Still no lappy

It's been insane not having a laptop. Almost a month ago, my laptop decided to stop working. Since then I've gone through countless conversations with countless different people from HP trying to see if we can get my laptop fixed. In the mail I just received a new recovery disc, which I know will not work. All I want is to send my laptop in so they can send me a new one.

I honestly hate how everybody I talk to from HP is from India. No offense to them, but I can hardly understand what they are saying. I think it's crap that HP does this.

In light of not having my laptop, things have really changed. I was actually very dependent on my laptop. I used it for notes, my hw, email. School has actually been quite a challenge without it, and I'm pretty mad that HP isn't helping me at all.

Another sucky thing is my guitar broke. The nice one that Jon's church gave me. I just bumped it a little bit and the guitar fell and broke right at the first fret. The head was completely separated from the guitar. Don't know how much it's going to cost to fix... don't even know if I'll be able to afford it.

So two of my top possessions have been taken away from me. Coincidence? I think not. I'm just waiting for somebody to steal my truck...

Peace

I think I'm starting to get a better understanding of "peace." I've been thinking about a few blogs I've posted lately. One about loving everything, and another about "the end is near." I always enjoy having memories of my childhood, or being in a spot where I'm just really happy... like looking at the stars. I was thinking about the idea of "shalom" and how the meaning behind it is about a deep peace. I don't know why I've ever really thought about this before, but I really think this is how God gives me peace. I never really thought about peace and if I was ever at peace. It's where I just feel calm-- when I'm just in a spot where it really feels like I should be. Almost like at that moment nothing is wrong. Where I'm just completely happy and content. I don't really know how to describe it more than that.

Simply just I think I'm learning what it means to be at peace... and I like it!

Discus again

Today Jeremy and I went out and did some discus again. I don't remember what my scores were, but they were all pluses, but not more than 5 over. We went to 2 different 9 hole courses than the two we went to the other day. This is a map of the courses we go to, or plan to go to soon. I found and Eagle disc today, and I love how it flies. Lucky me, there was no name or number on it... but the edges of it are kinda chopped up (but I still love it). Definitely my new fav discus. Also, I'm looking in to discs that either glow in the dark or have LEDs. They're not cheap, but they're not expensive. Anywhere from 10 to about 30 bucks. Still, I'm too poor to buy anything. My bday's comin up soon... don't hesitate to go all out on gifts for me.

Discus

The other day I went disc golfing with Jeremy and Rachel to two different 9 hole courses. First course I got a whopping 9 under. Second course I got a sweet 8 under. I'm a beast. Watch out, Jon, the day has come where you won't beat me anymore.

Jeremy and I went and did some discus yesterday in the rain too. I finished up at about 2 under. Also, I'm getting anxious to go throw some disc at night. I found a disc at the store that has a built in LED. But I'm poor, can't buy it... so I must wait!

I love how there's like a hundred courses around here. It's pleasant.

Them good ol' Iowa parties

I spent my weekend in the great state of Iowa, for my cousin Tim was marrying his lady friend. My family took off from Kenosha around 2:30 and got there around 8:30. It's supposed to be about a five or five and a half hour drive. We made a pit stop at Happy Joe's in Dubuque and got a meaty pizza. It had bacon, hamburger, sausage, pepperoni, and canadian bacon. Freakin delicious, man!

The wedding was pretty good. It was held at UNI outside. It was a sunny and warm day. I think everybody was a bit warm, but Tim had to be dying up there, considering what he was wearing. But everybody made it without heat stroking out or anything. The dinner was pretty yummy too. I had some Parmesan chicken thing, and there were some people who had some pork stuff that I heard was super delicious. Dancing was decent too. I don't remember going to any receptions for weddings, so I'm not really sure what to base this off of. But there were a few good dancing songs that I enjoyed dancing to (I'm not sure if you can call it dancing though). I didn't break out my breakdance moves though... maybe next time.

It was good to get out to Iowa and see my family and just hang out for a while. It's been over a year since I've had any good hang out time with them. It seems as if most of them are doing pretty good right now, so that's good. Can't wait to see them again.

Congratulations Tim and Steph! I hope that you guys have a fun, loving, growing and thriving marriage!

Creation

I realized last night that I am in love with God's creation. If it's cloudy, I love looking at the different cloud formations. If it's raining, I love hearing it beat down on my roof. If it's snowing, I love drifting in it. If it's lightning out, I love having epileptic seizures from it. If it's tornado-ing, I love chasing them. If it's hot out, I love just standing there and letting the sun cook me, it feels great. If it's windy out, I love walking in it.

I love looking at the stars. I love the smell of fresh cut grass. I love climbing trees. I absolutely love sunsets. I love standing on top of mountains. I love flying through the sky. I love swimming in the lake. I love rafting down the rapids. I love walking in the coolness of the night. I love climbing on the rock formations of the Eau Claire Dells.

Then I see things that man has created, only because God gifted them to do so. I love walking through the school's courtyard, with all the lights lined up, and seeing just a few stars poke through the bright lights. I love seeing the Chicago skyline lit up at night. I love going into new churches and seeing the original architecture. And nothing feels better than sitting down in the driver's seat of a car.

Everything I've got--no matter if it's natural or man-made-- I know it's only because of God. I know it's not the case, but sometimes it seems like God put this stuff here just for me... those stars are there just for my enjoyment (guess that's the selfish side of me). I just really enjoy everything God has made, I thank Him so much for it all.

Time

Man, I can't believe that it's already been over two weeks since I've been in school. Two weeks isn't really much in the scope of a lifetime. But I think about what's changed in the past two weeks, what I've accomplished (and what I've slacked on), it's just crazy. If time is increasing at the rate that it is for me, pretty soon I'm going to be like 60.

A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years like a day. As we get older, and become more like Christ, does that include that previous statement? As we get older, does a day become more like a thousand years, and a thousand years a day? ...don't think that has any biblical truth behind it... but it's just an interesting thought!