Overproductivity

When I first began working at the warehouse I was easily overwhelmed by most of the tasks that come along with warehouse duty. Sorting through miscellaneous files took several hours and was taxing on my back. Putting those same files back in the right place took even longer. With most any task that takes a while to complete, I grew frustrated with whatever task it was, but eventually finished it out.

These days I am stuck with the same tasks. Every once in a while I find that a large stack of miscellaneous files has been brought over and is ready to be sorted out and put away. Except that nowadays I don't look at these stacks with frustration, but with boredom. What once took us [the warehouse team] three hours to accomplish now takes us an hour or so [if we're lucky]. Then what? Exactly.

I realize that I am incredibly overqualified for my job, but I didn't realize that I would ever be an overproductive employee. I mean, it's much easier to slack off before a task and then accomplish it. It takes skill to do a task and then have to either find something to do or, if nothing else is available, do a little slacking. So today, try as I might, I was putting some files away, trying to take my time as to not a) get sweaty, and b) to stretch the task out a little. I stopped for a moment, to stand in front of the fan [objective a: failed] and took a glance at the time. I figured that with all I'd done I had to have worked for about two hours. One hour, one stinking hour had passed [objective b: failed]. Now I was both bored and frustrated. I don't really suppose that there is any satisfying conclusion to this story. After finishing said task I played some sudoku and then found something else to do. Moral of the story: get a really good job after college so you don't have to put up with crap like this. The end. you have my love.

Portland to Des Moines to question marks

As I looked at the calender Friday morning I realized that it had been exactly one year since I had flown from PDX to DSM. What has occurred in the past twelve months has been, well, not really easy. I moved back here because I didn't really know what I wanted to do with my life [among other reasons]. The question of what to do with this life 'o mine has since haunted me. Over the course of my life I've wanted to be an architect, a rockstar [still..], an aerospace engineer, a pastor, an astrophysicist and a writer. Though as great as working as a "laborer" at a law firm is, I really, really would like to move on and do something else with my latterday twenties. My parents ask me what I would like to do and the only answer I have for them is that I would like to pay off my student loans.

The interview I had several Fridays ago, in my opinion, went smashingly well. Though when I found out last Thursday that I did not, in fact, get the job, I became deeply frustrated. As I sit here now I wonder if getting that job would've changed anything in my heart. Sure, it would've helped pay my college bills off a bit quicker, but would it have made me feel any more complete of a person? I suppose not. I keep on waiting for some event/job/relationship that will truly carry me into an actualized adulthood, but it keeps withdrawing from my grasp. At least my facial hair status is in the adult category [beard!].

So I've spent plenty of time this weekend thinking about what the future holds for me [while enjoying quite a few graduation parties and their free food] and dreaming of the things to come. And there I was, emptying the dishwasher, and pondering again; 'I sure would like to do something that I enjoy and that I wouldn't necessarily hate', when I had a revelatory thought. Whatever I end up doing, how would it be helping others? Helping myself to happiness and a lower-middle class wealth is nothing if doesn't bless others. It's another piece of the equation, and one that I too often forget to give any regard. With that on my plate I'll go into this four day week, thinking and pondering and so on, this is important stuff you know. And I have to at least have a job in which I can afford to buy my own hookah. you have my love.

Maybe the sun will shine today

Indeed the sun has shone, and I can only imagine that the new Wilco album has a lot to do with it. I've spent a great amount of time listening to it for the past six days. At first I spent a little too much time listening to it, so I plugged in Pavement's Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain for a few days and have now returned to Sky Blue Sky. About a month ago my mother ended up with SBS on her iPod, and I'm still not sure how. I listened to the low-quality version and got worried. I wasn't entirely sure what I was listening to; was this Wilco's soft album? But my fears were quickly put to bed as I listened to the full album all the way through for the first time. Sure, it isn't what I thought Wilco's followup to A Ghost is Born would sound like, but though it misses my expectations, it exceeds them at the same time. I've read a lot of reviews and interviews with Jeff over the past few weeks, and I get the feeling that he rather enjoys putting out an album that makes people unsure of how to approach it. Anyway.

Everytime I listen to the album I find something else that I love about it. The three-guitar solo in "Impossible Germany" will live in my soul for a long, long time, if not forever. How the music finds a beautiful balance of intricateness and simplicity. The beauty of the music in general. The guitar tones of "Hate it Here" [sounds like it's off the White album] and "Walken" [Southern-rock?]. A return to lyrics that I can relate to [I'm not entirely sure what an "aquarium drinker" is]. I've read in several interviews that the band really just wanted to create something that was beautiful, and I, as one mere fan, say that their efforts were more than successful. I'll leave you with my favorite lyrics thus far. you have my love.

but this is what love is for, to be out of place, gorgeous and alone, face to face.

Revolucion

Several weeks ago I was confronted by the cold, hard reality that I am in the very, very small minority of my close friends that is still single. When I am with them it's easy to ignore and just enjoy being with them, living in the absurd construct of our community. The five or six hours of driving home is when the realization sets in. Usually I respond with a sense of woe-is-me, but this time it was different. I realized that being one of the three remaining members of the EHBS [Evangelical Homiletic Bachelor's Society] gave me the opportunity to move above and beyond wallowing, but to respond in protest. Therefore, I give you the enemy of romantic relationships: the neck beard.





This photo doesn't really do it justice, but it really is fairly wonderful in person, if I do say so myself. And I certainly would have shown a picture of the neck beard further along in its glory, but I have to shave it before tomorrow afternoon because I have another job interview. Nothing exciting, just something different. Though the neck beard will be by the wayside, know that it lives on in my heart, as does the revolution. Viva! you have my love.

Theoretical absurdities

Joverbay and I knee deep in the third season of Lost, which is one of four television shows I watch on a regular basis. We read the same articles and read over various theories that will inevitably be put down by the show's brilliant writers/producers. Lately we've begun to put forth our own theories, but somehow I don't think they'll turn out to be anywhere near the truth. Feel free to add your own theories. you have my love.

Ben is Anakin
Locke is Luke
Jack is Obiwan
Sayid is Lando Calrissian
Hurley is Han Solo
Charlie is Frodo
Jin is Gandalf
Juliet is Rasputin
Claire is a young Nicole Kidman
Kate is Mick Jagger
Sawyer is Keith Richards
Richard is Jim Halpert
Mikal is Dwight Schrute
Jacob is Jesus

Anticipatory

I know you were waiting for this post. As tradition goes we, the remnant of the EHBS, consult with one another at each gathering and create odds concerning two categories. The first is for someone to become engaged, the second is for a couple to become, how do you say, with child. This time around we limited ourselves to create odds about only those people who[m?] we had knowledge regarding the appropriate category. As you can see in the first category, Pranga and Reigs really stepped it up from last time while Bob slipped a bit, RyJo bumped up a few spots, and Graham stayed fairly constant. I, however, took a bit of a step back but remain in the second tier. I'm okay with that.. for now. In the baby category we the odds commission decided that there would be a bit of a lull in the timeline, but when it comes time that the Gustines would be leading the charge. Are we right? Only time will tell. Let's take a look at the odds before we begin our weekend, and remember folks, Cinco de Mayo is Cinco de Awesome. you have my love. everytime I pin down what I think I want it slips away.

engagement
Reigle 3-2
Graham 2-1
Pranga 4-1
RyJo 5-1
Travis 9-1
Bob 20-1
Brad 30-1

with child
Gustines 5-1
Martins [3rd] 6-1
Gates [2nd] 8-1
Morrisons 10-1
Overbays 15-1
Grabhers 20-1
Britchers 40-1
Pai's 50-1