I am a fist amidst the hands
Alan and I saw Avatar in 3-D last night. It was basically what everyone says it was: incredible graphics with a recycled plot (as one review put it, "Admit it: If you've seen Avatar, weren't you sort of overwhelmed by how everything in the story has been in some other movie?"), which somehow averages out to a pretty good movie.
I was prepared to be hatin' on Avatar for its heavy-handed environmentalist message, but surprisingly, I didn't have much of a problem with it. How can I disagree with the basic premise of "It's bad to take other people's stuff/property for your own gain"?
So, my biggest beef with the movie is its complete predictability (seriously, I think most of us know the entire plot before we set foot in theater, because how else CAN it go?), and I really enjoyed it anyway. It was nice to go and just get my mind off things and spend time with Alan.
On the running front: I can no longer deny the fact that I've messed up my right thigh somehow. It's hurt consistently for over a week now, and it only seems to be getting worse. The ten mile run was especially hard, and not because of the distance; it feels like I pulled a muscle (or muscles).
So I'm icing my thigh, and taking a few days off from running in the hopes that it will get completely better. I hate to do it, but it would be stupid not to.
In other news, "Lost" fans are annoying--but don't tell them I said so, okay?
GTL
- seeing the stars as if I've never seen them before
- "You and Alan are the best friends I have. Thanks. No pressure."
- a possible new area of service/volunteering (pregnancy resource center)
- I found some lyrics that I really liked but couldn't find the song anywhere, so I emailed the artist, and he linked me to a free download
- one of Ian's friends is sending me some recordings of him singing
- a friend who is getting the help she needs
- meeting someone who was a big part of Alan's life at one point, even if it was hard
- GroupLink went well and we should be placed in a group (with 5 other married couples who have been married 3 years or less) in the next two weeks. Hopefully we'll make some good friends there.
- "People spend too much time thinking of the past. Whatever else it is, it's gone."
- Imma is being very sweet and affectionate
- I have gotten quite a few crisis calls this weekend
- Going to Ft. Worth next weekend for Mom's birthday
- Daddy got to London safely
- Alan
- coming out of the cold into a warm apartment
- The Turning Point and the people I've been able to help
- being in the best shape of my life
- knowing that things are about to change in a big way
- In the hard times and the sad times, God is still God.
"No, you can't stay mad at the setting sun..."
pick the flower now before the chance has passed
I don't have anything against rain, per se--but I don't like darkness and I don't like cold, and around these parts, those things go hand in hand with the rain. Everyone talks about loving the gentle pitter-patter of raindrops on the window and so on and so on, and I might enjoy those things if we were in South America and it was some warm tropical shower with the sun still shining through. But no.
At any rate, it's supposed to freeze tomorrow, so the weekday crisis advocate decided she would feel more comfortable turning in her phone a day early--which leaves me picking up the phone a day early and adds an extra day to my extra shift. No calls so far, though, so it probably won't be a big deal.
Running is going really, really well. I've gotten significantly faster these past few runs; my next goal is an 8-minute mile. Alan ran 5 miles in 34 minutes--which, to save you the calculation, is a sub-7 minute mile pace, which is faster than what he'd need to run to qualify for the Boston. I'm extremely proud of him.
Every so often Watermark holds what they call a "GroupLink," wherein they divide people into "community groups." The idea is that it's hard to get to know people at a megachurch unless you break into small groups. Alan and I are really looking forward to this--we've been going for a few months now, and we love it, but we're pretty desperate for real interaction. So, if it strikes your fancy, feel free to pray that all goes well and that we develop some good friendships with the people in our group.
Daddy is leaving for London this Saturday on a business trip. Pretty cool.
We've been praying a lot about what direction God wants us to take with our life together. I feel close to God in a way that's hard to describe; there's nothing mystical or even spiritual about it, it just is. With each day that passes, I learn one more little thing about Him and see one more way that He has revealed Himself and I know Him just a little bit better. I don't feel especially godly. I can't spot any major changes in myself or the way I feel. But I know we're on the right track. God has exciting plans for us, and I'm looking forward to being a part of them.
"Be Italian--live each day as if it may become your last!"
He's gonna pay for your ransom, and then some
Today, for the first time that I've documented, I ran a sub-9 minute mile. This is not really all that fast for a "real" runner, but for me, it's pretty awesome, and I'm proud of myself. And then I ran two more miles, and did a two-minute wall sit that made me cry. All in all, I think I did my workout dues today, even though I only ran three miles total. I probably got a better workout running as fast as I did than I would have running 6 miles at my usual pace.
Kasia introduced me to my new favorite website, livemocha.com. I've been making a lot of progress with my Turkish and have met some really cool people. I've also, on my own, been doing a lot of reading about the culture of Turkey; it's easy, since I bought half a dozen books on it in my early years of Turkey obsession.
Quick things: Jenny had her baby (oh my goodness, I cannot wait to see pictures!). I pre-ordered Eireann Corrigan's new book, Accomplice. Church went well. New Evanescence track is great. Sixpence has started recording their new album.
More later.
stay with me; let's just breathe
Oh I'm a lucky man
To count on both hands
The ones I love
Some folks just have one
Yeah others they got none
After recovering from the shock of the car being towed, we had another disappointing setback with money. We got a cell phone on our name awhile back for someone who couldn't because of his credit, and while he said that he switched it over to his name, he did not, and then he proceeded to not pay his bills, resulting in hundreds of dollars of debt. I admit, this afternoon was very, very discouraging.
It was a good reminder, though, about what's important--and it probably couldn't have come at a better time. I may not love money for the reasons a lot of people do (shopping, clothes, indulgence), but I do love money for the security that I think it brings. I like feeling like things are under control. I like feeling like things are under my control.
But it doesn't matter. It's just money, and ultimately, we have plenty of it. This realization--something that I "know," but don't always believe--felt like a huge weight lifted from my shoulders. Alan and I have both cried a lot this weekend, but when he got home from work today, we were in great spirits and just enjoying being married. Isn't that what's important?
My parents are a beautiful example of this, too. We came over to visit (I'm at their house right now), and as I pulled into the driveway, I saw my dad hobbling up the yard on crutches. He broke his ankle (we think), and my mom took him to the ER (after much stalling on his part). They were both laughing as they left. They really do inspire me.
So, let's tie this up with a GTL:
- I ran nine miles today and it felt good! I'm so glad that Alan pushed me to do it; I almost skipped it.
- My wonderful parents, who love each other so much.
- My wonderful other-parents, who love each other so much!
- Family that sticks together, no matter what.
- My sweet puppy, even when she's being a devil dog.
- A good first crisis shift.
- Turkish Rosetta Stone (maybe? crossing my fingers!)
- A God who loves us and always takes care of us
- Rock climbing with Bee soon
- Trip to Austin in February
- Trip to Ft. Worth in February (for Mom's birthday!)
- Meeting up with Sunshine in April
- Phone calls from friends
- The fact that I don't have a star tattooed in my armpit
- Alan's amazing speed in this morning's very early run
- Countless examples of God's faithfulness
- Archived copies of classic GP4T threads (memory lane, anyone?)
- The stars are super-bright tonight
Site note: I am going to start making the majority of my blog posts members-only. This isn't because I have anything super secret to say, but I like knowing who can read what I'm posting. Just so you know.
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