Stage Going To The Hospital (LOUDER!)

I am genuinely angry right now. Those of you who went to Mexico might remember what i said when Leenerts dropped the detail work on us, "I was about to lose my faith, Mark, i really was." Tonight i once again approached that stage. As my suite mate Schoen (shane) so famously described our shower, "You see, there are two stages on that thing, its either stage freezing cold, or stage 'going to the hospital'." I freaking lived in the latter stage tonight, and it had nothing to do with water temperature. For the first time in my life i took part in a game of poker in which one player profitted more than $100. You are probably sitting back laughing because of the extravagant numbers that get thrown around poker on TV these days. But we were playing with 10 cent big blinds. thats 1000 big blinds this kid won...ridiculous. the most amazing thing i have ever seen actually. I made one bad move all night, and lots of good ones, and end up losing money...not ven to him... it sucks (realize that i almost assuredly exaggerated that last statement, but i really did play well...bah...so much hate). I just ran into my room and blasted Indie Rock 'n Roll for all my suite to hear. It's 1:15, i have to get up for church relatively soon. I feel gross, that slow sweat, a product of barely uncomfortable temperatures and lots of bodies, has been slowly seeping through the layers of cotton and polyester on my body. My pants are sticking to my legs. Gross. I'd shower, but eh, i'd rather just play the music a little louder, stand in awe of some swings and coincidences (?), fold down the monitor, observe the green glow on my desk, rest my head on an extra firm pillow (after doing push ups of course), lie awake in awe of some of the hands that went down tonight, dream in awe of our worlds possibilities, look out the window in the morning, realizing where i am, and just relax. It will be a new day with more fish to be caught, and plenty to go around. Send them to Fifield suite F if you find any. I think i've vented. The music has died down. You can tell i was rushed because this is one paragraph. I only do that when i'm venting...it's like a tell of mine i suppose, if there are tells in blogging (surely there are). Oh, wait, not done venting. Three comments on my first real college post...screw you guys. Ok, NOW i'm done venting :). I need church.

Name, Location, Dorm, Major, Cell Number (what was that last one?)

To understate grossly, these last few days have been busy. I have probably met more people since tuesday than i had met in all of my high school years. I have met some people that i already know will be my friends through these happy golden years. Others fall into quite another group, but are nonetheless quite agreeable on the surface. The vicious cycle of staying up to late and getting up too early has already begun, and will continue for the rest fo this semester.

My schedule...mmmm. I have a 745 class (yeah, thats in the AM) four days a week. On a side note, that class is Calc II. Goo. My rommate is nearlyt nonexistent. He apparently decided to spend these frist two nights with his parents instead of with me. Thats probably good, because i have probably stayed up later and gotten up earlier than he would like these past two days. That doesnt seem like much of a big deal, but i got top bunk (mmhmm, you insert the appropriate line). Lats night, while playing poker, a couple of the guys and i were throwing movie lines out there and seeing who could identify them first. Good times. We're definitely going to have a Rounders night. And LOTS of poker nights...who needs workstudy hehe.

SO i kinda want to audition for some shows here. Not musicals. But, i don;t think i can with ROTC...we'll find out for sure on saturday when i go to AFROTC orientation (at the bright horu of 8...but i have to be in LA at eight...so that puts me awake much earlier...goo).

Here's to wanting the all-too-necessary period of awkward familiarity to be over. But i guess i won't know who all my friends are just on first impressions. Some names you might be hearing me talk about: Marcus (Texas...thats it:), Anthony (Spiritual Life Advisor), David and Eric (my poker boys), Ashley, Julia, Amanda, Courtney (XC forever!), all my suite mates are pretty tight too. Banowsky is by FAR the best dorm on campus, even if we do have to walk the farthest. Thats just that much longer that we get to take in the ocean view from dorm row hehe. There's lots more for me to say, but i need to get down to dinner pretty soon. Tonights activites include. "First Year Mugging" (we have no idea what this is, but it's right afetr dinner), movie in alumni park (don't knwo how much of that i'll stick around for...pirates of the carribean...so many times...), and then, of course poker (for as long as we last). Oh, wait, good story. One of the RAs at the dorm we were playing poker in used to be a compulsive gambler. I guess there are some 18 and Up casinos around here. So he went there, and then started usign his credit card to play a abunch of on-line sights...bottom line, he lost a lot of money and his mom had to ban his credit card from being used on any gambling sites. Yeah, he was a horrible player last night and lost 10 bucks really fast...good times.

So Long Sweet Summer

I guess it's my turn. Pretty much all my other classmates have departed to various locations to prepare for their collegiate experience (i would say education, but, well, you know). These last couple days have felt a little weird without any of them there. I suppose they gave me a little teaser of what is to come. I'm a little nervous no doubt, but before i move on, i really want to reflect on this summer, the best of my life thus far. I want to bid some fond farewells in public because some people deserve it.

Today in sunday school i finally realized how much TBC's youth group has meant to me during my high school year. I surveyed my surroundings; i was the only graduate sitting in the room...weird...my time to leave had come. The Underground has been a little retreat from cair paravel with most of the people perks that cair paravel offers combined with my best friends outside of school. Mark & Wendy, you probably won't read this, but thanks so much for listening to me on random days when Brady and i would show up at your door just to talk. I couldn't live a life as open as yours, with teens interrupting at will :). Other blessings came my way much earlier in the form of Tim and Kim Borchers, some of our junior high leaders. Keep representin' as CP guys, i'll keep in touch.

(forgive the resemblance to a "senior paragraph." Consider this a farewell to those not mentioned elsewhere :))

This truly has been a sweet summer. Susanna, not only are you the best girlfriend i could ask for, but over this past year we have become better friends than most will understand, and that is something we won't ever lose, no matter what the distance. You know i already miss you; i'll be living in your letters :). Andrew, how were we not friends earlier in life? Tear it up in soccer. Be strong and courageous. Jac and Jana, getting to know your family has been a joy. I have told you before, but the enthusiasm for God that you both display is inspiring and i know kids at T High have to see that light. Holla Dennis :). Doug, thanks for some late night talks, for chilling with us youngsters this summer, and for using that wit of yours to keep me in check.

This summer I have thoroughly enjoyed never having plans until about ten minutes before i left the house. Typical schedule for a few months: wake up,eat, paint, come home, shower, eat, find people to hang out with til later than i should considering the time i had to wake up, sleep, repeat process. Can life get better? I submit that it cannot.

Unlesss, of course, it was during one of those highlight times. Cruise, Summer Blast, Mexico, Family Camp. Whew. Exhausting, but oh so memorable and rewarding in various ways. Thanks to everyone who shared those times with me.

I'm sure for the first few weeks, i will be shouting out all sorts of inside jokes (little bit of --insert anythign said in a high pitched voice here. "Snog," "#9," and "Mitzi" are faves). I wonder if people in Cali have seen Mystery Science Theater. Let's all hope so.

The kids out at Pepperdine have no idea what they have to live up to. In fact, they can't live up to Topeka. Weird, but true. Here's to hoping that i never expect them to, and that i give them all a chance and make a few lifelong friends out in the land of the beautiful.

I still have my ties to Topeka. Fantasy Football, Picks, and oh yeah the internet/my phone...call me up kids! It's gunna be weird being out of the CPLS loop. Maybe it'll be nice. I still wanna here about soccer, the musical, and any drama going down (thats up to LJ and Box). Suck the ole marrow out of your senior year kids. As much as you "hate" school right now, i would make a positive EV that at least 90% of you will miss it next year (not the classes, but we all know that they are not the most important thing in school, and if you still think they are, then rethink).

Pray for me. For new friends, for a mission field, for motivation, for growth, you know the drill :).

This is just a fond farewell to friends. I'll be back for Thanksgiving. Much love.

--T

While, for the Most Part, Sitting

Surely she realizes i can hear her. Sureley she realizes that their conevrsation is the sole source of entertainment for the entire room full of patience-drained individuals waiting to be injected.
"Paying the bills? Ha! What bill has she ever paid. I tell you what, the CRACK bill haha."
"Amen mama, that woman has been ruining her life on crack ever since i was a youngun."
"Poor kids of hers, havin their lives ruined with no say of hteir own...i tell you what, that CRACK 'll do it to ya."

Is this for real? I'm sitting right here. Waiting. What else would i be doing in the waiting area. That's right, an area, way beyond the scope of a room. No room could contain the impatience, ire, and bitterness which sits stagnant in these ominous rows. Unlike waiting rooms, this area lacks the usual periodicals and expensive-looking (but acutally quite cheap) furniture. A sort of separate play area complete with colored mats and a television provide entertainment for the undisciplined rugrats who ignorantly wait to be vaccinated. One girl with raddy hair, part of which is in a very high pony tail, and inch-thick glasses (pink frames no less) is sporting a t-shirt with the following emblazened across her chest "LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF BOYS." She is seven. I'm about to fall out of my chair. I am laughing visibly, and my fellow waiters must be wondering what is so funny. Honestly, i dont think any of them woudl get the joke if i told them. I am so different from all thee people, with the exception of one college aged girl in holy jeans who is here for a meningitis vaccination. Dorm rooms recommend it. She knows how ridiculous these people are, but doesnt understand that it is due to poor parenting. I suppose the gossipping ladieswere right abotu the whole crack thing. their parents probably screwed up too. Well, i know the mother's parents did, or at least her mom did, cuz she was part fo that earlier conversation. Who cusses up a storm when her grandson is on her lap? Awesome. Is there an idiot vaccination? I think it might be called tact. Fascinating.

I feel kind of bad because i am putting off an air of being better than these people. I'm not. I'm just not lost. These people most definitely are. Their use of "Jesus Christ" has nothing to do with a savior. Maybe these immunizatiosn will give them the time they need to see the light. Let's hope so.

Back to my entertainment. New members are wanderign into the area, and a convedrsation abotu the waiting has just begun, let's listen:
"Is that sign for real? HAs anybody really been waitign an entire hour?"
"Sista, i been here since 1." (it is 2:45)
"Well what are all these nurses doin?"
"Ole granny back there took little Aleo's records a while ago and said she'd make me a pink book, btu she's been gone a good 20 minutes."
"Prolly back there with scissors and construction paper makin it herself haha. Got a straight edge and a pen makin all the little boxes haha."
At this point i start laughing audibly, but only because of how hard these ladies are laughing at some bad joke they just made. But honestly, "granny" has taken quite a long time. And from what i currently observe, at least two of the nurses just walk back and forth betweeen two different rooms acting important. Have you ever found it ironic that lots of nurses are fat? That kind of concerns me right now. I think my odds of gettign a fat nurse are about 60-40. One ofthe members of the 40% minority is granny, and she doesnt seem to have great health either. Scary. Ok, well its been about 0 minutes and i need to be out of here by 3. Oh, there it is, my name. And what do ya know? I got one of the obese matrons whose expertise is healthcare.
"Just follow me back here. Whew, isn't it nice to get away fro mall those loud kids?"
"I didn't really mind, they were my entertainment."
"Well all i know is that if my kids were running around out there they would be in big trouble."
I want to make a comment about her inability to catch anything that ever bordered on a "running" state, but since she is wielding a tuberculosis-filled syringe, i keep silent.
"You ever had a TB skin test before?"
"No ma'am"
"Well they're not too bad. It's a really small needle"
"And hell is just a sauna." (i didnt really say that, but its kinda funny)
"Just make it quick." (that's still me).
She proceeds to swab my forearm with alcohol for a good ten seconds. That's nine seconds longer than any nurse has ever swabbed alcohol on me before. Maybe my forearm looked really dirty. I wouldn;t know. My head was already turned away. I never watch the penetration...yuck. Time for me to bust this joint, only to return in two days to find out if i have tuberculosis or not. I can only pray that the people will be this ridiculously white-trashy/gossipy/straight up hilarious on friday. Out.

Unemployed, Unsatisfied, And Captious

Work is over, at least i'm not getting paid for doing any of this toil, not that i really got paid regularly before. Heck, i don't even expect to see my last paycheck.

Having a notebook computer with wireless internet access in my room has made my days seem shorter. I mean, sometimes i may wake up at 1030, then do my quiet time, and instead of getting out of bed and feeling productive before i do my internet stuff in the study loft, i just grab my iBook off of the floor and get started. Next thing i know, it's noon, and i am still in bed. Whatever i have accomplished is hidden behind the fact that i am stil lin bed and feel like life has passed me by, when, in reality, i have simply relocated some regular activities to my bed.

On a side note, i got up earlier today to get to the immunization place by 1030. Its really remarkable what can get done before noon when you put your mind to it. I got immunized, went to goodwill, the bank, and back home all before the sun reached its zenith. Tomorrow will not be one of those days. I fully intend to remain bedridden (as i now am) for quite some time. I choose not to reveal an exact time because most of you lazy bums won't be impressed. Here's to you and your wasted lives (that covered the "captious" part of the title).

Tomorrow i intend to tackle the herculean task of filing any articles/handouts/tests/quizzes from the past two years of school that i think could come in useful at Pepperdine. Fun fun. I really hope i stumble across some gems rom creative writing...maybe even sophomore english (holla Driver!). Oh, the anticipation. Fortunately, most of those papers lie about a meter from my bed, so i should be able to grasp them while still in a soporific state.

Thursday morning brings with it my departure from Topeka and my arrival at Brahm's (sp?) in Parsons and eventually at New Life Ranch. For now, my stamina, like the vocal cords of the Mr. Dashboard Confessional, is wearing out. Music is over. Fare well, or poorly for all i care. I guess that depends who you are...anyways...

The Collaboration

The following is currently untitled. Doug and i decided it would be fun to co author a poem on the way home from Mexico. This is what we conjured up. Don't worry if you don;t get it all. If it is too personal to be enjoyed by others, then i guess that is our fault. Hopefully it is still somewhat enjoyable. For fun, you can try to guess who wrote which stanzas. As always, comments voicing favorite/least favorite lines are welcome.

Out from a wasteland of spiritual growth,
a northbound caravan treks on
less than average highways,
making a chiropractor, or a member
of the opposite sex, attracitve.

A fellowship unbroken by misfused communications,
strengthened by national and
sexual boundaries. Broken freely
in the lust for a better breeze
and the unbounded mirth of recaptured air conditioning.

Contrary to pastoral instruction,
forced friendships are purged
with no regret. Like a parasite
imbibed during regular hygiene,
it's okay to bid permanent farewells.

A heavy vapor of death and
free-flowing blood seeks to overwhelm,
but newfound glory and Sufjan
Febreeze us to freedom.
God bless America (and screw Cher).

And self-absorbed idol-worshiping brats,
screw them too. Silence of isolation
never sounded so energizing.
Unwarranted and unabashed
Bandwagon jumping is condemned here.

Rolling eyes cause boiling blood--
here's to hoping they just keep rolling
and we sell our attitudes to a Dallas whorehouse.
Fed up with this American over-satisfaction,
where are the oompa-loompas when you need them?

Back to the land of forgetfullness--
to the land where not thinking
means no regrets,
where trenches dug and barriers crossed
serve only to be used in apologetic defense.

Remember jovial adolescent faces
lit by Dollar Tree merchandise
Remember poured floors near filled ravines
when iPods, snogging, and varied
building materials become the norm.

Remember the love square's one-night stand with Walt.
Remember flushless toilets and shower parties.
Remember "hot seat" but more importantly cold seat, idiot.
Remember dull shovels, ruddy mops, and the body of Christ.
Remember the land south of the border.
Forget the Alamo.

This Sepia Nightscape

This sepia nightscape,
shadow-filled, silhouette-ridden,
and incandescent-lit,
welcomes four dozen foreigners
with an uneven roof,
incomplete with bottle-sheathed
rebar and 700 liter drums.

Alone, on one end,
surprisingly alone considering
the stark lack of seating,
sits a peacock-backed patio chair,
courtesy of NBC.

How I long to occupy its metal frame.
But it must be forbidden.

Perhaps local practical jokers
watchfully wait from a distance
for the first sucker to collapse
the whole chair. NBC was a farce.

Remember my descriptions
during dehydrating days.
Drink water; wear sunscreen;
hear the canine rows.
Spread the Gospel throughout
this sepia nightscape.

Acuna Matata

As most of you probably know, i recently returned from Acuna Mexico where i was on a short-term missions trip with the Topeka Bible Church youth group. It was hot; it was work; sometimes it was hilarious; other times it was stressful. Here it is in pictures


On our first work day, our group of 47 was divided into 4 work crews. Mine, "Team Electric Showdown" was chosen to go to an orphanage to start clearing out a lot behind the building. After working for a while we got to play with the kids for a while...good times. I tore my jeans while carrying some on my back and walked around for the rest opf the day, proudly showing off my green boxers.



The two boys in the back row on the right are Joshua and Ruin. We had a lot of fun playing soccer with a flat soccer ball and primitively trying to communicate. Joshua and Ruin even took craig and i up to their room before we left. It was really cool to see how excited they got when they showed us the house and their few possessions. It was surprisingly tough to leave the kids after spending just a few hours with them



Ah, Harry Potter, how i miss you. Lauren and Greyson are clearly enjoying some great literature during one of our afternoon siesta times. Look at the happiness in their eyes, how can HP possibly be evil :).



I left my camera in the hands of Jac and Suz for a while one evening and this was definitely the best picture they took. Most of them were part of a "modeling portfolio" of Wendy (my youth pastors wife). But it was no ordinary portfolio. Close-ups of nostrils, lips and other facial features were actually kinda gross. But i think this pic made it worth it :).



Rooftop worship and share time were routine parts of our evenings. Watching the sun set on our rebar and cinder block filled landscape really set a good mood. And hearing various hilarious stories from the days always provided sufficient entertainment.



Intense Mexico vs. USA soccer matches also became part of the daily routine. Here doug and craig show off their most intimidating looks. If only doug's hair was longer he could pull of a Beckamesque mohawk. after 5 matches i think both teams were 2-2-1. But we all know that USA would have dominated if we hadnt had to sub in everyone who wanted to play hehe.



Every day before VBS, we would gather up toys and head out into the neighborhood to invite kids to come. The culture is strikingly different. A group of strange white people comes by a a house asks if the kids want to come to a bible school at the church and voiala! They run in, tell their parents, and follow some complete strangers to church. i felt like the freaking pied piper or soemthing. kinda creepy.



Yecenea is the name of the little girl on the right. She was pretty much the cutest little girl of all time (excluding another member of this picture :)). We all wanted to stuff her in a bag and take her home, but i don;t suppose her mom would have been too excited about it. And we wanted to keep her mom happy since she was one of our cooks (food was amazing on a side note).



Martha Washington lives! One afternoon we headed over to this really nappy lake where the water had diapers floating around and everything smelled like diluted hippopotamus water. I found out that msot of the mexican boys that hung out with us couldnt swim. It seemed weird at first, but i guess there isnt a lot of water around. It only rains in Acuna a few times a year.



On Sunday we went out before chruch (which is at 330...hottest part of the day...good thinking) to just play with the kids in the neighborhood. It was flaming hot, but to see the kids get so excited about jumping rope, playign frisbee, or hitting a whiffle ball made it well worth it. Craig got the chance to share the gospel with a group of kids using an Evangecube. This is Arturo and his crazy-shy little sister whose name i don't know. He left with an armful of toys. What a con artist.



Here a bunch of the soccer guys pose with Chuy, the most talented player on the Mexican team. He had crazy footskills and quickness--the type of player you just want to knock over after the ball gets past you...not that i would ever do that.



The boys with Jonathan. He was 17 and probably the most outgoing member of the church. He really tried hard to get to know us and to cross the language barrier. Before we left, we gave him a guitar that we had brought down because his old one had been broken by a previous group (jerks).



Our beds for a week. Sleeping on the roof doesnt sound like fun, but when you stay up singing disney songs and laughing a lot with the guys while under the stars, you forget the concrete under your back. When it starts raining on the other hand, it kinda sucks. Oh, and those black tanks are where all our shower water came from. When it ran out, no more showers until the hose refilled them.



Oscar, the son of the pastor of the chruch, was our chief translator and pretty much the go to guy for any questions or instruction needs. Jenny is his girlfriend (ten years younger...nice work oscar [he's 31...doesnt look it]).



The boys on departing day. It had been a good 8 days, but it was definitely time to go home.



A day off in arlington was welcome. Here at the mall, a bunch of us decided to annoy the sunglass booth lady by trying on various pairs and taking pictures in them without buying anything hehe. The rest of our mall time was spent in Brookstone experimenting with all the massage chairs and other relaxers. Quite a change from primitive mexico.



Baseball game! The Ballpark in Arlington is a beautiful venue, and to make it even better, we got to eat in the Rawlings Bar and Grill high above the field. the food took a long time, but hey, it was pretty sweet.



And before leaving for home, we got to see a 10-8 barnburner of a ballgame in which the Devil Rays topped the rangers. good times. It's good to be back.