Pre-Finals Brain Dump

So where do we start? I think in New Mexico: A flash presentation of Weird Al’s Albuquerque. Set aside about 10 min for random stupidity.

Casino Royale
It is always nice to be driving home for thanksgiving and having your mom call and say the following words: “So sushi and the new James Bond movie … I’m buying” Yes please! So after getting my healthy dose of wasabi we go to see the new James Bond. A very different James Bond.

He is just mean … I dunno if it is a director’s choice or a progression in film making but normally James Bond movies are pretty ‘subtle’ in the progression of violence and blood. This is not. I will say that the movie is never over till the credits role (and they should have put in about 15 more minutes) The humor is not the normal dry, but has some very nice sarcastic comments and play on words.

The best scene is the first one after the credits, and I’m pretty sure they did it without wires and the scene is just a little insane.

Thanksgiving
I love this holiday. First off is the nice 2 days off of school, but the best thing about it is the food. My family normally has a group of about 15ish people over every year with homemade everything. First thing in the oven are the blueberry muffins, the true sign of the holidays around my parent’s house. Right around 2ish the house starts to smell good. This is important to me since I can smell good BBQ from about a block away including what is on the grill. Sometimes I can have a two-block radius if I am hungry, but that’s another topic of discussion. This is one of those days where it is required that you eat thirds and fourths, followed by desert.

The other love from home was turning on my parent’s fireplace. My parents have tile floor which gets really hot in the sun, and really cold at night. I must be becoming wimp (or getting a cold) because my body has been cold at home where the temp has been about 20 Degrees colder than ‘summer’ in LA. I might have to go put some sweat pants on. Something about a fireplace signals the holidays and the changing seasons where nature doesn’t react to the change of seasons. We also pulled down the 2 car loads of Christmas stuff for my mom to decorate our house.

Being Thankful:
I tried to be clever and do the whole A-Z thing, but I found out I’m not that clever. Aside from family I found some things that were things that have snuck up on me in the past year or so of Seminary.

Guitar
Something about sitting down on my couch when my brain is full of stuff and just playing music is so very comforting. Many times God will lead me to songs that echo where I am and draw me closer to him.

And Bass Guitar
Quote of the week goes to Becca: “You just look happier playing bass.”
I love playing bass but it is very hard to lead worship on a bass. Some of it is that I am able to cut loose a little more and articulate some things better on bass than on a guitar. It is kinda hard to put into words, but there is something about playing my bass that is fun, either that or it brings out my goofball persona.

Tightening the Screws
I am sarcastic from time to time … ok most of the time, but one of the things that has been amazing to watch is how God has been using Seminary to really turn the pressure up on me to return to a life seeking him. The combination of theology and personal conduct make for a very stressful life, but in the end I come to a better understanding of my actions and myself.