Technology

So in recent years, since the emergence of the iPhone, I have become a bit of a technology fan, and more specifically an Apple fan. I purchased an iPhone 3G in the summer of 2008, and a few months after purchased a MacBook computer. The following summer I went out and purchased the iPhone 3GS, and this summer a new iPhone will be hitting the streets. But! this time around, I won’t be getting Apple’s latest gem. So in its stead, I’ll be downloading the latest and greatest operating system for iPhone, known as iOS 4. I am excited about this new OS because with it comes a ton of new features that iPhone fans have been waiting a long time for Apple to roll out. Many of the features now available with the new OS have been available on other smartphone devices for some time, like multi-tasking. However, having seen how other OS (i.e. android) folks do things, I won’t be surprised to see Apple take the lead when it comes to multi-tasking, and other features, seeing as, in my opinion, Apple just does things better. They may not be the first to roll out a feature, but they sure will do it the best. And for that, as a tech-nerd, I am excited.

I am weak, but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me.

I have been reminded this past week how weak I really am.  It’s easy to look at weaknesses, dwell, and become depressed about ourselves.  Instead of thinking for too long about my weakness, I will spend more time with this reminder on my mind.  Hebrews 4: 14-16  ”Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Family Patriarch

patriarch |ˈpātrēˌärk|

noun

1 the male head of a family or tribe.

• a man who is the oldest or most venerable of a group

I got to visit my grandpa last weekend. I have been wanting to hang out with g-pa for a couple months now, and finally made the trip with my mom. I love my grandpa, he’s the O.G., the Godfather, the Patriarch of our family, and I have a special place in my heart that’s just his. He has been a hard working man all his life, and a warm and loving grandfather to me. His sense of humor still puts a smile on my face and a laugh in my heart, and I hope to be that caring and comical when I turn 87. Love you grandpa.

Where’s Waldo

A while ago we took a trip to Vegas, and on our way back home, we stopped at Vegas’ In n Out. While standing in line to order a delicious meal, I noticed something odd in the crowd of hamburglars. Can you find the one patron not like the others?

Snippet/Snapshot

I love this photo. It is a snapshot of a piece of me, a snippet, a slice of my everyday. My room, an intricate mess (though not always messy) of books, photos, clothes, dog toys, cell phone chargers, and whatever other random things happen to be lying around. It is my trusty sidekick Colby watching my every move, yearning to make another trip to the dog park, or even just a run around the block. It is a man who likes to dress simple, rocking his favorite t-shirt & jeans combo. I like the snippet I see reflected in the mirror, and how it captures so much, in such a small and simple space. I love the shirt! I love how my dog is right there like, “hey, you just say the word, and I’ll grab the leash”, and I love the way the window looks as the light enters both my room and the photo. This is a part of me. It is a snapshot into my daily life, it is the spot I rest my head, it is the relationship between myself and my dog, and it is me in some of my favorite attire, making sure I don’t walk out of the house naked. Haha. All in all, these are good things, and it is good stuff.

This picture was from the very next day.  The first one was taken on Tuesday, and this one was taken Wednesday.  Good times.

Mission: Back To Swoll 2010

So exactly 13 weeks and 3 days ago, I began a quest to get back to the physical shape I used to be in.  I gave my quest a name, a mission title: “back to swoll 2010″.  For the last 2 years or so, I have not had much motivation or will to hit the gym, and stay hitting the gym, but recently, I have taken up the effort and been motivated to get back in the gym, and stay in the gym.  My goal was to put on roughly 10 to 15 pounds of muscle, and I have been able to gain approximately 10 pounds in the last 13 weeks.  I am documenting my mission through a once a day “tweet” on my twitter account, which has helped me stay motivated, excited, and encouraged by friends on twitter, as well as helped me share and keep myself accountable.  Most tweets are short, simple, and rather boring, but they help me with my mission.  A normal tweet goes something like this, “BTS10 week 13 day 3: Chest.  Excited to hit the gym w/ @ultraman85 today.”  I feel that this mission has helped teach me about dedication, perseverance, growth, and sticking with it, even when I don’t feel like it.  Mission Back To Swoll aka BTS10 goes on, and will continue until I’ve reached my goal.  As my homie Newby would say, Do Work baby boy.

Good Morning

So I woke up this morning, and as I was praying, I spoke to God about my desire to die daily.  I asked Him how to do this, what it means, and to help me to do this each day.  I opened up a devotional book I have called, “streams in the desert”, and opened to todays reading.  It talked about how our day should begin with God, that we should meet with Him before we meet with anyone else, that we should begin the day not in our own strength, but in His.  It spoke of presenting yourself to God, and meeting Him alone, in that mysterious and special morning hour.  I feel like my prayer, and the devotional reading, are connected, that dying each day to self is connected somehow to this bowing at the feet of God upon rising in the morning, that presenting yourself to Him, wanting His will to be your own, seeking His face, and simply meeting with Him alone to be in His presence, are connected and parts of the daily death I desire, so that I can truly live for Him.  I haven’t got it all figured out, by any means, but I feel that taking time with Him, alone and silent, is important and an opportunity to learn how to die to self, rise with Christ, and live with Him each day.

Le Grand Cru

I just ordered this amazing T-shirt from Le Grand Cru. These guys are doing some big things, and I am really excited to see the progression and movement of their company. I have been a huge fan of their designs since their conception, and I know they will continue to blow my mind and tickle my fancy. If you haven’t had a chance to browse their website, blog, twitter, or facebook, do so first chance you get. You won’t regret it.

go here: http://legrandcru.us/ and here: http://blog.legrandcru.us/

and here is cool too: http://twitter.com/LeGrandCru

and lastly, make a stop here: http://www.facebook.com/legrandcru

Shutter Island

Last weekend I went with my good friends Jackson, Mike, and a newly made pal, Tommy (Mike’s business partner in Le Grand Cru http://legrandcru.us/) to see the new Marty Scorsese flick, Shutter Island. I was a little unsure about how well the movie would do, seeing that it had been pushed back from its original opening date, which is usually a bad sign for a movie. I decided to go into the movie forgetting the fact that it had been pushed back, and remembering that it was directed by freakin’ MARTIN SCORSESE! As we sat there, opening credits rolling, first scene of the movie beginning, music pounding, I was immediately pulled in to an intense, ominous foreboding, that carried into the story of the film and wouldn’t let you go. Without giving anything away, I can say that Shutter Island delivers, and delivers majorly. In my opinion, Shutter Island has taken the position of standing as Scorsese’s “Psycho”, with intense, psychological, creepy, ominous, and overall thrilling movement throughout the entire film, managing to make you think, and intrigue you constantly. If you are a fan of psychological thrillers, Scorsese, DiCaprio, or just good movies, go see Shutter Island. You won’t be disappointed.

www.shutterisland.com

Happy Birthday To You, Happy Birthday To You

Happy Birthday dear Colby, Happy Birthday to you! My beagle, Colby, turned 1 on the 12th of February. Colby is my first dog. I got him from a breeder when he was 6 weeks old, and have loved every minute I’ve had with him. I’ve spent hours cleaning up pee and poo-poo, training him to go potty outside, to sit, to come, and to not eat my shoes, and many hours running around the dog park, and I have loved all of it. I love this dog so much, and thank God for the bond and connection Colby and I have made through his first year of life. On to the next year Colby! Time to learn how to do back-flips!