Vacation?

Pfft. Pfft. Pfft. Pfft. 7:30 a.m.

My mom's neighbors decided that this would be a good time to begin roofing their garage. Would not be such abig deal, but my bedroom is right next to the garage. Oh well, c'est la vie.

So I really do not have much to post today, other than I have been completely useless the last 48 hours, and have enjoyed every minute of it.

You, I don't think realize how nice it is to do nothing until you are there. I the world of go go go; we are made to feel that if we don't accomplish something we are useless. Well, eat my shorts. There is a reason heart disease and what not are so prevelant in our country.

Oh well...rant over...time to do...nothing

Peace


Mary Prankster...cool band

Yay!!! I figured out how to post pictures...YIPPEE

Yet another, Hmmmm

You are an AKMA.

You stand out from the crowd because of deeply held beliefs in the unknown.

You ponder endlessly and treat everyone, even fucknozzles, with respect.

WWAD (what would AKMA do) guides your actions.
Take the What Blogging Archetype Are You test at GAZM.org

Good News

A Florida just awarded $54.6 million to 3 El Salvadoran surviors of torture. My friend and future roommate Sheri accompanied one of the victims to the trial, and I want to wish Neriz and Sherry congratulations.

Check out cja.org for specific information.

Thank you Lord for this blessing.

Peace!

Sick of this

Sleeping to be awaken
Sleeping to be awaken
Sleeping

Going to the grocery store
Going to the grocery store
Going

Playing with the kids
Playing with the kids
Playing

Praying at the wall
Praying at the wall
Praying

Facing to the east
Facing to the east
Facing

Facing
Praying
Playing
Going
Sleeping

Crying for the baby
Crying for the mommy
Crying for the daddy
Crying

Crying

I sit and cry at night
Does anybody hear
Listen to the crying

Allah, Jehovah, Yahweh

Love

Fill us with grace
Love our neighbors

Ever Wonder?

So, ever what is is like to be in the same ring as the immortal Hulk Hogan? Well, Lance Storm found out.

The reason I am posting this is because of the fact that Lance is a true fan of his business. I think this is an admirable trait. I know I have often said the day I stop being a fan of theatre is the day I quit.

Your daily dose of inspiration.

Peace

Not Much

On the ankle front...get this...I need an MRI and an X-Ray. I may have a torn ligament. YIPPEEEEE!!!!!!!

Peace

Helping a Hero

As most of you know, I am a huge Lance Storm fan. Well, he has a new commentary up on his web stie, and I am just doing my part here. He had some unpleasent travel experiences with Air Canada, and is trying to lodge a complaint. But nobody seems to be listening. So, If anyone knows anything...help the poor guy.

PEace

A New Hobby, Really

So, I think I have a new hobby.

Last Sunday Tripp, Trish, Leo, Sherry, and I went to the Old Town School Folk and Roots Festival, and I participated in something I havenít done it years. I participated in a Barn Dance. Jeeze Louise, I had fun. Really. Never thought I would, but, dang, what a work out and it is plain fun.

So, last night I went The Chicago Barn Dancers' regular Monday night dance at The Abbey Pub. I had a ball. It is on Monday nightsí at 8 p.m. Try to go sometime. Everyone is there just to have fun. No pressure and they really help us new comers.

The only bad thing is my ankle went out on me towards the end of the night. I have finally made a Dr. appointment for itÖthis is about the 12th time in 2 years that it has either rolled or sprained or something. Usually, the pain fades after several hours, and I walk with a small limp the next day and normal the following day. But what ever I did last night was just wrong. It is not swollen as bad as normally (a phrase nobody should be able to say), but the pain was so bad I couldnít sleep last night. So, after much trepidation, I am going to the Dr. tomorrow.

Anyway, I canít go to the dance next week due to the show, but the following week I am going. Click the contact me link at the top of the page if you want more info.

Veritas vos liberabit (The truth will set you free)

Peace.

Thanks Tripp

Tripp helped me Blogchalk...yippee, i think?

Google! DayPop! This is my blogchalk: English, United States, Chicago, Uptown, Justin, Male, 21-25!

Sunny Days, Wiping the Clouds Away

We have these nifty little screens in the elevators at work, and they give you updates on the daily news. Anyway, this morning I saw something interestingÖSesame Street is going to introduce an HIV positive muppet. (This coincides with the World AIDS Conference currently going on.) Then, on MSNBC.com (click here for the story) their question of the day is should Sesame Street do this? My answer is yes.

Sesame Street has been there to help parents explain things that are very difficult to do on their own. Sesame Street is now afraid to tackle topics such as death, racism, and sexism in such a way the 4 year olds can understand them; why should they be afraid to move on to this topic. Apparently what we are doing isnít working, and since this is a growing epidemic; why not help kids to realize that their friend Timmy will not always be there, and that he is very sick, even though he doesnít look sick. Teach them the facts about HIV/AIDS.

Sesame Street is a great conversations starter for parentsÖthere were many a time that I asked my parents about something I saw on the show (many times it was stuff they probably wouldnít have talked about), but we did and we all learned in the process.

Sesame Street, please continue to teach the real world to kids.

Peace

Shameless Plug

beYond thAt

Presents
a
Special Benefit Performance of:

Pounding Nails In the Floor With My Forehead
by Eric Bogosian

Friday, July 19 & 26, 2002 @ 8 p.m.
Monday, July 22, 2002 @ 11 p.m.
Frankie Jís Methadome Theatre
4437 N. Broadway
Call: 312.670.8545 for reservations

Tickets $10

We hope to see you there.

As you can tell, It has been a slow week.

Peace

Hey, Hey, Hey. Iím back.
Ok. Since it has taken so long...And now (DrrrrrrrróI guess that is a drum roll)

Commuter Hell (part doo)

So the rest of the weekend went fairly decent. No major problems. It still amazes me that the streets in Springfield are twice as wide as those here, and at stop lights the actually have those arrow lightsÖwhat a nifty idea.

Everything is fine until I begin my departure from the Patch.

6:50 Sunday Night
Fill up the car with gas that is onlyÖget thisÖ1.35/gallon. Turn on to 5th Street, make left on Stevenson Dr., go a couple of lights, and take the north exit to ChicagoÖYIPPEE!!!!

8:15
Hit the rest stop our side of Pontiac, IL for customary Ω way there Mountain Dew and Ding Dongs.

9:45
Chihouahannan, IL (I have no idea how to spell or pronounce it, but it is some thing like that). Spend $5 to top off the gas tank for the last of the cheap gas before the city.

10:00
Almost crash into the car in front of meÖhe/she slammed on the brakesÖthought probably someone hit a deer (I had seen an unusually high amount of them on this tripÖreally about 5 or soÖvery odd.)

10:15
Moved about 6 feet. Kind of concernedÖhope there is not a wreck and someone hurt (that, too, happened on Christmas eve a couple of years back).

10:30
About 50 yards further nowÖbeginning to see the dreaded yellow lightsÖconfusion.

10:50
Acutally hit the 2 mile point. Since I had no book in the car, my reading was limited to the odometer.

11:00
The wonderful voice of Harry Shearer and le Show comes on (highlight of the night thus far). Oh yeah, Ω mile furtherÖthe quickest gain so far.

11:00-12:10
I think you get the picture here. Apparently the new hip thing is to work on the highway on Sunday nights. 8 miles later I am out of the dread zone and see the exit for Kingery Road. This is only important because I know that is about 25 miles from the city, as a good friend's family lives off that exit.

12:45
I think the top speed I hit was 45. Finally make it to LSD.

1:30
By the time I found parking, I finally arrive at home.

Whew!!!


So, whatís new?

Not much. Found this interesting article on-line today. It isis an op-ed piece about school vouchers.
An interesting segue here. The site quoted in the artlcle has this fun little thing called a Belief-O-Matic. Here are my results.


1. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (100%)
2. Liberal Quakers (93%)
3. Unitarian Universalism (87%)
4. Orthodox Quaker (76%)
5. Reform Judaism (71%)
6. Neo-Pagan (65%)
7. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (64%)
8. Mahayana Buddhism (60%)
9. New Age (60%)
10. Theravada Buddhism (60%)
11. Sikhism (60%)
12. Taoism (58%)
13. Bah·'Ì Faith (56%)
14. Seventh Day Adventist (53%)
15. Hinduism (51%)
16. Eastern Orthodox (50%)
17. Roman Catholic (50%)
18. Jainism (49%)
19. New Thought (48%)
20. Secular Humanism (48%)
21. Scientology (47%)
22. Islam (42%)
23. Orthodox Judaism (42%)
24. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (35%)
25. Nontheist (33%)
26. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (30%)
27. Jehovah's Witness (10%)

Thanks Tripp for the site.

Well, that is all for now.

Veritas vos liberabit (The truth will set you free)

Peace

Commuter Hell (part 1)

OkÖtime for a little irritation to come out here.

I went down to Springfield to visit my family this past weekendÖit was nice and relaxing except for the approximately 11 hours in the carÖnot a problem if one is going on a road trip, but Springfield is only 200 miles away from ChicagoÖabout 3 hour. Here is the automobile diary of the trip.

Friday 12 p.m.

Walk from my office to Joeís Crab Shack on Wells and Chicago. Meet Todd there and get money for the money order that will pay the dues for beYond thAt to become a real NFP Corporation. While I am there I decide to eatÖmy buddy Joe is working so I request his table. I ordered my food, and since I was one of the first of the lunch crowd I assume I will get my food pretty quicklyÖno such luck. The kitchen has lost my ticket, and thus beginning the road trip form hell.

12.45
Finally finish eating my burger (yum). Hop on the brown line to Sedgwick (where I knew there would be free parking)Öhop into my car and off I go!!

1.00
On the road againÖeverything is good.

1.30
This is too good to be trueÖleaving Chicago and minimal traffic.

1.45
DAMN!!! It was too good to be trueÖsomewhere between Chicago and Joliet all of the cars suddenly appear in front of me. And I donít move for 30 minutes.

2.15
Finally moving again and I find an exit I think will bring me to the frontage road along side the highwayÖdoh! Stupid. First of all it is heading west and I want to go south. Secondly, I was not the only one with the idea, but hey, at least I am moving.

2.40
Finally find a south bound route.

2.45
So has everyone else. WaitingÖwaitingÖgreen light ÖyippeeÖnot movingÖred lightÖmoving Öweird.

2.55
See a gas station...hey a blessing in disguise. I need to get some gas and I fill up forÖget this. 1.39/gallon. I also ask the attendant if I am even close to I-55. ìYes, about six miles down the road.î

3.30
Six miles later (this is getting ridiculous); Hit I-55 and make it back on the roadÖI donít know what I did, but an hour after I take the bazaar exit I am back on my way and have by passed the traffic jam on 55 (still donít know what caused it).

5.30
Finally get to the homesteadÖ4.5 hours after leaving Chicago. This is usually a 3 hour drive.

11.00
Leaving The MuniÖopening night for my momís show. She did a great job with the hair design for Anything Goes. Post show traffic jam.

11.30
Finally leave the parking lot.

That is all for todayÖstay tuned

Quick Morning Note

I just read that "the best there was, the best there is, the best there ever will be", Brett "The Hitman" Hart had a stroke. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. He just lost his brother in law, Davey "The British Bulldog" Smith.

Here is a note from Brett's Personal Assisatant.

And an article in the Calgary Sun Newspaper.

Peace

HUZZAH!!!

By Monday, beYond thAt's Articles of Incorporation will be in the mail, and we are one step closer to being a real live theatre company!!!!

Conundrum

Tripp sent an e-mail out asking what we though about the whole pledge of allegiance thing. This is my answerÖHa.

maybeÖactually probably notÖI know this because I actually wrote it down ñ on paper ñ before posting it, although this beautiful run-on was not included on the notebook paperÖokÖhere we go

When we are saying the pledge of allegiance it is to the flag. As far as I am concerned, it is not a pledge to God or about God. Some will argue that is we remove the ìunder Godî phrase we are risking loosing Godís blessing on the nationÖI have actually read that somewhere. Well, if that is the case, does God not bless other countries?

From reading responses to Trippís e-mail, I guess the big concern is it whom and what do we pledge allegiance? J.M. Aguiar in his response to the e-mail says, ìI have privately felt that the Pledge does, indeed, border on idolatry, and that's a word I've used in my own thoughts. I more or less outgrew the Pledge in about 4th grade, and haven't said it since, for a variety of reasons [me, too. Mainly because I havenít been in a situation to]. Likewise, I don't bow when entering a dojo. Tolerance for other faiths does not extend to a submissive betrayal of my own principles.î Since I havenít been to a dojo in 15 years, maybe I canít comment on that. But, I always wipe my feet before entering a theatre. This is a symbolic cleansing in my opinionÖa showing of respect for a place I hold close to my heart. I donít feel that I am betraying any of my principles. I, also, put my hand over my heart while at the ballpark during the playing of the national anthem. I donít see how doing any of these symbolic acts is a ìsubmissive betrayal of my own principles.î I wipe my feet when entering a theatreÖI put my hand over my heart at the ballparkÖI pray in churchÖI give time to church. I guess what I am trying to say is, this whole debate seems to be one of those ìgive unto Caesar, give unto Godî issues. I pledge allegiance to my country through the symbolic act of reciting the pledge; I cleanse myself before entering a theatre; but I OPEN and GIVE myself before Jehovah. By doing this with all of my mind and heart, even though I pledge allegiance to country, I am giving myself to Godís will.

The idea of idolatry never even crossed my mind. Is pledging allegiance to a flag idolatry? Is praying to a saint? Is lighting a candle? Taking communion? Seeing a cross? I donít know. I think the definition of idolatry is almost an individual one. For me it is something to the effect of, something becomes an idol if you place it before God, but it is something else if you use it to help you focus on Godís love.

Man that is a lot of stuff. And in my typical fashion I veered off in a whole other direction. Oh well.

Veritas vos liberabit (The truth will set you free)

Peace.

NSOC

No, this isn't another new Bush administration cabinet position, but the book I am currently reading ñ New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton. Where, oh where, can I begin discussion of this book? I am only 5 chapters in, but I am thoroughly interested in what I am reading.

I think I will begin with what I think Merton is saying is necessary before even beginning the process of contemplation.

In the first 5 chapters He has referred many times to the 2 selves contained in the human spirit. The Real Self and The False Self: The first being the pure entity created by God, and the later being the egocentric entity created by us.

I know in my case it is hard to separate the Real from the False. ìWe are not very good at recognizing illusions, least of all the one we cherish about our selves ñ the ones we are born with and which feed the roots of sinî (34). For me, being aware of this is one of the major parts of beginning a contemplative lifestyle. Which lead me to the next partóthe need to constantly be active in the pursuit of the Real self. This is a vigilant process, for it takes constant communication with ìI AM.î Trying to find ìHE WHO ISî in everything. This reminds me of the constant prayer of the Celtic people. ìOur vocation is not simply to be, but to work together with God in the creation of our own life, our own identity, our own destinyî (32).

In order for me to do these things it needs to be an act done from an open heart. ìBy consenting to His will with joy and doing it with gladness I have His love in my heart, because my will is now the same as His Love and I am on the way to becoming g what He is, Who is Love. And by accepting all thing from Him I receive His joy into my soul, not because things are what they are buut because God is Who He Is, and His love has willed my joy in them allî (18).

So, how does one go about this? That is what I am working on. One way for me to do this is to begin to work on prayer. I pray, but at times I feel as though I am just going by habit. I need to learn to pray, again. I need to work on focus. I tend to veer of in the middle of doing somethingÖI have been writing this blog for 4 hours now, because I keep wondering off.

Overall, this book is going to be very beneficial.

Veritas vos liberabit (The truth will set you free)

Peace

4:00

It is now 4:00, and I have a hole in my arm. I have one less pint of blood in my body, and I feel good.
Sick, yes I know.

I am reading New Seeds for Contemplation by Thomas Merton right now. I will post thoughts as they come to me.

Anyway, I really don't have any meaningful to write today, so I won't.

Peace

What Is The World Coming To?

For the 2nd time in as many weeks the Supreme Court has issued rulings on the death penalty. Last week they made the wise decision that the mentally retarded should be exempt from receiving the death penalty...I believe the vote was 6-3. And now, today in a 7-2 decision they decided that juries, not judges should make the decision...it violates the defendants 6th amendment right to trial by jury. Thus, a unanimous decision is needed.

I think the past two weeks are huge steps forward for those of us against the death penalty...maybe this is a sign that we are finally realizing that the death penalty is not the "deterrent" that the right wants us to believe, and that it does nothing, but cause the cycle murder to continue.

Peace