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The WORD of the Week

Matthew 3:7-10

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Stupid Fact of the Week
There was only one civilian casualty during the three-day Battle of Gettysburg
28 May, 2007
Memorial Day, 2007
In Remembrance
posted by Rockel @ 12:42 PM   2 comments
20 May, 2007
Binary Solo
They're coming to HBO this summer... get ready.
posted by Rockel @ 9:14 PM   0 comments
16 May, 2007
A week and a bit later
Ok, so here are some of the things I've done/haven't done/learned in my first week+...

- I walked on a west-facing beach
- My ankles, though not my knees, have been in the Pacific Ocean
- I have driven on the CA-1 highway (among many others, of course)
- I have not, despite popular belief, started a forest... scuse me... brush fire (not this one either) [last I heard, the Griffith Park fire was set by a homeless man falling asleep (aka, passing out) with a lit cigarette]
- I have been on the Universal Lot in Universal City
- I have not eaten a California roll (or any other type of sushi)
- I have not seen it rain
- I have paid $3.55/gal for regular unleaded
- I have seen it as high as $3.69 (the major local AM station [with "traffic on the ones"] reports the lowest prices in the greater LA area... they usually list 5-7 gas stations in various directions/suburbs... the lowest I've ever heard is $3.29)
- I have used a blanket at night
- I have not gone to see a movie at a theater
- I have driven through Hollywood, West Hollywood, and Beverly Hills (among many other 'burbs)
- I have not seen any celebrities (other than my current roomie who was noticed by 3 people in Pasadena, including one of the premier Doctors/Scientists/Thinkers in the field of biomoleculartechni-something-or-other-really-smart, when we went out for some Baja Fresh)
- However, I have seen Steven Spielberg's car, which happened to be on the Universal lot that day (as the Dreamworks/Amblin offices are located on the lot)... it's a maroon Bentley convertable.
- I have learned that, when within the (any) city limits, three right turns equals (and is often faster/easier than) one left.

That's about it on this coast...

...back on the east, the sister might be looking at graduation within the next year...
...the mom just got back from a weekend with the sis and is now trying to keep up with the dog by herself, because...
...the dad is at this orphanage in Kenya for the third time, helping with construction and maintainance projects for a few weeks.

...in addition...
...the cathey is working on a film in the big apple...
...the nazionale just moved into a new place...
...the verch is working on a film in wilmington...
...the doyle got himself a Wii
posted by Rockel @ 5:17 PM   7 comments
06 May, 2007
Travel Journal: Day Three (the final)
Gallup, NM to Pasadena, CA

Having travelled over 1800 miles in two days, leaving a mere 639 for the final leg, I allowed myself to sleep in until 7:30 local time.

I took a nice, long, hot bath. It was nice... and long... and hot.

I cleaned myself up as much as is possible, and readied myself for the drive.

I moved my overnight bag, my laptop case, and my travel food over to the door so they would not be forgotten. You'll notice I didn't say "my cool, comfy, little, husk(or some such thing but I can't remember exactly what, so I say husk)-filled pillow," as I would discover upon unpacking (a few minutes ago) that this was indeed forgotten at the wonderful Red Roof Inn on Route 66 in (West) Gallup, NM.

I, seeking to be energy efficient, turned off all of the (fluorescent) lights in the room, saving for last, of course, the furthest from the door.

It was pitch black in the room now, as I had not, at any point that (this) morning, opened the blinds.

I should have opened the blinds, I said to myself as I stumbled toward the door.

Yes, I should have.

I made it to the door and opened it. It was snowing.

Snowing. In May. In New Mexico. In May.

And there I was, in the doorway observing this amazing event, dumbstruck, wearing shorts, a t-shirt, and sandals.

At any rate (and the room was about 45 bucks thanks to AAA), I got on the road and an hour later the snow had changed to drizzle with random flurries, and 30 minutes after that it stopped all together.

---

Arizona had a 75 minute speed limit, which was nice, except for when there was a "construction zone" and you had to slow down to... anyone? anyone?.... yes, you in the back. Yes, that's correct. 35mph.

And I use quotation marks because of the following data:
- number of "Construction Zones" seen/driven thru during trip: 1.6 gazillion (slight exaggeration)
- number of construction workers working/pieces of construction equipment functioning within these "Construction Zones": ZERO (no exaggeration)

Oftentimes the only thing Construction-y about the zone would be orange cones ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD or IN THE MEDIAN... yes... thereby... NOT BLOCKING ANY TRAVEL LANES.

As for Cali...

Woof.

For the first two or three hundred miles there was more nothing than Texas, NM, and 'Zona put together...

There wouldn't be anything - no cows, no power lines, no trees, no nothing, no chainsaw-wielding madmen - for about 50-60 miles, and then you'd get one exit with one gas station, charging how much for regular unleaded?... anyone? anyone?

3.75/gal

Plus, I-40 turned into a parking lot 20 miles or so outside of Barstow, which made me feel even better about getting a late, snowy start to the day. But then a medical chopper took off not too far down the road, and minutes later we were moving again, and after passing the scene of a not-to-pleasant accident, parking the car for a while on the interstate didn't seem like too much of a downer.

Musically:
The "O's" finished out rather quickly, and Rachmaninoff's "Piano Concerto no. 3" played loudly as the precipitation subsided.
The "T's" kept me company while I was parked on I-40.
However, I failed to make it through the entire alphabet as "Wish You Were Here" was the last song to play before I turned off of the 210 into Pasadena.

p.s. - I am still getting accustomed to this whole time zone thing, so as I look to close out this days entry at 8:23, I am only now realizing it is almost midnight on the east coast. But it isn't midnight yet, so I still got it in. Sleep tight.
posted by Rockel @ 7:42 PM   2 comments
05 May, 2007
Travel Journal: Day Two
Van Buren, AR to Gallup, NM

Woof.

The Trifecta: Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico.

Oklahoma - where the wind comes barreling down the plain with a vengeance. Thanks to the tip from Ryan, I didn't get pulled, although it meant I had to drive the actual speed limit. Rough.

Texas - for those of you who have never been, here's what Texas looks like:































Yeah. Nothing. Ever. Everything is bigger in Texas for a reason: they have tons of room to build huge, massive things... because nobody/nothing is there... because it sux. I relied on phone calls as well as the Doyle mix to get through this state.

New Mexico - More wind than Oklahoma; more nothing than Texas. I relied on the Da-ego mix and the 75mph speed limits to get through this one.

---

Tomorrow's gonna be a breeze. Only 630-some miles. I've still got plenty of tunes as I've only made my way thru the "O's" in the alphabetical musical marathon, and beyond that there's still Led Zeppelin and Modest Mouse.

California next.
posted by Rockel @ 6:39 PM   0 comments
04 May, 2007
Travel Journal: Day One
Monroe, NC to Van Buren, AR

Piece of cake.

14.5 hours after departing the homestead I am now in the Central Time Zone, a stone's throw from Oklahoma, in the booming Arkansas metropolis named after our most beloved... um... 8th President.

Today's Music:

NPR and The Bob and Tom Show took me from Monroe @ 5:30am into South Carolina when I lost most Charlotte radio stations and didn't feel like scanning for new ones.

The Sister's Travel mix went in next, carrying me up to Asheville with all kinds of fun tunes including Mika's "Grace Kelly." (video below)

After that, I began the 22-CD alphabetical collection that I personally burned in the days/weeks leading up to the trip. As I crossed into Tennessee, Mr. Guthrie reminded me that I could get "anything [I] want at Alice's Restaurant."

The Beatles' "For No One" was the first song to play in Arkansas, as I crossed over the mighty Mississippi.

I am now on the "J's."

---

Tomorrow, with some of the excitement worn off, and with 100% unfamiliar territory ahead, looks to be much more of a challenge of a drive (even though the distance, thankfully, will be less). So I have reserved the Doyle mix and the Nazionale epic rock mix for this travel day. Hopefully they will pick me up when I need it, and when I need a break from the alphabet.

---

Also - this just in - I may already have a job lined up for the first two weeks or so after I arrive. My buddy Adam is currently working on a project taking an inventory of a bunch of Paramount/Dreamworks props and wardrobe items. One of the guys working with him just quit to pick up another gig, so he needs somebody and his boss said he could just ask anybody he knew who was looking for work. So... we'll see how that goes...

---

Addictive, peppy, catchy:
posted by Rockel @ 6:12 PM   4 comments
03 May, 2007
Sayonara *updated*
Alright, it's about that time.

Time to put this Westward Bound theory into practice.

Thanks for the musical suggestions. Very helpful. Major props to Da-ego for literal tons of Modest Mouse, Led, and epic rock.

Here's the travel itinerary for those of you following along at home:

First Leg--
Friday, May 4, 2007

Depart: Monroe, NC - approx. 6:00am ET
Arrive: Van Buren, AR - approx. 8:00pm CT
Distance: 936.5 miles (1507.2 km)

Second Leg--
Saturday, May 5, 2007

Depart: Van Buren, AR - approx. 7:00am CT
Arrive: Gallup, NM - approx. 7:30pm MT
Distance: 877.1 miles (1411.5 km)

Final Leg--
Sunday, May 6, 2007

Depart: Gallup, NM - approx. 7:00am MT
Arrive: Pasadena, CA - approx. 4:00pm PT
Distance: 634.8 miles (1021.6 km)

So, if at any point this weekend you feel like using up some of those unlimited weekend minutes, I will be in my car... I will have my little bluetooth earpiece thingy (promoting safety wherever I go)... I will have nothing better to do... (I will also probably be listening to some tunes at an increased volume, so if I don't answer, just hold tight until the end of the song when I'll hear my phone beeping in that annoying fashion)

If you don't have my cell number, I have a facebook. That's all I'll say. No sense throwing personal information out onto the net in more places than one.

Redirect:
- Check out what Doyle found Gaylord doing. Go ahead and vote. You know you want to.
- Awesome video Letrent found. 20 mintes. Well worth every second.
- Greg is struggling with homosexuality. Go help him out.
- 3
posted by Rockel @ 7:46 AM   2 comments
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Lyrics of the Week

ON THE NICKEL
by Tom Waits

("I'd like to do a new song here. This is eh, it's about downtown Los Angeles on 5th Street. And eh all the winos affectionately refer to it as The Nickel. So this is kind of a hobo's lullaby.")

sticks and stones will break my bones,
but i always will be true, and when
your mama is dead and gone,
i'll sing this lullabye just for you,
and what becomes of all the little boys,
who never comb their hair,
well they're lined up all around the block,
on the nickel over there.

so you better bring a bucket,
there is a hole in the pail,
and if you don't get my letter,
then you'll know that i'm in jail,
and what becomes of all the little boys,
who never say their prayers,
well they're sleepin' like a baby,
on the nickel over there.

and if you chew tobacco, and wish upon a star,
well you'll find out where the scarecrows sit,
just like punchlines between the cars,
and i know a place where a royal flush,
can never beat a pair, and even thomas jefferson,
is on the nickel over there.

so ring around the rosie, you're sleepin' in the rain,
and you're always late for supper,
and man you let me down again,
i thought i heard a mockingbird, roosevelt knows where,
you can skip the light, with grady tuck,
on the nickel over there.

so what becomes of all the little boys,
who run away from home,
well the world just keeps gettin' bigger,
once you get out on your own,
so here's to all the little boys,
the sandman takes you where,
you'll be sleepin' with a pillowman,
on the nickel over there.

so let's climb up through that button hole,
and we'll fall right up the stairs,
and i'll show you where the short dogs grow,
on the nickel over there.
45113638_202b79dc11
"We draw people to Christ not by loudly discrediting what they believe,
by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are,
but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it."
 -- Madeleine L'Engle, "Walking on Water"