Wednesday, February 08, 2006
It’s Been A While
I don’t know what happened, but I went away for a while. I walked to Southern Nazerene, I drove to Alva, OK, I took a test in every class, and I helped with a benefit concert for the Sims family. I went home once, I wanted to go on a date, I thought about shaving, and I did some homework. I didn’t get a haircut, I went overdraft on my bank account, I did laundry, and bought some mouth wash. I think that sums it up. I’m going to be committed form here on out. I promise. Tomorrow, I going to Stillwater. I will see you there.
Don’t forget to smile or pray
Friday, February 10, 2006
Weekends, Wonderful Weekends
I spoke at Refuge last night, and it went pretty well, but that’s not what I want to talk about. I want to talk about something that happens at alarming rates in 605. In fact, in the past 12 hours, it has happened twice. I come back from Wal-Mart yesterday, and I walk in to see two guys playing X-Box. The only odd part of this equation is neither them live in 605, and none of the three people that live in 605 are actually there! Then when I woke up this morning, two other guys, who don’t live in this room were here playing again. I don’t have a problem with it, it just seems a bit odd to me.
Today, I am leaving for Hollis. We are stopping by there tonight and sleeping, and then getting up and driving to Lubbock in the morning for the basketball games. Our teams go on a road trip where they play Wayland Baptist on Thursday and then Lubbock Christian on Saturday, so we thought it proper to encourage them on the tail end of their trip. If you’ve ever been to the abyss that is Lubbock, you know how much the team will need our support! It should be a fun weekend, I PROMISE I will update when I get home.
Don’t forget to smile or pray
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Good Times, Good Times
We ventured to Lubbock this weekend and it was a blast. Other than Lubbock being what it is, a dry, flat, dusty, construction filled, maddening town, it was great. The girls came back from a 17 point deficit to win in the final minute, and it was quite the intense game. The guys unfortunately lost in another close game, and now are in danger of not making the National Tournament. LCU’s men are 6-19 now, which is a big black mark on our resume for the tourney. Friday we stayed in Hollis, and that was good because it made everyone happy. Mom was glad I was home and brought friends, we were glad to be there because of the free food and sleep, and the dog is always happy to see visitors.
My friend Brittany is a real trooper. She came with us this weekend after she drove to Plainview and back on Thursday for the games. She didn’t walk 26 miles, but what she did was pretty close to the equivalent because over the past three days she has spent over 14 hours driving, and most of it was through West Texas which, well, leaves some to be desired. Sorry, I shouldn’t rag on Texas because the people there are ALMOST as nice as the people in Oklahoma and I’m from almost Texas. Road trips are fun, and should be taken on a regular basis, so if you’d like to donate money for the Fletcher and Friend’s Fun Filled Road Trip Fund just leave a comment and I’ll hook you up with my people. We need the gas money. Have a wonderful week my internet friends.
Don’t forget to smile or pray
Monday, February 13, 2006
Just Another Manic Monday
Yesterday I had a wonderful plan. It was well-thought and everything which is somewhat of a shock when it comes to my life. We were going to get up early, make it back for Bible Class, go to late service, take a nap and then go on another road trip. This time I was going to run up to Blackwell to visit my grandparents and one of my friends who was in need of a friend. Well, we didn’t leave as early was I had hoped so we made it back right in the middle of Bible Class, but we made it in plent of time for late worship.
Then I was off to nap before my journey. The problem with that is I didn’t wake up until just after seven. I had missed worship at Edmond and Memorial Road, hadn’t taken a shower, and still needed gas. I showered and gased up, but never quite made it to Blackwell and so I haven’t got to see my parents, but I did get to see my friend. This week is going to be a good week. It’s WPA week and I have a date which is wonderful; I’ll be sure to let you all know how that goes! Tonight is a hypnotist and it should be interesting. I’ll try to take a few pictures.
Don’t forget to smile or pray
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Hyp-Hyp-Hypnotize Me!
Tonight the hypnotist came to entertain us, and that he did. I was lucky enough to be “drawn,” being in SGA has its advantages. He picked a group of people that were fun, and would do funny stuff. It’s hard to explain what happened because I knew what was happening at all times, but at certain times I was doing stuff that I felt like I had no control over. However, for the most part, I felt like we were all playing along just to appease the good doctor.
Mitch Wilburn came to speak today in chapel and at View 63. Some people have a gift to speak, and he’s one of them. I don’t really know how to explain it, but he has this ability to tap directly into your brain and cause you to focus. I could use Mitch on a more regular basis to set me straight because he does it so well. His messages are ones that will stay with me during the week, and that’s what is really important. For now though, I must be off to bed so that I can be alert for my date tomorrow.
Don’t forget to smile or pray
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Where’s My Val-a-gram?
When I was in junior high, and even in high school people would send each other little Val-a-grams that suckers, or other candy on them, wishing them a happy Valentine’s Day. Well, I didn’t get any of those yesterday, but I did get an orange Crush from my friend-to-the-end Brittany, and I had a date. Since it was WPA I got asked out and didn’t have to make any plans or anyhthing, it was grand. Shannon Wheeler, who cheers for OC. Well she’s a cheerleader. Had to make it more specific because I cheer for OC, but I’m not a cheerleader by any means, but I digress. She’s the one who asked me out.
She was real sweet and wanted to open the door for me, but the door was locked and she was so incredibly embarrassed. I tried to be mature about it, and not laugh, but it was really funny. I don’t know her all that well, so that was a nice ice-breaker. Then we went to the dollar movies, which were supposed to be free, but they tried to make us pay. She gave the guy her credit card and he said they only took cash and the movie we wanted to see was sold out. Again, she was super embarrassed, but it was completely okay because stuff like that happens to me on a daily basis. I paid for it, and then we snuck into the movie we wanted to watch, I know, we’re such rebels!
To end the date, we went to the always romantic Taco Bell. HA. I can’t believe I just typed romantic as an adjective for Taco Bell. Actually, it was pretty neat because she picked it out, and any girl who PICKS Taco Bell is cool in my book, so definite brownie points on that one. When I got back to the dorm, we had an Anti-Valentine’s Day party. It was nice, and my bud Alan from Flint Hills Christian Camp came to visit. Tuesday was a great day, and I didn’t even watch a basketball game.
Don’t forget to smile or pray
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Wacky Wednesday
Yesterday was interesting to say the least. Let us start with my student ID. I thought that I had left mine in Stillwater last week so I had to buy a new one and spend the time getting it encoded and things like that on Monday. Then, I began digging in my wallet, and there was my old rusty student ID. I’m such an idiot sometimes. I had looked through my wallet at least three times and couldn’t find it, but it there it was.
The reason I was looking in my wallet was because I needed my social security card. They had to have it so that my Montana friends and me could sign up to give plasma. I’ve been told that giving plasma is unethical, but I’m not sure how. I give how blood all time, and never expect anything but a neat t-shirt for it. Plasma is different in that they use it to make medicine and other products that companies use as profit. The Oklahoma Blood Institue, Red Cross, and any other group that does blood drives are non-profit organizations that aren’t trying to get rich off me donating blood. Plasma services are, but again I digress. At any rate, I didn’t end up donating because the two I was with had been piereced in the last year and couldn’t donate. It was probably good that I didn’t give so I’d have my senses for later that evening.
At Bible class, my friend Beth Hewitt and a guy sat down next to me. I didn’t recognize the guy who I introduced myself and he told me that his name was Rick, he was from Scotland, and he knew me. He said he read this blog, thought it was funny, and was one of the deciding factors in him coming here! I think he was lying just to make me feel good, but that made my day for sure. He’s on the golf team, and now I’m a BIG golf support and hope Rick brings home the National Championship. That has given me the motivation to keep doing this everyday! Now, macro homework is calling so I must be gone.
Don’t forget to smile or pray
Friday, February 17, 2006
Not An Almost Friday
Usually Thursday is when I can’t wait for the day to be over even though there are tremendous happenings every Thursday. From Agape, where you go and right encouragement notes, to OC basketball, to Refuge, Thursdays are always busy days. For some reason, I never appreciate them enough, instead, I wait and long for Fridays. This particular Thursday was not the case at all. Classes went well, I made a 100 on my Macro quiz. We had a basketball game, which always makes my day, and we played St. Greg’s which is just icing on the cake. They’re terrible. We put the boots to them like we should and it was quite enjoyable.
After that, I had another date with Shannon, actually, I shouldn’t call it a date because it wasn’t really a date. I’m not sure what it was to be honest, but it was a good time. We went to Refuge, and my buddy Brian Lair was speaking. He does a good job, and spoke about something that I’ve heard a million times and is a really simple subject, but can’t seem to master. It was good to hear if from him because he’s somebody I can connect with and have a ton of respect for. He talked about how we treat each other, and how all too often we dog each other when we should build people up. After that, we were off to eat.
We went to IHOP and she brought Connect 4 and Guess Who. It was so much fun! That was one of the worst sentences every typed, but I’m not sure how else to explain it. I had an absolutely wonderful time for FOUR hours playing Connect 4 and Guess Who in IHOP. My roommates took late extensions and showed up out of nowhere which made the night that much more exciting. After she couldn’t sit down from having her rear repeatedly kicked in Connect 4 (I won 8 of the last 9, the one I lost was a cat), we left IHOP at 3:30 to end the evening. Good, good times.
Don’t forget to smile or pray
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Sorry, Saturday
I feel that it’s at least mildly appropriate to find a way to spell Saturday using the letters L-A-Z-Y because my laziness on this day is sickening. I do absoutely nothing productive on my Saturdays, and in those rare events that I do something, it is late in the day. Today was no different. I woke up at 1:30 this afternoon, that’s right 1:30 PM. The only reason I woke up then was because my buddy Brian had called me and wanted to go to the Botannical Gardens downtown. One nice thing about OC is that, although we aren’t in the middle of the city, we are close enough to get downtown to a major city in 10 minutes. After I slowly got up, we were off to the Gardens.
Brian brought his girlfriend and brother, as well as our mutual friend Allison. It was a great time, and there were plenty of pictures taken, just none by me. If I can get one of the two ladies to send me a few, I’ll be sure to put them up. I was supposed to go to watch my dad coach his basketball team today, but the roads were icy and I didn’t feel like messing with that today. I did go to a basketball game with Brian and company. Overall, today was a bum day, and I have homework, which means Sunday CAN’T be a bum day. That means I must be off to bed.
Don’t forget to smile or pray
Monday, February 20, 2006
Snowy, Sleepy Sunday
As you may or may not know, it’s snowing here. Wrong, I lied. It is sleeting here, and for all of you who aren’t so blessed, allow me to expound. Sleet is a mixture of ice, snow, and rain coming together to make a conglomeration that is lethal to senior citizens hips, and everybody’s vehicles. Driving around in snow is one thing, but when it’s sleeting, it builds up on the windshield, which is only compounds the problem of slick roads. Let us just say, sleet is a glorious, glorious creation.
In light of this, several times of worship were cancelled, so I went with my roommates and their group to the church in Edmond. We ended up at the Wellington Manor, which is an old-folks home where my roommate Daniel led singing. I really enjoying going to worship at retirement centers and the like because the people there are super-appreciative. After that, we came back and did a bunch of nothing since all evening worship times were cancelled. To entertain ourselves, we got a a couple Nerf hoops and taped them to the wall. This portion of the post is dedicated to my grandpa and my uncle Hoop who made me into the incredible Nerf basketball player that I’ve become. If you know my family, you know how competitive we are, and can imagine how intense the games at 1718 S. 3rd got. I used to get abused by Hoop, but today, I returned the favor. I had the winning bucket in every game, with one 360 jam! Great day!
Don’t forget to smile or pray
It’s Monday
One of the most interesting things I’ve learned since coming to school is that I’m considered a southern. I always viewed Oklahoma as a western state, and the winters are nasty every year. Still, I’m am considered to be from the south, and that’s fine by me because I much prefer 108 to 13. I say all that to point out that this Monday has been a NORTHERN Monday. The high today was a crisp 31 degrees, snow covered the ground, and the wind was a non-factor. I must say that it really, really was a tremendous day outside. If only the wind would never blow again, I could handle the chilly days. Unfortunately, the wind is at Gael force most days.
Tonight holds an extremely interesting evening…studying. I took myself a small mid-winter break, and caused me to fall behind on school work. The blame rests wholly on my shoulders, but there are only two OC games this week, and I’ve sworn myself off high school games for a while, which should make for quality free time. A moment of randomness, listen to music. It doesn’t matter what kind, how loud, or where, just listen. Music makes everything better.
Don’t forget to smile or pray
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Dazed and Confused
I find it intriguing, if not downright fascinating. One day, I plan on fully comprehending, and then sharing it with others. I will share how one day, one good day, can gather enough steam, neatly package it, and hurl struggles right in my face. Monday was a nice day. Brisk air, pretty snow, and smiling faces marked the day. Suddenly, those smiles were turned into frowns, the snow to ice, and biting winds replaced the cool breeze. Satan has ways to rush bitter wind on us in so many forms, and today, like most, that wind was one that had a choice. This unwelcome soul made sure to make life as difficult as possible for me and my posse.
Tonight, our receptionist was exceptionally rude for no apparent reason, but because he thought that was his job. Our now infamous hall director took our Nerf hoops down, and then took off for the night without an explanation. She did tell our RA that he was going to have to give weekly reports about our behavior. Will someone please remind me when I re-entered 4th grade? Sorry, that’s not the attitude that Jesus would have, and that’s what I’m talking about. A good day was ruined because of my decisions. When I was faced with adversity, I pouted and decided to be mad at the world…Why am I telling you this?
Today, make the decision to be joyous. Not happy, because happiness is fleeting, but joy is everlasting and nobody can take your joy if you won’t allow them. Go out of your way to be cordial to people that you can’t stand. Be the bigger person, and tell them you’re happy they’re alive, but leave out the part that you’re happy because they still have a chance to change. My sarcasm rises up even in a moment of seriousness. Finally, if someone is rude to you, don’t be like me. Grow up. Know that 1 Cor 10:13 gives you a way out of every temptation. Don’t let Satan’s disruptive, bitter wind get you down today. Read the book, we win!
Don’t forget to smile or pray
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
A New-Found Revelation
I overslept today, that allowed me to take a 45 minute shower. I know, I know, that sounds like a girl or something, but I come up with some really profound thoughts while soaking up the hot water. What I discovered most recently is that Tuesdays are the worst day of the week. What do you think? Let me expound on why Tuesday is the worst day…
Sunday starts the week, and whoever the genius was that set it up that way deserves to be praised. Getting together with my friends and other people to worship God is a GREAT way to start the week. I think that’s why Monday isn’t the worst day of the week for me. Monday also is a new start for the school week which is an opportunity to go more often, and then View 63 caps off the night after another Eagle basketball victory. Wednesday is a day where I get together and worship God again, and it is hump day AND that is always good. SGA meetings are always on Wednesday too. Then on Thursday, I’m one day away from the weekend, Refuge is a must and OC basketball is a common occurrence. Friday is, well Friday. It’s the weekend, classes are quicker, life is happier and the weekend is present. Saturday is more of the same, but more pronounced. What is Tuesday? Tuesday is a day when I have class for 4 hours straight, and bad days in the caf. There is no greatness in Tuesday except for reminiscing about Monday or looking forward to Thursday. From now, I will blame everything on Tuesday. You should do the same.
Tomorrow, I am riding the bus with the cheerleaders to John Brown. Does it get any better than that? Free ride to the basketball game, actually being at the game, and cheerleaders! Tomorrow will be a glorious, glorious day!
Don’t forget to smile or pray