the best of what's around...

I know that too much focus on the past is unhealthy (too much regret and disappointment there), but I do feel that it is important to remember certain events... such as this day eight years ago.

It is unnerving to think back on that day, and realize that the fear and uncertainty of what the future held at that time are still as fresh as they were on that Tuesday.

I remember sitting in my drama class (2nd period) as a junior in high school, and hearing something from someone about a couple of plans hitting the World Trade Center. At the time, I thought they just meant a couple of Cessnas. It wasn't until I got into chapel (went to a private Christian school... more on that in a future post) that I learned the truth.

I remember all 500 of us in that chapel getting on our knees in prayer. This was the only time in all my years of chapel, high school OR college (private Christian university... again, more on that in a future post) I have been on my knees to pray.

I remember all of us filing out to go to third period... in complete and total silence. Never had that happened before.

I remember thinking that China had finally attacked us and we were on the brink of World War III. I know, pretty ludicrous, but for a 16 year old that, at that time, watched FoxNews religiously, it was a very real thought. I also realize how incredibly naive it sounds I was back then... I've changed a lot since, I promise. More on that in a later post as well.

I remember all of the classes pretty much being canceled to watch the news.

I remember going to my 4th period (chorus) and the director turning off the TV. His thought process was that watching too much of the fear and danger would be unhealthy. Instead, we all merely sat and talked about what we were thinking and feeling for that 50 minutes. I've always been grateful to Mr. K for that... I feel it was the best thing I did that entire day.

I remember the images... the video... the headlines... all of it. As I'm sure the rest of you do.

Today, some have chosen to hold onto these images and feelings in order to manipulate others with that fear. Some have chosen to move on completely, only remembering in brief when they must.

I feel the correct place is in the middle. It is important to move on... but it is also important to never forget.

September 11th, 2001, whether you like it or not, are willing to admit it or not, changed the world forever. My generation probably lost its innocence on that day, and realized that there are actually people in this world who despise us... simply because we carry the citizenry of the United States. 9/11 brought with it a whirlwind of change, both good and bad.

The one thing, that never changes, though, is the Lord. I've had to be continually reminded of that over these last eight years:

that where there is fear, He brings peace;

where there is uncertainty, He brings comfort.

where there is anger, He brings joy.

where there is misery, He brings contentment.

where there is hatred, He brings love.

May you experience all He has to offer on this day of remembrance.

I'm pretty sure it was some random Vanderbilt game... which translates to pathetic (at the time, anyway). However, the first REAL game I remember was a Tennessee vs. Vandy game in Nashville. I remember how PACKED the stadium was with orange... how loud the Pride of the Southland Marching Band was... how LOUD UT's fans were.

And I was SOLD.

Up to that point, I remember how much Dad had been trying to convert me to the Big Orange. Little did he know he only had to take me to a game ;)

And so, growing up, he and I would go to at least one if not two UT games a year. It was always a special time for me. Walking around Knoxville, going to the famous Sam and Andy's for lunch, then gametime. I remember the AMAZING road trips we took to follow the Vols. We went to Tuscaloosa for a thrashing of the Tide, and we also traveled to South Bend for a game against Notre Dame.

And then... the Titans came to town.

I was there for their first home game at what was then Adelphia Coliseum, something to the tune of a 1 or 2 point win over the Bengals.

From that point on, I was truly HOOKED on not just the Titans, but football itself. I began watching any and all football I could find, played Madden on my N64 constantly, and read every piece of news on the Titans I could get my hands on.

I'm still that way to this day. I've been through so many up and downs this team: from the Music City Miracle (yes, I was actually there), to the FIRST playoff loss against the Ravens. I was there the following year when we beat the Steelers on an Oscar-worthy flop by kicker Joe Nedney... and I was there when we were thrashed by the Browns on a blustery Sunday during one of the dark years. Most recently, I was there when we POUNDED the Steelers once again to claim home field advantage.

Football is special to me not only because of the competition, strategy, and passion, but because it's one thing that Dad and I totally connect on. I look forward to Sundays so much because it means I can go to Mom and Dad's turn on the game, and talk football with Dad for three hours.

We don't agree on everything, like most people, but we ALWAYS agree on football :)

And that's why it's so special to me.

What is something that almost always gives you the opportunity to connect with your parents (or someone very close to you)?

I remember it very well.

I was 5, and sick. I can’t recall if it was the chicken pox or the flu, but whatever it was was bad enough to keep me out of school for a week. I was sitting in the living room with Mom watching something on TV when my Dad walked in the front door carrying a brand new Nintendo Entertainment System.

Life hasn’t been the same since :)

I know, for some, video games don’t make a whole lot of sense. You pay $60, play it for maybe a couple of weeks or so, then you’re done with it. They have the stigma of being overly-violent, sexualized, and even, at times, racial-stereotype-pushing (see Gears of War 2 and Resident Evil 5) time wasters.

It’s completely different to me, though.

When you read a book or watch TV/a movie, you are passively interacting with the medium (more so for TV and movies than a book). With games, however, you are actively engaging the world that the game presents to you. Everything from spatial navigation to problem solving is present in a well-made game. They can force a player to develop a complex strategy to progress through the game (see: real-time strategy games), test a player’s reflexes (see Quake and Halo), or simply present them with a complex puzzle, such as Tetris.

With all of that being said, where a video game grabs me the most is in its storyline and presentation. A game like Halo has a voice cast, cinematic presentation, art direction, and musical score to rival that of a typical Hollywood summer blockbuster.

And Halo is not the only one like this.

Almost any game from the Final Fantasy series and Metal Gear Solid series share these same traits. Bioshock is another, more recent game that toes the line between video game and film. It certainly is one of the foremost games that actually makes the player think about various social and governmental philosophies, because the work and ideas of writer Ayn Rand were one of the game’s primary influences.

Today, games have progressed from the simple run and jump formula of Super Mario Bros. and Metroid to the deep, thoughtful, high grade production values of games such as Bioshock and Metal Gear Solid 4. They provide a rich and rewarding experience that not only presents you with an engaging environment to explore and interact with, but also allows you to connect to a character and story on an interactive level that only a video game can provide.

I enjoy reading, playing/listening to music, camping/backpacking, as well as watching movies and television, but games are probably my favorite (certainly most-enduring) past time.

What is your favorite/longest-enduring past time?

Where most kids grew up going on vacations to Disneyworld or the beach, I grew up taking vacations to beautiful vistas across the US: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Yellowstone (twice), Rocky Mountain National Park, Glacier National Park, Banff, Canada... you get the idea.

Tack on to that the fact I spent nearly seven years as a Boy Scout (and yes, I am proudly an Eagle), you can begin to see why I have such a love of Mother Nature.

So, the first regular post series I am starting is Nature Pic Monday, where I will share whatever picture of Mother Earth astounds me that week.

I hope you enjoy and that, if you're stuck at your desk, this will provide a brief glimpse of the beauty God continually surrounds us with :)

Well, I've been saying for a while now that I wanted to start up a personal blog again. I had a Xanga way back in the day, but that was also during my first couple of years in college.... when I had no time to care about such things :P

Nowadays, the job allows me a good deal of spare time.

Spare time equals lots of random thoughts. I need somewhere to get 'em out of my head.

This seems like a good enough place. Hopefully, I'll be updating this place two or three times a week. Of course, that's what I said when I started my other blog... so, I guess we'll see.

I hope to have different recurring posts, such as Top 10 lists, pic-sharing days, etc. They will, of course, develop and change as my time here progresses, and I guess it will all depend on (a) what I feel like writing about on a regular basis, and (b) what the readers like the most.

It will be

fun,

probably funny,
(at times)

and thought-provoking,
(again, at times).

Hope you enjoy what you find here! Thanks for dropping by :)