Halloween

Tonight I paid homage to my friend kate brown. She has fearlessly graced the cover of the tagalong box since 1998 (I think) and I had no choice but to use her as inspiration for halloween 2010. Thanks kate, you're the best!

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Wyld Life

So tonight (YES TONIGHT!)
Sorry, just got done with club and I'm still in that mood. We had an awesome halloween club where almost all the kids dressed up. I wasn't sure what to be but I have come to find that putting together a last minute costume is much easier with access to my parents closet. The clear choice was for me to be a nerd.
Everything was going fine then the old area director showed up unannounced. I didn't know what to do so I just played it cool and welcomed him and his family but on the inside I had the all too familiar sense of insecurity filling me. On some level I felt like I was being judged and was nervous that my additions to club would be seen as lame and unnecessary. I distinctly remember watching their reactions to things instead of enjoying club fully. I mean at one point during the game I found myself laughing because two boys fell over from spinning too much only to see looks of concern on their faces. Did I do something wrong? Was my game too aggressive? Am I even a good leader?
I had to talk myself down the rest of the evening and after club the old ad told me I did a good job. I think he was telling the truth and appreciated his affirmation. I'm not mad or bitter that he was there, in fact I understand his desire to see club.
There are still days that I miss shawnee mission and specifically the guys at northwest. Every now and then one of them will write on my facebook wall. It makes my day, ever time. If I were close by, dropping in on club would be a must.

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Poker

I was hanging out with my friend colin tonight and in the short amount of time we spent with each other, he brought in over $400 from playing online poker.
This inspired me to check out online poker more seriously because I could use some supplemental income. As much as I love my new job, I'm currently getting paid less than when I was on student staff. I had it all planed out; I was going to come home and sign up right away to start making money. Unfortunately, I only have like $ 20 in my bank account so I'm going to wait until next paycheck to start.
While I wait for my poker dreams to become a reality, I think I'm going to start selling my plasma again. Its basically free money and I'm in need of some green.

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I've Become A Bad Blogger

I want to start by apologizing for my recent bad blogging habits. I have no excuse other than a change in priorities. Fortunately or unfortunately I don't have as much free time as I once did and this whole real job thing had put me on a more regular sleep schedule (except for tonight, apparently) and have been trying to phase out tv and internet from my pre bed routine. I am now going to try and fit blogging into my normal day instead of leaving it until before bed.

In more exciting news I downloaded a new app for my phone that is a fish tank wallpaper complete with swimming fish that I can feed. So entertaining, seriously I sometimes just sit and feed my fish because I am nervous that they will die if I don't feed them enough. Basically it is all the fun of a real fish tank without real responsibility aka the same thing I had going on in college when my room mate ben had a sweet salt water tank. Totally worth the $2 I spent on it.

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Lifestyle Change

I'm putting my fat ass on a diet.

There are a few reasons for this but mainly: I've come to realize that my hairline is slowly but surely receding. For the last two months or so I have been living in denial but I can't lie to myself anymore. I thought I was going to be in the clear because my mom's brother still has all of his hair. Unfortunately, I am following in the footsteps of my oldest brother - thinning hair.

You might be wondering how my thinning hair is making me go on a diet, let me fill you in. I've always known that finding a wife was going to be mostly based on my personality but I'm pretty sure no personality can cover bald and overweight. Thus the diet.

I probs have a few years before the thinning hair becomes noticeable but there is no way I will find a wife by then (especially because no part of me even wants to date right now). I'm hoping that I will be balding and average which I think my personality can handle.

Also, sorry for the time between posts, I will try and be better.

My Parents

So if you couldn't tell, I didn't really come from a family that shows emotions or is in any way very affectionate. I know, surprise.

Suze has been out of town on business which has resulted in eating a lot of left overs and going out (no complaints here). Tonight I got to experience something quite endearing.

My parents share few interests but reality TV happens to be one of them; and on the top of that list: Dancing With The Stars. It was on tonight and my mom called to talk about the possible eliminations with my dad. I could only hear my dads end of the conversation but it was, dare I say, flirty? It was awkward but confirmed that their 31 years of marriage is not a hoax, they actually love each other.

Country Buffet

I love buffets!

Seriously, it should probs be a health concern. My motto is: "eat so much that the restaurant looses money on me." In college I had to limit myself to one buffet a week and it was always Asian buffet. If there is anything I love more than normal buffet, its Asian. Unfortunately, since moving to Aurora, I have not been to an Asian buffet (hopefully soon) or any buffet until tonight!

Tonight I went to the ever popular, Country Buffet. The food was pretty good (fried chicken better than advertised, shrimp way worse) but the best part was the icee machine!!! What?! An icee machine! I had 2.

Also funny to note that it was just me and my dad at dinner (Suze is out of town and Rob was working). He is a very stoic person in general but I think his talkativeness gets cut in half while eating. It will probably always be strange eating with just my dad when we aren't sitting in front of the TV.

Just One Of Those Days

My alarm went off at 6:50 this morning. I was planning on getting some work done before my coffee meeting with a leader in Highlands Ranch at 10. I rolled over decided being awake was so over rated, turned my alarm off, and fell back asleep. After a bit I did the "freak-out-I'm-pretty-sure-I-just-slept-through-something-important" wake up. Thankfully, it was only 9 and still had plenty of time to get ready before my meeting.

Th rest of the day went fine until around 5 when I was ready to leave for Wyld Life club. I remembered that I had to upload a few videos onto my computer to show to the club so in the 10 spare minutes I pulled out the flash drive containing them. I opened them up and for some reason they would not play. Awesome. I could not figure it out and had to give up around 5:30 to make sure I wasn't late to club. I was down the street already when I remembered my ipod was in m room. Can't have club without music so I turned around. I got to the same spot out of the neighborhood and remembered the banquet flyers were on my desk so I turned around. Now it is 5:45 and there is no time to get the supplies I needed for club so on the drive I started thinking of new games to play that didn't require anything.

I made it to the club house right at 6, perfectly on time and started to unload my car. When I got to the trunk, there was no sound system. Awesome. I forgot that I took it out of the car Tuesday because I had to make room for my mom's suitcase. Club started in less than an hour and it would take me at least 30 minutes round trip. I decided to risk the traffic and retrieve the stranded sound system.

I made it back just in time to finish setting everything up before the kids got there. Club was awesome and is just more evidence that I am the most easily entertained person ever. My current favorite club quote came during the raffle. The question I asked the winner was "what's your favorite mythical creature?" and a 7th grade boy from the crowd yelled as loud as he could "UNICORNS!!!" It was so funny that I buckled over laughing and it took me a few seconds to regain my composure.

Best Dressed

Today I was the best dressed at work. It was awesome because I was wearing an old KU shirt and sweat pants but it does become less impressive when you realize the other "people" in the office are dogs. Working at home has its drawbacks but today the perks made it quite enjoyable.

In other news I just downloaded a blogger app for my phone. No one really needs anything like this but it does make life a little more convenient. I do appologize for the brevity of this post and other smart phone posts to come.

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Crying

I think I cry a lot.

I'm not really sure when this started because most of my life I would have described myself as someone who doesn't really cry. Before a few years ago, the times I would cry were moments I remember, instances where I was overcome by emotion that I had no other response but one or two salty tears.

Some of the funnier times I've cried include: the "broken heart" YL skit when I was a sophomore in college, watching Juno for the first time, and while reading a book on a bus in Israel (sitting next to an armed soldier, of course).

It has taken me some time to truly figure this out but I know now that I have a heart that breaks for people. Tonight at Bible study, I cried. Twice. Me crying has almost become a weekly thing, almost, but I'm totally OK with it which is strange because vulnerable is not a state I like to be in.

I have a worldly definition of masculinity deeply roted in who I am that has taken years to crack. Only in the last maybe two years have I allowed my emotions to show more publicly, I have embraced the tender heart I have and am trying to figure out what it means/looks like to live in that and not hide it.

Fire

I got an email today from my YL region that Crooked Creek Ranch is in danger of a forest fire. The fire is about 300 acres and is less than a mile away from CCR; to make matters worse, it is 0% contained.

I was up there just a few weeks ago for Leadership Camp and there are so many dead trees in that area. I remember thinking that the forest department should try to start controlled burns before there is a huge fire that burns out of control throughout the mountains. That being said, I am by no means an expert on fires and I'm not even sure you can do controlled burns in the mountains. I have just felt like there was little being done to deal with all the dead trees.

I pray this fire doesn't grow larger than it is now and that everyone fighting it remains safe.

New Fame

My blog now has its own response blog:

responsetogreg.blogspot.com

These posts will be funny, entertaining, and most likely rude. The poster was not up for the challenge of replying to all previous posts but thinks he/she will have time to respond to all of them from here on out but I make no promises (commitment level? possibly low).

In other news, I have officially given up on KU's football season. Don't get me wrong, I am not a fair weather fan nor am I suddenly a Turner Gill hater. I simply have just come to the realization that we aren't good and this year we will be lucky to end with 2 more wins. Until today I was still trying to convince myself that we were OK; obviously not great but by no means terrible. Nope, we're terrible. At least there is only one month till KU basketball starts!

Uncle Peter

My uncle Peter is quite the character. He is my mom's brother (making him Jewish) and there really isn't a way to say it nicely, he is flat out obnoxious. For sure the crazy uncle that everyone loves. Anyway, he called my mom to tell her he was in town yesterday and we all met up for lunch. I was a little apprehensive because of my new job in a Christian ministry; how do I be bold in who I am and what I do without offending anyone? After some chit chat Peter told me that when he was in high school he was involved with Young Life. What?!?! My crazy Jewish uncle a part of YL at George Washington back in the 70's?!?! Seeing my confusion he went on to explain the extent of his involvement: he went to a YL hosted dating game night and was selected to be one of the three guys being asked questions. He ended up being picked and won the date. He also told me he attended club a few times. In his own words he said "I gave those guys hell. And not because I was Jewish; it was just my personality" Hilarious and probably so true.

I love that YL has been reaching out to kids for so long and that my family was impacted by it before my parents had even met. I know that my uncle is not a Christian but a YL memory has stuck with him for 40 years. That is awesome! I hope that in 40+ years someone will talk about a crazy game/event that they experienced at YL.