This Weekend

So far my Thanksgiving break has involved breaking into some stranger's garage and taking a Cadillac for a joyride (the keys were in the visor, ha!), freezing nearly to death while watching the stars out in the sticks somewhere, eating lots of great food, making fun of Michael Bolton, taking pictures, trying to fly a small plane, selling an old amp, and sleeping in. It's been fun!

this weekend, we'll have a ball,
we'll hit the town and see it all,
so let's go out on Friday night,
we'll go see a show, or get in a fight.

so hold on tightly to me,
we're going for a ride,
and the sound of the stereo,
let the rhythm,
let it take control of you,
'cause you ain't got nothing to lose.

it's nice enough for the driving,
watching movies with my friends,
times are good, and times are bad,
but these are the best times that I've ever had.

so hold on tightly to me,
we're going for a ride,
in the sound of the stereo,
let the rhythm,
let it take control of you,
don't say this isn't happening,
'cause you ain't got nothing to lose.

one of these days I'll be out of your way,
and you can rest your head...
one of these days I'll be out of your way,
and leave my words unsaid.

don't let, don't let, don't let go,
of the sound,
coming out your stereo,
let the rhythm,
let it take control of you,
don't say this isn't happening,
'cause this is your weekend,
and you ain't got nothing to lose.

:)

Can I Do This?

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary:

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

– Romans 12:9-21

 

What a Difference a Day Makes

On November 18th:

• William Tell shot an apple off of his son's head
• Christopher Columbus discovered Puerto Rico
• The five time zones were established in North America
• Mickey Mouse's birthday and the day that the first cartoon with sound was released
• The first book was printed on a printing press
• The first teddy bear was made and named after Theodore Roosevelt
• I was born sometime around 10am on a snowy day

I wonder if anything historic will happen this year... besides my birthday, that is.

Last Fire

Last night we had what was probably the last fire of the year. We had some old dried out wood and some newer stuff and it really took off! Using dry leaves to get it started worked out well. I tried taking pictures, but even with a good fire going it was still too dark to get any clear shots.

Rose read us awful jokes and we roasted marshmallows and made faces for the camera. Only one of the funny face pictures turned out, but it was fun anyway.

A Clear Sky...

Jump!

At my new job I had to work nights, although I can't remember what it was that I did there, but I do know I carried around lots of cardboard boxes. My first night at work I realized I had forgotten my lunch, so I had nothing to eat when I took my break. There were a couple of dudes that I worked with who spoke Russian and they shared some of their food when they saw that I didn't have anything. It turns out they could speak English, too, although most of the time they spoke Russian and I had no idea what they were talking about.

From what I could make out, they were talking about a plane that they had sitting outside and they were going to go skydiving in the dark after work. It seemed the plan was that one of them would fly the plane while myself and the other dude jumped. They asked if I had ever jumped from a plane before and I said, "How do you think I got to work tonight?" They joked and thought I would scream like a girl if I jumped out of a plane, but said I would get a chance to prove myself later.

They laughed and I laughed too, and thanked them for the sandwich. I thought we were joking, but as soon as we clocked out after our shift they insisted that I follow them outside. They went back behind some trees and bushes and came out pushing a great big plane. They said they were not allowed to fly anymore after last time(?!!), so we would have to be quiet until we were ready to take off.

The other guy (who had a crazy grin and looked like Merle from The Walking Dead) who was going to be jumping threw a parachute at me and then started strapping on his own parachute, motioning for me to watch so I could put mine on. I put mine on, but when I was done, there were still a couple extra straps hanging loose from it. I held them up and asked how to put them on, but he just shrugged and climbed into the plane.

I was getting really cold feet about the whole thing and decided not to get in the plane. They were insistent and the dude with the parachute got out and grabbed onto one of the shoulder straps on my chute and started pulling me in. I decided to go along and watch, but no way was I going to jump.

The rickety old plane shuttered and shook and everything in it rattled. We taxied across the parking lot and then lifted off, brushing against tree branches as it started to climb.

It was really hot and muggy out and the side door of the plane was wide open letting in the humid air and thick exhaust. The plane circled the building where we worked as it climbed until it leveled off. We weren't very high up at all, but they said it couldn't go any higher.

The guy with the parachute stepped into the doorway and said that as soon as we jumped we would have to pull the rip cord right away since we didn't have any room to free fall. Well that was all the convincing I needed to decide that this wasn't happening for me. The guy flying the plane looked over his shoulder and saw that I wasn't going, so he turned the plane sharply to the right causing me to fall out of the doorway. I pulled the cord right away as I fell from the plane and I saw the other dude doing the same.

Our fall didn't last very long and in moments we were just clearing the trees, hoping to slow down enough before hitting the ground. He landed first and then I landed a couple seconds later and managed to stay on my feet. Right away, he began packing up the parachute and said that we had to leave before we got caught. I realized the plane was already on the ground(?!) and they were getting into their car to leave.

I drove home and found the driveway full of old broken down vans because people kept leaving their old discarded vans in our driveway every night.

There was more to this dream, but it was mostly about trying to figure out how to clear all the vans from the driveway and then a snowstorm came through while we were moving the vans.

Lunch Break in Photos

Today during my lunch break I took the camera with me and walked around the park near my office. I've actually been doing this a lot lately, but just haven't been posting them, so I decided I should post a few from today. Enjoy.

An Arrow That Flies By Day

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his feathers and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

If you say, "The Lord is my refuge," and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

"Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."

– Psalm 91