I tend to always say how I never blog anymore. Truth is, I don't have much Internet access. And, when I do, I tend to research Arsenal news and then sign off.

The pastor of Richmond's First Baptist Church recently blogged about me! It's kinda cool to read words about you from somebody else. I thought it was neat at least!

Some day very soon I'll start blogging everyday again. However, today is just not that day. I have packing to do, friends to meet up with, and Arsenal stats to go back over so I can prepare for the Portsmouth game.


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Now playing: Louis Jordan - Ain't That Just Like a Woman
via FoxyTunes

Ryan's Corner!

This is my humble abode. Notice the small pictures of Liz and I hanging out on the window sill. It may not seem like much, but it has already been worthy of the title "home". I love my new place!
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Now playing: U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday
via FoxyTunes

Inhabitants & Ireland

So, while it seems a great idea to peddle the streets of Richmond and spoon one of the many willing homeless in Monroe Park, my great friend and fellow brother of Christ, Ryan Gibbons has assumed the position of Good Samaritan. While it is his and his wife's house, a second round of kudos goes out to my friend Pony for clearing out a nice chunk of space to plop a mattress, footlocker, and crate of goodies.

I love it here. The ambiance of the place is one like family. Already I have walked in on my friends reading the Word 5 times! This is going to be a great encouragement. It may sound odd, but I tend to stray from talking about Christ to my fellow brothers and sisters, because I always feel like I don't need to. It's an awesome feeling somehow knowing that prayer in the Gibbon's household comes first and foremost. I believe that God has placed me here to learn this lesson. If I set my household this way, nothing can stop God's glory from coming in.

The sociological aspect is astounding. Ryan G. acts as a form of alpha male that loves each of the rest of us. So far, I have been awakened to him plopping on me full-on, sat on in the shotgun seat of a car, & placed in a diabetic coma via-massive amounts of ice cream.

I finished "A Star Called Henry" last night. The plot is well written; it almost has a form of real-life instead of some grandiose journey. I enjoyed that. But the aspect of the book that latched me on to it was the sheer vibrancy of the characters. None of them, not even Henry Smart himself, were overbearing or unbelievable. This helps the reader to suspend his disbelief even more and enjoy whats going on in the lines. The last hundred pages or so flew by so quickly. It was a perfect combination:

-descriptions like Steinbeck (but in a 1st person narrative)
-dialogue like Hemingway (short, realistic, with no "_" marks)
-Irish like Joyce

Life is great.

I can't stop thinking about how close I am to marrying the woman who makes m heart complete. We're nuts for each other and that makes my heart soar. I miss you Lizzie-doo.

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Now playing: Joni Mitchell - River
via FoxyTunes

Healthy Fellow

While I find it a very hard time to read blogs, I did happen upon this blog that seems to give some cool info. It's called Healthy Fellow, and even though it's just starting up, I see some neat things coming from there pretty soon. The writer discusses many subjects varying from Diet to exercise. Like me, he is a writer and has been for quite some time. His dedication to help the reader understand healthy principles is great. I enjoy the personal blog entries and hope you all will too!

Vivannos and Velocifly

Honestly, it's not the customer that drives me crazy when I'm working at the bux. It just happens to be their drinks. And even that doesn't bother me, I love making the complicated ones (Iced 5 shot venti, two pump raspberry, non-fat, light ice latte). It's ones that ruin my pace and time with the other drinks. The most common one being two people ordering two cappuccinos. They take up time because I can't leave the milk alone, I need to maintain aeration and make sure I don't burn the milk.

However, today is a day to be written down in history. Today my friend, I had to make over 10 strawberry banana smoothies in a 2 hour period rush, while solo bar-ing. If you aren't a barista at the bux, you could care less, but I must tell you that this is no fun feat. It requires almost five minutes per drink, all of your attention, and it takes forever to pour and clean up after. Take that, add 5 drinks everytime one is ordered and you had my work shift. EVEN regulars who normally drink brewed coffee wanted to have one:

"Fred! How are you! Want a grande coffee today?"
"Actually Ryan, I'd like to try something new."
Oh, crap.
"Sure! If you like coffee, you should try it iced, it's my favorite."
"No, I think I want something frozen."
Oh, crap. Please no.
"A frappuccino?"
"Yeah sure."
"Alright which type?"
Almost in the clear....
"One of those Strawberry Banana things"
NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

Such is the life of a Barista. Someday I'll have a salary job, and I'll do this exact same thing to a barista. But I'll apologize for the inconvenience.

In other news, Liz finally watched Jurassic Park with me last night. She was quoted many times in saying "You know I don't like suspenseful movies!" clinging every tightly to my arm or back. I swear I have bruises from the girl. I think she enjoyed it though, she laughed and squealed at all the right parts, so that is always a plus.

After the "intense" movie Liz and I grabbed some water from the kitchen where a fly kept constantly flying into my face. After many attempts at trying to kill the darn thing it went away, never to return that night. Liz tokened it as a "velocifly". cute!

Liquor & Laziness

The Liz and I had a pretty jam-packed day. While it was pretty inviting to go to the James river and kick my feet around with Pony, I decided that the both of us needed to hit the ground running and at least attempt to finish some things. We accomplished some needed tasks.

The ABC store gave us tons of boxes for packing. It felt quite odd bringing said boxes into Liz's place. The reason being, because the boxes had liquor brands on the side, and I know we were getting looks from every direction as we unloaded. I remember saying to Liz once we parked "Let's do this as quickly as possible." I'm glad we did! Now Liz and I will look like alcoholics when we move in to the new place. Hah!

I got my ring-size (8). We trucked it to Jared's jewelry, asked to find out my ring size and then exited abruptly. I don't really think the salesman realized that we were there just for the size. Oh well. The ring Liz and I found is a great fit for me: made of titanium, original, and has a copper color on the inside. I'm glad I didn't go too traditional. I tend to stray from that.

Before I ran to work to close, Liz made me realize that I've been kinda lazy and whiny lately. I don't honestly know why, I just have been. Maybe it's this whole need-a-job-&-hafta-move ordeal. All I know is that Huffiness=a not so happy Liz. "Love is patient", and I have to give her credit, she has been that and more. That's one of the reasons why I love her!

Now that it's after work, I'm sitting in the living room, missing Liz and convincing myself that I don't need sleep right now (I have to be at the bux again at 6:45 am). That is why I work at a coffee shop people! If I had to choose one thing I would like to do at the moment that is reasonable it would be to listen to jazz, have a glass of red wine, and read this awesome book I've been getting into. Ah, well, as Mick Jagger once said "You can't always get what you want". Soon I'll get what I need though. Very soon!

Currently Reading:Once I read more of it, I'll fill you in on my thoughts. So far though, I love it!

It's Superman!

So I just put down a book that I tried so hard to finish, but hated in the end.

It's Superman! by Tom DeHaven immediately intrigued me for two main reasons:

1) The dust jacket art was designed by Chris Ware, an amazing artist and someone who I tend to constantly enjoy through various comic means. (AKA McSweeney's covers).

2) DeHaven is one of the professors that teaches creative writing at the illustrious VCU!

I thought, "Hey! Here's an opportunity to establish a published writer friend in arms length distance from me. Surely, I'll enjoy this guy's writing. After all, he is writing on the comic-hero Superman.

I was wrong, oh so wrong on many levels. For one, I hate Superman anything going into the book. I was convinced that this could be a revival of Superman fascination for me! It was, however, another reason for me to hate Clark Kent and all of his amazing endeavors. In fact, my dislike for Superman is so strong that I never saw Superman Returns for the sheer fact of making a statement. It's not even that I don't like the guy. Clark Kent is a good person and teaches many kids good morals to stand on.

I also couldn't handle DeHaven's constant referral to the current history happening during the time that the piece was set in (The Great Depression). His depiction of New York was weak at best, and his characters written too much like that they were meant for a Frank Capra film.

Not to mention the switches between the characters left their development seem long-winded and wasted. Mr. Kent (Clark's father) got so much limelight in the first 50 pages and practically nothing else from then on. You fall in love with a character, you don't put him in the shadows for the rest of the time.

So sorry bud, but no more Superman for me.

[update!] If anyone wants to know something odd to get me it is this!