A Russian Joke

I think this is hilarious. What do you think?


A young man runs into a friend on the street that he has not seen in some time. "Hello," he says. "I hear you've formed a musical group!"

"That's right," replies the friend.

"What kind of group is it?"

"It's a quartet."

"How many people are in it?"

"Three."

"Who are they?"

"Me and my brother."

"You have a brother?"

"No."

Saying Goodbye

This past weekend was kind of weird. On Saturday, I spent the day saying goodbye to two friends I have known for the past 1 1/2 years. I spent the afternoon with one eating and riding bikes and the evening with the other in a house full of people for a barbecue and impromptu dance party that lasted beyond midnight. I was sad at saying goodbye to them both and realizing that I may never see either of them again. Not for any particularly bad reason, but simply that we may never again be in the same place at the same time.

Just today I was telling a co-worker about how this and it hit me why I've had such an odd reaction to the departure of two friends. Usually I am the one who is leaving. I think this may be one of the first times in my life that I am staying behind and seeing friends leave. It has happened only a handful of other times, but for some reason it really sticks out as completely unusual.

Forgotten Memories

Last night I was having dinner with some friends at another friend's house. There were candles on the table, the lights were down low, Sarah Groves and Norah Jones were softly playing in the background and the six of us were just talking about God and prayer and seeing the supernatural in everyday life. The owner of the place mentioned how he had always grown up having dinner wtih candles. It was just something his family did. When he said that, something just clicked and I got really emotional and teary eyed.

I had forgotten that my family used to sit around the dinner table together just about every night with some classical music or soft music playing, light the candles and have dinner together. We always had a Greek salad with whatever we were eating and after dinner the three of us would just hang out at the table and talk. It was so great.

Until last night I had forgotten that was my family's dinner tradition and I became verklempt with emotion because I really missed that. Perhaps one of the hardest things about losing my mother was also the loss of my family in a sense. My father has remarried but they do things very differently. There is no more Greek salad, no more candles, the music still plays and there are conversations, but different. I really miss my family.

I didn't realize why I feel so lonely sometimes even with so many friends and great roommates and workmates. There's a big part of my life and my being that is missing and can never be replaced, until perhaps someday I have my own family.

I'm not sure how to end this blog, even as I get teary eyed again. So I'll just say goodbye for now.

FAME! I'm Gonna Learn How To Fly

Last night I went to the Dance Party small group at Ebenezer's. Juman is having dance lessons every Thursday night and it is so much fun. This was the second week and the dance of the night was salsa. Last week was swing which I missed but it sounded like everyone had a great time. The cool thing about this is it is a low key way to make friends and learn how to dance. Juman is a great instructor and kept things fun and relaxed. I think next week is waltz and you really should come out. No experience necessary.

Some Shenandoah Snapshots

More pictures posted on my Flickr photos (see link on right)

Exquisite Camping

This past weekend I went camping in Shenandoah National Park with some awesome friends. I want to say thank you to Kurt, Juliet, Matt, Amber, Katlyn, Theresa, Dennis, Brandt, and Ben for a fantastic time. You all were so much fun to eat with, sing with, laugh with, talk with, hike with, take pictures with, see bears and deer with, and get bitten by a cranky dog with. My soul has been enriched and my spirit has been deeply touched through this weekend in God's creation. Thank you and Praise Him from Whom All Blessings Flow.

Relative-ly Speaking

My other birth half brother
One of my birth half brothers
My birth father

Before and After: The Haircut

Hair Cut - Part 2

He got the hair cut. Looks like a hack job, but at least it's short. I'll post pictures soon.