2009 CBC Stanley Cup Playoff Opener.

This post is over a month late, but I absolutely love this intro from the CBC. It does a really good job of getting you excited for the start of the playoffs. It gives me chills.

Job/Apartments.

This past week I was hired at the Starbucks in Staunton. I'm looking forward to learning to make all those weird coffee related drinks with interesting Italian names. It'll also be good to be making more than zero dollars an hour/week/month.

Yesterday Lindsey and I went apartment hunting. We saw one that was a serious possibility, but it lacks a stove/oven. We intend to do a lot of cooking, so it's a pretty serious deal to have those. There was another one that we absolutely loved, but it's way too expensive for us. The hunt will continue. There are a couple places we're going to see this week. Pray for us.

News Stuff.

Serious things first? Sure.

Dick Cheney defends the US torture policy. In a sick way, this is pretty funny. I remember at the beginning of Mission Year, I met an alum that, when I told her about my own religious upbringing, asked "people still believe in Calvinism?" I sort of have that kind of reaction with stuff like this, "people actually think something like waterboarding is 'legal, essential, justified, successful and the right thing to do'?" Come on pal. I think the only thing true there (or better yet, valid) is "successful." I heard a sound clip of this on the radio the other morning and was trying not to laugh.

Keeping with the theme of injustice (on a much lighter note), Niklas Kronwall of the Detroit Red Wings got kicked out of his game last night for this hit on Martin Havlat of the Chicago Blackhawks. By all analysts' perspectives (including Ed Olczyk, who is employed by the Blackhawks) and my own upon initial viewing, the hit was clean and Havlat just needed to keep his head up. Furthermore, the Hawks crashed the Red Wings players along the boards over top of their slightly conscious and injured teammate, putting him in further danger. You have to stand up for your guys, but don't put him in more danger. Use your heads boys!

Those are the things that jumped out at me this week.

Peace.

Wedding Update and Random News.

I've been in Staunton, VA with Lindsey for the past several weeks, looking for jobs and planning our wedding. Here's what we've got:

- The wedding will be August 2nd, 2009, at 3pm
- It will be at Waynesboro SDA Church in Waynesboro, VA (The reception will most likely be at the same place)
- We've ordered the paper to print the invitations and they should be arriving at her parent's house today or Monday (chances are if you're reading this you'll receive one).
- We're registered at Target, Bed, Bath, and Beyond, and Myregistry.com (it's a furniture fund, because we don't want to sit on the floor all the time).
- My side of the wedding party's firmed up
- Pre-marital counseling is starting soon

I believe those are all of the important details at this point. There's never a dull moment. Please be praying for us. There's a lot to do in a short period of time, and finances are less than abundant. Pray that we stay focused on Jesus and His will.

In other news that's (hopefully) completely ridiculous, Jimmy Buffett, a friend of the new owner of the Miami Dolphins, is renaming Dolphins Stadium. It will be called Landshark Stadium in reference to Buffett's "Landshark Lager". That's hysterical. Philly.com has said that the logo "will feature a parrot atop a large margarita glass and the words, '"Why don't we get drunk and boo."' Espn.com says Buffett's going to play a Dolphins-inspired song at the log-unveiling today.

In less light-hearted-but-slightly-positive news, Blackwater is leaving Iraq. I was really stoked to read it, until I read that they're just being replaced by Triple Canopy, which is based less than 40 minutes outside DC. These guys aren't accounted for when they report the number of troops in Iraq. And many of them are former Blackwater employees anyway, though the Iraqi general said they would not be allowed in Iraq.

EDIT: I just read this article on CNN about violence in Chicago. I visited St. Sabina last year and saw Father Pfleger speak. I really appreciate his willingness to do things that will draw people's attention to overlooked issues.

Quote of the day: "Jesus Christ is the Center of reality. That's the revelation of God to man. ...We don't make Him the Center of all things, we turn and recognize that fact, and then begin to interpret everything we do through Him." ~ Ron Copeland, Pastor at The Early Church and director of Our Community Place in Harrisonburg, VA. Check out his talk at EMU here.

That's all. Peace.