Weekend Plans 5-27 to 5-30

Today I unwillingly woke up in order to get ready for the place we all love -- work. The shift I had today at Ukrop's was 10-6:15 and man it was pretty busy up front and it wasn't even Friday or Saturday. I don't want to think about how many people will be up in the store Friday and Saturday (weekend before memorial day).

Tomorrow I'll be back at Ukrop's for a 9:30 - 3:30 shift, which should go by fast since I'll have a 30 min break AND a 15 minute break. I won't mind if it's busy, time will fly and the sooner work ends, the sooner my weekend fun begins.

Tomorrow's day at work should pass quick and everything will be great again when 5:30/6pm rolls around. At that time, I'm taking Maria out to dinner since we haven't done that since Valentine's Day and since we've both been working so much and not seeing much of each other.

Oh, and tomorrow is Pay Day, thank goodness because I have exacty $4.62 to my name currently. Good thing I'll scrap up about a $150 check, which should last for about a week after half goes into my account and half goes into my pocket. No doubt the latter half will disappear quicker than Frodo Baggins with a ring on.

Saturday I have a 2:45-close shift, which totally puts a depressing mood on my weekend. Sunday, I have no idea what's going on for Sunday. I may stay here or I may go with Maria to Cumberland and visit her family there and eat all the ribs I want. What a bind!

Well.... the bed is calling me. Working for 8 hours and then playing basketball right after for 3 hours combines for quite a tired and aching body. Bed, here I come.

Enjoy YOUR weekend.

Last thoughts for tonight

Have you noticed when you get tired your mind wanders and you think about anything and everything? Well if you haven't noticed, that's what happens when you're tired -- I KNOW.

Don't worry if everything seems random -- it's meant to be.

Yesterday was pretty fun, it was a nice, sunny day and perfect for the big ole family cookout we had to send my grandparents off. They come back to the VA every spring from Texas before they meet up with other retired couples for a caravan across parts of the country. My grandfather is an avid coach master and I hope to travel like he does when I'm his age.

Today I worked at Petersburg National Battlefield for 5 hours and as soon as 2pm rolled around I headed home to a quiet, empty house and ate some food and took a nap.

After my nap, Old Navy was calling because I need some new clothes.

My grandma makes some really awesome banana split cake and she made sure I got some before she took off.

As soon as this summer passes, which I'm sure it will quickly, it's back to Longwood with my bros. Fern, Patrick, and Thomas along with me will be "maxin' and relaxin' (shootin' some bball) at Sunchase apartments. Can't wait to move in, have my something to call my own place, and jump in that pool. Not to mention I'll be living it up since I will graduate May 2006. [excuse the reference to the fresh prince of bel air theme song].

Currently listening to:

Mae -- The Everglow
Weezer -- Make Believe
The Academy Is -- Almost Here


GOODNIGHT.

Morals... what are they? where do they come from?

Morals

Recently there was a program on TV -- dont remember which exactly, i watch a variety of news channels -- and the topic of morals and what they are was the debate-at-hand among the panel. There were two key figures arguing over morals and its origin.

We'll designate them Person 1 and Person 2.

Person 1 was arguing his point that morals are from the origins of religion and the underlying principles behind religion. He was, by the way, a Christian.

Person 2 was arguing his point AGAINST the fact that morals come from religious origins. He said the following:

"Morals are guided by principles such as tolerance, fairness, and well-being and are not specifically religious oriented. Morals come from within man and his search for righteousness and aren't in any way in a religious context"

OH REALLY?

Your "principles" such as tolerance and fairness have quite the opposite origin as you profess. Let's go back in history and let's look at documents that just may have something to do with morals.

I guess the TEN COMMANDMENTS do not ring a bell in this guy's head?

In each of the three major religions -- Christianity, Islam, and Judaism -- there are "guidelines" regarding morals and a search for righteousness.

Religion has EVERYTHING to do with morals. Morals originate in religion and ultimately God. Now, let's look at some definitions from the internet regarding morals.

Webster-Dictionary.com
"motivation based on ideas of RIGHT and WRONG"

Answers.com
"Of or concerned with the judgment of the goodness or badness of human action and character"

WordReference.com
"motivation based on ideas of right and wrong"

But where oh where do these crazy ideas of RIGHT and WRONG come from? Did man himself define what is right and what is wrong? Does man have the right to decide what is right and what is wrong? I say... No.

Christian perspective
I will give you what my convictions are based on my point of view and if you DO NOT like it, please go on to a blog that gives you what you like and what you WANT to hear. I'm just going to tell you truth as I am convicted to do.

Man did not create himself, man did not create his environment, man is not completely righteous, man has a beginning and an ending, which is why man can not decide what is ultimately and eternally right and wrong -- leave that up to God who is the beginning and the end (the Alpha and Omega). God is the only being completely and eternally righteous, which means only God decides what is right and wrong.

You may ask "If God is the only one who can decide what is right and wrong then how can I differ between the two?"

Easy....... Ten Commandments. Here you can find "ideas" like "tolerance" and "fairness."

Here I give you MY definition of morals -- as convicted by my Christianity and salvation:

1. the attempt to be righteous and do right and make decisions based on principles of ultimate righteousness, which can only be sought and not achieved by man

2. morals must be based on a higher standard and form of right as well as acting AND practicing that which is considered moral based on primarily the 10 Commandments as well other "ideas" and "principles" found in the Bible

People can argue among themselves day and night on what morals are and how they are interpreted, which is why we'll leave it up to God to ultimately decide.

Morals can not be created by man for man for reasons stated above.

Summer on it's way to full throttle

Summer is officially here and it's definitely in 2nd gear quickly on it's way to 5th (or 6th) and it will be gone before we know it like every other summer in the past.

But don't let that bum you out... enjoy the summer before it's gone (coming from a guy who will be working 6 days a week).

Working 6 days a week isn't as bad as you think, it has it's advantages like for instance... MONEY, but that is out of the question for me because I work for free 2 days per week.

I have an internship at Petersburg National Battlefield so I will be working there on Mondays and Wednesdays and working at Ukrop's every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Since Petersburg National Battlefield doesn't pay, Ukrop's will be my main source of income so come and visit me because I will be there a lot.

So far I only have plans for 2 or 3 days at the beach, so I will definitely enjoy those because it's definitely not enough time at the beach. When Im not at work Im going to try and play basketball as much as possible to stay in shape as well as spend some time outside since I'll be a Ukrop's hermit.

Hope your summer will include more fun in the sun than me!

21st Bday, Finals Week, Summer Plans

Finals week started on Monday (May 2), which just so happened to also be my birthday.... how awesome is it that on my birthday finals start [sarcastic of course]!

I started the week off by taking an American Revolution final exam on Monday, which wasn't too bad. To make the day even better, it was my [and my twin brother's] 21st birthday and we celebrated it with the Longwood Crew (Fern, Patrick, April, Maria, Thomas, Me and absent Carriee).

We went to Macado's and Patrick had a hard time pronouncing the name of the restaurant and he didn't hear the end of it from us either. It was a great time and one of the best bdays I've ever had, even better than my Ninja Turtles bday back in the day or my Pog Tournament bday back in 5th grade. Yea.... I know what you're thinking and you're right, i AM cool.

Today I took my 2nd of 3 exams, which was a class called How Great Generals Win. Now that exam suprised me because the exam was exactly what he gave us on our Study Guide, so I had that junk memorized. Also got a paper back, which was about the Spanish Conquest of the Aztecs (if you care -- sure you don't). That also made my day sweet -- "A+, spectacular paper."

Between FIFA, trips to the D Hall, net surfing, facebook checking, and straight napping, I've successfully downplayed Finals Week and have made it so insignificant in my mind that there is no such thing as stress. Sorry if you can't be stress free during Finals Week....... try living a little.

One more exam to go and this one's going to be a challenge because it's Spanish 202, but you know what? I still won't stress over it because I'll do my best and if that's not good enough for Longwood then guess what? [You can figure out the rest!]

Looking forward to heading home on Friday, goin' out with THE FELLAS (TM) on Saturday night, hittin' up the batting cage on Sunday with Jake the snake, heading to NJ and NY City May 11 - 13, and just living it up and enjoying the rays.

Despite all the fun, it will come to an end.... I have to meet my internship requirement this summer at Petersburg National Battlefield [come visit me there] as well as working at Ukrop's, where I have become a senior front end cashier [nothing of significance ... I made it up]. This coming August will mark the 5th anniversary of working at Ukrop's, which also makes me feel old.