A Vindication

At an unspecified point in my life, I may or may not have said, "It's only funny when you fall down," or something to that effect.

I would like to point out at this time that although it is an alleged statement, it is nevertheless true.

I would like to further assert that while the above alleged statement may or may not be slightly sadistic in nature, it also illustrates my hidden philosophical depths, as illustrated below:

"It is not funny that anything else should fall down; only that a man should fall down. Why do we laugh? Because it is a gravely religious matter: it is the Fall of Man. Only man can be absurd: for only man can be dignified." -G. K. Chesterton


Just think about it.

why facebook?

yep. this says it all.


(oh, and sorry about that last guy. I tried to get him to clean up his language . . . )

a little housekeeping

In my mind, I imagine that I have a house.

It’s a pretty unremarkable house, but it’s my very own. In fact, I’m the only one that lives there.

For a long time, I’ve worked on my house. I’ve sanded and I’ve swept. I’ve painted and I’ve polished. I’ve dusted and I’ve decorated. It’s nowhere near perfect, but I’ve reached a point where I feel comfortable throwing out the welcome mat.

And then the visitors start coming. I let them in despite the fact that maybe the basement isn’t finished, or my room’s not cleaned, or there are dishes in the sink.

But it doesn’t seem to matter. They don’t care about a few crumbs, or the occasional dent in the wall. They just appreciate all the work I’ve done. They make themselves comfortable. It’s gratifying, having someone appreciate my house, having someone to show things to, and to talk about things with.

But sometimes, after I’ve showed them pretty much everything worth seeing, my guests start talking about other houses they’ve visited. Then they start comparing my house to these other houses. Sometimes, they even start looking out my windows to the other houses on my street. Newer, nicer, more interesting houses.

I don’t want my guests to be unhappy, so I start making sure my house is extra nice. I wake up earlier and earlier to clean up for them, and stay up later and later entertaining them.

But it’s hard making sure everything is perfect. And there are a lot of projects I’ve put on hold since my guests arrived. And there are other guests I want to invite. And there are other houses I want to visit.

But I can’t say anything, because they are guests; and you don’t make houseguests help you with your house.

Because my house is not their home.

And there is a big difference between “mi casa es su casa” and “welcome home.”

An ode to myself

I first heard Switchfoot on the soundtrack of A Walk to Remember which came out, what? A million years ago?

So basically I've been waiting to play this song for a million years.

Only about two lines are applicable to me, but until they write a song about Meagan, this will have to do:

Let That Be Enough

Wish I had what I needed
To be on my own
'Cause I feel so defeated
And I'm feeling alone

And it all seem so helpless
And I have no plans
I'm a plane in the sunset
With nowhere to land

And I all I see
it could never make me happy
and my sand castles spend their time collapsing

Let me know that you hear me
Let me know your touch
Let me know that you love me
Let that be enough

It's my birthday tomorrow
No one here could know
I was born this Thursday
22 years ago

And I feel stuck watching history repeating
Yeah who am I just a kid who knows he's needy.

Let me know that you hear me
Let me know your touch
Let me know that you love me
Let that be enough

it's times like these that make me think grad school might not be so bad . . .

. . . because then i might be as awesome as this:


English 495 Final Class (as presented in an email from my prof):

OK, so here is the latest on our final schedule. I was reminded that I promised Trent Hickman several months ago that I would cover for him in administering his 293 final while he goes to some academic conference/tourist junket. Along with my own 293, this puts me at 6 hours and counting in the bowels of the JFSB this Saturday. To avoid any more time in that eternal semi-twilight world, I propose the following.

Instead of Saturday breakfast, we do Tuesday lunch (that’s tomorrow). You bring your presentations and I will bring the Pizza and Apple Beer (or Root Beer for the more orthodox among us). Final papers will be due Saturday via email by 5:00 p.m.--thus prolonging your agony by an extra 8 hours or so should you choose to avail yourself of that time.

Hope this is amenable to all.


English Language 350 Final Class (as presented in story form by my prof):

As you go out into the "Real World", Be Willing To:

1. Learn And Do New Things
2. Do More Than Is Required
3. Express Your Opinion Honestly And With Charity
4. Accept Criticism
5. Work Well With Others
6. Give Credit To Others
7. Give Of Your Talents Freely
8. Ask For Help Rather Than Faking It
9. Be Trustworthy And To Keep Confidences
10. Be A Worthy Vessel So You Can Have The Lord's Help


yep. i'm pretty much jealous of myself right now (: