My day.

So I had an exciting day, First I got a registered letter notice in the mail so I had to walk on over to the post office. I decided today would be a walking day, I try to have at least a couple a week just to keep myself in somewhat respectable shape and also to keep the old car costs down (not that it helps much). Anyway so on the way there I was trying to figure out what it could be first I was like maybe it is insurance again. Maybe it is a supiena to appear in court and testify against a mob boss then spend the next few years in whiteness protection. Or maybe I won some sort of lottery. After the mob boss one, that was my favorite just because I could picture myself going all Curt Rustle like in Big Trouble in Little China and bringing down the mob, not to mention several kung-fu priests and some sort of black magical being. Anyway turns out it was just my new passport which was pretty cool too.
Then on the way to work I was jiving along with my head-phones and noticed these bunch of kids outside the school doing high jump and they were all starring at me so I was kinda weirded out and I stared right back wondering what they were staring at. Then I caught a reflection of myself in a window. I realized they were starring at the big guy with wind blown hair that looked more like a bad afro, that was staring at them, and apparently talking to himself, while listening to headphones (though I know that I was actually jiving along and not talking to myself). Anyway bad situation to be caught in while walking around Ponoka.
Anyway after that I got to work and found my office full of bickering old women. Apparently they were under the impression that someone ought to be doing something about the soil sinking around the church (we had just replaced the seal around the foundation so there was soil piled up around the church). They figured someone needs to get over here right away to do something about this before the entire church is swallowed in some sort of freak vacuum. I tried to explain that settling was kinda normal and in a few months once all has calmed down they can get back to their flower planting and landscaping and such (more like they can get their husbands back to that but whatever). Anyway since I am just a lowly youth worker and have no idea about such things (where as they are obviously experts) they decided to call over the contractor form our church anyway he said the same thing and they liked it. Whatever!
My after noon was relatively calm usual youth worker stuff hung out at the high school giving away Ice cream went to a movie (Davinci Code so it was considered research and prep for when the kids see it). Then I gave blood right after supper, good times except that after I got up I tripped on a fold of the tarp that covered the gym floor so I was instantly surrounded by nurses who were convinced I was about to keel over and die and would not believe I had simply tripped. Oh well more cookies for me.
Anyway that’s my day. Peace Kids hope you learn.
<><

My life just got better...

May long weekend is a crazy time. Every one goes everywhere it’s nuts. Highway two was absolutely insane on Monday night it was like bumper to bumper traffic all going a good ten klicks under the speed limit of course, which is even more infuriating where you are already late. So much for Alberta’s Autobahn.
But enough senseless rambling about weekend traffic patters. I have much more exciting things to talk about. Erika came down for the weekend, which was just beyond awesome. Erika is the girl I mentioned a few entries ago. We have been talking on the phone for a few months. We met for coffee In GP a little while ago which was the first time we had met in the flesh. I was worried this weekend was going to be kinda weird you know. I mean talking on the phone is one thing, or even having coffee once. Hanging out for an entire weekend is something else. I was like; What if I totally built up this false image of her? or What if I am totally not what she expects? What if she doesn’t like me? Bla Bla Bla!! Turns out all these worries were completely unfounded it was great. She was great! It was a little bit weird at first, but weird is kinda normal on any first significant encounter and it went away pretty quick. It was totally natural we talked and hung out watched the Hockey game. (Now how could you not be nuts about a girl who wants to grab a beer and watch the game?) We hit up Ikea, we even went out to a park to fly a kite (I know totally cheesy and cliché but it was still a lot of fun. After the kite flying came "the talk". Oh the dreaded talk, awkward, don’t want to lay all your cards on the table, what if? All that stuff all over again but I went for broke and it paid off (Ok I didn’t exactly "go for broke" but it sounds better than saying we stumbled through the conversation with minimal embarrassment) turns out she is as crazy about me as I am about her. The rest of the weekend was cloud nine we hung out with Dave and Jen some, I met her parents (they were already in Edmonton anyway). We went to church and she met the church folk. It was too awesome. Monday night toatlay sucked of course, as she left I realized I was going to be missing her like crazy now. It just did not seem fair. But God has a plan one way or the other so here we are and we take it as it comes. Anyway that’s my life. Keep it real.
<><

This is She!

Personal Note

Hey Jenn mind your own damn business! Sorry that’s Jenn Dodd not Jen Dolsky. Apparently Erika’s creepy Friends are spying on me.
<><

Whew!!

Hey kids
So I am mostly recovered from my weekend. For those who may not know (probably everyone) this weekend was grad weekend which meant it was also dry grad weekend. The weeks prelude to the weekend was super random and super busy. Between the three youth pastors who were working on this thing someone has really got to develop an effective list habit (hey bobby want to move to Ponoka and be our secretary? We don’t pay much but we are super disorganized). It seemed like every half hour one of us would suddenly remember something else we had to do then we would have to try and fit it into our schedule. Running here pick up that run there drop off this have a meeting, what a ruckus. By the time Friday came around I was ready for the event to just happen but Jerel and I were off to Edmonton to pick up party rentals and such. We got Casino games (it was a casino night, yeah we don’t want them to drink but we are more than happy to support their gambling addiction), and a hot tub not to mention a ton of food and prizes. Our favorite purchase was we bought three professional poker sets with 1000 chips each and they were the high class ones too no cheap plastic for us. We ended up giving away two of them and the third one, which is somewhat incomplete, the three of us will play for, should be a good night. Friday night was the cap and gown thing so I had a few kids to drop in on and wish congrats plus I was fed everywhere I went which was an added bonus. The ceremony itself was as to be expected long boring and the gym was absolutely cooking. I ditched out early to catch the end of the game and boy was I glad I did, what a game! Saturday was a big day, I was up till four in the morning the night before typing out the rules for all the games on an easy to use pamphlet. The idea was to sleep in on Saturday so that Saturday night I would not fall asleep in the middle of the party. I was up and running by nine AM. The whole day was just a blur but somehow we converted the tacky old community center into a high class casino complete with inflatable boxing ring. We bought more prizes, got food, set up sound and lights, there were lots of helper s too, the volunteers were amazing, but it was still a whole day event by Ten that night was still teaching the dealers how to play their perspectives games as kids came strolling in. Who knew that Baptists really do not play cards I always thought that was one of those old school myth things, anyway at least four of them were nicely corrupted that night. The night was an overall success we gave out over four thousand dollars in prizes including an awesome stereo, iPods, Car stereos, TV, mini fridge’s, and a lap top computer, plus lots and lots more. Every Grad walked away with an awesome prize. The only slight downfall was the kids seemed to tucker out pretty quick I guess the casino games did not keep them active enough the energy drained pretty quick but there were still fifty or so kids till the very end. We shut her down at five thirty in the morning and after clean up and all I poured myself into bed around nine. I slept through both my alarms that were supposed to wake me up for church an hour later but I’m pretty sure every one would understand. Sunday was sleep all Tuesday then Monday was trying to force myself awake so I could actually sleep that night. So back to normal which just seems so slow. Oh well I’m sure I’ll find my groove again. Anyway that’s my week, good times! Peace kids take it easy.
<><

Slow it down a second.

I’ve been watching a TV series a buddy lent me. It’s called "Dead Like Me", ever hear of it? It’s about this girl who is killed by a toilet seat from a Russian space station that fell out of the sky. She becomes a grim reaper and is saddled with the responsibility of collecting souls from people just before they bite it from weird accidents and such like hers. The weirdest part about it is how not so weird the whole show is. She still has to hold down a day job and hangs out with a group of friends who also happen to be reapers. But the whole show revolves around how extraordinary what we consider normal life is and how normal what we consider the extraordinary is. Obviously this show has put me in a very odd state of mind. After watching a show mundane things in life like smoking a cigar and enjoying a cup of coffee see like exceptional experiences. And rather looming problems like a week from hell or major bills due with no cash in sight seem very inconsequential. I don’t imagine this would be a healthy state of mind to remain in for extended periods of time but in the short term it does help to put some perspective on things. Anyway I will pay my bills and survive this week one step at a time. Then I will thank God for that minor miracle and move on with my life. Tomorrow though holds something special. I have been barred from the office or any other place of work under strict orders from pastor Dave and his wife. I think some lazing around in the sun is in order, just as long as I can keep my mind as far away from work as my body is supposed to be. Anyway catch ya latter kids.
<><

My week

Hey all!
Bobby’s wedding was pretty cool. A little weird this was the first CLBI wedding that I have been to that I did not know a ton of people. Kirstin and her bau Murry were of course there but they were MCs so Ana and I ended up sitting at a table full of strangers. It was good thought the people we were staying with work on Native Education programming so it was pretty interesting and kinda up my ally. My allergies also picked this weekend to go into high gear, so for the past six days I have been popping pills flushing my eyes with drops and I am still sneezing and blowing my nose every two seconds and my eyes more closely resemble radishes. The weird thing is we just got a truck load of 201 hanging flower baskets they are all stashed away downstairs but that is the only place I can actually breath and escape the nagging desire to use coat hangers on my eyes. Weird.
Confirmation is this Sunday. On eof the six countermands decided that she is not entirely ready to stand in front of the church and declare that she does in fact believe in Jesus. This I think is a good thing, because option B would be to stand up there and lie and that really doing no one a favor no matter how her father feels about it. I think with giving her permission to say no and accept her decision but still want to meet with her and walk with her though this she feels a little more accepted by the church. She does not seem so threatened that we just want to shape her and mold her into our version of who we think she should be. I hope she does see that God has a plan for her and that who she is is who God desires her to be but in a relationship with him.
I drove myslef crazy spending hours in the Christian book store looking for some sort of appropriate book to give the other five. I felt this pressure like this was going to be the only Christian book they may ever come in contact with and they are in grade eight so if by chance they do even want to crack the binding it had better be a gooder. I realize this is retarded so I took great comfort in the advise that Ana gave me; that It’s ok of they are not into it now. Some day they may just may be in a rough spot and out of the blue pull down the book they got in confirmation and God will be the one speaking to them not the words so I just have to go with my gut. Well more or less that’s what she said anyway I may have added my own interpretation but whatever.
Anyway kids hope all is well in your perspective corners of the world. Peace
<><