I have written in awhile. It's not because of lack of inspiration. I often think, what's the point. Try as I may, things do not go the way I've planned. I'm only writing today because I need to get this nagging feeling I have inside of me out and in the open.
I went to my boss's funeral the other day and it was sad. Not sad in the way that funeral's are supposed to be. Whenever you lose someone, there's a cloud of sadness that hovers. You may realize that they are going to go to a better place, but selfishly you want them to stay here with us. What happens if you don't know they are going to a better place? What happens if you lose someone that nobody really, truly knew?
To think that I knew my boss as well as his family did after only two years of working with him is truly depressing. To spend fifty plus years of your life on this earth only to pass away without anyone truly knowing who you were. The people that attended were mostly work related. The entire company including old employees, area managers and staff showed up to pay their respects. The rest of the group seemed to be more friend of the family than long lost friends and loved ones. How can work be everything? I try to do well at my job, but I don't stress over it. I don't spend my waking hours trying to figure out how to make things better in my profession. I often feel guilty for obsessing over what I do enjoy. I'll take the time to think about a video game I'm playing or a video I'm working on. When I start a project, I have a tendency to think about that with every spare moment until it's done. Maybe he felt the same way, only work is a project that never ends and always gives you more challenges to encounter along the way.
And what do you say to someone after they've lost someone? My condolences? What does that mean anyway? I'm sorry for something that neither of us had any control over. You want to talk about the good and happy memories. But even after they fade, the stinging is still there. And worse yet, what if it's not? If I don't feel a certain degree of horrible, does that mean I'm not normal or am doing something wrong? Funerals just make me uncomfortable.
I also have no evidence that he was saved. I worked with him for two years and not once shared how I felt about God's grace. Did he know? He worked every Sunday, so he wasn't learning about him there. It fills me with sadness to know that when I go to work, I will be passing the halls of someone who devoted his life to his profession and I don't even have half of that passion. I work because I have to, not because I want to.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Instant Classic! Bulls vs. Celtics
People like to throw the term "Instant Classic" around too much. I often hear commentators use this term while the game is still going on. How can you know it's an instant classic if it hasn't even ended yet. There's something very special going on in the First Round of the NBA Playoffs between the Celtics and the Bulls.
Going into the playoffs, most Bulls fans would've been ecstatic if they had advanced past the first round. Expectations were low for both teams. These are not two teams that are expected to contend for a title. What has developed is a drop down, grinding slugfest in which both teams refuse to give up. The Celtics could've easily used Kevin Garnett's absence as an excuse. To lose that kind of leadership and defensive presence would be a staggering blow to any team. But the youth and the spirit of this young Bulls team have made it truly a sight to see.
As a Bulls fan, I was just wanting them to be competitive and not get blown out. Maybe even win a couple of games. I was not expecting, Double and Triple Overtime, with multiple heroes, flagrant fouls, and bloodied lips. The entire basketball world is tuning in to see who wants it more. When people in LA care more about what's happening in this series than the Lakers series, it means there's something truly unique taking place.
I find it most interesting that they are fighting so hard for a First Round game. This isn't the conference finals, the semifinals or even the Championship. This is the First Round. Supposedly the easiest round and after 7 Overtimes, 5 of the 6 games settled by less than 3 points, it's proving to be a daunting task for either team.
And this has come down to more than just advancing to the next round. Whoever wins the Finals this year, will not be remembered as long as people will First Round series. Whoever wins this series is probably going to get taken down in the next round or two. That doesn't even matter. It's all about the moment. The moment to prove that you dug down deep and had something extra when it counted. That you fought for everything and didn't give up. That no matter whether you've a veteran team just off a championship looking to save face, or a less experience young team looking for some respect, this is their championship. This is not playoff basketball, this is history.
Going into the playoffs, most Bulls fans would've been ecstatic if they had advanced past the first round. Expectations were low for both teams. These are not two teams that are expected to contend for a title. What has developed is a drop down, grinding slugfest in which both teams refuse to give up. The Celtics could've easily used Kevin Garnett's absence as an excuse. To lose that kind of leadership and defensive presence would be a staggering blow to any team. But the youth and the spirit of this young Bulls team have made it truly a sight to see.
As a Bulls fan, I was just wanting them to be competitive and not get blown out. Maybe even win a couple of games. I was not expecting, Double and Triple Overtime, with multiple heroes, flagrant fouls, and bloodied lips. The entire basketball world is tuning in to see who wants it more. When people in LA care more about what's happening in this series than the Lakers series, it means there's something truly unique taking place.
I find it most interesting that they are fighting so hard for a First Round game. This isn't the conference finals, the semifinals or even the Championship. This is the First Round. Supposedly the easiest round and after 7 Overtimes, 5 of the 6 games settled by less than 3 points, it's proving to be a daunting task for either team.
And this has come down to more than just advancing to the next round. Whoever wins the Finals this year, will not be remembered as long as people will First Round series. Whoever wins this series is probably going to get taken down in the next round or two. That doesn't even matter. It's all about the moment. The moment to prove that you dug down deep and had something extra when it counted. That you fought for everything and didn't give up. That no matter whether you've a veteran team just off a championship looking to save face, or a less experience young team looking for some respect, this is their championship. This is not playoff basketball, this is history.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
A Letter to my Teenage Daughter
My Dearest,
I know it's not cool to listen to advice from your parents, but I thought you'd be more likely to read what I wrote than to listen to my words while trying not to roll your eyes. I wish for you to be all the things your mom and I dream for you to be. I hope you learn from our mistakes and not merely recreate them. I pray that you find faith and follow God and not the world. Understand that just because other people do it, doesn't automatically make it right. Learn to think for yourself and follow your heart for what you truly believe is the right course of action. Your life is in your hands and the decisions you make are yours and yours alone.
People will have no shortage of advice to offer you but be weary of the intentions of those supplying it. Your parents give you advice on the premise that we love and care for you, wanting you to do your best, having the best life possible. We may not be perfect, but we always have the best of intentions and no hidden agenda. Teachers, for the most part, have pure intentions. They have little to gain by misguiding you and blatantly lying to you. Some things they teach because they have to, but they can generally be trusted with the advice that they give. Your friends care for you and want you to be happy, but their intentions can sometimes be tainted. They want you to listen to them above all, but if you are in trouble, you are the one who will have to face the consequences of your actions. I am not singling anyone of your friends out as I don't even know who your friends will turn out to be. You haven't even begun to turn into the woman you will be when you read this. Friends can be loyal, loving and trustworthy, but they can also be two-faced, vindictive and bitter. People don't show their true colors until they have to.
Be wary of the company you keep. Your time is valuable and shouldn't be wasted on the brain dead. Money isn't everything. Though it may seem like it when you can't get the things you want, God always provides us with the things we need. Don't spend all your time comparing yourself to other people. No matter how high you make it up the social ladder, there's always someone higher with seemingly better stuff than you have. Try to be happy with what you have and realize you are so much better off than a lot of people. You have two loving parents who will always be by your side no matter what. Don't be afraid to let us share your life.
You may find it hard to believe, but we were both young once. We know the trials and tests you will be tempted by. Though it may seem hard to pass up the pleasures of the world, things are not always as wonderful as they appear to be. The ways of the world are fleeting and empty. In the grand scheme, they only give you loneliness and emptiness when the whole scenario plays out. You try to say that we don't know what it's like, but we do. The types of drugs, sex and peer pressure that you face might be in a different form but it's still the same as it was twenty years ago. The world hasn't changed all that much, everyone has just become more tolerant of the wickedness.
As I wrap this letter up, remember that you can always talk to me. I may not have a lot of knowledge about the details of your problem, but no matter what the subject, I will always listen. There are a lot of kids who don't have two parents, so be wise and use the gifts that God has given to you. Your mom and I love you with all your heart and we look forward to meeting you.
Love,
Dad
I know it's not cool to listen to advice from your parents, but I thought you'd be more likely to read what I wrote than to listen to my words while trying not to roll your eyes. I wish for you to be all the things your mom and I dream for you to be. I hope you learn from our mistakes and not merely recreate them. I pray that you find faith and follow God and not the world. Understand that just because other people do it, doesn't automatically make it right. Learn to think for yourself and follow your heart for what you truly believe is the right course of action. Your life is in your hands and the decisions you make are yours and yours alone.
People will have no shortage of advice to offer you but be weary of the intentions of those supplying it. Your parents give you advice on the premise that we love and care for you, wanting you to do your best, having the best life possible. We may not be perfect, but we always have the best of intentions and no hidden agenda. Teachers, for the most part, have pure intentions. They have little to gain by misguiding you and blatantly lying to you. Some things they teach because they have to, but they can generally be trusted with the advice that they give. Your friends care for you and want you to be happy, but their intentions can sometimes be tainted. They want you to listen to them above all, but if you are in trouble, you are the one who will have to face the consequences of your actions. I am not singling anyone of your friends out as I don't even know who your friends will turn out to be. You haven't even begun to turn into the woman you will be when you read this. Friends can be loyal, loving and trustworthy, but they can also be two-faced, vindictive and bitter. People don't show their true colors until they have to.
Be wary of the company you keep. Your time is valuable and shouldn't be wasted on the brain dead. Money isn't everything. Though it may seem like it when you can't get the things you want, God always provides us with the things we need. Don't spend all your time comparing yourself to other people. No matter how high you make it up the social ladder, there's always someone higher with seemingly better stuff than you have. Try to be happy with what you have and realize you are so much better off than a lot of people. You have two loving parents who will always be by your side no matter what. Don't be afraid to let us share your life.
You may find it hard to believe, but we were both young once. We know the trials and tests you will be tempted by. Though it may seem hard to pass up the pleasures of the world, things are not always as wonderful as they appear to be. The ways of the world are fleeting and empty. In the grand scheme, they only give you loneliness and emptiness when the whole scenario plays out. You try to say that we don't know what it's like, but we do. The types of drugs, sex and peer pressure that you face might be in a different form but it's still the same as it was twenty years ago. The world hasn't changed all that much, everyone has just become more tolerant of the wickedness.
As I wrap this letter up, remember that you can always talk to me. I may not have a lot of knowledge about the details of your problem, but no matter what the subject, I will always listen. There are a lot of kids who don't have two parents, so be wise and use the gifts that God has given to you. Your mom and I love you with all your heart and we look forward to meeting you.
Love,
Dad
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Knowing Movie Review
I've been on blogger break the past few weeks. I've been working on my story so have had limited to time to write about my incessant ramblings. I return to you with a movie review. I recently watched the Nicolas Cage movie Knowing. The general consensus about Nic Cage is that if he is in a movie, you shouldn't see it. I've liked most of his movies. They aren't great, but good. Knowing has me conflicted as I'm not sure if I really liked it or not. It bugged me at first, until I thought about it deeper. Please realize the following does contain spoilers as to plot and purpose. If you want to see this movie and not spoil anything, please read after viewing. And then maybe we can discuss.
In Knowing, Nicolas Cage's son finds a list in a time capsule containing a young child's view of the future from fifty years ago. Instead of a picture of flying cars or spaceships, he finds a paper with nothing but a list of numbers. The numbers, he infers, are related to predictions of major disasters including date and death count.
I won't go into the details in case you want to see the film for yourself. The suspense is pretty exciting even if some of the events are a tad unbelievable. As you approach the end of the film, you realize that the earth is doomed with no chance of redemption. The numbers are not meant to be a warning for prevention, but a prophecy for belief. With all of the references in the believers, and the ones who are called, I suddenly realized it was a christian film or at least heavily lined with christian themes. The whispering people seem creepy for the entire film, but have wings on at the end. The unbelievers are burned up in a solar flare and the young children approach a beautiful tree that looks like the Tree of Knowledge.
I still don't think it's a wonderful movie, but the christian elements definitely give it a deeper meaning. God said he wouldn't destroy the world again with a flood, but does that mean he won't ever start anew using another disaster? We'd like to think that's untrue. Maybe it's more reminiscent of the New Heaven and a New Earth reference.
It was an interesting movie and the people that downright hated this movie, have to question their ideology. Do they hate the movie because of the content or because they're not seeing the deeper message? It's definitely worth a view to make your own mind up.
In Knowing, Nicolas Cage's son finds a list in a time capsule containing a young child's view of the future from fifty years ago. Instead of a picture of flying cars or spaceships, he finds a paper with nothing but a list of numbers. The numbers, he infers, are related to predictions of major disasters including date and death count.
I won't go into the details in case you want to see the film for yourself. The suspense is pretty exciting even if some of the events are a tad unbelievable. As you approach the end of the film, you realize that the earth is doomed with no chance of redemption. The numbers are not meant to be a warning for prevention, but a prophecy for belief. With all of the references in the believers, and the ones who are called, I suddenly realized it was a christian film or at least heavily lined with christian themes. The whispering people seem creepy for the entire film, but have wings on at the end. The unbelievers are burned up in a solar flare and the young children approach a beautiful tree that looks like the Tree of Knowledge.
I still don't think it's a wonderful movie, but the christian elements definitely give it a deeper meaning. God said he wouldn't destroy the world again with a flood, but does that mean he won't ever start anew using another disaster? We'd like to think that's untrue. Maybe it's more reminiscent of the New Heaven and a New Earth reference.
It was an interesting movie and the people that downright hated this movie, have to question their ideology. Do they hate the movie because of the content or because they're not seeing the deeper message? It's definitely worth a view to make your own mind up.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Who are "they" and why should we listen to them?
Have you ever caught yourself saying, "Well, people say..." or "they say..." or even "I've heard..." I do it all the time though I try not to. But who are they anyway? Where do they come from and why do they feel the need to stick their nose in my affairs all the time?
Apparently they know everything. They dress nicer, have more self control, slimmer waistlines and are experts in the field of psychology and finance. Modesty is not one of their strong suits as we talk about them all the time. People rarely challenge the they. We follow blindly feeling like we're smarter than others, like we've gotten a hot tip. We think of it as inside information only the privileged few have. I know something you don't know because I heard it from a supposed reliable source.
If all you're going to do is criticize than just leave my life alone. Go spend time with the rest of the sheep and see if I even notice. I'm tired of listening to them. I have enough to deal with without worrying about impressing the anonymous collective. They'll probably hate me for it. They always do.
I could be a they and you'd never even know it.
Apparently they know everything. They dress nicer, have more self control, slimmer waistlines and are experts in the field of psychology and finance. Modesty is not one of their strong suits as we talk about them all the time. People rarely challenge the they. We follow blindly feeling like we're smarter than others, like we've gotten a hot tip. We think of it as inside information only the privileged few have. I know something you don't know because I heard it from a supposed reliable source.
If all you're going to do is criticize than just leave my life alone. Go spend time with the rest of the sheep and see if I even notice. I'm tired of listening to them. I have enough to deal with without worrying about impressing the anonymous collective. They'll probably hate me for it. They always do.
I could be a they and you'd never even know it.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
See movies in real 3D without the bluish/redish tint. Your eyes will thank you for it.
I feel like a little kid today. I went to see the Jonas Brothers today. The show was very well done. I've always been a fan of the concept of 3D, but it's hard to find good 3D. They had a couple of the shows at Disney World that were really well done. I especially liked the Muppet show with the two old guys int he balcony. "We would've left along time ago, but our butts are bolted to the seat! Ha ha ha!"
But when you go and see a movie are are drooling when the previews are running it's a good sign. I'm glad that Real D uses clear glasses instead of the red and blue lenses. Watching the explosions and the words coming right at you just makes you go "ooh." The movie itself was better than I thought it was going to be. They mixed up the music with very humorous behind the scenes information. It really did feel like you were on stage with them because of the 3D effect. I look forward to seeing some of the full length movies that are coming up in that kind of 3D as it doesn't make your head hurt. When you can watch the opening credits of the Jonas Brothers movie and be in awe, it makes you feel young again. I think it's funny when people walk out of the 3D movie with their glasses still on. It's like they want to see the world in 3D or something.
I know why it's not busy. They were charging $15 a ticket, but I only went because it was free. People don't want to pay $45 for a family of three to see a concert that's probably for their kid anyway. And in these rough economic times, people are looking for ways to trim expenses, not create more.
But when you go and see a movie are are drooling when the previews are running it's a good sign. I'm glad that Real D uses clear glasses instead of the red and blue lenses. Watching the explosions and the words coming right at you just makes you go "ooh." The movie itself was better than I thought it was going to be. They mixed up the music with very humorous behind the scenes information. It really did feel like you were on stage with them because of the 3D effect. I look forward to seeing some of the full length movies that are coming up in that kind of 3D as it doesn't make your head hurt. When you can watch the opening credits of the Jonas Brothers movie and be in awe, it makes you feel young again. I think it's funny when people walk out of the 3D movie with their glasses still on. It's like they want to see the world in 3D or something.
I know why it's not busy. They were charging $15 a ticket, but I only went because it was free. People don't want to pay $45 for a family of three to see a concert that's probably for their kid anyway. And in these rough economic times, people are looking for ways to trim expenses, not create more.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
How can they allow such violence on tv? Oh, it's just the news!
You know the last time I watched the news was when I was on it. I was in the same newscast as Arnold Schwarzenegger (I think that's right), presidential candidates McCain & Obama, and a Kindergartner class's mauled pet pony (the pony didn't make it). The news is quite absurd when you think about it and very outdated since the popularity of the Internet has boomed.
The job of the news is like any other television show, ratings. Only the news is never going to get canceled. People will never stop committing crimes. Disasters will continue. There is apparently so much news that the half hour show from my childhood could not contain everything that's happened.
There is also a multitude of newscasts throughout the day. They have morning news, evening news and nightly news. I once saw the news on at noon. I thought, it's been three hours what could I possibly need to know about. There's also entire channels devoted to the news and weather. If there's anything more exciting than watching the weather channel, I haven't found it. We even have entire shows dedicated to making a parady of the news. There's apparently so much information floating around that we don't know what to do with it.
But we have all these news shows, and what do they talk about? The news always presents, it's most exciting stories at the beginning, advertising what they'll be talking about later. You sit and wade through the gunk just to get to the five minute topic that you thought sounded kind of interesting. All the news has on it is crime. Death, murder, fires and crooked politics. Happiness is apparently not news worthy. If you only watched the news, out world looks like it's on the brink of destruction, like we might not even survive until the morning. It's just so depressing.
And the format of the news is actually quite interesting when you stop to think about it. The news tries to make every story and every "angle" more exciting than it actually is. How many voiceovers or live "on the scene" interviews to they need in one broadcast? They do it because it draws attention. You can tell the exact same story, but if you present it like it's important for us to pay attention to, we're more likely to do so.
This is the anonymous idiot reporting out in the cold and sleet, that nothing new has happened on the scene for the last three hours. Thanks and have a great night!
The job of the news is like any other television show, ratings. Only the news is never going to get canceled. People will never stop committing crimes. Disasters will continue. There is apparently so much news that the half hour show from my childhood could not contain everything that's happened.
There is also a multitude of newscasts throughout the day. They have morning news, evening news and nightly news. I once saw the news on at noon. I thought, it's been three hours what could I possibly need to know about. There's also entire channels devoted to the news and weather. If there's anything more exciting than watching the weather channel, I haven't found it. We even have entire shows dedicated to making a parady of the news. There's apparently so much information floating around that we don't know what to do with it.
But we have all these news shows, and what do they talk about? The news always presents, it's most exciting stories at the beginning, advertising what they'll be talking about later. You sit and wade through the gunk just to get to the five minute topic that you thought sounded kind of interesting. All the news has on it is crime. Death, murder, fires and crooked politics. Happiness is apparently not news worthy. If you only watched the news, out world looks like it's on the brink of destruction, like we might not even survive until the morning. It's just so depressing.
And the format of the news is actually quite interesting when you stop to think about it. The news tries to make every story and every "angle" more exciting than it actually is. How many voiceovers or live "on the scene" interviews to they need in one broadcast? They do it because it draws attention. You can tell the exact same story, but if you present it like it's important for us to pay attention to, we're more likely to do so.
This is the anonymous idiot reporting out in the cold and sleet, that nothing new has happened on the scene for the last three hours. Thanks and have a great night!
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