With One Headlight...

That's how I've been driving lately, since poor Mr Toad lost an eye the other day. I swear, I never saw a cop in town until I was slinking home after singing, and I managed to cross paths with five! Luckily, it seems they had bigger fish to catch, or just weren't interested in Toads that night, so I made it home without having to break out the license and registration.
I knocked back a grande mocha after dinner last night, in honor of everyone's favourite Barista. It was poor substitute for flesh and bone (not that I would be knocking any of that back - just say no to cannibalism) But we were thinking of you. And with Bam temporarily out of action, the fun seems so much...shorter. With the "shorter is better" canuck off in canuckistan, that didn't do us any good... it's a good thing I had Kasey around to keep me in my place. Wherever you are in this world, I'll see you "next year in Poulsbo."
I tend to introspect, which leads me to extrospect (is that a word? it should be) and my intro/extro-spection has led me to a conclusion about people. In this world, there are those who stand at the shore of the sea, look out, and see the pretty water. Then there are those who look out at the sea, survey all of its raging beauty and power, and cannot control the wonder and longing to know what lies beyond the vanishing point, past the horizon, at the ends of the earth. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it also brought George out of the jungle, to the Man in the Yellow Hat:) I think we are called to be not only a peculiar, but a curious people! Think beyond the surface, into the depths of creation. If you have ever tried to walk through the back of your closet into another world (and secretly believed that maybe, just maybe it would work); if you have ever wondered if there might be a real and magical Secret Garden on the other side of that old knarled fence, or searched for secret passages in your Grandma's living room, leading to who knows what adventures; if you have ever dreamt of wearing a turban or an eagle's feather, or the pith helmet of a british officer battling zulus while you were in math class, of finding deep true love that binds two spirits into one - then may I call you my friend, and fellow sojourner?
I suppose you could call me a romantic, and so I shall remain. But we are spiritual beings, isn't that all a romantic is? There is so much more to life than meets the eye, what fun to find it!

Up From the Grave He Arose!

So the new quarter dawneth on the morrow! My metaphorical sleeves are rolled up (I don't have a shirt on) and I'm ready to deal out some mega hits to the world of academia. School has been going really well lately, and I'm actually looking forward to my next quarter - despite the usual foot-dragging my lazy nature puts up. I won't lie and say things have been easy. In fact, I don't know that I've ever felt my heart and soul squeezed so many ways before in my life. It's always a bitter feeling when you feel that you have been serving God, and then things don't turn out the way you expected them to (Insert reliance on God's vs Russ's plan verse here). But I know that God is using every bit of pain to mold me into the man he desires. It's always so easy to say that- it's another to actually believe it, and live it out! Sometimes I feel that I'm just saying a useless mantra over again and again... But my soul knows the truth of it, and I praise God for that! Then sings my soul... what a beautiful expression of the feeling, I can't sing it anymore without goosebumps! (thanks rest home gang:)
Well, this was a somewhat less than entertaining post I know, but life has many layers- like an ogre, or a parfait. I just follow my muse... It's time for me to hit the rack, there are great things things to be done in the morning!

The Odd Couple

So, the brother and I are getting settled into our new place quiet nicely. We got our cable internet hooked up today, with a wireless network setup. Hurrray!! The dark ages with no connections to the outside world are finally at an end, let the LAN wars begin!
We also went shopping for some of the bare necessities we have been missing; items of vital importance such as a new set of pots and pans, cooking utensils, a chair for Derek's desk, and cookie dough ice cream. Derek and I make a pretty good shopping couple, I must say, as our differences seem to balance against each other well. We were walking along when we simultaneously stopped at the same aisle. As I enthusiastically began looking at the scented candles, I realized Derek was looking at the "cool" filing drawers on the end shelf.
I love to cook, but I really must say it gets old when it's every meal, and you are just cooking for yourself. Despite our best intentions for a grand spaghetti dinner tonight, we were too tired after our shopping journey, and decided to hit up Jack in the Box for some quadruple fat cheeseburgers. If you're gonna be a bachelor, you might as well eat like it right?

Tonight, I close with a brief IM conversation between Derek and I (from our adjacent rooms). We were celebrating the hookup of our internet.
Derek: Alright, it's working!
Russ: indeed, no more need for me to ever come out of my room and actually converse again! You can bring me my food
Derek: Maybe we can alternate nights
Russ: I suppose that would be fair
Derek: Or, we could get one of those Woman things we were talking about earlier, and she could cook AND bring food
Russ: lol
Russ: sounds good
Russ: this goes straight to the ol' blog:-)

Beautiful Ladies everywhere, applications will be rushing in fast, so get yours out ASAP!

The King of Town 

This is my town...

This picture was taken shortly after my coronation as the king of Poulsbo. I rule all of my subjects with a just and gracious hand, remembering the humble weed-whacking roots from which I have risen.

Ok, so it was really taken after I was declared "King Watermelon Seed Spitter" this 4th of July, or speed sitter as I kept inadvertantly saying aftewards. Seriously, try saying it a few times fast. Apparently I can spit seeds, but not words.

With my golden sceptre, I command the melon fields. The end of world hunger will shortly ensue. The charm of the melon that hangs about my neck is a talisman of protection. It shields me from the dark minions of squash that quietly haunt the darkness of Scandia, only waiting for the right moment to glop onto a plate, or sludge into a casserole. And with an effective range of over 45 feet, I puff a black lethal projectile that would make Trogdor shake in his consummate V's! The love and affection which the people hold for me is evident in the flowers and bounty bestowed upon me.

Hmm, I guess being a blow hard is good for something at least:)

I'll be with you in cherry blossom time...

Yes, I know it's supposed to be apple blossom time, but I couldn't help singing it with new lyrics on my way to the library through the quad:)
Spring break thus far has been somewhat bizzare, in a new home, away from my real home, and further away from friends! I'm stuck around here, because I have to work 3 days a week, but I'd really like to spend the time back home in good ol' Poulsbo. Yes, I want to travel the world, and have great adventures. But I really don't think I'll ever be able to go away for too long, before I feel Liberty Bay and the Olympic mountains calling me back home:) I can't wait until this summer, when we have a good crowd of the old crew thundering around, kicking up a cloud of dust on the sunbaked Frisbee field of Raab Park!
Yesterday I spent most of the day with myself, ran some errands, and steam cleaned my room. I fell asleep at about 8:30, reading through an old favourite of mine by Thackeray, the history of Henry Esmond. It was almost a really lonely day, but fortunetely my brother woke me up as he came in the door from his night class. We ended up going for a late night run to Denny's, to celebrate the end of the quarter for both of us. I haven't had so much fun in a long time! We ate our second dinners, swilled down cup after cup of wonderfully strong, semi burnt coffee, and had a good brotherly chat late into the night. I really thank God for my bro! God always manages to see when our hearts are low, and provides a balm when we least expect (and most doubt) it.
Alright, I'm off to work, and then to Poulsbo for the weekend!

Hotel Rwanda

Hey all, I just saw the movie this afternoon, wow, intense is all I can say. I knew about some of the atrocities comitted over there from one of my classes, and about the word game of terminology between "acts of genocide" as opposed to "genocide" which kept the U.N. from doing anything of real help. But visuals are always so powerful, and this was a real gut wrenching tear jerker. If you can sit through that movie without feeling awful and having your eyes at least water, I hope you don't know where I live, and I'm not turning my back on you for even a minute! You would probably sell your granny for a dime for the gumball machine. For the rest of you with hearts, this is a very moving picture, though not one to see for an uplifting experience. How can anyone commit such hideous acts against other human beings? The thought of anyone in the least bit of pain makes me feel terrible, how can human beings sing songs and cheer as they commit the machette mutilations of terrified innocent little kids? The world is sick with sin. Seeing things like Hotel Rwanda really makes my heart ache as a Christian. How can we see, and not act? And yet, the world is so big, how do you really make a change? And we get caught up in the little things... like the reporter says, we see it on the news, say it's horrible, and then go back to eating our dinner. Besides, some people have to be working day to day, as carpenters, lawyers, architects, teachers, and everything else, vital in creating the industry and strong nations like the U.S. that are actually capable of providing help! What does God want us to do? The problems just seem so immense, and we are so small. That, I guess, is where God comes in, and gives us guidance and direction. And thanks be for the beauty and good that does still exist in this world, or it might be too much to bear.
Welp, that's it for this one (holy cow I can ramble!) if you see the movie, let me know what you thought! (or even if you haven't)

What's your frequency Kenneth?

The title means nothing, besides being a good song. As my first post, this should reflect the nature of the monster I intend to create! I was trying to decide if this should be a funny, meaningless blog, or a serious, intellectually stimulating one. Since I am neither of those two things, it will most likely be a failed attempt at both. I have been waiting to start a blog until finals were through....(FINALS ARE THROUGH!!) so here goes nothing, into the wild blue yonder. Stay close, things may get dangeresque!