long time, no blog

I humbly apologize for my lack of blogging.  It's been crrrazy with work around here, and unfortunately all that hard work went down the tubes - we've been planning a huge event and all of the plans were washed away with the rain the was pouring down today.  What a bummer.  It's really disappointing to know that everything that I've been done is completely incomplete - there is no resolution for all of my expectations.  Well, life goes on.  Rather busy week ahead - work, of course, and I've planned ahead some stuff with my friends (gasp!) as well as Robin.  I also have a buddy from school coming to visit! Way cool. 
 
Check out this article.  I would be really interested in some feedback on it. 
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/17/opinion/17KRIS.html?ex=1091066092&ei=1&en=62122d0046ca86dd
 
Eric, is this a new setup for the blog writing page?  I see a lot more options than I did before. 

get on the blog

Well, I just got off the phone with Grandpa, and he informed me that it was about time for me to blog again. Since my blog IS dedicated to him, I decided I should get on the blog and do as he asks. Yesterday was a RAINY day in West Chester. It poured all day long. I haven't seen rain like that in a long time. Let's just hope it doesn't rain this weekend - it's Turk's Head, one of our biggest events of the year. Needless to say, work is hectic, and I come home pretty tired. Never to tired to hang out with my friends, though. Last night I watched a movie with Eric and tonight I'm doing something with Annie. Something low-key, hopefully. However, on the BRIGHT side, I realized that a mere week and a half stands between me and the beach vacation, so that is wonderful news. Grandpa and I confirmed the facts with each other that a. we have no idea where Natalie is, and b. we have no idea when she will be returning to Marietta. Further, neither of us have heard about the Madonna concert (besides one scant text message) and this is clearly crucial to both of us. Where are you, Natalie? I'm off the clean the bathroom and vacuum the living room. Oh, the wonder of it all.

on my mind

I just wanted to say something quickly. I feel a little stung by the constant commentary against Moore. Jack, I think you may be as guilty of being biased as Moore himself. Certainly, if you look for articles against him, you will find them. However, it's just as easy to find articles in support of him and his ideas. You are presenting just one side of the story. Bush is just as guilty of playing "fast and loose with the truth," and to quote someone great, he's not my kind of warm and fuzzy guy either. All I'm saying is it's easy to find articles by people that follow your line of thinking, but a little more difficult to read and accept something that is contrary to your opinions. Jack, I like the articles you are sending me, although they are difficult and frustrating for me. But all I'm seeing from you is one side of the story.

slow on the uptake

Even after the phone calls and the comments, I was still a bit slow on the blog. But I am here now! It was a rather normal week at work, although we did get in a shipment of 2 new computers which meant (SCORE!) that the lone Mac in the office moved to its new home on my desk. Woohoo! We rearranged the desks as well, and I sustained a few battle wounds in the move but it was all for a good cause. On Friday night I went camping with some friends, and that was super fun. We discovered a new way of passing time - once it got completely dark, they took turns striking a pose and I took pictures with my digital camera. It was super funny to see how the pictures turned out since we couldn't see the person posing because of the dark. Good times! It was a great night to be sleeping outside; the air was cool and we left the fly off so we could see out the vents in the ceiling of the tent. Wonderful! We came back early yesterday and I napped most of the afternoon. Went out to dinner and chilled out with some friends last night - good times. I cleaned my room for awhile today and put my bookshelf back into place after staining it. This upcoming week of work will be hectic, without a doubt - Turk's Head is on Sunday, our second biggest festival of the year. I already have a to-do list a mile long. Whoa, boy. At least I've got a Mac in front of me now, though. Oh yeah.

I appreciate and value all of your points, Jack, but at the same time I have some responses. How would I have felt if one of my loved ones were killed in the 911 attacks? There are no words to describe the emotion, I'm sure. But as sure of I am of the pain, I am equally sure of the person I am - and that person doesn't believe in fighting violence with violence, or trying to seek revenge for an act that won't bring back the person you miss. Further, what did attacking Iraq do to show these terrorists how dangerous we are? There were no Iraqis involved with the attacks on 911. That's where my question lies - so many of the unspeakable atrocities done by Saddam Hussein are still happening in other countries, countries we even consider close friendships. Saudi Arabia is a perfect example. Now, this is of course excluding the claimed nuclear weapons (and still I wonder where those are...) but strictly from a humanitarian point of view - Saudi Arabia is just as guilty as Iraq of treating their people horribly. There WERE Saudi terrorists involved in the 911 attack. Why did we invade Iraq? Give me better reasons than this administration. We wanted to show the world that yes, we are to be feared? Is this what you would do? Take it down to a personal level. We wanted to teach those terrorists a lesson? Why go after Saddam Hussein, why Iraq? I have yet to hear a good enough reason to go in and wreak havoc in the lives of the Iraqis. Call me a bleeding heart if you will, but I barely gave a thought to Saddam Hussein before he was captured - my mind and heart was with the average citizen, the ones that were losing their family members - just like we lost ours! - at our hands. I really struggle. I realize that their lives may be better in the long run, I appreciate that fact. But right now, their lives are hell, and I really wonder at why. Somehow, there must have been a better way, and perhaps if our president were not so war-minded he would have taken the time to find that better way. Just needing to prove that we are to be feared is ridiculous. Honestly, I'm amazed to see that you would write, "There is no appeasing nor hiding from those whose religion forces them to see all non-believers as infidels who MUST be killed." There are surprisingly few passages in the Qur'an that demand jihad, and as you well know, there are millions of Muslims who do not engage in terrorist activities. Their religion FORCES them? No, they believe their religion forces them. It's a crucial difference. That makes the decision a personal choice. There are Christians who once believed the Bible demanded holy war; in fact, Bush himself believes he is on a mission from God. How then, is Bush better than these terrorists, taking a religious idea too far? The whole thing confuses me.
The questions I cannot answer: why are we in Iraq? What made us the police force of the world? How did we come to regard ourselves as so important, as above the UN and other countries? I need good answers. I haven't heard them yet.

Happy 4th!

Well, it has been a lovely day so far. Yesterday, Annie came over as the party began (she just returned from Colorado, so it was great to see her) and then we went out and got some fireworks, Eric, and some yummy food from a local farm. We kinda hung out around the house, chatted with people, and then went over to see the fireworks in Downingtown. Chris, Peter, Eric, Annie, and I slept outside in a tent in Peter's backyard after a swim in Peter's pool. It was a great night to be sleeping outside. Got up this morning and packed up, Peter brought me home and now Paul and I are watching Shawshank Redemption.

I've been thinking a lot about all the stuff you've been posting, Jack, as well as Michael Moore and the upcoming election. I think the thing that bothers me most is the kind of snide sarcasm that is used by both sides to degrade the other. Honestly, anything that promotes free thought is worth my time, no matter what kind of ideas it promotes. Moore's movie inspired me because it made me think and, while I am aware of bias in the film, there are things in the film that disturb me and cannot be slanted. For example, Bush saying to a reporter, "I am a war president" is not something that Moore has manipulated, that is what Bush said, and honestly, I do not want a president representing my country that considers himself war-minded. Moore's film is making people think - just think of all the articles, editorials, and other things that are out, either supporting or refuting the film - for those who are willing to take it, there are amazing amounts of things to learn from other people that would not have come out without this movie. That says something to me. People react to Moore, make them talk, make them THINK, and that is what is important to me. While I do think that he is a bit extreme (at least for my tastes, calling for the impeachment of Bush and saying that Gore is the "president in exile" is a bit much), I still appreciate the spirit of questioning - he's not afraid to state his opinion, and I respect that. It is up to the listener to discern what should be taken as fact, and that is a personal task each of us must face, as responsible citizens.

a good day

Well, after such a long day yesterday, I got off early today - YAY!! I got to leave at 2 instead of 5. Last night was a very successful event, I thought, but I was rather exhausted when I got home at 11, after being at work since 8:30. Whew. I just hung around this afternoon, basically. I got my iPod (yay!) and fiddled around with it, putting on my music and whatnot. Mom and I got Chinese for dinner since Paul and Dad were out at youth group and Ben is away for the weekend (in Indiana). Then I headed over to Peter's for a swim - it was a hot day today! We had a good time. Tomorrow, Paul is holding a graduation party for a friend whose family moved away this year - so she wasn't going to have one and Paul offered! He's such a nice kid. Well, it's just about midnight now and I can hear the bed calling my name. More at a later time. Jack, I've been digging your comments. I will get down to business and respond to them sometime this weekend.

one more note

just really looked at the comment you posted, Jack, with the quotes about Faharenheit 911 and the Passion. Very, very interesting. If it weren't so late and I weren't so tired, I would think of something more to say about that, but I will leave remarks on this comment for another day. Just wanted you to know I noticed and appreciated.

blogworthy

Well it's been another day. Jack, I wanted to hear your opinions a bit more on Michael Moore - can I gather from your comment responding to my mother's statement that you are a bit distrustful of Moore? What more are you thinking? Have you seen his films/read his books? Just wondering. I went over to a friend's house tonight and we watched a movie and just hung out - she leaves for Australia next week so I am trying to get in as much time as possible. Tomorrow is a loooooooooong workday - 8:30am to 10:30pm. Not so much looking forward to that. Since I do have a billion hours to work tomorrow, I better go sleep - but I am on a blogging roll so I couldn't stop now. More tomorrow after the loooong day.