"Do not react to force in kind. Turn it aside. Direct it to where it can do no harm.” —Meloku the Clouded Mirror


So. I've had a great deal of experiences to go with my amazing summer. Some good, some bad--who cares? When all compiled, I've had a pretty eventful summer. I'm proud.

Let's start off from my furthest epic memories! The fourth of July! Haha!

I lit off $1000 worth of Fireworks with a few friends in two days. It was amazing. We had a bond fire in the middle of the street and threw fireworks in it. We lit of HUGE sparklers and shot of tons of mortar shells. It was so much fun. As anyone might expect, I also played a great deal of computer games.

In my unit on Day of Defeat, I've progressed to the rank of Staff Sergeant and how have control of my own squad. I also participated in my first two matches--the first non-legit, and the second completely legit. But before I continue with that, I must bring up one other thing: Synod School.

I went to a Presbyterian Synod School in Storm Lake Iowa for a week. The drive up and down I did with a lady named Grandma Joy (she's overweight and very sick, and if I hadn't of gone with her she wouldn't have been able to go). It was an interesting trip, and it has convinced me that Iowa is pretty.

We'd feast. 3 meals a day--all huge buffets--with anything imaginable. Including dessert. It was quite possibly the best I've ever eaten.

Then there would be morning convocation, which was, needless to say, also amazing. The speaker there was a genius and had some very respectable things to say. After that, I'd head to my class, which was Forgiveness and the Psychological Process behind it.

I definitely chose the right class.

We had very deep discussions about the principles behind forgiveness and reconciliation, and how the two are actually quite separate from one another. Our discussions often got gritty but very gratifying, and we all left feeling accomplished. Being the only person under 30 in there, I must say, I added a few thoughts that some people wouldn't have comprehended--simply because I have a fresh world view.

After that there would be lunch. Must I say. . .STUFFED MY FACE?! Hahaha!


After that I would teach First through Third Graders science.

I've never smiled more in my life. They were so cute! I'm not even lying! The little devils made me smile so much it was crazy! We had so much fun doing all of our activities, that, even though it exhausted me completely for the day, I didn't care! I just enjoyed every moment with them.

It made me sad to know I'd have to leave them. It also made me very sad to know that eventually they'd grow up to be snobby or mean or obsessed with the wrong things.

Children. . .they are what we should work to be--they are the soul we should work on crafting, and the spirit we should hold closely. For he who has lost his childhood--and the ability to be a child--has lost his sight of anything good. . .

After that I'd take a nap during Chapel and head to bed. My roomate was a 25 year old guy named Nathan Williams, and he was a new pastor just out of Seminary. We had some damned good dicussions. One, in particular, went into how most people fear the internet because of the ability to fabricate ones own image. However, we made the comparitive analogy that people do that in real life anyway, and they just can't cope with the idea of people doing it so actively on the internet.

My best friends are on the internet. Period. And I must say, I've come to conclude that they are the truest friends imaginable--because they are not influenced by the petty spites and strife's that come between friends and groups of friends; those things that ultimately result in a broken relationship.

It was a good week.

When I got back I got to spend a great deal of time with my friends (mostly Kenny and Sackey), and also got to see The Dark Knight seven times.

I got to go Paintballing with Kenny and Sackey. Epic story there.

Imagine this: I and my friends decide to go woodsballing with a bunch of strangers. I've never been paintballing, so I just put on a camo best and call it good. No armor. Just my shirt, jeans, and this dumb camo vest.

When we pull up, the people there are DECKED OUT in FULL @$&!ING CAMO GEAR! FULL! GUILLY SUITS AND SNIPER GEAR! In shame, I took off my simple camo vest and accepted the fact that I was COMPLETELY DOOMED.

Either way, I end up on my friends team. We're on attack. Our objective is to take the "Fort" that's on the edge of a clearing that is surrounded by trees. The enemy team is marked with yellow tape around their arms.

So. . .I depart with Kenny and a guy named Andy and Kenny's girlfriends brother, Buddy. We decide to go around the trees in the clearing until we reached the Fort.

Well, because I'm slow and asthmatic, I got left behind. I decided finally that even if I did get anywhere, I was the biggest target on the field, so I might as well just get it over with and go around the clearing and let them shoot me at the fort.

I get to the edge where the Fort is (while a guy is taking pictures of me from afar) and notice that it's full of people yelling and firing. I KNOW that they can see me, but they haven't shot at me yet. So, I decide to get up to head into it, thinking that my team had taken the fort (my own ignorance would seal my epic fate).

As I get up someone in full camo runs by me, crouches directly in front of me, and starts firing into the tree line. They get railed by a line of paint (from Kenny, non-the-less; I didn't know it was Kenny), so I crouched down beside him and started firing. He was out, and when I felt it safe I went next to this guy and kneeled on the other side of our cover. We began talking, and after about a minute I realized something.

I was in the enemy base. Completely surrounded by four enemies. The one beside me to my left, one to the right, and two in a barrel for cover to my top right.

Freaking out, I started to contemplate what I should do.

I began talking with the guy next to me, and we seemed pretty cool. He asked me what team I was on. I told him I didn't know. He asked me if I was on his team. I shrugged and said I had no idea. Then he asked if I was on Bobby's (my team) team. I said I had no idea, and that I was too new to know.

I started freaking out in my mind. What the hell was I supposed to do?! Behind enemy lines! Surrounded! What do I do?! The entire time Kenny was in the tree line, watching me, thinking "What the @^%# is Josh doing!?"

The guy beside me decided to turn and fire at someone from afar. I got up and pointed my gun down at him.

He turned back around and looked up at me.

"Dude, what are you doing? You're pointing your gun at me!"

I said, very sadly, "I know. I didn't start with yellow tape around my arm."

I execute him and the other guy really quickly, then run to the barrel, stick my gun down it, and take out the other two.

I single handedly, as the most incapable player on the field, won the game for my team.

Crazy stuff.

A couple days later my friends from Omaha (living together in Omaha for College. Horrible idea, if you ask me) came down. We hung out, and I decided to get my cards back, because I'd heard they'd stolen them and hid them from me.

For six months.

I did get them back. And I was not pleased.

Friends deserve respect, right? Respect for themselves and their things.

I get none most of the time.

Oh well.

I then participated in my first legit match for the 5th. We dominated.


I've been playing with the Cards I got back.

Oh, I also forgot to mention! I got an AMAZING new job! I'm going to be working at a Cabelas Call Center! Mucho Grande Money and hours! It's working out very well for me so far in training, and I know I'll do well!

I'll be able to replace this PC by December! Right now, my PC is sitting in a Dr. Pepper Crate. . .strapped down with twisty ties.

Sad, huh?

Oh well.

I've decided to try and write 1-2 short stories a week! I hope I can do it!

Go read my latest one! The Found one! Irony, indeed Most people are lost.

I love you all!

Salaam~