I said goodbye to my best friend yesterday. If I'm lucky, I'll see him for a few days in December and then not again until 2011.
It was a bit of a surreal moment, standing at the back of the car, talking but not talking, realizing "this is it." I definitely twice uttered, "I can't believe this day is here." (I can't believe it, really.)
In other news, I couldn't feel better about the parting or better about the friendship, as it stands. WOW, God blesses. (25) He said two things that stuck with me, two things that I wasn't expecting and two things that made me deal with an almost painful moment of intense shock ...something like a paradigm shift or an epiphany but neither of those. He asked how he could be a better friend. I asked why he was asking. He said many things but concluded that he, "[did]n't want the friendship to end."
Most people are optomistic enough, most people don't EXPECT to sever relationships but I certainly wasn't putting any eggs in the basket of the future of this friendship. I didn't realize...
My hand was sitting on the door handle for a minute or so while I checked to see if I had anything left to say. I didn't want to go (rather I didn't want HIM to go) but there were no words or relevant thoughts, only the knowledge that it was getting late and these things shouldn't be drawn out. I pulled slightly and there was a PING from somewhere inside the frame and the door moved about an inch - not far enough to engage the interior light. Then his door swung open - NO hesitation - so I got out and apparently this was it, then.
I knew what was coming.
I took a second to remove the zip hoodie (twas his) and dropped it on the passenger seat and closed my door. How slowly can I walk around to meet him, do you think? I decided to just suck it up and try to be normal -- or at least a little more fair.
I round the rear corner and his arms are already open. "I'm gonna miss you," he says, not to my face. The phrase had been on the tip of my own tongue for the past twenty minutes but never took the plunge because I wasn't in the mood to be overly vulnerable. [But this is the time for it, is it not? Parting, that's when we say our "I wish I had told you"s, n'est-ce pas? Yep.] I'm glad he said it first. All I had was, "Likewise." I remember being brutally startled by his words, as if I had gotten a small electric shock. I jumped a little, just at the concept.
When we finally stepped apart, it was kinda evident on his face that he was grasping the long-term-ness of our going aways. I'm flattered that you're so moved. I'm uh...rather humbled....just surprized and blindsided and remarkably humbled and incredulous that you cherish me as you do. (26) What else can I say?
Let's pretend that it being 3.37 am means something to me and that I should stop writing now.
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
Monday, 28 July 2008
"Journey to the Centre of the Earth" (2008)
Yes, I watched it today. No, it wasn't opening day..in fact it was exactly one month after opening day and I'm very much OK with that. The Mummy, however, that's GOTTA be a first-day gig. Don't even talk to me.
I don't have much to say about this film...cuz I doubt anyone I know would enjoy it as much as I did, given that I like it for rather odd reasons. I like that the thing was in 3-D. I feel this was an awesome addition to an already pretty cool film.
I like that the flick was a) based of the Jules Verne novel of the same title, and b) that the characters actually accessed the book; they carried a copy of it with them and referred to it frequently. It was a cool twist, methinks. I was esspecting something different, based on the little quipper I read on cineplex.com.
I enjoy Brendan Fraser...don't ever let me lie about that. To be frank, that was about 80% of the draw for me with seeing this film. Maybe eighty-five percent. I honestly am a big fan of his acting, his comedic talents and the context (or even intertextuality) of all the characters I've seen him play. I would say the same for Johnny Depp, yes suh. The rest of it was just having no expectations or preconceptions about the film (always a good foundation) - 7% - and perhaps the other bit was knowing that it would be a thriller-ish, problem-solvish, pseudo-action film, which I am good friends with - 6%. Let's say the rest was the 3-D-ness - 1.5% and the last half-percent is the novelty of seeing a Brendan Fraser film in threatres...I'm not sure I've ever done that, unless I saw George of the Jungle (1997) on the big screen which...I think I did. That should have been in 3-D, what with the working-out and all. I guess that half-percent should be in with the eighty. 80.5%.
I enjoyed the film. I think it was well done. Truth be told, it was rather modest. It wasn't reaching for much or pushing very hard and so, without that huge leap there wasn't much to be lost - and in fact there wasn't much lost. They didn't reach beyond their skill or beyond audience expectations. Landed.
As if paragraphs two through five started with "I". That's not cool. I wanna read the book now; I'm not gonna lie. Unfortunately, I have about 868 other books to read before I go away...people be needing their livres back.
Oh man. I'm excited for the next ...three posts. They gonna be fun.
I don't have much to say about this film...cuz I doubt anyone I know would enjoy it as much as I did, given that I like it for rather odd reasons. I like that the thing was in 3-D. I feel this was an awesome addition to an already pretty cool film.
I like that the flick was a) based of the Jules Verne novel of the same title, and b) that the characters actually accessed the book; they carried a copy of it with them and referred to it frequently. It was a cool twist, methinks. I was esspecting something different, based on the little quipper I read on cineplex.com.
I enjoy Brendan Fraser...don't ever let me lie about that. To be frank, that was about 80% of the draw for me with seeing this film. Maybe eighty-five percent. I honestly am a big fan of his acting, his comedic talents and the context (or even intertextuality) of all the characters I've seen him play. I would say the same for Johnny Depp, yes suh. The rest of it was just having no expectations or preconceptions about the film (always a good foundation) - 7% - and perhaps the other bit was knowing that it would be a thriller-ish, problem-solvish, pseudo-action film, which I am good friends with - 6%. Let's say the rest was the 3-D-ness - 1.5% and the last half-percent is the novelty of seeing a Brendan Fraser film in threatres...I'm not sure I've ever done that, unless I saw George of the Jungle (1997) on the big screen which...I think I did. That should have been in 3-D, what with the working-out and all. I guess that half-percent should be in with the eighty. 80.5%.
I enjoyed the film. I think it was well done. Truth be told, it was rather modest. It wasn't reaching for much or pushing very hard and so, without that huge leap there wasn't much to be lost - and in fact there wasn't much lost. They didn't reach beyond their skill or beyond audience expectations. Landed.
As if paragraphs two through five started with "I". That's not cool. I wanna read the book now; I'm not gonna lie. Unfortunately, I have about 868 other books to read before I go away...people be needing their livres back.
Oh man. I'm excited for the next ...three posts. They gonna be fun.
Sunday, 27 July 2008
and plumbin's our game
I was playing Super Mario Bros. earlier this week cuz my friend has a system and it's my favorite video game of life. Incidentally, it's one of three video games that I can excel at. (The other two are Loopz and Tetris...and yes, I am that cool.)
The other kids were sitting on the couch, talking among themselves and then the conversation lulled for a second. The guy pipes up, "This doesn't make any sense...! John Leguizamo is not Italian!"
I laughed because it sounded ridiculous and pretty random but then I realized that I know who John Leguizamo is - so the comment became funnier, knowing the man wasn't Italian. THEN I realized that John Leguizamo played in the Mario Brothers movie...I felt a little dumb but I do like delayed humor, ohhh baby.
Later, while I was jumping on those moving platforms (the back and forth, light orangey, cinder block-y almost guys), the same dude said, "This game has no respect for intertia."
I thought it was hilarious. And then I posted it on my blog, three days later.
The other kids were sitting on the couch, talking among themselves and then the conversation lulled for a second. The guy pipes up, "This doesn't make any sense...! John Leguizamo is not Italian!"
I laughed because it sounded ridiculous and pretty random but then I realized that I know who John Leguizamo is - so the comment became funnier, knowing the man wasn't Italian. THEN I realized that John Leguizamo played in the Mario Brothers movie...I felt a little dumb but I do like delayed humor, ohhh baby.
Later, while I was jumping on those moving platforms (the back and forth, light orangey, cinder block-y almost guys), the same dude said, "This game has no respect for intertia."
I thought it was hilarious. And then I posted it on my blog, three days later.
Saturday, 26 July 2008
"Ransom" (1996)
From the get-go I knew I had to write something about this film.
I watched it ages, ago, when it was still new but I definitely didn't remember it very well.
First thing: Gary Sinese, well done. At first I was struggling with the character but by the time the thing was half-way done I was forgetting Detective Mac Taylor and Lieutenant Dan and fully getting this guy as a dirty, dirty villian. I like that (this will sound creepster) that he's not the kind of crime lord who has his henchmen constantly fearing for their lives, blindly following, etc. etc. He's the kind of crime lord we USED TO be scared of but movies since this time have stepped it up....foundation...building..I'm not telling this story very well. But I am thinking of Brick Top from Snatch (2000).
Man, this film is so freakin twisted. I am thoroughly impressed. I'm still watching right now and can't really...focus. Ah, I love it. It's still going!
Wow, that's a quality film. I enjoy the twistage of plot and the intensity of action. By this, I don't mean I like that the action is SUPER intense but that it's adequate for the story without being overwhelming. BOOyaka.
Near the beginning of the film, we see the main character watching a video that was sent to him via email of his only son (maybe ten years old) laying on a bed, with duct tape over his mouth and shackles on his hands and feet. The voice over the video explained the situation and asked a ransom. Tom Mullen (the father, main character) reacts like most fathers would, some kind of shock with tears in the eyes.
I'm thinking about the title of the film, I'm thinking about the love of a father for a son, I'm thinking about the little bits and snippits of the film that I remember from the first time I watched it, I'm thinking about the film John Q (2002) and firmly grasping the "I would do anything to get you back" concept. It's....that's how ransoms work.
So in the next moment I'm thinking about the line in How Deep the Father's Love and hearing the line, "His wounds have paid my ransom," differently. I'm also thinking about the vague wisps of Bible verses that I have rolling around in the back rooms of my head which also use the word "ransom" or talk about men being "paid for" or perhaps "bought at a price."
If someone took from you something that was ultimately precious you would do anything to get them back. I can't stress the anything part enough.
I still haven't even processed this idea fully; I haven't made it make sense to me but maybe it's just too lofty for me to attain. I guess I never thought of us as being outside God's grasp or outside His realm. But we were kicked out of the garden, weren't we? And He would do anything....He would pay because someone else took away His kids and is holding them out of His reach. Interesting...would Satan have ever formally asked for a ransom? I feel that it doesn't work that way. Rather it's the system (the word "system" doesn't work but...) that God established which needs to be satisfied. (And on that cross, as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied...) Hmmm...Jesus made sense as a payment. It worked! It works and it is finished.
I guess all I've really got is that moment of intense panic where you realize that someone else has full control of the situation - and they've also got something you love in captivity. Hmm.
Oh - it's panic and it's the complete negating of the value of all other things in your life. (This works more for people than for God but, we certainly say that He gave up His only begotten.) But um, your money, your house, your time, your sleep, your everything means nothing unless it can get you back what was taken from you. I'm not sure I can drive this point any harder so I'll stop.
I watched it ages, ago, when it was still new but I definitely didn't remember it very well.
First thing: Gary Sinese, well done. At first I was struggling with the character but by the time the thing was half-way done I was forgetting Detective Mac Taylor and Lieutenant Dan and fully getting this guy as a dirty, dirty villian. I like that (this will sound creepster) that he's not the kind of crime lord who has his henchmen constantly fearing for their lives, blindly following, etc. etc. He's the kind of crime lord we USED TO be scared of but movies since this time have stepped it up....foundation...building..I'm not telling this story very well. But I am thinking of Brick Top from Snatch (2000).
Man, this film is so freakin twisted. I am thoroughly impressed. I'm still watching right now and can't really...focus. Ah, I love it. It's still going!
Wow, that's a quality film. I enjoy the twistage of plot and the intensity of action. By this, I don't mean I like that the action is SUPER intense but that it's adequate for the story without being overwhelming. BOOyaka.
Near the beginning of the film, we see the main character watching a video that was sent to him via email of his only son (maybe ten years old) laying on a bed, with duct tape over his mouth and shackles on his hands and feet. The voice over the video explained the situation and asked a ransom. Tom Mullen (the father, main character) reacts like most fathers would, some kind of shock with tears in the eyes.
I'm thinking about the title of the film, I'm thinking about the love of a father for a son, I'm thinking about the little bits and snippits of the film that I remember from the first time I watched it, I'm thinking about the film John Q (2002) and firmly grasping the "I would do anything to get you back" concept. It's....that's how ransoms work.
So in the next moment I'm thinking about the line in How Deep the Father's Love and hearing the line, "His wounds have paid my ransom," differently. I'm also thinking about the vague wisps of Bible verses that I have rolling around in the back rooms of my head which also use the word "ransom" or talk about men being "paid for" or perhaps "bought at a price."
If someone took from you something that was ultimately precious you would do anything to get them back. I can't stress the anything part enough.
I still haven't even processed this idea fully; I haven't made it make sense to me but maybe it's just too lofty for me to attain. I guess I never thought of us as being outside God's grasp or outside His realm. But we were kicked out of the garden, weren't we? And He would do anything....He would pay because someone else took away His kids and is holding them out of His reach. Interesting...would Satan have ever formally asked for a ransom? I feel that it doesn't work that way. Rather it's the system (the word "system" doesn't work but...) that God established which needs to be satisfied. (And on that cross, as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied...) Hmmm...Jesus made sense as a payment. It worked! It works and it is finished.
I guess all I've really got is that moment of intense panic where you realize that someone else has full control of the situation - and they've also got something you love in captivity. Hmm.
Oh - it's panic and it's the complete negating of the value of all other things in your life. (This works more for people than for God but, we certainly say that He gave up His only begotten.) But um, your money, your house, your time, your sleep, your everything means nothing unless it can get you back what was taken from you. I'm not sure I can drive this point any harder so I'll stop.
Thursday, 24 July 2008
it was in my bag.
"A date? A date? Like dinner-and-a-movie, naked-and-sweaty?"
This line was delivered by Dr Foreman on House M.D. thought it was funny cuz it seemed out of character for him. He doesn't usually talk about stuff like that. Umm and also, he said "naked" almost like the Fresh Prince did - "nekkid," if you will. hah.
This line was delivered by Dr Foreman on House M.D. thought it was funny cuz it seemed out of character for him. He doesn't usually talk about stuff like that. Umm and also, he said "naked" almost like the Fresh Prince did - "nekkid," if you will. hah.
Saturday, 19 July 2008
and mussels, alive, alive-o
Know what warms my heart? Know one of the things that warms my heart? Christian families. The term doesn't make sense, admittedly, but I like seeing a houseful of believers. It's awesome.
I'm now over hearing the thirteen-year-old sister of a friend of mine play guitar and sing some Jesus song. Incidentally, she just got back from a one-week missions trip on Manatoulin Island. Wow. The cockles of my heart consider themselves officially warmed.
I IV V vi
IV V I
Oh! She's playing Hosanna by Hillsong! Calloo-callay, o frabjous day!
I'm now over hearing the thirteen-year-old sister of a friend of mine play guitar and sing some Jesus song. Incidentally, she just got back from a one-week missions trip on Manatoulin Island. Wow. The cockles of my heart consider themselves officially warmed.
I IV V vi
IV V I
Oh! She's playing Hosanna by Hillsong! Calloo-callay, o frabjous day!
"The Dark Knight" (2008)
Yeah, I watched it. Yeah, it was opening day. Yeah I've been looking forward to this depuis longuetemps because it fell on my birthday.
(sheepishly: Yeah, I in-and-out-edly fell asleep during the closing ten minutes because I was exhausted and the action had slowed.)
I think I need to refrain from commenting on Heath Ledger's performance because, well, no matter what I say I'll be either on of THOSE people or one of THESE people and I don't want to be like that. I don't.
I must applaud the screenwriters for how they're weaving this sixth major motion picture into the story of all the other Batman flicks. I do believe this one, along with Batman (1989), Batman Returns (1992) and Batman Begins (2005), were alike in that they seemed to pack more than one movie into their allotted time. It's like having more than one climax but in a completely unpredictable and well-played way. Part of me feels like I'm getting more bang for my buck, I suppose.
Christian Bale - can I just say it? - is more than mildly attractive, in my opinion.
...Had to get it out there.
I need to give mad props to the costume department and the set designers. THEY KNOW how to make their work work. They know that the Joker should have a velvety creepo forest green too-tight vest on over some geometric patterned metalic-ish lavendar dress shirt during one of the few scenes we see him coat-less. I....I don't know enough about this stuff to make any useful comments so I'll stop after saying that I found these things excellent and enjoyed them thoroughly.
I hyped this film up in my mind and I don't know why. I wonder if part of me wanted to be part of something big - in my time. It's just like watching The Terminator (1984) which, incidentally, has a fourquel (?) coming out soon starring Christian Bale - Terminator Salvation (2009).
There were def quite a few folk at the theatre (Ottawa Collesium....first time for everythang) who had made up their faces with maquillage comme the Joker. It was....creepier to me AFTER watching the film. Yes. Still, I can appreciate the dedication.
At the end, I convinced one of my friends to stay til the end of the credits to check if anything was left. I shant say if there was BUT, as we were waiting, he made fun of a few names, as most of us do while watching bunches of white letters scroll upward. Best line:
"Ahh. [sounding relieved] Dorothy Precious. My favorite financial controller. [beat] I've been following her work for years."
I was already laughing after he said her name because I was secretly hoping it wasn't her actual name and he was calling her precious, or something..good times.
I enjoy a good sub-story, I do. This film had quite a few and handled them well. They weren't distracting; I didn't feel like I was watching three different films simultaneously, like you might when you watched Snatch (2000) or something. I am happy that big-budget films can afford to be sure that EVERY PERSON ON CAMERA is a good, or at least decent, actor. This makes a big difference. Taking care of details earns you mad respect in my books.
I enjoyed the motocyclette. I..really did. I don't know why. Motorcycles don't really do much for me though crazy technology with the likes of superheroes or James Bond are always somewhat impressive. But I really enjoyed that motorcycle. I'm pretty sure I wanted to ride it. Somehow, the way B-man was weaving and manoeuvring was very pleasant to me...don't know what it was. Maybe it was just efficient, like how some people drive. OK enough of that.
Plot twists, however? Also quite excellent. Who wrote this thing.....now I need to know. Christopher Nolan (also the director), Jonathan Nolan and David S. Goyer. Done. Mad props to them.
The more time/space I put between the end of the film and me in this moment, the more I like/appreciate this film. Yes. In this way it's kinda like I am Legend (2007) for me. That and Batman Begins which, let's be serious, was a freakin epic. That thing was good. I don't even know HOW I liked it. I can barely wrap my brain around it. In other news, it's 2.47am. End.
[Editor's note: this shall not count as the 500th post on account of seven unpublished drafts contributing to that total.]
(sheepishly: Yeah, I in-and-out-edly fell asleep during the closing ten minutes because I was exhausted and the action had slowed.)
I think I need to refrain from commenting on Heath Ledger's performance because, well, no matter what I say I'll be either on of THOSE people or one of THESE people and I don't want to be like that. I don't.
I must applaud the screenwriters for how they're weaving this sixth major motion picture into the story of all the other Batman flicks. I do believe this one, along with Batman (1989), Batman Returns (1992) and Batman Begins (2005), were alike in that they seemed to pack more than one movie into their allotted time. It's like having more than one climax but in a completely unpredictable and well-played way. Part of me feels like I'm getting more bang for my buck, I suppose.
Christian Bale - can I just say it? - is more than mildly attractive, in my opinion.
...Had to get it out there.
I need to give mad props to the costume department and the set designers. THEY KNOW how to make their work work. They know that the Joker should have a velvety creepo forest green too-tight vest on over some geometric patterned metalic-ish lavendar dress shirt during one of the few scenes we see him coat-less. I....I don't know enough about this stuff to make any useful comments so I'll stop after saying that I found these things excellent and enjoyed them thoroughly.
I hyped this film up in my mind and I don't know why. I wonder if part of me wanted to be part of something big - in my time. It's just like watching The Terminator (1984) which, incidentally, has a fourquel (?) coming out soon starring Christian Bale - Terminator Salvation (2009).
There were def quite a few folk at the theatre (Ottawa Collesium....first time for everythang) who had made up their faces with maquillage comme the Joker. It was....creepier to me AFTER watching the film. Yes. Still, I can appreciate the dedication.
At the end, I convinced one of my friends to stay til the end of the credits to check if anything was left. I shant say if there was BUT, as we were waiting, he made fun of a few names, as most of us do while watching bunches of white letters scroll upward. Best line:
"Ahh. [sounding relieved] Dorothy Precious. My favorite financial controller. [beat] I've been following her work for years."
I was already laughing after he said her name because I was secretly hoping it wasn't her actual name and he was calling her precious, or something..good times.
I enjoy a good sub-story, I do. This film had quite a few and handled them well. They weren't distracting; I didn't feel like I was watching three different films simultaneously, like you might when you watched Snatch (2000) or something. I am happy that big-budget films can afford to be sure that EVERY PERSON ON CAMERA is a good, or at least decent, actor. This makes a big difference. Taking care of details earns you mad respect in my books.
I enjoyed the motocyclette. I..really did. I don't know why. Motorcycles don't really do much for me though crazy technology with the likes of superheroes or James Bond are always somewhat impressive. But I really enjoyed that motorcycle. I'm pretty sure I wanted to ride it. Somehow, the way B-man was weaving and manoeuvring was very pleasant to me...don't know what it was. Maybe it was just efficient, like how some people drive. OK enough of that.
Plot twists, however? Also quite excellent. Who wrote this thing.....now I need to know. Christopher Nolan (also the director), Jonathan Nolan and David S. Goyer. Done. Mad props to them.
The more time/space I put between the end of the film and me in this moment, the more I like/appreciate this film. Yes. In this way it's kinda like I am Legend (2007) for me. That and Batman Begins which, let's be serious, was a freakin epic. That thing was good. I don't even know HOW I liked it. I can barely wrap my brain around it. In other news, it's 2.47am. End.
[Editor's note: this shall not count as the 500th post on account of seven unpublished drafts contributing to that total.]
Friday, 18 July 2008
two for $4.99!
It's actually two quotes for the 499th post but I won't tell anyone.
"He's the male version of girl."
(I have no idea who said it, I just found a scrap of papes in a bag I rarely use.)
"If I remember correctly this is the Physics Department."
"That explains all the gravity."
(Brian and Chris, respectively, from Family Guy)
mmm GTs.
"He's the male version of girl."
(I have no idea who said it, I just found a scrap of papes in a bag I rarely use.)
"If I remember correctly this is the Physics Department."
"That explains all the gravity."
(Brian and Chris, respectively, from Family Guy)
mmm GTs.
Thursday, 17 July 2008
God, what are You trying to teach me?
You gotta be a little more blunt cuz I'm not getting it.
What a weird week. I felt like it was Friday yesterday...today I don't even know WHAT'S what. If I had to guess, I'd call it a Tuesday! How does that even work?
I hate McDonald's. It just doesn't leave you alone, does it? I think that's gotta be it for me...for life. Ugh.
What a weird week. I felt like it was Friday yesterday...today I don't even know WHAT'S what. If I had to guess, I'd call it a Tuesday! How does that even work?
I hate McDonald's. It just doesn't leave you alone, does it? I think that's gotta be it for me...for life. Ugh.
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
commissioned. :|
One of my biggest blessers was being allowed to sing "Je t'aime, Seigneur" ("I Love You, Lord") without being heavily questioned. There are 4 or 5 other songs I learned in French that I can't seem to make English the default for anymore. I don't mind... As I explained to a friend once, "It's my heart language," and I thrust my hands outward from my coeur. "I just gotta do it, you know?" It's good.
Anyways, I usually catch weird looks or am thought pretentious for doing this...(when I just wanna sing!) and, you know, I don't mind either of those first two things but the worst is that it makes OTHER PEOPLE stop singing. This is bad just for them cuz I shouldn't be a distraction but it's bad in my mind cuz it just seems full-on unneccesary. Ugh. I hate obstructing traffic.
This last time, however, well we had just sung a song that I was French about so maybe the subsequent one had been set up. I played through the song while I decided whether I'd go with what I wanted or try to conform. "Do you know this song?" I asked at the end of it. Yep. So I just continued - I had actually planned to barrel ahead alone, just for this song and if he wanted to join he could join. "Je t'aime, Seigneur.... Et j'eleve ma voix..." By the third line he was in, in English. You know, you'd think that speaking/singing in two languages simultaneously would be distracting or confusing or in the least chaotic.
Turns out it's absolutely gorgeous. (23)
Even the other night, Saturday, my two housemates and I dropped "Open the Eyes of my Heart, Lord" in Spanish, French and English, holy JUNK that stuff sounds amazing. It's just amazing.
What I loved about that impromptu Jesus-singin session that I had last Wednesday (which is also where the FrEnglish simultane occured) is that I had to stick with singing the melody the whole time for two reasons. (1) I was leading and (2) my friend isn't confident enough to sing strongly..so if I deviated from the melody, he'd try to follow and it juste wouldn't work. I've been there before. But um...the sound of two melodies an octave apart is PRETTY SWEET. (24) I rarely experience it because I'm not given to singing melody if someone else has got it. (Why would I?) Technically.....technically speaking, singing the "melody" an octave away from where the lead singer sings is actually a harmony. Yes, I remember the day I was told that in music class. Octaves are cool.
Je t'aime, Seigneur
And then we sang it again. Cuz it was wonderfully wonderful and how can you not??
Anyways, I usually catch weird looks or am thought pretentious for doing this...(when I just wanna sing!) and, you know, I don't mind either of those first two things but the worst is that it makes OTHER PEOPLE stop singing. This is bad just for them cuz I shouldn't be a distraction but it's bad in my mind cuz it just seems full-on unneccesary. Ugh. I hate obstructing traffic.
This last time, however, well we had just sung a song that I was French about so maybe the subsequent one had been set up. I played through the song while I decided whether I'd go with what I wanted or try to conform. "Do you know this song?" I asked at the end of it. Yep. So I just continued - I had actually planned to barrel ahead alone, just for this song and if he wanted to join he could join. "Je t'aime, Seigneur.... Et j'eleve ma voix..." By the third line he was in, in English. You know, you'd think that speaking/singing in two languages simultaneously would be distracting or confusing or in the least chaotic.
Turns out it's absolutely gorgeous. (23)
Even the other night, Saturday, my two housemates and I dropped "Open the Eyes of my Heart, Lord" in Spanish, French and English, holy JUNK that stuff sounds amazing. It's just amazing.
What I loved about that impromptu Jesus-singin session that I had last Wednesday (which is also where the FrEnglish simultane occured) is that I had to stick with singing the melody the whole time for two reasons. (1) I was leading and (2) my friend isn't confident enough to sing strongly..so if I deviated from the melody, he'd try to follow and it juste wouldn't work. I've been there before. But um...the sound of two melodies an octave apart is PRETTY SWEET. (24) I rarely experience it because I'm not given to singing melody if someone else has got it. (Why would I?) Technically.....technically speaking, singing the "melody" an octave away from where the lead singer sings is actually a harmony. Yes, I remember the day I was told that in music class. Octaves are cool.
Je t'aime, Seigneur
I love You, Lord
Et j'élève ma voixAnd I lift my voice
Pour te louer, ma Sauver, mon Roi.
To worship You, O my soul, rejoice.
Reçois, Seigneur
Take joy, my King
Comme un doux parfum
In what You hear
L'amour est le chant de nos coeurs reconnaissant.
Let it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear.
And then we sang it again. Cuz it was wonderfully wonderful and how can you not??
Saturday, 12 July 2008
I'm seeing things change and I like it. Now that I've said it, have I ruined it?
Ahem.
AHEM!
Last night we had a barbeque chez moi. The idea was proposed to me around 9pm Wednesday. So, my Thursday was given largely to making preparations. It wasn't just a BeeBs but also a Euchre party so I needed to find five more players (we wanted two tables).
This is what I ended up spewing to the person who had proposed the BeeBs on Thursday night.
can I just take a moment to be frank and say I'm not a huge fan of the fact that you gave me this idea last night..and most of the work seemed to fall on me...? now that the moment's passed, I'm over it.
It came near the end of a logistics email, sorta stood out (in my mind, anyways) and at present I'm not quite sure if I regret it or not.
The get-together went quite well. We ended up with only six Euchre players so we made the second table into a Dutch Blitz hub. It went well. The food was awesome and plenty, the company was pleasant and cooperative, there's a plum on my desk that I should probably get rid of....ah...the games were good and people stayed til shortly before midnight which makes me happy. I was happy that peeps was able to stay, mostly cuz it was a Friday night, I guess.
---
I was supposed to be at work for 7 this morning. I first greeted the day at about 07h03 and so I threw my head back down to yell, CRAP (but not actually outloud) and to assess my new strategies for minimizing pain and suffering. The next time my eyes were open, it was 07h48. I'm a cool kid like that.
What makes it even BETTER is that I knew I had a lunch with a friend at noon, and that I needed to be at church early the next day which meant crap sleep. I'd need to be at work for 4am which means I'd have to find a nap somewhere in the course of today and then find the hours to work on the church pres I'm doing tomorrow. :
I was not relishing the thought of how my day would go. NOT NOT NOT.
Last night I bedded at 2am..the night before it was 3 and I was up at 6.45....ugh. It's just not good to pile these things up. (Anyone seeing a trend here?)
I breezed in the front door and went straight up to the offices where I knew my boss wouldn't be. I thought I'd exploit some ambiguity of arrival time by making the first time she sees me AFTER I'd already completed some work. On my way down, I spy her over the railing, next to the vaccuum. I thought I'd wait til I heard her turn it on so I could possibly sneak round and get to my next task vissout her seeing me. She didn't turn it on. She must have just finished.
I have this moment of juvenile panic and indecision, knowing that the longer I wait the longer I'll be waiting...
On my way to work, I had been half-praying, half-telling God that I didn't even want to ask for mercy this morning cuz I thought I was the majorest of screw-ups. An hour late, really?
I finally say I'll bite the bullet and ALMOST asked for mercy. .... Those were some long stairs. I studied the carpet rather well.
She half looked up and half smiled when she saw me. Good morning, goodmorning.
"I was just gonna go look for your number to call ya ..cuz I thought maybe yesterday was your last day."
"No, no; I just slept in."
"Ohhh," she smiles more-ly. "That's OK."
A second later in my head, "WHAT??!" God, what?
Aie.... It's.. I mean it was my last weekend so I could see why she'd be lax (and I knew that it would be light-duty this morning and no one would be coming in til much later) but still. Sheesh.
Under-
esti-
mated.
Wow. A few moments later she's asking if I wanted to come in tomorrow. I say, "I can but I'd have to come in really early cuz I need to leave at 8." She informs me that SHE probably won't even come in... so I don't need to worry about it.
So, I don't need to worry about it.
So I don't need to worry about it! Ahh-
Hmmm. That means I get to sleep tonight. That means I get to wake up at 7.30 instead of staying up through la nuite...oh FRABJOUS day! Calloo callay!
I got home and my lunch date called...she wanted to catch a bus home at noon. So, seeing as it was almost eleven at this point we decided we'd hang out on Sunday afternoon...Oh, I'm a fan of Sunday afternoon. :)
The moral of the story is, God just gave me a day that I didn't think I had and I'm overwhelmed just a little. (oxy moron)
I suppose this means He wants me to do well with the presentation, in planning it and in being mostly rested for the execution. Well great. I'd better get on it, yo.
AHEM!
Last night we had a barbeque chez moi. The idea was proposed to me around 9pm Wednesday. So, my Thursday was given largely to making preparations. It wasn't just a BeeBs but also a Euchre party so I needed to find five more players (we wanted two tables).
This is what I ended up spewing to the person who had proposed the BeeBs on Thursday night.
can I just take a moment to be frank and say I'm not a huge fan of the fact that you gave me this idea last night..and most of the work seemed to fall on me...? now that the moment's passed, I'm over it.
It came near the end of a logistics email, sorta stood out (in my mind, anyways) and at present I'm not quite sure if I regret it or not.
The get-together went quite well. We ended up with only six Euchre players so we made the second table into a Dutch Blitz hub. It went well. The food was awesome and plenty, the company was pleasant and cooperative, there's a plum on my desk that I should probably get rid of....ah...the games were good and people stayed til shortly before midnight which makes me happy. I was happy that peeps was able to stay, mostly cuz it was a Friday night, I guess.
---
I was supposed to be at work for 7 this morning. I first greeted the day at about 07h03 and so I threw my head back down to yell, CRAP (but not actually outloud) and to assess my new strategies for minimizing pain and suffering. The next time my eyes were open, it was 07h48. I'm a cool kid like that.
What makes it even BETTER is that I knew I had a lunch with a friend at noon, and that I needed to be at church early the next day which meant crap sleep. I'd need to be at work for 4am which means I'd have to find a nap somewhere in the course of today and then find the hours to work on the church pres I'm doing tomorrow. :
I was not relishing the thought of how my day would go. NOT NOT NOT.
Last night I bedded at 2am..the night before it was 3 and I was up at 6.45....ugh. It's just not good to pile these things up. (Anyone seeing a trend here?)
I breezed in the front door and went straight up to the offices where I knew my boss wouldn't be. I thought I'd exploit some ambiguity of arrival time by making the first time she sees me AFTER I'd already completed some work. On my way down, I spy her over the railing, next to the vaccuum. I thought I'd wait til I heard her turn it on so I could possibly sneak round and get to my next task vissout her seeing me. She didn't turn it on. She must have just finished.
I have this moment of juvenile panic and indecision, knowing that the longer I wait the longer I'll be waiting...
On my way to work, I had been half-praying, half-telling God that I didn't even want to ask for mercy this morning cuz I thought I was the majorest of screw-ups. An hour late, really?
I finally say I'll bite the bullet and ALMOST asked for mercy. .... Those were some long stairs. I studied the carpet rather well.
She half looked up and half smiled when she saw me. Good morning, goodmorning.
"I was just gonna go look for your number to call ya ..cuz I thought maybe yesterday was your last day."
"No, no; I just slept in."
"Ohhh," she smiles more-ly. "That's OK."
A second later in my head, "WHAT??!" God, what?
Aie.... It's.. I mean it was my last weekend so I could see why she'd be lax (and I knew that it would be light-duty this morning and no one would be coming in til much later) but still. Sheesh.
Under-
esti-
mated.
Wow. A few moments later she's asking if I wanted to come in tomorrow. I say, "I can but I'd have to come in really early cuz I need to leave at 8." She informs me that SHE probably won't even come in... so I don't need to worry about it.
So, I don't need to worry about it.
So I don't need to worry about it! Ahh-
Hmmm. That means I get to sleep tonight. That means I get to wake up at 7.30 instead of staying up through la nuite...oh FRABJOUS day! Calloo callay!
I got home and my lunch date called...she wanted to catch a bus home at noon. So, seeing as it was almost eleven at this point we decided we'd hang out on Sunday afternoon...Oh, I'm a fan of Sunday afternoon. :)
The moral of the story is, God just gave me a day that I didn't think I had and I'm overwhelmed just a little. (oxy moron)
I suppose this means He wants me to do well with the presentation, in planning it and in being mostly rested for the execution. Well great. I'd better get on it, yo.
suite?
I'm feelin pent up at the mo...Gotta spring a leak.
My days are filling up...it makes me feel a little weird. I mean, I feel good because..well, I enjoy all the wonderful people in my life. But I certainly am also concerned that I will not be leaving myself enough breathing space. I need to watch out for that.
Something that changed my life (ever so slightly):
I saw Antony Hopkins choke up while reciting some W.B. Yeats poetry. WOW. (Yeats is in his bloodline but I forget where. It might be his grandfather.) Hopkins spoke too quickly for me to grab all the words so I wasn't able to fully appreciate what he was being moved by but still - he made an impression.
Something that meant much - and must have just fallen out of a textbook:
I think maybe that textbook could be The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman or something close thereto. I was talking to a friend of mine - good friend of mine - about the immediate future, how I'm leaving the country soon and that we'll need to say an indefinite good-bye sometime soon. We had already said goodbye for the night a few minutes before but I decided to recall to snag a hug. I need a good hug evry now and then. The car stops and I am obliged. A few minutes into the ensuing chat, he grabs the binder I had been holding to my chest, throws it into the open door he'd been leaning on, and says, "Let's go for a walk." (<--that's not the critical part) I laugh because it's absurd. I was actually QUITE taken aback at first...I don't don't get surprized that often in such a way...how bizarre. I don't quite know what to say but he supplies, "I decided I had time."
For the record, for the ladies and gentlemen of the jury, for the kids in the back row, my strongest love language is quality time.
Considering...
Considering that a) I wasn't even expecting to see my friend that night, b) we hadn't had a proper conversation in literally seven weeks, c) we should have parted ways at 8.30 but it was now 10, THIS MOMENT, where he says, "I decided I had time," I feel incredibly valued. Just incredibly valued. WOW. And I mean.. it's not subtle, it's not cloaked, the sentiment. I get that YOU had something else you were going to do and YOU have elected to hang out with me instead. Oh how pleased I was. Well....more than pleased I think I was beyond flattered into just being humbled. (I'm not sure I've known this kind of humilty before. It's a special brand.) I wasn't about to leap for joy: Really? Really? We can hang out??? Oh, AWEsome; this is going to be great!!! I wasn't even thinking that way. I was simply being grateful for every moment given to me which happened to ALL be surplus to my nil expectations and I wasn't going to grab for any future moments, either. (If only I could adopt this attitude elsewhere...)
A Unique Experience
It's been a while but I finally rediscovered the place where I can worship (through music) with another person but also by myself. It's like the ideal balance you'd find with corporate prayer. We are there TOGETHER but we are also there for God so, we pray on our own and as a group at the same time. Maybe that doesn't sound like it makes sense but it is true.
I had begun singing and playing because I wanted to sing and play. My friend joined me and I sang with but also alone. We continued for the better part of an hour and it was better than hot apple crisp and cold, cold ice cream. Ahhh. I mean that. I mean that. Wow. I guess a little Thanks, God is appropriate here.
Thanks, God
Thank God for His patience, else I'd be doomed.
Thank God for the wonders of the human body, that an open wound stops itself up in a matter of minutes.
Thank God for awesome H'AWESOME friends, and thank You, God, especially for the experience of moving from acquaintancehip to friendship. Oh, delight!
Thank God for diligence...thank God for sticktuitiveness...thank God that He is strong in our weakness.
Thanks be to God for helping me overcome the insurmountable. What's amazing? that it's not a one-shot deal, no. I'm surmounting gradually and THAT seems to be more glorious (that is, bringing more glory to Him) than a snap-o'-the-fingers deal.
Thank God that His name can be blessed though there's pain in the offering.
Thank God..... .
.
My days are filling up...it makes me feel a little weird. I mean, I feel good because..well, I enjoy all the wonderful people in my life. But I certainly am also concerned that I will not be leaving myself enough breathing space. I need to watch out for that.
Something that changed my life (ever so slightly):
I saw Antony Hopkins choke up while reciting some W.B. Yeats poetry. WOW. (Yeats is in his bloodline but I forget where. It might be his grandfather.) Hopkins spoke too quickly for me to grab all the words so I wasn't able to fully appreciate what he was being moved by but still - he made an impression.
Something that meant much - and must have just fallen out of a textbook:
I think maybe that textbook could be The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman or something close thereto. I was talking to a friend of mine - good friend of mine - about the immediate future, how I'm leaving the country soon and that we'll need to say an indefinite good-bye sometime soon. We had already said goodbye for the night a few minutes before but I decided to recall to snag a hug. I need a good hug evry now and then. The car stops and I am obliged. A few minutes into the ensuing chat, he grabs the binder I had been holding to my chest, throws it into the open door he'd been leaning on, and says, "Let's go for a walk." (<--that's not the critical part) I laugh because it's absurd. I was actually QUITE taken aback at first...I don't don't get surprized that often in such a way...how bizarre. I don't quite know what to say but he supplies, "I decided I had time."
For the record, for the ladies and gentlemen of the jury, for the kids in the back row, my strongest love language is quality time.
Considering...
Considering that a) I wasn't even expecting to see my friend that night, b) we hadn't had a proper conversation in literally seven weeks, c) we should have parted ways at 8.30 but it was now 10, THIS MOMENT, where he says, "I decided I had time," I feel incredibly valued. Just incredibly valued. WOW. And I mean.. it's not subtle, it's not cloaked, the sentiment. I get that YOU had something else you were going to do and YOU have elected to hang out with me instead. Oh how pleased I was. Well....more than pleased I think I was beyond flattered into just being humbled. (I'm not sure I've known this kind of humilty before. It's a special brand.) I wasn't about to leap for joy: Really? Really? We can hang out??? Oh, AWEsome; this is going to be great!!! I wasn't even thinking that way. I was simply being grateful for every moment given to me which happened to ALL be surplus to my nil expectations and I wasn't going to grab for any future moments, either. (If only I could adopt this attitude elsewhere...)
A Unique Experience
It's been a while but I finally rediscovered the place where I can worship (through music) with another person but also by myself. It's like the ideal balance you'd find with corporate prayer. We are there TOGETHER but we are also there for God so, we pray on our own and as a group at the same time. Maybe that doesn't sound like it makes sense but it is true.
I had begun singing and playing because I wanted to sing and play. My friend joined me and I sang with but also alone. We continued for the better part of an hour and it was better than hot apple crisp and cold, cold ice cream. Ahhh. I mean that. I mean that. Wow. I guess a little Thanks, God is appropriate here.
Thanks, God
Thank God for His patience, else I'd be doomed.
Thank God for the wonders of the human body, that an open wound stops itself up in a matter of minutes.
Thank God for awesome H'AWESOME friends, and thank You, God, especially for the experience of moving from acquaintancehip to friendship. Oh, delight!
Thank God for diligence...thank God for sticktuitiveness...thank God that He is strong in our weakness.
Thanks be to God for helping me overcome the insurmountable. What's amazing? that it's not a one-shot deal, no. I'm surmounting gradually and THAT seems to be more glorious (that is, bringing more glory to Him) than a snap-o'-the-fingers deal.
Thank God that His name can be blessed though there's pain in the offering.
Thank God..... .
.
Thursday, 10 July 2008
Wednesday, 2 July 2008
cinnamon bear
today I am grateful for cell phones.
yesterday was pretty awesome too but...now that I think about it, the day-time minutes I'm racking up are pretty harsh. I should think on that a little more.
Earlier this week, I dug my heels in and took full initiative on coordinating a plan for today with three other family members. For you see, we live in three different cities and four different abodes. I hate the last-minutage when it means we miss out on great things. Or..you know, when stuff goes just OK instead of going well. I wanted it to go well! It is my father's birthday today and we (sibs 1, 3 and 5 and I) wanted to take him to see Hancock (2008) which opened today. Yes, I said it - another opening-day escapade.
I enjoyed it thoroughly.
What I alsoly enjoyed was how painless it was to first set a time and a place and then to adjust plans today when other things didn't go as expected. It's good; it's very good. I am pleased by the fact that I was able to call all of them, when I needed to. Not just them - I talked to five other people today (and a voicemail) and um....well I'm overwhelmed with the luxury. I truly am.
This morning I got up at 6.27. I prayed with my housemate at 7.15. We left at 7.35. I finally found the dang ol Drive Test office by 8.20...and I didn't leave that office til 3.20. Who can do the math? In Canada, we call that a seven-hour wait on stand-by. Yes, I um...I love being on stand-by and I hope it happens to me more often. Yes. :
Ugh..then the rest of the day was a rush until we got to the theatres. Then I had a creep-o new kinda pain in my right inside shoulder..this kinda electric shock-like terror. It lasted long enough...my face was screwed up and breathing ceased. I feel like it was a good moment. Who knows what it was? I spent too much money today. :(
Now I'm here...trying to undo the day in my brain. It's not easy. I wonder that I shouldn't just flop into bed now - screw end-of-day tasks. No? Yes?
yesterday was pretty awesome too but...now that I think about it, the day-time minutes I'm racking up are pretty harsh. I should think on that a little more.
Earlier this week, I dug my heels in and took full initiative on coordinating a plan for today with three other family members. For you see, we live in three different cities and four different abodes. I hate the last-minutage when it means we miss out on great things. Or..you know, when stuff goes just OK instead of going well. I wanted it to go well! It is my father's birthday today and we (sibs 1, 3 and 5 and I) wanted to take him to see Hancock (2008) which opened today. Yes, I said it - another opening-day escapade.
I enjoyed it thoroughly.
What I alsoly enjoyed was how painless it was to first set a time and a place and then to adjust plans today when other things didn't go as expected. It's good; it's very good. I am pleased by the fact that I was able to call all of them, when I needed to. Not just them - I talked to five other people today (and a voicemail) and um....well I'm overwhelmed with the luxury. I truly am.
This morning I got up at 6.27. I prayed with my housemate at 7.15. We left at 7.35. I finally found the dang ol Drive Test office by 8.20...and I didn't leave that office til 3.20. Who can do the math? In Canada, we call that a seven-hour wait on stand-by. Yes, I um...I love being on stand-by and I hope it happens to me more often. Yes. :
Ugh..then the rest of the day was a rush until we got to the theatres. Then I had a creep-o new kinda pain in my right inside shoulder..this kinda electric shock-like terror. It lasted long enough...my face was screwed up and breathing ceased. I feel like it was a good moment. Who knows what it was? I spent too much money today. :(
Now I'm here...trying to undo the day in my brain. It's not easy. I wonder that I shouldn't just flop into bed now - screw end-of-day tasks. No? Yes?
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