The other day my first rose bloomed. It sort of happened over night to. I have been watching the plant, as it sent out its first stalk, but there were no buds yet. Then, Voila! Not only has it produced a bloom, it has also created 3-5 more buds, so it will be a vibrant bush of red soon enough.
the same day that it bloomed, I got rid of one of my bicycles. I'll consider it a cosmic karma reward. Since I had 3 bicycles (a road bike, a mountain bike, and a bmx bike), I decided to part ways with one of them. I have never really ridden the BMX bike regularly, so it had to go. I donated it to a re-cyclery (yes, what an incredible play with words). The program requires kids to spend a certain number of session learning about bike maintenance, and then upon completion they get a bike of their own. More info here (http://bikecharlotte.com/index.asp?page=12) I also gave them my helmet (I need to get one more geared towards mountain biking), some old pedals off the road bike, and some cables i had for the BMX bike. now, I can fit all my bikes (2) on top of my car when i move in August.
The question is where will I put the rose bush?
Friday, April 27, 2007
Friday, April 13, 2007
Bruises
I woke up this morning and the first thing i noticed was the pain in my left wrist. Maybe I didnt wrap it correctly last night, or maybe I was just hitting to hard, or maybe i got kicked in it. I dont know. All I know is it hurts. then, I noticed the bruise right on my xyphoid. i didnt think you could get bruises where there isnt flesh...new experience to prove my wrong. There was a general aching everywhere to. So, it got me thinking...
Maybe I dont want to be an MMA fighter. I find there is doubt in my head. The aching from the Muay Thai and Jui-Jitsu is just bothersome and uncomfortable. I think the doubt it probably a normal part of it though, just as doubt exists whenever you train hard for anything. But, I dont feel like I am really training hard. Maybe the distance I travel to statesville is just getting to me. Maybe its the feeling that I have so so much further to go if I do really want to compete. Maybe its the doubt that once I get there, I will find it was all an unrealistic dream anyway because of my leg issue.
Maybe I am already too old to start. Who knows.
Maybe I am seeking validation as a man, while wanting so desperately to experince real, intense, character building competition. One on one. The better man right now wins.
--DAlen
Maybe I dont want to be an MMA fighter. I find there is doubt in my head. The aching from the Muay Thai and Jui-Jitsu is just bothersome and uncomfortable. I think the doubt it probably a normal part of it though, just as doubt exists whenever you train hard for anything. But, I dont feel like I am really training hard. Maybe the distance I travel to statesville is just getting to me. Maybe its the feeling that I have so so much further to go if I do really want to compete. Maybe its the doubt that once I get there, I will find it was all an unrealistic dream anyway because of my leg issue.
Maybe I am already too old to start. Who knows.
Maybe I am seeking validation as a man, while wanting so desperately to experince real, intense, character building competition. One on one. The better man right now wins.
--DAlen
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Newest Muay Thai inspired thoughts
(Warning: no apostrophes were seperated from their parents to make this)
Do you ever want life to just be easy? Why cant things just be nice? Why cant there not be injury? Why cant the sun always shine? Would it really be so bad to only have the light without the dark? Wouldnt you rather live in Eden?
Short Answer: No
Long Answer: Read on
It really is the rough times that shape you. So, what shape are you in if there are no rough times? Well, I would believe that you are on the verge of a total collapse, having no shape, no thickened skin or toughened bone, simply a matter of time before the wind blows too hard and you crumble. Nice is dull. Nice is too predictable. There is no excitement on the couch. Excitement comes from knowing that life might try and punch if you continue down the path youre taking. Life might try and kick you in the head. So, what do you do? You persevere. you learn that getting kicked in the head isnt catastrophic. Its unpleasant. You learn that getting punched also creates discomfort. So, what do you do. You keep your chin tucked. You keep your hands up. You counter, you conquer, and then laugh at Life's feeble attempts at derailing your desire. Then when youre there, standing on top, you realize that life wasnt working against you at all, but molding you to something better. so you look over and say, "Thank you life, may I have s'more." Hands up. Chin tucked. Counter.
Question of the Week: Why is it that the philosophy in my brain spills out more so after getting hit in the head. Shouldnt head injuries slow down your thinking? Its like I have a bubble of deep thought that builds and builds until something jars me, its breaks, and then it pours out my nose and ears...kidding...actually it seems to flow from my fingertips.
Happy Easter Bunny Day
and dont forget to thank Jesus for washing your soul clean.
Do you ever want life to just be easy? Why cant things just be nice? Why cant there not be injury? Why cant the sun always shine? Would it really be so bad to only have the light without the dark? Wouldnt you rather live in Eden?
Short Answer: No
Long Answer: Read on
It really is the rough times that shape you. So, what shape are you in if there are no rough times? Well, I would believe that you are on the verge of a total collapse, having no shape, no thickened skin or toughened bone, simply a matter of time before the wind blows too hard and you crumble. Nice is dull. Nice is too predictable. There is no excitement on the couch. Excitement comes from knowing that life might try and punch if you continue down the path youre taking. Life might try and kick you in the head. So, what do you do? You persevere. you learn that getting kicked in the head isnt catastrophic. Its unpleasant. You learn that getting punched also creates discomfort. So, what do you do. You keep your chin tucked. You keep your hands up. You counter, you conquer, and then laugh at Life's feeble attempts at derailing your desire. Then when youre there, standing on top, you realize that life wasnt working against you at all, but molding you to something better. so you look over and say, "Thank you life, may I have s'more." Hands up. Chin tucked. Counter.
Question of the Week: Why is it that the philosophy in my brain spills out more so after getting hit in the head. Shouldnt head injuries slow down your thinking? Its like I have a bubble of deep thought that builds and builds until something jars me, its breaks, and then it pours out my nose and ears...kidding...actually it seems to flow from my fingertips.
Happy Easter Bunny Day
and dont forget to thank Jesus for washing your soul clean.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Life needs mouthguards
I discovered two incredible things tonight at Muay Thai, thanks to my mouthguard.
First, when you wear a mouthguard, you cant talk real well. I actually knew this already, but I had never really thought anything of it. the cool part though, is that when you cant talk, you have a tendancy to listen and think more. you listen more intently because its hard to say "what?" You think more about what is being said, because youre sort of on your own to figure it out. You breathe through your nose, and you just settle and think. Maybe I should wear a mouth piece in my daily life.
The 2nd benefit, is of course that it protects you. But why would you do things that might cause you harm? Because life might cause you harm. Maybe if your not occasionally doing something that could cause you harm, you should rethink your hobbies and add a little more risk in your life. Someday you will get old and regret having never needed to wear a mouthpiece (or you'll be old without the teeth you lost because you werent wearing one and you should have been).
First, when you wear a mouthguard, you cant talk real well. I actually knew this already, but I had never really thought anything of it. the cool part though, is that when you cant talk, you have a tendancy to listen and think more. you listen more intently because its hard to say "what?" You think more about what is being said, because youre sort of on your own to figure it out. You breathe through your nose, and you just settle and think. Maybe I should wear a mouth piece in my daily life.
The 2nd benefit, is of course that it protects you. But why would you do things that might cause you harm? Because life might cause you harm. Maybe if your not occasionally doing something that could cause you harm, you should rethink your hobbies and add a little more risk in your life. Someday you will get old and regret having never needed to wear a mouthpiece (or you'll be old without the teeth you lost because you werent wearing one and you should have been).
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
The Genesis Group
I have come to a new beginning in my life. It seems the ideal epiphany to come to would be to figure out what I want to do in order to make lots of money and grow wealthy in order to buy BMWs while affording luxurious vacation homes for my parents. Would we all like this sort of transformation and guidance. Read no further if you are vigorously agreeing.
I have decided to give away 1,000,000 dollars by the year 2017. The inspiration came from me seeing a lady on TV at the State of the Union who had created a business that made millions off of a few simple ideas. She looked as ordinary as myself, and I have many simple ideas...more everyday. All I really need is 10 ideas, each producing 10k per year. Seems easy when you break it down like that.
So, as often has been the case in my life, I am nothing without the people around me. If you are reading this, I am assuming we know each other and you are one of the aforementioned people around me. Want to get involved in my grand scheme?There are currently two ways. 1) If you have an idea that you think just might be crazy enough to work, I am likely to agree. or 2) you can take part in the first small manifestation which I like to call...
The Genesis Group seeks to pool "tithe" money. I call it tithe, because there is a biblical reason why I give the amount I do. You, of course, don't need to believe in God or tithing to give. You simply have to want to help others by giving your money and you have to have at least one idea for who you want to give it to. You get to choose the organization the first time you take part in the pool. the rest of the time it will be a consensus or democratic vote. the amount to match of mine is $38. I get paid this Thursday (3/22), so I am looking to make a donation by Friday. let me know if you want in.
love y'all, --Will
I have decided to give away 1,000,000 dollars by the year 2017. The inspiration came from me seeing a lady on TV at the State of the Union who had created a business that made millions off of a few simple ideas. She looked as ordinary as myself, and I have many simple ideas...more everyday. All I really need is 10 ideas, each producing 10k per year. Seems easy when you break it down like that.
So, as often has been the case in my life, I am nothing without the people around me. If you are reading this, I am assuming we know each other and you are one of the aforementioned people around me. Want to get involved in my grand scheme?There are currently two ways. 1) If you have an idea that you think just might be crazy enough to work, I am likely to agree. or 2) you can take part in the first small manifestation which I like to call...
The Genesis Group seeks to pool "tithe" money. I call it tithe, because there is a biblical reason why I give the amount I do. You, of course, don't need to believe in God or tithing to give. You simply have to want to help others by giving your money and you have to have at least one idea for who you want to give it to. You get to choose the organization the first time you take part in the pool. the rest of the time it will be a consensus or democratic vote. the amount to match of mine is $38. I get paid this Thursday (3/22), so I am looking to make a donation by Friday. let me know if you want in.
love y'all, --Will
Saturday, March 10, 2007
I'm back?
I just saw the new movie "300." It was absolutely incredible. Somehow I feel like there really was a larger takeaway message there. Maybe it was that we should fight and be willing to die for where we stand. Leonides stood for the freedom of his people. Maybe the message is that everyday should be treated as training for that moment in your life when you will have the choice to stand for what is right against all odds and despite total costs. In that moment, we might die, or we might buckle and give way to evil, living "a long life." (this was verbalized as the hope from Leonides to the traitor at their last meeting, moments before Leonides died) Maybe the Spartans had it right when they lived life in search of a "good death," not shrinking in fear from the worthy adversary, but hoping and excitedly looking for that moment and enemy that would put them to the test, a test that they prepared their whole life to pass. The test of giving your life for another, standing in unison on the side of good.
Maybe living life in preperation for this is really the only way to LIVE LIFE. Otherwise, arent we all just waiting to die?
Maybe living life in preperation for this is really the only way to LIVE LIFE. Otherwise, arent we all just waiting to die?
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
read andrew's blog
Andrew has a bunch of new postings. he has been spending time in Dar Es Saalam. definately should read it.
andrewinafrica.blogspot.com
Merry christmas,
--Will
andrewinafrica.blogspot.com
Merry christmas,
--Will
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
No comment
Maybe my posts are getting routine and lame?
I am going on Hiatus.
Merry Christmas.
DAlen Rice
143 Leonard St
Mooresville, NC
28115
I am going on Hiatus.
Merry Christmas.
DAlen Rice
143 Leonard St
Mooresville, NC
28115
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Muay thai is heating up
I have been told that I talk about Muay Thai too much. Thats quite possible. I find myself thinking about Mixed Martial Arts and Muay thai as I fall asleep, and then I realize that indeed I am not even close to sleep, and that I have concentrated so hard on visualizing possibilities that my body has worked itself into a semi-fight stage. My senses are firing more than normal, and I am even more awake than normal. So I cant think about it, or I will never sleep.
Mom, dont read further if youre in a worrying mood.
My ability to spar has been gradually increasing everytime I go. Also, the intensity seems to be ramping up slightly. I am kicking harder when we work with pads and I am getting timing down better to block kicks and counter. Unfortunately, it also seems that the more I learn, the more familiar I become with whats left to learn...i.e. experiential education in the form of getting hit. Tonight I got hit in my right eyebrow a few times and once in the nose. It was the first time I got hit in the nose, and afterwards I didnt allow the mistake to repeat. All the while, I never felt too tired to go on or too scared. Despite getting kicked lightly in the side of my face later, I wanted more. the pain hasnt deterred me, and has made me want to learn all the more.
After class, myself and this other guy usually do some submission wrestling. Somewhere over the course of us rolling around, I busted my lip and bled on myself. I didnt notice. My jui-jitsu is still so basic. I am learning though and getting stronger.
The drawback is tommorrow my eyebrow may be swollen and the girls may not think I look so pretty. for the most part though, I am pretty sure the parts of me that are attractive have nothing to do with my face...so thats a bonus.
Almost the weekend. We are having a big AmeriCorps party Saturday night. I sort of stopped drinking due to my training, but I will probably let me hair down for the special occasion...not that I have any hair because I reshaved the mohawk due to popular demand.
love you. write comments. stay safe. call you loved ones. --Will
Mom, dont read further if youre in a worrying mood.
My ability to spar has been gradually increasing everytime I go. Also, the intensity seems to be ramping up slightly. I am kicking harder when we work with pads and I am getting timing down better to block kicks and counter. Unfortunately, it also seems that the more I learn, the more familiar I become with whats left to learn...i.e. experiential education in the form of getting hit. Tonight I got hit in my right eyebrow a few times and once in the nose. It was the first time I got hit in the nose, and afterwards I didnt allow the mistake to repeat. All the while, I never felt too tired to go on or too scared. Despite getting kicked lightly in the side of my face later, I wanted more. the pain hasnt deterred me, and has made me want to learn all the more.
After class, myself and this other guy usually do some submission wrestling. Somewhere over the course of us rolling around, I busted my lip and bled on myself. I didnt notice. My jui-jitsu is still so basic. I am learning though and getting stronger.
The drawback is tommorrow my eyebrow may be swollen and the girls may not think I look so pretty. for the most part though, I am pretty sure the parts of me that are attractive have nothing to do with my face...so thats a bonus.
Almost the weekend. We are having a big AmeriCorps party Saturday night. I sort of stopped drinking due to my training, but I will probably let me hair down for the special occasion...not that I have any hair because I reshaved the mohawk due to popular demand.
love you. write comments. stay safe. call you loved ones. --Will
Monday, November 27, 2006
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!!
I ended up going to Thanksgiving with a friend of mine from work. I did nothing but eat, meet people, eat more, and then lay on an uncomfortable bed and think about sleeping. It was really low key (eating doesnt take much energy) but I didnt get much rest. Oh well. I can go to bed early tonight.
Christmas is coming. Write to me to tell me what you like so I can buy something you want that fits that theme. I am not skipping Christmas this year...but I may take another easy way out and buy you all books!
I have a new email will.dalen@gmail.com
Muay thai is coming along well. My neck is usually sore a few days after, but it comes with the territory. I have been picking larger people to spar with, so that makes things pretty interesting. usually I grapple with someone after we are done as well, to truly drain myself of ALL energy.
My friend Kristen comes into town this week! I am pretty excited. She was on my NCCC team last year and I really enjoyed spending time around her. Kristen is thinking of moving to Charlotte to go to school at Presbyterrian Hospital for Radiology. I am super stoked. Hopefully I can take a half day on saturday so we can hang out some. Regardless, its going to be fun to catch up and hang out.
Merry Christmas future greetings!
--Will DAlen Rice
I ended up going to Thanksgiving with a friend of mine from work. I did nothing but eat, meet people, eat more, and then lay on an uncomfortable bed and think about sleeping. It was really low key (eating doesnt take much energy) but I didnt get much rest. Oh well. I can go to bed early tonight.
Christmas is coming. Write to me to tell me what you like so I can buy something you want that fits that theme. I am not skipping Christmas this year...but I may take another easy way out and buy you all books!
I have a new email will.dalen@gmail.com
Muay thai is coming along well. My neck is usually sore a few days after, but it comes with the territory. I have been picking larger people to spar with, so that makes things pretty interesting. usually I grapple with someone after we are done as well, to truly drain myself of ALL energy.
My friend Kristen comes into town this week! I am pretty excited. She was on my NCCC team last year and I really enjoyed spending time around her. Kristen is thinking of moving to Charlotte to go to school at Presbyterrian Hospital for Radiology. I am super stoked. Hopefully I can take a half day on saturday so we can hang out some. Regardless, its going to be fun to catch up and hang out.
Merry Christmas future greetings!
--Will DAlen Rice
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Regret?
Tonight was the first time I had a seed of a hint of doubt about my tattoo.
Tattoo some of you may be thinking? I am pretty sure most of you know, but in case you dont, I got a tatto 2 years ago, for Christmas. It says, it mirrored text, "be great" across the left side of my chest. Every morning I see it. It reaffirmes and reminds me that the one absolute I have in my life is my desire to die a "great" man.
It has its drawbacks. Greatness is probably most closely linked to struggle. The more struggle involved, often the more reward possible. While it is possible to live a blessed life with everything going your way, dont plan on it happening to you (unless your life is reality TV show produced by Disney).
So, what caused me to have regret? Well, tonight I started my REAL training at a Muay Thai gym in Statesville. This is the kind of place that is going to push me, teach me as much as I want to learn, and develop me into what I want as an MMA competitor. Everyone was training without a shirt on. I knew if I took mine off, I would be forced to make myself continue more when I wanted to stop. Even worse (or better?), somebody else might see it and push me more than I wanted to be pushed. Essentially, I feared that it would hold me more accountable than I thought I could be. Then I sort of realized how this type of thinking on my part was really what I had planned all along. So, I kept running. I kept crunching. I kept doing all the sadistic isometrics our probably-ex-army-ranger-turned-real-thai-fighter/crazy-exercise-instructor told us to do. And then it was over. And tommorrow I may not be able to lift my arms. And I think I want to spar more even though I got matted with a leg sweep that knocked the wind out of me (dont worry mom...i grow back, and the mats are soft, and wind eventually fills my lungs again once i find it, and he bought me a sport drink cause he felt bad).
Tommorrow holds VISTA training in the mountains. Tons of fun.
love y'all...happy voting day.
Tattoo some of you may be thinking? I am pretty sure most of you know, but in case you dont, I got a tatto 2 years ago, for Christmas. It says, it mirrored text, "be great" across the left side of my chest. Every morning I see it. It reaffirmes and reminds me that the one absolute I have in my life is my desire to die a "great" man.
It has its drawbacks. Greatness is probably most closely linked to struggle. The more struggle involved, often the more reward possible. While it is possible to live a blessed life with everything going your way, dont plan on it happening to you (unless your life is reality TV show produced by Disney).
So, what caused me to have regret? Well, tonight I started my REAL training at a Muay Thai gym in Statesville. This is the kind of place that is going to push me, teach me as much as I want to learn, and develop me into what I want as an MMA competitor. Everyone was training without a shirt on. I knew if I took mine off, I would be forced to make myself continue more when I wanted to stop. Even worse (or better?), somebody else might see it and push me more than I wanted to be pushed. Essentially, I feared that it would hold me more accountable than I thought I could be. Then I sort of realized how this type of thinking on my part was really what I had planned all along. So, I kept running. I kept crunching. I kept doing all the sadistic isometrics our probably-ex-army-ranger-turned-real-thai-fighter/crazy-exercise-instructor told us to do. And then it was over. And tommorrow I may not be able to lift my arms. And I think I want to spar more even though I got matted with a leg sweep that knocked the wind out of me (dont worry mom...i grow back, and the mats are soft, and wind eventually fills my lungs again once i find it, and he bought me a sport drink cause he felt bad).
Tommorrow holds VISTA training in the mountains. Tons of fun.
love y'all...happy voting day.
Monday, October 30, 2006
a few new things
There are a couple new things going on.
1. I finally finished working on the master bathroom here at the house. Now I have my own shower. I used a whole lot of caulk on it, so its likely to still be standing when the rest of the house falls over. The drywall still needs a little work, but its in a place thats not seen much, and water doesnt touch it.
2. It can now be currently listed that i am a dog-sitter. I am house and dog sitting for a couple that is somehow related to Habitat. I feel like I have talked to this guy before about something else, but I cant remember. I am meeting them tonight after...
3. Muay thai has now become a staple part of my diet. Mondays always happen at the Y, but I am also trying to fit Thursdays in as well, at a place in Statesville. Its a great facility, except its 20 miles away and it costs a lot. I am negotiating, especially since I only will be going once a week.
4. The ballet starts this week, and I dont have a way to get free tickets yet. I told Haley I would take her, so I gotta think real hard and start making phone calls to publications.
5. My new email adress is will.dalen@gmail.com
write a small note, so i can make sure y'all get it into your adress books.
love you,
--Will
1. I finally finished working on the master bathroom here at the house. Now I have my own shower. I used a whole lot of caulk on it, so its likely to still be standing when the rest of the house falls over. The drywall still needs a little work, but its in a place thats not seen much, and water doesnt touch it.
2. It can now be currently listed that i am a dog-sitter. I am house and dog sitting for a couple that is somehow related to Habitat. I feel like I have talked to this guy before about something else, but I cant remember. I am meeting them tonight after...
3. Muay thai has now become a staple part of my diet. Mondays always happen at the Y, but I am also trying to fit Thursdays in as well, at a place in Statesville. Its a great facility, except its 20 miles away and it costs a lot. I am negotiating, especially since I only will be going once a week.
4. The ballet starts this week, and I dont have a way to get free tickets yet. I told Haley I would take her, so I gotta think real hard and start making phone calls to publications.
5. My new email adress is will.dalen@gmail.com
write a small note, so i can make sure y'all get it into your adress books.
love you,
--Will
Friday, October 20, 2006
More Mold Please
So, I may have mentioned that I got to go under one of our houses a few weeks back and do some mold treatment. As a follow up to that incident, I placed a call to the people in charge of the crawlspace to find out what else should be done. They suggested that I:
1. buy one of those white painters suits (Tyvek)
2. buy a real GOOD respirator
3. get a wire brush
4. crawl under the house and brush it all down and then remove it from the crawl
Well, I had experience doing this, so it was going to be quite familiar to me, kind of like being back in the good 'ol NCCC again. I didnt want to relive the moment, but it was nice to have previous experience, knowing what it would be like.
Then, he called me back and told me that he would send his guys in to do the job instead. Even better.
Ever noticed how listening to the Counting Crows either validates your sadness and makes you feel better or it makes me feel better because you dont feel the same way they do? Either way, it seems sad music does the trick. Just like the lady I worked with at the speedway last week. She was always seeming so mad, that whenever I saw her I couldnt help but laugh and be glad I wasnt her. I told her this, and of course she smiled and together we laugh at her sullen mood. She gave me the finger to, through the mirror while smiling, as a joke. She wasnt my server though, so I didnt have to worry about her mood effecting my tips.
I drank a bunch of free champagne that night. It mixes quite well with tea, but not so well with carrying large trays of expensive glassware.
--DAlen
1. buy one of those white painters suits (Tyvek)
2. buy a real GOOD respirator
3. get a wire brush
4. crawl under the house and brush it all down and then remove it from the crawl
Well, I had experience doing this, so it was going to be quite familiar to me, kind of like being back in the good 'ol NCCC again. I didnt want to relive the moment, but it was nice to have previous experience, knowing what it would be like.
Then, he called me back and told me that he would send his guys in to do the job instead. Even better.
Ever noticed how listening to the Counting Crows either validates your sadness and makes you feel better or it makes me feel better because you dont feel the same way they do? Either way, it seems sad music does the trick. Just like the lady I worked with at the speedway last week. She was always seeming so mad, that whenever I saw her I couldnt help but laugh and be glad I wasnt her. I told her this, and of course she smiled and together we laugh at her sullen mood. She gave me the finger to, through the mirror while smiling, as a joke. She wasnt my server though, so I didnt have to worry about her mood effecting my tips.
I drank a bunch of free champagne that night. It mixes quite well with tea, but not so well with carrying large trays of expensive glassware.
--DAlen
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
My last entry?
Well, I created this blog to keep my loved ones and friends up to date while I was travelling in NCCC. Now that my life has become somewhat more stabilized, I am thinking of maybe letting it go. Any public opinion? I know my mom and Carla are big fans, but does anyone else read this?
Tommorrow is the first night of race weekend. I managed to swing a gig as a buss-boy at the speedway club. Jerrod says I can make at least 300 dollars for tommorrow, friday, and saturday. After that money and with my next paycheck I am going to be REALLY close to debt-free on credit cards! the end is near. Then it will be time to create savings and maybe pay some of my students loans off.
Rain Storms here tonight. love y'all.
--DAlen
Tommorrow is the first night of race weekend. I managed to swing a gig as a buss-boy at the speedway club. Jerrod says I can make at least 300 dollars for tommorrow, friday, and saturday. After that money and with my next paycheck I am going to be REALLY close to debt-free on credit cards! the end is near. Then it will be time to create savings and maybe pay some of my students loans off.
Rain Storms here tonight. love y'all.
--DAlen
Monday, October 09, 2006
Beach Weekend!
Last weekend was spent soaking up the sun and sand in lovely Charleston, SC. Well, actually we did go to Charleston, but there wasnt really any sun. Saturday after work, we basically got in our car and drove south. It was lightly raining off and on all day saturday, so we were glad to get out of here. Unfortunately, the rain was off and on all the way down to SC, and all the way to the beach. Night one of swimming and fun at the beach was cancelled due to inclement weather. It wasnt all a bust though, as myself, Steve, and Tak were privelidged enough to spend the evening with the lovely Jenny and even lovelier Bria (two VISTAs from my PSO in the ATL). There was much laughter and mischief once the lights went out and we all reverted back to the 4th grade.
The next day was sure to be full of blue sky and sunshine. Of course, that meant that it wasnt. The 3 of us left Bria to get rest and get better (she was a little sick with the Bubonic Plague) and went to eat breakfast with Blue 6. Uncle Leroi got to meet the entire team, and then they promptly left to do an ISP. So, we stayed and finished off their leftovers and did some dishes. Then it was to Charleston city to wander the market and cobblestone streets. The afternoon brought with it a relaxing Scorcesi Film (The Departed). Not to ruin the movie for you, but everyone dies. Typical for him. Last nights dinner was held at the Cantina under the hotel on Isle of Palms. Post dinner plans were again going to be swimming, but a much worse storm came and showed crazy lightening.
The lightening actually proved to be much better to watch than another movie, so Bria and I sat on her porch and watched 8-10 branch lightening bolts dance across the sky. It was amazing. I have never seen so many branches in my life. Unfortunately the frequency wasnt enough to make picture taking possible.
Today was our last day in Charleston. Bria went into the record books as being officially my third model. I got one good picture with Kat (first model) and maybe 5 good ones with Brianne. Hopefully I got some good ones with Bria, but I dont have my hopes high. The lighting was bad today and my batteries ran out. Oh well. We did find a wonderfully shady glenn on base with super old live oaks.
Back to work tommorrow. I am only working 2 days this week, because I am working the other 5 at the NASCAR race, hopefully making a bunch of money. So, Tuesday and Wednesday are going to be superbusy.
love y'all,
--Leroi
The next day was sure to be full of blue sky and sunshine. Of course, that meant that it wasnt. The 3 of us left Bria to get rest and get better (she was a little sick with the Bubonic Plague) and went to eat breakfast with Blue 6. Uncle Leroi got to meet the entire team, and then they promptly left to do an ISP. So, we stayed and finished off their leftovers and did some dishes. Then it was to Charleston city to wander the market and cobblestone streets. The afternoon brought with it a relaxing Scorcesi Film (The Departed). Not to ruin the movie for you, but everyone dies. Typical for him. Last nights dinner was held at the Cantina under the hotel on Isle of Palms. Post dinner plans were again going to be swimming, but a much worse storm came and showed crazy lightening.
The lightening actually proved to be much better to watch than another movie, so Bria and I sat on her porch and watched 8-10 branch lightening bolts dance across the sky. It was amazing. I have never seen so many branches in my life. Unfortunately the frequency wasnt enough to make picture taking possible.
Today was our last day in Charleston. Bria went into the record books as being officially my third model. I got one good picture with Kat (first model) and maybe 5 good ones with Brianne. Hopefully I got some good ones with Bria, but I dont have my hopes high. The lighting was bad today and my batteries ran out. Oh well. We did find a wonderfully shady glenn on base with super old live oaks.
Back to work tommorrow. I am only working 2 days this week, because I am working the other 5 at the NASCAR race, hopefully making a bunch of money. So, Tuesday and Wednesday are going to be superbusy.
love y'all,
--Leroi
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Life is indeed SWEET!!!
Life is good. the more I experience, the more i realize that its dang cool. The difficulty is realizing that life is good. You see, there is no one thing that makes life good. Investigating it on a level of single aspects leaves it up to some temporal results. Today is a good day. Tommorrow may be bad. You have to look at the overall picture. When you compare and contrast, the good pretty much equal out the bad. But you see, then you go back and you eliminate the bad, forget that life sucks on stormy days. Look forward to when the sun shines.
One of my friends just got engaged. Congrats Jamie. If ever there was a cooler woman, i dont know her. I am pretty sure she is essentially the woman version of me. She once described me as a cross between her really close ex-boy and the guy that is now her fiance. Pretty sure we will always be friends, whether or not we are near...72 hours will do that to people.
My job is great. the work isnt awesome, or challenging, or up to my mental capacity as an engineer. The pay is crap. the people I work with are cool. I push papers around a lot. but, the motive and goal is incredible. Affordable housing. poverty issues. its where i am supposed to be for the next year...and i will do it best i can.
today, for the first time in my life, i worked on MY garden. I transplanted a morning glory from down the street. i hope it doesnt die. the soil here is harsh.
today is the first of october. today marks the beginning of my training. this will be my year of cardio and strength training. 1 month structured serious self abuse in the name of progress, then 1 month of overactive lifestyling. rinse. repeat.
happy autumn! --DAlen
PS seriously, who sent me the text message!?
One of my friends just got engaged. Congrats Jamie. If ever there was a cooler woman, i dont know her. I am pretty sure she is essentially the woman version of me. She once described me as a cross between her really close ex-boy and the guy that is now her fiance. Pretty sure we will always be friends, whether or not we are near...72 hours will do that to people.
My job is great. the work isnt awesome, or challenging, or up to my mental capacity as an engineer. The pay is crap. the people I work with are cool. I push papers around a lot. but, the motive and goal is incredible. Affordable housing. poverty issues. its where i am supposed to be for the next year...and i will do it best i can.
today, for the first time in my life, i worked on MY garden. I transplanted a morning glory from down the street. i hope it doesnt die. the soil here is harsh.
today is the first of october. today marks the beginning of my training. this will be my year of cardio and strength training. 1 month structured serious self abuse in the name of progress, then 1 month of overactive lifestyling. rinse. repeat.
happy autumn! --DAlen
PS seriously, who sent me the text message!?
Friday, September 15, 2006
"What would you say you do here!?"
So, everyone is asking me what exactly my new job is. To start off, lets explain VISTA.
VISTA is:
-Volunteers in Service to America
-AmeriCorps branch that tries to eliminate poverty (despite knowing thats impossible)
-the only non-direct branch, which means that we dont swing the hammers, but rather create sustinable programs that enable the hammer to get swung
-the branch that seems to create more policy change than physical "i just did that" change
Now, as a VISTA member, I am working with a Habitat for Humanity Chapter, called Out Towns. Our Towns refers to Davidson, Cornelius, Huntersville, and Mooresville, now which are all partly mine, apparenetly (yes its true kids, not spelling well doesnt disqualify you from being able to own a town). I have an office at the Out Town office. Acutally, my office used to be split between Manny and Phil, the two contruction guys. Manny is in MS right now, and I moved all his stuff to Phil's desk, and took over his computer (which I actually relocated from the Volunteer area, where Syd mainly used it). My (our) original computer was blue-screening (aka broken).
So what do I do? So far, my main project has been dealing with homeowner warranty issues. I have sorted the mess all out. Many of the issues were already taken care of, dont apply because its been too long (we only service the homes for a year), or were an exageration (homeowners tell lots of fish stories). My next project looks like it will involve me educating everyone the benefits of Microsoft Project and the wonderfull world of the Gantt Chart. Scoot back in your chair before you fall off the edge.
I think today I am going swimming. tommorrow I get to do some direct service...but dont tell VISTA!
--Will DAlen Rice
VISTA is:
-Volunteers in Service to America
-AmeriCorps branch that tries to eliminate poverty (despite knowing thats impossible)
-the only non-direct branch, which means that we dont swing the hammers, but rather create sustinable programs that enable the hammer to get swung
-the branch that seems to create more policy change than physical "i just did that" change
Now, as a VISTA member, I am working with a Habitat for Humanity Chapter, called Out Towns. Our Towns refers to Davidson, Cornelius, Huntersville, and Mooresville, now which are all partly mine, apparenetly (yes its true kids, not spelling well doesnt disqualify you from being able to own a town). I have an office at the Out Town office. Acutally, my office used to be split between Manny and Phil, the two contruction guys. Manny is in MS right now, and I moved all his stuff to Phil's desk, and took over his computer (which I actually relocated from the Volunteer area, where Syd mainly used it). My (our) original computer was blue-screening (aka broken).
So what do I do? So far, my main project has been dealing with homeowner warranty issues. I have sorted the mess all out. Many of the issues were already taken care of, dont apply because its been too long (we only service the homes for a year), or were an exageration (homeowners tell lots of fish stories). My next project looks like it will involve me educating everyone the benefits of Microsoft Project and the wonderfull world of the Gantt Chart. Scoot back in your chair before you fall off the edge.
I think today I am going swimming. tommorrow I get to do some direct service...but dont tell VISTA!
--Will DAlen Rice
Monday, September 11, 2006
MS...beautifull MS
I went to MS for the week. It was hot as hell. We framed an entire house. I feel at this point that I could oversee the framing process from the cutting of the plates, to the construction of the walls, to the final process of cap plating. Learning alot is an understatement.
There was also a chance meeting with my old roomy, DJ. He is down there, working it up with an NCCC team for another year. I also managed to catch up with one of my potential life mates, Tori. We went to Wal-mart and just basically hung out and reminisced. It was a short time, but very enjoyable and it seemed like it was just yesterday that we were all together.
Now, I am back here in wonderfull NC. Yesterday we went up to Babel Towers in the Linville Gorge. I jumped a couple times from the cliff. It really put the life back into me. Unfortunately the weather didnt cooperate and some very loud lightning forced us to "oh crap, we should leave." Somehow, the 3 girls i was with got lots of cuts, scrapes, and bruises. It seems that always happens when i get girls to go to water holes with me. Dont know why.
Tommorrow will be the re-start of my job. I dont know what I will be getting into tommorrow, but it should be pretty laid back. Thursday I might go to a concert. Life is easing back into normalcy for me, which means lots of fun here in Charlotte. Sometime this week I'll start training again, hopefully keeping it up for more than a month. Now that I have my UFC poster on the wall, I wake up to inspiration.
I may be getting a cell phone tommorrow. I can almost hear the gasps from everyone reading this now.
be great, be the change
--DAlen
There was also a chance meeting with my old roomy, DJ. He is down there, working it up with an NCCC team for another year. I also managed to catch up with one of my potential life mates, Tori. We went to Wal-mart and just basically hung out and reminisced. It was a short time, but very enjoyable and it seemed like it was just yesterday that we were all together.
Now, I am back here in wonderfull NC. Yesterday we went up to Babel Towers in the Linville Gorge. I jumped a couple times from the cliff. It really put the life back into me. Unfortunately the weather didnt cooperate and some very loud lightning forced us to "oh crap, we should leave." Somehow, the 3 girls i was with got lots of cuts, scrapes, and bruises. It seems that always happens when i get girls to go to water holes with me. Dont know why.
Tommorrow will be the re-start of my job. I dont know what I will be getting into tommorrow, but it should be pretty laid back. Thursday I might go to a concert. Life is easing back into normalcy for me, which means lots of fun here in Charlotte. Sometime this week I'll start training again, hopefully keeping it up for more than a month. Now that I have my UFC poster on the wall, I wake up to inspiration.
I may be getting a cell phone tommorrow. I can almost hear the gasps from everyone reading this now.
be great, be the change
--DAlen
Saturday, September 02, 2006
New Spike tommorrow!
Tommorrow morning, I am leaving at 4:30am to drive to MS to help build houses. We will be staying in some type of Red Cross shelter, getting paid very little, but helping to make a difference. Its like an NCCC spike all over again (minus the blue 6 crowd, the longer-than-one-week stay, and everyone wearing the same clothes). I do miss NCCC.
What have I been doing for the past 10 days? Well, I stopped burning the forest, drove to Athens for my annual birthday party at UGA (Alex's b-day, not mine), drove to ATL for 4 days of orientation, met some cool girls, found a cool bar that rotates at the top of a building, came to Mooresville NC, finished a house to live in, moved in, worked 3 days in the office, worked one day framing walls and finishing top plates, and went to a baseball game. Somewhere in there, I also ended up seeing my old roomy eric, started wondering where my old neighbors Robin, Allan, and Chris are, played some Stout Frisbee golf with Cody, and hung out with Jerrod and his girlfriend.
Life is good...as long as you want it to be.
--DAlen
What have I been doing for the past 10 days? Well, I stopped burning the forest, drove to Athens for my annual birthday party at UGA (Alex's b-day, not mine), drove to ATL for 4 days of orientation, met some cool girls, found a cool bar that rotates at the top of a building, came to Mooresville NC, finished a house to live in, moved in, worked 3 days in the office, worked one day framing walls and finishing top plates, and went to a baseball game. Somewhere in there, I also ended up seeing my old roomy eric, started wondering where my old neighbors Robin, Allan, and Chris are, played some Stout Frisbee golf with Cody, and hung out with Jerrod and his girlfriend.
Life is good...as long as you want it to be.
--DAlen
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Yay comments!
Well, I got the comments. Thanks everyone. I'll try and dig up some good naked pics from somewhere. It could take a while though...girls dont really talk to me much.
I just discovered some really good music. Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. Theyre gonna go big when people here them.
Only a few days left until the new job starts up. It looks like I might get a chance to go to MS to do some building right at the beginning of my service year. Maybe I can reunite with Tori.
How is the rest of the team doing? Anyone out there?
Life is good. So was Little Miss Sunshine.
The mohawk is back.
--DAlen
I just discovered some really good music. Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. Theyre gonna go big when people here them.
Only a few days left until the new job starts up. It looks like I might get a chance to go to MS to do some building right at the beginning of my service year. Maybe I can reunite with Tori.
How is the rest of the team doing? Anyone out there?
Life is good. So was Little Miss Sunshine.
The mohawk is back.
--DAlen
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