, and sped it up by about five minutes, and then went to re-hang in on the wall. The only problem was that the nail had somehoe slipped into the wall, and try as we might, the clock was un-re-hangable. And then, to top it off, the lookout (we always had one guy who'd warn us before the teacher came) suddenly uttered the urgent whisper, "He's coming!" Frantic indecision ensued. What do we do? What do we do? A last quick attempt to hang up the clock, and then we all rushed back to our seats. The teacher walks in. And then, the guy who had come up with the idea and had actually really been the only one carrying it out, said, "Mr. Martin, this clock's too fast. We need to fix it." The teacher was grateful and said he would take care of it. And we all tried our hardest not to burst out laughing.

And so, after sharing all that, let me take the time to say this before some OLD PEOPLE throw a fit about me promoting such misbehavior. I did not actually have a part in any of these stories, I was merely a spectator, enjoying the drama played out before me. I do not consider any of these as right, but I gotta say, I sure am glad I could see them.

Hope this made up for my week-long inactivity, I should be back up and blogging at my usual pace soon.

I Shall Return!

2007-10-13T13:51:00.000-04:00

As you may have noticed, I haven't posted very much.

Please bear with me, I am still in the process of college application, I should be done soon and back up and blogging.

I don't really have time for a nice, juicy, interesting post as of yet, but I still have a little snippet for those of you who are so bored as to be reading this right now. Mrs. B. may find it interesting, I'm not so sure the rest of you will though. Today's karate class was really interesting. Actually, about five minutes of it were REALLY interesting, the rest was interesting but not the above-average stuff (knife defense, cool, but not the mind-boggling concepts that I find so intriguing). I'm having a hard time describing it, so I guess I'll sum it up by saying we were introduced to the concept of moving in ways the other person can't really see. Yes I know that doesn't make sense, I really still don't know squat about it myself. My karate instructor himself doesn't fully get it yet I think, although it's certain that he knows enough to use it. He described being first introduced to it when he was working with one of his old karate instructors. He said he worked four hours straight with the guy, and no matter what he did, he couldn't touch him. And the only movement he'd see was his foot turning and stuff like that. So obviously, he asked him how it was done and he had it explained to him, and today he suddenly surprised us with the same knowledge, which he condensed into five minutes.

Anyhow, right now my brain is reeling with this newfound difficult concept, making me feel again that getting my black belt will only mean that I'll begin to truly understand karate.

Sorry that this wasn't that great of a post, I really don't have time for anything better right now.

But, fret not thou faint-hearted! I shall return, with more new and interesting posts to boot!

Until then, hang in there.

One Way Ticket

2007-10-07T19:34:00.000-04:00

I need some help.

As my mom commented on my last post, I am currently faced with the daunting task of applying for college. One college, besides the normal essay, had an "optional essay" (in other words if you want to look good you do it). Here's their instructions.

"Tufts develops leaders who will address the intellectual and social challenges of the new century, and critical thinking, creativity, practicality and wisdom are four elements of successful leadership. The following topics offer you an opportunity to illustrate these various elements. We invite you to choose one and prepare an essay of 250-400 words."

The topic question I chose was: "5. Create a short story using one of the following topics:
a) One Way Ticket b) “Do Not Push” c) Toast d) The Back Seat on the School Bus e) Something’s Not Right…"

I chose "A"

Now here's where I need your help. Here's my story, tell me if you think it meets the criteria. Keep in mind that there are 2 other essays I'm writing that are serious and that this college looks for unexpected things to show up in your essays.

Ok, here it is.

******************************************************

How could this happen?

Jack replayed the events leading to his demise over and over in his head. Once he had had it all. Now he had next to nothing.

It was his own fault, he knew. It was his choices, his terrible choices. His overriding want for pleasure had swallowed up his life, and now it had brought him down to this.

Jack walked to the closet and pulled out one of his few remaining possessions: an old rifle his father had bought for him. They used to go on hunting trips together, and this had been his eighteenth birthday present. Now feeling suddenly determined, he loaded the gun deliberately and pointed it at his head.

This was to be his one-way ticket.

It would be his path out of disgrace, his escape from poverty. It would free him from his painful memories, his reminiscences of bygone happiness. It would estrange him from his enemies, distance him from the ones he had hurt. It would carry him out of this painful existence into whatever lay ahead.

A one-way ticket into whatever lay ahead…

Jack suddenly began to doubt. Where exactly was he going, to where would he be forced to stay? Jack knew enough to reason that he was not going to be able to go and visit and return, one-way tickets don’t cover round-trips. Would it really be better over there, wherever there was?

He lowered the rifle. What exactly did he hope to accomplish by taking his life? Escape from his burdensome reality, but would it really be an escape? What if there was punishment for the wrong choices one makes in life, what if his “escape” led him into greater torment? He suddenly remembered a near-forgotten lesson his father had taught him as a child, “Running from your problems never solves anything.” At that moment, he finally realized what he had missed most of his life.

If a bad decision could force you down, a good one could help you back up.

True, he would be forced to live with some consequences. But he could live, and he could live happier than he had before. Hard work gives purpose, and he certainly had much work ahead of him. But he would make it.

He unloaded the gun and put it back in the closet. He would wait for God to give him his one-way ticket.

****************************************************

How was it?

Comments...

2007-10-06T13:20:00.000-04:00

I recently had some comments on Reminiscence of a Departed Friend brought to my attention. I personally find them hilarious. Check 'em out here. (the ones I'm talking about are the last few)

Heehee, I'm not fully serious in my second-to-last comment, but I couldn't resist. :D

If you have not yet read the post and would like to see what the others are commenting on, read it here. In my humble opinion, it is one of the more interesting posts, and well worth the time it takes to read it.

1 Year Later...

2007-10-06T11:32:00.000-04:00

I recently had the opportunity to spend some time with a friend who moved to California.

We used to be in the same class. In a small school (there are currently 5 people in my class including me), you get to be very good friends with your classmates. This guy was no exception. He was really fun to have as he is extremely talented at art and very imaginative. During study halls (and, more often than not, literature class), he used to draw the coolest comics. And he used to make them excessively gory, which in a strange, perhaps sadistical, kind of way made them all the more funny. One such comic was a 24-episode series called Toothville. It spanned 8th to 10th grade if I remember correctly. To paraphrase the idea of the comic, it was basically about a lot of walking, talking teeth that did random stuff and somehow were filled with blood and guts which showed themselves profusely when they were injured or killed by nonsensical events. Good stuff. Another comic, called Rice, was about a guy who had such an intense craving for pork fried rice he stabbed another guy's eyes with chopsticks in order to get his rice. Upon arriving at the terrible realization that the guy with the rice had already eaten it all and the Chinese restaurant where the rice was purchased had run out, the guy with the craving ordered the other guy (that guy this guy: very specific ain't I? ) to barf up his rice. Instead of the rice the guy barfed up a small TV, something else I don't remember anymore, and a bunch of minature versions of the craving guy which attacked the craving guy and tore him apart.

Like I said, good stuff.

Comics weren't his only area of expertise. My friend was also the best person I knew at making movies. His movies tended to be, again, horribly violent. He even made a stop-motion animation Lego movie series. I'd make a link to the series here, but the X-treme violence (yes even with Lego guys) and the disturbing nature of the storyline hinder me. If you somehow are really interested in seeing it, ask me and I'll tell you where to go to watch it. But as a fair warning: it contains excessive, unneccessary violence, it's main character is a drug dealer, and it has a vicious ending. However it still makes you marvel at his skill at making the movie.

Oh yes, he also dabbled around with making video games.

Anyway, this talented guy was also very smart and could have done very well in school except for one thing.

He didn't care a thing about school or about anything other than what he found some enjoyment in.

His philosophy was, "Life is short, why waste it on responsibilities?"

And thus, as can be seen by the nature of his movies and comics, he was at times depressed.

And eventually, in the middle of 10th grade, he dropped out of high school.

And he moved to California where he works on video game reviews and edits commercials and such things. Last time I saw him was last December, and that was only for a day or two.

Until yesterday, when another friend and I found out he was here for a week and a half for his brother's wedding and set up a trip to the Topsfield Fair. And so we went with this guy to the fair and had a good time talking and buying overpriced food.

At least he's still the same guy after almost 1 year of not seeing him at all, a little happier it seemed but that might be due to the fact that he's finally able to be spending time with people around his age, which he never gets a chance to do in California as he lives with his older brothers and only gets to socialize with their 20-30 year old friends and co-workers.

Aside from stories about what it feels like to be high on this certain drug and on that drug and on this one (I was dismayed at the list of drugs he talked with experience about, some of which I hadn't even heard of) and stories about getting "drunk outta my mind" (his own words), I had a great time listening to him come up with hilarious and wierd situations his strong imagination actively cooks up. I'd explain what they are but for me to repeat some of them would only make them sound stupid as they aren't funny told by another person; you really have to see him telling them and hear how he says it for it to be funny.

Anyway, that's my little blurb about a friend who isn't around very much.

Who knows how long it will be until I see him again?

Aside from Monday as I might be doing something with him then. (Columbus Day is awesome! :D)

"...And I Could Not."

2007-10-03T21:03:00.000-04:00

Jeremiah 20:9-Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him,
Nor speak anymore in His name.”
But His word was in my heart like a burning fire
Shut up in my bones;
I was weary of holding it back,
And I could not.

This verse has been a huge conviction to me.

Jeremiah was called by God to be a prophet to Judah. His message was not a very popular one; surrender to Babylon or be destroyed. As a result of his faithfulness in declaring what God told him to tell the people, Jeremiah was rejected, thrown in prison, placed in a pit to die, and many other such discouraging and unpleasant treatment. In Jeremiah 20, after again faithfully repeating what God wanted him to say, Jeremiah was thrown in stocks. He was getting sick of all this. Obeying God, he had been persecuted and rejected, and still no one listened. So he says in verse 9, "I will not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore in His name." Can you really blame the guy for deciding that? I sure can't. Why keep speaking about God when no one listened and everyone persecuted you?

But Jeremiah couldn't remain silent.

He had a message, "But His word was in my heart like a burning fire," and he says, "I was weary of holding it back, and I could not."

He could not.

How could he remain silent when God had given him a message to give to the people? So what if no one listened, so what if they gave him a hard time. It was tiring Jeremiah out to hold back such a tremendous message! God had a message for him to give to the people, and he couldn't just shut up and let them go along their merry way not hearing it!

And he could not.

Jeremiah was mistreated and abused. He was rejected and he was forced to watch the people get punished for their disobedience. What a discouragement. And yet he still had to tell them. He couldn't hold it back.

We, as Christians, are a lot like Jeremiah. In one major way: God gave us a message to tell everyone.

Whether they will listen or not.

Whether they'll mistreat us or not.

Whether we are completely rejected or not.

And yet, I find myself not telling others for just that reason. They'll reject me. They won't listen. They'll give me a hard time.

But, how can I do this? I have a wonderful, liberating message. I have the good news of Jesus Christ! I have been told in the Bible the answer to life's problems, the assurance of life after death, the way to the peace that so many seek. It should hurt me. I should not be able to hold it back.

I can say that I have felt this way before when I talked with certain friends, although I have to admit I ignore it too much. And I can't say with a good conscience that I've felt enough the burning of the Gospel when it's held back. I've let friends slip by without telling them anything, even when I felt I should. I've brushed the feeling aside with the thought of how the Gospel would be recieved, not focusing on the urge to speak out about it. And at times I would refuse to even consider the thought of telling them

But, I should not.

Just like Jeremiah could not.

May we all feel the pain of the supressed Word and obey its urging.

No Ignoring My Posts!

2007-10-02T20:20:00.000-04:00

I was on the verge of cooking up a nice, fat & juicy post for your minds to chew on and gain nourishment from.

Then I thought, "Hmmm, not everyone has read Reminiscence of a Departed Friend yet, and that's the best one! And how are they gonna be able to look at Guys vs. Girls and leave some input on it if they fill themselves up with a new post?"

So, I thought the better of a new juicy post and instead wrote this as a reminder to those of you who have not as of yet checked out the aforementioned posts.

Trust me when I say Reminiscence of a Departed Friend is worth the time it takes to read the hefty post, and also take my word for it that Guys vs. Girls will be very interesting once more opinions are shared. (Note the fact that there are THREE of each link, no excuses for not knowing where to look!)

But, as it wouldn't be fair to those faithful few who have both read Reminiscence of a Departed Friend and have shared their thoughts on Guys vs. Girls to completely not post anything new, I shall add in a little tidbit.

If random, utterly nonsensical stupidity makes you laugh, check out this Badger and this Llama music video (both will loop endlessly unless forcefully halted). And if you think you're capable of even more randomness and stupidity, watch The Evil Strawberry. If you haven't dropped dead by the stupidity of it all yet, check out my personal favorite, Forehead Shavecut (no it has nothing to do with foreheads or shaving). There is another even more random flash cartoon, but I refuse to put a link to it here as it has some mild swears in it. If you don't care too much and feel like wasting a literal half-hour of your time, ask me for the name and I'll give it to you. I've only watched that one once and it cracked me up (other than the swears), though I felt like I had wasted a ton of time.

And, again, if you have not already done so, obey my instructions and read/comment!!!!

Guys vs. Girls

2007-10-01T19:38:00.000-04:00

Who would you rather have upset at you, a guy or a girl?

And, oh yes, they're really, really, REALLY angry with you.

Fightin' mad.

Tough choice? Maybe not, I know my answer.

In case you need some help, allow me to break down the behavior of each when fighting. And, in case you're expecting some deep philosophical delving into this subject, let me shatter your expectations and say that what I'm about to say is very unlikely something you don't already know, I'm just observing a few points we all see. But before you stop reading after learning that you know all this, may I be so bold as to say that sometimes it's enjoyable to contemplate the obvious for the simple reason we take it for granted. (Just a side note that probably only Mrs. B. will get, that whole paragraph is what my karate instructor calls "filler crap"; the unneccessary yet neccessary stuff. No, I don't really know how that works, but there it is.)

And now for the feature presentation.

You've seen it, you know. A guy pokes fun at another guy, that guy gets annoyed and fires back a more offensive remark, the first guy gets annoyed and spits out a worse one, the other guy gets angry and yells out something worse, the first guy...you get the picture. If it escalates enough, one guy will hold a grudge and then one day when they both meet and one will say something and the other guy throws a punch and a fist-fight breaks out. Ouch.

Quickly zap to a scenario with two girls fighting.

Again, you've seen it and you know. One girl does or says something another girl doesn't like. All of a sudden you notice that that girl is acting somewhat strangely around the first girl. Then you notice that the girl starts talking badly about the first girl. Then the girl starts trying to win her friends over to her side. The other girl notices and does the same. Before you know it, you have two groups of opposing opinions. The two girls in disagreement are shunned by the opposite group. And along the way there are tears, there are slanders, there are small psychological tortures such as ignoring the other girl and ostracizing them. When they talk about the other, to quote Alexander Pope, "At every word, a reputation dies." And so on, for a very long time, until a common enemy arises or the original problem is somehow resolved. As I said earlier about a guy fight, Ouch.

Now that we've reviewed the fighting techniques of each gender, which at times are reversed, did you change your mind? Considering the fact that you probably already knew all of what I said back there, there probably couldn't have been any reason for you to do so. Personally, I would much rather get in a fight with a guy than with a girl, possibly because I am a guy and thus would deal with the situation more naturally. But I actually have a good reason for my choice. When I fight with a guy, in most cases the fight is resolved at some point, normally not very long after the start, by either a good ol' yelling match or a few good ol' fisticuffs. And when you've channeled your anger into either of those, most of the time it dies down after that and you become friends with the guy you fought with. With girls, on the other hand, the fights are stretched for as long as every drop of malice can be squeezed out, drop by stinging drop. Add that to the fact girls tend to involve innocent bystanders/close friends into the fight, feeding them 'til they're fat with that particular girl's side of the story. And then there's the way they torture the other girl mentally. I've seen girls hurt really bad because of the psychological tortures of another girl. I think it's a lot easier to stop being angry at someone when you unleash it all in one burst rather than eak it out little by little.

Anyway, that's what I think, but now I want to hear from you.

What do you think is worse? And am I right in the way I look at the fights of each gender?

Posting comments is free, so don't hold back!

Team Fortress 2

2007-09-29T14:25:00.000-04:00

Most of you have probably never heard of Team Fortress, much less played it. The original TF is a bit outdated by now, but the idea is one of the most fundamentally sound for multiplayer. The idea is a lot like Capture the Flag, you try to run into the enemy's base and steal their flag/top secret whatever-it-is. TF added a little twist however. You could choose to be one of a few different specialists. An engineer built defensive turrets to guard the flag, the heavy-weapons guy mowed down whole battalions with his giant gun, the medic healed injured team members, the spy could disguise himself to look like one of the enemy players, and so on. It was, in short, such a good idea many started using the same priniciples for their games.

Now, the makers are coming out with Team Fortress 2.

I have to admit, I was a little doubtful as to whether or not it was possible to remake a game like that. Then I saw the trailer.

I am SO buying this game once it comes out.

If you would like to see what convinced me, first watch this trailer to get an idea of what the different professions do (the engineer builds robot guns even though the trailer doesn't show that too much). Then, if you'd like a laugh, watch the interview with the Heavy Weapons Guy, the Soldier, and, my personal favorite, the Engineer. If you wanna see even more, check out this gameplay trailer (this one's the prime mover in my want to get the game, be warned: it's pretty violent). Trust me when I say these links are worth your while, I've seen them like fifty times and I still enjoy watching them (maybe I have a slightly sadistic sense of humor? O.o).

If you haven't played the original, you may not be convinced that this game is gonna be awesome. But as for me, I can't wait.

To Game or Not to Game?

2007-09-28T21:38:00.000-04:00

I apologize for this random ranting that will ensue. It stems from a lack of a more interesting post. (read "Reminiscence of a Departed Friend if you haven't already, that'll be sure to be interesting)

We've all heard it before. "Video games are a menace to society! They turn our kids into lazy, unsociable, underachieving nerds who don't know how to interact with people when all they do is sit in front of a screen all day!" (yes I know it isn't worded like that, but that's what they imply!)

Well, I beg to difer.

It's true, video games give lotsa people a reason not to be healthily active. That much I will admit, although the Nintendo Wii helps that problem a bit.

But, video games prevent people from learning people skills? Garbage.

Whoever thought that one up isn't up to par with technology these days. Most of the popular games out there have something to do with playing online with other people. People you've never met, people you have to work with and organize if you want to win whatever it is you're doing. People who you have to communicate with if any of these goals are to be accomplished. Of course, some games require more interaction with those around you than others. A free-for-all deathmatch won't have much communication, everyone is just trying to ensure that their own head isn't the one blown off whilst they attempt to blow more heads off than the other guy. Not much talking required, other than the occasional accusation of cheating, the exclamation of annoyance at having one's head blown off fifty times in a row, or the exclamation of glee at having blown someone's head off fifty times in a row. But, may I remind you, this is limited to the free-for-all. Team fights are a different story, with organization neccessary for defeating the other team. Team deathmatches require only a little more communication than free-for-all's, capture the flag rounds require more, capturing and holding certain areas (king-of-the-hill) even more.

Then we get to MMORPGs (Massive Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Games), such as Guild Wars.
Part of these games is singleplayer, where the only actual human being playing is you. Obviously not much communication there. But a lot of the game requires the help of other players. In order to finish a cooperative mission, everyone has to communicate freely and often, and obey orders from the designated leader. You can't do your own thing if you want to make it. Some try, and they're not respected much. The missions alone teach you people skills and leadership, the knowledge when to follow orders and the experience to know when to take charge. If you know what to do, you're not gonna just follow what the leader thinks you should do, you lead the leader to show them what needs to be done. The missions are only a very small example. The real human interaction comes with the guilds.

In Guild Wars, you have the option to join a group of other players, called, as the name implies, a "guild". The guild can have a hall where they meet, a cape distinguishing its members from the rest of the hoi poloi, and a leader and officers who can help members with missions and quests they're having trouble with. Now, being a member, there isn't too much neccessary of you. You're free to join any guild that will accept you, you can leave that guild anytime you want, and you can get free help from the higher-ups trying to keep their guild large. It's a member's world out there. The real people skills comes with being an officer, and even more with being the leader.

Let me give a personal Guild Wars example.

John started his own guild. Of course he was the leader, I joined readily, got promoted to officer, and then i kinda just was there, not doing much and not requiring much. The guild grew, gained experienced members, and everything was goin' great. Then, after the 3rd Guild Wars came out and people completed it, many in our guild began to get bored with Guild Wars, John included. And, in all fairness, I can't blame any of them, there's only so much you can do in the game, I'm starting to get bored of it myself. Anyway, what with the leader not being around much to lead and the officers not being around much to recruit and the members wanting a more active guild, we lost a bunch of people. Our guild shrank from about 30 people to 20. Then to 15. Then 12. Finally, I, the dormant officer who was pretty much useless up to that point, woke up. We're gonna dissappear! So, I began recruiting. After I had recruited one or two, I realized I was gonna need help. So I offered an incentive to the members: bring me 5 people to recruit, and I'll promote you to officer. And whaddya know? They found people to recruit! And so some got promoted and some left and some stayed and we gained a few faithful members and we lost a few useful members, but we grew. Up to over 30 people. I felt I could relax a bit and just focus on my own GW character. But then, some officers who didn't feel like recruiting didn't, some members who wanted more left because our guild was going nowhere fast, and in short, we shrunk. Back to the painful proccess of rebuilding again. Offering incentives, starting activities in the guild, forming an alliance with other guilds, we slowly gained people's interest and grew again. Back to over 30 members.

And why, you might ask, am I wasting your time with a boring record of a video game you haven't a clue about?

Because, through all this, I learned some important business management skills. If you want people to accomplish anything, provide incentives. Keep growing, otherwise you'll shrink. Make sure to appoint trustworthy mangers who will obey you. Know what your customers want. Advertise. An apple a day keeps the doctor away (just making sure you're paying attention).

I learned this from a VIDEO GAME. And, actually, I know how to apply them to everday life. I could go on and on mentioning friends I've made, things I've learned from those people, oppurtunities to share the Gospel with those people, and so on. But, I think you get the idea.

Video games don't prevent people from learning people skills. They teach them.

Reminiscence of a Departed Friend

2007-09-27T17:44:00.000-04:00

Heehee, sorry 'bout the title sounding like my friend is dead, I just think that title sounds way better than "Remembering My Friend Who Is Now in Texas for College", don't you?

Anyway, as the Deerfield Fair arrives (my school is going there tommorrow instead of our usual school day classes!), my mind takes a very short trip down Memory Lane (it'll have farther to travel when I'm old 'n' crusty :D ). Every year, Matt (the guy who's in Texas now), Jonny (a friend who is currently in California but is actually coming back tommorrow for his brother's wedding, he'll be staying for a week and a half so some other guys and I am gonna go to the Topsfield Fair with him), some assorted other friends and I would all go as a group after school to the Deerfield Fair. Honestly, I liked being with my friends much more than the actual fair itself; it was a great place to hang out but it was the friends that made it fun. So now, as I think about going to the fair without Matt this year, my rememberances of the great and crazy times we had pop up faster than zits on a teenager's face. ;D

One of my more recent and most noteworthy crazy, dangerous, and rather dumb thing that I did with Matt actually stemmed from diligence in doing a project for English class. Our class had just read Dante's Inferno, a really boring and dull book about what this Italian guy thought Hell was like. Anyway, after a week or two of painstakingly emptying the book of its boring contents, our English teacher assigned us a project. We had to choose a chapter of the book and somehow physically represent it. Each chapter was about a certain "circle of Hell", basically Dante's idea of the way it was divided. We could either make a model of it, make a movie, or whatever else we could think of. Matt and I teamed up to make a movie. As a movie with only two actors could get very messy and would not in all probability make very much sense, we wisely chose to use Lego guys for our actors. It was a good thing too, the chapter we chose had two groups of sinners, one that was constantly driven around a giant circular trench by demons and another that was sunk in poop (yes I'm serious). We dug a trench in a clearing in the woods around his house to film the action in, and selectively chose Lego guys suited to the various roles in the story. Anyway, to get to the crazyness/danger. Even though the book hadn't mentioned fire in this "circle of Hell", Matt and I were not so enthusiastic about a nonconflagrant Hell. So, to add a bit of realism/coolness, we decided to make little fires around the trench. My friend, whose family is big into all motorized anythings and had lots of gasoline lying around, suggested that we light some of the aforementioned fossil fuel for our fires. I readily agreed, and after pouring little puddles of gas into holes that we had set up in strategic locations along and inside the trench, we lit the gas on fire. The result was perfect, blazing fire with a thick, black smoke. It really added some "spice" to the movie, I gotta admit. There was only one problem: Gasoline burns up very fast. So, in the middle of shooting the film, our blazing Hell-fire started to die down. Not exactly helpful. We solved this problem with a very simple soution; we poured more gas on to our guttering flames. The only problem is, when you pour gas on a live fire, the fire just flares up, consumes the gasoline faster than I can consume a sandwich when I'm really hungry (believe me when I say that's fast), and then dies down again. Pretty annoying when you're trying to film a movie. Anyway, after repeated short dumps of gasoline on the dying puddles of flaming fuel, Matt began to get a little bugged by the uncooperative fire. Giving a grunt of annoyance, he let the gas pour out a little bit longer than he had before, with the intention of giving the fire a little more to burn. Well, needless to say, you don't wanna pour a continual stream of gas on a live fire. As he poured, I watched as the stream of gas lit up from the bottom and continued to burn up to the spout of the gasoline container (this was all in the course of 2 seconds of pouring btw). Matt noticed it too, and quickly pulled the container away, only to find that gas around the tip of the spout had caught fire. He quickly put it out with his hand. Phew, we were safe. Unfortunately we weren't smart enough to stay that way.

It happened again. The gas burned low, and instead of a blazing inferno we had smoldering wisps of flame. Did we learn from our 5-minutes-ago past experiences and let them burn out before pouring more gasoline on? Yes we did, and we were safe and lived happily ever after and never played with fire again. NOT!!!! We viewed the failing blaze with disgust and annoyance, a delay in a project we just wanted to get done. And, again, I shall ask, did we wait until it was safe to pour more gas and light it? Nope! Matt took the gas container, said "Y'know what? I'm sick of this!", and poured the gas onto the dying flames. This time, whether purposely or not I'm not entirely sure, he dumped it with more gusto than the previous times, allowing a greater torrent of fuel to dump out than he had before, and he held it there for about 2 seconds.

And guess what happened?

I watched as the gas lit (again), the stream of clear liquid turned into a pillar of fire, and this time the nozzle was set fully ablaze. Matt quickly jerked the container away, and in the proccess flung flaming gas all over the dry leaves and grass around him. The leaves and grass caught fire. The gasoline container was on fire, looking ready to blow up any second, ready to engulf us and the clearing around us in a giant ball of flame. Matt was in a state of panic such as I've never seen him before or since. "Oh man, this is not good! This is NOT good!" he exclaimed, running around frantcially, debating whether to flee the area before the gas tank exploded in our faces or to attempt to put out the flames before said catastrophe.

And what was I doing in the midst of the impending doom?

I, while Matt was running around attempting to solve our predicament......was on the ground laughing my head off.

LOL, just thinking about it is making me laugh, just picturing the moment when the gas tank caught fire and flaming gas splattered over dry leaves is making me want to burst out into loud peals of laughter.

No, it wasn't hysteria. It was really, truly, hilarious to see. Yes, I realize I should have taken the danger more seriously, but no matter how hard I try, I dont think i could possibly have not laughed. IT WAS SO FUNNY! It was exactly like one of those movies where the two main characters alway end up messing everything up and everything goes wrong around them. LOL I wish I had that moment on film!

For some reason, Matt didn't seem to understand the humor of the thing.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING??? HELP ME OUT HERE!!!" he yelled, amidst running to and from a pond nearby with a small pail that had holes in the bottom, dumping whatever remained of the contents on the fire that threatened to spread throughout the woods and blow us up at the same time. I, still laughing, attempted to help but ended up spilling more than I dumped on the fire with all my laughing. Somehow, we put out the fire on the nozzle, I still don't fully remember how, putting out the fire is something of a blur of urgency and the hilariousness of the situation. The leaves and grass were likewise doused before any significant damage had taken place. Upon finally relaxing, we payed closer attention to the nozzle of the gasoline container. We stared at the nozzle and looked at each other in amazement at our close call.

The plastic around the bottom of the nozzle where it connected with the container had melted. The fire had melted the plastic just before the gasoline inside.

Fortunately, the container had only been half full.

It might not have ended up so funny had it been completely full.

Anyway, to wrap up my little tale here, we finished the movie, being very careful of how we used the gas after that.

The teacher thought our project was the best out of the whole class and gave us both a 100.

And I learned of the good times you can have playing with fire. ;)

What's a ZUZU Anyway???

2007-09-24T17:42:00.000-04:00

Glad you asked! To fully explain the meaning of ZUZU, I'll have to tell a little story...

One day, when me and my brother and two sisters were little (Peter wasn't born yet), we were all in the van, going to I-don't-remember-where. And, as was their way back then, my sisters were playing together. The game involved something to do with a TV show, and Grace, who apparently was running the TV, had decided it was time for a commercial break. The commercial went something like this...

"Have your kids ever played with...ZUZU?! Have your kids ever played with...ZUZU?! Have your kids ever played with...ZUZU?!....." etc.

Andrew and I looked at each other and laughed. What were our two crazy sisters doing now? Thinking to tease them a bit (I take my duty as the oldest very seriously), I asked them...

"What's a ZUZU anyway?"

To which Grace gave a sheepish grin and attempted to ignore me, embarressed at having her silliness pointed out. Well, Andrew and I didnt forget that, it was wierd even for her, and continued to laugh about ZUZU and what it was and stuff like that.

Oh yes, an important note: Joy was 3 at the time I think, possibly 4, and was annoyed at our making fun of what she thought was the best game ever.

Anyhow, as I mentioned before, I was not so quick to forget ZUZU. I would tease my sisters about it constantly: if I was walking past their room and saw them playing with dolls (a very common sight), I would barge in and snatch one up and say, "Is his name ZUZU? Is she ZUZU? How about this one?" And of course, they were none too pleased with this, in fact they were downright annoyed and I assume I was told on numerous times.

Back to my earlier statement about Joy's age.

Joy, being the youngest, never knew all the words we big kids used, and it frustrated her very much. If you called her something in a teasing way and she didnt know what the word meant, even if it was a compliment, she'd get very upset and go tell on the offender. My mom always found out about every little insult or annoyance, and I very often got into some sort of trouble for my share of name-calling, face-making, toy-snatching, and the like. And, due to my experience in such areas, I kept trying to find ways I could annoy without getting in trouble. A very difficult job, let me assure you. But, in dedication to my duty as the oldest, I made the neccessary sacrifices ;).

Now, zap back to the times I annoyed my sisters by asking if their dolls were named Zuzu.

I quickly learned that the nature of my usage of the word ZUZU brought some very negative connotations to the mind of my youngest sister. She took very serious offense at it. And so, at a time which I do not remember for an occassion that I forgot, I tried it on Joy. Of course, she took full offense, burst into angry tears, and stormed off to tell our mom about what mean old Nicholas just called her. The effect was something like this:

Joy--"MOMMY! NICHOLAS CALLED ME A ZUZU!!!!!!! WAH!!!!!!"
Mom--"Ignore him, Joy, Zuzu doesnt really mean anything."

If I could describe the joy that swelled within me at this newfound power, believe me when I say I would, but words fail me.

And thus, ZUZU was born.

Pretty soon, I extended my targets of the name from Joy to Andrew and Grace as well. They caught on, and soon they called each other ZUZUs. ZUZU came to mean anyone or anything stupid or unlikeable, and when something undesirable happened, it came to be called ZUZUish. My parents eventually caught on, and now they joke about ZUZU too. I taught John, now ZUZU is a part of his vocabulary. He taught some others, I'm not sure who exactly though I know Eric uses it, and I've taught people all the way from California. Oh yes, an interesting side note, Zuzu is the Arabic nickname for Joseph. We met a few Zuzus when we went to Lebanon, and that's people with the actual name, not just the ZUZUs. It was very hard not laughing when we were introduced to them (terrible, ain't it? :D).

Anyway, that's the story behind ZUZU, and the way that it's to be used.

So, with this enlightening knowledge, go out there and perpetuate the ZUZU legacy!

Become a ZUZU today!!!!!!

(a little) About Me

2007-09-22T20:49:00.000-04:00

I'm pretty sure most of you visiting this blog already know me. In general, at least. John knows me better than most, as is to be expected considering we've been pals since we were old enough to realize we were the same age.

Before I go on, I'd like to say that the most important thing you can know about me is that I've accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior, that He died on the cross for my sins, that He is the only way for my getting to Heaven, and that I am utterly incapable of doing anything to merit my admittance into Heaven other than believing this. For more details, see Isaiah 53, John 3:16, Romans 3:10, Romans 6:23, and Romans 10:9. Oh ya, I accept the Bible as my final authority, if you want to know why, ask me sometime, I'll be happy to explain.

Anyhow, assuming you all know all the general information about me, I'm just gonna delve into some stuff not too many know. BTW, this knowledge is being given out to minimize misunderstandings and confusions that will arise anyway. For one thing, I tend to think deep. I'm not saying this because I'm proud of it, but I'm probably gonna be posting some deep stuff on this blog, and I'd rather prepare people than have them wondering why I say certain things. The most common deep topics that will arise will be thoughts on why certain people react the way they do, how it's possible to read people's minds (no I'm not crazy), and the questioning of the purpose of certain things. Another thing you may need to know, I can be at times what some call brutally honest. Maybe rightly so. If I hear something I deeply disagree with, I will almost certainly say so, and give reasons for it too (don't worry, most of the time I'm not too blunt). I also tend to be a very unpleasant person to have angry with you. It takes a lot for me to get angry, and a lot for me to cool down. I get very vicious when I'm angry. Ask my siblings, I don't think John even knows the extent to which I get angry. An important thing to note: Never get a person who tends to be reserved (yes, I am reserved, despite the teasing of my cousins and the craziness around my friends) angry, because we have emotion bottled up inside us under high pressure. Unleashing that (a.k.a., making us angry) releases a torrent of angry thoughts and imaginations, which can truly be disturbing. Lol, this isn't a threat, but in the rare case I get angry at someone, you may be seeing this reflected in what I write. Also important: I value trust and honesty very highly, despise hypocrisy, get annoyed at egotistical actions, and can be really stubborn sometimes. May be useful to know.

Anyway, those are some tidbits of what people tend to not see in me, for general info I'll be updating my profile soon. Hope you learned something from all this.

Statement of Refusal

2007-09-22T17:15:00.000-04:00

Ok, I got a blog, and I'm gonna make good use of it. But first I'd like to get a few things out of the way. This is a list of things i refuse to do with my blog.

I refuse to use this blog as an online diary. No prying into my thoughts for you! >:P
I refuse to get addicted to this. Well...maybe.
I refuse to use this blog as a place to describe my muscle-building/victories over certain people in arm wrestling/pictures of me flexing. (My targets of this lampoon know who they are! >:D )

These statements are subject to amendment and may be revised, removed, or added to. (how's that for fine print? :D )

I Got A Blog!

2007-09-22T17:04:00.001-04:00

Yes, I got a blog. I never thought I would, but here I am, writing my first post, wondering how I finally decided on it. Hmmm not much to wonder considering I know what happened. I kept seeing friends websites/blogs, especially John's, and I began thinking that it would be fun to have a little place to post some thoughts and info. The idea of an online diary that everyone could read was appalling to me (and still is), and so I ignored the idea of a blog for that of my own website. When I asked my dad if it was alright with him (it was), he asked, "Why not get a blog? You can pretty much do the same things." He was right, and the fact that lotsa friends have blogs helped move me toward bloggy goodness. So now I'm here, and you can expect more from me in the future.