Hey

I had a pretty good weekend.  It rained again today, so really nothing could go wrong - I mean.. it rained!

A couple days ago I saw this movie called "The Last Kiss" - I liked it, but I also really liked some of the dialogue in the movie, so much so I have even quoted it lately.  I decided to share it.

Stephen: Stop talking about love. Every [person] in the world says he loves somebody. It means nothing. It still doesn't mean anything. What you feel only matters to you. It's what you do to the people you say you love, that's what matters. It's the only thing that counts.
Michael: I'm in love with your daughter Stephen, Maybe that doesn't mean anything you but I'm standing here. You are her father, I am looking you in the eyes and I'm telling you I will do anything in the world to get your daughter back.
Stephen: Really?
Michael: Really.
Stephen: Anything?
Michael: I'll do anything.
Stephen: People say that, they don't mean it.
Michael: But I mean it!
Stephen: Well it's very simple... do whatever it takes.
Michael: It's that simple?
Stephen: Yes... you can't fail if you don't give up.

This text agrees with me.  This really hits home.  I think the very first part [it's what you do to the people you say you love] that I like the most.  I agree.

No great segue- so lets just title the next part: Memories.

In my past I have blocked out memories.  Sometimes I don't even know the things I have blocked out.  I will be talking to these people again and they might mention something- yet I will have no recollection of it.  I wondered why... I knew I had a rough past with some people but to the point of blocking it out?.. some of the answers I found were

"We block memories that are too overwhelming for us to deal with. Sometimes in order to survive in a certain environment that we are living in, we must suppress memories. Later on when we are in a safer place physically and emotionally, these memories may start to show up" - I haven't found this to be true--

"When the event makes no sense, can't be understood, is too confusing, is not right, can't be happening, and you are powerless and helpless... system overload, shut down. The memory simply isn't processed in a regular way. Current theory is that it gets stuck in the amygdala instead of being processed through to the neocortex (those are brain regions). So, the memory is there, it's just in the wrong place." - Uh, sure.

"Because the memory was too traumatic for you to deal with or you couldn't do anything about what happened." - This statement I agree with most.

I disagree with the notion that people remember what they want to remember because I never sought out to lose all memory of certain things.

All of this is way out of left field.  I know.  I was just having a conversation tonight and these things came up, just wanted to expand a little on what I was thinking.

Endquote ["You are our living link to the past. Tell your grandchildren the story of the struggles waged, at home and abroad. Of sacrifices made for freedom’s sake. And tell them your own story as well – because [everybody] has a story to tell.” - Former president George Bush during State of the Union Address in 1990]

just Pray

Hey

Yesterday I was in the shower- (not that surprising if you know that I take roughly 2 showers a day) but what you might not know is that in my shower I brush my teeth at the same time.  Saves me time.. and a extra step.  So I was in the shower.  We have the liquid bottle of irish spring that smells yummy.  I was thinking about multiple things and I pulled out my tooth brush.  Then I proceeded to pick up the bottle of irish spring, pop it open and squirt out the blue gel onto my toothbrush.

Ah yes, sweet delight.

I then started to bring the toothbrush to my mouth.  I got a whiff of it near my nose when I paused and looked at my toothbrush.  Here I am in the shower looking at my toothbrush wondering what was off.  OH!  The toothpaste must have been no good, because it wasn't.. solid-ish.  Wait a minute... this is irish spring.

haha.  Yeah.  Lucky for me.. I didn't get the taste of it.  I said it smells yummy.. I am pretty sure it doesn't taste yummy.

I told my mom about it.  So much for that ... " I always told you to wash your mouth out with soap! "

Last night we got our first monsoon storm.  It was nice.  Rain and more rain.  I wish it would rain more often.  It was 72 degrees after all the rain.  Before it was over 107.  Tonight.. it was 92 at night.. just more humid and no clouds.  At least we got some rain.

Today was 7/11/08.  Slurpee day.  Where you can go into 7/11 and get a 7.11 oz of Slurpee for free.  I told myself I wouldn't forget.  I reminded friends.  I thought about going on the way home, after dinner. 

Then I forgot.  Dagnabit.  But if I hurry I can make this post at 11.07

Well... I'm glad its the weekend.  Now I can listen to that Coldplay CD a little more...

just Pray

Hey

I had a long weekend.  It was nice... took off the holiday and a few days before.  Had plans all throughout the mini vacation I took.  Last minute all the plans were canceled.  I was smart- I had backup plans.  However; those were canceled too.

So on the fourth I went to a fireworks show in downtown Phoenix, they use to call it the Phoenix Fabulous Fourth- but they changed it to some wireless name.  Sellouts.

I was going to go to flagstaff to see fireworks - but they no longer have fireworks in Flagstaff... go figure... anyway.

On my way, walked a few miles from where I parked and got within shouting distance from where the main crowd was.  I could hear the band and the speakers on stage.  It was getting windy.. and clouds loomed in the distance.  Checking the time it was 8:30, 45 minutes before the fireworks were set to go off.

I took a few more steps and started to listen to the announcer "and so.. have a good night everybody"

What?

I then saw people around me turn around and start their journey back to their car.  I did the same and on my way back some people who were upset about the show being cut short were talking to a Phoenix police officer.  Passing by I heard "it's just too windy, you might want to try in Tempe"

Well.  The funny part was after they made the announcement it was like mother nature head those words and cut off the weather.  The clouds started to peel back from the night sky and the wind was shut off almost simultaneously as the words came out of the PA sound system.

Needless to say, those plans were thwarted.

I made plans on Saturday.  A day that I would normally have off anyway.  I went to see Hancock with Tina, I hadn't seen her in --- like a month or some jazz like that.  So it was a nice time.  Then on Sunday I had plans with Brandy to see Wall-E

Hancock gets a rating of C+ which.. ranks somewhere in the range of 7.8 on a scale of 1 to 10.

Wall-E gets a rating of B+ which ranks.. somewhere in the range of 8.9 on a scale of 1 to 10.

On Sunday spending time with Brandy was good too-- she finally had a chance to see the house.

Today I was back at work.  Day went by fairly quick.

...so tired of the way things are.

Changes.  Now I have to listen to that song.

I think that is all I have for now.  I heard Dean Kuest is speaking at Central this week.  Should be good..

just Pray

hey

I took the day off today.

Yesterday was a good day for work, we left work early and everyone went to Dave and Busters for a semi-team building event.  It was good, pretty fun.  Not sure I would pay what D&B wanted for their little place, but hey for free it was entertaining.

During it all the TV's were on and a Yankees game was on - so was the NBA Draft.  I was going crazy with stuff to look at and pay attention to.  Blazers made some good drafts and made some better trades.. so I am very very excited for the next seasons - as if I wasn't already... this just adds to it all.

Yankees game got called due to rain - but we were up in runs before that happened.

I got done and went to my car.. there has been a big fire here that they've just been letting burn out - but the sun was blocked by it.. plus I liked the way things look.  I was like - dangit!  why can't I have my camera with me now?

And then there was today.  I didn't do a whole lot - and I suppose that is a good thing.  I went to see the movie: Wanted.  It was alright.  They swore a lot- plus a lot of blood.. even if only momentary.  Otherwise it would have been great.

On the way home.. I saw the smoke stuff again.  The sun turned a nice red.  So I ran inside and snatched my camera so I could take some before the sun set too much.

Much better than the phone camera.

A little closer up..

Up close, and personal?

Most red- but most blurry.  Anyway.. thought you would enjoy the update.

And the pictures gave me an excuse to update.

just Pray.

hey

so, it has been 10 days since I have last updated xanga.  Ten days.  It is close to midnight at which point-- less than one week before July.  The time is flying by - yet in the same token dragging on.  Amazing how that works isn't it?

I use to think my blog was something good to read, something for anyone to get something from.  I don't think that way any more.  I more keep up with my blog so I can look back time after time and see what was going on during my life at such times.

Timing is everything.  Speaking of time, its 11:25 and I don't know what I'm going to add into this post.

Sports is always a fairly easy topic to talk about.  The playoffs came down to the two teams I thought it would- but the team I wanted to lost to the team that I thought would win.  I hate when I'm right...

Think think think...

As of June 25h Happy Birthday to Dayna Jean

Work has been going alright, the new manager started last Monday.  So far I see things will be more about numbers than quality.  Time will tell if that pans out..

This past weekend I took a day trip to Flagstaff with Brandy.  It was nice to get away, even if it was warm.  It's been anywhere between 113 and 117 here lately and in Flagstaff it was about 95.  It was nice to spend some time with Brandy and get away from things even if for a little bit of time.

Sometimes I see differences between me and my other friends that I almost think are insurmountable.  Nothing is so bad that you can't get over it, just at times I feel that I can't relate to those around me and yet at other times when I open up I feel as though I am being talked down upon.

Friends as a personal request please keep my friends father (Ben) in your prayers.  He is struggling with things right now and his family is trying to keep strong.  As my friend told me it is extremely hard "to see your superhero crumble" - I can only imagine.  Anyway if you will pray for his father, him and the immediate family during their struggle.  The whole thing reminds of this bible verse.. Galatians 6:2

I guess I don't have anything else, but while staring off into space I read something written on my calender that I'll leave you with.

{[The word [fellowship] has lost most of its biblical meaning.  "Fellowship" now usually refers to casual conversation, socializing, food, and fun..... 
Real fellowship is... experiencing life together.]}

just Pray