The Home of the Extra Terrestrial

Because I'm Signed In

2011-12-04T21:22:00.000-08:00

Right now, I'm living life.

I'm not just experiencing life, following it, or riding it. I'm actually aware of its presence and I feel like I'm living it; I'm not just with life.

Most of the time; however, I'm not living it. With God's grace and unending mercy, I'll be able to live life more frequently. After all, you can't live life without doing it God's way.

It's a good thing God is patient!

I'm glad for God's love, because living life is a good feeling

Cheers,

Damien

Family Guy "The funniest show on tv"

2009-08-04T18:50:00.000-07:00

Not to mention the anti-Catholic, anti-Christian, anti-religious, crudest show on tv.

Seriously, I cannot stand the indecency of this show. This show is the epitome of our culture today: down with religion, up with our own pleasures.

Family Guy absolutely mocks God in every single way. I'll give a few examples I saw just by flipping through the channels.

1. Apparently Peter stole a film from two Christians (who were dressed as priests for some reason). It evolves into a high-speed race through town in which the two Christians try to shoot Peter and his wife in order to get the film back. I flipped through the channels and as I passed through it again Lois is hanging on the edge of one of the presidents of Mt. Rushmore (Peter is nearby). One of the Christians points his pistol at them demanding the location of the film. Peter points across the mountain, the Christian nonchalantly walks over the cliff and falls to his death. Lois asks Peter how he knew the Christian would do that and Peter simply replies that "Christians don't believe in gravity."

2. Just flipping through the channels. All the guys of Family Guy are at a bar making gay-priest jokes. The joke said was absolutely crude, degrading, and raunchy. Peter looks up at someone hidden off-screen and says "Oh, no offense, father." and revealed is a shirtless priest (but still with the collar) who replies along the lines that it did not offend him.

3. (The worst of them, to me. Mocking a priest is an absolutely heinous thing to do, but I abhor this simply because they singled her out.) Stewie is absolutely frightened by something. He says it was the scariest thing that's happened since Mother Teresa OD'd in his car. There's a flashback to Stewie driving a car with two gangster looking people and a sick-looking Mother Teresa. Stewie tells the guys to push her out of the car. They're hesitant. Stewie turns around and tells them to "Push the bitch out." The guys push her onto the sidewalk and leave her there unconscious.

SERIOUSLY!!!!

Think about it guys...if anyone has any ounce of decency in his heart, then it's probably happened that he's felt uncomfortable when his best friend's mom or dad is scolding his friend...or telling an embarrassing story about his friend.

If anyone has any ounce of decency in his heart, then its probably happened that this person has or would intervene when someone is being completely mocked.

But how goes it, that our culture simply laughs and applauds a tv show that degrades our faith and our loved ones. A tv show that mocks one of the most peaceful and loving people in history--Mother Teresa--for no reason at all save for the sake of humor.

A tv that mocks our Dearest Friend.

This is just me flipping through the channels; I have never watched a full episode of Family Guy. I can't imagine what other blasphemous things I would see against the pope, priests, nuns, missionaries, or simply well-to-do people.

I don't know about you guys, but with my conscience, I can do nothing but abhor Family Guy.

For the sake of our God, I cannot enjoy it.

2009-08-04T16:36:00.001-07:00

"She (The Church) is the Irish grandmother cooking us Italian meatballs in an African kitchen while singing Polish folk songs. And she scolds as she hugs, and calls us to grow when we least want to and to reconcile our hearts in matters which, in their hour of horror, appear beyond even a breath of forgiveness. She is patient. She knows what she is about and that this work is not, ultimately, hers but God's. She lives to see us home." --David Morrison

Face the fact that, with God, we can face anything.

2009-07-03T16:46:00.000-07:00

“Life for you has been less than kind
So take a number, stand in line
We’ve all been sorry, we’ve all been hurt
But how we survive is what makes us who we are”

The band Rise Against hits the mark exactly on the spot in suffering. While working, I’ve found more than plenty of time to contemplate such things.

As most everyone knows, we live in hard and trying times. There will always be suffering and hurt at many points in our life. This is due to our fallen nature. Oftentimes it is fairly simple to thrive on the hurt by venting, contemplating on your lowliness (throwing a pity party), or by enjoying the fact that others are acknowledging your depression (pity party); sometimes making situations worse.

I’m not saying these –especially venting and letting out your feelings—are harmful things in and of themselves, but that God has given and always will give us many ways to continue on towards feeling better and therefore towards happiness through other means than things that may be even more harmful for ourselves. Many of God’s aids are extremely simple. Consider:

It takes more muscles to frown than to smile—the less fatigue the better you feel

Holding a smile (even when you don’t feel like it) releases chemicals in the brain that signal relaxation and a better feeling—Facial Feedback

Walking briskly, keeping your back erect, and swinging your arms does the very same thing to make you feel better—Bio Feedback.

A happier person makes a healthier person, literally. Depression greatly increases chances of cardiovascular problems and diseases.

It is obvious by the ways our body reacts to environments that God designed us for happiness. It’s hard, but how we survive is the very epitome of who we are.

Face the fact that, with God, we can face anything.

Pardon Me As I Talk

2009-04-02T16:34:00.001-07:00

I might've talked about this before here and there, but it's so important and it's constantly on my mind that I want to talk about. Forgive me for the very poor use of grammar and style of flow on this topic; I'm basically speaking whatever comes to my mind on the subject. I would grade myself a C+, but at least I can share my thoughts with you guys.

Our generation's culture has been known as the "Culture of Death" especially where regarding the number of abortions operated each day. And sadly, the reference "Culture of Death" isn't far from the truth. Beginning in the twenties something big happened...the industrialization of the car. What happened after that? The once common courtship turned into dating-a man can simply pick up his girlfriend in his new Ford Model T-4 and drive wherever he could without supervision. As a result, the number of unwed pregnancies went skyrocketing upwards. Of course, to solve this unwanted pregnancy crisis, there must be some form of blocking-now commonly referred to as protection-from the evils of conceiving. Birth control pills were being adapted as the better method to keep away from unwanted pregnancies and, therefore, reduce the numbers of abortions. Pope Paul VI, however, condemned the idea of birth-control. Especially in his encyclical writing Humanae Vitae, Pope Paul VI expressed that birth control was not the answer and that it would indeed bring harmful consequences. As we know, the birth-control still was popularly adapted and we now have in today's culture. Birth control (and the Model T-4) brought the idea that sex was a much more simpler and common thing. Sex was losing it's sacredness.

Our culture-the "Culture of Death"- is now the culture of sex: Children watch sex-educational videos at around the age of fourteen. Our popular media-magazines, movies, books, music, and television-generate the idea that sex (especially casual sex) is nothing new or wrong. Celebrities will gladly show their bodies for the sake of a "good" scene. On top of the fact that popularity celebrities sell their bodies for movies, they also get them published in magazines such as People, Inquirer, and so many other short-selling magazines that glamorize the flesh and the scandals (I will not discuss the eighth commandment in this post, however) of these celebrities. As you can see, our media makes a huge impact on the culture of sex. Sex sells!
As is known, as the sacredness of sex has decreased, huge factors have played out. First, abortions. They have literally skyrocketed as thousands of innocents are aborted a day. One of my liberal teachers himself said that abortion is to be pointed at as the result of obtaining a culture of sex, but that there is nothing wrong with a culture based on casual sex.
As the value of sex has gone down, there is also a huge increase of divorces. Many marriages are the result of unwanted pregnancies, and after the emotional bondage of sex has declined, the couple feel no need for each other and therefore divorce.
A third: the woman. Many women's right activists thrive on claiming their own freedom and civil rights, yet many of them don't know the facts that many women are not liberated, but in fact slaves of sex. Especially since the rise of abortion and birth control, women are (by others or, sadly, by themselves) turned into machines into which they have a hold on their most beautiful function: to procreate. An example: when birth control was first tested on both men and women, the men on the pill found some uncomfortable side-effects due to the pill. Immediately after, the pill was not an option for men. The women, however, had more drastic results; a few or more women had died as a result of the pill. And yet, that did not stop the pill being designed for women. What is the message here? That women are to be subject to birth control even though their side effects were far worse than those of a man? The value of a woman was (and still is) shot down to an objective being made for pleasure.

It's hard not to get sucked into the culture one way or another. With the influence given by the media-music, fashion, and film-it's hard to stay away. But with the help and grace of God, chastity can be attained. There are still people out there who fight for life and for morality regarding the sacredness of the unborn, women, and sex. It is extremely necessary to pray for the conversion of all souls regarding such issues.

Cheers.

2009-03-27T18:18:00.000-07:00

The Questions:
1. What is your first name? Damien

2. What is your favorite season? Autumn
3. What is your favorite color? Green (it's a tie with blue)
4. Favorite drink? Coffee
5. Dream vacation? Assisi
6. Favorite Hobby? Whatever Works
7. What you want to be/do when you grow up? Nurse
8. What do you love most in life? Happiness
9. One word/phrase to describe you? Imperfect

Enjoy this and share it!
Rules:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search (http://www.flickr.com/)
b. Using only the first page of the result, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s Mosaic Maker(http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php)
d. Save the image and post it with the questions above!

Cheers,

Damien

Hello?

2009-03-23T11:25:00.000-07:00

This is a call to all you bloggers out there: are you still alive?

I was gonna post something on my thoughts...but for some reason, I don't think they'll come into play with my fingers right now. I guess my thoughts are much bigger than my previous posts' thoughts. On another hand, I really enjoy and miss blogging. Stinkin facebook took control of that. Too bad, though.

Sorry I never wrote about love. I think I wrote part of it, and never got to it. So to save from disappointment, I resign from it. One day...one day it'll be up here though. In the meantime, I deny any responsibility on the issue.

Being responsible sucks. I envy those little kids right now. :-p

Patrick Madrid's Top Ten Favorite Non-Theological Bible Verses.

2009-03-05T19:17:00.000-08:00

Courtesy of Envoy Magazine.

Cheers

#10 Do not eat anything you find already dead (Deut. 14:21).

#9 Give beer to those who are perishing, and wine to those in anguish (Prov. 31:6).

#8 Some small boys came out of the city and jeered at [Elisha], saying, "Go up you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!" And he turned around and when he saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. And two she-bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys (2 Kgs 2:23).

#7 "Dorcas" (Acts 9:36).

#6 Spend the money for whatever you desire...wine or strong drink, or anything else you would enjoy, and there before the Lord, your God, you shall partake of it and make merry with your family (Deut. 14:26).

#5 I will accept no bull from your house (Psalm 50:9).

#4 A fool's lips bring strife, and his mouth invites a beating (Proverbs 18:6).

#3 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish, [but] it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth (Proverbs 26:15).

#2 Behold, you are beautiful, my love! ...You hair is like a flock of goats ...your belly is a heap of wheat ...your nose is like a tower of Lebanon overlooking Damascus (Song of Solomon 4:1, 7:2, 4).

#1 There is an outcry in the streets for lack of wine (Isaiah 24:11).

Admissions Essay

2009-02-18T12:31:00.000-08:00

Something I wrote for my psychology class. Fillers!

Everything about psychology fascinates me. Ever since I’ve learned to put it into the perspective of human life (understanding certain actions, causes, and reasons for experiences with myself and others), I can’t get away from using it. Because of all this, it was no surprise that I have been thoroughly enjoying Psych 1A since the first lecture hearing Ernest Baker’s “The Denial of Death.” But there was one section that attracted me more than I thought it would have; the human brain’s right and left hemisphere, whether as a whole or split down the middle.
I had already heard that the one side of the brain controlled the other of the body, that one side can be more “romantic,” or that being left-handed made you right-brained. The lecture, however, brought to me a new and deep insight as to how the brain actually functioned. I loved hearing that being straight-left-handed increased the chances of not only being right-brained, but the chances of being ambidextrous as well. This especially hit me because I myself am straight-left-handed, and always questioned whether I was ambidextrous or not (I write, eat, pour, and brush left while I do almost anything “physical” right.)
Apart from the lecture, I also had a fun experience reading the section in the psychology book. In module 5, when I read the section, Studying Hemispheric Differences in the Intact Brain, I thought the word associations were incredibly interesting. When I had read the words foot, cry, and glass, the word cut kept flashing in my mind before I even read the word. The same happened when the word camp stuck to me while reading the words boot, summer and ground. I was so fascinated by this that I tried it on two of my brothers and even my cousin- who are all right-handed. They couldn’t associate the words nearly as quick as I had- save for one of my brothers who is very musically talented-a feature that I learned was found in the right side of the brain! Either I had not explained the whole situation well enough beforehand to my family (which I proudly believe to have done so), or I experienced experimentation (and results) on the uses and affect of the left and right side of the brain.
Going along with the left and right hemispheres, it further excited me about learning about the split brain. First, I had never thought that anyone with a split brain could live. Second, I had no idea that something like that could actually be helpful to some cases such as epilepsy. I was so caught up in it that I tried explaining (unsuccessfully, I believe) to my friends just out of the blue. Looking back at my lecture notes on the case, I found out I hadn’t much to write about it. The first thing I wrote about the split brain was, “(the) Split Brain is weird.” As simple as that description was, I can go on with so many other words such as fascinating, awesome, deep, or-as an attempt for a joke of the thought of it-mind splitting! All-in-all, the subject of both sides of the brain has definitely blown my own mind. It has entertained me from the start, as well as given me a whole new insight as to the reactions of things. Strangely enough, I still don’t even know whether I’m right or left-brained. Although I don’t know for a fact, I can now make a much more calculated guess than before. After all the knowledge and facts brought to mind that I recently discovered, I must say one thing: that it is all right to be left-handed (this was a reference in the book about guesses that left-handers were to die early and had diseases and problems).

Fillers

2009-01-18T13:07:00.000-08:00

2 Awesome Quotes...in my eyes anyways.

“There is no secure answer to the awesome mystery of the human face that scrutinizes itself in the mirror; no answer, at any rate, that can come from the person himself, from his own center. One’s own face may be godlike in its miraculousness, but one lacks the godlike power to know what it means, the godlike strength to have been responsible for its emergence.”
--Ernest Becker-The Denial of Death

"She (The Church) is the Irish grandmother cooking us Italian meatballs in an African kitchen while singing Polish folk songs. And she scolds as she hugs, and calls us to grow when we least want to and to reconcile our hearts in matters which, in their hour of horror, appear beyond even a breath of forgiveness. She is patient. She knows what she is about and that this work is not, ultimately, hers but God's. She lives to see us home."

--David Morrison

My Apology

2009-01-12T15:25:00.000-08:00

I've been absolutely lazy at times. Busy at times. Lazy at more times.

Give me time. :-p

What's Become of God? Part I

2008-10-23T11:39:00.000-07:00

What's become of God? Where is He? When has He shown Himself?

These questions are in no way to say that God has disappeared among us, but that today's society has nearly forgotten God in His circumstances--save almost for the wrong.

Popular Uses for God:
1. Blaspheming: "Oh my God!"
2. Blaspheming: Attacks on Religion and Church
3. Curses
4. Blame: Where was God when I needed him?
5. God-related humor.

What happened to prayer life? Religious discussions aside from apologetics? Some are considered Jesus freaks (though many of us are!) just for discussing faith among other topics. Here I will discuss what I believe to happen from a deep lack of faith.

Life goes down.

Depression and hate may be among the more common. Given that they are not only caused by a lack of faith, but I feel sure enough to say that a number of these cases are.
With faith in God, we can trust Him. We can feel Him. We can love Him and feel love because of Him! With true love in God, we can truly love all others. We see the image of God in all people ranging from ourselves to abortionists and orators on terms of abortion, euthanasia-anything against God! If Christ died for all men, and loved them all. Who are we to hate? We love, as our God loves.

Without God-who is the source of love-we find it harder to feel Him. Consequently, it is harder to feel love. A lack of faith in God may bring a lack of love: it can lead to depression; it's harder to see the good in everything, and it drags us down. Good intentions, good people, good wills-they can get thrown away. Instead they are presented as "wrong doings or back-bitings they've done."

Back to the "disappearance" of God, because the way much of our society views religion and God, God becomes a target for all sorts of things. Popular movies, songs, sitcoms, almost anything anywhere blaspheme by using His name in vain, by poking fun of Him, by mocking His name, and by blaming Him for every wrong. The popular phrase "Oh my God!" especially rings out among us. "Oh My God" was once a prayer, but is now used in place of the words "wow" or "Oh no."

What can we do about it? It's never too late to change it all-for ourselves, for loved ones-for the better. Finding a (stronger) love for God by prayer life and charity can really make a difference. Seeing the good in others, as well as ourselves, but acknowledging our faults at the same time. We must remember our duties to God; He created us! We are made to know, love, and to serve Him. We must also protect Him from harm as we and others sin. If a friend yells "Oh, God" ask him why he is calling on God. If a person hates, help him to love. If a person falls, help him back up. In a day and age where God is called on for all the wrong purposes, we must stand true to Him and fight for Him, not give in to the common uses which are now deemed as okay.

On a last note: I will talk about marriage and its sanctity for my next post. And I wish to thank all those who fight for God: for the unborn, on issues of euthanasia and Mary as well as countless other issues. The world seems to fall, but its never too late to hold it up.

Cheers

Start Looking Up

2008-10-14T13:29:00.000-07:00

Forget about what you've done in the past. And if you can't, then just the same; use it for your own good.

When we look down the cliffs we've made, we only add to the depressions-to the erosions- forming amongst them. We set the rivers at a stronger pace-destroying what it can to make the gulch larger then we could have expected.

But when we look Up. We close the gap between. We build bridges. We fill the landscape one-hundred feet beneath. If we fail with our bridges, we still need to look up. We realise the faults in our bridge, and we build a new one. We keep building, we keep filling, we keep looking Up.

We all have our faults. But where can we go from them? We can meditate on them, growing worse in our state and adding to the depressions of our own cliffs. Or we can acknowledge them and grow away from them, knowing them as a thing of the past.

It's up to you decide.

With God, all things are possible.

Cheers

Easy

2008-09-30T17:49:00.000-07:00

Life is simple and extreme. It's good and bad. It's got upsides and downsides....

Let's not try to make it harder for ourselves by focusing on the downs of life.

Cheers

Storytime, Kids!!

2008-09-01T12:34:00.000-07:00

On the way to Chico (30 minute drive) and back (after watching the Dark Knight), Lance, Jonathan, Desiree and I were to write two short stories. Our purpose? Merely to have fun. These are their stories (cue in music from Law and Order).

Jonathan's First

Once upon a time there was a magical place where it never rained. The end. Ahahahahaha!!

Desiree's First

Once there was a maiden who was stuck in a tree. The maiden ate a thorn because it had polyjuice potion in it. The maiden then turned into a spiked-animal and died. The end.

Damien's First

The car rolled over the edge and fell twenty feet. It was the most disastrous thing anyone could have ever seen. The man driving simply whistled at the wreckage and shook his head, hands on his hips. "Boy," he said. "I sure am glad I wasn't in the car at the time. I only wished I remembered to put it in park.

Jonathan's Second

Once upon a time there was a little girl who lived in the forest of Dustyville. And in Dustyville there were only walnut trees. So the children picked walnuts for fun. One day, this little girl named Nutty found a most peculiar nut. This nut had no "wal" to it, nor did it feel like an ordinary walnut. She asked herself, "What could this be!?" So she went to her friend Waly and asked him, "What could this be?!" AS soon as Waly's eyes gazed upon this most peculiar of nuts, he screamed in horror like a newborn baby would when he had first seen his birthing bill and turned tail, dropping the nut, running as as he could to Chuck E Cheese's. By now Nutty was quite distressed. For she still did not know what the nut was. So she put it in water to clean it and as soon as the nut touched the water, a large hissing noise ensued. Nutty stood back aghast and watched as something amazing unfolded before her eyes. The nut was shifting shape and started getting larger and larger. The nut was in fact, not a real nut, but a Decepticon nut. (A Transformer in layman's terms). As soon as the nut took shape and Nutty realized what it was, Nutty too transformed, with arms like giant cannons. Both of them fully transformed into their combative stages, taking stances, ready to take part in their dance of death. Just then a loud clap from the sky sounded as if the earth was being split in two. And Jonathan Crane appeared between the two transformers. He stared at both of them--taking it all in-- and said with his powerful voice. "I will end this absurdly random story now." And he did. The end.

Lance's First

Ummm I don't know. How can I tell a story when I haven't thought about it? I need more time to think. And if I think, that requires time. And I have no time.

Desiree's Second.

Right. Umm. Umm. One day a boy was swinging with his playmate. Then they went up a poison tree and played with three dragons. Then they slid down a thorn bush into a dungeon. And then they fought each other and jumped inside of a book. And then they saw Harry Potter. And then Harry said "Avada Kadavra" and they all died.

Lance's Second.

Once upon a time there was a new Batman movie and Jonathan tried out for it. But they said "Your voice is too high! Do you have a brother?" And Jonathan said, "Yes. I do." And so they called Jonathan's brothers up because they heard of two with deep voices and they couldn't decide who was better. So they decided that there should be two Jokers. And so there were two Jokers. And the movie was a multi-million dollar success. But most of the people liked Lance more. The end.

Damien's Second

His guitar was making history. Like he did. But all the songs he wrote to his girl. It was because his girl that he made history. And as he made history with his guitar he paid bills with his guitar. Not by becoming famous with music. He sold his $6,000 vintage Gibson acoustic for a price of 50,000 dollars to a crazy fan. He lost his guitar, but he made history as the best guitar-seller in the world. He made money and paid the bills. By doing so he won his girl. True love prevailed between the two, but he secretly missed his guitar more than anything. His guitar made him happy. So he bought an Ibanez two-toned acoustic with a beautiful fretboard inlay. Life was good.

Use Your Light

2008-08-14T17:21:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, while waiting in line for confession, I realised something drastic.

I made a god of myself. And I belittled my One and Only God.

There's no denying what I did and how complicated, yet simple it was. Even then in line I didn't realise the absolute terror of it all. But I had done that. Its almost what my mind had become to think automatically. And when I think about making a god of myself, I know that it isn't too uncommon in life. You might wonder how I became of this, but its so much easier than you could possibly think; its probably very common with the more choleric and melancholic types!
How it happened was very simple. I sinned. Not as easy as that, but almost as easy. What happened was that I fell into the pitying state that happens when one sins-- I believed that, by sinning the same sin again and again, it could only mean that I could not obtain mercy. Sure it didn't seem too much at the time; I know that God can forgive me over and over in the ways I can't imagine. But what I did was question God. And by doing so made a god of myself.

( figuratively: )
I told myself I was the rock God couldn't lift because my burden was too big.
I broke God's limits of mercy.

When I imagine it in that sense, I can only hope I never question God's mercy again. And that I strive even to the point of death to do better. I need God. I don't need to question Him. I need my Way and my Light.
In a day when depression and despair is only too common I want to say to everyone...look to the Light that is our God. We need God to love, not to question. I know things sometimes get black and hope seems so far away, but imagine you're lost in a forest as dark and evil as sin. How can we get out? We use a light. Flashlights are always used for the purpose of sight and recovery...to find your lost item or to find your way in the night. Lighthouses guide boats all over the coast. God is our spiritual light! Never lose hold of Him. And when it feels as if you did, He'll be somewhere to guide you towards mercy.

There is no sin too great for God.
There is no man who God won't forgive.
Don't lose hope.

Cheers

Survey!

2008-08-04T17:11:00.001-07:00

I'll put up my answers later on. It's what you feel at the moment...it doesn't really matter. :-p

Facebook or Myspace?

Violin or Cello?

Acoustic or Electric?

Classical or Modern?

Type or Write?

Read or Watch?

Play or Relax?

Laughter or Seriousness?

Rockstar or Sleep?

Car or Truck?

Chevy or Ford?

Jackie Chan or Jet Li?

Starbucks or Any Other Coffee Shop?

Coke or Pepsi?

McDonald's or Burger King?

Sierra Mist or 7up?

White Cake or Brown Cake?

Rock or Rap?

Violence or Romance?

Comedy or Horror?

Vacation on the States or for Foreign Areas?

Cat or Dog?

Heath Ledger or Jack Nicholson?

Chuck Norris or Stephen Segal?

Cheers

Quick-Uns

2008-08-02T22:15:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! Just a bit of an update. I'm going to be doing two posts pretty soon when I have a better chance. One for kicks...like a survey (don't we just love those?) and then another more serious one on life and the importance of it's Light (I'm sure you REALLY love those kinds of posts, too. :-p). And it's hecka late for a tired person like Damien, so Damien is going to go pack up and get to bed!

Sample survey Q, in case you want to think of any for a comment or so:

"Facebook or Myspace?"
Facebook (my answer)

Oh! And I'll be adding on anonymous comments for those who don't have an account but wish to comment one way or another. Feel free for suggestions, comments, or questions!

Cheers.

More Things On My Mind

2008-07-18T16:22:00.000-07:00

LIFE IS TOO SHORT. IT REALLY IS.

But is it really? Who are we to judge time and say whether we are living our lives too short or too long? Too short how? I'd like to talk about time in life as I view it as well as some other related stuff.
It is commonly said that life is too short. But how so? I personally am not one to agree with that saying. Only in the sense that life (time) here on Earth is short (especially short!) when compared to time in Heaven. But in all other senses, I can't find any reason to say that time is too short. I tried thinking about the reason for this belief and I came up with one thing.

Goals.
Lists.
Patience (lack thereof).
Those are my reasons. Yep. There they are. Why would life be viewed as too short if there weren't anything to make any pressure of time? And that is exactly what goals and lists are: something to do before the time is out. I'm not saying to never plan anything- that would be impossible!-- especially with movies and nights out and marriages, just that you need to have one more thing... And that's patience! If you were even a bit impatient (which is the case for most everyone), you would be pressured by time. With impatience, we have what we want in mind, but we want it now. If not now, than rather soon!
It's alright to plan out your life, but I would suggest to everyone to pray for patience. Let God take control. If He's not giving what you want to you, then He probably has some really ridiculously good reason for it. Some people can't have the time, but there is never an absolute with God for us. If God can make the world and rest on the seventh day, then--if He wants it for you-- be patient and hope and know that God has the best intentions for you and might give what you ask for.
Just a thing that I want to also talk about is something that happens to millions of people and that is being impatient with relationships. I wouldn't blame anyone, especially with how the media is with romance movies, books, and music and what not affecting almost everyone with an even greater desire for love. When people read these, though...they need patience again. It's everyone's desire to love and be loved, but, as I said before, let God take care of that. Don't rush things...that always harms things. Patience is needed like no other with relationships. It's like this:

Girls: Dance with God...He'll let the perfect man step in.
Guys: Wait for God to hook you up...He's really good at that. (Cheesy, I know)

Patience, people! Life isn't short. Life is exactly what God gives you and wants for you. Don't lose hope.

Cheers.

Lovely Little Spider

2008-07-07T06:41:00.000-07:00

Outside our window, hidden by the white of the clouds in the backdrop, was a web in the making.

A spider had a purpose, and that was her abode. The spider first crept to the sides of the window: side-to-side, up and down it went in every direction. Then, once its base was complete, the spider crept in circles, going from line of web to web in perfect balance; with perfect precision it went. Farther and farther out the circles went, until the spider was thoroughly satisfied. Next came the details. Even now, the spider is constantly moving above my head right out the window. What she is doing with her home, I know not. But I do know she has a purpose, as does everything. The web may be knocked off by wind or a broom, but while the spider lives, so does her purpose.

In my way of relating things, I found that the spider is a good way to start up the conversation of purpose: what it is, where it fits in, our purpose in life, our purpose for things. My purpose for this topic is to discuss purpose, so to say.

I’ll begin where I find it best to begin. That is, the meaning of purpose. There are actually a few ways to define it, though, if you want to get technical, they both need each other. At least, in my fantastical echnical sense, its that way! The first is the basic with which every little kid has learned at such a young age. And that is the intentional purpose; the purpose where kids can say
“Mom! Timmy just bit my finger again!! On purpose!!”
The second can be defined as an existence of reason of purpose. Reason of purpose is like the lovely little spider (this is a lot to say, being that spiders give me the creeps; I’ve always a fond fascination for them, though) that has set her goals- her whole life even- to just her little spider web. Alice, when talking to the depressed turtle in “Alice in Wonderland” realizes about purpose when the turtle explains that when a school of fish set off for somewhere else, they are to be asked “With what porpoise?” (haha, get it?) But seriously! By the reason, I mean that we have something in our mind, like a home in the making. Its almost a wanting, and it makes us strive. We strive for something, so we intentionally work for it (see how they can kind of go together?).
Now that the definition is (hopefully) explained adequately enough, I wish to discuss purpose. First, intention! Not that I really want to get into detail with this, but I just wish everyone to question our intentions…for everything! I read a book (Boy Meets Girl by Joshua Harris) that discussed arguments and the intentions that begin them. I just wanted to bring up what quickly came to mind. And what had come to mind was grievances.

There is always an intention for something: an outcome, or a reason, so to say. What came to mind was that when something was bothering someone, that someone would want to “get it to stop.” But there are two ways at how that can happen. When a person is about to try to talk to someone about something they don’t like, they already have the reason for purpose. Then comes the intention. The common way is when a person confronts the bother-er in an bad fashion (usually found in the middle of arguments too):

“Whenever we’re there you always have to make this remark. And it always bothers me and it makes you look stupid when you say it and there is no need to even say it over and over and over again. Sometimes your big fat mouth just gets the better of you and you make a fool of yourself.”

Now what is purpose of that? Was the intention of this paragraph to edify the bother-er, or to just put him down so that you may feel better about something bothering you. Why not try it a different way to make it sound like an offering hand rather than a piercing tongue? I just wanted to bring that up because---I know with me anyways-- the piercing tongue is found very often. Hopefully a new look on our intentions may help us to become better people?

And then of course I shall end it with our--humanity’s-- purpose, for I fear I am dragging this post too long. St. Bernard says our life here on Earth is to glorify God as much as we can! It is the existence-of-reason purpose that makes us live for a goal. Sure, we’re meant to be married or clerical, a lawyer or a theologian, but our Ultimate Purpose is to serve God in everyway we can! I enjoy thinking about that often, because it calls to mind our duty in life, despite the distractions of jobs and friends and plans. We always need God on the end of a rope. And we always need to be pulling that rope.

Like the spider and her home. So it is us and God.

Cheers

Damien

If there are any questions or anything I need to make clearer, feel free to ask.

Just Sickening

2008-06-28T09:25:00.000-07:00

Alright guys. There's something that's been on my mind for waaaaay too long. And I'm sick of it. I can't stand it anymore. It makes me want to curl into a ball and make believe it's not real. And you all should know what it is, because its EVERYWHERE!

It's complaining. I can't stand it!

I hate it when people just complain and complain and complain about what they're doing. All they do is just go, "wah, wah, wah, wah wah. " and they're not even playing a guitar with a wah-wah pedal on it! These people think the world evolves just around them and all they do is just complain and nag about it. CAN'T YOU GUYS STOP IT!? IT's GETTING ON MY NERVES!!!!

Aww, who am I kidding? I did a post like this a long time ago, I remembers now. I'm not really angry guys...I did that for kicks when, about a paragraph into it, I realised I did this before. Oh well. Just giving you all an update when I've got a little time.

Summer!

I've been working, nothing new. But I went to Camp Sacred Heart 2008. One of the best camps ever! And I led my team to a victory! Oh yeah! Who can do something like that? My team, St. Theophane Venard, was able to get it's name on the back of the bear head cup. A definite, sweet, sweet reward.

And that's about it. Smoke was/is all over the place, but its like that everywhere else. Aaaand yeah.

Oh! I'm reading "Socrates vs. Sartre" by Peter Kreeft and it is a hecka entertaining book for anyone who really enjoys deep philosophy. Beware, though. If you're like me and aren't the best at it, you might get some headaches! :-p

And then there's a song that always gets stuck in my head. You should listen to it! Its "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz. It basically rocks, but not literally. Or musically for that matter. Its mellow!

And I'm out!

Cheers.

I Just Love This

2008-06-23T12:00:00.000-07:00

There are different versions of this, but this is the longest/cleanest.

Cheers

HOW TO GIVE YOUR CAT A PILL IN TWENTY EASY STEPS

1. Sit on sofa. Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your elbow as though you were going to give a bottle to a baby. Talk softly to it.

2. With right hand, position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. (be patient) As cat opens mouth pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow. Drop pill into mouth. Let go of cat, noticing the direction it runs.

3. Pick the pill up off the floor and go get the cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process. Sit on floor in kitchen, wrap arm around cat as before, drop pill in mouth. Let go of cat, noticing the direction it runs.

4. Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away. Scoot across floor to pick up pill, and go find the cat. Bring it back into the kitchen. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten. Drop pill into mouth.

5. Pry claws from back legs out of your arm. Go get the cat, pick up half-dissolved pill from floor and drop it into garbage can.

6. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of closet. Call spouse from backyard. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.

7. Retrieve cat from curtain rod, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered Doulton figures from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.

8. Get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.

9. Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink glass of water to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.

10. Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with rubber band.

11. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put door back on hinges. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Throw T-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.

12. Call fire department to retrieve cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take another pill from foil wrap.

13. Tie cat's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy duty pruning gloves from shed, force cat's mouth open with small spanner. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of fillet steak. Hold head vertically and pour one cup of water down throat to wash pill down.

14. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call at furniture shop on way home to order new table.

15. Get last pill from bottle. Go into bathroom and get a fluffy towel. Stay in the bathroom with the cat, and close the door.

16. Sit on bathroom floor, wrap towel around kitty, leaving only his head exposed. Cradle kitty in the crook of your arm, and pick up pill off of counter.

17. Retrieve cat from top of shower door (you didn't know that cats can jump 5 feet straight up in the air, did you?), and wrap towel around it a little tighter, making sure its paws can't come out this time. With fingers at either side of its jaw, pry it open and pop pill into mouth. Quickly close mouth (his, not yours).

18. Sit on floor with cat in your lap, stroking it under the chin and talking gently to it for at least a half hour, while the pill dissolves.

19. Unwrap towel, open bathroom door. Wash off scratches in warm soapy water, comb your hair, and go find something to occupy your time for 7-1/2 hours.

20. Arrange for SPCA to get cat and call local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.

How to give a dog a pill

1. Wrap in bacon and toss in the air.

Kitty!

2008-06-05T19:11:00.001-07:00

This is Meg! Yeah...I named her Meg too. Who can deny how cute she is!?

"Meow"

Boring

2008-06-02T17:09:00.000-07:00

I would suggest not reading my last post...It's knock-yourself-dead-boring.

Boring.

cool word, huh?

Boring

"Gee Alfred, I know I'm not the funnest guy around..." - ?

Who can tell me what that is from??

Cheers

I Can't Believe That I Didn't Say This Sooner

2008-06-02T16:06:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'M SORRY!!!! Now you can leave me alone and enjoy a new post! I'm not guaranteeing nothing, though. If you don't enjoy it, go cry about it and I'll give you a sweet tart. For now, I'm giving you an update. I'll see if I can find something to talk about intensely later on.

I just realized. I'm wasting time! I've got guitar to practice. I've missed two weeks and I've barely practiced! What do I practice! Stiney, you guys are wasting my time! Kind of true, but it's me. And I want to do this. I guess I can update you guys on that. Ever since I've had lessons things have been going breezy with learning stuff. I'm no Van Halen, but I'm definitely...Damien Crane. Yeah, who can deny the superiority of that?!

Some other news is that I've been running a choir. In case you guys didn't know that! Yeah...been doing it for a while now. Bossing around a cool kid that plays piano (gotta boss him because he clunks the piano) and then bossing around my family and a few others always brings a good time. But not really! It's summer! We should have breaks! I'm running low on choir! I think we really have only one girl..but she might not be at the next Mass we're preparing for, that's no good. And then we've got a dictator "liturgical director" telling us what to do and how to do things. And, quoting OCP (Oregon Catholic Press, they make the hymnals for our church) we "should look for a new liturgical director." Yeah, my beef on that. Eat it! It's fun...I just want to get the choir experienced on chant and parts...but we're running pretty low now, so I've got a couple other things to worry about.

Been working. Good enough. Learning more Spanish.

Have got two new kittens! Possibly three! I can say for sure that we have two new kittens because that's what we officially have. One this bugly thing but adorable at the same time, and another runt that's black and (a little bit) white that has dark blue eyes. Imagine that, black with dark blue eyes! He's so cool. The third I found today, meowing like it was the end of the world, over at work. He's beautiful, serious. He doesn't look wild, but I can't see him moving that far away from the nearest house there was. I'll ask the coworkers and find out. But I'm hoping we can keep her. She's too cool and beautiful to pass up.

Did I ever tell you guys about the time one of my dogs (Bibi- black lab and chow mix) got into a fight with a raccoon? No? Well here's the story:

It was a windy day and the dogs were barking, and we look at this tree (it was winter, so there were no leaves) and there is a raccoon swinging back in forth in the wind on one of the branches! Well, we had new pups then so we were wanting to get that thing away. Only...nothing would really move it. To stop the dogs from going crazy, we put them inside, but they still were anxious (or so I heard) to get out. My dad brought a pruning tower from the other side of the house and, with a pool pole, knocked the raccoon down the tree slowly but surely. Eventually the raccoon gave away and Royce and I made sure it headed out past our field. Royce was recording (we don't have the video anymore, I think), and I was holding this shorter pool pole when we see one of our dogs, Bibi, rushing like wildfire after the raccoon right into the olive orchard. My brother thought the coast was clear so he opened the door and Bibi just went rushing after the raccoon. So Royce and I ran into the olive orchard by climbing the fence and Royce then had the pole when we reached the coon and Bibi. The raccoon was pinned against a tree and baring it's teeth and scratching and biting whenever Bibi got near. But Bibi always knew the right time to strike. She always went for the throat, as I recall, while the raccoon couldn't really do anything in that position but bite and scratch where it could. Not wanting anyone to get bit or rabies or anything, I got the pole from Royce and pinned the raccoon to the tree while Royce dragged Bibi away. The raccoon climbed the tree afterwards and that was the last of it. Bibi didn't even get a scratch! I'd show you pictures of the cute little thing, but I have no clue where to find them, and I looked!

Too long! Post too long! It's boring, I know! Sorry. I promise I'll do better next time.

Cheers

Joy. Oh, How it Can Radiate

2008-05-09T17:34:00.000-07:00

Last night, Thursday May 08, I had many different and wonderful dreams. But I'm going to share my favorite one. Probably the best dream of my life, actually.

First, I need to tell you a story. I might have the details a little wrong, but I'll try my best to get the message down.

I had a great aunt named Judith, but always called Wif (Weef). She had the best personality and the kindest heart. She almost became a nun, but hadn't made thee final vows to care for the family needs. She babysat all over for our family, even when she shouldn't have. Her family and God were her main concerns. If she wasn't busy watching someone, I would see her sitting down with a rosary, praying away. Later in her life, Wif was diagnosed with cancer. I'm sorry, but I can't actually remember the actual type of cancer; it was either lymphoid cancer or lung cancer, but either way it caused her whole body system to fail in such a horrible way. Wif ignored the pain and medicine and offered it for the sake of a nephew's reversion to the Catholic faith. She even avoided foods in case some pain medications were slipped in. All in all, Wif died a heroic death, and there is no doubt in my mind where she was heading. What would have cleared any doubts about it was the most beautiful dream I had.

I was sitting in my room, on the bottom of the room's bunk bed. There was no hint about what I was doing, but the next instant I knew I was sitting, there she was.
Wif wasn't actually there, walking from the door of the room to the windows on the opposite side. At least, her complete body wasn't there. But it was Wif, alright. Transparent, but with all her features: Wild-red hair, a waddling kind of walk, and a full clothing of purple, her favorite color.
I patted the space on the bed next beside me. Knowing she was long passed away, I just wanted to be with her and talk with her. My body quivered with the excitement of seeing her. As I patted the space beside me, I spoke, "Sit down, Wif." But she wouldn't have it that way. Wif gave me a wide smile and shook her head, always walking towards the window. But there was no window in view. It was just pure white, hazing the walls and ceiling of my wall. I didn't mind; I knew what I was witnessing. Wif had a more important calling that second, and that was God. As she finished her wide smile at me, she turned to the white. Always walking. Pure joy radiated through me then and for a long while afterwards, as I watched Wif walk and get engulfed in the light. I feel certain of where Wif is. And I'm asking her more often to pray a storm for us here on Earth.

Death could be a tragic thing. But the beauty of our end is surreal. We go to God; that is our point in life. We leave this world to God, who is True Happiness.

Cheers

Everything- Lifehouse

2008-04-15T20:36:00.000-07:00

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=ee73e63418003b47d7d5

Something that's hecka cool. Get past the beginning, and you'll appreciate it for sure!

The Sun Never Shines On Closed Doors

2008-03-29T09:58:00.000-07:00

I was driving home last night listening to as many laid-back songs as I could when I came upon "The Sun Never Shines On Closed Doors" by Flogging Molly. I've always enjoyed the relaxing melody of the song, so it wasn't too new for me in anyway. As I sipped my lemonade, the sad melody and words (the same as the title) of the refrain reached to me. But not only to my ears, but to something more. Instantly my head whirled about the words until I got the message that love won't pour in until you open your heart.

I thought of it. I thought about it. If you close your heart, what will you get? Yes, you can always protect your heart, but when you close it to all those around you, do you feel loved? Do you wish to feel loved?

I'm not talking about the love a boy finds when he sees an attractive woman, or the "love" you feel if a boy is talking to you above all others. I'm talking of the other genuine love. The love for neighbor. If you set your heart on blocking out all things, if you close your heart to everything, and your demeanor changes for it, will you expect love to come to you? You can compare it to everything else. You wish to change your ways and faults, but, because of pride, you close your ears to all those around you. Would you expect anything to change?

In a way, it's easier to see from the other way around. Anyone willing to be there for a friend, a family member, anyone, would have his heart open so that he may "pour" his love into that distressed person. But this person won't take it; he has his heart closed.

I know this probably sounds all too confusing, and not in the least bit entertaining. But it's just something too fascinating, vast and complicated for me to let it off my mind so easily. I hope any of you readers know what I mean. On a last note, I'm not saying to keep your heart open to everyone to have friends or to feel loved. Protecting the heart is something everyone should probably do in life. But in the same sense that The Sun Never Shines on Closed Doors,

So it is that Love won't pour in until your heart is opened.

Damien

First Addition to My Family

2008-03-22T12:34:00.000-07:00

An Ode to Sisters

2008-03-18T12:41:00.001-07:00

http://damienispious.blogspot.com/2006_08_01_archive.html

I now see the importance of a sister. Or at least a really girly guy. You see, Desi* was gone for five days and boy...it was quiet. When she came back things have been more relieving and such. So I figured to myself that I have now figured out the true purpose of sisters.Sisters arent in any way meant to be just annoying, which is obviously one of their natures. But they're also meant to be talkative. And this is a true gift from God, mind you.

You see, with Desi* gone, things just felt empty. EMPTY! Desi* comes back and you hear the same things over and over, and somehow....its a good thing. It's hard to explain, but I think being annoying and talkative at the same time can be a relief to people who despise utter silence, it must be the purpose of the sister! Sisters have another purpose though. Sisters are the ones with the weird styles, class, etc. As in they like the weirdest things! One example of a song that I'm sure everyone can relate to...SOS. Because I have a sister, I would hear that song at LEAST two times a day. Once it was five altogether in one day...Trust me, it was terrible. Another example is "Hips dont Lie"....Blegh. That's all there is to it. But this gets me to thinking again. Yet another purpose of the sister is to demonstrate to everyone else that life is hard and cruel in mysterious ways! And that people you're going to meet in the future will be like your sister. So there is another good thing about sisters. You get used to that weird, annoying, talkative being so much that when you meet someone exactly the same in college or something like that, it'll be like they're your best friend, even though they're uber annoying and talkative! For those without sisters, they'll just be sitting there, staring and thinking, "Ok......this girl likes to sing Kelly Clarkson in the public.......during a movie!" What goes along with the purpose of a sister also is that you learn to be gentleman-like...no matter how much your sister hates it, overuses it "I'm the girl so that's why!" etc. You just learn. Thanks to Des*, if some girl untunes my guitar for no stinking reason at all...I wont blow up! Just get really annoyed.

One last thing I'm glad I've learned because of Des* is that girls CAN ACTUALLY BE NICE! So now in the future if some girl laughs at a joke or doesnt completely put me down I wont be startled and amazed at a girl actually being nice. I'll be somewhat jolted, because it's very rare, but I wont be jaw-dropped or anything. So there you have it. This is my load of scat concerning sisters. Hope you enjoy this completely random (but not as boring as Lance's post) topic!Damien* Note: Desi is just an example for a name of the average sister. Desi is in fact the sweetest sister I've ever met and had. Desi is not an average sister either, she is in fact her own...nothing like all you other annoying, talkative, sometimesreallynicebutatcompletelyrandomtimes, sisters out there. She's the best.

You talk about the memories, you remember them all. -Damien

Thoughts from Work

2008-03-11T15:00:00.000-07:00

Today is the day that I'll be someone new;
I'll be myself, I'll be someone true,
I won't carve my thoughts to those of another's mind,
I'll listen to the voice that screams from inside
That this is not me, this is not who I am,
This is not the person who God had in plan,
So today I'll set that voice inside free
I won't be a fake, I'll only be me.

Sure,
I have my faults, but those are my own,
They aren't yours, or God's;
They are what I've sown.

And God, I'll try to be who You want me to be,
Because in You alone I can be made happy,
I will try to follow, no matter the cross,
Because You sacrificed Your Son,
So that all souls are not lost.
I find hope,
I find direction,
I find love in You,
I only hope that I can be true,
To follow what You wish me to do.

Whenever, wherever

Damien

It's Lent, I know.

2008-02-29T17:14:00.000-08:00

But, it is something I enjoy doing; talking about the little discoveries of my mind. That can happen often, too. Just not like a cool discovery (eg. I discovered that ((at least, sprinkler related)) plugs in Spanish is topanes and that a little sprinkler part is called "coples"), but one nevertheless.

I was praying the Rosary on the way back home from Sacramento with Lance and was trying to meditate on the third sorrowful mystery when a thought struck me. This (the mystery, or event in Jesus' passion) could probably be the biggest thing Jesus did in my eyes. Jesus was scourged, nailed to the cross, beaten and falsely detracted many times, but Him being crowned opened up something to me.
Jesus was crowned with a mock-crown of thorns, each digging deeply into his skin; tearing off his flesh. All the while he was being beaten and mocked, each comment an offense to His infinitely perfect nature as God the Son. All of us wish to defend ourselves or to retaliate when treated wrongly because of pride. If Jesus had any ounce of pride, any at all, He would immediately lash out against those who were mocking and it would be totally justified. 100%. But Jesus' love for us was so great that He took it all. He accepted being mocked and beaten: He accepted the Crown of Thorns. When this thought crossed my head it struck me that Jesus must have loved every single one of us to accept His being mocked and beaten upon; to accept His entire passion. If He had any ounce pride, or any second-thought about His love for us, Christ wouldn't follow through with what He suffered. It makes the lyric I heard in a song run through my head over and over again.

Never underestimate my Jesus.

Cheers

Why Do We Fall, Sir?

2007-08-29T10:37:00.000-07:00

Well, first, before I explain why we fall, how about I explain what happens when we fall.

Since the fall of man, we've been falling left and right (whoa, whoa! Did I just say why we fall? Or what caused us to make ourselves fall, actually...). A sin here, a sin there. It's happened forever, basically. Now, since Christ and His sacrifice on the cross, we've been given the chance to confess and confess again. But we still fall, it's true.

When we fall it (I'm not sure if it happens for everyone, but I'm guessing it does for many) feels like we've just ended our world. That our lives aren't worth anything anymore; there is no chance. Sometimes when we fall we focus on our fall, leading into more and more falls. Despair. Presumption (in a sense, but not as much). It all happens when we focus on our fall. There is no chance. The point I guess I'm trying to say(I'm really not wording it like I'd like to...maybe I'll save it into a draft and try again some other time) is that focusing on our falls aren't really that healthy for us. Sure, it's only natural (hopefully, to all you people) to feel really guilty for your sins and an ultimate sense of failure ensues, but it could turn into something naturally (or maybe unnaturally) unhealthy for your soul.
You wake up and remember your failure the day before, "Oh look what you did yesterday. Look at yourself, you've failed." What's the next thing you should think of? Do you dwell on this failure and moan and think about it the whole day? Well, only if you're absolutely positive that this can help you. (But I'm not saying that it's bad to be upset the whole day about what you did, only when you dwell on it the whole day and basically nothing else.) Otherwise, the next thought in your head should come from your (so to say) own self which doesn't act on it's own accord (like, the thought of your failure the day before just automatically came into you, as if you didn't really say it; that it was just there. Whereas the next thought should come from you, where you get up and you think about it and come to your own conclusion, like from your own voice). This next thought should be something along the lines of "Yes, I failed yesterday. I was wrong, completely and truly. It eats inside of me, feeding on my faults. But I will do all that I can to starve this beast within me. God, in His infinite mercy, will give me the chance to start again. I will go out and do what I can today. Confession. And I will make darn sure I try harder this time. No chance of confession today? I will ask the Lord again and again for forgiveness and I will try again tomorrow, or whichever day I know I have the chance."
I used to dwell on whatever happened for a long time. Many times I tried not to, but occasionally I would give in. I know that that was alot worse than what I do now. I guess (in my own way) the best way to go on, when there is no chance for help or penance and all that that day, is to just look forward to that Penance and to not ignore the good things happening to you. When the thought comes along, which is only natural, I could say a prayer or an act of contrition; resolving to not fail again without a better fight and going back into the days work or activity and all that. Dwelling on it whenever the thought pops up certainly won't help.

I guess I won't really explain why we fall. I'm pretty sure all of you know; it's in our nature, grasping us to keep back. I won't really go into it. But now I can't really answer the question to my subject! It should actually be asked differently, though. The question should ask,

"What do we do when we fall, sir?"

Well, so we might better learn to pick ourselves up.

If I Was a Freebird!

2007-07-18T09:01:00.000-07:00

So, two nights ago I had this wondeful dream. Really, it was wonderful. It was the first dream, you see, where I was able to fly!!

Some unknown guy with powers gave me the power to fly so that I can carry out some unknown task for him. Kinda freaky huh? I mean...I could've been doing this awful stuff for him without knowing it, just like in the movies!! But I knew I was doing good. Because, one! I never do bad deeds in my dreams (most the times)! And two! I felt like I was doing a good thing, like...say, I was helping a person get something he couldn't reach for in his age or what not, it just made me feel good. And three! Jonathan Lance and Royce kept chasing me around trying to catch me and stop me from doing anything and they were always rude about it...you can't be rude and doing a good thing! Can you? :-D
So, with this awesome power given to me, I was able to change into...guess what? A butterfly!! Pretty pathetic, huh? But the cool thing about my gift is, if I go full speed or something for about ten seconds I change into a sparrow (thankfully nobody shot me), after ten more seconds it was a hawk or something, then it was an eagle, then ten seconds more and I was a huge mix between a huge eagle and some type of hawk. I was pretty happy with the last thing. :-) I never figured out what I was supposed to do exactly though...my brothers kept giving me a hard time with finishing it. But Desi was on my side (reason four!) and as a token of my appreciation I flew her around the city and inbetween cars and what not. Theeeeen I woke up.

Deeper into life (as if a dream where I can finally fly isn't deep enough), I have been thinking about life again. Look at my life...I've got the best family I can wish for (this goes for my relatives as well), wonderful friends who I feel I can trust and talk to, priests all around who are always ready to help out. I've got wonderful pets, I'm easily entertained. Jasmine and Chumley and all sorts of instruments. I've got a great life!! Sure things can go wrong (and they do! They do...) but I can always go to someone to help me out sooner or later. But what I always think, is how much do I deserve this?? I don't think I deserve any of this. None at all. Maybe a glass of water after I helped someone build a house or something, but nothing greater in life. It just goes to show how much God is better than me by about a gajillion x infinity more times. It's like Jonathan said "How can we think we deserve anything from God? Especially Heaven?? One sin is all it takes to completely make us undeserving of anything." And it's true, sure he was talking to the YG about not thinking we should deserve Heaven for barely trying and what not, but those words made me think about life in general. What did I do to deserve all this? Absolutely nothing! The most I can do is (besides rambling on about it, which I've probably already done) is just be grateful with everything I've got for everything I've got and be ready in case (which would probably do some justice, if any) I'm to sacrifice it all for someone or some moral thing...kinda weird ain't it? I don't think I'm putting it into words too well, but I thought I might as well try for a post. :-D I shall end this subject reminding you all to be grateful with what you've got...though times are hard, it's definitely not as hard as things could be. In addition to that, we should definitely pray to those less fortunate than us.

Maybe a question could help this post? What are the saddest and happiest songs you've heard? It doesn't need to be the actual saddest song you can think of, but just one that comes to mind quickly or what not.

Damien

That Little Chipmunk Scared Me

2007-04-30T17:19:00.000-07:00

Over the years, I've learned many lessons. Some of them I ignored at the time, some of them I still do...though I know I shouldn't. Some of them I just know I don't do by watching others! I can't really think of all of them, but here are some of the ones I like to remember.

...And someone is holding his arms over you, try a shot from behind your back; I was able to do it twice in a row!
Never play on the blacktop in the summer...barefoot. It's really painful, but boy oh boy does water feel good afterwards!
Never guard Royce when you're playing in flip-flops...he likes to step on them and almost make you fall.
Never shoot an arrow straight into the air...with wind. It'll fly about 100 feet away from you and scare the living poo out of your brother and friend...who are downwind (it wasn't that much wind really...just alot way up in the air) and about 100 feet away.
Never squeeze/drop your jamba juice cup UNLESS you want to pour it into another cup and share it with your friends.
Hahaha, never make sharp turns on your first day of driving with a permit at 25 miles an hour with food in the back seat. It's a good way to spill Mexican sauces all over the wrong kinds of food.
Never say hi to a talkative person when you know you don't have the time to talk.
Never eat two corndogs and then go on the "Gravitron" four times in a row just to look for a pair of sunglasses you won at a 25 cent machine, but lost on the ride.
When angry at a video game, never throw your controller or bang your mouse.
Don't eat spaghetti/sloppy food during a test.
Never go around camp after hours with someone who gets scared really easily.
Never give a kid who barely touches guns a rifle that has no safety.
Never eat "coacoa pebbles" cereal when you're sick.
Never give someone the shotgun seat when he loves to DJ at full sound.
Never talk about how girls can be at a boys' camp.
Never walk up to a dog in the parking lot when you're scared for you life of it
Never drive a tractor in or near the mud.
Never make jokes where they won't get it and you'll just have to end up explaining the complete details of the joke and why it is funny when, by the time you're done, it isn't funny anymore because the moment has passed.

And last but not least.

Never mix up your words when your family already presumes you've drank just a bit too much....

Toodles!

what you feel you should say...

2007-04-18T23:19:00.000-07:00

Mi Own little reminder on what to post on next... :-D Oh! I know.. I promise I'll get one in by the end of this month.

"I love you" "No, not today"

2007-03-25T23:42:00.000-07:00

Trust is an exciting thing. You simply acknowledge that you think this person will do this, that this person will not say this, that what you believe out of this person is true. With trust, one may reveal all his thoughts on the world, all his secrets, all his passions, every little urge that dwells in deepest parts of his bodies to someone with whom he believes in the most (having the most trust in, that is).
What makes trust an exciting poem, in a sense, is all the mystery behind it. Can this person really be trusted? Who am I to trust him? Why do I feel I can trust him when I’ve met him after only talking to him for about three minutes (in person :-D)? What are the consequences of my trusting this person? When can I know for sure? And ah yes, the inevitable (I’ve really taking a liking to that word lately) question, “am I to trust myself??”
It’s so awesome, the feeling of trust. When you know you can trust someone; you just know it. It’s like when you hear people in stories and movies talking one sentence to each other until one of them says, “I think we’re going to get along juuust fine.” They’re rarely asked why in those stories, but if they were, the answer would surely be something along the lines of “Oh, I’ve just got that feeling.” I wonder, if someone answered “Oh, I read a fortune from a fortune cookie that the next person I say that to will be for-sure true.” Would that count? I mean…that’s a lot of trust in a fortune cookie. But maybe that’s leaning a bit towards superstition? So let’s go with the first answer. I like that one anyways.
You see, trust can go everywhere; it’s a never-ending story, basically. You may trust someone, and lose it entirely for some reason, only to be completely mistaken and gaining it back, while the same thing happens to you where you are not trusted when you ought to be (though…I’m not sure if any normal man ought to be trusted entirely). It goes everywhere; it’s an exciting thing, really.
Now, trust may be an exciting thing, but not only is it exciting; trust is also dangerous. An extreme sense you can use for an example is giving a passing man a loaded gun, the keys to your house and the instructions: “Come, sit on my porch for a week and guard my house from trespassers. You can only use the keys to feed my kitty-witty, Lincoln and to feed your own face moderately.” All right, maybe this isn’t only an extreme sense, but a rather moronic, idiotic (if not entertaining) sense. But you all get the point right? I mean…you guys wouldn’t trust some guy off the street with your keys and a gun while you’re out sipping soda through a souvenir cup with a souvenir straw while admiring your souvenir fan hat at Disney World….RIGHT????
Trust gets really into it when someone breaks the trust; they may not know that they have, like say….they were caught, but don’t know it, but heck, they may know about it. They can do two things if their reason for mistrust is ever figured out (maybe they can do it before they figure out it’s known, but haven’t done anything about it on account of pride), they can either blow away the fact that it’s known, or feel guilty about it. Heck, maybe they’re even ignorant beyond reason! But the thing with trust is that, once it is broken, it causes a really deep wound so to say; one that still hurts throughout time. Now what I mean by hurt is this.
Someone breaks your trust, you feel bad at yourself for trusting them; you might feel angry at them for completely using your trust and throwing it down the garbage shoot. But then they come and ask for forgiveness, and you feel better again, like everything will be ok. Maybe that’s true with some people, but with a lot (I’m pretty sure) of the people, there will always be that wound. The hurt of the pain isn’t a feeling, like an “ouch” kind of thing, it’s more of a reminder, that this person did this to you. So, when trust is broken, but everything seems ok afterwards, there can be that hurt that always questions the true intention of the person. You remember this person breaking your trust before, so that little nagging thought always comes up “this person has broken it before, what if it’s starting over again? What if that little compliment was all but a part in another game of his/hers?” I’m guessing, that with some people, it may completely go so deep that they avoid this person entirely. But you may here, often, sometimes, whatever, that little saying “give him the benefit of the doubt” and there is an amazing analogy about how we should always try and do our best (cautiously, I would suggest) to give people a second chance.
Christ did so many things for us, painful things; things that would probably cause my sanity to collapse entirely where my legs buckle down and I have no more will left in me. Christ died for us. I mean, this is One of the Three Persons in God, the Son, who was sent to suffer and die for us, just so that we may be redeemed. He completed His task! No matter how difficult it was. But He did it, and there is no use denying that.
But what do so many of us do? We fall into sin. We are trapped by the temptations, we give in, and we fall into sin. We feel sorry for our sins (most of the time) and we repent, and Christ is ever so willing to forgive us. But we make it worse, we not only sin once and repent and go our own way. We sin, repent and go our own way, and then we sin again! And again, and again, and again, and again. We know we sin, Christ knows we sin. But what happens though? We repent; we feel truly sorry for what we do. And by God’s unending mercy, commands, and ways, we ask Christ to forgive us, and He does. I mean…here we (I) are (am), after having sinned so, many, times, asking Christ to forgive us!! Do I deserve it? Should I be forgiven? “Lord I am thine unworthy servant, do with me what thou wilt.”
I honestly don’t know how I myself can be forgiven, but that’s definitely because I’m not as great a person as Christ. It’s really hard to think about it (Christ forgiving people endlessly), but I do know that Christ does forgive me endlessly. It’s why He’s so great!! For me, it’s one of those kinds of mysteries. Where I don’t (or at least feel like I don’t) know why I’m forgiven, or how I’m forgiven, but I know it is so. Because God, through His Son, made it so.

I’ll try to end it with a prayer, that’s probably used by many, but that I like to think of as one I made myself. I’ve been doing it for a long while, especially before confessions, as a kind of way to acknowledge the gravity of sin.

Dear Jesus, how many times have I tempted You to let the cup pass?
How many times did I kiss You, giving You up for worldly items?
How many times did I grab You, bind You, and forced You on Your way to an completely wrong trial?
How many times did I utter false accusations along Your way, lying with what I can to get You condemned?
How many times have I denied Thee? How many?
How many times did I lay the scourge upon Your back? On Thy side? On Thy front?
How many times have I sent those thorns deep into Your head?
How many times have I beat You?
How many times have I completely mocked You, comparing You to the lowest speck of Earth?
How many?
How many times did I see no wrong in You, where I only saw holiness, goodness; that you were the true Son of God, yet condemned You to the cross?
How many times have I given You the cross, forcing You a burden on Your way to death?
How many times did I cause You to fall down, and did not pick you up?
How many times did I deny aiding Thee, and when it had been forced upon me to do so, did I make it known that it was not of my will?
How many?
How many times have I stripped You of your garments, causing the wounds to be re-opened?
How many times did I lay You on the cross and forced You to it by nailing your hands and Your feet?
How many times did I mock You even then, while You were at the last hours of your life?
How many times have I pierced Thy heart?
How many times have I sent Thee to the utmost agony?
How many?

And yet, after every confession you just know that Christ (maybe in my own, weird sense of things) looks past those things, once they are done with Him, and takes us in His arms and says “I absolve thee of all thy sins; you are forgiven.”
So, trust is an exciting thing. People can break our trust, causing the hurt in us. Heck, we can not only get hurt from trust being broken, but all manner of ill-doing towards us. But do we forgive them??

Oh, heck yes, we do.

Lent Is Still Going

2007-02-25T22:19:00.000-08:00

So Hold Fast To Your Resolutions You Catholics, You!!

Damien

So you find all our pictures and you lay them down, you see familiar faces and you're comforted now.

2007-02-03T00:07:00.000-08:00

So,

Lately, I've been really wanting to put up a post, only I couldn't think of what to put up!! I mean...I think I've lost most of my graces in making weird reports, at least for now (:-D ), so if I don't get it by the end of this post, I'll just keep it to one subject. Best be expecting alot of different subjects, though, just in case! ;-)

So, we had the Walk for Life, and though it was my first time and I thought the Pro-Choice group was just way out of hand, even though everyone said that that was nothing compared to how it's been. Good thing, too. I probably would have lost it. I really wanted to just tell those people more than I said (haha, and what I said to one person I shouldn't have said). Buuuut it was also cool to see so many people Walking, there! I mean...it was so cool! I was thinking, though. We've got to come up with some good slogans for those Pro-choicers out there. Haha, and that's the idea for this post: What would you guys have for signs next Walk?? I can't really give ideas though...because I'm not too sane in it. For instance, I'd want to have a sign saying "Oh yeah??? We're right, so POO ON YOU!!!!" and then at the bottom of the sign would be one of those little smileys, kinda like this one, if it'll work. (I think the second one would be better). But we've also got to do some chants of our own too! I was too chicken to do it this year, but I think, if everyone will do it (ha, I'm still acting chicken about it) we should do the one chant I had in mind.

"If you're Catholic (you could substitute Catholic for pro-life if any non-Catholics are present, but why do that??? :-D ) and you know it clap your hands! If you're Catholic (pro-life) and you know it clap your hands! If you're Catholic and you know it then your faith should surely show it, if you're Catholic and you know it clap your hands!

If you're Catholic (pro-life) and you know it------------"

Darn...my conscience made me stop. I wanted to keep going, too!! Oh! I know what I HAVE to wear at hte next Walk, some steel-tipped boots! You know...for the, uhhhh, long hiking. Oh! And a guitar. And a Boombox. And a really camcorder. Aaaaand yeah I think that's it. Oh and money, that we can stop to that one place that is really famous for their wings (haha, that's an overstatement!! Only if you know what I'm talking about, though....). But yeah, what can you guys seeing yourselves doing differently for the next Walk? I mean by signs and all that stuff.

Next subject! I just realized that it's been so stinking long since I've written on my blog! About time, too; it feels muuuuuuch funner than I remember. Oh, that gets me thinking! Do you guys say funner, or more fun? Funner is definitely a cooler word. Like....fruitbasket. Or hecka. Or crimony. Or pathetic (patha-etic, I like to pronounce it that way).
Ahh! I'm reading the Screwtape Letters...it's hecka good! I mean, crimony, it's super good! It's not one of those addictive books that you can just read all day (for me, at least, which is hard being that I like almost every book I like...except for that stupid book called "Swiss Family Robinson"...what a happy book), but it's one that get's you thinking after every letter! It's deep, it's so hecka cool.

Oooooooooooooh yeah. I remember this now. I would make long posts and it'd be hard to comment it all. well, I'll bottle up my excitement for the night and write again to my blog some other day. Let's say this. If, for some reason I absolutely can't write on my blog, then I'll be excused. But I promise that I will make a new post before this February is up, how about that? " src="file:///C:/PROGRA~1/Yahoo!/MESSEN~1/media/smileys/15.gif" align=textTop sm="15">
Toodles,

Damien

PS. Many thanks to those who in any way brought about the hastening of this post. As to many thanks for being my friends. For supporting the Walk of Life. And especially many thanks to the person who I used as a smiley-receiver, just so I could drag them onto this post! you know who you all are! (I'm Damien, by the way)

Sorrow Drips Into Your Heart, Through a Pinhole...

2006-12-12T15:03:00.000-08:00

Warning: The post you are about to read contains a 90% chance of causing you to sleep. Read at your own caution.

It's been a while since I've done one of my signature posts, hasn't it? I'm kind of upset at myself for letting my blog come this way, but at the same time I'm busy and I'm sure you all were thinking "Oh, thank goodness; he hasn't done one of his signature posts in a while!!!" Well...to tell the truth, nothing has come to mind that I actually remembered. So I'm going to patiently think until a good subject I like to talk about comes up. And then I begin typing away on it.

.......Actually what I'd like to do later on (maybe before or right after Christmas) is re-post my research on music files and the legalities of it all. But right now I'm not exactly where it is in the archives.
So there is a subject I'd like to talk about. Moral law, it's everywhere, and it's been everywhere. We talk about Indians being ignorant in their actions before we moved into America, which is true about Faith, but they were likely to be very aware of right and wrong. Because God has given everyone conscience since the beginning of time, everyone has been able to put an accurate distinction between right and wrong. I'm guessing things that are part of their lives, such as tribal feuds (and hence, tribal fights) and everything would probably seem O.K. to them, but I wonder if, when scalping, what they would have felt about something like that. But conscience is constantly ignored these days, as well. We've got abortion, theft, murder, liberals (I just wanted to add that one in :-p ) and many other things. There are illegal surgeries (some legal ones, too) and crimes that you hear about some way or the other that makes you think, "How can someone possibly do something like that?"...I don't read the newspaper often, heck I rarely check the news anymore. But about less than two weeks ago I picked up our daily news. On the front page I read about three different crimes...it's rather depressing. But at the same time, there are so many good things still out there and you think that it's probably all been the same throughout the world; bad things are seemingly everywhere, just as are good things.

So basically I just rambled with this post, didn't I? I guess I'm not too good at talking to a computer. I think I'll try this subject with someone in person later on...preferably Jonathan, he's always got answers and knowledge and the know-hows of things (so if you've got anything to talk about, go to him). :-D

So............what does everyone want for Christmas?

Damien

All I Want For Christmas Is You

2006-12-06T09:12:00.000-08:00

The following is a paragraph from chapter 9 of The Series of Unfortunate Events: The End. It is also very interesting to read. :-D

The phrase "in the dark," as I'm sure you know, can refer not only to one's shadowy surroundings, but also to the shadowy secrets of which one might be unaware. Every day, the sun goes down over all these secrets, and so everyone is in the dark in one way or another. If you are sunbathing in a park, for instance, but you do not know that a locked cabinet is buried fifty feet beneath your blanket, then you are in the dark even though you are not actually in the dark, wheras if you are on a midnight hike, knowing full well that several ballerinas are following close behind you, then you are not in the dark even if you are in fact in the dark. Of course, it is quite possible to be in the dark in the dark, as well as to be not in the dark not in the dark, but there are so many secrets in the world that it is likely that you are always in the dark about one thing or another, whether you are in the dark in the dark or in the dark not in the dark, although the sun can go down so quickly that you may be in the dark about being in the dark in the dark, but in the dark in the dark nonetheless, not only because of the dark, but because of the ballerinas in the dark, who are not in the dark about the dark, but also not in the dark about the locked cabinet, and you may be in the dark about the ballerinas digging up the locked cabinet in the dark, even though you are no longer in the dark about being in the dark, and so you are in fact in the dark about being in the dark, evn though you are not in the dark about being in the dark, and so you may fall into the whole the balllerinas have dug, which is dark, in the dark, and in the park.

..........................Can anybody follow this? I mean, I had to type this and all, but it still hurts my head just to follow along with it. I only wish I can do this good with the "I know what you know what you think...etc."

Burnt Popcorn

2006-11-08T13:27:00.000-08:00

So. One day we all got new pillows. But you see, my pillow wasnt too great: waaaay too fluffy. But I used it for a little whiles, just to see if I'd get used to it.

So. One day I was using Jonathan's super old, goose-looking lamp that can get really really hot, and I was using it in my bed while reading. I gots to finish reading whatever I was reading and put it down for the night. Then, I noticed my sheets werent tucked in or anythings like that. For some odd reason, I cared about that. I mean, I almost never care about the sheets being untucked..I usually sleep that way, too. But for some odd reason I was doing that...or I was stacking books at the foot of my bad (I'm on the top bunk, so I have to shove the books in the corner so my feet wont hit them). Either way I was distracted and so I start smelling something. I look around and think "Burnt popcorn?? Is someone breathing that smell??" (note: we had popcorn during a movie that night). "I dont remember it being burnt though.." so as I was pondering this and continuing my work I still wondered where the popcorn smell was from...finally, I finished whatever I was doing and turned to go to bed. That's when I noticed it. The lamp fell over onto my pillow...which started burning a nice hole right into the feathers of the pillow. Smoke came from the pillow and I found out where that popcorn smell was coming from. So, after some difficulties I put out the fire and tucked it away by the open window (our room smelled like burnt popcorn, though, for the whole night). Alas, I was finally able to use my nice, flat pillow again. Yay!!!!

And so ends Damien's epic story.

Peace out. Oh, props for the reminder of my little past...Now I cant wait to go to the Dugyons again to see and smell the new floor. ;-) But I still want to go to the Maher's even more to see MY BABY!!! Shan, did a dingo actually eat it? If so...I new I should've sued you long ago because I KNOW HOW TO PROTECT AWESOME SIGNS!!! The end

Being in an argument is like fighting pizza...you'll give in one day and eat it

2006-10-26T09:53:00.000-07:00

So,

Completely strange things going on these days. Such as me. But that's not the point. I'm talking about completely new posts, NOT like my other ones!! Isn't that cool? For once, I feel normal, even if it's not a good feeling, but somewhat demoralizing. But still, for once I can sympathize at how pathetic your guys' lives must be. All because I'm having this strange day where I feel normal (maybe its a nightmare, but I can walk around, so it has to be real).

So yeah, things have been happening. Last Friday and Saturday we went camping up at our cabins; that was something to remember! One of the first things that happened was us golfing off the hill. All of us hadn't golfed in ages, so it was kind of embarrassing for us all,but I think that I had the most embarrassing moment, though. There I was, after watching my cousin (Brian) and Jonathan do their best, even if they didn't look good doing it, I was ready to hit off over those mountains. I take my time getting ready for a stance, and imagine myself hitting the ball (a good accomplishment, in my eyes). I pull back the club and give it a nice swing and whoosh!!! There it was, flying about, 30-40 yards downhill, maybe more, maybe less. Only, you're thinking to yourself, "A golf ball at that distance downhill is pathetic!!" But let me tell you my friends, it was no golf ball flying downhill; golf balls never go "Whoosh!!!" when you hit them, they go "Whipong!", but that's not the point. Flying downhill was no other than my golf club, and boy it was a beautiful sight, probably a Guinness record (or something like that). So yeah, that was definitely memorable.

We also went hunting that day. I believe when the Pilleys, Mike, David, Jeeps, JC and us Crane boys went up there...we destroyed everything. We didn't go too far, but things were pretty grim with very few chipmunks to see. I believe Jonathan and Royce hit one or two, but that's about it.

After camping we went up to Demolition Derby; now there was something to (somewhat) remember! Cars lined up in a mud-square, surrounded by sand backing up and driving forward into cars is a good sight to see. Sometimes things died down at times and cars were pathetic at hitting each other, but it was all good, all good. The last derby in the square was the biggest one yet; 15 all around the sides, waiting to back up (they need to back up and hit a car before they can drive forward and hit a car) into the first car they can. Now, the point of this last derby was to be the last car able to move, which can take hours, mind you! So things kinda got a little tiring watching the last three cars trying to destroy each other while the other cars lay dead in the square. But the beginning of the derby was really fun to see. In one derby, there was even a double team against one car at a point, and it was so cool to watch that car go flying into the dirt mound.

So yeah, different things happening these days....different things.......

Also, one thing. Please pray for our uncle. He lost lots of blood but had surgery and things are looking better for him, but he's still in a lot of pain. If you guys would, please pray for his well recovery, it would be much appreciated.

"This is Your Life, Are You Who You Wanna Be?"

2006-10-12T16:30:00.000-07:00

This has to be one of my favorite lyrical quotes from This is Your Life-by Switchfoot. It asks that question that probably every person has asked himself at least once in his lifetime. There are millions of things we do in a lifetime, but the real question is, are you who you want to be?

There are so many questions we can ask ourselves, and I feel like taking the time to put some of them on a blog, rather than a load of bull...ogna, yep. Bullllllogna; it's a new kind of word. So!

When you're with your friends, are your friends the ones to bring you closer to God or ones that will lead you astray with bad examples, immorality, or carelessness?
When you criticize someone at their faults, do you tell them their faults to hopefully let them realize their faults and work with them? Or do you want to tell them their faults just because you can or to cause argument?
When you tell someone about his faults that he cant work with (let's say he has a bad hair day or old clothes and he cant get a haircut or buy new clothes; some bad examples), why do you mention it? Do you want pleasure at feeling better than someone else?
When you interrupt someone, do you interrupt him for something important, or just because you want to get your say quickly before the subject might die?
When you talk about someone...what do you talk about with them? Do you talk edifying things, or are you making known this person's faults? Worse yet, are you making up or exaggerating the faults of the person?
When you argue with someone, what are you arguing for? Do you argue for your point only, or do you try to slander the person you're arguing while trying to prove your point?
When someone makes a mistake and it's obvious he's embarrassed about it, do you go and help him? Or do you stand there watching, pointing, and laughing?
When you go to Mass, what do you do? Are you contemplating on God and readying yourself for the Sacrifice or are you nudging or talking to your best buddy?
Do you think of others whenever doing something, say, when they need help, do you offer help?
Are you one to go talk to someone who has no one to talk to?
Do you share all your belongings? Or do you hold on to them dearly and only share them if that person does something for you in return?
Do you yell at someone for small reasons?
Do you hold grudges?
Do you look at the ups or downs of a person?
Do you make visitors feel welcome or just introduce them to this and that and walk away?
When--

So, my mind has completely gone blank now. I think this is satisfactory, though....Hopefully, all you people in desperate need to ask yourselves these questions!!! Anyways, some of these questions can have loopholes to them or, you know...ways to get out of it. Such as sarcasm :-D, but only when the other person takes it as a joke, not as an insult....

Damien

Ahh, and for the person(s) who made a new profile under my name and picture, I must ask you to please stop...

You Silly Swiss

2006-09-25T20:16:00.000-07:00

And so, Damien begins his next negative, yet oh so important topic of the "Every So Once in a While."

*Cue in some awesome music while I get seated*
*Cut music, cue lights on none other than Damien*

Hello ladies and gentlemen, lets get to the chase; my topic is going to be about none other than Insolent Jerks.

Where can you find these people, someone might often wonder. Well, I would suggest you look to the left, right or behind your computer. If you see nobody, then leave the room until you find someone, and chances are that person is an insolent jerk. But they cant be your parents; I'll talk about that some other time.
Now, if you're somehow not smart enough to know what a jerk is (and I know this is so many of you young readers), I shall explain it to you. A jerk is someone who cares for no one (mostly) all the time. Jerks think about no one other than themselves; they're actually really easy to spot, as I said earlier.
Jerks say things...really mean things, and they say them very often. They'll say that your house is dirt cheap, or that your car is so old they think they're grandma drove one when she was ten. And yes, they say things like that. They'll stare at how your shoes arent tied properly, or worse, they'll stare at your bare feet...and trust me, that's eerie. Sometimes you're forced to try and befriend one of these jerks and you invite them for dinner once in a while. These jerks try your mom's specialistic food and makes a disgusted face while looking at the food, asking, "What is this, I've never seen it before." while its plainly a PB&J*.
Other jerks are jerks in a different kind of way. These kind of jerks are the ones that always have to hint at something. They try and point out that someone is doing such and such without pointing names (but obviously leading to the name) in topics, posts on blogs, and things of the sort. They'll hint at other jerks also, trying to make themselves look good. They'll talk about people who are rude, impatient, fashionable in so many ways, and so, so much more. They'll hint to practically every flaw in almost every single way possible. And they're obviously conjuring other ways to hint at something.
Jerks never apologize for anything, too. They'll do the wrongestest thing in the whole, wide world and never apologize. They'll avoid it as much as possible. For example, a boy just made fun of a friend and, later, on yahoo, says "Oh, I remember saying that to you :-(" They'll make the smiley face a way to apologize, but they'll never flat out apologize for their wrong.
So, basically all is said about jerks; I must now instruct on how to deal with these jerks. First, you should just go up to them, one way or the other and flat out tell them that you really dislike (we are not allowed to hate, my friends) them and never want to see them again. Another way to deal with it is just stay away from them, for crying out loud. I mean, if this person is a jerk, you're not going to be the best of friends with him, right? So STAY AWAY FROM HIM, for crying out loud (and yes, I can say that twice). You could also send them hate mail, death threats, things of the such and hope they just shut up from being scared. Things like this should hope though. I shall leave now. Thanks and good night.**

*1 Note: This is just an example. If your mother makes a darn good PB&J for dinner, then by all means invite me too. :-D

*Cue exiting music. Lights fade. Damien walks off*

2006-09-13T18:25:00.000-07:00

speaks for itself doesnt it? Actually...no. Unless you noticed the waterbottle completely ready to take me out with freezing cold water...Good job if you did.
Royce adopted my ways later in to the game.

At our team's (Lance, Brian, Calyn, Benicia, Mom, and Myself) victory. Lances sings praise with the song "We are the Champion"

2006-09-13T17:45:00.000-07:00

This is Raphael taking a swing at the ball and definitely getting a hit. After two at bats, Raphael very quickly adapted to the art of baseball. Right after this picture, I believe he hit the ball to Calyn (the girl in white) or myself...
I dont know who took this picture, but here is definite proof that Raphel adapted to baseball quickly (throwing the bat while running right after a hit is a definite good thing). He could run around those bases like greased lightning.

2006-09-13T17:38:00.000-07:00

"Damien Hitting the Ball Really Far Cuz He's Good That Way"---We were playing softball, but afterwards did the "Who can hit the ball the farthest" game...I got in second, on a bouncer too. But alas, my dad smoked me by about fifteen feet. As you can see, I could not find my sneakers so resorted to God's creation...feet. Though I might have chosen that way anyways...
This is Desi about to hit the ball during the softball game.
This is Lanchae hitting the ball for the Hitting Farthest game. I cant remember how far he got, but afterwards he played around with Junior and I (as you can see in the Zen picture in the previous post). If you notice, many had a hard time hitting the ball because Royce was pitching...and he stunk!!! Actually...we pitch to our own team during softball and Lance literally killed our own team with his pitching...its so hard having to resort to batting against terrible pitches. ;-)

Some (Randomness) Included

2006-09-13T17:12:00.000-07:00

Lance and Junior are at peace with the world.
Raphel eating dinner with us.

So on Sunday we went and played softball. It was Raphael's first time playing, but he definitely got the hang of it. I'll put up some more pics in a bit, but I wanted to just use this post to introduce Raphael (as a picture) and show you guys how nicely cut and green our softball field can get. It was the perfect opportunity to take a complete poser pic. (right above). Enjoy!

I Like the Sound of My Own Voice

2006-09-08T22:41:00.000-07:00

Blogs.

Blogs have become so many things. They have become ways for people to post photos, random subjects, daily activities, etc. etc. But I think America has taken a new stance on Blogs.

The fun and excitement in blogs has died down, almost to a tragic end. Nowadays, Americans of all over believe a blog to be JUST about your life, when this is completely wrong. You see, a blog was first used as a form of journal, but more so that everyone can see it (i.e. a public journal). Now, American Liberals are grasping the blogs to be defined as a "You must post on what you did last Tuesday" kind of blog. People, thanks to all those liberals of the U.S., competely imagine a blog as a way to tell people what major thing you did, and if someone doesn't do that in a while...he'll be ragged on like Savage would rag on the straight-forward Conservatives or, the true Republicans. So my question is this...

Can't a person be able to own a blog...without ever having to worry about putting up a picture or making a post about "I went hunting with a friend again" without needing to say how many animals you've killed? Can't a blog ever be just a "I want to have fun" blog?

The answer I'm about to say may hurt some people to the very core of their hearts; the answer, sadly, my friends...sadly...is no. No. Plain as that.

There are few exceptions though. For instance, in America, some friends figured the idea to make a blog based on news and entertainment (movies, books, music, etc.) reviews. Now, a blog for this purpose is obviously bound to some criticism if nothing happens every once in a while. But luckily, the Liberals of America haven't targeted the line "You better make a review on the next movie you watch"...only luckily, though. Who knows when they'll brainwash easy going citizens to say that? But sometimes people can be just a teensy impatient with others. Which brings us to a new reality.

Reality, you ask? Some people may tend to forget what the word "reality" is. Some people happen to think that the only way to communication is through a blog, so when some of these people's friends go hiking for one week and don't make any posts or pictures up, things can get pretty bad for that friend's blog. He may come back to find spam written all over his last post; they start off slow and nice, but quickly get into angry tones: "So, when you gonna post those pics *the next words are my own* (that you never SAID you were gonna post them)?" Same thing, yada yada and boom. "Cmon, make the post. I want to see those pictures!" and then things get insane "Post the DA%$ pictures or I'll blow you away with my shotgun!!!"
Yes, my friends, it is shocking; imagine how it must have felt for the man to come back from his hike, seeing comments like those. It's not a great feeling...not at all.

All in all, my friends, lets give bloggers a break, if they don't make a post...MAYBE THEY DONT FEEL LIKE IT! If they're busy all week...DONT RAG ON THEM!!! If you haven't made a post in one month but a constantly-posting blogger forgets to make a daily post...DONT SAY A DANG WORD ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!!! GAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *Ok, Damien...that's right.....deep breaths, in..................ouuuuuuuuuuut................very nice* Oh! Uhhh.... so anyways, theres my post for the "Whenever I feel like it, not when you feel like it."

Damien

PS. I would like you all to know that we have a visitor from Switzerland named Raphael for a couple of months. I hope you all will be able to meet him soon!

2006-09-03T19:06:00.000-07:00

This is a continuation of their stories

2006-09-03T18:56:00.000-07:00

We had a Accuracy Contest where those who participated were to shoot three cans with the gun of their choice. These are their stories *bom-bum!* (Law and Order)

2006-09-03T18:48:00.000-07:00

We had some drama that night...obviously Royce though.
Let's see. We sang (Reed left though, so not Reed) all songs from Disney's Pocahontas (spelling) to Weezer's Beverly Hills. Royce, Lance and I sang our own songs at times (the Pilley's didnt know them, nor did JP, or maybe he just didnt know the lyrics).
JC Reilley. He's a strong guy...He survived two days without Starbucks. Or wait, was it one?
Hahaha oh yeah. Night time was fun.

2006-09-03T18:32:00.000-07:00

Taking care of Punishment? Yeah, you can say that.
Did I mention Superman flew above us when we were shooting?
David....what more can I say?
What caught a pretty good sized fish. I got the grasshoppers, David did the rest (which was dropping the line (because it cant be thrown because those poles are ancient and dont work anymore) and hoping a fish came.

An Ode to Sisters

2006-08-27T14:21:00.000-07:00

I now see the importance of a sister. Or at least a really girly guy.

You see, Desi* was gone for five days and boy...it was quiet. When she came back things have been more relieving and such. So I figured to myself that I have now figured out the true purpose of sisters.

Sisters arent in any way meant to be just annoying, which is obviously one of their natures. But they're also meant to be talkative. And this is a true gift from God, mind you. You see, with Desi* gone, things just felt empty. EMPTY! Desi* comes back and you hear the same things over and over, and somehow....its a good thing. It's hard to explain, but I think being annoying and talkative at the same time can be a relief to people who despise utter silence, it must be the purpose of the sister!

Sisters have another purpose though. Sisters are the ones with the weird styles, class, etc. As in they like the weirdest things! One example of a song that I'm sure everyone can relate to...SOS. Because I have a sister, I would hear that song at LEAST two times a day. Once it was five altogether in one day...Trust me, it was terrible. Another example is "Hips dont Lie"....Blegh. That's all there is to it. But this gets me to thinking again. Yet another purpose of the sister is to demonstrate to everyone else that life is hard and cruel in mysterious ways! And that people you're going to meet in the future will be like your sister. So there is another good thing about sisters. You get used to that weird, annoying, talkative being so much that when you meet someone exactly the same in college or something like that, it'll be like they're your best friend, even though they're uber annoying and talkative! For those without sisters, they'll just be sitting there, staring and thinking, "Ok......this girl likes to sing Kelly Clarkson in the public.......during a movie!" What goes along with the purpose of a sister also is that you learn to be gentleman-like...no matter how much your sister hates it, overuses it "I'm the girl so that's why!" etc. You just learn. Thanks to Des*, if some girl untunes my guitar for no stinking reason at all...I wont blow up! Just get really annoyed.

One last thing I'm glad I've learned because of Des* is that girls CAN ACTUALLY BE NICE! So now in the future if some girl laughs at a joke or doesnt completely put me down I wont be startled and amazed at a girl actually being nice. I'll be somewhat jolted, because it's very rare, but I wont be jaw-dropped or anything.

So there you have it. This is my load of scat concerning sisters. Hope you enjoy this completely random (but not as boring as Lance's post) topic!

Damien

* Note: Desi is just an example for a name of the average sister. Desi is in fact the sweetest sister I've ever met and had. Desi is not an average sister either, she is in fact her own...nothing like all you other annoying, talkative, sometimesreallynicebutatcompletelyrandomtimes, sisters out there. She's the best.

Take Me Away, to the Green Fields of May...

2006-08-13T18:28:00.000-07:00

Due to some nasty comments from some, wait, one, person, I shall write about a bit more sort of going with fashion, but more on manners.

Why is it so common nowadays in America that people be rude? Is it because of fashion? Maybe. Or is it because people are generally, thanks to those liberals, more outgoing than they need be?

Whenever somebody walks into a house, you can often see them look around. And, of course, you'll see them stare for about five seconds at this one spot on the wall where you decided to draw your mom with a red crayon about ten years back. And the next thing they do is "Oh, your house is...........*periods cut off due to blogger restraint* lovely?" with a question mark!! I mean, WHY??!?!! What kind of comment is that? "Your house is lovely?" What, you cant find the right wording?! Did you mean "shabby" or "a dump"?! Sheesh.

And then its when ordering something, namely at Starbucks (because everyone goes there because fashion says you must go there to be cool), you MUST say. "Yeah, I'll have a caramel frappachino." the cashier in return asks, "What size would you like that?" and they say "Grande". The order is called, the person picks his drink and walks away. The end. Now, you guys probably dont know it, being rude, but there were a few mistakes there in my awesome story. First, the P word was missing. For most of you that dont know, the P word is PLEASE. And then its the TY wording. (Ok, I already said this, so I'm just going to copy myself) (Wait, its not letting me, so its done manually.) "For most of you that dont know, the" TY wording is THANK YOU. Sadly, in America, these words have gone away from so many simple minded people like yourselves.

And then we go to the blogging world. IF you choose to get a blogger account, you're going to have to be prepared to USE it! Now, with great blogging skills, comes great responsibility. If you've got an account, you're going to have to comment EVERYwhere to be nice! If you comment on someone's blog and completely ignore somebody else's, thats being rude! AND if you do comment one someone's blog often, but try to make little " *hint...hint*" s about updating a blog, do you know what thats like saying? Thats like saying "You're a boring person who does more than my blog, but I'm still going to complain." Yep...sadly its the truth. You see, a blog is like an online home, someone makes fun of it, its going to hurt someone else's feelings.

So what we must do in life, my good, rude, friends, is act as if the person you know is going to be shipped off to a different planet. I know; with all of you guys being rude and all that, you're thinking "We're supposed to party everyday?", but thats not what I mean. I mean you're supposed to make the person feel happy so when that unfortunate day comes when he's shipped off to another planet, he'll think, "Hey, at least I've got some good friends on Earth who are polite to me".

So alas, this brings my post to an end. I hope you all learned a great lesson, being as rude as you all are. If not, go suck on a lemon and tell me it tastes good.

Damien

Got Blog?

2006-08-01T09:08:00.000-07:00

So anyways, I was getting to thinking. "You know what Damien?" "What?" "You haven't made a post in a while on your blog..." "that's so true, Damien. How bout I make one?" and so here I am making a post.

The world is changing, its now a fad to where your collar up like you're Count Dracula...Next thing you know we'll all be required to where fangs to be "cool". There is also the sunglasses thing...Why is it a fashion for people to where sunglasses that are only meant for your dad or someone because they're so big? I mean, is it the bigger the more range you have on being protected by the sun? Or is it carrying an extra pound (little exaggeration) on the top of your nose just one of those other "cool" things.
But! There is one thing that has been around that I must give props to...Flip flops. If a man doesn't like putting on shoes or socks every single day and needs to go somewhere where its all hot and sweaty, he doesn't need to worry about shoes anymore...because there are now flip flops! Though flip flops arent even that nice!!! Wouldnt it be cooler if the fashion was to where nothing at all on your feet? I would love that! Partially because I'm a laid back hippie though...But with feet, you can do a lot. Such as this: You're visiting a friends house and step on your lawn with your feet, you instantly know its never been mowed in its life or that it lacks water. Or...Say aliens attacked us and you're on the ground and something is too far away from your hands to reach that could save your life...You just use your toes! Its so easy, too!
Another thing I want is one of those chain necklaces. Or maybe they're called collars...Anyways they subject you like a dog and you're supposed to be cool in return...Pretty interesting.

Another fad is language now. If you're not quoting Napoleon Dynamite, then you're just a psychopathic LOSER! Also, I guess speaking with a slur is now cool...Or was that acting like you're bored? I wouldn't know, I'm too easily entertained. But the whole language thing is getting all weird. And for guys its a different thing...Its cool to use the Lords Name in vain and cuss like no other. Then its EVEN COOLER (I know, what can be cooler than blaspheming and cussing???) if you say simple sentences like you're a Neanderthal (no offense to those Neanderthals.): You simply reply to someone's LONG discussion to you with a simple..."Yeah". Maybe its because he cant here anything that other person says because its a fashion to listen to your mp3 player whenever...wherever. So I am done now. I think I'm going to go to Starbucks now, thats a fad I CAN follow! Oh wait, I dont drive. Well, I'm going to get some waffles then. TTFN ta ta for now! (thanks Jeeps for reminding me of that).

2006-07-26T09:37:00.000-07:00

Here you go, Calyn!! I'm pretty sure my mail should have come in with Lance...but I was worried that it weighed too much (yeah, that might have been my little gift of Love), but they would have sent it back, like what happened to Royce. But now I think Royce sent his so all is hopefully good.
With Regards

2006-07-26T09:29:00.000-07:00

This was pretty sure the first day we saw you (Well, Royce, Des and I)
With Regards

2006-07-26T09:28:00.000-07:00

Hahaha it looks like Batman is gaining some weight...
With Regards

This One Is For You

2006-07-22T22:54:00.000-07:00

This one is for you, Sweet Cousin Calyn. So comment soon!

Stop Calling Me Weird

2006-07-21T11:42:00.000-07:00

Hold on, I cant think of anything. I'm having one of my spacey moments. Or it could just be Frank Caliendo on iTunes. I'll get back to you.

2006-06-25T16:20:00.000-07:00

This is our last dodgeball picture...I didnt take as many good ones as Reed but ah well I tried my best. Enjoy for now!
With Regards

2006-06-25T16:18:00.000-07:00

Pretty sure Jonathan got out after I took that picture.
With Regards

2006-06-25T16:16:00.001-07:00

We smoked...Indeed
With Regards

2006-06-25T16:16:00.000-07:00

Hahahahahahaha....Boy that was funny
With Regards

2006-06-25T16:15:00.000-07:00

We're slaughtering the campers! I mean, cmon Reed is obviously smoking Gabe in that picture.
With Regards

2006-06-25T16:13:00.000-07:00

Everyone is running to the dodgeballs, which are the only thing in focus...*sigh* I hate my camera...
With Regards

2006-06-25T16:12:00.000-07:00

A Classic Tale about two black-robed men (and a lawyer) that conquered around 50 campers....I love that tale!
With Regards

2006-06-25T16:10:00.000-07:00

Jeeps and Jason tearing the cone apart (...Well....about too).
With Regards

2006-06-25T16:06:00.000-07:00

Gregory is getting wasted! And he's not drinking either!
With Regards

2006-06-25T16:05:00.000-07:00

"And the Lord Did Grin Upon Reed...And Bestowed Upon Him A Spiritual Blessing"
With Regards

2006-06-25T16:03:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure I heard a girlish cry of triumph from David there.
With Regards

2006-06-17T17:57:00.000-07:00

The Main Entrance to the Seminary
With Regards

2006-06-17T17:56:00.001-07:00

A German terror....
With Regards

2006-06-17T17:56:00.000-07:00

Haha you stink Gabe...honestly
With Regards

2006-06-17T17:55:00.001-07:00

The Kids
With Regards

2006-06-17T17:55:00.000-07:00

Here we all are....waiting to be picked for some extreme dodgeball (good family fun there)
With Regards

2006-06-17T17:54:00.000-07:00

Simon Harkins, a great Scottish guy...and the usual Ed
With Regards

2006-06-17T17:53:00.000-07:00

You see the one in the brown shirt? Well that's a priest and he was hilarious! He would basically go suicidal for Fr. Berg and whenever he got Fr. Berg out he would start laughing like a heyena...it was so great
With Regards

2006-06-17T17:52:00.000-07:00

Micheal Finn....Great person to talk to. We played baseball and he nicknamed me Chaka for my looks...if you dont know who he (Chaka) is. Look him up in the TV series Island of the Lost....you'll see the resemblance.
With Regards

2006-06-17T17:50:00.000-07:00

Hahahaha I think we were having alot of fun killing people in dodgeball
With Regards

2006-06-17T17:49:00.000-07:00

Haha Pete....He's not as good as I remembered.....This one is for you Pete!
With Regards

2006-06-17T17:48:00.000-07:00

This is a number of all the seminarians (Jonathan is the one in the middle of the picture). The one in the background is Ossman....the one that smoked me so bad with a dodgeball at a distance that I started bleeding and got knocked backwards; getting my foot stuck underneath the fence. Which, as you can see, would be hard to do. But boy it was so cool to experience that.
With Regards

2006-06-17T17:47:00.000-07:00

Here you'll see Father Berg doing his usual...big talk and showing off...
With Regards

2006-06-17T17:27:00.000-07:00

Let's see....Well I cant find the names so the first priest ordained is Father Whatshisface....I didnt even see him before he got ordained. Then it's Father Russian (I dont know his name as well...because it's a really long Russian name). He was pretty cool...but I didnt talk to him much. Then it's Father Lee, who I got to meet quite well before he was ordained. We had dinner with him and Father Fryar with the Munsills and Justin and that was pretty sweet. He got a lot of gifts from his parents as well (like a brand new Honda SUV with GPS). The last is Father Gordon. They are all giving their first first blessings (first first because it was for their first time...) to the bishop that ordained him (whose name I know not either).

2006-06-17T17:13:00.000-07:00

Ahhhhhh yes......At top is Good Ol Father Dodgeball laying it on thick (not really though, but his talk was thick ;-) ). And below it is Father Vanderputten, who was really great to talk to after so long. Then it was all who aided in the ordainations/mass on Saturday. Then you'll see Gregory (gray shirt) and Carl (other guy) trying to take us CA's out....unsuccessfully. Then there is Ed doing his ballerina throw.

The Part of the Blog's Life Where the Author Talks About His Vacation...Using Words; Not Pictures

2006-06-08T21:01:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,

I came back from our trip to Nebraska and must say that it was SA-WEET!!!! First day started as usual days do, getting situated and all of that good stuff. Next day started off well; morning Mass with Fr. Berg (Jonathan and I got to serve it) and breakfast. Then it got really boring. All the priests and seminarians apparently had something more important than Jonathan and I to do so we were sent to the rec room to wait for work to show up (mind you, it never did). Basically, we spent our time in the rec room for a long time (we played pool at first, and then I took a nap, having missed my sleep the night before). FINALLY Fr. Berg came to the room and we talked with him for a bit and had lunch afterwords.
After lunch we all headed to Denton (the town right by the seminary) to a tennis court. Then, it was California vs. The Seminary in some intense dodgeball! I have to say that was one of the best dodgeball days ever, seminarians screaming and arguing, kids getting smoked like sausage...On that day, I was on fire; better than I ever did. I was able to get 5 kids out in a row using my copyrighted move (which fools everyone...YES!) in one game. I was also able to see the strongest dodgeball arm ever, by a guy referred to as Orange Cap. He threw a cannon (he was a minor league pitcher) and can catch like no other. One game it was just a few people left and he threw another cannon at me...I didnt try to catch it because I knew it was most likely helpless (with his power), but he hit me in the right leg and I was sent flying backwards! Well I landed on my knees from the force of the hit and slid just a bit on the tennis court until my right leg got caught underneath the fence surrounding the court, and boy did that hurt... The spot where Orange Cap'd hit me was bleeding (hence, strongest arm I've ever seen) and my leg was all bloody from scraping the sidewalk, but I was so thrilled at being part of the strongest throw I've ever seen!
Anyways, then came Saturday; the day of ordinations. That was great to see, and there some great parties afterwards (at the seminary, it was so so, with pool and such in the rec room. Then at the McNeely's there was some GREAT soccer until it was after dark (I couldnt even see the ball half the time). On Sunday, we partied at the McNeely's again and went back to the Seminary (the rest of our family, who came on Friday, left this day). Monday and Tuesday were both the same, either talking or alot of work at the seminary. On Tuesday we spent the whole day practically getting weeds out of so many acres of land around the seminary (literally, all day and we didnt even finish getting all of them!). So then on Wednesday we left and here I am! Back here on the computer...typing away.
I would go more into detail about the trip, but there was SO much great things about it that I would talk and talk and talk and talk about jokes I heard, certain people, and all that. So I shall bid you goodnight and wish you all the best!

With Regards,
Damien

You bring the whiskey, I'll bring the rest

2006-05-18T16:49:00.000-07:00

Ok everyone. I've got news, Kat is gone; the reign of terror (or arguments, at least) is over for a couple of months!!! So it's time to party, we're doing it at the Dugyons* (they thought of the idea) on Friday* the 19th* at 7 PM* if you want to skip Youth Group.** Whoever is coming, bring a bottle of whiskey if you can. I'll bring the rest of the good stuff (I mean, the alcohol)* while the Dugyons supply us with the food*. It's going* to be a memorable for us all and it'll be the first happy party we've had in ages*! Hope to see you all there!

Damien***

* These are all lies
** All single *'s are copied from Strong Bad emails without permission.
***Basically this whole thing was from me being extremely bored

An Ode

2006-05-05T15:26:00.000-07:00

To all those who wake up to those annoying mornings,
Thinking, hoping, looking with eager yearnings
That today wont be as bad, that the wind died down
So you may be able to breathe peacefully...rather than frown
At all the times you sneeze, at all the itchiness that pleas
To successfully get your attention.
Yes, my friends, this is an ode
An ode of odes made in my humble abode
To all those with allergies
Whose eyes water, nose gets stuffed, to those who sneeze
To those who must be weary of that dog
Slobbering after it's mornign jog
Yes my friends, you who have allergies are truly brave people.

Thank you, thank you! All right let's get to the point...this post is to show my new-found sympathy for those who are allergic to something, mainly because I have new-found allergice reactions this year! And I now find it so annoying to wake up sneezing your head off...eyes all watery and itchy (more itchy then my poison oak). Yes, but I can't complain (though...not being used to it, I do)...you all never make a word about it, so here is my ode to you all!!!

Warning: Author in Typing Mood

2006-04-20T16:13:00.000-07:00

Ahhh Spring! Finally the rain is clearing...not sure for how long but it's clearing! The days are nice, the squirrels are about (mainly because I missed 14 flippen times with my new gun...yeah I need to work with the sights BEFORE going hunting), and baseball season has struck again. Now here's my story of the month (because I havent done it daily or weekly).

Jonathan and I are umpires, you shee...an' we aint take no talk. For example, lemme tell ya a story.

Jonathan and I got hooked up with minor boys...little, innocent, cute boys who just want to have fun. Sounds like a good ending but no. The coaches were a guy named Randy (who I remember from last year as a jerk, yelling at kids insultingly even when they werent his own), and a dude named Tim (very strict...need I say more?). So the game went so, so with me hearing Randy complain about Jonathan's strike zone, "but who doesnt?" I thought to myself...
Well anyways a play comes and someone throws the ball to first base. As umpire in the field I have to watch VERY closely how the first baseman is touching a base on a reach (reaching for the ball, making him fall off the base, making the runner safe). Well the first baseman caught the ball on a reach, but the thing is that his foot was on the base for JUST a split second. The kid, to make sure, ran back to the base but didnt beat the runner. But still I called the runner out for obvious reasons. Turned out not too obvious because Randy was coming at me like a hurricane. I just gave him sarcastic comments practically saying I've got two eyes and the job to say that I know what I'm doing. So the game continues on one play later and Randy is trying to show me how the kid didnt show the base, like silent gestures. So I say to him "Oh, do you want me to act what I saw?" and Jonathan yelled "plays over!" so he just stopped and mumbled "I was just showing my kid"...so I laughed at that and thought that was the end of all judgements. Boy was I wrong...

Intermission (Go take a potty break! Get some popcorn! Refresh yourself in anyway! There is still more left!)

Well so a kid on Randy's team hit a nice hit out into the outfield and many kids were running home, the play was near over and Tim (the other coach) tells the pitcher to call for an appeal and to hit home plate, the pitcher does and Jonathan calls time. Turns out one of Randy's kids didnt tag home plate. So Jonathan and I conclude that the runner is out of play...Then Randy comes running and screaming his head off. He said the catcher was in the way, causing an obstruction (which is correct, but the catcher wasnt an obstruction in any way). Well he got close to Jonathan and whispered (or said with clenched teeth) "That's two calls, Blue" so of course Jonathan returns the comment with some yelling and a warning. On his way back to the dugout, Randy starts riling the crowd, so they start yelling rude comments and Jonathan calls time. He talks to me and I told him to give em a warning. He goes right up to the stands and yells "Alright, that's your first warning, any more comments and you forfeit the game and therefore lose..." This shut them up and we had a (somewhat) peaceful game, with little back-biting comments that went away ignored and such. Too bad...Randy's team won too, darnit.

Yes thanks if you read it all. But this was a pretty eventful thing this year. Very eventful indeed, I cant wait to ump Randy's next game

2006-04-02T08:37:00.000-07:00

Week 3 Interesting Week that was...It was the same old things, but, going to St. Stephens on Thursday brought something interesting. Upon entering St. Stephens parking lot from the Danas. I was preparing my lunch/dinner, and coming out of the saburban, I saw something that caught my eye. Yes, my friends. Kaleb was not wearing his usual black attire! He had jeans on and was even wearing a light-blue under armor shirt! Yeah, at first I thought it meant the end of the world, but Kaleb was back to goth again... Then came Saturday, the day of the jamboree. That was a so-so day. The end.

Week 4. Ok I'm done! I've gone too crazy for anything! I cant even think right! I- What? It's Sunday?! Well toodle-doo I'm outta here! Time to party before week 5 comes!

Sorry for the bad subjects...after Easter I'll hopefully have better ones.
:-) But for now one question (which will probably never be answered)...Why are guys who never play volleyball so much better than girls who do play volleyball on a weekly basis? Oh I'll answer that actually, it's because we dont get emotional in sports and keep a cool head. Hence, victory!

Hold Me Now, I'm Six Feet From the Edge and I'm Thinking...

2006-03-19T22:42:00.000-08:00

Week 2 of Lent:

Time went by, I played my song along with Ethan as Drummer Boy, Justin as Piano Man, and Catherine and Shannon as the Cello Gals, oh and Me, the Guitar Hippy. Also along are the special thanks to Jonathan the Procrastinator in Awesome Lyrics, not to mention my rival and best friend in music. We jammed, argued and rocked up the house. All other days passed by like nothing (and nothing is torment).

Week 3 of Lent: My Mom's, Grandma's, Great Aunt's, Friend's birthdays passed, causing much excuse for celebration, abstaining was hard, but I think I barely passed off. I've come up with a new song (with the help of Week 2) and am using Irene's lyrics...which work fairly well. I've been sick since Week 2, and still am prepared to be sick for week 4, but all is well...hopefully when I sneezed all over myself during Stations of the Cross I didnt contaminate the cross too much for anyone else to get sick, because that would mean I didnt wash it too great...Altar Guild came and we played some short dodgeball, shorter soccer, and had a pretty interesting talk with the Pilleys. I'm bored, goodnight.

Well everyone this is my long expected journal of Lent. I hope you all were expecting it. Now it's time to kick off with a home story.

I've made it so far...

2006-03-05T12:49:00.000-08:00

Week 1 Current mood: Tired
My eyes were starting to daze... I couldnt keep a control on my urges... things were getting hard, the only way I got rid of this beast inside me was to sleep, but of course I kept awake tossing and turning in bed for 3 hours, hunger raging inside... though I was tired beyond belief. The first day I walked down and put in one egg, a starvation for myself and turned on the radio, only to turn it off in agony a second later, knowing I cant listen to music.The two hour trips back and forth were a pain... only classical, I was starting to sweat... I go to talk to my family in the living room to find them watching a movie, which looked so inviting to my eagerforanything mind, but I had to turn away from the temptations. Finally, 12 AM dawns and I realize that I am free for 24 hours, just 24 hours out of a whole week. And so ends the days of Ash Wednesday to the First Sunday in Lent times... cruel times are ahead, but I must keep strong...

Yes this is just a simple copy of of my MySpace... :-D. Lent is going pretty hard, I get hungry alot... and I sleep alot more (a good thing, for that matter). But I must tell a rather hilarious story that happened one quiet Thursday afternoon. Jonathan and Lance have piano lessons in Sac in the morning/noon while Royce and Des have choir in the evening in Sac, so I just come along for the heck of it. Now... Des was sick so it was just the boys in Sac and we were doing our thing (which is really nothing...) when we came upon a dilemna, Royce comes out of the saburban and locks the doors, realizing the keys are inside. I thought of the whole thing as rather ironic, but hilarious and jokingly I asked Royce "How the hell did you do that?!?!?!" and I heard a noise behind me. Fr. Deprey (a more strict priest) comes peeking out the gate and obviously had heard my yelling (unless it was drowned out by Jonathan's "you idiot!! You--- nice little boy!") So we told him of the whole thing and we were basically stuck... But then as I was going to shoot Royce with my airsoft pistol Fr. Lebel comes walking from the block (he does his prayers while walking around in a dangerous neighborhood... he must be asking for something). We tell him the story and he tells us to just ask someone from the neighborhood, but all in all he actually found a weakness in our suburban! So we didnt have to wait hours and hours or have to pay any money! All we needed was a sweet French priest!

Yeah, lame story, but Lent brings its limits ;-)

Less than Brief...

2006-02-27T11:15:00.000-08:00

So... many of you know that I am giving up the computer for lent... so this may be my last post in a long time, that or I'll keep you updated on Sundays :)... Now, as a last standing question for a while, I'd like to ask everyone what my family and I were discussing about while eating some nice Italian food...

When someone says "less than brief"... is it supposed to mean???
A. Very long
B. Very short
C. Its just a stupid phrase

I know... its short, but that's all for now!

Damien

Ladies and ...

2006-02-14T22:37:00.001-08:00

Yeah I remembered, this is ONLY to the ladies. Happy Valentine's Day y'all!!! I am currently giving out free, yes my friends FREE E-hugs, get them while they last with a comment! ;-) Seriously though, I may be a little late, but I want to wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day.

My Music Career...

2006-02-02T12:54:00.000-08:00

Well today I've gotten up to a late start so I've been lazy about school and just did some story writing (short story), and some music playing. I was working out some solos or whatever that could go along with the chords of the song when I discovered a tune of a bass part that REALLY matched to that of All American Rejects' "Dance Inside".... I got so scared that I might've just found the same chords to a song and altered it a little...I just ran downstairs (maybe talking a few words of scandal to myself :-o ) , picked up my ipod, ran upstairs, got my headphones that can play BLARING music for headphones, put them on, and listened to the song. Well I was in luck in one way... the song, "Dance Inside" was power chords, but the same variety (fingering) of chords could be played (not the exact chords in sound, the Dance Inside chords are one note lower). I was still pretty scared, until I noticed that the tune to singing was completely different, the solo was different, drums... Ethan would need to know about that, but if I did the bass the certain way, it would sound exactly (except in a different key) the same (only the bass). Basically... you need to know guitar about what I'm talking about, unless I actually explained it well for once! All I could say is that it was a close call...

Compliments to A Weird Al Website (dont sue me)

2006-01-18T14:19:00.000-08:00

Ok well I copied and pasted this sucker... but this has to be one of my favorite songs. Just lets not hope this stuff will really happen to us :-o

Aquarius There's travel in your future when your tongue freezes to the back of a speeding bus Fill that void in your pathetic life by playing Whack-A-Mole seventeen hours a day

Pisces Try to avoid any Virgos or Leos with the Ebola virus You are the true Lord of the Dance, no matter what those idiots at work say

Aries The look on your face will be priceless when you find that forty pound watermelon in your colon Trade toothbrushes with an albino dwarf, then give a hickey to Meryl Streep

Taurus You will never find true happiness - what you gonna do, cry about it? The stars predict tomorrow you'll wake up, do a bunch of stuff, and then go back to sleep

Gemini Your birthday party will be ruined once again by your explosive flatulence Your love life will run into trouble when your fiance hurls a javelin through your chest

Cancer The position of Jupiter says you should spend the rest of the week face down in the mud Try not to shove a roll of duct tape up your nose while taking your driver's test

Leo Now is not a good time to photocopy your butt and staple it to your boss's face, oh no Eat a bucket of tuna-flavored pudding, then wash it down with a gallon of strawberry Quik

Virgo All Virgos are extremely friendly and intelligent - except for you Expect a big surprise today when you wind up with your head impaled on a stick

Now you may find it inconceivable or at the very least a bit unlikely that the relative position of the planets and the stars could have a special deep significance or meaning that exclusively applies to only you, but let me give you my assurance that these forcasts and predictions are all based on solid, scientific, documented evidence, so you would have to be some kind of moron not to reaize that every single one of the is absolutely true.Where was I?

Libra A big promotion is just around the corner for someone much more talented that you Laughter is the very best medicine, remember that when your appendix bursts next week

Scorpio Get ready for an unexpected trip when you fall screaming from an open window Work a little harder on improving your low self-esteem, you stupid freak

Sagittarius All your friends are laughing behind your back (kill them) Take down all those naked pictures of Ernest Borgnine you've got hanging in your den

Capricorn The stars say that you're an exciting and wonderful person, but you know they're lying If I were you, I'd lock my doors and windows and never never never never never leave my house again

One thing though... I got rid of the main part saying "Thats your horoscope for today".

Damien (who is laughing behind my back?!)

Some News... but I need an update

2006-01-15T16:33:00.000-08:00

Basically the news is this ,... we have a new dog! Her name is Bibi (well actually we're still debating on the name), after Bibiana (or short for it). She's basically a cool dog, but it'd be nice if we can somehow muffle her high pitched yapping... it'd be for the better... plus one for the cats!

Walkie Talkie Man

2006-01-03T01:25:00.000-08:00

You know... usually it's hard to catch a firework in the middle of the night with a camera (I was just guessing too), but luckily I caught this beauty! It may be a little blurry and all that, but I think that adds to the effect. Anyways, whats everyone's New Year's resolution?