"A" Post About Anticipation

A day in December 20th, 2010.
As in 12-20-10.
All even numbers.
And, there's a total lunar eclipse tonight.
About half of the world can view it.
All of a sudden "when the planets align" takes a new meaning.
At any moment you can join me in being creeped out.

Also only 5 work days
Away from Christmas.
Anticipation is building with wonder of what gifts lay idle beneath the tree.
Amazement, however, awaits after unwrapping gift boxes,
At what actually is contained by those bundled gifts.
Any way you wrap it, the holiday of giving is under way.
Almost.

Another thing i am anticipating is my Vacation.
Average life will take a break from 12-29-10 -- 1-5-11.
Avoiding the Mormons, Utah awaits our arrival.
Aimed at a lot of fun, me and 3 of my closest friends will be
Abducted by skiing and a new environment.

Altogether, this adds up to some excitement over the next 2 weeks.
Alright!
Attached are some pictures of what i will be doing in the next 9 days.

Transcendentalism

I have been reading "Where I Lived and What i Lived For" by Henry David Thoreau.
While reading Thoreau, all i want to do is move into the woods,
Chop down some trees and build my own house,
Not buying the land or getting permits or filing any papers.
Why?
Simplicity.
And Escape.
Christmas is fast approaching,
And with it comes the fashionable fads,
New programs, diets, desires, and beliefs,
Expectations, inventions, gifts, and clutter.
And distractions.
As a Christian, it is necessary to identify the intentions of Christmas.
But, it is just as necessary to notice the reality of it.
And here is where i like what Thoreau, and others of the Transcendental movement say about
Truth, reality, and our place among the two.
In an essay, Ralph Waldo Emerson writes:

"So shall we come to look at the world with new eyes. It shall answer the endless inquiry of the intellect, — What is truth? and of the affections, — What is good? by yielding itself passive to the educated Will. ... Build, therefore, your own world. As fast as you conform your life to the pure idea in your mind, that will unfold its great proportions. A correspondent revolution in things will attend the influx of the spirit."

The desert of life proves an eternal thirst for its inhabitants.
And so we drink the next remedy for our dry pallet.
Whether poison or pleasing, our tongue turns to sand.
Emerson (and others) thus suggest that we look at truths and reality as an overarching theme
And stand firm in our convictions. A sort of pseudo post-modernism.
But instead of finding truth in experience,
One finds it in thought.
However, i recognize the dangers:
How can there be truth in what we think?
How can one reality "transcend" all personal thought?
How can idealism be attached firmly in the natural realm?
But i am struck by this question:
Do these dangers outweigh the imminent threat poised by an acceptance of the newest experience, trend, or affection?
As Americans, we are told to buy, spend, consume, or else fall behind.
But, the simplicity of a consistent culture is a new temptation.
The simplicity of things being and not changing.
And so, when i read about Thoreau and his wooded escape in Massachusetts, i envy his experience
Because he is free from the bondage of culture.
He has escaped the slavery of consumerism, materialism, and the next "best thing."
The burden of "brand new" removed,
His escape to nature proved to produce
not only great literature, but great thinking as well.

A Change of Pace

As many of you know,
I recently lost my part time job (Rest in Peace).
No, i was not fired.
The restaurant closed. (Rest in Peace)
Thus, i am welcomed to the realm of "unemployment."
But not really unemployment
Because i still work at the church.
However, i have significantly more time.
So, here's how i spent my time this last week:

Monday: I counted a freezer bag full of change, totaling close to $60, mostly in pennies and nickels.
(Yes, this day did inspire the title and subject of this blog)
Tuesday: I watched not one, but two movies. And a TV Show.
One: Terms of Endearment, was kind of awful, but also kind of intriguing.
Two: When in Rome, was cute. No other word describes it.
Wednesday: I stayed busy because of church and my lack of responsibility the previous two days.
I didn't write my lesson the previous days because of my insane schedule.
So, i rushed through it before church.
Thursday: Honestly, i don't remember this day. That's probably sad.
At some point during this week i reworked my Resume, maybe that's what i did?
Friday: The weekend started. So, i did nothing.

And so, as you can see, the pace of my life has significantly changed.
But, the reality is that it will continually change.
Oftentimes, we count the quarters,
but dollars and sense (intentional) are found in the nickels and dimes.
The future exponentially accrues interest.
Life is only lived once,
And change takes residence in mason jars,
Overflowing it's environment.
So, I will continue to count the change.
Sorting, summing, and rolling,
Because my future looks different than scattered coins,
but is not seamless like a dollar bill.

The Door

Today, I wanted to write a blog.
But i wasn't sure what i wanted to write about.
I thought about writing about Lost.
But, I haven't finished the series yet.
(I get disc 4 of season 6 tomorrow).
I thought about writing about November,
But, i tend to write about Seasons and Months a lot.

And so, i wasn't going to write a blog.
But, then something happened.
I had to go to the bathroom.
Yes, this happens on a daily basis
because i like to stay hydrated
by drinking water, soda, and coffee.
But, my bathroom experience tonight is worth noting.
The following is that story:

As my Monday routine necessitates,
I strayed across Seventh Street to Starbucks
from my empty apartment.
In the energetic environment brimming with bodies,
I found myself seated near the door, downing an Iced Coffee.
As i finished Act 1 of King Lear,
i noticed the capacity of the Coffee House.
Busier than most Mondays,
the Baristas brewed, steamed and poured at a frantic pace.
Meanwhile, i perused the pages of the Anthology eager to
embrace the words of Shakespeare.
People shifted in the small space
as those seated stared intently at their illuminated screens
I left my table baron of all but the book i was browsing
to make my way to the men's room.
I grasped the handle and gave it a gentle jerk
half expecting the door to be locked.
The handle turned, rotating the door.
To my surprise stood a man dressed in black.
Exposed at the sink, the man washed his hands.
I shrunk back as the door sprung shut with a slam.
Embarrassed and dazed, i decided to return to my table.
As i turned away, the door re-opened
And what emerged was the irresponsible occupant.
Avoiding eye contact, i walked past
and entered the space,
emphatically pushing the lock
in order to prevent a repeat of recent events.

Seriously, who doesn't lock the bathroom?
Yes, he was simply washing his hands.
But lock the bathroom door.
This could have been a scarring moment for both me and him.
So, if you are one who does not lock the bathroom door immediately on entry,
Start. Lock the bathroom door. For your sake and for mine.

Post Modern Holiday

As i got my haircut on Sunday,
My youth sponsor who so generously cuts my hair said this:
"Halloween isn't much,
IF You don't make a big deal out of it."
She said a lot.
IF we don't experience Halloween, What's left?
Ironically, death (ironic because Halloween has routs in celebrating death).
October is buried along with nature.
It does not commemorate
a person (ie. Columbus Day, which also celebrates death).
or event (some would argue the end of summer,
but I'm not convinced because summer ends at the Autumnal Equinox
[September 23rd this year]. Notably, before October.)
or relationship.
It is simply,
your experience that makes this holiday.
Strip away:
the costumes, candy, pumpkins, and colors
and you are left baron of all but the birth of November.
But, because of it's postmodern aspect,
Halloween has its heyday.
Creating costumes, inventing identities,
We live in the experience of Halloween.
Why? because happiness is summer vacation
and change occurs with the New Year and October is the in between.
So, our malcontent lives on, yearning for another season of life
disguising itself in the dress of experience.
Halloween is what we want to experience.
Reality is what we do experience.
So, why celebrate a holiday about experience?
Instead, actually create an experience.

Guilty Pleasures

Here's a list of my guilty pleasures:

1. Any Taylor Swift song.
There's something soothing about a country acoustic guitar
And a teen girl singing about love
That she probably hasn't experienced
But communicates so well.

2. An overly bold cup of coffee
But with milk in it.
Bitterness and calcium is an awesome combination.

3. Reading about technology
I like reading about the newest gadgets.
So i can talk about them like i own them,
to people who actually own them.

4. Things that your expectations completely miss
Example: The Notebook.
Expectation: Really bad sappy chick flick.
Result: Really awesome sappy chick flick.

Example 2: The Chicago Cubs
Expectation: Win the World Series every year.
Result: Lose the World Series every year.

Example 3: Cooking Dinner
Expectation: When i throw a bunch of things in a pan,
it will be bad.
Result: What i call, "Spanish Pork." It is awesome.

5. Using phrases
But,
Using them in instances that
completely revolutionize the way you use said phrases.
Example: Saying "Rest in peace" after a promotional period ends.

AT&T Rant

Dear AT&T,

Although i do enjoy the capabilities of the I-Phone
and your almost nation wide coverage with a decent 3G connection,
your company has a lot of work to do.
Because i have been pleased with my cellular service,
I decided to give your internet a chance.
Also, you were offering a nice deal that was half the price of competitors.
So i ordered my middle of the line DSL package with a free wireless modem (after a rebate).
And I received my modem (no rebate included). But, i have not complained about that. yet.
I connected the wires in hopes of writing a blog about how i was now "connected"
But all i received was a flashing red light.
My service was scheduled to begin September 3rd.
Yet, i still am without my own internet service.
You canceled appointments 3 times,
Told me to call back 4,
And had an outage the day my DSL was "turned on."
I, as a customer, am turned off.
Let me give you my business. Please make my internet work.
Thanks. An irritated customer,

Kyle.

An Apple a Day...

I like to form habits if you haven't noticed yet.
But not just habits for habits' sake,
but i want to form healthy habits.
I want to exercise.
I want to eat right.
I want to take care of myself.
This is difficult.
Mainly because of Taco Bell and Coke.
And i get busy and tired and lazy and distracted.
And my self-motivation ceases to exist.
But, i want to be a healthy person
because i realize a day will come when my body will slow down
and the weight will pick up
and my body wont perform the way it does now.
So, i have come up with a solution: Buy Apples.
Apples will solve all of my problems, and here's why:
1. They are healthy.
I want to be healthy, so i buy apples, and they are delicious
red delicious to be exact.
They make for a great snack alternative and i get my daily serving of fruit
Win/Win.
2. When i eat apples, i have to immediately floss.
Nothing is as a (do i use "a" or "an" here?) unique irritation as apple skin entangled in my teeth.
And so, one healthy habit leads to another.
Apples pay it forward.
Thus, my healthiness will be achieved by adding apples to my diet and cleansing my teeth one core at a time.
And the old saying is true: An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

Discipleship from Democracy

"The people always will what is good, but by themselves they do not always discern it.
The general will is always rightful, but the judgment which guides it is not always enlightened.
It must be brought to see things as they are,and sometimes as they should be seen;
It must be shown the good path which it is seeking, and secured against seduction by the desires of the individuals;
it must be given a sense of situation and season,
so as to weigh immediate and tangible advantages against distant and hidden evils.
Individuals see the good and reject it; the public desires the good but does not see it.
Both equally need guidance.
Individuals must be obliged to subordinate their will to their reason;
the public must be taught to recognize what it desires."
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Social Contract

I believe the church has always and will continue to exist as a monarchy.
Yet aren't Rousseau's words against the French Monarchy an accurate portrayal of life in the church?

"Individuals see the good and reject it."
This is humanity's theme.
Paul's outcry.
Identification with morality without obedience to it.
And so we combine our efforts to fulfill the good (Israel, the church, etc.).
And we desire morality.
"The public desires the good but does not see it."
This is the church's identity.
The anthem of western religion.
The church without vision.
Stagnation.

And we are trapped in an enigma:
A morality with no people fails.
A people with no direction fails morality.
And morality with direction is disputed.
America.

"Crazy Love" Review

So, i have been reading "War and Peace" all summer.
But i had to take a break from it.
Because it is long.
And
Because it is difficult.
But i did not want to take a break from reading.
So, i picked up Francis Chan's "Crazy Love."

Here are my thoughts on the book:

It was fine.
Let me qualify that by saying this:
Love is an old topic written about by everyone.
And so, Francis Chan had nothing new to say:
Love must be experiential, not educational.
This is not a new revelation.
Culture has picked up on that truth.
So that qualifies me to say this.
The read was fine.

After reading the book, these were my thoughts:

Love is not Crazy, it is simply Love.
You cannot take a break from experiencing it.
Even if it is difficult
And
Even if is long
But you have to let it break you.
So, "Crazy Love" might take me all summer.

The Exorcist Review

The Exorcist is a demonic thriller that transformed the anti-supernatural presupposition from doubter to believer.
Chronicling the possession of a young girl named Reagen, The Exorcist shines light on what is hidden in the Catholic and Protestant Closet-- the supernatural. Since the introduction of psychiatric diseases and somatic disorders, the supernatural has been explained away through personality defects. However, The Exorcist revives the inkling of the supernatural by sharing a story of elements unexplainable to the psychological realm but rather the spiritual. In a despiritualized culture, The Exorcist made a box office splash by presenting ideas that are absent outside the third world. The Exorcist captures the curiosity of culture by utilizing a storyline unfamiliar to the common citizen.

As i finished this movie, i wondered why a world detached from the supernatural world watched The Exorcist, a movie about the very thing culture has tried to corrupt. And then it struck me, the world loves the demonic because it explains circumstances. If evil exists, then actions are excused. If the demonic is real, then destruction is justified. We want the excuse without the consequences. We want the bad without the good. And so, we watch The Exorcist and think of its possibility but hear about the church and think of its absurdity. The Exorcist ironically helps us sleep at night when the reflection of the day's actions awaken us. It seems that culture is so concerned with qualifying its content that it misses its reality, that if the supernatural exists, then the church exists.

Good Will Hunting Review

Good Will Hunting is the feel good saga about the Southy, Will Hunting, who's math abilities have been overlooked due to his custodial duties. Introduced as a janitor and revealed as a genius, Will Hunting seeks to fulfill his potential as defined by himself in this tale of a maturing life in logic and love. The story unfolds as Will Hunting is released from jail under the supervision of a Professor and a Psychiatrist. As the relationships unfold between the math savant and his respective colleagues, Will Hunting begins to discover that love trumps achievement. Despite pressure to perform mathematical functions that are simply solved by him, Hunting is intrigued by what he cannot figure out- a woman.

Good Will Hunting brilliantly distinguishes the difference between empirical knowledge and experiential knowledge, emphasizing the depth of first person experiences compared to the cheapened explanations read from the perspectives of others. Throughout the movie, the Psychiatrist explains to Will that he cannot truly know what he has not witnessed. I have to agree with the power behind participation compared to observation. Although one can obtain knowledge of art by reading or viewing photographs, the essence of the experience is eradicated if one is not present to gaze upon the beauty found in every stroke of the brush. One can read a Shakespearean Sonnet and learn about love, but this pales in comparison to the experiential knowledge of a sacrificial relationship.

Good Will Hunting explains in a tangible way what culture sometimes misses.
The experience itself is worth more than the knowledge gleaned.
The journey is more important than the desitnation.
The means justify the ends.
Experience determines reality.
Experience provides knowledge
Experience is teaches truth.
Experience is everything.

Avatar Review

Last night after the storm invaded the southwest Missouri sky,
I started the epic that caused a splash in the entertainment realm.
The movie that spent over $300 million,
but grossed more than $700 million.
The top box-office movie of all time.
The Best Picture Academy Award Snub.
Avatar.

And here are my reflections:

Avatar is an epic story of colliding cultures. On the planet Pangea, the Navi people, a humanoid race, are being exploited by a human invasion orbiting around a mineral that produces $20 million per kilo. Much like other Epics, Avatar focuses on the interaction of cultures and the affects that said interaction has on the individual experiencing a more "primitive" culture (see also Lawrence of Arabia). The ex-Marine main character, Jake Sully, incurs a paradigm shift involving the relationship between nature and money because of his involvement in the indigenous culture. His intrinsic values transform to reflect the values of the infiltrated culture. As the evolution proceeds, Jake Sully abandons his human tendencies, even "betraying his race" for the naturalistic Navi people.

I appreciate the experience focused transformation of Jake Sully that reflects our post-modern culture. Avatar is truly a post-modern movie, illustrating how truth can be blurred by perspective, producing the human perspective from a greedy, mineral hungry corporate exec, and a patriotic marine looking to defend human values. Such a presentation of relative truth encourages the audience to root against their own kind in favor of the more primitive Navi people without investigating the consequences of such an action.

If the human perspective were presented from an experience that would gain support, the audience would have rooted against the blood thirsty, poison arrow shooting Navi people in favor of the more likable characters. And thus is the beauty of post-modernism. Perspective changes truth. And thus is the danger of post-modernism.

There were many other things to appreciate about Avatar, such as its focus on Nature Preservation, Cultural Intolerance, and the Evolution of Man, but what was most striking was its proper presentation of current culture through a futuristic tale. I would give Avatar a solid 4 Stars out of 5.

Airplanes

Recently i flew to Arizona (Phoenix) to visit some friends (in Chandler) with a good friend (Dakota).
As we ascended into the evening sky from the miniature airport in Springfield,
i found myself unable to do anything but read.
And so i did.

Every once in a while my eyes would dry from the blowing recycled air
and i would straighten out of my emergency row slouch to look about the plane.
There i found a man snoring, a man nervously fidgeting with his phone, and another man reading.
I must be honest, i judge people by what they do on airplanes.
The activity they chose when there is nothing else to do can really tell you a lot about a person.
But mostly, i judge people by the books they read on airplanes.

For example, there was a lady that sat next to me in the emergency exit row.
She was reading what appeared to be some woman oriented love novel with 400 pages and large print.
Here's my judgment:
She is married, but lonely (thus the novel she was traveling with and not the man).
Reading boosts her self esteem, but she does it rarely (large book with large print).
She was embarking on a 3 day work trip in which she will spend an equal amount of time at the bar as she will in her hotel room, yearning for conversation. Yet when that conversation arrives, she will drive it away with her constant chatter about anything and everything that has been building up for the hours she spent reading in silence on the plane.

I judge people by what they read.
What does your book say about you?

Toms

I think Toms are cool.
And i want to be cool.
So, I have looked at buying a pair of Toms.
Here is the issue:
I go to the Toms website,
I click the pair that i want (the same pair every time),
I pick size 12,
I proceed to checkout,
I enter my billing information,
I enter my shipping information,
I proceed to the final stage.
And then, I check my Facebook.

I just can't bring myself to buy them.


Yeah, its cool and responsible to support little kids in Africa by sending them a pair of shoes while you buy yours.
But, i think it's more responsible to not buy into American consumerism, explaining it away with a "good deed" excuse.
Don't get me wrong, Toms are great. But, Consumerism is not.
And the majority of the people who buy Toms, buy them as an excess pair of shoes.
So here's what the picture looks like:
American gets pair of shoes #10 and African Orphan gets pair of shoes #1
So, while everyone else is being stylish with their Toms and feeling good about themselves for helping orphans in Africa by buying new shoes, i feel good about myself because i wear shoes that i have had for 2 years because i don't need new shoes.
Here's an idea: If you want African Orphans to get a pair of shoes, but don't want to engage in American Consumerism, then you need to click this link. It will direct you to the contact page for TOMS Shoes. Send them an email asking them to add a donation section to their website. Mention my name and give your location so that they recognize our united efforts.
TOMS Shoes are good, but they could be better.

A Converstation at Work

I have written about work before.
I remember making the statement "If you are going to come in near closing time, you should at least talk about something interesting as i clean around you.
The other day, someone did.

It was about 2:30 and i was gathering dishes from above the trash can.
I noticed a peculiar couple sitting at a table for two next to the pile of dirty dishes.
By "peculiar couple," i don't mean a married couple, or even a dating couple.
Rather, it was a couple of gentlemen --one Old and one Young.
They were not father and son.
I could tell by the conversation.
Not only that, but the stark difference in their appearance.

The Young man was in his mid to late 20s. Although he had a receding hair line, as he spoke you could hear disparity in his voice. His sandwich went untouched for several minutes, causing me to linger in gathering in the plates.

The Old man was worn. He had a long beard. Not the kind of beard that resembled Santa Claus, but rather that of a Z Z Top band member, or a sun-baked biker. His teeth were that of an Englishman and his clothes were that of a homeless man. He was the kind of man that you knew had experienced life, and could be seen in the wrinkles on his face.

I half expected this to be an act of pity from a well-to-do twenty something to an aged down-and-outer. Or maybe even a meeting in homeless ministry. But, this was not the case. Instead, the young man began to reveal his heart to the experienced elder, illuminating the issues in his life revolving around a woman.

This woman clearly owned the young man's heart because of the quiver in his voice as he vented to the apparently wise, Old man. The young man complained that the woman did not value his time. That no matter how much time he devoted to her, she was impossible to please. She always wanted more.
The Old man just sat and listened.
The young man continued and continued as i tried not to make my eaves dropping obvious.
The Old man continued to just sit and listen.
I had lingered long enough and had to return to my dish washing post.
When i returned for another sink full, the couple was gone.

10 Reasons the Cubs will win the World Series. This year.

Previously i wrote a post on why the Cubs could never win the World Series ever again. ever. ever. and never again.
Now, i will write on why the Cubs will win the World Series. This year. In October. oh boy...

1. They are due for a World Series. Come on, its been over 100 years. Its about time.
2. They are severely underachieving so far this year. And they are only 5.5 games out.
Pitching has been mediocre, bullpen has been terrible and no one outside of Ryan Theriot and Alfonso Soriano have hit with any consistency. With signs of life out of Aramis Ramirez, the Cubs could very well put a streak together and take over 1st in the Central.
3. The Reds are in 1st place right now. That wont last.
4. The Cardinals have been over-achieving (both pitching and hitting) and they are only 6 games over .500
5. Their roster boasts Playoff experience with a valuable mix of veterans and young guys.
6. Pity from other teams. If the Cubs make the playoffs, every team will just quit.
7. No single team in the NL looks like a run-away World Series contender. (although you could argue for Philly or San Fran.)
8. Umpires will conspire together to rig every Cubs game. Not for money, but for the sole reason to disprove any notion of the super-natural (i.e. Curses).
9. New Owners are willing to spend the cash on a large market team to see it win.
10. Because if they do not win, there is no justice in the world.

Why the Chicago Cubs Will Never Win the World Series Again.

The Chicago Cubs will never win the World Series again. Ever. Ever. For eternity.

First, let me preface this comment by noting that i am a Chicago Cubs fan (to say the least).
And let me qualify the statement with the notion that i would be ecstatic if the Cubs do in fact win the World Series again.
(But they wont).
And finally let me contextualize with the fact that i haven't even given up on the Cubs this season.

So, why won't the Cubs ever win in the post season?

Let's start with baseball reasons:
1. Bad contracts to old, under-producing hitters (i.e. Soriano and Fukudome). Bad contracts not only keep players around for a stupid amount of time, but it also hampers the team from grabbing quality bullpen arms that have already cost the Cubs 6 games this year.
2. Old Facilities. Don't get me wrong, the atmosphere around Wrigley is indispensable, however, we must face the facts that the facilities as Wrigley are near the bottom in the majors.
3. A depleted farm system (although it is on the rise) from years of poor trades, mainly with the Marlins, Orioles, and Red Sox. And the Cubs always get the worst end of trades.
4. An under-critical fan base. The Cubs haven't won the World Series in 103 years. But their fan base has only grown every year. Why? Because the Cubs are the "Lovable Losers." The fans don't expect a World Series banner, they just expect a sunny day in the bleachers with a beer and a ballgame.
5. They are in the same division as Albert Pujols. No, not the Cardinals, but Albert Pujols.

Which transitions me into the philosophical reasons why the Cubs will never win the World Series again.

1. The familiar is comfortable. Because we live in a culture of comfort, the Cubs would only annoy people if they won the World Series because people are so used to them losing. For example in 2003, changing the familiar was too uncomfortable for Steve Bartman and Alex Gonzalez, so they combined to ruin the best chance the cubs have had since 1945.
2. There has to be a loser. Not everyone can win. So, the Cubs have volunteered to be that loser every year for all of eternity.
3. Americans live in routine. And so do the Cubs. Every year, Cubs fans expect the club to win around 85 games, and be competitive till September. And if this changed, so would every American's foundational understanding of the way the world works.
4. Curses are real. And so are goats.
5. The Cubs represent the helplessness of the American Dream. Every person dreams of being the one to rise to the top (i.e. the Tampa Bay Rays of life); however, they associate in reality with the Cubs, recognizing that all they can actually do is dream and hope for a few more good days than bad days.

Theology of "Lost"

I'm not talking about sinners being Lost.
I'm talking about pop culture.



I am addicted (which is a common result).
So, to couple my addiction, here is my ignorant (i am only on Season 2) understanding of the Emmy award winning drama.

Overarching Theme: Negative life circumstances shed light on hope.

Example: every character on the show.
Before getting to the Island (an isolated state which could also represent the emotional feeling coinciding with the negative life circumstance) every character experiences a life altering situation (ie. winning the Lottery, giving up a son for adoption, becoming pregnant, being arrested, killing a guy, family death, new job, addiction, etc.). After enduring said life circumstance, each character engages in a feeling of despair. Thus, the passengers of flight 815 find they have crash landed on an island where they have emotionally lived for some time. Despite the difficulty of the island, each character engages in some sort of Dharma, seeking to find hope beyond their blinding depression. While on the island, each character faces a testing situation, encouraged by the sage-like character John Locke (John Locke is famous for establishing the identity of the self and consciousness). Although characters try to escape the island, they are simply redirected back to the island in order to find their identity. Once each character finds his/her personal identity, they are depicted by hope.

Theory for Future Episodes: Characters who develop after experiencing a negative or challenging circumstance on the island will get off the island (either by dying, disappearing, or escaping).

This is the mild version of my theories. I also have thoughts about the numbers (4 8 15 16 23 42) and I'm developing a theory about character names (Locke, Rousseau, Shepherd, etc.)

Anyway, don't ruin lost for me. If you do, you will end up like Goodwin.

Spring Break To-Do List

Here is what my Spring Break looks like since Keenan Donahue bailed on Spring Training:

1. Watch Lost
I always thought this show was really dumb. Then i started watching it. And now, I'm captivated by it. All of the symbolism, character development, and suspenseful music make it difficult to turn off. So, i will finish Season 1 over the break.

2. Read a book
So i don't completely waste my spring break time, i will read a book. But not for fun. For class. Bummer. At least i sound smart.

3. Eat good food.
Both home-cooked, and restaurant. Restaurant list: Taco Bueno, Chipotle, Panda Express, Red Robin, anything else we do not have in Joplin.

4. Go golfing.
I went with my Dad on Friday (sorry for skipping classes Andrew Kirschner and Doug Welch). And i will go again this Friday. Unfortunately, i shot my worst round in like 2 years. Hopefully this Friday will be better.

5. Watch Basketball.
I took in the first four days of the NCAA Tournament as my bracket was destroyed by the likes of Northern Iowa and Saint Mary's. Boooooooooo. I guess i owe Sonja dinner and a movie.

So there you have it. I will quit updating you on my daily agenda on Facebook because it most likely consists of these 5 things + church on Wednesday. Now to accomplish something off my list (time to eat).

March Madness

March is crazy.
Caesar was killed, birds return, and pollen invades.
Clocks speed up, and so do schedules.
The Irish have a holiday, and bracketology becomes a real word.
Can anything crazier happen than that stuff?

Anyway, here's why March is crazy for me (i love postmodernism):
I'm giving up soda for March.
And i love soda. namely, Coke.
But i was drinking way too much soda and spending too much money on it.
And i made a resolution to give up soda for an entire month.
So the beginning of spring says see ya to soda. (--really good alliteration).

Also, March is crazy because of spring break.
I plan on doing something spontaneous for spring break (enjoy the irony in that statement).
Thoughts have been on going to Arizona for Spring Training.
Or maybe i will golf everyday.
Or at least eat out everyday (without soda).
Or at least watch basketball everyday (while drinking lemonade).

March is crazy, but aren't the beginnings of all good things?

One last word, i have been considering a statement lately:
It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.
-Mark Twain

Pessimistic Outlook 2010

I am pessimistic.
No, not by nature, although my sarcasm often gets confused for bitterness towards life.
Why am i pessimistic?
because its only mid February my New Year's Resolutions have fallen by the wayside.
And i hate that.
So, here is an update on my resolutions:

1. Make a significant purchase.
-FAIL. But I'm feeling a spending spree near the beginning of the summer.

2. Give up coffee, tea, and Soda for a month each.
-FAIL. But, i have scheduled out the months to do this. First up: No Soda March.
I have 10 days left to indulge in Coca Cola Classic.

3. Read 20 books.
-I am on pace to read 20 books.
But, half of those are going to be for school.
Not exactly what i envisioned.

4. Be more active.
2 weeks ago after a game of racquetball i weighed in at 202.
FAIL

5. Play guitar for an hour a week.
I think my guitar has left its case for maybe an hour all year.
UTTER FAIL

6. Save money
- I endured the February blitz of Valentines, so its looking optimistic.
7. Pay off my debt.
- This is looking good as well.

So there you have it.
FAIL.
Also, before this blog post, i had never really utilized the "FAIL" movement.
But there is no other way to describe my year according to personal goals.
Good news: It is only February 18. I have 10 entire months to turn this thing around.

Art Culture

I went to NYC. In February. It was not warm. In fact, it was very cold.
And i was there for a school seminar, so we didn't do much tourism.
But we did do one thing that everyone alive should do:
Go to MoMA
(Museum of Modern Art).
When this was posed as a possible place to visit, i was less than excited (out of ignorance).
Who goes to New York to see a museum?
But this museum was unlike any other museum.
From the Architecture of the building with high ceilings and strategically placed cut out windows to the yogurt lids nailed on the wall, to the paintings, photographs, statues, and films, the entire experience was an expose´ of modern "art."
An exhibit of everything about life.
Art intrigues me. I want to be artsy, however:
I cannot do it, and half the time i do not understand it. (why is a red line down a white canvas a breakthrough in art?)
But here's what i can do: appreciate it.
And so, this post is simply an "art appreciation" post.
Check out the pictures and bask in the brush strokes of life on the canvas.

This was one of my favorites


I could have stared at this for an hour.


Monet's Water Lillies. Ridiculous.


Picaso. He is weird.


Salvador Dali


Frida Kahlo

There was much more that i really enjoyed: Pollock, Chagall, Frank Lloyd Wright, and others.
The 3 hours we spent there were not enough.
I would have loved an entire day to just stand in awe at a social representation of life through material form.

The Epitome of Snow

It snowed the last few days- about 5 inches.
Its kind of nice knowing that winter isn't quite dead.
I'm not ready for the warm breeze and pollen.
I'm not ready for color to exist in the world again.
I'm not ready for longer hours of sunshine.
I simple want to enjoy the greyness that is winter.
And the snow has done the trick.

People were building this storm up quite a bit, and it was somewhat of a let down; however, it is snow nonetheless, the very epitome of winter. Because of the hype of the approaching snow storm Thursday Night, the entire day of Thursday was a wash (even though there was no snow or rain). Rumors of no classes spread like an epidemic, resulting in an afternoon of apathy. Complaining coupled with wishes and prayer accumulated, as did the falling sleet.

Powder piled up on Friday afternoon, producing pure panic from mid-western drivers. Roads were deserted, leaving a ghost town. The few cars that bared the "blizzard" slid back and forth like a sled being towed. Unfortunately, many of those cars needing towed themselves.
The beginning of the weekend came and past, and Saturday got stuck in the snow. The day drags on as mindless hours are spent in the dorm. Waiting for dissipation, the stubborn snow seems to stick around forever, stretching Saturday into what seems like a century.

And so, here is what snow in the mid-west boils (maybe not an appropriate verb to describe snow) down to:
Poor driving, elongated weekends, mindless hours, and my attempt at writing a descriptive narrative of a Mid-western Winter.

Absent Minded

I took a short reprieve from the blog world. Actually, i either:
a) had too many things to do or,
b) had nothing to do/write about.
But no worries, my mutterings have returned.

Quick Life Update:
I am not graduating till December. Part by necessity, part by choice, and part by preference.
I was enrolled in 20 hours to graduate in May. I didn't feel like it. So, December it is.
This means a few things: I will be in Joplin till December, voiding a previous blog post. Also, part time jobs are in the future. Finally, i need someone to live with- Any takers?

That's all for now.

Managing Baseball

I got bored and didn't feel like reading, or watching TV. So this is what i did:

I made my All-time baseball team.
Here is what the best baseball team of all time would look like from my perspective:

1. Ty Cobb CF - (L) Career average: .366. He had over 4,000 hits, but just over 100 Home Runs. Just the kind of guy you look to for a lead off guy. Also, he had 892 SB. He stole a base 1/4 of the time he got a hit.

2. Cal Ripken Jr. SS (R)- The iron man can flat out play ball. He ranks among the MLB leaders in hits, but he is most known by playing an absurd amount of games in a row. He is a good leader, and a guy you can count on at being consistent. His stats don't blow anyone away, but he has those intangibles that a lot of good hitters lack.

3. Ted Williams LF - (L) Career average: .344. Many consider him to be the best hitter of all time, making him a great option for #3. He also has the 4th highest AB/RBI Ratio. He wont steal any bases, but his fielding % in LF was around .980 which is pretty good.

4. Albert Pujols 1B - (R) Career average (so far): .334. As much as i hate the Cardinals, Albert Pujols is on course to be one of the best players to play the game. My 1B was going to be Lou Gehrig, but Pujols is percentage points behind Gehrig in OPS and has a ridiculous fielding %. Not to mention he is the most feared hitter of the 2000s.

5. George Brett 3B- (L) I hate George Brett. And he will probably be forever remembered for using too much pine tar against the Yankees. But if you look at Hall of Fame 3B, he is among the best. Mike Schmidt was my first choice, but his BA is too low and his stache was too gross.

6. Hank Aaron RF- (R) He hit HRs and he hit over .300 for his career.

7. Joe Morgan 2B- (L) If all you know about this guy is his stint as the announcer on Sunday Night Baseball, check out his stats. He was legit. Especially for a 2B. honorable mention: Ryne Sandberg, the Best Cubs 2B of all time.

8. Johnny Bench C- (R) He's from Oklahoma.

9. Babe Ruth P- (L) Not only can he hit, but he can also pitch, ranking 16th in career ERA at 2.66. Not a bad guy to turn the line up around.

Bench Player: Pete Rose - Rose leads the MLB in hits. and he played over 500 games at 1B, 3B, 2B, and LF. Basically, he's a tool. Not to mention, he's a switch hitter.

Rotation:
1. Babe Ruth- (L)
2. Nolan Ryan- (R) this guy can fight. And he throws really hard.
3. Cy Young- (R) 511 wins and a 2.63 ERA.
4. Sandy Koufax- (L) He may have only pitched 12 years and tallied less than 200 wins, but he was really really good.
5. Greg Maddux- (R) location, location, location. Also, a ridiculous tailing fastball. And he could field.

Honorable Mention: Randy Johnson- (L) I limited myself to 1 power pitcher (Nolan Ryan), but Johnson may have had the most un-hittable slider of all time.

Closer: Mariano Rivera

There may be better players at each position, or players with better stats. But if you look at the mix of average, power, and which side of the plate they hit from, this line up is pretty legit. They would win the World Baseball Classic.
Let me know if you have any objections.

My New Year 2010

I find New Year's Resolutions cliche. But i participate anyway.
So here is an incomplete list of my Life Goals for 2010:

1. Make a significant purchase.
This is a left-over goal from last year. That is why it is #1. I tend to make money and do nothing with it. And anytime i buy something, i struggle my way out the door (i.e. i bought Arrested Development for $13 at Target and Sonja had to convince me that i should get it). So, down with conservatism and up with Consumerism!

2. Give up Coffee, Soda, and Tea for a month each.
This, without a doubt, will be my most challenging goal. I really like Soda-- really, Coke. And i really like coffee. And tea is going to develop into a crutch when going without coffee. So, my personal will is going to be tested, but i am convinced that my pride will remain.

3. Read 20 books.
I haven't read very many classic, influential, AP-English, type books. And i want to do that. And i feel like 20 books is achievable. But this goal may compromise goal #2 since nothing accompanies good literature better than a good bitter cup of coffee.

4. Be More Active.
One of my goals last year was to get to 195 lbs. Goal achieved. A goal this year is to not exceed 200 lbs, which means being more active. Not necessarily weight lifting or running, just doing more physical activities. I'm pretty sure this is on every American's list, so enough said.

5. Play guitar at least once a week.
I have a guitar, albeit it is not the nicest. And i know how to play, but not very well. So, i would like to change that by committing time once a week to playing.

The last few merely need to be mentioned:

6. Get my savings account to a certain round number.
7. Pay off the small amount of debt that i have.

So, there are my goals for 2010. Last year i completed 75% of my goals. I'm not naive enough to think i will complete 100% of my goals, so this year I'm simply trying to complete a higher percentage than last year.