I have just spent the last few days camping at Bowman Lake! I had a great time and I had a hard time.
Wednesday started out with rain, turning my hair into a frizzy mat. We left at about 1:00 to arrive sometime after 3:00. We set up stuff, had some solo time (talking to God, reading, etc.), and ate dinner. I think we did something else, but I forgot.
Thursday we headed to the rocks for rock climbing. I climbed three climbs (The Crack, Lunch, and Sahara). I didn't like it very much, but I knew I would regret it if I didn't do them, soooo...Later that afternoon we swam out to Turtle Island/Tortuga for cliff jumping. I didn't jump, but I had fun watching the guys push a rock into the water. After eating dinner, hiking up a hill, and having solo time, we had a devotional and went back down to bed.
Friday we canoed 3 miles to the waterfalls that supply the lake. We hung out there for a while. I had fun watching the guys push a log into the water. We canoed 3 miles back against the wind and then went on a hike. We had sandwiches for dinner under a waterfall. I had fun watching 3 of the guys turn themselves into ice cubes under the falls. We went deep into this shaft that held the plug to the lake that was above us (Weaver Lake, I believe). That was fun. One of the guys ran his nose into the rock by turning too suddenly in the dark. He laughed it off and we continued. :)
Today we packed everything up (just to bring it back on Monday). Then a truck died so we left it behind. We finally left the lake. We were about 1/2 way back to camp when another truck ran out of gas. The 4Runner was taken into town to get gas for that truck. We finally got to camp, unloaded everything, and split ways until tomorrow at about 2:00. :)
I was a little worried about having to relate to 12-17 year-olds for the next 3 weeks. It will be hard. But then God brought the thought to my mind that He obviously brought me to High Adventure and He obviously would help me out with these kids. What an encouraging thought. It was a good time. I am bruised and sore all over. But hey, at least I get to sleep in my own bed tonight and not on the hard dirt. And tomorrow we get kids and I get to see my friends again.
(In other news, I also got to see Shane and Lindy as they passed through on their way to Willits. We had a good time at Baskin Robbins. Yea!)
Jennica-Ayelet: Blogger who loves God, foreign countries, and life...and Amos...and adventures...and laughing...and pictures...and books...and...
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Yea, my title is back!
For some reason I couldn't put any titles on my posts for a while...Weird...
This is Bowman Lake. Yea for pictures again! I actually got this off the internet; I didn't take it myself. However, I am hoping to spend a few weeks up there with another group of kids from my summer camp (12-17 year olds). About 3 days out of the week are spent rock climbing, canoeing, cliff jumping (into water), and camping out on the dam. How cool does that sound!! I am hoping to do it, but we shall see...
This past week was interesting. I was a director's assistant and thus got more rest than I normally do. I didn't have a cabin so it was not nearly as stressful as it usually is. I will be a D.A. again this week and then if it is God's will, I will go for staff training at Bowman! Yea!
Other than that, my computer is in for the 4th time. Yesterday it didn't even make it out of Best Buy without shutting down. Apparently they replaced the motherboard on the 2nd time but it didn't work well with my system so I took it in for a 3rd time to find out what was wrong and to replace the CD/DVD drive. The 4th time it is going in to get a new motherboard and to fix the volume dial. Since it is still under warranty, I believe I will ask for a new computer when I pick it up next time. This is ridiculous. Also, I'm not sure but they may have removed one of my stickers from the lid (a Jerusalem sticker). Not cool.
Any way, I have reached the halfway mark of camp and am excited for the finish. It has been the experience, I tell you what.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Camp story, to let you know that I really am having fun...
Booster, the director of one of our camps, happened to have a lodge room of kids for a few days (we were short on staff and it was the biggest and first week of the camp season). He got primaries, which is one of the hardest camps at camp. These kids are only 7-8 years old! Any way, he had a cabin of 8 boys to take care of, Wednesday to Sunday. No problem right??
Well, for some reason parents had sent their campers with shaving cream. Shaving cream. These kids are in second and third grade. What are they thinking???? Any way, Booster was outside the lodge for a few minutes and came back in to find shaving cream everywhere. One of the little boys had a toy razor. In a minute all of the little boys had whipped off their shirts and were squealing,
"I'm a man! I'm a man! Shave my back! I'm a man!!"
Booster, the director of one of our camps, happened to have a lodge room of kids for a few days (we were short on staff and it was the biggest and first week of the camp season). He got primaries, which is one of the hardest camps at camp. These kids are only 7-8 years old! Any way, he had a cabin of 8 boys to take care of, Wednesday to Sunday. No problem right??
Well, for some reason parents had sent their campers with shaving cream. Shaving cream. These kids are in second and third grade. What are they thinking???? Any way, Booster was outside the lodge for a few minutes and came back in to find shaving cream everywhere. One of the little boys had a toy razor. In a minute all of the little boys had whipped off their shirts and were squealing,
"I'm a man! I'm a man! Shave my back! I'm a man!!"
I'm alive! I have now survived 3 weeks of camp! It has been okay so far; the first week was definitely the hardest. Only 5 weeks to go! ;)
Summer schedule:
June-August 11 - Camp
August 11-18 - Washington!!
August 19 - Back to the IBEX office
August 24 - Friends back to school!!
August 25 - IBEX leaves, Ultimate begins!!
August 27 - Senior year!!!
Camp has been interesting. Two weeks ago a new guy counselor showed up nicknamed Morocco. Hey, that's cool, we need more guy counselors. He looked strangely familiar, like a guy I used to know in high school. Hmmm, oh well, I would talk to him eventually. The next morning he was introduced at the staff meeting as Mark. Turns out he is my friend from high school whom I haven't seen in 3 years!!! I used to tease him constantly, no matter which class it was (there were only 300 students in my high school, and we were in the same grade [50-ish students], so we had a lot of classes together). Any way, it has been very interesting working with him. Some things never change, if you know what I mean. I don't tease him as much. Very weird at times...
So far 4 rattlesnakes have been killed at camp! I was witness to one of these killings. It was very cool (I'm sorry if you believe that rattlesnakes should be captured and released; I don't). It wasn't cool just because I watched Rodeo kill it, but because it is interesting to be in such close proximity to a deadly creature and to know that someone has control over it. This snake was only about 16 inches long. They have killed bigger ones. I got to see the reflexes after the snake's head had been severed and buried. It was very interesting. The only thing that worried me was that the rattle wasn't very loud. However, Rodeo informed me that the bigger snakes do make a louder sound, so that is good. I got some pictures of it, but I will have to show them at a later date as my computer is at the store, again, being fixed before the warranty expires (like the snake did, hehe).
Any way, I have had some thoughts that have been interesting to myself and hopefully will be interesting to you as well. I was at Starbucks with friends Irene and Danielle when we ran into a friend of Irene's sister. We said hi to her and Irene mentioned something about the girl's boyfriend. The girl called him a name and gave the general impression that she didn't think too highly of him any more. As I was thinking about this on the way home, I thought about the different responses people have to dating and just relationships in general. I have never dated anyone and am fairly content at this point with my group of friends at school and at home. But I thought to myself that this was not a very mature response. It seems to me that most relationships end because people do not turn out to be how we expected them to be. The guy doesn't have the cleanest mind, the girl has a crude mouth, the guy is really nice but inadvertently annoying, the girl is great but too clingy, the guy doesn't know how to lead at this point in his life, the girl doesn't know how to follow, though opposites attract the 2 people are too different, the girl has problems with hygiene, the guy isn't a Christian after all, the girl's theology is too different to be reconciled, etc., etc. These may be major problems, these may be minor problems. But all in all I think that relationship problems come up because people are not always as they seem at the first. Is this bad? Not always. Relationships shift, and you either adjust to them or you don't. What really shows your maturity is how you handle that shift. Sometimes it is necessary to explain yourself, say goodbye, and walk away. However, I think it is more beneficial to work around those problems and to hold onto the friendship if possible. How do you respond? I would hope that I wouldn't blame other people but would look at it as it really is, a normal part of life. Life changes. You can blame others or you can say that's life, I will do what I can to make it the best I can. And another thing, I don't think I would want to date someone who speaks poorly of a past relationship. Sure, the person may have treated them wrongly, but take the time to move on and move on. I am not saying deny the hurt but accept it in a mature way and learn from it. I don't know if this makes sense, but if you are reading this, feel free to tell me your opinion. I'll still be your friend. ;) (This is really long...)
Summer schedule:
June-August 11 - Camp
August 11-18 - Washington!!
August 19 - Back to the IBEX office
August 24 - Friends back to school!!
August 25 - IBEX leaves, Ultimate begins!!
August 27 - Senior year!!!
Camp has been interesting. Two weeks ago a new guy counselor showed up nicknamed Morocco. Hey, that's cool, we need more guy counselors. He looked strangely familiar, like a guy I used to know in high school. Hmmm, oh well, I would talk to him eventually. The next morning he was introduced at the staff meeting as Mark. Turns out he is my friend from high school whom I haven't seen in 3 years!!! I used to tease him constantly, no matter which class it was (there were only 300 students in my high school, and we were in the same grade [50-ish students], so we had a lot of classes together). Any way, it has been very interesting working with him. Some things never change, if you know what I mean. I don't tease him as much. Very weird at times...
So far 4 rattlesnakes have been killed at camp! I was witness to one of these killings. It was very cool (I'm sorry if you believe that rattlesnakes should be captured and released; I don't). It wasn't cool just because I watched Rodeo kill it, but because it is interesting to be in such close proximity to a deadly creature and to know that someone has control over it. This snake was only about 16 inches long. They have killed bigger ones. I got to see the reflexes after the snake's head had been severed and buried. It was very interesting. The only thing that worried me was that the rattle wasn't very loud. However, Rodeo informed me that the bigger snakes do make a louder sound, so that is good. I got some pictures of it, but I will have to show them at a later date as my computer is at the store, again, being fixed before the warranty expires (like the snake did, hehe).
Any way, I have had some thoughts that have been interesting to myself and hopefully will be interesting to you as well. I was at Starbucks with friends Irene and Danielle when we ran into a friend of Irene's sister. We said hi to her and Irene mentioned something about the girl's boyfriend. The girl called him a name and gave the general impression that she didn't think too highly of him any more. As I was thinking about this on the way home, I thought about the different responses people have to dating and just relationships in general. I have never dated anyone and am fairly content at this point with my group of friends at school and at home. But I thought to myself that this was not a very mature response. It seems to me that most relationships end because people do not turn out to be how we expected them to be. The guy doesn't have the cleanest mind, the girl has a crude mouth, the guy is really nice but inadvertently annoying, the girl is great but too clingy, the guy doesn't know how to lead at this point in his life, the girl doesn't know how to follow, though opposites attract the 2 people are too different, the girl has problems with hygiene, the guy isn't a Christian after all, the girl's theology is too different to be reconciled, etc., etc. These may be major problems, these may be minor problems. But all in all I think that relationship problems come up because people are not always as they seem at the first. Is this bad? Not always. Relationships shift, and you either adjust to them or you don't. What really shows your maturity is how you handle that shift. Sometimes it is necessary to explain yourself, say goodbye, and walk away. However, I think it is more beneficial to work around those problems and to hold onto the friendship if possible. How do you respond? I would hope that I wouldn't blame other people but would look at it as it really is, a normal part of life. Life changes. You can blame others or you can say that's life, I will do what I can to make it the best I can. And another thing, I don't think I would want to date someone who speaks poorly of a past relationship. Sure, the person may have treated them wrongly, but take the time to move on and move on. I am not saying deny the hurt but accept it in a mature way and learn from it. I don't know if this makes sense, but if you are reading this, feel free to tell me your opinion. I'll still be your friend. ;) (This is really long...)
Saturday, June 23, 2007
I-N-T-E-N-S-E, find out what it means to me...
I have just had an intense week! The first half wasn't so bad, but the second half I was a counselor for 7-8 year olds. It was an extreme 3 days with no breaks, just constant go-go-go, persistent questions, scattered thinking, whining, clouds of bug spray, homesick kids, complaints of "I said I was first!" "She's cutting!"...We had morning staff meetings to the sounds of boys yelling ("help me! help me!") and we went to bed to the sound of boys yelling...It wasn't all bad, but it was hard...very hard...Only by the grace of God did I get through, and only by the grace of God will I continue to make it through...
Quotes
Kids: What if you can't reach them by telephone?
Booster: We'll try the cell phone.
Kids: What if the cell phone doesn't work?
Booster: We'll try smoke signals.
Kids: You smoke cigarettes??!!
Aquaman: One of the parents was kind enough to fill their kid up on 2 sodas before dropping him off for me. I walked into the room just as he shook up the 3rd one and soda sprayed everywhere.
Kid, yanking on Muscles: I have to go to the bathroom!!!!
Muscles: Then go!
Booster: I need a drink. Of water! That wasn't supposed to come out wrong, but it did.
It was a crazy week.
Quotes
Kids: What if you can't reach them by telephone?
Booster: We'll try the cell phone.
Kids: What if the cell phone doesn't work?
Booster: We'll try smoke signals.
Kids: You smoke cigarettes??!!
Splash: Don't ask those questions! I don't have enough sleep in my head!!
Aquaman: One of the parents was kind enough to fill their kid up on 2 sodas before dropping him off for me. I walked into the room just as he shook up the 3rd one and soda sprayed everywhere.
Kid, yanking on Muscles: I have to go to the bathroom!!!!
Muscles: Then go!
Booster: I need a drink. Of water! That wasn't supposed to come out wrong, but it did.
It was a crazy week.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Camp
Well, I have a job! I will be working at a Christian camp this summer, about 20 minutes from my house. I was interviewed last Saturday, sent out reference forms on Monday, was hired on Wednesday, and showed up on Thursday. I was able to come home last night (Friday) and I will go back tomorrow afternooon.
The camp is really nice and really BIG! 500+ acres (about 200 of those acres are covered in poison oak, I'm pretty sure). I have met a bunch of cool people already, and strange ones, too. We should have a great time. :) If you want to hear the story about the girl and the mashed potatoes, ask me the next time I see you. It is much funnier in person. heheheheh
There are people from all over: Cal Baptist, Biola, Master's, Art Institute in Chicago, Oregon State, Patrick Henry, Michigan, Phoenix, etc. The director of my camp looks and sounds like Mark B. from school, if Mark had a red goatee. It is really funny! They could be cousins or brothers. Another guy looks like Nver from school, and a girl looks like a lady who used to go to my church. Another girl reminds me of Gracie, from Israel. Kinda interesting...
When I got to the camp on Thursday, 2 guys took about 1/2 an hour to explain a certain ropes activity to me (they had nothing else to do). I followed their instructions and did pretty well. Later that afternoon, one of the same guys was going to test me on it (it's called the "Flying Squirrel", in case you want to know).
"Okay, Jennica, let's go. Now, has anyone explained this to you before?"
[Jennica tries to figure out if Jared is kidding while he tries to figure out why he is getting a weird look.]
[5 seconds pass]
"Uh, you and Micah explained it to me this morning." :)
"You know what, that was a joke, that was a joke." :)
[Riiiiiight. It wasn't a joke, but it was the funniest thing that happened all day.]
Any way, I hope to come up with more interesting stories as the weeks go on. I have about 8 weeks of campers ahead of me (these last 2 weeks were staff training; I missed about 80% of it). Hope all y'all are having a great time!
The camp is really nice and really BIG! 500+ acres (about 200 of those acres are covered in poison oak, I'm pretty sure). I have met a bunch of cool people already, and strange ones, too. We should have a great time. :) If you want to hear the story about the girl and the mashed potatoes, ask me the next time I see you. It is much funnier in person. heheheheh
There are people from all over: Cal Baptist, Biola, Master's, Art Institute in Chicago, Oregon State, Patrick Henry, Michigan, Phoenix, etc. The director of my camp looks and sounds like Mark B. from school, if Mark had a red goatee. It is really funny! They could be cousins or brothers. Another guy looks like Nver from school, and a girl looks like a lady who used to go to my church. Another girl reminds me of Gracie, from Israel. Kinda interesting...
When I got to the camp on Thursday, 2 guys took about 1/2 an hour to explain a certain ropes activity to me (they had nothing else to do). I followed their instructions and did pretty well. Later that afternoon, one of the same guys was going to test me on it (it's called the "Flying Squirrel", in case you want to know).
"Okay, Jennica, let's go. Now, has anyone explained this to you before?"
[Jennica tries to figure out if Jared is kidding while he tries to figure out why he is getting a weird look.]
[5 seconds pass]
"Uh, you and Micah explained it to me this morning." :)
"You know what, that was a joke, that was a joke." :)
[Riiiiiight. It wasn't a joke, but it was the funniest thing that happened all day.]
Any way, I hope to come up with more interesting stories as the weeks go on. I have about 8 weeks of campers ahead of me (these last 2 weeks were staff training; I missed about 80% of it). Hope all y'all are having a great time!
Monday, June 11, 2007
Anatevka...a little bit of this, a little bit of that...
My brother was sworn in recently as a deputy sheriff in the neighboring county! Yea, Scott!
My brother is going in for police academy orientation tomorrow. Yea, Ross!
My brother is graduating this summer, with only a little bit of Economics left to finish. Yea, Garret!
Funny little sister:
Brenda, what are you doing?!
(She is opening a tin of cookies while eating a quesadilla.)
I want to take in the smell!
I may get a job at a local Christian camp for the summer! Nine-twelve year olds! Sounds like fun! Please pray for God's will...I really want to do this...That would make three of us working at camps: Katharyn, Emily, me...
My computer died. But it is being resurrected.
The Ellsworths came up to their cabin. I went up and helped them cook wood and hot dogs. I say "cook wood" because that's basically what we did for over an hour...Couldn't get it hot enough cook anything else...I could say something about tourists, but in their defense, the wood was wet...Where is Lester when you need her?
I have read quite a few books so far...I am in the middle of a book called Expat, essays by American women about living abroad. I recommend Cheaper by the Dozen and travel books for your summer reading. Let's see...
Paul would recommend George MacDonald
Elizabeth would recommend Milton or Shakespeare
Shane would recommend Bible commentaries
Lester would recommend books about adventures of sailing on the high seas
Katharyn would recommend anything her dad reads to her
Lindy would recommend ? I know she has Chicken Soup books, but I don't know what else she reads...
Sara would recommend Calvin and HobbesEmily would recommend Chronicles of Narnia...specifically The Horse and His BoyJames would recommend ? He did take Milton last semester...
Laney and Kai would recommend the Tel Dan stele, the Rosetta Stone, or anything else in Japanese, Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek
Naomi would read ?
Sherrie would recommend something about Muslims or the Middle East
Danielle would recommend cricket ?
Kat would recommend Zits ?
Heather Donckels would recommend Greatness of the Kingdom or travel-related
I'm sorry if I forgot someone...I don't even know who reads this blog (besides some lady; I don't even know her!)
My dad has his birthday this week, as does Laney, with Lindy and Emily soon afterward...
I have been doing push-ups...Okay, girl push-ups, but hey, it is better than nothing! I can do about 50 at a time, if I push myself...haha, push myself...oooookay...
I made a shelf today for my new apartment! Mom and Dad helped...It is going to be very nice...You will see it by the door, ohhh, about late August...
For those of you who laughed at the idea of me in the home ec kitchens at school, guess what I have been doing! Making food! It has been fun...Let's see, I've made spanakopita, oven chicken, baked ziti, stromboli-type stuff, pumpkin bread, garlic cheese sticks, spinach cheese dip, goolop...The only things that flopped were the smoothie (it was fuzzy-feeling, not enough juice or something) and the hummus (too much sesame paste, tahini)...So no, I do not want to be a home ec major, but cooking isn't too bad...I don't want to do it every day, but it's not so bad after all...I love to experiment, something that is forbidden in cooking class, most likely...
I think that is about enough for now...Hope your summer is going well!
My brother is going in for police academy orientation tomorrow. Yea, Ross!
My brother is graduating this summer, with only a little bit of Economics left to finish. Yea, Garret!
Funny little sister:
Brenda, what are you doing?!
(She is opening a tin of cookies while eating a quesadilla.)
I want to take in the smell!
I may get a job at a local Christian camp for the summer! Nine-twelve year olds! Sounds like fun! Please pray for God's will...I really want to do this...That would make three of us working at camps: Katharyn, Emily, me...
My computer died. But it is being resurrected.
The Ellsworths came up to their cabin. I went up and helped them cook wood and hot dogs. I say "cook wood" because that's basically what we did for over an hour...Couldn't get it hot enough cook anything else...I could say something about tourists, but in their defense, the wood was wet...Where is Lester when you need her?
I have read quite a few books so far...I am in the middle of a book called Expat, essays by American women about living abroad. I recommend Cheaper by the Dozen and travel books for your summer reading. Let's see...
Paul would recommend George MacDonald
Elizabeth would recommend Milton or Shakespeare
Shane would recommend Bible commentaries
Lester would recommend books about adventures of sailing on the high seas
Katharyn would recommend anything her dad reads to her
Lindy would recommend ? I know she has Chicken Soup books, but I don't know what else she reads...
Sara would recommend Calvin and HobbesEmily would recommend Chronicles of Narnia...specifically The Horse and His BoyJames would recommend ? He did take Milton last semester...
Laney and Kai would recommend the Tel Dan stele, the Rosetta Stone, or anything else in Japanese, Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek
Naomi would read ?
Sherrie would recommend something about Muslims or the Middle East
Danielle would recommend cricket ?
Kat would recommend Zits ?
Heather Donckels would recommend Greatness of the Kingdom or travel-related
I'm sorry if I forgot someone...I don't even know who reads this blog (besides some lady; I don't even know her!)
My dad has his birthday this week, as does Laney, with Lindy and Emily soon afterward...
I have been doing push-ups...Okay, girl push-ups, but hey, it is better than nothing! I can do about 50 at a time, if I push myself...haha, push myself...oooookay...
I made a shelf today for my new apartment! Mom and Dad helped...It is going to be very nice...You will see it by the door, ohhh, about late August...
For those of you who laughed at the idea of me in the home ec kitchens at school, guess what I have been doing! Making food! It has been fun...Let's see, I've made spanakopita, oven chicken, baked ziti, stromboli-type stuff, pumpkin bread, garlic cheese sticks, spinach cheese dip, goolop...The only things that flopped were the smoothie (it was fuzzy-feeling, not enough juice or something) and the hummus (too much sesame paste, tahini)...So no, I do not want to be a home ec major, but cooking isn't too bad...I don't want to do it every day, but it's not so bad after all...I love to experiment, something that is forbidden in cooking class, most likely...
I think that is about enough for now...Hope your summer is going well!
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
hmmm
I used to say "brudder" instead of "brother" because I guess I got lazy in my speech. I really didn't like it and I no longer turn my ths into dds. I guess at the time I was just trying to use Hawaii Pidgin.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii_Pidgin
Todd Bolen has a cool/funny post about an appearance of this language in Israel at the traditional site for baptisms in the Jordan, Yardenit.
http://blog.bibleplaces.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii_Pidgin
Todd Bolen has a cool/funny post about an appearance of this language in Israel at the traditional site for baptisms in the Jordan, Yardenit.
http://blog.bibleplaces.com/
DOA and Mt. Everest
Dead on arrival:
My computer and companion of 3 years. Yep, I made a mistake and killed my computer. Buuuuuuut, the good thing is, my warranty is good until August 4, and even though I told them (Best Buy) that I killed it, they will still fix it for free! I am very thankful!
See, my computer is veeeery sloooooow. So I consulted various persons who are more knowledgeable in this area (i.e., Paul, Ryan Heathers, and Garret) and bought some ram. So far so good. The guy at Fry's made sure it was the right stuff. He said that it would cost $35.00 to install the memory, and I said I would rather do it myself. He assured me that it was very easy. What he neglected to tell me was that you have to take the battery out before you attempt to add the ram. So I tried to insert the ram while the battery was still in the computer and thus killed the computer. Poor computer!
Any way, I took it to one of my dad's clients and had him diagnose it (the motherboard was shot). Hence the "dead on arrival." He took the thing completely apart, explained a few of the parts, and pronounced it dead. Fortunately he was able to get all of my data off the hard drive. Yea! He then reassembled the computer, and I took it to Best Buy.
So my computer is away for the next 2-4 weeks at which time it will be returned for a new battery! For some really annoying reason you can't send the computer in for parts and service at the same time. Oh well, at least it will be fine (I hope!).
I have finished The Flying Carpet, Life with Jeeves, and Cheaper by the Dozen since I last posted. One part from The Flying Carpet, by Richard Halliburton, keeps coming to mind. I will record it here:
Why must men match themselves with such a cruel opponent [Mt. Everest]? One man will say - Because it is monstrous, merciless, demanding the utmost of one's energy and effort. Another will say - Because with the summit attained, everything else on Earth will be below. And yet a third - Because that streaming and defiant flag [of mist] flying from Mt. Everest's citadel is the greatest challenge in the realm of exploration.
But Mallory himself [who died trying to reach the summit] gave the best reason of all.
To the literal-minded his reply seems puzzlingly abrupt and inadequate. But to the questioning spirits, to those who understand, it is eloquent and altogether sufficient - an answer that reveals, moreover, the impulse in the souls of such men as Mallory.
"Why do you wish to climb Mt. Everest?" an un-imaginative person asked of him.
"Because it's there!" he said.
My computer and companion of 3 years. Yep, I made a mistake and killed my computer. Buuuuuuut, the good thing is, my warranty is good until August 4, and even though I told them (Best Buy) that I killed it, they will still fix it for free! I am very thankful!
See, my computer is veeeery sloooooow. So I consulted various persons who are more knowledgeable in this area (i.e., Paul, Ryan Heathers, and Garret) and bought some ram. So far so good. The guy at Fry's made sure it was the right stuff. He said that it would cost $35.00 to install the memory, and I said I would rather do it myself. He assured me that it was very easy. What he neglected to tell me was that you have to take the battery out before you attempt to add the ram. So I tried to insert the ram while the battery was still in the computer and thus killed the computer. Poor computer!
Any way, I took it to one of my dad's clients and had him diagnose it (the motherboard was shot). Hence the "dead on arrival." He took the thing completely apart, explained a few of the parts, and pronounced it dead. Fortunately he was able to get all of my data off the hard drive. Yea! He then reassembled the computer, and I took it to Best Buy.
So my computer is away for the next 2-4 weeks at which time it will be returned for a new battery! For some really annoying reason you can't send the computer in for parts and service at the same time. Oh well, at least it will be fine (I hope!).
I have finished The Flying Carpet, Life with Jeeves, and Cheaper by the Dozen since I last posted. One part from The Flying Carpet, by Richard Halliburton, keeps coming to mind. I will record it here:
Why must men match themselves with such a cruel opponent [Mt. Everest]? One man will say - Because it is monstrous, merciless, demanding the utmost of one's energy and effort. Another will say - Because with the summit attained, everything else on Earth will be below. And yet a third - Because that streaming and defiant flag [of mist] flying from Mt. Everest's citadel is the greatest challenge in the realm of exploration.
But Mallory himself [who died trying to reach the summit] gave the best reason of all.
To the literal-minded his reply seems puzzlingly abrupt and inadequate. But to the questioning spirits, to those who understand, it is eloquent and altogether sufficient - an answer that reveals, moreover, the impulse in the souls of such men as Mallory.
"Why do you wish to climb Mt. Everest?" an un-imaginative person asked of him.
"Because it's there!" he said.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Book reviews
I think I will write book reviews this summer. I don't really know how to at the moment, but I'll figure it out and hopefully *inspire* some person or persons to read some books that I like. I have already read two books this summer, skipped through a third, am in the last quarter of a fourth, and in the middle of a fifth and a sixth. Hehe...
Read:
The Promise
I Should Have Stayed Home: The Worst Trips of Great Writers
Skipped through:
Little Women (for the two-billionth time)
Last quarter:
Life with Jeeves
Middle:
The Flying Carpet
Cheaper by the Dozen (for the one-billionth time)
Read:
The Promise
I Should Have Stayed Home: The Worst Trips of Great Writers
Skipped through:
Little Women (for the two-billionth time)
Last quarter:
Life with Jeeves
Middle:
The Flying Carpet
Cheaper by the Dozen (for the one-billionth time)
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Jeeves and Wooster
I got home a week and a half ago and stopped at a local library on the way. I was looking for the second part of the fictional story of Jewish boys Reuven and Danny, The Promise by Chaim Potok. The first book is The Chosen (I liked the first book better than the second). Any way, I didn't find the book, so I went to a different library last Monday, found the book, and finished it later that week (I had already read some of it at school, after finals were over :) ).
I also found a travel book called I Should Have Stayed Home: The Worst Trips of Great Writers. It is hilarious! Some of the stories could/should be skipped, but it was a very funny book. I liked the story about the army ants and scorpions in Guatemala. A different story mentions Dan Rather, the famous news man. Friends have heard this story many times (sorry) but my dad almost ran over Dan Rather! My dad worked in a greenhouse about 18 years ago. He and my Uncle Brian (Mom's brother) were delivering plants in San Francisco. Dan Rather stepped off a curb "like he owned the world" and almost got hit by Dad's truck (it was big, not a pickup)! Yep, my dad almost hit a famous person...though both my family and I'm sure Dan Rather are glad that he didn't. I should tell interesting experiences my dad has had; hmm, some other time...
I also got Life with Jeeves, by P.G. Wodehouse! There are three books in this volume: Right Ho, Jeeves, The Inimitable Jeeves, and Very Good, Jeeves. They are very funny, though I admit if I had not seen the series "Jeeves and Wooster" I probably would not be very interested in the books. The books are both hysterical and odd. Here are some samples:
Quotes
"We leave our country for our country's good," said Eustace.
"Pardon me, sir, but would it not be wiser to wear a hat? There is a keen wind."
I blinked.
"Aren't I wearing a hat?"
"No, sir."
I put up a hand and felt the lemon. He was perfectly right.
"Curse him!" said Sippy. "May he tread on a banana-skin on his way to chapel and sprain both ankles!"
"I would always hesitate to recommend as a life's companion a young lady with quite such a vivid shade of red hair. Red hair, sir, in my opinion, is dangerous."
(My favorite so far, hehe)
Chapter Titles
Jeeves Exerts the Old Cerebellum
Startling Dressiness of a Life Attendant
The Inferiority Complex of Old Sippy
This is very long, but to end it all...
Good things today
Seeing extended family
Petting my puppy
Reading books
Talking to 2 friends in NY, NY
Driving around the Sierra Nevada Foothills
Bad things today
No job
Spending money on gas
Having Mom roll up the automatic car window, catching my fingers (she rolled it back down when I yelled; she felt bad, but I'm not hurt, I just think it is interesting)
I also found a travel book called I Should Have Stayed Home: The Worst Trips of Great Writers. It is hilarious! Some of the stories could/should be skipped, but it was a very funny book. I liked the story about the army ants and scorpions in Guatemala. A different story mentions Dan Rather, the famous news man. Friends have heard this story many times (sorry) but my dad almost ran over Dan Rather! My dad worked in a greenhouse about 18 years ago. He and my Uncle Brian (Mom's brother) were delivering plants in San Francisco. Dan Rather stepped off a curb "like he owned the world" and almost got hit by Dad's truck (it was big, not a pickup)! Yep, my dad almost hit a famous person...though both my family and I'm sure Dan Rather are glad that he didn't. I should tell interesting experiences my dad has had; hmm, some other time...
I also got Life with Jeeves, by P.G. Wodehouse! There are three books in this volume: Right Ho, Jeeves, The Inimitable Jeeves, and Very Good, Jeeves. They are very funny, though I admit if I had not seen the series "Jeeves and Wooster" I probably would not be very interested in the books. The books are both hysterical and odd. Here are some samples:
Quotes
"We leave our country for our country's good," said Eustace.
"Pardon me, sir, but would it not be wiser to wear a hat? There is a keen wind."
I blinked.
"Aren't I wearing a hat?"
"No, sir."
I put up a hand and felt the lemon. He was perfectly right.
"Curse him!" said Sippy. "May he tread on a banana-skin on his way to chapel and sprain both ankles!"
"I would always hesitate to recommend as a life's companion a young lady with quite such a vivid shade of red hair. Red hair, sir, in my opinion, is dangerous."
(My favorite so far, hehe)
Chapter Titles
Jeeves Exerts the Old Cerebellum
Startling Dressiness of a Life Attendant
The Inferiority Complex of Old Sippy
This is very long, but to end it all...
Good things today
Seeing extended family
Petting my puppy
Reading books
Talking to 2 friends in NY, NY
Driving around the Sierra Nevada Foothills
Bad things today
No job
Spending money on gas
Having Mom roll up the automatic car window, catching my fingers (she rolled it back down when I yelled; she felt bad, but I'm not hurt, I just think it is interesting)
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