Religion Confusion

While I was making a whole crap ton of trips back up to Kville to get the rest of my stuff from our house, I couldn't help but see this same billboard sign each time. It was for some church, whose name I can't remember and probably shouldn't include anyways, that was advertising its faith like most churches do. Except this one's message was a little... confusing.

It read: "Take a chance on Jesus, if not, Satan will take you."

Or something very similar. The last part is right on the money as that is the portion of the phrase that made an impact on me. Was it meant as an alternative to Jesus? Is this a threat? What happened to God being the focus? Will Satan really take you somewhere? To Hell maybe? What if you don't believe in Hell? Does believing in Jesus mean you automatically believe in Satan also? Is Satan a part of Christianity? I had a ton of questions that stemmed from that particular phrase and no one besides myself available to be asked.

Now, I'm not going to go ask anyone these questions for the purpose of finding the answers. I don't really care that much about this issue. However, seeing that made me think. Which, by the way, is a real good thing as I tend to fall asleep when driving long distances.

I don't really know what I would call my version of faith. I can say that I am not a Christian if only because I do not believe in the Bible. Man-made things are not perfect, so I will not put my unyielding faith in something that is not perfect. I also can't, because of another aspect of me that the Bible says is wrong. But anyways.

I believe in something like a creator, something that made everything and gave purpose to everything. To me, everything was meant to happen for a reason. There is room for hindsight, regret, guilt, joy, thankfulness, happiness, what have you. However, everything that has ever happened to you has happened for a certain reason. That's how I try to look at things. And although I may fail and get angry, I will get over it and learn from the experience... eventually.

I believe in karma. I use that word for lack of a better word. I believe that you will get what you give; all things will be returned three-fold. So, I try to be upstanding. Now, don't get me wrong, some people think I am a mean person or just outright rude. However, I will never be mean to someone without a reason. That reason is often just my own mind overreacting to something, but it is still there and still bothering me. I'm just opinionated and things that I find stupid or a waste of time is going to get me riled up. Getting me to talk about what is bothering me is a whole different issue. I don't open up very easily. It makes me uncomfortable and makes me feel weak.

Death scares the crap out of me. In my mind, I can't cope with or grasp the feelings of eternity or simply ceasing to exist. So both avenues are scary prospects for whatever happens after death. I don't know if I ever want to find out what will be waiting on the other side. Heaven/Hell forever and ever or just nothingness. The only idea of life after death that I have ever liked has been reincarnation. But I'm not sure if that is a cop out and escape from the aforementioned prospects.

So, what does faith provide? Hope, I think. I think that people who go to this church with the billboard go there every Sunday (or more!) for the sole reason of finding some hope. A small measure of hope, brought about by belief, will produce mass amounts of comfort and content. And perhaps, in a message like this, as confusing as it may be to some people, it is, in its own way, trying to spread that hope.

New beginnings

I actually graduated from college! I can't believe it.

We were lucky enough not to have any rain on Saturday, so I didn't need my lack of rain site tickets. It was a pretty surreal experience. It didn't hit me until the procession got close enough to see all the people in the stands what was actually happening. As far as the actual ceremony went, well... the commencement speaker was a little lame but the name reading went super fast. The entire thing took maybe an hour and a half; which for how many people was graduating, that is at lightning speed. I got to sit with Heath and David, which is how I always wanted it to be. It was great having all of my family there for the event as well. They mean the world to me.

We went out later that night with the usual gusto. Tons of people were out and I got to see a lot of individuals that I normally wouldn't have been able to see. That alone was a great graduation present. Plus, somehow I didn't end up spending a single dollar all night. How about them apples!?

On our way home, Scott, Amy, and I were pulled over by a cop. I had made Scott pull around the block a second time so we could spy on something interesting (which I plan on getting more details about). The cop asks us if we had been partying and Scott politely says yes. Then he asks if we've been drinking and I tell the cop, before Scott can respond, that only I have and that I'm a loser alcoholic and that the other two do not drink. Amy has to explain to the cop why she doesn't have her license (her family stole it) while the officer takes both mine and Scott's identifications. He ends up only giving Scott a warning for the light above his licence plate being out and sends us home. The funny thing is, we were right up the street from our house.

The day after was a little crappy. It rained all freaking day and my dad had come back up to take all of my stuff home. Needless to say, he was pissed. We ended up only taking home what we could fit in the cab of his truck and the cab of my truck.

I snuck up to Kirksville yesterday and got even more stuff and today my dad and I finished getting everything else. I'm just glad the entire ordeal is over.

Now, the only time I will need to go back to Kville is to visit people. But it's so much easier going back knowing that I don't have to stay.

As of now, I am unpacking what I want to unpack while also looking for a job in my hometown. I've got a few reasons why I want to stay here for the time being and this place is pretty happenin in the job department. I am pretty confident I will be able to find something as well as find my own place. Or, I can just stay at my dad's house until David and Abbie move into town and then pull a "Me, You, and Dupree" on their couch.

Graduation?

It still hasn't hit me yet that in two days I will be graduating from Truman and that there will be family members here who have never ever been to Truman or even Kirksville; namely, my ma.

I can't believe it.

The weather right now is shitty though and I hope it clears up because I only have 4 rain tickets and 12 people I know for sure are coming to my graduation.

Alumni

April 23^rd, 2007. It’s a typical Kirksville night in a typical Missouri town. However, a group of very a-typical individuals are preparing to take another huge step in their lives: Graduation.

One thing that this diverse little posse shares is their affiliation. They are all brothers. Not in the sense of my grandma is your grandma, sitting by the fire… Oops, different story. They are all members of Phi Sigma Pi, a national co-ed honor fraternity. Some of them met while joining this fraternity, some were friends long before, some will even be fortunate (or unfortunate depending on how you look at it) to spend the rest of their lives with someone they met in this organization.

Before this group can graduate they must complete one thing. To become alumni of Phi Sigma Pi. Apparently it is written somewhere that only people still in college can be an active brother. I use the term “active” loosely you know what I mean.

The specifics of the night are lost. This is done purposefully as ceremonies are not something that is talked about after the fact. But I’d like to give you a little snapshot and as a parting gift into what it’s like to be around this people. Read this, while taking it slow and looking over one of the best pictures I’ve ever seen.

I’ll move from left to right and introduce you to some of the greatest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

Chad, Bethany and Heath. Obviously, something has just happened that has shocked Chad, amused Bethany, and caused Heath some level of consternation. I am willing to bed that Heath’s little (I will leave her nameless) just flashed them. Yep, that is probably what happened.

Next you will see two observers. Amy and Andrew. Amy is most definitely spying on the ruckus in another part of the crowd. Andrew is laughing as his girlfriend makes a hefty proposition.

What would that be? Well, that’s easy. Erin, Matt, and Plog are posing for some candid shots for their ménage.

Behind them is Jared, he’s the only person in the entire picture actually doing what he’s supposed to be doing: posing for the picture takers.

Slightly hidden are Casey and Jeff behind her. The two of them are watching the theatrics of another group very close by…

Abbie is so obviously turning to get her revenge on David who definitely copped a feel. It’s a good thing these two are getting married because I don’t know anyone else who could handle their level of craziness.

Directly to the right of this couple is Kalen. She has got to be wondering two things: 1) How can I keep Abbie’s hair from hitting me in the face when she turns really fast again, and 2) Why are these weirdoes behind me laughing so loudly?

Those weirdoes behind her happen to be Alan and Jennifer. They are obviously having a good time and this is why. Moments before, Alan’s nose somehow ended up in Jennifer’s eye… Yeah, that’s what I thought too.

The next three people in the back are Josh, Jenna, and Eddie. Josh is obviously trying to maintain his badass reputation by avoiding smiling at all costs. Jenna and Eddie are both just wondering what the hell could be so funny with Alan and Jennifer.

The last three ladies are Mandy, Lauren, and Amanda. These dames are doing some suggestive poses for the cameras and the paparazzi. Watch out world, they might be too hot to handle.

So, I hope you enjoyed my little story about one of the best pictures I have ever seen. It's time for a new chapter to begin for all of these folks and by golly, they are more than ready for it.

Water Balloon Fights

Yesterday we had one of the best ideas: to have a Water balloon Fight!

Well, actually my friend Matt's mom had the idea. She sent him some water balloons for his birthday, which also happened to be yesterday (who knew?). A group of us decided to get it done and turn Friday afternoon into a wet sticky fun fest.

It started off with everyone meeting at my place. Well, almost all of us. Scott, Amy, Matt, and I all met at my place and we decided to go looking for a spicket to begin filling water balloons. We had some time before Chad and Erin were going to catch up with us. We all piled into my pickup and headed off to a park nearby, however, along the way good ol' Baby (my truck) decided that she would run out of gas. Poor gal. On top of that, the park had nothing we could use to fill up balloons with. So, we very carefully got the truck to a nearby gas station and left it there. Worse still, none of us had brought our wallets or any type of money.

So we called for help.

Erin picked up first and told us she was on her way. Quite a bit later Chad calls us and he is at my place looking for us. We tell him what has happened and he tells us he is on his way to come get us. Erin and Chad both pull up at the same time, go figure. During this time, Matt, Amy, Scott and I decide to sit on the curb like a bunch of hooligan good-for-nothing kids. We pretty much rocked that look.

Erin is kind enough to spot me $5 to give Baby some gas. We now have an entourage and I tell them that we should head to a different park where I am sure there is a spicket we can use.

Yeah, I was wrong.

Chad finally suggests that we just go to his and Scott's apartment because their faucets are pretty small. So we do and we have a blast getting soaked trying to fill up these balloons and tie them. We also pretty much trashed their apartment (Sorry guys!). But if you ever need someone to make water balloons for you, use Chad. He was on the phone talking to his pops and producing as many balloons as 4 of us in an assembly line were producing all by his self. Jesus, is there anything he isn't good at?

During this, a little bird tells us that another group of our friends is all sitting on a porch at someones house drinking and enjoying the great weather. Why weren't we invited? We ask each other. So, we decided to take some revenge.

We all get some balloons (including my favorite condom-balloon filled with water mixed with shaving cream) and get into Matt's truck. He has a topper over his bed and we hide Chad, Scott, Erin, and Amy inside while Matt and I are in the cab. We go down this back alley behind this other group's house and do a surprise attack. The topper pops open and those 4 unleash a barrage of balloons. Matt and I also rush out and add to the colorful volley of wetness. After we unload, we quickly rush away and disappear into the dust.

However, we are not satisfied.

Plans are put into motion to attack again. This time, a surprise attack on foot. We park almost two blocks away from the other house and run over (surprisingly, we are right in front of the apartment complex where my friend Asia lives). We convene on the far side of the house and listen to the people on the porch. All seems fine and dandy. Then Scott launches a balloon over the roof (while dropping and destroying the other three he had, mind you). We listen for a second and then we here some screams. The balloon hit was successful. We use this diversion to launch the full attack and all of us run around the house and pelt the group with water balloons. Unfortunately, we only get one of the girls wet. Some of the water balloons are pretty tough and don't break at all. We quickly run back to our rides and discover that one of the guys from the party is chasing us. He doesn't last long though and Matt succeeds in getting him wet as well.

After this, we decide we are done with this group and want to get on with the real fun: our water balloon fight. We all head back to my place where Matt and I rush out of Matt's truck and into the house. Matt had bought a slingshot to use with balloons and we are hoping to turn the attack on Amy and Erin when they get there. However, Scott and Chad think we are trying to ambush them and they rush inside through a different door. So, Matt and I quickly recruit Erin and Amy to turn the attack against the other two guys. We wait for them with Matt holding one end of the slingshot and Erin holding the other. I have cocked back and ready to fire. Everything is set.

Chad and Scott rush out of the house and see the slingshot and stop dead in their tracks.

I fire the slingshot and... nothing happens. The damn thing was too tight and acted like a glove around the water balloon and keeps it safe and secure inside its grasp. This is when Scott and Chad attack. I dodge the ones coming after me but Matt and Erin aren't so lucky. Erin says "Matt, don't let go." And what does he do? He lets go of his end of the slingshot. The recoil is super fast and snaps in on Erin and gets her in her side. She has a huge red bruise from the handle of the thing.

She muscles through her pain, however, and the rest of the afternoon we attack each other with water balloons. Scott ends up getting pelted right under his right nipple that leaves a nice welt thrown by yours truly and Matt gets hit in his neck which results in a huge hickey looking blotch. We end with some really cool pictures and have some cake for Matt's birthday inside. We use matches instead of candles, which was a pretty short lived experience.

All in all it was a pretty fun day. We ended it with drinking and another party at my place that got a little crazy (like normal, eh?).

I may need to rent kids so I can still have fun like this after I graduate. I don't want to grow up.

Happy birthday, Matt.

No way!

I just received news from one of my sisters, Ashley and...


I am going to be an uncle!

Well, I will in about 8 months and 2 weeks!

Holy crap!

One more week...

... of classes at Truman. Then after that, finals week.

The count down is beginning for real and I am so ready.

This weekend was a pretty good one. I did a crap ton of partying. Friday one of our friends came to visit us and we all went to the bars with her. My cousin, Mike, was also in town and it's always amazing to get to see one of the fam.

I really don't know where I'm going with this post, so I apologize for it being lame already.

Saturday was pretty cool. We had Family Day for our frat and a lot of parents got to come up and hang out. My dad and step mom were able to visit, which was also great. Especially since they took me out for lunch and bought me groceries. We had a banquet that night for the families and also to have a little fun occasion for all of the graduating brothers. We did superlatives and I was given "Life of the Party" and it was presented to me by one of my favorite new people, Mark. I'm going to miss that guy after I graduate. Later that night, a lot of us drank (I know, big surprise there!), visited a house party, and then went to a Prism dance/show/thingy. When I woke up, I didn't remember how I got back to my place. Ugh, I'm stupid. But, I didn't drive. Of that, I'm sure. So at least one small victory for me.

I think more and more that although I say I am leaving and I am never coming back to this town that I just might be lying. The people make it worth it. I just may have to make a return. Luckily, another new favorite brother, Matt, has offered to house me if I ever do return. So it's becoming more of a possibility.

We will have to wait and see, I guess.