DStilled

Candles, etiquette, bananas

Most anyone that has either come to my room or knows me for a while knows that I love candles. Mainly because it’s controlled fire, but also because of the wonderful smell that it coats my room with. I have discovered a great way to get more out of my candles. I use the candles that are in the glass jars but this will also work with less protected candles, but they have to be at least four inches wide. Light the wick and wait a few hours to when the liquid wax is a few milimeters deep. Blow the candle out and place a wooden match right next to it buried a centimeter or so. The next time you light the candle light the wick and the match and enjoy. Because wooden matches have small porous airholes like a cloth wick, the melted wax draws up to the fire and is burned as fuel just as though you had two wicks right next to each other. It’s a great way to get more heat and a bigger flame. The excess heat also allows all the wax to melt and burn as opposed to just what’s in the middle. Now remember kids to always be safe when handling fire and to cool off the matches before throwing them away. Have fun and enjoy!

For Social Psychology I had to do an experiment in my life. We had to break a social norm. The norm that I chose to break was urinal etiquette. Any guy that has ever used a urinal knows how awkward it can be when things get too close or a little chatty. Here is my experience:

I chose a restroom in a public library as the place of experimentation. Standing against the wall near the urinals, I waited until the room was empty. When someone came in by himself and started to approach the urinal, I engaged him in conversation. Not only was this awkward because I talked to him while he was trying to urinate, but just the idea of me waiting in the room was weird. When I tried to shake his hand, he looked unsure of whether he should do it or run away. He did not really say much and it was obvious he just wanted to ignore me. I tried to persevere and as he was washing his hands I told him the purpose of my actions. This greatly humored him as he said, “That’s one of those things that’s funny to other people ‘cause no one wants to feel awkward.”
The next person to come in gave me quite a surprise. He looked apprehensive to use the urinal since I was standing right there and he almost went to the stall. I made a movement as if I were finished and he continued toward the urinal. I said, “Hey, how are you doing today?” He gave me a look of complete puzzlement, as if I had asked the oddest question on earth. Without saying anything he pushed onward and at that moment his friend came in and they started talking in French. Stunned, I just left to not feel ridiculously awkward myself.
Later in the hour I went back and waited until the restroom was empty. A tall man walked in and as soon as I realized I was intimidated by him, I thought what a great way to break even more social norms. In conversation he smiled at me like I was mentally challenged student who was not even capable of tact. After tolerating the first couple of questions, he said in a reprimanding voice, “Dude, what are you doing?” I made sure to stand about a foot and a half away from him. I simply told him, “I find that human interaction is important for daily sanity.” After I patted him on his back while saying rhetorically, “You know what I mean?” I expected him to call me out on it (or punch me), but he did not even flinch. There was a lull in the conversation because he was not responding, so I just started talking about my day. It appeared as if he was going to forgo washing his hands for the more appealing route of leaving, but before he could open the door I told him of the experiment I was conducting.

I hope you all enjoyed that. Now make sure to stay regular by eating lots of bananas. For the comment question this time, what is the coolest way to peel a banana? And by the way, the stache is gone.

Ewww…or hmmm…?

Before you ask, I’ll go ahead and tell you that hairy upper lip you see before you is mine. The amazing thing is about it all is that I’ve had this hairy upper lip for over a month now but no one noticed or cared until it stood alone. Now I’m getting a huge response. Some are like, “Get that thing away from me!”–Josh Meyers. Others are finally giving the respect. I’ve decided to keep it until I get a haircut (which is becoming quite long mind you). This could be tomorrow or sometime next week. But I will get one before I take my passport pictures.

I finally got in touch with a guy in DC about my passport situation and it’s all set. Now I just have to have my birth certificate, two pics, lots of money, and the forms to turn in. But I don’t have any existing candid shots that will meet the criteria so I will have to take a few and print them off.

I was really excited about this judo competition this weekend. Not so much anymore. Because of the lateness for me joining the judo club they won’t make me “active” and therefore pay my dues for the competition. It’s ok. I know I can do all right and the green or blue belt is not THAT important to me. Yet. I’ll most likely stick with this and in the fall compete for real. Here at the end of the semester, I’m just sore and bruised. Ahhh…PE.

As most of you know, I’m going to Guatemala this summer. I’m VERY excited to see how God is going to use me! But to ensure that all goes well, I need to raise support money. I’ve sent out a bunch of letters and still am not even to the half way mark. I know God owns everything and He will convict and bless whom He chooses to give, but I just feel like it’s getting kinda close and I’m still so far away. If anyone would like to help just let me know and I’ll show you how. Any amount will be awesome and used by God and remember that I’m praying for all of you guys too.

For the comment question today, would you rather be blind or deaf and why? This is starting right now in your life not when you were born. Mine would be blind from birth and deaf right now. Mainly, cuz I would still be able to talk and sing for the most part and I love to drive.

SOO much to do

Everyone has new year’s resolutions right? Or at least something they would like to do more or better or in the very least, live less destructively. My only resolution I considered was studying more. Yeah, like THAT happened. However, last monday I slept like 14 hours and missed almost the entire day’s worth of activities. That was an eye opener to me that I should not do that. And by that I mean skip classes. I have made it official that for the rest of the year, I will do my best not to miss school anymore. I’ve decided that getting good grades is important and am ready to step up to the proverbial plate.

On that note, I’ve been very proactive and busy as of late. It all starts over weeks ago when I went home to Lex, Ky, to visit peeps and mainly Sam. Sam was in for a couple of weeks and I needed to see him so thursday morn I packed up and went home. I didn’t get much one on one time with him but what we had was good. The format in which you are reading my site now is thanks to him making all this whatnot “dynamic.” One of the primary things that does is make it to where you can go look at old entries in the Archives section. So I hung out with Ryan, William, Amy, and a slew of others making the trip incredible. As soon as I came back I had like a ton of things to do–studying, star gazing on Tue night, catching a rat and 3 mice (some deaths are documented)–you know the normal college life.

I’ve started playing basketball regularly now and really enjoying it. In fact one of the coolest things I’ve done here at UVa happened on the court. Two thursday’s ago Jonathon, second year friend–sorry no pic of him yet, Aaron, Jason Turner, and I went over to Mem Gym to play after Agape meeting. We get there a little before 10 and by 10 there are 19 guys vying for a half court game! Well, that’s obviously rediculous and we decided to go play on an outdoor court. Well, it had been raining earlier all day and we knew the court might still be a little wet. It was recently refinished so when we arrived there were virtually no puddles. Jason and I vs. Jon and Aaron. I have not idea who won (probably them), but we played for over an hour just two on two. After about 20 minutes, it started to sprinkle and very gradually turned into a mild downpour! Jason and I become handicapped for both of us had to take off our glasses (which is what I will attribute the loss to, despite Jason’s famous “shake ‘n bake” skilz). We were sliding all over the place! It was warm rain but cool enough that none of us were hot. We all had our shirts off and by the end were steaming! It was SO much FUN!

The next day was the Holiday Party at the HOP (dress like any holiday you can find on a calendar). However, it was the same night as a FREE Jars of Clay concert at JMU. Turns out I didn’t even have to round people up for this one! Their new album is primarily hymns and other old songs redone and is quite worth the 13 bucks. I bought mine at the concert cuz they had another cd that came with it but when I got in line they had just run out. The concert was really great ( -another Liquid/Worlds Apart-less concert)! When the stopped playing I went up to the stage and sure enough they came back on and played Flood and I’ll Fly Away. It was SO SWEET to be that close! Oh, and on the way home, Sanho our driver missed the exit and turned out 45 minute trip into a two hour, dialogue filled, gettin’ really tired endeavor. And when we showed up at the HOP the party was still going on but in the form of DDR!!

The next day, Saturday, was filled of goodness of Springfest. This is a day long festival of sorts with bands and games and all the rest. The next day was amazing. For it was Sunday and indeed filled with both the sun and the Son. I enjoyably studied outside for the first time and had some really good conversations with people. On Tuesday I took a test that I got a 92 on in Abnormal Psychology! Wednesday after Judo I went over to Tracey’s house and chilled with she and Sarah and had a little dinner before a great bible study by my housemate Dave since our leader Aaron (not bball Aaron) was at the hospital helping his wife have a baby!

Thursday Agape had Professor Elzinga speak aobut the history of Christianity on UVa gounds. He had been there since the beginning and we found out that until 1968 no christian organization could get ANYTHING started at UVa. That may have something to do with the fact that christian groups couldn’t reserve rooms on grounds and were horribly shunned for carrying a Bible around. Elzinga could have lost his job just by having his Bible on his desk! God has moved powerfully in the hearts and lives here since then. And it started when a young man named Darrell Richards came and witnessed in Mem Gym to two students. They accepted and he took them under his wings. The movement never stopped after that. Darrell himself actually was at Agape thursday night and was able to encourage us! Once again it just goes to show that those who step out in steps of faith will be rewarded because GOD SHOWS UP!

Last night I got a phone call while I was out that said I had to come home because everyone was going out into the woods for a bonfire. Sure enough, like twenty of us went about 15 miles out and had an AMAZING time! This ranks among the bball in the rain for coolness factor. We rolled out the blankets and sleeping bags, chopped up wood, burnt it, had s’mores, told lots of stories, and Justin ended the night with some guitar songs and prayer. I went to sleep a little before 4. Even after a shower I still smell like campfire.

Today I made 75 bucks at a follow up Ed school experiment thing, cleaned my car inside and out, bought a plane ticket to Guatemala!, found a place to live next semester (not definate yet), laundry, went to a impromptu cookout at 360, got to talk to Sam on the phone, and updated my website! So I’m about spent. I had to turn down a swing dance, a Latin American festival, and other random goingons. I love sleep and I’ve decided to give God control over my daily cycle.

He tells me to do a quiet time in the morning. I say ok but that means gettin up earlier. That means going to bed earlier since sleep is of utmost importance to me. That means doing my work during the day which means less wasted time. SO I’m back to being productive and proactive! Since I’ve got those archives, I can update more often. Now I just have to figure out how the new pictures work. So check those as well. G’night!

Lo Siento

To all my loyal and not-so loyal readers, I would like to apologize for leaving you out of the loop for so long. I hope some of you enjoy the new look of the site and will come back cuz I promise I’m updating after this spanish test tomorrow. I’ll have stories of basketball, Jars of Clay, my trip home to KY, and much more. I also have like a zillion pictures to show you and that is one of the things that is taking so long. Anyway, I appreciate those that do care about me and I would ask everyone to pray for my Guatemala trip this summer. I still have a lot of support money needed and the logistics of leaving the country for a few months is involved. So any prayers would be wonderful.

This picture of me and Todd is from my road trip to Yellowstone and back two summers ago. (It was actually two pics that I made one) I will have all 100 road trip pictures for you all hopefully very soon.