Smeagol is Free!
A hermitudinal view of...stuff...


7.31.2006  

Kailua

So I just found out that one of my fellow seminarians lived in Kailua for five years. Of course, I never would've guessed, mainly because she looks haole as haole can be, and I automatically presume that members of the haole populace here can't tell Kailua from Kalua Pig or Kahlua. What's more, until very recently she didn't know I was from Hawai'i, which meant that the subject never came up in conversation.

Strange, isn't it?

Anyway, me being the proud local boy that I am, I decided to give her a little "So you lived in Kailua, but did you really live in Kailua" test. It went a little something like this...

1. Why would Jews like the Pali Highway?
2. Fill in the blank: For breakfast, go to Boots & _____.
3. An easy one...name the mascot for Kailua High.
4. What meat do you put in YOUR musubi?
5. How many peaks does Olomana have?
6. If I said that some pake was eating poke, what would I mean?
7. If I said I was riding in Uncle Fasi's limo, what would I mean?
8. If I said I was a townie, that means that out of the following three, I would most likely live in: Waimanalo, Wai'anae, Wai'alae. And I am a townie, by the way.
9. Why could I go to Kam School, but presumably, not you?
10. And why do my sisters slap my head every time they hear me say, "Kam School"?

posted by Bolo | 8:47 PM
10 speakage
 

For Life

This just in: Jim Winn has Redskins season tickets!!! Right on the 35 yard-line, lower deck, for only 29 bucks a game! I can't stand the 'Skins, but still, I'm stoked for my buddy. He says he's been on the waiting list since the mid-90's, and now he's got his tickets for life. Sweet deal :)

posted by Bolo | 7:06 PM
3 speakage
 

Weekness

Maybe I should clarify my statement about my day off: I have the whole week off. At least, I do thus far. I work on Saturday, but that doesn't count. So...hmmm...what to do...what to do...

But first, food is needed. Jin? :)

posted by Bolo | 6:18 PM
0 speakage
 

Way Off

It's my day off, the first one this month. Yes, on the last day of the month. I don't know what to do with myself. Really, I don't. Scott said he hates me. Andrew hasn't called me back. Rob won't call me, even though he says he will. Boss is in Japan. Goose is playing with my brother, not me. Chriyus won't be in town for our weekly Monday morning meeting. And Kev? I might return him to the Blogging Buddies list sometime soon ;)

Maybe this means I'll go on a hike. Perhaps some closet organization is in order; my shoe shelves need a little help, and my clothes rod is atrociously tight. It's possible I'll take a visit to the library and hole up for a while with some commentaries. Working out would be a good option. And I'm sure there are any number of somewhat necessary errands that I've been meaning to take care of but just haven't gotten to. *Sigh*...what to do? It wouldn't be out of the question for me to get some much-needed sleep.

Yeah right!

posted by Bolo | 12:01 AM
6 speakage


7.30.2006  

On Crowing and Creation

It's been observed elsewhere that my favorite character from The Lord of the Rings is Samwise Gamgee. This is true, for Sam is my favorite character. But what of my favorite LotR moment? It hails from The Return of the King, Book V, Chapter 4, The Siege of Gondor:

In rode the Lord of the Nazgûl. A great black shape against the fires beyond he loomed up, grown to a vast menace of despair. In rode the Lord of the Nazgûl, under the archway that no ememy ever yet had passed, and all fled before his face.

All save one. There waiting, silent and still in the space before the Gate, sat Gandalf upon Shadowfax: Shadowfax who alone among the free horses of the earth endured the terror, unmoving, steadfast as a graven image in Rath Dínen.

"You cannot enter here," said Gandalf, and the huge shadow halted. "Go back to the abyss prepared for you! Go back! Fall into the nothingness that awaits you and your master. Go!"

The Black Rider flung back his hood, and behold! he had a kingly crown; and yet upon no head visible was it set. The red fires shone between it and the mantled shoulders vast and dark. From a mouth unseen there came a deadly laughter.

"Old fool!" he said. "Old fool! This is my hour. Do you not know death when you see it? Die now and curse in vain!" And with that he lifted high his sword and flames ran down the blade.

Gandalf did not move. And in that very moment, away behind behind in some courtyard of the City, a cock crowed. Shrill and clear he crowed, recking nothing of wizardry or war, welcoming only the morning that in the sky far above the shadows of death was coming with the dawn.

And as if in answer there came from far away another note. Horns, horns, horns. In dark Mindolluin's sides they dimly echoed. Great horns of the North wildly blowing. Rohan had come at last.


Some chapters later, it is told that Merry cannot later hear horns blowing wildly in the distance without a tear coming to his eyes. So it is with me each time I read those words. I jump up out of my seat if seated; if standing, I do a little dance; in either case, I grin from ear to ear and wipe away a tear. In fact, the grin and the tear is precisely what happened yesterday.

I read that aloud to Scott and Emily some months ago. I do believe I also read to them the creation account from The Silmarillion, Chapter 1, Ainulindalë. Amazing stuff, really, but of a different genre entirely. The cock crowing and horns blowing seem tangible, presenting us with a hope very real and present, if nevertheless beyond our ability to generate on our own. The creation account, however, seems to be far off and removed from our present reality, about as theoretical as my imagination. But, at least in Tolkien lore, both are as real and relevant as you or I, or the circumstances we find ourselves in. Can the same not be said of what we find in Scripture, from God's existence to the new creation?

posted by Bolo | 2:30 PM
3 speakage
 

Lyrical

This morning, I've got Stuart Townend's How Deep the Father's Love for Us on repeat. Reading through Ephesians 1 while listening to it brings me to reflect upon the incomprehensibility of the gospel. Why would the Father smite His one and only Son, His beloved Son, Him whom He loves most, who deserves to be loved, for me? Yes, it is to His glory, but His glory lies in the fact that He did not have to do it! Yes, it is to the praise of His glorious grace, but it simply does not make sense to me. I mean, I understand it in a cerebral sense, yet I still find it surpassingly unjust; He died freely for me. *Sigh*...perhaps that is the point of it, that the insanity of this scandalous cross ought not to make sense, that in seeing the sheer foolishness, I am undone. In being so undone, it is then that I boast no more in my self, but am left only to boast in that which declares me utterly unworthy in my own merit, yet surpassingly worthy in Him and His work and merit.

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

posted by Bolo | 9:48 AM
0 speakage


7.29.2006  

Linkage

Just two links tonight, and both of 'em help me salivate and tear up a little at the thought of Notre Dame's upcoming season.

Hmmm...I'm happy the Bush Push still hurts. It ought to. It makes me realize why they hit it right on the nose on this one.

This story makes the rivalry all the more amazing to me.

posted by Bolo | 11:48 PM
0 speakage
 

Basket Cases

The thought for the day goes something like this: The Christian life, or at least my Christian life, requires me to put all of my proverbial eggs in one basket. If I don't trust Jesus, and do so with every part of my life, I'm not really trusting Him, am I? If I'm holding back something, holding on to it dearly and stubbornly, what good does it do me? Not much, not much, yet Christ is far more patient than I, and will wait until what I withhold is properly given. But I find that though I know I ought to trust, and it is to my good and His glory for me to do so, I fear to give Him all. Why's that? It's simple, really, and absurdly so. I find that the eggs I'm to put into the basket are rotten, reeking and unmistakably unholy. Why in the world would Christ want any part of such things? Why would He want any part of me, when all I have to give Him is something I wouldn't even want for myself? *Sigh*...trusting Christ is such a humiliating thing, is it not?

posted by Bolo | 11:28 PM
0 speakage
 

Verbosity

Words you'll hear way too much of once Goose takes over the world: "w00ty" and "w00tage". Just thought you'd want to know.

posted by Bolo | 4:11 AM
1 speakage
 

For Whom the Bells Toll

Josh and Amanda Mimbsy are now married. Sweet :) I'm grateful to them for their friendship, but still more for the fact that they got married on a Friday so I didn't have to take off of work. Not that they did that just for me, but nevertheless, I was quite stoked about that.

They'd asked me to record video footage of the ceremony, which I was more than happy to do for my two buddies. They provided the equipment, and I provided a steady (if sometimes sweaty) hand or two. The problem with that setup? There was no Mini DV cassette in the case. When I asked Josh about that teeny-weeny itsy-bitsy problem, he shrugged his shoulders and said, "Uhhh."

Yeah. Uhhh.

Off I went to Walgreens to pick up some media for my soon-to-be hitched friends, hoping that Smythe would employ his superb intelligence and pick us out some choice seats. Smythe being Smythe, he was still looking around just of outside Broadus Chapel looking suave but confused, waiting for me to get back. Still, he more than showed his moxie as an assistant, timing the Mini DV cassette changing perfectly.

The reception was wonderful, not least due to the fact that our table was by far the most fun-filled. I mean, from the infamous Pepperjack Purveying to the kiddie tie worn by Glen Moore, there was no lack of ridiculousness to be observed at table 5. I think my favorite moment took place when we called over Todd Pellowe to photograph a certain table 5 member whilst he consumed a rose. Yes, a rose. Don't worry, I didn't eat the stem, I mean, the person didn't eat the stem, just the flower itself. I'm sure he won't get sick or anything; he looks like a pretty stout fellow. Or so says Todd Pellowe.

Ok, maybe not, I just wanted to get a little rhyme in there ;)

Have fun in Hawai'i, Mr. and Mrs. Mimbs!

posted by Bolo | 12:44 AM
0 speakage


7.28.2006  

*Groan*

Ok. The 80 hour work week is over. I might be working just 20 next week. Amazing. My eyeballs burn, my head is spinning, and Scott's been hunkered down in my room more this week than he has for the other however many other months have been in 2006. Of course, Scott being in my room isn't on the same level as eyeballs burning or heads spinning. Anyway...wedding bells chime...and I've got to answer them.

No, of course not my wedding bells, silly people.

posted by Bolo | 3:42 PM
0 speakage


7.27.2006  

What I Wear

Tonight, I write about writing. Well, sort of. For the past couple of days, I suppose you could say that I've had blogger's block. It's different in my mind from writer's block, since there's plenty for me to write about, and no lack of ability or willingness to write. Blogger's block kicks in when I feel like what's going on in my head and heart feels far too redundant for the world at large to be interested in it. I suppose that might happen when you're working the same job for nearly an entire month, and not a single day of reprieve relieves you from the monotony of life. But is that really it? I doubt it.

At times, it feels like my heart's a tangle of thought and emotion. When that happens, journaling will often solve it. If you've ever seen my journal, or if you journal yourself...well...you might understand why it's helpful for me. But I digress. I've not journaled for a couple of days. This happens sometimes, but it's not that big a deal. My thoughts on life will get jotted down eventually, but it's often the process that counts most for me.

But what of blogging? Aaahhh, therein lies the most delightful of conundrums. It's somewhat like my wardrobe. In the confines of my room, where I'm the only one who will see me, I can try on whatever I wish, my desires limited only by imagination and taste. In my room, I can be as comfortable or uncomfortable as I like with what I wear. Once I step out my door, however, and into the common areas of Fuller Hall, I am confined by acceptable limitations naturally imposed by the public at large. In my bathroom, it is perfectly acceptable for me to go naked, even necessary at times. Outside and in public, well...not so much.

The point for all of this is that I have a large number of thoughts and feelings that I find to be perfectly proper and normal behind the shuttered windows of my mind, things that I'll almost certainly never give public shape and form to. But thoughts that I'll willingly walk out of my door, into the public eye, and wear for all to behold? Quite different, quite different. I rarely have nothing to say, still less commonly do I have nothing I'm thinking about. Thoughts run deeply; what you see on the surface often hides what swims and lurks beneath, where whatever is there can escape from the light of day.

Scott once told me that everything I wore was a statement. Little did he know how correct he was. I suppose that, more than I wish, I feel forced to ensure what the public sees is fit for public seeing. But here's the kicker, the part that makes me really stop and think and go, "Hmmm." Doesn't the cross of Christ, in a sense, tear the away the veil that shields our innermost selves from the rest of humanity? Don't misunderstand me, I'm not advocating running around naked, nor am I imploring anyone to go confess their deepest and darkest sins to just anyone. There's an order that needs observing, and wisdom that needs to be exercised within that order, with proper submission and authority to all contained therein. What I'm getting at is a heart issue. Like Scott said, much of what I "wear" is a statement. The question, then, is what I'm stating.

Hmmm.

posted by Bolo | 11:13 PM
4 speakage
 

One and Only

If my schedule holds true to what it currently is, and if my calculations are correct, then next Monday will be the only day in July that I'm not working. I won't know what to do with myself!

posted by Bolo | 6:18 AM
7 speakage


7.26.2006  

Linkage

I hate golf. I'm the reason they have protective dividers between each tee at the driving ranges. But at miniature golf? Ok, I still stink, but at least here, I can make par :)

Not bad for a fruit company. This is the sort of thing that makes the Geek in me giggle with glee.

Trouble with spyware? This might help. Might. If you've got spyware in the first place, it's probably for a certain reason...hehehe ;)

I stink at it. Go ahead. You'll stink too.

posted by Bolo | 12:10 AM
2 speakage


7.25.2006  

The List

The list of what Scott O'Neal and I have consumed since he got to my room shortly before 7 PM:

1 quart of Dairy Queen vanilla ice cream
1 quart of Dairy Queen chocolate ice cream
5 raspberry & chocolate muffins each
3 or 4 snickerdoodle cookies each
some peanut butter

We've yet to start on dessert ;)

posted by Bolo | 9:37 PM
0 speakage
 

Wanting To

When I was reading my bible this morning, I did so with the firm conviction that because I did not want to be reading it, I needed to be reading it all the more. Does that make sense? Let me rewind.

I'd just gotten off of a long work shift of 16 hours. Some 16 hour shifts go by more quickly than others, but I felt pretty dead at the end of this one. So what did I do? Go to my room and sleep, right? Nope. I drive to Chriyus' apartment so we can talk over breakfast and coffee. The problem with that? He wasn't quite up yet. That wasn't a big deal to me, since I figured I'd just go back to my car and wait for him to roll his skinny butt out of bed. Being that we were meeting to talk about Jesus, I figured further that it might be good to read some Scripture. I thought about it for a split second, and decided very quickly that I just wasn't in the mood to be reading anything spiritually challenging.

Hmmm. Not good.

What was amazing about that moment was that God taught me a little lesson in the midst of my petulance. As I sat there in my car, nary a soul in sight, I realized that one of the most important reasons I needed to be reading Scripture just then was because I didn't want to. That's not to say that I need to rush off and read Scripture every time I don't think I need to; that's not what I'm saying. What I mean is that at that moment, my heart was feeling proud and very self-sufficient. I didn't feel the need for the LORD, nor did I really think I needed to be humbled by reading the truths about His glorious Son, and the grace He lavished upon me at the cross. The problem with that assessment is that I always need to be humbled by the truths about Christ, and I always need to be reminded about the grace He lavished upon me at the cross. The point? It's a heart issue.

About half an hour later, I told Chriyus that I'd been reading my bible. "You know why I was reading it?" I asked my Alabaman buddy. "Because I didn't want to."

posted by Bolo | 3:40 AM
1 speakage


7.24.2006  

Side Effect

One of the benefits of cleaning your room: you sometimes find paychecks that you lost a while ago, then forgot about entirely. Sweet :)

posted by Bolo | 4:21 PM
0 speakage
 

It's...Uhhh...Zayne!

Other than hearing him jibber jabber at me over the phone, I've never even met my littlest nephew. Doesn't matter; we still get to have a few good, clean laughs at his expense. Pun intended ;)

posted by Bolo | 2:32 PM
1 speakage
 

Do You Remember...

Boss and I just decided that some things from our childhood should never be brought back. Athletic shoes with no socks, jeans rolled up tight at the cuffs, and the hair...*shudder*...the hair! Gary, is this what happens when you get old? You have conversations over how great things used to be, and then bash the things you're glad you're over? Hmmm. Seems like we do that a lot in our "advancement." Incidentally, we also talked about Jams, Flojos (remember those?), and Fate Yanagi...wherever she is...

posted by Bolo | 12:23 AM
3 speakage


7.23.2006  

The Pink Bucket of Death

Ok, Gary, I gotta be honest. I forgot that the darned thing had Hello Kitty on it. Maybe that's why it screwed up the boys so much...we were intimidated by the pinkness and the cuteness. *Shudder*.

posted by Bolo | 10:40 PM
0 speakage
 

Free

2 Corinthians 3:17, 18
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

Galatians 5:1
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

Romans 5:20, 21
The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Hebrews 2:14, 15
Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

Romans 6:20 - 23
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Galatians 5:13
For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Hebrews 10:19 - 25
Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

As I've mulled over today's sermon from 1 John 4, I've felt particularly pulled in by one thing: the freedom we have in Christ. This freedom is powerful, for it breaks the bondage of fear of condemnation that Satan loves to hold over sinners. This freedom is also beautiful, for it transforms the unlovely sinner into a new creation, one that beholds Christ with love, longing and hoping for Him with joy inexpressible. This freedom amazes me, for it takes the sin I would (and still do) try to hide and puts it on display for all of creation to see. It says, "There, there is his sin, and it is punished. I declare him free, free from fear, and free to love! Go, and sin no more."

posted by Bolo | 9:00 PM
0 speakage
 

Headlines

The Boyce College Scandalous Press

Ryan Szrama, of 501 Camp fame, has reportedly been seen wandering around his neighborhood, inquiring of his fellow Louisvillians if they know how to acquire manliness. Being that his recent activities have included playing with chainsaws, climbing through the highs and wides of the arboreal countrysides of Kentucky, and speaking fondly and conqueringly of towers wherein lay a Maiden enchantingly fair, one might think that Sir Szrama has indeed already found manliness. But has he? Rob Smythe, his roommate and therefore also of 501 Camp fame, has said that Sir Szrama is certainly no more or less manly now than he was when they first moved in together. What that means, precisely, cannot be entirely discerned, for Mr. Smythe was quite mysterious when pressed for further information. Also, the verdict has yet to be read on whether or not the aforementioned chainsaw activities actually involved the said chainsaws to be turned on.

Speaking of roommates, Cassie Mac Puskar has attained a new social stratum by moving in with Seminary Females. She claims that her roomies are quiet, peaceable, and passionate lovers of Jesus. Miss Puskar also says that her roommates are quite adorable, and all of them follow the rules for Seminary Females as laid out in codes of Campus Conduct with dutiful devotion. In fact, Leviticus 13 is the passage they've been going through for roomie worship in recent days. Whether or not this is true, no one knows for certain, but LMPD has said that each time one of the neighbors calls to complain about the ladies' rowdiness, LMPD dispatchers inform the neighbors that should forgive the girls "not up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."

A certain Matthew Joiner was recently overheard in an elevator telling his cat-eyed companion (who shall otherwise remain nameless) that the rash on his legs was very quickly spreading "upward and all around." Unfortunately for Mr. Joiner, his diagnosis held no hope for him, as the doctors treating him were reportedly mystified by this most mortifying malady, telling him that his rash seems to be...ummm...well..."crotchety."

Robbie Byrd, stunningly vertical man that he is, is now introducing himself by saying, "I'm Robbie Byrd from Johnson City, Tennesee. I stand four feet, thirteen inches tall. Pleasure to meet you!"

In our last report of a certain Miss Ashlea Davenport, she was rumored to have been stealing wigs from a local thrift store. In the time since, Miss Davenport has freely confessed her scheme to the elders at IBC, weepingly informing them that it was jealousy that drove her to her obsessive thievery. When she was pressed further, all she could do was cry out, "I know, I know, it was a hair-brained idea, but I did it anyway!"

Michael Butterworth, named by Kristin Yeldell as having the campus' Best Hair, was on pins and needles as he went to get his 'do chopped by someone not named Wayne, or Gipson, or Sellers. Eyewitnesses said that Butterworth the Younger was on his knees in front of the barbershop, praying to God, Buddha, Sufjan Stevens, Toto, and whoever else might have been listening, that grace might be imparted to keep his infamous mop from suffering unjustly, and to keep him in good shape for the next Hair Off. Apparently, all went well, and Butterworth the Younger now claims he never prayed any prayers that would keep him from going to the Sufjan Stevens concert in Louisville next month.

posted by Bolo | 4:28 PM
0 speakage


7.22.2006  

But With a "B"

Hah! I just saw someone with the last name "Burkey" on Facebook!

posted by Bolo | 9:05 PM
4 speakage
 

Relevance

Psalm 145
I will extol You, my God, O King, and I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of Your majesty and on Your wonderful works, I will meditate. Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts, and I will tell of Your greatness. They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness and will shout joyfully of Your righteousness. The LORD is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. The LORD is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works. All Your works shall give thanks to You, O LORD, and Your godly ones shall bless You. They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power; to make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts and the glory of the majesty of Your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD sustains all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in due time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds. The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them. The LORD keeps all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy. My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.

This is probably very wrong of me, but every time I read this psalm, I think of Amber. Sometimes, I even think about satin. I can't help it, I really can't. It's all her fault, it is. I'm totally laying the blame on her.

Now that I've gotten that silliness out of the way...

On the T4G blog, Mark Dever points something out I found to be very...relevant. When I first read that, I thought to myself, "Yes, amen!" Then I thought about Leeman, and how that's precisely the sort of teaching he would try to pass on to all of the Boys of Boyce. No coincidence, that.

Because of teachings from the likes of Mark Dever and Jonathan Leeman, I now read a psalm like this and think thoughts like these: Yes, I will extol and praise Your name forever and ever, but only because of Christ. Outside of Christ, I would receive only wrath. If it were not for Christ, I would not meditate the way I do upon the glorious splendor of Your majesty and on Your wonderful works. No, I would largely be blind to them, and whatever I did perceive of them, I would hate. You are indeed gracious and merciful, and because You have given Your son, Him whom You treasure most, all of Your gracious and merciful promises are yes in Him. You are near when I call upon You because You have forsaken Your Son and poured out Your wrath upon Him on the cross. You keep me because I love You, and I love You because You have first loved me.

Yes, good teachings.

Speaking of teaching, c'mon, Gary...bring out the Pink Bucket of Death! 'Drew and I will rock Carla's world, and we'll eat Meat Jhun for breakfast, lunch, and dinner...no need da fried rice...

But then again, pride does come before the fall...

Let me rephrase that. Gary, Andrew and I would greatly and humbly rejoice in the opportunity to bless our beloved sisters in Christ in a glorious reunion centered upon that bonny basket of bountiful blessings, the Pink Bucket of Death!

Better?

posted by Bolo | 6:23 PM
0 speakage
 

More Zayne!

I think my nephew's a little cutie. Get used to pictures of him, ok?







"Now you see me..."



"...now you don't."





posted by Bolo | 12:20 PM
3 speakage


7.21.2006  

What I Want

It's all Goose's fault. I want Shanghai. I want Rainbow Six. I want to hear, "...Mr. Monopoly Man!" I want the garlic bread. I want to play with Max. Yup...I want some 509 love...

posted by Bolo | 9:25 PM
1 speakage
 

Quickie

Today I was convicted about something. There's a huge difference between thinking about God, and and actually communing with God. I can, according to my minute and finite standards, think what seem to me to be very deep and profound thoughts about God. Those thoughts might even, upon occasion, seem to others to be very deep and profound. But here's the kicker: what good are those thoughts if, when the day of the LORD comes, Jesus says, "I never knew you"?

Being known by the LORD is of far greater import than knowing great things of Him. "For My hand made all these things, thus all these things came into being," declares the LORD. "But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word." Amen!

posted by Bolo | 7:27 PM
0 speakage
 

Rain, Rain, Go Away

I'm convinced I'm going to drown in the rain. It's only 5:45 in the afternoon here, and I think I see fish walking outside of Fuller with umbrellas. Ok ok ok, fish aren't walking outside of Fuller with umbrellas. Squirrels are, though.

posted by Bolo | 5:49 PM
0 speakage
 

Linkage

I thought about you, Szrama, and laughed my butt off. Well, not necessarily in that order :)

This has got to be one of the stupidest links I've ever linked to.

Aaaahhhh, this is right on sooooooo many different levels...

I'm going to beat that Cavanaugh Express one day...

This game is most definitely not reformed.

I put in "Letoto," and I got these: "Don't live a little, live a Letoto." "What would you do for a Letoto?" "Obey your Letoto." "And all because the lady loves Letoto."

posted by Bolo | 9:49 AM
4 speakage


7.20.2006  

Zayne!

I got a severe scolding last night and today. Malia told me that she was quite upset with me that I hadn't posted any pictures of her son on my blog. Of course, much like all things Malia scolds me about, I didn't really have much of an excuse. "Uuuhhh, thinking about the Summer Solstice had consumed all of energy. No, wait, that sounded lame. What really happened was that I spent so much time praying for your son that I forgot to post pictures. Ok, that's not true, either."

Needless to say, I'm posting pics of my nephew.

Oh oh oh! And he's not the littlest grandkiddy anymore! I just heard from Mary Frances that Mon is in the Marshall Islands and got little Makana. Mon fed her from a bottle today, and it's all official. I called Dave a little while ago, and he's quite excited :)

Anyway, here's Zayne!









posted by Bolo | 10:31 PM
1 speakage
 

*Poke*

For those of you on Facebook, you know what a "poke" is. Or, still more likely, you don't. Even the kind folks at Facebook don't know. Their explanation is as follows: "We have about as much of an idea as you do. We thought it would be fun to make a feature that had no real purpose and to see what happens from there. So mess around with it, because you're not getting an explanation from us."

Be that as it may, my friends on Facebook have faced a long and arduous stretch of "poking"...something that has not stopped for quite some time now. They've made groups in response to my poking, protested in person, protested in cyberspace, and protested in silence. All, I add smirkingly, to no avail. In honor of this, my plagued poking community, I've listed a handful of their quotable quibbles.

"We have been poking each other for who knows how long! I propose a truce..."
-Paul Carr

"Poke. Poke. You owe me a coke."
-Danielle Queener

"You haven't poked me for like 3 days...have you given up?"
-Sarah Baker

"I signed up for Facebook mobile two weeks ago. Last week, while I was home on a break, I kept having to explain why some guy named "Letoto" kept poking me every five minutes my cell received a text message."
-Tyler Easton

"Your lack of pokage has alarmed me, Mr. Letoto. Is everything alright?"
-Danielle Queener

"Here's a birthday poke: POKE!!!!!"
-Anna Tornero

"Happy birthday! And a birthday poke for you."
-Marie Tornero

"Are you staring at your computer waiting for someone to poke you???"
-Sarah Cress

"Poke!"
-Danielle Queener

"Poke poke pokeity poke."
-Daniell Queener

"We've all complained about the persistent poking.. but John, I really miss it. I even tried to poke myself yesterday. Even if it had worked, it just wouldn't have been the same."
-Trey Fuller

"Wow - it's been at least two days since you last poked me. I'm in SHOCK!!"
-Christine Robertson (the Odds Are Good But the Goods Are Odd Girl)

"The daily pulse for 5-3-06: 241 SBTS people poked each other yesterday, all of which were done by you, Toto."
-Billy Reddick

"Poke!"
-Emerson Davis

"May it not be said of me, 'Methinks she doth protest too much', because really I'm just raising a voice for all of us you choose to mercilessly poke numerous times throughout the day."
-Jessica Cimato

"I do believe I have won...I have had no pokes by Mr. Letoto in over a week...he must be slacking."
-Sarah Baker

"For the future....POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! POKE! There, I believe that should last me about a week's worth of poking!"
-Sarah Cress

"Who won the basketball this year at school? Stop poking me."
-Emerson Davis

"How long does it take you to poke everyone everyday? That's quite a feat."
-Tyler Easton

"I shall never poke back...I will just turn my head and allow you to do it again...from this day forward."
-Corey Wayne McGalliard, at 12:51 PM, April 24th, 2006

"I totally poked you back by accident."
-Corey Wayne McGalliard, at 1:54 PM April 24th, 2006

"How do I join the 'Poked by John Letoto' club? I don't even go to SBTS, and I'm plagued by the Totopokes."
-Jeff Cavanaugh

"You so look like you could be on the cover of GQ magazine..."
-Danielle Queener

Ok, so that had nothing to do with pokes...but that's why you like my blog. Admit it :)

"Seriously Toto, making another account just to poke people? Wow."
-Josh McClure

"Food Thief: Do you live on here? I've poked you back 2 a day for the last 2 days...thats a little obsessive."
-Corey Wayne McGalliard

"I figure, for the times that I DO log in and you have yet to poke me back, we're even. That HAS happened a few times you know. I think maybe you're slacking on the poking, my friend."
-Christine Robertson

"I have been thoroughly disgusted with your lack of poking lately..."
-Danielle Queener

"Toto, do you do anything other than poke people?"
-Josh McClure

"So, question: Every time you sign on facebook, on average how many people are you poked by?"
-Mandy Daugherty

"Hadn't been poked in a while...just wanted to make sure you were still around!"
-Dawn Wishon

"John Letoto! The poking, man! THE POKING!!!"
-Jennifer Wojak

"Whoa! I logged on to facebook unpoked!"
-Jacob Frederick

"Happy birthday to you! In honor of this day, I give you a birthday poke. Enjoy!"
-Anna Tornero

"Hey Pokey."
-Zack Thurman

"Happy birthday my well dressed Hawaiian friend. Get ready, you are getting 27 birthday pokes today."
-Danielle Queener

"Happy Birthday John. I hope a day filled with facebook poking is in your near future."
-Craig Spinks

"That last poke was a happy birthday poke!"
-Ashley Reynolds

"No poke today? What ever will I do with myself?"
-Dawn Wishon

"It's a good thing that facebook poking doesn't leave a mark, because otherwise I would have a lot of bruises to explain."
-Catherine Huffman

"This was the first time I signed on to facebook and didn't get poked...I'll be honest, it kinda ruined my day..."
-Nick Crouse

"John, I notice you have been coming under alot of criticism lately and I just want say I don't mind the poking. In fact, I think it is a sign of affection, so everyone should stop complaining and just poke back, because deep down it just means, 'I love you too.'"
-Michael Butterworth

"I'm poking you 'til you can't poke anymore."
-Sean Havenenr

"I see you have mastered the art of poking. Nice."
-Dawn Wishon

"Dude, I think I'm getting a bruise from all the poking!"
-Elizabeth Mejia

"Oh my goodness...quit with the poking already!"
-Dawn Wishon

"Ha. You really think I will quit poking you one day, don't you? I won't. And you will finish college before me, and will therefore be too busy for facebook....and in that time, I will still be a poor facebook addicted college student who will get the LAST POKE!"
-Sarah Baker

Heh...I'm going to finish college first? At least someone thinks so ;)

"Your name should be John Lepokepoke."
-Jessica Henry

"It's way too late! You need to go to sleep and stop poking me and Emily!"
-Lyndsie Lucas

"See, I am not the only one talking about all the poking!"
-Dawn Wishon

"Look, Letoto. You're poking the wrong guy. I'll never let up. I'll poke you for breakfast. I'll poke you while you're sleeping. My pokes will haunt you're dreams. So I suggest the shenanigans come to an abrupt halt before this goes farther than you want."
-Andrew Holley, who has quit poking back

"John Letoto you know very good and well you poked me first!"
-Candice Morris

"So...I'm sort of determined to win the poking war. I'm just not a quitting kind of girl."
-Lindie Wolf, who sort of quit the poking war

"Missed you while I was taking a break from facebook. Well, I really just missed the poking war."
-Brande Thomas

"And the poking battle has begun..."
-Danielle Queener

"So I'm thinkin' this poking thing is getting out of hand."
-Rachel Ware

"Mr. Letoto, our dear friend, John Cabal...that is, seems not to understand the art and mastery of poking. He has requested that I explain to him the 'rules'. You are the master of this skill, please place your guiding hand on this poor, confused rookie."
-Brande Thomas

"Sire letoto (I won't use my real name for you since it's our own romantic thing). Thank you for your sincere and enlightening explanation of the quote unquote rules. Y did fail to explain what makes your poking not fall into one of the categories (particularly, the no-life poke?), and how does one 'win' the poking game? Or, as I suspect, there is no winning the game? Your attention to these matters is appreciated."
-John Cabal

"Have you fixed your computer to where it automaticly pokes me back! I can't get away from you...you're always poking me!!"
-Brande Thomas

"I think I have a raw spot where you've been poking me!"
-Anna Tornero

"John, you are a POKE-MON! That's the Carribean way to say POKE-MAN."
-Jenna Rivera

"Pinch, poke, you owe me a coke!"
-Rebekah Brown

"Poke, poke, poke, it never gets old...in a weird way, it's like you care."
-Ashley Reynolds

"You will eventually collapse from all the poke-backs you get."
-Michael Butterworth

"Umm...you poked me twice at the same time...I didn't think that was possible."
-Marie Tornero

"John! must you always poke!? I got you right back."
-Marie Tornero

"It was good meeting my 'poker'-er today...and I didn't think you looked gray at all!"
-Lindsay Swartz

"Stop the poking stop the poking."
-Evan Whiteaker

"I will not stand for all of this poking, you rapscallion."
-Sarah Baker

"I'm pretty sure I outpoked you."
-Sarah Baker

"You will never outpoke me!"
-Sarah Baker

"Weird poker!"
-Lacy Jones

"John, the 6 pokes in one day seems excessive...don't you think? C'mon. I mean really."
-Corey Scott

"I wonder if there is a poke record? If there is I'm sure you hold it. Poke, poke, poke. Thats all you do."
-Corey Scott

"The Poke War has gotten kind of intense today."
-Pablo Butterworth

"This poking thing could go on indefinitely!"
-Lacy Jones

"You dork! You started the poking! Oh, and I worked on your scarf last night. Jerk."
-Emily Dick

"Fine...I will win this poking war, though! I always win!"
-Cherie Rogers

"Hey you...are you done poking me yet?"
-Amber Hallett

"Ok, no more playing poke-her."
-Cherie Rogers

"So exactly how many people are you in a poking war with?"
-Josh McClure

"Stop poking me, fool."
-Corey Scott

"John, can you pleeeassssseee stop poking me!!! I don't like this poking thingy..."
-Roger Dutra

"So we're back to the poking game are we?"
-Charlotte Burcham

"Enough with the poking already!"
-Rebekah Brown

"Ok so I wasn't going to poke you back this time...but I HAD to!"
-Marie Tornero

"You and your poking...it's all fun and games until somebody gets hurt, mister."
-Marie Tornero

"You know...I give you permission to stop poking me."
-Jessica Hilbert

"Mr. Letoto, I insist on poking you back because you insist on poking me."
-Veronika Little

"So I think I've determined within my own mind to win this poke fight? War? Whatever it is. I just thought I'd let you know so you could be prepared."
-Charlotte Burcham

"I will win this poke battle. Haha!"
-Kristen Fabrizio

"You are starting to bruise me with your pokes!"
-Kendra Henson

"Are you ever going to stop poking me?"
-Kendra Henson

posted by Bolo | 4:55 PM
5 speakage
 

Struggling Powerfully

Here's a little excerpt from some journaling that went on sometime during the early morning hours yesterday. As always, note that things that come from my journal tend to be raw and rambling in nature.

Colossians 1:28, 29
Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works in me.

Within those two verses, there are three things I see immediately. First, the proclamation of God's glory. Second, to whom that glory is proclaimed. Third, the means by which such proclamation takes place.

Christ is proclaimed. What does it mean that He is proclaimed? Christ is, as Paul has written elsewhere, the glory of God seen, the image of the invisible God. That which is eternal, infinite, perfect, holy....He is seen in Christ. Yes, He is proclaimed! Psalm 113 says that from the rising of the sun to its setting, the name (glory) of the LORD is to be praised. I cannot say that of myself, nor can anything in all creation, as only God is worthy of praise for His own sake. He is deserving of proclamation, of praise. It is good and righteous to see the LORD in this way, where there is no rival for affection, no good affection that is not recognized as having its ultimate source in Him. Such is the LORD, the very glory of God being proclaimed in the face of Christ.

Christ is proclaimed to the church. In teaching and warning, the purpose is "to present everyone mature in Christ." Who is everyone? His body, the sheep of His pasture. His brothers and sisters, His inheritance, His bride! Yes, it is His church we teach and warn for the sake of maturity and completeness in Christ. His churhc, now that Christ is risen and ascended and seated at the right hand of the Father, is the visible proclamation of Christ's glorious work to save sinners. His proclamation has a clear and progressive purpose in the lives of the saints. We are to behold Him, seeing Him proclaimed in His glory, and as we do so, we are to become even as He is. How is this to happen unless it is done within the context of the community of believers, the church?

Christ is proclaimed to His church by His power. All the teaching and warning in the world is useless without the power of the Holy Spirit changing hearts. It is His glory that the cross and the cross alone saves! Anything less or anything more is no gospel! And the power of Christ in the life of the believer? It leads to struggle. Yes, struggle! The energy that He works powerfully within us leads not to a superhero mentality, but rather to a humble, desperate struggle to rely upon Christ's infinite and glorious strength. Why? Power is perfected in weakness! Christ dwells in our hearts through faith...a faith that requires us to recognize our dire inability to seek and savor the glory of a holy God, a faith that graciously grants us the new hearts with a capacity to truly esteem that which is truly worthy of esteem. I struggle, His infinite energy works within me, His brothers and sisters are built up into His likeness, and He is gloriously proclaimed.

posted by Bolo | 1:02 AM
2 speakage


7.19.2006  

Escaped

A little over 12 hours ago, while walking around at work, I had a really profound thought. Well, I think I had a really profound thought. Either way, it's gone now, totally escaping the convoluted confines of my mind. Too bad; you guys would've liked it.

I think.

posted by Bolo | 3:26 PM
0 speakage
 

Old School

The Old School block has been updated. Enjoy :)

posted by Bolo | 5:29 AM
0 speakage


7.18.2006  

Dinner Lessons

The top ten things I've determined while having dinner with Mr. and Mrs. O'Neal tonight:

10. Scott gets easily intimidated by Emily's voracious eating habits.

9. Scott is fascinated with the word "okole".

8. I can shuck corn a lot faster than Scott can. The ratio is roughly three dark-kerneled cobs of corn for me to one white-kerneled cob of corn for him. Surely there's some deeper meaning to be found in our shucking, don't you think?

7. The O'Neal household now knows of Fate Yanagi. Yes, that Fate Yanagi.

6. Those crazy Burkey (like turkey, but with a "B") Turkeys think burping is cool. No wonder they love me :)

5. I need to find a clutcher.

4. Scott still has a hard time remembering he's married. It's a good thing I'm there to remind him.

3. We've determined exactly what the $60,000 should go toward.

2. One of Dr. Orrick's English Comp I classes from the Fall '04 semester featured a student who would walk in late, leave early, and write papers the morning they were due. No wonder people don't like him.

1. If I can't find a clutcher, I just need to go with the one I can make more slanty-eyes with.

posted by Bolo | 9:20 PM
2 speakage
 

Imminent

It's the 18th of July. For Boyce College students everywhere, no matter where we are, this means that we're down to less than one month until the 2006 - 2007 school year starts. For student leaders, that time frame is even shorter. For a certain Hawaiian guy, this will be the start of his eighfffsssmmpphth semester at Boyce College.

Each year here has been distinct and unique. Just yesterday, it seems, I was working at the Louisville Country Club, rolling towels and watching the Weather Channel for storms, daydreaming about the summer swells and softball leagues I was missing out on back at home. I rummage through the seemingly countless memories of Will answering when I called Andrew's dorm room phone, and I can remember joking about that with the two of them just a little over a month and a half ago. It's odd now to think about Christmas away from home, and hearing Scott's voice remind me that there had to be a "first time."

Ironically enough, this Christmas will be the fourth straight December away from the other crazy Letotos, that family that insists upon opening presents at 2 o'clock on Christmas morning, the big kids dragging the little kids out of bed 'cause we want to open our wrapped goodies (even if Lisa already unwrapped and re-wrapped all of hers already). I'm not certain if this is good or not, but being away for Christmas doesn't seem nearly so vile as it once did. Hmmm.

The school year is imminent, and my emotions on it are mixed. I'm excited, yes, but I'd also be fine if it were pushed back a month...or five. I love where the LORD has me, and I love where He's taking me. *Sigh*...school...oh well, it's gotta happen sometime, right? :)

posted by Bolo | 2:46 PM
0 speakage


7.17.2006  

'Ohana Means...

I'm not lonely. Nope. I'm not. So what if Elton fed Lisa and Jeff ahi and crabs? I don't care. I don't. So what if it was probably really good? I'm not jealous. Really, really good. It doesn't matter. Not in the least. Even if they rub it in. Still doesn't matter.

Jerks.

Hehehehe :)

Love you guys!

posted by Bolo | 9:46 PM
0 speakage
 

Who?

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

If you're anything like me, and you have a tendency to skip back and forth between books of Scripture, this passage may sound somewhat standard for Paul's writings. From the sound of his gratefulness and confirmation of God's evident grace, it would seem appropriate to assume that Paul was writing to the Philippians, who were notably generous in caring for Paul and striving to meet his needs. Another likely addressee might be the church in Rome, for which Paul lists many individuals he desires to send a warm and personal greeting to. Or, on an even more intimate level, I would not question the assertion that Paul was writing this to Timothy, his "true child in the faith."

But that is most certainly not to whom Paul was writing. In fact, these are but some the outstanding qualities and actions of the characters in question: quarrelsome; sexually immoral; arrogant; drunkenness at the Lord's Supper; and divisive. Wow. Despite all of these and more, Paul genuinely thanked the LORD for the Corinthian church concerning the evidence of God's grace in their lives.

C.J. Mahaney points out this passage as a practical incentive to look upon our brothers and sisters in the LORD with humility. The fact that Paul wrote something like this to the Corinthian church, that infamously shameful group of believers, sobers me into thinking upon the deep immediacy and patience of God's saving grace. Do I look upon others as Paul did? Is there a fountain of love that springs forth from the bedrock of God's evident grace in my assertion of and interaction with others? And do I plead with the Lord to show me evidence of grace if my unbelieving and prideful eyes do not see His wonderful grace?

posted by Bolo | 10:33 AM
0 speakage


7.16.2006  

Linkage

I have a great and inane desire to give someone a ring.

I could waste a lot of time with this. Help me. Please. Don't get sucked in...it might be too late for me. I'm...wasting...my...life...

This one is for the pagan out there. Yes, you know who you are. And if you have to wonder whom it is I speak of, it's not you.

Smythe should join up.

I feel something, but it ain't the Force. Pity, perhaps? Uncontrollable laughter? Maybe even a strange sense of envy...*shudder*.

It's nice to build one in theory, but I wanna go and do it in reality. Now that would be fun!

But since I'm not going to building a trebuchet any time soon, how 'bout a potato gun? We could shoot the incoming Freshmen :)

posted by Bolo | 6:09 PM
2 speakage
 

Praiseworthy

Praise the LORD for good friends. That's all for now.

posted by Bolo | 3:14 PM
4 speakage


7.15.2006  

Through and For

A little while ago, I was sitting down, reading through portions of Colossians 1. I'd been journaling about the need to see Christ more clearly, that I might praise Him more passionately. I looked at verse 16, which reads, "For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created through Him and for Him." The last phrase caught my eye; He is both the cause and the purpose, the means and the end.

As I proceeded to journal some thoughts on this verse, I glanced outside so I could let my mind wander and churn. What I saw surprised me, for I had not expected such a sight: the sun, a gloriously warm and lazy orange, sat just a little above the horizon. All things have been created through Him and for Him. I've seen many soul-aching sunsets, some while sitting on a beach, some from a mountainside trail, some from the balcony of the Skyline house, and some from the waters at Kewalo's. Most of them, I must confess, I beheld while not thinking about the Creator who created all things, sunsets included, for Himself.

It is a wonderful thought that He creates so powerfully and purposefully. When it says that Christ creates all things "for Himself," that does not mean that He is selfish, and we cannot or should not enjoy those things; quite the contrary! Rather, what is meant is that the enjoyment of things in creation is most true and full when they are enjoyed in such a way that, by His grace and good pleasure, we rejoice that He has made all things because they reflect His glory. All things have been created through Him and for Him...including that sunset.

posted by Bolo | 10:10 PM
1 speakage
 

Linkage

'Tis no secret I'm a Tolkien Geek. As it is, I have needs. Sometimes, getting inked just isn't enough to satisfy those needs.

At least they've been around for a while. Kind of.

They should hand this out when you complete the Geek Test.

It's beginning to feel a lot like...football season :)

I definitely could've used this back in the day when I was living with Rob.

posted by Bolo | 11:47 AM
0 speakage


7.14.2006  

Understanding Defied

Some things just can't be explained. Others...well...were never really meant to be understood in the first place. Goose's thinking falls into this category, especially when his thoughts concern me :)

posted by Bolo | 7:09 PM
10 speakage
 

Morning Jargon

Some quick thoughts for this Aloha Friday morning...

Norah Jones can sing to me any day of the week. She makes me feel like Summer, Winter, Spring and Fall all at once...but just the best parts.

Szrama...hehehe. For the record, I called it a long time ago. To myself, but still...I'm the only one who consults my records, so it still counts.

Sustenance Acquisition highlight for the week: five bags of Papa John's buffalo wings. Too many to count. Heck yeah :)

Ok, if I think I finally calculated correctly, and I've figured out that I worked 76 hours last week. *Whew*. Just 60 this week...and 60 more next week. Who needs a life, right?

Speaking of having a life, be proud of me, all who chide my hermitudinous ways, for I went to a little party last night. Nothing major, mind you, but I actually chose to do so. Amazing.

It's a couple of hours past midnight in Hawai'i, which means that it's no longer the 13th of July there. Mr. Mikami, your month is up. You can't still be dead tired. Slacker.

posted by Bolo | 8:04 AM
4 speakage


7.13.2006  

My Doggy

When we were roomies in 509, the initial moments of a typical conversation between us went something like this:

Goose: "Yo, fagnut!"
Me: "Whatup man."
Goose: "It's about time you got home!"
Me: "What are you, my doggy? All you do all day is wait by the door and wag your tail?"
Goose: "Whatever. You know you love me."
Me: "Don't remind me. It's one of my many faults."

Now, however, since I've moved away and Goose got married to 509 resident #4.5, Michelle (relax people, she didn't really live with us at 509, it just seemed like she did...goodness knows she was there more than the other two official roomies), our conversations tend a little more toward the Melodramatic, rather than the Odd Couple.

Me: "Whatup man."
Goose: "Hey man, I saw you called. Are you ok?"
Me: "Yeah...why would I not be ok?"
Goose: "The only time you call me is when there's a crisis."
Me: "Do not! Can't I call just because I actually would like to converse with my vertically challenged and horizontally aggressive friend?"
Goose: "Whatever. I still bunker people like a madman...yup...that's right."
Me: "Yeah yeah yeah."
Goose: "So no crisis?"
Me: "You're a moron."
Goose: "Dude, you still didn't answer the question."

As you can see, we're very comfortable around one another...even several thousand miles apart. The little dude in the pic with him is Ben, Goose and Michelle's spawn. Another one is on the way. I fear for their neighbors. So should you.

posted by Bolo | 4:25 PM
2 speakage
 

Hymn

About this time yesterday, my phone rang. The dorm room phone, that is. The conversation that ensued unstoppered a cornucopia of thought and emotion, most of which I'm still trying to sort through.

One night prior to that call, I'd been browsing around on the web before work, and thought of the hymn I Asked the Lord That I Might Grow by John Newton. I remember Ashlea telling me about it...oh...sometime last semester, and it's been tucked away in my noggin ever since.

Anyhow, Newton's agonized cry unto the Lord seems all the more fitting after yesterday's conversation.

I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace;
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek, more earnestly, His face.

’Twas He who taught me thus to pray,
And He, I trust, has answered prayer!
But it has been in such a way,
As almost drove me to despair.

I hoped that in some favored hour,
At once He’d answer my request;
And by His love’s constraining pow’r,
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry pow’rs of hell
Assault my soul in every part.

Yea more, with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe;
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.

Lord, why is this, I trembling cried,
Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?
“’Tis in this way, the Lord replied,
I answer prayer for grace and faith.

These inward trials I employ,
From self, and pride, to set thee free;
And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
That thou may’st find thy all in Me.”

posted by Bolo | 7:39 AM
2 speakage
 

*Yawn*

It's a vicious cycle, it is. I work, then try to sleep after work, cough too much, try to sleep again, wake up, go to work, feel like crud at work, try to sleep, cough too much, try to sleep again...

Bleh.

Even food isn't so great right now...I feel too tired to eat.

posted by Bolo | 1:15 AM
2 speakage


7.12.2006  

What They See

I remember telling Worley once upon a time that I didn't care what people remembered of me when I left here, save one thing: I desperately wanted them to see Jesus. That's still the case. I don't want that to be last thing remembered, and in a sense, I don't even want that to be first; I'd rather it be the only thing. The one overwhelming hope I have is that when I leave, I'd have walked in such a way so as to leave people loving and desiring Jesus all the more. I say "overwhelming" not so much because that desire encompasses me and consumes me, but because I fall so darned short of it.

One of the handful of books I've been reading through as of late has been C.J. Mahaney's Humlity: True Greatness. As I read through a couple chapters last night and this morning, I kept thinking of how impossible it seemed for me to show people Jesus when I myself feel as though I have no idea of what my Savior really is like. I mean, I say I know Him, but does my life reflect that? I doubt this a lot, I do. I think about it, and I struggle through it.

It's a good thing that Scripture reassures me that yes, my life does indeed shine with my Savior's glory, dim though that Light may seem at times. Much like the sun's rays break through and paint the dark and stormy clouds with with a beauty otherwise impossible, so does Jesus' saving work break through my repeated failure and doubt to show forth in a beauty worth praising for eternity. That is, undoubtedly, the beauty that the Lord brings forth in the soul of a penitent man, one clinging to the cross in desperate joy, one now clothed in the righteousness of Christ. Do I make it my one goal in life to see that glorious grace, to seek it with all I am? Still more, do I rejoice in it in such a way that others, by grace, will rejoice in it as well?

Worley's gone now, living in Nash Vegas. I still think about that night late last year when we talked about that. That conversation was really ironic, because I gave him a distinctly and infamously wretched first impression of myself. He's one of several who've spoken of meeting me by saying, "Toto, I hated you!" I praise the Lord that Worley's opinion didn't last. In fact, I'm always greeted with a classic Worley bear hug and grin from ear to ear; that's the only way he can smile, I think. I miss the guy and remember him fondly, and I think he'd say the same of me. But you know what? More than anything, I hope he remembers seeing Jesus in me. I certainly saw Jesus in him.

posted by Bolo | 2:40 PM
2 speakage
 

Hey, I Know You!

Just a few moments ago I was browsing around the iTunes Music Store, looking at some of the albums available from Sovereign Grace. The top downloaded Sovereign Grace song was Jesus, Thank You. For you IBC folks out there, you may recognize it as one that Nathan introduced a couple of months back. I bring it up, however, because it's written by a certain Pat Sczebel...yup, 'Drew, that Pat.

posted by Bolo | 8:15 AM
0 speakage
 

Word

2 Samuel 24
Now again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and it incited David against them to say, "Go, number Israel and Judah." The king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him, "Go about now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and register the people, that I may know the number of the people." But Joab said to the king, "Now may the LORD your God add to the people a hundred times as many as they are, while the eyes of my lord the king still see; but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?" Nevertheless, the king's word prevailed against Joab and against the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders of the army went out from the presence of the king to register the people of Israel. They crossed the Jordan and camped in Aroer, on the right side of the city that is in the middle of the valley of Gad and toward Jazer. Then they came to Gilead and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi, and they came to Dan-jaan and around to Sidon, and came to the fortress of Tyre and to all the cities of the Hivites and of the Canaanites, and they went out to the south of Judah, to Beersheba. So when they had gone about through the whole land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. And Joab gave the number of the registration of the people to the king; and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men. Now David's heart troubled him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O LORD, please take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly." When David arose in the morning, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, "Go and speak to David, 'Thus the LORD says, "I am offering you three things; choose for yourself one of them, which I will do to you.'"" So Gad came to David and told him, and said to him, "Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days' pestilence in your land? Now consider and see what answer I shall return to Him who sent me." Then David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Let us now fall into the hand of the LORD for His mercies are great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man." So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning until the appointed time, and seventy thousand men of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented from the calamity and said to the angel who destroyed the people, "It is enough! Now relax your hand!" And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. Then David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who was striking down the people, and said, "Behold, it is I who have sinned, and it is I who have done wrong; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let Your hand be against me and against my father's house." So Gad came to David that day and said to him, "Go up, erect an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite." David went up according to the word of Gad, just as the LORD had commanded. Araunah looked down and saw the king and his servants crossing over toward him; and Araunah went out and bowed his face to the ground before the king. Then Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" And David said, "To buy the threshing floor from you, in order to build an altar to the LORD, that the plague may be held back from the people." Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take and offer up what is good in his sight. Look, the oxen for the burnt offering, the threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for the wood. Everything, O king, Araunah gives to the king." And Araunah said to the king, "May the LORD your God accept you." However, the king said to Araunah, "No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God which cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. David built there an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Thus the LORD was moved by prayer for the land, and the plague was held back from Israel.

"No, but I will surely buy it for you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God which cost me nothing." Two thoughts hit me this morning as I read this. First, David revered the LORD in such a way and to such a degree that his sacrifice for sin had to be just that: a sacrifice. There was cost involved, and he would pay it. Second, it is wonderful and humbling to look at this and know that the LORD was pointing, even in David's reverent declaration and offering, toward the precious sacrifice He Himself would pay upon the cross. From the beginning of history, God makes it painstakingly clear that man cannot possibly bear the deadly cost of sin. At the cross He provided the Lamb, the only offering for sin that would suffice...for nothing could have cost Him more.

posted by Bolo | 7:26 AM
0 speakage
 

Linkage

The next version of Firefox? It's gone beta after being in alpha forever.

Interesting.

Hey, there's hope even for me!

Whoa. The portable music world as we know it could have been vastly different.

posted by Bolo | 2:31 AM
0 speakage


7.11.2006  

A Year Ago

Every so often, I like to look through the archives and see what I've posted in the months and years that have gone by. This post, from a little over a year ago, was a good reminder of the resolutions I'd made, as well as how much life can change in a year. Oh, and if you've not already clicked on the link, Mr. and Mrs. O'Neal, you two should read it together :)

posted by Bolo | 11:12 PM
0 speakage
 

Honestly

Yesterday morning, Chriyus made me breakfast. Well, second breakfast; first breakfast was the leftover double cheeseburger from the night before. We sat on his couch, washing down the toast and eggs with coffee out of orange University of Tennessee mugs. I told him that when we get together next week, I'm buying the coffee so that he'll have to drink it out of my Notre Dame mug.

With the acknowledgment of the Fighting Irish's superiorority out of the way, our conversation turned toward more serious matters. One of the things we mulled over that still has me thinking today is the manner in which we, as Christians, often interact with one another. In particular, it's that generic declaration, "I'm fine," or, "I'm doing well."

Are we really?

Chriyus and I both know very well our own struggles as children of God: namely, that we don't live like what we are. If we're not fine, or we're not doing well, why do we say we are? Chriyus pointed out something very telling. He said that if we told the truth in our churches concerning our struggles as believers, no one would have to be admonished to fellowship with one another in love, nor would anyone go home; we'd all be telling the very first person we greeted how we struggled to mortify sin the week before, and in an ideal situation, we'd soon be immersed in penitent and supplicant prayer. Of course, it's much harder to do this with others we don't know. But should it be? After all, are we not one body, with Christ as the head?

In thinking over this, as well as my own struggles to really be honest with myself and with others, I keep coming back to the root sin of pride. I don't want others to know I'm struggling, particularly if they've already said they're doing well. That would make me look like some pagan, if week after week I said I'm struggling! *Sigh*...it's yet another way I find to try to push the LORD away from His proper place as Lord over my life.

posted by Bolo | 2:28 PM
0 speakage
 

Linkage

It's now officially a transitive verb.

An old link, one that's been around for a long, long time, but well worth clicking on anyway.

When you click on this, only some of you will get it. Hehehehe :)

"Brownware"...oh my.

Please tell me they're kidding.

posted by Bolo | 7:17 AM
0 speakage


7.10.2006  

Extra Tasty Runny

A part of our conversation from earlier today:

Me: "You know how when you're sick, like with something viral, and your phlegm just tastes different?"
Andrew: "Yeah?"
Me: "Yeah...it's like that now."
Andrew: "Oh."

posted by Bolo | 5:46 PM
0 speakage
 

Word

2 Corinthians 5:21
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Ephesians 3:14 -17a
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

Psalm 113:4 - 6
The LORD is high above all nations; His glory is above the heavens. Who is like the LORD our God, who is enthroned on high, who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth?

1 Peter 1:8, 9
And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

1 Kings 21:25 - 29
Surely there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife incited him. He acted very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites had done, whom the LORD cast out before the sons of Israel. It came about when Ahab heard these words, that he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and fasted, and he lay in sackcloth and went about despondently. Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, "Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the evil in his days, but I will bring the evil upon his house in his son's days."

In the past several weeks, I've read these verses and passages over and over to one degree or another, trying to really meditate on the truths contained in each of them. I don't type them out here because I feel I've really gotten anywhere in my pondering; quite the contrary, I feel even more inadequate to say anything about God's Word. If you have anything to offer about these verses and the context that surrounds each of them, I'd love to hear your thoughts :)

posted by Bolo | 11:27 AM
0 speakage


7.09.2006  

Indulgence

I indulged myself a little last night and downloaded the Quake II demo. That piece of software has to be at least 8 years old, probably more. It was quite nice running around that very first map, shooting the aliens that have used my body as a host to spawn their phlegm-like embryos in my chest, remembering where all of the secret areas are, and slowly regaining the concentration and intensity that made first-person shooters so darned fun. *Sigh*...I felt like a teenager again. What I really should do is install the full copy, patch it to the latest version (hehehe...that's funny), and go find a server and rock on. It'd be fun to find the old clan guys and fool around with them...haven't heard from most of them for years. A lot of years, actually. One of these days, I might just do a little blog post obituary on that clan...man, those were fun times...

posted by Bolo | 8:49 PM
2 speakage
 

Interrupted

This is, without a doubt, one of my favorite pictures of all time. Probably my most favorite, if I really think about it. Mon once said that Andrew, Brian, and I take great silhouette shots together; she's right, we do. It might be because our body shapes are so very distinct, all the way up to our heads and whatever hair we sport. Personally, the aesthetic reasons don't really matter.

When we lined up for that shot, Boss had entrusted his camera to some haole guy who was cruising near the wall. I don't remember if he was kama'aina or a tourist, but I do remember that he looked like he would've been shark bait if he had been out in the water with us. Now that I think about it, it's kind of odd that this particular shot ended up being taken by someone so random, someone we'd never met who had absolutely no stake in how the picture turned out. He had no idea it was to be one of the last times any of us can remember surfing together, or that we'd all end up so far away from that particular stretch of waterfront. He couldn't have known about the countless times each of us had waxed up and paddled out, then rode in on whatever manini swell we could find to relieve our aching shoulders, looking for the lightposts and the tree that marked The Stairs on the wall. Nor, for that matter, had he any way of knowing about our friendship, and the unique ways that the three of us have grown in our times away from Kewalo's. I'm also certain he had no idea that he'd be taking a picture that was so deeply symbolic for those three local boys. Nope, he was just some random haole guy, intent on enjoying the sunset with his wife.

I'm glad we interrupted him.

posted by Bolo | 12:20 AM
2 speakage


7.08.2006  

Linkage

The Nihonjin can't manufacture a washing machine worth beans, but they make sewer systems and storm drains that look like this.

It's a dog-eat-dog contest. Ok, maybe not, but it ought to be.

Anyone who's spent any amount of time on message boards, IRC channels, MUDs, or chat rooms has inevitably run into these.

Ever wonder what Adam West and Burt Ward said every time they had to pull on their tights?

"Paging Josh Copeland, paging Josh Copeland!"

posted by Bolo | 2:48 PM
0 speakage
 

Bits of Tid

Random thoughts that flow through my mind, just after midnight...

Whew. I thought I had a mere 56 hours of work lined up for next week, but I just realized that I don't. I forgot about the 18 hours in the office at Carver, doing Ambassador work. John Moody was right...I don't sleep...and I still won't...

Speaking of next week, at some point I'm going to sit my butt down in a theater and watch the movies I've been meaning to watch but haven't quite seen yet. By myself. Or...maybe I'll kidnap that O'Neal guy...

Here's the burning question of the summer: Will Dining Services keep the $4.75 buffet during the course of the regular school year, or is the plentiful provender just a summer fling to help aleviate tension on Dining Service's staff due to the renovation of the cafeteria? Those who've seen my sustenance acquisition technique concerning this seasonal slew already know where I stand on the issue :)

On a far more serious note, it looks like Mon and Dave are finally going to get the baby. From what I remember Mon telling me yesterday, it's just a matter of the judge approving everything, and then she'll go over to the Marshall Islands and get the little girl. The approval, at this point at least, is pretty much at foregone conclusion. For those of you who've been asking and praying, I thank you heartily on their behalf...they're very grateful.

Hmmm...that reminds me...this one will be the second of three rugrats in one year. Mary's due sometime in the Fall, I think. Are there any other names that begin with "K" left in the world? Oh, and Gary, I've not heard of any retreats that FCF is planning to Timberline in the Fall...have you?

At the current rate they're churning them out, I predict that 'Drew will overtake Kev in total number of blog posts sometime around the winter solstice.

Yesterday, I was officially informed by the powers-that-be at Facebook that I poke people too much and too often. I'm not sure how to take this. One part of me realizes that, from a sys admin standpoint, they implement such limitations on their systems for specific and rational reasons. Another part of me wants to tell them the poke limitation is retarded, and should check to see if you're merely doing a poke-back, or an original poke. Yet another part of me wants to cry out in exultant ululation, as I've been recognized as a first-rate poker. I mean, now that I've achieved this notoriety, what else have I to strive for in life?

Speaking of achievement, I kindasorta set out to do a bunch of things at the beginning of the summer break. This is huge, as I'm not a goal-oriented person. While I won't say precisely how much I've actually accomplished, I will point out the fact that several days ago, I said I could do with another five months of Summer ;) That being said, I'm quite happy with where things are headed, going into the Fall Semester. Except, of course, for the fact that all those people are going to be around here, ruining my peace and quiet. *Sigh*.

I'm hungry.

posted by Bolo | 12:37 AM
2 speakage


7.07.2006  

Linkage: Special Episode

There is nothing redeeming about being this lame, nothing at all. I need to go watch some old school Black Belt Theater (Five Deadly Venoms, anyone?) to restore my faith in Asian athleticism and hiney-kicking. Seriously, guys, can't you at least...I dunno...look like cool geeks?

posted by Bolo | 6:59 PM
2 speakage
 

Reproduction

Sometimes it's not good to read too many Star Wars Expanded Universe novels. I'm convinced that there are creatures living in my lungs using my earthsuit as a host for their diabolical plan to take over the Earth. They're reproducing as I type, causing their myriad embryos, encased in a semi-solid fluid that bears a striking resemblance to yellow, brown, and green phlegm, to make their way up my windpipe (my poor cilia, being forced to help those maniacal monstrosities!) and out of any orifice they can find. Ugh.

posted by Bolo | 6:29 PM
4 speakage
 

Maybe...Maybe...

Come late December/early January, life could get...adventurous. If Brian and I do venture forth from here together to find Andrew and Sandi, we'd be going into territory neither one of us has ever been in, driving in conditions that a couple of guys with Hawai'i State Driver's Licenses normally don't see...especially not these two...not together, at least.

Uh-oh.

Uh-oh is right...but how cool would that be?!?! Think about it...the possibilities are mind-boggling, with a road trip spanning 10 hours...both ways...

Boss: "Hoooo, how much longah we get? Da kine...cold you know...gotta lose weight...eh, so what exit we supposed to take?"
Me: "I dunno, I tot you was da dakine...da Navimuhgatah."
Boss: "Wot? Brah, you da one living mainland!"
Me: "Not even! Babooze, I stay da Pilot cuz da Pilot gotta be tall enuff fo see ova da dakine, da dashboad, but da Navimuhgatah no need, das why you no moa boostah seat."
Boss: "Hooo, fine den, be laidat, bumbai I goin lose weight in da cah!"

Yup, this could get very adventurous...

posted by Bolo | 11:24 AM
0 speakage


7.06.2006  

Friendly First

It was getting late and he had to "put Sandi to sleep," so 'Drew and I ended our conversation. It's the first time we've ended a conversation because of that; I don't think either one of us is or will be complaining, though. For a little over an hour, we had conversed on anything and everything, spanning such topics as driver's licenses, creatures born in the 90's, humorous lessons on patience, absurd questions with no answers, funks and faith, Gary's Command, women, Jim Winn and women, Jim Winn and a woman, Jim Winn and the woman, strange proposals, and pressure points.

What a friendship :)

It'll be interesting to see how the next three years play out. Calculating the time difference won't be a factor, but travel time will be. He may be a student again, and he may graduate before me...again. We'll see :)

posted by Bolo | 11:48 PM
2 speakage
 

Somewhere Between

So. John Moody uses my room to study. Several weeks ago, when I walked into my room to change for work, he claimed aloud that he's convinced that I never sleep. He's not far off. This week, I've calculated that I have somewhere between 70 - 75 hours of work. Why "somwhere between"? Because every time I've calculated, I've come up with a different number, one between 70 - 75. Duh. The point of this post, however, is not to point out the obvious lack of sleep or math skills your curiously calculating author is guilty of. Rather, it was supposed to point out that as much as Mr. Moody uses my room, he almost never sees me in here. Until today, that is. He came in about ten minutes ago, and has just left. He'll be back later, but not until I'm gone, in all likelihood. Where will I go? Why, off to nibble away at that number somewhere between 70 - 75, of course :)

posted by Bolo | 2:55 PM
0 speakage
 

Foxy

As some of you well know, I'm a huge fan of Mozilla, and of Firefox in particular. A handful of you who read this blog regularly have even been pursuaded by my gentle goadings to forsake Micro$oft's Internet Exploder and turn to Mozilla's far foxier web browser. That being the case, it should be noted that a great deal of Firefox's advantages kick in when one employs Extensions. Aaahhh, but what are Extensions, you ask? Simply put, they're little bits of software that can be seamlessly integrated into Firefox itself. Think of it this way: they're very useful upgrades you get for free. Sweet, huh?

That being the case, I've decided to include just a few of my favorite Extensions here. Think of it as my party favor for the mid-summer party that never was. Or something like that. Yeah.

Mouse Gestures. This little hotness is something I've been using for...oh...a couple of years now, I think. It's my favorite one, quite honestly. Why? It's very simple on the low end of the learning curve and therefore easy to get addicted to, yet can be very verbose and robust when you really dig in and use it the way it can be used. Foxy, very foxy.

Dragdropupload. This one gets bonus points for instantaneously bringing to mind all those times I had to manually browse for a file so I could attach it to an email or something similar. You drag, you drop, you upload. Simple...and foxy.

Tab Mix Plus. I love tabbed browsing; I love it even more when poking people on Facebook. Now, with this little piece of web-browsing heaven, tabbed browsing gets more failsafe than RAID Mirroring. How so? Well, if I happen to close a tab on accident, I can open it back up instantly. Yeah, I know...foxy.

If any of you have any other Extensions you'd like to key me in on, you know where to click :)

posted by Bolo | 10:09 AM
4 speakage
 

The Italian Guy

I love Joel Gasparotto...whenever I need a nice little boost to my sense of wardrobe flair and verve, I chat with Joel. Everbody needs a friend like him. Just one, mind you; more than one, and it'll look like you're cultivating groupies. Precisely one, though, and his nearly over-the-top sincerity is just perfect. Makes a guy smile when he picks out a suit in the morning...and that's a good thing :)

posted by Bolo | 2:13 AM
0 speakage


7.05.2006  

The Black Van of Death

FCF's Setup & Takedown Team called it the "Black Van of Death". We all occasionally joked that its VIN ended with a "666" and the thing had a personality that came straight from the Halawa prisons. It was big, it was black, and it was ugly. Still, like the gentle and faithful giant it was, we loved that mechanized beast, we really did. For the faithful, sweaty few, the Black Van of Death embodied what it meant to be a member of FCF's not-so-famed setup and takedown crew: Smashed fingers, stubbed toes, bruised shins, strained backs, sweat mixed with blood...you name it, we had it, and we were proud of it. We took a perverse, masochistic joy in our job. We went until there was no gas left in the tank, and still, we kept on pushing.

Just like the Black Van of Death.

The team looked upon that automotive monstrosity with a peculiar affection, perhaps the sort of affection only a mother would know. Ok, maybe only my mother would know. Anyway. Moving on. The van's headlights might as well have been powered by hamsters (there were surely critters of some sort living in the van), the internal gauges were about as accurate as Enron's accounting (did anyone else see that Kenneth Lay passed away today?), and the windshield wipers wiped as efficiently as a two-year old after he's gone "number two." Yup, just like the rest of the team, the Van was ugly, but it got the job done. There was no doubt about it, it was one of us.

I don't recall precisely when the BVD met its ultimate (yet well-met) demise, but it was on the morning of, ironically enough, an Easter Sunrise Service. Gary Manning, bless his brave soul, was driving it from Blaisdell Park, where the Sunrise Service was held, when the BVD's engine decided to suddenly and fatally seize up. Black smoke poured forth from under the hood, and all Gary the Valiant could do was pray as the Van choked and coughed its way into the Aliamanu parking lot. Our respects were paid in the only appropriate manner: we unloaded the speakers and miscellaneous equipment from the back of the Van, knowing very well that our dear buddy had given its last sparks for the team. A few weeks later, the BVD was to be towed away, never to be seen by any Setup & Takedown Team member again. Yet, the legacy of the Black Van of Death lives on. Like Grant said, "The thing was a disaster - and it was fantastic."

posted by Bolo | 10:54 PM
0 speakage
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