Sunday, July 24, 2005

Jesus just walked in and boy does he look pissed!

Hey,

this is going to have to be quick, cause i am waiting for some other people to show up here at the apartment so we can go and see Bob Dylan live in concert tonight. Yeah, i am fairly excited, it's not everyday you get the opportunity to see a living legend in concert like this, so i am ready to see Dylan.

Also since i last blogged, Cara came and visited again. It was a good weekend. We had a great date on saturday, and more and more i find myself staring the truth in the face, with the truth being how much i actually care about this girl.

I will try and blog tomorrow, and or possibly even tonight. But who knows, i am really tired from the weekend, so i might not make it tonight. Also i assume i will get stoned off second hand pot smoke, so a blog tonight might not be very coherant, or it might be really, really strange and humerous.

In order to see Dylan tonight i have to miss a futbol match, which makes me upset, but you can't always get what you want (Props to the Rolling Stones)

So last night, to end our date, Cara and i and Tim (tim came for part of our date night) went for supper at Montana's and then we went and seen "The Wedding Crashers". Supper was amazing, so good, although it did make Cara feel ill, both Tim and I enjoyed it immensly. Now if you haven't been to Montana's then you wouldn't know about how they make a huge deal out of birthdays. They put a funny hat on you, and make everyone watch as they sing you some sort of birthday song. So i will be honest, i told a lie, and i told our server that it was Tim's birthday, though it was not, and they came and did the whole thing, and he got some free ice cream, which we all shared. Tim and Cara and I had a good laugh about it. Then today, Tim and I went to a differant Montana's with some friends who we seen at Church, and i pulled the same clever trick again, and got Tim, another free ice cream. Once again, we all had a good laugh about it. Anyway, the moral of the story is, Montana's has great food, and if you play your cards right, you can convince the servers to make a big scene and give someone free ice cream.

I suppose thats it for now.

Song of the Day - "I Think we're alone now" by Tiffany. Yesterday, as we were returning, i got a compulsion to sing this song, which is an 80's pop mega-hit, which consequently i found out was not actually a Tiffany original, and so i sang it, from start to finish, in a crappy voice, laughing almost the entire time. Cara was starting to get sick of it, and Tim was doing background vocals (like a young Alanis Morrisette on a Old Dave Matthews Band Album called "Before these crowded streets" particularly on the songs "Spoon" and "Don't drink the water") Anyway, if you have the means and or the desire, check it out, especially if you are in the mood for some sweet eighties pop.

Gotta Run, it's Dylan time...

"tangled up in blue........."

Friday, July 15, 2005

Smithwick's and Sonnet

Ok, i am going to try and get a quick blog in. Why quick you say? Your blogs are never quick? Well the truth is, Cara will be here in about an hour, and other friends could arrive at any time.

I don't even know why i am blogging, i feel like i have nothing to say right now. You see while i am at the death sentance known as work, i ponder a lot of interesting things, things i would even share at a venue like this one, but since i can't remember any of the witty, clever, or thought provoking things i was going to write about, then i guess i will just fly by the seat of my pants, which at one point is how i described services at Cove Community Church.

Here is something. Just the other day, my boss Ryan told me that Hockey was back on. Now, if you would've told me this news like 10 months ago, i wouldn've jumped for joy and started polishing Canuck Stanley Cup rings, but since this lockout has dragged on as long as it has, i am totally lethargic and utterly despondant in referance to the subjuect of NHL hockey. I just kinda sat there staring blankly and said, "I'll believe it when i see them back on the ice", and even though that is true, will i care. This lockout has somehow damaged my hockey loving heart in ways i never could've thought possible. My good friend Kyle talked about how he lost passion for the NHL after the first lock-out, well i am scared that the same thing may have happened to me. Even if i do get excited when the season starts again, i might lose interest because of the scary possibilities surroundling my beloved Canucks. First of all, who knows what will happen with Bertuzzi...Lord knows i love and respect the man, even more so now, but will he even want to stay in Vancouver after the abuse he took. I hope he does. And now Markus Naslund might not return. If Markus left, that would crush my spirit. I think i would cry myself to sleep for weeks on end if he left. I love my team, i want them to come together and be succesful and win a stanley cup in my lifetime. It would make my life, and i believe with the right adjustments, this is a cup-contending team. Anyway, the point is, i am currently apathetic towards a sport and industry that i have been totally loyal and devoted to for the better part of my life, and to be honest, i am sad about it. I wish this lockout would've never happened, but i also wish that it would not've been able to crush my hockey/NHL loving spirit. It's a sad day.

Enough with that. Cara should be here soon, which makes me very happy. I was at work all day, and as it dragged on i had less and less desire to be there, and more and more desire to be at home getting ready for the grand arrival.

Other then that, not much is new. We are about a day away from finishing the ominous "Gargoyle House", which will be a true blessing. I can't wait to get out of there.

I think i am going to clean up a little more before Cara calls, so i will leave you with this short little life update, and also of course with a song of the day. "When U Love Somebody" by The Fruit Bats. It's a song i have been able to hear thanks to my co-worker and friend, Dave. It's a pretty great song, you should check it out if you have the means and or the desire. Speaking of Desire, i was painting a fence all day. And i was painting it black, which reminded me of the Rolling Stones song, "Paint it Black" about a thousand times. Anyway, check out the Fruit Bats song. It's a dandy.

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

"I wish i had memories of the French Riviera" "here you can have mine!"

Hey

How are you all (not to be confused with y'all)? I am doing supremely well, despite the fact that it is 11:35pm. Truth be told, i function fine at this hour, but come 7am, when i have to rise to go to work as a painter of homes, i don't function well.

I don't even really feel like blogging tonight, just cause i want to go to bed, but i am ripping a cd on to my computer, so i feel justified in staying up and blogging while that operation takes place.

So, something happened to me today. Something that i regret. I took an hour off work this morning to go and deal with all my auto insurance issues, and once i got that all taken care of, i began the trek back to my apartment to get my car and drive to work. It was a beautiful morning in Calgary, one of the days that makes me fall in love with this city again. As i was walking, (with my earphones in, listening to the acoustic Foo Fighters disc) a shabby looking native man approached me, and asked in a very kind and respectful manner if i had 40 cents to spare. Then i lied to him and told him that i didn't even have my wallet on me. Clearly my wallet was in my bag and two things kept me from getting him 40 cents. Actually, three things. 1. Lazy 2. i was in a rush (or so i have convinced myself) 3. I am suspicious of shabby looking street people asking me for money.
So i told him that i didn't have my wallet, and he responded kindly, and walked on to the next person. Then i crossed the street and waited for the light so i could continue on. As i stood on the other side of the street, i watched him talking to other people, trying to solicite that 40 cents, i don't remember what kind of luck he was having, i was to caught up with a horrible thought.

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' - Matthew 25:40

That man was Jesus, and he needed 40 cents and i wouldn't give it to him. He was naked and i left him that way, he was hungry and i didn't feed him, you get the idea.

Unfortunatly i didn't even go back and give him my money. I just walked away feeling like garbage. and even now as i go over it, i feel like crap again. Like God was talking directly to me, and i ignored him. That is a crappy feeling.

So my advice to you is, listen for God's voice, because he does speak, and instead of walking away and ignoring him, do what he say's and see that amazing things he will do through your obediance. So as i once said in a sermon in Vermilion: "Don't be like Mike!"

Song of the day is "How do you keep love alive" by Ryan Adams and the Cardinals. I have owned the new Ryan Adams for quite a while, almost since it's been out, but it wasn't until yesterday that i really got into it. Since then i have listened to this double album like 5 times, in fact i am listening to it right now. I don't know why it took me so long to love this CD, but as i listened to it yesterday as i taped off windows and light fixtures, it all came together and there was a passionate love burning in my heart for the music Ryand was playing and the words he was singing. Anyway, Kinney (not to be confused with Kinsey) played me this track Sunday night after our heartbreaking loss in the soccer finals, and it took my breath away. Anyway, i recommend that if you have the means and or the desire, that you check it out, and hopefully it will affect you the way it affected me.

Anyway, i need to go to sleep, i am so tired and i think i feel a headache coming on, which would be a very very very very bad thing. Peace and Love to the fullest extent!

ps. i deleted some of the links to blogs that never change, if you are a person who has been deleted and you take offense, then i challenge you to blog more, or better

Sunday, July 10, 2005

"I got a Fever....and the only cure....is more cowbell"

Hello Sweet Blog World.

Hold on just one moment while i administer some tunes to myself, so that i can render a quality blog-o. I have decided to listen to The Postal Service whilst i blog.

Today was a productive day. I woke up at 10am. That in itself was productive because i was becoming weak and tired from all the work i have been doing. I needed a good sleep and i recieved it! Upon arising from the slumber i proceeded to consume the following products. Bacon, Egg, Bagel, Hashbrown, Orange Juice. It was a tasty meal indeed. After that i knew i needed to buckle down and do all the things i had planned to do, though i was very tempted to lie back down in my bed and catch a little more shut eye. The first thing i needed to do was laundry. I was, at this point, 4 days in to my reserve undergarment collection. What do i mean by reserve undergarment collection? Well there was a time in my life where at Christmas time i would let my wonderful mother purchase boxers for me, but somehow, every year in her attempt to fill my need for underwear she would shop outside the proximities i had set for her in this area. So, what that means is: I am left with about 8 pair of boxers that i don't wear because they are made of heavy cotten, and perhaps wool, making them very hot, and they are not stretchy, which makes them uncomfortable to wear at the best of times, let alone during a day of work or school. So i keep them around for just such occasions as not having done you laundry in over two weeks. Anyway, i went down and put two loads of laundry in the washers, and it cost me $3.50, which to me is a bloody rip off, but i couldn't wait anymore, i needed some clean clothes. Then i came upstairs and i don't remember what i did for the half and hour that the machines needed to clean my clothes. Following this un-memorable ordeal, i proceeded to collect my clean clothes and bring them to the penthouse where my friends live with a live in washer and dryer set, though the washer is not working, otherwise i would've been there since day 1. I put my clothes in the dryer and went to Wal-Mart to pick up some essential items, and found it do be a bloody madhouse. From the moment i walked in i felt ultra-clostraphobic because there were people everywhere, wall to wall shopping going on at the Wal-Mart today! So i got what i needed and hustled out of there to the best of my abilities, only to encounter heavy traffic and construction on my way back to the apartment. Though i should say, despite my frustration with the traffic, it afforded me that chance to listen to Matchbox 20's album "More then you think you are" all the way though, which was great, cause one of my favorite songs is second last on that album. So i guess i shouldn't be too pissed off about the construction when it affords me great opportunities like that.

Then i got home and called Cara, which was great, because even on days when she is sad, she makes me happy, she lights up my life.

After that i organized some pictures in frames that i had just bought, and that was also a rewarding experiance. What did i listen to? Oh yeah, i listened to Starfield while i did this, and that was awesome, cause i totally was engrossed in God's presence as i listened and sang and organized these photos. It's amazing how God can be felt in the mundane and average aspects of life. Not just in the super-natural or amazing moments, that don't happen as often as we think. I love that God is the God of the everyday, and as my friend John Ortberg say's it "God is closer then you think".

Calgary seems to be going crazy outside my window, but what else is new? Have i mentioned i live on one of the most disgusting corners in the city? Cause i do, drugs, gangs, violence, all within a block of home....YAY!!!

Anyway, after the photos and starfield, i went and hung out with my friends in the penthouse. We played some video games and listened to music. Then after we watched parts of a documentary on Bob Dylan, and then parts of one on The Rolling Stones, who were a lot cooler back in the day then they are now. Since then, i have been hanging out at home with my roomate Tim, and another friend from out of town, Chris. We had some beer, and some pizza, and some good times, but now it is time to engage in some good sleep before church tomorrow.

The song of the day is "Sympathy for the Devil" by The Rolling Stones. It is one of the best songs the Stones ever wrote, but it is also at the centre of contraversy with Christian conservative groups who put out a series of films against rock and roll called "Hells Bells". Anyway, they think it (the song in question) is a tool of the Devil used for murder, and hate....I don't know maybe it is, but i think it's a great song, and i don't think we should have sympathy for the devil, but i do think it is a great song, written from a gutsy perspective, and a about a ballsy topic, with some sensitive issues included. Leave it to the Stones to really get in your face. Anyway, that is the song which i recommend for this day, listen to it if you have the means and or the desire, because it is a great song.

So i am going to bed now. Have a great day.

oh yeah, i also watched "Best of Will Farrell" today. It made me laugh, until my laptop started to glitch, then it made me cuss.

Thursday, July 07, 2005

The Life Aquatic with Mike Shaolin and Steve Zissou

Greetings from the Shaolin

So, first of all, it has come to my attention that my blogs have becoming increasingly whiney. For this, i apologize. I will, from now on, keep my whining to myself and a few close friends. Or i will whine in one blog, not five in a row. Thanks to Dave for having the guts to point out what we all were aware of but just to scared to mention, because you all thought i would have some sort of nervous breakdown if you critisized my blog. Speaking of Nervous Breakdowns, that reminds me of a song by the Rolling Stones called "19th nervous breakdown".

Everyday that passes i think of such great stuff to blog about, but then i sit down at my computer and can't remember a single thing that i thought about. It's really frustrating that way.

Work is going alright, we started painting this house on Monday, and we refer to it as "The Gargoyle House" because it has Gargoyles on it. The house is actually painted pink though, so it's not scary at all. Dave (on of my co-workers) and i were talking today how if it were like painted black (once again another Rolling Stones reminder) it would look like a scary haunted house, but it's pink, so that kind of takes away from the effect.

So at the end of August i am going back to North Vancouver. I am really, really excited about this trip. It is full of potential for great things to happen, it's going to be an awesome time to spend with family and friends, and just to relax. Even though i say relax, i know for sure it's not going to be relaxing at all. I will have so much stuff i will need to do, that i will be on the go the entire time. Especially since Cara is coming to visit as well. There will be a lot of meeting people, and hanging out and going places.

So i picked up "Church on the Other Side" for the first time in like two months. I have started reading this book like three times, but then i always put it down and get busy with other stuff, and kinda forget about it. Anyway, i read a chapter and a half today, and everytime i read it, i really enjoy it, and learn stuff, but for some reason, i can't keep it going the way i usually can with a book.

Hey, i need some prayer. I gave up spending money. I don't buy CD's anymore, or videos, or clothes, or food (like eating out), and beer. I am trying to save money for more important things in life, and it's really hard. I haven't caved on cd's or movies yet, but i caved the other day and bought a beer, and i bought some cheeseburgers today. In hindsight not much money, but it's more money i could've put away. I know living like a scrooge will make me unhappy, so i need to find some times where i can spend and buy stuff for friends, like go out for a meal every now and then, but if you could pray for my attempts to not spend money uselessly, i would really appreciate that. And or, if you ever feel like buying me a CD, or a movie, or a meal, i will rarely not accept such an offer.

Luckily, i have been able to rip music on to my computer so i have access to some new music, via my friends CD's. One of the new groups i like is called Joel Plaskett, or formerly The Joel Plaskett Emergancy. Anyway, he has a song on one of his CD's called "Natural Disasters". It's really awesome, and he is from Nova Scotia, which makes him kinda cool, cause i have family in The Nov. Scot. Well, actually that doesn't make him cool, but his music does, it's really quite good. Sometimes i think he sounds like Adam Duritz (of Counting Crows) at least vocally speaking, but i think that is only in one song, and even then it may be a bold overstatement caused by my incredible drunkenness.....just kidding, i'm not actually drunk, but i mean, if you listen to it, you might think i would have to be to hear a similarity to Adam Duritz. Though i think it might have to do more with the passion with which he conveys his words and soul. Anyway, "Natural Disasters" by Joel Plaskett from his CD "La De Da" is the song of the day, and if you have the means and or the desire, you should check it out.

Also, before i go, i wanted to leave you with this. I have been thinking about shaving my beard into something differant. So i am going to post a picture of what i look like now, and if you want me to keep the beard, tell me, and if you want something new, tell me. So it's up to you people, now is the time to voice your opinions. Clearly the picture is right next to this text and clearly, that is me with my girlfriend Cara, who is beautiful and wonderful. Peace out!

Sunday, July 03, 2005

Wish you were here.

Hey Teens, whats happening.

Have you ever been discontent with where you are? I don't mean the kind of discontentment that can spur you on to greater things, but i mean like, for instance i am in Calgary, and though i love it here, this is not where i want to be right now.

As you well know i went camping on the weekend with Cara and her family and other friends. It was a great weekend, the details of which i can divulge later, but the truth is, i want to be back there, or more specifically in Vermilion.

Here's the scoop. As we (Cara, Tina, and myself) came back from camping, we decided to have lunch together at the ever popular Sammy's resteraunt in Vermilion. So we went, and it was fun. It was good to be back in Vermilion. As we drove into town and i was greeted by familier sights and places, my heart was warmed. But now that i am not there, i feel oh so glum. It's not even just about Cara. Vermilion has been my home for the last year or so, and i feel so good being there. I love the town, i love the community, i love the people, i love the relationships i have built, i love the church, and now i feel like i have to start all over. Now that i am not there, i miss it so friggen much. I came home tonight to an empty apartment, no one to greet me, no one to talk to, and i called Cara to let her know i got home safe, and we talked for a few minutes, and i ached to be with her. She was feeling sick, stomach ache and brutal headache, and i just wanted to get in my car and drive home to Vermilion. That's right, Vermilion has become my home, thats where i feel at home, thats where i feel content and happy. So then, i clean up, try and do laundry, but the washer is broken. So i go to drown my sorrows in subway and slurpee, and as i am sitting there eating my delicious sandwhich, the song "I'm already there" by Lonestar comes on the speakers. For those of you who don't know it's about a dad/husband who is away from his family, and he misses them so much, and as if i needed to hear that song right at that moment of the day. Whose the adwizard behind that one!? So i was sitting there, listening to that song, feeling more homesick/lonely/depressed then ever before, and just thinking about how malcontent i am. And how that is not a good thing. I kid you not, i just about packed my stuff and drove back to Vermilion right there. I was ready to quit my job and go back to the town i love, just to be there. I can't describe the impact this place has had on my heart. It feels like home. To make matters worse, Cara just emailed me and it made me miss her even more. (Note to readers: Long distance relationships are the foulest creation known to mankind, even worse the headcheese!). Anyway, i have been thinking about how i need to find my contentment in Christ and not in the circumstances i am in or not in, or the places i am in, or not in more specifically. As much as i know this to be true, it is so hard, because my heart desires to be somewhere else and my heart does not want to be denied these longings, but i suppose that contentment is not about forgetting about the wants and needs of your own heart, as much as it is allowing God to lead you in his ways which is best. It's about allowing God's heart to join with yours in wanting to be in Vermilion and allowing him to bring your heart to a place where you are trusting in him and that the knowledge you have in your heart, or i have in my heart that i was supposed to come to Calgary, is good enough for my to trust him and allow it to change my outlook and lose my malcontentedness. I think it's working a bit already. Thanks to God, and Radiohead, though i think the two might be related. I'm sorry i was such a whiney baby for today's blog, i really did have a great weekend, but it's just that i miss vermilion so much, and i miss cara so much, and the way i feel, or what is on my mind is what i blog about. Thats how it goes.

Song of the day is "Let Down" from Radioheads epic glory known as "OK Computer". Thats what i am listening to as i blog, and read emails and look blankly at the screen and eat my slurpee, which despites it's frozen texture has yet to give me the lift that i hoped it would. Figures don't trust slurpee's from Mac's to do anything right. Anyway, i haven't listened to "OK Computer" in a very long time, and to be honest i don't know it as well as i know "Pablo Honey" or "The Bends" but i do enjoy in my heart. Anyway, so the truth is i didn't really know this song, but i was listening to it and it is right before "Karma Police" on the album, so thats how i remember it as a specific song, and as one that i really to enjoy. So if you have the means and or the desire, i offer to you "Let Down" by Radiohead. In fact, this isn't normall done, but if you have the means and or the desire, listen to the whole album "Ok Computer" by Radiohead. It's glorious. Anyway, i am going to possibly go to bed, but i think i might watch a movie on my laptop.