Flash class...

I'm sitting here Interactive Media...as I like to call it, Flash Class...I'm hungry. We're making a ball bounce and a rectangle go up and down the screen right now. I'm way excited...not really. I would comment on something right now...but I can't...since I'm sitting here in flash class. I just made my rectangle rotate clockwise...then counter clockwise...I am so cool.

I worked on my paper for Pub Design this afternoon...and I'm almost done! Yay. I still have all tomorrow to finish it, which hopefully I'll finish it in the earlier parts of the day rather than waiting until after I get off work tomorrow night. btw...this is my promised second post, just for Nathan...to make up for the non-posting of yesterday.

Legend has it that we get out of this class early each time, but I don't think that's happening tonight. Not that it would really matter if I got out early...after this, Sing Song beckons. Oh, how I wish I could just sleep.

My ball has a smiley face, and his mouth is moving...
that's my cue to go...I'm sleepy...

Be blessed,
Jezz

I just want sleep...

I'm soooo tired! It's yucky. I don't like this feeling. This morning I had a medium chai tea latte with a blueberry muffin, and shortly thereafter, I had a small caramel macchiato (all java city brewed). Lots of liquids and caffeine for this little body. That resulted in lots of leg-shaking and sporadic movements during band...embarrassing, I know. The caffeine-chugging was to no avail...I nearly fell asleep in my 1:30 p.m. American History class. It's not a boring class, lots of interaction with teams, etc, but it was really warm in the room = naptime. Which brings me to work. So I sit here, blow pop in mouth. (I have to get my sugar fix somehow.)

Now I will write my function essay about my magazine for Pub Design. Yay.

Be blessed, (more after the essay is done.)
Jezz

What's in a name...

Through the powers of Google search, I found out that there are about 2 or 3 other girls with my name. Funny, they're all from Guam (well one of them is a model and has California listed as her location...very possible that she's from Guam. Her model profile thing says her ethnicity is islander)...and younger than me. hmmm...curious. Whatever...

"I'm going to google you."
"You most certainly are not!"

Good day.
Jezz

Tuesday...

This morning a guy I work with had the same AE hipster jeans on as I did. (btw...I didn't work at AE this morning, either.) Frankly, I wanted to erupt in a chorus of laughter, but I couldn't. But I did snicker under my breath, just not too loudly because he was right in front of me. I'm amused.

Yesterday was my first day at the driving range. Golf. I hit the ball...several times actually. Some of them got pretty far too. LPGA, here I come! maybe not. I have a blister under my left pinky and a sore spot on my left thumb.

And, this is farewell for now...more later...as per usual.

Be blessed,
Jezz

More Passion-like things...

I pulled out my Passion 06 t-shirt from my drawer this morning (very nice: a soft grey and well-designed) and decided that I wanted to wear it every day for the rest of my life. But knowing that that would be virtually impossible and, not to mention, gross, I decided to pass on that. Since then, however, all I can think about is Passion. I know, you're thinking, "will you get off of this already? That's all you've been talking about. Sure, you were there, but I wasn't. It's nice that you went and all, but..." In defense, "You won't really understand, unless you see for yourself. My want to burst out and tell the whole world (you just happen to be the audience for right now) is a direct result of it...of God's glory and renown. Experience it for yourself. You won't be disappointed."

And, on that note...the first bundle of Passion 06 music and an amazing talk by Louie will be available on iTunes tomorrow! I'm so excited. You should download it.

Today's major props go to the new coffee shop in Barrett Hall. I had a yummy chai tea latte and a cream cheese muffin this morning for breakfast.

"Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws,
we wait for you;
your name and renown
are the desire of our hearts."
Isaiah 26:8, the basis of the 268 generation, Passion

Be blessed today,
Jezz

Aquarius...

This one's for Aaron Wilder...

This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius
age of Aquariu-us
A-quar-i-us...

Thank you...and good night...or morning in this case.
Jezz

Make sure you read the post before this...it's much more relevant and...well it's better than this one.

A nugget of joy...

From the 268 generation blog, posted by Louie Giglio on Jan. 6, 2006, here is a nugget of joy (in my eyes)...
a bit about (kind of) Passion 06:

I'm Sorry I Didn't Tell You Before You Came

For all you people new to Passion, I'm so, so sorry we didn't inform you before arriving about the post Passion dilemma of trying to tell people who were not there about what happened. I mean, honestly, have you ever felt more frustrated trying to search for mere words? So you say a lot of things that are sort of discombobulated and exasperating, hoping that the exploding radiance in your somewhat droopy eyes translates more effectively the surging truth and emotion that are about to blow your heart wide open.

If you're still searching for an answer to the "How was Passion" question, I like what one blogger wrote: "when asked by a friend, "how was it" all i could do is hug them with everything i had and tell them, that's just the first 30 seconds of the conference. imagine 4 days of that, but with God's intensity."

Oh, and I also forgot to tell you that your brain would hurt for a few days.
And that songs would thunder in your head.
And that you would find yourself drifting back into that massive crowd.
And that you would feel like you had known your Family Group forever.
And that you would wake up wanting to head to your Community Group.

And to that...I quote Louie in saying..."right on."
There really aren't many words to describe the Passion experience. I can tell you, as I have with many, that I went to a college-aged worship-ish conference, name the speakers and highlight the bands, but my description could never embody the joy that overwhelms my spirit when I think about the experience at Passion. To be reminded of the glory of God and to be called to live for His renown...His fame...that's amazing.

If you don't believe me, or just don't get it...see for yourself: January 1-4, 2007, Atlanta, Ga. Registration begins March 1.

Tired already...

I'm bored. Granted, there's a sufficient amount of work I could be doing here, but I'm really not in the mood. It's the third day of school, and I'm tired. I wanted to skip my noon class; today was the first class meeting. It's not worth the trouble of skipping, mainly, because we only meet five times in the semester in the span of seven weeks. I think I can handle that even if half of the information is probably not relevant for me. Oh well, that's what I get for waiting so long to take the class in the first place.

I'm really ready for today to be over, or at least to have a substatial break. But, alas, after I leave here at 4:30, I'm running some errands, grabbing dinner and heading off to class at 6 p.m. Class is scheduled to last until 9 p.m., but I've heard that rarely happens, whether it does or not, however, doesn't really matter. At 8 p.m., Sing Song rehearsal begins...and ends at 11 p.m. Man, I hope there's not any homework that I'm missing that I haven't already done...that may be an issue, hopefully not. All that to say, I really just want to go to bed right now. That would be amazing. Oh well, I cold beverage (non-alcoholic...I'm thinking iced coffee, smoothie, cherry limeade...something like that) should suffice.

But still...I press on...
"This too shall pass." And when it does, I will be disheartened...sad that it's gone. I enjoy it all for now, every moment...even the dull, the frustrating and the seemingly unbearable ones...

Be blessed today and always,
Jezz

G'morning...day two...

SING SONG

has begun.

Alpha Kai's first rehearsal is tonight. I'm excited. The music is really cute this year, and there's tons that can be done with the show. We had a section leader meeting Monday afternoon where we learned the first page of music. I'm telling you, it's gonna be good...I hope you're pumped...

Yesterday was the first day of classes, but since I only had one class, it didn't really seem like anything had begun. So today my day is packed full...classes from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. without a break. I hate that. It's just not fun...not to mention, there's no time for nourishment. I like food. I don't like missing meals, or being hungry. My mom packed me snacks this morning: a chocolate chip granola bar, famous amos cookies and some beef jerky. Healthy snacks aren't really a strong point in my house. I also bought a Snickers. I think the advertising has finally gotten to me. "Hungry? Why wait? Grab a Snickers." I did.

Time to go to Pub Design. Senior year, last semester, and I'm finally taking this class. It's all newspaper design this year, I think. At least, that's the impression I'm getting from the book I bought. Not too stoked about that. I was actually really looking forward to laying out a magazine about David Crowder, using as many photos as humanly possibly...especially close-up face shots...some with his mouth wide open.

So, have a great day today. I will be attending classes and learning valuable things for life and what not...
Jezz

New beginnings...

new year. new semester. new classes. new boss. new co-worker. new pencil bag. Ya, it's that time for the new stuff to appear...I guess. More new than usual right now though. New is good. It's fresh, challenging, different. And soon, new will become old. That's good too...it will be routine, but it will also be comfortable and familiar.

Currently working on a press release about Jerry Mitchell, an investigative reporter for The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss. He's coming to speak to classes and at a luncheon for the JMC department at ACU. I must say, his work is really interesting. He was portrayed in the movie Ghosts of Mississippi, which follows his investigation and reporting of the 1963 assassination of NAACP leader Medgar Evers. I think I've seen that movie, but I'm not sure. I'll have to watch it again along with Mississippi Burning, which was the film that inspired his work and investigation into the civil rights era. He's a very driven Christian reporter...admirable.

Listening to the Passion 05 cd and hoping it will hold me off until the Passion 06 cd comes out or until the cds of the talks arrive at my doorstep. Memories for a lifetime, but hopefully not a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I want to be there in Atlanta, Ga., for Passion 07.

Better get back to work. It's almost chapel time, and so semester eight begins and will soon (sooner than anyone will expect) come to an end. Graduation is 14 credit hours away...

Be blessed today,
Jezz

Passion 06 continued...

I'm sitting here in our extended-stay hotel room watching Seinfeld, waiting for my pre-dinner snack to warm up and drinking some mandarin orange tea. We're in between sessions right now...sessions that we didn't and won't be attending. Because Passion 06 has been a struggle for Jarryd and I. Designed to challenge your mind, your beliefs, your faith and your diligence and committment to the cause of Christ, this Passion conference has challenged us a more basic area of life and faith. Theology aside, we have been challenged to trust the Lord with our health, our physical well-being.

We had extravagant plans and expectations for this trip. Plans for places, sessions, speakers, foods, guitars and people to go, see, hear, try, buy and meet have long been forgotten after our second night here. Our first day here was tremendous. We started the day off early after a long drive overnight; ate breakfast, shopped a bit and registered for what we expected and knew would be an amazing conference. But something came over me before the first session was through, something that bit me in the stomach and made me feel faint, weak and absolutely miserable. I sucked it up and toughed through the rest of the night which included separate small group sessions and a Shane and Shane concert, that I happened to have fallen asleep in. (I know, yes, I did feel that bad.) But God's grace, mercy, love and provision was already beginning to shine through then. At my weakest point on the verge of tears, I ran into a friend who I didn't know was here in the midst of 18,000 college students and broke down into tears because I didn't think I could make it through the rest of the night. I made it through the rest of the night, including sleeping on her shoulder to the musings of Shane and Shane. But back at the hotel was another story. The worst came...and it was beyond miserable. Through it all, I cried out to the Lord for healing and strength, continuously reminding myself, "this too will pass." But it was so hard to remember that.

After the arduous night, the morning seemed much better. But still weak. We traveled to downtown Nashville, got the parking lot and sat for about 20 minutes until we realized we weren't well enough to make it through the day and went back to the hotel to rest. We were able to make it the evening sessions of Passions but couldn't endure another late night session. So it was off to the grocery store for the third time during our stay to get medicine (we already made two previous trips when we bought some medicine for at least one of us each time). Soup and medicine. The morning was bearable until lunch time when Jarryd wasn't well enough to stick around. More medicine and food; back to the hotel. One more trip to the grocery store to buy more medicine for Jarryd, and now we're praying that he gets well and over this fever.

Definitely the last thing I expected for Passion 06, especially for two people who rarely get sick. I expected great things from God, intriguing lessons and poweful worship. I still got those.

To God be the glory...always...

more later...
Be blessed,
Jezz

Passion 06...

On our way to Nashvegas...