Cloudy days and fellowship with believers

Goals for Wednesday: Get house presentable so mom and dad can stay here this weekend while I’m gone.

Accomplished to this point: Sleep way past alarm, wash a few dishes, read some emails.

Though I was behind schedule I was feeling good about the direction the day was building.  Typically cloudy days bum me out because it means that if I go anywhere, it is not an ideal convertible top down or motorcycle day.  Today was going to be different though, until…the email…

Actually an earlier email that was once going to be a bit of the cherry on top is now becoming the primary sweetness to the day.  David and Sheena invited me over part to hang out and part to help them put an antenna (aerial in British speak) so they can watch NBC and PBS.  I’m always game for a project and hanging out!

So just now I got an email, the nature of which is a bit of a bummer.  Especially with nothing particularly expected of me today and with the clouds outside, this might send me into a bit of a funk.  Oh, but providence, sweet providence!  So before I even knew I was going to be bummed, God was setting the foundation to sustain me thru it.

Quiet times are great and I never want to discount them, but when you’re down and in danger of being depressed spiritually or emotionally, the company of believers is the place to be!  As I’m writing this I got a phone call from another set of good friends about dinner tonight before they move off.  Another situation that could have been a bit of a bummer because they’re leaving is now some sprinkles and cherries on top of what’s going to be a great day!

“O Joy that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to thee;  I trace the rainbow through the rain, and feel the promise is not vain, that morn shall tearless be.” – O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go.  Matheson 1882

It’s a major award…

First person to name the movie the subject is quoted from gets a cyber-hi-five.  I suppose here in virtual land you can probably award some type of prize to people, but I barely know how to type on here so I’ll stick with that.

Spring cleaning has churned up a number of fun things and memories.  I often get asked why I don’t like sports.  If I’m really honest about it I think it’s because I’m not too good at most of them.  I played soccer but kept tripping over the ball.  I played basketball but couldn’t run and do stuff with the ball.  Horse is more my game when it comes to hoops.  I played baseball but while at bat once I got hit so I started stepping out of the box every pitch and constantly struck out.  In high school I found Cross Country which only required running and that was one I could do.  I was usually the short kid in last place,  but “run Forrest run…” from random girls meant I really did not care.  Since then I have dabbled in triathlons but never put the time in to be really serious.

Finally a sport I'm good at!

In going through piles of stuff to throw away I came across trophies I have won since I got to college.  Of course once I get to college and quit caring if other people are impressed with my athleticism I get good at something…  But what are these ribbons you ask?  From what sport did you have great success Forrest?  Anybody who knows me should know my strongest muscle group is my mouth.  Toastmasters International is a public speaking organization that actually gives ribbons away for talking.  Brilliant!

The blue ones are for best speaker of the day.  I remember at least 1 being unopposed, but sometimes showing up is half the battle.  The red ones are for best speech evaluator of the day which means I gave good constructive criticism without being mean.  I think 2 of these were unopposed.  The white ones are where the magic happens.  Table topics are never unopposed.  Being strong in table topics means I can stand up and talk for 2 minutes, and sound intelligent, on any subject the host throws at me.   Again, anyone who knows me has no doubt in my ability to talk 2 minutes about anything.  Actually the problem is usually limiting it to 2 minutes.

So there we have it.  Finally a sport Forrest is good at, that isn’t really a sport.  While I may not make it out for a jog tomorrow and I may not shoot any hoops, rest assured that my training for the upcoming talking season will not fall by the wayside…

What kinda dog dat is?

In my spring cleaning I came across this newspaper clipping of me walking my room mate’s dog a year or two ago.  While I do miss my buddy Meathead sometimes, I do not right now.  It is late at night and cold outside and I am quite content to not go back out there.  We walked him on a leash because the back yard isn’t much to look at.

While I often make it clear that I don’t like being a cat owner, I have never felt my life was in danger thanks to the cats.  Several nights walking this guy around the block however the story was different.  Sometimes it was on account of hypothermia and sometimes it was due to sketchy guys I saw when they were hoping nobody was looking.  Regardless though, the next pet I willingly get will probably be a dog.  If a chimp or unicycle riding bear came along I might get one of them instead, but probably a dog.

The cats have enjoyed my cleaning because they have lots of new stuff to knock around and piles to mess up.  Hong Kong has almost become an outside cat again like 10 times in the past 2 days. I have a hard time though even when she’s annoying because sometimes she can be quite sweet and she loves being around people.

Cats are also handy in case of times of emergency.  Nothing calms you down and takes care of your physical needs like General Tso’s “chicken”. 

Spring cleaning

How does an adventurous 27.5 year old college student like myself spend a spring break?  Well, it starts and ends with road trips and adventures, but the in between time is less thrilling perhaps.  This past weekend conversations with a young lady who we will refer to as Woi (woman of interest) until I decide to reveal her true identity were quite thought provoking.  One thing that seemed to baffle her a little is the vastness of my vehicle collection.  It turns out that I currently have 9 vehicles breaking down into 1 boat, 4 motorcycles and 4 cars.  All of these do not run nor have I laid eyes on some in the past few years, but supposedly they’re still around.

Now to most people 1 car is reasonable.  1 car and a motorcycle maybe if you’re a bit more adventurous.  But 9 is more than a little odd.  Between trying to explain my collection to her and watching a little HGTV, I awoke from a nap yesterday determined to thin out the junk I own.  (A note on HGTV:  don’t have it on while napping because I’m pretty sure it brainwashes you.)  This morning when I woke up I was ready to spend the day sorting and throwing away.  I am moving in a month and a half and really have way too much stuff.

My sorting began by systematically going room to room and going into every drawer and closet and pulling out everything.  I now have about 80 less pieces of clothing (sadly not an exaggeration), 2 large boxes less junk and 100lbs less paper.  I had the TV on as I was sorting things and a show on History Channel called “American Pickers” was on.  If I never see that show again, it will be ok because today was a marathon and I’m quite tired of those guys.  On that show though is exactly the reason I’m trying to trim down my collection.

The premise of the show is that these guys ride around and hunt down leads on junk for sale.  They have certain things they buy, particularly 2 wheelers and gas pumps, but they buy anything.  Driving around the countryside they look for houses with junk collections and extra buildings hoping to find stuff for sale.  Most of the people they buy stuff from have the same problem my grandfather has: they can’t throw anything away and they gather stuff they have no need for.   This is why the county sends him notices about his house, why he brought a German Shepherd puppy home and  why I have a pink Cadillac.  So while I don’t know if this type thing is hereditary, I know I’m a collector.  This show solidified thoughts of what I don’t want to be.

Between now and moving to Memphis in May I plan to trim down my collection.  I want the Impala I haven’t seen in 4 years and the scooter to be gone from my possession.  I also want to only have to move stuff that I actually have use for this time.  So if you know me, hold me accountable to this.  I keep saying I like the idea of simple living but I continue to find things I think I need.   If anyone needs to bolster your antique sewing machine collection, grass skirt collection or collared shirt collection let me know…

Filling an empty blog

For starters, I’m surprised anybody wants to read this thing anyway.  Then if it has no content or 1 post, that’s particularly lame.  During multiple conversations over the past few days with people who I respect who have blogs, I decided to give it a shot.

I like talking, people tire of listening.  This way I can get stuff out there and you can “listen” or don’t at your convenience.  Currently spring break is in full effect and it has been an eventful one with plenty of content.  So the next few posts will go 1 subject at a time.  Hold on to your seats boys and girls cause here we go…