Brain Soup...An Invention That Needs Inventing

I think I will start updating with a little something each day. Guaranteed to make you twice as bored, now daily!

Today I got up scathingly early! Which means I barely managed to pry myself out of my complacent bed by 10:00. The bed laughed at me mockingly as I stumbled off to the bathroom, still trying to wake up.
I threw on my worst clothes and headed over to the church to do some painting on the half-pipe for the skatepark. Yes, I am back at the skatepark again this summer. Feast your eyes:


Ironically, or perhaps, completely ronically, a construction truck repainting the the road lines on the way to the church made me late.

While at the park I spent a productive couple of hours peeling paint (not an unsatisfying feeling) that was starting to deteriorate, and then re-applying a layer of primer and a couple layers of gray paint.
I really enjoy painting, and getting paint on my hands is always a satisfying feeling. It was even more fun wiping wet paint on my pants. Yes, if you haven't already realized it, I am one of the odder tools in the box.

In other news I am about half-way through the 6th Harry Potter book, "The Half-Blood Prince" and I am starting to think this may be my favorite book of the series. Things are getting good!


It seems that I am on track to finish the series before the final film comes out in theaters this month, which is my goal. The last film will be the first I've seen in theaters.

In other news, my beard is growing in nicely:

No, that isn't a rainbow-colored octopus creeping up behind me, that is my wonderful ceiling fan that I've had since I was about 10. :]
Yep, I am really advanced and forward thinking.

Cheers.

The Western Warbler

Square dividers stretched as far as the eye could see into infinitude, or at least, until they were obscured by the dark corners of the office. Norris Ninnington sat at his desk puffing on his pipe, a small gray cloud slightly obscuring his lined and concentrated features, like clouds at the mountain's apex.

The computer screen lit the various contents strewn about his desk; newspapers, files, pictures, papers, rubbish, a half full cup of coffee which had long since become devoid of all warmth or flavor. His cubicle was lined with stacks of magazines, news papers and photographs. Large maps of foreign countries in extensive detail were strewn about the stacks. Blueprints showing major structures from all of the biggest cities in over 100 countries. Maps of another kind were also spattered throughout the mess; strange and varying weather patterns from an assortment of years and places.

Mr. Ninnington's left hand, the hand that wasn't gripping his pipe with white knuckled desperation while he chugged away at it with the conviction of a hyperactive vacuum cleaner, held loosely to the corner of a single paper lying on his knee. It was titled The Daily Eagle, and the headline underneath this read, "Tyrannical Tornados in Shanghai" followed by a picture of an entire office building, not unlike the one in which Mr. Ninnington now sat, being engulfed ravenously by a massive twister.

On his desk another paper titled The Western Warbler bore a headline reading, "Brazilian Monsoons Create New Landscapes!" Over his computer keyboard another paper displayed the headline, "Earthquakes Leave Humongous Holes In Paris!" And upon his computer screen, yet another article headline read, "Weird Weather: To Hit Denver Next!"

The paper held carelessly in his left hand finally dropped to the floor, and Mr. Ninnington came to with a start. He ran his left hand through his wispy white hair absently, and removed his right hand from his pipe to look at his watch. Half past four. There was something about the time that made his right earlobe itch, something that needed remembering. But he was too lost in thought now, too numb from the length of time spent in one place, too apathetic about everything he knew would be coming in the next four hours to care about one little thing he was forgetting. Nothing would matter by then anyway. He would be gone, just like everyone else, becoming just another sensational headline to join the rows and stacks around his cubicle, which, incidentally, wouldn't exist anymore either.

He was starting to drift away into puffing thoughtlessness again, when a loud bang from the opposing cubicle knocked him out of his chair. A six-foot tower of papers, blueprints, and magazines came cascading on top of him as he grunted in surprise. And just as he was looking up to see what it was that had startled him, there was a brilliant flash of white light, and Mr. Ninnington knew no more.

Sermon 44- Original Sin (John Wesley)

This is a quote from one of John Wesley's sermons that I thought was most insightful:

"And so is "the desire of the eye;" the desire of the pleasures of the imagination. These arise either from great, or beautiful, or uncommon objects; -- if the two former do not coincide with the latter; for perhaps it would appear, upon a diligent inquiry, that neither grand nor beautiful objects please any longer than they are new; that when the novelty of them is over, the greatest part, at least, of the pleasure they give is over; and in the same proportion as they become familiar, they become flat and insipid. But let us experience this ever so often, the same desire will remain still. The inbred thirst continues fixed in the soul; nay, the more it is indulged, the more it increases, and incites us to follow after another, and yet another object; although we leave every one with an abortive hope, and a deluded expectation."

The Sun Sets Over Schuylkill County

Twas another grand visit to the mysterious and magical land of Pennsylvania. Not only were elaborate escapades experienced, new friends were made as well.

I joined my friend David as the sun was setting over Schuylkill county in Pennsylvania, and we caught each other up on the latest news. We continued our conversation and set out to grab some soda from the local gas station, listening to the new Owl City CD along the way. When we got back to David's we had some food and drank our soda while watching "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," which I had never seen, and thus brought with me in case David was keen to watch it. He loves the series as much as I do, so we watched it right away, and after it was finished fell asleep watching the second movie, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets".

The next day we had some breakfast David made for us, and then set out for some fun with his friend Chris, playing a game he made up. The goal was to find as many coins on the streets as we could. Once we hit a dollar from the change we would get a lottery ticket for a dollar. The rule was that we can never use our own money, it has to be coins that we find, that way we never really lose any money on it, and the success is really in finding the change to buy the ticket.

We stopped for gas, and then lunch at Taco Bell, with no success at finding any change. We were surprised we hadn't hit a dollar yet because we only needed five cents. Undaunted we went to Cabella's for a brief look at their gun selection, and a more avid look at their parking lot, before leaving, still short five cents.

We headed back to David's area, planning to check the local car wash. Once there we found an entire quarter. We'd reached the dollar! Without dawdling, and amid whoops of joy, we headed straight to the gas station...and proceeded to lose on our lotto ticket.

After that we decided we still needed some excitement, so we met up with Chris's brother Keith and went geocaching. We wandered around in three locations enjoying an interesting hike along some cool looking rivers, train tracks, and a couple of bridges in the process.

Upon leaving the third location unsuccessful, we were tired and hungry and decided to head back to Chris and Keith's house. There we made a campfire and cooked some hot dogs for dinner, talking until it got dark. At that point it was time for me to make the trek home. We shook hands all around, and plans were made for later endeavors in the hills and forests of PA, before I drove off, certain we would meet again soon.