Warning:

A metaphor is a code book. A simile is like a pillow.

In reference to television in one his sermons: "People use it as a babysitter - keeps 'em quiet. Damns their soul, but keeps 'em quiet." -Dr. Brown

One the way home my college friend asked me what I thought the two biggest issues are today in working with youth. It didn't take me long to think of them. I paused and thought. "Relationships and sex." I replied. With my passion for youth, and current work and study in youth ministry I cannot deny this or not be aware of it either. With our messed up dating system, young people are more and more confused and misled by sociey on what healthy relationships are. Whether healthy same sex or opposite sex relationships, but especially the latter. Secondly, the chemicals are being ignited and unfortunately bad choices lead to consequences. Sex ranks in my opinion as one of the leading problems as well, if not the top problem. To my surprise and confirmation, she told me her youth leader back at home, concurred with my opinion.

Then out of the blue she just commented, "And your car smells like herbal essences." I laughed wholeheartedly to this. "Ummm...thanks." I said. I then explained that my Mom gave me Green Apple car fresheners for Christmas. I still laugh about this. Not only that but as we were traveling along the highway, she looks out over the fields, and snow, and farms, and perhaps a few horses, and describes the country as "classy and romantic". I laughed again and told her, "Yea, thanks. You're describing the area where I live as classy and romantic. Wow."

Tony invited me to play volleyball with our cousins and himself on Monday. I came over. It's a brilliant idea really. All the girls were at his sister-in-law's baby shower, so all the guys get together for pizza and fierce volleyball. So glad I got to hang out with him. Also told Dwayne about the computer monitor I brought home to shoot. He's like, "No. Bring it over. We'll blow it up." We both laughed. I agreed.

You may have the permission to look at me strange following this news: I have disciplined myself while home on break to complete lots of homework. Yes, yes. Okay, honestly, stop shaking your head. And I've done lots. It's a good feeling.

Tuesdays itinerary was not replete with friends. Went out to eat with Denver, Amber, Dani, RuthAnn, Angela, Keith and myself. Following, we went to [please don't laugh] Pet's Pajamas, and petted some of the puppies there. I took a casual, masculine approach to this intoxication of cuteness. Following, we graced the presence of B&N, complete with stand up relationship discussion and sit down theological discussion. Edifying is the adjective.

I went downtown today and met Netania at CC Coffee Shop. [Learned something new - Hers is a Hebrew name, like mine.] I had coffee and we talked of being adults and the old high school days. Refreshing.

I donned t-shirt and flip-flops and gave Toby a bath today since it was moderately warm. Then I played with Callie and got her all excited, but not without mud on my toes and arms. After supper Mom and I talked while I made chocolatechipcookies. Something I appreciated and made me feel home.

"I'm hoping. Spring - maybe - soon." -my brother Josh

Random.

-Sam

Somnambulism

I found an interesting article online about emailing people in your sleep. Supposedly it's a side effect of prescription medication. There's one you don't see! Side effects: Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Chest Pain, Dizziness, and Somnambulism. If I happen to send you any weird party invitations, disregard them.

"According to a case described in the medical journal Sleep Medicine, a 44-year-old sleepwalker logged onto her computer and emailed out party invitations to friends. Fortean Times magazine looks at this case and several other bizarre episodes of somnambulism.

From Fortean Times:
The mails themselves were perhaps not up to the woman’s waking standard; each was in a random mix of upper and lower case characters, badly formatted and containing odd expressions.

The writers of the report have dubbed this new variation of sleepwalking ‘zzz-mailing’. They say: “We believe writing an email after turning the computer on, connecting to the Internet and remembering the password displayed by our patient is novel. To our knowledge this type of complex behaviour requiring coordinated movements has not been reported before in sleepwalking. She was shocked when she saw these emails, as she did not recall writing them. She did not have any history of night terr­ors or sleepwalking as a child.”

Unlike simple sleepwalking, they argue, the activities the woman engaged in required complex behaviour and coordinated movement, as well being able to remember her login details. She had no memory of the events next day. It’s thought that the somnambulistic episode may have been triggered by prescript­ion medication."

The Thrilling

.
Greek IB Test complete
.
Going home for a week of break.
.
Job interview next week

-Sam

I'm Not Givin Up

ασπαζομαι συ πολυς, πολυς, πλειων κρονοι

My List of Priorities:
1.) Be more materialistic
2.) Screw up work ethic
3.) Take drugs
4.) Eliminate sleeping out of my schedule
5.) Procrastinate
6.) Drink no milk
7.) Include more violence in my daily relations

"The most thoroughly wasted of all days is that on which one has not laughed" -Nicolas de Chamfort

I'm tired
And I'm resting in the grace
Of my king
I'm not giving up
Even though I've given up
Everything
[&]
I surrender
To the One
Who asks for my surrender
To my God
Who created me
I'm not ashamed
Of who I am in Christ
I'm not ashamed
Of who I am because of Him
My Abba and Adonai

I Feel...

Stupid highschoolers...It's not that we don't want them here...it's just, well yea, we don't want them here. Brent and I lucked out and we sleep well tonight without intruding guests in our room. However, as I write this I can hear feet running down the hall, and walls being banged. It amuses me how so far removed we college students are from highschool, like that was forever ago. We are so mature now. *laughs* Reminds me of Keith last year. I helped him place duct tape on the floor of his room in 3x3 squares for the kids who were staying in his room - kindly labeled "Person #1" and "Person #2". We also layed a line of duct tape in the middle of the room with "DO NOT CROSS" labeled on it. Ah, memories.

-Sam

Toast

The toaster popped. I jumped up from my seat with the same intensity. I strolled to the toaster thinking about why toaster's popped, and perhaps that the world's great mystery had been solved. So that's why they call them pop-tarts. Then I think of the quote "You can eat pop tarts, TM anytime of the day." I laugh to myself. However, the matter at hand is my toast. Burnt to a crisp as expected. I wave my hand about trying to get the smoke detector to be quiet. Next my attention turns to the toast at hand. Skill is a matter of importance here. Now you musn't get burnt. I could simply pull the tongs out of the drawer and remove the toast, but that would be cheating. Dainty fingers are skillful, but I don't have the fingers, just the skill. I pull my piece of toast with much precision from the hot toaster like pulling a diamond ring from a fire. With much success I let my prize slap on the countertop. Jelly is next on my agenda. Strike that, jam. I lean over and search the refrigerator door for marmalade. Blast! Jam will have to do, but jam is essential for a prize like this. And with delicious spread in hand, I begin the art of applying strawberry jam to burnt toast. Extra heavy to compensate for the taste of charcoal of course, and as I do, a "tra-la-la" comes to mind. Then suddenly, my day has started right.

-Sam