Man, it's been a really slow week over here. When no kids come into the office to talk to me, I spend all day writing postcards and trying to keep myself occupied. (Every time I write or say the word "occupied," I remember being on our honeymoon in Mexico and watching TV in the evenings, where one of the commercials was always for "The Simpsons" and it was always a clip of Homer sleeping on a toilet and then yelling, in Spanish, "Occupado!" when someone knocked. I think that was a run-on sentence. Oh well.)
Aside from work, I've had an awesome week. Climbed, played vball and worked out on Monday; golf widow day on Tuesday, which equalled shopping for shower/wedding presents; biking and hanging out at the driving range with Gabe and Andrea on Wednesday; and a steak dinner with Ryan R. on Thursday. By the way, Ryan, I know you're reading this, so thank you again! And tonight it's off to Lake City for the annual weekend at Jon's with all the Alma kids. It's going to be a monstrous crowd! I'm hoping to get out on my wakeboard tons and go mountain biking in Cadillac. Last night Mitch and I discussed going midnight mountain biking, which we've wanted to do for awhile. I think it's a go this time!
"So take this broken offering and make me whole,
Set my feet upon the road that leads me home,
let me walk as one fixed upon the goal,
even though I've got a thousand miles to go..."
Set my feet upon the road that leads me home,
let me walk as one fixed upon the goal,
even though I've got a thousand miles to go..."
Friday, July 29, 2005
Monday, July 25, 2005
Redneck Weekend!
Yeehaw, I definitely had a redneck weekend at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes! Dave and Mariah (Mitch's bro and his wife) have a seasonal lot at one of the campgrounds up there, so we went to spend the weekend there. First off, I had an awesome time. Dave and Mariah's friends there are all really nice and positively hilarious, so any descriptions here are not meant to be negative at all.
So this campground, at least the seasonal section, is like the coolest trailer park ever. If you could ship all your friends to a trailer park and have a constant party, this is what it would be like. Most of these people are here for the long haul, as in they will have their lots for years and year to come, so they've built decks off their campers, put up storage sheds on their lots, even hooked up outdoor TVs and surround sound systems underneath their canopies. Every Friday night is Texas Hold 'Em night and every Saturday night is group dinner night. Everyone can tell whose sand dune vehicle is whose when they start them up in the mornings, just by the sound of the engine. Everyone watches out for and feeds everyone else's kids, people are two-waying each other on Nextel to get ready for go-carting adventures...basically, it's a riot all the time.
Most of the men look the same, with the exception of this one British dude: barrel-chested, beer bellies, short haircuts and facial hair. Most of them spend all day with a cigarette in one hand and a beer in the other, except when they are on the dunes and then there's no beer. Lots of swearing, too, and lots of yelling during card games!
The dunes themselves were awesome. It's hard to describe, so I'll try to post pictures when I have time. There's one huge hill, called Test Hill, and besides driving up it, people sit in their trucks at the bottom and the top and watch people try to make it up. The bottom is not as cool as the top, though. We spent a good couple of hours sitting in Dave and Mariah's Blazer at the top of the hill watching these two awesome dune buggies lauch themselves over the top of the hill. We also saw a Bronco flip over when he came over the top of another small hill too fast. It was really steep on the backside, and he just dug his bumper into the sand and flipped upside-down. I think everyone was OK, but they still had to be taken down in a truck with a backboard (you can't get an ambulance up there) and their Bronco had to be towed away. Interesting thing: on the sand dunes, your vehicles have no insurance, so if you break them, you're paying the whole thing. Someone told me your health insurance is not valid either, but I don't believe that one at all.
So this campground, at least the seasonal section, is like the coolest trailer park ever. If you could ship all your friends to a trailer park and have a constant party, this is what it would be like. Most of these people are here for the long haul, as in they will have their lots for years and year to come, so they've built decks off their campers, put up storage sheds on their lots, even hooked up outdoor TVs and surround sound systems underneath their canopies. Every Friday night is Texas Hold 'Em night and every Saturday night is group dinner night. Everyone can tell whose sand dune vehicle is whose when they start them up in the mornings, just by the sound of the engine. Everyone watches out for and feeds everyone else's kids, people are two-waying each other on Nextel to get ready for go-carting adventures...basically, it's a riot all the time.
Most of the men look the same, with the exception of this one British dude: barrel-chested, beer bellies, short haircuts and facial hair. Most of them spend all day with a cigarette in one hand and a beer in the other, except when they are on the dunes and then there's no beer. Lots of swearing, too, and lots of yelling during card games!
The dunes themselves were awesome. It's hard to describe, so I'll try to post pictures when I have time. There's one huge hill, called Test Hill, and besides driving up it, people sit in their trucks at the bottom and the top and watch people try to make it up. The bottom is not as cool as the top, though. We spent a good couple of hours sitting in Dave and Mariah's Blazer at the top of the hill watching these two awesome dune buggies lauch themselves over the top of the hill. We also saw a Bronco flip over when he came over the top of another small hill too fast. It was really steep on the backside, and he just dug his bumper into the sand and flipped upside-down. I think everyone was OK, but they still had to be taken down in a truck with a backboard (you can't get an ambulance up there) and their Bronco had to be towed away. Interesting thing: on the sand dunes, your vehicles have no insurance, so if you break them, you're paying the whole thing. Someone told me your health insurance is not valid either, but I don't believe that one at all.
Friday, July 22, 2005
Idealist?
I think I must be monstrously idealistic and naive in many instances. When I hear people I work with saying the things they "spout off" in presentations are "complete bullshit," it kind of shocks me. If you don't believe in what you are saying, why are you saying it and why are you in a job that asks you to say it?
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Apologies
I spoke to Courtney last night and, in the course of our conversation, found out that she and one of her close friends are starting to speak again. Over the winter, her friend started dating this guy who was pretty much the universal definition of a total jerk. After numerous converstions between Court and her friend about what a negative situation she'd placed herself in, they basically stopped talking because the friend essentially chose the guy over her friendship with Courtney. Now they are going through a break-up and she needs Court's support...and Courtney is there, helping her sort everything out. The catch is that her friend has never offered (and never will, according to Court) any sort of apology for the way she treated Courtney, the lack of value she placed on their friendship, etc. Even though Courtney admits their relationship will never be the same as it was, she is still willing to put this whole situation behind her and be there for her friend.
So this got me thinking...I was praying for them before I went to sleep and this thought just popped into my head: this is what Jesus does for us. We leave him behind in so many ways, both big and small, but when the worldy things we've become infatuated with fail to make us happy, we turn back to him and he welcomes us back lovingly. Do we ever say we're sorry? Do we ever even realize we've done something wrong? I know I don't, not generally. Considering the sacrifice he made for us, we should love him above anything else, all the time, and when we falter in that, we've wronged him, just like the friend wronged Courtney when she chose the company of her boyfriend over their friendship. Does Jesus want sincere apologies from us when we slip away then return? Probably, just like Court wants one. But I guess he realizes, like Courtney, that we are not always going to be able to offer a heart-felt "I'm sorry" in every instance because we don't know we really did something very hurtful. Yet he still loves us. Amazing.
I've had this song stuck in my head that kind of goes along with this. It's by Jennifer Knapp and Shaded Red, and it's called "When God Ran." Part of the chorus goes like this:
And then he ran to me,
Took me in his arms,
Pulled my head to his chest,
Said, "My son's come home again."
Looked at my face,
Wiped the tears from my eyes,
With forgiveness in his voice he said,
"Son, do you know I still love you?"
We are all this blessed. Half the time I don't even realize it and for that, I'm sorry.
So this got me thinking...I was praying for them before I went to sleep and this thought just popped into my head: this is what Jesus does for us. We leave him behind in so many ways, both big and small, but when the worldy things we've become infatuated with fail to make us happy, we turn back to him and he welcomes us back lovingly. Do we ever say we're sorry? Do we ever even realize we've done something wrong? I know I don't, not generally. Considering the sacrifice he made for us, we should love him above anything else, all the time, and when we falter in that, we've wronged him, just like the friend wronged Courtney when she chose the company of her boyfriend over their friendship. Does Jesus want sincere apologies from us when we slip away then return? Probably, just like Court wants one. But I guess he realizes, like Courtney, that we are not always going to be able to offer a heart-felt "I'm sorry" in every instance because we don't know we really did something very hurtful. Yet he still loves us. Amazing.
I've had this song stuck in my head that kind of goes along with this. It's by Jennifer Knapp and Shaded Red, and it's called "When God Ran." Part of the chorus goes like this:
And then he ran to me,
Took me in his arms,
Pulled my head to his chest,
Said, "My son's come home again."
Looked at my face,
Wiped the tears from my eyes,
With forgiveness in his voice he said,
"Son, do you know I still love you?"
We are all this blessed. Half the time I don't even realize it and for that, I'm sorry.
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Hair-raising!
Guys, you're not going to care much about this one. I got a haircut yesterday and once again walked away completely frustrated!
I'm not high-maintenance...you all know that. How hard is it to do the following:
1. Leave the shortest layer in the front long enough to go (and stay!) in a ponytail
2. Listen to my daily hair routine (wash and towel dry at night, wake up, either brush into ponytail or scrunch into curly mess) and give me a cut that fits in with that
3. Recommend specific products - for pete's sake, here's a girl that will buy them off your shelves without *much* hesitation!
Apparently hard. This guy came highly recommended but I didn't find him very helpful. Without asking me what I wanted done, he immediately started saying what he was going to do with my hair. When I tried to tell him about the crazy curliness that ensues during the night and my desire to take advantage of that, he ignored me and talked about the "natural wave" of my hair. When I said something about not using a blowdryer pretty much ever, he went right on doing his thing with no acknowledgement of my comment. When I asked him what products I should be using (shampoo, conditioner, something for curliness) he went into this monologue about proteins and mosturizers and not using this or that during the summer but only in the winter...dude, give me a brand! Sell me something! ARGH! He assured me this short little layer he put in the front would go back in a ponytail, and it does...but it doesn't stay! The slightest bit of physical activity and POP! I'm pushing a chunk of hair out of my eyes. I am never getting my hair cut again. That's a lie, but when I have to get it cut I think I am going to be the client from hell. Yes, I am beauty deficient. Yes, I know nothing about hair. But I know what I do with my hair, whether it is right or wrong, and the next person better darn well listen to me or I'm walking out. Seriously. This is crap.
I'm just in a foul mood today. I don't know why.
I'm not high-maintenance...you all know that. How hard is it to do the following:
1. Leave the shortest layer in the front long enough to go (and stay!) in a ponytail
2. Listen to my daily hair routine (wash and towel dry at night, wake up, either brush into ponytail or scrunch into curly mess) and give me a cut that fits in with that
3. Recommend specific products - for pete's sake, here's a girl that will buy them off your shelves without *much* hesitation!
Apparently hard. This guy came highly recommended but I didn't find him very helpful. Without asking me what I wanted done, he immediately started saying what he was going to do with my hair. When I tried to tell him about the crazy curliness that ensues during the night and my desire to take advantage of that, he ignored me and talked about the "natural wave" of my hair. When I said something about not using a blowdryer pretty much ever, he went right on doing his thing with no acknowledgement of my comment. When I asked him what products I should be using (shampoo, conditioner, something for curliness) he went into this monologue about proteins and mosturizers and not using this or that during the summer but only in the winter...dude, give me a brand! Sell me something! ARGH! He assured me this short little layer he put in the front would go back in a ponytail, and it does...but it doesn't stay! The slightest bit of physical activity and POP! I'm pushing a chunk of hair out of my eyes. I am never getting my hair cut again. That's a lie, but when I have to get it cut I think I am going to be the client from hell. Yes, I am beauty deficient. Yes, I know nothing about hair. But I know what I do with my hair, whether it is right or wrong, and the next person better darn well listen to me or I'm walking out. Seriously. This is crap.
I'm just in a foul mood today. I don't know why.
Friday, July 15, 2005
Mmm, ribs...
I think Mitch and I should open a restaurant and serve only ribs, like Dirty Ernie's in West Virginia. We had the Rib King himself and his lovely spouse (aka Gabe and Andrea) over for ribs last night and we devoured five pounds of ribs! We got compliments all night long. Thanks for the recipe, Mom! :)
Mitch and Gabe are probably dragging this morning as a result of packing away six bottles of Bass each over the course of the evening. They swear by the goodness of this and other high-quality beer, but after the unfortunate events that followed my first game of beer pong, I can no longer even think about trying any beer, no matter how many stars it receives from the beer snobs.
I also don't think I can ever play a real game of golf. After nine holes of putt-putt last night, Andrea and I got bored and decided to make new rules on each hole: putt left-handed; with your eyes closed; like you're playing pool; one one foot with one hand; like a hockey game with a goaltended over the hole; with the club upside-down...you get the picture. The hockey one was definitely the most violent!
It's almost the freakin' weekend, baby I'm about to have me some fun. Name that rap/R&B artist. After Mitch gets done with work on Saturday morning, we're heading down to my parents' house for more adventures on the lake and to see some old friends of mine who just got engaged and bought a house. My dad will be away doing the Chicago to Mackinac sailboat race but Mom is staying home to spend time with us. Awww! Her and Bobby will be up at the island on Sunday to pick up Dad whenever he gets in on Monday or Tuesday. I want to go to Mackinac!
OK, work calls. Actually, I have to do the calling, to a few students who had some questions. Hope they're awake...
Mitch and Gabe are probably dragging this morning as a result of packing away six bottles of Bass each over the course of the evening. They swear by the goodness of this and other high-quality beer, but after the unfortunate events that followed my first game of beer pong, I can no longer even think about trying any beer, no matter how many stars it receives from the beer snobs.
I also don't think I can ever play a real game of golf. After nine holes of putt-putt last night, Andrea and I got bored and decided to make new rules on each hole: putt left-handed; with your eyes closed; like you're playing pool; one one foot with one hand; like a hockey game with a goaltended over the hole; with the club upside-down...you get the picture. The hockey one was definitely the most violent!
It's almost the freakin' weekend, baby I'm about to have me some fun. Name that rap/R&B artist. After Mitch gets done with work on Saturday morning, we're heading down to my parents' house for more adventures on the lake and to see some old friends of mine who just got engaged and bought a house. My dad will be away doing the Chicago to Mackinac sailboat race but Mom is staying home to spend time with us. Awww! Her and Bobby will be up at the island on Sunday to pick up Dad whenever he gets in on Monday or Tuesday. I want to go to Mackinac!
OK, work calls. Actually, I have to do the calling, to a few students who had some questions. Hope they're awake...
Monday, July 11, 2005
Music makes everything sound good
I was driving home from my spontaneous jaunt to Grand Rapids when that song, "Wildflowers" by some country artist came on the radio. (What's wrong with me? I keep listening to country and I'll blame it on the lack of a consistently good classic rock station in Mt. P.) Chorus goes:
What ya' say we go pickin' wildflowers?
I got a spot way back in the woods.
Slip away for a couple of hours,
You and me baby, pickin' wildflowers.
I thought to myself, as I listened to the rest of the sexual innuendo in the song ("Gonna' get a little piece...on earth"), "Yeah, wouldn't that be hot?" Um, no. The fantasy was shattered when I remember that fooling around in the woods means contending with lots of pesky insects. (Exception: April nights in West Virginia) So this made me think, not for the first time, that songs make a lot of other less-than-desirable things sound really, really fun. Clubbing does not equal sexy, at least not at the clubs I've ever been to. It's just a lot of sweating and getting your ass grabbed by scary-looking dudes who are probably in their 30s and think high school chicks are hot and available. Lots of drinking in a public places is not cool for me, either. I end up really self-conscious because I don't want to do anything dumb, but I do anyway and then I'm all embarrassed the next day. What else is there...oh yeah, sex in the back of a car. NO. Don't go there. Zero comfort. And a bed of roses, Jon Bon Jovi? Hellooooooo, thorns. And we all know the random sex that's so very sexy in rap songs is really just an invitation for an STD or a little surprise.
That's my rant. I still love the "Wildflowers" song though. :)
What ya' say we go pickin' wildflowers?
I got a spot way back in the woods.
Slip away for a couple of hours,
You and me baby, pickin' wildflowers.
I thought to myself, as I listened to the rest of the sexual innuendo in the song ("Gonna' get a little piece...on earth"), "Yeah, wouldn't that be hot?" Um, no. The fantasy was shattered when I remember that fooling around in the woods means contending with lots of pesky insects. (Exception: April nights in West Virginia) So this made me think, not for the first time, that songs make a lot of other less-than-desirable things sound really, really fun. Clubbing does not equal sexy, at least not at the clubs I've ever been to. It's just a lot of sweating and getting your ass grabbed by scary-looking dudes who are probably in their 30s and think high school chicks are hot and available. Lots of drinking in a public places is not cool for me, either. I end up really self-conscious because I don't want to do anything dumb, but I do anyway and then I'm all embarrassed the next day. What else is there...oh yeah, sex in the back of a car. NO. Don't go there. Zero comfort. And a bed of roses, Jon Bon Jovi? Hellooooooo, thorns. And we all know the random sex that's so very sexy in rap songs is really just an invitation for an STD or a little surprise.
That's my rant. I still love the "Wildflowers" song though. :)
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
The Greatest Fourth in the North
Yup, I think the Lake City Fourth celebration lives up to its name. Mitch and I headed up there after work on Friday and spent the weekend with Jon and his family, playing on the water and just having a good tim in general. As soon as we got there, Jon's mom good-naturedly demanded that one or both of us accompany Jon out on his new HobieCat (small catamaran-type sailboat), so Mitch grabbed a wetsuit (it was cold!) and headed out. I stayed and chatted with Jon's mom and his sister, Lisa. I don't really remember what the heck we did for the rest of the evening, but I know plans were made for a 6 am wakeboard run so I hit the hay early.
At 6:30 am, I swear I heard someone whisper, "They're leaving without you," so I jumped out of bed and headed for the bathroom, where Mitch was getting ready for to go out on the boat. Jon was not awake yet, so we went in and jumped on him, learning at that time that we were not going out until 7 am. Losers. I was anxious to try out my new board, and it was awesome except that I think the bindings are too small for me. I need to do a little reading on how they are supposed to fit, but it looks like I may need to exchange them.
After wakeboarding, we headed over to the Missaukee County Beach for the volleyball tournament. Our warm-up game went great, as did our first pool game, but after that we could not seem to get in the groove until the afternoon when we started playing back to back. By some stroke of luck, we made it out of pool play and into the first round of playoffs. I believe we played 5 sets of 2 games to 11 points, one single game to 11 (to break a four-way tie to get into finals) and one more game to 15 in the playoffs. Result: stiff and sore the next day, but happy. To top off the afternoon, we had ice cream for dinner and did some more sailing.
That night a bunch of Jon's childhood friends came over, originally for euchre but it ended up being drinking and a bonfire. No complaints here...I was beat and fell asleep at the fire, but it was fun to meet new, cool people. We made plans to wakeboard the next morning with a couple of them, but I didn't get to go because we got a late start and had to be back in for the breakfast of all breakfasts within about an hour. Mitch, Jon and I did a little sailing, then the guys left for a round of golf. I hung out with Jon's family on a pontoon boat ride, then decided to take a little nap so I could stay up later that night. It worked, too; I was an alert "pyrotechnics assistant" to Mitch while he was setting off everything Mitch's brother brought and even when I did go to bed, I was not falling asleep walking up the stairs like I was the night before.
Like always, we had hoped to go wakeboarding the next morning, but it was raining so we all slept in. We did, however, brave the rain and the thunder to watch the Fourth of July parade. Afterwards, we helped get ready for the BBQ at the Davenports', which ended up being kind of a movie/pool playing afternoon. Since the weather was not cooperating and we'd been able to set off fireworks the night before, Mitch and I decided to head home around 4 pm on Monday. Even though I love being at Jon's, it was really nice to come home, rent a movie and relax in the comfort of our own home.
So that was our Fourth of July weekend, and now it's back to work. Tonight I think Jon and Matt (once I call him and invite him) are coming over for experimental dinner night. I've been wanting to make this apple cherry pork roast in my crock pot for a long time, so that's what we're having. I had to get up a bit early to get it ready, but I think it will be good. Well, I better get some work done.
Tim - if you're reading this, how the heck are you? I haven't heard from you in awhile but I know you're coming home soon, so have safe travels and write when you get a chance!
At 6:30 am, I swear I heard someone whisper, "They're leaving without you," so I jumped out of bed and headed for the bathroom, where Mitch was getting ready for to go out on the boat. Jon was not awake yet, so we went in and jumped on him, learning at that time that we were not going out until 7 am. Losers. I was anxious to try out my new board, and it was awesome except that I think the bindings are too small for me. I need to do a little reading on how they are supposed to fit, but it looks like I may need to exchange them.
After wakeboarding, we headed over to the Missaukee County Beach for the volleyball tournament. Our warm-up game went great, as did our first pool game, but after that we could not seem to get in the groove until the afternoon when we started playing back to back. By some stroke of luck, we made it out of pool play and into the first round of playoffs. I believe we played 5 sets of 2 games to 11 points, one single game to 11 (to break a four-way tie to get into finals) and one more game to 15 in the playoffs. Result: stiff and sore the next day, but happy. To top off the afternoon, we had ice cream for dinner and did some more sailing.
That night a bunch of Jon's childhood friends came over, originally for euchre but it ended up being drinking and a bonfire. No complaints here...I was beat and fell asleep at the fire, but it was fun to meet new, cool people. We made plans to wakeboard the next morning with a couple of them, but I didn't get to go because we got a late start and had to be back in for the breakfast of all breakfasts within about an hour. Mitch, Jon and I did a little sailing, then the guys left for a round of golf. I hung out with Jon's family on a pontoon boat ride, then decided to take a little nap so I could stay up later that night. It worked, too; I was an alert "pyrotechnics assistant" to Mitch while he was setting off everything Mitch's brother brought and even when I did go to bed, I was not falling asleep walking up the stairs like I was the night before.
Like always, we had hoped to go wakeboarding the next morning, but it was raining so we all slept in. We did, however, brave the rain and the thunder to watch the Fourth of July parade. Afterwards, we helped get ready for the BBQ at the Davenports', which ended up being kind of a movie/pool playing afternoon. Since the weather was not cooperating and we'd been able to set off fireworks the night before, Mitch and I decided to head home around 4 pm on Monday. Even though I love being at Jon's, it was really nice to come home, rent a movie and relax in the comfort of our own home.
So that was our Fourth of July weekend, and now it's back to work. Tonight I think Jon and Matt (once I call him and invite him) are coming over for experimental dinner night. I've been wanting to make this apple cherry pork roast in my crock pot for a long time, so that's what we're having. I had to get up a bit early to get it ready, but I think it will be good. Well, I better get some work done.
Tim - if you're reading this, how the heck are you? I haven't heard from you in awhile but I know you're coming home soon, so have safe travels and write when you get a chance!
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