(RYM, Wyoming, MN)

work was terribly boring today. That bugs me a great deal, because my job has not changed at all - only my perception of my work. i struggle to feel that i accomplish enough during a day. This is really out of my hands, as i cannot control whether a given task takes ten minutes or three hours. It seems that some days everything i touch breaks, tools are missing, and parts are out of stock (i clean and repair popcorn machines). This has some effect on how i perceive my ability to do my work in a adequate manner. From that, i also evaluate how much i enjoy what i do. i feel that my ability to enjoy my work is essential. If i enjoy my work, it is a act of worship - when i enjoy what i am doing, i do better, and my interest in what i do is not from myself but a blessing from God Himself. i have had some wonderful days of work, where i am overwhelmed with joy. Granted, it's not solely the work that i enjoy, but everything that accompanies it. i find that when i reflect on theology and the aspects of God, and enjoy the beauties around me, things go very well - time passes faster, my actual work goes faster, and i am in a state of worship (that is, i am glorifying God with what He has given me, i am overwhelmed with His beauties). i need to change my attitude about my work, i am so fortunate that i have the job that i do.

[New Years Eve, _{James Wagner}]

[Shooting at the Mallory's,
Erin M., _{Kelli F., & Julie L.}]

there are some things i really need to get rolling here. i need to read more, i need to apply for school (again, let's hope the second round will be the real deal), and i need more work. i love my current job, in fact, i find my self overwhelmed with joy when i work some days. This is usually the case when i have theology on my mind, and the music in the room is just right, and God's beauty just blows my mind and i find myself beyond content.

i have been hesitant to get another job for a few reasons. i don't want another job like what all my past jobs have been like - i don't enjoy dealing with the general public, though you do run into a few people that are real jems and help you really appreciate what you do. No more sales for me, if i can at all avoid it. i can do the work very well, i can sell product, i can have the client walk away with a smile, but dealing with all the questions of people who are less than observant wears away at my mind.

So, that narrows my choice a bit... i'm also thinking i would really like to go to Sonshine this year, along with visiting my cousin up in Blackduck, so i need something flexible. i'm thinking i would be willing to give up doing Sonshine...

Photography was a thought, i did my first commission three weeks ago, and it was a wedding to top it.... a little backward on the scare of difficulty.

We'll see, something will show itself.

Along with this, i'm wondering about school - if i get in, do i go right away this fall semester, or do i wait until winter? Or should i wait a year all together? Then there is the conflict of wanting to get on with life and not waiting. i should be enjoying this process, not hurrying through it, trying to get to the next point of interest.

i'm going to take a shot at getting my blogging back up on a more regular basis, so a few photos a week, some thoughts and happenings...

[i went to Illinois with my Cousin, Melissa, for her oldest sisters wedding.

Plenty of photography ensued.

This is on the way to, along I-90 in Wisconsin. ]

Thanksgiving Guys Party

Good times, a few crappy shots, and plenty of memories -


Good times, a few crappy shots, and plenty of memories -

i'll explain in the morning... i want to go to bed.

XX :: [ 1 ] days until
Listening:: Surrounded By Your Love :: DJ Shog Feat. Aven


Written my junior year ::

What brings joy? What is joy? Can things bring joy? Actions? Things loose their shine, activities their luster. Is it new things that bring joy? They soon become old, and something will take it's place... But nothing is new, just reconstructed old ideas.

There is such desire to have, but to acquire is to have a new desire. There is no fulfillment

Please, someone tell me if i'm wrong, but in this sense, there is no such thing as fulfillment, only temporary satisfaction. Might this be so that we continually seek out G-D?

What do you strive for? What good will it do you? What you have toiled over will be given to someone else.

Ecc. 2:24-26 A man can do nothing better tan to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This to, I see, is from the hand of G-D, for without HIM, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the man who pleases him, G-D gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases G-D.
This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Ecc. 3:9-14, 22
9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden G-D has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what G-D has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of G-D. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. G-D does it so that men will revere him.

22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?

i do not understand hope, for what reason do we rise everyday? What are we pursuing, holding onto? Even more so, for those that don't have Christ, is there hope for them? For those that loos hope - their determination to live -> what was that hope?

Beards Essay

"Ho, ho, ho," is an expression often attributed with Santa Claus. Along with this minor, yet distinct attribute come many others, such as his red and white suit, Reindeer and most importantly his beard. Santa's beard says a lot about him, and the same positive attributes could be tagged on those that took the time to grow a beard out like him. Men should grow their beards out, it will give them a good first impression in all situations. There are many benefits for themselves and others.

First, there are many reasons beards would benefit men. For example, beards make men respectable. beards have "I know what I'm talking about," written all over them. Also, they make men appear wise. Beards take some time to grow, and one can be sure that someone with a beard has seen a thing or two. Another benefit is the time one can save. Beards require no time for shaving. Although some will say that beards do not look good, all those that men really care about will think otherwise. In addition, a beard keeps men fashionable, and if not fashionable, bold. And, men will never have an excuse for boredom, they can style their beards to meet the times expectations. Along with all its other practical uses, a beard can help men keep warm. This allows men to avoid the use of scarfs in winter time. Also, A beard helps men keep clean. When food doesn't quite make it into the mouth, food ends up on the beard, and not clothes. Even though some may find it repulsive, it is of great value to store snacks in a beard. Another great perk of beards is there affect on women. They can either keep women around or attract new women. Additionally, many men with beards may be mistaken with Santa. This allows men to find an additional job during the holidays that otherwise wouldn't be open to them. Although some will frown upon a mans beard scaring young kids, this can prove to be very entertaining.

In addition, beards also benefit those without. For example, beards can be donated when a man tires of it. This will give someone else the ability to have hair for themselves. Also, having a beard will create less work for others. With shaving in public bathrooms being a thing of the past, janitors and neat-freaks will be kept happy alike. Additionally, there is confusion between men with beards and Santa. Along with the extra money saved from not buying shaving accessories, many kids end up with more gifts than they would otherwise.

As can be seen, beards benefit both the men with the beards and those without. Men will be able to be confused with Santa and be able to reap the benefits of association with someone elses positive attributes. This helps fight the already judgmental society we live in.

VF! IVth

After a long day of work, i brought my camera back into Valleyfair! to snap some shots. i ran into James W. on his way out from his first day since last year, and chatted with him while he walked. Preceding further into the park, i saw that the shots i wanted were less than likely to turn out with the lighting, and decided that i would wait until another day, during the day. Jeff L. stopped me, commenting my "nice camera" and asking if i "had gotten any nice shots". i made some remarks about camera jargon that went over his head before i walking to other areas of the park, snapping photos here and there. Scott H. ran into me as i was going at a shot of the ferris wheel and Power Tower, telling me that i was not allowed to take photography of the rides without permission from VF!. i ignored him as i took a few more frames, and then gave him crap right back. He had told me earlier before that there had been, in the least, nine fights - something to be expected on the forth of July. He had commented to me more quietly that "things were going to get ugly," and that if i saw a fight - to get down.

"guns?" i asked. He responded saying that he was unable to say anything in the matter.

i wished him well, patted him on the back, and went back to what i had been doing. Tanner was at 550, he asked me to talk with Bryan K., and ask him if he could close 550. The game would not be closed, and he only had around ten minutes left on his shift. i came around to the Outer Games area, going into 554 while Kyle E. was talking with Tiffani B. at Scales.

I figured i would say goodnight to everyone at Gunball outer, so i stopped by and chatted for a few minutes. One of the LP (Loss Prevention) guys jumped over the counter next to me frantically, asking where the phone was. It was evident that he was in a great deal of a hurry, and i figured he had seen a theft or something of that nature. He dialed the phone and grabbed his scanner, bring it to his face along with the phone.
It become evident what was happening when i looked over to my left, there was a large group of black people running around, and maybe five or more in a brawl, going back and forth, back and forth. i couldn't pick anyone out, it was just a mess of bodies going about. Screams rang out, the group dispersed.

"STUPID NIGGERS, STUPID NIGGERS! BUNCH OF NIGGERS!" a kid yelled, himself being coloured. Another boy looked away from the group, obviously pleased by what was happening, and expressed glee with his comments. Curses came from others, and running about. The group was again in form, down by Scales. The mass went on the scale, past the scale, further into the game towards 554 and the fence between. Tiffani and Kyle where now in this mess. i looked over to my right, seeing the LP guy that had made the phone call, looking on as a was, wanting to help but knowing there was nothing we could do. Screams, more and more rang out from the crowd. the brawl went back and forth, perhaps against the fence, and slowed. i approached Kyle and Tiffani, asking them if they were alright, knowing there was nothing i could do for the people involved, but maybe i could assist my co-workers. The both said they where alright, and i knew they were less than likely to have been harmed, but i thought it necessary to ask. Looking over towards where all bee-hive of activity had been, under the fence was a body. It lay there, motionless. Blood dressed the clothing, splattered thickly. i quickly turned

"Oh G-D, Oh G-D, Oh G-D" was the only thing i could think to say. i was absolutely shocked and what my eyes had just seen. There was a lot of blood. i really didn't want to see that.
Looking back from the beating, one could see people for a distance away, stopped, looking in stupor.
Later i found that Kyle had tried to pull one of they guys involved off another guy. Kyle's shirt was also splattered with blood. Tiffani had been hit.
i don't know what to think of this ordeal, this was one of three fights at the same time. Security was already searching for several suspects. Sirens could be heard, two ambulances came, and more police.
Three gangs were in the park? *sigh* There had already been one gang fight earlier too...