Maybe's and What-if's

In the mad rush to buy school supplies, something strange happened...I saw someone I knew. But not, like, someone I see every day. No. A girl who was in my 4th/5th grade combination class. I was just a lowly 4th grader while she was in 5th grade. We never had a class together after that, I would just see her in the hallways (even up through high school) and recognize her from way-back-when.

Odd isn't it? As the painfully shy elementary/middle schooler that I was, I didn't ever get to know her (or many people for that matter). But when we saw each other at Kmart, we not only recognized each other, but we stood and talked for a half an hour. It wasn't even a forced or uncomfortable talk, it was just like old friends. I learned where she is going to school, what classes we liked in high school, and why pink containers are awesome.

Just think of how many people you skip out on. People you never really meet. You might know them by name, or recognize their face, or maybe you don't. Considering the long and natural talk the Kmart girl and I had, we probably could have been friends. But I will most likely never see her again.

Certainly I'm not friends with every person I could be. There must be people that I would be great friends with...but somehow we never meet. Sometimes I think about what would have happened if I had not moved here. It is by sheer luck I live in Davidson County. When I was 3 my parents and I moved from Maryland. Who would I have known in Maryland? What would be different about me, surly something would be different because I think friends play a big role in shaping you. Or maybe that isn't how it works, maybe you are naturally the person/personality you are and you would just be attracted to the same type of people no matter where you are. In general, people here can't be that different from people elsewhere.

My parents just happened to get a house in Davidson County. I could be going to a high school in Forsyth County. Would I be the same person? Would I have been as pushed academically, or did my drive come from the inside? Maybe that drive came from friends, but surely a different school would be just as competitive. Possibly no, I can't say that I have ever been to a different high school to "test it out." This whole deal has to many "maybe's" and "what-if's ."

Just give it a thought for a while. It will make your head hurt.

Safari Sick

Vacation Bible School is over! Thank goodness! I love my church and all, and I know it helps spread God's word, but VBS is so much work. Every summer as I sit at the Board of Christian Education meeting at my church I ask "can't we just take a break this year?" or "how about we send our kids to another VBS?" They don't ever like my ideas.

This year, there was a compromise....we joined forces with another "childless" church, Beulah United Church of Christ. It was 3 nights, Monday and Wednesday at Beulah, Tuesday at Hebron UCC. We actually had a good number of kids show up for 3 nights of Safari "fun." Each child got a bright orange hat with their name on it. I counted 21 hats at the end, so we probably had at least 15 kids each night. That's a far cry from the 7 that came to our single-church VBS last year.

This year went off without too many problems. The planning was a bit stressful (between 2 churches) and when we showed up for the final meeting (just a day before it started) and the pastor had been sacked just that morning, I thought "that's it, its going to be a disaster." But everything came off well, the crafts were cute, we sang good songs (Who's the King of the Jungle?), there was dinner each night.

Not only did I coordinate the VBS, but I was also in charge of the 2-5 year olds. That was crazy. Half hour blocks of time are too long for them. We found lots of ways to entertain them...mainly food. I might have been a little less "fun" (or maybe a little more annoyed) because I spent all day at work with 2-5 year olds, and by the time I got to church, I was exhausted.

Once again, it's a whole 'nother year before vacation bible school starts back up. Although, I quite possibly could be working up a John's River Valley Camp for the summer...oh darn.

Good luck to anyone about to have VBS, and congrats to anyone who has finished theirs. I feel bad for the people who have, like, 100 kids show up...too much work.

Who came up with Vacation Bible School anyway?

PS-Just so you know, I don't like the music on the blog. I find it annoying.

The Coolness Factor

While Surfing the endless number of blogs the last few days I notice some have music, some have pictures, others have music videos, which you should be hearing right now. (scroll to the bottom to see the video). So I'm implementing a new system to get you the reader involved.(that and it keeps me from slacking my duties) So every Week we will have a "Video of the Week" in which you the reader decides what it is. Here's the criteria for the V.O.W

* Go to www.MusicVideoCodes.com
* Select a band and a song
* Copy the code and send it to me Via-Email
* The listen in every Monday to see if your song was chosen

--Neko

p.s. if you know of any other sites were you can get videos email that to me to.

I hope this isn't permanent

WARNING THE FOLLOWING IS REALLY STINKING GRAPHIC SO IF YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACH THEN YOU SHOULD REALLY NOT LOOK , BUT IF YOUR JUST CURIOUS AND WANT TO KNOW FAST I SWIM WHILE IN THE POOL THEN KEEP GOING. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

(The Down Side of working For the City)

Well i know your all dying to know why there is a nasty picture of my forhead on the internet, wel i had a bit of an accident at the pool today. All i'll tell you is, is that i was racing aganst another guy and he was fast (but i was faster), there was a concrete wall, i misjuged the distance, and now i have four sticthes in my head. thats all you need to know.

--Neko

Good Luck Columbia!

Well it's 10:04 right now and its about 30 mins. From launch of the Space Shuttle Columbia The first in some 2 years. I'd like to take this moment to say "Never forget those who came before, pray for those who go now, and hope for those to come." God's speed Columbia, come home safe.

--Neko

Strenuous Sleep

Do you know what I hate? Pulled muscles. Ouch, they hurt.

And the weird thing, sometimes I pull muscles while doing strenuous activity....but mostly, I just wake up and have some crazy pulled muscle. Really, what am I doing in my sleep that makes me pull muscles like this? It's killing me. When I was in 6th grade, I woke up at about 4am, and lifted my head and *snap*...I couldn't move. It was one of the scariest things in my life. I had to scream for my mother. When she found me, she thought I was paralyzed. Turns out, when I woke up and lifted my head, I pulled a muscle in my neck. It took hours to get out of bed and to the doctor. I didn't go to school for 3 days, no gymnastics for weeks. I couldn't move my head properly for over a month. All because of that strenuous sleep.

I woke up today and my arm hurt. Maybe I just slept funny...right? Well, it hasn't gone away yet. It is so odd, I have never pulled this muscle before, it hurts all the way up through my right armpit. It hurts to move my arm, and to lift or push anything. I am simply thinking about work today...it's gonna be a beast.

Not only do I have work, but Vacation Bible School (VBS) starts tonight and goes through Wednesday. Truly I can't wait for VBS to be over because it has been so much work. Somehow I was placed as the VBS "director." I didn't even start as the director, but when we decided to work with another church (so we might get 14 kids, not 7) I was the one who coordinated the two churches. Guess somehow that made me the director. Yay!

So not only will I be working today, but have to go to VBS where I am in charge of the 3-5 year olds.

Guess I will have to resort to yelling more...

It Is Done

The names are in, the votes have been tallied, and the winner is...DRUM ROLL PLEASE...Budadadadadadadadadadada
ddadadadadadadadadadadadadadadada
dadadadadadadadadadadaddadadadada
dadadadadadadadadadadadadadadada
dadadadadadadadadadadadadadadada
dadadadadadadadadadadadadadada
...This is a really long drum roll
dadadadadadadadaddadadadadada
dadadadadadadadadadadadadadada
dadadadadadadadadadadadadadada
dadadadadadadadadadadadadadada
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dadadadadadadadadadadadadadada
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dadadadadadadadadadadadadadada
dadadadadadadadadadadadadadada
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dadadadadadadadadadadadadadada
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Ok thats enough the winner is Ron With his Title "The World of Two Polar Opposites". It has been modified somewhat to keep from the "Dizzy Factor." Thanks to all those who participated in this little Shindig I hope that you will all keep reading and enjoying the blog, until then Stay frosty.

--Neko

FINAL ROUND

This is it people, this is the final day for entries on the "Name Game Contest". If you have yet post a name you have until 12:00.01 AM tomorrow to post it under the comment section of "THE NAME GAME" entree dated on the 18 of this month. I guess that's it so get crackin'.

--Neko

We Didn't Start The Fire

Is an awesome song to which I'm listing to right now. You all know the song don't you? Well if you don't I just happen to have the lyrics.

"We Didn't Start The Fire" by Billy Joel
Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggio Joe McCarthy, Richard Nixon, Studebaker, television North Korea, South Korea, Marilyn Monroe Rosenbergs, H-Bomb, Sugar Ray, Panmunjom Brando, "The King and I", and "The Catcher in the Rye" Eisenhower, vaccine, England's got a new queen Marciano, Liberace, Santayana goodbye

CHORUS
We didn't start the fire It was always burning Since the world's been turning We didn't start the fire No we didn't light it But we tried to fight it

Josef Stalin, Malenkov, Nasser and Prokofiev Rockefeller, Campanella, Communist BlocRoy Cohn, Juan Peron, Toscanini, dacron Dien Bien Phu and "Rock Around the Clock" Einstein, James Dean, Brooklyn's got a winning team Davy Crockett, "Peter Pan", Elvis Presley, Disneyland Bardot, Budapest, Alabama, Khrushchev Princess Grace, "Peyton Place", trouble in the Suez

CHORUS

Little Rock, Pasternak, Mickey Mantle, Kerouac Sputnik, Chou En-Lai, "Bridge on the River Kwai" Lebanon, Charles de Gaulle, California baseball Starkweather, homicide, children of thalidomide Buddy Holly, "Ben-Hur", space monkey, Mafia hula hoops, Castro, Edsel is a no goU2, Syngman Rhee, payola and Kennedy Chubby Checker, "Psycho", Belgians in the Congo

CHORUS

Hemingway, Eichmann, "Stranger in a Strange Land" Dylan, Berlin, Bay of Pigs Invasion "Lawrence of Arabia", British BeatlemaniaOle Miss, John Glenn, Liston beats Patterson Pope Paul, Malcolm X, British politician sex JFK, blown away, what else do I have to say

CHORUS

Birth control, Ho Chi Minh, Richard Nixon, back againMoonshot, Woodstock, Watergate, punk rock Begin, Reagan, Palestine, terror on the airline Ayatollolah's in Iran, Russians in Afghanistan "Wheel of Fortune" , Sally Ride, heavy metal, suicide Foreign debts, homeless vets, AIDS, Crack, Bernie Goetz Hypodermics on the shores, China's under martial law Rock and Roller Cola Wars, I can't take it anymore

CHORUS

We didn't start the fire But when we are gone Will it still burn on, and on, and on, and on...

If you wish to know what any of the events mean then go to this web site right here http://www.teacheroz.com/fire.htm or if you feel even the least bit qualified just click on the item in question and it will take you there. Ok I guess thats it.....oh wait 2 days until the new names unvailed.

In referance to my recent name screw up all I can say is that im sorry for the terrrible mess up and I will promise that it will never happen agian.

--Neko

Excuses, Excuses

Harry Potter.

That is my excuse. Harry Potter. He took over my life, I tell you. Really, he did. I have spent every free moment reading that book. I finished it Wednesday, but I was so depressed I couldn't bring myself to write anything.

Other than Harry Potter, there has been...well...Harry Potter! Friday the 15th my brother and I got to the bookstore early to get our wristband so we could get our reserved book soon after midnight. After receiving our bracelets we left and got something to eat and then returned to the bookstore at about 7:30. Then the wait started...so did the crazy games, crafts, sore feet, weird costumes, and count downs ever half hour. The later it got into the night, the more it was just like camping. Some people didn't care what they looked like (costumed or not, they must have been wristband number 400 or so), then you just wandered around with your friends until you found a spot on the floor to sit. After sitting for a hour or so, you realized you were hungry and began the long trek for food. Then you sat and ate (without tables) on the floor.

I was still amazingly fun!

We saw all kinds of people (as you can imagine) and because it went so late, very few children where there. I actually even ran into some North Davidson people that I wasn't planning to see.

Between my brother and I, we only bought one book. At midnight they started calling up numbers in intervals of 50. Luckily, we were only number 63, so we were out of there at 12:30. I give the store credit, it was very well run. And there were no fights over books....and even more amazing, no protesters (probably past their bedtimes)!

While at the party you could get your picture taken and face painted. I even got sorted into a house (Hufflepuff, incase you are wondering). It was fun for a nerd like me.

We got home at about 1am, so I was pretty tired. I did manage to stay awake for the first chapter 'till I realized I was working the next day and I would hate myself if I didn't go to bed.

Other than Harry Potter (which was excellent, everyone should read it) I have been working. Same old stuff. Today I went to the doctor for my pre-college physical, I have started grabbing the odds and ends that I will need to take to school. I even applied to a gym in Greensboro today. Seeing as I have not been doing much else, I have let lots of stuff build up (like this jumbled post). I found out who my roommate is a few days ago, she is from outside of Hickory NC. I finally got to writing her letter today.

Gosh, I'm lucky I have a while before the next book, otherwise nothing would get done!

If you haven't already noticed well the title been changed (just Until the 24) I did this because E$ has been nagging at me latly that the title made her dizzy. So this is my fix.

--Neko

"Please Check all weapons at the Door"

Strange title Huh? Well this is the exact statement that I must make to each individual who walks through the door of the Washington Park Pool (that's the place of my employment). You ask your self why Does Jenkinz have to ask all these people this very strange and unusual questions well for those of you who are curious I direct you to go to this web site here http://www.bynoon.com/security40.html and see first hand some of the items removed from patrons (most under the age of 15). Then ask your self "were do I buy full body kevlar"


--Neko

P.S. great titles people, I'm pushing the deadline up to July 24 That means only five more shopping days left till Christmas

THE NAME GAME

All right, after much debate (mainly with myself) and discussing "certain" things with E$ we've decided to change the name of the bolg. Now seeing how I'm lazy and just not in the mood to be thought provoking I've decide to let you the readers decide the new name of the site, however there are some guide lines.
* It must short
* It must be clean
* It must be thought provoking
* It must Be really Cool

OK this contest is not with out reward, the winner of the contest gets something really freaking cool. If you just graduated from high school and are going away to college you get me on moving in day. If you are any one else you get $ All entries will be judged on August 1st and decided upon by E$ and myself.

"The league is set, let the game Begin." -Allen Quatermain

--Neko

Freedom

Hello all I got this story from my dad some time ago and have just left it to mold in my inbox but now I fell is a great time to put it out there for you the loyal reader to read in light of the fourth of July and the recent bombings in London I feel that this is appropriate.

Each year I am hired to go to Washington, DC, with the eighth grade class from Clinton, WI. Where I grew up, to videotape their trip. I greatly enjoy visiting our nation's capitol, and each year I take some special memories back with me. This fall's trip was especially memorable. On the last night of our trip, we stopped at the Iwo Jima memorial. This memorial is the largest bronze statue in the world and depicts one of the most famous photographs in history -- that of the six brave soldiers raising the American Flag at the top of a rocky hill on the island ofIwo Jima, Japan, during WW II. Over one hundred students and chaperones piled off the buses and headed towards the memorial. I noticed a solitary figure at the base of the statue,and as I got closer he asked, "Where are you guys from?" I told him that we were from Wisconsin. "Hey", I'm a cheese head, too! Come gather around, Cheese heads, and I will tell you a story. (James Bradley just happened to be in Washington, DC, to speak at the memorial the following day. He was there that night to say good night to his dad, who has since passed away. He was just about to leave when he saw the buses pull up. I videotaped him as he spoke to us, and received hispermission to share what he said from my videotape. It is one thing to tour the incredible monuments filled with history in Washington, D.C., but it is quite another to get the kind of insight we received that night). When all had gathered around, he reverently began to speak. (Here are his words that night). "My name is James Bradley and I'm from Antigo, Wisconsin. My dad is on that statue, and I just wrote a book called "Flags of Our Fathers" which is #5 on the New York Times Best Seller list right now. It is the story of the six boys you see behind me. Six boys raised the flag. The first guy putting the pole in the ground is Harlon Block. Harlon was an all-state football player. He enlisted in the Marine Corps with all the senior members of his football team. They were off to play another type of game. A game called "War". But it didn't turn out to be a game. Harlon, at the age of 21, died with his intestines in his hands. I don't say that to gross you out, I say that because there are generals who stand in front of this statue and talk about the glory of war. You guys need to know that most of the boys in Iwo Jima were 17, 18, and 19 years old. (He pointed to the statue) You see this next guy? That's Rene Gagnon from New Hampshire. If you took Rene's helmet off at the moment this photo was taken and looked in the webbing of that helmet, you would find a photograph...a photograph of his girlfriend. Rene put that in there for protectionbecause he was scared. He was 18 years old. Boys won the battle of Iwo Jima. Boys. Not old men. The next guy here, the third guy in this tableau, was Sergeant Mike Strank. Mike is my hero. He was the hero of all these guys. They called him the "old man", because he was so old. He was already 24. When Mike would motivate his boys in training camp, he didn't say, Let's go kill some Japanese, or Let's die for our country. He knew he was talking to little boys. Instead he would say,You do what I say and I'll get you home to your mothers. The last guy on this side of the statue is Ira Hayes, a Pima Indian from Arizona. Ira Hayes walked off Iwo Jima. He went into the White House with my dad. President Truman told him, You're a hero. He told the reporters, how can I feel like a hero when 250 of my buddies hit the island with me and only 27 of us walked off alive? So you take your class at school, 250 of you spending a year together having fun,doing everything together. Then all 250 of you hit the beach, but only 27 of your classmates walk off alive. That was Ira Hayes. He had images of horror in his mind. Ira Hayes died dead drunk, face down at the age of 32. ..Ten years after this picture was taken. The next guy, going around the statue, is Franklin Sousley from Hilltop, Kentucky. A fun-lovin' hillbilly boy. Franklin died on Iwo Jima at the age of 19. When the telegram came to tell his mother that he was dead, it went to the Hilltop General Store. A barefoot boy ran that telegram up tohis mother's farm. The neighbors could hear her scream all night and into the morning. The neighbors lived a quarter of a mile away. The next guy, as we continue to go around the statue, is my dad, John Bradley from Antigo, Wisconsin, where I was raised. My dad lived until 1994, but he would never give interviews. When Walter Cronkite's producers, or the New York Times would call, we were trained as littlekids to say, No, I'm sorry sir, my dad's not here. He is in Canada fishing. No, there is no phone there, sir. No, we don't know when he is coming back. My dad never fished or even went to Canada. Usually, he was sitting there right at the table eating his Campbell's soup. But we had to tell the press that he was out fishing. He didn't want to talk to the press. You see, my dad didn't see himself as a hero. Everyone thinks these guys are heroes, 'cause they are in a photo and on a monument. My dad knew better. He was a medic. John Bradley from Wisconsin was a caregiver. In Iwo Jima he probably held over 200 boys as they died. And when boys died in Iwo Jima, they writhed and screamed in pain. When I was a little boy, my third grade teacher told me that my dad was a hero. When I went home and told my dad that, he looked at me and said, I want you always to remember that the heroes of Iwo Jima are the guys who did not come back; Did NOT Come Back. So that's the story about six nice young boys. Three died on Iwo Jima, and three came back as national heroes. Overall, 7,000 boys died on Iwo Jima in the worst battle in the history of the Marine Corps. My voice is giving out, so I will end here. Thank you for your time. Suddenly, the monument wasn't just a big old piece of metal with a flag sticking out of the top. It came to life before our eyes with the heartfelt words of a son who did indeed have a father who was a hero. Maybe not a hero for the reasons most people would believe, but a hero nonetheless. We need to remember that God created this vast and glorious world for us to live in, freely, but also at great sacrifice. Let us never forget from the Revolutionary War to the Gulf War and all the wars in-between that sacrifice was made for our freedom. Remember to pray praises for this great countryof ours and also pray for those still in murderous unrest around the world. STOP and THANK GOD for being alive and being free at someone else's sacrifice. REMINDER: Everyday you wake up free, is a great day.

--Neko(joshjenkins@triad.rr.com)

Yipee!

I think that high school has finally said its last word. Yesterday I got a letter from Guilford College (where I will be attending next year, for those out of the loop). I half expected this to be some letter that isn't all too important, if not that, I thought maybe the envelope would hold the key to who my roommate will be. Neither of these were correct. As I opened the letter a half slip of paper fell out. It looked familiar....it was my AP score! Heck, who cares what the letter says...I have got to know the grade. You have to understand that I took the AP English Lit/Comp exam in mid-May. Two months is a long time to worry about a test grade. For the past week I have been checking the mail everyday expectantly. Much to my surprise, I "passed." I say "passed" because grades are given in a 1-5 scale and, on depending what college you go to, some require higher grades to place out or receive credit for classes. In fact, some colleges don't even accept the grades, they just want to know students took challenging classes.

Anyway, I got a 3! Passing for me. Sure, it would have been awesome to get a 4, but I am really happy with my 3. With my 3 score I place out of English 101 and 102 and get to jump right in to Historical Perspectives (a History/English class). My junior year I scored a 4 in AP US history...that placed me out of a class and gave me some credit. It was a little sad to see a score drop between the years. But...oh well! I'm glad I took the AP English class, I actually do think I learned something. Sometimes it was tough love (quite a few duh and so?'s on test papers) but ultimately it was fun and I learned....and I passed!

Seeing as Guilford had my scores (note: I have not received them from College Board yet...giving millions of high schoolers premature gray hair) I went, just for kicks, to the Bannerweb program online today. Bannerweb is an online program that Guilford uses to allow students to apply, view their classes, register, drop/add classes, all sorts of stuff. I clicked on "student schedule" and behold (!) there it was, as plain as day. It took a while to figure out why I have 5 classes and not only 4 (I think I understand...). Anyway, I am pretty happy with my schedule, I only have one class on Friday's and most days I have only 3 classes. Wednesday will be the hardest with classes starting at 8:30am (Spanish 101) and ending at 10:10pm (Chaos Continues, a first year class). I definitely think it is going to be weird having a class from 7:25 to 10:10pm. But, it is this kind of introductory class where students "...discuss their transition, time management, study skills, and campus resources as well as to get acquainted with the complexity of college life." Also, you don't get 4 credit hours, only 1, so I assume (hope) it will be easy.

Ok, I am going to stop rambling on and tell you something important or at least something you want to read.

Um. Last night I went to the coffee shop with Tiffany, Josh/Neko, Deanna, and Joe. We had a good time, everyone's personal space was violated. Later Josh dropped out and some more people met up with us at my house for a good porchin' session. I'm sure the neighbors were thrilled.

Tomorrow is yet another day off work, I think I will go preorder the new Harry Potter book. I am planning to go to a party Friday night at Barnes and Noble, so I want to make sure I can pick it up there. I hope everyone is cool and goes to a Harry Potter Party at Midnight!

Simply...

I'm a bit bummed out. The fact is, I've been home by myself since yesterday, so I haven't had too many people to talk to. But really, I felt a funk coming on a few days ago. You know that feeling...the "no one likes me" or "I'm such a loser" or "something is not quite right" funk.

Wait, maybe no one understands this, maybe I am the only one who gets like this. I mean, this funk is completely pointless. It's not like I didn't go swing dancing last night with Deanna and Ron. Regardless of whether or not they truly like me, I went somewhere with them. Heck, I even danced with other people (not the young, cute guys I would have like to, but regardless, I didn't just sit alone)!

I guess this funk would have to simply be the "something is not quite right" funk. Certainly someone likes me, otherwise no one would have been dancing. "Loser," well, I don't get into that funk too much. I don't know what is not right, but it just isn't.

As I said, I have been feeling the funk coming on, but it was in full swing after the sad "UCC Youth Meeting." It could have been a meeting...if people showed up. Between my church and the other local UCC church one youth showed up. I brought food, planned games, and even wrote a lesson. Ironically, the lesson was on welcoming people. It is hard to welcome those that don't come. From 4-5:30 I talked with Allison, the girl that showed up, the pastor of the other church, and their "youth" leader. We didn't talk about the Bible, or God, or anything that I had planned. Allison and I showed them around our church and then we talked about our lives. Hum...

Basically, after leaving that, it was full-funk time. I went home and pondered what to do. Finally I rented a movie and then got a frozen dinner seeing as there aren't too many food options close by. While at the Food Lion I ran into my friend Tiffany and her dad. She ended up coming home and watching Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind with me. That probably isn't a good movie to watch while in a funk. My mother and brother came home from the baseball game just as Tiffany and I did.

I am kinda upset about the whole church thing. At this point, it seems hopeless or pointless. Why do all this for nothing? Well, next meeting is at the other church. We might get 2 next time, that would be good...doubling our numbers.

So now I am just sitting here typing and wondering if I have said too much or if I should even care. I mean, who is going to argue with me that only having one kid show up isn't a bit disappointing?

It's just a funk.

Congrats Cake James!

Congratulations James, on receiving the coveted dollar.
(photo credit: Cris Mudd)

I decided to add this picture seeing as I was talking about camp again (camp always seems to sneak its way in). If you aren't cool (meaning you don't go to John's River) I will explain to you.... James, from Virginia, is receiving a dollar from Wilson as he was the first (and I believe only one) to climb all three climbing ah paths (?).

James also really likes "cake", you would never suspect that he could be fit enough to climb and like "cake" (a type of desert) as much as he does. He is trying to introduce this "cake" stuff to North Carolinians. It has been a little over a year since he told us about "cake" at camp. Since then I have had this "cake" and it is really good. If you are in North Carolina (or just not Virginia, for that matter) and you eat some "cake," thanks James for spreading the love and the cake around the nation.

"People in Virginia like cake!" --James

Thunder, Lightning! (the Way You Love Me is Frightening)

Has anyone noticed how rainy it been recently? I'm talking torrential downpours every few days. I just got back from K-mart where, coming out to find a downpour, even the shopping carts where covered in water. After waiting out the rain for a while, I was sent to get the van before the water was too deep to even move it. I walked the longer but "shallow" route to get to the car (which I had to climb in the passenger side because the other side was too flooded), and by shallow I mean calf deep.

I don't remember it raining this hard all the time. This year has been quite a wet one. Does anyone remember the years and years we were in a drought? Remember... you couldn't get water at restaurants and even the cities said no watering your lawns.

If you went to John's River Valley Camp in your (or my) middle school days, you would remember swelteringly hot weather. Now that I think of it, it blows my mind that I actually wore pants this year. I have never worn long pants at JRVC since they made us on hikes in elementary school. But this year, it was a bit chilly at night.

It wasn't as rainy this year at camp as in the past two years. The year before we were wet all the time, but we did get to actually get to do some stuff. And we had lots of fun canoeing and going on a tubing relax down the Johns River. The year before that, though, was BAD. I'm talking, never dry, smelly, sit in the rain and look at each other kinda weather. The year "harvard" became known as "Harvard." I believe that might have been the first rainy year (at least in a long time). Must have been, because we were not prepared. Now we have a tarp over the fire circle and some non-skid stuff on the wood bridges. I even remember that year having to raise one of those small bridges because water was going way over it.

Weird how it kind of goes in a pattern.

I'm Back Part II

Holla mis amigos,

Its been a long time since my last post, and through much goading and nagging mostly from E$ I have returned to the site. I know that in the past I may have offended a few people from things that have been said so let me be the first to apologize for my harsh words towards you. Now to complete this I would like to start all over and reintroduce my self to you all. My Name is Josh Jenkins, I'm a rising senior at NDHS I play in the band and am currently the baritone section leader. Im a rabid church goer and am seeking a higher purpose for my life. Well now that's all said and done, I would like to introduce a new twist to this blog on my churches website they have a blog and I will be taking from it scripture that has been posted and explaining it to you as I feel the lord to revealing it to me. so until then.


--Neko

This is Me, Mad

You know I am back home safe from camp. Fresh and clean now, plus full of good memories! But what has happened since...good question. Actually I can't remember. The problem lies in the small amount of sleep. After camp I was exhausted, but I had to go to a church meeting all afternoon on Sunday and work on Monday and so on, so I never caught up on my sleep. Basically, I worked a lot this week. And it was quiet a testing week. Cheerleading theme...need I say more? Lots of girls, who are actually harder to deal with than boys. Saturday I went contra dancing with Deanna (her 1st time). So that was lots of fun and at least got me up and moving.

But baseball comes into this. My brother, Mitchell, is on the Davidson County All-star team and they had a tournament this week. It was a double elimination tourney, and tonight we came into the finals with one loss. We were playing Anson County, who hadn't lost at all. Now, we beat them the first game, but because of the double elimination we had to play (and beat) them again to win the whole thing. We did that. We won, 8-7. But we lost, on a forced forfeit. Complicated?....exactly. Let me just say that, Anson County All-stars and umpires, if you realized that our pitcher (my brother) is over his "pitching limit" for the day you should notify us. ESPECIALLY UMPIRES.

Quick synopsis: at the beginning of the last (6th) inning, Anson County (AC) noticed that our pitcher (my brother) was on his 6 1/2 inning (1/2 inning over what he is allowed to pitch). AC notified the umps who did nothing. After we won, trophies where given out in a ceremony to both teams. About 15 minutes later AC's coaches questioned the pitching and ended up winning.


Open Letter to Anson County "All-stars,"

Let me begin by thanking you, Anson County "All-stars." You were all we could ever dream of for a final championship game. Your kids didn't sing stupid songs the entire game, they didn't even pout too much when they had an error. Anson County "All-stars," your fans weren't even obnoxious! It seemed almost like a dream.

Almost.

But let me continue thanking you...

Thank you for making my little brother cry because his excellent pitching not only helped lead his team to victory, but also lost the championship for the entire team. Way to make someone feel bad. Thank you for dashing the hopes of the kids that beat you twice (in one day) and played baseball for five or six hours. And I loved it when you insisted that the umpires were wrong! Also, thank you for making mean comments at my mother and I.

Oh, I almost forgot to thank you for one other thing. I would especially like thank you for being hypocrites. I kinda-sorta covered this one already...when I walked by your team to get to the car after the game (seeing as you were blocking the only way out), thank you for saying that our children "only wanted to win the big trophies." Anson County "All-stars," did you not want to win the "big trophies?" Because you could have saved us about five hours and a whole lot of tears.

Thank you, Anson County "All-stars," for taking away our trophies (you didn't want those "big trophies," did you?). And I mean this in the most literal sense. Sure, you knew that my brother was over on his allotted pitched innings (by a 1/3 an inning, might I add), but did you bring this to our attention? No, "All-stars," you did not. Did you even say anything right after the game ended? No, "All-stars," you did not. But did you wait 'till the ceremony was over, the pictures where taken, and the kids where packed? Yes!

Sure, you didn't need those big trophies. You just simply wanted to make sure we didn't have them. You didn't want to confuse us Davidson County-ers. Ha, to think we actually won. I'm sure that is why you insisted that the trophies actually be taken back from our kids during the meeting between the pushover umpires and all the coaches. Oh, the feeling of someone taking the trophies out of your hand. Sure, they brought us the 2nd place trophies you guys (earned) had. But seeing as we are a baseball team (therefore, we play to win games, not trophies), we did not accept them. We know that we beat you (twice).

I won't delve too deep into the fact that your coaches acted as the umpires a few times. I'm quite sure that my brother stepped onto the plate while batting...even though he got all the way on base and the runner on base made it home as well as into the dug out before the umpire called my brother, Mitchell, out and sent the runner back. I'm sure the umpire just has very slow reaction time. And by umpire, realized that I am referring to you, Anson County "All-star" coach. It's hard to have good reaction time when you are in the dugout. Must be really hard to see, but I am sure you have eagle-eyes and you must be correct. That is most certainly why you told the real umpire what happened so he could change his call. You are lucky your young charm worked. I know that in professional baseball (and any normal game, for that matter) the umpire must make a call quickly, and not change it, but Anson County "All-stars," rules do not apply to any games you are in. Sure, that run counted and my brother was on base, but you changed it to the "correct" call. Thank you, the umpires must have just been horrible tonight.

Don't worry Anson County "All-stars," you get to be in the 1st place bracket of the State Tournament. What does that hold for you? Your first game is against the only team that beat us (fairly, I might add). I hope you lose, Anson County "All-stars." While you are losing in the 1st place bracket, we will be playing all the 2nd place teams.

Anyone can win the State Tourney. And new umpires this time! Imagine that. They might be a little harder to push over then the area umpires.

Can't wait to see you leaving at States,

Emoney

PS- We didn't lick those 1st place trophies, and they certainly didn't go down any shirts or pants before they were given to the "rightful" whiners.

Um, Yeah, Ah... Gotta Go!

Ok, for the past few days I have been saying "I'm gonna write something today." But you know what....I keep running out of time. I have had to do church stuff and baseball stuff, and work stuff. I seriously am going to write something soon, but for now, here are some things you might not have known about me (or maybe you already did).

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF - The Survey
Name:	Emily
Birthday:	August 13, 1987
Birthplace:	Maryland
Current Location:	Arcadia, North Carolina
Eye Color:	blue/green
Hair Color:	dark brown
Height:	4' 11''
Right Handed or Left Handed:	right
Your Heritage:	Polish
The Shoes You Wore Today:	flip-flops
Your Weakness:	fear
Your Fears:	weakness
Your Perfect Pizza:	Chicago style
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year:	Keep up my grades
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger:	"ahhhhh"
Thoughts First Waking Up:	work? school? what day is it?
Your Best Physical Feature:	eyes
Your Bedtime:	a resonable hour
Your Most Missed Memory:	Johns River Valley Camp
Pepsi or Coke:	(Diet) Coke
MacDonalds or Burger King:	MacDonalds
Single or Group Dates:	never been on a group date, actually...
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea:	um, whatever
Chocolate or Vanilla:	chocolate
Cappuccino or Coffee:	Diet Coke!
Do you Smoke:	nope
Do you Swear:	never
Do you Sing:	and dance! (not that people want to hear/see it)
Do you Shower Daily:	yes
Have you Been in Love:	maybe
Do you want to go to College:	heading there
Do you want to get Married:	yes
Do you belive in yourself:	in a way
Do you get Motion Sickness:	no
Do you think you are Attractive:	not overly
Are you a Health Freak:	haha, yeah right
Do you get along with your Parents:	yes
Do you like Thunderstorms:	yes
Do you play an Instrument:	the jingle-bells at work
In the past month have you Drank Alcohol:	no
In the past month have you Smoked:	no
In the past month have you been on Drugs:	nope
In the past month have you gone on a Date:	nah
In the past month have you gone to a Mall:	yes
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos:	I would like to
In the past month have you eaten Sushi:	no
In the past month have you been on Stage:	no
In the past month have you been Dumped:	no (this)
In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping:	no (is)
In the past month have you Stolen Anything:	no (getting)
Ever been Drunk:	no (boring)
Ever been called a Tease:	no (huh?)
Ever been Beaten up:	only by my loving little brother
Ever Shoplifted:	no
How do you want to Die:	happy
What do you want to be when you Grow Up:	teacher
What country would you most like to Visit:	Switzerland
In a Boy/Girl..
Favourite Eye Color:	um?
Favourite Hair Color:	no preference
Short or Long Hair:	short
Height:	taller than me
Weight:	more than me
Best Clothing Style:	clean-cut
Number of Drugs I have taken:	zip, zero, nada
Number of CDs I own:	12
Number of Piercings:	1 in each ear
Number of Tattoos:	zero
Number of things in my Past I Regret:	so far, things have worked out
CREATE YOUR OWN! - or - GET PAID TO TAKE SURVEYS!

Feel free to comment by laughing or correcting me!