Music

It's so odd how music is evocative of stuff - just listened to a Box Car Racer song, and I can only think of a gig I played years ago in a very small for a friends birthday. I uploaded a bunch of music last night, all of it memories of teenage years. Which feels weird to write. I still feel 14... perhaps 15, at a push. Real life is coming at me terrifyingly fast.

Oh, really?

A study to prove what we already figured out. The lyric shown provides me with much amusement, considering it's the BBC.

So, how about Facebook?

I was contemplating it on my cycle home. Why not? It proves to be a huge, but unnecessary part of my life. So I think, for forty days, I shall fast from Facebook, and use the time I would spend on it, doing other, more worthy tasks. Like, I dunno... praying? Reading the Bible? Crazy things.

Lent

I'm not a huge follower of Lent, nor do I normally give up anything for said arbitrary fasting period. But I am currently taking suggestions as to what to give up for 40 days. Any ideas?

Racism

One of the more bizarre areas of life. To draw a picture of a chimpanzee being shot, with the words ' they'll have to find someone else to write the stimulus bill' is racist, apparently. I can understand the concerns, however misguided. Yet, if the same cartoon was drawn of Bush by a black artist, I'm sure no-one would raise a caucasian eyebrow. We need egalitarianism, not one-up-man-ship.

On that meeting

My Dad has prostate cancer. But there are many options available, so, not to worry. God is still good.

News

Just briefly spoke to my Dad on the 'phone. He's a funny one. He's been having trouble with his health recently, and has been having a series of tests over the last 6 months or so. I figured from our recent text conversations that something had gone awry, in that he didn't answer my question when I asked how he was. We're meeting to discuss the fact that 'the doctors have found something, and it's not too serious, but we do need to talk.' So, I'm thinking an illness that isn't cancer, perhaps a benign tumour affecting his gut, or alternatively something serious but not immediately life-threatening.

It's frustrating, because I understand why he chose not to tell me over the 'phone, but to leave me hanging like that? I shall now spend the rest of the day probably working it over in my mind. Mind you, I'm not hurt or upset or even scared. I'd just like to know.

In other news, my aunt, who I had only 'met' twice, died last week. She had suffered with cancer for a few years, and I'm sad to hear that she's gone, but unfortunately the inevitability of it has made me less keen to the hurt. Or something. I really haven't expressed myself well here.

Just to re-iterate, this is an almost emotionless post - I'm not hurting. I am OK. Just thankful that my God is bigger than every situation.

I laughed.

In reference to the Japanese finance minister's supposed drunken antics, and how he should have replied:

"I am not under the alfluence of inkahol as much as thinkle peep I am."

Stop

Had a meeting with Graham this morning and he recommended I stopped working on my project.

For a week. Which are the exact words uttered by the wise Tim Goodall. So, I shall. However, due to the fact I've had a meeting with him, I'm terribly excited by it all again. So, I shall have to contain my excitement, and then let it all explode come next week.

A glass half full

Zimbabwe's 'unified' government are being sworn in today. One of the more common reactions I have read or heard is how this is merely a compromise and it won't work. Compromise or not, isn't it better that the government now has some element of sanity within it? Of course, ultimately, it would be best that Mugabe and his cronies were got rid of, but I'll take a glass half full.

What does one do?!

Suddenly stuck for what to do. The reason? Facebook is down for maintenance.

I forgot this one last night: cycling home in the dark yesterday, I currently don't have a back light for my bike. I have been aware of it not working for a while, but have yet to get round to doing anything about it. Last night it seemed to incur the wrath of more drivers than normal. That I can get over. It's a stupid thing to do, but there wasn't much I could do about it. But then, as I cycled through Northwood, I spied a fire engine. A little shoot of adrenaline coursed through me, before I realised that firefighters are not moral agents. They do not tell you what is good or bad. All they care about is fire, or no fire. They deal in no other terms. But I have an innate fear that if they're on the end of a 999 call, they can tell me what is and isn't right. Weird.

Thoughts

Was told not to wear my flowery shorts to play football by one of the opposition tonight. Really wish I came up with something more witty and cutting than 'oh, it's OK: it's because I work them.' I disappoint myself sometimes.

--

The internet was down in college today, including the intranet. Amusingly, they used to intranet to inform us. Ummm...

--

My stop motion video has created a lot of love. I think I have found a way to be loved by the masses on a regular basis. Any ideas for a new one?

--

Finally: unforgiveness is directly opposed to our humanity. Amazing. Still enjoying that thought, and the fact that I came up with it.

Huh...

Just been suitably chastised for not making my way to the library, and working. So, if you're reading this, the irony is that I've blogged about it. But I am in the library. How confusing.

Monday Morning

The snow is melting due to the drizzling rain, I have an appointment with the library in just under half an hour, I'm tired, don't want to go to work this evening, would rather just sleep a lot of the day away. But life's alright, y'know? Could be better, could be worse, but I've woken with the assurance that if I choose to honour God, my day will either go considerably better, or will have the appearance of going considerably better. Either is fine by me.

My Stop Motion Man

Spirit

Just had a lecture regarding the Spirit and Creation. Only, the Spirit wasn't mentioned. So, just a lecture on creation then. And not a very good one at that.

Nothing

After perusing my thoughts for something of interest for an extended period of time - approximately a minute - I have given up on that venture, and just thought I'd blog stating that I'm listening to Zao, admiring God's creation, and enjoying the fact that the internet hasn't been turned off for Quiet Day.

That is all. Until I find something else.

Am I an arse...?

Recently, I was in a situation where I had been asked to be on standby to play the drums, just in case someone couldn't make it. I was happy with the situation, and was just waiting to hear if I was needed. I was then told that I could bring a djembe along, as there was someone else playing the drums in the place of the of the original drummer. Now, I know, technically, I have the right to be annoyed. But should I be? I'm currently debating whether to stay frustrated, or get over myself and go and play percussion. I wish my conscience didn't plague me, or I may just have a good sulk.

Pants.

"Keep up the squeeze..."?

Somebody big in government, with a double-barreled name, has called for the UK to "keep up the squeeze" on Mugabe and his inner circle. If "keeping up the squeeze" involves ignoring the country and very occasionally mewing, although we can't put our finger on it, and this is very tentative, and it's not really our place to say, but if we have to, here it is: something might be wrong, then I would recommend a significantly tighter squeeze.

--

Walking into the library today, I spied snow laying on the flat roofs of some of the buildings around college, still two or three inches thick, and genuinely felt sorry for it. It had been left out of the frivolity of being trampled on, thrown about, made into igloos and snowmen and all other kinds of creatures. All because of the misfortune of landing on the roof, and will do nothing but lie there until the ice overcomes it or the sun melts it.

Snow

Why does snow bring such joy? I have just spent the last two hours of my morning forming a snowman on the front steps of college. I cannot wait to get up in the morning, and I know I'll be horribly disappointed by the other joyful people who have ruined the beautiful landscapes. In fact, I may wrap up warm and go and take photographs now. Or I could sleep, I suppose...