Van Halen Aides the Digestion

I just wanted to write a quick blog here before i hit the hay, so i can say i blogged 4 days straight. So this morning, i woke up at 7am, and it was raining. That meant that i could go back to sleep for a while. So i went back to sleep, and woke up around 10am. I checked my email (part of my addicted daily ritual) and ventured to the washroom for my other daily rituals. The great thing about living with Josh and Tim, is thier boombox in the washroom. This morning as i entered the washroom, i turned on said Boombox to find Van Halen's classic tune "Jump" playing loudly from the little speakers. This was not the first time i had managed to hear Van Halen whilst in the washroom, yet today was the day that i came to realize or at least contend that the music of Van Halen aides the digestion process. I proclaimed this truth to my roomates, who responded with little or no enthusiasm, seeing as both of these lads grew up with no knowledge of the early power and glory of bands like Van Halen.

From there, my day improved. I went to the school, took care of all my buisness there, and after that Tim and I had a lunch of grilled cheese sandwhiches and tater gems. Following our ingestion of sustanence, we ventured to the Chinook Centre Mall in Calgary to take advantage of the sales at Old Navy (also known as the Elderly Military Unit based in the water). I bought two new pairs of shorts which will aid me on my camping trip this weekend. Tim bought a substantial amount more then i did. It was good times. We came home and we made a music video that was a year overdue, and it turned out to be pretty swell, and i can hardly wait to send it to my friends.

Today was a day that i eventually needed comfort and peace. I will not divulge the circumstances, but i was feeling heavily agrivated and emotionally pained, and there was nothing i could do to alter the circumstances. God in his grace and love provided me with that comfort and love and peace (though it was only an improved peace, not total peace) through conversations with people who i care about, and through beautiful conversation and friendship. I think sometimes when we turn to God, and his word to seek solace and peace we expect to have some sort of deep spiritual experiance where we literally feel "the arms of God" enveloping us in a hug. Maybe thats just me, but i forget that God is not limited by my understanding of him, and if he chooses to offer me comfort and peace he can do it in so many ways. He can do it through the word of a friend, the rebuke of a loved one, through film, through music, through a story, and even in this list i am limiting him. God's timing is impeccable and perfect, and when we are able to see his perfect timing at work, it is truly a blessing and a bit of a mind blower to realize that God does care about you, little insignificant you are worth so much to him. It's wonderful. I read in Romans today "...but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us". I forget that God can use my suffering to shape my heart and character. I get so wrapped up in my own problems that i can't see the hand in front of my face, i can't see how God is actually caring for me and offering me his hand through his Spirit to comfort and support me, and give me the strength to actually persevere, and grow my character and hope. This is what i want, to find his strength and purpose in my suffering rather then just chalking it up the calamity, sinfull, fallen world that i live in that brings only senseless pain and useless pain. Sometimes the pain is so deep we can't see around it, but there is another side to pain and grief and suffering if we would just allow God to take us there and shape our hearts through it so that we can be more like him, conforming to his image, in spirit and and in truth and in love.

Song of the day. Well clearly it should be a Van Halen song, seeing as they aide the digestive process, but do i really want to use "Jump"? Hmmmmm, i know, the Van Halen song i like most is "Runnin with the Devil". I don't know why, i'm not trying to piss of christians who read my blog, but "Runnin" is just such a kick ass song that it has always had a special place in my heart, ok well maybe Van Halen never made it to my heart, but they will always have a special place in my digestive system. Despite the fact that i myself do not run with the Devil, i will recommend that if indeed you have the means and or the desire that you check out the song "Runnin with the Devil" by the Van Halen. I will never forget the scene in the film "The Wedding Singer" that is closely connected to Van Halen. If you don't know what i am talking about, you are probably not a music nerd, so don't worry about it. Anyway, i'm gonna go to bed. I love you all, though some more then others.....no offense.

"If Willy Nelson was here, he would know what to do"

Three straight blogs in three straight days, holy crap, what is happening, it's like the Mike of old is back and blogging instead of this once every two week Mike that seemed to be here.

So how are you cats today? I am doing fairly ok. I just got off the phone with Cara, which always makes my day, so i feel a lot better then i did this afternoon. Today i left work early because of an unidentified stomach pain, which was causing me to writhe in pain. For some reason i just felt horrible, like my stomach was going to explode, and like i was going to puke all over the place. I did not feel good, and i toughed it out till three, but in the end, i hopped onto a train and came home to try and feel better, so that should more work present itself, i would be able to work. So i came home, showered, and tried to fix my stomach, then i slept for an hour and forty minutes, which really seemed to help. I am hoping that a good nights rest tonight will have me fit as a fiddle so that if it doesn't rain tomorrow, i can go to work. Part of me doesn't want to go to work, but i do need the bling, so i guess i should want to go to work, but i just can't convince myself.

Not too much else to report. I learned that Hulk Hogan has a new reality show, kind of like the Osbournes except without all the swearing and cute british accents i am guessing. I am also guessing that it will bomb, and be the biggest dumb thing of all time. But feel free to watch it and tell me differantly if i am so incorrect. I feel like if i had tv, i would watch at least one episode, because i am kind of a wrestling nerd.

3 Days till i go camping with Cara and her family. I am very very very excited, and even more excited about giving Cara her new mix CD that i made. I wish i could tell you about it, but like i said yesterday, it's a surprise.

Yesterday, i listened to Billy Corgan's new album. Billy Corgan of course was the lead singer and mastermind behind 90's rock Gods The Smashing Pumpkins. I kind of liked it actually which is strange, cause i haven't liked anything Billy Corgan has done for a long time, but i actually really enjoyed this new album, so if any of you feel like buying it for me, go right ahead. And if you want to check out Billy's new album, you can listen to it on streaming audio from his website www.billycorgan.com enjoy it, even though the cover of the album is kinda gay looking and reminds me of the Cosby Show.

With that in mind, here is the song of the day. "Spaceboy" by the Smashing Pumpkins. It's from thier awesome album, "Siamese Dream" and it's just generally enjoyable, kind of slower, more mellow, acoustic even, it shows the lighter, softer side of the Pumpkins, and it's also from when Billy Corgan had hair, which i bet most of you can't remember anyway. So as my tribute to the Smashing Pumpkins, who i am listening to right now, check out "Spaceboy" if you have the means and or the desire.

Holy Crap, i almost forgot. Two new items have been added to the blog in case you haven't noticed. They are key and awesome. The first one is links to my friends blogs. You can check them out if you want, though i will warn you, some of these people update less often then me (Chemo, i'm looking at you!), and the other is a weather link for the town of Vermilion. Now we can all know what the weather is like in the town i love, just by reading my blog and scrolling down. Great news huh!?

Also, yesterday, i spoke with Carmen, who is my biggest blog fan since day one, and i just wanted to give her special props for not only reading my blog with incredible loyalty, but also for knowing me well enough to guess what Cara is like with frightening accuracy. Here's to Carmen! and Here's to Kenny Rogers!

Triune Attraction

So today i went to Church with Tim. Then we came home and decided we were hungry, but in order to truly satiate this intense hunger for a myriad of foods, we needed to pick up a couple extra items at the local Canada Safeway. As we walked back to our apartment, the conversation somehow worked it's way over to some female friend of ours who will remain nameless. The thing about her is, many many CBC men (both Tim and I included) have had a thing for her. (note: my thing for her only lasted two days). Anyway, we were mentioning names of all the guys that liked her, and then on a completley unrelated subject we mentioned our mutual friend Matt Russell, who is currently far away, yet not as far as he was. Then Tim said "Ahhhh Russell" as if some fond memory of the lad had passed through our minds and we felt the need to pay homage to him. Then i irreverantly said "Russell is with us all the time, he is kind of like The Holy Spirit that way". This was probably a pretty sacriligious, or heretical thing to say, maybe not, but if it is, it only adds to Russell's list of heretical beliefs and involvements that will keep him from getting accredited in the Christian and Missionary Alliance.

Church was pretty good. I went to Rockpointe Church, which is the new name of the church formerly known as Bow Valley Alliance. Today was a Communion Sunday, and that aspect of the service was lead really well by the former Youth Conferance Speaker Tim Bergmann. We went to the 9:00am service, because we thought it would be better to go early so that we would still have time to do whatever we wanted before poor Tim needed to go to work at the company whose name shall remain a mystery just in case they try and sue me or shut me down. They probably would, they are jerks like that. Anyway, Church was about God's justice, it was fairly well done, the only thing i think i would've also mentioned is that, we sometimes have problems with God's justice because we can't see the whole picture, we aren't omniscient, omnipresent, or omnipotent, or any other omni-word that i can't think of that describes God. Also, because we are human, and limited, and fallen, i believe our sense of justice is not totally perfect. We are incapable of using God's judgement which is the only real legitimate justice that exists. We question God's justice because we are often in the "eye for an eye" mentality. When terrorists crashed into the twin towers on 9/11, we wondered where justice was. The fact that those terrorists died as well, wasn't good enough for a lot of people. They wanted thier bodies put back together, brought back to life and killed again. Our sense of justice often revolves around revenge and satisfaction, and like the Rolling Stones say so elequently "I Can't Get no Satisfaction". Our justice is limited and often focused on us, making ourselves feel better, because we have suffered others should be made to feel equal or greater amounts of suffering. It sometimes feels like a cop-out to leave things like this to just saying that God's justice is beyond us, but i honestly believe that it is, but at the same time, i believe he is a just God, and therefore, whatever methods of justice he chooses to take are his own, and are just. I feel like we sometimes crap on the idea of the mystery of God, because we can't accept that there may not be an answer for us right now. We are naturally seeking creatures, we seek knowledge and that isn't bad, but it makes it difficult for us to embrace the mystery of God, which is something real and beautiful about the God that created us, and the God that we should seek to serve and love. Anyway, it was a pretty good service. I still missed good ol Parkview Alliance.

In related news, two and a half of my friends have been hired on by thier interning churches, and one other was offered but he turned it down. I am jealous. I would like to be hired on by my interning church, but i know that won't happen. I talked to Shawn and his vision is to grow the church and the staff and the ministry without growing the staff, so that is a closed door that i wish i could open. I am trusting God will take me where we wants me and where i can serve him well. God blessed me with a great internship and i know he will bless me and lead me to the correct ministry. Speaking of ministry, i feel like i want to get involved deeply in a church here in Calgary, but i simply do not know where to go. I used to go to First Alliance, but i feel like i don't want to go to church there, even though they just hired an awesome new youth pastor, i might stop in and check it out again. The crappy thing about that is, i will probably go back to Vermilion after the next school year if i can get my job at Webb's again. The job at Webb's sint the crappy part, the crappy part is i would have to leave whatever ministry i get involved with here in Calgary right as soon as schools done, and not when the ministry year is over. Anyway, it's kind of confusing, but I feel like that is my plan, especially if i graduate this next year, which would be absolutly phenominal, though perhaps not entirely possible, we shall see. The bottom line is, i would love to work at the Alliance Church in Vermilion with the staff that exists.

Yesterday my day was productive. I spent almost all my day making a mix cd. I finished it, and it turned out to be the absolute greatest mix Cd i have ever made. I can't stop listening to it, and it's not even for me, it's for Cara. Somehow, it came together musically, it flows, it vibes well, it conveys what i want it to convey, and the songs are all beautiful, meaningful works of amazing talent. I'm listening to it right now, and i would tell you whats on it, but i want it to be a surprise for Cara when we listen to it next weekend, cause i'm going camping with Cara and her family. It's going to be quite the time. I've already met her family, but now we have aunts and uncles and cousins and the whole kit and caboodle coming...(props to canoodling) Anyway, asides from all the driving i will have to do, it should be a rockin good time.

Hey, today i put Gel in my hair for the first time in like two years. I don't know why i did it, i just did, and golly gee did i look good today. I wore these new Jeans i bought from old navy, and they are blue, but they are the kind with the black, dark tinge to them, it was great. I also wore my rugby Jersy again, but i figured Calgary hadn't seen me in it yet, so it was ok. Anyway, my hair looks really good gelled, i might do it more often, though it's usually a pain in the but if you fall asleep with gel in your hair. Also, i continue to love having a beard. I feel like i wouldn't even recognize myself if i were to shave it off. I would probaby cry myself to sleep and hold my face closely cause i would be so cold.

Song of the day. So for some reason Tim and I have been talking about, singing, and laughing about a particular Beatles song today. The song is "Why Don't we Do it in the Road?" from thier Epic "White Album". The song is funny, and implies exactly what you think it implies, and as Tim and i walked and drove from place to place today we pointed out places where we could do it in the road. We had a good laugh. Anyway "Why don't we do it in the Road?" by the Beatles is the song of the day, and if you have the means and or the desire, i suggest you add it to your playlist and give it a little listen on this cloudy dreary day in Cow-Town. Hope you enjoyed this scattered blog, and that you have a splendid day, but i do not hope that you eat splenda today.

Peace Out from the Shaolin

Homesick and Heartsick

That sounds like a great name for a Dashboard Confessional song, "Homesick and Heartsick", though i think if i was going to make it a song title, i would change it to "Homesick and Heartache", Heartsick isn't a word that is oft used, which doesn't disqualify it from being used, i just feel like it wouldn't appeal to the majority of people, siince most people don't know what it's like to be heartsick. Anyway, i'm not heartsick anymore, i was for a day or two, and as for being homesick, you know how they (they being who?) say "Home is where the heart is"? Well, i'll let you figure out where i am homesick for.

Well, i now live in Calgary. Thats right, this is the first official blog coming to you from outside the wonderful limits of the town of Vermilion. It was really difficult to leave behind the town where i have spent so much time, grown up a lot, built new friendships and a community of friends where i feel at home. To quote Neil Young's song "Helpless Helpless" - "All of my changes were there". I honestly feel like i grew up, matured and changed whilst i was in Vermilion, God did a lot of heart sculpturing while i was there, giving me perspective, his perspective, his joy and his love. Obviously i am not perfect, but God continues to work, and i love it. And it was not difficult just because i was leaving Cara (though that was tough and still is) but on my last Sunday Morning at Church, it was really hitting me that it was finally my last time seeing many of these people for a while, and it made me sad because i came to love these people, especially the teenagers that i worked with all year. Many of them came up and gave me hugs goodbye and it was sad for me. I was sad. It was a "bittersweet symphony", and that phrase alone makes me think that the band known as The Verve have cemented thier place in HIstory even if it by me continuing to use one of thier song titles when ever i need to describe somthing bittersweet. But i digress.

So what have i been doing since i got to Calgary. Great Question. I got here Tuesday, and by Tuesday evening, i had been blessed with a great job. You are now looking at the most attractive College Pro Painter of all time. I've even been approached about doing a fundraising calender, you know, like the kind that Firefighters do....props to the firefighters in Vermilion. Anyway, so i work as a house painter now, it's not my favorite thing to do, but i get to work outside, with some friends and we listen to good music while we work, so i couldn't really ask for much more from a job. So, i got here Tuesday and started work Wednesday Morning, which was good, but it made settleing in a little difficult. I had to buy groceries and unpack and some other stuff and it has taken me all week to complete those tasks. As well as working and settleing in, i have also been seeing and visiting old friends from School who live in the area, it has been key for sure. The entire time i've been here with my friends though, i have thought about how much i can't wait for them to meet Cara, she is coming down for the Stampede and so they will get to meet her then, which should be good times, though perhaps a little overwhelming for her, but still great none the less.

I have also been listening to a great deal of Elliott Smith since i got here to Calgary, which has been phenomanel, as well as the new Oasis (clearly Tim is the biggest Oasis fan alive, and if there was a resteruant called "The Oasis" it would be Tim's favorite restaraunt) and David Gray, also much new music thanks to my Painting Buddy Dave, who provides the tunes with an impeccable quality whilst we painteth. Speaking of Painteth, some Mormons came and talked with one of the other paint crews for a while and gave them a book of the Mormon and we read it, it was fairly humerous, yet, i desire to really read it and get a good grasp on what exactly it is that Mormons believe, other then that they came to America 600 years before the birth of Jesus as his new chosen people. The history behind these people is bizarre, but i guess they could say the same thing about followers of Jesus, but then again, i guess they would refer to themselves as followers of Jesus, but you know what i mean, not Church of Latter Day Saints followers of Jesus. Speaking of Jesus, i miss driving my forklift. It really was a great time.

I should wrap this up, i'm running out of stuff to talk to you about. Hey sorry for the long blog break again, it has been a busy life lately, but you sweet blog are never far from my mind. PLans for the day, shower, (clearly i already had breakfast) read a book, watch a movie, go for a walk, sign the lease, go to the bank, talk to Cara on the phone, maybe call my parents, who knows what else this day has in store for me!?

Song of the day. Yesterday, at work, i listened to Beck's new CD "Guero" for the third time, and this time it was better then any of the previous. Man it was so good. As i stood and held the ladder for Dave and listened i was struck specifically by the third track "Girl" (golly gee, i wonder why!?) and anyway, i think it was the single from the album, but i could be wrong, but anyway, it is an awesome song that will make you want to shake your groove thing, even if you are a white person. So if you have the means and or the desire, i urge you to listen to this song by Beck. It's a dandy. Ps. Poor Elliott Smith.

You're in my heart, you're in my soul

So, in less then an hour, i am leaving Vermilion. It has really struck me that my time here is finally coming to an end, and it is not easy. Yesterday at church, the people (but mostly the teens) were saying goodbye to me, hugs and handshakes ect, and it was so hard. I felt like crying because these people had been my family and friends all year, they took care of me, they were generous to me, and they gave me an opportunity to learn and live among them. It was really hard to leave church. Then of course today, i left Cara, not an easy thing to do, but we both put brave faces on, knowing and trusting that even though we are far away, and won't see each other every day, that it's going to work out. This is the relationship. This is the girl. So, now i am going to go to Co-op and buy some donuts for the guys at work, i'm going to stop in there have coffee with them and say goodbye, and hopefully hear about a job in Calgary that my boss Dean was trying to get me. That would be awesome. From there i will gas up my car at Shell, buy a bottle of water, put on my Foo Fighters Acoustic CD and go to Spruce Grove and visit my family there for today. I also am planning to have supper with Tina tonight for her Birthday. Then tomorrow, after all this waiting, and dreaming and pining, i will arrive in the flooded city of Calgary. I think i will take one of them Mississippi River boats to get there, after all Calgary is becoming the fist underwater human habitat from what i hear, which has always been a dream of mine anyway. So thats my plan, and thats how it's going to go down.

Song of the day: Across the Sea - Weezer. Yesterday i bought Cara Weezer's second CD Pinkerton. Since then we listened to it together and it seemed like she was really enjoying it. Anyway, "across the sea" - used to be special to me because of my memory attached to it regarding a girl named Shannon, but since Shannon no longer occupies a space in my heart and a large amount of time has passes since then, it will now remind me of Cara, because it's actually about the girl from Japan that Rivers was corresponding with, and he seemed to create a romance with her in his head, but knew it couldn't work out (because she was only 18), but this is not to say it won't work out with me and Cara, but to say that i will miss her - The chorus of the song says "Why are you, so far away from me? I need help and you're way across the sea" The sea of course in my case in actually Plains, or Praries, however you feel it fits. Anyway, i should get a move on, cause thats what i do.

I love you all, and I love Vermilion - Goodbye and Fondest Memories

The Shaolin

ps. I'm gonna try and hook my friend Tim up with Cara's best friend, and as i said to Cara last night, "it could either be the best thing ever, or the biggest piece of Sh*t of all time", but i hope it will work, that would be keen.

"and i think it's going to be a long long time"

Wow, it has been a long time since i have taken the time to write here and i miss it, i really do. On the side of my blog is sort of a missions statement, which talks about the blog being a substitute for the lack of hockey and female relationships, but since i have begun my new relationship, this blog has taken a BACKSEAT (haha) to my relationship with Cara. So if any of you have a problem you can take it up with her.

So much has happened since i last blogged i don't even know where to begin writing or telling of the things that have happened. Let it be known that i am at work and it is dead here, i wasn't going to blog till i got home, but it is really, really, really slow here and so i am going to do my best to write something good and do it efficiantly so that my boss won't get mad.

Since i last blogged i visited North Vancouver. It was my intention to write a blog from my hometown, but as we all know the road to hell was paved with good intentions.

Ok, my bigger and more tough boss just got back so i am going to email this to myself and finish it later....hold on friends.....

Ok, so it's the next day, but you can hardly blame me...ok, you can blame me, instead of going home to pack and write blog, i went to Lloyd with Cara, and then i hung out with two friends till after midnight (props to the song "After Midnight" by Eric Clapton).

Back to Nor Van (which is how i now refer to my hometown), so i went on a Thursday, my wonderful girlfriend decided to drive me to the airport, and so we drove and she dropped me off and i went and checked in, got my ticket and my usual aisle seat and then waited patiently for the time to fly. Then i flew, and apperantly there was this big muslim convention in vancouver, because my flight had a huge number of eastern people who all knew each other. It was so funny in the airport they were all talking to one another and holding each others babies, and having a good time. To be honest i thought it was a family reunion or a giant wedding or something like that at first, but i remember sitting in the airport being absolutly struck by the genuine community that these people were experiancing together. I saw God in these people. So i arrived back in Nor Van, my parents picked me up from the airport and took my home, where i was greeted by a warm house, a warm bed, and a warm glass of whiskey. Good times. I spent some time just lounging around talking to my family and being with them, and that was great. Then we went to bed (after i emailed Cara) and my sleep was fitful and short lived. The next day i got my shave and a haircut, which was and still is causing me to look sexy (this haircut would've moved me into the top ten of the elle girl 50 sexiest men list or whatever it was), then i drove to Ladner to pick my grandmother up so she could come with us to my sister's valedictory ceremony, and also so she could help us out with the big family and friends party we were having in honour of my sister the next day. The ceremony was alright, it was good to see my sister, she was all grown up, hard to believe in some ways, but she walked across the stage and is now a high school graduate - woo hoo. As i listened to the speeches (which were all to long and all to crappy) and watched the presentations, i thought about what i would say to the graduating class of 2005 if somehow i was asked to give and improptu message to the teens, and i think it would be about living in the present, which is something i have spoken and thought extensivly on, and perhaps one day i will speak more on in this venue. Following the ceremony, at the reception, i ran into some girls that i graduated with. It was nice to see them, we chatted and then we went out for a couple beer at the pub right across from my house. Then one of the girls dads bought my drinks, it was awesome. I had two Corona, which tasted oh so good. The next day was Ashley's big party, and i spent the morning, shopping with my sister, and helping get stuff ready. Also, my mom made me french toast for breakfast, it was beautiful in every way. So the party was alright, saw family and friends, and for once i wasn't totally anti-social at one of these events, i did hang out and talk with people, rather then retiring to my room to play video games and listen to music. It was a good time, it was nice to reconnect with people, and feel the warmth of our own community. Later that night, i met up with three of my best buddies and we went for drinks and once again i didn't have to pay, it was an awesome time to sit around and shoot the shit with the guys and catch each other up on what has been going on in each others lives. We talked about my internship and my girlfriend, my one friend went to Khazikstan, other guys are working, dealing with relationships, family, it was just stupendous. The next day i went to Church and enjoyed myself despite the using of a U2 song in worship that i have a difficult time worshipping to, especially since the change it to make it fit within the context of a worship service, but thats a whole other subject. I flew back to Edmonton where i was greeted by Cara and her best friend Tina, who missed me so much, she jumped up and gave me a huge hug. It was a funny situation. Then we went for supper at Red Robins, and i felt sick after eating there, i think we all did. We hung out with Tina for a while, then we drove back to Vermilion. Good times.

Whew, i feel like this is getting long. I guess i will stop there. So i am leaving this town on monday, it is bittersweet, like a bittersweet symphony, but it is the right thing to do, now i am just hoping and praying that i can get a job quickly and make a another grand or two to help me survive the year.

I'll leave you with the song of the day. It is "Best of You" by the Foo Fighters. This is the first single of thier amazing new and fifth cd, entitled "In Your Honour". The other day i was driving, making a delivery and the song came on the radio and for some reason it was such an intense moment where the lyrics and notes, and beat all came together to form a beautiful moment that connected with my soul and heart and i could feel every fibre of emotion that Dave Grohl (the lead singer and principle song writer for the foo fighters) was feeling as he wrote and sang that song, and i sang it at the top of my lungs and it was so intense that i was actually physically and emotionally drained when it was over. Anyway, it is an amazing song, one of the best they have ever had, and if you have the means or desire, you really should check it out, you won't be disappointed, or at least you shouldn't be. Once again if this song disappoints you, there is something wrong with you, not the song.

Love you Lots - The Shaolin

Two Weeks

So it's 10:20 on Sunday night, i'm here drinking a sprite, listening to Whiskeytown and feeling really, really good.

My life has been very interesting, well, ok maybe not interesting in that i have a lot of stories to tell about the crazy things i have done, but interesting in that it has been differant and wonderful to be in a dating relationship. Differant in that, it has been a long time, wonderful in that it feels good, not just to be in a relationship for relationships sake, but the relationship itself feels good, it feels right, it feels good to sit and talk (or listen to someone talk) for hours, to be quiet, to listen to music, to go places together everything is new again and everything is great, and i am so thankful for the gift God has given me here.

So, here is my life plan for the upcoming while. I am going to Vancouver in a few days (for a few days) for my sisters high school graduation, then i return to vermilion and work another week, then i move to Calgary for the rest of the summer. In Calgary i hope to find employment for the duration of the summer. I will miss this town, i will miss my friends, i will miss my church, i will obviously miss Cara, but moving to Calgary is the right thing to do. I look forward to my time in Calgary, it will be good to connect with old friends, to become familier again with old surroundings and even it will be good to test the mettle of this relationship. Being seperated will suck, but i feel this will force us to sink or swim as a couple, and thank god i am a great swimmer.

I have watched a lot of movies lately, well, not lately in the way i used to do when i was an intern, but lots of the time i spend with Cara is watching movies, some crappy, some good, some fun, but i seem to have watched a lot. For instance, last night we watched "Garfield" (neither of us picked that one) and "The Royal Tenenbaums" (can you guess who picked that one?). It was good to watch "Royal Tenenbaums" again, it makes me feel pretty great and gives me a good laugh. I like watching it with new people who have no idea whats going on, and are freaking out because the feel a real sexual tension between Richie and Margot Tenenbaum, his adopted sister. It just makes me laugh.

So tonight was the night i met Cara's dad for the first time. I was exceptionally nervous beforehand. Now i know what you are thinking..."nervous! The Shaolin does not get nervous!". Well i can truthfully say (because i try not to lie) that i was indeed nervous, but it all worked out and i got approved. I felt it went really well, there were a few awkward moments, but our relationship seems to thrive on awkwardness.

Other then that i am not sure what else to tell you. I am looking forward to going back to North Vancouver for a few days. Oh i know, my friend Joel and I are going to see Dave Matthews at the Gorge in George in August. This should be a high point road trip for me this summer. Still trying to work out the details, but come hell or high water i will be there. Also, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals are coming to Edmonton and i intend to view that show, and bring Cara, cause thats what i do. Anyway, be happy for me, cause i am happy, and don't forget that happiness and joy are two differant things, but i feel like i have both right now. Also been thinking about the differance between being in love and loving someone. Obviously i love all of you, but am i in love with you, well that depends on who you are i guess, but what does it all mean, what is better, is in love a phase? is it even something worth dealing with? it's a complicated subject, but matters of the heart often seem to be in my mind.

Song of the day is "Crazy bout you" by Whiskeytown. It describes my life at this juncture and it also includes a phrase i have been using. It's a great song, so if you have the means and or the desire i think you should check this crazy mofo out, because it is so good, and i am listening to it right now, how good of timing is that!? Obviously Whiskeytown is Ryan Adams alt-country band from before he went Solo, but the song to which i refer is off and Whiskeytown album that was released after he had begun his solo career.

"But everything looks perfect from far away,"

Good morning my friends.
I am currently at work, yet, because it is so dead, i am here blogging. This morning i showed up for work here at 7:00am, which is the normal time to come to work, yet no one was here. And when i say no one was here, i don't just mean customers, i mean, there was no one here...no customers, no co-workers, no animals, no nothing. So instead of going home i sat in my car and listened to "The Postal Service". Let it be known that The Postal Service has become one of my favorite musical groups in the last few days. Anyway, i felt inspired this morning as i sat and listened and looked out my windshield at the town of Vermilion, and the morning mist that was engulfing it. In my inspiration i wrote this.

"The Sleeping town awakes
emerges from the fog of morning
cold and hidden behind the warm exterior
is pain.
Outsiders can't see it, all they get is
the surface - which seems to be pure.
All towns have thier secrets
only in town there are no secrets.
You get to share your joy
but you can't hide your mistakes.
The eyes are watching
The ears are listening
and the mouths are judging.
Sleepy town emerge from your slumber
and open your heart to love and acceptance
not the gossip and hurt you seem to
only know."

So i wrote that this morning as i listened to the Postal Service and watched the town wake up, and as i thought about how much i have been finding out about people, how much everyone knows about everyone else in this town, and how i have had my perception of this town changed as i became more of a "townie" myself. I still love this town, and many of the people in it, and it's not any better or worse then other small towns, but hey, this was just my thoughts this morning.

I'll write more about the going ons of my life in more detail either tonight or tomorrow, i should go and pretend to work for a while. Peace and Lovc.

Whoa - Song of the day is "Be Still my Heart" by The Postal Service, which is the song i was listening to when i caught this inspiration to write. If you have the means or desire you should check out this song, and this band, they will blow your mind, and attach themselves to your heart like they have done to me.