Muse-ical

I'm sitting on a red, 80's patterned, couch in the upstairs of the staffhouse at camp.

Tweety Bird and Sylvester are providing white noise to my 4 o'clock.

I just ate four pieces of cheesecake.

I thought I went on a detox diet (70% raw diet) yesterday - try again tomorrow.

Trying to design a TJ-fit for the fall- suggestions welcomed.

I just used the bathroom and I feel better.

Think how much we consume.

Water.

Food.

Trash.

Space on the internet.

Endless cycle.

I have a passion to be a voice for less consumption, but I'll always be a hypocrite.

Such is the life of a sinner saved by grace.

Jesus saves my life everyday.

It first started when was five, when He first washed me clean.

Now it happens all the time.

Only free men and women can set others free.

I like that statement alot.

It's truthful simplicity purifies.

It's why Jesus makes sense to me.

Do I want to be a conservationist, a voice for the needy and oppressed, or a healer of the body and soul?

I want to be all of these things........Father help me.

Photoshop?????? You Decide

I'm gona be a Christmas Tree Tomorrow!

Be jealous

Happy Birthday America!

Yesterday, July the 4th, our glorious nation turned 233 years* old. It was a grand day full of pomp and pageantry, goodbyes and reunions, explosives and a fat man having a mild heart attack on a pier and then walking it off in front of a thousand people like it was no big deal.

Goodbye 1: to my dad and brother who brought me back up and sailed for a bit. We watched Hot Rod on Friday night to start the party: I cried from laughing alot.

Reunions: to Maria, Amy, Susan, Aandee, Alister, Sarah Ferg, Becca, etc......... at the Pi-kap/Tri-delt mixer at Dimitri Papodopoulos' house. It was a swell get together; BBQ, watermelon, strawberry shortcake, the works. Addison and I were the only non-greeks among 21 others so we formed the new brotherhood of the Tri Kappa. I'm glad that Sarah Ferg, Katherine Schiktel, and Susan jumped Bethany in downtown Charles Towne.

Pomp: Ping-pong games to 5, talking about art with Maria and her mom, MC DJ Theo and the Good Music playlist in the back seat of Addison's car on the way to fireworks

Pageantry: The Seabrook Island parade at 10:30 in the morning, complete with a firetruck; the 12th annual Isaw Road Around The Corner Bicycle Race complete with a golf cart out in front of the pack to control speeding; the invention of a new superpower: Tri-presence.

Explosives: Failed estuary launching of the cheap boat firework that I bought at a roadside stand, Fireworks at Patriot's Pointe Pier (lacking on Blue, Bethany suspects use of leftover Christmas and Mardi Gras fireworks), and of course sparklers!!

A fat man having a mild heart attack on a pier and then walking it off in front of a thousand people like it was no big deal: pretty self explanatory.

Goodbye 2: Amy, Susan, and Aandee came to camp and all of us squished onto a Sunfish and sailed across the estuary to Botany Isle, dolphins, photos. Then on the return voyage I stopped by the oldest tree east of the Mississippi (Angel Oak appx. 1600 yrs) for the second time this weekend.

* Some may argue, especially in these parts, that the Union itself is actually only 229 years old as a result of the 4 years of turmoil during the War Between the States

One of the Best Days Ever

So I went to bed this morning (2am) thinking that it had been an incredible day. After a sleep in Saturday that consisted of a sweet day of boating across the estuary, walking on the beach, chillin, and a picnic date in Chucktown that consisted of a Forrest Gump viewing and walk by ghost stories could I have expected much more? Blissful Emptiness.......

I woke up at 8:30 and started the day with a brisk 4 mile jog, so far so good. Went to church, it was grood. Stopped by this sweet market on the way home and acted all domesticated for an hour or so. I came back and at a real legit PB and J (strawberry preserves and smuckers all natural w/ honey on wheatberry bread). A lazy couple of hours allowing Harold Crick to blow my mind again in Stranger Than Fiction. Then I decided to go sailing even though I really wanted to take a nap. Risky decision I know, but it paid off like the stealing the Hope Diamond and getting away with it. The wind was strong, the current was weak and I was cap'n Jack on the high seas. I sailed to this bird sanctuary across the estuary that is uninhabited. It was high tide so the island was very small and I had it all to myself. I was a a regular Robinson Crusoe as I spent the next 4 hours reading, writing, drawing, praying, and talking on the phone with my family (suprisingly I got better service on a deserted isle than at camp). The sail back was incredible: sunset, singing, the whole nine yards. Then I finished up the day by watching lightning on the lifeguard stand and finishing up a poem. A round of pictionary telephone later and now I've begun a game of Rummy to 5000 points with my main men T-Don and Trogdor. Slegit! Peace and Love....

Why I Miss My Ex-Roomate

Some of my readers may know that I spent this year rooming with Hunter Whitworth aka "Moneybags Tweetwee"; "Huntdaddy"; "Spiderman" (in his own mind); probably more names by other people, or just "Hunter". He was a good roommate and I miss having him breathing across the room from me while I didn't sleep. Here is why:

1) No Dojo: My new roommate did not bring a bamboo rug into my room and exclaim that our room be called "The Dojo" henceforth, issuing in a year where unsuspecting victims were taken by storm.

2) Finding his things on my desk: Although it may have seemed like a slight nuisance at the time. I now miss the constant reminders that I was living with someone who is just as messy as me.

3) TJ-Fit: I have never had a pupil as dedicated as the Twee. Getting the opportunity to sculpt our bodies in the Herman Lay Physical Activities Center together was/will be again a privilege to say the least.

4) Walking in to Brochat knowing that a bottle of Croak was being consumed: Nuff said.

5) His 21st Birthday: Nuff said.

6) His blog: Reading his blog this summer makes me wish I was as funny as him, that I lived in catladies' basement with him, and that I was as good at making list of 6's as him...

Here's to the bigger half of most halves!!!

Time to go face the music

"Sometimes there just aren't enough rocks."

Said Longer More Thought Out Entry

So this week was crazy! First cabin ever? Yes. My campers all showed up as pretty awkward seventh graders who didn't really know eachother. They left as pretty awkward seventh graders who kinda knew eachother. But really, it was cool. God was like literally present here. I know that doesn't make sense to alot of people, I don't really know if it makes sense to me, but I know that God was here. How do I know? 

Well for starters, hearts were healed. Middle school girls who hated their bodies were going around at the end of the week telling people how they had been changed because God loves them and thinks they are beautiful. 

Secondly, I know this sounds ridiculous, but on the last night there was a storm the likes of which I'm not sure I have ever experienced. The display of lightning which I witnessed and the ensuing torrent of wind and rain rivaled any storm I have ever seen and I lived in Florida for 20 years! It was God's fireworks show baby!

Lastly, on the third night, I prayed for this kid and his sprained ankle as well, and he came running up to me later that night exclaiming that his ankle hadn't hurt since. I asked him later in the week if it still was better and he said yes. I don't really know what to say other than praise God, He still does crazy things.

So that was my week, sorry it wasn't in a list of 6, but that will have to do. Haha. Until next time peace and love.....

Moneybags TweeTwee and Miss Amy Shaw just made my day :)

First week is almost over. Better post to come tomorrow.

Hail to the Quinn!!!!

That's right, thanks to everyone who voted (13 of you to be exact), Jimmy Quinn is the front runner to be Dr. Shi's successor as the ruler of Furmantowne. Gathering 69% of the votes the people have spoken, booting the ever annoying Dwight Covington (Furman's PR nightmare gathered 31%) out of contention (thank God). Jimmy has been quoted as saying that if given the presidency he would make Club Duke the official name of the Furman library. Other noteworthy policies include a cap on townies per day, an increase in research databases, and foursquare/shuffleboard courts installed along the mall.

A Day with mixed Emotions

Today has got me feeling thankful, fretful, and a little betrayed. "Why?" you might ask......

Well as many of you don't know, 113 years ago on this very day, Henry Ford built his first automobile, ushering in the age of the automobile.

I am thankful because I can go places, lots of places, and I don't get typhoid fever, nor do my oxen die crossing the Missouri River.

I am fretful because some people are blaming automobiles for the future destruction of our planet.

Why Betrayed??????????

WHERE THE HECK IS MY FLYING CAR????!!!!!!!!!

I Gots My Sails!!!

That's right, I can officially sail a boat. Check that off of the life list. Now I just have to work on:

1. Climb Mt. Everest

2. Live in Hawaii

3. Riding a Unicycle

4. Flying

5. Being as cool as that guy....

A Juxtaposition (I think)

If you get a cold in the middle of the summer, why isn't it called a hot?

I have really bad cell phone service here so if you've called me and I haven't called back, I'm sorry

Mr. Hammock

Dangling so weightless from your perch on the porch,

You invite me in to

hang 

For a bit.

All tension and ache frantically escape,

Into your woven gold core,

While your brilliant orange trimmings and truffles

detangle my mind into trances.

Your rigid composer has yet to be matched.

So much so,

I'm afraid you're not enjoying yourself,

Until I realize, of course, that

You're always smiling.

Light as a limmerick,

But strong as an epic.

Here's to you my new friend,

The best hammock in the world! 

Today I played tetherball against myself......and won!

Magical Mr. Christopholeez

So my first full day in St. Christopher has been a complete blur...I went to bed at 3:00 this morning after road tripping with Bethany from my sister's (Brook) house. I had to wake up at 7:30 and we then had waterfront lifeguard training taught by a guy who clearly is David Hasselhoff's protege. At one point he claimed that professional lifeguarding was the best job in the world, "just ask policemen, firemen, and EMT's," clearly emergency response is the only plausible profession known to man.....

On a lighter note, this place (and Nic Cage) will make you believe that God does exist. The utter serenity of the lapping estuary water upon white sand that may have been cotton in a previous life, has already engrained itself into my heart.

Oh yeah I've already seen a deer, a hermit crab, many beautiful shells washed up on the beach, and 3....count 'em THREE alligators; they just chill here!

The community here promises to be incredible; everybody is super pumped to be here, and it seems like all they want to do is to serve anybody and everybody in sight. Tonight we went to this little shopping center on the island with a live jazz band playing at the park in the middle of the square!!! Needless to say, I may have enjoyed a few too many dances. Haha. Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure is now playing in the background. While I am fading fast after an intense 36 hours......Peace and Love

I'm Going to Camp St. Christopher!

Yes, I'm leaving in approximately 1 hour. I've spent the past three days with my sister, brother in law, and cuter than your pinky toe niece Lilly Grace. We've had ballin times and I even got to speak at their youth group, it was Slegit (slang for super legitimate). Kent (my brother in law) and I beat Brook (my sister) and Bob (this old guy with nasty tennis skills) 8-6 in a double match for the ages. I commemorate our victory with this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8QHw9lrMao

Smashing Photography Eh?

Dr. Shi Did It

The Warriors of Virginia Hawkins Falls

Are You Not Entertained?!!

Hey there Mr. Millipede :)

Food!!!

Twin Falls = money!

FIRST BLOG

Well here we go. Although I always told myself I would never start one of these, I find myself embarking upon my blogging career as a result of some peer pressure, but mostly because after reading Christian's and imagining how much freaking awesome random crap I can put on the internet and allow my friends to stumble upon. So hopefully I end up wasting hours of your time this summer; it'll be my gift to you. We'll maybe not waste, because as all of you who will read this know, I am in love with Jesus; so hopefully those of you who are seeking Him [or those of you who aren't (I still love you btw, I'm not one of "those" Christians, or at least I strive not to be)] will be uplifted by some of the more spiritual thoughts.

So far life since the end of exams (oh wait I didn't have any) has been pretty delectable. As many of you know, I was getting lifeguard certified throughout "go-week" - thats over, and I'm officially licensed to save. Boo-YAh! Although I almost drowned trying, I don't really float....

Since lifeguarding has been over, I've pretty much been a workaholic/master chef. Days consist of me working in the library, working out, and then Christian and I making our patented Ayers - Fleming pasta dinner creations.
Food highlights over the past couple weeks:

• Fusilli in a suasage gravy/green bean sauce
• Spaghetti in a corn/kidney bean traditional red sauce
• Fusilli/Rigatoni combo in a mixed sauce that included a can of 4 month past the expiration date Progresso
• Tuna and PB sandwich. Don't knock it till you try it folks, just ask Ayers
• Yogurt! I've hated yougurt since like 5th grade, but this week I saw the error in my ways. So as alot of you may know, I got a staff infection. The anti-bacterials killed the good bacteria in my mouth and apparently caused a fungal outbreak on my tongue, so I had to get anti-fungal. The doctor also told me to eat yogurt b/c it has good cultures in it, so I decided maybe I could stomach some to get rid of the tongue-fung. When I did, I was delighted by the taste. I was blind, but now I see!
• Ayers makes some dang good Ethiopian blend iced coffee, there will be a stand by the belltower next year
• Nick Basinger's moldy graduation cake: good to eat and good to burn

The highlight of the week has been a Sunday morning trip to two waterfalls with Christian, Jeff Bailey, and Ken Davis. Sick! The forest was covered in a misty shroud that reminded Jeff and I of a rainforest, I definately did not feel as though I was in SC. As I sat on top of Twin Falls, Romans 11:33-36 just blew my mind! All week, I had been talking to people about predestination and free will, and how I see evidence in the Word, and in my own life for both. But both theologies kind of bother me in different ways, because I personally think it is a "beautiful tension" of both (that is subject to change). Then I read those Romans verses and it's like "Who knows the mind of our God?! Who brought Him counsel??" The answer is NOBODY! I think it's preposterous how we try to put God in these boxes so we can figure Him out. HE IS GOD. He won't fit our human standards. Maybe He hand picked people to go to heaven, maybe He didn't. Maybe He chooses who He will reveal Himself to and then those people have a choice to deny or accept. Maybe He reveals Himself to everybody at some point and everyone has the choice to reject or embrace Him. Maybe those of us that chose Him really were only able to because He had already placed His Spirit in us. No matter what I'm convinced it's His perogative, He can do what He wants.

Anyway, those are my musings for today. My sister Brook is about to pick me up here at Furman and then I'm going to ATL for 4 days, upon which I will head to good ole Camp St. Christopher where I believe amazing adventures are lying in wait for me. I also have a feeling that this summer is going to be very life changing. There are alot of up in the airs right now in my life, as with everyone's, but I really think alot of those will become more clear as this summer plays out.....Bring It!

(I'll try to post some sweet Belize/Waterfall pics later)