It's been a month i guess

So what should i talk about?

We've killed three rats so far, but it seems we have also incurred the wrath of an entire army of them recently. they keep finding new ways in and new things to attack. last week they ate the nose piece off my sunglasses. then they got in j's drawer and ate his headphones. we've cleaned, we've trapped, we've even tried to spotlight them. they are illusive and vengeful. and now they're even getting into my head. just last night i dreamed that i squared-off with one of them, a talking rat, and a jackie chan rabbit. i don't where the rabbit comes in other than i think i'm just afraid we don't know what we're really up against.

((We're not crazy. we should have just believed those who said sp.r.tual w.rf.re comes in all sorts of weird shapes and sizes in this place.))

In other news, you'd be happy to know that j and i have been dancing around and singing out loud a lot with the help of our friends from hillsong - primarily from the united we stand album. they bring much needed joy and refreshment many days.

November 17 and the temperature outside sometimes falls under 100 f before the sun goes down. ha. any visitors?

Present needs:
V.sas, patience, time management, language acquisition, open ears and big hearts.

Present certainties and thanks:
There is a fountain,
And it's supplying water to the big tree providing shade to all us birdies - even two more from that place over yonder where some friends are right now.

Well,
Peace be.

You must imagine

((A picture of a clock))

And a tm that follows: time will always fly, but the friendship will never die. happy and nice all of your life dayes.

That made my day.

Please don't be surprised if i update much less often for the next month or two. just depends on my mood and availability.

But before i go for now, i'd like to honor a certain friend of mine. i once (or maybe twice) gave chris h. a hard time for a certain work-out he did in high school. well, i must admit i once was a critic, but now i'm a believer. thank you chris h. for not losing confidence in your ways and for inspiring me to follow in your steps. i too am taking criticism from friends now, but you and i know the truth. it works, and i won't give up running in place without a fight.

In the meantime, "what i am comfortable with constantly changes, and i have no expectations anymore other than the humbling reminders of my humanity and the comforting hope of the unseen."

((There is a fountain...))

Peace be.

Dear blog

And to any one who still reads it,

Forgive me for neglecting you lately. i promise it wasn't intentional. i'll do my best to make it up to you though.

We officially disconnected our internet services from our home due to a current state of flux... waiting for stay permits, thinking about moving to another apartment, transitioning out of one season and into another, changing work schedules, changing school schedules, friends traveling, unstable diets, etc, etc. i'll spare the details, but needless to say, perhaps this has resulted in a writer's block.

My roomie and i have been blessed though recently with a very special dvd that we've spent the past few mornings singing and dancing along with as we wake up and start our days. oh how glorious.

This past week we accidentally caught an alligator size gecko and its baby in our mouse trap. we had practically given up hope catching anything, but then were just demoralized that our rat outsmarted us and used the poor gecks as decoys. last night i found the little pests though, two of them, big enough to resemble splinter from teenage mutant ninja turtles. we rumbled a bit in the kitchen. i had to call for back up. but unfortunately j wasn't there in time. we're devising a new plan today, involving a flank around the sink to back them into the valley of our patio door.

We're not going crazy just yet, i promise. you'll know when we do.

Present needs:
Faith, love, hope.

Present certainties and thanks:
There is a fountain,
And it's making a big family.

Peace be.

Text

Messages don't stop when you travel abroad, they only become more entertaining.

(Disclaimer: gracing you with the humor of the sandbox wasn't an original idea, but rather the product of a genius teammate-ette who already does likewise.)

I must warn you before i give a sample of the thought and care that friends show each other here through modern technology. seems that the limits on cross-gender relationships have resulted in a rather unparalleled intimacy among same-gender relationships. thus it is no longer a mystery why i am able to stroll through public markets holding hands with "relationship fingers" with my guy friends, and to feel no shame when doing so. how much less should i expect to receive daily tm's such as:

A lucky star dropped on earth one night. it asked me what did i want, a million dollars or a true friend? i had to choose a million dollars because i already have you.

In a rainy day please stand under the rain and open your hand...the drops you can catch is how much you miss me; the drops you can't catch is how much i miss you!

Our friendship means a lot 2 me...u cry i cry, u laugh i laugh, you jump out of a window i look down and laugh again!

I know you're jealous. but don't worry, i'll try to forward them via blogger from now on.

Present needs:
A little extra "umph!" in all things.

Present certainties and thanks:
There is a fountain,
And it keeps me singing even on the driest days.

Peace be.

Global warming is causing

Rain in the desert. i live in a place that averages maybe three inches in a good year. this past month, we've probably averaged three inches every other day. the soccer field outside my residence is a pool, and the streets look like venice.

Everything else i want to say about life, and the adventure i'm watching unfold before me, will usually come in the form of an email (becauseitissaferthatway). so i figured i'd let you in, rather, on how the pneuma sustains me most days aside from the story and reyarp:

Glosoli
The transfiguration
Majesty, snowbird
O come, o come emmanuel
Fire fall down
Revolution
Kingdom come
It's gonna be alright
Unto the king eternal
Be near
He is exalted
Vagabond
Should i tell them
I will run
Make us one
Hurry
Needle & thread
Dreamlife
Trees (hallway of leaves)

Present needs:
Good health and renewed energy for language learning.

Present certainties and thanks:
There is a fountain,
And the fountain never runs dry and never loses its cleansing power.

Peace be