Okay, apparently, I'm not so good at Laser Tag. Oops. I am terrible at this game. I get shot a lot. A LOT. And I hit almost no one. At least not on my opponents' two tiny sensors with my pathetic LED light "laser" pistol... two stupid sensors on a human being's entire body. Sheesh! Yeah, cause to shoot someone in real life I'd have to make sure I shoot them right in that 2-inch hexagonal region overtop of their stomach! Yeah, that's the sweet spot for sniping fatality!!! Uh-hunh! Sure it is. And in the jungles of Viet Nam you could easily avoid death by crouching down with your back on a tree, covering up aforementioned sweet spot with your arm. Yeah. Cause a bullet can't penetrate that! It's impossible!
(Do you sense the bitterness here? I am a touch competitive. Un peu.)
I have a hard time admitting that I'm simply terrible at something. Which would include Laser Tag. Oh well. The key to the whole evening was that I had fun. Can't you tell? ;P
22.2.06
21.2.06
Shooting people
So I'm off tonight to play laser tag (or is it laZer tag?) and thought about how much people like to shoot people. We like it in video games (a relatively new phenomenon - gaining in realism and popularity as each day passes). We like it in live, physical simulations (through safer forms like lasers, airsoft, or paintballs - I list these in order of progressive danger and pain). And, albeit a smaller proportion of "civilized" people, we like to really do it. With GUNS. and BULLETS. pain and death. Ouch.
As in other areas of life, like singing, or drawing portraits, or architecture, accuracy is a much heralded charactistic in the world of shooting people. Accuracy is really what it's all about.
And, for both pride and entertainment value, flair plays a big role too. Shooting a miniscule moving target while dive-rolling onto concrete from an 8-foot high ledge and strafing slightly to one's right is far more excellent than a simple execution-style blast to the back of the head. Though one could argue either way...
I've played video games and actually been pretty good at a couple of 'em. I've played paintball many times and always done well. I expect I'll be pretty good at laser tag tonight. I generally excel at shooting people while avoiding getting shot myself.
I pray I never have the chance to really try it.
As in other areas of life, like singing, or drawing portraits, or architecture, accuracy is a much heralded charactistic in the world of shooting people. Accuracy is really what it's all about.
And, for both pride and entertainment value, flair plays a big role too. Shooting a miniscule moving target while dive-rolling onto concrete from an 8-foot high ledge and strafing slightly to one's right is far more excellent than a simple execution-style blast to the back of the head. Though one could argue either way...
I've played video games and actually been pretty good at a couple of 'em. I've played paintball many times and always done well. I expect I'll be pretty good at laser tag tonight. I generally excel at shooting people while avoiding getting shot myself.
I pray I never have the chance to really try it.
Tall
Here's a tall picture for y'all. I'll try to re-find the link that brought me there so I can give proper credit... browsing has its rewards. This is actually three shots stitched together.
9.2.06
I love Tag games
Okay, in real life, I do love the game of tag. There are so many variations and ways to make it fun. I feel badly for those who are "too old" to play tag (meaning, "I'm too mature to play little kid games loser!") and wish they could have some of their childhood back...
Four Jobs I've Had:
Movie theatre Projectionist/Usher
Skate Patrol
Discipleship Coordinator
Ministry Assistant
...though these are more or less Job Titles I've had, not explaining much about the actual job...
Four Movies I Can Watch Over and Over Again:
Saving Private Ryan
The Passion of Jesus Christ
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Munich
...anyone who has seen these films would understand I'm joshing wit' cha. These are heavy films for which one viewing is really enough...
The Real List:
Aliens
Anchorman
Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail
U-571 (for its underwater explosion scenes...awesome sound...)
Four Places I have Lived:
Bulyea, SK
Calgary, AB
Grande Prairie, AB
Vancouver, BC
Four T.V Shows I Love:
NBATV Daily
CSI (both NY and Las Vegas)
TUF (season 3 is about to start on Spike)
Four Classic TV Shows I love: (New category - added by Andrew)
Seinfeld
Airwolf
A-Team
Knight Rider
Four Places I've Vacationed:
Costa Rica
Okanagan
San Francisco
Grande Prairie (if I use holiday time off work to be there, is it a "vacation"?)
Four Places I've Travelled to on Missions: (New category - added by me)
Egypt
India
Mexico
Switzerland
Four of My Favourite Dishes:
Alfredo covered pasta with seafood
Perfectly grilled steak with mushrooms
Chicken fried rice
Calamari (especially at Lou's in Abby)
Four Sites I visit Daily:
ESPN.com
people's blogs (there's a list, and I don't get to them daily...)
...that's it...
Four Places I'd Rather Be Right Now:-
With my wife :)
Japan
In heaven
On a mountaintop somewhere sunny and clear
Four Bloggers I am Tagging:
Aimee
Kortney
Robyn
Tyson
Four Jobs I've Had:
Movie theatre Projectionist/Usher
Skate Patrol
Discipleship Coordinator
Ministry Assistant
...though these are more or less Job Titles I've had, not explaining much about the actual job...
Four Movies I Can Watch Over and Over Again:
Saving Private Ryan
The Passion of Jesus Christ
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Munich
...anyone who has seen these films would understand I'm joshing wit' cha. These are heavy films for which one viewing is really enough...
The Real List:
Aliens
Anchorman
Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail
U-571 (for its underwater explosion scenes...awesome sound...)
Four Places I have Lived:
Bulyea, SK
Calgary, AB
Grande Prairie, AB
Vancouver, BC
Four T.V Shows I Love:
NBATV Daily
CSI (both NY and Las Vegas)
TUF (season 3 is about to start on Spike)
Four Classic TV Shows I love: (New category - added by Andrew)
Seinfeld
Airwolf
A-Team
Knight Rider
Four Places I've Vacationed:
Costa Rica
Okanagan
San Francisco
Grande Prairie (if I use holiday time off work to be there, is it a "vacation"?)
Four Places I've Travelled to on Missions: (New category - added by me)
Egypt
India
Mexico
Switzerland
Four of My Favourite Dishes:
Alfredo covered pasta with seafood
Perfectly grilled steak with mushrooms
Chicken fried rice
Calamari (especially at Lou's in Abby)
Four Sites I visit Daily:
ESPN.com
people's blogs (there's a list, and I don't get to them daily...)
...that's it...
Four Places I'd Rather Be Right Now:-
With my wife :)
Japan
In heaven
On a mountaintop somewhere sunny and clear
Four Bloggers I am Tagging:
Aimee
Kortney
Robyn
Tyson
I AM CANADIAN!
Member of Parliament
Congratulations! You scored 90!
You may very well be one of the Founder's of Confederation. You're proud of the True North Strong and Free, you can drink beer with the best of 'em! You follow hockey like a religion and may actually have your name etched on Lord Stanley's grail. You can tell the difference between a moose and a caribou at 100 metres and if we looked we'd probably find a maple leaf tattooed somewhere on your body.
Link: The Canadian Test written by TwoGuyswithaHat on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test
Congratulations! You scored 90!
22.1.06
I'm a Movie!!
| The Movie Of Your Life Is A Cult Classic |
 Quirky, offbeat, and even a little campy - your life appeals to a select few. But if someone's obsessed with you, look out! Your fans are downright freaky. Your best movie matches: Office Space, Showgirls, The Big Lebowski |
19.1.06
Exorcism of Emily Rose
Have you seen this movie? I finally got a chance to watch it last night and it is powerful. I had to rent it on a night my wife couldn't be home because she can't handle the horrific visuals and to be sure, it has some pretty intense moments....
I remember wanting to see this film from the moment I first heard about it, even though I generally don't watch horror films, because of its subject matter and a curiousity to see how a north american film maker would approach it. This is a courtroom drama, not a horror film. Though if you are troubled by seeing horrible things, you'd have to be very careful watching this one. I can honestly say that it doesn't pull any punches. I also found out a few months ago that the director is a Christian who believes that horror is the best film genre to work in as a Christian... (you can check it out his interview at http://www.thesource4ym.com/interviews/ScottDerrickson.asp).
I would love to know the true story. The real details and what happened moment by moment, but of course, that would not seem to be possible. So I am taking this movie, this story, for what it is: an eye-opening glimpse into the world of darkness. The craziest part of it all is that I have seen this darkness before and that is where the personal ramifications begin...
Two days before Christmas, 2001, in Chennai, India, a pastor and I prayed for a young girl to be freed from demonic possession. It was the most intense and humbling experience I have ever had. The instant it was over, I cried because I knew how small I was...
The God I serve, the Jesus I believe in, the Spirit I walk with was present to me (and others) at that service that night and He is HUGE. We are so small...
This movie brought so many things flooding back to my mind and I found myself crying again during the scene where the demons revealed their names...the reality that I live in a time and place where darkness has ownership of so much and so many...and we fail to stand up and ask the darkness for its name that we might identify it and remove it from our midst.
I am asking the BIG GUY to show me what's next...
I remember wanting to see this film from the moment I first heard about it, even though I generally don't watch horror films, because of its subject matter and a curiousity to see how a north american film maker would approach it. This is a courtroom drama, not a horror film. Though if you are troubled by seeing horrible things, you'd have to be very careful watching this one. I can honestly say that it doesn't pull any punches. I also found out a few months ago that the director is a Christian who believes that horror is the best film genre to work in as a Christian... (you can check it out his interview at http://www.thesource4ym.com/interviews/ScottDerrickson.asp).
I would love to know the true story. The real details and what happened moment by moment, but of course, that would not seem to be possible. So I am taking this movie, this story, for what it is: an eye-opening glimpse into the world of darkness. The craziest part of it all is that I have seen this darkness before and that is where the personal ramifications begin...
Two days before Christmas, 2001, in Chennai, India, a pastor and I prayed for a young girl to be freed from demonic possession. It was the most intense and humbling experience I have ever had. The instant it was over, I cried because I knew how small I was...
The God I serve, the Jesus I believe in, the Spirit I walk with was present to me (and others) at that service that night and He is HUGE. We are so small...
This movie brought so many things flooding back to my mind and I found myself crying again during the scene where the demons revealed their names...the reality that I live in a time and place where darkness has ownership of so much and so many...and we fail to stand up and ask the darkness for its name that we might identify it and remove it from our midst.
I am asking the BIG GUY to show me what's next...
18.1.06
Unrelated
I've done a couple things this week that I don't really like so much, but am trying to incorporate more into my life: cleaning the bathroom and eating soup (not both at the same time, though maybe that would be the next step in the evolution of these activities in my life...hmmmm....).
I cleaned the bathroom on Monday, and I'm glad I did. Everyone knows the situation: when you can see dirt/filth on anything, everyone knows it needs to be cleaned. In fact everyone knows it needed to be cleaned awhile ago, before anything visible appeared. Now, at this point, I want to be clear that my bathroom was not disgusting. It didn't smell, nor was there anything causing repulsion, but the bathtub needed some scrubbing. That's all really. However, I do want to emphasize that virtually everything that requires cleaning should be cleaned prior to developing visible and/or olifactory conditions. We may be able to make an exception for things that get dirty in an instant, like the inside of a blender glass or the knees on a five-year olds jeans, but back to my original point: I don't like cleaning the bathroom, specifically the bathtub. It sucks. I don't have a problem with toilets at all (maybe that's weird, but a summer cleaning bathrooms at a camp will change that quick :P) and sinks are pretty easy, but I hate floors and tubs. I don't have a rational reason for this. I just can't stand them. So Monday, I did it anyway. Now they are clean and I probably won't touch them with cleaners again until they are beyond dirty (and back to visibly gross). Sad but true.
I've also been eating a lot of soup. I've never been a big soup fan. I think it relates to my lifelong avoidance of hot drinks. I mean, that's what soup is: a big, hot drink with chunkies in it. You can't call it a drink because of the chunks of meat or potato or veggies, which would cause any drinker to gag viciously! I believe that's why the whole cup-o-soup concept never really stuck (or became a staple of society)... because of the chunks. No one wants to chew a drink. It's a universal truth. Now soup is an easy food to prepare. It's easy to store and reheat. It's convenient and simple, incredible advantages for my current lifestyle! It's also extraordinarily versatile, available in a vast amount of flavors and textures, across virtually every culture in the world (every one I've experienced). It was time for me to stop denying soup its place in my culinary vocabulary. So I've been eating a lot of soup, finding it mostly enjoyable, experimenting and keeping an open mind. I've discovered that I like meat in soups. Beef and seafood more than chicken, but all are acceptable. Sausage can be great in in a cajun soup (more like a stew I suppose)! The more meat the better the soup. Now, the reason for this increasing gratification becomes obvious when I realize that this is because the soup is becoming less and less soup and more and more what I'd rather be eating: a big plate of meat. Once again, I digress. Soup is gaining on me and I suppose I'll let it hang around for some time. Perhaps I'll learn to love it.
One last sidenote: I have always loved mushroom soup for some reason. ?!? What's your favorite?
I cleaned the bathroom on Monday, and I'm glad I did. Everyone knows the situation: when you can see dirt/filth on anything, everyone knows it needs to be cleaned. In fact everyone knows it needed to be cleaned awhile ago, before anything visible appeared. Now, at this point, I want to be clear that my bathroom was not disgusting. It didn't smell, nor was there anything causing repulsion, but the bathtub needed some scrubbing. That's all really. However, I do want to emphasize that virtually everything that requires cleaning should be cleaned prior to developing visible and/or olifactory conditions. We may be able to make an exception for things that get dirty in an instant, like the inside of a blender glass or the knees on a five-year olds jeans, but back to my original point: I don't like cleaning the bathroom, specifically the bathtub. It sucks. I don't have a problem with toilets at all (maybe that's weird, but a summer cleaning bathrooms at a camp will change that quick :P) and sinks are pretty easy, but I hate floors and tubs. I don't have a rational reason for this. I just can't stand them. So Monday, I did it anyway. Now they are clean and I probably won't touch them with cleaners again until they are beyond dirty (and back to visibly gross). Sad but true.
I've also been eating a lot of soup. I've never been a big soup fan. I think it relates to my lifelong avoidance of hot drinks. I mean, that's what soup is: a big, hot drink with chunkies in it. You can't call it a drink because of the chunks of meat or potato or veggies, which would cause any drinker to gag viciously! I believe that's why the whole cup-o-soup concept never really stuck (or became a staple of society)... because of the chunks. No one wants to chew a drink. It's a universal truth. Now soup is an easy food to prepare. It's easy to store and reheat. It's convenient and simple, incredible advantages for my current lifestyle! It's also extraordinarily versatile, available in a vast amount of flavors and textures, across virtually every culture in the world (every one I've experienced). It was time for me to stop denying soup its place in my culinary vocabulary. So I've been eating a lot of soup, finding it mostly enjoyable, experimenting and keeping an open mind. I've discovered that I like meat in soups. Beef and seafood more than chicken, but all are acceptable. Sausage can be great in in a cajun soup (more like a stew I suppose)! The more meat the better the soup. Now, the reason for this increasing gratification becomes obvious when I realize that this is because the soup is becoming less and less soup and more and more what I'd rather be eating: a big plate of meat. Once again, I digress. Soup is gaining on me and I suppose I'll let it hang around for some time. Perhaps I'll learn to love it.
One last sidenote: I have always loved mushroom soup for some reason. ?!? What's your favorite?
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