Sad, I never imagined this day would be here so soon. We started off with the four of us on the email. Over the last four years, we added people, took people off as they left, but the four of us always remained. By this time next month it'll be down to three. In two months, we'll be down to two.
Good luck in Stockton and Delaware guys.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Bob the cow
This past Sunday, Pastor Gee led a Sunday school lesson on natural disasters in the bible. He asked a question at the end. I don’t really remember the exact question but I think it went something along the lines of why does God allow these things to happen? I honestly didn’t have a decent answer to give, even though I’ve thought about this many times. Since I don’t have a good answer to give…I might as well tell a story.
This story is about a cow. The cow doesn’t really have a name, so we’ll call him Bob. Bob is a good cow. He behaves and obeys his master’s commands. We’ll call his master Tom. Bob the cow lives on a big farm with Tom, his two kids (we’ll call them Joe and Jim), and some other farm workers. Bob likes to wander around the farm eating grass and hanging out with the other farm animals. Bob also has a nodding acquaintance with the two kids, Joe and Jim.
One day Bob notices that the younger kid, Jim, isn’t there anymore. Not thinking too much of it, Bob goes about his business, eating grass and kicking it with the other farm animals. A few days go by, then months, then a year or two. Then one day, Bob the cow sees Jim off in the distance. Tom ran out to him and gave him a hug and stuff. He brings Jim back to the farmhouse and everyone seems to be in a good mood. Next thing you know, there’s a bunch of people arriving at the farmhouse. Then, Bob sees Tom walking towards him…and that’s the last thing Bob remembers.
I’ve always wondered about the story of the Prodigal Son from the perspective of the fatten calf. His life is so blissful, and one day, it’s over. Viewing the cow’s life by itself, and its death I suppose, it’s pretty much meaningless and slightly tragic; however, when viewed in the context of the whole story, I suppose it has more meaning, as it served a purpose within the story.
I’m not sure where I was going with this story, and if you’re still reading this and haven’t hit the back button yet then there’s a 50/50 chance you think I’m crazy. Meh…I don’t really care. I hope that at the very least it got you thinking about the often overlooked cow in the story.
This story is about a cow. The cow doesn’t really have a name, so we’ll call him Bob. Bob is a good cow. He behaves and obeys his master’s commands. We’ll call his master Tom. Bob the cow lives on a big farm with Tom, his two kids (we’ll call them Joe and Jim), and some other farm workers. Bob likes to wander around the farm eating grass and hanging out with the other farm animals. Bob also has a nodding acquaintance with the two kids, Joe and Jim.
One day Bob notices that the younger kid, Jim, isn’t there anymore. Not thinking too much of it, Bob goes about his business, eating grass and kicking it with the other farm animals. A few days go by, then months, then a year or two. Then one day, Bob the cow sees Jim off in the distance. Tom ran out to him and gave him a hug and stuff. He brings Jim back to the farmhouse and everyone seems to be in a good mood. Next thing you know, there’s a bunch of people arriving at the farmhouse. Then, Bob sees Tom walking towards him…and that’s the last thing Bob remembers.
I’ve always wondered about the story of the Prodigal Son from the perspective of the fatten calf. His life is so blissful, and one day, it’s over. Viewing the cow’s life by itself, and its death I suppose, it’s pretty much meaningless and slightly tragic; however, when viewed in the context of the whole story, I suppose it has more meaning, as it served a purpose within the story.
I’m not sure where I was going with this story, and if you’re still reading this and haven’t hit the back button yet then there’s a 50/50 chance you think I’m crazy. Meh…I don’t really care. I hope that at the very least it got you thinking about the often overlooked cow in the story.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
i miss ernest
Every once in a while, i get the unexplainable urge to watch the old ernest movies. I seriously think i'm the only person on earth that would ever get that now-a days, so i would imagine my local red-box wouldn't carry that in stock =/
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
going in circles...
I think I’ve figured out the solution to all suburbanite pollution. I know…bold statement, but it’s true. As I was driving home tonight I came across one of these and for the first time…it hit me. Are you ready for this? Are ya? ARE YA?! Ok…here we go...
Turning Circles.
Simplicity itself.
The concept of a turning circle is just so simple and pure, when ppl get to one they just seem to know their way around and everything just sorts itself out. Just think!! If we replace all the 4-way stops in suburban areas with these roundabouts, we’d save the environment 2 ways. First…waaaay less brakepad dust on the roads AND since we’re not going to a complete stop…less gas is wasted!! Yep. We dream in poetry, govern in prose.
Hmm…now I just gotta convince the world that this will be good. Heck…if obama can get the peace prize for looking pretty, I better get at least some environmentalist thing like a Golden Leaf or something (that could've been something i made up...not a real award...). mm just a thought...
Turning Circles.
Simplicity itself.
The concept of a turning circle is just so simple and pure, when ppl get to one they just seem to know their way around and everything just sorts itself out. Just think!! If we replace all the 4-way stops in suburban areas with these roundabouts, we’d save the environment 2 ways. First…waaaay less brakepad dust on the roads AND since we’re not going to a complete stop…less gas is wasted!! Yep. We dream in poetry, govern in prose.
Hmm…now I just gotta convince the world that this will be good. Heck…if obama can get the peace prize for looking pretty, I better get at least some environmentalist thing like a Golden Leaf or something (that could've been something i made up...not a real award...). mm just a thought...
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
meaningless
8 hours ago i was sitting my cubicle.
4 hours ago i was in a budget meeting.
2 hours ago i was cooking lunch for tomorrow.
1 hour ago i was watching tv.
30 minutes ago i sent out an email for brackets.
now i'm plopped in front of my laptop, typing out some random crap, surrounded only by a blanket and the glow of my computer screen. i think i'm starting to feel like solomon when he penned the early part of ecclesiastes. in the grand scheme of things, isn't everything pretty much meaningless? everything listed above, when put into context of what's going on in my town with the special election, in my state with the budget crisis, in my country with the endless war, and yes, in my world with all the natural disasters. when placed next to these, what does it matter if i'm wasting away at work or filling out brackets? nothing any of us seem to be doing feels like anything when placed in the context of what's going on everywhere else.
i don't even know where i'm going with this rant. kinda wish this was like that little mission impossible tape that turns into a puff of smoke after the first person that comes along and reads it...
4 hours ago i was in a budget meeting.
2 hours ago i was cooking lunch for tomorrow.
1 hour ago i was watching tv.
30 minutes ago i sent out an email for brackets.
now i'm plopped in front of my laptop, typing out some random crap, surrounded only by a blanket and the glow of my computer screen. i think i'm starting to feel like solomon when he penned the early part of ecclesiastes. in the grand scheme of things, isn't everything pretty much meaningless? everything listed above, when put into context of what's going on in my town with the special election, in my state with the budget crisis, in my country with the endless war, and yes, in my world with all the natural disasters. when placed next to these, what does it matter if i'm wasting away at work or filling out brackets? nothing any of us seem to be doing feels like anything when placed in the context of what's going on everywhere else.
i don't even know where i'm going with this rant. kinda wish this was like that little mission impossible tape that turns into a puff of smoke after the first person that comes along and reads it...
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
recycling begets recycling…
California and its residents are known for many things. We’re depicted in media and popular culture as prius-driving, Birkenstock-wearing, recycle nuts. We recycle everything from paper and bottles to batteries and cars. Californians lead the nation in recycling fervor, and are second only to some crazy Europeans in strict recycling practices. Today I heard an interesting argument that our recycling habits aren’t stringent enough.
Apparently in germany, they take recycling to a whole new level of zeal (big surprise). The different rules and regulations about what can be recycled in which kind of recycling bin puts Californian environmental practices to shame. Not only are there rules on which days you can place glass bottles into receptacles (Saturdays but not Sundays), but there are different bins for different colored glass. Apparently this inconvenience for recycling is supposed to aid the cause of recycling, as it raises the price of using containers that should be recycled.
I’m not certain I agree. I can tell you that after observing my housemates for the last 4 months, I’ve seen bottles and cans thrown in the garbage because the recycle bin is farther away (6.5 ft). Inconvenience doesn’t seem likely to raise recycling awareness…nice try.
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