Today it seems nearly impossible to get any actual work done.
This is bad because:
1. I have a LOT to do.
2. Tomorrow we look at houses!
3. Wednesday I get a haircut.
4. Thursday I go to Phoenix.
And I'm not going to do anything while I'm on vacation.
Ok, maybe on my 3 hour plane ride but that's really only to look cool by pulling out my MacBook.
Guys, my schedule is packed. When will I have time to get my work done??!?!?!?!?
JK. I make my own office hours. I think I'll work tonight over a bowl of Quinoa Vegetable Soup and a bottle of Merlot.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
Monday, March 17, 2014
Friday, March 14, 2014
Vegetarian Food
One of the biggest knocks on eating vegetarian meals is that they aren't very filling. But here's whats great about vegetables: you can eat as many as you want! Want seconds? Get seconds. Want thirds? Get thirds. Seriously, eat as many vegetables as you want. You don't have to feel guilty about it. It's tremendous! Here's a couple things we gorged ourselves on this week:
Delicious Tomato Soup
Of course, I recommend you make recipes your own. Instead of using canned diced tomatoes, dice up your own Roma Tomatoes. Instead of using 6 tablespoons of sugar, use a lesser amount. Don't add the Sherry. Seriously, cooking should be fun, creative, and expressive. Make your food your own. And then demolish it like you own it.
Tuesday was just so beautiful outside so we cooked some black bean burgers. Before you call me un-American, try them! They are wonderful. They have a southwest spice to it and goes great with some avocado or jalapeño if you're looking for some spice. We buy ours from SAM's, but our membership ends at the end of this month so we may attempt to make our own over the summer. Until then, here's the kind we buy: Black Bean Burgers!
We served our burgers with some home-made sweet potato fries, broccoli and some strawberries. Great porch food. Might as well have an Angry Orchard too!
Also, usually I get really hungry when I cook. And I eat without thinking, "I should snap a pic of this for the blog." But my wife is really good with the camera. If you want daily pics of what we are eating and doing, follow her on Instagram here: Sonja Tapper.
Tomato Soup
I love having Monday as soup day. It is seriously fantastic to have lunch prepared for days throughout the week that you can just grab out of the fridge and go. It was really simple and didn't take much time.Here's the recipe for it:Delicious Tomato Soup
Of course, I recommend you make recipes your own. Instead of using canned diced tomatoes, dice up your own Roma Tomatoes. Instead of using 6 tablespoons of sugar, use a lesser amount. Don't add the Sherry. Seriously, cooking should be fun, creative, and expressive. Make your food your own. And then demolish it like you own it.
Black Bean Burgers
Tuesday was just so beautiful outside so we cooked some black bean burgers. Before you call me un-American, try them! They are wonderful. They have a southwest spice to it and goes great with some avocado or jalapeño if you're looking for some spice. We buy ours from SAM's, but our membership ends at the end of this month so we may attempt to make our own over the summer. Until then, here's the kind we buy: Black Bean Burgers!
We served our burgers with some home-made sweet potato fries, broccoli and some strawberries. Great porch food. Might as well have an Angry Orchard too!
Also, usually I get really hungry when I cook. And I eat without thinking, "I should snap a pic of this for the blog." But my wife is really good with the camera. If you want daily pics of what we are eating and doing, follow her on Instagram here: Sonja Tapper.
Avocado Tacos
These are SO GOOD. And really, really simple. No joke, they take 10 minutes to make. If you're looking for a quick fresh meal, eat this. Here's what you do:
First, dice up a half an onion and a tomato. While you're at it, dice up some cilantro as well. Next, mash up a couple avocados. and mix it with a half can of corn and your other ingredients. Season it with garlic, salt, pepper, and some cayenne. Serve it on a corn tortilla with some black beans, bell peppers, and of course some margaritas! Make your own salsa and enjoy a relaxing Mexican night while your wife watches Grey's Anatomy.
Enjoy!
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Food for Thought
*Disclaimer: some of you might think this is ridiculous.
FYI, you are wrong.
Recently Sonja and I changed our diet.
No, not because we were fat (although admittedly we each had a few pounds to lose). We simply wanted to eat better food. We watched a few food documentaries on Netflix (Forks Over Knives, Food, Inc., Farmageddon, Food Matters). OK, we may have gotten carried away with the documentaries, but they really changed the way we view food. We now view food as what fuels our body instead of a wonderful hobby we couldn't get enough of. So we examined what we were eating and decided to make a few changes.
The first change we made was to cut out as much processed food as possible. We decreased our dairy consumption (the whole idea of drinking cow's milk is kind of weird if you think about it), switched to whole grain breads and pastas, and made it a point to go for organically grown products. Oh, we also started a garden! And that was a lot of fun. When you see your food from the seed to your mouth, you just feel great.
After changing our diet, we felt better about what we were eating. We felt healthier. And more importantly for a lot of people, our grocery bill didn't go up! We were eating better food for the same price as bad food. Healthier without emptying your wallet? That's a pretty sweet deal. And one that you can do too (you know, if you want- If not, that's cool too)!
After 6 months or so, we decided to make another change: go to a plant-based diet, consuming less meat and eating more protein rich vegetables, beans, and the like. Before you shrug this off as another "hippie pushing an agenda," let me assure you that it is totally fine to eat meat. Our decision to cut back on meat has nothing to do with overpopulated chicken coops or grain fed cattle. In fact, we still eat meat sometimes. We simply eat it in moderation.
I know a lot of people who hear about the way we eat and respond with "I could never do that! I love meat WAY too much!" Let me tell you, I was one of those people. When I was a bachelor, and for the first month or so of marriage, I ate steak EVERY Monday night. It was my way of rewarding myself (sometimes you have to treat yourself to a nice dinner, right?).
When Sonja approached me with the idea of switching to plant-based, I was skeptical and unsupportive. But, like any good husband, I was willing to appease my wife for a month or so and then when things didn't turn out well, we would go back to the way we had been eating for our entire lives. But when we switched to plant-based, I felt healthier (more energetic, weight loss, better mood) and our grocery bill WENT DOWN! Not only that, but the food we were eating tasted GOOD. I was just as surprised as you. So, for a while now, Sonja and I have gradually decreased our meat consumption to the point where we are discussing going completely vegetarian (Who am I?).
So, if you're wanting to try out a vegetarian meal every once in a while, I'll be posting a food recap every Friday/Saturday with a few things we ate throughout the week. I'll do my best to include pictures and links to recipes, but if I eat my food before I snap a picture, don't judge me. Here's our first menu:
Here's the Recipe: Sausage, Potato, and Kale Soup
But wait! There's meat in that recipe! Yes there is. Remember, we are eating plant-based right now, not vegetarian. So, we bought a pound of Italian sausage (the recipe calls for 1.5 lb.) and made this soup. Why? Because Kale is SO good for you. Seriously, read up on Kale and it's benefits. You'll be impressed. Obviously, we cut down the meat portion of the recipe and also subbed out the whole milk/cream/half&half for a simple milk and flour mixture. It was delicious and makes great lunches throughout the weak. Soups are our Monday night tradition now. And the Bachelor (see previous post).
I have no recipe for this because I kind of made it up. Here's what I did: steam cabbage, broccoli, and a half onion in vegetable broth along with some minced garlic cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper (hint: the longer you cook cabbage, the less cabbagey it tastes so if you aren't a cabbage person, steam is for 5 minutes before you add in the broccoli and onion). Cook your whole grain pasta to the box instructions (a little less than a cup per person). When the broccoli gets tender, add in some shaved carrots and some tomatoes along with your pasta sauce of choice (I used Classico's Vodka Sauce), turning the heat to simmer. When your pasta is done, add it into the pan as well and add some cheese if you're feeling adventurous (we weren't). Serve it with a nice Zinfandel and enjoy this delicious vegetarian meal while watching and episode of New Girl.
I hope this post encourages you to try a veggie meal every once in a while. And I hope you still want to be friends with us. If you want to try a veggie meal, but don't want to be seen in the produce section of Walmart, you are welcome at our home anytime!
FYI, you are wrong.
Recently Sonja and I changed our diet.
No, not because we were fat (although admittedly we each had a few pounds to lose). We simply wanted to eat better food. We watched a few food documentaries on Netflix (Forks Over Knives, Food, Inc., Farmageddon, Food Matters). OK, we may have gotten carried away with the documentaries, but they really changed the way we view food. We now view food as what fuels our body instead of a wonderful hobby we couldn't get enough of. So we examined what we were eating and decided to make a few changes.
The first change we made was to cut out as much processed food as possible. We decreased our dairy consumption (the whole idea of drinking cow's milk is kind of weird if you think about it), switched to whole grain breads and pastas, and made it a point to go for organically grown products. Oh, we also started a garden! And that was a lot of fun. When you see your food from the seed to your mouth, you just feel great.
After changing our diet, we felt better about what we were eating. We felt healthier. And more importantly for a lot of people, our grocery bill didn't go up! We were eating better food for the same price as bad food. Healthier without emptying your wallet? That's a pretty sweet deal. And one that you can do too (you know, if you want- If not, that's cool too)!
After 6 months or so, we decided to make another change: go to a plant-based diet, consuming less meat and eating more protein rich vegetables, beans, and the like. Before you shrug this off as another "hippie pushing an agenda," let me assure you that it is totally fine to eat meat. Our decision to cut back on meat has nothing to do with overpopulated chicken coops or grain fed cattle. In fact, we still eat meat sometimes. We simply eat it in moderation.
I know a lot of people who hear about the way we eat and respond with "I could never do that! I love meat WAY too much!" Let me tell you, I was one of those people. When I was a bachelor, and for the first month or so of marriage, I ate steak EVERY Monday night. It was my way of rewarding myself (sometimes you have to treat yourself to a nice dinner, right?).
When Sonja approached me with the idea of switching to plant-based, I was skeptical and unsupportive. But, like any good husband, I was willing to appease my wife for a month or so and then when things didn't turn out well, we would go back to the way we had been eating for our entire lives. But when we switched to plant-based, I felt healthier (more energetic, weight loss, better mood) and our grocery bill WENT DOWN! Not only that, but the food we were eating tasted GOOD. I was just as surprised as you. So, for a while now, Sonja and I have gradually decreased our meat consumption to the point where we are discussing going completely vegetarian (Who am I?).
So, if you're wanting to try out a vegetarian meal every once in a while, I'll be posting a food recap every Friday/Saturday with a few things we ate throughout the week. I'll do my best to include pictures and links to recipes, but if I eat my food before I snap a picture, don't judge me. Here's our first menu:
Sausage, Potato, and Kale Soup
Here's the Recipe: Sausage, Potato, and Kale Soup
But wait! There's meat in that recipe! Yes there is. Remember, we are eating plant-based right now, not vegetarian. So, we bought a pound of Italian sausage (the recipe calls for 1.5 lb.) and made this soup. Why? Because Kale is SO good for you. Seriously, read up on Kale and it's benefits. You'll be impressed. Obviously, we cut down the meat portion of the recipe and also subbed out the whole milk/cream/half&half for a simple milk and flour mixture. It was delicious and makes great lunches throughout the weak. Soups are our Monday night tradition now. And the Bachelor (see previous post).
Cabbage & Broccoli Pasta
I have no recipe for this because I kind of made it up. Here's what I did: steam cabbage, broccoli, and a half onion in vegetable broth along with some minced garlic cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper (hint: the longer you cook cabbage, the less cabbagey it tastes so if you aren't a cabbage person, steam is for 5 minutes before you add in the broccoli and onion). Cook your whole grain pasta to the box instructions (a little less than a cup per person). When the broccoli gets tender, add in some shaved carrots and some tomatoes along with your pasta sauce of choice (I used Classico's Vodka Sauce), turning the heat to simmer. When your pasta is done, add it into the pan as well and add some cheese if you're feeling adventurous (we weren't). Serve it with a nice Zinfandel and enjoy this delicious vegetarian meal while watching and episode of New Girl.
I hope this post encourages you to try a veggie meal every once in a while. And I hope you still want to be friends with us. If you want to try a veggie meal, but don't want to be seen in the produce section of Walmart, you are welcome at our home anytime!
Monday, March 3, 2014
When You're Under Employed
As I exposed in my last blog post, I'm "under employed" at the moment.
I'm not unemployed-- I still make money.
I'm just not working a 40 hour work week.
What that means though is that I have more free time than most.
So here's some suggestions for those that find themselves either unemployed or under employed:
1. Wake Up with Your Spouse.
This sounds like really lame advice. I assure you, it's not. When your spouse goes to work and sees that you're still sleeping, the first thing to shoot through their mind is "I wish that were me." Resentment sets in and then your employment status becomes a sticking point in your relationship. When you wake up with your spouse, it communicates that although you may have nowhere to go, you are going to do something with your day. Your spouse goes to work happy to know that you aren't fulfilling the "lazy, good for nothing, moocher" stigma that's tied to the under worked.
2. Clean Something Everyday.
When you stay at home, your spouse creates some un-spoken expectations. One of the first things on that list is to not return to a dirty house. You may view this expectation as unfair. Your spouse may view having to go to work as unfair. The least you can do is to create an environment your spouse will joyfully return to. Forgot all the gender roles you've been ingrained to follow. Cooking and cleaning are equal share to the family. If you spend an hour of your day cleaning at home, when your spouse returns from their work day, there's suddenly an hour you can spend doing other things that will be much more enjoyable.
3. Get a Hobby
Use your time to do something. I recently picked up design work as a hobby. When my wife returns and asks what I did today, I open a computer file and show her. I then mention that I got paid for that design and she's happy with how I spent my day. Pick a hobby where you can be creative with an opportunity to make more than you spend. When your spouse returns from their workday, you'll feel prouder showing the photographs you snapped and are selling than the baseball cards you reorganized.
4. Create a Daily Agenda
Let your spouse help you plan your days. If your spouse needs you to do their laundry, do it! Again, if they return home with no housework to do, then you can do other fun things instead! Letting your spouse help plan your day eases any resentment that may occur when your spouse comes home to see you've watched 3 movies and a TV series on Netflix.
5. Give Away the Evening
Men, I know you don't want to watch The Bachelor. Women, I know you don't want to watch College Basketball. But, if you stay at home, you've had the entire day to enjoy the movie you've been wanting to watch on Netflix. Your spouse has been at work where they may have a volatile boss breathing down their neck. They may be stressed with deadlines and workload. So, give them the evening. Let them know that when they come home, they can enjoy their evening without having to do yet another thing they don't want to do. I promise investing 2 hours watching something your spouse wants to watch will be well worth the investment.
6. Surprise Your Spouse
Surprise them by making breakfast while they're in the shower. Scrape the snow off their car. Stop by their work with a coffee at 2:00 PM. Leave a note in their coat. Doing the little things will go a long way to show them that you appreciate their work.
7. Exercise
If you're like me, you had a gym membership for 2 years and went 3 times because you never had time. Well, you finally have the time. If you can't find time to workout when you aren't working, you'll never work out. Exercise shows your spouse that you aren't defined by your employment and that you haven't given up on yourself. Tone up and get ready to re-enter the work force.
8. Make a Plan
Losing a job through any fashion is not a license to be unemployed forever. It is expected that you work again. And depending on your financial situation, you may need to find work sooner than later. Sit down with your spouse and create a plan for the next 3 months. How will you pay your bills? Where should you look for work? How many applications should you fill out a day? What's for dinner? A plan will give you direction and drive. Be disciplined in following that plan, even if the last season of Breaking Bad is released online.
I've found that when I follow these suggestions, my wife appreciates my under-employment.
When I watch Netflix all day, she resents my underemployment.
How you navigate your employment situation is between you and your spouse but I think these suggestions are options to consider.
I'm not unemployed-- I still make money.
I'm just not working a 40 hour work week.
What that means though is that I have more free time than most.
So here's some suggestions for those that find themselves either unemployed or under employed:
1. Wake Up with Your Spouse.
This sounds like really lame advice. I assure you, it's not. When your spouse goes to work and sees that you're still sleeping, the first thing to shoot through their mind is "I wish that were me." Resentment sets in and then your employment status becomes a sticking point in your relationship. When you wake up with your spouse, it communicates that although you may have nowhere to go, you are going to do something with your day. Your spouse goes to work happy to know that you aren't fulfilling the "lazy, good for nothing, moocher" stigma that's tied to the under worked.
2. Clean Something Everyday.
When you stay at home, your spouse creates some un-spoken expectations. One of the first things on that list is to not return to a dirty house. You may view this expectation as unfair. Your spouse may view having to go to work as unfair. The least you can do is to create an environment your spouse will joyfully return to. Forgot all the gender roles you've been ingrained to follow. Cooking and cleaning are equal share to the family. If you spend an hour of your day cleaning at home, when your spouse returns from their work day, there's suddenly an hour you can spend doing other things that will be much more enjoyable.
3. Get a Hobby
Use your time to do something. I recently picked up design work as a hobby. When my wife returns and asks what I did today, I open a computer file and show her. I then mention that I got paid for that design and she's happy with how I spent my day. Pick a hobby where you can be creative with an opportunity to make more than you spend. When your spouse returns from their workday, you'll feel prouder showing the photographs you snapped and are selling than the baseball cards you reorganized.
4. Create a Daily Agenda
Let your spouse help you plan your days. If your spouse needs you to do their laundry, do it! Again, if they return home with no housework to do, then you can do other fun things instead! Letting your spouse help plan your day eases any resentment that may occur when your spouse comes home to see you've watched 3 movies and a TV series on Netflix.
5. Give Away the Evening
Men, I know you don't want to watch The Bachelor. Women, I know you don't want to watch College Basketball. But, if you stay at home, you've had the entire day to enjoy the movie you've been wanting to watch on Netflix. Your spouse has been at work where they may have a volatile boss breathing down their neck. They may be stressed with deadlines and workload. So, give them the evening. Let them know that when they come home, they can enjoy their evening without having to do yet another thing they don't want to do. I promise investing 2 hours watching something your spouse wants to watch will be well worth the investment.
6. Surprise Your Spouse
Surprise them by making breakfast while they're in the shower. Scrape the snow off their car. Stop by their work with a coffee at 2:00 PM. Leave a note in their coat. Doing the little things will go a long way to show them that you appreciate their work.
7. Exercise
If you're like me, you had a gym membership for 2 years and went 3 times because you never had time. Well, you finally have the time. If you can't find time to workout when you aren't working, you'll never work out. Exercise shows your spouse that you aren't defined by your employment and that you haven't given up on yourself. Tone up and get ready to re-enter the work force.
8. Make a Plan
Losing a job through any fashion is not a license to be unemployed forever. It is expected that you work again. And depending on your financial situation, you may need to find work sooner than later. Sit down with your spouse and create a plan for the next 3 months. How will you pay your bills? Where should you look for work? How many applications should you fill out a day? What's for dinner? A plan will give you direction and drive. Be disciplined in following that plan, even if the last season of Breaking Bad is released online.
I've found that when I follow these suggestions, my wife appreciates my under-employment.
When I watch Netflix all day, she resents my underemployment.
How you navigate your employment situation is between you and your spouse but I think these suggestions are options to consider.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Life Update
Well if you haven't heard by now, I no longer work at US Bank.
As embarrassing as it is to admit, I was fired.
Whoops.
I didn't steal money or quit going to work or cuss out a coworker or commit sexual harassment.
(I think all of those are episodes of either the Office or Seinfeld)
My cash drawer was simply out of balance too many times for a management position.
Did I mention I haven't worked there since early December?
If you've been looking for me, I've been at home. Let's get lunch!
So, I'm under employed at the moment.
I'm in my sixth year of student ministry in Afton
but that only consumes my Wednesdays and Sundays.
What I do Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday is at my discretion (and my wife's).
Which means:
I've started doing P90X.
I'm learning Spanish through Rosetta Stone.
I've gotten much better at FIFA 14.
Cleaning is always on my "to-do" list.
My coffee consumption is on the rise.
I've watched nearly the entire series of Dexter.
I shave a lot less often.
And I'm going back to school in the fall.
Why? Because as much as I love student ministry,
I don't want to make a career out of it.
I really like investing in students' lives without being a burden on a church's finances.
So, I'm going to be an engineer!
In the meantime, I'm looking for temporary employment opportunities.
Hire me for some odd jobs!
Hire me to help you with construction!
Hire me for some design work! (I dabble)
Hire me for editing!
Hire me to hang out with you!
Seriously, I love learning and doing a variety of things.
One last thing: don't pity me for getting fired.
Working at the bank drained the life out of me. It's a good thing I'm not there anymore.
So, I'm going to be an engineer!
In the meantime, I'm looking for temporary employment opportunities.
Hire me for some odd jobs!
Hire me to help you with construction!
Hire me for some design work! (I dabble)
Hire me for editing!
Hire me to hang out with you!
Seriously, I love learning and doing a variety of things.
One last thing: don't pity me for getting fired.
Working at the bank drained the life out of me. It's a good thing I'm not there anymore.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
The Book Thief Book Review
I recently finished a novel by the name of The Book Thief.
The Book Thief is a narrative that follows the life of a young Jewish girl in Nazi Germany.
As I read, I couldn't help but think the genre has been worn out.
Another book about the Holocaust. It will be sad. It will be long. Blah, Blah, Blah.
And I couldn't shake the fact that it was written by an Australian.
I kept waiting for the book to "steal" me away.
But as I read, it became apparent the book wasn't about Nazi Germany. Or even Liesel.
And it wasn't going to be a "I can't stop reading" kind of book.
However, the book did shed some light on some interesting concepts.
It was written from the point of view of Death.
I haven't thought much about what Death thinks of the living.
I don't think many have.
We are too afraid of Death to spend that much time with it.
There is a point in the novel where Death speaks these words:
"I am haunted by humans."
The irony is apparent.
We, as humans, are terrified.
Death ranks among snakes, spiders, and darkness.
We cannot solve, avoid, conquer, or kill it.
Death reigns over the earth.
Yet, it is haunted by humanity.
Which got me thinking:
No ruler has been so enslaved by it's people.
After all, Death is created through life.
We employ death from birth.
Events, people, and the like culminating to one point of fear.
But why would death be haunted by humanity?
Maybe it has to do with what Death sees:
The wake of Humanity.
War. Tragedy. Disease.
Lives wasted.
Really, there is a certain beauty in death.
The timely ending to a good story.
The merciful release from a world of suffering.
Evil being removed from the world.
We often times look at death as the ending.
But sometimes, there is much, much more to it.
This is what The Book Thief leaves us with.
It does not solve our curiosity or anxiety about the end.
But It does raise important questions about life through Death.
And challenges how the reader views their own ending and their now.
The Book Thief is a narrative that follows the life of a young Jewish girl in Nazi Germany.
As I read, I couldn't help but think the genre has been worn out.
Another book about the Holocaust. It will be sad. It will be long. Blah, Blah, Blah.
And I couldn't shake the fact that it was written by an Australian.
I kept waiting for the book to "steal" me away.
But as I read, it became apparent the book wasn't about Nazi Germany. Or even Liesel.
And it wasn't going to be a "I can't stop reading" kind of book.
However, the book did shed some light on some interesting concepts.
It was written from the point of view of Death.
I haven't thought much about what Death thinks of the living.
I don't think many have.
We are too afraid of Death to spend that much time with it.
There is a point in the novel where Death speaks these words:
"I am haunted by humans."
The irony is apparent.
We, as humans, are terrified.
Death ranks among snakes, spiders, and darkness.
We cannot solve, avoid, conquer, or kill it.
Death reigns over the earth.
Yet, it is haunted by humanity.
Which got me thinking:
No ruler has been so enslaved by it's people.
After all, Death is created through life.
We employ death from birth.
Events, people, and the like culminating to one point of fear.
But why would death be haunted by humanity?
Maybe it has to do with what Death sees:
The wake of Humanity.
War. Tragedy. Disease.
Lives wasted.
Really, there is a certain beauty in death.
The timely ending to a good story.
The merciful release from a world of suffering.
Evil being removed from the world.
We often times look at death as the ending.
But sometimes, there is much, much more to it.
This is what The Book Thief leaves us with.
It does not solve our curiosity or anxiety about the end.
But It does raise important questions about life through Death.
And challenges how the reader views their own ending and their now.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
What's Happened in the Last 6 Months
I went to Phoenix.
Fantasy Baseball.
We started a garden.
I sold a few wedding invitations.
Chelsea played in St. Louis.
I learned how to make Vesper's.
Sonja turned 26 and started traveling with Move.
Life.
Fantasy Baseball.
We started a garden.
I sold a few wedding invitations.
Chelsea played in St. Louis.
I learned how to make Vesper's.
Sonja turned 26 and started traveling with Move.
Life.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Figuring it out
I haven't blogged since I got married.
(nearly 3 months)
I haven't really written since I got engaged.
(nearly 9 months)
I've learned a lot recently
And
life changes are abounding.
To not write would be vacant.
Not expressing would seem incomplete.
So,
I'd like to share the biggest concept I'm experiencing.
------------------------------
Money is the biggest sticking point for American Marriages.
Debt, salary, spending.
So much to fight about.
Sonja and I are rather transparent with our finances.
We recently opened some accounts, closed some others,
And positioned ourselves for financial success.
Through the process, Sonja's debit cards were canceled (ha!)
Not on purpose,
One is in the mail. (calm down feminist)
Not having a debit card is frustrating.
Handing out cash gets old.
Our current position is less than ideal.
------------------------------
We have the world's smallest dishwasher.
4 plates wide.
It is a puzzle to maximize the capacity.
One that can be frustrating.
Even hurtful.
Constant rearranging is necessary.
I like it loaded a certain way, Sonja doesn't care.
It doesn't matter,
It's only a dishwasher.
------------------------------
Oftentimes for dinner, we make a large dish
(enchiladas, chicken pot pie, pasta)
to have leftovers for lunches throughout the week.
But I like the food we make.
And I eat a lot of it.
And then I eat out for lunch. (confession, sorry Sonja).
My self control has added 3-10 pounds to my frame.
------------------------------
I've learned a lot from daily experiences like these.
To be patient.
To be selfless.
To be self-controlled.
Fruit of the spirit kind of lessons.
Healthy marriage leans into God stuff like that.
I've really loved the things I'm being taught.
The last three months formed me into a better man.
I know I'm not done figuring out the whole husband role.
I'll experience plenty more frustrating, maddening moments.
I'll commit plenty more mind-blowing, moronic mistakes.
I'll be annoyed, selfish, and resentful.
And I'm sure those lessons will teach me well.
Because the biggest thing I've learned through all life's experiences
is not patience
is not sacrifice
is not self control.
It is to learn.
(nearly 3 months)
I haven't really written since I got engaged.
(nearly 9 months)
I've learned a lot recently
And
life changes are abounding.
To not write would be vacant.
Not expressing would seem incomplete.
So,
I'd like to share the biggest concept I'm experiencing.
------------------------------
Money is the biggest sticking point for American Marriages.
Debt, salary, spending.
So much to fight about.
Sonja and I are rather transparent with our finances.
We recently opened some accounts, closed some others,
And positioned ourselves for financial success.
Through the process, Sonja's debit cards were canceled (ha!)
Not on purpose,
One is in the mail. (calm down feminist)
Not having a debit card is frustrating.
Handing out cash gets old.
Our current position is less than ideal.
------------------------------
We have the world's smallest dishwasher.
4 plates wide.
It is a puzzle to maximize the capacity.
One that can be frustrating.
Even hurtful.
Constant rearranging is necessary.
I like it loaded a certain way, Sonja doesn't care.
It doesn't matter,
It's only a dishwasher.
------------------------------
Oftentimes for dinner, we make a large dish
(enchiladas, chicken pot pie, pasta)
to have leftovers for lunches throughout the week.
But I like the food we make.
And I eat a lot of it.
And then I eat out for lunch. (confession, sorry Sonja).
My self control has added 3-10 pounds to my frame.
------------------------------
I've learned a lot from daily experiences like these.
To be patient.
To be selfless.
To be self-controlled.
Fruit of the spirit kind of lessons.
Healthy marriage leans into God stuff like that.
I've really loved the things I'm being taught.
The last three months formed me into a better man.
I know I'm not done figuring out the whole husband role.
I'll experience plenty more frustrating, maddening moments.
I'll commit plenty more mind-blowing, moronic mistakes.
I'll be annoyed, selfish, and resentful.
And I'm sure those lessons will teach me well.
Because the biggest thing I've learned through all life's experiences
is not patience
is not sacrifice
is not self control.
It is to learn.
Monday, November 19, 2012
What I Don't Do
Sometimes I think, "Hey, I should write today."
Then I get home from work,
and I don't.
Whoops...
Then I get home from work,
and I don't.
Whoops...
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
What I Do
Here's what I've been doing lately:
Work
Read
Workout
Eat
Wedding Planning
TV
FIFA
Sleep
Work
Read
Workout
Eat
Wedding Planning
TV
FIFA
Sleep
Work
Read
Workout
Eat
Wedding Planning
TV
FIFA
Sleep
And today, I add go to the pool.
YEAH!!!!!
Work
Read
Workout
Eat
Wedding Planning
TV
FIFA
Sleep
Work
Read
Workout
Eat
Wedding Planning
TV
FIFA
Sleep
Work
Read
Workout
Eat
Wedding Planning
TV
FIFA
Sleep
And today, I add go to the pool.
YEAH!!!!!
Monday, January 16, 2012
New Year's Resolutions
So, last year I made no resolutions.
But this year, I will make a few.
In the past, I've accomplished about 50% of my resolutions.
To check this, read this post
So here are my goals for the next year:
1. Read 10 books.
In the past, my goal was 20.
But with a full-time job, part-time ministry, and a girlfriend,
20 would be nearly impossible.
So, 10 books it is.
2. Run a half marathon.
So far in 2012, I have been extremely active.
And my goal to run a half marathon should keep me active.
The goal date is April 29th in OKC.
If you want to pay my registration fee,
I wont argue with you.
3. Save 10% of my salary
This is probably my loftiest goal.
My goal is basically to live on 70% of what I make.
FYI, that's not much money.
4. Write more
I've neglected writing over the past few months.
I've been uninspired,
Slightly stressed,
And strangely busy.
So, I want to write more over the next year.
5. Continue my education.
I'm not quite sure what this will look like,
But in 2012, I want to take a class or 2.
I'm leaving some room to come up with other goals,
But these are the main ones I want to accomplish.
They will be tough,
But when accomplished,
Rewarding.
But this year, I will make a few.
In the past, I've accomplished about 50% of my resolutions.
To check this, read this post
So here are my goals for the next year:
1. Read 10 books.
In the past, my goal was 20.
But with a full-time job, part-time ministry, and a girlfriend,
20 would be nearly impossible.
So, 10 books it is.
2. Run a half marathon.
So far in 2012, I have been extremely active.
And my goal to run a half marathon should keep me active.
The goal date is April 29th in OKC.
If you want to pay my registration fee,
I wont argue with you.
3. Save 10% of my salary
This is probably my loftiest goal.
My goal is basically to live on 70% of what I make.
FYI, that's not much money.
4. Write more
I've neglected writing over the past few months.
I've been uninspired,
Slightly stressed,
And strangely busy.
So, I want to write more over the next year.
5. Continue my education.
I'm not quite sure what this will look like,
But in 2012, I want to take a class or 2.
I'm leaving some room to come up with other goals,
But these are the main ones I want to accomplish.
They will be tough,
But when accomplished,
Rewarding.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
2012
Ok, I have become terrible at this.
But I don't want to be burdened with writing.
Instead, I enjoy it.
And since I already played Temple Run for an hour,
I think it's time to break my silence.
So,
Over the next few days,
I will be reflecting on the worst year of my life.
Not to be depressed (I'm not).
Not to obtain sympathy (I don't want it).
Not to air my grievances,
Boast in life's accomplishments,
Or to explain my emotions and actions.
But simply to say---
--- thanks.
To God,
To the Church,
and to Community,
Although the last year has not been kind,
You are what is unforgettable about 2011.
You were obvious in mysteries.
You were apparent in difficulties.
You were present in silence.
I am forever grateful for your impact in 2011.
But I don't want to be burdened with writing.
Instead, I enjoy it.
And since I already played Temple Run for an hour,
I think it's time to break my silence.
So,
Over the next few days,
I will be reflecting on the worst year of my life.
Not to be depressed (I'm not).
Not to obtain sympathy (I don't want it).
Not to air my grievances,
Boast in life's accomplishments,
Or to explain my emotions and actions.
But simply to say---
--- thanks.
To God,
To the Church,
and to Community,
Although the last year has not been kind,
You are what is unforgettable about 2011.
You were obvious in mysteries.
You were apparent in difficulties.
You were present in silence.
I am forever grateful for your impact in 2011.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Thoughts from Kerouac
"I believed in a good home, in sane and sound living, in good food, good times, work, faith and hope. I have always believed in these things. It was with some amazement that I realized I was one of the few people in the world who really believed in these things without going around making a dull middleclass philosophy out of it." -Jack Kerouac, On the Road.
There haven't been many Kerouac quotes that I've connected with while reading his classic, On the Road.
But this one hits home.
Describing his attempt to relocate his family and settle in after years of "madness,"
Kerouac tugs at the heart of a growing problem:
The American dream as the middleclass fatality.
Trying as capitalists, countless work, toil and labor to become mundane and meaningless,
Living dreary and desperate lives in search of prosperity while inhabiting poverty.
The middleclass struggles to accumulate karma,
As though they live for reincarnation, dying daily for the upper class.
And when the few move castes, they find nothing but dullness.
That is, death.
This philosophy is what Kerouac avoided and one I want to remain absent.
Because when I tell stories as an old man,
I want them to be about what I did, not what I have.
And I want to be like the Jazz players Kerouac describes,
Arousing an audience, going, going, going, exciting with every note, until I no longer have breath.
There haven't been many Kerouac quotes that I've connected with while reading his classic, On the Road.
But this one hits home.
Describing his attempt to relocate his family and settle in after years of "madness,"
Kerouac tugs at the heart of a growing problem:
The American dream as the middleclass fatality.
Trying as capitalists, countless work, toil and labor to become mundane and meaningless,
Living dreary and desperate lives in search of prosperity while inhabiting poverty.
The middleclass struggles to accumulate karma,
As though they live for reincarnation, dying daily for the upper class.
And when the few move castes, they find nothing but dullness.
That is, death.
This philosophy is what Kerouac avoided and one I want to remain absent.
Because when I tell stories as an old man,
I want them to be about what I did, not what I have.
And I want to be like the Jazz players Kerouac describes,
Arousing an audience, going, going, going, exciting with every note, until I no longer have breath.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Adulthood
I've been living life as an "adult" for nine months now.
And it has been really, really hard.
I'm not sure if it is how ridiculous life has been in 2011,
Or if that's just how life is.
But I've come to this conclusion about adulthood:
Adulthood is a labyrinth that traps the un-persistent,
Confuses the masses, and misleads the unguided.
Over the past few months, I've felt trapped, confused, and mislead.
Not to the point of hopelessness. But enough to notice it.
And through these emotions, I've recognized 2 things:
The necessity of community.
And
The church at work.
Moment after moment, my community has encouraged and supported.
And time after time, the church has moved and responded.
The stories from those interaction create value in the venture.
Without community and the church,
Exploring the labyrinth of life would be nearly unbearable,
Because being trapped, lost, or confused is easier when others are right there with you.
And it has been really, really hard.
I'm not sure if it is how ridiculous life has been in 2011,
Or if that's just how life is.
But I've come to this conclusion about adulthood:
Adulthood is a labyrinth that traps the un-persistent,
Confuses the masses, and misleads the unguided.
Over the past few months, I've felt trapped, confused, and mislead.
Not to the point of hopelessness. But enough to notice it.
And through these emotions, I've recognized 2 things:
The necessity of community.
And
The church at work.
Moment after moment, my community has encouraged and supported.
And time after time, the church has moved and responded.
The stories from those interaction create value in the venture.
Without community and the church,
Exploring the labyrinth of life would be nearly unbearable,
Because being trapped, lost, or confused is easier when others are right there with you.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Life As It Is
Well it has been a while since my last post.
My apologies.
Life lately has been,
Well,
Life.
Full. Crazy. Unexpected.
And I say that in a good tone.
Sonja and I recently got back from Seattle.
We decided to go a week before our departure date.
A little spontaneity is good.
It was a terrific trip.
Here are some highlights:
Sonja Ferkel, Airport Delays, 2 Flights - 3 planes, Keenan Donahue, Pike Place Market, The Gum Wall, First Starbucks, Jared and Julie Marling, Ethel Marling, John-Mark and Leslie Marling, Lela Marling, Rooftop dinner, Rain, Seahawks, Mariners, Tom Douglas, Tacoma, Alki Beach, and sunshine.
It was nice to be able to experience the town that I've romanticized for so long.
Of course it didn't compare to the city I had conjured up in my head,
And the culture was less than anticipated,
It wasn't overly odd or out of the ordinary.
It wasn't super artsy, hippie, or hipster.
It was simply a city. Plain and simple.
And it was strangely enjoyable.
Sometimes I feel cities try too hard.
But Seattle was subtle and pleasant.
Then we came back to the mid-west and "normal" life.
But I'm coming to find that life is anything but normal.
Unless normal is an ever-changing variable of scenery and relationships and challenges.
Which it might be. And that's fine.
But what I learn in the variety of life is that change is necessary to become anything.
To further yourself personally, relationally, professionally, you cannot stay constant.
Staleness is the death of life.
Bland, flavorless, and boring.
So I gladly accept all of life's twists and turns,
No matter how difficult they may be,
Looking in the rear view mirror at the man I leave behind.
My apologies.
Life lately has been,
Well,
Life.
Full. Crazy. Unexpected.
And I say that in a good tone.
Sonja and I recently got back from Seattle.
We decided to go a week before our departure date.
A little spontaneity is good.
It was a terrific trip.
Here are some highlights:
Sonja Ferkel, Airport Delays, 2 Flights - 3 planes, Keenan Donahue, Pike Place Market, The Gum Wall, First Starbucks, Jared and Julie Marling, Ethel Marling, John-Mark and Leslie Marling, Lela Marling, Rooftop dinner, Rain, Seahawks, Mariners, Tom Douglas, Tacoma, Alki Beach, and sunshine.
It was nice to be able to experience the town that I've romanticized for so long.
Of course it didn't compare to the city I had conjured up in my head,
And the culture was less than anticipated,
It wasn't overly odd or out of the ordinary.
It wasn't super artsy, hippie, or hipster.
It was simply a city. Plain and simple.
And it was strangely enjoyable.
Sometimes I feel cities try too hard.
But Seattle was subtle and pleasant.
Then we came back to the mid-west and "normal" life.
But I'm coming to find that life is anything but normal.
Unless normal is an ever-changing variable of scenery and relationships and challenges.
Which it might be. And that's fine.
But what I learn in the variety of life is that change is necessary to become anything.
To further yourself personally, relationally, professionally, you cannot stay constant.
Staleness is the death of life.
Bland, flavorless, and boring.
So I gladly accept all of life's twists and turns,
No matter how difficult they may be,
Looking in the rear view mirror at the man I leave behind.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
A Normal Saturday
I had to work today. 630 AM- 330 PM.
This is my schedule every other week.
And it makes for a very long Saturday
And a short weekend.
However, I have become acquainted with long work days.
And today was just as normal as any other.
At least until lunch.
Over the last week, I've made it a point to eat lunch at home.
I do this because it's cheaper, healthier, and mostly more enjoyable.
But today was Saturday.
So, I ventured toward the mall food court.
The heat nearly stopped me as I exited the cool indoors that was the bank.
Nonetheless I departed for Chick-Fil-A.
As I journeyed the short lot separating the bank and the mall,
A car screeched as another honked.
I thought to myself how close death is to us all.
About the midway point, I witnessed a young couple struggling with a child.
The dad joked about leaving the stubborn toddler in the car.
The mom didn't laugh as she rolled her eyes and left him to deal with the kid.
I found myself contemplating their relationship and my own.
Near the mall entrance, something caught my eye.
A young couple seemed to be fighting as several passerby's watched.
I was one of them.
A twenty-something year old girl was rushing away from the scene.
She appeared to be crying.
She turned and yelled something through her tears,
Inaudible to my ears and un-understandable to the young adult boy.
He replied in a shaky voice full of desperation:
"I don't care about work, I only care about you."
It was clearly too late.
The woman screamed without turning back.
And she raced past me.
I looked at the boy who's white face wore a look impossible to forget.
Although his efforts were tardy,
He sprinted toward confrontation with his new ex.
They were both behind me as i entered the mall into a crowd of faces.
I looked around as i replayed my short voyage from the bank to the mall.
For me, this was a normal Saturday at the bank.
But for so many others, today changed their lives forever.
And it was in that moment that i realized the importance of every day.
Every day is full of uncertainty.
You never know when you will wreck your car.
You never know when bitterness will expose itself.
You never know when it's the last straw.
And that uncertainty develops our stories.
Uncertainty characterizes our lives.
Today started as just another day.
Little did i know the significance in the uncertainty of the sunrise.
This is my schedule every other week.
And it makes for a very long Saturday
And a short weekend.
However, I have become acquainted with long work days.
And today was just as normal as any other.
At least until lunch.
Over the last week, I've made it a point to eat lunch at home.
I do this because it's cheaper, healthier, and mostly more enjoyable.
But today was Saturday.
So, I ventured toward the mall food court.
The heat nearly stopped me as I exited the cool indoors that was the bank.
Nonetheless I departed for Chick-Fil-A.
As I journeyed the short lot separating the bank and the mall,
A car screeched as another honked.
I thought to myself how close death is to us all.
About the midway point, I witnessed a young couple struggling with a child.
The dad joked about leaving the stubborn toddler in the car.
The mom didn't laugh as she rolled her eyes and left him to deal with the kid.
I found myself contemplating their relationship and my own.
Near the mall entrance, something caught my eye.
A young couple seemed to be fighting as several passerby's watched.
I was one of them.
A twenty-something year old girl was rushing away from the scene.
She appeared to be crying.
She turned and yelled something through her tears,
Inaudible to my ears and un-understandable to the young adult boy.
He replied in a shaky voice full of desperation:
"I don't care about work, I only care about you."
It was clearly too late.
The woman screamed without turning back.
And she raced past me.
I looked at the boy who's white face wore a look impossible to forget.
Although his efforts were tardy,
He sprinted toward confrontation with his new ex.
They were both behind me as i entered the mall into a crowd of faces.
I looked around as i replayed my short voyage from the bank to the mall.
For me, this was a normal Saturday at the bank.
But for so many others, today changed their lives forever.
And it was in that moment that i realized the importance of every day.
Every day is full of uncertainty.
You never know when you will wreck your car.
You never know when bitterness will expose itself.
You never know when it's the last straw.
And that uncertainty develops our stories.
Uncertainty characterizes our lives.
Today started as just another day.
Little did i know the significance in the uncertainty of the sunrise.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Pens
I work at US Bank.
Here's something you should know about banks:
They go through a LOT of pens.
When I see a bank with pens on the end of chains
So they cannot leave the counter,
I understand. And i envy them.
Because at US Bank we supply the world with pens.
When i started my Job, I never had a pen.
And i could never find a pen.
They all mysteriously disappear.
This is a problem when there are deposit tickets and withdrawal slips that need to be completed.
So i started bringing my own pen.
It was nothing special.
Too nice of a pen wouldn't last more than an hour at the bank.
It was blue, with a translucent tube that made it identifiable.
Other than its appearance, it was just another pen.
But it was mine.
And it represented something important to me.
I actually stole that pen (sorry, hypocrisy) from a Ski Shop in Utah.
So, every time I wrote with that pen,
I was reminded of Bannanograms and Mario Kart.
Of Stephen Colbert and Taco Johns.
Of the friends that I miss,
And the memories that were made to embark 2011.
But unlike that pen, which died about a month ago (RIP),
Those memories and those friends will stay with me.
Here's something you should know about banks:
They go through a LOT of pens.
When I see a bank with pens on the end of chains
So they cannot leave the counter,
I understand. And i envy them.
Because at US Bank we supply the world with pens.
When i started my Job, I never had a pen.
And i could never find a pen.
They all mysteriously disappear.
This is a problem when there are deposit tickets and withdrawal slips that need to be completed.
So i started bringing my own pen.
It was nothing special.
Too nice of a pen wouldn't last more than an hour at the bank.
It was blue, with a translucent tube that made it identifiable.
Other than its appearance, it was just another pen.
But it was mine.
And it represented something important to me.
I actually stole that pen (sorry, hypocrisy) from a Ski Shop in Utah.
So, every time I wrote with that pen,
I was reminded of Bannanograms and Mario Kart.
Of Stephen Colbert and Taco Johns.
Of the friends that I miss,
And the memories that were made to embark 2011.
But unlike that pen, which died about a month ago (RIP),
Those memories and those friends will stay with me.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
We All Have Stories.
I distinctly remember pacing the dimly lit room in disbelief,
exiting the patio door to the shrill sound of sirens
while blue and red illuminated the depressed night skies.
Rain continued to thump the wooden deck above me
as I tried to make sense of Sunday's events.
Sunday seemed to be set up as just another day.
Church, lunch, church, dinner.
Repeat weekly for eternity.
But Mother Nature had something else in mind.
The storm invaded Joplin, MO
as if it were a land to be conquered.
Sonja and I flanked the storm,
Heading to Afton for our routine Sunday Night Hangout
With the students that we have come to love.
Leaving to the sound of tornado sirens,
We peered to the west of Interstate 44
And saw a lowering cloud that characterized our drive with silence.
Shaken faces greeted us in the room where we had laughed so often.
As we learned the news of the Tornado,
The education that i had just celebrated completing seemed worthless.
We watched solemnly via web cam as a storm chaser toured the remains of the city.
They never teach you how to deal with such a sight.
Enduring the repeating pulse, each number dialed proved a friend was safe.
We decided to return to Joplin via Kansas and back-roads.
Entering the city from the west, we found a line cut through the heart of Joplin.
Story after story, work, and volunteerism filled the week.
Was this the real world about which Adults had warned?
As little help the Tornado sirens were to Joplin,
So too were the warnings repeated about the cruelty and unfairness of the "real" world.
No matter how imaginative, thoughtful, or daring my thoughts were about life after graduation,
This exceeded my expectations.
This was a scene out of a movie, not reality.
The kind of thing you don't mind watching because you know it's fiction.
And each morning, as i awoke,
I wondered if the devastation had disappeared.
I wondered if the nightmare had finally concluded
But what i found was life.
Disaster is our plight.
Each day, we face devastation and death,
and the daunting task of living among it.
But more important than the reality that is ours,
Is the fact that the warnings from adults about
unfairness, cruelty, and unjustness,
Those warnings fall short.
Not because they fail to depict cruelty in a way that us understudies can understand.
But because they stop at cruelty.
What they fail to warn against is the way people confront cruelty.
The way in which communities love.
The way in which restoration conquers.
And so as I stood on my porch today,
On a routine Sunday while the stars lit up the night sky,
I learned that we all have stories.
But more importantly, I learned that those stories persist.
exiting the patio door to the shrill sound of sirens
while blue and red illuminated the depressed night skies.
Rain continued to thump the wooden deck above me
as I tried to make sense of Sunday's events.
Sunday seemed to be set up as just another day.
Church, lunch, church, dinner.
Repeat weekly for eternity.
But Mother Nature had something else in mind.
The storm invaded Joplin, MO
as if it were a land to be conquered.
Sonja and I flanked the storm,
Heading to Afton for our routine Sunday Night Hangout
With the students that we have come to love.
Leaving to the sound of tornado sirens,
We peered to the west of Interstate 44
And saw a lowering cloud that characterized our drive with silence.
Shaken faces greeted us in the room where we had laughed so often.
As we learned the news of the Tornado,
The education that i had just celebrated completing seemed worthless.
We watched solemnly via web cam as a storm chaser toured the remains of the city.
They never teach you how to deal with such a sight.
Enduring the repeating pulse, each number dialed proved a friend was safe.
We decided to return to Joplin via Kansas and back-roads.
Entering the city from the west, we found a line cut through the heart of Joplin.
Story after story, work, and volunteerism filled the week.
Was this the real world about which Adults had warned?
As little help the Tornado sirens were to Joplin,
So too were the warnings repeated about the cruelty and unfairness of the "real" world.
No matter how imaginative, thoughtful, or daring my thoughts were about life after graduation,
This exceeded my expectations.
This was a scene out of a movie, not reality.
The kind of thing you don't mind watching because you know it's fiction.
And each morning, as i awoke,
I wondered if the devastation had disappeared.
I wondered if the nightmare had finally concluded
But what i found was life.
Disaster is our plight.
Each day, we face devastation and death,
and the daunting task of living among it.
But more important than the reality that is ours,
Is the fact that the warnings from adults about
unfairness, cruelty, and unjustness,
Those warnings fall short.
Not because they fail to depict cruelty in a way that us understudies can understand.
But because they stop at cruelty.
What they fail to warn against is the way people confront cruelty.
The way in which communities love.
The way in which restoration conquers.
And so as I stood on my porch today,
On a routine Sunday while the stars lit up the night sky,
I learned that we all have stories.
But more importantly, I learned that those stories persist.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Newton's Law
It has been 2 weeks since i flew to Phoenix.
I needed to see a good friend after the month that was March.
It was a great vacation.
I didn't do much (other than watch baseball and do church things).
But that's all I really wanted to do.
I simply wanted to experience the life my friend was living
And watch a spring training baseball game.
And so it happened.
And then it was over.
As quickly as it splashed into my life,
My excursion dissolved into the pool that is reality.
But one thing did occur to me on the plane ride there.
Despite the overly interested man questioning me about
My life in Joplin,
My passions, interests, and hobbies,
My history in Tulsa,
And everything else that could ease his nervousness of flying,
I spent some time thinking.
And here's what I thought about.
I officially graduate college May 21st.
Five years of late nights, coffee pots, and hours of classes
Conclude with a list of names read monotonously
As family members politely applaud for everyone that crosses the stage.
But,
I have been done with classes for a few months now.
Unlike many of my classmates,
I've transitioned from the good times to the real life.
From idealism to pragmatism.
And what is apparent
Is the absoluteness of Newton's Law.
Direction continues without a force of change.
And so life persists as already established.
Set in motion for eternity until edited by the experiencer.
And what I came to grips with on that plane
Is that this is life.
Nothing is holding me back from being who i want to become.
I'm educated. I'm experienced. And there is nothing left to prepare me.
No more classes to attend.
No more years to count down.
No more hoops to jump through.
What's left is to simply live.
To live how I want.
And To live where i want.
Although I will continue to learn,
It's all up to me to direct my future.
Because Newton was right.
Nothing will change without a decisive force.
Even life.
I needed to see a good friend after the month that was March.
It was a great vacation.
I didn't do much (other than watch baseball and do church things).
But that's all I really wanted to do.
I simply wanted to experience the life my friend was living
And watch a spring training baseball game.
And so it happened.
And then it was over.
As quickly as it splashed into my life,
My excursion dissolved into the pool that is reality.
But one thing did occur to me on the plane ride there.
Despite the overly interested man questioning me about
My life in Joplin,
My passions, interests, and hobbies,
My history in Tulsa,
And everything else that could ease his nervousness of flying,
I spent some time thinking.
And here's what I thought about.
I officially graduate college May 21st.
Five years of late nights, coffee pots, and hours of classes
Conclude with a list of names read monotonously
As family members politely applaud for everyone that crosses the stage.
But,
I have been done with classes for a few months now.
Unlike many of my classmates,
I've transitioned from the good times to the real life.
From idealism to pragmatism.
And what is apparent
Is the absoluteness of Newton's Law.
Direction continues without a force of change.
And so life persists as already established.
Set in motion for eternity until edited by the experiencer.
And what I came to grips with on that plane
Is that this is life.
Nothing is holding me back from being who i want to become.
I'm educated. I'm experienced. And there is nothing left to prepare me.
No more classes to attend.
No more years to count down.
No more hoops to jump through.
What's left is to simply live.
To live how I want.
And To live where i want.
Although I will continue to learn,
It's all up to me to direct my future.
Because Newton was right.
Nothing will change without a decisive force.
Even life.
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