Maggiano's

For the Italian speaking portion of the world, Maggiano's (was Magino's) might actually mean something, but for others living in Atlanta, it's (was its) a great Italian restaurant. Last night, Lindsay, Katie, Jason, and I (was myself) embarked with Lindsay's (was Lindsay') mom to enjoy some real food that wasn't served at the campus cafeteria. Someone at the table mentioned that their crazy friend was from Oklahoma. (I apologize (was apolpgize) to any Oklahomians in advance). And, I had the nerve to reply back, "well, that explains a lot." Lindsay's mom replies, "my family's from Oklahoma." And so followed a prolonged awkward silence and the reddest look on my face that matched the marinara sauce on our chicken parmesan (was parmasen). Everyone burst out laughing at me, and I of course squirmed in my seat. But really, dinner was awesome, and you know it was a great dinner when your laughing the whole way through the meal, making fun of a mexican employee who can't speak english, and not realizing that an italian dinner can last three hours. I just wish I had a better intro with Lindsay's mom, but all I could do was revoke my own speaking privileges for the night, a task typically reserved for everyone else (namely Jason and Lindsay) that always seems to fall upon (was opun) me. Me and my stupid mouth...

p.s. the comments will clear up the colors...Lindsay thinks she's an English major

Blog-a-holic

My name is Chris, and I am a blogger. (Everyone: "Hi, Chris")
The testimony:
Every time I sign online, I frantically search my friend's profiles for links to their precious blogs. I just can't seem to go a day without looking to see if something new has been posted. Afterall, you get more thoughts, more information, more insight to that person (or they just waste a few minutes of your day). But really, its calming to read another blog. Its like the dose of coffee or other morning ritual that eases our nerves and sedates our mind for the day. Yet, I can't seem to get enough. I'll check and recheck the blogs for new posts only to consume every word on the screen like the alcoholic gambler who doesn't know when to quit. Obsessed? No. Interested? Yes. Just more jargain to juggle in my mind throughout the day. It's always more interesting that way.

Acquainted with the Night

It's 4 a.m. and instead of doing my french homework, I sit blogging in the library. Yeh, I really should work on my sleeping rituals (and really my homework right now) because four hour naps here and there just aren't sufficient. But, everything is so much different at night. The hustle and havoc of the campus has disappeared, and I'm left walking the brick paths of Emory with a soothing silence. The lamp posts guide me back to my dorm after Trivial Pusuit, Mario Party, cards, charades, or any other form of entertainment. Its relieving to see the campus at rest as it sleeps soundly. Like the thousands of students that parade daily on its cement, the campus is almost human at night, snooring and closing its eyes to enter dream world. Sleep sounds so good right about now. But alas, I've digressed and must return to my homework. But to any reader, see the darker side of things: its not all bad.

Janna!

Janna,

Oh yes, you get your very own post. You went out of your way to comment and so I'll shall pay it forward. And not only do you have your own post, but the title includes your name with an exclamation mark! (Well, I'd be excited.) In addition, this post is in reverance to your extremely wonderful (and long) blog, which I may read it in its entirety someday. But for now, cheers to you and that crazy person we both know.

Writing with a Purpose

This great girl, Lindsay, gave me some of the best advice to help my writing the other night. She said I should write with a purpose in mind before I actually commence writing. I thought that was perposterous. Afterall, I have titled all my posts prior to this only after writing them. And to be honest, I often have no idea where my writing will take me when all is said and done. I'm usually really random and just throw in things from music, movies, or something lame (that was funny at the time) from earlier that day. But what's so wrong with a little improv? I mean Who's Line is it Anyway has great ratings. I guess I should just brainstorm or do a little rough draft before starting. But honestly, who does that? Oh, I have an idea.* We should vote on whether or not brainstorming is really essential to blogging. What do you think?

*this idea did occur to me after I started blogging...so ha Lindsay

Adventures in Emory Land

Adventure 1: Katie recently contracted a virus on her computer. So we had to make our way to the "Clean Room" which is a part of the Information Technology Division (ITD) at Emory. We journeyed across the street the to the Emory's police building. Getting into the elevator, Katie and I looked at each other with apprehension. The walls were padded like a psychiatric institute and there was a huge hole for the elevator buttons. We just needed to be wearing some coats and jumping off the walls to fit right in. Finally, we got to the desired floor and had to telephone into this secret "Clean Room." A small Asain guy pops in through a door. "Follow me," he says. Katie and I are both thinking "yeh, right," but we proceed cautiously. Then, the man quickly says, "no, one of you stay here." It was Katie's computer so I quickly volunteered myself to stay. Katie walks with the man back behind the door, and as it closed, I knew she was screaming "please, don't let me go all by my lonesome self (garrum)." I just waved goodbye, laughing to myself. Ten minutes of staring at Emory's "Jazz in the Lab" concert posters later, Katie emerged. Another ride back down the padded elevator (and maybe some bouncing off of the elevator's walls), we eagerly left the building.

Adventure 2: The weekend had finally come, and Friday was looking up. Free burritos at Willie's prompted myself, Katie, Walt, and Susan to walk there. The only thing that stood in our way to the free food was a credit card application. But hey, that didn't stop us (a college student's gotta eat). And on our return to campus, we crossed the road to get a better look at an out of place brick house on North Decator. Katie's shoe falls off in the process and then follows a five minute game of Walt, Susan, and myself playing chicken with cars or some form of red light green light in the middle of this four laned road. Katie screaming,"NO, my shoe, my poor shoe (garrum)!" Being the incredible super hero Flash I am...wait I mean being normal everyday Chris, I launched myself into the street to obtain the precious shoe. I got clipped by a Honda in the process, and now I am blogging from my hospital bed with a cast on my left leg. Ok, so maybe I walked to the shoe and back easily without getting harmed and am typing from my dorm room now. But still, Katie owes me big time.

Adeventure 3: In light of my use of the car crash for comedic purposes, I want to recount a serious story. Probably the nicest person I have ever met in my life, Meghan, got hit by a black Volvo when we were crossing the Clifton Road. And for proof of her kindness, her first words after getting hit by the car to the driver were "I'm fine...are you ok?" Yeh, Meghan is a trooper. I helped Meghan off the street with her sprained knee, and now she is doing awesome, after some pain killers and crutches. I can say, "I wish it would have been me," "why her?" or "why did it happen a just that time?" But, we can't change the past or have hopes of changing it in our minds. We should be more thankful for the great people we have in our lives, and the lessons we learn from them.

Adeventure 4: This spot is reserved for the exploration that never came to fruition. Details will be posted after Lindsay and I coordinate a night. Oh, the excitement is building...

Lindsay Talley

Thanks for the delicious watermelon jolly rancher. It lasted until I got to the center of campus. It was a little cold but my weather skills helped me out. If you didn't notice, I got you a blog title with just your name. I'd say it beats the liger, preferred for its fierce claws and magical powers, that I drew in class. Yeh, I'd be super excited too. Okay, bye.

~Napoleon Dynamite

To those I've met and have yet to meet

With underestimation running rampant, here is my testament to anyone that has come into my life. Everyone has fallen into a 1)reason 2) season or 3)lifetime person in my life. The reason to teach me or show me something I'd never known before. The season to perfect my decisions, make me mature, or teach me to do something the right way after I've done it wrong over and over again. And finally, the lifetime person to provide the companionship that runs in the blood. A person that becomes so integral in your life that not one day passes that something you do isn't inspired, in remembrance of, or remind you of that person. Above all, all these people have one common fact: Christ died for them. A fact I'm often to timid to say yet wanting to shout at the same time. God would send his only son to die for them as well as for me. Each category has its purpose but no person better than the other. So to anyone reading this, what category do I fall in for you?

Table for Two

Coffee steaming into the slight wind outside on the terrace. I sit complacently in the iron chair, corrugated to the shapes of vines and flowers. A soft cushion to fall into and a hard metal backing remind me its ok to slouch. And I wait. An empty seat across from me, anxiously waiting to be filled. Taking a sip of coffee, my nerves are calmed and I see the vendor on the corner with his striped red and white umbrella. Hotdogs just won't sell today. A dog scurries along the sidewalk, licking the trash and food thrown against the curb. Both, a reminder of poverty and hunger that I can't and won't taste. But I wait. Strangers had once come to sit when every other chair was occupied. Another single serving friend to go with the single serving cream for the coffee. Both important and cherished for my enjoyment of coffee. The chair is vacant now, beckoning to anyone wandering between the shadows of lamp posts. A silhouette in the distance growing larger. Another passerby and my heart beats back to normal. For each shadow there is hope and disappointment. Yet I wait. Wanting to follow the footsteps laid out in front of my eyes, I wait too complacently.

Cures and Ailments

Before going to bed last night, I had an awesome chat with an old friend. She's one of the best people I know (whether she knows it or not) and I've truly missed being around her. I wondered what happened to us as we slowly drifted apart over senior year and our separate college educations. I've come to realize we just forgot to talk. We would talk about anything and everything for hours, and that slowly evolved into thirty second phone conversations of "hello, you coming, yes, ok, goodbye." Blame isn't to be pointed anywhere: it just happened. But, it must be said that the reason, season, and lifetime friend is applicable here. She saved my life in more than one way, and I'm not sure if I ever told her that.
As for my ailment, I was sick for practically the whole month of January, and just when I thought it was over, I have something else. I'm drugged up, and I've been guzzling water like a camel. Yet, this flu, cold, or what have you just won't let up. So its another night in the dorm, which isn't all that bad. After all, it means I'll actually be going to sleep before 2:00 am. Lots of drug medicine and a soft pillow, dream land here I come.

Are you ready?

I ask myself this question daily. Whether I'm trying to not sleep through a class or whether I'm about to go to a Young Life meeting. I always wonder what's going to happen and what should I do. But the truth of the matter is, I have the least control over those things. Its when we let down our guard, roll with the conversation, and dare I say laugh that we can have truly a good time. I'm not completely ready for all the mishaps and problems that come my way, but I'll take them head on with spontaneity.

The All-nighter

We often joke with our friends about staying up all night, but rarely does it come true. After roaming about, talking it up, and playing cards, eyes become heavier and somewhere between 3:00 and 4:00 am is when they first start to go. It was supposed to be a pact that'd we all stay up, but of course things didn't go as planned. Two people who will not be named as Lov and Katie copped out and left Jason and myself to survive another four hours before our 8:30 am classes. I'm not gonna mention that they didn't have class until 1:00 (oops), but hey it was a fun night. Some hearts, a stupid personal improvement plan (ironically about sleep), and some witty and really strange comments from Jason pulled me through the night. And after staying up all night, I didn't finish my homework, slept through thirty minutes of my 8:30 class, and am now going on an hour of sleep until probably 2:00 am. God, I love college.

the bad, the good, and the funny

Today has to have been the most jumbled up day of my life. To set the tone, it was misty all day with light showers, and a haze set in over campus. Come to find out one of the best guys I know, Arunan (the best small group leader), is withdrawing from Emory, for reasons unknown but for God's greater purpose. It was unexpected, and it must be said that he will be missed. I've been on roughly four hours of sleep for 48 hours, and today being Tuesday didn't help. Tuesday means film class, film class means a film screening. Little did I know, I would sleep an hour through a silent film to wake up for the last fifteen minutes. But to bring this emotional day right side up, the film screening ended with an inner laugh. I awoke to find a text message from Meghan on my cell: I wasn't the only one who fell asleep. But the real comedic performance happened at dinner at a pizza eatery, called Everybody's. You can just fill in the blank with anything you really dislike. The comment was,"Blank is like cutting my right achilles tendon with hedge clippers," followed by myself taking a jest at belimic headcases. I assure you it was funny then, but then again everything is heightened when you've been up for far too long. Anyways, to this crazy day I say goodbye, and for tomorrow, may it be just as interesting. With the exception that I don't end up laying in Thomas Hall holding on to Katie's ankle screaming, "noooo...not you too."

p.s. "I'm in a glass case of emotion" is more then an understatement for all that happened today, but fitting nonetheless

Hearts and Clubs

Katie and I got whipped tonight in Hearts. The excellent card game, among others, that makes me spill a coke onto my jeans, allows me and Katie to argue over card order (its left to right clubs to hearts), and let's me and Katie lose miserably by two points. Oh the shame, we almost hit one hundred even but had to settle with our defeat of 102 to 17. (The winners wish to be announced: Lov and Ralph). Yeh, it was close.
As for the clubs, I just want to mention one club that has nothing to do with cards. The first Young Life Club was tonight and it was awesome. Now if I could just schedule sleep into my day, then I would be a "happy bear" (complements of Dr. Adame.)

bygones and their uses

The weekend was more than filled with entertainment so here's the top five.
5. Losing ten dollars playing Texas Hold'em in Harris
4. Patriots winning the Super Bowl
3. Hanging out in Mansi's room and Lindsay's awkward surprise
2. Talk of plans for Spring Break (Texas here I come?)
1. First Young Life Hangout and Club

p.s. oh yeh, I guess I should say Happy Birthday to...um..what's her name...? (bygones)

Friendly Reminder

Who are you? What do you want out of school? What do you want out of life? These complex questions are more than just friendly reminders of life. I received my memos today, and I'm more than happy they came. Honestly, I can't answer all the questions and the subquestions of "why." But I can say that lunch today reminded me of my personal and spiritual growth. It was a test of identity. A test, like others, that makes you reconsidered the right answer to the questions. I know my name is Chris, I enjoy having fun, and my favorite beverage of all times is Jones Soda (you must try it). But how do you respond to questions like how do you live for God, what is glorifying God, and how can others see Jesus in you? And to that I say, I'm not sure. But for one thing, I'm on the same road as others...trying to answer the friendly reminders life throws at us. Hopefully, a combination of my experiences, the Bible, and my conscience will lead me there. My friendly reminder to you is where do you look for such answers?

One Word, Two Syllables

Who can forget those classic times of charades? Your friends acting like complete morons as they mime things like finding out your pregnant, reproduction, and, my personal favorite, being attacked by power tools. Its more than hilarious watching them try to crank an imaginary chainsaw and chase themselves with it. Miming then isn't completely annoying and useless, just so long as you get a good laugh out of it.

"just five more minutes..."

The words "just five more minutes of sleep" is hardly what I ever mean. So when I complain and mumble those words in the early morning, it means leave me alone for another hour or two. It's only two weeks into this semester,and if my attempt at going to class was graded I'm sure I'd get an F. I woke up early enough for class today, but then I considered the soft bed that I was nestled in compared to the stiff wooden chairs I would be seating in at class. My decision wasn't so hard, and I quickly fell asleep again. So instead of learning the French language, I'm blogging. And I must say, it's sooo nice. Now, it's time for breakfast!