Halloween

Beautiful women, free money and candy, long walks under the stars, exciting adventures in the beginnings of winter and all on a Halloween night after a weekend of work for charity? How beautiful things can be and how beautiful people can be, it truly amazes me. Sometimes I can find just the right words to say, but sometimes I can’t find any. Thank you all so much, Anna, Danielle, Jodie, Ari and Shaw.

Halloween!

The second annual Haunted Trail has gone of wonderfully with over 500 people having attended and over $2300 raised for charity. In our lifetimes we have chances to surprise ourselves, to learn more about what we are capable of, and to help others grown along with us. The Haunted Trail has been one of these surprising, learning and growing experiences for me and for that I am very thankful. I appreciate the creativity, vision, hard work, dedication, humor and endurance that so many have shown to such a tremendous project and I hope that my hard work will continue to reflect that appreciation. Thank you all very much, Chase, Danielle, Anna, Lloyd, Randall, Earl, Josh, Matt, Chris, Joshua, Michael, Tahlia, Ashley, Lenny, Amy, James, Leechee, Katherine, Ari, Adam, Samy, Arnold, Justin, Troy, Ron, Phillip, Laura, Ray, Scott, Brooke, Philip, Lauren, Jenn, Shaw, Wyatt, Brittany, Jodie, Daniel, Randy, Jim, Vita, Nick, Toni-Lyn, Leighanna, Elias, Mom and Dad.

After this, we all went out on Monday night to Trick or Treat for UNICEF. Beautiful women, free money and candy, long walks under the stars, exciting adventures in the beginnings of winter and all on a Halloween night after a weekend of work for charity? How beautiful things can be and how beautiful people can be, it truly amazes me. Sometimes I can find just the right words to say, but sometimes I can’t find any. Thank you all so much, Anna, Danielle, Jodie, Ari and Shaw.

Haunted Trail!

This past weekend has been highly eventful and supremely wonderful. I was able to enjoy three action-packed nights of fun and terror at the Campbell Circle K Haunted Trail, starting October 28th and running until October 30th from dark to midnight each night. In the spirit of last year’s success, we were able to gather 300+ people on our first two nights and 460+ by our third night. These estimations do not yet include the money being gathered through advanced ticket sales and thus are expected to reach real admission numbers of over 500 for the weekend once all the numbers are in.
This means a few things for us as a club. First, we’re awesome. Second, our community is awesome. Third, Halloween and Haunted Trails are awesome. Fourth…we’ve done a lot of good and had a lot of fun. Together as a club we were able to gather hundreds of volunteer hours in one weekend with the collective effort of over 40 people who worked tirelessly in very cold conditions during very long nights. Together as a club we were able to scare and delight hundreds of people from our community as young as elementary school age children and as old as fifty and sixty year old adults. Together we set an example of what can be accomplished by many for the sake and enjoyment of many. I hope that together we may rejoice in all of our hard work. We have all learned a lot more about ourselves, been able to help others in our community and also helped to raise money for charities which will put our donations to good use. In our lifetimes we have chances to surprise ourselves, to learn more about what we are capable of, and to help others grown along with us. The Haunted Trail has been one of these surprising, learning and growing experiences for me and for that I am very thankful. I appreciate the creativity, vision, hard work, dedication, humor and endurance that so many have shown to such a tremendous project and I hope that my hard work will continue to reflect that appreciation. Thank you all very much, Chase, Danielle, Anna, Lloyd, Randall, Earl, Josh, Matt, Chris, Joshua, Michael, Tahlia, Ashley, Lenny, Amy, James, Leechee, Katherine, Ari, Adam, Samy, Arnold, Justin, Troy, Ron, Phillip, Laura, Ray, Scott, Brooke, Philip, Lauren, Jenn, Shaw, Wyatt, Brittany, Jodie, Daniel, Randy, Jim, Vita, Nick, Toni-Lyn, Leighanna, Elias, Mom and Dad.

Daylight Savings

In spring there exists the hour that never was. In fall there exists the hour that was…twice. Yes, my friends, you heard right. It’s Daylight Savings Time. On the last Sunday of October there exists an hour, between 1am and 2am, that exists twice. I was awake to experience this in all of its Microsoft Windows XP animated glory. I sat down aided by my DST ally (Chase) at 1:59 AM to see what would happen. What happened was truly earth shattering and I will re-enact it to share that experience with you viewers:

There I was, with the clock function opened up, watching the seconds tap by…1:59 AM and 45 seconds, 46, 47, 48…then I took a drink…55, 56, 57, 58, 59…(this felt like eternity)…1:00 AM!

WHAT!?!?!?

Yes, both you, I, Microsoft and the whole Eastern Standard Timed United States saw it right: we had reached the hour we past an hour ago. We had been transported directly from 1:59 AM to 1:00 AM with the nod of the President himself as he slumbered away in his White House comforter for one extra hour. Amen to that, and amen to this extra hour. I’ve spent a third of it writing this and looking for the President’s schedule for comformation, now I’ll spend the other two thirds doing what I figure the President has been doing all along, enjoying his extra hour of sleep. Goodnight my old timers, goodnight and sweet daylight savings time dreams.

Homecoming!

This past weekend I was able to enjoy so much! I was able to bake cookies with two wonderful girls for Josh Sand's birthday, I was able to enjoy Campbell's Homecoming street fair and parade and then I was able to relax with Shaw Rowe not just one but two nights in a row. How am I so lucky? I don't know a good answer, but I am going to keep taking pictures until I figure it out!

Thanks everyone for so much fun!

Homecoming

Today’s Homecoming activities were very exciting, enjoyable and rewarding. Congratulations to a great staff, administration and leadership team for making it such an exciting time for each of us. I was able to help with Circle K, Pre-Med Allied Health and Sauls Hall while still having plenty of time to enjoy myself.
First we started this morning with our Circle K table in the street fair area next to Marshbanks and the Fountain. There we showed our club movie, had Randy and Chase advertising the Haunted Trail in full character, gave out flyers and information and also helped explain Circle K to quite a few passersby. Thanks to Anna, Chase, Randy, Arnold, Troy and Chris this went on awesomely from 10am to 3pm.
Next was the parade! We had ourselves what really became a fun-filled hay ride for both kids and adults (or big kids) starring:

• Terrific Kids: Matt, Savannah, Daniel, Jeremy, Patton, Gavin, Abby and Corbin
• Circle Kers: David, Jenn, Anna, Amy, Jodie, Shaw, Travis and Zoe
• Kiwanians: Jerry and Lloyd

What a little adventure! We all had a wonderful time and it was great getting to meet some many nice kids. You were all Terrific Kids! Even you big college adult sized ones. Thanks everyone!

Great Fall Break

What a great fall break. I had plenty of time to enjoy myself, a great start to it all and so much fun. There was the River Adventure to start it off with on Tuesday, then partying and watching movies with Anna, David, Josh and Chris, NC State Fair Saturday with my good friend Michael, frisbee with Chase, Troy, Brandon and Daniel and then organizing like crazy, which was awesome. Overall, great. Thank you all so much for all the fun.

King's Dominion!

Now an annual event, the four boys trekked out to meet King's Dominion again October 2004. What would follow later would baffle minds for a long time to come. Travel all the way up to Washington, D.C. in the middle of the night just because...we're close to it? Yes.
Here's to you, Chris McMillan, Michael Sellers, Josh McKinnon and Travis Hellstrom, you explorers of the evening, landrovers of landmarks, adventurers of Americana. The adventures were mapped and the course was charted, with Honda in hand, the boys had come. Hello Lincoln, hello Congress, hello Einstein, Forrest Gump and DropZone. Hey, why is the Thomas Jefferson Memorial so far away?

A Clean Start

Cleaning is an activity which forces me to look at life as a big picture. Whatever it is that I’m cleaning, I always have to make the choice about what stays and what goes. My philosophy is that I can’t keep everything and I am much more productive and happy once I have only a few things. It’s hard. Cleaning means I look through my old receipts from freshman year which bring back great memories. I see a receipt for the Nightmare Before Christmas that I bought for my sister, receipts from the purchase of my first computer, mouse, keyboard, memory cards, camera and carrying cases. I remember getting my car inspected, buying new balance shoes once a year, depositing money from my job at CVS and ordering books, dozens and dozens of books. I have receipts from when I first came to college: one from when I bought my P.O. Box, one from the fan my mom and I bought from Bed Bath and Beyond, one from when I opened my First Citizens Bank account and even one from the Campbell Business Office.

Exploring one’s past is almost always a very pleasant experience, allowing us to be reassured of our worth, reminded of our experiences and provided hope for the future. It’s hard to throw things away, but moving on is at the heart of change. To have our recent experiences, we had to let go of our beginnings, our comfort and our certainty. Certainly to have our future adventures, we must let go of what is comfortable for us now. Like Calvin said to Hobbes in their last comic together:

Today is a day full of possibilities!
It’s a magical world, Hobbes, ol’ buddy…let’s go exploring!

Well-Directed

In the Dhammapada, the most authoritative teachings of Buddha, it is said in chapter three that:

A well-directed mind creates more well-being than the wholesome actions of parents toward their children.

I have thought to myself about parental love and wondered aloud to others at times whether it would be possible to love others like parents love their children. As most of us are intimately familiar parents care for their children to a point at which they say things like, “I want them to have a better life than I have had…I want them to have all of those things that I didn’t have…I want them to be better than I am.” How can that be so natural for us? Conversely, how can it be so naturally difficult for us to feel that way about our friends, our acquaintances or even strangers? I haven’t figured that out yet. However, I do find it interesting that this passage by the Buddha seems to address this question. If we are to have well-directed minds maybe we can bring that kind of parental love to others.

A wise man should pay attention to his mind, which is difficult to perceive. It is extremely subtle and wanders wherever it pleases. The mind, well-guarded and controlled, will bring him happiness.

I think that guard and control means many things, but first I think it starts with awareness. If we can be aware of ourselves and our thoughts we can begin to direct ourselves toward goodness, toward wholesomeness and toward happiness.

Knox's Korner

One of my favorite things to look at on the internet is Knox’s Korner, which is a site with clay animation. If you feel like looking at my top two favorites then check out Long Lost Brother and BoogieMonster. I hope you enjoy them, I know I enjoy them every time I watch them not to mention everytime I quote them. Ohh yes, and don't forget Glass of Water.

Fall Break!

Relaxing with a bunch of my friends, watching the Interpreter, Total Recall, cleaning, organizing, checking out the North Carolina State Fair for the first time ever with Michael Lee, putting things in order and getting time to enjoy some rest. Thank you all for a great fall break, great movies, great conversation and great fun. YOU BLEW MY COVER!

River Adventure!

During our Zoology lab we were able to explore the Upper Little River by canoe after canoe after canoe. Exciting, dangerous, adventurous and educational, the trip was quite a sucess. A few of us were soaked, all of us were tired and each of us has learned atleast one thing: canoeing is pretty awesome.

Scarowinds!

Over the last several hours, I have participated in many adventures. As the soft green light on my small glowstick medallion fades out, my evening comes to a slow and definite close. Our adventures took us from small Buies Creek on the road to Charlotte, home of Paramount’s Carowinds (and Scarowinds) while traveling in my Mercury Cougar and defying all laws of modern physics. Chris McMillan and Joshua Sands were my companions and fun, excitement and surprise were our muses. All in one day we dropped from up in the sky in Drop Zone, hurled through wooden crossbeams and tresses in The Hurler, gunned through tight turns and dives in Top Gun, rushed through gold mines and tunnels in Goldrusher, did our doo-ty in Scooby Doo’s Haunted Mansion, road through both North and South Carolina on Thunder Road, splashed our way through the Rip Roarin’ Rapids, haunted our way through Scarowinds, and then assimilated into the park’s most popular ride, the Borg Assimilator. Until recently, my love of roller coasters and theme parks was well hidden. Now I really enjoy myself at these parks and riding these rides. The front seat in Top Gun, for example, is awesome. Chris and I road it three times, once at midnight to finish the trip. Everything was so fun, and the company was so great. I appreciate all the excitement that Josh and Chris brought to the paramount day, I really enjoyed my Saturday this weekend and I am glad I was able to go. Long live the three adventurers…and the yellow duck too.

We're there baby!

When we arrived the clouds broke, what a beautful day!

Scoooooby Dooooby Doo! Ru-Oh!

Enveloped in Scarowinds's misty smoke

Passing the entrance and crossing the state line on our way out

All of us were all tuckered out before we got back at 3am

Carowinds 2005

Over the last several hours, I have participated in many adventures. As the soft green light on my small glowstick medallion fades out, my evening comes to a slow and definite close. Our adventures took us from small Buies Creek on the road to Charlotte, home of Paramount’s Carowinds (and Scarowinds) while traveling in my Mercury Cougar and defying all laws of modern physics. Chris McMillan and Joshua Sands were my companions and fun, excitement and surprise were our muses. All in one day we dropped from up in the sky in Drop Zone, hurled through wooden crossbeams and tresses in The Hurley, gunned through tight turns and dives in Top Gun, rushed through gold mines and tunnels in Goldrusher, did our doo-ty in Scooby Doo’s Haunted Mansion, road through both North and South Carolina on Thunder Road, splashed our way through the Rip Roarin’ Rapids, haunted our way through Scarowinds, and then assimilated into the park’s most popular ride, the Borg Assimilator. Until recently, my love of roller coasters and theme parks was well hidden. Now I really enjoy myself at these parks and riding these rides. The front seat in Top Gun, for example, is awesome. Chris and I rode it three times, once at midnight to finish the trip. Everything was so fun, and the company was so great. I appreciate all the excitement that Josh and Chris brought to the paramount day, I really enjoyed my Saturday this weekend and I am glad I was able to go. Long live the three adventurers…and the yellow duck too.

Museum Menagerie!

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is awesome, impressive, wonderful, free and very educational. I was blessed to go with Amy Lee this Friday for what ended up being a six hour adventure, and to also join with Chase who came into the endeavor after the first couple hours. Zoology provided the spark that became the flame of learning, education, friendship and fun which engulfed us all Friday evening. We searched every floor together for little clues to answer our review questions on the museum, while at the same time scouring all the information for our own edification. We saw snakes, birds, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, salamanders, butterflies, cicadas, moths, beetles, pranting mantises, dinosaurs, stars, rifles, whales, moles, chipmunks, lizards, frogs, ants, turtles, fish, alligators, pythons, wood, rocks, superwomen, giant sloths, invisible sloths, flies, animal crackers, puppets, bears (both species: mommais and cubbis), owls, tectonic plates, earthquakes, soil samples, peaks and creavices, canopies and root systems and then even a little jazz music mixed in at the end. Who would have known that our museum would have so much? I certainly did not until I experienced it myself.

It was such a beautiful trip, I would recommend it to everyone (especially learners of both the big and small variety). I was pleased to see so many young children there learning, if only the littlest of things. Together with Amy and Chase, I was able to be a little bit like a little child again while trying to soak it all in. Thank you both very much for making our trip so enjoyable. I love being around you both and I certainly enjoyed being around you on Friday, with or without the invisible sloth. Maybe next time, maybe next time…

Museum Menagerie!

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is awesome, impressive, wonderful, free and very educational. I was blessed to go with Amy Lee this Friday for what ended up being a six hour adventure, and to also join with Chase who came into the endeavor after the first couple hours. Zoology provided the spark that became the flame of learning, education, friendship and fun which engulfed us all Friday evening. We searched every floor together for little clues to answer our review questions on the museum, while at the same time scouring all the information for our own edification. We saw snakes, birds, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, salamanders, butterflies, cicadas, moths, beetles, pranting mantises, dinosaurs, stars, rifles, whales, moles, chipmunks, lizards, frogs, ants, turtles, fish, alligators, pythons, wood, rocks, superwomen, giant sloths, invisible sloths, flies, animal crackers, puppets, bears (both species: mommais and cubbis), owls, tectonic plates, earthquakes, soil samples, peaks and creavices, canopies and root systems and then even a little jazz music mixed in at the end. Who would have known that our museum would have so much? I certainly did not until I experienced it myself.
It was such a beautiful trip, I would recommend it to everyone (especially learners of both the big and small variety). I was pleased to see so many young children there learning, if only the littlest of things. Together with Amy and Chase, I was able to be a little bit like a little child again while trying to soak it all in. Thank you both very much for making our trip so enjoyable. I love being around you both and I certainly enjoyed being around you on Friday, with or without the invisible sloth. Maybe next time, maybe next time…

Spiders

"The Only Good Animal Is A Dead Animal." I don’t know any people who would say this. However, I know many people who still believe it when it comes to certain species of animals such as spiders, snakes, mosquitoes, flies, worms and leeches. So then which is it? Do we believe some animals are best dead and some are best alive? How do we make that distinction and on what grounds?

I think part of the issue comes to worth and human meaning. If creatures are meant to serve us and all living things on this earth have a common end in us, then the situation becomes simple: any animal that harms us is better off dead. At least, at first glance this makes sense. Upon closer inspection though we begin to understand a larger truth: those same animals that hurt us also help us. Like the spiders for example, they bite us, scare us and sometimes cause us great pain and anxiety such as in the cases of brown recluses or black widows. However, we know that “spiders are far more beneficial than they are dangerous. The benefits we realize from spiders preying on insects, mites, and other spiders far outweigh the low potential health hazard to humans.”(1) Also, other benefits spiders bring to humans include:

• Eating disease carrying insects
  
• Provide humans with venom that is being used in neurological research and may prevent permanent brain damage in stroke victims
  
• Produce silk used in many optical devices including laboratory instruments. (2)
  

So then how do we justify killing spiders, on a whim and almost always without any attempt at even defining their species? I think we do it fearfully and even more telling, I think we do it ignorantly. Isn’t that really the heart of the issue? We don’t know what we are killing, we just know we are afraid. Often even worse, we don’t know why we are afraid and we make up reasons for being afraid that are clearly refuted by the facts:

• Spiders bite only for protection; humans are too large for a food source and spiders are not out to get us.
  
• Black Widows and Brown Recluses (the two most common poisonous species) both bite on accident with most cases of human conflict occuring when humans aren’t aware of the spider in hiding; such as in wood pile or in some dark place into which a person might reach.(3)
  
• Most spiders can be captured in a jar or bag and removed from a house, room or even classroom without incident. (I did this just last Thursday with a Brown Recluse)
  

The fact is, we have to make the effort. Spiders are just one example of many creatures on earth which pass through our lives often without even being noticed. We have a responsibility to the life around us; to care about it, to care for it, and to care enough to tell others when they are in the wrong. I believe it is right for us to remove spiders from our habitat if we would prefer them not be in it with us, but removal does not mean killing. I think we can get a jar and a piece of paper, scoop the spider into it, walk it outside or into the forest and let it go there. It’s not a big investment of energy and is certainly worth the benefits. We may be the only animal that can scream and yell “let me live” but I guarantee that we are not the only animal that has that desire. Maybe we just have to listen a little harder.