June 26, 2006

• first things first

  
  

  Thank you to Dennis and Lisa for hosting us strapping  young men for our fishing adventure this weekend.  We all had a great time and we are very appreciative of your friendship, joy and hospitality.  I am glad to have gotten to know you and your family a little better this weekend.  Looking forward to seeing y’all again.

  
  

   

  
  

  the fishing trip

  
  

  Chris has already blogged a little bit about our adventure.  I do not feel compelled to say anymore, except that Chris, Chris, Dennis, and I were all standing in a line when a whole school of fish passed right by us.  Everyone got a bite at the same time and we each pulled in a fish simultaneously!  And when I say everyone, I mean everyone except for me.  I somehow missed out on that one.  Our group of 8 caught 4 fish, all of which were acquired within the first 20 minutes.  The rest of the 3.5 hours we were out were spent discussing how waterproof our jackets weren’t.  Nevertheless, we had fun.  Enough that I will go again.

  
  

  What I lacked in catching, I made up for in cooking.  The 4 fish were enough to feed 9 people with leftovers.  If I had remembered to hand out bread, I would have called it the miracle of Alban.  I want to make a joke about the leftovers being a testimony to how much the cooking was lacking, which is exactly the type of joke my friend Erick would make, but truthfully, I think it came out ok.  I guess when you add enough oil and garlic, even I can’t screw it up.  It was also the freshest fish I ever ate.  I’m sure that helped as well.

  
  

   

  
  

  the number one

  
  

  Dave, my housemate, left on Sunday morning for New Jersey.  It will be several weeks before he comes back.  Even then, it will only be for a day so he can pick up more stuff as he moves out.  I guess this is all pretty sudden for me.  Mostly, because I didn’t know that he was moving out until two weeks ago.  But, to be fair, he only found out about his new job two and half weeks ago, so it wasn’t a part of some nefarious plot to undermine my sanity.  It wasn’t too hard coming home to an empty house last night, but I suspect it will grow increasingly worse over the next few months.

  
  

  It seems like the last 6 months have been characterised by me letting go of, or being let go by, extremely significant cogs in my life.  I don’t know what God is doing, but it certainly hasn’t been easy.  I remember jokingly telling Dave back in January that if he found a job that would force him to move out, I’d be so devastated that I would be married within weeks.  Just like that.  I’d find something that moves, go to Massachusetts and get it done.  Bang bang bahhhh!!  I am glad that I don’t feel that way anymore… at least not as strongly.  Although I am tempted to find another room mate, the thought of finding another good one is daunting.  I’m considering eating the cost of rent and living alone… alone… alone.  Is there an echo in here?  hahaha.  This will be a difficult time of transition.

  
  

  As we were fishing on Saturday, I recalled this comic that I had read way back in the day.  Then I found another one just like it.  Here they are:

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

  Needless to say, I didn’t catch anything over the weekend.

  
  

  While we’re on the subject…

  
  

   

  
  

  married folk

  
  

  I had a talk with Lisa on Saturday night about married life and such.  I wondered again about what I should be looking for.  Someone different?  Someone similar?  I know the basics:  Christian, female, honest, trustworthy, dependable, God-fearing and God-worshipping…etc.  You know, the normal stuff.  Of course, there are also personality things to look for: Fun, funny, adventurous, can handle my craziness well.  But how much more should I expect before I am asking for too much?  I’d like someone with similar financial goals and responsibilities.  I’d like someone who likes children and has strong family values.  I’m looking for a partner in life and possibly a partner in ministry – someone who will either have equal devotion to ministry or at least support me in those endeavours.  These seem reasonable.  Can I ask for more?  It seems like strong couples have something they really connect on or share similar passions for: poetry, music, travelling, atheletics, writing… something… right?  Is this true?  And if it is, how important is it?  I’m specifically asking the married people here (but unmarried can comment as well.)  I’m not asking if you have to have ALL of the same interests — that is improbable and possibly unhealthy.  But shouldn’t there be something that you both enjoy deeply and connect on?  Is that fair or would that be asking for too much?

  
  

  Can you have a marriage with all the basic stuff without having common areas of passion?  I wish I knew how to ask what I want to ask, but I’m not sure it’s coming out right.  I guess I’ll just gauge the response and correct as needed.  Let me know what you think.

  
  

  As an aside that I may or may not come back to, I just wanted to share a quote from another blog entry I happened across:

  
  

  
  

  Words are the bait, and ideas are the hook.  What does anyone want more than to know and be known?

  
  

  Additionally, I particularly enjoyed this paragraph:

  
  

  
  

  I know a lot of beautiful women, but what catches my eye more quickly and surely than a pretty face is a knowing glance or tiny smile that tells me she gets it. Some off-hand remarks or inside jokes — some strung-together words — that show we’re on the same page, that prove my thoughts aren’t bouncing off the surface but penetrating the dark, secret place wherein she hides.

  
  

  Wise counsel; subtle wit; easy laughter; sly, sparkling glances that scream I know! — these are love to me.

  
  

   

  
  

  That’s all I have to say about that.

  
  

   

  
  

  Superman

  
  

  …is coming.  I haven’t written it yet, so… give me some time.  I gotta get to my laundry tonight.

  • 12:42 pm
  • 9 Comments