Hmm, this place looks even odder now. I mean, really odd, though that is just the "anti-change" part of humanity talking right now.

So, summer, yeah...it was fun. Montana, Crater Lake, the coast, down southward, parties, hikes, naps in a hammock...twas good. Here are some pictures from Montana. Mind, half of them were taken without any thinking involved, and half of them were me taking pictures of cloud formations I thought were pretty... Crater Lake...not uploaded to photobucket yet. The hammock...pictures cannot do it justice.

Now I'm back in college, doing school work, and that other kind of work that you get paid for. Current troubles would include: understanding the Japanese students, contaminated city water, and having to wake up at reasonable times in the morning. Current good bits: classes seem entertaining enough, I haven't gotten fired, and I keep getting job offers for when I am.

Anyways, I just figured I'd chime in with some pretty little pictures. There would be some sort of lovely little linguistical manipulation, but my mind is off a bit...the contaminated water in Redding gave me a lovely intestinal disease. However, I can provide you some proof that miracles happen, though on a smaller scale than most would like.

You see, someone actually managed to blow my top the other day, its difficult to do...but also kinda dangerous once it happens. I tossed my fist very lightly into his gut to start with and doubled him over, but after that, I lost my cool and was going to...hurt him a little. Now the first person to tell me to tone it down, I wasn't listening to, but the second...she is my little miracle.

She's a new friend of mine, I've yet to be able to be around her without a smile getting me, and thankfully her voice was capable of cutting through the "unpleasant" feelings towards my dancing partner. She got me to let him go, had me promise to not hurt him, and reminded me I promised her when he kept trying to entice me to forget. So, not much of a miracle, but considering the trouble I would have gotten into if I had smeared him across the walls, its still a miracle to me. And we all know how nice it is to have a bit of divine intervention in our lives from time to time. Especially when said intervention is pretty.

Farethewell for now.

- John

"I was told the way to a woman's heart is through her stomach, as for men, I would suggest between the fourth and fifth rib with a nice sharp knife." -John, On how to get to people's hearts.

Hello All,

The other day I took the CCNA test (the final one that would have given me the full CCNA), I failed...first time I have ever failed anything related to academics or work, a bit shocking actually, and it points out that I might actually be partly human. I'm currently planning on what I need to study to retake the test, and I'm going to go in ASAP to pass the test...because I am rather depressed and angry that I actually failed (I'm extremely hard on myself about work). By the by, don't do any consoling if you can help it, its something I'm rather against.

Studying the first time was why I have yet to blog about Montana at all, nor posted pictures of the trip. So, here are a couple of pictures to lighten the blog up.

Clouds

Reflections

Itchy the Chipmunk

Wanted to Swim

Yeah, actual picture of me.

Best picture ever taken of me.

On other notes, I'm back home, for the time being, and I spent yesterday ripping the carpet out of our living room. Getting it replaced today, after it's been in this house for, quite possibly, 20 years.

I also happen to be in the middle of a great many fires right now, so far none have threatened my home, but I knock on wood every time I say that. (pretty good, since I'm not very superstitious) Much of California is burning right now, and the parts that aren't burning, they are covered in pretty darn thick smoke...because of that I've been trapped inside allot more than I would like, only been able to go out for walks a few times...and even then there was an official warning against doing much outside.

Anyways, be back around eventually, I'm kind of lost; can't go outside much, can't study yet...might be online a wee bit. Best wishes all.

- John

"The more we learn from losses, the less losses we will see, but soon again we'll fall behind, and lose and learn again." -John

Simple Things

Time ago I told myself,
to look beyond the sea,
but mists would come,
and block away the bay.

And time would go,
and I would wait,
and never could I see,
those simple things were right in front of me.

Now I'm looking out the window,
but damned if I can see,
the leaves are rustling in the wind,
but rustle not for me.

I blink aside the blurryness,
but still a blurr I see,
the clouds can blow, and birds can fly,
but flutter not for me.

Time has past,
and I am lost,
and never will I see,
the simple things that sit in front of me.

- John1918