Work ended early today. Since it's Friday and we've been limited to 40hr work weeks until further notice. I only had to work 1/2 the day. It was an easy day too. We located a few columns, a wall, and marked out the location for an elevator pit at a certain construction site we frequent. Yesterday was fun too. We surveyed a lake from Jimmie's boat. There was a tree almost eaten all the way through by a beaver. There was a 6" piece still holding the tree together at the bottom. We say several snakes swimming in the water. One got about three feet from me. I pushed it out of my way with a pole. There were turtles out there too. I love the outdoors. I think I'll go camping or something soon. I need a vacation.

So, what's new with me...Let's see. I broke my RC truck again. I fixed it though. I'm learning more from breaking and fixing it than from driving it. I plan on going to the track tomorrow to race.

I put in my application to New Orleans. If I'm accepted I'll go to N.O. first then back to school. Otherwise, I'm going back to school, full-time. Either way I think school is important right now and I'll kick myself if I don't go. I want a better education and I want to be able to apply myself more.

I've been feeling kinda down lately. I think it's because I haven't had much direction or goals in my life as of lately. I plan on changing that, now. If it's God's will for me to go to N.O. then I will do that first. If not, I making plans to finish school right away. I don't feel like full-time work is cutting it for me. I have money yes, but I'm not satisfied. Money is so empty. It only complicates life. I want...What do I want? I want to be happy, satisfied with my life. That might not mean an easy life though. I want to know I put my best foot forward. Not finishing school!? It's making me feel incomplete. It's not a peer-pressure/parental-pressure/social-pressure thing. It's for me. Is that selfish? Does God want me to go back to college?

I need to clear my mind. I want to get away from all the distractions and surround myself with God. I only want to be with Him right now. I need Him so much. I feel like I can't get away though. I've been feeling like that for a long time. I'm trapped, surrounded, overwhelmed. I've been hearing so many other voices talking about this and that and the other thing that I should do. Be apart of disaster relief in New Orleans, raise awareness of child soldiers in Uganda, fight social injustice, finish college, get married, save the planet. The are so many issues out there. I want to be apart of them all. I feel like if I don't I'm not compassionate enough. I wonder if Jesus felt as limited in being able to help as I do. He was human. He couldn't be everyewhere at once. Lazureth died because Jesus didn't make it to him in time, right?

I haven't worked on a Friday on about 3 or 4 weeks. My boss has put us on a 40hr/wk diet. I haven't had a full 40 hour week but I get 36-38 usually. Fortunately, we will be working 50-60 hr weeks on the summer. But I may be in New Orleans by then. It seems ironic that before I left Albany for MY last year that work dried up where I used to work. And now work seems to be limited too. But this time there weren't any pay cuts. Only no over-time. What does it matter anyway though. Meaningless, meaningless. Everything is meaningless. I'm almost convinced I'm leaving my current job to go to New Orleans in a few months. Every time I feel led to go somewhere by God I have to quite a good job. But every time I'm looking for a new one God opens up a door. Jobs are here one day and gone the next. I guess I'm not too worried because job security isn't what it used to be. I don't hold anything too dear. It'll all be gone someday. That's why I feel somewhat foolish for buying that RC truck. I wanted a hobby, but in my heart I feel I should sell everything and give it to the poor. Why is following God so divided from the world we live in. We live in a comsumer world but pray to The One and Only God who tells us to sell it all and give it away. Riches mean nothing in heaven, yet we stockpile movies, CD's, magazines, jewelry, make-up, shoes, stuff from old hobbies and new one's. I'm realizing I have stuff saved up everywhere. And when God calls me somewhere I feeled tied down by it. But I dont want to just give up the things I like.

I've been reading this book lately. A bunch of us MY alumni are going to discuss the book. I like it. It's inspiring, challenging, and has duct-tape on it for goodness sake. I wouldn't do the book justice if I tried to explain what it's about to you. So I'll just recommend reading it. Be warned though. Some say Shane has a cynical view of the church. He even admits to it in the book. But when I look at Christianity today honestly, I ask the same questions.

Here's my RC10 with the body attached. The body was clear when I started the paint job. I just used masking tape and taped off the silver area first (racing stripes included). After the silver paint dried I taped off the windows and windshield again and painted the rest of it "racing red". Then came the decals. I wish the photos were better quality but you get the idea.

This is my RC truck. I would like to say I built the thing myself but I didn't. iI had help from Jim, a co-worker. I did paint the deisgn on the body myself though. And put the decals on it. I'll have to post an action shot later. There's a racetrack that I plan on visiting on Saturday. (Picture with body added to follow)

I cooked dinner on Sunday. I know, you're all shocked. I was worried there wasn't enough for everyone. There were 17 of us. I made Roast Pork. I covered it in rosemary and garlic. Cut up some veggies and wrapped it all up in aluminum foil. I also made chicken with a honey,lemon juice, and thyme glaze. Then there was diced red potatoes with rosemary and clives on it, as well as a huge fresh salad with a ton of veggies in it. Everyone loved the food. I was so proud to be able to cook for everyone. I can't believe I spent about $90's on that one meal.

I finally got my RC truck put together. I'm still getting it to peak condition. The right front wheel needs to be aligned better. The top-end is a bit flat. I'll have to make some adjustments to the motor screws so I get a better top-speed. The truck's running a bit rich (too much fuel flow into the motor) which is affecting the motor's efficiency. Therefore, if it runs rich, it runs sluggish. Too much fuel is not a bad thing though. Too little fuel and the motor over-heats and breaks. I like the design I put on the body. I'll post pictures of it soon enough. I got somne decals to make it look like an official racing truck too. I like this hobby. The only thing is you need a place to to tricks and jumps or it gets boring fast. There's always race track's. The closest one is about 45 minutes away.

I went to a Hawks b-ball game the other day. One of the guys from Phil's neighborhood b-ball team (Avory, center) had three tickets. He invited myself and Zach, right, to go. Phil had to work. It was the first game I've been to where the Hawks actually won. They played the Timberwolves. It was exciting. It came down to a miracle pass in the last second of play. I borrowed Phil's Hawks jersey that a friend baught for him. The back says his name, but it's spelled "Philp", not "Philip" like it should be.

I saw "Thank You for Smoking" last night. It was great, in a painfully truthful way. It's about a tobacco lobbyist and his ability to spin the facts around in favor of big tobacco. After the movie I went to "The Mellow Mushroom", with Zach, Mike P, Mike R, John, and Katie Lewis for some pizza. It was fun to hang out with them. There was some deep discussion too. Mike P and I started talking about New Orleans v.s. college : being called v.s. being equiped. It was good to hear opinions from other people. After I got home I smoked a cigar.

The neighborhood basketball teamS came over to our place for their reward ceremony on Sunday. There were probably thirty people there. When I first got home I was stunned at how many people could fit into that place (see previous picture). The food was great. I love southern fried chicken. The BBQ chicken was great too. And the cassorole and home made mac-n-cheese were great. The whole thing was great. Phil is a great basketball coach too.

I played ultimate again. It was 80-85 on Sunday. I got so hot from running I got dizzy for a minute. I was glad there was an extra person to sub-in now and then. The only problem is that people are eager to sub-in but seldom sub-out. I got put on Chris too. He's as tall as me, but mostly muscle. He plays baseball, basketball, football. Yeah, he kicked my arse on the field. He's only like 17 too. It was fun, but I was outmatched. We play man-to-man. It keeps people from chasing the frisbee like you would see at a children's soccer game. But it sucks when you get matched by height and not athletic ability. Seriously, I thought I was guarding Shaq out there!

Mark and I are making dinner on Sunday. Laura and Christy had us over for dinner awhile ago and now we're returning the favor. Other people will be there too. Last time we had dinner at their place there were several of us. It was fun. They volunteered to cook this time but I insisted that we cook since they already cooked last time. I hope I do ok. How can I learn if I don't try, ya know.

I got everything I need for my radeo controlled car (RC car). All I need to do is build the thing. Jim, from work, said he'd help me. So far he keeps putting me off. I understand though. He's busy. And he's doing me a favor so I'll be patient. It cost me $500 to get everything I needed. I know. It's no cheap hobby. The motor alone cost $150. I got it for $100. A gallon of gas was $26. That'll last for a few months though. The radeo controller was a $200 item but got it for $75. In reality everything cost $800-900. But I got alot of great deals. I don't know though. It seems futile now. I might be going to New Orleans. So at the most I'll play with it for a few months. Then what? I'd plan on keeping it. But I could have used the money for saving towards N.O..

I need to fix my car too. I know the brakes need work. I think I can do then myself. I have the repair manual. I've read it through a few times and the repair is simple. I just don't know what to expect when I really look at it. I hope it's not too serious of a repair.