Productive

I feel quasi-productive tonight. I spent about 2-3 hours applying at a bunch of entry-ish level jobs that I think I qualified for. It was quite a task, especially when filling out the questionaire for Gallup. I'm telling you they should give you the job if you're able to have the patience to fill out the entire thing. Just imagine answering the same five questions phrased about 15 different ways in three sections. Here's to hoping something happens somewhere :)
In other news, the Feast is coming up fast. Crazy how I didn't think much of it while I was in DC for the summer. I was just trying to get through the summer and the Feast seemed so far away that I barely bothered to think about it. As soon as I came back though I have felt that the only thing I had to look forward to was the Feast. Now our road trip is a week away and I need to get some stuff in order.
First order of business is taking some of the dress clothes to the dry cleaners so that they can look very pro. I still don't know what all I'm taking clothes-wise because of the cold weather and I wonder how often we're going to all be outside. Dilemma. The second step is actually doing laundry because the pile of dirty clothes has turned into quite a mountain. It's good to have about a 2 month supply of clothes without needing to do laundry. It's quite ridiculous though and I'll get on it...either tomorrow, Friday or Sunday :)
Well folks, not a whole lot of interesting stuff is going on. Unless you count getting whupped on flag football by a superior team counts as interesting. Boy do I want to forget that game. It was atrocious from the start and now we enter the single game elimination format. So basically we have to regroup and play a heck of a lot better next game. I'm hoping my jammed left pinky finger gets back to its normal size. Right now it's fatter than the rest of my other fingers. I'm off to bed now!

Feast of Trumpets

It was simply an amazing Holy Day all around but it started in a very unique way. Jake left the apartment on Friday afternoon to Minnesota to see Lisa's baby and bask in the glory of being an uncle. I had passed out in the couch sometime during his packing and by the time I woke up Mike had come in to the apartment and was anxiously waiting to play Madden on my PS2. So we did that for a couple of hours with some thrilling finishes. He left at around 9ish and we planned for him to pick me up at noon on the Sabbath...
Funny thing is that we knew it was Trumpets as well but it did not register with either one of us that we had morning services as well. Luckily he had called a friend and was reminded of the occassion and he called me to tell me, "Martin, we have morning services tomorrow." I never had something like that happen to me. Usually I remember things like that so I set out to get to bed early. There were problems of course with going to bed early.
I tried going to bed but could not fall asleep for the life of me. Being so alert at that time I decided to bust out my Bible and do some studying and praying. Make myself productive and all, it was good. I felt that I was taking advantage of my time and growing as well. It's the way I've been feeling lately too. Growing and learning because it's what sustains me not because I feel like I should. I'm glad I realized it in spite of the past year and all. A couple of weeks ago I told Mr. Millich that the only thing that helps me keep my sanity is my faith. We're the ones who continually fail, God never does but we find a way to do so. In most cases, we find the most painful way possible.
Trumpets was simply amazing. We had Mr. Wells come up from Kansas City and he gave what I considered one of his top-5 sermons he's given in the 4 years I have been attending in Des Moines. We all left to eat at Ryan's Steakhouse and pigged out for about 2 hours and made our way back. I for one thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Apartian's sermon. He went through a lot of basics and fundamental things regarding the Kingdom of God and that's NEVER a bad thing to hear constantly. We need that message to be ingrained in our heart, our mind and our soul more than ever before.
You'd be surprised how simple things are when you take a step back and think the way God intended us to think. Life has its thrills, its highs and its lows but God is the one constant we have. There was something from Mr. Blackman's sermonette that caught my attention. He was relating to us a story he heard from a member back from the WCG days. The man had a dream about the Feast of Trumpets and saw the firstborn being taken up into the clouds to meet the Messiah. In the dream this man kept trying to jump to get up in the air and join the others. Apparently he was not ready for entrance into the Kingdom.
It got me thinking on how prepared I (we) am (are) for the time of Christ's coming. Are we doing ALL that we should in preparing for such a monumental event? It is a humbling thought to ponder and I think it should make us more grateful of what we have. We need to walk worthy of the calling with which we were called because we represent that Truth that He revealed in us. It was good meat in due season. I hope we're all preparing for the rest of the fall Holy Days and make it a very productive season for us.

Quote of the day

"Fat people are subject to the ideal gas law. Volume varies directly T (Charles' Law)"

-Jacob Wilson

9/11 We Will Never Forget 

Do You Remember...

Today is a day of reflection and mourning for many. It is a day of infamy, one full of tears, pain and sadness for what had happened to our country. We all remember where we were when we first heard of the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers. We all remember what we were doing at that time. We all remember the look on people's faces, whether they be teachers, workers, students or friends. It is a day that marked the beginning of a different stage in the annals of history. Even though it was not the beginning of Islamic extremism, it ushered in its destructive power in this country's soil. Terrorism had occurred from afar for many years as the West sat idly by and it now made its way to the United States and the course of history was forever changed.
I remember the day of September 11, 2001 as if it was yesterday. I remember the incredibly sunny sky on a beautiful Tuesday in my beloved island of Puerto Rico. It began as any other day in what was an exciting senior year. I remember the day starting with the normal load of advanced classes that were part of my schedule. My friends and I were looking forward to Physics class in 4th period because we were covering the topic of acceleration and one of my friends brought his Playstation 2 with Grand Turismo 2 to show the charts and such that were a part of the game. At the beginning of 4th Period the teacher sent me and two of the other guys in the class to get the TV from the Technology Department. We made our way there and as we walk in the instructor and his 3 students were all watching TV and had an atonic look on their faces.
I glanced at the tv and saw the smoke from the towers' collapse. I asked to see what had happened and the teacher told me that two planes had struck the twin towers. I asked if there were malfunctions or weather problems. He told me there weren't, that it was a sunny day in New York and I knew we were at war. That image shaped my thinking and I knew we were living at a critical time in history. We're always told these things and we hear about it but that's when I KNEW this was our defining moment. How we react and deal with the aftermath of 9/11 will define our generation. The similarities with the Pearl Harbor bombings of December 7, 1941 were stark. At the same time though it would be entirely different. In 1941 we knew who the enemy was and what country it was based from. In 2001 the enemy hides amongst the innocent, in wealthy and poor countries and wears no uniform. In my mind I knew it would emerge as the most difficult of all battles in this carnal world.
We can debate the merits of the decisions made since that day and the consequences we have had to face as a nation. Let us not desensitize ourselves from the reality that surrounds us. We all know someone who was affected from the 9/11 attacks, whether through the attacks directly or from the military actions taken afterwards. We know because of the grace of God what our role should be in the current conflict. If you doubt why we are involved in the current conflicts we find ourselves in, I urge you to watch the news reels from that day. There is a reason we are at war, let us not forget. Pray for peace and for God's will to be done. Only He can bring true peace to this world yet pray that our efforts succeed in some way. Let us pray that our leaders seek wisdom and make the decisions that fit into God's plan.
I know America isn't what it should be and many debate its merits, rhetoric and actions. Many are critical and they have their right to be but I choose not to join in their efforts. It is still the country I love and we all enjoy its freedoms. Its freedoms, which the founding fathers believed were God given, have allowed us to live the lives we have to this point. Let us live in a way that makes us productive citizens of heaven and productive citizens of this country. God bless America!

I would like to do the following

I thank God for Audrey Hepburn. If not for her existence and impact way back in the day, Maria Sharapova would not have created her black dress for her night matches during the US Open. I would also like to express my gratitude to Sharapova, for having a rockin' attitude along with a wicked backhand. Mike concurs with the previous statements after enjoying a thrilling championship match. Quite an awesome night.

The Yankees Win....The Yaaaankees Win!

Wow! It was 2 a.m. as I opened Jake's apartment door after what appeared to be a marathon day of traveling. I arrived to Kauffman Stadium at around 4:30 p.m. and proceeded to devour a footlong sub and 3 cookies I had ordered at Subway before finally arriving at the Stadium. The gates open an hour and a half before gametime, so I stood in line until the gates opened at 5:30 p.m. I wanted to try my luck in maybe getting an autograph so I stopped by one of the shops and spent a ridiculous $7 for a Yankees baseball. I then found the section I was going to be sitting at (117, row X, seat 5...dugout view). I walked near the dugout behind the line of people already there (I bet ya I would have been able to be there if I hadn't stopped at the shop for 5 minutes) and took a bunch of pictures of Yankee players warming up.
I then made my way over to the area where the relievers were warming up and stretching. I took a lot of pictures of Mariano Rivera, the greatest closer in baseball history. I, along with the dozens of people around me, were hoping for an autographed ball but my efforts were fruitless. I did however achieve the goal of actually catching a ball. Corey Lidle threw a ball in my general direction and I outstretched two kids with my glove to catch it. Yep, I got an official and very used Major League Baseball ball. Not too bad for being at my 3rd MLB game.
The game was an entertaining one. Randy Johnson started for the Yankees and pitched no-hit ball for 6 innings until it was broken by a triple in the 7th inning. New York catcher Jorge Posada provided most of the offense with two 3-run homers and the Yankees won 8-3. I was happy about the win and now more than ever I want to see a game at Yankee Stadium. Hopefully that dream will come true before they move to the new stadium in 2009-10.
So I almost witnessed a no-hitter and there was an actual no-hitter thrown in the same day by a rookie in Florida. Simply amazing! There's something about watching a baseball game in person regardless of your age that makes you feel like a little kid again. It's the 2nd game I attended in the past couple of months. I watched the Washington Nationals during my stay in DC and I enjoyed that game as well.
Now I am too wired to go to sleep even though I was very tired on my drive up to Ames. Go figure, I wish I had this type of energy all the time :) Regardless I wish you all a good night!

And I'm off!!!

I leave for Kansas City to watch my beloved New York Yankees take on the Royals. I bought a ticket in the area on top of the visitor's dugout (i.e. the Yankees side). I've got my glove, digital camera and my Yankees cap. I'm in prime foul ball territory so I hope to catch one tonight. Much more important though, I'm hoping the Yankees win tonight! I should be back late tonight. I'm pumped! My first Yankees game!

A Labor Day Extravaganza

As I try to ease my way back to the blogosphere I'll talk about the latest road trip adventure. Richard Pomicter and Jeff had been talking for a while about a visit to Richard's hometown of Omaha. As plans progressed Mike D and I were invited to spend the long weekend in the solid red state of Nebraska. Jeff was to come down from Minneapolis to Ames on Friday after putting in a hard day of work at his job. Jeff's arrival was to be around 8:30-9pm and then the 3 of us would head out to Omaha that same night. Well, things went smoothly and Jeff arrived and we proceeded to load his car with our belongings. And here the adventure begins...
Jeff had mentioned that he needed gas and was running low when he got to Ames. As he tries to turn on his car...it won't start. He keeps trying and nothing happens. No problem though, we'll just take my car to the gas station and fill up a little container and come back and put some gas in Jeff's car. We do that, put some gas in Jeff's car and....it won't start. We keep trying and trying and we figure the fuel pump must have been damaged on his way down. So we take the stuff from Jeff's car and load it in my car and we head out to Omaha at around 10pm. About an hour behind schedule but it's all good.
The trip consists of listening to Incubus acoustic songs and some Johnny Cash along with good male bonding conversation. We get to Omaha in about 2 and a half hours (no traffic whatsoever) and easily find Richard's place. We arrive, make ourselves relatively comfortable and start catching up on our life details. It was fun seeing Richard again, it had been about six months or so since we last saw each other. We start making preliminary travel plans for the Feast so that we have an idea of what we're doing as we make our way out to Copper Mountain. We have some good ol' male bonding talks that last until 5am Sabbath morning. We finally decide to go to bed and get some rest.
The Sabbath was a very good day from the start. Richard showed off his cooking skills with tasty breakfast burritos for everybody and after getting ready we left for Church. The Omaha congregation moved locations for services and not only is it near Richard's house but it is also a state of the art, very nice and clean place. I was quite impressed with the location, much better than where services used to be held. It was good seeing the people there, it had been about a year since I last visited and some of the kids have grown so much since I last saw them. Plus, I got to hold gooey twins that are adorable and drool a lot :) Actually, only one of the babies is gooey and drooly (is that even a word?), the other is on the smaller side and skinnier. It was fun, the sermon was incredibly inspiring and it led to a massive dinner afterwards :)
Dinner was at an Italian buffet...quite simply the most ingenious idea any single person could come up with. Combining the elements of Italian food with the "all you can eat" American ideology and it made for a stuffing of nirvana proportions that would have made Krishna proud. After dinner we headed to Alex and Jenelle's place for a night of card games, Bible trivia, and chillin' out. I apparently passed out at around 2am in a very uncomfortable position in a comfy chair and was woken up at 3 so that we could head out. After finding Mike and driving through the thick fog with visibility being close to 0%, we made it to Richard's house safely. I think we all went straight to sleep afterwards and rest up for some potential tennis the next day.
Sunday was a day of chillin', playing guitar, trying to master Call Of Duty 2 on Richard's PC, and after much delay some tennis. It was quite fun playing tennis again. It's not my sport but I have improved a little bit since I last played two years ago. I got to play Mike and he completely killed me by winning 6-2. I was proud of the fact that I got two points. Then as the other guys played I passed out in the car for about an hour. Afterwards we headed back to Richard's crib, showered, ate dinner with his parents and headed out to the Old Market in Omaha. The place is beautiful, lots of scenery and it makes for great conversation.
Monday came and nothing eventful happened. We left Omaha in the afternoon and made it to Ames before sunset. Another safe drive and a weekend full of fun and great exchanges of ideas. I definitely needed the time with the guys. I can't wait for the Feast to come and embark on another life-changing road trip :)