PennWarrior's Xanga

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 19:52:03 GMT

Hello Everyone!

Well after traveling all over the country for a month, It is really much harder to get into the swing of xanga then you would think. For one thing everyone has forgotten your blog, and for another, it just seems like such a small thing. My solution of course, is to forget xanga back! Besides, I kind of switched to facebook. Yep, the words out... I have betrayed xanga! Oh well... what's to be done, anyway? Xanga is, as I said, just a small thing. Besides, I've been a faithful xangoner for Four years! I deserve a month off... or two.

Haha. Don't worry too much... it's not like I'm going to disappear. :-p Anyway, here are pictures from Nationals to satisfy you. I'll even post about Generation Joshua camp when I get pictures back from that.

Here is your Region 10 Team, everyone!

And here of course, is Ashlynne and myself. We didn't place at Nationals, but we won three and lost three. That's not too bad.

The Official "Riga Summit" picture.

Well anyway people, that's all for now. Talk to you later, if you have facebook. If not... well, talk to you much later.

Keep it real!

Saturday, June 02, 2007

Sat, 02 Jun 2007 00:33:58 GMT

Just so you know...

I actually do post once in a blue moon.

Celebrate, everyone! It's a blue moon! The ONLY one for all of 2007!

In other news, I graduated last week! Maybe I'll put up some pictures later... when I get some. In the meantime, look for me no more. There's less than a week until Nationals, and oh so much to do! Must be busy!

"Breaking News! Extra! Estra! Read all about it!"

Tue, 22 May 2007 10:44:25 GMT

So reads the headline on the front page of a news paper. This is the way important news comes to most of us, and this is what we look for. But what about the deeper things? The more thoughtful things, or much more complex issues? Often times it just passes us by, sadly. Ironic, really... that in this age of information we can be so unaware of the unreported news. Important news. The news of man!

Man. Anthropos. Sometimes used to clarify the entire human race, as in Mankind. But this time we're speaking of the male race, or better written as guys. One of the ways you know something is very important is when it comes at you over and over again from all different directions. I have been hearing and reading of this topic in so many different places over the past week, that I just feel compelled to write about it today.

I think it's common knowledge that there is a lack of capable guys today. We talk about the need for men in the church. We talk about men in Government, and in the work force today. We need strong men to lead families, who love their wives and are committed to their children. We need men to turn this nation around, and what do we get? The majority of guys in most circles are wimps. Men are turning themselves into women, for crying out loud! And we ask who's to blame for the feminist movement today?

Now... that's probably the common viewpoint, isn't it? In scrolling through my subscriptions list, I read several posts bemoaning silly boys, and jerks. But there's more... and there's hope!

A few days ago I was in a chat with two awesome guys that I know. It was really great to talk with them, because they were such strong men. I realized then what I have missed in these past years. Since my older brothers left in 2005, I haven't had much of the camaraderie and fellowship with guys like me. I know a lot of them, but other then a few select here and there the majority of them are quiet, and rather suppressed. Not that they aren't great people of course, but I find that among them I am often the one initiating most of the conversation, and ideas. Now we all know people like this, and it's not necessarily a bad thing. But if everyone is quiet and laid back, who is going to lead anything? At the risk of seeming hyperactive or dictatorial, I end up leading everyone all the time. Now not only is this not always good for the people I'm with, it's also not good for me either. I have times where need to follow too, and I sometimes have trouble with that. These things need to be properly balanced, and everyone needs to learn to be a leader once in a while.

Once again, there is still more, and there is still hope. I have been in a worldview study group recently, and I am very glad to see that half of the people there are guys. And half of those guys are pretty active, too. That's good compared to many of your average youth groups, too. And in our church our pastor has been giving praises about the many active men in the church. We have a medium sized church, of about 200 people, and there are about 20 men who have active duties and shifts. That's really good compared to many churches, too.

Lastly, another very important issue... the relationship between guys and girls. This is most likely the largest contributing factor to guys being labeled as jerks. Far to few men these days know how to properly relate to girls and ladies. For one thing, most of them can't talk. It's either excessive shyness, or just plain cowardice. Either way, it's unacceptable. On the opposite side, you have guys who just don't care, and have no respect for girls at all. I see this all over the place, ranging from guys who don't speak properly to girls, to two guys I saw walking home from school who were pushing this girl all over the road. Yet I have been greatly encouraged by a number of email updates I have been getting from the Generation Joshua Forums on the Chivalry thread. Here you have both guys and girls talking together about what chivalry means, and how it applies to our daily lives. From opening doors, to carrying bags, defending the honor of ladies, and ultimately the backbone of chivalry... respect. Like all other things it is a hearts attitude and a proper mindset. It means knowing how to show love and honor to girls without making them feel inferior, or threatened. I am just very glad to see people who are interested in these things.

So as I said, this is indeed a thoughtful and complex topic. We need to be very careful in addressing this that in talking about the need for one sex we don't completely gloss over the other. When I say we need men in government, the workforce, and families today I am in no way saying that women can't or don't do these things too. Basically, I don't believe in classifying a women's "place." It is God who governs the affairs of men and women alike, and he can raise up either of them for His glory. It's up to us to do all we can both jointly and individually to advance His kingdom.

So to all your girls who talk or write about these things, thank you for being awesome and amazing, and thank you very much for your concern. Keep on working to be beautiful and worthy in the sight of God. This is your world as much as anyone else's, and this is your future. You deserve to settle for nothing other than the best! That's why the girl ultimately has the final decision of marriage in our society today.

And to all of us guys, just remember what we're up against. We are ones who have to fight the battles today, and we are the ones who have to be worthy. To those of you who care, and to my good friends I was talking to the other day, thank you for standing in a time when men run. If we stand together, we have an opportunity to effect change, and to make a difference! Always know who you are and what is required of you. We have a lot to live up to, men.

And so I close with the words of the poet Longfellow, in his poem The Psalm of life. Let it be an inspiration to all of us to persevere, and to prevail!

In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;

Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.

Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.

Go in grace and peace... and make a difference!

Hola, Mis Amigos!

Sat, 05 May 2007 18:23:42 GMT

There is life in the air... and freshness... and beauty... and color... and allergens... *sneeze* Ach. Stinkin allergies!

Hey, everyone. It's lovely weather these days, and I this summer is going to be great! I hope you are all well.

Today is Cinco de Mayo!

This calls for a celebration! It also calls for a siesta`. But most importantly, it commemorates the victory of Mexican forces led by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín over French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

In honor of my Hispanic culture, I have a new layout! Features include:

Original Spanish Castle
Enchanting Spanish Guitar
And best of all...
Senor Jedidiah in Matador array, complete with a Spanish Mustache!

In other news, to commemorate this great day and the brave Mexican forces, I registered for the draft! Viva los Estado Unidos de America!

And to commemorate the Spanish gold, I opened a checking account! Viva los pesos!

And to commemorate the Spanish Flamenco Dance, I listened to a most amazing performance of Malaguena, played by my "favorite piano player!" Viva la Anna!

So that's about it. Enjoy! And remember... my culture was here first, on the Island of Puerto Rico! Viva la Puerto Rico! Viva!

Adios!

2007 Region 10 Debate is over.

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 16:12:59 GMT

That's right, folks. Regionals was last week. Wouldn't you love to hear about it?

Only a week before the Regional tournament, I went to the last qualifier of the year where Ashlynne and I won First Place Team, and I also managed to qualify for Regionals in Impromptu, Dramatic, Humorous, and Expository. That made me an Iron Man at Regionals. A word of advice... don't try this.

Well Regionals went wonderfully overall. Ashlynne and I didn't break in debate, but she got Second place regional speaker, and I qualified for Nationals in Impromptu and Thematic. Our region has at-large qualification for team policy debate, and since we did very well in past tournaments (winning 1st and 2nd place) we have a good chance at qualifying for Nationals in team policy, as well. We're just waiting to hear back.

~ ~ ~

Ashlynne 'Whitney' Meiklejohn is really quite an extraordinary person. I met her through Generation Joshua of course, like most of you who are likely to read this. I have a sticky note in my binder that basically sums up how she debates. "For some reason I always end up shaking during my speech. Probably because of the violence of my passions." But throughout this Debate season we have sought to do all we could to debate for God's glory. We talked about this at the beginning of the year, and it was noted that to fulfill this goal we might just end up losing. Like they said in Facing the Giants, (a movie we both saw) "Praise Him when we win, and praise Him when we lose." It's all well and good to praise God when you win, but it is a little harder to praise God in losing. Even though we only really 'lost' one tournament, we had several other challenges and complications, like the time in a quarterfinal round when it was announced that we had lost to the other team, and we had really won.

Talking about heart's attitude before one tournament, we realized that since we know and believe that it is our duty to give all the praise to God, we are bound to it like no one else. "To know the right to do, and not to do it is sin." Reflecting after our worst tournament of the year, we realized that it isn't a punishment to lose. Everything that happens is just another avenue to give God the glory, and to do our very best is our duty before God. Whether or not we succeeded in our goal, only God knows. But at the ending of the season I feel happy and edified by it all. Anyone in Region 10 speech and debate would feel the same, I'm sure. I know amazing people in many places all around me, but NCFCA has such a high concentration of amazing people! Not to say that the forest is any more spectacular then the lone tree in the valley, though.

~ ~

I also reflect on Fame... the great power of being the center of attention. I have been there... to the top of the list... to the center of the stage, at the front of the crowd. I have stood before the podium, spoken into the microphone, given my view to a listening audience, and my friends have heard. I have been captured on camera and television, and my friends have seen. I have been a victor, and my friends have known. And someone once asked "what is it like?" I can tell you, that it really doesn't bring you much. You don't become popular, everyone doesn't want to automatically be your friend, you don't get special privileges or attention, etc. But the one thing you get is an opportunity! People will take you seriously when you say something! That said, you can't really gain anything by being famous... but you can give volumes!

It is a gift to be acknowledged. It is an honor to be appreciated. Sometimes you earn it. Sometimes it is given to you. But one thing that never changes is the responsibility. The Bible says that "to whom much is given, much will be required." You see famous stars and celebrities today, and their lives are a mess. When we come to a position of influence, the eyes of others are upon us. Not only do we have the duty to glory God, we have a golden opportunity! As Nelson Mandela said in his inaugural address,

"You are a child of God; your playing small doesn't serve the world. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

And that is what I have to say about that. I hope it encourages you, because in the end, that's all you can really do with fame.

Well then folks, that is all for now. I hope you are all doing well. I do actually read your blogs when they come to my subscriptions. please forgive me for not doing more. You don't even need to leave comments if you don't want to. I shall read your expressions of love in the numbers on my footprints.

And so, as a cool person who we all know loves to say, "Have lovely days."

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:55:21 GMT

"... and by a 2 - 1 decision, advancing to the Quarterfinal round, Estrada - Miecklejohn."

We're going to Regionals!! Praise the Lord!

The Dynamic Duo!

Ashlynne also got 15th place speaker, and I got 13th.

. . . .

In other news, tomorrow... March 1st... 5 PM...

I turn 18.

Farewell youth.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Thu, 25 Jan 2007 00:27:59 GMT

2006
TWO THOUSAND SIX
MMVI
dos mil e sies

Take your pick, but either way... it's History.

And so now that I am perfectly comfortable with writing 2007 on top of all my school work, I might as well go over the past year and recount the calendar that is now gone.

January 06

So the year began out mildly enough. There isn’t much marked on my calendar except for my payment records, a Gen J Club meeting and my Dad’s birthday. Looking back at the holidays of 2006, it was to be the last season that our whole family was to be together as it had been since 1979 when the Estrada family began. However, change as we shall see later on is a grand thing indeed!

February 06

Our family decided it would be a nice idea to throw a big party without the expenses. So we invited everyone we knew within a relatively traversable proximity and invited them to come ice skating with us. Eden was actually the one to oversee this event, with the aid of yours truly, of course. This event turned out to be extremely successful for us in that almost all our friends showed up. However, despite our requests the arena management would not reserve the rink for us. Consequently after all our friends got their skates and took to the ice, many people had to be turned away because there was no accommodating them. Well I can’t say we didn’t warn them, but it was another prime example of the Estradas and our friends taking over the world!
Also notable is the fact that I came down with pneumonia at this time, and received a portion of what would become the largest amount of xrays I ever got in a year. 3 direct blasts to the chest, and that was only the initial doctors visit. Another 3 radioactive discharges would be required just to confirm that the stupid infection was gone.

March 06

The 1st was my birthday of course, and I boasted 17 rotations around the sun. Thus began the second best year of my life, the first being when I was 14 in 2003. But I shall recap my life experiences later on when March comes round again and I have more time and place for contemplation.
Also this month, I had the pleasure of experiencing oral surgery. My lower right incisor as some of you know, was broken off just above the nerve ending in a fierce airsoft gun fight two summers ago. And so on the 22nd I had a root canal. One step closer to dentures, and some 30 odd mouth xrays between checkups, and mapping out the operation, and checking on each step, and checking to see if it was successful. At least the dentist told me that they were very low frequency xrays. Still, by this time I should be getting super powers or something.

April 06

Our homeschool group put on it's big production of Shakespeare The Taming of the Shrew, in original Olde English! It was a grand success, and well worth the months of rehearsals.
I also drove my 18th hour behind the wheel.

May 06

This was the great Estrada excursion to the west as we traveled to Oklahoma for William’s graduation. That however was best written here, and I won’t write any more of it here.

June 06

NCFCA Nationals! Though I was only a spectator at this event, it was great to see all my friends again, and it was still my sustenance of Debate for the 2006 season. DEBATE!!!! Can't live without it. Besides, I got to play tons of Ultimate Frisbee!
June also marked the end of our old Suburban which served us well for over 10 years, and 200,080 miles. That's the distance to the moon and beyond!

July 06

Lots of explosives and jazz on the 4th.
One of the biggest events of the year was when the Bradford County Generation Joshua met in a small cabinet meeting and voted unanimously to join with New York in a bi-state club! And so the Twin Tiers Generation Joshua was formed, and has been growing steadily to this day! Go see our new official website! http://TwinTiersGenJ.blogspot.com
Also late in this month, I fractured my foot playing Ultimate Frisbee and received the last portion of my year's quota of xrays to prove that I had an "avulsion of the tarsal navicular." Humph. Now I'm sure that I shall turn into an alien or something when I grow up.

August 06

My oldest brother William was married, and so Rachel became and Estrada, and the Randall family became our awesome relatives and great friends, and so continue to this day! And so also started another division of the Estrada family. We're one step closer to taking over the world!

September 06

Generation Joshua hosted a constitutional convention reenactment which was an wonderful success. I got to play the part of Gouverneur Morris, and spoke in the slavery debates. It was awesome.

October 06

Our Gen J club held a fairly successful voter registration drive at our church. We also began campaigning for a local county legislator candidate from our church. Going door to door is always exciting, and it's great to work in your own community.

November 06

I have already spoken on the elections. A tremendous success on our local level and for our club. Everyone we campaigned for won, including US Representative Randy Kuhl. We had a great time making several thousand phone calls and working with our county officials. It was a pity that national elections didn’t go as well.

December 06

December 17th (which was the 3 year mark of the Lord of the Rings) was the grand show of Handel's messiah, in concert!
And so 'twas Christmas again, with the joys and blessings of the season and the family.

11:59.59.99...

And so began the New year 2007!

As far as current updates go, I went to Word of Life snow camp this past weekend, which was immense fun indeed! In the opening announcement the speaker welcomed us all to snow camp.
"I just want to notify you of some things we'll be doing differently." He said on mellifluously, as someone strummed quietly on a guitar. "We're going to be much more laid back than we were last year, and we want you all to just relax. Because after all, that's what you want... isn't it?" The quiet music stopped abruptly, the lights went out suddenly! "I DON'T THINK SO!" Neon lights flashed on, lighting up the stage! Rock music started pumping, and a steadily increasing heart throb reverberated over the speaker! Snow Camp Arctic Adrenaline started full throttle... and it NEVER stopped! Until is was over, of course. We played all kinds of sports... Soccer, basketball, volleyball, dodgeball, rumble ball, football, hockey, knockout, paintball, snow tubing, and a ton of other cool stuff. We had a big cardboard and PVC pipe sled contest too. Our group made a huge ship painted black, and called it the Black Pearl! It was the largest sled there, and all 15 of our group and our counselors careened down the long icy hill, where the sled broke up. But we all made it down, which was better than most of the other sleds. I even saved this little girl's life...sort of. (hi kate.) I also won 2nd place in the Obstacle Course Competition, and I got this medal. Now I have a sports medal to put up with my speech and debate trophies so that people will see that I'm not just a nerd who spends his time in research and debate.

Well anyway, it was awesome. And now I'm back to work with school and Debate and IEs. I am almost done with my Dramatic Interp which is the story of POW Jeremiah Denton from his autobiography, When Hell was in Session. It's all about his imprisonment and torture, and the spirit that kept him strong. I'm also starting some Gen J Online civic courses, and keeping up with club work. Also trying to find time to win Zelda. So I should be set for a while.

Well that's all for now, people. A nice big post for you all. Enjoy.

Sunday, December 24, 2006

Sun, 24 Dec 2006 00:41:49 GMT

Now last week as you must understand,

was extremely busy, to put it mildly. On top of everything we had planned and everything we did, in the middle of the week (Wednesday that is) we decided to go to West Virginia. So we did, mom and I, and I drove mostly all of the way, and we brought tables, and benches, and a big electric fireplace for the cabin. We just got electricity installed, you know, and the fire place was supposed to keep us all warm, but somehow it didn’t work until the next day, so that night we had no heat in the middle of December in a cabin without insulation. Fun! After that we picked up Jordan from PHC and brought him home with his luggage, and a bad of gummy bears. I also brought back tons of scratches and cuts from the land, and three days worth of macho beard.
Then I found a tree...

And knocked it down!

Muahaha!

So yeah.

Now for some odd reason,

we managed to plan all our big events for the same weekend. Saturday at 10AM was our family’s music recital, and then at 2 we had one of the final rehearsals for Handel’s Messiah, and the first time with Orchestra accompaniment and Marietta Cheng directing us. Then on Sunday we had a special Christmas presentation at church, for which we did a mime to Casting Crowns "Who am I." And then of course, Sunday afternoon was the final rehearsal for the Messiah from 2 to 3, and the real thing starting at 4 and ended at 6. Then after that we went to see another Christmas program that our friends’ church was having at 7. And in the middle of all of that, Will and Rachel came up, and we celebrated Christmas with them, because they wont be here for the real thing.

And you all say, "Oh wow! Look at him now! I don't know how he does it here!"
And I nod my head up and down and say, "Thank you, my dears."

Now.

I simply must tell you about the Messiah.

I trust that all of you at one point in time have heard Handel’s Messiah, or better yet... seen it live! Where we live, our local Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes performs the Messiah every other year. Consequently, our family has seen it live twice, and listened to the recordings the rest of the time. That made it a great honor indeed for Mom and Eden and I to finally sing in it! My debate partner, Ashlynne, and her sister also joined our local choir, and this year a student choir from a local school joined us too. That gave us choir of about a hundred and thirty voices. I was singing bass of course, which was the best! (Bytheway, you all have to hear my Debate partner sing soprano sometime. She made a high A flawlessly!)

Now throughout the months of practice and rehearsals I’ve marveled at the magnificence and beauty of the piece. God’s word set to the most gorgeous music and sung by so many voices! But nothing could prepare me for the wonder and glory of that performance! I’m not even going to try and write how I felt singing that day. The bright light of the stage gave it a celestial feel! The orchestra played gloriously! The angelic singing of the choir, and Ashlynne who was next to me! The harmony! The voice that was coming out of me that I never knew! The divine words that I was singing!

Glory to God, Glory to God, Glory to God in the highest!
AND PEACE! ON EARTH!

                              Surely! Surely! He hath born our grief,
                                And has carried our sorrows, SURELY!

And His name, shall be call-ed,WONDERFUL! COUNSELER!
THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER, THE PRINCE OF PEACE!
The Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace!

        BeHOLD! The lamb of God! The Lamb of God!
        That taketh AWAY the sin of the world!

And He shall purify. And he shall purif - - - - - - - - - y the sons of Levi,
THAT THEY MAY OFFER UNTO THE LORD,
AN OFFERING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, IN RIGTHEOUSNESS!

                                         Who is this King of Glory? Who is this King of Glory?
                                        The Lord strong and mighty! The Lord strong and mighty!
                                        The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in Battle!

Worthy is the LAMB! That was slain...
And hath redeemed us to God, to God, by his blood.

HA---LLELUJAH! HA---LLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLE---LUJAH!
The Lord God omnipotent reigneth! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJA!

           KING OF KINGS!! FOREVER! AND EVER! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH!
          AND LORD OF LORDS! FOREVER! AND EVER! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH!

AND HE SHALL REIGN FOREVER AND E---VER!
FOR EVER! AND EVER! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH!

HA--LLE----LU--JAH!!

Hallelujah! I write it all here now, but you cannot know what those words mean to me now! You must ALL sing Handel’s Messiah yourselves! I can’t wait until I do it again! I will sometime, I know. Besides, after it was done Ashlynne and I agreed (when we could finally speak that is) that we will DEFINITELY sing that in Heaven! Forever! And Ever! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

HA--LLE----LU--JAH!!

Well folks, that was that, and it was definitely one of the best highlights of my year. And now, on with the season!
"'Tis the season to be jolly!" IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE!! And with Christmas comes the Reason for the Season, Jesus Christ. "Tomorrow is Christmas, it's practicaly here!""Hail the incarnate Deity"At this time of year we celebrate the coming of Christ to earth, 2006 years ago. "Pleased with man, with man to dwell" Actually, as Christians we are always celebrating Christ's coming, but this time is especially dedicated to his birth. "Glory to the newborn king." Today we have our church service, then we're going to see The Nativity Story, and then go back to church for the evening service. Sounds like a plan to me. Last night (this night actually, just it's late. ) we all went caroling with our church in the city. It was so awesome to touch people's hearts with joyous singing! "Here we come a caroling among the leaves so green" Speaking of green, today I opened the windows and aired out the downstairs and admired the green grass. The other day we had a picnic on the deck. How's that for Christmas vacation? But anyway, I'm sorry for Dell, and all the rest of you who wanted it to snow. "I'm dreamin' of a white Christmas" Well anyhow, you all have a very Merry Christmas yourselves, and a Happy and Blessed New Year!

And as my debate partner and her sister like to sing (at the top of their lungs):

I WANNA WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS, I WANNA WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS!
I WANNA WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!

With love to you and your Families,
- The PennWarrior.

Alright... here it is: My Post!

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 00:17:01 GMT

Today's the day!

But that's not where we are going to start. No, you shall come back now more than a month ago, to the beautiful Sunday of August 27th.

It was William and Rachel's Wedding day!!!! We had been in Virginia for a few days at the Randall's house, making flower arrangements, playing rummy, and scrabble, and staying up very late! The Randalls are such cool people, you know. Well we were all busy, and everything was in a tizzy, and everyone was all over the place, and the flowers ended up in the freezer somehow and were ruined, and the lemonade got forgotten, and we couldn't find the bride's tiera and shoes, and the cake fell en route, but other than that, everting went smoothly!

It was all so wonderful, and beautiful, and totally cool! The Recessional was even a Switchfoot song!

It was also SO cool being a groomsman! I got to hang out with all the awesome guys...

And beautiful girls...

And best of all, my two brothers!

Here's everyone.

And here is the AWESOME bride and groom!

So that was the wedding. And now... what do I think of it all?

Wellfirst of all, I think William is totally awesome! He just loves Rachelso much, it makes me feel like I have never loved anything! It reallyinspires me, too. I also think Rachel makes a wonderful Estrada! She's smart, talented, and beautiful! Fit's right in, if I say so myself. And what's more, her family is the coolest inlaws EVER! Did you knowthat Laura Randall has played Rouge Squadron!!?!?!??! She's pretty goodat it, too! And all of them play piano beautifully, and paint so well that I can hardly distinguish what is a photograph, and what they actually painted!

Secondly,I don't feel at all like I've lost anything. Instead I finally feellike I have closure on Will leaving. He and Jordan left quite suddenly,and I never really sorted it all out. Now I feel like I know were hewent, and why he went, and what he's doing now. He's finally living...that's what he's doing. He's finally doing what we always wanted to do.Wow! It's amazing to think about it! And what's more, I feel inspiredto do the same thing.

Yes my Friends, that was it... and it was something wonderful!

                                    Time elapsed...

                                                                                                       days...

                                                          weeks...

   almost a month...

Then came September 18th... Generation Joshua's Constitution Day!

We had been staying at the Randall's that weekend again, (did I mention how awesome the Randall's are? )and I was driving. I knew where I was going of course, because I had aprint out of the entire area from Google maps, which tells youeverything! The convention was at a big new church if Purcellville Virginia which isan old playing ground for us all, seeing as PHC is there, and many ofour friends. I even cut off a large portion of Route 7 rush hourtraffic by taking a little backroad that we know of from visiting theMarshalls. Rustic country roads in Virginia are so quaint. Well as soon as we got there, it was clear that this was going to begreat! There were people everywhere! Gen J people, too! (some of thebest kind, right?) I knew some of them from online, and I got to meet Sarah and Emily Jarvis, and Kenzy, of course. As a matter of fact, a lot of people got to meet Kenzy, it would seem.As I was walking in the doors, some people behind me where saying howthey were looking for Kenzy! (don't let it go to your head, Kenzy.)Well anyway, Mr. Ryun gave a speech, and Mike Smith gave a speech, andMike Farris gave a speech, and Drew Ryun and some of his colleagues cameand gave speeches. But the best part of all was reenacting theConstitutional Convention! It was amazing! Here's how it worked:
Therewere tables lined up in the front of the auditorium with the names ofthe delegates in front of all the seats. Two platforms were at the backwith more table on them. At the beginning of each of the six sessions,anyone who wanted to speak could go up and claim a seat. Nice and tidy,right?

heh. No. For the first session, I went to get a drink, thinkingI would come back and claim some seat. I came back, and almost every seatwas taken! After that, it was chaos! Ordered chaos, that is. As soon as the breaks were announced everyone would charge for the front of the room, and make a mad dash for the seats! Well after around of that, I knew I would have to get cunnning.

I slouched inmy chair, listening to some kid drone the words of James Madison. Iknew what I wanted. I wanted to read the part of Gouverneur Morris inthe Slave Debates. Now how was I do get it? That was the problem. Butnot for long! In the sessions immediately before the Slave Debates, Ichose a quiet little seat towards the back of the delegates,strategically positioned behind the seat of Mr. G. Morris. And I chosewell. By the end of the session, I saw people edging towards the frontrows, poised to spring, an claim the choice seats in this next to lastsession! I gathered folder, and moved to the edge of the table. Then,break was announced, and the dash was on! The whole room erupted! Ididn't waste time walking around the two platforms... I leaped over thegap between the two platforms and slammed my folder down on Mr. G.Morris's seat! In an immediate conclusion following... *SLAM* *SLAM* ...twomore folders landed on top of mine! It was just like in a card game, likeERS, or Spit! But MINE was on the bottom! I GOT IT!!!! It was well worth it, too. In all optimism, I had been studying this part for half of the morning. I wasn't about to lose it.

And then, the convention resumed. The Slave Debates were on!

Thedelegates battled out issues of representation, and property. Shouldslaves be considered in Representation? Many southern delegates weregrowing agitated, and heated arguments arose! Then, Mr. GouverneurMorris stood to his feet. He argued for representation only of freeinhabitants. He dramatically denounced slavery as "a nefarious institution." The "curse of heaven on the States where it prevails!" Then with sweeping gestures, he compared the free middle states, with "the barren wastes of Virginia, and Maryland." He strode boldly across the platform comparing the "superior improvement of Pennsylvania", with the great desert of the south and it's "wretched beings!" He spoke of the suffering of the slaves, and the defiance of humanity in which men would "tear away his fellow creatures from their dearest connections and damn them to the most cruel bondages!" The toil! The Pain! The Sacrifices! He came dramatically to a close... "For what then are all these sacrifices to be made? I would soonersubmit himself to a tax for paying for all the negroes in the UnitedStates..." he brought his fist hard against the table "...than saddle posterity with such a Constitution!"

I sat down, and suddenly the room exploded into an impromptu session of cheers, and applause! It was very interesting indeed. Afterwards a lot of people came up to me and said I did a great job, and broughtthe convention to life, and asked if I was a debater, or a pastor, etc. But I am thankful to have had a chance to reenact our nations most important convention ever! Really, I thought everyone did an excellent job. Even if no one got applause, or if they stumbled through long words like Legislature, and Judiciary, it was the most amazing thing I have ever seen to see 13, 14, and 15 year old kids get up there and read the words of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, and many others. I don't think it even could happen anywhere else! HURRAH FOR GENERATION JOSHUA!!!!!

SO that was really cool. And they served Chik-Fil-A lunches in boxes. Here's a Chik-Fil-A box lunch picture.

(bytheway, I have a picture of Kenzy eating a Chik-Fil-A box lunch. Do ya'll think I should post it? )

Well after that mom and I went to PHC, because it was there, and it was(is) awesome, and you don't just drive by it without stopping to make a holy pilgrimage through it's hallowed hallways. But the best thing about stopping at PHC is that you get to see everyone!! I don't know how I won't end up going there in the end. I know so many people there, it's like family. First we saw Kaitlyn of course, and Jordan of course, and then Ryun Suarez comes walking by, and then Kelly Orsini, and Jessica Runk, and Ben Sayre, and John Curry, and everyone else who I don't really know, but still feel connected with somehow. So then Kenzy and her family came with Emily Jarvis, and them all and Kaitlyn and mom I hung out for a bit...
(mom took the pic.)

And then they left, and Mom and Jordan and Kaitlyn and I had lunch...
(mom took the pic again. )

And then we left. And that was it... there wasn't anymore.

                               Until....

                                                                        ...last week!

Last week goes down as a banner week for the Twin Tiers Generation Joshua! On Sunday, October 1st we held a voter registration drive at our church! We signed up 5 new voters, which is really good, seeing as our church only has about a hundred people. Then on Saturday we hit the campaign trail for the first time as a club, covering an entire congressional district in just about 2 Hours! Which was pretty good, if you ask me. Everyone in the 13th Congressional district of Chemung county NY vote for Rick Madl for County Legislature!!! Bravo to the members of the Twin Tiers Generation Joshua! One of these days I'll get a good picture of all of us.

One more thing that deserves recognition is this past monday, which was the Debate club meeting, at which our official name became the Associated Twin Tiers Area Christian Communicators. All you debate people, beware... ATTACC is coming!

So there you are, people. Probably one of the biggest and most meandering post in a while. Certainly nothing like my Oklahoma trip post which was a work of art, but I hope you enjoy reading about what I've been doing in the past month.

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This Saturday yours truly is taking the SAT. Today I spent the entire afternoon taking a complete practice SAT from the official study book. I'll grade that tomorrow, and post results laer. Stay tuned!

The Release date for Part II of the Phantom of the Estrada is DECEMBER! More information and trailers should be coming in the following months. Stay tuned for more!

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Farewell!

wake up neo...

Fri, 04 Aug 2006 00:32:54 GMT

how can you see into my eyes like open doors
leading you down into my core
where i've become so numb without a soul my spirit sleeping somewhere cold
until you find it there and lead it back home
wake me up inside
wake me up inside
call my name and save me from the dark
bid my blood to run
before i come undone
save me from the nothing i've become

...bring me to life!