Mutual Friends Competition Update

And the current standings are...

8th Place


Karin Saethre - 71 mutual friends

6th Place (tie)


Shane Tarnow - 76 mutual friends


Jordie Roste - 76 mutual friends

4th Place (tie)


Jaclyn Sweeney - 78 mutual friends


Andrew Learmonth - 78 mutual friends

3rd Place


Matt Castle - 80 mutual friends

2nd Place


Megan Hazelton - 81 mutual friends

1st Place


Tyson Kliem - 117 mutual friends

Oh Wait, I'm Not Alone...

Did you feel like something wasn't quite right about this previous post? Like it was lacking something or just maybe too one-sided? No one commented so I don't know what you thought about it.

"It is not good for man to be alone..."

Maybe you thought I gave a compelling argument that we are always alone. Well, I disagree...with myself?

We are never alone. We are so connected and intertwined with so many people that at no given time are we really alone.

I am the product of thousands of years of humanity. Sir Isaac Newton once said (maybe), "If I have seen farther, it is because I have stood on the backs of giants." He didn't discover the laws of nature by himself. He discovered what he did because of all the hard work done by his forerunners. I am directly influenced by my parents, my siblings, my friends, my teachers, etc. The thoughts I think are not my own. They are not "original". They are the result of a million causes from other people.

I am not alone.

When I am by myself, do you know what I think about? I think about you. I'm always thinking about you. I try to get away from crowds so I can be alone, in front of the computer, on facebook and msn, because I am lonely. I want to connect with you. I don't want to be alone.

When I am alone, I think about our conversations and our experiences. I think about the next time I'm going to see you and what we'll be doing. I think about ways to make you feel good about yourself, and ways that I can make you happy. I think about how I've screwed up our relationship and how I want it to be better.

When I dialogue in my head, I am not alone. I am imagining everything you would say and do. These imaginations are not based on fantasy but on fact and past experience. I know you so well, that your being is imprinted in my soul.

The more I'm apart from you, the more I lose that connection with you, and I forget what you would say and how you would react. And then I see you again in real life and it's awkward, because I feel alone again.

I can feel alone, but I am never alone.

I am all alone now,
with all of you.

And you will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

(and when i say you, i am talking to multiple specific persons)

Break Time!

Well, my blogging commitment is up. I should be back in a week with another one.

I went and saw Mates of State last night with Celia and Robyn. That show was freakin' amazing! I wish my foot wasn't sore or I would have cut the rug a little deeper. And I wish I could have hung out with Celia and Robyn more. Hopefully soon ;)

Mutual Friends Competition

I currently have 513 Facebook friends. When I am bored or procrastinating I try to see who has the most mutual friends with me. This has inspired me to come up with a new contest.

On June 1, 2009 at 12:01 pm the three individuals who have the most mutual friends with me will be the winners!!! Here are the prizes:

1st Place - Dinner and Concert with Me.

2nd Place - Movie and Snacks with Me.

3rd Place - Coffee with Me

So far, these are the standings as I far as I can tell...

7th Place (tie)


Jaclyn Sweeney - 72 mutual friends


Karin Saethre - 72 mutual friends

5th Place


Jordie Roste - 76 mutual friends

4th Place


Andrew Learmonth - 78 mutual friends

2nd Place (tie)


Matt Castle - 80 mutual friends


Megan Hazelton - 80 mutual friends

1st Place


Tyson Kliem - 120 mutual friends

I Am All Alone Now...

My friend Cheri has this as her facebook status:

"Cherry Cheri is all alone now"

I don't know why she wrote that, or what she's feeling, or what she's going through, but it made me think. Yes, I continue to think, and to see things from other angles.

Kind of a theme I've been on lately, seeing one thing and then realizing it might have a completely opposite meaning. When someone says, "I am all alone now..." we sigh in sadness with them, because it is sad to be alone. Even God himself says, "It is not good for man to be alone..."

But what if it isn't sad? What if it isn't about loneliness? You know where I'm going with this.

Sometimes it is good to be alone. Even when a couple is together, they still need their alone time. But that's not really what I'm getting at here. Sometimes it's good to be alone, and not in any serious relationship with the opposite sex.

My friend Paul once told me, "It's good for you to stay single...it's worked out for me."

I am all alone now.

Someone replied to Cheri's status with, "we are all alone silly!" That's true. Even those who have been married for 50 years are still "alone". Sure they are connected with an intimate bond of love and experience, but they will always be individuals. Even after such a long period of time together, there will still be miscommunication and the need for privacy. No one else hears all your thoughts or feels every emotion you feel. We have to deal with life on our own first. We are all alone.

I like how the last word of that sentence is now.
I am all alone now.
As if to say previously I wasn't alone. But as I've already pointed out, we are always alone. So maybe the addition of the now implies that I have finally accepted that truth. Where previously I thought I wasn't alone, I now know I am alone. Even while in a serious relationship or just with a group of friends, I thought I wasn't alone, but now I know I was and still am all alone.

I am all alone now.

"After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone."

For awhile I was not content being alone. People at church set me up with different girls and when those didn't work out I turned to online dating. God told me to stop trying. He told me to trust in him. And I did for a time. But then after a few months I was signed up again for online dating. And I ignored God and his desire for me to trust completely in him on this one. But I couldn't escape it, I couldn't escape him. So I gave up and quit again. And I put my trust in God.

And it was going alright. I was learning to be content with being alone. Yet it still nagged me. And just when I thought I was content, yada yada yada...I'm not content being alone.

But that is where God wants me to be. He wants me to be alone. For a time. And I'd like to put a number on that time, so I know when it's over. But I can't know. I just have to trust.

I am all alone now.

And I don't really like it. Yeah, turns out it still is sad for me. I'm not happy about it.

But I know that soon I will like it. Soon I will be able to say with a sense of release, "I am all alone now!"

I'll let you know when that happens.

"You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me."

Don't Pick on my Friend!!!!

K, this has gone on long enough. I won't sit by while you put my friend down again and again! How can you be so inconsiderate??!?


Of course, I am talking about rain. Today's a wet day. We get these every once and awhile in the Lower Mainland. Lots of people get complainy on days like today. I think you should shut it...

Yes, I agree, rain makes the mood gloomy. A dark grey sky does not typically arouse feelings of joy. I get that. And rain ruins your hair, gets your clothes wet, and makes the ground muddy and roads slick.


But I strongly believe it is worth it. Let me share with you why I am in love with rain:

1. It slows life down. Too often we get rushy and busyness overtakes our lives. When the rain comes we drive slower (hopefully) and people tend to stay inside more. Our mood tends to become calmer and introspective.


2. It is relaxing. The sound of falling rain is so soothing. A rainy day inspires us to curl up under a warm blanket with a cup of tea in front of a roaring fire. Now that's the good life!


3. It waters all our plants and gardens and grass, producing amazing results when the sun comes out. If you want sunny days without the inconvenience of rain, why not move to the desert?!? Gee, cause maybe we need rain to make things pretty and our food delicious?!


4. Seriously, the water cycle is probably one of the most brilliant things God invented! Without rain we wouldn't have fresh water, umm, pretty much the greatest thing since fire.

5. No rain = no rainbows! Everyone loves rainbows. I saw an amazingly brilliant one just the other day driving into Ladner.


6. umbrellas, raincoats, gum-boots, and puddle-jumping!


7. Some of the best movie scenes are in the rain: the upside-down Spiderman kiss, Evie experiencing freedom for the first time in V for Vendetta, Rachel MacAdams and Ryan Gosling embracing in the Notebook, Gene Kelly singin' in the rain, Zach Braff and co. yelling into the infinite abyss wearing trash bags, etc...

8. Everyone I know who loves soccer, says it's best in the rain (I kinda like football in the rain).

9. Prevents forest fires.


10. I find it simply beautiful. Aesthetically pleasing, refreshing, and romantic.

Oh please, please, stop slagging off rain. I'm tired of all your whining about inconvenience. The rain does so much for you, so you should show your appreciation!

Reluctancy

I hear people talking about Scrubs all the time. Especially Ting. Whenever I think of Scrubs I think of Ting.

Well, I've never understood the humour of it. I just didn't get why people liked it. I would see it on TV and try to give it a shot, but I really did not like it, AT ALL!!!!

So tonight Amy asked me if I wanted to watch it. I didn't. But she was determined to convince me it was good. So I'm willing to give anything a shot.

As the episode began, I wasn't interested. I couldn't bring myself to laugh. I didn't like it...

but then it slowly began to chip at my hardened shell...

and a little chuckle came out...

and Amy would be so proud of herself...which would make me more resolute. I will not enjoy Scrubs!!!!


but then I laughed again, and again, and again. and then they actually said some stuff that had depth to it. and i realized this show isn't just about goofy jokes. it actually has a point.

and we ended up watching 2 more episodes and i loved them both on multiple levels. hurumph...

so Amy won....
dangit! now i like scrubs......

Ed Wood II

Don't know the story of Ed Wood? Check out this previous post.

Because here is my second revision to DVD cover:


What do you think? I'm quite proud of it myself (although the scanner didn't capture it perfectly). The first time I just put on Josh's face and added his name over Johnny Depp's. This time I added the angora sweater and the word bubbles. I didn't want Josh to be associated with the cross-dressing Ed Wood, so I now have him saying, "I don't wear woman's clothing anymore!" That way people won't be confused.

Well, I think it might be time for a third revision....
And I sure hope Josh appreciates my art.

More Albums for All Time

A few months ago I posted a list of albums that have a special place in my life. It doesn't matter what kind of mood I'm in, I love listening to these songs. Well I have some new additions.


Louder Now
by Taking Back Sunday

This band absolutely sucks in concert. One of the worst live bands I've ever seen, but their CDs are soooo good! Now granted, most of the time I listen to them, anger is stirred up within me. But it is quite the rush!


Where You Want To Be
by Taking Back Sunday

The first Taking Back Sunday cd I got. I listened to this all the time while at Camp Luther my first summer as Program Director. It was an emotional summer. This was just what the doctor ordered.


OK Go
by OK Go

When I went to England 2 yrs ago, Robyn told me this was a great band. I sorta knew who they were, but the instant I really gave them a shot I was hooked. Fun, energetic, bubbly, an all around good time.


Oh No
by OK Go

I got both of these cds at the exact same time, so in my mind it's one big album.

I thought I had a few more cds to add, but I still have a few more months before they've passed the two year mark.

Thanks Ken!

Awhile ago I wrote a post about my frustration when trying to express myself. And then Ken responded with a link to this cartoon:


Now, I admit this wasn't very encouraging to read. I thought, "Why would Ken send me this?!?" I was just expressing my frustration and it was like Ken was saying back to me, "You're not working hard enough!"

That really felt like a jab in my side. So, thanks a lot Ken!

But there was something more to this. Hmm, I think Ken might actually be very wise...especially when it comes to art. We all struggle with expressing ourselves. Fortunately for some people, artistic expression comes fairly naturally, but what I keep forgetting is that artists work really hard to perfect their art.

I think what he was really trying to say to me was, "Don't give up, Dan! Keep working at perfecting your art. It's not going to be easy, so stay strong."

Even if that's not what you were trying to say, Ken, that's what I got out of it. And that has encouraged me to not give up on perfecting some of my ways of expression. Since that post I've been playing my guitar a lot more than I have been the last few years, and it's been really cool! I've even begun writing some new songs, which I haven't done for a long, long time.

So once again, thanks Ken!

ps. is it just me, or do my posts sometimes feel like they end too abruptly?

I am Silver

For my facebook status I often will type the first word that comes to my mind. Or I might hear an interesting word, so I'll use that one. 80% of the time, when you see a single word as my facebook status, it is utterly meaningless.

I am surprised people continue to ask me why I'm (fill in the blank with my random word). So I have to explain to them what I just explained to you. It is random or weird and does not really describe my current status in reality.


You know how long I've been doing this? Since August 3, 2007. A year and a half ago I wrote, "Dan Peters is silver." And the rest is history. After that these were the next series of words:

meh
meth
mesh
mess
messy
mossy
toxic
disinfected
soluble
succinct
distributed
palpable
dissipation
undulating

k, I'll stop there...that's only one month of words.

Now the tricky thing about my facebook status is this...20% of the time it's not really random. Sometimes the first word that comes to my mind is actually very apt for my present situation. So it might seem random, but it actually fits just right. And then, of course, sometimes I purposely write a strange word that definitely fits my current state, but you don't know when I do that!


Once again, I'm sneakily being open and honest about my personal matters, but you have no idea!!!! Fully public and fully private, existing together at the same time.

What's the Point?

How do atheists deal with that question? I'd like to know. Someone tell me.

I'm sure they deal with it somehow, or else they would be a lot more depressing and immoral. So what's the point if there is no God?

That's the only reason I have for coping with it. Do I need more? I kinda feel like I need more.

What's the point?

Watchmen is really depressing me. Well, it's not just Watchmen. It's more Watchmen is reflecting how I'm feeling. I knew there was something I was connecting with while I watched the movie. Now as I'm reading the graphic novel (*comic book, ha!) that's the question that plagues me.

What is the point?

The abyss gazes also into you.