Jake (to the) Holla

Marvel Studios owns this summer

2011-06-24T16:59:00.000-04:00

(weird, I'm blogging again....)

Marvel already scored a big victory in my book this summer with Thor, and it looks like they're stepping their game up even more with Captain America (judging by this latest trailer). I can't even wrap my head around the combined on-screen presence of Cap, Thor, Iron Man, and friends in next summer's Avengers movie. Anyways, check out the new Cap trailer released last night.

If that doesn't get you amped for this movie.... you might be dead inside.

Don't count on me blogging being a regular thing. I'm openly in-consistant with my motivation to do so... but hey, I have Twitter! Follow @jakeholla if you're more prone to enjoy things of the 140-characters-or-less variety.

return from hiatus (with a VIDEO)

2011-03-26T17:27:00.000-04:00

music piracy... the savior of music?

2011-01-19T08:50:00.000-05:00

I came across this video this morning. British singer Joss Stone had some interesting points about music piracy during an interview. Give it a look... the clip is under a minute and a half, so no worries about watching some lengthy blahblahblah session.

What do you think? Is music piracy a good thing? Should music be openly shared, for the sake of spreading the joy of songs by artists that you really enjoy?

oh, nostalgia

2011-01-14T02:31:00.001-05:00

As I sat on the floor of my room last night... staring up at the clothes, bags, and boxes of stuff that needed to be packed for my return to Lynchburg today... I had a sudden urge to dig through some other boxes.

The boxes under my bed.

The boxes full of my old toys & collections from my childhood.

The 2 boxes, in particular, that hadn't been dusted off and opened up in years.

A good chunk of my childhood was practically defined by the contents of those boxes.

L E G O S

I should have finished packing and gotten some sleep, but I found myself ignoring the clock... digging through the countless little blocks and dismembered Lego people. It was surreal. I was so enthralled in this re-discovery that I took the time to dig out every single Lego man, woman, shark, and horse so they could be set aside and bagged together. Most were mix & matched (like a pirate with an Aztec shield, knight's sword, and an astronaut helmet), but one particular little guy was left in his original get-up.

None other than Robin Hood. Seeing that single Lego character took me right back to those carefree days... spending hours just building the most imaginative bases, castles, and island hide-outs. Lego Robin Hood was my go-to guy when I wanted to play Legos and fight off the evil pirates, their pet sharks, and who knows what else. It was quite the moment finding him buried amidst all the jumbled chaos.

Anyways, I snapped out of it and realized it was almost 4:30 am (yes, I know... ridiculous) and quickly cleaned up, and re-situated all the boxes back under my bed. I stuck Lego Robin Hood up on my shelf amidst other memorable trinkets, and then got back to the original task at hand of packing for my trip.

Ever had a powerful moment of nostalgia like that, that suddenly took presedence over whatever you were doing at the time?

*I apologize often for slacking on my blog-upkeep... so I'll just simply say thanks to anybody that has stuck around. Until next post!*

Merry Christmas (Eve)!

2010-12-24T02:23:00.000-05:00

I wish I had used this as a Christmas card, to mail out to loved ones

weird Christmas facts

2010-12-15T02:56:00.000-05:00

Stumbled upon these while searching for Christmas traditions... too good not to post:

Weird Christmas Facts:

Based on a 1999 estimated population count of North America and Europe, on Christmas Eve of that year Santa Claus had to visit 42,466,666 homes in a 12-hour period — that’s 983 homes per second.
Kris Kringel, a man in his 40s, lives in North Pole, Alaska, and delivers pizzas for a living. He drives a 1984 Ford Tempo.
A traditional Christmas dinner in early England was the head of a pig prepared with mustard.
1 in 6 men would like to get rid of all the “gift-giving nonsense.”
1 in 3 men will wait until Christmas Eve to finish their shopping.
56 percent of Americans sing holiday carols to their pets.
Christmas pudding should be stirred from east to west.
Saint Nicholas of Myra, the original Santa Claus, was the patron saint of children, thieves and pawnbrokers.

And to think... all this time I've been stirring my Christmas pudding from west to east. So foolish!

from greatness to WHOA... WHAT?!?

2010-12-13T01:27:00.001-05:00

And by that ("that"... as in: the title of this particular post) I'm referring to... Twitter.

I haven't always thought very highly of Twitter. Come to think of it... I used to think it was just about the most pointless, invasive, and downright stupid trend to hit the 'net. Quick nonsensical posts about what you're doing, limited to 140 characters? Count me out, cap'n. And yet here I am today, with well over 7,000 tweets under my belt. I don't particularly remember what nudged me towards ever signing up, but whatever that reason was... I am very thankful to have jumped on board the Twitter train.

Why, you ask?

Is it the fact that I can share my random thoughts, that I often think are hilarious... but only sometimes get a reaction? Or the contests and exclusive offers sent out to followers of various bands, companies, celebrities, etc? Or maybe even being extremely up-to-date with what is happening in the world, like when someone famous dies and every single person I follow has something to say about it?

Sure, every one of those reasons definitely factors into my enjoyment of having a Twitter account... but the reason my experience has suddenly gone from "greatness" to "WHOA... WHAT?!?" is simply this :

Jon Favreau responded to my tweet.

AND he re-posted two... count them, TWO, pictures that I sent to him that pertained to the movie Elf.

*for those in need of being informed : Favreau is the director of Elf, Iron Man 1 & 2, the upcoming Cowboys & Aliens, and much more. He also had roles in Elf, Iron Man 1 & 2, Swingers, Couple's Retreat, I Love You Man, Deep Impact etc etc.

as Happy Hogan in Iron Man 2, carrying the briefcase suit o' armor

I sent him 2 pictures of some of the decorations we here @ LU's Student Activities made for our Elf-themed Christmas talent exhibition, and a cake one of my fellow staffers made of the narwhal from the movie, and he dug them enough to respond and re-post to his profile for all his thousands of followers to see. Thaaaaat is just plain cool. It definitely made the show we organized seem SO much more legit, in my eyes, knowing that the director himself was aware of what we were doing... and approved.

Yes, it's a bit trivial & ridiculous... but I'm a movie geek, and I was super amped to have even the smallest interaction with a director that I really admire.

I don't know how many of YOU are avid Twitter users... but feel free to share any crazy stories involving Twitter, whether it's like mine... or if it resulted in something happening outside of the internet, even!

Looking Back (At Christmas '09)

2010-12-01T01:43:00.000-05:00

Here's a picture that basically defines my Christmas break last year...

footie pj's > snuggies

I'm eager to see what this season has in store... and yes, the footie pajamas still fit (PHEW!)

*ALSO: Christmas videos courtesy of LU Student Activities coming soon, inspired by Elf... and yes, I'm rocking the tights & the elfish get-up. Stay tuned.

random blurb time (11-16-10)

2010-11-16T13:07:00.000-05:00

(been awhile since I've done one of these.... so here goes nothin!)

*Despite previously stated, I have aborted my No-Shave-November beard. I cannot reveal the reasoning just yet, but its worthwhile. Besides, I can grow it back in no time...

*Apple teased at an announcement yesterday, that would be unveiled today, that would supposedly be SO amazing... that we'd remember this day forever. It's rare, in my book, for Apple to overhype something that really isn't that big of a deal... and alas, that is the case today. The "big announcement" was the entire catalog of The Beatles hitting the iTunes store. Underwhelmed...

*Powerful message this past Sunday @ Brentwood, regarding how we react to "crazies" in our lives... especially those in our families. It sounds silly, but it was legitimately convicting.

*I caught the Harry Potter bug a couple movies ago, and Part 1 of the last book hits theaters this week. I love me a quality midnight premiere.. it reminds me of home. (also, I hear the teaser for the Green Lantern will be attached... I'm curious to see how it turns out)

*I just ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. 'Nuff said.

*Watch this video. Animals are hilarious without even knowing it.

*Here's some awkward and/or random stuff I've witnessed on campus lately :

a guy and a girl practicing self defense moves, while some girls were auditioning for our holiday campus talent show on crack (aka Christmas Coffeehouse)
2 guys having a dance-off in the parking lot, seemingly as a form of greeting
while Inception was being shown @ the Vines Center, 2 guys in full body black-spandex costumes appeared & began dancing / posing for the crowd

**Until next time! Have a splendid Tuesday, rain or shine

No Shave November (aka Novembeard) - Day 10

2010-11-10T14:19:00.000-05:00

(Nov 10, 2010 - 1400 hours: day 10 of NSN in effect)

*STATIC*
Reporting in from the front-lines in the war against shaving (for a month). All is well here at my stationed post in the approximate region of Liberty University. I can't give my exact coordinates, in case any opposing forces (equipped with razors/trimmers) intercept this transmission. I've managed to gain access to a camera and will now provide a visual from today's progress.


1417 hours, in proper flannel uniform garb

If you receive this transmission, I bid you great success & safety in your progress during these troubling times. If at all possible, provide any information about your progress & whereabouts. Over and out!
*STATIC*

what i've been up to (photo blog)

2010-11-01T21:47:00.000-04:00

It's inevitable each year. The semester gets overloaded with work, assignments, events, etc etc... and the blog gets thrown on the back-burner. My apologies for sucking at being consistant! To kick-start my blogging back into gear, here's a photo blog post to chronicle some highlights of what I've been up to lately:

LU Homecoming Parade (with Student Activities)

After Edmund concert @ LBC during Fall Break

Muse concert in Charlottesville!

Cranking up the "handsome" with some youth group dudes

Full moon in the computer lab on campus. I look good.

Zombie group shot before roaming LU last night

Not-so-welcoming crowd on the bus

I just wanted to say "Hi"...

Great Scott! I love nostalgiac fun

2010-10-15T05:15:00.000-04:00

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the movie, none other than Michael J. Fox himself jumped back into his old-school kicks and recreated the original teaser for Back to the Future (shot for shot) as a promo for the reunion appearance on the 2010 Spike TV Scream Awards show.

And here's the original:

I absolutely love stuff like this. I grew up watching these movies (after they were released... since I was born the year the first movie came out... 1985, that is). I can't wait to purchase the trilogy on Blu-Ray when it's released later this month! That's some heavy stuff, Doc....

photo time! (10-7-2010)

2010-10-07T01:39:00.000-04:00

In case you missed the flood of images & updates this weekend via Facebook, I spent the majority of Saturday here in Lynchburg as Waldo. It was quite possibly the best idea I've had in awhile. The outfit was a no-brainer purchase when I found it at the local Halloween shop... and well... I'll shut face now. Enjoy the pictures!

Can ya find me? Click it to make it bigger, if needed...

Yep, I scored access to the Falwell's VIP skybox @ the stadium

Celebrating the team's victory

This is currently my desktop background

Spotted at Waffle House via security camera

transcend the punchline

2010-10-05T12:57:00.003-04:00

If the subject comes up, I rarely shy away from pointing out the lack of quality in Christian "cinema"/direct-to-dvd movies. It's gotten so bad, for the most part, that it's not even necessary to watch any of the films in question to know that it's not a hit (and definitely a miss). I can't help but crack a smile and laugh at the mere thought of the Left Behind series of movies, amongst others. There's so much potential in this market, and yet nobody seems to quite get how to access that potential and fund/produce/release a legitimately good movie that can bridge the gap and actually make an impact. Recently, Liberty U brought in a Christian media expert to speak during one of our weekly convocation services. Dr. Phil Cooke had one quote that really stuck out to me, and I think he has a great point on the issue:

“If boycotts worked—what are missionaries doing? The fact is, we change a culture by engaging in a culture. What do missionaries do? They win their trust and they understand how they think. That’s the way we impact Hollywood. We’ve got to start by making better products."

Plenty of musical artists have transcended the market and begun actually making an impact, so why can't the same be said for Hollywood? I'm tired of lumping Christian movies in with all the awful products found in any Christian bookstore that crank up the cheese-factor with changing the titles of popular brands, video games or movies into corny Christian messages. It doesn't succeed in doing anything beyond making Christians into a huge joke. I'll leave you with some examples that speaks for themselves, in terms of what's wrong with Christian culture right now:

Agree/Disagree.... anything! I'd love to hear some feedback on this topic. And on that note.... I'm gonna pay attention in class now.

photographer (wannabe) extraordinaire!

2010-09-20T09:34:00.000-04:00

This past week, I purchased a shiny new camera (Canon T1i) to assist me in my digital photography class (and because I've wanted this camera since last year)... and already I'm getting even more hooked on having a camera on me at all times. I'll share more pictures as they come, but I just wanted to share these 2 back-to-back pictures from yesterday afternoon.

YES! I caught a crazy praying-mantis on camera in mid-flight. I took a tonnnn of pictures of it as it explored our side-porch area, and luckily I got this shot during my hang-time with this lil guy (or girl? no clue)

(Video)- Ticklish Camel

2010-09-16T13:20:00.000-04:00

I enjoy the little things in life... and sometimes the most simple things can make me hit the floor laughing. This would be one of those cases (see video):

random blurb time (9-10-10)

2010-09-10T15:15:00.002-04:00

*I had a PB & J sandwich yesterday for lunch. Am I saying that as an embarrassing confession? Nay.... I am declaring that proudly. I would be double-proud if I had coupled that with some chocolate milk.

*Speaking of child-like things that I enjoy more now in my 20's than I did as a child.... I love NAPS. I need to love them alot less. I can hardly manage a shortened quality nap... always ends up being a several hour hibernation

*I'm ready for the Fall TV season to begin! Especially for Community and The Office

*The weather is b-e-a-utiful outside today! Sunny and 75 degrees right now. I'm a huge fan of days like this one.

*Downtown Lynchburg is hosting an outdoor festival 2nite to boost interest / business in the area. It's called Get!Downtown, and there's gonna be street performers, live music, vendors, a wall to decorate via graffiti/paint, and so much more. I'm genuinely looking forward to this... especially due to the the weather

*Going on my first trip as a Student Activities employee tomorrow! Tubing down the James River. Getting paid to relax while floating carelessly along with friends & other random students? Yes yes yes and YES

Just some of us crazy S.A. staffers at the recent Block Party event

*Another department on campus just got in some HD water-proof helmet cameras, and they're letting us borrow them for trips and whatever else we can come up with. Our staff going on the whitewater rafting trip gets the camera tomorrow, but hopefully I'll get to use that sucker in the near future. We tested it out in the office today, and it's an awesome little device.

*Hit 6,000 tweets today. Hooray for trivial accomplishments!

*God has been working overtime this semester. New place to live, amazing new friends to mix in with the usual crew, awesome job to keep me busy & responsible, and quality speakers thus far bringing the heat with challenging sermons/lessons. Hope the trend continues!

*NFL owners vs players over money, possibly leading to a strike? Soooomehow I could care less about guys who make millions of dollars for playing football, when they arent sitting on the bench... or getting into legal / tabloid trouble. Boo friggin hoo

That's all for today. Go embrace the rest of your Friday!

procrastination via photo shoot

2010-09-07T13:23:00.002-04:00

I realized late last night that I had put off a minor photo shoot for my Digital Photography class 'til the night before it was due to be submitted. Whoooops... and yet! I thrive under pressure... and I'm rather pleased with the turn-out.

*side note: we drew pieces of paper out of a bucket, that determined the subject of this 25-shot photo shoot. my subject ended up being "book"

Here are my top 4 (edit: math isn't my friend... but don't worry, I can count past 3) favorites from knocking out this assignment last night on campus:

hooray for messing with perspective

I should've actually sent this text....

Ohhh the joys of Skype


Behold! Kyle will now call down a bolt of lightning to strike this here book

Looking forward to this next photo-shoot assignment, especially with more opportunities to amp up the creative-thinking. And on that note... time for theology class!

no high fives for YOU

2010-08-26T09:26:00.000-04:00

I've noticed a growing trend lately (and was also reminded of this trend by one of my boss's tweets) . It's not something that should be embraced, nor is it a hype-train to be boarded proudly. In fact, this very act makes me want to avoid certain social behaviors that I typically am known for on a daily basis. SO what exactly am I referring to??

People not washing their hands after using the friggin bathroom!

I honestly don't understand it, in the least. Is it a case of being raised incorrectly? Or laziness blowing up into such a huge factor in life that washing one's hands is far too difficult & complicated? I mean SERIOUSLY! I'm not a germaphobe by any mans, nor do I carry around a bottle of sanitizer in case I suddenly have the itch to cleanse my hands every 2 minutes... but still... this is just too much.

Obviously I'm speaking from a guy's perspective here, since I haven't the slightest clue if this also carries over to being a common thing for women... so YES, I am ratting out a good chunk of my gender for this gag-nasty habit. Be afraid, ladies... be very afraid. And on that note, I leave you with this picture found via Google search!

carefree public embarrassment

2010-08-24T10:52:00.001-04:00

i could preface this video with saying "man... why can't everyone be like THIS guy??"... but if that were the case, life would be a whole lot less interesting if everyone acted with this level of carefree abandon in public (because it would be considered normal)

random blurb time (8-22-10)

2010-08-22T16:35:00.000-04:00

*August is almost over. What the heck??

*I need to start planning ahead for times like these past 2 weeks, where I'm slam-busy with packing & working & moving stuff back here to Lynchburg... I feel that I'm losing blog-followers with the big gaps in-between posts

*It's been a hectic week, in the best way! I started my new job as an event planner with Student Activities here @ Liberty University, and it's been fantastic so far. We worked 50+ hours this week with a total of 9 events during Freshman Orientation Week. I love this job already (seriously)

Majority of us LU S.A. staffers on the football field with Sparky the mascot

My desk (in the process of being personalized & decorated)

*Speaking of these events, we held 3 karaoke events in the campus dining hall. As you can imagine, the awkward freshman provided some golden moments as they fumbled over their choice songs. We even managed to get a guy & his mom to sing a duet ("Lean On Me")

*Moved into a new place closer to campus, and my 4 roommates are a quality bunch of dudes. Our backyard is Peaks View Park, so I have plenty of trails to ride my new bike on (even though it's a beach cruiser... don't hate, I love it)... AND direct access to some disc golf anytime I want. This year is going to be superb.

*Classes start this week... luckily my actual first day of class isn't until Tuesday. Phewww... plenty of time to get my parking pass & last book @ the bookstore. I may need to carry a Nerf sword with me to fight through the crowds tomorrow to get that final book for my Digital Illustration class

*The annual LU Block Party is this coming Saturday (the 28th), and one of my all-time favorite bands is headlining the event! Family Force 5, that is. Their live show is something to be seen & experienced, whether you dig their music or not

*I bought some Lego's the other day for the heck of it. Still just as fun as they were when I was a wee 'lil Jake. Believe it.

-That's all for today, time to go slave over some more piles of laundry. Thanks for stickin' with me thru the frequent periods of non-blogging!

really brave or extremely idiotic

2010-08-15T14:06:00.000-04:00

I'm all for taking the occasional risk and experiencing something thrilling (ex. the Intimidator 305 coaster @ King's Dominion... people nearly black out on that ride)... but there's just some things I will NEVER do

Such a captivating video, but still.... c'mon! That's just nuts. I love my life, and God gave us the common sense & knowledge that are to be utilized in decision-making. Sitting on a floating board, with aquatic death-bringers & their rows of teeth swimming beneath me? No thanks.

Guest Blogger: Austin Evans!

2010-08-11T13:34:00.000-04:00

So I got a message via facebook last night from one of my most treasured & glorious friends, Mr. Austin "ACE" Evans, and he asked if I could share this post of his somehow..... and what better way to do it, then as a guest-blogger entry! Austin is currently in Nashville, living the dream and working towards bigger & better things as a song-writer and all-around creative mastermind. Basically he rules. Anyways, here are his thoughts via blog post:

Ok so the pastor at Brentwood Baptist tonight was reading this Bible passage that told this story: There was a rich farmer and a poor farmer. The rich farmer had a ton of sheep. Rams, ewes, you name it, this farmer was loaded. (I am obviously paraphrasing the Bible here, call it the ACE translation). The poor farmer however, could only afford one little baby sheep. And he loved that sheep. It ate from his table, it drank from his cup, it slept with him...basically it was a pet. The Bible says he "loved it like a daughter." So one day a visitor comes to the farm and its customary to feed them. Well back in the day you didn't go to the grocery store and buy a Tombstone Pizza, you slaughtered one of your animals and prepared a feast. Well the rich farmer looks out on his flock and decides he doesn't want to sacrifice any of his sheep, so he straight up takes the poor farmer's sheep and uses that. Well King David hears about this and it says "anger burned in his heart" and he said "As sure as the LORD lives, this man should be sentenced to death for his lack of compassion." Now, David didn't kill him, but its pretty obvious that this was a serious crime.

This is where I admittedly tuned out the pastor for a minute to kind of take my own line of thinking. God prodded me with this thought and I really wanted to share it: So the sheep itself didn't have any special value. It wasn't a rare sheep, or a big sheep it was just a plain ole sheep. The reason the rich farmer's crime was so heinous was because the poor farmer LOVED the sheep. The sheep was loved by someone, which made it very special. How much more does God love us than that farmer loved his sheep? And beyond that, this guy was just a farmer... we're talking about an all-knowing, all-present Creator of the Universe that loves us! I mean, if nothing else we have EXTREME value if for no other reason than that there is an ever present Lord who loves us and desires a relationship with us. So next time you're feeling down, or that you don't have value, or that God can't use you, or that you've wasting your time, or that you just broke up with someone and they were a huge part of who you were, or you just got into a relationship and they are becoming a huge part of who you are, or your parents weren't the best and you're wondering how you're ever going to be capable of having a family, or maybe you did something really stupid and you're wondering if you're worth saving...GOD LOVES YOU AND YOU HAVE MORE VALUE THAN YOU CAN FATHOM.

Summer, what happened??

2010-08-04T01:12:00.000-04:00

I feel wrong for saying this... but I'm ready for summer to be over. Don't get me wrong, I love not having to wake up for class... worry about papers & projects... or stressing over finances with books & supplies... and I absolutely love all the time spent with friends/family that I don't get to see when the semester is in full swing...

BUT! The weather this summer? Completely ridiculous. I'm shocked that I didn't get sick from the back & forth changes between enjoyable and totally miserable. I would be the happiest person ever if the weather would just stay between 70-75 degrees, and NO HUMIDITY. I despise humidity. I feel like a freak when the heat/humidity combo causes me to sweat by simply just walking around outside. In my mind, I shouldn't be sweating unless I'm doing something strenuous or extreme. I love being comfortable outside (not too cold, not too hot)... to the point of wearing a t-shirt & shorts during the daytime, and maybe a hoodie at night if I feel like it.

Phew... okay now that all of that is outta the way... I had a fantastic summer!

midnight movies (for the most part...*ahem* The Last Airbender... BLAH)
concerts & live shows
road trips (especially to PA!)
all things LSM (work, events, trips, etc)
ultimate frisbee & disc golf
theme park enjoyment (Busch & Kings Dominion)
sleeping in on Friday/Saturday mornings

Etcetera! It's been a jam-packed season that definitely flew by at hyper speed. Hope yours has been just as enjoyable, if not moreso!

Comic Geeks.... ASSEMBLE!

2010-07-25T00:56:00.001-04:00

As I expected, today was a great day to be a comic geek. Especially for fans of comic book movies. Not only did the Avengers teaser site go online, but the cast of the movie was brought together on stage @ Comic-Con 2010 in San Diego 2nite! 'Nuff said.. now look at these pictures!

The teaser logo for the movie! Comic accurate (as it needed to be), and I love it!


L to R : Robert Downey Jr (Tony Stark/Iron Man), Clark Gregg (S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Coulson), Scarlett Johannson (Black Widow), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Chris Evans (Steve Rogers/Captain America), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton/Hawkeye), Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/Hulk), Joss Whedon (director of "The Avengers"), and Kevin Feige (producer / President of Marvel Studios)

twitter highlights (7-22-10)

2010-07-21T10:58:00.000-04:00

i find daily inspiration / amusement / informative joy via random tweets from the numerous people i follow. here's some recent highlights:

@prodigaljohn In God’s hands your mistakes aren't open cuts, they are healed scars that tell stories of hope other people need to hear

@CobraCommander Oh good. There's a new 5 Hour Energy spokesman. My People To Kill google doc was getting sparse.

@XIANITY MOVIES: 'Deception' in which the devil plants in sleeping preachers' minds the idea that health & wealth is the gospel.

@DarthVader *Sure* Obi Wan hid my son from me on my home planet of Tatooine. Next you'll be telling me I had twins.

@jimgoad We all bleed the same color. Then again, you'd have to stab everyone to verify that.

@davebarnesmusic One Ring to Rule the Mall

@ConanOBrien I found a huge design flaw in my new iPhone. People get angry when I talk on it during a funeral.

any highlights from those that YOU follow (if you're on Twitter)??

best. costumes. ever.

2010-07-14T01:03:00.001-04:00

is it wrong that i want to begin setting aside money to purchase one of these for my very own?

random blurb time (7-12-10)

2010-07-12T10:10:00.000-04:00

*I finally returned to Kings Dominion this past weekend, after 15+ years. The last time I was there, I was too short (and too scared) to ride any of the coasters. I rode all of them but 2 on Saturday (the lines were either unruly, or I was exhausted). I can finally say I've been on Volcano, and almost blacked out on the Intimidator 305 coaster. Pretty sure we all started to get tunnel vision while flying around the first massive turn... I-N-T-E-N-S-E

*Spain won the World Cup yesterday. WOO HOO! I would've preferred Brazil in the final match, so I'm glad the Netherlands lost due to the fact that they knocked my fave team out of the quarterfinals.

*The quality of movies this summer has been very hit-or-miss. I'm glad that the last 3 movies I saw were all enjoyable (Knight and Day, Despicable Me, and Predators)

*Summer is definitely reaching that point where work, plans, events, and everything in-between is starting to stack up. Not that I'm complaining, I'm just saying... PHEW, I love it all... but it definitely makes me thankful for the down-time when I can embrace a nap

*I glanced @ my Brazil jersey last night, and was suddenly reminded of the unopened soda can of Brazil's very own Guarana Antarctica. If you've had the privilege of trying it, you know how unique and faaaantastic it is. I'm seriously on the hunt now to find some, after hearing/reading rumors that it can be found in select stores/restaurants here in the States.

*I've come to the final decision that Sonic food makes me feel gross. Same goes for McDonald's, Taco Bell, and almost every other fast food joint that I eat at throughout the month. Ideally, I would cut all of those out of my dining habits... and sneak Wawa in every now and then to indulge, because Wawa's never done me wrong like the others have.

*Google "Paul the octopus" and read any of the articles that come up about his prophetic World Cup predictions. Bizarre & amusing stuff from those crazy superstitious Germans.

*Even though I remembered that yesterday (7-11-10) was National Free Slurpee Day @ 7-11, I still forgot to go and get one when I was out & about driving in the vicinity of numerous 7-11's

I could probably keep going and going, but I'll cut this post off there. Until next time!

The Last Airbender (belated review)

2010-07-06T10:56:00.001-04:00

Review: Go see Toy Story 3 instead, whether you've seen it already or not. You'll feel much better about yourself, and the money you spent, and about cinema in general. Pixar never fails. Shyamalan does. This movie looks great, but has no heart... no beneficial substance to it... and the pacing / story-telling is just plain amateur. I should've gone with my gut-instinct and backed out of my plans to see the midnight release last week. Oh well, I'll be more prepared *if* there's a next time for Mr. Shyamalan's declining career as a director.

Shorter review: Don't see it. I'd rather bang my head against a wall covered in sandpaper for 2 hours than watch this again.

Breakin It Down (elderly-style)

2010-06-29T10:31:00.000-04:00

Fact: I hope I have this much energy when I'm old

n-o-n-s-t-o-p

2010-06-28T16:12:00.000-04:00

Apologies for being blog-absent so much lately. Pre-camp preparation, World Cup games, time spent with m'lady, and then camp itself have kept me raaaaather busy.

This year's edition of camp was chock full of ups & downs. Back-to-back medical issues/injuries, property theft, sweltering heat, and more weren't enough to squash the excitement of 18 students giving their lives to Christ during our time @ Wake Forest! God is in control. 'Nuff said.
I currently have a crucial sun-burn. Aloe is my new best friend, for the time being.
I'm pretty sure I spent more time in Wal-Mart and Lowe's 2 weeks ago than I have in most of my adult life. Tons of supplies/materials needed for LSM summer camp... phew!
Watched a bunch of the 2010 World Cup matches. Lunch & Free-time @ camp were prime time for staying up to date. USA had a good run... but Ghana took them down. Sticking with my #1 choice : Brazil!
Currently watching the Brazil (or Brasil) vs Chile game @ the student center. Brazil is up 3-0! Faaaantastic
I now own a vuvuzela. If you don't know, Google it.
Looking forward to this weekend's festivities. Extreme Where's Waldo (custom game via my good friend Gordon) followed by a bonfire with the same crew on Saturday, then church & July 4th excellence on Sunday

There you have it. My busy schedule in a blog-nutshell. What have YOU been up to lately?

BUSY week (understatement)

2010-06-15T10:41:00.000-04:00

I just realized just how much was going on this week, world-wide...

I'm currently streaming World Cup games via ESPN's web site, which are going on until July 11th
The 2010 Electronic Entertainment Expo is underway this week (the conference where all the new video games, systems, and whatnot are announced and previewed)
I've got friends at the 2010 Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando, FL
Game 6 of the NBA Finals is 2nite (with Game 7 being on Thursday, if LA wins this one)
Toy Story 3 hits theaters on Friday

Phewwww... I feel somewhat overwhelmed just thinking about all of this. What are you following/watching/attending this week? Did I miss anything?

random blurb time (6-8-10)

2010-06-08T10:22:00.000-04:00

*Tonight, I will be experiencing Conan O'Brien's live tour in D.C. (aka the "Legally Prohibited From Being Funny On Television Tour"). I am rather ecstatic to see him live, as well as his cohort Andy Richter and the band from his old show

Fun fact : almost every night of the tour has included some surprise guests (ex. Jim Carrey, Pearl Jam, Tina Fey, Eli Manning, Stephen Colbert, etc etc)... so my mind is racing at the possibilities of who may show up 2nite. I really hope this isn't one of the few shows that doesn't have a surprise celebrity appearance

the official tour poster

*I won tickets to yet another concert this past weekend. I took my long-time cohort Chris Dorner to see one of our new fave bands Passion Pit at the Norva. It still baffles me how my uncanny luck continues with concerts, movies, etc

*As of yesterday, I have indulged in 4 Chick-Fil-A spicy chicken sandwiches. I must say... the pepper-jack cheese addition is the way to go. However, I'm not too sure about following it up with a milkshake... like I usually do after having the regular chicken sandwich combo

*Has anyone ever been skydiving? My fantastical girlfriend Abby mentioned recently that she would love to do it sometime. I'm on-the-fence about the idea... I'll do some crazy stuff, but I'm not a dedicated fan of heights... so I'm boldly undecided

*I'm already missing all my TV shows... I don't want fall to be here yet, but I will be glad to have all my shows back to watch each week

*This Friday is the Tropical-Tiki-Luau-A-Palooza Fest @ the LSM Student Center. I'm eager to see how it turns out. This has the potential to become a recurring annual event. Which remind me... I need to go find some tropical apparel... ASAP! Stay tuned for possible pictures from the event, if they are deemed worthy

*The classic group game known simply as Silent Football is back in full force, as of this past weekend. If you're in-the-know... then you know what this means. If you don't, then... well... it does no justice typing out what this game entails. You just need to experience it. Regardless, being in a room with 15+ people holding back tears from laughing so hard is just downright great fun

*Watch this video

(video) - this guy just plain WINS

2010-06-04T15:23:00.004-04:00

I applaud this elaborate & fantastic proposal... that's how it's done.

Movie Concept Art! Cap & Thor!!

2010-06-03T09:57:00.001-04:00

Concept art has been leaked/released of what the movie versions of Thor & Captain America will look like... and I am impressed with what I'm seeing! These two heroes don't exactly have an easy look that could translate very well to live-action, and yet... I think Marvel Studios definitely pulled it off. Since these are concept art images, they may not be the final looks.... but I highly doubt much would change when the first official images of Hemsworth & Evans in costume are released. Also, Thor will have his helmet... so don't fret (in case that worried you).

So... what do YOU think of these images? Do you think Marvel nailed it?

thats a mouthful

2010-05-27T10:25:00.000-04:00

Tropical-Tiki-Luau-A-Palooza-Fest

Say..... what??? Try saying THAT out loud 10 times fast. (Okay, I tried... and it honestly wasn't that hard... anyways)

That name was my contribution to the brain-storm sesh over staff lunch, as we figured out a pre-summer-camp event @ the LSM student center. Amping up the commonly-used Hawaiian/tropical theme idea and going crazy with it, if you will. We're talkin' free smoothies, tropical-style food @ our indoor snack bar, a sand-volleyball tournament, and so much more. I'm pretty amped on it.

I'm even MORE amped about having my Tiki man character on the promotional material, and on the event t-shirt! Here he is on the little promo cards that the youth will be passing out at school to their friends/classmates.

I love that the church's graphics lady kept the black & white sketch version for this! He'll be more colorful on the t-shirt, but I just dig how this turned out. Be on the lookout for the t-shirt, once the boxes arrive here... primed and ready for June 11th. I'll post a pic of it once I get my hands on one.

(video) - unreal parkour

2010-05-25T17:34:00.002-04:00

In case you're completely in-the-dark about this ridiculously sweet hobby of extreme physical feats... just watch this video and you'll suddenly be in-the-know about parkour

I wish I had the time/ability to train my face off and be able to do stuff like that.... just wow

geeking out

2010-05-24T11:25:00.000-04:00

Have you ever geeked out over something? (ex. waited in a line for several hours... possibly overnight; pre-ordered something the very second it was made available; gushed about how much you love something and discussed it in detail with like-minded fans; etc etc)

Naturally, the long-awaited series finale of Lost made me think of this. It's all I've heard about for the last week... and last night / this morning I've seen or heard countless references to it. I never got into the show... BUT I can completely sympathize and relate to how these people feel about their favorite show. I've also seen the fan-base of Glee grow bigger & bigger... to the point where devoted fans of the show are now referring to themselves as "Gleeks"... and of course the millions of fans of Marvel/DC comics, Star Wars, Star Trek, and Harry Potter know how to truly geek out on their favorite books & movies... especially in custom-made costumes.

I'm proud to say I've been geeking out on comic-related things for the majority of my life. While TV shows come and go, movie trilogies end and are shelved until possibly getting the "remake" treatment, and music icons fizzle out and retire... everything in the comic book world just keeps on going. The biggest & most popular characters will inevitably be around forever, and will continue to be immortalized in comic books & movies & TV shows & commercials & toys & clothing. It's comforting to know I'll never have to say goodbye to Spider-man, Batman, or Wolverine. Sure... there will often be less-than-quality depictions of my favorite superheroes... but there's always excessive opportunities beyond the crappy stuff to redeem that particular character's credibility in the mind's of the fans worldwide. I love waiting in line for a midnight movie premiere, and getting into the theater early with friends and just feeling the excitement grow & grow until the clock strikes 12:01am.

What do YOU love, to the point of geeking out over it?

*In other news, you can geek out over the upcoming release of the mighty Chick-Fil-A's new Spicy Chicken sandwich by reserving a FREE sandwich for yourself @ www.getspicychicken.com. Apparently it's their first new sandwich in over 15 years? I vaguely remembering someone telling me that, but I couldn't find any facts along those lines via a quick Google search.

(video) - Luckiest Penguin EVER

2010-05-19T09:55:00.001-04:00

I linked to this over on my Facebook, but I know there's plenty of people who didn't catch this when it was freshly posted.

That's neck-and-neck with this video for Best Youtube Nature Video of All Time (if that's not an award already, it should be)

AND so it begins

2010-05-18T12:36:00.000-04:00

And by "it", I mean "SUMMER 2010".... ohhhhh yes

Day 2 on the job here @ Liberty Baptist (summer intern w/ the student ministry!) and it's already been a fantastic week. Lots of big things in store for the coming months... especially with this brand spankin' new student center officially open for use.

This place blew my mind the second I walked in the doors! It's absolutely unreal... and to see how amped the youth are to utilize this place to bring their friends, and to impact this peninsula for God's glory.... it's just amazing. Friday night is gonna be ridiculous... the grand opening + After Edmund in concert to officially kick-off the building being open.

Anyways, I've got my starter bulk o' countdowns for the near future. The rest of May until mid-August is lookin' SO good!

*3 days til the LSM Grand Opening event

*21 days til I experience Conan O'Brien liiiive in D.C.

*35 days til summer camp @ Wake Forest

*80 days til my 1 year anniversary w/ Abby!

*84 days til the Something Corporate reunion tour concert in D.C.

*90 days til myself & @kdoyon begin our jobs with LU Student Activities!

(and muuuuch more scattered all throughout)

Welp, that's all for now... back to the drawing board for some secretive event-planning here @ LSM

random blurb time (5-13-10)

2010-05-13T16:49:00.000-04:00

*the semester is over! finished my first year @ LU as a transfer-senior. time truly flew by

*2 back-to-back all-nighters during finals this past week = REALLY screwed up sleep schedule. i'm not a fan of this nocturnal business... unless I take up fighting crime while I'm wide awake @ 3am

side-note: if I never drink another Starbucks energy drink, I think I'll be completely okay

*my beloved Flip Video camera was recently stolen, so any new videos will be delayed until I'm able to buy a new one. it's an unfortunate set-back, but hey... it's just a material possession that can be easily replaced

*the more that I play first-person shooters & multi-player strategy games... the more I realize that I'm just not cut out to be an up-to-date video-game nerd. however, just gimme a Super Nintendo or an N64 and I will absolutely dominate

*the new LSM (Liberty Student Ministry) student center opened for the youth this past Wednesday night @ Liberty Baptist, and I've heard nothing but crazy-enthusiasm for how awesome it is. God is doing HUGE things in that ministry, and I can't wait to be a part of that this summer

*speaking of which, I start working with LSM this coming Monday! Sunday, unofficially, with it being the first Sunday in the new student center. it's going to be incredible.

*experienced Iron Man 2 twice so far, and aiming for one more viewing in IMAX once I get home

*what TV shows have YOU been watching this season? have they been up-to-par with what you expect from them? I've been watching The Office, 24, Chuck, Smallville, and Community... and I would dare say it's been a great season of TV. quite a few season finales coming up soon, too

*the drop in temperature lately has been a welcome change. i love wearing hoodies. that is all.

**I still have a significant amount of packing to do before I load up and head home tomorrow... so on that note, back to the boxes & plastic bins I go!

Hmm... real or fake?

2010-05-11T20:23:00.000-04:00

I stumbled upon this video in my daily internet browsing... and I must say, I am very intrigued. The subject of this video isn't something I can just accept on face value. I need proof, or at least the critical feedback of others... maybe even some scientific facts thrown into the mix.

But first.. you need to watch this! Then lemme know what you think. Real or FAKE?

Movie Review: Iron Man 2

2010-05-07T15:03:00.001-04:00

Another long-awaited movie has arrived, and it's already making big money overseas (it was released internationally on April 28th)... yes indeeeeed, RDJ / Favreau and friends are back. Of course, I went to see the midnight premiere last night... and was pleasantly surprised to see so many people come out, in a typically quiet college town (after midnight... haha)

Anyways! What did I think of the movie?

As expected, I loved it. It was yet again a truly unique comic book movie experience... with a top-notch cast, witty dialogue, and fantastic action sequences & special effects. I was a bit thrown off by how dialogue-heavy this sequel was, but that's not to say it was bland or boring... it was just more than I expected. Luckily there was enough character development and explosive fight scenes to balance everything out, and I thought the overall pacing of the movie was realistic & entertaining. Tony Stark is a truly troubled individual, physically/psychologically... and I love how Robert Downey Jr. has brought that to the screen in both movies, so far. I'm really eager to see how he interacts with Captain America (Chris Evans) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth), with Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury most likely trying to (frustratingly) direct these 3 super-powered icons in The Avengers movie in 2012. As far as the supporting cast: Paltrow was great once more as Tony's right-hand lady, Scarlett Johannson was a quality addition... especially when thrown into the action, Mickey Rourke / Sam Rockwell were excellent villains... although somewhat underused, and Favreau pulled double-duty again as director/actor... playing Stark's chauffeur Happy Hogan in some quality moments of the film.

For the comic-geek viewing audience : I really enjoyed the extended presence of SHIELD and Jackson's Nick Fury, and the scattered Marvel-universe references & "easter eggs" (intentionally placed and/or hidden stuff that you'd easily overlook unless you knew it was there). Look closely at all the monitors/maps/news footage during the scene towards the end when Stark meets with Fury. And OF COURSE stick around after the credits for an extremely cool reference to.... something. I won't spoil it here.

Overall: I gave the first Iron Man a solid 10/10, and I give Iron Man 2 a worthy 8.8/10

As Seen on TV - a tribute to doing it wrong

2010-05-03T23:37:00.003-04:00

Compilation of all those exaggerated "doing-it-wrong" moments seen in cheesy (usually late-night) infomercials

random blurb time (4-30-10)

2010-04-30T01:34:00.000-04:00

*it's officially "get my concert fix" week

Sunday night I went to a free Four Year Strong concert @ Penn State (to close out a weekend spent with Abby!)
last night I went to see Paramore and Relient K in Charlottesville
aaannnd tomorrow night I'll be in the 757 @ my favorite concert venue (the Norva) to see Angels & Airwaves

*I should have kept a tally of all the miles I docked on the car thus far this week. I made it from PA back to Lynchburg in a record 5 hours and 15 minutes (possibly less).... without stopping once! my bladder-control is straight up ninja

*purchased my ticket for the midnite premiere of Iron Man 2 next week. let the summer movie season BEGIN! (also snuck a peek at the post-credits scene in the movie via Youtube.... I approve!)

*I want one of these!

best potential side-kick.... ever?

*experienced some incredible jelly beans over the weekend. Buttered Popcorn, Strawberry Cheesecake, and Grape soda. mmmmm-licious

*the anticipation is building daily for the semester to be over, summer to begin, and my internship w/ LSM to kick into gear.... I can't wait!

*watch this - http://wimp.com/thoseninjas/ ... 'nuff said

*recently made aware of a new social-networking site on the scene (Empire Avenue). it combines your overall web-presence via Twitter/Facebook/Blogging and allows people to invest in "stocks" of you as an individual. Steven Sherman got me hooked. Access is gained by applying for a spot, or getting an invite-key from a current user (p.s. - I have 3 extra invite keys if you want one! lemme know)

*I refuse to try that new KFC Double Down "sandwich"

I'm a fan of an un-clogged heart... and being alive.

..... aaaaand on that note, it's time to wind down towards slumber

first-time experience

2010-04-27T01:38:00.000-04:00

While visiting Abby this weekend in PA, we went to a carnival near the Penn State football stadium. Amidst all the rides, carnival games, and food vendors... there was one thing that stuck out like it never has before.

the FERRIS WHEEL

Was there something different about it compared to other ferris wheels? Did it look all shiny and neat? Was it faster than normal? Exactly why did this ferris wheel stick out to me?

Plain and simple.... I suddenly realized that I'd NEVER been on one before! It wasn't a case of fear, or dis-interest in riding one in the first place... I guess I just never thought about it until right then & there while roaming the carnival grounds with Abby. Without further delay, we snagged some ride-tickets and got on board. It also helped that we got there as the carnival was winding down.... so there wasn't a line! I'm a fan of sweet rides with no lines.

Side note: I also experienced the un-healthy glory of fried oreos for the first time on that same night. WOW... they were almost too amazing

Anywho, is there anything that comes to mind for YOU that falls under the category of something you've never experienced/eaten/watched.... for no other reason other than you've just never really thought about it? Post your responses in the replies!

new header!

2010-04-21T11:51:00.000-04:00

just a quick post to point out the new header i made today while bored in class.... lemme know what you think!

*(i might try a couple more out in the days to come.... but then again, i might NOT)

now it's time to go snag this week's batch o' comics, and then head to class. God bless and have a fantastic day, rain or shine!

hakuna matata, fer sure

2010-04-19T21:21:00.000-04:00

Worrying is pointless (as I've said many times before)... especially when there's blatant reasons stacked in your favor.

real-life Timon & Pumbaa!

The point is... I got the summer job! I will be interning with the ridiculously top-notch student ministry back home @ Liberty Baptist, as they gear up for a huge summer (new student center opening the week after I start in mid-May). I guess I was less worried that I wouldn't get this job.... but rather, I was more worried I'd have to crawl back to Friday's and spend another summer doing the restaurant thing all over again. Not that working at a restaurant is a bad thing! I've just closed that door and don't have any intentions of opening it again... unless it's an absolute must. I cherish my years working @ TGIF, and all the awesome people I met and friendships I still have... definitely a rewarding experience, and it truly stretched me as a person and I feel better for it. Plus I know what it's like to be in a server's shoes now, after several years waiting tables... and will forever tip graciously, regardless of the circumstances.

*In closing... I leave you with some countdowns:

4 days until I head to PA to see Abby!

10 days until a concert-tastic weekend in VA Beach (and hopefully Jersey!)

17 days until Iron Man 2 hits theaters!

24 days until my summer begins!

49 days until Conan O'Brien's live tour in D.C.!

belated anniversary gift

2010-04-17T03:09:00.000-04:00

I recently arranged (secretly) for a mutually favorite artist of Abby's & mine to dedicate an acoustic performance of his new single to Abby from me for our 8-month anniversary... (what can I say? i love coming up with top-notch surprises)... so without further adieu, here's Dave Barnes performing "God Gave Me You"

I am SO glad that worked out, and extremely pleased/amused with Dave's delivery of the dedication I wrote.... now if you don't mind, I'm going to go start figuring out how to top this....

Do yourself a favor and check out Dave's music. I finally saw him live in concert last semester, and I was blown away.... SO good

www.davebarnes.com
www.youtube.com/THEdavebarnes

(fun fact: I was previously only aware of his comedic Youtube videos.... and had no idea he was a musician until months later. definitely check out his videos.... HILARIOUS)

"Absurd Image" Fridaaaay (4-16-10)

2010-04-16T16:11:00.000-04:00

I'm going to attempt a new weekly tradition. I'll aim for Fridays, but motivation may inspire me to publish an "Absurd Image" post earlier...

r e g a r d l e s s !

I want to know what YOU think the caption should be for this picture..... 3, 2, 1... GO!

I'll post my caption later 2nite or tomorrow!

people amaze me

2010-04-15T13:30:00.003-04:00

Sometimes.... okay MOST of the time.... I find videos of people that simply stun me, out of pure bewildering amusement. This video takes the cake for recent youtube discoveries

I dunno about you, but I would love to have a crazy grandparent/relative like that..... just imagine the family reunions!

consider me confused

2010-04-12T16:28:00.003-04:00

Unless you're allergic to sunshine, social interaction, oxygen, food, and information..... then you're relatively aware of the latest trends, the most talked-about movies & tv shows, and the must-have new gadgets on the market. For the most part, the hype surrounding alot of this stuff is understandable.... but for every trend in fashion / entertainment / technology, there's at least 10 more that absolutely confuse me.

Here's a few examples :

*soap operas, professional wrestling, and court-tv shows: I just don't understand how any of these types of shows are still on the air. I can go a month (or more) without hearing anyone talk about, write about, or even joke about any shows that fall under these categories. Are people too embarassed to openly proclaim their passion for Guiding Light, WWE, or Judge Joe Brown? Do networks just keep this stuff on tv to fill the air-time? Someone please explain to me this mystery if you have any insider-info that I'm unaware of.

*obsessive excitement over mediocre movies, artists, etc: Let me preface this with saying I used to be an adamant hater on all-things Harry Potter.... but was later silenced by watching some of the movies & reading one of the books. I get why that series of books/movies is so successful and why the hype & fan-base is so massive. JK Rowling is a captivating author. But the Twilight series (books or movies)? Justin Bieber? Jersey Shore? I legitimately understand why the targeted audiences would be interested & entertained by all of this..... but when the hype & excitement reaches this insane level of success that each has reached? That's when I'm confused. Guilty pleasure enjoyment? Sure why not... but when many of these fans absolutely live & breathe this stuff? That's just frightening. Is our society really that A.D.D. and needy, to where we settle for less... when a hype-worthy book series or movie trilogy is over with, or when a musical artist retires or fades from the music scene? I'm not trying to be negative, or hate on some of the stuff you may legitimately enjoy... I'm just very confused about why certain things are TOO popular in this day-and-age

*charity organizations becoming "hip": Now don't get me wrong... if anything is going to benefit from becoming a hot trend, it should be organizations focused on helping a group of people in need or a struggling country that are benefitting from charitable & excited American citizens... but none-the-less, it still kind of confuses me. I'd like to think that people, as a whole, are becoming more generous & caring for others... which many definitely do qualify as legitimately generous/caring people... but I can't help but notice how it's suddenly so cool to wear a certain brand of shoes, clothing, bracelets, etc etc. Please continue doing so, if you're actively involved with supporting such an organization, but do so for the right reasons... and do prior research on where your money is actually going, who it's helping, and so on and so forth. Show your support & keep on doing so if/when the hype train passes and you're no longer being high-fived and complimented for wearing TOMS shoes, or wearing Live Strong bracelets.... because it shouldn't be about you at all. Don't be like those celebrities seeking credibility & respect for their career by attaching their name to a charity organization.

Okay, I think I've exhausted myself & spent enough time on this particular subject.... I would really love & appreciate some feedback in the comments, in regards to your take on any of this. Rip me a new one, if you feel the need... any response is better than no response at all!

Well.... maybe...

random blurb time (4-9-10)

2010-04-09T12:01:00.001-04:00

*Just when I thought we had completely skipped spring, and jumped right into summer weather, a thunderstorm rolls through and cools everything off again. I'm a fan of the 65-75 range of temperatures, and desire to enjoy that for awhile before dealing with 90 degree weather again

*Speaking of storms: I drove through a ridiculous one on the way back to Lynchburg from the 757... I'm talking swirling vortexes of wind/debris/dead-leaves.... torrential rain... you name it. If I wasn't awake & alert before that, I definitely was once I was amidst the chaos

*1 of my classes ended yesterday, thus I now only have 1 class on Tues/Thurs.... and that definitely puts me in a good mood

*27 days until Iron Man 2. 'nuff said.

*My recent return to running last month has already hit a snag. Spring break, flash mobs, projects/exams, and my newly-purchased Super Nintendo have joined forces to prevent me from being consistent in my exercise routine. Must.... fight.... back....

*seeing this being sold in quarter machines as toys for kids? that's disturbing

*Being an off-campus student here @ Liberty, I often skip out on the required stuff that on-campus students are accustomed to. However, this past Wednesday I went to campus church with an awesome friend of mine (Mr. Joshua Luke Crouterfield) and it was a quality experience! Powerful message/worship-set... which makes for a great combo

*Starburst candy is amazing. I could chew on those at any point of the day, and always be satisfied.

*Just caught up on Chuck / 24 (I was behind 3 episodes with both shows).... WOW. I love great tv, and these shows definitely qualify as great tv. I hope Chuck is picked up for a 4th season. 24, unfortunately, is done after this season... but will be moving into the cinematic realm with an upcoming Bauer-adventure on the big screen

*It's that time again on LU's campus. CFAW (College For A Weekend) has arrived, and yet again breaks the record with 3000+ high schoolers attending the event. I am openly & completely ashamed of myself for not realizing it was this weekend, and planning a ridiculous flash mob to coincide with it. ARGH!

*Welp, that's all for now. I'm craving some Moe's, and the time is ticking until my next class. Adios!

Flash Mob (Bunny Chase) videos!

2010-04-05T01:09:00.001-04:00

And now presenting the first two videos of the flash mob antics this past Wednesday!

These are 2 (of the 3) chases scenes we staged... round 1 didn't produce the best footage, and these two additional attempts worked out much better.... so without further delay, enjoy the videos!

Stay tuned for the non-chase antics! That video (or videos) should be up sometime this coming week.

p.s. - spreading the youtube links around would be incredible! be a pal & share the nonsensical fun with your friends & family

flash mob (bunny chase) teaser

2010-04-01T17:54:00.000-04:00

here's a few teaser pics of the video footage from yesterday's flash mob ridiculousness!

Hoping to have the video(s) edited & uploaded to Youtube by Sunday night or so!

double the efforts

2010-03-29T17:09:00.000-04:00

As the weather gets warmer, the reasons to get stressed/worried seem to be on the rise as well.

Since reaching a great milestone in my life a couple years back in terms of my problems with worrying & becoming overwhelmed by stress, I've never fallen into the delusion that it would never become a problem again.... but I can't deny the fact that it sure seemed like it. I'm thankful, regardless, that I've been able to keep a level-head when dealt with crazy situations & uncertainty... and God gets the full credit for that.

(side-note : survived a potential freak out moment... I was typing this outside in a courtyard on campus, and it started to rain... probly the quickest I've ever packed up my laptop and jetted inside ever haha)

Anyways, I'm doubling the efforts to stay on task with the stuff I'm capable of, using the functioning mind I've been blessed with to acknowledge when my time-management needs some work... or when I need to double check my calendar/e-mail/notes for anything coming up. Above that, the need for consistent time in prayer & conversation with Him is very apparent.

I came across this verse, which goes along with this perfectly :

Romans 12:12 - "Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer"

I'm extremely blessed & thankful to have the prayer support of some ridiculously amazing friends/family... whenever needed. Don't close yourself off from this legitimate resource, whether times are great or absolutely suck.

Welp that's all for today. Be on the lookout for the outcome of this Wednesday's double-Flash-Mob-events... oh snapppp YES

at long last

2010-03-26T14:34:00.000-04:00

I finally hit the #1 spot on the list of Top 50 Blogs under "randomness"! Eat my dust, "Naked and Natural"! (that's the blog that was previously claiming #1)

In all seriousness, I just think that's pretty cool. Sure, it's only an accomplishment via the internet... but I'd be a liar if I said I didn't enjoy it! It's just cool having consistent readers (and people who didn't immediately click "ignore" or "decline" via Facebook).

Welp, that is all. You may now return to your daily routine. Consider yourself having been patted on the back for contributing in some way to my blog's mini-success!

prayer requests / life at the moment

2010-03-25T02:41:00.001-04:00

if you could, and/or feel motivated to... I'd appreciate some prayer in these particular areas:

*summer job - I'm rather eager/anxious to see what the outcome is with a job I've sought out for this coming summer. I've been in prayer and feel much more at peace about the situation... especially being reminded of the fact that God's timing is far superior to my own. I could use some prayer towards being consistently focused on a peaceful/worry-free mindset

*family - My dad recently returned from an impromptu trip abroad to assist a missionary in need. It's an extremely interesting & rather mind-blowing story, and God's hand was clearly evident in each & every element of his experience. I'd love to tell you about it some time if you wanna know more... but regardless, just be praying that the ministry in this country will be allowed to continue... for both the missionary and my dad's team that frequents this location once or twice a year

*school - Thus far, my experience @ Liberty U has been far beyond what I had imagined. Opportunities are arising as I further get my footing here on campus... through building new friendships, and organizing events amongst the groups of people I've been drawn towards as the semester has progressed. There's also a possible job opportunity for next semester (and beyond), so I could use prayer for guidance in where this could lead for me.

Of course this goes both ways, too. I'd love to provide any prayer support for anything you may be dealing with or experiencing at the moment. Thanks and much love! I can't stress my appreciation enough for people sticking with me as readers, in some way or another.

p.s. - flash mob # 2 is going dowwwnnn next week. stay tuned!

take it up a notch

2010-03-23T18:03:00.000-04:00

Bored much? Try doing even the most mundane/everyday things in the most awesome way possible.

For example.

If I could make entrances like that, I'd never be bored. Realistically, I can't pull a crazy move like that.... but I can throw confetti in the air when walking through a door... OR I could do a running knee-slide on a slick floor. The possibilities are endless.

I hear every now & then that often times it's assumed that life as a Christian is "dull" and "boring"... but that couldn't be farther from the truth. God delights in seeing us happy & having fun with the gifts/blessings He's bestowed upon us... whether it's time with friends, the gifts/talents/personalities we've developed, enjoying the outdoors, laughing at a ridiculous Youtube video, eating a crazy delicious cone of ice cream, etc etc...

So while you soak in those brief thoughts/ideas on enjoying the life you've been given... I'm gonna go unload my laundry while wearing an Iron Man mask, followed by driving to a friend's house with the windows down... singing at the top of my lungs... ohhh YES

random blurb time (3-21-10)

2010-03-22T01:06:00.002-04:00

Sorry to anyone who missed me during this brief unintentional hiatus from posting! The arrival of spring break and a combined total of 22+ hrs on the road spread throughout played a role in the that.

Anyways, time to get back on track!

(randomblurbtiiiime)

*I headed home to the 757 here in VA for spring break shortly after escaping class on Friday the 12th... such incredible weather for driving! I'm glad it stuck around for most of the week

*immediately upon arrival, I headed to my home church (Liberty Baptist) for a youth event going on that weekend. it was an added bonus to see none other than RobShep and the Waters Edge youth & volunteers there!

*this video (click here) was the product of some hang-time & collaborative creativity during the break with some very close friends of mine. I guarantee you'll enjoy it (especially the ending)... and yes, this is a re-post... but it's totally worth it

*saw the movie Green Zone (new Matt Damon movie). I was bummed by all the political undertones that were force-fed by a pretty clear anti-war agenda, Hollywood style

*my flash mob video was selected to be shown @ Liberty University's spring Coffeehouse event! think : talent exhibition in a basketball arena, with a stage for live performances and numerous big screens for displaying videos. i'm rather amped! hope it inspires/motivates more of the student body to get involved in the next few flash mobs we do on campus

*one day closer to Iron Man 2. 'nuff said.

*speaking of which, I purchased this laptop skin for my Mac-Pro... and it's incredible!

yep, I'm a comic-geek. this further solidifies that status

*experienced Philadelphia for the first time this past weekend! I went to PA for the last half of the break to see my girlfriend Abby (whom I was able to see lead worship for Penn State's Cru.... amazing!), and we drove to Philly the next day to see one of her fave musician's perform. Check out Mat Kearney if you aren't familiar with his music!

*myself, Abby, and her brother Tim hiked Mt. Nittany back in State College, PA the day after the concert. here are a couple pictures from when we reached the viewing point

I conquer mountains in my spare time

pump up those 90's jams

2010-03-16T05:47:00.000-04:00

it's my spring break... and I have a Flip video camera. naturally, it was time to make a music video.

(side-note: the car was perfectly fine. just drive smart, ladies & gents... in the right gear & right direction. k thanks)

LU Flash Mob # 1

2010-03-10T19:25:00.002-05:00

Here's the result of today's test-run for flash mobs on Liberty University's campus.... enjoy!

Plotting/scheming is already in process for # 2, after Spring Break! Stay tuned.

random blurb time (3-9-10)

2010-03-09T14:14:00.000-05:00

*It's currently 64-degrees with clear sunny skies here in Lynchbug. SWEET GLORIOUS WEATHER!

*I'll be heading home Friday afternoon for spring break. I'm slightly excited to be home for a couple days (understatement)

*If you recall from past posts, when I mentioned the craze known as "flash mobs"... you may remember reading about my eagerness to plan or be involved in one. Welp, I'm giving one a test-run tomorrow on campus. Currently have 41 people confirmed, 49 "maybe's", and 152 who haven't responded yet. The numbers keep growing by the hour..... fingers-crossed that this works out tomorrow! Fear not, it will be filmed.

*There are many types of flash mobs... from a huge group freezing in place, to a big crowd chasing 1 costumed individual. Here's a personal fave of mine (click to watch)

*I've done better than expected with kick-starting my old exercise-habit of running. 4 days in, so far... although not in a row haha. Aiming to get back to it either 2nite or tomorrow, when my schedule allows.

*the new Iron Man 2 trailer premiered after the Oscars. Needless to say.... I was impressed. Now stop reading, and start watching.

*on that note, I'm headed outside to enjoy the sunshine with Mr. Josh Haynes... after some Sonic-type feasting. Until next time!

my return to youtube

2010-03-07T13:43:00.002-05:00

In years past, I made attempts at keeping a consistent Youtube account, but the motivation & activity faded eventually

(sound familiar? *cough* previous-blog-attempts *ahem*)

In light of my success in maintaining a blog and sticking with it.... I've decided to give it another go with videos. It also helps that I recently acquired a FlipVideo camera (SO GOOD!). Without further adieu... here's 2 videos from my new Youtube channel!

I've always wanted to film something with one of those crazy inflatable
flailing things... and the opportunity finally struck!

Disclaimer: You should probly avoid this video-chat site... the creeper-quotient & inappropriateness is WAY too high... 'nuff said. Just take my word for it.

I'm planning on figuring more & more out about the editing software at my disposal, as I get better acquainted with all the features & whatnot, and maybe checking out some better video-editing programs if need be.

Either way, these are only the first of many... flash mobs, music videos, random nonsense amongst friends... the possibilities are endless! Until next tiiiiime....

chicken vs professor

2010-03-05T03:21:00.000-05:00

The title says it all. Watch and enjoy!

Even better if the costume looked this legit...

Want more entertaining in-class stunts? Check out this well-planned musical, a Pac-Man chase, and a visit from the Burger King.

let's get dangerous

2010-03-04T14:53:00.000-05:00

Come across any bold quotes lately that have really stuck out to you, and really got you thinking?

Safe to say that happened to me in class today. The professor listed off 6+ different quotes pertaining to spiritual warfare... but this one really stood from the pack, for me personally.

"I pray that when I die, all of hell will rejoice that I am no longer in the fight" - C.T. Studd

So often in my life, I find myself struggling with this underlying draw to just settle for the mediocre... simply being okay with just taking the easy-going approach to living. It may not seem like it, considering I do my best to highlight the (hopefully) above-average & often crazy things that I think about or experience... but leaning towards settling for less is prevalent enough in my life. Definitely enough for it to be an issue that needs striking back at. At no point, in the moments that I get lazy & distracted, do I feel even remotely close to being considered a threat to Satan and his every attempt to cripple & demotivate believers in Christ.

"For our struggle is not against flesh & blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual force of evil in the heavenly realms"

-Ephesians 6:12

The term "spiritual warfare" alone says volumes about living every single day as a Christian. The battles, the struggles, the conflicts.... they're constantly being waged all around us. I don't want to be sitting idly on the sidelines, or foolishly pretending that none of that is even taking place. I want to be a dangerous contender in the fight. Mediocrity is GARBAGE.... I'm sick of having that outweigh the outstanding/significant accomplishments made possible through Christ in my life.

I want to ignore the easy route. I want to strive towards erasing those stylized "Hollywood" depictions of the spiritual/supernatural clash between Heaven & Hell... to the point where it seems to be nothing more than a story or the plot to a movie.

It's time to get real. It's time to get dangerous

untamed power in t-shirt form

2010-03-03T17:01:00.002-05:00

"WARNING: WEAR WITH EXTREME CAUTION"

These 5 words greet my eyes as I pick up the t-shirt that I had sought to own for many months now (or many moons, even). I would be lying if I told you I didn't feel a tad bit unprepared to have such a mighty item of clothing in my possession.

The label continues....

"The Mountain©, Wolftees.com, or any of our affiliates will NOT be held responsible for any side-effects you may experience while wearing this garment. It has been reported widely that 3WM may possess ancient, tribal powers."

Whoa whoa whoa..... what have I stumbled onto here? And what is 3WM, you may be asking??

I'll tell you.

Behold... 3WM. And by that I mean 3 WOLF MOON!

Gaze upon it's raw might and power...

"Side effects may include but are not limited to:

mauling by super models
superpowers
kinship with the wolves
attacks by dogs or other animals
masterful gaming powers
extreme weight loss
hunger for blood
vision quests
mistaken identity
stalking by old flames
attraction to folks you never knew existed
the new found power to make large sums of money
lottery winnings
rubbing elbows with royalty
instant hair growth
receiving free food at a multitude of fast food establishments

*And a host of other incredible feats that you would never have conceived of, before wearing Three Wolf Moon!"

Whoa... pretty sure I've never owned a t-shirt with an extensive warning label before. I may have to train for months before I even feel ready to put this thing on... but hey, if you feel up to the challenge... you can find it HERE!

Oh yeah, and Dwight Schrute approves of this shirt as well.

random blurb time (3-2-10)

2010-03-02T13:49:00.001-05:00

*it feels good to be blogging again... i went on a mini hiatus until I was ready to post my 200th post. it was a grueling 6 days of "radio silence"

*I've started running again, due to the lack of constant activity that I was involved in back home (ultimate frisbee every week, for 2-3 hrs at a time)... 3 days in and I'm loving it! I even bought new running shoes (and running socks?!) for additional motivation

*grabbed lunch with the gang from my "Art as Communication" class today, and it hit the spot in a big way. dollar menu corn-dogs... um YES

*it's snowing again here in Lynchburg. I've seen more snow this year than I've seen in my entire life.... and I don't like it. oh well, I'll make due with more ridiculous photo shoots & videos if it's a worthy snowfall

*I stumbled upon this incredible image while browsing some blogs last week. someone took the time to create what Buzz Lightyear would look like as a legit human. how crazy is this picture??

my head hurts just thinking how long this might have taken to create

*in the minute or so since I typed out the blurb about it snowing again here... it's started snowing even harder. maybe i should stop acknowledging the wintery fluff before it gets too crazy....

*I'm eager for the warmer weather to arrive (more opportunities for ult frisbee & disc golf, better conditions for making some legit videos outdoors, running outside, etc)

*Jim & Pam have their baby in an hour-long episode of The Office this Thursday night!

*rumor has it that Conan O'Brien is going to go on tour with a live show until his hiatus is up and can legally return to TV. count me in!

*I'll close out with this alternate 200th blog post pic (there were multiple others... but I won't overload this post with 15 more pictures haha)

two! hundredth! POST!

2010-03-01T02:52:00.002-05:00

One fateful Monday afternoon in August of 2008.... a blog was born

I don't know whether to pat myself on the back for making it to 200 posts, or to be ashamed that it took me over a year and a half to get to this point. Either way... here I am at a milestone moment of sorts!

(Here's that first post, for your enjoyment)

I'm not gunna lie to you. I had several different ideas for this long-awaited(?) post which didn't pan out in the end. Video randomness was attempted (which will be utilized at a later date... with more planning & opting for daylight instead of night-time) and the days leading up to this very post were just chock-full of scheduling conflicts... time-consuming chaos & fun... and even a run-in with none other than BEN STEIN here on campus.

So yes, it's been a hectic week/weekend. Luckily one of my original ideas ended up being just what I needed to commemorate the big 2-0-0. I now present the LU "spirit rock" with a fresh coat of paint and some shameless self-promotion. Hooray!

Big thanks to Mr. Joshua Cody Haynes (a fellow blogger?!?) for the assistance in the multiple

coatings of white paint, and to Sr. Chris Dorner for playing photographer.

I felt rather accomplished after doing this 2nite. Definitely worth braving the lower temperatures & passing vehicles that tried (and failed) to make funny drive-by comments. Hopefully this somewhat lived up to any possible expectations you may have had. I greatly appreciate every single one of you that have followed my blog for any period of time... whether from day 1 or since last week! Hopefully those of you that have been uninvolved readers will reveal yourselves via comments and/or starting a blog of your own. Here's to the next 200 posts!

Thanks also goes out to:

*Robshep and Brian Miller for being top-notch inspirations to stick with it and keep on blogging. Those names are definitely linked for a reason. Add them to your must-reads for the week... well worth it! It's an honor to have active readers/commenters like these stick around, and a double-honor to be mentioned & featured on Rob's blog a couple times.

*Brian Norris for being a fellow blogger/reader/commenter, off-and-on, for years now. Waaaay back to the days of Livejournal... yowza. Also an inspiration to maybe dive into starting a video podcast and/or random video blogs to change things up every now & then.

*Abby Brentner for being a supportive girlfriend in all my nonsensical, meaningful, random, scatter-brained moments of blogging or just plain being myself day-to-day. I may or may not have helped convince her to start one of her own... haha. She may not think she has insightful & worthwhile thoughts on life, but I can vouch otherwise.

*Trey Sanford for citing me as an inspiration to take the plunge with blogging even more, on top of twittering like a champ. Take notice of this one, folks... it's only gunna get better

*Jacob Ray aka my "lil bro" and sidekick in chaotic fun times. He's gotten rather active with his own insightful posts, amidst the random fun, and even purchased his own blog domain shortly after mine was purchased. Definitely appreciate his support & involvement in jakeholla.com!

public slumber

2010-02-22T14:22:00.000-05:00

Naps are incredible. I try not to rely on them as much as I used to... but the occasional power-nap can really do the job and get me through the day. The key element is where. I'm pretty selective with my nap locations. My bed, a couch, in the car on a trip, etc... but rarely can I just full-on crash and take a nap in public. It's gotta be a special circumstance (or a really nice day outside in a quiet peaceful meadow or under a tree). That's not the case for these 2 guys.

Subject A: the Exhausted Student

The classic case of probably staying up way too late playing Call of Duty, and/or excessive Monster energy drinks. Old Testament Survey proved too much for his attention-span and awakeness. I regret not getting video, because he was totally snoring like a champ. (Side note: he jolted awake shortly after and began furiously taking notes, trying to play it all off)

Subject B: the Bookstore-Couch Sleeper

The typical old-guy-in-a-bookstore. Usually you'll see a book in hand, or a pile of magazines on the lap... but not this guy. He had no intention of convincing himself or anyone else that he was there for the reading. It's a safe bet to say his wife was either shopping around in the store, or maybe even next door looking at some exciting linens and decorative materials. Nap strong, old guy. Nap strong.

What's your favorite place/reason to nap? Or any good stories or pictures of similar people caught in the act of public slumber?

Stay tuned... this is post 199, so you know what that means.... the big 2-0-0 is coming soon. Tomorrow? Wednesday? Next month?? Time will tell....

tough manly love

2010-02-19T17:02:00.000-05:00

Everybody has a soft spot. Sure, I prefer action/superhero/thriller movies... but I can't deny a good Disney cartoon movie from years past. Heck, I even still have my fuzzy lil blue stuffed monkey from my childhood on prominent display in my room! Even Schwarzen.... however-you-spell-it... appears to be a big softie for his puppy dog.

Ahhhnold kiss thaa pahh-pyyy! (said in best Arnold-voice)

Anyways, this was all just a lead-in to the MAIN focus of this particular post. Nothing says "tough manly love" quite like soccer hooligans singing a Savage Garden song. Stop reading and start watching!

random blurb time (2-18-10)

2010-02-18T16:04:00.000-05:00

*Definitely a fan of the increase in sunshine + slight increase in warmth. The frigid snowy days wore out their welcome QUICK

*Speaking of the weather, it bewilders me that people on campus are so dedicated to fashion that the temperature outside isn't taken into consideration... in the least. Of course by "people" I mean girls. Skirts and total lack of leg warmth when it's below 30?? I don't get it...

*I have a fascination with wearing big, thick, lens-less glasses. Not really sure why, but it's fun regardless

Maybe it's some sort of Clark Kent syndrome...

*Shaun White's gold-medal halfpipe run last night..... insaaaaaane. I can't even fathom being able to do that, much less even being able to stay on a board in the first place. Check nbcolympics.com for the video if you didn't see it live

Pretty sure I want this on a t-shirt

*Guest speaker in my EVAN 101 class today had to wake this guy up twice during class. That's just plain embarassing.

*The band Say Anything's frontman, Max Bemis, recently re-opened his online song shop. Basically, you buy a personalized song written, performed, and recorded by Max himself. You simply write 1-to-2 paragraphs about an issue you're dealing with, something you're excited about, or really just anything you feel needs to be lyricized and made into a song. We're not talking about one of those cheap Wal-Mart cd's you buy for a child that has their name inserted into nursery rhymes. Sure, it's $150... but for fans of the band, that's an extremely cool memento to have.

*I've been craving Panera ever since going with Abby this past Valentine's weekend. Made it happen yesterday. Turkey artichoke panini = WOW (especially if you're a fan of spinach artichoke dip)

*There are numerous "cult classic" and/or must-see movies that I'm realizing I've never seen. I watched Fight Club for the first time last night. My head still kinda hurts... such a strangely deep movie.

*LU's CollegeForAWeekend is this weekend. Concerts, sporting events, and more are planned around these twice-a-semester recruitment weekends for high schoolers to come experience the college life from Thursday til Sunday. Normally I wouldn't care all that much, but this time my "lil bro" Jacob Ray is coming to crash with me for the CFAW experience. Stoked!

*2 more posts... and then the big 200! Get ready....

thats not my hero

2010-02-17T19:11:00.000-05:00

It's no shocker that I love superheroes. The comic books, the movies (not all of them... here's lookin' at YOU, X-Men 3 & Ghost Rider), the collectibles.... they're the center of my inner-child's universe. Specifically... Spider-man. I love the character of Peter Parker, and his rapid-fire joke-telling / web-slinging alter ego is just plain excellent.

Alas, with every big-name, mainstream, well-known superhero... comes below-average interpretations & depictions of the character.

For example!

You're gunna need stronger webs, Spidey...

However! There are also amusing, purposely bad versions of what it would be like if certain directors got a hold of the rights to such a movie (or in some cases, if somebody else played the role of the hero). Here's an amusing parody of what it would be like if indie-film director Wes Anderson made Spider-man, instead of Sam Raimi.

Ohhhh how different it would have been...

pre-celebration brainstorm

2010-02-16T19:09:00.000-05:00

So... I just noticed that I'm coming up to my 200th blog post pretty soon.

(I also noticed that I had my text size on LARGE as I started typing this post, but I don't feel like changing it back. Adds some oomph, I think)

Anyways, I got to thinking.... what should I do to commemorate this joyous occasion? It's an accomplishment in itself that I've kept this blog alive (with some scattered dry seasons) since 2008. I'm glad people have stuck with me along the way, and I definitely hope to keep YOU the reader's attention in the future. Heck, somehow I even managed to crack the top 4 on networkedblogs.com's Top 50 Blogs categorized under "randomness".

motivational AND non-applicable to my gender... hooray!

Comparatively irrelevant accomplishment, I know... but hey, can't a blogger dream big in this day & age?? I've finally got my semi-big-boy pants on in the cutthroat arena of blogging. Exaggeration? Eh.. maybe. Regardless, it's been fun and I hope to continue doing this.

Here's where YOU come in. I want some feedback on what to do for my 200th post OR any ideas/changes you might come up with that I can consider bringing into play beyond that mile-marker point of the big 2-0-0. Don't just read this and disregard a simple quick task of a mini brainstorming session of your own! I wanna keep things interesting & ridiculous & possibly enlightening/challenging as the posts continue.

Bring on the comments/compliments/suggestions/criticism/gibberish!

necessary reminder

2010-02-15T16:52:00.001-05:00

Romans 5:3-5

"More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."

I needed those verses today. I've come a long way in my growth in the areas of patience/endurance.... but that doesn't mean I'm invulnerable to being affected by such issues. I still struggle with being steadfast at times, and with my current car issues (and long history of problems with past vehicles) it's become more evident that God uses this aspect of my life to reaaaally test me & grow me. No complaints, though, because I'm blessed to even have a means of transportation in the first place... and also because I've grown accustomed to having car problems. It doesn't really catch me off guard or surprise me anymore haha. Regardless, if you have a moment or want to jot down a prayer request for later... I'd appreciate some prayer for my endurance in standing strong amidst car-based frustrations, and also that this particular car is either fixable or something else works out in due time.

Meanwhile, I'm still tremendously psyched that I got to "surprise"-visit Abby in PA this past weekend! The original plan of attending the next2010 conference together in Alexandria fell through due to a weather-based cancellation. My surprise was semi-effective, yet totally worthwhile. I'll continue plotting for an opportunity to bring my A-game in the field of wicked good surprises.

Welp, that's all for now. I'll be in the lab working on a means of summoning Captain Planet if you need me.

Maybe he can eradicate this snow.... (wishful thinking)

ridiculous steve

2010-02-11T19:58:00.002-05:00

I don't follow basketball like I used to... but what I do know nowadays is that Steve Nash is crazy-talented, and strangely hilarious. Observe.

Also, XXX Vitamin Water is my favorite drink ever. I'm just sayin'

ABC's... hooray!

2010-02-10T18:58:00.003-05:00

If you've known me for more than a week, you know I love to talk about & suggest things that I really enjoy at the moment (and overall in life). So the thought just came to mind.... why not throwdown with a huge ABC-themed list of stuff YOU should check out (or it may serve as a reminder about something you've forgotten!)

Here goes nothin...

A- After Edmund (afteredmund.com) - amazing band, super down-to-earth, and totally in touch with their fan-base & potential fans via Facebook/Twitter. They played my home church back in the 757 on Halloween and it was quite the experience. Check these guys outttt!
B- Burritos - whether @ Moe's or Chipotle.... these tasty delights are a surefire way to extinguish those hunger yearnings. Healthy? Nope. Amazing? YES.
C- Comic books - what can I say? I'm a geek. Every Wednesday (aka the day new comics are released) is like a mini-holiday. Currently at the top for me : Spiderman, Iron Man, Captain America, Deadpool
D- Dogs - I miss mine, and they're better than cats. 'Nuff said. (I'm biased, b/c my cat is pure evil)
E- Ed Helms (aka Andy Bernard from The Office) - just plain hilarious addition to The Office. You may recognize him from The Daily Show/The Hangover... and his a capella stylings as Andy are just good stuff.
F- Family Force 5 (myspace.com/familyforce5) & Four Year Strong (myspace.com/fouryearstrong) - 2 more incredible bands to check out. FF5 = mix of dance/synth/rock and the best live show in the land, and FYS = pop-punk meets hardcore w/ gang vocals & power choruses aplenty
G- Golf (frisbee) - okay I'm slightly cheating with this one, since it's technically a 3rd "F" addition... but oh well. Frisbee Golf is wicked fun... whether you have mad skill or just go to kill some stress with friends. Don't knock it until you try it.
H- Hoodies - my absolute favorite part of fall/winter. They're gradually catching up to t-shirts/sunglasses in my world, and I just got a new one (a Four Year Strong hoodie, in fact) that very well could be my favorite clothing purchase in a long long time. Comfort. Like. Whoa.
I- Igloos - in case you get more snow, or have enough now to make one.... do it! I haven't made one this season... but I did stand on top of one and poke a hole through the ceiling. Whoops...
J- jakeholla.com - shameless plug for this here blog o' mine.... had to do it.
K- Kid's movies - whether new releases or classics from your childhood... who doesn't enjoy some quality kid's movies? I could definitely kick back and watch such personal faves as The Rescuers Down Under, Milo & Otis, Aladdin, or basically any Pixar movie ever made.
L- Letter Kills - a short-lived but incredible band that I still love to this day (their 1 album "The Bridge" is quality stuff). I was just talking to a friend about them earlier, and how great it is that the lead singer is now the lead for The Wedding.
M- Moo'ing - why not flip a boring and/or awkward situation around by making a cow noise? Or maybe rolling down your car window and moo at pedestrians. The possibilities are endless!
N- Narnia - keep checking your closet. You never know.....
O- Orange soda - I go through phases with soda, and I feel a return-to-orange-soda phase coming on in the near future. I'll immediately switch to something else if those FANTA!FANTA! singers appear. Not having any of that nonsense.
P- People-watching - the world is a weird, interesting, colorful, random place. Forget tv! Just go to the mall or a park and simply.... watch.
Q- Quiet - ever driven anywhere in complete silence? Or just gone somewhere outside where the noise pollution is at minimum, or non-existent? Give it a shot... it's especially good for devotions, studying, and/or retaining some sanity on a stressful day.
R- Reading - my old habit is back, and that's a good thing. Currently reading Francis Chan's "Crazy Love" and "The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
S- Sleds - if you didn't go sledding during all this crazy snowstorm chaos... you better hope it snows again! I went several times over the weekend, and it was totally worth the blunders & freezing temperatures. I opted for the round-disc type o' sled, in case you were wondering.
T- Twitter - (twitter.com/jakeholla) - yet another social-networking phenomenon that I avoided at first but eventually buckled and made an account. Follow me, shyeah?? And make one if you haven't already... peeeeer pressure!
U- Umbrellas - this is simply a reminder to myself to find mine or buy a new one. All this freezing rain/snow/sleet has been a bit much... and I'm a fan of being dry.
V- Vitamin Water - it's my refreshment fix, and it has been for quite some time now. I still owe my love for this quality drink to my ever-so-amazing girlfriend! Great... now I'm thirsty...
W- Wikipedia - my go-to source for defeating any brain-farts & curious moments throughout the day.
X- X-Men - the first 2 movies? OH yes. The third movie & the Wolverine spin-off? Ehh... I'll stick to the first 2, and the comics.
Y- Youtube - specifically this video (click and enjoy)
Z- Zach Galifianakis - crazy beard / absurd stand-up comedy / ridiculous movie-roles

Phewww... hope you enjoyed the list, found some new stuff to check out, and re-discovered something in the process. That's a wrap!

random blurb time (2-9-10)

2010-02-09T15:56:00.000-05:00

*I rode one of the campus buses for maybe the 3rd time ever. It's always an interesting experience, whether meeting new people or catching up w/ friends & classmates. I should wear my viking helmet next time...

*Stepped in a crucial puddle of red clay & mud on the way to class. Good thing I had a spare pair of shoes/pants in the car! That sucker was deep.

New Years resolution: attempt to keep ONE pair of shoes clean...

*Re-watched the movie Cloverfield last night. Intense stuff! The found-footage genre definitely intrigues me (moreso when JJ Abrams is involved)... but I'd prefer this crazy monster-attack story over the demon-possession & creepiness of Paranormal Activity

*When I get bored, I seem to either clean... do laundry... or shave my face in a drastic way. The beard was getting a bit old, so last night I sculpted the beast into some wicked sideburns.

it wouldn't be right to display them without a crazy snarl

*Picking one chill-spot on campus & hanging out for an extended time always seems to produce amusing results. So far I've seen a cowboy, a running class jogging indoors to warm back up from the cold, and.... yep, another cowboy (this time it was the senior-adult edition). What will I see next??

*I have too many pairs of sunglasses, and I'm okay with that.

*I'm currently getting adjusted to my new Macbook Pro. I love it! Definitely a nice change from all the Windows-based computers I'm accustomed to using.

*If you don't mind, prayers would be super-appreciated (regular-appreciation is sooo 2009). I'm starting now on trying to line up a summer job that's ministry-based, rather than going back to my old stomping grounds of serving @ TGI Fridays.

*More light snowfall early this morning, and supposedly more on the way. Total snow-verdose (clever, I know). Make it stop!

That's all for now! Time to trek to my car and escape campus...

what happened?

2010-02-08T16:41:00.002-05:00

In years past, I would normally have a tough time narrowing down which was my favorite Super Bowl ad.... but this year, it was very easy. Why? Because Doritos was the only company that made me laugh this year. Here's my fave that they created for last night.

What was your favorite commercial? Or if this doesn't apply to you this year... what's your fave from the past?

copy/paste into a THANK YOU card

2010-02-07T03:26:00.000-05:00

I honestly can't remember the last time I celebrated my birthday by just sitting back & reflecting on everything up to this point. I'm so used to embracing the busy & fun aspect of it all with a bunch of friends (whether playing games... watching a movie... enjoying fellowship while eating out... etc etc), but it was surprisingly nice to just relax & lay low for once. To an extent, I didn't have much of a choice due to weather conditions... but regardless, the atmosphere of being away from home provided for a much different experience from the start.

Above all else, I'm all-the-more thankful for all the friends & family I've come to be blessed with the past 24 years of my life.. and now entering into my 25th (crazy!). My parents came to visit Thursday night until Saturday morning (with Gidget the wonder-pooch in tow), Abby baked a cake in my honor since she couldn't be here (and we also celebrated together via Skype for 2+ hours!), and friends left & right expressed their well-wishes and love in their own individual ways. It'd be impossible to thank everyone on here (hopefully I got back to everyone individually on Facebook & text at least)... but major thanks to and appreciation for Brian Norris (aka Whoaday) & Jacob Ray for their friendship & brotherly love over the years, and to Josh Haynes/Grant Ragsdale/Elias Anderson for allowing me to crash here @ their place during the snow-filled chaos this weekend (I owe you guys 3 mud-kips and a barrel roll. baba booey!). It meant alot seeing all the messages that came in yesterday in different forms & means of communication... but having my family, my girlfriend, and these close friends (amongst others) express their love as they did meant a huge deal to me. I really did think about going haywire with this post and thanking absolutely everybody.... but I'll refrain & hope that I didn't overlook anybody in my one-on-one thank you's & messages in return to everybody from midnite to 11:59pm.

Also, I'm not 100% certain who reads my blog... so it was easier to stick to those that I know will read this post haha (all the more reason for you non-commenting readers to start leaving some quick responses, thus opening up more opportunities for me to mention you in later posts when instances as such come along. peeeeer pressure!). You can make up for not commenting in the past by purchasing this t-shirt for me:

I'm kidding... but no, seriously.

This day wasn't about me, but completely about how thankful I am for all of YOU that have impacted my life in the past... continue to do so in the present... and onward into the future. Take that for what it's worth... cheesy, lovey-dovey, or excessively thankful. All three, even! Much love to the most amazing family & friends to be surrounded by EVER. I owe you guys/gals some scratch & sniff stickers, plastic "gold" trophies, iron-on patches, and #1 ribbons to adorn yourselves with.... as well as hugs & jumping high-fives aplenty!

OH, and hey...

video-break (2-5-10)

2010-02-05T17:46:00.002-05:00

go ahead and take a quick breather from the snow (or nasty rain) and laugh at this nature-blooper

and just to make this post more weather-appropriate.... i bring you this find via Google image search

truly puts my attempts at a snow creation to shame... oh well, stay safe out there, rain or snow!

steadfast, but not on my own

2010-02-04T18:15:00.001-05:00

The other day I blogged about the pointlessness & negativity surrounding the act of complaining. Should it come as any surprise that I've been greatly tested in that very area of life since posting that? (See what I wrote here in case you missed it). Honestly, it almost caught me off guard when the frustrations started being dealt out... but I was immediately reminded of the very lesson I took to heart, and my own words came right back at me. This was a test to see whether or not there was any weight behind what I claimed & spoke out against.

I'll provide a couple examples of what I'm referring to, but not for the purpose of dwelling on the negative... rather to show how I can't hang tough on my own. I owe it all to God for keeping me in-check, focused, optimistic, and clear-headed. Also, after each I'll point out why I have no reason or right to complain about any of this.

- negative - My birthday is this weekend, as well as my 6th month anniversary with Abby (a double-whammy, if you will). The plan was for her to come here to Lynchburg so we could celebrate both together. The oncoming round 2 of winter weather has decided otherwise.

-positive- We're both going to a conference next weekend on life after school, whether in the workforce or in full-time ministry, AND the weekend will culminate with Valentine's Day. It all works out in the end, with another double-whammy of excellence to make up for this weekend!

- negative - My car decided it wasn't going to start this afternoon, after several attempts to crank it and get it going.

-positive- I waited it out, tried again after lunch, and the car started. Just to play it safe, myself & 2 friends trekked to an Advance Auto 20 minutes away to get the battery & alternator tested. Both checked out fine and I had no problems driving to-and-from this excursion. I just need to allow myself more time to let the car warm up before rushing off anywhere.

- negative - my GPS lied to me and instead of leading me to the first Advance Auto I looked up, it took me to.... a snowy field

-positive- the 2nd Advance Auto I navigated to was only 10 min away... and we made it there fine. Simple as that.

So yes, as you can see.... no legitimate reasons to complain. Sure, it's been tough and a rather up-&-down couple of days... but all is well in the end. God is good, and I'm extremely thankful for the opportunity to give it all up to Him and let the overall good come out of all these situations.... whether immediately or in the long-run.

Oh, and if you catch me complaining, online or in-person... just tell me to shut-face and remind me of everything I've talked about and been reminded of this week so far.

video break (2-3-10)

2010-02-03T15:43:00.002-05:00

take a break from whatever you might be doing at the moment... and enjoy some video'd nonsense

(filmed @ summer camp '09 during our free-time, as a means of entertainment for an injured friend)

(video provided by this guy's Youtube page)

hopefully that brought some small ounce of joy to your day! it surely tickled my fancy, but thankfully not too much... considering i'm tremendously ticklish

i'll leave you with this pic of Lady Gaga herself (the artist who's song is featured in the video, in case you hadn't a clue)

complaining about complaining

2010-02-02T17:15:00.003-05:00

Now I realize that the title of the blog is rather non-sensical... but track with me here. I feel warranted in complaining about the fact that I even dare to complain about anything in life. Sometimes I'm more accepting & optimistic, and sometimes I go through lower points where I'm bitter and frustrated and just want to vent & act extremely blah... either way, it's still lurking under the surface. The point is... I'm alive. I have breath in my lungs. I've had the opportunity to go back to school & further my education, in the beautiful mountains of Lynchburg VA. I'm surrounded by the most amazing friends & family I could ever fathom and have grown as a person in ways I could never have done alone. I'm days away from my 6-month anniversary with the most loving, down-to-earth, and encouraging fellow child of God that I've ever had the blessing of knowing. She's incredible, whether she wants to accept that or not.

And yet... I still complain about the mundane... the miniscule... the pointless... the unnecessary.

Are you SERIOUS?!

I could literally have none of that in my life beyond the air flowing through my lungs, and I would still have absolutely no right to form any negative words & let them flow out of my mouth or through my fingers while typing onto a screen. Who cares if it's currently cold outside and snow/ice covered?? I'm warm, have clothes on my back, a place to stay, and transportation. I think I'll survive the season.

Life alone is a gift from God. I don't even deserve to exist, much less have any of the aforementioned things as a part of my life, and yet... I do. I am alive and healthy and capable of living out my purpose in bringing God glory.

(side-note: just watch the Planet Earth series. Creation is beautiful and by no means an accident or mistake... just WOW)

I'm currently reading Francis Chan's book Crazy Love, after hearing him speak @ Passion 2010 in Atlanta at the beginning of the new year. It's taken me this long to get around to truly getting into it, but now that I have... I'm glad I did. I encourage you to give it a chance, I'm only one chapter in... but it's very thought-provoking & worth the self-analysis so far.

I love Chan's description of how we as humans go about our daily lives in a sense of spiritual amnesia (for those of us that believe the Bible and hold it in highest regard as the inspired Word of God). Despite all we've learned & read & heard & processed in our lives... and knowing & believing that God is the sovereign creator... we still forget & allow distractions to pull our attention in a million different directions. We see God in everything, yet we lose sight of it all so easily. How can I ever ignore that? How can I ever stray away from time spent with Him in His Word? I mean honestly.... I'm currently living in the mountains, and whether it's a clear sunny day or not... the scenery and blatant display of His handiwork is right there in my face.

I don't want to drag this out any longer, because I know how attention-spans go with the majority of us... but I just challenge you to simply take a look around you. You don't even need to do or say anything beyond soaking in the mere visual aspect of everything around you.... beyond being still & reverent... thankful to God for your chance to even have sight, and to be alive & functioning coherently. Of course, this may require prying yourself away from Facebook/Twitter/texting/tv/etc... crazy to think, I know... but just drop all the excess for a couple minutes and consider what you've read.

_________________________________________________________

(If nothing I'm saying makes sense, or if you aren't even convinced in the first place of the existence of God... I hope it's understood that I'm always open to a dialogue about all of this. I don't have all the answers... I'm still learning & growing in my faith... but I'd be more than willing to talk. No frills, no judgement, no sales-pitch... just know the line of communication is open. Simple as that.)

_________________________________________________________

Much love from your resident faux-ninja!

quick blurbs (2-2-10)

2010-02-02T12:11:00.000-05:00

-Punxsutawney Phil the chubster groundhog saw his shadow today. 6 more weeks of winter, eh? If so, blahhhhh

-the upside? more snow antics (absurd photo shoots? crazy snowmen? round 2 of sledding?)

-the downside? my birthday is this weekend, and my parents & girlfriend are planning on coming into town from the 757 & PA. i reaaaally hope the potential snow doesn't hinder any of that from happening

-on that note, i'm outta here. time to brave the elements to reach my 2nd & last class o' the day

here we go, february

2010-02-01T10:08:00.001-05:00

I'm still adjusting to the fact that it's 2010... and it's already week 3 of the spring semester, AND February!? "Time flies when you're having fun" is no joke.... it's been a blur of a year so far. It also doesn't feel like my birthday is this Saturday... almost like I'm cheating time and getting to celebrate it earlier than normal.

As I was typing this, I glanced over at Twitter and was reminded that tomorrow is Groundhog Day. I went to find a picture commemorating tomorrow's "holiday", and came across this disturbing image.

I've never watched the ceremony on tv, so I'm just wondering if hoisting the groundhog in the air like that is an annual part of the festivities. That poor creature haha.... it would be entertaining if the tables were turned and Punxsutawney Phil (as he's called) went buckwild and sought revenge on his handlers. I chased a groundhog in my yard here in Lynchburg last semester, and could barely keep my composure at the hilarious sight of this chubby creature scurrying away in fear. If only it were caught on video....

But anyways, whaddya think will happen tomorrow??

are you honestly surprised?

2010-01-30T20:05:00.002-05:00

Why write alot when the pictures speak for themselves?

Here's what I did today while stuck at the house due to all the snow.

Ninja-action in the snow just wasn't enough... so I had to top off the winter chaos with one more outfit...

And there you have it.

If you experienced some crazy snow today.....

what did YOU do to pass the time??

shiny and new

2010-01-30T17:16:00.001-05:00

I'll probly make some more changes to my blog as I figure out how to do more with it.... but check out the new title-header!

OH yeah, and I purchased the url... so I now own www.jakeholla.com (I truly jumped for joy)

Look for another post 2nite on my adventures in the snow today, due to the fact that I'm stuck at my house here in Lynchburg

Here's a teaser (unless you've already seen the pics on facebook)

Yep, I have too much time on my hands...

if i had left 5 minutes earlier...

2010-01-28T22:13:00.004-05:00

I tend to wait until the last minute to leave for almost anything, but mainly class each day. This often backfires on me in a wide array of ridiculous and frustrating ways.... and yet I persist with this bad habit. This happens often enough, so here's a list of issues that I (most likely) would've avoided... if I had left 5 minutes earlier.

____________________

____________________

-my car wouldn't overheat from not allowing myself the time to put antifreeze/coolant in before leaving

-I wouldn't find myself stuck behind a double-wide mobile home being hauled down my route to school

-drive-thru breakfast would be a realistic option

-finding a parking spot might be somewhat less of a hassle (and I wouldn't rush down a lane and miss a chance at someone backing out right after I passed)

-necessary books/supplies wouldn't be forgotten in the rush from car to classroom

-I could finish listening to that empowering Kelly Clarkson ballad in the car rather than cutting it short and being left unfulfilled

-there would be more time (and desire) to give jumping high-fives to random students on the sidewalk

-I would feel less stressed & overwhelmed, and more in tune with being thankful to God for another day to be alive and glorify Him throughout

____________________

Anybody else have this problem?? Feel free to share any ridiculously frustrating stuff you've experienced in the past that could've been avoided by simply leaving earlier

random blurb time (1-27-10)

2010-01-27T21:55:00.003-05:00

*today I was singing a song that was stuck in my head, and I flipped on the radio and the song was on... AND it picked up right where I left off. that's just plain amusing
(oh and it was that obnoxiously catchy "Tik Tok" song)

*on a whim, I googled my first name for kick (and giggles, of course) and sure enough I got this classic wrestler, amidst excessive Jake Gylennhaal pictures

(oh yes, none other than Jake "the Snake" Roberts. what a lady-killer he was)

*the weather has jumped from sunny & 65 to gloomy and upper-20's in a matter of 3ish days. i hope i don't get sick from the abrupt changes

*if you were online or in contact with any form of news media today, there's no way you didn't hear about or see Apple's new iPad touch tablet (if not, go here). my verdict is.... undecided. it's too early to tell, for me, beyond the surprisingly low price (compared to what I would imagined this would cost). what do YOU think of this new product in Apple's line o' tech-savvy gear?

*morning classes = me being reacquainted with the long-lost meal known as breakfast. i'm enjoying it, despite the clash with my usual late-night habits & sleep schedule. mmmmm toaster strudels.. and Chick-Fil-A chicken-minis....

*I miss Wawa. that is all.

worthwhile favor

2010-01-26T09:56:00.005-05:00

My good friend & cohort in creative awesomeness Jason Fowler approached me today (as much as one could "approach" someone via Facebook message... haha) regarding this here blog of mine. Jason's been like a brother to me over the past couple years and we've shared many moments plotting & scheming amidst the world of t-shirt designs and other mediums of artistic output.

Currently Jason has a t-shirt design submitted in a contest on Facebook for the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy. It's something Jason made, it's martial-arts related, and it's founders are Brazilian... so that's a triple-whammy of approval for me!

(disclaimer: this is Jason, not the t-shirt design... just to put a face/ninja jump kicking pose to the name)

Here's where you come in, blog readers & read-ettes (I doubt that's a legit term, but hey.... it is now!). Jason needs people to go to his picture posted on the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Facebook page and simply click the "like" button. Every instance of this counts as a vote! He's currently trailing by 20 or so votes... so let's change that biiiiig-time! That's extremely simple and quick, so there's no excuse not to give up 10 seconds of your day to get your like-button vote on. It would be much appreciated by Jason, that's for sure!

UPDATED: Some people have been coming across issues with there being no "like" button to click. You may have to become a fan of the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy page that it's linked to first... then it should appear. It also wouldn't hurt friending Jason Fowler himself! Hope that helps!

oh and this is the link : CLICK HERE!

(also, Jason's fledgling t-shirt design company C.O.W. has a mini online store. Check it out and maybe even buy a shirt while you're at it... support local aspiring designers!)

(mister) bucket list

2010-01-25T11:32:00.003-05:00

I'm not sure if the term "bucket list" existed before the Jack Nicholson/Morgan Freeman movie of the same name was released... but regardless, the idea intrigues me. Why wait until you're super old and nearing death to make a list/get started on experiencing this stuff?

(in case you've never seen this : Mr. Bucket... buckets of fun! )

I don't currently have one, but if I did... here's some examples of what would be on that list.

*-visit Australia and hold a koala and/or wrestle a croc (in honor of the late Steve Irwin, of course)

*-meet Conan O'Brien and take a jumping picture with him

*-take part in a massive big-city flash mob (google "flash mob" if you aren't in-the-know)

*-stand on stage at Madison Square Garden, preferably during a concert

*-have a monkey for a pet/sidekick, even if it's only for a brief period of time

*-travel around Israel & the Holy Lands

*-learn to play guitar, and write a song (or songs) for my future wife

*-play Where's Waldo in the Mall of America

Now it's your turn... what would you put on your bucket list??

dreamland nonsense

2010-01-23T16:28:00.003-05:00

I've noticed lately that my dreams are becoming even weirder/more random (or maybe they've always been that way, I just seem to remember them more often lately).

Just to give you an idea of the level of bizarre content... last week I had a dream that I was in a heated conflict with 24's Jack Bauer over an arcade game, and somehow in the midst of the clash... I accidentally released a very angry grizzly into the streets.

I escaped harm by flapping my arms and flying up to a power line, so I could swing over to a rooftop.

..... WHAT

Anyways, the more pressing reason I brought this up is due to last night's duo of dreams. That's right, a double whammy of weird. My first was SO off-the-wall and confusing that I woke up and tried to snap out of it... fell back asleep... and had a 2nd dream in which I tried to explain the first dream to a couple friends while at lunch. I'm pretty sure that's a first. Having a dream in which I consciously reference the previous dream and attempt to make sense of it... while asleep.

I'm not even sure what to make of that. Any takers? Or any strange dreams that you remember and feel like sharing? Go for it.

rebellious reading

2010-01-21T09:13:00.002-05:00

Back in the days of elementary/middle school... before I was hooked on ridiculous t-shirts/sunglasses, able to grow facial hair, and willing to talk to girls... there was a common pastime that took place almost every single night. I would grab a flashlight (later to be upgraded to a book light), get under the covers, and readreadread to my heart's content. Anything from Goosebumps to the Boxcar Children to random books from the ever-so-exciting Book Fair at school. I would stay up past my bedtime, risking the possibility of being scolded and/or punished, to get lost in some crazy adventure or mystery.

My imagination was in overdrive (and still is, honestly) but those times almost seem foreign to me now.. and frankly that saddens me.

I'm trying to break the non-habit and get back into it this semester & beyond. I recently heard Francis Chan speak @ Passion 2010 in Atlanta, so for starters I've picked up 2 of his books (Crazy Love and Forgotten God) as well as a new ESV Bible. Here's where you come in. I've probably asked for recommendations in the past, but regardless.... I want some ideas of additional books to pick up/add to my list! Help me out here. I'm ready & willing to crush my lack of motivation to read like I used to.

Gracias!

downright awesome

2010-01-19T21:01:00.003-05:00

There are moments in life (numerous for some, rare for others) that can be simply & justifiably labeled as "downright awesome". Skydiving, swimming with sharks, watching a meteor shower from a mountain-top, getting married to the love of your life, meeting a favorite celebrity or band in a restaurant or airport, watching a space shuttle take-off in-person, seeing your first child for the first time, etc etc etc

One of these moments took place for me this past Saturday, while attending the Four Year Strong concert in Richmond. Now I know this band isn't a household name (yet)... but they do have a strong-and-growing following in the music-scene that my musical-taste calls home. Regardless, the show was jam-packed and completely intense from the very start. Now this "downright awesome" moment took place during the last song of the band's encore. The finale of the song, aka the break down, kicked in... and crowd-surfers & stage divers went into overdrive. I jumped onto the stage and managed to dodge the chaos and hang out back by the drummer and lead singer (the band scooted back so the crowd could freely go crazy). I took this picture with the lead, and the rest is history. Also, his beard equally qualifies as "downright awesome".

Now... what are some of YOUR "downright awesome" moments in life?

team conan

2010-01-14T11:13:00.003-05:00

'nuff said.

pointless(?) talent

2009-12-21T15:36:00.002-05:00

I can imitate cartoon voices, and I'm a Wii bowling master. What are some random talents that you have, well-known or hidden?

Movie review : AVATAR

2009-12-18T05:05:00.002-05:00

If you know me at all, you know I'm pretty big on movies & midnight showings... so of course I went to see Avatar's midnite showing. However, this viewing was different. This was in IMAX 3-D. And MANNN OH MAN was is it in IMAX 3-D.... wow. I haven't been that blown away by a movie since The Dark Knight (or that impressed with something I was uncertain about since the new Star Trek). I know, I know... that's a mighty big claim, and yes I'm still riding on the movie-experience high since I just saw it... but I don't think my opinion will differ tomorrow or a couple days from now. This was the most visually captivating movie I have ever seen.

I couldn't think of how to describe what James Cameron did to film this... so here's a blurb from Wikipedia:

"The film is being touted as a breakthrough in terms of filmmaking technology, for its development of 3D viewing and stereoscopic filmmaking with cameras that were specially designed for the film's production"

If you're in the 757, or anywhere that has a movie theater with an IMAX 3-D screen, and you're even remotely interested or curious in this movie... do NOT accept any substitutes. This movie was made to be seen in that format, and it is completely worth the extra money for the ticket.

And finally, yes... it is a familiar storyline, with elements that have been used & seen in movies past (think Ferngully meets Dances With Wolves, in the future)... but who cares? James Cameron does it justice, and it's such a beautifully put together piece of cinema. Sure it's got alot of sci-fi strangeness (if you're not really into that kinda stuff)... but it's also got action, great characters, a love story, light humor scattered throughout, and did I mention the special effects?? Yes yes yes... can't stress that element of it enough.

Okay, that is all. See this movie in IMAX 3-D, and plan on being transported elsewhere and becoming completely immersed in this crazy fantasy world. Good night! (or good morning)

amusement in 140 or less

2009-12-14T18:16:00.003-05:00

here's a sampling of some tweets that i've found particularly amusing in recent times

*davebarnesmusic: Liberty, I've successfully warmed up via stretches, me me mees, and getting slapped in the face with a cold Alaskan salmon. It's go time.

*abbyruth129: there's creepy men in my house. i'm hiding in the bathroom...

*josh_spencer: Is it normal to hear a rogue velociraptor noise while listening to your iPod? I was unaware a Jurassic park was opening in Lynchburg

*ttim123: Awesome i get to go slipper shopping with my dad

*guitarjosh15: I realized this morning that I stand on top of the drain while showering, which makes me a prime target for drain snakes. Dang it.

*johncmayer: When someone tells me a story about their past, I like to imagine them reenacting it with a bad wig and period correct clothes

Christmas! (or something...)

2009-12-13T03:27:00.002-05:00

Went to LU's Christmas Coffeehouse last night (basically a big exhibition of campus talent, held in the Vines Center)... and in-between 2 of the performances, the host introduced the crowd to some strange Christmas traditions from around the world. I was somewhat skeptical, so I googled one of them... and sure enough it was legit.

Now for your cultural/educational enjoyment : Tió de Nadal!

(via Wikipedia)

The Tió de Nadal (roughly "Christmas Log"), also known as "Tió" (trunk or log, a big piece of cut wood) or "Tronca" ("log") and popularly called "Caga tió" (pooping or defecating log in English), is a character in Catalan mythology relating to a Christmas tradition widespread in Catalonia.

Described as a hollow log of about thirty centimetres length. Recently, the tió has come to stand up on two or four little stick legs with a broad smiling face painted on the higher of the two ends, enhanced by a little red sock hat and often a three-dimensional nose.

Beginning with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8), one gives the tió a little bit to "eat" every night and usually covers him with a little blanket so that he will not be cold at night.

On Christmas day or, depending on the particular household, on Christmas Eve, one puts the tió partly into the fireplace and orders it to "poop" (the fire part of this tradition is no longer as widespread as it once was, since many modern homes do not have a fireplace). To make him "poop", one beats him with sticks, while singing various songs of Tió de Nadal.

The tió does not drop larger objects, as those are brought by the Three Wise Men. It does leave candies, nuts and torrons. Depending on the part of Catalonia, it may also give out dried figs. When nothing is left to "poop", it drops a salt herring, a head of garlic, an onion or "urinates". What comes out of the tió is a communal rather than individual gift, shared by everyone present.

Here's a popular song of the "caga tió":

"caga tió,
caga torró,
avellanes i mató,
si no cagues bé
et daré un cop de bastó.
caga tió!"

which translates to

"poop log,
poop turrón,
hazelnuts and cottage cheese,
if you don't poop well,
I'll hit you with a stick,
poop log!"