Nonsense, Drivel, and Balderdash

I am sitting in MY room here in Madrid, Spain. It is a beautiful day. The skies are clear and the temperature is cool, but not cold. The cold comes later in the day, and at night. It is a welcome change from the constant frigidity of the northeast. I was looking forward to coming back to Madrid for Christmas, but I forgot how beautiful it was. The sun goes down, but everyone is still going to and fro; the streets are alive with people. Eager, and somewhat desperate, shoppers bounce from store to store. The masses of bundled families circulate around the downtown section of the city eating, drinking, and being merry. Churros are dipped in mugs of thick chocolate, as people down their strong spanish coffee. Unlike the US, in spain Christmas day is still a religious holiday; since presents are given out on epiphany (Jan 6). There are few santas around, and wise men are more common. This is the Christmas I like. No plastic "frosty the snowmen" on front lawns, no empty songs about...

Yes my friends, I am still here. Despite what my recent amount of posting has shown; I am alive and kicking. What am I kicking? The dog of course. But that is beyond the point. Christmas day has come and gone here in sunny spain. My cousins were here for a week and that was a great privilege. They used to live in Spain 8 years ago, before they moved to the USA. It was the first time that they had been back to the motherland and it was fun to see them enjoy the fine pleasures of this beautiful country. There were 3 of them: Andrew, who is 24 and is a bon a fide artist. Caroline, who is 21 and is studying psychology at the University of Santa Cruz (or somewhere in california). And Bethany, who is 18 and is doing something with her life. It was marvelous to have them all here. We were also blessed to have my friend Kenny's family over for a couple of days. They are full of energy and kept the house lively. I have not seen a family that likes to play games as much as them. I think they...

Well, it is 8:30 in the morning. I have been up for two hours now. I got up early to study for international relations, my final is at 10:30. I got a really bad grade on the midterm, so I am hoping that I will do better now. I got a B on my paper, which is good in that class. After this final exam I will be done with all my tests and classes for this semester. This evening I have an "RA time" before we all leave to go home tomorrow. I have gotten to know my staff pretty well during the last couple of months. There are still people that I relate more to, or whose personality matches mine; but on a whole, I dont have any complaints about my staff. At the start of the year I sort of dreaded RA meetings, but now I enjoy them. I am really looking forward to going home tomorrow. I will try to get "bumped" if the flight is overbooked. They give you a little cash and put you up in a hotel, it isn't a bad deal. I am ready to get home, but if they offer enough moolah, the...

It is 12:20 at night. Upstairs people are serving themselves pancakes, taking a break from studying for finals. Further upstairs, a girl lost a part of herself tonight. Her brother died. I do not know her well, but I do know her. She is a nice girl. She is pretty and has a great sense of humor. She has a lot of friends. However; tonight, she probably feels like she has nothing at all. Yet, I suppose I should not presume to know how she feels. I know how I feel though. My heart feels heavy. I would cry if I could, but the tears never come. My eyes have moistened up several times, but I have never cried. I wish I could. To lose someone so close... my heart reaches out to her. Right now, only my heart does so. What does one say to someone who has lost somthing so valuable? Words seem empty, and letters mundane. A cold hug from a stranger is the last thing someone needs. So I sit here in my room, trying to shed some tears... for her.

I just figured out how to show pictures on my blog. Here is a picture of me with my fro. That is for all of you that are wondering what the heck I look like now. This should be cool. I will try to get a hold of some pictures of the campus under snow.

Right when you think you are starting to fit in, and feel at home, something happens to remind you that you are and always will be an outsider. I was going through my friends' blogs; reading what they had written. Then I thought to myself, "I wonder if there are any other MK's (missionary kids) from spain that have blogs?" So I embarked on a search to find out. I think I DID find one kid, that I didn't know, but for the most part my search came up with no good results. So I tried to find blogs by MK's in other places. I dont know why I did it, but I did. I found a couple, but it was pretty ridiculous, cause I had never met them and I did not know what they were talking about. However I read this post by a girl who goes by the name of " Mary Margarine " and she said something that caught my eye: (there's something about a whole bunch of MK's together that just can't be duplicated. It's like we understand each other without saying a wor...

The storm has come and gone, and left the landscape painted white. The trees are coated with thick ice, and the once red roofs are now covered with a thick layer of waxen, frigid dust. What was green a week ago, now shines silver under the moonlight. The ghostly wind that once beat against my walls, has left the world looking alien and foreign. Smooth sculptures of alabaster litter doorsteps, roofs and streets. Curls and waves on the drifting snow, reminding me of a burtonesque movie set. Winter has shown us its full power, reminding us to stay humble. Now, the unyielding storm has moved on to crush another unsuspecting town. The sun is shining, making me squint when I look over the immaculate landscape of ice and snow. It shines down apon our frosted world, warming our hearts; while our noses still freeze with the unwelcoming winter wind. It started snowing at 11 PM on friday. It stopped snowing last night around 8 PM. We have gotten over two feet of snow in most places, and it reache...

Today one of the people that I admired most has left this world, and gone to be with God. His name was John Garlock, and he was one of the people that has had a great impact on my life. Looking back on my life, and the times and ways that he crossed it, I can see that I would not be who I am today, if it were not for John. He has been, and always will be one of my favorite speakers. An expert in cross-cultural communications, he taught at Christ for the Nations bible school, in Dallas TX. He was one of my parents instructors when they went were preparing for missions. My first recollection of John is me sitting in the back of our old Ford Sierra station wagon, traveling on a journey up from the south of Spain. We were listening to some annoying children's tapes, when my parents decided that it was time to listen to something better. They put in a preaching tape, and I was disgusted. They asked me to give it a chance and I did. I must have been no older than eight, but I was enchant...

I was walking around campus and I thought, "I am going to watch a movie." After all, it is the only thing to do when you have at least a foot of snow on the ground and are in the middle of a snow storm. So, as my ears and nose started to go numb, I tried to decide what kind of movie I was in the mood for. I didn't feel like a comedy, or an action flick. I wanted something with more emotional depth, but did not feel like a drama. Then it hit me. I want something that doesn't exist. I wanted a movie about love. You are probably thinking, there are many movies about love. Yes. But they are all for women. Now, before you crucify me for being sexist or insinsetive, hear me out. All romance movies are geared towards women. The title "chick flick" is not ill-named. I would bet money on the fact that when a movie labeled as "romance" is in the theater, 80% of the people that see it are women. The 20% of guys that go to those movies are dragged there by the...

I remember reading about these in junior high somewhere: they are called prince rupert drops , and are a kind of glass formation. Really interesting stuff. They contributed to the creation of the tempered glass we know today.

Do you ever get that feeling in the middle of the night, where you are possessed by an emotion so strong, that you cannot help but to try to express yourself? It is almost one in the morning, and I am sitting at my computer. The dim glow of the screen bathes me in its pale light, as my feelings try to form themselves into thoughts. My emotions sit chained inside me. Then suddenly, as if hearing their master's call, they rise up expectantly. The tension rises and I can feel them watching my every move, waiting for the moment when they can be free. That moment does not come. My emotions tug at their chain, like a guard-dog in a junkyard, hoping that their bondage will suddenly give, and they will break free. I sit and watch them from across the way. I gaze sadly at them, knowing that they long to fly. Then the unexpected happens. The chain snaps and the mighty beast is free. Inside me, it races from my heart to my mind. It is a blur of motion; a whirlwind of passion, lifting the dust...

Heh, heh, if a lot of swearing doesnt offend you, then you will probably think that this cartoon is pretty funny, otherwise, you will be offended. They swear a lot, but I think it is pretty funny.

I am mad dazed and confused. I just got out of choir practice... the dress rehearsal fo our big Christmas Gala this weekend. It was a four hour long rehearsal. I want to die. So now, I am sitting in my chair... with Led Zeppelin blasting... trying to relax for a bit...

Well, it has finally happened. I am here, and outside of my window there is snow. Not much, just an inch or so, but it doesn't look like it is going anywhere. It is -9 degrees celcius... and it isn't so strange considering that we are in december. However, yesterday it was about 18 or so degrees outside. Nice and warm, I was in a long sleeved T-shirt. Not now... well, I only have to put up with it for a couple of weeks... It seems that I have incited the Blogg revolution. I started a blogger account this summer, and now about 8 people have started one. The only person that I think had a blog before me is Chris, and I DID start one last summer, but it sucked. I had been planning on starting one again for a while now. Daniel might have had one before me too... I'm not sure. But they are on live journal, and it is a little different. I am really looking forward to going home for Christmas. I am excited to get back, but I am not homesick really. So that is good. I have 2 more ...

1 John 2:9 I was reading this passage and it struck me how cosmic Love is. The innate power that is within Love is amazing. Love goes against everything that our own human nature stands for. If we were scared and about to die, our natural reaction would be to run. The pack runs away from the hunter, hoping that the slowest one will get eaten, giving the rest time to escape. What force can be so strong that it will make someone wait behind and get taken, in order for the rest to escape? Only Love. In death there is no recompense, and yet many have taken death to save those that they love. Love keeps our heads on straight. They say "love is blind", but hate blinds us more. When we love our brother, we are not walking in a haze of hate. These verses warn us about hate and tell us that hate is not from God. We cannot say that we love God and hate our brother. How many times have we heard this verse said to us, and yet we still hate. Everyone hates. I realize now that hate is not ...

Well, I am cursed. Every time I try to take a trip somewhere, something happens. I spend so much time in airports and train stations I cant believe it. I should get a job a janitor for public transportation, I may as well get paid for all the time I spend in those places. But I digress... My time in Florida was a good one. Real chill. Many movies, much chill time, much time spent annoying the heck out of Jen, , but mostly I spent my time hoping that the newlyweds weren’t fulfilling their conjugal duties.... ejem ejem... By the way, Jen did a good job with Thanksgiving dinner. Oh, did I mention that I saw some sting rays? Yeah, it was a highlight of my week. I had never seen those things. And you all know what I am like with cool nature stuff like that.... There were a whole bunch of them. They came up to the shore when the water was calm. They came in a big group, looking like a flock of underwater birds, gliding in the shallows. Overall coolness factor: 9 Anyway, once I left Florida,...

Land of old people, bad drivers and nude beaches. And I have seen all three... except the nude beaches. I am in the house of Charles and Jen William, two good friends of mine from high school. Charles had a hernia operation last week, which means that he walks like if he has a bad case of the hemorrhoids... Yeah, we cant really play soccer or go sky diving right now, but I don't give a rip, 'cause I cant play sports and I hate heights. So we have just been hanging out, watching movies and stuff. By the way, if you have never seen "The Jerk," I suggest you see it. It is really funny. So I will be spending thanksgiving here tomorrow. It will be a little strange not spending it with a family. Well, I guess that they are a family in a way... but not really. Kids are a prerequisite for a family. Or not. I dont care. I am entitled to my strange opinions. Either way, I am happy to be here, it is nice to be with Charles. I had'nt seen him for about a year now.

Well, here I am. Sitting at my computer again, typing out another meaningless piece of cyber-tripe. But that is the appeal of this blog, is it not? Well, I have had to do 5 1/2 projects in the last 5 school days. I had to write an idea for a screen play. Thisconsisted of a synopsis of the story... 4 pages. And a scene written out (3 pages). It was a lot of work, but it was also kind of fun. I had to do the rough draft for last wednesday, and then I handed in the final on friday (1 1/2 Projects). Then I had to give a class presentation on thursday. It was about the portrayal of media in the book A BRAVE NEW WORLD. It also was an enjoyable assingment, and I had forgotten how good that book is. But it was a long and arduous job of slowly reading, and analyzing. Oh and 3 pages of writing. Then I had to do about 7 pages of writing to hand in class today... And tomorrow I have to hand in a one page reflexion of the presenation I did on thursday. Tomorrow I have to hand in a research paper ab...

Yesterday I played trumpet at a semi formal dinner with a group of friends. We played for this dinner that was to be the final event in for a conference that was held here at Gordon. Again, I suprised myself, and I played quite well, especially toward the end. I really need to keep playing. Today I went for a walk in the woods once again. It had been quite a while since I had done so, at least a week. The weather has not been kind up here, and the rain had not allowed me to go for my walk without coming back to my room soaked and shivering. Fortunately, today the sun was shining and the cold was not as visceral as usual. So I walked around the pond. I felt like I was seeing an old friend who I had not seen in years. The forest that I once knew had aged. The change of seasons has stripped my woods of its leafy clothing and left only a wooden frame. It was interesting to see a place which I once knew very well looking so different. The places which were dense with folliage were now easy ...

Well, for the first time in over a year I took my trumpet out of its case and I jammed. Yes it is true. I had taken it out and played some scales a couple of months ago, but lets face it, I stunk really bad. I have kept wanting to play regularly, but after that discouraging practice session, I didnt ever get motivated to do it. Tonight I was reminded why I love music. My friend Alex, and two other friends from ISO (International Student Organization), Jonathan (from Costa Rica) and Joel (from Brazil), were asked to put together some music for the upcoming multicultural conference that is going to be held at Gordon this weekend. They said that they would play for a dinner on saturday night. They realized that they needed some more instruments and so they recruited Brian (who plays the upright bass and is Alex's roomate), and asked if I could play the trumpet. I was skeptical, for I have not touched the thing for over a year and from what I had seen, my skills were greatly diminished...

OK, I love movies and music so here are my recomendations for the day: "Los Lunes al Sol": Known in english as "Mondays in the Sun", this is one of the best movies I have seen all year. Bardem does an oscar winning performance, I dont know why this isn't the spanish entry for the best foreign film. Whatever, some people dont know what they are talking about (not me of course, I am a genius)... It is a film about some unemployed men in northern spain. It is apt for anyone really, but it isnt a kids movie, its a drama, kind of heavy one (well, light for spain, heavy for most anyone else), but really really good. It was released in the US, so you can probably find it in Blockbuster in a couple of months. Starflyer 59 "Old": This CD is so friggin good. You dont understand how good it is. The whole thing plays like one giant mood. It is excellent. More melodic than their older stuff, but it is still as good as anything they have ever put out.

First of all, I would like to say hi to all of you who read this blog when they should be doing their work... melissa .... Now to daily news with Ryan: I set up my classes for next semester. They should all be good. I have not changed my major yet, but I did talk to my advisor about it and she was very understanding. She is very nice. I think I am going to change to.... ... English major, French minor, Communications minor. Olé! Yes, that should be good. English can take you around the world... I know third world countries are always looking for english teachers and professors. Also, It provides a major where I can express myself.... which is essential. No desk jobs, where you have to kiss your bosses rear end to get somewhere in life. Nope. I guess if I am going to be an english major.... I will have to learn how to spell and all of that... Bummer, now that the French is also mingling with the Spanish and English... spelling is at an all time low... thank God for spellcheck.

OK... This week has been rather... well, how to say it... depressing? I can deal with external stress, but internal stress really gets to me. The internal stress is that which relates to my self. The "who am I"'s and the "where am I going"s, those are the ones that kill me. I was so sure of what I was doing with myself and where I was going; until two weeks ago... Then the whole purpose of my life slowly started unraveling. "Why am I here?" became the theme-song of last week, this week was "Why should I go on?" Right now I am just wondering what the next step is, but when your goals have been eradicated, then your motivation is wiped away as well. So I was feeling blue. And alone. My RA staff tried to help, and it did some. I must say that I am doing better today that I was on monday. Unfortunately, I was still sad. I went to see "West Side Story" at a local theater this afternoon, and that was fun (even if it was kind of crappy...)...

My butt is cold. It really is. I must have been sitting here for hours now. I hate sitting on the ground, where get my pants dusty and dirty. I am not even doing anything worth doing. I am just sitting; legs crossed, with my chin resting in my hands. The sun is no longer warming me overhead, but it is sitting on the western mountains on the horizon. If I stay here any longer, my butt wont be the only thing that is cold. I am not even going to bother turning around again. I have looked behind me at least twenty times today, and nothing has changed. I know that there is a straight road that leads back to where I started. Where did I start? I can't really remember, but I don't feel like going back there anyway. It isnt like I can go back. I must continue forward, but... This crossroads has me paralyzed. Yes, the crossroads is depressing the hell out of me. There are at least five roads in front of me, and none of them are straight. Actually, it looks like many of them are winding....

Someone sent me one of those emails where you are supposed to talk about yourself or whatever... I didnt feel like sending one out to everyone, but I guess I will answer some of the questions here.... 1. What time is it? 3:48pm 3. Nickname(s): Spaniard, Spain, "Spainy", Powerhouse,"the hair"... people up here love the whole nickname thing.... 4. Number of candles on your last birthday cake: 20 6. Hair color: dark blonde, or as we call it in the hairstyle buisness "Dusty and boring" 7. Piercing: eyebrow 9. How do you like your job? Being an RA is cool, but it is not really a job, because real jobs are supposed to PAY you decent wages.... 10. Home town: Ciudad Real, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. 11. Current Residence: Wenham MA, home of Gordon College. 12. Favorite Food(s): Meat. Seafood. Spanish food. Italian. OK, basically anything that contains some piece of dead animal. 13. Been to Africa? Only morrocco, I still have to go to mozambique with Kenny. 14. Bee...

"This Guy rocks" . You want some tough action. This icelandic man is friggin cool

Now I just got this email from an old friend in a Jazz/Funk band that I used to be in. He says that him and his friends (who are still in the band) have gotten a manager and are getting ready to record. They are writing new songs, and are practicing like crazy for the recording sometime in January. They all sat down and talked seriously yesterday. They all decided to call me back to spain to be the lead singer. Geez, I would so love to...but promises hold me here. I have committed to being an RA for a year. And I promised my mom that I would finish college (she knows me too well, if I hadnt made that promise... I might never finish,haha). They even put: "We love you" at the end of the email. How do you like that for emotional manipulation....

Geez, right when you think your life is figured out, fate throws you a curveball. When I arrived at college, I was planning on graduating from Gordon with a Communications Degree, and a focus on film. My advisor, who is the head of the media departament, seemed cool. She used to be involved in the film world, and I was happy. I was planning on buying a digital videocamera, and going to film school next summer. Then by the time I graduated, I would have had practical film instruction, and theoretical teaching as well. Well, several things happened. One was that at Gordon the filmaking classes got cancelled because they lost the funding for a film program. Great. That stinks. But then when my chances of getting a film school experience got squelched earlier this week... It left me wondering what I was going to do. As I told you, about a week ago or so, I did a personality test, which made me reflect on the way I am how I think and what I love. I am the kind of guy who likes to sit in his...

Last year in class, we were talking about the way we classify music. We have levels of beauty and perfection. Why is one piece of music considered sublime, and another, even if similar style and form, is considered mediocre and not as beautiful. And yet, we can get a piece of african drumming and also have to admit its beauty. Where is the beauty? What makes the piece beautiful. What path leads to absolute beauty? Our western mindset has set absolute beauty set up as an intangible mold which we, as artists, are always striving to fill. We think that if we fill the box which is "absolute beauty", and meet its requirements, we will make a masterpiece. My view is oposite though. I believe beauty is all around us, and in our creations. We dont attain absolute beauty by filling the mold. We attain absolute beauty by creating the mold in which beauty, as an intangible essence, is to fill. Beauty is not rigid. If so, then both a rembrant and a pollock, or a mozart and a native ameri...

This morning I got up early and went for a walk. It was nice, except that it was really cold. I almost had a confiding when I stepped outside and everything was white. I was relieved to find out that it wasn't snow, but it was ice and frost all over everything. Yesterday I heard that they got snow up in Acadia (in Maine). They have mountains and stuff, and it IS quite a bit north of here but still... Winter is coming. On another note, last week we did the Myers Briggs personality test with the rest of the RA staff. It was interesting, I did it in high school (3 years ago) and I was an ENTP (extroverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Perceiving). This time I was INFP (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, perceiving). I took it again a couple of days ago, to see if it was a fluke, but I got INFP again. I guess personalities change huh? I definitely notice that I am not the same person I was a year ago, much less 3 years ago. I am a better person now I hope. Keirsey, a psychoanalyst describes the ...

How is everything today my new readers? Welcome to the insane asylum of thoughts, the badlands of ideas... in essence, welcome to a little reflection of my mind. The other day we had a massive wind blow through this area. I don't know where it came from, or where it went, but for one day it rocked the north shore of Massachusetts to its very marrow. The air was cool, but the wind gave it a biting edge. Even though the sky was fairly clear, everyone was indoors. Outside, everything was in motion. The trees were bent and swaying, and the grass was undulating and the gusts of air sped over the surface or the green lawns. In the heavens, the clouds were soaring through the sky, creating shadows that made shadows and shapes on the ground beneath it. I was slightly sad to see that the colored autumn leaves, which I had waited so long to see, were getting pulled off their branches and blown away. The leaves were not the only thing to get blown away. The pine needles lay all around the gia...

I dont know why but, I have been getting into poetry these past few weeks. I have really enjoyed reading it on my own. I need to memorize more poems. I think that it would be really great to have more poems committed to memory. Right now I am working on short ones that sort of go with themes that I like (nature, autumn, change, etc). I memorized Juan Ramón Jimenez's "Octubre" and today I am working on Robert Frost's "Acquainted with the night": I have been one acquainted with the night. I have walked out in rain—and back in rain. I have outwalked the furthest city light. I have looked down the saddest city lane. I have passed by the watchman on his beat And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain. I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet When far away an interrupted cry Came over houses from another street, But not to call me back or say good-by; And further still at an unearthly height One luminary clock against the sky Proclaimed the time was neither...

My apologies for all of you who read my blog like if it was their daily bread. I sort of forgot to update it for a while. Anyway, at least now I have something to talk about. Last night I went to the Switchfoot concert here in Boston. It was at Axis, a nightclub where I have been clubbing a couple of times, and where five Iron Frenzy played in september. Weird, the 3 bands that I have always wanted to see perfom the most are all playing in boston in a 3 month period (FIF, Switchfoot and Simon and Garfunkel).If it is possible, I think that this show was even more packed with people than the FIF show. Musically, this show was very good. The opening bands were tight. The first band, named "sleeping at last," was almost original, buuuuut, no. The bass player was basically doing everything that U2's bass player did. Drummer... brit space rock, with a more american feel (D&B complexity replaced with slightly more raw power). The singer tried for a coldplay, muse, radiohead ...

Sometimes you are feeling a little down and you dont know why. I was feeling a little discouraged this week, like I wasn't living up to what I was supposed to be doing. Like I was wandering aimlessly around, amidst confusion and trials, without purpose. I was discouraged, and a little bitter. Today I got the extra boost I needed. This morning I read the end of the book of Job, where God confronts Job for presuming he was wise and for questioning the ways of the Lord. It was a big encouragement, just admitting that as Men we don't know the plans of God, and that he doesn't owe us any explanations. We shouldn't forget our place. As Steven Curtis Chapman put it: "God is God and I am not." The fact that I don't understand what the heck is going on, or where I am going, should not be a cause of despair; rather it should be a cause of humility and faith building, where one is forced to admit that he cannot do it alone and only God is the one that is in charge. ...

There is this guy on my floor named Luke. He is quiet and very nerdy. I think he is a math major. He slouches and doesnt speak much to people. He doesn't come to any floor events either. I just thought that he was an antisocial math type person. It turns out the he IS. But he is also so much more. I heard him speaking on the phone the other day. He was pacing up and down the hall speaking on a cordless phone. I am not sure who he was talking about, but the topic of conversation was quantum mechanics. Though my knowlege on the subject is elementary at best, he was right on the money, and he was trying to reason with who ever he was talking to, doing his best to explain a theory (it was the cat with the poison in the closed box one...). He was passionate about it, articulating every explanation as if it was the key to life itself. Suddenly a man who is normally as animated as a sponge was filled with vivacity. I was impressed. Hearing him speak revealed that he is a very smart guy. ...

Well guys, I have finally done it. I have made a name for myself in the corporate international world of web writing. Elliot.org is a website and travel corporation that frecuently writes articles rating everything from "Airlines with the worse food" to "best luggage available", recently I saw that they were asking readers about the worse international airports. I wrote in about a couple of them, and one of them got mentioned, C de Gaulle. It was among the 5 worst international airports . But the cool part is that they included a quote of mine. Check it out. I had actually forgoten that I wrote in, until a friend of mine saw my name while surfing the net. Pretty sweet huh?

I have been looking for some decent new worship CD's. After a couple bad ones, I finally found a couple good ones. Enter the worship circle is a good one, there are actually 3 out, but I have only heard the first one. They have been out for a while and I know people who have recomended them, but I never bothered checking them out. They are pretty hot. Nice and acoustic. Another good one is David Crowder Band . He is good. He is more delirious style, but he is from texas I think. But good stuff, not all original material, but good none the less. I tried a group called the "rock and roll worship circus", but found them to be pretentious. "Arent we cool, we do worship AND we dress mod" type thing. I dont know... they had 3 really good songs on the CD (which I unfortunately bought), and I would recommend those songs. But the CD as a whole was pretty weak.

I have walked off to look for "america" with "Cecilia" and "Mrs. Robinson". I will sing "Kathy's song" to "Emily when I find her". We will talk to the boxer and the only living boy in new york. We will travel to bleeker street, taking "59th street" which has a "bridge over troubled waters". Me and "richard cory" (who is a "most peculiar man") are going to rock it all night long with the "patterns" of "old friends" until "wednesday morning, 3 AM" What the heck am I talking about? I have a ticket to the Simon and Garfunkel concert in boston, December 11th. Yes, you better be jealous.

Well, many of you know that I am doing a fast and stuff. So after recieving inquireries (sp?) on it, here are the savory details. Month of Monasticism 40 Days of Fasting and Simplicity Goals: To emulate many of the early church fathers and medieval mystics who followed in the tradition of monastic orders. To life a life of simplicity in order to better understand those who have less than we do, and rid myself of the unnecessary. That through self sacrifice and personal effort I may be able to focus purely on God, gaining new spiritual insight, with God’s infinite mercy, through my efforts. To rid myself of many of the distractions, cultural pretensions, and walls that keep me from spiritual discipline. To engage in forms of spiritual discipline many times ignored in my usual denominational background, in order to find new ways to seek God. To live in accordance to the motto of St. Benedictine: “Ora et Labora” Methods and Implementations: Fasting: Food: No solid food will be consumed...

Well, I did it. I finally saw an FIF show. They put on a great show. They are a great band. I will miss them greatly. It isnt fair to them to expect them to keep playing music for the rest of their lives, but still.... The concert was packed with people into "Axis," a club downtown boston, accross from Fenway park. They overbooked the concert, and from what I hear they had to turn so many people away, that they could have done another whole concert the next night. I was in the second row of people standing in the front. I stayed there for a couple of songs, but was getting squashed by hordes of people attempting to move up to see the band closer. I went back to the mosh pit which was great. By the end of the show, my hair was big from headbanging and my shirt was soaked with the sweat of a million different peoples... aahh, good times good times. There were quite a few Gordon people there, but it wasnt packed with them. Nice to see that some even ventured to rock it out nice...

Sorry I have been gone so long. The dang blaster virus killed the network here, so I hadnt had a chance to post anything. We are back and running now. Well, two days ago I saw Chasing Amy and gained a newfound respect for Kevin Smith. I saw "clerks" and it wasnt all that people hype it up to be. It was a cheaply made movie about two clerks in a video store and their everyday shallow conversations and run ins with people. It was innovative, because it gained a lot of money with pretty much no effort. But it had cheap humor shots and barely any meaningful insight to give the world. "Chasing Amy" was quite a bit better. A very personal film about fears and preconcieved notions of love and trust. I recomend it, but not for the easily offended. There were times that even I cringed at the conversations that went on. Lesbianism plays a big part in this film, so if directly sexualy explicit (albeit humorous) conversations offend you (perhaps they should!) this might not b...

Well, it has been a nice change today. This afternoon we did some tie dye and chilled out a bit. We are all tired of class after class, and workshop after workshop about counseling and conflict resolution. So we did some shirts. My hands are stained, my head is sweaty, but I am happy to do something other than sit and listen to lectures.

As many of you know, I am going to be an RA (resident advisor) at Gordon College this year. That means that I am in charge of counsel, discipline and social life on my floor. I am in the middle of training right now. All this week I am going to RA school, heh heh. We have been learning many rules, going over "open hall" policies, drug and alcohol regulations, and many other small things. We have also gone over our responsibilities as RA's and as leaders in our dorm hall. The hardest thing seems to be with dealing with things like emotional problems and people who are sucidal... I have heard all the horror stories... :-{ But I am ready for this year and I am excited about life here. I have found out that I have NO returning students, only freshmen on my floor. Me in charge of 20 freshmen. And 3 or 4 of them are on sports teams... I guess I shouldnt stereotype people, but the "jocks" are usually the partiers and I hope that I dont have trouble with that... Either ...

Friends, Enemies, people I dont even know: "Lend me your bandwidth!" Yes, it is true. Ryan Jacob (known in some circles as "the spaniard") has started a Web Log. In search of yet ANOTHER way of wasting time and another excuse for procrastination, I have started a web log to let you all have some insight into the scary place that is my mind. After trying several titles and other things, I think I will keep: "Ryan: Tales of the Spaniard" Sounds nice, and includes both my name, and my nickname. I know, I know. Some of you are thinking: "this will last a couple of days, until Ryan gets bored out of his mind and forgets it." After all, I DID start a blog last summer. However, I like the blogger program. It works for me and is a lot easier to use than the bad one I tried before. So, here we are; you, me, and a bunch of electronic signals going into your computer. By the time you have finished reading this paragraph, your mind will have been brainwashed...