sorry...

Sorry for the lack of posts. I've been working ahead since mom and dad are visiting town this week.

Grad Schools a whole new ballgame - I have yet to fall asleep in class and I've finished almost every assignment several days before they're due!

Emusic correction - 80 songs for $9.99

So, I read some more fine print on the e-music deal. I think any of you can still get 50 free songs and cut out, but for me to get the 50 free songs, you would have to stay a member for at least one month.
Membership prices are $9.99/month and you get 30 song downloads for each month paid.

So, you could essentially get 80 songs for $9.99, or about 13 cents/song!

That's a fantastic deal compared to $.99 at iTunes!

Even if you just want the 50 free songs, let me know and I'll send the link.

50 free songs!!!!

Emusic.com has a free trial offer for 50 free mp3's. It's a monthly subsciption service after the trial, but you can cancel anytime during the month trial.

If you sign up under me, I can get 50 more songs for each of you that signs up! So, write a comment on this post, and I'll send you an e-mail link.

It's not a gimmick. I heard about it from a friend that did it, and it's worked great for me. The songs are compatible with my ipod. I'm actually enjoying some Sufjan Stevens that I just downloaded today!

But don't sign up on your own!!! Do it through the link I e-mail you!!!

My wife is too easy to please.

In Arkansas, Wal-Mart was our refuge.

It was not infrequent that I could be caught preaching, "If Wal-Mart don't have it...you don't need it."

Toothpaste, cereal, light bulbs, T-shirts, vacuum bags, bananas, paint, oil - if we needed it, a 5-minute drive to Wal-Mart and we were set.

In Seattle, people don't like Wal-Mart. Therefore, there is no Wal-Mart anywhere in the city.

But this weekend, everything changed...

Ashley and I drove 30 miles north of the city to do some outlet mall shopping, and lo and behold, we happened upon a Wal-Mart. And not just any Wal-Mart. This was a Supercenter.

Ashley was ecstatic. She had not been that happy since our Honeymoon, and she probably won't be that happy again until she gives birth to our first child.

She was home. Wal-Mart was familiar. And the prices were fabulous.

So, our anniversary is coming up in a few weeks, and we've been pondering some fun places to visit. After this weekend, I suggested staying at a Motel 8 in Everett, WA, waking up early to watch the sunrise, reading each other poetry, and then spending the day shopping at Wal-Mart.

Sounds crazy, but she loved it...

P.S. (and just so there's no confusion - this will not be what we end up doing for our anniversary...hopefully)

I love my Buckeyes.

There's nothing worse than living in a state that beat your team.

Good thing the Bucks pulled through on Saturday. I almost didn't go to the game, but I thought to myself, "What kind of fan are you if you won't shell out a few $'s to support your team in a far-off, hostile environment.

So, I did my part as the 12th man.

I'm pretty sure my obnoxious and perpetual screams were a large reason they mustered their 2nd half comeback.

Here's a few other pics for you die-hard Bucks:

Kirk Barton

I just found out that the guy I talked to was Kirk Barton, one of the best OT's in college football...

Buckeyes in Town!

So, I was walking down the street yesterday afternoon and I noticed a group of guys dressed in all red Buckeye jumpsuits. Since I had seen several fans walking around town the last few days, I didn't think much of it except for getting excited that more fans were around. But then, I noticed that the guys were fairly young...and really big. As I looked around, I noticed several small groups of guys in similar apparel walking all over the city square I was in. "These are no ordinary fans," I thought to myself. "These are the actual Buckeyes!"

Being the fan that I am, and well, just a generally personal and gregarious man, I walked over to one group and said, "It's great to have you guys here!"

"Yeah, thanks man," responded one player in a very bored, monotonous tone. "Our hotel is right over there and coach is letting us look around the city for a few hours."

I told him I just moved here, and I loved having the Buckeye world come to Pac 10 country. He asked if I was from Columbus. I told him I grew up there. I asked if they were feeling good about the game.
He said, "yeah." Again in the same bored, monotonous tone. This guy was hilarious.

After basking in the presence of greatness for a few moments, I walked home.

13 hours 40 minutes and counting...

Hopefully, they'll make me proud.

Pleasure Reading is MOST DEFINITELY Over

One week and I'm already out of black ink. I've only sat in four classes, but I've already printed out enough articles to empty an entire ink cartridge.

It's a good thing I like to read...

This week has been fantastic, but busy. Orientation, beginning classes, reading, and a good ol' friend from Taylor, John Molineux, happened to stop by in town for a few days. I've loved every minute of it, but it has kept me away from the blog...
So, here's some visual enjoyment during my written absence - I took this on the ferry ride in the Sound last weekend.

First Day of School

Everyone needs a first day of school picture, right?


Today is also my last day at UPS.

My nephew Jonah would have loved my life today, because it was definitely a roller-coaster. Actually, I suppose it was just one big up-hill, and then an exhilaratingly fast down-hill.

Before work last night, I jumped on the Mars Hill website and decided to check the syllabus for today's class. I thought there may be a slight chance that I'd need to read for today. Sure enough - two reading assignments accompanied by a specific style of notes on each was due today (this was me getting on the coaster). I read a few pages, and then left for work at 9:15. Up until 1:00am or so, all seemed fairly normal, except for a slight concern about finishing the reading (the first few cars crept upwards). But as the boxes ceaselessly slid down the ramp into my trailer, I began to feel my nerves tighten (I'm now beginning the ascent). By 2:00, Dr. Jekyl was gone and Mr. Hyde began to appear. The stress of the Ft. Smith house, the long, physically exhausting hours at UPS, the late nights, the lack of sleep, the academic work that was already piling up (before I even started my first day!) was becoming too much to bear. Literally, I almost began crying in my trailer - I was having an emotional breakdown. And it was happening during the night shift at UPS, which is not the best place to receive sympathetic support. By 2:30, my body was shaking, I felt weak, and I was fighting the urge to throw-up (now, I'm slowly ticking up the hill, wondering if I'll ever reach the top). 3:00 - I race to the edge of my trailer and grap the first open container I can find - I'd rather not discuss what happened next.... At 3:15, my supervisor said I was free to go, even though there was no end in sight to the endless flow of cardboard packages.

I still don't know if I got sick from dinner, or if I had reached the point of physical exhaustion (my scanner told me I had loaded 1100 boxes, so exhaustion wasn't out of the question). Possibly, my body was reacting to the overwhelming stress. Whatever the reason, I'm glad it happened, because I was able to get to bed sooner.

Orientation began this morning, but I was miserable. I didn't know how I could keep up the 30 hour schedule at UPS and still pour all of myself into Mars Hill. I was angry too. I sold my house, left my friends, and moved across the country to a new town and a new life - all for school. A program I might add that requires a lot of cash. So why was I already contemplating how I could "get by" with my assignments so that I could continue to work at UPS??!! This was not what I came here for!

I thank God for good friends, and I thank God that Jason Jost is now working at Mars Hill. After orientation, we walked back to my place and talked. Sometimes, you need a shoulder to cry on, and Jason was just the friend I needed. Ashley eventually joined us after she got off work, and we all discussed what was happening to me. Between the tears and sobs, I was able to communicate my flat-out desire to pour everything into this counseling program. I've been wanting this for so long that I can't bear splitting my loyalties with a job like UPS. Still, I needed permission; I wanted to know that it was a reasonable, calculated decision. I didn't want to listen to my soul speaking to me - it's hard to acknowledge our desires.

But even thinking about leaving UPS brought immense relief. Over and over again, deep breaths found their way into my lungs - life was entering me again. I could let myself be thrilled about school; I didn't need to panic about unfinished assignments. I could have the time; I could have all day!

So, this is where we're at. I'm a full-time student and that's it. I don't know the details of everything else, but for the time being, I'm going to give Mars Hill everything I've got - and I'm going to love giving it to them.

Labor Day Weekend with the Benedicts

Here are a few pics from the Benedicts weekend visit:

On the ferry to Bainbridge Island (it was a little windy).

Picking blackberry's along the road. These bushes are everywhere! And they are sooo tasty!

Dan and Jeaneen in Paulsbo.

Good ol' Rainier.

The Ferry back to Seattle - these clouds came rolling in the last few minutes of the ride!