Time Does Funny Things:

I am in Stroudsburg today acting as the chairman judge for the District Bible Bowl Quiz. When I was asked originally, I thought that it was just a normal every other day mock quiz for practice... but no... this is the really deal. I am the chair of the judges in the main room of competition. It’s been quite the interesting so far. I’m exactly how to think about this one.. I used to be one of the guys sitting up there quizzing.

I see kids that were just starting in quizzing the year that I finished and I am amazed at some of the stuff I am seeing. I am also seeing people who I both looked up to and those whom I had jr. high crushes on. It’s funny what time does to people. It isn’t always a bad thing either. I am very glad to see old and new friends alike.

Tough spots and close calls:

I cannot believe the position I had today - I said earlier, I was in a very surreal position. I was the chair of one the panel of appeal for the winner’s bracket of quizzing. The toughest thing I’ve ever done was to judge a game between the senior high and junior high teams from my home church. The quiz came down to one question that was challenged by the senior high team, who if they would have received the points for it, would have won the game.

I spent a good five minutes going back and forth with my other members of the panel. I even called the quiz master over, ultimately... the call was mine. This is a team full of my friends... people I have quizzed beside. I had the final ruling on what decided the fate of the entire day.

I denied the challenge.

The senior high team lost the quiz and it was my call. As soon as I denied the challenge, the mother of the member of the sr high team that issued the challenge proceeded to tell me how wrong I am and that she had taken two courses on Hebrews and how could someone who has “never taken a class on Hebrews before” .

How does she know? She doesn’t know me? I am a Bible college student and no, I have never taken a course specifically on Hebrews. but that doesn’t mean that I am not trained to interpret Scripture for preaching and in systematic theology. I was very offended...borderline angry... I left the room after the quiz and I cried. I wanted to be fair to both teams, but in turn... one had to lose.

There were no losers today. Not even me. I wasn’t even a loser. I kept my integrity in this matter. I could have chosen to rule in the favor of the sr high team... but then the Jr. High team would have had to come back.

To make a long story short, at the end of the day the Jr. High team won by one question at the end against and amazingly trained and knowledgeable team from Stroudsburg. Honestly, I wish that they both could have gone on. Such is the life of competition.

All-in-Wonder:

No, I’m not talking about ATI’s multitasking video card, but I am talking about the day today! It has been quite the day.

Dad and I were supposed start the day out by building a cabinet for the excessive amount of supplies that we have sitting back in our file room. Well, I even came into work early today to be able to get right to work on moving everything around again.

However, once I arrived at the office was working on one of the computers up in the front office that stopped running yesterday. He had replaced the hard drive yesterday, but all of the original drivers for the computer went with the dead hard drive. We spent close to 2 hours bouncing ideas back and forth as to how to get the integrated video/audio/etc. to work the way that it was meant to. We had quite the interesting time bantering back and forth about Windows-based computers. The secretaries up front were looking at us kind of weird because we were laughing back and forth.

By 10, we were actually able to make it out of the office, and shop around for a cabinet. We found one and brought it back to the office. Dad got tied up with various managerial responsibility so I started the project of building what would afford us more space... now I’m not carpenter, but I realize that this “simple” project was going to take more than my set of hands to finish this structure.

When Dad had a free moment, he found me dumbfounded in the kitchen over this project... “How do I hold this in place and get my hand... there? ...no there....” He lent me a hand and we finished it in no time (I swear, my Dad is like McGyver in disguise.... he can do anything).

In as much time as it took to figure out, the cabinet was filled up with paper towels. Does one facility need that many? I guess so because we do. The total was some where around 70.... We managed to fit in some of the industrial size toilet paper rolls in there as well.. but that was tough. I guess it just goes to prove that 1-ply toilet paper is a pain in the rear.

Score Four and Seven Blogs ago:

Again - I have been writing - just needed to post - here you go all!

Homer’s Greek Mythology and Lawn Care: (Monday, May 10th):

So, it’s Monday and I should be working today... aside from one very important factor: the lawn needed to be mowed. I don’t know if you have heard me banter about mowing the lawn while I’m at home, but I figured I’d take it from a different twist today.

First off, our riding mower if the same mower that God passed down to Adam to tend the Garden of Eden before the Fall. This thing is old... it still does work though... or at least did. In order to have this glorious piece of mechanized, motorized sheers to work, it must visit the only artisans holy enough, or capable to deal with such an archaic rider.

I was able to borrow the neighbor’s machine to cut the majority, but when it comes to the trimming... though our riding mower may have its roots in Mesopotamia, our push mower finds its history or lure in Greek mythology.

When Homer wrote the Odyssey, he wrote the original story with Odysseus leaving behind not his bow, but his push mower. You see, Penelope tested the young suitors after her by testing their ability to start the Mower of Odysseus. After all, while being tossed from wave to island by the gods, the grass in Greece didn’t wait around for the master of the house to return.

To bring this back to reality, I think that our push mower is this same mower, forged with mithril steel from the hills of Scandinavia and master crafted by the war smiths of Greece. And I think I am the only one able to start this thing.

Tank!: (May 11)

I am very thankful for my van. Sheila has served me well...nice, big, tank lady.... is made from the toughest stuff! I got rear-ended the other day on the way home from work in the middle of a rain storm. When I got out to look at the “damage” and there was none - though the other vehicle was a Mybotzu Monstrousity SUV, Sheila warded off any damage with a nice big bumper... big tank lady, I love you.

Creepy High School Girls: (May 12)

Where is a girlfriend when I need one the most? Some younger girls really scare me. Especially when they’re like 12 or 13 and sneak up behind you and throw their arms around you. I almost backhanded a kid last night that did that. It scared the ever living crap out of me!

It is this same kid that has freaked me out every time I come home. I really don’t know what to think some times with this clingy middleschoolers. I really wish that I could get some restraining order and stamp it with a Hallmark seal to say “I care in the ‘I gotta love you cuz Jesus says to’ kind of way... but stay away from me!”

I wish that there was something that I could do to avoid this kid. She really creeps me out. Part of the problem is this: she’s a really odd child. Eccentric doesn’t really begin to describe her mental state. This is truly a test of being able to love the unlovable in Jesus’ name. Is there some “consern at the end of a ten foot pole”.

As stated before - where is a girlfriend when I need one? Is it wrong to pretend that I have one and drop a name or hit that I’m not available? What is the right path to take on this one... if any of you have a clue as to what I should do - e-mail me....please.

What’s in a Name....part 2: (May 13)

Do any of you remember last year when I wrote about some “funny” names that I’ve found while filing stuff? I found a folder today that had a name on the folder, but 3 other names printed on the films and the reports! It was ridiculous!

I had to bring the files up to the front office to sort out the problem with this folder. I think it took them about 15 minute to figure out where it came from and what it was all about. Funny crap... 3 names...it was swapable, too. Some first names were used with other last names and vica versa. Anyway - back to work.