Ok, so I am bad about updating this thing..... sorry.

I hope everyone has had a good Christmas Season, I know mine has been filled with parties, get-togethers, family visits, and all the drama that goes along with those things. I did get some very cool gifts for Christmas and my Birthday (Yesterday), among them, a "Darth Tater" potato head doll, it is about the funniest thing I have ever seen.

I want to take a chance to request some prayers, one for a friend with some health issues, that the doctors can diagnose what they have and find a way to cure or treat it. Also, prayers for my friend that was robbed a few weeks ago, hope that they get everything back in order. Prayers for my Church for the new year, that the direction and decisions are of God, and not leadership or the congeration. And also I would pray that everyone has a fun and safe New Years, and a great 2006.

I will be posting more soon, and maybe even a few pictures on the photo blog.

Thoughts from the end of the hall.

Random musings from the back of my mind.

I have recently found that I have a way of making almost anyone hate me, and it has to do with my conversations and some of my own personal philosophy. I ask too many questions, I answer questions with questions. I have a problem.

I admit it, I have a problem. I have a problem with statements, sentences, answers. I. Do. Not. Like. Them.

They lead no where, they are dead; once said they have no importance. I love Questions, questions have a purpose that out lives themselves. Questions lead to more questions, they are alive. Questions have meaning, they have substance, they learn. I think that more and more I have come to embrace this concept in much of my life, I do not like to hear anything but questions. Questions are how you get to know someone, how you learn about them. A well phrased question will be remembered (e.g Et tu Brute?) where as the answer is sometimes worthless.

If I tell you that the answer is 34 plus or minus 2, it means absolutely nothing, it is only numbers. If I tell you that "Edward did it" there would be nothing to work with. The question is what matters, without it words are only noise.

The question is the fundamental concept that learning is possible. Notice how people phrase the age old "Question", "Why did the caveman draw on the wall?" It to me seems that the answer is, that his friend asked how many Mastadons there were 3 hills over and the guy needed more space to answer in. A cave painting, a picture, a book, the internet, all of these are about the beauty of the Question; why did the cave man paint? We know he did, we know how, we know what he painted with, we even know when; but we are fascinated with the WHY. The Mona Lisa is not the most famous painting because it is executed wonderfully, or uses color better than any other, it is famous cause everyone wonders why she smiles like she does. You buy a book because you have a question, if you had the answers, you would not need it.

Even think about the word "Question". It is a Quest, a journey towards an end. It is the act of seeking, it is the adventure of learning.

I admit I have a love of the Question.

Why?

Ok, some thanksgiving pictures are up. For those of ya'll who don't know, one side of the family likes to do thanksgiving with everyone in town. This is my dad's side, and I am the shortest one of my generation of the guys, and I am 6'3 or 6'4.

The trip went well, two and a half hour drive this time, no where near the drive I had on my last trip (Evacuation from Rita).

Well I will give a few more updates soon, hop all are well and had a joyful thanksgiving. Enjoy the day, and leave a message

Alright folks, short update.

'Tis Sunday, tired as all get out.
Still not loving the work life.
There is no work getting done around the house.
Holiday are apoun us like the Vandals sacking Rome.

BTW, what is the deal with everyone trying to tell you to stop being a "bah hum bug" or a "Grinch" during the holidays?!? I mean really, do folks think that people aren't already aware that they are not in the spirit of things for some reason, and that they ought to cheer up a bit. Folks, ask a question, offer a shoulder, be kind to someone. Berating someone who is not in the holiday spirit is like giving someone with a heartattack a good scare; you might like it, but is not a good thing for the recipient.

continuing on:

I still am single.
Friends are always asking for help, and I am a "great guy".
Friends forget about me, or just don't remember me sometimes.
I need to go to bed and hope tomorrow is a better day.

Who am I kidding, tomorrow is Monday, lets hope Tuesday is good.

Sorry bout the mope-fest, just been a tought few weeks.

Later folks,

The really really really tired guy, Matt.

Just a quick update, you can now visit my Photo Blog, http://thephilosophicalengineerphoto.blogspot.com/

Take a stumble around and let me know what you think of some of the photos I wish to let others see. They are not the best, I save those for my own walls, but they are good enough to share.

Take a look and let me konw what you think.

Ok it's been a while, but life has been very busy, not a good excuse, but it has the novelty of being honest.

I have some big decisions coming up in my life soon. I think that I am going to be looking for a new job soon, and trying to find a bit more sastification in that arena. I have also been asked to join a different ministry team at Church. While this is an honor, it is a big decision and one i need to pray and think on at length, if anyone has advice, let me know, I would love some help with this one.

Other that I am working my self to death and trying to get used to this time change, it is really messing with me though.

Well it is off to bed with me, have a great evening folks,

Wow, busy few weeks.

Lets see, Work is like always challenging, rough, and a fight to stay concentrated on such mundane tasks. I really enjoy some aspects of the job, but other parts of it bore me to tears.

Rita Hit about 2 weeks ago and it was a really interesting experience to be part of the "Evacuation". I drove to stay with my family in Austin, normally about a 2 to 2.5 hour drive, it took me 17 hours to get there. 12 hours is spent getting 1/8 of the way there, the other 7/8th took only 5 hours. My left arm got sunburned so badly that is it still peeling, 2 weeks later. I think I actually had a first degree burn at places. But after all of that, I got to a safe place, saw the family, and there was no damage to my house at all. God was really looking after lots of people that day, and I am glad for it. It was interesting though, my sense of humor really seemed to help me through everything, I was singing with KSBJ for like 6 hours, laughing and smiling, and getting the folks around me to smile in their cars too. I was watching movies on my laptop and enjoying it. I made jokes with the drives around me, and talked to folks on the road and basically did what i could to keep folks spirits up. It was interesting for me to be the cheerful one picking people up and getting them to smile, but it was the right thing to do.

Sine then, it has become very clear to me what is important and what is just nice to have. I think it is kinda sad that it takes a disaster or the threat of a disaster to really draw that line for you. When you have to evacuate from your house in less than 3 days, in only one vehicle, you really take stock of your possessions and their meaning and it makes you analyze what is really important to you. For me it was photos of my grandfather, my diploma, and a few other sedemintal things. Other than those, I had my bike, some clothes and my computers. Everything else I left at my house, come what may. It was nice stuff, but not irreplaceable. I think it is after things like this that folks really understand what life is. It is not "Things", not "Stuff", not "Possessions", it is friends, and memories, and experiences that make a life. The things just make it a bit easier.

I have gotten really into this whole mountain biking thing, I went clipless a few weeks back and i love the things, my peddling is so much more efficient, I can go faster farther and longer and not feel as tired at the end of the ride. It is also really helping with the weight loss, I am now down near 295, and for me that is a pretty good loss. I hope i can keep with it, and do some more good, if nothing else it is a great way to spend time, better than in front of the TV with a bag of Doritos.

Well i better get to sleep soon, have a great weeks folks, and thanks for stopping by and looking around my random thoughts.

Tired........


....... So very Tired.

Sorry it has been so long folks, I have been getting a bit worn down by life lately. I am having to work through some things right now, and it seems that every issue requires lots of time and work on it to get it to if not a final position, a stable location. I seem to be doing many thing, for lots of folks, and I never take time for myself. But that is my MO, help everyone else ignore myself. I am on the verge of doing somethings that would make me happy and might disappoint or even make some other people mad. I have gotten to this point, mainly because nice guys (me, maybe) really do finish last and it is never fun to be dead last in everything.

if this post made any sense, be glad, i am so tired right now, I am not sure i can even really type properly.

later ya'll

Wow, what a heck of a week and only Tuesday. It has been a rough week so far and not looking to get any easier. However, I got a double dose of one of my few guilty pleasures.

Oh get your mind out of the gutter people!!

It is another of my TV shows. I will say though that i only watch like 6 hours of shows a week, plus sports, but that is more recreation than anything else. Meanwhile back to the show, House. I just love the non-stop snark and sarcasm and slamming that goes on, it makes that sort of evil mean part of my heart leap with joy. I simply enjoy getting to watch a show with a lovable mean guy who spouts venom with every step, yet is respected by everyone.

Enough of the rampant fanboyisms, I am going to try and get to bed early tonight, try and have a good day tomorrow.

BTW, Space Opera, is not a term i invented, it is a term that is used to describe a work of science fiction that is grand in scale, scope, and drama. Good examples are the Star Wars series by G. Lucas, 2001 by S. Kubrick, and to an extent Star Trek.

Hope everyone is well, and have a great week, write a comment if you get a chance.

Ok I just gotta throw my appreciation behind a specific TV show. I am a bit of a fan of any Sci Fi, well more fanatical than anything. Being such a fan of the genre in general and in particular the "space opera" sub-genre, I have found a new rival for best Sci Fi series ever. Nothing will ever really be able to replace Babylon 5 for me, it was just perfect in terms of scope and writing and all of that, but this program comes close.

What program could I be talking about?

What show could engender such devotion out of a jaded Sci Fi junky?

Battle Star Galatica, BSG for short.

It is a great show, with a very well put together cast and writers who seem to really get into the spirit and minds of the characters they have created. The dialogue is spot on great most of the times, and it is VERY lean, they are pretty good about allowing the audience to figure out things on their own and to let the action speak for what it is. There need not be some "after action" narration to tell you what is happening, the writers and producers really do think that people are smart enough to figure somethings out.

The other thing I love about the pacing of the episodes is that in 45 or 46 minutes of programming, there is not a wasted moment. The payoff might be 3 or 4 episodes later, but I have rarely seen a wasted minute in this show. Compare this writing to say any other show, SG-1 (least this season of it), SGA (most of the whole thing), CSI (technobabble defined); all of these examples have somewhat inconsistent characterization, some poor casting choices at times, sloth like paceing, or sprinters pacing, neither of which really leads to any tension. My thing about the pacing of a good dramatic space opera is it should be like a properly prepared and served 5 course meal, it ought to start right, be fast enough you don't get bored, but enough time to really enjoy what is in front of you; the paceing should not feel like a sloth waddling by so slow that you have enough time to really nail the inconsistencies. The pace of the episode should also not go by so fast that you miss some details, or even major plot points because you are trying to fit more CGI budget into the last act and running of time in act 2.

I just had to take the time today and think about why I enjoy this show so much, it is great and I love it. Folks may think i am odd, but so what, most of you do anyways.

Hope everyone is well and having a decent week so far. Stay safe and write a comment or two.

Howdy Folks,

I know it has been a while since I wrote, however it has been a very difficult week or so and I feel justified in taking it a bit easy.

I thought that this week I would share some fun links I have collected:

http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/index.html

That is where the map above came from, it is a GPS trace of the trail, pretty cool huh?

Another fun link is ThinkGeek. Really cool site if you are all about embracing the inner Geek. Hey what can I say, I am a Geek and I am probably smarter than you?? :) he he he, Just kidding, if you are reading this you are smart enough already, and only getting smarter.

Another fun one is Television Without Pity, a place that takes snark and refines it to a true artform. If you watch any TV and want to see what they have to say on some certain shows, check it out, they are really funny sometimes.

Ok this one is easy, easy as pie. Sorry that joke was just asking to be made. I love to go and visit FoodNetwork, it is fun and informative and some really good ideas for meals.

Other than that, I hope everyone has a good week and all that jazz, I will try and post an update sometime this week.

Later folks,

Life, and the things that go with it.

don't you just love life sometimes, I am actually not being sarcastic when I say that, for once. I really do sometimes just plain love life, or rather seeing God in the little things that can really make a day better.

Things like :

1) A great Sunset after you had an annoying day and just happened to sit down to dinner facing west.

2) Random phone calls from friends just calling to say hey.

3) Doing a great job at work and actually having someone praise you for it. Almost like someone actually notices that you are a good person to have around.

4) Having change be a $1.97, and getting $2 back, some folks don't mind the $0.03, and it is nice to see that is a store.

5) Seeing my bathroom scale with smaller number almost ever day.

6) Just knowing that all of these things are part of God's creation, and reminding yourself that He really does care and is concerned with your life.

I thought I would drop those few thoughts on folks, and maybe ever brighten someone's day up.

Hey if you get a chance leave me a comment, it is nice to know some folks really do read this. Have a great night ya'll and enjoy God's creation.

Howdy Folks,

I just got back from the Mission trip I took with my Church, Foundry UMC. WE went to Jaurez Mexico for a week and built 2 houses for families. It was my 3rd time going down and this time something really struck me this year.

First off, getting off the ground was a bit difficult, we flew on Southwest, and they are cheap. They are cheap cause they run a tight, lean ship. This lean running also means that when some flights are delayed, there are no spare pilots available and you get to spend an extra 5 hours in the airport. This can lead to extreme boredom and the quick depletion of books, conversation topics and in some cases, friendships. After we finally got into El Paso, it was not too difficult to get in to Proyecto Abrigo again.

The folks at PA are great, they provide a safe place to stay, sleep, and eat. I personally love all the food they serve us, however some folks just do not like it at all, I think they are crazy.

This week I got to drive our group to the worksite and back several times and it was very interesting, I had never driven in Mexico before and it was a very odd thing to do. The traffic laws seem to be a bit more flexible there, and it took some getting used too. But we made it just fine and no one got injured at all working this week.

I have this to say about the people of Juarez though, they may not have lots of money or stuff, but they sure do have happiness, joy, peace, family and all the things that make life worth living. I think there is more to learn from the people we met than from the work we did. But do not get me wrong, the work was tough but worth it.

Well that is a short recap of the last week, I may post some other stories later.

Have a great week folks.

Wow, This was a kinda fun weekend. I went biking 2 times this last weekend and I finally finished 2 trails. I got out to the "Bowl" at Terry Hershey Park, and I also finished the "Green Trail" at Memorial. These are fairly good trails with roots and hills and all sorts of stuff. I think it is a pretty good accomplishment, and if you disagree too bad.

I am still working at losing weight these days, however the progress has slowed down a bit, I figure I have basically burned the easy part so far now it is down to the nitty gritty. I guess all of the cook outs and BBq's I have gone too have not helped either. I am just keeping one thing in mind, everything is an improvement, if I am going to meet my personal goals, I have to stay the course. Discouragement is worse then a few slices of pizza, or an extra serving of anything.

I am also trying to stay positive about other thing these days, but it does take some time. Basically I have always had low self esteem and I have to work really hard to get it up to a healthy level. I have recently done a few "personality" things, and courses, and for the most part I am doing what I should. I guess it is just difficult when everyone else is not doing their part.

I had a great 4th, and I hope soon to be able to post some of my pictures so everyone can see them.

Other than that, have a great week and a safe weekend everyone,

Howdy Folks,

I hope veryone is doing well today. I had a wonderful evening tonight, I got to hang out with some old friends from college and it was wonderful. We ate burgers, talked jobs, and families, and caught up on folks we used to know. I am so glad I know a group of folks who will take me in at anytime and will help me through everything.

I hope everyone can find a group of folks like this, I know i found this bunch at Church and it is almost the perfect place to find them. You always have something to talk about, and you can be fairly certian of some of the values of the people. I also just have to say how thankful I am for my church "The Foundry", it is a great place and I think i may have started to find my puropuse in life and a place to belong. I think that churches are like that because that are God's house, and we are all his childern, everyone should feel right at home in a church.

well that is enough talking tonight, have a great night, and a better week ahead.

Howdy folks, I am hoping that i can do a bit better of a job of keeping this blog updated. It is going to be a sort of keeping up with Matt sort of thing. I will hopefully be posting some intresting stories (the names will be changed to protect the guilty), and hopefully some cool photos too.

BTW, Batman Begins is a pretty darn fun movie, i enjoyed it.