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S a t u r d a y , N o v e m b e r 1 6 t h
9:42PM | Parry Hotter
I went to the theatre and watched the new Harry Potter movie this evening. I continue to be surprised at discovering the excellence of the series. The films hold excellent visuals, an actual plot, and a fitting soundtrack. They combine elements of the mythological, ancient, childish, and the wondrous with effective artistry.
Nothing on the movie for now, I know some have not seen it yet.
9:40PM | Hierarchy
I like to observe managers. I like to observe my store's general manager. Special enjoyment is found when my manager's managers from Regional visit. Everything is turned upside down as I see him fawning all over his bosses and bristling under reprimands and having to attend to instruction, just as his employees do or are expected to do towards him. Then I remember that the Regional managers have Corporate entities to whom they must answer. Such a heirarchy is an intriguing thing. Modern man is so full of self-importance, yet there is always someone to whom he must answer.
And though man may realize this, too many fail to recognize that there is a more dreadful, more authoritative Being to whom he must answer in all things.
9:35PM | Death
Pitching forward, Mrs. Leswick burst into the darkened hospital room, her eyes quickly searching the dim interior for the brightly lit corner in which the bed stood. The white-coated doctor stiffened and turned his spectacled face sharply toward the lady, wearing an expression as if caught rummaging through one's personal items. His expression melted into an image of sympathy perfected by years of practice.
Mrs. Leswick stopped short near the foot of the bed, her one foot almost hovering as if it wanted to take another step forward but was being held back by some uncertain power. Her mouth was twisted in an expression of disbelieving anguish, her eyes wide and watering. "Is my husband dead?"
The doctor nervously removed his spectacles and shuffled as he slipped them into his coat pocket. "We here at the Institution's Memorial Hospital do not like to use such an, ah, distressing and - er - overused term that feeds certain unpleasant attitudes about they, er, patient," the doctor drawled in an articulate, halting, professor-like tone. "We rather prefer to use the term, ah, shall we say -" the doctor paused momentarily, tips of his thumb and forefinger pressed together in the air as if he were grasping for a certain term "- we prefer to use the term vitally challenged."
One of the guys I lived with in Idaho often mentioned how he liked to think about death, such a fascinating topic. I believe it was Dostoevsky's Ivan Fyodorovitch who speculated on the wonder of one's death, and the marvellous fact that it is their one grand moment that is there's alone, and no one else shares. I too have thought of the topic of death lately, and have arrived at conclusions in my attitude toward the concept that are quite different from what they used to be. In sum, I am not afraid of the mind-blowing change from leaving this earth and entering eternity, and look forward to death. This does not mean that I am eager to die, nor am I one to go out and do hazardous things in search of death. I would defend myself if attacked and practice survival if threatened. But if I were to learn that I would die tomorrow, all sudden-like, I would not be regretful or disappointed that I no longer would have the chance to live out my hypothesized seventy-one year life. I would not particularly miss anything about life here, nor feel a sense of loss for the future. I know I would feel anxiety about the cause and process of death, but dying itself does not seem like a scary issue. Eternity is secured for me. However I often fall into the trap of thinking that I could not possibly enjoy eternity among the saints because I lead such a sinful, God-neglecting life. Bible readings constantly reprimand me for this and remind me otherwise. As I live on for now I continue to pray that God would help me grow in righteousness and servitude to him, and empower me to resist the temptations of sin. I do not see these things happening in my life, but I will continue to hope and let it be a goal as I pursue my course toward heaven.
F r i d a y , N o v e m b e r 1 5 t h
9:50PM | Darkness
I doubt anyone saw my last post because it wasn't up very long, but it has been deleted. I am in a bad mood today.
Tomorrow I'm watching the new Harry Potter film after work.
T h u r s d a y , N o v e m b e r 1 4 t h
11:33PM | Answers to Life's Questions
Weeks of anticipation built up and reached their anticlimax in two half-hours spread out over two days. My two large research papers have been completed, polished, and sent off. This morning I turned in my paper on temporal anxiety: its causes and methods of coping. I injected Christianity into my discussion (*gasp*). The second paper was on the topic of the growth and benefits of CSS (cascading style sheets) on the internet. They sure make the web designers job a lot easier, but that's not the only benefit they bear. But who cares about mentioning that now.
Several have bravely submitted attempts to guess at my "who am i, what do i like" test. It seemed a lot of people guessed the same answers, especially for the "where would i not consider going to college question". Almost everyone answered Appalachian State. But Appy State is like my second choice. I like the mountains, and from what I've seen the campus is beautiful (which is more important to me than to most sane people). Let me provide the answers to my quiz.
1. Where was I born: in England, Georgia, Idaho, North Carolina, or Myrtle Beach?
I've lived in each of these locales, but I was born in Valdosta, Georgia. I do not remember anything about Georgia, because my family moved to England when I was two. They took me with them. More surprisingly, I accidently was included among the baggage on the return from England to the New World. Mostly it was members of my family that answered this question aright.
2. My hair is currently: spiked, straight, not there, dyed blue, or long and shaggy?
What's up with all those people saying "not there"? I'm not old. I don't follow modern baseball-cap wearing trends. I'm a freak who wears my hair spiked, as most correctly answered. And I like it that way, and it's not changing.
3. I have a girlfriend.
False is true. True is false. I'm single and not looking, but if she's hot enough...
4. What do I sell: books, computers, nothing, prostitutes, or web design services?
I sell computers. I'd rather work in a bookstore if they would pay more. Above all I would like to work in web design, away from retail.
5. I have partaken of all the following beers except for: Amber Bach, Heineken, Guinness, Labatt Blue, or Corona Light?
This was a tight race all across the table. I've mentioned enjoying three of these beers in the past two weeks on my blog. That leaves Heineken and Corona Light. My sister contributed to juvenile delinquency by giving me Heineken.
6. I would like to go to college at each of the following but: Washington State, Penn State, NC State, U of Edinburgh, or Appalachian State?
I don't want to go to Penn State. That are of the country does not attract me, nor does the school. They have an excellent football team, however.
7. My favorite sports teams all come from the same city.
Just because I have an infatuation with things Celtic does not mean I like the Boston Celtics. Nice use of deduction, however. My teams are the best in every sport, the Philadelphia teams, obviously. Well, maybe not the best in baseball. But when we sign Thome, Glavine, Bell, and Remlinger...
8. The feature I find most attractive in women is: kneecaps, hair, personality, irishness, or christianity.
Girls I don't know can still be attractive, so they are not necessarily christians. It's personality that attracts at first. Then I talk to them and lose interest because they are pagan or smoke. When they smoke they lose about seventy percent of their attractiveness. Other brethren say that smoking causes them to lose up to ninety percent attractiveness. But there are still some fine ladies who smoke, undeniably.
9. My food of choice is ice cream, steak, potatoes, chili, or double stuffs.
Why, it's potatoes! Anything made out of potatoes, but particularly homemade hash browns and fries of all varieties.
10. When I graduate I would consider being a: teacher, pimp, pilot, farmer, landscape architect.
I would consider being a pilot in the Air Force, flying the new Joint Strike Fighter because I would be the top performer in flight school and earn first choice of my aircraft type. But I have also mentioned interest in being a teacher when all else fails, so those who said teacher can give themselves an extra point. What you do with that point is up to you. Landscape architecture would be cool as well.
Now you know.
W e d n e s d a y , N o v e m b e r 1 3 t h
6:25PM | Questionnaire
The following is taken from Jamie.
1. Hershey's Kisses: with or without almonds? I do not enjoy chocolate by itself. Definitely must have almonds or nuts of some sort.
2. Wizard of Oz: Scarecrow or Tin Man? The scarecrow is cooler because he has humor.
3. Meat eater or vegetarian? Meat eater, but I like vegetables on the side.
4. Buy books or borrow them? I like to buy books, to expand my smallish library and to have books available for just lying around for months until I have time to pick them up.
5. At the bank: ATM or human teller? I have never used the ATM.
6. Oil or gas (or other) heat? Whatever is more inexpensive. I have gas.
7. Pen or pencil? Pen. Writes more smoothly and quickly.
8. Drive or use public transit? I drive.
9. Who IS James Bond: Sean Connery or Pierce Brosnan (or any of the others in between)? Pierce Brosnan. I know Sean Connery from too many other films to feel comfortable seeing his young self as James Bond.
10. Your ideal breakfast: full (bacon/sausage, eggs, pancakes, etc) or continental (bagels, muffins, fruit, cereal)? I agree with Jamie here. Continental in the morning. Full in the evening. As you may know, I am a frequent enjoy of midnight breakfasts of hash browns, bacon, eggs, and toast. Delicious.
6:18PM | Pleasing Sight
I don't know why, but I like the sight of large office buildings at night. I like the deep shadows that are the walls and the golden points of light that shine from the high windows of the offices that are being occupied overtime. Things inside the office can be seen rather clearly despite the distance. There is something comfortable about an office that has been open all through the morning and continues into the dark night. Just don't ask me what it is.
T u e s d a y , N o v e m b e r 1 2 t h
11:55PM | Movie Releases
Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones was released on DVD today, and the Wal-Mart in Durham was selling it for only $10. That's enough to make me go out and buy it even though I do not have a dvd player, nor do I have a television. This Thursday yields the quiet approach of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
At the end of the day I leave you with just a little entry to my blog: the entire day was spent at classes and work and tonight I had to start one research paper and put the finishing touches on the other. I'm not very clear-headed right now. Now it is time for rest.
Pleasant travels to those making way to the Family Advance. Happy congrats to Rachel and Rick, who get the joy of seeing each other again. Maybe a larger group of bloggers will be able to meet in some future setting.
M o n d a y , N o v e m b e r 1 1 t h
11:12PM | Here's Another Mover and Shaker
So many posts in one day... I'm beginnng to feel like Rick minus the visitors and pre-marital anxiety (?). This is to let you know that Michael Stewart has moved his blog to a new address with a snazzy new clean look. The link has been promptly revised.
11:01PM | Me too! Me too!
I've made one of those "how well do you know me" tests, just like everyone else. Of course I don't expect any of you, even those who "know" me, to be able to answer even four correctly. Most of you will be lucky to get two. There should be some prize for anyone who scores 50 or above. I only made the test for the pleasure of putting it together. What are you waiting for?
Take the test
9:11PM | For Lack of a Better Occupation
Following text from photo caption. Photo taken by Paul Sakuma of the Associated Press:
John Lieberman poses with thousands of America Online promotional compact disks at his home in El Cerrito, Calif., Friday, Nov. 8, 2002. Lieberman and Jim McKenna are asking anyone and everyone to send their unwanted CDs to them and once they get a million they're driving them to AOL headquarters in Virginia and asking them to politely stop. Armed with their Web site, the two have collected over 80,000 of the disks, which offer trial subscriptions to AOL's services.
Just like Target, the Post Office, and just about everywhere else, we have those AOL Cd's at my job. People come in all sneaky-like all the time and try to make off with as many trays of AOL cd's as their arms can manage. There's some contest to see who can gather the most. Be nice to AOL, stop their pain.
9:01PM | Lest We Think Otherwise
Oh wait, I forgot to post a link to this story as well! I know dark beers have already lent their aid in the writing of several papers, but a glass of wine tends to make me doze and get horizontal with a book. No, I am not a drunkard, I have never had more than two beers in one night. Heh heh.
But look at how many glasses of wine they recommend for best avoidance of dementia! Twenty-three! That's three glasses a day! This goes against what I blogged about one of those days of yester-week. But for the sake of meantal health, heave ho!
8:58PM | Drink Hail!
Tonight I have been enjoying my first taste of extra stout Guinness. A bitter taste in the back of the throat - very good.
8:49PM | Silent Day, Silent Night
Raleigh was spared from the great storm that came ripping through the eastern U.S., despite the fact that the city was right in its path. I had not exposed myself to any current news before setting off for school, and I first learned of the storm when the music I was listening to was interrupted by the National Weather Service warning people in Wake County about severe thunderstorms and possible tornadoes. Here I was headed to school, and calculations showed that the storm on its present course and speed would reach the school just as I would be driving up. Everything grew very still and silent and the sky very gray and dark, tinged with a little green. And sure enough, as I pull into the college grounds, heavy rain and wind sweeps down. It did not last long, maybe only five minutes, and no harm was done at all. We were lucky here and caught the weak terminus of the storm as it sped to the Atlantic Ocean.
Strangely enough, I heard that everyone was evacuated from the college library when staff heard of a potential tornado. Come on, it wasn't even a tornado watch! People here get so crazy if there is any slight change or promise of change in the weather.
Also of note, though arguably unrelated, a study finds that men in the city have a higher sperm count than men in the country. I only seek to edify and expand your knowledge.
S u n d a y , N o v e m b e r 1 0 t h
10:58PM | What I'm Reading
I no longer have comfortable amounts of discretionary time in which to read for pleasure, but when the author is C.S. Lewis, I will make time. I just completed, finally, my re-reading of his Space Trilogy, wrapping up That Hideous Strength this evening after work. I especially enjoyed the poetic metaphors and mytho-historical allusions in that final book of his trilogy. The final discussion by Ransom and Dr. Dimble on the Pendragon and Llogres vs. Britain was intriguing for the imagination. Now I have begun Chesterton's Manalive, which has been sitting on the shelf - well, the floor - for a little over two months now. I want to read some Buchan, recommended since my days of Idaho and remembered through Joel Garver's mentioning, Alexander, a re-visit of Lawhead's Pendragon Cycle, and re-reads of Thucydides, Herodotus, and various church history and British history books from my New St. Andrews days.
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