Dyno:

C'mon blogger, please post the picture...

Sweet. This is an illustration of one of the more difficult moves in climbing. It's called the dyno. As shown, you basically start yourself in a really crouched position, rock yourself back and forth, jump off of the wall, and catch yourself on a hold many feet above where you were. I, of course, am built nothing like the drawing so I can dyno only like three feet. Most people can pop and reach that distance. Just FYI.

Living life alive. Climbing is part of that to me. It's just so exhilirating, and it challenges me physically and mentally every time. Adventurous? It makes me feel like I can go out and scale mountains.


I like acapella. I believe, that of all the senses, I am most sensitive to sound. Not so much that my hearing is great, but I think that it heavily effects my inner self in profound ways. For example, I often need to find some silent time to be truly refreshed. Loud is not bad. In fact, I really enjoy blasting some tunes. I guess it really depends on what I need at the time.

Oddly, I believe that I am pretty open minded about music. You would think someone who is sensitive to sound would be pretty picky about what hits their ears. Not so. Of course, I like some styles and sounds better than others, but I don't think I've found music that I can't listen to.

So the acapella concert was rather soothing and enjoyable. Except for the whispering/talking people behind me who were making rude comments. That didn't sit well with my ears. So I was forced to move away to the balcony. I found out, I like it up there.

Get Skype. That's it. Good night.

Nullspace:

Who says linear combining is boring?

edit: note of interest, there is an image to accompany this thought. Blogger isn't agreeing with me today.

Napoleon:

Downtime:

It's only 10 pm and I think today has already encouraged me. It didn't come easy though.

I feel like in my three discussions today I learned a lot, which is a very rare thing. Even though the homework took several post-class hours and we didn't completely get as far as we hoped, a lot has been accomplished. So that end is kind of in good shape.

I then used my pre-small group time very well. I got to visit and spend time with someone important who... this is too ATTAOTB, so IMMA it IYC.

Small group was incredible. It was sad that a lot of people didn't show up, but I do kind of enjoy the smaller size. I think tonight I asked a lot more questions than I usually ask, but the Lord really used that to teach me. Some simple wisdom about a few points really helped me to understand more about the flow of the passage. Super great!

I did hope we would find more of a focus. In my opinion, which is probably far from humble, I think we skimmed over the full idea being presented to us. Jesus came into this world to bring grace. It's simple, but it's the basis for the whole study and the basis for my life. Okay, maybe we didn't necessarily skim, but I would spend a lot more time thinking and meditating on this platform... this beginning of Jesus' mission of love and grace. Fully and completely, covers every part of me and every part of you. Drink it in, kids.

Blah, monologue. It's a byproduct of the massive amount of sugar I've consumed.
Lately (meaning the past couple of days), my drawings have been really bad. Like, stinking up the place. I'll try some more later tonight and see I'm any better.

Smile:

I love my friends. I am thankful that they were born and Stuff. That's all I've got to say.

Image:

Also, tonight's image post:

May not mean much to you, but means a bit to me. Ask if you really want to know.

Amnesia:

There was something tonight that I thought was pretty interesting/funny. I thought to myself, "I should put it in my blog. Don't forget. Don't forget." But of course, I have already. Don't you hate that? Maybe it's just me and my horrible memory. Maybe my memory isn't horrible, but rather... extremely selective.

Good times tonight. Older people are weird. Wait, maybe it's coming back to me. Maybe this isn't what I wanted to write about, but it is kind of amusing.

At one point, some guy was massaging Ryan Deener's (sp?) back. Apparently that was considered pretty personal. Then the guy proceeded to massage Ryan's head and people were cracking up, I guess because there were implications about such man-to-man contact. But I thought to myself, (apprently I talked to myself in my head all night) "Man, us younger guys do a lot worse things to each other's personal space." I don't know, I suppose I just found it amusing to compare the older graduate standard versus the wild college guys standard. This can't be the thought I'm forgetting because it had to be much more interesting than this. Right?

Partay:

Well that was fun. One word for the Hux estate- wow. I can't dance because I am a stiff person in general. Good to see people. Quite some snazzy people. End of succinct post. What a weird word.

Lucrative:

Indeed, today held a few surprises. First, Jeff went to a BAE career fair. He entered the raffle and won after three names were called and no one claimed the prize. The item? A 60 GB Color Ipod. Valued at $400 new. Now that's just straight up sweet.

While walking to class from the parking lot, I saw in the grass a pair of these. Not a bad find. Since it is already 3 AM, I will not have a drawing posted. I will have to vent my creativity (if you can even call it that) elsewhere.

Good night. Aren't you excited about tomorrow?

Scenic:

Last night the system seemed to be down. So here's a double night post.

At Intermission I found out that Sarah from small group likes to climb. That'll be fun. I also discovered how fond I am of the word 'stuckish'. It's so mucky sounding, and fittingly so. Work has been gross. I can't wait for freedom to come tomorrow evening.

Here's a rough sketch:


I think I really enjoy liminality that naturally and simply flows. There are well defined parts and sections, but the separate entities harmonize so well. The little person figure represents a lot of meaning to me. Not much which need be explained here.

Gee golly. I need to stop writing these so late. I cannot hold onto a thought because I drift off to sleep. Go to bed.

Weird:

Today's piece is rather strange. I feel like it's out of character of me to make this. But maybe not. I should explain. Today I burned a lot of time trying to meditate and refocus instead of doing work. This involved a lot of walking and a lot of sitting. So maybe the piece actually reflects my artistic sensitivity better than my late night or class time drawings. Who knows.



Click to enlarge.

It freaks me out. The first flower petal was simple and very pretty. Then the rest of them I screwed up. Hiding behind a flower? Don't ask me, 'cause I have no idea what I was thinking.

Small group was really cool tonight. One thing that I've heard about co-ed SGs is that the guys tend to dominate the conversation for some reason. I really hope that is not going to be the case. I am very, very eager to learn from each woman in our group. I feel like each of them can teach me something different about what it means to be a man. Sounds weird, but I believe it to be true. I guess this whole part sounds 'player'-ish, but I believe, hope, and pray that my intentions are genuinely pure. I also hope that the other guys can do the same.

More on that, I just thought of something that may be sort of controversial, but I think might be a valid point. Maybe one of the worst things that can happen to a SG is when people put on a show. And especially when studying scripture is it most well masked. I'll be the first to admit, I am 100% guilty of acting in such a way. It's a horrible thing and I hope it doesn't happen anymore. When one of five guys looks out on a group of twenty, chances are he'll see a sea of gals. That should not effect his message. Nor should it effect the reason behind he speaks. I abruptly end with some psalm/shane and shane song reference... because it's late and I'm tired:

"May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to You."

Grasp:

Here's an attempt to reflect on what I was reflecting on with the last drawing. Sadly, I will be writing more about my obsession with climbing. It's sad because I am obsessed, but not very good at all. Honestly, I can only complete the easiest of routes because I am just not strong enough. But there are still lessons that can be applied here.

Sometimes there is a move that seems just outside of my limits. Actually it's more like all the time. The move tends to be from something weak and ending with a pop to something good. It also usually involves a well placed flag or a strong toe hold. Anyway, there are just so many situations that seem hopeless. But in order to go anywhere you have to face the fact that you might fall. Failing is pretty much inevitable, even for Jeff. In the end, it all boils down to- go for it and give it your all. There's a lot of faith to be learned.

While venturing into the abstract-thought category, I figure I might bring up something else. Today I thought I was beginning to understand what hope is. Then that understanding quickly seemed to escape from me. Hope is something I yearn for. Lately it has been hard for me to find and hold on to.

Still taking in ideas for drawings to work on.

Climb:

Insert deep thought. Too sleepy to write:

Rock:

I don't think anything like this would really ever exist. After all, the colors don't make much sense.
(Click to enlarge)


It makes me happy though because it would be fun to see a place like that. Lots of rock to climb and pretty skies. I don't know how to draw trees though, otherwise I'd throw a couple of those in there. It's up to you to decide what the next one is.

Loco:

It only takes a few hours at the Crazy House before you begin to say 'Lord help us all...'

:) Love those kids.

A lot of my art work as of late has either been non share-able or just straight up bad.

Lake:

And this is what happens when I get really bored in class.

(Click for a much better looksy)

Beautiful:

Tonight reminded me of how blessed I am to be surrounded by beautiful women. How shallow does that sound? Just let me explain.

I feel like I have been learning a lot about appreciating inner beauty. I find that I am really attracted (disclaimer: you know what I mean) to those that care about the little things. When someone worries about the most obscure detail in someone else's life, it shows that they genuinely care and want to be involved in the things that are important to that person. It makes me smile and warms my heart.

Another trait of inner beauty that I noticed is being appreciative of the gifts they've been given. There's truth in their 'thank you'. I don't think the proper reply is 'you're welcome' because that's too standard of a reply for something that's so heart felt.

Right along with that, they definitely have good vision. They can see where those gifts come from and can see where they need to use them so that they can do the kingdom work set out before them. And to bring everything full circle, a beautiful gal can see the inner beauty in others.

Oh and that physical beauty thing... the women have that covered too, but that doesn't really matter. I suppose I just wrote about Proverbs 31, but didn't think about it until now.

Divert:

I was considering writing a little about what it means to be a 'tool' according to society these days. No, I don't feel like discussing that right now.

Climbing is pretty addictive. I want to get stronger and reach higher. One lesson that I have been taking away from it- it takes a lot of faith to let go of a hold and lunge for one higher up.

Too wiped to write about some of the stuff I'd like to. Every five words I zone out.

Babble:

I have been getting very tongue tied as of late. Maybe it's because I have been overly nervous around certain people.

Fight:

To be who I am. It's difficult when I set my sights on the wrong things. It's not about where I am or how clever I can be or how relevant I want to be in their life. A mission and adventure lies ahead of me and that's where I need to focus. And then from there, everything else depends on how their vision is calibrated to mine.

Tiff:

"but neither self preservation,
nor fear,
and not even wisdom for wisdoms sake,
but wisdom patterned after the cross
should be the motivation for our every breath"

- the last-line-put-into-action person

There's a lot of my thinking that I just need to change.

Novel:

I discovered that some people can read me like a book. I guess I'm not very deep.

I enjoyed meeting freshman in SGs (yeah plural). I like them, and they encourage me. But at the same time, they make me feel old. A lot of them won't talk to me. I don't see how I could be intimidating.

Controversy:

I don't like politics. I think discussion about politics is ridiculous... but I am going to throw in my ridiculous two cents anyway.

I think the only way we, the general public, learn about politics is through the media. Today's media is really lousy and counter productive. I could support that statement with some amazing evidence, but I don't feel like doing that now.

Since no one will agree about politics, whether you're Republican or Democrat... or Independent, Communist, Vegetarian... Christian or non-Christian, I am trying to think outside of the box. I call it Vigilanteism. Imagine all US foreign policy controlled by vigilantes. If some group of people felt passionate about helping tsunami victims, they would go over there and spend their money and time helping people. If some people felt passionate about some injustice in South America, they would gather their own para-army, buy guns and plane tickets, and shoot some bad guys. People wouldn't be paying taxes for foreign relations so they would have the money to do those sort of things.

I don't actually believe in this, mainly because it's pretty much Anarchism with a slight twist, but it's a great way to stump people. There's no flaw to the design, if you rationalize it enough. And it's so out there that there aren't too many pre-designed arguments against it.

My brother tried to build up some controversy about US foreign policy, but it didn't stand up to my Vigilanteism. Try me, it's fool-proof. (Not including ethical issues... those don't count for anything)

Conflict:

I really, really dislike conflicts. It makes me uneasy. Standard defense mechanism (seems to apply to any type) that I use: humor.

Contemplation:

Still hands and sunken hearts. Cold.

Vision:

I came into summer with expectations of this semester. They were pretty radical and lofty, but the also very deep. Somehow coming back to those expectations leaves me very tired. Almost heavy hearted in some sense. Maybe brokenness is the right word. Anyway, summer was a good time away from it all. But as Tiff pointed out to me once, maybe it was just a time to run away from what I needed to confront. I'm not sure how to respond to that challenge (and I'm sure you don't because my stream of conciousness doesn't make any sense because I am being extremely vague).

Thought: by censoring myself, I lose the full meaning... or actually lose all meaning together so that what I write doesn't make sense at all.

Drained, tired, and unsure.