Think differently

I sit here, music blaring in the background... it is some local band with a singer that sounds like a cross between Shawna Colvin and Sarah Mclaughlin, but the music... something from Sugar Ray perhaps? Just returned from Dave & Buster's at a mall that holds 4 stories of shops. To see so many people all dressed up and a lot of them in their late 20's is sort of strange, but fun at the same time. Spending so much time in Blacksburg has really taken me away from a lot of that.

The day has been long and the music plays in the background as I am attending a 'networking' event. But since I am blogging, I'm not really 'networking' at the moment. Networking at these things is really pretty strange for me. I am a people person through and through, but there is something about computer conferences that makes me think everyone just wants to talk about programming and the systems they built. Kind of boring to be honest. Though I did get a spark last night while listening to a man named Hal Helms. He's one of those people I have run into that when he speaks I just want to listen. It is almost as if wisdom just flows from his mouth in the way of experience in (of all things) programming. Just the way he thinks, with his mind more about some of the abstract problem solving practices, interests me. He pushes the drug that technologies come and go and I find myself willing to take the pill. That problem solving, (and I think this is what gets me) thinking or training yourself to think in a different way is necessary for the younger generation of software engineers to not only set themselves out but to almost better themselves. Either way, he makes me think and not just about code and that is something I like.

With that I will go, there are 3 guys here that are up for some fun and I don't know why they have found me???

Live from Bethesda, MD

So here I sit, surrounded by, well computer types. To come to these conferences is really like traveling to another land. A land where everyone wears khakis and collared short sleeve shirts. Everyone carries a laptop and cell phones are used non-stop. Sort of like a bad frat party with computer geeks. Yes, this is part of my world :) And I actually not only find the work stimulating at time, but the people rather interesting. A lot of them like to talk about programming, this technology or that technology. I like to ask them if they have families and kids. Sort of shakes things up a bit, ya know?

On my way to Maryland

Boy have things been moving along. Last weekend was a day of conoeing on the New River and shooting an Ultimate frisbee tourney. Wanna see some pictures? Here they are:

http://www.theworldofjoey.com/BMH/BMH_Web/
http://www.theworldofjoey.com/BMH/Roanoke_web/

Now I am out the door on my way to meet some friends for dinner in Ashburn, VA then off to Bethesda, Maryland for work. Looking forward to the drive, will try to update from the conference.

E-mail conversation

Mom:
This is just the coolest site! It is really helpful with translations with other people.

Rex:
Too bad there is no "Woman to Man" translation :)

Mom:
Smartie :)

The latest plans for activity.

Not sure where to begin. The week at work has been plenty busy for starters and all my evenings have been filled. But filled with fun things :) My next day to relax: Sunday. Here are some of the things I have been up to:

- Small Group Dinner & Study with folks from NorthStar
- Traveled to West Virginia to visit the youth convention folks
- Held dinner & a study at my place with friends :)
- Celebrated with Kris and Rob!
- Tonight is Ultimate Frisbee in Roanoke followed by watching the NBA Finals.
- Tomorrow I am heading back to West Virginia.
- Saturday I am canoeing the New River all day followed by a Party in Radford.
- Sunday is 2 church services followed by shooting pictures for a local Ultimate Frisbee tourney. Plus I think I have a friend that needs work done on her house :)

And Next week, off to Bethesda, Maryland; Delaware & Philly! So there are a few things going on around here :) But I have plenty of energy and feel great. Amazing what both God and Friends can do for someone.

Picture Pages

I decided to post a few pictures from this past weekend (minus the hiking picture). I have not posted pictures in a while and thought it would be a nice change of pace. Enjoy!

From Memorial Day weekend, I like to hike!

And Jilian spent a lot of time working as well, here she is spraying electrical outlets !!

Even I did some work. Here is me with a rather large strip of glue.

Where we worked stripping wallpaper all weekend. When I was not baking blueberry muffins.

Later in the weekend I traveled to Jilian's new home.

And I hung out with one of my adopted mothers :) The cool one!

We even enjoyed some cigars in celebration of the Eiben's moving to Arizona!

The gang playing poker.

It was a high stakes game, can you spot my stacks? Nothing wrong with a little OCD...

Why I really like camping....

Smores:

BIG news, Ultimate & taking pictures...

Friday again and I am glad it is here. Has been a pretty long week here in the mountains of Blacksburg that has been loaded with pretty big news. It actually is the most loaded week that I have had in a long time. Between relationships, my family and work a lot of things are happening. None of which I really wish to go into in a blog. Know what the funny thing is though? I'm not feeling pressured by any of it. I have complete confidence that things will work themselves out and that I'm not ultimately in control of any of it.

So how am I feeling? Happy, smiling, giddy almost about the beautiful weekend coming up. I think I was more disappointed in my Ultimate frisbee play last night than any of the other news. It was pretty pitiful and my knees are all bruised up after falling twice. Felt like a flounder out there.

I have also not taken my camera out in a while come to think of it. I should start bringing it to the Summer Ultimate League. Maybe I'll even post some pictures? Have a GREAT weekend!

A weekend of relaxing & church.

So Saturday I did nothing and I did it passionatly. Every now and again I take a weekend and plan nothing, that was this weekend. The next three hold 2 canoeing trips, a dinner with friends, and a trip to D.C., Delaware and Philidelphia. Looking forward to all of them.

Lots on my mind lately. Some revolves around family and some around church. Mainly about church. I've decided to start to check out some other places. The place I had been going since I started going in 2000 has been changing since I started going and I have been watching people's opinions all but tear some things apart. When fundraising replaces discipleship and the type of seating is debated more hotly than how to feel those that don't get enough to eat, something is wrong and honestly I think I held on longer than I should have.

What kept me there? The people, plain and simple and they are the ones I will have trouble leaving. But I just can't continue to run myself into a wall of opinion and expectations that were never known to begin with. So my plan is to exit as gracefully as possible by talking to individuals and their famalies. Where will I go next? Not sure, but I am checking out some other options in town. I'm sure these visits will be the topic of future blogs.

The Ultimate frisbee league also started last Thursday and following was the draft. Looks like I was drafted to a pretty good team. Looking forward to seeing how game #1 of the season goes.

SORE!

So it is Friday and I want to sit. Okay, forget the fact that I am sitting. I want to sit all day. Why? Well it has to do with lifting weights (legs) and playing 3 hours (on and off) of Ultimate Frisbee! So is this complaining? NO, I love it! Being sore is great, when it has to do with getting in shape and not injury. It rained on and off throughout the games, with more dry weather than not and my game was pretty on. One thing that was obvious is that I am a little faster and don't wear down as easily as I used to. Looking forward to seeing how this summer helps my half-marathon time in September.

In other news I just received information on my family reunion this summer and am working on booking a flight. It's a lot cheaper than I thought :) My plans this weekend include a lot of sitting and enjoying Blacksburg.

Slowing down, Chicken cooking & upcoming Ultimate Frisbee.

So my trip to North Carolina has led to a much more relaxed week so far :) I'm no longer trying to get a zillion things done when I get home and am able to just relax. Granted things are not getting done as fast, but they will get done (as most things do). The most exciting thing as of late was my roommate Jeff Lang cooking chicken for the first time. And if you think I'd miss the opportunity to catch it on video, you would be wrong. Check it out here. But only if you have a high-speed connection, as the videos are LaRgE.

Last night Jeff Lang and I headed over to Jeff Rendell's to watch a video on Walter Payton and play some Madden Football. We all came out even when all was said and done. Which I am happy about, since I have not played in some time. This gathering happened after a pretty brutal training run. Tonight's plans, relaxing, dinner with friends and Bible Study. Maybe I'll plan out a hike for this weekend? And Thursday holds the beginning of the Summer Ultimate Frisbee League, which I have been waiting for all year.

My trip to NC

What a great weekend in North Carolina with family. I needed that and had no idea how much till I traveled down there. Last week I wrote about business, well down there I am anything but busy and I love it. I brought things to do, but did none of it. Why? Because I was talking to family, playing golf, watching baseball and enjoying the beautiful weather. I washed the Green Falcon, tied tomato plants, hung laundry and had lunch with 11 relatives all around 1 table. I love the area and am glad it is only a short 2 hour trek from Blacksburg. I'll have to get back down there soon!

It's Someone's Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JILIAN!!!

Welcome to your late 20's! They will be the best years of your life ;)

A trip to NC and e-baying.

It's Friday and I am packed and ready for North Carolina :) I am taking a lot of books, papers, things with me in hopes of getting some of them taken care of. It's stuff like working plyometrics into my workout program, planning some day and weekend hikes on the Appalachian trail and some paperwork to get some student loan stuff straight on the drive down to NC. Outside of that I am looking forward to a good relaxing weekend catching up with family :)

I am also guilty of e-baying a bit lately and now need to sell some things. As of late I have been buying camping equipment here and there and last night I won an 'Osprey Aether 90' pack. One of the best lightweight packs on the market. And I won it a good bit under retail price. I guess if this is going to be the 'summer of camping' I need to have the right gear. I'm turning into a Yiker!

Too busy!

Yesterday I think I had time to breathe. I think. It was one of those back to back days where I did not have enough time to reflect on things. I have really come to not like days like this. It used to be what I thrived on, but now I like to do lots, but also to have time to enjoy things. Even otherwise relaxing things can become stressful when they are placed back to back. And I've made plans to correct this next week. I am thankful that it all slowed down last night around Bible Study time. I made BBQ chicken on the grill and it was pretty good :) I think the others would agree.

After the study, which was on God's glory and our life's purpose to reflect that glory, I just relaxed and did not take a look at the things I was hoping to get accomplished. That's okay though, there is always tonight :) And with nothing planned, I'm looking forward to it!

This weekend holds a trip down to North Carolina to visit family, always a lot of fun. Well, have to run, I'm too scatterbrained to write right now :) !!

Adjusting

to my new schedule will be interesting. Since training for the next half marathon has started (officially yesterday) I have grand plans to be getting to bed at 10pm. I had been falling between 11 and 11:30. I'm also adding plyometrics (leg power exercises), yoga, speed work and lots of stretching to my new routine. So I will finally be able to burn off all of the extra energy I have, maybe...

Other than training, I have a list a mile long to get done. Things like get a new car key seem like a no brainer on the list. Until I realize that my car key has a chip in it and it has to be not only cut, but also activated. Which of course the dealership is willing to do to the tune of $50+! So my seemingly inconsequential list quickly turns into a list of complications...

It'll get done though :) Until then I am still catching up on Star Wars, watching them in the order they were released before going to see Part III in the theatre, hope it is there for another week!