Food For Thought

Friday, 26 June 2009

  • Five Days

    That's how long I have left here. It's kind of hard to believe, that after just shy of three years, I'm finally moving away from here. Pretty much everywhere I look, I see a memory of some kind, an event, a thought. I know this building like the house I grew up in, and yet it still manages to surprise me every now and then. I've been everywhere in between the tunnel to the boiler house to the peak of the roof. I don't think that there's a room that I haven't either looked inside or set foot in--in all three buildings. And now I must leave this place. I'm excited that a change is coming, but at the same time, regret that I can't be here at a place I know and love.

    That aside, I'd like to let you in on the past few days' activities.


    This is my typical airport food: Starbucks and Pizza Hut.

    Me and Paul Revere, our wide area vacuum. It takes a 30" swathe. Fun? Yes. Very yes.

    The hard drive in my office computer went kaput. So I'm under my desk, trying to get it to work.

    Rebekah Johnson                                                            John Lovette
    So....we got to rappel off of the building, because the guys were finishing installing gutter downspouts and rappelling was the only way to reach it. Bummer, huh?

    Me. I had a bit of trouble with my Prussic knot; it was too tight and wouldn't let me go down.

    I got to help the Shipley family with lawn maintenance. I think I am addicted to Z-turn mowers now.

    This is the area that I mowed. It's where the volleyball courts are.

    Editing pictures for this post.
    A little further back, I snuck up to Harrisburg for a surprise visit to the Gardner's. I haven't gotten to edit the pictures we took at Memorial Park Lake, but I'll get them done soon. Yes, I had a good time. Yes, it was fun.

    Well....................I'm cleaning and organizing my office for my dear boy (Adam Anders) to take the helm here. I've got a lot of decorations in here....goodness! I must needs pack them all now. *sigh*

    Protecting the Village,

    Yours Truly

Sunday, 31 May 2009

  • Up

       

    I recently got to go see the new Pixar movie, Up. I really hadn't heard anything about it, but figured it would be good because it was a Pixar. And I was not disappointed in the least.

    Up is a cute little story about an old man, Mr. Carl Fredricksen, who is on a mission to complete an age old promise to his late wife, Ellie. It had always been her dream to build a house on the top of Paradise Falls in South America. In an innovative manner, he sets out to do just that.

    Unbeknown to Carl, a young "Wilderness Explorer" (a.k.a. Boy Scout) has accidentally stowed away in an effort to earn his final badge for assisting the elderly. They are joined on the journey to Paradise Falls by the lovable (although somewhat clueless) dog, Dug, and a rare South American bird named Kevin.

    Pitted against a senile old explorer and his droves of vicious dogs, they strive to complete the goals of Settling Carl's house, and returning Kevin to her nest.

    During the course of this film, Pixar yet again set the precedent for quality family films, with no bad language, crude humor, bad attitudes, or violence. I'm glad that they are able to show Hollywood that wholesome films can still be made and are very popular. The animation was high quality, the storyline original, and the expression and emotion of the characters was phenomenal. At one point, as Carl is reminiscing while looking at photos of Ellie, I couldn't help but cry a little. It was so touching.

    If you would like to have an evening with some lighthearted, good entertainment, go see Up.

    Protecting the Village,

    Brian Jones

Monday, 25 May 2009

  • Prayer & Praise

    Last night, the McCrays had everyone over for a final Prayer & Praise for this semester. We sang a number of good songs, shared, and prayed. One song, that I wasn't as familiar with had some neat words:

    O Rejoice In The Lord

    God never moves without purpose or plan,
    When trying His servant and molding a man.
    Give thanks to the Lord
    though your testing sees long;
    In darkness He giveth a song.

    O rejoice in the Lord, He makes no mistakes
    He knoweth the end of each path that I take,
    For when I am tried and purified,
    I shall come forth as gold.

    I could not see through the shadows ahead;
    So I looked at the cross of my Saviour instead,
    I bowed to the will of the Master that day;
    Then peace came and tears fled away.

    O rejoice in the Lord, He makes no mistakes
    He knoweth the end of each path that I take,
    For when I am tried and purified,
    I shall come forth as gold.

    Now I can see testing comes from above,
    God strengthens His children and purges in love.
    My father knows best, and I trust in His care;
    Through purging more fruit I will bear.

    O rejoice in the Lord, He makes no mistakes
    He knoweth the end of each path that I take,
    For when I am tried and purified,
    I shall come forth as gold.

    Protecting the Village,

    Brian Jones

Friday, 15 May 2009

  • Vitamin Water

    I have been absent for quite some time. Well, I hate to bore people with the details of my repetitive life, pretty much revolving around work. Here are a few quick highlights of the last month or so:

              *    I got to go to PA last weekend for a conference!
              *    While at Sam's I found a case of Vitamin water for really cheap (it's similar to gatorade)
              *    I am pleased to announce that Adam Anders will be replacing me in the Verity Finance office
              *    The lawn out front has been flooded for a while
              *    The hallway construction project is nearing its end....
              *    My 30" vacuum is really sweet!
              *    Grad approacheth
              *    Summer break is coming!

    Well, there you have it. A quick, what-I've-been-up-to blurb. Now, back to my websurfing...

    Protecting the Village,

    Brian Jones

Saturday, 11 April 2009

  • Well, admittedly, I have been somewhat absent from here. Actually, here isn't the only place I've been absent.... Hmmm... amazing isn't it how time slips away... work seems to consume the greatest portion of it.

    Well, I guess I can update you on what I've been up to for the last month or so. In all seriousness, I have been working a lot, in addition to some other stuff. Little trips here and there, outings with friends, talking on the phone and the like. Probably too boring for you.

    More recently, though, I've been on Spring Break. And my, it didn't come soon enough. Truthfully, I was really worn down and tired (not sure that I'm all the back even now) and really missing Alicia. So I decided to have Mum come up to Indy, and then the both of us drive out here; that way I will have someone with me for the arduous drive. It rained practically the whole way across Indiana and Ohio, and little bit in Pennsylvania, but the driving was okay.


    We bumped the volleyball outside for a little while, then decided to play monkey-in-the-middle.


    Mr. Gardner and I.
    I went to Leola (near Lancaster) to see the school that Alicia works at. The following Wednesday, Mr. Gardner and I went to Gettysburg together to see the battlefield and museum. Below, see Gen. Robert E. Lee's gloves and pins.



    The monument for Texan fighters at Gettysburg. Looking through an arch of a monument on Little Round Top.

    Gettysburg is full of monuments. Don't remember what this one was for.

    Here, a guy was reading a monument. I took this, then edited it. Loads of fun.

    There are cannons all over the field. Most of them are positioned in the batteries that would've originally been in, pointing towards the North or South lines.

    Then, Mr. Gardner and I went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner. I had an AWESOME skewer of grilled shrimp...wow. Mr. Gardner had steak.

    Well.... it's hard to put into words how this week has been. I've so enjoyed my time here, and have had some good talks with Alicia. I think that that's definitely the most important part.

    Well, I'm playing "LIFE", and need to spin. Ahhh... if only it were that easy.

    Protecting the Village,

    Brian Jones

    -)