The following is a borrowed, but...

...comes directly from the source. I thought it was a great story:

"While driving home from Fort Chaffee on a Saturday afternoon, I was struggling to cope with the emotional stress and physical exhaustion that was starting to overcome me. I had been helping with the hurricane victim relief efforts for two and a half weeks and it was starting to wear me down.

As I turned on a street, I saw two little girls, storm victims, in front of a barracks waving a sign. The sign said, "Lemonade. . .25¢."

I was tired, hungry and not in the best of moods, so I drove by. And, when I did, I looked into the rearview mirror and saw the two little girls hang their heads in sorrow. And, suddenly a great feeling of remorse and remembrance came over me.

Pictures of my own youth were replayed in my head. I was six, maybe seven and my brother was a year younger than me. To pass the time during the summers, we spent hours upon hours catching crawdads in the ditch across from our house.

It was a way for us to stay barefoot and cool, and have a little friendly competition by seeing who had the fastest hands and who could catch the most crawdads.

One day, we decided that we could make a little spending money.

We drug our little chairs out of our bedrooms and across the street. Rolled one of my dad's big spools of wire over by the road and spent all morning painting a sign which read, "Crawdaddies. . .5¢ a peece."

We hung the sign over the spool of wire and for two hours, sat and watched car, after car, after car, after car just drive on by.

Nobody wanted to buy crawdads and we couldn't understand why. They were the perfect fishing bait, we reasoned.

After a while, we gave up and splashed back into the ditch.

Then, after we had forgotten all about the sign and were engrossed on looking for that next crawdad, an old beat up car drove up and stopped. We looked at the man with blank faces, wondering what he wanted. It took him two or three tries, but the man finally convinced us that he wanted to by our crawdads.

And, we could have walked across the water. We felt lighter than air. We were elated, thrilled and, in our eyes, rich beyond our wildest dreams. The man didn't just give us a nickel, he gave us a whole dollar. "See", we told each other, "now that's a man who knows how to fish."
For two weeks, we had our little crawdad stand by the roadside. And, for two weeks, our only customer was the man in the beat up old car. Then, something else captured our attention, and the crawdad stand went back to being a spool of wire and the now beaten up sign soon became a backboard for our basketball goal.

For twenty years, I never thought about that crawdad stand or the happiness we felt when we saw our only customer drive up. And then, fate brought me across a man who had also volunteered at the base to help the hurricane victims. One night, while down at the headquarters, we talked for awhile and I learned that he lived just a few streets down from our old house. While trying to recall people we both knew, the man told me about two little boys who had a crawdad stand he used to patronize.

Imagine my shock and surprise to learn that this man was that person who filled us with so much joy as kids. We laughed for awhile and I asked him what he did with all of those crawdads he bought.

"Oh, I just let them go back in the ditch up the road," he said. "I just bought them because it made you guys smile."

And, all of this went through my mind in a microsecond as I stared in the rearview mirror at the two little girls with their heads lowered in disappointment. And, when I stopped my truck and backed up to them, I have never felt so much joy flow over me as I watched those little girls smile from ear to ear, jump up and down and run to their little lemonade stand. The sign said a quarter, and I gave them a dollar.

I considered it a repayment on a debt I owed to a man who never went fishing with crawdads.

1st John 3:13-20 tells us that Christ is love, compassion, and joy. He is the hope in our lives and the grace by which we live. And, He can be found in everything we do, and everything we say. Even, in a tall glass of lemonade. Or a dirty old jar of crawdaddies."

Thursday != Monday

Discuss.

:)

Gah!

I feel like a drug addict - just counting down till I get my fix again.

"You stop breathing for a few minutes,

and everyone jumps to conclusions."

I want that on my tombstone.

Nailed by a pt tonight...

"Well my son was..." she says.

"With males specifically its a lot harder because..." I reply.

She sits for a moment. "Sounds like you are coming from some personal experience?"

I then realize I have no more than a full second to decide just how deep in this rabbit hole I want to go. I guess that qualifies as connecting with the patient.

"Incredible" he muttered.

"Just incredible" Arkos rolled the letter and spun it a few times in his hands while he thought about its contents. Finally he handed it back to the carrier, "Thank you, you are dismissed."

"No reply, sir?" the corporal asked, a bit confused at his captain's response. "I was under the impression by your second that a response would be sent out immediately."

Tikki, who was still sitting on the edge of the table facing Arkos, slipped off and stood behind him, playfully draping her arms around his neck. "Yes Arkos," she said with a mischievous grin. "No reply?"

The captain drummed his fingers across the desk, considering his options once more. "I have not the ability to change their course of action," he said thinking out loud. "Tell them that I am concerned about the wisdom in their actions, and that I cannot - and will not - intervene on any level. We will stand by here should safe harbor be needed. And that is all that you will tell them."

"Yes, sir," the young man replied. He issued a quick salute, pivoted about on his heel after stepping back, and left the two alone in the chamber.

Arkos shook his head in disbelief, "People are free to make bad choices I suppose."

"Bothers you still?" Tikki asked, rubbing his tense shoulders.

"It does," he replied.

"You were once like that," she remarked with a whisper.

"And looking back I have wished I had acted otherwise at times."

Tikki gently pushed against his cheek, turned his face to meet hers, and kissed him softly. "You are just adorable when you are concerned."

My second

anything will be delivered tomorrow. To say I'm eager to see (hear?) the response is a vast understatement. It will be taken well, but I'm curious as to just what the extent of it will be. I'm doubtful if the reception will match the request - but only in part. I have certainly been more than pleasantly surprised at other things. Number three of four - I'm still at a loss as to how to present. I just wonder if the capability to deliver on the promise is there.

Divine favor - should any still exist for me - would be nice in that regard. It will either be politley accepted or genuinely acted upon. I hate the unknown.

Which then leaves four of four, and will of course, need a lot of thought behind. Needs to be extremely fun, well out of the ordinary, and memorable. And memorable in the sense that, its never been done - or at least this well.

- 10 d (ish)

I just have to rip this one off

Found this list over at one of my newest addictions, Miss Snark, and I'm forced to rip off the entry. It's just too funny.

---------------------------------------------------------
Crapometer got you feeling bruised and blue?

Take heart; you didn't make this list...did you?


All true excerpts from stories submitted to Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine. (Spelling, punctuation, and syntax are all as in the originals.)


Out of the dark void came what looked like a giant rabbit followed by small rabbits which had looked as if they had undergone a mutation with three ears and 2 tails. They discovered they were on Rabbitania.


Weston was known for the firm but genital hold he had on his men. It was one of the reasons he was chosen for this mission over six other equally qualified men.


Freddy was in the habit of staring at Beverly's legs as they peaked from her Susie Wong slit dresses. She had a dozen of them.


"Something must have happened, since it's not like her to come back naked and not aware of anything."


The eyes of the braver animals ran down my neck and spine.


"Bastard! I shall severe your soul."


The afternoon was very calm but consolidated. The birds were singing but were not blithesome.


He groped in his trousers and came up with a dirty piece of trash which I thought he'd just throw away.


"Stand slow!" a voice rang out with hollow ubiquity.


When I thought of the poetics of such a confrontation in the blackness of eternity, I laughed sardonically, in a dry voice, to myself.


"Good morning, Anna, Lovely maid," Logo said in a soft voice bowing slightly, "How nice to see your structured form again today."


The two naked bodies, which were lying beneath the satin sheets, were no longer the people whom everyone, who was anyone, knew whenever reality was in existance.


"Oovil snetch," he growled in his mind.


My shouted words were lost in the damp chill, and my legs were already beginning to bale out, filling my shoes quickly.


The willowy king stood tehre with his usually sick disposition. From the faint light in the hallway, his yellow glaring cat eyes pointed at him.


Kildo threw his waning arms around the large granite boulder.


Miles looked deep into those clear blue eyes who's debts were infinite.


"Be good," he called after her as he bit back the tears in his eyes.


Sudenly, all the eyes in the room rose from their fixed positions on the floor to stare at him.


Mona was on the liquilounge, her dark eyes pouring over him like warm jello.


John wasn't at all surprised at the transformation of his body into what he believed were light waves.


Fearless, as he was dumb, he walked over to the edge of the ship.


"Are the shields contoured to the ship" the computer asked breathlessly.


The universe is a vast region of deep mystery steeped in antiquity.


"Do you want to come over and have a gunfight?" I asked. He seemed a bit loath to answer.


They were human in every way but they owned the necks, heads, facial expressions were that of a chicken.


"Ejaculations aside, that's one hell of a package to swallow!"


Of course, his eyes couldn't help but embrace the pool in front of them.


Jake was not a man to show much emotion, but he found himself supressing the urge to smile out loud.


Ashala's head felt like vermicelli slowly slipping off the platter of her sholders.


A pool of surpressedd sweat started building under his forehead.


Kincaid was an older man with sparse grey iron hair.


And he was damned attractive physically, too. When she looked at him she felt...unusual.


Instinctively, without thinking about it, he grabbed the woman and hugged her and then gave her breasts a couple of playful pinches. "Commander please," she said as she blushed and began yodeling.


He gazed at what appeared to be an invisable column coming from an infinite distance.


Onion oil! I couldn't imagine anyting worse than a daily bath in onion oil.


He was tall, thin and bony, like a cadaver trying to remember something,


what was it? oh yes! I'm dead, I shouldn't be walking around like this.


There would not be many more darknesses before Lyra became a guardian,
and if sheh was going to keep hes promises that she would still boil boldy
as a guardian, she might as well practice.


Talan gestured at the controls. "Overheating of the glycgroms in the thermoperamulator. You know how it is."


She is powdered, painted, and tearful, playing again one of her greatest rolls.


The man spoke a foreign tonuge to them which they followed with out question.


The faces of the children were tear stained and pained Zone Paw to move on.


Are you going to go up t her and say, (you have to pardon me I'm form another planet, Let's get together for a life spand.)" The dwarf came back strongly.


"Marry me my beautiful moonlight Luna to this sun-born, non-stop make and viola!"


It seems occasionally events occur which had they not happened no one would
imagine they could.


It ws a planet spinning around Proxima Centauri, an Earth like planet covered with an average of two miles of water.


On Nov. 29, 2083 the object wold hit. It's antimatter would interact with ordinary matter on Earth and there would be an explosion with the incredible force of 1000 megatons. New York City is doomed!


"Corporeal, we've got to do our best to keep this from the public."
"I know sir, but its already too late."
What do you mean, the general inquired?
"While you were gone I let a curious private in on the secret."
"We've got to stop him."
By now he's long gone. Sorry sir."
"Oh no."


He saw the cute way her curly hair floated on her head.


Kree's voice grabbed my heart from behind.


A large serf of joy rode under Lisa's face.


Sublimely, this time, and just by feel, light was even dimmer inside the war machine than merely beneath the overhang that had been gutted out for it keeping its resplendency restrained.


Despite the different meanings conjured up in each other's head when the other spoke he knew that in this instance his image was hers.


Then his head, which supported his bushy brown hair, turned to look at his sister.


It was kind of bazaar for him to see his sister holding the arm of a semi-automatic machine gun.


Most people who have seen Dr. Robinson describes him as a strange looking man with coal black hare and a a coal black mustache.
( Was he too from Rabbitania?)


I caress her cheek. She shutters.


He whetted his lips.


(thanks to a Snarkling for the list!)

- Title -

“A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is.... A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later. That is why bad people, in one sense, know very little about badness. They have lived a sheltered life by always giving in.”

-C.S. Lewis

I think I could find more than one application to this.

"I'm not just saying that to..."

"As if its that hard to..."

On a similiar front, I'll be going into PT soon. Ought to be fun (usually is). I shouldn't short change it at all - it is quite fun.

In less generic news, I picked up Akira the other day at Walmart. Everyone else wanted anywhere from 15-35 for the DVD and someone tagged it at $7.50. So of course I snatched it right up. I was standing at the DVD rack just looking and saw the box and exclaimed (quite emphatically) "Oh shit Akira!". And when I say snatch, I do mean it in every since of the word. My hand shot forth, grabbed it, and flew back in the blink of an eye. A couple of people were standing next to me with the cliche "WTF" look. Neither looked like they had any idea what Akira was (only copy too, so they couldn't look - neener neener), but they certainly seemed a bit perplexed. I could just here the silent talk going back and forth between them:

"Hey we were here first!"
"Yeah that was our copy....what is it?"
"I dunno but it must be good - doesn't matter though, it's ours!"

Oooof!

When I went to boot camp, nearly 10 years ago, and enjoyed my stay at the Parris Island bunks for a few months, an aquantice of mine (met him during the recruitment process) was going through the same battalion (3rd) but was in a different series, so we never really crossed paths. However, I came to find out that during pugil stick training (which is immense fun) he managed to dislocated his shoulder. It would seem that he went for a full swing at his opponent's head, while at the same time the opponent swung, but aimed lower - for his torso. His opponent connected and caught him right in the arm pit. Physics then took over and out popped his shoulder. That really had to hurt.

"No!"

"Don't pet the zombies! NOT CUDDLY! NOT CUDDLY!"

I have been flagged as "enjoying the protective roll". Perhaps. That's actually probably pretty right on at times. Certainly reflected in a pair of manuscripts at times - and in life at others.

I really should stop stalling and finish off at least the first part of my last verbatim.

"It's my little way of sticking it to The Man."

"But... you are The Man."
"I know"
"So you're sticking it to yourself. "
"...Maybe"

I love this commercial. Been playing for a while now, but I crack up everytime I see it. People who write crappy, unfunny commercials (especially when they are trying to be humorous) should track down the ad agency that made it, and leech some talent.

"Hooray!

Can you work for us .... Please contact Glenda Brown to get you started- please do so quickly. We need you."

Its so nice to be needed :)

Maybe I should look into a signon bonus which might entail some sort of weekly twizzler allowance. It could be my signature with all the patients. Walk in gnawing on a twizzler and say, "Hi, I'm the chaplain for today. Care for a Twizzler?" And for really obnoxious patients that don't like to cooperate, we could slip a little morphine in it or something.

FS 95.11 (3p)

FTW :)

I would have been a good lawyer.

Pool Chaplain

Put in some inquiries for the Pool Chaplain list at both FH and ORMC. Hopefully it won't be a problem to get in at all (assuming they aren't full now) and ought to help keep me on my toes by the time September manages to get here.

Cue to Mediation

"Well Mr Megos, we are here about your CC debt for 372 blah blah."

"Ok"

"And we would like to know what you are going to do about it"

"I want it all dismissed as its well passed the SoL"

"No it isnt"

"It is"

"Its based on your last payment"

"I know, which was..."

"The SoL is 7 years"

"Nope, its 4."

"We have lawyers that look into this"

"I think you have lawyers betting on that I dont know my ground or that I won't show up" (because companies never ever sue in that fashion ::roll:: and I would never check on my own legal position)

Mediator chimes in "Mr Megos, would you like to call your lawyer and just double check?"

"Nope" (My ducks were all lined up yesterday nice and neat, I'm not budging)

"Well if he's said he wants a dismissal and we aren't open to that" (cue angry, trying-to-intimidate-the-Megos scary woman face now) "And we will be tacking on lawyer fees.

"Knock yourself out" (smile)


So I guess they will be processing the papers and such this week, and I'm suppose to get a court date in the mail shortly, the trial being set forth in a few months. I'm wondering if their lawyers will say "Doh SoL!" and just drop it so we dont waste our time. Either that, or they will be like "WTF SoL?" and go running to the books and realize the 7 yr period she mentioned is for reporting, not collecting. I suppose they could still hope that I'll not show up and try a Hail Mary, but perhaps me showing up today will disuade them from that course of action.

Can't believe she's dead

...and I killed her. 22 years gone in a flash, just like that =/

Guess I should be practical for a bit and need to start making some phone calls to see what things will cost.

Happy days

Version 1.0 is now complete and ready to be whored out to prospective agents. Time to work on the query letter and synopsis.

Feel free to join me for champagne. We can spice it up with some OJ too - or if that's not to your liking, we have a decently stocked bar on hand.

What was he thinking when he pulled the trigger?

"Gee, I'd really like a puppy!"

The world is going to end,

so get ready for it. The gates of hell will be opened shortly, and the seven trumpets will blow, and the seven bowls poured out, so on and so forth.

My dad and I might actually vote for the same candidate for President in 2008.

So I suggest you settle any affairs you might still have by then.

"So why do you keep looking?"

"I don't know"
"Oh?"
"Really"
"Liar"
"Maybe a little"
"So, why then?"
"We both know the answer"
"I know the answer, do you?"
"Yes"
"Are you sure?"
(pause) "I think so"
"You think so? Or are you just fooling yourself into something else?"
"I will reluctantly admit it"
"So tell me what you reluctantly admit to, and we'll see if I agree"
"You suck" (smile)
"I do" (smile)

"I don't even know what the fuck a quail is!"

"It's a game bird, dearest"

I can't believe I missed that one. Doh!

Responsibility

I seem to recall when I was a youngin, many moons ago, when the buffalo would roam the plains freely by the thousands upon thousands, that personal responsibility was big. It would seem that this is no longer the case, and I would reference the recent school shooting at Milwee Middle School. While indeed completely tragic, there are those who would like to place the blame everywhere but in the house and on the child in question.

The police did the right thing. The call, in essence "Someone is running around school with a gun" can't possibly be responded to in a slow, methodical fashion. Imagine the media field day if the gun had been real, and the cops slowly quantined the area, and let the kid run around shooting people while they determined whether or not the gun was real, what state of mind he was in, and if he'd like to share his feelings. Personally, I don't care who or how old you are. If you point a gun at me, I'm going to shoot back. I want to go home. I'm not going to sit there and determine whether or not the gun is real (or loaded) by letting you take the first shot.

What kind of household raises a child to think its ok to bring a pellet gun (a realistic looking one at that) to school? What kind raises a child to think he can run around and wave / use it like a real fire arm? What kind raises a child to make bomb threats (appearantly happened prior to this incident) and doesn't get him treatment? What kind of house raises a kid to think he can take hostages with a fake gun? Or even point said fake gun a cop?

Let's place responsibility where it should - and its not the police.

"Aunt sits on one side of the body,

the female cousin takes the chair on the other side – uncle and male cousin standing. The aunt is still (as always) completely out of it and she actually losses consciousness at one point, which freaks me out a bit. Thankfully it was just for a few moments (couldn’t have been more than a half dozen seconds) and wakes up. The female cousin is constantly holding the pt’s hand, rubbing his head, kissing his cheek / forehead, while crying and talking to him the whole time. At first I was thinking, “I’d be the guy – nice and quiet, internalizing everything.” Nope, definitely not. I’m the girl on this one (assuming S. had succeeded in her actions). I would totally lose it actually, and could be the aunt - but I don’t think I’d be delusional. I know dead is dead. There’s plenty of other ways to be crazy tho.."

Wk 12 Excerpt

"We should do lunch..."

O.o

Haven't heard from her in a long, long time. Wonder what that's all about. Probably end up telling band camp stories or something.

Talk about out of the blue. Well, actually, she sent out a semi-spam mail letting everyone know in her address book about the incident at Milwee Middle School, to which I simply replied "Given the area, I'm surprised it took this long" (long story short, kid with gun got shot by swat team).

4:14 pm

"Anything."
"Anything?"
"Anything"

Such limitless potential! The world is at my disposal! Suddenly, I feel like Calvin:

All 57 huh...

Yeah I guess I could show you, might be a little fun :)

On a completely different note, it seems that a tree has decided to split into two over the night and squish our neighbor's car. I'm so glad I didn't park there.

Flip, turn on, beep boop boo beep beep boo beep beep boop beep boop, ring

"Hey can I ask you something?"
"Sure"
"Promise you wont pull any punches?"
"Do I ever?"
"Remember what I said about T?"
"Yeah, why"
"Thoughts on it?"
"On you or?"
"Both"
"Well...[snip]...[and that's all I have to say about that]"
(pause)
"That's an odd response. You usually arent quiet"
"I kinda thought the same thing - on both ends. Guess I wasnt sure if you'd agree. Thanks"
"No prob"

"What do you think I should do?"
"You're asking me what to do?" (laugh)
"Ok, maybe that's not a good idea" (smile)
"Seriously tho, you might consider just..."
"Already had"
"Figured you would. And?"
"You know me"
"You would say the same thing to me"
"Probably."
"You know you would"
(sigh)
"I'll take care of you regardless."
"I know"
"And you know I'm always here for you."
"I do. As I you."
"So stop being stupid about it already"

"So my brother likes chicken,"

"I never said it to anyone"

I'm glad you said it to me (although not needed) :)

Could I possibly ask for more? Not really. Well, one thing does come to mind, but might need some more work to be a little more fesiable.

Why I really hate televangelists...

Was with a pt the other day, who sadly got roped in by one. She tells of how she went to see one for a very obvious and permenant disability. She was brought out on stage, and the guy did his thing, after which, nothing happened. As she is leaving, he leans in close and whispers to her "You don't have enough faith". This pt had nothing but faith, despite the hard blows she was given.

Sometimes I think we should return to the old days of stoning false prophets. Want to say you speak for God directly? Fine by me. But we get to hurl a rock or two when you say something like "Such and such a place is about to be leveled because God is angry! Send me money!" Might cut down a few snakes. Want to say God told you tell the world such-and-such? Okeedokee. Tell everyone to send you money because God said he'll have you find the cure to this disease? Fine by me. I'm sure you'll have no troubles fulfilling the rest of the biblical requirements either or meet a rocky end. I suppose such views aren't exactly the most attuned to being a chaplain :)

Whats sad is how many people still buy into them. There was one in Russia that was caught red handed as a fraud. No ifs, ands or buts about it. The guy goes to prison for it for however many years, comes out, and people start tossing money at him again.

So I was making rounds...

and in comes a text "Check email"

An eyebrow comes up. I dont have time to flip through and see who its from, as I could literally only glance at it. I'm confident I know who. "Hm...wonder what she said..."

Finally get done with patients and go to reply that I'm at the hospital, and see its from another that I didnt expect at all. Insert Tim Allen 'OOoooo?' Now I'm definately intrigued, and to be honest, even more thrilled. Totally unexpected.

Get home, check email. Proceed to reply. Best things come to those who wait? Nah. Best things come when you don't expect them - or perhaps, most need them.

Rabbi Joshua ben Levi

met Elijah standing at the the door of Rabbi Simeon be Yochai's tomb.
He said to him:--"Will I inherit the world to come?"

(Elijah) said:--"If the Lord here is willing!'

Rabbi Joshua ben Levi explained:--"I saw two but heard a third voice."

Then he said said to (Elijah):--"When will the Messiah come?"

(Elijah) said to him:--"Go, ask him yourself!"

--"And where does he sit?"

--"At the gate of the city."

--"And what sign will reveal him to me?"

--"There sit those who bear sufferings. and all of them loosen and bind (their bandages) together.But he loosens one and rebinds it, saying:'If I am wanted, I will not be delayed!'"

(Joshua) went back (to the gate and) said to him:--"Peace be with you, my Lord and Master!"

(The Messiah) said to him:--"Peace be with you, son of Levi!"

(Joshua) said to him:--"When will you come, Lord?"

He said to him:--"Today!"

(Joshua) came back to Elijah (who) said to him:--"What did he say to you?"

(Joshua) said to him:--"(He said:) 'Peace be with you, son of Levi!'"

(Elijah) said to him:--"He promised you and your father the world to come!'

(Joshua) said to him:--"He told me a lie! For he said he would come today but he did not come!"

(Elijah) said to him:--"He told you thus:'Today, if you will hear his voice"

--- Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 98a


Yet another concept of the wounded healer.

I had gone for a run

around our lake. Its a good sized lake, but not overly enourmous. Total distance is something like 6.6-6.7 miles from the start of my door and all the way around. Mostly I wanted to see if I could do it without any real trouble, but had some needed energy to expend. At about the 5 mile mark or so, the sidewalk ends, and as such I had to run along the shoulder of the road, which also happens to be yards of people as it is a residential area (and traffic is very light and slow so no real danger).

It would seem that one owner had a decorative metal rod, just under knee high planted in their yard. It would also seem that I was fated to meet said metal rod. I met it well. Didn't see it at all and ran right into it. Topling over, tearing open my leg quite well (surprised no stitches are involved), I sort of laid there on my back, in their yard thinking "Shit". After a few moments I realized cars were starting to slow down to see if I was ok, at which point I picked myself up so they didn't think I was dead. My leg really hurt at this point, but I could put some weight on it. I was quite angry that I had come this far, only to be taken out by a stupid pole in the ground. Determination set in. Marine mode switched on. I will not be stopped.

So on I went with my run. Wincing with each stride, blood quite literally soaking my lower leg, sock and shoe. I passed by a number of walkers/joggers during my last mile or so. All of them would first smile at me, and then look down, and their expressions would change dramatically once they realized that what I was doing. I'm sure they had some stories to tell when they got back about some insane, bloodied runner.

Once I got home, I was quite proud of myself. Still hurt like hell, but it was a good pain at that point, as I hadn't let it conquer me.

And the hits keep on coming...

Had yet another S. to deal with today. God, it seems that I get them all. This was a really bad one too. Arj comes in second I guess, but I'm definately getting most of the S's. Our staff chaplain was quite apologetic when he asked about the call.

"Hey Galen, what happened?"
"S."
"Oh...man I'm really sorry. I would have taken it for you if I had known."

I then informed him that these were extremely personal as well, and he was even more empathetic. (S's are personal for him too). So we sort of bonded I guess in that aspect.

I hate being dropped in on those. I knew what it was going to be within 10 seconds of standing next to the nurse while she was on the phone. And speaking of that particular nurse...man I wanted to smack her. You don't see me going around telling her how to stick needles into people. Kindly STFU and don't tell me how to do my job either. I've had more of my share of S's now, so don't aim your charged emotions at me and think you know what you're doing. Especially when your "I want you to..." is just plain stupid.

I suppose that this will give me another thing for today to vent about with my peers come Monday. Overall it went well, considering the subject I guess. It would have been nice to know *some* spanish as the A. was not only completely distraught, but speaking 95% of the time in Spanish so I had no idea what she was saying (although her body language made it pretty obvious I guess in general). At least I didn't react against it as hard as I did my first one. I shelled a little when I realized what was going on, and managed to adjust internally accordingly. Guess I've learned a few things.

In other news, V. said he'd love to have me on staff. That would be quite fun. I love WP especially. Course, that would mean that they alter a few rules about hiring staff for that position, which as of yet, isn't going to happen. Poop. In the meantime, during / after my residency I can fill in as a pool chaplain, which would be fine until I'm *finally* done with everything else.

Maybe by then I've whispered in enough ears (in a sense) that I can get in FT. At least some people think I'm worthy enough not to be replaced.

On a seperate note, and a high one at that, I got an email from a pt family from a month ago. A very warm and sincere thank you, with updates on everyone and what not. Nice to know I touched them and was in their life enough to warrant a contact.

And I quote

"Dont worry about it. I'll get back and then you make a choice"

It would seem I should beg to differ.

I hate losses

They really fucking suck. Especially the ones you see a mile away, moving at you nice and slowly. Big as a train so no matter how hard you push on it, it just keeps inching along. I suppose you could really go all out and throw yourself onto the tracks, but what good does that serve except to get run over completely? Now you are a bloody pile of goo and the train still goes where it wants to.

Chapter over

I suppose that's that then. Time to bind the wounds and move. At least the novel isn't quite over I suppose. Always the next chapter to come.

"It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back only they didn’t. They kept going because they were holding on to something. "

Ready check

Calves....ok
Theighs....ok
Ankle....ok
Dogtags.... Well, they seem to have found a new home. Actually, they've had a new home for a couple of weeks now. Their newowner seems to like them, so I'm sure they'll be happy.

So I got served court papers yesterday...

Central Florida Educators' Federal Credit Union vs Megoblocks

Appearantly they say I owe them $377 plus interest.

"You are hereby notified that you are required to appear in person or through an attorney at 425 N Orange Ave blah blah blah"

So I pulled up my history and low and behold, this account is super old. I mean...really, really old. Easily cleared the Statute of Limitations for Florida (a mere 4 years). I'm going to fire a letter back to their lawyers and say:

"Statute of Limitations 4tw!
Suing in small claims not so ez?"

I hurt,

a lot.

Just hit 1 of 5, wonder how much further it will go.

Just saw this on a board

About an Army soldier who confronted John Murtha and Jim Moran in a town meeting:

""Yes sir my name is Mark Seavey and I just want to thank you for coming up here. Until about a month ago I was Sgt Mark Seavey infantry squad leader, I returned from Afghanistan. My question to you, (applause)

"Like yourself I dropped out of college two years ago to volunteer to go to Afghanistan, and I went and I came back. If I didn't have a herniated disk now I would volunteer to go to Iraq in a second with my troops, three of which have already volunteered to go to Iraq. I keep hearing you say how you talk to the troops and the troops are demoralized, and I really resent that characterization. (applause) The morale of the troops that I talk to is phenomenal, which is why my troops are volunteering to go back, despite the hardships they had to endure in Afghanistan.

"And Congressman Moran, 200 of your constituents just returned from Afghanistan. We never got a letter from you; we never got a visit from you. You didn't come to our homecoming. The only thing we got from any of our elected officials was one letter from the governor of this state thanking us for our service in Iraq, when we were in Afghanistan. That's reprehensible. I don't know who you two are talking to but the morale of the troops is very high."

Moran - who is one of the few congressmen supporting Charlie Rangel's call to restore the draft - responded quickly: "That wasn't in the form of a question, it was in the form of a statement. But, uhh... let's go over here."

And he took the next question."

--------------------------------------------

Reminds me of the Holy Grail, "Run away! Run away!"

I suppose they are good at it now though and it shouldn't be much of a surprise.

26 days.

26 goddamn days.
Jesus H Christ. I'm never gonna make it. Maybe if I had some zombies to kill (I'd need a couple of extra days for that) I could occupy my time.

I put in my application for my residency for later this year. I hope I get in. Two biggest hurdles is the completed M.Div and an ecc. endorsment (thanks UMC for making this such a long process, shoulda stayed a Lutheran :p ). I hope put my time in back at WP Memorial, but they will probably want me to broaden my experiences. Bleh. WP is a really, really nice hospital. I dont like East too much. Feels too confined and crowded, like I'm running around the inside of a ship. WP is nice and laid out. The main campus is really REALLY nice too, but really like chaplains to be fluent in spanish - which I'm not. Sprechen Sie Deutsch?

In other fronts, I've been expanding my network looking for a lit agent to sell my soul too, especially because the editing is almost done for a final copy to be printed and sent out. I've been quite encouraged by what I've seen and read in terms of getting published. I found a number of useful sites, pages, and most importantly agent's blogs (anonymous of course) that have proved an invaluable source of information. What to do, what not to do, what they are looking for, and what will send your manuscript into the recycle bin instantly. I'm quite confident that I can get past the first two stages which are (in general order)

1- Read the Synopsis (is the plot clear? Is it really stupid? Can you summarize your story well? etc)
2 - Read X pages (10 pages or even as far as 1-3 chapters and determine whether or not the author can write, and if the story is compelling enough to continue)

After step 2 would be getting the entire thing read by the agent, and then hopefully signed on with instead of the polite "Sorry, just not interested right now". Statistically speaking, it will be the latter. Hopefully the foremost.

Then I just need it sold to a publisher and I'll be a happy little clam.

Speaking of which, how the fuck do people know if clams are happy? Maybe they are really pissed off all the time. I would be. Stuck in the muck, just sitting there constantly, hoping that something or someone doesnt pry you open. What's there to look forward to as a clam? Nothing.

So if people who believe in reincarnation are right, sign me up for "not a clam"

These safety rules apply to all weapons at all times, and must never be violated

1) Treat every weapon as if it were loaded.
2) Never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot.
3) Keep finger straight and off the trigger until you are ready to fire.
4) Keep weapon on safe until you intend to fire.

Words to live by.

On another note, I need a new ankle (wtb [ankle]). I seem to have run on it a bit harder then normal for a bit longer than normal. Sorta hurts now.

I change my mind

Foremost for sure.

Instructions:

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the sentence in your journal along with these instructions.
5. Don’t search around and look for the “coolest” book you can find. Do what’s actually next to you.

Mine as of 1/4/2006 1058:

"Consequently, 0 < x-x0 < δ and x [member] A implies x [member] Dδ(x0) [union] U."

O.o

BWs s. IPR s. Imulul.

Off to the store now for bird stuff. Should probably stop by Homedepot too for some spackle.

On another note, I saw Memoirs of a Geisha twice now. Once on NY's eve and then again yesterday cuz Marilyn and Steph wanted to see it too. Steph now wants a geisha too to take home. They are so cute. How can you not want one? Speaking of which, I seem to remember purchasing one a year ago. Talk about crappy delivery service. I guess you get what you pay for, no?

Uh, camera three get off the track...

Camera three - OH DEAR GOD!!!