Talents:

You know those dumb ice breakers where you go around in a circle and say your name, year, major, and something interesting about yourself? I always draw a blank on the last one. Now I'm going to just say that my talent is Minesweeper, and that I'm pretty sick at it. Is that interesting enough for ya, punk?

Vegetable:

Not really feeling alive right now.

Retreat:

This new google log in system has made it such that I am much less inclined to update. I don't enjoy signing in and out just to switch accounts.

This weekend was my last IV retreat, excluding chapter camp. It's a strange feeling, thinking that after 8 times of going through the retreat routines, I'll probably never do anything quite like them again. The seminars this time were fairly interesting, small groups were eh, and the rest of the time kind of just went by in a blur. This week will be moderately busy with a few exams and homework assignments due, so I was trying to be a good student and study over the weekend. I guess I've become one of those boring retreat nerds. For the first time in my retreat career, we had snow... and a good dumping of it also. Late Saturday night we built a pretty sweet bonfire and then the white stuff started to fall. It was pretty magical. I should have used the spectacular setting to hit on someone and get them to marry me. Shucks, I guess I'll just have to resort to alternative methods like rufies. What? Who said that?

One of the last exercises was to write a letter to our future selves that we will receive in one year. I think that'll be pretty interesting to read a year from now. I'm excited about how things will be changing.

Stories:

Oh... that is really sad. I don't have any really funny old school stories. I'm very convinced that my childhood was a boring one filled with academics and classical music. Crap, I don't want my kids to be like that.

Puma The Suede kicks: $50 Merrell Mesa Ventilator II Trail shoes: $75

REI Polar Pod +20 degree sleeping bag: $69

Insulmat inflating sleeping pad: $28

Sierra Design Hyperlight AST 2-person tent: $220

Total price given these Amazon.com prices = $442

I got all of this at the REI sale for: 15+27+25+12+90 = $169 ... not bad

Corks:

It's not everyday that you get to go out to a nice restaurant. Thursday night I went to probably one of the nicest places I've ever been. Mr. Raine and I enjoyed a deightful meal in which I could simply summarize as exquisite. However, a summary would not do it justice.

The first thing we saw as we entered the restaurant was the kitchen. Right there we could see the work of the chef and his two sou chefs as they cooked and plated the food.

The meal started with wine. The place, as evident by its name, puts a strong emphasis on wine and how it can be complimented by food. I ordered a 2004 chardonnay since I was going to be having fish and Raine got an 2002 Shiraz to go with his beef. Both were excellent wines.

Raine's starter was a Yukon Gold potato soup. Yukon Gold potatos are a medium starch potato that are typically used for more tender potato preparation, but I guess it can be used for upscale soups.

I started with a grilled sweet onion salad. The grilled onion was truly the star of the dish, and I thought it should have been presented in a more prominent manner. The vinaegrette was quite good with a slight hint of salty parmesan. I wouldn't rank this as an extremely delicate starter, in terms of flavor, but I think it served pace the rest of the meal.

Raine's beef burgoisnon (sp?) over mashed potatos and field carrots. He said it melted in your mouth.

My pan seared escolar (snake mackeral) over a white truffle panacotta with baby colliflower. First the presentation is excellent. The car and precision put into making the little tadpoles and even foaming the sauce slightly to add texture to the plate just made this dish fun to eat. The escolar might have been the best fish I have ever tasted. It didn't flake in the same way as talapia or bass do. Instead it was just tender. The savoriness of the pan sear complimented the panacotta really well. I could tell the ingredients were well thought out and the concept in the chef's head was executed perfectly.

Raine finished with a traditional vanilla creme brulee. Absolutely smooth.

I finished with a ricotta pear cheesecake. I've never had a ricotta cheesecake before. It's an entirely different approach to cheesecake. Instead of the creamy, sit-in-your-mouth richness that typical cheesecakes have, this one instantly melted in your mouth because of the lightness and fluffiness of the cheese preparation. Delicious choice of pear, caramel, and walnut.

This all leaves me to wonder, will I ever eat any better than this in my life?

Conclusion:

I forget it too often. I need Jesus. I can't explain it in full... part of it is how I view myself, part of it is how I think others view me, part of it is how I see the world. Without Him I am nothing. Even to those who are close to me and value me dearly, I would be nothing to them if it were not for the work that He has been, is, and will be doing in my life. When I think about it, I wouldn't want the people around me to value anything else in me except for the way I live for Jesus. Let it be the testament of my life- I need Jesus.

Stolen:

I kind of stole this one, but I think it's fun:

If you got onto the Amazing Race, who would you choose to be your partner?

Haunted:

Have you ever been haunted by your dreams? I know some fears will manifest themselves in a recurring theme. But what about the dreams where amazingly good things happen and you wake up to find out that you haven't done anything except kick off your blankets? Those can haunt you too. So my mornings for this past week have been fairly torturous mentally and emotionally. I'll leave it at that.

Jerk:

I'm anti-Ibekwe... what a jerkface.

Zoom:

Lately I feel like my brains have been turned to mush. There aren't a ton of reasons for which I should be unable to meditate deeply or focus my thinking. Anyway, I've been challenged to stop dwelling in a world of theoreticals and instead try to refocus on the big picture. That's a completely loaded challenge, but I think it can be handled step by step. The first thing I will try to do is become a more rigorous observer. Though I can pick up on a decent set of things as is, I want to make more of an effort to take observations at face value and not make over assumptions in my head. I suppose that could be restated as me wanting to be more trusting of people. You said it, I believe it and will take it to heart. One step at a time...

Chill:

Crazy parties and late night outings are great, but nothing beats a chill night like this. The bars can be fun, but I wouldn't trade the face fatigue from all the laughing for anything. Oh and crepes make me a bit nostalgic.



Update: These are the days that I wouldn't trade for anything.

Sands:

Do you ever get the feeling that time is just slipping away?

Drinking:

This is rather lame and embarassing, but I figure it is worth documenting.

Tonight I probably had the most to drink while out on the town. A grand total of three beverages... maybe. I had two beers and a shooter which I'm not sure really had alcohol in it since I didn't taste anything and it didn't burn. Anyway, the exact amount of alcohol I consumed is irrelevant. In order to evaluate how intoxicated I was, I tried to think up of a way to mentally check my awareness levels and thought control. So, yes, I started doing simple math problems in my head. And I found out that I was still rather proficient, able to do a few three digit multiplications before I got bored and lost focus. I still have no idea what my limits are, except for the fact that three drinks only make me tired. That's all of the observations I was able to extract from this trial; additional experiments will be approached with added caution.

Finale:

Things I am looking forward to this last semester:

1. Slightly lighter school load = more free time
2. Volleyball!!! Even though I suck royally it should still be fun
3. Warming weather? Hopefully climbing season will kick back into full swing
4. Living in the house and riding with my boyz
5. Small group
6. Easter - it's a cool season
7. Chapter camp... always love it
8. Party - I would love to just host a random party
9. A camping trip would be really sweet... hopefully putting one together
10. Hanging out, obviously

Extraction:

No hitches yet. I switched from a general anesthesia procedure to a local anesthetic one. The surgeon shot me up good with novacaine and proceeded to do his work while I watched. I couldn't see much, thankfully, but I had a general idea of what was going on. Anyway, I couldn't feel my mouth until maybe 7 or 8 hours after the procedure which is a good thing. I've started my antibiotic and vicatin rotation, though I did extend this last vicatin break to see the effects. It has not been particularly pleasant and the last dose has taken a good half hour to kick in. Thus far I've been sticking to the applesauce. It goes down pretty easy, but I've gotta say that even three or four bowls isn't very satisfying. At the top of my priority list tomorrow- concocting a delicious soup.

I am supremely bored. Prescribed inactivity here is almost claustrophobic.

Wisdom:

Tomorrow I go under the knife for the second time in my life. At least, I think I will if that's what the procedure involves... I'm not wholly familiar. Anyway, I plan to be out of commission for a few days - staying in and probably sitting with my computer a lot... eating jello and applesauce. I'm not sure what kind of painkillers they're going to give me, though I've heard that they do give vicatin so I am thoroughly looking forward to seeing what that might feel like. I do hope I am aware enough from 8 pm to 10 pm tomorrow to watch the continuation of 24. Killing Jack Bauer doesn't make him dead. It makes him angry.

Sci-Fi:

I've been fairly unproductive today. No... I've been very unproductive, actually. I read the book "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card and also proceeded to watch a couple of the Star Wars movies. I sort of see the whole sequence as a homage to my older nerdy ways. I had never gotten around to reading "Ender's Game" even though I had heard a lot about it while I was in middle school since my brother was reading it. Back in those days I was really into reading Sci-Fi. I read through just about every Star Wars book (the good ones, not the silly young jedi series) that was available at the library at that time. I've always loved Star Wars the originals. Few people probably remember when they digitally remastered the original three movies and rereleased them in theaters with extra scenes. I stood out in line to watch them at the Uptown theater. All three of them... and it was awesome. I've played a fair amount of the video games released (Jedi Knight 1, 2, and 3, Jedi Academy, Episode 1 on PS, Pod-racer, X-Wing Alliance, Battlegrounds, KOTOR I and II... that's 10!!!) and also have a collection of toys that are lying around here somewhere. So obviously, the movies have had a pretty large influence in my nerdish upbringing.

The detail provided about this imaginary universe allowed for the formation of building blocks, those of which could allow the universe to be expanded on. Okay, for example... Bacta is mentioned only once briefly in the second movie. This is the name of the substance Luke is submerged in seen in the second movie. Why give a name to it? Because it let's you know that it's not water, but rather a rare substance that speeds up the healing process. That's all implied in the movie. And from there, bacta is found in almost every Star Wars franchise product as the medical commodity of the universe. It's the details that let the universe come alive and let your imagination indulge in fantasy. Han mentions the Kessel Run in a brief quip in the first movie. It's used a couple of times in the books and in at least one of the space flight video games, you get to race through the route to see if you beat Han Solo's time.

On another note, I absolutely love the musical score. I've played parts of it in an orchestra and I can confidently say that it is the best orchestral movie score ever written. Hands down. If you want to argue it, go somewhere else.

Thanks for letting me indulge in my nerdom.

Updates:

Just a few quick updates:

-I haven't been getting as much sleep as I'd like to
-Looks like I'll be getting my wisdom teeth removed sometime next week. I go in tomorrow to consult with the doctors.
-I wish I lived somewhere closer to Baltimore right now
-I realize that I need people who need me
-Hey, let's go and eat while I still can

Parties:

Okay, I'll admit it... I could use Sunday to recouperate. But hey, let's get the party back on by Monday.