Ok... I like Jones Soda (who wouldn't with all those crazy pictures that people submit on the lables and the random "fortions" under the caps?!) but THIS is just TOO much for me....

Crash

I was halfway through watching the movie Crash when I thought I hated it. I hated it because it was showing me the raw truth. I hated it because it was uttering the sad ugly reality of life. I hated it because sometimes seeing the raw truth that is outside your little safe "bubble" of life hurts. But.. it is also good for you. Sometimes it is only when you are put in a place of discomfort that you actually decide to DO something.. change the way you think or live... basically ACT.
Crash is a movie that is woven together very well. I believe that in a movie there should be more than, actors, stages and visuals, and this moviedespitete being on veryey low budget--seems to have that more that I really enjoy in a good film. We are invited for two hours to peak into the lives of a variety of people. A Brentwood housewife and her DA husband. A Persian storeowner. Two police detectives. A black television director and his wife. A Mexican locksmith. Two car-jackers. A rookie cop. A middle-aged Korean couple. They all live in Los Angeles. In 36 hours, they will all collide in some form or another.
Sadly, crash includes every aspect in our life related to prejudice and racism. It questions us and bothers us that how true all of these things are. People are insulting other people without knowing him/her. We see small glimpses of each character but every character is complex, filled and personally.The story is what we will be and we were as fallen human beings. I find it very interesting that protagonists are people like us but the antagonist are humans like us.
"...I think we miss that sense of touch so much, that we crash into each other just so we can feel SOMETHING."
I agree with that statement made by one of the characters. I thinsometimeses when people fail to get a healthy amount of touch, they result to anything just to feel. They can resort to very twisted things-- like putting people down, hurting those that are closest to them, even resorting to violence, because their touch "gas tank" is completely on empty. It's sad, but it happens. Think of how low you feel at the end of a day or week without a hug?

Moving at the speed of life, we are bound to collide into each other.


Check out this movie. It iguaranteeded to make you think.

PS- Just so you know, this movie isn't for everyone. It's rated R for language and some nutity.

I'll fly away...

How many of you watched Peter Pan when you were a kid? I'd have to say one of my favorite parts of that movie was when the kids took off out their bedroom window to fly off to Neverland and there below was poor Nana the dog wondering what in the world was going on... *grin* ANYWAY... get to the point Jen... yesterday I had the chance to go flying with a co-worker of mine. Friday late in the afternoon he pops his head over my cubicle and says "whatcha doing tomorrow morning?!"
Me: "Um.. pretty much nothing"
Him: "Wanna go flying?"
Me: "You KNOW it!" (Yeah.. I'm always in when it comes to something adventurous... although I think just by looking at me you might never know) HA!
So early yesterday morning before all the wind kicked up we went up for a joy-ride in a little 4 seater plane. It was AWESOME! So much fun to see the earth from way up there... everything is just so pretty. Took about a 45 min triangle tour all the way up to Lake Michigan and back around... on the way back I even managed to spot my church... too bad it was on the other side or else I would have tried to get a pic for my dad. :-) I even got to try and fly the plane myself at one point (I could NOT keep that thing in a straight line to save myself!)
Near the end of our trip it started getting really windy & bouncy... and that is when things almost got disaterous as far as my stomach goes... I had a "just in case" bag, but I managed to keep all my guts where they belonged (I knew that if I would have had to use that bag I would have NEVER lived it down at work) and we made it down just fine. I even got to steer the plane around the runway! It was a great time and I am oh so grateful that my coworker offered the experience to me.
Yeah.. I thought this was going to be a boring lazy weekend.. boy was I wrong!

Some views from the Air

This is Warren Dunes. sweet!
Plane controls
Navy fighter jets parked at the airport getting ready to do a fly over for the ND/Navy game
oooo... I wonder WHAT is behind THIS door at the flight hangers??!

A tribute... to siblings

This weekend my little sister and I took a road trip... down to visit my two other siblings at their wonderful college. A wonderful time was had by all (I hope) and I had a grand time of eating college food once again (man, do I sometimes miss those all you can eat deals.. although I'm sure my waistline does not!)
This particular blog isn't so much about our visit though.. because I can save that for my diary (er, well, that is if I HAD one... *shrug* I never was very good at those things!) But this blog is a tribute to my siblings.

Thanks you guys. Thanks for putting up with me when I'm annoying, thanks for making me laugh, thanks for caring when I'm sad, or even just giving me a hug.
Thanks for calling me up at work. Thanks for doing Taebo with me when you are home from school. Thanks for chilling with me at Barnes and Noble. Thanks for riding your bike around the neighborhood or taking a walk to the library with me. Thanks for showing me geeky things on the internet. Thanks for letting me debate you even when you know I am wrong. Thanks you guys. You've made my life what it is... and I wouldn't have it any other way.

"Wicked" Wednesday- The Bouncy Ball Takeover

Bouncy balls. Something about them just makes me smile. Brings out the kid in me. Makes me think pink fuzzy childhood memories. So... yesterday my brother showed me this "wickedly" cool commercial and it made me wonder how sweet it would be to be able to come up with a wildly cool idea like this and actually let it play out. How cool-- well, and quite possibly really stressful-- would a producing a commercial like this be? Almost like a crazy dream that someone had and then woke up and was like-- "woah, I should try that in real life!"
Check out some of these screen shots.. and then visit the website if you'd like to watch the whole commercial.

Yeah... that is a LOT of bouncy balls! CHECK IT OUT!

*edit* According to the website-
"Set to the stripped-down acoustic soundtrack of José González' "Heartbeats", 250,000 'superballs' come flying, in slow motion, over the brow of a typical street in San Francisco, raining down on anything that gets in their way. And it was done without computer graphics.

In an age when CGI is commonplace, this makes the commercial all the more extraordinary. Every single frame was shot over two days - with the main sequence involving a 23-man camera crew and only one chance to get it right.

An entire block was closed off and special compressed-air cannons shot the balls into the air, while earth moving equipment poured thousands down the street. Not that you'd know it from the finished product, but these balls can do some damage, so all the cars were props and crew members went so far as to having protective shields and crash helmets.

But when you get it right, you get it right. The goal at the beginning was to deliver a "really simple, visual celebration of colour". We think you'll agree the results speak for themselves."

Stay tuned for next weeks "Wicked" Wednesday... er.. that is if I can find any other wicked-cool sites to show you. If I can't... well.. yeah, we won't think about that now.

The Cynic

I was sitting in the coffee house last night trying to focus on the topic at hand "Taming a Liger: Unexpected Spiritual Lessons from Napoleon Dynamite" which should have been quite interesting-- sure maybe a little far fetched-- but come-on... it's Napoleon Dynamite-- but I was quite distracted. Sure, I was tired.. a long weekend can do that to ya.. but I my attention was also quite diverted. Have you ever made a phonecall and accidentally crossed into someone else's conversation? That's how I felt. Let me explain..
Most every Sunday evening I get together with a group of eighteen to twenty somethings at a local coffee shop to discuss things that rattle our brains a bit and just be in Christian community with one another (it's great.. especially when you are out in the real working world and start to wonder if there is anyone your age left who isn't married off or have just run out of town) Anyway.. I digress... so.. we meet every week at a local coffee house... great atmosphere to talk openly about whatever. So last night the gal that was serving us coffee-- lots of tattoos and peircings... yeah-- you could tell somewhere along the lines she had been burned by the church. As I was standing in line to get something to drink, she asks the gal in front of me "so. why did you start going to church?" And she wasn't about to settle for some lame religious excuse.
It really got me thinking... how would I answer if she would have asked me? Sometimes I think as Christians we get stuck on all these religious "talking-points" that just don't make a lot of sense to the rest of the world that has no moral foundation on which to put those arguments. It just sounds like a whole bunch of fluf to them with no depth. I admit, I've grown lazy in my defenses... and sometimes because of this when I am faced with people questioning my faith I just don't know how to answer with responses that don't make me sound judgmental and just another one of those "crazy right-wing-fanatics" *sigh* how would YOU answer? It's frustrating that it takes something like this to show me how much I still don't get or understand, but sometimes it's the only way-- God has to wack me across the head to get my attention. And boy did He ever with the coffee shop gal...
She just seemed to be so critical towards Christians... at one point she told someone that she was a "professional sinner" and that we were really missing out on the fun. During our discussion time she sat in the back of the room with her boyfriend and just railed on Christians in general and when someone would make a comment she would comment right back. When we were talking about how we could help others- she was just like "Look at them trying to be all self righteous and stuff." Yeah.. that is where I got the crossed-wires telephone thing... I was sitting right at the back so I could hear it all.
You know.. I wasn't mad at her at all... I could tell she was hurt... I don't even know her situation... but something broke in me and I wanted to love her like God loves her.... after our discussion time was over I went up and talked to her. There was a lot I COULD have said... I could have tried to "set her straight" or challenged her views... but that could have drove another nail in her "I hate Christians" coffin... instead I just talked to her.. took interest in her tattoos-- I am an artist afterall-- and even though I might never get one done myself doesn't mean I can't appreciate other peoples "living artwork". She was very open and talkative and I could tell that her defenses were down. Maybe I didn't get her to change her mind about Christians or God that night, but it doesn't really matter... I can't get anyone to change their mind about God anyway.. that's His job. But I can love people like Jesus loves them.. and I hope that is what I did.

IM Reminders

I always seem to find little things during my day that just are funny. Todays moment came as we(the designers in my department) were upgrading to Adobe CS 2. The webmaster that sits on the other side of my cubicle had installed it just fine, but another guy was having major problems-- crashing programs, missing fonts... the whole thing-- so I was nervous to upgrade myself. I mean, why fix something if it isn't broke?! Anyway... a few moments later I got this IM to explanation.
I guess people really DO notice when you are living different. This whole situation might seem silly, but it really encouraged & reminded me that ppl do pay attention-- and someday perhaps someone will ask me why i choose to live my life the way I do, and I can introduce them to my friend... Jesus.

*Edit*
I got my Adobe CS2 upgraded just dandy btw... I guess his hypothesis about morals needs a little work ;-)

Open dialogue

So...been talking to a lot of people lately on the subject of homosexuality(more thoughts on this at a later point perhaps) I found this when I was out and about on the web this afternoon and just wanted to see what you peoples have to say in reaction to it?? Yes.. I just LOVE getting people to dialogue and use their minds-muhahaha

read on...

"When you talk about those rights endowed by God and you talk about issues of affirmative action or any other issues, one of the core principles as it relates to the notions of natural law is the idea, as you well know, that you cannot be judged for those things which you are powerless to affect - gender, race and so on. If, in fact, as some scientific studies suggest, that being homosexual is, in fact, biologically determined, what then would be wrong with granting rights, and even the right to marry?"

"First, no study has made such a determination. . . . And I say that unequivocally. I've looked at the question many times. Second, we are all in a certain sense genetically and biologically predisposed to a kind of sexual promiscuity. We want to engage and indulge our sexual appetites in ways that have no respect for basic human requirements, conventions, family responsibilities and so forth. That's not just true of homosexual people. That's true of heterosexual people. Healthy, red-blooded males who are sexually attracted to every attractive woman they see, and vice versa.'"

"We as human beings cannot assert that our sexual drive is uncontrollable. If we do, civilization is ended. These are not things we can't control. Our passions are precisely subject to our moral will and our rationality. That's what makes us human. So if you're going to tell me that the sexual impulse of anybody -- not just homosexuals -- is uncontrollable and you've got to do it, then you have removed us from the realm of human moral choice and you have consigned us to the realm of instinctive necessity and animal nature. And we are not there. I will not deny our humanity."

"So I think that in this area as in all the areas of passion: our anger, our greed, our resentment, our jealousy -- these are all passions that can be very strong in us but which we know must be disciplined and regulated by our moral will for the sake of conscience and human community. And we have to expect that of one another. Do you realize that the very idea of freedom and self-government is absurd if we are, in fact, subject to uncontrollable passions? Then we're not free. We're slaves to our passions. But that's not so. We believe in this country, in liberty, in . . . true moral choice. And that moral choice is possible with respect to sexual action to such a degree you don't even have to engage in sexual activity. You can refrain from it altogether, if you think that is required by the dictates of moral conscience. And that capacity shouldn't be denied in any human being. And I don't think it's a question of homosexual or heterosexual. It's a question of humanity."

HAPPY 19th BIRTHDAY BRO!!! W00t!

What was the best costume you've seen this year??

Mars Hill

Yesterday I had the chance to do something that I've wanted to do for quite some time now-- visit Mars Hill church in Grand Rapids, MI. Rob Bell is the teaching pastor there and someone who has had a great impact on my Christian journey. He is one who makes me think... makes me "grapple" with life and it's mysteries. I maybe don't agree with everything he says all the time, and honestly i don't have anyone I agree with all the time except for Jesus-- but Rob seems to have a way to change my perspectives on things and look at them in a new/fresh way.

I just finished reading his new book Velvet Elvis and it was a pretty interesting read. I found it left me questioning (which I think was one of the main points of the book anyway) and wanting to dig more into exactly what I believe and why... and just who is this God I serve anyway? I seem to have just barely scratched the surface of who my God is, and i yearn to know more. Often I get so apathetic sometimes and it scares me, but this book seemed to give me another kick in the butt to keep searching out God. I was really pumped the other week because after a sunday night session of neveaH (the local 20-somethings group I go to on Sunday evenings) we started having a really good dialog about the book and seriously, it pumped me up. I can't tell you how much I love to talk about those things... debate in an open environment-- where I might not always agree with everything said, but at least people are comfortable and have the freedom to share. I feel so often lately like I "can't" say anything because I am always shut down right away or people think I'm intolerant because I disagree. Ok people, maybe I disagree, but please-- may i speak? Can you listen to my side-- and maybe disagree yourself-- but listen non-the-less? I love putting ideas out on the table... just to mull about-- grapple with. I LOVE ideas... I love hearing what others have to say about an issue... I love using this mind that God has given me! Why though, do we as Christians seem to be AFRAID of ideas? Afraid of thinking? hmmmmm... that question just frustrates me sometime.

*end rant*

So anyway.. where was i? Oh yeah.. Mars Hill. Sweet body of believers. The church itself is actually in an old mall.. and you know what? It STILL looks exactly like a mall on the outside. That was cool to me, because it really struck home how the Church (big "C") isn't about a building... it's about the body of Christ within that building. Their gathering area is "decorated" warehouse basic. The seats are arranged in "the round" with the teacher standing on a stage in the center of the room, constantly walking, turning and moving about to face the people seated at each of the 360°. Talk about a lot of exercise!
I think my favorite part of the service, well besides seeing Rob Bell in person (btw, he is A LOT taller in person than he looks to be on his Nooma videos!) was the fact that they brought in the local high school drum-line to assist in the worship. It was CRAZY cool! And they were soo amazingly good! It was a totally different style of worship but I thourougly enjoyed every minute of it... I hope that is what heaven is like someday... a little bit of everything.. sounding oh so amazing together-- praising our Lord...
Anyway.. and amazing evening... if you are ever around the Grand Rapids area check it out! And check out the Nooma videos.

Last but not least... never stop asking questions... and exploring along the way in this journey we call Life.

Concert Extravaganza

So... over the last few months I have had the chance to go to two "hip" concerts with my brother. Yeah, even though he is in college now, we still have some pretty fun adventures. Last month we went to Olivet University in Illinois. This concert was so ghetto it was sweet. Seriously. Hip-hop and Rap in a pretty ridged Christian college setting always crack me up. Especially when they try to go cool and are flashing on and off the lights... on their LOGO!! haha. The bro and I had a good laugh. It was just a crazy concert over all-- but definitely more fun than I barganed for. And a sweet deal-- $10 get's you in and both of the artists CDs. oh.. I forgot to mention-- artists were 4th Avenue Jones and John Reuben. Yeah.. like I said ... ghetto. To make this concert even more fun was the fact that my brother was leaving for college-- the NEXT day! haha.. yeah... when you are young you do "stupid" things. (well worth it)

The other concert we went to was DJ Maj. Once again this was a small concert at a church in Ft. Wayne, IN. Talk about SWEET youth program! The bro and I even got to play a good game of our favorite Dance Dance Revolution before the concert. um yeah... I need to WORK OUT! *sorry.. rant there* Can I just tell you how wonderful that game is? And a good work out to boot! if you haven't tried it DO IT NOW! :) Anyway, the concert was great. I really like DJ Maj's new CD-- "Boogieroot" let me tell you--it makes this hippie/artsy-chick feel like I should be driving in a car with huge chrome rims and a spoiler. Yeah... it's just that good.. well, I guess if you like that sort of thing. He just has a really good beat and a great message too. I think this is the kind of stuff more teens should get into-- because it DOES have that good beat and clean lyrics. My favorite part.

It's been fun. It makes me happy when I can hang out with my siblings. I can't wait to see what other adventures await us in the months ahead!

4th Avenue Jones & John Reuben Concert
Meet the Jones'. The 4th Avenue Jones that is ;-) This pic shows the logo I mentioned above (the one that they felt they needed to obsessively flash lights on)
I didn't know Napoleon Dynomite knew how to play the base for John Reuben!?Two hot studs. *wink* Ok.. so I have to point out that John Reuben's shirt says "Black to the Future." That just totally cracked me up... because this boy is soooo white.. but it so fits him.
The whole Jones Crew.
Awe... I just love babies... especially ones with "fro"-hawks

DJ Maj Concert
This is the stage where DJ Maj rocked the house. It was at a Missionary church. Let me just tell you this was one cool youth group set up. Before the concert we got our groove on with a little Dance Dance Revolution. yeah.. it was that sweet.
Gettin the mix on.
DJ Maj and crew. They were so down to earth. Actually, this shot might show up on DJ Maj website... I guess we will just have to wait and see.

Orange Colored Frustration

so. i have a confession to make. the last few days i have been having some really hateful feelings. becoming angry and impatient. thinking distructive thoughts. sinful thoughts.

about.

orange trucks.

yes, it's true. they make me want to drive off the bridge that is on my way to work. seriously. i don't think they know there is a speed limit, and if they do know, they like to drive 15 under-- even if they have a huge line of cars behind them. the crazy thing is there is not just one of them-NOOOOO-- there are like 7. no joke. and to make matters worse- i swear they know my work schedule. they are there when i go to work, and then again when i leave work. just when you think it is "safe" watchout. they are there. waiting to pounce.

hmm. i think God is teaching me a thing or two about patience.

i just hope i learn my lesson soon.
really soon.
a girl can only take so much.
;-)

Widgets

May I please tell you one reason(among many) I love Macs? Widgets. What are widgets you ask? Well.. they are small applications that sit in their own translucent layer on screen. Fun applications like a mini Google Maps, a colorful calculator, a Translator and even a Hula Girl! A new one that I just downloaded today will take anything you type in and "translate" it into Yoda-talk. Talk about SWEET! I even found one that will look up what the cheapest local gas price is at the moment... um, well.. THAT price doesn't look cheap to me-- I think this thing is broken! lol -*tear*

I guess I'm all excited about this because I just got upgraded to the new OS X-- Tiger this week and just think it is so nifty. I wish I could afford one of these babies at home-- especially with all the problems i have been having with my PC as of late (yeah, I would call having to reformat at least 7 times a PROBLEM!) I guess I will just have to save up my pennies and put this on the list of stuff I would one day like to own-- along with a Digital Rebel Camera... and a new VW Bug to replace the flower-power Honda :) Hey... sometimes you just gotta dream high.

Somethings you just will never understand

So... I'm reading this interesting book right now that a lot of the ladies in my church have been reading. Well... mostly married woman.. but I figured I could always use a head-start on the game. haha. The book is called "For Women Only" and is basically a tiny pin-hold glimpse into the mind of a guy. Very interesting... confusing... exasperating... because honestly sometimes I just DON'T get the male psyche! But the thing I've come to realize is that... I don't HAVE to get it. Gals will never truly understand guys and vice versa. And honestly, that fact is kinda nice. AND kinda relieving.
*sigh*

So... feedback time. What is one thing you wish you really did understand about the opposite sex? (I only said one... because like I said... it's impossible to get it all) ;-) ok.. discuss! (please?)

Bosom Buddies

Did a cancer walk today with gals (and one guy) from work. It was really fun.. really early in the morning....and REALLY cold. I think we had the cutest shirts there. Yeah.. we were team "Bosom Buddy" and one of the gals made us shirts. We walked 3.5 miles. Man.. all I can say after that is that I am in BAD shape :-p

Me... and some co-workers. Yeah.. I look cheezy as always-- even when I'm cold and only half awake.

A little Bite of Happiness

Happiness.
A temporary state of being.
Caused by many a thing-- all green lights on the way to work, a childs laughter, finding five bucks in your pocket, spending time with a friend... the list could go on and on... and would be different for everyone.
My happiness today was found in a little box that arrived in the mail.
Can I just tell you how happy homestarrunner.com makes me? And now I have all the little "toys" to make me smile daily. O the joys.

Oh.. while I'm at it.. here is a little "virtual tour" of my cubie... yeah.. this is where I spend 40+ hours of my life a week. Gotta say it is one of the most colorful cubes on the block and I am proud of it!

EHM Alert!

WOOHOO! So the episode I got to see taped in Colorado is going to be on this week. Who know's if I will actually be able to see myelf in it (crowd shots are usually really brief and super quick) but it will be awesome to actually see the INSIDE of the house we saw unvailed. It's crazy to think that I was actually THERE... and now I am here. Sometimes two worlds collide and it is a SWEET thing.

Details
What: ABC's Extreme Makeover Home Edition
When: THIS Sunday! (October 2nd!)
Where: your TV
Time: 8/7 pm.. depending on what timezone you are in... yeah...
Why: Because... I was there... and you MIGHT just see me (during the rodeo I am wearing a pink/red striped shirt and a red bandana-- and we are sitting to the right of the designers in the stands-- that is, if the camera is facing them) If you need a reminder, or just haven't see the pics from the rodeo go here.

It's gonna be fun folks!

The crazy Ty Pennington

Bone Thugs

So.... big sister/little sister outing today. Definitely an adventure to say the least! Went to Studio B (local Christian radio station around here also does some tv stuff... most of which i'm sad to say is a lot of that extremely cheezy spread that gives you a bad taste in your mouth and makes Christians look fake... but they have a half hour "concert" spot each week that features some artist-sometimes local, other times big name) Anyway, this time they featured T-Bone. I'm not usually into all that Rap stuff, but let me tell you, this guy is GOOD.... and really reaching into the darkness where few brave people dare to tread. I guess you could say that he is a "roaring lamb". He's coming out with a new album at the end of this month called Bone-A-Fide. If you know anyone that is into Rap... but not the clean stuff... this would be an excellent album to slip into their cd player--without telling them-- and just see if they can tell the difference ;-) I think i'm already planning to do that myself with a few people. wahahaha! Have a great week people.

The Studio B girls ;-)

Yeah, you've GOTTA love the medallion. And that shirt... it's the cover of his new upcoming album. How ghetto is that?!
Yeah... my lil sis is cool.

TGIF!

Ok, so I think my car is AWESOME... but here are some close "runner ups"
YEah.. it's a friday.. you need a little fun.

• Bubble gum car
• What color do you put down on your registration for THIS baby?
  

Blueberry Stomp

So.. my mom has been gone on an Europe extravaganza the past two weeks... she comes home this sunday. Dad, my lil' sis and I have been "roughin" it, and doing it quite well I'd like to say. Anyway. We went to the local festival today. Its called the "Blueberry" festival. Lil sis got her roasted almonds, dad got his mop(long story there, but it was funny, he was just sooo excited about this mop)... and me... I got a sweet new purse from the "hippie" booth. Well, it's more like an indian booth, but it looks really hippie-ish to me! I LOVE it! Anywho... just mostly wanted to show you this great pic. Hope you all had a wonderful labor day!

Off into the wild blue yonder

Today my brother left for the big wide world of college. I miss him already... but am really excited for the adventure he is about to embark on. We had an awesome week gearing up to send him off... last night we were even "wrekless" and went to a concert two hours away in Illinois!! LOL! It was great! We also said goodbye to his dear phantom mullet... so alas it is no more.... (maybe I will post pictures of the great cutoff later!) Anyway. It's kinda a bittersweet day... I love that kid dearly... and am SO glad he got a cell phone. *grin*