Currently Listening High Voltage By AC/DC It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n Roll) see related

Me in a nutshell...

Help!  I'm in a nut shell!  What kind of a nut has a shell as big as me? (sorry, blatant rip off of Austin Powers lines).  Anyways, time is short (I'm at the library).

Here's all that's new and (un)improved with me:

-recently joined facebook, and am blindly fumbling my way about it, but having fun in the meantime.

-still working at the Loonie Store, and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere.  Not doing my boss's job (like at the Bargain...ahem), but I am enjoying myself thoroughly.

-seriously thinking of auditioning for whatever is coming to Prairie this year (fall, winter and or One acts!)  Woohoo for suspense!

-enjoying the slightly cooled weather from the last two weeks of sweltering oven heat around the Hills.

-seen more movies in theatres in the last two months than I normally do all winter and spring.  But then again, isn't that what the point of summer movies is?  Among the ranks of the seen are the new Potter movie, Transformers, the adorable Surf's Up, Ratatouille, and Evan Almighty. 

-catching up on my t.v. shows including (gasp) Desperate Housewives (believe me when I say that it is a one time view, if that); Prison Break Season One (awesome for those who love 24 and other law shows). X-Files is next on the list....

-catching up on my reading: mostly Stephen King, and Dean Koontz.  Starting in on the final Potter book.  No spoilers to be had from me.  If you have read it, KEEP IT TO YOURSELVES!

I'm hungry.  Time to get some supper going.  Ciao Bello!

Currently Listening Life in Cartoon Motion By Mika Grace Kelly see related

Whoopee for Father's Day...

Sorry if the title of this entry sounds down and out: I know plenty of good men who are, have been or will someday be good fathers.  Unfortunately, my father is not one of them.  As the son of divorced parents (by my dad's choice) there are days where I think it would have been easier if he had died in some accident on the highway or something.  At least that way I would have the preserved memories of the way he was, rather than knowing that he has done an about face on everything he ever was: a father, a preacher, a man of God.

Oddly enough, I was down at Fields earlier today, and I got a discount (no gst) because I was a guy shopping on Father's Day.  I'm not even a father and I can be treated like one- strange.  I also got asked by a shopper yesterday if I had any special plans for today, because I looked like a fatherly type.  I was caught offguard and verbally fumbled the comment.  I suppose it was a compliment, but the thought of being a father right now kinda scared me (especially considering that I'm single- the notion of single parenting is scary in and of itself; the fact that I'm old enough to have a child is also kinda scary, given the day and age that we live in).  Parenting is never something God intended to be done by one person: if it were, we'd be asexual amphibians who cycle through both male and female gender to birth, raise, protect and repeat.  Seeing as how that's not the case we gotta stick together through thick and thin (and these thoughts are projected more towards my age group, because we are the ones who face the greatest risk of seperation in the future).

I have had the privilege this past week to sell cards for 50th and 60th anniversary cards: way to go people!  We need to keep that kind of faith and relationship going!

Anyways, to all you daddios who may read this (especially if I know you) have a happy one!  Try not to drown in your newly acquired neckties that play music, or pass out from the scent of three conflicting colognes, aftershaves or bodysprays.  To all you who are struggling with the absence of an earthly father on this day (and other statutory holidays, and special occasions), remember that you are not alone in these times- there is always a friend to lean on (and you friends know who you are).  And thank God in heaven that He is our ever-faithful, ever-present Heavenly Father!  Amen!

Currently Listening Spider-Man 3: Music from and Inspired By By Original Soundtrack Signal Fire by Snow Patrol see related

A Clarification, if you will...

  I recieved a comment about an "incroguity" in my previous entry and I wish to clarify.  I don't mind talking about movies, and watching them, especially with friends and family.  However, during my two days with my brother, I was hard pressed to learn much about the ups and downs and ways I can pray for my brother in the coming year.  It seemed to me that I had to really force hints to get him to realize that I wanted to find out more about himself than the movies that he's been watching.  So, my frustration wasn't really about movies, but the fact that the most important things he had to tell me were things that were being kicked out of the Hollywood machine.  I definitely had a good time, but felt that it could have been better if he'd opened up a little more or had other interests outside of the entertainment industry.

P.S. "Sunday feedback" about the Bargain Shop is this:  during the six weeks since it opened for Sundays, I have been told that "God cannot bless my work on Sunday", "it's evil", and several sympathetic persons have said that it is "unfair that you don't get a weekend day to yourself."  I couldn't agree more with the last one: having Sunday as an "anchor" day around which to be free to set up/look ahead to the coming week is a good idea, regardless of whether you are "secular" or "Christian".  Why can't God bless my work on Sunday?  Because someone judges my moral character, or anyone else's for that matter, by their own personal scale of moral purity?  Last time I checked up on Jewish customs, the Sabbath was a Saturday- so why do we see the second biggest amount of people through the doors (including the people throwing around these judgmental comments) on Saturday, which was the day of rest spoken of in the bible?  Having worked there among secular co-workers all I can say is this: we cannot force non-believers to live up to a standard that they themselves do not hold to.  In other words, they don't see it the way we do, and therefore cannot be judged that way.  We must meet them where they are at, before we can show them the way.  Even then, we cannot judge them in their newness to Christ- we are to guide them in friendship and love, not condescension and bitterness.  I have a feeling I am gonna get some hard comments regarding this little blurb, but I needed to say it.  Thanks for your comments Mr. A.

Currently Listening Michael Jackson - Vol. 1-Greatest Hits History By Michael Jackson Man in the Mirror see related

Visiting hours are over.

    Well, my visit to see my brother has been an interesting time: he is still very much the kid that I remember moving out almost a year ago.  He and his fiancee are still together, and seem to be doing alright for themselves, but there are things that he still doesn't take seriously.  His situation at work could be better, and he and I talked about some things that he could do to bolster his chances at scoring a better job than his current one at Burger King.

   On that note I must comment on how very ridiculous and unfair the food industry treats workers.  I have worked in restaraunts and coffee shops, and as a guy (and again, this is only from my experience) it is a lot harsher from an earnings perspective.  Tips particularly piss me off.  A guy working in a restaraunt/coffee shop, could bust his ass all day and maybe make $15 in tips.  A woman working may run on their looks and make triple that easily in a given work day (and unfortunately, I have worked with some girls who will exploit that to the extreme).  Now don't get me wrong, I know plenty more hard-working female restaraunt servers, but the system is biased in terms of tipping.  Furthermore, tipping should be based more on service, than on looks.  I'm not gonna tip someone just because they look good.  If I got a bottomless drink, I want at least 4 refills (plus the first fill).  If I order coffee, I better get three fills.  All this should be done without having to lunge out and snag you as you rush by.  Basically, I echo the feelings of Mr. Pink in "Reservoir Dogs" during his monologue on tipping at the opening of the film.

   Now we return from our off-road topic of restaraunting opinions.  It has definitely been a good feeling giving my brother his stuff- it's an issue of closure, mixed with tying off the loose ends of being the watcher of someone else's stuff.  All that remains to be done in his old room is to vacuum the floor- it's pretty scary looking.  Because Jamie's still a kid at the core of who he is, it has been hard to talk about much besides the entertainment industry, and love him to death but I don't give a damn about the upcoming movie releases (upcoming being movies not due for at least a couple of years)- I want to know how he is.  When you've only got two days to visit your long-absent brother, you really don't want to spend them talking about movies.

    Today was fun to an extent: in the early afternoon we went to a provincial history museum here in Yorkton, and got to peruse the history of Saskatchewan immigration up to 1905.  I have always found the old items that have managed to be preserved the coolest: old clothing, tools, weapons, products, technology.  Today I had the opportunity to peruse these at leisure.  The afternoon was interesting in that we went back to my brother's apartment (up the rickety stairs of impending death)...and watched Spider-Man 3.  The quality was crappy (but then, what isn't compared to a 6-storey IMAX screen?), but my little brother and sister enjoyed themselves.  Then to top it off we went out as a group to watch Shrek the Third at the Tower Theater here in town, and had a blast.  The Third is definitely my favorite installment of the Shrek films (and probably the shortest of the series).

   Tomorrow we head back to Three Hills on our roughly ten hour drive, so we'll be leaving early-ish (like 10 am).  Then I have to hope that I can get a full night's sleep because I'm opening at the Loonie Store, and flying solo after only a week of work.  Praise God for a full-time job where your boss trusts you and treats you like an equal, rather than an inferior.  (*sigh*) As the old Calvin and Hobbes collection was entitled: The days are just packed (good thing too, because boredom is something very easy to succumb to).  See ya'll around.

A Fresh Change of Scenery.

  I'm trying to finish my continental breakfast at the Comfort Inn in Yorkton, SK.  I'm visiting my brother for the weekend- it's been almost a year since I have seen him.  It's been an interesting weekend thus far. 

  For those of you who don't know yet, I am now working at the Loonie Store in Three Hills and this past week has been great and very stress free.  I love it at the Loonie Store- keeps me busy, I am treated fair, and most importantly I have FULL-TIME HOURS!  Finally I can get back on track for paying down bills, and saving up for another vacation.

  Just thought I'd let those of you who care, know.  My birthday is only two and a half weeks away!  Hooray for getting older!  Peace out ya'll.