News #1: I officially have internet at home again, so I can officially update this more than once every random increment of time. It's totally foreign to me, this whole internet thing. It'll take me a while to ease back into it.
So We're 1/4 of the way through 2006, and it's time for a grade report.
Basically, 2006 only receives a passing grade because of these things: .....I have no idea why it receives a passing grade. It's just because I'm a soft grader, and it was 85 that one weekend in February. This past month has been the hardest of my life, no doubt. Lots of fear and powerlessness and chaos and turmoil and heartache and general crap, and I wish I could say it was just happening in my life, but it's more in the lives of those around me, particularly family. Through it all I've been learning a lot about peace and joy, especially the latter. What is joy anyway, and should it be independent of life situations? I do not think joy is merely a synonym for happiness; it is more of a way of life rather than a feeling in it. The ability to step outside of a circumstance and not despair, the connect between chaos and quiet. But I don't know, I'm learning about it, I don't actually feel knowledgeable either way.
I wish I had more to post, but that's where I'll leave this one. I'm easing back into it. But now I'm here to stay, hopefully for a while.
Friday, March 24, 2006
Friday, February 3, 2006
Now I Love Mud Turtles
Got on a geanology kick today.
Just connected myself to my ancestor, who came to the US in 1637 at the age of 17.
Here's to you, Internet geanology databases!
But found out my great grandfather (who is my namesake as the first of the Stockman Spooners) has a turtle named after him.
The Illinois Mud Turtle, latin name kinosternon flavescens spooneri.
He was the head of the Zoology Department at Eastern Illinois University for 28 years, so that's cool.
Here's to you, Doc Spooner.
Just connected myself to my ancestor, who came to the US in 1637 at the age of 17.
Here's to you, Internet geanology databases!
But found out my great grandfather (who is my namesake as the first of the Stockman Spooners) has a turtle named after him.
The Illinois Mud Turtle, latin name kinosternon flavescens spooneri.
He was the head of the Zoology Department at Eastern Illinois University for 28 years, so that's cool.
Here's to you, Doc Spooner.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Vacant
I had a class in college that discussed how when most Americans see a undeveloped parcel of land, they see it as "vacant" or "useless". Only when we put something atop it or in it does it ascertain any level of value.
This weekend I was thinking about solitude and my day and how I do the same with time. Like how a time for meditation and/or solitude is seen as "vacant" unless I specifically schedule it, like the space between scheduled items is devoid of any worth. It is once again the difference between Kairos and Chronos; of the time in which to do and the time in which to simply be.
I need to spend more time in focused solitude, to be away from Chronos and live in Kairos, even if it takes a bit of my type-A scheduling self to get me there.
This weekend I was thinking about solitude and my day and how I do the same with time. Like how a time for meditation and/or solitude is seen as "vacant" unless I specifically schedule it, like the space between scheduled items is devoid of any worth. It is once again the difference between Kairos and Chronos; of the time in which to do and the time in which to simply be.
I need to spend more time in focused solitude, to be away from Chronos and live in Kairos, even if it takes a bit of my type-A scheduling self to get me there.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Lisa Loeb--I Get You.
Feliz New Years, my peoples!
Wow glad them holidays are over. Working retail makes me hate the holidays even more than I did previously. I'm thinking of getting "Bah Humbug" tattooed across my stomach like Tupac's "Thug Life". Are you picturing that?
Christmas with fam was great (even Hanukkah with my JoJ mom), low key as needed. I got the only two things I wanted this year: a sweet pair of Carhharts and Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway" CD. Yes I am unashamed to say that I love Kelly Clarkson. She is my pop music pleasure. (To balance out that I got Calexico w/ Iron and Wine's "In the Reins" which I highly recommend). I own too much stuff, I was happy to have a less materialistic holiday.
So a few days after Christmas I developed a cough, that became a disgusting cough, that became a Oh-My-I-Can't-Breathe cough, so I gave up the ghost and went to the doctor for the first time in two years. And guess what: I got Whooping Cough. Normal people get bronchitis. I get the Whooping Cough. I myself thought that was eradicated in the 1860s, along with Scarlet Fever or Consumption or scurvy, but I guess I was wrong. Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman told me so. And thus 4 prescriptions and $95 dollars later I was on the road to recovery (by way of a sinus infection). Now I've been consistently sick for two months. Cool. That's fun. New years on my couch w/Nathan and Neil, watching "The Graduate" because I was too sick to go anywhere. Cool.
Well it's official: today I finished the last major part of my bed. TA-DA! Everything is cut, pre-drilled, sanded, etc. Now comes the process of putting the entire structure together. Gulp. 2006: the year I stop sleeping on my floor. Woohoo!
Two weeks ago Amy Jones and I went to see Eddie From Ohio in concert at the Birchmere. The lead singer, Julie, has been in chemo for breast cancer and has lost all her hair. In support one of the guys shaved his head (Robbie was already bald so he couldn't help much). During the finale Julie ripped off her hat and wig and sang totally bald and I know it's cliche but it was empowering.
Yesterday I was flipping channels when I randomly came across Lisa Loeb's new show, "#1 Single" on E!. I hate reality television but I love this show. I mean who thought of giving Lisa Loeb her own show? Who has thought of Lisa Loeb recently anyway? I'm TiVoing all the episodes. Who wants to get into this show with me? You know you wanna...
Also, my little brother and his wife (giggle) are going to be on Montel Williams in February. I'm throwing a "Hey look my little brother's on Montel Williams" party. Details forthcoming.
Last thought: Two days ago I decided I really want a scruffy mutt of a dog and I want to name him Burt Reynolds. I think it's a perfect name for a mutt. I could say things like, "Burt Reynolds, stop marking your territory!" or "Burt Reynolds has to go in for his rabies shot today" and I feel confident its a joke I will find funny for YEARS.
Applying for a 12 month internship at Young Life's Windy Gap in Asheville, NC. I'll find out in June if I get it. Gulp.
Wow glad them holidays are over. Working retail makes me hate the holidays even more than I did previously. I'm thinking of getting "Bah Humbug" tattooed across my stomach like Tupac's "Thug Life". Are you picturing that?
Christmas with fam was great (even Hanukkah with my JoJ mom), low key as needed. I got the only two things I wanted this year: a sweet pair of Carhharts and Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway" CD. Yes I am unashamed to say that I love Kelly Clarkson. She is my pop music pleasure. (To balance out that I got Calexico w/ Iron and Wine's "In the Reins" which I highly recommend). I own too much stuff, I was happy to have a less materialistic holiday.
So a few days after Christmas I developed a cough, that became a disgusting cough, that became a Oh-My-I-Can't-Breathe cough, so I gave up the ghost and went to the doctor for the first time in two years. And guess what: I got Whooping Cough. Normal people get bronchitis. I get the Whooping Cough. I myself thought that was eradicated in the 1860s, along with Scarlet Fever or Consumption or scurvy, but I guess I was wrong. Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman told me so. And thus 4 prescriptions and $95 dollars later I was on the road to recovery (by way of a sinus infection). Now I've been consistently sick for two months. Cool. That's fun. New years on my couch w/Nathan and Neil, watching "The Graduate" because I was too sick to go anywhere. Cool.
Well it's official: today I finished the last major part of my bed. TA-DA! Everything is cut, pre-drilled, sanded, etc. Now comes the process of putting the entire structure together. Gulp. 2006: the year I stop sleeping on my floor. Woohoo!
Two weeks ago Amy Jones and I went to see Eddie From Ohio in concert at the Birchmere. The lead singer, Julie, has been in chemo for breast cancer and has lost all her hair. In support one of the guys shaved his head (Robbie was already bald so he couldn't help much). During the finale Julie ripped off her hat and wig and sang totally bald and I know it's cliche but it was empowering.
Yesterday I was flipping channels when I randomly came across Lisa Loeb's new show, "#1 Single" on E!. I hate reality television but I love this show. I mean who thought of giving Lisa Loeb her own show? Who has thought of Lisa Loeb recently anyway? I'm TiVoing all the episodes. Who wants to get into this show with me? You know you wanna...
Also, my little brother and his wife (giggle) are going to be on Montel Williams in February. I'm throwing a "Hey look my little brother's on Montel Williams" party. Details forthcoming.
Last thought: Two days ago I decided I really want a scruffy mutt of a dog and I want to name him Burt Reynolds. I think it's a perfect name for a mutt. I could say things like, "Burt Reynolds, stop marking your territory!" or "Burt Reynolds has to go in for his rabies shot today" and I feel confident its a joke I will find funny for YEARS.
Applying for a 12 month internship at Young Life's Windy Gap in Asheville, NC. I'll find out in June if I get it. Gulp.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Things That Make You Go Boom
Well look at you, loyal reader! You still check in, even though I have been kidnapped from the land of the Internet and placed smack dab into the world of only TiVo! But I can pause my TV, so I win...
Anyway, I can't possibly tell you what I've been doing for the past month or so (except Lost is on hiatus so I can speak to other people on Wednesdays now), so I thought I'd tell you a wee lil' story to hold you over.
And to those of you who read this whom I didn't know read this, welcome.
So as I said a while back, Dave, Shelby and I were to go scout this new cave for camp. [Scout: to go into a space or experience an activity firsthand, to be able to make a decision as to whether it is viable to take fat, spoiled 10-year-olds through it without them most likely killing themselves.] Well we went, searched around the woods for 45 minutes til we found the "40-foot climbable pit" that the description had mentioned. And this pit had HUGE IRON BARS ACROSS IT, signaling that maybe they don't want us going in there. It was over 70 outside and the three of us were sweating like stuck pigs, anxious to get into the cave so we could cool down (they are a constant 53 degrees in VA). We seriously considered it anyway, but they are building a new school right through the woods and them construction men in their helmets were staring at us in our helmets and chances are they would win in a fight. So we gave up, but did some very serious detective work and found out the owner of the cave (the county itself) and, three weeks later, go permission to go into said cave! Go us!
So last Thursday we once again loaded ourselves and our gear into their little green wagon and headed back down to the cave. To quote Starship, "Nothin's gonna stop us now....!" We got into our regalia and walked the 1/2 mile to the cave entrance. Mind you, this time it was 33 out and we were anxious to get in, just to warm up. Funny how perspective changes. The balmy nature of 53 degrees. So we set up the rope and Shelby climbs under the bars to head into the pit (two entrances inside the pit itself) when we see an old man walking through the woods from the school site toward us. "This is private property here," he says in his Shenandoah drawl. We tell him we have permission, and who gave it to us. We feel smug. Score point for us. "Oh...well...it's prolly not such a good i-dea to go in that there cave today," he tells us while scratching his head. We ask why. "Well...um...we're blasting over there today, and fer the next two weeks er so, so it's not really a good i-dea."
I'm sorry, did you just say blasting?
As in dynamite?
As in we are about to go into a cave next to or even under the spaces in which you are planning on dropping some TNT and, to use the venacular, blowing some shit up?
Right ok, sounds good.
So that hampered that plan just a lil'.
We still went into the pit, but only went about 50-100 feet into a 1,000 foot cave, being that's closer to where they were "fixing to do some blasting."
So to the cave #2 foiled...again.
Back in January.
Hopefully that trip will be fun, but not DYNO-MITE!
Ok that was bad, forgive me i've been rusty.
Viva La Vie Bohme, etc etc.
Took my little sister to get her Christmas tree/Hanukkah bush last week. Yeah you want that story don't cha.
Anyway, I can't possibly tell you what I've been doing for the past month or so (except Lost is on hiatus so I can speak to other people on Wednesdays now), so I thought I'd tell you a wee lil' story to hold you over.
And to those of you who read this whom I didn't know read this, welcome.
So as I said a while back, Dave, Shelby and I were to go scout this new cave for camp. [Scout: to go into a space or experience an activity firsthand, to be able to make a decision as to whether it is viable to take fat, spoiled 10-year-olds through it without them most likely killing themselves.] Well we went, searched around the woods for 45 minutes til we found the "40-foot climbable pit" that the description had mentioned. And this pit had HUGE IRON BARS ACROSS IT, signaling that maybe they don't want us going in there. It was over 70 outside and the three of us were sweating like stuck pigs, anxious to get into the cave so we could cool down (they are a constant 53 degrees in VA). We seriously considered it anyway, but they are building a new school right through the woods and them construction men in their helmets were staring at us in our helmets and chances are they would win in a fight. So we gave up, but did some very serious detective work and found out the owner of the cave (the county itself) and, three weeks later, go permission to go into said cave! Go us!
So last Thursday we once again loaded ourselves and our gear into their little green wagon and headed back down to the cave. To quote Starship, "Nothin's gonna stop us now....!" We got into our regalia and walked the 1/2 mile to the cave entrance. Mind you, this time it was 33 out and we were anxious to get in, just to warm up. Funny how perspective changes. The balmy nature of 53 degrees. So we set up the rope and Shelby climbs under the bars to head into the pit (two entrances inside the pit itself) when we see an old man walking through the woods from the school site toward us. "This is private property here," he says in his Shenandoah drawl. We tell him we have permission, and who gave it to us. We feel smug. Score point for us. "Oh...well...it's prolly not such a good i-dea to go in that there cave today," he tells us while scratching his head. We ask why. "Well...um...we're blasting over there today, and fer the next two weeks er so, so it's not really a good i-dea."
I'm sorry, did you just say blasting?
As in dynamite?
As in we are about to go into a cave next to or even under the spaces in which you are planning on dropping some TNT and, to use the venacular, blowing some shit up?
Right ok, sounds good.
So that hampered that plan just a lil'.
We still went into the pit, but only went about 50-100 feet into a 1,000 foot cave, being that's closer to where they were "fixing to do some blasting."
So to the cave #2 foiled...again.
Back in January.
Hopefully that trip will be fun, but not DYNO-MITE!
Ok that was bad, forgive me i've been rusty.
Viva La Vie Bohme, etc etc.
Took my little sister to get her Christmas tree/Hanukkah bush last week. Yeah you want that story don't cha.
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