WORLDS ARE FORMING

Out with the old...

"Now unto him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."   ::Ephesians 3:20

Are you ready for this?

Many of you know that this past November, we had a 5th Grade Birthday Party for our good friend Becca.  We all came as our 5th grade selves.

The picture on the left is my interpretation of my 5th grade self, circa 1989.

Here's the deal.  I was looking through some albums recently, and found the picture on the right.  While it is not my 5th grade birthday picture, it was just a few months after that, my first day of 6th grade...off to Odle Middle School.

You'll notice the similarities.  Turquoise shirt with black stripes.  Acid washed and pleated black jeans, and HOTT tennis shoes (please do notice the blue/white double lace combo).  I could have done better with the hair, but overall, I say I did fairly well for just guessing.  (Scary, isn't it?)

Thanks to Bruner for being an inspiration in embracing our selves of days gone by.  LOVE THAT GUY.

In the Bleak Midwinter. Part IV.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;

If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;

Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

:: Christina Rossetti

Oh, glory.

Mmm.  Computer is back.  Fixed.  Didn't lose pictures, music, or files.  Brand new keyboard, too...my friend Andrew Zirschky told me that I should have had it fixed many moons ago, but I didn't think it was a big deal.  It DOES feel good to have a new keyboard.  AND, they cleaned my screen, gave the whole thing a bath, both of which I do not do very often. 

Thanks, AppleCare...you averted a major crisis by getting this thing back to me.

Dear AppleCare: Separation anxiety.

Dear AppleCare,

Hi!  How are you guys?  Good, good, glad to hear it!  Thanks for working on my iBook.  I trust that she is in good hands.  I'm also glad that you are going to replace the keyboard and take a little look into the inner workings of said iBook, as she has been having some issues as of late.  I do trust that you'll take good care of her.

However, dear friends at AppleCare, you had better return her soon.  I gave her to you several days ago at your store, and you have yet to send her out.  Sad.  I have pages and pages to write.  (That will be fun, but I reeeeally can't imagine doing those papers on a...PC...)  If you don't send her to be fixed, then send her back soon, I'll be rather angry.  And, well...we don't really want that, now do we?  I know it is just a toy...but come on, humor me.

Thanks so much, AppleCare.  Good Luck, hope all goes well.  (Or else!)  Catch you real soon.

Sincerely your friend for now,
Joshua S. Cleveland

Merry Christmas.

I, for one, am glad that Jesus was born.  Have a great day...hope you are enjoying it with loved ones.  Peace on Earth, Joy to the world, etcetera and so forth.

Love,
Josh

Oh, being a younger brother will never get old.

The other night I headed outside to grab something from the car.  As I was walking back to the door, my cool old cat Floyd (who now lives outside because he was a bad bad cat) greeted me on the front porch.  So, I crouched down and talked with him for a few minutes, enjoying some quality bonding time. 

As I crouched on the porch underneath our kitchen window, I heard my 31 year-old sister Rebecca lean into the window and ask my mom, "Where did Josh go?  He just went outside and disappeared."  I think she was hoping some aliens arrived to take me home, but no, that was not the case. 

In that split second, I had two options.  One: continue to listen to her speak, then calm her fears by letting her know that I was just outside.  (Which would have been the nice thing to do.)  Two: Find a way to scare her.  (Which would have been the fun thing to do.)

So what did I do?

In this past week at home I have...

...not slept (for two nights)
...slept (at least eight hours a night)
...hung out with the fam
...had a sleepover (as my niece likes to call it) at my sister and brother in law's
...had coffee with an old friend
...spent the day with friends from Austin
...read The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe
...eaten my mom's amazing Christmas candy
...tried to commit computerslaughter
...vegged out in front of the TV
...shopped
...gladly wound Christmas music boxes 492 times for my inquisitive nephew
...received phone calls from my niece telling me how many times and where she's puked
...interviewed for a CPE position in Seattle
...shopped again

I count this as a good break so far.  No studying until next week!  Glorious.

Help! My iBook hates me.

Generally, we have a good relationship.  Not this week.  My iBook keeps dying on me whenever I press the stinking down key.  It will just turn off.  Then, if I try to restart it, the fan blows for awhile, then stops.  This has happened several times, but every 15th time I try to turn it back on, it works.

Help.  My Mac hates me...or...could it be...I hate my Mac.  (For now.)

(UPDATE: Because I know you are deeply concerned...took the beast into the Apple Store today, they sent it off to be fixed.   I need it do to some homework next week, so we'll see if that happens.  However, I am getting a new keyboard, though that has nothing to do with the problem.  That balances the whole inconvenience out for me.)

In The Bleak Midwinter: Part III.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,

cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;

but his mother only, in her maiden bliss,

worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

:: Christina Rossetti