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| What's round on the end and "hi" in the middle...Ohio, duh.
Due to my zealous state pride in Virginia, most of you don't know that I was born in Columbus Ohio. My dad was a pilot and the company he flew for was bought out, so we moved to Virginia only a couple years after I was born. I bore you with this nugget for the sole purpose of informing you that I, Jacob Weston Mapstone Esquire the III, shall be returning from whence I came!
Okay, so not Columbus...Cleveland rather. (See photo above) Yeah, I have been accepted to do an internship with Ambassadors In Sports. A mission organization that uses Futbol (soccer) as the language, or as the cultural bridge so to speak.
As soon as I raise my intended budget amount I will move to Cleveland, work and train there until their Summer programs start, complete their Summer programs, then be stationed in either England or South Africa.
I know this is a lot to take in right now, it hasn't even sunk in for me yet. I mean, by this time next year I could be a permanent resident of Manchester England!??! whaaaaa...?
Although this might seem like a drastic step. In fact, there will be a lot of people trying to talk me out of it. But I can assure you, I have never felt more prepared for something, nor have I been so excited about anything. I'm about to start a new phase of my life and I can not wait!
I will be starting to raise support soon so I figured I'm going to get another blog just for updates. I will put it on here soon so you all can read how all this came to be, what all I'm going to be doing, updates, etc.
I ask you to please keep this in your prayers. I haven't mentioned one ounce of this to my family and the idea of raising support makes me cringe...so I need your help friends. Thanks a lot, and God bless.
J | | |
| Everything is about to changeI was reading a friend's blog that made me very sentimental and emotional (more so than usual). It was two of our other friends having a child...and it's not that I want to have kids, or have someone to share something like that with that made me emotional; But it was something he said about entering new phases. Stealing his idea to add my own details...
"Everything is about to change. Over the past year I have watched my best friends fall in love, commit to it, and work to keep it. And I now watch them begin families of little us's. I've watched them learn how the real world operates and then stand up and tell the real world that it's got nothing on the power that is behind them. I've seen best friends loose their faith, not their salvation, but their faith. I've watched as people around me, even in the next room, give their lives away to what the world has to offer; and I've seen people around me realize there has to be something more than what the world offers. I have been on the very edge of disastrous, pagan living (which, for some people, coming from me, means I've already have fallen off) but I have also felt closer to God than I ever have before."
I tell you all of this because, everything is about to change. As of next week I'm moving out of Trash (that's the name of our house...long story). Now, I'm sure most of you are thinking that it's not that big of a deal...but believe me, I'm not just moving out of a neat house that I lived in with some friends. I'm moving out of a phase of my life.
I'm terribly excited about this new phase, don't get me wrong. But when I read my friend's blog, looking back on our old phases, I missed them so much. I know I will miss this most recent phase as well, no matter how crazy it was.
Also, I read this article in the news paper today as I was opening the coffee shop. It really put into words what I have been thinking and my actions towards the next phase of life. Sooo, here...
Why Can't Summer Last All Year Long? by C.C. McCotter
Here in Louisa County the kids go back to school early - Aug. 11. Sure they are out before Memorial Day, but heading back to school three weeks before your buddies in surrounding counties is tough.
Goin back to school is especially tough for little boys. They've had all summer to swim in the lake at Mimi and Poppy's, fish, sleep out in the tree fort, play video games, watch Star Wars 15 times and generally do what little boys do. My 6-year-old son, Mitch, is no different.
While the first week back in class was Ok, the excitement has worn off and he's now busy devising new ways to convince us he doesn't need to attend first grade.
On Monday his stomach hurt. On Tuesday he asked us to take his temperature three times. On Wednesday he finally admitted, through tears, that it's a long day in school
"Hey," I told him, "I know what you mean. I didn't want to go back to school either after a fun Summer."
"Really, Dad?"
"Yes, son. It's Ok to wish Summer wouldn't end. But we all have responsibilities and yours is to go to school and learn."
He thought about that and then said, "You and Mom's responsibility is to work, right?"
"Yep."
I then asked him if there wasn't some parts of the school day that were fun....perhaps recess and lunch?
"Yes, those are a little fun," He admitted.
That's how it went and he went to school this morning, Thursday, with some tears again. I tried to cheer him up with a scooter race around the driveway before he left. He doesn't fall for the old "get your mind off of it" trick much anymore.
As I worked today I thought about his school day. When I heard the bus rumble down the street, his mother and me and our two dogs were in the driveway waiting for him and his big sister.
he climbed down the bus stairs and there he was looking tired in his blue shirt, navy shorts, and back-to-school shoes.
I asked him how it went.
"Pretty good."
"Did you have any fun at recess?"
"Yes, we played football," he said and then went on to describe the time he spent with his other little boy buddies.
At the end of the description I said, "Now, that wasn't so bad of a day was it?"
Mitch considered my question and responded with, "I sure wish Summer would last all year long."
As I write this he's inside doing his homework so he can play with the dogs and then enjoy a little family cookout. He's got two more days left in the week, and then he's back to Summer fun for the weekend.
You know what dad's wish for? They wish Summers with their little boys would last forever.
Try and enjoy your school days friends. I have to go do some homework so I can enjoy a family cookout and play with the dogs. Cheers | | |
| High five! more dead than alive...I just need to stop apologizing for the length in between my updates. It's getting to be habit and I'm tired of saying sorry. Here's just some reporting for those of you that want to know what I'm doing with my life.
Work - Still same ol same ol. Everyday I get by and everyday I'm wanting something else. The 2-3 weeks before camp I was working 80 hours a week. No bueno. But here's a little spec of light that encouraged me. A few weeks ago I met my dad at this storage unit complex to measure an office. This guy was going to turn the current office space into more units. I beat my dad there, so I just waited in the car for him. Once he arrived he introduced me to the secretary that was working and told her what I'd be doing, then he left. After a few minutes of measuring the Secretary says to me...
"Well, since I know now that you're a nice guy I wanted to tell you...when you first pulled up I thought you were hear to rob me. I tried to get your license plate number and report you but I couldn't see it...so I just hid everything."
She then walked over to a locked filing cabinet, unlocked it and pulled out her purse. She then made her way over to a drawer to another desk, moved a bunch of files and pulled out a cell phone. And to cap it off, she walked up to a potted plant, sitting on a desk in the corner and picked up a set of keys from around a few leaves. Not only did she think I was suspicious looking, she had it set in her mind that I was there for one reason only; and in the few minutes I was sitting outside, she rushed around and strategically hid her valuables.....
Aaahhh, Yuup. Still got it.
Social life - N/A
Future - I'm still waiting to hear back on my application to AIS for a playing tour. I haven't been excited about something in a long time. I really hope all this goes through.
Girls - psssh, don't even go there. I mean, I'd like one that didn't make me feel like a jerk and I actually got a long with....but we all know that ain't happen'n. Move'n on....
Music - It's the Summer, soooo that means The Zombies. I've also been grovin to some Hollies and King Kahn. It's golden.
Welp, my lunch break is over and I hit a writer's block. Sorry there isn't anything else, I'll try to be better....but don't expect much.
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| I know I always say it's been a long time...but this time, I mean it.Spoiler alert....this is mainly just an update so those of you who read will see that I'm not dead....I'm not dead....
Since our last meeting much has happened...
I was the best man in a incredibly fun wedding. I was surrounded with some of my best friends for 3 days, In an amazing city, celebrating the best thing we've got on this planet....money!...I mean, love...
Anyway, I had a great time...if you see the pix from that weekend you'll understand.
Also your man bought his first Motorcycle. Yes, I've talked for years about how I'm going to get one but I finally did. I found, wheel and deal'd with the owner, paid in cash with my own money, drove to Pennsylvania to pick it up, and now....well, now I'm trying to get it to start...
But it was a huge milestone on my path to being a man. Go ahead guys, buy your macbooks, and your Ipod phones, your blackberries, 360's and Wii's, your fancy pants digital cameras...you can keep em. I got my ass a 71 Honda.
(p.s. I wonder which one of us will have trouble picking up the ladies now...?)
Speaking of which...I got suckered in to going on a date with someone I do not like spending time with. I don't know whether it's the fact that she's asked out 4 of my other friends before me...or the fact that i've been avoiding her socially for years...or maybe even the fact that she called her cousin slash my old boss to ask whether she should ask me out and they left the decision up to a Magic 8 ball.....I can't really put my finger on it...but something feels like this will have a zero percent success rate.
I've batted some ideas around for what we will do...something that will show her that I'm a loser and not worth the effort, thus freeing me from the inevitable "I'm not interested and here's why" talk. I was trying to figure out some way to fake being a closet alcoholic, or that I have a few kids by different mothers, or my more honorable character of attempting to run for a position in the Clergy....
But I think I'll take her to a movie...that way we can spend a lot of time in silence and I'll get to see another movie out of my "date" budget and wont have to tap into my "entertainment" budget.
What can I say...this is an art, and I....I am an artist.
Well thats it for now. I'm going home early to work on the bike. I think I have it figured out and should be on the road soon. Cheers. | | |
| Chess NightLast night I closed up shop at the coffee shop. Wednesday night is Chess night, it has been for the past five years. The Staunton Chess Club meet there every Wednesday around 7, pick numbers, and play each other. They even have a ladder hanging up on our wall.
There's something good about Chess night. All the players are regulars, so I enjoy catching up with them. We actually know what they do and what goes on in their lives. And although it makes Wednesdays fairly busy, everyone's order is the same thing every week; so like clockwork we know at 8:15 to start making a chicken salad sandwich with no pepper on Rye and a ham and cheese on white with two cookies for Sammy and his son.
Last night another regular was hanging out in the coffee shop. She's been coming in and out of the shop pretty much since it opened (mainly because she has a crush on my friend Michael). Michael and I are living together, so we walked down to work together. Once we did the shift change, the young lady, we'll call her Megan, came up to Michael and I to "get some more hot water for her tea." After "refreshing her tea" Michael asked her what she was working on, noticing her laptop was open and she had been typing on it. Megan told us she was trying to figure out what to do with her life...She needed more money than her current job at another coffee shop, but she didn't want to be a sell out and work for any corporations or yuppie jobs. After listening to her explain that she attempted teaching, has traveled enough for the time, etc....we all had this to say....
Megan: I don't know...I just need some direction...
Me: .....East....
Michael: ...No...West...
Megan: Why West? (you can obviously see who she has the crush on)
Michael: I don't know, in fact...I've never actually been to the West coast, so I wouldn't really know. I'm pretty sure the East coast is a lot better.
Me: Yeah, I hear there are a ton of fires out there.
Michael: Yeah, that's true.
Megan: Well thats waaay West, what about mid west...?
Me: I'm not sure how I feel about that....OH! you know what? you should move to Louisiana! move to the Bayou and become a musician...
Michael: Yeah, Louisiana is awesome.
Me: Yeah, soooo....that would be South West...if you need directions...
Megan: No no, I've thought about moving to New Orleans and playing music but I need something more stable.
Michael: Yeah I think you're asking the wrong pair of guys about life direction.
Me: Yeah, all we want to do is sit on our porch, listen to records, and drink beer.
Michael: Yeah...does your house have a porch?...you should just do that....
After a few more minutes Megan decided she had wasted enough time talking to us and returned to her laptop. But for the rest of the night I kept thinking about what I could tell Megan to do with her life. Not that I really cared enough to find her an answer, but it was more the thoughts of what other people think about their lives.
I know that Megan is not a Christian, so I figured I had to skip the whole, "What do you think God's will is for your life?" question. But I have no answer for anyone in her position....Without God's will in the equation, marriage seems nothing more than a product of nature and society and jobs are just based on a terrible ratio of the more you sacrifice, the more you'll be rewarded.
So what do they do with their lives?
I think the average person finds fulfillment in a family of their own, vacations/hobbies/adventures, time with friends....all while putting in their time at whatever chosen career. That sounds like the plan for a lot of people I know, with the exception of different Sunday morning activities....
I mean, it's obvious we all have the desire to matter, for our lives to make a difference in world. So what's the point of waking up tomorrow if that entire day is just going to be about me...? I can see why Megan is struggling with this. Her soul is begging for significance but our culture is telling her to punch her card and live for the weekend. That kind of life terrifies me. I fear the day my occupation defines me. That one day in my 50's I roll out of bed and ask the same question I've been asking since I was 24...why?
I guess I'm just thinking about all this because I'm in a transitional phase, a few friends' paths are taking another turn, as well as that ever present thought of "Am I supposed to be here doing this? What am I missing out on?" that constantly runs through the ol skull. It might be a bit pretentious of me to think that I can actually figure these questions out, but really it's just a restless boy turnin his wheels.
So until I figure out the answers to all this....I'll be on the porch. | | |
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