5 Reasons Why Seat Belts are Worthless on Airplanes.

As Mandy and I sat eating our McDonald's yesterday the thought arose, how is it that when we hop into one of the church's economy sized van's for a trip, we must wear our seat belt but yet, you get on a school bus or public transit and no seat belt is required, nor do they provide one for you if you wanted to "buckle of for safety". This led to another thought, why must we buckle up on an airplane?

• When taking off, the sheer force is more than enough to keep you in your seat.

• It's not like we're going to crash into another plane in mid-air.

• If we do crash, a seat belt is the last thing you're gonna need to hope to walk away from it.

• It's not actually possible to fall out of your seat, there's hardly any room to sit down in the first place.

• It won't keep you from hitting the seat in front of you either 'cause the seat in front of you is actually in your lap.

This isn't to say that I would have ever wanted a seat belt on the school bus. Let's face it, if you do that then you might as well hand every student a helmet and chinstrap as well.

I can breathe. . .

for a few more days at least. I am anxiously awaiting the end of a very long and (at many times) frustrating term. I know the end is in sight but I still have one more mountain to climb. . . okay maybe a couple. I just gave a presentation of my so called "term paper". Yeah it doesn't really look like one at the moment and it is has to be 10 pages by next Wednesday. I have an HTML test and project due next Tuesday and Thursday. Oh and somewhere in there is a Chemistry final. So yeah, maybe I don't have a few days to breathe. :(

On the upside though is that on my drive to class this morning I caught the oh so beautiful aroma of freshly cut grass which can mean only one thing. . . spring is just around the corner!!

It's been one year...

since I first picked Mandy up for our very first date!! On that Friday night one year ago I took her to see "Failure To Launch". I was soooo nervous! You gotta understand, I'd never done something like that before. . . I was never the guy who asked out a girl. But it would appear that it worked in my favor that night because we are still very much together.

Now one year later, we celebrated by going to Hot Pots! this afternoon and started painting a coffee mug for one another. After we worked on those for about three hours, we went back to my place and I made her dinner. On the menu was a roast, garlic mashed potatoes, carrots and broccoli, and blueberry muffins.

After dinner we watched a movie and it was only fitting that we watch the same movie we watched just one year ago, "Failure To Launch". We now sit her at her place playing "Sorry" and I must say I am getting my butt kicked.

SNOW, SNOW, AND MORE SNOW!

We should maybe think about a WARNING label.

So the other night Cindi came over to Mandy's and brought some popsicles with her. While I was eating mine I was reminded of A Christmas Story when the kid sticks his tongue on the light poll. (Insert popscicle for light pole and my lips for tongue and you have Zach stuck to popscicle.) I found myself sitting on the couch with both my lips stuck around the Popsicle (and not just kind of stuck, but to the point that if I pulled on the frozen treat, it would begin to remove the skin!) I tried getting Mandy's attention but all that came out were a bunch of groans, as my mouth was sufficiently frozen shut by the popscicle. I have found that it is not as easy as one might think to get unstuck. Yeah, it kinda hurts actually!

Note: In my time of distress and personal anguish, Mandy found it in her heart to make light of my situation and have a laugh. Though I must say, it was quite amusing.

Dear Mandy,

I hope that this day is really special for you! I love you so much!

So the following is actually from the card that I got you but I thought it was so fitting. I mean, this is the one time that I don't think I could say it any better than the card.

"No one else understands me so perfectly, no one knows me like you do. I can be myself around you -- and I love that!"

Thanks for being so AMAZING!!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!

SMILES

So I was sifting through my pictures and came across this picture of Stacy and Dakota from Thanksgiving. It put a smile on my face. Enjoy!

Ummm... yeah.

So a couple nights ago Mandy and I went to taking random pictures and well, they were less than flattering (most of them at least). After uploading them onto Bebo, I was talking to Stacy and she absolutely died of laughter. She noticed that my hair was getting rather long and was wondering just how long it was... this is what I came up with.

Not that many of you care...

but GO DUCKS!! Okay so maybe our football team was less than steller(talking about how we took a 6-0 start and flushed it down the toilet!!) But now we turn from the field to the court. Mac Court to be specific.

The Oregon Ducks basketball team is off to its best start in 80 years - since McArthur Court was first built - with a very impressive 17-1 record after last nights very tough win over the Stanford Cardinals (66-59).

What may possibly be more impressive is that in an eight day period, the Ducks defeated then #1 UCLA(@ home) and #8 Arizona(on the road). Each game was decided by only two points and Senior Aaron Brooks delivered both game winning shots.

The Ducks started the season unranked but have quickly catapulted themselves into a very nice position and went into last nights game ranked 10th in the nation... we can only get better from here!

My Favorite Smells

Okay so many of you will find this to be a really odd post but for some reason I was thinking about what my favorite smells were (my thought process is odd like that).

1) The smell of rain during a thunderstorm
2) The smell of the pages in an old book
3) The smell of a roast on a Sunday afternoon
4) The smell of coffee brewing in the morning
5) The smell of clean clothes... okay so maybe just
the dryer sheets

See if you can come up with any of your own favorite fragrances.

Oh back to school, back to school...

So Christmas break is officially over for me now and it's time to hit the books once more. But I must say I am actually looking forward to this. Although it was quite nice to have an entire month off from school, I have gotten into this mode where I know that I'm almost done with RCC so now I just want to finish as soon as possible. This is not to mention the fact that I think my class load will be easier this term, each of which is completely different from the rest... Chemistry, Writing, HTML, and Drawing.

Well, off I go. Must continue getting ready.

... 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.