Entries this day: Barbecues_Galore Emotions Funny Sewer experience funny_not zz

Barbecues Galore

7:41am CST Saturday 16 November 2002

HAHAHahaHaahahhahaaa!!!

We just went by a big store called _Barbecues Galore_. It's one of the freestanding stores in a shopping mall parking lot.

Welcome to Texas.

Emotions

8:35am CST Saturday 16 November 2002

I realize that I'm acting exceptionally energetic and outgoing partially to block some of the sadness that I feel as this is my second to last event in the district.

When just relaxing listening to conversation or discussion, my legs are both bouncing or or otherwise moving, nervous energy that I know no other way to release. I don't really feel safe enough to just lay it all out, nor do I think this is really the right space to do that.

Interesting.

Interesting that some people are drinking coffee to wake up. I don't really understand drinking coffee. Bleah.

Funny

9:17am CST Saturday 16 November 2002

Before the leaders came in, about 10 of us hid in the bathroom and came out one at a time. They all laughed though, so the joke seemed a bit lost to me.

Fred and I were the last out. We doused our faces and hair in the sink and said "no laugh" as we went out. Our brotherly covenant for the moment.

10:41am

We need to break up into five groups and Annie was all, "let's go around the circle and count to five," and I'm thinking of saying "one two three four five!" But I just laughed and said my appropriate number (one).

11:53am

Annie on the fact that we don't play Wink in this district: "I can't believe you don't play that game in this district!!! I mean I hate it, but yeah."

12:10pm

While in the sanctuary (my first time to really be in there), I noticed that in the back of the room the ceiling support comes temptingly close to the pews. I might climb it later tonight. We'll see.

Sewer

2:59pm CST Saturday 16 November 2002

Fred and I just played Sewer for the second time today. That's the game that Mikey Arthrell and I played at San An 2001 on the 3-D grid shaped monkey bars on the playground. Sewer is follow the leader on that equipment thing without touching the ground. Good stuff.

After a few minutes, we were asked to stop because we were disrupting the class of 3rd or 4th graders who were more interested in watching us than in watching her teach. Not our fault that we're exciting, but we left anyway.

experience

6:22pm CST Saturday 16 November 2002

I have just learned something about myself.

After I told Steve that I want to climb the ceiling support in the sanctuary, and he said, "you probably shouldn't do that," I wondered about why I want to do it.

If I did it, I would write my name on the top of the bar where it couldn't possibly be seen from the ground until someone takes the sanctuary apart or also climbs up there.

I would even be willing to do it and not write my name up there.

So why do I want to do it? Fame? No. Defying rules? No.

I just want the experience. I want to have the memory of having climbed to the top of the church sanctuary.

It would be so easy to do. I've verified that I could reach the rail sufficiently well by standing on the back of the pew to get up there. But that's not enough. It's not enough to know I could do it. I want the experience of having done that.

That's why I climbed through the tube over Southwest Freeway in Houston.

That's why I climbed under the girders of the bridge in Fort Worth.

That's why I climbed the tree to the toppest branches that were only 4 inches in diameter.

That's why I would time the traffic light and skate like a rocket down the hill and sail across Allen Parkway.

That's why Eric and I waded through waist deep floodwaters on Allen Parkway.

That's why I'm going to Japan, and why I'm going to learn Japanese.

To collect the experience. To have a story (so yes, that's a bit of fame).. but I don't go blab to everyone the stuff I've done. I write it and remember it and share the story when appropriate. I often discourage people from doing the same thing.

So that's what I learned about myself. I like having experiences. Not just reading about them. Experiencing them.

funny not

7:17pm CST Saturday 16 November 2002

Hmmm.

I'm not sure if this is real or not; we adults are discussing Annie's apparent reaction to people being passionate about a controversial issue (confidentiality of what youth say in a group).

I don't think that she's actually upset by it. This is her fifth Youth Advisor Training; she's been through two years of Youth Council and one year of Steering Committee. I don't think this one day of adults yammering about stuff could have really upset her.

Also, this "crisis situation" seems mysteriously like other fake issues that have been manufactured at LDCs.

7:53pm

I have a bit of concern that if this is manufactured, how will everyone react when finding out? Can it be argued that this is learning? Someone just griped that "we are here to learn," with the implication that we are not learning now. Hmmm.

8:07pm

It's over. Or our decision has been made that we will apologize and then to get back on track, covenant the process we will follow, then get back to the training. Lisa went to go get Annie and Matthew.

I can't tell if it was manufactured yet, but nothing is telling me that it wasn't.

8:11pm

What? holy shit Lisa just said that Matt wants to talk to her a bit more before they come back in. That sounds like it was real.

8:13pm

We're going to break for a moment. Wait until they call us back into session.

8:43pm

Fred is totally facilitating this conversation.

Matt points out that our covenant does not explicitly tell us how to listen.

Very interesting.

8:53pm

Interesting at how angry some people got at signing the covenant and how much people are so distraught over this whole thing.

9:32pm

Well, apparently it was real. I think the process was quite important and valuable for the group. I have been made aware of the possibility that I talked over Annie. I am thankful for this awareness and will strive to continue such awareness.

zz

11:01pm CST Saturday 16 November 2002

While Steve and Melanie each had a bit of wine while discussing the process that we experienced, I took a wonderful nap using Lisa's hip as a pillow.

On the way home, Steve told us passionately about how Hillary and Bethany transitioned to homeschooling. Good stuff.

He's playing the guitar now as I synchronize my email and journals.

Goodnight soon.