Hey there folks, I simply wanted to say that the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is actually kinda fun. I got the chance to see Pat Green perform and he did a pretty good job.

It is fun, however there were quite a few "prosta-tots", the high school hoochie girls. My buddy John coined the term and it made me laugh for about 5 minutes.

If you ever get the chance to go to the rodeo, I would recommend that you do. It is a very enjoyable experience. The performance was good, the fair was interesting. I enjoyed just watching some of the folks out there. I will probably post some of my pictures on the photo blog.

have a great weekend, everyone,

Bible study tonight made me think of something, so you readers will have to forgive me if i start to preach a bit. We studied Lent, and talked about the season, the traditions and some of the meanings behind it, and it got me to thinking.

Why is it that we live a season of Lent, why not aim for a Lenten Life. I admit, i think it would be tough, but is that not what we are ultimately called to do, live a life that is free of sin. A Lenten life would be one of deep introspection, prayer, and service, sounds like a good definition of a Christian life to me. I really do think that a life lived in all seasons as Lent would be a good thing for Christians.

Most folks look at Lent as the time that you give up something you like, chocolate, caffeine, cokes, what ever that thing that you like is. These sacrifices should really have some spiritual signfiance, not simply an ascetic removal of pleasure from your life. I think for lent it is more about identifying the sin in your life and stepping in with Doctor God to excise that cancer from your soul. That removal may take something with it, but it was probably not a good thing to begin with. The other reason I like the Great Healer analogy is that no one would ever do surgery on them selves, like real open heart type surgery. God must be the one doing his work, we simply have to let him, and we have to trust.

I think this Lent during the times of introspection I am going to ask that God identify my flaws, and help me to set out an action plan to remedy them. I will ask what i need to "give up", not just for lent so folks know I am a good Christian and I follow the traditions, but rather the big things, the Sins i love so much that are the Devil's work in me to separate me from God. Lent should not be 40 days of right living and prayer to make up for the other 325 days of debauchery and fun. Lent should be a reminder, and an encourager to us all, a season to re-charge and realign our minds and should with God. Life should be lived every hour as if it were Ash Wednesday Service, not depressed, down, self loathing time. Rather a time of introspection, correction, improvement, and total surrender to the Healer, Jesus.

Well now that i have preached and bored you all, leave a comment, let me know what you think,

Also, if it is your way, please pray for all Christians during Lent, that God will act in their lives and souls and help us realign with his path for each of us. Pray for healing of minds, bodies, souls and relationships. Pray for me as well, that this season will last a life time.

God bless,

Well, I actually had a good morning today, which considering the week I just had was amazing. I am actually well rested and relaxing today. I am not sure if i will do responsible stuff today or be a bit of a slug, some advice would not be un appreciated, if folks like to give that out.

I found out this week that I was passed over for a promotion, and the guy who got it is someone who I trained, who I taught everything that he knows. He will not be as good of an engineer as I, however he might not be a bad administrator. The decision by my boss has made my path further in my career much clearer now, as I know it will not be with my current company.

I have spent this morning cooking a quick breakfast and watching the Olympics, HD tv is the best for watching Hockey. I watched the women's game and it was great, with HD you can easily pick out the puck.

Well i will hopefully get better about posting on here and keeping folks updated. Hope everyone is well.

Have a good Saturday kids.

Another short update, Life is still going.

Work is really driving me nuts somewhat, lots to do, not alot of support.

Church is great, I am getting more involved in the youth group, but it is just a bit more time every week i do not have for my self.

I have to figure out what is happeneing with the Super Bowl this year, folks want the party at my place, but i dont think i am going to be available (See youth group above).

Ah...... gotta love making decision that have no good outcomes possible.

gotta run folks, catch ya'll later,

Happy New Year to everyone, I hope every person had an enjoyable and safe New Years.

I have another prayer request for a friend. I recently found that a companion of mine at church has been diagnosed with a form of cancer. I am not sure of the details, however it will help and assist if prayer is applied. I thank all of you in advance for your prayers of healing, wisdom, hope, and knowledge, and I thank each of you for the time that you spend.

BTW, check out the Photo Blog, it has some new pics up and I always love comment on them.

Regards,

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.