Yay it worked

Mar 21, 2007

I'm studying for a test at the moment, so of course I want nothing more than add an entry. I only have one class this semester, but it's sure is a tuffy (I'm not sure if I'm supposed to say things like that as an almost graduated grad student). I was feeling kind've sorry for myself since I wasn't called back in for a second interview at the first full time position to have an interest in me. However today turned out to be a whole heap of awesome as I am now the proud owner of a second interview. Please keep it in your prayers, I really hope I can land this job (life would be so easy).

I have been reading this book lately that has pretty much changed my life. If you're a single guy around college age or younger and haven't yet read Every Young Man's Battle, you're are a lamer. I was skeptical at first as I thought I had heard every sermon on men's issues and how to behave around women in relationships, but evidentially I hadn't and this book has really changed me for the better in how I appreciate Cat in my life and just about every facet. So thanks to my future best men in encouragement and lending this book to me. It's been one of the best reads of my life. I also think it would be a good read for girls too, so they can understand better why men can be seemingly so disturbing and creepy, even the seemingly harmless ones that go to Church every Sunday. The next book on the agenda is Sex God, a new one from Rob Bell. I'm looking forward...

My Dad is also really awesome, I took my car home (the one I just bought last fall) as it had some engine problems. He spent about 12 hours and $200 in parts and now I'm no longer harassed by the dastardly check engine light.

I got back from Minnesota last Thursday. Another round working with Native American children. I think the kids are great, and although they seem to be a bit wild and crazy by the way they are raised, they also seem to be a bit more innocent and less into the whole popularity contest which plague our own kids. I was really relieved to see everyone having fun playing together, it was a blast.

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Feb 26, 2007

I thought I'd better get another entry in here, where I'm not pretending to be a bum since prospective employers may find this blog on google. Being a bum is not a selling point for any employment, unless you're applying to bum school. (I'm also planning on cutting my hair and am a very hardworking self-starter).

Now that that's out of the way. I'm pretty much the farthest point from a bum you could probably get. After asking my very pretty girlfriend to marry me (prettiest girlfriend in the entire world, now prettiest fiancée in the entire world), we have been having a wonderful time planning the wedding. Wedding planning is not for the weak hearted and stomached.

My seven year college tour is coming to an end this semester and the guests are starting to leave the party. So many ends to tie up and so much time taken up in worrying about the future. I could never prepare enough for the amount of change that's coming up. Some big events coming up: Winter Retreat, Minnesota mission trip, finishing master's project, moving off campus, job search, wedding.

I'm running out of time to play video games, but hopefully there will be plenty of opportunities to use my new camping equipment this summer
OH SWEET CAMPING, YOU MAKE LIFE SO GRAND

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Jan 30, 2007

My roommate called me a bum all day yesterday, mostly because I was a bum all day yesterday. I got up at 9, and played Zelda: twilight princess on the Wii until after 2, in my pajamas. I then played it again an hour before class and also spent time looking for heart container pieces after class for a bit, before my girlfriend dragged me away.

What I don't think my roommate understands is, I must save the princess and the world and in order to accomplish this is to find all of secret items.

Secret items take a long time to find...

I am currently remembering a much older game, that has a character of the same name. The game is Maniac Mansion. In the game, you choose 2 or 3 of the characters available and you're restricted to the use of just those characters to explore a weird mansion filled with strange people and aliens. There is one character you can choose named Jeff.

Although all of the other characters have special skills, such as electronics, ability to talk through situations and such, Jeff has none. No one plays as Jeff. I also find his appearance a bit startling.

So in short, I am a bum. Is it also bad that I'm thinking about hiking the grand canyon and a friend of mine was talking about being "lake trash". Although it's snowing and it's very cold out right now, so the best way to be a bum is playing video games.

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Jan 24, 2007

I was sitting here in class and for the first time ever I get to be one of the guys I've always envied, laptop guy. Laptop guy is the super student who writes everything down and never looses track of his stock quotes. Today I'm that guy!
Other than that, a lot has happened since my last post. I've enjoyed many nights of killer bunnies, wii, and various other activities. I finished my project proposal, which is a weight off of me and now I'm in the second week of my last semester of college. I only have one class and I need to finish my master's project itself. I also filled out my grad contract and it I almost heard that heavenly *awww* sound when I walked out of that office.

I went to Mexico to Mexico and built a house for a family, who lived in a cardboard, scrap wood house (with many large drafty holes). I learned how to stucco something, which was a new experience. I also polished my bargaining skills at the marketplace and came out with some warm stuff to keep my self from freezing in Mexican snowfall (it does exist). Cat and I were stuck together the entire trip and talked about many things, and I am blessed with how well we work together.

I watched Napoleon Dynamite yet another time through with a good friend last night; every time I watch that move I find so many things I have in common. We both rode the bus well into high school, we both had relentless chores, we both got ditched at our prom and then found the girl we really wanted to dance with, and we both had bully problems. Next time I'll find more things, I'm stopping now before I become to scared.

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Dec 22, 2006

Remember the days when this blogging vehicle was utilized for intense emotional escapades and some possible stabs at very meaningful portions of life and everything? Well today I feel like that...

First let me tell you how much I really anticipated Christmas this year, those that were around me listened to endless amounts of Christmas music and I won an award for best decorated in my housing court (much less prestigious than it sounds). I had my usual ridiculously huge Christmas party and exchanged gifts with a great many friends and onlookers. As I'm sitting here writing, I feel like a car running out of gas. With everyone home or nearly there for Christmas and all of my Christmas shopping and plans finished, I really don't feel all that festive anymore. It may be the case that I have never listened to Andrew Peterson's Christmas album. Which a certain Tad has claimed to be the most powerful Christmas album of our time (slight exaggeration). I guess I'll have to go home to find my true Christmas that I have been looking for, and I'm certain it's not going to be the gifts I will receive.

Today I stopped at 2 green lights, as Lindsey and Jenny may have witnessed. I could say that our conversation was so intriguing, it was putting us in danger. It is true you know, talking about after college plans when we're all about to start our final semester of college. I think it's more for me. With many big decisions in front of me, I feel detached. I don't want do anything at all, and I don't want to do nothing. I still have to finish my Master's project proposal and clean the house and go home in a couple of days. I also am going to Mexico and I have to decide one of the biggest decisions of my life.

Ok finding the true meaning of Christmas, taking care of stuff I have to take care of for school and myself, and facing a life defining decision. Let's add a few more things....

Something I used to do: Play guitar (outside in public areas even), dream about leading worship at the Edge on Friday nights, scoping out the coolest of Christian music, read the Bible, be depressed about not finding a girl to date, professing the greatness of the likes of David Crowder, Donald Miller, Cool Hand Luke, et al., work to excel at my job, playing endless games of bang with all of my crazy friends, blog, get homework done, take great strides to eat right and exercise, the occasional computer game

Things I do now: play card games with all my crazy friends, play wii/guitar hero endlessly like, obsess about all of the homework that needs to be done, spend time with the girl, eat until prohibited by nausea and not exercise, addicted to the Internet more than ever (thanks digg, kol), lazy at the job

What happened?

It's not all bad, I love my girl, and I love playing games with my friends (all of them). What happened to the rest?

The Christmas season, work to do, that life decision, spiritual laziness, not taking care of myself, and other things I'm not man enough to admit.

I feel like my spirit is twisted up and if I don't find a way to untangle it, damage will be done. If I make the wrong decision, my future will suffer.

What to do?

I'll pray tonight and then go to sleep

Thanks for helping me layout my thoughts.

Merry Christmas, May His love shine for you

Jeff

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Dec 4, 2006

I have a wii, yay
I had to wait at bestbuy 2 hours before they opened to get one, luckily they had a stock about 40 so I am one of the lucky ones, or something like that. The wii is my first console since the SNES, and I am happy being a Nintendo fanboy again (even thought about resubscribing to Nintendo Power).

Other than the wii, I have a Christmas party coming up on Friday Dec 15. I hope it will be the usual blast and have lots of yummy food to put in my stomach through my mouth. I'm sure I'll post pictures or something about that later.

I hope everyones homework is going well and if they have a wii nearby, it won't be too much of a distraction, I am very fortunate to have had a large amount of my homework done before I got mine.

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Oct 30, 2006

I've been working on a new design for the CSF website which has been keeping me from updating this site even longer. The design for the CSF site makes this site look like it's a big pile of dumb now, but oh well, I guess it's an evolution of my website building expertise on display!

I've noticed several dormant blogs are getting new posts, like some of my best friends that are guys, David and John, you should check out what they have to say, it's usually darned good.

I have also been re-caught up in an online game called Kingdom of Loathing (My Accordion Thief is at lvl 10 already), if you like text based adventures that make fun of all other role playing games, this is for you. This game is pretty hilarious and the best part is that you can only play a small limited time per day before it shuts you down. This may be the best idea I have ever seen in online gaming. I might actually stop calling it the devil if this trend were to take off. Some of the subject material in KoL may not be the most appropriate so a word of caution, but if you're able to overlook a small amount of language, this is a great way to kill a little bit of time everyday.

I've been kicking the books lately, well I don't actually use books for studying, but I have been working hard at my studies anyway, and getting things done makes me feel intense and great.

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Oct 2, 2006

What's Up With Jesus??
I went to a Catholic wedding this weekend of one of my best friends from the high school days, a change of pace from the contemporary Christian weddings and traditional weddings I've attended.

This week is Homecoming week here at UIS. I survived the free t-shirt mob and came out victorious.
I've been watching the crap out of BattleStar Galactica, trying to be ready for the season premier this weekend. I never really get into tv shows, but since I have to be cool and it's especially good, I'm going to watch it until the bitter end.

Thanks to the most villainous facebook newsfeed, I noticed a group called "What's up with Jesus??"  Here's their short description:

                 NOTE: This group is NOT intended to offend. I DON'T HATE  
             CHRISTIANS... I just believe that ANY religion takes things to the
               extreme and that is why I do not believe in the IDEA of religion.

A bit of a different statement, especially when you hear it after growing up in a church. I'm sure statements like these won't stop anytime soon, as it seems that religion is the premise of hatred for others. We need to make sure we're doing our part in Loving God's people. The type of love and deeds He commands us, to the extreme.

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Sep 21, 2006

Tonight is the night tonight
For a bible study that is, the M22 bible study starts tonight at 9pm. I flier'd the campus with mad squirrels and the like. If a mad squirrel can't get people interested in reading the Bible, then that is the best I can do.
Tomorrow is the all state championship iron canoe trip, as in the CSF canoe trip. Everyone is meeting at the housing commons at 2 to take off to somewhere, Missouri. I will be driving a van, so if you're going, be prepared for awesome.


This guy is prepared for awesome

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Aug 27, 2006

Now it is Sunday , the official first day of the second week of this new and brighter school year. The raccoon picture below makes me dream of camping.


Chinese Dumplings, yeah

I've become motivated now that summer is virtually over. I've even started reading books about computers. I even finished Screwtape Letters, which was a long read for me, although great. The book was written during the war in the 40's, I'm pretty sure I could've easily pasted myself into the victim's shoes, and probably would not come out as well. You should read it someday before you die. I will again because there's just too much information to remember.

I've been doing my best to juggle my schedule with my friends and gf and work and study and I just keep feeling burned because I'm burning one of those things no matter how much I don' t want it to happen. I've noticed the same thing with friends of mine too that have gone a similar path as me. It's a hard road (but it feels so great), when you're loved.


Hal is happier than Mike, he's not about to be married

I've switched back to doing this blog in Frontpage, Dreamweaver is so cumbersome, especially when handling pictures. Although I'm prolly just a n00b.

I only have one more week at tech support and then starts my GA'ship. I'm hanging up the spandex costume of super tech support man and picking up the shiny magic pocket protector of super software development GA man. I'm pretty excited.


Dan and his hammer for multicolored nails

Not to give props to the image factory that is facebook, I just got back in sort've touch to a high school buddy. He has a beard, as most people do now, I mean should.

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Aug 24, 2006

New school year starting, Dean is feeding me more chinese food as we speak. I was trying to figure out how to figurepick a guitar instead of work on my thesis as well as write this blog entry. Or do something completely different, which is what happened to this entry

Aug 1, 2006

Happy August! August is that cool month when you go back to school...
For better or worse that is what we're doing.

So I went camping another time last weekend. Rode a horse while I was there, yep, yep, bit my leg with its mouth, threw me to the ground, trampled, ate the remains, at least that's what has been happening in my nightmares since. In real life, my horse pooped 2 times, which is one more time than any horse on the trail ride. I felt proud.

I've decided I'm probably the luckiest person ever. I've been offered a GA position her at UIS, which is something I've long written off as a fantasy. If I get that, then I might actually feel like a real graduate student. Plus I get to do coding type development, which is a whole new job experience. I'm pretty much floating in a sea of awesome. I'm still not sure why I get to have fun all the time. It's really pretty fun.

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July 22, 2006

OH goodness, another camping trip of goodness. I'm sitting here in the second to the last weekend of the summer and I decided I need to start studying for my thesis that I have to do here. My latest reading comes from Computer networks by Andew Tanenbaum. Tanenbaum is pretty much the chieften when it comes to computer science textbook. My graduate thesis is about wireless security, and for now I really don't know what I'm doing other than that.

Yesterday was yet another bible study. This time led by that Catherine Morrison. The food topic was bread, it was bring your own bread day. I brought a french baguette, some french-type cheese, and "wine". I decided French was the way of the day. Mangeant du pain et du vin de fromage, est joli beaucoup la manière d'aller. Oh le Français l'ont bien.

The subject was Psalm 124 and for a reason I don't remember, Melissa talked about how she thought she was caught in the rapture, and it was a very humurous story, and how her sister thought a toilet was the rapture. I started thinking though just what it would be like if the rapture actually happened during my stay here, it's not something I think would actually happen to me and it's generally a pretty crazy thought in general.

So things are cooking, well later anyway, on with the sturdiness.

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July 12, 2006

I'm excited about the next school year. Now that I've been here for two years, I feel like I pretty much know what it's all about and I can't wait to be beaten up and proved wrong. I'll be living in the same space as last year, however with a whole new roommate lineup.

This weekend I'm going to meet some parents that belong to the girl I date. The weekend's festivities may include sailing on lake Michigan. I'll be sorry for missing the usual bible study festivities this weekend. Amelia and Melissa have done a really good job of putting together a bible study we can do every Friday night.

Speaking of CSF (Christian Student Fellowship of UIS) related activities, this month there is a planning session, for upcoming activities for the next school year. I'm looking forward to hear what people have to say. I really hope to step away from a lot of the controversy of last year, and go more in the direction of just loving people. So many people view CSF as the cult of the nicey-nice Jesus people and you're going to burn if you can't make it through the hoops to be one of us. Of course we are all hurt by such criticism, when so many of us care for other people, even the ones we don't know. I will admit CSF can't please everyone, just as I know I can't be everyone's friend (like yours for example, you're too stinky), however CSF does have a good reason for being. CSF can help people wanting to know more about Jesus and be in a fellowship of students who can work together to come to a better understanding of what God has in store for us.

I can safely say that CSF has changed my life, and I really wish I could share what I've found in CSF with everyone I know here at UIS, and I still am working on understanding that another person is not the same as me and may not actually be interested, they might also need punches.

In an entirely unrelated story, Catherine Morrison is not as good at swimming as me, and acts like she's never touched water in her life.

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July 11, 2006

A new blog for a new school year/summer thing. My name is Jeff Black, I live in M22A, which stands for Marigold court apt. 22, bedroom A. Most of you are saying duh, but there may be someone out there who may read this blog and may like to know, if nothing else but to make sure it's not a secret code about how dumb they are.

The amount of unofficial blogging in my circle of friends is becoming more scarce. For this summer, however, you should definitely check out the two guys in a van blog. John and David are vanning around the country helping high school and college age types develop a better understanding of God in the college environment. They have a lot to say about their experiences, each entry is the greatness and promotes large amounts of green jealousy in myself.

Most of these knuckleheads in my blog list may not update much, but they're still my favorite reads. Also I've added a link to "All the Old Stuff"; This will take you to all of the entries of my past blog, so you can remember how awesome I am or not. Other links on the left are just darn good links.

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What Jeff is

 

Reading





Doing
playing Wii
Interviewing
watching Scrubs
wedding planning
hanging with fiance
Battlestar Galactica
working
croquette
swimming
bike riding
canoeing
worshipping
horseback riding
visiting parents
talking
Killer Bunnies
eating
sleeping
thesis
blogging
driving
Shopping at Dane's
Bible Studies
pie baking
Bang!
Guitar Hero