Who's Truly Been Spoiled?

We've all had a dining experience interrupted by a wailing child in need of some kind of attention.  We've all know the stories of kids who aren't thankful for Christmas gifts because it was not what they really wanted.  Or the young men and women who can't pay their rent, but can afford iPhones and a BMW.

We also know people who do not hesitate to complain about this type of behavior in the younger generation (we are probably all guilty of complaining to some extent).  We degrade and judge people who show themselves to be "spoiled brats." Why do we do this?  Because it negatively affects us, whether it be directly or indirectly.  No one wants to lose their appetite because of a whining child who "wasn't raised properly." We are disgusted and angered by kids who can't simply be content with a wii instead of an xbox at Christmas.  And we can't understand why someone sees an iPhone or sports car as a necessity, while disregarding their rent payments…

But who's really the spoiled brat?  How is our complaining any different than the wailing restaurant child?  We are just as selfish as the spoiled Christmas kid.  If people aren't operating the way we think they ought to be, then we lose it (either internally or externally…don't think you're off the hook if you don't say anything about it).  If we are truly living to please the God who saved us from our selfish desires, then we ought to be LOVING instead of JUDGING the spoiled brats with whom we come into contact.  It's what Jesus did, and it's what we should do if we are actually thankful for what he's done for us.

Simple Bike Care Tips

In accordance with a post from a while back, today's topic is from a certain Brit Schlaybach: Simple bike care tips.

1.  One of the simplest and easiest ways to keep your bike smoothly running is to keep it OUT of the elements.  Yes, this means actually putting your bike inside after usage, or at least sheltering it from rain.
2.  Don't use WD-40 on the chain... use a more specific chain lubrication.
3.  Don't run over your bike with your car.  This will insure that your wheels aren't bent beyond repair.
4.  Don't skid the tires.  It wasn't even cool when you were 7, and it's not cool when you are grown up.
5.  Keep your tires inflated to the recommended psi.
6.  Ride on the right side of the road.  This may not be a bike care tip, but it's the way it's supposed to be done.
7.  Lock your bike at public places.  That way you'll be able to ride it home.
8.  If you're feeling plucky enough to fix a problem on your bike, do it with the appropriate tools.  Use of improper tools could be disastrous.
9.  When making your own repairs, KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING.  Youtube and Google have lots of information...
10.  As always, when you are baffled by problems on your bike, take it to your trusted local bike shop. :)

Favorites

Favorite gifts to give around this time of year....

1.  Clothes always work for brothers
2.  iTunes gift cards are usually desirable
3.  Candy... usually the good kinds
4.  Finger nail clippers (that's right, Brit....Merry Christmas!)
5.  Prayers are good gifts
6.  Locks of my gorgeous dark hair
7.  Winks
8.  Hugs for the aunts and uncles and grandparents and cousins
9.  Colorful things.... as long as the receiver isn't color blind


Favorite gifts to get around this time of year....

1.  Clothes, especially when the fit
2.  Playmobil
3.  AFX
4.  Music
5.  Candy
6.  Vinyl
7.  Summer sport equipment... Because then I have to wait til summer to use it
8.  Friends
9.  Letters....and not just the ones with money in them, but ones with lots of words on them

Day...Wasted

For your reading pleasure, or displeasure as the case may be, I shall now elaborate on how and why a certain hobby is, in my mind, the most pointless waste of time.  Now, one could make the argument that MOST hobbies are useless beyond providing enjoyment to the people who employ their time with their hobbies.  However, I find this particular "hobby" to be an especially aimless endeavor.

• Spotting for deer
     I apologize to anyone who may find this amusing or even enjoyable, but WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT SEEING DEER AT NIGHT WITH A BRIGHT LIGHT?  And then bragging to your friends about how many deer you spotted last night??
     What is it?  The glow in the deer's eyes?  The fun of holding and pointing a big flashlight?  The number of deer there are in the world?  And why is spotting almost exclusively done from a truck?
     It makes me want to do one of a few things... 1) pull out a flashlight and point it at the truck, then tell my friends how many spotters I saw last night, 2) hide in a field until the spotters come out, then let them find ME with their spotlight instead of deer, or 3) make lots of noise and scare away any wildlife in the area.
     I know I'm being a bit over-the-edge about this, but it's all in the name of good fun!  I myself have been in the back of the spotting truck, and never enjoyed it, unless I saw an animal that was actually a rare one to see.  It was always miserably cold, and a long ride, with no padding to sit on, just the metal of a truck bed.
     So next time you are tempted to "go spotting," think of the many things you could accomplish if you stay home and put your mind to something.  Think of how, 20 years from now, you won't care in the least how many deer you saw on the night of November 13th, 2012, but how much it WILL mean to you if you had read a good book or practiced a musical instrument or ANYTHING BESIDES SPOTTING!!

Best of Vinyl

It will be a sad day when such things as records are gone and forgotten.  I shall now elaborate on exactly WHY this would be a tragedy by listing the virtues of vinyl...

1.  What would my room be without a record player?  They lend a vintage air to any place they inhabit.

2.  That crackly noise that every record makes... THE best.

3.  Who doesn't like cheap?  You can get records for almost nothing these days.

4.  There's nothing that quite compares to watching the time lapse on each song by watching the needle on it's way to the center of the record.

5.  A shelf full of records in their jackets is ... just ... superb.

6.  The album art is so big, you can see little details you'd never notice on your iPod.

7.  Boston... on vinyl... which is almost as good as...

8.  Kansas's Vinyl Confessions on vinyl.

9.  To play another album, you get to pull a record out of it's jacket, slip it onto the turntable, start the turntable, then place the needle on the record.  Is that not so much more satisfying than touching your iPod screen?

10.  45's

Well, that's a start.  I could go on and on, but I understand that some people can only drop their jaws so many times before they fall off.  Goodnight, good morning, or good heavens, whichever the case may be for you at this moment.

Things to Do at the Mountains, Pt. 1: War Paint

In order to begin the process of coal tattooing, one needs the necessary supplies.  As indicated by the photo below, a small chunk of coal is needed, as well as a few different sized styluses.  You may even use other rocks, like this brick, but black results in the most contrast for skin.  You will also need a small amount of water.

Once you have your utensils assembled, pour some water onto the rock and commence with the creation of the black paint.  Scrape the chunk of coal in the water, until a thick paste is present.

Now, sharpen your stylus on the rock.  This is important for detailing your coal tattoos.

Dip the stylus in the coal paste...

...And have at it!

A Thought

Since I have run out of ideas for blog posts (for the moment), I will give you, the public, a chance to choose a topic for future blog posts of mine.  Most likely, I will not be able to post on ALL subjects that you will want, but I will do my best to post on a good portion of them.  So: ready, aim, fire!