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Sunday, May 11, 2008
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Countdown to Europe
Wednesday afternoon Blake & I head to Europe! Now that Blake is in town, we're going to sit down today or tomorrow and try to put together a rough itinerary of things we'd like to do or see in each location. So if you have suggestions based on your experiences, please pass them along! We could use your ideas for...London
Ireland (driving from Dublin to Doolin to Dingle to Killarney to Dublin)
Prague
Budapest
Vienna
Venice
Cinque Terre
Rome
Scotland (Edinburgh & Glasgow)
What was over-hyped and not worth the time? What are your can't miss sights or restaurants?
Won't be long now!
Friday, April 25, 2008
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My Favorite Season
I was reading an article in Variety yesterday that made me suddenly realize that my favorite season is almost here - summer blockbuster season. Check out these movies coming out beginning next week:- May 2nd - Iron Man
- May 9th - Speed Racer
- May 16th - The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
- May 22nd - Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
- May 2nd - Iron Man
Thursday, April 24, 2008
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Out with the bad air...
It just occurred to me tonight that I'm stressed. I mean like shoulders-tensed grouchy-mood constantly-worrying-&-thinking stressed.
I got a message tonight from one of my students asking if everything was OK as I've seemed grumpy lately in lab. This reminded me of a dream I had earlier this week where I was in a bad mood and yelling at my students, just really laying in to them. In the dream it was like part of me didn't want to and knew it was wrong but the other part was in a really horrible mood and didn't care. Perhaps my subconscious was trying to tell me something!
So as I thought about why I would be stressed it dawned on me with a "Well, duh!" type clarity.
1. I'm in the midst of preparing to pack and move this weekend. I really don't want to move, but as my roommates keep leaving, I have no choice. So I'm packing up everything I own for literally around the 25th time and moving in to a small room with my good friends Tim & Julie. To get ready I've been sorting through junk, listing items on Craig's List and eBay, negotiating deals, sending packages, finding a storage space, renting a truck, and the packing hasn't even started yet.
2. I'm trying to find a job in San Diego. My friends Brian & Cecilee are heading to SD to pioneer a Chi Alpha group at UCSD and asked me to come along. I'd love to but need a job. I've checked into a dozen schools and so far no dice. The only opening I did find was a position actually at UCSD which I found out yesterday is a no-go.
3. I've been planning a trip to Europe. This sounds fun but it's seriously turned into another part-time job as I've spent at least 15-30 hours working on it every week the past month trying to find places to stay, booking flights, renting cars, checking train schedules, buying gear, etc. I need a vacation from my vacation and it hasn't even started yet.
I probably just need to go pray and unwind that way, but first I think I'm going to go grab a "beverage", veg on the couch, and try not to think about any of this for awhile - especially that I have to start packing & cleaning my apartment just a few hours from now...
Thursday, April 10, 2008
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Mac Torquil
In preparation for my upcoming trip to Europe, I've been trying to do a little research on the origin of my surname, McCorkle. After lots of fruitless searching on the internet, I finally came across some information in a few different sources.
According to http://www.pcez.com/~glennab/mccorklefamilyhistory.htm:
The McCorkle name originated in Scotland, but the name has made many changes over the centuries. In the ninth Century A.D., the Scottish King, Kenneth the Great went to Ireland to assist Alpin, King of the Scots against the Picts. When Kenneth defeated the Picts and the Vikings, he did so with the help of a Danish Prince named Torquil (A.D. 734). Kenneth rewarded Torquil with a land grant near Oban, on Loch Awe, for accomplishing his hazardous mission. Torquil was a descendant of the Thorgisl, mentioned in the Viking Thorgisl Saga about 700 A.D. Torquil's father was named Thorquil (or Thorgesius in Latin) and his grandfather was Thorkill, son of Thurkill, son of Thurkell, son of Thorgisl. Torquil had a son named Mac Torquil, which in Gaelic, means son of Torquil. The land which Torquil received was in what is now County Argyle, Scotland, and the name Mac Torquil is still used in some locations in the Highlands
According to http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~dwoody/mccorkle/glean.htm:
Mac Toruil (the son of Torquil), Mac Corkle, the surname of a Highland sept, was founded by Torquil, a prince of Denmark under Kenneth the Great. Kenneth was in Ireland helping Alpin, King of the Scots, against the Picts. Torquil, a Danish prince, was rewarded with land near Loch Awe, by Kenneth, for performing a hazardous mission. Mac Torquil is still used in some places in the Highlands and is one of the oldest names in County Argyle. The last lineal descendant is dead. In the great invasion of North Ireland, the family moved to Derry.
County Argyll (Argyle or Argyllshire) is located in southwest Scotland. (see map below)
Loch Awe is marked on the map below with a green arrow. I guess McCorkles have always been Awe-inspiring.
(I wonder if there's a Loch Awe monster?)
According to the above sources, McCorkle is a sept of the MacLeod clan. (Cool, so am I related to Connor MacLeod!?)The McCorkle coat of arms displays the following:
Crest: A stag, standing at gaze, attired gules (i.e. red horns)
Arms: A demi-stag, gules, naissant out of a fesse tortille (i.e. springing out of a twisted band)
Motto: Vivat Rex! (i.e. Long Live the King)
So who knows, perhaps during my travels I'll encounter a fellow McCorkle. Or Mac Thorquil. Or MacCorkhill, MacCorkindale, MacCorkindell, MacCorkle, MacCorkuodil, MacCorkuodul, MacCorqill, MacCorqindal, MacCorqindul, MacCorquindale, MacCorquodale, MacCorquodil, McCorcal, McCorckell, McCorckill, McCorckle, McCorcle, McCorkel, McCorkell, McCorkendale, McCorkendell, McCorkhill, McCorkil, McCorkill, McCorkindal, McCorkindale, McCorkindell, McCorkindil, McCorkindul, McCorkuodal, McCorkuodil, McCorkuodul, McCorqell, McCorqindal, McCorqindil, McCorquindale, McCorquodal, McCorquodale, McCorquodell, McCorquodul, McQuorcadale, McQuorcodale, Mac Thorcaill...
Sunday, April 06, 2008
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Currently Reading
The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life In God
By Dallas Willard
see relatedJesus
"The condition of life sought for by human beings through the ages is attained in the quietly transforming friendship of Jesus." - Dallas Willard
There's so much to chew on in that tiny morsel, it's like an entire feast contained inside a grain of wheat. That's the thing about Dallas, he says more in a sentence or two than most authors do in an entire book.
Read and think.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
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Bad Professor
This morning I arrived in lab and chit-chatted a bit, as always, asking how everyone's weekend was. After a few minutes I asked if they were ready to get their lab exams back. They seemed a bit nervous so I reassured them saying, "They were really good. I was impressed with how well everyone did." "Wow, really?" was the reply. "No," I said. "April Fool's. You did horrible." I then proceeded to spend an hour pointing out all their mistakes. Well, I thought it was funny.
P.S. They did laugh afterwards.
Monday, March 31, 2008
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European Update
Our itinerary to Europe is slowly falling into place. We don't have all the dates worked out quite yet (looking for cheap flights) and don't know exactly which cities we'll be in which days, but we've painted the broad strokes. We originally had more destinations planned, but decided with all the travel between them it'd be better to spend more time in fewer places. So here's what we've worked out so far.
(Sightseeing days in bold, travel days normal)
May 14th/15th - San Francisco to London
May 16th - London
May 17th - London to Dublin
May 18-20 - Ireland
May 21st - Dublin to Prague
May 22-24 - Prague (Celebrate mine & Blake's birthday Czech-style!)
May 25-29 - Prague to Budapest to Vienna & points in between (with Ben & Patton)
May 30 - Vienna to Venice (From V to shining V?)
May 31-June 5(ish) - Italy
June 6(ish) - Rome to Glasgow
June 7-8 - Scotland
June 9 - Drive to London
June 10 - London
June 11 - London to San Francisco
Still have to book one more flight, rent a few cars, look into trains, and find some lodging. But it's shaping up!
Any suggestions on specific locations to see in Ireland, Scotland, Italy, etc? Where would you like to go?
(Pic is of Cinque Terre in northwest Italy on the Riviera. Hopefully we can make it there!)
Friday, March 28, 2008
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Watch Out World
A couple days ago I made a semi-spontaneous decision. No, I didn't get anything pierced or tattooed, nor did I buy a BMW or elope with a stranger. But it was still somewhat sudden, at least by my standards.
My buddy Blake has been wanting to visit our friends Ben & Patton in Prague for awhile now. I asked him a couple weeks ago when he was thinking about going and turned out the dates were around the time I happen to have five weeks off between spring and summer semesters (gotta love the college schedule!) So I was thinking about it, periodically searching for flights, but not really sure it would work out considering the exorbitant prices ($1,000+) and the weak dollar.
Wednesday I was searching again on Orbitz, Kayak, Expedia, etc and couldn't find anything below the low-$800's, and most flights were over a thousand dollars. I happened to catch my friend Ben on Skype and he suggested I check some airlines directly in case they had internet only fares the search engines might not find. I didn't know how likely that was but figured it couldn't hurt. I tried Air France and it was over $1,200, then tried British Airways, not expecting much better considering what a quality airline it is. To my surprise, I found a non-stop round-trip ticket from San Francisco to London for $623!!! (Heck, I've seen flights across the US for that much, let alone non-stop to Europe!) I called Blake, told him my find, double-checked my schedule, called my mom (always a good idea), quickly debated it a bit more, then bit the bullet.
So from May 14th-June 11th Blake & I will be having our own version of European Vacation, only much funnier and with better guest stars.
We'll definitely be visiting London and Prague, but here's my question for you: If you could go anywhere in Europe (and we basically can since flights are $30-50 to hop around the continent), where would you go? Got a top 5 or top 10 European destinations? Help us narrow it down!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
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Currently Reading
Your Money Counts
By Howard Dayton
see relatedSemi-Annual Bataan Death March
I hate shopping. But about twice a year it's inevitable that I need to restock my wardrobe for spring/summer or fall/winter. When that dreaded time comes, I must admit that I love Kohl's. I like the styles, but I also like saving serious ka-ching. It somewhat lessens the pain of looking through twelve thousand different garments, while trying on six hundred, to see 40%, 60%, 80% off. So when I got a coupon in the mail last week for an additional 30% off everything, I decided it was time for my semi-annual shopping experience. I managed to escape today with 6 shirts, 2 pairs of shorts, 1 pair of pants, socks & underwear for a very reasonable $180.49. Heck, that 30% coupon saved me $71.80 alone which almost made the experience enjoyable! Almost.
Friday, March 14, 2008
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Currently Reading
Your Money Counts
By Howard Dayton
see relatedI Kissed Debting Good-Bye
(That title is for you Joshua Harris-philes.)
You may remember way back when I posted saying I was credit card debt free. My only remaining debts at the time were a no-interest hospital bill for my exploding appendix and a small, low-interest student loan. This Wednesday I'm starting a 10 week course at my church on Wednesday nights called Crown Financial just to learn more about money and how it works. One of the prerequisites before the first class is to read a small book called "Your Money Counts". I just finished the chapter on debt and was pretty proud of myself at first for only having the student loan remaining at this point, but then began reading Scripture after Scripture like the following:"The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." (Proverbs 22:7)
"You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men." (1 Corinthians 7:23)
"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another." (Romans 13:8a)
There are a bunch more on debt, trust me! I finally decided that since it was within my power to pay off that last little debt I might as well. So again I say, "Halle-lu-jah!" Considering the thousands upon thousands of dollars of debt I had a relatively few short months ago, it's amazing to be able to look at my bank balance and see black instead of red.
Now, of course, all I can think about it incurring some new debt in order to buy a car...
KentyMac
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- Name: Kent
- Country: United States
- State: California
- Metro: Sacramento
- Gender: Male
- Member Since: 11/18/2004
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Kent is thinking about the Kingdom of God.
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