Giving Thanks

Well, thanksgiving is almost here and i cant wait b/c that means when i skip class everyone else does too. quality. i love thanksgiving b/c everyone plays the gratitude card and all the family gets together this year! last year, we had a small crowd of human but this year, everybody is coming and i guess kaitlyn will eat more than everybody put together. i love me some little porkster. i played watch them the other night and natalie and kaitlyn decided they were unsure about me, but went to sleep anyway. carolyn became jared and played be unsocial. jahd and kristen came over and we played a game with seth where we'd tell him what to say, and he tell the other person in another room. oh quality! it was hysterical. i imagine it was just a little taste of what's to come for thanksgiving. i miss family times, it seems like we hardly ever get together anymore. but, that's how life rolls. i can't wait on some turkey and some fun and then after that, some egg nog. egg nog is awesome, but only at christmas time. may this season be merry and may it be filled with phrases that start with "may this..." well, that's my post with more soon to come. eggs are better boiled with a little bit of salt

jail time, snail time.

I hope all of you enjoy the picture above. someone mentioned that long blocks of words weren't as entertaining without pictures, so there you have it. a picture. well here comes episode 2 of word vomit on whatever it is that's on my mind. brace yourself, you might find it impossible to disagree with me. Just kidding, the majority of you may wonder what planet birthed me and why I'm still here. We'll see. I've noticed over the last forever, that almost everyone who obtains any type of authority tends to exercise it. I'll be the first to tell anyone who will listen, that living in the USA is without doubt one of the greatest blessings receivable, I've lived outside of the magnificent walls of our 50 state wonder and I'll tell ya, Dorthy and I are on the same level with her famed exclamation, "There's no place like home." I'll go ahead and put it out there, it is a privilege to live here. We are PRIVILEGED. Hmm, what's that mean? Here's a closest that I can get to being universally accepted definition of the word privileged: the right, immunity, or benefit enjoyed only by a person beyond the advantages of most. From first hand experience, as Americans we're over privileged compared to several other inhabitants on our planet. So where am I getting at with all of this, well, I'll tell you. Do our privileges come from our wealth? Is it birthed from our strict system of government? It is available to us from the laws we have? Well, I don't think so. Other countries have wealth, our government is too loose to be considered strict, and boy, it can't be from the laws. Time to chew on a thought: our laws, rules, procedures, regulations, and processes. I have a few issues concerning laws, but have no solution. Here we go: Why is it that a police officer can violate the speed limit and receive no punishment, but turn around and punish me for doing the same thing? Hypocritical? The cop yes, as hypocritical as they come...the law, no. The law is fair, it's the exercised authority where I sense the failure. Next, South Carolina is an at-will, equal opportunity state...so in a nut shell, I've got a shot just like Jose Gonzales and Leroy Jackson do at getting the waiter job at the Chinese restaurant. So we walk in, and all apply for the position, I don't get hired, and I ask why not....The response almost makes me vomit, "well we're looking for someone with experience." I respond, "well then, how do I get experience, because taking mom and dad's plate from the table to the kitchen sink every night probably won't cut it." The likely answer: "Oh, just try back with us later." The true answer: "I'm not sure how you'll ever get experience, unless dad opens a restaurant or asks his friend who does, to give your worthless tail a chance, because I sure won't." So once again, the law is fair, everyone has a fair chance, but the exercised hand can choose how he or she pleases. The same situation applies to building credit. I've gotten it I don't know how many times..."Sorry, we can't approve you for this, you have no credit." the response, "How do I get credit?" then the human applies for a credit card, "Sorry, you're not approved, you have no credit." the response, "Uh, how can I have credit, if not one will let me build." the answer, "Get a co-signer." the question, "Well how did he get credit?" response, "Some other co-signer?" curious response, "well I wonder who the first person was to get the ball rolling." OK, so my point to such scenarios as presented above is to provide proof that on certain levels there are, we'll call them "glitches in the system" or they can be viewed as privileged laws/rules/procedures. So why did I go into such a raving long explosion of words, to say all that? Well, is there an alternative form of living? The answer: Yes. Allow me to explain. For twenty-four sweaty, dirty, love filled months I tarried in the wilderness on the island of Hispaniola, covering the majority of the dirty southern part of land known as the campo of the Dominican Republic. The DR plays by a completely different set of rules in all forms of government, procedure, and even basketball. For example, you will never be pulled over for speeding or ticketed for getting in a wreck with someone, or in any trouble for running a red light. However, you had better not get caught talking on your cell phone, or going down a one-way street the wrong way! Dominicans haven't grasped the idea of agency, like Americans have. Throughout the entire country they've eliminated mass speeding with two things: speed bumps (no one wants to go air born so you've gotta stop) and pot holes. It works for them. I saw several fender benders but never a serious wreck. The police work a little differently too, if the police are after you, no warrant is needed, and if you don't cooperate, odds are you'll get shot. Prison space is limited so they won't hold you forever, but if you keep messing around, you'll answer to death. So down there, you obey the rules (the ones that exist), or you die. Slightly different approach than ours. I've often said to myself, "self, ya know if every time you stole something they chopped off a limb, odds are you wouldn't be stealing after 4 times." "Or hey, if I break the law would I do it again if they shipped me off to a place where no indoor plumbing exists, electricity comes and goes, and the variety of food is limited to vegetable oil, rice, beans, mayonnaise, and infested meat." If that's the way it worked odds are, we've have a lot less rule breakers, thieves, and criminals. So what am I saying? Opposite to what you may be thinking I'm about to say, here's what I have to say. Odds are, if we strengthened/changed several of our rules, procedures, and laws we'd end up being like those under-privileged places. Some changes would make us even better than we already are, but, we have a privileged set-up if you look at the big picture. So where do we get such privileges? I think it's the agency, freedom to break the law without dying that governs our privileges. I think anarchy leads to chaos. Perhaps Land of the Free has more than one meaning. What do you think?

Reader's Response

It has come to my attention that for some reason, people accept things for what they are, deal with it, and modify life to fit its surroundings and find the most acceptable solution to appease them. Sadly, i'm included in this group of people at times. Allow me to illustrate such a phenomena going on right now with gas. Back in my day (pretend the beard on my face is white instead of an auburn color) I remember when gas was under a dollar for a gallon, I remember when I had five dollars and new I could get all the way to columbia in my little tercel. I also remember saying to myself, so gas is going up a little bit, no big deal, even if they go up ten cents here or there, it's a couple of dollars a fill up more, who can't handle a couple of dollars a fill up more? Then out of nowhere I come home from a third-world country and to my surprise, it's turned into a couple of dollars a gallon more! How does this happen? Now Exxon Mobile and alike Misers of this world's companies receive as much from me a month as the Lord, at times more! That ain't right! And that won't ever be right! Why hasn't America opened up bus lines everywhere for all humans in all social classes like the rest of the planet, why haven't all of us put down keys and started walkin?! I'll tell you why, yes I'll tell you. It's because we've all modified our lifestyles to meet the demands of ridiculous, unfair, dishonest, (and the list of offensive verbs could continue) men and women who allow their pockets to fill with hard-earned money (our hard-earned money), because we modified for a handful of unwilling humans. I understand that changing anything is almost impossible, that's why I'm the 'why' not the 'how to' in this out-pouring of emotion. I have an idea of a solution, but I'm just putting it out there, maybe you'll have a solution. Who knows. But keep in mind, we modified for something we don't support. On to the next problem, this one will more than likely turn some heads. Political candidates. Yes, they really are that bad. They are next to gas, oh wait- half of them are the gas sharks. Anyway, when I look at McCain I almost think Democrat, he just doesn't look like a republican, to be honest, he almost doesn't look human given the fact he's 3,000 years old, maybe he's a ghost. Back on track, I studied this ghostly creature closely as the primary began and he seemed to act heavily antagonistic against Mitt Romney, personally, I wanted Mitt to win. I don't want you to confuse him as an opponent, no. This man was a predator. Pardon me, is a predator. He acted as the antagonist to Romney, so naturally I opposed that man who's so old he likely has a social security number of 000-00-0001, I'll go as far to say he may be old enough to prove the New Testament true! Heavens! He may have been one of the 5,000 people who witnessed our Lord's great miracle. Anyway, enough McCain smack, I don't want to give Obama any more ideas who already tossed tough one's at McCain's only bright idea, his running mate. And there's no time to roast on Obama, but to sum it up, he and McCain live on the same floor in my imaginary hall of "really America, tell me this isn't the best you can do." Ok enough of all that, back on track to my point. The point is, thousands of republican enthusiasts/supporters during the primary race, prior to the finalization of McCain's storming walk (with a cain, walker, oxygen or wheelchair) to the whitehouse, were completely against, the dreaded awful McCain---but oh! Out of nowhere, the sky has come out and low and behold, He's our man! Give me a break, I don't care if he's all you've got, please. Seriously. Really?! Good Grief. Once again, several republicans modified their own opinions, to somehow fit into their idea of a good situation. Well, I didn't get all modified, I still think he's a coward and will do anything to please anyone that will in the end: please him. That ain't right! However, his stunningly charming, successful, and beautiful running mate made me start to wonder, should I vote for satan, to inherit this sweet goodness? Nice try lucifer, not gonna happen. Anyway, my point to all this jibber jabber is this: WE TOO OFTEN MODIFY OUR LIVES TO APPEASE OUR TRADITIONAL WAY OF CARRYING OUT LIFE. I quit. No more modify. There's gotta be another way. What do you think?

i had got tagged

Tag

3 Joys:

Loving the Lord
Having a Family
Being a Friend

3 Fears:

Haitian Voo Doo Pratice
Getting a Flat Tire on Bluff Rd. in Columbia
Having someone die while i'm on the phone with them

3 Goals:

Pass all my classes
Go on a 2nd date with someone
Afford gas one day

3 Obsessions/Collections:

A's Baseball
Dominican Things
Spanish

3 Random Surprising Facts about Me

Left handed, but throw frisbee right-handed
Refuse to flush the toilet without the seat and lid down
Confuse the colors green and brown, and blue and black alot.


5 People who are tagged

Kaitlyn
Natalie
Dick Hall
Jahd
The Continent of Asia

Remember that time....

i decided to thieve a beth idea that you stole from someone else and ask people if that had "remember that time's" with me. if i dont remember it, i'm sure will does. iiiiiiiiii remember it! iiiiiiiii remember it! Do you?

note- send memories or whether you want your weight to go up or down, it will do the opposite until you send one.

Disco Lovin

Well the disco suit (props to beth for tayloring the vest to fit my keyhole of a body) was as quality as they come. had there been a costume contest, i'm pretty sure i would've won some sort of prize. anyway, here's some pictures.

check out that disco ball! and i spy ryan in the background.

after dance we went to waffle house and i tried to convince the waitress named robin to give me her visor, but she refused. however, we shot a quick picture with it, think of where that visor has been, sick!

bryant being in love with the disco ball, and rockin 80's attire.

me being way too happy about having a disco ball hangin from my neck

The awesome lady who took a million pictures of me, we = sweaty as ball field kids b/c it was hotter than the devil in that place!

Nicknames

Ever wonder why nicknames are so awesome? i was pondering over such a subject a minute ago, and started drawing sociological theories on my reasons, here's a list...

10. nicknames give a personable connection to relationships.

9. often they're used to describe the person

8. perfect for people who don't like their real name

7. if you're one of those people with a random name that your parents just made up and even they don't know how to spell it and hardly anyone including you can pronounce it. nickname.

6. you can easily get away with calling you sister names like bathtub, goose, or maybe even stinky breath.

5. it gives you opportunities to introduce yourself different ways, b/c let's face it the same on phrase after the millionth time might get old.

4. it's perfect for families who decide to name father and son the same name.

3. it confuses nieces and nephews until they catch on and start answering to them.

2. all important people have more than one name for example: God, Prophet, Dad, Mom, the President. I wonder which one the Lord considers to be His nickname?

1. it gives you a chance to be creative, and give something to someone else and it won't cost you a dime!

Do you have a nickname?

Browndit!

for the bluff st. boys we like brown. we like brown b/c it's twan's color and we love twan. we like brown b/c it looks good on skinny humans. we like brown b/c they sell identical sweater jackets at target that you can buy and wear together. we like brown b/c that's what color our hair is. we like brown! do you?

BOOtah!

Reasons i can't stand utah...

it's one of those words that has two different pronunciations, and either way you say it comes out sounding weird.

it's thieves quality people from your home and keeps 'em for way too long

the teams they play against couldn't compete with mcbee high school sports and yet they still bark about how they outta be in awesome bowl games and such b/c they beat a bunch of smurfs.

it stole liz and aaron.

even when i do decide to pay a visit to the place to see the only thing its got going for it (prophet, apostles, quality church places/things, and the people it hoards away from me) the cost to get out there is about as unfair as my tuition....way too high.

so the next time you about that place out there named 'utah' quickly remind yourself to call it BOOtah, and maybe it will stop all this commotion!

me and liz before you had to leave for BOOtah

me and aaron before he left, along with allison visiting paradise before returning to the other side.

sneak peak

This is a quick preview of what lies ahead for friday night! it's gonna be disco fever for all those lovely ladies...

smurf post

This is my first one of these corn appropriates (posts). i call it a smurf post because it's small and not much to it. and because it's white at the bottom just like smurfs (their socks). Smurfin' it is always good. sometimes, you need some time to realize that being small enough to fit through a key hole, and insignificant enough to most everyone else is exactly what you want. b/c if you're a big deal, even when you're resting you're always at work, and if you can't fit through a key hole you also can't turn sideways and disappear. that's all i've got. smurf out.