I'm leaving for the weekend to visit my friends Walter & Monica. Pray that I make it to Sumter and back without breaking down.

Someday breaking down on a trip will not even be a concern. How I long for that day.

I figured out how to get ringtones on my phone absolutely free.

Go me.

I'm going to a retreat this weekend, and I'm talking about sacrificial giving...giving when it hurts to do so. I'm going to talk about how God can bless us when we do this.

As part of it, I'm going to pass out envelopes that contain money. Trust me when I say it will be a sacrifice. I believe that I'll see a return, and I'll let you faithful few reading this know when it happens.

I don't know much about them, but I really like The Mars Volta.

Their music is definitely worth a listen.

Children in Uganda are being abducted and pressed into service as soldiers.

Educate yourself about it.

For those of you in Greenville, there is a screening of this film at ECU on March 25th. It is free.

1. Posted a blog entry about how I don't have any money, life sucks.
2. Hours later a check arrives in the mail.
2a. God says "Booyah!"
3. Traveled to Greenville, NC.
4. Arrived in Raleigh just in time for rush hour traffic.
5. Stopped by Cold Stone to see Soheila.
6. Met Connie for dinner.
7. Headed to parents' house, spent time with them.
8. The next morning, convinced Jenny to buy me breakfast at Bojangles.
9. Got in touch with Justin, spent most of the morning with him.
10. Justin & I visited my mother.
11. Justin & I visited our grandmother at the nursing home she lives in.
12. Justin & I head to the mall for lunch, where he is kicked off the property. I'm essentially dumped.
13. Got over being dumped.
14. Chiled at Barnes & Noble; talked w/Christina on the phone.
15. Picked mother up from work.
16. Took mother to her house.
17. Discovered car insurance had lapsed.
18. Panicked.
19. Had dinner w/family.
20. Had dicussion about sensitive topics. Overall it went well. Lots of laughter...always a good sign.
21. Drove home to Concord at 1am.
22. Fought sleep as I drove.
23. State trooper pulls me for speeding; compounded by fact that speed limit had changed and I did not realize it.
24. Grab 3 hours of sleep.
25. Go to the Retreat Center for a work day. Spend day picking up rocks, trash, brush, and anything else that needed to be picked up.
26. Went home; discovered that the sun was a bit strong as I had sunburn and, embrassingly, scalp burn.
27. Slept for 8 hours; a new personal best.
28. Lounged around until Underground on Sunday night.
29. Was easily stressed out because I was tired.
30. Watched "The Sopranos" at Zack's with Zack and Beth.
31. Got up this morning, got new insurance policy.
32. Obtained spiffy new camera phone and new phone number. If you don't have it, ask.
33. Cancelled phone plan with old carrier. Old number is now dead. Don't call it.
34. Wrote this blog entry.
35. Realized I need to go to work.
36. Left.

Looks like my bank account is going to overdraw. Again. For the second time in two weeks.

I hate living like this.

I was at work, in a neighborhood I had never been in before. The place I parked was a little too close for my taste to a deep ditch (it was deeper than my car is tall), so moved the car. At least, I tried to. The ground was muddy and I began getting stuck. I floored the gas pedal, trying to break free. I slipped all over the place, and to my horror the car fell into this huge, deep, ditch. Water started seeping into the car.

I was panicking. And to make matters worse, I couldn't shut the radio off. I took the key out and the radio was still playing. Ironically, my main concern was not how to get the car out of the ditch. It was that my car battery would die if I left the radio on. Finally I decided to forget about the radio and try to make my way out of the ditch. The only way to do it was with a tow truck.

After spending a ton of money on my brakes yesterday, I didn't have money to call a tow truck. But I had no choice.

That is, until I woke up. The radio was on. My car was not in a ditch. I was so relieved.

If you knock on the door, and there is no answer...it is likely that no one's home. Or you should come back later.

How certain is certainty
When you have no proof for your claim?

How honest is honesty
When you really have nothing to say?

What hope comes from hopelessness?
Those who trust won't be put to shame

Do you keep on keepin' on
If no miracle saves the day?

When things are under His control
And He tells you to believe
Do you sit idly by
Hoping He's got something up His sleeve?

Where's the balance
Between action and faith?

Don't run ahead,
You'll be put in your place.
Then again, don't lag behind
Yes, with patience run your race

So many questions
So little time
A platitude will solve your dilemma
(no it won't)

And then I remember a phrase that is art
From Scripture, in Proverbs I find
Exhortation galore to ease my troubled mind
Remember, children, God tests the heart

*********

Every now and then things build up inside and I express myself through very bad poetry. This is about a few different situations, apparently. I've got a lot on my mind. Though I suppose I'm not alone in that.

I was writing in my journal just now, and wrote about how someone had complimented me on my outfit.

As soon as I typed it, I realized that it's something guys do not normally write about.

Good thing I'm so obviously heterosexual or I'd be worried.

As I did last year, I'm filing my taxes online via H&R Block, even though they apparently cannot file their own taxes properly.

This entry is going to be my thoughts as I fill out the various forms.

After several screens and questions, they have determined that I am single. What a relief; I was worried I might not qualify.

I am not thrilled with their interface. It's quite clunky.

I am not deceased, so I probably should not check that box. But it's tempting.

I hope I get a refund this year. Last year I had to pay $300. It sucked.

Hmm...can't find my stuff from the Unemployment Security Commission. I thought I had placed it with my other W-2's.

(A short pause while I search for missing documentation)

(The pause extends as I realize the documentation is not where I thought it was. Now I must look elsewhere. In my car. In my room.)

I found a W-2 from 2004. This does not help me in the least, but I thought you'd like to know.

Dang it. I hit "Publish" instead of "Save." Had to delete the post and redo it. Back to looking for the papers I need...

Okay, the papers are definitely not in my room. Time to look in the car.

Woohoo! Found them. I had put them in the car's glove compartment. Only took me about 45 minutes or so.

(The pause now ends)

I really need to start keeping track of business-related mileage.

ACK! I owe $458!!!! HOW CAN THIS BE???

Wait, I'm not done. Don't panic. Still have deductions to enter in.

Thank goodness I was in school last year. With education expenses deducted, I now have a refund.

And a refund from NC. Thank goodness.

Okay, well my taxes are filed. And I get a nice refund. Which is good, because I am in serious need of some cash.

What a roller coaster.