Sometimes when I eat oranges, I like to sit and squeeze the peel. I rip the skin off and pop the little spheres of citrus. It makes me think of popping pimples, my heart quickens and I feel intense joy.
Dermatology perhaps then.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Out from under the covers
A pause, an image, maybe even that feeling.
God wants to speak to us in many ways, but it's on us to eliminate the distractions that keep us from knowing that it's really him.
We dance, we play, we try to take care of it all. But the seemingly limitless possibilities of our flesh will never obtain what we yearn for. May God, who hears and sees everything that we burn for, break down the walls around our hearts that have been built by our families and teachers. And may God, everlasting and merciful, lift us out of the darkness with which we comfort ourselves on a daily basis.
God wants to speak to us in many ways, but it's on us to eliminate the distractions that keep us from knowing that it's really him.
We dance, we play, we try to take care of it all. But the seemingly limitless possibilities of our flesh will never obtain what we yearn for. May God, who hears and sees everything that we burn for, break down the walls around our hearts that have been built by our families and teachers. And may God, everlasting and merciful, lift us out of the darkness with which we comfort ourselves on a daily basis.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Coma
Perhaps we're not supposed to get 8 hours of sleep every night.
Maybe sometimes
we're supposed to feel tired.
Washing over from walking around in the dark to the comfort of the light, being covered in sleep or walking confidently, and then...
Maybe sometimes
we're supposed to feel tired.
Washing over from walking around in the dark to the comfort of the light, being covered in sleep or walking confidently, and then...
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
The Year of Living Biblically
Ever since I went Island hopping with Mr. Kelly Garren I've been reading a book by an agnostic man, author A. J. Jacobs, living in New York city. In it he wrestles with adapting to a Biblically inspired lifestyle for 365 days. I haven't finished it yet, but time and again I find snippets of commentary that provoke feelings of inspiration in my own heart. On the inside cover the New York Times Book Review remarks that "For many of us...walking with Jacobs is the closest we'll come to knowing what it feels like to be born again."
Where due credit is due, I have enjoyed reading it thus far. It has helped me to revisit asking questions about the Bible and I concede that it's a lot more thought out than I would have guessed.
Here's a section that really put the skids on my life.
-------------------
Give thanks in all circumstances... - Thessalonians 5:18
Day 263. I feel myself becoming an extremist--at least in some areas. Like with my obsession with gratefulness. I can't stop.
Just now , I press the elevator button and am thankful that it arrives quickly.
I get onto the elevator and am thankful that the elevator cable didn't snap and plummet me to the basement.
I go to the fifth floor and am thankful that I didn't have to stop on the second or third or fourth floor.
I get out and am thankful that Julie left the door unlocked so I don't have to rummage for my King Kong key ring.
I walk in, and am thankful that jasper is home and healthy and stuffing his face with pineapple wedges.
And on and on. I'm actually muttering to myself, "Thank you ... thank you ... thank you."
It's an odd way to live. But also kind of great and powerful. I've never before been so aware of the thousands of little good things, the thousands of things that go right every day.
Sometimes my thank-yous are directed at no one in particular. It's more of an appreciation than a thanks. A reminder to myself: "Pay attention, pal. Savor this moment." But other times, when I'm in a believing phase, my thanks have an addressee. I'm thanking God, or the universal laws of nature--I'm not sure which--but it gives the act of thanking more weight.
-A. J. Jacobs
Where due credit is due, I have enjoyed reading it thus far. It has helped me to revisit asking questions about the Bible and I concede that it's a lot more thought out than I would have guessed.
Here's a section that really put the skids on my life.
-------------------
Give thanks in all circumstances... - Thessalonians 5:18
Day 263. I feel myself becoming an extremist--at least in some areas. Like with my obsession with gratefulness. I can't stop.
Just now , I press the elevator button and am thankful that it arrives quickly.
I get onto the elevator and am thankful that the elevator cable didn't snap and plummet me to the basement.
I go to the fifth floor and am thankful that I didn't have to stop on the second or third or fourth floor.
I get out and am thankful that Julie left the door unlocked so I don't have to rummage for my King Kong key ring.
I walk in, and am thankful that jasper is home and healthy and stuffing his face with pineapple wedges.
And on and on. I'm actually muttering to myself, "Thank you ... thank you ... thank you."
It's an odd way to live. But also kind of great and powerful. I've never before been so aware of the thousands of little good things, the thousands of things that go right every day.
Sometimes my thank-yous are directed at no one in particular. It's more of an appreciation than a thanks. A reminder to myself: "Pay attention, pal. Savor this moment." But other times, when I'm in a believing phase, my thanks have an addressee. I'm thanking God, or the universal laws of nature--I'm not sure which--but it gives the act of thanking more weight.
-A. J. Jacobs
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Dog Eat Trevor (or vice versa)
The other day I had the opportunity to indulge in one of the century old cuisines that make Korea such a unique country. Well, I can't say unique because the French have also had their history with such a delicacy. As controversial as it comes across, you guessed it: dog.
To be honest I was not very excited about the experience. I got a phone call from my friend Nate at about noon and he told me that his brother Aaron(who flew in for the week) really wanted to try dog. I said I'd look into it and after a few phone calls we were set for dinner! I decided that I would line my stomache with some delicious mandu before the affair though.
From what I was told, dog meat has been pretty much shunned by the up and coming generation of Korea. When the Olympics came to Seoul a few years back the practice of consuming dog was black labeled and cast as an "unsightly food". So to spruce up public image it was removed from the inner walls of Seoul. However, travel far enough to the fringes of society and you can find just about anything...
I know I'm not the only one that's played around with the idea of eating dog, so for any of you that are in Seoul and looking for a fail safe way to try the taboo meat, I present;
HOW TO GET THERE: Go to line 8 (the pink one) and head to Moran station. Walk straight out of exit 7 and Moran Market will come up on your right. When you start to see all of the vegtable/root vendors you'll know that you're there. Ironically enough, I saw this coming out of the bathrooms in the subway. Fitting, kinda.
When we were walking to the restaraunt we joked around that it would be kind of like choosing a lobster from a grocery store tank. We had no idea how close it would actually come to that. I'm not going to post the pictures for the sake of a happier time right now, but I never would have thought that they keep the dogs in cages right out front of the stores. That was probably the most awkward moment I've had in Korea to date. Eventually we mustered up enough nerve to walk in, sit down, and sit in relative silence while we waited for our bosintang to heat up. Little jokes and chatter aside, it made me pretty nervous. But that didn't stop it from coming out of the kitchen.
Now here the thing, it was pretty darn GOOD. It was so edible in fact that I forgot to take a before picture, accordingly I give you the paltry remains of my meal.
So let's get to it. I've been asked what it was like and honestly it really is like KFC fried chicken. I don't know what little woman snuck into Harland Sander's kitchen and snooped around the colonal's cook book, but the spices were dead on. The second bite wasn't so hot because I realized how fatty the meat actually is. But scraping off the undesirable parts leaves a fairy chewy meal that conjures up some unsettling meal-time images.
Some people make it spicy for their patrons, this restaraunt was decidedly not employing those people. I do in turn imagine that at another location you might be able to find something a little bit hotter, but just in case I would definitely recommend taking that bottle of tabasco sauce sitting on top of your fridge.
Yeah, just a little bit uncomfortable.
The Aftermath: Well, I can claim that I'm proud of myself for doing it but I don't think I'd do it again, not so much for the animal rights value but more so because of the taste. Sure, it was exciting and fried chicken-y but as Nate said "it tastes like meat." So really there was nothing special there.
After reading a few other blogs and responding to some comments about this experience I would give a single piece of advice to anyone that might be wrestling with the idea of eating dog. Dog itself is like any other animal that the human race has consumed for thousands of years. I concede that the living conditions of these dogs in particular are not to be envied but neither are the conditions of bovine, chicken, or pig in almost any country. If you find a problem with eating dog to be based on animal rights I hope that you are already a vegetarian. If, after trying, you become a vegetarian that will be wonderful. If you remain a carnivore that will also be awesome. In case that you actually might pursue dog meat congratulations, I hope that you will have a lot more courage than I did.
trevor.diaz@gmail.com
To be honest I was not very excited about the experience. I got a phone call from my friend Nate at about noon and he told me that his brother Aaron(who flew in for the week) really wanted to try dog. I said I'd look into it and after a few phone calls we were set for dinner! I decided that I would line my stomache with some delicious mandu before the affair though.
From what I was told, dog meat has been pretty much shunned by the up and coming generation of Korea. When the Olympics came to Seoul a few years back the practice of consuming dog was black labeled and cast as an "unsightly food". So to spruce up public image it was removed from the inner walls of Seoul. However, travel far enough to the fringes of society and you can find just about anything...
I know I'm not the only one that's played around with the idea of eating dog, so for any of you that are in Seoul and looking for a fail safe way to try the taboo meat, I present;
HOW TO GET THERE: Go to line 8 (the pink one) and head to Moran station. Walk straight out of exit 7 and Moran Market will come up on your right. When you start to see all of the vegtable/root vendors you'll know that you're there. Ironically enough, I saw this coming out of the bathrooms in the subway. Fitting, kinda.
When we were walking to the restaraunt we joked around that it would be kind of like choosing a lobster from a grocery store tank. We had no idea how close it would actually come to that. I'm not going to post the pictures for the sake of a happier time right now, but I never would have thought that they keep the dogs in cages right out front of the stores. That was probably the most awkward moment I've had in Korea to date. Eventually we mustered up enough nerve to walk in, sit down, and sit in relative silence while we waited for our bosintang to heat up. Little jokes and chatter aside, it made me pretty nervous. But that didn't stop it from coming out of the kitchen.
Now here the thing, it was pretty darn GOOD. It was so edible in fact that I forgot to take a before picture, accordingly I give you the paltry remains of my meal.
So let's get to it. I've been asked what it was like and honestly it really is like KFC fried chicken. I don't know what little woman snuck into Harland Sander's kitchen and snooped around the colonal's cook book, but the spices were dead on. The second bite wasn't so hot because I realized how fatty the meat actually is. But scraping off the undesirable parts leaves a fairy chewy meal that conjures up some unsettling meal-time images.
Some people make it spicy for their patrons, this restaraunt was decidedly not employing those people. I do in turn imagine that at another location you might be able to find something a little bit hotter, but just in case I would definitely recommend taking that bottle of tabasco sauce sitting on top of your fridge.
Yeah, just a little bit uncomfortable.
The Aftermath: Well, I can claim that I'm proud of myself for doing it but I don't think I'd do it again, not so much for the animal rights value but more so because of the taste. Sure, it was exciting and fried chicken-y but as Nate said "it tastes like meat." So really there was nothing special there.
After reading a few other blogs and responding to some comments about this experience I would give a single piece of advice to anyone that might be wrestling with the idea of eating dog. Dog itself is like any other animal that the human race has consumed for thousands of years. I concede that the living conditions of these dogs in particular are not to be envied but neither are the conditions of bovine, chicken, or pig in almost any country. If you find a problem with eating dog to be based on animal rights I hope that you are already a vegetarian. If, after trying, you become a vegetarian that will be wonderful. If you remain a carnivore that will also be awesome. In case that you actually might pursue dog meat congratulations, I hope that you will have a lot more courage than I did.
trevor.diaz@gmail.com
Friday, July 24, 2009
Island Hopping
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” - Mark Twain
So today marks the first paid vacation of my life. And now it's a matter of how to spend it. At first it was going to be a motorcycle road trip, but after much debate and the purchase of a motorcycle, we've decided to go to Nanjido.
The only problem? I think I left the key in the ignition of the bike...
Let's hope that one doesn't end poorly.
"That sounds like a great idea, the only problem is I haven't been home in 2 years and I'm 90% sure that I left the front door open."
So today marks the first paid vacation of my life. And now it's a matter of how to spend it. At first it was going to be a motorcycle road trip, but after much debate and the purchase of a motorcycle, we've decided to go to Nanjido.
The only problem? I think I left the key in the ignition of the bike...
Let's hope that one doesn't end poorly.
"That sounds like a great idea, the only problem is I haven't been home in 2 years and I'm 90% sure that I left the front door open."
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Monsoon Season
So now that I've purchased a 125cc motorcycle, I can't do a bloody thing with it. It's a shame really that the rainy season should coincide with me augmenting my personality, but now I'm cooped up after work with a stuffy nose and plastic slippers to keep me unsaturated between home and PC bang. A lot is going to be happening in the next week and a half and I'm looking forward to it:
-Kristen will be traveling around South East Asia...which I'm actually not looking forward to all that much :(
-I'll be going on a roadtrip with newly acquired motorbike from paragraph A alongside a Mr. Kelly.
-I will buy new socks.
-The rain will stop. Gaaaaaah.
Some of these statements might seem insignificant to you. Particularly the bit about socks. Well believe me it's a big deal.
-Kristen will be traveling around South East Asia...which I'm actually not looking forward to all that much :(
-I'll be going on a roadtrip with newly acquired motorbike from paragraph A alongside a Mr. Kelly.
-I will buy new socks.
-The rain will stop. Gaaaaaah.
Some of these statements might seem insignificant to you. Particularly the bit about socks. Well believe me it's a big deal.
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