Currently Watching Get Smart: The Complete Series see related

Churchiosity

That's right.  I've decided 2 blogs just aren't enough...

Actually, that's only part true. 

• I get complaints that people can't comment, so now I'm enabling that option
• This whole "search for a church" (hey that rhymes!) in my "Chapter 2" entry... well, it kinda deserves to be it's own monster
• After telling people my churchynews, everybody wanted updates.  I'm lazy.  You want an update?  Read it for yourself.  I got things to do!
• Curiousity?  Churchiosity?  C'mon.  It's clever!

So, for normal God-based ponderings, keep coming back here.

For church related, Quaker gathering, church surfing stuff, visit http://churchiosity.blogspot.com

Now ya know.  Comment, read, ignore... so many options!

Toodles

-PC, apparently -really- likes typing.  A lot. 

Currently Listening Worship & Faith By Randy Travis see related

Chapter 2

Ahem. Howdy!

Let's face it, I'm pretty much the token "20's guy" at church. As I look around, there is exactly one memeber in the 23-33 range. Me. In the single persons group for all our members age 20-40? It's me. Maybe Becky too, I don't ask ages. Regardless, I don't believe there has ever been a greater absence of people my age.

In response, and due to the fact that I have exactly one Christian friend in King County (and she works about as much as I do), I'm branching out.

I'm certainly not quitting NSFC. No intention of it. But let's face it, what other options do I really have? I don't meet many Christians where I work, and the church's hobbies and mine aren't exactly codependent on each other. I'll be around. But depending on what churches I find, what their schedule is, and where they are, I doubt I can promise to be there every Sunday. It seems unrealistic to promise that. And yes, I am quite willing to run sound when I can make it.

On the Sundays I can't make it? Who will run the sound? Well, I don't entirely know. And that's been the question for the last 10 years now, hasn't it? I certainly don't mind doing sound, but I'm feeling pulled to be other places, so I can't take care of that everytime. I don't think any advance warning would have helped anyone on this matter. I think the way it is, is just the way it is.

If you need something resembling a schedule, I might be open to that. Again, I'm hoping to still attend often, and I'll do what I can to help you out. Let's just say that you shouldn't plan on me running sound until you see me walk through the door. I'm taking some time to try and make acquaintances my own age. One just doesn't really work for me.

So there ya go. Prayer for me in this little quest would certainly be nice. And prayer that we all get this whole sound thing figured out. Hopefully it'll be an easy and painless process.

God only knows...

Vaya con Dio, and I'll see ya around.

Currently Listening Batman Begins see related

The Oracle Debacle

Howdy,

I know too much. 

It all started out so innocently.  Random trivia here.  Comic book factoids everywhere.  I was a quirky guy with a retention for odd things, but I was left alone.

Then comic books became cool and people started asking me about them.  They got made into movies, and this only continued.

By that time, I had been around work for a few years.  People started leaving, and I started incurring the gravest curse of all:

Institutional memory

Yes, I became the one who remembers "where things are" and "how things are done".  People started asking if I remembered where this was kept.  If I could help them like I did "last time". 

Then there was the training of the newbies.  The responsibility.  And it barrelled out of control!

Now, here I am.  4 & 1/2 years @ SB with my 4th manager, my 4th asst. manager, and yes... my 4th district manager.  That's not counting 3 new baristas.  Not a day goes by where one of them doesn't ask me something.  Today I saw my boss for 15 minutes, and she still managed to get 2 answers from me.

Comics are one thing.  I thrive off of comics.  I can talk comics all day.  But nitpicks?  Protocol?  Nuances?  Snore.

Then when we start letting in crowds at IMAX, staff don't know how to handle sold out shows (it's been a while), so they start panicing.  So the seasoned old-timer gets to calm down the newbies.  Sigh.

I know.  It's a good thing I know all this.  Lets me be in control.  God wants me to help others so they can learn the ropes too.  Still, somedays I would like to not have to answer any questions. 

Unless they're about Clark Kent's social security number.  (Go ahead.  Ask!)  Toodles

-PC, fountain of knowledge.  But I only recommend drinking in the good/ flavorful stuff 

Currently Watching The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus 16-Ton Megaset By Eric Idle, Carol Cleveland, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Graham Chapman see related

Whatever suits you

Howdy,

No big shock, I spent about 5 nights last week dressed as Batman.  I had Batman in my movie theater.  I had decorated the walls with Batman comic books.  I had dressed as Batman for Batman Begins.  It was kind of expected.

Now, here's the thing about being a grown man wearing nylon tights for pants and a padded foam chest for a shirt.  You're gonna get looked at funny.  Middle aged folks especially.  The 20's crowd still thinks you're "cool" or "amusing".  The elderly can understand not caring what other people think.  But the in-betweens?  The middle-agers?  Not impressed.

Now, let me be non-stereotypical.  I'm not talking all middle aged folks.  Just some.  It seemed to me that the people who took umbridge were of this age set.  I happen to know some very nerdy people in their 40's.  (One of them was my English teacher and he dressed as The Riddler.  At school.  'nuff said.) 

But if someone was going to shake their head (I have good peripheral vision), it was going to be one of these fellows.  Guess what?  I don't care.

First off, I'm a big fan of freedom of speech.  Usually I don't have a problem if that extends to your dress.  I have a coworker who's hair is all shaved off except for a streak of blue hair.  It's unusual, but what do I care?  Not hurting anybody.  Do I think people who have writing on the backside of their pants are foolish?  Yep.  Do I heckle them?  Yep.  Do I think we should invoke some sort of law or dress code so everyone can be "appropriate"?  Not even a little.

Wear your green running shorts with your orange running shoes.  I don't care too much.  I reserve the right to shake my head, sure.  But in the end, ya just gotta let yer freak flag flutter a bit.

Eventually, someone will come along side you and join.  (In my instance it was tourists.  And small children.  And a tall gal dressed as Batgirl.  Not bad company to be in)  If they don't?  So be it.

Same thing with Christianity.  Do I think circumcision is a bit much?  Yep.  Does communion work for me?  Nope.  Am I about to tell someone else how they should worship?  Nope. 

Look, I figure as long as you're following Jesus and trying to be nice, your heart's in the right place.  Much like clothing, as long as you've got the bare essentials (please wear -some-clothes.  Oh please!), I'm not gonna pick ya apart because we disagree on this or that.

Religion.  Apparel.  I figure as long as you're covered (by Jesus or by fabric), then it's all good.

Toodles

-PC, likes a logo on his t-shirt and a spirit in his gut

Currently Listening Daredevil: The Album By Various Artists see related

Tired of attire

Howdy,

As I type, I’m sitting here with a puffy fake chest and tights on.  K  Yeah…  dressing up as Batman takes a certain amount of humility.  (Who exactly has the chest to fit in these things?  I honestly don’t know)  All in all, it has been a rather frustrating time for looking/dressing to keep the world happy.

First off, there’s the hair.  I don’t care about hair.  I figure let it grow, and when it bugs ya?  Crop the sucker off and let the cycle continue.  Apparently that’s not allowed.  My female friends who think I’m a nice guy and deserve to be single “if only you’d make a few changes…”  Of course, one of those changes is hair.  Since I have the wavy gene, I’m supposed to encourage the waviness.  Which involves letting it grow past my ear.  Like a frickin’ British band from the ‘60’s.  I have never sang to Rhonda to help me out, nor do I feel like letting myself become a moptop.  I wouldn’t say that I’m too worried about this whole “let your hair grow out thing”, mainly because it involves me doing absolutely nothing.  But the part where I’m supposed to think about it?  Supposed to exert any effort in what is essentially head-covering?  That’s the part that’s not really me.

Then there are clothes.  Jeans and flannel.  That’s really all I ever want.  I can sleep in jeans.  I can run in jeans (not entirely comfortable… but I’ve done it)  Three piece suits do not excite me.  Wearing khakis to work makes me raise an eyebrow.  Just let me wear what I want!  (To be fair, 1.2 of my 2.2 jobs lets me do that, so I’m really doing okay)  The concession I’m allowed is that I get to wear shorts at my job.  Which is only half as much khaki as normal.  Not a huge improvement, but still.  However, should I wear any pair of shorts?  I get comments on how skinny my legs are (I myself is rather slim, and I run.  The end.), and also how pale.  I don’t plan on tossing pounds onto my legs or embarking on the adventure of fake & baking, so I just accept it and roll on.

Of course, there are “special occasions”.  Like tonight.  Batman opening weekend.  Shaved off my goatee a few days ago.  The amount of terrain that you’re supposed to cover before work? What’s just silly.  The cuves, the ump, the digps.  It’s all too much for my simple style.  Leave me my goatee any day.  But Batman has no goatee, so the extra work is needed.

Finally, let’s talk about the attraction aspect.  There’s quite the noticeable difference.  Put me in a batsuit on opening weekend of a The  Dark Knight, and the sheer number of femaes that will check me out/smile/glance my way is about 50/50.  If I see a gal I think is attractive, especially if they’re in their 20’s, odds are they’ll probably look my direction, and a smile will come across their face.  Kinda bugs the spit out of me.  On most days?  Days when I’m just trying to be me?  They hand me their ticket and walk on by.  Only if I’m dressed a “certain way”, do I garner female attention.  (And no, I don’t think it is silly/curiousity.  Quite often I’ll hear “Oh my…!” of excitement, or even, “that’s so awesome!”.  So I take the smiles as a positive reinforce.  Even if this suit is friggin’ uncomfortable to wear properly.

There are of course, a few exceptions.  My closest friends just don’t care.  Well, okay.  Let me refine that.  The Missus doesn’t care.  She’s the best friend, I’m her best friend, we love each other just the way we are.  My other quite-good friend doesn’t care what I wear.  When invited to her birthday a few years ago, I asked if there was anything resembling a dress code and her response was, “Oh, like I’d care about that.”  However, she does think that the hair should grow out.  Hence one strong opinion that makes me pretend I care about this follicle mass atop my head.

Science is now starting to say that people with deeper voices tend to be more attractive.  The the creation of the vocal characteristics of deep-throated people leans more toward mirror-reflected attributes.  And if someone’s face is symmetric, they’re ranking of “attractive” goes up much higher than those that aren’t.  How you sound may be tied into to how others see you.

Ow. Ow ow ow.  For me, this is all too much to consider.  I’d like to just keep it simple.  Ya know what I find attractive?  A gal of average height wearing a ponytail and jeans.  Glasses are a definite plus.  Thin is nice too.  That’s about it!  I’m sure facial qualities figure in there, but as to attire?  What you can do to “spiff” yourself up?  I’d really just like them to wear clothes.  The more casual, the better.  Simple!  The way God intended it!  Or so I tell myself.  I reckon we were made a certain way, and our interests/how much we care about appearance was given to us.  So why not just relax and let God’s little ball of messiness have a little less time spent in front of the mirror than Miss Universe?

It makes sense to me.  But I’m just a scruffy guy in a batsuit.  Toodles!

-PC, deteremind to start growing back his nice, simple, fuzzy tattoo as quickly as he can