Random A

Leavenworth Marathon

2011-10-25T19:36:00.001-07:00

I ran the l-town marathon. It is my 1st and probably not my last! I finished in 3:42:48! I'm pretty darn happy with that! The picture is of me the next day after I picked the only pumpkin on my pumpkin plant wearing my race shirt and medal.

River Run Half Marathon. Grateful!

2011-09-17T14:04:00.000-07:00

Today marks five and a half years since I started running again. I just completed my third half marathon and plan on running my first marathon in about a month. When I started running I knew nothing about injuries, but these last few years have taught me a thing or two about my body and the importance of planning and preparation. Youth has a way of covering a multitude of mistakes. But with age comes wisdom, and although I am by no means old, I have learned a thing or two. Stretching is way underrated, and nutrition is essential, but by far the most important piece of advice I have ever received is wear the right shoes.
Today I placed sixth overall, and achieved a personal best time. I wore custom orthodics and have finally found shoes I believe are right for me.

Thanks God for allowing me to find the right equipment to allow me to continue doing the things I enjoy.

Marathon Relay

2009-04-18T20:27:00.000-07:00

It's time for my quarterly blog update. I ran the Wenatchee Marathon relay with Brandt Charles, my brother and my wife. We finished in a time of 3 hours and 50 minutes!

A new post for the new year!

2009-01-05T20:21:00.000-08:00

I doubt that I have any readership after neglecting my blog for so long, but if I do check these out. It's my new house!

The Opera House

2008-07-28T02:17:00.000-07:00

A friend of Greg and Brenda's, who is also an actress, treated us to a performance at the opera house in Rivne. I didn't understand a single word, but I still enjoyed watching the show. The building itself was also spectacular. It was very well preserved.

The lobby.

A ball room.

The main chandelier.

The curtain.

The Singers.

The dancers.

There was an orchestra too, but I don't have pictures of that.

Reupholstering

2008-07-28T02:10:00.000-07:00

We took a day to help Greg and Brenda reupholster the bench seat in the kitchen/dining room in their apartment. I think it came out nice, and it was lots of fun!

Brenda and the fabric we used.

Befuddled.

Horns!

Greg and Oksie, master staplers.

Is she making sandwiches?

Nope, just seat cushions.

The finished product!

Hittin' the town!

2008-07-28T02:05:00.000-07:00

Greg, Lisa, and I went for a walk to see some sights in Rivne. Below are some images of what we saw.

Inside a Mashrutka. This is how you get around in Ukraine.

Soviet era statue.

Ceiling of the train station. Notice the Soviet emblems, even after 18 years without communism.

Shady lane.

German military bunker. This was a hideout for one of Hitler's top generals.

Soviet war museum.

Kid in the park.

Greg and I witnessed an epic battle.

This sign reads, "Product of Ukraine."

We stopped for iced tea and water.

Orthodox church in Rivne.

In the church courtyard.

Driving Miss Hallyah

2008-07-28T02:03:00.000-07:00

Our first day in Rivne, we tagged along with Greg to help a blind elderly lady go to the hospital for a check up on her eyes. Though she is blind, her eyes still bother her. We arrived at the hospital and waited for over an hour with her waiting to be seen. She wasn't able to be seen that day, in fact she had to stay in a room there for THREE DAYS before she was seen! The hour we spent with her was very eye opening. This lady saw her husband brutally murdered by the communists right before her very eyes after only being married 2 weeks. She was soon thereafter shipped off to Siberia where she worked in a labor camp for 9 years! While she was there she was fed a daily ration of a cup of soup and 300 grams of bread. Her crime... she married her husband. His crime... he was an educated man. And you thought you had it rough! My heart goes out to this woman who through all her suffering has not become bitter with life.

Remember...

2008-07-28T01:44:00.000-07:00

Greg took Lisa and me to a recently forgotten memorial of a mass grave where 17, 500 Jews were murdered by the Nazi killing machine. The victims were women, children, and elderly Jews made to march from their homes in Rivne to this hill where they were made to undress and march to the top of the hill. They were machine gunned into a ditch, buried, and forgotten until the fall of communism when this monument was erected. Anti-semitism has once again, over the last 18 years, caused this site to be purposely ignored. Weeds have overgrown much of the area, and vehicle access has been cut off due to the fact that grave robbers have been digging tunnels in attempts to retrieve gold caps from the remains of the people buried there.

This marker identifies the entrance to the memorial.

The gate.

These concrete slabs are imprinted with footprints symbolizing the death march.

This headstone surrounded by many small headstones cries out, "...never forget our brothers and sisters who are buried here!" The smaller headstones are engraved with the names of every one of the people murdered and buried here.

A marker on one of the actual trenches. The massacre was accomplished in less than 2 days.

Monument to Communism

2008-07-28T01:40:00.000-07:00

The following pictures are from a park in Rivne that was used by the Soviets to parade their military strength, communist ideals, and otherwise bolster the public's view of the government. Back in the day it was kept up quite nicely, but since the fall of communism it has fallen into disrepair and neglect. Now it is a place for people to vent their revenge on a system that once oppressed them so harshly.

Statue of communist soldiers defending the weak. (Rivne in the background, I believe that is the "New York" area, where 60-70% of the city's 300,000 residents live. The apartments, most made during the Soviet days, are brick with no steel reinforcement.)

Looted Soviet Tank, now serves as a garbage receptacle.

The tower, Vanchic, and Greg.

Soviet artillery.

More Soviet artillery.

Ukraine

2008-07-28T01:39:00.000-07:00

Our first day in Ukraine was a long travel day. We left Lyss at 7:30 am on the train, then flew out from Zurich at 12:10 When we got to Kiev, 9 hours later, Greg and Brenda picked us up, and we drove around through the Capital city, but those pictures are stuck on my camera's internal memory. It was a fun time, but by the time we finally made it to Greg and Brenda's apartment, we were zonked! These are the only pictures I have available from our first day.

Cows!

A Wreck!

Gracie!

Montreaux

2008-07-21T01:50:00.000-07:00

Montreaux, our last day in Switzerland before we left for Ukraine. Wow... that about sums it up. On the shores of Lake Geneva this train ride was nothing short of spectacular.

This was our first look at Lake Geneva surrounded by the alps as we came out of the train tunnel. The hillside below us was blanketed with terraced vineyards, winding roads, and the occasional house. It took my breath away.

In Montreaux we visited the Chateau Chillon, above is one of the many massive fire places utilized at one time. The rooms were still permeated with the smell of burnt wood.

Lisa standing guard to the prison room.

Murten

2008-07-21T01:43:00.000-07:00

We stopped here on our way to Lausanne. This is probably one of my favorite Swiss towns because it has a small feel to it, it is old, and the wall is very much in tact. There are also many buildings that are well preserved and kept up. It feels like stepping back in time!

Thun

2008-07-21T01:39:00.000-07:00

I'm still trying to catch my blog up on our european excursion, so here goes. While in Switzerland we visited many cities, not as many as we would have liked, but we were able to see quite a bit. I'm posting some pictures of our trip to Thun. It was a drizzly day, and the view wasn't what it could have been, but it was fun times. Rahel was able to go with us. She and Lisa both enjoyed all the stairs we had to climb to reach the castle. It was a steep climb.

Lis and Rach, were in serious need of some H2O

The courtyard below.

Lisa, Rach, Alps, and Thun.

One very serious looking exhibit.

The Steingubers

2008-07-19T12:52:00.000-07:00

The Steingrubers were our hosts in Switzerland, they have a beautiful house! They are also very warm and gracious people. Pictured in the dinner picture below are Andreas, Jenny, Simone, Mirjam, Lisa, Rahel, Emil, Kathryn, and Jenny's mom.

Our gracious hosts!

Sunday Dinner

In the Garden

More garden

The picnic area.

Bern

2008-07-18T05:16:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, after service at the Jahu Church in Biel, Lisa and I went out to Lunch with some youth from the church. I don't think I took any pictures there, but it was a nice place on the lake. I took the advice of Rafu and asked for French fries with my food instead of potatoes. I thought he would know better. I should have asked for a second opinion. It was still good eating. Later that day, Rahel invited us to go to Bern. We took many pictures and I posted a few here below.

The Bear is the Symbol of Bern. Bern means Bear.

Lisa and I are happy to have seen the bears.

This bear was especially talented. He could stand, scratch his back, and pee all at the same time!

The city.

This area floods sometimes, those cars would be under water.

The Clock tower

Entrance to the Munster cathedral.

Inside the Munster.

Detail of the ceiling.

These two must have payed a penance.

One strong gargoyle.

The Swiss equivalent of Washington D.C.'s capitol building.

Rahel used to work here every day.

The Aare river runs through Bern.

Neu Chatel

2008-07-18T04:55:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I have been able to sit down and type at a computer. Lisa and I have been running around quite a bit since the last time I posted. Below are some pictures from Neu Chatel. We had originally planned to go to Luzern that day, but we hopped on the wrong train and decided to change plans mid stride. It would have been nice to see Luzern, but Neu Chatel was worth the trip. We ate Kebap taco style food, and even witnessed part of a wedding at the Church there. Also the city is built on a hill so we got our share of exercise for the day walking up and down the steep streets and stairs!

Solothurn, Switzerland/St Uhrs Cathedral

2008-07-11T12:33:00.000-07:00

St Uhrs Cathedral.

If you enlarge this one you might be able to see the paintings on the ceiling better.

One of the gates to the city

Lisa, Solothurn and the Jura Mountains

Lisa and I with Solothurn in the background.

This is me standing in front of the fountain next to the stairs leading to St. Uhrs

There was also a really cool armory that we did not get to see because it was closed for lunch and Lisa was not feeling well. We did get to see the cannons but I failed to take any pictures.

The cathedral was a real treat. There was a choir practicing while we were there. I took video with my camera but later, when we tried to play it back, I realized that I had not had the camera set to record sound also. Needless to say there is something that cannot be felt unless you are there to hear the harmony of voices and the stone of the cathedral working together to make the ordinary extraordinary. I hope we have another chance to hear a choir singing in a cathedral before we come back home.

If you Check my Blog, Leave a Comment

2008-03-12T21:57:00.000-07:00

I know I have been horrendous about blogging. I have been busier than I ever anticipated so that's got something to do with it but I am surviving. I'm having fun too. My roof made it through the winter without leaking so I am excited about that, and I am a proud new mac user. Here's a sample of what I learned that I can do with a mac.

Just for good measure since most of you haven't seen me for a while here's a recent picture of me.

Celebrity Status

2007-12-08T10:28:00.000-08:00

I am not yet decided who I want to vote for at the primaries, but this is a great ad.

A school teacher's woes.

2007-10-16T19:54:00.000-07:00

This blog has been neglected, no question. I doubt anyone even checks it anymore, but I'm here to update it with a new post. Life has been a blur these past months. I am in my first year of teaching and that has been quite the adventure. It has been more work than I anticipated even though I had anticipated being extremely busy. It has been rewarding and fun too. I work with a great staff, and I believe my students are some of the brightest six and seven year olds I have ever met.
Maybe another reason my schedule has been so full is because I have also spent almost every Saturday since August replacing my roof. I definitely should have gotten an earlier start on this project than I did. I had forgotten how time consuming cutting metal is. Regardless I am nearly finished with the roof and it is now protected for the most part. It is a relief to say the least. Below are some pictures of the project from start to now, enjoy.

Click photos to enlarge.

Summertime fun

2007-08-09T11:25:00.000-07:00

I know, my blog has been very dormant this summer, but who really wants to sit in front of their computer when they could be out doing fun stuff. Exactly. I thought it was time for an update, so here are a few pictures from a hike Lisa and I took to the Enchantments recently:

Click on any of the photos to enlarge them.

This is where the real hiking began, Colchuck Lake, a high mountain lake situated at upwards of 5600 ft. in elevation.

The above chart shows elevation gain and loss from Colchuck to where we ended our hike at the Snow Lakes trail head. (click to enlarge.)

Our first camp at the top of Asgard Pass we were exhausted! (on the chart Asgard is the highest point.)

The next morning.

A goat!

There he is again!

The upper Enchantments.

Leprechaun Lake, where we stayed our second night.

The snow lakes dam, from this point(and we were already exhausted) it was only three more hours to the car.

June!!

2007-06-02T16:46:00.000-07:00

School's out, I'm employed, student teaching is done, and I am one happy camper! Next weekend is graduation and I am graduating. I'm not going to drive to Ellensburg to be a part of all the hubbub though. I am just going to stay home and have a BBQ with some friends and family. Most of whom don't even know about this yet. I've got a feeling it might end up being a small barbeque. Unless my wife has told people but hasn't told me. Whatever the case I am done, I have a job, and I am so ready. I will receive my diploma shortly, as well as my temporary teaching certificate. Good-bye Central Washington University, you've sucked enough money out of me! Just an update for anyone who might still check my blog.

An Empty Grave!

2007-04-08T00:22:00.000-07:00

This past Friday my wife and I attended a Tenebrae service, quite the tribute. I had never experienced a service like it. I couldn't help but feel the weight of sin and unworthiness on me in light of the sacrifice Christ made for all on that day so long ago. I had never really taken time to remember the suffering of Jesus during this time because so much focus was placed by my church on the resurrection. But it is just as important to honor and remember His sacrifice as well as His victory over sin and death.

Today is Resurrection Sunday. A day of celebration and rejoicing, but to what end? Is today really about bunnies that lay eggs with treasure hidden inside? It must seem that way to the unbelieving and the ignorant.

Take time today to celebrate the true purpose of this celebration, and thank the Lord for His faithfulness and love to all mankind.

Springtime!

2007-04-04T22:30:00.000-07:00

The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You're one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
A cloud comes over the sunlit arch,
A wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you're two months back in the middle of March.

Robert Frost (1874–1963)
Two Tramps in Mud Time (1936)

I really enjoy springtime. It's my favorite time of year. I don't think I could ever get used to a place where there is no springtime. The beauty and life of spring even touches dry deserts.
Summer, winter and fall are all fun seasons, but only spring can bring that unpredictable beauty that is:
- The weather changing at the most unlikely moment,
- The green chutes that begin to burst through the newly melted ground,
- And every ounce of nature celebrating the end of another winter with colorful song, erratic movement, and abundant life.

I love spring.

Done!!

2007-03-16T11:44:00.000-07:00

Winter quarter is over, and so is the commute! From now till June all that awaits is one classroom full of yelling screaming balls of emotion, energy, and endearment. I am very excited about this next quarter of school. Spring is my favorite season, and it is also the season for new beginnings. With the change of scenery, it will truly feel like a new beginning. I am nervous, but I know that whatever happens I will have a good experience. Hopefully next fall I will have a job, and this coming quarter will be a pleasant memory.

Dear to me.

2007-02-23T00:00:00.000-08:00

Last night at bible study, we were going through the second chapter of first Thessalonians. There is a part in that chapter where Paul is addressing the church as a father to a child. He expresses how dear the brethren there at Thessaloníki are to him and his traveling companions.

Out of this passage, a discussion arose about how it is unusual for men to share their feelings as such. It is not often that you hear a man tell his friends that they are dear to him. I am here to rectify that.(at least on my part)

I just want to let all of my brothers and friends (and especially Nessy) know that you are dear to me. Though I am not permitted conversation as often or for as long as I would like with each of you, I carry you in my heart and think of you often. I thank you for your friendships, and can't wait 'til the next time we see each other.

I passed!!

2007-02-21T10:34:00.000-08:00

The praxis exam is a nationwide exit test for college graduates that has recently been adopted by the State of Washington.

Soon I will be joining the ranks of folks with a piece of paper that certifies that I indeed have been through four years of school. Not only will I have completed four years of study, but I will also have fulfilled the requirements of the university and the state. The consummation of these requirements, realized through my course of study, approve me to be entrusted with the education of young minds who are dependent on the public school system in our state. But it is not enough to obtain this piece of paper. It is not enough to have gone to an accredited institution, completed an accredited course of study, and compiled a 3.8 grade point average in my combined major and minor areas of study.

On top of the thousands of dollars already invested to acquire an education, there is an exit test that covers what I have already proved that I know well, as evidenced by a 3.8 GPA. The test, which cost $190.00, is actually two tests, one testing my major course of study, and the other my minor course of study.

It was a pain(it took up a whole Saturday), completely unnecessary, and outrageously expensive, but I passed both tests, and even received a certificate of excellence. I don't know what good that certificate will do, because it holds no value other than telling me that I know what I know that I know.

Just another piece of paper to file away. Glad to have it out of the way.
I'm tired of all these hoops, just let me teach already.

Do you like green grass?

2007-02-12T12:10:00.000-08:00

This weekend while at a wedding, I heard a very good insight into attitude and perspective. The minister was speaking on the sanctity marriage and how these days people seem to have the attitude that says, "I'll stay in this pasture until I find greener pastures." He referred to the saying, "the grass is always greener on the other side," noting that so often in life we are looking for that greener grass.

Then he said something profound. He said, "the grass is only as green as we are willing to make it."

In order to have a gorgeous green lawn, you have to work diligently at it. It is a dedicated process that requires a concerted effort in order to achieve the optimum result.

I thought to myself, "Self, that is so true." So many times we look for "hand-outs" when we have the resources and responsibility to do for ourselves what others have done for themselves. If the "grass" is greener on the other side, then it is because we are focusing on the end result of someone else's labor instead of focusing on the task at hand, and diligently seeking to make our own "grass" greener.

I really liked this illustration because that saying, that the grass is always greener in somebody else's yard, is so often said in various situations, but there is never any context as to why the grass is greener somewhere else. By putting the saying in context, we are empowered to do something to make our own "grass" greener, whatever that "grass" may be.

Muy Caliendo!

2007-02-06T22:52:00.000-08:00

The other night my wife, sister in law and I were all introduced to Frank Caliendo by our friend Eric. This man does an awesome John Madden, and a funny George W., Enjoy!

GO Colts!

2007-02-04T16:57:00.000-08:00

I am one-hundred percent rooting for the Colts today. Da Bears are good, but not good enough (I hope.)

Good luck to all you Colts fans!

To all the rest of you, I hope you lose.

Kiri Davis

2007-02-02T11:05:00.000-08:00

My brother posted a news clip about this. Here is the actual documentary. It is seven minutes long and very shocking to me. I have never thought of people as being bad or good based on the color of their skin, but I do know that I have grown up as a Hispanic American in an Anglo-American society. I realize after reflecting on this video that I too grew up with a negative self-image that I still struggle with even today. I think it is even more blatant for my dad, but I admire the way he handles himself and does not take a victim mentality. It is clear from this video that many children are very much put down systematically by the very culture they live in. This is not a black and white issue, it is much bigger than that. Issues of this magnitude are hard to deal with because we are all guilty in some form or another. We would like to think, or at least I would, that we have nothing to do with this. I think if we examine ourselves very closely, we can all eventually see that this is not the case, but instead we have perhaps subconsciously accepted these beliefs as the way things are. This is earth shattering! It seems we believe this stuff to some degree otherwise these kids would not act in such a manner.

In the documentary Ms. Davis conveys that this has been going on for quite some time, but it is even longer than she alludes to. The apostle Paul in the book of Galatians wrote "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Paul ,the apostle, addressed the very same issue 2000 years ago! It's amazing how the more things change, the more they stay the same. I believe that this does not have to be, but it takes a purposeful effort to bring about change. Change cannot and will not happen on its own. We have to want change. We have to encourage it, and we must purpose it. I encourage us to examine our attitudes and thoughts, however subtle, and purpose to change them and more fully align them to the words of Jesus in the book of Matthew, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."

Want some taco sauce with that?

2007-02-01T12:00:00.000-08:00

Taco Bell is not a place I go to often, in fact I haven't been to Taco Bell since before Thanksgiving. I don't really eat fast food much, and if I do it is usually Wendy's, but Taco Bell's sauce packets are kind of funny. Here are two of my favorites.

In reference to the second sauce packet, "Sometimes it's just your time, little buddy."

Pics from the drive.

2007-01-31T11:38:00.000-08:00

Ellensburg is cold this time of year, here are a few pictures from the drive. These pictures aren't of snow as you can tell from the bare roadway, instead the fog freezes onto the trees, fences, and phone wires making for a pretty awesome display.

Birds of Prey

2007-01-25T19:34:00.000-08:00

The other day I saw a Bald Eagle as I was driving to school. It was in a tree with a bunch of crows. I thought that was weird, but I couldn't stop to investigate more thoroughly because I was in a rush. It's not everyday that you see a bald eagle hanging out with some crows, perched in a tree by the side of the road. I wish I would have been able to sit there and watch for a while.

Not too many days prior while Lisa and I were out a strolling through the woods, we were surprised to see a Great Horned Owl perched in a tree down the way from us. He noticed us pretty quickly and flew around the bend, where we saw him again before he flew away for good. It was so exciting. He was so big, and I had never seen one alive before.

Birds of prey are so elusive and so beautiful. I'm always awed by their presence whenever I encounter them. If I had time, I think I would seek them out more often, but for now I'll have to count my blessings for having caught a glimpse of these majestic winged predators, and keep my eyes peeled for future sightings.

A healthy dose of laughter

2007-01-20T16:07:00.000-08:00

I was reading a blog post the other day and it started me thinking about that verse in the bible that says, "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."

So many times in life we hear negative, sarcastic, or unpleasant words, when all we want to hear are pleasant words. My sister also recently wrote that words are powerful. I agree with that statement, and I sumbit that how one uses words is just as powerful. A bossy tone, a rude tone, a happy tone, a pleasant tone, a selfish tone, or any tone for that matter can be applied to any phrase and change the whole meaning of the phrase depending on the attitude with which it is spoken. In working with children I have learned that how we make someone feel with our words is just as important as what we have to say with our words. The phrase "let's get to work," can either empower a child or deflate them depending on the tone with which it is delivered. We all encounter situations in which we would love to have a good time but we become offended because we were offended by the rude or offensive speech or actions of another. When that happens we have the power to choose "pleasant words" and break what seems to be a compounding negative cycle before it escalates to "good time" ending rut. Those ruts are so hard to get out of, yet so easy to avoid, kind of ironic I guess. It's good to know that we can choose in those situations between being offended or being a source of pleasant words.

School, and again I say.....school...

2007-01-19T10:26:00.000-08:00

I am currently enrolled in my final academic quarter of study at Central Washington University. That statement isn't entirely true. To be correct I would have to say that it is my next to last academic quarter of study. I still have one quarter of classroom teaching practicum to be completed this spring, and I graduate in June. I can't wait. No more driving the snowy pass, and no more juggling books and schedules of the various classes I'm taking. I will be able to drive a short way, 15 minutes at the most, to the school where I will finally engage in my teaching practicum. What a welcome relief from the daily hour each way that I currently drive to and from school.

Concurrently this quarter I am enrolled in a firefighter "red card/firefighter I "class as part of my responsibilities as a volunteer for the fire department. I have already taken this extensive course at least twice, and maybe as many as three times, I hope that I can challenge the course, or I will be bored out of my mind. Maybe I will just take the opportunity to do classwork from my college classes if I am not able to avoid sitting through the monotonous required lectures for wildland firefighting. Whatever the case I am confident that I will pass all aspects of the course, and hopefully this summer I will enjoy fighting wildfires again.

Snow, Snow Shoeing, and Christmas Tree Hunting!

2006-12-18T09:44:00.000-08:00

Last week whilst Seattle was being pounded by fierce winds, Dryden was sustaining an onslaught of snow. The picture above is an image of the aftermath of a blizzard that left behind twelve inches of fluffy white frozen powder. It hasn't snowed like that around here since 1996. I thought the public schools might close their door for a day, but it turns out that this weather was not enough to shut down our community's schools. A few folks lost power, including my parents, and a house did catch fire, but our volunteer fire department was able to squelch the blaze before any serious harm was done, and electricity was restored within twenty-four hours.

This week Lisa and I were finally able to go out and enjoy the new fluffy white stuff by snow shoeing on Blewett Pass with a couple friends from Ellensburg and their dog Riley(not pictured). We had an excellent time, although with the amount of snow on the pass it was difficult to find a turnout that hadn't been rendered unturnoutable by the Department of Transportation's monstrous snow moving equipment. It was a fun and tiring hike, and afterwards we went back to our friends' place to warm up and have some hot cocoa.

Also this past week Lisa and I went Christmas tree hunting. We left a little late in the day, so by the time we made it to our tree hunting destination it was dark out. We couldn't find a tree to our liking at there,and had just about given in to the fact that maybe it was not our day to find a tree, but we climbed back in the truck determined not to go home empty handed. We drove about twenty miles up to Camas Meadows where we trugded through the snow to find a gem. All of the trees were caked heavily with snow, and because it was dark we had a difficult time actually seeing the quality of the trees. We prayed that God would help us find one, and about ten minutes later we finally found what we thought could be the one. I shook it vigorously, receiving most of the frozen precipitation from it's branches on my head and shoulders. With my headlamp coolly illuminating it's now snow-bare branches, I studied the tree. It was perfect, and just the right size, thank God! The evening was cold and dark, and the roads treacherous, but the trip was worth it. I cut the tree down, and it now stands adorned in our living room.

It's that time again...

2006-12-10T21:17:00.000-08:00

I am Finally finished with the busiest quarter ever, and some of my grades are even back. They read like so:
A
A
A-
B+
Satisfactory

And there are still three more pending. I hope the pending results are all as equally plausible as these results.

I'm glad I finally have time to post on here. I have also applied for graduation. I see the light at the end of the tunnel, and it is growing brighter with every passing day. Soon enough, I will be done with this program and out in the workforce. I can't wait!

Revival Hymn

2006-11-15T13:44:00.000-08:00

This video is long, but if you have the time, I recommend watching it. I even recommend making time to watch it.

Remember Azuza?

2006-11-13T12:45:00.000-08:00

This site is a great resource for vintage sermons from the past hundred years, and they are all downloadable free of charge.

A Profound Thought

2006-10-25T21:46:00.000-07:00

We teach our children not to be afraid of the dark, but the real tragedy is when men are afraid of the light.
- Criminal Minds, 10-25-2006

Dolemite Jenkins aka Clinton Portis

2006-10-09T06:20:00.000-07:00

This is total silliness, good stuff

Click here for video

A weekend in Stehekin

2006-10-05T07:56:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I went up to Stehekin with my wife and her folks and sister, and Oksana. It was the first time since Brenda broke her neck that she has been able to go some place like this. We had a great time as we visited the Stehekin Pastry Company and purchased all kinds of edible goodies. We also visited the breathtaking Rainbow Falls, which are probably 400 feet high. We saw bear poop, salmon, a deer, a run over squirrel, and even a bear. The town has a small history and we were able to learn about that too. We were even able to tour the one room school house which is unbeleivable. We stayed in a nice cabin owned by some wonderful people, the Pitts, who we were able to go out to dinner with. We ate dinner at a beautiful ranch in a dining room with a sawdust floor. I wish I would have taken a picture of the ranch as we arrived with the sun setting. The location of that homestead was selected very carefully. We drove up a draw and the sun was going down so we couldn't really see any sunlight, but when we reached the ranch it was like the canyon took a turn and left the property exposed to the most magnificent sunset which stretched across a golden field of dry grass and shone on the edge of a clearing where the lodge with the dining room stood as if emerging from a stand of trees. Like I said, I wish I would have taken a picture, but all I have is my memory and these words. here are some pictures I did take. I almost forgot to mention that Lisa has connections, and captained the ferry that we took home. enjoy.

Last weekend!

2006-09-29T15:14:00.000-07:00

Last weekend was a crazy one. I took the car over to Saturn of Bellevue and had a minor issue fixed because it was under warranty there. Traffic was unbeleivable it took me one hour just to drive a 15 mile stretch, it's a good thing I don't do that everyday like some people do. My father in law accompanied me and on the way back we decided that since we had some time we would go for a hike. we hiked to Bridal Veil falls, which is just below Lake Serene, off of Highway two. Here are some pictures(click image to enlarge)

Then we went to a men's retreat where we were able to chill out and have some good fellowship.

I'm glad I was able to hang out with my father in law, it was a good bonding time, and we had a lot of fun. We even skipped rocks on Lake Wenatchee.

Lisa's and my domicile

2006-08-29T15:26:00.000-07:00

I finally have pictures to post. We are renting, but this house is a really good deal as we are renting from my dad, and he is being very generous with us. The tenants before us were smokers who did not pay attention to the rental agreement that prohibited smoking inside the house. So Lisa and I repainted the whole interior of the house with help from various amiable individuals whom we dearly appreciate.
The house comes complete with a garage, automatic sprinklers, a fireplace, and a basement, but no linen closets...none. It will be my husbandly duty to rectify this situation as soon as I can....
....There is something about living in an actual house that is freeing, yet binding all at once. When I lived in an apartment I was confined to a small space, but now in a house I have my own yard(to mow), and various little odd jobs to do. It makes me feel so manly to be able to work on and around the house, even if it does belong to my dad.

The front of the house.The yard could use some weeding, but it has plenty of potential.

The livingroom, it is quite large.(and beautiful with my wife standing there)

The kitchen, being used to make a goodbye meal for my brother right before he left for school.

The other half of the living room..

The dining room is quite large, we will figure out what to do with all the space I'm sure.

Back in place, and I'm all up in your face....

2006-08-16T11:57:00.000-07:00

A great many things have happened in this last month. Lisa and I have officially moved to Dryden(pictures forthcoming.) We have been hiking, I earned strait A's for the summer, and now we are unpacking after fixing up a house that desperately needed some TLC. Soon we will be unpacked, all moved in, and we hope to have a little shindig to kick things of here at the new place. Please enjoy the pictures, sorry there aren't any of the house yet. but I will hopefully get around to that soon. These are just snipits from the past month or so.

This was the view I woke up to when I recently went up to Colchuck Lake to meet my uncle and cousins. They ditched me so I spent the night by myself. It turned out ok.

This is from that same trip, this little guy would not leave me alone until I took his picture. Looks like he's been eating well.

This is how we moved all of our stuff to Dryden, we only made one trip.

This was a little earlier at Lake Clara, a jaunt that Lisa and I made with my brother

and finally this is beautiful Pete Lake in the morning. Lisa and I roughed it for two nights with a couple of friends here at this hidden paradise (except for the bugs.)

Free at last, Free at last...Part II

2006-07-23T22:39:00.000-07:00

It was the coolest thing, the sun was setting, and a man was quietly playing a flute at Lion's Rock. I captured it with my digital camera, which happens to take pretty decent video as well. Have a look and listen. Enjoy!

Free at last, Free at last....

2006-07-23T20:10:00.000-07:00

This is Lisa and I's final weekend in our modest apartment here in Ellensburg. Next weekend we will move all of our belongings to my parents basement, because the house we are moving to has not been vacated on time. It should only be a week or so I hope, not because I don't want to live with my parents, but because it would be nice to get settled in to our new place. I am excited for the change.

This weekend Lisa and I stayed in Ellensburg, though we wished we could have been with my family on a camping trip to Lake Osoyoos. We were able to work, make some extra money, and explore the local outdoors. The following are some pictures we took at Lion's Rock, which is a 22 mile drive out of Ellensburg.

This is on the way up, pretty neat huh?

This also is on the way there, only after the previous picture.

This is Mt. Stewart, and the Cascades.

This is Mando, Lisa, and Mt. Stewart

What you can't tell from these pictures is that there were like 300 star gazers camping up there with all their motor homes and star gazing equipment, I could not believe it. We'll have to go back some time when it's less crowded, but the view was still amazing as you can see.

Oh Beautiful, for Spacious Skies...

2006-07-04T11:09:00.002-07:00

Today is Independence Day. What does that mean anyway? We all know that it is the day that the 13 colonies declared their independence from King George III of England, but what does that mean to us? If it weren't for those 56 bold signers of the Declaration of Independence, what would life be like today? Our founding father's had a vision for how this day was to be remembered.

In a letter to his wife Abagail
John Adams had this to say about July 4, 1776(he was mistaken by two days):

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.

So, at least one of our founding fathers believed that the "Fourth" should be Devoted to solemnly celebrating God for our deliverance from British Rule.

The preamble of the declaration states:
We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Even our Declaration of Independence celebrates our Creator as the giver of rights that are unalienable by any man.

Let's honor their memory today and honor God as we celebrate the aniversary of our country's independence from British tyranical rule.

Set Your Stopwatch

2006-06-26T09:38:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard of the five second rule? You know the one that says that if you drop food on the ground, it's ok to eat it if you pick it back up within five seconds. Well here's a little video to illustrate the point.

Oh frabjous day callooh callay!

2006-06-24T20:41:00.000-07:00

It just so happens that Lisa and I will be moving to Dryden. July 31 is our last day in this crazy apartment with the elephants running around upstairs, and the "farting" music that haunts us next door. We will be moving into a much bigger domisile in Dryden complete with it's very own yard, front porch and........fireplace, YES!! I am so excited! Can you tell? No more cell phone tower, no more crunched for space, we will live in a bonafide HOUSE!

Lisa got a teaching job in Cashmere, and I will commute to and from school, until I finish my degree, it won't be so bad, other than paying for gas, I'll just have to get a motorcycle or something really economical. Hopefully we'll have a house warming party once we get settled in and have some folks over. Yipee!

Frustrated? Yeah, a little.

2006-06-23T07:50:00.000-07:00

Lisa and I live in an apartment complex with about 40 units.

At our apartmets there is a huge dumpster where everyone disposes of their household garbage. About a week ago it was moved from one side of the complex to the other, making it a tad less convenient to throw stuff away. This wasn't too big a deal until we noticed that a structure was being erected where the dumpster used to sit. This piqued our curiousity and upon further investigation we learned that the structure is in fact a cell phone tower.

How is it that a cell phone tower can be erected in a residential neighborhood without the consent of the people living there? Supposedly we were warned and had a chance to voice our concerns, but the landlord made very little effort to make sure his tennants knew. When I investigated the matter a little more I found that at one corner of the complex a poster had been posted, but I don't ever remember seeing it. There was also an article in the local newspaper, maybe just an editorial, whatever the case I never saw that either. This all sounds to me like a backhanded way of meeting certain guidelines and regulations without actually fulfilling them.
I would have appreciated a note on the door of my apartment, or a letter to my mailbox, but clearly my voice was not wanted.

I guess the kicker is that now the cell phone tower is there and we feel pretty much helpless to do anything about it. The landlord benefits from $10,000.00 a month and free cellphones and service for life for him, his family, and employees. While everyone in the vicinity is exposed to harmful electromagnetic radiation, without any of the benefits of free cellphone service, or reduced rent, in fact he raised rent.

Am I frustrated, yeah a little.

A Quote

2006-06-13T15:44:00.000-07:00

"In feature films the director is God; in documentary films God is the director." - Alfred Hitchcock

Saints and Soldiers

2006-06-02T23:48:00.000-07:00

These days it is so hard to find a movie that actually means something substantial. I found this movie while looking for the original X-Men, which is a very action packed movie, a classic good vs. evil, and while it is entertaining, there isn't much actual substance. There are some movies that hit that spot in our hearts and itellect that move us if only for an instant. So often we become so immersed in ourselves, our needs, and our selfish ambition, that we fail to reach out to others long enough to stop and notice the similarities rather than the differences in our lives.

This film hits that spot.

Saints and Soldiers

Remember When.....

2006-05-31T22:11:00.000-07:00

Gas prices sure have increased a lot, this picture was taken at a gas station that closed about a year and a half ago in Wenatchee. How I wish the prices we thought were so high back then were still around today, just imagine....

Dirty Dirty Face

2006-05-31T11:50:00.000-07:00

Here is a little blast from the past, maybe soon we will do this again

Home sweet home

2006-05-10T11:51:00.000-07:00

There's something special about returning to the place you grew up. I recently went back to my parents' house in Dryden which not so coincidentaly happens to be where I grew up. I took a ride on the four wheeler and admired the spring beauty of the orchard and hills around me.

I love springtime, and I love home.

One of the things about spring in the orchard is that bees are brought in to pollenate the bloom, this only lasts about a week. It just so happens that the weekend I decided to visit coincided with the time that bees are pollenating the orchard. Upon seeing the bees, I instantly remembered my first bee sting and when I remembered the bee sting it triggered other old memories. I guess that's what makes visiting home so special, the memories are always there in my brain, but there is a connection with the environment when I visit a familiar place that draws them out, and takes me back to another time.

Round-about winter

2006-05-04T18:51:00.000-07:00

By Pat Higgins and Armando Avila

I like winter.

When it gets cold outside mom makes hot chocolate.

Whenever I drink hot chocolate,

I like to put whipped cream and sprinkles on top.

The sprinkles remind me of the fourth of July.

I like summertime too.

When it gets hot outside mom makes sweet tea.

She always sweetens it with sugar.

Sugar reminds me of snow.

I like winter.

Sunset

2006-05-03T22:07:00.000-07:00

In air high above
On wings not quite like a dove
Creation lies below
As time ticks rather slow

I sit in silence
Eyes glazed as if in a trance
Wondering wondering how
And I think about it now

The sun ever lingers
I feel the touch, her fingers
Outside is cold
These memories old

What a strange world we live in.

2006-05-03T22:00:00.000-07:00

This caught my eye as I was browsing through the news.

I though it might be interesting to share....

please click this text

dilema

2006-04-27T12:09:00.000-07:00

Have you ever found yourself in a predicament where you have to choose between two similar items? How do you resolve these situations?

Look! I'm a beatiful waterfall!

2006-04-24T20:14:00.000-07:00

See, it is us. We are happy!
(click to see the full effect)
Lisa and I and a couple of friends and a dog went out to see this. It was Frad (a combination of freakin' and rad.)

A Woman's Touch

2006-04-10T23:48:00.000-07:00

These first three photographs are of my bedroom

after I married Lisa. Needless to say, it just aint the same

These last three depict my bedroom as it used to be.

As you probably noticed, Lisa found a way to make it look like a completely different room,

all it took was a woman's touch.

Ride Your Power Animal into Your Spirit Cave.

2006-04-04T18:34:00.000-07:00

You know, some people were just born to dance...
...maybe if I hang around them enough, some will rub off
on me.....

At Last....

2006-03-30T23:50:00.000-08:00

What a goofy crew
Getting ready
It was too thick to cut, she needed help.

I know this isn't much, especially after about a month without a post, but here are three pictures from the day. I haven't had as much time as I would have liked to go through pictures and edit them so that I can present them on the web, but there will be more. Until sooner rather than later, bye bye.

Last week of singlility

2006-03-05T21:03:00.000-08:00

This is it, it's come down to this. One last week of being single. Who knows what awaits down the perilous path of marriage. This journey I am about to embark on is a long one(God willing) filled with many toils and strifes, as well as many joys. I am glad to be taking it because I am not alone in this new adventure. My Lord and my wife will be with me, and there will be many friends along the way to support us; to help us through the difficult times, and rejoice in our happiest moments. It's an adventure, the unknown, and I am as ready as I'll ever be. So long to the single carefree life I have known to this point. I am responsible now, but I am not alone.

Dreams

2006-02-25T12:31:00.000-08:00

A Dream Defferred, by Langston Hughes

What Happens to a Dream Deffered?
Does it Shrivel Up like a Raisin in the Sun?
Or Fester like a Sore and then Run?
Does it Stink like Rotten Meat?
Or Crust and Sugar Over like a Syrupy Sweet?
Maybe It Just Sags like a Heavy Load.

--Or Does it Explode?

All of us have dreams from time to time, and most all of us live some of those dreams, but what happens to those dreams we've had and never done anything about? When we speak of dreams, we do not merely refer to the whims we have from day to day, but those longings and desires that are aroused in childhood, and persist through life.

All dreams are great and most require hard work and discipline to see them come to fruition, but the work is worth seeing the dream fulfilled. Don't let your dreams slip away without making the effort to live those dreams. Too often we say to ourselves, "Oh, I can do that tomorrow," or,"I'm just too busy," but tomorrow may never come or tomorrow could turn into forever and our dreams are left undone, and life may never be less busy than it is right now. Our only option then if we want to live our dreams is to make the most of the time we have. In the words of Red from the Shawshank Redemption, "It's time to get busy livin' or get busy dyin'."

Have Hope. Live your dreams.

The Road Not Taken

2006-02-22T18:13:00.000-08:00

Automobile Security Feature

2006-02-14T07:52:00.000-08:00

They may take a while to load, but these promotional videos for the Trunk Monkey automobile security feature are quite fun.

Trunk Monkey 1
Trunk Monkey 2
Trunk Monkey 3
Trunk Monkey 4
Trunk Monkey 5

Have a nice day.

March on Soldier.

2006-02-12T22:07:00.000-08:00

"It ain't the guns nor the armament,
Nor the funds that we can pay,
But the close cooperation,
That makes us win the day.
It ain't the individual,
Nor the army as a whole,
But the everlasting team work
Of every bloomin' soul."

-Kipling

Super Disappointment

2006-02-08T23:41:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, I watched the Superbowl with some friends, this is a picture from that night when the Seahawks scored their first and only touchdown and made it 14-10. It didn't turn out so well for us Seahawk fans, and the zebras didn't exactly help our cause, but maybe next year the hawks will make it back, and win regardless of the refs. But there are bigger and more important things than football, like my wedding which is only 38 days away now

Wingdings and Things.

2006-01-06T11:24:00.000-08:00

No picture this time, but seeing as I have neglected my blog for so long I thought I would sit here in black hall and type a little something. CWU has just completed construction of a new rec center, it is the bomb diggity. Enhoused in the massive 68.5 million dollar structure are: a climbing wall, four basketball courts, a weight room, oodles of bikes, treadmills, and cableweights, an indoor track, lockerrooms with a sauna(is that how you spell it?) and hair dryers(not that that's a big selling point for me), and an equipment room to check out equipment. It really rocks, i am going to use it as much as possible.

"Merry Christmas to all and Feliz Navidad"

2005-12-15T22:08:00.000-08:00

This is not my work but it is so good I just had to share:

THE TEX-MEX VERSION OF "THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS"
Jim and Nita Lee (Dec. 1972)

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the casa,
Not a creature ws stirring -- Caramba! ¿Qué pasa?
Los niños were tucked away in their camas,
Some in long underwear, some in pijamas,
While hanging the stockings with mucho cuidado
In hopes that old Santa would feel obligado
To bring all children, both buenos and malos,
A nice batch of dulces and other regalos.
Outside in the yard there arose such a grito
That I jumped to my feet like a fightened cabrito.
I ran to the window and looked out afuera,
And who in the world do you think that it era?
Saint Nick in a sleigh and a big red sombrero
Came dashing along like a crazy bombero.
And pulling his sleigh instead of venados
Were eight little burros approaching volados.
I watched as they came and this quaint little hombre
Was shouting and whistling and calling by nombre:"
Ay Pancho, ay Pepe, ay Cuco, ay Beto,
Ay Chato, ay Chopo, Macuco, y Nieto!"
Then standing erect with his hands on his pecho
He flew to the top of our very own techo.
With his round little belly like a bowl of jalea,
He struggled to squeeze down our old chiminea,
Then huffing and puffing at last in our sala,
With soot smeared all over his red suit de gala,
He filled all the stockings with lovely regalos --
For none of the niños had been very malos.
Then chuckling aloud, seeming very contento,
He turned like a flash and was gone like the viento.
And I heard him exclaim, and this is verdad,
Merry Christmas to all, and Feliz Navidad!

Grades are out, it's almost Christmas!

2005-12-13T20:42:00.000-08:00

I am happy to announce that after my first quarter back at school, after five years away from "school," the results are in and I received two genuine first quality A grades, a couple of knock off B grades, and one tiny blemish on my record C+ grade.

I am glad fall quarter is done wth, I feel like I could not have carried on much longer. Now that fall quarter is over, and grades are posted I can relax and know that I will continue to receive financial aide for another quarter, and I am no longer conditionally accepted to my major, I am a fully incorporated member of the CWU education program.

Furthermore I am pleased to announce and show you pictures of the Christmas tree that Lisa and I puchased and decorated at my apartment. I never knew how much it cost to set up a tree for Christmas. There is the tree stand 13 dollars, ornaments 11 dollars, candy canes 3 dollars, 1 string of lights 6 0r 7 dollars, the star 12 dollars, 3 stockings(not picured) 36 dollars, 1 tree 40 dollars, the aroma of noble fir wafing into my nostrils as I walk in the door from work, priceless.

I hope you too can all enjoy a tree this Chistmas season, minus all the expense if you can help it.

Happy Holidays

Per Mario's Request, I did my best to read it.

2005-11-30T13:22:00.000-08:00

The Bible in Pidgin?

2005-11-29T22:06:00.000-08:00

I was introduced to pidgin by my ever loving granny. It happened as I was visiting one day and I was going through her books. I came across a book which she gave me called Pidgin to da Max which I thought I'd study it in case I ever went to Hawaii, which hasn't happened yet, but hopefully someday it will.

Pidgin, specifically Hawaiian Pidgin, is the slang speak of the islands, kind of like what some people would call ebonics. This is an excerpt from dakine book.

"Wen we neva have power notting, Christ wen mahke fo all us guys dat wen ack jalike God no matta. Dass da time God wen pick. Eh you know, nobody goin mahke fo one guy dat ony do right kine stuff! If get one guy dat everytime get good heart, maybe bumbye somebody go mahke fo help dat kine guy. But den God wen show how plenny love an aloha he get fo us, cuz same time we was doing bad kine stuff, Christ still yet wen go mahke fo us."

See the website Click Here

Back to the grind.

2005-11-28T12:54:00.000-08:00

Well, thanksgiving break is over and it's back to school for Mr. Mando and many other students. I am so looking forward to the end of finals week next week. I have been so busy with a big never ending pile of homework, I will be glad when it's gone and I can focus more attention on other matters. Maybe even go over the mountains and visit friends! I was fortunate enough to see my brother this past weekend, which was a treat. I probably won't see him again till March, that is quite some time. At least there is email and the phone, and I'll be able to stay in touch. Well, aint no time for the jibba jabba, onward to conquer the Mt Everest of homework that sits and waits, like a lion stalking it's prey.

After Thanksgiving

2005-11-25T23:53:00.000-08:00

Jerbarco

2005-11-23T10:32:00.000-08:00

This man is a dancing machine,
he is my friend and if you don't know who he is you might want to ask yourself why that is.

Everyone knows JERBARCO.

zombocom

2005-11-22T18:25:00.000-08:00

hello and welcome to zombocom. don't know what I'm talking about?

go ahead and check it out, after eleven days without a post I would like to recomend that you relax at zombocom where any thing is possible.

Troubling News.

2005-11-10T01:04:00.000-08:00

There is something very wrong with the food industry. Hydrogenated and Partially-Hydrogenated Oils(PHOs), also known as trans fatty acids, are found in almost any packaged food product in America today. According to research documented and accepted by the FDA, these substances are very harmful, and contribute greatly to the increased risk of heart disease. In other words they are poison, just like cigarettes. The rise of the use of PHOs also coincides with the rise in obesity in the USA in the last thirty years.

Please take the time to read about this health risk.... Click Here.

Also being added to many foods is a product called MSG, which is falsely classified as a spice in America. It is in fact an artificially produced excitatory neurotransmitter. In other words it tricks the brain into thinking that food tastes better than it really does.

Please browse this independent research.... Click here.

I myself have been eliminating PHOs and MSG from my diet which is very very hard to do, because they are everywhere. However I am strongly opposed to the use of these products and I care enough about you all to make this information more accessible to you. I don't mean to be redundant :), because I know I already made a similar post earlier, but if you appreciate this information please leave a comment, and also if you don't. Thank you.

This is new, I thought it was neat

2005-11-09T02:00:00.000-08:00

Who would've thunk it?

2005-11-09T01:17:00.000-08:00

I always thought Elk were these ultra moral creatures.
I mean look at him, he looks so regal.
News from the BBC suggests otherwise. Click Here

Need more evidence...Click Here

It's a good thing we hunt these rascals.

In Transition

2005-11-08T20:27:00.000-08:00

These pictures are of the reception hall where our reception will be. Sorry it is in such a state of funk. The building was still under finalization when we walked through.

QT with an orange vegetable!

2005-10-30T23:29:00.000-08:00

Meet Jack, see how happy he is, he doesn't care that he only has one tooth. That's one more than some people have.

My Digs Part II

2005-10-30T23:17:00.000-08:00

This is the newest addition to my apartment

his name is Sherman and he is five years old.

This is the computer desk where much work takes place.

Making cinammon rolls in the kitchen.

Ooooh Aaaaah, the kitchen!

My Digs Part I

2005-10-30T13:41:00.000-08:00

The Guest room.

Self Explanitory

My Bed and Dresser

My bookshelves

The Living room

This is my apartment part I, because I couldn' t fit all my pictures in one post this is where I spend much of my time

How well does the FDA protect us?

2005-10-26T22:48:00.000-07:00

I just had a nice dinner tonight with my fiance and afterward for whatever weird reason I decided to sit down at the computer and I typed in nomsg.com. Now I have been aware that this additive exists in some foods for quite some time, but was unaware of all of the health risks associated with it and the extent to which it is used. It is an interesting site to say the least. The FDA backs this up, check it out. This site might also be of interest.

Late nite's at Mando's

2005-10-17T00:35:00.000-07:00

I know it has been a while, but I have been busy with school. Here is a picture of the campus, it is very lovely. However I find it very dificult to adjust to student life seeing as I have not been to school for almost five years. Needless to say life has become a very busy affair. With five classes and countless assignments, not to mention work, who has time to work on a web page? Well hopefully I will do a better job of posting on my blog. Until next time...

Creation Revealed

2005-09-06T22:04:00.000-07:00

I recently went for a hike in the backcountry with my brother and fiance, it was quite the experience to see first hand the wonderful beauty that God created. I have never been to a more beautiful spot and it just reminded me of God's goodness towards us, and the awesome power of His hand.