Notes from SunnyJay

One thing for I am fairly famous for here on Hughes Two is accidentally making VERY bad statements – without ever knowing their more sinister meanings.  Many of these can be avoided by simply watching which words you choose.

I offer tonight’s example as a warning to other ignorant homeschoolers considering college.  As a word of warning, the content is rather suggestive, and I hope to help you learn from my problem, rather than simply flooding these pages with trash, but enjoy anyway.

Ryan, Noah, and I had just come back with Kabobs from the Persian restaurant by the exotic name of “Moby Dick’s” (what Persian food has to do with the classic Herman Melville Whale is beyond me.)  So we bring the food into the dorm and place it in a bag on Ryan’s bed, while we work out the traditional cash swap for payment.

Well, as it turned out, one of the containers of food was leaking sauce and grease all over his bed-spread.  After a momentary panic and a flurry of tissues to wipe off the mess, which persisted to stain, we moved our dinner to the lounge.

It just so happened that while Ryan and I ordered the same thing, I was given the one that had leaked, and thus was responsible for the mess.

This brought to mind the water battle were I dumped a glass of water over his computer and over his bed.

I naturally put the two together and said, “this is the 2nd time I’ve gotten fluids all over your bed!”

Now this is a hint for you aspiring college kids: If the group around you bursts into laughter at a coincidence that couldn’t possibly be all that funny, chances are there is something deeper going on than you probably didn’t mean to say.

I’m told that there are more sinister and sexual connotations to that statement which it wouldn’t have had, had I gone with a word like “liquids” or “spilled on your sheets” or anything other than fluids which has a distinctly “body function” connotation to it.

This brings me to one of my regrets here at college – cultural isolation.  Because I was kindly and graciously sheltered from all the trash that is part of our high school culture I entered this environment completely ignorant of slang terminology.  Rather like a grandfather trying to relate to his teenage grand kids.

Life here at AU since that day on August 20th has been a “constant” game of catchup, a struggle to relate with my peers and be accepted in spite of these flaws.  Call it a societal handycap, if you will.  But by the grace of God, I’ve made good friends, like Sarah, who while continually amazed at my ignorance, can accept that for what it is – …er…. ignorance!  Indeed, Sarah has expressed on at least 2 occasions how she likes this “trait”.  She found it refreshing that I don’t know the difference between hash, marijuana, pot…er… well thats the only three I can think of… there’s proof enough!

Perhaps Sarah’s kindest compliment on this issue was when she said, “You’ve crammed all of Public middle school and High school into once School year – thats 6 years in 1!”  While I slightly paraphrased that, the gist is the same, and it was very kind, and encouraging for her to say.

So, anyway, friends and neighbors, be warned!

We have 11 days left in the School year!  I’m nearing the end of my first term here at Hughes Two.  I’m soon to be no longer a freshman!

CJ was his given name,

but “creature” would suffice.

His nasty traits that brought him fame,

were hardly ever nice.

He never cleaned, and never bathed,

I guess he didn’t care,

his facial hair, though barely there,
was hardly ever shaved.

The scrawny lad, is rather sad,

his clothes sag from his bones

his pants held up, by a hand up front

and all nice clothes are loans.

His appearance, though the repulsive kind,

cannot at all compare

to the stench, like a sewer trench,

that passes through the air.

When confronted with the subject,

He returns with angry glares,

The problem isn’t his he says,

The problem’s wholly theirs.

So human beings everywhere,

receive what people say.
Correction may be hard to bear,

but opinions rule the day.

Here is a poem that I’m a little embarrassed to share, but I find to be a very poignant representation of my heart here at the end of the semester…

Note: the assignment was to write a poem of any length that had a 9-7-9-7 syllable pattern in each stanza and also an A-B-A-B rhyming pattern.  I think it was about something we are interested in, and then comparing our interest in that subject to that of a Dictator or other infamous person in history.

Secrets, and Marie Antoinette

I’m obsessed with Sarah and Ryan,

addicted to time with them.

When they are not here I’ll be trying

to fill the void emptied by friends.

Like Hitler and the war in Europe,

like Queen Marie Antoinette,

I’m too focused on things too simple,

the coming fall is a threat.

And yet my life should be lived in faith,

Never worried about life,

Trusting only God’s amazing Grace,

knowing problems will be rife.

What a sorry representative of Christianity I am!

First, my reputation was damaged with my peers today because of my switch from an Evolution class which I had signed up for thinking it would be the easiest to get through my last Science Gen Ed, and because it fit in my schedule.  I am seen as being unwilling to learn about the opposing side of an argument and thus am closed minded, etc.  Which, in some ways is true, and it would’ve been helpful in that respect.  All the points I had earned by taking Evolution, for whatever reason, were lost.

Also, I suffered a humiliation in a religious discussion last night – I believe I actually made Catholicism look good!  My error came in not immediately knowing when Christ died.  Evidently Christ died on “Holy Friday”?  Who knew?  All I knew was that he was resurrected on Easter Sunday, and that he was dead for 3 days. (which is sorta like knowing Holy Friday)  Anyway… it was a major public relations victory for Catholism.

On a different note: I will never understand why people think I’m an expert at Theology – I never claimed to be – and people seemed shocked that I don’t know what are perceived as basic things.  I know the Gospel, I know a few tidbits of theology beyond that.  None of those tidbits were Holy Friday.

I would add that I was very hard in my point-out-of-errors within the catholic church.  Will Catholics go to Heaven?  Some have argued that they will if they believe the Gospel – which they claim they do – however, I sincerely doubt that they believe it in the same sense we do… that it stands alone as your salvation.  They keep adding works.

People also struggle with Murderers converting at the last moment – I say, if God views all sin the same (from anger to Murder) and a murderer can repent from his sin and be saved on his deathbed – shouldn’t that give the rest of us sinners all the more joy that he saved/could save us too?  We’re not any better than the murderer - so why shouldn’t God’s hand of salvation be extended to murderers at the last moment just as it was extended to me in the midst of my sin?

Those who say that shouldn’t be seem to be simply judging themselves as being more worthy of salvation than other people – which clearly shouldn’t be the case.

Works was another major issue - It was brought up that God views my works, the works of a Christian, as better than those of a none-Christian.

I tentatively agree, because of some passage I only faintly recall about the offerings of a believer being more pleasing than those of an unbeliever.

Overall – a very stimulating discussion.

Sarah’s Fantabulous Surpise Birthday

Sarah and I had been talking about how Friday, April 21, would be her school-year birthday (her real one being July 9).  The problem with Summer birthdays, is that you rarely get to celebrate them with your friends during the school year.  This is especially true at college when most people will head back home to Walla Walla Washington, Groton Mass, or even (God forbid) Waterford PA, and Waterbury Conn. (or where ever else college students are from – like New Jersey)

So Sarah and I were joking about how funny it would be to plan a surprise party where the the birthday person knew about it, but the Guests didn’t know she knew.  And thus it started.

But I subverted the plan.  I decided, rather than just doing a fake surprise birthday, I tell her that I had invited everyone, but that nobody could come except for Ryan and I – so we may as well just take you out ourselves, right?  Thus, we would actually TRY and make it a surprise.

So I created a list of her friends that I knew she would want to invite if she had been in charge.  So the plan was set.  I had my reservation for 12 at Maggianos, and the only thing she knew was that Ryan and I were going to take her out.

At the last minute it was decided, partly because we needed someone in charge and knowledgeable down at the restaurant, and partly to make it more complex and interesting, in hopes that it might throw Sarah off the scent, Ryan and I decided that he would cancel, so that it would be only Sarah and I.

So Ryan claimed that he had been given the opportunity to ride with the Bethesda Fire Dept. which he had always wanted to do, and thus was passing up her birthday dinner in order to ride (the Jerk!  haha)  he even went so far as to dress up in his uniform in order to convince her. (This would have worked had she actually noticed it – for some reason she didn’t even noticed him dressed entirely in boots and blue. with BETHESDA FIRE DEPARTMENT written in HUGE letters across every readable surface of his body.)

The strange thing was, she must have suspected something the entire time, and kept laughing and smiling as though she knew something was up.

So, in order for Sarah not to notice the mass exitus of people leaving for Maggianos, Sarah and I left at 5:15pm for Borders book store, which was right next to Maggianos.  We roamed around the store looking for “Caesar Against the Celts” (Which Sarah said she doubted even existed) and I was desperately trying to stall for time so that we’d arrive next door at 6:15 (we arrived at Borders at 6:00).  those 15mins seemed like an eternity.

We FINALLY were able to walk next door and as we walked up to the hostess, I realized a serious error the reservation was under Ryan Cole – the man who wasn’t there.  Gulp.  She’d know something was up.

In the end it didn’t matter, the secret was destroyed when we talked out the following:

Me: I’m here for a reservation under the name… um… (looking for an excuse)
Hostess: ?
Me: I think the name will be Ryan Cole? (Looks nervously at Sarah, who smiles)
Hostess: Let me check, aah yes, we have a reservation for Jason Cole, and I’m glad to say that the rest of your party is already seated…
Me: oh. ::Gulp:: (Sarah beams) Oh, common

with that I lead her to the table and a crowd of her friends stand and sing wish her a joyous birthday.

It was a wonderful evening from that moment on -

“Every once in-a-while it so happens that we belch up the blackness in our soul – either intentionally, or on accident” – Unknown

“Out of the heart the mouth speaks”

ATTENTION!!!

It has come to my attention, by a loving and caring reader who happens to be related to me, (dearest mum), that the last line of my last post may be misleading.  here is the quote:

“No matter how attractive he may make himself though, there will only be one girl for me.”

While this may be indicating that Sarah and I are romantically inclined, I wish to clarify for you, the nature of our relationship in a few simple words – We’re not romantically inclined in the romantic sense of the phrase.  We are simply close friends who share many of the inner-recesses of our thoughts with each other.  Thats it.

Now, I deeply respect her.  One might say that I deeply admire and respect her insights into my life – but to go as far as to say we’re “an item” – that is taking everything way too far.

Granted, us being “an Item” has become a popular joke at American U. because of how well we know each other – how we almost finish each other’s sentences.  Indeed the whole George and Myrtle Story sprouted from such an observation – but we have nothing between us except a close and clearly defined friendship.

By writing that line, I was in effect saying, “No matter how close Ryan and I get, I’ll always love and value, our (sarah and my) friendship” (Not one more than another, just normal.)

So just know – we’re not going out, we’re not dating, and we’re certainly not getting married – thanks for your concern.

Well Friends, I’ve been hesitant to write any thing about this because of how uncertain it all is, but I figure it’s exciting enough that perhaps it’s worth sharing.

Ryan Cole is a fireman – Yes, a public servant for Glen Echo Fire Department.

As such, he needs to take EMT classes at the training academy right near my house!  Of course, being from Connecticut, he will find it hard to commute from his home there every day 9-5pm.  So, I suggested that he stay with us for the 3 weeks of his class, and that way, he can simply drive the 2mins down the road, to his classes.

Now, he is understandably resistant to this idea – he’s tried valiantly to hint that he doesn’t want to, things like “Well, that would be quite an imposition for you, wouldn’t it?” and “Well, I don’t want to impose” and “It would be strange living in your house for 3 weeks”.  Believe me folks, he’s tried everything short of screaming “I don’t want to stay and I hate you and your family – leave me alone” which I half expect to hear before the end of the semester.

But, I keep playing my oblivious card – the only card I have – and keep insisting that it would be a joy and privilege to have him stay with us.  I hope I’m not pushing the issue too far, but he never seems to get it in his thick head that our house is an option – and not only that – but the most covenant option available to him at this point.

But, I can also understand why he would want to stay with an awkward, comm major like myself, after all, I do sometimes have trouble with my German Superlatives.  (I don’t speak german BTW – which explains the trouble)

No matter how attractive he may make himself though, there will only be one girl for me:

::EDIT:: by our house being the most ”Covenant Option”, I meant “Convenient Option”

A great deal of my free-thinking time has been spent recently, on the most exciting position available in my family – that of my sister’s future husband, my brother-in-law.  I don’t know why I anticipate the filling of this position with *much* greater anticipation than, say, my future sister-in-law (sorry Jesse) but the idea of having a male someone roughly my age permanently attached to the family fills many childhood dreams.

This means I spend a small portion of free-thinking time, thinking about my sister’s future husband, as well as thinking good and hard about which candidate I support (as though it were an election).  In reality, I don’t care that much, and would do nothing to involve myself in anyway (apart from a blatant character misjudgment) because it seems to be fairly firmly her own affair.

But I can’t help but think (in a completely selfish way) which young lads I would like to have as brother-in-laws, and which I really wouldn’t.  In my mind I do have several contenders, and have kept this list, quite secretly, for years, with contenders being added, and falling off the list every now-and-again, depending on opinion.  I will not share this list, nor do I care to speculate on who the lucky young man will be (or who I want him to be).  Just know I definitely do have personal favorites.

This brings me to tell you how college has challenged me to clarify my understanding of what “sex” is, what “marriage” is, and what qualities make a girl a likely candidate for marriage, or in my case (because I rarely speculate about myself) what makes a man a good candidate for my sister, in my mind. (this is based solely on selfish, personal reasoning, not factoring my sister’s tastes or views.)

Question of the day: Are you open to entering into a relationship with a non-evangelical Christian – perhaps even a different denomination, or even a Catholic?

Answer to-date: Yes, if entered into with thorough prayer from multiple sources, and advice from parents.  Additionally, there must be a strong impression, conviction that the Lord has called you to consider marriage with this person.

My poor sister – the instigator of so many thoughtful considerations, and she doesn’t even know about it.  I love her.

OH!!!  How frustrating!  When has it ever been bad to love your sister?  I mentioned to my college friends how much I deeply love my sister.  This was declared incestuous, and gross, and they refused to acknowledge any other possible interpretation for such a statement, and in spite of my insistence that I loved my sister in only a brotherly way, it was still deemed strange.  It was also all in good-fun, but still.  Common.  Even they’ll admit that my sister is beautiful, but I guess they’re allowed to.