Avalanche

Masquerade

2008-01-24T16:31:00.000-08:00

Is there anyone that fails? Is there anyone that falls? Am I the only one in church feelin' so small? Cause when I take a look around everybody seems so strong and I know they'll soon discover that I don't belong. So I tuck it all away, like everything's okay. If I make them all believe it, maybe I'll believe it too. So with a painted grin, I play the part again. So everyone will see me the way that I see them. Are we happy plastic people under shiny plastic steeples with walls around our weakness and smiles to hide our pain? But if the invitation's open to every heart that has been broken maybe then we close the curtain on our stained glass masquerade.

Is there anyone who's been there? Are there any hands to raise? Am I the only one who's traded in the altar for a stage? The performance is convincing and we know every line by heart. Only when no one is watching can we really fall apart.

-Casting Crowns

My Day-Shift Job

2007-09-25T17:15:00.000-07:00

Brett H. Simpson

2007-09-04T19:42:00.000-07:00

Wow... is all I can say. And I'm not sure WHERE they got the idea that I would put on a TIE to pose for a picture!!?!? But overall.... that's pretty freakin' amazing!

Perspective

2007-08-20T02:54:00.000-07:00

THIRD ROW Brad Paisley concert ticket: $56

Catching TWO Brad Paisley guitar picks: difficult, but FREE

Seeing your favorite country music artist live: WICKED AWESOME!!

Sharing the experience with your closest friend: priceless

You Wouldn't Think It but....

2007-07-16T20:18:00.000-07:00

Your Personality Is Like Alcohol

You're the life of the party, a total flirt, and probably a pretty big jokester.
Sometimes your behavior gets you in trouble, but you still remain socially acceptable.
You're a pretty bad driver, and you're dancing could also use a little work!

http://blogthings.com/whatdrugisyourpersonalitylikequiz/">What Drug Is Your Personality Like?

Anatomy of the Heart

2007-05-23T03:34:00.000-07:00

Why does the Heart have four chambers??

Have you ever thought about that? Most of us memorize "the heart has four chambers" at some point, accept it, and move on; never giving it a second thought. Over the past year I've gotten the opportunity to study the heart anatomically, physiologically, physically, electrically, acoustically, but my hardest challenge has been studying the heart spiritually.

Jeremiah 17 and 9 tells us that "The heart is deceitful above all things". Remember this for I'm coming back to it.

Whenever you ask someone for advise on which road to take in your life inevitably you will run into the answer "Do what your head tells you to do. Not what your heart says". I hate this answer as I'm sure you do as well because the heart is where lies the seat of the emotions and from where our passions originate which makes the "logical" answer so abominable. However, we know that following what our head tells us will lead us into the least trouble, which brings us back to "Why"?

The head (or brain, take your pick it's all semantics anyway) only has two contenders (right and left hemispheres) to battle between and is more or less science vs. art. All of us make a decision early on about which of these halves we listen to and follow most and we base our static lives around it. The side we "like the best" is the path we march down.

However, the heart is not so fortunate. The heart has four chambers, four contenders, which are all equally as important as the others and they are all co-dependant upon each other. If one chamber fails to meet requirements the other chamber on that side will soon fail ... and give it a little bit more time... the entire other SIDE will begin to fail also.

THE HEART has four areas to store passion, emotion, love, and grief. Thus, is why the heart gives us the most trouble in our lives, but it is also what makes our life worth living / gives life its' flavor / makes living so desireable / and causes us so much distress when different paths in our life appeal to or repel our passions and desires.

So, how do we truely know what to follow when faced with life decisions? Our head or our heart?

If you don't know... return to our passage of scripture and start above it in verse 5.
"THUS SAITH THE LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose HEART departeth from the LORD.... Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit."

But Brett... that doesn't answer my question as to what path to take RIGHT NOW.

Sure it does... trust the Lord and search His Word. The answer is there, we just have to be diligent enough to find the answer and trusting enough to follow it.

Psalms 37 and 4 "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

This has GOT to be an interesting book!!

2007-05-16T15:02:00.000-07:00

When I ran across this book in Books-A-Million the other day, I about fell over backwards. Now grant it, I haven't read this book and have no real idea of what it's about. I didn't even buy the book.... it just looked REALLY interesting to me.

Look real close and it might look interesting to you as well...

Rules of Bible Study

2007-05-01T23:14:00.000-07:00

In our interchurchal young men's Bible study we are identifying common understandings by which one should go about studying the Bible. In other words, these are things by which one should understand as he proceeds studying scripture. Here's what we've identified...

Rules of Bible Study
1) There are no contradictions in The Bible.

2) The Bible is a closed system.

3) One must interpret scripture with scripture.

4) The context in which a scripture is found is key to the scripture.

5) Interpret questionable scripture meaning with nonquestionable scriptural meanings.

6) Don't form an opinion about a Bible subject until you know what the Bible as a whole has to say about it.

And for clarifications sake... these are in my personal wording format. If I need to clarify or reword.... you know what to do.... and if there are any others out there which yall know of that I am neglecting to mention for whatever reason then by all means... let me know.

I have another subject which will come shortly hereafter.... I give yall a week to hash out this one first.

Believe it or not...

2007-04-09T16:36:00.000-07:00

It took me... 9 Months, 21 days, 22 hours, and 9 minutes.... but I have FINALLY finished reading "The Hobbit" and "The Fellowship of the Ring"!!! And I have witnesses as to when and what time I completed "The Fellowship". April 6th at 10:09 PM.

Those of you who didn't read "The Hobbit" first... really missed alot from just reading "The Fellowship". Go back and read "The Hobbit".... it's really alot lighter and easier read than "The Fellowship". You'll enjoy it.... take it from me.... "the guy who doesn't read" :)

Now I don't even want to think about how long it would take me to read the other two in the trilogy.

I WANTS IT!!!

"Keep on keeping on"...

2007-03-20T02:29:00.000-07:00

is one of the things my Grandad has been teaching me of late. I feel bad because it's been longer than it should since I've last seen him. But even though the times I see him are seemingly further and further apart he has already parted enough wisdom and words of guidance to keep me discovering and pondering my entire lifetime. Working night shift gives me time on my off ... umm.. nights to think about some of the things he has taught me. You know I never really noticed this phrase until my mother pointed it out to me... about a year or more ago. Keep on keeping on.... probably a lesson I will have to remind myself of often because I find that as christians we are constantly beseiged by "The Enemy" and it makes our attempt to live for those things which are pure, just, lovely, holy, and of good report hard. But that does not lessen our responsibility to continue that attempt. I use that word "attempt" because we are going to fail. If we never failed we'd be running for the office of Jesus [pardon the crude humor]. But because we do fail, the epicenter we choose to focus-in on in our own lives should not be those failures... but rather our continual pursuit of those treasures buried in God's Biblical field.

Let your heart be in "keeping on" the pursuit of God's instruction. For where your heart is, there your treasure shall be also!

Keep on keeping on, my friends!!!

"Gloating" is NOT in the Bible

2007-02-28T09:45:00.000-08:00

This is ONE of the awards I got for doing FREAKIN' AWESOME on my Pathophysiology test.

Now the REAL story behind this is... My Pathophysiology professor gives out awards to the top two students on the exams. I made friends early in the class with the 2nd smartest dude in the class (I'm the first of course!!)... and Marcus did really well on the first exam and got the award for the first exam. I didn't know that this professor did this so I thought it was pretty neat. Well the class before the exam... I'm jokin' around with him and some others and say "Dude you're goin' DOWN... I'm about to go into a monk-like study session... No more awards for MARCUS!!"

Test day... Brett(sarcastic overtone): "yeah.. get ready... you're goin' down!!"

Marcus(blatantly sarcastic with peer on-look): "oh no... I was expecting to go down today.. I just didn't want it to be you, Brett"

YEAH... so today the professor announces the awardees.... in front of Marcus(who is a really great guy and a good friend... just so you readers know) and ALL of those peers!!

It was truely a great moment in "Brett History" (and for those interested in taking this course, "Brett History"... classes are forming in the fall).

Casting Crowns

2007-02-25T00:22:00.000-08:00

"And Now My Lifesong Sings"

I once was lost, but now I'm found

So far away, but now I'm home

I once was lost, but now I'm found

And now my lifesong sings...

I once was blind, but now I see
I don't know how, but when He touched me...

I once was blind, but now I see

And now my lifesong sings...

I once was dead, but now I live

Now my life to you I give

Hallelujah

Let my lifesong sing to you.

For those who can't break

2007-02-13T23:09:00.000-08:00

Since I work tonight, Valentine's Day, I thought this the best way to get my message out.

Valentine treasures are people who

have often crossed your mind,

family, friends and others, too,

who in your life have shined

the warmth of love or a spark of light

that makes you remember them;

no matter how long since you’ve actually met,

each one is a luminous gem

who gleams and glows in your memory,

bringing special pleasures,

and that’s why this Valentine comes to you:

You’re one of those sparkling treasures!

-Joanna F.

and for my better half out there somewhere...

You’re in my thoughts and in my heart

Wherever I may go;

On Valentine’s Day I’d like to say

I care more than you know.

The Dreaded Madden Post

2007-01-22T20:53:00.000-08:00

These are the hands of someone I've known the name of for a while but never really had nor taken the time to get to know this individual until recently. Well it must be said that I think that these are some cool hands... I will not put a name to these hands to protect the identity of those to whom they belong... but by the power invested in me I hereby dub a new knickname to this individual...

and hereby introduce..... CRAZY FINGERS!!

Aren't they COOL!!?!?!?!!!!!

The Formal (for those who don't have facebook)

2007-01-17T10:44:00.000-08:00

Strength, Honor, and the Polka Dot Way

Studs of the evening

They were dancing sooo fast.... they just became a blur
The Female Poe's, The Male Price's, and Bethany
A truely GREAT picture that's going up on "The Wall"
Is that a ..... yellow.. shirt?? Not that it stands out or anything..
We Survived the Freebird Challenge of Friendship
Truely good friends and good times

Why you don't mess with the House of El!

2006-11-29T00:34:00.000-08:00

"We had a little... problem downstairs. Brutus is dead. He got ...hit ... with a... piano."

"Brutus"- Deceased June 28, 2006

Cause you'll get hit with a PIANO!!

Here's to the rebels

2006-11-26T01:53:00.000-08:00

I miss the colors that you brought into my life
Your golden smile, those blue-green eyes
I miss your gentle voice in lonely times like now
Saying it'll be alright
I miss my friend

The one my heart and soul confided in
The one I felt the safest with
The one who knew just what to say to make me laugh again
And let the light back in
I miss my friend

A Resounding Truth

2006-11-20T22:31:00.000-08:00

Being a nurse means. . .

You will never be bored.
You will always be frustrated.

You will be surrounded by challenges.
So much to do and so little time.

You will carry immense responsibility
and very little authority.

You will step into people's lives
and you will make a difference.

Some will bless you.
Some will curse you.

You will see people at their worst--
and at their best.

You will never cease to be amazed at people's capacity
for love, courage, and endurance.

You will experience resounding triumphs
and devastating failures.

You will cry a lot.
You will laugh a lot.

You will know what it is to be human
and to be humane.

Duel of Bretherenly Bretheren

2006-11-13T21:33:00.000-08:00

VS.

About three weeks ago I left my stethoscope at work and as evolution would have it..... it grew legs and walked off. However, CICU always has a few extra just lying about so I decided that I would just use those extra ones until I found the time to find and purchase a new one. Well those others that I have been using are perfectly good stethoscopes.... but they just weren't mine. The thought crossed my mind of how much I relied on MY stethoscope. I soon came to the conclusion that the Lightsaber is to the Jedi as the Stethoscope is to the Medical Professional. You see there are lots of stethoscopes out there (one or two for each medical person), many are different with different styles and looks (single lumen, double lumen, diaphragm and bell, just diaphragm, ect.), and you can decide which type of ear peices you like the best.... so you see how one can customize his lightsaber.... umm... I mean... stethoscope to fit his individual character.

When a Jedi loses his lightsaber he feels lost... like a part of him is missing and he doesn't feel able to perform his duty as well as he should. I now understand the Jedi's attachment. However, as the force would have it... we were brought together again. I walked into work one day and it was there lying in the pool of available stethoscopes to be used! So I reclaimed it and am very glad to have it back. So REJOICE WITH ME.... for that which was lost now is found, twas hearing impaired but now can hear! Somehow I don't think that version is going to make it into our hymnal.

While traveling through...

2006-10-04T06:29:00.000-07:00

Well.... it seems that my time has just about run out. For at this weeks close the sand in the hour-glass of my orientation time will run out. I will no longer have that person there as a fall-back to rely on. The decisions will all fall to me, my judgement of the patient's condition will be the gold standard. While I have been caring for the acutely ill with nearly complete autonomy, it was always nice to have that confidant(e).

Nevertheless..... the challenge will be risen to, the storm raged against, the valley forged!! The weak will be strong once again, the scared will be comforted, and the dependant will once again be autonomous!!!! Once again, hope is soon to be restored in the realm of men against disease, nosocomial infection, and death!!

For Frodo. And Jimmy

A Verbalization to Ventilate a Voluminous Victor!

2006-08-30T03:49:00.000-07:00

Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of Fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a bygone vexation stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition.!!!
The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous!!
Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it's my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V!

Life More Abundant!

2006-08-25T21:33:00.000-07:00

In my job I regularly get to see the effects of living an unhealthy lifestyle. Let me tell you... if you want to live past 50 NEVER SMOKE (those that have to have any cardiac work done on them fare terribly after surgery if they are a smoker), eat healthy (yes that means sacrificing what you want to eat with something that's good for you.... when you order that salad next time you're out with your buddies and they make fun of you... you'll get the last laugh), and exercise!!

But what I really wanted to tell you about was the couple I met today. This couple has been married for about 1 year now. They are 76 and 77 years old at this point in their life. I can't begin to describe how funny it was to watch them together. They flirt like they're 20 years old and held hands as long as we would let them stay together. They didn't pick at one another but instead would compliment the other to anyone who would hang around long enough for them to get a chance!!

It was truely inspiring!

Betcha Didn't Know This!!

2006-08-12T09:45:00.000-07:00

Ten Top Trivia Tips about Brett!

1. White chocolate isn't technically chocolate, because it doesn't contain Brett.

2. Forty percent of the world's almonds and twenty percent of the world's peanuts are used in the manufacture of Brett.

3. Brett can't sweat.

4. To check whether Brett is safe to eat, drop him in a bowl of water; rotten Brett will sink, and fresh Brett will float.

5. Brett will give a higher yield if milked when listening to music!

6. By tradition, a girl standing under Brett cannot refuse to be kissed by anyone who claims the privilege.

7. You can tell if Brett has been hard-boiled by spinning him. If he stands up, he is hard-boiled!

8. Women shoplift four times more frequently than Brett.

9. Red Brett at night, shepherd's delight. Red Brett at morning, shepherd's warning!

10. If you chew gum while peeling Brett then it will stop you from crying!

To find out more interesting facts about people, places and things... please consult the Mechanical Contrivium at http://thesurrealist.co.uk/trivia.pl?subject=&gender=f

What do you mean by a "One on One" patient??

2006-08-04T18:27:00.000-07:00

Patient is post-op day 3 for a triple Coronary Artery Bypass Graft surgery.

Amiodarone drip at 17, Norepinephrine drip at 25, Diprovan drip at 10, Nepro per Orogastric Salem Sump at 10 (if tolerating increase in incriments of 10 to a goal of 30cc/hr), Right Central Venous Line, Right Swann Line (which is stationed in the Pulmonary artery, by the way), Left Radial Arterial Line, Right Brachial peripheral IV, and Chest tubes x 3 (yes, that's right, three tubes running into his lungs each about 2/3rds the width of a hot dog).

Patient also has a Dual Left Subclavian Line for their Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (yall would call it continuous dialysis). MD orders to withdraw 75cc fluid more than they're taking in hourly to decrease patients generalized edema due to lack of any significant kidney function.

Patient is on the ventilator Pressure Control with a Pressure Support of 20, a Positive End Expiratory Pressure of 14, an FiO2 (fraction of inspired O2) at 100% with MD orders to decrease in incriments of 10 to a goal of 50% as long as SpO2 remains above 92%.

Not to forget you've got to hang a unit of blood, draw labs, chart vitals hourly, give meds, check blood sugar levels every four hours and regulate the Insulin drip per results of the blood sugars, explain to random and different family members every six hours what YOU are doing to their loved one and why you are doing it, and put up with all the doctors that come through. OH and by the way.... ALL of these orders are subject to change at ANY moment depending on when any ONE of the patients 3-5 doctors decides to come strolling in (wondering why you haven't completed all HIS orders).

It was actually a REALLY good day!! I had a great time and acheived all my patient goals for the day.... as well as a few goals of my own. This is ALL pretty standard stuff for the patients that are on my unit (except the CRRT machine, that comes special when you have bad kidney problems). My patient is slowly getting better.... little by little... and next to what God has been teaching me VERY recently.... it's the most fulfilling thing I've ever had to joy of being a part of.

God be with you all my friends!

Six Hours to Set History!

2006-07-08T23:16:00.000-07:00

I know a lot of my post are about movies and I plan to get away from doing this(at some point in the future)... but that day is not today. For I just saw a movie that would rock the socks off of you!! Now I do have to mention that the good guys of the story are the French and normally just hearing something like that would turn me off to a movie..... BUT it's set during a time when the French actually had honor and courage. The movie is "Timeline"!! And it rivals the ranks of "The Patriot", "Gladiator", and "The Count of Monte Cristo"!

Also, a group of close friends and relatives of mine just got back from white water rafting. Yes, yes I know what you're thinking..... "didn't he just get back from boot camp... and now he's saying he just got back from white water rafting??" you heard correct my friends.... DING DING DING!! Johnny what do we have for them??
We rafted down the 'ever calm and almost as turbulent as my swimming pool during a forceful breeze' Nantahala River. But seriously it is a lot of fun and the scenery surrounding is beautiful. Left out Friday 'bout noon after arriving back home from Texas the evening before. I have crossed the Alabama state border by vehicle EIGHT times in the past 30 days! But what's more important in this journey is that I recieved my first command!! Captain!!! Captain Brett Price, RN of the Nantahala Outdoors Center Rental Raft call number 519!! And from the pictures you can tell I lead the Acoustic Amplification Needed Division of our fleet... we had a great time!!!

Welcome home, brother!!

2006-06-28T10:10:00.000-07:00

The Man of Steel has returned! The movie is wicked sweet!! You won't be disappointed! Truth, Justice and the American Way of Life!!!

I'd rather be Iceman... but I'm not complaining

2006-05-30T22:50:00.000-07:00

You Are Cyclops

Dedicated and responsible, you will always remain loyal to your cause.You are a commanding leader - after all, you can kill someone just by looking at them.
Power: force beams from your eyes

Which'>http://www.blogthings.com/whichofthexmenareyouquiz/">Which of the X-Men Are You?

Guys... if you're going to go see X3.... watch ALL the credits because there is a VERY important extra scene AFTER the credits!!

CAL-EL RN

2006-05-09T11:53:00.000-07:00

Me... graduation day

Perilous Tendency

2006-04-11T21:19:00.000-07:00

What is it about guys and poetry?? I have been noticing that several guys around me have a tendency to every so often write poetry!?!? I really don't understand this because when the topic is brought up.... no guy wants to talk about his "feelings". Now make no mistake, I've been through (high school) literature and received a basic understanding of poems and poetry and all that jazz to make one "well rounded".... and I do see that some of it can be very insiteful and very descriptive and beautiful. But through it all.... I just believe real men don't write poetry.

However, I have gone on a search for male poets.... to see if there be any worthy of the Y chromosome...... and yay I found one...... one who I believe has quite a talent!! So without further hesitancy, here he is..... tell me what you think!!

Eight Thousand Metres Up
Eight thousand metres up, the plane is falling from the sky,
Both engines have failed and they are all about to die

The passengers are desperate, the pilot's in a panic
A young woman leaps up at last, her voice is clearly frantic

She rips off her shirt and shouts to all the passengers and crew
'Someone! Make a woman of me! Any man will do!'

A bloke three rows back sees his chance - is this his dying wish?
He rips his shirt off, flings it at her and says 'Here! Iron this!'

David Peetz

Remembering Dana Reeve

2006-03-07T16:07:00.000-08:00

Dana Reeve, the actress-singer who married Christopher Reeve (Superman) and devoted herself to his care after his horse-riding accident, died last night of lung cancer only a year and a half after her husbands death. She was 44 years old.

Christopher and Dana Reeve married in 1992. Life changed drastically for the young show business couple three years later when Christopher Reeve suffered near-total paralysis in a horse-riding accident and almost died. In his autobiography, "Still Me," Reeve wrote that he suggested early on to his wife, "Maybe we should let me go." She responded, "I'll be with you for the long haul, no matter what. You're still you and I love you."

For his remaining nine years, Dana Reeve was her husband's constant companion and supporter during the ordeal of his rehabilitation, winning worldwide acclaim and admiration. With him, she became an activist in the search for a cure for spinal cord injuries.

If Chris was the personification of courage, Dana was the personification of selflessness.

"Dana was an elegant and graceful woman, and she left this world the same way. She was at peace."

Philosophy of the Male Specimen

2006-03-01T19:15:00.000-08:00

We always hear "the rules " from the female side.Now here are the rules from the male side.These are our rules!

1. Men are NOT mind readers.
2. Learn to work the toilet seat.You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down.We need it up, you need it down.You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
3. Saturday sports. It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.
4. Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that way.
5. Crying is blackmail.
6. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!
7. Yes and No are perfectly Acceptable answers to almost every question.
8. Come to us with a problem only If you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
9. A headache that lasts for 17 months is a problem. See a doctor.
10. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 Days.
11. If you won't dress like the Victoria's Secret girls, don't expect us to act like Jane Austin guys.
12. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.
13. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one ...
14. You can either ask us to do something Or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
15. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials.
16. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.
17. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, NOT a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
18. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.
19. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," We will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
20. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, Expect an answer you don't want to hear. 21. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine... Really.
22. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as basketball, hunting, or the shotgun formation.
23 . You have enough clothes.
24. You have too many shoes.
25. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!

Thank you for reading this. Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight;

But did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.

YOU OWE DAVY JONES YOUR SOUL!!!

2006-02-23T20:47:00.000-08:00

We've all heard (or at least all of us who have watched 'Pirates of the Caribbean') of the sailor term "Davy Jones Locker." But I ask you..... who is this Davy Jones? Some long lost ancestor of Dustin's perhaps? Perhaps not?

I took my Kent-style investigative reporting and came up with some interesting possibilities of which I pose to you, dear friends, which do you think is the more likely scenario? Or do you have a theory of your own?

1)One legend suggests that a particularly fiendish pub owner named David Jones used to incapacitate hapless drinkers in his ale locker, and send them off aboard ships. Sounds like a handy way of disposing of your enemies.

2)Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable offers an interesting linguistic take on the issue: Davy is a (sorry no other word seems to fit here) bastardization of Duffy, the West Indian term for ghost. Jones comes from Jonah, the prophet who spent a few uncomfortable days lodged in the GI tract of a whale. And a locker, loosely defined, is a place to store valuable things. So the phrase "He's gone to Davy Jones' locker" (i.e., he cashed it in) loosely translates as "He's safe with Duffy Jonah now."

3) Duffer Jones was a notoriously myopic sailor who often found himself overboard.

4) Davy could also come from the horned one himself, the Devil.

5) The shortest sailor on board usually impersonates him during the Crossing of the Line, a bizarre naval cross-dressing ceremony. The less said, the better.

Pirates of the Caribbean:Dead Man's Chest premieres July 7, 2006.... can you say YOUTH GROUP TRIP!!! oops... I said that a little loud I meant to say...youth group TRIP TO THE MOVIES!!!

As we grow up....

2006-02-09T20:08:00.000-08:00

ok... I'm a little embarrassed that I've done this.... and I'm probably going to beat myself up later on for posting this. But I'm going to hurry and do it before I change my mind (kinda like deciding to rip tape off your eyebrow really fast... ask a brother or sister of Zion about that one). Anyway, tonight I joined the millions of other auctionees by getting an ebay account. I bought something I was searching for to give to a close friend... and then I decided to look up all the stuff listed for Superman! There is some really cool stuff out there... but this one thing in particular caught my eye.... it was a solid white little infant jumpsuit with just the Superman logo on the front of it. I couldn't resist! It brought a tear to my eye just thinking about it! I know I'm a long way from having something I can put into this article of clothing.... but it's a nice dream.

The P's from Forestdale

2006-02-05T22:26:00.000-08:00

Back by popular demand... a new post! Ok..... I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings by this post because I don't mean it to, but I feel it neccessary to commend a certain group of three. I don't know how many of you invite the P's of Forestdale to your birthday party..... BUT YOU SHOULD!! They truely learn you inside and out and give presents accordingly. I mean really!! I don't remember which year but one birthday they gave me an Alabama toilet seat cover..... think about it..... how many of you would give an 18/19 year old A TOILET SEAT and think that he might like it (and not only did I like it... I loved it sooo much I had to go with graham and install it immediately... IT WAS AN ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE TOILET SEAT YALL.... COME ON...THAT'S AWESOME!!)? I was so sure that nothing would ever top that.... boy was I ever wrong! There is now a book (yes I said "book") beside my bed that has not seen a nights rest since it arrived in this household... I liken it to an encyclopedia.... but an encyclopedia of SUPERMAN!!!!! This book lists geography sites of intrest on the former planet Krypton, Krypton's major cities, a breif history of Krypton and the House of "El", a history of the Kent family, a map of Smallville, a run-down of ALL Superman's abilities, a map of Metropolis, and run-down of Superman's greatest villans and their defeat, a timeline of his comic book debuts and firsts, and soo much more that I almost hate that I'm not going to list ALL that it has!!! Many kudos out to the P's!!

Hypothetically

2006-01-26T22:36:00.000-08:00

If you had the opportunity to work, doing something you love and believe in, for a generous amount of money.... but you had to move from the South away from those you care so much about and that care about you for 2 years (let's even go so far as to say that there is a church of your persuation pretty darn close to where you would be moving to) Would you do it?? Why?

Confounded MACHINES!!

2006-01-24T16:08:00.000-08:00

Brian gets home from soccer and school late this afternoon.... we are putting a small load of clothes into the washing machine; now you have to understand... this is the most freakin' complicated washing machine in the world!! At Alabama we had 3 settings for our washing machines: whites, colors, and darks; our washing machine has stuff like: regular, light, permanent press, delicate, soak, and heavy duty..... what the crap!!! It was hilarious as we decided "yeah I think that is a reasonable amount of detergent"... then as we assessed how much we had in the machine...we called Laurel (mom is working a clinical tonight). Laurel tells us "permanent press"... so we thank her and turn the nob over that way, pull the handle out towards us, and this thing makes some weird sound that neither of us like very much. Brian then informs me "well, I see mom put it on this" we turn over there and pull the nob out... completely different sound that we really don't like!! Judgement call time again.... we then just turn the nob and activate the machine until it makes a sound we recognize and like!! It was awesome.... we felt like Lewis and Clark... pioneers, adventurers, explorers taming the wild and confusing unknown!!

Two things

2006-01-21T21:27:00.000-08:00

Thing one: My name... Cal-el... many say "WHOA.. the big Superman buff misspelled his name! It's actually Kal-el!!" I have to say hold up!!! I do know that you spell Superman's kryptonian name as "Kal-el". I chose my name because I am not him. Therefore it would be sorta-like identity theft for me to assume that name. I consider myself something like a brother to Kal-el. In Kryptonian civilization last names come after the hyphen (even though some kryptonians did not use the hyphen at all). Example: -el is a last name, thus Kal-el is the son of Jor-el. Women were given a special feminine name and then assumed their fathers name (ex. Jor-el's brother's name was Zor-el and Zor-el's daughter's full name is Kara Zor-el) When a kryptonian woman was married... she dropped her father's name and assumed the name of her husband (ex. Superman's mother's full name is Laura Jor-el). Since I consider myself something like a brother to Kal-el, my name can not be the exact same as his but I must assume the same last name because of family. So NO, I did not misspell Superman's Kryptonian name! And YES I have put entirely too much time into this!!!
Thing two: I need someone to explain to me how I can put up a picture on my profile please.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose

2006-01-20T18:25:00.000-08:00

ok.... I've gotten a lot of grief for liking this movie. I started out this movie expecting it to scare the living crap out of me. Yes, it was going to be just Brian and I watching it and we happen to like scarry movies... we took a pre-movie bathroom run just so we could be prepared. This movie begins with Emily Rose having just died and proceeds to the trial of her priest (yes, Catholic) being charged with neglect. Now the way this movie is presented is in flashbacks.... as the defense presents its case we get to see and hear different peoples accounts of what Emily Rose told them was happening to her and we get to see it from their stand-point. Then the prosecution presents a medical aspect to the case and believe that she could have been medicated and these symptoms might go away.... and then show some of the same flashback scenes from a more medical stand-point. I've been to Bryce (Alabama's State Mental Health Center) and some of the things I've personally seen.... look and sound like some of the things The Exorcism of Emily Rose showed. It is a very good movie and presents something like what I would term a "modern-day Legion." If you're not familiar with "Legion" they were the spirits whom Jesus cast into the herd of swine. But not NEAR as scarry as I thought it would be..... it's more of a... "whoa" kinda scarry. What I found interesting was the thought of...... how many times this day and age do we take an actual spirit possession and label it "schizophrenia"..... have we as a society.... deconditioned ourselves to screen out the spiritual realm ever present in our lives? Have we conditioned ourselves to only accept the spiritual nature at church and only when something good happens? What are your thoughts?

My Blog

2006-01-20T01:16:00.000-08:00

Hey yall!! I started a blog.... NOT because of incurring peer pressure because I am NOT a push-over!! Now that that's out of the way... I chose my blog title because of two reasons: 1) I drive an Avalanche truck.... 2) that's probably what this blog is going to turn out being an avalanche/ a natural disaster.... the hosts of this blog will probably end up contacting me and say "because you suck at life... we aren't allowing you a blog spot anymore!!" I don't expect to post very often even though this nursing program has trained us not to have to sleep anymore..... I don't know what program Elyow is in... he posts all the time!! Anyway, leave me a message and I'll get back to you as soon as possible (beep)...... and leave me something to write about!