... yah I've got nothing.

Since a topic of any worth currently alludes me , I will simply say that I am finding internet coffee shops to be quite enjoyable. Not only can I get a very delicious cup of espresso, but I can surf the net for free while keeping my incredibly boring blog up to date. Hurray for that!

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree... why are you laying on the ground?

Okay so maybe I'm a little late in starting my Christmas countdown but lets start from here.

My mom and I are up in Independence, Oregon visiting my Aunt Barb and Uncle James. We got here yesterday. In the past we have proven that time spent with them is quite special and very unforgettable. They currently own four pit bulls so that alone adds to the adventure.

Now, just this morning, as I was sitting in the living room getting ready to head out, the near ten foot Christmas tree fell to the ground flinging ornaments all over. This in turn allowed for all of the water to spill from the base, and my mom and aunt are currently removing and relocating presents (and drying many of the wet ones).

Stay tuned because you never know what might happen.

YUM! YUM!

I love cheese... yup, that's pretty much it for now... but I'll keep you posted.

Zach out.

9-11-2006

Monday, September 11, 2006

As I sit here today desperately trying to find the right words to say, and just how to say them I am constantly coming back to one thought... that is that I pray that we all would stop and remember those who lost their lives five years ago. Especially those who gave their life so that others may be saved; all the members of the NYPD and FDNY who chose to risk their life for somebody they didn't know. I can't help but think that I myself, am inadequate... what have I done.... what have any of us done?

My wish today, five years later, is that somehow we could all find the courage inside of us to give of ourselves for that someone we don't know. Not to say that we need to go find a burning building to run into, but that we be selfless and give to someone else who is in need instead of thinking about ourselves. After all, isn't that supposed to be part of who we are as Americans? Certainly we proved that on 9/11 but I pray that it's not just in dire times that we come together, but that it is on a daily basis.

So as you go about your daily routine today, remember, and try to ask yourself what you've done lately? It's never too late.

Another Close Call In Heated Rivalry

Well the Ducks are now 2-0 after a nail biting 31-24 finish against the Fresno State Bulldogs. After a fumble on their first posession and an overall rocky start, the Ducks got their feet back under them and started pounding away at the Bulldogs... both on offense and defense. (I've never seen the Ducks hit quite as hard in the past... hope it continues throughout the season.) Using their spread offense (recievers spanning from sideline to sideline) and very patient running, the Ducks clung to a small lead for most of the game and only trailed once, 3-0 in the first quarter. The touchdown that won the game, and ultimately the play of the game, was a fake field goal when Brady Leaf took the snap and ran to his left, then pitched the ball back to Martinez who ran it in for the touchdown to put the Ducks up 31-24 and that's where it would stay.

In a side note head coach Mike Bellotti became the most winningest coach in Ducks history with win #92. Congratulations coach!!

Okay, okay so this is more of a right up on the game than anything but it's worth righting about... GO DUCKS!!

It's Time For Some Football

Alright everybody... it is officially football season and I am stoked!! GO 49ERS!!! After a disappointing 2005 season (4-12) I look to the Niners to have a MUCH better season. With new talant and younger players gaining experience I do believe that they will make it to at least .500 this year. This would be much appreciated as a devoted fan and a drastic imporvement from the previous season. While a .500 team isn't playoff caliber it would serve as hope for all the many fans that the 49ers are indeed on the rise once again.

As you can see the season opener is in Arizona against the Cardinals. Though the cardinals do have a very explosive passing game I am anxious to see how our secondary has improved from last season. Should be a very exciting game.

Stay tuned for more on the 49ers and the 2006 season.

Here's one for ya.

As I was sitting in church Wednesday night waiting for the service to start Matt and I wondered... at what point are you officially late for church? Is it when the preachers first walk out or is it when the first special starts? You tell me.

Greeting From Romania!!

Hello all and greetings from the great country of Romania. For the last two and a half weeks myself, Josh Hopkins, Trina Paulson, and Katrina Olson have been staying in Timisoara, Romania and visiting some of our churches, as well as attending the Romanian Youth Camp. We have had the pleasure of having Ben Marincus and Wayne Butler as our leaders, so to speak, although Wayne had to leave us early as he was needed back home in Woodlake, CA for their Youth Camp.

This trip has been quite an experience. It has opened my eyes soo much. I never knew just how great I have it in America. The following are just a few examples...

1) Running Water - This has been quite an ordeal while visiting. Some days the water is WAY too hot to take a shower. Some days there isn't hot water to take a shower. On one occasion, the water was yellow and even brown. And still sometimes, more than once, no water at all. (And I'm only talking about showering in it... let's not bring up the fact that if you drink it... well, you may staying in the bathroom for the rest of your trip.)

2) Paved Roads - Well, let's just say that I won't mind road construction at all when I get home. Although most roads are paved, you wouldn't think it 'cause you feel like a human pinball, no bettter yet, a human bobble head!!

3) Food Variety - Not to say that the food over here is bad 'cause it's not... it's GRUBBIN!! But I could definately go for something other than potatos. Give me a nice JUICY steak!! Mmmmm... that sounds so good right now. And coffee... havn't had any "GOOD" coffee since I left the states. Bring on Starbucks and a Double Short Caramel Breve!! Mmmm mmm mmm!!!

Well, those are just a few examples of what I'm thankful fore. All kiding aside though, these people know how to worship the Lord. I'm telling you what, it has been amazing!! And boy can they ever pray!! The prayer services at Youth Camp were, well... I can't really explain them. And Ben even said that they weren't even as good as they have been in the past. I can say with out a doubt that even though there is a language barier, the spirit of the Lord is universal. You could feel it in every single meeting.

Well, now that I have taken forever, and written probably the longest blog in the history of my blog, I will let you go. I leave tomorrow night for Budapest, Hungary (about a three hour drive), then fly to Frankfurt, Germany (about and hour flight), a lay oaver there for about three hours, YUCK, then on to Portland, Oregon (I'm gonna ballpark that flight at around eleven hours). Can't wait to see you all!!

Going once... twice... SOLD!!

So last night wasn't your typical Wednesday night church service. Instead of singing, testimonies and a sermon, Bro. Nathan took the mic. and auctioned off various delectable desserts for our Southern Oregon Youth Camp... quite entertaining.

Ironically, Bro. Bob and Sis. Cheryl ended up "taking the cake" so to speak as they ended up buying several of the items.

Gotta Point There

So I just saw a bumper sticker that I thought was very fitting... "Can't Feed 'Em, Don't Bread 'Em".

Just thought I would share that with everyone.

So for all those who know anything at all about music...

While at choir practice this evening and I thought to myself... why do they call them "accidentals" when they put them in there on purpose?! It truly is STUPID and doesn't make any sense at all to me.

Just curious.

*YAWWWWWN*

Porsche Carrera

So I saw three Porsche Carrera's within an hour Thursday afternoon!! Not that anyone cares but I just thought I would share that with you... I was stoked 'cause I love Porsches... they are pretty much the best car ever!!

I don't know? Is this normal?

So this morning I'm at work and the morning shift is usually quite busy which is nice for the two people working because tips are better. This lady comes in, and in one hand she has a free drink card, and in the other she has a one dollar bill... I'm thinking, "Sweet! Dollar tip on a free drink, works for me!". But no, she looks into the tip jar (which is quite full by this point) and takes change as she places her dollar in it.

This brings up my question... is this right? Is the common place? Who goes into an establishment and gets change back on their tip!?

I love my Cons.!!!

So I have recently aquired yet another pair of Converse. YAY!! This now makes three, red, green and blue (as you can see from the picture). I don't know why it has taken me so long to "discover" Converse but now that I have, I will continue buying. They ROCK!!

Sauerkraut... YUCK!!

Okay so I officially HATE sauerkraut!!

I got to work this morning and the sandwhiches had arrived. While puting them away I noticed just how fat and delicious the rueben looked. I noted though that I didn't like them because of the sauerkraut... not 'cause it didn't taste good, but simply because I looked nasty!! And it does! So my manager told me to go ahead and heat up one of the old ones from the other day... okay fine.

Well... heated it up, took a bite and... spitting it all in the trash!! Guess what... I still HATE sauerkraut!!

Spring Break!!!

So it's now Spring Break, mom just left for Sacramento, you know what that means... absolutely nothing!! YAY!! Can't wait.

Since I work more than anything else, and have no life, I think that I will just continue on through the break having no life and doing squat.

Hope everyone else has a better Spring Break than me.

What if?

So I was eating lunch at a Wendy's the other afternoon and I started thinking... what would our country be like if there wasn't a single fast food joint (McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's, etc.)? And this means that they had never been thought of. Just how much would that change the way we live?

Okay... now I know this picture isn't that big but I think you get the idea here. Now call me crazy, but wouldn't you have to be a little messed up in the head... I mean not thinking clearly at all, to be holding a POSSUM!!?? And not just holding it, but this guys walks all over town with it. In fact, prior to this picture being taken, he was walking it in the park across the street. So yeah, just a little curious?

90 Minutes Of WHAT!, HUH!, and BALLL!!

So, where to start? Well, tonight Matt and I had the glorious opportunity to go to a "concert" (If you want to call it that. It was more like a ski lodge with a coffe shop combo package. With an atmosphere of a camp fire except for nobody you knew, nor would want to get to know... plus you COULDN'T HEAR ANYTHING BECAUSE THE MUSIC WAS SO LOUD!!)

So like I was saying, we went this "concert" headlining Paul Wright preceded by a bunch of LOUD obnoxious openers. Yeah, we thought they loud, nope!! Paul Wright was quite a bit louder! Not to say so much that he himself was loud but his bassist was loud. Couldn't hear anything over that. (The guy at the mixing board wasn't too sure what to do. I mean, he waas probably thinking to himself, "uhh... I can't mix, I don't know where to start... uhh... MAX THEM ALL!!") So yah, definately LOUD!! Ooh!! Guess what, now I can be part of the "deaf community"... but is it with a capitol "D" or a lower cas "d"... like I even care. (In other news, if Deaf Community was a real band, they would probably sound a whole lot better than Paul Wright Live!) Oh yah, also, I'm MUTE now, no, no, not from singing... YELLING!!

So now we find ourselves standing in a room full of strangers, in the dark, listening to badly played music, and I payed $8 for this? But as Matt put it, "It's like an $8 massage!" Seeing as how the bass was so loud, it was shaking my insides! So we did, what what everyone else WANTED to do, we left... and went to Shari's.

Now this is a whole other story... so if you arn't completely lost and or bored, you can leave a comment asking me about it. I will be more than glad to share it with you!

Deaf or Blind

So this topic arose on Sunday during the pre-game entertainment when Stevie Wonder was singing. Would you rather be blind, or deaf?

Personally, I would rather be blind. One of my reasons for this is because I absolutely LOVE music. I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t listen to music.

So now I ask you... deaf, or blind?

So... this is exciting.

According to an article in todays newspaper, it is legal to carry a sword in the state of Oregon. Here is the article, it's not very long.

February 1, 2006

Since You Asked:
It’s legal to carry sword(s)

Why is it legal for a person to own and carry a gun with special permits but not a sword? Swords are far less lethal. If someone attacks me I should have the ability to choose what kind of weapon I should be able to protect myself with, shouldn’t I? Are people just more afraid of swords than guns?
— Jesse C., Eagle Point

State lawmakers either agree swords are less lethal or they didn’t think to bother with a weapon so archaic.

Oregonians actually can carry as many swords as they want, according to Jackson County District Attorney Mark Huddleston, who has found no legal reference to the contrary. However, carrying a sword with the intent to use it against another person is a crime, he said.

And while we’re clearing up one misconception, you may as well know that Oregonians can carry guns without special permits as long as the firearm is openly displayed. Carrying a concealed gun without the proper permits is a crime, as is carrying a concealed knife, switchblade or ice pick, Huddleston said. Swords are not referenced among concealed weapons, either.

"... They gotta be hard to conceal," Huddleston said.

And, of course, one must consider swords’ superiority over guns because they never run out of ammunition, the district attorney joked.

How exciting is this!? I guess now I can bust out my sword collection again! Yessssssssss!

And who takes an ice pick with them when they leave the house?! Honestly!!

I am not happy...

So our stereo at work, well, to be blunt, it just SUCKS!! I just happen to put in a brand new CD I purchased on Monday. Well, the stereo has decided not to cooperate when it come to ejecting the cds. It happens to be a 5 disc changer and when I push open, it opens about an inch or so, then closes. This does not make me happy as I see this as the stereo mocking me. Not cool. Needless to say I have gone a few rounds with said stereo, but I have lost each time. Now my brand new cd is stuck in the tray somewhere, and most likely scratched like crazy. Also, not cool.

Next round, I take a hammer to it just to show it who is superior. It won't be pretty.

Answer Me This

How is it that as a barista, I am required, (and do quite well I might add) to remember detailed drink orders such as, tall-soy-split shot-latte-extra hot-no foam... ok you get the idea. Well, why is that I can remember all that, but after finishing every single drink I can't seem to remember if they want whiped cream or not! How is that possible?! (And Bryan, I know you know what I'm talking about)

I'm Back, I'm Back, I'm Back!!! Guess what... I'm Back!!!

You might want to sit down for this one if you havn't already. In fact, you might need some oxygen. That's right... I'm NOT DEAD!!! I'm still here. Surprise!!! I'm back and boy do I have some good stuff!

I will first start by apologizing to all of my biggest fans. (Which is zero because only about six people read this thing... and I'm posotive that each one of you have deleted my link from your blog... probably around Thanksgiving.)

So if any of you even care, I will be posting some very interesting stories. Until then, uhh... well I'm not actually sure.

K bye.