He is Risen!

I just played two games of Lord of the Rings Risk with my friend Sean here. I was the bad guys and cave trolls rock. It is different from regular risk for a bunch of reasons. The map is different, so you have a hard time finding places and you don't have your set tactics. There are fortresses and generals that help you out immensely. Then there are cards that can give you a bunch of guys or new tactics or wipe out all the guys in your stronghold. There were only two of us playing so the games were short and straightforward. I won the first game because I was able to take over two territories (continents) early on and slowly outnumbered his guys. He did take a few of my strongholds, but my territories were worth more. Then in the second game, things were looking kinda bad for me. I hardly rolled anything but one's and two's for my first defensive turn. But then I managed to take out both of his leaders on one turn. That was good. After that I just had to use my armies to lean on his armies and take out any new leader he tried to put on. We both had a lot of fun. Plus we had the LOTR soundtrack in the background which added a lot. I can still hear it.

1 Paper
8 Pages left
7.5 Hours
1slightly less food

Plugging away

1 Paper
10 Pages left
8.5 Hours
(Most of) 1 Basket of food

Looks hopeful

1 Paper
12 Pages left
9.5 Hours
1 Basket of food

Can he do it?

That was probably one of the best weekends I've had in a long while. I got to see almost everyone I wanted to and a few people who I didn't expect to see (but still wanted to ;-). Apparently Amanda and the Broiler heard of my arrival and decided to have a prior engagement somewhere else. Of course, my work didn't stop just because I didn't have time to do it, so I'm going to be pretty busy this week (or what's left of it). I finished my work that was due on Monday, but didn't get a chance to work ahead at all, so I've got everything piling up on me. But I'd do it again any weekend. Thai food with my now junior friends, plus talking about all manner of nerdy tv shows, dinner at Alison's apartment with everyone, moving Ziggy and eating crepes, seeing Dr. Tour and Shireen at church, talking with Mike while driving down and back. Yeah, it was a real good weekend. I kinda wonder why God decided that I was now ready to visit with people, where the situation wasn't right before. Maybe I was just too attached and God knew that I would get homesick again if I went back too soon. Dunno. I also realized how deeply engineering runs in me. Yes, linguistics is a kind of engineering, too. But for now, I'm going to read my Bible, do another hour or two of homework, and then prepare for tomorrow's paper.

Its St. Patrick's Day and I'm randomly wearing one of my two green articles of clothing (the other being a tie). Oh, the irony. I even ate a potato.

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee."

Chris Tomlin - Indescribable
From the album Arriving

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea,
Creation's revealing Your majesty.
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring,
Every creature unique in the song that it sings. All exclaiming...

(Chorus)
Indescribable, Uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God.
All powerful, Untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees and we humbly proclaim,
You are amazing God.

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go,
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow?
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light,
Yet conceals it to give us the coolness of night?
None can fathom...

(Chorus)

Incomparable, Unchangeable,
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same.
You are amazing God.

One of the things that I like best about reading my Bible is that I can do it at my own pace. If I want to read Numbers 12-14 every day for a week before moving on, I can do that. If I want to skip ahead to Joshua or Jusges, I can do that too. It is completely self-directed. Unlike the 50+ pages of linguistics papers that I have to finish tonight...

Do you ever have one of those days where the time just disappears? I was working in the library and I didn't finish with even half of my tasks. I was amazed as every few minutes I would look up at the clock to find that another hour had disappeared. Spring is finally here. Its stll cool enough that I have to walk around with a sweatshirt, but it is so beautiful out.

In Other News...
I'm still trying to figure out my schedule for the next session. If I can figure out a way around one class, I should be able to graduate next fall. I've already taken the same class at Rice, but the prof here doesn't think that it is similar enough for me just to skip. I know that it is a lot more similar than what he was making it out to be, but I have no authority and he has the final say. I would appreciate some prayer for the whole situation.

Ok, I've been reading in the Old Testament and I thought of a question to pose:

What exactly does it mean to take the Lord's name in vain?

I've heard everything from using His name as a swear word to talking about God flippantly to saying anything that might be construed as disrespectful (to the point of not even writing the word 'God' or including Him in a comic) to breaking an oath made in His name. I'm sure there are a dozen more ideas out there. What do you think and why?

Do you ever feel like something is wrong, but you can't quite figure out what it is? Its almost like you're off balance. I was feeling like that earlier, (specifically between this sentence and the last one) so I called a friend and just chatted for about 75 minutes. We'll just pretend like I don't have homework due in the morning.

By the way, have you ever noticed how distractable people are when they have an art project due in the morning?