Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Katrina Pix

Check this out. Good pictures of Katrina damage from news channel 4 in New Orleans. Can you believe it? 30 feet of water in some places...and getting worse.

Monday, August 29, 2005

Wish List

It's a little slow @ work today so I figured I'd put up my PC wish list. Yes, I'm trying to build a new PC since I gave all my old ones (I had 7 at one time) up about a year ago.

Super Flower Aluminum Mid Tower

Intel P4 640, 3.2 Ghz, 800Mhz FSB

Intel D915PBLL Motherboard

Asus Extreme AX700PRO Video Card (PCIx)

Seagate 80GB SATA HDD

Benq DW1625 DVD/RW (black)

Kingston 1GB DDR 4200 Memory

Battlefield 2

No, I don't want a Mac. I like them, but for what I need a computer for (notice last item listed) Mac's just won't do. And yes, I prefer to buy all my components from one place. That place currently being ComputerGate.com. Of course, all these parts will have to be purchased in increments since my paychecks won't support an all out assault on my checking account...

In-Car PC Update

My friend Ken sent this to me via the Make website. I think this might really work for my Jeep application and would be much easier than the uber-complicated system I wanted to install previously. It would solve my theft fears since it is an easily removed (practically portable) computer system.

Helen, GA

This past weekend I was invited to go tubing in Helen, GA. Needless to say, I was surprised to find this pseudo-alpine town in northeast Georgia. I laughed hysterically at the thought...

However, I did have a great day. All eight of us tied up our tubes together so we had a long "snake" of tubers floating down the river. It all seemed like a great idea until I found myself stranded on a large rock and being subsequently flipped over onto the rock, dragged along on my back and nearly getting beheaded by the cable connecting my tube to the one behind me. I looked up and saw my companions floating off without me and wondered why I had asked we do something more "adventurous" before we began our little excursion...

As we chilled out by the river before going home, Nick, Mike and I decided we wanted to catch another float before heading back. We noticed a good many tubes coming down the river with no one on them so we just "borrowed" them for a short ride. We pondered if Jesus would have done that and concluded that he would've wanted to help the tube companies collect extra tubes...sounded plausible at least.

Anyway, the ride back was great. I had driven my Jeep up there with me and the boys, and on the way back we decided that all the single people should ride in it. By a strange twist of fate, that turned out to be me and three girls...God is good. I let one of the girls drive so I could actually enjoy the ride back, which I did. I even snapped a few bad pictures with my camera phone (look below). All in all, I had a great time and I thanked God multiple times on the way home for Jeeps, friends, and the ability to be outside on fantastic days...but next time I'm floating on my own.

Amber

Crystal

Kylie

Friday, August 26, 2005

Thank God

We finally are getting a Moe's!!
Thank you Jesus!!!!

It's going in where the Blimpie's was on Clemson Blvd here in Anderson...SWEET

Is This What a Man Is?

I found the following quote (mistakes and all) from Cindy Sheehan's blog via this website:

"So, after Joan Baez gave us a great concert tonight, I got up and I talked about Casey. About the sweet boy who grew up to be a remarkable young man. Casey was not always a brave, big soldier man. He was my sweet, sweet baby once. I told the people at the Camp named after him, that when he was about 2 years old, he would come up behind me and throw his arms around my legs, kiss me on the butt and say: "I wuv you mama." I also talked about the loving big brother and wonderful, nearly perfect son. Casey was a regular guy who wanted to get married, have a family, be an elementary school teacher, and a Deacon in the Catholic Church. He wanted to be a Chaplain?s assistant in the Army, but was lied to about that also by his recruiter. The last time I talked to him when he called from Kuwait, ! he was on his way to mass."

Is this what our society wants men to be? Forget the "brave, big solider man" who was trying to do something good for the world. Don't think about the man who was a part of something much bigger than himself and gave the final sacrifice for those people he may not have even known. Cindy wants him to be a "regular guy" who kisses his mom's butt! There are way too many things that tell us men we are supposed to be "nice" guys. God didn't create men to be "nice" guys that didn't sacrifice themselves and stand up for what is right. God created men (in His image) to protect, to fight, to be strong and yet compassionate still. To love those around them with passion and conviction. To do what is right before what is easy. To love God and follow His direction and lead those He puts around us in the same way.

Try reading Wild at Heart. Great book on what God intended for men to be...

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Easy Fix

BBC NEWS | Business | Oil at record $68 as demand soars
Solution: Walk or ride a bike

U.S. Obesity Rate Nearly 25 Percent
Solution: Walk or ride a bike

Video Game Addiction
Solution: Walk or ride a bike

What Are Little Boys Made Of?

Found this via hrtwrk's blog. I've been reading a lot lately on the plight of men in our society and how we are being systematically stripped of the very things that make us men. I want to change that...

Lord,

You know me better than I know myself. You know my heart's desire even when I can't seem to find it. You know the deepest parts of me and all that will come. Today, I die to myself. Mold me, Father. Break me and rebuild me into exactly what You want me to be. All I am, all I have, all I dream about and everything that will come is Yours and Yours alone. Teach me, stretch me, comfort me, guide me right to you. I want nothing more than Your Will, not mine own. For You know the plans that You have for me. They are plans to prosper me and not to harm me; plans to give me hope and a future...

Take my life and let it be
consecrated to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice and let me sing
always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as You choose.

Here am I, all of me.
Take my life, it's all for Thee.


Take my will and make it Thine
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is Thine own
it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord I pour
at Your feet its treasure store
Take myself and I will be
ever, only, all for Thee.

Here am I, all of me.
Take my life, it's all for Thee.

All of this I sincerely and passionately pray in the name of our savior, Jesus Christ. Amen...

Friday, August 19, 2005

Gotta Go...

One day, ONE DAY, I've got to make it here.

I've been wanting to go for almost 10 years and have yet to make it. It's too expensive to fly, so I guess that means a road trip. I must admit, sometimes I sit around and plan out my trip there knowing I don't have the time or money to go right now. But mark my words: One day...

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Dad

Recently my Dad was laid off from his job after over 15 years of faithful service. Having stayed somewhere that long, I knew it wasn't because he was a bad worker. My Dad is probably the most honest, hardworking man I know and I was really praying that he wouldn't have to face this situation. Is he and my mother in a bad spot? No. He still has a good amount of retirement saved up, but it is a stress I didn't want him put through. However, something great has come out of it already. When I went home recently, I took some time to talk to my Dad about his situation. I did not expect to hear what came out of his mouth:

Dad: Do we believe there is a God?
Me: Yes.
Dad: Do we believe that God has a plan for us?
Me: Yes.
Dad: Do we believe that God is in control of everything?
Me: Yes.
Dad: Then if we don't act like it we are being hypocrites. God has a plan and that plan didn't include me staying at that job.

Now I understand that this isn't some grand epiphany or anything. But earlier in my life, I've seen my Dad handle situations much differently. I myself want to look at the situation and say things like, "Corporate America at it's finest: Dumping good people to save an extra buck or two." What an awesome testimony to his two sons to handle things in this manner. Which just goes to further prove to me how God can without fail change the lives of those who choose to follow Him. Thanks Dad, you rock.