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HERE'S YOUR SIGN
March 31, 2004. 10:30 PM
Let me begin with a call for help. The Wesley Foundation has a traditional Senior Roast each year where the junior
class celebrates the graduating seniors by gathering up stories and pictures and embarassing them by sharing these
things with everyone at Wesley. So, as a graduating senior, the juniors are looking for stories, pictures, and
any other things that will embarass me. And I endorse it. If you're a reader who has something that you think should
be shared about me in my Roast, email Brittlea, who is organizing roast, at
bsheldon@vt.edu. Don't hold anything
back, share anything you think should be shared. I'll be happy to deny it all.
I've been sorting through a bunch of digital pictures from tour to make a big photo CD for everyone to have. I came
across a picture of a sign that hangs in front of the rides at Universal Studios, and it made me laugh. There
are a number of warnings for sensitive riders of movie simulators, and to ensure the safety and comfort of those
who don't speak English, Universal has a system of red circles to indicate who should not go on this ride. I'll give
you a few days to try and figure them out:
THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR
March 28, 2004. 2:30 PM
Each spring the Virginia Tech junior class holds a big dance celebration called ring dance, where the couples
exchange class rings and they release pigs into the room and all sorts of other traditions. I went last year
and had a ball. Har har har. Last night was this year's
ring dance for the juniors, and I went out to the drillfield with some friends to watch the huge fireworks
display that closes the dance at midnight. They fire the "Skipper", our giant ceremonial cannon, shoot off
fireworks for 15 minutes, then play taps as everyone reverently waits. Then the crowd, many of whom are dressed
in formal attire from the dance, erupts in cheers and applause as they make their way home. It was a perfect night
for fireworks, and a nice closing to a busy Saturday. For those of you who missed it last night, you can
make
your own fireworks right now while you sit inside.
SUMMER BREEZE, MAKES ME FEEL FINE
March 25, 2004. 11:48 PM
I have a picture on my desk from last September. It is of Melanie and I at a tailgate before a football game, looking
very comfortable and ready for the game. I'm holding up a sugar cookie with a pumpkin on it, and she's sticking out
her tongue. We're drinking lemonade. We're wearing t-shirts and shorts. It looks warm, relaxed, silly, and happy.
The great thing about seasons is that when your favorite one ends, you know it'll be back in less than a year.
This wave of warm weather today has made antsy. I cannot wait for the real summer to happen. Is it any surprise that
many people get depressed in the winter? We've had a very normal winter here, with snow but not too deep, cool but not
too cold, and as always the relentless wind that whips Blacksburg apart in the cold season. The mountains, our
latitude, and our distance from water makes this a place of significant seasonal changes, from piles of snow and below
zero temps to 100-degree heat days that make you sweat just thinking about going outside. We are saved from the humidity
of the southeast because of our altitude, but that just makes winter more uncomfortable in my opinion. Summer is where
it's at. Yesterday I heard a rumor that I might be able to go sailing on the Saturday of Easter weekend, and I just about
jumped out of my skin. Let's hope for 80 degrees, sunshine, and a warm 10 knot breeze. Not likely, but I'll take a rainy
day on a boat over any day on land.
ET, KANSAS, GAY MARRIAGE, AYMAN AL-ZAWAHIRI, ISRAEL, AND THE MUPPETS
March 23, 2004. 11:58 PM
Sometimes, when I'm stuck trying to decide what to write about, I just scan the online news headlines. Today, the
first article that caught my attention said something like 'NASA Mars Rover finds evidence of life.' I thought,
extraterrestrial life, holy cow! But alas, the article led into a less exhilarating
'Mars sea
could have supported life.' Bo-ring. The ancient sea bed they found did have signs that it was once a salty ocean
like that of our own planet. Speaking of which, have you seen the commercial that shows Martians jacking up the
Mars Rover and stealing its wheels and headlights? Man, that's funny.
Next, I laughed at Kansas yet again for their latest attempt to bring in
new residents. They're now
offering free land to anyone relocating to Marquette, Kansas, just like in the homesteading days of the early
1800s. Flat as a pancake? Yep. And then
some.
Or how about the Oregon County that is so fed up with the debate over gay marriage that they've
banned marriage altogether
until the state can decide what's legal and what's not. At the top of the news this weekend was the story that Pakistani
troops were within minutes of capturing al Qaeda second in command AYMAN AL-ZAWAHIRI, who
escaped his hideout through
a series of miles of tunnels in the remote Pakistan wilderness. What I find most interesting about this is that early
Christians were often forced to build similar meeting places with caves and tunnels to escape their persecution. Of
course, early Christians weren't trying to kill thousands of people, but still I cannot help but make the connection.
Finally, violence seems to be escalating in the Israel region yet again, with the
assassination of the leader
of the Islamic militant group 'Hamas'. An Israeli helicopter fired three missiles at him as he left a Mosque after
morning prayer. In case you're wondering, America is allied with the assassins, the Israeli government. Although they
kill people, the Israelis are preventing future suicide attacks and innocent civilian deaths by eliminating leaders
of radical, violent religious groups. Sound familiar? I don't know about you, but I think the best step towards peace
definitely involves
Sesame Street.
CHECK YOUR GUNS AT THE DOOR
March 21, 2004. 11:50 PM
Oh hi. Have you been made aware of the sweeping craze of card playing going on? Not just any card playing-
poker. Specifically a game called Texas Hold'Em (YEE-HAW! Insert pistol noises.) Last night saw the first ever
TSPN
World Series of Poker: Showdown in Vienna. It would seem no coincidence that the commissioner and founder of TSPN
come out victorious in the bout. We'll see next time, Barnes.
Poker is a game of primarily luck, but the skill of bluffing and reading people is key to the game. For some reason
there's been an insurgence of poker playing nearby recently, and its catching on. We rarely play for real money,
but if you did, the possibility of losing a lot is definitely there. Its like a casino, only your friends end up
taking your money home. I've fallen into the online game trap from a free website called Pokerroom.com.
They set you up with $1000 of fake play money that you can refill anytime you run out, and then you can go into rooms
and play different games against other people around the world. Now all I need is an online 'flip table over start
a brawl' button.
TEN DAYS ON THE ROAD
March 15, 2004. 3:30 PM
We're back from Tour. The Wesley Singers and I returned late last night from our Sunday night performance in
Kingsport Tennessee after singing two Sunday morning shows near Charlotte, NC. Our stops this year included
Mocksville and Denver North Carolina; Jesup and Alphareta Georgia; Jacksonville, Boca Raton, Orlando, and
Lakeland, Florida; and Kingsport Tennessee. The highlights for me were the free day on the beach in Boca Raton
and the tour of Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral. Pictures will be up very soon.
I was one of about half of the group to choose
Universal Studios over Disney World for our free day in Orlando. I had a really great time, but having been to both
famous Orlando theme parks I can now describe Universal in one hyphenated word: sub-par. Its like Daryl said:
"You don't go into a store wanting Oreos and come out with a bag of Hydrox, its a compromise of a few pennies for a
far less superior product." Tour as a whole was astoundingly drama-free, stress-free, and very fun, but as usual it
was a test of our patience and our ability to put up with 40 of our friends in a close environment for ten days.
I'm glad to be home, but after a few days rest I'll be craving for another week out on tour. The memories,
the fun, the friendships, and the music is worth everything we give up to the road.
TOUR! WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?
March 5, 2004. 1:50 AM
The Wesley Singers leave for Tour today. Friday at 3 PM, the day that Spring Break starts. We return from tour Sunday,
March 14 at about midnight the day that Spring Break ends. There's no 'break' involved, just Spring Tour. And I could
never pick a better way to spend my ten days. We're headed through North Carolina, Georgia, and down the east coast of
Florida to Boca Raton, then back up to Orlando and Cape Canaveral. My hometown might not remember me, but that's
okay because I don't remember it either. Our Tour finishes off back through Georgia and into Tennessee. It should be
a great ride. I doubt if I'll be updating during the next ten days, so have a great week, and remember, the vernal
equinox is right around the corner! Warm weather returns soon.
WHAT YOU WISH FOR
March 2, 2004. 11:50 PM
Guster played in Burruss Hall last night, here on campus. Their openers, the
Graham Colton Band and Carbon Leaf,
were allotted their own hour each, although I think I speak for most everyone there when I say they could've
cut Graham and let Carbon Leaf and Guster co-headline. Carbon Leaf is an acoustic jam band from Richmond, with
a rich woody sound and good use of variety in their instrumentation. Also, as in all good folk bands, their
lead singer brings out the energy needed to truly perform well. Their energy carried over as Guster took the
stage and, of course, rocked. For those of you unfamiliar with their music, I'd venture to describe it as
energetic acoustic rock, but don't let that mislead you into thinking they play an acoustic set. Although they
did gather everyone close in to the stage and played a completely unplugged 'Jesus on the Radio' as their second
encore. Most of their music is tight harmony with a good complement from two guitars, bass, and hand drums. Plus
they're good performers and aren't afraid to try new things and switch their set up from show to show. That's
something valuable in a concert: knowing that you're seeing a completely different show than last night or tomorrow
night. Sometimes its the only reason I pay to see a band, especially if I've seen them before. But, if you're
looking for a good show, check out Carbon Leaf when they come through your town, and definitely get tickets for
Guster if you get the chance.
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