Today is a good day to sit at home and sip chicken soup. Two days of throat irritation bloomed into full sinus congestion overnight--with more thorns than petals. We had blue skies until this evening when the rain swept by in sheets and the sound of distant thunder lulled me into an early-evening nap.
Wednesday was far more interesting. The Rockwell Collins Soccer (summer) League kicked off, and I was on a new team from the spring league. Caleb and David joined the team, so they weren't all strangers. I met all the players, and we played a hard game against team 4 (not the most original of team names). In the second half I played sweeper, and as they fell behind 3 to 0, team 4 slipped into desperation. With only two minutes left in the game, one of their main strikers ran towards me, and I turned to keep ahead of him--his footing shifted. Crack. For a second everything was black; I felt my knees hit the ground. I stood and collapsed again, everything was blurry. I heard myself yell for a substitute somewhere in the muted distance as I stumbled towards a greenish blue horizon. With help I made it to the sidelines and fell to my hands and knees, gasping for breath.
Once I regained breathing control (lost partly from pain and partly from fury), Caleb and Stephanie took Becca and I to the emergency room to have my neck/skull looked at. The doctor didn't diagnose a concussion, and my brain is as ok as it has been. It'll take more than an intentional elbow to the the base of the skull to stop me.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Some travel
I'm alone in the DFW airport, traveling once again. Familiar sights and sounds surround me--a pilot scarfing down a sub sandwich, a wife talking worriedly on the phone, a business man trying to look busy on his laptop, and a bunch of bored people wandering aimlessly or hopelessly from gate to gate.
Matt and Tiana had a great wedding yesterday, the remote control helicopter ring bearer really stirred up the crowd. Everything went as planned, and they're off and married now. I witnessed (and participated) in one of the most efficient wedding cleanups ever. The church members all pitched in, and so did 15 or so college students. Becca and I were on the road for Fort Worth by 5:15.
I found a comfy lounge area in DFW with the some really awesome lounge chairs. I selected one that looks almost like a child's playground slide but leather instead of lightning-static-plastic. If I didn't like this airport so much, I'd probably take a nap. The internet here doesn't appear to be free, so I'll post this when I get back to Cedar Rapids. I miss the cold North. Texas is just so hot.
Matt and Tiana had a great wedding yesterday, the remote control helicopter ring bearer really stirred up the crowd. Everything went as planned, and they're off and married now. I witnessed (and participated) in one of the most efficient wedding cleanups ever. The church members all pitched in, and so did 15 or so college students. Becca and I were on the road for Fort Worth by 5:15.
I found a comfy lounge area in DFW with the some really awesome lounge chairs. I selected one that looks almost like a child's playground slide but leather instead of lightning-static-plastic. If I didn't like this airport so much, I'd probably take a nap. The internet here doesn't appear to be free, so I'll post this when I get back to Cedar Rapids. I miss the cold North. Texas is just so hot.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Futbol
Today my team kicked off the May futbol season. I have a great team with a few excellent forwards and a light footed sweeper. Our team didn't have any subs (they had ~4) or dedicated goalie so we were pretty tired by the end of the first half. In the end, we won 2:0. I'm looking forward to the side effects of playing soccer again: team camaraderie, toned muscles, and the ability to breathe.
A few other notes:
I'm reading "Mind Performance Hacks" by Ron Hale-Evans. Excellent book on memory and thought processing.
Becca and I found a possible rental house for the same price as our apartment, closer to work, and with a fenced back yard.
Mass Effect 2 is all they said it would be (the good stuff anyway).
A few other notes:
I'm reading "Mind Performance Hacks" by Ron Hale-Evans. Excellent book on memory and thought processing.
Becca and I found a possible rental house for the same price as our apartment, closer to work, and with a fenced back yard.
Mass Effect 2 is all they said it would be (the good stuff anyway).
Monday, April 19, 2010
Some Rambling
Duct tape is one of the most wonderful things invented in the last century.
Daisy has eaten (partially or entirely) at least 9 or 10 collars off of our more timid dog, Echo. One was doused in Lysol. Another was doused in Fooey ("most bitter stuff on Earth"). We would take off Echo's collar every night before they slept in the kennel, but inevitably we'd rush out the door one day and forget the collar, and the only evidence would be the metal buckle with Echo's tags sitting on the kennel floor.
I made a collar for Echo out of duct tape, and Daisy hasn't eaten it yet (this being the second day).
Daisy also gashed open her leg somehow--possibly on the heating system, possibly with her new scalpel set. She ate off a few bandages in spite of her cone of shame (which she also removed from her head and chewed up). After we ran out of medical tape, I used duct tape. She didn't eat that, so I made a whole cast out of duct tape. The next evening, it is still whole.
Duct tape, amazing.
After two and a half months out in the wild, I realized that I've slowed to a coast. Yesterday I made a list of areas that I want to see weekly growth: Biblical Studies, Literature, Exercise, Environmental, Software, Hardware, Household, Current Events, Fine Arts, and Language.
I took those ten areas and put two on each day of the work week with specific books or tasks associated with each area. Today I cleaned out the car and went on a walk with my wife (Household & Exercise). Now I have a plan, and I'm excited about it.
It's been a great semester, and the summer is shaping up to be even better.
Daisy has eaten (partially or entirely) at least 9 or 10 collars off of our more timid dog, Echo. One was doused in Lysol. Another was doused in Fooey ("most bitter stuff on Earth"). We would take off Echo's collar every night before they slept in the kennel, but inevitably we'd rush out the door one day and forget the collar, and the only evidence would be the metal buckle with Echo's tags sitting on the kennel floor.
I made a collar for Echo out of duct tape, and Daisy hasn't eaten it yet (this being the second day).
Daisy also gashed open her leg somehow--possibly on the heating system, possibly with her new scalpel set. She ate off a few bandages in spite of her cone of shame (which she also removed from her head and chewed up). After we ran out of medical tape, I used duct tape. She didn't eat that, so I made a whole cast out of duct tape. The next evening, it is still whole.
Duct tape, amazing.
After two and a half months out in the wild, I realized that I've slowed to a coast. Yesterday I made a list of areas that I want to see weekly growth: Biblical Studies, Literature, Exercise, Environmental, Software, Hardware, Household, Current Events, Fine Arts, and Language.
I took those ten areas and put two on each day of the work week with specific books or tasks associated with each area. Today I cleaned out the car and went on a walk with my wife (Household & Exercise). Now I have a plan, and I'm excited about it.
It's been a great semester, and the summer is shaping up to be even better.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
What is my Purpose?
A friend of mine wrote to me with the questions of life: What is my purpose? Why am I here?
She had been taught all her life that she was a mistake, unwanted by the universe—or rather, that the universe was apathetic to her accidental existence. This of course was a terrible lie, but repetition ingrained it in her so deeply that when she left her loving home her life fell to pieces.
Informing her of the simple facts was useless. I shouldn't have bothered—facts are of little use to belief. I also find it interesting that beliefs will often warp facts into support. The features on this little blue planet can easily be explained by a few observant scientists and an ancient text—though the book does a much better job, always has. Truth has inherent value, but she didn't need facts, figures, or debate.
She was a very good person—better than most anyway, but she couldn't fill that empty feeling at the end of the day with goodness. I tried to give her what she needed so often that she stopped listening. She knew what she wanted, and it didn't come in the packaging I offered—there were too many strings. The only strings I found was that of commitment and love, which are voluntary anyway.
She said that Jesus was a good teacher, but she missed the point entirely. He said, “I am the way” not “this is the way.” He said, “I and the Father are one.” No good teacher would claim to be God, unless he was, but she had heard all those old arguments before. Perhaps it hadn't occurred to her that arguments may get old for a reason. Jesus' main purpose on earth was to save us from ourselves because He loves us. How could I have made that point without quoting Him or the wise men who wrote about Him?
It was as if she wanted the goodness of the Savior without the Savior Himself. The only conclusion I could come to was that she didn't want to be held accountable—couldn't be held accountable—for her life. If we admit He exists and that He is who He is, we must submit to Him, and our own desire for control—dare I say fear—will do all it can to deny such a God.
After all of that, the only thing I could do was to give her that ancient book and plead with her to read it again and understand. While she read, I spoke with Him. I asked him if I had been so obstinate in the face of such pure truth. He chuckled. And nodded.
She had been taught all her life that she was a mistake, unwanted by the universe—or rather, that the universe was apathetic to her accidental existence. This of course was a terrible lie, but repetition ingrained it in her so deeply that when she left her loving home her life fell to pieces.
Informing her of the simple facts was useless. I shouldn't have bothered—facts are of little use to belief. I also find it interesting that beliefs will often warp facts into support. The features on this little blue planet can easily be explained by a few observant scientists and an ancient text—though the book does a much better job, always has. Truth has inherent value, but she didn't need facts, figures, or debate.
She was a very good person—better than most anyway, but she couldn't fill that empty feeling at the end of the day with goodness. I tried to give her what she needed so often that she stopped listening. She knew what she wanted, and it didn't come in the packaging I offered—there were too many strings. The only strings I found was that of commitment and love, which are voluntary anyway.
She said that Jesus was a good teacher, but she missed the point entirely. He said, “I am the way” not “this is the way.” He said, “I and the Father are one.” No good teacher would claim to be God, unless he was, but she had heard all those old arguments before. Perhaps it hadn't occurred to her that arguments may get old for a reason. Jesus' main purpose on earth was to save us from ourselves because He loves us. How could I have made that point without quoting Him or the wise men who wrote about Him?
It was as if she wanted the goodness of the Savior without the Savior Himself. The only conclusion I could come to was that she didn't want to be held accountable—couldn't be held accountable—for her life. If we admit He exists and that He is who He is, we must submit to Him, and our own desire for control—dare I say fear—will do all it can to deny such a God.
After all of that, the only thing I could do was to give her that ancient book and plead with her to read it again and understand. While she read, I spoke with Him. I asked him if I had been so obstinate in the face of such pure truth. He chuckled. And nodded.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
New Books
We don't get out much. After 8+ hours of programming and meetings every day, I don't often go out and something exciting. I'm happy to have dinner with my wife, take the dogs out, and watch an episode of something or other. When I put it in words, it does sound rather drab.
Yesterday was the first Saturday that I've slept in since before we moved. I decided to mess with my graphics card a bit, and in the end, the easy way out was to reinstall my operating system. The up side is that I was prepared for such drastic measures. I now have Ubuntu 9.10 running on "Extra Visual Effects" mode--which means some of my windows are transparent and I can make my windows wiggle when I grab them with the mouse. It's the little things in life.
Last weekend I enjoyed reading and skimming, and I realized that I don't have any story books that I'm currently reading (and no such books that I want to read on my shelf). Saturday was also the first day in several weeks above freezing, and I hadn't been on a good long walk since Christmas. In response, we killed (or at least seriously injured) two birds with one stone--we walked to the nearest bookstore. The round trip was about 2.8 miles with some sidewalks, some snow-walks, and some roadside-walks.
After looking through a few books (Ubuntu, The Number Phi, Mind Hacks, and Nicoli Tesla), I asked one of the guys who worked there for some recommendations on science fiction or fantasy books to pick up. He was rather surprised that I hadn't read Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. He recommended a book called Red Mars about colonizing Mars, so I'll read that after Hitchhikers. I also picked up my very first Linux magazine--Linux Shell. I'm already learning about all the wonderful things I can do with Bash scripting.
Yesterday was the first Saturday that I've slept in since before we moved. I decided to mess with my graphics card a bit, and in the end, the easy way out was to reinstall my operating system. The up side is that I was prepared for such drastic measures. I now have Ubuntu 9.10 running on "Extra Visual Effects" mode--which means some of my windows are transparent and I can make my windows wiggle when I grab them with the mouse. It's the little things in life.
Last weekend I enjoyed reading and skimming, and I realized that I don't have any story books that I'm currently reading (and no such books that I want to read on my shelf). Saturday was also the first day in several weeks above freezing, and I hadn't been on a good long walk since Christmas. In response, we killed (or at least seriously injured) two birds with one stone--we walked to the nearest bookstore. The round trip was about 2.8 miles with some sidewalks, some snow-walks, and some roadside-walks.
After looking through a few books (Ubuntu, The Number Phi, Mind Hacks, and Nicoli Tesla), I asked one of the guys who worked there for some recommendations on science fiction or fantasy books to pick up. He was rather surprised that I hadn't read Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. He recommended a book called Red Mars about colonizing Mars, so I'll read that after Hitchhikers. I also picked up my very first Linux magazine--Linux Shell. I'm already learning about all the wonderful things I can do with Bash scripting.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Weekend of Rest
My first three weeks of work have flown by. It seems like last week we were passing boxes through the window and wondering if we'd make it to pay day. Not many people have saved enough to move from one state to another and fly round trip across the country without being paid for two months. We have been blessed.
My job is right up my alley. I didn't know at first how interested I would be programming radios, but there's so much going on in a radio. After three weeks, I still don't understand it all--which is what I need. I need something to wrap my brain around for a few years. I was also concerned that programming for work would sap me of any desire to code for fun, but I think my job has stirred up in me a new excitement for coding (previously burnt out of me with schooling). I started working on a multi-threaded neural net. Just for fun.
Today I reorganized the office to better facilitate my desire to read and do relaxing hobbies. I skimmed the remainder of The Art of War (the less renown one by Machiavelli), read two chapters of Financial Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey, and a chapter of Twelve Ordinary Men by John MacArthur. We have three bookcases to accommodate our library. The tall shelf is full of reading books, split into fiction and nonfiction. The other two shorter shelves are reference books (Becca's and mine). For a newlywed couple, we certainly have a decent library, everything from Computer Organization and Design to Wildwood Dancing to The Silmarillian to Educational Psychology.
It wouldn't be a complete blog entry on Valentines day without a brief recap of the day's festivities. Last night I read several of the tales from Arabian Nights to my wife, and this morning I made her French toast with strawberries in the shape of a heart. I have a wonderful wife--without Becca, I would not be where I am or who I am today.
My job is right up my alley. I didn't know at first how interested I would be programming radios, but there's so much going on in a radio. After three weeks, I still don't understand it all--which is what I need. I need something to wrap my brain around for a few years. I was also concerned that programming for work would sap me of any desire to code for fun, but I think my job has stirred up in me a new excitement for coding (previously burnt out of me with schooling). I started working on a multi-threaded neural net. Just for fun.
Today I reorganized the office to better facilitate my desire to read and do relaxing hobbies. I skimmed the remainder of The Art of War (the less renown one by Machiavelli), read two chapters of Financial Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey, and a chapter of Twelve Ordinary Men by John MacArthur. We have three bookcases to accommodate our library. The tall shelf is full of reading books, split into fiction and nonfiction. The other two shorter shelves are reference books (Becca's and mine). For a newlywed couple, we certainly have a decent library, everything from Computer Organization and Design to Wildwood Dancing to The Silmarillian to Educational Psychology.
It wouldn't be a complete blog entry on Valentines day without a brief recap of the day's festivities. Last night I read several of the tales from Arabian Nights to my wife, and this morning I made her French toast with strawberries in the shape of a heart. I have a wonderful wife--without Becca, I would not be where I am or who I am today.
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