Because of Hurricane Katrina, gas supplies to the state of Georgia have been limited, and prices are expected to grow up to $4 a gallon. Not good news
To fill up the 12 gallon tank in my Nissan, it will now cost around $40.00.
Govenor Perdue says "relax and spend time with the children": http://www.11alive.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=68579
My coworker Gina just tried to go get gas. She went to 8 gas stations and the lines were completely out of control. Someone also just tried to go to the Quik Trip down the road from our building and it was completely out of gas. To quote my new boss Jack, who managed to get gas earlier this afternoon: "I was just trying to save a few pennies. I didn't even know there was a panic." He just left with all of his gas. I told him he might need to siphon some off for the rest of us. Obviously this story took a turn for the worse in a mere 3 hours.
On a more serious note, please also pray for my cousin-in-law Stephen's family who live in Columbia, MS. It seems like Stephen's mom is fine but many of his friends and family have greatly damaged homes as a result of the hurricane.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Sunday, August 28, 2005
It's official
Well I am working on my first official effort to procratinate from reading my school books. I am sitting upstairs in our living room (a.k.a. jessrings' new office) with my books stacked nicely next to me. Closed. Unread. Looking too new.
After playing a hardy game of kickball this afternoon, I'm really bushed. So I told myself that it would be a good thing to take a shower and relax for a moment before jumping into some serious mental exercise. That was about 1 1/2 ago. I really do want to read and I will do it, but it's been harder then I thought to work up the motivation, especially on a Saturday night when my roommate is watching a movie.
Ok. I really do need to read. Especially my ethics book because the chapters are about 50 pages long and I have that class every week. Did I mention in my previous blog that my professor (minor-ly) swore three times in class? I think he's just a very straight up, say it like it is kind of guy. It was sort of funny. He also said "I'm sorry guys. But isn't it great to know that your ethics professor is just a big sinner." Honesty. That's awesome.
Ok seriously. I'm reading now.
After playing a hardy game of kickball this afternoon, I'm really bushed. So I told myself that it would be a good thing to take a shower and relax for a moment before jumping into some serious mental exercise. That was about 1 1/2 ago. I really do want to read and I will do it, but it's been harder then I thought to work up the motivation, especially on a Saturday night when my roommate is watching a movie.
Ok. I really do need to read. Especially my ethics book because the chapters are about 50 pages long and I have that class every week. Did I mention in my previous blog that my professor (minor-ly) swore three times in class? I think he's just a very straight up, say it like it is kind of guy. It was sort of funny. He also said "I'm sorry guys. But isn't it great to know that your ethics professor is just a big sinner." Honesty. That's awesome.
Ok seriously. I'm reading now.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Two other cool things
1. My friend Ami who lives in Germany with her husband, announced to the world today that they are expecting their first child in March of 2006. She was totally surprised when she found out was pregnant, and they were fully prepared to adopt kids at some point because she thought she couldn't have kids. So far she's 13 weeks along and it all looks great. Isn't the Lord cool how he works miracles?
2. I've been trying to exercise more, and today I ran for 7 minutes straight! Woo-hoo!
2. I've been trying to exercise more, and today I ran for 7 minutes straight! Woo-hoo!
Juror number 0396
Oh yes, I got my first ever jury summons yesterday. After being a faithful resident and voter of Dekalb County for three years, it is finally my turn to step up and become a part of our great justice system.
Fortunately, many have gone before me. Three out of my four roommates have made the trek to the courthouse in historic downtown Decatur at some point during our tenure in this county.
The plan is for me to call the day before and check to see if I even have to go. Then more then likely I'll go down to the courthouse and wait for my number to be called. My jury summons slip has labeled me #0396, which means that 0395 people will probably be called before me. This will all take place on October 4.
In light of this, I have created a top ten list of why I am excited to get a chance to be a juror:
10. Possible opportunities to each lunch and listen to karaoke at "My Friends Place" which is right behind the courthouse. Yes, it's a sandwich shop with random days of open mike nights and karaoke.
9. Wow will I get a lot of studying done while I wait.
8. Seeing people from my church on a Monday.
7. Declaring before everyone that yes, I have indeed had a run in with the law (but it was Gina's fault).
6. Convincing everyone else in the courtroom that "if the glove doesn't fit you must acquit"
5. Potential for free food and/or free movie watching.
4. Coming in contact with the same types of folks that my brother has to deal with every day.
3. Meeting all the other interesting people from Dekalb County.
2. Getting to use all my lay jury experience from watching Law & Order reruns.
1. The amazing $15+ paycheck.
Fortunately, many have gone before me. Three out of my four roommates have made the trek to the courthouse in historic downtown Decatur at some point during our tenure in this county.
The plan is for me to call the day before and check to see if I even have to go. Then more then likely I'll go down to the courthouse and wait for my number to be called. My jury summons slip has labeled me #0396, which means that 0395 people will probably be called before me. This will all take place on October 4.
In light of this, I have created a top ten list of why I am excited to get a chance to be a juror:
10. Possible opportunities to each lunch and listen to karaoke at "My Friends Place" which is right behind the courthouse. Yes, it's a sandwich shop with random days of open mike nights and karaoke.
9. Wow will I get a lot of studying done while I wait.
8. Seeing people from my church on a Monday.
7. Declaring before everyone that yes, I have indeed had a run in with the law (but it was Gina's fault).
6. Convincing everyone else in the courtroom that "if the glove doesn't fit you must acquit"
5. Potential for free food and/or free movie watching.
4. Coming in contact with the same types of folks that my brother has to deal with every day.
3. Meeting all the other interesting people from Dekalb County.
2. Getting to use all my lay jury experience from watching Law & Order reruns.
1. The amazing $15+ paycheck.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Back to school!!
Today was "back to school" day as Adam Sandler says in Billy Madison. I had my first class which is on Tuesday nights from 5-7:50. It's a class on Ethics of the counselor and my professor has had a ton of experience in this. So he had a ton of examples, which was great but also gave me a lot to think about. I'm pretty tired right now! But overall it went pretty well. My biggest worry was actually getting there on time because Atlanta traffic is so unpredictable. It only took me an hour to get there so I counted myself lucky. I also found out a girl I was friends with in college is in my class and she sat right behind me! It's such a small world.
Some folks have asked recently what degree I'm getting. I will hopefully be graduating sometime in 2008 with a masters degree in professional counseling. I am also hoping to get a leadership and coaching emphasis if it works out. After that I will go through whatever I need to do to get licensed, and use it in overseas ministry or with MTW somehow.
As I get into this program more I'll have to type out some of the questions that come up in these Ethics class. Man, there's some doooozies!!!
Some folks have asked recently what degree I'm getting. I will hopefully be graduating sometime in 2008 with a masters degree in professional counseling. I am also hoping to get a leadership and coaching emphasis if it works out. After that I will go through whatever I need to do to get licensed, and use it in overseas ministry or with MTW somehow.
As I get into this program more I'll have to type out some of the questions that come up in these Ethics class. Man, there's some doooozies!!!
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Ropes Course Diversity
Yesterday I went with a group of students from my new school, PSI, and drove to my alma mater, Berry College to tackle the Winshape ropes course. One of the Phys Ed classes I took at Berry was on the ropes course, and it freaked me out pretty bad. I mean, you're suspended about 50 feet in the air by a rope attached to a guy you just met that day who's the same age as you except he's now reassuring you of your safety. Hmmmm. I wasn't convinced. I did enjoy it by the end of the class, especially getting to do the zip line which was tremendously fun. This time we didn't do the zip line, but knowing what to expect really helped me to relax. I had such a good time getting to know some of the folks at my school as we went through some of the activities. I made some new friends, two of which live just a few miles away from me which will be great. I know I mentioned this in my last blog, but I think what I'm most excited about at this point is the diversity of the student body. Although we're all Christians, I haven't met a single person who goes to a church in the same denomination as me, and most everyone I met come from a variety of church backgrounds. I even met a girl yesterday who's mom got her MDiv degree and is now a minister. I haven't met anyone like that in a while. I think I'm going to learn a lot from these folks and I hope they learn some things from me. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly too.
Whenever you do ropes course and team building activities, your facilitor always debriefs each activity with the group so you can start thinking right away about how to apply what you learned. I think for me I learned a lot about how I can be afraid of setting goals for myself because what if I don't attain them? I'd rather just work hard and "try my best" but for me that means I won't always challenge myself to reach my potential academically. And I think I can do really well academically. Like getting an A- average, which would be a 3.7 GPA. That's going to be my goal. Holy crap. But I know I can do it.
On the way home I was listening to Queen in my ipod and I thought I would share my favorite line from my favorite song: "I don't believe in Peter Pan, Frankenstein or Superman. All I want to do is bicycle."
Whenever you do ropes course and team building activities, your facilitor always debriefs each activity with the group so you can start thinking right away about how to apply what you learned. I think for me I learned a lot about how I can be afraid of setting goals for myself because what if I don't attain them? I'd rather just work hard and "try my best" but for me that means I won't always challenge myself to reach my potential academically. And I think I can do really well academically. Like getting an A- average, which would be a 3.7 GPA. That's going to be my goal. Holy crap. But I know I can do it.
On the way home I was listening to Queen in my ipod and I thought I would share my favorite line from my favorite song: "I don't believe in Peter Pan, Frankenstein or Superman. All I want to do is bicycle."
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
My new boss
I was just thinking last night that I've been lacking in good revelations to put on my blog, but then today I found out I'm getting a new boss and I had my new student orientation for school. So it was a day of mixed feelings and plenty of blog material. I LOVE the boss I've had, which in some ways is the only boss I've known since I'm in the same job I've had since college and he's worked there basically the whole time. I attribute many of my personal developments in character, career goals, and overall life experience to his patient leadership. But he's staying with MTW and will be working in a different leadership role that he'll be great at. And the new boss I'm getting is a fantastic guy. It's the current director of a dept that will in many ways be merged with mine. One of my roommates works in that dept and we know them well. But change is always hard. We'll have till Sept 1 to work through the transition, and then after that the change will be complete. I just found out this morning so it's still a shock.
My orientation though was super fun. I met a couple of new people that will be in my classes, and I got a ton of much needed information. It also was a confirmation that PSI (www.psy.edu) is the place for me at this time in my life. It's going to be a fantastic program. However, I was again faced with the realization that graduate school is going to be a ton of work. But I think I'm ready! I know this sounds funny, but I'm so excited too because one of the people that I really got to know today is black. I really don't have any friends that are black. PSI is pretty diverse, so I'm stoked about meeting folks outside of my normal bubble. And my new friend and I should have quite a few classes together on a consistent basis. Sweet!
My orientation though was super fun. I met a couple of new people that will be in my classes, and I got a ton of much needed information. It also was a confirmation that PSI (www.psy.edu) is the place for me at this time in my life. It's going to be a fantastic program. However, I was again faced with the realization that graduate school is going to be a ton of work. But I think I'm ready! I know this sounds funny, but I'm so excited too because one of the people that I really got to know today is black. I really don't have any friends that are black. PSI is pretty diverse, so I'm stoked about meeting folks outside of my normal bubble. And my new friend and I should have quite a few classes together on a consistent basis. Sweet!
Saturday, August 13, 2005
Good gifts
Last night I had a great time hanging out with friends and going to see an awesome IMAX at Fernbank called "The Greatest Places." For anyone who enjoys learning about other places and cultures, it is a must see. When I got home it was time for bed. I find that when I am lying in bed, either at night or when I first wake up, is when I do a lot of thinking. Last night my thoughts led me to these two verses: "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" from 1 John 3, and "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" from Matthew 7. It struck me how hard it is for me to believe that God is good, and does give us good things. I am the kind of person who relies very much on how past experiences have shaped you as the person you are today. I guess that's part of the reason I want to be a couselor. But sometimes I look at my past and see only pain- totally skipping over the fact that God has blessed me time and time again. And if I was honest about how much God is doing for me each day just by loving me alone, it would be painfully obvious that the good He has done for me greatly outweighs the bad things that have happened. Coming off a week that was hard emotionally, it was comforting to see what I do have in being a child of God, and to think on all of the good gifts he has given me.
Our family
This is a family Photo taken I think during my second year of college and Matt's third year of high school.
Monday, August 08, 2005
Today is...
Today is the third anniversary of when my mom passed away. I don't have much to say other than that. I am going to my friends' Gates and Melissa's house tonight for dinner, which I am excited about. They invited me over. I have gotten a nice card and email as well. It's one of those weird things that sort of just sneaks up on me, and it's hard for anyone to know what to do or how to help. Tonight I may try to find a picture of her, but I don't know if I have any available on my computer. I think the only ones I do have are in frames in my room.
I have been thinking about this verse a lot today, which I was referred to me from Allie's blog: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." ~John 14:27.
Also, the prayer found on page 11 in the Valley of Vision book was great too as I read on that this morning. It's a fantastic book from prayers the Puritans prayed many years ago.
I have been thinking about this verse a lot today, which I was referred to me from Allie's blog: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." ~John 14:27.
Also, the prayer found on page 11 in the Valley of Vision book was great too as I read on that this morning. It's a fantastic book from prayers the Puritans prayed many years ago.
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Great quotes about radical repentence from Sunday School today
From "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" by C.S. Lewis when Eustace gets "un-dragoned:"
"So I scratched and tore again and this under-skin peeled off beautifully and out I stepped and left it lying beside the other one and went down to the well for my bath. Well exactly the same thing happened again. And I thought to myself, oh dear, how ever many skins have I got to take off? For I was longing to bathe my leg. So I scratched away for the third time and got off a third skin, just like the two others, and stepped out of it. But as soon as I looked at myself in the water I knew it had been no good. Then the lion said- but I don't know if it spoke- 'You will have to let me undress you.' I was afraid of his claws, I can tell you, but I was pretty nearly desperate now. So I just lay flat down on my back to let him do it. The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt worse than anything I've ever felt. The only thing that made me able to to bear it was the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off...Well, he peeled the beastly stuff right off- just as I thought I'd done it myself the other three times, only they hadn't hurt- and there it was lying on the grass: only ever so much thicker, and darker, and more knobbly-looking than the others had been. And there was I as smooth and soft as a peeled switch and smaller than I had been."
Excerpt from Psalm 51:
"Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin..create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me"
"So I scratched and tore again and this under-skin peeled off beautifully and out I stepped and left it lying beside the other one and went down to the well for my bath. Well exactly the same thing happened again. And I thought to myself, oh dear, how ever many skins have I got to take off? For I was longing to bathe my leg. So I scratched away for the third time and got off a third skin, just like the two others, and stepped out of it. But as soon as I looked at myself in the water I knew it had been no good. Then the lion said- but I don't know if it spoke- 'You will have to let me undress you.' I was afraid of his claws, I can tell you, but I was pretty nearly desperate now. So I just lay flat down on my back to let him do it. The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt worse than anything I've ever felt. The only thing that made me able to to bear it was the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off...Well, he peeled the beastly stuff right off- just as I thought I'd done it myself the other three times, only they hadn't hurt- and there it was lying on the grass: only ever so much thicker, and darker, and more knobbly-looking than the others had been. And there was I as smooth and soft as a peeled switch and smaller than I had been."
Excerpt from Psalm 51:
"Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin..create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me"
Saturday, August 06, 2005
The joy of family
Here are some great pictures of my honorary niece and nephews. They are my cousins's kids and they are my only relatives that live in Atlanta. I just got to see them yesterday for the first time in over a month! It's amazing how much the kids change. But it was super fun getting to see Rochelle and Natalie. They are some of my closest friends. This picture above was taken by Rochelle. Apparently she found Quin and Evan laying on the bed together like that and then she layed Julia next to them for a great pic of all three. From left to right: Quin (10 1/2 mons), Evan (21 1/2 mons), Julia (3 1/2 months). There are three pics total so make sure to scroll down.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Rock, paper, scissors....fire??
Last weekend a friend of mine told me that you can also use "fire" to conquer opponents when playing rock, paper, scissors. But get this..you can only use it ONCE IN YOUR WHOLE LIFE. Pretty big deal. Has anyone used theirs??? And for what reasons?? I think it would be hard to decide when to use it. I mean, normally that game is played to make very mundane decisions that you can't come to a consenus on otherwise. Maybe if you were haggling with someone, like a used car dealer for a price, and you used your fire to trump his price and get a free car?? Yeah, that would be a valid reason. Any others?
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