Stacks of Notes and Green

The other day, I went through and sorted almost 10 months of study notes. It took 2-3 hours...it was a trip down the Lane of Memories.

I also needed to acquire a list of hymns, so I entered almost every song we've sang since we've gone to church. There are approximately 15,260 of them. We use 83 hymn books.

Here are the notes!



Yes, yes. Pages and pages of ink, arranged by date, masterpieces which will surely be stocked in the Heavenly Library, to be read, re-read, and eventually not returned by legions of angels, and even more legions of heavenly hosts.


Then, there's the green notes.


Ah, looks like I'm going to buy myself a brand new pair of roller skates!

Since I was a small child, anytime there's a large sum of money, it goes to bills. Invariably. It's never given to Kev. It never turns out to be my birthday money, or roller skate money, or money that I can use to buy my own Party Store, where I can spend my days airing up helium balloons. If it IS for any of the above, it turns out to be a fake check, which I should have caught on to, because it had Disney cartoons on it. Ruined my 17th birthday when I tried to cash it.


OK, we've been through Notes, then fused Notes and Green with Green Notes, bridging the gap between Notes and Green. Now for the Green!


Yes, we had another squeeze load delivered today. It's a new provider. They were...sort of...well, they had crowbars with them, and I'm really glad I had the money with me in cash, let me put it that way. He seemed real glad I counted the money out for him, in the "You're lucky you didn't give me a reason" way.

I put the dogs in the goat pen, as usual. One of the guys asked if we were selling any goats. I said, "Uh, I'm not sure of the price, we can get the information to you." I then had my dad call him with our rates, which I had to call mom to determine. It's $50 for the babies, and $100 for the big ones. If someone doesn't buy them soon, we're going to have them executed at the local slaughterhouse. "Well, we usually do hawks, dogs, cats, antelopes and rats, but I think goats are like the same. They're all alike once you decapitate their tails."


As my dad says, "If you can give them away, do it!"

Double the Internet Speed, 1.3x the Fun

As you probably know, we have WildBlue satellite internet. It works good for normal use, but it lags, so I don't think it'd do good for gaming. It goes in short bursts of speed, not a constant flow. So unless all internet behaves in this fashion, I don't think it's a feasible choice for gamers. That works for me.

It's worked great- aside from the viruses we keep seeming to come in contact with that disappear on their own inexplicably and seem to cause no harm but use large amounts of bandwidth- but now that I've signed up for Guitar Tricks, an online guitar lesson site, I'm using tons of bandwidth and I didn't even know it. Luckily, my mom found a really great, free program, called Bandwidth Monitor 2. It tells you how much bandwidth you're using.


I'm now using 8 gigabytes worth of bandwidth a month. Our current plan, at $50 a month (WildBlue is for people who can't get $20/month Qwest service), only allows for 7.5 gigabytes a month. If you add in my mom needing 1-2 GB a month, you have a problem, mainly me not being able to access my guitar lessons.



Therefore, we felt the need to upgrade our account to the $70 package. With this package, our speed doubles (512k to 1 MB), and we can use a comfortable 12 GB of bandwidth a month. It was stressful, of course, having to deal with the constant threat of going over the limit of 7.5 GB, so we're glad we did it. WildBlue let us have a 2 day test period, and we decided to keep it.


Plus, the speed boost is nice. I am currently unsure if I'll download ...ayeeh....uhm...well, I forgot the name. And...the site...and the developer. After 15 minutes of desperately searching my beloved history folder, I found it. For that amount of investment, I'm downloading it.

Sins of a Solar Empire. God knows why it's named Sins of a Solar Empire. I watched some gameplay some weeks back, and it looked so interesting, I want to know how it works. You can watch gameplay trailers of real-time strategies, but there's so much more to it if you know the game mechanics.

2 hours, 37 minutes remaining. Hey. It's done. And so am I.

Sailor Moon: VHS r r0x0r

So, today I am going to order my brother's birthday wishes and dreams. I'm just nice like that. My good work apparently is not fending off this beast of a demon tonsil growing in my mouth, for it has just gained the ability to open its mouth. It had better not bite me, or I'm going to shoot it.

He, as you'll recall, wants a copy of DBZ: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 (I can still spell that properly), and some Sailor Moon DVDs. God knows how he knows about the Sailor Moon DVDs. Also, it's traditional to buy the new edition of SSB on his birthdays. I'm not a huge fan of SSB, but I have to have it in case I meet someone who wants to play it with me. It takes a lot of practice, not something you want to get accustomed to as their (they're- we'll get that in editing) beating your face in with a Pikachu or whatever you'll be able to beat people's faces in with in SSBB. That's a confusing line.



The Sailor Moon DVDs are $50 apiece from Amazon because they're all discontinued and stuff. Each DVD has 6 episodes. For the price, I could buy two and a half brand-new Hollywood releases (like I ever 'wood', get it). And the first season is 7 DVDs. What steams my biscuits is that the original Japanese DVD has the entire first season for $99. But you'd have to buy 7 separate boxes to get the same entire first season in English, costing around $200.

Then I told Pa. "Pa," I said. "We can get the first three for $100, and we can spend $60 more after that for two more." The price has raised about $50 since I last checked in the above linked post, so it makes sense to buy as many as possible before it raises another $50. (The DVDs that are sold as season 1 in English for cheap are pirated and of low quality, considering that they're only on 2 or 3 DVDs. They compress them too much to fit onto the fewer amount of DVDs.)

"Well, can't we just buy them on VHS?" he asked. "Nope, they don't...wait a minute. Yeah, they do have them on VHS...average price of $3..." Yes, the VHS cost a fraction of what the DVDs do. They only have 4 episodes on each tape as opposed to 6 for each DVD.

So instead of buying two-thirds of the first season, I bought the entire first season, and it ended up costing only $86.00 to boot. So, two-thirds of a season for $160 vs. the entire season for $86...only difference is that one is a DVD and the other's a VHS. Don't hate on the VHS.


After all, we have only one DVD player anyways.

[we're such dorks]

Shoes, Blowguns, and Throwing the Kittens Outside

I'm feeling chatty. Last night, I ended up losing track of time, and I was up until 2 AM. "Huh. That was weird," I thought as I looked at the clock.


Hold on. I've got to go put Lionel into bondage. The kittens are so miserable lately, they can't be stood if they're in the same room, and they can't be stood if they're in different rooms. Thus, I'll actually give him liberty and throw him outside. Hold on.

That's much better. I'll be standing fast in this liberty for sure. Lionel landed pretty well, but Popoe landed on his face and tumbled head-over-tail in a pile of glass. I don't even know how that was possible! There's no glass out there...I'll have to look into this matter later.


Anyway, I lost track of time, and 2 AM dropped on me like a ton of coffee beans. I set my alarm for 8:09 AM, after Romans 8:9. As you may know, my real alarm was given away to uncleanness through the lusts of its own heart, to vile affections, and to a reprobate mind. So, I use my Nintendo DS's built-in alarm clock. It works fine, but not when you need several alarm settings or if you want to wake to Craig's Top Ten Cat Songs on CATALK 95.7. NDS does not play radio.

But the NDS alarm is pretty good. The kittens being hit by cars as I speak is pretty good. SCREEEEECH. (Cat moaning.)"Oh, my God! It's still alive!" Ahh...sweet melody to my ears. Oh, and the shoes shipped. In fact, they're out for delivery. I guess Zappos.com really does ship overnight for free.

02/08/2008 8:09 A.M. OUT FOR DELIVERY

Notice anything special about that? Think, humble fool! Think! 8:09 AM was what I set my alarm for. Aren't I smart? No? Rabid coincidence again?...oh. Right.

Next, I switch topics to blowguns. This is part primer on blowguns, part personal records, and part me going through my ritual of ordering stuff online, so give me leniency on length. You don't even have to read it unless you're curious about an awesome birthday gift. It's not legal in California or Massachusetts.



As you know (There is a Still in the Air from March 23, 2007), I have a 36" 2-piece blowgun. It's .40 caliber. They make great gifts; trust me, the novelty value is through the roof...but in a good way. Just buy a 100-pack of darts along with the blowgun. It should be noted, they make great gifts in the same bloody way that BB guns do, so gift as if you were gifting a BB gun (unless you only buy plastic/blunt darts, in which case it's good for very young kids). They range in price from $10 to $35, from 2 feet to 6 feet. Some retailers sell .50 and .62 caliber.

(Real hunting blowguns are homemade with 1/2" polyvinyl chloride, and 36" is much too short for a real blowgun, and a real blowgun wouldn't be in two pieces. Go find a blowgun assembling site if you want to hunt big game- like dogs- with one. What's wrong with you, hunting dog?)


I ran out of ammo a long while ago, thus, now I'm going to order some blowgun ammunomonition. That's how I ofttimes say "ammunition." I shop with J & L Self Defense Products. I cannot attest to their sanity, nor to their goodstanding; that is, I do not endorse them as I am cautious of potentially-psychotic companies. I just know that they're nowhere near as psychotic as most blowgun- or "self-defense"- sites. They also offer a drastically superior selection, but only for .40 caliber; they do not carry .50 cal or .62.


(So you know, darts are to blowguns what "bolts" are to crossbows.)

So, I'm getting 10 broad head darts...$2.00---*
10 stinger darts...$2.00
25 target darts...$3.50---*
25 spear head darts...$4.00---*
25 plastic stun darts...$3.00
25 magnum stun darts...$4.00
24 cap darts via the cap starter kit...$6.00---**
2 packs of 72 caps for the cap darts...$3.00
1 Sidewinder 1-piece, 36" blowgun...$9.99---***

• *-These three are more or less the same, but they have different tips.
• **-I found a new ballistic; cap darts! You know those little caps that go "POP" when they are hit, the ones used in cap guns? These darts are plastic, and they have those on the end. I'm assured to have some fun with these. Say "goodbye" to peace of mind, kittens!
• ***-I also found a 24" blowgun extender (I'd like to see a bit more length in my blowgun); however, I don't think it's wise to have more than one connection in the blowgun (it bows enough with one). Currently, each half of my blowgun is 18". Thus, with the 24" extension, I would only gain 6 inches. Therefore I conclude that I should spend the extra $5 and get a 1-piece 3-foot blowgun, essentially buying a secondary blowgun. It'll also come with darts and necessary dart holders, so the $5 isn't exactly going to waste.

Great. If you're a traveling gypsy, you'll calculate the total at $37.50, not including shipping. That's a lot of money, considering it's MY money. I could instantly drop the sum to $27.50 if I didn't get the blowgun...but I am extremely curious of how they would ship a 3' pipe. Doesn't that make you curious? It makes me curious. It also intrigues me in that it is practically a self-made blog post.

OK, I went ahead and put the order through. Total was $55.07. I ordered another knickknack unrelated to blowguns for $5. I did take a survey and make $100 in magazine subscriptions...so I really made $45 today! Great! But I don't like any of the magazines. Oh well. Back to -$55.

Have I mentioned that my cat, Tiger, is chronically constipated? Yeah...more on that later. The shoes are here. Behold their dressy glory, below.

That's Tiger's leg. He is still constipated; furthermore, the kittens are both desperately begging to come back inside, and he's jealous because they're "free." I'll like, take a picture in 6 months, and see if the shoes age like the others. They're a little tight; I guess they do need breaking in. Or maybe they're tied too tight...but I don't want to make another sacrifice to the string gods today.

I'll post again once the blowgun ammo arrives, and I'll go out and shoot at a target I'll paint on the house to see how my grouping is.

Water Day: I ordered the shoes

Yes, I finally ordered my new shoes. It took a few weeks, but I managed to save up some sort of total, then I ordered them, so that I don't have to wear these shoes which have milk and gasoline all over them when I go to church.

Here's the post I mentioned them in: My Shoes. That post is dated January 07. Today is February 07. I didn't do it on purpose. It must be my exceedingly large brain...or...y'know, just simply that it took 5 Thursdays before I had enough cash to buy them. That's probably it.

In case you didn't know, they are Fitzwell Brice's (link is Zappos.com). They're really nice shoes. Like I said, I don't have to tie them (there's a loop I can loop the tied string around), and as Einstein said, "Brilliant is the man who denies the string gods their daily sacrifice of knot tying."

We'll see if they get here by tomorrow. In their Free Shipping thinger, they claim that, if you order before 1 PM PST on Thursday, they'll arrive the next day, Friday. I ordered them at 10:30 AM PST. Oh, and check out this screenshot.


Aren't I special.



Water day was very uneventful. It seemed like it was over before it had begun.

Uh...let's see...oh, I do have a nagging cut on my right ring finger. Actually, the skin cracked from being so dry. We took 1000 gallons, the Wolf took 500, everyone was happy. Don Feldick informed me that he also went through the teenage angst, and I'm doing pretty good for being in its vulture-like grasp. I only have a few weeks left to practice my virtual bowling before I put
it to the test and try real bowling. (Wow, I went from talking about my skin being dry, to how much water I got, to a reference about the teenage angst, to video games, and then to bowling.)

Last night after Bible study I had a conversation with Mr. Pinkerton. He's French. As Glenn Beck would say, he's a Frenchy-French. He wasn't carrying a white flag, so I assume he isn't completely French. Also, I did not get the urge to punch him in the face repeatedly, so I assume he isn't completely French. Also, he made some jokes and wasn't smoking a cigarette, so I assume he wasn't French. Man, it'd be so hard to be French. But you have to respect the guy; he puts it right on the table. "Hi, I'm Jimmy Pinkerton, I'm a Frenchy-French man."

And...oh, it's time to go. This post probably needs another tag- Friends/Pals, there we go- and now I am off to play a game of Wii Baseball. I can't play right unless I have some bubble gum and a baseball hat to psychotically readjust. We'll see if the shoes get here tomorrow. I can't believe today is Thursday. On one hand, I thought it was Wednesday; on the other, I thought it was Friday. That's never happened before.

Welcome the new Vacuum

The last vacuum cleaner we got was a Bissell Powerforce Bagless- the base Walmart special vacuum. It worked fine for quite a while...over a year now, I think. Or more than a year. I am unsure of why it's not working now. We vacuum about once a week. So it was good for about 50 cleanings...so it cost almost $1 each time we used it, not counting electricity. (Insert "womp womp" sound effect here.) It's still good for, I don't know, something (maybe we can give it to Good Will), but I am personally sick of it, regardless of its ability. If it were brand-new I'd still be disgusted by it, thus would not want to get another of the same model.


I remember the day my parents brought it home. It was late evening. There was a movie on in my room...something to do with a train and a raging Hell beast- probably several of them- trying to break into it. They were creatures that moved about real fast. Anyway, at first remembrance I mistook this memory for the train in Splinter Cell (I forget which of them, except that it wasn't the train in Double Agent). I also almost mistook it for the train in Paper Mario: TTYD.

I think they also picked up a copy of Dragon Ball Z: Budokai. My brother finished it in a few hours...or I think. Those games are so confusing; maybe he just...I don't know. It was so very boring, playing the matches over and over, listening to some poor VA making a fool of himself. And every time you failed a match you had to listen to the "cutscene" again. Ugh. I hate Dragon Ball Z. Now I've gone and gone off topic.

I cleaned my room especially for the vacuum, so I could vacuum it. Now I will do the same for the living room. It is 1:11 PM. A walla, one shazam, and two botta-bings later...


...and after four and a half hours of laboring, my work is finished! Yes, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the forces of filth away if but for a season. I only got one garbage bag worth of throwaway garbage; so that means the rest of the garbage stayed in the house, if you know what I mean. (That is to say, I basically just piled stuff on top of stuff in the corners! Ouch.)


My room is a total wreck now (it wasn't before?); I need to clean out my closet. Like a man. And throw stuff away. Like a man. I shave...therefore, I can do any manly deed. Including throw away useless stuff. My lack of use of my dresser is the main problem; I'll have to sort that out. But here I go, Carrying on Like A Schoolgirl. I'm also Pondering Plotting and Planning.

The new vacuum is a Dirt Devil Vibe Quick Vac. You can click the link for a picture. It looks kind of...weird. And it's very hard to push compared to the Powerforce...but it's a lot simpler, in some way. We'll see how I feel in a few weeks. It's got a cute, dandy little hatch at the bottom for emptying. Speaking of emptying, lookie what I got off of the floor!

Yes, 1 pound, 13.5 ounces of dirt and pet hair!
For good measure, I vacuumed a mint up along with the dirt. I don't want it to have bad breath. Or...dust.


My dad hates it when I clean (yet hates it when it's cluttered). My parents typically have a lot of stuff in the living room that should go in their room. "Oh, you're not my father, I don't even have enough time to properly defecate!" he says out of the blue. Really, if someone doesn't have enough time to use toilet paper, something is wrong. Though...it does explain why he always smells feces and no one else seems to.



Actually, I think I should erase that last bit. I'll get it in editing.

Like a man.



Tomorrow I will post about ice cream. Stay tuned. Or actually, just check back tomorrow at intervals. I guess staying tuned would be hitting refresh a lot, and that'd just be stupid, because I probably won't post until noon or something. Off I go to learn about...one anothering. Bleh bleh blah blah do this do that, be kindly affectioned "wah wah wah." UGH.

Television on its way

Did I finally take the mad flying leap off of the cliff of LCD TV ownership? Would I do that without consulting myself first? What do I mean by "Television on its way?" What else could I mean? Have I gotten that book on grammar yet?


First things first, I would not do that (order an LCD TV) without consulting myself first. Actually, if I convinced myself to spend $600 on a TV, I would rather spend my money on a DSLR camera, then I could mess with the settings until I could get pictures of a normal TV. I know my Mom's old camera could do it half of the time, and so can mine. I like the memories of photographing those dinosoids in Turok 2 more than I liked the game. A lot more. Remember how I was *SO* grateful I remembered to turn the flash off because I thought the enemy would see me?

Did I mention I love my camera? It's a...uhh....uhm...I am unable to locate my post about my new camera. You know, the Nikon Coolpix S10? No? Oh, fiddlesticks! I forgot to blog about it!? No way! No!

Well, I got it months ago. It was a sort of present of some kind, I suppose, as my Mom payed for half of it and I payed for the other half. It's technically a family camera, but I am the only one who takes pictures. Like this one of a helicopter passing over our house. And I mean right over. Like, 100-15o feet above and within 50 feet of being directly over.

Actually, let me edit this picture a bit. It's blurry.


Before:

After:

Ahh, modern technology.

It is a Nikon Coolpix S10. It's a P/S that has a swivel-head design. See a picture of the swivel head in the last photo here, where my Mom actually blogged about it. Gah, how could I not blog about my camera? It's hard to believe I've had it for three months now.


While I feel extremely robbed (for some reason) by a non-traditional design, the non-traditional design leads to great things. For example, if I wanted to take the below picture of some items I have hallowed, I would have had to get on a step ladder. But my camera allows me to swivel the lens so I was able to hold it directly above the items, yet still see the LCD viewfinder. OK, so I could just take blind pictures from above without seeing the viewfinder, but it'd take lots of longsuffering. There are all sorts of other uses, as well. If I wanted to photograph my eye, I could look through the viewfinder while I did it. I can even look through the LCD viewfinder to see what's on top of high shelves, something ordinary cameras could only do through taking pictures then reviewing the pictures.

(I was unable to upload the Hallowed Items picture due to blogger technical difficulty).

The one problem? There's no normal, non-LCD viewfinder. I guess that's a problem. I wear glasses, so I can't (or rather, it's hard to) use those for me, thus it works out. It's a 10x optical zoom, which is very neat. Then, add digital zoom, and I can take pictures like the one below. Very, extremely far from amazing, but I like it considering I know nothing about moonophotography.


That isn't a real word/term.



How did I get talking about my camera? Oh, right. DSLR. Anyways, I ordered a new satellite box (receiver), thus the "television" on its way. Yes. The dreaded time-sucker satellite will soon be restored to power. I'm going to attempt to watch nothing but Star Trek: Voyager, Christian programs (Les Feldick, Christian Movies mainly), and Walker: Texas Ranger. Those are honestly the only programs I care about. Perhaps one or two I may have forgotten ("I am human, after all, after the fall, so I forget" is one of my catchphrases I never get to use).

I also ordered a copy of Chuck Norris' book Against All Odds. It's probably got a fist hidden in it which at some point pelts you good. We'll see.

"What do we do?!": Free Time. An alien concept.

Everyone please give a warm hand of applause to the new "Articles" tag, who will adorn every post from now forward which links to articles on all subjects, including blog posts (excluding my own) but excluding mass news articles (they will continue to be posted under the "News" tag).



"Moooom..." I began, a note of alarmed dawning in my voice. "Yes, son whom I love?" she inquired. "What do we do?" I asked. "About what?" she queried. "Well, we don't have two days of horrific wedding work to attend to...and we're not all hopelessly sick and dying...and Dad's not trying to kill himself working...what else will we do with our time if not try to drive ourselves bonkers with wedding preparations and in effect trying to kill ourselves?"

"I don't know. Normal people things, like sleep for long long durations," she replied.

I don't know, either. So, I set out to ...y'know, do normal people things. First, me and my Mom played a game of Upwords. That game SUCKS. Man! Seriously, someone get a surgeon and CUT THAT GAME'S BALLS OFF!

...sorry, I'm thinking of Popoe, the cat who needs a surgeon or a girlfriend.



After that (it was 11:45 or so), I decided to read this article about legalistic behavior in the church, titled From Liberty to Legalism. It took me one hour and 20-25 minutes to read. No wonder I was gnawing my arm by the time it was over. Now, I am not sure about their doctrine (and even less sure about their spelling!), but they seem to have it right. The most likely case is that several different sources put content on their website, so that's why they confuse me. Or maybe they're just confusing.


Confusing and grammatically errored. Though I am sure I make grammatical errors all my own. Recently, I dropped into some hard, green cash. I had not been paid my "allowance" for 6 weeks. I'd rather not say how much it is, but it's enough to invest in something. Uh, you know, something...small. Like books for learnin' book learning from. Learning. Tss, burn.


So, I'm going to order a book on grammar. Speaking of grammar...there's a spelling error in Metroid Prime 3. It's bothering me. I might write Nintendo over it. Maybe they'll send me an updated disc for free. Or maybe they don't know about it! You'll be a star! All will adore you, and rightfully so!



Now, you know those idiotic "Guide to (blank)'s?" Like the idiot's guide? Yes, well, apparently there's one called the "Painless" guide. Example: Painless Grammar. I know, I know what you're thinking. "Any attempt to learn anything is a sure sign that you are unlearned and idiotic. Best not admit it and stay stupid- you'll look smart. I am your pride speaking. You're awesome." After all, the front of the book is a cartoon cat portraying a shocked, frightened individual. Most likely a stupid, shocked, frightened individual.


However, the reviews speak contrariwise. One person intoned that their child read it, and that if their idiotic child could read it, "then any moron could get it, including you, Kev." These reviews...they creep me out sometimes. He or she then went on to read it and gleaned some knowledge. I mean, I already have pretty good grammar, right? Better than 98% of those on the Internets, right? Yes, you are amazing. Above a prodigy.
Besides, they had me once I saw page 6, pictured and highlighted at right (you'll need to enlarge).




Also, Painless Writing looks good. If you can't tell, I'm going to improve my blogging skills. Why? I don't know. I'm told I'm good at writing from several impartial sources, like my mom. I might as well milk it for all it's worth. What is it...just because you're gifted doesn't mean that you can rely on that gift, or something? I forget. Too gifted to remember. Damn, I'm great! Yes...yes you are.

Next up is the Rough Guide to Blogging 1 (1?). Perhaps I am a sucker for reviews...or perhaps you are simply astoundingly brilliant! Right! Go me! Also, in the same vein, I ordered No One Cares What You Had for Lunch: 100 Ideas for Your Blog. But they should...everyone cares and loves you, Kev. This is your pride speaking. Heh heh heh.


Have I ever told you about my system of buying things off of the line, like Amazon or Half.com or eBay? Well actually, I avoid eBay all together. I despise eBay. I can't see its worth. Anyway, my mom recently told me that she had not known of the "free shipping" system, or as I have so boastfully titled it, the "near buy" system, until she gleaned it from me. Gleaned is the word of the day. I saw it in Metroid Prime 3 so it's good as gold to me!

What you do is compare locations. Simple. One is shipping from NY, but the other is shipping from UT or CA. You're in Arizona. Do you suppose that item from NY will reach you as fast as the item in UT or CA? No, probably not. Since typically there are many choices of the same item in the same condition, for roughly the same price, you shop around until you find the closest location.

Sometimes it's worth it to pay an extra $1-2 on the item price itself (usually not worth it on Half.com). So you can see how aptly named it is. Near buy, as in nearby, as you order it nearby. Also note that if you're really in a vat of vinegar and pickling spices you could attempt the ol' expedited shipping+near buy.



Now, everyone tell me that I'm great for taking the initiative to nurture my brain, and say something about how you're going to order one of the books you found interesting, and that you'd like to know how they work out for me. You can do it! Trust in yourself!


PS: it is now 3:59 AM. Do you suppose I am up with the sun or down with the moon?

Mr. Coffee say what? Say toilet water. TOILET WATER!

Sadly, Love's truckstop, which I so love, has a broken latte machine. The cool thing about them is, that they also have a cappuccino machine. The problem...is...that one was also out of order. It produced very runny, thin, almost-see-through cappuccino. I did not want to break the checkout man's heart, though (how could I resist those soulful, bloodshot eyes?), so I bought it with a smile.

My Dad wanted to try some Psycho Energy Drink. "HOURS OF INSANITY - YOU'LL SWEAR YOU'RE BEING HAUNTED BY LUCIFER HIMSELF!" the bottle claims, in hyperactive, weird, loud letters. Then in small letters: "May cause demon possession. " He drank it anyways, but got no energy rush. I guess it works off of "demon-indwelt child tears," as the ingredients list states...I uh...don't...

I dumped the cappuccino and got one at Circle K. They did not have my preferred (24 oz) size of refill cup, so I passed on it and got a disposable (Al Gore would be rolling around in his grave!).


That was yesterday. Today at Circle K, there was a line, so I had time to try to get my brother a hot dog. I had some... trouble locating the hot dog buns. My brother is always pining after the hot dogs ever since he saw them at Love's, and he has not had one yet. Maybe it can be his treat, as I am always getting lattes (not always). Next week. My Mom informed me that they keep them (the buns) by the microwave- to heat them up, I guess. I should have just gotten him a so-called "tornado"...yeah...


Church was great. I may make a post about it. After church, we had to stop by the store. To get food. We're having a turkey dinner...we needed some stuff. I will make a PomPOM post sometime.



Then...to my surprise...there it was. MR. COFFEE ECM20 ESPRESSO MACHINE! I did not expect that store to have espresso machines. Or a selection of 10 coffee machines...hmm...like finding a marble in a box of screws.


I knew it was the cheapest one out there. If it works, good. If not, it's so cheap, they'll take it back and burn it. No feelings are hurt. There was another model- a Krups which made coffee and espresso- but it was $100, while the Mr. Coffee was $30.
I could get a much better machine elsewhere for $100. I've learned (I hope you have, too) to NEVER EVER EVER to trust a (non-ultra-expensive) "combination" appliance. Especially if it weighs under 500 pounds.

I got half a pound of beans. I feel bad as it rang up as $5.30-or-so a pound...and I didn't correct it (actual price of $7.99/lb). I didn't even think of it at the time. What dishonesty. I am ashamed. That is something I would have done five or six years ago. I would have probably went back and gotten more, actually.


Taking it home, I (confirmed) that it does not make real espresso. I kind of knew that, and I should get an espresso shot from Tully's to see what a real one is. If I like (that is, really like) "real" espresso, I can go stupid and invest in a real machine...better than spending $2 a day at Circle K- and I can make it with goats milk. Let's see...$2 a day for espressos (me and Dad).

I am extremely tired, but it's something like $0.30...instead of $2. If we paid for the milk it would be about $4. Each. Oh, and my Dad does not know, but he loves espresso. He dislikes lattes and cappuccinos. But mix two shots of espresso into his coffee, and he'll be a happy man forever! "WHOA!" he'll exclaim. "This is...BITTER! WOOOW! OH MAN, I FEEL LIKE MY TONGUE IS ON FIRE, THIS IS SO... COARSE! Man, how do you make this stuff? Is that DIRT I taste?! Fantastic!"

In 4-5 months, depending upon how cheap the coffee we get is, we'll have paid off a $100 machine. If we get a $40 grinder and buy 1-gallon cans of beans (blah blah, only lasts for 7 days after roasting, blah blah) we'd have it paid off in mere seconds.


I still do not know if I like this stuff enough to do that yet. That's where I am in my coffee addiction. Still not too addicted is my current status. I have a HUD like Samus' in Metroid Prime. You know...I was so impressed by the ability to change the opaqueness of that thing.

"Goosebumps"

Well, I am a nostalgic person, you surely know that. I am nostalgic by nature. My middle name is "Nostalgicsky." My first name in Greek means Nostalgia, and my last name in ancient, pyramid-dwelling Egyptian means Nostalgia. My middle name means Nostalgia in Russian.

I have heard all three tales I ordered. The Werewolf of Fever Swamp was like, the first book I EVER read (part of it I read waiting at the DMV with my Mom). Followed by Harry Potter 1, 2, 3, 4, and finally 5, I think (I was never much of a reader - especially of the Bible! EEYUCK!). The last one I finished in 1.5 or so days I was so desperate to get it over with. If I bought the book, I threw it out. Good books, as in the story pace and writing, but one of the very first things I ever discerned as... ah... not right. I wasn't even a Christian when I felt they were too demonic for me to read.

I ordered The Werewolf of Fever Swamp, Stay Out of the Basement, and The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight, all by R.L. Stine. The other Goosebumps book I read was How I Learned to Fly, I think. And one more about a type writer. Another about a haunted mask. I guess there was a TV show...man, I was young. Like, I don't even know if I was born yet. Probably not.

I loved the story of The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight. Or maybe that was something to do with lawn gnomes. Oh well, we'll see.


The Werewolf of Fever Swamp: $4.24
Stay Out of the Basement: $4.24
The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight: $4.24
The nostalgic value they bring: Priceless


I should expect the first one tomorrow. Let's see just how evil I don't remember them being.

It's my Birthday!

Yes! I didn't even know! I went to get water today (1 load for TW, 3 loads for us with 320 over), and I happened to look at the date. I took a picture, below.

It was 115 degrees today, and it was humid (storm post tomorrow or something). It cooled down to 114 by the time I finished getting water. That's better than it heating up to 117. It is amazing how 115 degrees makes you pant yet 114 is bearable. 116 is the point at which (unless you're extensively acclimated) your body begins to shut down (I am serious, you start losing time and stuff).

Anyway, according to the Well calender, it is October 6th, 2003! Oh boy- it's my birthday!


Today, I am 13 years old. According to my Mom. I think I am 14. But at this age, I think I know everything, so that's expected. Oh, I am so stoked, I cleaned my room! I can't wait to see what kind of cake they'll bake me- perhaps one forged of love and devotion! Yes! And you know what they say- if you have three weeks to shop, you spend less than if you have 25 minutes! As for my gift to myself, I bought me two books.

The first book is called Every Heart Restored. Ostensibly, it is "Wholeness and Healing for Women Caught in the Crossfire [of their husbands' divers sexual sin]." This will almost probably certainly come in handy.

Also, I got Every Young Man's Battle. Apparently it is the earlier book Every Man's Battle, but updated and geared towards younger males. It is about how to stay pure in today's world of naked, naked women.


Why did I order the books, you inquire? I saw this dude on the Harvest show last night (I am not a regular viewer- to my knowledge, I have never watched the show). His name was Fred Stoeker, if I recall correctly. He was talking about this, that, and a bottle of Swap! The Drink That's Fun To Eat! (swap pronounced as "slap," with a w). And his book, too.

Plus, I am interested in the subject. I find it absolutely fascinating. Then, the next day, surprisingly it is my birthday. So I thought, what the heck. Every Young Man's Battle cost $4.25, plus $3.49 shipping, and Every Heart Restored cost $2.23, plus $3.49 shipping.

Total was $13.46. Oh boy, I wonder how many presents I will get!!!

When it Ships, it Pours 2

Today the rest of the Left Behind: The Kids books arrived: #7 Busted!, #8 Death Strike, #9 The Search, #10 On the Run, #14 Judgment Day, #16 Fire from Heaven. The rest that I ordered, that is.

Arriving as well is the Silver Bullet DVD. I know what I'm watching today!

Also, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent for Wii arrived. I forgot to post about the Splinter Cell game. I ordered it July 8th, and it cost $18.97 plus shipping. Supposedly, it's terrible, the controls are lackluster, the gameplay is dismal. Frankly, I don't believe what I hear about this game. Maybe I am wrong, maybe I am right.

Anyways, since they all arrived today, it required a "When it Ships, it Pours" post. Below is a picture of them, and I'll most likely be playing Splinter Cell once I finish with Ocarina of Time.





In other shipping news, today my Mom had me order some stuff. I got her two books, as well as ordered one gallon each of refined and unrefined coconut oil, 4 oz of curry powder, 4 oz of gunpowder tea and 4 oz of twig tea, and the tea nets for brewing the tea. The curry powder and tea was my idea! Joy!

I addition, I ordered some Wasabi peas...yeah...Asian snack food at its finest, I guess. We'll see. Their shipping is very expensive- $30 for overnight shipping! Oh...darn it, I guess I'll just order UPS 3 day. Fiddlesticks



...by the way, I did resist the urge to put my name as Kevinskysan Stewartskysan. I'll tell you what I ordered once it gets here.

See Kev Purchase More Items

Left Behind: The Kids titles:

#3 Through the Flames
#4 Facing the Future
#5 Nicolae High
#6 The Underground
#7 Busted!
#8 Death Strike
#9 The Search
#10 On the Run
#14 Judgment Day
#16 Fire from Heaven

All cost $.75 each, ordered from two people.

Totaling $22.10 in shipping, and $7.50 on the books themselves. Weird, huh?

I also ordered Silver Bullet, a werewolf movie. I was disappointed by Bad Moon- it's good on a first watch, but there's nowhere near enough action, and nowhere near enough people are shown being stalked. It does not remind me of the hunt.

Silver Bullet was $5.33, a DVD, and shipping was $2.99. Bringing my grand total up to $37.92. I haven't been paid for a month (somehow, I had myself convinced I would earn some form of interest). In the next wave of books I buy (probably a few weeks to a month) I will purchase Metroid Prime: Hunters. Gotta play that before September 17th.



Additionally, a few days ago, my Mom saw a camera on sale at CostCo. She emailed me. Due to a printer fiasco (?), I did not check my email for (until today). I then read it and emailed her back (after ensuring the camera was still on sale).

As you may know, I love taking pictures. I try to always carry a camera with me. But the camera I carry is cheap. Not as cheap as one of those cameras shaped as SpongeBob, but cheap.

I'm not complaining. It has served me well. Welcome the "Pictures" tag, for everything picture I've taken. Including video game pictures, like the Turok pictures I have taken. Remember that snake I took a picture of? It did not come out very good- it'll do, but wow, what a missed opportunity. And that time I took a picture of that rescue helicopter? Did not come out very good. Oh, man, that thing was 300 yards from me. MOVING SLOWLY. What a chance I missed!

I cannot relate how many times I've wished I had a camera with me. So I resolved to never go anywhere for extended periods without a camera. Even if I'm going to be outside for an hour, what if I run into a scorpion, or the road runner I have always wanted to take a picture of?

Even closeup shots come out blurry with my current camera. Like this picture I took of our goats. That's actually one of the clearer ones it takes. They were not all running or anything...anyway, she ordered the camera. I think we can expect it tomorrow by a miracle, or Monday. We each payed half of the cost.


I haven't been posting a lot lately- I'll explain that in a while. Yesterday, for Independence Day, I made a Flag Cake. My Mom covered that story. She forgot to mention that this is our new "celebration" cake. It is like cheesecake with a 1" thick crust! It's delicious. I used half strawberries, half raspberries.

I am planning to make one one day for our church. It cuts into bars easily, with 2 raspberries/strawberries, and 2 mounds of cream cheese frosting (which tastes like good cheesecake). Goody.














The Team has just received their clothes for their assignment. They are clothes (pants, sweaters) with body armor built in. Jayme gives Ness her outfit. It is on a hanger.

Ness:
"I'm not wearing that."
Jayme:
(sighs) "Why not?"
Ness:
"It looks uncomfortable."
Jayme:
"Ness, if everything in the world was uncomfortable, what would you do?"
Ness:
(puffs out bottom lip) "...nothing?"
Jayme:
"Nothing is uncomfortable, too."
Ness:
"...that would just be dreadful, wouldn't it?"

Jayme drops the hanger hook between Ness' chest and walks away; Ness freaks out and falls with it (not from the weight of it)

"What?! Well, Try Them On In The Morning."

You know how sometimes doctors don't listen to you?

You try to tell them, but they're too in love with themselves to listen?

You're like, (say you're at a shoe doctor, a footologist) "Hey, Doc, I have this pain in my toe, do I need special shoe inserts?" and whilst you're talking, he catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror. You hear a quiet, "Hey, baby."

"What's that doctor?"
"Just admiring myself, is all. I mean, yes, you do need arch supports."
"But I already have arch supports- what I was saying, is that-"
"OK, let's get three more inserts in that shoe and CALL IT A DAY. (snapping gloves off)"


Well, I mentioned this happened to me at the eye doctors' office:

The lenses brought the cost up to $175. Ouch. My prescription in my left eye changed by 10%, and in my right by 20%. My right eye was a little blurry yesterday, though. I don't think you're supposed to take eye exams when your vision is blurry.

Am I a prophet, or do I have an uncommon amount of common sense?


I tried the glasses on, and the prescription in my right eye is so bad my eye is still sore. 19 hours later. I had the glasses on for 10-15 minutes. Ideally, I would want to return the glasses for a full refund, then go to CostCo. CostCo sells the best glasses. How do I know? I don't, but I assume. Oh, I assume.

But, while we were there, the lady told me, "Well, try them on in the morning." I shot back, "ah, well, see, my left eye is -perfect-, but my right eye cannot read those words on the wall. Why would my right eye be having trouble but not my left?" I thought she looked as if she wanted to sock me one, (just as I typed that, a song (Luv is a Verb) said "POW!"), so I raised my fists defensively. She backed down. She looked a little freaked out, actually.

Looking back on it, I guess I just asked that question, then raised my fists with a wide-eyed look of horror on my face...so yeah, I guess she was a little freaked out.


The good thing is, I got some shopping done. I got something that's been high on my list for a long while. Splatter guards. I'm going to see if they work tonight. What they are is screens you set over the pan. Apparently, they allow steam to escape but not oil...I doubt.

Also, I got a new knife. It's a Santoku knife, or "Japanese better-than-you-blade." Our old Santoku was 6". This one is 7". It's cool, with a red handle, the handle has silicone in it. Very sharp. Not as sharp as our newly sharpened 8" chef's, though. Speaking of which, I sharpened all three knives the other day- seagull, shorty, and chef's. Those are their nicknames!


Also, I got a lemon squisher. I know what you're saying- "Kev, lemon squishers are the things of demon fairy tales!" Well, I bought one. It works pretty good! It'd be tons better with lemons bigger than walnuts, though. Our lemon supplier sucks ...lemons. LOL I CAME UP WITH THAT INSTANTLY!


Also, I got a bell (DINGKING LOL), and two cutting boards. You know when the last time I bought a cutting board intentionally was?

Oh...it was...two years ago...

I was playing The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

I remember, right before you get to the maze with guards before Zelda...at this point, my Mom had done some shopping for Father's Day (I told her what to get). We got, for Dad, of course, a cutting board. A wooden cutting board. 21" by 17" I think...not entirely sure. We still have it. The point is, I had been playing Zelda. I was playing Zelda while harboring the gifts in my room. Heh heh heh.

Oh, and a razor. We still have the razor. Why does this apply? Well, two years later, yesterday exactly, I HAVE BOUGHT TWO NEW CUTTING BOARDS!

Some time ago, me and my Granny bought a set of Kitchenaid cutting boards, unintentionally. I didn't go "looking" for cutting boards. They're real nice. Sadly, my family does not appreciate the art of not messing things Kev loves up. They used...they...they used...


"It's OK, Kev. Just point to what they used."

(Kev points slowly to serrated knife)

"OK, Kev. And where did they use this? Show us on the anatomically correct cutting board."
(Kev takes knife, and looks down)
"Kev, it's alright. No one can hurt you here. You're safe. Just show us what they did. Can you do that?"

(Kev, after a few seconds, starts breathing heavily, freaking out, then starts sawing on the cutting board insanely with the knife, screaming without pause, eyes unfocused)
(someone in the audience breaks down crying, the jury looks shocked, the judge calls for order)





...uh, also, I got two new notebooks. My TA notebook is 2/3 of the way full. These ones are twice as big though, I didn't think of that as a problem...but it does pose a few. One, that the pen doesn't fit snugly in the wire binding, two, that it will take 8 months to fill it. And it is hard to hold...too heavy.

Got a few more things, as well. I got a new digital thermometer. The cutting boards are Real Small and Medium Sized, by the way. And I got two packs, one black, one blue, of new BiC Round Stics! As you may know, Round Stics are my favorite kind of pen.


Long post. Now I am off to be torn between playing Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II, and cleaning the house. I had my parents pick up SWRL:RSII last Wednesday. It was actually cheaper at GameCrazy than Half.com. Go figure.

See Kev Order Some More Things

I listened to a tobyMac concert the other day (GOD TV). He played a tune I suppose is back from his dc Talk days. DC Talk stands for Decent Christian Talk!!1 Wow!!!!!!


I also knew someone back when who was a Jesus Freak. He loved dc Talk. So I'm going to order a few CDs, as well as a present for my Dad.

$1.55- Jesus Freak (CD, dc Talk)
$0.75- Free at Last (CD, dc Talk)
$2.00- Genesis and the Big Bang (paperback, Gerald L Schroeder)
$1.00- Promises for a Jesus Freak (paperback, dc Talk)
$1.15- Live Like a Jesus Freak (paperback, dc Talk)

Merchandise: Shipping: TOTAL:

$6.45 $16.45 $22.90

If my math is correct, and you know it is, me and my parents should be even now. I spent (say) $18 on the Left Behind books, and now I spent (say) $22 on these books, plus my Mom took $40 for the K-Love donations.


Free at Last is like their best album evar. Jesus Freak is after they reinvented themselves (went from rap-hip hop to rock-something I guess). The book, Genesis and the Big Bang, is a present for my Dad for Father's Day. It's by an Israeli nuclear physicist, and he looks at Genesis as a nuclear physicist.

Zola Levitt, a few years ago, did a special with him and even wrote a "book" with him (like his Genesis book but shorter, the transcript of his interview actually, the book and video can be found here on page 22).

I am going to keep an eye out for that old copy of Encounters with UFOs. It's also by Zola Levitt, and another dude, and they explore just why UFOs aren't real (but demons). My favorite argument is that they have no mass (otherwise, they could not speed up then slow down so fast). My second favorite argument was how they evolved through the ages, seemingly always something we can comprehend.

See Kev Order Left Behind Books

Recently, two of my copies of the Left Behind series have been lost.

As you may know, I am currently reading through the series, a few pages a day. I have also said that Jerry B. Jenkins is an inspiration to me, as are the books.

So, I am on book #3- Nicolae: The Rise of Antichrist. In fact...I am almost finished with it. I'll be finished with it in a few days- probably, say, 4 days time, give or take. I read them slowly, usually during lunch. It is the time of day I look forward to most of all. I try to have something that is easy to eat and is in small pieces, which is why cubed cheese is a favorite.

Also, anytime I have Vegetable Challah bread sandwiches (as I so ineloquently deem them) I read. It makes for a hard reading session- like trying to eat marbles with a pitchfork. And anytime we're forced to have fast food, I always get Jack in the Box, and read Left Behind while eating. I forget when that tradition started.

To remedy the fact that I lost two of the books, I bought four books- the Left Behind series #4 and #5 (Soul Harvest and Apollyon respectively), and two of the Left Behind: The Kids series, # 1 and #2 (The Vanishings and Second Chance respectively). I have not read the Left Behind: The Kids books, any of them. Also, I bought the book These Will Not Be Left Behind, it is a....thing of people saved by reading the books. Go figure.

$0.75--- Soul Harvest
$0.75--- Apollyon
$0.75--- The Vanishings
$0.75--- Second Chance
$0.75--- These Will Not Be Left Behind

Shipping on each = $3.49

Merchandise: $3.75
Shipping: $17.45
Total: $21.20


Nothing came in the mail today. Curse you, ...mailman person. Curse you.

Kev Ordered some...some Stuff

Welcome the "Easy Come- COME BACK" tag, or "I spent some cash!" tag. Also welcome the "Books" tag. Soon to come will be the "Book Reviews" tag. Or, someday at least.




About 4 days ago, I ordered some stuff from World Net Daily.

$4.95 Special Offer -- The Marketing of Evil (autographed)
Free trial -- Whistleblower Magazine 3-Issue Trial
$1.95 -- I Love My Grandfather Because (book)
$3.48 -- Stories from My Life (book) - by some chick.
$11.50 -- Being the Strong Man a Woman Wants (book)


I first was gonna get the Marketing of Evil special offer (wowzers). Then I got of course the whistleblower offer (let's hope for Global Warming issue!), and the rest is history. I got "Being the Strong Man and Woman Wants" because, frankly, I want to see if the author messes this up.

TOTAL: $32.38



Tonight, I ordered some stuff from Half.com. I like Half.com as eBay freaks me out sometimes. Prices shown are shipping and the price combined. I shoulda done it the other way, actually. Oh well!

$9.98 -- Diddy Kong Racing : Nintendo, Nintendo of America, Inc. (N64, 1997)
$5.47 -- Turok: Dinosaur Hunter : Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. (N64, 1997)
$4.98 -- Official Strategy Guide to Turok Dinosaur Hunter (Paperback, 1997)

$8.73 -- Goldeneye (DVD, 1999)
$7.98 -- Braveheart (DVD, 2000)
$9.48 -- The World Is Not Enough (DVD, 2000)
$11.99 -- The People Under the Stairs (DVD, 2003)

I got Diddy Kong Racing because it is what I thought Mario Kart 64 was. I got Turok: Dinosaur Hunter because, well, that's the first Turok! And I got its Strategy guide.

I got Goldeneye and TWINE (the world is not enough) because I have the games. I got Braveheart because everyone completely <3's it for some reason, and The People Under the Stairs because I liked the show alot.

Merchandise: $36.18 + Shipping: $22.43 = Total: $58.61



Ultra Grand Ultra Combo for Both of them: $90.99.


I don't know if it's worse having cash burning a hole in your pocket, or having your pocket burn a hole in your leg...

Tomorrow

Note to see the continuance of this post here.


So, today (this afternoon (Saturday, March 3rd)) I talked (on the phone) to a dude (pastor) named (probably by his parents) Mike (that's a name you can trust!). I actually talked to him yesterday, too, but I really needed to talk to him about something particular, and I didn't get around to it yesterday.


Mike is a, like, a...how would I put it without sounding like Benny Hinn. God performs miracles through him. Hear me out, now. I would've laughed before too, because I was under the impression God didn't perform miracles anymore. He's in jail with my dad, and they're running the jail church.

Apparently, he can (God heals) people through him. Just recently, a guy in jail was going to die of cancer (they wouldn't let him seek treatment because he was in jail!) and about 20 guys laid hands on him and prayed, then he went in again and the cancer was gone. The cancer was the size of an orange, and he had gotten two checks before the check that showed up clean.

My Dad almost broke up crying like a little sissy girly man telling me about it! EEEEEWW COOTIES!!! That means he actually probably DID cry during the miracle healing!


He (Mike, or 'Pastor Boy') is getting out this Friday, and he will be going back to Texas to his family there. He's in jail for a monetary scandal at his previous job. Apparently they pressed charges against everyone who was working at his level, or something to that effect. He got three months (same as my dad), and they wanted to give him five years. He reportedly stood up during his trial and told the judge he would get less than one year.

I'm cooking for him for $25 a week; five meals ($5/meal, I make about $1.50, yeah...that's great), nothing special. Just a burrito; it can be bean and cheese or chicken chili with an Indian fry bread "tortilla"(wrapper), or a bowl of soup or whatever. Note that they're on work release, so that's how they get this food. The first time I talked to him, I knew there was something special about him. I could just feel it, you know.

Then I talked to him again yesterday. I realized that talking to him is something I need to do for the betterment of my soul. He's just constantly preaching, it's so awesome. It's what Jesus must of been like. Not that I'm comparing the two, I'm just saying. Oh, and Jesus so totally pwns Mike, especially as far as his earthly ministry goes. Oh, hey, he's more like Paul (Dec. 2007: Watch me show off my lack of knowledge of Paul's ministry! Uh! Yeah! Bust a move!). That's better.


It's like manna for my soul. So, I had him call me today (my dad did actually, they're pals, and stuff has to travel through the grapevine when you're in jail). They stay in jail on weekends as they don't work on weekends. Oh, what joy. He called from jail, and my Dad was beside him I think. He called twice, which is something like $20 for us. Chump change to be able to talk to them (although it's still very expensive). On the first call (they cut you off after 20 minutes), the last thing he said was how we are to be in this world, but not converted to it.

Of course, that was right in my subject of choice. TA, or Team A of course. I've explained it, Flash has a typically wicked audience, but I used to watch Flash animations, and I would of listened had a Christian made Flash animations.


So, I started praying he would call back (come on; I was so close to asking my question!), and, lo and behold, he called back! Usually, when me and my dad are cut off in a conversation, he doesn't call back (he effectively saves us $500 this way). Woohoo though!...anyways, and I could talk to this guy all day, or just walk around with him and listen to him talk to other people.

Then I mentioned how he mentioned the being in this world but not of it, and that was a question I need to find the answer to. That is, do I 'cast my pearls before swine', or not, and leave it up to someone else to grace that audience with a tinge of Christianity?

Not only that, but is this something that is OK to God, or of His Will?

Mike said that all good inspiration comes from God. He used America as an example, you know, we've been around for a measly amount of time and we own everyone else twice over. So, is this inspiration of God? It could be a trick of Satan, to try to tie me up with things I don't need to be tied up in.

He used the example of Veggie Tales. He said that I could make something like that, and that's true. I could very well, and actually, I am strongly considering having the Team mention Biblical topics a lot. Especially Jayme. I've got him down as using the King's English sometimes, and Samus as quoting ah, Exodus 29? Let's see if I'm right. Okay, I'm wrong. It's somewhere around there...AHA! Deuteronomy 29:29 (woo I found it without a concordance!):

"The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law."

[edited out- I kind of spazzed totally. I got caught in a whirlwind of calling Erin Esurance a whore and questioning Sam Fisher's patriotism.]


Oh man. I'm sorry. I uh, sorry. About that. It just came out. Y-, you know. Over 20 minutes time.




OK...so uh, he suggested we fast and pray for guidance on this. So, since they had something planned for dinner that night, as did we (tonight we had Chinese fried rice), we decided to do it tomorrow, starting at lunch time. We will fast for twenty-four hours, I don't know how often we'll pray. As often as we pray whilst fasting and praying, I suppose. I can tell, as can my Dad, that God put us through this just to meet Mike.

[Dec. 2007 note: I have since changed my views; see this post from December of 2007.]

The phone disconnected. I had mentioned my Aunt prays for people, and he said I should get in on some of that prayer action. Just not in those exact words...so I had to call her, you know. I was gonna call her tomorrow.


I'm patching holes in TA's story tonight like mad for some reason. Such as when Ness meets the King, how she meets him (it involves shoving a helmet onto a guard's head backwards), and something else I will not mention to not ruin the plot. Some day, I will post a recording of my voice in various tones rambling about the sun imploding. Look forward to that day of 'awenemity'!

Anyways, it's so weird how so many things hooked up to each other like that so fast. There's a whole, ALMOST-COMPLETED CHAPTER connected now!

So the phone rings. Incomplete Data (curse you Qwest may you find holes in a third of your left-footed socks!), and of course I answer and say "Is this Mike?!" like a psycho. Guess who it was, who I have not spoken to in months and months...no, not Arnold Schwarzenegger, close though. It was my Aunt whom I needed to call to have her pray for me! Hey, actually, Arnie is pretty far off. You must be a little light-headed. I've never spoken to him. Why don't you open a window, set a spell, and have a glass of lemonade, then come back and finish reading this once you've balanced your blood sugar. I'll be waiting.



Back? OK, good. Actually, it wasn't just her (my aunt) on the line. It turns out, her and her mom (my grandma, my mom's mom) are the ones who do the praying. And they were both on that phone call. Neat, right? So I told them about the fasting and praying tomorrow, and she said she wanted to pray for me right now. So she prayed for me, with her mom. I couldn't really hear what she was saying. Comforting though. I made out the words "I command it in the name of Jesus." That's good enough for me!

Sort of weird, though.

It would be a real shame if by some freak accident the radiator fluid in my Mom's Pathfinder leaks out unexpectedly, so that when she goes to work, well, she'll break down some ways down the road, and then we'll have the whole day to work on getting the Pathy fixed, you know, we might even have to go into Phoenix and meet Mike! Just speculation, though.

Hm. I'm listening to a list (35 songs) in Media Player, set on "shuffle," you know how playlists are. I like it. Anyways, Landslide of Love was on, by (the) Newsboys. I thought, "I wanna listen to 'No Signal' by TobyMac." I went to change to that song, but I thought "Wait, I wanna listen to this song."

Once Landslide of Love was over, No Signal (randomly, by no action on my part) came on. Pwnt.

[Dec. 2007 note: "No Signal" by tobyMac is forever ruined for me, as Amazing Grace is ruined for Pastor Justice. Mike's recounting of his plane trip ruined the theme of it for me.]


I wonder if Mike will be staying in Arizona any longer. Like even a day. I could drive him to the airport, or the subway, however the heck you get to Texas. The uh, bullet train, or whatever. The slingshot train.


You know, actually, Mike goes back at 6:00 PM. My Mom gets home by 4:00 PM. I could drive there and ferry him back to jail!

I've never driven by myself though. I mean, I have. But not on a freeway by any means. I might as well though. I mean, I WILL have K-Love playing, if I take the Pathfinder. Which I think I would be. Gotta impress Mike, right?


I've driven the route enough times to know it by heart, of course. It's simple, although I would be going home in the dark. Which is fine. I drive well at night. You know, you have a lot more excuses.

Kev: Well occifer, I didn't see the other car, because it was a yellow car!
Cop: Oh alright then you're free to go sorry to bother you old chap.
Kev: It's quite alright old boy, you have a nice night, sweet dreams don't let the bed bugs bite righto(wave)
Cop: Thank you sir, same to you, say 'ello to the munchkins for me yeah?
Kev: Righto, and you tell the family I said 'ello 'ey?
Cop: Righteo, will do.(waves)



Will Kev die in a fiery explosion? Will Kev ever realize that 'fiery' is pronounced 'firey,' not 'feary'?! Will Kev survive his 24-hour fast with enough brainpower left to drive to the city all by himself and ferry Mike to jail?!

TUNE IN NEXT TIME, AT A RANDOM FLYING GOBLINS OWN YOU TIME, SAME FLYING GOBLINS OWN YOU BLOG!






Everytime I hear "I feel a breeze covering me called Jehovah," a line in tobyMac's song "Made to Love," on his Portable Sounds CD, I think of riding one of those boars in the desert in Twilight Princess. Kinda like how, in that one song (I forget which one), they make the "SPACE PIRATES OH NO!" sound. Man, I swear, my heart flies out of my chest everytime on that song. I have to brace myself for it.

I think it might be "My Jesus" By Todd Agnew. I'mma go order that CD. Along with his CD with "Did You Know" on it (I like that song). I'll be right back.

Wow. Easiest time I have EVER had on Half.com. All three purchases, Grace Like Rain, Reflection of Something, and Do You See What I See? took less time to order than Portable Sounds (you know, one CD) did. All were no brainers. Praise God and goodnight!


This entry brought to you by Kev. It took him three and a half hours hard labor (sweat!) to produce this text, please enjoy in moderation.

Marin Bolinas Ridge

Last Friday, the 22nd of September, to be exact, I went with my mommy to the supermarket.

On the way there, I told my mom about my need for a new bike. She didn't have breakfast, so while she was eating, I talked to her about this. She suggested the bike shop. "Yeah right," I said.

We got into Walmart, and yes we're jerks that shop there. I don't know what our problem is either, sir. Down with uh, whatever it is hip to be down with nowadays. Oppression.

We did some shopping, here there, then went to look at the bikes. Ewww.

So I decided it was time to just look at the bike shop. I was glad I hadn't eaten a full breakfast, as Walmart would still be scrubbing those bikes.



We went and got gas (Al Gore would be rolling around in his grave!), then went to the bike shop. We walked in, and the next thing I knew, we were driving home with a bike in the car! As I looked over the receipt, stunned, I found that the bike, after tax and such, was $458.

I really like the bike, you understand.



Isn't it beautiful?

Once I got it home and started inspecting it, I found the frame very well-welded, and most things on the bike except for shocks and derailleurs are good (uhh, the pedals). Doublewalled high-quality rims. Good reviews, lots of stuff like "the frame is awesome" and "Man, I hope Kev buys this in the near future."

That last one kinda creeped me out, to be honest.

I need lights put on it, so I can ride in my sleep.

For the price, it's clear I won't be getting a DVD Recorder for this birthday, or a lot of other shiny things I don't need. That's quite fine.


Tomorrow is my Dad's birthday. 12 days to my birthday. Still playing Metroid Prime 2: Echoes.