Indeed, a busy week

  Becky's sister had her wedding this past weekend in the Carolinas. It was beautiful, warm weather and I'm glad to say we brought it back with us for a day or two. Today it's rainy so it must have decided to return to the southern states. Her wedding went very well and was wonderful. It was really great to spend an extended time with Becky and her family as well. I may have been spoiled because it seems twice as hard the past two days not seeing her. We both know that where we are right now is where we need to be though and so we're doing our best to encourage each other as we settle for another time apart.
  The trip home took much longer than the ten hour expectancy. We had to turn around a hundred miles to rescue relatives stranded at a gas station which added two hours to our journey home, then we got stopped for speeding, so by the time they dropped me off an hour from their own homes, at one in the morning, tempers were indeed short. We all got home safely however and that is important.
  Becky enjoyed spending the time with her sisters getting everything ready. I had fun playing with two of the groom's smaller relatives - they kidnapped me from Becky I'm afraid. Then the wedding came and since it was the first of the sisters to get married it was a unique experience for the family. I'm glad to have been there though.

  The other day I got to work at eight and there was a delivery truck I hadn't expected. I had forgotten that we're on a new time table with the delivery company. So I quick got everything in... only to find out I wasn't supposed to be there anyway until noon. But if I hadn't been there we might've missed the truck. So it's interesting how everything works out I believe for the better.
  And I know that this is the case with Becky and I being far apart. It will make us stronger in the end.
  Fortunately no truck orders have besieged me again. I am closing tonight and am about to get prepared to work.

  My best mate, Mike, is expecting a baby girl in the autumn. I am excited to hear that and I know that he will make a good father. I haven't seen him in two or three years and I'm hoping for an opportunity this summer to meet up with him and his new family.

A busy weekend

  I have survived one of the busiest weekends my Pizza Hut's had in a long time. The best part is I was managing during those days. If it wasn't for Gary and Stephen, two of the other managers, and Scott and Alan, the RGMs there is absolutely no way I could have made it through. Those guys are amazing and I appreciate the support from everyone on the management team at the Hut!
  This will certainly be an unique challenge for me. I knew that going in. But like we've been joking, "if I can survive this weekend, I can survive anything". It was absolutely hectic. Managed to get through it and I'm off today. I'm getting all of my things together at my new flat on Maple street and hoping to spend some time with my dad and brothers this afternoon or evening taking a few of my furniture pieces I've had in storage over and then play some games with them.

  On a random note, I wrote the following the other night when I had major insomnia.
   "I want to write and be creative and imaginative. But it seems like I'm afraid of writing or I feel like I'm not longer able to explore my imagination. I can't figure it out why I'm having such a hard time enjoying the writing and getting into it. I keep stopping myself. I have the desire to write but it's like I've lost my passion for it. Or my ability to use my imagination.
  Is it possible to loose your creativity? I get excited with my story but when it comes down to writing it it's like I can't begin."

  I've been having some trouble with my writing lately. Maybe it's just the stress of a new position and getting used to it. And being away from those I care about. I'm doing my best to carry on but there are some days when that is difficult.
  I can't wait for Tuesday night! Once I'm finished my double at the Hut tomorrow, I'll be traveling to Becky's so that in the morning her, myself, her sister, and her sister's fiancée, will be driving down to South Carolina for Becky's oldest sister's wedding. I am greatly anticipating these next few days I'll get to spend with Becky and her family! You'll be the first to know how the wedding goes.

A New Direction

It has been a long time since my last post. I desire to return to this blog more and will attempt to provide you with more current information on how things are going for me.

My girlfriend, Becky, and I are doing very well. She continually reminds me of just how important in vital to my life she really is. Her constant voice in my ear, encouraging and supporting me in ways I never knew possible, is the proof that she is an amazing individual and a remarkable woman. I look forward to the day when we can be together more than a few hours every couple weeks. Right now my present work has had me move from the Philadelphia area into central Pennsylvania.

I have finished management training for Pizza Hut and was planning on taking my first shift this week. However it's been discovered there is yet another set of paperwork keeping me from my promotion. It would have been nice to have known about this and having it taken care of the area coach for our region would have signed off on my promotion. I'm confident that this will quickly be completed and I will be able to test myself with this new assignment.

Management at the Hut wasn't exactly what I had foreseen a year or two ago. I am looking forward to this challenge though and believe that this will be an excellent experience for me. It was be fun to work with people whom I've worked with the past five years. My general manager has been transferred to another store nearby to prepare it for the summer months and try to get its sales up to the level he has made my store to be. So our store is going to be in a decent amount of transition for a while, but I am confident that the team is well trained and able to gracefully continue their work.

I just realized keeping a mobile phone in the heat is a bad idea...

As I write this I am working on scholarships for the Philadelphia Film Connection which has a branch near the area that I will be attending, hopefully very soon. At the same time here, I am letting my electric company know to switch my name onto the roster for a flat on Maple street I'm leasing in three days. I am excited for my own place; ever since school I've been dependent again on others' hospitality. It's near the Hut too and that will aid with transportation costs. For a while I had been commuting from Philadelphia to central PA to work and have in the past month and two weeks returned to this area, going from two jobs to just pizza hut, in preparation for management when my GM transferred. Actually, today is his first day at the new store.

Becky's sister is getting married in the state of South Carolina and I and their family will be driving down next Wednesday for her wedding. I'm really looking forward to spending that time with her and her family. Once I return hopefully all will be ready for management. And then it's straight sailing until Creation 2011.; 'm planning on going this year and working with the hams. Otherwise, I want to work for Scott, my new RGM at the Hut, with dedication and show him I can be relied upon.

The only other post note is that I am in a band. Myself, a guy I worked with at Sodexo, and two other friends from the school get together once a month and have a lot of fun. It's great when you get one of your songs stuck in your head while you're at work... it makes you hope others who hear it will. Weither we are highly successful with it or not isn't really an issue for me. I'm doing it to enjoy spending some time with these great guys and enjoying the creative process.

And I get to drum again, bother in the band and at my church. Becky was here this past weekend actually and was able to sing with us on the worship team. That was fantastic; she did a great job!

Today I have off before an extended work schedule this week going into Sunday. I am therefore at the library trying to get some work done while listening to the car radio. I'm about to head out to a few places in town and prepare to move into my new place. It'll be an eventful week. I'll try and let you be the first to know of anything interesting that occurs.

The past weekend

  The past weekend has been wonderful. My girlfriend's parents and mine met for the first time since we began dating ten months ago. They took to each other well and we are both glad that our parents get along nicely. It is encouraging to know.
  This past weekend was also a different sort for me; not just the parents meeting. Thursday and Friday were awesome pizza making days! You may not think it would be very exciting; but when you're prepared with your things and have great ideas in mind, and things just flow nicely, it is amazing the excitement that you find when you know the students really enjoy what you are making for them. It is very encouraging to really get into my job. It's not every day I enjoy going to work. I do enjoy seeing everyone, but I still feel disconnected a times and other times I really do not enjoy my job. I want badly to get into media but no one is willing to take someone on who has non-college experience and drive to do well in it. Two things have gone well this past weekend in that regard.
  The Salvation Army opened up a new community Center in Philadelphia and for Saturday and Sunday I drove to the city and participated in the dedication ceremonies as their lighting technician. The building is smaller than I imagined but it is no less impressive; it will serve the Philadelphia area well. As for working there, at this point there probably wouldn't be a lot for me to do media wise. Another opportunity has presented itself - one that seems quite promising. The father of a piano student my mother teaches works for a Lancaster-local television station, going to sports events and such and covering it, and I am looking into working beside him.
  I am very hopeful for this and if something comes of it you'll be the first to know!

Autumn break has come to an end

  Good day to family, friends, and any readers.

 This week has been a good one for myself and I also hope for you as well. Over the weekend the college let out for four days during the Autumn Break, and on that Sunday my girlfriend and her best friends and I double dated to the Renaissance Faire. That was a whole lot of fun – I love the costumes and the interactive actors and the ambiance of the Faire.
   As I sit here in the center courtyard of the college this evening composing this letter the air is beginning to cool as the activity on campus is beginning to slow down into a quiet evening. A duo of girlfriends talking outside the library, a media major and his friend quietly shooting with a camera and their Mac Pro, a group of guys walking back to the outer dorms after the football game that just ended (I’m afraid we lost to Penn State this round).
   One of my good friends John is walking by headed towards the library. He’s a great guy; a fantastically dutiful student and a wickedly good Uno player. Another student who laments across to his media friends about what to write his twelve page essay on. Life is going on here at the university and, while I’m not a part of it in the scholarly world at this time, it is good to still be in such an atmosphere. Truly a remarkable college – from the president who is personal and approachable yet still maintains his position of authority very well, to the graceful friendliness of the students and faculty and the awesome morning programs; even just the jazz music you hear upon entering the warm and inviting student center – it’s easy to feel like home here. When I visited this school along with others like Full Sail in Florida and Liberty in Virginia, their atmosphere and sense of uniqueness did not quite measure up to this school’s character.
   As I wrote before, the past several days have been good. I have adjusted well into life at the home of the people I am staying with and at work. I would still like to find a second, part-time job for the afternoons once I am finished with working at the school’s caf. This is the time for me to save up on as much money as possible and a second job will greatly help increase my savings.
   I anticipate life to begin to settle into some degree of normality now.

   I would like to write today briefly on two subjects. Something I noticed today at the college game was a lack of respect for who certain members of our own spectators had towards the opposing players, the referee, and the school for which they represented. I am noticing in myself that I am starting to become more vocal when I am internally urged to vocally oppose something when I see a wrong. I didn’t too much yet I am seeing myself growing in this area.
   We have to be careful and mindful and respectful of representing ourselves. If we choose that representing ourselves in such a way that we may damage or harm the integrity or name of those we are also associated with is okay, what does that further say about our own integrity and character? For example a mini discussion was raised that not everyone going to a religiously instituted university such as ours are going to follow that faith. And I agree and believe that anyone who wouldn’t consider this would be blind to the fact that there aren’t going to be people who believe in everything you believe in even though they attend such a school. They may have made their choice in schooling based on the curriculum or their friends.
   However, even though you may not necessarily care to believe or even represent yourself in such a manner as befits such beliefs, when you signed onto the university or the job you hold, you still represent that institution, regardless of your personal beliefs or feelings, and I believe that we should conduct ourselves in such conduct.   Consider this and remind those around you – young or old – that what they do, what they say, and how they do these things says a lot first about who they are, and second about what institutions and people associated with them are like. What you do affects those who know you too and that you’re involved with; not just own reflection.
   My grandmother recommended from a recent Facebook post that I could make a few comments on a question I posed, and I agree that this would be an excellent topic to carry onto the blog. I do not know how far this will take us and I only represent my own linear thought processes as we carry into this a short ways.   The question is related to the question of the ‘disorder’ currently named Multiple Personality Disorder. As I was watching a slightly older (most likely made in the early 90s) documentary on it (check out my Facebook for the link) I thought of the question “is it a real personal disorder or is it truly spiritual warfare and part of what the Christian Bible refers to as demon possession and related references?”. And also: “when this is not the case, how many people claim to have it to use it purely as an excuse for their past and future actions?”. (I personally can’t stand the ‘insanity’ claim in court cases.)
   My grandmother wrote that much of it probably has its roots as a spiritual problem and then develops into a personality or psychological disorder. I have to ask though that isn’t that perhaps what any psychological problem is (spiritual warfare)? And wouldn’t the problem beginning in spiritual warfare always be spiritual warfare; why would the spiritual element leave if it’s doing the job right? It would still be a spiritual issue and I agree with her that the root of the problem has to be dealt with. Otherwise ‘conventional’ psychology will not be effective.
   Why do ‘clean’ patients return to the problems that had them committed? They fall right back for the same spiritual forces that had them originally, in my opinion. Without dealing with the spiritual side in the right way anyone cannot be free.
   Into what beliefs do we put our trust into? Continual suffering that we know is there and won’t do anything about, or constant contentment, knowing that our troubles are taken care of and we are safe?

    As I go into this new week I’ll be pondering these issues. I invite your own questions and also ideas for me to ponder in this blog. I’m also going into this next fortnight looking forward to getting a lot accomplished at my home away from home, delving back into my creative writing which has been on the back burner recently, and planning a lot more time hanging out with my siblings. The men’s meeting I went to at my church last night talked about a certain issue which is related to family and I will also definitely be pondering in my heart a lot about that as well. I really want to get more involved with my family back home. While I am enjoying and need to be reaching out and beginning a life outside of home I still desire a place to come back to with people I know and love.
   I miss you all! I hope that everybody who’s reading this will also be having a wonderful evening and a great week. If I hear of any times that I am heading home (certainly the first Sunday of each month), you’ll be the first to know!
   Cheers!

Standing Out

  You can't help but notice certain people. I'll take the college as a prime example. There are about a thousand students enrolled; how could you possibly know everybody. But there are some people whom you just take notice to. They may not even know who you are, but their presence is a constant reminder of the wonderful community around you and how comforting it is to see the constant contact with those excellent people and friends with whom you begin to form friendships with.

  Why do we notice these certain people - what does our mind see that picks them out from a crowd? You can't help but take their presence and form them into your idea of what the college life is. There are certain people who a really friendly and greet you with a smile in the lunch line every day. There're people you simply notice but have no idea what their first name is. And then of course you have the outgoing personalities whom everybody loves and respects. And there are those from last year who have graduated and are moving on in their present lives.

  You miss a particular laugh that everybody recognizes, a hug that you always received from that really nice lady, or a smile just from a random person walking by that really changes your daily mood for the better. But then you look and see that everything happens at its time. I tend to take joy in that; in the warm memory of friends past, in the joyous revelry of what is current, and in the wonderful anticipation of joys and laughs to come - all with your family and friends.

  In my opinion the more people you know and are involved with, the richer your life will be.

  Forming really close relationships are also extremely special. I was very caught the other night as I was re-watching the third Lord of the Rings movie. At the very end, exhausted best friends find the courage and ability to encourage the other to keep moving. And in the end, when one couldn't carry on any longer, the one takes a stand and goes the extra mile. "I can't carry it for you," he realizes. But what he says next is even more precious. "But I can carry you!"

  It strikes me as amazing the ability - and the great blessing - God has given us to form such deep bonds of fellowship with those around us. Contact with old friends or pen pals, calls from a relative, and a chance meeting of friends push and drive us into the unknown wonder that is the Lord's plan for our lives. And the great thing about it is, in His Word, we're all the first to know it...

  ...Now, who will be the first to truly accept His love?

  Stand out. Believe. Continue to make your story.

Family Time

  What traditions do you have that remind you of family? Sunday afternoon conversations between adults while children played together? The Sunday afternoon football game? Dinner around the table? Perhaps having your family come to see you while playing your sport or producing a school play? Did you all gather around for a good game of family Phase 10 or would you all only get together during holidays when extended family came for a visit?
  What values did these bring to our lives, and the lives of our family? Did you find a certain atmosphere that you noticed as you grew older; did you keep those for your own family or did you invent new ones?
  What family traditions are worth keeping and holding onto as our countries shift our focuses from family-oriented to community-oriented? Perhaps this was inevitable as two things happened. One, our population grew so much that instead of a town or village where everyone knew everybody we now have more people than possible for that anymore. Two, with the development of technology our lives have gotten so much more fast paced. We no longer place priority with our families. At least, that is the general feeling that we are beginning to be told. Everyone for themselves. Is this what caused all the other empires to fall? Overpopulation and development of resources and technology beyond what the family structure could endure?
  Will we suffer from attrition because of our increasing lack of moral standards and lack of family togetherness?
  I know I really enjoyed my childhood. I have so many memories and as my girlfriend and I sat today and recalled some of those fond memories, I only hope and sincerely pray that I will be able to provide those same kinds of experiences for my eventual children.
  Make sure you make time for your family and those closest to you. Without their presence in our lives - and likewise our presence in their own, in a meaningful way - we'll be the first to know when we look up and realize we may have isolated ourselves.
  Don't be the first to know. Find someone whom you love; gather your family - and spend some time together. Don't hesitate.