Food For Thought

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

  • My first

    So yesterday was something else. Monday was my first official day on my first official job. And I was sure busy. Even now, during lunch hour, I have a little bit of time to update before hitting the desk again. So what was it like? Hard to describe in simple terms... just a lot of records work. I'll explain more when I have time to put it in an understandable way. For now, be satisfied that I am alive up here, and check out this picture of my on my first morning:
    There you have it! Until later...

    Protecting the Village,

    Brian Jones

Friday, July 04, 2008

  • The booming 4th

    Today marks a day that is very important for each person in this country. Over 230 years ago, men and women were giving their all for something they believed in. They felt that people should not be subjected to tyranny, and should be free to practice religion in their own fashion. We set aside this day to commemorate that, and to remember it. Never forget that our freedom is bought with a price.

    We took family pictures today, so maybe I'll post a picture or two later. For now though, I'll post my favorite fireworks picture that I took this evening at Steep Hollow Baptist Church's fireworks display.


    Oh, and if you'd like to see a few more (rather than me upload them twice...), click the link below for photos I posted on Facebook.

    Fireworks Photos 2008

    Y'all have a good one now!

    Protecting the Village,

    Brian Jones

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

  • Corpus Christi and happenings

    Monday was busy. I got to sleep in some, then do a little house cleaning after being gone for the weekend. Then Dad came along and said that we (he, the boys, and I) were going down to a neighbor's house real quick to help him install a new TV antenna on his house. It ended up taking a little longer than expected, but it wasn't too bad. Then I had to go into town to the library (I got a new book!), Wal-Mart, and the AT&T place. *sigh* Alas, my poor phone has had a hard life. I finally wore it out. Fortunately, it's still under warranty, so it'll be replaced with exactly the same thing, except that this new one will work right. Once we got back, I had to quickly pack again and hop in the car for Corpus Christi, a five hour drive.

    Tuesday I did some odd jobs around Grandpa's house, including fixing his chainsaw and trimming a number of the oleanders out front. I then did some stuff around the house, before going to the nursing home to visit my grandmother. After seeing her for a little while, we all went down to Mustang Island, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Lori and I bodysurfed for a while, then Katie and Amy came out. About the time we got hungry, we swam back to the shore and ate, then helped with the sand sculpture Mom and Timothy and Lori were building. Here's me next to it:

    We made a dragon, that "Sir Lance" (aka, Amy's kid), could fight off:

    I guess it didn't stand a chance.

    Afterward, we hunted along the edge of the tide for hermit crabs. I had never seen them here before, and they were in great abundance so we collected up a number of pretty looking ones. I have a semi-humane way of removing them from their shells... A long car trip back, a carwash to get the salt and sand off, then back to the house to clean up. After washing everything, I worked out for a while with Grandpa's weight set. He only had 100lbs worth of weights, so I only did a smaller workout (80 on the bar, 20 on the curling bar).

    Today I went to the Corpus Christi airport to pick up my aunt, flying in from Harrisburg, PA. Because my Mom (her sister) and all of us kids were down here, she decided to fly down to visit. The weather was sprinkling just a bit on the way there and back. In a little while, we'll be going back to the nursing home to play music for some of the residents.
    Here's a passage that I read in II Peter this morning, and thought I would share:

    "But also for this very reason, giving all diligence,
    add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
    to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance,
    to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness,
    and to brotherly kindness love.
    For if these things are yours and abound, you will be
    neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our
    Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things
    is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that
    he was cleansed from his sins."
    ~II Peter 1:5-9

    Any how, such were my thoughts turned to this morning, and so I think that I'll write a Med Com on these, as I feel I have some good thinking to do about them.
    I have many, many thoughts to share from the REBELution conference this last weekend, but I shall save them for a later post, next time I have the opportunity. Until then!

    Protecting the Village,

    Brian Jones

Friday, June 27, 2008

  • Big Sandy and Dallas, here I come!

    I will soon be leaving for Dallas, via Big Sandy. The reason for the Big Sandy detour is to visit Ryan, and see Adam. But mostly to visit Ryan. Then why Dallas? Well, my brothers and I will be attending the Rebelution Conference there! I can't wait for it! I'm hoping that the Lord will use this time to inspire me and my brothers to live for His glory. Pray that it goes well.

    I spent all day today in an attic. While that may not seem too bad, consider that the attic was probably about 105º inside, and I was crouched down next to a new water heater I was installing electrical and plumbing for. Lots of sweating, a minor cut, pipe dope, primer, and PVC cement all work together to make life less than ordinary. But the day's done, and I am home.

    Today for supper, Mom made a wonderful spread. Truly only something you would see in Texas:

    Beef fajitas with cheese, sauteéd onions and peppers, with homemade pico de gallo, served on a crispy tortilla. Ah....oh, and a side of home made fried okra. *sigh* Boy, did I feel good afterward. Bet you're hungry now. Well, sorry, I ate it all.
    This evening, after a good cup of coffee and watching Dad play Spider Solitaire on the computer, I worked on completing my LEGO work from the other night. I had intended something else, but I'm pleased with the product I came up with in the end.

    So this is a dump truck, capable of driving forwards and backwards. The bucket must be dumped by hand, and features a swinging door in the rear. The truck's four rear wheels are all powered together by one motor, combining two differential units to achieve this. The front wheels turn on a rack and pinion system.

    Note (as the bed is raised) the gear box that is under the bucket. Very complicated looking, yet simple in reality. So...I'm at home, and playing with LEGOs. Life is good, what can I say?
    Well, I must be off to bed if I'm going to be worth anything driving tomorrow.

    Good night, all!

    Protecting the Village,

    Brian Jones

Sunday, June 22, 2008

  • What I've been up to.

    Hello, friends! Please excuse my long absence though it is explainable. Well, since last time I updated, much has happened. I guess that's why they call it Summer "Break." I went to the dentist on Tuesday for a followup appointment, and he told me that all was healing up well, I hadn't gotten developed dry sockets, and was now free to eat whatever I liked without fear of injury.

    I have been spending the greatest portion of my waking hours working for Dad, at a couple of different jobsites around town. Below, are a few pictures of a ranch house we're building about 45 minutes out of town. If you'll remember, I drew the original floorplans for this house, based on an interior designer's sketches. I then helped work on it last winter break, and now get to see it nearly completed. Below is how it looks from the front:

    Simply beautiful. The front porch, complete with jacuzzi, is screened in, making it quite lovely during the heat of the day. Cedar posts, a grill out front, and a large garage crown its appearance. This is a shot of the living room, vaulted to the underside of the rafters of the roof.

    One of the days I was out there working (laying on the floor all day painting baseboards), Michael found this Black Widow outside near a faucet. I took some pictures before he dropped a glob of silicone caulk on it, effectively trapping it and dooming it to a death of starvation. Note how well defined the red hourglass shape is. Black Widows' webs are also very...messy, comprised of tough strands arranged in no particular pattern. The female (pictured) is very venomous.

    And on the days that I spent at home, few as they be, Mom has a number of household tasks and repairs that need to be done. And of course, because I'm available, I usually end up doing or supervising most of them. This is one of my projects that I did Saturday. The drawer that has the keyboard and mouse on it had broken loose from underneath the countertop, and the whole frame of the drawer was falling to pieces. I ended up entirely replacing the frame, keeping only the front pieces of wood that match the surrounding cabinets.

    This is what the underneath looks like. The three sides of the frame are what I had to replace. This time, I made sure to build the corners strong (note the blocks) and then firmly attatch it to the countertop and wall. Then attach the powerstrip and plug everything back in.

    So hopefully this is a good enough excuse to explain my absence. But... how much fun would break be if I didn't have anything to do?

    So now I have only 16 more days left at home before I trek yet again to Indy for the beginning of a new chapter in the book called life. I don't know what all will come my way, but I'm trusting God to help me through, both the good times and the bad.

    Oh! Some exciting news! I'm going to be able to attend the Rebelution Conference in Dallas! I'm super excited about it. And I'll get to stay at my sister and brother-in-law's house, and get to see my new nephew for the first time! I can hardly wait. If any of you my friends will be there, then let me know! I'd love to get to see you.

    Well, got other stuff to do with my time other than chat with all you peeps.

    Protecting the Village,

    Brian Jones

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About Me

  • "Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow." - Ben Franklin