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Tonight we went into the city. We went to 242nd street to catch the subway. At about our 3rd stop we had this older gentleman get on the train. He was chillin in the corner, and you could tell that he was one of those talkitive kind of guys. A young lady came and sat a few seats away from him. That is when the fun started. The man started talkin with the young lady. He was attempting to be funny, I think. She was a little uncomfortable with the conversation, but hung in there and gave him some feedback. The guy was one of those really loud talkers, so we were all included in the conversation by the fact that we were in the same car.
They started talking about some semi-serious things: why do we say things to make people cry, how laughter is so good, and how we get to come back in another life.
It was funny because she tried to seem busy on her phone, but that didn’t bother the guy in the least bit, he just continued talking. She even dropped the ” Oh, it’s just my boyfriend” bit. It was classic. Then he started asking her is she would dance with him. Then if he could just get a little kiss on the cheek. Talk about no shame. It was creepy. Shortly after all this she got off.
Then an Asian kid sits down where she was sitting. And the man began trying to have a conversation with him, but with no luck. It was good laughs. Then the man got off at Times Square and wished everyone a happy new years. It was nice of him.
Then after the show we got back on the subway to go home. 3 young guys got on the train. They got on at a time when there was no seats in the car available, so they were forced to stand (right next to us). These dudes were droppin f-bombs so everyone could here, but in the way that is the super unintelligent way. ( i know what your thinking, “is there an intelligent way? I don’t know, but they were using the word for every type of speech possible.)
After making sure everyone in the car knew they were there, they began talking about bad breath and how they hate girls with whack breath. One guy made sure to tell us about how he hates girls breath in the morning (wink wink). Then without any warning they switched the conversation to how they get dandruff. At this point I am just trying hard not to laugh audibly.
All in all, I guess it was just another night in the subways. I laughed a lot. It was funny. I am sure that I did not do it any justice in this post, so just trust me.
There is something about New York City that I love. I love the smells of the subways, the hot dog stands, the sewers, and the kebabs. I love the sights: central park, the buildings that defy gravity, the endless ads the size of whole buildings, the people, the taxi’s, and the bright lights. I love the history: the empire state building, the Rockefeller family, the Chrysler building, the countless statues, and the spectacular view of the UN building. The atmosphere is unique to only New York. I sometimes picture myself wanting to move here, to become a part of the city, to live life as one of the locals. I often wonder what it would be like to walk out of whatever apartment building I would live in and be able to walk to a local pizza shop and get a slice of pie. I love the diversity offered here. In my hometown I am lucky if I meet 4 people a year that were born outside of the states, but here, here I can meet that in as many people. The different languages that fly in-and-out of my ears are like a sweet symphony. The subway experience is one that I relish. I love taking the subways around town. I watch the people. I watch the kids that ride it every day as a way of transportation to and from friend’s houses. I love looking out the subway windows into the unforgiving streets of The Bronx, and seeing the buildings with endless amounts of spray paint on them. This is all a part of the city, this is all a part of the experience.
I imagine what life is like in The Bronx. The Bronx is out of the bright lights of the “big city” and into a harsh world of “somehow getting by this month”. I don’t know all that much about The Bronx, I just know what my wife tells me, what I observe on the subways, and the stories I hear about from the boroughs habitants. The Bronx represents something that is beautiful and sad all at the same time.
I found myself thinking today as my wife and I walked the streets of New York about how there seems to be so little hope here. Where do people turn to when they need someone to listen to them? Where do the people go when they are hungry? I know that if I lived here I would know more about these questions, but I don’t live here, so I have questions.
If I lived here I would want to meet all of these people that I see and help to bring hope to them. I would want to help them break the cycle of poverty that they are living in. I would want them to know that they are loved by a creator despite how their parents treated them.
This is a big mess in my head, but I know this: I love NYC, but I hate NYC.
Side note: I have the privilege of seeing a different side of New York than most tourist or vacationers. My wife is from Yonkers, which is a big city that borders The Bronx. Whenever we go into the city we take the subway in from 242nd street, which is as far north as the subway goes, and ride for about 45 minutes through The Bronx and Manhattan. So I get to see what it is like on the “real” streets and take in the experience through different lens than most out-of-towners. Also, I am a Sociology major, and I love to watch people as individuals and groups. I watch them and try to become familiar with the cultural norms so that I can have a grasp on the unspoken expectations of people.
My wife and will be reading the book Serve God, Save the Planet by Matthew Sleeth. This book deals with what it looks like to be a follower of Christ and be a person who takes care of creation. I am excited to read the book because there is something inside of me that believes in taking care of God’s creation. I will give a review of the book after we read it. I read the the first chapter and it got me pumped for the rest of the book. Here is something to chew on, it is a quote from the 1st chapter.
The earth was designed to sustain every generation’s needs, not to be plundered in an attempt to meet one generation’s wants.
This whole job search thing has really made me question what I am looking for in a job. Do I want to work a job for money? Happiness? Purpose? Necessity? What is it that will be the driving force in me taking a new job?
It brings a burning question to my mind. What is really important? Often I think that we are driven by desires that may not be from God. So I am hoping that wherever I end up will be a place that I have been led to by God.
Tonight I cancelled our cable service. It’s a weird thing to think that we are going to be without cable and DVR. In the big picture of is it really a big deal? Will I miss out on something? Or… I will now have more time on my hands! Time with my wife, friends, and God. I like the sound of that.
We may have to cancel some other luxuries that we have, but what will I be missing?
I guess I am just thinking a lot about what is important to me. If having some cool things and stuff is, then that will affect what kind of job I take. If purpose and meaning is important, then that will also change the my decision making process.
I hope to make a good decision.
Its been awhile since I had to actively look for a job. Actually, this is the first time that I have ever had to pursue jobs and actually search them out. It is weird, scary, intimidating, and not so much fun. I guess it is all part of the journey (ha, get it).
In case you did not know, I put in my resignation at the church. It is a sad day, but I believe it is the right thing. Liz and I believe that God is closing this chapter of our lives, and moving us in a different direction. Now we are on the lookout.
If you happen to know of any jobs that would be a good fit for me, let me know. Anything helps.
In the meantime, its back to the crazy job search on the internet. It is crazy, some of the jobs out there…
I have been going at these papers for a few weeks. It has really sucked, mostly because I don’t feel super great about the final product. Well, the papers are done, the editing is done, the bibliography is done with the adequate amount of works cited, and I am free!!!
I learned a lot about the first 5 books of the Bible. I have a new appreciation for the book of Leviticus. Most importantly, I have a new understanding of God being Holy. That is something I have been missing. I am thankful for that. 
My friend Joel tagged me, which means that I have to give you 6 random facts about myself. Here they are:
1. When I hear a song that I really like, I will listen to it on repeat for about a week. (no i don’t get tired of it)
2. I could eat Mexican food or pizza every meal for weeks.
3. I am somewhat addicted to Madden 2005. 2 things that are sad about that 1) its a 2005 game, which makes it old and 2) I spend time a fair amount of time playing video games
4. I love learning new things, but I do not seem to retain a lot of the info.
5. I am a wannabe artist/creative/musical person
6. I am above average at the following games: bowling, ping pong, darts, and raquetball (mostly because my dad taught me all of those)
So here are my 6 jokers that have to participate: Matt Rundio, Chris Barton, Robin Keener, Tom Mulhern, Greg Suiter, and Alex Gore
So I participated in my first ever sprint triathlon last Saturday. It was interesting, fun, hard, challenging, and most of all humbling. I went into the event saying that I just wanted to finish…
Now that the event is over and I finished, I don’t think I really meant that now. Here is how the race went…
I started out with a strong swim. Well, it was a strong swim for me. I started in the 9:30 group (9 min. 30 sec.). I ended up coming out of the blocks strong and actually passed 6 guys. I jumped out of the pool, then went on to the transition station. I jumped into my cycling gear and jumped on the bike, and I was off. Well, about the 6th mile, it all went down hill. I got a flat, which sucks. Then I changed the flat, which takes a little longer than you would think. Then I pumped up the new tube, and BOOM, popped it. Well that was my only tube, so I started walking the bike back. About 30 min. later I had been given a new tube and changed it and was back on the bike. At this time I was so far in last place that I spent the rest of the race on my own.
That’s right, someone has to get last place… and on this day it was…
ME
I finished in dead last. OH well, humility can be a good thing. It was definitely the loneliest 3 mile run of my life.
I hope to do another one again, I just hope to finish somewhere in the top… well just not last. 
Call it ugly, call it lucky, call it a really crappy division…
That doesn’t change the fact that the Arizona Cardinals are your 2008 NFC West Champions!!!
It’s a long time coming for Cardinal fans like myself. There have been many painful years, and I can’t remember how many times I said “I think this is the year”, only to lose hope by week 5.
A playoff game right here in the desert.
Congrats fellas!!!!
The best receiving core in the game hands down. Fitz and Quan.
How far will they go?
