Hey Again-
I hope everyone's weekend is going by swell! I got some good job hunting done this week so I've treated myself to taking yesterday (Friday) off of the search. I went to Grand Haven with friends in the afternoon. Followed by a rousing bonfire in Allendale later that evening. A good time was had by all, and we still have tons (literally) of firewood left for future endeavors.
So, let's move on to the topic at hand; my sunburn. Now I've had sunburn a lot of places, ears, nose, tops of my feet and the back of my knees to name the not-so-normally burned areas. Now you may be asking, "why on earth did you not apply sunblock??". Well, I had applied plenty. However I could not apply it in this certain spot, because well, I have hair there.
Get your minds out of the gutter, I'm talking about the top of my head! Now, I have strawberry blonde hair, and right now it's awfully short. I just had a buzz-up on Tuesday, so there's not a lot between my scalp and the sun's rays. Needless to say last night my scalp started to feel funny. Sure enough, I can now scratch this one off the record books. It doesn't hurt bad, it's just slightly irritating. It should be better in a couple day's time.
Now, normally I would end by asking feedback, for you to post the weirdest spots you ever have gotten sunburned. Well it appears that few care to interact with the topics, so do as you wish. I'm simply trying to make this more entertaining.
Goodnight and God Speed!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
BIIIG Things Coming to the Blog!
Soon I'll have some great new aspects of the blog to keep you all better engaged, as well as make the content more creative and interesting. There are a few things this space has been noticably lacking in the last year. My goal is not to make up for it all in one shot, but to gradually give you more and more. I don't want quality to suffer at the hands of quantity.
I'm quite excited for what's in store! Stick around!!
I'm quite excited for what's in store! Stick around!!
Monday, July 26, 2010
What is the Measure of a Good Friend?
This is a very gray topic, but I thought I would throw this out there to people tonight.
We all have differentiating ideas on what a good friend constitues. Is it someone willing to bail you out of a rough spot? Buy you a beer now and then? Listen to you vent? I could go on forever here so instead I'll simply give my opinion on the topic and let you all fight over it if you so desire.
To me one thing I look for in a good friend, male or female, is someone who likes to hang out with you one-on-one. Anyone can spend time with a "friend" around others. It forces us to divide out attention and you tend to have a less personal experience. Sometimes one wants to just spend time with one other person. Whether we have stuff on our mind we want to get out and want to confide in that someone, or else we simply want a "low-key" experience. This can go for guy/girl friendships as well. Nothing sexual is meant, you just enjoy spending time with that other person.
Spending time one-on-one tells the other person that this friend of mine actually cares enough that they want a personal experience with you, and wants/cares to hear your thoughts that you normally wouldn't express with others (or mulitple people) around. A deeper friendship with a good one-on-one base allows one to freely express fears and concerns, hopes and dreams in a completely sincere form of non-judgemental confidence. A one-on-one experience is a higher-quality experience, and we usually learn a whole lot about each other and grow as friends each time. Spending time with someone else tells them that you're friendship is valueable to the person in question. Anyone can spend time with friends in a big group, we all do it and it takes little effort. It's the "easy" kind of friendship. The measure of someone willing to devote their time and attention to just one person is far more of a committment. One would think it the other way around, because there are more people present. I would disagree, as the conversational depth in that environment is usually somewhat shallow. Drinks are often present, which further dilutes (sometimes it richens) conversationsal quality and sincerity. It's hard to get into a long debate, as there are so many other people to interact with.
To neatly sum up my piece, I will go with a true wish of mine. I wish I had more chances to spend time one-on-one with my friends, old and new. Long-time friends become distanced and new friends lack the depth those long-time friendships from college have had.
So there you have it. Do with it what you will, I'm tired and it's late.
Goodnight.
We all have differentiating ideas on what a good friend constitues. Is it someone willing to bail you out of a rough spot? Buy you a beer now and then? Listen to you vent? I could go on forever here so instead I'll simply give my opinion on the topic and let you all fight over it if you so desire.
To me one thing I look for in a good friend, male or female, is someone who likes to hang out with you one-on-one. Anyone can spend time with a "friend" around others. It forces us to divide out attention and you tend to have a less personal experience. Sometimes one wants to just spend time with one other person. Whether we have stuff on our mind we want to get out and want to confide in that someone, or else we simply want a "low-key" experience. This can go for guy/girl friendships as well. Nothing sexual is meant, you just enjoy spending time with that other person.
Spending time one-on-one tells the other person that this friend of mine actually cares enough that they want a personal experience with you, and wants/cares to hear your thoughts that you normally wouldn't express with others (or mulitple people) around. A deeper friendship with a good one-on-one base allows one to freely express fears and concerns, hopes and dreams in a completely sincere form of non-judgemental confidence. A one-on-one experience is a higher-quality experience, and we usually learn a whole lot about each other and grow as friends each time. Spending time with someone else tells them that you're friendship is valueable to the person in question. Anyone can spend time with friends in a big group, we all do it and it takes little effort. It's the "easy" kind of friendship. The measure of someone willing to devote their time and attention to just one person is far more of a committment. One would think it the other way around, because there are more people present. I would disagree, as the conversational depth in that environment is usually somewhat shallow. Drinks are often present, which further dilutes (sometimes it richens) conversationsal quality and sincerity. It's hard to get into a long debate, as there are so many other people to interact with.
To neatly sum up my piece, I will go with a true wish of mine. I wish I had more chances to spend time one-on-one with my friends, old and new. Long-time friends become distanced and new friends lack the depth those long-time friendships from college have had.
So there you have it. Do with it what you will, I'm tired and it's late.
Goodnight.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Amazing Travel Blog!
Check out Gery Arndt's travel blog Everything-Everywhere.com.
He's a true travelling warrior and he's got some fun stuff on there to inspire lots of others to get out and explore!
http://everything-everywhere.com/
He's a true travelling warrior and he's got some fun stuff on there to inspire lots of others to get out and explore!
http://everything-everywhere.com/
Wonderful Road-Trip Content
This is a pretty random posting for today, I'm delaying a few heavily opinionated columns for the coming days. Have no fear, real content will return.
One idea a friend and I had was to create our own road-trip trip repot website. This could be forum-based and it could allow users to discuss their road trips, post trip reports from trips taken and include photos and video with the reports. Users would also be able to share camping, hotel, entertainment and food tips and suggestions with other road trip entusiasts. Road tripping has long been a staple of American life and is part of the fabric that stretches this great country together. There are already countless websites concerning other hobbies and interests, such as Beeradvocate.com, skyscraperpage.com, HFBoards.com (hockeyfans) just to name a few.
I don't see how my idea wouldn't have a small shot.
Here's a little taste of the kind of content I am hoping such a site could draw.
Disclaimer** -This is not my video and the language used in the intro does not reflect the views of this blog, not it's author.
One idea a friend and I had was to create our own road-trip trip repot website. This could be forum-based and it could allow users to discuss their road trips, post trip reports from trips taken and include photos and video with the reports. Users would also be able to share camping, hotel, entertainment and food tips and suggestions with other road trip entusiasts. Road tripping has long been a staple of American life and is part of the fabric that stretches this great country together. There are already countless websites concerning other hobbies and interests, such as Beeradvocate.com, skyscraperpage.com, HFBoards.com (hockeyfans) just to name a few.
I don't see how my idea wouldn't have a small shot.
Here's a little taste of the kind of content I am hoping such a site could draw.
Disclaimer** -This is not my video and the language used in the intro does not reflect the views of this blog, not it's author.
Monday, July 19, 2010
First Day of a Long Ordeal
So today marks the first day of a long ordeal I have just had to begin. It's outcome is uncertain. There is as much hope as there is fear, that is certain. We cannot let the fear win, no matter how bleak, or dreary it may seem. Once you let fear win, you lose your ability to think and strategize clearly and logically.
Here is a good piece I take solace in when things happen beyond my wisdom, my undertanding and my logic.:
The Proverbs of Solomon
Proverbs Chapter 3 (5) "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart: and lean not into thine own understanding."
Here is a good piece I take solace in when things happen beyond my wisdom, my undertanding and my logic.:
The Proverbs of Solomon
Proverbs Chapter 3 (5) "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart: and lean not into thine own understanding."
Thursday, July 15, 2010
30 Day Challenge Day - 30: Remembering What We Had, Looking to the Future
On September 9th 2005 a great, amazing adventure began. On July 2nd, 2010 it was officially over. We had officially gone in our separate directions and "let go and let God".
It started rather randomly, we met at my ex-GF's birthday party at the time. Our first time hanging out was Celebration on the Grand, which turned out to be our first date. The September 9 date we always held was that night. We had been spoiled for several years, living just moments away from each other. For two years on college we literally lived around the corner from each other. Then a mere 15 minutes away for over a year. It's then that the complications began.
I was working for the Griffins and it was summer 2008. She was ending her partial Masters work, and moving out of Allendale, back home to the middle of the state. She didn't have a job lined up yet, however was getting a few interviews. In August she had a ton of interviews in North Carolina. She had always said she couldn't do distance. It turned out that of the six interviews she was granted, she was offered five of the positions. What happened over the next couple weeks stunned me. She turned them all down. I feared she did so to stay in Michigan, closer to me. I didn't want to be blamed for her lack of employment, nor un-happiness. As September started, it was back to the drawing board.
A week later she was given a lifeline from heaven it seemed. In the face of all lost hope a district on the East side of the state needed someone immediatly. She took it. Amazingly it seemed it was all working out, however I still had my job with the Griffins at the time and was on the other side of the state. My life became more interesting as work became an issue in October, and by Halloween I had left my position. It was one of the scariest times in my life, but it was sort of freeing. Seeking work, she told me about being a substitute teacher. By the end of November of that year I was all signed up and teaching by December. The only problem was that despite my continued job hunt, we were still on opposite side of the state.
Summer arrived and with no new employment opportunities, I reverted back to my old retail employer for 2.5 months. The issue was persistant, distance was becoming harder and harder. I once again had to start teaching again, and she took a new position with her district. Her schedule became a lot to bear as the demands of her job weigheted her down. Before Christmas break there was a stretch of over month we did not see each other. In retrospect, that was the breaking point. By February 13th, we called a serious scaling back of the relationship. I was very hesitant but I understood her perspective.
Throughout the next months, daily communication faded to several times weekly. Soon, I was the only one iniating communication. On July 2nd all my fears had been confirmed. It was over with the most wonderful girl I had ever met. The way we met was as random as can be, and the way it all ended was a sad, heartbreaking victim of circumstance and frustration. There are few more helpless feelings than the inability to find a decent job somewhere near the one you love. It all ended almost as mysteriously as it began. What looked like happily ever after two years ago is now a long healing process. I hate that it seems I dissapointed people in my current situation. Not everyone's path is the same, and mine has taken an odd detour away from the status quo. I have the overwhelming feeling of being unfairly judged as of the result.
I am happy for her, but there is a lot I don't know about what's going on in her head. In reality, I think it would best if I just not know. I still have a great deal of respect for her, but at the same time feel somewhat insulted. There will always be a big part of me that loves her. The healing process will be a very long one for me. I understand and respect her reasonings, but to come to terms with them and stop the pain will take a long time. I don't know when I will be able to open myself up to love again.
So here is to the future, to new adventures, and to wishing her all the best. No one knows where this great path leads. God has a plan and all the peices will fall eventually. Who knows, maybe one day crazier things will happen.
Sincerely,
'James
It started rather randomly, we met at my ex-GF's birthday party at the time. Our first time hanging out was Celebration on the Grand, which turned out to be our first date. The September 9 date we always held was that night. We had been spoiled for several years, living just moments away from each other. For two years on college we literally lived around the corner from each other. Then a mere 15 minutes away for over a year. It's then that the complications began.
I was working for the Griffins and it was summer 2008. She was ending her partial Masters work, and moving out of Allendale, back home to the middle of the state. She didn't have a job lined up yet, however was getting a few interviews. In August she had a ton of interviews in North Carolina. She had always said she couldn't do distance. It turned out that of the six interviews she was granted, she was offered five of the positions. What happened over the next couple weeks stunned me. She turned them all down. I feared she did so to stay in Michigan, closer to me. I didn't want to be blamed for her lack of employment, nor un-happiness. As September started, it was back to the drawing board.
A week later she was given a lifeline from heaven it seemed. In the face of all lost hope a district on the East side of the state needed someone immediatly. She took it. Amazingly it seemed it was all working out, however I still had my job with the Griffins at the time and was on the other side of the state. My life became more interesting as work became an issue in October, and by Halloween I had left my position. It was one of the scariest times in my life, but it was sort of freeing. Seeking work, she told me about being a substitute teacher. By the end of November of that year I was all signed up and teaching by December. The only problem was that despite my continued job hunt, we were still on opposite side of the state.
Summer arrived and with no new employment opportunities, I reverted back to my old retail employer for 2.5 months. The issue was persistant, distance was becoming harder and harder. I once again had to start teaching again, and she took a new position with her district. Her schedule became a lot to bear as the demands of her job weigheted her down. Before Christmas break there was a stretch of over month we did not see each other. In retrospect, that was the breaking point. By February 13th, we called a serious scaling back of the relationship. I was very hesitant but I understood her perspective.
Throughout the next months, daily communication faded to several times weekly. Soon, I was the only one iniating communication. On July 2nd all my fears had been confirmed. It was over with the most wonderful girl I had ever met. The way we met was as random as can be, and the way it all ended was a sad, heartbreaking victim of circumstance and frustration. There are few more helpless feelings than the inability to find a decent job somewhere near the one you love. It all ended almost as mysteriously as it began. What looked like happily ever after two years ago is now a long healing process. I hate that it seems I dissapointed people in my current situation. Not everyone's path is the same, and mine has taken an odd detour away from the status quo. I have the overwhelming feeling of being unfairly judged as of the result.
I am happy for her, but there is a lot I don't know about what's going on in her head. In reality, I think it would best if I just not know. I still have a great deal of respect for her, but at the same time feel somewhat insulted. There will always be a big part of me that loves her. The healing process will be a very long one for me. I understand and respect her reasonings, but to come to terms with them and stop the pain will take a long time. I don't know when I will be able to open myself up to love again.
So here is to the future, to new adventures, and to wishing her all the best. No one knows where this great path leads. God has a plan and all the peices will fall eventually. Who knows, maybe one day crazier things will happen.
Sincerely,
'James
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