Drove To Chicago

Hey y'all. I don't usually use "y'all", but hey it's Halloween and Lavar Burton says "y'all" in a lot of his Twitter posts. You may ask yourself what Halloween has to do with anything, it doesn't. I'm just a random dude.

So it's Halloween today. That's exciting. This is the mark of the holiday season. Before you know it it'll be thanksgiving, then Christmas, then before you know it you'll be kissing your sweetheart at the stroke of midnight. So I'm excited that this year is wrapping up, mostly because I've used up all of my vacation for the year. It'll be nice to take a vacation. Maybe have some free time with Lindsey.

This morning was nice. Lindsey and I read a really heavy chapter of Hebrews. It was Hebrews 10. I'll have to read it a couple more times today. I'm still digesting it. I'll have some time today too because we're training some new ideas at work today. Right now is lunch. Time to breathe. Time to listen to this new (to me) Sufjan Stevens record.

Gums

Dude, my gums hurt. Dental health. I've gotta floss more. That's what I'm thinking about right now. I've been thinking about how flipping dumb politics are in our country. It's like rooting for a football team. I wish I could just not care about politics, but I know how important it is to be involved. I listen to a conservative talk show host as well as a liberal talk show host. They're both just so angry. They don't pay attention to real issues and just follow along with what they're supposed to think as a republican or as a democrat.
I really don't identify with either. I'm a Christian and that shouldn't play a role in what party I choose, but in America if you're a Christian then you're a republican. That's how it seems anyway. I don't want to be a republican. I hate the way Republican's view social programs. So I'm just a dude who really has no political voice in this country.

I'm still developing views on the really heavy issues. I think I will always have an evolving view. And I don't want my political views to ever cloud my priorities.

I'm Done With My Smartphone Fast

I'm not going to lie, I do enjoy me some technology. I guess it all started when I was in high school and my dad bought me my own computer.

It was used and kinda crappy, but I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I'm guessing it probably boasted 64mb of ram or less, maybe a 133 MHz processor and Windows 95. I used Netzero and when anyone called our house the line was sure to be busy. I think at the time Netzero only allowed like 20 hours of internet a month...something like that. So there were other free internet providers out there that I would use. After persistent begging, I even got my mom to sign us up for AOL. No banners and unlimited internet. It was the coolest.

So that was a brief history of my enjoyment of technology. It continues today. My current computer is much better than what I was using in 1998, but still obsolete in today's standard. It's a refurb HP I got from New Egg for $100... yeah, my computer was $100. Not bad for the specs I'm running. 3.2 GHz dual core Intel Pentium 4, 2 GB RAM, a 40 GB hard drive (2 TB external) and running Ubuntu 12.04. My video is too crappy to run Google Earth, but it definitely gets the job done in web browsing and...web browsing. And, for $100. So I'm happy.

I've been kinda obsessing about other computers though. Well, it's more of lusting. One computer I can't get off my mind is the iMac. Millions of other people who have much more wealth or much more debt than I already own this beast. Macs aren't beasts on the spec sheet but they definitely get the job done in real world situations. I would like to say that video editors and musicians are mostly just trendy folk, but I think that there are real benefits to OSX and the reliability of a company who assembles the hardware that there software is installed on. So, I'll probably continue dreaming about a Mac, and I'll probably never pull the trigger because the "bang" does not justify the "buck". Also, if I snort the Mac cocaine, then I'm afraid I'll be one of those Prius driving skiers with apple stickers slapped all over my car. I think the world can use less "smug".

The other computer I've been dreaming of and probably will never get is the Chromebook Pixel. This thing is pretty! Dat display!!! Macs cleverly named and catchy Retina Display's got nothing on this. Full aluminum body and Chrome OS. Chrome OS has definitely got its limits, but if you use all of the Google services then it will do just fine. The price tag is steep still. Less than a Mac Book Pro...but not by much.

Something a bit more reasonable is the HP Chromebook 11. It's $279 and it's got a good design. Specs are okay...not a gaming machine, but it's good for what I (and pretty much everyone else in America) do...web browse. So Google for the win in my opinion. Windows crashes and is buggy and gets viruses, Mac is forbidden from the peons and Google just gets it. I'll never be able to sync my iPod with 160 GB of music, but I'll never need to when I have Google music.

P.S. I'm done with my smartphone fast.

Jeremy is My Buddy

I had a thought for a story when I was driving home form work yesterday. My car is so messy. There is trash, old Tupperware bowls and even a banana peel laying around. It's downright gross. Then I thought it would be funny if life could evolve on its own with only the materials in my disgusting car. Then I thought how funny it would be if evolution could be accelerated and before I knew it, there was a little ape man living in my car. I would keep this a secret from Lindsey and everyone else of course. The little ape man would have an honorary little 'tude. He'd probably like me, but he would play pranks on me like cover my eyes when I'm driving to work, or give me wet willies when I'm not expecting it. I think I would probably call him Jeremy. Jeremy and I would have adventures on my commute.

I've been physically, and mentally drained and spiritually I've been running on empty. Dag nab it! Life can become overwhelming. At this very moment, Luke is waking up from his nap. Sometimes I just want to have all my ducks in a row and I want to have a few minutes to think that I don't have to worry about anything. That water bill or that smartphone that takes up too much of my time.

Whew... it seems that Luke is gonna nap for a few more minutes.

Our house is slowly being overtaken by weeds. It's insane that weeds grow so well in the desert but it takes 4 trillion gallons of water to keep a lawn semi-green. Today, I was thinking about how I hate Albuquerque and New Mexico. Hate is a strong word. I guess I just need something new. I hate that people from this state fall into the same ol', same ol'. Same baby daddy, same drug, same shot of whiskey. Have you driven west on Central? Have you driven east on Central? It's probably one of the ugliest streets in America. I'm trying to be nice. And it does make me sad, because this is home. I'm from New Mexico and I do love it. The culture makes us unique, but it also makes me hate living here. I'm tired of being afraid that I'll be t-boned by some muchasmo, dumb ass who has some weird idea that he has to be a man by driving 3,000 km/h. Slow the EFFFFFF down you asshole! Learn how to handle a four-way-stop. Four-way-stop doesn't mean four-way-coast. Learn what that word yield means written on that upside down triangle. It doesn't mean drag race your stupid Dodge/Ford/Chevy/GMC pick-up.

I guess this is a venting blog. I need it. I'm sick and tired of Albuquerque. I'm sick and tired of New Mexico. And I'm sick and tired of America. Get over yourself, America. Republicans suck. Democrats suck. If you really are a "Christian Nation" then look to your Savior. He said to love your neighbor. Churches have become corporations with tax breaks. Shame on you Calvary. Shame on you Mars Hill. Mega churches bring some good, but it's an elite club where people go to drink coffee and feel all cozy about themselves. There are real people out there hurting and you're selling your next book. I'm the biggest hypocrite. What am I doing for hurting people? Well, maybe I'm a hurting person.

I think I need to get out. I need to get away from it all. I need to meditate in the forest.

Something I just Read

Galatians 2:15-21 NASB

"We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be! For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly."

I had to read this a few times. It defines Christ to me. Humans will try and try to be good on our own. But every time we fail. This is proven by the world we live in. I really want to read this a thousand more times to let it sink in. I'd write more on this if I didn't have to get back to work. What do you think about this?