Going back to college?
I’m sad to say I’m having sudden quakes about going back to college. Frankly, I’ve gotten comfortable at home now, and with so many friends leaving, there is a lot less to strengthen my resolve to go back. Now, obviously, I AM going back. I’m not dropping our of school. But, as of this moment, I don’t feel like it. I feel comfortably settled in at home, and see no need to return to school.
But return I must, and with July nearly upon us, I will return a lot sooner than I realize. But God was faithful last year, why not this near too? I will choose to trust Him.
The financial cost of the Queen
A new report by the British Government says that the English people pay only
$1.13 per year
for their Monarch’s expenses. I think this is is a wonderful price for a what amounts to a national, and international treasure of an instituion.
Filming with Danny for the Church Plant
Like a cross-legged 12-year-old at the end of a 5-hour car ride, the skies have burst forth a torrent of rain that has dominated these last two days. Even now, as the rain trickles down my window, I am reminded that not even the evening darkness stops the rain-fall.
Yesterday, Danny and I, being Official CLC Video Interns together, set out on a 41min car ride up to New Market (near Mt. Airy) to film the Frederick Church plant picnic. As we drove through the soggy countryside the tires of by Buick Motorcar sprayed plumes of water into the air.
When we reach the picnic grounds, Danny gets a call from Jen S., daughter of the Pastor in charge of the church plant. She says, “My dad and I would like to buy you dinner, so give him a call and tell him what you want”.
I had been warned by Mr. S an hour earlier to bring dinner with us, but since neither Danny, nor I was hungry at the time, we decided we’d pick up something on the way back home. Danny however, decided to make the call to Mr. S and place our order. (I agreed because, why not? He offered.)
Evidently, he hadn’t offered, that was sprang freely from Jen’s mouth was not representative of the mind of her father at all, but rather, of her heart to serve: a servant’s heart that while shared by her father, had never budgeted for two extra mouths, and clearly wasn’t planing to – until now. After the stammering and and dazed explanations had been over-come, we ended up with both flushed complexions, and two wonderful meatball subs.
So I assigned Danny to work the camera, and I operated sound. However, operating sound meant holding a long metal pole with a microphone on top. The shoot was full of challenges, from start, to finish. 1) the distant rumble of thunder was getting closer, and more frequent by the minute, and 2) being a sound guy tethered to Danny M, a notorious fidgiter, as he constantly moves about the grounds was only slightly better than thunder. I haven’t yet watched the footage, but I’m sure the thunder will be on the tape.
Our picnic site, was a beautiful little roofed structure on the highest peak of the hill. We got a good view of the lightening as it struck all around us. Then came the rain. Danny and I gave up all hopes of filming during the violent storm. An interview with not only thunder, and crowd noises, but also the roar of rain hammering down on our hut was an audio technician’s nightmare.
As we crowded together in the center of the hut, the gusty winds blowing the rain through the wall-less sides drenching the outer rows of tables, I suddenly realized that Danny and I are mixing thousands of dollars of equipment with water and electricity. I keep urging Danny closer to the center of the hut – prodding him on like a man who fears for his camera. Danny mastered the art of figuring out where the wind-driven rain was blowing the hardest from and standing with his back towards the wind protecting the microphone with his body.
It’s a good thing he was protecting the mic and not the camera – he’s not wide enough to protect the camera from water.
My job was to protect the camera. um… but I needed help!! Yes! much help! So I quickly canvassed the area searching for anything water-proof. I soon found an abandoned KFC bag that I grabbed and wrapped around the camera. Thanks to the brave efforts of Danny and myself, we were able to successfully ward off the water, and the wind and turn a hazardous situation into a fun tale.
But it didn’t end there. We had the drive back to survive too!
So as the danger slowly passed, the storm eased to a mere heavy showers, and it was decided that the moment was ideal for the water-balloon tossing game. As kids and adults lined up in the parking lot, I grabbed my umbrella and as Danny worked the camera, I fulfilled the spirit of every good butler, and held my black umbrella over him as he filmed. Or rather, I held it over the camera. It reminded me of the painting “The Singing Butler”.
“The Singing Butler” by Jack Vettriano
Only, you need to replace the the handsome young man, with Danny, and the lady with a camera.
After capturing some of the games, we called it a day, and jumped into the car, where we packed up the equipment while trying to let dry our soaked feet.
After the respite, we were once again roaring down the road, as only a Buick Motorcar can!
“Make Performance your yardstick, and you’ll choose Buick!”
As we were gliding along Woodfield Rd, I suddenly noticed that many of the cars that were passing us where flashing their lights! Danny and I couldn’t figure out what it could possibly be. We pulled over, and checked out headlamps – yes, they were both on, and shining brightly. I checked my tires – there were 4 of them, properly filled. What could it possibly be?
As we drove we suddenly came to the problem. The road was washed out. A huge torrent of water was washing over the road, nearly 25 yards wide, and a couple feet deep. Local authorities sporting long, biker’s mustaches and beer-bellies mumbled into radios connecting them to some unseen being.
Danny and I got out, and stood at the water’s edge as the rain poured down. Water was everywhere. We enjoyed the exciting scene for a few moments, both of us more energized by the thrill of it, than concern for those whose commute was suddenly lengthened.
It was a thrilling moment, to end a thrilling day. A day marked by both reluctance to go and serve with video in the first place, but ultimately blessed by God, and transformed into a genuinely wonderful time.
Where’s Wald… er… David!!
If some of you have been wondering where my dear friend David S. has been in recent week (he might have told you New York) I now know for a fact that he was over seas, in Iraq!
Thanks to CNN, I have optained this exclusive photograph of David Driving his Olga through a checkpoint in Baghdad!
Inspite of the fact that David’s face is half obscurred by an arm, its fairly clear that David (or at least Olga) was present at that moment.
*I’m aware that Olga is a Mercury, and the car above is a Ford, but since they’re sister companies, and nearly identical designs, I couldn’t pass up the joke.
Birthday Broadcast, and College
Well, I’m sorry I haven’t posted in a while, there have been many things that have kept me from writing on here. Not the least of which is lack of motivation.
I’ve been out of school since the 12th (when I got home) which was nearly a month ago, and already, this last school year seems like a totally different lifetime. Its as if, I went to bed one night, dreamt the school year, dreamt up some very cool people, teachers and classes, then one day, woke up and started my life back home again, without skipping a beat. The only “proof” I have that college ever happened are 1112 photographs, and a bunch of screen names. Memories are part of the dream.
And yet, things have changed, working at the church is totally different. Different people, different faces (those go with the different people) and different office attitudes. The focus is more on getting work done, and less on community, at least in the Communications dept. That might be a good thing – I’m still undecided.
Strangely, I’m starting to worry about going back to college. God is slapping his hand across his face, shaking his head, and sighing, I’m sure. But this is one sinner who can’t stop worrying. With Sarah and Ryan, Tage, and Chip, and most other college friends leaving for such glorious places as England, Germany, and Southside of Campus, I’m starting to worry about everything related to returning to, and staying in old Hughes Hall.
But apart from that, life goes on, the dramatically slower pace of life at home has settled back on to me, like the cobwebs in my room. Its both remarkably relaxing, calming, and generally slow, like the romantic sailing ships of old.
I’m sorry for writing this so stream-of-concious-ly but I’m not a writer at the moment.
This brings up the issue of the Birthday Broadcast. If I hadn’t just invited a bunch of people, and felt so excitedly, bound to tradition, I wouldn’t have repeated the event. I had a wonderful time last year, but this year, I’m battling strong reactions to having to plot and plan my own birthday party. I don’t know why, but last year, I truly enjoyed planning an event for all my friends, but this year, I feel like someone else should be doing the work, it is my 20th after all! The BIG 2-0! the BIG Bi-Decimal!
But, to fight these selfish, feeling-driven inclinations, I have thrust myself even more passionately into the planning process. This being said, the only thing I’ve done is invite people – No story, no outline, no poster. I better get to work on this.
