seriously?

So Friday night the YSA went to see the Stetson University Orchestra. While I will go into detail about it later, I was appalled by the behavior of the people in the audience. This isn't a Metallica concert, people. You don't just walk out in the middle of a song. You don't wear jeans and a t-shirt. you don't TALK in the middle of a song.

Pardon the absence.

But life's been very hectic the past few weeks, and it won't be getting any easier soon Quick update

1) Moving back in with the parents. Not happy about this at all.

2) I once again am unemployed.

3) I've been an emotional wreck the past few weeks.

4) I'm sick an tired of all the drama with the YSA, and the fact that really one a couple of people are causing it.

5) John Howington is an amazing kid. I'm glad I finally gave him a chance. He's my favorite person in the YSA right now.

September 6, 2005

That was my sixteenth birthday.

This is a post another one of my e-pals posted, and I'm totally stealing it. Advice I would give my sixteen year-old self. I'll say these as if I was talking to me on my sixteenth birthday.

1) Don't slack off. You'll finally get to take German, so study hard. You only managed a 2.9 GPA last year, so do better.

2) Save every dollar you earn at the parking lot. Seriously, I don't even remember what I bought with that. How many sixteen year-old kids make 400 dollars a week?

3) Don't join Slage (a band I joined in high school). Bad Karma (another band I played for) should have taught you to stay away from Black Metal.

4) Practice guitar every day for at least an hour. Be dedicated when you practice. You were a prodigy when you started (seriously) but you gave up the discipline. Get it back.

5) Don't buy that guitar case. You won't even be using that guitar in a year.

6) Go to EFY.

7) In March, you'll get a huge opportunity to change your life forever- take it. I'd likely be married to Melinda right now if I had done that.

8) Speaking of Melinda, don't get jealous of the friendship she has with Matt. She'll be your GF in a year and a half- relax. Once she is your girlfriend, don't be jealous of the other guys in her life, even Burke.

9) Join that ballroom dance class with Matt.

10) Dedicate at least half an hour ad day to Kenpo.

11) Don't hurt Lindsay. She'll be one of the few who will help you later on when your whole life crashes.

12) Keep up a solid work-out routine.


My readers are encouraged to steal this one. It makes you think.

It doesn't snow in Florida

Today, I decided to go to the beach. As per Kate's request, I snapped some pics

Don't like my opinion?

Good. If I wasn't annoying somebody it would be I was being too vague.

And as long as we're on the subject, listening to a news outlet's version doesn't make you informed. I have yet to hear a news anchor accurately state Florida's self-defense law.

please tell me you're kidding

In case you haven't heard, the band Junkyard Prophet has become the latest in a long list of people who have embarrassed the christian religion this year. Yesterday, they were supposed to perform at a 6-12 school, then talk an anti-bullying message. Sounds sweet, right? Not really.

This is what they chose to do instead.

I don't understand why people act like this. They took an important message, sexual purity, and defiled it. To tell a 13 year-old girl she will "have mud" on her wedding dress if she isn't a virgin in not only hateful and untrue, but a mockery of the atonement. I don't know where the hell they get the idea that a woman should be "submissive" to her husband. And what does that mean, anyways? Does that mean she should degrade herself at his request? Participate in debauchery? Why do men act like this? how could a man claim to love a woman when he would so quickly disrespect her?

 [tangent] As a matter of opinion and taste, I can't stand submissive/wimpy women. This is probably because I was raised by a mother who is incredibly headstrong and firm, as are most women in my family. Every girl I've ever been serious about has been strong and firm. Now that said, There is a point where it becomes too much. When we cannot ever reach a compromise, it isn't gonna work. I'm an easy person to get along with, but when someones version of us "comprising" was her getting everything her way, she became my ex. 


Now then, The biggest problem with this kind of behavior is that it leaves a sour taste in peoples mouths about Christianity. When someone tells pure lies, and preaches hate as a doctrine, those who hear it don't want anything to do with it, and won't accept the truth when it is later presented to them.

There's an old sayin' down here in the south, "You catch more flies with honey than vinegar." These hippo-Christians need to learn that.

a great quote

For those who don't know, I study American Kenpo. The founder, Ed Parker, was a member of the church. (He was also Elvis' bodyguard, and gave Elvis a Book of Mormon.) Well, a few days ago I was reminded of a quote by Ed Parker that has I have always loved

"When you hear it, you've been lied to; when you see it, you've been deceived; when you feel it, you know."

In other news, I think I've finally got my game back. I got a number last night at a YSA event. Unfortunately, she is from Utah, and is attending BYU-I in a few weeks. But hey, it's a foot in the door, right?